Welt.
Although she's human in appearance, she's obviously not human. Welt is born from a human's curiosity with the world. I don't even know if that's her real name. In fact, her appearance mirrors Ash. One of my primary doubts is how she attained her current body. Welt occupies the body of Enterprise from another timeline, but she stays in that vessel even if it restrains her.
"Are you thinking about me, Bismarck?"
I snap out of my drifting thoughts when Welt clears her throat. We're in the middle of a so-called tea party. She already drinks her tea but I only stare at my cup even if I know she's not the kind to poison her guest.
"Why are you interfering with the Abyssal fleet? Have you joined the Sirens?" I take a bite of a cookie
In the center is a bowl of various small cookies of different flavors and shapes. For someone who makes a meal out of Sirens and Abyssals, it surprises me how she can eat normally.
"All your META friends dislike me to a great degree" Welt's tone remains relaxed
"They hate you? That's unsurprising" I shrug
"That Kirov cut off my arm for my last...whim. I don't like having this body damaged, so I tried to take her other eye. Her other friend, Pamiat something, came to her and distracted me for a moment"
Kirov META. I know she would avenge her comrade sooner or later, but she's being too hasty. Perhaps I should ask U-556 META to keep them from running to their deaths. Welt is one of "them", and her creator made it so she will keep getting stronger the longer she lives.
"I'm surprised you didn't eat her like you did with your other opponents"
"Do not take the life of a kansen, but harming once provoked is fine" Welt mutters something
"What?"
"My agreement, no...my promise goes something like that. I have no obligation to keep it, but I'm doing so out of lingering attachment" Welt lifts her right hand
"Don't tell me..."
Even if Welt doesn't specify it, she makes it clear that she knows the body she's using as her anchor. Not just a random kansen she happens to meet, but someone she's rather fond of. In some other timeline, another Enterprise changed her, but it seems she reverted to her old self at some point.
"This one was the only one I called my friend. She's the only human I liked the most, so I took her words to a heart. Enterprise is a peculiar one, so I followed her even as she fell into tragic METAmorphosis. I never left..." Welt gently squeezes her hand
"You called someone a friend. It seems you softened in one timeline" I'm beginning to be curious
"Even when the world came to an end, we kept each other company. At some point, she slowly expired"
"You didn't take the body forcefully..."
"It's a long story, but one I etched into my memory. This meeting isn't primarily about my past" Welt chuckles
I wonder if this version of her is the older or younger one. In fact, I'm not certain why she's here. My only guess is she's after the Ash of this timeline, but those two are rather friendly to each other.
"You never answered my first question" I turn back to the initial topic
"The Abyssals are a mess. Their hierarchy and structure are predictable. Especially, the current de facto leader Central Princess" Welt sighs, possibly annoyed at me
"And...?"
"They're fascinating on their own. Unlike Sirens, they're not human-crafted. Rather, a vague force caused their birth. The distinguishable ones are inverted reflections of their shipgirl counterpart" Welt stands up
Welt starts yapping again. She's always like this when even a trivial thing catches her interest. This "Leviathan" in human skin constantly switches with being an explorer, observer, recorder, and builder.
"They're practically undead versions of shipgirls. They possess the memories of their former lives, but the negative aspect is the dominant personality"
With a snap of Welt's fingers, several holographic screens float in front of her. Each screen portrays humanoid Abyssals - the ones capable of speech and possess intelligence.
"Did you find this out in another timeline?" I memorize each image
"I researched one personally after a torpedo nearly struck me from behind while I was in the Mediterranean" Welt swings her thumb to a direction
Her thumb points to her left, so I slowly turn to face my right. A pale woman is lying on the floor with glowing thorns wrapping around her body.
"Who in the world is that?" I recognize it as an Abyssal
"Submarine Princess, I believe" Welt shrugs
"You believe?"
"An insignificant one but an example nonetheless"
Sometimes, I don't understand her mind or if there's only one mind inhabiting that vessel. She would slip to become serious and distant, but now she's simply uncaring and ruthless.
"Bas...tard...you'll...pay...We'll make you...pay"
The Abyssal grits her teeth and vows in a raspy and struggling tone. Welt clearly doesn't value this one's life but keeps her alive out of curiosity.
