The tour of the council building was interrupted by a distant roar from outside.
Several heads turned toward the large windows overlooking the courtyard.
Something was descending.
A small object streaked across the sky.
Unlike a shuttle.
Unlike a transport aircraft.
Unlike anything most of the shipgirls recognized.
The object slowed abruptly.
Small retro-thrusters ignited.
Then—
THOOM.
A compact drop pod landed neatly in the center of the courtyard.
The impact kicked up a cloud of dust.
Several nearby drones immediately moved to inspect it.
The shipgirls and Nikkes gathered nearby looked curious.
The pod hissed.
Locks disengaged.
Panels unfolded.
Then the hatch opened.
A single figure stepped out.
A woman.
Or at least what initially appeared to be one.
Perfect posture.
Elegant movements.
Not a single wasted motion.
She carried a small cubic storage container in both hands.
The drop pod itself remained for several seconds before its recovery systems activated.
Thrusters ignited once more.
The pod slowly ascended back into the sky.
Returning to wherever it had originated.
Leaving only the woman behind.
The newcomer calmly adjusted her bonnet.
Then performed a flawless bow.
The first person to greet her was naturally Belfast.
The head maid approached with perfect composure.
"Greetings."
The newcomer bowed again.
"This humble maid is Arisa."
Her voice was soft.
Pleasant.
Polite.
"Personal attendant to Mistress Yuu. One of GDI Combat Maid."
Several shipgirls blinked.
A maid?
For Yuu?
Somehow that felt both perfectly logical and completely ridiculous.
Belfast offered a small smile.
"I am Belfast."
The Royal Maid Corps veteran performed her own elegant curtsy.
"Personal maid to Commander Yuuki."
A brief pause.
Then she added proudly.
"Head Maid of the Global Defense Initiative Royal Navy."
Several nearby shipgirls immediately straightened.
Belfast somehow managed to make the title sound like military rank.
The newcomer nodded respectfully.
"A pleasure."
Only now did the others get a proper look at her.
Arisa was beautiful.
Brown hair framed her face neatly beneath a white maid bonnet.
A black maid dress contrasted with a pristine white ruffled collar.
A fitted brown corset emphasized the uniform's formal design.
Black heels completed the outfit.
At first glance she appeared entirely human.
Then Akashi noticed.
"Nyaa?"
Her ears twitched.
Several sensors hidden within her rigging activated.
"Oh."
The repair ship blinked.
"She's an android."
That immediately drew attention.
Several girls leaned closer.
Arisa simply smiled.
Unbothered.
"Correct."
The android inclined her head.
"I am an artificial lifeform developed for support, management, and combat duties. In addition to serving as Mistress Yuu's attendant, I am fully capable of protecting her should the need arise."
Anis blinked.
"She's prettier than some humans."
"Anis."
"What?"
Rapi sighed.
Arisa showed no sign of offense.
If anything, she looked amused.
Nearby, Belfast's eyes briefly scanned the android.
Movement efficiency.
Balance.
Reaction speed.
Behavioral patterns.
The head maid immediately recognized the level of engineering involved.
This was no simple service machine.
Not even close.
"Ah."
Arisa looked pleasantly surprised.
"A fellow maid."
"Indeed."
Belfast nodded.
Then gracefully gestured toward several nearby Nikkes.
"And these are our fellow maids."
Ade offered a polite nod.
Soda enthusiastically waved.
Cocoa straightened immediately.
Attempting to look professional.
The result was adorable.
"I am Arisa."
The android bowed again.
"It is wonderful to meet all of you."
Soda immediately moved closer.
"Another maid!"
The Nikke looked delighted.
"We have another maid!"
Cocoa looked equally interested.
"Can she cook?"
"I can."
"Can she clean?"
"I can."
"Can she manage inventory?"
"I can."
"Can she—"
"Probably."
Ade interrupted.
The room laughed.
Meanwhile, Yuu finally emerged from inside the building.
The scientist froze.
"Oh."
Everyone looked at her.
Yuu looked at Arisa.
Arisa looked at Yuu.
Then the android bowed.
"Good afternoon, Mistress."
The scientist immediately groaned.
"You're here already?"
"Three hours and twenty-one minutes behind schedule."
Arisa replied.
The group became silent.
Yuu pointed accusingly.
"See?"
"No greeting."
"No excitement."
"Straight to the criticism."
Arisa tilted her head.
"Would you prefer I begin with your missed meals?"
"...No."
"Or your sleep schedule?"
"...Definitely no."
"Perhaps the unfinished reports?"
Yuu immediately turned around.
"I'm leaving."
Arisa stepped in front of her.
Without anyone seeing her move.
Everyone froze.
Even Belfast raised an eyebrow.
That was fast.
Very fast.
"Mistress."
"No."
"Mistress."
The exchange continued.
Several shipgirls immediately began laughing.
Yuuki eventually arrived in time to witness the scene.
He watched silently.
Then looked toward Belfast.
Then toward Arisa.
Then toward Yuu attempting to escape her own maid.
"..."
"..."
"..."
"She's basically Belfast."
The courtyard exploded into laughter.
Even Belfast covered her mouth to hide a smile.
Meanwhile Yuu looked utterly betrayed.
And Arisa simply bowed again.
Taking the comparison as a compliment, Arisa gave another flawless bow.
"Thank you."
Yuu immediately pointed at her.
"See? That's exactly the problem."
"Your concern has been noted, Mistress."
"Don't note it!"
Yuuki walked over alongside Houshou, Maya, and Choukai.
A smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Now you know how I feel."
Yuu folded her arms.
"What?"
"When Belfast became my personal maid."
The scientist looked toward Belfast.
Then toward Arisa.
Then back toward Belfast.
The resemblance in behavior was becoming increasingly concerning.
"You can ask her not to."
"Nope."
Yuuki immediately shook his head.
"Eva assigned Belfast."
He pointed toward the Royal Maid.
"Once Eva signs paperwork, not even I can undo it."
Belfast smiled sweetly.
"Master speaks as if I am a burden."
"You wake me up on time."
"You make me eat vegetables."
"You stop me from sleeping in."
"Correct."
Yuuki sighed dramatically.
"I miss being lazy."
"I miss waking up late."
"I miss being a caveman."
Immediately—
Pinch.
Belfast grabbed his cheek.
"Now, now, Master."
The maid's smile somehow became more dangerous.
"You wouldn't want me to relay those statements to Lady Hood, would you?"
Yuuki froze.
The room immediately burst into laughter.
"Please don't."
"Good answer."
The pinch disappeared.
Yuuki rubbed his cheek.
"Every time."
"Because it works every time."
The commander couldn't even argue.
Nearby, Arisa approached.
"Ah."
She bowed politely.
"Greetings, Commander."
Yuuki smiled.
"Arisa."
A surprisingly genuine smile.
"It's been a while."
"It has."
Without hesitation, he reached forward and patted her head.
The android remained perfectly still.
Though several shipgirls could have sworn they saw a tiny smile appear.
"I see you've been taking care of Yuu."
"Yes."
The answer came immediately.
"No complaints?"
"There are many complaints."
Yuu pointed accusingly.
"See?"
Arisa continued.
"However, she remains alive."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"Fair."
Yuu reluctantly admitted.
Soda suddenly blinked.
"Wait."
Everyone looked toward her.
"She's a combat maid?"
The courtyard grew quiet.
Several shipgirls looked toward Arisa.
Then toward Belfast.
Then back toward Arisa.
Yuuki nodded.
"Yes."
The commander folded his arms.
"She's exceptionally proficient with firearms."
Another point.
"An excellent martial artist."
Another.
"And dangerous enough that I wouldn't recommend fighting her."
Arisa nodded once.
Then casually raised her hand.
The skin shifted.
Nanometal unfolded.
Energy conduits appeared.
A sleek blaster emerged directly from her forearm.
Several girls froze.
"Nani?!"
Akashi nearly jumped.
The blaster rotated once before retracting.
Then an energy sword emerged.
A glowing blade extended from her hand.
Before anyone could react further—
The blade transformed.
Sections separated.
Lengthened.
Flexed.
The sword became a bladed whip.
The weapon snapped through the air with a sharp crack.
Neon's eyes widened.
Then sparkled.
Then widened further.
Then sparkled even more.
"A MAID WITH FIREPOWER!"
The Nikke looked like she had just discovered enlightenment.
"A FIREPOWER MAID!"
"That is technically correct."
Arisa replied.
Neon immediately promoted her to favorite person of the day.
