Azur Lane Mobile Front.

At the location of the previous building, the group saw the long-lost Shokaku, or rather, a ship that looked like Shokaku.

No, that might not even be a ship.

She was surrounded by a black light, which spiraled around her, like a vortex hanging upside down from the sky.

"Shoukaku-nee..."

The scene before them stunned everyone; it was a situation that had never been recorded even since the time of the Siren Wars.

"Hehehe~ You all should witness firsthand the power bestowed by this 'god.' By the way, my lovely junior, this is the first person in the entire Sakura Empire to receive this blessing, so you'd better thank me properly~"

After saying that, Akagi gave Rob a deep look before disappearing from sight, presumably watching everything from some corner.

On the sea, the previous pawn Shoukaku had all sunk during the shockwave. Now, the real Shoukaku, whose condition is unknown, is in a standoff with Rob and the others.

Leaving aside Shoukaku's situation for now, given her condition, it's questionable whether she's even conscious. As for Robo's side, no one has gone up to engage the boss yet, so it's understandable that they're just standing there motionless.

On Robo's side, although Zuikaku wanted to rush forward immediately, Mikasa pulled her back, saying, "Don't be impulsive, let's assess the situation first." Mikasa also looked serious at this moment; the First Carrier Division's actions had clearly displeased this senior member of the Sakura Empire.

"But, Shoukaku-nee-san, she~"

Luo Bo looked at Xiang He not far away. Her eyes were lifeless and her face was expressionless. However, just one glance was enough to see the accumulation of all kinds of negative emotions. Moreover, these negative emotions were extremely contagious. After only a few glances, Luo Bo felt uneasy and quickly looked away.

“Ms. Mikasa, Ms. Zuikaku, you didn’t tell me about this beforehand.”

That thing on the other side could wipe out a bunch of Shoukaku pieces just from the aftershocks of its appearance. It was clearly not an easy thing to fight. Without Rob's instructions, Enterprise and Yatsen also chose to hold back.

"I think the other side looks really tough right now, so we need to add more money!"

"Bring Shoukaku back for me, and I'll reward you handsomely." Before Mikasa could reply, Zuikaku preemptively agreed to Rob's request for more money.

“Miss Zuikaku, I must first remind you that your sister may not be able to come back.”

The older sister, who had been so carefree throughout the journey, now had eyes full of anger towards Akagi and the others, as well as worry about her own sister's situation. "If Shoukaku-nee really doesn't come back, I will personally help her find peace."

Chapter Thirteen: Shoukaku, Suspected of Turning Evil

Since the family members hadn't said anything, Luo Bo decided not to worry about it anymore.

"Enterprise, Yixian, go all out, don't hold back. The opponent's combat strength is unknown, prioritize your own safety."

"Received, Commander, Enterprise, launch!" With that, Enterprise took the lead, skimming the sea surface towards "Shokaku," the high-speed airflow creating two waves on the calm sea.

Yi Xian turned around, nodded to his commander, and followed the company to the battlefield.

Although Mikasa and Zuikaku were far slower than Robo's two flying companions, they were still rushing towards Shoukaku at full speed. At this point, only New Jersey was left by Robo's side.

“New Jersey, I know you really dislike writing reports, but given the situation on the other side,” Rob pointed at Shoukaku, “you’ll definitely need to write a report when you get back.”

“I understand.” New Jersey was no longer as carefree as usual. As a ship, she felt a deeper fear from this Sakura Empire tactic than Robo, who was human. This was something that could forcibly corrupt the mind of a ship, and if the Sakura Empire used it extensively, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Just as Rob and New Jersey were talking, Enterprise had already arrived in front of Shoukaku. Upon seeing Enterprise, Shoukaku seemed to be provoked by something, clutching his head tightly and letting out an unintelligible roar.

One after another, carrier-based aircraft shrouded in black aura were released from her ship's rigging and attacked the Enterprise with bizarre maneuvers.

As usual, the company raised its hand and fired two beam rifles, but this time, the beams, which were usually invincible, were blocked by the black aura.

Even though the black aura surrounding a carrier-based aircraft hit by a beam of light would be dispersed, this was still a situation the company had never encountered before.

The company dodged the oncoming carrier-based aircraft with a wide-open look, its brow furrowed.

