Code-X's Dimension
Code-X lay languidly on her sofa, her head propped in her hand, a bag of chips clutched possessively to her chest as if she were engrossed in a television show. In a significant sense, she genuinely was; before her, a holographic screen shimmered, vividly displaying scenes of Enterprise-80's ongoing journey, much like a dramatic soap opera.
The Holographic screen illuminated Enterprise-80's connection through her journey, followed by the ritual. Code-X could distinctly perceive Enterprise-80's profound desperation to establish contact. The initial attempt had been abruptly thwarted when Code-X, in a whimsical act of intervention, caused a minor disaster that left behind lingering smoke and a scattering of ash within the Sakuran Dormitory back on Pearl.
Now, within the hallowed confines of the Sacred Sakura Tree Temple, the ritual had finally commenced. Code-X felt a potent, welling sensation of connection, a subtle thrumming resonance. She closed her eyes with a soft sigh, and a gentle pulse resonated throughout her dimension, a vibration akin to a stone dropped into perfectly still water. Then, with a flicker, she opened them again. The holographic screen dissolved into nothingness. Directly before her, mere meters away, a distinct figure materialized with the abruptness of a digital glitch in a matrix.
The arriving individual was clad in a crisp white blouse, a loosely tied necktie, and a simple navy-colored skirt. After a brief, almost imperceptible moment, the figure stirred and began to slowly, deliberately approach Code-X.
Like a contented, lazy cat stretched out on her favored sofa, Code-X greeted her sole, singular visitor.
She was, unequivocally, the only one who had come.
"I welcome you to my humble abode," Code-X gestured with a languid hand, her voice a greeting, yet her tone seemed remarkably far from any typical, warm reception.
Enterprise-80 simply stood, her gaze unwavering, meeting Code-X's playful grin. A familiar feeling washed over her, much like the one Kazuma had experienced upon his initial, bewildering encounter with Aqua in her own divine domain.
"Your visit was quite unexpected, wouldn't you say?" Code-X remarked, attempting to initiate a conversation from her deeply relaxed position on the sofa, her posture utterly at ease.
"I came here to talk—"
Code-X casually raised a hand, gracefully cutting Enterprise-80 off mid-sentence. With a long, drawn-out groan, she adjusted her body on the plush sofa, stretching her arms languidly overhead, a picture of leisurely indifference.
Enterprise-80 allowed the brief pause, granting Code-X the time she needed to fully rearrange herself on the comfortable sofa. She observed that Code-X appeared deeply bored by the solitude of her dark, expansive dimension. Unlike Code-G, who possessed nothing, Code-X at least had this solitary, yet comfortable, piece of furniture. And now, Enterprise-80 found herself wondering why Code-X had inexplicably developed such a peculiar hobby of chewing on chips out of sheer boredom.
Enterprise-80 herself had felt a distinct awkwardness chewing chips during her formal debriefings in front of everyone at the White House. And thanks to Bunker Hill-76, her Secretary Ship, she had been gently reminded of this unusual habit she had recently acquired.
Her eyes drifted back to the enigmatic person lounging on the sofa, Code-X's arms and legs sprawled casually across the cushions, as if she were the undisputed sovereign of this entire world.
"My bad, I got utterly lazy just watching you embark on all your adventures and dramas," Code-X admitted, stretching languidly. "I got bored and decided to stir the pot once or twice—it truly keeps things fresh." she added, accompanying her words with a mischievous wink.
Enterprise-80's eyes narrowed perceptibly, her mind recalling the involuntary movement of her left hand, reaching for something she decidedly should not have. She often found her left hand mistakenly clasping Frigate Belfast's hand, an unintended baffling gesture.
She glanced down at her own left hand, clenching it tightly. "So, it was you who instilled these unexpected habits in me," she stated, her voice taut with dawning realization.
"It was merely one of the lingering effects left the moment I assumed control. You'll just have to deal with that one yourself, darling," Code-X replied with unsettling casualness.
Enterprise-80 sighed deeply. She despised the infuriatingly casual way Code-X spoke of such profound alterations.
She pondered these 'lingering effects' that often assailed her at the absolute worst moments. unfiltered thoughts, inexplicable urges she struggled to comprehend, and a burgeoning temper she fought desperately to suppress. She had always buried them beneath layers of duty and rigorous discipline, but now, distinct cracks were undeniably beginning to show.
"Oh! My sincerest apologies for keeping you standing there like a statue," Code-X suddenly exclaimed, snapping her fingers with a sharp, crisp sound. "Please... have a seat," she then gestured with an open hand towards what was, at that moment, merely empty space.
Enterprise-80 blinked, looking around, seeing no furniture whatsoever. Then, as if another perplexing glitch had occurred in the very fabric of the matrix, furniture began to appear—first a delicate tea table, then elegant chairs. The phenomenon spread outward, and more furnitures materialized, accompanied by a plush carpet unfurling across the floor, decorative walls rising into existence, varnished doors materializing, and a window adorned with delicate lace drapes forming. She glanced upward and observed a grand ceiling from which a resplendent chandelier hung, casting a soft, inviting glow.
She blinked again, as if needing to recheck whether her vision was playing bewildering tricks on her. All the newly appeared furniture was undeniably real; they were now situated in a meticulously crafted, gothic-style living room that perfectly, strikingly matched Code-X's distinctive aesthetic.
"What the..." she uttered, a soft gasp of mild surprise escaping her lips.