The weapon retracted.
Arisa's hand returned to normal.
As if nothing had happened.
"I don't need protection."
Yuu folded her arms.
The android immediately turned.
"Correction, Mistress."
The tone was perfectly polite.
Which somehow made it more dangerous.
"A Head Doctor of the GDI is required to have a Pleiades Maid assigned."
"Pleiades?"
Several girls repeated simultaneously.
Yuuki answered.
"The GDI Combat Android Maid Division."
That immediately got everyone's attention.
"The Pleiades."
The commander gestured toward Arisa.
"They function as attendants."
Another gesture.
"Bodyguards."
Another.
"Field support."
Another.
"And occasionally rescue teams."
Arisa bowed slightly.
"We are trained for domestic duties, combat operations, emergency response, medical assistance, logistics, and administrative support."
Anis stared.
"That's not a maid."
"That sounds like an entire military branch."
"Correct."
Arisa nodded.
The room laughed.
Yuuki continued.
"The division consists of Level 100 combat maids."
That immediately silenced several people.
Even shipgirls looked surprised.
Level 100.
Not many people casually mentioned that.
Then he pointed toward Arisa.
"She's the thirteenth-ranked member."
Several jaws dropped.
"Thirteenth?"
"Correct."
Arisa answered calmly.
"Assigned to Mistress Yuu."
The scientist groaned.
"I came to Earth to escape Arisa, and somehow she still found me."
Arisa turned back toward everyone.
"Therefore, Mistress requires supervision."
The courtyard erupted into laughter.
Even Belfast covered her mouth.
Because for perhaps the first time since arriving on Autumn Isle—
Yuu finally understood exactly what it felt like to be on the receiving end of a maid's relentless care.
And everyone else was enjoying it immensely.
The laughter surrounding Arisa's arrival gradually settled.
Then the combat maid remembered something.
"Ah."
Arisa lifted the cubic storage container she had been carrying.
"I almost forgot."
Yuu immediately looked suspicious.
That was never a good sign.
"Forgot what?"
"Master Vergil instructed me to deliver this personally."
The android presented the cube.
"He stated that Commander Yuuki would know what to do with it."
Yuu immediately pointed.
"That bastard."
Several girls laughed.
"He told you where I was, didn't he?"
"Yes."
Yuu sighed deeply.
Of course he did.
Arisa tilted her head.
"Master Vergil seemed quite pleased."
"That's exactly what worries me."
"Understandable."
Yuuki chuckled.
"Deal with it."
Yuu shot him a look.
"Easy for you to say."
The commander folded his arms.
"I accepted my fate two weeks ago."
Belfast smiled.
"An excellent decision, Master."
"I didn't have a choice."
"You always have a choice."
"I really don't."
The gathered shipgirls and Nikkes laughed again.
Meanwhile Yuu finally opened the storage cube.
The moment the lid unfolded—
She froze.
Her eyes widened.
The amusement vanished immediately.
"Oh."
The chatter around them died down.
That reaction alone was enough to draw attention.
Yuuki noticed instantly.
"What is it?"
Yuu slowly reached inside.
Carefully.
Almost reverently.
Then pulled out a sealed metallic case.
Inside rested dozens of specialized syringes filled with shimmering silver fluid.
Nanites.
Advanced nanites.
The nearby girls fell silent.
Yuu immediately recognized them.
"Vergil actually finished it."
Yuuki's expression changed.
"The leveling system?"
Yuu nodded.
"According to the shipgirl and Nikke biological models I sent him."
The group became quiet.
Several girls immediately remembered the earlier conversation.
The one about level caps.
Growth systems.
Future upgrades.
The implications were enormous.
Yuu carefully removed a single injector.
The silver contents shimmered softly.
"So it's finally here."
Yuuki accepted the syringe.
The commander examined it carefully.
No hesitation.
No excitement.
Only caution.
Because unlike weapons—
People would be using this.
Shipgirls.
Nikkes.
"These are the leveling nanites."
The surrounding crowd grew quiet.
Every eye focused on the injector.
Yuu nodded.
"Designed specifically for shipgirls and Nikkes."
Another nod.
"Theoretically safe."
"Theoretically?"
Anis immediately asked.
"The best kind of safe."
Yuu answered.
Nobody liked that answer.
Yuuki sighed.
"Which means we need a live test."
The atmosphere became serious.
Because everyone understood what that meant.
A volunteer.
Someone had to go first.
Someone had to prove the system worked.
Someone had to accept the risk.
The commander looked around.
"I won't force anyone."
The gathered girls remained silent.
Several exchanged glances.
The injector suddenly looked much more intimidating.
Then—
A hand rose.
Everyone turned.
Yorktown.
Enterprise blinked.
"Hana."
The carrier stood calmly.
"I'll do it."
Immediate objections followed.
"Yorktown."
"Commander."
"You don't need to."
Several voices spoke at once.
Yorktown simply smiled.
A calm smile.
A reassuring smile.
The same smile she often wore when comforting others.
"I was the first shipgirl Commander recovered."
The area fell quiet again.
Yorktown continued.
"I was one of the first to place my trust in him."
Her eyes moved toward Yuuki.
"And he never betrayed that trust."
Silence followed.
Several girls remembered.
The Med Bays.
The healing.
The nightmares.
The recovery.
Everything.
Yorktown folded her arms.
"We need to become stronger."
Her voice was firm.
"The Sirens aren't stopping."
Another glance toward the horizon.
"The Raptures aren't stopping."
Another.
"And if this system works..."
She looked at the injector.
"...it could help all of us."
The gathered girls grew thoughtful.
Even Enterprise stopped objecting.
Because Yorktown wasn't wrong.
Someone had to be first.
Someone always had to be first.
Yorktown looked directly at Yuuki.
"Commander."
He met her gaze.
"If something goes wrong..."
A faint smile appeared.
"...you'll save me, right?"
The question wasn't hesitant.
It wasn't fearful.
It wasn't even really a question.
It was trust.
Simple and absolute.
Yuuki answered immediately.
"Of course."
No hesitation.
No uncertainty.
Just certainty.
The same certainty Yorktown expected.
The carrier smiled.
"Then inject me."
Several girls looked worried.
Yorktown simply walked forward.
Stopping directly in front of him.
"If we're going to test it."
She offered her arm.
"Let's do it properly."
Then her expression softened.
Just slightly.
"And please make it painless."
The seriousness shattered instantly.
Several girls laughed.
Even Yuuki smiled.
"I think I can manage that."
"You'd better."
The carrier replied.
"Or I'm telling everyone you made the first test subject cry."
The crowd erupted into laughter.
Even Arisa looked amused.
Meanwhile, Yuu was already activating scanners through her terminal.
Medical drones launched from nearby facilities and headed toward their location.
Diagnostic systems came online.
Med Bay staff were alerted.
Every safety measure available was prepared immediately.
Because if Yorktown was volunteering—
Then they were going to make absolutely certain nothing happened to her.
The first step toward a new future had arrived.
And Yorktown intended to take it.
A short while later, everyone had relocated into the medical wing of the council building.
More specifically—
Yuu's hospital.
The atmosphere had changed considerably.
The jokes were gone.
The laughter had quieted.
This was no longer a discussion.
This was a live experiment.
One involving technology that could potentially alter every shipgirl and Nikke within GDI.
Yorktown sat upon one of the Med Bay diagnostic chairs.
Nearby, an active Med Bay remained open.
Ready.
Waiting.
Prepared for immediate intervention if anything unexpected occurred.
Yuu wasn't taking chances.
Neither was Yuuki.
Medical drones hovered overhead.
Diagnostic screens filled the room.
Arisa stood nearby.
Belfast remained beside the commander.
Enterprise folded her arms.
Watching carefully.
Everyone else gathered around the observation area.
Anis grinned.
"Careful, Mom."
Yorktown immediately sighed.
"Anis."
"What?"
The Nikke grinned wider.
"If you start glowing, exploding, ascending, or growing wings, let me know."
The room laughed.
Even Yorktown couldn't help smiling.
Though beneath it—
She was nervous.
Anyone would be.
This was the unknown.
And she was stepping into it first.
Yuu noticed immediately.
"It's normal."
The scientist walked over carrying a holographic tablet.
"The nanites themselves aren't dangerous."
Yorktown raised an eyebrow.
"That isn't reassuring."
Yuu ignored the comment.
"The nanites are spherical micro-machines."
A cellular diagram appeared.
"They're designed to merge with the nuclei of your cells."
