It had been nearly two hours since their confrontation began.
What started as a bright, crisp morning should've mellowed into a calm noon by now—the sun climbing higher, the air growing warmer. Or at least... that was what the day's forecast for these waters should've promised.
Instead, the Sword of Rupture had turned the weather into pure chaos.
The ocean's fury bled into the sky. Fierce winds howled, rain fell in hesitant drops, and the world itself trembled as heat and cold clashed on the upper air.
From time to time, thunder cracked across the heavens—streaks of lightning leaping wildly between blackened clouds, as though the very sky was being torn apart by the sword's might.
"Sigh… have you all had enough yet? I'm getting bored with all this nonsense. And now it's raining too? I just want to go home, you know?" Yulijer grumbled, he voiced his frustrations with EA on his shoulder.
Moments ago, he had spammed one of the most devastating attacks ever witnessed in any anime or manga — the Noble Phantasm, Enuma Elish. The move so iconic, so worshiped by fans everywhere, it was practically a cultural phenomenon.
Although reality might say otherwise, but for the ship girls facing him now, that sword was every bit of terrifying. Hence every once in a while, the ship girls stood at a tense standstill, torn between attacking from range or closing in.
If they launched a volley or an aerial bombardment, the Gate of Babylon was already waiting to intercept anything hurled his way. Yet if they dared to engage in close combat, they'd only be greeted by another devastating energy blast from Ea.
It had become a battle of attrition — slow and grinding.
He raised EA slightly, the crimson blade humming with restrained malice. "Come on. You all made such a dramatic entrance, even adding killing me at that — don't tell me you're already running out of courage? You got enough bullets left!?"
But the ship girls were no strangers to such odds either.
Their strategy was simple: repeat their attacks, chip away at Yulijer's energy and endurance, and adapt to his every move. It was a rhythm they had mastered during countless fights where a single burst or one-hit kill wasn't an option — especially during the brutal campaigns on Skull Island.
"...Meaningless." ☆Yuljer☆
He swung the sword in a lazy arc.
The air itself split apart, tearing open in a line of scarlet light that consumed the incoming barrage and sent a shockwave across the waves. The ship girl barely managed to dodge, the heat searing across their armor as those girls tumbled back.
Besides, ever since their comrade Hornet had split from the group at the start of the battle, their goal remained the same: hold Yulijer here for as long as possible.
They were buying time — waiting for Hornet's signal from the Academy, where she had gone ahead to rescue the hostages.
...
....
.....
「PoV from Als」
A fight for justice.
A fight for revenge.
A fight for the world's safety.
A fight for the future.
Those reasons often become the source of a person's strength in battle. Sometimes, they even shape the tales of heroes—stories carried across years, remembered long after the swords have rusted.
But none of those reasons ever felt like mine.
There are countless reasons for someone to bleed, countless calls to raise a weapon. I've met many who did—heroes and legends whose flames once lit the path ahead, only to vanish with time.
Yet this existence, as one of the Personas of the Fool, was never meant to shine that bright.
There's no justice I need to uphold.
'Gascogne... she keeps assisting them with her Dimensional Move. That way, her friends won't get trapped by projectiles and can strike from unexpected angles. Not bad. Her mind's strong enough to handle all those calculations mid-battle.'
As for revenge, I've long since let it go.
'Deutschland and Hakuryuu—those two are surprisingly in sync. If I remember right, back on Skull Island they sparred a lot, always testing new techniques and weapons. Makes sense they'd move like this. They never hesitate to cover each other.'
This world is full of beautiful things—though it's often painfully unfair.
'Heh... so that's how it is. They sent Hornet ahead to the academy on purpose. Guess that was part of their plan all along, preparing for encounters like this. As for Yamashiro... didn't expect her to be this much of a... what is the word... dorkish?'
And even if the future holds nothing but tears and cries… be strong.Everything will be alright.
