The Divine Throne of Shipgirls

"You're Hiei, aren't you? Let me hear your thoughts. What's going through the mind of a coward like you?"

Panic overtook Hiei. Her four main guns fired repeatedly without pause. "Stop reading my mind!"

"Ohhh? So your plan was to engage me in close combat? I'm not that stupid," Monitor said with a faint smile. "Inferiority, fear, exhaustion, despair… you're terrified of sinking just like your sisters. You're scared that once you're gone, there'll be no one left to look after your Commander. You're afraid your Commander will abandon you. Hiei, you're truly pitiful. If your Commander causes you so much pain, why not just kill him and join us?"

Hiei let out a wild scream. Waves within ten nautical miles exploded upward, forming colossal surges towering over a thousand meters.

"You don't understand anything!"

She unleashed her full power—enough to shake the entire sea—but it had no effect on Monitor. On the contrary, it only exposed a massive weakness.

A glowing, intricate magic circle formed from the swirling purple smoke. In the blink of an eye, a massive smoky crocodile burst forth from its center, clamping down on Hiei's torso and dragging her into a vicious death spin.

Shipgirls possessed semi-digitized bodies. They didn't suffer permanent injuries—but once the damage exceeded a certain threshold, it meant only one thing: they sank.

Hiei's green eyes stared blankly at the sky. All she could see were tens of thousands of carrier-based aircraft circling above from both sides, watching each other warily.

Commander… I've failed you. But still, I've come this far only because I was pushed. I'm so tired… now, finally, I can rest. I won't have to worry about being abandoned ever again.

But even now, I'm still worried about you, my dear Commander.

The thousand-meter tidal wave gradually calmed under the combined efforts of the shipgirls. When it subsided, Hiei was nowhere to be found.

Fleet Admiral Gorou took a deep breath. "Kazeharu's sins… someone has atoned for them in his place. This matter ends here."

Yamato's face remained cold. "If anything, his guilt weighs heavier now. But we'll let him live. One life traded for another."

At sea, the Abyssal army of 300,000–400,000 shipgirls emerged from the waves, raising their cannons and firing a salute into the sky!

BOOOOM!

Thunderous explosions echoed like the end of the world, a tribute to Monitor's crushing victory.

Monitor caressed the barrel of her cannon. "Next."

The entire scene was transmitted back to the command hall's main display screen.

A childlike voice rose from the crowd.

"Allow me to go."

Hikaru turned toward the sound. It came from a little girl with two purple butterfly ribbons tied in her hair.

Standing beside her, Commander Takeyama—the culinary commander—wore a solemn expression.

"You're sure, Commander Takeyama?" Fleet Admiral Gorou looked at the young girl. "You're sending out Viribus Unitis?"

Viribus Unitis—a battleship from the Austro-Hungarian Empire during the First World War—had a displacement of only 20,000 tons. Among battleships, she was practically tiny.

If Hikaru recalled correctly, the shipgirl compendium listed Viribus Unitis as a five-star, but she had only 53 HP—on par with a heavy cruiser. Her firepower and armor were cruiser-tier, and her anti-air capability was abysmal.

The only notable trait? She was the first warship in the world to equip triple main turrets. But that was all.

Under the weight of everyone's gaze, Takeyama bowed his head. "Someone has to make a sacrifice. The truly powerful battleships must conserve their strength to face Abyssal Barbarossa. As for Monitor… let my shipgirl take the field."

Viribus Unitis summoned a ceremonial command sword and drew it with a crisp shing.

"I am the ruler of the seas. To face a mighty foe in battle—isn't that my glory?"

Takeyama, London, and Viribus Unitis departed the command hall together.

At the bow of the Silent Horizon, Takeyama helped fasten her fur-lined cloak, then knelt and hugged her tightly.

"Living is the most important thing."

Viribus Unitis snorted. "When I return victorious, I want the most magnificent crown to add to my treasury. My dear Commander, got that?"

"I promise."

She then shook London's hand. "I'm entrusting the Commander to you. Guard my domain. Watch over my troops."

London bowed slightly. "Yes, my queen. When you return, I'll prepare a grand feast."

Viribus Unitis shuddered and pulled her hand away. "Ugh. I'm going."

She activated her rigging and leapt into the sea.

Takeyama and London stood silently at the bow, watching her disappear southward—no words exchanged.

[End of Chapter]

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