All kinf of hard, intense internal debates and head-banging when you realize you need to retcon everything, that's pretty much sum up writing this chapter.

Chapter 9: Clash at Mirror Sea

256 Foreign "Pieces" have entered the board, multiple errors detected within Storm Spiral, commencing debug and termination of "Outsiders".

Sector ?, time undetermined.

"Ugh…" everything around him was a solid pitch black, he had not the slightest idea of where he was or what happened and his body was very sluggish. After a few attempts, he managed to open his eyelids which felt like they weighed at least a ton each.

"Commander! What a relief, you're finally awake." The first thing he saw was Tirpitz kneeling right next to him.

"Tirpitz…" finally he was able to get up but now it was his head that felt like it is being hammered constantly.

"Where are we? What happened to the fleet?"

"I too had just awoken about half an hour earlier, but from what I can recall it seems we were sucked into the massive whirlpool."

"Ah…right, I remember now…"

As the Siege shell exploded into an energy cluster, the chain reaction had reached all the way to the whirlpool causing it to somehow expand rapidly and spawning smaller whirlpools. Because all ships had retreated prior to that so Commander Burai with his reactor output dropped to 20% wasn't able to get out in time. Tirpitz, being the one closest to him, tried to pull him out only to meet the same outcome.

Afterward, all the excessive energy was gathered into the light column of eerie red and released into the sky, causing the thunderstorm to finally go berserk as it formed a natural, or unnatural, barrier around the whirlpool. For the time being, any attempt to send in a rescue party is impossible and inadvisable.

"Well, at least we're the only ones that got sucked in. Anyway, we need to get back to the fleet as soon as possible-" Commander Burai tried to stand up and wobbled greatly to the point that even he was surprised of himself and Tirpitz had to catch him and led him toward where his Rigs were.

Running system diagnostic…

Classification: Armada-class.

Subject: Burai Van Streiter.

Vitals: Normal.

Wisdom Cube condition: Normal.

Reactor output: 68%.

Armor durability: 98.8%.

Remaining ammo count: 120.

Running Auxiliary system diagnostic…

Secondary reactor output: 62%.

Component condition: Normal.

Remaining ammo count: 2.

System check completed.

For a brief second all these messages flashed up in his mind like a computer on start-up, then his nerve was reconnected and synchronized with the Rigs' onboard system as the two set out to get their bearing on the area. On the way, they tried to reestablish communication with the fleet but to no avail. Their radar, however, picked up a large signal toward the north-east direction so that'd be their destination for now.

Then out of nowhere, two fighter squadrons nose-dived down at them like hungry vulture spotting a fresh corpse.

"Contact!" Multiple Siren readings appeared on their radar. One Carrier-class, two Battleship-class and six Light Cruiser-class. Just where exactly did they come from, if neither radar nor sonar can detect them?

"Tirpitz, lead the way and lay down suppressing fire! I'll cover our back!"

"Roger!"

A wise decision. Even if they're only Sirens, they have both home turf and number advantage, even the element of surprise was lost to them. With all that accounted for, retreating is the most logical course of action. There is no shame in retreating if it means one lives to fight another day and possibly wins another battle. For what is pride when only white bones remain, where is glory when the flesh rots in the heart of abyss?

With Commander Burai blocking the incoming shots with his shields, Tirpitz at least got some leeway to aim her shots carefully. They both have very limited ammo left so every single shot must count.

"Checkmate!" right just before firing her main batteries, Tirpitz launched a salvo of torpedoes at the Light Cruiser-class. The EMP effect immediately kicked in, paralyzing them and impeding the advance of the Battleship-class. That was her cue to deliver the finishing blow.

One Battleship-class was sunk instantly, with the Carrier-class suffered critical damage. Then without letting the Light Cruiser-class to have a chance to retaliate, Commander Burai had set them on fire with a HE barrage. Now in order to pursue, the remaining Battleship-class have to either go around or plough through the other Sirens' burning wrecks. Either way, it'd still take quite a bit of time so the two quickly took that chance to find some cover behind a nearby island.

