The cherry blossoms fluttered in the spring wind. The falling petals danced in the air as they descended, filling the garden with a wondrous vision of serenity. The sun shone above, gracing the patio with warmth; enveloping, yet not overwhelming. It was the perfect image of a spring day, and the aesthetics of the garden brought to mind feudal households; intimidating, yet graceful. There was a beauty that could not be described with mere words, and even the greatest of sages of the land would struggle to express the complexity of the sight.
The shishi-odoshi, an ever-present feature of such a garden, filled with water. Moments later, it turned down, striking the rock below with a gentle, yet sharp sound that broke the silence pervading the garden.
But it was not the only one.
The air whooshed as the wooden sword was swung. Droplets of sweat trickled down to the ground from the boy's face, his eyes narrowed in concentration. The shishi-odoshi provided a soothing metronome to his swings, their parallel repetitions locking the garden in time. The picturesque scene would allow no interruptions, and the boy's determination made the falling petals swirl around his form. A single one came to rest on the flat of his practice blade, yet with another powerful swing, it was tossed aside like the rest.
His breaths were even. His stance was tense. His grip on the handle tightened. With every swing, he took a step forward, and with every rise, he took one back. He focused on the invisible target before him, striking its unseen head with quiet precision. He made sure to keep his movements minimal, to keep his mind empty of all thoughts but the blade. To learn the way of the sword is to become one with the sword. The sword must become an extension of one's own body, a continuation of one's arms and legs and eyes.
With every swing, the boy's conviction strengthened. His heart was filled with nothing but pride, preparing him for the trials he would face. He had held the sword from the day he could walk. It was his lifelong companion, as short and fleeting as it had been so far, yet to him, it was akin to family.
Those were the lessons he had been taught. Those were the values he had been bestowed. For the boy, to swing the sword was to see through the world.
His swings continued uninterrupted even as the fallen leaves rustled behind him. He did not even need to look back to notice his big brother's approach. He was his elder by over fifteen years, yet his wisdom was at the level of the greatest of masters. Just like himself, his brother had been taught the way of the sword that had been passed down for generations.
That was their duty. Their lives began and ended by the sword as they had always been.
"Not good enough," his older brother said as soon as he laid his eyes upon him. "Your stance is feeble, and your grip is loose and uneven. What do you hope to accomplish with such a lowly understanding of our teachings?"
"Yes, sir!" the boy replied heartily, not even daring to look in his direction. To lose concentration now would earn him the whip's lashings. That was how they had lived for generations. The necessary skills and mindset were beaten into the disciples from an early age, and even the smallest of mistakes would warrant pain. It was a dear companion just like the sword. Even though he had borne that pain many times before, he still found pride in his purpose.
"Tell me what you are," his older brother demanded.
"I am the blade," was his response.
"And what is the blade?"
"Truth."
"And what is the truth?"
"Pride."
"Pride for what?"
"Pride for our role."
Yes, the role that they had taken upon themselves for centuries. His family was an ancient one, going back to the founding of the country, never breaking and never wavering in its resolve. For them, the self was meant for a greater whole.
"And what is our role?"
He bellowed his response as he timed it with his next swing.
"To be the sentinels that guard our nation!"
As if responding to his determination, the wind howled, carving a path through the cherry blossoms and rustling the treetops. More petals fluttered down to the ground, bowing before the boy's might.
"Indeed. This nation needs a sentinel to guard it," His big brother proclaimed. "The people need a leader to guide them. They must be shown reason, and kept in check by strength. That has been our mission from our very inception."
Even with the passage of time, their purpose had never changed. No matter what trials and tribulations they faced, that was their unequivocal truth. To betray that path was to betray oneself and the nation, and for that crime, one must face death.
"Dedicate your heart to it. Bare all your strength for it. Use your own power to ensure it!"
That was their way. That was their life. That was the meaning to their existence.
That was the will of the Kazanari.
-!-
Making her way to the cafeteria, Hibiki clutched her head as it throbbed painfully. As much as she wished, she had completely failed to fall asleep properly. Even a single hour would've helped, but she simply couldn't shut off her mind. The storm of tumultuous thoughts kept her up, further exacerbated by the knowledge and presence of her unusual companion. She tried her hardest to think positive and happy thoughts, but the anxiety walled off such comforting emotions from surfacing.
It's been a long while since she had felt so down in the dumps. Her limbs felt frail, and the corners of her eyes stung from the tears she had shed earlier. As Hibiki dragged herself forward, Shem-Ha looked at her with a judging gaze, narrowing her red ringed eyes as she floated by her side.
"Your meagre worries are unimportant," she said, reading Hibiki's mind like an open book. "Focus on the task at hand."
Vague and unhelpful, just what Hibiki needed at the moment. Of course she knew what she needed to do and think about, but it wasn't easy.
"Aggravation. Are you truly so daft that you cannot even fathom basic strategy in your mind? Surely not. I have peered through your memories, and I have found myself astonished by the results of your impulsive and bullheaded approach."
Hibiki wasn't one to become irritated quickly, but Shem-Ha's complex manner of speaking really got on her nerves when she kept it on incessantly.
"Then what can we do?" she asked the Custodian. Since there wasn't anyone around to hear her, she didn't bother trying to converse only in her head; it would've most likely left her with a bigger headache than the one she had right now. "You already know what's going on."
"I am astounded that your first idea was not to rush headlong into danger and risk everything on a pointless gamble. Is it not your wish to reach for an understanding with all those under the blue sky?"
Hibiki could tell when she was being insulted, and this was definitely one of those moments. Still, it's not like she could just make Shem-Ha go away or keep quiet. She would most likely continue to lecture and berate her constantly if she even dared to think so.
"You can also help, you know," Hibiki said, pursing her lips.
"Fool, do you believe I had not been doing so? During your pathetic attempt at resting, I had already calculated various possibilities for our upcoming endeavors."
Shem-Ha sounded denigrated at Hibiki's insinuations. However, as her host walked, turning a corner on her way to the cafeteria, Shem-Ha's brows furrowed.
"Displeasure. Our options are, unfortunately, limited. That abominable contraption is currently insurmountable. The harm it could do to the vessel should it be removed improperly would be irreversible. I would not be able to undo the neurological damage it would inflict even with my divine abilities, as the damaged neurons would prevent me from accurately assessing and repairing the damage. An impaired vessel would be useless for my cause."
Just the manner by which Shem-Ha spoke of Miku lit a fire in Hibiki's heart that she struggled to contain. Before she could mouth any argument, the Custodian continued her lecture, unfazed by the anger she sensed bubbling within her host.
"Calm your nerves, god-slayer. Your trepidation is understandable, but I stand by my reasoning," she said, waving her hand in dismissal of Hibiki's concerns. "Our opponents are formidable. The despot not only wields strength that rivals a thousand men, but he also holds the leashes of both the most skilled Symphogear Adaptor from your midst as well as my vessel, teeming with divine power that he will be curious to experiment with."
Hibiki had to admit she was right. Fudou's faction was simply more powerful than they could handle. Tsubasa may not be the Adaptor with the most physical strength, but her sheer experience and varied abilities would definitely be difficult to deal with. Fudou himself was also a force to be reckoned with; he had defeated Genjuro single-handedly after all. Her Master wielded superhuman strength that allowed him to surpass Symphogears with his own body, so the very fact that Fudou could take him down meant that not a single one of them could match him.
Just him alone would've been enough to stop them in their tracks. She didn't know how strong he really was, but at this point, she figured nothing short of Amalgam or X-Drive could rival him.
But her greatest concern was neither of those two. No, she could only think of Miku, trapped inside of her own body, unable to scream or beg for help from the outside. She was a prisoner of both Shem-Ha and Fudou, kept under his thrall by the use of that hellish system that, to this day, served as the basis for the occasional nightmare.
