Betrayal on Another Sea

by Ark Shiranui

Six months has passed since leaving Iron Blood, Tirpitz is now working with an unknown group of Sirens. When old allies from Azur Lane pose a threat to her plans, she prepares to face them but also finds herself up against a certain shipgirl from the Maizuru fleet. (CHAPTER 31: END)

30. Checkmate?

Author: Since this is finally finished (not really since there's an Epilogue for the next chapter), I can focus on the one-shot story focusing on Enterprise. There will be a really short "omake" that doesn't belong in either AL or KC in the next chapter. Epilogue will be uploaded in a few days.

Whether this is an acceptable ending...is up for interpretation.

Also, if you reach this far I sincerely thank you for hanging on and actually reading this.

---

If I tell you, would it really matter?

A Singularity towers at the freezing waters nearing the border of the Arctic ocean itself. The one responsible for it, a Siren Arbiter, carefully constructs a pillar of some sort to serve as a bridge for her and Tyrant's purpose. The latter oversees the construction while Sirens patrols and freely wanders around the stronghold.

"The shipgirls have been doing reconnaissance on us since yesterday. They're going to strike tomorrow morning" The Siren Custodian guesses

"Even if they combine their forces, none of them can make my plan fail" Tyrant is confident

"If you die, you still win, right? You truly are suicidal...and desperate"

"This isn't for my sake. Even in this state...I will ensure Iron Blood will remain standing"

"It seems there's still a speck of Tirpitz left in that undead consciousness of yours"

Custodian continues to slowly complete the pillar they will use to connect a path to the World Tree where Tyrant will achieve her reason for even coming back from the dead.

"What's your ulterior motive for agreeing with this plan, Fool?" Tyrant points her sword at her

"There's something I need to know from Ghost. She's the only one who can answer, but I know she isn't cooperative all the time"

To ease down Tyrant's constant hostility on her, the Sirens Custodian briefly pauses on her construction and turns around to answer Tyrant while locking eye contact with her.

"I don't care what those two Sirens with abostilute authority wants. There's someone's whereabouts I want to know no matter the cost"

Just as Tyrant is desperate to protect Iron Blood in her own way, the Siren Custodian will go to sucj lengths to achieve her own plan of searching for a certain someone. Tyrant sees no lies behind the intentions the Sirens declares while they sharply glare at each other and lowers her sword, somewhat content with the short answer.

"Why do you wish to protect Iron Blood? Your reasoning has been twisted?" It's the Custodian's turn to ask

"Just like you said, there may be a speck of Tirpitz left in me. I haven't completely lost who I used to be..." Tyrant's voice grows solemn

"To begin with, you are not the same Tyrant this timeline's Tirpitz would end up. The real Tyrant is more or less the younger sister of Bismarck, but you already knew that?" Custodian chuckles

"I only realized the truth when it showed me the Root. It frustrates me the one I saw...is someone worse than me. Rather, the one Tirpitz will end up is not even..." Tyrant bites her lip

"What happens starting that point is no longer our concern. You're going to die while I will retreat for a while" Tyrant returns to continuing her construction

"Bismarck..."

"Concerned about big sister now?"

The Siren chuckles and jokingly responds when Tyrant sorry mentions the name of someone she once calls her older sister. Bismarck may be her enemy, but she hears no deep grudge to her own older sister. If anything, Tyrant hates herself the most more than she hated everyone else.

"By the way, those Ashes aren't going to interfere? I thought Ember would get in the way since she has been killing my other bodies" Custodian remembers

"She can't even if she want to. Ghost is someone not even she and the others can handle, specially if Ghost completes herself" Tyrant scoffs

"More importantly, I doubt Enterprise will recognize Ghost after all of this" Custodian mentions a key player

"Their concerns aren't my priority. What my only concern is how Iron Blood would turn out months from now" Tyrant raises her head and stares at the pillar

"Iron Blood wouldn't meet a ruined end if that's what you're thinking. The Tirpitz in this timeline would assure it. Besides, she has the same mentality of throwing herself even if it kills her" Custodian assures her

"That's the problem..."

More than anything, Tyrant surprisingly worries whether Iron Blood will turn out like the one from her own timeline. What's more is how Tirpitz would act in order to protect Iron Blood the same way Bismarck does.

"I'll just have to throw myself before she does. I can't let that idiot...hurt Bismarck" Tyrant clenches her fist

"Hmph. Good luck with that. You'll have to fight Bismarck to the death before you can achieve that. Although, even I'm not certain whether you will succeed in that kind of suicidal attempt. Tirpitz will rush to save her big sister after all" Custodian wags her finger

(Before I lose this speck of sanity remaining, I will cling on to being Tirpitz as long as I could. Bismarck, I won't let you die...)

Tyrant never reveals her true intentions since the beginning and only reveals that she still recognize herself as Tirpitz even if she can faintly sense it. She has Bismarck's stubborn desire to naturally protect Iron Blood, but her methods is suicidal due to the little time she has to spare. There's no point in hesitating as she is put in a situation where it's all of nothing.

"Still, you're random acting and sudden whims came as a shock. To think you were actually good acting like a complete madman" Custodian disturbs Tyrant's moment

"Is that an insult, Siren?"

"It's a compliment, you breaking corpse. Your acting had me completely fooled for the first half of this event. I never thought you had such unexpected intentions this whole time" Custodian can't hold back her laughter

"..."

"This felt so random that I initially thought it was forced. I'm only slightly impressed at how completely concealed your true intentions by acting completely mad"

"I will protect Iron Blood my own way even if I must throw myself into that hell. I won't allow either of those two to lose each other"

"How long can you remain as Tirpitz? Your ideal have been twisted, but you're desperately clinging to them. Tyrant, you'll be a blind puppet the moment you reach the climax" Custodian warns her

"I'll accomplish my goal before that happens"

"We shall see about that"

It's unsure whether it's a bet or challenge between the renegade Siren and the rebellious pawn since they know the whole situation will come to an end soon. Sacrifices are unavoidable, so Tyrant wishes to sacrifice herself out of desperation to reach the only answer laying in front of her.

---

Nagato lays out a large of a detailed area around Northern Europe, already near the freezing Arctic. She encircles a certain are and places several miniature blocks on certain locations either inside the circle or outside it. Mikasa flips over the documents, both about the initial reconnaissance and the details for the hopefully last operation against Tyrant.

"They've been strengthening their defenses for the last few days, possibly aware that we're planning an all-out assault on their stronghold there" Nagato points at the very center of the circle

"Tyrant is cooping with the Sirens there. I can't imagine what she's up to"

"She's up to something, and maybe it involves this..."

Nagato organizes several photos from the reconnaissance team and places it around the part of the map with marks and blocks in it.

"A Singularity? Tyrant is trying to construct a Singularity?" Mikasa gasps

"A Siren in a winter coat is spotted hanging around near where this thing is being constructed. I have feeling Tyrant is just a part of it while the Siren is responsible for this"

The Siren that Nagato referring to is the eccentric and scheming Siren Custodian who rarely uses her "name" as an Arbiter, possibly due to her bitter history with her fellow Arbiters.

"They're not taking extensive measures other than gathering more forces. I can't think of they're defensive strategy on this one" Nagato crosses her arms

"From the looks of it, they're just increasing their numbers. Sirens aren't this simple, so I'm certain they have a plan in mind" Mikasa nods

The two examine all the photos of the reconnaissance team regarding the large Siren fleet gathering in the north. Since the Siren Custodian is constructing a complex Singularity within their stronghold, Mikasa and Nagato dig in their thoughts as a construction like that can't be just guarded with numbers alone. Surely, the Siren has a method of having absolute protection to its incomplete structure.

"Bismarck and the rest of Iron Blood will deal with Tyrant's forces, but we have to go through the Empress' forces first" Mikasa points at the area outside the Siren stronghold

"We're not erasing the possibility of their colossal weapons showing up. My fleet encountered the Leviathan when they were trapped in a Mirror Sea"

"Of course they're much difficult to sink than Elite Sirens, but we will have to go through them as well" Mikasa sighs

The Elite Sirens like Omitter and Purifier will surely be present there as they are siding with the Empress as well, but the biggest problem they will tackle is three colossal weapons blocking their path. There are three unique weapons in the form of mechanical beasts, but their weaponry and specialty is unique to them.

"Sorry to interruption" Ooyodo enters the command room

"Ooyodo what is it?" Nagato straightens herself

"I'm here to deliver the latest reconnaissance from the Shoukaku and Zuikaku from both sides"

Ooyodo gently and carefully places documents and clipped photos of today's reconnaissance as part of their last preparation before they storm the freezing seas and demolish the Singularity before it comes to completion. Nagato and Mikasa both pick different reports and images, scanning each one of it.

"This Singularity is like a barrier of sorts. I've seen this before, so I'm sure of it" Mikasa places the photo in her down at the center of the table

"Our CarDiv 05 reported spotting a semi-transparent dome protecting their stronghold. The tree or pillar at the very center is still under construction, but it's almost complete" Ooyodo informs them

"Tyrant is indeed trying to breach the World Tree by using a Singularity. Accessing it is no easy task, even for Arbiter Zero. To open a gate at the very archive of the beginning and the end, she would need to drill through the gate itself"

"She certainly knows what she's doing. If I recall, this Tyrant had gone through several timelines both the past and the future"

"That's right. She already has extensive knowledge on how to breach timelines and overturn space" Mikasa scratches her head

"Pardon, but if I remember, the plan is to let your Bismarck pass through the gate in order to accomplish her plan of removing Tyrant once and for all" Ooyodo raises her hand

"H-39 gave her the knowledge on how to pass. This means we need to let them open it and race them at the entrance" Mikasa informs Ooyodo

"This won't be easy. Bismarck has to wrestle control against Tyrant" Nagato frowns at the vague image of Tyrant

"That's why both of our fleet are going to demolish their forces. Iron Blood will tie Tyrant down while Bismarck passes through the gate. If they can hold her down for at least ten minutes, then Bismarck will succeed"

They already have a plan, but they have yet to solidify and finalize it. If it's an assault at a normal Siren stronghold, then it's doable with both forces from the Maizuru fleet and the ones from Azur Lane, but the risk of a Siren creating a loophole to access "the archive of the beginning and the end" is high enough to consider any possible risks.

