Author: Three more chapters to go before the story ends. Four chapters if you count Chapter 31 which is a short epilogue. I think I'll put an OC shikikan/commander in the next chapter to comment about what's going on in Iron Blood and the Royal navy (shikikan is probably going to be in the Royal navy).
The events had taken an interesting turn...
Bismarck from the Kriegsmarine awkwardly sits with Graf Zeppelin in the naval base's bar. This Graf Zeppelin is much different than the one she knows, especially she couldn't help but notice the huge pair of "fuel tanks".
"So you are the Bismarck from another world, huh. What a refreshing sight..." Graf Zeppelin nodded
"Re...freshing?"
"I expected another version of our Bismarck here to be dignified and serious but an outspoken and lively one is more welcome"
"Uh...danke?" Bismarck isn't sure if it's a compliment
"Now if only my counterpart cursed the world and not love coffees like you said" Graf Zeppelin sighed
(Coffee lover Graf is better than the nihilist one...) Bismarck thought
"Your Tirpitz, what was she like?"
Since they're talking about counterparts, Graf Zeppelin curiously asked about the other version of Tirpitz.
"Tirpitz isn't really that different from yours here. She sounds sad when talking about her fate, she doesn't actively socialize, and her eyes look cold. I got along with her because I know how to warm up that stubborn heart of hers. No matter the world or universe, Tirpitz is still Tirpitz"
Bismarck fondly and warmly describing Tirpitz caught Graf Zeppelin by surprise and this made her smile for a moment. She thought Bismarck might complain but the result is the opposite.
"You took a liking to our Tirpitz, huh. You'd make our Bismarck here jealous"
"Heh? Really? Tirpitz keep saying their relationship is not that close. Though she did say that even if the Bismarck here seems distant, she respected and loved her sister"
"Huh. Sounds like our Tirpitz alright"
"Well, I'm glad it looked like they're a bit close now. Tirpitz seems to be happy when talking to her" Bismarck crossed her arms
"Ever since her experience in your world, Tirpitz did change a bit. I guess she really did take a liking to you"
"At first she didn't like me so I didn't like her but I found out she's like my Tirpitz so I got through her. Because she's like my alternate younger sister"
Graf Zeppelin is glad that at least that Tirpitz grew close to Kriegsmarine's Bismarck and vice versa. It's not everyday Tirpitz would try and make friends with other people.
"Aaaaah...! Leipzig, a whole mug of pure beer"
Admiral Hipper walked into the bar looking awfully exhausted just by hearing her the moment she walked in. Before Admiral Hipper takes a seat, she noticed the Bismarck from another world and the Graf Zeppelin here.
"That's the Admiral Hipper here. She has a sharp tongue and she insults you when she likes you"
"Oh, so she's a tsundere like the Japanese call it" Bismarck laughed
"Who the hell are you calling a tsundere?! Just because you're also Bismarck-"
Admiral Hipper stopped her words when she noticed where Bismarck is looking at. The German battleship couldn't help but notice the "smooth" chest that can be compared to an aircraft carrier's flight deck.
"You're like our Kasumi and Ryuujou combined and became a German heavy cruiser"
Bismarck rubbed her chin, describing her as the certain destroyer and light aircraft carrier making Admiral Hipper look like she's about to cry.
"Don't worry. With enough dedication and determination, you'll grow a healthy pair like the Hipper in my world" Bismarck tried to cheer her up
"I refuse to believe you're Bismarck"
Admiral Hipper refused to see the battleship in front of her as another Bismarck since her personality is greatly different than the one leading Iron Blood. Just then, Roon followed by Friedrich der Grosse walked into the bar.
"..." Roon briefly looked at Bismarck and frowned before walking away
(She doesn't like me at first sight...)
"Oh my~ You're the other Bismarck! Which means you're also a daughter of mine!"
Without a second thought, Friedrich der Grosse grabbed Bismarck and tightly hugged her to the point of suffocation. Hearing her difficult breathing, Friedrich der Grosse controlled her affection and released Bismarck.
"I'm from another world...just to be clear..."
"I know that but no matter what timeline of universe, a daughter is still a daughter"
(This Battleship Princess like woman thinks I'm her child! At least she's less angry and murderous than Battleship Princess)
"I wish I could visit your world so I could meet my other daughters!"
(They'll probably think she's an Abyssal and run away in an instant...) Bismarck couldn't say it out loud
"Just imagine all the motherly love I can give them!" Friedrich der Grosse grabbed Admiral Hipper who tried to sneak away
"Y-yeah..." Bismarck awkwardly smiled
She just to agree while looking at Admiral Hipper being tightly embraced by Friedrich der Grosse whose strength is being deceived by her affectionate and loving nature as a "mother".
Later...
Ever since arriving, KC Bismarck spends more time with Tirpitz more than the Bismarck in Iron Blood. Then again, Bismarck thinks the German shipgirls in the current world is clearly different from the ones in her world.
