[39] Clean up crew

The three remaining Yonkos – Cassandra, the Twin Terrors Jolly Roger and Rackham Ray, and Old Man Hawkins – converged on Blackbeard's lair with their respective fleets, seizing the opportunity to eliminate what remained of Blackbeard's power. With his main fleet decimated, the defenses of the lair, a formidable fortress built upon a series of interconnected islands, were significantly weakened.

As the alliance's ships approached, the cannons of the lair opened fire, but their efforts were feeble compared to the might of the combined fleets. The once-impenetrable fortress, known for its strategic location and formidable defenses, was now vulnerable.

Cassandra, aboard her flagship, the "Crimson Fury," led the assault. Her ship, a massive galleon adorned with her fleet's crimson banners, was at the forefront of the attack. "Fire at will! Tear down his walls!" she commanded, her voice carrying over the din of battle.

The Twin Terrors, commanding the "Shadow Serpent" and "Nightmare," flanked the "Crimson Fury," their ships sleek and agile, darting through the water as they launched volley after volley at the fortress.

Old Man Hawkins, aboard the "Wise Kraken," brought up the rear. Despite the age of his ship, it was a veteran of many battles, its cannons as deadly as any. He directed his fire at the strategic points of the fortress, his years of experience allowing him to spot weaknesses in its defenses.

The air was filled with the roar of cannons, the crash of breaking waves, and the screams of men. Cannonballs smashed into the stone walls of the fortress, causing them to crumble and collapse. The defenders, loyal to Blackbeard to the last, returned fire, but they were outnumbered and outgunned.

As the battle raged, small boats filled with pirates from the alliance's fleet made their way to the shore, engaging in brutal hand-to-hand combat with the defenders. The fighting was fierce and bloody, with neither side giving quarter.

The fortress, once thought impregnable, began to show signs of collapse. Walls that had stood for decades under the rule of Blackbeard crumbled under the relentless bombardment. Fires broke out in various sections, the smoke billowing into the sky, signaling the end of an era.

Cassandra, watching the destruction from the deck of the "Crimson Fury," had a look of grim satisfaction on her face. This was more than just a strategic victory; it was personal. Blackbeard had been a thorn in her side for too long.

The Twin Terrors, reveling in the chaos and destruction, cheered as another section of the fortress collapsed. "That's for crossing us, Blackbeard!" Jolly Roger shouted, his voice filled with triumph.

Old Man Hawkins, observing the destruction with a more somber expression, knew this was the turning of a page in the history of the Devil's Choke. "The old order falls to make way for the new," he murmured to himself.

As the last defenses crumbled and the fortress fell, the alliance's forces swarmed over the ruins, looting what they could and destroying what remained. Blackbeard's lair, once a symbol of his power and influence, was reduced to rubble and ash.

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