Imagine going through the suffering that is 3mil exps for your first PR ship and literally a week later the system is revamped and becomes easier to accumulate exp. What have I been fighting for?!

But real talk, I ain't even mad, because PR 3 Ironblood ships are just glorious. Heil Odin and Mainz! Glory to Ironblood!

Chapter 24: War God and flickering blaze

Sakura Empire, train station.

Accompanied by the sound of roaring locomotive engine, the train then entered the Sakura Empire naval base's vicinity. Boarding the train was a single guest. Two curved white horns adorned her long black hair which is tied into a low ponytail. Amber-colored pupils that shone with the same brilliance as the rising sun.

Spotting a rather simplistic design of the previous World War, her uniform consisted of mostly black and adorned with very few golden ornamental accessories, contrary to what one would come to expect of a war veteran. Draped over her shoulder is a white haori jacket embellished with waves and sakura flowers ornate, completed with a four-colored armband.

The Z flag of the Combined Fleet. Such a thing holds little significance nowadays considering the Azur Lane that the world once knew of no longer exist.

Seated next to the window, with a straight posture that exudes much dignity, both hands resting on her laps and the sun gently shining, she looks just like a painting of the world most renowned painter.

But despite that mature beauty that she has, her action can oftentimes be somewhat childish.

Being overly excited ever since she boarded, once she saw the naval base over the horizon she could hardly contain herself and as soon as the train stopped completely, she immediately got up from her seat and waited before the door.

"Oooh~, such magnificence!" after exiting the station, she exclaimed upon witnessing the grand scale of the naval base. For a pre-Dreadnought battleship such as her, despite having been to many places and seen many things, this level of technology advancement is honestly like a completely different world to her. And right now, brimming inside her is only excitement.

"Right, it is unbecoming of me to be dawdling any longer. Now, to greet this generation of Sakura Empire's protectors."

The moment they got out of the storm wall concealing the Mirror Sea and their radar and radio started working normally again, Zuikaku immediately sent a distress signal back to the naval base and a rescue fleet consisted of Kongou, Haruna, Maya and Choukai was dispatched.

Roughly an hour later, the two rendezvous with the rescue fleet at the edge of Sakura Empire's water and Zuikaku then explained the situation to them, but all of them find it hard to believe a single word she is saying.

While Zuikaku claimed that the two of them were kidnapped by Akagi and Kaga and were stuck inside a Mirror Sea and battling Siren for nearly a day, Kongou said that it has only been four hours since her fleet departed on commission. It was then they realized time flows differently inside and outside a Mirror Sea.

That one detail alone just made it much harder for them to explain anything at all, what's more if a Mirror Sea actually did appear then their scouting planes and Emergence radar would have immediately alerted them of such occurrence. So anything Zuikaku said now will be dismissed as just drunk man's fevered rambling, so although reluctantly, she agreed to just head back for the tiem being.

Sometimes later, Dockyard 2.

"Mhmm, I've ran a thorough check on your Rigs and there is no abnormality with it, nyaa. The internal machineries are the same as when you departed down to even each component's serial number, nyaa. Are you sure you weren't just hallucinating because of seasickness, nyaa?"

"Nothing, huh. Thanks anyway, Akashi. And no, I was not seasick. How are we Ship Girls even supposed to get seasick?" after betting it all on her last shot that is her Rigs which was repaired by the Siren when they captured her, thinking that the machineries and components inside should have been swapped out during the process. But it turns out to be a bust also, so Zuikaku left the Dockyard dejectedly.

"Argh, I am seriously running out of option here! At this rate no one is going to believe what I say, and who knows how much time we have left until Akagi-senpai lead the Siren right to our doorstep!" while walking along the veranda, Zuikaku forced her brain to work at max capacity but still turn up with nothing. She was so deep in thought that she didn't even noticed Shoukaku calling for her and only got pulled back to reality when a group of Destroyer girls bumped into her.

"Ouch! You guys, watch where you're going!" she shouted at them but the Destroyer girls were already long gone.

"That's strange. Usually class should be in session right now, then just where are those girls running to?" when Shoukaku mentioned that, Zuikaku also noticed a lot of chatters a traffic toward the direction of the guest room, so the two then headed over from the garden and nearly every Ship Girl was gathered there.

"What's going on here?"

"Ah, since you two was away on commission, it's natural that you wouldn't know." While Zuikaku was trying to find an opening to slip in, Hiei who just arrived with a tray of tea and confectionaries then filled them in on the detail.

"With Commander-sama still recuperating from his injuries, the higher-ups have assigned a senior from the old Combined Fleet to take charge for the time being."

