Foreign Blacksmith of the Abyssal Seas
DISCLAIMER: Fate Stay/Night belongs to Kinoko Nasu and Type-Moon, while Azur Lane belongs to Yostar. I do not claim credit for either of their works.
Chapter 4: Re: Scherzo of Iron and Blood [3]
Present
The lone Servant strode across the turbulent seas, each step creating ripples that oddly calmed the path he was traversing.
As he reached his target of interest, a shipgirl—a being manifested by the foreign object, the Wisdom Cubes—lay before him. Her attire was torn in many places, and streaks of blood were smeared across her trembling frame.
He calmly stared at her, and it didn't take a second to see that she wasn't in the best state. Her attire was torn in many places, and streaks of blood were smeared across her trembling frame. Apparently, she was the holder of the cube given by Alpha.
The shipgirl's eyes widened in surprise at the sight of a stranger appearing before her.
"You're...who are you?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper with her mind barely holding onto any sanity. As soon as she realized it was a person however, she widened her eyes and warned. "N-No! Get away from me…!"
Her words came out as a desperate plea. She couldn't even process the oddity of the person before her.
A human, and a man no less, this far out and deep within the harsh North Atlantic seas? If she had been in her normal state of mind, she would have immediately questioned how he managed to get here, how he was maneuvering above the waters just like KANSENs do, and so much more.
But alas, she didn't—or rather, couldn't.
Deep within her heart and mind, in this pitiful state of hers, a lingering feeling of loneliness crept in.
Being a leader, one of the pillars of the world's major factions, was a heavy burden to bear. While there were those who tried to lessen this burden, it only made her try harder to keep it to herself.
It was selfish through and through.
She alone tried to fix their doomed fate if the future that the Sirens had shown her was true. Funnily enough, there could be a possibility that the Sirens were lying about what they had shown her.
It could merely be a ploy to sow discord within their ranks, divide them, and then result in a major collapse of power that would obviously benefit their enemies.
And yet, what Bismarck had seen in those visions felt so real. The assaulting dread she experienced still haunted her. Inaction and indecisiveness would have cost Bismarck almost everything she held dear.
"Sorry, but that's not for you to decide, gal," the man said as he knelt on one knee, stretched out his arm, and gently held her face, eyeing her in a scrutinizing fashion.
"What is this…?" Bismarck asked, confused and lost as for what his intentions were.
The Servant's eyes gleamed with a hint of amusement as he replied, "Shush, this won't take long."
As he spoke, spectral lines began to glow on his arms, stretching along his arms and onto her face.
A jolt then coursed throughout her body that made her paralyze in shock.
Bismarck tried to recoil at the unknown phenomenon happening to her. The key word 'tried', but alas, she couldn't.
"Don't resist and make this harder for yourself," he stated with a tone of finality. The caress of his hand on her face neither strengthened nor slackened, but a part of her urged her to comply with his words.
How strange. Normally, she wouldn't let anybody touch her carelessly. Even among her sisters-in-arms, there are only a select few who could touch her like this.
Just this time, she relented and pushed such thoughts aside. She was also exhausted to even fight back. However, she could feel no ill intent from this man, so a part of her gave him the benefit of doubt as she narrowed her eyes and let the man do whatever he intends to.
If he intends to do something weird or out of hand, she'll retaliate with everything she has.
As the same time, Bismarck could still hear the echoes of battle commencing in the distance, yet all of those turned like faint echoes as soon as this man appeared and initiated contact with her.
"Now, that's not too hard, isn't it?" he flashed her a grin.
'It seems I wasn't too late.' Muramasa concluded silently with several thoughts now racing in his mind.
If he had been late, this gal before him would either have succumbed already to her wounds, or she would have already lost her sanity due to the cruel nature of that cube.
"..."
Before, Bismarck didn't respond to the man's words. She didn't bother to, as her mind was soon filled with countless thoughts.
A few seconds of pondering later, feeling her body regain its senses and recover from slightly from exhaustion, she broke the silence.
"What did you just do to me?" Bismarck questioned, staring at the man in confusion and wary.
"Do to you?" The man cupped his chin before shrugging. "Oh, that? Just a simple check-up." he didn't elaborate any further.