Code-X observed Enterprise-80's utterly bewildered expression, finding a frank amusement in her shock. "Did you truly think I was like Grumpy-G, with only a rudimentary set of chairs and a single table? I have my own refined taste; I'm not all dark and gloom, you know."
She then gestured towards the opulent sofa situated directly opposite her. "Would you mind?"
Enterprise-80 accepted the generous offer and promptly took a seat; standing there, amidst such an unfolding spectacle, felt undeniably awkward. The sofa was astonishingly soft and remarkably comfortable, unlike anything she had ever encountered in existing stores, and its cushions felt remarkably relaxing, cradling her body with an inviting ease.
"How was it? Feel comfortable, right?" Code-X inquired, genuinely seeking her commentary.
Enterprise-80 could not, in good conscience, lie about the remarkable comfort of the sofa. "Yes... it was truly comfortable."
"So, returning to our critical discussion," Code-X began, now seating herself upright on her sofa, her posture unexpectedly serious for some inexplicable reason. Enterprise-80 immediately sensed the profound shift in her demeanor.
"My takeover? That was a singular, one-time occurrence. If I were to do it again, it might very well break you completely. And we certainly can't have that, can we?"
Enterprise-80 felt a wave of profound relief wash over her, knowing that the "takeover" concern was, at last, struck from her pressing list of fears. However, she now faced the daunting task of figuring out precisely how to mend the lingering side effects of that initial, formidable takeover.
"How can these lingering side effects be effectively dealt with? I cannot possibly return to combat in this state—not with random impulses so readily hijacking my body and control," she asked, her tone tinged with palpable anxiety.
"It could be easily dealt with, quite simply," Code-X stated casually, before resuming her leisurely munching on chips.
"What?" Enterprise-80 was genuinely confused by the flippant answer.
"That could easily be fixed. It may require an extensive retrofit, certainly not the kind of temporary patch-job stuff the Navy typically employs. Your retrofit would need to be specifically designed to withstand my unique strength and immense power. I believe your 'Doctor' – William, is it? Yes, he already has detailed plans for your necessary retrofit."
Enterprise-80 was instantly alarmed. "You mean another takeover?"
"No – no," she quickly interjected, wagging her finger playfully. "Not to worry about any takeover. You'll still be completely in control; I'm simply lending you my strength. Think of it as every protagonist's essential plot armor."
Enterprise-80 remained deeply skeptical of Code-X's words. She wouldn't simply trust such a claim, feeling an uncomfortable sensation, as if an unseen string was being subtly pulled from behind the shadows in this proposed deal.
Code-X could plainly see the distinct look of doubt plastered across Enterprise-80's face. She knew Enterprise-80 had every logical reason to question her sincerity. Lending immense powers without any discernible strings pulled from the shadows seemed inherently dubious and far too convenient.
"I understand precisely why you're doubting me," she admitted, her tone dropping to mirror the dim, ambient lighting cast by the chandelier above. "The moment I took over your body, I knew I was rash; I was absolutely brimming with unbridled rage directed at the Sirens. I manifested from your own raw, unfiltered hatred; your profound sense of helplessness. Your intense rage created me from the very depths of that darkness."
She placed a delicate hand over her chest, directly above her heart. "I am your darkness that dwells profoundly within you."
Enterprise-80 pondered this revelation for a long, quiet moment. It was undeniably a dangerous, fraught offer. But perhaps... just perhaps... this was the sole path forward, the only conceivable way she could truly win this war without irrevocably losing herself again.
"I see. We find ourselves in the same boat when it comes to effectively stopping the Sirens and their relentless invasion, but our methods, it seems, fundamentally differ. You desire the Sirens to experience pain in a twisted, prolonged manner, while I simply wish to end it swiftly, to alleviate any further suffering," she articulated, her hands clasped tightly before her, her eyes fixed intently on Code-X.
Code-X extended a hand, a curved, enigmatic smile playing subtly on her face. "Do we have a deal, then?"
Enterprise-80 closed her eyes, meticulously contemplating the intricate complications inherent in the offer. One significant advantage was undeniably clear, her Alter-Ego possessed abundant, formidable power perfectly suited for dealing with numerous Sirens, making it an excellent asset for decisively turning the tides of battle. The most significant con, however, was that Code-X was inherently twisted and often operated well beyond Enterprise-80's conscious control, acting on her own capricious will.
Secondly, there was the crucial necessity of the Retrofit. Battling Amagi under the malevolent influence of the Sirens had vividly demonstrated to Enterprise-80 the massive, crippling downside of her Kinetic-Based attacks. She had been utterly unable to pierce through the shadowy forms from which the Three Headed Serpent was composed; all of her attacks passed through them to a literal, frustrating smudge.
Then there was the formidable Energy-Dome that Arbiter: Tower had brutally erected—which had imprisoned them at a crucial, desperate time. Without facing severe backlashes that threatened to turn her internal organs into a quivering jelly, she had been utterly incapable of doing a single thing. Luckily, Enterprise-6 had courageously stepped-in and broken them free.
She considered both crucial cards now available to her—Code-X's lent powers and the vital Retrofit—which seemed, despite the minor backlash, like a genuinely good deal.
The next critical operation was only a few short months away.
She needed to be bold, to make decisive choices to finally put an end to this nonsensical, protracted war. 'Fortune favors the bold,' she mused, the adage echoing profoundly in her mind.
