Raven hit the floor at the other end of the portal. Looking up, he saw Observer hovering over him. Her eyes seemed to bore a hole within Raven, one even stronger than his current injury in his chest.

"Oh, you poor thing," she said. "Look what they did to you."

"It's… nothing," Raven grunted before collapsing on his knee.

"Head over to the infirmary."

"No. I want to get back and make them swallow their own lead!"

Raven then fell to the ground, clutching his chest.

"Oh, my. Well, you're determined, aren't you?"

Raven was so injured that he needed to be carried out by Sirens. He left a trail of blood, fuel and other aircraft fluids.

Observer dipped one of her tentacles in a puddle of these fluids and tasted it, licking her lips.

"Hmm. He's almost ready. We still need to conduct some research, however. Alright, Raven. Let's see if you're truly ready."

Lying on a Siren operating table and closing his eyes, Raven drifted off to a world where all was white. No up. No down. No left or right. Empty and devoid.

Except for a black and red woman.

She looked familiar. But somehow, he couldn't picture her.

"Hello, Raven," she smiled. "Remember me?"

So Raven was right. They met before. But why couldn't he remember her?

She giggled. "It's okay that you don't. My name is Amagi. Before I wiped your memory, I linked myself to your artificial intelligence."

"So, Azur Lane didn't wipe my memory?"

Amagi shook her head.

"Who did?"

"Me." Noticing Raven's confusion, Amagi giggled again.

"Allow me to remind you."

She began to disappear in front of Raven, and his vision started to pulsate.

Raven then woke up, sitting up and knocking one of the Sirens attending his wounds across the room.

"Take it easy, Raven. You've been injured heavily, but luckily we fixed you. Now, all you need is rest."

Turning his head, Raven smiled.

"No. What I need…"

He suddenly wrapped his fingers around the Siren's neck.

"…is your head on my wall."

With brute force came a crack, and the Siren dropped dead.

"Ah, there's that infamous bloodlust," Amagi's voice said.

"Amagi? Are you back in my head?"

"Indeed."

"And why did you wait so long to restore my memories?"

"Well, like Observer, I wanted to conduct some research of my own."

"What?"

"I wanted to see who you really are. What type of fighter. Let's get out of here."

"But, my home…"

"Listen, Raven. The Sirens, in case you haven't figured it out yet, are liars. They'll say whatever you want to hear to get you on their side. That's why the ships of Azur Lane are strong. Despite these false temptations, they never stray from the path of righteousness. You must face the truth. There is no Strangereal."

Gritting his teeth, Raven struggled to swallow.

"And why do you care? What do you have to gain from this? Being in my head and all?"

"Revenge. Those Siren savages dare use me to trick and deceive my darlings Kaga and Akagi. They'll suffer dearly."

"Ah, so that must be what that Orochi thing was."

"Yes. Now, let's get out of here."

Raven punched the wall with his prosthetic, shattering it. His white hair blew in the wind. His body pulsated with energy and power.

"it's time to show them, both the Sirens and Azur Lane, who I truly am. The true ruler of the sky. And those who rule the skies will also rule the seas." Raven's eyes shined and his mouth stretched to a wide smile.

A couple of hours later, a large-scale battle was occurring out at sea once again. Azur Lane was locked in an intense battle with a big Siren fleet.

Then, in the middle of the battle, a transmission was coming in from both sides.

"What do we do?" Graf Zepplin asked.

"Put it through. It might be important," Enterprise said.

"It could be a Siren trick," Shouhou cautioned.

Enterprise shot a glare at the Sakura carrier.

Shouhou gulped nervously. "But it's your call, ma'am."

The transmission came through.

"Can you hear me, Azur Lane? Can you hear me, Sirens?"

It was Raven.

"Rejoice, for the king of the heavens has graced upon this battlefield."

"What? What is he talking about?" Swiftsure asked.

Enterprise shook her head, not knowing the answer. She then glanced over at the Sirens. They appeared just as confused.

Bright red lightning rained from the sky. The following thunder clapped like bombs. The bolts struck in between the warring factions.

Sure enough, Raven appeared from its epicenter. Bracing for another attack, the Azur Lane fleet prepared themselves.