"You said if Bismarck succeeds, then the event from the past seven months would never occur. It means we lose our memories from back then until leading up until to this point, right?" Nagato suddenly changes the topic

"Yeah. Since Tyrant would never interfere with your world, none of you would know our world exists since you would never meet Tirpitz" Mikasa immediately confirms

"Then this applies to you and your allies as well?" Ooyodo raises her hand

"That's correct. Everyone present wouldn't know about this world. We'd go on our daily lives fighting Sirens as usual" Mikasa drops her shoulders

"I admit that it was fun meeting a smaller and more adorable version of me, but the damage has to be undone"

Mikasa is visibly unhappy on how she would inevitably forget everyone in the Maizuru fleet as a part of the effect if Tyrant ceases to exist. Nagato feels the same kind of sadness as she is rather fond of her and her other allies' counterparts. As saddening as it may be for both of them, this is the only way to reverse Tyrant's meddling with the lives of other shipgirls.

"If such object can erase someone's existence, then why not erase Sirens as a whole?" Ooyodo raises an important question

"As much as we all want that, the World Tree will not simply grant a wish of that magnitude that easily. There's a condition to grant an impactful wish, but the Siren calling herself Aurelius has knowledge on that. Unfortunately, my investigation during my time in this world would be undone" Mikasa deeply sighs

"There is no such thing as a free miracle, Ooyodo. Humans even wrote books and made films about the risks and consequences of seeking a grand wish" Nagato understands it

"I suppose if a tool that can provide answers and grant miracles exists, then humans will never learn to persevere. It would simply overturn the balance of living"

"It's human desire that paved modern progress, even though greed and pride causes conflict. If the world grows stagnant due to lack of desire, then our future would come to a dead end" Mikasa agrees with a bright smile on her lips

Even if there's a tool that can grant any desire one could wish for, in the end it's simply a matter of "want" and never "need". If both causes are granted, then the world would grow stagnant as everyone would see no purpose as their desires will only be empty. It is human ambition that pushes them forward, persevering to attain a future they wish to build may it be for selfishness or the greater good.

Briefing room...

The nine shipgirls of Iron gather in order to discuss their roles to take part in the hopefully last showdown with Tyrant who is helping the Sirens construct a customized Singularity. Of course, Bismarck is leading the discussion as she will also lead in foiling Tyrant's plan and accomplish her own in the process.

"Good grief, to think I'd be dragged in during the finale of Tyrant's shenanigans" Graf Zeppelin sighs

"Fufufufu. Isn't this a good opportunity? You can surprise her with your torpedo bombers" Prinz Eugen snickers in one corner

"Why would an Arbiter kick you to this world? I don't think there's any benefit to that" Mainz is puzzled

"I don't know, but I'm sending that wretched Siren to her grave once this is over" Graf Zeppelin vows revenge

"I have a bad feeling about this" Z23 swallows her breath

"Focus! Our goal right now is to assault the Siren stronghold where Tyrant is hiding"

Bismarck lightly hits the table and reminds everyone present on why she even gathers them. She wouldn't tolerate distraction due to the risk and importance of their next mission which involves racing towards a tool that can erase someone's existence.

"It's been agreed Iron Blood will be handling Tyrant and her escorts which might involve the Elite Sirens Omitter and Purifier. Other than that, they have three huge monstrous weapons at their disposal"

They can handle regular Sirens, but the bigger threat to their next mission is the Elite Sirens on the Empress' side and their three colossal weapons personally made by their own creator.

"We can't just use brute force in dealing them. How do we get through these obstacles?" Graf Zeppelin speaks out

"Nimi and I will be assisting the Maizuru fleet in luring the Hydra or Leviathan away from Tyrant" Odin steps forward

"We'll be splitting our forces. Eugen, Mainz, and Tirpitz will be joining me barging into Tyrant herself. Tyrant won't be leaving the Singularity unguarded, but we will leave her vulnerable without reinforcements"

"That's where we come in. We lead the Sirens away, so you two can have a one on one match in the World Tree. How about that Arbiter who attacked Mainz and the others a few days ago? She won't just let anyone destroy her construction" Prinz Eugen raises her hand

"That's why you have me right now. I will be handling the Arbiter along with Roon and the Wolfpack" Graf Zeppelin sighs

"In case someone randomly interrupts, Tirpitz and I will take care of it" Prinz Eugen winks

"Hey, how come I'm stuck at the rear? What if Eugen does something crazy?"

Admiral Hipper immediately protests to Bismarck, but her voice is instinctively not as brash and loud as usual due to Bismarck's status and authority as the fleet leader of Iron Blood.

"It's like you're saying I won't keep an eye on her..." Tirpitz crosses her arms

"Nggh..." Admiral Hipper bites her lip

"C-calm down, Hipper. It's not like we're going to fight far from each other" Mainz pulls Admiral Hipper away

"Are you really alright fighting, Tirpitz? You're mental cube renders you weaker than before" Graf Zeppelin turns her attention to Tirpitz

"We argued about it for a whole hour and decided to allow her to fight as well. If we succeed, then Tyrant's existence would be undone. She would never interfere with this world and our Iron Blood" Bismarck replies

"That also means I would never leave Iron Blood in the first place. Although, none of us would remember everything that happened for the past seven months. We would go about our daily lives not remembering this moment"

Tirpitz reminds everyone of what would happen once Bismarck succeeds in eliminating Tyrant once for all. Sinking Tyrant won't simply be sufficient as she might revive herself again and continue to target Iron Blood until they are wiped out just like in her timeline.

"It won't really change anything. Eugen would still call me a washboard tsundere while I will continue to scold her till the end of time" Admiral Hipper proudly puffs her chest

"Same here. Even if we don't remember, we would still be the same person" Mainz nods

"It's going to make me sad I won't remember Fubuki, Mutsuki, and Yuudachi...but this is for the sake of Iron Blood" Z23 admits

"I'd rather not face Tyrant who insults my incomplete state and cause trouble for us" Graf Zeppelin joins in

Odin and Roon nod as well, agreeing and accepting with the fact that they won't remember the existence of another world since they won't be going after Tirpitz if Tyrant doesn't exist.

"I had a lot of fun for the past six months, but Tyrant has been interfering with our world and this world. In Bismarck's case, her main goal is to prevent Tirpitz from having her fate sealed" Prinz Eugen briefly glances at Bismarck

"Tirpitz strayed off from being Tyrant because she met Tyrant. Wouldn't that mean Tirpitz would still become Tyrant...and repeat the cycle?" Odin points out

"It will be different this time because I am here to look after her. Since the one to reach the World Tree will retain their memories, I won't allow Tirpitz to be tricked by the Sirens ever again. Neither Tirpitz and I will lose our path as I learned from my ashen self"

Odin is satisfied with Bismarck's response, shrugs her shoulders and faintly smiles. The others briefly look at each other, also accepting Bismarck's response with her certain she is with her new goal once she succeeds in undoing Tyrant's existence.

"Well, if Tirpitz decides to suddenly rebel again, you can always slap her back to her senses" Odin leans her back to a wall

"I will do the same for Eugen" Admiral Hipper grins

The others are occupied with discussing their possible actions once the whole event for the past seven months involving Tyrant would cease to exist, Prinz Eugen backs away from the others and approaches Tirpitz who is standing in one corner, comfortably seeing everyone getting along so well.

"Everyone's talking about what they might do in the future. How about you, Tirpitz?" Prinz Eugen whispers

"I will remain in Iron Blood and continue fighting for Iron Blood. It's not something worth thinking about anyway..." Tirpitz shrugs her shoulders

"Bismarck might lose her life with what she's planning to do. Reaching the core and wiping someone from existence is easier said than done"

"That's why I will be there. I won't let Bismarck die" Tirpitz frowns

"Tyrant is going to let Ghost manifest into the world and finally exist as a living being even if it kills her. In order to accomplish her promise..."

"I will take care of it. I...will make sure Bismarck will continue to live as she is the only one who can pave a future for Iron Blood. It may kill me in doing so, but it's a risk I'm willing to take"

"...which is why you're leaving the rest to me. Although I will take it as for the worst case scenario" Prinz Eugen unhappily replies

"I can't let Bismarck die at Tyrant's hands. That's why I made my decision to make sure she survives"

"I can agree that Iron Blood having a secured future so long as Bismarck is there"

"...Although getting her to side with certainty is no easy task"

"I'll keep an eye on her once the time comes"

"Then I have nothing to worry...anymore"

Tirpitz faintly smiles in sorrow, and her focus right now is towards Bismarck who continues to explain the situation and possible aftermath once they succeed.

"Alright, back to our original topic. We're here to discuss our roles for the last mission against Tyrant tomorrow. Let's save the idle chat after the battle"

As the room grows louder and chaotic due to the mixture of everyone's discussions, Bismarck slams her palm at the wooden desk, the echo immediately silencing everyone present.

"Can you really take on Tyrant by yourself? Tyrant has the power of the ashen Bismarck from her timeline. It's highly likely a META" Prinz Eugen almost forgets

"She had been weakened. According to the information my future self left, Tyrant's revival is imperfect, so she's compensating with the power of the Arbiters. That means I can take her on equal footing by myself" Bismarck assures her

"It's Bismarck we're talking about here. Besides, we've been dealing with Tyrant for so long that we know how she fights" Graf Zeppelin trusts Bismarck's strength

"Bismarck took her out before, she'll take her out again" Same goes for Odin

"I have faith Bismarck can take on Tyrant" Tirpitz shrugs her shoulders

"I suppose victory is possible with how handicapped our opponent is"

Prinz Eugen reluctantly trusts Bismarck's words and the faith of others since she doesn't have much of a choice either. Once Bismarck decides something, she would refuse to back away no matter what. She can't discourage her from rethinking her decision, specially that she's determined to eliminate Tyrant once and for all.

"Then if we win this with no problem, can I at least be pardoned for deserting and treason?" Prinz Eugen jokingly asks Bismarck

"It wouldn't matter since no one would remember you deserted Iron Blood" Bismarck reminds her

"Oh, right. Since Tyrant would cease exist, I would never leave Iron Blood in the first place"

Admiral Hipper smacks her own face when Prinz Eugen briefly forgets how her crimes would be undone along with Tyrant since the latter is the root cause of their situation.

