“A storm within a storm... That’s some extreme weather,“ Memphis murmured, her gaze fixed on the feral, red-tinged tempest ahead. “If I’m not mistaken, this is the same kind of storm we saw back in Bermuda.“

  “No doubt,“ Baltimore replied, her expression tense as she gnced back. “Enterprise, can you feel it? It’s... ominous and unfamiliar.“

  “Just like the Singurity...“ Enterprise muttered, her voice was tense.

  “Haha, this is... interesting,“ the Commander said with a nervous smile, trying to mask his unease. “Seeing is believing, but this feels too massive to be just a Singurity.“

  Memphis observed the phenomenon closely. “It seems to be rotating at a constant speed, yet it also feels eerily still,“ she commented, her eyes fixed on the storm.

  The Queen turned her gaze toward the Eagle Union girls and asked, her curiosity piqued, “Have you, the Eagle Union, ever ventured near a Singurity or looked inside one?“

  Enterprise shook her head slightly, speaking on behalf of her fleet. “We’ve seen one from a distance, but we’ve never ventured deep inside.“

  Elizabeth raised an eyebrow. “Then how can you so confidently identify it as a Singurity just by looking at it?“ she asked, her tone ced with genuine curiosity.

  “I want to point to its size, wind patterns, and our instrument readings... but honestly? It's just my intuition,“ Enterprise admitted with a shrug. “Besides, we can all tell at a gnce that this is no ordinary storm. A storm within a storm is abnormal by any logical measure.“

  “Fair enough,“ Elizabeth conceded with a nod, her gaze fixed on the swirling anomaly. She then turned to the Commander. “Servant, what do you pn to do about it?“

  “Either we'll shut it down, or we’ll take a peek inside and see what’s going on,“ the Commander replied decisively.

  Memphis's voice broke the tense silence, with a thoughtful observation she said. “But... isn’t it strange?“ she asked, drawing everyone’s attention. “This storm was caused by the Sirens, right? And the Singurity—it was opened by the Ashes. We know Ashes and Sirens aren’t on good terms, so why is the Singurity being covered like this?“

  Her observation lingered, deepening the mystery of the phenomenon before them. The Singurity, first deployed by the Ashes in the Bermuda Sea, now appeared in the NA Ocean core. Even stranger, the Sirens seemed to be deliberately shrouding it, preventing the Eagle Union's technology from observing what y within the storm. It was as though they were actively protecting or concealing whatever the Singurity contained.

  “Given the current situation, it might be best if we take a closer look,“ the Queen suggested.

  Before anyone could respond, Baltimore drew their attention. “Hey... don’t you guys feel that the air around here has changed?“

  “What do you mean, chang—“ Memphis started, but her words faltered as she noticed something unusual. A floating bck crystal hovered nearby, pulsing faintly with an eerie glow. “What is this...?“ she muttered, carefully reaching out to pick it up. Holding it in her hand, she turned to the AI. “TB, can we perform a component analysis? Scan this crystal immediately.“

  ~Orders received... Analyzing crystal-like object,~ the AI responded. After a few moments, she announced,~ Analysis complete. While the shape is slightly different, the composition of the bck crystal matches the reference samples studied by the scientific research department for the Ashes beacon. My conclusion: the Ashes have engaged in battle here.~

  The revetion made everyone in the fleet tense. If the Ashes had truly been here, it expined much about their encounters throughout the operation. It was becoming clear that the Ashes had utilized this Singurity for their own purposes, while the Sirens appeared to be holding them at bay.

  “A fierce battle in such a pivotal location... Hmph, perhaps this time, I'll finally get the chance to meet those mysterious Ashes members face-to-face,“ the Queen murmured.

  Saratoga’s reaction was immediate. “Elizabeth!“ she shouted, her voice ced with frustration. “Don’t even think about changing your mind or the pn because of this! Once you’re done with whatever you need to do here, you should head back and let us handle the rest!“

  The Queen shot her a sidelong gnce and huffed, clearly unimpressed. “Compared to cold data and secondhand analysis, it’s far more effective to examine things personally and speak to people directly. And you—stop meddling with things you don’t understand. Look! You’re already fidgeting with that crystal yourself,“ she said, pointing accusatorily.

