Yokosuka Fortress Port had been turned into a temporary base by Setsuna and the accompanying Sakura Empire fleet.
After a simple modification of the dock by Bulins, additional materials and equipment were transported from the naval base, and the repairs on the Yamato ship commenced.
The colorful Bulins worked with incredible efficiency, restoring the wrecked flagship at a speed visible to the naked eye. Each day when Setsuna and the shipgirls visited, they found it looking noticeably different.
First, they used nanomaterials to repair the hull breaches left by the supergravity cannons, then rebuilt the bridge, installed the reactor, and repaired the deck.
Though the reverse engineering of the erosion torpedoes and supergravity cannons was still underway, a few missing weapons were not a major issue. As long as the hull was completed, the shipgirl could be summoned. The missing equipment could always be added later.
At the same time, Purifier and Observer led the fleet on a campaign across the globe, issuing surrender notices to various nations.
Most countries surrendered immediately upon witnessing the overwhelming presence of space warships. A few, influenced by too many heroic movies and believing they could save the world, were swiftly educated by airborne Siren Executors and soon signed the agreements as well.
A few days later, Bulins responsible for the repairs brought good news—the Yamato ship's hull was officially completed.
Setsuna led the shipgirls into the dock, gazing up at the newly restored behemoth with awe.
It was futuristic, elegant, and majestic.
The 600-meter-long silver-white hull, including the main cannons, bridge, and deck, gleamed with a metallic sheen under the sunlight. Golden mist-like engravings adorned the side armor, giving it a luxurious and graceful appearance.
Each time Setsuna beheld a Fleet of Fog shipgirl's hull, he couldn't help but marvel—they were essentially starships without propulsion systems. Both in terms of weapon technology and design philosophy, they had already reached the level of space warships. And unlike the mystical forces of the Azur Lane, these were purely technological marvels.
"So this is the Yamato-class flagship from another world... How incredible..."
The Sakura Empire shipgirls examined Yamato's hull curiously.
They were all eager to see what kind of shipgirl Yamato, the Supreme Flagship of the Fleet of Fog, would be.
"Is this my first proper shipgirl summoning?"
Setsuna pulled a Wisdom Cube from his pocket and stepped in front of Yamato's hull.
The shipgirls instinctively took a few steps back.
"So, you imbue warships with consciousness using that little cube? What's inside? Cognitive data?"
Takao stared curiously at the glowing blue cube in Setsuna's hand.
"The composition of the cube is complex; even if I explained it, you wouldn't understand. It's also the energy source for Azur Lane's shipgirls, enhancing the weapons they use."
Purifier lazily explained.
"So, theoretically speaking, the Yamato summoned using a Wisdom Cube will be far more powerful than the original Fleet of Fog Yamato."
"Since your supergravity cannons and erosion torpedoes are already ridiculously overpowered, with the cube's enhancements... tsk tsk tsk, I feel like this is going to be something truly monstrous..."
"Huh?!"
Takao was taken aback.
"Then can I use the cube to enhance myself?!"
"You're an indigenous shipgirl of the Blue World... It won't work for you. But when we return, we can have Compiler study you all to see if there's another way to strengthen you..."
Observer responded.
"..."
Setsuna raised the cube high above his head.
He infused his consciousness into the cube, channeling its power into the massive warship before him.
Swoosh—
The cube transformed into a sphere of light, flowing into the silver-white hull. The entire battleship began to distort and reshape, turning into a luminous sphere suspended in midair.
A few minutes later...
The sphere of light gradually took on a humanoid form, gently descending to the ground.
As the radiance dissipated, a shipgirl dressed in a pure white princess gown with long, flowing black hair stood before them.
Her attire was extravagant, despite being monochrome, as intricate embroidery adorned the fabric, preventing it from appearing plain. A white hair ornament complemented her "hime cut" hairstyle, making her the very image of a Yamato Nadeshiko.
"Where is this..."
Yamato slowly opened her eyes, her voice carrying the same grace and calmness as her presence, giving off the aura of a true noble lady.
"Flagship!!"
Takao was utterly stunned.
She never imagined that Yamato, who had been sunk over a decade ago, would be reborn in this way.
"Commander?"
Yamato looked at Setsuna with a hint of confusion.
She raised her hand, examining it closely before twirling slightly to take in her own appearance. A flood of unfamiliar sensations filled her mind, and she could sense a profound connection forming between her and the man before her.
"401? Takao? You're here too?!"
Spotting Iona and Takao among the Sakura Empire shipgirls, she was visibly surprised.
