High above the battlefield, Yuu and Nayuta broke away from the main formation.
The roar of explosions echoed behind them as Harbinger Gunships and Firehawks continued their assault on the Mother Whale.
Nayuta held tightly onto Yuu's shoulder as they weaved through burning debris.
"There."
She pointed toward a section along the Mother Whale's underside.
"A maintenance corridor."
"It's one of the weaker sections of the hull."
Yuu adjusted her course immediately.
"I see it."
She activated the fleet communication channel.
"Illustrious."
A calm voice answered almost instantly.
"Go ahead, Lady Yuu."
"I need an opening."
Nayuta enlarged a holographic marker from her visor.
"Target this section."
"It's the quickest route toward my original body."
"Understood."
Several kilometers away, one of Illustrious' Harbinger Gunships banked sharply.
Its targeting reticle locked onto the designated section.
"Firing."
A barrage of collider cannons unleashed devastating rounds that streaked downward.
Moments later—
BOOM!!
The impact struck almost simultaneously.
Armor plating erupted outward.
The corridor wall collapsed beneath the concentrated bombardment.
Smoke.
Flames.
Twisted metal.
A breach large enough for two armored figures appeared.
"Opening confirmed."
Yuu smiled.
"Perfect."
She ignited her thrusters.
The pair shot through the breach just before secondary explosions rippled across the damaged hull.
Inside—
The corridor was in ruins.
Emergency lighting flickered overhead.
Smoke drifted through the passage.
Several Rapture drones lay scattered across the floor.
Some damaged.
Some attempting to reboot after the EMP.
"They're recovering."
Yuu raised one arm.
Repulsor fire erupted.
The first drone's head vanished.
Nayuta drew her Volt Auto Rifle.
A burst of electric rounds crackled through the corridor.
Another pair of drones collapsed before their optics fully reignited.
The remaining machines barely managed to stand.
They never had the chance.
Within seconds—
The corridor fell silent once again.
Yuu scanned the area.
"Clear."
Nayuta immediately knelt beside one of the walls.
Her holographic interface expanded.
"This route leads toward the research sector."
"Good."
Yuu nodded.
"But we wait."
Golden runes spread outward across the shattered corridor.
A translucent magical veil shimmered into existence.
The stealth barrier concealed both their presence and their energy signatures from passing sensors.
Even the heat left behind by the explosions gradually faded beneath the spell.
Esche's magic.
Enhanced by Oberis' enchantments.
Nayuta looked toward the corridor ahead.
"They won't detect us."
Yuu leaned quietly against the damaged wall.
She smiled.
"Then we wait for Yuuki's signal."
The two remained perfectly still.
Outside—
The battle continued to rage.
Inside—
The rescue operation had already begun.
Hidden within the Mother Whale's own corridors—
its greatest weakness had just slipped aboard unnoticed.
===============
Deep within the Mother Whale...
Alarm sirens continued to blare.
Endless columns of Rapture troops poured through the massive interior corridors.
Combat drones.
Quadruped assault units.
Heavy walkers.
Flying interceptors.
Every available force was being redirected toward the hull breaches and hangar bays.
The interior of the Mother Whale resembled less the inside of a ship and more a vast mechanical city built within a flying fortress.
Its primary transport corridors were enormous.
Nearly sixty meters wide.
More than forty meters high.
Large enough for multiple heavy Rapture tanks to drive side by side while aerial drones flew overhead without obstruction.
Layer upon layer of elevated catwalks crisscrossed the chamber walls, allowing maintenance drones and security units to move independently from the ground forces below.
Massive support pillars, each as wide as ancient trees, stretched from floor to ceiling, carrying thick bundles of armored conduits that pulsed with crimson energy. Gigantic coolant pipes and power cables snaked across the walls and ceiling like metallic arteries feeding the colossal machine.
Every few hundred meters, the corridors widened into logistics junctions—immense intersections capable of staging entire battalions at once.
Rows of docking bays lined both sides.
Hundreds of combat drones hung motionless from magnetic racks awaiting deployment.
Repair platforms continuously assembled damaged Rapture units while automated cranes transported replacement armor, ammunition, and weapon systems throughout the vessel.
Towering blast doors, easily twenty meters tall and nearly a meter thick, separated each sector of the Mother Whale. Hydraulic pistons the size of buildings slowly opened and closed them, sealing compartments during combat.
Overhead, dedicated aerial lanes allowed interceptor drones, gunships, and larger flying Raptures to maneuver freely without interfering with the armored columns advancing below.
Even the floor had been engineered for war.
Reinforced alloy plates bore the constant weight of giant siege units, tracked artillery, and heavy mechanized walkers. Embedded guidance rails helped direct autonomous supply carriers through the endless labyrinth while glowing navigation lines shifted dynamically to reroute troops toward active battle zones.
There were no decorations.
No unnecessary structures.
Every meter of the Mother Whale served a military purpose.
It was a flying fortress.
A factory.
A transport vessel.
A mobile headquarters.
A prison.
All merged into one colossal machine.
Now, those same vast corridors echoed with explosions as Rapture forces surged toward the intrusion point, filling the gigantic passageways with an endless tide of steel and crimson optics.
Their objective was simple.
Repel the invaders.
Protect the Mother Whale.
Then—
Reality distorted.
A sphere of crackling blue-white electricity erupted in the middle of the staging area.
Nearby Rapture drones immediately disintegrated as unstable Chronoshift energy washed over them.
Their metal frames were torn apart molecule by molecule.
BOOM!
A dome of lightning expanded outward.
The floor cracked.
Electric arcs danced across the walls.
Then—
A single armored figure stepped through.
Yuuki.
His War Machine Mark V armor towered over the surrounding drones.
The glowing reactor embedded within his chest pulsed brightly.
Before the Raptures could even react—
Shoulder missile pods unfolded.
"Target acquired."
WHOOSH!
Dozens of micro-missiles burst outward in every direction.
The staging area vanished beneath explosions.
Fire.
Shrapnel.
Smoke.
Entire squads of Raptures disappeared almost instantly.
Behind him—
Another wave of Chronoshift energy erupted.
One after another, his companions emerged.
Belfast.
Atago.
Takao.
Maya.
Choukai.
Rapi.
Anis.
Ade.
Soda.
Cocoa.
Mary.
Pepper.
Vestal.
Akashi.
Eugen.
Hipper.
The Bulins.
And finally—
Kaguya.
The Echo Suit Mark II surrounding each of them shimmered briefly before stabilizing.
Unlike ordinary soldiers, the suits allowed them to survive direct Chronoshift insertion without injury.
