Author: Day...yeah, I stopped counting the days in lockdown since I'm just basically on the computer eight hours a day with my little devil cat sitting on the keyboard like any cat would do. Then there's the husky seeking attention...
It's been a while since I made a "long" chapter (basing on the previous chapters) and I feel like cutting/adding some parts before I upload the next chapter.
Memories felt distant and vague...
The moment passed too quickly and by the time Tyrant wakes up, there was nothing and no one around. Her head felt heavy and her whole body ached like a chain tightly coiling her from top to bottom. With the little strength she has, she mustered enough to lift herself from the cold concrete ground.
"What...just what...?"
Tyrant shakes her head in confusion while she staggered to take several steps forward. She was too confused to be bothered about the charred ruins around her.
"..."
She then stopped, sensing strange from within her. Upon the realization, she finally took notice of her surroundings where nothing remained. She was the cause and what she sees around her was the effect...the aftermath.
"That's right. Everyone's gone...and it's all my fault. Iron Blood...had been wiped out...by one of their own"
She slumped against a wall, fully remembering her actions and not denying them. While there's guilt in her heart, it didn't feel deep.
"What's done...cannot be undone. There's no time to feel bad about it. That's right, even if I were to suffer and bear all of this...as long as I could accomplish it...then all of this wouldn't exist in the first place"
It was because Tyrant is determined to accomplish her one goal which she made as her some purpose. Tyrant tightly clutched her chest, aware of the guilt and regret she caused to herself, but she will bear it just as she is going to bear what she must do to accomplish her goal.
"It took you a while to wake up. Does your head still hurt?"
For a moment, Tyrant accepted she was alone but at the moment she heard a voice, she quickly turned her head, visibly relieved that not everyone is gone. Unfortunately, she lost the ability to express this emotion as if it had begun freezing up once again.
"Eugen? How - wait...my mind is still fuzzy"
"Don't push yourself. Your body is still adjusting to the Tyrant code. You may be compatible, but it was the power originally given to Bismarck"
Prinz Eugen calmly approaches the still confused Tyrant and pat her shoulder with a faint smile on her exhausted looking face.
"That's right. Big sister is gone...and she passed the Tyrant Code to me"
"Bismarck's time was running out. You're the only one she could leave it"
"It still hurts. To slaughter my own comrades because I choose to fulfill this purpose. I've been used as an unwilling tool...to massacre my own comrades" Tyrant lowered her head
"If it helps, not everyone is dead. I'm still standing here, alive and kicking"
Prinz Eugen isn't good at comforting others but she did her best to lessen Tyrant's grief over the death of the other Iron Blood shipgirls at her own hands. She knew Tyrant isn't as sturdy and solid like Bismarck so the guilt is unbearable for her.
"Bismarck never told me anything and I don't know what she told you before she went to die but the other one told me some things"
"The other one?"
"Someone else like you. You made a sacrifice...your goal over your own comrades. Just for this chance, you bit your lip and clenched your fists as you sacrificed the others"
"..."
"Tirpitz, no...Tyrant, I will see the end of this with you. I will follow what Bismarck had started and left to you"
Dumbfounded at Prinz Eugen's declaration, Tyrant lifted her head and genuine shock appeared in what was the expression who had died inside.
"I may a bit different from a typical Iron Blood, but if there was a chance to save this one remaining past...then I want to see it come true. I want to hope even for the first and last time"
"This isn't very like of you, Eugen"
"Because this is our last shot. This is the last past timeline we could prevent from being overtaken by the Sirens"
"Do you worry about your own future?" Tyrant raised a question
"Yeah. If we fail this one, there wouldn't be a future for me...for you...and for everyone. Honestly, I still want to have a future and I don't want anyone to strip me of it"
"I see. You're still going by your own interests. You don't want to cease from existing like everyone else"
"Yes, but...I just want to hear that tsundere of a sister yell and get angry...like the old peaceful times"
Prinz Eugen turned away when she chose to reveal her actual reason to why she wanted to follow Tyrant's goal and help her accomplish it.
"...Do you wanr to see that annoying carrier again? That persistent girl who worked hard to make you smile with warmth again?"
"Yes. Even for a moment, I wanted to see the person who never gave up on me and thawed this ice inside me. I just want to see Victorious with a peaceful [me]"
While there are no tears, the sadness twisting in her heart was clear and visible. It was Tyrant's genuine desire even with the sin she had committed and burden she accepted to carry. Tyrant, being an alternate version of Tirpitz from the same world, loathed the world for her lonely and tragic end. Now that loathing turned into lament with the burden she accepted.
"But once we return to the past...I don't think I want to even look at her. I don't want her to see me like this. I don't want to her to know what I did. That's why as much as possible...I don't want to think about her...or I might be my old self again"
"The sacrifices you must make for that one chance. I'm sure Bismarck did the same when she still had the Tyrant code" Prinz Eugen spoke solemnly
"..."
"That annoying carrier and my angry sister. We both have someone we wanted to be with no matter what but can't...given our circumstances"
"Do you still want to follow me, Eugen?"
