Under the Legion Commander’s direction, the charging fleet slightly adjusted their course without any pause. Following the diagonally pointed flags, they veered away from the Mexica’s main force of large boats and in an instant, burst through the enemy’s defense line, continuing forward with an arc. Soon, the vast fleet swept past the frontline battlefield like the wind, accelerating towards the downstream of the Lerma River.
Xiulote was taken aback for a moment, then quickly understood.
"With the wind and water at our backs, speed up to the fastest, straight downstream... they’re fleeing!"
The Young Commander swiftly waved the signal flag, and the third volley of Fire Arrows was launched, taking another ten-plus large boats with them. But the remaining Chapala fleet didn’t linger, escaping into the Rivermouth leading downstream with the speed of a charge.
Xiulote watched the fleeing fleet, out of reach, and then turned his gaze back to the still raging battlefield. His eyes then settled on the lake surface not far away, where many Samurai were struggling to swim, many others with only light injuries. The Young Commander also thought of the unknown complex hydrology downstream and made the decision not to divide his forces to pursue any further.
More than eighty large boats carrying half of the Chapala Samurai, and over three hundred small boats with less than two thousand Militia, thus escaped from the blood and fire of the battlefield. Ahead of them lay the Lake Region, their homeland.
Xiulote once again commanded the fleet, with Black Wolf’s flagship gradually moving forward, and the large boats on both wings closing in towards the burning battlefield. His gaze pierced through the drifting smoke and refocused on the center of the battle.
Encircled by flames on the outskirts, Ospai swung his Bronze Axe and Great Shield, colliding with Annatri’s Spear. The Naval Corps Commanders clashed again fiercely in battle.
The female warrior used her Spear with precise thrusts; the "Crocodile" Nobility half sank his body, accurately blocking with his Great Shield. Then, Ospai’s eyes bulged as he steadily advanced, continuously chopping at the spear shaft with his Bronze Axe. Annatri carefully withdrew her spear to evade, occasionally countering with a stab, forcing the opponent back. Both Commanders were equally skilled in Martial Arts, and for a time, neither could do much against the other.
Seeing no breakthrough, Ospai roared loudly.
At the call, Green Vine Kulucha let out a low growl. He sidestepped forward, taking a blow from a Mexica Samurai’s War Club, his Leather Armor ripped open with a "tear." Then, clutching the spear shaft halfway, he quickly jabbed two short thrusts, deeply penetrating his opponent’s side, who immediately cried out in agony.
Kulucha hesitated not a bit, turning around without concern for his foe’s life or death. He took a quick glance, then lunged two steps forward, rear-holding the spear shaft, stabbing at the female warrior from behind and the side.
Annatri was forced to retreat rapidly, her trusted aide coming to her aid, only to be successively slain by Kulucha. Caught between the pincer attack of the "Crocodile" and "Green Vine," the female warrior quickly found herself at a disadvantage, beset with danger at every turn.
Watching this unfold, Xiulote’s expression turned grave atop the high platform. He took out a Longbow, pulled it open, and placed a Copper Arrow upon it, squinting towards the front. After a moment, as the female warrior was forced to retreat again, the Young Commander suddenly released his hold, and the arrow flew like lightning!
Ospai cried out in pain as the Bronze Axe in his right hand fell to the ground. He was pouncing forward when a Copper Arrow suddenly struck. The precise arrow penetrated the shield’s gap, breaking through the armor on his right arm, deeply embedding nearly a quarter. Having been wounded in the left arm by an arrow previously, which took months to heal, he now suffered an arrow to the right arm and was momentarily unable to continue fighting.
Thinking thus, the "Crocodile" Nobility turned towards the direction from which the arrow had come, bellowing in anger.
"Ratfish! How dare you launch a sneak attack!"
Seeing their Commander injured, several nearby trusted aides immediately took up their shields, stepping forward to cover their Commander’s retreat. A few Samurai formed a Spear Formation, holding off the nimble female warrior.
