Fifteen years ago on the championship deck, Hood slammed her foe's head underfoot. "Hahaha! Down in three moves—pathetic!"
"Thought any stray cat could compete? If they're all like you, this contest is a joke!"
"I give—urk!"
Hood silenced the surrender, stomping again. Blood spurted.
"Beautiful scream—louder, entertain me!"
Still unsated, Hood yanked the girl up by her hair. "Let your precious Admiral see how pretty you look now—he'll love it."
No… don't, please, let me go! I can't let the Admiral see me like this… it… it would disappoint him.
She had sworn she'd score well, yet she was floored in two or three moves.
Wow! That Ship Girl's amazing! She's only a Gold-Plated Ship Girl, yet she knocked the other one flat in two or three hits.
Right, right! Looks like she might break through to Epic Ship Girl!
Exactly! An Admiral with a girl like that must be over the moon.
The Admirals buzzed with envy; no one spared a glance for the crumpled loser. In a world ravaged by the Abyss, only the strong survive—respect is earned by power.
The defeated Ship Girl, hair gripped, blinked through tears toward her Admiral. He met her eyes, shook his head, and turned away—utterly disappointed.
The sight broke her; she fainted from shame.
Tch, out cold already? Boring. I thought you'd entertain me longer," Hood sneered, tossing the girl off the stage.
A girl in white flashed in, caught the battered Ship Girl mid-air, and passed her to the medics.
Her skin was snow-white, silver hair drifting like silk; delicate brows, cherry lips, sapphire eyes full of worry for the fallen girl.
Hypocrite," Hood snorted. "Oi, referee, day-dreaming? Declare my win.
Ah—yes, sorry, lost myself for a second." The referee blushed; the girl in white was her idol.
Hood wins!
Regathering her wits, the referee announced the victory and asked if Hood wanted a break. Hood scoffed—she hadn't even warmed up.
She called the next contestant—and when she read the name, her heart leapt, and she almost pitied Hood.
Next fighter—Illustrious!
The white-clad girl stepped forward. She was Illustrious; arriving just in time to see Hood fling the wounded girl, she had flashed in to save her.
After handing her to the medics and confirming the girl was out of danger, Illustrious finally relaxed.
Now, facing Hood, her gaze turned icy. We're all Ship Girls—why such cruelty? A match should stop at first blood, not try to kill. This one needs a lesson.
Hood sneered. "You're not worth my time. Scurry off before you end up like her."
Oh? I'm not as fragile as you think. Try not to cry later," Illustrious replied coolly.
Alas, ants never know their size. Pitiful," Hood sighed.
Below, Admirals sparked into fresh chatter.
Who'll win?
Hood, obviously—did you see that display?
Seriously? You don't recognize Illustrious?
Illustrious? Who's that?
The Gold-Plated who solo-killed a Nightmare-tier Abyssal Princess!
Gasps rippled through the crowd. Nightmare-tier equals Epic Ship Girl—yet a Gold-Plated had taken one down.
That means she's at least Epic level.
Nightmare Abyssals aren't pushovers; Epic Girls struggle, let alone Gold-Plated!
How d'you know?
Insider rumor: she apprenticed under That One. Stronger than ever.
That One? You mean—
A hand clamped over his mouth. Don't speak That Name unless you've a death wish.
If true, this fight's gonna be wild.
Plenty of dark horses this year.
While the crowd gossiped, Hood probed Illustrious with her rigging. Arrogant, not stupid—she never underestimated.
Yet every pulse of power vanished into the white-clad girl like stones into a lake. Only Epic Ship Girls did that. Could Illustrious really—
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