Chapter 40

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40. The Color of the Sea (Additional Chapter for Click Ranking)

As they saw the enemy, the enemy was also watching them.

Almost instantly, the large fleet of red demon warships on the sea discovered the mixed fleet floating in the ocean, completely demoralized.

“...”

The battle had already begun at this moment.

The red demon warships' eyes emitted a dim red light. The surrounding space peeled away like glass, creating a piercing noise on the sea surface.

Almost instantly, distorted and grotesque cannons emerged from behind the red demon warships. A black mosaic wave tore a massive gap in space, and turrets resembling the mouths of monsters were pushed out from the black fissure.

Two terrifyingly large cannons, each as big as the shipgirls, were surrounded by black and purple lightning, calibrating their direction within the space opened by the mosaic. The black muzzles were directly aimed at the Northern Mixed Fleet, which looked utterly desperate on the sea surface. Countless sub-space modules moved behind the turrets, as if pushing something inside.

They were coming.

As soon as they were within range, it would be our end.

“... Everyone! Equipment open!”

Looking at the sea of muzzles, Yamato gritted her teeth and raised her hand high.

A continuous sound like tearing fabric echoed over the sea. Countless weapons emitting a cold light extended their barrels from the space behind the shipgirls, directly aiming at the red fleet on the other side of the sea.

However, unlike the expressionless red demon warship fleet, the fleet's radio was filled with sobbing and suppressed cries.

Destruction was coming.

“... Full armament, unlock!”

Several massive barrels slid out from the sides of the space, aiming at the approaching deep-sea fleet.

“Full firepower, open! Don't worry about consumption! Don't worry about aiming! This is the end! The very end! So, let's start!”

A hoarse cry echoed over the sea. Since it was the final battle, there was no point in pretending. Looking at the approaching red demon warships, Yamato cried out loudly, waving her raised hand at the sea.

“Everyone! Full barrage!”

“Fire!!!”

A dull roar sounded, and countless types of shells were fired at the distant fleet. Numerous torpedoes also sank into the water, drawing white lines as they rushed towards the red demons.

But it was useless.

Small cannons fell into the sea mid-air due to lack of power. Anti-aircraft machine guns were just for show. Even the 460mm giant cannons fired by Yamato herself only created splashes beside the fleet, failing to even trigger their defensive barriers, merely creating noise on the sea surface.

The torpedoes, which had been waiting for some time, quickly reached their feet. Hundreds of pounds of explosives detonated one after another underwater, the energy from the high-explosive shells even lifting the sea. Several-meter-high waves completely engulfed the red demon fleet.

But that was all.

The red demon warships approaching from the water curtain were unscathed, the black and purple shields on their bodies gradually fading and retracting into their bodies. They advanced forward under the desperate gazes of the shipgirls.

“Why aren't they getting hurt!”

“Why are they unscathed!”

“Why can't we even have the dignity of death! Why are they so strong!”

“Damn! Damn! Damn!!!”

No one knew who, or perhaps all the shipgirls, were crying and screaming, firing wave after wave of firepower at the red demon fleet.

But this firepower could only spark the pale purple shields of the red demon warships, barely denting the seemingly indestructible shields. In the continuous barrage, they continued to advance silently.

“...”

The monsters were unmoved by the pitiful state of the enemy.

The red demon warships silently reached the perfect firing position, raised their muzzles indifferently, and then fired heavy shells into the sky.

‘Boom’

The cries of the other shipgirls, the firing of shells and torpedoes, all the sounds were drowned out by the dull roar of the synchronized firing. Like a poor-quality oil painting, everyone's expressions and actions froze in this moment, with only panic and despair remaining in their eyes.

Death was coming.

“...”

Watching the shells spinning into the sky, Yamato felt as if time had stopped, everything moving so slowly. She could even see the eroded threads on the deep-sea shells. Faced with this bizarre scene, a fragment of that person's words flashed in the girl's mind.

‘People, there are times when no matter what you do, you can't win. When that time comes, just laugh. Since you can't do anything, just laugh. Laugh defiantly.’

Ah, this is the near-death memory you once spoke of... It doesn't feel bad.

Faced with the giant shell spinning down from the sky, Yamato's expression gradually calmed. As the red shell in her pupils became clearer, she slowly crossed her arms, her lips curling into a defiant smile as she looked at the pitch-black sky.

“Flagship of the Northern Mixed Fleet! Battleship Yamato! I'm right here! Come and sink me! You monsters! We will kill you eventually! Eventually!”

“Don't think you win by killing me! Idiots! We haven't lost yet!”

Faced with the destruction falling from the sky, Yamato completely abandoned her ladylike demeanor, sneering and extending a middle finger at it.

“... I received that wish.”

However, with a calm voice, the death shell split in two in the air.

In Yamato's shocked gaze, a black figure emerged from the depths of the sea like a ghost, instantly splitting the terrifying shell into two sections. The shell, now lacking its integrity, whistled past the two of them, creating two high waves.

“Who are you...?” Yamato blinked, looking at the black-clad figure holding a long sword on the water, somewhat at a loss.

Black clothing, a blank emblem, golden fringes like a tear running from the left shoulder to the right chest. Black trousers wrapped around the slender legs. Because the figure was facing away, Yamato could only see a single ponytail tied up, fluttering in the pitch-black sea wind, forming a chaotic yet beautiful picture.

“Since you're a lady, don't curse. It's not very becoming.”

In the slowly descending water curtain, the figure, like a hero, removed their hat and turned to look at Yamato. The face, different yet somewhat similar to Yamato's, broke into a gentle smile, patting the stunned Yamato's shoulder.

“Flagship of the Northern Mixed Fleet, Yamato, right? Just watch from now on. This isn't your war, but ours.”

Looking in the direction the figure pointed, the flagship's breath instantly stopped.

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