Chapter 148: Summoning Again!
Suzaku waved his hand with the casual grace of a monarch dismissing a loyal subject into the night.
The Ghost-Masked Ninja of the Shadow Legion, who had been kneeling on the floor in absolute silence, nodded once. His form, composed of solidified darkness and violet energy, began to lose its cohesion. Like ink dropped into clear water, he silently melted into the shadows cast by the mahogany furniture. There was no sound, no displacement of air—he simply vanished, merging with the darkness as if he had never existed in the physical realm to begin with.
The room returned to stillness, save for the rhythmic creaking of the ship swaying on the calm sea.
In the spacious cabin, only Suzaku and his newly summoned general, Esdeath, remained. The Ice Queen leaned against the wall, her arms crossed, her rapier tapping rhythmically against her thigh. Her ice-blue eyes observed everything with a mix of boredom and predatory interest.
"Two down, one more to go!"
Suzaku rubbed his hands together excitedly, the friction warming his palms. His face was beaming with the thrill of an uncertain lottery draw—that unique, electrifying dopamine rush known only to gacha addicts and high-stakes gamblers at the moment before the card is flipped.
Esdeath. The Shadow Legion.
He mentally reviewed his haul. The first two summons were incredibly profitable—no, they were game-changing. Esdeath brought omega-level combat power and strategic genius capable of leading armies. The Shadow Legion brought infinite utility, espionage capabilities, and an undying force of assassins.
"This last one," Suzaku muttered to himself, his eyes glued to the semi-transparent blue system panel floating in the air. "Statistically, it has to balance out, right? Or perhaps my luck is just defying the laws of probability today?"
He looked at the glowing button.
"How could it not be something equally good? Lady Luck, please keep smiling on me! Don't give me a dud now! I need a hat-trick!"
With an extremely excited heart, ignoring the slight tremor in his fingers, he mentally jabbed at the gleaming [Rare Grade Summon] button again!
[System Message: Confirm consumption of 50,000 Legend Points for Rare Summon?]
"Confirm! Do it!"
Buzz...!
The air in the room vibrated violently. The familiar summoning magic circle once again unfolded on the wooden floor, intricate geometric patterns tracing themselves in light.
But this time, the quality of the light was distinctly different from the previous two.
It was no longer the sacred, chilling pearly white of Esdeath's appearance that reminded one of a frozen wasteland. Nor was it the pure, abyssal deathly black of the Shadow Legion's arrival that felt like looking into a grave.
This time, the magic circle displayed a peculiar "bright black."
It was a paradox of color—a darkness that seemed to shine. It shimmered with a cold, hard metallic luster, like polished tungsten or obsidian under a harsh spotlight.
The sensory experience was intense. The smell of ozone, high-grade machine oil, and burning coal faintly permeated the room. It was accompanied by a low, heavy hum—VMMMMMM—like the sound of powerful turbines revving up deep within the bowels of a steel beast.
Clank. Clank. Clank.
The sound of heavy boots hitting metal echoed, even though the floor was made of wood.
Light flowed and condensed into form, building a silhouette from the feet up. The energy felt heavy, disciplined, and undeniably technological.
When the light finally shattered into motes of digital dust, a petite figure stood in the center of the magic circle.
It was a young girl, seemingly no older than thirteen or fourteen.
She was dressed in a well-tailored, dashing Iron Blood-style military uniform—a sharp contrast of black, red, and white that screamed discipline and power. The coat hung loosely on her small frame, the sleeves slightly too long, giving her a deceptively fragile appearance.
A black military cap with the Iron Blood insignia sat atop her head. It seemed a bit too large for her small head, worn slightly askew, shadowing her eyes. Beneath its brim was a delicate, serious, unsmiling face. Her skin was pale as porcelain, and long silver-white hair flowed down her back like liquid moonlight, shimmering with an ethereal glow.
Seeing this, Esdeath raised an eyebrow.
Her ice-blue eyes glanced at Suzaku with undisguised disdain, a smirk playing on her lips.
"Hey, Captain," she said, crossing her arms over her chest, emphasizing her generous curves. She pointed her chin at the loli in the magic circle. "Was I... brought into this New World in the same way, like this little girl? Summoned by a roll of the dice?"
