Everything is quiet.
Beyond the shallow surface of the red waters are countless decaying corpses and skeletons of those swallowed by Beelzebub. Flesh is still stuck to ribs and cheeks while the others are on the stage of advanced decay. Beelzebub's inner world is a space of putrid stench and putrid remains which reflects their sloppy and careless way of consumption.
"How odd. It feels a bit lighter now..."
Beelzebub toys with a skeletal remains by holding both of its upper arms with the tips of their claws and shaking it to make it dance. The drug dampened their hunger which lessened their impatience and restlessness as well.
"Is this Lucifer's doing? I haven't gained resistance to the drug yet. What is that bastard up to this time?"
Beelzebub casually tosses the skeleton to the side and gazes up, but there's only a pitch-black sky. They let out a faint growl at the slightest increase in temper.
"..."
When it comes to Lucifer, Beelzebub couldn't help but be pestered by memories of the Empress and Richelieu pointing out how they exist to endlessly consume, but eliminating humanity is the opposite of it. It's Lucifer's desire to wipe out humanity by slowly plucking them. As pride itself, Lucifer will get rid of everything without a care, but Gluttony is "dependent" in a sense that they need another to fulfill their desires.
"What am I supposed to do? Humans are meals, yet if they no longer exist..."
Beelzebub lowers their head and stares at the piled corpses spread around them. They can consume everything even if it's inanimate, but Beelzebub seeks flavor to enjoy each feeding.
"Does Lucifer intend to feed me scraps? No, knowing them, they wouldn't care about their own kind"
The worst moment Beelzebub can imagine is Lucifer smashing their fist on their skull after they shoved their unhinged jaws at the humans running in different directions. Beelzebub keeps swiping them with their hands and throwing them at their mouth as if feeding on snacks with legs.
"Humans are my primary delicacy just as humans cannot live without meat. Gluttony is the desire to sate the appetite, but if I just blindly eat without thinking of my future meals..."
Beelzebub shakes their head because their head is having cramps and feeling nauseas from having to use the logical part of their mind.
"I never had the time to stop and think about anything when all I did was focus on my stomach. Are the human emotions of this wretched brat getting to me...or did I finally have free time?"
The faces of the Arbiter and the cardinal pops to their mind again to remind of the two pivotal encounters. Every moment of remembering their words makes Beelzebub grit their teeth out of uneasiness and anxiety.
"This is awfully boring. How can Belphegor endure not doing anything? I haven't enjoyed any meals!"
Only the silence and the stretching space accompanies Beelzebub. They're surrounded by darkness spanning limitlessly and their saliva dripping every few seconds.
"Don't screw with me and my meals, Lucifer...!"
A single whiff in the empty space and Beelzebub recognizes Lucifer's genuine scent within their range. It's faint as Lucifer themselves aren't present but interfering with the affairs of others.
...
Tirpitz feels her legs become mildly numb and tremble, and a few seconds later her body swings the right. Fortunately, her hand manages to grip the edge of the table, keeping the rest of her body from collapsing or hitting the table.
"..."
One of the manjuus cleaning her rigging's teeth, tail, and gaps within the armor plates rushes to her side.
"I-I'm fine. I just felt a bit dizzy..." Tirpitz pushes herself off the table
Her head is pounding and still dizzy while her body feels drained and a bit cold.
"Are you alright? If you're not feeling well, stop by Neumark's lab" Odin taps her shoulder
"...!"
A sense of uneasiness and anxiety courses through Tirpitz when Odin's palm touched her shoulder. An image of Lucifer's displeased gaze flashes through her mind the same experience when she dreamed of them.
[Lucifer...] Beelzebub's fading voice rings in Tirpitz's ears
"Lucifer?" Tirpitz tilts her head
"Lucifer?" Odin blinks in confusion
"Sorry, I thought...I heard something"
"I'm sure you just imagined it whatever it is. Just...in your head"
Tirpitz recognizes it as none other than Beelzebub due to the ever familiar deep monstrous and distorted voice. Their presence becomes vivid all of a sudden when they've been quiet for the last few days.
"I wonder if this is the side effect of the shady medicine they gave you" Odin brings up the topic
"It kept the voice quiet for a while, but I feel strange today..."