  Saratoga flushed red with embarrassment. “This—! This has nothing to do with you! And besides, Her Majesty the Queen has no right to lecture me when she’s the one rushing to the front lines!“

  Seeing that the argument was spiraling into a futile back-and-forth, the Queen let out an exasperated sigh and turned to her trusted maid. “Bel, collect some samples. I’ll take them back for proper analysis.“

  “Certainly, Your Majesty,“ Belfast replied with a graceful bow before beginning to gather the bck crystals scattered around the area.

  As the fleets observed the Royal Navy gathering the bck crystal, the Singurity ahead abruptly began to shift colors—cycling through green, blue, purple, orange, and finally settling on an ominous red. A sudden, forceful gust of wind surged, and the water beneath them seemed to shift unnaturally, pulling the ships closer to the swirling anomaly.

  ~Warning: High energy readings detected at the eye of the storm. Immediate evacuation is advised,~ TB's voice echoed urgently across the fleets.

  “What?! Wh-what’s going on? The Singurity is expanding...! Bel—!” The Queen's panicked voice reached out, but before she could finish, she was engulfed by the growing vortex.

  “Commander!“ Memphis called out in arm, trying to grab Greynar’s attention, but she too was swept into the rapidly expanding Singurity.

  “Memphis! Enterprise!“ the Commander shouted desperately, watching helplessly as one by one, the fleets were engulfed by the expanding Singurity without warning.

  Then, at st, his own vessel was caught in the vortex, dragged mercilessly into the anomaly along with the rest of the fleet. Inside, the Singurity spun wildly, tossing the Commander around within the confines of the vessel. The chaos was overwhelming, the violent forces battering the Commander inside.

  Gradually, his strength faded, his vision dimming as the relentless thrashing overcame him. Darkness swallowed him whole as his consciousness slipped away.

  ※ ※ ※

  'Where… am I…?' the Commander thought, his senses dulled. He felt as though he were floating in darkness, suspended in an empty, endless void. The sensation was surreal—no pain, no sound, just the slow drift through a bck, formless space.

  Time passed—maybe a minute, maybe more—until suddenly...

  'Urgh...' A sharp pain shot through his head, searing and relentless. It was excruciating, like his entire body was being stabbed from within. Then, without warning, a flood of countless fragmented images fshed through his mind—memories, visions, echoes of something he couldn’t quite pce.

  'What... is this...?' he groaned internally, barely able to hold on.

  Among the chaos, something familiar surfaced—an image tied to his altered memories. It was painful, too familiar, and too raw. The agony was so overwhelming he felt as though death might be a mercy, anything to end the torment.

  But just as suddenly as it came, the pain began to fade. The storm of memories slowed, the sharp edges dulled, and a numb calm washed over him like a cold tide retreating from the shore. Next thing he knew, he was back at reality.

  As his senses gradually returned, the Commander found himself gazing up at a familiar face. Belfast had been patiently waiting, and now her gentle smile greeted him as he stirred in her p.

  “Master... Are you okay?“ she asked, her tone ced with concern.

  He groaned softly, shaking his head to clear the lingering fog. “Ugh... Still dizzy. Just give me a moment,“ he muttered, trying to sit up as Belfast supported him carefully.

  The maid nodded understandingly, her hand resting lightly on his shoulder. “Of course. If you need more time, my p is always here,“ she said, patting it reassuringly.

  Grateful for her kindness, he eased himself back down, his head still throbbing from the disorienting ordeal within the Singurity. After a moment of silence to steady himself, he asked softly, “What about the others? Where are they?“

  Belfast's expression remained calm as she replied, “The fleet is reorganizing and conducting reconnaissance of the surrounding sea under Enterprise's command. Please, Master, rest assured. Everything is under control.“

  “Why are you here, though?“ he asked, his voice ced with curiosity.

  “Her Majesty was concerned about your condition,“ Belfast replied, her calm gaze softening. “She ordered me to ensure your well-being until the operation concludes.“

  “That's... good to know,“ he murmured, a faint trace of relief in his voice.

  After a few more minutes of resting, his mind cleared, and he felt ready to move. Slowly, he stood up, his gaze sweeping over his surroundings. His eyes widened as he took in the strange, unfamiliar scene. “What... is this pce?“ he muttered, a mix of confusion and unease settling over him.

