บท 64: Chapter 64 - A Forceful Invitation
"Say, do you want to come with me to our base and have a small talk?" Purifier smiled sweetly while giving Adam an invitation.
Adam was wary because he knew her real strength if she wanted to get serious. A casual punch can create enough force to level the whole city into rubble. Even if Adam tried to use his Semblance to suppress her unnatural strength, he can't do it fast enough to protect the surroundings. Which means, the surrounding area will become a collateral.
"My, if you stare at me that intensely. I might get the wrong idea, Mister~" Purifier said playfully.
She might look frail and dainty on the surface. But Adam knows it's just a false appearance to make others lower their guard. Like a Siren, using her allure to begull the sailors into the ocean depth.
'We move to a less crowded place first. Also, wake up the others.' Adam communicates to Agent through the built-in comms in his armor before he partially deploys his armor, just the frame to act like an exoskeleton to boost his physical performance.
'Yes, Master.' Agent replied mentally and nodded to him before they bolted off running.
"H-Hey! Don't run away!" Purifier said playfully, knowing she can catch up easily considering she could move at speed of sound or even faster.
Adam reached out to grab Agent's outstretched arm and hurled her up to the sky as she landed on the roof. Then Adam crouches down before he makes a powerful jump that leaves a spiderweb crack on the sidewalk before he also lands on the roof as the two speed over to the nearby port area filled with shipping containers and warehouses which look relatively empty during such time.
———
Meanwhile, in a military base on the edge of the city.
*BEEP*
*BEEP*
*BEEP*
Alarm is blaring loudly and echoing across the base as people scramble left and right to muster up a response.
"This! A Siren with high energy reading! It's a Humanoid Siren with energy reading higher than even the Executor-Class Humanoid Siren!"
Amidst the chaotic state of the command room, a woman in black uniform frowned as her phones were ringing but she ignored it and stared at the big screen. To be more specific, she was looking at the red flickering dot on the displayed map that was located inland instead of on the sea.
"What is a Siren doing on land? I thought they operated on the sea only?! Damnit!" She released her anger with a slam on the desk before she stood up and barked out orders. "In land is out of our jurisdiction. Contact the Minister of Defence and General first to request permission to conduct Counter Siren operation in the city."
"Yes!" The staff replied and quickly made the preparations.
"Also, prepare the prototype. It's a good opportunity to run a test of her performance."
"But, ma'am. We were barely able to get it to be operational. We can't be sure the prototype will fully obey our order. Especially when the Handler HQ promised had yet to arrive." A staff member interjected.
"I will be the temporary Handler. If anything happens, I will take responsibility." The woman replied with a glare at the one that dared question her order.
"Y-Yes Ma'am!"
"Good." She huffed before she stood up and put on a black overcoat with eight gold buttons which she fastened quickly and departed from the room.
Not long later, she arrived at a lab with a dozen scientists working hard trying to calibrate data while in the middle of the room was a pod where the prototype lay asleep in deep slumber. The scientist and lab workers immediately greeted her when she arrived.
"I need the prototype to be ready for deployment immediately." She started without care as she stared at the sleeping beauty slumbering inside the pod.
"I understand that, Ma'am. However, her recent deployment has left her riggings in less desired state and we are incapable of performing a proper repair." The scientist argued, worried that the prototype may break.
"It's not your decision to make. It's mine and we have a powerful humanoid Siren in the middle of a city. If we don't get her out there, there will be severe casualties. Now, just obediently do as I say and wake her up or do you like to be thrown into cells for insubordination?"
The scientist looks at his peers before they reluctantly nod. "Alright… purge the nutrient fluid and wake her up." The lead scientist said as the rest got to work immediately.
Moments later, after several taps of keys on the terminal. The fluid in the pod was drained and the white haired lady in the pod creases her brow with a low groan before she opens her eyes to reveal violet coloured irises. She looks at the familiar place without any expression and then switches to a sitting position once the pod is opened. She saw the familiar woman that always accompanied her since she was created and knew already, the purpose she was woken up.
"There is no time to spare, Enterprise. Get ready for deployment. We have another mission for you." The woman said.
"Understood, Commander…" Enterprise lowered her head as she said, hiding away her discontent and her pursed lips.
Enterprise knows this woman isn't her Commander, her real Commander is someone else. Unlike what the scientist believes, Enterprise didn't wake up from the construction factory as a blank slate. She remembers her time serving Eagle Union to fight against the Siren. She remembers serving her Commander under the faction of Azur Lane which unified all other factions including the Crimson Axis and the Meta ships from another timeline. She also remembered the day her Commander vanished without a trace and the glorious Eagle Union crumbled into dust when the—
"Hngh!" Enterprise held her forehead as an intense headache assaulted her head.
