Before the raid force could depart for the next objective—
A familiar sound echoed overhead.
A distant roar.
Then another.
Everyone looked up.
A GDI Orca dropship streaked across the sky.
Its twin ducted engines thundered overhead.
Several newer members blinked.
Nobody questioned it.
At this point, the GDI had already normalized stranger things.
Suspended beneath the aircraft was a large yellow supply crate.
Standardized battlefield logistics containers became common as armies grew more mobile. Built from reinforced polymers to survive harsh conditions and rough handling, these crates could safely transport ammunition, medical supplies, spare parts, and other vital equipment directly to combat zones.
The most widespread model was the G-771G Container, a rugged logistics crate used extensively by both military and civilian organizations during the Third Tiberium War.
The Orca descended smoothly.
Released the cargo.
Then immediately banked away and accelerated toward the horizon.
The crate landed with a heavy thud.
A holographic projector activated.
Yuuki appeared.
"Here."
The commander pointed toward the supply container.
"Stock up on ammo."
The crate opened.
Everyone immediately leaned forward.
Inside—
Rocket launchers.
Missiles.
Energy cells.
Laser ammunition.
Grenades.
Replacement equipment.
Enough firepower to start several small wars.
The girls immediately approved.
Yuuki enlarged another display.
"Since you've all reached Level 12."
The inventory interface appeared.
Several girls checked immediately.
The commander nodded.
"You now have twelve cubic storage spaces."
Several girls blinked.
Then blinked again.
The implications hit instantly.
More ammunition.
More explosives.
More supplies.
More loot.
Akashi looked as though she had just discovered religion.
The repair ship immediately opened her inventory.
Then again.
Then a third time.
"Nyaa..."
Several girls stepped away.
That tone was dangerous.
Very dangerous.
Then Yuuki pointed toward the crate.
"Drop your crystals here."
One by one the girls began placing their Pure Ultracite Crystals into the collection container.
The crate scanned each crystal.
Verified authenticity.
Then processed payment.
Credits immediately updated.
Credits: 5000 → 6000
A notification appeared before every participant.
Excited chatter immediately spread through the gathered fleet.
Even the usually calm girls looked pleased.
One thousand credits.
For a single boss.
For a single crystal.
Akashi's pupils literally became currency symbols.
Again.
"Nyaaaaa..."
The repair ship was visibly shaking.
Not from fear.
Not from excitement.
From economic opportunity.
The most dangerous emotion of all.
Yuuki immediately noticed.
"Akashi."
The repair ship straightened.
"Yes, nya?"
The commander already knew exactly what she was thinking.
Teleportation network.
Trade routes.
Storefronts.
Import services.
Market monopolies.
Credit generation.
Economic expansion.
Tax avoidance.
Possibly tax creation.
Akashi was already planning six businesses.
Minimum.
The commander sighed.
The repair ship looked away.
Which confirmed everything.
Nearby, Shiranui's future business empire somehow became visible in the distance.
Metaphorically.
Very metaphorically.
Enterprise quietly watched the interaction.
Then leaned toward Yorktown.
"She's plotting."
Yorktown nodded.
"Definitely plotting."
Akashi immediately protested.
"Nyaa! Akashi would never!"
Nobody believed her.
Not even Akashi.
Meanwhile—
The tactical display changed.
The Behemoth marker enlarged.
A giant mutant silhouette appeared.
Massive.
Brutish.
Dangerous.
Yuuki folded his arms.
"Next target."
The commander pointed directly at the monster.
"Behemoth."
Another point.
"This one is pure armor."
Everyone immediately understood.
No weak crystals.
No exposed energy sources.
No convenient glowing targets.
Just muscle.
Armor.
And anger.
Lots of anger.
Yuuki enlarged the creature's combat profile.
"Stock up on rockets."
Immediately every Nikke grabbed more launchers.
Additional ammunition vanished into inventory spaces.
Destroyers grabbed explosives.
Cruisers grabbed anti-armor weapons.
Even carriers increased bomb payloads.
The commander nodded approvingly.
"Good."
The Behemoth profile expanded further.
Massive boulders.
Heavy impact attacks.
Extreme durability.
The creature specialized in surviving punishment.
Which meant—
The raid force would need to deliver more punishment.
Much more punishment.
Enterprise stepped forward.
The newly appointed flagship for the next operation.
Her aircraft began materializing once more.
The carrier looked toward the distant objective marker.
Then toward the assembled fleet.
Then toward her sister.
Yorktown smiled.
The command was now Enterprise's.
The grey ghost nodded.
Calm.
Focused.
Confident.
"Everyone."
The gathered force immediately quieted.
Enterprise pointed toward the horizon.
"Let's go hunt a giant."
The raid force cheered.
Weapons loaded.
Inventories filled.
Credits earned.
Levels gained.
And somewhere beyond the mountains—
A Behemoth unknowingly waited for the most heavily armed treasure hunters in existence.
The moment the supply crate opened fully—
The carriers immediately ignored the ammunition section.
Instead, they were staring at something else.
The upgrade preview interface.
Enterprise blinked.
Yorktown leaned closer.
Illustrious tilted her head.
Houshou adjusted her glasses.
Dozens of locked upgrades appeared.
Future upgrades.
Level 30 upgrades.
Level 50 upgrades.
Entire technological leaps.
The carriers immediately understood what they were looking at.
Aircraft.
Modern aircraft.
Not propeller planes.
Not dive bombers.
Not torpedo bombers.
Jets.
Actual jets.
Yorktown's eyes widened.
As she accessed the locked aviation branch, entire generations of aircraft unfolded before her.
"Harrier jump jets... Stormchild laser fighters. Black Eagle strike craft equipped with ice missiles and precision bombs."
More entries appeared as she scrolled deeper into the tree.
Advanced aircraft.
Experimental aircraft.
Aircraft that belonged to an entirely different era of warfare.
The upgrade tree extended even further, revealing Hummingbirds, Foxtrot jets, and the formidable X-MiG series.
Yorktown enlarged the first preview.
The hologram rotated before her.
A sleek VTOL Harrier appeared, its engines pivoting as the display demonstrated vertical takeoff and landing capabilities.
Enterprise immediately stared.
Then stared harder.
The Grey Ghost suddenly looked interested.
Very interested.
The carrier opened the statistics panel.
Speed.
Armor.
Payload.
Radar.
Electronic warfare capabilities.
Everything exceeded traditional carrier aircraft.
By absurd margins.
Illustrious looked equally fascinated.
"So once we reach Level 30..."
The interface confirmed it.
UNLOCK REQUIREMENT
LEVEL 30
AVAILABLE PURCHASES
• Harrier Jump Jet
• Advanced Launch Deck
• Reinforced Flight Deck Armor
• Enhanced Aviation Core
• Aviation Stat Upgrades
• Reload Upgrades
• Firepower Upgrades
The carriers immediately became motivated.
Very motivated.
Houshou smiled.
"A goal worth pursuing."
Enterprise nodded.
The carrier was already calculating future squadron compositions.
Yorktown was already imagining Grim scouting ahead while Harriers provided close air support.
Meanwhile—
The Nikkes had entirely different priorities.
