The enemy ships stopped at the edge of the inlet.
Not entering immediately.
Not retreating.
Waiting.
Kevin stood on the deck of the anchored ship, watching them without moving.
Carina stayed nearby, checking the supplies and damaged planks the shipwrights had left unfinished.
"…They're not rushing in."
Kevin replied calmly.
"…They are confirming conditions."
Carina frowned.
"…Conditions for what?"
Kevin's eyes remained on the sea.
"…Whether we are cornered."
The enemy formation slowly adjusted.
Three ships again.
But now tighter spacing. Cleaner alignment.
They had learned from the chase.
Carina noticed it too.
"…They look more serious now."
Kevin nodded slightly.
"…Yes."
Then added—
"…So do we."
The ship was only partially repaired.
Not fully restored.
But functional enough for movement and combat.
That was intentional.
Kevin had stopped waiting for perfect conditions.
He stepped forward.
"…We will not delay further."
Carina blinked.
"…Now?"
Kevin nodded.
"…Now."
He began pulling ropes himself.
Final adjustments.
Sail tension increased.
Rudder checked.
Hull confirmed stable enough for movement.
Carina helped without hesitation now.
Not asking questions anymore.
Just acting.
"…You really decided fast."
Kevin replied.
"…Decision was already made earlier."
The anchor was lifted.
The ship moved forward.
Not away.
Not sideways.
Directly toward open water.
Toward the enemy formation.
Carina's eyes widened slightly.
"…We're going out to meet them?"
Kevin nodded.
"…Yes."
The enemy ships reacted immediately.
They had expected waiting.
Not approach.
Now the formation shifted.
Central ship advanced first.
Two flankers adjusted outward.
Preparing full interception.
Carina tightened her grip on the railing.
"…This is really happening."
Kevin answered simply.
"…Yes."
The distance closed quickly.
No cannon fire yet.
Both sides were reading each other.
Waiting for first move.
Carina looked at Kevin.
"…What's the plan?"
Kevin replied.
"…Remove coordination."
The first cannon fired.
Not from all ships.
Only one.
Testing.
Kevin shifted the helm slightly.
The shot missed wide.
Carina flinched.
"…Okay, they started."
Kevin nodded.
"…Yes."
The second volley came.
Better timed.
Multiple angles.
Kevin didn't evade fully.
He redirected through wave timing instead.
The ship slipped between impact zones.
Carina watched closely.
"…You're using the waves again."
Kevin replied.
"…Always."
The enemy captain now stepped forward on the central ship.
He shouted across the water.
"You chose confrontation."
Kevin didn't respond immediately.
He adjusted sails.
Then spoke.
"…You forced structure collapse."
The captain narrowed his eyes.
"…Then we end it properly."
All three ships moved at once now.
No more testing.
Full pressure engagement.
Carina stepped back slightly.
"…Okay, this is serious now."
Kevin nodded.
"…Yes."
Then added—
"…Stay inside safe movement zone."
The battle began properly.
Cannons fired in overlapping sequences.
Water exploded around the ship.
The hull shook under impact waves.
Carina held onto a rope.
"…We can't keep dodging forever!"
Kevin replied.
"…We won't."
He shifted direction suddenly—not away, but into a narrow timing gap between two volleys.
The ship surged forward.
BOOM—
Explosions hit behind.
Carina gasped.
"…That was close!"
Kevin didn't slow.
"…Continue."
The enemy formation tightened again.
But now coordination was slightly delayed.
Still recovering from earlier damage and chase fatigue.
Kevin saw it.
"…Window forming."
He drove the ship directly into the central spacing gap again.
Not escaping.
Engaging.
Carina realized it.
"…We're breaking through them!"
Kevin nodded.
"…Yes."
The ship forced into the formation edge.
One escort ship collided slightly with wave timing and lost position briefly.
That was enough.
Kevin immediately adjusted.
"…Chain break initiated."
Chaos began spreading through the formation.
Not full collapse yet.
But misalignment growing rapidly.
The captain shouted orders.
But response timing lagged.
Carina's eyes widened.
"…They're falling apart!"
Kevin replied calmly.
"…Structure failure accelerating."
One escort ship pulled too far back.
Another advanced too early.
Formation integrity broke.
The central ship was now partially exposed.
Carina looked at Kevin.
"…Now what?"
Kevin answered simply.
"…Finish it."
He turned the ship directly toward the central vessel.
No more evasion.
No more gap usage.
Direct engagement.
Carina swallowed slightly.
"…Okay… this is it."
Kevin stepped forward slightly.
Sword hand ready.
Eyes steady.
"…End of structure."
The ship closed distance.
Cannons fired from both sides.
But now less coordinated.
Kevin adjusted once.
Twice.
Then committed.
The ship surged through final wave timing gap.
Straight toward the enemy captain's vessel.
Impact point approaching.
Both ships now nearly parallel.
The enemy captain raised his blade.
Kevin drew his.
Carina held her breath.
"…This is the final clash…"
BOOM—
The ships collided at controlled angle through wave impact.
Wood cracked.
Water sprayed.
Steel met steel.
Kevin stepped forward instantly.
And the fight finally began in close range.