How could it not? She had seen and heard firsthand the effect it had on Miku back then. She had tried to deny it, but she truly feared the worst case scenario. What prevented her from deploying immediately wasn't even the encroaching influence of Gungnir on her body, but rather the overwhelming terror that had consumed her at the time. She couldn't act because the mere thought of losing Miku froze her in place, and it had taken her far too long to gather her courage and head out to save her. She had gambled with her life in the process, and was grateful to have been saved from certain death even if by happenstance, but still, the fear remained.
'What if?' has become a normal thought to have since then. She had sometimes found herself staring at Miku's face, sleeping by her side, and feeling a mixture of tension and relief from just imagining what could've been.
"If I was the one in trouble, would you come and save me?"
"Of course! I'd rush to your side faster than the speed of light!"
"Oh? And what if I was the one causing trouble?"
It was only in hindsight that she realized the meaning of this exchange.
"How ironic."
She wasn't sure if it was Shem-Ha who had voiced this statement or if it was her own mind rebelling against her.
And then that fear became a reality far worse than she could've ever imagined. The fear of losing Miku forever was overwhelming. She wanted to head out right now and save her, but she knew that it wouldn't be so simple. No amount of god-slaying power would help her overcome the insuperable hurdles in her way, no matter how much she punched and forged onwards.
Because some problems can't be solved by just hitting them.
Still, she couldn't wrap her head around why Miku would go so far. Why would Miku surrender herself twice over to their enemies. She had said that she was doing so for Hibiki's sake, but Hibiki just couldn't understand why.
'Because she had feelings she could not convey.'
That's what Shem-Ha had told her. What did she mean by that? Hibiki felt like the answer was on the tip of her tongue, but she failed to reach it.
"And I would never grant it to you so simply, you airheaded halfwit," Shem-Ha said out of nowhere, reading Hibiki's mind like an open book once more. "If you cannot comprehend my vessel's desire, then it is only fair to say that you have brought this upon yourself."
Hibiki grimaced again, deciding to not let the Custodian's insult get to her.
Brushing those grim ruminations aside as much as she could, she stepped into the cafeteria. It was not as occupied as she had initially thought, as only a handful of personnel sat around the scattered tables, munching down on their late dinners.
"Hibiki-san!" she heard a familiar voice call for her from the depths. She turned her head to the source and spotted Kirika sitting at a circular table at the far side with Shirabe to her left. The hyper girl waved her hand in the air so she could locate her. Hibiki waved back and entered the line in order to grab her own meal. She barely regarded the kind lady behind the counter as a bowl of pasta was placed on her tray. She thanked her half absent-mindedly and turned to join the two younger Adaptors, who seemed quite perky, all things considered.
"How'd you sleep, Hibiki-san?" Kirika asked her. When Hibiki looked into her eyes, she could see a combination of curiosity and genuine concern.
"It was fine. Everything is fine, see?" Hibiki said, putting on the best smile she could as she answered, stabbing her fork into the bowl of pasta.
Even she could tell it was a terrible attempt at deflection. It was just like her to deny her personal feelings; she knew it was wrong and unhealthy to do so, but she couldn't bear burdening others with her personal problems. If Kirika and Shirabe caught her paltry attempt at reassurance, they didn't voice it, and instead chose to change the subject so Hibiki would not dwell.
Kirika turned to her partner. "So what do you think is going to happen with Noble Red?" she asked. Shirabe impaled a meatball on her fork and raised it to her lips.
"It's up to them now, isn't it? If they decide to not help, then we'll have to do this without them. We can't exactly depend on them, even if they were close enough to him to figure out some of his plans," she answered, taking her bite.
"Still, I think we should still try to convince them to help us," Kirika said hopefully. "And besides, I think they also deserve a chance. They did a lot of bad things, but even I know it's not that simple. It never is."
As Hibiki listened in to their conversation, she noticed Shem-Ha materialize into the empty seat at the table, her arms and legs crossed and her piercing gaze directed at the duo.
Naturally, neither of the two noticed her presence. Hibiki, confused by the Custodian's behavior, looked at her with a questioning look. Shirabe swiftly noticed Hibiki's distant staring, and tilted her head in question. "Hibiki-san, is everything all right?"
Hibiki swiftly turned back to her. "Yeah, why?"
"You seem distracted," Shirabe said with a concerned look. "Are you..."
"Ah, I'm fine, I'm fine," Hibiki replied, waving her hand in front of her. She quickly stabbed into her pasta again and took a bite. "See?"
"Hibiki-san..." Kirika mumbled delicately. "How about after all this is over, we go on vacation? We can go skiing!"
"Kiri-chan, I don't think that's what we should be talking about right now."
"But Shirabe, we should talk about this now! After all..."
As Kirika began to list her reasons, Hibiki tuned out their conversation again. Rather than stare directly at Shem-Ha, who still looked at the duo with an unreadable expression, she continued eating and mentally asked her question.
"What are you doing?"
"Dismissal. Nothing that concerns you," Shem-Ha replied with a huff. "Akatsuki Kirika and Tsukuyomi Shirabe. How amusingly fitting that these two were chosen by those twin blades."
Hibiki tried her hardest not to look at her again, but found herself curious. "What do you mean?"
"A pair with an unknown past along with fabricated names. Mysteries even to their closest allies, and interpretations of their origins are still contested to this day," The Custodian said, as if recalling some ancient memory. "Such were Ig-Alima and Shul-Shagana. For some they were weapons, but for others they were a pair of divine twins."
"Huh?"
Shem-Ha ignored Hibiki's dumbfounded expression and continued with her explanation. "Of course, it matters little who they were, for even among the gods, they were merely a footnote. Their wielder, however, was a different matter entirely."
Hibiki struggled to process the information. She had absolutely no idea what Shem-Ha was talking about. Her ghostly companion, however, cared little for her confusion.
"Zababa was quite a two-faced personage. On one hand, a facade of kindness and camaraderie. On the other, unrestrained abrasiveness. Precisely how one would imagine a war god to be."
"By Zababa, you mean...?"
"Displeasing. The original wielders of your Sacrists, of course. Have you never delved into the origins of your Symphogears?" Shem-Ha asked rhetorically. Of course Hibiki hadn't looked into those; she had no interest in such things. As she took another bite of the pasta, she reckoned the Custodian was mocking her again.
Shem-Ha looked quite wistful as she began to list names Hibiki was unfamiliar with, ignoring the rising befuddlement of her current vessel. "Zababa was the one to wield the twin blades of Ig-Alima and Shul-Shagana. Similarly, Susano'o brandished Ame-no-Habakiri. Powerful and regal, yet mischievous to a fault. His antics were known throughout the heavenly realm, regardless of origin and familiarity. His penchant for tomfoolery almost rivals your own."
Hibiki was only vaguely acquainted with Susano'o, if only because she had heard the name outside of context in some random conversation Tsubasa had with Maria one day. Just like more dry details, it entered through one ear and exited out the other. Hibiki's ability, or more accurately desire to remember facts she never cared for, was uncanny. The name of a god, even if Japanese in origin, didn't matter to her in the slightest.
But of course, from what the Custodian was telling her, terms like "Japanese" didn't apply to wherever she came from.
"Ullr was quite an accomplished marksman with Ichaival. Along with his mastery of the bow, he held a quiet demeanor, yet was honest to a fault. His cutting remarks resonated through all those who heard them."
As Shem-Ha continued, she did not notice how Hibiki's eyes narrowed at her. The Custodian was sharing memories from a bygone era, and the look on her face as she did so caught her host by surprise. Moreover, the more she said, the more her tone sharpened. Hibiki wondered if, perhaps, Shem-Ha did not like talking about these people.