There was a hint of displeasure in her words. For a woman who believed in absolute strength and domination—who believed the strong take what they want—the idea of being "summoned" like a tool or a prize from a box was slightly irksome.
However, before Suzaku could answer or defend the honor of the [Multiverse Summoning System], the little loli in the magic circle opened her eyes.
Flash.
Her eyes were brilliant rubies—red, sharp, and analyzing. They swept the room with tactical precision, scanning threats, exits, and the environment in a microsecond before precisely locking onto Suzaku.
"Are you the one who awakened me...?"
Her voice was clear and clean, possessing the undeniable tenderness of a young girl. Yet, every word she uttered was imbued with a solemnity, gravity, and cadence unbefitting her apparent age. It was the voice of a veteran strategist trapped in a child's body.
"Iron Blood Battlecruiser, Odin, happy to serve you!"
Snap.
Her small body straightened into a rigid posture. She clicked her heels together and brought her hand up in a perfect, standard Iron Blood military salute to Suzaku. The motion was crisp, practiced, and devoid of hesitation.
"My name is Odin," she introduced herself, her ruby eyes unwavering. "Once a warship that existed only in Iron Blood's blueprints—a concept of theoretical supremacy. And now... since fate has brought me before you, my mission is to assist you in fulfilling your aspirations! Your enemies shall be pulverized by my cannons."
"..."
The atmosphere in the room became somewhat peculiar for a moment.
A delicate, adorable loli, barely reaching Suzaku's chest, with the most serious expression imaginable, spoke the grandest vows of destruction. Yet, her voice was a soft, sweet child's voice that made one want to offer her candy rather than a battle plan.
This extreme contrast created an indescribable "cuteness" factor—gap moe at its finest. It was as if a tiny, fluffy kitten was trying its best to roar like a tiger, puffing out its chest and demanding to be taken seriously as a predator.
Exceptionally endearing!
Even the usually proud, cold, and sadistic Esdeath found her defenses crumbling instantly.
She looked at this serious little one dressed in a military uniform just like herself. She saw the discipline. She saw the intent. And she saw the adorable size.
She instantly fell in love.
"So cute!"
Esdeath's eyes practically sparkled with hearts. The aura of the Ice Queen vanished, replaced by the aura of a doting older sister (or perhaps a collector of cute things).
"She's tiny! And she salutes! Look at that serious face!"
With a long stride, Esdeath rushed over, ignoring personal space boundaries, and pulled this tiny "colleague" into a suffocating embrace.
"Let me see you!"
"E-Eh?!"
Odin's serious expression finally cracked. A ripple of panic crossed her face. She cautiously tried to retreat two steps, her tactical computer flashing warnings about this dangerous-looking woman.
"Identify yourself! Unauthorized physical contact is a violation of protocol! I am a weapon of war, not a—"
But resistance was futile against Esdeath's strength.
When Odin saw her "Commander" Suzaku smiling and nodding at her, silently giving permission to the interaction, she ceased her struggles. She sighed, accepting her fate, allowing Esdeath to embrace her fully, though her body remained stiff as a board.
"Mmm..."
Buried in a soft, generous embrace that smelled of winter frost and expensive perfume, Odin's little face flushed crimson. Her cap was knocked askew even further.
"Commander... is this standard protocol for this fleet?" she mumbled, her voice muffled by Esdeath's chest. "It is... inefficient."
"How wonderful..."
Suzaku stroked his chin, watching the beautiful scene of the tall, curvaceous Ice Queen holding the petite, serious loli. It was a visual feast. His heart overflowed with joy.
Another Kansen (Shipgirl)?
Named Odin?
Tsk, that name sounds very Domineering, Suzaku thought, wracking his brain. Iron Blood... Odin... Unfortunately, I didn't play Azur Lane enough back then to unlock the Priority Research (PR) ships, so I'm not familiar with her personality or detailed specs.
Not familiar? No problem. I have a manual!
His consciousness immediately sank into the system interface to check her details, pulling up her stats panel.
[Multiverse Summoning System]
[Name: Odin]
[Source: Azur Lane (Iron Blood)]
[Identity: Priority Research (PR) Ship - Battlecruiser]
[Commander: Suzaku Yareon]
[Command Authority: Absolute Obedience!]
