Elder brother's garrison

Deep Sea Will, who always secretly helped Xiaobai launch her planes, once said that Xiaobai was definitely not a talented person when it came to flying planes.

That being said, it was precisely because Xiaobai couldn't launch carrier-based aircraft that she truly understood just how difficult it was to control them.

“Missouri doesn’t understand either.” Missouri smiled at Little White.

“…Well, after all, Missouri, you’re a gunnery ship girl…” As Xiaobai said this, her gaze shifted to Lexington on the sea.

The battle in the sky was incredibly fierce. Hundreds of carrier-based aircraft clashed, and orange-red flames lit up as if they were free. Accompanied by the roar of the carrier-based aircraft, one damaged aircraft after another crashed down.

However, compared to the intense and exciting air battle, the two aircraft carrier ship girls on the surface of the water are currently in a state more like a musical duel or a conversation. They do not have any tension, but are just gazing at each other, looking extremely comfortable and elegant.

—Perhaps this is what an aircraft carrier is all about.

If there's anything that truly symbolizes battle, it's Mia next to Lexington. Behind her is a ship with similar rigging to a ship girl, but her whole body is trembling like a sieve.

This is quite similar to the performance of someone going to war for the first time.

"Akagi-senpai and Lexington-senpai are really amazing," Missouri's exclamation reached Xiaobai's ears.

“That’s pretty impressive.” Before Xiaobai could answer, Bismarck’s voice rang out from behind him.

Xiaobai and Missouri turned around and saw Bismarck, dressed in black, slowly walking towards Xiaobai.

"Good afternoon, Bismarck." Missouri bowed respectfully to Bismarck.

Bismarck nodded to Missouri, then stood next to Little White.

"Ah, so Bismarck, you know about carrier-based aircraft?" Xiaobai asked in surprise.

Bismarck shook his head: "I don't know."

"……Oh."

“But I know that when it comes to piloting carrier-based aircraft, there are few ship girls in the naval base who can compare to them,” Bismarck said.

"Saratoga isn't good enough either? Lexington said Saratoga is better than her," Xiaobai asked.

“Saratoga’s miracle ability is that the more partners she has on a carrier, the more powerful she becomes. In a carrier group, Lexington can only assist her sister,” Bismarck said. “However, in terms of piloting carrier-based aircraft, Saratoga is not as good as Lexington. In a one-on-one situation, Lexington can make Saratoga look like a monkey.”

Xiaobai nodded.

Since it involves skills, there's nothing that can be done. No matter how skilled Lexington is, she will ultimately be limited by support skills, which will weaken her own combat power and reduce her to the situation of supporting other ship girls. This is an unfortunate thing.

Just like Bismarck, although she was a strong fighter, she was often limited by the strength of her ship equipment and thus unable to use simple and effective tactics.

After all, nothing in this world is perfect.

Xiaobai turned her head and glanced at Missouri beside her.

Missouri felt Xiaobai's gaze and gave her a gentle smile.

"Ah...which of the carrier girls in the naval base can defeat them?"

"enterprise."

"Wow, this company is so amazing?!"

“Her skills are not as good as Lexington's and Akagi's, but her miracle abilities are too powerful in one-on-one combat. It’s already very difficult to beat her using only skills,” Bismarck said.

What skills does the company offer?

“When operating alone, she enhances the strength of her carrier-based aircraft. Simply put, when she's alone, she's like a monster with a cheat code.” Bismarck said expressionlessly.

"Pfft." Little White couldn't help but laugh as he looked at Bismarck's face.

"?" Bismarck looked at Little White with a puzzled expression.

Xiao Bai quickly shook his head.

It's surprising that someone as aloof as Bismarck would use such a trendy term as "cheat code." It seems even Bismarck was somewhat influenced by Tirpitz.

"Which senior do you think will win, Bismarck?" Missouri picked up the conversation for Xiaobai.

“…” Bismarck was silent for a moment, “Akagi used to be stronger than Lexington in one-on-one combat.”

Have they fought before?

"We've played against them, and Lexington has lost more often than won."

"Oh..." Xiaobai looked thoughtfully at Lexington on the sea.

Lexington smiled serenely on the sea, while in the sky, the carrier-based aircraft controlled by Lexington kept avoiding a direct confrontation with Akagi. They kept dispersing and gathering, constantly probing from the edges and corners, trying to erode the long dragon formed by Akagi's carrier-based aircraft.

Lexington's calm demeanor made it seem as if she were not facing an enemy stronger than herself.

This mindset is undoubtedly the backbone of the naval base.

Xiao Bai couldn't help but feel more admiration for Lexington.

Xiao Bai's gaze softened slightly, and then she quietly watched the battle in the sky.

However, even a novice could more or less see that Akagi's carrier-based aircraft did have some advantages. If the fighting continued like this, Akagi might still be the victor this time...

