Azur Lane: Land To Sea.

44 - A Deserved Celebration

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The dark sky wasn't enveloping just the Azur Lane base, but the other island strongholds that the other factions resided in. And one of those islands is Sakura Empire's.

Outgunned, out-planned, outnumbered, and out-manned.

Their environment that they once called home is falling apart. Standing in and even nearby the island felt standing in a melting pot.

The once lush, green forests now look like charred hell-scape, and debris is filling the streets from the destruction that the Sirens caused before Nagato and her compatriots arrived.

Once they arrived, the defense was not powerful enough to push the Sirens back, but only prolong their survival.

And at the center of it all, Nagato, is she's still checking her surroundings, commanding her comrades, and still fighting the Sirens to still save her home.

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Nagato's legs are about to give up on her, as the fire kept coming at her, Takao, and Hiei, being her guardians, deflecting every shell and counter-attacking thereafter as she tries to keep herself alive.

The numbers were dwindling, but it wasn't on the Siren's side. More girls are getting gravely injured, exiting the battle with shreds of their life.

But the red pillars of light returned and Nagato and her peers next to her lowered their guard. Enveloping the Sirens.

"Nagato-sama, should we reposition once again?"

She was too busy looking at the sky to hear her question. As the light dissipated the Sirens are just gone.

And as they let the silence fill the air for a couple seconds, Takao and Hiei let out a sigh of relief.

Hiei turned to look at Nagato, "Nagato-sama, I need to check up on my sisters to see if they're still alive. Please let me go find them."

With her rugged breathing, she let out a faint "Yes." before Hiei speeds off. With the battle over, her legs finally give out, and her body goes as well. She would've sunk if weren't for Takao's quick instincts, catching her. She took a good look at her, her face reminded her of someone she once held dear and near...

Her own body is starting to give up on her also, but she persists... She looks up into the dark sky. "Atago-oneechan... I'm still alive."

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"Woooooo!!!!"

SPIKE!

The ball hit the ground so hard, that the volleyball ended up on a roof of one of the dorms nearby. Luckily not hitting one of the many windows of the building as it happened a lot back then.

"Don't just go for the ball every time. We want some fun ourselves, New Jersey!" Cleveland hit her sides, as she flinched at the act.

New Jersey was about to hit her waists as well until all of the girls on the volleyball court heard a door open that knocked the wind out of all of them.

"CASTER'S AWAKE!!!"

Everyone outside dropped whatever they're doing and funneled through the door, excited to see him for the 1st time in 4 days.

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What they're met with however, wasn't flattering nor exciting in the least.

"Hey..." his demeanor meek, as he gives off a weak wave to the girls seeing him.

"Commander... Are you feeling okay?"