"Uploading Tester 'Observer' individual information, upload complete..."
"Main engine analyzing and summarizing..."
"Analysis complete... Confirmed Tester 'Observer' individual not contaminated by 'Outer World Virus', danger level reduced to Level Five Contact Unit, judged as... friendly."
Tester's eyes glowed red as she scanned Observer.
Only after submitting to the main engine for judgment and receiving the command that she could be contacted, did she regain her senses and look disdainfully at her colleague.
"Hmph! How weak, you can't even defeat the natives of Unified World Ω. You are only fit for the role of 'Observer'!"
As soon as Tester spoke, she unleashed a barrage of strong-mouthed insults.
Observer's mouth twitched, and she let out a cold snort, indicating she wouldn't bother arguing with the other party.
She wasn't a main combat Siren to begin with, and being defeated by Sakura Empire's top-ranked, well, second-ranked, aircraft carrier was nothing to be ashamed of.
"Let me remind you, the Shipgirls in Unified World Ω are different from those in Beta Test Site worlds. The strength of the Shipgirls here will make you doubt the existence of Siren."
"Hmph! There's no need for your reminder. Whether it's the Beta Test Site, or that group of Ashes, or the Transcendents of Unified World Ω, my only duty is to test.
Even if this unit is defeated and shut down, it only means this body is outdated and should be scrapped, nothing more."
Observer scoffed, "You're quite open-minded. But is a Tester remanufactured by the main engine still the original Tester?"
"That's not my concern. Rather, Observer, you don't seem to have fulfilled your duty of regular reporting."
"Stop using that commanding tone, you're not my superior, bleh~"
Observer made a face, then scurried away.
This hyena Tester, her sense of smell was as keen as ever.
If she continued talking, she was afraid the other party might discover something amiss.
Let the battle begin as soon as possible. She would prove her innocence through combat, and when the terrifying strength of Jack's Shipgirls was revealed, any slightly abnormal behavior on her part would be covered up.
Everything would become centered on exploring that man's secrets.
...
Sakura Empire Port, Sortie Port.
The former desolation was gone.
Ships of all sizes were docked along the coast, weapons and military equipment were ready, and even the air was filled with a chilling atmosphere.
Shimakaze: "Left flank assault squad A formation, reporting to Commander, supplies have been inventoried and prepared, ready to depart at any time."
Noshiro: "Right flank assault squad B formation, all personnel ready!"
Akagi: "First Carrier Division, Second Carrier Division, and Fifth Carrier Division, all are in position, Commander dear!"
Nagato: "Battleship bombardment unit, ready!"
I-19: "And the submarines, everyone in the submarine division is ready too!"
Unlike the parade, everyone was much more serious and also much more nervous for this real battle.
Because they would be facing a large Siren fleet this time, and the gunfire would treat everyone equally; it was a true grand battle.
Jack walked past the lined-up individuals one by one.
He adjusted each Shipgirl's clothing, patted their shoulders, and encouraged them with a smile.
Finally, he stood at the front, also standing at attention with a serious military posture.
"Everyone, release your mental networks. I will link with you."
"Commander, is your body okay?"
Akagi was always at the forefront of caring for Jack, looking at him with some worry.
Normally, Jack would at most control only 1 squad of 6 Shipgirls simultaneously, even with submarines, that was only 9 people.
But now, it was a load of a full 65 people.
"Don't worry, I am very confident in my stamina. You all know that, don't you."
At these words, the Shipgirls inexplicably recalled that night of flowing blood.
Their already boiling blood grew even hotter, and their eyes were all fixed on him with longing.
"How cunning, Commander, to bring that up at a time like this~"
Akagi cooed, then completely let down her inner guard, waiting for Jack to connect.
Everyone else did the same, without exception.
Jack smiled and slowly closed his eyes.
In the black world, a person's other senses were infinitely amplified.
The sixth sense, transcending the five senses, the power of spirit, also extended like tentacles.
Buzz! —
An invisible, slightly divine bell seemed to ring.
Jack himself transformed into a giant tree connecting heaven and earth, from which countless branches extended. These branches descended from the sky, connecting with the Shipgirls' radiating spirits, bringing all their perceptions into one vast network.
When Jack opened his eyes again.
66 screens directly appeared before him.
[Jack: To confirm everyone has entered the network, please raise your right hand]
As soon as the message was conveyed.
The Shipgirls almost simultaneously raised their right hands in an instant.
The error in this was even within a fraction of a second.
[Jack: It seems connecting to the consciousness of 65 Shipgirls for the first time was successful, it's not that hard after all]
[Taihou: Commander is amazing]
[Akagi: What else is there to say? My Commander is the best in the world]
[Atago: Please mind your words, Akagi, Commander isn't just yours, he's everyone's]
Yuudachi: Right, right! That's it, Commander belongs to everyone!
Shipgirls were no strangers to this method of mental communication.
After all, when fighting alongside the Commander, they had experienced things like supporting allies without speaking, or launching long-range attacks by borrowing another's sight.
What they had never experienced, however, was such a vast mental network.
Jack: Chat time's over. Let's show those Sirens what truth (big guns) is, and what the bond between a Commander and Shipgirls is!
...
Siren main fleet.
Arbiter, who had been acting like a small attendant next to Tester, suddenly spoke up.
"I have a bad feeling about this, Observer. I need you to share all data on the Sakura Empire Shipgirl Hakuryuu. If she truly possesses the unique abilities you mentioned, she could very likely be used as an ace by the Shipgirl side for a decapitation strike."
Among the Siren race, there were only so many intelligent Sirens with self-awareness.
If the leading few were destroyed by the enemy's high-attack units, the remaining mass-produced Sirens would just be targets.
Observer scoffed at Arbiter's actions in her heart.
Hakuryuu's unique ability came from her being able to cause armor penetration and special attacks against Sirens.
And as far as she knew, there were no less than 10 Shipgirls in the Sakura Empire fleet alone who possessed these abilities.
"I risked my life to get these materials. You better treat them well~."
Through the Siren network, Arbiter and Tester both received the body data of the blueprint Shipgirl Hakuryuu.
Then Observer received a string of "..." from Arbiter.
After a few seconds of silence, a question mark popped up above Arbiter's head.
"Is this kind of machine data really the magnitude a Shipgirl can possess? Are you sure she isn't Hakuryuu META or a Siren-class Hakuryuu?"
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