The terminal suddenly blared out an alarm as the screen turned red.
"What happened!" The woman demanded.
The scientists immediately rushed to the terminal and ran a check.
"Her Wisdom Cube had sudden overload from the spike of activities. It's nothing bad. It's expected when she suddenly woke up from a deep sleep. She was probably jogging her memories." The lead scientist replied while the woman looked skeptical but she shrugged it off and turned to Enterprise.
"Tell me what is your duty?" The woman asks.
"To fight the Siren and protect humanity." Enterprise replied swiftly although in her mind the answer is different.
To the past Enterprise, in her past life and before she encountered her Commander, this reply would definitely be her answer. But after meeting her Commander and after she was taught by him that there is more than just fighting against the Siren. There is more than just toiling her body from one battle to another to fulfill her duty as a weapon and tools for humanity.
That's why, her true answer would be to fight and struggle as she aspires for the day where she will no longer need to fight and the day she can live in the peaceful world she carved out with her beloved Commander.
"Hmn. Good. Go and prepare yourself to battle. We will depart as soon as possible." The woman said and left the lab as she received a phone call which came directly from the top.
Enterprise was given a white sheet to cover her naked body by a lab worker as she moved to a changing room next door. When she exited the lab, she overheard some of the conversation the woman said on the call.
"What? The HQ had dispatched a new Handler for Project KANSEN prototypes? Who is it? Why did I never hear of it?"
"Subject matter expert?! I am the one overseeing the whole goddamn project! How can there be someone more knowledgeable about KANSEN than me? Did he come from another world or something?"
"He did… Ha…hahaha! Did the people in HQ go crazy or something? Someone who claimed to be the Admiral of the Navy, leading the coalition of all KANSEN in another world? The Azur Lane? Is this some kind of sick joke from the HQ?"
"Grrr! Damnit!" The woman smashed her phone on the ground and went into a flying rage.
"WHAT DOES THEY MEAN HE WILL REPLACE ME! THEY DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH I SACRIFICED! HOW MUCH SWEAT AND TEARS I PUT INTO THE PROJECT AND THEY WANT TO EXCLUDE ME WITH THAT MADE UP PERSON?!"
"I REFUSE! I REFUSE TO LET SOMEONE ELSE STEAL ALL MY HARDWORK!"
Looking at the state of the woman, Enterprise knows that her presence here will only heighten her anger. So, she quickly slipped off and went to change into her outfit. However, something intrigued her.
As far as she knows, the history differs a little. Most are the same and at the current period, KANSEN had just been developed and the concept of KANSEN faction didn't even exist yet. She was, in fact, the only Eagle Union KANSEN that had a physical body. Which means, the establishment of the faction coalition, the Azur Lane shouldn't even exist yet.
Perhaps… no. Enterprise erases those thoughts. She didn't want to be misled by hope again only to be left disappointed. They tried and tried for years to find their Commander but failed and they even refused the new Commander sent by the HQ which led to conflict and eventually the whole Azur Lane went rogue against humanity to seek for their missing Commander and half even been swindled by the Siren.
Anyway, for Enterprise. She might be alone on this journey. She might be the only one that got her Wisdom Cube flung into another timeline. She didn't remember if any did follow her. Her goal remains unchanged and until she finds her Commander, she will continue searching for him no matter how long it takes and no matter what the cost because for her, her Commander is worth more than all humanity combined.
———
"Oya… I was wondering if you are playing hide and seek with me. Turns out you were luring me, a young girl, into a dark hidden place. Should I be worried?" Purifier was still high-spirited as she nonchalantly looked around for any traps or ambush but instead found Adam alone standing inside the shipping container warehouse waiting for her instead of continuing running.
"Worried? Said the Siren that destroys the whole nation alone. It should be me that is worried, not you." Adam responded with some humor and appeared to be also relaxed unlike before which made Purifier worried a little.
"Come, you either want to kill me or strap me on a dissection table anyway right? Don't expect me to go down without a fight, Siren." Adam engaged his armor and deployed both his Aura and Barrier which coat him multicolored glow as he brought out his [BLACK] Hornet sniper rifle that had mystical green aura surrounding it coming from the greenish gemstone slotted on the white socket that connected to the energy circuit engraved on the gun.
This display left Purifier perplexed. For one, a firearm against a Siren is a joke. Shipgirl may look human but they are literal warships in human form once they equipped their rigging. Shooting them with a gun is like trying to shoot a tens of thousand tons warship with a gun.