'And the last one… her. What a surprise. Using the name Ichigo, yet the blade she carries isn't Zangetsu. Not even close. It's that fire-forged monster instead. I'm curious what'll happen when she draws out its power…'
Be strong... and everything will be fine.
Standing above the raging sea, the air burns my nose with salt and smoke. Waves crash in endless rolls, scattering spray in every direction. A cold, ominous cloud hangs in the sky above.
I've always loved this kind of ocean, since not only for the silence beneath its crowdy surface, but because when you sink deep enough it's very-very easy to vanish. Almost no one ever finds those who are pulled down there.
Aside from Titanic and many things that is.
However, this isn't the same seas as what I used to know.
'Another barrage...'
Countless fireworks shot into the sky, their tungsten shells streaking across my vision. With a sharp hiss as they tore through the wind, I watched them burst—not beautifully, but violently.
Even so, fireworks are still fireworks. They're meant to burn, to explode, and fade into dust and
smoke. They soar, they shine, and then they fall—extinguished the moment they touch the sea.
Those who watched were left unsure—whether to feel awe, or sorrow—when the fireworks finally disappeared. But much like the wind of change, their doubt doesn't last for long.
"I'm almost out of ammo..." 「Yamashiro」
"Gascogne can only fire four more volleys before her main cannon is depleted. Preparing for module change—adjustments for close-quarters engagement are underway. Shall we revise our tactics based on previous battle data?" 「Gascogne」
"Uhhm, even if I say yes or no, I don't know which one's gonna work anyway! For now, let's go four-on-one again! Heeey~ Hakuryuu! Hold it right there—we're coming to back you up! Time for Round Three!" 「Yamashiro」
"Roger. Boogie Woogie Tactics will be improved further." 「Gascogne」
"...Can't you do something about that name, though?" 「Yamashiro」
Watching all this somehow made me a little hungry.
Weird—why would I even feel that way? I don't know and not sure enough.
But as I kept my eyes on their movements, maybe… it stirred up this emptiness in my stomach. Sigh... NOW I'm pretty sure my friend forgot to eat some of his bio charges (food) again.
'He should've taken some before.'
Thanks to this hunger, my thoughts drifted back to something my teacher once said—to the Fu Hua I used to know. Hahaha! "Nothing beats remembering my idol when I'm hungry!", that's what he used to say whenever he skipped meals to save money for merchandise.
It's been… so many years that I've lost track of when it all happened.
But… haha… it's impossible to forget the words she left me with, spoken through that calm smile of hers right after she'd finished knocking me flat during training. Ahh… and the soup from that day was really good wasn't it.
'All that's beautiful was once alive with beauty.' 「Fuka-san」
May all beauty be blessed. That's how things are said in her world.
'All that ends once had a beginning.'「Fuka-san」
Just like how time flow across her fate, she already knows there's a longer way to go.
'When someone says they've lost everything… do you believe they truly have nothing left? Do you think no one remains to hear their voice—or perhaps, someone still waits for them, somewhere, to find the way home?'「Fuka-san」
No matter who someone is... even when they're far away or walking by a lonely road, no one truly has nothing. It might sound fragile to say, especially to them Anti-Hero or Pure Villain people, but I understand what Fuka-san meant back then.
They're not alone.
…And neither am I.
But him… my friend still believes he's alone.
Even after everything—the people he's met, fought, helped, saved, raised, defeated, called friends, held close, gently patted on the head, stabbed, hated, and made enemies with—every bond he's made, every scar he's left behind…
The fool knows it all yet keeps pretending not to.
"What's with that blank stare, huh?! Don't tell me you're backing down just because it's going to be four-on-one again?! …Not that I mind a little unfairness," Deutschland's grin was feral, her gauntlet claws flashing with Armament Haki as she struck in rapid, unpredictable bursts.
These ship girls keep fighting for their own reasons.
Sometimes they're reckless—driven by hatred, or even the wish to destroy—but within those flaws lies something familiar. The same reason my friend once carried… and the quiet flame that still lives inside me.