She opened her eyes. Code-X's reflection, with her outstretched hand, was perfectly mirrored in her pupils. "As long as I retain full control of my body," she stated, her voice feeling heavy with the weight of her decision.
"It's a deal, then?" Code-X reiterated, her smile widening.
Enterprise-80 leaned forward on her seat, took Code-X's extended hand, and shook it firmly just once. "I accept."
"Ah, what a truly lovely sensation," Code-X purred with a palpable glee.
Both could feel the powerful surge of energy, primarily on Enterprise-80's side, as she was the one directly receiving the substantial benefits of the agreement. The connection she now felt was profoundly warm, not harmful in the least, but a sensational comfort; it might very well have been the direct result of their newfound, mutual understanding.
After the complete transfer of power, both released their hands.
Then, as if materializing from thin air, a status bar appeared before Enterprise-80. Written plainly within it was a skill she hadn't remotely expected: Dark Eagle.
Dark Eagle: A skill used for momentary takeover, it allows the user to fully utilize Code-X's form and immense power under the user's own conscious control. The duration of its use varies directly based on the user's will. The cool down time for this ability is half a day.
"That was it?" Enterprise-80 asked, genuinely surprised. She hadn't expected anything quite like this – a free, potent skill.
Code-X, still casually lounging on her sofa, observed Enterprise-80's genuine surprise with a faint smile.
"Yes, in your current state, it won't immediately be available in your skills slot. It will only appear after your post-retrofit."
"You have no idea how incredibly strong this form is. Each powerful swing of its attack is comparable to a Strategic Bomber Airstrike. Everything in its surrounding environment is scorched into absolute nothingness."
"I understand your concern about potential collateral damage." A long, deliberate pause from Code-X followed, carefully designed to gauge Enterprise-80's full attention. "Elite-Sirens and Arbiters, those with lower numbers attached to their names, are far stronger than what you've recently been fighting. Some possess truly extraordinary, devastating powers. Your BVR combat was the primary reason for your decisive victories, along with the strategic use of Nukes. Further down the numbers, you'll eventually come face-to-face with Zero and War Protocol."
"Zero?" Enterprise-80 thought, the name echoing eerily within her memories. Some of the Sirens had mentioned that name often, yet no record of that particular Siren existed within Azur Lane's archives, as she had never publicly shown herself.
"Is she the one observing and coordinating Siren activities all over the world?"
"Yes. Her image may appear like that of an innocent child, but in truth, she is pure, unadulterated evil. Her appearance might be that of an unassuming child, but you need to be exceptionally careful; intelligence is her true, formidable strength," Code-X explained with a serious tone.
A vivid holographic image appeared above the tea table, precisely displaying Observer Zero's image for both to clearly see. True to Code-X's explanation, she indeed looked like a child who wouldn't harm a fly, but her jet-black rigging pulsed with ominous blue lights, strikingly resembling a complex mechanical squid. That unsettling detail immediately threw off all conventional signs of danger.
"Then what about this War Protocol?" Enterprise-80 inquired, her gaze narrowing, a hint of steel in her voice.
Imperceptibly, Code-X momentarily tensed, her eyes turning sharp and piercing. Enterprise-80 noticed the subtle shift, the burgeoning connection between them allowing her to keenly sense it.
"She's mine," Code-X uttered, her tone low and possessive, mirroring the dim, almost somber light of the hanging chandelier above.
( IMAGE )
Enterprise-80 understood Code-X's unspoken grudge. She didn't know precisely how or why, but this particular animosity seemed deeply personal. She could discern in Code-X's eyes a profound, still silence, unlike the serious, businesslike face she had borne only moments ago.
"I see... she's yours, if there's a chance we face her."
With a calm, almost serene curved smile, Code-X nodded her head, and the palpable tension in the elegant room visibly eased, dissipating into the tranquil air.
Moments of profound silence passed between the two entities. The luxurious room settled into an almost eerie quietude. Despite her Alter-Ego's inherently chaotic nature, Enterprise-80 found it strangely, unexpectedly quiet when Code-X was present.
Enterprise-80 took a slow, contemplative sip of her tea, oblivious to how much real time had actually passed. She hadn't sensed the passage of time at all, being completely immersed in an otherworldly dimension where such constraints seemed to cease to exist.
Code-X glanced at the grandfather clock hanging on he wall. The time displayed on it wasn't reflecting real-world time, but it clearly indicated that their meeting had extended well past a reasonable duration. The Monks and the Fox-Women would undoubtedly be utterly exhausted from painstakingly maintaining this complex ritual for such an extended period.
"Say..." she began, finally breaking the profound silence that permeated the tranquil air. "Would the Monks and Foxes be on their last breath from keeping you here for so long?"
Enterprise-80's eyes widened in genuine surprise; she hadn't considered that crucial detail. She had simply assumed she would magically return to her own dimension after their conversation concluded.
"What?! I thought I would just disappear and return!" she exclaimed, genuinely startled, lowering her teacup with a clatter.
"Come now, no need to panic unnecessarily. Just go to that door," Code-X said, pointing languidly towards a set of grand double doors crafted from rich mahogany wood. "That would be the definitive exit of my domain," she added, though her tone sounded decidedly less than convincing, a hint of playful mischief in her voice.
Enterprise-80 looked first at the ornate door, then back at Code-X with a distinctly skeptical expression.
"Are you sure...?" she asked, her eyes narrowing, still not entirely convinced.