Royal Navy base...

Everyone is busy preparing the operation in less than twenty four hours. Before they set out to the north, they have to return to the nearest allied base, which is around Ireland. It's also the same base the Sirens have been attacking, with the last attack more than a week ago. Nelson and Ark Royal, still recovering from hospitalization, oversees the preparations within the base.

"Hey, how are you doing!" The Northern Parliament's Gangut slaps Nelson at her back

"Still in a lot of pain after I was skewered by a Siren" Nelson gently presses her abdomen

"I heard you two aren't participating in the battle?" Sovetskaya Rossiya approaches them

"With our injuries, we would just be easy targets. I really wanted payback for that Siren poking holes at my chest" Ark Royal grits her teeth

"We would just remain here in case another Siren attack occurs" Nelson jokingly tells them

"They would be busy securing the Pillar of the Singularity in the north. An Arbiter is there, so I'm certain they won't be going anywhere" Sovetskaya Rossiya informs the two

"It's a shame you two won't be a part of it. I heard there's a giant metal fish there ready for scrapping" Gangut grins

The one Gangut may be referring to is Aspidochelone, a Siren weapon in the form of a colossal whale. The Hydra is a aquatic dragon with multiple heads and the Leviathan is similar to its mythical depictions.

"Nelson, is it really fine letting these two freeloaders hang here? I mean they're Abyssals, so we should be putting them in front of a firing squad"

KC Gangut marches into the scene rudely dragging Aircraft carrier Princess and Heavy cruiser Princess by the back of their collars. As Gangut continues to let their rear roughly brushes against the concrete ground, the two exiled Abyssal Princesses, complain but only fall into deaf ears.

"Stop dragging our asses, you shorty battleship!" Heavy cruiser Princess angrily yells

"You can't treat us this way! That old lady said to treat us fairly" Aircraft carrier Princess demands

"I'm not nice as the grand old lady. Besides, you sneak into our waters confidently thinking we're not burying you alive" Gangut loses her patience

"Eek!" The two Abyssals quickly go silent

"Gangut, just throw them somewhere. They have those ankle bracelets for electronic tagging, so we'd blow their heads off if they leave the base" Ark Royal lazily waves her hand

"Wait, you're this world's Gangut?" AL Gangut shakes her head in surprise

"Yeah, I'm Gangut. And you are...?" KC Gangut raises an eyebrow

"I'm the one and only Gangut of the Northern Parliament! You may be a little short, but I can sense you're a comrade at heart"

"Comrade?"

"Rossiya, I'm hanging out with this other me. Their Zuikaku got me good vodka from a hidden stash back at Maizuru" AL Gangut immediately excuses herself

"Wait, the admiral's booze?"

"It's good stuff. I tried it myself" AL Gangut proudly laughs

Both Ark Royal and Nelson immediately look at each other, mildly surprised at how AL Gangut is immediately fond of her counterpart. The latter is seemingly confused, but she is neither cautious nor hostile towards her excitable Northern Parliament counterpart.

"Wait, what's your Russia like?" KC Gangut curiously asks

"Ru...ssia? Ah, that! It's called the Northern Parliament in my world. It's located up north, so our bodies are immune to the extreme cold. Although Tirpitz gives a run for our money with how long she can stay in the middle of a blizzard with no problem"

AL Gangut whispers the last statement to her counterpart, who is only growing more curious about what the other world is like. Sovetskaya Rossiya fondly observes her comrade immediately being friendly towards her counterpart while the two Royal navy ships remains confused.

"I'm a bit tired dealing with noisy freeloaders. I'm going to get a drink? Wanna come?" KC Gangut invites her counterpart

"Is it vodka?"

"Yeah. Our Zuikaku managed to sneak out the admiral's secret stash of vodka"

"Then I'm in!"

KC Gangut immediately tosses the two Abyssals aside and marches out of the scene with her Northern Parliament counterpart. The two Abyssals on the others hand also immediately flees the scene before the shipgirls can think of stuffing them somewhere.

"Once our Bismarck succeeds, everything that Tyrant did for the past seven months will be undone. That means none of you would remember meeting anyone from my world" Sovetskaya Rossiya informs the two

"That's fine with us. I mean this is for the best, right?" Nelson tilts her head

"Perhaps there will be a time in the future where we would meet each other again. The future is full of surprises after all" Ark Royal chuckles

"That's right. We may return here if the need arises again. Until then, we will both continue to fight for the sake of our nations without knowing each other's existence"

At the very least, Nelson and Ark Royal accepts the inevitable outcome once Iron Blood's Bismarck fulfills her goal in her last clash with Tyrant. They would just forget each other's existence, but they may reintroduce each other again in the future.

Later...

Shipgirls from the Maizuru side and Azur Lane side gather for a feast as night falls upon them. Each one of them gather in their own groups, chatting and bonding with either their counterpart or person of interest.

"Do you...really hate everything? I heard a lot from your friends" KC Graf Zeppelin awkwardly asks

"I hate God, thus I hate this false playground laid upon us. This world is surrounded in facade you cannot imagine" AL Graf Zeppelin clenches both of her fists

(Their Tirpitz isn't kidding...)

"Why do you have God exactly? I'm not that religious either, but still..."

"I was built to serve as the sole wing of Iron Blood, but I was rendered incomplete. Left to rot and to be toyed with, I realized human beings trample on another to seek satisfaction. That's when I also realized, if man is built on the image of God...then God himself is cruel and sadistic"

"..." KC Graf Zeppelin is speechless

"Even so, I fight to defend the lives of humans in my nation. Rather, what I wish to protect is my allies in Iron Blood. I find the hell set upon by God to be more tolerable now with the creatiom of Strausser"

"Who?" KC Graf Zeppelin scratches her head

"Peter Strausser. Historically, she doesn't exists but Priority shipgirls are created by tweaking designs of existing ships. That's why she is technically my younger sister" AL Graf Zeppelin explains

"A sister, huh..."

The shipgirls in Azur Lane exists because of Mental cubes which can make way for shipgirls that doesn't belong to real life history. Although making one exists is no easy task even if they have blueprints of existing shipgirls they can use as a basis.

"How about you?" AL Graf Zeppelin raises an eyebrow

"There's nothing much about me other than my favorite hobby is brewing coffee. I feel there's a gap in my heart because I am incomplete, but I do feel complete with Eugen and the others being there for me. There's also Akagi whose design is used to make me and Aquila who is based on me in return" KC Graf Zeppelin fondly smiles

"You're close with your Akagi? While Akagi and I share a drink on some occasions, I can't help but be wary of her presence. Perhaps it's difficult to predict her with her obsession to the commander"

"Our Akagi doesn't try to kill us for getting near the admiral, but she has a reputation for having a Yamato-level appetite" KC Graf Zeppelin dryly laughs

"Hmm. Interesting..."

(She hates a lot of things, but she deeply cares about her friends. At least that's what I got after talking with her for half an hour...)

KC Graf Zeppelin faintly sighs and curves a smile when she guesses her Iron Blood counterpart's personally basing on their open conversation. Other than that, AL Graf Zeppelin isn't the type to twist her words and use trickery - she is more of a direct and practical person.

"Nimi-chan, I heard you're leaving for good, poi!" Yuudachi tightly embraces Z23

"I-I'm just going back to Iron Blood. Besides, I'm not here on a vacation" Z23 has difficulty breathing

Yuudachi whimpers while she continues to tightly wrap her arms around Z23. Fubuki gently pulls Yuudachi away and takes about five minutes for Z23 to frees herself before Yuudachi unintentionally breaks any of her bones.

"That's why we made these for you!" Mutsuki hands over a present

"Is this a teddy bear version of me?" Z23 accepts the present

Z23 inspects the stuffed teddy bear with a hat and clothes strongly resembling hers. It's clear the three has to work together in order to craft such a personally designed farewell present for their newfound friend.

"We know you will have to go home and even if you don't remember us, at least you'll have a souvenir of us" Fubuki proudly smiles

"A teddy bear, huh..."

Z23 holds it with both of her hands and lifts it up in the air, slightly blushing seeing the resemblance of the toy to her. Well, it's supposed to resemble her since it's a present specifically for her.

"If we can only meet your Laffey and Ayanami, so we can all hang out together" Fubuki laments

"Yeah. I bet we'll have a picnic over the cape where the atmosphere and view are perfect" Mutsuki spreads her arm

"Laffey would immediately fall asleep and Ayanami would go straight for the dessert" Z23 already imagines it

"I just hope we all get to meet each other again even if we have to go back to square one, poi" Yuudachi embraces Z23 again

"Hopefully, I don't get stuck in an a closed dimension again" Z23 wryly laughs

Fubuki and Mutsuki joins Yuudachi in embracing the suffocating Z23 out of excitement in the possible last time they will all meet and speak each other.

"Our time here is short-lived" AL Shoukaku sighs

"I'm a bit sad since we're just getting to know each other" KC Shoukaku also sighs

The two versions of Shoukaku deeply sigh at the same time, making it somewhat awkward for their respective Zuikaku.

"Just when I finally found someone to complain about Akagi being a pain in the ass..." AL Shoukaku has an odd concern

(Do they really hate each other?) KC Shoukaku whispers to herself

"You're working hard for both yourself and Zuikaku. A big sister's job is never easy"

"Zuikaku is a good girl, but she gets herself in arguments and fights. Thankfully, it's mostly with our Kaga"

"My Zuikaku keeps pushing herself too far, only thinking about surpassing Enterprise. I'm beginning to think those two are meant for each other"

"Our Zuikaku are both...energetic"

Both Shoukakus wholeheartedly laugh about the similarities of their respective Zuikakus, seemingly forgetting that the two are literally right beside them drinking sake. They blankly stare at the two Shoukakus, unsure how to react or whether they should comment.

"I'm surprised your Shoukaku doesn't talk back to your Akagi. Shoukaku-nee would get on Akagi's nerves the moment opportunity presents itself" AL Shoukaku whispers to her counterpart

"I don't have a problem with our Akagi. It's our Kaga that's annoying me everytime. I mean it's hard to tell whether she's being sarcastic with that poker face of hers" KC Zuikaku openly complains

"Your Kaga is concerned about your well-being, you know"

"H-huh?!"