The answer of the blacksmith made the shipgirl raised a brow in response, clearly not satisfied with his answer.
"That doesn't explain much…" she complained, her voice weak, clearly not satisfied with the short answer she received.
And indeed, it was more than that, but Muramasa chose not to divulge it.
"Sure, maybe not to you. That's all for me to know," he said flatly, as if dismissing the topic altogether. "Some things are better left unknown for your own sake, don't you agree?"
"..."
Bismarck didn't reply to the man's flat remark. She wasn't able to, as if something was gripping her from doing so.
Meanwhile, a frown appeared on the man's features. The moment Bismarck stared at him, she was met with eyes akin to molten gold. Those eyes were looking at her and also wasn't at the same time. Like a blade piercing through her soul, that would be an apt term to give the kind of attention she was receiving from the man before her.
Noticing her rising wariness, the man then spoke once more.
"However, here are some words of advice that I could say to you. I think it would be better for you to let out those pent-up emotions… and at the same time, don't hold back the power that has been granted to you. Keeping it stored up like that is like waiting for a volcano to erupt," he said, his golden irises locked onto hers. "Emotions can be simple or complex, depending on the circumstances."
"…"
"So don't beat up yourself over it." The man sighed as he scratched his head. "Are you even listening?" he wondered.
Still, no reply came, as the shipgirl only eyed him with more caution. Seeing this reaction, the Servant sighed again as if it couldn't be helped before continuing to speak.
"Well, it's not like you have a choice anyway. Either you voluntarily use that power to wreak havoc, or the power itself will take over your mind and body and go berserk itself."
That seemed to pull out a reaction from Bismarck, whose expression now morphed into one of frustration and anguish.
So, in the end, her will is irrelevant in the face of this power granted to her. Is that what this man was saying?
"What do you know…?" Bismarck asked, her eyes filled with nothing but bitter emotions. "Do you think you know better?! This burden… It's not something that I… I…"
As fast as that plethora of emotions came, they burned out just as quickly. She didn't even realize that the man had already crouched to match her level.
"Indeed, I don't know everything, but I know enough to say this."
Her eyes widened as he conveyed his next words.
"Right at this very moment, you are at a crossroads in your journey. Be sure not to regret the choice you'll make."
A single-edged blade—a katana—then appeared in the man's hand, but it was unlike any other she had seen before. She was familiar with the blade, considering that Sakura Empire, their ally in the Crimson Axis, has these types of weaponry in their arsenal. But this katana differed vastly; the most notable thing was that the blade was dyed crimson red and had no handle at all. The aura of energy emanating from it was something she could feel with so much clarity that it sent shivers in her spine.
It was brimming with powerful energy that seemed so alien. Yet, a sense of familiarity soon struck her.
This feeling was like that of the Sirens, coupled with the mystic arts of the Sakura Empire. However, it was neither of the two overall.
It was foreign. That would be the best word to describe it.
Before she could think any further, the man pierced her chest without hesitation.
"Why...?" she said weakly asked, but only silence answered her in return.
After that, she could only gasp in silence as no sound came out from her mouth. Once more, she was rendered paralyzed and could only stare at the man with a look of betrayal. Yet, she felt no pain from her chest, where it normally should have been. The realization then hit her that something else was happening.
Then, the sword began glowing, and its crimson aura...was being absorbed by her? No, the exact term is that the cube was absorbing the energy, and at the same time, sharing it with her. Notable changes soon began to happen, like her wounds slowly healing and her stamina recovering. It was as if magic was taking place.
Her chest thumped faster, harder as the energy of that blade was continuously being poured to her.
And most importantly, her cube was resonating. A phenomenon unknown to her, but for the Sirens who has the front seat in witnessing this scenario unfold couldn't help but marvel and be satisfied in the change that was occurring to the shipgirl.
It was here, the spark of a Cognitive Awakening!
And then a sound of steel cracking followed. The crimson blade was now filled with a web of cracks and then broke down into shards, crumbling to dust.
"That should stabilize it for a while. Long enough for you to reach the end of this mess," the man muttered lowly, but the shipgirl who was in daze clearly heard him. "Now, everything depends on what you do next."
