Ch 4 Chapter 4: Battle at Dawn
The ocean was no longer calm.
Waves crashed against the steel docks of the Royal Navy base as the alarm blared through the morning mist. Crimson lights flashed across the water, and shipgirls scrambled to their stations.
> [Warning! Siren Hostiles Approaching — Estimated Class: Delta-3 Recon Fleet]
The system's voice was calm — almost too calm for what was happening.
I stood beside Belfast, heart pounding, my staff clutched tightly in my hands.
"Belfast, how bad is it?"
"Not catastrophic," she replied, eyes narrowing toward the horizon. "But for you, milady… this will be your first true battle. Stay close to me."
Before I could answer, a blast of energy tore across the waves, slamming into the defensive barrier of the base. The shockwave made me stagger backward.
Out on the water, dark shapes emerged — black-hulled Siren ships, sleek and silent, their glowing red eyes burning like lanterns in the fog.
Laffey yawned once, then raised her rigging lazily. "Guess it's time to fight…"
Javelin grinned beside her. "Yeah! Let's show them what we're made of!"
The two launched forward, engines roaring, waves splitting under them as their cannons began to fire.
Enterprise, already airborne, loosed a barrage from her aircraft squadrons, explosions blooming across the sea.
And there I was — HMS Unicorn-Prime — barely holding my weapon steady.
> Host, combat protocols initialized. Objective: Assist in base defense.
"Assist… right." I took a deep breath, trying to steady my shaking hands.
"Milady," Belfast said, her eyes flicking toward me. "Remember your training. Focus on what you can do — not what you can't."
Her words struck deep. I nodded, lifting my staff toward the chaotic horizon. "Fairy's Blessing!"
Light burst from my hands, forming a shimmering pink barrier over the frontline. Javelin's ship rigging glowed faintly as she darted through enemy fire.
"Whoa—! That felt great! Thanks, Unicorn!"
Her voice carried across the sea, and for a moment, pride swelled in my chest.
Maybe… I could do this.
Then, the water split open.
From beneath the waves rose a massive Siren — easily five times the size of any shipgirl rigging, its body black and segmented like armor, its face hidden behind a cracked mask.
> [Warning! Elite-Class Siren Detected — Codename: Abyssal Muse]
The name alone sent a chill down my spine.
Belfast's expression hardened. "Everyone, formation shift! Enterprise, cover from above — I'll take point. Unicorn, support from the rear!"
"R-right!"
The Siren's voice echoed, distorted and hollow:
> "Royal Navy… error… detected. Eliminate anomaly."
Its eyes turned toward me.
My stomach dropped. "It's looking at me—"
Before I could finish, it fired — a beam of crimson energy cutting through the air. Belfast leaped in front, her twin shields intercepting the blast.
The impact threw up a wall of steam.
"Belfast!" I shouted.
"I'm fine!" she called back, her voice steady despite the smoke. "Stay behind me, milady. It's targeting you — protect yourself at all costs!"
Why… me?
> Host, the Siren's scanners identify your system signature as an anomaly. You are the only shipgirl with direct system integration. You are its primary target.
"Great… so it's my fault they're attacking."
> Incorrect. They are attacking because they fear you.
That didn't make me feel any better.
---
The battle raged on. Explosions painted the sea with light and shadow.
Javelin's spear struck through one Siren drone, while Enterprise's bombers circled overhead, dropping payloads that lit the horizon like fireworks.
But the Abyssal Muse wasn't slowing down. Its arm transformed into a blade, cleaving through the waves, sending a shockwave that nearly capsized Laffey.
"Ugh… sleepy, but still alive…" Laffey muttered weakly.
I clenched my fists. Enough hiding. Enough fear.
"System! Is there any way to power up my abilities?"
> Affirmative. Combat synchronization level rising. Unlocking secondary rigging functions.
[System Upgrade: Support Rigging Alpha Activated!]
My staff pulsed with light. The fairy-shaped emblem at its tip unfolded into twin wings, glowing brighter than ever.
Energy surged through me — not just in my weapon, but through my whole body.
"I can feel it…"
> Command acknowledged. Fairy Drones deployed.
Three glowing constructs formed around me, resembling tiny mechanical fairies. They zipped across the battlefield, emitting healing pulses that restored the others' damaged rigging.
"Whoa—! What's that?!" Javelin shouted.
Laffey grinned lazily. "Healer upgrade… cool."
Even Belfast turned, her eyes glinting with surprise — and pride. "Excellent control, milady."
But the Siren wasn't done. It raised its arm again, drawing energy for another devastating strike — this one aimed straight for the base.
Enterprise shouted from above. "We can't stop that blast in time!"
I looked around desperately. Everyone was too far to block it. The energy built, humming louder and louder.
And then…
Something clicked inside me.
A whisper echoed through my mind — soft, but clear.
> "Will you protect them?"
Without thinking, I raised my staff high. "System! Divert all remaining energy to shields!"
> Warning: Energy reserves critical. Overload risk—
"I don't care! Do it!"
> Confirmed.
Light exploded from me — pink, gold, and white — forming a massive barrier over the base. The Siren's blast struck it dead-on, creating a blinding shockwave. The world vanished in a sea of light.
For a moment, everything was silent.
Then… the barrier held.
The explosion faded, and the Siren's mask cracked, its core flickering weakly. Belfast didn't waste a second — she dashed forward, blades gleaming, and struck clean through the creature's chest.
With a scream of static, the Abyssal Muse fell backward into the sea and vanished beneath the waves.
---
The battle was over.
The air smelled of salt and smoke. I was kneeling on the water, breathing hard, my body trembling from exhaustion.
"Milady!" Belfast rushed to my side, kneeling beside me. "You overexerted yourself again."
"I'm… fine," I lied, trying to smile. "We won, right?"
She nodded softly. "We did. Thanks to you."
Enterprise landed nearby, folding her rigging. "That shield… wasn't standard Royal Navy tech. What was that?"
Before I could answer, the system's voice whispered faintly:
> Power core synchronization at 12%.
Prototype Interface Alpha awakening sequence initiated…
I froze. "What does that mean?"
> Host, your potential is far beyond a normal shipgirl. The system is… adapting to this world.
Adapting? To this world?
Belfast looked at me, concern in her eyes. "Milady?"
I shook my head. "It's… nothing. Just the system talking again."
Enterprise crossed her arms. "Keep us informed next time. You're not just some recruit anymore — you're a key part of this fleet."
I nodded. "Yeah… I understand."
The other shipgirls began to cheer as the sea calmed, their laughter echoing over the waves.
For the first time since I arrived in this strange world, I allowed myself to breathe. To feel the warmth of the sun rising over the ocean.
> Quest Completed: Defend the Royal Navy Base
Reward: 500 EXP, 1x System Module (Locked)
"Locked?" I murmured. "System, what does that mean?"
> Access restricted until synchronization reaches 20%.
"Of course it is," I muttered, smiling tiredly.
As Belfast helped me back to shore, I looked out at the endless blue horizon. Somewhere out there, more Sirens were waiting — and maybe, answers too.
"I guess," I whispered, "this is just the beginning."
The system's voice replied softly in my mind — almost like it was smiling.
> Affirmative, Host. The Azure Sea awaits.
---
End of Chapter 4