"I made my choice, Tyrant. For this one chance, I will put everything just for that little hope. For once, I will desire for something with my heart"
Accepting Prinz Eugen's resolution, Tyrant lets out one deep sigh as she had never someone like Prinz Eugen to make a decision when everything around them went to hell. Everyone and everything is gone, and there's nothing left but painful memories in this era.
"Besides, there's nothing left for me here. This path is the only thing I can take now" Prinz Eugen sorrowfully admitted
"I see. If that's your wish...then I will pass something Bismarck had in possession. It came from that woman and Blucher had it but we all know how history turned out for her"
Prinz Eugen is someone with little loyalty and acts on her interest and entertainment yet Tyrant accepted her choice and allowed her to walk the same path as her, despite knowing the sacrifices that had to be made.
It was all like walking threw a thick mist of uncertainty. When that mist faded, Tirpitz slowly opens her eyes and quietly stared at the ceiling light for a few seconds. She lazily turned her head left and right, immediately recognizing the infirmary. She could only let out an exhausted sigh as she remained on the bed.
"How did I get here? Why does my body feels so heavy? What in the world just happened?"
Several more questions stirred inside her mind with her recent memories before waking up awfully vague. What she felt can be compared to remaining inside a dream only to forget it in the waking world.
"Eugen? I think there's something about her I want to ask..."
Tirpitz did her best to recall the previous events but all her memory could dig is an unknown event involving Prinz Eugen. It frustrated her that there's nothing else in her mind that she could recall related to it.
"I think I was talking to Eugen. I just can't remember what happened..."
She shakes her head, puzzled to why she has little recollection of what happened before she mysteriously passed out and ended up waking in the infirmary. As she ponders about it while sitting on the side of the bed, she raised her head at the second she heard the sound of the door opening.
"Ara~ You finally regained consciousness. Well, I suppose I overdid it a little bit"
"Eugen, what are you talking about?"
"Ah, sorry. I forgot that little shock caused a bit of short term memory loss. Well I had to do it since you're clearly not in the mood back then and that annoying girl was nearby"
Tirpitz blinked, still confused to what Prinz Eugen is talking about. The heavy cruiser casually approached her, a usual mischievous smile on her face.
"Still confused, huh..."
Prinz Eugen mildly didn't expect the effect of what she did when she knocked Tirpitz unconscious. Despite being slightly dismayed, she wanted to remind the battleship of what happened earlier.
"It looks like you need a clear reminder"
She slowly leans closer, making Tirpitz slightly uncomfortable that Prinz Eugen is making physical contact with her. The heavy cruiser pulled Tirpitz's head and positioned to whisper to her ear.
"I revealed that I was the traitor within Iron Blood you're looking for"
"The...traitor..."
"Yeah. You quickly got mad about it and strangled me"
Prinz Eugen pulls herself away, laughing as she also revealed how Tirpitz reacted about and clearly not caring she was strangled for revealing she's indeed "going against" Iron Blood.
"...?!"
With Prinz Eugen's clear reminder, Tirpitz felt a sharp headache as it triggered it for her to remember the rest of the events. The reason she felt like Prinz Eugen was somewhat involved is because she actually is.
Well, if now is not the right time... we'll just have to talk again when you're in the mood of not strangling me...
It was her last memory, moments before Prinz Eugen renders her unconscious with a single touch from her. Now it made sense that she was brought to the infirmary after Prinz Eugen left her unconscious.
"That's right. You knew about what's messing with my head...and you're the traitor within the fleet!"
Without a moment of hesitation, Tirpitz grabbed Prinz Eugen by the collar and slammed her against the wall, the heavy cruiser letting out a small grunt. She didn't hesitate to physically harm a supposed ally and even grabbed her by the collar.
"Traitor is a harsh word. It's a bit true but my goal is certainly not against my Iron Blood even if I'm acting on my own interests"
"What do you mean by that?"
"I'm working with Tyrant not for the Sirens. Tyrant's only wanted to continue what Bismarck started"
"What Bismarck started?"
"You already figured out Bismarck is the original Tyrant and she only transferred the Code to you before she died at your hands. Why do you think you believed Tyrant was Bismarck in the first place?"
Tirpitz widened her eyes at what she had just heard. Just like what Prinz Eugen is saying, she believed Tyrant was Bismarck when they fought in another world. Tyrant slightly gained Bismarck's resemblance after attaining the Tyrant Code and absorbing a portion of Bismarck.
"Bismarck being Bismarck wanted to protect Iron Blood, to secure a future for the fleet and humanity. That's why she didn't mind dying to protect the information she kept in the Code. If the Sirens get their hands on it, everything she worked hard for will be wasted!"
It's true that Bismarck will do anything for the sake of Iron Blood's future and she wouldn't hesitate to sacrifice herself for their sake but Tirpitz still has lingering questions. It still has yet to make sense for her, for someone being targeted without a specific reason.
"Unfortunately, Observer managed to get the [you] that became Tyrant but they couldn't extract the information from her so they tampered with her Code...making her one of their pawns"
"If they want the information within the Code why use her as a pawn?" Tirpitz tightened her grip
"The Sirens will let her lead them to that person. Tyrant is instinctively following her only goal even if her Code and her memories had been damaged"
"Leading her to who? That person...who is she?"