Anis immediately walked away carrying enough rockets to start a small revolution.
Then grabbed more.
Then grabbed even more.
"Anis."
Rapi stared.
The Nikke was now carrying three launchers.
"Yes?"
"Why do you need three rocket launchers?"
Anis looked genuinely confused.
"Why don't you?"
The room could not argue with that logic.
Mostly because it made no sense.
Nearby—
Neon had discovered heaven.
The weapon racks.
Specifically—
The Volt Auto Rifles.
The Nikke immediately picked one up.
The weapon hummed.
Blue energy ran through the barrel.
The interface identified it instantly.
VOLT AUTO RIFLE
Energy Weapon
High Armor Penetration
Effective Against Heavy Targets
Neon's eyes sparkled.
Then she found the rockets.
The Nikke froze.
Slowly.
Very slowly.
She reached toward the launcher.
N72 HEAVY ROCKET AND MISSILE LAUNCHER
Silence.
Then—
"Commander."
Yuuki immediately recognized that tone.
It was the same tone she used whenever she discovered new firepower.
Which was often.
Very often.
The commander sighed.
"Yes, Neon?"
The Nikke slowly lifted the launcher.
Her arms trembled slightly.
Not from weight.
From excitement.
"This."
Another pause.
"Is beautiful."
The room immediately laughed.
Rapi covered her face.
Anis nodded in approval.
"She's right."
Even Ade looked interested.
The Nikkes quickly began rearming.
Volt Auto Rifles.
66mm Rocket Launchers.
N72 Heavy Rocket Launchers.
Additional ammunition.
Grenades.
Energy packs.
The amount of anti-armor weaponry rapidly increased.
Yuuki approved.
The Behemoth would not.
Back near the carriers—
Enterprise was still looking at the Harrier preview.
The carrier folded her arms.
Then glanced toward Yorktown.
"You thinking what I'm thinking?"
Yorktown smiled.
The answer was obvious.
"Level 30. But first, Level 20. Tomorrow, we'll hunt some juicier targets aboard the Mother Whale and push our way to Level 30."
Enterprise nodded.
The two sisters looked toward the distant Behemoth marker.
Then toward the remaining boss markers.
Then toward the experience rewards.
The carriers immediately understood.
Every boss defeated.
Every level gained.
Every credit earned.
Brought them one step closer to complete modernization.
No longer merely shipgirls.
No longer just carriers.
But GDI carriers.
Advanced aviation platforms capable of deploying aircraft from entirely different eras.
Enterprise smiled.
A rare sight.
"Let's get to Level 30."
The carriers unanimously agreed.
Meanwhile—
Neon had somehow acquired a second rocket launcher.
Nobody knew when it happened.
Nobody knew how it happened.
Even Yuuki wasn't entirely sure.
But the Behemoth was about to discover that giving Neon unrestricted access to military logistics had been a catastrophic mistake.
For the Behemoth.
================
Back at the Base of Beginnings Command Post—
While the raid force stocked ammunition, compared upgrade trees, and prepared for the Behemoth hunt—
Yuuki was busy doing something arguably far more dangerous.
Math.
The holographic displays surrounding him continuously updated.
Formula after formula drifted through the air.
Complex chronometric calculations.
Spatial geometry.
Dimensional mathematics.
Power distribution equations.
The newly completed Unily Formula sat at the center of everything.
The elegant solution continued rotating above the command table.
Even now, Yuuki occasionally glanced at it as if worried it might disappear.
A hundred years.
Three lifetimes.
And the solution had come from a conversation about roller coasters.
The universe had a strange sense of humor.
"Hoo..."
Yuuki leaned back.
The latest simulation completed.
Green confirmations appeared one after another.
The commander's grin slowly widened.
"To think that this is finally complete."
Across from him, Yuu reviewed another set of data.
The scientist adjusted several variables.
Then checked them again.
Then a third time.
The result remained unchanged.
The projection expanded.
A digital model of the planet appeared.
Lines of energy connected continents.
Oceans.
Orbital facilities.
Remote bases.
Every location across the world.
Then—
A single node activated.
One.
Not twelve.
Not twenty.
One.
The simulation completed.
Yuu whistled.
"Yeah..."
The scientist leaned back.
Even she looked impressed.
"With this, the entire framework works."
Yuuki nodded.
The Chronosphere simulation rotated above the globe.
A single structure.
One Chronosphere.
Global coverage.
Something humanity had chased for generations.
Something GDI scientists had struggled to achieve for decades.
Now—
Possible.
"With the Unily Formula."
Yuuki enlarged another projection.
The Chronosphere Mark IV design appeared.
Sleeker.
More efficient.
Exponentially more powerful.
The commander's eyes gleamed.
"I can finally begin construction."
Another projection appeared.
Home Island.
GDI Headquarters.
The primary research complex.
The future location of the first Mark IV Chronosphere.
Yuu smiled.
"Chronosphere Mark IV."
Another projection appeared.
The Iron Curtain Mark IV.
Then the Weather Controller Mark II.
Then multiple support superweapon platforms.
The Unily Formula integrated into all of them.
Range limitations disappeared.
Coverage limitations disappeared.
The old bottlenecks vanished.
Everything suddenly became scalable.
Global.
Potentially interplanetary.
Yuuki stared at the moon projection.
Then smiled.
Very dangerously.
Yuu immediately noticed.
"Don't."
The commander blinked.
"What?"
"You're thinking about putting a Chronosphere on the moon."
The silence confirmed everything.
The scientist sighed.
"I know that look."
Yuuki coughed.
"Maybe."
"You are."
"Maybe."
"You absolutely are."
Nayuta laughed from her chair.
Arisa quietly recorded the conversation.
Probably as evidence.
Then Yuu stretched.
Satisfied.
Because for the first time since arriving on Autumn Isle—
She wasn't staring at impossible equations anymore.
The hardest part was done.
The scientist smiled.
"Heh."
Yuuki glanced over.
"What?"
Yuu pointed toward the Home Island projection.
"Then I can stay on Home Island."
The commander blinked.
"That's your takeaway?"
"Yes."
The answer came instantly.
The scientist crossed her arms.
"My work is done."
Another point.
"Research center there."
Another.
"Laboratories there."
Another.
"My room is there."
Another.
"My coffee machine is there."
Yuuki nodded.
All valid points.
Then Yuu smirked.
"Your office is on Autumn Isle now."
The commander immediately pointed at her.
"That doesn't mean I have to sleep there."
The room laughed.
Yuu continued.
"Oh?"
"Momo and Kyon can stay there."
Another point.
"They can call me if anything happens."
The commander enlarged the Chronosphere projection.
A portal appeared between Home Island and Autumn Isle.
Travel time.
Instant.
The scientist stared.
Then sighed.
The logic was flawless.
Unfortunately.
"So you're commuting through a superweapon."
"Correct."
"That sounds ridiculous."
"That's because it is."
The commander grinned.
The simulation completed.
CHRONOSPHERE MARK IV
STATUS: READY FOR CONSTRUCTION
Both scientists stared at the confirmation.
Years of work.
Centuries of accumulated research.
Three lifetimes of obsession.
And now—
The final barrier was gone.
Outside the command post, the raid force prepared to hunt Behemoth.