Raven landed alongside the Siren commander.

"Ah, Raven. Seems you are all better. Now, assist us in-"

The commander was not able to finish her sentence, because Raven grabbed her by her hair and pulled it tightly. The other Sirens pointed their guns at Raven.

"You dare give orders to your royal highness? You fool!"

"I'm sorry, please, I beg you! Let me go!" the commander whimpered.

Raven did so, albeit roughly. The surrounding Sirens lowered their cannons.

"Besides, I'm afraid that you have just run into a storm of bad luck," Raven said.

"Forgive me, but I don't understand, my lord," the commander said.

"I have chosen my side. And unfortunately for you, it isn't yours."

In the blink of an eye, Raven grabbed the Siren commander's shoulder and using his PLSL, fired a large hole in her gut. Gasping, she coughed yellow blood, and fell face-first into the water.

Before the other Sirens could counter, Raven transformed and took to the air. He contacted the Azur Lane fleet and headquarters.

"Uh, guys? Guess who's back on your side. And guess who just stirred up a hornet's nest."

Some girls cheered. Others sighed in relief. But all were excited and happy Raven returned.

Angry, the Sirens began unleashing all their firepower on Raven, who was struggling to dodge the heavy flak.

"You ladies return to base. I can handle things from here."

Raven climbed up and dived down, charging his EML.

"Traitor!" the Sirens shouted.

"Me? A traitor? No. I am Raven, a bird of the night. The chief of the heavens. The reason why you're afraid of going to bed. A true, living nightmare."

Raven fired his railgun. A blanket of fire engulfed the Siren forces.

"Hope you said your final prayers."

After exterminating any survivors, Raven returned to base. He was greeted by the entire fleet, awaiting his arrival.

"Welcome home, Raven," Cleveland said.

Raven bowed in thanks.

"Enterprise wants to have a word with you. I'm afraid that we'll need to restrain you. Her orders. For both your safety, and ours."

Cleveland pulled out a pair of handcuffs. Without resistance, Raven raised his arms, and the Eagle Union cruiser clasped them upon his wrists.

Outside the HQ room, Raven heard loud, constant chatter between the leaders of each camp. As soon as he entered, the conversations all died, and a silence swept over.

"Raven. Have a seat," Belfast gestured to a chair.

"No. I won't waste your time. I betrayed and hurt you, both emotionally and, for some of you, physically. You have all lent me your strength, trust and love. And I threw that away. All for my own selfish purposes. I see that now. And I must be punished for that."

The ships remained silent, indicating that Raven was correct.

"That is why..."

Raven walked over to Enterprise. He kneeled before her.

"…I must die."

Everyone gasped. Nobody expected, nor wanted, Raven to say those words.

Raven looked up at the Gray Ghost.

"Please. I deserve this. Not to mention the fact I am a Siren myself. As long as my kind exist, you, this alliance and all of humanity are in danger. My sole mission is to eradicate Sirens, and even if it means my death, so be it."

Remembering Raven's betrayal, Enterprise stood up, angry and emotional.

"Enterprise, you don't actually mean to go through with it, do you?" Nagato asked.

"He was strong enough to return to us, doesn't that say enough?" Bismarck said.

"If it were up to me, I'd welcome him back with open arms," Queen Elizabeth noted.

"Enterprise, we all strongly suggest you let Raven live, even all the other girls," Prince of Wales said. "But, you being our commander, it is your choice."

Enterprise summoned her bow. Raven hurt so many of them he needed to pay. But, she didn't know if she had what it took to kill her former comrade.

She raised her bow and drew its string back. Most of the ships turned away, unable to face Raven's execution.

At the last second, however, she lowered it. She couldn't do it.

"What a shame," Raven said, lowering his head in disappointment. "In that case, I must bring this punishment upon myself."

Using his strength, Raven ripped the cuffs apart. Fusing his fingers together and drawing his blade, he thrusted it upon himself.

Everyone looked on in shock as Raven's sword was about to pierce his healing chest.

Then, his arm froze. No matter how hard he tried, Raven could not move it. It was as if someone else was in control of his body.

"You fool," Amagi said in his head. "Did his highness just fight through all that just to end his life here? How shameful."