Author: The story will reach its end soon. Chapter 30 will be the end of the story so it will be a long chapter.
I got 2 Amagis in Azur Lane (which I don't need because I already worked hard to get her in the original run of the event) while I got a French Saint in FGO.
I keep asking myself if I should continue...
I'm already exhausted. I've done so much to keep going, forcing these tired body and soul that I mustn't die yet.
That's right.
I still need to hold on for a little longer. It will be over soon. My plan will come to an end and they will stop me...but I have already accomplished what I originally came for. I did everything I could to realize your last wish my dear older sister. Even someone like me who accomplished nothing and was forgotten in the past ironically accomplished one thing for once.
It made me happy.
Because for once I managed to achieve something and this gave me a sense of "pride" that you always bear, big sister. I could no longer smile, I could no longer cry...for these tears and happiness have vanished a long time ago. I lost the humanity that was the foundation of my existence.
I gave it all up.
"Tirpitz" had been nothing but a shallow existence because "I" was no longer that person. Everything who I was once before...had vanished just like how I erased Iron Blood and everyone who ever saw through this frozen heart of mine. I killed and destroyed because it's the only way I could let go of the "future" that was beyond salvation.
"I'm already tired. I wish I could close these eyes and slumber for eternity..."
I solemnly wished for the day I could finally stop walking this path to come soon. I know it will come soon but I'm already tired. I'm already tired of carrying this burden and all the sins I committed.
"Eugen...do you still want to continue after this?"
I asked the only person who accompanied me into this path. She's the only one who followed me when everyone else stood against me. She has her own goals for agreeing to follow me into this path but perhaps it was out of pity. She looked at me with sorrowful and sympathetic eyes and I responded by closing my eyes and exhaling shortly.
"What is there to fight and live for?"
Sitting on top of one of my turrets, the traitor of Iron Blood embraced her legs and looked up at the unnatural northern lights caused by the Siren's rift opening.
"There's nothing for us to go back to..."
She spoke with genuine sorrow and her expression...more exhausted than I am. Both of us had nothing to return as our timeline was beyond saving and I destroyed what's left of my "past" there.
"Besides, we already accomplished our goal right. All that's left...is to finish what we started" She continued
"That's right. It's to end this...once and for all..." I agreed
As if I still have lingering attachment, I grabbed Bismarck's coat of arms and gently rubbed my fingers on it. This was the symbol of the proud Bismarck, my older sister who lead Iron Blood for the sake of its future.
"Sooner or later Observer will realize the reason why she can't extract the coordinates from you"
"It's no longer with me. I already passed it to who I intended to since the beginning" I answered
"Will it be different this time? This is our last shot in securing our future. If [Destroyer]'s main body is eliminated then there will be no one left to restrain the [Creator]"
"I know myself. I will make sure that person will protect the coordinates this time" I tried to sound confident
I looked at her but Prinz Eugen is already tired of hoping and despairing. There was little joy in her eyes and every time she returns to her old self, she was just reflecting on her own past. She no longer bears the carefree and playful nature she always had.
"This is one of those times where the antagonist will meet its end, right? It's always like this. The good guys of the story always gets to dictate the end"
As if tired of the "heroes" always winning in the story, Prinz Eugen sighs and pouts. I didn't say anything but I can agree that this world is living in a fantasy where the one who's always on the side of "justice"...always comes out victorious.
"It doesn't matter if this world is like a fairytale. We don't belong into this timeline" I let out a sigh
"That's true..."
"Besides, we're not living beings"
"We're just living things, right?" Eugen bitterly laughed
I don't acknowledge we're on the same term of "living" as a human does. We're not living beings...just living things. Even Prinz Eugen acknowledged and accepted that.
(...but)
Deep inside I wished to experience "living" like a normal human. I wished I could be born just as a normal human but the concept of "reincarnation" is but a myth to this world just like the concept of God's existence.
"I want to know one thing..."
While thinking about the world and living itself, Eugen jumped down from the turret she was sitting on and leaned her back near the bow.
"Why are you going so far for Bismarck? Bismarck was sort of a good leader but not a good sister, so why do all this for her sake?"
"Eugen, remember what I told the other Tirpitz what I wanted?" I tried to remind her
"If I recall, your answer was to change something"
As if realizing what I meant when she looked into my eyes, Prinz Eugen sighs and crossed her arms. I know that look of hers. To her, my true goal was foolish and naive one...and I think so too.
"What I want to change is between Bismarck and my past self. I want the two of them to be sisters. For Bismarck to realize she cares about her younger sister and my past self realizing she respects and admires her proud older sister"
"Was that your reason for throwing your past self to the other world?"
"Yes. There was another Bismarck there so I connected the rift for my past self to immediately meet the other Bismarck. I thought perhaps my past self would realize Bismarck does love her by meeting another Bismarck who loved her sister as well"
"You actually did that on purpose. I thought you did that out of a whim" She seems genuinely surprised
I revealed my true intention to why I bothered dragging my past self to another world which wasn't part of the plan. That includes doing the same to the other Tirpitz.
"Unfortunately, the other Tirpitz was...miscalculated. Bismarck was immediately hostile, forcing the other Tirpitz to leave" I admitted a small mistake
"I see. So you swapped the two Tirpitz hoping your past self and Bismarck would come to a realization. Well it did work. By isolating and trying to kill your past self, Bismarck became more of a big sister"
Prinz Eugen laughed, clearly finding my true motive for this whole situation to be amusing.
"That wasn't just my true motive. I have another" I told her
"What's that?"
"I was buying time for the past month"
"Buying time? For what?"
