After breakfast the next day, Captain Harcourt decided it was time to run some aerial drills. Kenway and Achilles were just fine with that, though Iskierka, the other auxiliary, was inclined to be difficult.

"I do not see why we must continue doing this - we already know what to do." Iskierka whined to Granby, who could only sigh, having given up long ago.

"Are you sure you have everything you need, William?" Achilles asked Kenway, who was busy suiting up.

"Yes, my nursemaid - swords, pistols, rifle, mid-flight snack…" Kenway said as he sheathed his swords and holstered his pistols. "And… ah, Captain Harcourt! Do you mind if you pass me that apple? It's going to be my snack."

Harcourt blinked, but complied with Kenway's request by tossing him the red, delicious-looking apple, which he caught easily to slip inside his coat. "I came here to see if you and your… Assassins are ready. And what's this supposed to be?"

Harcourt held up a coil of rope bound together in the middle, with one end in a loop and the other in a knife, which Kenway took from her hand as he answered. "Ah, that would be a shéng biāo - or a rope dart, in English. One of the many gifts given to our order by Shao Jun."

"And next to the rope darts are bombs. I know, they look like coconuts, but I can assure you, they are not the delicious seed of the palm tree, nor do they taste like the delicious seed of the palm tree."

Harcourt blinked in confusion, and Kenway continued on cheerfully. "Anyway, shall we be off?"

Harcourt dumbly nodded, still not quite sure what had just happened, and she left to board Lily while Kenway climbed easily aboard Achilles. Dulcia and Nitidus, the lightweights of the formation, took off first, followed by the Yellow Reapers, Immortalis and Messoria. Lily, Iskierka, and Achilles went next, and last was Maximus and Kulingile, the largest of all.

As soon as they were all in the air, Lily took point, flanked by Messoria and Immortalis. Maximus and Kulingile took the rear, and at their sides were Dulcia and Nitidus. As for the auxiliaries, Achilles and Iskierka, they flew in looser positions from the others.

"Targets two points off starboard bow, captain!" One of the riflemen called up to Kenway, who nodded as Lily and her formation swerved to the right. As they flew above their targets, Lily the Longwing began spewing acid from her tusks, and as it hit the ground, it began to eat away at the formation of straw soldiers below.

"Ah… there's nothing like the thought of acid eating away at flesh to aid digestion, eh Achilles?" Kenway asked, looking down at Achilles's face. Achilles rolled his eyes and they continue to fly on. Another banking turn, and a poor, dilapidated barn was put out of its misery, leaving a gaping hole in its roof.

As they made yet another banking turn, a lookout at the formation's starboard side began shrieking, and the message was soon relayed throughout the formation. "Spanish formation, starboard reach!"

"All hands, beat to quarters!" Kenway shouted to his crew, and Achilles was not far behind Iskierka as they zoomed towards the Spanish formation.

"Aim for that Flecha-de-Fuego!" Kenway shouted, and as Achilles increased elevation, his riflemen began shooting, killing most of the topmen. Then Achilles made his move with a mighty roar, and he swooped down upon the smaller dragon.

The fire-breather squawked in surprise, and before she knew it, the larger dragon's captain had unclipped his carabiners and swooped down upon her captain, holding a blade hidden inside his sleeve to his throat. "Un movimiento en falso, y su capitán…"

"Puede, señor! Me rindo! No lo mates!" The Flecha-de-Fuego pleaded, and the Assassin smiled as her captain was taken away from his wailing dragon. A team of Assassins roped down onto the Flecha-de-Fuego's back to commandeer her, and Kenway returned to Achilles.

"Our next target, William?" Achilles asked, and Kenway gestured to a golden Spanish middleweight. "Fly me above that dragon so I can air-assassinate his captain."

Achilles gave a slight nod, and with a great flap of his wings, he gained elevation, and Kenway unclipped himself from the harness. Then with a great leap, he fell from his dragon in a leap of faith, the hidden blade underneath his left wrist unsheathing with a flex of a muscle to enter the throat of the Spanish aviator.

Before his dragon knew what was happening, Kenway had put a bullet through his head before leaping off the dragon, leaving the dead dragon and his crew to plummet towards the earth.

Kenway grunted as he landed aboard Iskierka, who was flailing madly about as she breathed fire at the Spanish, and Granby looked surprised to see him. "Kenway! How the bloody 'ell did ye get here?!"

"I'm amazing like that." Kenway answered easily as he drew his pistol, and he pointed to his dragon coming up alongside. "There's my dragon. I'll see you later, Captain Granby!"

With yet another leap, Kenway was back aboard Achilles, and they flew to give aid to the rest of the formation.