The next moment.

Boom——!!!

An intense detonation occurred in the ammunition depot located below the waterline, safeguarded heavily.

A dazzling fireball rapidly expanded from the center of the ammunition depot, with scorching high-temperature shockwaves sweeping wildly in all directions.

The fragile oak hull disintegrated like paper in an instant, with both the planks and bodies torn to shreds effortlessly, instantly turning to ashes in the intense heat.

Even the cannons equipped on the ship were engulfed by countless fire dragons, twisted into misshapen forms as they were blasted skyward.

"Hiss—! The Stern Cruiser exploded!" 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Just as the battle had commenced, Byron presented everyone with a devastating opening, which made the Sixth Fleet, facing their sharp offensive, draw a cold breath.

Just two shells sent the Stern Cruiser skyward, a terrifying display indeed.

They initially thought their chances of survival might slightly improve after avoiding the main fleet of Edward IV, but now it seemed this Seventh Fleet, returning from the colonies, was even more savage.

However, no matter how nerve-wracking it was, they could only grit their teeth and charge forward.

In the end, the flagship of the Sixth Fleet responsible for holding the line, the Fourth Level Miracle Battleship Nordic Snow Wind, lined up alongside the leading Golden Deer.

The captain gulped dryly, encouraging his crew:

"Don’t be afraid! The Nordic Snow Wind is the most renowned auspicious battleship in the entire Strait Fleet, blessed by the creator.

Even the unlucky Raymond, who consistently dooms his allies, can’t compare to us.

Rest assured, it’s always others who perish, and the Nordic Snow Wind will survive till the end!"

Byron was fully aware of the situation of all battleships under his Kingdom’s command, having personally operated each Third Level and above battleship in the Strait Fleet using his father’s orderly given by the erstwhile naval marshal.

With the crown fully transferred to him by his uncle, Byron became the "loser" of most of the warships in the Strait Fleet.

Unfortunately, these were all "lost items" stolen, not his "investments," so he couldn’t utilize the ability of the First Stock Certificate.

He, of course, remembered the Nordic Snow Wind especially well, even feeling the urge to ask his father for it as his seat ship.

The reason being none other than this ship’s remarkable resilience!

"The construction of the Nordic Snow Wind dates back over thirty years, making it a truly elderly ship.

However, having gone through the Hundred Years’ War, the Wars of the Red and White Roses, and the two-party conflict, it became the sole survivor of the eight ’Nordic-class’ battleships of its time.

Curiously, during numerous brutal battles, the Nordic Snow Wind participated in countless escort missions, serving as a close escort for Third, Second, and even First Level ships.

Most of these escort missions ended in failure, with the escorted battleships being turned into sieves, yet the Nordic Snow Wind emerged unscathed as if it were on a spring outing.

Raymond, the Legendary Victim, at most causes fellow comrades’ deaths, but this ship ensures the demise of bigger and more valuable ally ships every time!

Initially, it was merely a series of coincidences without any mysterious forces involved.

But over time, the ship’s reputation spread far and wide, eventually becoming a consensus even among naval and enemy nations. The Nordic Snow Wind finally gained genuine transcendent power.

Its sole ability, Ally Ships Perish, This Ship Survives:

"It can mildly manipulate fate, distributing the ominous aura gathered on itself to ally ships, especially those larger than itself.

In other words, when shells come its way, it helpfully re-plans their trajectories, indicating to those shells: ’Aim for the largest one!’

Any larger ship nearby then becomes a proxy to take the hits for it."

Such transcendent abilities were far more reassuring than the abstract concept of fate. After deciphering the principle, it was promptly assigned to the Security Fleet, which has only cruisers, no battleships.

With no larger ships beside it, naturally, it wouldn’t create more victims.

In naval battles, a few inexpensive large merchant ships could be strategically placed around it to draw fire, instantly maximizing its survival rate.

Who wouldn’t love such an auspicious battleship?

Byron was no exception.

"To maintain the ’Great Loyalist’ persona, I had to join the main assault initially, intending to figure out a way to let Edward IV and Warwick fiercely battle each other first.

The Nordic Snow Wind’s timing couldn’t be better."

The specific abilities of Miracle Battleships are considered military secrets, and "Count of Torrentfort Byron Tudor" shouldn’t know about them.

Thus, his shells were inevitably affected by the enemy’s transcendent abilities, protecting his fleet with the "All United" concept, and he openly turned into a salary thief.

Most of his attention was focused on the core battlefield of the Second and Third Fleets.

He quietly waited for the scales to tip, allowing this pivotal minority, himself, to become a decisive force in turning the tide of the battle.

Then he heard Fleet Commander Star Shooter Barrett from the Royalist Quasi-Legendary Warship Centaurus Constellation Number shout:

"Summon the constellation! Enhance precision for the entire fleet, extend artillery range, penetrate them with one shot! Fire!"

A brilliant starlight descended from the smoke-covered sky, transforming into a centaur emblem over the entire Third Fleet, adorning all the dozens of warships with a silver edge.