"Nothing's wrong, today. Your...mind is just too tired" Odin calmly assures her
Another tap from Odin and Tirpitz's uneasiness only grows. A tingle for a moment then a shock at the next. There's an unknown sensation that intruded in her senses and seemingly poked through the corners of her mind reaching for something.
[Leave my meals alone, Lucifer!]
Beelzebub's voice booms as mentally smashing their fists causes a throbbing headache for Tirpitz and numbness on her limbs.
"..." Tirpitz falls silent
"Tirpitz?"
The headache worsens and gradually becomes unbearable. Tirpitz's vision blurs and sways, but she resists the numbness from making her collapse.
"How stupid of you to let them in?!"
Beelzebub resurfaces enough for Tirpitz to see and hear them within her own mind. The first thing they do is berate and slam their right hand beside Tirpitz.
"It's you. Impossible...why are you haunting me again?"
"..." Beelzebub lifts their head
"Are you going to make me try to eat my own allies?"
"You and your allies starved me! You keep hollowing out my stomach and poisoning me! I haven't eaten since I was stuck with you!"
Their roar shakes the shallow waters around them. Beelzebub digs their claws and swipes back, sending disconnected bones flying away.
"I want to eat, but you and Soyuz kept me here! You tricked me! I should have known when you faced me back then"
"What did I do back then?" Tirpitz feels her heart stop for a moment
While Tirpitz vaguely remembers standing before an impatient Beelzebub, it's her own intentions that she doesn't remember. Her normal self wouldn't even gamble when her death is certain.
"You seriously don't remember?!" Beelzebub crouches
Even in all fours, Beelzebub is still enormous for a human that all four limbs are bent, and their back hunched, so their head can be even near Tirpitz.
"Whatever! That's not my worst problem right now. You let Lucifer sneak in here. Mammon and Asmodeus - they I can tolerate, but I don't like Lucifer. They won't let me feast the way I like it"
"You won't shut up about Lucifer"
"Lucifer talks a lot and keeps telling me what to do! I can't even eat your people in peace!"
"Why...why are you inside my head? Why do I have to suffer from your appetite? Why me?" Tirpitz clenches her fists
"It was you who tricked me, brat. I was about to eat your sister because she's another exquisite meal, but you arrived! You talked me into eating you and it made me sick enough to be weakened!"
Beelzebub loosely wraps their left fist around Tirpitz with their thumb points at her face. They're craving to squeeze her to a pulp or poke her head, but it will cause her consciousness to be destroyed.
"You and that other icy brat tricked me! I couldn't eat when I wanted to taste blood! Inam gluttony - my nature is to endlessly consume everything and everyone" Beelzebub opens their mouth
"..."
Rows of sharp teeth and a tongue formed out of fused humans faces and body parts lay out in front of her. Soaked wet pale hands stretches out of their throat and erratically twitching fingers surround Tirpitz's head.
"..."
Even when she sweats from the steam emitted from the hands and twitches the side of her lips due to the hot stench, Tirpitz refuses to take a step back or dare to look away.
"Let's say you eat everything, and all living beings are extinct, then what? What will you do when there's only stretching land and the vast ocean around you? Eagles and foxes feast on rabbits, but their prey multiplies faster than they can eat" Tirpitz points at their face
"It's designed by nature because like rabbits, your kind is meant to be hunted and eaten"
"Humans have thought that to some animal species, but excessive hunting caused them to be wiped out. You devour humans by the thousands on a daily basis. Before a newborn can reach adulthood, you've eaten everyone"
Tirpitz crosses her arms and stares right at Beelzebub's snout. The latter proves Sovetsky Soyuz's correct by targeting them as they lack rationality and mostly directed by their hunger. This flaw was exploited and led Beelzebub to their current state.
"Lucifer can't tolerate your kind and wants to wipe you out. I don't care what they want as long as I get to eat"
"You don't make any sense. Lucifer's goal is contrasting to your desire"
"I am gluttony! My nature is excessive hunger, and my desire is to eat endlessly!"
