This took a day and five hours. ugh!
Voting results (from that other site):Pitched Engagement. Deploy and assist a major battle ongoing between two forces. Coordinate a friendly section and ensure the battle is not a loss while supporting with powers and aircraft. Multiple enemy key assets and Airpower as well as submarines can be expected. (1)
At combat speed. I scowled as battlespace data was fed back into my processors and command systems. RADARs were active. searching for threats, My F4Fs and SBDs (to which i had to put some of my second-line fighters and shell spotting/CAS aircraft into storage) flew overhead. Laden with weapon systems and bombs as they had a destination in mind to be going to.
Not long after I just had woke up. I had been alerted by Alana Ayuri and summoned to her room, then briefed that there was a major enemy fleet. as well as a friendly fleet who had been circling around each other after they had made contact. and that at any moment, this could turn into a full-blown engagement. Given my abilities and especially my modern weapon capabilities. I was deemed the best choice for this kind of high-risk mission, my objectives were to ensure that the battle was not a loss. and attempt to destroy enemy key assets if possible.
The fact I was going to be facing off against full-blown fleets of shipgirls had scared me a bit. But I took her up on her request for me to be deployed. After all. given the nature of my previous mission as a high-risk Magops special operator-type shipgirl. It was time for me to enter the battlefield against a much larger and general enemy rather than being in surgical strikes against small fleets that needed to die no matter what. it also allowed for my command aspects to be stressed to their limits. given that such a large fleet would prompt me to use my E-2 hawkeyes and my C4I capability... to which i did so.
And oh boy, it looked like Azur lane had massed quite the fleet. numerous RADAR signatures. and the siren's were just as gigantic. Still. I noticed they already were beginning to engage each other. indicated by contacts running into each other as my Nebo-M was no use with that resolution. I briefly wondered if i should deploy my F/A-18s of MiG-29s. let alone A-7Es for precision strike, After all. I remembered what Alana Ayuri said to inform me about what the battle might possibly include. right?
Still, I couldn't help but feel worried for Iris. the girl didn't fight in the time I had been with her that but didn't stop the possibility of it happening. What would happen to her? I knew she was experienced and had fought her own fair share of battles and patrols but I still feared that she might run into Nagato or Colorado. even!
Focus... Just focus, Little Enterprise. Vita's here and you can't lose sight of the bigger picture now.
Speaking of bigger pictures... The E-2s had a C control aspect to them. and though them I could relay my desires and orders. If that worked with ships in terms of communications from turning them. say. from a disorganized force into a fast and effective independent flotillas. Then why not give it a chance? "Vita. Are the E-2s reaching comms range with the friendly fleet?" I know Vita was a close combat specialist with her rocket hammer. Not a support magical girl like Shamal. but that didn't mean she was a complete ditz when it came to this field. given that she probably had to have at least a fair level of knowledge about it. Although I admit, Reinforce Eins was superior to her in that area.
"They are. Mistress. Shall I patch the fleet though?"
"Do so! Feed them information and have the E-2s coordinate and relay information as necessary to them. Light up and designate hostile aircraft for vectoring. We already can detect them giving it away that carriers are involved! Prepare Corsair 2s for bombing and MiG-29s of F-5s to clear the path forward for the Wildcats!" If there were multiple carriers.. Then my wildcats were going to be outnumbered no matter what, In that case. a few AIM-9Ms of R-73 Archers might just do the trick while cluster of bombs and mixed guided bombs made short work of enemy targets.
"Affirmative. Mistress!" Vita balked as I started attempting to reach out to the fleet via communications. From what i was seeing, The battle was not going well for the sirens. and If I was right. I was already starting to see casualties and a few deaths as I grimaced and felt saddened at that I might not be able to save someone who... might prove to be a friend to me.
Just like your close friend who you were deeply in love with.
Several battleships and carriers. Heavy cruisers. light cruisers.. destroyers. There were also submarines I would have to contend with. I knew about the surface units from Alana Ayuri's talk. but the submarines... They were to be expected given this was a major battle between two combatants.
"Submarines? Are they going to be expected there?"
"I can't state just enough as to how they are going to be there. Remember. this is a fleet-on-fleet battle. And both sides are going to try and weaken each other first, even if submarines are not suited for preemptive strikes." Alana Ayuri said. a serious expression telling Little Enterprise just how many there could be.
"Land-based airpower? Will they be available?" I replied. Having B-25s at the least might help.
"No, if this turns into a battle. they will be not available. The friendly fleets do however have carriers. but no doubt we can expect the enemy side to have their own as well."
"Are enemy key assets like Bismarck of Lexington to be expected?" I pointed as Alana nodded.
"Yes, On such scales. I don't doubt that they will be there. I predict that there will be at least one high-value target." Well, That just changed the plans.
"Can we expect major casualties on our own as well?" Alana grimaced and nodded again as if she knew this already.
"Unfortunately, I think it will be the case. That's why I want you to head out... So that you can save them from destruction. And please... be safe. I admit, I have a soft spot for that kind of stuff now after you began showing off these powers... I fantasize about being just like you... sometimes. But please. Try not to get into a situation you can't escape from."
So that meant I had to keep the friendly fleet safe. Well, If that meant distracting them. so be it. I had already been practicing and I was starting to learn a few spells on my own. I did have my magical girl powers to keep me safe, even if these abilities meant that ironically I had to get very close to make the most of them.
I felt some self-doubt about myself. While I was no stranger to surgical strikes and long-range strikes. actually fighting in the midst of a brawl between a hundred ships at least was going to be chaotic and jarring, And there might be things that could go wrong. I could get bombed when i wasn't paying attention, I might end up being harassed by submarines. I might run out of missiles. of worse, Lexington. Bismarck and the Clevelands weren't to be fooled with either. Same went for the submarines, but that was part of the reason why I had Ikara and ASW torpedoes.
"Prepare Corsairs and F-5s... Loadout, mixed guided and unguided weapons. Air superiority for the F-5s. AIM-9Ms. Launch as soon as possible!" Confirming the command. My A-7s were already starting to be armed with pods. bombs and Exocets while the F-5Es were loading up on AIM-9s and other supporting loadouts. I didn't want to risk the MiG-29s and besides, I had numbers to spare with the F-5s who could all be commanded by the E-2s rather than manually.
As I started to prepare for the launch of the first F-5s. I sighed under my breath as the water splashed against my hull. my Nebo-M trying to discern with its notorious resolution as my APAR RADAR set finally behaved for once. detecting. classifying and matching targets to my database. A few tens of aircraft. maybe more...
"Please. Freedom fighters and Corsairs. save them in time while you still can."
Ever since the battle had began. with at least a hundred shipgirls involved. It looked like it could go in either way before it turned out to be Azur lane's. Cannon fire. Triple-A guns. carrier aircraft flying overhead. and submarines trying to destroy whatever they could find while trying not to get destroyed theirselves. There was a sort of pseudo-magitech advantage going to the sirens along with aces in their mix and deployed Zip fuels as well as better materials. However, that wasn't enough against the other side.
In the chaos and fighting that happened. The sirens were already beginning to take losses, A Akatsuki-class had blown up after an horde of carrier bombers followed by enemy destroyers. Capital ships were being harassed and getting thrown into disarray by submarines. Carriers just weren't up to standard yet. and there was a Shoukaku-class that had major plumes of smoke rising from her. However, They had done some damage in return.
