Battle 1

After leaving Acneria's territory, Fubuki was navigating through international space toward the Damura Stellar Cluster Commonwealth.

That said, the Damura Stellar Cluster Commonwealth was not her actual destination.

Shin nosuke had deduced that if Velvet was going to strike, it would be in this region.

"No vessel responses within detection range. No anomalies along the route."

"Understood. Maintain heightened vigilance for any possible situation."

"Understood."

"Where is the shield ship?"

"It should be behind our position, beyond detection range. According to schedule, it's approximately two hours' distance away. If engaged, the pirates killers launched from the shield ship would arrive in about one hour."

The detection capabilities of Velvet's A887 frigate were not to be underestimated.

In a situation where neither party's position was known, it was unacceptable to let Zany's group detect them.

Understood. If we make contact with the target and enter combat, we'll engage aggressively if it's a single opponent, but if there are multiple, we'll buy time and wait for reinforcements.

Understood.

Of course, from their perspective, our preferences don't matter much.

We're currently in the middle of international space.

Besides our own Fubuki, the only reliable support we have is Zany's Pirate Killer and Dag's shield ship.

"Approaching the orbit of Planet Carper shortly. Carper has an asteroid ring, creating blind spots for detection. Should we detour?"

The cluster of asteroids in the asteroid ring makes an ideal hiding spot for ships lying in wait.

"…No, maintain our current course. There is indeed a risk of an ambush, but they might also be laying a trap specifically for us if we change direction. Moreover, depending on the situation, we can always dive into the asteroid cluster to buy time, and if there are multiple enemies, we can split them up and destroy them one by one."

"Understood."

Continuing forward was dangerous, but Shinosuke deliberately chose to maintain their course.

Near Planet Kāpā's orbit, the asteroid ring was unnervingly quiet.

Just as he was beginning to think they should retreat from the hazardous zone,

"Position two plus fifteen, high-energy reaction!"

"Understood—evade!"

At Mark's sudden report, Shinosuke reflexively twisted the steering wheel.

A beam's flash passed just ahead of Fubuki's starboard bow.

She barely dodged it—had the evasive maneuver been even one second slower, she would have been hit directly.

"Where's the fire coming from?"

"We can't pinpoint the location! It's outside Fubuki's detection range."

"That's impossible! Even a battleship's fire-control system couldn't achieve such precise targeting from outside Fubuki's detection range."

"Yet it's happening... Warning—more incoming! Bearing 2.5 plus 10!"

"Damn it!"

Shinnosuke dodged the barrage once again.

The second shot would have missed even if he hadn't evaded, yet the beam still pierced through space about 100 meters ahead of Fubuki's starboard side.

In the vastness of space, such an extremely long-range beam strike with only a 100-meter margin of error was terrifyingly precise.

"Damn it! Is the enemy's aim better than ours?"

"This kind of long-range artillery strike isn't possible with modern technology. There's no recorded data on a system capable of this range."

"Even so, we're actually being attacked! Prepare for combat!"

"Understood. Transmitting all signals! Activating fire control system. Unlocking all weapons."

Though there was no attack after the second strike, they wouldn't have given up just because they missed the target this time.

They're probably moving locations to prepare for Fusou's counterattack.

Shinnosuke turned Fusou toward the direction of the second barrage and accelerated.

"I don't know what's going on, but we can't do anything without finding the enemy! Let's go!"

"Understood. Master, I don't know the cause, but I have a bad feeling about this. Be careful!"

Shinnosuke gave a sly smile in response to Marks' words.

"It's not just a hunch—it's a predictive forecast based on advanced calculations. And if the source of danger is unknown, that's even more troublesome!"

"Heading 12±0!"

"Confirmed!"

Shinnosuke slid sideways, dodging the third attack as well.

If this continues, I'll be on the receiving end of attacks without respite.

I must capture the enemy as quickly as possible.

[BLACK ROSE II: BRIDGE]

Velvet, the space pirate, chuckled as she pulled her finger from the main cannon's trigger.

"Aha! You dodged it again. You haven't even found me yet, have you? Just as I expected—truly worthy of me."

Even Velvet's A887 frigate, the Black Rose II, failed to lock onto Shinnosuke's Fubuki with its radar.

Moreover, Velvet wasn't even using her precision targeting system.

She had managed precise gunfire targeting the Fubuki, relying solely on her own abilities and not on the ship's systems.

"Now then, shall we settle this once and for all?"

Velvet smiled, her crimson eye fixed on the Fubuki far in the distance—visible only in her mind's eye.