"That's so cool!!! An armor inside an armor!!"
Neon was practically sparkling.
Her eyes were glued to the large display showing the live feed from Grimm.
On the screen, two enormous Hulkbusters dominated the battlefield.
One was crimson-red and gold, wielding a massive axe.
The other was dark blue and gold, wielding an equally massive sword.
Neon was practically drooling.
"SO COOL!!!"
Anis glanced sideways at her.
"She's basically drooling."
Rapi sighed.
"Not just her."
Beside them stood KanColle Akashi.
Or, as everyone now called her—
Pinkashi.
Her pink hair had already earned her the nickname after someone decided she needed to be distinguished from the other Akashi.
The situation had become even worse after she lost a game of rock-paper-scissors to Cat Akashi.
As a result, she had been forced to accept her new name.
Pinkashi.
And right now, she was completely living up to it.
Her mouth was slightly open.
A thin trail of drool had already begun forming at the corner of her lips.
"...Amazing."
She pressed both hands against the console.
"That armor…"
Her eyes practically shone.
"I thought the Nano Echo Suit Mark II was already incredible."
She watched Yuuki swing the enormous axe.
"But THAT?!"
Her voice rose several octaves.
"That's an entirely different level!"
Neon nodded furiously.
"Exactly!"
The two girls stared at the screen like children watching the greatest toy in existence.
Asahi stood nearby, watching the spectacle with a mixture of amusement and disbelief.
Prinz Eugen, meanwhile, leaned back comfortably as she watched the battle unfold.
Neither of them could deny it.
The Hulkbusters were impressive.
They were technologies that simply did not exist in their world.
The sheer scale of the armor alone was astonishing.
And these weren't independent combat machines.
They were armor.
Armor being worn by the very commander everyone had been talking about.
Pinkashi couldn't take her eyes off Yuuki.
"So that's the Commander… he reminds me of our old Admiral."
She had heard countless stories already.
The girls aboard the GDI spoke about him.
The Nikkes spoke about him.
The Shipgirls spoke about him.
And now she was finally seeing him in action.
The man who had gathered them all together.
The man who had given the Shipgirls and Nikkes a place to fight together.
The man who had become so important to Belfast.
Pinkashi's expression softened.
"That's the Commander everyone was talking about…"
She stared at the crimson-and-gold Hulkbuster.
"The one Belfast was really close to."
Her fingers tightened around the edge of the console.
"The one their hearts connected to…"
For some reason, she found herself becoming increasingly impatient.
She wanted to meet him.
She couldn't explain why.
She simply couldn't wait.
Across the command room, another group was watching the same feed.
Edinburgh had absolutely refused to rest.
Despite Belfast successfully rescuing her, Newcastle, and Glasgow, the three had insisted on remaining in the command room.
They wanted to see Sheffield and the others.
They needed to know that Sheffield, Gloucester, Manchester, and Liverpool were safe.
And now they had something even better.
A live feed from Grimm circling above the village.
Edinburgh stared at the screen.
"There they are…"
Her eyes softened when she saw the Royal Navy maids fighting alongside the resistance.
"Sheffield…"
Newcastle smiled.
"They're safe."
Glasgow nodded.
"Thank goodness."
The relief was unmistakable.
They had lost so much.
They had feared losing their sisters as well.
Now they could finally see them standing together.
And then the camera shifted.
Yuuki's Hulkbuster came into view.
Edinburgh stared.
"So that's…"
Sheffield's new commander.
The one Belfast had spoken about.
The one whose voice had reached across the world.
The one who had called upon the Royal Navy.
The one who had saved them.
Edinburgh found herself staring at the screen longer than she intended.
"…He's impressive."
Elsewhere in the room, several girls were sulking.
The reason was obvious.
Vestal, Mary, Pepper, and the Bulins had been allowed to accompany the expedition to the village.
They were helping treat the wounded.
They were contributing.
And everyone else was stuck aboard the Daedalus.
Akagi and Kaga were especially unhappy.
Their attention shifted toward Kaguya's image on the feed as she is on her way to the village.
Kaguya had accompanied the doctors.
She had an important mission of her own—to help locate Irisviel.
Akagi folded her arms.
"It's not fair."
Kaga nodded.
"Why does Kaguya get to go?"
Akagi's ears practically flattened.
"And we don't?"
Yorktown sighed.
"It can't be helped."
She gestured toward the battlefield feed.
"Kaguya has a reason to be there. The doctors and Bulins are needed because of all the wounded."
Akagi frowned.
"We could help too."
"I know."
Yorktown gave her a sympathetic smile.
"But the Takao sisters and the Royal Navy maids are already handling the combat side."
Akagi reluctantly looked back toward the screen.
Kaga did the same.
Neither looked particularly satisfied.
Enterprise, however, seemed to understand the situation perfectly.
She looked toward Yorktown.
"Well, sis…"
She smiled.
"Everyone leveled up from participating in the operations."
Yorktown looked at her.
Enterprise continued.
"Of course they wanted to come along and gain even the smallest contribution they could."
She gestured toward the girls who had been left behind.
"We gained levels."
Then she looked directly at Yorktown.
"You gained four."
Enterprise smiled.
"And you're almost five levels higher from helping the Commander and Bel."
Yorktown blinked.
She hadn't really thought about it that way.
Enterprise gave a small shrug.
"Everyone wants to contribute."
Her eyes returned to the screen.
"And right now…"
On the display, Yuuki's crimson-and-gold Hulkbuster charged across the battlefield.
"…we're all getting to see exactly why."
=====================
"Shikikan-sama!"
Atago's voice rang across the battlefield.
The moment she recognized the crimson-and-gold armor, her face lit up with relief.
Takao, Maya, and Choukai also smiled.
Their commander had arrived.
Above them, the two weapons that had carved through the Rapture droids suddenly changed direction.
The massive axe and sword spun through the air, trailing arcs of blue-white lightning as they returned toward the two armored figures.
WHOOSH!
The crimson-and-gold Hulkbuster raised one hand.
CLANG!
The axe dropped perfectly into its grasp.
Beside him, the dark-blue-and-gold Hulkbuster reached out.
The sword slammed into its hand with a heavy metallic K-CHUNK!
Electricity continued to crackle around both weapons.
For several seconds, the battlefield simply stared.
Then—
"THE DIVING EAGLE!"
One of the resistance fighters shouted.
"They're here!"
Another fighter raised his weapon into the air.
"THEY CAME TO HELP US!"
Cheers erupted across the defensive line.
The resistance fighters, who only moments ago had been fighting desperately for their lives, began shouting with renewed hope.
Even those sheltering near the cathedral looked toward the battlefield.
The sight of the two enormous armored figures standing between them and the Rapture forces was enough to reignite their morale.
From the cathedral's upper levels, Babushka looked through one of the windows.
Her eyes widened.
Even she was shocked by the sheer size of the two new arrivals.
"They're…"
She struggled to find the words.
"Monsters."
Below, the two Hulkbusters stood roughly the same height and build as Mendoza.
For once since his transformation, the mutated brute wasn't the largest thing on the battlefield.
Mendoza slowly turned toward them.
His glowing eyes narrowed.
The crimson-and-gold Hulkbuster stepped forward.
THOOM.
Yuuki raised his massive axe and rested it against one shoulder.
Then his amplified voice boomed across the battlefield.
"Mendoza, isn't it?"
The mutated brute stared at him.
Yuuki tilted his head slightly.
"Fighting girls with that body? Aren't you ashamed?"
He pointed the axe toward Mendoza.
"You listening to me?"
Mendoza's expression twisted into a snarl.
"You…"
His massive fists clenched.
Yuuki gave a mocking chuckle from inside the armor.
"Yeah."
He took another step forward.
THOOM.
"I'm talking to you."
Behind him, the dark-blue-and-gold Hulkbuster stood ready, sword held firmly in one hand.
The Royal Navy maids watched the two armored giants in disbelief.
Manchester lowered her rifle slightly.
