Amagi is skewered on my arm, Laffey's body beneath us.

She places her hand on my cheek, tears falling from her eyes. "It's okay… I forgive yo-"

I rip my arm out from her chest, taking her wisdom cube with it, before dropping to Laffey's side. "Laffey, no! Please, please don't leave me!"

She is gurgling on her own blood, and I can do nothing but watch. "Please! Please."

I hear a gasp from behind me, seeing Akashi behind me. "Akashi, please! Help her!"

She looks horrified, and runs past me to Amagi, attempting to staunch the wound. "What about Laffey?!"

She looks at me, before saying "Sorry, but with the plague going around, we need everyone who can fight first."

Play "Cleric Beast"- Bloodborne

The world around me fades out, and all I can see is Akashi in front of me. I feel my rigging summon behind me, and Akashi looks at me afraid.

My rigging turns back into cubes, sucking into my body.

My eye flares up, burning a flaming orange. My eyepatch blows off my face, the energy too much for the leather strap to handle. I can feel my heart thump in my ears, and my vision is red.

"Did you do this to Amagi? How could you?"

I can feel my rigging reacting to the power flowing through me uninhibited. I am siphoning power from everything around. Laffey's rigging is pulled towards me, disappearing as it gets close. My rigging turns into a pile of cubes, sucking into my body.

It pauses for a moment, the day seemingly progressing rapidly, the Sun shining down on us despite it being the late afternoon.

Akashi looks on in fear.

My rigging leaves me, slowly transforming into a long black steel contraption. It is double the length I am now, and it is growing wider at the end. It has the shape of a jaw at the end, growing teeth that curve inwards, trapping anything unfortunate enough to be caught in it, ripping them to shreds with hundreds of needle sharp teeth.

The bottom of the jaw grows a small black strand, seemingly made of rubber, which ends in a floating appendage, with a similar look to a flame at the end.

Akashi backs up, scared of my transformation. She attempts to reason with me, but I don't care. All I see is meat.

Akashi screams as her upper body is torn from the rest of her by my rigging's horribly painful maw.

"You should've listened while you had the chance, beast!"

My rigging continues to tear her upper body to shreds, while I chop away at Amagi's body with my blade.

I hear a gasp behind me, but I smell them before even that. "Beasts all over the base… You'll be one of them, sooner or later."

I turn, seeing Takao looking at me with a face of betrayal. I rush her, and she turns to run. I can hear her heart, it's beating like mad.

She turns the corner, and I round it to see Atago looking at her. Takao screams for help, before my rigging rips her in two. Atago looks horrified, before anger replaces it just as quickly. She lets out a scream of rage, rushing me with her rigging firing, and her blade held high.

"YOU TRAITOR. SHE TRUSTED YO-"

My blade silences her noises, turning them into much preferred gurgles.

Her face, barely conscious, looks to me in fear as I put my own closer. "Ah, the blood. It sings to me. So… sweet."

I take a lick of her blood, before my rigging finishes the job, tearing through her abdomen. I let her body fall to the floor in two pieces.

I feel a blade pierce through my chest, feeling it pierce straight through my heart. I cough up some blood.

I turn, seeing Shimakaze behind me. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!" I feel the blade tear through my ribs, ripping out through my chest.

"I was right not to trust you. I thought you were bad news since we found out about you, but this confirms it."

She turns around to check for the other ships' wisdom cubes, gathering them in a bag.

My wounds are healing, despite the severe damage, to the point that I can move again. I stand back up, and she only notices me as I turn to look at her. "What, how?! You should have been dead!"

I reach towards her, my rigging rushing at her faster than she could blink, and her own rigging is torn off. "Filthy beast, you only know how to ambush."

I rush her, my blade piercing through her stomach, while my rigging approaches her head.

"Night night."

Stop the music.

…

I wake up in Atago's embrace, feeling her breasts around my head. 'I feel like somebody is jealous of this.'