"Not only are the defensive capabilities improved, but the mobility has also been greatly enhanced. If we disregard the corrosive effect on the mind, this is indeed a method that can significantly enhance the combat effectiveness of ships. Moreover~" Enterprise looked at the Shoukaku beneath her; the main body of the enemy had not yet taken any action, and she wondered what "surprise" awaited her.

After a round of tentative exchanges, Yi Xian also joined the battle.

She maneuvered nimbly to close the distance to Shoukaku, unleashing a powerful punch. The black light surrounding Shoukaku transformed into a shield, solidly blocking the attack. Furthermore, the black aura even seemed to seep through Yixian's fist, attempting to erode her body.

Upon seeing this, Yi Xian's expression tightened, and he quickly retreated to create distance.

Once they were no longer in contact, the ominous black aura disappeared. Yi Xian examined his fist and, after confirming that there was nothing wrong, quickly told Enterprise, "Be careful, don't get close to that black aura, it might corrode the machine."

"Understood, thank you." Upon hearing this, Enterprise abandoned his intention to take out his beam saber and make a couple of cuts, focusing instead on using his ranged weapon.

However, it was obvious that Ruihe, who had just arrived, had not heard what Yixian had just said. She rushed forward and slashed at the black shield.

The clash and friction between the sword and the shield produced a teeth-grinding sound. Seeing her attack blocked, Zuikaku assumed it was because she lacked strength. She then gripped her katana with both hands, increasing her strength, trying to break through the shield in front of her, completely unaware that her katana had begun to faintly emit a black light.

Seeing this, the company in the sky thought to itself, "This teammate is hard to manage," and then swooped down, kicking Zuikaku so hard it rolled several times on the sea surface. Even Rob, watching from behind, felt that the kick was somewhat driven by personal grudge.

"Grey Phantom, what are you doing!" Zuikaku, who had been kicked and sent skipping across the sea, finally managed to regain his footing after a great deal of effort. Upon seeing the company in the sky, he was immediately filled with rage.

"Look at your own sword." The company didn't want to explain further, so it threw down those words and went back to continue its confrontation with Shoukaku.

"Huh?" Zuikaku was completely baffled by what Enterprise said. He picked up his katana and examined it for a while, until he noticed that it was still flashing with an ominous black light. He was immediately terrified and hurriedly shook the sword in his hand.

Fortunately, the contact with Shoukaku's shield was short-lived. In no time, the black aura was flung away by Zuikaku, leaving plumes of black smoke on the sea before gradually disappearing.

"Shokaku-nee, what's wrong with you?" Staring blankly at Hokaku not far away, Zuikaku's heart tightened even more.

"Company, report the situation."

Seeing that the first round of combat had ended, Rob immediately asked the company to report the intelligence it had obtained. He needed to quickly analyze the current situation of the other side in order to formulate a corresponding strategy.

"Commander, this is Enterprise. The enemy's performance has been greatly improved. The black aura around us can form a shield, and direct contact will slowly erode the ship's equipment."

"Commander, I also have intelligence here." Suddenly, Yi Xian chimed in during the communication.

"I also saw this black substance attached to Ms. Shoukaku's ship equipment, and the area of ​​corrosion is gradually increasing."

"I understand. I will provide a strategy shortly. Do not act rashly, especially you, Yixian. You are a close-combat specialized mecha, so be extra careful of the enemy's erosion of your mecha."

"Understood, Commander."

After ending the communication, Rob immediately discussed countermeasures with New Jersey. Although this battleship was a bit reckless and foolish, its command level was actually very high. After all, with its reckless approach, anyone without some skill would have been dead long ago.

"First of all, that black aura can form a shield, so it can be assumed that it can also be used as a weapon."

"However, if the attack is fierce enough, even if it could actually be turned into a weapon, it wouldn't have the time. Hmph~ So, as long as you increase the attack power of your ships, there definitely won't be any problems." New Jersey is still using the old trick: go all out first.

“You’re right, and there’s no shield that can’t be broken. If you can’t break it, it just means your attack isn’t strong enough. As long as we’re careful of that strange corrosive ability, we still have a fighting chance.” But this time, Rob is on New Jersey’s side. Putting everything else aside, we need to figure out how to break that shield before we can consider anything else.

"Then came the intelligence from Yixian: the hull of the Shokaku is being corroded. I estimate that once it corrodes to a certain extent, it will be beyond saving."

"Then let's perform surgery on her—cut out the dark spot!"