Several girls blinked.
The explanation somehow sounded more terrifying.
Not less.
Yorktown immediately noticed.
"That sounds worse."
"It isn't."
Yuu pointed toward the display.
"You've experienced similar processes before."
Another image appeared.
The Med Bay.
Nanites.
Cellular reconstruction.
"Tissue regeneration."
Another.
"Repair protocols."
Another.
"Gizmo Beam reconstruction."
Recognition slowly appeared.
"The Med Bay already introduces nanites into your body."
Yorktown nodded.
That much she remembered.
"They enter damaged cells."
Another point.
"Repair them."
Another.
"Then leave."
The scientist enlarged the diagram.
"This time they're staying."
Silence.
The room collectively decided that explanation wasn't helping.
At all.
Yorktown slowly looked toward Yuuki.
"Please tell me this is safe."
The commander immediately pointed toward Yuu.
"I let her explain things."
A pause.
"That was your first mistake."
The room laughed.
Even Yorktown relaxed slightly.
Yuu rolled her eyes.
Then looked back toward the carrier.
"You ready?"
Yorktown inhaled.
Then exhaled.
Slowly.
Steadily.
Finally—
She nodded.
"We never tested this on a shipgirl before."
Yuu remained completely honest.
"Expect several billion nanites to enter your body."
Several girls visibly swallowed.
"Wonderful."
"They'll spread through your bloodstream."
Another point.
"Enter your cells."
Another.
"Integrate with existing biological structures."
Another.
"You may feel tingling."
Yorktown immediately looked toward Yuuki.
"Please."
The commander smiled reassuringly.
"Okay."
He took the injector.
The room fell completely silent.
No jokes.
No laughter.
No comments.
Just quiet anticipation.
Yorktown offered her shoulder.
Yuuki carefully pressed the injector against her skin.
The device hissed.
A brief flash of light appeared.
Then—
Done.
The entire process lasted less than two seconds.
No pain.
No reaction.
No dramatic transformation.
Nothing.
Yorktown blinked.
"...That's it?"
"That's it."
Yuuki stepped back.
The room remained silent.
Everyone stared.
Waiting.
Five seconds.
Ten.
Twenty.
Yorktown flexed her fingers.
"How do you feel?"
The carrier tilted her head.
Then blinked.
"It feels..."
A pause.
"Ticklish."
The room immediately relaxed.
Anis laughed.
"That's your dramatic reaction?"
Yorktown frowned.
"It is surprisingly ticklish."
Several girls laughed.
Yuu was already examining diagnostic readings.
Her eyes moved rapidly across the data.
Cell activity.
Neural activity.
Cube synchronization.
Nanite propagation.
Everything.
The scientist's expression became serious.
"It's spreading."
The room quieted again.
Yuuki immediately moved closer.
"Status?"
"Nanites successfully entered the bloodstream."
Another display appeared.
"Cellular response detected."
Another.
"Synchronization progressing."
The silver dots on the display multiplied.
Faster.
Faster.
Faster.
Billions of tiny signals illuminated Yorktown's biological model.
The room watched.
Nobody breathed.
Nobody spoke.
Then—
Yuu smiled.
"Almost."
Yuuki folded his arms.
"Almost what?"
The scientist pointed toward the screen.
"There."
The final sections lit up.
Every cell in Yorktown's body illuminated simultaneously.
The synchronization model turned green.
The room froze.
Yuu's smile widened.
"All nanites have entered."
A collective breath escaped.
No rejection.
No instability.
No biological conflict.
Everything remained stable.
Yorktown blinked.
Then looked at her hands.
"I feel..."
She paused.
"...lighter?"
The diagnostics immediately reacted.
Several new windows appeared.
Yuuki looked toward the AI.
"JARVIS."
The response came instantly.
"Uplink established."
The room became silent.
Even Yuu stopped speaking.
Because this was the moment.
The moment they would discover whether the system actually worked.
Whether the nanites had successfully connected.
Whether Yorktown had become the first successful recipient.
The first person to truly enter the new leveling framework.
JARVIS continued.
"Accessing biological synchronization network."
Streams of data appeared.
Nanite activity.
Wisdom Cube resonance.
Neural architecture.
Cellular adaptation.
The AI processed billions of calculations in moments.
Then—
The display changed.
Everyone leaned forward.
Waiting for the result.
And for the first time—
The leveling system looked back.
The room watched the diagnostics.
Every monitor.
Every scanner.
Every holographic display.
All focused on Yorktown.
The carrier herself blinked in surprise as something suddenly materialized before her.
A translucent blue panel.
Floating in midair.
Several shipgirls immediately gasped.
"What is that?"
"It looks like a status screen."
"Commander?"
Even Yorktown looked startled.
The panel remained hovering directly in front of her.
Then text began appearing.
Line by line.
========================
LEVELING SYSTEM ONLINE
Synchronization Complete
User Identified
========================
JARVIS' voice echoed throughout the medical wing.
"Sir. Leveling System integration confirmed."
More information appeared.
========================
Name: Yorktown
Former Faction: Eagle Union
Rank: Recruit Rank 20
Level: 1
Maximum Level: 200
Retrofit Required to Breakthrough Level Cap 400
XP Required for Next Level: 1000
========================
The room became completely silent.
Nobody dared interrupt.
Even Yuu stared.
The nanites were actually working.
========================
Classification: Aircraft Carrier (Shipgirl)
Signature Designation: GDI NS Yorktown
(Global Defense Initiative Naval Ship)
========================
Yorktown slowly reached toward the display.
Her fingers passed through it.
A holographic interface.
Yet somehow it felt personal.
Like the system recognized her.
Then more information appeared.
========================
Equipment Type:
Azur Lane Pattern Rigging
Upgradeable to GDI Pattern Rigging
========================
Several shipgirls exchanged looks.
Upgradeable.
The word alone carried enormous implications.
Then another line appeared.
==================
Body Type:
Wisdom Metal
Upgradeable to Higher-Grade Material Types
==================
Akashi's eyes widened.
Vestal immediately leaned forward.
Even Yuu looked interested.
Because that wasn't part of the original design.
The nanites were already generating developmental pathways.
Future growth.
Future evolution.
Future upgrades.
Then the panel expanded.
Statistics appeared.
Entire categories.
Values.
Attributes.
Combat metrics.
Everything.
==================
Strength
• Base Hitpoints
• Shield Capacity
• Firepower Output
• Torpedo Output
• Aviation Capability
• Anti-Air Capability
• Weapon Efficiency
Agility
• Reload Speed
• Movement Speed
• Accuracy
• Evasion Percentage
Defense
• Armor Integrity
• Anti-Submarine Warfare
==================
The room stared.
This wasn't merely a level system.
It was a complete combat framework.
A method to quantify and improve growth.
Then another section appeared.
==================
Power Source:
Oil Reactor
Upgradeable to New Element Ark Reactor
Improves Operational Endurance
==================
Anis blinked.
"Wait."
Several Nikkes looked equally shocked.
"Upgradeable power source?"
Yuu immediately grinned.
"Oh, that's going to be fun."
Yuuki could already hear Vergil screaming in excitement from another continent.
Fortunately—
Vergil was asleep.
And would hopefully remain asleep.
For at least another ten hours.
Then the final sections appeared.
===============
Talent Tree: Available
Upgrade Tree: Available
Inventory Storage Capacity: 1 Cubic Space
Item Slots: 6
Outer Armor: Echo Suit Mark II
Credits: 0
==============
The room became quiet.
Then—
Yorktown's rigging suddenly materialized.
Several girls jumped.
The carrier herself looked startled.
Her aircraft carrier rigging appeared automatically.
Yet it felt different.
Connected.
Integrated.
Responsive.
Like an extension of herself.
The system immediately began monitoring it.
Adapting.
Learning.
Recording.
JARVIS spoke again.
This time almost ceremonially.
"Congratulations."
The room turned.
The AI continued.
"I formally welcome you to the Global Defense Initiative."
The panel glowed softly.
"Welcome to the Leveling Realm of the Global Defense Initiative."
For several moments nobody spoke.
Because they understood.
Yorktown wasn't simply the first test subject.
She was the first successful integration.
The first shipgirl to cross the threshold.
The first member of an entirely new era.
Yorktown stared at the screen.
At her designation.
At the GDI signature beside her name.
Slowly.
Very slowly.
A smile appeared.
Not because of the levels.
Not because of the upgrades.
Not because of the statistics.
But because of what it represented.
Home.
Belonging.