"That's the High Commander?!"
Takao shook her head.
"No."
Manchester blinked.
Takao pointed toward the crimson-and-gold armor.
"He's the one inside it."
Her expression softened with pride.
"Yes. That's the GDI High Commander."
She looked toward the armored figure.
"The one who leads us."
Atago nodded.
"The one who called upon us."
Manchester stared.
"So that's the man who gathered everyone together…"
Her gaze shifted toward the second Hulkbuster.
"But who is the one next to him?"
Takao answered without hesitation.
"That would be Doctor Yuu."
Manchester's eyes widened.
"Doctor?"
"Kirino Yuu," Takao explained. "GDI Head Doctor and GDI Earth Division Second in Command."
Manchester stared at the enormous blue-and-gold armor.
She seemed to need a moment to process that information.
"That…"
She pointed toward the hulking armored figure.
"That's the GDI Head Doctor?"
Atago smiled.
"That's her."
The dark-blue-and-gold Hulkbuster turned slightly toward the sisters.
Choukai immediately raised her voice.
"Shikikan-sama!"
Her face was filled with relief.
"You're just in time!"
Yuuki looked toward the four sisters.
Then toward the cathedral.
Then finally back toward Mendoza.
The massive armor tightened its grip around the axe.
The blue-white Arc Reactor in his chest burned brightly.
"Looks like we arrived at the right time."
Yuu stepped forward beside him.
Her Hulkbuster's sword crackled with electricity.
Yuuki looked toward Mendoza.
"Now…"
His voice became colder.
"Let's deal with this."
==========
Sheffield's eyes widened.
That voice.
She knew it.
It was the same voice that had reached across the world and called upon them.
The same voice that had guided them toward hope.
The same man who had saved their head maid.
The same High Commander who had given the Takao sisters the power to fight back.
Sheffield stared at the enormous crimson-and-gold armor.
"So that's him…"
Manchester, Liverpool, and Gloucester were equally captivated.
This was the man who led the GDI.
The man who had come for them.
The man who had sent the Takao sisters to their village.
For the first time, they were seeing their new commander with their own eyes.
Yuuki glanced toward the four Takao sisters.
"Girls, focus on taking out the droids. Use your hacking to turn the vehicles against them."
"Hai!"
Takao and her sisters answered together.
Without hesitation, they turned back toward the battlefield.
The four immediately moved into action, attacking the remaining Rapture droids and clearing them away from the resistance positions.
Yuuki then glanced toward the Royal Navy maids.
He looked at Sheffield, Manchester, Liverpool, and Gloucester.
"I guess those four are my new maids?"
Sheffield answered immediately.
"Yes!"
Yuuki paused, then gave a small nod.
"Good. Introduce yourselves later. Make sure you stay alive long enough for that."
His attention shifted toward the battlefield.
The Rapture walkers were advancing through the streets, their massive mechanical bodies stomping over the ruined roads.
Yuuki turned toward Yuu.
"Yuu, focus on the Rapture walkers."
He pointed toward the advancing machines.
"Assist me if you can. Try to disable them since Vergil asked for samples."
Yuu tightened her grip around her sword.
"As you wish."
Her Hulkbuster armor shifted as the hydraulic systems responded.
"I'll beat this bastard up."
Yuuki gave a short laugh.
"That's the spirit."
A sudden roar interrupted them.
Mendoza had picked up one of the remaining Rapture buggies.
The massive brute gripped the vehicle with both hands.
Then—
WHOOSH!
He hurled it directly at Yuuki.
The enormous buggy spun through the air.
Yuuki raised his arms.
CRAAAASH!
The vehicle smashed into the front of his Hulkbuster.
The impact forced him backward several meters.
His armored boots tore grooves through the road.
But the armor held.
Yuuki lowered his arms.
Mendoza was already there.
BOOM!
The mutated brute's fist slammed into Yuuki's chest.
The force sent the Hulkbuster flying backward.
Yuuki flipped through the air, rotating his enormous armored body before extending his arms toward the ground.
BOOM!
His hands struck the road.
The impact slowed his momentum.
His boots touched down.
Yuuki remained crouched for a moment.
Then he looked up.
Mendoza was charging straight toward him.
Yuuki's eyes narrowed behind the armored visor.
"Okay."
He pushed off.
BOOOOOOM!
The Hulkbuster exploded forward.
Mendoza barely had time to react.
Yuuki reached him and grabbed the mutant by the head with one massive armored hand.
K-CHUNK!
His fingers locked around Mendoza's skull.
"Got you."
Yuuki drove him downward.
BOOOOOOM!
Mendoza's body slammed into the road.
The asphalt cracked beneath the impact.
But Yuuki didn't stop.
He dragged the massive brute across the ground.
SKRRRRRRRRRRT!
Mendoza's body tore a long trail through the road as Yuuki hauled him away from the village.
The Hulkbuster's hydraulic systems strained as he continued pulling.
Yuuki then released his grip.
Mendoza's body flew across the open ground.
WHOOSH!
CRAAAAASH!
The mutated brute slammed into the far side of the battlefield, well away from the cathedral and the civilians.
Yuuki stood upright.
He looked back toward the village.
"That's better."
Then he turned toward Mendoza.
"Now we can fight without worrying about everyone else getting caught in it."
"Maggot!"
Mendoza roared as he charged.
His enormous body thundered across the open ground, each footstep sending dust and debris into the air.
Yuuki simply raised one arm.
The palm of his Hulkbuster opened.
WHOOOOOM!
A powerful repulsor blast erupted from his hand.
The energy struck Mendoza squarely in the chest.
BOOOOOOM!
The mutated brute was launched backward like a projectile.
He flew across the battlefield and slammed into the side of a mountain.
CRAAAAASH!
Rock and dust exploded outward from the impact.
Yuuki lowered his arm.
"Stay down."
A moment later, something came flying out of the dust cloud.
Yuuki's sensors immediately detected it.
A massive rock.
Mendoza had ripped a chunk of the mountain free and hurled it directly at Yuuki.
WHOOSH!
The rock struck him squarely in the back.
CRACK!
Yuuki staggered forward.
He turned his head slowly.
"…On my back?!"
He looked toward Mendoza.
"Dick move, man!"
Mendoza roared and charged again.
Yuuki turned fully toward him.
"Fine."
The two giants collided.
BOOOOOOM!
Yuuki drove his fist directly into Mendoza's face.
The impact sent the mutated brute flying backward once again.
WHOOSH!
Mendoza crashed across the open terrain, rolling several times before finally coming to a stop.
Yuuki lowered his fist.
Then his helmet displayed a warning.
His sensors had detected damage to the Hulkbuster's outer plating.
It wasn't serious.
Just a few sections of armor had been dented and damaged from Mendoza's attacks.
Yuuki glanced toward the sky.
"Veronica, a little repair."
Veronica immediately responded.
The mobile support module adjusted its position overhead.
Several small repair drones detached from its underside.
WHIRRRR—
They flew toward Yuuki at high speed.
Each drone carried a specialized repair system.
The machines surrounded the Hulkbuster.
BEEP.
Their systems activated.
Then—
ZZZZZZT!
Thin golden beams emerged from the drones.
The advanced repair beams swept across the damaged armor.
The dents began disappearing.
Scratches sealed themselves.
Damaged plating restored its structural integrity.
Hydraulic components recalibrated.
Within seconds, the Hulkbuster looked as though it had never been struck.
Yuuki glanced over his shoulder.
"…That was fast."
The repair drones finished their work.
Their golden beams shut down.
BEEP.
One after another, they returned toward Veronica.
The mobile service module received them back into its compartments.
Yuuki rolled his shoulders.
The massive armor responded smoothly.
He looked toward the mountain.
Mendoza was already standing again.
Yuuki's visor narrowed.
"Okay."
He raised both fists.
"Round two."
===============
Yuu, meanwhile, had already moved on to another threat.
Her target was one of the most dangerous Rapture units on the battlefield.