"At least that's what I understood when I talked to her. She doesn't want you to keep pushing yourself since you keep rushing in without thinking. I suppose this is what they call tough love"

"T-that's not like her..." KC Zuikaku turns her head away

"She looks after you and everyone else as your senior. It's just that you don't try to see through her intentions all the time, only assuming she has no deeper thoughts" AL Zuikaku advices her

"...!"

"I mean, you respect her and all...right? You two just lack proper communication" AL Zuikaku grins

"Yeah. Maybe it's because we don't talk often as I avoid her half of the time..."

KC Zuikaku sighs, believing she may be lacking in one factor which is affecting her relationship with her Kaga. Communication is the key to forming and maintaining all kinds of relationship after all.

"Everyone's so lively today" Musashi widely grins

"This like a farewell party since once everything is reset, we wouldn't remember meeting them" Yamato is saddened by the inevitability

"Don't be like that, you two. The gateway wouldn't be sealed permanently, you know. Our Bismarck plans to reset all the events from the last seven months. She's gambling on the chance it will also prevent enemies on both sides invading our worlds"

Mikasa isn't concerned with the fact that both sides won't remember each other as the reset would result in the Maizuru fleet never meeting the shipgirls from Azur Lane.

"You two are already grown ups. I'm sure partings is something you two can handle" Mikasa is confident

"I still have a lot to learn from you, Mikasa-san..." Yamato drops her shoulders

"I have nothing to teach you and Musashi. You two have proved to be strong battleships and pillars for your allies" Mikasa taps both of their shoulders

"You're like a mentor I never had" Musashi proudly laughs

"I'm beginning to sound like I've been there with you since she beginning. Maybe this is my age showing again..." Mikasa mutters to herself

"Still, it's nice meeting all kinds of girls" Musashi exhales

"Even before all of this, I've been tracking the Sirens. Who knows? I might show up here again"

"If you stop by our world again, feel free to visit our fleet" Musashi immediately offers

"We may just shoot you if pop out of nowhere like what happened with your allies" Yamato jokingly points out

What Mikasa seeing right now is how both Yamato and Musashi are the kind of battleships that no longer need guidance from her as they are already matured. They have become experienced - learning from every moment they set out to the open sea, making her smile proudly.

(I wonder what's their Shinano like. I hope she's not as sleepy as ours...)

Mikasa chuckles and thinks to herself since she there's no Shinano in the Maizuru fleet, but she exists as well. All she can do is freely guess on what personality their Shinano possesses. It's highly unlikely theirs would experience other timelines with each dreams though.

"Everyone is enjoying themselves tonight" AL Bismarck shakes her glass of alcohol

"It's a farewell party after all. We enjoyed getting to know you" KC Bismarck proudly laughs

"Enjoy, huh. On most occasions, I don't think of enjoying myself. My mind is always directed towards the integrity of Iron Blood. If I were to look away even for a moment, I fear my beloved nation would fall apart"

"You have too much burden in your hands. If you continue like that...you may fall and never get up again" KC Bismarck takes a large sip of her own glass of beer

"I cannot carry everyone's burden - that I'm aware. I was so focused on one thing only that I'm blinded to everything else. That was the mistake of my alter ego"

AL Bismarck learns from her future mistakes with the appearance of her and Tirpitz's alter ego, with the former perishing in order to let her realize how she will doom Iron Blood if she doesn't change her methods.

"Rather, I fail to see more of my action's effects because I always believe everything I do is for the sake of Iron Blood"

"At least you won't lose your Tirpitz after this. You'll definitely save her from herself"

"My sister is troublesome. She left Iron Blood on a whim because she wished to prolong her own life..." AL Bismarck removes her cap

"She doesn't want to leave you and everyone else. Your Tirpitz finally learned to be with others again, so I'm sure she doesn't want to lose all of it just like that"

"You spent a whole month with her and even influenced her outlook at the world. I'm moderately impressed"

"Moderately..." KC Bismarck chuckles

The two battleships, both symbols of their respective nation, let the gentle breeze pass through them as sunset nears. Everyone else is busying enjoying themselves even if the moment would cease to exist both in their memories and in the world.

"This will be the last time we can share a drink. After the fight, we won't be able to see each other again..." KC Bismarck places her empty glass on the table beside her

"Although my interactions with you are short, it's a memory I will cherish. I will retain my memories while everyone here right now would forget entirely" AL Bismarck does the same

"Wouldn't that be sad? You will be the only one who would remember. There would be no one else to share your memories"

"Sad? No, I don't think I would lament over such thing. Rather, it's thankful I won't be able to forget. This way, I would never repeat my mistake regarding Tyrant"

"...I see. You already accepted it. At least, you don't let yourself feel down over such things" KC Bismarck nods while smiling

"Once everything returns the way they used to be, I'm certain your sister will return. You two won't just be aware of the whole situation"

"It's fine. You get to save your Tirpitz while I get to have mine back, so it benefits us both"

AL faintly scoffs with a satisfied smile on her face as she and her Kriegsmarine counterpart accepts how their meeting will be undone. Of course, it saddens them that they wouldn't have peaceful conversations like right now, but they both know what has to be done for the sake of their own worlds.

"If you happen to come back here because some troublemakers pops up, don't hesitate to visit our fleet again. Sure it will be confusing for me since I wouldn't remember you, but I know myself. I'll be sure to lend you a hand" KC Bismarck assures her

"I will keep that in mind, but as much as possible I don't wish to involve your fleet in the battle against the Sirens. Your world had suffered losses for the past few weeks due to Siren interference"

"They have been doing this since the beginning. I don't know who are the others, but they toyed with other shipgirls and used them like pawns. That's why, we've been involved for a long time now" Bismarck stretches out her hand and stares at her palms

"They do the same to us. Sirens have manipulated humans into turning against each other, only seeking to cultivate the strongest among us through countless experiments" AL Bismarck clenches her fists

"Abyssals aren't smart enough to do experiments, but they slaughtered countless people. My hometown being an example..."

"We cannot just hope this war to end. Words and hope will not progress our current state. I refused to accept the hopeful ideals of others and only sought strength. That's what I've been keeping in mind ever since I came to be"

"...and that stubbornness is what created Tyrant"

"...Yes"

Bismarck single-mindedness and stubbornness twist both the future and Tyrant. The origin of the latter itself has been altered after endless interventions from outside, thus erasing the real past of an ashen one who calls herself Tyrant.

Meanwhile...

Everyone continues to enjoy the food and drinks with each other while Tirpitz breaks away from the crowd, heading to a secluded area where she can be at peace. It's impossible for her to relax with the last clash against Tyrant happening tomorrow. Others would be confident the mission would succeed, but she worries about the uncertainty and possible risks.

"It's just that easy to forget, huh..." Tirpitz grunts

"Aren't you going to join the others? The Graf Zeppelins are having a drinking contest? The two Ganguts already passed out"

KC Bismarck walks towards Tirpitz biting through a kebab and holding another. The concern on Tirpitz's face is as clear as day, but that feeling is normal considering who and what they are up against tomorrow. She sits besides Tirpitz, offering the untouched kebab to her, which the latter easily accepts.

"My mental cube is falling apart with each moment that posses and renders me weaker than before. I feel like I'll just drag down my older sister..." Tirpitz expresses her concern

"Just because you're weaker, doesn't mean they're stronger. Besides, we're all working together to return everything to normal" KC Bismarck doesn't find it much of a problem

"Danke Sehr" Tirpitz softly speaks

"You're thanking me? For what?"

"I was grateful to have met you and everyone. If it wasn't for everyone's influence, I may have lost my mind in all this mess. I'm not as mentally strong as you or my sister..."

"It's just hardened by experience. In your sister's case, she has to keep her willpower more solid than steel to keep Iron Blood united. It's her leadership that kept your nation in one piece despite all the mess"

"That's why I admire my sister. I don't want her to die because of me..." Tirpitz lowers her head

"We won't let that happen tomorrow"

Bismarck bites the last piece of the kebab and throws the stick somewhere. At the very least, Bismarck's assurance is comforting Tirpitz's worries and fears for whatever will happen tomorrow.

"I'm sure you two talked about the result if my sister successfully resets the whole situation" Tirpitz mentions another concern

"It's fine even if we won't remember each other. I mean it's not like we would never see each other again. When that happens again, we'll just introduce ourselves from scratch" KC Bismarck points at her

"What if...I would never be the same Tirpitz as the one you're talking to right now?"

"How we met and got to know each other will just be repeated. You don't have to worry about it much. So stop making yourself depressed for such reason"

KC Bismarck gleefully slaps Tirpitz at her back, cheerful and brightly smiling even if it would be sorrowful that they would never remember the events starting more than seven months ago.

"Heh. I'm truly glad...to have met you..."

The smile on Tirpitz's lips is both thankful and sorrowful. The conflicting emotions only strike pain in her heart, but she couldn't let this Bismarck notice as she and everyone else are filled with joy right now.

The next day...

The combined fleet of both the shipgirls from the Maizuru fleet and Azur Lane set out to the open seas. The shipgirls from both sides are mixed together in order to balance out their firepower and combat capabilities. Their destination is the far north, near the Arctic where a large Siren fleet is guarding the root of the Singularity.

"A fog is engulfing us?" Roon looks around her

Their surroundings become less visible as the fog ensnares all of them while sailing through the northern seas. Even if this is clearly a trap set by the Sirens, they continue to set course for their destination, focused on why they would even storm a Siren stronghold.

"A Siren shot down my reconnaissance aircraft" AL Graf Zeppelin frowns

"The Wolfpack describes it as a Siren in a winter coat. It's the Arbiter from before!" Roon grits her teeth

"What a coincidence. No, perhaps the enemy does this on purpose"

Just like a part of their plan, the fleet with Iron Blood's Graf Zeppelin turns away from the formation of the two combined fleet, leaving to immediately head to the area where they will have to hold down Arbiter Zero, a threat worse than the likes of Omitter and Purifier.

"Graf Zeppelin and the rest are going to engage the enemy soon even with this Mirror Sea" AL Bismarck receives the message

"Well then, it's time to do our best~" AL Prinz Eugen giggles

"Let's take this seriously" Mainz worries because of Prinz Eugen

(It won't be long...)

