The engines roared to life as the massive fleets moved toward the towering superstorm before them. The scale of the storm dwarfed the fleets under the Commander's control. Greynar had never commanded so many fleets at once, but he knew each one of them understood their role in the operation.

  Some Sirens patrolled the area, scattered here and there, but the massive fleet cut through them effortlessly, like a hot knife through butter. It felt almost like a casual stroll in the park—except this particur park was leading them straight into a treacherous abyss. TB assisted the fleet in navigating through the chaos as the skies opened up, unleashing a torrential downpour.

  The rainstorm struck the fleets suddenly, and it felt as though the superstorm was gradually expanding. They were still some distance from the core area, yet the storm’s effects had already reached them, battering them from the side. And then, they were met with an unexpected encounter.

  ~Warning: Commander, an unknown massive structure has been detected ahead. It appears to be a new type of Siren fortress equipped with heavy artillery.~ TB’s voice echoed through the fleet’s communication channel.

  Amidst the raging rainstorm and the tumultuous sea, the silhouette of a structure emerged in the distance. It was unmistakably a Siren fortress, its ominous bck architecture accented by an eerie red glow that pulsed through its edges. Atop the fortress, a massive cannon loomed, its sheer size and menacing presence enough to put everyone on high alert.

  "A cannon of that ridiculous size?! Not even a battleship could endure a direct hit from that!" Memphis said with a frowned expression.

  "Tis a colossal weapon, most camitous. Had the Sirens fashioned such a device in their prime, the devastation it would have wrought upon us is scarce to be fathomed," Duke of York commented. "But..."

  "We'll to destroy it quickly, if not, we will be in danger," the Commander said with a murmur.

  "You need powerful concentrated firepower, don't you? Hmm~ This is nothing we can't handle!" the Queen decred confidently. Turning to her communicator, she called out, "George! Are you in position?"

  "Your Majesty, our fleet is standing by," George responded promptly. "The Royal Knight is loaded and ready to fire."

  Elizabeth nodded. "Then let's show my servant that the Royal Navy's firepower is not to be underestimated!"

  "No matter how sturdy the Sirens believe their defenses to be, our precise volleys will reduce them to nothing but dust," York said with a confident smile.

  "Target locked," Prince of Wales said over the communication. "Let us show the might of the legendary KGV-css."

  As the mass-produced fleets took aim alongside the Royal dies, Greynar also readied himself, eager to test the capabilities of the KGV vessel. As they closed in on the giant facility, the structure roared to life. The entire fleet focused their fire on a single point—the massive cannon at the center.

  "All fleets, take aim!" the Commander ordered. "FIRE!"

  A barrage erupted from the fleets, sending the recently activated facility into a massive explosion. The giant Siren fortress crumbled under the onsught, breaking apart in fiery chaos. To ensure its destruction, the Commander swiftly issued another order to bombard the facility. Countless meteoric spears rained down upon the fortress, ensuring it would stay dead.

  Realizing that a third strike would be overkill, they pressed forward along their path. The fleets methodically cleared the remaining areas, steadily advancing toward the heart of the NA Ocean. Each time they encountered a Siren, the enemy was swiftly obliterated in a storm of explosions. Just like the initial mission, the objective remained clear: eliminate any Sirens on sight and destroy the facilities harboring them.

  With each yer of defenses the Sirens had arranged, the fleet swiftly cleared the first yer and advanced toward the second. However, before they could fully enter the second line of defenses, their progress was abruptly halted.

  ~Analysis Module Syncing: Commander, the route ahead is obstructed by Siren blockade facilities,~ TB’s voice echoed in warning.

  "Great, now they're resorting to blocking our path," he muttered, his gaze fixed on the colossal structures. The blockade facilities were lined up in a seemingly endless formation, stretching toward the horizon like an impenetrable wall.

  Stepping to the bow of her ship, the Queen squinted toward the edges of the barrier, her sharp eyes catching sight of some sort of mechanism that had deployed the blockade. After a moment of contemption, Elizabeth nodded decisively and turned to Belfast. "Bel, contact our reinforcements on the other side of the sea," she ordered.

