Back at the southern village, another hour had passed.
The battle had ended, but the cathedral had become a medical center.
Yuu had already treated countless villagers.
She focused primarily on those who had suffered critical injuries—people who would have been certain to die without immediate medical attention. Fractures, internal bleeding, crushed limbs, severe wounds...
One after another, the Med Bays restored them.
To the villagers, it was nothing short of a miracle.
Whispers spread throughout the cathedral.
"It's a miracle..."
"They healed him..."
"They're angels sent by God."
Some villagers even began looking at Yuu with reverence.
But Yuu was uncomfortable with it.
She immediately shook her head whenever someone called her an angel or suggested worshipping her.
She wasn't a god.
She wasn't an angel.
She was simply a doctor who had been given extraordinary strength, knowledge, and technology—and she intended to use all of it to help those who needed her.
"Please don't worship me," Yuu gently told one elderly woman.
"I am not a god. I'm just a doctor."
She offered a warm smile.
"And I have the means to help."
That was enough for Yuu.
She didn't need praise.
She only wanted people to survive.
Ironically, Yuu knew better than most that saving lives was not something she had always valued.
There had been a time when she had experimented on countless enemies without hesitation.
But that was precisely why she understood the weight of what she was doing now.
Despite their efforts, despite the advanced technology, and despite their ability to minimize casualties, casualties were still casualties.
Not everyone could be saved.
Some villagers had already died before Yuu could reach them.
There was nothing she could do for them anymore.
The only thing she could offer was dignity.
Yuu used the Med Bays to restore their damaged bodies as much as possible, allowing their families to bury them properly rather than leaving them disfigured by the battle.
She stood quietly beside them for a moment before moving on.
Death remained a mystery to her.
For all her knowledge, all her medical expertise, and all the technology at her disposal, even Yuu could not solve the mystery of death.
Perhaps no one could.
She shared Yuuki's belief that one day, death would come for everyone.
Even her.
Yuuki had once described his first and second deaths to her.
Both had been peaceful.
Both had been blissful.
Yet somehow, he had returned each time.
Perhaps his purpose had not yet been fulfilled.
Perhaps there was still something he needed to accomplish in this world.
Yuu sometimes wondered if the same fate awaited her.
Maybe, one day, she would finally step into the next world alongside Yuuki.
Perhaps the Shipgirls and Nikkes who had been given second chances would be there as well.
Maybe their time in this world would eventually come to an end, and they would finally be granted a peaceful, permanent death.
And perhaps, when that day came, they would follow Yuuki beyond this world—
Not as warriors.
Not as soldiers.
But as the angels who had once fought beside him.
The thought was strangely comforting.
But it was a thought for another time.
Until that day came, all she could do was live—and help others live as well.
She had already done everything within her power.
That had to be enough.
Nearby, Vestal, Mary, and Pepper continued treating patients with less severe injuries.
There were far more of them than the critical cases Yuu was handling.
Minor fractures.
Burns.
Cuts.
Bruises.
Exhaustion.
All were treated efficiently using Gizmo repair beams.
The three apprentice doctors worked tirelessly, learning from every patient they handled.
Meanwhile, Takao, Atago, Maya, and Choukai remained outside the cathedral, helping villagers who still needed assistance.
They guided the elderly.
Carried injured people.
Cleared pathways.
And helped families find one another.
The three remaining Royal Navy maids had taken responsibility for another essential task.
Food.
Gloucester, Manchester, and Liverpool worked alongside the village women, preparing meals for everyone who had survived the attack.
Fortunately, they didn't have to worry about running out of ingredients.
Veronica continued generating fresh food supplies and clean water whenever they were needed.
For a village that had nearly been destroyed, the cathedral was slowly becoming a place of warmth again.
And outside—
The Bulins were everywhere.
"Bulins!"
The little girls cheerfully moved through the southern village alongside the Iron Legions and Iron Brutes.
They searched through ruined buildings.
Cleared debris.
Repaired damaged infrastructure.
And helped locate survivors trapped beneath collapsed structures.
The Iron Legions worked methodically, lifting heavy pieces of rubble and clearing paths.
The Iron Brutes were even more impressive.
Their enormous frames allowed them to move debris that would have taken entire groups of villagers to shift.
Whenever they found someone critically injured, a Brute would carefully lift the survivor and fly directly toward the cathedral, delivering them to Yuu for treatment.
The villagers could hardly believe what they were seeing.
Some of them stopped simply to stare.
The Bulins looked like little girls no older than six.
Yet one of them casually lifted a piece of debris several times larger than herself.
Another carried equipment that should have been impossible for someone of her size to move.
The villagers exchanged bewildered looks.
"Are those... children?"
"How are they doing that?"
"I don't know."
"Bulins!"
The little Bulin, Purin and Kurin cheerfully waved before returning to work.
The Iron Legions were easier for the villagers to accept.
Their appearance was clearly mechanical, but unlike the Rapture droids they had fought earlier, they didn't have the same dark appearance or sinister red glow.
They looked... trustworthy.
The Iron Brutes were another matter.
Their immense size frightened many of the villagers at first.
Several people instinctively stepped away whenever one approached.
But that fear slowly disappeared as they witnessed what the Brutes actually did.
They weren't attacking anyone.
They were saving people.
One Brute carefully carried a critically injured villager in both hands before taking to the air.
Another cleared a collapsed building.
Another stood guard while a group of Bulins searched beneath the rubble.
The sight was strange.
Machines that looked powerful enough to destroy the village were instead working tirelessly to save it.
And among them, the tiny Bulins continued running from one place to another.
"Bulins!"
Their cheerful voices echoed throughout the ruined streets.
For the first time since the attack began, the southern village was no longer filled with screams and gunfire.
It was filled with movement.
Doctors treating patients.
Maids preparing food.
Shipgirls helping survivors.
Bulins searching the ruins.
Iron Legions clearing debris.
Iron Brutes carrying the critically wounded.
The southern village was still badly damaged.
But it was alive.
And for Yuu, that was all that mattered.
Every life saved was another reason to keep working.
Every survivor brought through those cathedral doors meant that their efforts had not been in vain.
And for those she could not save—
Yuu could only make sure they were remembered with dignity.
That, too, was part of being a doctor.
=========
"Hua... that was tiring."