Tirpitz holds down her rising worry for Bismarck and everyone else taking part in the battle. Right now, she doesn't want to be dead weight for her allies due to the high risk if she becomes careless. The others will certainly give their all in order to win this fight.

"Something large as hell is heading our way! Wait, is that a fish...dragon?" KC Zuikaku is baffled

"My punching bag has come! It's time for round two!" Musashi shouts at the top of her lungs

"D-don't rush in. The last time you faced it, half of your rigging got melted" Yamato rushes to her side

"Akagi, it's a Siren weapons different from the one back at that placed called Ireland" AL Kaga whispers

"It doesn't matter. I'll simply tear them apart and burn them like disposable trash"

AL Akagi's serious threat and pure murderous intent intimidates and sends shivers to everyone's spine, save for AL Kaga who is used to her viciousness when it comes to Sirens.

"...!"

The Leviathan bursts out of the surface, drenching everyone in a rain of sea water much to the two foxes' chagrin. Yamato drops her jaw at the massive size of the colossal aquatic dragon since it is her first time encountering the creature this close while Musashi grins ear to ear out of pure excitement.

"Open fire!"

Yamato unleashes a whole salvo along with Musashi before the Siren weapon can think of making the first strike. It would unleash a barrage of rockets and condensed beams upon them which is going to be fatal even for shipgirls.

"Akagi, is there anything that can pry its armor open?" AL Kaga clicks her tongue

"If it's the Hydra, then we could just simply it until the heart is exposed...but the Leviathan needs to be overheated to force it open its vents and loosen the armor plating" AL Akagi analyzes the enemy

"Basically bait it into using its weapons to the maximum limit?"

"The Leviathan isn't built for prolonged battles which is why they installed raw firepower on it compared to the Hydra"

The enormous weapon creaks its jaws open and reveals a cannon and its gears spinning right at its throat. The outlines on the Leviathan's glow brightly with the immense heat coursing all over its body and directing it to the cannon for a devastating strike.

"Like I would let you!"

Musashi rushes out to the front and unleashes a concentrated salvo right to the creature's mouth.

"...!"

The colossal beast slightly staggers back even with the full force of Musashi's main turrets. Despite the futile attempt to deal significant damage on the Leviathan, the flow of heat in its body becomes so disorganized that steam rises from the openings of its body.

"Kaga!"

In a split second, the two foxes coordinate an attack from both of their dive bombers and torpedo bombers. The relentless and pesky aircraft forces the Leviathan to stagger back even if they have difficulty chopping through its armor

"Yamato, let's join them too!"

"Yeah!"

Yamato and Musashi joins in the barrage, preventing the Leviathan from recovering from its overheated state. It couldn't even return fire from the abuse from both aircraft and high explosive shells. The impenetrable armor proves to be extremely difficult since their attacks are simply pushing the weapon back rather than tearing its armors off.

"Isn't this nice? Everyone's having fun"

The Siren Custodian, whose real idenity is Arbiter Zero, confidently stands in one spot while it's spiky frilled shark-like rigging surrounds its Sire wielder as if it's a thorn with the sharpness and length of its spikes.

"I was dragged here thinking it might be Bismarck...but I wasted my time here" Tyrant stands beside the Siren

"Tyrant! So you really are alive!" Graf Zeppelin prepares to bomb her

"Insteresting. You have torpedo bombers now. I have to take my word when I insulted you back then...but still not impressive enough"

Tyrant sarcastically responds while slowly clapping her hands, obviously provoking Graf Zeppelin into making the careless first move. Unfortunately for Tyrant, Graf Zeppelin isn't the ill-tempered kind who would quickly go along with her bait.

"You're an incomplete mess with torpedoes bombers now"

"...!" Graf Zeppelin leers at her

"As much as I want to test your upgrade, I have no time to waste with someone like you" Tyrant turns her back

"Leaving already?" Custodian chuckles

"You made me waste ten minutes, Arbiter. I'm not wasting more with your silliness"

It looks like Tyrant wants to hit the Siren for forcing her to waste time by dragging her along to see Graf Zeppelin, who she views with little interest even after learning of her capability to equip torpedo bombers. She immediately leaves the scene, having the Siren Custodian deal with the shipgirls by herself.

"Why would an Arbiter waste time with Tyrant? How would it benefit you?" AL Graf Zeppelin questions the Siren

"It's based mutual interest. If Tyrant succeeds, then I would benefit as well. Same thing goes if Bismarck succeeds" Custodian chuckles

"What do you mean? How is resetting going to benefit you?"

"...because either way, the defective shipgirl will be complete. Why do you think Empress' faction is helping us?" Custodian tilts her head

She is so certain she would succeed that she already smiles victoriously. The Siren snaps her fingers, ordering her rigging to loosen itself and aim all of its armaments towards Graf Zeppelin even with the dive bombers dropping their payloads left and right.

"Nothing will change even if Tyrant is removed since she isn't even the initial one. She's just a byproduct of the version Tyrant linked to Tirpitz" Custodian raises her index finger

"What?!"

"Truthfully speaking, the actual Tyrant is Tirpitz's mental cube with Bismarck's schematics plastered on her" Custodian chuckles

"Shut up!"

Roon interrupts and charges blindly without even thinking about the strength of the Arbiter arrogantly standing despite the aircraft swarming above her.

"...!"

Her aggressive charge proves to be pointless as her bulky rigging is immediately stopped when Custodian stretches out her hand presses her palm on it, much to her shock. Custodian shakes her head in complete disappointment since she exerts little effort in stopping Roon's blind charge.

"Failure after failure, even for a Priority shipgirl such as yourself. It's ironic considering I'm seen a failure by other Sirens" Custodian boldly mocks Roon

"Why you-!"

The Siren gently tenses her hand keeping Roon's rigging at bay and concentrates for about two seconds before sending Roon flying away from her sight along with her rigging.

"Have you forgotten I immediately knocked you out last time? I could have killed you, but I see no benefit on my side. Rather, that will only further motivate your allies. Then again, Iron Blood are known to be extremely stubborn...and nationalistic"

More of Graf Zeppelin's Stukas nose dives right towards her, only for her rigging to passively defend her even without actively commanding it.

"If I remember, your commander made it so Peter Strausser is created. I wonder if you're joyful that you have a younger sister as level-headed and calm as you"

"Provoking is futile, Siren. I am not as ill-tempered as shipgirls from Iron Blood"

"Is that so? Then I have no reason to stay fighting someone as dull as you. Although your torpedo bombers are...slightly amusing"

"I won't let you flee-"

The Siren Custodian snaps her fingers not to order her rigging to defend her or retaliate against Graf Zeppelin...but to unleash common Abyssals on Graf Zeppelin and the other shipgirls who are sill occupied with mass-produced Sirens.

"These are Abyssals with Siren technology?" Graf Zeppelin expresses genuine surprise

"They're modified Pawns, but they're still on a experimental stage. Zero is currently recording the whole situation, so be sure to not exercise restraint. It will help improving these fused Pawns" Custodian waves goodbye

"I won't let you get away!"

Roon screams at the top of her lungs, but experimental Abyssal Pawns keeps pouncing on her, slowing down her attempt of pursuit.

"Don't you dare run away. I will tear you with my own hands!" Roon vows to kill her

"Full of utter disappointments..." Custodian shakes her head

Roon's rigging tears off Re-class and Ta-class Pawns, hell-bent on eliminating the Sirens with her own hands. Her bloodlust and murderous intent is so strong that she ignores everything else but the uninterested Siren who is about to leave.

"...!"

Just as Roon is about to close in on her, a Botivia Princess Pawn appears out of nowhere and rams both Roon and her rigging, pushing the furious Iron Blood heavy cruiser back.

"I may be a combatant type, but I won't fight those who doesn't have anything worth noting. Unfortunately, both you and Graf Zeppelin are too dull for me. Same goes for those U-boats wrestling with the Submarine Princess Pawn"

The Siren's proud smug further fuels Roon's bloodlust, but the latter couldn't even push the mindless copy of an Abyssal that existed before. Botivia Princess is an Abyssal heavy cruiser with Siren technology integrated to its rigging, but a mindless reproduction halts Roon's advances. The battle rages on even to the side with the Maizuru fleet.

"The Hydra. Its ability to repair itself is what gave Musashi a hard time" Nagato wipes the blood from the side of her mouth

"Nagato, are you alright?" Bismarck rushes to her side

"I'm fine. It's just this thing won't die"

Nagato looks up at the multi-headed dragon that is currently rebuilding one of its destroyed head. They may possess firepower enhanced to break through Siren armor, but their enemy keeps undoing their damage. This battle would only result in their loss since there's a high chance they would expand their ammunition and stamina before they can even sink it.

"Bismarck"

Vanguard approaches the two who are both steadying their breathing, exhausted from repeatedly bombing the creature repeatedly. Thankfully, Hydra isn't actively trying to eliminate them like the Leviathan, but it continues to retaliate from the shipgirls' bombardment.

"If it was smaller, we could repeatedly bombard it until it can no longer reform...but it's the size of a battleship" Bismarck grits her teeth

"Even if we can hold it down here, the other Bismarck has to go through Tyrant first" Vanguard swings her sword at the air

Even with three battleships shedding through its armor, the Leviathan can reform its body parts faster than they can bombard it with armor piercing shells.

"We have to at least stall it without sacrificing much of our ammo and energy" Bismarck wipes off her sweat

"Its head repairs the slowest compared to the rest of its body. I also noticed that if too many sides are damaged, it has a hard time devoting its resources into recovering from damages and defending the rest of its body. It's an extremely simple pattern" Vanguard shakes her head

"Even if we can't beat it, we have to at least slow it down" Nagato cracks her neck

The Hydra finishes recovering itself after constant bombardment and moves its head to focus to focus on the three partially exhausted battleships.

"Don't look away, creature!" Mikasa deeply cuts one of its legs

"I am also here!" Littorio completely severs the leg

Hydra almost loses its balance because of the sudden and consecutive slashes from of its least protected body part.

"...!"

As if angered from almost making it stumble down, the multiple heads let out an ear-piercing roar and attempt to chomp on Littorio.