Bismarck wanted to ask so many things.
Why was he helping her?
What did he do to her?
But the one question that managed to come out of her was this:
"You… who are you?"
The identity of this person who could be now considered as her benefactor prevailed among other things. She wants to know, even just a small part to who this man is. His name was...right, she doesn't know.
She needs to know.
"Me? Nothing important, just a blacksmith from far, far away." The man chuckled as he stood up once more, now turning his back to her.
The amusement in his tone was clear to the shipgirl who was genuinely curious.
He wasn't even considering entertaining her questions even further just by the manner of his actions.
It was grating.
Everything wasn't going well ever since back when she met that Siren who called herself as Observer Alpha.
It was maddening.
Bismarck truly thought it to be so.
"We will set up the stage. It's time for you to play your part, and make sure to give it your all," the man said as his body began to fade into golden motes of light. "Also, if you survive this ordeal, be sure not to get too drunk with that power, will you?"
Bismarck tried to reach out her hand as soon as she saw his fading figure, but alas, her efforts were futile because as soon as her hand was about to touch him, his body had completely disappeared into motes of golden light.
The shipgirl stood there, dumbfounded by what had transpired in those brief moments with her first encounter with that man.
Was everything that happened not an illusion or ploy by the Sirens?
No, what she felt was too real to be fake.
Most importantly, the moment he plunged his blade deep within her made her feel cathartic—?
"...What am I thinking about?"
Bismarck then held her face, uncharacteristically flushed red in shame, as she realized how wrong she had worded about what had transpired earlier.
After a few seconds of deep breaths, she managed to regain her composure. Her hands traced where she was struck, right before her heart.
What she thought about earlier wasn't exactly a lie. Despite the way she worded it, that was exactly how she felt.
The brimming power contained within that sword had been infused into her. Her wounds were healed, and her fatigue slowly faded away. It wouldn't be entirely wrong to say that she was feeling better than ever. Her heart thumped loudly, and she felt fuzzy for some reason just by the thought of that man once more.
Yet, those feelings were soon washed out cold as another individual's voice echoed just right beside her.
"Oh? He already left?" The owner of the voice—the Siren, mock sadness clear in her tone. "How rude, he could've waited for me. In doing so, this scenario could've been more impactful, isn't that, right?"
"Tester!" Bismarck seethed as she swatted away the Tester as she aimed her armaments in succession, firing several rounds of her guns at her.
The shipgirl's assault was easily thwarted however by the Siren with her barriers.
As soon as Bismarck's series of fire ceased, Tester, with her ever-present unsettling smile, then spoke. "How rude. I come in peace; can't you see that?"
"As if I would believe that!" Bismarck retorted as she sent another volley of shells towards the Siren.
BOOM! BOOM!
"Quite energetic now aren't we, Miss Bismarck? I recommend you not to be reckless," she said with a mocking smile. "After all, you almost lost your life just earlier to those from the Royal Navy, and yet you still refuse to use that. How stubborn can you be?"
"I don't need help from the likes of you!"
Adrenaline surged as she prepared her next assault. This feeling of power surging within her was familiar yet distinct at the same time.
It was unlike the ravenous and mind consuming scherzo beckoning herself to give in to violence. While the nature of violence was still there, this one was more focused, was controlled, and more powerful.
The Siren was not blind to this development either. Tester laughed as she blocked the next series of attacks that were growing more heavier and swifter as the battle raged on.
"Indeed. After all, the Blacksmith already helped you, didn't he?" The Siren chuckled at Bismarck in amusement. "If not for him, you would be in a pretty dire condition, but even if that's the case, you could have sent your enemies to the bottom of the sea so easily if you just used that power. All you needed was a little bit of... determination."
"Silence!"
Bismarck denied, however, both she and Tester knew how true that statement was.
"How problematic," faux grumbled the Siren, yet the next words that came out from here was anything but fake. "Miss Bismarck, how about we calm down first? I'm sure you have many questions plaguing your mind right now and you want answers to it, right?"
The fact that Bismarck could see the sincerity behind those words of her opponent made her frown deeper.
