When the sun started to rise, the group had already dealt with ten ships. While they gained forty allies and five ships, they also lost six ships, all the crew inside them. They weren't losing as many soldiers as the enemies, but things weren't progressing that well either.
After the tenth enemy ship was destroyed, the group realized that they had dealt with the scouts, but they already could see more enemies approaching in the distance, and they still were two hours away from one of the bases Ferdinand was using.
"They are trying really hard to keep us away from Kerstia," Orleand said, mentioning the nearest island. "I assume it would be really bad for them if we were to arrive at the port."
"They is also the possibility that they are trying to buy time," Erean said. "A ship or a raven might be moving to alert their main fleet and then come to crush us."