The moment their boots touched the deck—
Riggings deployed.
Naval guns roared.
Destroyer cannons barked.
Cruiser batteries thundered.
Heavy shells ripped through advancing Rapture formations.
Kaguya simply raised one hand.
Golden spirit circles bloomed beneath her feet.
A storm of foxfire erupted across the chamber, consuming dozens of Rapture machines in brilliant azure flames.
The tiny Bulins charged fearlessly into the chaos.
"Bulin!"
"Purin!"
"Kurin!"
For engineers—
They were absurdly fast.
One leaped onto a heavy Rapture and slammed it into the floor.
Another produced an oversized drill nearly twice her height and drove it straight through a combat drone.
A third spun like a tiny whirlwind, sending enemy machines flying in every direction.
"Bulin!"
The corridor descended into absolute chaos.
Then—
Another Chronoshift portal opened.
This one much larger.
A massive vehicle burst through.
The T-800 Super Hover Tank.
Its anti-gravity engines roared as it skimmed above the deck plating.
Twin heavy cannons rotated forward.
Missile pods locked onto dozens of targets.
Inside—
Neon had already claimed the gunner's seat.
"Locked!"
Nimi grinned from behind the controls.
"Everybody hang on!"
The T-800 surged forward.
Its hover engines screamed.
Without slowing—
Nimi slammed both firing controls.
The twin main cannons erupted.
BOOOOM!!
Two massive high-explosive shells tore through the corridor.
The shockwave alone flipped dozens of Raptures into the air.
Entire sections of the staging bay collapsed beneath the blast.
The explosion dwarfed anything the older T-740 could produce.
Neon burst into laughter.
"Yippie-ki-yay, motherfuckers!!"
Nimi immediately snapped her head toward her.
"Language!"
Neon blinked in surprise.
"Huh—?"
The entire tank crew paused for a split second.
Laffey slowly looked over.
"...Neon got corrected."
Javelin couldn't hold it anymore.
She burst into laughter.
Even Yuuki sighed inside his helmet.
"...Priorities."
The T-800 accelerated once more, smashing straight through another wave of Raptures.
Yuuki had been right.
Compared to the T-740—
The T-800 was in an entirely different class.
The T-800 accelerated deeper into the Mother Whale's interior.
Its anti-gravity engines allowed it to strafe effortlessly through the wide maintenance corridors while avoiding wreckage and incoming fire.
"Targets everywhere!"
Neon laughed.
The tank's targeting computer painted dozens of red markers across her display.
"Swarm missiles away!"
WHOOSH!
The missile pods unfolded.
Dozens of miniature swarm missiles burst into the air before splitting apart into hundreds of independently guided projectiles.
They streaked toward the approaching Rapture drones.
One after another—
The drones exploded into showers of burning metal.
Above them, interceptor drones barely managed to fire before being torn apart mid-flight.
"They're dropping like flies!"
Javelin shouted.
Laffey had already taken control of the secondary weapon systems.
"...Small targets."
Her sleepy eyes narrowed.
Rapid-fire autocannons mounted along the T-800's flanks came alive.
BRRRRT!
BRRRRT!
The high-speed guns swept across the corridor.
Every burst shredded smaller Rapture units attempting to flank the vehicle.
Neon grinned wildly.
"My turn!"
She switched weapon systems.
The dual EMP cannons rotated toward a pair of towering heavy Rapture walkers emerging from the next chamber.
"Charge complete."
Neon slammed the trigger.
Two brilliant spheres of electromagnetic energy erupted forward.
BOOOM!!
The blasts engulfed both heavy Raptures.
Electric arcs danced violently across their armor.
Their weapons shut down instantly.
Moments later—
Both machines detonated from cascading internal overloads.
"Haha!"
"EMP beats armor!"
The T-800 continued advancing without slowing.
Thanks to the Iron Curtain system, a shimmering protective field surrounded the hover tank and its occupants, while the Echo Suit Mark II armor granted each of them their own "Anti-Booby Function" protection.
For ten full minutes—
They were completely invulnerable.
Enemy shells exploded harmlessly against the field.
Laser fire dispersed on contact.
Missiles detonated without leaving a scratch.
The Raptures threw everything they had.
Nothing worked.
Then—
Golden light erupted around everyone.
The warmth spread through every member of the boarding force.
Level 24 — gained from Illustrious destroying the two escort ships earlier.
Another increase in strength.
Another improvement in reflexes.
Their weapons felt lighter.
Their movements became faster.
Every enhancement granted by the leveling system compounded once more.
Yuuki smiled beneath his helmet.
"One more level."
His HUD updated automatically.
Level 25 will award another Super Upgrade Point.
Against ordinary Rapture infantry—
Level 24 was overwhelming.
The boarding force carved through the corridors like a tidal wave.
The Nikkes were especially terrifying.
As they entered combat, their Nikke combat modes synchronized with the leveling system.
Every rifle round struck with amplified force, including laser, missiles rockets.
Every burst carried explosive power far beyond conventional ammunition.
Anis laughed as another volley erupted from her weapon.
Her Super Upgrade specialization had focused entirely on explosive damage.
Now every bullet she fired detonated on impact.
A single burst wiped out an entire squad of Raptures.
"Hah!"
"I could get used to this!"
Nearby, Rapi's precise rifle fire punched through armored units one after another.
Ade, Soda, Cocoa, Mary, and Pepper advanced beside her in perfect formation.
With the Iron Curtain protecting them, they pushed aggressively through the Mother's Whale corridors.
No hesitation.
No retreat.
Only forward.
Their mission remained unchanged.
Fight.
Level up.
Reach Level 25.
And rescue every last ally imprisoned within the Mother Whale.
===========
Chaos erupted throughout the Mother Whale.
Every alarm shifted to maximum priority.
INTRUDERS DETECTED.
MULTIPLE BREACHES CONFIRMED.
ALL COMBAT UNITS RESPOND.
The entire internal defense network immediately redirected toward the boarding force.
Endless waves of Rapture troops abandoned their original patrol routes.
Combat drones swarmed through the gigantic corridors.
Heavy walkers turned away from defensive checkpoints.
Even the armored siege tanks that had been guarding the prison sectors began rolling toward the invasion point.
Within moments, nearly every available combat unit inside the Mother Whale was converging on Yuuki's team.
Exactly as planned.
Far away from the battlefield, Behemoth slammed both fists onto her command console.
Her crimson eyes burned with frustration.
"Damn them!"
She watched tactical icons disappear one after another.
"The EMP is still interfering with our systems!"
Status reports flooded her display.