"I don't know. That person's identity is classified so no one without the coordinates could find her but there's one thing I know. She's someone who detected from the Sirens and currently being hunted by them"
"This information Bismarck had. What is this exactly? How did Bismarck got that information?"
"After getting the Tyrant Code, Bismarck travelled just about everywhere until one day, the Sirens targeted her because she found a lead. Bismarck of course tried to fight them off but ultimately she let herself get killed"
"By transferring this burden to me..."
Recalling one of Tyrant's memories that lingered in her after their last fight, Tirpitz loosened her grip on Prinz Eugen and released her while she sat back on the bed.
"What a damn life I have. For a long time I was tossed aside and abandoned in the north...now my future is carrying the burden of my older sister..."
"She never forced it on you. In fact, she doesn't want you to carry it knowing how terrible your life is...but Bismarck sacrificed so much"
"..."
"Bismarck does care about you. She's not the emotional type but she genuinely loves her little sister. Why do you think she forced you out of the front lines"
"..."
"Older sisters always thinks of their younger sisters more than their own. They express how much they care in their own ways even if it's selfish. That's right...even if they act immature at times..."
"Eugen?"
"Oops. I almost let that one slip"
Eugen's display of sincere emotions slowly convinces Tirpitz but the latter is not foolish enough to easily trust Prinz Eugen or anyone. She wanted Prinz Eugen to reveal what she knows before she could decide whether to trust her or not.
"I want to ask one thing" Tirpitz calmly looked at Prinz Eugen
"What is it?"
"Since when did you become your future self?"
"Remember when my dear big sister came running since she lost contact of me while out on a mission"
"Yes. You mean-"
"Communications was cut off when my other self came and faced me. Since she's also 'me' we never really got into a serious fight"
"Then what happened?"
"She showed me how Iron Blood was...erased. I never thought I'd see myself looking all sad..."
Prinz Eugen shakes her head, unsure what to describe or to even feel about seeing her future self filled with sadness. She acts and does whatever that pleases her or entertain her. She knows herself, who is only does whatever is on her interest, only cooperating if it concerns her.
"Right before I knew it, she transferred her Code to me and I gained both her memories and power. She didn't even ask for my consent and straight up caught me off guard. Right now, my future is just to conceal that I've become my alter ego that had the Siren's power"
"I don't get it. Are you still Prinz Eugen...or are you an enemy?"
Tirpitz grabbed Prinz Eugen's wrist, demanding the heavy cruiser to confirm it and her dead serious expression would only accept an equally serious answer. Of course Prinz Eugen read this expression and without an intention to divert or lie, she takes a deep sigh.
"I am still your Prinz Eugen but with my other self a part of me now"
Since Tirpitz isn't even holding her tightly, Prinz Eugen freed her own wrist and crossed her arms, a bit upset that Tirpitz still doesn't believe her.
"Even if you don't trust me, I'm your only chance in saving the other Tirpitz"
"...?!"
"You're not Tyrant yet so you can't use the cube to open a rift...but I can"
"Give me a reason to why I should believe you?" Tirpitz frowned
"I know the other you more than the Sirens. I've stuck with her before the Sirens got her. Joe do you think you're seeing Tyrant's memories?"
"It was you?!"
"..." Prinz Eugen smirked
"Then that bad dream about Tyrant yelling nonsense, was it you too?"
"Hmm? I don't remember anything about a bad dream" Prinz Eugen tilted her head
"Nevermind. Anyhow, how are you going to help me rescue the other Tirpitz?"
"The black mental cube is the key since it's basically a compressed portal-opening machine to make carrying it much easier but..."
"But what?"
"But it disappeared from your room when I tried to find it while you were passed out"
"What?!"
Prinz Eugen reluctantly delivered the bad news just when Tirpitz is beginning to feel hope on her current situation. She knew how Tirpitz would react so she looked away when she revealed the unexpected.
"What do you mean it disappeared?" Tirpitz raised her voice
"It meant it's no longer there where you kept it. The cube went missing before I could retrieve it"
"For the love of..."
"Someone had taken the black mental cube before I got to your room. So is there anyone you know who could have done it?"
"I couldn't think of anyone since you're the only one who snuck into my room"
"Then unless we find the black cube, there's no way to open a rift from our side"
Frustrated that about the black mental cube being missing, Tirpitz takes several deep breaths before she could think of banging her head on the wall. Since Prinz Eugen couldn't think of a way to make her feel better, she let Tirpitz calm herself down.
"...?"
The situation quickly changes with Bismarck entering the infirmary room, raising an eyebrow when the sight of Prinz Eugen and Tirpitz seemingly in a middle of conversation greeted her. Just outside the room if Friedrich der Grosse who whispered to Bismarck.
"Remember what we talk about, Bismarck"
"..."
"No holding back and be more honest this time, okay~"
Leaving those reminders, Friedrich der Grosse quickly left the scene without saying anything else.