"Their mind grows stronger with each brush from death. That's why humans cannot afford to let them flee battles because Abyssals learn, adapt, and evolve at a faster rate than humans. I want to further study the nature of shipgirl and Abyssal souls" Welt slowly approaches the Abyssal
The Abyssal's body trembles and her teeth weakly chatter when Welt stands right in front of her. The wide-eyed horror of the Abyssal as someone unfeeling and singled-minded stares down at her, no different from an insect she can stomp on a whim.
"What are you planning, Welt?" I approach her
"I want to know if her soul persisted or at least a spec of it remains" Welt calmly responds
"Enterprise..."
"I feel empty, so I distracted myself with facades and masks, but it's not enough to forget my friend"
"So what are you trying to say?"
"If there's a chance, I want to restore Ash, the one I know"
"You haven't learned from humanity. Playing God has its consequences! Why do you think my timeline came to an end in the first place?!"
Right before I know it, I lash out in frustration and grab her collar. I know I made the same mistake, so I can never bear to have it be repeated in front of my eyes.
"...Why didn't you stop after reanimating your sister?" Welt coldly reminds me
"...?!"
"I'm not obsessed...but I thought perhaps I shouldn't let this opportunity slip"
"After living for so long - now you're lonely..."
"I tried to connect with humans just like she wished, but I can never form attachments with them. They're impulsive, prideful, divided, and selfish"
"A human made you" I remind her of Solomon
"There can never be another Solomon. I searched over and over again until I reached millions"
To think Welt travels hoping to find another version of her creator and friend to rekindle whatever bond she had with them. She abandoned that thought before it can turn into an obsession and drive her to self-destruction.
"If you're that lonely, I'll stay with you after I ensure my version here doesn't make the same mistake" I offer a bit of comfort
"Someone as brooding as you don't make good company. More importantly, you won't even live long enough to see the end" Welt sternly gazes at me
"...How will I die?"
My breath stops for a split second, not expecting to have my ending revealed in front of me or at least the general gist of it. I know I'm dying because there's no solution to mend my damaged wisdom cube, but it hurts my chest knowing I won't be there to witness it.
"With a smile while your normal version looks like she's about to cry" Welt scoffs
"Huh. I'd never thought I'd see myself cry..."
"..." Welt turns around
"What's the matter?"
"I remember a Bismarck from another timeline. Even after I hid the truth of her sister's death, she chose not to kill me. She was tired of revenge and knew there was no justice there"
"Justice and revenge can never be in the same place"
"Hmph. You're one to lecture me about justice"
It seems Welt is back to her regular mood, outside her impulsive and childish facade. There's no need to pretend as someone to distract herself of the truth, but I suppose even someone like her handles grief and loss differently.
"What are you going to do with this one?" I remind her of the Abyssal
"That. I'll toss her back to her friends once I'm done. If there's anything that remains" Welt lazily turns back
"You piece of s-"
Welt waves her left hand and the Abyssal vanishes into blue jagged particles much like data being processed or removed. She doesn't hide the fact how she views Abyssals as nothing more than rodents and only shows tolerance to humans.
"Hmm...I never thought someone would point her this place" Welt briefly smiles
"Welt?"
This dimension is sealed off from the outside world, a rest house invisible even to the Arbiters, but a crack in the distance surprises me.
"You might not want to get involved with this. Kirov is still in a bad mood after the last incident" Welt pushes me away without motion
Just as I fly away and my back slides through what feels like smooth concrete, Kirov META manifests out of thin air and thrusts her sword aiming to Welt's heart.
"Hmm..."
Welt lifts her hand, but it doesn't stop the sword. Instead, it pierces her forearm and an inch to her chest. Even if you stab her or decapitate her, Welt wouldn't die. Her concept is an anomaly thanks to her father tampering upon creation.
"Are you still mad?" Welt callously asks
"You caused one of my comrades to die after you unleashed that thing to my people!"
"I see. You are still mad Chapayev died"
It's unsurprising she has little to no concern towards a stranger. This enormous chunk of metal doesn't understand human perspective on good and evil.