A Lord-class Walker Rapture.
Its designation was SPOOK.
The massive machine towered over the surrounding streets, supported by four heavily reinforced hydraulic legs. Its frame was covered in thick armor plating, while several laser-based weapons were mounted across its body.
SPOOK turned toward the cathedral.
Yuu immediately stepped between it and the village.
"Not so fast."
The dark-blue-and-gold Hulkbuster lowered its stance.
Its massive mechanical hands reached toward the walker.
K-CHUNK!
Yuu seized the machine.
For a moment, the enormous Rapture struggled against her.
Its hydraulic legs pushed against the ground.
WHIRRRR—
Yuu's Hulkbuster's servos roared in response.
Then she pulled.
BOOOOOOM!
SPOOK was ripped away from the cathedral.
Yuu swung the walker sideways and hurled it across the battlefield.
CRAAAAASH!
The massive Rapture machine slammed into the open ground far from the village.
Yuu followed immediately.
Her Hulkbuster's heavy footsteps shook the earth as she charged.
Behind her, the Shipgirls were now free to concentrate on defending the cathedral and eliminating the remaining droids.
Yuu raised her enormous sword.
SHING!
The blade crackled with energy.
SPOOK recovered and immediately brought its laser weapons to bear.
BZZZZT—!
Several beams fired toward Yuu.
She raised her sword.
CLANG!
The Hulkbuster blade intercepted one of the weapons, deflecting the laser away.
Yuu charged through the barrage.
THOOM! THOOM! THOOM!
She swung.
SLASH!
The sword tore through one of SPOOK's weapon assemblies.
Sparks erupted from the damaged machinery.
The walker retaliated.
Another laser weapon began charging.
Yuu immediately brought her sword down.
CRAAAAANG!
The weapon was smashed before it could fire.
"Stay down."
She drove another strike into the walker's armored body.
BOOOOM!
The impact dented the plating.
Yuu wasn't trying to destroy SPOOK.
Not yet.
She had been given a specific task.
Disable it.
Preserve it.
Then hand it over to Vergil for study.
Yuu continued dismantling its weapons one by one.
CRASH!
Another laser assembly was destroyed.
KRAK!
A second weapon was smashed apart.
SPOOK suddenly staggered.
Then its hydraulic legs compressed.
Yuu's sensors immediately detected the change.
"Oh, come on."
WHOOOOOM!
The walker suddenly jumped.
Its enormous hydraulic legs launched its entire body into the air.
SPOOK sailed backward before landing several dozen meters away.
BOOOOOOM!
The ground shook beneath it.
Yuu stared.
"You can jump?"
SPOOK's legs compressed again.
Yuu's Hulkbuster raised its sword.
The machine launched itself away once more.
BOOOOOOM!
Yuu watched it land.
She sighed inside her helmet.
"That's going to get annoying."
SPOOK immediately began moving again, trying to create distance.
Yuu tightened her grip around the massive sword.
"Fine."
Her Hulkbuster's thrusters activated.
WHUMMMMM!
She accelerated after it.
"You want to play keep-away?"
Her visor locked onto the walker.
"Let's see how long that lasts."
Yuu surged across the battlefield after SPOOK, determined to disable the Lord-class Rapture intact before it could escape her grasp.
Inside the enormous Hulkbuster, Yuu flexed her fingers around the nerve nexus controls.
She smiled faintly.
"It's been a while since I've been inside this thing."
The massive armor responded to her movements with a deep mechanical hum.
Ahead of her, SPOOK's hydraulic legs slammed against the ground.
BOOM!
The Lord-class Walker launched itself forward again.
Yuu accelerated after it.
Then Yuuki's voice came through the comms.
"Yuu."
She looked toward him.
Yuuki was still facing Mendoza.
The mutated brute was more than enough for him to handle.
Yuuki raised his axe.
"Here."
He tossed the massive weapon toward her.
Yuu reached out.
CLANG!
She caught it with one hand.
She looked down at the axe.
Then at the sword already in her other hand.
A grin appeared beneath her helmet.
"Thanks."
Yuuki rolled his shoulders.
"I won't be needing it."
He raised both fists.
"Hand-to-hand is good enough for me."
Yuu nodded.
"Have fun."
She turned back toward SPOOK.
The Lord-class Rapture was enormous.
Its hulking frame towered above the battlefield, supported by its powerful hydraulic legs.
Yuu raised both weapons.
A massive axe in one hand.
A massive sword in the other.
SHING!
The blades hummed with energy.
"Come on, big guy."
SPOOK suddenly stopped.
Its body shifted.
Then several Rapture walkers emerged from behind it.
Yuu's visor immediately marked them as hostile.
"Seriously?"
More walkers advanced toward her.
SPOOK had apparently decided that fighting her directly wasn't enough.
It was sending reinforcements.
The first walker charged.
Yuu didn't slow down.
BOOOOOOM!
She swung the axe.
CRAAAAASH!
The blade tore straight through the walker's upper body.
The machine split apart and collapsed.
Another walker attacked from the side.
Yuu turned.
SHING!
Her sword swept across its armored frame.
The walker was cut apart before it could even finish raising its weapon.
Another came from behind.
Yuu spun the Hulkbuster around.
The axe came around with her.
KRAAANG!
The weapon smashed through the machine's armor and sent the walker tumbling across the ground.
Yuu didn't even stop.
She continued advancing toward SPOOK.
More walkers appeared.
Yuu sighed.
"Fine."
She tightened her grip on both weapons.
"You want to send an army?"
Her Hulkbuster's thrusters ignited.
WHOOOOOM!
She surged forward.
The axe swung.
SLASH!
The sword followed.
CRASH!
One walker fell.
Then another.
Then another.
The battlefield became a trail of shattered Rapture machinery behind her.
Yuu finally reached SPOOK.
The enormous Lord-class Walker turned toward her.
Its remaining laser weapons began charging.
BZZZZZZT—
Yuu raised both weapons.
Her sword in one hand.
Yuuki's axe in the other.
She stared up at the massive machine.
"You're not getting away this time."
SPOOK's hydraulic legs began compressing.
Yuu's visor immediately registered the movement.
Her expression flattened.
"…Don't you dare jump again."
BOOOOOOM!
SPOOK launched itself into the air.
Yuu stared upward.
"…You did."
The Lord-class Rapture sailed away across the battlefield.
Yuu lowered her weapons.
"Okay."
Her Hulkbuster's thrusters ignited again.
"Then I'll chase you."
=============
"Who the fuck are you?!"
Mendoza's roar echoed across the open battlefield.
The mutated brute charged toward Yuuki with terrifying speed.
Yuuki didn't move.
He simply raised his fists.
Mendoza's fist collided with his.
BOOOOOOM!
The impact created a violent shockwave that exploded outward from the two giants.
Dust and debris were blasted away from them.
Both combatants remained standing.
Yuuki slowly lowered his fist.
"Their commander."
Mendoza's expression twisted.
Yuuki tilted his head.
"I assumed Behemoth told you about me?"
He gave a small shrug.
"Yeah. I was the one who declared war on her."
Mendoza's eyes narrowed.
"So you're the one…"
His massive fists tightened.
"Looks like you brought yourself to me."
He lowered his body.
"If you don't mind…"
A savage grin spread across his mutated face.
"Die!"
Mendoza lunged.
BOOM!
Yuuki stepped forward instead of retreating.
He caught Mendoza as the brute charged and seized him around the upper body.
K-CHUNK!
The Hulkbuster's armored hands locked into place.
Mendoza struggled.
"What—?!"
Yuuki lifted him off the ground.
"Too slow."
BOOOOOOM!
He slammed Mendoza into the ground.
The earth cracked beneath the impact.
Before Mendoza could recover, Yuuki's Hulkbuster raised its arm.
The massive forearm shifted.
Mechanical components locked into position.
K-CHUNK!
The piston assembly inside the gauntlet engaged.
Yuuki looked down at the struggling brute.
"Go to sleep…"
BOOM!