Kulucha heard the shout, looking around for the sneaking enemy, and then his face drained of color. He recognized the retreating Chapala fleet and saw the Mexica’s large boats pressing in from the wings, quickly returning to the side of his wounded Commander.
"Commander, the situation is critical, we must retreat quickly!"
Ospai glared with wide eyes, turning to his beloved general.
"How can we retreat! We still have the Chapala fleet, and there’s still a chance to win!"
"Legion Commander, the Chapala Legion has fled! We have lost the battle!"
The "Crocodile" noble incredulously rose to his feet. He looked behind, where only countless burning large boats and a few scattered small boats remained. He then looked to the front and side, seeing a line of ignited large boats that marked an expensive path of escape. At the end of that path, at the rivermouth, the last silhouettes of ships could be made out, flying bird banners vaguely visible.
Ospia flew into a furious rage, then suddenly felt a pain in his chest and a sweet taste in his throat, spitting out a mouthful of fresh blood.
"Ratfish! Ah, pff...the ones who were supposed to fight fled first... Crocodiles and Ratfish, how can they scheme great affairs together!"
The "Crocodile" noble was still furiously shouting with a face blackened by smoke and fire. A few more cries of agony were heard not far away. Ospia focused his gaze and saw the relentless female samurai had already stabbed several samurais to death and was charging at them once again.
"Legion Commander, retreat quickly! Remove the Marshal’s Battle Garb, switch to a light boat, and leave the battlefield to the south. The rivermouth fortress can still hold; I will cover your retreat!"
Kulucha knelt on one knee, with the resolution of death on his face. He saluted one last time, then once again lifted his spear to meet Annatri.
Ospia extended his painful arm, but could not catch the departing samurai. Kulucha courageously charged forward, leaving him only a rear view.
"Green Vine...you..."
The loyal samurais exchanged glances, quickly stripped the "Crocodile" Family Head of his war clothes. Then, pushing and shoving, they placed the commander onto a small boat specifically prepared for the flagship, accompanied by a few trusted aides to row. The remaining family samurais saluted one last time, saying goodbye to the lord they had served for generations, and then turned back into the fray.
The fire blazed furiously, enshrouding the central battlefield in smoke, and while the departure of the small boat drew attention, its trail was quickly obscured. Sharp conch sounds arose from the "Crocodile" bannered large boat, two consecutive blasts, relaying two contradictory orders. One was for a full retreat; the other, to cover the rear in battle!
On the battlefield, the remaining Tarasco Naval Forces paused upon hearing the signals. The large boats and small boats hesitated for a moment, then made different choices. The loyal family samurais continued to control the large boats, sacrificing themselves to hold the rear. The conscripted Militia rowed their small boats, hastily fleeing south without hesitation.
Hundreds of small boats fleeing southward like a panicked school of fish, chaotically crisscrossing, constantly weaving paths. Amidst the chaos, a brand-new small boat sped into the southbound fleet. Under the cover of countless small boats, this boat disappeared from the watchful eyes, no longer distinguishable.
On the escaping small boat, Ospia, with a face blackened with soot and a heart torn with grief, took one final look toward the northern battlefield. He saw the century-old "Crocodile" banner collapse, three thousand family samurais perish, the two hundred-year legacy of a glorious family destroyed in an instant! At this thought, he couldn’t help but have wet eyes, shedding "Crocodile" tears.
As he escaped toward the southern rivermouth, the "Crocodile" noble turned back and committed the Black Wolf’s banner to memory.
"We will meet again!"
Ospia declared solemnly, his expression shadowed.
Below the banner, the Young Commander seemed to sense something. He wore a victorious smile, gazing towards the southern rivermouth of Lake Yuriria, and beyond to the rivermouth fortress a hundred miles away.
"We will meet again!"
Xiulote, full of self-confidence, laughed out loud.
The long wind swept across the burning lake, engraving all vows and laughter in the winds of history, just decisive naval battle for the realm!