"Her existence is erased from this timeline. Kansens absorbed by Ghost is annihilated in all aspects. They don't just physically die"
"Otbrosy! You are filth who will throw the lives of others for your own desires" Kirov META tries to push her sword further
"Believing in your comrades. How did that work out for you?" Welt scoffs
"You worthless-!"
Welt doesn't make a single motion, but when Kirov META grits her teeth, her breathing stops for a moment and then her body falls limp on the floor. She's conscious, but she couldn't even move her fingers.
"You stepped into my house uninvited..."
Rather than in pain, Welt pulls out the sword in annoyance and casually tosses it to the side.
"I am no one's prey. Do remember that in the last seconds of your existence" Welt grabs her arm and lifts her off the ground
"Welt, stop!" I immediately grab her cape
"She tried to kill me. I didn't instigate the fight"
"It's only because it's your fault"
"Hmm..."
Welt scratches her cheeks, aware of the cause but refuses to admit it herself. She already expects a retaliation but acts as if it's out of self-defense.
"What's the entire purpose of the experiment? Are we all expendable to you?"
Kirov META is resilient - both body and mind, having pushed forward by herself and after all that she has lost. She pushes her upper body up with both hands even if her muscles ache and tremble.
"I have nothing personal against you or your leader...but narrowing my choices, your people is my first option" Welt briefly averts her gaze
"What?!"
"I'm avoiding the Eagle Union for obvious reasons. The Sakura Empire because of those big foxes, the Royal Navy because of a certain old acquaintance, and so on. To put it simply, I simply have no attachment to the Northern Parliament"
"Then tell me, is it all worth it?" Kirov META tightly grips her sword
"I don't know. The entire purpose was to challenge the outcome and surpass my calculations. There was a chance Chapayev can be saved and there was a chance she couldn't be saved" Welt sighs
"..." I momentarily lower my head
I can't say anything because I rushed there thinking I could change anything. I failed to stop the Northern Parliament from advancing and failed to push back Ghost.
"..."
However, in the briefest of moments, I catch a glance of genuine human emotions on Welt's gaze: sorrow. She can feel what it means to lose someone, but she's mostly devoted to her studies and curiosities that it appears her emotions are nonexistent.
"So it really is just an experiment for you. Human lives are like chess pieces you can toss away once you're done with them" Kirov META grits her teeth
"Kansens fight to save the world from Sirens - that I understand. There is no such thing as ideal peace no matter the timeline. All of you will simply be turned to your country's enemies once my former kin and the Sirens are eliminated. To compare and desperation for security is the nature of humanity"
One thing that I begrudgingly agree is without external enemies, humans will turn to each other. Humans can't hold on to a single ideal, so there will always be an "enemy".
"I don't dream of a utopia or saving everyone. What I seek is continuation and preservation of humanity. It's not for my sake, but for an old friend"
Even after all this time, Enterprise's influence lingers in her. I don't know if it's a good thing because an indifferent beast like her strives to keep humanity from destroying themselves.
"I admire stories woven by themselves. That suicidal hero unfolded a grand story right before my eyes and it was etched above these millennia worth of history. After always knowing the ending before it reaches the last page...I want to be proven wrong"
"Bullshit. All of this just so to prove the future you saw wrong!"
Kirov, blinded by vengeance, swings her sword in the air and points her sword right at Welt's neck. The tip of the blade presses on her skin and the slightest thrust can poke a hole through it.
"Chapayev was the most likely to die. Had Bismarck not intervened, Rossiya and two more would have died" Welt sighs
"You-"
"It's more or less part of my arrangement with Richelieu"
"...?!"
Both Kirov META and I are genuinely surprised to hear that name be involved with this entire ordeal. Richelieu is a firm believed of justice and equality, so she's one of the last people that I know would ever bargain with Welt.
"Don't look at me like that. Considering I have a terrible history with her people, I was caught off guard when she sought me"
"Wait, she sought you? Don't give me that bullshit, monster!" Kirov META grits her teeth
"Ask her yourself"
Welt raises her right hand and with a quick snap, Kirov META vanishes right before my eyes as soon as I blink.