"From the old Combined Fleet? Like, the Combined Fleet from the previous World War?" hearing those words which carry with them a sense of greatness and grandeur, Zuikaku couldn't help but have her mouth wide agape in admiration.

"But I thought all of our seniors from the previous war were all decommissioned because their design did not meet the new standards. So who did they send?" noticing Hiei approaching, the packed crowd slowly spread out and made way for her. Before turning on her heel, Hiei with a gentle smile then answered Shoukaku.

"Fufufu, who else but the flagship herself, great senior Mikasa."

As Hiei then disappeared into the crowd, it took the two crane sisters a full minute to compute the answer she just gave before letting out a surprised shout.

"My apology for not being able to serve something more fancy, Mikasa. If we had known about your arrival in advance, I'd have prepared a whole banquet." With an apologetic smile, Hiei handed the plate of confectionary called youkan to Mikasa.

"No no, I am partly at fault for the sudden intrusion upon your base. As a matter of fact, it was only yesterday when I was made aware of this assignment."

"Honestly, you being here is certainly a great help to us, but I'd appreciate it if the higher-ups at least sent us a notice in advance." Being kind-hearted and sociable in nature, Hiei could converse with just about anyone and get on their good side regardless of who they are and is probably the only one capable of doing so in the current situation.

"But really, it is of great honor to be having you here with us, great senior Mikasa. To think the flagship of the old Combined Fleet herself would grace us with her presence, if only Commander-sama could be here right now." With Akagi and Kaga now also absented, currently handling the reception of Mikasa were Atago and Takao.

"Precisely so. We all have heard many tales about your countless achievement and exploitation during the previous war, and to us, you're exactly the role model to strive for. Your presence alone is akin to gaining the strength of a dozen fleets. And this may be discourteous of me especially when you've only just arrived after a long journey, but if you could spare the time, may this humble me request a duel with you?"

Even the usually stern Takao could barely contain her excitement as she constantly showered Mikasa with praises and going as far as requesting to witness the latter's strength personally.

Being bombarded with such excessive praises and compliments, Mikasa was holding herself back very hard to not blush all the way to her ears while her hands holding the cup of tea was shaking slightly.

"So that is the War God, great senior Mikasa. As expected, you can really feel the aura of a great leader emanating from her." Peeking in from behind the paper sliding door, Shoukaku commented while Zuikaku was being unusually quiet especially after the exchange with Hiei. A short while later, she then spoke up.

"Hey sis, if it's her then do you think…" Zuikaku's question was ambiguous but Shoukaku could already tell what her sister's intention is.

"You must not! Not only are you being rude to our great senior, but right now we also have nothing to back our words. If anything, we'd only become a laughing stock!"

"I know that! But she's honestly our best shot right now and who knows how long we have left until-" before she even finished her sentence, the base's alarm had suddenly gone off. Shortly after that, Houshou who was in charge of recon had run from the command center to alert everyone else on the situation.

"Bad news! Multiple Siren fleets have been spotted!"

"What!? Where are they right now?"

"The emergence site is in the Deep Sea territory, from what our planes captured their course is headed straight for us and will enter within coastal defense artillery's range in another 30 minutes!"

"Why didn't the Emergence radar warn us about their appearance? What about the other countermeasures we set up? How did they get pass the underwater mine field?"

A Siren Emergence that managed to slip past the radar system built specifically to detect and track their signal, Siren fleets that somehow were able to ignore all countermeasures laid against them and are heading straight for this naval base. Almost instantly, the situation was thrown into chaos.

"It can't be…Were we too late?"

"Everyone!" Mass panic soon broke out, but before the situation could devolve any further and spiral completely out of control, Mikasa had clapped her hands together and gathered everyone's attention.

"Listen up! The enemy may have taken advantage of our negligence to sneak up on us, however taking us for fools is their biggest mistake and we will use this chance to wrest the initiative back from them!"

"'It is in the face of adversary when one must keep one's wit about'. All combat personnel, head to the dockyard at once and arm up!"

"Roger!"

"You there, Houshou, was it?"

"Y-yes!"

"Those things that you used to spot the Sirens, what did you call them, 'ear-playings'?"

"They're called airplanes, Mikasa-senpai!"

"Right, airplanes! For the time being keep an eye out on these 'Siren' individuals and warn us immediately should there be any new development in their movement."

"Yes, Mikasa-senpai!"

"Everyone, to your station!"

"Yes, ma'am!"

A resounding voice that inspired the awe in all those who listened to it, and to answer her call the Ship Girls all responded with zeal, as if their panic from moment ago was simply an illusion. Even when standing outside, Zuikaku could not help but tremble at such spectacle.