Acceptance.
She looked toward Yuuki.
The commander had been watching quietly the entire time.
Waiting.
Making sure she was safe.
Making sure the system worked.
Making sure his promise was kept.
Yorktown suddenly stood.
Then crossed the room.
Before Yuuki could react—
She wrapped both arms around him.
The commander blinked.
"Hana?"
The carrier buried her face against his shoulder.
The room immediately understood.
For all the technical achievements.
For all the impossible science.
For all the revolutionary technology.
The thing that mattered most was simple.
Yorktown was finally here.
Not a guest.
Not an ally.
Not a rescued survivor.
A member.
Officially.
Truly.
One of them.
"Thank you, Commander."
Her voice was quiet.
Yet everyone heard it.
Yuuki smiled.
Then gently returned the hug.
"Welcome aboard, Yorktown."
The medical wing erupted into applause.
And somewhere in the future—
When historians looked back upon the birth of the GDI Leveling System—
They would record Yorktown as the first successful recipient.
The first to step forward.
The first to trust.
And the first to prove it could be done.
"Thank you..."
Yorktown's voice trembled.
She tightened her embrace.
"Thank you..."
The carrier buried her face against his shoulder.
The tears finally came.
Years of fear.
Years of loss.
Years of carrying burdens she never spoke about.
The fall of her fleet.
The loss of comrades.
The destruction of her island.
The countless battles.
The endless war.
And now—
For the first time since she had been rescued—
She finally felt as though she belonged somewhere.
Not as a survivor.
Not as someone being protected.
Not as someone recovering.
But as someone moving forward.
Together with everyone else.
"Thank you..."
The words were directed toward more than one person.
Toward Yuuki.
Toward Yuu.
Toward everyone who had given her another chance.
Yuuki simply smiled.
Then gently patted her head.
"We only gave you the strength."
His tone was warm.
"But what you do with it..."
He lightly tapped her status window.
"...that's entirely up to you."
Yorktown nodded immediately.
Then laughed through her tears.
The carrier looked happier than anyone had seen her in a long time.
"It's about time you start leveling up."
The commander suddenly reached into his coat.
Several girls looked curious.
Then Yuuki pulled out a small metallic core.
A familiar one.
Yuu immediately recognized it.
"The Echo Core?"
The commander nodded.
"Mark II."
Several girls blinked.
Yorktown looked confused.
Before she could ask—
Yuuki pressed the core gently against her chest.
The device activated.
Silver light spread outward.
Flowing across her body.
Energy lines formed.
Armor plates materialized.
Protective systems emerged.
The transformation was smooth.
Elegant.
Almost organic.
Several girls gasped.
Within seconds—
Yorktown stood clad in a sleek armored combat suit.
A refined version of the Echo Suit.
Designed specifically around her body.
Her movements.
Her combat style.
The carrier blinked.
Then flexed her fingers.
The armor responded instantly.
Like a second skin.
"It feels..."
She looked down.
"...natural."
Yuuki nodded.
"The same principle as the Mark I."
Yorktown slowly examined herself.
Then Yuuki tapped the core twice.
Immediately the armor dissolved.
Flowing back into the core.
Yorktown's familiar uniform returned.
The same uniform she had always worn.
The same one she had worn when he first rescued her.
But there was one difference.
A new emblem.
A crest.
Resting proudly upon her shoulder.
Yorktown froze.
Several girls noticed immediately.
The insignia gleamed softly.
The crest of the Global Defense Initiative.
The room became quiet.
Because everyone understood what it meant.
Yorktown slowly touched it.
Almost afraid it would disappear.
It didn't.
It remained.
Solid.
Real.
Yours.
A symbol she had earned.
A symbol she could wear proudly.
The carrier's eyes began watering again.
Yuuki chuckled softly.
Then stepped forward.
He gently kissed her forehead.
The room immediately erupted into reactions.
Yorktown froze.
Completely.
Several shipgirls made suspicious noises.
Akagi's ears stood straight up.
Enterprise immediately looked away.
Anis nearly fell over laughing.
Yuuki remained completely serious.
"You still have a long way to go."
Yorktown looked up.
His smile remained.
"Stand at your strongest."
The room quieted.
"Become strong enough to stand beside me."
The carrier's eyes widened.
"Strong enough that others can follow after you."
Yorktown understood immediately.
She wasn't being given a title.
She was being given responsibility.
Leadership.
A path.
The first one forward.
The first one through the door.
The first to prove it could be done.
The carrier straightened.
Then nodded firmly.
"Yes!"
The answer came without hesitation.
Several shipgirls smiled proudly.
Even Enterprise looked pleased.
Then Yuuki pointed toward the insignia.
"Oh."
Yorktown blinked.
"The crest isn't the only thing."
Several girls looked confused.
"What do you mean?"
Yuuki turned.
"Arisa."
The combat maid immediately nodded.
"Yes, Commander."
"Did you bring it?"
"I did."
The android stepped toward a nearby window.
Then—
She whistled.
A sharp, clear sound echoed across the courtyard.
Several girls blinked.
Then something appeared outside.
A dark shape.
Moving impossibly fast.
The blur crossed the sky.
Then entered through the open window.
Several shipgirls instinctively stepped back.
The creature landed gracefully upon a nearby railing.
Yorktown froze.
The room fell silent.
A black eagle.
Majestic.
Powerful.
Intelligent eyes observed the room.
Its feathers shimmered with subtle metallic patterns.
Tiny mechanical systems hidden beneath synthetic plumage.
The eagle turned toward Yorktown.
Then tilted its head.
The carrier's breath caught.
Because she remembered.
Years ago.
Before the island fell.
Before everything changed.
She had once possessed an Eagle called Grimm.
A loyal companion.
One she had lost during the attack.
The memory still hurt.
The eagle slowly hopped closer.
Yorktown's eyes never left it.
Yuuki smiled.
"This eagle serves as one of the symbols of the Global Defense Initiative."
The bird spread its wings.
Several mechanical components briefly became visible.
Then disappeared again.
"It's a sentient android eagle."
The eagle immediately puffed up proudly.
Anis laughed.
"It understood that."
"It usually does."
Yuuki nodded.
The bird looked extremely pleased with itself.
"It possesses reconnaissance capabilities."
Another point.
"Long-range communication systems."
Another.
"Independent navigation."
Another.
"And several classified functions."
The eagle chirped.
As if agreeing.
Then Yuuki looked toward Yorktown.
His smile softened.
"From this day onward."
The carrier straightened instinctively.
"This companion belongs to you."
The room became quiet.
Yorktown stared.
The eagle stared back.
Then, slowly—
It hopped onto her shoulder.
The same shoulder bearing the GDI crest.
The carrier immediately smiled.
A genuine smile.
One filled with happiness.
Nostalgia.
Hope.
The eagle settled comfortably.
As though it had always belonged there.
Yuuki nodded.
"Take good care of it."
Yorktown gently stroked its feathers.
The eagle leaned into her hand.
And for the first time in years—
The carrier no longer felt as though she had lost everything.
Because today she had gained something new.
A new home.
A new path.
A new future.
And perhaps—
A new companion to fly beside her once again.
The room remained focused on Yorktown and her new companion.
The black eagle sat proudly upon her shoulder.
Its mechanical eyes occasionally scanned the room.
Already accepting her as its handler.
Then Yuuki looked toward the others.
More specifically—
The newly integrated GDI operative.
"Before we continue."
Several girls looked up.
The commander pointed toward Yorktown's shoulder crest.
"The Echo Suit interface is now connected to your Leveling System."
Yorktown blinked.
"It is?"
"Yes."
A new menu immediately appeared beside her status window.
A new tab opened up.
Outfits.
Yorktown's eyes widened.
Yuuki smiled.
"You can modify the suit anywhere."
Another gesture.
"Anytime."
Another.
"The armor, clothing, equipment appearance, interface colors."
The carrier looked impressed.
"Everything?"
"Within reason."
Yuu immediately added.
"Please don't install cat ears."
Several girls immediately looked interested.
"Why not?"
"Because someone will."
Akashi slowly hid her tail.
Yuu pointed.
"See?"
The room laughed.
Yuuki continued.
"If you need to remove the suit to bathe, simply press and hold the core command for several seconds."
Yorktown nodded.
The commander raised a finger.
"However."
That immediately got everyone's attention.
"The suit will revert completely into its core form."
A pause.
Then realization spread.
Several girls blinked.
Several others turned red.
Anis immediately burst out laughing.
"Oh."