The Hulkbuster's fist slammed into Mendoza.
"Go to sleep…"
BOOM!
Another piston-powered punch crashed into him.
"Go to sleep."
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Yuuki continued hammering Mendoza into the ground, each piston-assisted punch driving the mutated brute deeper into the cracked earth.
The Hulkbuster's hydraulic systems roared with every strike.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
Yuuki showed no intention of stopping anytime soon.
Mendoza managed to catch Yuuki's fist.
For a brief moment, it looked as though he had finally found an opening.
Yuuki only made it worse for him.
The Hulkbuster's fingers tightened around Mendoza's arm, locking his grip in place with a series of heavy mechanical clicks.
Yuuki tilted his helmet slightly.
"Mind taking this for a spin?"
The Arc Reactor in his chest flared.
WHOOOM!
Yuuki launched himself into the sky, dragging Mendoza along with him.
The sheer force of the ascent ripped Mendoza off the ground. He struggled violently, trying to wrench himself free, but Yuuki's grip held firm. Then, with another mechanical release, the Hulkbuster detached its locking mechanism.
A reinforced chain shot out.
It wrapped around Mendoza.
Yuuki changed direction.
BOOM!
Mendoza was hurled downward.
He slammed into a rocky outcrop with enough force to shatter stone.
Yuuki immediately pulled him back up.
Then slammed him down again.
CRASH!
Again.
CRASH!
Again.
CRASH!
Rocks exploded beneath Mendoza's body as Yuuki repeatedly swung him through the terrain like a living wrecking ball.
Back aboard the Daedalus, every Shipgirl and Nikke watching the live feed could see exactly what was happening.
There was no contest.
No back-and-forth exchange.
No desperate struggle for survival.
Against Yuuki and his Hulkbuster, Mendoza was being completely overwhelmed.
It was a one-sided battle.
================
Back at the cathedral, with Mendoza finally out of the way, the battle began to turn decisively in the resistance's favor.
The hacked Rapture vehicles moved into position and began mopping up the remaining droids.
Machine guns thundered across the battlefield.
BRRRRRRRRT!
The droids were cut down one after another.
Even the mobile artillery had stopped firing. With their systems compromised by the Takao sisters' hacking, the artillery batteries were no longer bombarding the cathedral.
Takao, Atago, Maya, and Choukai joined the ground fighters.
Their swords flashed as they carved through the remaining droids.
Then their weapons entered Heroic Mode.
Energy surged along the blades.
SHING!
Their next strikes hit with considerably greater force.
Atago immediately spotted a Rocket Rapture among the remaining enemies.
"That one!"
She dashed forward, targeting the rocket-equipped droid before it could fire again.
Maya, meanwhile, connected herself to the hacked vehicles.
"Fire!"
The vehicles responded instantly.
Their machine guns opened up.
BRRRRRRRRT!
A hail of bullets swept across the battlefield, shredding groups of droids.
Choukai took command of the Royal Navy maids.
"Spread out! Take the high ground!"
Sheffield, Manchester, Gloucester, and Liverpool moved into position with the resistance fighters, taking up sniper positions and eliminating targets from afar.
The cathedral's defenders fought with renewed confidence.
And with both Mendoza and SPOOK removed from the immediate battle, the Rapture assault was collapsing.
More importantly—
There were no casualties.
Not among the resistance.
Not among the civilians.
The cathedral had survived.
Then, from a distance, the fighters noticed something in the sky.
Everyone looked up.
Yuuki was still fighting Mendoza.
And judging by what they could see, the fight was reaching its conclusion.
Yuuki suddenly released Mendoza.
The mutated brute was tossed high into the sky.
Higher.
Higher still.
Mendoza desperately tried to regain control of his body.
Then Yuuki flew past him.
The Hulkbuster's thrusters roared.
WHOOOOOOM!
Yuuki positioned himself above Mendoza.
For one brief moment, the two hung against the sky.
Then Yuuki struck.
BOOOOOOM!
The impact sent Mendoza plummeting toward the earth.
Yuuki followed him.
Mendoza tried desperately to escape.
He twisted.
He struggled.
He attempted to break Yuuki's grip.
It didn't matter.
Yuuki had locked him down so completely that Mendoza couldn't move.
The ground rushed toward them.
Mendoza realized what Yuuki intended.
He was going to turn him into a landing cushion.
"NO—!"
Yuuki tightened his hold.
The Hulkbuster descended like a missile.
Then—
BOOOOOOOOOOM!!
The impact erupted across the battlefield like a meteor striking the earth.
Dust and debris exploded outward.
The ground shook.
The cathedral trembled.
Everyone stopped and stared toward the enormous impact crater.
For several seconds, there was only silence.
Then the dust began to settle.
And the battlefield finally fell quiet.
============
As for Yuu, SPOOK's attempt to escape had only made things worse.
The Lord-class Walker thundered across the battlefield, its hydraulic legs repeatedly launching its massive frame forward.
Yuu pursued from above.
Inside the Hulkbuster, her visor tracked every movement of the enormous machine.
"Got you."
Her thrusters ignited.
WHOOOOOM!
Yuu descended toward SPOOK like a missile.
The Lord-class Walker reacted immediately.
Its attack drones detached from its main body and swarmed toward her.
Yuu didn't slow down.
"Annoying."
Her Hulkbuster's palms opened.
FWOOM! FWOOM!
Repulsor blasts tore through the first wave of drones.
One exploded.
Then another.
Yuu twisted through the air, dodging incoming fire as more drones surrounded her.
Her wrist-mounted systems activated.
ZZZRAAAK!
A concentrated energy beam lanced from her armor.
It pierced straight through one drone before continuing into another.
Yuu followed with a spinning strike.
KRAAANG!
Her sword smashed through a second drone, sending its burning remains tumbling toward the ground.
SPOOK's main weapons suddenly activated.
Multiple energy emitters turned toward her.
BZZZZZZZT—
Yuu's visor flashed warnings.
"Seriously?"
The Lord-class Walker fired.
A barrage of energy weapons streaked through the sky.
Yuu raised her forearms.
Her repulsors flared.
WHOOOOM!
She blasted through the incoming fire and drove straight toward SPOOK.
The Walker deployed its barrier.
A shimmering energy field formed around its enormous frame.
Yuu's eyes narrowed.
"Let's see how strong that really is."
She brought both palms forward.
The Hulkbuster's repulsors discharged at maximum output.
FWOOM!
The concentrated blasts hammered into the barrier.
It held.
For a moment.
Then cracks spread across the energy field.
KRRRKKK...
Yuu pushed harder.
The repulsor beams intensified.
BOOOOOOM!
The barrier shattered.
Yuu immediately accelerated through the collapsing field.
Her fist connected with SPOOK's main body.
KRAAAAAASH!
The impact buckled its armor.
The enormous Lord-class Walker staggered backward.
Before it could recover, Yuu grabbed one of its weapon assemblies.
"Mine."
She pulled.
Hydraulic mechanisms screamed.
KRRRRAAAANG!
The weapon was ripped straight from its mounting.
Sparks erupted from the exposed machinery.
Yuu tossed the weapon aside.
SPOOK retaliated with another barrage.
Yuu stepped into the attack.
Her sword swept upward.
SHING!
Another weapon was severed.
Then she caught a third weapon with her free hand.
The Hulkbuster's fingers tightened around it.
CRUNCH.
Yuu ripped it apart.
SPOOK staggered again.
Its hydraulic legs attempted to activate.
Yuu noticed.
"Oh, no you don't."
She lunged forward.
The massive Hulkbuster grabbed one of SPOOK's legs.
The hydraulic pistons screamed as Yuu pulled.
KRRRRAAAAAK!
The leg tore free from the Walker's body.
SPOOK's enormous frame lurched violently.
Yuu didn't stop.
She seized another leg.
"Stay."
RIIIIIP!
The second leg tore away.
The Lord-class Walker collapsed heavily onto the ground.
