According to the agreement between Hikaru and Yamato, a level 100 Abyssal flagship carried a bounty of two billion, while those under level 100 were worth a mere one hundred million.
The reward directly reflected the difference in value—and thus, the difference in merit.
If the Abyssal Kitakami that Bismarck sank was level 100, then Assault's share of battle merits would fall drastically behind.
"She wasn't level 100," Bismarck said after a pause. "But she was very strong."
The shipgirls who knew Bismarck well couldn't help but mutter in surprise. Was she… complimenting the enemy?
How rare.
Saratoga bit her lip. "How many Abyssals did you sink?"
She and Ranger excelled at clearing out 'trash mobs.' After all, carriers could blanket-bomb with dozens of aircraft at once, wiping out swathes in a single strike.
To surpass Bismarck in merits, the only way was to overwhelm quality with sheer quantity.
"This isn't the time to discuss that," Bismarck waved a hand, glancing at Yamato. "We must retreat immediately."
Prince of Wales was unwilling, pointing at the disorganized Abyssal vanguard. "They're leaderless. If we just keep circling and striking, sinking the Abyssal officers one by one, we could completely shatter this army!"
"You've lost your senses!"
Bismarck rebuked her sharply, then continued,
"All of us are wounded. Our two main damage-dealers are running out of aircraft. To crush this force, it would take enormous time and risk. And if Abyssal Yamato returns with fresh reinforcements while we're still bogged down, what then? Besides, Yamato isn't the only Abyssal Yamato out there!"
Prince of Wales clenched her teeth, unable to argue.
The only reason she and Yamato had managed to hold off the Abyssal vanguard for so long was because, after Bismarck sank Kitakami, the Abyssal army was left without a flagship commander.
Abyssal flagships were like generals. Without them, only Abyssal battleships and Abyssal carriers—the 'officers'—led their own small packs, fighting like separate wolf clans. There was no coordination between them.
If not for the presence of enemy shipgirls, they might have even torn each other apart. High-level Abyssals had territorial instincts, while weaker ones only bowed to the strong.
But Bismarck was right: time was short, and the enemy far too many.
"Retreat. You all go first—I'll cover the rear. Saratoga, Ranger, you provide the final screen!"
As the squad leader, once Bismarck gave the order, the others could only obey.
Just as they turned northward, Bismarck dodged several shells that nearly struck her and tossed a sphere of golden light to Saratoga.
"Right, this came from Kitakami. You hold onto it—I don't have the hands free."
"A war trophy?" Saratoga caught the glow and unwrapped it, frowning in disappointment. "A torpedo? That's all?"
Yamato craned her head. "What stats?"
"61cm Quadruple Torpedo Mount, F3 Prototype. Five-star. +12 Torpedo, +1 Accuracy, +1 Evasion."
Yamato nearly drooled. "And you call that nothing special?!"
Excluding submarine torpedoes, a +12 torpedo was already the strongest weapon destroyers and cruisers could mount.
Of course, rainbow six-star torpedoes were another matter entirely.
"Our base isn't lacking golden torpedoes. We've even got plenty of rainbow ones," Saratoga's eyes gleamed as she extended a hand. "Why don't I sell it to you? Name your price?"
Yamato swallowed hard. "Five hundred million?"
"This torpedo is not for sale!" Bismarck cut the deal cold. "It goes to our base's shipgirls."
Helena spoke up from the side. "It's Kitakami's relic. She left this torpedo to her opponent."
Even Abyssals had things they cherished—their equipment. If they couldn't bear to see their beloved rigging vanish with them, they would cast it off before sinking.
Saratoga clicked her tongue but put the torpedo away.
Bismarck turned her head, firing a shot that blew apart the skull of a golden-hulled Abyssal battleship.
"Come. This counterattack is over."
[End of Chapter]
[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
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