"Don't be like that. I wouldn't point you to a portal to hell for no reason; it simply wouldn't benefit me in any conceivable way," Code-X retorted, her voice tinged with a familiar cynicism. "I was just fooling around; that was indeed the proper exit all along."
"Well, that was certainly fancy of you," Enterprise-80 said dryly, a hint of amusement in her tone.
"Don't blame me. I'm all for the practical approach; it's frankly a bit bland seeing someone magically puffing and poofing away in my domain," Code-X said casually and with a distinct touch of theatrical flair.
"That makes perfect sense, I suppose," Enterprise-80 agreed, acknowledging the peculiar, yet somehow logical, reasoning.
Enterprise-80 then rose gracefully from her seat and headed directly towards the exit, her hand reaching for the ornate knob with a touch of caution. The unsettling thought of this door leading not to an exit but merely a portal to hell briefly lingered in her mind, but she quickly shook it off with a decisive mental shake. With regained resolve, she grasped the knob tightly and slowly, carefully opened it. The hinges creaked softly as the grand door gradually swung open, and then blinding, intense lights immediately engulfed her, pulling her forward.
...
Sacred Sakura Tree Temple
Enterprise-80 returned abruptly to the real world, her vision momentarily fuzzy, her clothes damp and clinging with sweat. She glanced around the temple, seeing everyone on their knees, gasping desperately for air.
The Monks were truly on their very last breath, their communal chanting strained and barely audible, a fading murmur. The Fox-Women were also on their knees, panting heavily, their open palms still faintly glowing with energy.
She managed to sit up just as the intense ritual finally concluded. Near the heavy, ornate temple door, she spotted a worried Frigate Belfast, her face etched with concern.
Concerned, Frigate Belfast rushed towards her, towels already in hand, gently wiping the beads of sweat dripping from Enterprise-80's forehead with the tenderness of a truly caring loved one.
"Are you alright, Miss Enterprise? You look so utterly tired," Frigate Belfast asked, her voice brimming with genuine concern.
"W-what happened when I was out? And how long has it truly been?" Enterprise-80 inquired, trying to grasp her current state after transcending to another dimension, the experience disorienting.
"You were breathing heavily and all covered in sweat, and it's only been a few short minutes since the ritual began," Frigate Belfast responded, radiating palpable relief at her return.
Enterprise-80 looked down, cupping her chin thoughtfully. 'A few minutes...? Back then, in Code-X's dimension, I never once checked the time, but my senses told me it had been well over half an hour, just like in Code-G's dimension.'
"The rest?" she asked, wondering why the others—the Monks and the Fox-Women—were so visibly drained of their energy.
Frigate Belfast turned to look at the exhausted participants. The Monks were being diligently tended to by other, mostly Younger Monks. The Mikos were ministering to the Fox-Women and the Shrine Maiden Shinano.
"I've never been this exhausted," Musashi whimpered, still audibly gasping for air, her breath ragged.
"You exhausted your vital energy maintaining that profound connection for the ritual. This isn't anything like some of the simpler rituals we've used before for the retrofitting of our Girls," Souryuu, her sharp-witted Secretary Ship, spoke, her tone precise and cutting as a paper cut.
"This was utterly draining. I never thought I would be this completely exhausted," Amagi said, still audibly gasping, clutching her chest from her heavy breathing.
Yamato, already on her feet, immediately assisted Amagi, who was still weakly on her knees. "Hai, I never would have thought it would be this exclusive and demanding for just a few minutes. No doubt, the ritual was incredibly demanding."
Shinano was peacefully asleep, wisely conserving her precious energy and not whining like the other two. Mikos surrounded her, tending to her by gently wiping away her sweat.
"They've held strong, diligently maintaining that intricate connection of the ritual solely for your sake. It's truly only been a few minutes since it all started. I was incredibly worried when I saw them all fall to their knees and begin gasping for air. I was even more worried when I saw you too gasping for air and sweating profusely. I desperately wanted to rush to help, but I couldn't risk ruining the ritual, so I waited patiently for it to finish. The moment it stopped, I rushed to you, as you can plainly see," Frigate Belfast responded comprehensively, her relief evident.
"I see, everyone was thoroughly exhausted from maintaining the profound connection," Enterprise-80 mused aloud, the pieces beginning to fall into place.
"Then there's also this other pressing problem," Frigate Belfast suddenly added, her voice now concerned, but tinged with a familiar weary exasperation.
Enterprise-80's eyes narrowed perceptibly. "They're at it again, have they...?"
...
( IMAGE )
The air within the Dojo courtyard was thick with palpable tension and eager anticipation, as the Sakuran Girls watched intently from the sidelines, forming a tight, expectant circle around the very center of the space. Among the audience, JS Maya, JS Izumo, and JS Yudachi stood, clearly anxious about the unfolding situation before them.
JS Maya held her throbbing head, exasperated by the ongoing duel in the Dojo and the rapidly growing crowd it was drawing. "Why?! – Why did we end up here again? I've talked to them multiple times about not causing trouble without Miss Enterprise's explicit knowledge or even her consideration of it," she muttered, her anger a palpable undercurrent in her hushed tone.
"I knew these two would certainly stir the pot. But I honestly didn't expect the Sakurans would make the first move," JS Izumo said, his gaze fixed on Hakuryuu in the center.
Hakuryuu stood in the middle of the drawn circle, a broad, confident smile gracing her face, her shark teeth distinctly visible. Her almost rocky grin perfectly mirrored her fiery, impetuous character.