"That's true, but you're ignoring the critical part. You can't eat forever if your main food source is extinct. No humans mean you will starve for millennia. It's either you go mad or eat yourself"
"Don't talk like you understand anything! You don't hunger for anything. What makes you bland is you're satisfied with your life!"
Bright red tendrils erupt from Beelzebub's spine and wiggle in different directions. Spikes also sprout on their back and the mouth on their stomach exhales a visible white steam.
"What is there to crave and seek? I have everything I need to live, and my current life is fulfilled until your kind showed up. If I succumb to cravings, perhaps I will lose myself and become like you" Tirpitz sighs
"I'm still right. You're fucking boring" Beelzebub closes their mouth
"..."
"Still, you've said the same thing as that cardinal and that Arbiter"
"You embody endless consumption while you desire for it to never stop. Your actions will fulfill your nature as gluttony, but it cannot fulfill your desire as...whatever you're supposed to be"
"... Lucifer's eyes are in Iron Blood"
Beelzebub turns away and swings their tail just above Tirpitz, annoyed at her presence but still preventing themselves from eliminating her.
"What?"
"I don't like anyone spoiling my current main dish. If it's anyone who always wants to have their way, it's Lucifer. My brethren aren't blindly loyal to Lucifer. They obey them because it's necessary"
Beelzebub sits down with their arms crossed and their tail resting on their side. They refuse to even cast a glance at Tirpitz as they would never view a human as equal to them.
"Why are you telling me this?"
"I would lose my chance to bite my main dish. I'm more than halfway to tasting her, so I can't afford Lucifer to knock the dish off the table"
"Are you going soft?"
"Hahahaha! Will you say the same thing if I tell you why I'm being patient?" Beelzebub repeatedly smashes down their tail
"..."
"Although I'm still weakened, you don't know why I never took the chance of eliminating you. Lower your guard down even for the slightest moment and you'd find yourself between my jaws"
Beelzebub turns their head for only a second or two just to grin victoriously. Their malice is certain and a simple reminder of how "gluttony" is still considered a sin.
"...!"
A short yet sudden scream distracts Tirpitz enough to regain her senses back to reality. Tirpitz blinks a few times since she's visibly confused with the headache and dizziness still bothering her.
"P-please don't eat me, Tirpitz! I'm not that tasty! It was just a prank!"
U-1206 tightly clings to Graf Spee's arm while hiding her trembling body behind her. The sobbing U-boat nearly curls in fear while she does her best to conceal her petite figure behind Graf Spee.
"It's unusual for someone to be scared off you. Usually, it's Roon's bad mood or Deutschland's tantrums that scares the others" Graf briefly look at the cowering U-boat
"What are you talking about?" Tirpitz frowns in visible confusion
"You look like you were going to eat me for lunch, and you started walking towards me!" U-1206 remains hiding
"I rushed when I heard her yelling for help. Is everything alright, Tirpitz?"
"..."
Tirpitz looks left and right only to realize she's no longer in the same place she last remembered. Odin, the manjuus, and her rigging suspended in chains are nowhere to be found. She's near the port where the U-boats usually pass by after their morning dives.
"I think I blacked out. Last, I remember was the manjuus cleaning my rigging" Tirpitz rubs the back of her neck
"You're acting strange again..."
(Beelzebub is only a remnant through an infection. How did a disease move my body?)
Beelzebub falls silent once again, observing from the back of her mind and patiently waiting for another opportunity.
"Perhaps I should have taken advantage of human emotions. Humans won't willingly reach out their hands if I bare my teeth on them..."
Beelzebub pinches a human skull between their two fingers, carefully not crushing it with the tip of their fingers. They grin at the possibility, but softly growls at the opportunity earlier.
Meanwhile...
Bismarck spreads all files and documents Iron Blood possesses regarding Lucifer and Belphegor on top of her desk. Their appearance is well known to Azur Lane, but it's their abilities that remain unknown. She scours though the countless files filled with as much detailed report as possible.
"Hmm..."
The file in Bismarck's right hand describes of a Mirror Sea mimicked by Lucifer which created a realistic simulation within an enclosed area. It also records the conversations between the trapped kansens and Lucifer since the latter loves conversations.
