Ch.337Let’s gooooooo! (3)

But things in life never go smoothly all the way.

While I was executing the unlimited submarine operation using Neranjara and pushing through with the main fleet as a sacrifice, Arcadia was doing well deploying her mobility tactics with the outstanding SSS-rank Hood-class cruiser, steadily eating away at the enemy fleet’s strength.

However, as the enemy fleet was being whittled down, “gaps” began to appear in their defense line…

“KWAAAAAANG!”

“Holy shit.”

Uroboros’s concentrated cannon roared to life, firing through the gaps in the defense line and striking Arcadia’s fleet.

Of course, Arcadia had anticipated such concentrated fire and tried to use enemy ships as shields, but…

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<Event Chat Window>

-[Well, this is something]

-[Those guys are just firing away regardless of whether their own troops get caught in it](Arcadia)

-[Holy moly](Icarus)

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When destroyers and smaller vessels became meat shields instead of battleships or cruisers, the enemy mercilessly unleashed their “flamethrower” as if they were perfectly willing to accept those losses.

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<Event Chat Window>

-[How bad is the damage?](Icarus)

-[One cruiser completely destroyed, and 5 destroyers that were following behind couldn’t change course in time and exploded]

-[Oh, and another cruiser has its upper deck melted, so it’s heavily damaged]

-[Plus, that attack disrupted the formation of the cruisers and remaining ships, so we’ll need to reorganize our formation](Arcadia)

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Seeing the performance of that damn concentrated cannon that instantly poured cold water on our previously favorable situation, I was horrified but also felt my desire to acquire it burning stronger than ever.

And while Arcadia’s fleet was taking direct hits from Uroboros, my fleet—now reduced to 30% of its original strength—quickly broke through the inner defense line formed by a few destroyers and patrol ships.

We finally managed to reach the vicinity of Uroboros, which was now forcibly running its heat dissipation system after firing its concentrated cannon.

“Now!!”

“All ships, immediately launch all assault pods at the enemy Uroboros-class!”

-“For our Savior!!!”

-“Waaah!”

After reaching Uroboros’s vicinity, I immediately began launching all remaining missiles along with all assault teams on board, including Partia, toward Uroboros.

Of course, while Uroboros couldn’t use its concentrated cannon, all its other defense systems remained perfectly functional, including its CIWS, VLS launchers, and various other defensive measures…

-“Assault pod hit! Escape impossible!”

-“Argggh!”

-“Everyone emergency evacuation!”

The assault pods, launched along with a few missiles, were taking heavy casualties during their descent due to the rain of 250mm railgun rounds firing at a rate of 10,000 rounds per minute, along with large anti-intercept shotgun missiles.

However, as I mentioned before, the Uroboros-class’s own anti-air system was quite poor relative to the ship’s size. So except for those unlucky enough to be intercepted, the remaining assault pods safely landed on the hull deck and other areas.

Additionally, as the troops from the first pods to land began destroying the external CIWS and VLS launchers, the number of assault teams successfully landing on Uroboros began to increase exponentially.

And among those assault teams was “Partia,” whom I had brought along for this mission.

At this rate, unless there were two or more SSS-rank superhumans inside Uroboros—which would be unfair—we seemed likely to secure victory without much trouble.

But such thoughts were merely my wishful thinking.

Right after the assault teams including Partia were deployed…

-KWAAANG!! PUUNG!!

-“Enemy fleet approaching from behind!”

-“Destroyer #4 heavily damaged… no, sunk!”

“Ah, damn it.”

Before we could even finish deploying all the assault teams, the enemy fleet that had already annihilated the monster ships we had sent as a diversion was rapidly approaching and bombarding us.

Just like how the Rotten Water Clan was utterly destroyed by the Magellan Clan, if this continued, the ships that were supposed to deploy assault pods would be torn apart. It was clear that we’d face a disaster where we’d lose my precious ships in droves without even capturing Uroboros.

Realizing this, I briefly considered my options.

“No choice. Tell Cruiser #1 to move forward and tank for us.”

“I’ll relay that immediately, Commander.”

I had the cruiser abort its assault stance, move behind the ships that were deploying pods, and act as a tank against the enemy fleet’s powerful bombardment to buy time for our smaller ships.

Of course, even though the cruiser was large, its armor was thin, so it couldn’t hold out for long…

But during that brief window of time…

-“Commander, we’ve arrived at the position.”

“Oh nice! Then commence attack immediately.”

-“Understood! All batteries, open fire!”

Cruiser #2, which Arcadia’s destroyers had been struggling to tow, successfully moved into firing range.

With its left side’s armor structure completely gone, it presented only its right side for “tea time” as it poured fire toward the rear of the enemy fleet.

Most of the enemy ships had their aggro pulled by Cruiser #2’s bombardment, which was relatively closer than Cruiser #1, causing them to make a 180-degree turn and charge toward it.

This aggro was further enhanced by Arcadia’s three destroyers, which had released the cruiser from tow as soon as they heard it had reached its target position, and were now firing everything they had while charging forward.

==========

Of course, those destroyers didn’t last even 10 minutes after fully engaging in combat before they were all sunk.

Cruiser #2 was also living on borrowed time as its frontal and right-side armor—the sides it had presented for “tea time”—were being stripped away in real-time.

But during the time they bought us, the main fleet was able to complete its assault pod deployment…

‘Sniff, thank you, destroyers.’

After expressing my gratitude to Arcadia both in the chat and in my heart…

“Partia, prioritize securing control of the Uroboros-class interior.”

-“Yes, Savior.”

I ordered Partia, who had entered Uroboros and was busy destroying defense systems, to prioritize securing control of the interior.

While the deployed troops proceeded with capturing ship sectors on their own, I decided to use my remaining fleet to engage the enemy fleet that had turned Cruiser #2 into a cruiser/battleship.

Of course, it was unreasonable for a fleet consisting entirely of destroyer-class and smaller ships (excluding the already devastated cruiser) to go up against a fleet centered around battleships and heavy cruisers.

So less than 30 minutes after the battle began in earnest, Cruiser #1, spewing black smoke and flames from all directions, performed a suicide charge against an enemy battleship, taking it down with it.

Most of the other ships were also destroyed, leaving only three destroyers out of my entire fleet.

However, as a result of this chaotic battle, more than half of the enemy forces that had been charging at me were also destroyed, including one of their battleships.

While my remaining three destroyers darted around, somehow surviving as evasion tanks, our Neranjara used the heavy torpedoes it had salvaged from Cruiser #2 just before it sank to methodically sink enemy ships one by one, regardless of type.

The enemy fleet, which should have been supporting against Arcadia’s rampage after decimating my fleet, was instead continuously entangled with our forces, having their strength gradually whittled away.