Inside the command post—
Yuuki had quietly changed the future of the entire GDI.
Again.
=====================
The journey toward the Behemoth proved very different from the Ultracite Titan.
The Titan had been simple.
Find giant monster.
Shoot giant monster.
Apply excessive violence until the problem disappeared.
The Behemoth—
Was smarter.
Or rather.
The things around it were.
Enterprise soon realized this as Grim flew ahead and began transmitting reconnaissance data.
The tactical map expanded.
Then expanded again.
Then expanded a third time.
The carrier frowned.
"That's..."
The map continued filling with red markers.
More.
And more.
And more.
The raid force gradually slowed.
Because there were a lot of red markers.
Far more than expected.
Enterprise zoomed in.
The answer became obvious.
A ruined settlement.
Collapsed highways.
Broken skyscrapers.
Makeshift fortifications.
And in the center—
The Behemoth.
The giant mutant sat atop a mountain of rubble like a king upon a throne.
A massive steel girder served as its club.
Several wrecked vehicles were scattered around it.
The creature looked less like a monster and more like a walking natural disaster.
Unfortunately—
It wasn't alone.
Not even close.
Enterprise enlarged the surrounding forces.
Dozens of large humanoid figures appeared.
SUPER MUTANT
LEVEL 8
The room collectively groaned.
There weren't five.
There weren't ten.
There were dozens.
Some patrolled rooftops.
Others guarded streets.
Several stood atop ruined buildings.
And every single one looked heavily armed.
Anis whistled.
"Well."
Another look.
"This sucks."
Nobody disagreed.
Then Grim highlighted specific targets.
The carrier immediately zoomed in.
One mutant carried a massive machine gun.
Another carried a missile launcher.
Another had what appeared to be a salvaged autocannon.
Then—
Enterprise froze.
The carrier enlarged the image.
Several super mutants carried small nuclear warheads.
Everyone blinked.
Then blinked again.
Neon immediately pointed.
"Are those mini nukes?"
The tactical display identified the weapon.
FAT MAN LAUNCHER
TACTICAL NUCLEAR CATAPULT
Silence.
The room stared.
The super mutant casually scratched its head.
While holding a miniature nuclear launcher.
Rapi sighed.
"I miss fighting ghouls."
Several girls immediately agreed.
The commander appeared via hologram.
Yuuki looked amused.
Far too amused.
"See?"
The commander pointed at the display.
"Behemoth isn't easy to approach."
The giant mutant boss slowly stood.
The earth shook.
Its health bar appeared.
BEHEMOTH
LEVEL 20
HP: 650,000 / 650,000
The room immediately noticed something.
That health pool was larger.
Much larger.
The Ultracite Titan suddenly seemed reasonable.
Yuuki enlarged the battlefield.
"Those super mutants protect it."
Another point.
"Kill them first."
Another.
"Otherwise you'll be fighting them while fighting Behemoth."
The room immediately rejected that idea.
Very strongly.
Then the commander zoomed toward the Fat Man operators.
"Especially those."
Everyone agreed.
Extremely strongly.
Neon immediately loaded her rocket launcher.
The Nikke narrowed her eyes.
"A worthy opponent."
Rapi looked tired already.
Enterprise studied the battlefield.
The Grey Ghost quickly understood.
This wasn't a boss encounter.
This was a siege.
A heavily defended boss encounter.
The carrier immediately switched the tactical display.
Target priorities appeared.
PRIMARY TARGETS
• Fat Man Operators
• Heavy Weapons Teams
• Missile Carriers
SECONDARY TARGETS
• Standard Super Mutants
• Support Units
FINAL TARGET
• Behemoth
The raid force nodded.
The strategy was obvious.
Clear the army.
Then kill the giant.
Enterprise looked around.
At her fleet.
At the Nikkes.
At the destroyers.
At the cruisers.
At the carriers.
The carrier smiled.
This time she was leading.
"Everyone."
The raid force immediately focused.
Enterprise pointed toward the ruined city.
"We eliminate the escorts first."
Aircraft launched.
Weapons armed.
Missiles loaded.
Rocket launchers prepared.
The super mutants still hadn't noticed them.
Not yet.
Enterprise raised her arm.
The same way Yorktown had earlier.
The battlefield became silent.
Waiting.
The Grey Ghost smiled.
A dangerous smile.
"Let's show them why giving the giant bodyguards was a mistake."
The raid force surged forward.
And somewhere within the ruins—
Several dozen Level 8 super mutants unknowingly became the first victims of Enterprise's command.
================
The battle for the Behemoth had barely begun.
It ended for the super mutants.
Atago and Takao had immediately identified the greatest threat.
The Fat Man operators.
The moment the first super mutant raised the miniature nuclear launcher—
A crack echoed across the battlefield.
Then another.
Then another.
The Ramjet Rifles spoke.
The experimental anti-material rifles launched hypersonic projectiles.
The results were immediate.
And messy.
The first super mutant's head disappeared.
The second followed.
The third never even realized he had been targeted.
The Level 8 mutants simply lacked the durability to survive weapons designed for far deadlier opponents.
Takao calmly cycled another round.
Her scope shifted.
Target acquired.
Fire.
A Fat Man operator exploded backward off a rooftop.
Atago smiled.
"Oh my."
Another trigger pull.
A second mutant collapsed.
"This is rather satisfying."
Enterprise watched the kill feed increase rapidly.
The carriers hadn't even launched their first airstrike yet.
The escorts were already dying.
Fast.
Very fast.
Then—
A super mutant finally fired.
A mini nuke left the launcher.
Its whistle echoed across the battlefield.
The projectile traveled exactly three meters.
Before a brilliant blue beam struck it.
Ade lowered her hand.
The Personal Ion Cannon cooling vents opened.
The mini nuke detonated in mid-air.
A fireball consumed the surrounding street.
Three nearby super mutants vanished with it.
The shockwave rolled through the ruins.
The raid force paused.
Then looked toward Ade.
The Nikke blinked.
"What?"
Nobody answered.
Because that had been terrifyingly effective.
Meanwhile—
Neon had discovered something far more important.
Loot.
Specifically—
The Fat Man launcher.
The Nikke stared at the weapon.
Then lifted it.
Then stared harder.
"This thing is impressive."
The launcher was crude.
Bulky.
Primitive.
Yet somehow charming.
Yuuki immediately appeared through communications.
"Oh, that's a Fat Man launcher."
The commander enlarged the weapon profile.
"It fires radiationless mini nukes."
Neon's eyes sparkled.
"Good stuff."
The commander nodded.
"Very good stuff."
Neon immediately looked around.
Then keyed her communicator.
"Commander!"
Yuuki already knew where this was going.
"Yes?"
"Any more of these things?"
The room laughed.
The answer was obvious.
The Nikke wasn't asking.
She was hunting.
The commander enlarged the nearby structures.
Several supply depots appeared.
Makeshift mutant armories.
Weapon caches.
Ammunition stores.
"If there's a Fat Man launcher."
Another point.
"There are probably mini nukes nearby."
Neon disappeared.
The Nikke accelerated so quickly that several girls lost sight of her.
Rapi sighed.
Again.