Choukai let out a long sigh as she finally sat down on one of the wooden supply crates.
Her golden cape draped behind her, catching slightly on the edge of the crate as she relaxed.
Beside her, Maya sat down as well.
She leaned back and released a tired sigh of her own.
"Yeah... that was exhausting."
They had spent the past hour helping the villagers, moving supplies, guiding the injured, and assisting wherever they were needed.
For Shipgirls accustomed to combat, battlefield support was one thing.
Helping an entire village recover from a devastating attack was another.
A moment later, Atago joined them.
She had just finished comforting a mother and her child, both of whom had been frightened by everything that had happened.
Atago smiled warmly at them before walking back toward her sisters.
Takao arrived shortly afterward.
She had spent the last hour organizing the surviving resistance fighters, assigning them positions around the village and ensuring that someone maintained a proper watch.
With the immediate danger gone, the resistance could finally breathe.
Takao looked toward her sisters.
"Everyone is finally getting a chance to rest."
"About time," Choukai muttered.
Atago chuckled.
"You're the one who kept running around helping everyone."
Choukai glanced at her.
"Because someone had to."
"Exactly."
At that moment, footsteps approached.
Gloucester, Manchester, and Liverpool returned from the cathedral.
Their cooking duties had finally been passed back to the village women, allowing the three Royal Navy maids to take a short break.
Each carried a tray of food.
Liverpool smiled brightly.
"Food delivery!"
She placed the trays down in front of the Takao sisters.
Manchester followed, setting down several cups of clean water.
"You lot have been workin' yourselves to the bone. Thought we'd bring you somethin'."
Gloucester calmly placed the remaining dishes down.
"You have all been assisting the villagers for quite some time. You should eat."
Choukai's eyes immediately lit up.
"Now that's what I'm talking about."
Maya smiled.
"Thank you."
Atago happily picked up her meal.
"You three really are proper maids."
Liverpool grinned.
"Of course! That's what we're here for."
Manchester laughed.
"Though I reckon we've earned ourselves a little break too."
Gloucester gave a small nod.
"Indeed."
The six Shipgirls and maids settled together among the supply crates.
For a brief moment, there was no fighting.
No alarms.
No Rapture droids.
No artillery.
Just food, conversation, and the quiet sounds of a village slowly beginning to recover.
Choukai took her first bite.
"Mmm..."
She leaned back with satisfaction.
"Now this is a proper reward."
"Still, we can't help but wonder," Manchester said, glancing between the Takao sisters. "What exactly is your relationship with Master? You seemed rather comfortable with him earlier."
Atago's lips curled into a playful smile.
"Ufuu... Takao-chan and I are his fiancées!"
Choukai and Maya exchanged a glance before quietly nodding.
Neither of them had officially joined the fiancée club yet.
But they could not deny what they felt.
Yuuki's scent was unlike anything they had encountered before. More importantly, there was something about his presence that resonated with their hearts and their Wisdom Cubes. Other men simply paled in comparison.
Still, they needed more time.
Eventually, they would make their decision.
"Wow..." Liverpool blinked. "I guess Master is off-limits, then?"
"Liverpool!" Gloucester immediately scolded.
"Ah, sorry."
Atago giggled.
"That is what we initially wanted," she admitted. "But you cannot deny the connection our hearts have with him. We want to preserve that pure connection. Jealousy would only make things worse."
Her expression became slightly more serious.
"If you truly want Shikikan-sama, then be sincere in loving him. He doesn't want shallow connections. We already established that between ourselves. So any new Shipgirl who wishes to become close to him has to understand that."
She paused before adding with a mischievous smile,
"Besides, he sees all of us as potential mates."
Manchester raised an eyebrow.
"So... no one is his girlfriend?"
"He doesn't want a girlfriend," Takao answered calmly. "It is either wife or friend."
She paused.
"No one wants the latter."
The three maids stared at her.
Liverpool tilted her head.
"Isn't he some kind of womanizer?"
"Liverpool!"
"Ah! Sorry!"
Takao sighed, though there was a faint smile on her face.
"That is not what you will see once you get to know him. He doesn't simply look at us as lovers. We are allowed to be close to him, within certain limits."
Her expression softened.
"Master is a man of strong discipline and faith. He knows where the line is, and he respects it."
Atago chuckled.
"I'm certainly rather flirty with him."
"You certainly are," Maya muttered.
"But I never cross that line," Atago continued. "Our bond with him is far too precious to risk."
Choukai nodded.
"Don't make him see you as something less than what you already are. That would be the worst thing you could do."
The three maids listened quietly.
"Trust me," Takao continued. "You are already connected to him, aren't you?"
Manchester, Gloucester, and Liverpool exchanged glances.
They could not deny it.
"You can feel it in your hearts," Takao said. "You can almost read him as if you have known him for years. Your Cubes trusted him. Truly trusted him."
She placed a hand over her chest.
"The closer you become to him, the warmer that connection feels."
Manchester's expression softened.
"Yes... we cannot lie about that."
Gloucester nodded.
"Being acknowledged by Master himself back then made us incredibly happy."
Liverpool smiled faintly.
"I still remember how it felt."
Gloucester looked toward the château in the distance, her expression becoming thoughtful.
"I wonder, though... why did Sheffield suddenly decide to follow him there?"
"That place?" Maya asked.
Manchester nodded.
"Sheffield hated going back to the château."
The mood around them subtly changed.
"That was where so many villagers disappeared. Sheffield had infiltrated that place before, so she knows its interior better than almost anyone."
Manchester lowered her voice.
"She rescued many people from there. She once told us that she never wanted to return after witnessing the horrors the Raptures had inflicted upon the people."
She looked toward the distant château.
"To willingly go back there without hesitation..."
Manchester shook her head.
"And not because she was ordered to."
Her eyes softened.
"She went because she wanted to guide him."
A brief silence settled among the sisters.
"That," Manchester said quietly, "is something we never expected from Sheffield."
Before anyone could say more, footsteps approached.
Babushka emerged from the nearby streets, accompanied by several resistance fighters.
"The northern village will lift the blockade once this village is secured," Babushka announced. "Thank you again for coming to our aid."
Manchester looked toward the distant roads, her expression becoming concerned.
"I just hope everything is still well."
