Chapter 55

The day for the operation finally arrived, awaited with bated breath and intense preparation. The Great Qing Navy and the Allied Fleet, like a torrent of steel, surged forward in a mighty force toward the main defensive line of the mysterious alliance. Aboard the warships, the soldiers wore solemn expressions, like warriors marching toward their execution, their hands gripping their weapons so tightly their knuckles turned white. Their eyes burned with firm resolve, as if declaring to the world that they would stop at nothing to achieve victory. Following an order from the flagship that cut through the sky, the cannons of every ship roared in unison, the sound like a thunderous tremor that churned the sea. Shells rained down upon the enemy positions, officially signaling the start of the fierce feint attack. Seeing this, the mysterious alliance reacted with the speed of a well-trained wolf pack, their main fleet turning about to meet the assault with ferocious intent. In an instant, the sea was filled with smoke, a thick haze that darkened the sky. The deafening roar of cannons seemed as though it would shatter the heavens and the earth. The warships of both sides surged back and forth in the smog-filled waters, locked in a thrilling exchange of fire.