Then, looking around at her surroundings, she realized—this was a human naval port.
As someone who had once been part of the Fleet of Fog, Yamato never imagined she would one day find herself standing in a human-controlled harbor.
"Oh? How do you feel?"
"You are the Yamato from the Blue World, right? Do you still remember what happened before? I hope the power of the Wisdom Cube hasn't erased your memories..."
Setsuna stepped forward, questioning her.
He had no idea how a Wisdom Cube would affect a shipgirl from another world—whether there would be side effects due to conflicting worldviews or incompatible energies.
"I..."
Yamato rubbed her temples, trying to recall her past.
"I remember battling Musashi... She was stubborn, unwilling to heed my words. I didn't want to hurt her, so in the end, I was sunk by Musashi..."
"After that, I entrusted my cognitive core to I-401..."
"But why have I been revived by a force so unfamiliar to me?!"
She gestured with her hand, and a sleek, silver ship rigging materialized beside her—a power she had never possessed before.
"Times have changed. You are now an Azur Lane shipgirl."
Setsuna patted her shoulder.
"Actually, you still retain some of the Fleet of Fog's abilities. To be precise, you now have dual citizenship—one in Azur Lane and one in Arpeggio of Blue Steel. Or rather, you belong to two worlds at once."
"???"
The girl was completely baffled.
Setsuna and Richelieu spent the next few minutes explaining the situation to her.
Only then did Yamato begin to grasp what had happened.
"So, you all come from another world, reconstructed my ship's hull, and then revived me using your own methods?"
"Unbelievable..."
She looked around at the gathered Sakura Empire shipgirls. The power of the Wisdom Cube within her told her that these girls were now her comrades.
And the man who had summoned her—was her Commander.
Just like any other Azur Lane shipgirl, she accepted Setsuna's authority without hesitation.
"May I ask what has become of the Fleet of Fog? Have they made peace with humanity?"
"Musashi can be quite extreme... I worry that she might lead the Fleet of Fog down the wrong path..."
She inquired curiously.
"..."
"Well..."
Setsuna hesitated for a moment.
"Musashi is still the same as ever. She's leading the Fleet of Fog across the seas, hunting down human naval forces, intent on driving all of humanity out of the oceans."
"But this world will soon be ours. At most, in three days, we will have completely conquered the Blue World."
"By then, you'll need to help us convince Musashi to calm down. We need to develop the oceanic industry here, not let her wreak havoc."
"???"
Yamato was stunned for a long time.
She had imagined the worst-case scenario: an all-out war between Musashi and humanity, where the Fleet of Fog and mankind saw each other as mortal enemies, locked in an irreconcilable conflict.
But the situation Setsuna described was far more bizarre.
The Blue World was about to be ruled by extraterrestrials.
No—given her current identity, she was technically of the same species as the Azur Lane shipgirls and Setsuna.
"Don't worry, we will manage this world properly."
"We are civilized people; we don't engage in piracy and plundering."
Noticing Yamato's concerns, Setsuna added a few more explanations.
"This Earth will be left under the administration of other shipgirls, while the Fleet of Fog and I will move to another world."
"Humans will be able to return to the seas without the threat of the Fleet of Fog, and you'll have the chance to travel with me, be transformed into a starship, and explore other worlds."
"Don't you think it's a waste to have such advanced technology confined to a single planet?"
"..."
Yamato pondered Setsuna's reasoning.
It was an unusual proposal, but one that seemed logical.
The conflict between the Fleet of Fog and humanity stemmed from old grudges and disputes over dominion of the seas.
A collective migration to another world would mean neither side had to interfere with the other—problem solved instantly.
As for humanity here being governed as a tributary state...
Since the Commander had given his word, she was willing to trust him.
Perhaps a powerful world government unifying humanity wasn't such a bad thing after all?
It could put an end to the long-standing chaos and fragmentation.
After a brief contemplation, Yamato nodded in agreement.
"I understand."
"Commander, is there anything I can do to assist?"
She bowed slightly to Setsuna, her movements graceful and composed.
With her rebirth through the Wisdom Cube, Yamato naturally held an innate sense of loyalty and admiration toward her Commander.
"Hmm... Akashi and Bulins are reverse-engineering Fleet of Fog technology. If you could lend them a hand, it would likely speed up the process considerably."
Setsuna mused.
"Also, your sister Musashi doesn't seem to be very convinced by me. As her elder sister, don't you think it's time to teach her a lesson?"
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