"Tirpitz, what's with the Germans here? Graf Zeppelin is a nihilist, Hipper is a tsundere and Deutschland is a sadistic bitch!" Bismarck complained
"I warned you before the ones in Iron Blood will be different than the ones in your world" Tirpitz sips her coffee
"I really have to find the others and go home. I miss the coffee making Graf Zeppelin..."
Bismarck looked like she's about to cry even if she's only been in the Iron Blood base for no more than two days.
"My sister is gathering information whether your comrades had been sighted. We'll find them and help you get home" Tirpitz reassured her
"I'm glad we met each other or this might have turned out differently"
Bismarck is relieved that she was spared because Tirpitz immediately recognized her and Iron Blood's Bismarck remembering their brief encounter. Upon being captured by the other Iron Blood members, Bismarck already knew they're not too friendly with strangers.
"I met earlier who you call Roon. It's my first time seeing a shipgirl who didn't exist yet exist"
"They're experimental shipgirls. They weren't built and commissioned like the rest of us. They either existed as blueprints or they never existed at all" Tirpitz, described the research shipgirls
"She gives this hostile and stay away from me vibe. I don't think she likes me"
"Roon can be unstable and dangerous but she's loyal to Iron Blood and wouldn't hurt anyone unless you provoke her"
"How about the other one? The huge one with a pair of horns"
Bismarck mimick having horns by using her two index fingers and placing them on the side of her head.
"That would be Friedrich der Grosse. She's stable but she treats everyone like her children, including me and my sister"
"No wonder she hugged me and squeezed me..." Bismarck rubbed her shoulders
"My comrades here are a bit hostile to outsiders but they're good people once you get to know them. Yes, they were good people..." Tirpitz spoke solemnly
"Tirpitz?"
"Sorry. I reminded myself a sad memory from that time. Don't mind what I just said"
"Right..."
Tirpitz laughed and dismissed what she just said but Bismarck is both puzzled and concerned for a moment to why her demeanor changed when she spoke solemnly.
Meanwhile...
Still within thick metallic walls, Prinz Eugen continuously hum a cheerful and easy-going sounding tone. She is aware of the events that transpired yet remained quiet inside her prison, enjoying every moment of peace for herself. That is until she hears slow rhythmic footsteps closing in, echoing in the empty hallway. The footsteps stopped in front of the door with one small sliding window.
"...?"
Prinz Eugen slightly frowned until her eyes recognized the figure that entered her cell and the fact she's surprised to see that figure made her smile, filled with excitement and curiosity. Bismarck closed the door behind her and gazed at Iron Blood's traitor with a disappointed expression.
"Oh? You finally decided to pay me a visit. How nice of you"
Ignoring Prinz Eugen's usually sarcastic and taunting way of speaking, Bismarck takes one deep sigh before she starts her conversation with her.
"What's going on, Prinz Eugen?"
"What do you mean?"
"The Bismarck from another world showed up and so did the rest of her friends"
"Oh that? Must be a miscalculation on the Siren's part since you didn't see me drag some outsider" Prinz Eugen's shrugs her shoulders
"..."
"Relax they can go home the same way they got here but you have to get the cube back from Tyrant. That is if you can push her into a corner again"
"What do you mean?"
"You were only able to gain the advantage for a moment because she was weakened enough when that savage Abyssal fought her for days. Since she regained her strength by now, you wouldn't be able to seriously injure her again".
Prinz Eugen sounds confident and certain that Bismarck won't be able to gain the upperhand the next time she faces against Tyrant.
"Besides, deep inside she would never kill you. She's holding herself back even if she says she's going to kill you" Prinz Eugen pointed
"She's holding herself back you say..."
"Tyrant is still Tirpitz, you know...but"
"But what?" Bismarck clenched her fists
"She's mostly Tirpitz and a bit of Bismarck. She did absorb Bismarck so a part of her consciousness is inside the Code and that piece of consciousness managed to share some memories which caused a certain someone to hallucinate"
"Why did you side with Tyrant, Prinz Eugen? You are a ship of Iron Blood who swore to protect our nation yet you betrayed your own comrades!"
Bismarck is extremely loyal to her nation and has great trust to her fellow Iron Blood comrades. The fact that one of her comrades betrayed the nation she swore to protect genuinely hurt and angered her.
"To protect this nation, huh? The truth is I'm not loyal like you or everyone else but I still fought under Iron Blood. I just fought without thinking of this nation but for someone important to me within this nation" Prinz Eugen responded
"..."
"Even my past self, the old Prinz Eugen agreed to that. I have no obligation for this nation other than humans made me exist this way. Unfortunately, they forgot to instill loyalty while at it. So a backstabbing and deceitful heavy cruiser became a result"
Prinz Eugen doesn't regret her actions the least and it's clear she has no intention of repenting or even redeeming herself. This is what she chose to do without regret and she follow through her decision to the end.
"But just to be clear I'm not working for the Sirens. I'm working for Tyrant who chose to trust me knowing what kind of person I am. Then again I was perfect for the job since I'm just good at double-crossing people"
"Then why did you side with Tyrant?"
