Nastassja watched the footage of the Symphogear's SC2A attack from a remote location.
By harmonizing multiple superb songs, not only can she amplify their power, but she can also reduce the strain that the relics put upon their users. She thought. According to the Sakurai Theory, each superb song has a special ability that extends to the user's armed gear. However, Hibiki Tachibana's linking of hands is a unique ability that she adapted to the song itself. This is the very reason they could use their superb songs to destroy the falling pieces of the Moon and yet return in safety. A triple cantation of sawn songs is unimaginably powerful. It produces a tremendous amount of phonic gain.
She switched the footage to something else.
I used that to awaken the Nephilim, giants that fell from the heavens. She thought. The beat of awakening.
At Sector Two HQ, the members were at their monitors, getting to work. Maia was laying down on two of the chairs, a magazine on her face.
"One week has passed since the declaration of war at the concert." Sakuya said.
"Yeah." Genjuro said. "A week has passed, and nothing has happened."
"According to our government sources, the terrorist organization known as Finé, hasn't attempted to threaten or negotiate with any countries since then." Aoi reported.
"Either this was their plan, or they pulled the biggest bluff in history." Maia said, voice muffled by the magazine.
"Which means we have no idea what they want." Genjuro said.
"They certainly made a name for themselves with that ostentatious performance." Sakuya said. "Luckily, that afforded us at the second branch the opportunity for swift countermeasures."
"Hardly typical behaviour for would-be revolutionaries." Genjuro said. "But perhaps this is what they wanted all along."
"Commander Kazanari." Ogawa said through a communications link.
"Oh, Ogawa? How is it going?" Genjuro asked.
"I had a look into the origin of the abandoned trailer we found near the stadium." He said.
"You little asshole!" Came a tough voice. Maia sat up at that, raising an eyebrow as she heard punches, kicks and girlish screams from full-grown men.
"I traced it back to a certain company, and in their records, I found many large-scale purchasing orders to fictional sources for medical and measurement equipment as well as pharmaceutical supplies."
"Medical equipment?" Genjuro repeated.
"The dates on the records extend back two months." Ogawa said. "It would appear these antisocial gentlemen were laundering money. Don't these records pique your interest?"
"It does seem worth looking into." Genjuro said.
"Yo, Ogawa!" Maia said. "Crush a pair for me!"
They heard a crunch, as well as a man's voice go higher by several octaves. Sakuya winced at that shriek, while Maia laughed.
Rui lay down on the roof of the school. Classes were going on right now, but she didn't care. At least she was on the roof above her class.
She thought back to what had happened in that encounter from almost a week ago; what she yelled at that girl, Shirabe.
"Maybe, just maybe you went through more crap than anyone else, but that doesn't give you the right to act like pretentious little shit to someone that actually wants to fucking help! So shut your fucking mouth, you little brat!"
She laughed to herself. "Man I lost control of myself that day… I really hope my words shook up that little shit though."
She looked at her hand. It wasn't like her to lose control of her emotions like that, even when people insulted her sister. Aggressive as she may be, she was able to keep a cool head during most situations.
Maybe it was that girl saying Hibiki hadn't suffered that had set her off. Maybe Shirabe didn't know about what Hibiki went through, but still…
Rui was brought out of her thoughts when she heard yelling from the classroom below. It was the teacher snapping at Hibiki for not paying attention. Again.
Rui sighed. Some things never change.
Deciding on finding a place that was a little quieter, she got up and made her way down off the roof, spooking a couple of students with her sudden appearance. Ignoring them she walked down the hall, wondering if there were any empty classrooms. Remembering that the west wing would be empty at this time, she headed that way, as the chatter died down.
"Maybe I could take a nap or something… hopefully no one comes into the room-"
She stopped, as she heard something. A somber tune was being played. Was that… music? But no one should be here at this time...
"Is that a violin...?" Rui muttered.
She listened carefully until she tracked down the song coming from one of the rooms furthest from the main building. Opening it gently, she saw a bundle of white hair. Upon closer inspection, it was Shuri. The girl was playing the violin in the empty classroom, eyes closed as she was lost in the song.
"Shuri?"
"Eep!"
Shuri's arm moved very suddenly as the bow dragged across the strings. Rui cringed as the off-tune note rang through the air.
"Sorry if I interrupted your practice." Rui apologized.
"N-No, it's alright." Shuri said. "I was almost done."
"That piece was "Violin Concerto No. 5" by Mozart, wasn't it?" Rui asked.
Shuri blinked, surprised.
"Don't look so surprised. I know things." Rui said. "We studied it for a class."
"Ah, sorry." Shuri said, before sitting on a desk.
"You don't need to apologize." Rui said, flipping a chair around before sitting and leaning forward on the back. "So you decided to take up the violin?"
