Chapter 28

Episode 28. Lone Wolf vs. Troll (6)

Meanwhile, as Icarus’s remaining patrol ships bought time by executing extreme deep dives…

As if to prove it’s not just a game, even in this sci-fi era, our Ignis and Belial infiltrated to engage in a fierce shipboard melee.

The two were going all out, wreaking havoc inside the Overseer.

“Haap!”

-Slice! Thud!

Of course, the assault pods raining down from the patrol ships deployed Terminator-like androids as their support.

-Ratatatatat!

-Booooom!

…But with only about 10 pods, there was a limit to how much they could transport.

Against the defense drones and turrets deployed inside the over 1km-long cruiser, they were hopelessly swept away.

One assault pod even ended up just destroying the cruiser’s antenna before drifting off into the distant void of space. Classic fail.

But there was a reason they were deployed despite all this.

“Stepping stone!”

The androids Icarus deployed were either used as stepping stones for Ignis’s smooth spatial maneuvers…

“Guess I’ll just have to operate them myself.”

…or, using her unique “doll manipulation” trait, Belial incorporated the androids into her forces, rapidly taking control of sections inside the cruiser.

Of course, the important thing was that their presence was a huge help to Ignis and Belial, who had stormed in.

In other words, it meant serious pressure for the S-rank character left behind to protect the cruiser’s control system under Melon’s orders.

Despite being Melon’s only close-combat superhuman, Barbatos had only just reached level 12, having missed out on leveling opportunities.

Though Melon had mindlessly drawn aggro, it wasn’t like she was completely brainless.

To compensate for Barbatos’s low level, she had prepared as much as possible, equipping him with various gear and even adding defensive system support…

“Surrender, Barbatos!”

“The cruiser’s defense power you’re relying on is already annihilated. Just give up and hand over control.”

“…So it’s come to this.”

Unfortunately, the defense Melon had envisioned could only hold off characters “slightly stronger” than Barbatos.

Against the two women now before Barbatos—Ignis, who’s considered quasi-SSS rank, and Belial, a clear SSS rank—it was no match.

Barbatos sighed, lamenting the foolishness of his master and commander, Melon.

But right after that sigh…

-Thud!

“I, Barbatos, will protect this cruiser’s control system at all costs, following the orders of my master, Melon!”

“…Figures.”

“No choice. We’re short on time, so let’s finish this quickly.”

With a resolve to protect the cruiser his master had entrusted to him, he slammed the handle of his massive warhammer into the ground.

He then unleashed the power supplied to his powered suit and charged at Ignis and Belial.

Despite the significant stat gap due to his low level and rank difference…

With the additional equipment from his commander and the support of defense turrets and reinforcement drones in the control room…

Barbatos, a mere S-rank, showcased remarkable martial prowess against two SSS-rank opponents.

He fought with his life on the line, trying to buy time.

But no matter how much gear he stacked, as a mid-tier S-rank, he quickly hit his limit.

His powered suit, which had been supplementing his lacking stats, was shattered by Ignis’s relentless strikes.

Seizing the moment, Belial’s agile attack swept him off his feet, lifting him into the air.

“This is it!”

Ignis’s SS+-ranked Hectopascal Kick, powered by all her might, landed squarely on Barbatos’s stomach.

Without even the chance to choose to resist with unyielding will…

Barbatos’s troubled life came to an end, and he embarked on yet another distant journey back to the gacha world.

And so, after laying Barbatos to rest, the two women…

With no more defense turrets, drones, or even a superhuman left…

Stared at the cruiser’s control system, now protected only by a flimsy barrier, and quietly began to lick their lips.

==========

Meanwhile, at the same time, our Commander Melon was…

“Darn it, wasting time on a mere Patrol Ship Fleet!”

“All ships, full speed ahead! Prepare for close-quarters combat inside the Overseer!”

Thanks to Icarus’s reckless Patrol Ship Fleet, which charged in without regard for casualties, we lost a precious 5 minutes.

Already mentally battered, my nerves were on edge, and I was starting to worry about becoming neurotic.

But even so.

Commander Melon’s nagging was worse than ever.

Of course, Commander Melon had their own valid reasons for it.

“Damn it, why isn’t the Overseer responding?!”

“Sorry, Commander, we’re still trying to establish communication… Ahhh!”

“Don’t just say you’re trying! Hurry the hell up! Connect and show me that damn thing is still intact! You idiot!”

Not only did they harshly scold Maya, who was just reporting, but they also unleashed a torrent of verbal abuse.

In Melon’s eyes, the only thing that had kept them alive through all their reckless behavior was the SSS-Class Cruiser ‘Overseer.’

The panic was evident as no status updates had come from the Overseer for a while.

Anyone could guess the reason.

Of course, the loss of communication with the Overseer was solely due to Icarus’s assault pod destroying the communication antenna and turning it into stardust.

Neither Melon nor Icarus had anticipated this.

To Melon, it seemed like the situation inside the Overseer was so dire that they couldn’t even send a message.

Thus, they were hastily moving their fleet, which had just finished a battle, toward the Overseer without proper formation or maintenance.

Seeing the Overseer still in place, Melon felt a sudden sense of relief.

‘The Overseer is still in place = Either the battle inside is ongoing, or we’ve successfully defended!’

This miraculous formula popped into their head.

But fearing their fleet might collide with the Overseer at high speed and damage the precious SSS-Class Cruiser, they panicked.

“Ah… slow the fleet down! We’re gonna crash into the Overseer!”

“Understood, reducing fleet speed.”

Slowing down their fleet, they cautiously approached the Overseer.

And just at that moment.

-Beep beep beep! Beep beep!

“?!”

“Commander, enemy fleet detected at 10 o’clock!”

Icarus, who had already taken out the Patrol Ship Fleet, now deployed 6 Destroyers.

Not just transport ships, but a fully armed fleet.

Realizing Icarus was trying to sink the Overseer, Melon immediately ordered their fleet to escort and defend the Overseer.

Melon’s loyal fleet quickly formed a defensive perimeter around the Overseer.

Despite the lack of communication, Melon smiled confidently as they saw ‘their’ Overseer moving its massive cannons forward.

“Look, Maya! We’ve successfully defended!”

“…”

But despite Melon’s words, Maya, with her cat-like eyes, squinted at the screen and then urgently approached her commander.

“Commander! We’ve been deceived!”

“Huh?”

“The Overseer has already been captured by the enemy! If we proceed, we’ll be attacked from both sides!”

“Haha, stop lying. There’s no way the Overseer could be captured.”

But such sincere advice didn’t reach Melon, who was blinded by the perfect chance to take down Icarus.

As soon as Icarus’s fleet entered firing range, Melon gave the order to attack.

-Boom!!!!

-Boom!

-Pew! Boom!

“…Huh?”

Melon, as Maya had warned, watched in stunned silence as the Overseer fired its cannons and missiles at their own fleet.