"Because we are after the same thing and the what we wanted to protect is similar. That's why it doesn't matter even if I am branded as a traitor"
Prinz Eugen didn't reveal her entire intentions but Bismarck saw how Prinz Eugen is willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish her goal.
"So is there something else you want to ask aside from why I betrayed? Because if you're thinking of redemption then you know it's impossible for me" Print Eugen grew bored
"I'm aware you won't ask for forgiveness. I'm just disappointed you would sully the name of Iron Blood"
"Hahahaha. Trust me you're going to experience something much more personal than this one"
"What's the supposed to mean?" Bismarck frowned
"..."
Prinz Eugen smiled deviously, the heavy cruiser went silent and left Bismarck in suspense, teasing and provoking her at the same time. Normally, she'd leave but she need to get more answers from Prinz Eugen who is in an unusually good mood right now.
"I'm saying betrayal hurts the most when it's from someone you don't expect"
"Are you saying another will betray this nation?"
Bismarck, who hated betrayal the most, restrained her anger when Prinz Eugen implied of another traitor other than her. She doesn't know whether she'd believe the words of a traitor and a liar.
"Maybe, maybe not"
"..."
"If it helps, I didn't betray Iron Blood because I hated this nation. What I did is necessary...a necessary evil deed. You can say the same thing for Tyrant" Prinz Eugen lost her smile for a moment
"Why is that?"
"Tyrant...or Tirpitz's others self isn't as loyal or as dedicated as you but she did care about everyone here, especially her dear older sister. You were the original Tyrant and she was just a replacement"
"I'm the original Tyrant...?"
Prinz Eugen is briefly surprised Bismarck isn't aware but remembered only Tirpitz knew about Tyrant's background.
"I was there when you, as the original Tyrant, died. After waking up from the Siren's madness, Tirpitz realized what she had done while held your dying body"
Prinz Eugen stood up and as her eyes glowed brightly, she stretched out her hand and touched Bismarck's head.
"Let me show you, Bismarck..."
Sharing her memories with Bismarck, Prinz Eugen had Bismarck the event where Tirpitz replaced Bismarck as Tyrant. She was present but she merely observed it.
"T-this is..."
Before Bismarck's eyes is another her, the appearance is exactly like hers but her attire is slightly different. Tirpitz, who couldn't stop crying, is comforted by the future Bismarck embracing her.
"Prinz Eugen, what is this?!"
"The moment your beloved younger sister became the new Tyrant. The moment where all her suffering started"
Right before her eyes, Bismarck witnessed her future self transferring the Tyrant Code to Tirpitz who accepted the burden as her own now. Bismarck saw how her future self is close to dying and Tirpitz refused to let go of her even after the transfer is complete. She then listened to the two future counterpart's conversation
"Bismarck, does the afterlife exists for us?" Tirpitz stopped crying
"I don't know. We don't have the same kind of soul as human does. What makes our soul is our mental cube"
"I see..."
"Even so, we are alive...and we are all living beings"
"Then after all of this and if there is indeed an afterlife for us...I will join you there"
"Tirpitz..."
"Will you wait for me by then?"
"I will wait for you like how you kept on waiting for me...my younger sister"
Shortly after that conversation, Tirpitz bursts into tears again while a dying Bismarck still comforted her.
"A part of me will stay by your side, Tirpitz. I was...never there for you...but this time...I'll always be here for you"
It was the moment where Bismarck let Tirpitz absorbed a portion of her damaged mental cube. After Bismarck's last deed, she closes her eyes as her body begins to disappear, unable to maintain her physical form anymore.
"Don't let our nation and our comrades...fall into this future. I believe you will not fail...in finding her...so our last chance may be saved..."
Those were Bismarck's last words before her body completely disappeared, leaving Tirpitz alone once again. With Bismarck again, Tirpitz broke down and screamed her grief and loss. She couldn't do so earlier because she doesn't want Bismarck to see her in such state. The younger sister who never expressed her sadness and pain finally let it all out after a long time. She cursed at the sky and repeatedly hit the ground, unable to contain the emotions of sadness and grief.
"I will fulfill my promise to you. I will definitely accomplish your goal, even if I have to sacrifice everything and everyone. No matter what it takes, I will accomplish it..."
Tirpitz, still pained by her grief and loss, tightly holds her promise to Bismarck. The promise she will fulfill no matter what it takes. It was what's driving Tyrant this whole time. After that scene, Prinz Eugen released her hand and Bismarck from the memory.
"It's because of you she's not stopping and hell-bent on accomplishing her goal" Prinz Eugen sighed after revealing
"It was because of me"
"The love of a younger sister for her older sister can be a terrible thing, huh"
"Prinz Eugen..."
"Her goal was not the destruction of Iron Blood but to preserve it. In order to do it, she eliminated the future Iron Blood since they stood in her way. She was willing to kill the future even if it means protecting the past and creating a new future"
"She sacrificed the future for her goal..."