"Hah! Nice try!"

Littorio anticipates the creature's attack and dodges it then deeply cutting its jaw. Unfortunately, her slash isn't enough to sever the body part due to its clear size and thick armor.

"Fire!"

Nagato, Bismarck, and Vanguard ceases the opportunity and bombards its head. Upon the head's complete destruction, Mikasa and Littorio aims for its torso, forcing the enormous weapon to desperately protect the area where attacks are more prominent.

"That's an Abyssal...but I can clearly see Siren weaponry equipped to it" Prince of Wales is baffled"

"They're Pawns just judging from the predictable movements and the Mirror Sea right now" Belfast guesses

"I can't believe not only they're making shipgirl Pawns, they decided to make Abyssal ones too!"

"Siren tendency to experiment on every world they visit"

The Pawn version of Battleship Princess blankly stares at them as its monstrous rigging is replaced with one similar to the mass produced mechanical beasts. Unlike the real one, this one possesses inferior overall strength because it's merely a Pawn, an experimental one at that, so even Prince of Wales and Belfast can fight it on equal footing.

"Are you worried about King George V and Prinz Eugen right now?" Belfast chuckles

"My sister can perfectly protect herself. It's Eugen's playfulness I worry..." Prince of Wales grunts

"You can be the teasing one in the relationship sometimes, but you're certainly the more openly caring and concerned one" Belfast holds her laughter

"We're just allies! It's not like we're close friends..." Prince of Wales looks away

The two may be in the middle of a conversation, but they're still completely focused at battling the Battleship Princess Pawn and other Abyssal Pawns surrounding them. Even with their numbers, the Sirens deploying experimental Pawns is making the battle more difficult.

"This is so lame..." The Siren Omitter groans loudly

"And you complain all the time" The Siren Purifier lightly pokes her

"You're talkative for someone who was kicked out after having your systems overridden by a malware"

"You want to go at it?"

The two Sirens start bickering even with Sovetskaya Rossiya, Gangut, Saint Louis, and King George V in front of them. In fact, the shipgirls are so unsure how to react at the overly confident that they briefly stare at each other and shrugs their shoulders.

"Enough of this!"

Sovetskaya Rossiya loses her patience with how the two Elite Sirens are mocking them by ignoring the fact they are in the middle of a serious battle. She immediately shifts all of her turrets right towards the two Sirens and bombards them with a whole salvo to another.

"Huh?"

The two Sirens stop bickering and shouting at each other's faces when the sound of cannon fire deafens both of them. By the time they shift back their attention to the battle, Sovetskaya Rossiya's barrage rains on them, easily landing direct hits on them since they aren't even moving from their position.

"Hey, that was rude-"

Just as the Siren Purifier is about to complain, Saint Louis follows up the barrage by thrusting her spear right towards Purifier, who manages to prevent the tip from piercing her head.

"That was rude~"

The Siren Purifier manically laughs even when Saint Louis' charges right towards her with the full intent of taking her down. She only stops the spear from dealing a fatal blow on her by clasping her hands together and catching the blade right between them.

"Hahahaha! Serves you right-"

The Siren Omitter laughs at how defenseless Purifier is for a brief moment, only for Sovetskaya Rossiya and King George V appears on both side and almost decapitates her. She only manages to avoid losing her head like what constantly happens to Purifier by bending down a second before the pair of blades swings right through her.

"There are two of us and four of you. It's unfair...since none of you are that interesting" The Siren Purifier pushes Saint Louis back

"More importantly, your efforts would be pointless." The Siren Omitter jumps back

"We lost a comrade because of Sirens like you" Sovetskaya Rossiya tightly grips her sword

"We keeping losing comrades because of bastards like you with your puppet Tyrant. If this whole mess is reset..." Gangut cracks her knuckles

"Hahahaha! We wouldn't be your worst problem after this~" Purifier snickers

"Yeah! You'd face with a worse puppet than the one who shredded Chapayev while you couldn't do anything to save her!" Omitter insults the two Northern Parliament shipgirls

"Why you-"

"Calm down!"

Sovetskaya Rossiya steps forward in front of Gangut before she can fall for their obvious bait. The two Elite Sirens in front of them are the type to enjoy provoking their opponents and seeing their angers burn through their reasoning and recklessly retaliate. In their eyes, humans and shipgirls alike are ruled by their emotions, prioritizing how it will emotionally affect them and their so-called principle.

"Well, not like you would remember anyway~" The Siren Purifier giggles

"Same goes for us, idiot. Only the Arbiters would be excluded because of Progenitor's authority" The Siren Omitter slaps the Siren Purifier

"That hurts, bitch!"

The Sirens ignore their already furious opponent and starts quarreling at each other again, all except for King George V. They start slapping each other in the cheeks until it escalates to seriously hitting each other with their fists. The forces of both the Maizuru fleet and most of the ones from Azur Lane continue to occupy a large amount of the Siren forces while the true goal lies ahead.

"Sirens and Abyssal Pawns pursuing us!" Mainz detects them

"There are too many of them. Bismarck, we'll handle them!" Prinz Eugen clicks her tongue

"Surprisingly, Bismarck made the right choice in making changes with the formation..." Odin lets out a deep sigh

"There's not much of a choice" Tirpitz stops in her tracks

"There's no time for hesitation"

Bismarck nods with the Singularity forcing open a gate to the hidden space of the World Tree itself. She tips off her cap and rushes to head to the destination by herself while the four has to hold down countless Abyssal Pawns and various Siren mass-produced units.

"I'll finish off Tyrant before anyone sinks" Bismarck clenches her fists

The gateway remains open, and she rushes to pursue Tyrant who is most definitely inside the excluded dimension, seeking to free the SIN that humanity rejects despite gaining life because of their will and emotions.

"...!"

Bismarck embraces and bites her lip as the bright light of the wide gate swallows her, blinding her and causing unknown warmth to massage every corner of her body. She feels so lightheaded as she floats into the light for at least a minute before she gently lands on an infinitely vast dimension.

"This is where the World Tree is?"

Thin mist covers every part of the dimension while she surrounded by pure whiteness from, both the sky and her surroundings. Below her is serene and dead-calm waters that only vibrates because of every steps she makes.

"No time to be distracted. I have to find Tyrant-"

"There's no need for that, Bismarck"

"Tyrant!"

Tyrant saves Bismarck the trouble of searching her in the dimensions that expands everywhere as it belongs to all realities and no realities at the same time. Bismarck prepares engage Tyrant in combat, but her own enemy is blankly staring at her.

"Tyrant, why do you want to free someone who will kill us all? Nothing will remain of you unleash a shipgirl meant to kill other shipgirls" Bismarck questions her

"It's the promise I made when she revived my mental cube using the resources of shipgirls she had assimilated. To be specific, she has to be complete for a certain reason"

"What would that be?"

"...To end the wretchedness in this world. Unlike Enterprise, her sense of justice and righteousness is twisted, so she believes killing is equivalent to saving"

"I came here to remove you from ever existing, Tyrant. I won't allow you to doom the world like you did in your own timeline"

"..." Tyrant frowns

"It's because of you that Tirpitz is bound to die, and it's because of you acting as a puppet that caused losses on both worlds"

"It doesn't really matter to me...because this is war after all. Of course you'd expect losses - may it be civilians or soldiers"

The World is right behind Tyrant, and its hugeness makes it seem it's not far from them. In reality, Tyrant is simply hindering Bismarck's path to the World Tree. Only one can reach the archives of the beginning and the end...so only one of them can emerge victorious in their inevitable clash.

"I wanted to fight Tirpitz again, but you left her behind on purpose. It feels like...my effort is wasted" Tyrant shrugs her shoulders

"I told you I would end you myself"

"Huh. I should have spawned a Hood Pawn to keep you distracted..."

"...!"

The top of the World Tree, where only dry white branches towers them, forms gaping cracks of universal void, surprising Bismarck while Tyrant faintly smiles at the sight of it.

"If the World Tree is everything, then the gap is nothing. It won't be long before the Tree is breached...and that thing is set free-"

Bismarck immediately interrupts Tyrant with a full salvo from mid range, much to Tyrant's disappointment. A salvo directly landing several hits on her isn't enough to deal significant damage on Tyrant's main body even if she is handicapped because of imperfect revival.

"You don't get it, do you? You can't win no matter how much you put effort at it. Even if I die here, I will still win!"

Tyrant disregards using her rigging and unsheathes her sword, prompting Bismarck to do the same as well. They raise their own weapons, taking their time preparing rather than striking each other down already.

(I have to move fast before a breach connects that empty prison to this timeline)

Bismarck makes the first move and swiftly pushes herself forward, swinging her sword left and right while Tyrant casually defends herself through parrying and observing each of Bismarck's aggressive swings. It's obvious Bismarck is in a hurry to cancel the breach, but Tyrant feels no need to point it out.

"I'm not in the mood to kill you, Bismarck. To begin with, Tirpitz is the one I want to fight"

"Too bad for you, you have to go up against me. Tirpitz is weakened due to the chain of events you caused"

"I wanted to save my past from a miserable future, but it was a mistake. The future would change...but not the kind I would accept"

Tyrant pushes Bismarck back when their blades clashes, putting their strike to a halt for a brief moment. Their swords trembles while they're pressing all their strength into pushing the other.

"Tirpitz will never become you. She strayed off from that path after a long time" Bismarck rejects her reason

"You're right about that, but you're not aware it would be worse!"

Tyrant is the one who switches to aggressively swinging her sword right to Bismarck who is forced to back away while focusing on purely defending herself.

"What the-!"

It's not just the water beneath her. Bismarck senses a violent quake almost shaking her off-balance. Both her and Tyrant are focused on keeping themselves stnading as the first one who would stumble down would have the other one swiftly react and eliminate her.

"There's a crack in space? No, this is a shredded rift!"

The empty space above the world tree shatters like glass, revealing nothing but flowing emptiness beyond it. Tyrant desires to free a defective weapon from nothingness, and her goal is close to succeeding now. The quake echoes from within the exclusive space to the outside world as well.