The commander smiled.
Again.
Meanwhile—
The remaining mutants attempted resistance.
Machine guns opened fire.
Chain guns roared.
Missiles launched.
The results were disappointing.
Very disappointing.
The level gap was simply too large.
Level 12 against Level 8.
The difference in stats was overwhelming.
Bullets bounced off shields.
Missiles were intercepted.
Armor absorbed damage.
The super mutants fought.
The raid force erased them.
One after another.
Cruisers bombarded buildings.
Destroyers flanked.
Nikkes swept entire streets.
Aircraft attacked from above.
The escort force collapsed rapidly.
Five minutes later—
The battlefield was quiet.
Very quiet.
The tactical display updated.
HOSTILE ESCORTS ELIMINATED
Fat Man Operators: Neutralized
Heavy Weapons Teams: Neutralized
Super Mutants: Neutralized
Threat Level: Minimal
Enterprise looked over the battlefield.
Smoking ruins.
Destroyed fortifications.
Loot everywhere.
And in the distance—
The Behemoth.
The giant mutant had watched the entire massacre.
Every bodyguard.
Every escort.
Every soldier.
Gone.
Its small eyes slowly turned toward the raid force.
Then toward the corpses.
Then back toward the raid force.
The giant gripped its massive steel girder.
The earth trembled.
The Behemoth finally stood.
Fully.
Its towering frame rose above the ruined city.
A shadow fell across the battlefield.
The health bar appeared once more.
BEHEMOTH
LEVEL 20
HP: 650,000 / 650,000
The giant mutant roared.
A roar of fury.
A roar of challenge.
A roar that promised violence.
Enterprise smiled.
The carrier raised her arm.
Aircraft engines screamed overhead.
Behind her—
The entire raid force readied weapons.
Rocket launchers locked.
Missiles armed.
Cannons loaded.
Fat Man launchers acquired.
And somewhere among the formation—
Neon emerged carrying three mini nukes and looking far too happy.
The real boss fight was finally about to begin.
The Behemoth battle was almost disappointing compared to the Ultracite Titan.
Almost.
The giant mutant was certainly stronger.
Its health pool was larger.
Its attacks hit harder.
Its armor was ridiculous.
But there was one critical difference.
The Ultracite Titan had forced them to fight an entire battlefield.
The Behemoth was fighting alone.
No escorts.
No Fat Man operators.
No missile teams.
No distractions.
Just a giant target.
And dozens of increasingly overpowered shipgirls and Nikkes.
The battle began immediately.
Enterprise took command.
The carrier's voice echoed across the tactical network.
"Maintain formation."
Aircraft streaked overhead.
Bombers released payloads.
Missiles rained from the sky.
Cruisers opened fire.
Destroyers flanked.
The Nikkes advanced relentlessly.
The Behemoth roared.
Then charged.
The giant steel girder in its hand smashed through an entire building.
The structure collapsed.
Dust exploded outward.
Several destroyers immediately scattered.
The Behemoth attempted another swing.
Then dozens of rockets slammed into its chest.
The giant staggered.
Its health dropped steadily.
Unlike before.
The raid force had gained two levels.
The difference was obvious.
Painfully obvious.
The same damage output that had taken thirty minutes against the Ultracite Titan now ripped through the Behemoth's health in half the time.
HP: 600,000 / 650,000
Then—
HP: 550,000 / 650,000
Then—
HP: 500,000 / 650,000
The Behemoth roared again.
This time in pain.
Enterprise remained calm.
The carrier continuously repositioned the fleet.
Every attack landed where it mattered.
Joints.
Neck.
Eyes.
Exposed muscle.
The giant's armor protected much of its body.
But even the thickest armor had weaknesses.
And Enterprise found all of them.
Then—
A familiar voice rang out.
"FIREPOWER!"
Neon had returned.
Unfortunately for the Behemoth.
She had also returned with loot.
Specifically—
A Fat Man launcher.
The Nikke loaded a miniature nuclear shell.
Took aim.
Ignored every safety recommendation ever written.
And fired.
The projectile crossed the battlefield.
The Behemoth turned.
Too late.
BOOOOOM!
The mini nuke impacted directly against the side of its head.
A mushroom cloud erupted.
The shockwave rolled across the battlefield.
The giant mutant's head snapped sideways.
A chunk of flesh simply vanished.
The raid force stared.
The Behemoth stared.
Neon laughed.
"Take that!"
The damage numbers that appeared caused even Yuuki to whistle.
Back at the Command Post.
"Huh."
The commander enlarged the combat logs.
"That's actually impressive."
Yuu rolled her eyes.
"Of course that's what you're impressed by."
The commander pointed at the damage report.
"Mini nukes."
A perfectly valid argument.
Meanwhile—
The Behemoth's health continued falling.
HP: 340,000 / 650,000
The giant monster suddenly stopped.
Its body glowed red.
Its muscles expanded.
The health bar flashed.
PHASE TWO INITIATED
The raid force braced themselves.
Waiting.
Watching.
Expecting some terrifying transformation.
A devastating attack.
A dangerous mechanic.
Something.
Anything.
The Behemoth roared.
Picked up a truck.
And threw it.
The truck missed.
By a lot.
It landed somewhere behind Akashi.
The repair ship blinked.
"Nyaa?"
The Behemoth roared again.
Then threw another truck.
It also missed.
Enterprise stared.
Then slowly lowered her binoculars.
"...That's Phase Two?"
Nobody answered.
Because apparently—
Yes.
That was Phase Two.
The giant mutant became angrier.
And significantly less accurate.
The carrier sighed.
Then pointed forward.
"Continue attacking."
The fleet immediately resumed bombardment.
The Behemoth was technically a boss.
But without its army.
Without support.
Without strategy.
It was little more than a giant sack of hit points.
And Enterprise intended to remove every single one of them.
One critical hit at a time.
The battle continued.
Methodically.
Relentlessly.
The Behemoth fought like a monster.
The fleet fought like an army.
The difference became increasingly apparent as the minutes passed.
Enterprise continued directing the assault.
Every squad moved precisely where they needed to be.
Every bombardment landed where it mattered.
Every opening was exploited.
Then—
Kaguya joined the carriers.
The Arcane Shipgirl smiled.
Golden circles appeared behind her.
Massive magical formations rotated through the air.
The others expected artillery.
Or magic.
Or perhaps another absurd bombardment spell.
Instead—
Aircraft emerged.
Dozens of them.
Sleek.
Elegant.
Entirely magical.
Yet undeniably fighter craft.
The fleet looked upward.
Even Enterprise blinked.
The aircraft resembled fighter jets made from mana and light.
Cherry blossom patterns glowed across their wings.
Arcane engines screamed through the sky.
Akagi immediately grinned.
Kaga narrowed her eyes.
Competition had arrived.
"Launching fighters."
Kaguya announced calmly.
The magical aircraft accelerated.
Akagi released her own squadrons.
Kaga followed immediately.
Three carrier groups.
One conventional.
One Sakura.
One Arcane.
The sky became crowded.
Very crowded.
Soon, bombs and missiles rained down continuously.
The Behemoth's misery increased accordingly.
Back at the Command Post.
Yuuki watched the battle unfold.
