Heavy Cruiser Prince

Ryanyy continued heading towards his wreck at full speed. He is happy that Ochakov granted him permission. Kirov didn't approve of the move, but he lacks the authority. Besides, the cruiser would be grateful that Ryanyy brought back a huge amount of resources.

"Hmm," he muttered to himself, two hours into the trip, "this seems to be the place I went down. Well, is it? I dunno. There are no landmarks here."

Ryanyy looked around. The weather is okay and the waves were not as big as the ones in coastal waters. That is good. The Gnevny-class destroyers suffered from structural weaknesses, causing limited seaworthiness. An issue shared with contemporary ltalian ships and a real problem in the rough waters off the coast of Russia. A century's worth of climate change isn't going to make things easier.

"Ryanyy to Stalingrad," Ryanyy reported, "I am approaching the location of my wreck. But I don't know my exact location, so I may take a while."

"Acknowledged," Ochakov replied, "make it quick."

"Yes sir," Ryanyy answered, "Ryanyy out."

The sound of gunfire reached his ears from a distance.

"Hmm," Ryanyy turned to face the sound, "there is a battle going on."

"Ryanyy to Stalingrad," Ryanyy reported, "I heard the sound of gunshots but have yet to reach my destination. Should I return to Vladivostok?"

"Ah!" Urakaze screamed as another shell impacted her.

"Onee-san!" Hamakaze shouted.

"Shit," Arashi swore, "that demon is still chasing us!"

"And who's fault do you think it was?" shouted the other two.

"Blaming Arashi won't save us," Maikaze said, "just concentrate on escaping."

The four Kagerou-class destroyers are fleeing north, speeding along at full speed and firing shots behind them.

"We're doing 35 knots," Hamakaze said, "but that demon is right on our tail!"

Not far behind them, an Abyssal gave chase.

"Goddamit," Urakaze complained, "is he ever going to give up?"

It all started a short while ago. The destroyers Urakaze, Hamakaze, Arashi and Maikaze were sent on an expedition. The group was heading to the location where they found a huge supply of steel earlier. The supply is an old shipwreck in the Sea of Japan. The wreck possessed considerable spiritual power, which could be converted to materials needed for shipgirls.

Five minutes ago

"Ladies," Urakaze announced, "we are now at the wreck. This is a juicy source of spiritual power, enough to make thousands of each material."

"Admiral praised us," Hamakaze nodded, "and we will get more when we take another batch back."

A burst of energy propagated through the air and the water, jolting the Japanese shipgirls."

"This sensation," Urakaze whispered, "is it another Primal?"

"Ooh," Maikaze rubbed her hands together, "I wonder who it could be."

The water under them suddenly shot up, displaced by a massive object. The shipgirls are pushed back by a massive wave of water.

"Crap!" Urakaze shouted.

Arashi pushed her hair out of her eyes and looked. The shipwreck which they harvested spiritual power from has been lifted out of the water. The wreck collapsed on itself, pulling into a singularity and spawned a cloud of nebulous gas. But instead of glowing blue like Primal shipgirls, this cloud glowed red.

"I don't like the look of this," Hamakaze whimpered, "the aura is hostile and repelling."

"Should we retreat?" asked Arashi.

"Yeah, let's go," Urakaze nodded, "girls, the wreck is gone anyway and since this is an expedition, we are instructed to not eng-"

The gas cloud dissipated as the figure materialized. Unlike all other Abyssals seen so far, this one is male. A Heavy Cruiser Princess. Well, prince is the better word. The Abyssal wore long, tailored pants and an overcoat. Both are pure white, just like the Abyssal's skin. His orange eyes blazed before cooling down to a soft glow. Two massive slug like extensions sprouted from his back, ending in a triple gun mount. It also carried another triple turret on its right waist.

"It's an Abyssal," Maikaze whispered.

"No shit," Arashi snapped, "I thought we established that when it gave off that freaky red aura."

"It's looking at us," Urakaze pointed.