Kagerou had became the focus of multiple destroyer units was targeted by numerous guns. and despite her attempt to hit something with the Type 93 torpedoes she was ultimately forced back by a cruiser that had attempted a charge. U-522 was undergoing heavy depth charge suppression from a Type 1936 and a Leander as they both grimaced and hoped that they were able to hit something of at least force the submarine out of action. Hiei had became prioritized by multiple KGVs and North Carolinas. shells passing by the turrets and threatening to detonate flammable materials. and one of Hiryuu's dive bomber groups had been destroyed entirely.
'I am being chased by destroyers and a cruiser! If this keeps up. i am not making it out!'
'These goddamn submarines are keeping us on edge! We can detect them, but under heavy surface gunfire...'
'Uh, negative. All available carrier aircraft wings are currently tasked with interception of enemy fighters and anti-surface missions against the torpedo destroyers and heavy cruisers. cover our flanks and make sure we aren't caught offguard. over!'
'Several cruisers and a battlecruiser! Ah. crap!'
A Young-looking shipgirl hissed as she listened to the radio. engaged in the midst of a firefight as she saw fighters turning and diving. maneuvering with each other as their own composition was starting to break apart. On paper, their lead in numbers and especially their firepower should have been enough to secure them a advantage. but as she knew and had saw many times first-hand. this was of no use as her memories flashed back to that incident.
Not allowing herself to stay distracted. She hissed in anger. growling at Azur lane for taking her friends and giving her these injuries. her controls threatening to shoot even without accuracy. A shell impacted one of her turrets along with inflicting blast damage to her autocannons.
"Gaugh!" Louise shook in anger from the impact but didn't allow it to force her to pause. resuming her relentless counterattack after. "I will kill you! Begone! Begonebegone! DIE!"
Her anger rose as many of her shots were missing and her adversary either was saved by luck of simply got out of the way in time. "All because of that hit i took!?" Ugh! Damn it! the bastard! She raged as her target. Prinz eugen began to extend out the distance. The second given to her made her do a double-take as she then remembered to not let her anger get the best of her. 'Be calm and think. Louise, Is this the best course of action? What do you hope to do with whatever you are doing?' She couldn't let her anger get the best of her right now. not especially in this moment.
Her hot rage and fury then turned to cold anger and contempt at the idea of Azur Lane. Prinz eugen from what she had heard was surprisingly a very skilled leader at heart. capable of holding her own even when ganged up against by several shipgirls. That made her a formidable threat as the Ironblood cruiser turned around for another engagement... Firing her guns just as she did. evading Eugen's shells and hitting her with a few much to her relief.
"Prinz Eugen of Germany and Ironblood!" She shouted out the name in the same level she held vengeance against though the communications channel. "You're within the Azur lane base here aren't you!?"
Prinz Eugen looked slightly confused. How dare she put it lightly. The same ones who had killed what she knew and would have nearly done the same to her! "I don't quite remember you. Siren. Did Z1 tell you?" This fueled her hatred even more. It had been funny. in a way, Feelings that she had tried to bury. only to resurface again in nightmares and panic attacks. Of her undergoing repairs and hearing what had happened to the fleet on that day. Of her trying to put herself back together and a newfound dedication to avenge what she couldn't save. All that put aside once this cruiser appeared.
Putting more calculations into her fire control. She fired several more rounds. each of these exploding and spraying her superstructure and hull in fragments and heat. Prinz Eugen at that point launched a few torpedoes into the water. "You're among the others who ordered the attack on that day! Why!?" Why? They were just recruits. hopeful and silly-faced recruits, They didn't deserve to die in such a horrifying way like that!
"What attack?" Prinz Eugen narrowed her eyes back. This fucker had the audacity to laugh it off!? "You're the same bloodthirsty monsters who probably are now responsible for the many ongoing food crisis in the Third world. the reason why we. us. Ironblood are all suffering because of the instability you have caused us. And the reason why we're contained you to your bases and enclaves as a unified alliance. Besides." Her gaze began to lose focus to her rage. She pay here, right now. She knew these types. This woman wouldn't hesitate to throw away and tear up the papers of a alliance after the war was over in the name of self-interest. No, this shipgirl was among the others who had ordered the attack. judging by her leadership abilities!
"It was obvious that had the fleet be able to steam on unhindered. we would have lost a great deal more than we took when we attacked first instead! We would have had a raiding fleet in the midst of our trade."
"You involved shipgirls who weren't even given the chance to say your sentiments!" She screamed as if possessed. avoiding torpedoes in her frenzy as she launched a few in retaliation. They were just like her! Sure. they did used to be spoiled. silly of straight-up weren't nice to be around with. But they were still hopeful!
"You're the same as me. Siren." She wanted to scream at Eugen to not say that. How can this maniac say that she was the same as her!? She understood what Prinz eugen was trying to say. But they were fighting for their lives. Her friends. her social contacts. her superiors. All of them had been changed by what they had experienced. They all had tales that would make people cry out in fury against lobbyists wishing to start wars. and then make these wars a profit-making bonanza. After all, A monster to someone might be patriotic freedom fighters to the other side. "You should look at yourself before saying these words to others like us."
Both got closer as she fired her guns again hoping to achieve something damaging like a engine hit or knocking out one of her turrets. How skilled the heavy cruiser was made her anger rise as she shot some more. "Look, I get it what you are talking about with your comrades who you probably lost... But only WHEN I KILL YOU FIRST!" She cried, her anger rising without her noticing, One of her shells came dangerously close to disabling one of Eugen's guns and another knocking a secondary gun out of actoin as her enemy glared at this new development.
Louise cursed the cruiser's existence as she achieved several hits. The blonde-haired shipgirl's anger was going unchecked chasing after her target as Prinz eugen started to feel overwhelmed. Was this siren on par with their skills?
Remembering to calm herself. Louise's anger once again dwindled as she spoke on the comms once more. "You Azur lane scum are an plague! The reason why the world is tainted beyond belief with war profiteers and self-serving leaders who can't even look past the lobbyist bribes!" She yelled out for the woman to hear as both were getting very close. Prinz may be heavier. but she could match the enemy in front of her in skills. She knew that if she could take down a notorious shipgirl once before. She would do it again. she would still strive to kill that woman.
"Guagh..!" Louise shook from the impact of a heavy cruiser projectile. but kept going on. She felt her confidence diminish, yet she kept going. She had to see this through, somehow make things right. She wasn't sure how. but at least it helped her to have something to make her go on in the battle. A reason to fight for, In that moment. Louise pressed the triggers again as a salvo destroyed one of Eugen's torpedo batteries and crippled a secondary. yet she lost a main battery turret.
"No, It's you sirens who are responsible for this in the first place. You manipulated us against each other." Louise felt the tide turn as she took a full-blown counterattack. made even worse by her and Eugen's torpedoes as another shell punctured her and started a fire followed by secondary gunfire that raked her superstructure. she found herself in trouble as she cursed her own recklessness. She had to avenge her friends-no, She could still do it someday. She had to avoid getting herself killed!
The blonde-haired girl's eyes widened as she saw Prinz able to fire. still not having took severe damage at all while a portion of her guns were not operational and she was on fire. But before she almost saw the triggers being pulled... She gasped in fear and surprise as several rockets hit the enemy cruiser in front of her. preventing her from firing as she looked around in surprise. "W-What?"
