The Fleet of Twelve Stars
The Fleet of Twelve Stars. The Fleet of Twelve Stars.
An OP character and the very avatar of naval warfare. Though they seemed like a broken, overpowered character, the reality was that they were a tragic figure. The game had shut down not long after their release. Everyone knew they were overpowered, but no one was crazy enough to spend money on a game that was about to vanish.
Of course, in any group of five, there’s bound to be one lunatic, and unfortunately, that lunatic was me. I still shudder when I think about how I was the only user to fully max out their stats and gear, only to be mocked relentlessly by the community.
...If you asked me if I ever regretted it, I’d be lying if I said no. Of course, I had regrets. My regret was, "I should have sacrificed sleep to use them even one more time."
While I was lost in thought, aircraft carriers and escort ships swarmed around the speeding train as if to guard it. But how was this even possible? The average speed of an aircraft carrier is about 50 km/h, while the train was moving at nearly 200 km/h. Yet, the carriers kept pace at a constant distance, providing an escort. Was this possible only because they were Transcendents...?
At that moment, a gender-neutral voice echoed. I lifted my head and looked toward the source, and the sound seemed to emanate from the largest and closest aircraft carrier.
The booming voice brought it all back. This game wasn't made by anthropomorphizing warships. That’s right—the one speaking to me now was the aircraft carrier itself. The twelve carriers moved as a single will.
"It’s been a while...?"
Just then, something massive surged out of the sea. It was a whale, twisted and grotesque, with chunks of its flesh missing, but it was undoubtedly a whale. The moment the 30-meter-long monster was about to collide with the train, it evaporated like steam in an instant.
The whale wasn't the end of the monster attacks. All sorts of sea monsters tried to throw themselves at the train, but they all failed, evaporating into nothingness. The reason was the aircraft carriers.
Entities that touched the particles emitted by the twelve carriers had their very existence erased, and every time the fighter jets in the sky spat out fire, monster carcasses floated to the surface of the sea.
The Guardian of All Things praises you for being very useful.
Ahaha... "useful" is an understatement, isn't it? The Fleet of Twelve Stars was carrying out a massacre. As I stared blankly, feeling like I was watching a space war, I felt a presence.
"What do you think? This is the power to protect that you spoke of."
I looked toward the voice, and my pupils shook at the sight of a cyborg wearing a general's uniform.
"Th-that form..."
"Ah, this form? I don't usually use it, but since it's our first meeting, I wanted to converse with you like this."
A cyborg—in other words, a Termi-nator—approaching me naturally to talk was definitely the most shocking event of the year. No, it was probably in the top three of my entire life.
"Don't worry about the sea monsters. I believe the escort is set for a fixed duration, and there isn't a monster alive that can pierce my defensive formation."
Even at this very moment, a space war was unfolding at sea. I glanced at the monsters being shattered into pieces before they could get a single step closer to the train, and I nodded.
"It's our first meeting, so we shouldn't waste time. Just as I have looked forward to meeting you, I would like to have a brief conversation."
A conversation...? What kind of conversation...?
"I have a question. Did you know that my world was going to perish?"
If they meant the world of the Fleet of Twelve Stars, did they mean the game? And by "perish," did they mean the service termination?
I nodded and answered.
"Yes, I knew."
"And yet, you did not spare your support..."
The Fleet of Twelve Stars muttered to themselves. About five minutes passed. They stared at me, their voice turning serious.
"I will ask you one thing. Why did you not spare your support?"
If the question was serious, I had to answer seriously, right?
"Even if it was a fate destined to disappear, your very existence was a helping hand of salvation to me. When I had lost everything and was standing at the edge of despair, you gave me a reason to breathe again."
"...What do you mean by that?"
From the moment I lost my family and my relatives took all my assets, leaving me to enter an orphanage, there wasn't a single place I could rely on. Every day was agony, and when I couldn't find a reason to live—when I felt like I was driven to the end of my life, standing before an endless cliff—the one I happened to see was the Fleet of Twelve Stars.
It was an advertisement I saw by chance on the street the day I was discharged from the orphanage due to my age. The scene of twelve aircraft carriers forming a formation in a stormy sea, shining brightly, was more memorable than any other ad I had ever seen in my life.
"Even when the world abandons you, we will stand by your side."
The image of twelve massive aircraft carriers surrounding a small ship in a defensive formation, escorting it. The scene where they repelled the surrounding darkness and storms, safely protecting that small ship.
"We will be your strength by your side."
To you, who lost everything and became alone.
I went straight to a nearby PC cafe and poured in most of the money I was supposed to use for my housing deposit. Thanks to that, I spent a while living in saunas, but I had no regrets.
As I finished speaking, his body began to tremble. At the same time, a golden message appeared before me.
Unique Ability: Fate's Link - Specific conditions met.
🎁 Unique Ability: Fate's Link has connected you with 'The Fleet of Twelve Stars'.
Golden light began to erupt from my body and the body of the Fleet of Twelve Stars, filling the world with gold until it faded away.
"What is the meaning of this!?"
The Fleet of Twelve Stars asks in confusion what is happening.
"No, what is this again!?"
The Fleet of Twelve Stars asks what this is.
...I realized what the Fate's Link ability was. It acted as a connection, linking others to me just like the Guardian of All Things. But there was one difference...
A message appeared in that moment.
[Fate's Link: Resonating Will.]
You have connected with the Fleet of Twelve Stars. Now, his will becomes your sword, and his existence becomes your shield.
"...This is amazing."
"Don't just keep it to yourself, explain it to me!"
The Fleet of Twelve Stars stares at you as if frustrated.
"Ahaha, well, you see..."
Just as I was about to explain, a message appeared.
Freight train protection complete.
"Register."
[6th Floor Hall of Fame]
1st Place: Lee Suhyun (Private)
2nd Place: Han Yerin
3rd Place: Kim Haneul
◈ Effect: In dangerous situations, the flow of time around you decelerates. 'Slow.'
I registered for the Hall of Fame, but what was the criteria this time?
"6th Floor Hall of Fame."
6th Floor Rank 1 Train Damage: 0% (Perfect Defense)
6th Floor Rank 2 Train Damage: 12% (Minor Damage)
6th Floor Rank 3 Train Damage: 27% (Structural Damage)
So it's divided by damage rate? The Fleet of Twelve Stars was still staring at me intently.
"You'll understand naturally as time passes."
"W-wait a moment!"
The Fleet of Twelve Stars reaches out in confusion.
With that, I shouted "Exit," and I was moved outside the Tower.
Moving outside the Tower.
* * *
As soon as I returned to my comfortable home, I sat on the sofa and stared blankly at the ceiling when a message appeared.
The Guardian of All Things asks if it's okay not to explain.
"Of course, look at this."
At that moment, another message appeared.
The Fleet of Twelve Stars frowns, asking how you could run away without even explaining.
"Ahaha, I'm sorry."
It was just too much of a hassle to explain...
They were a Transcendent anyway, so they'd figure it out eventually—what was the need for an explanation? More importantly, how to use this ability...
Just then, the doorbell rang at the entrance.
Ding-dong.
A knock followed. Knock, knock, knock.
"I'm from the Awakened Association."