Yorktown froze.
"Oh."
The commander nodded.
"Exactly."
The carrier immediately looked horrified.
"Meaning..."
"Meaning don't deactivate it around other people."
The room erupted into laughter.
Even Yorktown covered her face.
Enterprise immediately looked away.
Belfast coughed politely.
Akagi looked entirely too amused.
Yuu shrugged.
"Technical limitations."
"There are no technical limitations."
"There are now."
The scientist grinned.
Several girls immediately started imagining potential disasters.
Yuuki wisely changed the subject.
"The clothing generator is not integrated into the system. You still have to use it manually."
A new menu appeared.
"However."
Another pause.
"You only have three outfit slots."
The room blinked.
"Three?"
Yorktown looked surprised.
"One slot is your standard uniform."
Another.
"The remaining two are customizable."
Several girls immediately became thoughtful.
Very thoughtful.
Atago looked dangerous.
Illustrious looked curious.
Akagi looked extremely dangerous.
Yuuki immediately regretted mentioning customization.
"You mean we can save outfits?"
"Yes."
"Different outfits?"
"Yes."
"Custom outfits?"
"...Yes."
The room became very quiet.
Yuu sighed.
"Chief."
"What?"
"You just created chaos."
"I know."
Several girls were already planning.
That worried him.
A lot.
Then Yuuki looked around the room.
His gaze eventually settled on someone else.
Someone standing quietly near the rear.
Watching Yorktown's success.
Processing her own thoughts.
"Rapi."
The Nikke immediately blinked.
Then pointed toward herself.
"Me?"
Yuuki nodded.
"Of course."
The room turned.
The commander smiled.
"You were my first Nikke."
The words caused several girls to pause.
Because they were true.
After he had gained the shipgirls.
After the fleet had begun to grow.
Before many of the others who would later join him.
There had been Rapi.
Steady.
Reliable.
Always there.
The Nikke looked genuinely surprised.
"Commander..."
Yuuki lifted another injector.
"I trust you."
The room grew quiet.
The significance wasn't lost on anyone.
Yorktown had become the first shipgirl.
Now Rapi would become the first Nikke.
Two milestones.
Two foundations.
Two people who had stood beside him from the beginning.
Rapi slowly stepped forward.
The others moved aside.
Giving her room.
Giving her space.
The Nikke glanced toward Yorktown.
The carrier immediately smiled.
"It doesn't hurt."
"You're sure?"
"It tickles."
Anis immediately nodded.
"It really does."
Rapi looked unconvinced.
The room laughed.
Then she stopped in front of Yuuki.
The commander held up the injector.
"Still nervous?"
The Nikke remained silent for a moment.
Then nodded.
"A little."
An honest answer.
Yuuki smiled.
Then gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Don't worry."
His voice was calm.
Steady.
The same voice that had guided countless people through impossible situations.
"I'll be right here."
For some reason—
That was enough.
Rapi took a deep breath.
Then nodded.
"Okay."
The room fell silent once more.
The second trial.
The first Nikke.
The next step forward.
And everyone waited to see what would happen.
Rapi stepped forward.
Unlike Yorktown, she didn't try to hide her nervousness.
The Nikke quietly reached out and held Yuuki's hand.
A simple gesture.
One that made several girls smile.
The commander squeezed her hand reassuringly.
Then carefully pressed the injector against her shoulder.
The nanites entered.
The injection itself lasted only a moment.
Then it was over.
Nothing happened.
At first.
Rapi blinked.
"...That's it?"
"That's it."
Yuuki nodded.
The room watched.
Waiting.
Several seconds passed.
Then Rapi tilted her head.
A strange sensation spread through her body.
Not painful.
Not uncomfortable.
Just unusual.
"It feels..."
She paused.
"...ticklish."
Anis immediately pointed.
"See!"
Yorktown laughed.
"I told you."
Yuu was already monitoring the diagnostics.
Streams of data filled every display.
The nanites had entered her bloodstream.
Now they were spreading.
Faster.
Further.
Deeper.
"The nanites are entering her cells."
Several girls held their breath.
The displays lit up one after another.
Billions of microscopic signals.
Every organ.
Every system.
Every artificial and biological component that made up a Nikke.
Then—
Green.
Every monitor turned green.
Yuu smiled.
"There."
Yuuki folded his arms.
"Complete?"
The scientist nodded.
"Complete."
"JARVIS."
The AI responded immediately.
"Uplink established."
A familiar silence fell over the room.
Everyone knew what came next.
The same moment Yorktown had experienced.
The moment the system recognized its user.
"Accessing."
Streams of code flashed across the displays.
Nanite synchronization.
Combat framework integration.
Neural adaptation.
Energy calibration.
Then—
"Uplink complete."
A holographic panel materialized before Rapi.
The Nikke froze.
The room stared.
And for the first time in years—
Rapi felt something she thought she had lost forever.
Recognition.
Acknowledgement.
Purpose.
The status screen unfolded before her eyes.
===========================
LEVELING SYSTEM ONLINE
Synchronization Complete
User Identified
==========================
Name: Rapi
Former Faction: Elysion Ark
Designation: GDIN Rapi
(Global Defense Initiative Nikke)
Rank: Recruit Rank 20
Level: 1
Level Cap: 200
Retrofit Type: Combat Awakening
==========================
Rapi's eyes widened.
More information appeared.
==========================
Classification: Attacker Type Nikke
Weapon Type: Versatile
(Assault Rifle)
Primary Weapon: Militaria
==========================
Several Nikkes immediately leaned forward.
Especially Anis and Neon.
This was their territory.
Their world.
Their future.
==========================
Strength
• Weapon Power
• Explosive Power
• Energy-Type Power
• Bullet Power
Defense
• Armor
• Shield
Agility
• Movement Speed
• Evasion
Talent Tree: Available
Upgrade Tree: Available
Inventory Storage Capacity: 1 Cubic Space
Item Slots: 6
Outer Armor: Echo Suit Mark II
Special Form: Red Hood
Credits: 0
==========================
The room fell silent.
Rapi stared.
Not at the numbers.
Not at the level.
Not even at the title.
Her eyes locked onto something else.
GDIN Rapi.
Global Defense Initiative Nikke.
A designation.
A place.
A home.
Then—
Power surged through her body.
The room immediately reacted.
Several girls stepped back.
Energy erupted from her frame.
The air itself trembled.
Anis widened her eyes.
Neon nearly dropped her weapon.
Even Yuu looked surprised.
Rapi herself gasped.
Because she recognized this feeling.
She remembered it.
Missed it.
Longed for it.
A weapon began materializing in her hand.
Piece by piece.
Data became matter.
Energy became steel.
The familiar shape completed itself.
Militaria.
Her weapon.
Her true weapon.
The weapon she had lost after her deactivation.
The weapon she thought she would never hold again.
Rapi stared.
Her fingers tightened around the grip.
Memories flooded back.
Battles.
Missions.
Friends.
Losses.
Everything.
"...Militaria."
Her voice trembled.
The rifle responded as if greeting its owner.
The room remained quiet.
Because everyone understood what this meant.
She wasn't simply gaining a weapon.
She was reclaiming a piece of herself.
Then something else happened.
A pulse of crimson light spread outward.
Several girls immediately noticed.
Rapi's hair began changing.
Dark strands slowly shifted.
Red.
Brilliant crimson.
Her eyes followed.
Transforming into glowing scarlet.
Power continued building.
The room collectively froze.
Even Yorktown stared.
The pressure filling the room felt entirely different now.
Older.
Stronger.
Dangerous.
Yuu's eyes widened.
"So that's Red Hood..."
She heard about it when Rapi explained that she possessed two cores within her body, and ever since then Yuu had been eager to research the phenomenon and find a way for other Nikkes to obtain secondary cores as well.
Seen records.
Read reports.
But witnessing it firsthand was something else entirely.
The transformation completed.
Rapi stood silently.
Red hair.
Crimson eyes.
Power flowing around her like a living storm.
The legendary form.
The form that had become part of Nikke history.
Red Hood.
Several shipgirls instinctively swallowed.
Even veterans like Enterprise looked impressed.
Then Rapi turned.
Toward Yuuki.
The commander simply smiled.
Not surprised.
Not afraid.
Just proud.
"Commander..."
For a moment she couldn't find the words.
Yuuki stepped forward.
"Welcome to the Global Defense Initiative, Rapi."
That was all it took.
Rapi moved.
Crossing the distance between them in an instant.
Then hugged him tightly.