From the beginning, I've been trying to put the Sirens off course and distract them from accomplishing my only goal. I have no plan on revealing it even to Prinz Eugen but since the ending has been set...it's only right for this unusual companion to learn this as well. I opened my hand, a small cube manifesting at my palm. The floating pint-sized object projected a map with a small blinking dot.
"Tyrant, don't tell me that's the coordinates. Her coordinates..."
Shocked at learning of the current and exact location of [Destroyer], Prinz Eugen couldn't help but smile.
"Destroyer is in the other world which is why the Sirens are trying to perfect multi-dimensional travel. Travelling from one timeline to another is one thing but travelling to another universe...is another matter"
That's right. Sirens can easily travel to different past and futures of this world but they haven't tried travelling to a different universe.
"This is just a copy and I already replaced the real one with a fake. I'm sure she should discover the coordinates soon...but I will no longer be there to see the end"
"Tyrant..."
"I'm beyond saving, Eugen. I'm too far again with the sins I committed..."
Even up to this day, I can still hear their voices. The voices of the other Iron Blood ships whom I slaughtered without a hint of emotion. One by one, they fell before me and I only blankly stared at them. I bear that sin and I never regretted that decision. The future was beyond saving so I just put them all out of their misery.
"There's a chance that in the end, Tirpitz might not want to kill you"
"That's why I worked so hard for this past month. So my past self will not walk the same path as I did. That's why I tried to discourage her countless times"
"When you repeatedly beat Tirpitz when you first showed up, all of that so your past self might change her mind about fighting?" Prinz Eugen seems surprised
"That's why I threw those harsh and cruel words. I want my past self to stop being naive"
"Well, she certainly changed for the past one month. You made it sure she would never want to be like you"
Prinz Eugen realized the reason why I showed the outcome of my sin is to slap the reality on my past self. I want her to look me in the eyes with nothing but utter disdain and rejection. I want her to engrave this bloodstained future in her mind so she may walk away from it.
"All of this so Bismarck don't have to get herself killed and me replacing her..."
I put her with so many hardships so many times, showing her the ugliness of her future. The Tirpitz in this timeline must realize that once she sacrifices something...there is no going back. That one sacrifice will lead to another and it will all become a burden then a sin forever tainting these hands.
"You don't have to go out and get yourself killed like Bismarck did in our timeline"
I closed my eyes for a moment, Prinz Eugen surprising me with words trying to convince me sway away from my decision to let my own life come to an end.
"You seem to have forgotten. Tirpitz died the moment Iron Blood fell by my hands. Tirpitz would never turn against the nation Bismarck swore to protect but as Tyrant...I threw it all away. Even Victorious fell..."
"You really won't listen to reason anymore, huh"
Eugen looks disappointed that I lost hope to myself...that I no longer think that someone like me could still be saved. I've done so many things to hurt the people I call my comrades. I was the one who slaughtered them and I was the one who was helpless while my older sister died. I couldn't do anything for them so I accepted this burden...as I head to a path leading to a living hell.
"Eugen, there's something I noticed"
"What is it?"
"That body of yours..."
"Oh this? Don't worry, this is already my body. I will no longer play any more games, remember?"
Prinz Eugen giggled, caring very little that she decided to finally expose her true self. Well, at the very least she no longer need to restrain herself since she planned to get herself killed too. She was the one who betrayed Iron Blood so she wanted to pay for her own sins. For once, she wanted to take responsibility of her own action and I don't really mind that. My only problem is explaining it to the other one.
You're already exhausted...Tirpitz...
The moment I closed my eyes, I heard her voice. The voice of my sister who disappeared right before my eyes and her remnants absorbed within my mental cube. It's because I absorbed and merged what remains of mental cube that her consciousness still lingers within me.
"Big sister..."
Without the rage and madness induced by the Sirens, I calmly referred to her as my big sister again. I feel...embarrassed that I spat out venomous words of disgust and disdain.
"Are you angry at what I did to our past selves, big sis?"
Still with a blank and stern expression, Bismarck shakes her head and walked towards me. Within my own inner world, Bismarck's consciousness lingered but unlike before I'm glad to see her.
"I'm sorry for losing control of myself. I let the Sirens use me like a mad pawn. I destroyed everything you tried to protect"
I feel like I let Bismarck down for everything that has happened. I replaced Bismarck as the new [Tyrant] but in the end...I really am just a replacement. I can't be strong or great as Bismarck, the original [Tyrant].
I'm not disappointed in you, Tirpitz
"All my life I didn't achieve and accomplished anything. I existed but I was left alone...until I forgot my heart"
Even if you hadn't done anything in your life, I was proud to have a little sister like you. I don't care whether you have accomplished anything because you never let anyone tarnish your pride
"Big sister..."
The truth is...I wish there will be a future where we won't repeat the same mistake
"There will be one soon but I don't know if either of us will live to see it happen"
There's nothing left for me to do here because I already accomplished my goal so dying doesn't really bother me anymore. As if sensing this ever flowing sadness, Bismarck gently pressed her hand on my cheek and I shed tear...
My younger sister, there's one last request I will ask of you
Reluctantly, Bismarck looked at me informed me she has a last request. Learning what it is, O nodded my head and gently smiled at me. For a moment, I saw pride in her eyes like she was proud to ever have me as a younger sister.
"Eugen, there's one last thing I need you to do for me"
In relation to Bismarck's request, I asked Prinz Eugen who possessed a Code like me and whose Code has a link with mine. As foolish as my last move for my past self, I will honor Bismarck's last request.
Iron Blood...