I hear Atago above me, "You're finally awake?"

I nod a little, "Yeah."

She stands up, giving me a moment to escape from her embrace. Takao is still asleep, laying in the bed across the room. 'It's still funny to me that she's a heavier sleeper than Atago.'

I get ready for the day after Atago, and Takao wakes up and does so after me.

I follow them out, and we go and get something to eat. When we make it to the cafeteria, we grab our food before going outside to eat. I grab a bottle of sake while I'm there, it has become a recent addiction over the past week or two. 'I'm not entirely sure how long it's been. The first few days? were very muddied together. It's been about a week since I've started moving around again, though.'

We sit down and I enjoy my sushi with them, finally able to taste it again. I reach over for my sake, taking a swig of it, the smooth and slightly fruity flavor is a wonder to my palette. Funny that I only found out recently that there are different kinds, too.

Like, thicker, more fruity kinds, or thinner, more acidic kinds. My favorite has to be Nigori, which is the creamiest, and sweetest.

Atago looks at me drinking it with an amused face. I look at her confused, and she explains, "It's just, it's strange seeing you so happy drinking alcohol. I never expected you to enjoy it so much."

I nod, taking another sip. "Well, it tastes good. Besides that, it also helps with my headaches, I've noticed."

Takao looks at me seriously, "You've been having headaches for how long?"

"Since that weird rift stuff happened during the battle."

'Those rifts were so strange, why haven't I questioned them until now? Maybe I should go search for Akagi now, see what she knows about them.'

I feel Atago pat my head, "Well, as long as you don't over do it. Anyways, what got you to try sake of all things? You know we have beer, right?"

I nod, feeling her still petting me. "Well, there were a couple of things. The first was that I wanted some alcohol to drown out my thoughts. Second, I wanted to be closer to you guys, and sake is a Sakura Empire thing. Third, Laffey recommended it to me some time ago, after finding out I never tried it, despite it being her favorite thing from over here."

I see them look at me concerned through blurry vision. Atago says "You don't need to push yourself, you know. Take your own speed."

I wipe my eyes, and give them a weak smile. "I-it's fine, I need to get past it. You guys put so much into me, I should pay it forward."

Takao nods her head in understanding, before Atago smiles and grabs me in a hug, crying into my shoulder. "Awwww, our little sis is all grown up now!"

'I… can't… breath…'

She lets me go and I take a big gasp of air. Takao stands up, beckoning me to follow, and I do. We go to the sparring arena, and we both draw our swords. Her blade is significantly longer than my own, setting the pace as me being the aggressor.

Play Mirror of the World

My blades are at my sides, and I slowly rotate around her. She takes a step to turn towards me and I rush her. My longer blade in my right hand strikes at her guard, where she blocks the attack. As I go for a followup strike with my dagger, she parries it, and I backstep to avoid a counter attack.

Her blade barely misses my chest, and I dodge into her next strike, getting past the downward slash, and jab with my dagger.

She blocks my dagger with a kunai, and I block a swing from her longer blade with both blades, nearly losing my footing because of it.

'I can't block many more of those.'

I use the art of quickening to dodge through her next strike, fading into a mist and passing around the blade. I go for a strike with my dagger again, but notice Kaga on the bleachers watching us. I'm distracted for a moment, and my dagger hesitates, getting parried and putting me on the backfoot.

I barely keep up with her strikes, my mind racing to catch her movements. I manage to backstep out of her heavy attacks, barely avoiding the blade with my nose.

I see a hair of mine fall down in front of my face. 'Barely.'

Takao throws a kunai at me, which I dodge just in time to block a new flurry of attacks. I barely keep up, nicks getting me occasionally, but nothing clean.

I use the art of quickening to dodge backwards, passing through her attempt to catch my retreat.

Takao looks at me confused, "What happened? You were so focused, and nearly had me with that new move. What distracted you?"