The rifle vanished.
The crimson energy softened.
The powerful warrior disappeared.
Leaving only Rapi.
The girl who had trusted him from the beginning.
The girl who had stayed beside him.
The girl who finally had a place to call home.
Yuuki smiled.
Then gently kissed her forehead.
The same gesture he had given Yorktown.
The room immediately erupted into reactions.
Again.
Akagi's ears twitched.
Enterprise looked away.
Anis began laughing.
Neon immediately demanded equal treatment.
But Rapi didn't care.
For the first time since her deactivation—
She felt whole again.
And this time—
She wasn't alone.
Rapi was still holding onto him when Yuuki reached into his coat again.
Several girls immediately recognized the motion.
Another core.
This one glowed with a faint golden light.
The New Element Ark Reactor.
Rapi blinked.
Before she could ask, Yuuki gently pressed it against her chest.
The reactor activated instantly.
Golden energy spread through her body.
Not violently.
Not painfully.
Smoothly.
Like water flowing through channels that had always existed.
The room filled with shimmering hexagonal patterns.
Countless golden hexagons emerged around her body.
Layer upon layer.
Constructing something.
Building something.
Then—
The Echo Suit Mark II activated.
The armor assembled itself around Rapi.
Golden plates formed over her limbs.
Energy circuits illuminated.
Protective systems came online.
The transformation was beautiful.
Elegant.
Unlike Yorktown's naval aesthetic, Rapi's armor looked designed for a battlefield.
Fast.
Aggressive.
Deadly.
A soldier's armor.
The Nikkes immediately stared.
Especially Anis and Neon.
"Woah..."
Even Yuu nodded approvingly.
The armor suited her.
Very well.
Then Yuuki tapped the core.
The armor dissolved.
Golden hexagons broke apart.
Returning to the core.
Rapi's usual uniform reappeared.
The same outfit she had worn for years.
The same outfit she had fought countless battles in.
The same outfit she had nearly died wearing.
Yet something had changed.
Everyone noticed it immediately.
The Elysion insignia was gone.
No longer resting upon her shoulder.
In its place stood a new symbol.
A black diving eagle.
The crest of the Global Defense Initiative.
The room fell silent.
Rapi slowly touched it.
Almost exactly as Yorktown had done.
The Nikke stared at the insignia.
Then at her status screen.
Then back at the insignia.
The reality finally settled in.
She wasn't visiting.
She wasn't temporarily assigned.
She wasn't merely assisting.
She belonged here now.
Officially.
The tears returned.
This time she didn't stop them.
"From the bottom of my heart..."
Her voice trembled.
"Thank you, Commander."
Then she turned toward Yuu.
"Thank you, Doctor Yuu."
The scientist immediately scratched her cheek.
A little embarrassed.
"Ah..."
A rare sight.
"You're welcome."
Yuuki simply smiled.
"You're both welcome."
The room remained quiet.
Allowing them their moment.
Then the commander folded his arms.
A proud smile appeared.
"My first GDI NS."
Yorktown immediately straightened.
Then Yuuki looked toward Rapi.
"My first GDIN."
The Nikke smiled.
The designations carried weight.
History.
Responsibility.
A future.
"A powerful designation, right?"
Yorktown nodded.
Without hesitation.
Rapi nodded as well.
Both understood exactly what it meant.
The first shipgirl.
The first Nikke.
The first pioneers.
The first examples.
The first proof that the system worked.
Then suddenly—
Rapi turned.
And hugged Yorktown.
The carrier blinked.
Caught completely off guard.
"Huh?"
Rapi smiled.
A genuine smile.
One rarely seen.
"I guess I'm with you now."
Yorktown narrowed her eyes.
The smile already looked suspicious.
Then Rapi finished the sentence.
"Mom."
The room exploded.
Anis immediately pointed.
"YES!"
Neon nearly fell over laughing.
"I KNEW IT!"
Yorktown buried her face in her hands.
"Not you too."
The carrier groaned.
"Anis and Neon refuse to let that go."
The two offenders looked entirely unapologetic.
"Because it's true."
"Very true."
"It is not true."
"Mom is in denial."
"Neon!"
The room erupted into laughter.
Even Enterprise had to look away to hide her smile.
Yorktown sighed.
The kind of sigh only a long-suffering mother would make.
Which unfortunately only strengthened their argument.
"See?"
Anis pointed again.
"She did the mom sigh."
"That's definitely a mom sigh."
Yorktown looked ready to surrender.
Meanwhile Rapi simply held onto her.
Looking happier than she had in years.
And for once—
Yorktown didn't push her away.
Even if she absolutely refused to acknowledge the title.
"So whose next?"
The moment Rapi finally stepped back, still holding Yorktown's arm, a realization spread through the room.
There were still a lot of shipgirls and Nikkes left.
The silence lasted approximately three seconds.
Then—
Hands shot into the air.
Everywhere.
"Me!"
"Commander!"
"Shikikan-sama!"
"Master!"
"I volunteer!"
Yuuki stared.
Then stared some more.
Then slowly looked around the room.
Every single hand was raised.
Even Belfast.
Even Houshou.
Even Illustrious.
Even Vestal.
Even Pepper.
Even Mary.
The commander sighed.
Deeply.
Because he already knew.
This wasn't about being the next test subject anymore.
The system had proven itself.
The danger had passed.
The problem now was something entirely different.
Anis immediately pointed.
"They want the forehead kiss."
The room exploded.
Several girls turned red.
Several others immediately denied it.
Several others didn't bother denying it.
Akagi proudly raised her hand higher.
"Correct."
"Akagi!"
"What?"
The fox carrier looked completely shameless.
"If Yorktown gets one."
She pointed.
"And Rapi gets one."
Another point.
"Then Akagi should receive one."
Several girls immediately nodded.
A dangerous amount of girls.
Kaguya folded her arms.
"This wife agrees."
Yuuki immediately regretted starting a tradition.
Enterprise quietly looked away.
Pretending not to be listening.
Nobody believed her.
The commander pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Fine."
The room immediately erupted in celebration.
"Line up."
The room became even louder.
Yuu nearly laughed herself off her chair.
"You created this problem."
"I know."
"Deal with it."
"I am."
The scientist grinned.
"Poor Chief."
The next several hours became surprisingly orderly.
Shipgirls.
Nikkes.
One after another.
Each received the nanite injection.
Each synchronized successfully.
Each gained their own status interface.
Each received their GDI designation.
Each unlocked their future.
The process repeated again and again.
First the shipgirls,
Enterprise.
Illustrious.
Belfast.
Akagi.
Kaga.
Atago.
Takao.
Maya.
Choukai.
Houshou.
Avrora.
Wales.
Unicorn.
Javelin.
Laffey.
Nimi.
San Diego.
Eldridge.
Bulin.
Kurin.
Purin.
Akashi.
Vestal.
Then, the Nikkes.
Mary.
Pepper.
Ade.
Soda.
Cocoa.
Anis.
Neon.
One by one.
The medical wing slowly filled with excited reactions.
New status windows.
New abilities.
New possibilities.
The birth of an entirely new generation of Shipgirls and Nikkes.
And after every successful integration—
A forehead kiss.
The system rapidly became very popular.
Far more popular than the technology itself.
At least according to Anis.
Eventually—
Akagi's turn arrived.
The room immediately became nervous.
Especially Yuuki.
The fox carrier practically floated toward him.
Eyes sparkling.
Tails swaying.
The smile alone made everyone concerned.
The injection went perfectly.
The synchronization went perfectly.
The status screen appeared.
Everything proceeded normally.
Until the forehead kiss.
Yuuki leaned forward.
Tap.
A gentle kiss on her forehead.
Mission accomplished.
Or so he thought.
Akagi immediately attempted to upgrade the target location.
Several girls shouted warnings.
Yuuki barely had time to react.
The fox carrier lunged.
"Kyaaa! Shikikan-sama!"
Only for another tail to suddenly wrap around her waist.
And yank her backwards.
"Kaguya?!"
The fox princess calmly held the struggling carrier several meters away.
"No."
Akagi pointed dramatically.
"Release me."
"No."
"This is between me and Shikikan-sama."
"No."
The room exploded into laughter.
Akagi continued struggling.
Her tails flailed dramatically.
Kaguya remained completely unmoved.
"This wife prevented a crime."
"It was not a crime."
"It absolutely was."
Yorktown nodded immediately.
"So did Enterprise."
"So did Belfast."
"So did Rapi."
Even Houshou looked amused.
