An hour later.
The smoke and dust over the testing ground gradually cleared.
Manjuu and Bulins moved in with tools and began repairing the cratered, pockmarked field.
Even when fighting on land and unable to bring out their full power, the shipgirls’ destructive capability was still exaggerated.
The area looked like it had been thoroughly carpet-bombed by rockets.
“Mm.
Based on our test results and evaluation, your physical strength falls somewhere between a destroyer and a light cruiser.” Enterprise looked down at the data in her hands.
“Your durability is a bit higher…
comparable to a heavy cruiser.
As long as you aren’t hit by a large number of torpedoes, ordinary destroyer firepower shouldn’t be able to injure you.” “Only destroyer level?
That’s a little weaker than I expected.” Adam rolled his shoulders.
During the tests he had roughly been able to sense the difference.
Against destroyer girls he still had room to spare.
The moment a battleship or carrier stepped in, he would only get steamrolled.
Similarly, small-caliber main guns couldn’t hurt him, but taking a heavy cruiser’s shells head-on would still be a bit much.
“It might be because you haven’t fully synchronized with the Cube yet.
If you keep using its power, you should be able to draw out greater strength.” Enterprise considered.
“Oh.
That’s fine then.” Even destroyer-level strength was already more than enough to run rampant on the surface of a planet.
Adam figured that sooner or later he would need to reach at least Yamato-class or Iowa-class levels.
“But I don’t seem to have the ability to summon rigging?
And I can’t float on the water either?” He suddenly realized that even though he was using the same Wisdom Cube power, he was missing something compared to the shipgirls.
He only had the physical durability…
no armament system.
“That’s because your true form isn’t a warship, Commander.” Akashi’s gaze was still full of quiet resentment.
“The function of a Wisdom Cube is to materialize the collective human cognition of a particular object.” “In other words, if the user believes that a warship is a shipgirl, the Cube can grant that warship sentience and manifest it as a human girl.” “But your self-perception has always been that of a human, so of course you don’t get any rigging.” “…” Adam fell silent for a long moment.
“Because I think warships are people, the Cube can turn warships into shipgirls?
What kind of idealistic, reality-warping ‘I think therefore it is’ power is this?!” “I can’t become a ship-dad because deep down I still believe I’m human?!” “That’s right.” Akashi nodded.
“But if the Commander sincerely believes he’s something else, the Cube might be able to turn you into that instead.” Adam gained a new understanding of Azur Lane’s black technology.
“So you’re saying… if I truly, from the bottom of my heart, believe that I’m also a warship, I could project rigging?
And if I believe I’m a Gundam, I could pilot Unit-01, Kshatriya, Strike Freedom, or Barbatos?!” “Mm-hmm.” Akashi agreed.
“I don’t know what a Gundam is, but in theory, yes, meow.” …
Adam had no way of distorting his self-perception in a short time.
He had been a genuine human being for more than twenty years.
Even frantically repeating “I am a planet-killer.
I am a planet-killer.” or “I am a Gundam.
I am a Gundam…” accomplished nothing.
This wasn’t as simple as gender identity, where you could just write down “attack helicopter” on a form.
His subconscious refused.
His body refused.
He would have to find another way later.
Still, obtaining physical capabilities similar to a shipgirl meant the trip hadn’t been wasted.
It also made him curious about what other kinds of power he might be able to adapt to in the future.
The only small problem was that Akashi kept chasing after him demanding payment.
She continued to condemn him for freeloading a Wisdom Cube.
Adam had no choice but to promise that in the future he would help her sell painted equipment boxes across the multiverse and scam aliens from other worlds together.
Akashi did a quick mental calculation, immediately beamed with joy, and spent every day crouched in her shop painting gold over white boxes, preparing to give other worlds a little taste of shady merchant shock.
Five days later.
Top-floor conference room of the Port’s main building.
After a period of discussion, and after the storm caused by Adam eating the Port’s last Wisdom Cube had finally settled, both sides reached a consensus on cooperation between the two worlds.
Although they hadn’t spent much time together, perhaps because of his affinity with the power of the Wisdom Cube, the other shipgirls’ attitudes toward Adam had become noticeably friendlier.
A few of the more enthusiastic ones had already started calling him “Commander.” “Ahem.
Then, on behalf of all the shipgirls of Azur Lane, I agree to establish a comprehensive cooperative relationship with your world.” Enterprise, dressed in her white military uniform, handed a document to Adam.
This was the result of repeated negotiations, discussions, and countless internal meetings among the shipgirls.
Adam opened the file.
There were two identical copies.
The cover page even bore the logo of the Azur Lane faction, looking extremely official.
It reminded him strongly of the diplomatic conferences between the major powers of his previous Earth.
“On behalf of the Port, I hereby sign with you a trade agreement, an immigration agreement, a scientific research agreement, a non-aggression pact, and a military alliance treaty.” “May you bring prosperity and development to both our worlds.”