"I wasn't planning on revealing it but you do have to know sooner or later. She is still your younger sister"
While Bismarck processed the memory shared to her, Prinz Eugen observed how Bismarck will react to her being aware of Tyrant's true goals.
"Tyrant will do what it takes to fulfill her promise to you and you're trying to kill her when it was all because of you"
"Then was I wrong all this time?" Bismarck's voice shook
"I didn't say you were wrong but Tyrant still loves you as her older sister that's why she couldn't kill you when she always had the opportunity to do so. That's why I said love is terrible thing"
Bismarck turned her back away from Prinz Eugen, preparing to leave her prison cell without even responding but she stopped when Prinz Eugen had something else to say.
"Tyrant is already beyond saving but she's satisfied now you shouldn't hesitate to put her out of her misery. For your younger sister's sake, don't hesitate"
"I'm aware of that. That's why I promised myself I will take down my own younger sister the moment she strayed from her path" Bismarck responded
"I wonder if you can say the same thing after all of this"
Bismarck heard what Prinz Eugen had just said but ignored her as she left the prison cell. Unknown to her, Prinz Eugen warned her on what's to come and she must be prepared for it.
Later...
With her eyes closed, Prinz Eugen listened to a "voice", smiling at what it is telling her.
"I see..."
She giggled and from another person's view, she would look like she's talking to herself when she's talking to someone who is communicating via a private link.
"I understand"
She nodded, complying and confirming she understood the unknown instructions given to her.
"Yeah. I'll set the plan in motion...and then the ending we've both been waiting for"
The communication quickly ended and just about two hours after Bismarck's visit, Roon paid Prinz Eugen a visit as well. She hated the heavy cruiser's betrayal but she wanted to speak to her.
"Oh look, you're here too. Why am I not surprised..."
Compared to Bismarck visiting earlier, Prinz Eugen didn't showed the least excitement in seeing Roon again ever since the incident.
"Did you come to point out how you were right to suspect me all this time?" Prinz Eugen raised an eyebrow
"Why did you surrender so easily?"
"I don't have intention of going back to the Sirens so I decided it's better here"
Prinz Eugen looked away when she responded, reluctantly answering Roon who is clearly never in the mood for Prinz Eugen's games.
"Besides, this will be over soon and I wanted to see the ending from this side"
"What do you mean by that?"
"Isn't it obvious? It's going to end soon when the past and the future settle it once and for all. For sure this time"
"You sound so sure..."
Suspecting of Prinz Eugen scheming something again despite being imprisoned, Roon glared at her, anticipating Prinz Eugen will do something else to Iron Blood other than betraying it like she already did.
"I may be Prinz Eugen but I'm also a Code so be sure to not take me lightly. I don't like people underestimating others and get shocked afterwards. I'm not saying I'm really strong though"
Prinz Eugen put on a proud smug much to Roon's annoyance but she tries her best not be violent to Prinz Eugen since she's not allowed to harm her.
"By the way, is Tirpitz still not doing anything?"
"What do you mean?"
With a sly smile, Prinz Eugen raised her hand and for her eyes changed to a bright golden yellow color.
"You-!"
Roon's defensive instincts kicked in the moment she sensed danger, just at the sight of Prinz Eugen about to do something with her eyes changing color and all but she is unable to prevent her action in time...
"...?!"
An explosion rocked the surroundings and immediately alerted the nearby shipgirls. Before they could come, Prinz Eugen stretched her arms, relieved to be freed after a few days of being contained.
"Finally. Now to get things started"
Before leaving, she briefly looked back at Roon who is left heavily injured and unconscious after being caught in the explosion within pointblank range. Luckily for Roon, she's a durable and resilient heavy cruiser or she might have suffered worse injuries.
Bismarck's office...
Cooperating with the other nations, Bismarck confirmed of "outsiders" other than the other Bismarck. There's two in the Eagle Union and six in the Sakura Empire. The report stated of Sakura's Nagato encountering an unknown fleet with someone else who claimed to be Nagato from another world.
"Are you going to send someone to the Sakura? The other Bismarck is sure excited to meet her friends again"
"It's either I'll escort the other Bismarck there or I'll have them be escorted here. While the Sakura is willing to help, they are stuck here because of our ordeal with Tyrant"
"Taking responsibility, huh. It's so like you"
"I am both taking responsibility and repaying my gratitude to that Bismarck. It's been a while since I saw Tirpitz that happy"
"Aw~ What a loving big sister"
While Friedrich der Grosse felt like crying tears of joy after seeing Bismarck smile because she's glad her counterpart took care and made Tirpitz happy went she went messing.
"I'm surprised you're not jealous of the other Bismarck being close to our Tirpitz"
"..."
"Oh, you are jealous"
"That is nonsense. It's immature and pointless to be jealous over another version of me being close to my younger sister"
Bismarck shook her hand and returned to reading the report about the Sakura Empire's encounter with the unknown fleet from another world.
(I wonder if their Nagato is small too...)