AA Network — Offline
Rail Cannons — Destroyed
Escort Fleet — Lost
Drone Coordination — 37% Operational
Every report only worsened her mood.
Outside the Mother Whale, the Diving Eagle fleet continued exploiting the opening.
Harbinger Gunships swept across the upper hull, reducing anti-air batteries to burning wreckage.
Firehawks streaked through the skies in coordinated attack runs, intercepting every operational drone attempting to reinforce the Mother Whale.
One after another—
The Rapture interceptors exploded before they could even reach firing range.
Orca bombers followed immediately behind them.
Heavy bombs rained across exposed weapon emplacements.
Explosions rippled across the Mother Whale's armored back as more gun batteries vanished beneath fire and smoke.
Kodiak artillery joined the assault from long range, its bombardment methodically stripping away turret after turret.
The alarms blared relentlessly, yet Behemoth's expression shifted into a confident smirk. "Hold your positions. I'm sending Anachiro."
For a brief moment, even the chaotic battlefield data seemed to hesitate.
Anachiro was not a standard Rapture unit.
It was a classified apex construct—an experimental war entity designed not merely for combat, but for adaptive annihilation. Unlike conventional Raptures that relied on numbers and brute force, Anachiro possessed a semi-autonomous combat intelligence capable of analyzing enemy tactics in real time and evolving its responses mid-battle.
More disturbingly—
Anachiro was originally a Nikke.
A Heretic.
A corrupted existence that had crossed the boundary between humanity and Rapture, retaining fragments of its former identity while embracing the destructive evolution of its new form.
Its core was rumored to house a fragment of higher-order processing—something closer to a will than a program.
Its armor was layered with reactive plating that could shift density upon impact, rendering most conventional weaponry ineffective after repeated exposure. Its weapon systems were modular, capable of reconfiguring between long-range artillery, close-quarters blades, and energy-based suppression fields depending on the threat it faced.
More dangerously—
Anachiro could override nearby Rapture units, synchronizing them into a unified assault pattern under its command. Where it moved, chaos became coordination.
Where it fought, resistance collapsed.
Even Behemoth rarely deployed it.
Because once Anachiro entered the battlefield—
It did not retreat.
The Rapture droids acknowledged the command in unison.
Behemoth's smirk widened.
"If Anachiro alone isn't enough..."
She leaned back in her command chair.
"...then I'll send Leviathan as well."
Several Rapture operators looked up.
"...Leviathan?"
Behemoth laughed.
"Our greatest success."
"One of the finest achievements of Rapture research."
Her crimson eyes gleamed with pride.
"Do you know how difficult it is to corrupt a Shipgirl?"
She answered her own question.
"Almost impossible."
"The Sirens failed countless times."
"Even we considered it an unrealistic objective."
"But eventually..."
"...we succeeded."
A holographic image materialized beside her.
A feminine silhouette.
Mechanical.
Elegant.
Yet unmistakably warped by corruption.
Dark biomechanical armor intertwined with fragments of naval rigging.
Crimson energy pulsed beneath black alloy plating.
Unlike ordinary Heretics—
Leviathan still retained the unmistakable outline of a Shipgirl.
Only now...
Everything about her had been twisted into something else.
"She is our first true Heretic Shipgirl."
Behemoth smiled.
"A Shipgirl reconstructed through both Rapture and Siren technology."
"The perfect fusion."
"A vessel no longer bound by humanity."
"Nor by the Sirens."
"But entirely loyal to us."
The surrounding operators remained silent.
Behemoth slowly rose.
"I've always wondered..."
She looked toward the tactical display showing Yuuki's boarding force carving through the Mother Whale.
"...what would happen if Shipgirls were forced to fight one of their own."
Her smile became colder.
"Go."
"Deploy Leviathan."
"Let them witness what happens..."
"...when hope itself is corrupted."
Deep within the Mother Whale, somewhere far below the command decks...
Massive containment locks disengaged one after another.
Ancient blast doors slowly parted.
Red warning lights illuminated a cavernous launch chamber that had remained sealed throughout the battle.
Hydraulic restraints released with thunderous metallic echoes.
Then...
A pair of crimson eyes slowly opened within the darkness.
The chamber fell silent.
Leviathan...
...had awakened.
Every minute the EMP remained active—
The Mother Whale became weaker.
Inside, however—
The consequences were becoming obvious.
Because nearly every combat unit aboard the colossal vessel had been diverted toward the boarding force.
Entire prison sectors suddenly found themselves defended by only skeleton security details.
Automated checkpoints stood abandoned.
Patrol routes vanished.
Security drones left their assigned posts to reinforce the battle raging several decks away.
Exactly the opportunity Yuuki had intended to create.
Hidden beneath their own advanced stealth system, Yuu quietly watched dozens of Rapture units rush past their corridor without so much as a glance.
Nayuta smiled as the tactical indicators updated.
"...They're taking the bait."
Yuu nodded.
"Good."
"That means Commander is keeping every eye on him."
Nayuta's fingers danced across her holographic display.
One by one, security markers around the detention sectors began disappearing.
"The path to my original..."
She smiled.
"...is becoming clearer."
===========
Elsewhere within the Mother Whale, Eugen and Hipper fought back-to-back with practiced coordination.
"Left!"
"I see it!"
Their naval guns thundered in perfect rhythm.
Heavy shells tore through advancing Rapture formations before exploding into showers of molten metal.
Eugen laughed as another squad vanished beneath her barrage.
"Hahaha! That's more like it!"
Hipper rolled her eyes while unloading another volley.
"Would you stop enjoying yourself so much?"
"Can't help it."
Eugen smirked.
"It's been a while since I've had this much fun."
Their riggings swung effortlessly as they advanced, leaving behind nothing but burning wreckage and shattered machines.
Nearby—
Belfast moved through the battlefield with almost unsettling grace.
Her expression remained perfectly composed.
Almost serene.
One hand held her Volt automatic rifle.
The other calmly directed her rigging.
Her naval cannons fired with impeccable precision.
BOOM!
A heavy shell obliterated a charging Rapture walker.
Without even looking—
She squeezed the trigger of her rifle.
A burst of electrically charged rounds pierced three aerial drones before they could descend.
She stepped sideways.
Another shell screamed overhead, missing her by mere centimeters.
Her Echo Suit Mark II armor never seemed to lose its elegance.
Her breathing never changed.
Every movement resembled a carefully choreographed dance rather than combat.
Those unfortunate enough to challenge the Royal Head Maid discovered the truth.
Belfast was not merely a maid who could fight.
She was a warship who chose to wear a maid's uniform.
Her rifle barked again.
A pair of assault drones exploded.
Her rigging answered with another broadside.
