Two days had passed since that night of grilled fish.
The morning sun had just begun to peek over the eastern horizon, casting golden rays that shimmered across the calm surface of the Kyushu waters. A cool breeze blew, carrying the scent of salt and freedom that true sailors always longed for. At the main pier of the Kyushu military port, the bustle had reached its peak since dawn. Yet, it was not the routine logistical hustle or ship repairs that dominated—it was a bustle laden with a heavy feeling in every movement, like the sky before rain falls, even though there was not a single cloud on the horizon. The sound of cranes lifting the final containers echoed in the air, mingling with the shouted orders of crews trying to maintain their spirits, even though their hearts knew this was a moment of farewell.
The day of departure had arrived.
JS Izumo (DDH-183) was still moored at the pier, her massive dark grey hull now restored to its prime condition. The hull, which had been scratched and dented in several places by the onslaught of storms and the hellish battle in the Southern Sea, had been repaired and repainted by the ground technicians. Her radar antenna rotated slowly, and her straight flight deck stretched out clean and empty, ready to accommodate any air unit. All logistical preparations for the long voyage had been loaded into the belly of the massive ship. No fuel or spare parts needed to be carried—because as Kansen with Wisdom Cubes, Izumo and the destroyers could repair themselves using their own internal energy.
What was loaded were simpler yet essential things: durable food rations like rice, instant noodles, and cans of processed fish; spare everyday clothing for the five ship girls, including new tactical uniforms and comfortable sleepwear; tons of potato chips specially ordered by Laffey and crates of soda; and a great many souvenirs of gratitude from the Kyushu port crew—ranging from boxes of premium green tea, high-quality sake bottles, to handmade dry cakes neatly wrapped with red and white ribbons. There were also sentimental items like blank notebooks to record their adventures, charm bracelets from a local shrine, and even a mini fishing kit given by Commander Yamamoto as a keepsake. Everything was neatly arranged in the cargo hold, as a form of gratitude from Japan, which had just been saved from the threat of war. The port crew even added small notes in every container, bearing simple messages like "Sail safely, Silver Fox" or "Come back with great stories."
Far offshore, about two nautical miles from the pier's edge, four silhouettes of smaller warships floated with their engines already running, humming low against the waves. These were the physical hulls of the four destroyer girls of Azur Lane: HMS Javelin, USS Laffey, KMS Z23, and IJN Ayanami. They were already on standby in the outer waters, holding anchor as they waited for JS Izumo, which was still finishing its business on land. The ships stood gallantly amidst the small waves.
On the pier, Izumo stood upright facing the sea. Today, she had shed her long white techwear jacket, making her appearance more tactical, more compact, and revealing her proportioned body contours. She wore only a tight black tactical short-sleeved shirt, paired with black tactical shorts and a holster belt on her left thigh. Her futuristic combat boots reflected the morning sunlight. At her hip, not on her back, hung two blades of her signature weapons in elegant sheaths—the HPLS sword and the ALKA, manifestations of her ship's anti-air laser system. Her pair of silver fox ears twitched occasionally, in tune with her single silver fox tail swaying gently in the wind. Her crimson right eye swept across the crowd before her, searching for something—or someone. Her long silver hair cascaded freely down her back, tousled by the gentle morning breeze, making her look like a figure from legend who had just descended from the heavens.
Around her, the four destroyer Kansen—Javelin, Laffey, Nimi, and Ayanami—were still accompanying her. They had not yet boarded Izumo's ship because they still wished to be present for the farewells. Javelin stood with her lance resting on her shoulder, her long purple hair flowing in the wind, her expression a mix of excitement and a slight sadness she tried to hide with a broad smile. Laffey munched on potato chips while gazing at the sea, her red eyes half-lidded as usual, but her hand occasionally touched the pocket of her hoodie where she kept a spare soda bottle. Nimi adjusted her glasses while jotting something down in her small notebook, her neat black hair making her look like a serious little military analyst. Ayanami stood silently with her greatsword leaning against the pier wall, her red eyes looking towards the sea with an unreadable expression, though her mechanical ears occasionally moved in response to the sound of the waves.
Before them stood the ranks of military commanders and ship girls of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force. Rear Admiral Katsuto Deguchi stood at the very front with Commander Hiroshi Yamamoto of the Kyushu base. Their uniforms were immaculate, medals gleaming on their chests, their postures straight as statues guarding the nation's honor. Behind them, JS Kaga, JS Hyuga, and Hikawa Maru stood with perfect bearing. Kaga in her ever-immaculate black suit, her short brown hair unmoving despite the wind, her eyes fixed on Izumo with deep intensity. Hyuga stood beside her, her blue suit slightly rumpled from her habit of fidgeting, but today she stood still, her hands clenched at her sides, her blue eyes glistening with unshed tears. Hikawa Maru, in her soft, maternal white gown reflecting her status as a hospital ship girl, now held a small cargo container bearing a medical logo. Her smile remained calm, though worry was hidden behind it.
"Admiral Deguchi, Commander Hiroshi," Izumo spoke, offering a military salute that was extremely firm and precise, her hand raised to her temple with a well-practiced motion. "All logistical preparations are complete. On behalf of Azur Lane, I extend my deepest gratitude for the sanctuary, repairs, and care you have provided us. Without you, we would not be standing here today."
Admiral Deguchi returned the salute with a warm, fatherly smile, his wise eyes looking at Izumo as if seeing a princess about to go to war. "It is we who owe our lives to you, Izumo-san. Human history may never record that battle in the Southern Sea, but those of us standing here will never forget that a fox girl from another dimension protected our fleet and our homeland from destruction. The waters of Japan will always be wide open to you. Return anytime, and bring back new stories from the vast ocean."
Izumo nodded with a faint smile, her tail swaying gently as a natural response to the warmth of those words. She then turned to look at Kaga and Hyuga. Kaga stared at Izumo with a gaze that was difficult to interpret—a mix of awe, deference, and absolute respect, like a warrior seeing a living legend. Hyuga gave a wide grin and a thumbs-up, but her eyes were slightly teary, showing that beneath her tomboyish demeanor, she had a very tender heart.
However, Izumo's crimson right eye continued to sweep across the ranks of the crew and officers on the pier. Her fox ears twitched, searching for a presence very familiar to her, yet she could not find it. The crowd was full of faces she had become familiar with over the past week—the technician who had repaired her ship, the nurse who had checked her wounds, the logistics crew who had helped her load cargo. But one face was missing.