JS Yudachi grabbed her head as if physically trying to pull down the swelling stress building intensely within her. "I told him multiple times to cancel this ridiculous challenge!" she cried out in frustration.
"Yet here we are, nonetheless," JS Izumo added, a distinct hint of resignation in his voice.
"Who do you think would actually win?" Cleve-Dude asked, clearly doubting Zumwalt's ability to secure a victory. He could plainly see that the Sakurans were all formidable masters of the sword and deeply ingrained in their meticulous sword culture, making him profoundly skeptical if Zumwalt could truly hold his ground against their prowess.
Canberra, on the other hand, was entirely unconcerned about any perceived skill gap or differences in sword culture. With her usual, boundless optimism, she could already clearly envision the inevitable outcome of this impending fight.
"Don't worry yourself unnecessarily, Zumwalt can wipe the floor with absolutely no sweat at all."
"He is going to win, he is going to win!" Laffey-724 chirped happily, hopping excitedly on her feet like a bundle of pure joy.
Her positive joy and flamboyant nature were a stark and striking contrast to the person standing stoically beside her, who bore the exact same face and name, though their body figures strikingly differed.
Laffey-200 was the very embodiment of serious atmosphere amongst them, her radiating aura one of quiet dominance, seemingly anxious to decisively finish this nonsensical game.
She stood there, arms crossed purposefully, exaggerating her already impressive figure even more, with a deeply serious expression etched on her face. Her unwavering gaze was fixed intently on Zumwalt's calm demeanor. If one were to meticulously observe, she appeared profoundly bored that he wasn't finishing it early enough for her liking.
"Is she always like this?" JS Izumo asked, never failing to notice her intense gaze always fixed solely on Zumwalt.
JS Maya turned to see what he was inquiring about; she noticed it too, with a slight nod. "No, but it's rare to see. She always has that particular face when she's genuinely interested by something or someone. It's truly rare to witness. She may simply be anxious about the fight, just like us."
JS Yudachi chimed in, offering her own childish observation. "It looks like she's just bored that it hasn't even started yet."
Whether she was truly bored that the duel hadn't started yet, no one knew for sure, her true thoughts remaining enigmatic.
On the Sakuran side, Takao appeared visibly anxious and deeply distressed. Never in her entire life had she felt a presence quite like this before. She could clearly see the man, Zumwalt, but his presence was faint, almost imperceptible, as if he were actively concealing himself. She couldn't quite figure him out, but one crucial thing she knew for certain. That man was undeniably up to something significant.
'Zumwalt, what are you truly? No one outside of Sakura Empire - or Japan wields such a unique sword or even masters it to this degree,' she contemplated, her gaze fixed on him like a high-definition camera recorder, meticulously ready to capture every single detail of his movements.
In the very middle of the courtyard, a perfect circle had been precisely drawn, with stacks of rice straws buried to form a distinct circular boundary. Zumwalt entered the specified circle, his body poised and remarkably calm, as if he were 'the calm before the storm'. His sunglasses glinted subtly in the sunlight.
Opposite him, Hakuryuu stepped confidently into the circle with a cocky, challenging grin, a long Katana expertly sheathed at her hip. Her Katana was an O-Katana, its handle and blade notably larger and more imposing than a regular Katana.
And of course, it wouldn't be a proper, dramatic battle without some preliminary dialogue exchanged first.
"Ha, ha. I'm quite surprised you're all so incredibly calm with this duel. Are you merely trying to look tough for someone specific?" Hakuryuu said, her tone teasing and sounding like a deliberate provocation, clearly aimed at breaking any opponent's crucial concentration.
Zumwalt, of course, was decidedly not the kind of man to fall for such transparent words.
"Bold, to assume that I was doing that at all," he paused momentarily, his eyes briefly flicking to glance at the one who was giving him that particular look at the crowds, then calmly continued. "I am absolutely not threatened by your posturing, and I am certainly not motivated to even unsheathe my revered 'Judgement Blade'."
"Hah! A truly bold claim that you can best me without even unsheathing your blade. How laughably pathetic!" Hakuryuu scoffed, slowly, dramatically unsheathing her O-Katana, its long, polished blade glinting impressively in the bright sun.
"Let's see if I can ever slash away that nonsense of yours."
She dropped smoothly into a classic stance, legs wide and firmly planted, her gleaming blade held purposefully forward.
"Bring it."
Zumwalt's Aegis Combat System activated instantly. Everything around him seemed to slow down dramatically, appearing like a perfectly visualized 3D rendering. Every seconds move Hakuryuu made was meticulously calculated, analyzed in real-time.
Without even unsheathing his blade, sparks flew as Zumwalt effortlessly parried the incoming attack.
( IMAGE )
That astonishing display genuinely surprised Hakuryuu and all the gathered Sakurans. He had parried her swift attack with remarkable ease, without even removing the sheath.
The air held perfectly still, along with their bated breaths. Following the clean block, Zumwalt thrust the hilt of his Katana swiftly forward into her stomach. The sharp, unexpected impact threw her forcefully back to the exact position where she had once stood. Hakuryuu clutched her abdomen, wincing visibly from the painful hit.
"That... that was incredibly fast..." She looked up, her eyes narrowing, her breath ragged from the impact.
Zumwalt acted utterly nonchalant, his demeanor unruffled. "Told you. You're not worthy of my blade," he stated, as if subtly mocking her for not heeding his prior words of caution.