Then opened a communication channel.
"Kaguya."
"Yes, dearest?"
The commander enlarged the Boss's health.
Now half of its original value.
"Want to use one?"
The Arcane Shipgirl immediately looked toward Enterprise.
The carrier had command.
The decision was hers.
Enterprise looked at the Behemoth.
Then at its remaining health.
Then at the tactical map.
Then toward the two remaining bosses after this.
The Grey Ghost shook her head.
"No."
The room looked toward her.
Enterprise remained calm.
"We can beat it."
The Behemoth roared in the distance.
As if protesting the statement.
Enterprise ignored it.
"We'll save the Nuclear Strike Beacons for the last two bosses."
The carrier folded her arms.
A confident smile appearing.
"We can beat this one."
Kaguya smiled.
The fox woman's tails swayed proudly.
"Then I shall trust thee."
The battle continued.
And Enterprise proved correct.
The Behemoth's health steadily declined.
Not quickly.
Not dramatically.
But steadily.
The giant mutant simply could not keep up.
Every attack it launched was met with dozens in return.
Every step forward cost it blood.
Every roar cost it health.
Eventually—
Its health dropped below ten percent.
The giant monster staggered.
One knee hit the ground.
The earth shook.
The raid force immediately intensified their assault.
The Bulins even joined the attack, performing their classic hit-and-run tactics. Kurin slammed her hammer into the ground, collapsing an entire section of roadway beneath the Behemoth's feet. The ground is unstable from Purin drilling the ground under the giant. The giant mutant stumbled as one leg sank into the newly formed crater, briefly trapping it in place. The raid force immediately intensified their assault.
Everyone sensing the end.
Then—
A familiar voice shouted.
"FIREPOWER!"
Everyone immediately knew who it was.
Neon emerged from behind a ruined building.
The Nikke carried her final mini nuke.
The last one.
The precious one.
The one she had been saving.
The launcher locked.
Target acquired.
The Behemoth looked up.
Too late.
Neon grinned.
Then fired.
The mini nuke crossed the battlefield.
The giant mutant attempted to move.
It failed.
The projectile struck directly beneath its jaw.
For a brief moment—
Silence.
Then—
BOOOOOOOOOOM!
The explosion consumed the Behemoth's upper body.
Fire.
Smoke.
Debris.
A miniature mushroom cloud.
The shockwave rolled through the city ruins.
The giant mutant stood motionless.
For a second.
Then another.
Then—
The Behemoth toppled.
Its enormous body crashed into the ruined streets.
Buildings collapsed.
Roads shattered.
Dust filled the air.
The health bar emptied.
BEHEMOTH ELIMINATED
The battlefield erupted into cheers.
Immediately.
System notifications flooded every interface.
LEVEL UP!
LEVEL UP!
Experience surged through every member of the raid.
The rewards from a Level 20 boss were substantial.
The level indicators updated.
LEVEL 12 → LEVEL 14
Everyone.
Level 14.
The difference was immediately noticeable.
The strength increase felt smoother now.
Less overwhelming.
More controlled.
Back when they were Level 10, the gap between themselves and the Ultracite Titan had felt enormous.
Now—
The gap was shrinking.
Fast.
Level 14 versus Level 20 was far more manageable.
Enterprise looked toward the remaining markers.
The EN06 Guardian.
The Mirelurk Queen.
Liberty Prime.
Three bosses remained.
The carrier smiled.
The fleet had become noticeably stronger.
Noticeably more experienced.
And noticeably more dangerous.
The Behemoth toppled.
Its enormous body crashed into the ruined streets.
Buildings collapsed.
Roads shattered.
Dust filled the air.
The health bar emptied.
BEHEMOTH ELIMINATED
For a moment—
Nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
Everyone simply stared at the fallen giant.
Then realization hit.
They had done it.
Without a Nuclear Strike Beacon.
Without Yuuki saving them.
Without some miracle weapon.
They had defeated a Level 20 boss through teamwork alone.
The battlefield erupted.
Cheers.
Laughter.
Celebration.
Everyone shouting over one another.
"We did it!"
Javelin jumped into the air.
"We actually did it!"
Nimi smiled despite trying not to.
"Laffey, wake up. We won."
Laffey opened one eye.
"We won?"
"Yes."
"Oh."
The destroyer immediately fell asleep again.
San Diego threw both hands into the air.
"Did you see that?! Did you see that?! We beat it!"
Eldridge quietly nodded.
"Enemy gone."
Meanwhile—
Neon stood triumphantly atop a pile of rubble.
The smoking Fat Man launcher resting on her shoulder.
The Nikke pointed dramatically at the Behemoth's corpse.
"FIREPOWER WINS AGAIN!"
Nobody had the energy to argue.
Anis laughed.
Then wrapped an arm around Neon.
"You only got the last hit."
"It was an important last hit."
"It was."
Rapi admitted.
The red-haired Nikke smiled faintly.
The team had done well.
Very well.
Nearby—
Takao sheathed her blade.
A satisfied expression on her face.
"That battle felt much easier."
Atago nodded.
The cruiser stretched.
"We're becoming stronger."
Maya grinned.
"Level fourteen already."
Choukai looked at her interface.
Then widened her eyes.
"We've only been here for a few hours."
The realization spread through the group.
They had started the day at Level 1.
Now they were Level 14.
The growth was absurd.
Then—
Yorktown looked at her inventory.
Four Nuclear Strike Beacons remained.
The carrier smiled.
"We still have four left."
The others immediately noticed.
Enterprise nodded.
"Good decision."
Yorktown looked toward her sister.
The Grey Ghost rarely handed out praise.
Which made it meaningful.
"You led that battle perfectly."
Enterprise shook her head.
"Everyone did."
The carrier glanced toward the fleet.
Toward the shipgirls.
Toward the Nikkes.
Toward the Bulins.
Toward everyone.
"We won because everyone fought together."
That only made the fleet cheer louder.
Nearby—
Akagi immediately attached herself to Yuuki's communication channel.
"Shikikan-sama!"
The commander winced.
The volume alone was dangerous.
"Yes, Akagi?"
"Did you see Akagi's performance?"
Kaga immediately sighed.
The fox carrier already knew where this was going.
Then—
"Did you see Kaga's?"
Akagi froze.
Kaga smirked.
The sisters immediately began arguing.
Again.
Some things never changed.
Meanwhile—
Kaguya floated gracefully down from the sky.
Her magical aircraft dissolving into particles of light.
The Arcane Shipgirl looked pleased.
Very pleased.
"Dearest."
Yuuki already sounded concerned.
"Yes?"
"Did thou witness thy wife's magnificent contribution?"
Yuuki immediately noticed Akagi glaring.
Then Kaga.
Then Kaguya.
Then the growing carrier rivalry.
The commander wisely chose diplomacy.
"You were all impressive."
The answer satisfied nobody.
Yet somehow prevented a war.
Nearby—
Houshou laughed softly.
Illustrious covered her mouth while smiling.
Belfast maintained her composure.
Mostly.
The Royal Maid's eyes still betrayed her excitement.
Even she was enjoying herself.
Much more than expected.
Then—
The Bulins arrived.
Covered in dirt.
