latelenovela #407 - Chapter 141: Fight and Retreat
#407 - Chapter 141: Fight and Retreat
Sunlight streamed through the clouds, scattering across the sea and gradually dispelling the lingering mist. Those on the shore could finally make out the scene on the water: two hundred tall ironclad warships sailed majestically on the surging waves, a truly awe-inspiring sight. Yet, not far off, the wreckage of dozens of sailboats bobbed on the surface, as if narrating a fierce battle.
In fact, the Night King had launched a counterattack against the fleet the previous night. Nearly a hundred sailboats, laden with wights and commanded by a handful of White Walkers, had quietly approached the ironclads under the cover of the fog. This move was truly surprising, as no one had imagined these walking corpses could have learned to sail ships. When this fleet, led by White Walkers, appeared in sight, crammed with blue-eyed monsters, the visual impact was immense.
The fleet was also completely taken by surprise, having only deployed a picket fleet according to standard operating procedures. However, faced with the sudden appearance of the enemy, the commanding officer decisively ordered the opening of fire.
Although the wights on the sailboats, under the command of the White Walkers, retained some of their former instincts and could barely operate the ships, it was too much to expect them to master the ship's weaponry for a counterattack.
Moreover, these ships captured by the White Walkers were relatively small. They couldn't withstand the White Walkers' ice shard attacks, let alone the powerful cannons. The wights weren't professional sailors and lacked naval combat skills. Therefore, when the fleet's concentrated fire rained down, the sailboats couldn't evade and were hit and set ablaze. Each ship sank after being struck by just two cannonballs, with many being torn to pieces by the barrage.
Ultimately, the fierce naval battle ended in a crushing defeat for the Night King. However, the naval soldiers discovered an interesting phenomenon: the wights couldn't swim! Once they fell into the water, they quickly sank to the bottom. The seawater not only hindered the transmission of magic but also caused the ice magic within the wights to dissipate rapidly.
Only a handful of White Walkers could struggle in the sea. Fortunately, the naval soldiers were equipped with a large number of crossbows and obsidian-tipped arrows, making these White Walkers prime targets for the warriors.
Realizing the attack was ineffective, the Night King quickly understood that this suicidal offensive was futile. As dawn broke and sunlight gradually illuminated the land, the Night King knew he couldn't allow himself and his army of wights to be exposed to the sun and become targets for the fleet. Thus, under his command, the army of wights began an orderly retreat, gradually disappearing into the darkness in the distance.
The human warriors, seeing the wight army depart, erupted in loud cheers. They rejoiced that they had survived another long and difficult night and welcomed a new day. However, the soldiers of Stannis' army were demoralized, having lost their king and the goal they fought for. Led by Davos, they silently withdrew from the defensive line, retreating towards the rear.
The wildling warriors watched Stannis' soldiers leave without showing disdain or mockery. Instead, Tormund said loudly, "These southerners have left, but they paid a heavy price to protect our people. This is not their battlefield, but our home. The Crow's leader has told me that the evacuation in the rear is nearing completion. If we hold on a little longer, they will be able to evacuate safely."
Jon watched the departing troops, a complex mix of emotions swirling within him. He felt a tinge of regret at Stannis' death, as the king had his own convictions and principles. Although somewhat rigid and stubborn, he was fair in his actions. Jon couldn't help but wonder if they could have become friends if the war had ended.
The fleet sent a liaison officer to communicate with Jon's group and coordinate their actions. Jon quickly made deployments, assigning his soldiers to their respective duties. Once everything was arranged, Ygritte walked up to Jon and asked, "The southern king is dead, and his army has left. So why are you still here? You're the Lord Commander of the Night's Watch; the Wall is your place."
Jon took a deep breath and said slowly, "Precisely because I am the Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, I must stay. This is a war between the living and the dead, and we only have a chance to defeat the enemy if we stand united. Besides, how could I let you face those terrible dead armies alone?"
Ygritte's eyes flickered with emotion upon hearing his words. She reached out, grabbed Jon's collar tightly, gazed into his eyes, and said firmly, "Jon, you're such an indecisive man! But I know you love me!" With that, she leaned in and kissed Jon passionately on the lips.
Their lips met, hot and deep. Their kiss was full of power, as if trying to convey their love to the depths of each other's hearts. The surrounding people, seeing this scene, gathered around, watching with great interest, and occasionally cheering. However, their enthusiasm didn't affect Jon and Ygritte's focus.
The thin-skinned Jon initially wanted to break free, but Ygritte held him tightly, preventing him from moving. Jon sighed helplessly and finally let himself go, responding to her kiss with equal fervor. At that moment, the emotions in his heart erupted like a volcano, no longer able to be suppressed.
After a long while, the two slowly separated, their eyes filled with affection.
"I will face everything in the future with you," Jon said softly.
Ygritte smiled, so brightly that the whole world seemed to brighten because of her. Hand in hand, they turned to face the fire, ready to meet the challenges ahead.
The peaceful time was always short, and soon it was around four in the afternoon. The White Walker's side had movement, the fleet first discovered the enemy, due to the urgency of time, too late to transmit information, El directly ordered the shelling. Shells fell into the opposite cliff, producing violent explosions, accompanied by violent burning.
Originally somewhat surprised Jon, immediately reacted. His eyes widened, loudly shouting: "Enemy attack! Enemy attack! Those ghost things are on the cliff side!" His voice was full of tension and anxiety.
He quickly organized the surrounding warriors, let them be prepared for defense. However, he couldn't help but feel a pang of annoyance in his heart, because they had all overlooked an important fact - the enemy was not ordinary humans, but lifeless wights. These wights did not care about the cliffs in the ice and snow, they could easily climb up.