"Kaga-san," Izumo called softly, her tone slightly lowered, like a wind that had suddenly changed direction. "Where is Mogami? I haven't seen her since dawn earlier."
Hearing that question, Kaga lowered her gaze for a moment before answering in her flat, professional tone, though there was a slight hesitation at the edge of her words. "JS Mogami set sail just as dawn broke, Izumo-san. She requested special permission from me and the Admiral to take her ship and sail solo towards the south. Her stated reason was to conduct a long-range border patrol around the small islands of Okinawa."
"To Okinawa? Alone?" Izumo was stunned, her crimson right eye narrowing slightly in confusion mixed with worry.
The distance was quite far, and for a frigate that had just recovered from severe injuries, sailing that early sounded like an excuse to run away. Izumo sighed softly, her tail drooping slightly. An uneasy feeling crept into her chest because she could not meet and say goodbye directly. She imagined Mogami standing alone on her ship's bridge, staring at the southern sea with a stern face hiding tears. That was so like Mogami—always choosing the most painful path for herself in order not to be a burden to others.
Hyuga stepped forward a little, seeing Izumo's changing expression. "Mogami said she wanted to ensure the southern route was safe for you. But I know… she didn't want to be seen crying in front of everyone. She's strong, but… you know how she is, right?"
Izumo smiled faintly, though the smile did not fully reach her eyes. She now understood. Mogami's emotional defenses would surely shatter completely if she had to wave goodbye as her ship sailed away today. "I know. She's always like that. Maintaining her professional demeanor until the very last moment."
Kaga nodded. "She is strong. Stronger than you think. She will be fine out there."
Izumo looked towards the south, towards the sea that was no longer visible from the pier. Her thoughts drifted back to the night before, to that moment under the tree, where Mogami had held her so tightly, like a child afraid of being left behind. Even though she and the destroyers had not been in Japan for a month yet. The rescue moment in yesterday's mission had truly made their bond so close it felt as if they had known each other for years. She understood now why Mogami had left early. She did not want to be seen crying in front of everyone.
Flashback - The Night Two Days Ago
That night in Kyushu was spent with extraordinary warmth. The grassy park area next to the lodging building had been transformed into an impromptu barbecue party area. A small campfire from charcoal blazed brightly, illuminating the faces gathered around it with dancing orange light. The fragrant aroma of grilled fish wafted into the cool night air, mingling with the smell of sea salt carried by the wind from the pier. The sound of sizzling oil on the grill mixed with cheerful laughter, creating a simple symphony that momentarily made everyone forget about the coming farewell.
USS Enterprise sat on a large rock near the fire, her fishing rod already leaned against the wall, her usually stern face now relaxed with a slight smile. The afternoon's catch—fresh fish enough to feed an entire company—was now being handled by the two most enthusiastic among them all.
"Ayanami, the fire is hot enough! Put the fish on now!" Javelin exclaimed. The white apron she had borrowed from the lodging kitchen, covering the front of her white sleeveless top and her purple shorts, was now covered in seasoning stains. Her long purple hair was tied in a ponytail to keep it out of the way, but a few strands had come loose and stuck to her cheeks, flushed from the heat of the fire.
"I know, Javelin. Do not rush it or the skin will burn before the inside is cooked, desu," Ayanami replied calmly, holding the seasoned fish with a precision of movement akin to how she wielded her sword. She placed the fish onto the grill at an extremely measured distance, her red eyes focused as if planning a battle strategy.
"That's too mathematical for grilling fish, Ayanami!" Javelin protested, her hands moving quickly to baste extra seasoning with a brush.
"There is no such thing as too mathematical," Nimi retorted from the corner, without looking up from her notebook, where she was calculating the calories per serving to ensure balanced nutritional distribution.
Laffey was already sprawled on the grass mat with her soda bottle. Her eyes were half-lidded as usual, but her hands were still actively reaching for pieces of fish that were already cooked whenever Javelin placed them on the plate. "Laffey wants the slightly burnt ones... crispier."
Nagato sat with Enterprise, both speaking softly about something no one else needed to hear—perhaps about their return route to the Home Port, or about old memories of past wars. Occasionally, Enterprise laughed quietly, her crisp voice breaking the night's silence, and Nagato hid her smile behind her teacup, her fox tail swaying gently behind her.
In the midst of the commotion, Izumo chose to step aside. The Silver Fox walked towards a corner of the park that was rather dark and dim, right under the shade of a large tree whose dense leaves blocked the light. The light from the campfire did not fully reach that spot—dim enough, quiet enough, far enough from the noise to be able to think. Izumo sat down, placing her two swords just lying on the grass beside her, not sheathed at her hip as usual. She lay down, folding both hands behind her head as a pillow, then gazed at the very clear Kyushu night sky, stars twinkling like jewels scattered across a black canvas. Her tight black tactical shirt felt comfortable against the cool night air, the wind touching her pale skin and making her single tail sway gently.
Suddenly, her fox ears caught the sound of soft footsteps on the grass. From behind the tree's shadows, JS Mogami appeared. The frigate girl was only wearing her distinctive black seifuku. Her dark hair was left loose and free, her black eyes looking at Izumo with an expression that was hard to read—not awkward, nor too casual. Something in between, like someone who had already decided something but was still hesitant to say it.
"Izumo-nee..." Mogami called softly, her voice almost drowned amidst the sounds of the wind and distant laughter from the campfire.
Izumo smiled gently, her remaining eye looking up. "Mogami? Why are you here? The grilled fish is ready. Javelin says it's a special recipe from Maru."
"I... I'm not hungry," Mogami answered, looking down and twisting the end of her sleeve with a slightly nervous motion, even though her face remained stoic. "M-May I... may I lie down here? Next to you?"
Izumo looked at her for a moment, then shifted her position slightly to make room on the soft grass. "Of course. This spot is big enough for two."
Mogami laid herself down on the grass, right to Izumo's left. The distance between them was quite close, close enough to feel the warmth of each other's bodies in the cold night air. Both were silent for several minutes, accompanied only by the sound of crickets and the faint crashing of waves from the pier. The stars above them seemed so close, as if they could be reached just by reaching out a hand.
"The stars are numerous tonight," Mogami finally said, her voice softer than usual, like a whisper carried by the wind.
"Yes," Izumo answered simply, her crimson right eye still gazing upwards, tracing the patterns of constellations she recognized from her old world.
Silence again. In the distance, the sound of Javelin's laughter and Ayanami's complaints about the fish's doneness level could still be heard faintly, mixed with the sound of the dancing campfire's sizzle.
