A/N: Sorry for the slightly later upload time; had to finish up the final scene this morning when I woke, and then edit the whole thing, so there might be an error or two I missed~
Hopefully you enjoy regardless~
Whispers of Saturn
Chapter 24: Fading Scherzo
''...something isn't right here...''
Bismarck frowned deeply, running even as she gazed up at the haunting eclipse that hung overhead, unable to stifle the shivers that lanced down her spine. There was just something so unholy about the impossible black sun that made it hard to look away, like some eldritch demon that tempted the eye.
She wasn't sure if she wanted to consider such a chilling possible as truth.
Bismarck shook her head sharply, forcing the thought from her mind – leaping over a toppled tree without a second thought. The forest around her was slowly growing less unstable and the landscape less jagged; aside from a few fallen trees and small holes, the area was mercifully spared from the cataclysmic hellscape that laid to the north. Which made travelling towards Saffrona a much easier task, allowing the Battleship to sprint without fearing tripping on an uneven chunk of earth.
Around her the quiet forest began to thin, the gap between the oaks and birches growing wider as the area ahead transformed into a wide clearing; natural, judging by the lack of tree stumps or burnt grass. Not paying it any thought Bismarck kept up her pace, her feet thumping against the grass – until her instincts suddenly flared, the hair on the back of her neck standing straight up.
Bismarck skidded to a stop, guard rising. She swept her eyes over the area. Silence.
''I know you're there. Come out.''
A beat of silence. Then a soft, melodic chuckle.
''Your instincts are as sharp as ever.''
Shrubs rustled, and from out behind a thick oak tree Hood stepped out, a warm smile on her gentle visage. The bushes by her waist parted seamlessly as she pushed through them, walking out into the open clearing at a slow pace. What caught Bismarck's attention the most was the sword Hood carried in her right hand; her old weapon. Something she hadn't needed to bring out since Bulker Bay, considering the lack of enemies she needed to face in melee on the ocean's surface.
''How did you find me?'' Bismarck asked slowly; sliding her gaze up to meet Hood's.
The Battlecruiser merely smiled, amusement twinkling in her eyes. ''Illustrious spotted you carving a path through the forest. She notified me, and I moved to intercept.''
''And why would you do that?''
''Mm... several reasons, I suppose.'' Hood said lightly, slowly walking closer. ''For one, I can't be sure whether we stand as enemies or allies – whether you intend to harm Roon and her allies... or my allies.''
''My goal is solely to eliminate Roon.'' Bismarck intoned, repressing a twitch when Wahr'rot thrummed in her mind; its previously-aimless attention slowly shifted towards her, no doubt sensing another living being in her proximity.
''Is that so...?'' Hood drawled, tilting her head daintily. ''Then why do you look so ready to cut me down?''
Bismarck gripped her battle-standard tighter, feeling Wahr'rot's oppressive presence grow stronger in her mind. ''Wahr'rot wants me to fight. I'm struggling to hold it back. So please, get out of my way Hood.''
A beat of silence.
''I'm afraid I'll have to decline, my dear Biscuit.''
''What?'' Bismarck narrowed her eyes, tensing her jaw.
Hood merely smiled in reply, and raised her sword; the golden hilt glistening in the sparse light. ''If you are so out of control that you pose a threat to my allies, and that I cannot in good confidence let you face Roon alone... I will subdue you myself.''
Without giving her chance to decline Hood suddenly lunged, moving across the open clearing with great speed. Bismarck's visage tightened and she reacted in kind, grasping her battle-standard and swinging it out in a wide sweep – only for Hood to duck beneath the swinging pole, her blade glinting in the waning light as it soared up towards her face. Bismarck tilted her head aside, letting the blade whistle past her ear harmlessly.
She retaliated with force, bending her elbow down and aiming it right for her opponent's cheek – but Hood nimbly dodged, side-stepping the blow and easily leaping over the battle-standard that swung for her feet a second later; smiling even as she swiftly backtracked a dozen feet, dodging swipe after swipe of Bismarck's pole-arm. After avoiding the seventh rapid swing she suddenly switched tactics, her smile taking on a sharper edge as she dug her heel in, and lunge.
''Nn...!'' Bismarck grit her teeth as the blade flawlessly stabbed out, cutting a gash across her side.
''Hm.'' Hood's lips curved further up, amused.
Indignation burned inside Bismarck and she retaliated immediately, tucking her battle-standard close – before smashing the blunt tip into the ground. The sheer strength packed behind the blow was enough to send tremors through the surrounding area, the dirt crumbling and forming a small crater; and briefly putting the startled Hood off-balance. Bismarck capitalised on it swiftly, jerking her right shoulder forth; and unloading her cannons.
BOOM!
The resounding blast echoed, sending birds scattering from the trees. Hood leapt out of the blast cloud with a grimace, part of her left arm singed and the cloth around it burnt away. Nevertheless it failed to slow her down; the Royal woman skipping back a dozen steps and summoning her own rigging without a hint of difficulty. With a boom of her own cannons several shells screeched across the short distance between them.
They never reached Bismarck. A wall of pure metal erupted up from the ground beneath her feet, intercepting the shells and causing them to detonate prematurely. The metal was blown apart in places but the majority of the blast force was nullified; leaving only a few chunks of shrapnel and heat to blow past the thin wall. At her mental command the wall of metal disintegrated, becoming nothing more than dust in an instant-
-only to reveal Hood nowhere in sight.
'Sneaky-!'
Bismarck spun, her battle-standard clashing strongly against Hood's sword – the resulting shockwave upsetting the earth beneath them and making the ground tremble dangerously. Bismarck's narrowed gaze peered into Hood's grimly-amused ones, sparks flying between the two as they warred for dominance, locked into place for a brief few moments.
Then Hood tilted left, letting her blade screech off the Battleship's pole-arm and lunging past her. With all the grace of a ballerina she dug her heel into the ground and spun, steadying herself a split-second before Bismarck was upon her – bringing her battle-standard down with both hands and striking with such force Hood buckled, her expression becoming strained as she held back the physically-stronger woman.
''...you're wide open.''
Hood's eyes widened – and she immediately threw herself to the right, not a second before several spears of iron shot out of the dirt behind her. Without her pushing against her weapon Bismarck swung down, incidentally shattering the spears and burying her weapon into the dirt.
Hood took advantage immediately, lunging in and stabbing her sword out like a rapier. Bismarck tilted out of the way but couldn't dodge fully without abandoning her weapon; her expression growing tight as the sword cut into her ribs. She yanked her battle-standard out the dirt and swung it, smacking Hood's hand and jerking it aside; the Battlecruiser's pained gasp prompting Bismarck to press the assault.
Half a dozen spires of iron shot up from the earth – narrowly avoiding Hood as she leapt back just in time, grimacing. Bismarck wasn't done though; raising her free hand and commanding the iron spires to continue; taking grim delight in seeing Hood's eyes widen when the spikes suddenly kept extending, shooting after her in jagged patterns not unlike a growing thorn-bush.
''Mn-!'' Hood pursed her lips as several of the spikes cut her arms; before she shattered the chasing spikes with her sword, her weapon easily breaking the thin metal apart like fragile glass.
The brief distraction was ruthlessly exploited by Bismarck. With thundering footsteps the older woman closed the distance, twirling her battle-standard and bringing it down with a bellowing shout – crashing it into the dirt so hard it cratered the earth, blowing out a shockwave that tore apart the ground, and left Hood stumbling.
Bismarck lunged in close, cocking her left fist back in a punch.
''...heh.'' Hood's lips curled up.
With a rough jerk of her shoulders Hood narrowly tilted away from the powerful punch – and retaliated with her own. Her left hand formed a knife-shape and a bright, flare-like crimson glow illuminated the area, engulfing her hand and forearm in its lethal splendour. She barely needed to rear her arm back before letting the strike loose, the very air around her hand screeching as it was abruptly shoved aside in lieu of the blinding crimson knife-hand.
Bismarck was too close to dodge. The piercing glow punched deep into her side – and utterly shredded a hole through her already-ruined jacket and cleaved through her shirt, soon hitting flesh. Like a ravenous drill it pierced her natural defences and drew blood; a choked gasp escaping the blonde Battleship as raw agony stabbed through her.
''G-Gah...!''
Iron erupted all around her, reacting in accordance with her subconscious. Spears as thin as a pencil or as thick as an arm shot out, the sheer number of them forcing Hood to cut her attack short and leap away, earning several modest cuts across her torso for her efforts.
''Nn...'' Bismarck straightened up with considerable effort, turning parts of her skin into iron and sealing the wound temporarily. ''Would that be... your Gift?''
''Indeed.'' Hood smiled grimly back, flexing her fingers. ''I spent a considerable amount of time pondering a name for it, since everyone else was having such fun with naming their own Gifts. I went through many names – Scarlet Blossom, Devil's Hand, Hand of Hades... but the one I decidedly settle on... was [Unstoppable Force].''
As if to demonstrate Hood's left hand became engulfed in the same crimson energy as before, sparks of scarlet lightning dancing along her forearm as the light contorted backwards, swirling like an ethereal drill. Then Hood bent her knees with a thin smile on her face – and lunged towards her, using the full extent of her Battlecruiser-class speed and crossing the distance in a single second.