"Well, re-learn it, to be exact." Shuri said. "Papa taught me when I was young. I couldn't practice for a long time because… well…"
"Yeah, I know." Rui said, not wanting Shuri to bring up a past she clearly didn't want to remember.
"Papa played the violin, and Mama sang with him." Shuri explained, softly smiling as she reminisced about her parents. "One day, I want to play for you and everyone else, with oneesama singing with me."
"I see." Rui smiled at her friend before standing up. "Good luck with that. Though we should probably get out of here before a teacher catches us or something."
"R-Right!"
The pitter-patter of the shower echoed throughout the room.
"And the most unbelievable part of it, you see, is that she put it on the rice, just like that, dess!" Kirika said to Shirabe. "That's so totally weird! So I-eh?"
Shirabe didn't seem to be paying attention, letting the water run across her body while she just stared at the wall.
"Are you still thinking about them?" Kirika asked.
"If we just talk, we can understand each other! We don't have to fight!"
"She carries no burden of her own." Shirabe said. "I can't bring myself to accept her as the hero who saved humankind."
"Yeah." Kirika agreed. "If you have something you need to do, no matter what, then you can't be afraid to dirty your hands."
Kirika turned off the water, as Shirabe punched the wall.
"But if she wanted to help people in need so badly, then why didn't she…?"
The words of someone else echoed throughout her mind.
"You think you're allowed to be an entitled little bitch just because you went through some bullshit in your life?! Spoiler alert, you're not the only one!"
Kirika took Shirabe's hand into her own, calming her friend down. The two stared at one another, as the shower ran above them. Maria walked into the shower room, turning on one of the shower heads for herself.
"Whatever happens, all we can do is fight for what we believe is right." She told the two. "We can't afford to question ourselves, to stop and reconsider. There's no time for that now."
"Maria…" Shirabe said.
An alarm went off before anything else could be said.
The doors of the base slammed shut as the alarm continued to blare. Nastassja observed the security feed of what appeared to be a monster.
So this is the legendary hunger that drives them to consume even their own kind. The Nephilim really is an uncontrollable-
"An uncontrollable legacy of an ancient civilization?" Came a voice. "Please don't think of it that way."
"Dr. Ver." Nastassja said, as a white haired man walked into the room.
"Even if we humans cannot control it, does that matter if it can become a heroic figure for us all?" He said.
Another door slid open, as Maria ran in with Kirika and Shirabe.
"Mom! What was that alarm?!" Maria asked, before seeing Ver.
"The next flower is still only a bud, so I wish to handle it carefully." Ver said.
"Thank you for your concern, but we are all right." Natassja reassured. "The Nephilim just went a little wild. I closed the blast doors and provided it with food, so it should calm down soon."
As if to try and prove her wrong, the room shook.
"Mom!" Maria said, a bit concerned.
"The appropriate measures have already been taken." Natassja said. "Don't worry. I also sent Jeanne to make sure that they're working"
"More importantly, isn't it time for your inspection?" Ver asked.
"The Frontier is a key element in the execution of our plan." Natassja said, practically ignoring him. "It is necessary to keep a close eye on it to ensure operations begin smoothly."
"Please don't worry about me." Ver said pleasantly. "I'll hold the fort while you're gone and procure some more food for the Nephilim while I'm at it."
"Then let me leave Shirabe and Kirika to serve as your bodyguards."
"I wasn't planning on getting into any fights, so that shouldn't be necessary." Ver said. "It might be better for you to keep our forces as your personal guard."
"...very well. We shall return at the scheduled time." Natassja agreed. "I'll leave the rest to you."
They left the room, leaving Ver by himself. Once the door closed, Ver smirked.
Now then. Will our prey take the bait?
Several hours had passed since school hours wrapped up. Rui walked through the outer halls of the school, before bumping into a familiar blue-haired girl carrying a paper bag of art supplies.
"Oh, Tachibana." Tsubasa said. "I'm surprised to see that you're still here."
"Eh, I had nothing better to do." Rui admitted. "Thought I'd check out the place, see if anyone needs help setting stuff up."
"How surprisingly considerate of you." Tsubasa said.
"Oy. The hell do you mean by "surprisingly?"" Rui said, pretending to be offended.
Tsubasa chuckled. "I think we both know full well what I meant, Tachibana."
"Fair enough." Rui said. "...you know, you call me "Tachibana." You call my sister "Tachibana." What are you gonna do when it's both of us together?"
"Erm…"
"...you didn't think this far ahead, did you?"
"No. I have not."
"Use my first name then." Rui said. "I don't really give a damn."
"But-"
"Just stick with it." Rui said. "It'll make things less of a pain."
"Well then… if you're fine with it… Rui." Tsubasa said, the name sounding weird in her mouth.
"You don't have to do it when it's just me. Only when Hibiki and I are together." Rui said. "Jeez, you're really that deep into this formal crap, huh?"