Overhead. Numerous swept-winged jet aircraft passed them. fireballs shooting out of their wing pylons as she identified what looked like to be a rocket being launched against a enemy F4F. the rocket maneuvering and pulling a tight turn as it detonated close to the fuselage. catastrophically breaking it apart into multiple detached pieces as it broke up. followed by a few bigger aircraft laden with bombs and pods as around her, She saw enemy battleships being bombed with impossibly high precision. cruisers being bracketed with several bombs all at once. and a few tens of rockets on the destroyers as Laffey went up in flames.
Then it dawned upon her as she got her distance from Prinz eugen, too distracted to care about her anger right now. These trapezoidal wings, the root extensions. the guided missiles... She knew only one shipgirl who might be using that since they didn't have anything like that. It was... Enterprise was here!
Just then, her comms came to life as she heard the voice of a familiar little girl. "I will be the Magical Operations Specialist carrier joining you for this battle. Enterprise as you would call me." Her eyes went wide as if that meant Enterprise was here. then it also meant her firepower would be bought to bear on their enemies. and seeing as she had been estimated with the capability necessary to turn around entire battles... Then that meant Azur lane couldn't chase them relentlessly. Instead, Azur lane became the one in retreat.
The question she felt nagging at her mind however was... Even though she understood Enterprise was related to the others who took the lives of her friends. Would she be able to get here in time before casualties become too much?
Arriving to the battlefield at top speed as i began to hover on the water instead of sailing. The battle was going just as badly for the friendly side as I expected too. There were multiple destroyers in the process of sinking already and a Renown-class was slowing down with fires and smoke eating away at her, Even the carrier who I identified as a Shoukaku was too occupied and hurt to care right now. Listening onto communications channels gave me all i needed to know.
'Casualties have reached 26%!'
I also noticed from my F-5s (Who were in the process of clearing out enemy aircraft) that there were familiar faces there and there. Kalk and Radford combined along with Saratoga and Hiryuu were all here. I felt a pang of sadness at the possibility i may have to kill them, but in the end. trying to accomplish my objectives came first as the full picture of the situation came to me.
"Vita. Can you assist me in coordinating the battle? Have the E-2s already assumed a command and control role?" I intoned mentally as someone turned into a fireworks show after being bombed by a SBD. only to be destroyed that instant in turn by a AIM-9L.
"I've already done so. Mistress! But the fleet is disorganized and confused. and at this rate, they won't hold!" Hearing that made me sneer as I prepared my guns for direct combat. my F4Fs and SBDs already catching up to the battlefield.
"We do what we can then. Vita! Cause as much damage as we can." I replied mentally as I considered the idea of transforming, but right now i could just use my bow as a energy ranged weapon if the need came. and besides, I didn't want to risk the possibility of exhaustion of accidentally killing a important shipgirl i planned on leaving alive.
The F-5Es were doing their work as one cut open the cockpit of a A6M in a high-speed gun attack before climbing away. A-7s began lasing as they dropped their bombs. going for important shipgirls like Saratoga and the Kongo sisters as GP and specialized AP/anti-structure bombs did what they had been designed for. shattering superstructures. detonating flammable materials of blowing out engines and starting fires as the result was that several screen-type ships were sunk. Kirishima took nearly-catastrophic levels of damage. and I saw Scharnhorst's turret simply bursting apart from a detonation.
Having done what they could however. the A-7s began to return as more and more of the F-5s began to do the same. They had already done what I wanted them to however in allowing the F4Fs and SBDs to operate in uncontested airspace. and already they were picking their targets as this attack bought much needed relief for the Sirens.
Seeing Birmingham headed my way, I aimed my guns and powered up the ETC guns. Against a light cruiser, most of my firepower was going to come from my energy arrows or either my sword. but in the chaos and with modern digital computer control...
She must have noticed me. because she started firing toward me as I raised a shield in front of me. blocking the projectiles as in return I began to return fire, already seeing a few hits on that salvo which was repeated again almost soon after due to the rate of fire on my guns. I aimed my bow as we both began to close in distance.
Birmingham's eyes narrowed at my direction as she recognized me. "You... I know you. Enterprise!" She began.
"Yes, It is me. Enterprise. or, as I would prefer to be called. Flame-eyed Enterprise. Seeing as we are both enemies now... I don't have any reason to hold back against you." I replied in a neutral but somewhat stoic tone. If i was in a calmer state, I would have sounded apathetic.
"Why!? Why did you betray us!? We supported you! When we heard of the news... We were shocked! Why would you do this!?" Birmingham barked. Then we both got very close. ready to start shooting at each other again. I readied my bow as a energy arrow manifested.
"I wish I should have told you sooner..." I began, shaking my head as my eyes glowed purple. "But if I had stayed. Do you know what would have happened to me? Why is it that on one side, You tell me to trust my comrades. and on the other side you tell me to not talk to people i can't trust, Which was what I found myself in when I realized the likely outcomes!"
"I had technology at the time that would have changed this war! Do you know what our superiors would have done. went through to get their hands on this kind of technology which I guarded at the time!? Do you think it was nigh-impossible to kidnap me and cover it up as me going for a vacation to the farm!? And given some of you are quite patriotic, You wouldn't have paid attention to me disappearing like goldfish! And in all of this you were trying to use me, bend me to your will. It was terrible! Absolutely dreadful! It would be horrible if I associated with you-" I paused as I prepared to resume. remembering what a friend once said. "No, I wouldn't. Yorktown wouldn't want that at all! If tough times had happened of if I disappeared. You would have abandoned me! You girls would have left me all alone to have me torn apart for exactly how my powers and technology worked. and I decided it was time to save myself from that fate!"
Birmingham eyes widened a bit at what she had heard, Was she not aware of what I felt before I betrayed them all? I wondered if she was naive of if she truly didn't know... But in any case, My decision was my own. and at the end of the day as Enterprise. I wouldn't let anyone change that. "I... Look, we want to help! We all do! I still believe in you! Your sisters... Yorktown and hornet, T.. They still believe in you!.. They.. their family... Hell.. We are still family."
"WHAT USE IS THAT when you work so hard to end that war, Yet you watch it all go backwards and see yourself get dismantled!?" I shot back defiantly. not once letting down my bow. "You say that so easily when war isn't threatening you. But when it does, All i have seen is that you all pretend to be friends. Pretend to be strong! But in any event, You would have just all left me... Like a Diktat with the Sudetenland." I gulped and shook a bit from my emotions. "But I was stronger, stronger than you. Like someone said. 'You are better'. I shown you that I didn't need your false kindness. and not their's. I am Enterprise... And nothing can break that willpower... Nobody will hurt me. Nobody can hurt me." I sounded almost like a scared girl there. Funny, I would have passed for a strong Loli.
"Enterprise, I am sorry if we couldn't protect you from our superiors! I understand if you feared for yourself at the time. But there's still some of yourself in you! No matter what you say! Javelin. Illustrious. North carolina. Laffey. Even Cleveland... They're all waiting for you! Just think about it! Enterprise!" The cruiser tried to persuade me as I almost wanted to laugh and cry to myself at the same time. This was too much like one of these scenes in Gundam right now as we both still were ready to fire on a hairtrigger.