Babushka gave the three maids a knowing look.
"I know you girls wanted to leave. Once this place is safe, go with your Master."
"But, Babushka..."
"You are Shipgirls," Babushka interrupted gently. "Your fate is tied to your Master. Follow him. You have already done more than enough for us."
She glanced toward the ruined village.
"Perhaps we can ask your Master for one more thing—to hide this place from the Raptures so they can never come back."
Before anyone could answer, one of the resistance fighters came running from the direction of the park.
"Rapture SSM deployment confirmed!"
Babushka's expression immediately hardened.
"All available personnel to the park!"
The resistance fighters immediately began moving.
"It seems the Raptures want to destroy the entire village!" Babushka exclaimed.
She turned toward the Shipgirls.
"I require your aid again, girls. The Raptures are preparing to napalm the entire town with their SSM launchers. They have also completed the Obelisk."
Liverpool's eyes widened.
"No! Any men who go there will be vaporized!"
"My men also reported that the Raptures have removed the ship blockade," Babushka continued. "They will soon be coming here. We managed to block some of the main roads to slow them down, but it won't hold forever."
A familiar voice suddenly came from behind them.
"It seems the work is coming back to us."
Everyone turned.
Yuu approached them, her expression calm but serious.
"Yuu-san," Choukai said.
Yuu looked toward the park.
"I'll stay here alongside the doctors and Bulins to protect this place."
She then looked toward the Iron Legions and Iron Brutes gathered nearby.
"Take the Legions and Brutes with you. Assault the park and destroy the SSM launchers and the Obelisk."
Yuu's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Better yet..."
She glanced toward the captured Rapture vehicles.
"Use the SSM launchers against the Obelisk."
The resistance fighters stared at her.
Liverpool blinked.
"Wait... we can do that?"
"If the launchers are still operational, there's no reason we can't. If you can capture these vehicles, you can use it against the Obelisk." Yuu replied.
Manchester looked toward the road leading into the town.
"We could simply take a shortcut through the blockade."
Babushka shook her head.
"It's not that simple."
She pointed toward the distant town.
"The Rapture's aerial reinforcements are being coordinated through mobile radar stations in the Town Square and the fancy hotel. As long as those radar dishes remain operational, they'll continue calling in reinforcements."
Yuu nodded.
Liverpool sighs as the fancy hotel is where she holed up against rapture attacks the night before.
"Then those radar stations need to go, too."
Babushka looked at the resistance fighters.
"We need those radar dishes destroyed before we can reclaim the town."
She turned toward the Shipgirls.
"These people cannot return home yet. Not while the southern village is still crawling with droids."
Takao tightened her grip on her sword.
"Then we'll clear the way."
Atago smiled.
"Looks like we're not done yet."
Maya sighed as she stood.
"So much for resting."
Choukai slowly rose from the supply crate, her golden cape falling behind her.
She smiled.
"Then let's finish this."
The brief moment of peace was over.
The Raptures had failed to break the village.
Now they intended to erase it from the map.
And the resistance was ready to fight back once more.
"We will clear the reinforcements at the hotel and the Town Square," Takao said, looking toward the distant town. "Once we destroy them, send the resistance fighters in to capture the locations."
"I will," Babushka replied firmly.
Yuu turned toward the waiting Iron Legions and Iron Brutes.
"Legions and Brutes. Follow the Takao sisters. Assist them in capturing the hotel and Town Square."
The Legions immediately acknowledged the order with a synchronized nod.
The Iron Brutes followed suit.
Four Level 33 Shipgirls accompanied by an entire force of Iron Legions and five Iron Brutes.
It was, quite frankly, massive overkill.
But considering what the Raptures were preparing to do to the town, nobody was going to complain.
The Takao sisters had also grown considerably stronger during the previous battle.
Takao, Atago, Maya, and Choukai had each gained two levels after the destruction of the Rapture forces and the protection of the village.
They had even received a special achievement badge.
Deadly Reunion.
Kaguya, meanwhile, had not received the special achievement medal since she arrived late.
However, she had still gained a level after delivering the final blow against Mendoza the previous night.
Babushka suddenly spoke again.
"Miss Yuu, there is something else you should know."
Yuu turned toward her.
"The Raptures marched into the town with vehicles and droids from the hotel. Our men managed to disappear indoors before they arrived, but they will emerge once more after the hotel is captured."
Babushka pointed toward the distant building.
"They also appear to have some kind of SAM batteries installed on the hotel."
Yuu's expression immediately became thoughtful.
"Then the Legions and Brutes should focus on advancing toward the hotel until those SAM batteries are neutralized."
She paused.
"In fact, don't destroy them."
Babushka raised an eyebrow.
"Capture them."
Yuu looked toward the Iron Brutes.
"They can provide air cover if the Raptures attempt to send reinforcements by air. There's no reason to waste perfectly good defenses."
The resistance fighters exchanged glances.
It was becoming increasingly clear that Yuu wasn't simply thinking about surviving the battle.
She was already thinking about how to turn the enemy's defenses against them.
Yuu looked back toward the Takao sisters.
"Clear the hotel. Capture the SAM batteries. Then secure the Town Square and destroy the radar station."
Takao nodded.
"Understood."
Atago smiled as she drew her sword.
"Let's give the Raptures a taste of their own medicine."
Maya adjusted her weapon.
"I'm beginning to think that's becoming our specialty."
Choukai's ears perked up.
"Then let's get moving."
The Iron Legions began advancing.
The massive Iron Brutes followed behind them, their engines roaring as they prepared to take to the skies.
The Takao sisters moved at the front.
Four Level 33 Shipgirls.
An army of Iron Legions.
Five Iron Brutes.
Their objective was simple.
Take the hotel.
Capture the SAM batteries.
Take the Town Square.
Destroy the radar.
And cut off the Raptures' ability to reinforce the town.
The resistance could only stare as the force marched toward the enemy positions.
Liverpool swallowed.
"That's... quite an army."
Manchester nodded slowly.
"Indeed."
Gloucester watched the Iron Brutes disappear toward the town.
"I almost feel sorry for the Raptures."
Yuu looked toward the battlefield.
"You shouldn't."
Her expression hardened.
"They're still trying to kill everyone here."
The three maids fell silent.
Yuu turned back toward the cathedral.