BOOOOOOM!
Dust erupted around its body.
Its remaining systems desperately tried to activate.
Weapons attempted to rise.
Drones attempted to launch.
Its core continued glowing.
Yuu stepped forward.
The Hulkbuster's fist began to glow with concentrated repulsor energy.
She pulled her arm back.
"Enough."
WHOOOOOOM!
Yuu drove her fist directly into SPOOK's central systems.
The impact ripped through its armor and sent a violent shockwave through its frame.
KRAAAAAAAAAASH!
The Walker's lights flickered.
Its weapons went dark.
Its drones dropped from the sky.
Its remaining hydraulic systems stopped moving.
One final burst of sparks erupted from its damaged core.
Then—
Silence.
SPOOK was completely disabled.
Yuu stood over the fallen Lord-class Walker, sword in one hand and Yuuki's axe in the other.
She looked down at the crippled machine.
A small smile appeared beneath her helmet.
"Got you."
For the first time since the battle began, the Lord-class Rapture wasn't running.
It wasn't fighting.
It wasn't jumping away.
It was simply lying there—
disabled and intact enough to be recovered.
Yuu stood over the crippled SPOOK.
The Lord-class Walker was barely recognizable anymore. Its hydraulic legs had been torn away, its weapons ripped from their mounts, its armor cracked open, and its internal systems flickering desperately as they struggled to remain operational.
Yuu raised her sword slightly.
"I would love to kill you. But…"
She paused.
Then she raised one arm.
The enormous Hulkbuster's forearm rotated.
Panels shifted apart with a series of heavy mechanical clicks, revealing a weapon mounted directly into the armor.
The Chronobeam Mark II.
Unlike the Chrono Prison and Chrono Copter, which required several seconds to completely erase a target, the Mark II had been specifically designed for direct combat.
It didn't need five seconds.
It only needed one.
The weapon began charging.
VMMMMMMMM—
Energy condensed around the emitter.
SPOOK's remaining systems suddenly reacted.
Warning lights flashed across its damaged frame.
Yuu's visor marked the Walker as the target.
"Goodbye."
VZZZRAAAAAAAM!
A beam of temporal energy erupted from the Hulkbuster's arm.
For exactly one second, the Chronobeam enveloped SPOOK.
Then the enormous Lord-class Walker simply—
ceased to exist.
Its massive frame vanished from reality.
The same beam continued forward, catching the remaining small attack drones scattered around the area.
One after another, they disappeared into nothingness.
No explosions.
No debris.
No wreckage.
Just empty space where the machines had been.
Yuu lowered her arm.
The Chronobeam's emitter began cooling.
Five seconds before it could fire again.
"That's going to take a little while."
Her comms suddenly crackled.
"Keep 'em coming, Yuu!"
Vergil.
Yuu glanced toward the battlefield.
She could already guess what he wanted.
"Fine."
She activated her thrusters.
WHOOOOOM!
The Hulkbuster rose into the air and flew back toward the cathedral.
By the time Yuu returned, the battle was already nearing its end.
The hacked Rapture vehicles had devastated the remaining droids.
But Vergil wasn't interested in destroying everything.
He wanted samples.
Yuu began selecting vehicles from the battlefield.
First, a Rapture Buggy.
Then a Rapture APC.
A Rapture Light Tank.
A Rapture Flame Tank.
A Rapture Mobile Artillery.
A damaged but recoverable Rapture Apache helicopter.
And finally, a Rapture troop transport.
Each one was marked for recovery.
She also selected several intact Rapture soldier droids and rocket droids.
The resistance fighters watched in confusion as the enormous blue-and-gold Hulkbuster began taking their captured enemy equipment away.
Whispers spread through the survivors.
Why was she taking them?
They had just fought desperately to destroy those machines.
Now she was collecting them.
But nobody approached her.
Nobody questioned her.
Not after witnessing what that weapon had done to SPOOK.
The resistance had watched a gigantic Lord-class Walker disappear in one second.
Whatever the strange armored woman wanted with those machines, they weren't going to argue with her.
Yuu simply continued collecting the samples.
"Vergil is going to love these."
Eventually, the battlefield fell silent.
The battle was finally over.
The cathedral still stood.
The civilians were alive.
And the resistance had suffered no casualties.
The last of the Rapture droids had been destroyed—not by the weapons they had brought against the village, but by their own captured vehicles and weapons.
The very machines that had once threatened the cathedral had become the tools used to defend it.
And once Yuu had joined the fight, the remaining droids had been bulldozed with almost embarrassing ease.
The battlefield was littered with wreckage.
But the cathedral itself remained standing.
For the first time in what felt like an eternity, there was no artillery fire.
No gunfire.
No explosions.
No screaming machinery.
Only silence.
The survivors slowly emerged from their positions.
Some looked toward the smoking battlefield.
Others looked toward the massive armored figures standing among the wreckage.
And above them all, the cathedral bells remained still.
The battle was over.
They had survived.
"Finally, it's over!"
One of the resistance fighters shouted it at the top of his lungs.
For a moment, there was silence.
Then the entire cathedral erupted.
"WE SURVIVED!"
"IT'S OVER!"
"WE'RE ALIVE!"
Cheers erupted from the survivors as men and women embraced one another. Some laughed. Others simply collapsed to their knees, overwhelmed by the realization that they had actually survived the attack.
The children emerged from the cathedral, peeking through the adults as they looked out at the battlefield.
The Rapture assault had finally ended.
Around the cathedral, the remaining captured Rapture vehicles repositioned themselves into defensive formations. Buggies, APCs, tanks, and other vehicles took up positions around the perimeter, their weapons pointed outward.
They had once been weapons of the enemy.
Now they were the village's newest defensive line.
Takao descended from the sky alongside Atago, Maya, and Choukai.
The four Shipgirls landed near Yuu.
Takao looked around at the now-quiet battlefield.
"Yuu-sama... it seems that everything is over now."
Atago exhaled heavily.
"Controlling a lot of vehicles takes a lot of mental strength."
Choukai stretched her arms.
"Still, it's quite fun."
Maya gave her sister a look.
"Preferably if lives weren't at stake."
"Fair enough."
Yuu chuckled.
Then the enormous Hulkbuster surrounding her suddenly began to move.
KCHKK—KCHKK—KCHKK!
Armor plates unlocked.
Hydraulic systems disengaged.
The massive outer shell separated piece by piece.
One component after another detached from Yuu's Mark 49 Rescue Armor and rose into the air.
The parts flew toward the hovering Veronica module above them, disappearing into its storage systems.
Even the massive sword and axe were recovered, flying back toward the module under their own automated systems.
Within moments, the gigantic Hulkbuster was gone.
Standing where the enormous machine had been was Yuu in her human-sized Mark 49 armor.
The Royal Navy maids finally approached.
Sheffield, Manchester, Gloucester, and Liverpool stared.
They had watched the Hulkbuster fight.
They had watched it tear apart Rapture machinery.
But seeing a human-sized woman step out of something that massive was another matter entirely.
Atago noticed their expressions.
"Ladies, this is Lady Kirino Yuu. GDI Head Doctor and Vice Commander of the Global Defense Initiative Earth Division."
The four maids were still processing that introduction.
Then—
THUD.
Something landed nearby.
Everyone turned.
Yuuki had returned.
He casually tossed Mendoza's mangled body onto the ground.
The mutated brute rolled once before coming to a stop.
"He's alive."
The maids stared.
So did several resistance fighters.
Mendoza's body was battered almost beyond recognition, his limbs twisted and his armor destroyed, yet there was still faint movement.
Yuuki walked toward them.
As he approached, his Hulkbuster began dismantling itself.
KCHKK—KCHKK—KCHKK!
The enormous crimson-and-gold armor separated into its individual components.
Each piece detached from the Mark 86 and flew upward toward Veronica.
The Hulkbuster gradually disappeared, leaving Yuuki standing in his Mark 86 armor.
He looked toward Mendoza.
"He's one tough bastard."
