Berlin, Germany
The satellite operations room of the Atlas Division remained silent as dozens of analysts watched their screens.
After the battle off the coast of Chiapas, only smoke and allied ships remained visible. When the Kartnod fleet retreated and vanished through the dimensional portals, nearly all of Atlas's surveillance resources were redirected to tracking any sign of their location.
For several hours, they found nothing.
Until now.
"Sir, we've just located nine ships. We're certain they're the ones that escaped near the Yellow Sea."
The officer in charge stood up and enlarged a holographic image.
Nine signals appeared over the ocean.
"The identifications match the ships that escaped during the retreat from China."
The Atlas commander studied the map.
"Are you sure?"
"Completely. We've confirmed the readings through magical sensors."
"And their heading?"
"South Pacific. They're moving toward the area of Easter Island."
"Inform all the families immediately."
"Yes, sir."
The transmissions were sent to Ireland, Japan, and the Americas.
Less than an hour later, the first responses began to arrive.
Aboard the flagship of the Minamoto family.
Haruki examined the report sent by Atlas.
"Confirmed?"
"Yes, sir. Atlas is completely certain."
Haruki studied the map.
"Nine ships."
"The same ones that escaped during the retreat."
"Any sign of the fleet that withdrew from the coast of Mexico?"
"None."
Haruki placed a hand on the display.
"Then those ships may be our best opportunity to find out what they're planning."
He looked up at his officers.
"Have everyone prepare. We'll make several dimensional jumps. We're going to capture those ships without destroying them."
At the same time, Alexander Anderson received the same report.
When Maeve was informed, she immediately ordered several of her ships to mobilize.
The objective was simple: capture them intact and confirm whether their suspicions were correct.
Somewhere in the South Pacific.
The Minamoto fleet began the pursuit.
After days of searching following the battle, they had finally managed to pick up the trail of the ships that had escaped.
Haruki watched the screens with a serious expression.
"Any change in their course or signs they've detected us?" he asked.
"None so far, sir."
"Sir, the enemy ships have reduced speed. We're detecting highly irregular fluctuations. They appear to be experiencing reactor problems due to the magical distortion we've identified."
One of the operators turned toward Haruki.
"Sir, we've just received a transmission from the Andersons."
"Put it through."
Alexander's image appeared above the holographic table.
"We've located the fleet that attacked the Aguilar family base. It's heading toward Easter Island."
Haruki frowned.
"Easter Island?"
"So it seems."
"What's there?"
"We still don't know."
Haruki remained thoughtful for several seconds.
"Connect me immediately with the Ó Broin fleet."
A few minutes later, the communication was established.
"I am Admiral Maeve Ó Broin, second-in-command of the family. How are you, Lord Haruki Minamoto?"
"It's good to see you're well, Lady Maeve. We have located the ships that escaped our engagement and have also detected the creation of dimensional vortices. We're certain they are the same forces that attacked the American coasts. It appears that both groups are heading toward Easter Island in the South Pacific. However, we believe several of the ships are experiencing problems, as they are advancing quite slowly."
"Whatever is happening, we cannot allow them to escape."
"I agree," Maeve replied. "Our surveillance teams had already located the fleet we fought off the southern coast of Africa. They also escaped, and they too are heading toward Easter Island."
"What exactly is on that island?" Haruki asked.
"We're not entirely sure, but we believe there is a dimensional portal there. According to our records, Atlantis was once located in that region."
"What?! Atlantis? Then it wasn't a myth."
"No. We believe it may be a military installation that was sealed away, like many others. We must prevent them from gaining access to it."
"We're already moving to intercept them. You deal with the stragglers."
"Understood," Haruki replied.
The transmission ended.
Haruki looked back at the map.
A few hours later.
South of Easter Island.
The Anderson fleet was patrolling the area.
Hundreds of drones had been deployed. Suddenly, several portals materialized. The sea lost its calm, and something resembling a storm began to form across the waters.
"Sir, the Minamoto fleet has arrived."
Alexander nodded.
"Excellent. We'll attack as soon as they enter weapons range."
Meanwhile.
Aboard the flagship of the Ó Broin family.
Maeve reviewed reports alongside Daniel and Orla.
"We've located the main fleet," Daniel reported.
"I can confirm it," Orla added. "They're about fifty kilometers away."
Maeve placed both hands on the table.
"That means the nine ships being pursued by the Minamotos and the Andersons are alone."
"The abandoned ones," Daniel said.
"Exactly."
An operator hurried over.
"Ma'am, we've just received new information from the Minamotos."
"Go ahead."
"The Kartnod have attempted several long-range transmissions over the past few hours."
"Did they manage to contact anyone?"
"We don't know."
Maeve remained silent for a moment.
"Try to determine who they were attempting to contact."
"Immediately," Orla replied.
The Kartnod situation was becoming increasingly grim.
Inside an enemy vessel, Kaelen Voss reviewed the reports with growing concern.
"Any response from Admiral Kaisel?"
"No, sir."
"Any sign of Fleets Three and Four?"
"Nothing."
Kaelen slammed his fist against the console.
"Damn it."
Another officer approached.
"Sir, several reactors are beginning to fail."
"How many?"
"Four ships are no longer capable of making another dimensional jump."
Kaelen closed his eyes.
Everything was going wrong.
First, the defeat.
Then the disappearance of the main fleet.
And now this.
Suddenly, alarms began to sound.
"Enemy contact!"
Kaelen opened his eyes.
"Where?"
"Directly ahead."
The screens filled with dozens of signals.
"Sir, they're the same ships. I don't think we can hold them off."
Suddenly, multiple explosions erupted across the decks.
"What was that?"
"The aircraft are here too. We're detecting fifty ships and around twenty aircraft. What do we do?"
Kaelen understood the situation immediately.
They were surrounded.
His face turned pale.
Silence filled the command room.
No one spoke for several seconds.
Finally, he said:
"Give the order for self-destruction. If we can't defeat them, we'll destroy ourselves and take as many of them with us as possible."
Suddenly, a beam of magical energy pierced Kaelen's right shoulder, and a voice echoed through the room.
"That is not going to happen. I, Miresell Tairren, am assuming command of this fleet. I will not sacrifice my life, nor the lives of my men."