"What's going on?" I raise my guard
"Jean Bart happened. That's what"
"What?"
"...I keep my word, so it's all I can say for now"
"..."
"I have to meet up with Central Princess. Do you want to come?"
All of a sudden, she changes the topic and even causally invites me to tag along with her.
"You don't have anything better to do anyway"
"Fine. If it's to make sure you don't go overboard with your plans"
"I thought I made it clear I'm not going to conquer or doom humanity. Ash will get mad at me..."
Welt waves her hand and the space in front of her cracks and shatters into a wide gap filler with the ominous void.
"..."
I'm a bit reluctant to step forward but she's been using this as a method to travel several times. Only after Welt casually disappears inside the void that I lightly shake my hesitation and slowly reach out to the portal.
"Huh?"
I feel only a second pass as soon as I reach out my hand and step inside the portal that I find myself in a completely different location. The makeshift garden transforms into a dim run-down base as if steel and flesh are wrestling each other.
"You! You're one of them. Those wretched false Abyssals!"
A pale white woman with no visible clothing rests on the side of an animated rigging. The creature is an enormous armored mass with glowing red eyes and rows of teeth. She furiously points at Welt, who rolls her eyes, uninterested in the collective hatred around her.
"You asked me to come only to yell at me. Your priorities are constantly misplaced, Central Princess"
"Who's this?" I whisper to her
"December 7, 1941"
"What?"
"The first one who gained sentience but not the first one who came to be. Her conception is why her hatred is extreme to humanity as a whole. The fiery hatred born from that land sparked a war no human could imagine. This bitch got the scattered Abyssals to form a fleet" Welt chuckles
"..."
"At first, this woman was confused and scared at her birth and only after witnessing the countless bodies drift at the ocean, graveyard of steel, and the black smoke clouding the sunny sky...she came to the conclusion that no side is correct and humans are self-destructing creatures. Humans are greedy and prideful, but I only see the truth for some humans while she sees them as entirely responsible"
At least Welt is willing to reason with humans compared to before, but she can still be talkative when speaking or narrating the history of a location or an individual.
"Why hide in that puny human form? I saw you for who you truly are - an enormous steel beast" Central Princess stands up
"What do you need from me?" Welt steps forward
"Advantage against the shipgirls"
"Ah, an upgrade just like the fake Abyssals you mention. Although I can tweak your riggings, I need equal value in return. What can you offer?"
"Information about the shipgirl you're looking for" Central Princess proudly smiles
"Shipgirl?" I whisper again to Welt
"The old lady Warspite. Whereas she's an armor-less knight in your world, she's a dignified lady here. I have business with her, but someone is keeping her whereabouts from me" Welt whispers back
"You value information more than anything, right?"
"Hmph. I will accept" Welt immediately agrees
"Then-"
"However. Should you lie to me, you'll discover why I don't bare my fangs and claws"
Dealings here and there. First, Richelieu, now a shipgirl in this world. I'm beginning to question how this will help her keep humanity from ending itself.
"Hmm...The Empress is trying to connect. It seems she wants to have a long discussion, so I better make this quick"
Welt briefly raises her head and widens her eyes in mild surprise before returning to her indifferent demeanor. An Arbiter is contacting her, but she's not amused at the thought she has to travel again.
"What have I gotten myself into..."
Although I'm intrigued and cautious to what's the connection between baiting Ghost and making deals with the people here, Welt hasn't shown any malice whenever she speaks. No, it seems she's preparing for something for the near future, but what did she see this time?
Azur Lane...
The Northern Parliament has lost Chapayev, five of their combatants are heavily injured, and their base needs major reconstruction all because Ghost manifested in their waters. It happened in a short amount of time after the whole deal with Ghost in Iris Libre.
"Ghost attacked the Northern Parliament after it was summoned or at least a part of it. The Sirens wouldn't have the key, so only that person instructed the Purifier"
While we're waiting for the leader, Sovetsky Soyuz, Richelieu begins to mutter while her eyebrows are furrowed. As the leader of Iron Blood, it's naturally for me to be present alongside Richelieu. Although the other faction leaders should be present, Soyuz requested the higher ups the two of us should suffice.