  Some time ter, Belfast approached with an update. "Your Majesty, the Iris reinforcements are standing by. It seems they wish to speak with Master."

  "Very well," Elizabeth said with a nod. "Grant them permission."

  TB called out to Greynar, who was deep in thought, pondering a way to breach the blockade.

  ~Commander, permission requested to establish communication on your channel.~

  Snapping out of his musings, Greynar nodded. "Grant the request," he replied, his curiosity piqued. "Let’s see who’s on the other end."

  A voice crackled through his private channel, bright and cheerful, almost out of pce given the situation. "Hello, Commander! Need a hand with anything?"

  The speaker was none other than a member of Iris Libre, one of the reinforcements Richelieu had sent from Europa.

  "Tem!" another voice cut in sharply, it was a soft voice this time. "Ahem, Le Téméraire, mind your tone when addressing the Commander. My apologies for her behavior, Commander."

  The Commander chuckled softly at the interruption. "No need to apologize. So, are you two the only members of the Iris Libre fleet sent by Richelieu to assist with the operation?"

  "Unfortunately, yes," the second voice replied. "The Cardinal is also dealing with her own pressing matters, so only a small contingent of us were dispatched. That includes myself and Le Téméraire."

  "And you are?" the Commander asked.

  "L'Opiniatre," she introduced herself with a slight hint of pride. "Iris Libre magi–" She caught herself mid-sentence and corrected with a small ugh. "Excuse me, I mean Iris Libre destroyer."

  "Good. Since Elizabeth has already briefed you, we'll wait for you to locate the power source of this blockade wall," the Commander said.

  "Got it... Ah, speak of the devil," L'Opiniatre muttered. "We've just located what appears to be a Siren power source."

  "Then all we have to do is smash it to bits!" Le Téméraire's enthusiastic voice echoed loudly through the communicator. "Let's go Opie! We got a building to destroy!"

  "Tem!" L'Opiniatre sighed, her frustration evident even through the channel. "Apologies, Commander. We'll handle it and ensure it's destroyed properly."

  "Mhm, let us know once you've destroyed it," the Commander replied.

  "Understood," L'Opiniatre responded promptly.

  As the waiting game continued, the Commander let out a sigh when Helena entered the Bridge room.

  "Excuse me, Commander," she knocked lightly before entering. "A brief update from the Queen, other fleets from different sea regions have successfully broken through the Sirens’ yers and are now standing by, awaiting your command."

  Turning his chair toward her, the Commander issued a concise order. "Tell them to stand by for now. No drastic actions. Keep me updated on any new information regarding the Sirens in the area."

  Helena nodded. "Understood, Commander." She closed the door behind her with a soft click.

  Turning back to his monitor, the Commander pondered his next move. Once the blockade was cleared, a rge-scale sweep would be necessary to eliminate the Sirens scattered around the area. After that, once all fleets were positioned for the final push, they would advance simultaneously into the storm. This coordinated assault would trap the Sirens, cornering them from all sides and leaving them vulnerable to a decisive strike.

  But that pn wouldn't unfold so easily, not with the Arbiters and Ashes involved.

  The Commander groaned in frustration. "I really hate this operation!" His grip tightened on the armrest before a sudden beep interrupted his irritation.

  "Commander! Temmy reporting, we've just finished destroying the power source of the blockade!" she said over the communicator.

  "L'Opiniatre here, we've finished dismantling the main battery of the power source. It should be down now. Can you see it, Commander?" the gsses-wearing girl asked.

  Looking outside, the Commander saw that she was right. The blockade had been lifted, and the Siren's wall quietly sank, colpsing like a ship submerging into the depths. The fleets then proceeded, crossing the now-clear path. The Commander took a moment to thank the Iris girls.

  "Thank you both, I appreciate the help," he said, offering a slight smile.

  "No problem! Anytime you need us, just call!" Le Téméraire replied, her voice upbeat and full of energy.

  "We'll be rejoining the main fleet, Commander. See you at the core area," L'Opiniatre added calmly before bidding her farewell.

  "Alright, see you soon," Greynar said, then switched off his communicator and moved to a more public channel. "Everyone, stay cautious. We're entering a level 5 risk danger zone," he warned.

