Her already slightly plump figure grew even fuller. Two searchlight-like mini radars budded on the "headset" over her crown, her features matured a touch, Her long hair grew a shade darker, and a number of subtle tweaks rippled across her rigging.
There were even two triple torpedo launchers added at her waist.
But the biggest change was her weapon.
The black iron anchor remained—but the chain at its tail suddenly lengthened, and even slipped free of the iron ring rigging at the top of Blücher's left thigh.
Before her stunned eyes, a terrible new weapon grew from the chain's far end—
A nearly three-meter shaft: two tiny twin naval guns at the butt, two medium, tiered twin mounts along the middle, and at the tip a massive cleaver as big as Blücher's own torso.
A true ship-cleaving blade.
Hoisting the explosive power of that blade with both hands, she felt a born-knowing skill bloom inside her.
It was boundless confidence. With it, she could land many more critical hits—or be crit in turn.
Even without fully mastering it, Blücher had every right to be proud.
Göta Lejon, Alaska, and Deutschland had neither remodels nor skills; Saint George had a skill, but no remodel.
This time Blücher was out in front.
Raising the ship-cleaver high, Blücher murmured with new-won poise:
"I, Blücher, will rely on this blade to carve out true invincibility!"
Four hours and ten minutes later, the summon ended.
Hikaru smiled and shook his head.
"Seems I've got real fate with the Z Fleet."
From purple light—four-star—a tall girl stepped out: fringe-length blonde hair, a black-and-white maid dress, black stockings.
What seized the eye first was the weapon in her hands: a black-and-white giant gun more than two meters long, its barrel as thick as Hikaru's waist.
Perched on a high stool with crossed legs and coffee in hand, Vittorio Veneto narrowed her eyes and teased, "Repulse, are you trying to snipe the Commander's head off in one shot?"
"I—I wouldn't dare! It's just my power's not under control—don't laugh at me!"
The maid Repulse fumbled her rigging away and bowed deeply to Hikaru.
"I'm sorry, Master. Please forgive my rudeness."
"Nothing to forgive. This kind of Repulse is exactly my style."
Hikaru chuckled. The district already had Renown the elder "maid captain" and her little "maid sister"; compared to Renown's cool competence, Hikaru actually preferred Repulse a bit more.
In part because Repulse flushed the moment she was teased.
Right now, her face bloomed red—beautiful.
"A-hem." Repulse covered a quick cough, a little aggrieved. "You only ever tease me."
"Your health again?" Hikaru asked.
"No—it's just a lingering rigging issue from my refit," Repulse said, gaze soft and bright, her heterochromatic gold-and-blue eyes misting. "As long as I'm by Master's side, Repulse can bring out her full strength."
Which wasn't wrong. Repulse's skill, Malay Dusk, grants +15 to Firepower, Armor, AA, Accuracy, Evasion, and Crit when she's in the naval district; the farther she roams, the lower the bonus—utterly unlike her sister.
Battlecruisers are generally weaker than battleships; Repulse needed that +15 Firepower to push her gunned-up total past 180, barely reaching a second-line battleship's output.
Even so, at level 101, Repulse was solid front-line strength—tempered in campaign after campaign at the battleship core.
Seeing the adorable maid, Hikaru's mood lifted. "Now your Z Fleet is complete—our district's Z Fleet is just you three. But pulling you from your sister's side… she won't be happy, will she?"
Repulse met his eyes boldly. "Then who do you want here—me, or my sister?"
In raw combat, Renown outshone Repulse—after remodel, her rarity even surpassed her little sister's, a golden five-star.
But choosing on brute strength would be silly.
Hikaru laughed. "Right now, I like Repulse best. As for Renown—when she arrives, you two can spar. Whoever wins, I'll like more."
"Master only ever teases me," Repulse murmured, swan neck flushing. "Where are Prince of Wales and Vampire?"
"In the mess," Bismarck answered from the side. "They'll be thrilled to see you."
Of course—they were all UK-Faction, and the three shared the old Z Fleet bond. In this district, that made them the closest of friends.
[End of Chapter]
[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
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