Kaga makes herself known, stepping into the arena. "She noticed me."

Takao bows to Kaga, and she waves her hand. "No need for formalities, I'm no leader."

I glare at Kaga, and Takao pieces it together. "Would you rather fight her? If she wants to, that is."

Kaga and I nod, and she grabs a blade from the training rack, a shorter blade than mine.

I glare at her, and Atago counts it down.

"3!

2!

1!

GO!"

I rush at her, and she returns in kind. I slash with my blade, and she blocks it with her katana one-handed. I go for a swing with my dagger and she blocks with her arm-guard, before attempting to grab me by the arm. I use quickening to avoid the grapple, moving back out of her reach.

She lunges at me, slashing at me with a wide swing, and I duck under it before thrusting at her with my dagger.

She swerves to the side, and I slash with my right blade, which she blocks before dodging away.

I quickly step towards her, thrusting with both of my blades, which she barely moves between, aiming a strike at my chest.

I dodge backwards, barely missing a strike at my abdomen.

We both pause for a moment, fresh slashes along our clothing, and she asks "Why do you loathe me so?"

I grow angry at her words, like she just triggered something in me, "Because it's your fault I nearly died, it's your fault I shot Enty, and it's your fault LAFFEY IS DEAD!"

I rush at her once more. She summons a mote of fire on her rush towards me, and I barely dodge it, blocking her blade with both of my own, before she punches me in the gut, sending me away from her.

Takao calls out to me, "Stop vexating so much on your revenge, just focus on the fight itself!"

I ignore her, and Kaga rushes me once more.

I block her next strikes, before dodging just out of reach, slashing with my own blade, just catching her with the tip of it.

I dodge in and she attempts to block my dagger with her arm guard, only for me to divert my dagger strike to beneath her, jabbing at her ribs with it, and she blocks it with her own blade.

We both disengage, and we both watch each other, slowly circling one another.

Kaga calls out to me, "How would you fight if Laffey was here watching you? Is this it? Reckless and foolish, against someone much older and wiser?"

I rush her with a yell, and she blocks all of my strikes, parrying the last one, kicking me away and making distance.

'She's toying with me!'

I rush her, all of my strikes predictable and sloppy, being parried and kicked away once more.

I shake my head, 'She's right. When Laffey was around I was a lot calmer, a lot more like Takao or her. But I can't help it, I just want to tear Kaga apart!

No, calm down!

If Laffey was here, what would I say to her?

…

Yes, I know the answer.

Enough of this, time to win.'

I rush at Kaga, and barely weave under her strike, slashing at her with my dagger. I cut into some cloth, and she slashes at me with her sword. I use quickening to go through it, thrusting with both of my blades.

She moves between them, grabbing me by the arm and flipping me over her. I nearly stab her while she is flipping me, and she throws me away, giving me space.

Kaga looks at me once more with a smirk, "My blade is your blade, and your blade is my blade."

I wait for her move, and she rushes towards me, throwing a fireball at me. I step through it, catching her off guard with an outstretched blade. She ducks under it, and I dodge through her with quickening, my blade meeting her neck.

"Kata."

Stop the music.

After a moment I remove my blade from around her neck, sheathing my weapon. I smile, looking at Takao. She has a grateful smile on her face, looking at me with a face of pride.

Kaga turns to look at me, "That was a good fight. You did well. As for this war, that would fall primarily to Akagi. If you want to find out more, go find her."

I nod, walking away to search for Akagi.

Prepare to play Great One Fauna (1st Phase)

My search has led me to a cave in the back of the Sakura Empire. I recall Akagi mentioning how quiet it is, at some point. When I enter, I hear her speaking with someone.

I hear an eerily familiar voice say "Sorry, but I can't let you see the important stuff going on. Top secret, you see." .

I hear a brief pause, before the voice continues, "This dial is important, so I made sure to retrieve it for you. Don't lose it again."

