Although they barely managed to break through the encirclement, the pursuit was relentless.
It wasn't just a simple chase. The persistence was so intense that it felt like they absolutely wouldn't let them escape. Among them, the most annoying ones were the Zeros Code guys.
I had easily dealt with one of them earlier... but the remaining four were the problem.
"Hah, they're like annoying flies."
All four moved around me. They changed direction, entering at different altitudes, intersecting. They blocked the front, sealed off the rear, and harassed from the flanks.
Until now, there hadn't been this kind of attack. They had been guys who charged in individually, intoxicated by their own skill, but at some point, they suddenly switched to a coordinated attack.
[Seoyun! At this rate, Astrea won't last long either!
All the Hounds are retired except for Colonel Sheryl-nim's unit!]
I tried to turn my gaze to check Astrea's situation, but-
"Tsk."
I twisted the control stick. The unit rapidly evaded to the left, blocking the beam fire from behind with its shield.
Immediately, a continuous coordinated attack followed. Two units on the flanks simultaneously dove in, changing their attack angles. I seized a counterattack timing.
I rotated the left port, preparing to fire, but they accurately pulled back just before entering the line of fire.
'It's not easy when they come at me properly.'
Their objective was clear. To trap me in this section. Knowing that, escaping wasn't as easy as I thought.
"It'd be more convenient if they charged in recklessly like before."
While dealing with the Zeros Code's coordinated attack, I simultaneously scanned the flow of the battlefield.
'The pursuing ships are... about two of them.'
Since Astrea's speed was so fast, only a limited number of enemies could keep up. There were more behind them. However, the distance between us was steadily widening.
'Just a little more. If I follow this trajectory...'
Soon, they would reach the ambush point where Brawl had hidden his ship.
Until now, it had been an escape, but now it was time to pay them back.
They could counterattack the pursuing Federation fleet with Brawl.
I immediately opened a communication channel.
"Major-nim. From now on, please move to Brawl's coordinates."
[Understood. I'll prepare immediately.]
***
"Captain. Signal received."
Brawl checked the message that appeared on the screen.
"It's Elena's message. She says she's coming here with Seoyun."
Lillian leaned her body diagonally.
"He's really crazy. He must have somehow rescued the Princess and escaped from there."
Kala asked Brawl with relief.
"What's the message about?"
"They're being pursued by the Federation forces. She wants our ship's cannons to wipe out the ones chasing them."
Lillian said.
"Looks like it's time to move. Kala, I've adjusted the unit Seoyun used before so you can use it."
"Okay~ Then I'll go get ready. Guys, let's go~"
"Yes! Nuna-nim!"
A few days ago, the men who had lost a drinking bet to Kala all rose from their seats and followed her.
Brawl immediately gave an order.
"Prepare for bombardment. Stealthè§£é¤ (kaijo) will be timed with my signal."
"Yes."
Before long, Federation ships began to appear on the screen. Pursuit battleships following the trajectory. And one ship escaping as if fleeing in front of them.
A black unit moving as if to envelop it. Red eyes. Sharp contours. Its jet-black exterior stood out at a glance even in the battlefield.
Brawl narrowed his brows and muttered.
"Hmm... that must be an ally, right?"
Lillian retorted indifferently.
"Just by its movement, it's that bastard. I wonder where he got something like that again."
"The Princess must have given him another one."
Lillian stared at the screen for a moment, then narrowed her eyes and muttered.
"But... this is the first time I've seen that bastard cornered like this."
Brawl quietly pointed to the identification mark with his finger.
"Zeros Code. They certainly live up to their name."
Lillian zoomed in on the screen.
"It's completely different from the known models. The front armor has also been changed to a composite material... What about the output? Even by eye, it looks like double the original value."
"We can analyze that later. For now, let's deal with what's in front of us."
With the end of his words, he slowly raised his hand and activated the bombardment command interface.
"Stealthè§£é¤ (kaijo). All pilots, stand by for sortie. We'll obliterate the Federation battleships first, timed with my signal."
"Yes!"
Things became busy in an instant. His subordinates entered coordinates, instantly targeting the enemy ships.
"Target, Federation capital ships following 1st and 2nd trajectories."
"Port and starboard turrets operational. High-heat plasma cannons, charging initiated!"
"Charging complete! Ready to fire!"
"Obliterate them!"
-KWAANG!!!
A red flash in space utterly obliterated one Federation battleship.
A single red trajectory streaked across space. Instantly, it struck the Federation battleship that was pursuing Astrea.
-KWAANG!
Red debris scattered in space, and the units following behind it all changed their trajectories.
Just then, five new heat signatures appeared on the radar.
"They're here."
The Zeros Code guys seemed to have noticed it too, showing a slight opening for a moment.
I didn't miss that opportunity. I rotated the unit and broke out of the encirclement. At the same time, I accurately aimed at one of the Zeros Code units that had shown an opening.
Right in the center of the cockpit. I pulled the trigger. But unfortunately, I couldn't kill it. The bastard reacted and barely dodged.
Instead, its entire left arm was blown off.
"What a waste."