"Izumo-nee..." Mogami called, breaking the silence again, this time her voice trembling slightly. "...when will we meet again?"
That question sounded so fragile, like thin glass that could shatter at any moment. Izumo did not answer immediately. She let the question float in the night air for a moment, feeling its weight, feeling the emotion hidden behind those simple words. Her single tail swayed gently, touching the edge of the grass beside her.
"I don't know exactly when," Izumo answered honestly, her voice soft but firm, like the wind carrying a promise. "But I know where I will return. After I finish circling this earth, mapping the uncharted seas, building diplomatic routes that don't yet exist, I will come home to Azur Lane." She turned slightly, looking at the profile of Mogami's face beside her, the starlight reflecting in her black eyes. "And from Azur Lane, Japan is very close. Stopping by here is far easier than infiltrating a dragon's nest in the Southern Sea."
Mogami laughed lightly—a laugh that was slightly bitter yet sincere, its sound like a breath of wind touching the tree leaves above them. "You make it sound so easy."
"Because it is. For me," Izumo stated.
"So arrogant," Mogami teased.
"That's not arrogance. That's certainty," Izumo replied.
Mogami was silent for a moment, looking at the stars again. Then she laughed once more, this time more sincerely, and there was something slightly embarrassing in her laugh, like someone who had finally released a burden she had been carrying alone. "I... I have to admit something. That fight yesterday. I was utterly humiliated by Nanchang. She was faster than me, stronger in close quarters, and I didn't even get to finish one full attack before she turned the situation around. I felt like a burden. Like a failed frigate."
"You won, didn't you?" Izumo cut in, her voice instantly firm, like a blade slicing through doubt.
"I nearly died, Izumo-nee," Mogami spoke.
"You did not lose, even in the rematch," Izumo reiterated, even more firmly, her crimson right eye staring directly sideways. "You fought to protect the mission and your comrades. You slashed her achilles tendon before falling. That is a sacrifice that changed the course of the battle." Izumo's hand, which she was using as a pillow for her head, moved, her fingers gently brushing Mogami's temple and tucking away a loose strand of her hair. The frigate girl gasped, her face instantly turning a deep shade of red, but she did not avoid the touch. "You should be proud, Mogami. Not ashamed. You sacrificed yourself to save a friend. You should be proud, and I'm sure you will become the greatest frigate."
Tears dripped from the corner of Mogami's eyes, falling onto the grass beneath her. "I don't care about being the greatest..." she sobbed softly, her voice trembling like a leaf blown by a strong wind. She hid her face in the crook of Izumo's neck, her warm breath touching the silver fox's skin. "The foreign oceans out there are cruel. I just want you to come back whole. Come back alive, and tell me about your adventures. Everything—the fun ones, the horrifying ones, the ones that nearly got you killed again."
Izumo smiled sweetly, her hand stroking the back of the girl clad in the seifuku with a gentle and soothing motion, like a mother comforting her child. "I promise. I will not sink that easily. And maybe... I will also send you word from afar."
Mogami lifted her tear-streaked face, tears still streaming down her cheeks, making her look so fragile under the starlight. "How? In international waters, the radio range won't reach. Is... this related to your MiG aircraft that always launches something every night? Everyone at the base keeps talking about the aircraft's simple movements, as if it's a secret ritual."
Izumo laughed softly, her laugh light and warm, like a summer breeze touching the face. She knew she could not reveal the secret that the missile's energy was her communication system to Azur Lane—a system she had developed herself with her Wisdom Cube energy. "It's just a beacon for venting surplus reactor energy at night. Don't think about it. My signal will come in unexpected ways, across the waves and wind. You just need to trust me."
Hearing that, Mogami could no longer hold back her happy smile, a smile that made her eyes sparkle in the darkness. Without warning, she pushed her body forward and hugged Izumo very tightly from the front. Their position was face-to-face, piled on top of the dark grass, with the stars as witnesses.
"Eh?!" Izumo was utterly shocked. Her face instantly blushed a deep red, her fox ears drooping in embarrassment. "M-Mogami... it's embarrassing if the others see. We're both ship girls, this position is a bit improper..."
Mogami buried her face in Izumo's chest, clutching Izumo's clothes tightly, her breath warm and slightly gasping from overflowing emotion. "I don't care. Let me stay like this hugging you a while longer before you leave the day after tomorrow. Two days feels so short. Let me be selfish tonight."
Hearing the plea in that sincere tone, Izumo stopped resisting. She let out a long sigh, wrapping both her arms to return Mogami's hug beneath the witness of thousands of Kyushu stars. Izumo sat up, and she returned the embrace. They sat in an embrace, under the tree, under the star-filled sky, while in the distance Javelin and Ayanami were still arguing about the doneness level of the grilled fish. The sound of their laughter was like a background melody that made the moment even more touching. Izumo felt the rapid beat of Mogami's heart in her chest, and for the first time, she felt that this parting was not an end, but the beginning of a greater promise.
Return to the Present
The sea wind on the pier swept across Izumo's face, bringing back the reality of that morning. She smiled faintly, although the smile did not fully reach her eyes. She understood now. Mogami's emotional defenses would shatter completely if she had to wave goodbye as her ship sailed away today.
"Izumo-san."
That call broke Izumo's reverie. Hikawa Maru walked closer, her white gown fluttering gently in the wind, her gentle smile still present even though her eyes showed deep concern. Behind her, a crane was moving a white cargo container bearing a medical logo onto the deck of JS Izumo, the sound of the crane engine echoing like a rhythm of farewell.
"Maru-san?" Izumo turned.
"This is a full container of emergency medical supplies and medicine," Maru said softly, handing over a logistics tablet with slightly trembling hands. "Medicines, bandages, antiseptics, and several vials of special compounds we formulated to aid the recovery of minor physical wounds without having to wait for the natural regeneration of ship girls like you. I know you are very strong, Izumo-san. But even the strongest sometimes need a bandage. There are also some herbal remedies from my family's recipe, to calm the mind during the long nights at sea."
Izumo looked at the large container box being loaded into the ship's hull by the crane and forklift for a moment, then looked at Maru with her crimson right eye full of gratitude. "Thank you very much, Maru-san. This means a lot. I will use it well."
"Come back safely. Although our meeting was brief, it feels as though you have been here for a very long time," Maru said. Behind her calm smile lay a very sincere concern, like a mother sending her child off to a battlefield. She hugged Izumo briefly, a warm and loving embrace, before releasing her with a smile that trembled slightly.
