Chapter 300
–Third Person POV–
In Battle . Imperial Fleet – Flagship Leviathan .
As cannonfire was exchanged between enemy and ally, Sekrit’s takes command with her violet eyes wide open .
On the deck of the Leviathan, in the command post protected on all sides by iron plates, voices shouting reports overlap each other .
「One enemy ship sunk! Two ships on fire!」
「Enemy mid-sized ship approaching on starboard side―― firing Neptune cannons…… direct hit! Enemy ship completely destroyed!!」
「Receiving fire on broadside! Damage is minor!」
The overwhelming firepower of the Leviathan sends many ships to the bottom of the river .
The hull of the large ship is over 100 m long and heavily packed with 150 cannons in total .
In particular, the size of the five Neptune cannons on each broadside are larger than the rest .
The ship was able to continue advancing after incapacitating two Federation ships which tried to pincer from both sides .
It was almost like the ship was enforcing itself as the sole ruler of the water .
「Looks like the battle is decided . As I expected, Her Excellency Sekrit and this ship are both invincible . 」
The adjutant smiles at Sekrit .
「No need for pointless chatter . If the enemy does not want to be annihilated, they will run soon . Get ready to pursue . 」
The woman remains straight-faced as usual and answers in a harsh tone .
Sensing in her voice that she wasn’t displeased, the command post let out a collective sigh of relief .
「Federation ships are changing course, they are turning upstream and retreating . 」
「Give chase . Get on their ass and shoot them full of holes!!」
A small cheer leaked out at the sight of victory .
However the next report would spoil the little bit of peace in the room .
「A new enemy upstream…… it’s a large ship!」
Sekrit’s eyebrows twitch in discontent as she directs her gaze upstream .
「……looking at it again, it’s a transport vessel . It must be carrying a majority of the landing army . Send a few ships out and sink it . 」
Everyone glares at the lookout as if to say “don’t scare me’, making the lookout curl up and get smaller .
But the situation did not end there .
「Battleship Hanuras heavily damaged!?」
「Battleship Okinus is on fire! Continuation not possible!」
Two ships that went ahead in pursuit of merit burst into flames and start to drift unsteadily .
「What?」
Sekrit let out a rare expression of shock .
「From mere transport vessels―― what is that?」
When she saw that black ship crawl out slowly from behind the transport ships, she couldn’t identify what the ship was despite having seen plenty of ships and having experience watching ships being constructed .
「I- I have no clue . It isn’t that big……」
The subordinates also narrow their eyes and tilt their heads .
The black ship is slightly smaller than the large combat vessels and not as big as a battleship .
What was strange about it was the shape which only roughly resembles a ship, and also the fact it had no mast for the crow’s nest .
Moreover the smooth hull is completely black .
「The enemy ship……? It looks like they’re undoing ropes . Were the transport vessels pulling it?」
There were ten transport vessels and the same amount of those strange ships .
The black ships fell behind the transport vessels after being cut loose .
They were moving at a crawling speed, almost like they were standing still, except they were actually slightly cutting through the water upon closer inspection .
「So slow . They’re just riding on the river’s current . I guess that’s to be expected without any sails or oars . 」
「They’re coming straight at us though . In any case, let’s sink them . 」
With the transport vessels already out of the way, the large Empire army attacks the black ships .
The battle was one-sided .
The single horizontal line of evenly-spaced ten black ships were surrounded on all sides by the ships of the Imperial fleet and each of them, after turning to the side, fired their broadside cannons .
The line of ships could not do anything against the tremendous amount of concentrated cannonfire of so many ships…… that should have been the case .
「The enemy ships―――― have not been destroyed! They are unscathed, no damage was done!」
The staff officers exclaimed “impossible” and “there’s no way” .
Sekrit’s eyes also widen in surprise before strongly gritting her teeth .
The bombardment continues .
Over thirty Imperial ships have completely surrounded the ten Federation ships and are having a field day firing their cannons .
「Are they……deflecting everything?」
The noise could be heard from the Leviathan as well .
It was certainly different from the typical sound of hulls breaking . It sounded like the cannonballs were bouncing off a sheet of metal .
A black ship finally counterattacked after taking the countless projectiles head-on .
Numerous cannon barrels appeared on the ship’s broadside .
「Battileship Inuris is being shot at! Fire has broken out――!」
An Empire ship is abruptly bombed and it retreats in a hurry while on fire .
Using that attack as a trigger, the other nine ships also launch their volleys, the sounds of destruction echoing throughout the river .
The 30 vs 10 quickly became 20 vs 10, then 15 vs 10 .