"And Nuada's silver arm was renowned for its beauty and strength. The man too was a natural leader, directing the vanguard in all of his campaigns. An inspirational figure, yet prone to blunders at inopportune moments," Shem-Ha said, then narrowed her eyes. "However, I have my doubts whether Maria Cadenzavna Eve's relic truly belonged to that man. I must study it more closely the next time we rendezvous with her, assuming she is discharged from her forced seclusion. Gungnir, on the other hand..."
She suddenly trailed off, catching Hibiki by surprise. Briefly glancing at Kirika and Shirabe, who were still debating possible future vacation spots, she looked back towards the Custodian, whose expression had hardened and became unreadable.
Shem-Ha let out what sounded like a huff combined with a click of the tongue. "Infuriating. It belonged to a meddlesome, tiresome man, who could not mind his own business. An absolutely vexing individual whose brawn was bigger than his brain, yet had birthed achievements only a few could ever say have been his equal. His audacity was a sight to behold."
Despite not mentioning his name and despite the insults she leveled at him, Hibiki noticed that Shem-Ha's voice did not contain the same sour tone she had used when she described the others. Rather, it felt like she was reminiscing.
Hibiki figured that the Custodian had most likely already read that thought in her mind; however, her lack of a response caught Hibiki by surprise, having expected her to spit out another scathing comment.
"In any event, those are but a handful of the original users of your relics. Many you have come into contact with also belonged to such individuals, although others, such as the Shenshoujing, did not. Unfortunately for you lot, the despot also wields one of his own. Unlike yours, however, his is still complete. You would do well to take that into consideration of your plans."
So this entire mythology lecture was all in order for her to make that final point. Hibiki let out her own internal sigh, feeling that Shem-Ha would've been a scary good fit as a school teacher.
"Fool."
Right, the mind reading. Hibiki noted she had to figure out a way to keep her thoughts secret, as difficult of a hurdle as that would most likely be.
"Now then," Shem-Ha spoke up again, disregarding Hibiki's mental decision. "There is one last thing you should be aware of for now. It is—"
At that moment, Hibiki felt a tingle in the back of her head that she could not explain. At the same time, whatever the Custodian wanted to say was summarily cut off as she swiftly rose to her feet, her gaze penetrating the walls of the submarine and looking towards the distance. Hibiki couldn't help but follow her stare, uncaring for the fact that Kirika and Shirabe had once again paused their conversation in order to check on her.
"Hibiki-san, what's—"
But Shem-Ha's grim tone in her head overtook Shirabe's voice. "They're on the move."
Her host narrowed her eyes. "What?"
"My power is being used."
"Wha—"
And exactly on cue, the alarms activated. Their collective vision was filled with red as warning lights spun and the sirens blared loudly to wake even the deepest sleeper from their slumber. All at once, every single individual manning the submarine went into overdrive, following the usual steps of an emergency protocol. Launching to their feet, the three Adaptors looked between each other in concern, and leaving their food behind, bolted out of the cafeteria.
Their destination was, of course, the bridge. When it came to emergencies like this, the first order of business was to get briefed on the details and then decide how to deploy. It was standard protocol, the same as any other.
However, that did not apply this time.
Genjuro's booming voice echoed throughout the steel hallways of the submarine as the three ran, their eyes widening at the change in plans.
"All Adaptors, head to the helipad at once!"
If there was no time to even get briefed, then the emergency had to have been severe. The three promptly came to a stop, turned on their heels, and took the turn towards their new destination.
And Shem-Ha, having nestled back into Hibiki's mind, contemplated complex thoughts known only to herself.
-!-
Noise erupted on the bridge as the data flowed in faster than the operators could process it. However, Genjuro, being the commander that he was, immediately bellowed out his demands over the deafening sounds of the alarm.
"I need updates now! What's the situation?!"
Tomosato, ever the dependable subordinate, quickly gave him an answer. "Sir! The Yokosuka Base is under attack! Ame-no-Habakiri and the Vambrace of Shem-Ha have been detected!"
Genjuro grimaced. "So the Americans are his first targets..."
He rose from his chair, towering over the bridge and his personal console. "Alert the Adaptors! I will be heading out there too! Get that helicopter ready on the double!"
If Tsubasa and Shem-Ha were there, then Fudou was bound to be there too. The elder may have been content with sitting on his laurels while letting his subordinates do the dirty work, but now that he held the divine power in his hand, he was no longer averse to using it as he saw fit and get his own hands dirty in the process.
What was the point of sitting around in that case? Therefore, Genjuro reckoned that he was duty-bound to follow suit; none of the Adaptors could match that man in combat, but he had to admit that he couldn't either. All he could do was buy some time while the Adaptors took back Tsubasa and Shem-Ha with them.
But when it comes to his wretched old man, things were destined to go off the rails.
"Roger!"
He turned, pushing his chair aside. As soon as he took a single step forward, however, Fujitaka called for his attention. "Sir!"
"What is it?!"
"It's Noble Red! They're contacting us from the cell!"
Noble Red? Now? What did they want now of all times? As much as he wanted to hurry, he decided to trust his gut feeling.
"Put them through."
-!-
Silence pervaded the brig. Vanessa had taken to standing, staring at the deactivated consoles in front of her. Elsa sat upon the bed, looking towards the floor and swinging her short legs over the edge. Millaarc lay on her back, gazing at the steel ceiling while nursing her wounded cheek. It still stung from where Maria had struck her, together with the rest of the wounds that had been inflicted on her. She hadn't even had time to heal properly since they lost to Carol, so this beating on top of it left her weary and restless.
She supposed that's why she had exploded in rage as well. She was still majorly pissed off, her mind swirling with anger at the Airgetlam Adaptor and her comrades, fuelling the vampiress's aversion to helping them further.
At least they were kind enough to give them another blood bag. She knew that the supply, while currently not running low, was still not infinite. Eventually, even SONG would run out of the precious resource, leaving the three of them without the critical fluid that kept them alive.
She cursed her wretched existence every time she thought of that grim fact. They were easily led around by a leash like dogs. They were forced to constantly chase after the blood no matter who held it, and like the good little pets they are, they had no choice but to obey their every whim if they wanted to stay alive.
First the Illuminati, then Fudou, and now SONG. It wasn't even a matter of fickle loyalties; it was simply a matter of survival. Their freedom extended only to wherever the blood was. Everywhere else might as well be forbidden territory. The only positive she saw to being on the side of the Symphogear Adaptors was the fact that they would most likely never ask the three of them to commit atrocities.
Well, not like atrocities would be any good to anyone right now. In a way, the world was on borrowed time just like they were. Fudou taking over the world was only a matter of when, not if. No matter what they'd do, as long as he held the divine power, he'd be the victor.
Elsa raised her head and looked towards the eldest of the three. "Hey, Vanessa, what do you think we should do?"
The robotic woman did not answer immediately. While time was short, it was not so short that she couldn't stop to think about their next move. Despite having been forsaken by the Illuminati, she was still a scientist and researcher at heart; it was her nature to be contemplative and skeptical. No matter what changes her body undertook, that was the one constant in a life filled with uncertain variables.
The only shame was that the Illuminati's experiments didn't give her a fast processing mind to go along with everything else. Having considered her answer, she turned around to the younger girl.
"I think we should throw in our lot with SONG."
Millaarc rose from the bed, sitting on its edge just like Elsa. "But can we trust them?" she said, nursing her wounded cheek again. "You saw what they did. There's no guarantee they won't turn on us like that asshat did."
"You're right. However..."
Vanessa stopped as she recalled a memory from a few days ago. That moment when Tachibana Hibiki had her on the ropes and charged at her with her giant golden fist. At that moment, Vanessa believed that she was about to die. She, along with her two impromptu family members, were far too weak to stand up to a power as great as the Symphogears.
Yet, Tachibana Hibiki did not follow through with her strike. She stopped short right in front of her, only ruffling Vanessa's jacket and tossing up a bundle of dust. And then, right after that, she offered her hand.
"Why?"
"I don't know if what you said was the truth, but you said you wanted to be friends."