Akagi stared.
Betrayed by everyone.
The fox carrier eventually pouted.
A spectacular pout.
One capable of winning wars.
Unfortunately it had no effect.
Yuuki immediately used the opportunity to retreat.
Several steps.
Then several more.
Putting a safe distance between himself and the very affectionate fox.
"Traitor."
Akagi pointed at Kaguya.
"This wife accepts the title."
The room laughed again.
Meanwhile the integrations continued.
By sunset, nearly every shipgirl and Nikke present had completed synchronization.
Status interfaces glowed.
New GDI crests rested proudly upon uniforms.
Echo Suit cores had been distributed.
Future upgrade paths unlocked.
The first generation of the Leveling System had officially gone live.
What had started with Yorktown.
What had continued with Rapi.
Now belonged to everyone.
And somewhere in the distance—
Vergil remained asleep.
Completely unaware that while he was resting, an entire army had just become stronger.
Yuu looked toward the horizon.
Then toward the newly integrated fleet.
Then toward the sleeping scientist who would inevitably lose his mind when he saw the results tomorrow.
A smile appeared.
"Tomorrow is going to be fun."
Yuuki nodded.
"Very fun."
Neither of them mentioned that Vergil would probably refuse to sleep for another week afterward.
Everyone already knew.
The mood inside the medical wing became strangely mixed.
Excitement.
Relief.
Disbelief.
And for the Nikkes—
A deep sense of loss returning alongside hope.
Anis looked at her status screen.
Then at her weapon.
Then back at the status screen again.
A grin spread across her face.
"This is amazing."
Then she suddenly became quiet.
Because for the first time in a long time—
She could feel it again.
Potential.
The ability to grow stronger.
The possibility of becoming more.
Not through replacement parts.
Not through Ark experiments.
Not through endless suffering.
But through her own effort.
Around the room, many Nikkes experienced the same feeling.
Some smiled.
Some laughed.
Some cried.
Some simply sat quietly staring at their hands.
Rediscovering things they thought were gone forever.
Neon, meanwhile, remained Neon.
"FIREPOWER!"
The shout echoed throughout the medical wing.
Several people jumped.
The Nikke immediately summoned her restored weapon.
Eyes sparkling.
"MY FIREPOWER IS BACK!"
Another shout.
"AND NOW I CAN LEVEL UP MY FIREPOWER!"
Another.
"THEN I CAN GET EVEN MORE FIREPOWER!"
Rapi sighed.
Yorktown sighed.
Even Yuuki sighed.
Nothing had changed.
The room laughed.
Yet beneath the laughter, the Nikkes understood something important.
When they had been deactivated.
When their powers had faded.
When their weapons had disappeared.
Many believed those parts of themselves were gone forever.
Now—
They had returned.
Militaria.
Anis's arsenal.
Neon's equipment.
Every unique capability tied to their Nikke identities.
Restored.
Awakened.
Waiting to grow stronger.
Pepper quietly wiped her eyes.
Mary noticed.
"You okay?"
The doctor nodded.
"Just..."
She looked around.
"...happy."
A pause.
"And a little sad."
Several Nikkes nodded.
They understood.
Because this should have happened long ago.
Years ago.
For countless sisters who never survived long enough to see it.
The room became quiet.
Only for a moment.
Then Yuuki deliberately clapped his hands.
"No dwelling on sadness today."
The commander smiled.
"We honor them by moving forward."
Several Nikkes nodded.
The mood brightened again.
Then another voice spoke.
"Nayuta."
Everyone turned.
The Pilgrim clone had been unusually quiet.
Yuu was currently examining her diagnostics.
Several screens floated nearby.
Then the scientist sighed.
"Hmm."
That immediately worried everyone.
"What?"
Nayuta tilted her head.
"Bad news?"
"Not exactly."
Yuu enlarged the diagnostic report.
"The system cannot integrate you."
The room blinked.
"What?"
Nayuta looked surprised.
"Why?"
"Because you're a clone."
The answer stunned several people.
Yuu pointed toward the data.
"The nanites recognize biological ownership."
Another point.
"Your current body is linked to another origin source."
Another.
"The original Nayuta."
The clone immediately understood.
"Oh."
The scientist nodded.
"If we integrate the original body later..."
The display shifted.
"...all subsequent clones will inherit the leveling system automatically."
The room immediately became interested.
"Automatically?"
"Yes."
Yuu nodded.
"The original serves as the master profile."
Another gesture.
"All clones become extensions."
Nayuta's eyes widened.
"Wait."
The scientist smiled.
"There's more."
That sentence was always dangerous.
The room leaned forward.
"Clones cannot gain levels independently."
The room nodded.
That sounded fair.
Then Yuu continued.
"But."
A pause.
"If the original Nayuta reaches Level 100..."
Another pause.
"...every clone she creates will also be Level 100."
Silence.
The room froze.
Yuu continued.
"If the original reaches Level 200."
Another display appeared.
"Every clone becomes Level 200."
The room stared.
Then realization struck.
Anis pointed.
"Wait."
Another point.
"Doesn't that mean—"
"Yes."
Yuu nodded.
Several girls widened their eyes.
Because they had all reached the same conclusion.
Nayuta slowly smiled.
Then smiled wider.
Then wider.
Then wider still.
"Oh."
The room collectively took a step back.
That smile was dangerous.
Very dangerous.
Yuu continued.
"Experience gained by clones returns to the original."
The room froze.
Again.
Then Anis immediately shouted.
"THAT'S CHEATING!"
Neon pointed.
"SHE CAN BE EVERYWHERE!"
Pepper blinked.
"She can level while sleeping."
Mary stared.
"That's absurd."
Even Yorktown looked shocked.
Meanwhile Nayuta looked increasingly pleased.
The Pilgrim clone imagined dozens.
Hundreds.
Thousands of herself.
Scattered across the world.
Training.
Exploring.
Fighting.
Gathering experience.
All feeding back into one source.
One original.
One collective growth path.
The other girls immediately became jealous.
"I want that."
"No you don't."
"I really do."
"It sounds exhausting."
Nayuta ignored them.
Because she was already imagining the possibilities.
For the first time since arriving here—
She wanted to reunite with her original body as soon as possible.
Not because she had to.
But because she couldn't wait.
The moment the original integrated into the system—
Every clone would become part of something greater.
And judging by Yuu's calculations—
The entire world was about to discover why an army of Nayutas was a terrifying concept.
Nayuta was exceptionally pleased with the results.
Perhaps a little too pleased.
The moment Yuu finished explaining the clone mechanics, the Pilgrim had already begun planning.
"So tomorrow."
Everyone looked toward her.
"I merge with my original."
She pointed at herself.
"Receive the Leveling System."
Another point.
"Then split apart again."
Yuu nodded.
"That should work."
Nayuta smiled.
A dangerous smile.
The same smile scientists made before creating future problems.
The same smile commanders made before starting wars.
The same smile Yuuki and Vergil shared whenever they discovered something interesting.
The room immediately became concerned.
"Don't do anything weird."
Anis warned.
"No promises."
"That answer worries me."
"It should."
The room laughed.
Meanwhile, the integrations continued.
One after another.
Until eventually—
Only one person remained.
Kaguya.
The fox woman stepped forward with far more confidence than anyone else.
Unlike Yorktown.
Unlike Rapi.
Unlike the others.
She looked completely unconcerned.
The reason was simple.
She was already absurdly powerful.
Yuu had spent several hours analyzing her data.
The conclusion remained the same.
"Ridiculous."
The scientist folded her arms.
Several girls looked confused.
"How ridiculous?"
Yuu pointed toward Kaguya.
"At Level 1."
A pause.
"She's approximately forty times stronger than an average shipgirl."
The room immediately became silent.
Then several jaws dropped.
"Forty?"
"Four-zero?"
"That's legal?"
Kaguya looked pleased.
Very pleased.
The fox woman's tails swayed proudly behind her.
Even Yuuki had to admit it.
The number was absurd.
After all—
This was someone capable of fighting Ash.
A META shipgirl.
And ending in a stalemate.
At Level 1.
The implication alone was terrifying.
Kaguya accepted the injection.
The nanites synchronized almost instantly.
Then her interface appeared.
A shimmering golden panel unfolded before her.
The room leaned forward.
Reading.
Processing.
Then staring.