Just as Xiaobai was thinking this, suddenly, Xiaobai seemed to see a golden light, which flashed very secretly among the carrier-based aircraft in the sky.

"Huh?" Xiaobai was taken aback.

"Admiral, what's wrong?"

"Ah... I think I just saw it... Hmm, it's nothing." Xiaobai shook her head, but perked up and stared intently at the carrier-based aircraft formation in the sky.

Xiao Bai was confident in Missouri's eyesight. Since the message Missouri sent contained golden light, it must be something real and definitely not something he was seeing things.

Golden light?

Thinking this, Xiaobai then turned her attention to Mia, who was standing next to Lexington.

Come to think of it, it seems that Lexington and Akagi have been dueling one-on-one before. The reason for this sparring seems to be to test Mia's performance, right?

That said, I've been so focused on Lexington and Akagi that I almost forgot about Mia.

How exactly does Mia, as a mecha girl, fight?

With this in mind, Xiaobai began to carefully look in Mia's direction.

In Xiaobai's vision, Mia's figure became clearer and clearer.

Mia's figure slowly expanded in Xiaobai's field of vision, expanding to include every single hair on her head, every drop of sweat on her face, and even every time her red lips opened and closed. Xiaobai focused all his attention on Mia.

Mia still seemed very nervous; her whole body was tense, and she was huddled behind Lexington.

Suddenly, as if sensing Xiaobai's gaze, Mia turned her head and looked at Xiaobai.

Xiao Bai was taken aback, thinking it was just his imagination, but Mia's eyes were fixed on him, making Xiao Bai believe it.

Xiaobai slowly reached out her hand and gave Mia a thumbs-up.

Mia did notice and see Xiaobai. Her face flushed red, and she looked towards the carrier-based aircraft group in the sky.

Xiao Bai was sweating bullets.

—The beach and Mia's location are more than a few thousand meters apart. At that distance, even if you opened your mouth to call out to someone, it probably wouldn't work. But Mia was able to find herself staring at her just by feeling... She's really a sensitive person.

While feeling a sense of wonder, Xiaobai also began to pay attention to Mia's actions.

It seemed that the surrounding ship girls were so engrossed in the intense battle between Lexington and Akagi, which resembled a piano duel, that they barely paid attention to Mia's actions.

Only after paying attention to Mia did Xiaobai finally realize that Mia wasn't as panicked as she had seemed before.

Although she was still trembling all over, her two small hands, tucked into her sleeves, kept clenching and unclenching.

Just like flying a kite, constantly pulling and reeling in the kite string, Mia's two little hands moved in a rhythmic manner.

Xiao Bai looked in the direction Mia was looking at the sky, and sure enough, upon closer inspection, Xiao Bai found the golden light he had seen before once again.

Among the dense array of Lexington's carrier-based aircraft, several were gleaming with golden light. Under Lexington's control, these golden aircraft soared through the sky like intelligent birds, slowly eroding Akagi's carrier-based aircraft formation, bite by bite.

Chapter 569 I'm sticking with you

When Lexington and Akagi were sparring, both sides were equipped with fighter jets. After all, Lexington and Akagi had no grudge against each other, so there was no need to use bombers to hurt each other. Coincidentally, Mia was also a fighter jet. When the two supercarriers were fighting with all their fighter jets, it was the moment to show Mia's value as a fighter jet.

However, the scene when Lexington and Akagi fought was so grand that everyone momentarily forgot about Mia's existence when the battle began.

“Bismarck,” Little White asked Bismarck beside him.

"I'm here."

"How long could Lexington have lasted against Akagi in the past?" Xiaobai asked.

"In about ten minutes, the defeat will be quite obvious," Bismarck said to Little White after thinking for a while.

"Ten minutes..." Xiaobai nodded, then looked at the carrier-based aircraft flashing with golden light in the sky.

It was obvious that those were fighter planes belonging to Lexington.

Amidst the intense bombing across the entire sky, this small patch of fighter jets, faintly shimmering with golden light, was naturally less noticeable compared to the vibrant and exciting scenes in other airspace. However, its inconspicuousness was just right, as it provided an excellent opportunity for these carrier-based aircraft to demonstrate their capabilities.

In Xiaobai's view, this small group of carrier-based aircraft seemed to be alive. They were like living beings, constantly rolling and drifting amidst the explosions, repeatedly passing over Akagi's carrier-based aircraft group, and then attacking Akagi's carrier-based aircraft little by little, like peeling skin off a frog in slowly boiling water, eroding Akagi's planes.

Because Akagi's skills weaken Lexington's carrier-based aircraft, Akagi's overall strength in this battle is indeed slightly higher than Lexington's. If Lexington were to clash head-on with Akagi, the battle would probably be ended by Akagi in an instant.