For a moment, Bismarck thought of something "childish" but quickly brushed it off. Thankfully, she didn't say it out loud or Friedrich der Grosse might have teased her again.
"Did you learn something from Prinz Eugen earlier?"
"...I did" Bismarck admitted
"From the looks of it...she did reveal something else"
"I learned about Tyrant's goal. I learned she will do what it takes to fulfill the promise she made to my future self"
"That's unexpected from someone siding with the Sirens"
Friedrich der Grosse didn't expect for Tyrant to actually be driven by something like a promise. She thought she's just like the other Sirens who just wants to toy with humanity.
"I was the original Tyrant but before I passed away, I had Tirpitz become the replacement. That's what caused Tirpitz's future self to become Tyrant"
"Why would your own future do that to future Tirpitz"
"I don't know but Tyrant won't stop until she accomplish the goal related to why my future self died"
"After knowing all of that, will you still stop her?"
Friedrich der Grosse wondered if Bismarck will hesitate to take down Tyrant after learning of her motivations from Prinz Eugen.
"It won't change. I will take down Tyrant for she is beyond saving. That Code is no longer the younger sister I know..."
"I see..."
Bismarck clenched her fists when she declared that there's no hint of the Tirpitz she knew within Tyrant. She just saw Tyrant as someone like a lingering shadow. Bismarck could no longer recognize Tyrant as her younger sister Tirpitz so she will not hesitate to take her down.
"Emergency!"
While the two were silent, a panicking Z23 burst into the room and immediately shouted at the two, startling them for a moment. The exhausted destroyer panted and struggled to speak.
"Pardon...for the intrusion...but it's an emergency"
"What happened!" Bismarck immediately stood up
"Prinz Eugen...she...she broke out and seriously injured Roon!"
"What?! Where is she right now!"
"She's about to escape to the open sea!"
Without a second to lose, Bismarck rushed out of the office and Friedrich der Grosse followed since is curious and shocked at the turn of events. While Bismarck is running to where Prinz Eugen is, she is blocked by the other Bismarck.
"You are a nuisance. You're not as annoying as the Bismarck here but you certainly are annoying!"
Prinz Eugen opened fire at the unnecessary nuisance right before her. Unfortunately, despite being Bismarck from another world, this one isn't weak like she's expected. Then again, KC Bismarck is battleship who fought the monstrous Abyssals and repeatedly survived every single day.
"Are all Bismarcks this annoying?!"
She yelled her frustration when Bismarck almost landed a blow but being a Code too, she's much stronger than a regular shipgirl.
"I don't know what you're up to but I won't let you get away"
"You don't even know who I am!" Prinz Eugen shouted
"I don't care but if everyone here says it's bad if you escaped then that's enough reason for me"
"You are...on another level of stupidity"
Prinz Eugen felt genuine irritation when KC Bismarck tried to stop her because everyone else is trying to stop her. She doesn't even know her intentions of why she's trying to escape yet the battleship stood in her way. Someone like that is completely stupid in Prinz Eugen's eyes.
"That's as far as you go, Prinz Eugen!"
AL Bismarck arrived the scene, KC Bismarck holding Prinz Eugen long enough for AL Bismarck to catch up.
"Good job keeping her here" Bismarck from Iron Blood nodded at her Kriegsmarine counterpart.
"Uuh...you're welcome?" Kriegsmarine's Bismarck isn't certain what to feel
With two Bismarcks standing in her way now, Prinz Eugen had no time to play around since she has more important things to do than deal with the two.
"I really hate being serious but that person isn't going to be happy if I take too long"
"That person? Who are you referring to?" Iron Blood's Bismarck demanded to know
"The same person who told me to finally told me to act!"
Prinz Eugen released her Code, finally displaying the strength she'd been meaning to use against Bismarck. She isn't the type to take fighting seriously but Prinz Eugen is clearly not in the mood for being casual. right now.
"The hell?! She just transformed! She looks stronger now" Kriegsmarine's Bismarck is shocked
"She's a Code like Tyrant. She can use the power of the Sirens, to be specific she's using the power directly made by the Creator" Her counterpart responded
"I will not play with you two this time"
Prinz Eugen fired a barrage and another, reloading and firing much faster than her old self. This forced the two battleships to focus on evading than counter attacking Prinz Eugen because of the storm of shells.
"Who the hell is she and why does she want to get away that badly!"
"That's our Prinz Eugen and she betrayed Iron Blood so I had her imprisoned" Iron Blood's Bismarck responded
"She's completely different from the Prinz Eugen in my world. I mean ours won't certainly betray the Kriegsmarine and she acts all girly" Kriegsmarine's Bismarck couldn't hold back her shock
"Well, ours is someone who didn't hesitate to backstab us"
After the countless rain of shells, Prinz Eugen stopped before her main turrets could overheat. Both Bismarck took this opportunity and returned fire but their shells are easily evaded by Prinz Eugen's forcefield. Not a single one reached and the moment she stopped blocking when the battleship salvo stopped...
"...?!"