Then—
"Shikikan-sama!"
Atago suddenly ran forward.
Yuuki barely had time to react before Atago threw her arms around him.
She hugged him tightly.
Takao's eyes widened.
"Atago-nee!"
Choukai sighed.
"That's our Atago-nee."
But despite her calm words, her wolf ears shot straight upward.
Yuuki glanced at her.
"Choukai."
"Yes?"
"Your ears."
Choukai froze.
Yuuki pointed toward them.
"It's jealous ears."
Her ears immediately twitched.
"I wouldn't ever."
Takao covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
Atago continued hugging Yuuki.
Choukai's ears remained stubbornly upright.
And for the first time since the battle began, the cathedral was filled with laughter instead of gunfire.
"I am fine, Atago."
Yuuki gently patted her head, his hand moving up to her ears.
"Good job. You girls did a lot instead of waiting for me."
Atago grinned brightly.
"We're your Shipgirls!"
Yuuki smiled.
After giving Atago another gentle pat, he turned toward Takao, Maya, and Choukai, giving each of them a reassuring pat as well.
"So, these must be our new maids?"
He stepped over beside Yuu.
The four Royal Navy maids straightened instinctively.
They had already heard the introduction.
But now they were finally standing before the people behind the voices and the machines that had turned the tide of the battle.
Before anyone could answer, Yuuki reached up and disengaged his helmet.
KCHKK.
The armored faceplate separated and retracted.
His features were revealed.
The maids froze.
Several of the female resistance fighters nearby did the same.
They had expected the commander behind the legendary voice to be an older military man.
Instead, standing before them was an exceptionally young and handsome man.
There was nothing old or weathered about the face of the GDI High Commander.
He looked far too young to be the man who had commanded an entire force into battle, yet there was a quiet confidence in his expression that made his presence unmistakable.
The maids stared.
So this is him...
This is the face behind that voice.
The voice that had called upon them.
The voice that had reached them when they believed they had nowhere left to turn.
The voice of the man who had sent help.
Who had given the Takao sisters the means to fight.
Who had turned their desperate defense into a victory.
Sheffield's eyes remained fixed on him.
For a moment, she seemed to forget that she was supposed to maintain her composure.
Yuuki noticed the silence.
"...What?"
The maids immediately looked away.
A few of the female resistance fighters did the same, their cheeks noticeably flushed.
Yuu glanced sideways at Yuuki.
Then she smiled faintly.
She reached up and disengaged her own helmet.
KCHKK.
The Mark 49's faceplate retracted.
Her dark, waist-length hair immediately fell freely behind her back.
The battlefield seemed to pause again.
Yuu's face was strikingly beautiful.
After spending the entire battle concealed within that enormous Hulkbuster, seeing the woman behind the armor was almost surreal.
Her features seemed almost luminous beneath the lingering light of the battlefield, giving her an almost radiant presence.
The men among the resistance fighters stared.
Several immediately turned their faces away, suddenly remembering that staring was probably not the wisest thing to do.
Yuu simply smiled.
The contrast was almost comical.
Yuuki had left the maids speechless.
Yuu had left the men speechless.
And standing together in their Mark armor, the two GDI commanders finally looked less like the monstrous machines that had dominated the battlefield—
and more like the young people they actually were.
For the Royal Navy maids, however, one thought remained above all others.
That was the voice.
The voice that had called them.
The voice that had reached them through the darkness.
And now they finally knew the face behind it.
Soon, the sound of beating wings approached.
WHOOF—WHOOF—WHOOF!
Grimm descended from the sky and landed neatly atop one of the overturned, destroyed Rapture vehicles.
The massive eagle folded his wings and looked toward Yuu.
Yuuki glanced at the captured vehicles that had been secured around the cathedral.
"I guess you managed to secure some samples for Vergil?"
Yuu nodded.
"Yes. He's pretty much happy. He wanted more, but we need those vehicles for the cathedral's defense."
Yuuki gave a small nod.
"Fair enough."
The four Royal Navy maids stood together.
Sheffield was the first to step forward.
She lowered herself into a formal bow.
"You're my new Master?"
She straightened.
"Excuse me. I am a member of the Royal Maids, Town-class Southampton class light cruiser Sheffield. I am yours to command."
Yuuki nodded.
"Royal Maids, Town-class?"
He looked at her for a moment.
"You're Bel's sister?"
Sheffield's expression softened.
"Yes. She is our head maid."
She bowed her head slightly.
"Thank you for rescuing her."
Yuuki smiled.
"She's one hell of a head maid, but she completed her mission."
His expression became reassuring.
"Don't worry. Takao and the others have already told you that Bel completed her mission finding your captured sisters. Once we return to the main carrier, you can see your former sisters again."
Sheffield nodded.
"Thank you, Master."
She looked at him again.
Something stirred inside her chest.
That light.
That warmth.
The strange feeling she had experienced two weeks ago when she first heard that voice.
It was him.
The voice that had reached them from so far away.
The voice that had given them hope when they had almost none left.
Now that she was standing this close to him, the sensation was even stronger.
Warm.
Comforting.
Familiar.
Almost as if she had known him for far longer than she actually had.
Manchester stepped forward next and gave Yuuki a respectful bow.
"Pleasure meeting you. I'm Manchester, Royal Navy light cruiser."
She gave him a cheerful grin.
"Heheh, looking forward to serving ya, Master-and-Commander!"
Yuuki blinked.
"Oh, you have an odd British dialect."
Manchester's smile became slightly sheepish.
"Ehehe... it's kind of my way of speaking."
"Not that odd."
Yuuki tilted his head.
"You speak just like Hornet."
Manchester's eyes widened.
"Really?"
"Pretty much."
Sheffield glanced toward her.
Manchester simply laughed.
Liverpool was next.
She stepped forward with considerably more energy than the others.
She gave a formal introduction.
"Pennant number C11, Gloucester-class light cruiser. I've got a decent amount of experience under my belt, and I've served in a fair few fleets..."
She paused dramatically.
"Raptures and Sirens?"
Liverpool laughed.
"Ahahaha! Those don't scare THIS happy-go-lucky maid!"
She gave Yuuki a bright smile.
"Hello, Master! I'm Liverpool, Gloucester-class light cruiser!"
Yuuki couldn't help but smile.
"Lively one, aren't you?"
Liverpool pointed toward Gloucester.
"Unlike my older sister here."
Gloucester stepped forward.
She gave Yuuki a dignified bow.
"Gloucester, light cruiser of the Royal Maids, at your service, Master. It is my honor and my duty to assist you in becoming a most magnificent commander."
Yuuki raised an eyebrow.
"You're the older sister."
"Yes."
"You're all Town-class?"
Gloucester nodded.
"Yes. Subclass. Gloucester, Edinburgh, and Southampton."
She paused before explaining.
"It's like three different families, but the same family name."
Yuuki looked between the four maids.
"Oh."
He nodded slowly.
"So I have all the Town-class sisters?"
He chuckled.
"No wonder Bel is intrigued."
The atmosphere changed slightly.
"Except Southampton..."
Gloucester's voice quieted.
The other maids fell silent.
Yuuki's expression softened.
"She perished during the attack on our base."
The four maids looked at him.
"I know."
His voice was gentle.
"I've met her."
He looked toward them.
"I found her Cube among the fallen within the John Smith's vault."
The maids remained completely silent.
Yuuki continued.
"She was the only knight among you maids."
A faint smile crossed his face.
"She's fine. She's with Elizabeth and the others, awaiting resurrection."
He gave them a reassuring nod.
"Her Cube is safe at the Home Island."
For several seconds, none of the maids spoke.
Then Sheffield lowered her gaze.
Liverpool's cheerful expression softened.
Manchester's smile disappeared.
And Gloucester quietly closed her eyes.
Southampton was not forgotten.
She was waiting for them.
"Well, I owe you four an introduction."
Yuuki looked toward Sheffield, Manchester, Liverpool, and Gloucester.
