Chapter 1

Admiral Yi, while you seem eager to redeem yourself, I fear the Navy will never recover from the slaughter at Chilcheollyang . Chancellor Hideoyoshi and his Japan are now masters of the sea and he has over hundreds of vessels to assert his will. While your courage to repel such a horde shows exemplary conduct, your actions will only result in a pointless death for you and your men. Therefore, as per my Royal Decree, you are to thoroughly dismantle what remains of your fleet and stand fast with our combined armies in the defense of our land.

May you find success on land as you have at sea.

King Seonjo of Joseon

*

Your Majesty, your humble servant still hold 12 ships under his command and as long as he and his men live, the enemy shall never be safe on the sea.

-Admiral Yi Sun-sin

*

Lord Kurushima Michifusa does not understand. He counts only thirteen ships tucked away in this little narrow strait, his ships, innumerable and larger in stature, more akin to floating castles than vessels ferrying warriors, can easily board and overwhelm this pathetic remnant of Joseon's Navy. 

And yet, he cannot shake this feeling of unease. He expels a humorless chuckle, concluding it must be Admiral Yi rallying the desperate remnants. 

"It's never easy with you is it, you bastard?" Muchifusa growls. "It doesn't matter. No clever tricks, your cannons, nothing can stop us now."

Victory has been ours for a long time now. This is just hitting the final nail on the coffin for Admiral Yi Sun Sin.

"My lord?" 

The voice of his attendant pulls him back to reality. Muchifusa grunts permitting him to speak. 

"Shall we at least demand them to surrender?" 

Michifusa shakes his head. "If they refused to see reason the moment we plundered their shores, how will they now?" 

"So... we're to begin the attack them then?" 

A twisted grin curls across Michifusa's face. "Slaughter every single last one of them." 

The beating drums and bugling shells gently rock Michifusa as his ship, and many others spur forward to victory. 

No matter the cost.

*

As the anchor plunges to the depths, my vessel rotates hard to starboard ready defend the established perimeter with our lives.

The enemy approaches, the reports recorded over hundreds of vessels of robbers and demons, hungry for another boarding party slaughter.

That must be avoided at all cost!

"Well... they're pouring in." The strange dialect of Toshisuna reaches my ears.

His words ring true. It is comforting to see them pouring into the Strait of Myeongnyang, threatening to clog it. 

"I wonder if my old lord is among them." His laugh is low and dry. 'Twould be a thrill to claim his head before his minions butcher their disgraced turncoat."

"Don't fantasize of your revenge now, Lord Toshisuna, you are needed here and now."

Toshisuna bows, despite his disappointment. "Yes, my lord." He gazes back at the robbers raging towards us. "Still, we will need to be ready should they ever board us."

'Should they ever board us' That is the worst possible scenario that is very much a reality. Even so, with their numbers choking the narrow path forward, we will make them pay dearly for such a demonic venture.

"Sir!" A junior officer dashes towards me, with growing concern in his eyes. "The rest of the fleethave fallen out of formation! We're too far out!"

My attention is directed towards the flanks of my vessel to see that the other captains have faltered in both speed and spirit.

Teeth clench beneath my closed mouth. Their cowardice will cost us this battle!

"Fools!" Toshisuma growls. "Do they wish for us to lose so easily?"

"We need to rejoin the fleet!" Panic grows in my junior's voice. We're in too deep!"

"Calm yourself! You're an officer!" My bark stills his nerves. "We are to hold here. Hoist the colors and prepare the first volley!"

Hesitation plagues my junior for a moment but remedies himself as he relays my order.

The wind blows with such fury before the rapid flapping of the flagship's flag towers over the vessel. The night sky and the constellations of heaven, proudly sewn, now fearlessly stands tall ready for what is to come.

I turn to Tushisuma. "Signal the fleet: Order them to form up on our perimeter or suffer the consequences!"

"Yes, my lord!" Tushisuma wastes no time signaling our ships with flags.

As for us, the flagship, with our clumsy foes inching towards us, there is only one sensible thing to do.

"FIRE!"

The sound of cannons roaring and arrows loosening work in perfect unison as the enemy charges at us at full speed. The sight of our foes vessels splintering and fracturing into the current is sure to boost the morale of my men, but as the rest of my fleet failed to advanced, I cannot assure our victory.

Still no response from the rest of the fleet. Another order is given, once more, for our rest of our fear ridden ships comply with my command and reinforce our perimeter. Though I'm not surprise that fear and the instinct to survive has gotten the better of the majority of my sailors as well as my officers.