"That'll keep them off our tail for a while. For now, let's navigate between these islands to avoid being detected." At last some room for a breather, or so they thought. As soon as they were about to move to the next island, from the sky a barrage of cannon shells and from the sea a volley of torpedoes.

"Commander!" Tirpitz, just as she released her own torpedo salvo to counter the incoming one, immediately jumped in and covered for him. A Battleship boasts the highest armor rating of any class, still just because one can take the punishment doesn't mean they should throw themselves in harm way for another.

"Idiot!" Commander Burai caught Tirpitz by her back then brought up his shields but they too were at their limit. No other way, the moment the shields went down he let one of his turret on the left sector took the full brunt of the remaining shots.

"What were you thinking, jumping in like that?!" he shouted, anger showing clearly in his voice.

"Protect the Commander at all cost…Is that not part of us Ship Girls' duty?"

"Ghrr! Those at Central and their goddamn protocols! Fine then, Bismarck-class Tirpitz, this is the new order from your Commander, Burai Van Streiter. You shall not throw away your live, not even for me. This order shall remain in effect and take priority over all protocols until I say otherwise."

"My army has no need for corpse and I plan to make full use out of every single one of my soldier. So survive and persevere! Defy order again and I'll hold the court martial for you myself, are we clear?" his words were harsh which was understandable because of her reckless action, but what Tirpitz herself felt was much gentler. For the Lone Queen of the North, this was the first time her heart had experienced something like this.

"Y-yes, crystal clear, Commander." Now with that out of the way, the two diverted their attention back to whoever their assailant was. Through flame and smoke, their enemy finally made herself known.

"This kind of battle, is meaningless…Even so, you still wish to forge on? Then let me see your persistence." But it was someone they did not account for, entirely unexpected even in the craziest of scenario.

Earlier, about two sectors away.

"Dear me, just where in the world did we wind up in?" letting out a long sigh with a hand placed on her cheek, Commander Iris of the Royal Navy, along with Hood were wandering from island to island, making this the fifth island that they have wandered to with little to no progress at all.

When the whirlpool went out of control, the Azur Lane had just arrived at the scene after taking care of the Siren fleet on their side and was taken completely by surprise when smaller whirlpools started spawning. But because they didn't have to fight two whole Siren fleets, the next greater than the last, even when ending up in the same situation the Royal Navy have it better than the Ironblood.

"Everywhere we looked is just all the same, not to mention we can't even contact the fleet. Honestly, if we don't get back soon everyone will be worried."

"You should fret not, milady, for I am here with you. Instead, you should smile more. After all, anxiety does not befit your beauty." Always elegance even in the direst of circumstances, such is the quality of the Mighty Hood, the Glory of Royal Navy.

"Fufu, you always know just the right thing to say, Lady Hood. If you have said so, then of course I can't be feeling down anymore now, can I?" the two engaged in a casual and intimate conversation. If this was any other time, the duo would definitely be mistaken for two fairies of the sea frolicking around, outshine even the brilliant sunlight.

But in the end, such beautiful time is but a fantasy, a pipedream in wartime. The two ended their conversation as a fleet of Sirens emerged. At first Commander Iris seems to heed not their presence as she turned to Hood and reached out her hand.

"Lady Hood, would you take me up on this dance?"

"It'd be my greatest of pleasure, milady." In a courteous manner, Hood bowed back before taking Commander Iris's hand.

Support ability: Waltz of Blue.

In the fleet, pair two capital ships together and grant benefit effects based on the combination.

+Two Battleships/Battlecruisers or one of each class: switch all ammo property to AP with enhanced piercing capability and decrease reload.

+Battleship/Battlecruiser and Aircraft Carrier: increase Carrier's aviation proportionate to Battleship/Battlecruiser firepower and decrease Battleship/Battlecruiser damage taken proportionate to Carrier's reload.

"Tis be unforgettable memory."

Location: unknown.

Two mysterious figures stood before a giant holographic projection, the light from the screen reflected on them wasn't enough to make clear any distinctive characteristic. On the screen, the battle of both the Ironblood and Royal Navy was being monitored closely.

