After the meeting ended.
Lu Chen confirmed the shipgirls accompanying him on his first expedition to the other world.
“Richelieu, Taihou, Belfast, Kaga, Prinz Eugen, you will accompany me on this journey.”
“The rest of you will stay behind to guard the base. Yixian, I will leave you in charge while I’m away.”
Conquering the entire Demon Slayer world didn’t require too many people. The construction of the Junbu was just beginning and needed some shipgirls to assist.
“Understood, I wish you all the best.”
Yixian agreed. She still had that composed air about her, making her a perfect fit for managing the base.
“Hey—why are there so few spots? Why didn’t you bring me—?”
“I wanted to see other worlds too, Comrade-chan—!”
The shipgirls who weren’t chosen were all disappointed.
The vanguard fleet consisted of 30 people. Excluding Mingstone, who was busy building her own Gundam, there were over 20 shipgirls left bored on Earth.
“What’s the rush? After we complete our mission, I’ll open the spacetime portal again.”
“I’ll establish a long-term, stable relationship between these two worlds. You can all go shopping whenever you’re bored.”
Lu Chen chuckled.
“Yay!”
Everyone cheered.
“Put on your uniforms, take our flag, and prepare to depart.”
Lu Chen clapped his hands.
“Let’s give these natives a little taste of technological wonder.”
……
Two days later.
Lu Chen and five shipgirls wearing black and red uniforms stood in the naval base’s plaza.
They once again felt a sense of duty and pride.
At this moment, they were part of the Starsea Alliance, representing their port and commander’s will as they embarked on an expedition to another world.
“I will… personally present this world to you. No matter who it is, whether it’s the Demon King or anyone else, anyone who stands in the Commander’s way will be crushed by my hand!!”
Taihou trembled with excitement.
Being chosen as a member of the first expedition team was an honor that overwhelmed her.
“I will take care of you in any world.”
Belfast remained calm and collected.
“Everyone in position.”
Lu Chen gestured for everyone to settle down. He opened the star chart and selected the Demon Slayer world.
【Demon Slayer (Steam Era)】
A world based on the Taisho era of Japan. Its technological level is at the mid-point of the Steam Era, with steam engines and firearms seeing widespread use.
Supernatural beings called “demons” exist. They possess strength surpassing humans, but their weaknesses are also evident.
【Power Comparison:】
Technological level: As insignificant as ants.
Military strength: As insignificant as ants.
Economic strength: As mighty as gods.
【Diplomacy】
【Traversal】
【Declare War】 (Unlocked upon entering the Space Age)
Compared to their first encounter, the power disparity between the two worlds had changed significantly.
The military and technological prowess brought by Azur Lane completely overwhelmed the Demon Slayer world.
Of course, it’s best not to talk about the economic issue.
Their technology tree was completely focused on military production, with agriculture and light industry practically nonexistent. They weren’t even as advanced as the natives of the Steam Era.
Although they could build Gundams, nobody would grow crops.
“This kind of neighbor would be easy to bully even in Stellaris…”
He clicked on the traversal function and focused his attention on his hand.
【Open Spacetime Portal, Starsea Alliance-Demon Slayer World】
Swish—
The space before them twisted, and a colorful portal tore through spacetime, slowly opening.
“Follow me!”
With a wave of his hand, he led the five into the portal.
“Commander, we wish you a triumphant victory.”
The shipgirls remaining in the plaza waved farewell.
……
……
Buzz—
The feeling of weightlessness and dizziness lasted for ten minutes.
After another round of dazzling visuals.
The six of them stood back on solid ground.
Before them lay a desolate and dilapidated village.
The slanted roofs and wooden structures were clearly in the Japanese style.
“So this is the Demon Slayer world…”
“It feels so underdeveloped.”
The accompanying shipgirls rubbed their heads and looked around for a moment.
It was already nighttime, and everything around them was silent. The buildings on both sides of the street were pitch black, with no human lights. Combined with the faint mist, it gave off a terrifying atmosphere like a horror movie.
“I smell a bit of blood in the air.”
Belfast sniffed and furrowed her brow.
Shipgirls’ senses were more sensitive than ordinary people.
“Kaga, Taihou, deploy reconnaissance aircraft. Check the surrounding area.”
Lu Chen commanded.
Upon arriving in the Demon Slayer world, he needed to determine his location and the current timeline.
With the expedition team’s strength, defeating the Twelve Kizuki and Muzan wasn’t difficult. The real challenge was finding these demons hiding in the darkness.
“Understood.”
The two aircraft carrier shipgirls materialized part of their decks.
Several toy-sized aircraft took off, circled the sky a few times, and suddenly grew to full size.
They buzzed away in all directions.
Soon.
Taihou’s reconnaissance aircraft sent back a message.
“320 meters northwest, a fight is in progress.”
“One side is a human team wielding katana. The other side is… uh…”
“A young man, about twenty years old, carrying a folding fan?”