"These kansens are all alive. Lucifer never takes anything seriously while the others slaughter for civilians. Well, there's also..."
On the right side of her desk is thick folder with a picture of Belphegor clipped on the front.
"We need Belphegor's fluids first in order to fully suppress Beelzebub"
Bismarck flips the folder open and immediately stumbles on the latest sighting of the least active Leviathan. Held by a paper clip on the upper right side is the clearest image of Belphegor they have. An enormous and drowsy creature whose stocky build and mass is only second to Beelzebub.
"According to those wretched Sirens..."
Bismarck flips to the second file shared by the Sirens not too long ago as they're the only one who successfully reached Belphegor at the cost of Omitter. One of their well-known abilities is the greatly increased pressure surrounding them which causes kansens to be nearly unable to move and drain of their stamina until they collapse and die.
"Belphegor can nullify?"
On the next page is another image of Belphegor with countless soaked hands stretching from their back. Each hand drips black mud from the tips of their fingers and Belphegor themselves coat themselves with their black liquid. Energy-based projectiles and Siren missiles disintegrate or simply fall to the sea before they can reach Belphegor.
"The Arbiters intend to draw out Beelzebub as they can withstand Belphegor's pressure, but..."
Bismarck clenches her fists while her heart races when an image of a melancholic Tirpitz flashes in her thoughts. She knows in order for Beelzebub to appear, the host's body will have to undergo another excruciating and forced transformation.
"No, there's no guarantee. Beelzebub is still cooperating with their kind. There's no way to point them against their own kind. Beelzebub might not fall for the same trick twice..."
Bismarck shakes her head since the Northern Parliament successfully catches Beelzebub off guard and cause them to mutilate Mammon.
"They can't possibly think of speaking with Beelzebub...can they?"
At first, Bismarck halfheartedly thinks of it, but she straightens her back and widens her eyes at the slightest possibility of it.
"Hmm?"
A small black on the upper left corner of her desk buzzes and vibrates. A white dot on the center pulses repeatedly.
[Good afternoon, o high and mighty leader of Iron Blood~]
The Siren Purifier's voice greets her in an ever sarcastic and mocking tone. The blinking white dot synchronizes with each second, she speaks.
"Purifier. Is the Arbiters too occupied again?"
[Yup! Tower, Devil, and Empress are surveying Belphegor. They made a home somewhere near the Coral Sea]
"They already found Belphegor..."
[Correct again. However, we can't get near since Belphegor is amping their defenses. They already figure their previously extracted liquid was used to contain Beelzebub since they share information after all]
"So, it won't be easy..."
[It's going to be a lot easier once Beelzebub comes into play. They can just absorb the pressure long enough to get near Belphegor]
"You still plan to use Beelzebub knowing they're contained within my sister"
[Empress said you'd hesitate since Bismarck is such a caring big sister~]
"..."
Bismarck stands up and pushes her seat aside. She wants to be upset at the Siren, but the difficulty and slim chances of success couldn't let her argue. As a leader, she knows very well the importance of sacrifices in order to gain advantage in the long-term.
"Even if you plan to use Beelzebub, how are you going to do that? They can't be controlled, and they won't fall for the same trick twice"
[We can just talk to them, no?]
"..." Bismarck shakes her head in dismay
[Beelzebub is guided by their hunger and they're seemingly after a special meal. Why do you think they're so behaved before the whole incident at Northern Parliament. Your sister managed to negotiate before too]
"Tirpitz did? What do you mean?"
Bismarck slams her right hand at her desk and grabs the small black cube with her other hand.
[I don't know much of the details. Go ask Sovetsky Soyuz~]
"More secrets, huh..."
[First thing's first, Bismarck. We need Beelzebub to break Belphegor's defenses. That way, we can extract their blood and shove it in Beelzebub's throat!]
"You say as if it's possible"
[It IS possible. Beelzebub will never let their meal get spoiled]
"What's that supposed to mean?"
[We can't lay out all the plans yet. Beelzebub might be listening through your sister]
The communication cuts off immediately with the white dot fading away and the room becoming silent once more.
"Spoil their meal? Knowing Beelzebub, it would be someone rather than something..."