"One of the 'Piece' has encountered with the 'Outsider'. Error margin is increasing but still within acceptable range. Letting such uncontrolled factor persist could result in potential failure of the simulation. Suggesting immediate removal of 'Outsider'." One of the figure spoke up while simultaneously typing on six different control panels, with countless number that cannot be made sense of and incomprehensible equations appearing and disappearing on the screen.

"…" the other figure remained quiet, seemingly completely fixated on the battle between one of the Piece and the Ironblood. At first the reason of fixation seems to be simply for the purpose of data collecting, but as this figure keeps on observing the fight, something akin to fascination began to surface.

"Tester?" the first figure called, not sure if that was the real name of just an alias. Based on their voices, it seems they're both female, or at least the female equivalent of whatever their species is.

"…No, more often than not, the uncontrolled factor is exactly the key. Despite her action not scripted in the simulation, that BLACK's behavior synchronicity is still above 90% so, just let it be, for now."

"What are you thinking, Tester?"

"I…want to see…want to witness, with my own eyes just how much possibility this 'uncontrolled factor' holds. And you too are interested, are you not, Observer?"

"Not particularly, but I'd be lying if I say I don't have any interest."

Back to the present, on the Ironblood side.

"Commander…Am I still alive, or am I seeing my own ghost?"

"Probably the former." Both of them were completely bewildered and at a loss for word, especially Tirpitz. For right at this moment she was staring at her own self that isn't a reflection, rather it was the whole world that's the mirror. It's not just a case of sharing the same face like twins, they are actually the same entity.

Standing before them right now, and the one behind the ambush just now, was Graf Zeppelin and…another Tirpitz.

Up until now everything they've encountered is entirely outside the boundary of their understanding but they are still somewhat mentally prepared as those things can be dismissed as 'it's the Siren's doing'. But seeing your own doppelganger, that isn't something that can simply be prepared for in advance.

"What a cruel yet beautiful bloom…"

"It is because this world still has 'Pieces' like you, worthy of being ravaged and destroyed, that my life and battles have meaning!"

"The steel wings of Ironblood – Zeppelin-class aircraft carrier, grants you your destruction!" without giving as much of an explanation, Graf Zeppelin had sent out her fighter squadrons. The other Tirpitz then also followed her example and waved her flag with zeal as the four turrets were fully reloaded and locked down on the duo before her.

"Good grief, it's just one thing after another! And none of it makes even the slightest sense!" grunting loudly, Commander Burai shot a HE barrage into the sky to disperse the incoming fighters then dashed forward. Both sides have only two combatants, but their side has both Battleship and Carrier, a frightening combination.

Compared to the old time when Battleships with main batteries towering the sky was still the symbol of naval might, nowadays it is the Carrier that controlled the tide of battle. Being the biggest threat, it's only natural that Carrier would always be the top priority target regardless of their fleet's actual strength.

As for Battleship, while no longer retained the glory they once have they're still a threat in their own right. A single well-placed barrage from their main batteries can blast any ship into oblivion, and while excel at long range combat they can also take on the role of vanguard if need be.

The current task at hand has already proven itself to be quite difficult. Every time Commander Burai tries to get to Graf Zeppelin, the other Tirpitz would stand in his way like a colossal obstacle. Inferior in both firepower and armor, only in speed could a heavy Cruiser hope to compete against a Battleship. But under this downpour of bombs where even space to dodge was limited, the speed factor is nil.

Since the start this was an unfavorable matchup…or was it?

Despite some difficulties, Commander Burai managed to circle to the side of the other Tirpitz when she was hit by a torpedo salvo. Within that short window, he had instantly closed the distance between them.

"It's over." The other Tirpitz spoke softly as her two turrets released a point blank barrage. It was a direct hit as part of his Rigs exploded into a huge cloud of black smoke. Tirpitz trained her eyes full of emptiness onto the spot where her opponent was standing just a moment ago.

"So the WHITE this time is also…" she thought, and because of that was caught completely off guard. Through the smoke, a barrage of EMP pierced through the air and right at her. Even when dodging at the last possible moment, she still took quite a bit of damage as the numbness and stream of electricity surges up her body.