"Sister...?" Tirpitz is surprised to see her
"..." Prinz Eugen quickly looked at Tirpitz
She then softly whispered at Tirpitz's ear who widened her eyes while Bismarck is intrigued to what Prinz Eugen could be saying to Tirpitz.
"Huh? Are you serious?"
"I'm serious and so should you. This isn't the time to play around with the situation"
"..."
"You don't really have much a choice and so am I. You know my goal now so I don't need to explain why you should trust me"
"Damn you..."
"Well then, I'll be taking my leave"
Prinz Eugen hurriedly takes her leave and winked at Bismarck before she passed by her, leaving Bismarck even more puzzled.
"What was that all about?"
"It's one of her little games again. It's just nonsense again"
"I see..."
"So...uh...you came to check on me?" Tirpitz cleared her throat
"You were found unconscious and was brought here. I had to check on you of course"
(I see. She was worried. I'm still not used to it...)
"There was nothing wrong with your body or equipment so I don't understand what's happening with you"
"I'm not in the best condition right now. Maybe it's a psychological thing...thinking about Tyrant"
Bismarck felt uneasy, not showing her concern for Tirpitz acting strangely lately. Despite being a level-headed and strict leader of Iron Blood, Bismarck has difficulty talking to Tirpitz who isn't known to socialize with others and open up.
"Tirpitz, it may sound unusual to you...but your current state isn't something I should ignore. I want to know what's happening to you..."
For a minute, Bismarck hesitated but shaking of that hesitation, Bismarck slowly sits next to Tirpitz who reacted in genuine surprise. She never creating a bond with her sister who she initially isn't fond off...who is now spending time with her.
"Ever since the situation with Tyrant and what happened to you, I don't want my negligence let you stray into that kind of path"
"Schwester..."
"...I don't want you to lose sight of yourself and forget that you are Tirpitz, a battleship of Iron Blood and not a puppet of the Sirens"
"..."
"...Tirpitz? Is there something wrong?"
"Nothing. It's just that...this is the first time that-"
"That I'm acting like an older sister to you?"
Bismarck accurately guessed what Tirpitz couldn't immediately say in this somewhat awkward situation between the two sisters. She already expected this answer from Tirpitz as Bismarck somewhat feels the same way. She had just recently started spending time with Tirpitz while being the hard-working and dignified leader of the fleet.
"Tyrant bears a deep hatred against me and blamed me for what she had gone through. Perhaps it's because I neglected you...that you had lost sight of yourself"
"...?!"
"You refused to accept Tyrant as your future self because of what kind of person she is. That's why...I won't let you become her as much as possible"
"This isn't very like of you. I've been used to the Bismarck who always focused on her duty more than her own feelings"
"My duty is to protect Iron Blood and its future, that includes you...little sister. I will use all my strength to protect our fleet, until the day I fall in a blaze of glory"
When Bismarck spoke of her duty in protecting Iron Blood, Tirpitz is reminded about what Prinz Eugen said about Bismarck sacrificing even herself for a last chance for Iron Blood's future.
"Tirpitz? Did I say something wrong?"
"No, no...talking about giving everything for the sake of our fleet...is so like you. You would give up everything to protect everyone..."
Tirpitz clearly looks like she is about to cry and Bismarck doesn't understand why. Even so, she reached out her hand to her and hesitating for a moment, Bismarck pulled Tirpitz close to her and let her lean on her chest.
(That's right. Just as I would give everything for Iron Blood, I would do the same...just so you wouldn't become the beast that destroyed everything she cared about...and went mad with grief and despair) Bismarck thought to herself
(If only...I felt this warmth much earlier. Perhaps...)
Unknown to Bismarck, Tirpitz's eyes who had turned golden yellow from the original icy blue one, felt a pain regretting not feeling this kind of warmth from Bismarck...before she had killed her.
(If you were to lose sight of yourself one day, Tirpitz...I would be the one to prevent you from hurting those who you held dear. Even if it means taking you down with my bare hands...)
As much as possible Bismarck hoped she wouldn't resort to sinking her own sister if she were to stray from her path. She feared to let her sister become Tyrant but she knows she must be always prepared for the worst case scenario. She must be prepared to end her own sister if it's necessary.
Kancolle Side...
The plan had been set and the day to corner the Siren Purifier had come. With Abyssals in the obstacle of their target, a combined fleet set out to deal with the Abyssal fleet and the Siren hiding within the territory. Even with the darkened skies and dripping rain, it won't stop the fleet to corner Purifier.
"No more playing around. That Siren is going this time!" Bismarck clenched her fists
"She's really serious today" Ark Royal whispered to Nelson
"Of course she's serious. The Siren is planning something with opening a portal and that technology might be our only chance in searching for our Tirpitz" Nelson replied
"Correct. So we must not let the Siren Purifier escape this time"
As soon as the fleet reached Abyssal controlled waters, they are greeted by common Abyssals ships immediately opening fire at them. The battle started earlier than they expect, clearly their enemies had prepared for their arrival.
"No one gets in my way!"
With a determined cry, Bismarck let out the full strength of her main guns, sparing no enemy in front of her. Bismarck allowed Purifier to escape once, she will not do so ever again.