"This is not good. Tyrant is near to succeeding her goal!" Prinz Eugen realizes

"Are you saying Bismarck is losing?" Mainz shakes her head

"I have to go to Bismarck. She won't make it in time"

"Then go! We can at least hold these off for at least fifteen more minutes" Odin cuts down a Ro-class Pawn

"Alright"

Tirpitz nods and trusts holding off the endless cannon fodders to the three Iron Blood shipgirls while she rushes to stop Tyrant from succeeding. Even if Bismarck has the advantage, if she doesn't reach the World Tree in time, it would be instantly over for them.

(Good grief. I knew this would happen either way...)

Prinz Eugen easily dodges a Ta-class Pawn and have her rigging bite off both of its arms shortly before blasting its upper body to bits with continuous barrage.

(What a tragic end...)

Odin and Mainz aren't aware of it, so she mutters her dismay that only herself can hear it. She laments at how the events will inevitably turn out with slight annoyance and disappointment visible in her expression alone.

"Bismarck!"

After going through the same process Bismarck has to go through when she enters the World Tree earlier, she immediately spots her older sister in a sudden disadvantage against Tyrant even when they switch back to using their rigging.

"The finale is in place. Bismarck, you will die here as it is intended!"

Upon spotting Tirpitz suddenly invading the space when it's just supposed to be the two of them fighting to the death, Tyrant briefly gasps before declaring her intention to the two sisters.

"Tyrant!" Bismarck reloads all of her cannons

"You can't stopped what's supposed to happen!"

The outlines of Tyrant's rigging glows an unusual color while she distances herself from Bismarck. Her rigging let out an agonized road with how much power Tyrant forces through them.

"...!"

Energy courses through each part of Tyrant's rigging and concentrates most of it to the turret then towards the barrel. A powerful shockwave upon releasing the attack knocks back Tyrant and sends not just ordinary shells to Bismarck but a powerful attracting force that detonates as soon as the shells break.

"Distortion...cannon?!"

The black sphere she detonates in front of Bismarck forcibly pulls her, damaging her constantly for a few seconds before sending her flying away. What Tyrant unleashes is similar to black a hole, just a weaker version that shreds through the target until they are either destroyed of heavily damaged if they are resilient.

"Bismarck!"

When Tyrant plans to unleash a second shot even if it's overloading her engines and damaging her turret, Tirpitz rushes to Bismarck who has difficulty raising herself after a direct hit from the modified distortion blast. She blindly throws herself in the middle of the confrontation.

"...!"

Her reckless desire to prevent Bismarck from losing her life in front of her, causes her to use herself a shield to absorb the shot that is meant to end Bismarck once and for all. Tirpitz isn't as strong as her sister and now that she is weakened by her collapsing mental cube, taking in the second round of the distortion blast moderately damages her rigging but critically injuring her main body in the process.

"Tirpitz!"

"Why you...!" Tyrant grits her teeth

Tirpitz can barely remain conscious as her body is close to collapsing completely to the surface water. Furious at the unwanted intervention, Tyrant switches to using normal shells even when two consecutive uses of distortion cannons pushes her rigging to the limit. She vents out her displeasure by repeatedly unleashing volleys of shells at the injured Tirpitz.

"I'm your...opponent. Don't causally ignore me...Tyrant!" Bismarck stands right back up

A heavily injured and barely conscious Tirpitz collapses on the surface water while Bismarck stands in front of her.

(My rigging won't hold on if I were to use the distortion cannons again. It would mean my defeat...but I will just have to hold down Bismarck for at least ten more minutes)

Tyrant briefly sneaks a glance to the breach nearly complete. A little more and Ghost can emerge out of it, finally anchoring herself to the proper timeline without the need of using shipgirls as temporary nutrients.

"I won't let you or Tirpitz win!"

Bismarck and Tyrant draws their own blade this time with their rigging damaged from their brief clash earlier. Tyrant's rigging would malfunction completely if she unleashes another round of the distortion blast while Bismarck's rigging is partially shredded from the distortion blast.

(Even not as one of the Ashes in this timeline, Bismarck is proving to be a headache)

Bismarck's injuries should slow her down, but her speed doesn't wane the least as if her sheer willpower is keeping her from loosening her performance in the middle of the battle.

"My...arm!"

Tyrant takes one step back and moves her vacant left arm, only for Bismarck to instantly sever it from the rest of the body. The shock of the speed of Bismarck landing a significant blow on her briefly paralyzes. Tyrant regains her focus, but it's already too late with how Bismarck slices her torso diagonally.

"I won't go down that easily. Not until I bring you down first!"

Tyrant raises her sword and she swings it down aiming to strike Bismarck's left shoulder, Bismarck herself catches the blade rather than evade it like any normal person would do.

"...!"

Before Tyrant can think of struggling to pull her sword away, Bismarck doesn't waste the brief opportunity and stabs Tyrant right through the chest without a second thought. She pierces her body until it strikes the rigging as well, clearly intending to end Tyrant with her own hands.

"Don't ever come back from the dead because I will kill you as many times as it takes" Bismarck vows as she glares at Tyrant

"You haven't won yet!"

In a desperate attempt to retaliate against Bismarck, Tyrant sacrifices her own blade by breaking it since Bismarck refuses to let return it to her.

"...!"

Tyrant breaks off the sword from the sharpest edge of the sword and uses the half-destroyed it by plunging it right to Bismarck's chest, specifically where her heart is located.

"Bismarck!"

"You must...stop Tyrant's...plan..." Bismarck notices her

"Bismarck!"

"You have to protect Iron Blood...but never lead...to Tyrant's path..." Bismarck struggles to speak as her body slowly falls down

Tirpitz regains most of her consciousness only to witness in horror on how Tyrant stabs Bismarck right through her heart, dealing a fatal blow. Tyrant herself receives a mortal wound but refuses to succumb to her death just yet.

"No...no, no, no! This isn't..."

The horror of seeing Bismarck receiving a fatal blow shocks Tirpitz into pushing her heavily injured body and rushing to Bismarck's side.

"Ggh!"

Tirpitz collapses the surface water as well due to her body on the brink of giving up as well. The strike earlier isn't instantly fatal like what happens to Bismarck, but it seals her fate in the current moment.

"Bismarck is - and I'm going to go down as well, but still..."

Tyrant lies motionlessly and silently on the surface water while Tyrant collapses as soon as Tirpitz reaches Bismarck. Tirpitz doesn't care if she's about to completely collapse like the two who end each other, but this doesn't stop her from pushing her own corpse to at least reach her older sister.

"Bismarck! Bismarck! Don't do this to me. You're not supposed to die!"

Tirpitz shouts at the top of her lungs, but her effort to wake up Bismarck is completely futile. Tyrant deeply plunges the blade right to Bismarck's chest even at the cost of her own life.

"You're not...supposed to die, big sister. This isn't...what supposed...to happen..." Tirpitz's voice shakes

Right now, Tirpitz deeply seeks to end Tyrant in retribution, but Tyrant herself is laying motionlessly in front of her. Neither Bismarck nor Tyrant emerges victorious with both sides instantly dead at the spot.

"Bismarck...!"

No matter how much Tirpitz desperately calls out Bismarck's name, her older sister isn't responding. A direct strike to the heart is a fatal blow even when Tirpitz keeps ignoring that fact. Her desire is to protect Bismarck just how the latter struggles to protect everyone in Iron Blood. It's pointless now with Bismarck herself dead in her arms.

"Nnghh...!"

Tirpitz briefly collapses to the surface water as well, but she pushes herself up again. She repeatedly raises her own body despite the fact that her fate is sealed. No matter how much she desperately tries, nothing will ever undo the tragedy in front of her.

"Bismarck's dead...and I'm going to die. Everyone is struggling out there...believing Bismarck would succeed. It's all for naught now. There's no reset...for this...checkmate..."

Tirpitz bites her lip in frustration as her thoughts and emotions are in complete chaos right now. There's nothing she can do now with her body dying at any moment now. All she can do is curse her own mistake and lament her inability to change her only chance of a future for her comrades.

Lead through the mist...

...

All that is lost is revealed...

Our long bygone burdens...

Echoes into the stream...

A familiar song that someone constantly buns without end on different occasions for so long briefly startles Tirpitz as dark substance fills the gaping intricate marks all around the World Tree as if the shattered rift is leaking its contents and the World Tree is preventing is from infecting the timeline. A pair of blackened arms reaches for both edges of the rift - an opportunity Tyrant makes possibly that costs her life.

[It's a shame that this is how it ends...for you...]

Just like what Tyrant is saying to Bismarck, she would succeed no matter who remains standing. They are both dead on the spot, but their corpses unfazed Ghost who successfully manifests herself into the excluded space first. The being is both nobody and exists in nothing. That is about to change when an opportunity to fulfill her wish is right before her eyes.

"Enterprise? No, you barely resemble her..."

"Why do you think they called me Ghost? A ghost of not that person...but the human who took me in" Ghost faintly smiles as her

"It really is game over. Everyone's efforts...are useless now"

"You were willing to throw away your life believing so long as Bismarck lives, and it doesn't matter how you will end"

The being called Ghost is abstract and difficult to distinguish once up close. Tirpitz sees a familiar figure when she first steps out the breach in the World Tree but couldn't recognize her now that she's in front of her.

"There has to be a way to prevent this timeline from dying. There has to be a way...to undo this mistake" Tirpitz pleads to who's supposed to be her enemy

"What if I told you there's a way? I'm certain you were prepared for it the moment you left Iron Blood"

"What...?!"

"The World Tree can grant what humans revel as miracles, but there's no such as a free miracle. If the conditions are aligned, then a 'wish' is possible. The question is...are you prepared to carry the weight of your own wish?"

"..."

Tirpitz's response would determine the end of the chaotic situation, so she silently organizes her reasoning. Her older sister Bismarck remains dead in front of her. She has no power to undo her greatest guilt...and the only who can grant it is the worst possible person she could ask to.

"If...you reach out your hand...there's no going back..." Tyrant coughs and struggles to breath

"Tyrant!"

"Oh? You're still breathing?" Ghost chuckles

"Tirpitz, what you're about to do...is irreversible. There's not even a moment...to think about regret..."

"You killed Bismarck...!" Tirpitz clenches her fist

"It was not...supposed to happen...but I truly lost myself. Kill me...as you have every right to enact vengeance..." Tyrant takes a deep breath

"There's not much time, Tirpitz. Your allies are dying out there. To be specific, you're about to die yourself..."