"Now let's make sure they don't get the chance."
She then glanced at Gloucester, Manchester, and Liverpool.
"Why don't you three join them? It would impress your Chief to see how well you performed against the Raptures. Besides, you're already well versed in using the Ramjet Rifles."
The three maids exchanged excited glances.
"Can we?" Liverpool asked.
"Yes. You have my permission."
Yuu gave them a reassuring smile.
"Don't worry. I have Veronica, Vestal, Mary and Pepper here to assist if anything happens. I can't leave my little doctors to fend for themselves against a lot of patients. Pepper might complain again if its too much."
The three maids immediately brightened.
"Thank you, Mistress!"
They hurried over and picked up their Ramjet Rifles.
Yuu generated fresh ammunition for each of them, supplying them with everything they needed for the coming fight.
She watched as the three maids checked their weapons and prepared themselves.
"Do well!"
"Yes, Mistress!"
The three maids enthusiastically followed after the Takao sisters, their earlier fatigue seemingly forgotten.
They were going back into battle.
Not as helpless civilians.
Not as rescued prisoners.
But as Royal Navy Shipgirls armed with GDI technology, fighting alongside their fellow Shipgirls and the massive Iron Legions and Iron Brutes.
For Gloucester, Manchester, and Liverpool, the thought alone filled them with excitement.
They were going to fight alongside their Master once again.
And this time, they were ready to prove themselves as a fleet.
===========
Takao once more took the lead, her sisters moving alongside her as they advanced through the streets.
The moment they entered the next block, gunfire erupted.
RATATATATAT!
Rapture droids poured from the surrounding buildings, opening fire with automatic weapons.
But the Raptures had apparently decided that ordinary combat droids were no longer enough.
New units emerged among them.
Chemical droids.
Chain-gunner droids.
The battlefield quickly filled with different types of Rapture machines, each designed to overwhelm the attackers through firepower and specialized weaponry.
Takao raised her Volt Auto Rifle.
"Open fire!"
The four sisters unleashed a storm of electrical rounds.
ZZZRAK!
Blue-white arcs of electricity ripped through the streets, frying droids where they stood. Machines convulsed as their systems overloaded before collapsing into smoking heaps of metal.
Atago laughed as she swept her rifle across another group.
"They're getting desperate!"
Maya calmly shifted her aim.
"Then let's make their desperation worthwhile."
Choukai fired another burst.
BZZZT!
A group of chemical droids was immediately reduced to sparking wreckage.
The Iron Legions advanced alongside them.
The Raptures attempted to bring their vehicles into the fight.
Light tanks rolled around the corner, cannons already aimed at the advancing force.
The tanks barely had time to fire.
The Iron Legions rushed forward.
Their weapons hammered into the armored vehicles, tearing through them with frightening efficiency.
Then came the Iron Brutes.
One of the Rapture light tanks fired directly at a Brute.
BOOM!
The shell struck its massive armored body.
Smoke briefly covered the Brute.
When it cleared, the machine was still standing.
The Brute simply raised its weapon.
BOOM!
The light tank was blown apart.
The sight made the comparison almost ridiculous.
The Takao sisters effectively had the equivalent of five Iron Man Mark 44s and ten Iron Man Mark 43s fighting alongside them.
There was simply no way the Rapture forces could match that level of firepower.
Then three more figures joined the firefight from behind.
The Royal Navy maids.
Manchester raised her Ramjet Rifle.
"Mistress Yuu asked us to join you!"
Liverpool fired a burst toward a group of droids.
"Maybe this will improve our coordination as a fleet one day!"
Gloucester calmly aimed down her sights.
"Plus, we get to show Master what we can do as Royal Navy Maids."
Takao smiled.
"Then let's drive these droids out!"
The seven Shipgirls advanced together.
Seven Shipgirls.
Fifteen Iron Legions and Brute units.
The Rapture forces stood no chance.
The street became a storm of gunfire, electrical discharges, rockets, and exploding machinery.
The Iron Legions tore apart the enemy vehicles while the Shipgirls systematically eliminated the droids.
Manchester's Ramjet Rifle punched through one droid after another.
Liverpool fired rapidly while moving between cover.
Gloucester provided precise covering fire, dropping targets before they could even react.
The Takao sisters continued advancing without hesitation.
Within minutes, the entire street had been cleared.
Ahead of them stretched a long road leading directly toward the hotel.
And the Raptures were waiting.
Gunfire erupted from the hotel and surrounding buildings.
RATATATATAT!
Rockets screamed through the air.
WHOOSH!
One exploded against the street near the Shipgirls, throwing debris across their positions.
Takao immediately raised a hand.
"Take cover!"
The Shipgirls and Legions moved behind ruined vehicles, walls, and collapsed structures.
The Iron Brutes, however, had little reason to hide.
Their enormous armored frames simply advanced through the incoming fire.
"Legions!" Takao shouted. "Go!"
The Iron Legions surged forward.
Their heavy footsteps thundered through the street as they charged directly toward the hotel.
Rapture vehicles attempted to stop them.
It didn't work.
The Legions smashed through the defensive line, destroying armored vehicles and droids before they could properly organize.
With the vehicles neutralized, the Shipgirls emerged from cover.
"Now!"
The seven Shipgirls opened fire.
Volt rounds and Ramjet Rifle shots tore through the remaining droids.
The Rapture defenses collapsed rapidly.
Within moments, the entrance to the hotel was secured.
The surviving droids attempted to retreat inside.
Atago grinned.
"Don't let them escape!"
The sisters and maids pushed forward.
The final defenders were eliminated room by room until the hotel finally fell silent.
Takao lowered her rifle.
"The hotel is clear."
Maya immediately looked toward the roof.
"The SAM batteries are still active."
"Then let's take them," Choukai replied.
Maya and Choukai moved toward the control systems.
Their hacking equipment connected to the captured SAM batteries.
The systems flickered.
Then the targeting interfaces changed.
FRIENDLY CONTROL ESTABLISHED.
Choukai smiled.
"Got them."
Maya looked toward the sky.
"Perfect timing."
A distant mechanical roar echoed overhead.
Rapture helicopters were approaching.
Several aircraft emerged over the town, their weapons already preparing to engage the newly captured position.
The SAM batteries immediately rotated.