The Bismarck from Iron Blood came charging at her at full speed and drove a sword right to Prinz Eugen's abdomen, piercing her without hesitation.
"Bismarck, you-!"
Angry at being stabbed, Prinz Eugen constructed a bladed weapon of her own and stabbed Bismarck but her attack only struck Bismarck on the side of the abdomen. Prinz Eugen then knocked away the two Bismarck with a powerful shockwave. The injury may not be fatal it did cause damage to Prinz Eugen.
"If you had stabbed my heart then it would have been over. You're truly soft even towards a traitor..." Prinz Eugen called out
"..."
"Hahahaha. This is why it will hurt so much once you experience that"
"...?" Iron Blood's Bismarck isn't sure what she's talking about
"You really should have gone for the-"
To silence Prinz Eugen, Kriegsmarine's Bismarck threw her sword at full force, a move highly unlikely and completely stupid even for her. Unfortunately, she missed the heart by a a couple inches but the sword went through Prinz Eugen's body. It makes one wonder how strong is Bismarck's arm strength.
"You threw your own sword? Here I thought you wouldn't be stupid enough..."
Both attacks from both Bismarck showed that it weakened her but not much.
"I guess...both Bismarck...are terrible at aiming"
She quickly removed the sword that had pierced right through her chest, grunting as she pulls out the blade with one hand. After throwing the weapon to the side, Prinz Eugen remained standing and surprisingly alive.
"She's not that easy to take down, huh" Bismarck from the Kriegsmarine smirked
"She's stronger than a regular shipgirl so even if you go all out, it won't be enough to kill her"
"...?!"
Before the fight could resume, Prinz Eugen widened her eyes as she is alerted. She turned her head back for a moment. The two Bismarck, confused for a moment, soon learned why Prinz Eugen turned around while in the middle of fight.
"Good grief. She really is not in the mood right now..."
The Bismarck from both the Kriegsmarine and Iron Blood looked at each other, wondering what Prinz Eugen is mumbling about. While she keeps talking to herself, the two battleships opened fire taking the distractions as an opportunity. Shocking them, Prinz Eugen stops the shells midway, in suspended animation by using her forcefield.
"Just...stay down already"
She redirected the shells right back at them, sending them two times faster than when they fired it at her, landing direct hits. Both took equal damage but Bismarck took the last incoming shell when she saw her counterpart bleeding and moderately damaged.
"No time to rest!"
She yelled at her counterpart from the Kriegsmarine, displaying her tenacity by remaining standing and capable of fighting even with a direct blow.
"How cute"
With a slight push and a boost from the energy from her Code, Prinz Eugen knocked away Bismarck from Iron Blood and did the same to the one from the Kriegsmarine.
"You two are no longer in the condition to fight or to go after me so this is the moment I take my leave"
With both of their bodies and rigging damaged, Prinz Eugen judged the two Bismarck could no longer properly fight her, let alone pursue her. Being a heavy cruiser, she's much faster than two so fleeing from them won't be difficult now.
"I hope to see you two again soon. I enjoyed seeing you two fight together~"
Prinz Eugen admitted she felt joy and excitement facing against the two different Bismarck even if she knew she can win from the beginning since she's not the regular Prinz Eugen.
"Eugen!"
Bismarck from Iron Blood screamed at the top of her lungs as her body sustained too much injuries for her to pursue the fleeing Prinz Eugen.
"We'll see each other soon, Bismarck when those decides to settle their path. Before then, get stronger so you may take down this traitor of Iron Blood"
Prinz Eugen briefly looked back at Bismarck, winked at her, anticipating their next fight which she hopes Bismarck will no longer hesitate to sink her as a traitor. After Prinz Eugen's small rampage and escape, everyone focused on accounting the injured and structural damages while Tirpitz looked on, narrowing her eyes as if she's unhappy.
"She left quite the damage and escaped, huh"
Her older sister had to be treated immediately along with the other Bismarck due to battling Prinz Eugen herself. While they're still both unconscious in the infirmary, Tirpitz walked away from the scene but stopped when she saw Friedrich Der Grosse cross her arms with a stern expression.
"You look angry"
"I am disappointed. One of my children hurt others. What's worse, Prinz Eugen is indeed a traitor. It saddens me as a traitor"
"Not everyone is loyal. Everyone can betray someone else if they see it fit or necessary" Tirpitz frowned
"You're not angry at Eugen then?"
"I'm angry at her for making such a mess at dealing such a blow to those two. I wish I could have dealt with her before she escaped"
Even if Tirpitz expressed she wished she had confronted Prinz Eugen, Friedrich der Grosse saw how Tirpitz is indeed angry but she's the least angry among everyone.
"Where were you earlier?"