"I hope she doesn't get carried away" Hiryuu nervously laughed
"Knowing Bismarck-san...we could only hope" Souryuu nervously laughed as well
The two carriers performed the pre-emptive strike, launching torpedo and dive bombers, officially starting the full assault on the Abyssal territory. While the fleet is occupied with the enemy ships, Purifier had already detected them but she continued on finishing her "project", ignoring the presence of shipgirls. With the Abyssals keeping them occupied, Purifier lets them stall the pesky shipgirl while she closes the completion of her task.
"They're already here. Aren't you going to join your friends?"
Purifier cheerfully hums while asking Battleship Princess who glared at her with both disgust and distrust. She observes the battles from the drones monitoring the exchange of shells, keeping an eye on the Abyssals and shipgirls killing each other.
"They're dropping like flies, you know. Aren't you sad they're dying?"
"You knew they're coming"
"Of course I know, it would be bad for them if they let me be. You knew that I knew so you decided to let them come to me. We're using each other as bait after all"
Purifier paused for a while and pointed at Battleship Princess, the Siren's wide-eyed eyes and permanent smiling makes her an eyesore for someone like Battleship Princess.
"I'm letting them walk into their deaths. Specially that so called Bismarck. I have yet to repay her and her friends for humiliating me"
"She's here too so why don't you go and play with them, specially how one of your back-stabbing friends lead them here" Purifier shrugs her shoulders
"Hmph! You don't get to tell me what to do"
Scoffing with a clear hatred for the Siren, Battleship Princess turned away and took her leave but Purifier doesn't care whether she is hated or not as the only thing that matters to her is finishing her task. The Abyssals are simple pawns for her to use in order to prevent delays in her mission.
"I hope this goes well so the [Creator] could praise me and give me fantastic rewards. I'm the one who does everything while Observer sits back and barks orders"
Even if she voices her disdain for always being the one to actively perform the tasks while Observer lives up to her designated name she never lost her excited smile. She continued to him while waiting for the floating machine separated is several pieces, she observes the battle with her drones.
"How's Nagato doing in the west?" Bismarck asked Nelson
"They're being held back by Submarine Princess and Destroyer Water Demon"
"How's our carriers? Saratoga and the others?"
"She's dealing with Light carrier Princess and several Wo-class. It's a carrier to carrier battle. I'm already imagining how they're throwing aircrafts at each other"
With Nagato's fleet heavily occupied by pesky submarines and aircraft carriers, Bismarck saw no time to waste as she knew Purifier is aware of their presence with the technology she has.
"We can't keep dilly-dallying! We have a Siren to pound to brink of death!" Bismarck shook her fist
"Are you so angry that you became British?" Graf Zeppelin chuckled
"Aaaah! This is what happens when I spend too much time with tea-drinkers! Next thing I know I'll stop drinking beer! I'll bring disgrace to the chancellor!"
Bismarck released her frustration by uppercutting an I-class destroyer that leaped out of the surface in an attempt of a surprise attack. Unfortunately for the Abyssal destroyer, Bismarck is stronger when she's both determined and furious.
"Good thing her German pride is still there" Nelson secretly laughed
Two Nu-class carriers entered the battle and made surface combat more difficult for the shipgirls. Taking in the heat of battle, Yuudachi rushed at vulnerable prey at full speed and battle-hungry eyes. Once in a battle, Yuudachi becomes overwhelmed by adrenaline that she proves why she is called a "Mad Dog" by anyone who knows her.
"Rip and tear, poi!"
She dodges the dive bombs causing splashes with each near misses and used the opportunity to charge at the unguarded carrier. The Nightmare of Solomon leaped at abomination with human limbs and shoved her turret she carries into it's eyes, and with a sadistic smile, Yuudachi pulls the trigger
"Hahahahaha!"
She repeatedly fired, relishing at the sound of her main guns firing and the agonized scream of the Nu-class carrier. She targeted the next one after she had blown half of its body after relentlessly firing.
"The little ones are doing their best. So I should do my best even more!"
A Ne-class recklessly charged at Bismarck but the latter countered her with a full-powered punch directly to the face, knocking the enemy ship back.
"Feuer!"
Bismarck fired all four main turrets at close range, all main guns landing a direct hit and blew the Abyssal's upper torso and the tiny remains flew everywhere.
"That's-!"
She quickly noticed the easily distinguishable drones flying past the Abyssal aircrafts.
"Those planes are from that Siren! I have to get her before she runs away again-"
"You're not going anywhere!"
Much to Bismarck's annoyance, Battleship Princess delibirately fired in front of her to both get her attention and send a message she will not allow Bismarck to pass.
"And so are you!"
Another intervened, a barrage of shells falling on Battleship Princess who received little damage despite it being a direct hit. The attack came from the port side and seeing who if is brought a hopeful smile on Bismarck's face and disdainful glare on Battleship Princess.
"Nagato! Wait, you're beat up!"
"I took care of a few carriers and made one Princess run away. The others are taking care of the leftovers so I rushed here"
"Don't push yourself"
"Don't underestimate a remodeled Big Seven, Bismarck. I fought and survived countless battles to gain this strength"
Nagato wiped the dirt off her face as faced the completely angry Battleship Princess. No matter who her opponent is, Nagato will look at them right in the eyes, her glare alone is sending a message that she will use her strength to sink the enemy in front of her.