LOCK-ON.
Multiple missiles launched.
WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!
The helicopters attempted to evade.
Too late.
The missiles slammed into them one after another.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Burning wreckage rained from the sky.
The Shipgirls watched the final helicopter spiral toward the ground.
Atago grinned.
"Well..."
She rested her rifle against her shoulder.
"I think we've officially taken the hotel."
Takao looked toward the distant Town Square.
"One objective secured."
Not long after the hotel was secured, the resistance fighters arrived.
They moved cautiously through the streets, checking the surrounding buildings before finally reaching the captured position.
Babushka's men immediately began establishing a defensive foothold around the hotel.
"We will establish a foothold here," one of the resistance fighters announced.
Takao nodded.
"Good. Once you're settled in, we'll continue onward to the Town Square."
The Shipgirls began moving again.
They had barely advanced a few streets when the sound of approaching machinery echoed through the road.
CLANK. CLANK. CLANK.
A group of Rapture forces emerged ahead.
A Chain-Gunner Droid.
Several Chemical Droids.
A Flamethrower Droid.
A Rapture Buggy.
And a Light Tank.
The machines immediately opened fire.
RATATATATAT!
The Shipgirls returned fire without hesitation.
The Iron Legions advanced first, absorbing the enemy's attention while their weapons tore through the Rapture vehicles.
The Buggy was destroyed almost instantly.
The Light Tank attempted to bring its cannon to bear on one of the Iron Brutes.
BOOM!
The shell struck the massive machine.
The Brute barely reacted.
It simply raised its weapon.
BOOM!
The Light Tank disappeared beneath an explosion.
Takao stared at the wreckage for a moment.
"That's almost unfair."
Atago giggled.
"They started it."
The remaining droids continued fighting.
Unlike human soldiers, they didn't retreat.
They didn't surrender.
They didn't hesitate.
Even when facing overwhelming firepower, they simply continued advancing until they were destroyed.
Takao lowered her Volt Auto Rifle slightly and looked closely at one of the fallen machines.
"So these are the droids Shikikan-sama was talking about..."
She crouched beside the wreckage.
Up close, the machine looked disturbingly familiar.
It was essentially a metallic skeleton—a humanoid mechanical frame roughly eight feet tall, with weapons and armor components mounted directly onto its body.
"Low-level Terminators," Takao murmured.
That was how Yuuki had described them.
A primitive Terminator design.
According to Jarvis, based on the info from the Rapture Base back in Exia Island. The Rapture droids belonged to the R-series, derived from the Rapdyne Series 70 Automated Fighting Infantry Unit.
The R-70 was the basic infantry model, equipped with automatic firearms and a motion-tracking laser designator. The R-series was built around a simple concept: create a humanoid machine capable of functioning as a basic foot soldier while using familiar military weapons.
They were meant as foot soldiers against Nikkes.
But the R-70 was only the beginning.
The R-71 was designed as a shotgunner variant, giving the machine devastating close-range firepower.
The R-72 replaced the standard assault weapon with a powerful chaingun, becoming the Chain-Gunner Droid.
The R-73 was the sniper variant, carrying a long-range sniper rifle and operating from a distance to eliminate targets with precision.
The R-74 had two known configurations.
The R-74.1 was the Flamethrower Droid, equipped with a fuel tank and flame projector. Destroying its fuel supply could cause the entire machine to erupt in a violent explosion.
The R-74.2 was the Chemical Droid, carrying chemical tanks and specialized weapons designed to spread their payload across the battlefield.
Finally, there was the R-75 Rocket Droid, armed with shoulder-mounted rocket launchers.
Different weapons.
Different battlefield roles.
But fundamentally the same machine.
A metallic imitation of a soldier.
Manchester looked down at the destroyed droid.
"Why would the Raptures make them like this?"
Takao glanced at her.
"The Nikkes explained it before."
Her expression became more serious.
"These droids were originally developed as ordinary soldiers specifically to fight Nikkes."
Gloucester frowned.
"To fight Nikkes?"
Manchester nodded.
"They were designed to mimic human weapons and military technology."
"Why?" Liverpool asked.
Takao looked toward the ruined streets.
"To blend in."
The three maids fell silent.
"They wanted machines that could operate alongside human military forces without looking completely alien. Something that could use familiar weapons, familiar tactics, and familiar equipment."
Liverpool looked uneasy.
"So they were made to look like soldiers..."
"Exactly."
Takao stood.
"But some of the Nikkes were afraid it could eventually go further."
Gloucester's expression darkened.
"How much further?"
Takao looked at the metallic skeleton in front of her.
"Human skin."
The three maids froze.
Liverpool's eyes widened.
"They could... wear human skin?"
"That was the fear," Takao said. "A machine that could disguise itself as a human, infiltrate a settlement, and attack from inside."
Manchester's expression hardened.
"A machine pretending to be human..."
"Then once inside," Maya added quietly, "it could destroy everyone."
The thought was unsettling.
The droids lying around them suddenly looked different.
They were no longer merely crude machines with weapons attached to them.
They represented something far more dangerous.
An early attempt at artificial soldiers designed to imitate humanity.
Choukai looked toward the road ahead.
"Fortunately, these ones aren't very good at hiding what they are."
Atago raised her Volt Auto Rifle.
"And they definitely aren't good at surviving us."
Takao smiled.
"Agreed."
She turned toward the Town Square.
"Let's keep moving."
The seven Shipgirls and their mechanical escorts resumed their advance.
Behind them, the resistance secured the hotel.
Ahead of them waited the Town Square—and whatever remained of the Rapture forces guarding it.
The R-series might have been created to replace human soldiers.
But against seven determined Shipgirls and a force of Iron Legions and Brutes...
They were nothing more than targets.
============
The seven Shipgirls and their mechanical escorts soon arrived at the Town Square.
Manchester immediately recognized the place.
"This is where I hid last night... before you girls saved me."
She looked around.
The square was almost unrecognizable.
What had been relatively quiet only hours ago was now packed with Rapture forces. Droids occupied the streets, vehicles patrolled the surrounding roads, and defensive positions had been established around the buildings.
The reason became obvious.
The Town Square housed two mobile radar installations.
The Raptures had deployed their reinforcements here because the radar dishes allowed them to coordinate additional forces throughout the area.