[Category: Rare Weapon / Kansen]
[Prototype: Battlecruiser 'Odin' (Iron Blood Design Ship)]
[Armament: Three triple 305mm SK C/39 main guns, 128mm secondary guns, Torpedo tubes...]
[Special Ability: Mjolnir's Thunder (Chain Lightning Attack), Heraclitus's Flux (Positioning Manipulation)]
When he saw the words "Battlecruiser" and "305mm main guns," Suzaku's eyes instantly widened!
Battlecruiser?!
In the world of One Piece, a Buster Call was terrified because it had ten warships. But those were wooden ships with smoothbore cannons that fired unguided balls of iron.
Odin was a walking, talking, super-dreadnought-level Battlecruiser from a WW2-fantasy setting. Her main guns were 305mm! That was enough to sink an island from miles away with pinpoint accuracy! She was a technological singularity in this era of sail.
"Excellent, excellent! This is too good!"
Suzaku was so excited he almost jumped up. He muttered the mantra of naval enthusiasts everywhere, his eyes shining with the romance of steel and gunpowder.
"Truth is only within the range of big guns! Caliber is justice! Range is dignity!"
"Odin is good! Odin is wonderful! We have a mobile fortress that fits in a cabin!"
Perhaps sensing her Commander's rising excitement, Odin, still held tightly in Esdeath's arms, struggled to lift her small head. She wanted to let her Commander see her more clearly, to prove that she was ready for sorties, not just for hugs.
However, this small action earned her a cold, deadly glare from Esdeath.
Esdeath tightened her grip, shielding Odin from Suzaku's enthusiastic gaze. She turned her head, her eyes narrowing into slits, a protective instinct flaring up.
"Hey," Esdeath glared at Suzaku, her warning clear and sharp as an icicle. "You'd better behave. Wipe that drool off your face."
She pulled Odin's cap down to cover the girl's ruby eyes.
"She's still so young! Don't you dare look at her with those lecherous eyes, or I'll freeze you into an ice sculpture."
"Cough, cough!"
Suzaku, unjustly treated like a loli-con when he was merely admiring firepower, gave an awkward smile and quickly waved his hands.
"You misunderstand! I was looking at her... potential! Her combat specs! I'm admiring the cannons, not the girl!"
He cleared his throat, looking at the dominant S-rank Queen and the mobile arsenal fortress before him.
One wants to conquer the world with ice. The other can blow it up with thunder and steel.
I feel great! This is the strongest start imaginable.
"Alright, alright," Suzaku laughed, stepping towards the door, feeling the weight of the future lighten on his shoulders. "Welcome to our two new members. The family is growing stronger by the minute."
He gestured to the heavy wooden door.
"Let's go. I'll take you to meet the other companions—Ram, Rem, Akame, and the rest—so everyone can get acquainted! We have a lot of work to do if we want to turn this world upside down."
Click.
The Captain's cabin door lock was turned. Suzaku pushed it open.
Whoosh!
Brilliant sunlight and the salty sea breeze instantly rushed in, dispelling the lingering magical aura and ozone smell from the summoning. The deck of the Vermillion Wing bathed in gold, the endless blue ocean stretching out before them.
"Let's go, Your Majesty, and the lovely Miss Odin."
Suzaku stepped aside, making a gentlemanly "please" gesture with a smile. "It's time to introduce you to the other members of this 'big family.' And to the world that awaits our conquest."
Esdeath finally released her death grip on Odin, though she still held the girl's hand firmly as if holding a precious doll or a little sister she had sworn to protect.
She walked out with elegant, proud steps, her high heels clicking on the deck. Her ice-blue eyes were already scanning the horizon, filled with scrutiny and a burning desire to find something worth crushing in this New World.
Odin, stumbling slightly to keep up with Esdeath's long strides, adjusted her uniform. She regained her serious and proper demeanor, pressing her lips together. But as she stepped into the sunlight, her ruby-like eyes widened slightly. They held a spark of curiosity for the unknown ocean stretching before her.
One tall and one small.
One white and one black.
One alluring and proud, one petite and adorable.
The two, both in military uniforms, walked together onto the deck, forming a visually striking yet remarkably harmonious sight.
[Akarin Note:
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