"The others are going ahead to confront the Siren Purifier, you should go as well"
"But-"
"It's alright. She's not going to fight alone"
Nelson tapped Bismarck's shoulders, the British battleship had taken damages on minor parts.
"Join the others in cornering her. Let us, the Big Seven, take care of this rubbish of a battleship" Nelson pushed Bismarck
"You have a score to settle with her, haven't you? Now go!" Nagato ordered
"Besides, we'll catch up to you once we kick her ass" Nelson is confident
Shaking off the hesitation, Bismarck left Battleship Princess to both Nagato and Nelson who teamed up to face one of the strongest Abyssals.
"Whoa there, lad! We're you're opponents"
Nelson opens fire and prevented Battleship Princess from chasing after Bismarck, making her grit her teeth, clearly irritated at the two.
"The Big Seven, huh. Well I could use this opportunity to reduce the famous battleships to five!"
"Not if we reduce you to smitherins first!"
Activating Nelson's special mode she dubbed as "Nelson Touch", Nelson repositioned her rigging, firing a full salvo. With an enormous monstrosity protecting Battleship Princess, a few of the shells were either blocked or deflected.
"This time I won't let any of you humiliate me!"
"We won't...because you're going to join the other Abyssals at the bottom of the ocean!"
With a declaration Nagato joins the battle her strength haven't lessened despite taking damage from an earlier battle. With an unintelligible screech, the monstrous familiar fired its massive main guns, an exchange of firepower between battleship to battleship.
Meanwhile...
Even with less concentration of Abyssals as she heads to where Purifier is waiting, Bismarck hurriedly eliminates the cannon fodder that stood in her way. Even though she could easily sink them, sinking one only brings another. It's like the sea spawns countless of them. Their numbers simply refused to dwindle despite the shipgirl's effort to sink them faster than another one could appear to replace.
"Heh~ You really came to get your little sister. Isn't that so stupid it's really funny?"
With the rift ready to be opened, Bismarck is blocked by Purifier who expected her arrival. In the midst of heavy rain and strong winds concentrated around the area where the "gate" is, Purifier prepares to engage Bismarck in combat.
"Your other friends are busy with the mass produced ships I've been keeping as an emergency. Now it's just you and me~"
"Great. Now I could beat the hell out of you one-on-one!" Bismarck drew out a sword
"Woaaaah~ You actually brought a sword like the other Bismarck who is as annoying as you!"
Purifier clapped her hands like a child who felt excited at the sight of a foreign object. Never mind the unfavorable weather, she's excited to what Bismarck has in store for her. She couldn't contain her excitement to experience what a battleship, who has yet to bring back her own sister, could do in the clear difference in power.
"Hmph! This a sword specially gifted to me as the proud ship of my nation! I reseved it to cut down pieces of shit like you!"
"Hahahahaha! That's it, that's it! Entertain me even more!"
Purifier aimed all of her gun barrels towards Bismarck, unleashing both energy projectiles and attack drones. Each shot is capable of blasting a large hole in a ship but what she's facing is a shipgirl who will hunt her down to the ends of the planet.
"Since you have no chance of beating me, I'll play with you to my heart's content!"
"I am battleship Bismarck, the pride of the Kriegsmarine! Don't take me lightly, bitch! "
Bismarck swung her blade and managed to cleanly sliced one of the drones in half surprising Purifier. The Bismarck she's facing now somehow grew much stronger than they last met after just a short amount of time. Purifer's smile remained on her face but her heart felt nothin but contempt as she witnessed humanity's capability to overcome obstacles as they remain alive and standing.
"Woah! It cut through my drone! Amazing!"
No matter how many drones Bismarck shoots down or slice in half, Purifier keeps her distance and avoid close combat with the German battleship.
(Buying time is easier than expected. Well, it's not like they will stand a chance against me anyway)
The Siren Purifier dances around the surfaces water, evading the shells Bismarck throws at her.
(If I finish my job without problem, I wonder what reward will be given to me~)
While the Siren Purifier gets lost in her fantasy and completely forgets she's in the middle of a battle, Bismarck closed in on the Siren who failed to notice the battleship she great underestimates.
"...?!"
Even though she reacted in time, Bismarck managed to leave a deep cut on Purifier's shoulder, leaving a few inches of deep sound that cut through her flesh from the front and back. Even with the gaping cut from her shoulder down to her "heart", Purifier calmly held her shoulder after sustaining significant damage from the slash alone.
(She landed a real blow? Was it because I forgot about her for a moment or-)
Genuinely surprised at the deep sound inflicted on her, Purifier didn't feel shock but excitement that she had been damaged. She looked at the opponent who landed a blow on her, widening her eyes and her excitement reached to a higher level at the discovery. Her boredom disappeared and she devoted her ecstatic attention at the battleship who challenged her.
"I see, I see! Hahahaha!"
"...?"
"So that's what gave you this level of strength! This has become really exciting! I can't wait to report this to the [Creator]"
"That ugly smug is really pissing me off!"