Covered in dust.
Covered in victory.
"My hammer helped!"
Kurin declared.
"My drill helped!"
Purin shouted.
"My wrench helped!"
The youngest Bulin added.
Nobody disagreed.
Because somehow—
They actually had.
The fleet laughed.
The tension vanished.
The victory felt real.
Earned.
Not given.
Not borrowed.
Earned.
Back at the Command Post.
Yuuki watched the celebrations unfold.
Yuu leaned back beside him.
The scientist smiled.
"They're having fun."
The commander nodded.
The tactical display updated.
Three markers remained.
EN06 Guardian
Mirelurk Queen
Liberty Prime
Level 14.
Four Nuclear Strike Beacons.
A stronger fleet.
A more confident fleet.
A family growing stronger together.
Yuuki smiled.
The next battles would be harder.
Much harder.
But judging from the cheers echoing across the battlefield—
Nobody was worried anymore.
They couldn't wait for the next boss.
The celebration eventually settled down.
Mostly.
Neon was still carrying her Fat Man launcher everywhere.
Refusing to put it down.
The weapon had somehow become her prized possession.
Nobody was surprised.
Especially after the next supply crate arrived.
An Orca descended from the skies once more.
The yellow crate landed beside the fleet.
Immediately opening itself.
Fresh ammunition.
Fresh supplies.
Fresh explosives.
The girls immediately gathered around.
Belfast naturally took charge.
The Royal Maid calmly organized distribution.
"Ade, your energy cells."
"Thank you, Belfast."
"Additional rockets for Lady Anis."
"Perfect."
Anis immediately stuffed more rockets into her inventory.
Then more.
Then a few more.
Just in case.
Nearby—
Neon discovered something.
Mini nukes.
Actual ammunition.
Compatible with her newly acquired Fat Man launcher.
The Nikke froze.
Slowly turned.
Then looked at Yorktown.
Then Enterprise.
Then the ammunition crate.
Then back at the ammunition crate.
A dangerous smile appeared.
"Oh."
Everyone immediately knew that expression.
"Oh no."
Rapi muttered.
Neon happily began filling her inventory.
One mini nuke.
Two.
Three.
Four.
Five.
She kept going.
Eventually—
Ten.
The Nikke proudly closed her inventory.
Fat Man launcher on one shoulder.
Ten mini nukes safely stored.
She looked incredibly pleased with herself.
"Ready."
"For what?"
Anis asked.
"Everything."
The answer somehow made perfect sense.
Meanwhile—
The rest of the fleet discovered something else.
A new notification.
A golden symbol appeared beside their status screens.
SUPER POINT AVAILABLE
The room immediately became quiet.
Several girls blinked.
Then opened their menus.
A new upgrade tree appeared.
Different from talents.
Different from standard upgrades.
Permanent enhancements.
The fleet immediately became interested.
Very interested.
The options expanded.
=====================
Resistance - Increase resistance to status effects, radiation, poison, fire, ice, and environmental hazards by 10% per rank.
Armor - Increase default ship hull armor, rigging durability, or Nikke armor by 10% per rank.
Explosives - Increase explosive damage from bombs, missiles, torpedoes, grenades, rockets or missiles, artillery shells, and mini nukes by 10% per rank.
Energy - increase laser and energy weapon proficiency by 10%
Bullet Power - increase bullet damage and ballistic weapon effectiveness by 10%
Tactical - Increase tactical awareness, minimap information, enemy tracking, battlefield analysis, and command efficiency by 10% per rank.
Sprint - Increase natural sprint speed, movement speed, sea-glide speed, and acceleration by 10% per rank.
Recoil - Reduce weapon recoil, cannon kickback, and firing instability by 10% per rank.
Flinch - Reduce stagger, knockback, interruption, and flinching effects from enemy attacks by 10% per rank.
Reload - Increase reload speed and ammunition replenishment speed by 10% per rank.
Quick Aim - Increase aiming speed, target acquisition, accuracy, and precision by 10% per rank.
Power Source - Reduce energy, fuel, mana, and power consumption of abilities, weapons, and equipment by 10% per rank.
Strength - Increase physical strength, lifting power, melee damage, Nikke or Shipgirl Strength Attribute and carrying capacity by 10% per rank.
Defense - Increase overall damage reduction, Nikke or Shipgirl Defense Attribute and defensive capability by 10% per rank.
Agility - Increase agility, reaction speed, evasion, maneuverability, Nikke or Shipgirl Agility Attribute and reflexes by 10% per rank.
===========
And for Kaguya—
===========
Intelligence - Increase magical understanding, spell efficiency, mana control, magical learning speed, Arcane Shipgirl Intelligence Attribute and overall arcane capability by 10% per rank.
===========
The room immediately exploded into discussion.
"What does this do?"
Javelin asked.
Yorktown enlarged the description.
Each Super Point increases a selected attribute by 10%.
Maximum Rank: 10
Maximum Enhancement: 100%
The fleet collectively stared.
Then stared harder.
These weren't small upgrades.
These were permanent upgrades.
Powerful upgrades.
Strategic upgrades.
Everyone immediately began considering options.
Anis didn't even hesitate.
"Explosives."
Nobody was surprised.
The Nikke immediately spent her point.
Explosives Rank 1
+10% Explosive Damage
"More firepower."
Neon nodded.
"A wise choice."
Then immediately chose Explosives herself.
Nobody was surprised.
Again.
Rapi looked over the choices.
Then selected Tactical.
The minimap instantly expanded.
Enemy markers became more detailed.
Additional battlefield information appeared.
The commander-type Nikke nodded approvingly.
"Useful."
Nearby—
Yorktown studied the options carefully.
The carrier ignored immediate power.
Ignored damage.
Ignored armor.
Instead—
She selected Tactical.
The minimap expanded.
Detection range increased.
Command indicators became clearer.
The carrier smiled.
A flagship's job was leadership.
This suited her perfectly.
Enterprise glanced at her sister's choice.
Then selected the same.
The two carriers immediately reached the same conclusion.
Information won battles.
Not ego.
Not firepower.
Information.
Meanwhile—
Takao selected Agility.
Atago selected Reload.
Maya selected Firepower through Strength.
Choukai selected Quick Aim.
The cruisers naturally gravitated toward different specialties.
Then—
The destroyers.
Javelin immediately selected Sprint.
The destroyer practically vibrated.
"Faster!"
Nimi sighed.
Then selected Quick Aim.
Predictably.
Laffey looked at the choices.
Then selected Reload.
The destroyer yawned.
"Faster bullets."
A valid argument.
San Diego selected Explosives.
Nobody knew why.
Not even San Diego.
Meanwhile—
The healers made their own decisions.
Vestal selected Power Source.
Mary selected Tactical.
The doctor preferred having more battlefield information.
Knowing where allies and enemies were could save lives.
Pepper selected Quick Aim.
Better accuracy meant better healing shots.
And fewer mistakes during chaotic battles.
Akashi selected Tactical.
Then immediately began planning future business routes.
The fleet wasn't surprised.
Prince of Wales selected Defense.
The battleship preferred becoming even harder to bring down.
Avrora selected Tactical.
The veteran cruiser valued battlefield awareness above all else.
