The group raced over close to where the cannon that Tails was fixing, meeting back up with him.

"How's the cannon looking, Tails?" Hope asked.

"It's ready to go." Tails said, the group was about to use it before he spoke up again. "Listen guys… I've been thinking about what Miu said earlier."

"When she asked about what your doubts are and what you can do to change them, right? What did you come to a decision on?" Lei K asked.

"When this is all over…I think I need to go it alone for a while. I can't grow into my full potential if I always fall back on Sonic and all of you. If that's okay!" Tails said, surprising some of the group a bit as Sage was watching from a hidden spot.

"Child, are you certain?" Thorani asked.

"I'm positive." Tails said.

"Heh…we thought Sonic was the fast one." Jexi said.

"Are you guys saying I outpaced you?" Tails asked.

"Don't push it." Mari winked.

"Such a beautiful friendship. A family born of love and not genetics. Everything I want… I wish I'd never seen this. It was so much easier accepting the future when they were simply enemies." Sage said as the color of her dress shifted to white as she glitched blue while tearing up. "But alas, that is simply not how life works most of the time, isn't it?"

She simply lied there in hiding as she could only think of her time with the Universal Villains as the Heroes made their way towards the volcano.

"Just through here and we got that girl." Yang said as they walked through a cave before coming before a strange set of ruins. "Huh…weird…this feels…familiar."

"Did the Ancients play pinball or something?" Al asked.

"I seriously doubt it." David said.

"Looks like we can't go forward unless we get the high score or something." Vashyron said.

"Bronya, looks like it's your time to shine." Kiana said, earning a nod from Bronya as she approached the controls and flexed her fingers.

"This is child's play to the Bronya." Bronya smirked as she took control of the machine.

Several minutes later, she managed to get a high enough score which impressed the alliance.

"That's our Bronya-chan." Mei smiled.

"Like the Bronya said, child's play." Bronya smiled back.

Suddenly, the area began shaking around them as the group quickly ran outside as they saw the Volcano erupt, lava pouring into a large hole filled with mist as the lava cleared it away, revealing the titan.

"Whatever you guys did triggered an eruption! And the lava burned away the cloud bank and revealed…something…" Tails said.

"It's most likely Knight camping out inside that crater, with Neo piloting it." Zephyr said.

"Well, time to bust out the Time Mazines again. And this time, with weapons." Zi-O deduced.

"Tsubasa and I will gladly help you get those weapons, before you use Wizard's power to grow big again, of course." Kanade said with Tsubasa nodding.

"But try not to kill Neo by accident." Tsubasa added.

"Don't worry, we'll not make that mistake. It'll leave a bad taste in our mouths if we did that." Geiz assured as he and Zi-O called upon the Time Mazines using their Zikan Phones.

=TIME MAZINE!=

Both Time Mazines made their appearance as Zi-O and Geiz got inside and change them into their Battle Modes.

"It won't be enough to just beat Neo. We have to get through to her with words too, if we wanna make sure she doesn't break herself." Hope said.

"Ruby, you'd better come with us. If anyone can break that trauma, it's you." Zi-O advised.

"Uh, last I checked, Neo hates Ruby's guts." Mermista mentioned.

"Mermista's right. Anything Ruby says might just make her worse." Glimmer said.

"Hmm…" Zi-O pondered. "Any other ideas then?"

"Don't worry. We'll think of something." David said.

"Alright then." Geiz noted. "Tsubasa, Kanade, the weapons?"

"One weapon delivery, coming up!" Kanade complied as she and Tsubasa threw their Armed Gears to the sky before it descended and crashed into the ground as the weapons are now the same size as the Time Mazines.

"Okay… let's do this!" Hope said as they all went towards the crater to face Knight and Neo head on, after Geiz used Wizard's power to grow the mechas to the same size as the Titan.

Upon arriving at the Titan's location, there was Knight, standing in the center of the hollowed out lava crater, with Neo on top of its head.

"Kept you waiting, huh, Neopolitan?" Zi-O greeted.

Neo was indifferent as she stood on the Titan's head with just a glare as the illusion of Torchwick stood by her side.

KNIGHT

NEOPOLITAN

"So, you're still here, huh?" David asked Torchwick.

"I could say the same to you guys. Still haven't given up for once?" Torchwick asked.

"Nope. Not just yet." David said. "We tend to be pretty stubborn that way."

"Before we begin this fight, you said something about Connor and the Attuned having a connection with that mysterious voice. What do you mean by that?" Geiz asked.

"It's a little something the big bosses found out awhile back. Connor, dear boy, do you know anything about your genealogy?" Torchwick asked.

"...Less than I should." Connor said. "All I know is, I'm an Attuned like them."

"Yes. An attuned. A Symphogear. We actually found some records regarding those while they studied the Ancients. Oh to weaponize music like that…they were simply incredible." Torchwick said.