"..." I closed my eyes and took a breath as I considered what to say. "I understand if you want me back. But if I tried to do so, I will die before... you would even know it, Don't you know it? I am wanted for what I did. not to mention providing the enemy with classified information. If i did that now, I would either be disappeared of either I will be in a show kangaroo trial like what happened to these countries America has invaded-while trying to sideline of ignore it's own acts- and either be torn apart and dismantled on the scrapping table for study and research." I smiled weakly as I tried to at least let her off with the idea that I didn't want this either. "I am sorry.. But until this ends, I can't go back."
This left Birmingham speechless as she tried to understand the implications of what I was talking about. given my status, There was no way I could come back. at least not without coming under threats and the possibility of being killed. "...I understand, The whole union wants you back. But I suppose we could have done something differently and now... We can't have you back because you will be killed of either charged. I don't believe this, Even if you were to come back on your own will..." She paused, unable to comprehend it.
"Then." I looked at her with a saddened but happy expression. "Why don't we fight each other like we should have the moment I turned on you a long time ago? Birmingham? I am sorry things had to turn out this way. but now... We fight. as enemies." Finishing the reply. I pulled the triggers. firing electrothermal chemical guns as Birmingham did the same.
And like that my battle began. I was already getting a high hit rate. but one of Birmingham's shells exploded on my deck. and before I knew it, she was already moving. And then a slightly hurt feeling as a fire tried to start. only for it to be averted by my own resistance as a Fire magical girl and by damage control. If not for that, I would probably come out from that with at least a fire burning on my deck at the least.
Carrier of no, Gunfights were still something I was well-versed in. even through I was a carrier and I shouldn't be fighting face to face. just providing support from far away with my deadly PGMs.
"Vita! Can we transform?"
"Can do so. Mistress!"
And acting on reflexes. I acted on that, I held my ground and transformed. It felt like minutes, but it was almost instantly done as I emerged from the light with my signature jacket and red ribbons holding a portion of my hair in twintails. Flame Eyes was now held in my other hand. the solid blade gleaming in a bright amber hue as my bow had went away in exchange for it.
Birmingham's eyes recongized what she was looking at. her expression knowing what I seemed to be capable of in this form. "Flame-eyed Enterprise..." She mumbled.
"You don't get to see me transform like this often... Owari da...!" I replied and suddenly, I shot forward at her. Wings manifesting behind me, I lunged forward and with a swing chipped her superstructure. "Not many emerge in one piece from me in this form!"
I had to admit, For a Union cruiser she was quite skilled. she barely avoided the following wide slash from me only to get kicked with my armored boots. "Gaughh! K-Kuh!"
"You underestimate my strength when I don't hold back!" I yelled. "Either fight or you will fall!" Maneuvering fast to leave her unable to follow my movements. I powered up a spell that I had considered before. but hadn't quite done it. "Vita. Can Swallow flight be done with what i've learned so far!?"
"It's possible. Mistress! You may have to use it in a different way without a hammer but it is!"
"That's more than enough!" Magic reserves were drawn on as I affixed my spell into a usable one. going into a pose that looked like I was holding cards in my hands when instead of cards. white spheres appeared in-between my fingers as I threw them out. the spheres floating in front of me and I reared my gunblade back.
'Swallow Flight!' Vita Intoned as I swung and smashed the four spheres with my gunblade. This turned them into red bullets as they shot out at the moment that I had hit them with as much force as I could muster. They streaked out toward the Union cruiser.
At this range and without having to contend with Magical girl abilities. The red projectiles homed in before they struck. Penetrating into her armor with a sphere smashing deep into one of her turrets before exploding like a missile. covering her in smoke. When the smoke cleared. one of the turrets on Birmingham had been shattered. shards and splinters of steel jutting out at odd angles from the gun barrels as the barbettes underneath glowed red as if heated by a energy weapon. In addition to that, there was a deep cut on her stern and a hole visible in her deck.
"Just as i expected!" Vita commented with a hint of pride. To be fair, I wouldn't blame her when Swallow Flight was her main shooting skill in the anime series.
The cruiser seemed to wince in pain hinting that my skill had indeed done some serious damage. Then again given her speed... Hah, as if. I was clad in red for Magical girl's sake. and if i remembered that Arisa story right. Speed and mobility should be my main strength as I found out unless I was in the carrier role.
And speaking of Flame-eyed Shana...
"Think later. Incoming!"
What! Oh right, I forget that the fight was still ongoing before I saw light cruiser shells were being shot at me. I immediately flew up into the air and dodged these by a hair's worth of width.
Concentrating and thinking of a sphere of flame. I switched over to manual control of my ranged spells. "Fireball!" The blade tip of Flame Eyes glowed orange with my own signature magical colour as a large comet-shaped projectile began to build up at the tip of it. "Go!"
A single. high-powered flame-based elemental comet-shaped bolt lanced through the skies. It went straight and true... Again penetrating the Union's cruiser armor before exploding in flames. She cried out in pain as she counter-attacked. but with a portion of her main battery down. It was easier to avoid and evade as I rolled and jinked to the side while airborne. I had to admit, when flying around rather than being restricted to ship-like movements like that flying carrier-plane from Ace Combat I had heard of. It was much, much easier when your controls were responsive rather than having a time lag.
'Think of this like Mobile suit combat... Think! Enterprise! Think like how Soma Peries would think!' For once. I was on the offensive.
However, Birmingham in her desperation was getting harder to shoot at. She turned, moved erratically and accelerated unpredictably to try and evade some of my generic shots. However. I was still landing Fireballs and Triple shots in-between. And it was at the moment that through sheer dumb luck, she positioned herself nicely with her back facing a enemy shipgirl. likely Cygnet and a friendly destroyer. Both of them were engaged in a standoff.
I smiled wickedly and pulled the trigger. "Fireball! Missiles!" My RIM-7 turrets all turned and rotated in response to my commands. Vita busy managing the Hawkeyes and relaying my desires and orders to the fleet before launching all they could. the APAR set operational for once as ICWI guidance channels were established combined with a high-powered elemental shooting attack from me. Sea Sparrows raced from my launchers, leaving behind smoke and a beautiful trail of orange particles. possibly a result of the HEF fuel in them while I was transformed before the barrage exploded with most direct hits on Birmingham. a few malfunctioning and failing to acquire. but the rest blanketing her completely along with Cygnet as a ball of orange light flared up where Birmingham once was.
'29% of the fleet has been lost!'
I didn't reply to that message as I sat frozen in place, Despite my battle rush and my transformation influence on my personality. I still stared at where she was. I didn't know what to feel because right now a bag of emotions came over me. Sadness, Was this right of wrong? Anger. satisfaction. maybe all of it at the same time. It still felt very strange to kill your supposed-be-comrades as I felt a heavy pressure on my chest.
"Was this the right way? Would my past friends hate me? All i know is that I must continue fighting. and Iris.. Maybe.. Maybe you have one less threat to contend with right now."
I didn't care what I was thinking about right now. For the first time ever since I came here. I looked unhappy as attacking my allies and now enemies was something I had never ran into much before. but now that I did it... I just didn't know what to feel. of how it might affect the actual Enterprise. who would surely be left feeling empty at the idea of such a thing.