"Yukihira Yuuki. Yes, I have a Sakura name, but I'm not from this world."
The four maids exchanged glances.
"Not from this world?" Manchester asked.
Yuuki nodded.
"I'm from Japan. But if you know the KanColle Shipgirls, then you should know that I'm not from the same Japan they came from."
He paused.
"I'm from far in the future. A world with a much more advanced civilization."
He gave them a small smile.
"So, in a way, another world."
The four maids listened intently.
"Global Defense Initiative High Commander, Yukihira Yuuki."
His expression became more serious.
"And I'm the one who called upon the Shipgirls through Hornet."
Manchester's eyes widened.
"It was you?"
Liverpool stared at him.
"The voice..."
Gloucester's expression changed as the realization struck her.
"And the light..."
Sheffield's eyes narrowed slightly as she studied Yuuki.
Manchester suddenly pointed at him.
"Its true! The voice and light! It's you!"
Liverpool and Gloucester were equally shocked.
"It really was him!"
"So the voice we heard..."
Yuuki nodded.
"Yeah. I'm the one responsible for these girls."
He gestured toward Takao and her sisters.
"I recruited and trained them."
He then glanced toward Yuu.
"Except this missy doctor of mine."
Yuu raised an eyebrow.
Yuuki pointed toward her.
"She's GDI. Kirino Yuu. Genius Head Doctor of the Global Defense Initiative itself."
Yuu's expression softened.
"You praised me, Chief."
She gave him a small smile.
"Your compliments are the only ones I ever wanted."
Yuuki smiled back.
"I know."
Yuuki then pointed toward the massive eagle perched on the wreckage nearby.
"Oh, and one more thing."
The maids looked toward Grimm.
"Say hello to your allies back at the command carrier."
Grimm tilted his head.
"That's Grimm."
The eagle gave a low, almost mechanical chirp.
"An android eagle assigned to Yorktown, but he also functions as a live camera."
Yuuki gestured toward him.
"They're seeing you right now."
The maids blinked.
"Including Bel."
For a moment, the four maids simply stared at Grimm.
Then the eagle's eyes glowed softly.
A tiny indicator on his body illuminated.
A live connection had been established.
Sheffield's breath caught.
"Bel...?"
The image was being transmitted directly back to the Daedalus.
And there she was.
Belfast.
Alive.
Watching them.
The moment Sheffield saw her face, tears immediately welled in her eyes.
"Bel..."
Her voice trembled.
Sheffield covered her mouth as the tears finally spilled down her cheeks.
"We... we missed you so much."
Manchester's cheerful expression broke.
Her eyes became watery as she looked at the live feed.
"Bel... it's really you."
Liverpool wiped at her eyes.
"Ah... I'm supposed to be the happy-go-lucky one."
She laughed weakly through her tears.
"But seeing you again..."
Her voice cracked.
"I really missed you, Bel."
Gloucester remained composed for only a few seconds.
Then her eyes softened.
"Belfast..."
She bowed her head, tears falling freely.
"We were so worried."
The four maids gathered closer to Grimm, almost as though doing so would bring them closer to their head maid.
They spoke over one another, telling Belfast how much they had missed her.
How relieved they were to know she was safe.
How much they had wanted to see her again.
And then they heard the news they had been waiting for.
"Edinburgh is safe."
Sheffield's expression brightened through her tears.
"And Glasgow and Newcastle?"
Yuuki nodded.
"They're safe as well."
The maids exhaled in relief.
"They're alive too..."
Manchester smiled.
"That's wonderful."
Liverpool wiped her eyes again.
"So all of us made it..."
Gloucester quietly smiled.
"Not all."
Her gaze briefly lowered.
"Southampton."
The others became quiet.
But Yuuki had already told them.
Her Cube was safe.
She was waiting for resurrection.
That knowledge brought them some comfort.
Then the conversation shifted toward their other allies.
The KanColle girls.
Akashi.
Asahi.
Prinz Eugen.
The others waiting aboard the command carrier.
The maids were relieved to know that they were safe as well.
For the first time in what felt like an eternity, they could finally speak freely with familiar faces.
Back aboard the Daedalus, Belfast stood before Grimm's live feed.
She had been trying to maintain her usual composure.
She failed.
Her eyes glistened with tears.
Seeing Sheffield, Manchester, Gloucester, and Liverpool standing together again was something she had desperately wanted.
Her fellow sisters.
Her maids.
Alive.
Safe.
Together.
Belfast placed a hand against her chest.
"I'm so glad..."
A gentle smile spread across her face.
"I missed you all terribly."
Around her, the other Shipgirls watched quietly.
Even those who had been celebrating the victory moments earlier gave the reunion the respect it deserved.
Belfast's gaze remained fixed on the screen.
For weeks, she had carried the weight of wondering whether her fellow maids were still alive.
Now she had her answer.
They were standing there.
They were crying.
They were laughing.
And most importantly—
They were coming home.
Belfast smiled through her tears.
"Welcome back, everyone."
============
Soon, Lola Merkova emerged from the cathedral, escorted by several resistance fighters.
The elderly resistance leader approached Yuuki and stopped before him.
She lowered herself into a respectful bow.
"Thank you for coming to our aid. You are the leader of the GDI?"
Yuuki nodded.
"Yes."
Lola raised her head.
"Thank you again for saving our lives. We are but humble villagers, but you gave us a second chance."
Yuuki gave her a modest smile.
"It's the least we could do."
He gestured toward the battlefield.
"The maids and these four did most of the work. Dr. Yuu and I just showed up a tad bit late."
Lola's eyes shifted toward Yuu.
"You are a doctor?"
"Yes."
Yuu gave a small nod.
Lola's expression immediately became hopeful.
"Please... we have a lot of wounded. We require a doctor's aid."
Yuu's expression turned serious.
"I see."
She stepped toward Lola.
"Please lead the way."
Before they could move—
A deep, ragged voice came from behind them.
"You're going to bleed, GDI!"
Everyone turned.
Mendoza was moving.
Despite being battered almost beyond recognition, the monstrous Rapture-enhanced man was slowly forcing himself upright.
Blood and black nanomaterial dripped from his ruined body.
"You just made this personal!"
Yuuki stared at him.
His expression immediately hardened.
"...Maybe I should end him this time."
Yuu stepped beside him.
Both raised their arms.
Their repulsors charged.
VMMMMMMMM—
The resistance fighters immediately raised their weapons.
Takao and her sisters drew their swords.
The Royal Navy maids raised their borrowed Ramjet Rifles.
Every weapon on the battlefield was suddenly aimed at Mendoza.
The battered monster took another step.
Then—
FWOOOOOSH!
Purple flames erupted around him.
Mendoza screamed.
"AAAAAAAGH!"
The strange fire consumed his body.
Black Rapture nanomachines writhed across his flesh, desperately attempting to repair the damage.
They couldn't.
The purple flames burned through them faster than they could regenerate.
Mendoza's skin began to blacken.
His flesh began to melt.
His regeneration failed completely.
"No...!"
He tried to remain standing.
His knees buckled.
The purple flames continued consuming him.
He was literally melting away beneath their unnatural heat.
Mendoza still refused to die.
He forced himself upright one final time.
Then—
ZZZRAAAAAK!
A concentrated purple laser pierced directly through his heart region.
Mendoza froze.
His eyes widened.
A moment later, his body collapsed.
The purple flames continued burning until there was nothing left for them to sustain.
A woman's voice echoed through the battlefield.
"Thou really should stay dead."
Everyone looked upward.
The source of the attack was descending slowly from the sky.
Long, waist-length purple hair flowed behind her.
Golden eyes gleamed beneath the battlefield's fading light.
But what immediately captured everyone's attention were the ten magnificent purple tails, each tipped with brilliant gold.
Ten moon orbs orbiting her.
She wore an elegant moon-themed kimono that moved gently in the air as she descended.
Her beauty was almost otherworldly.
The resistance fighters who had never seen her before stared in complete shock.