I watched the bastards, who had instantly widened the distance and retreated.
The encirclement that had been forming loosened, and their movements became much more cautious.
'They must be flustered. A new enemy suddenly appeared.'
It was then.
[Honey~ Are you safe?]
"Kala? You were riding that?"
[Yeah~ Lillian adjusted it so I could use it... but it still doesn't quite suit me.]
"Still, be careful, or your body might get damaged."
[Okay~ And that pursuing ship? We'll cover that.]
"Good. Support them."
As soon as the communication cut off, five allied units simultaneously moved towards Astrea.
I continued to face off against the Zeros Code, observing their reactions.
The bastards seemed to sense that the situation was turning strange, as their movements gradually became defensive, and they slowly began to retreat.
"Looks like they decided to retreat."
The remaining Federation battleships also stopped their pursuit.
[Seoyun, you can come back now.]
I immediately turned the unit around.
***
The Federation forces had retreated, but it was uncertain when they might pursue again. We arrived at the temporary base Captain Torno had told us about, hid our ship within the outer structure, and quietly rested.
"Hwaaa..."
I leisurely stretched.
"Are you comfortable, Master-nim?"
Suhyeon, who was behind me, asked as she massaged my shoulders with her fingertips.
"Uh... it feels so good... there, just a little more."
In response to my words, her hand movements deepened. I could feel the fatigue slowly melting away.
And next to me-
"Here, Oppa~ Open your mouth."
Hina carefully brought the snack she was holding to my lips.
I silently took a bite. As the sweet taste spread in my mouth, I nodded.
"It's delicious."
"Hehe~ Right? I made it myself."
"Good job."
I lightly patted Hina's head and turned my head.
In a corner of the ship, Adel and Lillian were sitting opposite each other. The two were passionately exchanging something.
Actually, I could hear everything they were talking about. The problem was... I couldn't understand a single word.
"Lillian-ssi, you're truly amazing. To modify Requiem like this and even create a system called ACS... This auxiliary system, its very structure is so innovative."
"Your Titan System wasn't any less impressive. Honestly, I thought there was no one more skilled than me in this world. But after seeing yours... I just realized I was a frog in a well."
The two women sat together like colleagues reunited after ten years, exchanging such stories all day long.
...Maintenance terms, computational structures, particle output values, reaction curves?
Words I couldn't understand were being exchanged. It was half alien language. So I just... decided not to bother with them.
On the other hand, Sheryl and Elena sat quietly opposite each other, clinking their glasses. Both didn't talk much, but there was a subtly good vibe between them.
They mainly talked about future plans, or worries about an even more uncertain future. Sheryl would occasionally tease Elena mischievously in that atmosphere, and each time, Elena would blush and glance awkwardly in my direction.
Perhaps because they were both military personnel, they quickly became close.
And Mason, one of the main characters, had disappeared earlier with Brawl, arm in arm, to go drink heavily.
The problem was the protagonist bastard right in front of me now.
Since earlier, without a single word, he had been staring intently at me with a strangely sticky and greasy look in his eyes. The silence lasted quite a while, and annoyance slowly began to well up.
"...Hey."
"Yes?"
"It's annoying when a guy-bastard stares like that. If you have something to say, say it quickly. Otherwise, get lost."
Perhaps my words were cold, as Ohyeon flinched and twitched his body. But even before that, Lisa, who was clinging to his side like a nanny, flared up.
"Isn't that a bit too harsh?"
"Then why are you staring like a gay-bastard since earlier?! Hey, are you... gay?"
"Ah, no?! I like women! Definitely!"
"Then if you have something to say, say it, you half-wit bastard!"
At those words, Lisa's eyebrows shot up.
"Hey! Don't talk to Hyeon like that, you perverted bastard!"
At Lisa's remark, Hina suddenly stood up from her seat this time.
"Lisa, could you please not talk to my Oppa-nim so carelessly? Even if Oppa-nim is a pervert, he doesn't deserve to be insulted like that! Oppa-nim is just... a little, hmm, aggressive and a bit... out of control, and sometimes he does crazy things, but-"
I lightly smacked Hina on the head as she was spouting nonsense.
"Ack! Why'd you hit me!"
"Because you're spouting weird nonsense."
Hina rubbed her head, looking wronged.
"Did I say anything wrong?"
"Be quiet, and put the snack back in my mouth. And fan me too. It's hot here."
"Heeing... Why do you always pick on me..."
Hina pouted her lips slightly and silently picked up a fan. Her cuteness almost made me chuckle, but I held it in.
At that moment, Ohyeon, who was watching the scene, let out a slight laugh.
"You two are both really funny."
"Don't laugh."
"...Yes, sir."
"So."
I slightly turned my head and looked at Ohyeon again.
"If you have something to say, say it quickly. If you just roll your eyes without speaking, I'll really punch you in the face."
Ohyeon flinched his shoulders and adjusted his posture. Then, after a moment of hesitation, he carefully opened his mouth.
"...How can I become as strong as Seoyun-ssi?"
I chuckled.
"Like me? You couldn't do it even if you died and came back to life."