Bismarck met her a quarter way, gritting her teeth as she swung her battle-standard horizontally. Hood masterfully bent low without slowing, lunging her fist up – only for her fist to collide with a sudden wall of steel. A horrible screech split the air as the supernatural metal warred against the ethereal light; an unstoppable force fighting an immovable object. Bismarck didn't wait to see the result, leaping back out of range and firing her cannons with a deafening boom, engulfing Hood's position in a chain of explosions.
'I can't let her get that attack off.' Bismarck noted to herself, not dropping her guard as she waited for her foe to reappear. 'But she's too fast to fully evade... tch, how troublesome...'
Confirming her thoughts Hood lunged out of the smoke, looking only a little worse for wear and still bearing a tight smile. In seconds they met, their melee weapons colliding with explosive force. They both pulled back a half-step only to lunge in again, their weapons smashing together over and over again, colliding with such strength that the ground beneath them cracked and split, the very earth around them beginning to crumble from their superhuman strength.
Hood suddenly altered the formula, clashing her sword against Bismarck's battle-standard, pressing her weight down on it – before releasing her sword. The sudden lack of force took Bismarck off-guard, her eyes widening as she pushed against a force no longer there; and left herself open. Hood's glowing red knife-hand raced for her stomach and she tensed, her very skin hardening as it turned to solid iron; but it was all for naught.
''N-Nn!'' Bismarck grit her teeth as iron-like flesh was ripped and rent apart.
She didn't stand there and take it; swiftly jutting her elbow out and striking Hood in the side of the head. The blow, backed by her physical prowess as a Battleship, was more than enough to knock the dainty woman aside with a stilted gasp; stumbling off to the side. Bismarck retaliated immediately, swinging her battle-standard out and striking Hood in the ribs – a loud, splitting crack filling the air as something broke.
''Ah-!'' Hood's pained cry was muffled as she was thrown into a tree; falling onto the ground with a wheeze.
Bismarck's compassion demanded she relent, that she give her old love time to recuperate – but Wahr'rot's influence laid siege to her mind, egging her on in a silent howl of fury. She closed the distance between them and brought her battle-standard down with both hands, narrowly avoiding crushing Hood's head as the woman threw herself aside, grimacing as she stumbled back to her feet, unsteady.
The Iron Chancellor gave no quarter. With cold ruthlessness she pressed the Battlecruiser, her pole-arm swinging and slashing with powerful, lethally-precise swings. Hood tried to block each time but her broken ribs clearly inhibited her strength, her sword-arm knocked aside each time and barely managing to bring it up to block the next blow. Clash after clash ended like this, each one further destroying Hood's defence, pressing her onto the back-foot and leaving her stumbling and weak.
''Mn-!'' Hood grit her teeth, ducking under one blow and side-stepping the next, desperately shifting onto the offence.
Bismarck tried to keep her pressed, but Hood narrowly avoided her thrusting weapon, lunging in close. Her old sword became engulfed in the crackling crimson of her [Unstoppable Force], instinctively making Bismarck lean back – causing the blade to swing past her nose. Refusing to give ground she tilted out of the way of the next swing and spun her pole-arm, using its longer reach to smack Hood's weapon aside, and letting her lunge in close.
Hood attempted to catch her with her left hand, her fingers shaping into a knife and crimson energy engulfing it – but Bismarck retorted by surrounding her fist in pure steel, grabbing Hood's nimble hand in a bone-crushing grip and yanking her close, so close they could've touched noses.
Then they both fired their main cannons in perfect synchrony, engulfing the two of them in a deafening eruption of shellfire.
Bismarck didn't let go of Hood's hand, gripping it tight even as shrapnel and heat burned her jacket away, the ripped article of clothing finally becoming nothing but ash and leaving her in a white undershirt dotted with soot. Without waiting for the smoke to clear she raised her battle-standard high with her free hand – and brought it down with her full strength.
CRACK!
Hood's startled cry of pain was made all the more clear by how close they were; her sharp voice ringing in her ears. The smoke blew apart in the wake of her swing, revealing Hood's left arm to be hanging limp, her battle-standard resting right against her shoulder.
Bismarck stared, her mind taking a long second to even register the fact laid before her. She had broke her shoulder. On purpose.
The Battlecruiser was swift to pull back, using Bismarck's inner conflict to yank her hand free. Her left arm hung limply by her side, the pained grimace on Hood's visage betraying how much it hurt; but she didn't voice it, no whimper to leave her lips. Instead she leaned on her right side, leading with her right arm – and lunged.
Bismarck was taken aback by the stubborn assault, truly not expecting Hood to keep fighting – but Hood closed the distance before she could shake off her disbelief. The Battlecruiser's blade cut a deep swathe through her stomach, no Gift to reinforce her skin and spraying blood in a wide arc, staining the forest floor with a streak of bloody crimson.
''N- Ahh!'' Bismarck gasped, stumbling back a step.
Hood mercifully didn't keep up the assault; allowing Bismarck to kick off the ground and put some distance between them. For a long few moments they stood staring at one another, both bleeding and bruised, their chests heaving for air. Even with a broken shoulder Hood stood with her chin tilted up, refusing to show weakness; to be seen in an undignified manner. Bismarck had to appreciate such tenacity.
''...you've truly grown stronger since our last duel, Bismarck...'' Hood breathed, raising her sword – a faint smile twitching at her lips.
''As have you.'' Bismarck admitted in turn, wiping some blood from her nose. ''Your reflexes are better than they used to be.''
''Are you saying they were shoddy before?''
''Perhaps.''
Hood's lips quirked up. Bismarck chuckled, spinning her battle-standard around into her right hand. At some unseen signal they lunged in unison, closing the gap between them in two seconds flat – before they collided powerfully, rupturing the earth beneath them as their weapons met.
Immediately Bismarck summoned countless spikes of iron from the ground, shooting them out like elongated needles. Hood tilted out of the way and disengaged, parrying aside her follow-up attack and instead going for her stomach once more, her blade becoming surrounded in a familiar piercing red light. Bismarck didn't let the blade meet its target, summoning a wall of steel between them and letting it tank the piercing drill – taking aim with her cannons instead.
Hood wisely backed off just as they fired; the shells erupting where she once stood. The rumbling of earth deafened Bismarck to the sound of fluttering footsteps to her right, the smoke blinding her – until Hood burst through, cutting a moderate gash across her back. The Battleship gasped and retaliated with a swing of her own weapon but Hood was already gone, skipping out of range.
''It seems...'' Hood smiled grimly. ''You're slowing down.''
Bismarck growled, whirling to face Hood as she lunged. ''Slowing down...?''
Hood swung for her back – and Bismarck grabbed the offending sword by the blade, gripping it tight.
''You're just getting too full of yourself.''
With a loud boom her main cannons fired, striking true – a cacophonous explosion blanketing the clearing. The sword slid from her grip and cut her palm in the process as Hood backed off, prompting Bismarck to swing her battle-standard and dispel the smoke; revealing Hood, with much of her coat burned away and exposing the undershirt beneath.
Hood coughed, a curl of dark blonde hair falling over her face. ''Mn... perhaps, I might be...''
Bismarck turned to face her old love, the two of them unsteadily circling one another not unlike wounded tigers. Blood dripped onto the grass beneath them as they went; Hood's distinct limp betraying the damage dealt to her ribs. Their eyes never strayed from one another, searching for the slightest hint of an incoming attack; the coiling of muscle, the tensing of the jaw, the flicker of the eyes – the slightest sign that could give away an imminent attack.
The Battleship kept her guard up, stifling the urge to check her wounds; fully aware of the disadvantage she'd put herself at. Mere minutes had passed since their fight began yet they dealt so much damage to each other, their knowledge of each other's blind spots augmenting the damage they could deal. Despite all the practising and training Bismarck had done over the past few weeks... they were evenly matched. A truly unstoppable force, versus an immovable object.
'No...' Bismarck gripped her weapon tighter, a fire burning in her chest. 'U-556... she's counting on me. I cannot afford... to lose here!'
With a fierce expression Bismarck broke the stand-off, thundering towards Hood with her battle-standard gripped in both hands. Hood's expression tightened and she lunged to meet her, and in perfect unison they swung – their weapons colliding with an explosive clang, shattering the earth between them.
Without missing a beat Hood reared back – and led with her right foot, thrusting her sword out like a rapier. Bismarck redirected the blow with the back of her hand but Hood was relentless, her expression becoming fierce as she stabbed her blade out in a flurry of thrusts, cutting Bismarck in multiple places in microseconds from the sheer ferocity; the attacks augmented by the glow of her [Unstoppable Force].
Gritting her teeth Bismarck surged her Gift to life; the ground rumbling beneath them. It took Hood a fatal second to realise the danger, her eyes widening – before the entire clearing around them became a battlefield of iron spears.
''Nn?!'' Hood gasped as numerous iron needles cut into her flesh; blood staining her clothes as over a dozen cuts split her flawless skin.
Bismarck was quick to take advantage, releasing a furious war-cry as she swung horizontally, shattering all the iron spears in her path before crashing her weapon against Hood's – the jarring impact jolting Hood to the side with a gasp, stunned. Giving Bismarck more than enough time to raise her boot – and kick Hood square in the stomach, sending her crashing back through the forest of iron spears.
