The commander advancent interface appears in his mind space, and four conditions are displayed in a simple list.
Combat experience requirent: 100% (already t)
At least one real-world combat engagent: 2/1 (ets the standard)
Possess one bonded shipgirl of level 21 or above: 1/1 (ets the requirent)
Has a total of two bonded shipgirls: 1/2 (not eting the target)
Aurelian’s gaze lingered on the fourth line longer than the others.
Because the last condition was simple, it annoyed him; unlike others who spend months grinding to et the requirents, he was able to do it in just a few days.
But the fourth condition is sothing others find easier because of the ti they spend, whereas for him, it is sowhat hard because of the quality requirent he has set for himself.
"That condition will delay you."
"Not really," Aurelian said, and he did not sound angry, just matter-of-fact, because he had already seen this problem coming. "Because my parents already have a few options to choose from, and it is not like I don’t have my ways to find suitable ones."
Astra’s eyes narrowed slightly, thoughtful. "You’re right, but what kind of shipgirl do you have in mind as your second one?"
"Not sure, but we do need an attack and defense-based one for our future territory expansion," Aurelian answered as he thought outloud. "If I’m going to form a fleet, it has to be worth forming, and I’m not going to drag a low-grade shipgirls who will need special materials to advance in rarity."
"And we also need to have ones that can terraform planets, and other similar ships that focus on logistics."
He paused, then said the thing he had been thinking about since the academy, the thing that had quietly decided after he awakened Astra.
"And the minimum rarity I accept is purple," he said calmly. "Purple and above, or it doesn’t enter my fleet, and if that ans I advance slower, then I advance slower."
Astra’s lips curved faintly as she thought about ways that she could help him.
"That’s not a bad idea, but we also need to think about the shipgirls needed to guard the territory in the future," she said. "But that is for later, so don’t need to worry much."
Aurelian’s mouth twitched, almost amused.
"True," he replied. "But why do you make it sound like I am going to conquer a territory so soon?"
Astra didn’t answer as she turned her attention back to the cleanup report, then brought up the ammunition usage and the resource yield, and for the first ti since the fight, she looked faintly self-conscious, like she already knew what he would notice.
"This ti, consumption is lower," she said. "Main batteries were used only for the decisive strikes, and the fighters and secondary systems handled the rest."
Aurelian scanned the numbers and nodded once, because it was true.
Compared to the vanguard fight, the main gun cycling had been restrained, and the overall ammunition reserves had only dipped by about 7%, which was still significant but far better than it could have been if Astra had turned the belt into a fireworks show.
"Good job again," he said, and the praise was simple and direct.
Astra’s eyes softened slightly, then her expression returned to its cold one as she stood beside him.
Out beyond the belt, the black-haired observer ship finally shifted position, rotating its bow slightly as if preparing to leave, and the woman inside finished the last of her ice cream with an expression that had settled into sothing calm and satisfied.
"Alright," she murmured, tapping her spoon against the empty container as if closing the scene. "He doesn’t need to jump in front of him, and that’s good, makes my job easier."
Her gaze flicked toward the distant glow of Cinderleaf’s direction, then back to the last fading echoes of Omnic wreckage.
"This incursion is wrong," she said quietly, the humor gone now. "And if Arcturus is already paying attention, then soone higher is paying attention too."
Back on Black Crown, Aurelian looked at the map again, because even with two victories, he did not let himself believe the danger was gone.
Astra’s sensors continued to listen for scattered machine chatter beyond the belt, and the silence was not sothing he liked; it was not normal for the omnics.
"They’ll react," Astra said softly, more statent than fear. "We just removed another piece from their chain."
"I know," Aurelian replied, eyes steady. "And we’ll be ready when they do."
The ship held position long enough to finish the last sweep and log the battlefield properly, then Astra angled them back toward the corridor lanes, because the real defense was still anchored near Cinderleaf, and the academy fleet was still days away, and every hour mattered.
The war had not arrived in full yet, but it was no longer a distant rumor either, and now Cinderleaf Star had sothing it did not have yesterday.
Ti.
And this alone was more than they had before.
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