Entire ranks of Raptures disappeared beneath the blast.
Yuuki watched her for only a brief moment before instinctively looking away.
"..."
A shiver ran down his spine.
He had seen Belfast fight before.
Every single time...
He reached the same conclusion.
Thank goodness she's on our side.
To everyone else—
She was the elegant Head Maid of the GDI Royal Maid Corps.
Calm.
Gentle.
Reliable.
But Yuuki knew there was another Belfast.
One who advanced across battlefields with frightening efficiency.
One who could reduce entire platoons into scrap metal without changing her expression.
Ironically...
That was precisely the side Belfast preferred he didn't see.
She had always wished to remain his ideal maid.
And, someday...
His ideal wife.
Graceful.
Refined.
Someone who served tea rather than fired naval artillery.
Unfortunately for her—
War cared little for appearances.
The Raptures certainly didn't.
So Belfast simply sighed ever so softly...
Adjusted her armor...
Raised both rifle and naval cannons once more...
And returned to being the Royal Navy's most terrifying maid.
Not far from Belfast—
The four Takao-class sisters advanced together as a single unit.
Atago.
Takao.
Maya.
Choukai.
Years of fighting alongside one another showed in every movement.
Not a single command needed to be spoken.
They simply knew.
Takao drew her katana first.
With one fluid motion, she cleaved through an approaching Rapture assault unit.
The blade, heated and ionized, sliced effortlessly through reinforced alloy, its power amplified by her Level 24 strength, before her naval guns fired point-blank into the next machine.
BOOM!
The explosion scattered burning debris across the corridor.
Atago smiled elegantly.
"My, my..."
"So many rude children."
She stepped forward with graceful confidence, her sword tracing a brilliant arc through the air.
Three combat drones lost their heads almost simultaneously.
Before their bodies even struck the floor—
Her rigging roared.
A devastating broadside swept across the hallway, reducing another formation of Raptures to twisted metal.
Maya charged directly into the center of the enemy formation.
Unlike her sisters' composed elegance, Maya fought with explosive aggression.
"Haaah!"
Her blade flashed repeatedly.
Every swing was followed by thunderous naval gunfire.
Steel met steel.
Then artillery finished what her sword began.
Choukai remained the calmest among them.
Her sword struck only when necessary.
Every slash was precise.
Every cannon shot carefully placed.
A heavy Rapture attempted to flank Maya.
It never reached her.
A single shell from Choukai's rigging punched through its reactor.
The machine exploded before it could fire.
"Watch your left."
"Already did."
Maya grinned.
The four sisters flowed around one another seamlessly.
When Takao stepped forward—
Atago covered her flank.
When Maya charged—
Choukai eliminated distant threats.
When Atago's cannons reloaded—
Takao's sword filled the gap.
They fought not as four individuals...
But as one perfectly synchronized formation.
Swords flashed.
Naval cannons thundered.
Explosions echoed throughout the Mother Whale's massive corridors.
Entire platoons of Raptures collapsed beneath the relentless assault.
Even Yuuki glanced toward them for a brief moment.
"...Still perfectly coordinated."
Atago heard him through the communication channel and smiled.
"Naturally, Shikikan-sama."
She gracefully sheathed her sword for only a heartbeat before drawing it once more.
"We are sisters."
"And sisters protect one another."
With that—
The Takao-class surged deeper into the Mother Whale, leaving behind another corridor littered with burning Rapture wreckage and shattered steel.
Plus, Atago insisted on ear rubs, leaving her sisters blushing in embarrassment.
"Come now, Takao~" Atago teased with a playful smile, gently reaching toward her sister. "You've been working so hard. A little reward won't hurt, will it?"
Takao stiffened immediately, her face turning a deep shade of red. "A-Atago-nee! This is neither the time nor the place!"
Maya remained composed at the side, her expression calm and focused. "Stay sharp. This isn't the time to lose concentration."
Choukai sighed softly, though a faint blush crept onto her cheeks as well. "Sister... please maintain some composure."
Atago only giggled, completely unfazed. "Oh my, you're all so tense. Relax a little~"
Meanwhile, Takao—already accustomed to Yuuki's ear rubs—found herself quietly looking forward to it again. Choukai, having never experienced one, felt a growing curiosity. Maya, on the other hand, instinctively covered her ears.
Nearby, Rapi led the Nikke assault team alongside the shipgirls within the same battle zone.
Her expression remained calm.
Focused.
Yet behind that composure, her thoughts refused to settle.
Eunhwa.
Emma.
Vesti.
She still remembered the day she left Absolute.
The silence.
Emma's worried expression.
Vesti's confusion.
Most of all...
Eunhwa's disappointment.
At the time, Rapi believed leaving was the only way to confront the identity crisis caused by inheriting Red Hood's legacy. She hadn't known how to explain it, nor had she believed words would have been enough.
Now...
Years had passed.
And the first thing she wanted was to find them.
"I'll apologize..."
She whispered almost inaudibly.
Then crimson energy erupted around her.
Her Echo Suit synchronized with her core.
Scarlet light engulfed her armor.
The familiar crimson cloak of energy flowed behind her.
Red Hood Mode.
Her rifle shifted configuration.
Its output climbed dramatically.
"I'm ending this quickly."
Rapi vanished.
A crimson blur tore through the corridor.
Every pull of the trigger sent high-powered rounds punching clean through multiple Raptures.
Heavy walkers collapsed before they could even lock on.
Combat drones exploded one after another.
Nothing survived long enough to slow her advance.
Nearby—
Anis was having the time of her life.
"Oh yeah!"
She laughed while cycling another rocket into her launcher.
"Everyone loves explosions!"
Her visor locked onto dozens of clustered Raptures.
"Burst Skill—Pinpoint Missile!"
The launcher opened.
A swarm of precision-guided micro-missiles burst into the air.
Rather than striking randomly, each missile selected an individual target.
One.
Two.
Ten.
Twenty.
The entire formation disappeared beneath a chain of explosions.
The shockwaves echoed throughout the corridor.
Anis grinned proudly.
"Heh."
"Never gets old."
On another flank—
Ade, Soda, and Cocoa advanced together with flawless coordination.
Years of serving together made their teamwork almost instinctive.
Ade calmly adjusted her gloves.
"Cleaning Time."
She surged forward, her attacks becoming sharper and more precise as she dismantled every Rapture that entered her reach.
Soda followed immediately.
"Spring Cleaning!"
A burst of radiant energy spread around the trio.
Their movements accelerated.
Reload speeds increased.
Every strike carried greater force.
Cocoa smiled confidently.
"As the leader..."