Since yesterday, I feel like the mood around the base had grown heavier, specially around big sister. I didn't ask but I just observed how she looked so serious. The other day, when I came to her office, she was so focused on a paper with a code for a certain location, she didn't take her eyes off it.
"It's a map to the Northern sea or what the Norwegian sea in the other world"
I wonder what's with the coded whereabouts which is the Northern sea. It's in the far north and not all ships are suitable for the freezing sea and wind there. I hate to admit it but more than anyone, I'm the only ship suited for the north and it's harsh coldness.
"Hmm..."
Perhaps it's about Prinz Eugen since I've heard Graf Zeppelin and Roon talking that Bismarck's been tracking her ever since she escaped. I'm not sure whether it's unfortunate or not that I wasn't there when the two Bismarck tried to stop Prinz Eugen. Even if I was there, I don't think I can bring myself to attack her.
"Eugen..."
I wonder if she was really left with no other choice but to betray Iron Blood since when I last talked to her, it didn't look like she was wanted to betray Iron Blood because she wanted to. She was working for Tyrant so there must be a reason.
"...?!"
Suddenly, I was forced to lean on a wall for a moment a shocking pain course through my head. This has been happening since the last fight with Tyrant and it's gradually worsening. I didn't tell anyone especially to Bismarck since I don't believe they should be concerned with me right now.
"This cursed headache..."
Ever since the last fight with Tyrant, I felt like my mental cube had grown weaker and as a result, it could barely support this battleship body of mine. I didn't tell this to my sister or to anyone with the whole situation right now. Shaking it off right now, I went to see my sister who Z23 said wanted to see me.
"I heard you wanted to talk to me. Did something happen?"
After slowly entering her office, I asked my sister whose desk is filled with scattered papers and in the middle of it is a map she's been staring at.
"After three days, I figured out... Eugen's whereabouts"
"You haven't been sleeping again, have you?"
Probably for the past three days, she's been trying to figure out Eugen's hint for us to follow and she hasn't slept since then. I would like to tell her to at least take a nap but she looks volatile right now.
"This is fine. I managed to decipher her message and location"
"Where is that?"
"The northern sea..."
Using a marker, Bismarck circled a certain spot in the middle of a vast ocean in the north.
"That's..."
It's not just in the middle of nowhere, there's a small island there where Prinz Eugen could be staying. I wonder if she's still even there.
"There are Sirens around this island. I've confirmed it yesterday"
"So you're going to strike now?"
"Tomorrow by sunrise. I've assembled the fleet"
She handed me a piece of paper where she had formally assembled the shipgirls included in the next mission. The mission to confront Prinz Eugen who is within Siren territory.
"You're going to face Eugen now, huh"
"Yeah. Eugen will have to be punished for her betrayal to our nation" Bismarck clenched her fists
Still, I saw doubt in her eyes. She wants Prinz Eugen to pay for turning against us but she doesn't have any resolve to kill her. I'm not that surprised since she's soft towards everyone in Iron Blood.
With that reluctance, my dear sister...you are...
I shook off my head and stopped before I could finish my thought. Bismarck is my sister and it was only lately that I've realized even if she felt distant before, I respect her for her loyalty to this nation and determination to protect the fleet.
Yet with such foolish ideals...
If my sister were to learn of these repulsive thoughts, would she resent me? I wonder...
"Tirpitz, this time...we won't let Prinz Eugen betray us further"
"Because it hurts to see one of us turning against us?" I tilted my head
"Yes..."
To know there's a traitor who used to be one of is out there impacted Bismarck who asked nothing but loyalty to Iron Blood. Unfortunately, it doesn't work like that. My dear sister, we were all created in the same nation but we are given our own thoughts and wills.
"This is what happens when you don't keep an eye on someone" I sighed
"..."
"Eugen does as she pleases and never takes this seriously. She used that advantage of us being too relaxed and stabbed us once we turned our backs"
I don't want to sound like she's at fault, well I admit to myself that my sister is a bit loose when it comes to the fleet. She deeply trusts everyone and doesn't believe anyone is capable of betraying this nation. She believes comrades fight for each other and protect each other.
That will be her mistake...
It makes me wonder if she learned her lesson the moment Prinz Eugen freed Tyrant from being stalled. If she didn't, then she will have nothing else to blame but herself soon.
"If Eugen refuses to pay for her betrayal, then we will have no choice but to take her down. Even if she was once of us"
"Are you going to do it yourself?" I asked in a serious tone
"Yes. I will take down Prinz Eugen. I will take responsibility for letting her betray us"
"I see. Then I won't finish her off"
I have no intention of dealing Eugen with myself since I have nothing else to say to her.
...but then again
Perhaps there is something I want to ask Eugen one last time. I hope I do get to speak to her before Bismarck sends her to the bottom of the ocean.
"Big sister, I hope you learned your lesson from this"
Before I left the office, I left those words for Bismarck without looking back. She was silent but it didn't really bother me. I said what I wanted to say. I decided to head to my room and as soon as I sat on the bed, I took off my cap and gently pressed my two fingers on my chest.
"...?!"
A static and buzzing image suddenly disturbed my thoughts. That was so sudden I always let out a short scream since it felt like I was electrocuted. A moment after I calmed down, I found myself staring at Tyrant who's on her ship, somewhere in a snowy fjord. How could there be snow when it's not even winter?
"Let's talk once we face each other one last time"
She briefly turned her head back and an invisible force pushed me out of the vision. I saw Tyrant but she was different. For a moment, I sensed sadness in her. Behind those cold and unfeeling eyes was sadness...and exhaustion.
"That other me..."
I lowered my head, knowing that sadness was my sadness because we are the same person. Yes, I could no longer deny that Tyrant is both my other self and my future self.