"Great senior Mikasa!" as Mikasa was leaving the guest room, Zuikaku called out to her despite Shoukaku's effort.

"You are…"

"I am Zuikaku! May I request to sortie with you, great senior Mikasa?"

"And your reason being?"

"Though I have no concrete proof, I think I know what caused this unusual Siren appearance so please, take me and my sister with you! I'm sure we can be of great help!" she pleaded and almost did a prostrate but Shoukaku had stopped her before then.

"Young one, you said your name was Zuikaku, correct?"

"Y-yes!"

"Though what you've just said does sound completely ludicrous, I believe you do not have any reason to be doing so and the gaze in your eyes would agree with me. Very well, you two may sortie with me and prove your words on the battlefield. Though if they indeed do turn out to be false, then are you prepared for the consequences?'

"Yes, I am well prepared!" Zuikaku immediately answered without a sliver of deception and hesitation in her voice. From others' point of view, she may simply seem like a fool spouting nonsense without giving any actual thought to as to what she's saying. But for an experienced veteran like Mikasa, she can easily discern whenever one is lying or not and right now, Zuikaku's eyes are telling the truth.

"Very well. Then gear up! We set out in five!"

"Yes, ma'am!"

20 minutes later, Sector 3-4.

Arriving at Sector 3-4 with three vanguard fleets and two main fleets, under Mikasa's command the Sakura Empire then fanned out into a defensive line, waiting to intercept the Sirens.

"Siren fleets spotted!" about five minutes later, the enemy finally appeared. Much earlier than they anticipated. With their colossal body and number which far exceeded any previous Emergence, the Siren fleets painted the entire horizon black with their presence.

Seeing such a scene, the Ship Girls all swallowed their saliva while silently steeling their resolve, preparing themselves for the attack to come. The Sirens continued to approach closer and closer. On the shore, coastal artillery placements are all loaded and ready to fire whenever. Mikasa then raised her sword and was about to order for all ships to open fire, the Siren's marching suddenly came to a halt just outside of coastal artillery's range.

"W-what…what are they doing?" one of the Ship Girl asked. The Sirens have all stopped in their tracks, not because they were being wary of the coastal defense artilleries. Their movement and timing was in unison and extremely orderly, like they were being commanded by someone, perhaps a Siren Commander.

While all the Ship Girls were dumbstruck and confused as to whether to open fire or not, Houshou's scouting planes continued to monitor the situation from above and after a while there was movement from the Siren's side. Starting from the center, the Siren slowly dispersed creating a clear path where a rift in space was then tore open.

"Wait, is that…Akagi and Kaga!?" Houshou exclaimed in disbelief as the nine-tailed fox duo made themselves known before their wide-eyed sisters. Seeing their comrades now stood on the same side as the enemy of humanity, the Sakura Empire fleets could not believe their own eyes.

"Young one, is this what you were referring to earlier?" when Mikasa asked, Zuikaku answered with gritted teeth.

"Unfortunately, yes. I was really hoping everything was just a fevered dream. Akagi-senpai, to think she'd put her plan in motion this soon…!"

"That vixen, to think she would stoop this low when Commander-sama is not around, and to think I saw her as a rival…How disgusting." Placing her hand on the blade at her side, Atago showed a rarely seen expression of contempt, her browns knitted together whereas the usual gentle smile had disappeared completely.

While her sister was spewing words of scorn, Takao on the other hand had unsheathed her blade at the two fox sisters while demanding an explanation from them.

"Aircraft Carrier Akagi and Kaga of Sakura Empire! For your apparent traitorous act, you're to pay the price with your life! However, as former comrade and in consideration of all your contributions prior to this moment, we shall allow you two a fair trial with the War God as your judge." Hearing about the presence of the War God Mikasa which is something neither of them had expected, both Akagi and Mikasa was a little taken aback.

"Now, you may speak your case, but should we found your reasoning unacceptable, you shall be struck down right here and then!" As she finished her speech, Takao then sheathed her blade. Seeing they're finally allowed to speak, Akagi cleared her throat.

"While I fully understand your reaction, at this point in time we have nothing to say in our defense. Make no mistake that all we are doing are for the future of the Sakura Empire."

'Does she seriously expect us to believe that?', some of the Ship Girls thought. Given the circumstances, it was only natural that no one would. What they didn't know was that Akagi still has a trump card up her sleeve.

"However, such isn't the purpose of our encounter today. Today, we came with a proposal." As Akagi and Kaga took a step back with their head bowed slightly, a third figure then appeared from the rift in space and walked forward. The one person whom everyone would never expect to side with the Siren.

"No way…T-this, this is a lie, right!?"