Bismarck carefully places down the cube back at its original spot even when she's annoyed enough to let it roll off her desk. She sits back down and leans on her chair, furrowing her eyebrows deeply pondering on who the "meal" can be.
Later that night...
The craving to sink her teeth into others hasn't returned yet, but Tirpitz couldn't even shut her eyes for a few minutes due to the returning headache. Her body is sore and her nerves tingling from the discomfort.
"Nngh..."
Her body temperature gradually increases, and now her vision begins to sway. Buildings and other objects in front of her becomes doubled.
"My headache is killing me..."
The heat is mostly worse on her throat, palms, and eyes. This worsens her soring limbs and gradually drains her strength.
[The Arbiters are scouting Belphegor. It has been a while since they targeted Bel]
"Someone is...Who...?" Tirpitz massages her temples
[I can see their only motive is to extract it from Bel. However, Belphegor drains human vitality in mere seconds]
"I heard...this voice before..."
Each step Tirpitz takes only reverberates to her body and further shakes her numbing and sore brain. The voice is forcing itself in her thoughts and as a kansen receiving communication meant for the parasite, it's causing immense pain in her head.
[Lucifer is playing around in Iron Blood again. Beelzebub, don't do anything rash...]
"Lu...cifer. That name again..."
[Beel, I know you haven't eaten anything lately but be patient. I'll prepare a feast to rejuvenate and keep that body from interfering]
"This voice...back in Iris Libre..."
Tirpitz slams her left shoulder at the nearest wall as her body is nearly drained of stamina and her fever worsens.
[Just a little more, Beel. I have something that can lighten your burden. A good meal is always the answer to a restless stomach~]
"As...modeus..."
Tirpitz presses her hand on the wall, but the grip of her fingers on the cost surface quickly slips when her physical strength has reached its limit. She helplessly stumbles down on her side.
"..."
While Tirpitz breathes slow from the slow flow of air in her lungs and her eyes sensing drowsiness pulling her, a figure slowly walks in front of her.
"Who..."
Tirpitz blinks a few times. At first, she recognizes Odin's stern sky-blue eyes staring at her. Then, Tirpitz weakly frowns when the shades shift to a golden and white color. The glow is enhanced at the dim surroundings and appears as if the center of her eyes contains dark golden flames.
"You shouldn't be...sleeping here..."
The words fade once it reaches Tirpitz's ears because pitch black darkness is encroaching the edges of her vision and her eyes forcing itself to shut off.
Gluttony is the endless desire to eat, but what is there to eat if there's no one left?
...
I knew we were all driven by our own motives. We act based on our whims because that's who we are
...
What if our whims no longer serve each other but ourselves?
...
I hate thinking because it leads to doubt myself and everything. It ruins my appetite
...
My stomach hurts. I have to eat someone...anyone, but...why can't I move? Lucifer, are you enforcing your whims on me again?
Beelzebub's voice echoes at the corners of Tirpitz's thoughts. The voracious beast mumbles to themselves as they gaze at the same piercing golden eyes directed towards both them and the host.
"..."
Tirpitz catches a glimpse of an enormous and barely recognizable mass. Beelzebub stands up right and digs their claws into both sides of their chest. They split open, tearing their own torso from both ends. Ribs dislodge and reassemble to stick the torn edges of Beelzebub's chest.
"...!"
Several elongated tongues sprout and wildly flail while more arms tears above and below Beelzebub's main arms. Their jaws split into four and also sprouts the soaked pale hounds from deep within their exposed throat. Multiple small eyeballs fit in each of their eyes and blinks in different intervals.
"Don't-!"
Tirpitz gasps for air and unknowingly pushes someone and rolls herself from the edge of a bed.
"That must have been a horrible nightmare..."
Neumark mildly groans while she rubs her back and slowly lifts her rear off the ground.
"You were also talking in your sleep"
Bismarck crosses her arms while standing on the side of the bed.
"Neumark...and Bismarck?"
Tirpitz blinks when she pauses for a few seconds to observe and examine her surroundings.