Commander Hiroshi Yamamoto stepped forward, offering a highly precise military salute, his hand raised in a motion trained for decades. "Izumo-san. On behalf of the entire Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Kyushu District, we express our deepest gratitude. Our southern seas are now safer because of your courage. May the international seas treat you well. And this—" he handed over a small box containing a mini fishing kit, "—is a souvenir from us. To pass the time on your journey."
"Thank you, Commander. Take good care of Japan," Izumo replied, accepting the box with a respectful nod.
Rear Admiral Deguchi gave no long speech. He simply walked up to Izumo, looked at her directly with his wise eyes, and extended his hand. Izumo accepted it, a firm handshake between two people who had been through much together in a very short time. The Admiral's hand was warm, but his grip was full of hidden strength.
"You are one of the finest I have encountered in my long career," Deguchi said softly, only loud enough for Izumo to hear, his voice like a whisper of wind carrying memories. "Take care of yourself, Izumo-san. And remember, Japan is not just land; it is a home that awaits your return."
Izumo nodded, aligning her gaze with the Admiral's eyes. "Take care of Japan for me, Admiral. I will return with stories worth telling."
The small farewell ceremony began. Admiral Deguchi gave an official salute, followed by all the officers, the sound of their shoes echoing in unison on the concrete pier. However, before Izumo could turn away, JS Kaga stepped forward to approach her. Kaga reached into the pocket of her black suit and produced an old yet well-maintained silver badge bearing a chrysanthemum crest. She placed the badge in Izumo's palm with a careful motion, as if handing over her most precious treasure.
"This is the personal badge belonging to my lost 'sister'," Kaga spoke, staring sharply into Izumo's crimson right eye, her voice flat but full of hidden emotion. "I am giving it to you as a protective charm. And listen well, Izumo... if you sink out there while bearing the name of our beloved sister, I vow I will descend to the bottom of the trench to beat you up. Come back whole, or do not come back at all."
Izumo gripped the badge tightly, feeling the cold metal against her palm. She smiled challengingly, though there was a hint of tears at the corner of her eye. "I accept your threat, Kaga. I will not let this badge sink. I promise to return, and when I do, I will return this to you, or perhaps to your real sister, if I can find her."
"Make sure those are not just words," Kaga reiterated, her voice slightly cracking at the edge, but she held herself perfectly.
Hyuga, standing beside Kaga, said nothing. She just stared at Izumo with eyes that had been wet for a while, her brown hair tousled by the wind. Then suddenly she stepped forward and hugged Izumo tightly, a strong and sincere embrace from someone not adept at hiding her feelings, her hands clutching Izumo's back as if unwilling to let go.
"Come back safely, Izumo-san," Hyuga whispered in Izumo's ear, her voice trembling with suppressed sobs. "We will be waiting. I... I will train my ship harder, so that when you return, I can stand as your equal."
Izumo returned the embrace briefly, patting Hyuga's back gently with a soft hand, feeling the tremor of the girl's emotion. "I know. You are already strong, Hyuga. So become even stronger for me."
Izumo turned around, her tail swaying gently as a sign of the moment's end. "Alright, girls. Our vacation is over. Get on the ship, we're departing."
"AYE, AYE, IZUMO-NEE!!" the four destroyers replied in unison, their voices echoing on the pier. They jumped nimbly up the gangway; Javelin with a spirited leap, Laffey with a lazy but sure step, Nimi with her notebook still in hand, and Ayanami with her greatsword already slung on her shoulder.
The horn of JS Izumo sounded loudly, its echo resonating like an epic call to war. The mooring lines were released one by one by the pier crew, their hands moving carefully but with great respect. The gas turbine engines of JS Izumo began to hum, the vibration felt throughout the ship's steel hull, like a giant heart awakening from sleep. On the pier, the remaining crowd watched in silence as the helicopter carrier slowly reversed from the dock, assisted by the last two tugboats which then released their cables once the ship was in open water. The seawater churned behind its propellers, creating a beautiful white foam under the morning light.
In the outer waters, as JS Izumo began to gain speed, two giant silhouettes were waiting for her. IJN Nagato on her left, USS Enterprise on her right. They would escort them to the point of separation in the middle of the sea, before returning to the Azur Lane Home Port or main base. The silhouette of the battleship Nagato with its towering pagoda mast and Enterprise's carrier deck with its propeller aircraft created an epic sight, like two legendary guardians escorting a hero to the battlefield.
On the bridge, Izumo stood before the holographic map table with the destroyers, the glowing blue screen illuminating their faces with cool light.
"We will not go through the west border of Okinawa," Izumo commanded, her finger drawing a route line on the holographic display with a precise motion, like an artist drawing her own destiny. "We will move around through the eastern side. We need a deeper and safer route before fully entering international waters and the open ocean. Avoid zones still within Chinese radar range; we don't want an early incident."
Nimi leaned closer to the screen, adjusting her glasses with a quick motion, her blue eyes narrowing as she analyzed the data. "Estimated time crossing the border?"
"Six hours at normal cruising speed. Twelve hours to reach the entrance of the South China Sea," Izumo answered, zooming in on the map to show critical points.
"Formation?" Ayanami asked, her voice calm but full of vigilance, her hand already instinctively touching the hilt of her greatsword.
"H Formation. Four destroyers on the left and right flanks, two forward, two aft. I am in the center." Izumo tapped the screen, displaying a glowing formation diagram. "We do not know what awaits us there. Maintain communication range and ensure sonar is active at all times. If there is a suspicious contact, report directly to me."
Javelin nodded seriously, her usually cheerful expression slightly more restrained than usual, her lance already hanging from her shoulder. "Understood, Izumo-nee. My ship will guard the left side with Laffey."
"Laffey," Izumo called.
"Hmm?" The bunny girl looked up from her soda bottle, her red eyes half-lidded but attentive.
"Don't sleep during watch," Izumo said.
"...Laffey doesn't sleep during watch," Laffey answered.
"You slept yesterday while fishing," Izumo said again.
"That's different. That was fishing," Laffey replied again.
Izumo stared at her for a moment, then surrendered with a small smile and returned to the map. "Alright. Make sure you all take turns resting in my ship's sleeping quarters. This journey is long."
Outside the bridge windows, the two massive ships could be seen moving parallel with JS Izumo—IJN Nagato on the left, USS Enterprise on the right. They would escort them to the separation point in the middle of the sea, before returning to the Azur Lane Home Port.