Play Great One Fauna (1st Phase)

A brief pause before the voice continues, "Anyways, remember how I needed you to use that spell for my goal? Well, this was it. I was finally able to reunite with Laffey. Of course, it was a difficult thing to bring her to my world, and the trip left her confused at first. Normally I wouldn't act like this with her, but sometimes you've gotta hurt the ones you love to protect them from even greater threats, right?"

I rush around the pillar blocking my view, and see Laffey being pressed into the ground by someone's foot. They look like me, but they have a Purple eye instead of blue, with ears and tails just like Amagi. They are wearing Enterprise's outfit, standing across from Akagi and Amagi on a massive ship.

My doppelgänger presses down on Laffey harder. "Sorry, but I can't let you see anymore."

I jump over the cliff, landing on the other end of the ship. I rush towards them "LAFFEY!"

Laffey fires shots from her rigging into the ceiling, calling out "Reprisal, save m-".

And she's gone through a rift in reality, which closed as quickly as it appeared.

I swing my blades through the now empty space on the ship.

I slam my fists into the ground, screaming out in a voice incomprehensible, "NOT AGAIN! GODDAMNIT!".

Tears are streaming down my face now. I turn around, Akagi looking petrified upon seeing my state. "WHAT HAPPENED AKAGI!? WHO WAS THAT? AND WHY DID SHE HAVE LAFFEY?!"

Akagi is barely able to speak, but tries regardless. "S-she was Rem-mission. S-she said-d she would b-bring Amagi b-back. She said-d to use the power of d-dreams."

I shake my head in anger, trying my best not to lash out at Akagi. 'She just wanted her family back, don't do it.'

"And why did she have Laffey?!"

She flinches at my voice, "I d-don't know! You heard everything I did, I thought she just wanted power, or war!"

I bring my blade up to her neck in a heartbeat, my rigging appearing behind me, my bad eye flashing to a deep blue color, almost mistakable for black. "And why didn't you think she had other motives?! Were you that stupid?! Or, or, why didn't you tell me there was a faker me!? Huh?! Seems pretty important to me!"

She seems scared to speak, tears starting to spill. "I-i'm… sorry…"

Her voice is but a whisper, and it's so tempting to spill her blood.

'What if Laffey were here?'

I back off, letting my blade rest at my side, and shaking my head as clear as I can. It doesn't do much, so I take a swig of sake I brought in my- no, Laffey's flask.

"Do you know how we could get to her?"

She attempts to hand me the dial she was just given, before Amagi(?) snatches it from between us, holding it out of our reach.

"Sister, why?!"

I draw my blade, snapping it into two separate blades once more. My rigging is pointed towards Akagi, just in case she tries anything.

"Give me the dial, faker."

Akagi looks at me confused, before Amagi(?) speaks. "What do you mean, faker? You shouldn't say such things to someone, especially some as close to you as me."

I narrow my eyes at her, "Why won't you give me the dial? I need to save my girlfriend, so this is your last warning."

She shakes her head, and I rush her. Akagi interrupts me with her own blade, stopping my assault on Amagi(?).

"Don't hurt her! Do you know how much I sacrificed to get her back?!"

"Get out of my way, Akagi! Don't tell me you truly believe that's her!"

She falters for a moment, before Amagi(?) gives her confidence, saying "Don't hurt each other for my sake, please! It hurts to see family fight!"

Akagi struggles with renewed confidence, pushing me back.

"She's my sister, I can't let you take her away from me again!"

The ship starts to move, and we stagger, catching ourselves on the floor.

Amagi(?) is at the front of the ship, having started it up to leave port.

"Sister, what are you doing?!"

Amagi(?) smiles, "Doing what Remission asked me to. It's the least I could do for her after bringing me back, after all."

I try rushing at Amagi(?) once more, but Akagi blocks my blade again. "Not happening."

"Dammit Akagi! Don't you realize you're being played!"