  With the fleets steadily clearing out the Sirens in the area, progress was swift. Queen Elizabeth had commanded the Royal Navy fleets to spread out and search for any hidden Siren facilities, while the Eagle Union, alongside Greynar, remained poised and ready. In case of a sudden Siren ambush, they would be prepared to handle it.

  "Amazing... In just a few minutes, we're making impressive progress," Memphis murmured.

  "It's thanks to Lizzy," Saratoga replied. "She's keeping us on standby so we can conserve our firepower for the final assault on the NA Ocean's core."

  Just then, Hood reported the results of their clean-up. "Commander, Your Majesty, we have successfully cleared out the Siren fleets and facilities in the surrounding area."

  Formidable added, "The Siren fleet put up some resistance, but under the relentless assault of our aviation forces, they couldn’t hold out for long."

  "Excellent," the Queen said with a satisfied nod. "Continue your reconnaissance."

  "The Sirens' assaults are weakening in the surrounding area," Saratoga murmured. "It seems they've concentrated most of their resources on the core rather than here. Lizzy, have your Royal Navy fleets on the other side conduct a thorough search. We can’t afford any obstacles during the operation."

  The Queen shot Saratoga a skeptical gnce, clearly confident her fleet had already done so, but she relented with a sigh. "Fine, I’ll ask them once more."

  The fleets continued their operations, clearing out the remaining Sirens amidst the relentless downpour. The weather grew harsher with each passing moment. When you gnce back, you could see the stark contrast of a clear blue sky behind them, a sharp reminder of how far they had ventured. They were now deep within the borders of the superstorm, and conditions were steadily worsening.

  "Report, we've discovered another Siren aircraft facility," Eagle reported to the Queen. "Thanks to the double search effort, we've also managed to locate and destroy their carrier fleets."

  "We'll proceed to the next area now," Perseus added. "Wishing you all the best in your battles ahead."

  "...Was that Perseus?" Greynar asked the Queen, raising an eyebrow. "I thought she—"

  The Queen interrupted with a smirk. "Surprised she's here? We recalled the fleets from the Arctic to assist us in covering the northern sector."

  "Her Majesty struck an agreement with the Northern Parliament to involve them in the operation as well," Warspite eborated. "Withdrawing the fleet from the por routes on short notice won't jeopardize the situation there—this was Her Majesty's strategic judgment. When we said we were sending everyone we could, we meant it." Warspite's tone carried a hint of cheer as she added with a pleased hum, "Now, onward! Let us cleanse this ocean of the Siren menace!"

  TB interrupted the fleets with a sharp, urgent warning. ~Attention, a massive structure has appeared nearby, likely a Siren fortress. Its design matches the data retrieved from Omitter's pace.~

  The relentless rain hampered their visibility, making it difficult to see far ahead. Through the downpour, a faint silhouette of an unusual structure emerged. It bore a resembnce to the icy formations of Arcana Sanctum, but this was not a floating block of ice, it was a fortress, ominously hovering above the waves. No Siren fleets seemed to be guarding it, yet there was an unmistakable sense that something lurked within its walls.

  The Commander immediately ordered the fleet to halt and instructed the carriers to unch their dummy pnes. These mass-produced aircraft, commonly used by the mass-produced carriers, were designed with slightly less firepower than the pnes the girls typically control. Their primary purpose was to act as decoys, testing whether anything would target them.

  As the pnes circled above the floating fortress, a shadow darted out from the depths of the structure, striking one of the pnes’ wings with devastating precision. The impact caused an immediate explosion, confirming that the fortress was not idle after all.

  TB quickly responded, her voice cutting through the tension as she analyzed the situation. ~Warning, multiple strong signal reactions detected ahead, presumed to be several Siren testers. Correction: Cluster of Tester-type Sirens. Prepare for engagement.~ She corrected herself when she noticed hundreds of them floating in the sky.

  "Tester?!" Saratoga excimed, her expression one of surprise. "Did they finally give up and upgrade what they're sending at us?"

