Goodbye, horrible 2020. Hello... 2021! Here's to a Happy New Year~!

"Dance, Carmen!"

"Go, Johanna!"

Panther and Queen summoned out their Personas and unleashed pair of powerful Fire and Nuke skills at the group of Lilith and Norn before them, causing them to disintegrate.

"Nice on, Queen! Panther!" Hibiki cheered.

"And now we hit the lights," Oracle said, as Serena went to pull down the lever on the wall.

Time after they began investigating around the area, the group had found some lookout Shadows lurking around the sewers. At first, the Symphogear Users were prepared to go into combat against the enemies, when Joker and the others stopped and silenced them. A good thing they did, too, for they overheard some very useful information from those lookouts, that being the switch for the searchlights above them. After tailing the oblivious foes, they finally found the switch and then engaged in combat. For the sake of not causing a cave-in of any kind due to the lack of fighting space for a group as big as theirs, they decided to go with a handful of the group.

"So now the lights up there are turned off, right?" Chris asked the thieves.

"Oh yes. Meaning once we get out of this smelly place, we can make a straight line over to the tower as originally planned," Oracle confirmed.

"But, won't the Shadows find it odd that the lights are suddenly turned off?" Maria asked.

The second she asked that, Skull bashed his mace against the lever and broke it off. "There. Problem solved," he said, turning back to see baffled expressions on the everyone's faces. "... What?"

"What do you mean 'what'?! What was that for?!" Mona questioned.

"W-Well I thought since this isn't like our usual Jail or Palace, better be safe and wreck the whole switch now instead of never and have it bite us!"

"Well, he's not wrong about that. This place is quite different from our usual Jail," Kong agreed.

"Even so, since when did we ever need to go to that length in these situations?" Lioness questioned.

"The questionable method out of the way, let's go back up," Queen said, and they all headed to the nearest manhole.

Once the group was out of the sewers, they found themselves much closer to the tower.

"Wow... The switch was actually this close to the place," Chris stated.

"True as it may be, this area had a bunch of searchlights turned on. Had we not gone for the switch first, we would've been screwed," Oracle pointed out, as she pulled up the map of the area. "According to this map, we're not far from the entrance, and there aren't any enemies on the way. Although..."

"Although what?" Miku asked.

"I'm also getting a strange signal over there."

"How strange?" Noir questioned.

"'Strange' as in 'similar to Lioness in her current form' strange," Oracle answered.

"Similar to me? Wouldn't that mean...?" the said thief trailed off.

"That's right. That alchemist guy is up ahead," came Genjuro's voice through their comms.

"Genjuro-san?" Joker asked.

"Master! What a relief it is to hear you again," Hibiki stated.

"We tried contacting you guys earlier when you went into the sewers, but we couldn't connect with you," Ogawa explained.

"So the ringleader decided to come down and meet us, did he?" Skull said.

"It'd be rude to not meet him after he took the time and consideration to see us," Kanade stated in slight sarcasm.

"What do we do, Joker?" Sophie asked Joker.

"We go meet him," he answered. With that response, they all made their way over to the tower.

Once they arrived at the tower entrance, there stood Picora.

"You thieves kept me waiting. That's some nerve you have," he said.

"This coming from the guy who got beaten by us? That's rich," Chris retorted.

"We beat you once before man! We can do it again!" Skull claimed.

Those words made Picora chuckle. "You think this will be just like last time. How cute~"

"Something's wrong with him..." Pixie whispered.

"Agreed. There's something different," Tsubasa agreed.

"Do pray tell, what's a party with so little guests~?" Picora questioned, as he took out his Seidr.

"Get ready!" Maria called, as they all brought up their guard.

The alchemist brought his lips to the mouthpiece and blew out some notes. Upon doing so, familiar red and black liquid popped out of the ground, and more Lilith, Norn, Nebiros, and one other Shadow bursted out of them. The Shadow had the appearance of a boy in bard clothing, and had a flute in hand. As if that wasn't bad enough, familiar alchemy circles also appeared around them, and Alca-Noise emerged.

"I was wondering where these guys were," Skull said, referring to the Alca-Noise.

"Let's take them out. Lioness!" Joker called.

"Say no more," the girl said, preparing her keytar. Just as she did so, however, she sensed something approaching and brought her rapier. On instinct, she turned and blocked a strike coming from behind her.

"Well, don't you have such good reflexes," Picora's acquaintance stated, a glaive in hand.

