The six dragons ruled the skies, turning the sea into a blazing inferno.
The Triarchy fleet collapsed into total chaos — some ships fled desperately, others fought back in suicidal counterattacks. The battlefield descended into pure pandemonium.
Logar circled on the Cannibal through the smoke and flames, constantly ordering bursts of dragonfire. The number of ships he had destroyed and enemies he had killed was already beyond counting.
"Sheepstealer! Faster!"
Beside him, Nettles rode the wild dragon Sheepstealer. The lowborn girl, now a dragonrider, was buzzing with exhilaration as she flew through the sky.
As the only girl on the battlefield, her movements were quick and graceful. She and Sheepstealer burned ship after ship, sending enemy soldiers into terrified panic.
To Logar's right, Addam darted back and forth on Sea Smoke, his silver-grey flames striking with pinpoint accuracy, burning through rudders and leaving ships helpless.
Prince Jacaerys on Vermax charged ahead like a comet. As Rhaenyra's heir, he showed zero fear of danger — in fact, he seemed determined to prove himself, always pushing to the front.
The three of them wove between the dragons, relentless and tireless.
Only Logar slowed for a moment. Riding the Cannibal through the chaos, his mind suddenly drifted. The enemy ships below seemed to fade, and even the wind in his ears grew distant.
He watched Vermithor and Silverwing fly overhead and suddenly thought of Baela.
That reckless, straightforward, slightly silly princess — what was she doing back on Dragonstone right now? Was she still sneaking around on Moondancer like a wild tomboy?
The thought lasted only a split second before several sharp arrows whistled past his cheek, snapping him back to reality.
From the ships below, Triarchy soldiers who knew they couldn't escape cursed furiously and kept firing arrows and throwing spears skyward in a desperate last stand.
Logar had the Cannibal climb higher, surveying the battlefield from above. His brow slowly furrowed.
By his rough count, they had only destroyed about twenty enemy ships so far. Most of the fleet was still intact and scattering in every direction — many heading straight into the Gullet, toward Tidehead Island.
His own side was exhausted. Six dragons had been breathing fire nonstop. Their roars had grown hoarse.
The Cannibal had the greatest endurance and could still spit flames in bursts, but even he was breathing heavily now.
Vermithor moved slowly but with immense dignity, his bronze flames devastating everything they touched.
Sheepstealer, Sea Smoke, Vermax, and Silverwing were all panting, their wingbeats slowing noticeably.
Especially Sheepstealer — its scales were splattered with blood and it looked visibly tired.
"This won't work," Logar thought. "There are too many ships. If they scatter, we can't stop them all. If even a few reach Tidehead, it'll be a disaster."
He remembered the original timeline: after Jacaerys and the dragons intercepted the Triarchy fleet in the Gullet, some ships still broke through to Tidehead. They had massacred villages and looted everything Corlys had built over decades.
Logar didn't care about the Sea Snake's personal losses, but he had placed huge orders on Tidehead while rebuilding the Stepstones. He couldn't let those get destroyed!
Just then, Jacaerys flew over on Vermax, sweat on his forehead but eyes shining with excitement. "Lord Sea Burner, this battle is incredible! With six dragons attacking together, these bastards don't stand a chance!"
"Your Highness," Logar said gravely, "the enemy ships are scattering. I need to go after them. We can't let any reach Tidehead. If they land, the consequences will be catastrophic."
Jacaerys followed his gaze and saw countless ships fleeing in all directions toward the inner Narrow Sea. His expression hardened. "You're right! We cannot allow them to threaten Tidehead or Dragonstone!"
He made the decision instantly. "You take some of us and pursue them. I'll stay with Hugh, Ulf, and Addam to clean up the rest here, then come support you!"
"Agreed." Logar nodded, then looked at Nettles. "You're with me."
"Yes, Lord Logar!" Her eyes sparkled with excitement. Even though Sheepstealer was tired, she refused to fall behind.
It seemed that simply being able to fight at Logar's side filled her with pure joy.
Jacaerys turned to Hugh Hammer, Ulf the White, and Addam. "Hugh, Ulf, Addam — stay with me and finish off the enemies in this area. We'll join Lord Sea Burner as soon as we're done."
"As you command, Your Highness," Addam replied seriously, though worry flashed in his eyes as he looked toward the fleeing ships and then at the eager Jacaerys. He opened his mouth but said nothing.
Hugh and Ulf exchanged glances, both clearly reluctant, but they lazily acknowledged the order.
They had no real desire to chase escaping ships anyway. Staying here let them claim more glory and loot — why not?
Logar, concerned about his own Stepstones being threatened, wasted no more time. "Let's go!"
The Cannibal let out a deep roar and shot forward after the fleeing ships. Nettles and Sheepstealer followed close behind, two dragon shadows slicing through the sky.
They had only flown a few miles when Logar's eyes suddenly narrowed.
Ahead on the sea, one black-sailed warship stood out sharply, flying the banners of the Triarchy. On its deck stood a heavily scarred, burly man waving his sword and shouting orders, commanding his ships to scatter and break through.
Logar would never forget that face.
It was Sharako Lohar!
The old enemy he had captured multiple times, the man who had nearly killed him several times over.
This time, he would not let him escape again.
"Sharako Lohar," Logar whispered, killing intent surging in his eyes. "Last time I captured you and handed you to the queen, only for Lys to ransom you back with gold. I won't give you that chance again."
Sharako looked up at almost the same moment and saw the figure riding the massive black dragon.
When he clearly recognized Logar's face, his expression turned deathly pale, soul nearly leaving his body.
"Sea Burner Logar!"
He never imagined that the rider of this terrifying black dragon was the very man he hated most — the one who had burned his fleet and captured him before.
In utter shock and terror, he screamed at the top of his lungs: "Scatter! All ships break formation and run! Don't worry about keeping ranks!"
Sharako knew exactly how dangerous the Cannibal was. He didn't dare face it head-on. He immediately ordered the other ships to turn and flee into the Gullet, clearly willing to sacrifice them as decoys.
"Damn coward!" Logar's eyes turned ice-cold. He commanded the Cannibal to unleash green flame, instantly destroying two ships that tried to block him. But Sharako's flagship had already pulled several miles ahead.
Several ships moved to intercept, their soldiers — facing certain death — fought with desperate courage they had never shown before, firing crossbows and throwing spears to slow Logar down.
Logar understood perfectly. Sharako was determined to escape and would not be caught easily.
"Run then," he said with a cold smile, gently stroking the Cannibal's scales.
"This time, even if you flee to the ends of the earth, I will personally send you to hell."
Man and dragon became a black streak of lightning, tearing through the ships in their path before chasing relentlessly after Sharako Lohar's fleeing flagship.