She raised her weapon.
"Burst Skill—Professional Maid Leader!"
Golden light radiated outward.
The enhancement spread far beyond the Maid For You squad.
Nearby Shipgirls.
Nearby Nikkes.
Everyone fighting within range felt the effect.
Weapons struck harder.
Reactions sharpened.
Firepower increased.
Even Belfast glanced briefly toward Cocoa before smiling with quiet approval.
"A splendid support skill."
Soda beamed happily.
"We're almost together again."
Ade nodded while dispatching another Rapture with a precise shot.
"Just Velvet..."
"And Privaty."
Cocoa smiled.
"Then Maid For You will finally be complete."
The three continued advancing shoulder to shoulder.
Not simply fighting for victory.
But fighting to bring their remaining sisters home.
Nearby, Belfast smiled as two fellow maids soon joined her.
The four battlefield medics advanced together behind the main assault line.
Mary.
Pepper.
Vestal.
Akashi.
Unlike ordinary medical personnel, none of them remained in the rear.
On the battlefield of the Mother Whale...
Doctors fought just as fiercely as soldiers.
Mary calmly raised her rifle.
A radiant white aura spread from her position.
"Burst Skill—Angel in White."
Brilliant light washed over the battlefield.
Every allied Echo Suit immediately registered restored shield capacity.
Damaged energy barriers rapidly regenerated.
Cracked shield layers sealed themselves.
Even those who had absorbed repeated attacks found their defensive systems fully restored.
The advance never slowed.
Pepper smiled warmly.
"My turn."
She raised her medical launcher.
"Burst Skill—Pepper Therapy."
A crimson wave swept across the surrounding formation.
Weapon systems synchronized.
Firepower increased.
Every ally within range felt their attacks become noticeably stronger.
Rifle rounds struck harder.
Naval shells detonated with greater force.
Even Yuuki's HUD displayed the enhancement.
"Attack output increased."
Nearby, Vestal adjusted the settings on her support rigging.
"Medical support online."
Repair drones deployed from her rigging, moving between allies to perform rapid battlefield maintenance while simultaneously boosting the efficiency of nearby equipment.
Beside her—
Akashi's mechanical backpack unfolded.
"Nyaa!"
"This kitty isn't just a merchant!"
Her support modules activated.
Emergency repair nanites dispersed through the battlefield, reinforcing damaged equipment and improving weapon performance for nearby allies.
The four medics exchanged quick glances.
Then smiled.
"Ready?"
"Ready."
Without another word—
Each of them extended one hand forward.
A familiar crimson device unfolded from their gauntlets.
The Red Gizmo.
Energy gathered rapidly.
Crimson lightning erupted from all four simultaneously.
CRAAACK!!
Four bolts of scarlet electricity surged through the corridor.
The lightning chained from one Rapture to another.
Combat drones.
Heavy walkers.
Quadrupeds.
Flying interceptors.
One after another—
Their mechanical bodies overloaded.
Circuits melted.
Power cores ruptured.
Entire squads collapsed before they could even retaliate.
The corridor briefly glowed crimson before falling silent once more.
Akashi blinked.
"Nyaa..."
"That never gets old."
Pepper laughed softly.
"I suppose doctors can be a little scary too."
Mary smiled as she lowered her weapon.
"Only when someone threatens our patients."
Nearby, Yuuki watched another wave of Raptures collapse beneath the combined support of the four medics.
He couldn't help but smile.
Having four doctors on the battlefield...
Turned out to be just as terrifying for the enemy as bringing four battleships.
Yet, among everyone on the battlefield...
The one even the Raptures instinctively feared...
Was Kaguya.
The First Pillar of the Arcanes of the East no longer fought as a traditional Shipgirl.
She had entered her Ultimate Super Battleship Configuration.
Ten enormous ethereal tails spread behind her like flowing comets.
Golden spirit circles revolved around her body.
Dozens of floating spell arrays continuously materialized around her, each one functioning as an independent artillery platform.
She didn't stand upon the ground.
She simply floated through the vast corridors of the Mother Whale as if gravity itself no longer applied to her.
Then—
Every cannon opened fire.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
Broadside after broadside erupted from her rigging.
Entire sections of the corridor vanished beneath overwhelming naval bombardment.
At the same time—
She casually flicked one finger.
A volley of azure spirit foxfire descended upon another formation of Raptures.
The magical flames ignored armor completely, reducing mechanical bodies into glowing ash.
Another wave charged her.
She didn't even look.
Several floating spell circles rotated into position.
"Moonlit Starfall."
Hundreds of crescent-shaped magical projectiles rained across the chamber.
The entire platoon disappeared beneath a storm of explosions.
Kaguya merely giggled.
"My..."
"There are so many."
Her tails swayed happily behind her.
Another group emerged from a side corridor.
She responded by unleashing another full naval broadside.
The corridor collapsed.
The Raptures along with it.
She spun gracefully through the air, almost as if dancing.
One moment she was firing battleship cannons.
The next, she was casting devastating magic.
Then she was already somewhere else, leaving only burning wreckage behind.
To the Raptures...
She looked less like a battleship...
And more like an unstoppable magical calamity.
Neon stared from the T-800.
"...Is she..."
"...having fun?"
Anis watched another corridor disappear beneath Kaguya's bombardment.
"I think..."
"...she's gone full battle witch."
Yuuki sighed inside his helmet.
"...She's enjoying herself."
Esche proudly folded her arms.
"Our Lady Kaguya hath ever delighted in overwhelming evil with most excessive firepower."
Oberis nodded enthusiastically.
"She doth proclaim it far more efficient."
Another barrage echoed throughout the Mother Whale.
BOOOOOOM!!
An entire ceiling section collapsed as Kaguya's spell-enhanced naval shells tore through multiple decks.
She floated through the falling debris without the slightest concern.
"Hmm..."
"This wife believes..."
She smiled sweetly while charging another barrage.
"...there are still far too many left."
Every nearby Rapture immediately redirected its targeting systems toward her.
Thousands of optics locked onto the radiant fox.
She simply smiled.
"Come then."
"Show this wife thy courage."
The next instant—
The Mother Whale's corridor became a storm of foxfire, magic circles, and battleship broadsides, turning Kaguya into the single most destructive force inside the entire vessel.
The assault continued relentlessly.
Corridor after corridor fell.
Rapture after Rapture collapsed.
The combined might of the Shipgirls and Nikkes became an unstoppable tide sweeping through the Mother Whale's interior.
Then—
Golden light erupted throughout the battlefield.
One.
Two.
Dozens.
Soon, every member of the boarding force was enveloped in the familiar radiance of the Leveling System.