"You again!" Lioness shouted, managing to push him away.

"Surely, you didn't think I'd let you play your tune, did you~?"

Lioness clicked her tongue at this and prepared herself for her own fight... when Shirabe, Kirika, and Serena stood between her and her opponent.

"Lioness-san! Leave him to us!" the young Airgetlam User insisted.

"Huh?! What are you talking-?!"

"Let us fight him," Shirabe interrupted Lioness. "The only way we can take down all the Shadows and Alca-Noise is if we have your boost. But you can't give us your boost if you're busy fighting him."

"That is why! Leave him to us- death!" Kirika exclaimed.

Lioness looked into their eyes and saw how determined they were in taking this guy on. As much as she didn't want them to take this guy on, she knew they were right. Plus, maybe with her relic's ability, it may be possible to give them enough boost to take that hooded guy on.

"You kids better not die," she said, recalling her weapon.

"We're not kids (-death)!" Shirabe and Kirika shouted, as the trio rushed at Picora's acquaintance.

"Out of the way, brats!" he shouted, charging back at them.

"We got the Shadows!" Panther exclaimed.

"And the Alca-Noise!" Hibiki added, and the rest went after the other enemies.

With the enemies away from her, Lioness brought her keytar back in front of her and played.

(Insert: Cutting Edgex2 Ready Go! by Kirika Akatsuki and Shirabe Tsukuyomi)

"Like hell I will let you," Picora said, as he and the new Shadow played on their instruments to disrupt the music being played.

"Back at you!" Oracle exclaimed, merging with her Persona and amplifying Lioness's keytar playing.

With the thief playing her relic instrument, the Gear Users felt their powers grow, as they and the thieves struck the wave of Shadows and Alca-Noise. As for the three battling against Picora's acquaintance, they felt their body go lighter as they fought against him, with the guy staying on the defense.

I'm firing off
Happy plus go lucky times heavy bass
The girl who's too cute, and wants to eat meat
Is finally here

I'll run through the field with high output and full strength
I dive in with my all for both my dreams and my fights

When our songs overlap for the final fight song
(Let's sing when our songs overlap)

We'll rip apart even the tallest wall and create the future
"Our dreams won't lose"
Push through it with our strong love

Ready go!

Kirika swung her scythe at the acquaintance as swift as she could, only for him to block each and every attempt with his own weapon. Irritated by the blocking, she took a stance and swung her Armed Gear upwards, sending a shockwave right at him via 'Grudge Blade: Hamelin'. The acquaintance cartwheeled away from his spot and managed to avoid the attack, only to then come face-to-face with Serena, who swung her daggers at him. Like with Kirika, he also avoided and blocked her strikes. Shirabe then came from behind Serena and combined her Armed Gear into a giant buzzsaw and tossed it at their opponent, using 'Beta Style: Giant Saw Judgement'. Serena backflipped away from Picora's acquaintance, who brought his weapon up to block the attack, only to get pushed back in the process into a building.

The three young Gear Users regrouped after that hit and saw the guy recover as he slowly got up.

"Well, you three certainly hit hard for a bunch of kids," he stated. "But not hard enough." He charged at them once more and swung his glaive down.

"Don't underestimate us!" Serena exclaimed, as the three leapt into the air to avoid the attack. The young Airgetlam User then tossed her Armed Gear down in a 'Gnome Trial' right at their foe.

Picora's acquaintance jumped on the enlarged dagger and ran up the blade. He then leapt off it and went to strike Serena with his weapon, when the girl blocked it with a copy of her Armed Gear. Upon being in close contact with the guy, Serena finally saw his face under the hood and couldn't believe her eyes.

"Aren't you-?!" Before she could finish her question, Kirika and Shirabe struck the guy and knocked him away from their friend.

I may be young and immature, but I won't run away
When I believed I had overcome everything, my tears became stars
(I may be inexperienced and incomplete, but I won't run away
When I believed I had overcome everything, my history become stars)

Now illuminate the dark, hope, light,
And support the one who's waiting for you…!
(Now illuminate this moment with light and support
See, someone's waiting for you…!)

Let's go together, my twin heart

With the others, they were taking out a lot of the Shadows and Alca-Noise, to the point where it was only Picora, his fellow musician Shadow, and just a handful of enemies left.

"All that's left are these guys!" Sophie exclaimed.