Hood grunted in pain as she tumbled, numerous spears cutting into her skin until she managed to reorient herself; stumbling to a crouch and skidding to a stop. The Battlecruiser barely had a second to breathe before Bismarck lunged, forcing Hood to leap away – and causing the Battleship to smash the grass where she previously stood, cratering it with the force.
''Mn...'' Hood landed on the edge of the clearing, her expression tightening when Bismarck turned the entire battlefield of iron spears into ash; dissolving them away in seconds, and leaving nothing between them.
Their eyes met, and Hood began to move – her slow walk picking up into a run in seconds, closing the distance. Bismarck met her full force, their expression fierce as their melee weapons clanged and crashed together repeatedly, neither giving any ground as the ruthlessly pushed past their own injuries, adrenaline numbing the worst of it. Even with one arm down Hood made up for it with sheer ferocity, challenging Bismarck with her lightning-like blows.
Bismarck swung down and Hood side-stepped the blow, unheeding of the explosive rumble that blew her hair into her face. With lethal intensity she lunged back, targeting her back and cleaving her blade along her skin – only for Bismarck to turn her skin to iron, making the blade spark along her skin without cutting it.
''Tch...'' Hood clicked her tongue, leaping back from the swing that nearly took her head off.
The Battlecruiser landed daintily and immediately lunged in before Bismarck could fully turn around – leaping over a horizontal slash and bringing her sword down, aimed for Bismarck's face. Bismarck blocked the telegraphed blow but that was what Hood wanted; smiling grimly as she slid down past her, and landed in a low crouch – her sword flying from her limp grip and spinning through the air.
Bismarck's eyes widened, but she was too slow to turn. With brutal precision Hood twisted and stood, plunging her glowing-crimson knife-hand into Bismarck's kidney. Sheer agony assaulted the Battleship, so intensity she let out a stifled cry of pain, her mind going white. Hood didn't let up, twisting her hand and further causing her pain, her [Unstoppable Force] acting like a drill and shredding her insides.
''G-Ghk...!'' Bismarck snapped her hand down, engulfing her fist in steel – and striking Hood right in the temple.
The powerful blow send Hood falling on her back, tumbling several feet and twitching, eyes fluttering as if she blacked out for a split-second. Bismarck didn't pay her any mind, gritting her teeth as she slapped a hand over her profusely-bleeding side, forcing her body to becoming iron. It was only a temporary fix she knew, but it was better than bleeding out. Once the day was over she could tend to her wounds.
Slowly Bismarck turned, having to lean on her right leg to compensate for her iron-like side. Hood shambled to her feet with equal slowness, panting and her hair messy, blood running down her forehead and over her left eye. Their gazes met and Hood flashed a weak smile, forcing herself upright with visible effort, her chin still stubbornly tilted up, refusing to submit.
''...idiot...'' Bismarck muttered, gripping her weapon tight.
Hood chuckled faintly in reply, picking up her sword. ''...if I am the idiot... then you... are the fool...''
They raised their weapons one more time, their grips tight yet slick with blood. A sense of finality hung in the air, both all too aware they were reaching their limits, but neither backed down. Out of pride, out of desire – out of love, they refused to let the other win.
Then as one they lunged, rushing towards one another with no defence, no self-preservation – only offence in mind.
Steel met flesh, and blood splattered the grass.
''Nn...!''
Bismarck clenched her teeth, pain pulsating in her collarbone. Hood's sword jutted out of her back, impaled clean through the bone and buried up to the golden, blood-stained hilt.
Hood stood nary a foot in front of her, coughing blood and causing the crimson ichor to dribble down her chin, a faint quirk to her lips. ''Mn... looks like... my aim... can use some work... aha...''
''Mn.'' Bismarck intoned stiffly, her gaze sliding from Hood's face-
-and down at the battle-standard pierced straight through her chest.
''You're... indecisive as ever.'' Bismarck muttered.
Hood mustered a faint laugh, the sound wispy. ''A maiden's heart... is ever so complex... my dear... Biscuit...''
The Battleship didn't reply, grabbing the blade stabbed through her collarbone and pulling it out with great difficulty, throwing it aside and sealing her wounds shut with iron. She slid her battle-standard out of Hood with much more care, catching the dainty woman when she stumbled and laying her down on the bloodied grass, watching the ground puddle in sticky red ichor.
''Hah...'' Hood smiled faintly, coughing up another wad of coagulating blood that dribbled down her cheek – her beauty untarnished even by the dirt and blood staining her paling visage. ''And thus... our everlasting summer... draws to an end... and our turbulent winter... blows in...''
''Silence.'' Bismarck uttered heavily.
Hood merely let loose another weakening chuckle, her expression staying amused even as she bled out. The mere thought helped ail Bismarck of the war god's influence, her own heart taking root again. Even if they were enemies, even if they were rivals – Hood still had her heart. She had just forgotten that little fact over the years.
Swallowing Bismarck laid a hand over Hood's chest, feeling the blood stick to her hand unpleasantly. Wahr'rot had told her it could heal U-556 of her mental trauma, and it had slowly held up that end of the deal. She had also heard through Graf Zeppelin that Akagi had effectively stolen Kaga's Gift, during her battle with Enterprise. That meant Gifts could be shared.
What was stopping her from healing others?
Expression tightening Bismarck closed her eyes, searching deep down and focusing intently on her own Gift. Coldness touched her mind, an intangible hardness that seemed so inflexible and unbreakable in her mind's eye. She grasped it, twisting her own power to fit her impossible desire, forcing it not through her body but through a means she didn't fully understand while using Wahr'rot's presence as a crutch; pushing it – into Hood.
Inside herself she felt something twist, a soul-deep agony that wretched at her very heart, as if her soul was being torn apart along with her Gift – before she felt something rip, and could almost feel part of her Gift pushing into Hood's own soul, latching onto it and intermingling seamlessly. Even though it wasn't directly part of her Bismarck could still sense it, the ethereal sensation wholly foreign to her; but infinitely useful in that moment.
''M-Mngh...'' Hood shuddered as the hole in her chest burned – torn flesh and bone transmutating into supernatural iron, welding itself together and covering the gap between her breasts.
''...there...'' Bismarck muttered in a strained voice, her head pounding with a pulsating headache. ''You'll live.''
''...hmph...'' Hood cracked a weak smile. ''Soft as ever... my dear Biscuit...''
''Save your breath.'' Bismarck huffed in reply, standing up with some effort – and fixing her gaze ahead. ''I know... you are there, members of Royal.''
A squeak. Then muffled swearing and berating. Bismarck held her tongue, struggling to keep standing still for the ten solid seconds it took the Destroyers to finally stumble out from behind the tree. She remembered them vaguely; Cygnet, Crescent and Comet. Weaklings that had barely three months of service history. No threat, not even in her weakened state.
''Take her and go.'' Bismarck cut off Cygnet's stuttering plea, turning her back on them. ''Do this, and I shall pay your voyeurism no heed.''
The Battleship waited only until Comet stammered an agreement before turning on her heel and marching off, her gaze once more set on Saffrona.
X-x-X
''Ugh... ow...''
U-556 roused back to consciousness slowly, her vision painfully blurring and black around the edges. Her eyelids felt heavy and her forehead throbbed with pain, the sheer weight in her skull almost causing her to fall back unconscious. Her eyes shut and she was sure she blacked out for a few moments but it was impossible to tell, so disoriented she couldn't even register the rough dirt beneath her knees.
Gradually the weight in her skull lightened, though the pulsating pain didn't. The Submarine groaned and lolled her head side-to-side, her vision clearing up enough for her to see the dirt beneath her clearly, her knees rubbed raw from digging into it. She blinked dazedly, barely coherent as her brain slowly rebooted – until she tried to move, and felt a rough tug on her wrists.
''Huh...?'' U-556's brow furrowed and she jerked her wrists a little more forcefully – only to hear a distinct, bone-chilling clank and rattle.
The jolt of panic that raced through her veins helped clear her mind, waking her up fully. Her eyes shot down, and her blood went cold as she found herself chained up to a piece of concrete – an old I-shaped pillar of some kind. She gazed behind herself and found a small shrine; a tiny little thing that was little more than a place to pray and give offerings, not even having a roof over the dragon statue in the centre.
''Wha...?'' U-556 began to panic more, yanking on the metal chains tying her wrists behind her back – but she wasn't strong enough to break them. Any other class of Ship-Girl could do it. But not a Submarine.
Someone put her here very deliberately.
''Well now... finally awake, hm?''
U-556 froze solid. Slowly she tilted her head, gazing ahead of her – and met the chillingly cold eyes of Atago, the dog-woman bearing a distinctly fake smile on her lips. Dimly she remembered getting her skull stomped on by Atago, but the memory seemed hazy. Probably a side-effect of having her brain jolted around her head so roughly.
''W-What do you want...?'' U-556 tried to be strong – but the quiver in her voice gave away her fear almost immediately.
Atago chuckled. A smooth, melodic sounded that failed to hide her twisted amusement. ''Many things, dear U-556... many, many things. But what I want from you, is simple. I want Bismarck.''
''Huh...?''
Atago strutted closer, resting her hand on her katana, gripping the handle. ''Taihou had the arrogance to attack Queen Elizabeth, and came out stronger from it. If she were to have beaten Roon, then the Commander would be all hers. Of course she lost, she's too pathetic that she can't see her own flaws – but if I were to gain that power? I could kill Roon before she even knew it.''