A notification appeared before everyone's visor.
Level Up!
Level 25 Achieved!
Rewards Granted:
**+1 Upgrade Point or **Talent Point
+1 Super Upgrade Point
A surge of power flowed through every member of the team.
Weapons synchronized with their users.
Armor output increased.
Their bodies felt lighter.
Faster.
Stronger.
Neon was the first to shout.
"WE DID IT!"
"We're Level Twenty-Five!"
She nearly stood up inside the T-800 before Nimi immediately grabbed her shoulder.
"Sit down before you launch yourself through the roof!"
Anis laughed loudly.
"Another Super Upgrade Point!"
"Now we're talking!"
Even Rapi allowed herself a faint smile.
"Level Twenty-Five..."
"Our firepower just increased again."
Nearby, Takao looked down at her sword.
The ionized blade hummed with even greater energy than before.
"...I can feel it."
Atago smiled warmly.
"We're becoming stronger with every battle."
Maya grinned.
"Let's keep going."
Choukai nodded.
"We're only halfway through our mission."
The Bulins jumped happily around the battlefield.
"Bulin!"
"Level up!"
"Purin!"
"Super point!"
"Kurin!"
"More boom!"
Akashi's ears perked up.
"Nyaa!"
"Everyone's getting richer and stronger!"
Vestal smiled while checking the status displays.
"No major injuries..."
"And everyone's shields are holding."
Mary looked pleasantly surprised.
"My healing output increased again."
Pepper nodded enthusiastically.
"Our support abilities scale with our levels."
"This system really is remarkable."
Nearby, Cocoa bounced excitedly.
"Another Super Upgrade Point!"
Ade smiled.
"Velvet's going to be jealous when we tell her."
Soda giggled.
"Only until we rescue her."
Belfast looked over the battlefield with quiet satisfaction.
"The operation proceeds ahead of schedule."
Even Kaguya paused briefly.
Golden light shimmered around her ten tails.
She gently flexed one hand.
"My..."
"This wife hath grown stronger once again."
She smiled happily before another magical circle formed behind her.
"Excellent."
Yuuki's HUD updated automatically.
Boarding Team Status
All Units: Level 25
Super Upgrade Point Available
He smiled beneath his helmet.
Exactly as planned.
The stronger they became...
The easier it would be to rescue everyone still imprisoned aboard the Mother Whale.
This was no longer merely a rescue mission.
With every battle...
The rescuers themselves were becoming an elite force.
And the operation had only just begun.
================
While the boarding team carved a path through the Mother Whale...
Yuu and Nayuta continued their own mission in silence.
The EMP and the ongoing invasion had thrown the entire vessel into chaos.
Warning lights flashed relentlessly.
Emergency bulkheads opened and closed.
Rapture units raced toward the battle raging several sectors away.
Exactly the distraction they needed.
"Research Wing is three corridors ahead."
Nayuta pointed toward a holographic route only she could see.
"This way."
Yuu nodded.
The two sprinted through the massive maintenance passage.
A squad of security drones rounded the corner.
Yuu didn't slow down.
Micro-missile pods unfolded across her Mark 49 armor.
"Target acquired."
WHOOSH!
Dozens of miniature missiles burst outward.
Instead of causing massive explosions, they executed precise strikes.
Each missile selected an individual target.
The corridor erupted into controlled detonations.
Every security drone disappeared in a chain of explosions.
Before the smoke had even cleared—
Nayuta stepped through.
Her Volt Auto Rifle barked repeatedly.
Blue bolts of electricity pierced weakened Rapture droids attempting to reboot after the EMP.
One shot.
One kill.
Each machine collapsed before it could even raise a weapon.
The two advanced with practiced coordination.
Yuu destroyed anything heavily armored.
Nayuta eliminated the smaller security units before they became a threat.
Neither wasted ammunition.
Neither slowed their pace.
After several minutes...
The corridor widened.
Large blast doors stood before them.
CENTRAL RESEARCH CHAMBER
The doors had already been partially damaged by the earlier EMP.
Yuu simply planted one hand against them.
Her armor's servos whined.
With a metallic groan—
The massive doors were forced apart.
Beyond them...
The chamber was enormous.
Unlike the industrial corridors outside, this room resembled a colossal laboratory.
Towering cylindrical tanks lined both sides of the chamber.
Suspended bodies floated within translucent fluid.
Some mechanical.
Some partially organic.
Thick bundles of cables stretched across the ceiling like metallic vines, converging toward the center of the room.
There—
At the heart of the chamber—
Hung a massive containment sphere.
The transparent shell was filled with glowing liquid.
Countless thick conduits connected directly into it.
Power.
Data.
Life support.
Every cable fed into the same prisoner.
Floating motionless inside...
Eyes closed...
Her long hair drifting gently within the liquid...
Was Nayuta.
Her original body.
The one the Raptures had spent years attempting to exploit.
The clone beside Yuu stopped walking.
For the first time since entering the Mother Whale...
She was speechless.
"...There..."
She stared at the containment sphere.
"...That's me."
Yuu quietly placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"We found her."
Standing before the massive containment sphere, Yuu studied the unfamiliar control interface while the Nayuta clone remained at her side.
"Hmm..."
She examined the alien symbols scrolling across the holographic panels.
"These controls aren't familiar."
Yuu tapped her communicator.
"Vergil, what am I supposed to do?"
Almost immediately, the Mark 49 rescue armor projected a blue hologram.
Vergil's image materialized beside them, casually folding his arms as he inspected the laboratory.
"Interesting..."
He scanned the surrounding consoles.
"The Raptures certainly have some... unconventional technology."
His eyes settled on the central terminal.
"Mind plugging your armor into that console?"
Yuu nodded.
"No problem."
A compartment on her forearm opened.
A reinforced data cable extended from her armor.
She inserted it directly into the research terminal.
Connection established.
Thousands of kilometers away...
Inside the Philadelphia Command Center...
Vergil smirked.
"Let's see what you've been hiding."
The moment the connection was established, the Mother Whale's security systems reacted.
Counter-intrusion programs flooded toward the connection.
Firewalls.
Data traps.
Corruption routines.
Every defense the Raptures possessed attempted to isolate the intrusion.
Then—
JARVIS activated.
The AI met the incoming security head-on.
One malicious program after another was identified...
Analyzed...
And erased.
The Rapture security collapsed almost instantly.
Vergil chuckled.
"That's adorable."
"Compared to JARVIS..."
"...you're amateurs."
The final security barrier disappeared.
The entire research network opened before him.
Then his eyes widened.
"...Jackpot."
