Nino was determined to perish with his ship, swinging his longsword and cutting down several surging enemies to buy time for Milo's retreat.
But how could Milo abandon his comrades and flee alone?
"No, Nino, we are both responsible for this situation, it's not just your fault.
Even if you don't want to live, can you bear to let a whole ship full of brothers die with you?
Quickly, bring your men onto my ship, we can still leave together!
Today, we either leave together or die here together!
If we all die here and no one goes back to report, then we are the true sinners!"
As he spoke, Milo's warship, instead of retreating, advanced, coming alongside Nino's warship from the left-rear, followed by a dozen soldiers who boarded and engaged in fierce combat with the Venice soldiers.
These few words touched the softest part of Nino's heart.
His own death was not to be regretted, but should these soldiers, who had followed him through life and death for many years, also perish here for nothing?
Thinking of this, Nino decisively ordered: "Everyone, evacuate to Milo's ship in order, soldiers first, then oarsmen, I will be last!"
Before he finished speaking, Nino charged forward, delivering a flying kick, and another Venice soldier stumbled into the sea, splashing water.
Most of the Tuscany soldiers on Nino's ship, relieved by the retreat order, strictly followed their captain's command, but a very few soldiers were unwilling to abandon their captain and fiercely guarded Nino.
Some terrified rowing slaves, completely uninspired by the captain, disregarded the ordered sequence and swarmed forward, scrambling to escape onto Milo's ship.
After several leading runaway slaves were mercilessly cut down by the soldiers guarding the bow of Milo's ship, the remaining slaves, out of fear, crowded back into the area of conflict.
Under the attack of the well-trained Venice Navy, the disorganized rowing slaves were cut down in swathes like harvested wheat, their blood staining the ship's deck.
Even with the promise of great profit, slave oarsmen could only amplify an advantage in a favorable battle, but could not turn the tide in adversity; this was determined by their inherent combat power and will to fight.
Seeing this, Milo called over a few of his trusted aides, who had just captured the enemy captain, Wyatt, and whispered a few words to them.
The aides then squeezed onto the ship and positioned themselves on either side of Nino.
The Venice captain who had come to rescue, hiding behind several tall soldiers, watched all of this with a smile.
Successfully delaying the enemy was already a great achievement; whether Wyatt was rescued or not was simply not important.
He didn't care, and those above cared even less.
Even if the enemy managed to successfully withdraw one ship, they couldn't take everyone, and some would inevitably be left behind.
Those who couldn't withdraw would be proof of his Credit, and if there were one or two big fish among them, he would rise rapidly in rank.
It was better to arrive at the right time than to arrive early; Wyatt, who came first, had already become a prisoner, while he, who came later, was about to become a hero.
"All soldiers and slaves, charge!
Block their escape point, hold them, and keep a close eye on the captain blocking the front, don't let him escape!"
Nino's trusted aide, while desperately swinging his sword, frantically urged: "Captain, hurry and go!
It will be too late soon!
Their target is only you; if you are left behind, all sacrifices will be in vain!"
"No!" Nino was clearer than ever at this moment, and resolutely said, "Their goal is to capture me alive and then extract our army's plans from my mouth.
As long as I die here in battle, they will still fail!
You all go quickly, I have dragged you down, do not make any more unnecessary sacrifices for me."
Saying this, Milo roughly pushed away a Venice slave blocking his path, exposing his entire body to the enemy.
With a "whoosh," an iron arrow flew, accompanied by a "thud" of flesh being pierced, and shot through Milo's right shoulder, with large amounts of blood flowing from both sides.
A sharp pain came, and Milo uncontrollably tilted backward.
Just as he was trying his best to stabilize himself, he suddenly felt a tremendous force from all around supporting him.
Before he could react to what was happening, he was suddenly lifted up.
Milo's trusted aides finally found an opportunity to lift Milo, first controlling Nino's hands and feet, which did not loosen no matter how much Nino struggled, and then turned and ran, completely ignoring the rowing slaves blocking their way.
They charged headlong, and several of their own rowing slaves were successively pushed into the water due to the immense impact.
Before Nino had recovered from the pain, he was unceremoniously carried back to Milo's ship, then held down by several soldiers, who broke off and removed the arrowhead embedded in his flesh, and bandaged the wound.
"Milo, you..." Nino struggled, wanting to question Milo, but before he could utter his words of inquiry, he fainted from the pain.
Nino's trusted aides, seeing their captain being carried away, instantly understood and followed along the created path, escorting him closely and evacuating at the same time.
At this point, on Nino's ship, only countless corpses, defenseless slaves, and completely incapacitated wounded soldiers of the Tuscany Navy remained.
"The soldiers have withdrawn, it's our turn, quick, withdraw!"
A Tuscany slave was the first to realize this, shouting as he ran towards Milo's ship.
This shout was not only to alert his companions but also a talisman to prevent himself from being directly cut down by the soldiers on Milo's ship.
Indeed, upon hearing this shout, the soldiers on Milo's ship did not strike again but allowed him to board.
However, when more slaves reacted and surged towards Milo's ship, Milo's ship began to move.
Except for a very few quick and lucky slaves who successfully climbed aboard, the others either stepped into the void and fell into the water or were helplessly left on Nino's ship.
Milo's ship accelerated to its maximum speed and sailed away, leaving the abandoned rowing slaves with no will to fight whatsoever, surrendering en masse to Venice.
Seeing this, the Venice captain, who had been hiding behind his soldiers, also stood out, full of pride.
Among the densely packed surrendering rowing slaves, the captain, with keen eyesight, spotted a Tuscany soldier whose legs had been severed.
He quickly stepped forward, forcefully pinched his jaw, lifted him up, and fiercely interrogated him: "Speak quickly!
Where has your main army gone?
What is the purpose of your staying here?
If you don't speak, I'll cut off both your hands and your head!"
"Bah! You won't be arrogant for many days, just wait for your country to fall!" The lifted Tuscany soldier cursed with a distorted face.
"Men!
Cut off both his hands and his head!"
A few seconds later, a shrill wail echoed in the air, then abruptly ceased.
Seeing this scene, another Tuscany soldier who had not managed to evacuate was trembling with fear.
Without waiting to be asked, he quickly crawled forward.
"I know, I know, I'll tell you everything, don't kill me!
The main army is going to bypass and directly attack Venice, as for where they are bypassing, I really don't know.
We were left behind to monitor you; if you pursue, we are responsible for harassing along the way and catching up with the main army to report."
"If you don't know where the main army is bypassing, how will you catch up with them?"
"Small detachments like ours left many along the way, and neighboring detachments know each other's direction."