"It's how I was raised."
"Fair. Anyways, what were you-?"
Rui was interrupted when someone ran into her from the back, knocking her into Tsubasa and causing the art supplies to spill.
"Tch, if you're going to run, you could at least look at where you're going." Tsubasa said, irritated and rubbing her hip.
"Ow…" A white-haired girl groaned from the ground.
"Yukine?" Tsubasa said, recognizing the girl. "What-?"
She then noticed who Chris was sitting on.
"Get the hell off me." Rui said, voice muffled by the floor.
"Ah, shit! Sorry!" Chris said, quickly scrambling off of her, letting Rui stand up.
"Why are you in such a hurry?" Tsubasa asked.
"They're… They're after me!" Chris said. "They'll be here any moment!"
"What?" Tsubasa said.
"Who?" Rui asked, dusting her shoulder.
Chris quickly ducked behind Tsubasa and Rui, as they heard footsteps. The only thing they saw though were several students running by.
"I don't see anyone suspicious." Tsubasa said.
"Other than you." Rui said, looking back at Chris.
"Ha ha, very funny." Chris said. "Well, it looks like I managed to shake them off."
"Who are you talking about?" Tsubasa asked.
"These girls in class who keep trying to find ways to drag me into participating in some school event." Chris said.
"...seriously? That's it?" Rui said, while Tsubasa simply smiled.
"Yukine-san!" Came a voice.
"Where did you go?" Came another.
Tsubasa started to pick up art supplies, while Rui leaned against the wall, arms crossed.
"Honestly, I think you're overreacting." Rui told Chris.
"Did you forget we were attacked by those mysterious militants known as Finé?" Chris fired back. "We don't have time for this."
"You say that, but they haven't done jack shit in a week." Rui said.
"Shut up." Chris said. "What are you two doing, anyway?"
"What does it look like?" Tsubasa said. "I'm preparing for that school event they're trying to drag you into."
"I'm just here." Rui admitted. "But I'm helping out if people need it."
"You should help too, Yukine." Tsubasa said.
"Why?!"
"You're gonna get dragged into it sooner or later." Rui said. "It's the school festival, genius."
"So tagging along with us for a bit won't hurt, will it?" Tsubasa said.
Chris just scowled.
The three used a vacant classroom to create the decorations for the festival.
"That's quite impressive, Tachibana." Tsubasa said, looking at the papercrafts the Tachibana twin was creating.
"Eh, I don't do it too much." Rui said, creating a paper flower. "But Hibiki says I'm a natural."
Chris aimlessly made a paper flower with her hands. Her heart wasn't really into it.
"Are you still not used to life here?" Tsubasa asked her.
"I don't wanna hear that from someone who stands out like a sore thumb." Chris said.
"Touché." Tsubasa said.
"I don't really see it being a problem, Chris." Rui said, after making another flower. "Like, relax."
"I'm not taking advice from the chuunigure." Chris said. "Also, I'm your senpai. Use some respect."
"Chunnigure?!" Rui said, insulted. "Take that back!"
"Make me." Chris smirked.
Tsubasa sighed. "Calm down you two."
"Ah, Tsubasa-san! There you are!"
The door opened, revealing a few students.
"You never came back from your supply run." A girl with brown hair said. "We were going to send out a search party!"
"But I see we needn't have worried." A blonde girl said as they walked in. "You even snagged two cute juniors to help you."
Chris rolled her eyes, while Rui tried giving them one of her death glares. They didn't seem to notice it though.
"Didn't you girls go home already?" Tsubasa asked.
"You seem to think it's your fault that the fair's preparations are behind schedule." A girl with light brown hair said.
"So we thought we'd help out." The brown-haired girl said.
"Help me?" Tsubasa asked.
"My, my, aren't we popular?" Chris teased.
"She's an idol." Rui said.
"...that's not what I meant, chuunigure." Chris grumbled.
"Stop calling me that." Rui said, as the other girls sat down to help. "So, you guys in the same class?"
"Yes. But she wasn't this easy to approach back in the old days, though." One of them said.
"Yeah yeah." Said another, recalling how Tsubasa used to act. "They called her the nightingale of the school. Has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?"
"I joked that she had a stick up her ass." Rui whispered to Chris, who laughed.
"But it was like she was in a whole different world to us."
"After all, she's a celebrity! A pop star!" Said the blonde girl.
"But then…" The light brown girl said.
"Yeah!"
"When we worked up the courage to talk to you, we found out you were just like us!" The brown haired girl said.
Chris looked at Rui, expecting the girl to say something snarky, but she didn't.
"Girls…" Tsubasa said, touched.
"I've been thinking about that a lot, recently." The light brown haired girl said.
Chris scoffed. "Well, sounds like you're doing well."
"...I'm sorry, did I offend you?" Tsubasa asked.
