Chapter 358: The Cost of Chaos

"Order the 'Marbello'," he said to the communications officer, "no need to rush back to the battle line. Have her turn to starboard, open the Distance, use the Main Gun to strike those charging Deguo battlecruisers."

"What about our formation…" Stuudi said worriedly.

"The formation can be reorganized," Jieliko said, "but we have only one chance to sink Shipeier. Look, the 'Luzov' is already out of commission, she's sinking. The other ships are also badly damaged. If we concentrate fire now, we can deal with them within ten minutes."

He paused, then added, "Moreover, once Shipeier is dealt with, Sheer will lose an important force. Then, no matter how much chaos he creates, he will be powerless to reverse it."

The order was relayed. The Marbello began to turn to starboard, opening Distance from the Iron Duke. Her ten 13.5‑inch Main Guns slowly rotated, aligning on the charging Luzov.

Almost simultaneously, the Iron Duke, Orion, and Monarch—four dreadnoughts at the front of the Yingguo battle line—pointed their Main Guns at the same target.

Shipeier, through his telescope, saw those rotating gun barrels.

He knew the final moment had arrived.

On the bridge of the Luzov, Shipeier lowered his telescope.

He tidied his uniform, brushed dust off his shoulder—though new dust would soon settle again. Then he turned and looked at everyone on the bridge.

"Gentlemen," he said, his voice calm as if discussing tomorrow's breakfast, "it seems our mission is complete. The Yingguo have finally turned their gun barrels toward us."

No one spoke. But each gaze said the same thing: we are ready.

"Then," Shipeier smiled, a bleak yet proud smile, "let us give the German navy, Admiral Sheer, and the brothers still fighting, one final gift."

He looked at the fire‑control officer: "All guns still able to fire, target the Marbello. No need for precise hits; just let her know—Deguo battleship, even to the very last moment of sinking, still fire."

He looked at the captain: "Engines full speed. No need to consider breaches, no need to consider flooding. We must close in as much as possible."

He looked at the communications officer: "Send a signal to the flagship: 'Mission complete. Good luck. Shipeier.'"

Then he walked to the observation window, hands behind his back, silently watching the silhouettes of the Yingguo warships drawing ever nearer.

The first salvo fell.

Four Yingguo dreadnoughts, over thirty large‑caliber Main Guns, fired simultaneously at the Luzov.

Shells, like the Grim Reaper's scythe, slashed the night sky and fell.

The first round struck below the bridge. The explosion blew away the front of the upper structure, shattering the observation windows; glass shards swept the bridge like bullets.

Shipeier felt something hit his back. The force was great, sending him stumbling forward a step. He looked down and saw a rapidly spreading dark mark on his chest uniform.

He reached out, his fingers touching warm liquid.

"Commander!" someone shouted.

Shipeier waved his hand, indicating he was fine. In truth, he knew he was not. He could feel power draining from his body, each breath bringing sharp pain.

But he still stood.

The second salvo fell.

This time, at least three shells struck directly. The Luzov's midsection exploded violently, but at that moment the Sedlitz rushed in, covering the Luzov. This gave Shipeier the chance to turn and flee.

However, shortly after, the Devringer, while attempting to break away, was hit repeatedly by the Marbello's Main Gun, its magazine detonated, and the entire warship disintegrated in a massive fireball.

The Sedlitz barely broke out of the encirclement, but with nineteen hits and over five thousand tons of water taken on, it survived only thanks to superb watertight bulkhead design, yet lost combat capability and limped eastward under the escort of two destroyers.

"von de Tann" was the luckiest—she turned at the last moment of the charge, using smoke and night cover, and miraculously broke out of the Yingguo fleet's fire zone; though she took seven hits, critical systems remained intact, allowing full‑speed withdrawal.

Meanwhile, on the Deguo main fleet, Sheer's chaotic tactics achieved partial success.

The Yingguo battle line, dealing with Shipeier's charge and destroyer torpedo attacks, had its formation disrupted, unable to mount effective pursuit or interception. When Jieliko finally re‑formed the line, the Deguo main fleet had already vanished into the thick fog and night.

But the price of chaos was heavy.

During the fleet's turning and scattering, the Deguo old‑style battleship Bormann (previously reported sunk in error, it was only heavily damaged) collided with the light cruiser Erbin. Both were severely damaged; Bormann ultimately sank late at night, while Erbin limped back to base, permanently scrapped.

The light cruiser Wiesbaden was hit by the Main Gun of the Yingguo battleship Invincible (one of the remaining ships of the Betty fleet, arriving in time), lost power, floated at sea until nightfall, and was finally sunk by a Yingguo destroyer torpedo.

Destroyer losses were greater. In a suicide torpedo assault, at least five Deguo destroyers were sunk or heavily damaged by Yingguo secondary guns.

On the Yingguo side, losses were relatively minor.

Aside from the previously lost Indefatigable and Queen Mary of the Betty fleet, the main fleet only had the Marbello hit at close range once by the Luzov's Main Gun, sustaining moderate damage but not affecting combat or navigation.

Strategically, Jieliko knew he had not achieved a complete victory.

He stood on the Iron Duke's bridge, watching wreckage, oil slicks, and occasional liferafts drifting on the sea. The searchlight's beam swept the water, illuminating survivors still struggling.

"Order the destroyer detachments to rescue the downed," he said, his voice weary, "no distinction of nationality, rescue all we can."

"Admiral," Stuudi walked to his side, "pursue? The Deguo likely haven't gotten far."

Jieliko shook his head, "It's dark, the fog is thick. Night combat isn't our strength, and the Deguo clearly excel in chaotic fighting. If we pursue rashly, we may hit mines, torpedoes, or be ambushed."

He paused, looking northeast—the direction the Deguo fleet had vanished.

"More importantly, our strategic objective is achieved. The Deguo open‑sea fleet has been heavily damaged and cannot challenge our sea control in the short term. The blockade line remains intact."