"And I have info on Mr. New-Shadow! It's called Krishna, and it's weak against Curse Skills!" Oracle informed.

"Then we have our line-up. Go for it!" Chris ordered the thieves.

"Carmen!"

"Johanna!"

"Cordelia!"

"Arsene!"

On cue, Panther, Queen, Pixie, and Joker called out their respective Personas and unleashed their signature elemental skills at the remaining opponents. Picora ceased his playing and broke a teleportation crystal in time to escape the onslaught, but the Shadows all got hit and dazed.

"Now for the finisher!" Kanade exclaimed.

"Finish it!" Mona followed, as the group went for an All-Out Attack at the foes, with Joker and Hibiki in the lead.

Once the group finished their assault on the Shadows, they all posed, and black-energy-like blood spewed out of them, as they faded away.

With the last of the Shadows defeated, the group gathered around Picora's acquaintance, whose hood was still up. "Is that all you got, bastard?! You ain't holding out on us, are ya?!" Skull called as he shouldered his mace.

"Skull, I don't think we need any more reason for him to send more enemies at us," Miku pleaded, feeling a bit drained from the fight.

"Whatever. I'm all for stopping this guy, and getting back home," Lioness scoffed. "Now tell us where you are, dammit! In case if you haven't noticed, we have your friend here!"

At those words, the acquaintance let out a chuckle. "You really think you have us cornered, did you?" he questioned.

"Dude, you've been beaten. Of course we have you cornered," Kong said.

"Oh? Were your previous targets all this weak~?" As he slowly got up and lifted his head up, his hood finally came down, revealing his face, that left many speechless.

"Wait... you're under that hood?!" Maria questioned.

"What is the meaning of this? Weren't you by the entrance playing the relic?" Tsubasa demanded.

"No. He's not the same guy," Lioness corrected.

"Lioness is right. Besides, those eyes... He has to be!" Pixie said.

"Quick to catch on as usual, aren't you? Then again, it's to be expected from you," the acquaintance spoke, he who has Picora's face, with yellow eyes.

"You're that guy's Shadow!" Skull gasped out.

"His Shadow?" Shirabe repeated.

"The name's Picora, by the way," he introduced. "And I truly must applaud you for your strengths, thieves and murderers."

"Again with 'murderer'? Look here, we never killed anyone!" Chris exclaimed.

"Oh, did you really? Still playing innocent, I see."

"Enough with the riddles- death!" Kirika shouted. "No one here has killed anyone! Stop lying- death!"

While they were speaking, the thieves glanced at each other before looking back at the Shadow.

"Enough games," Lioness said. "Now, where is your other half?!"

"All in good time, ladies and gentlemen," Picora's voice echoed all around them, surprising the group. "First, I'd like my friend back, thank you." Just as he said that, an alchemy circle appeared under his Shadow, who mockingly waved at the group before disappearing.

"Wha-?! He's gone!" Kanade gasped.

"Secondly, I do think it's time I introduce you to my greatest creation yet!" Suddenly, nine alchemy circles appeared on the ground in front of them, causing the group to get their guard up.

"More Alca-Shadows?!" Maria questioned.

"We can take them, no matter what comes out!" Noir declared.

"Careful, guys!" Oracle called out. "The readings I'm getting from those circles are not like any of the others so far. According to this... No. There's no way!"

"Oracle, what's up?" Joker questioned her.

Before he could get an answer, however, Serena cried, "Look!"

The group saw something rise out of the alchemy circles. One look at the figures, and they could not believe their eyes. From each of the circles rose each of the Symphogear Users, their eyes closed, already in their Armed Gear.

"Is that... us- death?!" Kirika exclaimed.

"Oh, great. The evil counterpart cliche," Kong sighed. "Why did I not see this one coming?!"

"Is this some sort of joke? There's no way those things can be as powerful as us!" Chris barked. "Those Armed Gears are probably just a ripoff of ours!"

"Oh, you couldn't be further from the truth, my dear," Picora replied. "For you see, for every battle you fought, I managed to analyze each and every one of you fighting. Your styles, your attacks. I had watched each and every moment at a time, and brought them to life with my own cognition. After all, what better way to watch my enemies' demise than from their very own hands?!"

"He brought them to life... with his cognition?" Kanade questioned.

Back at S.O.N.G Headquarters, Genjuro was shocked as he barked, "There's no way! He was able to create a clone of each and every one of the girls with his mind?!"