"Yeah, I'm so offended." Chris said. "But if the chunnigure can do it, I guess I can put a little more effort in as well. Just a little."
Tsubasa smiled. "Sounds good."
"Stop calling me that." Rui said, annoyed.
"Call me senpai and I might consider it." Chris said, a cheeky grin on her face.
"Then let's all put in a little more effort!" The blonde girl said.
"Yeah! Let's get this done!"
"You know, this honestly isn't how I thought I'd spend my night."
Maia sighed as she laid down in the back of the jeep. They were parked outside of an abandoned hospital. Hibiki, Tsubasa and Chris had gone in earlier.
"Why? What did you expect?" Rui said from the shotgun seat, flipping through a manga novel of Berserk . "None of us would have guessed that the hideout was on the edge of town like this."
"Though it was Ogawa-san that found the information." Shuri said from the driver's seat.
"Little by little, supplies were provided to this dump." Maia said. "We should've just checked shipping records and stuff."
"And why would we have done that without the prior information?" Rui asked.
Maia just groaned. "I'm just rambling right now. Ignore me."
"You're complaining about nothing?" Shuri asked.
"Eh, pretty much." Maia said. "It's better to talk than sit in silence in this stupid getup."
"Really?" Rui said. "I like this thing."
The three of them were wearing what could be described as spy gear. They wore black leather jackets and harnesses with carabiner clips hanging from them. They wore black shorts that went halfway down their thighs and combat boots. Their jackets had highlights with corresponding colors based on their sisters; yellow, blue and red.
"It just feels unnecessary." Maia said.
Shuri smiled. "I still remember the day we got these uniforms."
"Gather around, everyone." Genjuro said.
It had been a few weeks since the fight against Finé. It was another day at work, but Genjuro had called them all for a special occasion.
"Eh? Where's oneesan?" Hibiki asked, looking around to see that Rui wasn't in the room, and neither were Maia and Shuri.
"That's why I asked you to come here today." Genjuro said. "Because of the bravery and spirit that three people have shown during the crisis we faced, we recognize them today. Come on out!"
Rui, Maia and Shuri walked into the room, dressed in the uniforms they were given.
"Whooooah!" Hibiki said in awe, as she led the clap.
"You look great, Rui." Miku compliment.
"Thanks." Rui said, moving her arms to test how flexible the outfit was.
"You've refused to wear Sector Two's outfits, and yet you wear this?" Tsubasa asked Maia.
"It wasn't my idea." Maia groaned. "But I can't refuse a direct order from the commander…"
"If you're wondering, you don't look stupid." Chris told her.
"Gee, that makes me feel so much better." Maia said sarcastically.
"I think you look quite nice, Maia-san." Shuri complimented.
"Because of their support to the Symphogears during the crisis, we have decided to have them form the Symphogear Outer Unit Lineup, SOUL, to enter battle with the full intention of supporting the Wielders." Genjuro said, as they clapped more. "The team will give their full effort into helping, led by Shuri Yukine."
Shuri widened her eyes when she heard that. "Me? The leader?"
Genjuro nodded with a smile.
"I-I'm honored, but why me?"
"You've shown the most grit and will, despite the situations you've been in." Genjuro said, before leaning in and whispering. "Also, Rui-san and Maia are a bit too reckless to be the leader."
"I heard that, old man." Maia said.
"He's not wrong." Rui said. "And I'm fine with being second in command."
"Wait, huh?" Maia said. "I thought I would-?"
"I'm not as reckless as you." Rui bluntly stated. "I can keep a cool head better."
"Fine, whatever." Maia said, rolling her eyes.
"Well… I'll do my best, commander!" Shuri said, giving Genjuro a salute.
"Hah! I look forward to it!"
Chris had the proudest smile on her face as she clapped the loudest.
"I don't think I've seen oneesama smile that much before." Shuri admitted.
"She should do it more often." Rui said, hands behind her head. "Suits her better."
"All these compliments, and you're not gonna tell it to her face?" Maia asked. "Man you're a shy one."
"Shut up." Rui said.
"C'mon, partner." Maia said, sitting up. "You're not gonna get anywhere if you don't shoot your shot."
"I don't recall you taking the wheel of my love life." Rui shot back, turning a page.
"Well then, I'll ask someone who knows Chris the best." Maia said, before turning to Shuri. "Well Shuri? What do you think?"
"Well… with how shy Rui-san is acting, I don't think it will go anywhere." Shuri said. "And you know how oneesama acts."
"True, true." Maia agreed.
"But I honestly think that oneesama might go for it first." Shuri said, putting a finger on her chin. "Because she's always been the headstrong type."
"Oh, that's some good info!" Maia said, before elbowing Rui. "You listening, partner?"