"...Here. Another present from me." 「Deutschland」
At her partner's signal, Deutschland's Haki-coated roundhouse kick crashed against her opponent's blade, the clash booming like thunder as she vaulted skyward. She unleashed a storm of cannon fire before landing upon the sea once more.
While at the same time, her partner moved—silent, precise, like a dragon coiling before the strike.
"...Ashina Esoteric Art..." 「Hakuryuu」
Hakuryuu advanced in, her expression calm yet her eyes align with a thrill she didn't bother to hide. Every gentle step she carried — was prepared for this dance of precision and instinct intertwined.
Her gaze sharpened, steady as the world seemed to still around her.
"...One Mind." 「Hakuryuu」
And then, with a single breath, the storm erupted. A flurry of strikes burst forth from her sheathed stance—each blade drawn and resheathed in a blur of heat and steel, so swift they carved trails of light through the air.
It was good, but not fast enough.
"The wha—?! He blocked them all?!" 「Hakuryuu」
Hesitation meant defeat. She should have remembered that.
"Uhh... crap." 「Hakuryuu」
"You! Not again!?" 「Deutschland」
As a cage of blades closed in around Hakuryuu, chains like those of a ship's anchor lashed out, wrapping around her like a protective coil. The heavy, gleaming links caught the oncoming strikes, scattering sparks around the ship girl with the massive katana.
"Thanks! I can handle the rest!" Hakuryuu called out, her grin flashing between the sparks.
The chains snapped loose, whipping across the battlefield as Hakuryuu steadied her katana in a ready stance—then surged forward again, cutting through the sword formation and blades array in pursuit of her friend.
To that one friend who'd earlier thrown an aircraft with her bare hands.
And, just as expected, the chains returned—circling tightly around Yamashiro. They moved as if bound to her very will, weaving and striking in perfect sync with each motion she made.
At that moment, only Hakuryuu and Yamashiro pressed forward against their enemy.
The others—Deutschland and Gascogne—held their position, watching from afar, side by side with Ichigo, who remained a silent observer amid the chaos unfolding before them.
'She... still decides being a bystander?'
Furthermore, this Ichigo herself, the ship girl had done nothing but watch since the battle began. Whether this too was part of their plan—or simply her choice—no one but her ship girls' friend could tell.
"Take this! Eiiya!" 「Yamashiro」
A raw, straightforward punch landed the instant she reached her opponent. The chain, moving like a living creature, followed through—slamming its heavy links into the enemy with a deafening crash.
Even the swords emerging from golden ripples couldn't endure its weight. But then, a golden chain struck back—its radiant coils cutting through the chaos as it wrapped around Yamashiro's own, locking it firmly in place.
"Huaah?! It's this nosy, blink-blink chain again!" Yamashiro yelped, a flash of panic crossing her face as she fought against the sudden pull. "Let go! Let me go, you fool who dares insult Milord!"
"Once more!" Hakuryuu shouted.
She followed up, her blade sweeping in a horizontal arc aimed at the enemy's torso—so fast it seemed to slice through the very waves around them. Though the sea split under her strike, her opponent blocked it with ease.
They both knew it—only the two of them were left standing against their foe.
Even so, neither showed a hint of fear or surrender.
Relying on pure strength, Yamashiro kept hammering her opponent with punch after punch, yanking her chains back to her side for another crushing blow. Meanwhile, Hakuryuu moved like flowing steel—slipping through the gaps her partner created, every strike precise and merciless.
"Mada-mada!" 「Yamashiro」
"Another one!" 「Hakuryuu」
Even though their attacks didn't push the enemy back a single step, both of them looked fired up—relentlessly slashing and pummeling away without pause. But after a while… something felt wrong.
They stopped, just for a moment.
The two then exchanged a quick, puzzled glance at each other in the heat of battle.
"Super chain and kick!" 「Yamashiro」
"Uhh... slash... whatever sword..." 「Hakuryuu」
A fist rocketed forward, a flash of steel following beside it. Their enemy raised his guard as before, bracing for impact—but just as Yamashiro's punch was about to connect, both of them vanished.