Still...that is not the kind of person who I want to be...
For hours I just stayed on my room, exhausted all morning, helping my more exhausted sister. She was determined to hunt down Prinz Eugen who eased that by leaving an obvious clue. Still, I'm surprised it took her three days to figure it out.
"You never really told the truth why you betrayed us, Eugen"
Since it's already nighttime, I took off my uniform, starting with my gloves and cap. Then I lied to my bed and closed my eyes, drifting within my own consciousness. In my dream, no longer polluted by Tyrant's memories invading my mind, I stood by a field of flowers.
They're really beautiful.
The wind gently sways the different kinds of flowers beneath me, each of them making me smile. Yet in that same dream, I saw Tyrant again...but I was invisible to her. She couldn't see me as she stood, gently holding a flower in her hand.
"..."
My future who reached a "bad end" continued to stand silently but her eyes showed grief and sadness. Those are the eyes of someone who is painfully mourning...they were different from her usual eyes no longer fazed by anything, not even bloodshed.
"...?!"
To my surprise, when she turned around...she changed. What stood in front of me is Bismarck, perhaps not the same one I know here. This Bismarck looked injured, her appearance damaged and her coat of arms the same as the one Tyrant kept a reminder.
"Bismarck..."
She never said a word but she smiled at me, gently...but filled with sadness. To see my dear sister conceal her sadness with such gentle smile...concerned me even if the one right now isn't the real Bismarck.
"..." Her lips moved but no voice came out
She stretched out her hand and slowly let go of the flower in her hand, allowing the wind to carry it to me. Slightly confused, I reached out and caught the flower.
"Bis-" When I turned to look again, she was no longer there
As if the moment only passed instantly, the dream ended and I returned to reality. By the time I opened my eyes, it was already dawn, close to sunrise.
"The battle will begin"
Since I decided to join into this mission to take down Prinz Eugen, I stood up and readied myself. As I head to where my ship is anchored, I met Bismarck since both of our ships are beside each other.
"Big sister..."
"It's going to be alright. I made up my mind so I will no longer hesitate like before"
She say that but I still sensed doubt in her. I'm starting to think she never learned her lesson.
Again...that will be her mistake...
I followed her and the others as we departed, heading to the northern sea where an unusual winter had consumed a large area. Either the Sirens or Prinz Eugen is causing this blanket of snow and ice to protect themselves.
"She never really left since we last confirmed her presence here. What's going on with her?"
Graf Zeppelin's aircrafts confirmed Prinz Eugen is still in the island and never left for the past three days. While she finds it odd, I find it it suicidal. Prinz Eugen decided to stand her ground, inviting us to find her and fight her...one last time.
"All ships, prepare for combat! Our target is Prinz Eugen, so don't hold back!"
Moments before we are met by a barrage Siren artillery, Bismarck strictly reminded us. I just want this to end...
"You sure took your time preparing for this day, Bismarck..."
In the midst of battle keeping the others occupied, Prinz Eugen showed herself before Bismarck. Specifically targeting her while I watched the two.
"I will not allow you to escape this time, Eugen!"
"You're going to kill me then?" Eugen raised an eyebrow
"..."
"Well, I betrayed Iron Blood and hurt your patriotic feelings so there's that"
Eugen care very little about her betrayal and immediately opened fire, starting the fight between a battleship and a heavy cruiser. Bismarck's eyes seethed and is set on taking down Prinz Eugen but even someone as mighty as her, wouldn't be able to easily take down Eugen who is greatly enhanced by the Code installed within her.
"Eugen, why did you turn against Iron Blood? Why did you the enemy?!"
Bismarck demanded to know but Prinz Eugen is silent for a minute or two.
"Why...you ask? I was from the same timeline as Tyrant. I am the future Prinz Eugen after all, but I'm both the past and future right now. My betrayal was necessary to accomplish our goal"
There was no lie or deceit in those words. This time, Prinz Eugen is telling the truth that even I couldn't deny it.
"Iron Blood was exterminate by Tyrant who was manipulated by the Sirens back then. She simply wanted to fulfill her promise to you. I decided to help her because we wanted the same thing"
"A promise? What's that supposed to mean?"
"What else? To protect your beloved Iron Blood" Prinz Eugen giggled
"...?!"
"To protect Iron Blood means not letting this timeline fall into ruins. Tyrant knew if she wanted to secure a future for Iron Blood, she had to go in the same path as those two. In the end, she wanted to protect this nation in her own way"
Tyrant wanted to protect Iron Blood but with everything she had done, I can say it's a twisted form of loyalty towards Iron Blood.
"As for my betrayal? Well, I lost both my tsundere of a sister...and that interesting of a battlecruiser"
Speaking solemnly, Prinz Eugen expressed her sadness for losing Admiral Hipper and a certain someone.
"I wasted the days I had with those two. As a result, I was filled with regret that not even this smile can hide"
She lost her carefree and playful, instead it was replaced by a smile of someone who wished she could have done something sooner.
"Bismarck, you won't understand my loss and grief because it didn't happened to you yet"
"...?"
"The truth is...I wanted a future where I will no longer waste my moments with them. Where I could live carefree again without the fear of losing them right before my eyes"
Eugen lowered her head for a moment but as soon as she returned her eyes to Bismarck, her fighting intent had returned.
"I was childish and naive so the people I care about disappeared right before I knew it. I lost everything and regretted it like a goddamn idiot!"
Her eyes glowed brighter, releasing more of her power and unleashing all her main guns at once. Bismarck smacked one shell even the others struck her. Even if Eugen had gotten stronger, Bismarck is the strongest ship in Iron Blood.