  "They're Tester vessels, more specifically," Memphis muttered. "So not quite. Vessels aren't capable of verbal communication. Also, I've heard reports about them from other fleets. They said the vessels aren't pushovers by any means, but apparently, they ck a central command unit. They're essentially above mass-produced units, but still far below any of the Sirens' elite main units."

  "Now this is a real fight!" Baltimore pumped her fist with a fierce smile. "Seeing as these are watered-down Testers, it's safe to say they're sending the toughest thing this defensive line has to offer. Hehe~ I feel like I haven’t had much fun with them along the way, so I might as well use these mass-produced Testers to get a feel for it!"

  "Baltimore, let me join too!" A pink-haired twintail appeared by her side, Bremerton, smirking behind her visor, added, "Hehe! We'll kill some time today before the big party."

  Baltimore turned to the KGV vessel behind her. "Commander, may we?"

  "Careful, they're still Tester vessels after all," he cautioned.

  "We will," Baltimore nodded confidently. "Now, sis, take the left side, and I'll handle the right. Let's show the Royal Navy what the Baltimore-css can do when paired together."

  The two broke away from the formation, charging forward as Tester vessels rained down like a barrage of arrows. Baltimore and Bremerton split off, each aiming their anti-air guns upward. Baltimore clenched her fist, ready for a powerful punch, and unched herself into the sky to meet the descending Testers.

  "Eat this!" Baltimore shouted as the edge of her glove transformed into a set of knuckles, smming into the oncoming enemies.

  The Tester vessels were knocked back by the shockwave, their forms crumpling under the sheer force of the blow. Given that the shipgirls' strength far surpassed that of ordinary humans, it was a devastating strike capable of obliterating them in an instant. The knuckles Baltimore used were part of her rigging, a specialized upgrade she had equipped for this mission. As one of the shipgirls whose gear had been enhanced, Baltimore's new gear was specifically designed to handle the increasingly powerful Sirens they faced.

  Then there was Bremerton, her twin-tailed hair flowing behind her as she dashed through the chaos. With a smirk tugging at her lips, she accelerated rapidly, her rigging transforming into a sleek, arrow-like shape as she shot forward. Using a rock as her stepping stone, she propelled herself skyward, her movements fluid and precise. As she ascended, Bremerton unleashed a barrage of bsts from her turrets, the shots ripping through the Tester vessels that were hot on her tail.

  Observing the unfolding battle, the Commander gave his order with a firm voice. "Enterprise, Intrepid, target the floating fortress above. Destroy it, and we’ll stop the Tester vessels from continuously spawning." He gestured toward the hole in the fortress, where silhouettes were emerging, one after another.

  As the order was issued, one of the Tester vessels made a beeline toward the fleets. Belfast, alongside the maid corps, immediately opened fire, their anti-air guns cutting through the incoming threats with precision. Greynar quickly assessed the situation and commanded the Royal Navy to hold the line, pushing back the Tester vessels.

  Seeing that the battle was getting tougher, he issued another command. "George, rain your salvo onto the Tester vessels. We need to break their formation and halt their advance."

  "On it!" George responded without hesitation, commanding the mass-produced fleets to lock onto the floating Testers in the distance. With precision, the fleets unleashed a powerful barrage, nding direct hits on the targets. Explosions erupted, sending the Tester vessels into fiery disarray.

  Enterprise and Intrepid's fighters skillfully dodged countless ser bsts from the Testers, returning fire at the base of the floating fortress. As one Tester nearly pounced on them, they swiftly ascended above the fortress, narrowly avoiding the attack.

  Despite the challenging weather making it hard to pinpoint the exact angle of the fortress's roof, they didn't hesitate. Enterprise drew her two arrows, unching them at the fortress, while Intrepid’s pnes worked tirelessly to clear the sky of any remaining Testers.

  As Enterprise’s bombs and arrows struck the floating fortress, it erupted in a mechanical roar, reminiscent of a clock striking with a resounding ding. A swirling portal materialized beside the fortress, and from it emerged a massive Siren Command vessel. The enormous craft, about the size of a football field, bristled with turrets and sported a runway for unching pnes.

