152 Imperial Civil War Arc 10: Counterattack Begins

Sorry for the wait. Here's the revised version 152.

Going forward, updates will be less frequent—probably every other day, about three times a week—for polishing purposes.

side: Lorenzo

“...Damn it. That’s it?”

Before Lorenzo (the Seventh Prince), the beam of a fortress cannon from an enemy fortress ship was closing in.

At the very moment it seemed destined to strike, a blue line sliced through the space between the beam and the fortress ship.

Recognizing it as a capital warship, the enemy fortress cannon struck the capital warship’s field and vanished.

“Saved...? And that capital warship—what is it?”

Lorenzo (the Seventh Prince) wondered, but he was certain of its identity.

“This absurd strength... it’s Akira. Has his ability to change forms evolved?”

After deflecting the fortress cannon, the capital warship drew a red line and pulled away.

The sheer speed of the capital warship—its maneuvers so extreme they warped light itself, blue shifting as it approached, red as it fled.

Lorenzo (Seventh Prince) stared, stunned beyond disbelief, then found himself oddly fascinated.

After a moment of slack-jawed silence, Lorenzo (Seventh Prince) snapped into command.

“Counterattack! How much damage? After emergency repairs, we’re back on the line. We end this fight here!”

The capital warship must be activating its Anti-Dominance Signal Countermeasure Device.

The unmanned vessel’s control hasn’t been lost. Communications jamming’s been lifted.

“Send a signal to Imperial Regular Forces. Confirm the control codes from the enemy’s captured drone.

We’re turning that into our own weapon!”

Lorenzo (Seventh Prince) wasn’t done yet.

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side: Akira

"Guess we pulled off a miracle this time?"

I let out a breath, just as my cyberbrain blared an emergency alert.

『Degeneration Furnace — Black Hole Engine — has reached operational limits. It will go rogue if we don’t act.』

"Wait—what do we do? And why was the core still unfinished?"

『Yes. It was activated under emergency conditions, but construction is still incomplete. The ship’s full potential isn’t being realized.

Deploy external units. Shut down the core and stow it in the Dimensional Storage Vault. We don’t have time.』

"Got it. Authorized."

The moment the words left my mouth, the massive warship vanished.

The pilot seat in CIC was still the new model—but the ship visible from it? That was the old Personal Ship.

"Enemy immunity time's up. Should've wiped them out more efficiently!

This Personal Ship feels familiar, I guess—but if it takes one big hit, that's it, end of story.

Just a moment ago, wiping out the enemy was easy. Now, we're probably at a disadvantage in terms of force ratio."

Our combat ratio with Leonardo (the Fifth Prince) is now 70,000 to over 100,000.

Enemy Nebuhm Fortress Ship 5—Fortress Cannon disabled. Lorenzo (the Seventh Prince)'s Fortress Ship 4 and Regular Military Fortress Ship 5—Fortress Cannon 4 operational.

About even.

If Kyle (the First Prince)'s reinforcement of 100,000 arrived now, we'd win. But they won't get here for seven days.

So we need to find a way to reduce enemy strength…

"Is the Anti-Dominance Signal Countermeasure Device working?"

Yes. Certain components of the main unit can be used externally. The Anti-Dominance Signal Countermeasure Device is operating normally.

"Status of the enemy unmanned vessel's control?"

The unmanned vessel stolen from Lord Cox's expeditionary force has had its enemy control overridden.

Emergency alert! Signs of reacquisition on that unmanned vessel. It’s been taken over—now.

I panic. The sudden increase in enemy forces here is messing with the battlefield situation too much.

"What?!"

"Lorenzo, His Royal Highness, the Seventh Prince, has claimed dominion. Two hundred and fifty thousand vessels have joined our forces."

I let out a breath. Having allies you can count on—there’s nothing stronger than that.

Good one, Lorenzo (Seventh Prince). Can't let you beat me, now can I?

What about the unmanned ship under Leonardo, the Fifth Prince’s command?

Currently in the middle of a takeover attempt, but it seems countermeasures are being taken—back and forth, no clear advantage.

But we’ve successfully neutralized two hundred thousand enemy drones.

Now the ratio is ninety-five thousand to just under eighty thousand.

Leonardo (Fifth Prince)'s forces now consist solely of Leonardo (Fifth Prince)'s personal fleet—crewed vessels only—and Niahyūmu alone.

Once we take out Niahyūmu, our victory is certain.

"Hmm. How the hell did they manage to seize control of Niahyūmu in the first place?"

If we could crack that, this whole war would end.

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