Asagiri POV

I'm part of a small squadron on patrol off the coast of Miyako-jima. There are five of us: myself, Shinonome, Ayanami, Isonami, and Tatsuta who is the leader of our squadron. The objective of our small force is to ward off any abyssal raiders, perform anti-submarine warfare, and, if an opportunity presents itself, destroy abyssal cargo ships. I highly doubt we'll find any convoys to raid as they are few and far between and from our submarines' reports the ones they do find are heavily guarded.

The abyssals have been active in the area we are patrolling. Just last night a cruiser action had taken place, thankfully no one was hurt and the abyssals were driven off. It wouldn't surprise me if we got into a skirmish tonight. I hope we don't find any submarines. Finding a submarine in the day is difficult enough but you can spot their periscope and have a chance to avoid their torpedoes. At night, sonar is your only chance. That's why we have adopted a Diamond formation it gives us the best coverage for both sonar and radar.

I can see how tense the others are and despite the dangers that could be lurking in the night I've always enjoyed it. The beautiful night sky always takes my breath away and with us being so far away from the cities it's breathtaking. Someday, I'm going to paint a starry night sky.

"Still can't believe you like the night," Isonami muttered.

I smirked but didn't say anything. She probably didn't know I heard her and I see no reason to tell her otherwise. That's the usual reaction when I tell my sisters that I enjoy the night surprise and disbelief. I remember when I told Tatsuta about it. She asked me why I seemed so excited about a night patrol. I remember the look on her face when I told her, plain disbelief. That is a point of pride for me, I managed to crack her stoic attitude, much to her annoyance.

CRACK! BOOM!

Lighting arched across the sky followed by a deafening thunderclap. I could barely see through the rain as it started coming down, hard. A louder thunderclap followed and I shivered.

"What the hell, I thought it was supposed to be a clear night."

"Weather always has a certain degree of unpredictability but I've never heard of a storm forming so fast."

"This actually follows a pattern."

"How so?"

"Ever since the abyssals showed up the weather has become far more unpredictable and violent."

"So now the abyssals control the weather, fantastic."

"I'm not saying they do, but maybe them showing up has something to do with it."

"Enough. Interesting as that is we are on patrol and about to enter a storm. Stay alert."

"Ma'am."

"Understood, Tatsuta-san."

A wave crashed into me and I shielded my eyes from the saltwater. Another wave crashed into me and I shivered slightly from the cold water.

"Stay close!" I waved crashed into Tatsuta and she glared at the ocean as if it had wronged her.

I made sure to keep Shinonome and Ayanami in my peripheral vision. The storm continued to get worse and the waves tossed us around. A wave crashed into my chest and my balance was thrown off. I quickly righted myself just as another wave blinded me for a second. I cleared my vision only for another wave to crash into me. I closed my eyes and when I opened them another wave smashed into my port side throwing me to starboard. I frowned and tried to correct my course only for another wave to crash into my port quickly followed by another slamming into my stern. I feel like the storm has targeted me.

"Shinonome, do you read!?" Nothing but static.

"Ayanami, Isonami, Tatsuta do you read me!?" Silence is my answer.

"Great, just great."

I raised my hand to shield my eyes from another wave. Another, far larger wave, nearly swallowed me whole. A lightning strike lit up the sky and my body tingled from the electric discharge. This was quickly followed by the roar of thunder and another lighting strike that looked like veins running across the sky. It was strange through the lighting seemed to be red instead of blue-purple. I blinked and it was gone.

CRACK! BOOM!

"AHHH!"

A massive red lightning bolt struck the ocean a few hundred meters ahead of me. My whole body tingled and I saw small red electric arks run up my legs. I grit my teeth from the pain I felt. The storm is getting more violent the longer I'm in it.

"This is not right, I need to get out of this storm soon."

There's just one problem, a thick fog has settled and I can't see anything further than one kilometer. For all I know this storm is dozens of kilometers wide and it could be even larger. The only real choice I can see is continuing my course heading into the howling wind. The wind has to be pushing two-hundred Kilometers pre hour so the storm is rapidly moving North. If I continue South that should limit the time I'm in the storm, hopefully.

I'm not sure how long I traveled through the storm. I was drenched from the pouring rain and the constant battering of waves. I shivered from the cold as it pierced my body. I swear the air temperature is getting colder the longer I'm in the storm. I rubbed my hands together trying to warm them up.

Slowly I noticed the storm easing up. The wind slowed, the rain lightened up, the waves weakened, and the cold subsided. The dark clouds slowly turned to a dark gray, then gray, and finally a light gray as they slowly parted. Sunlight began to peek through the clouds and while the seas are still rough and the wind is still blowing its not as severe as it was.

I sighed in relief, "Okay, now to contact Tenryu. Tenryu, do you read? I was split from the force by the storm." Static.

"Tatsuta, do you read?" Nothing.

"Shinonome, Ayanami, Isonami please respond." Silence.

"Tatsuta do you-Ha, prey," a voice echoed.