Staring at a severely damaged Birmingham complete with Cygent. who probably was just as hurt if not worse. I looked at my APAR Radar readouts and noticed that the battle was still ongonig. I really hoped I did the right thing before I turned around and departed. my orange wings leaving behind feathered particles as I left Birmingham and Cygnet. intending to continue my fighting elsewhere.
I slammed into another shipgirl. Probably a Ironblood destroyer judging from that bow as the solid blade of Flame Eyes slammed into her turret. Some sort of reaction took place and light appeared in my vision as a reaction between steel and sword... Before it tore through it in a matter of moments as my gunblade vaporized and burned anything within before I spun her around away. flying off as I heard ammunition exploding behind me. I had already gone through and fought a few shipgirls now bringing up Azur lane's casualties to the 18% range. (1) It couldn't be much further to the enemy capital ships as my other RADAR sets. seeing how APAR had again malfunctioned was showing that my distance was getting closer to them.
By all rights, I should have questioned myself. Would I be able to kill someone like Arizona of Tennessee once it came down to that sort of thing? Would I simply act on my Magical girl instincts alone? I did not know, I did not dare stop of turn back. Another RIM-24 was launched to provide SAM defense against any remaining enemy aircraft as most of my F4Fs and SBDs were done. I had lost several. but in exchange they had dished out far more thanks to my sixth sense.
"Flame Barrier!"
As I shielded myself with a fire-based version of my regular shielding spell. another one developed before I was deployed. A memory flickered through my mind, Hold on. Hadn't Tabris. Kaworu. made it into what he was looking for? Why then did that seem important? What was the working behind Reinforce Ein's ability to trap Nanoha and Fate into some sort of witch-like barrier at the end of the movie version before Hayate broke out?
The memory struck me like a Charlotte witch to the head. breaking me out of the concentration I was in and making me slow down in my tracks. When Kaworu Nagisa had broken into Terminal dogma. He had raised some sort of incredibly powerful A.T field. which was what made Misato and the others lose contact with Shinji just before they were able to arm the self destruct sequence.
And if i was right. Both Reinforce and Vita used Gefängnis der Magie. right? The difference was that Vita's version in the movie was a pyramid shape. while Reinforce's was spherical. but they all both used it. It did something like trapping everyone inside some sort of parallel world without having anyone else show up inside. and supposedly. A Witch's barrier from Madoka Magica was fairly similar to a A.T field. but different in that AT fields were useful for protection. while a Witch's was for hiding and a sort of maze obstacles. But both were based on the same thing. Imposing someone's mind and imagination over the local surroundings. And it hit me... Couldn't I also use Vita and Rein's spell of raise a Barrier of my own?
I thought quickly, letting battle skills guide my actions as I casted Triple Shot again on Boise. Tabris had raised an insanely powerful A.T field, which blocked everything from EM frequencies to all particles. And a Witch's barrier was closer to sort of warping reality around theirselves. like giant food items. mazes. coldness and of course the familiars. and in Nanoha it was possible to selectively trap people and force anyone not selected to be not included in the forcefield. thus making them effectively disappear from the target's perspective. I had massive reserves of magic sure, But I had never attempted something like that. Could I be able to pull it off?
I don't know. but I knew i should try, if only to cut off the enemy fleet from comms and cause something similar to a Mirror Seas. At the least it would hopefully allow me to manipulate the weather within, which would allow me to protect the fleet by effectively forcing bad weather, making both sides break off or either at the least. knowing where enemies and friendlies were within the field to some extent and vaguely.
"Vita!"
"Yes!?"
"Can we use Gefängnis der Magie of something similar to it? Raise a barrier capable of blocking out all communications and allowing me to feel what's inside the barrier vaguely? From enemies to friendly units? Manipulation of the area entrapped inside?"
Vita seemed concerned and upset at the idea. It seemed like she thought that the strain on me might not be a good idea If i was going to fight for a prolonged time here. 'We can, Mistress. but it's going to be highly inefficient. Are you sure?"
"Yes, It might be the only way to stop Azur lane from using their experience quality advantage and allow us to coordinate the fleet for surprise attacks in something like manipulated bad weather by vectoring them. And don't sulk on me. Vita-chan." I replied. I had never used something like Gefängnis der Magie. at least not on these massive scales I was thinking of along with the fact I wanted to feel what was inside the field and be able to block out everything. Trying to effectively combine GN particle properties along with a A.T field's into one was possible. but it wasn't designed for this especially if i wanted to pull off a Mirror Seas. So the only means to do this would be to brute force it with enough magic. It would turn the spell i had in mind into a effective but highly inefficient one.
"Vita, Just make sure we have a escape route in mind if I tire out." I added. moving and flying as I noticed torpedo trails, probably from a submarine as I grimaced and launched a Ikara rocket-boosted torpedo on a wild guess. hoping it was a enemy and not a friendly as I found a spot where the fighting was less intense and I began to come to a halt. I could see why, There were no battleships here of any battlecruisers. just a few destroyers and light cruisers there and there. duking it out with each other, Given how important capital ships were. they tend to-
"Mistress! Focus!" Vita snapped me away from my reverie.
"Right! sorry!" I apologized and quickly got into action, Ordering my remaining F4Fs and SBDs to remain in a holding pattern while my planes underwent rearming and quick maintenance turnarounds. I held my gunblade tightly as I looked up at the sky.
"Gefängnis der Magie!" Vita and I chimed up.
I gasped, Unlike before. rather than using a barrier as a protection spell. I was using it entirely by intent this time on a massive scale like the mothership's barrier from Battleship. or Walpurgisnacht's Barrier. trying to produce a barrier that could both cover a huge area and block the outside world out completely. as well as be capable of Mirror Seas functionality-the ability to generate fog. manipulate weather. the signature dark purple sky appearance and according to a event. be able to detect anyone inside my barrier and narrow down their location for me to home in. It was the greatest effort I had ever expended in my entire service as the sudden pull on my magic was jarring. It was like the weight of the world was pressing down onto my core. if i had one.
Only that the weight of the World was being carried by my very existence as Enterprise and Karina Ayaka. as Laffeychan. If the circumstances had been less urgent or if Vita hadn't assisted with the spell. I would have let my barrier collapse upon itself. and I did scream out in exertion.
However, it worked. despite the sensation of feeling like I had just ran for my life in the blink of an eye. A barrier began to form in the sky as beams of magic flew up to meet at the very top of the forming dome. spiralling outwards from the top to form a spiralling pattern. the dome looking more and more like a wireframe vector before it took on its complete shape and formed fully as the sky darkened and became like what I saw in the Siren events of the game itself as the clouds too turned light black of purple.
I also felt and noticed... Sparks of light? No, they were like twinkles in the distance. and yet i was aware of them. Several tens of them around me. and to a vague extent i was able to reach out and touch them. sort of? Judging from what I was feeling, friendly ones felt like warmness while enemy ones tended to be icy of emitted malevolent intentions but not enough to allow me to discern unless I got closer, Still. was this what being in control of a Witch's barrier and labyrinth felt like? For all what they were. I couldn't help but be awed.
Not allowing myself to be distracted again. I continued onwards as I relayed my new orders to the E-2 Hawkeyes high up and trying their best to not be attacked. having them relay what was going on so they wouldn't be confused by the barrier that had just suddenly formed. and why all communications with anything beyond the battlefield were now cut off.
