Cerberus vs. Black Rose

"Eh? Cerberus...?"

Seyla, who had just arrived at the command station on the bridge of A884, couldn't believe her eyes.

On the monitor, Cerberus was flipping around and retreating into the distance.

"I went to intercept the pursuer. I realized it when we captured you. It's another ship—probably the one that shot down Cerberus—approaching us. Shinnosuke must have noticed it too."

Seira's expression froze at Ira's words.

"Such a thing can't be! Ira, please..."

"Sera!"

Milena, sitting beside Seira, sharply rebuked her.

Milena's third eye was already closed, and with her two other eyes fixed on Seira, she shook her head.

"I am under Shinosuke's command. It is my responsibility and judgment that prevents me from going to Cerberus's aid. Our mission is to guard the convoy. We cannot endanger the convoy to save Shinosuke and the others. Shinosuke and the others knew that risk when they turned back."

Seira lowered her head, silenced by Ira's words.

Seira herself understands this.

The claim that she was assisting Ira's command was merely a pretext; Shinosuke and Marks must have lowered Seira and Milena from Cerberus to protect them.

Milena knew this, which is why she interrupted Seira's earlier words.

"...I'm sorry. I'll continue assisting."

The convoy continued advancing toward Akneria.

Kelberos would soon exit the detection range and disappear from the monitors.

Seira had made her decision to trust Shinnosuke.

The bridge of Kelberos still echoed with alarms.

Facing the enemy in this state was tantamount to suicide, yet neither Shinnosuke nor Marks seemed to care.

"Let's engage head-on. Focus the energy shield on the bow only."

"Understood."

"Leave helm control to me, Marks—fire control is yours. You have weapon control."

"I have it. Weapons status confirmed. Missile launchers damaged, no remaining missiles. Bow rapid-fire cannons and gatling guns are operational. Main cannon is functional, but output capped at sixty percent."

"Even just frontal firepower will do. Let's go!"

Shinnosuke accelerated the Cerberus.

Still, only the second engine is operational, limiting top speed to only normal cruising levels even at maximum output.

Velvet smiles amusedly, watching the Cerberus's movements.

"That you survived that barrage was impressive, but to come straight at me even in that state—just as I expected. You really are the kind of man I had in mind. I can't help but get excited."

"Miss, we've locked onto the enemy vessel. Shall we fire?"

Velvet shakes her head in response to her subordinate's words.

"Not yet. He's sharp—he'd dodge a shot from here. Firing blindly would only put us at a disadvantage. Let's draw him in closer before making our move. Hand over control of the ship to me. I'll sink him myself, with my own hands."

"Aye, Captain."

Velvet gripped the steering wheel tightly.

Even on the Cerberus's monitor, the silhouette of the Black Rose was clearly visible.

"With a main cannon capable of such long range, yet they're not firing at this distance. They're aiming for a one-shot kill. Perfect. I'll close the gap and strike them head-on."

Shin nosuke restarted the third engine, pushing the throttle lever all the way forward.

The third engine was displaying abnormal readings.

"Second and third engines aren't syncing."

"It doesn't matter! I'll take manual control."

"In addition, the third engine will reach critical levels in 180 seconds!"

"I know that! I'll push it to the absolute limit."

The Cerberus accelerated rapidly.

Velvet also accelerated the Black Rose, closing in on the Cerberus while aligning the main cannon's aim.

"How delightful, you want to embrace me so tightly? But I'm sorry— I have to kill you. My important sponsor desires it."

Velvet, her lips curled into a seductive smile, pulled the trigger.

"Enemy fire incoming!"

"Understood!"

At the same instant Marks' report came in, Shinnosuke slid the Cerberus sideways.

The misaligned engines worked to their advantage, allowing erratic maneuvering that temporarily threw off the ship's balance, avoiding a direct hit—but still, half of the bow was torn away.

"Forward rapid-fire cannon damaged, main cannon also sustaining further damage!"

"No need to hold back—counterattack!"

Shin nosuke redirected Cerberus toward Black Rose, and Marks fired the Gatling gun.

Though beyond effective range, a hit would still deal damage.

"Third engine at maximum capacity. Critical threshold in 15.14.13..."

"Third engine, purge!"

Shin nosuke detached the third engine.

Kerberos loses stability rapidly after losing its third engine.

Shin nosuke desperately maintains control of the ship, steering the bow toward Black Rose.

At that moment, Velvet tried to deliver the final blow to Kerberos, but couldn't lock onto it—its movements were too erratic due to the imbalance—so she had to peer directly into the targeting scope to aim properly.

"No need to hit it dead-on anymore. Even a glancing blow will finish it!"

At the exact moment Velvet placed her finger on the trigger, the third engine severed by Cerberus detonated.

"Damn it!"

The flash from the explosion blinded Velvet, causing her trigger pull to lag by just a fraction of a second.

Cerberus and Black Rose were now so close they didn't even need to aim directly at the front target.

"Fire, Marks!"

"Got it."

Marks fired the main cannon toward Black Rose.

Almost simultaneously, Black Rose's main cannon fired.

"Damn, it's a direct hit!"