The Archipelago

Blood Bath - The Last Gamble

The journey back was somber, the weight of their losses heavy on the shoulders of the North's warriors. Alesia knew that the path ahead would be fraught with challenges, but she remained resolute. The battle against the South and the Middle Lands was just beginning, and she was prepared to face whatever lay ahead with unwavering determination.

As the North's fleet continued its retreat from the South's overwhelming naval forces, Alesia stood resolute on the deck of her flagship, her eyes narrowing as she watched the enemy ships on the horizon. The battle had taken its toll, and the South's dominance was undeniable. Yet Alesia was not one to surrender easily.

Turning sharply, she fixed her gaze on David, who was trying to make sense of their dire situation. His confusion was palpable, his movements unsteady from the residual effects of the poison still coursing through him.

"David," Alesia called out, her voice steady despite the chaos around them. "I need you to understand something crucial."

David looked at her, his expression a mix of bewilderment and fatigue. "What are you talking about? What more can we do?"

Alesia's gaze was unyielding. "You are the key to our victory. Your blood, the poison that courses through your veins, has the power to turn the tide of this battle."

Before David could respond, Alesia's guards moved swiftly. Their armored forms were imposing as they approached him. David instinctively recoiled, trying to defend himself. "What are you doing? I don't understand!"

Alesia approached him, her expression firm. "You are the only way to destroy our enemies' ships. Your blood will act as a corrosive agent, capable of breaching their defenses."

David's eyes widened in horror as the guards prepared to restrain him. "You can't be serious! If you do this, it will kill me!"

Alesia remained resolute. "It's a sacrifice we must make. The survival of our people, the future of our kingdom, depends on this. You are not expendable, but this is the only chance we have."

The guards, following Alesia's orders, carefully restrained David and led him to the edge of the ship. The cold wind whipped around them, the sea below churning with the turbulence of their retreat. David struggled, but his weakened state made it difficult to resist.

Alesia stood back, her expression a mixture of determination and sorrow. "Make sure it's done swiftly."

With that, the guards began their grim task. They cut David's wrists, allowing his blood to drip into the sea. As it touched the water, the blood began to sizzle and hiss, reacting violently with the saltwater. The once clear ocean below was quickly tainted with the corrosive substance.

The effect was almost immediate. The South's ships, which had previously seemed invulnerable, began to show signs of distress. The metal hulls of the enemy vessels reacted to the poison, their surfaces bubbling and corroding. The South's advanced technology, which had seemed impervious, was now being compromised.

David's face was pale, and he looked at Alesia with a mixture of pain and disbelief. "You... you used me as a weapon?"

Alesia approached him, her voice softening slightly. "I didn't want this, but it was the only way. We had no choice."

As the enemy ships began to falter, their once-imposing presence was now in disarray. The South's fleet, though formidable, was not immune to the corrosive power of David's blood. The tide of the battle began to shift.