"E-Enterprise? What did you do!?" I heard Comms coming to life again as a friendly shipgirl asked me the question of what I had just did. Then again, They had never seen a Mirror seas-like field forming before.
"I am blocking out their outside communications and reinforcements for you... Follow the tactical formations and vectoring information assigned by the hawkeyes as necessary!" I replied back and heard an affirimative in response. Loss rates were still high... But at least I was delaying it.
"Kuh, the Scharnhorst sisters are here!" Vita muttered with a hint of anger.
I grunted as I fired my ETC guns again and maneuvered to avoid another salvo trying to blast me out of the sky gracefully. I had took out several shipgirls and at least had severely injured more but more were still coming, It was annoying how easy it was for entire sections of them to group up on me with overwhelming fire. I had took a hit to my hull at some point, but it was damage that could be easily regenerated but no doubt angered me.
"It's you. Gneisenau, isn't it!?" I called out to her as I crashed back into the water, immediately kicking my legs into water-running as I jumped over a stray torpedo and launched another Ikara at where i hastily estimated it to come from. Lunging forward. I narrowly landed a hit and clipped a chunk of her superstructure off before jumping off again. firing back as the Ironblood battleship hastily bought her secondaries onto me.
"Little Enterprise..." She hissed back in surprise and with a tone that told me she was not happy to see me here at all. "It's you. the traitor!" Secondaries firing, i simply used Flame Barrier again and summoned it in front of me with my other hand. blocking what i could and avoiding the rest to not stress the shield badly. In return I aimed my secondaries again, took aim and with computerized readouts flowing through my mind and Vita's assistance. I fired. shredding her superstructure and shattering one of her secondaries in the progress. A alert from Vita telling me another siren shipgirl had been killed much to my brief flash of sadness.
"Remember what you said to me!? That Truth only exists within the range of your country's blind view. I may say!?" I yelled as I held my gunblade out wide before reversing course to rush back in. Gneisenau trying her best to contend with a flying shipgirl as I collided with her and sliced off a chunk of her armor plates. leaving behind red-hot cuts. Gneisenau only suppressed a yell of pain before giving a answer.
"Yes! So why bring it up now in of all places as a traitor!?" Another point-blank barrage bellowed from her secondaries as i flinched and avoided some of these, but the rest hit me. depleting my Barrier Jacket strength as I backed off. resorting to Triple shot as comet-shaped red and orange projectiles cut into her plating, detonating in arcane smoke and energy and much to my attention. only taking out again her topside hull as the rest of her vital armored systems were left intact.
'Not even a singe on her magazines!' Vita seemed disappointed as another Siren destroyer blew up from raging fires. around me, the battle was still not going well despite a respectable defense now being put up by the fleet. 'Fleet casualty rates have exceeded 50%!'
"I see you're still as fanatical as ever like the rest of your lot! But fanaticism does not make up for genuine magic abilities!" I taunted her back and resumed my charge. and before Gneisenau could react, I struck with a strong kick. it slammed to the side of one of her main gun turrets as the impact briefly sent her crashing outwards. I even heard her wheeze and gasp in alarm and pain, If not for my increased strength. I would probably have caused less damage than I wanted to.
Not giving her the chance to resort to torpedoes even if i was flying. I simply called on Swallow Flight again, spheres appearing in my hands for me to toss out and hit wiht my gunblade. red homing bolts locking onto and again cutting into Gneisenau before plasma-like energy explosions covered them. At least now i was on the offensive but even Swallow Flight wasn't capable of dealing with Gneisenau's considerable armor. although it seemed enough for the cruisers i encountered.
"If all you can do is achieve grazing hits on me then you simply don't stand a chance!" Avoiding a hasty punch from Gneisenau. I dodged having my barrier jacket smashed inwards. with the same strength that I wielded, I simply swung and slashed Gneisenau in such a way that I forced her to spin briefly. taking advantage of her inability to resort to Magical girl reaction times and the ability to water-run. let alone water-walk of resort to the acrobatics necessary for Nanoha of Madoka-style combat.
Gneisenau wasn't letting up however as she turned a main gun battery on me. "Us Ironblood won't let our guard come down when its traitors like you!" Gasping in surprise, i shifted my body quickly enough that when the battleship fired. the shots went flying off wide at the skies and I did the next thing that came up to my mind, Spinning around . I reared back Flame eyes before slashing upwards. destroying some of her systems and tearing her superstructure apart.
Yet once I stabilized my position, I caught in the corner of my eyes a blonde-haired shipgirl that looked similar to Iris-Wait, these blue eyes and blonde hair looked familiar... For a second, I froze. my eyes wide as i remember that body and face. that cute yet moody and constant apathetic face. short blonde hair... She was missing her pilot suit and uniform. but she didn't seem any different from the stage play let alone her gundam counterpart! Was... Was that Louise Halevy I was just looking at? And her moody and depressed version as well?
"Incoming!"
Before I could reflect internally on what I just saw. Vita warned me with a mental shout as I barely evaded battlecruiser-class shells in time and I jumped back. "Even if you possess these abilities, You've just one carrier against all of Azur lane! And the commander has faith in us!" I got some distance before allowing Exocet MM40 missiles to launch from my tubes. The anti-ship missiles near-instantly acquiring her as a target and Gneisenau began firing what she could to shoot them down to no avail. before they cut into her hull plating and superstructures. exploding and trying to penetrate her armor to no avail. but spreading flammable kerosene all over the place as multiple fires began on her.
"And what If i picked you battleships and carrier off leaving the destroyers for the rest of the fleet to clean up!?" I countered and launched more RIM-24s along with turning the Mark 34s down against the Ironblood shipgirl. the goal was to start more fires and burn her down to the waterline, and given I was a Magical girl and especially of the Flame elemental type. I was resistant to something like incendiaries and the possibility of fires of being started anyway.
"Then we will simply rebuild our losses or if you use aircraft, The Union has anti-aircraft cruisers for that! What are your odds 1 to a hundred of so in teamwork!?" I rolled my eyes wanting to say that any amassing of that would have been rendered useless by my A-7s dropping Paveways. Exocets and guided bombs from above at high altitude. Straight-up out of reach in dreams and no countermeasures. Straight-up. no. hope of retaliation. And if they had Me 262s. then what? They still would be too slow to get up in time, and they would maneuver like a hippo when trying to escape AIM-9Ls of worse. R-73s or even more worse. hidden AIM-7s. but I decided to continue. pursuing her as she launched torpedoes to which I only just responded by jumping over, rendering them useless.
Then, I saw a sight that made my core go cool. I looked at my RADAR displays and Vita's HUD readout of the ongoing battle in the C4I battlespace display. It was the sound and a alert of something, but just what exactly was the shipgirl in question? Maybe Saratoga blew up... No... The name of the shipgirl involved in question.. Louise... It couldn't be her...
I blinked as I got some distance. deftly evading shells and avoiding a aimed AP shell to my vital components. Was there a Priority ship around? No, I already had full intel and real-time knowledge of enemy locations and their signatures beforehand. I feared for the Louise halevy look-alike, but I didn't look at her. that would never happen, right? The actual Louise was a grunt yet she rose up to become a skilled pilot. and it wasn't like some Azur lane shipgirl couldn't stop her. I scanned around...