The laboratory wasn't merely connected to local storage.
It linked directly to the Mother Whale's primary research servers.
Rapture databases.
Engineering archives.
Biological research.
Corruption studies.
Captured technology.
Operational records.
Everything.
Back in Philadelphia, technicians immediately sprang into action.
"Auxiliary Server online."
"Storage arrays standing by."
The lesson learned from extracting the Azur Lane archives had not been forgotten.
This time, they had prepared dedicated server clusters solely for this operation.
Multiple pentabytes of storage waited to receive the incoming data.
"Begin transfer."
Streams of information poured through the secure connection.
Terabytes became petabytes.
Research logs.
Blueprints.
Weapon schematics.
Manufacturing data.
Artificial intelligence architecture.
One file after another flooded into GDI storage.
At the same time—
A complete three-dimensional schematic of the Mother Whale appeared on every command display aboard the Daedalus.
Every corridor.
Every elevator.
Every security checkpoint.
Every detention block.
Every maintenance tunnel.
Nothing remained hidden.
Vergil smiled.
"We own the map now."
His fingers danced across the virtual keyboard.
"Now..."
"Let's get our guest back."
He located the containment controls.
The authorization protocols had already been bypassed.
One command.
Release.
Back inside the research chamber...
The containment sphere began to glow.
One by one, the massive cables detached themselves.
The glowing liquid slowly drained away.
The transparent shell dissolved into shimmering particles.
The unconscious original Nayuta gently floated downward.
The clone stepped forward without hesitation.
"I've got you."
She caught her original before she could touch the floor.
Yuu was already moving.
Medical scanners unfolded from her Mark 49 armor.
A complete diagnostic swept across Nayuta's body.
"Vitals stable."
"No catastrophic organ damage."
"Neural activity suppressed."
"Multiple restraint implants detected."
Yuu nodded.
"Nothing we can't fix."
She extended one hand.
The familiar crimson Gizmo emitter unfolded.
A beam of scarlet restorative energy enveloped Nayuta.
The damaged tissue began repairing itself.
Inflammation subsided.
Internal injuries gradually disappeared.
The treatment continued as the clone gently supported her unconscious original.
For the first time in years...
Nayuta was finally free from the Mother Whale's captivity.
The rescue operation's first objective...
Had been accomplished.
Slowly...
The original Nayuta's eyelids fluttered.
Her breathing steadied.
The faint glow within her eyes gradually returned as consciousness overcame years of forced suspension.
She looked around the unfamiliar laboratory before her gaze settled upon the woman supporting her.
A gentle smile appeared.
"...Ah..."
"My clone..."
"Thou hast come for me."
The clone smiled warmly.
"Yes."
She carefully helped her original stand.
"Thy aid is required, mine original."
"My memories hold all that thou must needs know."
"Our companions."
"Our kin."
"Those who did hazard all to deliver us."
The original Nayuta quietly listened.
"I see..."
Without another word, the clone reached for her own Echo Suit Mark II.
Golden nanomachines disengaged from her body, dissolving into countless shimmering particles.
The armor gently reassembled around the original Nayuta instead.
Piece by piece.
The breastplate.
The gauntlets.
The greaves.
The helmet.
Within moments, the original stood once again clad in the Echo Suit Mark II.
The clone, now wearing only her original attire, smiled peacefully.
"It is time."
She looked toward Yuu.
"To be made whole once more."
Yuu remained silent.
The clone stepped closer.
"Doctor Yuu..."
She bowed respectfully.
"My thanks..."
"For all thou hast done."
Yuu smiled softly.
"The honor was mine, Nayuta."
The clone nodded.
"When I am merged with mine original..."
"My memories shall be hers."
"My passions..."
"My experiences..."
"My bonds..."
"All shall be hers to bear."
She glanced affectionately at Yuu.
"So..."
"I pray thee, continue to treat her..."
"...even as thou hast treated me."
For a brief moment...
Neither of them spoke.
Then—
Yuu stepped forward.
She wrapped the clone in a gentle embrace.
"...Of course."
"You've done well."
The clone closed her eyes.
A peaceful smile spread across her face.
"My thanks..."
Slowly...
Her body began dissolving.
Not into light—
But into billions of shimmering nanomachines.
A silver tide rose gently into the air.
The countless particles circled the original Nayuta before flowing toward her chest.
Her hands.
Her mind.
Her heart.
One by one, every memory.
Every emotion.
Every experience.
Returned to where they truly belonged.
The chamber filled with soft golden light.
When the final nanomachine disappeared...
Only one Nayuta remained.
She slowly opened her eyes.
For a brief instant—
Thousands of memories crossed her mind simultaneously.
The years of captivity.
The clone's journey.
Meeting Yuuki.
Working beside Yuu.
Laughing with the Shipgirls.
Training with the Nikkes.
Every precious moment.
Every friendship.
Every emotion.
She gently placed a hand over her heart.
A tear rolled down her cheek.
"...I do remember."
She looked toward Yuu.
Not with unfamiliarity...
But with the warmth of someone greeting a dear friend.
"Good Doctor..."
She smiled.
"I am returned unto thee."
Yuu returned the smile.
"...Welcome back, Nayuta."
The first phase of the rescue mission was complete.
Nayuta...
At last...
Had become whole once more.
The original Nayuta stepped forward and embraced Yuu. "I am now in full accord with mine memories. Well then, good Doctor... behold me—the true Nayuta."
Yuu smiled softly.
"Pff... original or not..."
She gently placed a hand on Nayuta's shoulder.
"You're still the Nayuta who bonded with me."
"...And with Yuuki."
The original Nayuta smiled warmly.
"Ah... yes..."
"The great hero."
Yuu chuckled.
"Everyone needs your help now."
She looked her in the eyes.
"Can you fight?"
Nayuta straightened, her expression becoming resolute.
"Indeed."
"I have waited far too long."
"And..."
A small smile appeared across her face.
"...I cannot wait to begin leveling."
Yuu nodded.
"Then let's get you ready."
Medical scanners unfolded from the Mark 49 Rescue Armor once more.
Golden holographic displays surrounded Nayuta as a complete compatibility analysis commenced.
"Biological integrity..."
"Confirmed."
"NIMPH synchronization..."
"Stable."
"Neural pathways..."
"Compatible."
"Leveling nanomachine compatibility..."
One hundred percent.
Yuu smiled.
"Perfect."
A small injector extended from her gauntlet.
"Here we go."
She gently pressed it against Nayuta's neck.
The injection took only a second.
Billions of specialized leveling nanomachines entered Nayuta's body, immediately integrating with her nervous system now that all Rapture restraints had already been destroyed by Yuu's Gizmo beam.