  “Fuck, I guess that’s the big boss around here,” Greynar muttered, his tone tense. “Bremerton, Baltimore, fall back and regroup. Focus your fire on the hull of that Siren vessel!”

  Both sisters nodded, quickly retreating to reposition for the next assault.

  As all fleets gradually took aim at the massive Siren Command vessel, the Queen's voice rang out with authority, ordering the attack. In unison, the turrets of every ship roared to life, unleashing a deafening volley that streaked through the sky before descending upon the Command vessel in a relentless barrage.

  The coordinated assault tore through the Siren ship with precision, chipping away at its defenses piece by piece before it could mount a proper counterattack. Under the overwhelming firepower, the Siren floating fortress crumbled alongside the Command vessel, while the swarm of Tester clones fell lifeless, their systems deactivated.

  A tense silence settled over the battlefield as the fleets remained on high alert, their eyes scanning for any remaining threats. The Commander broke the quiet, his voice calm but commanding. "Stand down, everyone." Turning to the AI, he added, "TB, run a scan of the area. Check for any remaining Siren presence."

  ~Analysis module syncing: Commander, no enemy responses detected in the surrounding area~, the AI reported. After a brief pause, she continued, ~Initiating combat data analysis. Analysis complete. This fleet and three others have successfully broken through the Sirens' defenses. The first line of defense in the NA Ocean has been completely breached.~

  "Commander, may I tell you something?" Saratoga's voice came through the communicator, quieter than usual.

  He responded with a curious gnce. "What is it?"

  "The floating fortress we just encountered... it bore a striking resembnce to Iron Blood’s architecture," she said, her tone ced with concern. "I hope my hunch is wrong, but I think the Sirens may have started mimicking the designs and strategies of those who once allied with them."

  Thinking Saratoga might be onto something, the Commander added his own perspective. "You might be right, but what if it's the other way around? What if Iron Blood was the one copying the Sirens' designs?"

  Saratoga fell silent for a moment before replying softly. "I guess you have a point. Maybe I’m just being overly skeptical. Sorry, Commander."

  "It’s okay," he said, his tone comforting. "You can always voice your concerns to me, Saratoga. It’s better to share them than to keep them bottled up."

  "First a Mirror Sea, now a floating fortress... It seems the Sirens are trying something entirely new every time," the Queen murmured thoughtfully. "Even Iron Blood has been striving to replicate such feats of technology."

  "We've completely broken through their first line of defense," Enterprise interjected, her expression serious. "Next is the second line." She hesitated briefly before continuing. "But something is strange. I just received word from Indiana on the other side. She reported that they found no Siren facilities beyond the first line—just an empty area within the storm’s boundaries."

  Her words drew everyone's attention, their gazes fixed on her in concern. The report felt out of pce. There was no logical reason for the Sirens to leave their second line unguarded unless they had abandoned the area entirely and concentrated their forces directly in the storm’s eye.

  Saratoga was the first to voice her concern. "Does that mean... they threw everything into their first line of defense and didn’t bother with the rest?"

  "Could the Sirens have concentrated all their strength on the outer defense line...?" Memphis suggested, theorizing aloud. "Maybe they’ve depleted their resources during the engagement."

  "There’s no strategic depth, no reserve fleets, no support facilities—nothing. A single defeat would mean total colpse... There’s no way we caught them completely off guard!" the Queen excimed, her tone ced with annoyance. "While it makes the operation more easier, it just means that they're waiting for us there!"

  "Even though each fleet has taken out a significant number of Sirens, it’s still not as many as we anticipated," Enterprise remarked. "One thing’s for sure—the enemy’s numbers don’t match what we know about the Sirens’ capabilities."

  As she spoke, the storm suddenly intensified, growing hazy and shrouded in a thick mist. A powerful gust of wind smmed into the fleets, forcing them to adjust their formations. Deciding to press forward into the storm, they moved cautiously, only to be met with an abrupt warning from TB.

  ~Warning: Abnormal meteorological activity detected in the sea area ahead. It is strongly recommended to maintain a safe distance.~ The AI’s voice carried an urgent tone, underscoring the potential danger.

  It was a Singurity within the storm.