His words, surprisingly, hit harder than his physical strike. Hakuryuu's considerable pride stung far worse than her bruised gut.
Noshiro, acting as the referee, raised her hand on Zumwalt's side of the court and authoritatively announced, "The first point goes to Zumwalt-san!"
Despite the pain radiating from his counter, Hakuryuu swiftly dropped back into her battle stance. Her Katana gleamed ominously at her side. For a brief moment, she blurred, moving with such incredible speed that she left a small gust of dust in her wake.
Zumwalt effortlessly followed her every movement, his Aegis Radar tracking her every precise action. She was weaving left to right, attempting to skillfully confuse any potential counter or defense he might mount.
To her profound surprise, the outcome was precisely the same as before. Shock was truly visible and undeniable in her wide eyes. He hadn't just parried it once, but a second time, without even expending any noticeable effort.
Amongst the crowds, the Japanese and Sakurans watched in utter awe and silent astonishment.
"That was a truly clean move. He expertly used the precise angle of the attack to deflect all the force that came with that strike – effectively giving us the illusion that he is physically tanking it," JS Izumo commented.
He wasn't equipped with a sophisticated Aegis Combat System like the Aegis Destroyers, but his keen senses and rapid computation gave him a crystal-clear image of the intricate details of the fight.
"Zumwalt is all about absolute precision. He could easily finish this right now, yet he seems intent on dragging it out," JS Maya chimed in, her chin cupped thoughtfully.
"Maybe he was just playing with her?" JS Yudachi asked, her own senses unable to track the exchange between the two.
"Isn't that entirely obvious?" JS Izumo said, as if he already knew the very undeniable outcome of the duel.
As JS Izumo's unwavering attention remained fixed on Hakuryuu, beside him stood another person whimpering and grumbling like a small child who hadn't received any promised candy.
Zuikaku grumbled loudly like a petulant child, visibly upset that she wasn't involved in the ongoing, exciting event. "They're having a duel, and yet they completely failed to inform me!"
Her grumbling was distinctly audible amongst the Sakurans, who were loudly cheering for Hakuryuu with fervent enthusiasm.
"You're either incredibly lucky you're not involved, or you'll just utterly humiliate yourself." JS Izumo said outright, his attention still firmly fixed on the intense battle unfolding before them.
Zuikaku turned sharply to face him, her expression sharp. "What exactly do you mean by that?"
JS Izumo turned his attention fully to meet her gaze, his expression growing serious. "Back in our world, most of Zumwalt's true capabilities were completely hidden. No one truly knew how incredibly capable he was. Some might have even called him useless, as his abilities were completely unknown, with only skepticism and wild guessing as the only source of available information."
His tone sounded grim and incredibly serious, he leaned in as if making his next words reach only her ears.
"But that his true danger is that you simply can't detect him, and if you do... it's already entirely over for you."
"Another point for Zumwalt-san!" the referee announced, her voice cutting through the tension.
Both Zuikaku and JS Izumo turned their heads back to the ongoing duel. They could clearly see that Hakuryuu was now on her knees, gasping desperately, sweat pouring profusely down her face. Her Katana trembled noticeably in her grip. She hadn't landed a single hit.
"With the collected points of Zumwalt-san, Zumwalt-san is the undisputed victor of this duel!" Noshiro announced, her voice booming clearly into the stunned silence that permeated the air. The Sakurans were all left awestruck, their faces etched with disbelief.
'It – it simply can't be! He only blocked and parried the attack and returned it with a counter. He attacked Hakuryuu's weak points with such precision!' Takao mused, utterly shocked by the unexpected outcome. She knew Hakuryuu would never take a chance at winning easily, but the way it had transpired was utterly beyond her comprehension.
"She – she lost!" Chikuma screamed, unable to truly believe her own eyes.
"Hakuryuu... lost..." Atago whispered, the words barely escaping her lips, a profound sense of disbelief in her voice.
Takao and Kii rushed immediately to assist Hakuryuu, concern etched on their faces. To their absolute surprise, Hakuryuu wasn't angry at all. In fact, she was radiating with boundless enthusiasm. Her cheeks were flushed with excitement, her eyes shimmering with childlike wonder, and her mouth stretched into a wide, almost starstruck grin.
"That was utterly awesome! Tell me, how did you do that? Tell me—tell me—tell me?!" Hakuryuu asked, seemingly radiating invisible sparkles of pure excitement.
Both Takao and Kii were profoundly surprised, their faces contorted into comical, almost Looney Tunes expressions of utter bewilderment.
"What the hell?!" Kii exclaimed in outright shock.
"Where did she suddenly get that optimism back from?" Takao mused, utterly bewildered by the sudden shift in Hakuryuu's demeanor.
Hakuryuu, seemingly completely unaware of their perplexed reactions, remained thoroughly starstruck and awestruck by the incredible swordplay she had just experienced. Never in her entire life had she encountered anyone truly worthy of defeating her, let alone someone achieving it without even drawing their blade.
Zumwalt, still maintaining his cool, nonchalant calm, responded with a raised, sheathed Katana. "Pure peak power," he stated simply, before calmly, purposefully leaving the arena, leaving a lingering impression.
In the midst of the dispersing crowd, Laffey-200 stood with her arms crossed, her face betraying no discernible emotion, but her eyes... they were sharp, serious, and quietly judging, scrutinizing.