"My sweet fox, it seems we will not meet again for a long time. At least we will await your news," Nagato thought as she watched the ship convoy. She looked into the bridge cabin, where the five of them appeared busy. "Oh yes, it seems I forgot to tell her. There is someone looking for her. Upon learning we wanted to meet her here, that person also wanted to come. But we are on an official visit, and her energy is still being treated by Akashi. Well... she will find Izumo eventually. Enterprise has left the coordinates. But she isn't very visible. Hopefully, we meet on the way back so I can inform her that Izumo has set off again."
Six hours passed calmly.
The bright afternoon sky slowly turned into the orange of the evening, then the purple of dusk, then the black of night studded with stars. The waters around them grew emptier of civilian ship traffic—they were already far from commercial shipping lanes. The night wind began to blow harder, bringing a chill that crept into the hull's crevices, but inside the ship, the atmosphere remained warm.
At the coordinate point that had been predetermined earlier, where Japanese waters officially ended and international waters began, Izumo saw something on her radar screen.
One stationary dot. Right on the border line.
Izumo zoomed in on the display. She recognized the ship's silhouette instantly, like recognizing an old friend's face.
JS Mogami.
The stealth frigate was stopped exactly on the border line, its hull facing towards the approaching JS Izumo. From this distance, through the high-resolution optical camera mounted on the bridge, Izumo could clearly see a small figure standing at the edge of Mogami's bridge.
The frigate girl had already changed into her formal duty uniform. Her hair was neatly tied. Her back was straight. And her hand was raised to her temple in a highly precise military salute—a perfect salute, usually reserved only for the highest commander or for the national flag.
From that distance, Izumo could not see Mogami's facial expression clearly. But her optical camera could. And what she saw made her chest feel like it had been stabbed.
Tears were streaming profusely down Mogami's cheeks. Copious and unstoppable, soaking her cheeks which remained stoic, her face which remained motionless in its salute. The tears were like a small river flowing without pause, reflecting the light of her ship's navigation lamps, but Mogami did not wipe them. She just stood there, her salute not wavering one bit, like a soldier enduring a storm with her own body.
Izumo stood motionless on the bridge for a few seconds, her crimson right eye unblinking.
Then she walked to the side window of the bridge that faced towards JS Mogami. She did not offer a formal salute, not out of disrespect, but because there was something more personal than just military protocol she wanted to convey. Her single tail swayed gently, her ears standing upright, and she smiled, a smile that was warm, full of promise.
Her lips moved, forming words that could not be heard by anyone on her ship, yet were clear enough to be read by anyone watching from that distance: "Wait for me. I will definitely return."
JS Mogami passed their starboard side. Slowly, the frigate's silhouette shrank behind them, left behind on Japan's side of that invisible border line. Izumo watched it until the ship became a small dot on the horizon, her heart full of a mixture of emotion and determination.
Nagato and Enterprise sounded their farewell horns, a loud sound echoing in the night sea, then turned their bows back to Azur Lane. And Izumo and company officially entered international waters.
"May you all be safe and return to tell your tales," they both said simultaneously. And the two ships moved away.
An Ominous Silence
12 hours passed.
On the navigation map, the fleet's position was detected as soon entering the South China Sea border. Izumo looked at the radar with a curiosity mixed with vigilance, wondering if the sea in this world was as busy as in her old world, which was always filled with cargo ships and military traffic. But tonight, the sea felt very empty, only the sound of the waves breaking the silence, and the wind growing colder as the night wore on.
They sailed in H formation; two destroyers on the left side and two on the right side escorting JS Izumo's hull. They moved slowly, following the navigation autopilot mode that Izumo had set. To conserve energy and maintain alertness.
Inside JS Izumo, specifically in the crew's recreation room, the atmosphere felt very warm and familiar, like a small family enjoying their last night before a great adventure. The five ship girls were sitting relaxed, their clothing casual for sleeping. Izumo was currently only wearing a tight black tank top and black shorts, her silver hair loose and free, making her look more relaxed than usual. The four destroyers were also wearing their open and comfortable sleepwear—Javelin in short purple pajamas, Laffey in an oversized bunny hoodie, Nimi in a loose shirt and shorts, Ayanami in a simple, loose yukata.
In the pantry, Javelin was busy stirring a pot with a face full of concentration, her purple hair tied in a ponytail but still messy from her enthusiastic hand movements. "The ramen noodles with the secret broth recipe from Maru-san are ready!" she cheered cheerfully, lifting the pot carefully so it wouldn't spill, the aroma of rich broth flooding the room.
At another table, Ayanami was gazing at a glass and a bottle of high-quality sake that had apparently been slipped into the logistics as a gift entrusted by Kaga, one of the thank-you souvenirs from the port crew. Her eyes sparkled as she looked at Izumo, like a child who had found a new toy.
Izumo laughed heartily, her voice echoing in the small room. "Don't look at me like that, Ayanami. I don't want to drink. I'm afraid if I get drunk alone, this ship will start sailing backwards. Haha! Don't you remember how I troubled Kaga and Hyuga when I was drunk? Maybe later when we dock."
Ayanami tilted her head, her red eyes full of curiosity. "But this is premium sake, desu. Just one glass won't make you drunk."
Javelin served bowls of hot noodles on the table, the steam rising like small clouds. After finishing, she placed the pot on another table. They ate together at one table near the small round window.
"Let's eat first! This is Maru-san's special recipe, dashi broth with added secret spices. I added boiled eggs and extra nori!" Javelin said enthusiastically.
Nimi tasted her noodles and nodded in satisfaction. "The composition is balanced. Enough calories for night watch."
Laffey was already sipping her noodle broth without a spoon, though her eyes were still half-lidded. "Laffey likes it spicy... add chili."
They chatted and enjoyed each other's company, savoring the warm noodle soup in the middle of the cold sea. Javelin told a silly joke about how she almost burned the kitchen trying Maru's recipe, Ayanami added a story about sake she once drank in the Sakura Empire, Nimi calculated how many days their food supplies would last, and Laffey just nodded in agreement while eating. Izumo sat among them, smiling as she listened, her heart full of a simple but precious warmth.
However, having sailed for 12 hours in international waters, the sea outside the hull had suddenly become very calm. Too calm. On the empty bridge, Izumo's AESA radar continuously detected "shadows" of contacts that appeared and disappeared strangely. But this anomaly was not yet realized because the ship girls were engrossed in enjoying the night, laughing and sharing stories.
Anomalies never waited for their victims' leisure time.
Zzzzrttt...