The other Kagerou-class looked. Sure enough, the Heavy Cruiser Prince regarded them, his face as expressionless as a stone. It showed no signs of aggression, or even hostility. But it possessed a very scary gaze.

"Why isn't it attacking?" asked Hamakaze, "Any other Abyssal would have attacked us by now."

"That's why I wondered whether it was an Abyssal," Maikaze argued, "because it didn't go ape shit and attack us."

"It's still an Abyssal Heavy Cruiser Princess," Arashi retorted as she pointed, "no matter how you look at it."

"A Heavy Cruiser Prince," Urakaze grinned, "to be precise. He ain't half bad looking. Maybe Ashigara would like him."

"Nah," Arashi pointed her cannons at the Abyssal, "I say we sink this Abyssal here and now. While his guar-"

One of the Abyssal's body extensions shot forward. Before Arashi could finish her sentence, the jaws at the end bit down, crushing the turret she held in her right hand. The extension then pulled back, yanking the turret out of her hand. The jaws chewed on the turret while the extension swallowed the parts that didn't fall off. The Prince smirked, as if satisfied that it proved he was superior.

"OI!" Arashi shouted, "THAT WAS A PRECIOUS PIECE OF MY EQUIPMENT! Give it back!"

"Arashi!" Urakaze exclaimed, "We can't fight that!"

The warning came too late, because the Prince lunged forward and swiped at Arashi with his right hand. Arashi raised her right arm to block while moving back. It was a wise move, because she would otherwise get more than multiple open slash wounds.

"Shit!" Arashi shouted, "What are you waiting for? Attack!"

"No way!" Hamakaze exclaimed, "We ain't battleships. Heck, we don't even have torpedoes!"

"Then what?" asked Maikaze.

"RUN!" Urakaze shouted at the top of her lungs.

The destroyers rush past the Abyssal Heavy Cruiser Prince and speed north. The idea was to go out of the Abyssal's sight before splitting into two groups and coming back around before heading to Japan. But the Abyssal cruiser not only gave chase. It kept pace as well.

Meanwhile, at the Stalingrad, the navy officers debated on whether to send Ryanyy to investigate.

"There is a battle," Yakubov said, "according to Ryanyy, and he is asking whether he should return to Vladivostok or investigate."

"Well," Zria said, "we only have two shipguys in total. It would be unwise for us to risk Ryanyy in battle, particularly on his own."

"I disagree," Ochakov shook his head, "I believe it is the best for Ryanyy to investigate. A battle implies that someone is fighting the Abyssals. Ryanyy would not be alone. If he decides to fight, it would give him some experience in combat. And if the situation goes downhill, Gnevny-class can do 39 knots. He can outrun anything the Abyssals can throw at him."

"What about the PT imps?" asked Kirov, "They are very fast."

"Those little Abyssal infants can go fuck themselves," Ochakov ranted, "I have faith in Ryanyy. He should have the weapons and agility to take them on. Don't you have faith in him?"

"I don't believe he has what it takes to be a Soviet shipguy," Kirov crossed his arms.

"I suppose that we could send Ryanyy to investigate," Marx interrupted, "but order him to flee as soon as things are not looking good."

"Yes sir," Ochakov said.

"Should I go and join him?" Kirov asked, "I am repaired."

"If you so wish," Marx said, "but I don't think it is necessary."

Ryanyy received orders to investigate the gunfire while avoiding any direct confrontations. The destroyer didn't complain. He has no desire to get wrecked on his first day. A little while later, he spotted multiple figure on the ocean. As they drew closer, Ryanyy could see that they are young girls. Behind them is a monster looking very pissed off.

"Ryanyy to Stalingrad," Ryanyy reported, "I see four shipgirls of unknown origin fleeing from an Abyssal. Should I assist them in fighting?"

"Fleeing?" asked Kirov, "Even with four against one? Then either the enemy Abyssal is very powerful or the shipgirls are very weak. Either way, you should not get involved. Come back to Vladivostok now."

"Acknowledged," Ryanyy said, "I am returning to Vladivostok."