Rob thought to himself, "Where did this e-reader come from?" But he had to admit, it was indeed a solution for the moment.

"Enterprise, take a look at Shoukaku's ship equipment later and find the source of the corrosion. I estimate that if you cut that off, Shoukaku will return to normal."

"Enterprise received." After shooting down the abnormal carrier-based aircraft of the Shokaku, Enterprise began to carefully observe the Shokaku's ship equipment while maneuvering. Then she saw that an ominous black aura was emanating from the bridge of the ship equipment.

"found it!"

Chapter Fourteen: Meow Meow King Xianghe

"Very good, the initial strategy can now be determined." Upon receiving the message from the company, Rob immediately made the decision and finalized the battle strategy.

"Yi-xian, your mission is the most important in this operation. You need to keep Xiang-he occupied and be careful not to let the black aura touch you."

"Enterprise, Ms. Zuikaku, and Ms. Mikasa, I hope you can go all out and unleash your full firepower on the shield around Shoukaku. But remember, all your firepower must be aimed precisely at one point, and be careful not to accidentally hit Ichisen."

"Finally, when Shoukaku's shields are broken, cut off the black parts of her ship, especially the bridge. If our operation goes well, we should still be able to save her."

"Understood. Leave the rest to us."

Having received replies from everyone, Rob did not return to the cabin, but continued to stand on the deck, using binoculars to observe the battle ahead.

Enterprise was the quickest to act, immediately launching a full-scale barrage at Shoukaku, pinning it to the spot.

The transparent yet black-tinged shields clashed incessantly with the artillery fire, producing a series of crisp sounds as the shields shattered.

The spray from the aftershocks of the artillery fire completely enveloped Shoukaku, making it impossible for her to see the movements of the others on the battlefield for a moment.

After being pinned down and beaten for a long time, Shoukaku could no longer hold back. She raised her hand, and several carrier-based aircraft, enveloped in a black aura, transformed into sharp swords and rushed straight towards the company.

"Excuse me, Ms. Shoukaku, your opponent now is me."

Behind Shoukaku, Yixian threw a punch straight at Shoukaku's face. In a panic, she quickly turned her shield around, and the punch was blocked by the shield just a hair's breadth away from her body.

Yi Xian didn't linger in the fight and quickly withdrew his fist. Then, using his legs to propel himself forward, he moved in a few steps to the side that had just been bombarded by the company's firepower.

The black shield was now much less dense than before, presenting a perfect opportunity for a concentrated breakthrough. Yi Xian brought his fists to his waist, a bluish-white aura emanating from them, poised to strike.

"Miss Shoukaku, that's enough. Byakko Bite!"

In an instant, it seemed as if countless fists, glowing with a bluish-white light, were simultaneously striking Xianghe's shield like a storm.

The shield immediately rippled, and the sounds of fists colliding with it were incessant. Shields were constantly being broken, and new ones were constantly being formed. For a time, the two sides were locked in a stalemate.

After a series of attacks, Yi Xian unleashed both fists, the light from his hands coalescing into a massive white sphere. With a flick of his wrists, he placed the sphere against the shield, followed by a tremendous explosion that reverberated throughout the entire sea.

At this moment, Shoukaku's shields were finally completely shattered.

The company didn't miss this fleeting opportunity. Two red and white lasers shot through the breach in the shield and struck the Shokaku's ship armor. Under the scorching heat, the Shokaku's ship armor plates began to melt, triggering a violent explosion.

The injured Shoukaku roared like a wounded beast, its black aura surging and driving away the people around it.

At this moment, some dark gray crystalline particles began to appear on the newly damaged ship rigging of Shokaku. If Enterprise could see them, she would definitely recognize them. Because the same crystalline particles had appeared on the rigging of Yorktown.

Due to the rapid expansion of the black aura's influence, Yi Xian and his group chose to temporarily distance themselves from Xiang He, the epicenter of the outbreak. They decided to observe the situation from a distance before deciding on their next course of action.

The scattered black aura gradually dissipated, and Shoukaku's figure reappeared before everyone's eyes.

Compared to before, the black aura surrounding her was much stronger, making her look even more unsettling.

"Damn it, time is running out, Shoukaku-nee, you have to hold on!" Zuikaku was like an ant on a hot pan, but her strength was limited, and she even felt like she couldn't participate in the battle just now.