Bismarck roared in anger and unleashed the full strength of her main guns but Purifier didn't let her guard down this time so her shells were shrugged off with a barrier.
"Hahahaha! You can't win even with that level of power! I am the successful product of the Purifier series made by that person! I purify and erases all unwanted data...like you!"
"You son of a bitch!"
Bismarck attempted to land another direct blow but she begun coughing out blood much to Purifier's delight.
"Kkh! Is this my limit? To think I'm worn out this quickly!"
"I see. So you reached your limit, huh. You are still human after all. A filthy race that somehow swayed that person into defecting"
"...?!"
"So I really hate your worthless kind. That's why I toy with them right before I kill them"
Even with the usual unsettling smile and focused eyes, Purifier's expression darkened, her rooted personal hatred for humans surfacing. She clenched her fists, readying to finish off Bismarck.
"What's so good about your kind, huh? You humans have done nothing but cause conflict to each other. Every...single...one of you are fueled by your desire to above others so you guys fight each other"
(What the hell is she saying now?)
"Your kind lie and betray one another to satisfy your pride and selfishness. So...how a worthless species...swayed that person. I mean you guys are disgusting just to look at...so it doesn't make sense"
"It looks like you have a personal grudge against my kind. Did humans whoop your ass, you fucking Siren?" Bismarck smirked
"I lost that person to a bunch of worthless lowlifes who are not even worth protecting. Why would someone who reached perfection side with measly humans? That's beyond rational thinking!"
A desire to murder out of personal vendetta became clear but more than that, Bismarck felt a terrifying atmosphere from Purifier when started insulting and belittling humans with a passion.
"Hmm?"
She cancelled her cannons from firing a full lowered energy beam when she detected multiple ships from behind. Multiple signals of incoming shipgirls are all heading to her direction at flank speed. Expecting this, her smile widened at the number of pests increasing to hinder her job.
"Oh?"
She remained still and allowed the incoming shells to strike her only to cause but a scratch on the durable Siren. As much as she wanted to finish her task, interference from the other shipgirls is inevitable as they are stubborn no matter what timeline or universe. They will always stand in the way and they will never yield even to an enemy stronger than them.
"Another one?"
Shells from the starboard side rained on her, Purifier still refusing to dodge and gazed up as shells rained down on her. She wiped the smoke away, slightly coughing out the smoke she inhaled.
"You guys are still alive? I thought those Abyssal took care of you - oh your friends are taking care of them, and they even brought backup!"
To her behind is CarDiv 01 with Jervis, Janus, and Iowa with them. On the other side, where the barrage of shells had come from, an exhausted and wounded Nagato is accompanied by Yuudachi and Atlanta. The number of shipgirls surrounded the lone Siren, despite the injuries they sustained just plowing through the hordes of Abyssals that stood in their way.
"Nagato?! I thought you guys were dealing with Battleship Princess"
"The weather grew worse and we lost her in the middle of the battle. So we rushed here as soon as we saw the light"
Nagato explained to why she and the others are present when they were locked in combat earlier.
"Right, more pests. Well it doesn't matter anyway"
Purifier laughed at the shipgirls who arrived a bit late as the pieces forming pillars connecting the rift activated, outlines glowing bright red. Thundered roared as the weather worsened by causing an anomaly in space and time itself. The Siren with glowing yellow eyes spread her arms, welcoming her opponents to their death.
"Because the rift can be opened! So your efforts are all wasted!"
Space itself has be torn open and so is the logic of reality. A rift has been torn open in thin air and the several pieces that are extension of the pillar formed a wide radius covering everyone in the battlefield right now.
"Damn it! She was buying time!"
Bismarck covered her face as strong winds followed after the continuous rain.
"It looks like our game has to end here!"
"You're not getting away this time, you damn bitch!" Bismarck would never allow her to escape
"Bismarck, wait!"
The others tried to stop her, especially Nagato but Purifier raised her hand and activated the extensions taking a large radius.
"...?!"
Light engulfed their senses and blinded them as Purifier successfully opens a rift to the closed dimension. Bismarck closed her eyes just before she could grab Purifier but upon reopening them, she adjusted her blurry vision before catching the sight of dark and ruined looking place.
"Nagato? Where did everyone go? More importantly, where the hell am I?"
Bismarck looked everywhere but couldn't find everyone or figure out where Purifier had sent them after they are all consumed by a flash of light.
"Nghhhrr...grrr...!"
Bismarck immediately assumed a defensive stance at the sound of a painex groan and weak roar.
"W-what the..."
The almost pale figure tattered with injuries realized the presence of another person. When the figure turned to look at Bismarck, the latter lowered her sword as she recognized who it is despite the fangs and one glowing red eye.
"Tirpitz...you're alive. You look different but you're alive..." Bismarck burst into tears
"Big...sister. It's you...it's really you..."
Fortunately for Bismarck, her sister isn't a full Abyssal or she would have charged at her and attacked without a second thought.
"You're alive. My little sister...is actually alive!"
