'Hey, you're Illustrious! What's with the getup?' Souryu glanced at the titanic blade overhead and understood. 'So that's it—you're the long-missing First Ruler, the Silver King. No wonder a Gold-Plated Ship Girl radiates the might of a Three-Star Epic.'
So you've finally stopped hiding your strength!" Dido had long known Illustrious rivaled a Three-Star Epic Ship Girl; after all, one slap could kill an Abyssal Warship—far beyond a mere Gold-Plated Ship Girl.
'You all know the identity of the Silver King; if I can avoid drawing attention, of course I'd rather stay hidden,' Illustrious said calmly.
'True, but wonderful—I can feel your aura. Looks like you haven't broken the first seal yet. Even so, you still match a Three-Star Epic Ship Girl.' Dido beamed.
'Exactly. With Illustrious helping stall Anchorage Princess, three minutes will be plenty for you to launch your offensive Ship Skill,' Azuma agreed.
'Um, why don't all three of us attack together? Why should only two of us hold off Anchorage Princess?' Illustrius asked, puzzled.
When Illustrious asked, they realized she didn't know the current situation, so Dido carefully explained their status and the plan.
After hearing Dido, Illustrious understood at once, patting her chest confidently. 'Don't worry—we'll definitely last three minutes and won't let you down!'
'Perfect. No time to waste—let's fight!' Dido said in a low voice.
Seeing that Dido still hadn't attacked, Anchorage Princess grew bored and decided to strike first. 'Hateful Ship Girls—sink to the seabed!'
Boom! She shot toward Illustrious like a blue comet, so fast she became a streak of azure light.
'Here she comes—plan starts now! Hold for three minutes!' Dido said gravely as Anchorage Princess tore through the sky.
'No problem. Leave it to us,' Illustrious answered softly.
'Relax—with Illustrious, we'll definitely give you the full three minutes,' Azuma declared confidently.
Illustrious and Azuma exchanged glances, then erupted with mighty auras and rocketed off as silver and green lights to meet the onrushing Anchorage Princess.
Clang! In the sky the silver and green streaks—Illustrious and Azuma—collided head-on with the blue.
The three lights crashed together like meteors, thunder booming across the blue heavens; the blast churned the sea into furious waves.
Anchorage Princess gripped an ice sword, trading blows with Illustrious's silver sword and Azuma's rigging Tachi. Her swordplay was superb—she parried and riposted flawlessly; sparks rang in mid-air like hammers on anvils.
'So this is what Ayanami meant by the Admiral's true power—terrifying indeed!' Ayanami gasped, watching the shockwaves from the clashing lights.
Even halfway across the sky most of the energy had faded, yet the remnant shockwave still left Ayanami short of breath beneath her shield.
It made her reassess the might of a Three-Star Epic Ship Girl.
Clenching her fists, Ayanami vowed to become an Epic Ship Girl so she could fight beside the Admiral instead of merely sweeping up Abyssal Warships.
While the three fought, Dido flew nearby, erupting with dreadful aura as deathly qi poured from her body.
She raised her right hand, forefinger extended; deathly qi condensed into a nail-sized black light whose power grew ever more terrifying.
Beyond Azure Island the Admirals watched, appalled by Anchorage Princess's strength.
'Good grief—Anchorage Princess is monstrous! And Illustrious is actually the first Ruler, the Silver King! Yet even with Azuma she only matches her; the first seal must still be intact—her strength equals a Three-Star Epic Ship Girl at most.'
'Without Illustrious, Azuma might not last a minute; together they might barely hold three.'
'Exactly—Anchorage Princess is terrifying. Let's hope Dido's offensive Ship Skill can beat her, or our Ship Girls won't clear the next Abyssal Habitat.'
The Admirals nodded, eyes fixed on the screen showing Illustrious.
Illustrious gripped her silver sword and slashed at Anchorage Princess's back; the strike boomed like thunder, air rippling as if to cleave a mountain in two.
Unfazed, Anchorage Princess conjured an ice mirror that caught the blow inches from her back.
Clang! The silver sword crashed against the mirror, foiling the strike. As Illustrious withdrew, three ice swords formed above Anchorage Princess and shot at her.
Sensing their lethal power, Illustrious became a silver streak, racing to evade.
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