And in their place, standing right before the bewildered opponent… was Ichigo.
"Finally, it's my turn." 「Ichigo」
The instant she appeared, all of her fox tails whipped out in unison, striking with a force that sent her opponent flying. Despite their soft, fluffy appearance, each tail hit like a steel hammer—grace wrapped in raw, crushing power.
At first, her opponent thought the ship girl would fight using those tails as her main weapon. However… it quickly became clear she had no intention of fully relying on them.
Instead, she drew a katana—the same kind of "standard issue" weapon you'd find in every Japanese fantasy… and somehow, it looked like she intended to make it anything but ordinary.
"I'm sorry for the sudden surprise, but our goal has already been achieved. Now, all that's left for us to do is keep you from going anywhere. Prepare yourself—here I march." 「Ichigo」
Haha, they're really a wonder, aren't they?
Their resolve stands in contrast to that of heroes and legends, despite their purpose aligned. Their truth is, what keeps them moving—what keeps them fighting—comes from somewhere far more personal.
They're not here for the glory. Not to be called heroes.
Do they remind you of someone, my friend?
"There's no point searching these waters—they're already gone. If you truly wish to know, then defeat me. Even if I sink into the depths, the truth will stay buried… and maybe you should too." 「Ichigo」
Can you feel them, my friend? The Fool I once knew.
Their determination flows — letting me feel their adamant wishes.
As the manifestation of your hard-headed self, as your Persona of Determination… this is something that truly makes me happy — knowing there're still others who carry the same flame that defines my very existence.
"Don't worry. I'm no weakling. I just won't let my new friend be dragged into the flames." 「Ichigo」
This feeling… it's as if I could do anything.
Like a strength I've borrowed from someone's courage.
It was like... even if the earth shatter, the heavens collapse, and the gates of hell swing open.
Even if this is the end of the stars themselves, I'm full of wound but nothing like regret.
That's why… I'll keep this farce going until the very end — to make sure it all works, to make sure there's still hope, and to ensure those hopes don't fade into just another dying wish the stars refused to grant.
Because really, haha... that's all I can do.
To live, to laugh and to keep doing everything for my friend.
That's me... and that's you, my friend.
————————————————
Upon the same stretch of shallow waters—but a fair distance away from the two sword-wielders locked in their confrontation—sailed Deutschland, Hakuryuu, Yamashiro, and Gascogne, heading straight toward the academy.
"Oh! So she's already arrived? Why didn't you say so earlier?!" Hakuryuu snapped, giving Gascogne a few firm pats on the back. The ship girl being smacked didn't seem to mind at all—her expression remained perfectly calm, as if the gesture barely registered.
"Thank goodness... but I didn't expect it to be this far. We really fought that bastard way off from the academy. Anyway—she's fine, right? Has she found the Milord yet? For a moment, I was worried there might've been a trap waiting for her there." 「Yamashiro」
"Nothing from her about the Commander, but the eagle is fine," Gascogne replied, her tone as steady as ever. "She's currently searching for her friends of Feathers. Additionally, she keeps reminding us to hurry—and I quote—'move your engines faster.'"
"Yeah?! Tell her to fight... that!" 「Deutschland」
The Iron Blood girl jerked her thumb back, the clawed gauntlet gleaming as it pointed dead center toward where Yulijer had vanished behind the convoy. Her jaw tightened, irritation etched deep into her face.
She hated not being the one to finish him—with her own hands, her own fury, her own blade.
"Wenn ich Gustav rufe, kann er einpacken! …Quickly — we save that stupid commander, then we come back and pummel his face! Hopefully he's still breathing, though." 「Deutschland」
Then, temperature began to rise.
"Warning: massive temperature spike detected," Gascogne reported, calm as usual.
At the same time as Gascogne's announcement, the other ship girls felt it too.
The air against their skin grew suddenly oppressive—hotter than any summer they'd known—like standing too close to a forge. Salt on their lips steamed. Metal fittings hissed.