The mental disturbance struck with ferocity. Izumo suddenly tensed, her bowl of noodles falling from her hands as she turned from the other table to get more ramen, its contents spilling onto the floor. Her vision experienced severe glitches, as if the reality before her eyes flickered into a blood-red color, the same color as her nightmares.
She heard the wailing of a woman shrieking painfully inside her neural communication system. A cry that was heart-wrenching and reeked of death, like the scream of someone drowning in the dark depths.
"Argh...!" Izumo clutched her head, falling to her knees on the steel floor, her crimson right eye glazed over from the sudden pain. Even her closed left eye shed tears.
"Izumo-nee!" Javelin screamed, immediately running closer, her lance materializing from thin air.
Nimi ran over, her hands checking Izumo's pulse. She analyzed the energy fluctuations in the room with a small device from her shirt pocket. A special tool from Akashi to check their health. She always carried it except when sleeping. Nimi's face turned pale. "This frequency... this isn't a normal radar disturbance. Something is trying to 'talk' directly to Izumo's core soul (Wisdom Cube)! Something is hacking her mind!"
At the stroke of midnight, the real catastrophe began. All electronic systems on JS Izumo shut down completely for 5 seconds. The lights went out, the engines whined low and then died, leaving an absolute darkness that made hearts pound fiercely.
In that darkness, from the ship's speakers that should have been dead without energy power, came a horrifying laugh. The laugh of USS Nemesis, a laugh that was cold and sadistic, like ice cracking in the ocean trench. Izumo's trauma had truly become reality, and the four destroyers there became living witnesses that the nightmare had come for them in the cruelest way.
Red emergency lights flashed on, illuminating the room with a gruesome blood-red light. Izumo was still holding her head, her closed left eye throbbing wildly as it held back the pain, as if needles were stabbing from within. She stared at the steel floor as if penetrating the sea.
"She's here..." Izumo whispered, cold sweat soaking her black tank top, her breath ragged. "I can feel it. Cold... so cold down there."
"This frequency—" Nimi had already run to the main sensor panel, her fingers moving quickly over the blinking screen, "—this is not a normal radar disturbance. Something is trying to talk directly to your core soul, Izumo. Not through radio waves. Through Wisdom Cube resonance. This is like a targeted psychic attack!"
"Enemy..." Laffey stood beside Izumo, her glowing red eyes staring at the steel floor beneath their feet—staring towards the deep sea below the ship's hull, her voice low and full of hatred. "...doesn't have a physical form. Laffey hates this."
Ayanami had already moved to the window, looking out at the dark night sea surface, her greatsword drawn with a quick motion. "There's something outside, desu. The water's surface is churning. Like something is rising from the dep— Oh my god!"
She did not finish her sentence. Because outside, the sea surface began to change in a terrifying way.
A thick green mist smelling of sulfur emerged from beneath the water's surface, expanding slowly like smoke from a submarine volcano crater. Its color was not a natural green; it was too saturated, too glowing from within, like the same liquid that filled the tubes inside Nemesis's hull. The mist spread in all directions, covering the sea surface in a radius of hundreds of meters, cutting off the view of the horizon, and making the air feel heavier, more humid, like the breath of a monster waking from a long sleep.
Within that mist, something moved.
Not a modern ship. Not a destroyer or frigate or aircraft carrier with clean, aerodynamic design lines. What emerged from within the mist was something much older—or rather, something that should never have existed, yet now existed because someone had forced it into existence through a cruel and unnatural way.
The silhouette of a massive battleship with architecture reflecting the Imperial Japanese era—towering pagoda masts like ancient towers, massive and intimidating gun turrets—yet everything was shrouded in a dark purple aura that pulsed like a sick heart. Not the clean blue of normal Wisdom Cube energy. Not the hot red of combat energy. A dirty, unstable dark purple, like two types of energy forced together and constantly repelling each other, creating vibrations that could be felt down to the bone.
IJN Izumo.
And behind that battleship silhouette, from the ocean depths, the hull of USS Nemesis CV-02 began to rise to the surface with the rumbling sound of churning water.
The stealth carrier emerged slowly from beneath the green mist, water streaming heavily from its submerged decks, its hull panels opening one by one with a metallic screeching like screams. On its flight deck emerging from beneath the surface, aircraft were already in ready positions—AV-8B Harrier Night Attack with matte black paint that was almost invisible at night, their engines already humming softly, and R66B Sea Comanche helicopters already spinning their rotors with a sound that was very low and barely audible, like floating ghosts. On its hull sides, two Den Shogun railgun turrets were already raised to firing positions, their long barrels aimed upwards at a very precise angle, the blue light from their energy charges blinking like predator eyes in the darkness.
Someone emerged from the bridge of USS Nemesis, now risen to the surface, a figure Izumo already recognized from her nightmares—long black hair flowing like shadows, a red-black dress hugging her body tightly, steel stockings reflecting the green mist's light, a massive mechanical bow on her back, and a red tactical rifle in her hand. And a smile that held no warmth whatsoever, a smile like a cold knife ready to slice.
Izumo stood at the window of JS Izumo's mess hall located in the ship's island, staring at the scene with her sharp crimson right eye. Her left eye was still throbbing, like needles stabbing from within. In her chest, her Wisdom Cube pulsed with an irregular rhythm, an instinctive response to the presence of something highly alien and highly dangerous, like a body rejecting a foreign virus.
"Good evening, Silver Fox," Nemesis' voice flowed through all the ship's speakers simultaneously, clear and cold like water from the deepest ocean trench, a voice that seemed to creep into each girl's ears on the bridge. "I have been waiting for you for a very long time. Your journey from Japan has been quite entertaining to watch, hasn't it? All those touching farewells... very sweet."
No one answered on JS Izumo. Only tense silence, broken by ragged breaths. For the five of them were on alert and filled with rage.
"Are you not asking how I knew your route?" Nemesis continued, her tone containing a deeply unhealthy amusement, like a cat playing with its prey. "The radar system in Yokohama is extremely easy to penetrate, you know. I have been listening since you planned this route on your ship's bridge. Every word, every plan. Highly entertaining."
Nimi clenched her fists, her face turning pale with anger. "She's been monitoring us since we were in Japan. Since when?!"
"But that is not what I want to talk about tonight," Nemesis spoke, her voice changing—becoming softer, more personal, in a way that was far more horrifying than a direct threat, like a whisper in a victim's ear before the knife is thrust. "I brought something for you, Izumo. A small gift. Something that has wanted to meet you for a very long time. Take a good look."