"Even so...you betrayed us. You knew what will happen and yet you still did it"
Bismarck's had become less angry but she still can't accept Prinz Eugen for siding with the Sirens all this time.
"Bismarck, I will not ask for forgiveness. I threw away my loyalty to Iron Blood for the sake of Iron Blood. Nothing was accomplished without sacrifices"
"..."
"To achieve something, you must be willing to make sacrifices. My betrayal wasn't out of selfishness but out of sacrifice"
I tightly clenched my fists, Eugen sounding upset and frustrated since neither Bismarck nor I could understand why she would sacrifice her loyalty and betray us.
"I knew you would despise me. That's why I lead you here"
"So you're willing to stand your ground to the end? You're not going to yield no matter what?"
Bismarck tried to give her one last chance to be spared but Prinz Eugen smiled and chuckled at that thought. It was a futile question but I know Bismarck would want to spare her if possible. In the end, Eugen no longer saw it as an option...so she remained here to face is one last time.
"I will stand my ground no matter what. Even if I sink to the bottom of the ocean, Bismarck!"
The toothed head of her riggings where her main guns are mounted, silently roared and wildly opened fire but Bismarck sliced one shell to another. She charged through the barrage and before Prinz Eugen could distance herself further, Bismarck's sword managed to stab her through the side of her abdomen.
"Just aim for the heart already..."
Disappointed, Prinz Eugen knocked her away using the shockwave of her barrier. Bismarck managed to wound her but not enough to even significantly weaken her.
"...?!"
Before Prinz Eugen could recover, Bismarck immediately aimed at her and opened fire, most of her shells landing a direct hit.
"Damn it..." Bismarck clicked her tongue
She managed to scratch Eugen but the latter smiled as the attack is not enough to deal a large amount of damage. Normally, Eugen wouldn't able to withstand a direct hit from Bismarck bit this isn't the normal Prinz Eugen so I'm only slightly surprised.
"What's the matter, Bismarck?! Fire with the intent to kill! Shoot like your life depends on it! A fragile resolve like that will hurt you for what's to come!"
"What's the supposed to mean?" Bismarck frowned
Rather than responding, Prinz Eugen smiled and returned fire, quickly overheating her engines and boiler by firing and reloading at a rapid rate. They exchanged fire, chaos ensured between the two that if I were to go in between, I'd be blasted to pieces. Neither of them is fooling around. What I'm seeing is a real battle between two ships who belonged to the same nation.
"It means you should fight me to death because I chose to stand my ground for my pride"
Bismarck sighed and steeled herself, seeing Prinz Eugen's determination to fight Bismarck until one of them sinks. She won't run anymore... she's here to make her last stand.
"One of us has to die and it's either you or me, Bismarck. Shouldn't it be clear by now that it's too late for me?"
"Eugen, you no longer wished to listen to reason..." Bismarck realized that
Now that it became clear there's no point in trying to reason with Prinz Eugen, Bismarck takes a deep breath. She finally decided to fight Prinz Eugen with the intent to kill. For a while, she's trying to hold back hoping Prinz Eugen would withdraw or yield. There was little to no chance it would happen but Bismarck wanted to save her for a moment.
"I will respect your decision to make your last stand, Eugen! You may have lost your loyalty but never your pride"
Prinz Eugen held by her pride and honoring that unusual "sense of pride", Bismarck decided to fight her without hesitation anymore.
"Big sister..."
In the end, Bismarck still saw Prinz Eugen as someone who once fought under the same flag as her. I continued to observe the battle, Prinz Eugen expanding her energy more than Bismarck.
"Eugen!"
As Bismarck screamed out her name, she both foolishly and bravely ran towards the barrage of shells and a torpedo strike. She endured each hit on her... Just to successfully pierce her sword to Prinz Eugen's chest.
"You actually struck me...but I wonder...if you could do the same to Tirpitz...?"
Prinz Eugen pulls herself away from the blade that had presumedly pierced her heart and took several steps back. She took what I think is a mortal wound and knelt on one knee, her hand pressing her chest.
"What are you talking about this time?"
"Hahahaha...this world isn't a fairytale. A good ending where everyone is saved and happy is just a faraway dream"
"...?!"
"No matter how much you try...you can never save anyone. In the end, only disappointment and frustration awaits you, Bismarck. That narrow-minded thinking and foolish ideals is the reason why..."
Prinz Eugen raised her hand, her eyes glowing again and a satisfied smile on her face.
"I will fight to the bitter end. That's how we've always been...right, Bismarck?"
Even after being struck from a vital spot, Eugen continued to cling to life. She'll die soon but she won't spend her last moments waiting for it. Prinz Eugen wanted to use her remaining life to finish her fight with Bismarck.
"I have no more regrets. I've chosen this path knowing the consequences"
"I know..." Bismarck had accepted it
"Even if it was just for a moment...I was happy...just to see everyone, especially my tsundere sister"
"Do you want to leave any last words for her, Eugen?" Bismarck offered
"I have nothing else to say..."
With a content smile, Eugen mustered all her strength and returned to fighting Bismarck. Again, they started exchanging shells, Eugen knowing she would die anyway, didn't bother to block the incoming shells. She sustained one explosive shells to another.
"Eugen..."
Bismarck tried to stab her again to finish her off quickly but Prinz Eugen block her sword by letting her hand be stabbed instead of her chest. Screaming, she snapped the blade in half using the hand pierced by the sword and knocked away Bismarck with another shockwave.
"...!"
She immediately opened fire, landing a hard blow on Bismarck before she could regain her balance. Bismarck, being the too stubborn to die type, shrugged off the damage and charged again.