That was the simplistic ideal that that girl followed. She accepted their desire to become human as a good enough reason to extend her hand in peace and friendship, regardless of how true she felt it might be. She chose to believe, because believing is what she did best.
Was that peace offering justified, Vanessa wondered. In hindsight, Tachibana Hibiki had made a mistake. After all, it was her mercy that led the three of them to successfully kidnap Elfnein and Kohinata Miku, and consequently, allowed for Shem-Ha's revival. It was entirely their fault that Kazanari Fudou had managed to take control of her. Tachibana Hibiki had every right to resent them for their crimes and to demand their retribution.
Yet, she did not. Instead, she begged them to help. She understood that they were responsible, and yet did not blame them entirely for it. She sympathized with their pain and showed them the most compassion anyone had ever shown them in years.
Vanessa felt conflicted. Despite the genuine concern and hope the Gungnir Adaptor had shown, Vanessa's lack of faith in promises stopped her in her tracks. She knew that the girl had been instrumental in defeating Finé, stopping the moon fall, vanquishing Carol, and taking down the tyrannical Adam Weishaupt. All those factors combined facilitated Noble Red's escape from the crumbling Illuminati's experiments, thus leading them to their current predicament.
Had Vanessa believed in fate, she'd have cashed in on these premeditated circumstances. Yet, they did not end up on SONG's doorsteps, but rather on Fudou's. Many times did the robot woman consider the hypothetical scenario in which they'd have allied with SONG from the beginning, and she knew that it'd have been a much better alternative.
But there was no place for hypotheticals in their lives now. The past was irrelevant and the future was bleak; it all depended on the choices they made in the present.
"It might be a gamble, but I believe it is worth taking," she said.
Elsa pursed her lips. "Because we have absolutely nothing to lose and everything to gain."
"You're sure about this? If they stab us in the back, then it'll be the end for us," Millaarc said grimly.
"I know," Vanessa answered with a heavy nod. "Most likely, all we're doing is delaying the inevitable. But still..."
And it was at that exact moment that the alarm blared. The brig filled with red as the lamps blinked, and the siren rattled the steel walls of the submarine. Millaarc and Elsa shot to their feet, their wide gazes locked onto the lights on the ceiling. Vanessa, on the other hand, narrowed her eyes. She swiftly turned to the duo, her stare filled with resolution.
"Now is the time for us to make that gamble. If we don't do this now, we might regret this forever," she said with utmost severity. "Are you two with me?"
They looked to her and then to each other. Millaarc sighed while Elsa grabbed hold of her suitcase. She dragged it forward as the two stepped towards their older sister figure.
"All right," the vampiress said, shrugging her shoulders.
Elsa nodded in affirmation. "This might be our only chance to become humans again. Even if we have to bow our heads to them in shame, we'll do what we must."
"And make up for what we've done," Vanessa finished for her. With their course decided, she stepped up to the side panel by the door, and giving the duo one last look, pressed the button.
-!-
Hibiki, Kirika, and Shirabe crossed the threshold into the helipad area. Already the helicopter was ready and waiting, its blades whirling in preparation for their swift departure. The trio wasted no time in entering the passenger seats; this was a normal routine for them already. With practiced steps, they sat down and buckled in, now only waiting for the others to arrive and to leave. With the entirety of HQ on high alert, it shouldn't take more than a few minutes.
The door leading into the hangar opened once more, and the first person they saw charge through was Chris, heading straight to their position. She may not be the fastest runner of the group nor the most athletic, but when push came to shove, she had it in her to run at top speeds. That much was expected of the Adaptors no matter their speciality in combat. Chris quickly followed their lead, sitting down and strapping herself in.
"Chris-chan!" Hibiki yelled over the booming noise of the helicopter blades. "Do you know what's going on?!"
"Not yet!" was Chris's loud answer. "But apparently the old man is joining us!"
"Really?! Then it has to be Tsubasa-senpai and her grandpa and Miku-san!" Kirika shouted in turn. "It has to be! There's no other reason for him to come!"
"Well there ain't any other reasons for us to deploy either! Get ready, you three, cos we're in for a bumpy ride!"
With Chris's forewarning hanging in the air, Hibiki's mind drifted to Miku once more. This was going to be the first time she was going to see her since she came out of that divine cocoon. The sight of Miku's red-ringed eyes and the transformation that followed seared themselves into her mind, rising to the surface every time she even slightly strayed to that train of thought.
She clenched her fists on her knees, an act that Shirabe, who sat beside her, noticed. The younger Adaptor placed her hand over hers, causing their gazes to meet. Shirabe gave her a confident nod, which relieved some of the tension in Hibiki's hands. In the depths of her mind, Shem-Ha watched closely, studying the expressions of the Adaptors in the passenger cabin.
Their gazes turned to the hangar door once again as it slid open for the third time. To their shock, they saw Maria run towards them, her long pink hair trailing behind her from the gale force winds. As soon as she approached, she entered the helicopter with a single leap, sat down, and buckled up.
"Maria!" Kirika exclaimed with a smile. "They let you out?!"
"For now, yes!" The idol answered. "Emergencies trump disciplinary action, especially since we're down an Adaptor! Ogawa-san said it'll resume when we return, but I don't care about that! This is our chance! Let's not mess this up!"
"Right!"
To their surprise, a second helicopter started up on the other end of the hangar. Just the one they were in should've been enough for all five of them plus Genjuro, yet they decided to fire up another one? Who was he bringing along?
They received their answer when the hangar door opened once more. On cue, Genjuro stepped out, running towards the second helicopter.
And hot on his heels, Noble Red ran. Vanessa took the lead with Millaarc behind her while Elsa dragged her suitcase forward. The Adaptors stared in shock, watching as the group of four entered the helicopter. Their ear-pieces crackled as Genjuro's static-filled voice tore through.
"We are deploying now! Let's go!"
The order was acknowledged by the pilots. One after the other, the helicopters lifted off. As a single unit, they rose into the air, turned towards their destination, and flew forward as fast as their blades could take them.
"We didn't have time for a proper briefing, so I'll do so now!" Genjuro proclaimed over the comms. "We've got a situation at the Yokosuka American Base! Kazanari Fudou attacked the compound, and the stationed soldiers are requesting immediate assistance!"
"He's attacking the Americans? Why?" Shirabe shouted in question.
"What other reason does he have?!" Chris yelled in response. "You saw the guy! He has a massive hateboner for everything not Japanese! Why the hell won't he try getting rid of them now that he's pretty much invincible?!"
Fujitaka's voice cut into the communication with an alarming update. "We're detecting multiple bogeys at the destination point! The signals correspond to... divine power?! How?!"
The Adaptors stared at each other in shock. Before a single one of them could even voice their confusion, Shem-Ha spoke in Hibiki's mind. "I see, so he's deployed the drones."
"Drones?" Hibiki thought back to her.
"It is just another part of my power. They're quite a few levels above the Noise, so I would exercise caution. I cannot accurately tell you how powerful they will be, considering I had not completely integrated myself within the vessel before it was usurped. If we are lucky, they will not be too much of a threat. However, the soldiers, on the other hand, would get massacred if they have not already."
"What can they do?" Hibiki asked.
The Custodian took a moment before she responded. "Explaining it to you would take far too much valuable time. Instead, I shall transfer the information into your mind directly."
"Wait, what—?"
Hibiki's confused voice rose in protest, but before she could even begin thinking, she felt her head throb painfully. It felt as if something was stabbing at her brain from the inside, forcing electricity through her neurons. She let out an audible groan that went unheard within the cacophony of the helicopter, but her obvious discomfort was noticed by the others. Shirabe once again regarded her worriedly, putting a hand on her shoulder and mouthing a silent 'are you all right?'