That is why Lexington did not immediately engage in a head-on battle with Akagi, but instead chose to use a roundabout approach to stall her.

This was a method Lexington came up with during his second sparring match with Akagi. While this method could prevent Lexington from showing signs of weakness in the short term, it still could not change the outcome of Lexington's defeat. After all, the difference in the quality of the fighter jets was obvious. As long as Akagi played steadily, Lexington would have absolutely no chance.

However—things are different now.

When aircraft carriers control their carrier-based aircraft to fight each other, both sides will suffer losses. Generally speaking, the side with fewer lost aircraft will snowball its victory, eventually creating an imbalance in the number of aircraft, and finally overwhelming the enemy to win.

The battle had been going on for three or four minutes. Logically, Lexington's carrier-based aircraft should have suffered considerable damage, and it should have been the time for Akagi to gradually gain control of the skies and establish dominance.

However, even now, although Akagi still appears to be dominating Lexington on the surface, the number of her fighters destroyed is not much less than that of Lexington.

Xiao Bai looked at the gleaming golden carrier-based aircraft with a look of amazement on his face.

It was all because of that group of golden carrier-based aircraft.

They relentlessly eroded Akagi, like geese lifting turtles from the shore, peeling away Akagi's carrier-based aircraft one by one. Little by little, quantitative change led to qualitative change, ultimately preventing Lexington's inevitable defeat.

"Is that the carrier-based aircraft that Mia symbolizes?" Xiaobai murmured to himself as he looked at the fleet of carrier-based aircraft on the horizon.

Although Xiaobai doesn't understand carrier-based aircraft, he can still tell that the group of golden carrier-based aircraft is indeed different from ordinary carrier-based aircraft.

Its vitality, agility, and even its aggressiveness far surpass those of ordinary carrier-based aircraft.

On the sea, Akagi, who was overwhelmingly pressuring Lexington, had long since noticed this situation. She had noticed the group of golden carrier-based aircraft that had been attacking her from the sky.

But even if you notice it, what can you do?

Akagi really had no choice.

On the surface, Akagi's carrier-based aircraft were superior to Lexington's in terms of quantity, quality, and formation, and Akagi was constantly pressuring Lexington during the battle. However, only Akagi knew that this one-sided crushing offensive had its limits.

As time goes by, with fewer and fewer of his own carrier-based aircraft, he will no longer be able to maintain a one-sided pressure. When his strength is exhausted and his old strength has not yet been restored, he will be unable to maintain his formation, and Lexington will be able to find a good opportunity to counterattack him.

Akagi wanted to focus on dealing with the group of golden carrier-based aircraft, but Lexington's carrier-based aircraft group was not to be underestimated. Lexington seemed to have understood Mia's role long ago. She surrounded Mia's fighters wave after wave, willing to suffer a small loss in order to protect every single one of Mia's carrier-based aircraft.

Technically, Akagi and Lexington are quite similar. If Akagi reveals even a little more information in order to attack Mia's carrier-based aircraft, Lexington might seize the fleeting opportunity to launch a fierce counterattack, perhaps even venting all the resentment she has harbored for years on Akagi.

Thinking of this, Akagi smiled slightly, his narrow eyes fixed on Lexington in the distance.

Lexington was also looking at him with a smile.

—Dead woman.

Time ticked by, minute by minute.

Soon, under the relentless onslaught of the golden carrier-based aircraft, Akagi gradually began to falter. As time passed and more and more of Akagi's carrier-based aircraft were shot down, her defeat became increasingly apparent. Lexington gradually gained control of the situation and began to slowly press Akagi in a counterattack.

Above the thunderous sky, the carrier-based aircraft, like burning fireballs, circled one by one among the azure clouds.

At one point, Akagi finally smiled helplessly, sighed, and raised her hands.

"I lost."

At the same time, in the sky, the Akagi's carrier-based aircraft suddenly stopped, completely giving up resistance.

The Lexington's carrier-based aircraft were attacking the Akagi's carrier-based aircraft. Seeing that the Akagi's carrier-based aircraft had given up resistance, the Lexington's carrier-based aircraft performed a graceful turn and then flew back to the sky above Lexington.

"You admit defeat?" Lexington looked at Akagi with a smile.

"Well, there's no other way. If we keep fighting, I'll lose face." Akagi shook her head helplessly, then looked at Lexington. "Mrs. Lexington, you win."

“It wasn’t me who won.” Lexington shook his head, then pulled Mia up beside him. “We won. In a one-on-one fight, I’m no match for you, but this time we outnumbered you.”

"We were just here to test Mia's performance, so it's not really about outnumbering her." Akagi breathed a sigh of relief, then retrieved the remaining aircraft in the sky, and finally gave Mia beside Lexington a deep look.

Mia felt a little flustered under Akagi's gaze and involuntarily took several steps back.