========================
Name: Kaguya
Designation: GDINS Kaguya
(Global Defense Initiative Naval Ship)
Former Faction: Sakura Empire
Title: Arcane of the East
Classification: Arcane Shipgirl
Rank: Recruit Rank 20
Level: 1
Maximum Level: 200
Retrofit Required to Breakthrough Level Cap 400
XP Required for Next Level: 1000
========================
Several girls nodded.
So far, everything looked familiar.
Then they reached the next section.
========================
Augmentation: 40x Base Power
========================
The room froze.
Again.
Akashi immediately pointed.
"Nyaa?!"
Even Yorktown looked alarmed.
The carrier compared her own status screen to Kaguya's.
Then looked back.
Then compared again.
The gap was absurd.
Kaguya smiled smugly.
The fox woman looked as though she had just won a competition nobody knew they were participating in.
Then more information appeared.
========================
Body Type: Arcane Metal
Core Type: Arcane Core
User possesses Arcane Metal Manipulation
========================
Several fairies widened their eyes.
Even Oberis looked impressed.
That wasn't normal magical affinity.
That was a racial trait.
An inherent capability.
Something tied directly to Kaguya's existence.
Then another section appeared.
========================
Ship Classification
• Super Carrier
• Super Battleship
• Super Cruiser
• Super Destroyer
========================
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Then—
"That's cheating."
Anis declared.
The room immediately agreed.
Most shipgirls specialized in one role.
Maybe two.
Kaguya apparently specialized in all of them.
At once.
The fox woman looked delighted by the reactions.
Then the equipment section appeared.
========================
Equipment Type
Arcane Sakura Pattern Rigging
Upgradeable to GDI Arcane Pattern Rigging
========================
Again, nothing unusual.
Then the attributes appeared.
Strength.
Agility.
Defense.
The same categories everyone else possessed.
The room continued reading.
Until suddenly—
Everyone stopped.
Because there was something new.
Something nobody else had.
========================
Intelligence
• Mana Points
========================
The room froze.
Yuu blinked.
Then blinked again.
Then enlarged the display.
The result remained unchanged.
Only Kaguya possessed the attribute.
Only Kaguya.
No shipgirl.
No Nikke.
No one else.
The room became completely silent.
Even Kaguya looked surprised.
"A new attribute."
Yorktown stared.
"Intelligence?"
Yuu immediately began scanning the display.
Her scientific curiosity activating at maximum speed.
"Not intelligence in the traditional sense."
The scientist pointed toward the subcategory.
"Mana."
Recognition immediately spread.
Several magical beings understood.
The fairies especially.
The attribute wasn't measuring intelligence.
It was measuring magical capability.
Mana capacity.
Spellcasting potential.
Magical development.
A completely separate progression path.
Yuu's eyes widened.
"Oh."
That single word worried everyone.
"Oh?"
Yuuki immediately asked.
The scientist pointed.
"Look lower."
Everyone did.
Then found the reason.
========================
Power Source
Arcane Reactor
========================
Another new category.
Again exclusive to Kaguya.
Then the final sections appeared.
========================
Talent Tree: Available
Upgrade Tree: Available
Arcane Tree: Available
========================
The room froze.
For the third time.
"Arcane Tree?"
Maya whispered.
The words sounded dangerous.
Very dangerous.
Because nobody else had one.
Yorktown didn't.
Rapi didn't.
Enterprise didn't.
Nobody.
Only Kaguya.
The fox woman slowly looked toward Yuu.
Then toward Yuuki.
Then toward her own interface.
A smile gradually spread across her face.
A victorious smile.
A terrifying smile.
A wife who had just discovered she possessed an exclusive feature.
"Dearest."
Yuuki immediately knew trouble was coming.
"Yes?"
Kaguya folded her arms.
Tails swaying proudly.
"It appears this wife is special."
The room groaned.
Akagi immediately objected.
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
The argument resumed instantly.
Meanwhile Yuu continued staring at the screen.
Not because of Kaguya.
Not because of the Magic Tree.
Not even because of the Arcane Reactor.
But because she had just discovered something important.
The Leveling System wasn't adapting people into a single framework.
It was adapting itself to them.
And that meant one thing.
Kaguya wasn't the exception.
She was merely the first.
Which meant somewhere out there—
Other Arcane Shipgirls existed.
And when they finally found them—
The system would likely evolve all over again.
The moment Kaguya's integration finished, several girls immediately relaxed.
The final recipient.
The final synchronization.
The final status screen.
Everything had gone smoothly.
The medical wing was filled with excited discussions.
New abilities.
New upgrade paths.
Future plans.
Talent trees.
Magic trees.
Level caps.
Everyone was busy talking.
Which meant nobody was paying attention to Kaguya.
A mistake.
A terrible mistake.
Because Kaguya had been suspiciously quiet for nearly thirty seconds.
Yuuki should have noticed.
He really should have.
Instead, he was examining the final diagnostics.
"Synchronization stable."
Yuu nodded.
"No abnormalities."
The commander sighed in relief.
"Good."
Then he turned toward Kaguya.
The fox woman had already received her Echo Suit Mark II.
Golden hexagons briefly shimmered around her body.
The armor materialized.
Then dissolved back into its core form.
The GDI crest remained proudly displayed upon her shoulder.
Everything appeared perfectly normal.
Then—
Kaguya moved.
Fast.
Far too fast.
One moment she stood several meters away.
The next—
She was directly in front of him.
Before Yuuki could react—
She grabbed his collar.
Rose onto her toes.
And kissed him.
Directly.
On the lips.
The room froze.
Absolute silence.
Complete silence.
Utter silence.
Then—
"UNFAIR!"
The medical wing exploded.
Anis nearly fell over laughing.
Neon pointed dramatically.
"FOUL!"
Enterprise covered her face.
Yorktown groaned.
Belfast closed her eyes.
Even Houshou looked amused.
Meanwhile Kaguya calmly stepped back.
Looking entirely pleased with herself.
Not embarrassed.
Not apologetic.
Not guilty.
Just pleased.
The fox woman smiled.
A victorious smile.
The smile of someone who had successfully executed a plan.
Yuuki slowly blinked.
Then blinked again.
Processing what had just happened.
Across the room—
Akagi looked utterly betrayed.
The fox carrier pointed dramatically.
"Treachery!"
Kaguya tilted her head.
"How so?"
"You stopped me!"
Akagi immediately stomped forward.
Several tails puffed up in outrage.
"When I tried!"
The room nodded.
That was true.
Several people had witnessed it.
Repeatedly.
Akagi pointed accusingly.
"You pulled me away."
"Correct."
"And then you did it yourself!"
"Correct."
Akagi froze.
The realization somehow made everything worse.
"That's cheating!"
The room immediately agreed.
Even Kaga nodded.
For perhaps the first time in recorded history.
Akagi and Kaga were united.
Against Kaguya.
The fox princess remained entirely unrepentant.
"This wife merely utilized superior strategy."
"THAT IS NOT STRATEGY!"
"It worked."
Akagi sputtered.
The room erupted into laughter.
Even Yuuki couldn't stop himself.
That only made Akagi more dramatic.
"Shikikan-sama!"
The carrier pointed toward Kaguya.
"Punish her!"
Kaguya immediately switched tactics.
The fox woman wrapped herself around Yuuki's arm.
Several tails appeared.
Far too many tails.
"Ahh..."
Her voice became dramatically tragic.
"Dearest."
The room immediately knew what was happening.
And nobody believed it.
"This wife is being bullied."
Akagi nearly fainted.
"YOU STARTED IT!"
Kaguya ignored her completely.
Golden eyes turned toward Yuuki.
Filled with entirely fake sadness.
"This wife requires protection."
Yuuki immediately pointed toward the exit.
"Save yourself."
The room exploded.
Several shipgirls outright laughed.
Even Yuu had to sit down.
Kaguya gasped dramatically.
The performance deserved an award.
"Ah."
A hand upon her chest.
"A cruel husband."
The room laughed even harder.
The fox woman looked utterly heartbroken.
The fact that she was smiling ruined the effect somewhat.
"You don't look regretful."
Yorktown observed.
Kaguya immediately smiled.
A beautiful smile.
A smug smile.
A victorious smile.
"No."
The answer came instantly.
The room groaned.
Because at least she was honest.
Akagi buried her face in her hands.
"This is impossible."
Kaga sighed.
The long suffering sigh of someone who had simply accepted reality.
Meanwhile Kaguya continued clinging to Yuuki.
Entirely satisfied.
Entirely victorious.
And entirely convinced she had won.
The worst part?
She probably had.
At least until Akagi started planning her next attempt.
Which worried everyone.
Especially Yuuki.