"Yeah yeah…"
"But regardless of what happens, I wouldn't mind you being my sister-in-law, Rui-san." Shuri said.
Rui started choking at that statement, while Maia fell down in the backseat, laughing like a hyena.
"Did… I say something wrong?" Shuri asked.
"Sh-Shuri!" Rui said, spluttering. "We haven't even asked each other out! We're far off from that!"
"Oh, so asking each other out and getting married is in the plan?" Maia asked.
"I'm gonna kill you!" Rui shouted, slamming the book down, before jumping into the backseat and grabbing Maia by the throat.
"Oh ease up, partner!" Maia said, shoving her friend back. "It's just a little push!"
Shuri just watched as her friends argued and fought, before sighing. She looked at the abandoned hospital. "I wonder how oneesama and the others are doing?"
BWOOM
The massive explosion answered their question, as Rui and Maia stopped fighting to look up at what was going on.
"Shuri to mission control." She said through the com link. "What's the situation?"
"The sync rates of the Symphogears have been lowered significantly thanks to an outside source!" Aoi reported. "With the lowered sync rates, the Gears are placing great stress upon their users!"
"What?!" Maia said. "The hell happened?!"
"We're not gonna get answers by staying here." Rui said. "Let's go!"
"Right!"
They all hopped out of the vehicle and headed towards the explosion radius. Sliding down a hill, they came down to a street running next to the hospital. One of the walls collapsed, and a huge ball of Noise came out of it. Before crumbling away to reveal a man in a white coat. The Symphogears came out of the broken wall, with Tsubasa supporting a weakened Chris.
"Damn…" Chris groaned. "Why do I feel like I got hit by those missiles?"
If we were to use a more powerful technique in this state, the recoil from our Gears might even kill us. Tsubasa realized.
"Who's this clown?" Rui asked, holding up her fists.
"Wait… that's the guy Hibiki and Rui were escorting!" Maia realized.
"Well, the jig has been up for a while." Ver said, shrugging.
"Hey! Look!" Hibiki said.
They turned to see that there was a Noise flying away from them, holding something within its claws.
"One of the Noise is carrying away that cage from before!" Hibiki said.
"It won't be long before we lose it over the sea!" Sakuya said into the comm links.
"I got it!" Shuri said, pulling out Okami, but the weapon felt heavy in her hands. "Huh…?"
She aimed and fired it, but the shot missed.
"Looks like whatever affected us also went back to the weapons." Tsubasa said. "The sync rates are low for both of us."
"Okay…" Shuri looked at Ver, who had his hands raised in surrender. "Maia-san, Rui-san, you guys go with Tsubasa to stop that Noise, while we'll take care of oneesama and apprehend him."
"Roger that." Rui said, activating Kagutsuchi.
Maia tossed out the cube which unfolded into Takemikazuchi's hoverboard form. "Let's go! Tsubasa! Rui!"
"Right!"
Rui hopped onto the back of Takemikazuchi and Maia took chase after the Noise, Tsubasa running right alongside them.
With the superior mobility of Ame no Habakiri and Takemikazuchi, we can still make it! Tsubasa thought.
"When we get in close, you kick the crap out of it, alright?" Maia said to Rui.
"...and when I'm falling into the ocean?"
"I'll catch you, don't worry." She said.
"Yeah, that's real reassuring." Rui groaned, though she pressed a button on her belt to store energy into her greaves for a kick
"The three of them are closing in on the escaping Noise." Aoi reported. "But Tsubasa won't be able to make it in the air…"
"Commander!" Sakuya shouted in concern.
"Keep going! Jump for it, Tsubasa!" Genjuro shouted.
"Jump?" Tsubasa repeated.
"Jump out! Over the sea! You'll never be alone!"
Heeding the orders, once Tsubasa got to the edge of the plateau, she jumped off. Her Symphogear gave her a small boost, but she began to plummet.
"Tsubasa!" Maia shouted.
"Temporary HQ! Rapid ascent!" Genjuro shouted.
Like a whale breaching the surface, a huge submarine shot up from below. That was just enough for Tsubasa, who used the tip as a launching pad.
"When the hell was that there?!" Rui said in shock.
"No time for questions!" Maia said. "Go!"
With a shout, Rui jumped off Takemikazuchi and delivered a flaming kick to the Noise. While it was too weak to completely destroy it, it was stunned enough that Tsubasa could cut it to pieces. The cage started to drop down into the ocean and both Rui and Tsubasa dove for it. They almost caught it.
Almost.
"Gah!"
A spear shot down, knocking both of them away as they landed in the water with splashes. The spear was left hovering above the ocean.
"Shit!" Maia cursed.
"Oneesan! Tsubasa-san!" Hibiki shouted from land.
Landing on the spear was Maria who caught the cage. The sun rose behind her, creating an image almost like a painting.
"It's that girl!" Chris said.