Unicorn selected Power Source.
More efficient energy usage meant she could support her allies longer.
Belfast selected Reload.
The maid valued efficiency.
Faster reloads meant smoother combat performance.
Illustrious selected Defense.
The carrier wished to better protect both herself and those under her care.
Houshou selected Tactical.
Experience had taught her that information was often more valuable than firepower.
Akagi selected Tactical.
If she was going to support Shikikan-sama, she wanted complete awareness of the battlefield.
Kaga selected Tactical.
After a brief glance at Akagi's choice.
Neither sister acknowledged it.
Eldridge selected Resistance.
The destroyer quietly preferred being harder to affect with hostile attacks.
Kurin selected Strength.
"More hammer power!"
Burin selected Strength.
"More wrench power, Burin!"
Purin selected Strength.
"My drill gets stronger!"
Finally—
Everyone looked toward Kaguya.
The Arcane Shipgirl alone possessed an additional category.
Magic.
The fox woman smiled.
Then immediately selected it.
Intelligence Rank 1
+10% Magical Capability and Power
Golden energy surged briefly around her.
The Arcane Shipgirl's tails fluffed proudly.
Akagi immediately narrowed her eyes.
Competition detected.
Kaga quietly opened her own upgrade menu.
The arms race had begun.
Back at the Command Post.
Yuuki reviewed everyone's selections.
Yuu leaned over.
"Interesting."
The scientist enlarged the data.
Different builds.
Different priorities.
Different specialties.
The leveling system was already encouraging individual growth.
Exactly as intended.
The commander smiled.
The fleet was becoming stronger.
Not just through levels.
But through choices.
Through specialization.
Through individuality.
Ahead of them—
The EN06 Guardian waited.
A boss unlike the others.
One that couldn't simply be overwhelmed.
One that required strategy.
And for the first time—
The fleet had begun building exactly that.
The fleet spent the next several minutes reviewing their interfaces.
Nobody regretted their choices.
Not one.
The Super Point system was simple.
Every ten levels.
One point.
Ten ranks maximum.
By rough calculation—
Yorktown had done the math first.
Then Rapi.
The answer was absurd.
To completely fill every Super Point category available to a standard Shipgirl or Nikke—
One would need approximately Level 1500.
The room had become silent when they realized it.
Then Kaguya discovered her requirement.
Level 1600.
The Arcane Shipgirl had one additional category.
Intelligence.
Which immediately made Akagi laugh.
Until she realized Kaguya had another entire attribute tree to grow into.
Then Akagi stopped laughing.
The fox carrier immediately felt threatened.
Again.
Meanwhile—
Most of the girls were satisfied.
The Echo Suit.
The level system.
Talent trees.
Upgrade trees.
Super Points.
Combined together, they had already become far stronger than when they first entered the training dimension.
And they weren't even Level 20 yet.
Then everyone noticed something else.
Two more notifications.
Level Points Available: 2
The room immediately opened their menus again.
It's either Upgrade for attributes or Talent for skills.
Another round of optimization began.
Enterprise invested into aviation efficiency.
Yorktown increased command and support abilities.
Akagi improved aircraft damage.
Kaga increased squadron effectiveness.
Takao improved sword techniques.
Atago enhanced bombardment skills.
The destroyers improved mobility abilities.
The Nikkes strengthened weapon proficiencies.
Everyone began refining their individual specialties.
The differences between them became more obvious.
More defined.
More personal.
Exactly as intended.
Then—
There was Kaguya.
The Arcane Shipgirl looked at her interface.
Looked at the available options.
Then completely ignored everyone else's logic.
The fox woman smiled.
Then dumped nearly everything into Intelligence.
The numbers continued climbing.
Yuuki watched.
Then blinked.
Then watched some more.
"Kaguya."
The fox woman looked up.
"Yes, dearest?"
"You put almost everything into Intelligence."
"Yes."
The answer came instantly.
Yuuki stared.
The Arcane Shipgirl smiled proudly.
"My strength already exists."
Another point invested.
"My durability already exists."
Another.
"My speed already exists."
Another.
"My magic should become greater."
The final point disappeared.
The interface updated.
Golden energy briefly surged around her.
Several nearby girls actually felt the difference.
The ambient mana around Kaguya became denser.
Sharper.
More refined.
Even Esche and Oberis blinked.
The fairies exchanged glances.
The Arcane Shipgirl's magical growth rate was becoming absurd.
Kaguya looked very pleased with herself.
Very pleased.
She then invested her remaining points into various skills.
Improving magical bombardment.
Enhancing support spells.
Strengthening defensive techniques.
The result was immediate.
Her overall combat rating jumped dramatically.
Yuu looked at the numbers.
Then whistled.
"She's going all-in on magic."
"Naturally."
Kaguya answered.
The Arcane Shipgirl looked entirely unapologetic.
Enterprise transferred flagship command to Kaguya. The purple-furred fox woman looked visibly pleased with the promotion and quickly began organizing the fleet for their next target—the Mirelurk Queen. Unlike their previous engagements, this battle would take place entirely on the water.
The Nikkes could not fight effectively in close quarters against a sea-based enemy, nor could they deploy beacons on the ocean's surface. As a result, they would need to ride aboard the Shipgirls while providing ranged support during the battle.
With the Behemoth defeated and everyone having finalized their builds for now, attention shifted toward the next target.
The Mirelurk Queen.
Unlike the previous bosses, this one presented an entirely different problem.
Water.
The tactical map expanded before the fleet.
A massive coastal region appeared.
Swamps.
Shallow seas.
Flooded ruins.
Small islands.
The Queen's nest sat in the center of a giant bay.
Kaguya stood before the hologram.
The newly appointed flagship looked entirely in her element.
Her tails swayed behind her as she studied the battlefield.
"The enemy resides entirely upon the water."
The Arcane Shipgirl enlarged the terrain.
"The Nikkes cannot maneuver properly there."
Several Nikkes nodded.
That was true.
Their combat systems excelled on land.
Open water was another matter entirely.
Neon immediately raised her hand.
"Can I still shoot things?"
"Yes."
"Perfect."
Nobody was surprised.
Kaguya continued.
"We shall divide into combat pairs."
The tactical map shifted.
Icons began moving.
The Nikkes would ride with Shipgirls.
The Shipgirls would provide mobility.
The Nikkes would provide concentrated ranged firepower.
A simple solution.
An effective one.
After several minutes of discussion, the pairings were finalized.
Rapi stepped forward first.
"I'll go with Eugen."
Eugen immediately grinned.
"My, my."
The heavy cruiser wrapped an arm around Rapi's shoulders.
"Teddy bear's first Nikke choosing me?"
Rapi already looked tired.
"I chose based on combat compatibility."
"Of course you did."
Eugen's smile widened.
The answer convinced absolutely nobody.
Nearby—
Neon immediately pointed.
"Nimi."
The destroyer blinked.
"Why me?"
"Because you're fast."
A pause.
"And I want to launch mini nukes while moving really fast."
Nimi immediately regretted asking.
Laffey yawned.
"Reasonable."
It absolutely wasn't.
Then—
Anis pointed dramatically.
"Javelin!"
The destroyer brightened immediately.
