Explanation
As if hypnotized, I followed the mysterious girl I had just met up the stairs, my gaze wandering over the city. I still didn't know who she was, or what kind of creature she was. Was she a warship like me? My mind started racing and, without noticing it, I stuttered,
"Hey, excuse me, who are you exactly?"
A small giggle escaped her lips, and as she turned slightly, her eyes gleamed with amusement.
"Oh, I forgot to introduce myself, sir," she said, playing with her voice. "IJN Kongo, Japanese battlecruiser; I report directly with the Admiral."
I nodded, still trying to process what she'd just said as I continued to follow her. The city around me was unlike anything I had ever seen: towering buildings stretching towards the sky, one of them catching my eye-a sleek structure that looked like it was pulled straight from a sci-fi movie, humming with an energy I couldn't quite place. Everything here felt new, futuristic, even unreal.
After what seemed like an eternity of walking, Kongo finally spoke again-so soft, yet demanding. "We're here. Enter through the front door and ask for the Admiral on the request of Kongo."
I nodded, waving her a quick farewell. I didn't know if I would ever see her again, but there was just something about her that seemed. important.
As I stepped through the entrance, my breath hitched in my throat. The technological advances were more than I could have ever dreamed of-walls of digital display, lighting that almost seemed to pulse with life. Overwhelming, yet to them, it all seemed so matter-of-fact.
I walked towards the counter, where a blonde woman looked up from her station, her expression neutral.
"Why are you here? What's your purpose?" she asked shortly.
"I-I am a new battleship hybrid-Fusō," I managed to stammer out, trying my best to sound confident. "I'm here on behalf of Kongo. She said the Admiral wanted to speak with me."
The woman merely gave a small, curt nod and gestured down a corridor. My heart pounding, I followed the directions given to me until I stopped outside a door. I took a deep breath and opened it.
Inside, a figure was standing in the shadows, refusing to show his face. A cold feeling ran down my spine, but I swallowed my nerves and spoke.
"Why did you summon me here?"
Even before I could get out the question, in cut his deep, commanding voice.
"Don't you know? You are one of the select few that have been transferred here. Not all will be just like you. I suggest you get to work, strengthen yourself--we'll be counting on you when the time is right."
His words brought back memories of my instructor back home, firm and straight to the point. I stood up straight and responded,
"Roger! But how am I to control this power, and what is the best form in which this new form is to be utilized?"
He laughed then-a deep, knowing laugher-before replying.
"You wouldn't need anything special, but just for the heck, I shall clarify how the power system works. First, you can take up a hybrid form, made of blood and flesh. This is best suited for training or smaller missions depending on the situation."
I nodded as he continued.
"Next, you can call the complete battleship form that only listens to your commands. This is advisable in big battles where your firepower will be needed against strong enemies."
I took it in, trying to imagine what it would feel like to command such power.
"That's all for now. The rest will be explained when you start your training in the new academy," he finished.
I bowed slightly and left the office, my mind reeling from the bombshell of information. So this is how it worked with the power system.interesting, yet questions still seemed to stack themselves in my head. How would the transformation into a ship feel? And how would I even know when to use one form or another?
But I didn't have the time to sit and wonder. I had to find this academy-whatever it was-and prepare myself for what lay ahead.