"Pure peak power," Laffey-200 repeated, as if subtly mocking the very words he had just spoken.
Zumwalt halted directly in front of her, his face turning serious, a flicker of genuine curiosity in his eyes.
"What was that for?" he asked, as if querying why she was 'salty' about his decisive win.
"You could have easily finished it earlier, yet you deliberately dragged it out to the point of utter boredom," Laffey-200 responded bluntly, her tone direct and unapologetic.
"Where's the fun in that, I ask you?" Zumwalt retorted, a hint of a smirk playing on his lips.
"That's your worst excuse? At least finish it early. I'm bored."
"I'd rather amuse myself with a weak opponent until a real challenge motivates me to draw my blade. And.... That's one lame excuse too, wouldn't you agree?" Zumwalt fired back, his words cutting.
Laffey-200 let out a low growl, as if responding to his pointed retort. Meanwhile, Laffey-724 hopped gleefully in circles around him, celebrating his resounding victory with unbridled joy.
"Yay, you won – you won – you won!" she repeated excitedly as she bounced around him with pure, infectious delight.
"USA, we won!" Canberra cheered loudly, pumping her fist in the air.
"Why the hell was I worrying about it anyway? It was Zumwalt we were talking about, after all," Cleve-Dude said coolly, visibly relieved from the intense pressure of the tense duel.
"And yet you were biting your nails off like it was the absolute end of the world," JS Yudachi chimed in, perfectly ruining Cleve-Dude's carefully composed persona with her astute observation.
"Why do you always have to ruin my cool persona?!" he whined dramatically.
"Ho-How??? How did he actually do it? He only did it with his blade sheathed!" Zuikaku still could not believe the outcome of the duel, her mind struggling to reconcile it.
She had closely seen the moves and how he parried, but all his parries connected precisely at Hakuryuu's attack's weak points, effectively nullifying the entire force of the impact with surgical precision.
"Now you see... you're lucky," JS Izumo said, pointing out what could have been her own humiliating outcome if she had ever had the opportunity to cross blades with Zumwalt.
'Zumwalt doesn't simple shit Turkeys with Railguns." He uttered silently, out of her ears.
Zuikaku reconsidered her earlier eagerness to duel the mysterious guy. Initially, she was genuinely keen to know more about the Kansen who had single-handedly taken on Orochi with only a sword. That feat seemed utterly impossible, beyond comprehension. But now, she began to consider that the odd, angular shape of his ship might conceal profound secrets within its panels, leading to what was hidden inside. Open-source information stated he was primarily a platform for long-range attack and engagement, but it seemed he wasn't just for that.
Her eyes darted to the sheathed Katana he held so effortlessly. She wondered how incredibly sharp and strong it was to even face such formidable foes as Orochi. Her thoughts led her to frustrating dead ends, as she couldn't think of anything beyond desperately wanting to know the secret of his enigmatic Katana.
"Don't overthink it so much. No one truly knows about it," JS Izumo said, attempting to ease her troubled mind.
She sighed deeply, consciously clearing her thoughts about it. "You're right, he's probably better left mysterious as he is. Though..."
She paused, as she noticed the intriguing interaction between Zumwalt and Laffey-200. "Are they rivals or something?" she asked, genuinely wondering why they were interacting in such a peculiar manner.
JS Izumo explained her. "Both projects cost billions of dollars in their development and shipbuilding, and both want to compensate for their exorbitant price tag – by proving they are undeniably the strongest. In short, both are rivals in their own unique ways."
...
~Later~
Enterprise-80 and Frigate Belfast finally reached the Dojo. The courtyard was now teeming with Sakuran Girls and some eager Dojo Students, all abuzz with animated gossiping about the earlier, astonishing duel.
In the crowded courtyard, it didn't take long at all to locate the center of attention.
In one particularly crowded corner—where peals of laughter, excited shrieks, and eager voices all collided in a cacophony—stood the undisputed center of attention. Zumwalt, being bombarded relentlessly with questions he clearly didn't want to answer. And taking the brunt of the eager crowd was Cleve-Dude, currently being used as a literal human shield by Zumwalt to fend off the persistent inquiries.
Cleve-Dude did his absolute best to quell the rising tide of questions, even as he was physically held back and utilized as a makeshift barrier. Zumwalt was literally lifting and using him as a human riot-shield.
( IMAGE )
"Please stop using me as a meat shield!" he cried out, his voice a mix of exasperation and pain.
"Your selfless sacrifice was admirable, truly," Zumwalt stated, his tone completely devoid of emotions as ever, a stark contrast to Cleve-Dude's distress.
"SHAADAP!!!" Cleve-Dude squealed, his voice reaching a comical pitch.
Nearby, JS Izumo was diligently trying to calm the boisterous crowd, his fox ears twitching noticeably in annoyance. His typically calm demeanor was slowly, perceptibly corroding under the strain.
"Sorry, but I think Zumwalt-san isn't inclined to answer all of your questions right now. Please—please calm down."
Fortunately, Cleve-Dude's unexpected suffering came to an abrupt end as the excited Girls dispersed, their attention shifting as they heard a clear, commanding voice approaching through the thinning ranks.
"Ma'am," JS Izumo quickly snapped to attention, delivering a crisp, precise salute.
Zumwalt, who moments before had been holding Cleve-Dude like a tactical riot-shield as a defense against the surrounding Sakuran Girls, also executed a crisp, military salute.
