Resolution

A violent shock runs through the interior of the Black Rose.

"Direct hit on the hull bottom! Damage to the weapon energy supply system. Main cannon output reduced by 30 percent. Two lower laser cannons and missile launchers are offline."

Upon hearing the operator's report, Belrose lets out a laugh.

"Aha ha ha! You did it!...But I'm so happy you flew right into my arms! As a reward, I'll give you a hug!"

Belrose abruptly shoved the control stick forward, flipping the Black Rose into a forward roll.

"Come on, face to face now! You're not getting away!"

The target was so close it extended beyond the scope's edges.

The Black Rose had completely locked onto the Nightmare.

[Dreamer]

The Nightmare had exposed its vulnerable upper hull directly in front of the Black Rose's main cannon, having just targeted the enemy ship's underside.

"Enemy vessel, fixed-point turn! Warning, evade—?!"

If hit straight on in this position, the bridge would be pierced in one shot.

"Got to make it in time!"

Shin nosuke twisted the steering wheel all the way, forcing the Nightmare to spin around.

Amidst the alarms blaring through the bridge from an awkward maneuver, before the Nightmare's main cannon could lock onto Black Rose, Black Rose's main cannon fired.

Direct hit.

The explosion from Black Rose's barrage reached even Nightmare's bridge, and just before the bridge's panels and monitors went dark from the blast wave, Shinosuke pulled the main cannon's trigger, covered in flying debris.

Three rapid shots from the main cannon struck Black Rose directly in front.

"Hit it! Let's get out of here!"

"Ryoukai..."

Shin nosuke barely confirmed that the barrage had hit, but with the lights out and numerous monitors silenced, the bridge enveloped in darkness, he turned the ship around and tried to retreat without confirming the attack's effectiveness.

Above all, he needed to check Nightmare's status immediately.

"Nightmare's ship handling response is sluggish. Damage confirmed."

"Longitudinal scratch on the hull... abnormality in the air conditioning control system..."

"？... Hey, what's wrong, Marks! Did you get hurt?"

I couldn't possibly get injured... I only ended up caught in the explosion.

It's the same thing! Damn it, it's too dark to see. You okay, Marks!?

Actually, the master, the emergency lighting inside the bridge is on...

The alarm echoing through the Nightmare Bridge shifts.

It's a warning of anomalous spatial jump.

"Space jump system is malfunctioning... If this continues, we could be flung anywhere... No, we won't survive the shock of the spatial jump itself!"

".................................."

Shin nosuke tries to regain control, but his body won't respond.

[BLACK ROSE]

The Black Rose's main cannon strikes the right front of the Nightmare.

The right side of the hull was torn open.

"Got him!"

Immediately after, the Nightmare's main cannon fired.

The Nightmare, suffering fatal damage, fired its main cannon again, further collapsing its hull.

"Direct hit incoming!"

Belrose swerved at Zakkbaran's shout.

"Damn! Not in time..."

The Nightmare's main cannon struck near the front main cannon of the Black Rose.

The front section of the Black Rose's hull was blown away.

"Direct hit! Critical damage to the combat energy system! Detonation imminent!"

"Evacuate the ship! Everyone, get out now!"

Belroza shouted.

"Too late, I'm afraid. Regrettable, but I won't be able to wreak havoc through space with you, Belroza-sama..."

"...Is that so. So this is my time to go, huh? Well, I suppose that's just how it is. How about the enemy? Did you get them?"

Belrose reclines in her seat with a calm expression.

On the monitor ahead of her, Nightmare's form is displayed.

Though in a critical situation, it's almost miraculous it hasn't yet exploded—though that, too, is likely only a matter of time.

"Anomalous heat detected within the enemy vessel. With that damage, they won't survive unscathed. No signs of evacuation are visible."

Belroza smiles contentedly as Zakkborn speaks matter-of-factly.

"So, mutual destruction, huh? Well, I have a few complaints, but it can't be helped. At least I've sent them to the underworld. Since we're already going down together, why not get along nicely over there...? They'll probably be annoyed, but I'll stick with them till the end. A little revenge from me! Ahahaha, ahahaha...!"

Amid Bellroza's laughter echoing across the bridge, Black Rose was obliterated in a massive explosion.

With this, the final showdown between Shinosuke and Velvet—otherwise known as Bellroza—was concluded, bringing their long-standing feud to a complete end.