A dangerous smile crept across Atago's face. ''But Queen Elizabeth isn't here anymore... so someone more suitable is needed. Someone powerful enough to force Animaus' hand, to make it give me the power to combat the threat. Mikasa would be too troublesome; she knows my skill-set too well, she could counter me even with the extra power. So it would need to be someone outside of the Sakura Empire, but far enough away from the main force heading for Roon as to not draw suspicion...''
U-556 swallowed, the chains behind her rattling as she tried to back up – to put distance between her and the slowly-approaching Atago. ''L-Lord Bismarck won't lose to you!''
''No, she won't.'' Atago's answer startled her. ''But... what if she had something more to lose, than her own life?''
It took U-556 a second to realise what Atago was implying, and when she did, her heart dropped. ''M-Me...?''
''That's right.'' Atago purred with dark amusement. ''She would lay down her life if it meant saving you... so all I need to do, is fight her until Animaus provides me enough power to either eliminate her, or use you as a back-up plan in the event she overpowers me. It never hurts to be cautious, after all~''
U-556 swallowed, sweating as Atago knelt down right in front of her – her golden eyes looking so much larger and predatory from a close distance. ''You will be the key. Bismarck is the lock. Once the two of you are out the picture... all that stands between me and the Commander, is Roon. And I'm sure she'll be weakened significantly after fighting the main force approaching Saffrona.''
The Submarine's breathing quickened as Atago leaned in even closer, her breath tickling her ear uncomfortably. ''So be a good girl... and call Bismarck here.''
U-556 swallowed – and shook her head. ''I-I won't...!''
''Hmhm...'' Atago laughed softly, gently grabbing her chin. ''Playing tough, are we...? Let me fix that~''
Atago's hand left – and then came smacking back with a vengeance. U-556's head jerked aside, stars appearing in her eyes from the sheer strength behind the blow. She gasped and her cheek pulsated painfully, almost certainly beginning to bruise.
''Let's try that again.'' Atago cooed with the same faux-gentle tone. ''Call Bismarck. Just give her your coordinates, I'm sure she'll come running to your aid~''
U-556 grit her teeth, glaring. ''I won't! I won't betray Lord Bismar- ah!''
Another smack, and her head jerked to the right again. Atago was no longer smiling.
''Is that so?'' The dog-woman stood up, and walked behind her. ''Then it seems I'll have to force it out of you.''
A hand grabbed her bound right one – and U-556's eyes widened as she felt the cold nip of a blade press against the skin between her thumb and index finger.
''Call Bismarck.''
''N-No! I wo- HYAA!''
U-556's terrible cry echoed from the volume, pain shooting up her arm as Atago's katana sunk into her flesh – cutting through multiple nerves in an instant. The rippling agony made the Submarine's throat close up, biting her bottom lip so hard it bled as she restrained her whimpers; hot tears stinging at her eyes.
Atago pressed the katana against the gap between her index and middle finger. ''Call. Bismarck.''
U-556 grit her teeth and braced. Atago dug her blade in again, staining her sword crimson – U-556's stifled scream of pain not even making Atago blink.
''Call her.''
Gritted teeth and a stifled whimper was her response.
''So be it.'' Atago lifted her blade up – and pointed the tip down between her middle and ring finger.
U-556 couldn't stifle the sharp wail that fled her throat, fresh agony blazing in her hand as the tip of Atago's sword cut into her flesh with frightening ease and precision. Her arm spasmed on reflex as nerves were cut and the tip of the blade hit bone – and the sharp pain became an agonising burn as Atago twisted the blade, dealing as much damage and pain as she could.
''The pain will stop if you just contact Bismarck.'' Atago stated as if it was a simple thing, roughly yanking her katana back. ''Save yourself the suffering, U-556.''
U-556 couldn't reply even if she wanted to – her throat closing up from the stabbing pain in her hand, nothing but an incoherent sob escaping. When Atago stabbed her blade in and repeated the process on the last gap between her fingers she let it out, openly crying as sticky blood dribbled down her hand, her pinky finger going distinctly numb as something was cut.
''Tch...'' Atago stood up sharply, striding around the small stone pillar to face her. ''Fine then. If pain won't make you talk... maybe a familiar face will.''
Atago snapped her fingers, not taking her eyes off the Submarine. Through tearful eyes U-556 watched as the bushes at the edge of the small clearing rustled, a black-haired woman coming out. She didn't recognise her; she was tall and busty, with a uniform vaguely similar to Takao and wielded a sheathed katana in her free hand, but that was where most of the similarities ended.
It was the girl beside the nameless woman that drew U-556's attention however. Short and with a head of red hair, diminutive in size but with an unnaturally intimidating expression-
''Aulick...?'' U-556 croaked.
'Aulick' smiled at her; showing a mouthful of teeth from how wide her lips stretched. She took another step, and her whole body began to waver and crack – before with a loud, ethereal shatter, she broke into dozens of tiny pieces-
-and revealed the terrifyingly familiar visage, of I-56.
U-556 couldn't breathe. She didn't dare to; her pupils shrinking into tiny pinpricks and her breathing rapidly increasing, all her nightmares and pseudo-hallucinations coming back full-force. She frantically squirmed against her bindings but she couldn't stand, the angle of her arms stopping her lest she snap her shoulders – and yet she still tried, desperately trying to get her feet out in front of her.
''No... no, no no no you can't be here...!'' U-556's voice rose to a terrified cry. ''Y-Y-You're dead! I saw L-Lord Bismarck kill you! You're not... y-you can't be... you-!''
I-56's overly-pleased giggle shut U-556 up immediately. ''Mmhm, she did... but, Atago-sama helped bring me back. I just couldn't be satisfied with a little nibble of you, so when she told me her plan, I just had to help, you know~?''
Atago plastered a smile back onto her face, but it was clearly forced. ''That's right. So here's what is going to happen, little U-556. You either contact Bismarck and signal your location... or I let I-56 rip the answer out of you~''
I-56 visibly licked her lips in anticipation, the frighteningly familiar mad light in her eyes just as it was all those weeks ago. ''Mm... I'll only take little bites at first~''
U-556's breathing quickened. She wanted to look away but she couldn't move, tunnel-visioning I-56. Atago was strong. The other woman was clearly strong. But I-56 was the real monster. She would eat her, rip her insides out and take her time, she would-!
SMACK!
U-556's head jerked right, her increasingly-hysteric thoughts grinding to an abrupt halt from the pain.
''Call her.'' Atago intoned, her fake smile once more gone; revealing the emotionless truth beneath. ''Don't even think about using the public channels; I'll cut your tongue off and let I-56 have her fun the second you do.''
U-556 felt her palms get sweaty, her breathing shallow and her head light – and with wide eyes, she looked up at Atago.
''...I...'' She swallowed. ''I refuse...''
…
''Hmph.'' Atago's emotionless eyes grew cold. ''So be it. I-56.''
A patter of feet. Then I-56 was suddenly grabbing her sides – before darting down and chomping on her bare shoulder. U-556 gasped, spasming on reflex as she felt teeth sink into her skin, pulling and tearing, scraping and ripping. Cold agony stabbed at her shoulder and up her neck, a choked scream fleeing her throat as her old friend's teeth tore at her flesh.
Just as suddenly as she began I-56 leaned back, making a gagging sound as she jerked her head back – revealing the lump of glistening-red flesh that hung between her teeth. She jerked her head back again, gulping it down and causing blood to dribble down her chin, only enticing the psychopathic Submarine to lick her lips and chin with her elongated tongue.
'She...' U-556 tilted her head to the right, gazing at the open wound in her shoulder. It wasn't big. It almost looked smaller than some of the shelling damage she had taken in the past, or that one time she accidentally got hit by U-81's torpedo.
But being bitten so deeply... was new. Seeing blood bubbling and leaking from her raggedly-torn flesh made her head spin, something nauseous swirling around in her head and making her vision blur. A small part of her reasoned that she could call Bismarck, that she would come and save her, that this would all be over like some bad dream. But she didn't – couldn't let Bismarck down.
Bismarck had sacrificed her home, her livelihood, her friends and honour – all for her. In exchange, her life was a pittance in comparison.
''Hm...'' Atago's thoughtful hum drew U-556's attention, lolling her head to the side as she gazed weakly up at the mad cruiser. ''I was expecting you to scream more... perhaps you should go for something more painful, I-56. Her fingers or her face, or perhaps her neck. Without hitting anything vital, that is.''
I-56 paused mid-way through licking her bloodied fingers, and grinned. In the time it took U-556 to blink her former friend knelt down in front of her, opening her mouth far wider than a person should, her jaw unhinging to reveal unnaturally long and sharp teeth that jutted from her gums like a shark's.
I-56 went for the face. U-556 braced.
Teeth met flesh, and something in U-556 shattered.
''A-AHHH!''
Gravity smashed down on the forest with frenzied abandon, splintering nearby trees and cracking the concrete shrine. I-56 gasped and crashed flat on her face, tasting dirt. Atago stumbled down to a knee, eyes wide. The nameless woman fell onto all fours, wheezing for air.