But the Raptures had made one serious mistake.
They had underestimated the force coming for them.
"Contact!" Takao shouted.
The square erupted.
RATATATATAT!
Dozens of Rapture droids opened fire.
Chain-Gunner Droids unleashed streams of bullets.
Chemical Droids prepared their weapons.
Rocket Droids fired from behind cover.
Vehicles attempted to maneuver into firing positions.
For seven Shipgirls alone, it might have been a serious fight.
With the Iron Legions and Iron Brutes beside them?
It became a massacre.
"Forward!"
Takao led the charge.
The Iron Legions surged into the square.
Their repulsors tore through the Rapture vehicles before they could establish a proper defensive line. The Iron Brutes followed behind them, their immense armored bodies making the Rapture tanks look almost insignificant.
BOOM!
A Rapture vehicle exploded.
CRASH!
Another was thrown sideways as an Iron Legion smashed into it.
The Shipgirls advanced through the chaos, their Volt Auto Rifles spitting electrical rounds.
ZZZRAK!
Droids collapsed one after another.
The Raptures tried to reorganize.
They couldn't.
Every attempt to establish a defensive position was immediately overwhelmed by the advancing GDI forces.
Within minutes, the Town Square had been completely cleared.
Liverpool stared around at the battlefield.
"...That was fast."
Manchester nodded.
"Very fast."
Gloucester lowered her Ramjet Rifle.
"I don't think they even had time to coordinate."
Takao looked toward the two radar installations.
"They won't be coordinating anything now."
The radar installations stood near the center of the square.
Unlike the massive radar arrays found at military bases, these were compact, mobile systems.
Each installation stood roughly as tall as a human.
Four mechanical legs supported a central computer housing, while a tall rotating assembly carried a square radar dish.
The dish slowly rotated as it scanned the surrounding area.
Takao approached the nearest one.
"So these are the radar stations?"
Maya nodded.
"Looks like it."
Takao drew her sword.
"Then let's destroy—"
"Moshi... moshi..."
Takao froze.
Her eyes widened.
A communications channel had suddenly opened through her Echo Suit.
"Is this Takao-san?"
Takao blinked.
"Vice Commander Vergil?!"
"Yeah."
Vergil's voice came through clearly.
"Do me a favor and don't destroy that thing."
Takao looked at the radar installation.
"...How?"
"I already have droid samples and vehicle samples," Vergil explained. "Now I want these radar dishes."
He paused.
"They could serve as a way to triangulate the Raptures' positions. So do me a favor and switch them off first."
Takao looked at the radar.
"Switch them off?"
"Yeah."
"How?"
Vergil was silent for a moment.
"The off switch?"
Takao stared at the machine.
"Oh..."
There was an awkward pause.
"Wait a moment."
Takao stepped back.
Within moments, something appeared in the sky.
A familiar GDI platform approached the square.
Veronica.
The mobile service platform hovered above the battlefield before positioning itself over the radar installations.
Takao looked upward.
"Veronica?"
Without a word, Veronica deployed her weapon system.
Two Chronobeams fired.
VZZZHHH!
The beams struck both radar installations.
The machines froze.
For several seconds, nothing happened.
Then—
FWOOM.
Both radar installations vanished completely.
Five seconds later, Veronica had already turned around and flown back toward the cathedral.
Takao and the others simply stared.
The communication channel opened again.
"Thanks, girls."
The connection was cut.
Silence.
Liverpool slowly lowered her rifle.
"Umm... who was that?"
Takao turned toward the three maids.
"Vice High Commander Vergil. He's the current Commander of the Global Defense Initiative Space Fleet."
"Vice Commander?"
Liverpool blinked.
"Isn't Vice Commander Miss Kirino Yuu?"
Manchester's eyes widened.
"Space Fleet?"
Gloucester was completely speechless.
Takao nodded.
"Yes."
She looked toward the sky where Veronica had disappeared.
"We've never actually seen the GDI Space Fleet ourselves."
A small smile appeared on her face.
"But knowing Shikikan-sama..."
She looked toward the horizon.
"I wouldn't be surprised if we were all shocked when we finally did."
Manchester's expression remained frozen.
Takao continued.
"Shikikan-sama is the GDI High Commander, but he also commands the GDI Earth Division."
She glanced back toward the cathedral.
"Kirino Yuu took the role of Vice Commander of the Earth Division."
Liverpool slowly processed that information.
"So..."
She pointed upward.
"There's another entire GDI fleet somewhere above us?"
Takao smiled.
"Apparently."
The three maids exchanged stunned looks.
They had already seen more military technology in two days than they could have imagined.
And now they were learning that the force protecting them had an entire space fleet.
Liverpool sighed.
"I really should stop being surprised."
Manchester nodded.
"I don't think that's possible anymore."
Gloucester simply stared at the empty sky.
Neither did she.
========
Choukai raised her Echo Suit's communicator.
"Yuu-san!"
The response came almost immediately.
"Yes, Choukai?"
"We took over the Town Square!"
Yuu's voice carried a hint of surprise through the comms.
"That was fast."
Choukai glanced around the square, where resistance fighters were already moving into position.
"Yes. Most of the work was done by the Legions. Plus, the radars were stolen by Vergil-san."
"That loot goblin."
Yuu sighs.
As if to prove her point, an Iron Legion marched past them, its armor still smoking faintly from the battle.
Soon, the Town Square was filled with resistance members.
They secured the surrounding streets, checked the buildings, established defensive positions, and began preparing the area as another GDI foothold.
The Rapture presence that had once occupied the square had been completely erased.
A resistance captain approached the Shipgirls.
"Ladies."
Takao turned toward him.
"The Raptures are trying to destroy the reservoir again."
His expression was grim.
"We've cleared the Town Hall. You can use it to reach the reservoir from there."
He pointed toward the nearby building.
"My men reported that the Raptures have several buggies stationed there, along with an APC, a tank, and mobile artillery."
Then—
BOOM!
The entire square shook.
Everyone looked toward the distant reservoir.
Another explosion followed.
BOOM!
Smoke rose above the buildings.
"They've started the bombardment!" the resistance captain shouted. "Please, hurry!"
Atago immediately raised her weapon.
"Legions, take to the sky and ambush them from the air!"