The Shipgirls and Nikkes who already knew her, however, simply relaxed.
Weapons lowered.
There was no need to continue fighting.
Yuuki looked up.
A familiar smile appeared on his face.
"Kaguya."
Kaguya touched down gracefully.
She glanced at the remains of Mendoza.
Then toward Yuuki.
"Thou just threatened mine dearest."
Her golden eyes narrowed slightly.
"Burn to death."
Yuuki sighed.
He lowered his arm.
"You just had to score the last hit."
Kaguya smiled sweetly.
"Ufuu..."
She walked toward him, her ten tails swaying behind her.
"This wife merely protected her husband."
The villagers had already witnessed more in two days than they could have ever imagined possible.
Maidens with superhuman strength.
Rapture machines turned against their own forces.
Women clad in brilliant golden armor, wielding weapons that looked like they belonged to another world.
Their commander wearing a monstrous suit of armor capable of tearing apart a Rapture-enhanced brute.
And now—
A beautiful woman with fox ears and ten purple tails, each tipped in gold, had descended from the sky and casually incinerated the enemy commander.
A lot had happened in two days.
Far too much for the villagers to process.
Sheffield was still staring at Kaguya.
"Kaguya? That's Kaguya?"
Takao nodded.
"Yes. She's our Arcane of the East."
Before anyone could say anything else, Kaguya turned toward Yuuki.
"Dearest, this wife has something to tell you! It is urgent!"
Yuuki raised an eyebrow.
"Urgent?"
Before Kaguya could elaborate, another sound filled the air.
WHOOOOOOM!
A Razor Gunship descended toward the battlefield and landed in an open area near the cathedral.
The villagers looked up.
Another GDI aircraft.
And it wasn't alone.
Ten Iron Legions landed alongside the gunship, followed by five Iron Brutes.
The villagers froze.
The enormous machines towered over them, each Iron Brute standing roughly the same immense scale as the Hulkbusters they had just witnessed fighting.
Ten Iron Legions and five gigantic Brutes.
For people who had spent years hiding from Rapture machines, seeing an entire formation of advanced GDI war machines arrive so casually was almost overwhelming.
Some whispered among themselves.
"Where did all those come from?"
"Are they reinforcements?"
"Did the commander send them?"
It was most likely Yorktown's decision to send additional forces to assist the village.
Their heavy footsteps shook the ground as they advanced.
THUD.
THUD.
THUD.
Then the gunship's ramp opened.
Vestal emerged first, wearing her own golden armor.
Behind her came Mary, Pepper, and the three Bulins—Bulin, Purin, and Kurin.
Yuu looked toward them.
"You three are as well?"
Vestal nodded.
"The village needs doctors. We came to help them."
She glanced toward Kaguya.
"Kaguya has a different agenda."
Kaguya simply smiled innocently.
Vestal then turned toward Sheffield and approached the four maids.
She gently embraced them one by one.
"Lady Vestal? We're really glad to see you again," Sheffield said with a smile.
"It's nice seeing you four again," Vestal replied warmly. "Please let me examine you four once the villagers are treated."
The maids returned her hugs, their expressions softening at the familiar warmth.
Vestal had been the doctor for all factions within Azur Lane back then. Seeing her again was a reminder of a time before the world had fallen apart.
Yuu turned toward Lola.
"These three are my apprentice doctors. Vestal, Mary, and Pepper."
She gestured toward the arriving doctors.
"I needed them to assist me since we have so many patients."
Yuu's tone became authoritative.
"Send word to the hiding villagers. Anyone who requires medical aid should come to the cathedral."
Lola immediately nodded.
"Of course."
Yuuki then looked toward the Bulins.
"Bulin, Purin, Kurin. Hitch a ride with the Legions and find anyone with serious injuries around the village. Carry them here."
The three Bulins immediately saluted.
"BULINS!"
Yuuki continued.
"Veronica will provide assistance drones."
The Bulins nodded enthusiastically.
Yuuki stepped forward.
"Elder Lola, have the resistance lead the little Bulins around the village. Find any surviving villagers and bring them to the cathedral."
Lola turned toward the resistance.
"You heard him! Move!"
The fighters immediately began organizing themselves.
Yuuki looked upward.
Veronica's mobile platform hovered above the battlefield.
"Veronica, generate food and drinks."
The platform responded immediately.
"Command acknowledged."
Automated systems began preparing food, water, and other supplies for the exhausted villagers.
Yuuki turned toward the maids.
"Sheffield, you and your sisters help distribute food and water to the people inside."
He pointed toward the cathedral.
"Have those with minor injuries seek help with Vestal, Mary, and Pepper."
The four maids nodded.
"Yes, Master."
"Takao, Atago, Maya, Choukai."
The four Shipgirls straightened.
"Keep watch and help wherever you can."
"Yes!"
Yuuki then looked toward Yuu.
"Yuu, focus on helping those with heavy injuries."
Yuu nodded.
"Understood."
Finally, Yuuki turned toward the Iron Legions and Brutes.
"Legions, Brutes—scan the area for civilians alongside the Bulins."
The machines immediately spread out.
Their scanners activated as they began systematically searching the surrounding ruins.
The Brutes lifted collapsed debris with ease.
The Iron Legions moved through damaged buildings and narrow streets, searching for heat signatures and signs of life.
The Bulins followed them, ready to assist anyone they found.
The villagers watched in astonishment.
Only moments ago, these machines had been an army.
Now they were searching through the ruins for survivors.
Above them, Veronica continued hovering over the cathedral, deploying medical drones, supplies, food, and equipment wherever they were needed.
Lola watched the entire operation unfold before her.
More doctors.
More soldiers.
More machines.
And their commander had immediately ordered every available unit to help the village rather than simply leaving after the battle.
The elderly woman slowly bowed her head.
"Thank you..."
Her voice trembled with gratitude.
"Thank you for helping our village."
Yuuki gave her a small smile.
"That's what we're here for."
Around them, the GDI relief operation continued.
The battle might have been over.
But for the survivors—
the work of rebuilding had just begun.
=============
"Hmph. Mendoza's dead, huh?"
Behemoth stared at the screen before her, watching the final readings of Mendoza disappear.
The massive Rapture-enhanced brute had lost his life to Kaguya.
Behemoth's expression darkened.
"Those pests really went overboard this time."
The door opened behind her.
Leviathan entered the room, her gaze settling on the screen.
"They really wanted those Shipgirls and Nikkes."
Behemoth turned toward her.
"I have no need for those maids."
Her voice was cold.
"Authorize a nuclear strike."
Leviathan raised an eyebrow.
"Nuclear?"
She folded her arms.
"The Obelisk at the park is almost ready, alongside our SSM launchers. We can napalm the entire town with it."
Behemoth didn't hesitate.
"Do it."
She turned back toward the screen.
"I have no need for those pesky humans. Just burn the entire village and nuke the cathedral."
Her eyes narrowed.
"Everyone is there."
A cruel smile slowly formed across her face.
"Let's just end them."
Leviathan stared at her for a moment before letting out a low laugh.
"Bahaha... cruel."
She turned toward the command console.
"The nuclear strike will launch in three hours."
Behemoth smiled.
"Enjoy those three hours."
She looked once more at the screen displaying the village.
"Tomorrow..."
Her smile widened.
"There will be no more."
"What about that pesky Arcane?" Leviathan asked.
Behemoth glanced toward her.
"What about her?"
"We leave her with Gideon at the captured château," Leviathan explained. "He said his scientists are close to figuring out the secrets of her magical core."
She paused.
"But if they keep pushing her any further, she will die."
Behemoth's expression remained cold.
"Let her."
Leviathan raised an eyebrow.
"Kaguya is already there. Sooner or later, she'll find that northern witch."
Behemoth turned back toward the screen.
"Tell Gideon to hurry and complete his work."
Her voice hardened.
"He has until the nuclear strike."
A cruel smile crossed her face.
"Otherwise, he can die alongside everyone else."