U-556 didn't notice any of it – her entire focus solely on the agonising twist in her soul, like something trying to force its way out. Her heart twisted and ripped, her eyes widened and dilated, her own power beginning to crush her feeble ribcage-
-until Atago stumbled, and slammed the pommel of her katana straight into her forehead.
In an instant the artificial gravity abated, fading in the span of single second. U-556 wheezed, coughing and gasping for air as the rending twist in her chest faded, the pain in her chest warring with the newfound pain in her skull.
''Hah... haah...'' Atago panted lightly, gripping her sword. ''Looks like I was careless. Even a weakling like you, can gain a Gift...''
U-556 didn't have the words to reply, her mind disoriented from the pain, the throbbing ache in her brain, and the wheezing breathlessness in her chest.
Atago didn't give her the benefit of recovering; trudging behind her and cutting her chains apart – instead picking her up by the throat. The Submarine weakly clawed at the older woman's hand but her attempt was weak at best, her strength so sapped from her sudden Gift-awakening that it took a conscious effort to not black out, her vision growing blurred.
''M-Mn...'' U-556 grunted as she was dropped; face-planting into the dirt.
On weak arms U-556 pushed herself up, trembling... and her eyes slid up, noticing a pit in front of her.
A pit filled with writhing orange worms, their serrated mouths gnashing endlessly at each other.
''I have to thank I-56 for conjuring up this pit.'' Atago noted distractedly, grabbing the back of U-556's hair – forcing her to bend over the pit. ''Now... I'll give you one last chance, U-556.''
''Call. Bismarck.''
U-556's bleeding hand trembled – and she pressed her bloodied fingers against her ear.
Bzzt...
…
''U-556...? What is it?''
''H...'' Guilty tears streamed down U-556's cheeks. ''Help me... Lord Bismarck...''
''That's it...'' Atago's lips spread into a frighteningly wide, insane grin. ''Choukai... go run interference. Nobody but Bismarck is to reach this location.''
Behind the two the now-named Choukai nodded, her eyes lingering on the kneeling Submarine for a long second before she finally walked away, disappearing into the shrubbery.
U-556 wanted to say more, to beg Bismarck for forgiveness for her weakness – but Atago yanked her hand off her ear, cutting the already-unstable connection short. For a small, almost naïve moment, she thought it was over. She had done what Atago wanted. The pain was over.
Then Atago planted her foot in the centre of her back – and pushed her into the pit of writhing orange worms.
The last thing U-556 felt was a hundred tiny mouths chewing into her – and then she knew nothing, her mind going blank as the worms buried her beneath their squirming bodies.
X-x-X
Bismarck had felt such ice-cold terror in that instant – nor had she ever experienced such all-consuming, world-rending fury.
With renewed strength the Battleship carved a swathe through the forest in the direction of U-556's transmission, honing in on it and refusing to lose it. Minutes ticked by with frightening speed in her mind, every lost second only fuelling her terror as she imagined all the horrible things that could be happening to her beloved Submarine. She had heard Atago in the background a second before the connection was cut off, and no attempts to re-establish said connection worked; not helped by the interference blanketing the entire area.
She didn't know what Atago planned for U-556. But she knew what she would do the moment she saw the wretched woman.
Slowly the ground beneath her began to incline, forming a shallow hill. The trees around her thinned and she noticed several of them looked damaged; the bark splintered and one thin tree even toppled over by the midsection, as if it had broken under its own weight. Her eyes flickered across the terrain rapidly, noting the cracked stone shrine – and the wet glistening of something behind one of the pillars.
'...blood...' Bismarck's throat closed up as she rushed over, dropping to one knee despite the pain it caused in her side; running her half-gloved hand through the puddle of crimson. Sticky and already congealing, but not dry. Shed about five to ten minutes ago, if she was to estimate.
Bismarck stood swiftly, ignoring the twinge in her body as she looked around, desperate – and spotted an unnatural hole a few feet away, the glare of the sun partially hiding it from her position. Something in her heart grew heavy but she marched over to it with desperate swiftness. The square hole was barely four feet deep, heavy shadows casting themselves across the pit; but no amount of shadows could hide the head of blue hair hidden inside.
''U-556...'' Bismarck whispered, her blood going cold.
U-556 was laid on her back, staring up at the sky with empty pink eyes. Coagulating blood stuck to her left hand, her skin a paling hue and her body rife with spasms and twitches. Her chest barely rose and fell, blood profusely leaking from a shoulder wound – a wound that looked unsettlingly like some animal had torn a chunk from her shoulder, barely exposing the bloodied bone within.
Bismarck swallowed, laying her battle-standard down. With immense care she dropped down into the otherwise empty pit, touching U-556's uninjured shoulder. She didn't even blink, nor when Bismarck shook her more roughly; her empty gaze locked onto the golden sky overhead.
''Speak to me, U-556...'' Bismarck pleaded softly, giving the loyal Submarine another shake. ''It's me, Bismarck.''
For a moment, U-556 remained still – until she twitched, her eyelids blinking with evident sluggishness. Bismarck gripped onto that fleeting reaction, gently cupping the Submarine's chin and making her look at her, hoping to hope that whatever Atago did was reversible.
''...Lord... Bismarck...?'' U-556's eyes gained a hint of life to them. ''Is that... you...?''
''Yes, it's me.'' Bismarck assured immediately, scooping the small girl up. ''What happened? Did Atago do this to you? Did-''
''A-Atago...'' U-556's voice trembled as she spoke the traitor's name, her visage coming alive – alive with fear. ''She... s-s-she... I... they...''
'They?' Bismarck swallowed, tightening her hold on the diminutive Submarine. Was more than one of Roon's lackeys here?
She was confident she could take on Atago, even in her wounded state. But Atago and someone else; or heaven forbid Roon herself? She was confident. Not arrogant.
Bismarck grunted, grabbing the edge of the pit and hauling herself up. U-556 whimpered in her arms but Bismarck merely held onto her tighter, pulling the two of them out of the pit. However even once she was out of the dismal pit U-556 kept shaking, incoherent mumbles beginning to flee her dry lips.
''I-I can feel them... they won't stop moving...''
''Feel what?'' Bismarck's concern only grew; gently setting the Submarine down on the rough dirt. ''Tell me, U-556.''
''T-The worms...'' U-556 whispered in a tiny voice, wrapping her arms around her sides tightly, digging her nails into her own skin so hard she drew blood. ''I... I can feel them... they're e-eating me... it hurts so much... but they won't stop... they just, keep eating me over and over... I don't know... are they real? Is this just a bad dream...?''
U-556 tilted her head back, gazing up at the Battleship with wide pink eyes full of such terrible pain and fear. ''...are you real... Lord Bismarck...?''
Bismarck drew a long breath, stifling the growing crack in her heart. ''I promise you, U-556... as your Lord and leader, I am real. I don't know what Atago told or did to you... but I swear to you on my life, I will make her pay tenfold for every injustice she committed. I will sooner die, than break that promise.''
U-556 gazed at her for a long, long moment. Then tears gathered in the corners of her ears, trickling down her cheeks in thin streams, her trembling hands grabbing Bismarck's left for dear life. ''L-Lord Bismarck...''
''How touching.''
Bismarck stiffened, her instincts flaring as she sensed danger – and she summoned a wall of steel behind her just in time to block the katana aimed for the back of her neck. Bismarck very quickly recognised the voice, and when she did, her expression became downright murderous.
''Atago...!''
The wall of steel disintegrated and Bismarck stood, face brimming with stormy fury as she whirled to face the traitor. Atago stood half a dozen feet away, smiling placidity as if everything was going according to plan. Bismarck's lips curved back into a snarl at that, deliberately stepping between herself and U-556, shielding her from the wretched wench. Something that Atago took immediate notice of.
''Hmhm... don't bother.'' Atago's golden eyes gleamed with amusement. ''I have no more use for her.''
Bismarck had heard enough. With a thunderous expression Bismarck lunged, crossing the distance in short of two seconds and swinging her battle-standard down with both hands – smashing it into the dirt. Atago nimbly stepped back before the blow connected, smiling even as dirt went airborne. For a split-second the two warriors locked eyes; one apocalyptic, the other darkly amused.
Then the moment passed, and Atago lunged – drawing her katana from its sheath in a single fluid motion. Bismarck raised her pole-arm in time to block it, grunting from the unexpected strength behind the cruiser's blow. She adapted swiftly however, falling on the back-foot as she rapidly deflected the flurry of thrusts and swings Atago made, their metal weapons clanging together and sending sparks flying.
''I'll kill you.'' Bismarck's whisper was nearly lost amidst the sound of screeching steel, her eyes colder than even the northern winters.
Atago only smiled in reply, ducking under one swing and side-stepping the flurry of jabs that went for her stomach. After the third jab missed she twisted, lunging in close and thrusting her katana out; cutting Bismark's cheek with the tip. The Battleship only grew more angry at the pain, a wordless snarl fleeing her lips as she beckoned a small ocean of iron spikes to rise from the dirt – her Gift responding instantly, uprooting the soil as a surge of glistening spears shot up.
Atago flipped back just in time to dodge the worst of it, nothing but a few shallow cuts to show. Bismarck wasn't done however; throwing her free hand out and growling. Her Gift acted in accordance with her subconscious will, seething out in dozens of jagged lances, extending from the countless spears jutting from the earth. Atago cut down numerous lances with swift swings of her sword, but there was just too many for her to conquer alone – her smile turning to a wince as half a dozen lances cut into her thighs, made razor-sharp by Bismarck's anger.