It took Hibiki a moment to respond to her friend's concern. As the throbbing headache seemed to dissipate, she was inwardly shocked by the unfamiliar images burned into her retinas. A memory, no, knowledge that she knew she never had was suddenly at the forefront of her mind. It was akin to a schematic, and she knew that should she ever look at one, she'd never understand it. Yet, this one was eerily crystal clear to her. It was not only the information, but the understanding necessary to comprehend it.
The drones that Shem-Ha talked about, that Hibiki knew absolutely nothing about, abruptly became the most natural thing for her to know. In just an instant, their entire structure, making, abilities, behavior, and weaknesses became incredibly obvious, as if she had personally learned all of this information herself.
She removed her hand from her face and leaned back against the cushion of the seat. She looked towards Shirabe, mouthing an equally silent 'Yeah, I'm fine,' and then turned inwards. "W-what did you do?"
"I have done as I have stated. I have directly installed the relevant data into your hippocampus. All of the information necessary to combat the drones is now freely available to you. Make good use of it in the coming skirmish," Shem-Ha said matter-of-factly.
Hibiki would've been more concerned with her personal befuddlement at the Custodian's remark if it hadn't felt like her brain was on fire. She exhaled, grit her teeth, and complained inwardly. "Did you really have to do it like this? That was painful!"
Shem-Ha huffed. "Your complaints are asinine. Knowing you, you would have slept through any explanation I would have given you. This was simply the faster alternative, as unpleasant as it may feel to you. However, you can rest easy, as this is not an effort I shall do lightly."
"Why's that?"
"As you may have noticed, the human cortex was never meant to withstand the burden that comes with divine knowledge. Even though you have been liberated from the Curse of Balal, it is a separation that cannot be minimized. Should I overflow your mind with information, your brain matter would overheat and potentially detonate."
So her brain would explode. That was fun to hear from the odd companion now taking space inside of said brain. Shem-Ha's presence was already bizarre enough; hearing she could potentially die if the Custodian simply turned off her filters wasn't exactly a comforting thought to have. Hibiki figured the only reason Shem-Ha hadn't done so already was because she needed her alive. Hibiki was the only other vessel capable of housing her, so without her, Shem-Ha would be helpless to regain her body.
No, not her body, Hibiki rigidly reminded herself. Miku's body. That did not belong to Shem-Ha in any shape or form. She didn't care that the Custodian could read her thoughts on the matter, as she was intent on reminding her every step of the way that once this whole business was done, she was getting evicted. By force, if necessary.
"Repudiation. Save your empty threats. Remember what we have talked about."
Whatever.
"So old man, what's the deal with Noble Red, huh?! I thought they're supposed to be in the brig!" Chris shouted in the comms, tearing Hibiki's attention away from Shem-Ha.
Chris's question gained the attention of the other Adaptors as well, who were equally confused by the trio's presence. Kirika looked towards Maria, knowing that bad blood still hung in the air between her and Millaarc.
"They're here to help. They're agreed to cooperate against Fudou, so I trust all of you to have each other's back and not start an altercation in the middle of a fight!"
That comment was obviously aimed at Maria, a fact that she had noticed. She decided not to grace him with a response, instead grimacing as she looked outside. What bothered her the most in this arrangement was the fact that Noble Red were essentially a mercenary force within SONG now. Their loyalty could only be guaranteed so long as they received the blood as compensation.
She clicked her tongue. If she allowed herself to become incensed now, she'd only be jeopardizing the mission. That's right, her anger at Noble Red was due to one particular reason that sat on the forefront of her mind.
'Tsubasa...'
She gritted her teeth, and her cheek stung as a result. She forced down the pain along with all the complaints she had in mind, and put herself back to the task.
"ETA 30 seconds! Everyone, get ready!"
That was their cue. As one unit, they unbuckled themselves and rose to their feet.
Peeking out of the helicopter doors, the Adaptors were horrified to see the flames and smoke rising from within the base. The blazing fires consumed everything in their wake, made all the more terrible by the veritable army of thousands of somethings whisking through the air at unparalleled speeds. Weak flashes of light from the ground indicated the soldiers attempting to resist the invasion, but the return fire of silver lasers from the aggressors slowly but surely chipped away at the base's defenses.
"Those are the drones. Be cautious in their midst. Fortunately for us, the larger ones have not been deployed, perhaps due to the main consciousness having not properly integrated within the host," Shem-Ha said, tearing Hibiki out of her errant thoughts.
However, she chose not to respond and instead mulled over the information about the drones that the Custodian had given her. It still felt bizarre to suddenly be knowledgeable about them to the utmost, but her biggest hurdle was not knowing what to do with this information. Far too many variables she couldn't wrap her head around, exacerbated further by the constant worry for Miku.
This was her chance. Since the drones were here, Miku was here. This was the perfect opportunity to snag her back. Nip Fudou's plans in the bud.
"They kinda look like birds," Kirika said off-handedly.
"Yeah, if birds shot fucking lasers and killed people on command," Chris bit out, then spoke to her communicator. "Ready when you are, old man!"
There was a moment of silence from the other end, and then the communication crackled to life.
"Let's go! Our priorities are to defeat the enemies and protect the soldiers!"
That was their cue. One by one, the Adaptors jumped out of the helicopter, diving down through the pillars of smoke and fire. Within a couple of seconds, both transports were emptied from their passengers, and together, the members of SONG and their collaborators began their mission.
Song echoed throughout the night sky, the combined chants of the Adaptors flowing over the battlefield. The spheres of light encased their beings as they donned their battle armor midfall. The blanket of drones, caught by surprise by the arrival of reinforcements, could do nothing as the group of nine tore through their ranks in the middle of their drop. Having equipped their weapons as soon as their transformation was over, the Adaptors launched their attack.
Explosions filled their downward path as dozens of drones were destroyed without a fight. Having carved a hole in the drone numbers, the group landed on the ground amidst the wreckage of the base.
Now that they got a close look at it, the damage was way worse than they thought. Not a single facility remained unscathed, torn down to mere concrete and metal debris that littered the open spaces, along with some buildings still ablaze. Among them, the remaining scraps of military grade vehicles, including tanks, fighter jets, and transport planes lay bare and melted. What caught Maria's eye, however, were the sliced remains of those very same vehicles. Several of the crackling metal chunks still simmered from the perfect cuts inflicted upon them. She gritted her teeth in frustration, clenching her fists in tight anger. The smoke was nearly unbearable, obscuring both their windpipes and visions.
But worst of all, the charred and blasted bodies of the soldiers lay scattered everywhere they looked. Only Genjuro knew the exact numbers of the troops stationed there, but the angered look in his eyes implied to them that the vast majority of that number was no longer alive. Maria counted it as a small, temporary blessing that none of the bodies she saw had been the result of a bisection. None of them had been cut into pieces, meaning that at least from the bodies she could see, none of them were the direct result of Tsubasa doing something irreversible.
But it was only a small, minor blessing. Knowing Tsubasa, the deep scars that this incident would inflict on her would be unhealable.
"Our plan of actions is this," Genjuro began, surveying the damage around him to the best of his ability. He had to keep it brief before the drones locked in on them and began firing. "We'll split up and take down the drones as we go, all the while assisting any survivor we find. We have a lot of ground to cover, so be careful! If you run into Fudou, do not engage!"
The group turned to nod, and even Noble Red seemed to comply with his orders. "Roge—"
"Wait!"
Hibiki's sudden outburst caught them by surprise. "We can't! They have the advantage in numbers! If we split up, they'll pick us off! We should stick together and get them to chase us! If we make a big enough splash, they'll focus on us instead and leave the soldiers alone! Besides, their laser fire isn't strong enough to beat us in our Gears!"
She puked the information out faster than she even noticed herself doing so. Chris narrowed her eyes at her, shocked at the uncharacteristic display of strategy. "How the heck do you know that?!"
Caught like a deer in the headlights, Hibiki fell back on a convenient excuse. "Huh... just a feeling!"