The Iron Brutes immediately lifted from the ground, engines roaring as they climbed above the buildings.
The Iron Legions followed, moving rapidly toward the reservoir.
Choukai looked toward the Town Hall.
"We can ambush them from the walkway."
She pointed toward the elevated route leading toward the reservoir.
"This time, I'll lead."
Takao smiled.
"We will."
The sisters moved after her.
Gloucester checked her Ramjet Rifle.
"We can ambush them from above."
Manchester smiled.
"That sounds fun."
Liverpool's eyes practically lit up.
"Very fun."
The three Royal Navy maids followed eagerly.
They had started the operation expecting to simply support the Takao sisters.
Now they were beginning to enjoy themselves.
The battle had given them confidence.
The Raptures no longer seemed nearly as frightening as they once had.
Especially after seeing their own strength compared to the enemy.
The Takao sisters were already Level 33.
The difference between them and the Rapture droids was enormous.
To the maids, it almost felt as though the Takao sisters were thirty-three times stronger than ordinary Shipgirls.
And now they were fighting alongside them.
Liverpool grinned as she loaded another magazine into her Ramjet Rifle.
"If we keep this up, maybe we'll level up too!"
Manchester nodded.
"That's certainly an incentive."
Gloucester calmly chambered a round.
"Then let's make sure we earn it."
Another explosion shook the town.
BOOM!
A column of smoke rose into the sky.
Takao looked toward the reservoir.
"Enough talking."
She raised her Volt Auto Rifle.
"Let's stop that artillery."
The seven Shipgirls split into their assigned positions.
The Takao sisters moved toward the elevated walkway.
The three maids climbed toward higher ground.
Above them, the Iron Legions and Iron Brutes disappeared over the rooftops.
=========
The Raptures had only one objective at the reservoir.
Destroy it.
If they succeeded, the enormous amount of water held behind the structure would flood the surrounding area and devastate the southern village once again.
The Rapture vehicles positioned around the reservoir opened fire as soon as the Shipgirls came into view.
BOOM! BOOM!
Mobile artillery shells slammed into the concrete structures.
Tank rounds followed.
WHOOSH!
Rockets streaked across the air, exploding against the walkways and surrounding buildings.
Rapture droids advanced behind the vehicles, pouring automatic fire toward the elevated paths.
But the Raptures had made one critical mistake.
They had left the upper walkway exposed.
Choukai led the Takao sisters across the elevated route, moving rapidly between the concrete supports as bullets sparked against the railings.
"Keep moving!"
The four sisters pushed forward.
ZZZRAK!
Their Volt Auto Rifles unleashed streams of electrical rounds.
Droids collapsed one after another.
A Chain-Gunner Droid attempted to suppress their position.
RATATATATAT!
Choukai leaned out from behind a concrete pillar and fired.
BZZZT!
The electrical burst tore through the machine's weapon system.
It staggered.
Takao finished it with a second burst.
"Clear!"
Ahead of them, more droids rushed onto the walkway.
Chemical Droids.
Rocket Droids.
Ordinary R-70 infantry units.
The three Royal Navy maids joined the fight from another elevated position.
Manchester raised her Ramjet Rifle.
"Target acquired!"
BOOM!
A droid's upper body was blown apart.
Liverpool fired immediately afterward.
BOOM! BOOM!
"Got another!"
Gloucester calmly picked off a Rocket Droid before it could fire.
"Three more on the left."
The maids were having the time of their lives.
Only hours ago, they had been prisoners struggling simply to survive.
Now they were standing on an elevated battlefield, armed with advanced GDI weapons, fighting alongside their fellow Shipgirls.
And they were winning.
Below them, however, the Rapture vehicles were still attempting to reach the reservoir.
An APC pushed forward.
A buggy raced between the concrete structures.
A tank rolled into position.
Behind them, mobile artillery continued pounding the reservoir.
BOOM!
Another shell struck.
The Raptures were desperate to damage the structure before the Shipgirls could stop them.
Then a shadow passed overhead.
The Iron Brutes arrived.
Five enormous armored machines descended from the sky.
Their engines roared as they dropped directly into the Rapture defensive line.
CRASH!
One Brute landed beside the APC.
The vehicle barely had time to turn.
The Brute grabbed it.
CRUNCH!
Metal folded beneath its enormous hands.
The APC was thrown aside like scrap.
Another Brute descended directly onto the Rapture buggy.
BOOM!
The vehicle disappeared beneath the impact.
The tank commander desperately rotated the turret toward the nearest Brute.
BOOM!
The cannon fired.
The shell struck the Brute.
Smoke and dust filled the area.
For a moment, the Rapture droids appeared to pause.
Then the smoke cleared.
The Brute was still standing.
It looked down at the tank.
The tank looked very small from that angle.
The Brute raised its weapon.
BOOM!
The tank was obliterated.
The Iron Legions followed.
Ten heavily armed machines swept across the battlefield, targeting the remaining vehicles and artillery positions.
The Rapture forces tried to retreat.
The Legions gave them no opportunity.
One artillery vehicle was torn apart.
Another was crushed beneath concentrated fire.
A second tank attempted to escape toward the reservoir.
An Iron Legion intercepted it.
BOOM!
The tank exploded before it could get any closer.
Above them, the Shipgirls continued clearing the walkway.
The Raptures had been attempting to overwhelm the reservoir from multiple directions.
Instead, their entire assault force was being dismantled piece by piece.
Takao looked down from the walkway.
"The vehicles are almost gone."
Atago smiled.
"The Legions are doing most of the work."
Maya watched another Iron Brute tear through a defensive position.
"I'm starting to feel sorry for them."
Choukai's ears perked up.
"You said that about the last group."
"And I was right."
Liverpool laughed.
"Maybe we should stop giving the Raptures reasons to attack us."
Gloucester calmly fired another shot.
"Too late for that."
Another explosion echoed across the reservoir.
BOOM!
The final mobile artillery piece erupted into flames.
The bombardment stopped.
Silence slowly returned to the reservoir.
The Rapture forces that had attempted to destroy the structure were gone.
The Shipgirls had cleared the walkway.
The Iron Legions had destroyed the vehicles.
The Iron Brutes had practically bullied the remaining armored units into scrap metal.
Choukai looked toward the intact reservoir.