The horizon shimmered, and the sea itself seemed to bleed heat. Everyone went quieter in a heartbeat. Not from fear exactly, more because the world had just decided to get nastier.
"...It's this heat again." 「Deutschland」
"Yeah! Yeah! It's definitely that scorching blade! " Hakuryuu replied, eyes narrowing. "Even I remember that sound... when that blade leaves its scabbard. It's blinding—like a sun."
For a brief moment, as they turned their gaze behind them, they could see it too—a strange distortion rippling through the air, twisting and warping as the heat burned higher.
The distortion grew larger with each passing second, pulsing from the direction where Ichigo and Yulijer were still locked in battle.
"That means Ichigo-sama has unsheathed that blade again," Yamashiro said, loosening her collar slightly as she kept sailing forward. "Even the heat's reaching us from here... Come on! Before the sea turns into a boiling mist!"
"I told her not to go overboard with that sword! Tch! Guess she really meant it when she said wanted to 'let loose'..." Deutschland clicked her tongue. "Can't you just teleport us, Droid?"
"Current status: low-energy module active," Gascogne responded, voice as monotone as ever. "Please wait a few moments. Warning: please address Gascogne by her proper alias. Additional note: Gascogne is an android."
"You for real... now is not the time! Whatever — full speed ahead. White, drag your black friend with you. I'll tow this low speck thing myself. Don't hold back — move as fast as you can." 「Deutschland」
"Heh, if you say so. Though... I doubt my flash step could be as fast with Yamashiro in tow," Hakuryuu's grin was all mischief, the kind that gets people into trouble. "Then, get ready. The loser has to wash clothes with a brush and a rock."
Power surged beneath their feet as both women strengthened their legs and engines, each drawing deeper into their inner technique and energy. Their intent was obvious: get as far from that battlefield as possible before the chaos swallowed them too.
Hakuryuu vanished first, her steps skimming across the waves like a stone skipping over a river.
The other shot forward just as fast, streaking across the water like a black bolt ricocheting from one point to the next.
Luckily, nothing blocked their path. No rocks, no enemy fire, no sudden whirlpools trying to ruin their day. With nothing in the way, they tore ahead at full speed. Stopping wasn't an option, and slowing down felt like begging for death.
Even without looking back, they could feel it.
The heat, it's growing hotter and hotter.
Creeping up their spines like a sunburst ready to swallow them whole.
"Hm? Oh… wonderful. The colorful child has arrived," Deutschland muttered, equal parts relief and exasperation.
Then both she and Hakuryuu felt it. A shadow sweeping over them, big enough to cover out half the sky. Whatever it was, it kept pace with their boosted speed like it was out for a casual stroll.
"Beep-beep! Need a ride?!" Hylia's voice rang out.
It was her.
The Feasty Haired little girl perched proudly on the Apocalypse Dragon's head as the beast skimmed low over the ocean, wings slicing the wind like a living warship.
Without wasting a second, the ship girls vaulted up and landed on the dragon's broad back. Hylia barely had to signal, before the great creature surged forward, towards Azur Lane Academy.
"Everything good? Then—going ahead, Apopo! Set sail~!" Hylia shouted, throwing her fist skyward just as the dragon blasted forward. "W–Whoacha-cahahach?! …Oh. Thanks, Yamama!" she yelped when Yamashiro's hand stopped her from tumbling off like an overly excited baby penguin.
"Seat down!" 「Yamashiro」
————————————————
A short while earlier…
High above the chaos, Hylia rode on the dragon's head, the rushing wind tugging at her hair while the world below bubbled and writhed like someone had dumped a pot of boiling water onto the ocean.
She hummed softly to herself, being the good little girl her big sisters expected her to be.
From that impossible height, she hovered with the dragon, just a tiny speck to anyone looking up from the battlefield, no more noticeable than a distant plane catching the sunlight.