"Just in time, Finé." Ver said.
The girls all looked at Ver. "Finé?" Chris repeated, in disbelief.
"It means "the end."" Ver said. "It is a name borne not only by our organization, but also by the girl you see before you."
"Wait… do you mean she's…?" Hibiki realized.
"A newly awakened, reborn Finé!" Ver finished.
"So they didn't just take on Finé's name because they use heretical technology." Aoi said.
"The reincarnated Finé herself is leading the organization." Sakuya said.
"So that ghost from ancient civilization once again stands in the way of we who live in the present?" Genjuro said, tightening a fist. "Must we fight each other once again, Ryoko?"
"That can't be…" Hibiki said. "Ryoko-san said…"
"Believe in the song of your heart."
"Reincarnation." Ver answered.
"Finé is able to awaken her consciousness within any who carry her genetic sequence." Chris remembered.
"Letting her exist within an eternal moment while continually being reborn throughout history." Shuri said.
"But then, what happened to the singer known as Maria-san?" Hibiki asked.
"I guess that's something we'd all like to know." Ver said.
Maria hovered over the sea, observing the situation. I managed to keep the Nephilim safe. A good start. But what should be my next move?
"Round two, asshole!"
She leaned back to avoid getting skewered by Maia rushing forward on Takemikazuchi. There was a huge burst of water as Tsubasa jumped out of the ocean, and propelled herself at Maria for a slash, which Maria dodged.
"Don't underestimate us!" Tsubasa shouted, her sword expanding in size before she slashed downwards to unleash a huge beam of energy.
Blue Flash
Maria's cape surrounded her, providing a barrier that blocked the attack. Maria narrowed her eyes. "I would never underestimate you."
The Kazanari twins aimed their blades at Maria, but the girl dodged them again, and her cape knocked them away. They painfully hit the side of the submarine, but landed upright. Maria threw the cage upwards where it disappeared, before she landed on the submarine. Raising a hand, the spear returned to her hand.
"That's why I'm fighting you two with everything I've got!"
Maria jumped at them, thrusting their spear down. The two deflected the strikes, but were knocked around to the sides. They went in from two angles, but Maria handled one of them, while the cape handled the other. The twins backflipped out of the way to get some distance.
Maria's cape shot at them, but they ran forward. Tsubasa jumped over it, while Maia rolled underneath it. Tsubasa ran in from the side while Maia delivered several rocket powered slashes that threw Maria off balance.
The cape wrapped around Maria, turning her into a cyclone. Tsubasa slashed, but it did practically nothing.
"Get her from above!" Maia shouted, holding out her swords.
Tsubasa nodded as she jumped onto the Takemikazuchi, as Maia launched her up. Tsuabsa stabbed downwards at the cape tornado, but Maria shot her spear upwards, deflecting the strike. While the tornado subsided, the cape went wild, slashing widely. Tsubasa and Maia dodged the attacks, but there were several slashed to the hull.
"Tsubasa! Maia! Get her off the deck!" Genjuro ordered.
"Easier said than done!" Maia said, before powering up the rockets on Takemikazuchi. She rushed forward with a powerful strike that put strain on her arms, but she grit her teeth as she entered a deadlock with Maria.
"Your weapon is no match for Gungnir!" Maria said.
Maia smirked. "Who said that I was trying to match you?"
She slashed downwards, vaulting over Maria to reveal that Tsubasa had gotten on her hands to spin with the blades on her feet. Maria deflected a few strikes, but Tsubasa got in close.
"Victory is mine!" Tsubasa declared.
"Dream on!" Maria shot back.
Maria dodged the strikes and Tsubasa flipped back, but the girl winced in pain, holding her knee.
"Got you!" Maria shouted.
She stabbed forward and Tsubasa tried to draw her blade, but Maria won the bout, smashing the spear into Tsubasa and knocking her onto the floor.
"Tsubasa!" Maia shouted in concern.
"What did she do?" Chris asked, as they watched the fight from the side.
"It was that hit she took in the beginning!" Hibiki realized, remembering that Tsubasa had taken the spear to her knee.
Chris grit her teeth before aiming her crossbow. "Then it sounds like it's time for the white knight to step in!"
Shuri aimed her Okami, the target aimed straight for Maria's head, before she saw something from the corner of her eye.
"Get down!"
Hibiki pushed Ver away as the three of them dodged several pink buzzsaws. Two familiar Symphogear-users appeared.
"Surprise, it's Igalima!"
Kirika rushed at Chris, slashing her scythe at her. Chris jumped back and avoid the strike which kicked up dust. Kirika kept slashing, putting on the pressure to prevent any counterattack.
Shirabe meanwhile, unleashed a hail of buzzsaws at Hibiki, who deflected them with her punches. Shirabe flipped, creating a huge buzzsaw wheel around herself.