''Mn...!'' Atago leapt back further, buying herself a few seconds. ''I-56!''
A flicker of movement. That was Bismarck's only warning – before a thought-dead hell-spawn grabbed onto her back, nails digging into her shoulders. The Battleship gasped, stumbling from the unexpected assault and was utterly unprepared to feel sharp teeth sink into her upper-back; pain shooting through her as she felt skin and muscle be wretched from its place.
However with pain – came anger. With Wahr'rot, came anger.
Anger, she gave into.
''Get...'' Bismarck clenched her hand tight. ''...off... ME!''
The iron covering her side hardened further – before a dozen tiny needles shot out, piercing into I-56's exposed stomach. The corrupted Submarine screeched and leapt off, landing on all fours like a dog and with one arm quick to clutch at her bleeding abdomen, the holes small but numerous.
Bismarck merely glared vehemently at the girl. ''I thought you dead, I-56 of Sakura.''
''Hmph.'' The Submarine flashed a toothy smile that looked wholly unnatural. ''Atago-sama brought me back.''
Bismarck's cold gaze narrowed. ''Merely another reason to crush your existence.''
The ground beneath them rumbled – and all around Bismarck layer after layer of iron spears shot out of the dirt, each one thicker than the last. I-56 was impaled through the stomach but Bismarck wasn't fooled, sensing more than seeing something off to the right; prompting the Battleship to immediately summon a rush of iron spears there too. Her hunch was proven right as blood was drawn from thin air; the air promptly shattering to reveal I-56, with numerous new holes in her stomach.
''B... Bitch...!''
Bismarck was about to coldly retort when movement in her peripherals caught her immediate attention – swiftly twisting to her right. Atago came lunging from above, her katana meeting Bismarck's battle-standard with explosive force so intense the surrounding spears shattered into fragments, a gust blowing through the area. Their deadlock lasted for only a scarce few seconds before they broke apart, Atago landing in a crouch in front of her.
Angry and fresh out of mercy Bismarck didn't hesitate to close the distance, lashing out with a brutal flurry of swings that forced Atago on the back-foot from the sheer intensity, the dog-woman's brow furrowing. The visible strain only encouraged Bismarck to keep up the fight, unleashing blows so powerful and ferocious the ground beneath her cracked and splintered, chunks of dirt getting ripped free from the ground and stone crumbling to rubble.
Sudden movement to her left made her glance aside. I-56... and she was heading straight for the visibly-paralysed U-556.
'NO!'
Bismarck spun, unheeding of the katana that eagerly cleaved a deep gash through her ribs and instead lunged, her own iron spears parting for her. She reached U-556 just as I-56 did – and with merciless fury she grabbed the back of I-56's blood-stained uniform. The sudden whiplash made the corrupted Submarine wheeze, her body jolting ahead of her neck – but Bismarck paid her no mercy, slamming her into the earth so hard the ground cracked.
She made to stomp on the Submarine's head but U-556's stifled whimper made her hesitate, a flicker of uncertainty shooting through her. What would U-556 think, seeing her commit such brutality? Such barbaric violence, even if she was in the right? Such... such carnage.
Her hesitation lasted too long. I-56 scampered back to a safe distance, snarling like that animal she had become before suddenly blinking out of the world, her illusion-casting ability activating. Bismarck reacted immediately, mentally apologising to U-556 before summoning a dome of steel around her, shielding her – thick enough that not even I-56 would be able to cleave through it without her noticing.
''You will not harm her, wretch.'' Bismarck intoned frigidly, shifting her gaze to the right as Atago lunged. ''Nor will you, monster.''
Atago's katana glinted in the waning light, a shockwave blossoming between them as Bismarck met it with her pole-arm. Atago kept moving, tucking her arm in close – before thrusting her scabbard out, striking Bismarck in the gut. The sudden impact made the Battleship gasp, the wind briefly knocked out of her – and giving Atago plenty of time to twist her grip, and smash the pommel into her chin.
Bismarck's head jerked backwards with a stifled grunt, copper bitter on her tongue. She summoned a slew of iron spikes in front of her but Atago was already gone, nimbly side-stepping the danger and cleaving a deep gash through her thigh, cutting through her skin before it could turn to iron. Bismarck spun on her heel to face the swordswoman but I-56 decided to intervene, suddenly appearing beside her and chomping down on her left leg; countless serrated teeth sinking into her bleeding flesh.
''N-Nn...!'' Bismarck grit her teeth and grabbed a violent handful of the Submarine's hair.
At her command spikes of iron erupted from her palm – eliciting a sharp, agonising shriek from I-56 as countless tiny spears dug into her skull;. She stumbled back and kicked her legs, trying to back away faster but she was too slow, giving Bismarck more than enough time to summon a huge spear from below and impale her through the stomach-
-only for her to shatter. A fake.
'Scheiße, where did she-?!'
Fangs, against her nape. Bismarck spun, her battle-standard collided with something invisible and I-56 reappeared with a pained shriek, blood escaping her open mouth as she was sent careening across the battlefield, tumbling into dozens of lingering iron spears. Bismarck had no chance to pursue before Atago was upon her, blade flashing in the waning light and colliding against her own with great force, gathering her full attention.
''Yes... more...!'' Atago whispered with a dangerous smile, her golden eyes becoming dark as she threw away her facade – revealing the open insanity that she had kept hidden all this time.
Bismarck opened her mouth and snarled, pushing back harder and shoving the weaker woman back. She attempted to cut the woman's head off with the tip of her battle-standard but Atago ducked low, nearly crouching, and stabbed her blade up – her blade immediately rebounding off Bismarck's underarm as she hardened her skin. Without a second of hesitation Atago persisted, twisting into a twirl and lashing out at the Battleship's back.
Metal clanged against metal as Bismarck expertly twisted her pole-arm, using the end of the shaft to deflect the cruiser's swing. Using the added momentum Bismarck swung down, crashing her battle-standard down onto Atago's shoulder – extracting a sharp, pained gasp from the woman. Bismarck's eyes glinted with cold satisfaction and she raised her foot, kicking Atago before she could recover and sending her tumbling half a dozen feet back, flipping into a crouch to bleed off her momentum.
''...hmph.'' Atago stood up, wiping some blood from her cheek. When it got there Bismarck didn't remember. ''Your strength is just as great as I predicted it would be. How fitting for the leader of the Ironblood.''
''Praise will not avert your fate, wretch.'' Bismarck informed with cold fury.
''Indeed it won't.'' Atago chuckled with evident mirth. ''Whether I sing your praises or not... you'll die anyway.''
Then Atago was suddenly moving, changing from stock-still to a sudden run, so fast it was like she teleported. Bismarck narrowly raised her battle-standard in time, surprise fluttering through her as Atago wailed on her with a mad flurry of blows so intense she couldn't retaliate, the sudden burst of strength surprising her. Then she sensed it; the wretched presence of the God of Madness.
Animaus was making her stronger.
Bismarck reacted immediately, knowing the threat of playing passive. Without hesitation the Battleship hardened her skin and stood her ground, grimacing as Atago's katana cut multiple shallow gashes across her hardened flesh, cleaving through the steel protection with ease. She pushed down her pain and charged through it, her fist sailing up – and burying itself deep in Atago's gut.
The dog-woman wheezed, her feet leaving the ground. Bismarck was relentless – yanking her fist back and grabbing Atago by the hair, slamming her face-first into the ground so hard she heard her nose break, the compacted dirt and stone beneath them failing to stifle Atago's startled cry of pain. And yet with that pain, came power; the cruiser's intangible presence magically becoming more potent, more vile.
'Now!' Bismarck raised her right arm, her fingers masterfully twirling her battle-standard around to where the bladed tip was aimed for Atago's exposed neck-
-when a lithe body jumped her.
Bismarck nearly roared with fury, utterly ignoring the teeth that sunk into her shoulder and grabbing I-56 by the throat, and squeezing hard. The Submarine instinctively wheezed for air but Bismarck had no compassion for the once-dead girl, crushing her windpipe bit by bit and feeling absolutely no remorse in that instance, snarling at the flailing Submarine as she clawed and kicked for dear life.
Atago had recovered and was lunging for her but Bismarck was out for blood, deflecting Atago's swing – and giving I-56's neck a sharp, violent twist.
SNAP!
I-56 spasmed, twitching as her muscles simultaneously coiled tight and went slack, her eyes finally rolling back. Bismarck kept squeezing until she felt muscle squish and bone crumble beneath her bloodied fingertips before letting go, dropping the now-dead Submarine without a second thought, the heavy thump going unacknowledged.
''One down...'' Bismarck intoned, shifting her gaze over to Atago. ''...one to go.''
Atago's smile didn't wilt even a bit, still looking as if she was in total control of the situation. Bismarck merely growled and closed the distance, gripping her pole-arm with both hands and jerking it left and right, striking Atago's thigh and shoulder faster than she could block. The woman stumbled and Bismarck took advantage, summoning her rigging in a flash, and firing.
