Chereads / The Guardian: Transported in the World of Azur Lane (Rework Version) / Chapter 2 - Season 1 Chapter 1: "The Odyssey of Accel Winchester"

Chapter 2 - Season 1 Chapter 1: "The Odyssey of Accel Winchester"

(Location: The Pacific Ocean)

(Time: 10:00 PM, Wednesday)

(Date: January 1st Week, Year 2035)

(Super Aircraft Carrier — Diwata-Class — Celestial Skyfortress)

Captain Accel Winchester stood silently on the bridge of his personal ship, the Diwata-Class Celestial Skyfortress. This super aircraft carrier, a colossal beast of engineering between 250,000 and 300,000 tons, was a fortress in the ocean. It housed more than 20,000 personnel, from elite soldiers to scientists and engineers. It was the most advanced ship ever constructed, a marvel that represented the height of human ingenuity.

But Accel Winchester wasn't just any captain. He was one of the legends including his comrades who fought alongside with him and one of the former Guardians of Earth who had led humanity through its darkest hour. He had fought alongside his friends and allies, saving the world from certain destruction countless times. After years of war, Accel had finally retired, eager to leave the battlefield behind him and find peace. But peace was elusive for men like him.

Not long after his retirement, the World Association had contacted him with an urgent plea. Something strange was happening in the Pacific. Ships, planes, and submarines had begun disappearing without a trace, swallowed by the ocean's dark, unforgiving depths. The World Association had tried everything within its power to uncover the mystery, but nothing had worked. They needed Accel, because the rest of Guardians was taking different missions and quests in different worlds that they weren't in contact for the past months. Reluctantly, he had answered their call, knowing that this would be his final mission that he hope for.

Now, here he was, commanding his massive ship through the ominous stillness of the Pacific Ocean. The reports had been vague at best—fleets vanishing mysteriously, without any survivors or even debris to indicate what had happened. Every attempt to investigate had resulted in the same eerie silence. The World Association was out of options. If anyone could figure out what was going on, it would be someone who have a Title of Guardians of Earth or Protectors of Earth.

Standing beside him on the bridge was his second-in-command and his wife, Commander Lizzy Winchester, a sharp, experience, and comrade who fight alongside with him at his younger times till now. She approached quietly, her eyes scanning the endless horizon of dark water.

"Captain Winchester, we're approaching the area where the last fleet disappeared," Lizzy said, her voice low, as though she didn't want to disturb the quiet of the sea.

Accel nodded, his gaze never leaving the horizon. "Anything unusual on radar? And you could just call me Accel, Lizzy?"

Lizzy shook her head. "I cannot, we are in offficial operation and in duty. Also the waters are calm. Almost too calm. But I don't like it. Something feels wrong."

Accel remained silent for a moment, sensing the same tension in the air. There was a stillness to the ocean that unnerved even a veteran like him. He could feel it in his bones—something was waiting for them out there, something that defied the laws of nature.

"Keep all systems on high alert," Accel ordered. "I don't want to be caught off guard."

Lizzy saluted and relayed the order. The ship's crew sprang into action, their movements swift and practiced. Fighter jets were prepped for launch, weapons systems readied, and the defensive shields powered up. The Celestial Skyfortress was a floating city of war, and Accel would make sure it was ready for anything.

Two hours passed with no incident. The ship sailed deeper into the unknown, the waters growing darker and more menacing as they approached the coordinates where the last fleet had vanished. The tension among the crew was palpable; every eye was glued to their stations, waiting for something—anything—to happen.

Suddenly, the ship's radar pinged. "Captain, we're picking up a faint energy signature ahead," one of the radar operators called out.

Accel walked over to the console, narrowing his eyes at the screen. The signature was weak but unmistakable. It was an anomaly, something that didn't belong in this world.

"Helm, bring us closer," Accel ordered. "I want a better look at this."

As the Celestial Skyfortress approached the anomaly, the ocean began to change. The once calm waters started to churn, and the sky above them darkened ominously. The ship's sensors were going haywire, unable to make sense of the strange energies they were encountering. And then, without warning, a massive swirling vortex of energy appeared in the water ahead of them, twisting and spiraling as if tearing a hole in reality itself.

The ship's systems flashed red, alarms blaring as the vortex grew larger and more powerful. Accel braced himself as the ship was rocked by the unnatural forces around them. He had seen this before—dimensional rifts, portals to other worlds. It was something he had hoped never to encounter again, because this kind of phenomenon is were a dimensional rifts pulls anyone without warning, unlike other dimensional rifts that Accel's comrades are on a mission are not like this type.

As the ship fought to maintain stability, an unexpected message appeared on every screen, startling the crew. It was a system prompt, a message that had appeared before the other fleets had vanished.

System: "Do you want to travel to 'that' world? (Please tap to continue.)"

The crew stared in shock. They had heard the stories, but none of them had expected this. Accel stood firm, his eyes locked on the glowing message. He knew what it meant. This wasn't just a mission to investigate disappearances. They were being pulled into something far more dangerous—another world, a realm beyond their understanding.

Commander Lizzy stepped up beside him. "Captain, what do we do?"

Accel glanced at her, his face set in determination. "We finish what we came here to do. We tap 'Yes.' Another mission to different worlds again..."

The crew exchanged nervous glances, but they trusted their captain. Together, they reached out and tapped the system's prompt.

System: "Traveling to 'that' world will change everything. Do you wish to continue? (Yes or No)"

Accel pressed Yes.

As soon as the choice was made, another message appeared:

System: "And have a good night's rest."

Before anyone could react, an overwhelming drowsiness swept over the entire crew. Despite their best efforts to fight it, they all began to collapse one by one, falling into a deep, dreamless sleep. Even Accel, with all his strength and willpower, couldn't resist the force pulling him into unconsciousness. The last thing he saw before the darkness took him was the swirling vortex, now engulfing the Celestial Skyfortress entirely.

(An Hour Later – World Association Headquarters)

At the World Association, Sir John, head of radar management, burst into the office of the World Association Leader.

"Sir, we've lost contact with Captain Accel and the Celestial Skyfortress!" Sir John exclaimed, out of breath and visibly shaken.

The World Association Leader paled. "What do you mean, lost contact? Accel Winchester is the one of the strongest Guardian that we know! He and that ship should be untouchable."

"Just like the others, sir," Sir John stammered. "They've vanished without a trace. No signal, no debris—nothing."

The leader of the World Association sank into his chair, rubbing his temples. "Blockade the Pacific," he ordered gravely. "No one goes in or out until we understand what's happening. And is Sir Accel Winchester the only one who disappeared along with the 20,000+ personnels/players?"

"Yes, sir. And no sir, Miss Lizzy Winchester joined Sir Accel Winchester, meaning they both disappeared..." Sir John replied before leaving the room.

Alone in his office, the leader could only hope that Accel Winchester and Lizzy Winchester, one of the heroes of Earth, could find their way back from whatever world had claimed them.

Far beyond the reach of the World Association, the Celestial Skyfortress drifted in an unknown sea, floating beneath an unfamiliar sky. Slowly, the crew began to stir, waking from their forced slumber. Accel Winchester was the first to rise, his mind sharp despite the strange environment around him.

They had crossed into another world—a world unlike any they had ever seen.

And their journey was only beginning.

(End of Chapter 1)