Even if she releases her carrier-based aircraft, under the corrosive influence of that black aura, they will soon turn against her and become Shokaku's carrier-based aircraft, attacking her instead.

If it weren't for the help from the company and Mikasa-senpai, she would probably be quite badly injured by now.

Suddenly, Shoukaku took out the flute that she never parted with.

The once emerald green flute, now tainted by the black aura, has turned into a dull dark green. The black on it flows eerily, as if it were alive, and looking at it for even a moment makes one feel extremely uncomfortable.

She placed the flute to her lips, and a strange melody floated across the sea as she played it.

"Interrupt her, now!" Rob reacted immediately from behind. Although he didn't know what she was trying to do, interrupting the spellcasting was definitely the right thing to do.

Upon hearing Rob's order, Enterprise immediately unleashed a full-scale attack. With its built-in shield, Shoukaku is difficult to penetrate with ordinary attacks; only full-force firepower could possibly break through the shield's barrier.

However, the sea surface suddenly began to surge, as if something was trying to climb up from beneath the surface.

Pairs of pale hands emerged from underwater, desperately clinging to the surface. The entire sea resembled an open gate to hell, with countless demons straining through it, yearning to return to the world.

Countless chess pieces that had been destroyed earlier, shrouded in black mist, slowly and swayed as they stood on the sea surface. They were all deathly pale, their faces numb, and water dripping from their bodies, making them look incredibly eerie.

"Damn it, where did this necromancer come from?!" Rob was stunned by the scene before him. This was beyond scientific understanding; even in the realm of magic, it would be considered a grand spectacle.

"Smash Shoukaku's flute, stop her from playing it anymore. Who knows how many of these fakes Akagi and her gang have made in this area? If Shoukaku really has them all, we're probably going to be done for today."

Seeing that the "souls" summoned by the opponent had almost filled the sea surface, yet she still had no intention of stopping, Rob urged everyone to hurry up and interrupt her playing.

The group, who were fighting the "ghosts," understood the urgency of the situation upon hearing the order and decided to temporarily ignore the "ghosts" crawling up from the seabed and focus all their efforts on interrupting Shoukaku's "spellcasting."

"Azure Dragon Scale!"

A bluish-white light pierced through the battlefield, sending back the "souls" that had just climbed up along the way.

Then it crashed into Shoukaku's shield. The two were locked in a stalemate for a while. Finally, the white light pierced through three layers of shields and disappeared.

The company's plasma cannon followed closely, slamming into Shoukaku's remaining shields. The intense impact of the beam and shields created a dazzling light, causing the shields to gradually melt away. After a flash, several more layers of shields were shattered.

Before the two could continue their attack, the "souls" on the sea surged towards them like a tide, forcing them to abandon their impending attack and instead focus on eliminating the enemies in front of them.

Seeing this, Zuikaku seized the opportunity and rushed to Shoukaku before the gap created by Yatsen Enterprises was completely filled by the enemy.

Now, all that stands in her way is the final layer of shield.

"Shokaku-nee, hurry up, wake up!" Zuikaku shouted, trying to wake her sleeping sister.

Since carrier-based aircraft are useless, Zuikaku will use her sword to cut through the shield, even if it will be corroded. She will break through this shield with her own hands.

The katana and the shield collided, rubbing together and scattering sparks everywhere. The shield was slowly sliced ​​apart by the blade, while the inconspicuous black color on the katana gradually spread towards the hilt.

Zuikaku kept a close eye on the corrosion on her sword; after all, she was there to rescue Shoukaku, not to become an accomplice. If the sword became corroded, she would choose to abandon it.

The power transmitted from the shield grew stronger and stronger, and Zuikaku clenched his teeth, pressing all his strength into it.

Finally, with a crisp sound, the last layer of the shield was cut through.

Chapter Fifteen: Old ginger is spicier.

The moment the shield was cut open, Zuikaku, who had been putting all her strength into the sword, lost the counterforce against her and lost her balance, falling towards Shoukaku in front of her.

Normally, Zuikaku would have been delighted, knowing her older sister would catch her and she could then snuggle in her sister's arms. But now, Shoukaku's increasingly manic eyes conveyed only a desire to kill herself.

Moreover, and most importantly, the ultimate goal of this operation—to interrupt Shoukaku's performance—was still one step away from completion. Enterprise and Yatsen were already held back by the overwhelming tide of enemies, unable to deliver this final blow. Once the shield regenerated, everything would be over.