"Looks like they didn't get far."
Takao nodded.
"The reservoir is safe."
Liverpool lowered her Ramjet Rifle with a satisfied smile.
"Another victory."
Manchester looked toward the distant village.
"And another village saved."
Gloucester smiled faintly.
"Perhaps we're getting the hang of this."
The seven Shipgirls regrouped above the reservoir as the Iron Legions and Iron Brutes secured the surrounding area.
The battlefield had fallen strangely quiet.
Smoke still drifted above the rooftops, and the remains of destroyed Rapture vehicles littered the streets. But the reservoir itself had survived the bombardment.
For the moment, at least.
Soon, a familiar silhouette appeared overhead.
"Veronica."
The GDI mobile service platform flew toward the reservoir and positioned itself above the damaged structure.
A series of repair systems deployed from its underside.
VZZZHHH!
Golden repair beams swept across the reservoir.
Cracked concrete reformed.
Damaged support structures restored themselves.
Broken mechanisms reassembled as if time itself were being reversed.
Within moments, the reservoir was completely repaired.
The resistance fighters soon arrived and immediately secured the surrounding area, establishing defensive positions and making sure the Raptures couldn't launch another attack on the vital infrastructure.
Manchester looked toward the towering Iron Brutes and Iron Legions.
"The Brutes are doing all the heavy lifting, though."
Atago gave a small, amused smile.
"Ufuu... Perks of being in a strong team."
"More like a faction," Choukai corrected.
Maya crossed her arms, smiling as she looked over the battlefield.
"Even at Level 33, I never expected our strength to be this overwhelming against the Rapture droids."
She glanced toward her sisters.
"I wonder how we'd fare against the Sirens ships that surpassed even the Decisive ships."
Takao nodded thoughtfully.
"Well, we haven't had the chance to fight any Sirens yet."
Her hand rested against her sword.
"Maybe I should participate in more missions until I reach a higher level. If Level 50 is enough for us to deal with the Sirens, perhaps we won't have to let Shikikan-sama do all the work."
A determined smile appeared on her face.
"We did promise him that we'd become the heroes he wanted to train."
Atago's smile widened.
"Ufuu... I want to become as strong as possible too."
She placed a hand against her cheek, her golden eyes gleaming mischievously.
"I want my little Atago-chan to have a strong mother."
Then she smirked.
"The faster I become stronger, the faster I can pop out Little Atago for Shikikan-sama!"
"Little Atago?!"
Choukai's ears shot straight upward.
"Atago-nee!"
Takao immediately turned bright red.
"Atago-nee! That's too far in the future!"
"Ufuu... Takao-chan."
Atago leaned closer, clearly enjoying her sisters' reactions.
"Remember, Shikikan-sama has a soft spot for little ones. Wouldn't you be proud to have your own little Takao to train in swordsmanship?"
"Little Takao...?"
Takao's face became even redder.
She instinctively imagined a tiny version of herself holding a wooden sword and following her around.
Maya's cheeks flushed as well.
She, too, couldn't help imagining what a little Maya might look like.
Choukai wasn't spared either.
The thought of having a little Choukai of her own made her blush furiously.
The three maids stared at the Takao sisters.
"That is scandalous!"
Atago simply giggled.
"Not quite."
Her expression became more sincere.
"Shikikan-sama promised to marry us once we achieve our strongest."
She looked toward her sisters.
"That is why we want to level up as fast as possible."
Liverpool blinked.
"What is the highest level?"
"Level 1000," Takao answered.
The number alone made the three maids stare.
Takao lowered her gaze, her cheeks still slightly red.
She wanted to become stronger.
Not merely to reach some arbitrary level.
She wanted to challenge Yuuki again.
Perhaps she still wouldn't be able to defeat him even after reaching Level 1000.
But that wasn't the point.
She wanted to stand before Shikikan-sama at the absolute peak of her strength and fight him with everything she had.
That was the promise she had made to herself.
And she intended to keep it.
"Level 1000..."
The three maids exchanged glances.
That number had certainly caught their attention.
The GDI's leveling system was already tempting enough. The idea that they could continually grow stronger, improve their abilities, and eventually reach levels far beyond what they had ever imagined was incredibly appealing.
But there was something else that caught their attention even more.
The possibility of being allowed to serve their Master as his wife.
Still, none of them wanted to get ahead of themselves.
Before they could even dream of serving Yuuki as his wife, they wanted to earn his approval first.
They had only just met him.
Yes, there was already something strange connecting them to him. Something they could feel within their hearts and Cubes.
But that connection was only one part of it.
They wanted to see him standing before them.
They wanted to serve him as their Master.
They wanted to fight for him.
And, most importantly, they wanted to understand what kind of man Yuuki truly was.
What kind of Master could command Shipgirls to become stronger—not simply as soldiers, but as heroes?
What kind of commander would encourage his Shipgirls to grow powerful enough to stand beside him rather than remain behind him?
Gloucester, Manchester, and Liverpool smiled to themselves.
The GDI truly was an extraordinary organization.
And its commander was certainly no ordinary Master.
Then—
"Ladies!"
The resistance captain came running toward them.
"Bad news!"
Everyone turned toward him.
"The Raptures are targeting the reservoir with SSM launchers! They're preparing to launch soon!"
His expression became urgent.
"You have to get to the park now!"
Takao immediately turned toward the Iron Legions.
"Looks like we need to hitch a ride with the Legions."
The mechanical units responded without hesitation.
Several Iron Legions moved forward and extended their armored arms.
One after another, they carefully lifted the seven Shipgirls into the air.
Takao, Atago, Maya, Choukai, Gloucester, Manchester, and Liverpool were suddenly carried above the rooftops as the Legions accelerated toward the park.
Manchester's eyes widened.
"Wah... this is my first time flying!"
Atago laughed.
"Ufuu... Get used to it. It'll be happening a lot from now on."
Liverpool looked down.
The buildings below were already becoming smaller.
"Too high!"
She instinctively tightened her grip on her Ramjet Rifle.
Gloucester remained composed, but her cheeks were noticeably flushed as she glanced downward.
She quickly looked ahead again.
The Iron Legions continued carrying them toward the battlefield.
And somewhere ahead, the Raptures were preparing to launch their SSMs.
They had very little time left.