On the deck of IJN Izumo, which stood amidst the green mist, something moved. A figure floated down from above, landing on the sea surface with a very light touch, like a ghost touching the mortal world. Her rigging began to activate, the IJN Izumo ship beginning to break apart into small cubes and forming her massive and fully active rigging: two triple-barreled gun turrets emitting a pulsing dark purple light, two massive katanas sheathed on her back with black-gold and dark red scabbards, one short katana already drawn in her hand, its hilt gripped by fingers hanging limply but full of menace.
Long reddish-purple hair, tied in a high ponytail with a few strands loose and free like extinguished flames. A pair of small pink horns curving elegantly upwards, marking a yokai transformation. A tight white crop top with gold and black belt and strap details, a black fabric skirt fluttering in the wind, pitch-black thigh-highs, a long white haori with fine carved patterns and edges ablaze like burning fire, black combat boots with red details. Red eyes that were wide open—not with the expression of a conscious, thinking human, but with a profound emptiness, like the eyes of someone who was there yet not truly present. She seemed in a state of Berserk.
Izumo stared at that figure, her breath stopping for a moment. And something inside her, something deeper than her combat instinct, deeper than her Wisdom Cube, deeper than all her battle experience so far, screamed very loudly, like an alarm shattering within her soul.
Because that face. The face hidden behind the yokai horns and the empty eyes. That face was very familiar. The face she had seen in the photos Kaga kept so carefully in her wallet. The face Hyuga had talked about with teary eyes at the Yokohama sake shop, when they drank sake together and Hyuga recounted memories of her lost sister.
The face of their sister.
"Izumo-nee..." Javelin whispered from behind, her voice trembling like a dry leaf in a strong wind. She had seen it too, her hands covering her mouth in shock. "That... that's her face. It looks just like the photo Kaga showed me in Yokohama. Their lost sister."
"I know," Izumo cut in, very softly, her voice a whisper full of pain.
Outside, Nemesis' voice flowed again. "So, you look surprised, Silver Fox. Or perhaps... you already suspected? I found her in a dimensional corridor, you know. Trapped between her home world and this one, her body almost turned to stone. One more moment and she would have vanished forever. But I saved her. I gave her new life."
Izumo clenched her fists tighter. "Nemesis," Izumo spoke into the communication channel microphone connected to the speakers.
"Ah, you remember my name. Good. I am USS Nemesis CV-02. And she—" Nemesis pointed towards IJN Izumo standing on the sea surface, her drawn katana already aimed at JS Izumo, "—she is IJN Izumo. The real older sister of Kaga and Hyuga. The lost JS Izumo. I found the Wisdom Cube of your fallen comrade, Juneau, leaking at the bottom of the sea, and I fused it with her soul. The result... is beautiful, is it not? A perfect yokai transformation. The soul of a concept ship that was never built, the ancestor of Shinano, Yamato, and Musashi, now lives again."
Javelin covered her mouth with her hands, tears beginning to stream down her cheeks. "That... that is their sister? But why is she like that? Why the horns and those empty eyes?"
"Because she is in a berserk state," Nimi spoke, her voice trembling from her own analysis, her hands shaking. "The fusion isn't perfect. The Wisdom Cube is leaking and unstable. It's turned her into a monster without consciousness. Only killing instinct. My analysis indicates she is stronger than a normal Kansen, but shouldn't be controllable easily."
Nemesis laughed again from the speaker. "Exactly right, glasses-girl. She doesn't remember who she is. She doesn't remember Kaga or Hyuga or Japan. All she knows is killing. And tonight, her target is you, Izumo. The ship that stole her name. The ship that replaced her in her little sisters' eyes. I'm unleashing her on you. Enjoy the gift."
Outside, IJN Izumo moved. Not moving like a normal Kansen gliding over the water with high speed and grace. Her movements were stiff, like a marionette pulled by invisible strings from the deep. Her rigging pulsed stronger, the dark purple light flooding the sea surface around her, making the water boil and vaporize in small bubbles. Her two triple-barreled gun turrets aimed upwards, their long and thick barrels emitting a low humming sound that felt like seismic vibrations on JS Izumo's hull, vibrations that traveled into the bones and made teeth chatter.
Then she fired. Not ordinary shells. The projectiles launched from those cannons were not conventional explosions—but dark purple energy orbs that arced through the air like living lightning, heading directly for the flight deck of JS Izumo at an impossible speed to evade.
"EVASIVE!" Izumo yelled, her voice breaking the darkness like a commander's order on a battlefield.
JS Izumo's engines roared loudly, the massive hull swerving sharply to port with a movement almost impossible for its size, dodging the energy orbs by a margin of a few meters. The projectiles hit the water beside the ship, creating an explosion that was not a fiery burst, but a shockwave that instantly boiled and vaporized the sea surface, the hot steam rising like thicker mist, creating a strange stench like burnt metal and charred flesh.
"What is that?!" Javelin cried out, her voice full of shock, her hand gripping her lance tighter.
"Hybrid energy," Nimi answered quickly, her blue eyes wide from the analysis she read on the screen. "A mixture of Wisdom Cube and internal energy. Highly destructive towards Kansen. If it hits directly, it can damage our core souls. Izumo-nee, we must retreat!"
"No," Izumo stated, her voice like a blade. "We fight. Launch the air wing."
On the flight deck, the hangar doors opened with a grinding hydraulic sound. Three MiG-27K Floggers and two Qaher-313 drones launched into the air, their engines roaring against the night, their afterburner lights blazing like falling stars in the darkness. The AW249 Fenice helicopter followed, its rotors slicing through the green mist with a noisy sound that broke the silence.
The four of them ran towards the ship's bridge, still wearing their current clothes. They hadn't had time to change. They even left their untouched bowls of ramen behind.
IJN Izumo did not stop. She launched a second attack—this time not her cannons, but her massive katana which she threw like a boomerang. The sword's blade spun in the air at high speed, the dark purple aura leaving a trail like a sick comet, heading for JS Izumo's hull with lethal precision.
Ayanami moved faster than anyone else. Upon arriving, she immediately ran to the side and leaped out of the bridge door, landing on the flight deck with the graceful movement of a demon, and swung her greatsword with full force. Her sword collided with the massive katana in mid-air, creating a dazzling energy spark like hellish fireworks. The katana bounced back to its owner, but Ayanami staggered backwards, her hands trembling from the impact, thin blood flowing from her palms from the purple energy's vibration. Then she jumped back into the water as the yokai drew near, and they clashed swords, but she lost momentum. The impact threw Ayanami back against the ship's hull. She then leaped back up to the high deck. She was slightly injured.