"...You should cease your mindless prattle! If you intend to end me this instant, then so be it!" Bismarck seethed, her eyes displaying unwavering will. "I'll make sure to use any means necessary to take you with me in the process."
She won't fall for any tricks made by the Siren, not again.
In response, the Siren merely shot her an incredulous look.
"Of course not, Miss Bismarck. You are the main character for this show, for this experiment, we can't possibly end you offscreen just like this. It would be very anti-climactic after all."
The playful tone came back, and the words of the Siren echoed clearly on Bismarck's ears. She knew the Siren was just messing with her and she was deliberately falling for it despite knowing it.
Just like a doll with strings attached, dancing in the tune of its puppeteers.
"Besides, unless you use that power, you can't possibly take me down." Tester said with a flat tone. "And you say you refuse to use it? You are simply contradicting yourself, Miss Bismarck."
Clicking her tongue, Bismarck gradually slowed down the pacing of her attacks considerably. Seeing that her quick successions of attacks were futile against the Siren, the best thing she could do right now was to conserve what she has left and wait for an opportunity to make a decisive assault.
The rhythm of the battle soon shifted with Bismarck going on the defensive instead against Tester.
Tester, noticing this, merely scoffed as her eyes analytically scrutinized the state of her opponent. "How futile."
"FEUER!" And thus, the shipgirl launched another heavy shot that was simply blocked by the Siren's defenses.
Bismarck who managed to get 'treated' by the Blacksmith was without doubt in her top condition to fight.
Yet, both Tester and Bismarck knew that it wouldn't be enough to even deal significant damage to her. Tester could see the remnants of the power of the Blacksmith lingering within her enemy's frame and deeply rooted as well within her cube.
And right now, the shipgirl, while knowing something has changed within her, couldn't specifically point out what it really is.
A glint of excitement then flashed from Tester's eyes as she imagined the possibility if Bismarck were to tap on the power that has been unknowingly granted to her by the Blacksmith. If that were to happen, then without doubt, Bismarck could possibly bring her down if Tester isn't careful.
"I take that you're still not convinced," Tester said as she readied her next words.
"Do you want to see again whether what Alpha had shown you was true. I can make you...take a glimpse of the distant future, while limited, I believe it would be able to relieve some your worries on knowing that the future you saw could still be changed if you take proper measures immediately. In short, I can grant you 'hope'."
Her smile soon turned into a twisted one as she playfully added another message to her.
"Or maybe you would lament, anguish, and fall into despair as you realize that your doomed future was inevitable? Wouldn't that be more exciting, hehe."
To be honest, it was more like showing Bismarck the past, but that was something that the shipgirl should realize on her own.
Tester's words made Bismarck falter for a moment. She narrowed her gaze before readying her newly reloaded turrets once more.
She needs to land a decisive blow in this hopeless situation. But how? The odds are stacked entirely against her favor in this fight. Unless she brings out the Joker, which she reluctantly
"Or maybe you want to know more of our dear Blacksmith and his reasons for saving you, Miss Bismarck?"
"!"
It was only for a slip of a moment, but Bismarck felt a spike in her cube as soon as he said something related to that person.
It was too sudden and unusual, but she unconsciously tapped on that power that she refused to use.
And yet, in that split of a second, her turrets unleashed a shot stronger than anything that she had ever done before.
It ripped through the Siren's barrier like butter, melting the majority of the right side of Tester's rigging including her right arm much to her surprise. The fact that she was able to evade just in time was even by luck-and the fact that she was using the word luck was already absurd in its own right.
After all, as beings made to calculate the concept of the word luck was not even in their thoughts to be used in the first place. And yet, here she was doing that very same thing.
'Goodness. Your gift is quite scary, isn't it, Blacksmith?' Tester thought excitedly as she began to assess the damage dealt to her.
Losing an arm. No problem. Partially losing of rigging. Some complications are to be faced in combat, but nothing too serious unless her enemy uses a unconventional attack just like earlier. Energy levels. Below average, but still manageable.
In short, she was still operational and rearing to go through the end of this experiment.
It was more amusing to see Bismarck's complicated expression filled with awe and dread at what she just did.
