Reincarnated with a Country Creation System

March 22nd, 1939.

The morning sun barely penetrated the thick mist that clung to the waters off the northern coast of Valoria. The faint orange glow cast an eerie light over the scene, as both sides prepared for what was to be the decisive clash. The waters, still and foreboding, seemed to hold their breath, awaiting the inevitable storm of steel, fire, and blood that was about to unfold.

Onboard the VNS Valor, the flagship of the Valorian Navy, Admiral Heinrich Falk stood on the bridge, his eyes fixed on the horizon. He could feel the tension in the air, a collective sense of dread and anticipation that rippled through the crew. The Valorians had been bracing for this moment. Intelligence reports from Captain Kovac's intercepted transmissions had confirmed that the Ruthenians were coming. Now, they were here, just beyond the fog.

"Admiral, the latest reconnaissance from the Phantom indicates that the Ruthenian fleet has adjusted course," reported Captain Loren Schreiber said. "They're deploying their bomber squadrons. We're expecting aerial bombardment within the hour."

Falk nodded, his face set in grim determination. "Very well. Signal all ships to prepare for anti-air defense. I want our fighters in the air to intercept their bombers before they reach our lines."

The Valorian Navy, while smaller in number, had one key advantage: they were fighting on home waters. They knew every inch of the coastline, every hidden cove and current. Falk intended to use that knowledge to inflict maximum damage on the Ruthenians before they could establish a beachhead.

"All batteries to full readiness!" Falk barked into the intercom. "The moment you have a clear line of sight on their lead ships, open fire. We will not let them get close enough to our shores."

Onboard the RNS Sovereign, Admiral Volkov watched the Valorian coast materialize through the thinning mist. The Ruthenian fleet had spread out, destroyers forming a protective screen around the battleships and carriers. The earlier defeats had made them cautious, but they were determined to crush Valoria's naval defenses this time.

"Admiral, the Valorian fleet is forming up ahead," reported Captain Leonov, peering through his binoculars. "They've launched fighters. We can expect them to try and intercept our bombers."

Volkov's eyes narrowed. "Launch our own fighters as a counter. I want those bombers to reach their targets, no matter the cost. We'll soften their defenses before our main assault."

The deck of the RNS Thunderstrike erupted into a frenzy of activity as pilots sprinted to their aircraft, engines roaring to life. Ruthenian bombers took off in quick succession, heading straight for the Valorian lines.

As the bombers closed in, Valorian anti-aircraft guns opened up, filling the sky with deadly flak. The screeching roar of fighter engines filled the air as Valorian and Ruthenian planes clashed in a chaotic dogfight above the churning sea. Explosions and plumes of black smoke marked the sky as planes were hit, spiraling into the ocean below.

Back on the VNS Valor, Admiral Falk clenched his fists as he watched the battle unfold above.

"Order our cruisers to advance and engage their lead ships," he commanded. "We need to break their formation before their bombers can reach our main fleet."

The Valorian heavy cruisers VNS Conqueror and VNS Invictus surged forward, their guns thundering as they unleashed a barrage of shells toward the Ruthenian vanguard. The waters between the two fleets erupted in a cacophony of explosions as shells splashed down, sending geysers of water high into the air.

"Direct hit!" a crewman shouted on the bridge of the Valor. The Valorian shells had found their mark, sending flames licking up the side of the Ruthenian battleship. But the Ruthenians were quick to respond. The Ivan the Terrible's massive guns roared, sending shells hurtling back toward the Valorian cruisers.

Aboard the VNS Invictus, Captain Felix Moreno gripped the railing as a shell exploded off their starboard side, shaking the ship violently.

"Maintain fire!" he shouted, his voice barely audible over the roar of the guns. "We're not backing down!"

As the naval battle raged, Ruthenian bombers broke through the Valorian fighter screen. The first wave of bombers descended on the VNS Valor, releasing their payloads. Anti-aircraft guns peppered the sky, but several bombs slipped through the defenses, slamming into the Valor's deck. The massive ship shuddered as explosions rocked it, sending debris and crewmen flying.

"Damage control teams, report!" Admiral Falk shouted, wiping blood from a cut on his forehead where debris had struck him.

"Major damage to the forward deck, sir," an officer replied, his face pale. "We've lost two of our anti-air batteries."

Falk's jaw tightened. "We're not done yet," he growled. "Keep firing. We have to hold the line."

The VNS Valor continued to fight, its guns blazing as it pushed forward. But the damage was beginning to take its toll. Fires raged across the deck, and the ship's list was becoming more pronounced.

Meanwhile, on the Ruthenian side, Admiral Volkov's confidence began to waver. The Valorians were putting up a far fiercer resistance than he had anticipated. His fleet was taking heavy losses, and despite the aerial bombardment, the Valorian defenses remained formidable.

"Admiral, the RNS Catherine the Great has been hit!" Captain Leonov reported, his voice tinged with desperation. "She's listing heavily."

"Damn it!" Volkov slammed his fist against the console. "Order her to pull back. We can't afford to lose another battleship."

But even as he issued the command, another explosion lit up the sky as the VNS Invictus scored a direct hit on the Catherine the Great, sending the battleship up in flames.

As the battle dragged on, both sides were pushed to their limits. The Valorian Navy had managed to sink two more Ruthenian ships, including the battleship Ivan the Terrible. But the cost was high. The VNS Invictus was a burning wreck, and the VNS Valor, though still afloat, was barely holding together.

"Admiral Falk, we've taken too much damage," Captain Schreiber said urgently. "We need to withdraw before we lose everything."

Falk looked around at his battered fleet. The sea was littered with the wreckage of both Ruthenian and Valorian ships, a grim testament to the brutality of the engagement. He knew Captain Schreiber was right. If they stayed, they risked losing the last of their defensive fleet.

"Order all ships to fall back to the secondary defensive line," Falk ordered reluctantly. "We've inflicted heavy damage on them, but we can't afford to lose more."

As the Valorian fleet began its withdrawal, the Ruthenians, equally battered, chose not to pursue. Admiral Volkov knew he had won the field, but at a price that would haunt him. His fleet was a shadow of what it had been, and though he had pushed the Valorians back, the cost in men and ships was devastating.