It was definitely not a satisfactory answer, but they didn't have the time to talk about it.
"Noted, then we'll split into even groups! Chris-kun, Shirabe-kun, Kirika-kun, Elsa-kun, and Vanessa-kun! You four are responsible for drawing their attention! Make as much noise as possible and keep your guards up! The rest of you, with me! We'll look for Fudou and his captives!"
"Roger!"
(Play: Absolute Configuration - Madoka Rebellion OST)
Immediately, the group split. As the drones tried to turn on the advance group, the defenders began their assault in order to bring the attention to them. Her crossbows at the ready, Chris took aim and fired, the violet bolts streaking through the air to their targets. Following her lead, the compartments on Shirabe's metallic twintails opened, ejecting a rain of buzzsaws that screeched through the air. Right after her, Kirika swung her scythe, launching her crescent shaped shockwaves in tandem with Shirabe.
Vanessa and Elsa watched the Adaptors' assault with bated breath. The manner by which they worked in tandem was breathtaking; their power was nothing to scoff at either. Again explosions filled the air as their shots met their mark, instantly destroying many of the drones. The two members of Noble Red looked at each other, nodded, and joined the fray. Vanessa extended her arms, pointing her fingers forward. The hatches on her fingertips opened, and she began to let out a burst of gunfire, assisting the Adaptors in their defense.
Elsa, the only one lacking a ranged option, swiftly attached her longest tail from her suitcase, and keeping it close to her person, began to reach out and smack the drones out of the sky. Any that the others had missed or failed to take down, she was on top of in an instant.
The thousands upon thousands of projectiles from the Adaptors' side were met by an equally immeasurable amount of laser fire from the drones, now fully occupied with the attackers. More and more of their number drew away from other sections of the base, their innate programming guiding them to destroy the enemy units designated as the most dangerous.
All the while, Chris and the other Adaptors held their ground, Hibiki's surprising piece of advice shockingly proving to be accurate in its assumption. Individual lasers were easy enough to dodge, however, Chris wasn't so naive as to believe it wholeheartedly; one shot may be nothing, but hundreds all at once converging on just her position were undoubtedly going to give her trouble.
And that's where the challenge was. One drone was nothing, but just like Hibiki said, their numbers were massive. They kept on shooting them down, leaving not even a tiny silver trace of their existence following their destruction, yet more came to fill up the ranks in an instant.
Yet, something about the process felt inconsistent. As she and her comrades fired, she noted that many of the shots weren't actually having any effect. In the absolute chaos of the battle, she didn't even have a single moment to try and guess why that was.
Their destruction felt random, and she didn't like it at all.
She was torn from her thoughts by a particularly nasty encirclement of silver lights. Without a second thought, she leaped into the air, letting the burst of air from their impact propel her upward. She momentarily soared above the drones, and swiftly hundreds of them paused their assault in order to lock onto her new position. In a split second decision, Chris flipped over in midair, and landed on top of one of the drones. It briefly lost altitude from the added weight onto its frame, wobbling in the air for a few seconds before stabilizing. Seeing that her gambit paid off, Chris grinned widely.
With an enemy right within their ranks, the drones aiming at her fired. She immediately jumped away, letting the silver lights strike their own. However, to Chris's shock, rather than obliterate the unfortunate drone on the spot, the light reflected off of its silver chassis, angling towards her errant position in the air. Her quick instincts barely managed to save her from injury as she forcefully twisted, allowing the lights to glance off of her armor harmlessly.
Only to discover that the hit wasn't harmless at all. Rather than bounce off of her defenses, the lights simply seared through them, completely unhindered by the special relic metal...
Chris's eyes widened. "No fucking way!"
She remembered this effect! How could she bloody forget this goddamn thing! It was only one of the absolute worst moments of her life!
This was the Shenshoujing's power!
She swiftly landed atop another drone and wasted no time screaming into her communicator, uncaring that her teammates were right beneath her. "These little shits can erase Gears! Forget what the dumbass said, cos these things can fuck us up if we're not careful! DON'T GET HIT!"
The message came across perfectly for all the involved combatants. As Chris continued jumping between the drones, gunning them down and dodging laser fire as she did so, the others on the ground kept up the fight, adjusting their tactics according to her warning.
Shirabe picked up speed as she slid across the asphalt, managing to take a brunt of the laser fire towards herself. The runway sizzled with each and every impact, and sparks lit up the night as she accelerated, aiming to become too quick in order to throw off the drones' targeting systems. With every pass she made, making sure to keep close to her allies, she launched more and more of her buzzsaws, hoping to at least knock the drones around for the others to pick off. She quickly glanced to the sky, unable to make out their exact numbers; she knew that this wasn't their entire force, as while the majority had concentrated on their group, the others seeking Fudou were still being hounded by a large force themselves. There was nothing they could do about it without breaking formation, which was the last thing they wanted to happen.
These things were a lot tougher than the Noise, that was for sure. Just as many of the projectiles scored a hit and destroyed their target, others simply bounced off of the silver parts of the drones. Either the individual projectiles were too weak, or the reflective surface was hardened in such a way that it could absorb some of the impact. It meant nothing in an extended barrage, but missing a shot on a drone would allow it to return fire.
And with every laser fired, they were brushing the line between victory and defeat. In a battle as chaotic as this, tactics weren't what was going to save them; it would take a single, lucky shot from any of the drones, and their formation would instantly crumble.
That fear was nearly realized as soon as she noticed Vanessa's precarious position; she had dodged the lasers in such a way that separated her from her young charge, and as soon as she placed her foot back on the ground, the drones surrounding her fired.
She didn't have enough time to respond. Knowing what the relic-destroying blasts could do, Shirabe acted completely out of instinct.
"Watch out!"
She leaped, tackling the robotic woman out of the way just before the lasers hit.
"Shirabe!" "Vanessa!"
Both Kirika and Elsa responded in kind. Kirika jumped into the air, raising her scythe above her head. The blade glowed a shining emerald, and she swung it with all her might, launching a multitude of glowing crescents towards the assaulting drones.
That seemed to bypass their defenses well enough. The drones were destroyed before they could finish firing, and the projectiles continued flying, taking out even more of their numbers on standby. Now in midair, Kirika was accosted by another two dozen drones, all immediately preparing to fire.
Only for them to go down as well as Elsa's claw smashed into them from the side, throwing them off course to detonate harmlessly away. The two landed back on the ground and exchanged a quick look at each other.
"Thanks!" Kirika said with a grin.
Elsa nodded and resumed her assault. "You can thank me later!"
By this time, Shirabe and Vanessa rose back to their feet. The robot woman looked down at her younger former enemy, confused by her actions. "Why did you help me?"
"We're allies now, aren't we?" Shirabe stated matter-of-factly. "It's only right to help your allies when they need help."
Something about the way she said it particularly resonated with Vanessa. She couldn't help but crack a sincere, yet somewhat sad smile. "Yeah, I suppose so."
She aimed her arms forward again, this time opening up her arms to fire a pair of rockets. As if joining their chorus, Chris's followed suit, and the resulting explosions reverberated throughout the destroyed base. The following air burst knocked about the drones, allowing the group to gun them down without retaliation.
The gunslinger's eyes narrowed in dour concentration. All this teamwork was fun and games, but they wouldn't be able to keep this up forever. A battle like this was a matter of attrition, not tactics. Numbers made the difference, and for all of their superior firepower, Chris wasn't sure they were going to pull through without help.
"Hurry things up there, dumbass. We ain't got forever."
-!-
A high speed run like this put everything Hibiki had to the test. Not only were they short on time, attempting to locate Fudou and his captives, but also being bombarded relentlessly by the pursuing drones didn't make life any easier.
"Elfnein-kun! Run scans of the base and look for Aufwachen signals! You know the ones! Give us their location ASAP!" Genjuro barked over the comm.