"Bismarck!"
Prinz Eugen screamed at the top of her lungs, seeing Bismarck run through the barrage of shells and in that instant, Bismarck drove the broken blade right through Prinz Eugen's neck.
"You may have won now...but you will lose something...and someone in return..."
"What do you mean?"
"Tyrant will be waiting for you and Tirpitz in a certain northern fjord where she was abandoned for a long time. Just like me now, she'll be there waiting for a last showdown"
"...?!"
"This time...Tirpitz should be the one to settle the score with her. After all, it has always been about the past and future. Their ending has been decided...and Tyrant had accepted it"
"What are you trying to imply, Eugen?"
"Hahaha...this is just the beginning..."
I could barely here what she had just said but I think I heard my name being mentioned. Bismarck started backing away when Prinz Eugen materialized her core, reaching a critical state.
"Haha...hahahaha! Long live Iron Blood..."
Prinz Eugen self-destructed after being engulfed an explosion of bright light. For a moment I thought the space around has been tampered. The brief bright explosion swallowed itself, like a vacuum and reduced into nothing. Eugen scuttled herself while Bismarck has no choice but to stay back to she'll be caught in the explosion too. It's like a vacuum explosion then implosion happened within a few seconds.
"She's gone..."
I approached the damaged Bismarck and looked at the scene up close. Not a trace of Prinz Eugen was left like she was swallowed by a black hole or something. I'm not really sure why she exploded like that.
"You won, big sister..."
Even though I said that, Bismarck doesn't look like she felt she had won. She was badly injured but she was the one left standing between the two.
"Bismarck?"
"...don't mind me. I'm just...exhausted..."
Bismarck stands up and reassured me, limping past me. Prinz Eugen have been eliminated and I can tell Bismarck is grieving for being forced to take down one of us, or at least someone who used to be one of us.
"It seems something worse is about to come...to us...to me..."
I sighed and worried after witnessing Prinz Eugen's final moments before she self-destructed moments before her death. She knew something but took that secret to her death. We don't know it and that made it worse for us.
What were you trying to warn us...?
Sakura Empire...
Having reunited with my allies, I felt much better that all of them are safe. The only problem know is how do we get back. The solution could be that Tyrant but I heard it's hell in Iron old right now and we can't interfere.
"Maybe I should have stayed there..."
I thought to myself but then again my Tirpitz here is, for some reason, sick and unconscious. I'm really worried the longer she stays unconscious. Well she woke up the other day but she punched me in the face and wildly attacked the others. She woke up earlier this morning but she immediately fainted again.
"Tirpitz, when are you going to wake up. You're making me worried here, damn it!"
I can't really help but feel anxious since this is the sister I protected and grew up with. A lot of things happened when we became shipgirls. She sunk while in Norway and came back acting weird. It turned that wasn't actually her and neither of us realized it until the damn old lady revealed to us.
"You're not dying again on me, you got that?!"
After I learned that the one who came back wasn't the same Tirpitz I know anymore...it didn't change anything. Tirpitz is my sister, whether she's an amnesiac Abyssal or a shipgirl with terrible socializing skills.
"You're a Bismarck class so you ain't dying like a wimp-!"
Just as I shouted that, Tirpitz opened her eyes and directly looked at me, frowning.
"Just...fucking shut up...for five minutes...!"
In a really annoyed tone, she grunted at me after immediately waking up. She may be angry for being woken up by my shouting but at least she's alright. She has a mysterious fever but she's still angry as ever.
"Tirpitz...!"
I hugged her as soon as she rose from her bad. Her fever had slightly gone down but she's still not in the condition to physically strain herself.
"Ugh...! My head hurts. What the hell happened to me? Last time I remember I was trying to get away from Sirens..."
She shakes her head and massaged her temple, feeling a bit confused right now since she wasn't fully conscious when she first woke up.
"I'm not really sure. The Sakura girls here said you were badly injured and tried to attack them. They brought you here when you calmed down"
"I think I remembered seeing some cat girls and I was so confused and tired at that time I started hallucinating" Grabbing her coat at cap, she shakes her head
"Ah no, you're not hallucinating..."
"Heh?"
"You really did some cat girls..."
Her eyes are wide in disbelief just like me when I saw the Japanese shipgirls here are a adolescent degenerate's dream come true. It took a about half an hour to explain that we're in the world of the other Tirpitz and that everyone here is very different. The Germans are what the internet youth would call "edgy" and the Japanese here are like the one you'd see in an "anime".
"Japanese cat girls, huh. That explains it..."
"What do you mean?"
"I thought I saw something really weird. I couldn't really remember all but I was so confused that I just attacked on sight"
"Ah. So that's why you attacked us..."
Since Tirpitz had a high fever the other day, she couldn't think straight and as soon as she saw someone who didn't look like a regular human, she immediately attacked them...including me.
"By the way, you keep saying something about a cube when you were trashing around. What was that all about?"
"Cube...cube...ah!" It looks like she remembered something
"What is it?"
"Was I holding one when I was found?!"
In a panic, she grabbed my shoulder and shook me. That cube must be really important to her for her to immediately panic.
"Y-yeah. You were holding it and refusing to let it go. We had to pried it off you and that's when you started attacking us" I explained
"Where is it?!"
"Nagato has it since she's the one who managed to take it from you"
"Where's Nagato now? Take me to her"
I really don't know what's going on with my sister who slightly recovered from her fever but I agreed to take her to Nagato who is currently with the Akashi of this world. They've been trying to study it but to no avail.
"Nagato! And some weird cat...?!"