"I was in my room and by the time I realized what's going on, Z1 alerted me that Bismarck ran after Prinz Eugen. Though if I was there, I don't think I could bring myself to attack Eugen"
"Attachment, huh"
"Something like that"
Tirpitz just shrugged her shoulders and left the scene, ending her short conversation with Friedrich der Grosse with little anger on her expression. Friedrich der Grosse found it difficult to tell if Tirpitz is restraining her anger or she's just not that angry compared to everyone else
EXTRA
Prinz Eugen had successfully escaped Iron Blood territory after confirming of the current situation there so Tyrant, who had regained her strength, started to move again. She currently stays in an anchorage, surrounded by Sirens. For Tyrant, their presence is a nuisance with Observer Alpha sending them to keep an eye on her. Besides, she disliked soulless humanoid Sirens watching her move.
"This is why I don't like being with other people. Eugen, how did it go?"
She opened the direct link to Prinz Eugen, the communication line she always use to check on her "accomplice's" current status and to make sure she's doing what she is told rather than slacking off.
[I got stabbed in the chest twice but other than that I'm perfectly fine]
"I didn't ask about your current condition" Tyrant frowned
[Geez, you should show a bit more concern on this hard-working heavy cruiser. I'm doing my best for you and do as you say, you know]
Prinz Eugen's upset and underappreciated tone didn't faze Tyrant since she knew Eugen is being sarcastic again and is teasing her again.
[I managed to confirm it so there shouldn't be any problem on our side. The Sirens however...]
"Observer would never notice it no matter how manipulative and strict she is. Like the other Siren models, she's flawed because of their Creator"
[That's true. The perfection their Creator sought could never be reached and our Creator understanding and accepting the flaws of all things is the reason why she split herself away]
"I could never understand why she chose to be with humanity but if that is her happiness then I will respect it"
[By the way, where is she right now? Observer said she is in the other world]
"She's not wrong. Our Creator is in the other world but her exact location is classified"
[Did you manage to give the coordinates?]
"It's not time yet but I will entrust it to her soon. First, I must face-off my alter ego one last time"
[I'm genuinely worried if things will change now. This is the last chance for humanity]
"It will change. This is why we made so sacrifices and made this far. If we fail...then I will just have kill everyone in Iron Blood to spare them from the suffering before it happens. That way...everyone can still be saved"
Tyrant's second option if they fail their only chance made Eugen swallow her breath, silently alarmed when she heard Tyrant deciding to just kill everyone since dying before the suffering as she saw it as another form of "saving".
"Hmm?"
[What's the matter?]
"The Royal navy is here..."
[Do you want me to go there?]
"No, you have your own duty. Rendezvous with the Captain while their attention is on me"
[Jawohl]
The communication ended with Tyrant changing her current attention from her task to the Royal navy who managed to track down the far away Siren base.
"They brought their aircraft carriers. In that case, I'll just have to use mine..."
Tyrant left port, bringing the prototype cube made by her Creator. While it serves as a container for the machine she uses to open a rift to another world, Tyrant has another surprise in it. While she had never used it ever since arriving in the past, she wanted to fend off the Royal navy.
"Fairey Albacore and Fairey Barracuda squad spotted several Siren ships and - huh?!"
Victorious yelled out in shock that it made her Royal navy comrades simultaneously look at her.
"What's the matter?" Prince of Wales is worried
"My aircrafts are being intercepted...by Supermarine Seafires and Hawker Hurricanes! They're our planes so why am I being attacked?"
"I think I know why. Victorious...the enemy has your ship!"
Glorious is in disbelief and so it everyone else but it's what Glorious' reconnaissance aircrafts spotted. The one controlling the darker version of the HMS Victorious aircraft carrier looked at the aircrafts let it spot her.
"It's Tyrant. Somehow, Tyrant has your ship...and controlling it!"
"I don't know if it's our lucky day or bad day. We can corner Tyrant here...but she had a surprise for us" Duke of York giggled
While the surface ships begin the surface combat with the Sirens who came to intercept them, Tyrant watched things from the aircrafts. Not only she can launch and control them like the real Victorious can but she can also sense and see the battle through them.
"This will buy me enough time. I don't like using this but-!"
She didn't get to finish her sentence when aircrafts from both Glorious and Victorious broke through, Albacores and Barracudas launching their payload but did little to no damage due to Tyrant being a durable Code.
"They got rid of my fighters, huh. Well, I guess Victorious got angry I used her planes against her..."
Only the aircrafts broke through but the surface ships are kept busy by the mass produced Sirens. That's what Tyrant thought until an exhausted Victorious managed to get to her. Tyrant isn't much surprised since both sides are busy shooting at each other.
"Victorious..."
"I finally got to you, Tirpitz!"
"...?!"
"You may be Tyrant but to me you are still Tirpitz!"
"How did you - I see, my past self must have told you..."
Compared to facing everyone else, Tyrant has little to no interest in open firing at Victorious because like Victorious said Tyrant is still technically Tirpitz. The only difference is Tyrant is a version from destroyed future so her experience changed her personality.
"Victorious, I don't like fighting you so I suggest you go away. Talking me out of this is useless"
"There you go again being stubborn and pushing me away! Future Tirpitz or not, you're still a blockhead!"
"..."