「The high-speed combat ships don’t stand a chance!」
「The cannonballs aren’t working! They’re being crushed one-sidedly!」
「Have the battleships come this way . 」
Sekrit’s orders were relayed immediately using smoke signals and flags .
The fleet of battleships rushes over, easily catching up to the slow black ships .
「Battleships begin firing . 」
A bombardment of a greater magnitude than before is directed at the ten Federation ships .
The staff officers and adjutants smile thinking that this would be enough, only to stiffen their faces again not long later .
「The enemy’s armor has been damaged . ……That’s all . 」
The lookout sounds forlorn as if he is witnessing an illusion .
The enemy fleet was dented in a few places after the attack .
Besides the appearance worsening, no significant damage seemed to be dealt, and the ships cruise along like nothing happened .
The Imperial battleships were greeted with a bombardment in kind .
「W-what is that ship!? Battleship cannons don’t work on it!」
「Is it some sort of sorcery!? Is there a magician on the Leviathan? If so, bring him here!」
The staff officers start to panic .
It was something which probably happened on all the other ships too . With the fleet in disarray, the ship line began to shift apart .
The word ‘defeat’ is finally creeping into the minds of all the crew members, including even Sekrit .
（No, I can’t lose . Think . There’s no way the Federation would use something so uncertain as sorcery . ）
Sekrit shakes her head to clear any weak thoughts before shouting .
「Quiet down!」
Her voice resounded distinctly through the sound of booming cannons and stop the shaken individuals from speaking .
「It’s not sorcery . Open your eyes and look carefully . 」
Sekrit pulls out her sword and points the tip at the enemy ships approaching slowly but surely .
「That is the color of steel . The enemy ship has nothing more than steel armor . 」
「R-right . 」
「But……」
The staff officers are not convinced .
The important parts of the Leviathan are also covered in a layer of steel .
It was still unthinkable for steel to survive such a barrage without a scratch .
「Idiots, take a look at the draft . 」
The waterline is extremely deep for all ten ships .
Seeing that, a few staff officers let out quiet comments .
「That sluggish speed, the thick draft, the incredible defensive strength, they’re just a large mass of steel . The hull structure itself is made of steel . 」
「That’s not possible!」
「A mass of metal won’t float in the water!」
Sekrit doesn’t understand how an object made entirely of metal could float on the water either .
However she knew the Federation’s technology is above that of the Empire’s and the fact is it’s being shown right in front of her .
Arguing is meaningless .
「Shut up . That phenomenon is happening right before us . It’s not black magic or an illusion . Our enemy is a lump of metal . 」
Before they knew it, all the Federation ships have changed course and are heading towards them again .
With the black ships…… the steel ships in front, the Federation intends to challenge them to a decisive battle again .
「Close the distance . Blast them with the cannons at close range . Climb on board if you see the chance . They’re nothing more than a mass of metal . We’ll definitely wreck them . 」
The staff officers look at each other, nod, then let out an enthused shout .
Their enemy might be powerful, but there is no reason to be excessively scared after understanding what they’re up against .
They are also veteran soldiers .
「The first fleet will engage the enemy fleet . 」
「The third fleet will devote everything to shoot the enemy and attract their attention . 」
It was the start of the second act .
The endless chorus of booming of cannons created by the Imperial fleet’s even more terrifying bombardment and the Federation fleet’s own roaring cannons was loud enough to make it feel as if the end of the world was coming .
The countless cannonballs dropping into the river made it seem like the water was boiling .
The Imperial battleships close the distance as much as possible according to Sekrit’s instructions .
Naturally the steel ships counterattack with a bombardment of their own, but the ship’s own weight is too heavy for many cannons to be installed, so the firepower of the ships is not as outstanding as their defense . There was no way all the battleships would be slaughtered at once .
The battleships launch a volley at the steel ships at a range close enough for the ships to collide with each other, hitting the steel hull hard .
The armor was ruthlessly dented in all places and a part of the superstructure breaks off into the water .
Excitement rises amongst the Empire crew members after dealing the first signs of damage…… then a flower of blood blooms on the deck after suffering a counterattack .
The steel ships get damaged one by one, but the state of battle still tilts in favor of the Federation .
Damage was dealt . However it was exceedingly inadequate to stop the steel ships .
No matter how much the armor is dented or how much the superstructure breaks off, the ship itself doesn’t sink and neither does it stop firing its cannons .
Meanwhile the Empire suffers heavy casualties from running so close to the enemy ships to fire, many ships burning up, filling up with water, and then sinking .
「Your Excellency Sekrit, we have dealt a blow to the enemy . But at this rate……」
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