Chapter 939: Chapter 932: The Enormous Shadow
As Yamato asked her question, the ship-girls in the hot spring began to gather around, listening to Akatsuki’s narration about the enhancents brought by modernization.
“The fact that modern warships are now driven by electricity—how advanced is that!” Musashi sighed in amazent as she listened to Akatsuki’s details.
Being warships built during World War II, apart from the 6th Destroyer Squadron, which had already been modernized, and the First Carrier Division currently undergoing modernization, the other ship-girls still relied on traditional steam turbines. Understandably, they felt envy toward an all-electric propulsion system.
While Musashi was envious of the propulsion system, Nagato was even more impressed by the anti-submarine systems outfitted on Akatsuki and her team. She couldn’t help but exclaim, “Destroyers equipped with anti-submarine aircraft—that’s incredible! If we had such capabilities back during the war, far fewer of our sisters would have been sunk by submarines.”
On the topic of anti-submarine warfare, Shinano was the most affected. After all, she had been sunk by a submarine within less than twenty-four hours of her maiden voyage, earning her the dubious title of the fastest-sunk aircraft carrier in history.
Although Shinano’s tragic fate was largely due to inadequate damage control and various other factors, if Yukikaze, her escort, had been equipped with the sonar and anti-submarine helicopters Akatsuki now carried, the Shinano wouldn’t have been taken down so easily.
Throughout World War II, there were countless examples of IJN ships being sunk by submarine torpedoes. If the destroyers of that ti had possessed adequate anti-submarine capabilities, while it might not have changed the overall outco of the war, the battles would have surely been more favorable, and many ships that were sunk might have survived.
Of course, the war had ended decades ago. No longer IJN warships but reborn as ship-girls, revisiting this topic was rely a lancholic reflection on the past.
As for the new equipnt outfitted on the 6th Destroyer Squadron, Yamato especially envied most their CIWS defense system—a Divine Artifact for combating enemy aircraft. She had seen it on Missouri before, and during joint exercises between the Minato Ward ship-girls, Yamato had personally witnessed its power. It was sothing she desperately wanted for herself.
However, among the other ship-girls, Akatsuki and her team’s anti-ship missiles were not particularly popular and were considered sowhat unorthodox weapons.
While everyone was astonished by the range and power of the missiles, many still adhered to the philosophy of “caliber over everything.”
That said, facing missiles capable of striking targets tens to hundreds of kiloters away and sinking a warship with a single hit, even if they didn’t say it outright, a part of the ship-girls couldn’t help but feel sowhat envious.
After all, while these weapons might not seem conventional, their ability to annihilate enemies outside visual range—eliminating them before they even realized your presence—was undeniably appealing.
The group of ship-girls in the hot spring kept the children of the 6th Destroyer Squadron busy with questions, satisfying their curiosity about modernization for quite so ti.
It was not clear who suggested it, but soone proposed seeing the ship hulls post-modernization. The idea was unanimously agreed upon. Consequently, after bathing, the ship-girls flocked to the Minato Ward docks alongside the four girls of the 6th Destroyer Squadron.
As they approached the docks, other ship-girls noticed the gathering and, curious about what was happening, joined in, intrigued by the proposal.
Even Warspite and Enterprise—ordinarily less social—ca along with the group to the port, eager to see the modernized ship hulls of the 6th Destroyer Squadron.
Surrounded by such a large crowd of ship-girls, the children of the 6th Destroyer Squadron were caught in a mix of excitent and nervousness.
This was their first ti being at the center of the spotlight, which made the four young girls a little uneasy.
Whether as warships or ship-girls, the 6th Destroyer Squadron had never been a prominent presence, nor had they ever received such attention and adoration.
Fortunately, the dormitory wasn’t far from the port, and after a short walk, everyone arrived at the berth.
Standing by the port, Akatsuki gazed at the dark-colored sea with a hint of regret—she wished she could enjoy her sisters’ adoration a little longer.
But now they had reached the port, and turning to Yamato beside her, Akatsuki earnestly asked, “Elder Sister Yamato, shall we start now?”
“Go ahead, Akatsuki. Let us all admire the differences in the destroyer post-modernization,” Yamato gave her an encouraging look, signaling the ship-girls to make space.
The ship-girls stepped back several paces in response, leaving room for the four young mbers of the 6th Destroyer Squadron.
Standing at the edge of the dock, Akatsuki took a deep breath and summoned her ship hull.
A sleek, light-gray destroyer gradually erged in the port. Its modest mast lacked excessive embellishnts, and its clean and tidy deck carried only a single small naval gun, a CIWS, and a square missile launch port.
The overall design of the hull was highly streamlined, nearly integrated, and entirely distinct from the structural style of World War II warships. Visible from afar were smooth, clean lines with minimal exposed equipnt. The advanced full-electric propulsion system even minimized visible exhaust ports on the hull.
To the ship-girls, the ship didn’t even look like a warship—except for the naval gun mounted at the bow, it almost seed too simplistic.
However, having learned about the formidable weapons outfitted during Akatsuki’s modernization, none of the ship-girls dared to underestimate the seemingly unadorned vessel. They understood that if Akatsuki wished, this ship, which appeared unard, could instantly unleash devastating firepower.
“Akatsuki, may we co aboard?” Yamato’s eyes glimred as she gazed at the ship summoned by Akatsuki, asking with curiosity, “Your hull has changed so much—it’s nearly as long as a cruiser now!”
“During the upgrade, to house the boiler and transmission systems as well as various armants, the hull was extended, and displacent increased too,” Akatsuki explained with a hint of pride. Although she was still a destroyer, her hull’s transformation into a light cruiser class from the original destroyer class instilled her with a sense of accomplishnt.
As Akatsuki controlled her hull to lower the gangway and invited the ship-girls to board for an inspection, a sudden gust of wind swept through the sky. A blue shadow, encircled by a gray whirlwind, raced across their heads.
“What is that…” Akatsuki’s gaze followed the blue shadow streaking above, her expression filled with shock and disbelief.
Though she could roughly discern it was a giant dragon, its length rivaled her own ship hull—over 150 ters—and its wingspan reached a similar size. Such a colossal figure left her utterly astonished.
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