A thunderous boom echoed across the spear-laden battlefield as all four shells struck true, engulfing Atago in a raging plume of black smoke. Bismarck held back her desire to give chase, instead using the brief gap to seal up her wounds – grimacing as even more of her skin was sown shut by threads of iron. She wasn't sure if there would be any long-term effects to such a thing, but she had no other choice at the moment.
''Come out, coward.'' Bismarck rumbled, raising her cannons. ''Or I'll make you!''
With a swing of her arm she summoned a small forest of iron spears that jutted up from the earth, piercing through the smoke. Nobody was there. Bismarck immediately raised her guard, her gaze sliding across the battlefield – before she sensed some of her metal be rent apart. U-556's dome.
Bismarck immediately whirled, a snarl crossing her lips as she saw Atago cleaving through the metal with her sword. U-556's terrified cries for help gave her the strength to lunge, crossing the distance in what felt like an instant and punching Atago straight in the jaw, sending the dog-woman tumbling hard into a thick tree; splintering it from the force.
''Nn...!'' Atago grit her teeth, yet her mad smile refused to fade. ''N... Not bad...''
Bismarck glowered, thundering closer and thrusting her bladed battle-standard out. Atago tilted to the side, causing the blade to impale itself into the tree – but Bismarck immediately resolved that with a rough twist of her shoulders, yanking her weapon and half the tree out in a single move. Atago was already moving however, the single second of delay giving the cruiser time to cut at her stomach; rebounding off her immediately-hardened skin.
Undeterred Atago danced around her, lashing out with a lightning-quick flurry of swings that failed to deal more than a shallow cut as more and more of the Battleship's skin turned into iron, slowing her reflexes in exchange for greater defence. Bismarck swung in retaliation but Atago evaded easily, dodging her telegraphed swings with a widening smile.
''Don't look...'' Bismarck rumbled furiously. ''...so confident!''
Bismarck lunged, fury in her veins. Atago backtracked but Bismarck pursued, footfalls thundering as she closed the distance and spun, her battle-standard grasped in both hands. It crashed down into the dirt powerfully, kicking up a wall of dirt that blinded both fighters – and gave Bismarck the time to charge in with weapon raised-
-and pierce Atago through the chest.
The cruiser jerked back, wheezing on instinct as Bismarck raised her up into the air, blood bubbling from her chest and dribbling down the pole-arm in thick quantities. Bismarck deliberately twisted her battle-standard, taking dark pleasure in seeing Atago wince. Taking pleasure in the pain the monster before her felt.
Slowly her cannons narrowed in, taking aim. ''Begone from this world, you worthless husk.''
''...hah... haha...'' Atago's shoulders buckled. ''Hahaha...!''
Bismarck's eyes narrowed. ''What's so funny?''
Atago's laughter slowly, smiling like she was in full control even as blood ran down her chin. ''I... never told you... what my Gift was... did I?''
''Zone Nullification.'' Bismarck entertained her, purposefully twisting her weapon again. ''You mute a zone or zones to an outside observer, hiding what goes inside. That's how you managed to assault Maya, how you slunk off the base without first being seen – you hid yourself.''
''Hmhmhm...'' Atago's laughter was distinctly mockish – and threatening. ''Not quite... you see, Bismarck-san... my Gift-''
In an instant, Atago's visage warped.
''-is illusions.''
With an almighty shatter not unlike glass, Atago's illusionary form broke... to reveal U-556, with a battle-standard pierced through her collarbone.
Bismarck stared, dawning horror on her face as she realised she had been tricked. For a single, infinitely-stretching second, the world itself seemed to be frozen; as if existence itself had been paralysed by the frightening truth laid before the Battleship. Then U-556 spoke.
''L... ord... Bis... marck...?'' U-556 coughed, fearful incomprehension on her tear-stained visage.
Bismarck trembled, immediately sliding her hand down the pole-arm until she could hold U-556, laying her down as gently as she could. ''I... I-I... I didn't...''
Laughter to her right drew Bismarck's attention, eyes wide as she watched the real Atago appear out of thin air. ''[Phantasmagoria]... the ability to make those I wish, see whatever delusions I desire... magnificent, no? A pit of worms, a clone of myself – so realistic you can't tell the difference from reality and falsity. With it's aid, I was even able to bring back Choukai, and little I-56... though, even I have to admit Roon did the heavy lifting there. For all her wretchedness, her Gift cannot be undervalued.''
Bismarck didn't reply, her eyes frantically darting back to U-556 – noticing how pale her skin was getting, blood rapidly escaping the wound even with her battle-standard blocking the hole, stifling the worst of it. She couldn't pull it out lest she make U-556 bleed out, but her [Iron Will] didn't apply to her own rigging; she couldn't manipulate it in the same way, and she wasn't sure if she could transfer some of her Gift to U-556 while some of it was still in Hood...
''However, it's become clear to me I made a miscalculation.'' Atago carried on talking, unbothered that Bismarck wasn't paying full attention to her. ''I expected you to break out into a rage, upon seeing U-556 impaled... but, it's clear you'd rather fall into despair. Animaus is no longer giving me power, deeming you no longer a threat...''
''I have no more use for you anymore.''
Bismarck would've responded, barked something back – when U-556 spoke.
''I'm sorry...'' U-556's rasping whisper startled Bismarck. ''I... I shouldn't have... called... you...''
''No... no, you have nothing to apologise for, U-556!'' Bismarck refused to acknowledge the tremor in her voice. ''Just hold on, I-I'll fix this! I promise to you I will bring you back! As your lord, I... I won't...!''
Ephemeral Dreams, Transient Whims
The intangible voice thrummed through the suddenly-heavy air. Bismarck glanced back, unease weighing in her heart as she took note of the black glow surrounding Atago, a wicked smile on her lips as she stroked the flat edge of her katana.
Lost Amidst The Waking, Unshed Tears Bringing Naught But Despair
Bismarck tore her gaze away, focusing on U-556. She was what was important. Her loyal knight's life... was worth far more than her own.
Chasing, Wishing, Wailing
Bismarck laid her hand on U-556's, whispering feverish, tearful apologises for her actions – and searched deep inside herself, focusing on her Gift.
She couldn't do it – her soul refused to, self-preservation overriding her desire to save yet another. She'd only end up tearing her own soul apart, and doom them all.
That Which Was A Fabrication
''I'm so sorry...''
Show Your Face Once More
She held U-556 close, holding onto her even as the thrumming words boomed through the air.
And Become That Which Quails Even The Gods.
''Forgive me...''
''World Ender: Phantasmagoria Pareidolia.''
…
Bismarck wasn't sure how long she had her eyes closed, the world around her going eerily silent, almost like all noise had been sucked out of the world.
Tentatively the Battleship opened her eyes... and found herself to be kneeling in a void of utter blackness. No, not complete blackness, she soon realised. Beneath her knees was an ocean, as black as the midnight sky and totally still, giving it an appearance not unlike glass. The world around her was the same midnight black, so all-consuming the very air felt oppressive, like she was trapped in a tiny little box.
Bismarck was quick to notice the absence of something important. ''U-556...?''
The little Submarine was gone, as if she had been teleported away – or rather, as if Bismarck herself had been teleported somewhere. The Battleship wanted to stand but couldn't find the strength to, her bones weighed down by guilt; guilt of having fallen for Atago's trick, and guilt for harming her beloved U-556, betraying her in all but name.
''I'm sorry...'' Bismarck whispered into the silence, screwing her eyes shut. ''Forgive me... for my selfishness... my bloodthirsty arrogance...''
Suddenly she heard the round of rippled water, instantly making her eyes snap open – her eyes widening as she watched the black water in front of her ripple. Slowly a shape began to take form, arising from the water with ominous slowness and as black as the sea it came from.
Thick, gloopy water dribbled off the thing's frame, slowly taking on a more human shape. Then the black sludge slipped off, revealing the humanoid thing beneath.
Bismarck's breath hitched. ''U... 556...?
U-556 stared at her. Her youthful visage was worryingly blank, not a speck of emotion in her dulled pink eyes, nor even a wisp of her usual emotive nature. Even though she stood slightly shorter than the kneeling Battleship she seemed so intimidating, her expression accusatory without showing a single emotion.
''Why?'' U-556 whispered in a way that froze Bismarck's heart. ''Why did you hurt me?''
''I didn't mean to...!''
''Do you hate me that much?'' U-556 said in the same whispering tone. ''Am I that much of a burden?''
''You're not! I-!''
''You always used to chase me off, sending me to play with U-81.'' U-556 cut her off, stepping closer. ''Was I always bothering you? Do you really dislike me that much?''
''No!'' Bismarck shook her head furiously, her eyes stinging.
''Then why did you let me die?'' U-556's words were a whisper, but sharper than any knife – twisting the blade in Bismarck's heart.
''...I'm sorry...'' Bismarck clenched her fists – and bowed to the diminutive Submarine. ''I'm so sorry... forgive me...''
''You don't mean it.''
''I do... with all my heart, I mean it...'' Bismarck uttered in reply, unheeding of the way the tide around them began to stir – began to rise.
U-556 laid a hand on her head. Bismarck looked up, her heart turning to ice as she stared into her beloved Submarine's empty, dead eyes. From such a close distance she could see everything – the accusation, the disgust, the hate, the fear. U-556 hated her. Hated her for what she did, for her arrogance... for everything...