"This can't be real, right? It's just another one of the Siren's trickery…right?"

All of them were in complete denial, but Atago was perhaps the one taking it the hardest. Her face was as white as a sheet of paper while her entire body was trembling to the point she could no longer hold onto her blade and was already on the verge of falling down if it wasn't for Takao holding her back.

After all, the one standing before them on the same side as the Siren was their beloved Commander.

"Cowardly Siren, resorting to such cheap trick of deception…If this is how you'll have it, then my blade shall show you no mercy-"

"'Cheap trick of deception', is that how I seem to you after only a short period of absence, Takao?" Hearing such words of impertinence coming from one of his Ship Girls, Commander Kasai spoke up and slowly walked toward Takao.

Seeing the one whom she still wasn't sure is her Commander or just an impostor created by Siren's trickery, Takao immediately reached for her blade.

"What!? I can't…unsheathe it…" despite her mind commanding her hand to unsheathe the blade, her entire body was resisting such order with all its might. No matter how much she struggled, her hand refused to move and in that time, Commander Kasai had already appeared in front of her.

"Takao, I just asked you a question, did I not?" and the moment she looked up, Takao felt a tremendous pressure pressing down on her. Not to mention his voice was completely devoid of any emotion that it caused her to break into cold sweat.

"N-no, I…I…"

"And what is your answer?"

"I…I…my deepest…apology, C-Commander…" she answered with much difficulty, her throat felt like being choked by the overwhelming pressure.

"It's good that you understand. Now stand down."

"Y-yes…C…Commander…" like a lion being subjected to its master's quip, Takao held onto Atago and backed away in completely submission. It was then she realized she's physically unable to go against his words, and such is enough proof that the one standing before her is the one and only Commander and Armada of the Sakura Empire, Kasai no Kagutsuchi.

His kimono was much more embellished than his usual one, with an additional black haori overcoat draping over his shoulder while also sporting details that resembled the attire of the warlords of the Warring State era.

But it is his voice that gave them the biggest fright. Like a freezing wind of the north, his voice cut deeps into the flesh and sent shiver down the spin of those who listened. Even Mikasa could not help but tremble slightly.

His face is the same as they all remembered, but the Commander Kasai before them right now is no longer the same kind-hearted Commander Kasai from their memories, and perhaps such a man no longer existed in this world.

With Takao and Atago dealt with, Commander Kasai then turned to the main fleet and spoke loudly.

"As you all have heard from Akagi, today I came here not with the intent to fight, but for the purpose of making a proposal." Seeing all other girls were too shocked and terrified to face their own Commander, Mikasa had no choice but to step up and continue the converse with him.

"First time meeting and an honor to make your acquaintance, O Armada."

"You're…the fabled War God of the old Combined Fleet, Mikasa? The honor is all mine. In fact, your presence here is the most welcomed surprise I've had in a long time."

"Your words flatter me, O Armada. So please, pray tell us about this proposal that you speak of."

"Power."

"What?"

"In the near future, we the Sakura Empire will declare total war against the Eagle Union. During their next military conference where generals from other branches and of course, their Armada will present, we will bring the fight to them and strike them where it hurts the most."

"However, even with ours, the Ironblood and now the Siren's power combined, it is still going to be a nigh-impossible mission where casualties are inevitable. Which is why, more than elaborate tactics and overwhelming numbers, I required an almighty power, one capable of establishing a new world order."

"You don't mean…"

"As expected of the War God. Indeed, what I seek is the power of the Shrine Maiden of the Sacred Sakura, more specifically, the Watatsumi."

"I see, and you intended to use me to convince the Shrine Maiden. But what if I refused?"

"Then I would personally convince her to lent me her aid. As the Shrine Maiden of the Sacred Sakura and of the people, just like you she's exempted from the vow ingrained into every Ship Girl. So while the chance of me succeeding would be much lower than you as the one, I have other alternatives."

As Commander Kasai then spun on his heel and walked back to Akagi and Kaga, the Siren fleets also slowly started to withdraw.

"You have until midday tomorrow to present me your answer, so in the meantime please humor me and carefully consider the offer. After all, all you have to do is ask Zuikaku and Shoukaku and you'll understand why is it I have chosen this path."

Returning into the rift in space, Commander Kasai, Akagi and Kaga vanished into thin air just as when they appeared, leaving the Sakura Empire fleets behind still in a state of bewilderment. The sea returned to its usual tranquil state, but the mind and heart of those presented are in complete turmoil.

Nearly snuffed out, the flickering flame blazes up once more.

Wild and untamed, it burns brighter and stronger than ever.

But in the process, it has inadvertently burnt all that it was meant to illuminate.