Upon seeing Nagato and Akashi continue examining the cube, Tirpitz rushed and breathe a sigh of relief after seeing it undamaged.
"Tirpitz, you're already up? Maybe you should rest a little" Even Nagato is worried
"Sorry. I had to rush because of this. I got worried this might have been damaged or something"
Tirpitz took the cube from the greedy green cat who tried to grab it back but Tirpitz held her down.
"Do you know something about the cube? You were really holding into it? It took me and the Enterprise here to take it off you"
"Tyrant uses a cube to travel between world. I managed to get one from her before you guys found me"
"How?!"
Surprised that Tirpitz encountered Tyrant, I rushed because I got worried...again. It seems like there's something she wanted to say but she can't.
"How did you survive that bastard and the Sirens by yourself? You were badly wounded but they all healed within hours"
Tirpitz's hand shook as if she's scared to respond to Nagato just being worried.
"Did something happen to you?" Nagato calmly asked
I can tell my sister is hiding something but I didn't mention it because of our situation right now. She wanted to answer is but she's holding herself for some reason. Something did happen to her and she's too scared to tell us.
"I really don't know. I encountered Tyrant but she didn't kill me or anything. Instead, she tossed me the cube and told me to go home"
"For real?!" I was surprised
"This our way to return to our world but I'm not really sure how to use it"
"Well..."
Akashi cleared her throat and went in the middle. This greedy cat had better say something other than scamming us.
"I managed to get it working but it needs to recover its energy for it fully open a rift, nya" The cat answered
"What energy?" I asked
"It's natural reserve. It has one but I might have accidentally used half of it when I tried to open it and see if it had ant valuable components inside...nya..."
"You greedy cat!"
Furious, I grabbed the green cat of the ground and shook her vigorously until Nagato stopped me and forced me to put her down.
"D-don't worry. It will fully replenish its energy in two to three days, nya" Akashi hid behind Nagato
"I see. In that case, we just have to wait for it" Nagato side
"Nagato?"
"We now have a way to return home and all we need now is for it to recharge. We should discuss this with the others now"
"Fine..."
As I agreed, Tirpitz nodded her head. Just like Nagato said, she gathered all of us to talk about our ticket back home which will take a few days to work.
"That's great!" Iowa, who arrived late celebrated
"At least we can go home now. I don't know how long I can last with destroyers avoiding me" Ark Royal feels relieved
"I'm going to miss the food here" Akagi dropped her shoulders
"At least I enjoyed chasing the Yuudachi here, poi"
"You ended up biting her ears, Yuudachi-chan..."
Everyone is glad they could finally go home but I sat here, the only one not in the hurry to go back to our own world.
"Is there something wrong?" Tirpitz asked
When she noticed, the others did as well. They all looked at me confused since I'm not the only one who is celebrating right now.
"What's with the face?" Kaga raised an eyebrow
"Look, I want to go home too but I know I can't leave the other Tirpitz here just yet. Oh and that bastard too"
"Why is that?" Nelson asked
"I want to properly say goodbye to that other Tirpitz. It may only be short but I felt like she was one of us"
I don't want to leave until I get to say farewell to the Tirpitz in Iron Blood. I don't want just to leave without a trace. At least I want her to know we're going home now.
"I just feel like It'd be rude to just you know leave without even letting her know"
Everyone had spend time with the other Tirpitz as well and as they looked at each other, they turned their attention to Nagato.
"Fine. Since everyone here had the same thought"
Nagato sighed and agreed which is probably because of what I said? Tirpitz just smiled at me and gave me a thumbs up.
"Everyone can agree to that. The other Tirpitz was like a part of our fleet during the one month and stayed with us. It's only proper we should say farewell to her"
Since Nagato is the leader of our fleet and this group right now, she decided since everyone had the same thing in mind.
"R-really?!" I'm surprised
"Well, we still have two or three days, right? Before we go home, you can say what you want to say to the other Tirpitz" Nelson smirked
"I haven't really formally met my counterpart here so I want to meet her again and say my goodbye too" Tirpitz added
"Besides, it's only natural to say what we want to say before leaving because they will be sad if we left like that" Shigure added too
"Yeah. Because we will really miss her, poi"
I'm glad everyone shared the same thought as I have. Seeing this little extraordinary adventure and experience will come to an end soon, I can't help but smile. I'm really going to miss meeting other shipgirls in this world and getting to know their world here.
"Tirpitz?"
While I was thinking on how I first met the other Tirpitz and ending up here, I noticed my Tirpitz looking uneasy.
"I'm just a bit dizzy. I'm going back to rest..."
She shakes her head and immediately leaves the group. She is still not in full conditions but she's pushing herself. She really should rest for a while now and wait till she fully recovers.
(Just a moment ago...)
The others didn't notice it but I did. Just when she turned away before leaving, I think I saw her eyes turned red and fangs akin to a wild animal. I think I'm just seeing things since Tirpitz isn't feeling well right now.
(Screw this)
I've started worrying again and went after her but along the way, I encountered the Takao of this world. She's sort of a dog but she acts like what the Japanese call a "samurai", an ancient warrior who is known to value honor and loyalty.
"Oh? Bismarck-san, is something the matter? You look like you're in a hurry"
"I'm just looking for my sister. She quickly left and I'm trying to find her"
"Did something happen? Don't tell me you two had a fight"
"It's not like that. She isn't just feeling well. I don't always worry over a little thing but it can't be helped..."
I leaned on the nearest cherry blossom tree and gazed up, watching it's short-lived life. I sighed when thinking about Tirpitz who still makes me worry even after becoming shipgirls.