The battlecruiser shell had punctured one of her ammunition storage rooms open as flames and secondary explosions erupted among her body. The orange smoke of death slowly spread into the skies, as Louise began to slow down to a dead stop in the water.
For a second there, my eyes went wide. I wouldn't believe, Did this Louise actually get hurt to the point of... Louise got hurt, let alone a critical hit in what amount to being shot near the cockpit by a high-powered beam rifle? and no.. no not... not killed.. That was impossible... She was crazy, sure. but she held her own many times before in the anime right?
"Louise!" I cried, wanting to fly after her but I had to keep Gneisenau busy as I slowly fell back. resorting to my ranged spells and skills firing my projectiles and Elemental shots all the while. Gneisenau seemed to know what I was up to, as she began firing again with considerable accuracy to the point I narrowly managed a roll to the side.
"I won't let you go after your comrades if this is what you intend to do!" I landed back on the water and cursed as my anti-ship missiles were still externally reloading. 'Casualties have reached 53%!' There were still a few tens of Azur lane shipgirls around. Even if with my presence their casualty rate had reached 28%.
"You goddamn sheeple bastards..." I tightened my grip on Flame Eyes.
Hyper Mode-Overboost.
(BGM:Spirits-Eternal Wind)
"I MAKE SURE YOU NEVER WILL STAND A CHANCE!" For a moment, I thought my vision went red with rage. for some reason I felt more focus and power built up within me despite the strain of my massive barrier spell. I shoved these thoughts aside in my bloodlust as i didn't mind it until I had dealt with the battleship. And drawing on whatever this power was. I flared out my wings before shooting forwards. colliding into Gneisenau as we briefly clashed... only for me to overpower her near-instantly that left her with shock before I swung downwards furiously with a cry. slicing off a main battery turret and starting a major fire.
"T-This strength!?" I had heard my goddamn motherfucker enemy being caught by surprise. But I didn't care. I was too driven on by rage and the idea of another Midway happening to care right now as I swiped at her with a free hand. shattering her torpedo bulge as it sent her flying but before she couldn't even get up. I pounced on her from a leap. again vaporizing her superstructure completely this time before I flew off.
Suddenly, I looked around. disoriented from my own rage, What was going on? what was this new power? Where was Louise? Louise... She was attacked by Kirishima. right? I looked down at myself. My barrier jacket did have some cuts. but nothing bad and nothing got past that shielding. I looked around for Louise, but something else caught my attention.
My body was surrounded by a ghostly orange hue/glowing outlines of particles. Everytime I moved around. I left behind a trail of these particles coloured after my own magical shade. In fact, this effect seemed familiar to me... Was this.. hold on a minute. It was the MEPE ability of Mobile suit F91. Or the Trans-AM system. But why I hadn't accessed this ability before? "V-Vita. What's this?" I said to myself.
Vita seemed surprised, and partly was also concerned that I might be pushing myself too far as well. "I don't know, Mistress. All I know is that this is... If this is right... Your magic is in a state of peak output right now. It's like a adrenaline rush!"
"Overboost...?" I named this unknown ability after again the ability of another character. "Is this what it is...?" This was an enhanced state if i was right, only that my magic and my body was in a state of high activity. driving me into a enhanced state that slightly resembled something like a adrenaline rush. of the description of the retrofit shipgirls in fics, I also noticed a increase in my reflexes and my sixth sense as well. almost as If i was now very aware of my surroundings.
"Might be." I nodded and grunted in response as I travelled at high speed. leaving behind bright glowing trails of particles as I no longer felt like I was straining myself. but i suspected all of this to be temporary. "Then. We make best use of it!" I mentally yelled back as Vita sent me a feeling of agreement and determination. "Go defeat these bastards. Mistress!"
I agreed with her mentally as I used the newfound speed and replenishment to my strength to start fighting at incredible speed. avoiding gunfire and torpedoes in orange blurs and severely damaging anything I hit, even with a single Fireball of Triple shot-it seem that Overboost had also increased the power behind my ranged skills. Not long after I began my OB-fueled rampage. I heard that casualty rates were still slowly climbing.
Cursing to myself and issuing a order for the Hawkeyes to begin a withdrawal. I homed in on Saratoga's position as I shot. slashed and blasted my way through. There! I could see her! that distinctive jacket and pink hair of her's!
Swinging my sword. I would have expected it to cut open Sara's flight deck. but she barely saw the attack coming just in time as pseudo-magical girl staff and solid flame clashed with each other. "Enterprise!?" Saratoga yelped in surprise. "So-So, You were with the sirens!"
Overpowering the bladelock. I punched her away, the force behind it enough to send her flying and nearly feel ill before I launched myself toward her again. my expression a glare as Saratoga fired her guns in desperation... Only for my sixth sense to be so strong that I saw what she was able to do and I jinked out of the way. letting the shells miss as with a powerful sword slash. I ended up severing the bridge on her head before clashing again. letting her speak. "Of course i am... What did you expect when a country that places its pride in its powers would have an aftercare plan. and they still have a broken VA system that doesn't even work!?" I hurled an rant at her as I began to push her back.
Between a normal shipgirl and a genuine magical kansen. It was quick to see what the power advantage went to as I allowed my ex-friend to keep talking. "E-Enterprise, I understood if you hate the union for its failings. but can't you come back!? Can't things go back to what they were!?"
"No!" I retorted back as my glare grew ever more intense. "I've told you... If i go back now!" Saratoga began to lose this swordlock. "I will be held on trial on numerous charges. fabricated of not and what will happen... Is that either i will be disappeared to a black projects lab, either held in some rotten containment facility or worse. i will be just killed and my body taken apart to see how I work with my powers!" Finishing my reply. I broke though and spinning around again on my wings I split her flight deck into two, hearing a cry of pain and agony from her before I slashed upwards and downwards into a three-swing combo as I hit her with a kick. forcing her away.
"Kuh. The battle is..." In one spot, A siren cruiser was being hounded to hell before meeting her end at the hands of torpedoes. A destroyer found herself burning down. Friendly battleships being straddled and one suffering a turret explosion from a direct hit by one of the Kongo sisters. enemy destroyers ganging up on and proceeding to riddle someone's hull full of holes until she was effectively good as dead.
The sight set off something within me. I needed to do something now, and in this state... "Vita. Can we execute something like... A massive bombardment spell!?" I flew away, leaving Saratoga to her own devices as I evaded enemy fire. catching a glimpse of Yukikaze as the withdrawal was slowly being executed.
'You're kidding, Mistress! After Gefängnis der Magie. we're in no condition to draw excessively on our magic. and Overboost won't last!' I grunted in effort as I blocked gunfire from a enemy destroyer and returned fire with my own. ETC guns and RADAR-optical combined targeting systems doing their work as her firepower was soon crippled after.
"We have to! Besides. Flame eyes might be a transformable weapon!" Fleeing from someone in pursuit and leaving them behind with my speed. I landed close to where the Louise look-alike was as she was moving again under her own power. artillery projectiles landing down around us. I only heard Louise saying "Is that... you?" as I ignored it, I began to think of any possible suitable special attacks for what i was planning in mind as I hoisted Flame eyes behind my back. summoning my signature bow for it...