"Me?"
"You're fast."
Javelin smiled.
"Let's do our best!"
The pair immediately got along.
Both possessing approximately the same level of enthusiasm.
And approximately half the amount of caution.
Elsewhere—
Ade approached Belfast.
The Royal Maid bowed politely.
"Ade."
"Lady Belfast."
Both exchanged a look.
Professional.
Efficient.
Reliable.
The pairing made perfect sense.
Nearby—
Soda quietly chose Avrora.
The veteran cruiser smiled warmly.
"I look forward to working with you, Avrora."
Soda looked relieved.
The calm atmosphere around Avrora was reassuring.
"Well, we're friends after all."
Especially compared to the chaos elsewhere.
Meanwhile—
Cocoa immediately walked over to Hipper.
The cruiser blinked.
"Eh?"
Cocoa tilted her head.
"I choose Miss Hipper."
Hipper stared.
"That was fast."
"Of course."
Cocoa answered as though it were obvious.
"I was your maid."
The room immediately remembered.
Several Shipgirls nodded.
That was true.
Cocoa had previously cared for Hipper when the cruiser fell ill during their time on the previous island, so choosing her now felt perfectly natural.
The pairing suddenly made perfect sense.
Hipper crossed her arms.
Trying very hard not to look pleased.
"Hmph. At least someone here has good judgment."
Cocoa smiled happily.
"I look forward to serving you again, Miss Hipper."
The cruiser immediately looked away.
"W-We're partners for combat. That's all."
Nobody believed that for a second.
Especially not Eugen, who was already grinning.
Hipper immediately regretted speaking.
Then—
Mary approached Atago.
The heavy cruiser smiled warmly.
The doctor's gentle nature meshed perfectly with Atago's mature personality.
"I'll be in your care."
"My pleasure."
Atago answered.
Meanwhile—
Pepper selected Choukai.
The cheerful nurse immediately liked the calm cruiser.
Choukai smiled softly.
The pair exchanged polite greetings.
Neither realizing they had somehow become one of the most sensible teams present.
Which was increasingly rare.
Very rare.
Eventually the pairings completed.
The tactical display updated.
Rapi → Eugen
Neon → Nimi
Anis → Javelin
Ade → Belfast
Soda → Avrora
Cocoa → Hipper
Mary → Atago
Pepper → Choukai
The Shipgirls would glide across the water and engage the enemy directly while the Nikkes rode atop their riggings, using the stable firing platforms to provide ranged support and concentrated firepower throughout the battle.
The remaining Nikkes and Shipgirls organized themselves similarly.
Soon everyone was ready.
Kaguya reviewed the formations.
Satisfied.
The fox woman tapped the next objective.
The Mirelurk Queen's marker enlarged.
A massive creature silhouette appeared.
Surrounded by countless smaller contacts.
The room immediately noticed.
"That's a lot of red dots."
Yorktown commented.
Kaguya nodded.
"The Queen does not fight alone."
The marker expanded further.
Hundreds.
Perhaps thousands.
Of lesser Mirelurks.
Mirelurk Hunters.
Mirelurk Kings.
Hatchlings.
The entire bay was infested.
Enterprise folded her arms.
"So it's another army."
"Indeed."
Kaguya's tails swayed.
Then she smiled.
A confident smile.
One befitting a flagship.
"Good."
The room looked toward her.
The Arcane Shipgirl's eyes gleamed.
"We have become much stronger since this morning."
The fleet nodded.
Level 14.
Enhanced talents.
Improved equipment.
Refined builds.
New strategies.
The difference compared to several hours ago was immense.
Kaguya raised her hand.
The tactical map shifted.
The route toward the Mirelurk Queen appeared.
"Then let us see whether the Queen agrees."
The fleet immediately cheered.
Their next hunt had begun.
====================
The fleet paused.
Several girls looked toward the holographic projection of Yuuki.
The commander had been quietly observing everything.
The team formations.
The tactical discussions.
The equipment choices.
The assignment of roles.
The transfer of flagship authority.
The preparation for the Mirelurk Queen.
For the first time since entering the training dimension—
They had organized everything themselves.
Yuuki folded his arms.
Then smiled.
A genuine smile.
"Wow."
Dozens of eyes turned toward him.
"You girls organized yourselves without my help."
The commander shook his head.
"I am honestly impressed."
Several shipgirls smiled proudly.
The compliment carried weight.
Because Yuuki was usually the one planning everything.
Usually the one guiding everyone.
Usually the one solving problems.
Yorktown stepped forward.
The carrier glanced at the fleet.
Then back toward him.
"We can't simply rely on you forever."
The conversations around them gradually faded.
The carrier smiled softly.
"You once told us something."
Yuuki blinked.
"I did?"
Yorktown nodded.
"You said you wouldn't be the hand that pulls us up."
Several girls remembered.
Others nodded.
The carrier continued.
"You said you would encourage us to stand on our own."
For a moment—
Yuuki said nothing.
The words had come from him.
Long ago.
Back when many of them were still recovering.
Still learning.
Still trying to find purpose.
Yorktown smiled.
"We remembered."
The commander stared at the fleet.
Then at the tactical formations.
Then at the pairings.
Then at the girls who were now discussing combat strategy without needing him to intervene.
And for perhaps the first time that day—
Yuuki looked genuinely emotional.
"I did say that."
The commander laughed softly.
Then shook his head.
"To see you girls actually doing it..."
His voice softened.
"...I am proud of you."
Smiles immediately spread across the fleet.
Even Akagi stopped competing with Kaguya for several seconds.
Several seconds.
Which was a record.
Then Enterprise stepped forward.
The Grey Ghost folded her arms.
Her gaze remained steady.
"We wish to become strong enough to stand beside you."
Heads nodded all around.
One after another.
Shipgirls.
Nikkes.
Everyone.
Not because they needed saving.
Not because they needed protection.
But because they had chosen to become stronger.
Together.
Yorktown smiled.
"We want to become the best fleet you can command."
Another nod.
Another smile.
Another agreement.
Then the carrier shook her head.
"But we want to achieve that ourselves."
The words carried across the gathering.
Simple.
Honest.
Determined.
The fleet wasn't trying to catch up to Yuuki.
That was impossible.
Not yet.
Perhaps not ever.
But they could become the strongest versions of themselves.
The strongest fleet.
The strongest companions.
The strongest family.
Yuuki looked over them all.
Everyone.
Then he laughed.
A warm laugh.
One without pressure.
Without responsibility.
Without expectations.
Just pride.
"Then I look forward to seeing it."
The commander pointed toward the tactical map.
Toward the Mirelurk Queen.
Toward the army waiting beyond the bay.
His grin returned.
"Now go show me what kind of fleet you're becoming. Show me, you don't need my help to achieve level 20."
Immediately—
Cheers erupted.
Weapons were raised.
The shipgirls activated their riggings.
The Nikkes climbed aboard their assigned partners.
The newly organized fleet moved toward the shoreline.
Not because Yuuki ordered them.
Not because they needed direction.
But because they had already chosen their path.
And for the first time—
The commander wasn't leading from the front.
He was watching his fleet learn how to lead themselves.
And he couldn't have been prouder.