"How interesting, isn't it, Miss Bismarck?" Despite the gruesome damage dealt to her, Tester only felt greater than ever. "Just by the mere invocation of his name, it seems that the cube reacted," she paused as she shook her head. "No, rather, they resonated."
For the very first time in this one sided battle, Bismarck finally managed to deal what could be described as a 'real' damage to Tester. Clutching her head, she turned her clouded gaze to the Siren who met her eyes with a grin.
"He's shrouded in mystery, isn't he?" Tester pressed further, amused by the notable burst of power the shipgirl displayed in her latest attack. Without doubt, this just confirms that in they, the Sirens, would open a new ending in this simulation. "Even though he has been our company for quite a while already, we still can't fully understand him completely. Especially, when it comes to his...gifts."
"What does he have to do with this?!" Bismarck inquired. A small part of her denies that the man was allied with humanity's sworn enemies.
On the other hand, the rational part of her states otherwise. After all, everything that she knew points out that the man was indeed somewhat related to the Sirens. From the timing of his arrival, the resemblance of his abilities, the way he spoke as if he knows the situation she was stuck in.
Yet, still, this lingering feeling of hope that he wasn't involved still persists.
"Everything, Miss Bismarck," Tester then gave the final nail to the coffin of her doubts. "Everything."
"Have you ever wondered why and how he easily managed to approach you?" the Siren laughed as she loaded her turrets ready to fire back at Bismarck. "Do you think we would let an outsider interfere with this very important point in history."
'Important point of history she says,' Bismarck thought as she defended herself from the incoming onslaught of bullets. 'My guard!'
"Curses!" Bismarck grunted as some of the rain of bullets grazed her arms.
"Don't you think you find it odd?" Tester continued. "Odd about the fact that you must be experiencing a myriad of feelings that could only be described as strange, right? He might be"
Bismarck scrunched her brows as she frowned deeper, the sting of her wound adding more to it. "...And what makes you assume that I am thinking that way?"
"There is no need to lie to yourself, Miss Bismarck." Tester giggled. "Judging by the way you look, it seems that you are more invested on wondering about him than you might realize. He's quite the charmer, isn't he?"
Their battle momentarily paused. Bismarck, while confused, unknowingly accepted the words of Tester as a fact that she can't deny.
"But those questions are something that the Blacksmith could only answer, that is, if you meet him again." Tester said as she leaned towards her. "But let's forget about him for a moment and answer me this important question instead, Miss Bismarck."
"..."
"Humor me though," With a serious tone, Tester asked. "Why do you refuse to use the entirety of that power, that cube, despite know how efficient and effective it is on your current predicament?"
"...After dueling with Hood, I had a realization. Winning with such an unfair advantage would not bring us glory at all... I knew nothing then, except that I had allowed the abyss to gaze back into me. Even now, that heart of darkness eats away at my Wisdom Cube..."
The look of regret and shame was apparent in her face.
"At that moment, I knew that there was no going back, and yet, I still tried."
However, in this brief moment of recollection, a phantom voice echoed loudly in Bismarck's mind.
{!}
It was murky and incomprehensible at first.
"It plays an endless scherzo, constantly jeering at me from within my own mind. It beckons me to give in to its violence." Bismarck gripped the flagpole tighter as she felt guilt towards her sister-in-arms. "I had Eugen leave because there is no telling what will become of me. But I now know that it is time to end this farce."
{S*v*r!}
Once again, that phantom voice whispered to her. Unlike before however, the message it was trying to convey was slowly getting formed.
"But I realize..." unconsciously, she clutched her head trying to dispel the urging voice whispering to her. "I realize that..."
Normally, this carelessness would warrant her demise. Dropping your guard, much more of talking to your enemies, would inevitably make any enemy take this opportunity to take her down.
But the Siren didn't, and instead, her curious voice was instead heard and not the sound of her armaments firing.
"Realize what, Miss Bismarck?"
"That you are right. This power is too much, too powerful, and too stupid to let go. Without doubt, this would solve most of our factions' problems at hand."
"Is that so?" Tester simply smiled in response. "It took you so long to realize, but what matters is that you managed to accept it in the end."