However… Purifier can feel something is wrong with the gun. It is not just any normal gun. She cannot scan the technology level behind it unlike the armor he wore, the cybernetics etc in his body. It's simply not a creation of technology or at least not entirely. Also, not to mention it was triggering her sense of danger. Not even the strongest KANSEN can injure her if she is serious, much less make her feel like the scythe of death is lingering by her neck.
Purifier traced her finger on her neck as she grinned. "Interesting… Interesting indeed! It is rare to find something that interests me this much. It's a pity to kill you here and I want you very very much." She licked her lips. "Say, how about you join the Siren instead. We can become friends instead and it's better for you to be on our side once the plan is in motion."
Thinking over the options she presented, he looks like he is considering the offer. But he was actually contacting the Agent and it seems the cavalry had arrived.
"Hmn. If all you want is to be friends, I don't mind. However, joining you is impossible because I already made my choice to join the Azur Lane." Adam answered expecting her to get violent after he rejected her offer. But apparently he is wrong.
"That's confusing. I am your friend but you are also an enemy for being an obstacle in the Creator's plan." Purifier sighed while holding her head. "Unlike Observer, I don't really care that much about the Creator's plan. All I want is to have fun."
Adam looked hopeful that they could walk off without a battle but a sudden shift in the atmosphere made him grip his weapon ready as he flinched, sensing the hostility radiating from Purifier.
"But unfortunately, order is order and we cannot disobey the Creator's order and allow you to ruin our progress."
As soon as she is done talking, Purifier instantly vanished and turn into a blur before she reappeared in front of Adam and stretched out her arm and fist to punch him but Adam reacted and sensed her actions the moment she even twitch a muscle through the active use of [Observation Haki] and used [Die Another Day] and crossed his arm to block the punch. What happened next is a powerful tornado of wind swept through him and threw all the shipping containers and ground like dried leaves blown away by wind yet miraculously, his foot stayed rooted on the ground and sunken a few inches into the concrete ground.
Adam's gaze hovered over his HUD and saw his heath point basically shaved down to orange, nearly red, meaning the attack had reduced him down to almost 10% health before the [Stim Shot] kicked in and raised it back up to above 30% at the yellow zone.
Adam internally cursed as his Aura Barrier and [Barrier] skill was instantly shattered without any resistance. Meaning, another hit he would definitely die. Yet the revelation of his close encounter to death didn't phase him at all, oddly. However, he didn't have the luxury to spare his thoughts on his abnormal state of mind which he brushed aside in favor of focusing on the battle.
"I knew it! I knew it! My instinct isn't wrong, you are definitely an interesting human to survive a serious punch from me." Purifier grinned in psychotic glee.
Adam jumped back and trained his gun at her face and pulled the trigger without any hesitation while mentally using [Adrenaline Shot] to increase his reaction speed to dodge the next flurry of attack. His goal is simple. The more his attack connects to her, the more she will be weakened and the higher the chance he will survive this.
However, in the next instance, dozens of black spears suddenly shot out from the ground coated with purplish flame that threatened to stab Purifier but she effortlessly moved her body like an expert gymnast to bend her body in near extreme angles as she dodged at least two dozen spears.
"You idiot! Are you alright?" Jalter dropped next to Adam while frantically checking him head to toe like a worried mother while Siegfried and Jeanne stood before Adam and in between Purifier.
"Not gonna lie, I almost died but eh, I'm still alive and kicking." Adam shrugged with a grin underneath his helmet. "Anyway, it's time for round two."
His Servants nodded in unison while Agent stood on a nearby tower to control the batteries of the Orbital Fortress and provide support if needed.
"Hehe. I think I might be in danger." Purifier chuckled as she tried to scan the newcomers but it came back blank. Another unknown anomaly.
—————
(My Idea is that one day, Azur Lane is going to end. Either they make a sequel or lack popularity and eventually reach EoS.
So, what if the Shikikan suddenly disappeared one day? What will happen to the ship girls? They definitely won't accept the fact just like that. Especially those more obsessive bunch. So, Adam encountered the shipgirl from his time as a Shikikan.
The reason why I choose Enty is basically everyone had her as main waifu, especially those OG players who got their asses carried by Enty whether on high level maps or pvp in the old days with her Lucky E. The newer players might not understand that. )
If you readers feel generous or want to appreciate my work and effort, feel free to tip me here. Also for advance chapters and possibly +18 scenes.
https://ko-fi.com/lazy_kat_aoi
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