Bismarck, overwhelmed by joy, ignored the fact Tirpitz has fangs and sickly pale, and rushed to her younger sister. Her hands shook as she slowly reaches to touch Tirpitz's cheek who raised her hand to touch Bismarck's.
"Wait, you're here? If you're here...that means - oh no, it already begun"
Unfortunately, their reunion is cut short when Tirpitz realized why Bismarck managed to enter the closed dimension with no entrance not exit.
"Siren Purifier. How long it took you to pick me up?"
"Uhm...ten days, I guess? I don't count...I just shoot and do my job" Purifier scratched her head
"I see..."
"Now then, it's time for you to resume your job, no? Before that...I have to take care of your arm first. You won't be able to properly lead us to her if one of your arms is still missing"
Purifier brought out a small cylinder and jabbed it right at where Tyrant's arm was ripped off straight from her body. A temporary arm made from fiber and steel formed the shapes of her arm down to her fingertips.
"Fine. I have to do what she says anyway..." Tyrant squeezed and flexed her left arm, testing it
"Hmm? Did you straightened up? You look dead and serious again"
"..."
"You were like a mad dog before, rampaging and lashing out your anger"
Purifier inspected Tyrant from top to bottom and from front to back. A normal person would be annoyed, but Tyrant had little to no reaction as she slapped the curious Siren into stopping examining her. She glared at Purifier with her "dead" eyes and grim expression.
"...?"
The two are interrupted when then sensed an anomaly within the closed dimension. Tyrant only furrowed her eyebrows, maintaining an expression devoid of any visible expression while Purifier is genuinely confused.
"Someone's opening the rift which is obviously not your doing" Tyrant looked at Purifier
"The signal connecting to this place. It must be Silver using the black cube to forcibly open a gateway..."
"She's bringing us out. All of us...in here"
"She couldn't differentiate which is which so she's bringing everyone out. It looks like she's in a hurry so she didn't have time to carefully identify" Purifier clapped
Tyrant braced as the dark sky formed glowing linear outlines, like circuits within a computer. The whole place is being pried open and forcing everyone out. A circular light appeared below Tyrant's feet and so is everyone else inside the dimension like a container being shaken to make the contents dropped after it cracked open.
"Tch..."
As every fiber of her body is being forced out of the dimension she had been trapped for at least a week, she watched as a rift open by her and drag her out and everyone else inside the dimension, but tossed in randomized locations.
EXTRA
Nagato's last memory was trying to reach out Bismarck who rushed without a second thought when Purifier opened the rift the dimension Tyrant was trapped in. She then found herself in the dimension itself but before she could process the whole situation, she was thrown into an unknown place again. Along with CarDiv 01, Yuudachi, Nelson, and Ark Royal, the fleet found themselves in unfamiliar waters.
"Ugh...what in the world just happened?" Ark Royal shakes her head
"That was a wild ride, poi"
"Where did we get sent again? This doesn't look like the battlefield..."
Nagato looked around, unfamiliar with the waters they were all teleported into. Perhaps due to the transportation through the Siren's portal, Nagato's radars weren't functioning properly.
"Is everyone alright?" Nagato checked on the others
"Kaga and I are fine" A slightly dizzy Akagi responded
"Y-yeah" Nelson confirmed
"Poi!"
"Sort of. I feel like I've bee in a rollercoaster" Ark Royal scratched her head
At the very least, Nagato is relieved that none of her allies are harmed after the strange experience of being transported in unknown locations twice.
"...!"
Before they could all adjust to their surroundings, their radars detected several incoming bombers.
"Enemy aircrafts incoming!"
Before the enemy bombers could get within bombing range, Ark Royal and CarDiv 01 launched their own fighters to intercept.
"...?!"
Not just aircrafts, Nagato detected "a large ship" from behind and heading towards their detection.
"Enemy ships detected! Fleet, prepare for surface combat!"
"Can't they give us a break?!" Nelson complained
To Nagato's surprise, what they prepared to face isn't Abyssals or Sirens, but what seems to be shipgirls as well. Takao, Zuikaku, Shoukaku, Sakura's Nagato, and surprisingly Enterprise arrived to face them.
"Wait, they're not Sirens!" Zuikaku realized
"Wait, they're not Abyssals!" Nelson said almost the same thing
"Outsiders in the Sakura Empire's water, identify yourself" Nagato declared
"Sakura Empire? Don't tell me...this is the other Japan Tirpitz was talking about"
"Japan?" Takao is confused
"I am the Big Seven member Nagato from another world. We aren't Sirens, but shipgirls who hailed from a world similar to yours"
"Heeeeeh?! There is another Nagato?" Zuikaku's jaw dropped
"And I am Akagi, member of the CarDiv 01 and this is my partner Kaga"
"H-huh? I think I heard the red one day she is senpai too" Shoukaku shakingly pointed
While both sides are both wary and dumbfounded upon meeting counterparts from another world, Enterprise lowered her bow and told herself with an exhausted and weary expression.
"Aaah. Another one came along..."
From her words alone, it seems Enterprise had precious encounters with other shipgirls who all came from another world similar to theirs. Sakura's Nagato, on the other hand is in great disbelief...seeing the other Nagato to be completely opposite to her.