Extreme Sigma Style: Lunar Eclipse
Hibiki jumped out of the way as the attack cut through a stone wall.
Shuri aimed Okami, but was forced to dodge a punch. She dropped her weapon and took up a fighting stance. She was face to face with a brown haired girl with an eyepatch.
"Who are you?" Shuri asked.
The girl said nothing, before throwing a punch. Shuri blocked the attack with ease before throwing one of her own. They traded blows, as Jeanne dodged the strikes and felt the wind every time.
"Yaaah!" Shuri shouted, catching Jeanne off guard as she felt a powerful blow to her shoulder.
"Ugh, charmant. " She winced, stumbling back and holding the bruised shoulder.
I'd better avoid taking another hit from her. The power behind these punches are no joke.
She quickly ducked and swept her legs, knocking Shuri over and letting her retreat next to Shirabe.
Kirika slammed the handle of her scythe into Chris's gut, knocking the wind out of the girl and sending her rolling.
"Chris-chan!" "Oneesama!"
The two ran to her side as Shirabe picked up Solomon's Cane and rolled over to Ver.
"You're just in time." Ver said. "You saved us. I would have liked it if you'd left some of the fun for me, though."
"Shut your mouth, trash." Jeanne said.
"We didn't come here to help you ." Shirabe said.
"Oh my, that is rather harsh." Ver said, shrugging.
Hibiki helped Chris up, as the latter cursed.
"God fucking damn it! My sync rate's dropped so low I can barely move."
"But where did they come from?" Hibiki said, seeing the two had appeared out of nowhere.
Shuri squinted, looking at the sky above the ocean. She noticed that it was slightly shimmering.
"They had reinforcements in reserve?" Genjuro said. "Search for any other enemies in the area!"
"We're on it!" Sakuya said. "But…"
"All signals, including Aufwachen waveforms, were jammed until the moment they appeared!" Aoi reported.
"It must be heretical technology beyond what we possess." Genjuro concluded.
Supported by Maia, Tsubasa held onto her bad knee, while Maria put a hand on her stomach. Pulling it back, there was a cut.
She was able to match my blow with equal force? Guess this sword isn't just a pretty face.
Tsubasa clenched and unclenched her fist. My Gear's power is slowly returning to normal. Maybe I can still win.
Maria was breathing heavily, feeling her Gear slowly growing in weight.
"Your sync rate is dropping." Natassja said from the link. "We have already recovered the Nephilim. Return at once."
"So that's as far as I can go?" Maria said.
Those words caused realization to hit Tsubasa and Maia. Because the same words were said by one of their fallen friends.
"Don't tell me you use the LiNKER drug like Kanade…" Tsubasa said.
The wind picked up, and Maria jumped and grabbed onto a rope. Tsubasa and Maia looked up to see a ship materialize out of the air. None of them noticed the girl crawling out of the water onto the submarine.
"What are you trying to do?" Hibiki asked.
"We protect what justice cannot." Shirabe said.
"Let's move." Jeanne said. "We shouldn't stay any longer-"
"OREYAAAAAA!"
They all turned to the ocean and saw a burst of flames, as Maria was sent crashing into the submarine hull.
"Maria!" Kirika shouted.
Chris smirked. "Knew the chunnigure wouldn't let us down."
Maria groaned as she slowly stood up while Rui landed on the hull. Her hair and clothes were dripping wet, but she was otherwise fine.
"What took you?" Tsubasa asked.
"A little realization." Rui said. "I think you can figure out what I'm talking about as I kick her ass."
"You can't be serious!" Maia said.
Rui slowly walked forward as Maria stood up.
"So you're still going to fight?" Maria asked.
"A little bit of payback for that cheap shot earlier." Rui said, cracking her knuckles.
"How naïve!" Maria said.
Her cape launched forward, to pierce Rui. But to everyone's surprise, she deflected it with a backhanded strike.
"What?!" Maria shouted. Her cape kept on trying to attack, but Rui easily blocked or parried anything that came at her.
"How the hell is she doing that?" Maia said, in awe.
"I see… Rui Tachibana is far more intelligent than we were led to believe." Tsubasa realized.
"Wait…" Maia remembered just how their weapons worked. "Our weapons draw upon the power of the Symphogear. Mine is synched with Ame no Habakiri, Shuri's is synched with Ichaival, and Rui's is synched with-!"
"Gungnir." Tsubasa finished. "Rui is using Maria's own relic against her. And since it appears that Maria uses LiNKER, she's becoming weaker while Rui's becoming stronger."
"Get back!" Maria shouted, stabbing her spear forward.
But Rui caught it in her hand, pulling Maria in for a powerful kick to the stomach.
Damn…
She felt Rui grab the relic on her chest.
"You know, from what I remember from tv shows, if you remove the transformation device from a person, they'll lose their transformation." Rui said. "How about we test that theory?"