"From one look in your eyes...I know you lost everything and you're barely pushing yourself to live"
Victorious sensed Tyrant's loss and sadness as she saw someone who might as well be dead at this point. Seeing how Victorious guessed correctly, stirred old emotions in Tyrant's heart.
"Please stop this. Don't do this anymore. You're hurting everyone in Iron Blood and you're hurting yourself..."
If possible, Victorious hoped that Tyrant will listen to reason, she hoped the battleship would at least listen to her. If Tyrant remembered her past then there's a chance that she would calm down and listen.
"I can't stop. Not yet. I can't afford to fail now when I'm so close to end this! To end this miserable life!"
Tyrant burst out her frustration but quickly stopped herself from shooting her main guns at Victorious at the last second. No matter how angry she is, if it's Victorious standing in front of her...she couldn't bring herself to hurt her again.
"Don't make me hurt you again...please. I don't want to go through that again..."
Tyrant bit her lip and put both hand on her head, her old emotions surfacing again when an old friend stood before her and tried to save her. Tyrant's words and another version of her ship manifested made Victorious realized why someone who looks indifferent and cold started becoming emotional.
"In your future...you killed me, didn't you?"
"...?!"
"You lost yourself and you ended up taking out everyone around you"
It is clear Tyrant is beyond saving and it's impossible to make her surrender and turn around but Victorious still doesn't see her as an enemy. All she saw before her is Tirpitz who went through a lot and lost herself as a result.
"If only I remained the way I was before...this wouldn't hurt so much. If only...I didn't learn what warmth is..."
Tyrant felt regret changing because she came to "realize" that it was because she learned to be happy that sadness hurts so much to her. Victorious wanted to reach out to Tyrant again, determined to save what's left of the "Tirpitz" she knows but a third party interrupted them. Shell's opened fire between them and a pale white figure with a pair of horns stood before Tyrant.
"It took me a while to find you. Do you have any idea how many Sirens and Abyssals I have to slaughter? You're
"I remember you. You're that Beast...who was altered by my Creator's prototype cube" Tyrant recognized
Tyrant quickly returned to her old grim and serious self when the other Tirpitz who is in the form of a "Beast" looked back at her. Right now, the Beast is not the Tirpitz she faced but the Beast itself but in a somewhat altered form thanks to the cube somewhat altering her to a degree.
"Did you mutate?"
"Thanks to having the cube for quite some time, I did...but that's not important right now"
"Why are you here?"
"I promised that lingering ghost inside you to not interfere but that only applies to between you and the other me"
"What do you want?"
"For you to get out of here. If you continue be like a depressed human teenager, they will get you"
Tyrant looked at her for a few seconds then at Victorious who looks completely puzzled at terrified at the Beast's presence but she doesn't know who she is.
"What are you up to, Beast?"
"I just want to get back to my world with the troublesome Bismarck and the others. Feel free to do as you wish with your comrades since I don't like being dragged into someone's problems and most importantly, having Bismarck and the others be involved"
"I admit it was a mistake dragging them here but before everything ends, go bring your comrades back with you. They don't have to meddle in this mess"
Tyrant brings out a different version of the cube she always uses. It was like cube black with the block slightly sticking out.
"It's the same type I use but I took it from the someone who stood in my way. I don't really care what Bismarck's remnants told you but I don't like the likes of you standing in my way. Though you're slightly interesting because of how my Creator's cube altered an Abyssal like you"
Tyrant prepares to leave, letting Beast serve as a block for Victorious so she wouldn't follow her. Before she leaves, she retreated the manifested ship back into her cube.
"Tirpitz, you can't just leave! We're not done yet"
Victorious sounds like she wants to fight her to stop Tyrant from leaving but Tyrant is certain Victorious can't bring herself to directly attack her just as she would never fight her.
"If you go through that Beast then feel free to go after me"
Victorious shook while looking at the hostile pale white humanoid figure with a pair of horns and glowing red eyes. Since Victorious doesn't want to bomb Tyrant she helplessly watch her leave while the Beast blankly stares at her. The stand-off between them didn't even last for ten minutes and neither side attacked the other.
"You may not be like my Victorious but Victorious is still Victorious"
"Your Victorious? Don't tell me you're-"
"Next time if want to fight someone in a cold weather, go wear proper clothes than a curtain over your underwear"
"It is you! Only that other Tirpitz talks like that and insults me this way"
"You figured it out. Good for you. Now it's for me to leave like that Tyrant"
"Wait-"
"I have no reason to stay here other than to wait for her to get away"
The Beast sneered and scoffed at the confused Victorious seeing how not only the other Tirpitz changed in appearance but in appearance as well. She doesn't view this monstrous from of the Kriegsmarine's Tirpitz so she reluctantly let her get away.
"Aaaaah! I'm going to get scolded by her majesty for letting the two of them get away!"
Victorious scratched her head in frustration and sobbed, thinking that she might regret letting both Tyrant and the Beast leave like that just because one of them is her Tirpitz and the other is the Tirpitz from another world.