  From the outside, the sky was dark, but the sea shimmered a haunting, bright red, evoking the eerie sensation of what Hell might look like if it were an ocean. Scattered across the water were countless broken remnants of Siren parts, some still burning, others half-submerged. It resembled a vast graveyard of the Sirens.

  “TB, TB!“ Greynar called out to the AI, but there was no response. Frustrated, he sighed and turned to Belfast, who stood calmly by his side. “What happened to TB, Belfast?“ he asked.

  The maid responded with her usual composed demeanor. “When we entered the Singurity, our fleet attempted to contact her. However, it seems that our communication was either disrupted or completely severed from the outside world.“

  “Fine, let's head outside and check on the fleets,“ he said, gesturing for Belfast to follow. Opening the door to the deck, he was greeted by Enterprise, who was in conversation with Helena.

  “Commander!“ Enterprise quickly approached him, her expression full of concern. “Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?“ she asked, her tone ced with guilt over her inability to prevent what had happened.

  “I'm fine,“ he assured her with a calm tone. “More importantly, how is the reconnaissance going? Have you found anything noteworthy?“

  Enterprise shook her head. “Not yet. We haven’t come across anything unusual so far,“ she replied.

  The Commander winced slightly from his lingering pain as he checked the situation on the monitor. Enterprise scanned the surroundings while the girls reported updates to him one by one. Amid the activity, Victorious, approached to deliver her report.

  “Commander,“ Victorious called out, her tone composed yet alert. “Reporting in—there are small shadows of figures heading toward our location. What are your orders?“

  He raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued. “How many figures are we talking about?“

  “Approximately six or seven, accompanied by a group of mass-produced ships,“ she replied.

  “Let them come,“ he decided after a moment of thought. “It’s likely some of our other fleets that got pulled into the Singurity with us.“

  She bowed gracefully before turning back to continue scouting the area. After some time, the approaching figures became clearer. Among them was a twin-tailed girl waving enthusiastically at the Commander and Enterprise. As they drew closer, it became evident—it was Essex’s fleet that had also been pulled into the Singurity.

  “Commander! Enterprise! I didn’t expect to run into you here,“ Essex greeted with a wide smile, effortlessly leaping onto the deck. “So, we really ended up inside a Singurity, huh?“

  “It seems so...“ the Commander replied with a resigned shrug. “How did you end up stranded here?“

  Essex responded with a shrug, her expression a mix of curiosity and frustration. “Honestly, that's what I’d like to know too. From our perspective outside, we saw the Singurity suddenly expand—and before we knew it, we were pulled in, even though we weren’t anywhere near it. Of course, as soon as we were able to, we came looking for you and the Commander!“

  Enterprise stepped forward, pcing a reassuring hand on Essex's shoulder. “Thank you. It’s a huge relief to have your fleet here. Since we don’t have much information about what’s inside this Singurity, your help will be invaluable.“

  As the conversation unfolded, the repair ship Vestal approached, her calm demeanor a welcome sight amidst the tense atmosphere. “Commander, Enterprise, good day,“ she greeted warmly.

  “Good day to you too, Vestal,“ the Commander replied with a polite smile.

  Vestal stepped closer, her brows knitting into a concerned frown as she examined him carefully. “Not good,“ she murmured. “You’re not in great shape. Did the trauma of being pulled into the Singurity take its toll on you?“

  “I think so,“ the Commander replied, rubbing his temples. “It gave me quite a headache when I was inside the vessel, getting tossed around while being sucked in.“ He paused, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully. “Come to think of it, why are you here, Vestal? Did the Singurity pull in the repair fleets and rear support as well?“

  “Well,“ Vestal began with a small smile, “normally, support vessels like us wouldn’t be on the front lines. But...“ She csped her hands together, her expression softening. “I decided to move the temporary base closer as a precaution, just in case of unforeseen emergencies. Plus, I wanted to ensure Enterprise and the others could receive repairs if needed. Hehe.“ She let out a lighthearted giggle before continuing, “But don’t worry! Essex and her fleet protected us the whole way, and we’ve been able to support the front-line fleets without any issues.“

  “Even so... it's far too dangerous for a repair ship to be this close to the front lines,“ Enterprise reminded her, her tone firm but tinged with concern.