"On it!"
They were utterly surrounded, and the silver lights that threatened to strike them down poured like a monstrous deluge, as if within the towering clouds of a hurricane. The asphalt was bombarded with searing holes, and each and every step the group made to avoid being hit only made them vulnerable for the followup. Even Millarc, who had the advantage of flight, found herself gritting her teeth as she had to sharply maneuver out of the way. With her claws extended, she took the opportunity to slice many of the drones in her wake, relieving at least some of the pressure on the flanks.
It was only barely helpful, but it was better than nothing. The entire time, despite running through the base, Maria eyed her like a hawk, taking opportunities in between to strike down some of the drones.
Genjuro also contributed to their defense by casually lifting wrecked pieces of vehicles, and sometimes entire tanks, with a single hand, and tossing them at the drones before they could fire.
Elfnein's voice came through a minute later. "I have their position! They're in the North-East, near the coast at Sector 7!"
"Good job!" He replied loudly. He turned to the rest of his group and screamed back. "You heard her! Follow me!"
"Roger!"
He took a hard turn to the right, barely allowing a wayward shot to knick the back of his head. Hibiki, Maria, and Millaarc were hot on his heels, barely able to keep up with his speed.
Their path, however, was blocked by the collapsed and burning ruins of a hangar. With no other option, Genjuro picked up speed, jumped onto a raised piece of debris, and vaulted over the wreckage as high as he could. In the middle of his path, the drones converged, taking aim at the mortal and seemingly defenseless man.
He had no need to respond to them. Overtaking his flightpath, Maria jumped into the fray, her dagger extending into its chainsword form. She swung it to-and-fro, slicing apart and knocking away the drones in his way. The group landed back on the ground, and swiftly took off again, this time with a clear destination in mind.
It was at that moment that Shem-Ha decided to speak up within Hibiki's mind. The tone of her voice seemed distant, as if recalling a memory she had long suppressed. "Fascination. So I was not mistaken; Maria Cadenzavna Eve's relic is indeed not Nuada's arm. It has absolutely no relation to him."
Hibiki did not have the drive to ask her what she meant, her mind filled with only the upcoming battle. The drones are nothing in comparison to what they were going to face; she had to steel her heart as much as she could in order to not falter in the middle of the fight.
The Custodian continued with her muse. "And it seems that despot has made some alterations to my drones that I did not foresee. To lace their weaponry with the Shenshoujing's inherent ability is an ingenious move, even if it is detrimental to our purposes. Do not allow your Gungnir to fall here, for without it, we shall be in a grave disadvantage."
The group cleared the wreckage and continued on their sprint towards the enemy location. Sector 7 of the base was actually not exactly a part of the base itself; rather, it was the very top of the small cliff that overlooks the sea. It wasn't developed like the rest of the base, and it lay beyond a thicket of trees that they'd have to cross before they came face to face with the culprit.
And that came upon them as soon as they made the final turn around another toppled hangar. Without even stopping to take a breath, the group dove into the grove with the drones still hot on their heels.
The silver lights seared through treetops, trunks, and falling leaves. A tree began to topple, falling smack dab in the middle of Hibiki's path. Without lowering her momentum, she slid beneath it just as it crashed, its branches shattering upon impact. Millaarc maneuvered in between the trees, twirling and spinning in mid air to avoid a painful impact. Maria likewise parkoured over roots and collapsing evergreens, while Genjuro punched out any tree that the drones attempted to drop in his wake.
Soon enough, they made it through the thicket. The trees parted to reveal the clearing right before the cliff, with the vastness of the Tokyo Bay greeting them. The night wind wafted through the area, ruffling the treetops that forewarned the arrival of more of the blasted drones.
However, not a single one of their number gave chase.
For their presence was not needed before their master.
The group came to a stop, with Genjuro at the lead. Standing at the edge of the cliff, and gazing at them with a savage grin as if expecting them, was none other than Kazanari Fudou.
"You are far too predictable, my foolish son," the elder said.
"Look who's talking," Genjuro replied, glaring daggers at his father. Fudou, still dressed in his yukata with his sword sheathed on his hip, made no move to even acknowledge the stare.
Hibiki couldn't give a damn about him. No, her own eyes were glued to the figure hovering above him, still as a statue in midair.
"Miku...!" she called out loud. Naturally, the caged deity offered no response to her. Still adorned in the form fitting black dress, Miku, or rather, Shem-Ha, merely gazed at them with her red-ringed eyes, expressionless and wordless.
Maria's focus fell upon the third figure, standing to Fudou's right, her blue eyes glazed over and empty. Clad in her Symphogear and with her blade held loosely in her hand, her eyes were turned towards the ground with an eerie stillness.
"Tsubasa!"
She, too, gave no response to her name being called.
And the last member of the group seethed, her teeth rattling with fury and burning with hatred. Millaarc spat out his name in poisoned contempt.
"KAZANARI FUDOU!"
(Play: The butterfly flutters - Fate Heaven's Feel OST)
She was about to pounce him, only for Genjuro to raise his arm, pushing her back. He took a step forward, intent on guarding the three girls behind him with his life. He stood unshaken and tall before his father, speaking evenly and lowly. "Haven't you had enough by now? Have you had your fill of innocent people suffering from your actions?"
"Innocent? They were hardly innocent, my foolish son," Fudou answered derisively, having utterly ignored Millaarc's outburst. "Their very presence defiles our land. I have only done my duty as a Kazanari and a sentinel, unlike you."
Genjuro had to stop himself from spittaking outwardly due to the absurd response. "Duty? You call this massacre duty? They've done nothing to deserve to be killed like this. You've crossed a line you shouldn't have crossed."
Fudou scoffed, readjusting his stance and placed a hand on the hilt of his sword. "I had no need to dirty my hands with their blood. My puppet's contraptions did all the work for me. They died screaming and in pain, as they should have all those years ago."
Hibiki was already unnerved by his attitude. He was circled by the moonlight, serving as his backdrop, as if choosing to stand by his side. Shem-Ha, watching the confrontation unfold through Hibiki's eyes, alternated her focus between Fudou and her lost vessel hovering above him.
"The fact you have the nerve to call this the duty of a sentinel is what shocks me more than anything else," Genjuro said to his father, forcing Hibiki's attention back. "No sentinel I have ever had the displeasure of meeting ever went this far in their so-called 'protection of the nation' you like to go on about. The Kazanari sure have lost their touch."
"That is where you're mistaken, you traitorous dog," Fudou said, craning his neck upwards to look down at his son. "I have seen enough to understand that a sentinel is not enough to protect our country from the evils that plague it. From the invaders that threaten to undermine it."
The waves crashed against the cliffside.
"What this country needs is not a sentinel, but a demon to guard it. A demon that will go to any lengths and will crush any and all enemies that challenge it. For that, the divine power is necessary. Only with it can our nation be saved and redeemed. That has been our mission from our inception, and I will not allow a disloyal mutt that discarded our ideals for banal drivel to question it."
Millaarc quickly lost her patience. She bared her claws and extended her wings, spitting out more curses at her object of hatred. "All you do is talk, you demented fuck! Nobody gives a damn about your twisted way of life!"
Fudou barely regarded her, not even sparing her a tiny glance. He kept his gaze leveled on Genjuro, his eyes narrowing. "So you collude with those discarded failures now, do you? And I thought you could not disappoint me any further. You truly are nothing but a traitor to this country."
"And attacking the Americans isn't treachery? Depending on what those armchair generals decide, you've just signed our death warrant. You played your hand far too early, old man, and now they're going to come down on all of us because of your arrogance."
"Arrogance?" Fudou said in mock ludicrousness. He could not help but let out a chuckle. "There is no arrogance to be had if it is nothing but the truth. With the divine power in the palm of my hand, none can match me. All of their destructive weapons cannot hold a candle to the power that shaped this world from ash."