"What are you not telling me, Richelieu?"
"These two attacks aren't random and the culprit warned me this would happen. Ghost had no body, but she could manifest in the physical world if done correctly" Richelieu takes a deep breath
"What?"
"Welt is an entity born from a destroyed timeline and currently inhabits a corpse of a META from a different timeline. I...met her a few times"
"..."
"I didn't know how it happened, but I reached her room while I studied my country's relic. It turned out to be a passkey to materialize Welt's superimposed space. There, I saw her drinking tea and smiling in amusement. Fortunately, I was returned to the real world seconds later"
"Why are you telling me this now? Your base was attacked and Dunkerque got infected" I clench my fists
"Welt doesn't intend to send humanity to ruins, so I was willing to negotiate with her. My intention was to have a mutual agreement, but Jean Bart..."
Richelieu bites her lower lip as the atmosphere around us grows tense. She's in distress and lost. More importantly, she's worried at the mention of her sister ship.
"Jean Bart doesn't know what's happening to her, but she's bound to discover soon. She did what she thought was right...but she risked herself in the process" Richelieu rubs her temple
"What exactly happened"
"Forgive me, but I can't fully reveal anything"
"...A part of the deal"
From Richelieu's twisted expression, I can guess she desperately wishes to reveal the entire story, but something is restraining her voice from spilling out more.
"Forgive for the late arrival. I had matters to settle with my sister Rossiya"
Before I can ask something else, Sovetsky Soyuz enters the room with a darkened and gloomy expression. The recent event still weighs on her as the leader.
"Everyone is aware about the recent attack which resulted in losing Chapayev..."
"..." Richelieu and I briefly gaze at each other
"Iris Libre had a similar incident. The same culprit, a shadowy kansen, attacked both our fleet"
"Ghost. It's a kansen with an incomplete physical form, so it tends to phase in and out of reality"
I briefly explain the identity and nature of the culprit. I have little knowledge about this creature, but I can't have Soyuz suspecting Richelieu's knowledge. Soyuz is both furious and grieving over the loss of a comrade, but she keeps restraining them beneath the unbreakable ice...much like my sister.
"Its existence is a complete mystery, but it's a clear threat to everyone. Our guns are useless against it" I take a deep breath
"I received reports from my comrades. Ghost deconstructed Chapayev's wisdom cube, unraveling her physical form in the process. It's no different from mincing prey and devouring them" Sovetsky Soyuz remains stoic while speaking
"From previous research of my people, it's rumored to be stemming from a separate space from our world like in a pocket dimension. There's no record of how it can be accessed, but Ghost lays dormant there" Richelieu tries to hide her personal knowledge
"I wish to slay this murderer myself, but I cannot be blinded by revenge. However, if the opportunity presents itself, I will prioritize cutting it down"
Right now, Sovetsky Soyuz is torn between keeping her composure as a leader and pursuing vengeance. She's rational enough to prioritize her duties first, but I worry encountering Ghost again might be her downfall.
"I request Intel regarding the entity Ghost as you two personally faced her. More importantly, it seems the Iris Libre had history with this creature"
"There's no issue sharing historical records and research, but I can't attest the accuracy of it" Richelieu is somewhat nervous
"Any information will suffice" Sovetsky Soyuz smiles
"I will lend a hand within my capabilities even if Iron Blood has little to no past information about Ghost"
"Thank you, my foreign comrades"
If Sovetsky Soyuz is searching for Ghost, then I might find more information about the mysterious battleship with Iron Blood equipment.
"I should have been present that day. If only I listened to my instincts and stayed" Sovetsky Soyuz lightly frowns
"You were away from your motherland. It was important regarding Azur Lane, so there's no need to blame yourself" Richelieu tries to comfort her
"I knew something was wrong because I felt someone's gaze to my comrades and I. Someone waited for the opportunity where my comrades are vulnerable"
"..."
Someone waited for Sovetsky Soyuz to be away that day. It's the same day some of their ships have recently returned from a long mission, thus not being in their top condition for another combat. The Sirens prefer to manipulate others and remain sneaky, so summoning a ghostly kansen is far from their usual methods.
Just who and what are we dealing with...?