I hear ships outside screaming about what's going on.

Amagi(?) speaks again, "Please stop you two, it's wrong to fight family."

My eyes open as I realize something. "Akagi, don't you think it's weird?"

She breaks the clash, before I rush at her with renewed vigor. We may be clashing, but we're slowly approaching Amagi(?).

"What?"

"Didn't she die before we met?"

Akagi seems confused for a moment, before a flash of realization crosses her face. "But… but this can't be for nothing! She must've just figured it out!"

"Akagi, listen to how she refers to me. I won't kill her, so trust me!" I kick Akagi away from me, before rushing at Amagi(?).

She dodges around me as I slash at her, questioning "How could you attack me when we were so close? Don't you have any feelings in your heart?"

Amagi catches my blades in her hands, holding them still. "Akagi, help me with this ungrateful chi-"

I see a blade protrude out from her chest, Akagi on the other side. "Akagi… why?"

"You never met Reprisal, and you're certainly not my sister."

She pulls the blade out, the blood splashing onto me for a moment. Blue blood. 'Wait, what?!'

Her form melts into a goo-like substance, and she turns into a strange slime creature.

I grab the Dial and dodge back. She looks at Akagi and I, side by side. "Ah, you figured it out, huh? Well, no matter. I shall still serve my master as well as I can."

"What are you?!"

"I am a… Shoggoth, for a human word. I serve my master to my utmost capabilities, and you shall not stop me."

I move to fight her, but Akagi puts an arm out to stop me, "I'll handle her. Just go find Laffey. This is my mess, and I'll at least try to fix it."

I look at her, and she is the picture of confidence.

I nod at her, playing with the dial in my hands. "How do I use this thing?"

She looks back at me, "Spin the dial to make the correct symbol, I don't know what it would be, but hopefully you do. After all, she seems awfully scared of you getting it."

I nod, spinning the dial around to find the right combo, but give up on guessing after realizing just how many combos there are.

'How could I do this… wait, Remission, where have I heard that name before… right, the book!'

I take out the book, looking through it for a rune that could help me. 'That's it! Deep Sea!'

I spin the dial to the correct position, making the rune for Deep Sea. "I shall overcome this hindrance, and claim what is mine!"

I hold the dial up above me with both hands, and a blue portal opens in front of me. I sprint through it, desperate to save Laffey. As I do so, I hear the Shoggoth yell out a war cry "Tekeli-li!".

'Good luck, Akagi.'

Stop the music

I'm standing atop a great body of water. While that isn't strange for a shipgirl, there are two issues with that.

One; My rigging is gone, removed from my body, so I can't skate on the surface anymore.

And two; I am paralyzed from the waist down. Her ripping out the rigging damaged my spine, although limited to below the rigging.

I walk around, the lake is a white color, reflecting the light of the moon close above me. I walk around, but find nothing around. I look up at the moon and see nothing, but when I look back down I notice it. A rune.

I recognise it from Reprisal's book, it was called Arcane Lake. Is that what this is? Is Reprisal protecting me, with an Arcane Lake, acting as a bulwark of sleep, protecting me from whatever Remission wants to do to my mind during it?

I hear footsteps behind me, and turn around to see someone slightly taller than Remission and Reprisal. They have two white fox ears, a set of two fox tails, a purple and blue eye, and are wearing Kaga's outfit, only with yellow instead of blue. She wraps me in a hug, and I lose consciousness once more.

It seems that I am unable to have a child with Laffey. It's strange, I don't understand why. It should be working, in theory, but it just isn't. It's like doing 5 + 5, but getting null instead of 10. But I have a theory, one that is disappointing if true, but it's what everything points towards. It seems that when Fauna blessed Mother with me, she sacrificed herself to ensure my birth wasn't a failure. It would explain why I feel nothing from the sun, but feel a presence in the moon. So sadly, I can't have a kid with Laffey. - Excerpt from Remission's Journal