So if a Four-Star Legendary wants another way to raise Qi, it's these golden-grade azure crystal cores. Unfortunately, the drop rate from golden chests is heart-breaking, making the cores hotly sought after.
Illustrious has no immediate need—she's only a Gold-Plated Ship Girl—but she could trade it to a Four-Star Legendary in return for a favor.
With a Legendary on your side, the three Admirals of the East Pacific Naval Base are a joke; one slap and they're all paste.
Don't bother crying "Who will stop her?" Even a complaint to the Governor-General's Mansion is useless—at worst she'll get a scolding. Admirals are like lovers: replaceable. Legendary Ship Girls are not.
Legendaries are strategic weapons that deter the apex of the Abyssal fleet. Without them, the world would already be ruled by the Abyssals.
This world is survival of the fittest; so-called law and morality only bind ordinary folk. Reality is simple: if you're powerful enough that no one can refute you, you are heaven and may do as you please.
"You lucky brat! I'm tempted to snatch that golden azure crystal core right out of your hand," Souryuu said, eyes glowing green as she licked her lips.
"Right! I'm half ready to kill you and take it," Dido added, turning to Illustrious.
"Feel free to try." Illustrious unleashed a tremendous aura so strong it startled them—she'd clearly held back during the fight against Anchorage Princess. She'd been coasting the whole time!
The display snapped Dido and Souryuu out of their greed. Of course—this girl was the Silver King!
Though her first seal hadn't been broken, her future potential was terrifying. They couldn't afford to provoke her, especially when the three still had to clear two more Habitats together.
"Hey, Illustrious, don't be mad—we were only joking!" Dido laughed.
"Exactly! We've got another Habitat to tackle; we can't fall out now," Souryuu chimed in.
"Oh, I see. My mistake—hope you won't hold it against me." Illustrious withdrew her aura, though she stayed wary.
To stop them coveting the core, she quickly stashed it in her rigging space.
Dido and Souryuu didn't even blink; their eyes screamed, If only it were in my rigging space!
With the core secured, the three terrifying Epic Ship Girls dove in to support the others. Like wolves among sheep they sent the Abyssal Warships fleeing; in minutes the enemy was wiped out.
"Wow, Illustrious is so strong! That giant sword floating above her head is awesome—I wish I had power like that so fights wouldn't be so hard."
"Dream on. That's the Silver King's strength; aiming for Epic Ship Girl is far more realistic."
"Even Epic isn't easy to reach!"
The ordinary Ship Girls below gazed up in envy, each imagining what it would feel like to wield such might.
Once every Abyssal in the first Habitat was sunk, Dido announced a break to recover strength.
Half an hour later, fully restored, Dido led three fleets toward the next Habitat. With Königsberg of the Third Mobile Fleet fallen, Illustrious—whose power rivaled a Three-Star Epic—was made acting commander.
Following the same tactics as before, Dido cleared the shallow- and mid-depth Abyssals.
They reached the deep zone of the second Abyssal Habitat, where abyssal mist constantly billowed forth—and where the second Abyssal Princess awaited.
She had about three hundred Abyssal Warships with her. Dido's three fleets had already lost twenty girls in the first Habitat, but even with only three hundred left they showed no fear; the sides were evenly matched.
Battle was joined at Dido's signal: soldier to soldier, commander to commander. Dido, Souryuu, and Illustrious clashed with the second Princess in the sky.
The Princess had long straight white hair in a side ponytail, an impressive bust, and a black sailor uniform—an appearance recorded in the Abyssal archives: Aircraft Carrier Hime.
Aircraft Carrier Hime fought the three to a standstill, astonishing them; like Anchorage Princess, she was fearsomely powerful.
After exchanging blows she retreated a distance, black sword in hand, and declared arrogantly, "You slew Anchorage Princess, so I acknowledge your strength—but your journey ends here, for I am stronger and more terrible than she."
"Strong or terrible, you'll still die. Let's see who's left standing," Illustrious replied coolly.
"Exactly! Today the three of us will grind you to dust," Dido added.
"We just took down Anchorage Princess—wonder how long you'll last?" Soryu boasted, still riding the high of crushing the first habitat's Anchorage Princess.
Illustrious studied Aircraft Carrier Hime's aura; it was indeed a notch stronger than Anchorage Princess's, but only by the tiniest margin.
Where she found the gall to declare she'd halt their advance was beyond Illustrious. Gripping her rigging Tachi, she itched to claim Aircraft Carrier Hime's head.
"Hmph. Insects never know when they're beaten. Since you're so eager to die, I'll oblige." Aircraft Carrier Hime's face was ice.
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