Scream

【Black Rose】

"I found you, ghost—no, Shinosuke Kashimura!"

Belloza, eyes wide open on her forehead, flashed a ferocious grin.

While jamming prevented the radar from locking onto the target, Nightmare, Belloza was tracking her using the optical camera instead of relying on radar.

Regardless, even within the limited airspace, locating a single ship in the vast expanse of space using only an optical camera was no easy task.

Yet, having repeatedly faced off against Shinosuke and honed her experience, Belloza used the predictive ability of her third eye—open on her forehead—to pinpoint Nightmare's position, and as expected, she successfully locked onto Nightmare.

"Share the target's position with all fleet vessels. All ships have acquired the ghost."

Upon receiving Zackburn's report, Belrosa nodded.

"Don't let the ghost sink Steinflügel! All ships, prepare for artillery combat! Don't fire missiles—won't hit anyway. Crush them with cannonfire!"

At Belrosa's command, the Black Rose Fleet simultaneously opened fire.

[Nightmare]

"Energy readings from behind. Artillery fire."

Nightmare, having stealthily maneuvered past the enemy's line of sight, was suddenly exposed to gunfire.

"Damn it! They spotted us! It's the Black Rose Fleet!"

"Likely."

Shinonsuke gripped the throttle lever and slammed it forward.

The dormant engine roared to life, and Nightmare surged ahead at full speed.

"Abandon stealth operations! Head straight for Steinflügel! Ignore the artillery fire from behind!"

Understood. I'll report only direct hits within observable range.

Markus, I'm counting on you!

Ahead of Nightmare, the Holy Rimlarian Imperial Fleet and the White Rose Fleet were locked in fierce combat with the target, Steinflügel, while the Black Rose Fleet and the Black Rose Fleet's independent unit pursued from behind.

"Moving forward is hell, retreating is hell, Markus."

"I may not understand what hell is, but I can tell this is a crisis, and Master, you're clearly terrified... trembling with fear."

"You're still the same as ever! In any case, we're diving straight to the bottom of hell!"

"That's exactly what I want!"

The bombardment from the Black Rose Fleet began to strike Nightmare, and at the same time, attacks from the Holy Empire, White Rose, and Black Rose Fleet ahead in the path intensified.

Though barely avoiding direct hits, damage was gradually spreading, and a fatal blow was only a matter of time.

【Yellow Rose】

"Phantom forces and the Black Rose fleet led by Black Rose are advancing. Estimated target: flagship Steinflügel."

Sitting in the command chair aboard Yellow Rose, Azelia nodded upon receiving the report from the operator.

"Every ship in the White Rose fleet, protect Steinflügel at all costs—even if it means using your own vessel as a shield!"

On the bridge monitors of each White Rose fleet ship, Azelia's face appeared, her forehead eye wide open.

Seeing Azelia's image on the monitors and hearing her order, the soldiers positioned their ships between Nightmare, the Black Rose Fleet, and Steinflügel.

(We've come this far—losing Erlen now would make everything pointless. I can't let him die...)

Azelia did not wish to take the throne herself.

Using the power of enchantment to bind Erlen's soul, she would make him a puppet emperor, placing upon him all the honor, responsibility, envy, and hatred that come with the position, while she herself remained hidden behind the scenes, pulling the strings.

This was not a scheme driven by authority, but by her own selfish desire for power.

Azelia's heart held no regard for Erlen at all.

Thus, while forcing her subordinates' fleet to serve as a shield for Steinflügel, she herself withdrew only the Yellow Rose.

"Enemy ship approaching rapidly! It's Black Rose!"

"...Huh?"

[Black Rose]

While the Black Rose fleet pursued Nightmare, Belroza's Black Rose targeted a different objective.

The Yellow Rose.

"Looks like you were here after all, Azelia!"

Through the monitor's crosshairs, Belroza locked onto the Yellow Rose with the third eye on her forehead and fired the main cannon without hesitation.

The Yellow Rose was obliterated by a direct hit from the Black Rose's main cannon.

"Target hit. Yellow Rose has been destroyed."

Belroza laughed aloud in response to Zackburn's report.

"Aha ha ha! Isn't this delightful chaos? But the real fun is just beginning. After the appetizer, comes the main course."

"Shall it be Steinfrygel or the Ghost?"

Belroza turned the wheel.

"If Azelia is dead, Elran will eventually regain his sanity—but it'll be too late... We've already set foot on the path to hell, one we can't turn back from. Shall we put an end to it?"

[NIGHTMARE]

Screaming as it takes attacks from all directions, the NIGHTMARE.

Though it has avoided direct hits thanks to Marks' navigation and Shinnosuke's piloting, accumulated damage has reached a critical state.

Jamming and stealth capabilities are now useless.

"Rear rapid-fire cannons and missile launchers damaged. Combat effectiveness reduced by 38 percent. No output reduction detected in engines and other power systems, but multiple warning lights are illuminated."

Even without Marks' report, red warning lights were flashing on the monitor at the captain's station, and alarms echoed throughout the bridge.

"Can't hold out much longer... Marks, there's still distance to go, but we'll settle this with a single direct hit through the enemy's gap. Concentrate fire ahead."

"Understood. Executing diversionary fire with forward rapid-fire cannons, Gatling guns, and missiles. Aiming at bearing 11 in five... five, four, three."

Shinonsuke slid the Nightmare sideways.

"One... now!"

With precise targeting through the narrow gap in Marks' defense, Steinfrygel was locked on.

"Warning! Direct hit incoming!"