The wind blew once more, as if standing by this man's beck and call.
"This is just the beginning, dogs of the UN. The lives of those invaders have been taken as a symbol of Japan rising to rebel against those that threatened her sovereignty. I have been far too lenient with these fools playing politicians; their games have done nothing but sink us even lower. I will make certain that their efforts to sell out our country will fail right before their eyes."
"You think you stand for the entirety of Japan?!" Genjuro said, taking another step forward. "The Japan you knew is long gone. It was defeated and was changed. It had to move forward and progress, yet you seek to undo all of the good that this change brought!"
"Good? There was nothing but humiliation!" Fudou declared. "To see the proud people of this land fall into such disgusting decadence, consumed with materialism and mingling with filthy foreigners! They have become too much like them, the Americans who brought this country to its knees!"
The sheer fury he cast was palpable in the air. It radiated off of him like a heatwave, causing the SONG group to swallow nervously. His eyes took on a dangerous glint, his face scrunched up in wrathful passion.
"They, who brought hellfire upon us with their abominable armaments! They, who found glee and victory through our suffering! They charred our lands, obliterated our lives, poisoned our air, eradicated our history, and trampled our pride! And they dared to base their armies upon our sacred soil, believing that it rightfully belongs to them! That is nothing but an affront to our very existence, against the very soul of Japan itself!"
Hibiki stood gobsmacked. She could not comprehend what he was talking about, yet the Shem-Ha residing in her head did. She carefully listened to this madman's words, enraptured with his twisted philosophy.
But most of all, she awaited the opportunity. She calculated, she plotted, she schemed. She ran every simulation within her consciousness that she could, seeking the most efficient course of action they could take.
"And I watched as the people, who should have stood against these invaders with their very lives, were instead devoured by this evil, forgetting the evils that have been committed against them! Our country was once a nation of warriors, of people who stood above all others! Yet these people have utterly discarded that notion, believing in risible falsehoods such as songs and understanding! The people must be reminded of their true path! They must be shown righteousness, and kept in check by fear!"
The demonic glare he directed at them managed to make Genjuro stop dead in his tracks.
"And you too embraced these foolhardy causes, forgetting your place as a protector of this country! You and the rest of my foolish sons have betrayed our cause and succumbed to these vacuous convictions!" He turned his abhorrent glower towards Maria, who froze and sucked in a breath. "And you even allowed a detestable outsider within the very organization I created to protect our nation! And the offspring of that deplorable Fine, no less! You and Yatsuhiro both have earned my ire, and it is my responsibility to cut down the traitors who had turned their backs on our creed!"
His voice was teeming with such appalling anger it made Hibiki's skin crawl.
"But it matters little now. I do not require you unworthy lot any longer. Your usefulness has come to an end, for a much more valuable piece has fallen into my hands. With it, I will restore the glory that we once had. All that we have lost will be regained, and Japan will reign supreme above all others. The failures of our past will be cast away for a greater future. I will take back the future that was meant for our nation, by any means necessary."
Genjuro could not help but laugh. "I didn't expect you to outright admit you saw us as nothing but tools." His expression then turned deadly serious, almost mirroring his father's in intensity. "Your long life has turned you senile, old man. The only one who's been consumed by anything is you. The one who has lost vision of the future is none other than you. The fact that you believe all of this nonsense is cause enough for me to stop you. The fact that you schemed to make these two your puppets just shows just how far you've fallen. For the sake of our nation, our world, and our loved ones, I'm taking you down here."
"Hmph. With that lack of killing intent in your eyes? You will fail as you always have, fool," Fudou replied venomously.
Millaarc, having shaken herself out of her stupor, quickly ran out of patience. She bared her claws and fumed openly. "Enough talk, motherfucker! You're going to pay for leaving us for dead!"
"SILENCE, FILTH!"
His bellow shook the treetops even harder than the wind, nearly throwing Millaarc of her feet. The veritable storm of his anger rent asunder any sense of meagre tranquility. The fresh green leaves, having sat undisturbed on their branches, were torn out of place and sent whirling through the air in a wild, macabre dance.
"You are unworthy of even speaking to me. You are nothing but the lowest of trash that has to be thoroughly cleaned up," he said, his brows furrowed. He then glimpsed towards Maria, who immediately raised her dagger to a ready stance, meeting his glare with one of her own.
He held nothing back as he cursed both of their existences. Maria could feel it just through his stare. She glanced at Millaarc, her heart still filled with rage and vengeance, and gritted her teeth at the thought of being placed in the same group as her. However, knowing what was at stake, and recalling her probation, she swallowed down those feelings and sharpened her focus. She shuffled her feet, preparing herself for the start of the engagement.
"Intriguing. He is far more intransigent than I have expected. The depths of his worldview are unlike any human I have encountered," Shem-Ha suddenly said. Hibiki didn't understand why she chose now of all times to find something interesting.
Hibiki, ever since that fateful concert, and against all odds, found herself always believing in the good in others, always sought the anchor she could find to reach out to them in understanding. She did so out of a belief that should she strive for such a harmonious world, the horrors she had endured would be a thing of the past.
But the only thing she saw by looking at him was an endless abyss, threatening to swallow her whole. An abyss burning with a fire that unsettled her. A man like Fudou was utterly incomprehensible to her, as every single word he had spoken locked her in place and challenged everything she had ever believed. He spoke with such a maniac fervor, fully believing that his path was right. And she couldn't wrap her head around it. There was no foothold for her to balance on, no handhold for her to grab. All there was an immovable mountain, unfazed by anything and anyone. His very existence contrasted with her own.
It scared her. He was terrifying.
Fudou then turned to Tsubasa, who had not moved an inch since their "talk" began. "Tsubasa, you will exterminate these fools. As a sentinel, the protector of our country, you will rid us of these unwelcome scum with your blade."
Her eyes briefly lit up with a kaleidoscopic glow. Then, she raised her head, and took a small, mechanical step forward. "Yes, grandfather."
Maria clicked her tongue, and defying the elder, screamed towards her enthralled partner. "Tsubasa! You are stronger than this! Don't listen to his crap! You have to wake up!"
Her words, sadly, fell on deaf ears. There was no free will within Tsubasa's mind to even consider it. So ensnared was she by the vampire's magic that the leash her grandfather held was abysmally short; only his words could stir her to reaction, and follow his will to the letter.
Maria could not hate Millaarc more than she did at that moment. She swiftly turned to the vampire, who had also taken on a ready, defensive stance. "How about you do something useful for a change and remove that thing! If it wasn't for you, we wouldn't be in this situation! Take some fucking responsbility and fix it!"
Millaarc grew red in the face from the provocation. She turned her head hard in Maria's direction and screamed. "You stupid bitch, I'd have done that already if I knew how!"
"Goddamn useless..." The idol clicked her tongue again in exasperation. She brandished her knife in front of her. "Then we'll have to do this the hard way. Tsubasa, I'm going to knock you back to your senses, and after that, I'm going to silence that deranged grandfather of yours once and for all."
The tension in the air rose to an all-time high. Knowing that an all-out fight was just moments away, Genjuro measured their chances inwardly. It didn't take him very long to reach the obvious conclusion, but now that negotiations have broken down for the last time, he knew that there was no other choice now.
He shuffled his feet, entering his martial arts stance.
The sound of drawn steel, echoing from Fudou's blade, filled the nighttime sea.
And along with it, made his final declaration.
"My ambition cannot be stopped."
There was no going back now.
With her eyes locked onto Miku, Hibiki readied her own tumultuous heart. All of the mistakes she had made, and all the promises she had broken were meant to be corrected right here and now.
And Shem-Ha, driven by a passion known only to her, made her own internal promise.
In their shared mind, for a brief moment, their convictions intertwined. Meeting the madman's beliefs head on, they echoed their fervent vow.
"By any means necessary."