"AAaaaaaahh! But…how…" her question was answered when her other self was the one to appear from the smoke. Sacrificing the turret that was already busted up beyond any possible repair, Commander Burai had created a smokescreen from the gunpowder of the remaining ammo inside. Then, Tirpitz took his place and successfully pulled off a surprise attack. After all, only a Battleship can face off another Battleship. As for himself…

After falling back, he deployed the Siege Cannon and released the safety lock mechanism on the auxiliary reactor. The reactor then went into overdrive, greatly increasing its output and reducing the required charge time. The drawback being, it can only maintain said state for a short while and afterward, the reactor will be completely spent. But given the circumstance, such brief moment is all he needed for victory.

Thanks to the overdrive mode taking most of the energy burden, the Siege Cannon took only 5 seconds to reach its full charge. His target, neither Tirpitz who was already downed nor Graf Zeppelin who could easily dodge the attack. His target, the thundercloud brewing above where fighter squadrons amassed.

"Better stand your ground, or you'll get swept by the storm."

At first there was only a beam of blue light piercing the cloud, but the instance following the explosion everything was covered in a blinding blue as the fighter squadrons were completely annihilated in a blink of an eye by millions of thunder strikes.

Ironblood fleet first clash in the unknown Zone: victory.

"Hehehe, as expected of the one chosen by the 'Creator', I must admit the gap in our strengths." The other Tirpitz, now lied floating with one hand across her face. Letting her guard down when the fight is still indecisive, truly a blunder on her part. But she didn't seem to be too discontent about it, instead of a little happy despite her loss.

"You…Are you really…?" hearing the voice of her other self, she moved her hand aside and looked up.

"Aah…so it really was more than just a lucid dream…To think 'our' path would actually converge, to think 'I' could actually meet 'you', my 'reflection' that I've never know off." A voice full of melancholy with a gesture expressing great yearning, feeling that Tirpitz then offered a hand to her other self. Really, just a minute ago they were enemy going full throttle at each other throat.

"Are you really…me?"

"Of course. We are the other's 'reflection', but after all we are but one entity. I am you, and you're me. Only, we both hail from different past, bearing different destiny." As the two entwined their fingers and leaned their forehead together, it's as if their past and everything they have experienced up to this point was transmitted to one another.

"It's warm…So you've found something worth fighting then…Heh, it sounds so enviable…"

"The cold of solitude…So you've yet to find that certain someone…Such sadness…"

Letting the two Tirpitz have a chat to themselves, Commander Burai had walked toward Graf Zeppelin, who despite not being caught in the giant EMP explosion also did not send out any more fighter squadron. When he approached her, she simply sat cross-legged atop her Rigs.

"Castling, huh? Hehehe, even in the direst of situation, to you everything is just a mere game of chess, with the entire board within your bird's eye view. Ironic, when you think the vantage point is your, it is you who's being looked down upon." A laugh of both self-mockery and amusement.

"Not gonna resist?" Commander Burai asked. Even with three cannons aimed at her, Zeppelin still showed no sign of retaliation and seemed to have completely surrendered herself.

"Hmph…even in the final moments, appreciating my own demise is also an enjoyment."

"…Then I won't grant you your enjoyment that easily."

"You've already submitted yourself, that makes you a POW and effectively making you mine. Since I am in need of good 'Pieces' right now, how about joining my army?" ordering his cannons to stand down, he reached out his hand.

"Even with bird's eye view, it was you who made full use out of your vantage point. Skills of your caliber is something I'd always die for to get my hand on." At the sudden turn of event, Zeppelin did not say a word and only stared at him. After a short while and probably some internal debates, she decided to take his hand and placed it on her cheek.

"This very sensation, this same feeling…it's been so long already yet still ever so vivid and intense…Where have you been all this time…" Zeppelin closed her eyes and whispered woefully. Commander Burai knew that those words were not directed at him and he has no idea who the person in question was, yet in his chest he still felt a slight sting.