"Do you...want to talk about it?" She reluctantly asked
"Well, I'm a bit protective of my sister right because of what happened in the past"
"What exactly happened"
"A few years ago, my sister Tirpitz sunk. When a shipgirl sinks, they become Abyssals. I fought her as an Abyssal and I was forced to sink her"
"To fight your own sister is a difficult thing for older sisters like us. I sometimes fear that if my sister Atago steps out of line, I will have to draw my sword against her"
Oddly enough, Takao understood my dilemma as an older sister worried for her younger sister. Well she's the lead ship of the four heavy cruisers while there's only two of us in the Bismarck class.
"I thought it would be the end of it but she relapsed into her Abyssal state again. She was stuck in an in-between state. She keeps shifting between shipgirl and Abyssal"
"Then what happened?"
"There was another fighting and thankfully for me she returned to her old self"
I sighed in relief when Tirpitz returned as her normal self. At least that's what I want to think. Sometimes she acts and speaks differently that I wonder if everything went alright after our last fight.
"While my situation as not severe as yours, there are times where I had to go against Atago. We sometimes get into fights because of how strict I am and because of how...aggressive she is"
"Well it's normal for siblings to fight. Sometimes we have to call out each other's shit" I giggled a bit
"Are you still afraid that your sister might become one of those monster again? I've seen and fought those Abyssals and I can't imagine that your sister was like that"
"I'm still afraid. I've seen her as a monster and it broke my heart seeing my own little sister bear her fangs at me like a feral beast"
I clenched my shaking hands, remembering the Beast bound within the cold north where she was abandoned and left to rust in the past. I don't wish to see Tirpitz as a monster who degraded into nothing but a feral beast.
"...but ever since meeting the Tirpitz in this world, I feel a bit relieved. Somehow my fears and worries eased up...and I feel like it's going to alright this time"
"It's better than worry all the time. Your little sister might worry about you in return. Trust me, it will be troublesome if sisters worried about each other at the same time"
"Yeah..."
I laughed a bit, glad that I was able to freely talk about the worry I had for Tirpitz because of what happened in the past. There's no point in overthinking this. I should just be thankful she was in one piece when she was found.
EXTRA
No longer detecting Prinz Eugen's presence as it had completely vanished, I indirectly observed the battle and then I closed her eyes as soon as Prinz Eugen scuttled herself. In the end, she chose to quickly destroy herself, preferring to go out with a bang.
"A flatline, huh. Eugen, in the end...you chose to self-destruct..."
I closed my eyes for a minute or two before reopening them as if I'm mourning the loss of her only companion. While Eugen annoyed and bothered me a lot, I do enjoy her lively nature. Of course I didn't tell her that I find her amusing and entertaining. I don't regret not telling those words to her.
"You said you have nothing else to you but even that was a lie. You lied to yourself in the end..."
I'm a bit unhappy she refused to let everyone know about her feelings for her former allies and towards the older sister she secretly admired. You agreed to observe Iron Blood like you're still loyal them not because I ordered you but because you wanted to reunite with Hipper even for just a short amount of time.
"Prinz Eugen has been eliminated by Bismarck. Now it's your turn to eliminate me, Tirpitz. That is...you have enough resolve to make a sacrifice"
This black tattered cape with the symbol of Iron Blood on the back gently wave from the cold breeze of the frigid north. Now that I think about it, I resembled my sister more than I resembled myself so Tirpitz mistook me as Bismarck.
Then again...
I'm somewhat merged with Bismarck so to a degree, I'm a bit of Bismarck. It's just that she's nothing but lingering consciousness within my Code now.
"No wonder Eugen keeps poking at my appearance and full black attire"
Oddly enough, I recalled the times she keep joking about I begun looking like Bismarck. Who knew shortly after her death I'd start missing her. As I think whether it was right for me to allow her to get herself killed, an uninvited guest arrived.
"Your Prinz Eugen was eliminated just like that. I thought they'd fight to the death but she ended up scuttling herself instead~"
Cheerfully sitting on one of my turrets is the Siren's favorite frontliner, the Siren Purifier. She had been silently ever since I escaped the closed dimension and now she chose to reveal herself.
"Would you look at that? You're still alive" I said in a clearly displeased tone
"I've been watching what's been happening since Observer told me so. Honestly, I wished I was there to see your friend to boom"
The moment she laughed at how Prinz Eugen chose to self-destruct, I have the sudden urge to shove my sword to her face. It's been a while since I've been this upset.
"Observer isn't making moves recently"
I tried to sound so suspicious even though I shouldn't be since I'm already prepared for the Sirens taking advantage of the upcoming assault in this fjord.
"Beats me. I just do what I'm told"
Purifier tilted her head, acting all innocent even if she's anything but innocent.
"Like it would matter anyway. I have to deal with Iron Blood soon"
"Will you try to get yourself killed to?"
"I won't die. Only this body will die..."
I implied something to her. The implication should be obvious to her, unless she takes it too literally.
"Unless you're here for something important, get off my ship and get out of this fjord"
"What a meanie. I just came here since you're being too quiet~"
She pouted as she prepared to leave but her childish behavior is clearly more annoying and less tolerable than Prinz Eugen. She just from the deck and floated into the sky, giving me a smug look before exiting through a portal.
"Fortunately she's not smart enough to know that troublesome girl is in my ship. If it was Observer of Tester, they would have sensed something is wrong"
I looked up at my ship's bridge where I'm keeping "that girl" for the time being. I'll have to move her before the battle begins but I have to make sure neither the Sirens nor the shipgirls will find out soon. She will play a part in the future which is why I made sure she didn't die.