"Stop-!"
Electricity sparked as Rui started to pull on the relic. Both of the girls screamed in pain as it coursed through their bodies. But Rui didn't stop, she was determined to separate them. Kirika and Shirabe landed nearby, after they had dropped Jeanne and Ver off on their ship.
"What the dess?" Kirika said in confusion.
With one final shout, Rui pulled the relic right off. Maria's armor disappeared as she was back in her normal clothing.
"Impossible!" She said, looking up at Rui who held the relic in her hand.
Tsubasa watched as Rui got ready to fight Kirika and Shirabe. Normally, the feedback from trying to forcefully separate the Symphogear and the user would be enough to kill a person, but it seemed that Rui's synchronization with Gungnir was enough to let her pull it off.
You still find ways to impress me, Rui Tachibana.
"Give that back, dess!" Kirika said. "That doesn't belong to you!"
"Say please and I'll consider it." Rui said.
"Um… please, dess?" Kirika asked nicely.
"Mmm… nope." Rui said, a small smirk on her face.
"But you said you'd give it back!" Kirika whined.
"I said I'd consider it." Rui repeated. "And I decided not to."
"Enough of this." Shirabe said, launching several buzzsaws at Rui. The girl jumped over them and away from Maria, who was still in shock at what happened.
"Oi oi. Trying to kill me isn't gonna make things easier, brat." Rui said. "If I were you, I'd try-"
SYNCHRONIZATION COMPLETE
A voice that sounded like a deeper version of her own came from Kagutsuchi, as everyone looked down at it. A slot opened up in it, large enough for a relic pendant.
"What the hell?" Rui said softly. "What-?"
She then remembered that Ryoko had built these weapons to synchronize with the Symphogears. Perhaps she had another reason…?
Without thinking, she slid the Gungnir pendant partway into Kagutsuchi. When she did, there was an unbelievable amount of pain as electricity coursed through her body.
"Two times… in one day…?" She managed to choke out.
"Rui!" Maia shouted as Tsubasa stood up with her.
Focusing on her breathing, Rui listened carefully to what Kagutsuchi was saying.
DNA REGISTRATION: RUI TACHIBANA
VOCAL RECOGNITION REQUIRED; ALLOW TRANSFORMATION?
Wincing from the pain, she shouted through it. "Yes! Allow transformation!"
VOCAL RECOGNITION SUCCESSFUL. TRANSFORMATION AUTHORIZED. RELIC BATTLE MODE; READY.
"Then let's do this!" Rui shouted. "Henshin!"
She fully slammed the relic into the belt, as the electricity faded. Her eyes briefly gleamed red as she was engulfed in orange crystals that resembled the relic. Cracks appeared on the crystals, before they shattered to reveal Rui, her appearance shocking everyone.
"No way!" Hibiki said from the shore, eyes wide and smiling.
"Holy hell…" Chris muttered, as Shuri just looked in surprise.
Tsubasa smiled. "And it seems Rui Tachibana can't help but continue to impress me."
"Whoa…" Maia said.
"That's not possible…" Maria muttered.
"Is this a joke?" Shirabe said in shock.
"We weren't told of this, dess!" Kirika panicked.
"I don't believe it!" Sakuya shouted. "We're detecting an Aufwachen waveform!"
"And it's coming from… Rui-chan?!" Aoi said. "And this pattern…"
"Gungnir datto?!" Genjuro shouted.
Rui was garbed in a familiar orange white and yellow gear, with a long white scarf wrapped around her beck. She pulled the front down to make it easier for her to speak, as she felt the gauntlets and armored boots she had, as well as the headphone-like armor covering her ears.
KAGUTSUCHI: GUNGNIR MODE
"So this is how it feels, huh?" She said, tightening a fist. "Well how about that Ryoko, you weren't a total bitch after all."
She turned to Kirika and Shirabe, who, while shocked, were still ready to fight.
"I hope you two brought your A game." Rui said, punching her fist into an open palm. "Cause right now… I don't feel like losing!"
A/N: Chuunigure is a mix of "chuunibyou" and "gure." Chuunibyou, since that fits some of Rui's personality, and gure based on what Japan fans call EdgeBikki. Decided to mix them and make that what Chris calls Rui, similarly to how Chris calls Hibiki variations of "dummy."
I actually commissioned a design for the SOUL uniforms, which can be found here; https_:_/_twitter_._com/EpicLinkSam/status/1374133648648253445?s=20 (just remove all the underscores)
Oh and what's this? Instead of leaving it off with Maria being revealed as the reincarnation of Finé, Rui transforms instead? What a strange development!
Feel free to leave a review. See you all next time.
Actually… one last thing.
R.I.P. Kentaro Miura
1966 – 2021
Thank you for Berserk and everything you've done for the manga industry.
Rest in Peace