Another heart broke today

"What are you two standing around for? Get him!" Rowan pointed at the arrogant Belant and roared.

Right, our warship was about to sink. If we didn't kill the pirate leader, we'd be taking a total loss!

Leonard raised his greatsword and unleashed a Cleave. Lambert endured the pain in his back, crossed his twin swords before his chest, and immediately activated Enrage.

In his youth, Lambert had majored in Fury Specialization at the Military Academy. He was one of the few Fury Warriors.

As a Fury Warrior's signature skill, Enrage allowed its user to harness his anger to the fullest, boosting the power of his attacks.

After Lambert activated Enrage, at least his next five slashes would carry a terrifying damage bonus.

Leonard had only blocked Lambert's first slash, yet both his hands were already numb from the impact.

Although Leonard was also a Level Four Warrior, he specialized in Arms. His strength lay in combat technique, not contests of raw power.

Clang! The second slash came swiftly. Leonard was driven back half a meter and nearly lost his grip on his greatsword.

With the upper hand, Lambert mocked Byron and Leonard. "Soon, you'll sink into the sea along with your warship."

Before his words had faded, eighteen cannons fired another volley. A barrage of cannonballs streaked over the three men's heads and exploded in the mist, in the direction where cannon fire had just sounded.

It could still fire?

Leonard and Byron glanced back again. Seawater had stopped pouring into the damaged compartments, and the warship behind them was still sailing steadily, turning without difficulty.

The only ship sinking into the sea now was Lambert's pirate flagship.

Lambert had no understanding of watertight bulkhead technology, so he had no idea why a warship could still sail and maneuver freely after its compartments had been blasted open.

By now, Lambert had completely forgotten what composure even was. Rowan had personally shattered everything he understood and believed about warships, then ground the pieces beneath his heel for good measure.

Lambert lost control of his emotions completely. All he wanted now was to kill the two class holders before him, so that even if he died, he would take someone with him.

"Die, all of you!" Lambert used Charge to rush before Leonard. Left with no choice, Leonard activated Blade in Hand, Life in Hand, assumed a defensive stance, and weathered Lambert's frenzied assault.

Byron had stood to one side, observing for several minutes. He realized that brute force alone wouldn't work against a Warrior with Fury Specialization. When it came to reckless aggression, Fury Warriors were the professionals.

So, to win this fight, he would have to use his brain.

The fact that Byron hadn't used his brain in previous fights didn't mean he didn't have one.

"Make some room, Leonard!" Byron shouted, rushing in front of him.

Leonard was about to snap at Byron for acting like a reckless brute at a time like this when a dazzling light instantly robbed him of his sight.

Blinding Light!

"Repent, you sinful pirate!" Byron swung his warhammer and brought it crashing down on Lambert's head.

The warhammer didn't splatter Lambert's brains, as his raging fury protected him. It merely stunned him.

This was the first time Leonard had seen such an impressive maneuver from this brute. He froze for a second, then turned and leaped up, following with an Execute on Lambert.

Repentance lasted about four seconds, though that stun duration only applied to class holders of the same level. Even though Lambert was one level higher than Leonard, he was still stunned for a full three seconds.

Leonard followed up with Execute within two seconds. In the final second, he struck hard, breaking through Lambert's fury defense and using Hamstring to break both his legs.

Lambert had only just regained consciousness when the pain knocked him out again.

Leonard found a rope on the deck and deftly tied Lambert up.

Byron hadn't expected Leonard to be skilled with ropes as well. His gaze immediately turned suggestive. "Well, Leonard, I never would've guessed. I really didn't expect you to be so practiced."

Leonard's expression didn't change, and he ignored Byron entirely. He punched Lambert in the head once more, slung him over his back, and climbed up the rope onto the warship.

"Your Highness Jaina, please don't worry. I heard from Captain Halliwell that the Third Fleet has already dispatched ships toward Morris Town." Betty placed lunch on the table and continued reassuring Jaina. "Don't worry. Young Master Rowan will be all right."

Jaina looked anxiously at Betty, her face clouded with worry. She was so nervous that she didn't know what to do with her hands.

"I can't keep waiting here. I'm going to find Rowan. Father has gone too far. He knew those pirates had appeared in the inland sea, yet he didn't send any warships from the First Fleet to help Rowan." Jaina raised her right hand high, and azure energy formed a dazzling Floating Teleportation Circle.

An eerie blue magical radiance shone from Jaina's eyes as she asked, "Betty, do you know the name of the fleet that set sail?"

Betty tried to approach and stop Her Highness Jaina, but the arcane energy swirling around Jaina pushed her away.

Admiral Daelin had ordered that Jaina was not to set a single foot outside her room. Caught in a dilemma, Betty grew so anxious that tears welled in her eyes. "Your Highness Jaina, you can't leave."

"Betty, we grew up together. Don't you know how important Rowan is to me? If he dies, I..." Jaina's feelings were complicated. Every day, she dreamed of Rowan growing stronger, but when he truly faced danger, she couldn't stop worrying about him.

Jaina couldn't finish. Seeing the deep love in Jaina's eyes, Betty hesitated, then said, "It's the Stormrain fleet. Your Highness Jaina, please be careful."

"I will."

Only the fading echo of Jaina's voice and azure motes of magic floating in the air remained in the room.

The Long-Distance Teleportation Spell was remarkably precise. Jaina appeared directly aboard the warship Stormrain.

It was one of the Third Fleet's main warships. Its hull size and draft were a full class above the sailing warships built by Morris Shipyard, making it a large warship.

"Your Highness Jaina?" Captain Tarenford bowed respectfully to her.

Looking tense, Jaina gazed out across the sea and asked urgently, "How far are we from Morris Town?"

Tarenford didn't need to think twice to know why Her Highness Jaina had teleported onto his ship. She had undoubtedly come for Rowan.

"We're almost there. But we just heard the cannon fire stop. It seems the battle has already ended." Tarenford was still too late, and he had heard the reports of A3 Rapid-Fire Cannons, which he found somewhat hard to believe.

The A3 Cannon had only entered service with the fleet last year, yet these pirates actually had such weapons.

Pirates who possessed new equipment were generally very powerful. Otherwise, they couldn't have seized such formidable weapons from the Kul Tiras Navy.

"It's over?"

"Yes. I heard A3 Rapid-Fire Cannons and Shipbreaker Cannons. Things don't look promising. Those pirates are well equipped. I'm afraid Young Master Rowan's chances are grim." Tarenford was a straightforward man and held nothing back. Judging by the cannon fire alone, the pirates' weapons could even hold their own against the Stormrain's cannons.

Even if Tarenford had fought this naval battle himself, his chances of victory would have been no higher than seventy percent.

By that reckoning, if Young Master Rowan had truly taken a warship from Morris Shipyard out to eliminate the pirates, it was practically no different from going to his death.

Jaina's bright eyes dimmed. She stared into the distance as glistening tears streamed down her face.

The sea breeze stirred Jaina's skirts, and her waterfall of golden hair fluttered in the wind.

Today, Morris Town had one more broken heart.

"Rowan, please, don't leave me..."