"..."
"Uploading Report: Results of Experiment No. 151 - In Progress. Status: Progressive, yet, incomplete. Requesting further directives."
The Siren's transmitter flickered as her fingers maneuvered the transparent screen in the air, her face containing a joyful expression.
At this brief moment, Bismarck, just like her earlier, saw the Siren drop her guard for the very first time.
And for the third time, the phantom voice called out once more, conveying its message clearly.
{Sever!}
Sever, it says. Sever what exactly? It will only take her a moment to realize how dumb that question is.
Bismarck's vision then sharpened, as she let that power take over her body without resistance for the very first time.
Tester then received a response. "[Received. Recommendation: Resume Observation Protocol.]"
Ah. So that was it? How could Bismarck not realize it immediately.
{SEVER!}
Sever the enemy.
In that blink of a moment, her flagpole morphed into a saber. Dark crimson mist then subtly shrouded her figure. With the surge of this unnamed power, Bismarck dashed and killed the distance between her and Tester. Without hesitation, she swung her blade with one main goal in mind. Like a bolt of lightning, her saber crackled with energy releasing a flash towards her target.
Eliminate and cut the enemy right before her eyes.
And Tester, who normally should be able to block such strike was captivated instead by the sudden shift that happened to her opponent. At this moment, she knew that this blade will reach her- will end her.
That is why when the blade was stabbed and twisted in her chest, instead of having feelings like shock or anger, she instead showed an eerie smile of satisfaction.
And then silence followed.
Bismarck, with her hands tightly gripped onto her saber trembled as she adapted with this new profound power. Tester didn't struggle nor try to escape from her predicament, she didn't even think of it in the first place.
"...While I do admit I fell into temptation, my loyalty to Iron Blood remains unbroken." Bismarck broke the silence as she stared at the Siren, her once blue eyes now tinted with crimson red outlines.
"..."
Tester didn't reply, but from the looks of her face, she was definitely pleased in this twisted situation of hers.
"That is why I will admit, this power might really be the key that I need to unlock the future that our faction has yet to traverse."
Bismarck's voice seemed surrendered, as if she had committed a great sin.
"Truly...if it was the past me, she would've looked mortified from what I am doing right now."
"..."
"I'll use this well. I'll ensure that this power I acquired will cut through our grim fate." As a violent surge of energy erupted from her body, Bismarck then solemnly finished. "Now that you have successfully achieved what you intended, begone, Siren."
And so, Bismarck then swung the blade lodged in Tester's chest, cleaving her in half.
Those are Tester Beta's last memories as darkness took over her mind.
...
...
...
Or was it?
O-o-O-o-O
Veiled Sector - Atlantic Ocean
Of course, that wasn't her true end. It was never that easy to get rid of a Siren with her caliber.
Tester Beta, the 'MAIN' terminal, only expressed joy as she began relaying her message to her fellow Siren.
"Issuing Errata to Experiment No. 151 - Test subject has eliminated the clone Terminal sent for the objective. However..."
"However?" The Siren in the transmitter repeated, her tone filled with anticipation.
Which is actually not unfounded at all as Tester relayed her next words in a delighted manner.
"Experiment No. 151 has shown positive results. Test subject has accepted the 'cube' and has shown potential for the Awakening Protocol."
The receiver—Observer Alpha showed a wide smile as she the feeling of euphoria washed over her. "Finally, some excitement! I was starting to get bored here! Next, we should prepare to execute her Awakening Protocol~!"
"Understood." Tester nodded before eyeing the battlefield gleefully from a distance before glancing at her right. "Now Blacksmith, have you achieved what you wanted?"
Right beside her was Muramasa who appeared in golden motes of light after dispelling his dematerialization. "Partially." he delivered.
"Partially?"
Muramasa nodded as he observed the battlefield filled with destruction and havoc.
The Siren vessels embedded with his failed creations as its core were definitely tough foes to reckon compared to the usual Siren vessels. Despite their stronger prowess though, it seemed that these Royal Navy shipgirls were managing well despite the odds in numbers.
Muramasa expected this kind of outcome to occur. It should be expected that these shipgirls could handle the failed ones at the very least.