Golden light spread across her body.
Then—
A familiar holographic notification materialized before both of them.
══════════════════════
Leveling System Integrated
Name: Nayuta
Squad: Pioneer
Manufacturer: Pilgrim
Level: 1
Designation: GDIN Nayuta
Rank: Recruit Rank 20
══════════════════════
Yuu smiled.
"Integration successful."
Then...
Another window appeared.
One Yuu had never seen before.
══════════════════════
Unique Ability Detected
Nanoclones
Instead of relying upon a single body, Nayuta possesses numerous identical nanoclones scattered throughout the world. These clones gather intelligence, conduct reconnaissance, and, when necessary, participate in combat operations.
Rather than housing their NIMPH within their heads, each clone conceals it inside the gourd they carry. Memories, combat data, and accumulated knowledge can be transferred between clones whenever contact is established.
Should a clone be destroyed, its NIMPH automatically returns to the original Nayuta, preserving its accumulated information. This recovery process cannot be interrupted, making Nayuta particularly vulnerable should corrupted clones return compromised data. While she has demonstrated the ability to excise individual corrupted NIMPH, doing so permanently sacrifices the knowledge stored within them. A large-scale corruption event, however, would ordinarily exceed her ability to contain.
This weakness has been nullified after her Heart Synchronization with Yuuki.
The countless nanoclones gave rise to the legend that Nayuta was immortal.
In truth...
She is not.
She simply possesses the ability to create thousands of identical nanoclones, each fully equipped for reconnaissance or combat, effectively allowing one individual to function as an entire army.
Leveling System Interaction
• Existing clones created prior to Leveling System integration retain their original capabilities and do not inherit levels or stat growth.
• All nanoclones created after integration automatically inherit the original Nayuta's current level, abilities, and progression.
• Experience earned by any post-integration clone is transferred directly to the original Nayuta and shared across all future clones.
The leveling system enables her to generate clones that match her current level. For each level she attains, she can create one corresponding clone. For example:
• At Level 10, she can create 10 clones at Level 10
• At Level 50, she can create 50 clones at Level 50
• At Level 100, she can create 100 clones at Level 100
══════════════════════
Yuu blinked.
"...An army..."
She looked back at Nayuta.
"...You're literally an entire army by yourself."
Nayuta smiled with quiet confidence.
"Now that I possess the Leveling System..."
"...every new clone I create shall march beside thee."
"And every battle they fight..."
"...shall make us all stronger."
Yuu couldn't help but smile.
"...Chief is going to love this."
=======================
"What do you mean she's been released?!"
Behemoth slammed both fists onto the command console far from the Mother Whale.
The bridge fell silent.
One of the Rapture operators trembled as reports continued to stream across the display.
"The Nayuta we captured has escaped."
"We've completely lost contact with the Research Division."
"Internal security units are no longer responding."
Behemoth's eyes widened.
"No..."
She immediately pointed toward another tactical display.
"Send every available droid down there!"
"I don't care how many!"
"Recapture her!"
Her voice echoed throughout the bridge.
"We cannot lose Nayuta."
"Everything she knows..."
"...is inside that brain of hers. It took years to capture that bitch!"
Before another order could be issued—
A live security projection suddenly appeared.
The laboratory.
Everyone on the bridge turned toward the screen.
Yuu stood protectively beside Nayuta.
Around them, hundreds of Rapture droids poured into the research complex from every corridor.
Without hesitation—
Nayuta raised her Volt Auto Rifle.
Blue lightning erupted.
The first wave collapsed almost instantly.
Then—
Something impossible happened.
A silver shimmer appeared beside her.
Another Nayuta stepped out.
Identical.
Equally armed.
Without waiting for instructions, the clone immediately opened fire.
Then another.
Then another.
One became two.
Two became three.
Three became four.
Four became five.
The number continued increasing.
Every clone moved with perfect synchronization, covering different firing lanes as if they shared the same mind.
The research wing transformed into a wall of blue electrical fire.
"What the hell?!"
Behemoth stared in disbelief.
"Where are they coming from?!"
"No energy signatures detected prior to manifestation!"
"They're... appearing out of nowhere!"
Back inside the Research Wing...
The battle had become hopelessly one-sided.
Hundreds of Rapture droids stormed the chamber from every direction.
Yuu calmly advanced through the center.
Her Mark 49 Rescue Armor unleashed another barrage of micro-missiles.
Dozens of droids disappeared beneath overlapping explosions.
Beside her—
Nayuta and her growing army of clones moved with flawless precision.
Each clone selected different targets.
Not a single shot overlapped.
Not a single round was wasted.
Blue arcs from their Volt Auto Rifles chained from one Rapture to another, overloading entire formations within seconds.
Destroyed droids piled across the laboratory floor.
Golden light suddenly surrounded Nayuta.
A familiar notification appeared.
Level Up!
Level 2
Only moments later—
Another.
Level 3
Then—
Level 4
Finally—
Level 5
Yuu blinked.
"...Already?"
She looked toward the rapidly expanding battlefield.
Every surge of enemies flooding into the Research Wing became fuel for her growth, and with each level gained, a new fully leveled clone materialized beside her, doubling, then tripling her damage output.
Another notification appeared.
Super Upgrade Point Acquired.
Nayuta didn't hesitate.
"Allocating point..."
A holographic menu appeared before her.
Super Upgrade
Energy Weapons
Confirmed.
A surge of power flowed through every Volt Auto Rifle carried by Nayuta and her newly created clones.
The next volley struck with noticeably greater force.
Blue bolts pierced multiple Rapture droids before detonating in bursts of electrical energy.
Entire ranks of enemies collapsed almost instantly.
Yuu couldn't help smiling.
"Your growth rate..."
"...is incredible."
Nayuta calmly reloaded her rifle.
"My combat faculties were even before finely wrought."
"The Leveling System doth but grant me leave to realize mine full potential."
Another clone materialized beside her.
Then another.
Each one emerged already equipped with a Volt Auto Rifle and matching Echo Suit.
Within minutes, a small squad of five Nayutas was advancing through the laboratory.
Each clone fought with the same precision.
The same calm.
The same flawless coordination.
Every experience point earned by one was immediately transferred back to the original.
Yuu watched another level notification appear and quietly laughed.
"...Chief wasn't kidding."
"You really are an army all by yourself."
Nayuta smiled as another clone stepped into formation beside her.
"Then let us show them..."
"...what fate befalls those who would dare imprison an army entire."
The laboratory erupted once more in a storm of blue lightning as the army of Nayutas advanced deeper into the Mother Whale.