"Whoatto~ Another stray coming at us again. Nice dodge, Apopo!" Hylia shouted.
A few projectiles shot up from below, slicing through the sky toward the dragon's belly. However, each threat vanished almost lazily under the Apocalypse Dragon's power, as if swatting flies was the most natural thing in the world.
"And… thank you for telling me those things earlier," Hylia added, patting the dragon's warm scales. "Sorry if any of my questions annoyed you. I just wanted to know more about you."
〈A low, resonant growl drifted from deep within the creature. "It's aligned... my purpose... to... be of help. Nice… to help… and… chat. Besides this vessel… nothing but… a borrowed one… the true Dragon… relic of… old past. How about… you… youngling? Do you… know… yourself…?"〉
"Yup! I'm Hylia! The blossomed flower who likes choco ice cream! Didn't I tell you that already?" She puffed her cheeks, then softened. "Or… maybe you mean things I like and hate? But that'd take forever…"
Her gaze drifted downward again, watching the distant battle churn. But for now, she held back the urge to ramble or jump in. She chose to trust those girls instead. Fighting that white-haired person was their personal struggle, not hers.
〈Another rumble, slower now. "...Not that… your heart… voice… what its... made of."〉
"My heart?" She touched her chest lightly.
Small. Flat. Soft. Just flesh, nothing spectacular.
She blinked. The dragon's question tied her thoughts into knots.
"It's beating normally. No pain or anything. It's steady… slow, even. It reminds me I'm alive. Cera used to say this sound helps calm people down, but I still don't really understand what she meant." Hylia
〈A deeper rumble followed, something almost like laughter. "Your… strength. What dwells… in heart. Close eyes… speak… seek… answer…" 〉
She nodded again.
The Feasty-haired little girl closed her eyes, steadying herself as something heavy stirred inside her chest. From that place, she could feel the same doubts and forbidden fears rising to the surface.
This was the same lump in her chest, the same confusion, the same uncertainty she'd carried ever since she met the Ship Girls and learned about them. A question that sprouted from a seed buried deep in her hesitant heart.
"I don't know…" she whispered. "When I try to listen, the words disappear before they reach me. I don't even know what I'm supposed to find. And instead…" Her voice cracked. "…it just makes me want to cry. Even though I don't know why."
Her breath hitched. She bit down the tears.
"I don't know... I'm sorry." (Hylia)
She then took a deep breath and tried to hold some tears in her eyes.
And when her eyes lifted to the world, she hid more tears yet again.
Before she could compose herself fully, a sudden wave of heat surged upward, brushing her skin like a furnace door swinging open. The dragon's wings beat once, scattering the scorching air.
That's when her eyes widened. "Oh? Oh! Apopo! Look over there!"
Far below, her big sisters shot across the battlefield like streaks of light. Noticing this, she gave a small nod to the dragon who understood the assignment.
They dove.
Wind roared past her ears, drowning out everything else. The world blurred. Her doubts didn't.
"…Is being just the blossomed flower who likes chocolate ice cream really not enough?" she murmured. Her fingers curled into her dress. "Is this what Zei meant…? What kind of flower am I supposed to be…?"
The same doubt circled back again, heavier than before.
Since she still wasn't sure what the right answer even was, she had gathered countless flowers on Skull Island with Ichigo, weaving bouquet after bouquet to bring home. Each bloom carried its own meaning, its own color, its own quiet truth.
Glass flower.
Daisy.
Jasmine.
Lily.
Forget-me-not.
Bluebell.
Camellia.
Freesia.
She hoped that by binding them all together, Sakura Zeimachi would finally understand her answer. She was every meaning in those petals. Every beauty, every hope, every quiet shade of what a flower could stand for.
So Hylia intended to place one of those bouquets in the Fool's hands, offering the truest shape of who she was. Even if she wasn't sure whether her answer was right or wrong, this bouquet of happiness was the one she had prepared.
She wasn't just the blossomed flower who liked chocolate ice cream.
She was also the blossomed flower who carried his happiness.