On the giant monitor screen, warning and error signs were popping up like crazy. With all her limbs, hands and tentacles, the girl in charge of the six control panels, named Observer, was giving her utmost effort in containing the situation, issuing orders to hundreds of subsystems simultaneously.

"Massive energy explosion detected above Sector C3, signals of the two BLACK Pieces confronting the 'Outsider' have been completely lost from main system, multiple other BLACK Pieces exhibited signs of sentience and are starting to abandon their designated role and sector."

"Not to mention this…reaction. It's an awakening response, but there is no matching result to anything in the database and all parameters are fluctuating irregularly. How can a single Piece have this much influence on the System and managed to slip under our radar until now? Tester, just what in the world is this 'Outsider'?"

"Armada, they're called. Children born from mankind's twisted desire and their attempt to play god. Heh, humanity sure is insolent, but intriguing in their own way." Tester mused to herself.

"Putting that aside, do we have any data on them?"

"None. No other System Log mention anything similar."

"Impossible. All Simulations' conditions are similar to each other to certain extent, then how can there be this much of a stark difference? Just what is the stimulus that this one has but others don't? What is it that we're overlooking?"

"Nevertheless, their evolution speed has already surpassed what the Natural Calculation deducted. More or less, our goal has already been achieved. Now there's only one thing left to do."

"You're saying…"

"Yes, as the System's Debug program, it is my duty to provide even more corrective data."

"Allow me to see and witness with my own eyes, are you truly the final missing Piece, the 'King' that we've been waiting for~"

After that intense clash, the Ironblood now with two more additions to their fleet after stopping by a naval base on the which meant for Ship Girls and Sirens occupying this area to do some repair and resupply, is now making their way to the large signal toward the north-east direction. And along the way, Commander Burai and Tirpitz were able to learn about just what exactly is this Zone and more.

The massive whirlpool that they were sucked into is an inter-dimension portal, a gateway connecting different worlds together. So for the sake of explaining, the world that Commander Burai and Tirpitz came from is World A and this place is World B.

Now, the mysterious Zone or Zone E that appeared out of nowhere in World A is what called a Mirror Sea. A perfect replica of Zone E in World B projected into World A. Its purpose, a testing ground, pitting humanity against a never ending swarm of Sirens to test their evolution speed. Scenario: Mass Emergence.

But, thanks to an accidental interference that is the EMP explosion that wiped out the first Siren fleets, the gateway went out of control and the invasion was delayed. All this avant-garde and grandeur was for the sake of one, 'The Creator'. Who this supreme being is, no one knows. What they do know is that, unless they stop this invasion for good, everything that they ever cared for will be no more.

"There, that is your only way to return and the gateway of hell." Approaching their destination, Tirpitz pointed her finger at the whirlpool. According to what she said, at its very depth where the light pillar of eerie red originated from, is the central core that supports the entire temporal and spatial structure of the gateway. Destroy it with enough force and the portal will collapse, delaying the invasion indefinitely.

"You must go now, before it's too late-" just as she was about to finish her sentence, a presence whose menacing aura could be felt miles away appeared before them.

"I've finally met you, pets of the 'Creator'!"

"'You' sure are different from 'they' who had sought power from us. In 'their' eyes I saw only desperation and suspicion, but you, it's something else."

"Whether it's out of disingenuous high-minded preaching nation, ideals, future, or some other growth factors. The 'Memes' that you hold is exactly what we have been searching for in humanity."

"So let's begin, and let us relish in this wondrous Changes that you've brought!" without any forewarning, Tester began to open fire. Neither a Siren nor Ship Girl, but a hideous combination of both. The shots from her cannons did not seem to be a physical shell with kinetic force behind them, but rather just a cluster of energy. What's more, their homing property is much more aggressive than the Ironblood torpedo's.

"These annoying pests, I have no time to waste for you!" trying his best to dodge those energy shots, Commander Burai retaliated with his own AP barrage. But his opponent simply shrugged off an entire barrage and continued to march forward. She didn't even bother to angle her armor, yet the AP shells just bounced right off upon contact without leaving even a dent.

