Azuma was trembling, her legs pressed together, her elbows propped against the sea surface as she panted heavily, her chest heaving with every breath.
A few minutes ago—
Just as she was about to be hit by the destructive red beam, Azuma used her "Hundred Sakura Third Style — Boundary." She swung her ship-slaying great sword into the air, opening a black spatial rift two meters long and half a meter wide. Inside was a small space that had been temporarily carved out. Without any hesitation, she dove in with a swish, and the black spatial rift quickly closed.
"Boom!"
The spine-chilling red beam, carrying terrifying destructive power, struck the sea surface, kicking up waves over ten meters high. Without losing momentum, it flew into the azure sky, scattering the clouds into a massive hole, piercing through the thick atmosphere, and only slowly dissipating once it reached the dark, silent vacuum of space.
"Sister, Azuma is okay, right?" Unicorn tightly hugged U-chan with her jade-white hands, hugging her so hard that U-chan's face turned pale.
Being hit by that destructive red beam would surely reduce one to molecules—no, atoms. If she had been there herself, she definitely wouldn't have survived. Is this the powerful destructive force of a Gold-Plated Ship Girl? Gold-Plated Ship Girls are indeed as formidable as rumored.
No wonder so many Admirals cry out to the heavens and pray to the gods and Buddhas for a Gold-Plated Ship Girl; it's because their combat strength is astonishing.
Having such strength can indeed protect the safety of one's Naval Base's waters and give the Admiral a great sense of security. Azuma couldn't have died, right? If she did, there would be one less ship to compete with for Sister!
Wait, how could she think that? Unicorn is a bad girl. As she thought this, Unicorn's grip tightened, making U-chan even more miserable. Being a pet these days isn't easy.
"Don't worry! Azuma won't die that easily." Through the soul network, Illustrious could still feel Azuma's presence, though she wasn't in this world, appearing to be in another space.
Hearing Illustrious's answer, Unicorn breathed a sigh of relief. If Illustrious said she wasn't dead, she definitely wasn't; it was a kind of blind faith. Her grip slowly loosened, and U-chan was finally saved, her face returning to normal.
The sea surface continued to churn. Standing upon it with an indifferent expression, Ayanami narrowed her eyes and furrowed her dark brows, immediately going on alert for fear of a sneak attack. She didn't feel like her massive red energy beam had hit; Azuma was still alive, but where was she?
Suddenly, a two-meter-long, half-meter-wide black space crack opened in the air. A black shadow flew out and knelt on the sea, breathing heavily with a pained expression.
"Oh! I didn't expect you to counter this move using this method. You do have some skill, I suppose!" Ayanami looked disdainful. She wasn't too surprised that Azuma wasn't hurt; after all, she was a Gold-Plated Ship Girl. Even if she were hit, it would at most result in a Heavy Damage state. If she died, she could only blame her lack of skill.
"Little brat, keep being smug. There'll be a time when you're crying," Azuma said, catching her breath and throwing out a harsh remark.
"Is that so~? Then I'll have to keep my eyes wide open and watch closely to see how you make me cry, I suppose," Ayanami mocked.
Without replying, Azuma closed her eyes, her mind sinking into her inner world as calm as a lake. Suddenly, she opened her amber eyes.
"Five Styles of the Hundred Sakura — Scatter."
After she sheathed her ship-slaying great sword, beautiful cherry blossom petals drifted all around Azuma, adding a touch of liveliness to the silent sea.
Ayanami, tightly gripping her ship-slaying sword, furrowed her dark brows. At the slightest sign of trouble, she would swing her ship-slaying sword. To her, these beautiful cherry blossom petals weren't beautiful; they were filled with killing intent.
With a "clang," she suddenly drew her sword and swung it into the air. With a "swish," she sliced through space, opening a two-meter-long, half-meter-wide black space crack. After Azuma dove in with a "whoosh," the space crack turned into a basketball-sized cluster of cherry blossom petals and shot toward Ayanami with a "boom."
Facing the charging cluster of cherry blossom petals, Ayanami didn't hesitate to swing her ship-slaying sword. The swing contained a fierce force, as if it could slice a mountain clean in half.
"Bang!"
In an instant, the beautiful cluster of cherry blossom petals was scattered. Ayanami didn't care at all; nothing could withstand the power of the Demon God's strike. If something could, then two strikes would do. She said disdainfully, "Hmph! Just as I thought. If this is all you've got, then I've already won, I suppose."
Like a villain's Victory speech, Ayanami was setting up a massive flag.
Behind Ayanami, a cluster of beautiful cherry blossom petals formed and finally turned into Azuma. She swung her sword, passing through Ayanami's body with a "whoosh," and then turned back into a cluster of beautiful cherry blossom petals.
"Crack!"
Her intact rigging chipped slightly. Ayanami quickly realized she had been hit. Enraged, she swung at Azuma as she passed through her, and with a "boom," the beautiful cluster of cherry blossom petals was scattered again.
Seeing her turn back into cherry blossom petals, Ayanami knew Azuma would surely try to strike from behind again. Clever as she was, she wouldn't fall for it again. She turned around and swung, intending to land a terrifyingly powerful blow on that cluster of beautiful cherry blossom petals.
"Why isn't she behind me, I suppose?" Ayanami wondered.
Just as Ayanami turned around, a cluster of beautiful cherry blossom petals formed behind her back and finally turned into Azuma. She swung her sword again, passing through Ayanami's body with a "whoosh," and then turned back into a cluster of beautiful cherry blossom petals.
"Crack!"
Her slightly damaged rigging chipped a bit more. Ayanami quickly realized she had been hit again. Enraged, she swung at Azuma as she passed through her again, and with a "boom," the beautiful cluster of cherry blossom petals was scattered once more.
"Damn it, come out if you have the guts! Fight me head-on like a man! What kind of hero hides away like this, I suppose?" Ayanami shouted, swinging her ship-slaying sword wildly in all directions.
Who's going to fight you head-on? Hit me if you can! Although Azuma wanted to say this, she knew she couldn't. Speaking would reveal her position. Did she think such a provocation would goad her into appearing so she could be attacked? Hmph! You've underestimated me!
Watching Ayanami swing her ship-slaying sword wildly, Illustrious shook her head. It seemed the outcome would be decided soon, as Ayanami's mind was already in disarray. The biggest taboo in battle is losing one's composure, as it makes it impossible to calm down and devise a strategy.
After passing through Ayanami's body back and forth like this, by the ninth strike, the beautiful cluster of cherry blossom petals moved ten meters away from Ayanami.
With a "swish," space was sliced open, and a two-meter-long, half-meter-wide black space crack appeared. Azuma dove out with a "whoosh."
Azuma began to slide her ship-slaying great sword into its scabbard. Just as it was almost fully sheathed, she paused for a moment, then clicked it home and shouted.
"Converge!"
---------------------------------
Hope you enjoy this fanfiction if you do and would like to read the next 30 chapters in advance, pls do check out my Patreon.
patreon.com/TLScarlet
Also don't forget to give me a Power Stone if you do like this fiction. Your support really motivates me to continue doing my best in translating, Thanks!!