(AN: Thank you to Zeno6804 for pointing out that mistake.)
"What's going on?" shouted Akagi, turning to Overseer.
"I thought you of all people would understand an attack when you see one," she replied, with a shrug.
"That's not what I meant and you know it," she said, her voice on the edge of anger "we had a deal, I'd take care of your opponents and make your invasion easier, in return you'd leave my people alone."
"Ah, yes, yes, the proposal," said Overseer, tapping her chin playfully.
"Sorry Akagi," she said, with a fake smile "but your usefulness to us has ended."
"What?" said the leader of the Sakura Empire, feeling a sudden weight press down on her shoulders.
"Don't get me wrong, your deal was a pretty sweet one," said Overseer Alpha, circling her like a predator "you do our dirty work for us and we sit pretty and wait till the end."
"But, right now, we've been given a chance like no other, eliminating both the Sakura Empire's and the Eagle Union's aces in one swift attack."
Akagi could only shudder in horror as the consequences of her actions hit her.
"At first, the Eagle Union wasn't a real threat to us. A faction that took to piracy and attacked whenever it suited them best was no danger in the long run. But then two major changes happened. First was when Enterprise, Eugen, Illustrious and Wales arrived."
"Three different factions working together under a single banner. Those four are like beacons of light and it won't be long before others are drawn in by this group" she said, clenching her fist "the last time we ignored an event like that, the damned Azur Lane was formed and we were sent back, not this time though. This time, we'll stomp them out before they can rise up against us."
"what's the other change?" asked Akagi.
"The otherworlder of course," replied Overseer Alpha "sure there are many who are joining this rebel group because of Enterprise, Wales, Illustrious and Eugen, but it won't be long before they swear their loyalty to the otherworlder."
"You may not know this, but with just Hood and Z23, he was able to take out nearly half of our raiding party. Not once in the history of this world has something like that been possible. If he can do that with just two of you… he'd be unstoppable with a fleet."
"Don't worry Akagi," she said, putting a hand on the despondent leader's head "I'll make sure to kill them quickly."
"NO you won't," she yelled and quickly grabbed her opponent's arm as she rose up about to attack. Unfortunately, for her though, Overseer Alpha reacted faster as multiple tentacles emerged behind her and immediately wrapped themselves around Akagi. This intense vice caused her to release Overseer.
"I can understand you wanting some revenge after what happened," she said, followed by a swift and punishing punch to Akagi's face.
Overseer released her vice-like grip on Akagi and watched her fall down, coughing up some blood from the blow she just received.
"Which is why I'll let it slide," she added.
Instead of saying anything, Overseer Alpha simply waved a condescending wave to Akagi as a portal behind her formed and enveloped her.
Meanwhile Akagi was at a complete loss of what to do.
"My people," she thought imagining them all being mercilessly killed by the Sirens.
"I couldn't protect them," she said, tears starting to form in her eyes, despair setting in on her and no solution in sight.
"Is this…. Really how it ends?" she muttered quietly, raising her body up and letting her tears start trickling down.
From Akagi's perspective, it seemed fitting that the one person she didn't want to see was now standing before her.
"What good timing," she said, looking at the Commander "we were just talking about you."
He remained silent.
"Did you come here to laugh at me?" asked Akagi, her voice trembling in fear and resignation.
"I didn't."
"You should," she said, lowering her head "when we first met, I was looking down on you. Now here you are, looking down on me."
"Go ahead," she added, "laugh at me, laugh at what I've become."
"I won't."
"THEN JUST GO AWAY," she shouted, throwing a clump of dust at him, but he remained where he stood.
"IF IT WEREN'T FOR YOU, NONE OF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED," she shouted, flinging more dust at him.
"I COULD HAVE PROTECTED THEM, I WOULD HAVE PROTECTED THEM. BUT NOW THEY'RE ALL GOING TO DIE AND IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT."
"GO AWAY"
"GO AWAY"
"GO AWAY!"
"GO AWAY!"
"GO AWAY"
"GO AWAY!"
"GO AWAY!"
"GO AWAY!"
She continued screaming the same two words at him, while he remained rooted in his spot. Each time she shouted at him, he could feel the despair taking over her. Each time she shouted, she was falling deeper and deeper into a pit from which there was no escape. She did everything she could to protect what she loved and now…. Now she was going to lose it all.
Her voice, what was once filled with confidence and condescension was filled with sorrow and grief. The pain of what was coming had gotten the better of her and in that pain, she turned to the one person who made it all happen.
Her shouts had now decreased to weak whispers and quiet pleas. Her head was still lowered and it looked like she had no energy left.
Then, she raised her head, the emotions laid bare on her face, and he didn't see the ruler of an empire. He saw someone who desperately wanted to protect all that she loved.
"Please," she said, her voice breaking, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Help me," she said, using the last of her strength.
At this point, he could have turned around and walked away. After all, he had no reason to listen to her and if he took advantage of the situation, he could wipe out the Sirens and the Sakura Empire's aces. If he turned around and left her to die, no one back at the base would question it. In fact, considering how Akagi spoke to them last time, they'd all agree with his choice of actions.
It would be easy to leave her to her fate. Instead, he quietly walked up to her and when he was close, he took off his hat and put it on her head saying "hold onto this for me."
As he said that, Akagi felt a chill running down her spine. This was due to how the person she saw now was completely different from the one she met at the EU's headquarters. That person looked unassuming, normal, bland and boring. This person was the complete opposite; having an imposing figure that made her shudder in fear.
She watched quietly as the Commander turned around, heading to where the battle was going on. All of a sudden, she felt a strong wind come up from behind her, causing her to cover her eyes.
When the wind passed and she opened her eyes, Akagi saw that the Commander was not alone. Right next to him was a translucent figure walking alongside him.
It took her all of one second to make out the back of that person, as it was one that was burned into her memory.
"A-ma-gi," she said, trembling and reaching out to the spirit of her beloved older sister. It was at that point, she remembered why the Commander's imposing figure scared her so much, because it was reminiscent of how Amagi used to be.
Although the latter half of her life was spent living inside her castle, her last mission being with the famous fleet of the Azur Lane, Amagi was a force of nature during her prime.
Tales of how she single-handedly faced off against twenty of the Royal Navy's best fighters or of how the almighty Bismarck was brought to a standstill when confronted by Amagi were some of the many stories that were associated to the woman in her heyday.
In fact, one of the reasons why the Sakura Empire is considered the largest faction in this world, is because of how many girls joined up to chase the legend she created.
Amagi's achievements were so great, it even led to a famous saying among the soldiers of the Sakura Empire. It goes "Victory is assured whenever Amagi enters the battlefield."
Years after her death, during the second war with the Sirens, it seemed like the Goddess of victory was once again entering the battlefield.