With an almost imperceptible movement, he gently dropped Cleve-Dude onto the solid ground beneath them.
"Ma'am," he acknowledged, his voice a flat monotone.
Cleve-Dude, visibly wincing in pain as his backside ached from being dropped mid-air like a 'carefully' handled delivery package from Amazon, quickly scrambled to his feet. He snapped to attention and saluted, valiantly ignoring his sore rear. "Ma'am."
"At ease," Enterprise-80 returned the salute with a measured grace, her gaze sweeping across the now-quieter courtyard, assessing the scene. "Report."
JS Izumo straightened his kimono, which had become noticeably crumpled during the unexpected onslaught of inquiries from the overly enthusiastic Sakuran Girls.
"Everything's alright, Ma'am. No one was injured physically or mentally," he added, a subtle emphasis in his tone indicating that no one's ego had been bruised after the duel either, a common concern in the competitive atmosphere of the Dojo.
Enterprise-80 breathed a quiet sigh of relief that there were no collateral damages in the area. Her eyes scanned the surrounding space; there were no sobbing individuals to be seen—so far, so good.
"The rest, where are they?" she asked, realizing she only saw the three of them present from their usual group.
"They've already departed, Ma'am, tending to their own matters of business. Yudachi and Maya are on the trail of our Bunny as we speak," JS Izumo reported concisely.
As JS Izumo gave his report, Frigate Belfast chimed in, her voice tinged with curiosity. "Say... how exactly were you being surrounded like that, and why are they so incredibly curious about Zumwalt?"
"Well..." JS Izumo scratched the back of his head, his fox ears visibly twitching in mild embarrassment. "It's a long story."
Cleve-Dude, however, seized the opportunity to interject, catching both Enterprise-80 and Frigate Belfast off-guard by transforming his report into a short narrative. "All the Girls here wanted to fight him with his sword. And, as usual, everyone ate dirt."
"Everyone wanted to challenge me to a duel, yet no one is worthy of facing my blade," Zumwalt spoke, his tone a flat, robotic monotone, utterly devoid of arrogance, merely stating a fact.
Enterprise-80 groaned, holding her throbbing head. "Remind me that I absolutely shouldn't put you in any place where a potential sword fight is around every single corner," she sighed deeply, the exasperation clear in her voice. "I'll allow this one-time misery off the hook. Next time, decline any offered duel, even if it hurts your ego."
"Affirmative," Zumwalt replied, without even the slightest blink, accepting the directive with characteristic unwavering obedience.
But before anyone could continue their conversation, a sudden, their transponders become active. They had just received an unknown SOS signal. It was faint, almost imperceptible, but profoundly, chillingly familiar.
Their heads snapped to attention in unison, their instincts immediately pinpointing the direction from which the distress signal emanated.
"That's an SOS Signal... and it's faintly, unsettlingly familiar," Frigate Belfast murmured, placing a hand over her chest, her voice laced with growing concern.
Enterprise-80 quickly snapped to full attention, her mind already racing, formulating a plan to investigate this unknown SOS Signal. "Call everyone to attention immediately! We need to investigate this Unknown Signal without delay!"
"Right!" everyone echoed back, their voices laced with urgency and determination.
JS Izumo immediately leaped forward with a swift, fluid motion. With a brief flash of his kimono, he effortlessly sprang into the air, landing gracefully on the rooftops and branches of the surrounding trees, swiftly moving to rally everyone at the Port.
Zumwalt pressed two fingers to his earpiece, effortlessly contacting everyone via their onboard comms. They all quickly picked up, placing their index finger near their ear, confirming receipt of the message.
"Unknown Signal detected, everyone assemble at the Port, over." Then Zumwalt was the next to vanish. Whether he truly teleported or simply phased out wasn't clear, but he was gone without a trace, leaving no lingering presence.
Enterprise-80 and Frigate Belfast turned on their heels simultaneously, their expressions serious, and swiftly left the Dojo, heading purposefully towards the Port.
Cleve-Dude, lacking such advanced or rapid exit techniques, let out a dramatic sigh. With a resigned expression, he promptly sprinted after them the old-fashioned way—on foot.
'Damn it! Why I didn't have any of those.'
...
Code-X Dimension
In a discreet, closed corner of the opulent gothic room, a faint, muffled scuffling noise could be distinctly heard from inside what appeared to be closet-like doors. Code-X, her curiosity piqued by the unusual sound, leisurely opened the closet doors.
There, she discovered Ashen Helena crouching in the deep, dark corner, hiding like a gremlin, her eyes fixated intently on a flickering holographic screen.
The sudden influx of the dim ambient light startled her completely, causing her to flinch violently, like a child caught definitively in the act of mischief. She quickly spun around and saw Code-X staring down at her with an amused, knowing expression.
"Oh... it seems we have our own private little business going on inside my closet," Code-X said, her voice tinged with a familiar cynicism as she observed Ashen Helena's utterly mortified expression.
"Don't tell Code-G about this. Please..." Ashen Helena pleaded, her voice a desperate whisper.
Code-X glanced at the flickering holographic screen. Displayed there, she saw three distinct figures of Kansen, none of whom matched the summoned ones she was aware of. And, based on their noticeably short stature, they were clearly Frigates.
"Don't tell me you summoned a Modern Kansen without Grumpy-G's knowledge," Code-X said flatly, her gaze sharp and accusatory.
Ashen Helena visibly shrank back, nodding slowly, a clearly admitting her guilt.