Ghost slightly pulls herself back, giving Tirpitz enough space to thoroughly think whether she can truly accept or reject the consequences. Tyrant warns her that the path behind her would disappear. There will be no second chances if she fails to carry the responsibility.

"I will protect Iron Blood and continue to fight for what I believe in. No matter the consequences, I will carry it...for the sake of never losing ever again"

"I see. You made up your mind... from the very beginning" Ghost sorrowfully smiles

"Can...you really...handle it...?" Tyrant coughs again

"It's not even worth thinking about. This eternal punishment...is a small price to pay for those who can carry the future of others. I'm just here to ensure Bismarck will continue to carry Iron Blood's future"

"You are...an idiot. Then again...we are the same person..." Tyrant weakly scoffs

"Ghost"

"What is it?"

"Will you..."

Tirpitz takes a deep breath when she musters enough strength to request a foolish one to Ghost, who is just there waiting whether Tirpitz will go forth with her decision. What she says finally nails the vow, but it doesn't bring her joy. In fact, Ghost sympathizes with her while Tyrant is somewhat upset at the turnout of events.

"I was supposed to be the one to - but instead... you're willing to carry such burden. You will...end up just like me...but worse"

"..." Tirpitz has no reason to respond

"If only...I could be there...to watch this tragedy...unfold..."

Tyrant's eyes completely goes dull and her voice fades away. This time, she is staying dead even if she briefly springs back forth to life to hear Tirpitz's choice and her reason for accepting such choice.

"Bismarck, from now on...you will have to live without knowing the truth. I know you will resent me for it...but this is what I have chosen"

Tirpitz gently holds Bismarck's hands and leaves her words of regret even if she is no longer alive to hear it. Ghost witnesses Tirpitz's sorrowful smile but sees no regret in her even when she is prepared to face the weight of her wish to undo a dead end for her world.

[What a tragic end indeed...]

After finishing her apology to her deceased sister, Tirpitz stands up and signals Ghost by gently nodding at her while staring directly fight into her empty red eyes. In response, Ghost slowly lifts her hand and touches Tirpitz's cheek, who stands there preparing to reset the whole event just like Bismarck desires.

"..." Tirpitz's hand is blankly reaching out the air

The moment slips by before she can realize it. Tirpitz finds herself standing without Ghost's presence. It's as if Ghost truly lives up to her name and instantly vanishing right before anyone can react. She disappears to grant Tirpitz's wish with the latter completely accepting the weight of a heavy wish. Emptiness and silence ironically fills the air as Tirpitz gently squeezes her own hand.

From now on, huh...

Tirpitz briefly stares at the two corpses of the two tragic being who ends up killing each other even if one of them briefly revives herself just to witness the end. After closing her eyes for a moment, Tirpitz turns away from the two and slowly walks towards the World Tree, silently awaiting those who seeks a "miracle". The one who successfully reaches to it has to exchange just "one" in order to cling to the very last moment.

"T-this is...!" Odin widens her eyes

"The sky is cracking...!" Mainz has the same reaction

"They actually did it. To be exact, she actually did it..." Prinz Eugen takes a deep breath

Throughout the battlefield and the rest of everything else, the white lines resembling circuit lines spreads far and wide. Everyone in the battlefield ceases the conflict as their attention are completely towards the inevitable.

"So that's it, huh. Well, I had fun getting to know those shipgirls..." Bismarck deeply sighs

"Hopefully I wake up in a world where the admiral isn't sneaking off to eat snacks like a goblin" Nagato sighs

"I wonder what Lady Warspite and the others are thinking about now" Vanguard crosses her arms

"We'll see each other again, but it's not fun forgetting this adventure" Littorio proudly laughs

"Well, back to square one of my investigations..." Mikasa rubs her shoulders

"I want a cup of tea once I wake up" Prince of Wales thinks to herself

"Fufufu. I'll gladly serve you one" Belfast giggles

On the other side facing the Leviathan whose entire body is close to burning, AL Akagi and Kaga embraces for the inevitability with AL Akagi wrapping her arms around AL Kaga's arms.

"Hopefully this means Bismarck succeeds..." AL Graf Zeppelin rests herself

"..." Roon frowns while holding the severed head of the Bativia Princess Pawn

The other sides which includes the two versions of Shoukaku and Zuikaku, stares at their respective sisters and warmly smile. KC Shoukaku and Zuikaku bids farewell to their counterparts with KC Shoukaku waving her hands and KC Zuikaku giving a quick salute.

"This is making me sad..." AL Zuikaku sadly chuckles

"Zuikaku?" AL Shoukaku tilts her head

"It's nothing..."

Near them are Admiral Hipper and KC Prinz Eugen where the latter is gently rubbing the former's back.

"A-are you crying?" KC Prinz Eugen nervously asks

"No! Yes!" Admiral Hipper bites her lip holding her tears

"I'll miss you too..." KC Prinz Eugen guesses her thoughts

The side with four shipgirls dealing with the two Elite Sirens pulling each other's cheeks, both sides have their attention at the sky as well. The two Sirens stops bickering like children and chuckles despite the fact they're not part of the exception.

"I wonder if Chapayev will come back to life" AL Gangut ponders

"Hopefully..." Sovetskaya Rossiya removes her cap

"Hopefully I wouldn't have nightmares of what I had to go through while possessed" Saint Louis withdraws her spear

"Is this supposed to be a happy ending. I wonder what would Essex think of this...?"

King George V sheaths back her own sword and also accepts the inevitable reset with all of them forgetting about the entire even spanning for seven months.

"Would this be a win?" Empress is seemingly unhappy

"Beats me. This isn't even over yet" Fool chuckles

"Tch! That was anticlimactic" Hermit clicks her tongue in disappointment

"Oddly enough we have a truce just to wait for the whole event to unfold. Too bad Devil and Judgement aren't here" Strength comments

"The five of us are enough. We are merely spectators to this event" Temperance raises both hands

The five Siren Arbiters gather in a certain exclusive dimension as well, quietly observing the whole scenario as if they are all watching a movie...and they are the only audiences. All four couldn't even smile at the ending, unhappy and disappointed while Fool tucks her hands in her pockets and ominously chuckling like she has more schemes in mind.

"It turns out how we all expected it to be. My efforts weren't a waste after all" Fool smiles in satisfaction

"Why do I feel like there's a chance this would backfire on the Sirens rather than to the shipgirls" Hermit scratches her head

"The entity is volatile...and has a notorious temperament. That means we can't lay a hand on Iron Blood while she is present" Temperance points out

"Ghost achieved what she has been planning for so long by manipulating everything while imprisoned. If Enterprise is such a pain...then this one is even worse" Empress speaks out

"Ghost is unkillable even after achieving a complete form. You could say she's the strongest defective weapon there is" Strength is somewhat concerned

"Then I suppose I have more parts to play"

Fool flips down her hood and eagerly awaits for another event she can observe and interfere even if she keeps losing decoy bodies to a certain someone. The other four Sirens blankly glances at her since she is a Siren whose true motives remains completely vague even to the Siren Empress.

It ended how it's supposed to be...

---

The morning sun shines through the glass windows of Bismarck's office even with curtains keeping most the light from peaking in. The day may be perfect to stretch out and relax, Bismarck finds herself waking up in her office, giving herself a deja vu kind of feeling.

"I'm alive...? If I'm here...then Tyrant didn't win?"

Bismarck is shocked of her own survival since she clearly remembers dying and taking down Tyrant with her. She leaves a few words to Tirpitz before her consciousness is completely cut off, but she immediately regains it...and back in her own office.

"This can't be right. I couldn't have succeeded..."

Still not believing herself, Bismarck immediately storms out of the office, passing by shipgirls confused at what she's rushing to with a dead serious expression all over her face. Bismarck hastily drags her own feet outside the main building of Iron Blood's main headquarters, spotting Graf Zeppelin and Peter Strausser watching over the destroyers play around, making sure they wouldn't hurt themselves.

"You look pale. Is there something wrong, big sister?"

"Tirpitz?"

Tirpitz, sitting nearby while gently sipping a fresh cup of brown coffee, wonders at Bismarck's unusual behavior. All Tirpitz notices is how Bismarck is baffled seeing her relaxing in one spot while enjoying a peaceful view.

"Tirpitz..."

"Hmm?" Tirpitz blinks in confusion

"Do you...remember the World Tree where I had to fight Tyrant to the death?"

"The what?" Tirpitz lowers her cup of coffee

"I knew it. I'm the only one...who remembers after all"

Now that it's confirmed only Bismarck has memories of the previous events, she doesn't waste time confusing Tirpitz when she clearly isn't aware of their target during the battle at the northern sea where Bismarck remembers losing her life.

"Is there something wrong? Are you stressed out again?" Tirpitz worryingly asks

"Don't worry, I'm just...dreaming things" Bismarck shakes her head

"You should relax once in a while. It's a peaceful day after all"

"I'll do that later. I don't want to waste this temporary peace after all..."

Bismarck tips off her cap, agreeing about cherishing the peace of completely removing Tyrant's existence from ever setting all the events in motion. Without Tyrant, everything Tirpitz has to go through is completely erased. If she doesn't remember her experience in the other world, she wouldn't be in the thin line of dying. Bismarck walks off with a satisfied smile on her lips while Tirpitz fondly watches her walk away.

"Thankfully...she seems content with her life"

Tirpitz gently pushes her cup of coffee away and rests her head on her right arm, warmly seeing Bismarck interact with the energetic destroyers and Admiral Hipper coming to complain about Prinz Eugen again. There's an unusual smile curving on her lips, but that soon changes into an upset expression when she stretches out her left and hand and stares at her own palm.

"You don't have anything to worry about for the time being that is..."

Her words are ambiguous on whatever she is directly referring it. Tirpitz solemnly and gently squeezes her own palm a few times, sensing slight numbness the moment the whole event is undone by her efforts. Bismarck dies before she can accomplish her goal against Tyrant, and it takes Tirpitz pleading to Ghost to accomplish. It doesn't matter how it is accomplished since everyone is content with their life now, specially Bismarck. It's all that matters to her ...

A happy ending...I suppose...