Chapter 287: Main Gun Anti-Air?

On the command ship Qin Ge was aboard, there were no other shipgirls—only him, Tiancheng, and Xinong, three people. This command ship was equipped with a long-range intercom device and an image projection device, so the ensuing battle scene could be clearly seen.

On the command ship, Qin Ge steered the vessel, following far behind the shipgirls ahead. Since the three of them could not provide firepower support on the later battlefield, they could only offer opinions and suggestions to the shipgirls ahead via the intercom.

If the situation became urgent, the command ship could also serve as a temporary medical facility.

At this time, the formation adopted by the Sakura Empire shipgirls was the ring formation used when escorting a large fleet.

Thus, at this moment the destroyers were on the outermost ring, the light cruisers just inside them, and the heavy cruisers, battleships, and aircraft carriers—i. e., the heavy firepower—were in the innermost ring.

Naturally, the Sakura Empire's flagship Zhang Men was at the very center of the axis.

After Qin Ge and the others had left the shore for about ten or more minutes, finally, the leading fighter spotted a human figure appearing on the sea surface.

As the Front Line report had said, beneath her was a shark ship equipment, and a white-haired girl with a single ponytail was riding shark sword equipment, speeding toward the Sakura Empire fleet's position.

When the aircraft engine noise sounded above her head, the white-haired single-ponytail girl glanced at the carrier aircraft in the sky, revealed a mad smile, then accelerated, speeding toward the direction from which the aircraft were coming.

"Detected, at position 175, 40 kilometers away, a Siren high-ranking humanoid is approaching! Judging by her appearance, it's the same as Kongou's Front Line report: she's riding shark ship equipment beneath her." Akagi beside her turned her head and said to Zhang Men.

Since all shipgirls were temporarily equipped with communication devices, Akagi's words also reached the ears of the other shipgirls.

Zhang Men nodded and said, "Halt the march, deploy defensive formation."

"Yes."

A unified, crisp shout rang out over the sea; all the shipgirls moving forward simultaneously halted their gliding motion, froze their bodies, and switched to a defensive stance, their eyes fixed intently on the position Akagi had reported, ready to meet the enemy.

"Akagi, did that Siren detect your fighter jets?" Zhang Men asked Akagi.

Akagi frowned and said, "Yes, she spotted my carrier aircraft and is accelerating straight toward us."

"It seems the enemy is overconfident." Mikasa said beside Zhang Men.

"Senior Sanli Xianbei, do you have any suggestions?" Zhang Men asked Sanli Xianbei.

"That Siren's overconfident attitude clearly shows she doesn't take Akagi to heart, and she doesn't even take our Sakura Empire United Fleet to heart."

"Therefore, this will surely be a tough battle. I suggest letting the unawakened shipgirls fall back slightly to provide fire support from the rear, while our awakened shipgirls take the front."

"This would also let us gauge the true strength of that Siren high-ranking humanoid, and at the same time avoid unnecessary casualties from misjudging the enemy's strength." Mikasa said to Zhang Men.

Zhang Men nodded and said, "I had the same thought earlier; how about letting them retreat to protect Commander Qin Ge's command ship?"

"That would be better." Mikasa nodded.

"Thus Zhang Men ordered, "United Fleet, all awakened personnel remain behind, prepare for the upcoming battle.""

"Those who are not awakened shall withdraw to the rear, protect Qin Ge's command ship, and provide corresponding fire support when needed."

"Yes!" Gu

"Although somewhat unwilling, on the battlefield the flagship's orders must be obeyed. Thus many unawakened shipgirls retreated in order, withdrawing toward the direction where Qin Ge was located far away."

At this moment, within the sight of dozens of awakened shipgirls, a black silhouette appeared on the sea surface; towering waves rose behind that silhouette, clearly indicating her great speed.

"Carrier fleet, prepare to provide aerial cover." Zhang Men looked at the distant silhouette and said to Akagi beside her.

"Yes." Akagi nodded and took the lead in releasing red carrier aircraft.

Kaga, Qinglong, Feilong, Xianghe, and Zuikaku likewise without hesitation followed Akagi, launching their own carrier aircraft.

"In an instant, the sky filled with carrier aircraft rose before the shipgirls, swiftly swooping toward the Purifier that was approaching from far to near."

"At that moment, a wild voice sounded in the shipgirls' communication devices: "Hahaha, come on, let's fight, let's really go at it!""

Hearing that wild voice, all the shipgirls' faces changed involuntarily; Akagi, looking at that figure, murmured softly, "Could it be that this time the Sirens have sent out a madman?"

"Indeed, the Purifier's first words upon seeing everyone were a challenge to battle; the fighting spirit in her speech was just like that of a madman who only knows how to fight."

"Regardless of whether she's a madman or something else, now is the time to start attacking!" Mikasa said, frowning.

"Hmm!" Zhang Men nodded, and the four rear guns gradually aligned, aiming at the Purifier's direction.

"United Fleet, crush the enemy!"

"Yes!"

"Ten or more awakened shipgirls beside her responded in kind, and at that moment a red light emanated from Zhang Men's body, taking the shape of a magatama."

Then the magatama split into several pieces, scattering like fallen stars, landing on the shipgirls beside Zhang Men.

"After this red light fell, the ship equipment on all the shipgirls began to emit a faint red glow, evidently bestowed by some mysterious power."

"Under this power's blessing, the carrier aircraft squadrons already rushing toward the Purifier in the distance also gained an additional layer of red light enveloping their frames."

"Yoohoo, looks like you're ready for an offensive; next it's my turn!" The Purifier speeding across the sea surface evidently saw this, but she showed no panic whatsoever; instead, she grew even more excited.

"She leapt onto the shark ship equipment, which then automatically lifted off, steadily hovering beside her as she flew upward together with it."

"As her ship equipment transformed, two devices resembling floating cannons detached from the shark ship equipment and then shot straight toward the oncoming aircraft squadron."

"This scene naturally fell into Qin Ge's eyes on the command ship, and the next moment his face froze with a stunned expression."

"Because he saw in the light curtain that the Siren named Purifier actually fired her shark ship equipment's main gun at the aircraft squadron, and what she shot out were not shells but several beams of light!"

"Those beams traveled at extreme speed through the air; even as Qin Ge had just seen the beam leave the Purifier's ship equipment muzzle, a string of aircraft in the sky were instantly shot down."

"Qin Ge blurted out, "Laser main gun anti-air? What kind of magical weapon is this?""