"It's very strong, desu," Ayanami muttered, her breath ragged, her red eyes burning with determination.
Nemesis laughed again. "Good. Fight her. Kill her. Kill Kaga and Hyuga's sister with your own hands. I want to see the expression of despair on your face when you realize what you've done."
Izumo growled, her voice low and full of rage. "Coward. You're using her as a shield!"
"Shield? No, Silver Fox. This is a weapon. A weapon I made specifically for you. To destroy your heart before your body," Nemesis retorted, her voice full of sadistic pleasure.
Behind Nemesis, the aircraft on her deck began to take off. AV-8B Harriers launched vertically into the air, the Sea Comanche rotors spinning fast. The Den Shogun railguns fired, not at JS Izumo, but at one of the destroyer ships on the formation's flank.
USS Laffey's ship took a direct hit. The energy blast from the railgun struck her hull, creating a large, smoking hole. Laffey on JS Izumo's bridge screamed in pain, her body collapsing to the floor, blood flowing from her mouth from the feedback of her destroyed ship.
"Laffey!" Javelin screamed, her voice full of panic, running towards the bunny girl.
"My hull... is burning..." Laffey muttered, her red eyes blazing with pain, her hand clutching her chest as if feeling the fire burning from within.
Nimi ran out of the bridge, summoning her cannon rigging in her right hand, jumping from the bridge above, landing on the flight deck and firing at the yokai. But the projectiles from her cannon just bounced off its rigging.
Izumo also came out, carrying two swords and a holster belt to attach them to her hip. Still wearing her tank top and shorts, she exited the bridge tower, jumped down from above and stood facing the yokai that had landed on her flight deck, her breath ragged. "Nemesis! This is between you and me! Let her go!"
"Let go?" Nemesis laughed from the speaker. "She's not a prisoner. She is a weapon. And the best weapon is one that destroys the heart of its enemy. Kill her, Izumo. Kill Kaga and Hyuga's sister. Or let her kill you. Your choice."
The yokai attacked again. This time, its triple-barreled turrets fired at close range—dark purple energy projectiles launched towards Izumo's chest. Izumo dodged with a leap to the side, but the projectile grazed her left arm. A burning pain—not ordinary physical pain, but pain that seeped into her core soul, like fire burning her Wisdom Cube from within.
"Argh!" Izumo was in pain.
"Izumo-nee!" Javelin screamed. She made sure of Laffey's condition first; Laffey nodded faintly, signaling she was okay. Javelin, with a face mixing sadness and anger, immediately followed outside. She readied herself with her lance, which she had summoned since the mess hall, still wearing her purple sleep outfit.
The yokai did not stop. It leaped forward, its massive katana swung downwards like an executioner's axe. Izumo rolled to the side, rose, and counter-attacked with ALKA. Its red blade slashed towards the yokai's legs, but the yokai jumped up, its horns glowing brighter, and landed with a kick aimed at Izumo's chest. Izumo blocked with her left arm, but the force of the kick was enough to send her flying backwards, her back slamming against the deck railing.
Blood flowed from Izumo's arm. The pain was like spreading poison—the dark purple energy damaged her regeneration, preventing the wound from closing as usual.
Nemesis laughed again. "See that? Every attack from her damages your Wisdom Cube. Because that is your fallen comrade's leaking energy—energy that was supposed to be dead, but I revived inside her. You can't heal easily. You have to kill her to stop her."
Izumo rose slowly, her breath ragged. Her one crimson eye stared into the yokai's face, stared into the face that should have belonged to a sister, now distorted by the madness of fusion.
"I will not kill her," Izumo stated. "I will save her."
Nemesis laughed harder. "Save her? How? She's already berserk. There's no consciousness in there. Only a monster."
The yokai attacked again, this time with the short katana and cannons simultaneously. Izumo dodged the cannon fire, but the short katana slashed her shoulder. The burning pain again, deeper than before. Javelin and Ayanami joined in, attacking from the sides. Javelin's lance stabbed towards the yokai's back, Ayanami's sword slashed from the flank. But the yokai spun with unnatural speed, kicking Javelin aside and blocking Ayanami's sword with its massive katana. The impact sent Ayanami reeling, her sword nearly slipping from her grip.
Nimi fired from a distance, but the yokai dodged, and its cannons fired back at Nimi. The Iron Blood girl tumbled to evade, but the projectile grazed her arm, making her scream in pain.
Laffey, still wounded from her ship's feedback, rose with difficulty. She walked slowly out of the bridge with internal injuries. After witnessing the four of them fighting, Laffey jumped down to the flight deck and landed slightly limping. She immediately helped by firing from behind. With partial cannon rigging, she walked forward, and her projectile hit the yokai's shoulder. The yokai turned, its red eyes blazing, and attacked Laffey with the short katana. Laffey blocked with her rigging, but the yokai's strength was too great. Laffey was thrown against the bridge tower wall, her body slumping with blood flowing from her mouth.
"Laffey!" Izumo screamed.
Nemesis laughed. "See? She doesn't even hesitate to kill. Because she's no longer human. She is a yokai. A monster I created. Kill her, Izumo. Or let her kill you all."
Izumo stood before the yokai again, her breath ragged. The wounds on her shoulder and left arm would not close—the dark purple energy was like a virus inhibiting her regeneration. But her eyes did not waver.
"I know you're still in there," Izumo whispered towards the yokai. "JS Izumo. Sister of Kaga and Hyuga. I know you can hear me. Fight this. Fight Nemesis."
The yokai did not react. It just raised its massive katana again, ready to strike. In the air, the battle continued. Izumo's MiG-27Ks clashed with Nemesis' Harriers, explosions lighting up the sky. The Qaher-313 drones dove to attack Nemesis' deck, but the Sea Comanche helicopters intercepted them with rockets.
Nemesis stood on her bridge, watching it all with a smile that never faded. "This is just the beginning, Silver Fox. Enjoy your first night in these foreign seas. Because tomorrow, and the day after, and onward—will be far crueler."
The yokai attacked again. Izumo blocked, but her strength began to wane. Her wounds felt like fire burning from within. But she did not retreat. Because behind those empty red eyes, Izumo saw something, a fleeting flash, a flicker of recognition, a flicker of a soul still struggling in the darkness.
"The foreign ocean is cruel. But I must return alive," Izumo stated firmly.
And the battle continued under the dark night sky, amidst the oppressive green mist, with the fate of five ship girls and one lost yokai hanging on a razor-thin balance.
---
To be continued
Chapter 20: Surprise from the Sky, Shadow from the Past