  Vestal chuckled softly and gave her a pyful wink. “It's not the first time, anyway~ And besides, I’m sure you could use some help with the damage you’ve taken.“

  “Vestal...“ Enterprise sighed, rubbing her forehead. “Just promise me you won’t overwork yourself, okay?“

  Vestal crossed her arms, her lips forming a small pout. “You're one to talk,“ she muttered under her breath, a hint of mischief in her voice.

  “We'll continue our operation in a few hours. Keep scouting for now, and we’ll rest up here since it’s not an urgent matter,“ the Commander instructed. “Enterprise, you’ll take command of the Eagle Union forces, while the Queen will oversee her fleet.“

  “Alright, if you say so, Commander,“ Enterprise replied, casting a brief gnce at the sky before stepping off the vessel to begin her scouting duties.

  Once she departed, Vestal accompanied the Commander back to the bridge. As he slumped into the chair with a tired sigh, the repair ship knelt beside him. Gently, she began to examine his injuries, carefully summoning her first aid kit from her rigging.

  He winced in pain when Vestal gently tapped his ankle. “Ouch, that hurts.“

  Vestal nodded, her expression calm but concerned. “Your ankle is fractured from the trauma. It will heal over time, but you'll need to avoid putting weight on it for now,“ she said, gncing up at him.

  He offered a strained smile. “Sorry if I’ve been a bit reckless.“

  Vestal shook her head gently. “No need to apologize. Being a Commander isn’t easy, it’s understandable. Compared to support or logistics, your role is far more demanding.“

  After that, Vestal carefully wrapped his ankle with a supportive bandage, tying it neatly to stabilize the fracture. She gently tapped the bandaged area and nodded with satisfaction. “You're good to go, Commander.“

  The Commander stood up, testing his weight cautiously. To his surprise, the bandage provided noticeable relief. He turned to Vestal and offered her a grateful smile. “Thanks. Having one or two support vessels around here really makes a difference. Your role is just as crucial as anyone else's in situations like this.“

  Vestal gave him a pyful wink. “Anytime you need help, Commander, you can count on me.“

  Vestal excused herself to inspect the condition of the fleet outside, leaving the Commander alone in the room. Feeling restless, he decided to step out and check the situation himself. As he opened the door to the bridge, Belfast was waiting patiently for him, falling in step beside him as he moved.

  Moments ter, Queen Elizabeth approached, arms crossed and an impatient look on her face.

  “Servant, you're te,“ she said with a sharp tone.

  “Elizabeth,“ he greeted, raising an eyebrow. “Any good news? Or bad news? Judging by the look on your face, I’m guessing it’s the tter.“

  The Queen huffed lightly. “Not far from here, Illustrious's fleet made contact. She reported seeing what appears to be the cause of the trouble within this area, but she couldn’t get a clear look. The situation was too dangerous, so she wisely retreated before anything could happen.“

  “The whole area seems like a battlefield... but what could have caused all this?“ he muttered, scanning the surroundings, his mind swirling with unanswered questions.

  “Beats me,“ the Queen replied with a wary gnce, her eyes flicking across the horizon. “But if you're ready, we can continue our operation and head to where Illustrious said.“

  Greynar nodded. “Let’s do it then.“ He tapped his communicator, surprised to find it still working perfectly inside the Singurity. “Memphis, gather all fleets and follow my lead. We'll continue our operation in thirty minutes.“

  “Got it,“ came the prompt reply from his secretary. “I'll let you know when we're ready.“

  “You heard her,“ he said, turning to the leader of the Royal Navy. “Get your fleets ready. We're continuing as always.“

  “Don't need to remind me,“ the Queen waved it off nonchantly. “Besides, you must survive, since I know you have Aurora waiting for you. Coincidentally, her work with the Dragon Empery will be wrapping up soon.“

  “Really?“ he replied with a bright smile. “I'll do my best then.“ He pumped his fist in the air.

  “W-well...“ The Queen fidgeted with her fingers, a slight blush creeping onto her face. “Don't overwork yourself to death in this operation, okay?“ she requested, her voice a little more timid than usual.

  The Commander smiled warmly. “You too. It might be a tough road ahead, but you've already provided so much help. Thanks.“ He patted her head unconsciously.

  The Queen blushed deeper but managed to keep her composure. “W-what do you take me for? It's natural that I help my loyal subject!“ She ughed, though her voice carried a hint of nervousness as she tried to hide her blush.