"His ability to control his own cognition is astounding," Lavenza noted, a look of surprise on her face. "His adaptability to the power of the Metaverse, despite being one of this world, is something I had not expected."

"But... they're still just fakes, right? No matter how good of a replica they look, surely they can't be stronger than the Shadows," Zenkichi stated.

"Under normal circumstances, yes. Unless if the cognition is in close relationship to the Palace Ruler or King, it should be relatively weaker than Shadows. However, with his advanced control over the cognition, as well as the relic he possess..."

"Big deal. We've fought guys like these all the time before, like with all those guys in Shido's Palace!" Skull scoffed. "They're nothing more than Shadows, right?"

"You are right. They were only Shadows that had the appearance of cognitive beings," Pixie recalled.

"Except this is different," Oracle reported. "These things don't have Shadows in them. However, I am picking up the energy wavelength of Alchemy from them!"

"Alchemy?!" Tsubasa questioned.

"You are correct. They do not have any Shadows within them," Picora admitted. "They are basically heartless husks that I made with my cognition, empowered by my alchemy. However, I can rectify that, using my relic." Just as he said that, he started playing his Seidr.

The moment he played his instrumental relic, the nine Symphogear copies suddenly lit up, their bodies suddenly producing alchemy circles. They began suddenly creating a dark energy vacuums from the circles, all pulling the group towards them. They braced themselves against the dark alchemy, but were clearly able to withstand it.

"What are they trying to do?" Shirabe questioned.

"Are they trying to suck us in or something?!" Panther questioned.

"A void of darkness, swirling, pulling upon us," Fox described. "It is as if I am to be pulled to connect with these copies of these girls. To be one with them, body and mind, as I am-"

"Word choices, buddy!" Kanade argued.

As Hibiki braced herself against the vacuum, she suddenly felt excruciating pain from her heart, and she gagged as she fell to her hands and knees.

"Hibiki!" Joker exclaimed, looking down at her in pain, before hearing outcries of pain from all around. The other Symphogear Girls suddenly fell down, feeling intense pain as well.

"What's going on?!" Mona gasped, coming to Serena's side.

"Kirika, what's happening?!" Kong demanded, crouching next to her.

"It... hurts- death!" Kirika exclaimed.

"What... is this?!" Tsubasa demanded, unable to even clasp her swords.

"It's... like I'm being pulled apart!" Maria exclaimed.

Hibiki tried to resist the pain, but it wasn't working. She clenched a fist to her heart, before looking up at the alchemy circles, specifically at her copy's. Whatever those were doing, they were affecting her and the others, but not the Persona users. Before she could continue this thought, she felt one last tug of pain that made her scream in agony, before a darkness was pulled from her, having the appearance of her own body. All the other girls were feeling the same thing, as dark versions of their figures were pulled out of them, before being pulled right into each of their copies. They were barely conscious, and were greatly weakened by what happened.

"You bastard! What the hell did you do to them?!" Skull demanded, trying to hoist Miku up onto her feet.

"You are smart, right? Well, the majority of you must be." Picora replied. "You already told me that my cognitions lacked Shadows, right? So, I chose to rectify that."

"What is he talking about?!" Queen demanded, holding up Tsubasa.

"I don't know, but he pulled something from each of the girls," Lioness growled, holding up Serena, as she was too heavy for Mona, "What did he take?!"

Pixie contemplated before gasping in shock. "No... He didn't. Their Shadows?!" The others looked horrified at this, as Picora cackled in amusement.

"That is correct! I needed a way to make these creations of mine more lifelike than what they were. They had the battle skills and Alchemy powers, but they lacked the heart to make themselves true puppets. That is why I made sure to take each and every one of your Shadows, and placed them in their respective husks! Now, my newest and greatest creations, the Alca-Gear Shadows, can truly be realized!"

As he said this, all of the dark copies opened their eyes, revealing the sharp yellow they usually saw from a Shadow. They all glared at the group, as the Symphogear Users were finally starting to recover themselves, able to stand on their own two feet.

"It can't be..." Hibiki muttered, looking at basically her Shadow self.

"I will destroy everything..." her Shadow spoke up, startling her. "With these fists, I will destroy all of it! My sadness, my anger, my loneliness. I will punch it all away!" She readied herself for combat, as was the rest of the Alca-Gear Shadows, while the Phantom Thieves and Symphogear Users all looked shocked and horrified at the opponents they were facing. They were literally facing their darkness.