"Owari da..." I let out my famous quote as I closed my eyes. concentrating and looking like I was almost in a serene state despite the contrasting background. The wings on my boots and my back glowing brighter than ever as I began to call out the incantation of what I was able to learn. "Gather the light of the skies..." I recited as Louise looked up in confusion and curiosity at what I was doing. A orb of orange magical energy began to build up at the tip. I noted, it was pink with a orange hue. "And be the lance of light that brings wrath onto my enemies..."
Pulling back on the bow with practiced experience. I opened my eyes. revealing them to be glowing a intense fiery orange as particles of the same color left me. blowing in the wind with me being calm with all of the chaos going on around me. I decided to continue as the orb was formed into an arrow. specifically. a ultra-compressed and concentrated arrow of arcane energy. "All of you're beyond saving now." I spoke with a sad but determinated tone as I fired.
"This is it. NJ of biscuit, Suck. My. blade!"
"Pluvia... MAGIIIIAAAAAAA!" I practically screamed the last word out as the arrow flew away from me and high up into the sky, Louise and a few shipgirls looking up at the arrow as it travelled on seemingly a aimless course before it exploded in the air. A disc with many wire-lines began to appear and glow brightly as it started to rain down hundreds. possibly thousands of energy arrows that were just as destructive as my spells. arrows raining and flaling down onto just about every enemy I was fighting against.
"All that is wicked... Of abominations shall be cleansed by the light of purity itself! Bathed under the rays of the stars!" With arrows penetrating armor, effortlessly cutting though steel and hulls alike like oversized tungsten flechettes. The shipgirls in front of me simply didn't stand any chance as Ardent had most of her superstructure and almost all of her weapons systems cut to ribbons by Pluvia Magia's energy rain. Hatsuharu's torpedo launchers and lockers exploding and detonating (Much to her horror, as she had nowhere to run from the auto-targeting arrows above). Kirishima losing most of her main battery turrets as several fires were started and one of her engines was cut apart into two before shattering. and Saratoga completely losing her flight deck as it was turned into a swiss cheese of holes and Fire magic. Most. if not almost all of the shipgirls in my vision suffered these fates.
Even when the arrows missed, some of them didn't stop as they turned into auto-homing plasma lances. seeking out enemy submarines alike and attaching theirselves to the hulls, quickly eating away at the outer hull before compromising the main hull to allow a cascade of flooding and destroyed systems to begin.
I panted under my breath as the fighting stopped in light of what I just did... I was in awe to what my special attack did as Louise turned to me in pain to ask me something. "E-enterprise. Do we conduct a retreat?"
Breaking me away of my haze, I nodded and returned from my awed look to my stoic. if saddened look as I likely had killed some there with my attack. "We will, This battle is concluded. and our casualties are about half of what we have here... Retreat and conduct a withdrawal! We're done what we could here." 'Louise' nodded before turning around as fast as she could. the rest of the fleet getting the memo as my Hawkeyes by now had reached everyone and directed them with the general withdrawal objectives.
"Hornet..." I quietly muttered to myself in a saddened tone. "What would you think of this?..."
I didn't even notice the blue gem-like sphere on my chest faintly flashing a very mild darker shade of blue than it should be.
Saratoga huffed and gasped in pain as she heeled over. body shaking ever so moderately, Her mind was whirling. thoughts going in different directions. Under this pain, with these arrows... she couldn't think. can't focus. The pinkette's thoughts were overtaken with what had just happened. blood leaked from several cuts. leading her to wince as she suppressed a ongoing fire and damage control began to salvage what she could.. She... Had no idea as to how the battle had turned about so quickly. One second she was trying to attempt a airstrike with what she had left after what she assumed to be Enterprise's fighters securing absolute air supremacy. and the next she had been locked in some kind of sword brawl with her, It had only been enterprise's hesitation and sheer dumb luck that prevented the pinkette from becoming salmon sushi.
And after Enterprise broke away, She had ran away despite her attempts to convince and get through to her emotions. even though she had lost a portion of her superstructure and a slash nearly hacked her deck into half. It was very damaging and that blow had nearly ensured that any airstrikes would be impractical with the time required. So far as she was aware, Enterprise had demonstrated powers that she was jealous of. sure. but her performance as of a few mintues ago was just... abnormal. She was moving and reacting faster, and on top of that...
If Saratoga didn't know better. she might suspect the Sirens had something to do with it, but seeing as Enterprise had nothing done to her. and given she learned what appeared to be new powers. That and the attack... That attack, Launching a arrow up into the air... only for it to explode into a disc with electrical wire-like lines inside it? And to begin raining down a inescapable storm of arrows by the thousands that homed in no matter what and which hurt just as much as AP bombs?
Sucking in a deep breath to steady her frayed nerves and block out the lingering pain. She made a note to herself to report it later, Enterprise at the least was now developing and showing new abilities. and that was a tell-tale sign for sure that she was becoming more skilled and powerful. of at least... something had changed about her.
End Chapter Report:
Darkness Level:4-6% "Your Field generator crystals remain a sparkling blue, You're pure!"/"Your crystals are blue, but when you look very closely. they don't look as blue and glimmering as they seemed to be."
Little/Tiny Enterprise has gained considerable renown and fame from the battle.
Little/Tiny Enterprise has learned new spells. Fireball. Swallow Flight. Flame Barrier.
Little/Tiny Enterprise has unlocked the Overboost Hyper mode and the Pluvia Magia Special attack.
Little/Tiny Enterprise is learning The Dream of the Book of Darkness. Homing Arrow. Advanced heal. Axel shooter. Arc Saber.
Fireball:Fires a simple. yet high-powered flaming elemental projectile. Especially effective against large targets. Has a high chance to cause fires.
Swallow Flight:Hold out spheres of ferromagnetic projectiles and strike them with something to accelerate them into red bolts. Highly effective on targets with moderate armor and can inflict considerable damage to systems. homing mostly. This version doesn't differ much from Vita's other than replacing the hammer with a gunblade.
Flame Barrier:Emits a elemental version of the regular barriers. Increased intensity but higher power consumption.
Overboost (Activation conditions:When Enterprise's SP/Will goes high enough of during events):Overboost forces Enterprise's body into a state of high activity. leading to a boost in all stats. Magical output and sixth sense are also amplified during this state. As translated to ingame stats. 20% boost to all stats, 25% to evasion. 12% to critical hit chances. Special defense is Flame Speed. which has a 30% chance to let Enterprise completely avoid any attack.
Pluvia Magia(Special attack):Launch a super-concentrated arrow into the sky which explodes to form a launching point for hundreds to thousands of arrows with the power of medium-caliber Triple-A guns. Targets all enemies, even groups. Arrows auto-home and cause as much damage as Raufoss-type HEISAP 70mm rockets with the AP power of 76mm class projectiles. Also briefly nullifies weather effects. Doesn't really oneshot healthy targets. If arrows miss, becomes auto-homing anti-submarine sticky incendiaries capable of defeating all known hull schemes.
Little Enterprise/Laffeychan has earned the achievement 'Not Without Consequences' for awakening her first Hyper mode.
Little Enterprise/Laffeychan has earned the achievement 'Worth fighting for' for running into a character referencing a mecha series.
(1):Since a 'hundred ships' were involved. it's safe to assume the sirens had 60-63 ships and Azur lane had 50-52 ships. Azur lane's final casualty rate was 24%. half of that being caused by Enterprise before Pluvia Magia was used.