Night had completely fallen. Beyond the fleet's lights lay only dense darkness, bottomless.
There was no need to wait for an answer.
Joffrey stretched, then put his arm around Miss Desmera Redwyne and returned to the cabin.
After learning his true identity as a "Dragonborn Knight," the innocent maiden had become even more enthusiastic, which was worth savoring slowly.
Theon respectfully watched the King depart, then turned back towards the battlefield.
He knew that King Joffrey's departure didn't signify a halftime break, but the real beginning, the final hunt.
Ding~
The Light Screen's signal was so timely and clear that everyone understood the change in circumstances.
No further orders were needed.
The massive Fleet had already begun to move as a whole.
Soon.
Hundreds of warships formed six circular formations, three layers inside and three layers outside, circling like a great whirlpool on the sea surface.
This wasn't just for show.
Theon's attention remained focused on the Battle Map on the Light Screen. This was where the latest and most crucial Information could always be seen.
The Deep Blue background hadn't changed.
But now, at the center of a large cluster of White Arrows was a constantly pulsing Pitch Black Kraken pattern, with no direction indicated.
This was reasonable.
An Underwater Kraken was certainly much more agile than Ships At Sea. Even if its head was facing you, it wouldn't prevent it from darting up, down, left, or right the next moment, or even spraying water at you to get away.
This was the truth. Krakens in the Ocean indeed possessed an unparalleled Natural Advantage.
Legendary Krakens had always been terrifying Magical Beasts.
Ships floating on the sea surface were merely stationary Targets to it, to be toyed with at will.
It could launch a Sneak Attack from the Ship Bottom;
Suddenly appear from the front, back, left, or right of a Vessel, dragging the entire Ship straight down to the Seabed, drowning everyone on board, and collecting the Vessel in its "Treasure Vault";
Or leisurely play a hunting game, thoroughly teasing the weak humans until they died in despair.
If a Vessel was too dangerous, possessing weapons that could threaten the Kraken, it could also ignore everything and dive into the Deep Sea to hibernate or move away. The Vessels At Sea could only wander around reluctantly for a while, with the final outcome being a helpless retreat.
Perhaps Uncle Euron thought the same way.
Relying on the Deep Sea.
But Theon knew even better that King Joffrey's Fleet was definitely not just going to stand by and watch.
Currently.
The map was showing the Fleet's countermeasure - Depth Charges.
The Fleet's Circular Sailing was precisely for this.
Theon stared at the map.
The Kraken's position hadn't changed at all, but its surroundings were already covered with dense Orange-Red Light Spots. Those were heavy and ferocious Bombs.
Theon had witnessed their Power.
One could tear apart Flesh and Blood and Steel within a dozen meters of the surrounding Water Area, creating violent Cavitation Bubbles, whirlpools, and Waves.
Even if the Kraken took one hit, it certainly wouldn't feel good.
And these Bombs had already filled all the Water Areas around the Kraken. Their number was so large that they could form several large Warships.
Want to escape from the Seabed?
That was already impossible.
The Seabed was indeed very deep, but not so deep that Depth Charges were helpless.
By setting up a few more Bombs in the same direction, the Underwater gaps could be successfully sealed off. Even after considering the depth, the extra Bombs consumed were still bearable.
It was also because of this that Theon finally learned the depth of the Water around the Shield Islands.
The deepest point was only over fifty meters.
King Joffrey said that the Shield Islands Water Area was within the range of Westeros's Continental Shelf.
The depth of the sea on the Continental Shelf generally does not exceed 200 meters. The Shield Islands are closer to the land, and the sea depth is also shallower.
"Continental Shelf," a strange term that only Maesters seemed to know.
But Theon had already understood:
Even at the deepest point of over fifty meters, only three Depth Charges were needed to seal it off.
The result was clear. Once the "Fishing Net" was successfully cast, the prey trapped in the middle truly had no way to escape.
Yet the Kraken remained motionless, allowing the Warships to swim around it.
Just like an ignorant fawn targeted by a hunter.
Theon sighed silently, resolving never to let himself fall into such a pathetic and lamentable situation in the future.
Intelligence!
Theon had never felt the importance of intelligence so clearly.
Know yourself and your enemy, and you will never be defeated.
Theon had personally witnessed the opposite example of this teaching.
Euron Crow's Eye, his uncle, did he know his own strength? Did he know the King's strength? What were his expectations?
No wonder things turned out like this.
Ding~
Another clear prompt tone sounded. The fleet's first round of deployment was complete.
There were no more gaps around the Kraken; the orange-red light spots connected into a solid line, forming a dense circle.
The "fishing net" made of bombs was extremely tight.
The heaviest depth charges were settled among the sand and rocks on the deeper seabed, with lighter bombs tied a dozen meters above them, and so on upwards, all the way to the hollow buoys floating on the surface.
The Kraken's aura had been marked on the bombs; as long as it approached, it would trigger an explosion. With surveillance, the Commanders and the Security Bureau could also trigger them actively.
The fishing net was woven. Theon knew. Next, it was time to drive the fish.
A fleet detached from the encirclement and sailed inwards.
Ooh—
A piercing whistle entered the sky and ocean, startling the quiet Kraken awake.
Crow's Eye immediately opened the Kraken's huge eyes.
He had been resting just now.
Controlling such a massive and intelligent Kraken was by no means simple. If not for the help of a Deity in the unseen, it would likely be impossible.
Fortunately, Crow's Eye still had a Black-Pupiled Blood Eye with magic power, which barely suppressed the Kraken's resistance. Coupled with other methods, he finally turned the Kraken into his own power.
Even so, Crow's Eye often felt the tearing collapse of the blood eye and mental chaos.
The Kraken's pain was also transmitted to him with double intensity.
Therefore, unless necessary, he would not let the Kraken move too violently.
Especially now.
Crow's Eye had begun to doubt whether he had truly tamed the Kraken.
A Deity's help.
The Deity's prophecy had failed, so could this help also be withdrawn?
He couldn't get an answer yet.
Crow's Eye could only control the Kraken more cautiously, doing his utmost not to let it resist.
Fortunately, the Kraken was still obedient for now.
Crow's Eye controlled the huge head and looked around. The next moment, it spat out a violent current of water!
So many iron balls!
Were those the kind of flames from the surface?!
Crow's Eye's heart sank, realizing that his prediction had completely failed.
The deep sea could not protect the Kraken!
Must leave immediately! Crow's Eye made a decisive decision.
Then.
It turned in a circle.
But it remained in place on the seabed.
Crow's Eye's anger and astonishment were clearly reflected in the Kraken's eyes.
There were iron balls in all directions!
It was like a great net!
Crow's Eye looked upwards. A fleet was cruising on the surface of the sea above him, with strings of iron balls hanging from the ship bottoms, and they were constantly dropping more!
Clearly, the Kraken's location would no longer be safe either.
Which way to go?
Crow's Eye's thoughts raced. Over the iron net? No. The iron balls on the ships were even more fierce and numerous, and their power near the surface was still immense.
Moreover, it would take longer.
Only attempt to break through the iron net! At the fastest speed!
Crow's Eye locked onto the direction.
But the next moment, a cold, rough will squeezed into his soul!
Ooooh~~~
The kraken let out a long cry, carrying obvious excitement and joy.
Crow's Eye fought back with all his might!
Snap!
The kraken's hundred-meter-long tentacle broke through the surface of the sea, releasing Crow's Eye, who was between its suction cups, back into the water.
Then.
It looked towards the most conspicuous steel warship.
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