After all, the true enemies of this world-the Leviathans-were leagues stronger compared to the fodder that they are fighting right now.
It shows that they were not helpless at the very least.
"Miss Bismarck will soon join this battlefield." Tester informed. "That would be my queue to leave. Are you going stay to watch the end of this fiasco?"
"I will." Muramasa's gaze then turned to the surge of power erupting from the distance. It felt familiar, after all this was something that he had granted to the shipgirl
"Will you intervene?"
"Maybe, who knows?" He answers with a noncommittal shrug.
Tester pouted at his answer. "You tease. You often give us those kinds of answers, always so short whenever it matters."
She then proceeded to wrap her arms around his neck and hugged him. This rare moment of affection was accepted by the Blacksmith as he let the Siren do what she pleases.
"Miss Bismarck is very interested about you, you know? I wonder if you'll change sides if you are exposed to more of these shipgirls. Not that we'd let you, though." Tester whispered the last lines on his ears clearly.
Muramasa simply looked unfazed at the Siren's words as he felt her hug from behind tighten ever so slightly.
If Purifier or Observer Alpha were here right at this moment, both would probably gasp in shock at Tester's uncharacteristically cute mannerisms towards the Blacksmith.
"What are you talking about. Changing sides?" He then let out a laugh. "Despite how I look, I am quite a loyal fellow, you know? I won't be changing sides, even if the tides of this war changes to these shipgirls' favor, which is not happening anytime sooner I believe."
"I still needed confirmation directly coming from you." Tester replied. "Cold and precise calculations can sometimes fall short against unconventional variables. The main one I believe is called 'feelings' or 'emotions'."
"I believe beings like you are far beyond that based on what I remember."
Judging by how he said it, Muramasa was jesting a little bit about their origin, and Tester decided to play along.
"Then you are mistaken, dear Blacksmith of ours." Tester rebuked him playfully. "Feelings is something that we are familiar off, despite not being humans at all. We can still enjoy the luxury of happiness, experience sorrow, fall in anger, and many other more."
"Feelings huh." He repeated the word, a weird touch in his lips as he said it.
Indeed, these Sirens still retain a piece of "humanity" within them despite all the things that they have gone through. After all, such actions and mannerisms won't make sense if that wasn't the case.
From being mere 'rational and efficient beings' meant to save humanity, they evolved and adapted, and that included acquiring 'feelings' even though they are programmed to not garner such concepts in the first place.
His thoughts then shifted to those ships, with his failed creations as its core, reflected the madness and obsessions that he possessed in order to reach the pinnacle of blades. The fact that this very same obsession was carried over even though he had already passed the living and became a ghost-liner was saying how feelings could be if taken to an extreme.
'Funnily enough, it wouldn't be wrong to say that I resemble them somehow.'
"Well then. I hope you enjoy the show then. It seems that you will use our latest pet to test them," Tester giggled as she let go off him and ripped the air with her fingers, creating a rupture in space like a portal. "I hope that you'll make this timeline more enjoyable than the rest."
Tester departed with those words as she gave him one last look, not waiting but already knowing what his response would be like.
"Heh. Aren't I already doing a wonderful job in that regard?" he laughed.
With that, his presence soon faded among the turbulent echoes of the battlefield.
It is time for him to prepare the closing act for this long-drawn conflict.
O-o-O-o-O
AN: Falling to a Writer's block (added with laziness) is truly a menace.
Muramasa Blades are cursed as they say, and they turn their wielders mad. And as we know, curses can take many forms...well, some of those will be explained later and as for how that relates in this fic. The Cognitive Awakening as well, for some who are confused or curious whether this is a BS I made up, it is a term from Azur Lane.
Also, a question; would you guys rather pick 'KANSEN' or 'shipgirl' as the term to describe them? As you can see, I keep shifting from one to another, need some of your opinion here guys.
With all that done, 1 more chapter to wrap this arc up. I hope I could make another chapter to this or some of my fics before Christmas, or maybe new years...
Also, if you see some errors, don't hesitate to point them out.
Favorite, Like and Review guys. See ya on the next update.
Next Update: TBA