The water began to rise faster, engulfing Bismarck's waist – but the Battleship could do nothing, staring deep into U-556's accusing eyes, pleading for forgiveness. Her body felt heavier by the second, like her very soul was being swallowed by the ocean around her; but she couldn't look away, couldn't fight. She couldn't live on, without U-556 by her side.
She had lost too many in her life. She wasn't prepared to lose another.
Her eyelids grew heavy and they fluttered closed, her mind growing heavy.
And then U-556 spoke.
''I hate you, Lord Bismarck.''
…
''At least we still have each other.''
…
'...no...'
Bismarck's eyes cracked open. ''What...?''
''I hate you.'' U-556 emotionlessly reiterated, her gaze taking a sharper edge as she began to glare. ''You're worthless, and I wish I never followed you.''
Something in Bismarck stirred.
''No...''
Strength bubbled in her veins.
''You lie...''
Sorrow turned to anger. Anger turned to rage.
''U-556... would never say such things!''
Bismarck stood, a wrathful snarl crossing her lips. ''Get out of my sight... YOU WRETCHED ILLUSION!''
U-556 bore her teeth in a snarl, and Bismarck swung. The entire space around her shattered into countless fragments, revealing the real world around her; floating fragments of blackness dancing through the air with lazy slowness before fading out of existence. U-556 was by her feet, the battle-standard still impaled through her collarbone.
And standing ten feet ahead, was Atago.
''Impossible...'' The dog-woman wasn't smiling anymore, something approaching fear on her visage. ''How did you... it should've devoured you...''
Bismarck felt no compassion for the woman's plight. Without hesitation she called upon the war deity she served, not begging for power – but demanding it. And the deity supplied, a rush of unadulterated strength pulsating through her so powerfully she felt her body begin to strain, her lungs briefly struggling to get air as her soul was filled to max capacity.
''I have had enough...'' Bismarck growled, her eyes taking on a soft red glow. ''...of your games.''
Gravity crashed down onto the battlefield with godly intensity, the very dirt beneath Bismarck's feet disintegrating from the sheer force. Atago gasped and stumbled, gazing at the Battleship with open fear – her pupils dilating as she saw U-556 slowly rise up like a puppet with matching red eyes, liquid iron bubbling from her wounds and sealing them shut, allowing Bismarck to de-summon her battle-standard and seal the wound in her collarbone closed with iron.
'They... shared Gifts?!'
Atago had no time to think about the why or how. Without warning Bismarck kicked off the ground, her battle-standard manifesting in both her hands as she swung – forcing Atago to raise her blade to block. Their weapons clashed explosively, obliterating the ground behind Atago from the force; sending the dog-woman stumbling back with a shocked gasp.
''Impossible...! You can't...!'' Atago leapt back but Bismarck gave chase, wearing an expression of thunder as she raised her left hand – and triggered her Gift.
Instantly countless spears of iron erupted from beneath Atago, forcing the cruiser to hastily backtrack, never staying in the same spot for more than a half-second before leaping away again, her feet becoming nicked and bloody as more and more unrelenting spears thrust themselves up to impale her; covering the entire battlefield around them in a forest of iron pikes in seconds.
Gravity suddenly increasing once more – serving as Atago's only warning before Bismarck came crashing down like an angel of death, obliterating the ground in front of her and causing her to lose her footing. Her weakness was ruthlessly capitalised on as Bismarck swung-
-and cleaved Atago's left arm off.
''G-Gah...!'' Atago's stifled cry of pain brought a look of cold satisfaction to Bismarck's visage.
Immediately the Sakura cruiser activated her Gift, casting an illusion over Bismarck and rushing off to the side, catching her breath. A tentative smile worked its way onto her face as she saw the Battleship swing and coldly curse at something that wasn't really there, but the smile soon left Atago's lips as she kept feeding the illusion; forcing it to be as realistic as possible. From the hair matching the direction of the wind and shockwaves to the swings feeling heavy enough; the mental toll was extreme, especially with pain fogging up her mind.
''Mn...'' Atago stood unsteadily, gripping her blade in her remaining hand. ''My turn...!''
Silent footfalls thumped against the dirt as Atago rushed in, grinning widely as she aimed for Bismarck's unprotected side – only for her eyes to widen as Bismarck turned, and stared right at her.
''I see you.'' Bismarck's whisper made Atago's blood run cold.
There was no time to abort her path. She ducked low under the battle-standard that swung for her head but was unprepared for the foot that crashed into her temple, sending her tumbling onto the dirt with a wheeze. Instinct prompted her to roll over, dodging the bladed tip that shot for her side, eager to impale her. She stumbled back to her feet but Bismarck was faster, burying her fist deep into her stomach and rearranging her organs.
''H-How...?'' Atago wheezed out – before she was launched off her opponent's fist, and sent crashing into the nearest tree with a gasp.
''Simple.'' Bismarck intoned gravely, making gravity crush down heavier with nothing but a thought. ''In my mind... the gravity is like rain. All around me is rain... but where you are standing, is a 'gap' in the rain. All I have to do is look for that gap, and I know where you are.''
''You cannot escape me any longer, Atago of Sakura.''
''No... no, no!'' Atago denied it, eyes wide with fearful panic. ''You can't do that! You can't...!''
Atago's throat closed up, fear flooding her very being as Bismarck marched closer. With the sun behind her silhouetting her frame and her eyes glowing a deadly crimson, she looked absolutely terrifying, almost like a-
''D-Demon...'' Atago whispered in hysteric terror.
''Perhaps.'' Bismarck's glowing-red eyes were unforgiving. ''But if I must become a Demon to protect those I love... then a Demon I will become.''
Atago panicked, summoning an illusion in front of her and running – but Bismarck saw straight through it, chasing after her. Even though she was a cruiser she couldn't seem to gain distance, her opponent rapidly closing the distance until Atago was forced to spin around, raising her katana in self-defence.
Bismarck stomped, putting her weight fully on her left foot and releasing a harrowing war-cry as she swung-
-and utterly shattered Atago's katana, and cleaved her in half.
Atago made no sound, eyes wide and mouth frozen open even as torso went flying half a dozen feet through the air – crashing down into the dirt with a wet thud. Her legs and waist remained standing for only a second before toppling over, blood quick to stain the dirt beneath her disconnected body parts.
''Ah...?''
The cruiser shifted, weakly twisting in an attempt to crawl, but her limbs were too weak. She tilted her head down, staring at the blood profusely bubbling from her disconnected waist; the truth not really setting in. She stared, denial warring with logic as she tried to refute what she was seeing, what the truth was – what her fate was.
She had lost.
''No... C-Commander...'' Atago whispered, her gaze drawn up to the black sun hanging overhead, nearly in its prime position. ''I tried so hard...''
She raised a hand, trying to grasp the sun. She couldn't reach it.
''I just wanted... you to love me...''
Then Atago's arm fell, the toll of her wounds finally claiming her.
Bismarck stared at Atago's limp frame, waiting until her breathing stopped completely and her muscles went slack before finally dropping her guard – releasing an explosive sigh. Immediately the power Wahr'rot gave her evaporated, sucking itself out of her body now that she had no use for it; leaving her feeling even weaker than she did before. Add in the fact Wahr'rot had forcibly shared some of her Gift with U-556 despite her own soul's protests, and she wasn't sure how much more she could take.
But she would not fall. Not until U-556 was in good hands, and she could collapse in peace.
''Nn...'' Bismarck grunted, leaning on her battle-standard for support as she stumbled back over to U-556; privately relieved to see her sitting down, no longer looking like a possessed puppet. ''Are you alright...?''
''...yes...'' U-556 gave a weak nod, touching the iron in her collarbone. ''...thank you, Lord Bismarck...''
The Battleship raised a brow, confused. ''For what...?''
In response U-556 gave a blindingly bright smile, happy tears beginning to run down her cheeks. ''F-For coming back for me...''
Bismarck's visage softened. ''...ahh. Now, let us leave this place.''
''Allow me to assist with that.''
''...Hood?''
The aforementioned Battlecruiser smiled, stumbling out from behind a tree. Cygnet and Crescent hesitantly followed, whispering for Hood to stop lest she open her wounds, but the Battlecruiser paid them no mind – her gaze locked solely onto Bismarck's tired gaze.
''It's a long way's walk to Vestal's ship. It would be most terrible, for you to have to make the journey yourselves.'' Hood said with a wry smile, offering a hand.
''What makes you believe... I'll find myself in Vestal's care?''
With a soft chuckle, Hood merely gazed down at U-556.
''Some things... are more important, than pride.''
…
''Lead the way.''
''With pleasure. Cygnet, please call ahead. We'll need to be in tip-top shape to confront Roon.''
''A-Ah, right!''
Bismarck sighed softly, picking U-556 up in her arms. Perhaps the day, would soon be over.
[END]
A/N: And thus Bisko defeats the big bad wolf, and saves little U-556. After the sub got tortured and nearly eaten alive by her old friend, who also came back from the dead. U-556 is gonna need a lotta therapy after all this, as might Bismarck.
Fun fact; I originally intended for the worms to be real and that U-556 was going to be infected with them until she 'crushed' them with her gravity Gift, like an immune system. Considering the situation however I decided to just make them part of Atago's illusion.
See you all next time in Chapter 25: Fallen Angels~
(No preview this time).