"Odin found you unconscious and with a fever. For some reason, the fever went away after a few minutes" Neumark clears her throat
"Odin? I think remember seeing her before I passed out. My fever may have made me hallucinate seeing her with golden eyes"
"You hallucinate what now?" Neumark shakes her head
"I've been dreaming of the Leviathans. The latest one is Beelzebub shouting at Lucifer"
"What?" Bismarck frowns
"What's going on, Tirpitz? You've been acting off since this morning? One of the U-boats is too scared to get near you"
Neumark reaches out her hand to Tirpitz to which the latter accepts. Tirpitz weakly puts strength on her legs and lifts the rest of her upper body.
"I was fine until I went to check on my rigging's maintenance. Odin went to check on me and I heard Beelzebub's mentioning Lucifer" Tirpitz rubs the back of her neck
"You said Beelzebub mentioned Lucifer? When? You have to tell me exactly when they said it?" Bismarck hurriedly walks in front of her
"When did you start feeling strange? We need all the details" Neumark adds
"I was feeling a bit dizzy then I felt a strange shock when Odin tapped my shoulder. I saw a pair of golden eyes staring at me and Beelzebub angrily growled"
Tirpitz shakes her head when the lingering dizziness keeps some of her thoughts disorganized and her senses confused.
"I think I'm going crazy when I blacked out and Beelzebub suddenly started talking..." Tirpitz sits at the side of the bed
"Uh..."
While Tirpitz is staring at her squeezing hands, Neumark scratches her own cheek and reflexively glances at Bismarck.
"They were confused about their appetite. Eating is all they know, but they don't want to stop eating. For some reason, it felt like they were aggressively questioning themselves by yelling at me..."
"You had a conversation with Beelzebub?" Bismarck rubs her chin
"I didn't think they were interested in my opinion...even in death. Beelzebub thinks with their stomach, so it's like I'm talking to an angry child"
"I-I'm sure that's just a bad dream too, but the important thing right now is you're stable again" Neumark wryly smiles
"Neumark, I need to talk to you for a moment"
Bismarck turns away first and storms off the room while Neumark hurriedly follows after her. Tirpitz crossed her eyes and lightly tilted her head, somewhat concerned and puzzled since it's been a while that Bismarck is completely stern again.
"It's possible to speak with Beelzebub, but Tirpitz doesn't know it's the actual one she's speaking to"
Outside the infirmary room, Bismarck nervously taps her left foot while Neumark nervously fidgets with her fingers.
"I didn't think it would be soon, but Odin is our prime suspect right now. Not only was she with Tirpitz when she acted strange, but she brought her here"
"Plus, Tirpitz said Beelzebub reacted when Odin touched her, and she saw golden eyes on both occasions" Neumark raises her index finger
"Lucifer's prying gaze..." Bismarck grunts
"We can't idle any longer. We have to catch Belphegor off guard before Lucifer gets in the way. If we lose Belphegor, Beelzebub will break free" Bismarck clenches her fists
"I suppose we will restrict information from Odin starting by not including her in planning the attack" Neumark
"As much as I despise it, if we were to increase our chances against Belphegor, we have to take the Sirens's suggestion" Bismarck crosses her arms
Bismarck naturally has her sounds, especially after seeing Beelzebub completely hostile to kansens and remain cooperative with their kind until the Northern Parliament tricked them with chemical weapons.
"Even if talking to Beelzebub is possible, persuading them is another matter. If we fail, they'll alert their kind, and we'd lose our chance" Neumark reminds her
"Tirpitz said Beelzebub eating is all they know, and they think with their stomach. It matches with the Sirens' using Beelzebub's meal to their advantage"
"The Sirens, huh. Knowing them, they'd use underhanded means to bait Beelzebub into being where they want them" Neumark mutters her frustration
"All I want is to cure Tirpitz from Beelzebub's disease, but the situation is more complicated than I thought. I haven't figured out what was the plan between her and Soyuz"
"We'll get there, soon. Tirpitz remembers some parts, but something is still blocking her thoughts"
"Everyone has their secrets and I'm beginning to question what else my sister and everyone else might be keeping from me"
Bismarck moves her feet a few steps back and slams her back on the wall. She's both physically and mentally exhausted from the endlessly facing the threats of the Leviathans on the front and the growing doubt on the back.