I snapped around and trained my guns and torpedoes in the direction that voice came from. I couldn't see anything and my radar is clear.

"Tatsuta, Tatsuta please respond."

"Asagiri? Where are you?"

"Oh thank god. I was separated in the storm. I'm sending you my coordinates. Please get here."

"We are on our way."

My radar picked up a contact at maximum range. I snapped my guns to the location but couldn't see anything. I checked again and the dot is holding position. A cold shiver ran down my spine as I slowly backed up. Then it picked up another contact right next to the first and the blips started moving. A laugh echoed across the ocean followed by a voice that seemed to come from everywhere at once.

"Yeeeeeeees, the hunt... begins."

"Tatsuta..."

"What's wrong? You sound shaken."

"There are two contacts out here with me. My radar has them but I can't see them. Please, hurry."

'HEY!'

I looked to port and squeaked in fear as a blade came down on my head. I jumped backward and the blade crashed into the ocean with a geyser of water. A single blood-red eye glared at me, blazing with hate. I stood frozen as I stared at this... monster. In its right hand is a jagged blade that's as tall as I am. Its left hand is a shark and its mouth is filled with razor-sharp teeth. Its beady red eyes seem to burn. Its rigging is a twisted black mass that sits on its back and it pulsates periodically. Long, dark tentacles are wrapped around its arms, citadel, and legs. It lacks the dark armor they wear exposing its pale white skin.

I trained my guns at its citadel, "What the hell are you!?"

"...I'm you." With an inhuman scream, it charged me. I jumped backward and then rolled under its next swing. I turned to face her and leaned back to avoid its sword and I felt it graze my neck. Instead of following through it brought the sword back and hit me with the hilt. I staggered to port and a burning pain spread across my chest. I ducked under the next swing and rushed her. I hit her with a left hook followed by a right. It caught my next swing and pulled me closer before it headbutted me. I jumped out of the sword's effective range and fired.

BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM!

Two shells hit its citadel but the other two were cut in half by the sword and exploded harmlessly. I fired again and it jumped over the shells while bringing the sword down. I got behind her and kicked her in the stern. It felt like I kicked a battleship. She turned around with a quick slash and I felt the wind off of it. It closed to where the sword is useless and punched me in my citadel. The air in my lungs was forced out leaving me gasping. It slashed across my citadel leaving a deep wound that burned.

I staggered backward and fell to my knee. Tears ran down my cheeks from the intense pain. I pulled my hand away from my chest... and saw red... so much red.

"Pathetic," it snarled.

CLASH!

I felt sparks rain down on my face and a large sword slipped into my vision.

"Get her out of here." With that, Ayanami shot off kicking up a rooster tail of water behind her.

I groaned and forced myself to stand. I grit my teeth and held my bloody hand to my chest. "Asagiri!"

I waved Shinonome off, "I can still fight and sail, don't worry about me." The look she sent me told me everything I needed to know but she nodded anyway.

"We need to get out of here."

"What about that," I pointed to the abyssal that Ayanami is fighting.

"Worry about that later. Multiple abyssals are closing in on us. The weather has forced Kaga to ground her planes. We're falling back to the fleet."

"Alright, lead the way."

"Ayanami! We're retreating!"

BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM!

"They're closer than we thought. Increase speed, ahead full," Tatsuta ordered.

"Ayanami! You can fight it later! Come on!"

I didn't hear what she said put a second later she appeared beside me with her sword. Worry is written across her face and I gave her what I hope to be a reassuring smile.

"What was that thing?"

"Some type of abyssal we haven't seen before."

"Like the demons?"

"No, that thing is not a leader," she ran her fingers across her sword, "It's good with a blade I'll give it that."

"Ayanami, when did you get a sword?"

"...I don't know."

"Fuso do you read?"

"Go ahead Tatsuta."

"Asagiri engaged an unknown abyssal and has heavy damage. We are being pursued by an enemy squadron. Stand by for combat."

"Understood."

CRACK! BOOM!

"Come on, I thought the storm passed us."

"It did."

"Then where did this one come from?"

CRACK! BOOM!

"LOOK!"

"...No way."

I looked over my shoulder, okay now the blood loss is getting to me because it looks like they summoned a storm. I blinked, and I blinked again, the storm is still there. It started to swirl and shrink before it disappeared taking the abyssals with it. I stared in shock for a moment. I shook my head and rubbed my eyes and when I opened them the storm is still gone.

I looked to Ayanami and Shinonome, "You saw that, right?"

"...Yeah. So the abyssals do control the weather... Huh."

"I don't think they can control the weather."

"Then how the fuck do you explain what just happened!?"

"Enough. As interesting as that was we have more important things to worry about. Asagiri, how are you doing?"

I hissed, "I can still fight, although, I'm more of a liability than an asset."

"Hm, Ayanami stay with her. Shinonome, Isonami you are our escorts. If you pick something up or you think you see something let me know."

"Ma'am."

"Understood."