A crisp and hard exhale from my nostrils comes as I accept the harsh reality that we alone are fated to fight, and eventually be slaughtered by the Japanese horde.

I cling to the blessings of our men's gunnery prowess and the earth forbidding the robbers to encircle and trap us, no matter how fleeting that feeling is.

Our objective is simple: Survive until the moment presents itself. 

If it presents itself.

But the first wave, although bloodied and battered, still pressed on. And with the current hastening their speed, it will only be a matter of time before they would board the flagship and butcher us all.

Countermeasures must be put in place.

As my arrow loosed from my bow, being lost in the volley, another order is relayed to one of my juniors to prepare for boarding parties, and have the cannons loaded with shrapnel shells. But before he could comply, a shout reaches my ears.

"They're coming! A ship is coming! We're saved!"

I didn't even have time to turn before my peripheral vision catches an enemy ship on the far right being immolated by cannon shots that are not of our doing. The flagship is plagued with euphoria as these young men cheered with glee as only one of our ships have come to reinforce our perimeter.

It seems Lord An Wi has overcome his petrification as he comes to our flank.

"Admiral!" He cries, proudly raising his bow. His will to fight will greatly aid our defense.

"Do you want to be hanged under court martial, Lord An?" My howl holds no reserve on my frustration on his insolence, but now that he's here, he can redeem himself. "Do you want to die by military command? Do you still believe you can live if the enemy presses on?"

My words rekindle his determination and will to fight and stands much taller now.

Satisfied by his answer, no time is wasted on issuing him orders.

"Form up and prepare to fire on my order only!"

"Yes sir!"

Coordination with An Li begins as he holds his fire, waiting for my full barrage to be unleashed.

As the enemy closes in, we stand ready to deliver another devastating blow.

"And fire!" My command is followed by a crisp wave of my hand, signaling An Wi and his vessel to do the same.

The bittersweet hammering of our guns smashed against my ears. Black clouds of smoke linger before vanishing leaving the rich bitter scent spiraling in my nostrils.

As I hoped, the additional firepower and the precise accuracy hammers several vessels, rendering them inoperable. It might have slowed the enemy, but it certainly has not stopped them.

And with the enemy's arquebuses now unleashing endless volleys at us, bypassing our shields, and slowly picking off my men one by one, it's only a matter of time before the battle is lost.

Even in tatters, they continue to press on.

"More rounds! We need more rounds!"

"We couldn't find any!"

"What are you guys talking about?! We're good to go over here!"

"There's gotta be more below decks, right?"

"Ahh shit... we're screwed, are we?"

Panic. It's an enemy that now decides to spring out the farthest depths of the men's spirits. After the disaster of Chilcheollyang, how can I blame these young men for wavering? But they must crush their fear and quick otherwise all will truly be lost!

If not, we will be defeated without these pirates finding the courage to board us!

The grimace across my face is quickly suppressed before resting a wounded junior behind cover. We expended more of our ammunition than I hoped, and it would not be long before there would be brawls the remainder of our inventory!

Gripping my bow, no time is wasted in marching forward, halting close to the edge and as my arrow finds its target, loosens. A second passes before the wooden railing of the ship splinters and crackles from the enemy's guns but I cannot feel that burning ball in any part of my body thankfully.

Whether or not the arrow found its mark matters not, for everyone upon the deck ceases their spiral into pure fear as their attention is directed to me.

"Are any of you not paying attention?!" I roar witnessing all eyes on me. "Though the enemy may boast of his vast fleet, he will not dare board us!" Those of you who dare wish to flee in the face of legion, remember: the robbers are upon us! And their dog legs, especially at this distance, will shred any of you before you abandon ship! There is no turning back now, for those who seek life will perish, but those who seek death shall live! Steel yourselves and fight the enemy with everything you got!"

Those few brief seconds of paralyzed silence weigh heavy within me but is quickly lifted by the men resound cries and instilled wills.

The order is given for a quick inventory count as I stand ready to fully commit to shrapnel rounds. We'll even fire our oars, our effects, everything we have left from our guns if we must!

Toshisuna comes before me flashing a grim smile. "One cannot ask for finer words, My lord."

As honored as I am, this is not the time for flattery. "Reload our cannons. All cannons and archers fire on my order only."

With my order relayed, Toshisuna wastes no time mimicking my command. Already, I feel the brows above my eyes fall sharply, likely forming several grim wrinkles to this already leathery visage. This is to be it. After the first shot, maybe a second, if the heavens will it, the robbers will be bludgeoned. But now, our fate is certain. The enemy, though battered, will board, and kills us all.

All we can do now is make the devils pay dearly for this victory.