The Japanese destroyers continue fleeing.

"Alright," Urakaze ordered, "this is not going well. We're splitting forces."

Urakaze and Maikaze turn sharply to starboard, while Arashi and Hamakaze to port. They hoped that the Heavy Cruiser Prince would be confused for long enough for them to escape. But that didn't work, because the Abyssal turned port as well, chasing Arashi and Hamakaze.

"Crap!" Arashi shouted, "What now?"

"Arashi," Urakaze said over the radio, "I am sorry to tell you this, but you're on your own. If you didn't aggravate that Abyssal, he wouldn't be trying to kill us."

"Oh GOD NO!" Arashi shouted, "We're sisters!"

"You're a destroyer," Urakaze replied, "losing a Heavy Cruiser should be no problem. We're heading back to Japan. Good luck."

"FUCK!" Arashi shouted, "NO!"

"I'll stay by your side," Hamakaze reassured her, "okay?"

Three shells splashed in the water next to them. For whatever reason, the Abyssal's gun had a lower rate of fire than normal Heavy Cruiser Princesses and suffered from appalling dispersion.

"I can get away," Arashi said to herself, "I'll just-AH!"

One shell managed to hit her.

"I am so screwed," she said, "so-"

That was when she noticed another Abyssal closing in on her from her left. He is also male, but appeared to be destroyer aged. An Abyssal Destroyer Prince? A wicked grin spread across Arashi's face as she turned sharply to him. The new Abyssal didn't seem aggressive either.

"What are you doing?" asked Hamakaze.

Arashi slammed into the Abyssal before grabbing him by his shoulder. She aimed her surviving turret at the Abyssal's head.

"Yo, Abyssal!" Arashi shouted, "Keep chasing us and we'll blow your kids brain out!"

"That won't work!" Hamakaze exclaimed, "You'll just piss him off!"

The Destroyer Prince struggled and shouted in a language that Arashi and Hamakaze didn't understand.

"You think they're communicating?" asked Hamakaze.

"They must be," Arashi pointed at the Prince, "look."

The Abyssal Heavy Cruiser had slowed down. But it pointed all of its guns at the trio.

"It isn't working," Hamakaze whispered, "we're so gonna die."

The slug like extensions of the Heavy Cruiser Prince shot forward, but a gunshot stopped them. Smoke curled out from Arashi's guns. The Destroyer Prince's mast was shot away.

"Stay back," Hamakaze said shakily to the Heavy Cruiser, "or else."

The Destroyer Prince continued shouting in the unknown language. The Heavy Cruiser Prince growled and backed away.

"Holy shit," Arashi said, "it worked."

"What are you waiting for?" snapped Hamakaze, "We're heading back to Japan."

The Destroyer Prince continued to struggle.

"Hush," Hamakaze pulled him to her chest, "We'll let you go when we get back to Japan."

The Destroyer Prince stopped struggling. He almost went limp.

"Ah," Arashi nodded, "so he understood us. Come on, we better go before that Heavy Cruiser Prince changes his mind and attacks us all."

"Let's go," Hamakaze said, releasing the Abyssal.

The Destroyer Prince attempted to rush north, but Arashi grabbed him.

"Damn," she said, "we caught a wild one. Hey, why don't we take him back to the Admiral? Would he praise us?"

"I dunno," Hamakaze replied, "I don't want him broadcasting our location to the Abyssals. Heck, he may even be calling nearby Abyssal to him right now."

"Then we keep a hold on him," Arashi argued, "in case the Abyssals attack. He'll be our hostage."

"If you insist," Hamakaze said at last, "bring him along."

"We've lost contact with Ryanyy," Marx said, "he is still afloat, but we can't reach him."

"That fucking kid must have shut down his radio," Kirov muttered, "when he comes back, I am going to kick his ass."

"He is heading south," Zria remarked, looking at her phone, "towards Japan. Well, that is where Ochakov's phone is, at least."

"What is he thinking?" wondered Ochakov.