Seeing that, both Tirpitz then switched to HE and simultaneously discharged two full salvos onto Tester. The salvos exploded as a violent firestorm engulfed her, but that's pretty much it. She probably staggered a bit when they exploded, but all it did was covering her in flame. Suddenly stopping in her track, from what appears to be her torpedo pods three energy cluster was released at incredible speed despite travelling underwater.

In that meantime, Zeppelin's dispatched fighters had already closed in and were bombarding her to the last bomb they have, but then even that proved to have little effect. Seeing that, Tester raised three of her cannons and shot into the sky, the shots exploded causing all fighters to drop like flies. Apparently everything about her isn't bound by the laws of physics.

"Come now, pets of 'Creator'. Let me see just what those 'Memes' are." Tester provoked, and it didn't take long as Commander Burai had already circled behind her.

"I am no one's pets, and I told you to get out of my way!" All cannons locked and loaded, he began to empty his entire ammo reserve. And when hit with the EMP effect, Tester's movement became irregular, like a machine being short-circuited.

"Finally, something that can hit you where it hurts. Then let's give you the special treatment." Rerouting some energy from the main reactor to the auxiliary one, he managed to kick-start it again. However, at this point the energy core is already too unstable to handle another Siege Cannon charge even with two reactors. Well, not like he was aiming for that.

As the auxiliary reactor began to work again, he ejected the core from its container and threw it toward Tester.

"Say your prayers." Exposed to sudden change in environment, the core grew even more unstable and started melting down. As the last nail in the coffin, Commander Burai backed out and shot at the core to quicken up the process.

"Splendid, splendid, truly splendid! This is it! The 'Memes' that we've been looking for, the final missing Piece!" Tester let out an exhilarated laugh as her eyes turned hysterical. After the core exploded, to be extra sure he even ordered an all-out assault from all ships on her. Finally, some significant damage finally showed on her Rigs, but she's still alive.

Enough time wasted, the four quickly approached the whirlpool while the enemy is still immobilized.

"Are you really sure you can't come with us?" Tirpitz asked her other self, looking back one last time.

"We're soldiers who have discarded everything for our nation, only to fail even that and became but pawns in their palm. We have no right to stand beside you or bathe in your glory. But I appreciated the thought. And one last thing." The other Tirpitz then pulled her closer and whispered something into her ears.

"Don't worry, if it's you I know you can do it. After all, I am you." Exchanging their last words to each other, Tirpitz pushed her other self into the whirlpool and turned to Commander Burai.

"Please take care of her, take care of Ironblood in out stead."

"I will." Tirpitz then turned away and left, leaving only him and Zeppelin behind. Ever since that moment between the two of them, Zeppelin hasn't talked another word to him. But just as he turned away and about to leave, from behind she pulled him into an embrace.

"You've already abandoned me once, so even if you're gone now everything would simply go back to how it has always been. But at least I know, the 'me' on the other side, you will not abandon her."

"Farewell, my dearest…" bidding her last goodbye, she pushed him into the whirlpool.

"Where are you going, pets of the 'Creator'? I still have yet to dissect you yet~." By that time, Tester has already regained control of her body and was looking around for her target who was nowhere to be found. Deducting that they have already entered the whirlpool, she intended to lunge after them only to be stopped by Tirpitz and Zeppelin.

"Although no longer have the privilege to bear this name, at the very least we shall sing it loud and proud in our last moment. In the name of Ironblood, you shall not pass!"

Afterward, the central core of the Storm Spiral was destroyed, resulting in the collapse of the inter-dimension portal connecting the two worlds together. On the very next day, the mysterious Zone E had disappeared without a trace, as abrupt as when it appeared. The invasion plan of the Siren was foiled for good, but who knows when they will come back and what they will have in store then.

Commander Burai and Tirpitz safely returned to their world and was by theirs and the Sakura Empire joint rescue effort. Commander Iris and Hood of the Royal Navy had also returned safely, although through unknown means.

As per the fate of the other world Graf Zeppelin, Tirpitz, other Ironblood Ship Girls and the Siren called Tester, everything remained a mystery until this very day.

Operation: Divergent Chessboard: concluded.

Scenario: Mass Emergence: diverted.

Romance flag: get.