"Were? What do you mean…" Connor said.

"There's a reason you've never met any others like those six, my boy. Cause that world…is gone." Torchwick said.

"And along with it, they all died out." David said.

"...WHAT?!" Team Symphogear exclaimed in utter shock.

"The Symphogear world…? Gone…?!" Kiana exclaimed.

"Well then how the hell do I have Ichaival on me if the girls' world here is wiped out?" Connor asked.

"Oh, don't tell me you haven't figured it out yet. Your white hair, your talent for using all sorts of guns…" Torchwick said. "The fact that it's the same as your little friend there." he said pointing to Chris. "I'm sure even you can put two and two together."

Connor looked at Chris, and she did the same. Looking closely, they soon started to figure it out. They dismissed it in New York, but… that feeling of similarity when Connor took off his mask and showed his real face, the way he fought in Fisk tower…

"No freakin' way…" Connor finally got it. "Chris… I'm you?"

"Ding-ding-ding! That's correct!" Torchwick said. "You've seen it before! Reincarnation can happen at any time. And you, Connor my friend? You're a reincarnation of the Chris Yukine of our little dimension after she got wiped out with her world!"

"...Say WHAT?!" Team XDR exclaimed at the reveal, especially Chris.

"You're… this world's version of me?!" Chris exclaimed while looking at Connor.

"No wonder you looked so much like a girl with your mask off!" Denji said.

"...Who was the one responsible for the destruction of that world?" Zi-O demanded.

"The End of course." Torchwick said. "Sort of like…how you all are going to end your stories with. The End." he said as the Knight roared.

"Wait…Singularity mentioned that too after we defeated him." Simon said.

"No time to figure all that out. We got a fight to win!" Leonie said.

"Ah, right! We'll sort this out later, Chris!" Connor said.

Chris was still shocked at the reveal, but quickly shook her head. "Yeah… we'll finish this later, after we fight the Knight. Zi-O, Geiz, you better not lose!"

"Don't worry, we don't plan on losing here, especially since we know who our true enemy is!" Zi-O replied as the mechas prepared their weapons with Zi-O holding Tsubasa's sword and Geiz holding Kanade's spear.

"We decide how our story ends! Not by The End, and definitely not by you, Neo!" Geiz added as the mechas began rushing towards the Titan.

"Remember, we gotta get that emerald out first, then we can go all out!" Vent reminded. "If anyone wants to volunteer, now's the time!"

"No worries…someone's already racing to grab it." Jexi said as he pointed to something racing across the Knight's chest.

"Is that..?" Sonia asked.

"Sonic?!" Gunvolt gasped.

"Even though he's suffering…he's still running at top speed to make sure we win." Jexi said as Sonic ran all the way to the top and snatched out the emerald as both Torchwick and Neo looked shocked by this.

"How are you even here!? You ingested enough Cyber Corruption to kill somebody twice over!" Torchwick questioned.

"What? You seriously don't know? I'm the fastest thing alive." Sonic said as the other Emeralds flew towards him as he became Super Sonic.

"Neo, think this over one more time. Is this really what you want?" David asked.

"Oh please. She doesn't need to answer you." Torchwick said as he saw Neo somewhat intrigued by David's question. "Wait… What?"

"What I mean is… Say on an off chance, you do manage to succeed in killing Ruby. What's next for you after that? Have you given that any thought?" David asked.

Neo wasn't sure how to respond. Revenge against Ruby was all that mattered to her, and now she's being questioned if her pursuits are really worth the effort she's putting in.

"Like we say, some of us have been where you are at. We know how you feel. But it's not going to lead you anywhere good. You need to take that drive and put it into something that doesn't lead to you destroying yourself." David said.

Neo isn't sure what to put that drive in, though.

"Unfortunately, Neo… As much as we want to, that isn't something anyone here can answer for you." David said.

(Cue: Find Your Flame- Sonic Frontiers)

However…Neo's confusion only lead to one thing…anger. She looked up angrily as appearing next to the Knight were illusions of Giganto and Wyvern.

"Oh boy, oh boy… This is gonna be a tough nut to crack." David said.

"You really thought you'd make her crack with all that hogwash. You know, I think you'll look better…without a mouth." Torchwick said, firing from his cane as David dodged.

"Is your name, Neo? No? Then be silent, you glorified mouthpiece." David said. "Listen to me. I lost a comrade of mine quite some time ago too. At the time… All I could think about was revenge against the man responsible. But somewhere along the way…I realized something."

Illusion Giganto tried to shut David up by smashing him with its fist, but he dodged in time.

"UPMEDANYDA!" Simon chanted, summoning Hekatoncheir as he clashed his fists against Giganto's.

"I realized… That revenge leaves you empty, if there is nothing else to live for." David said. "Ask anyone here that had this mindset, and they'll tell you the exact same thing from their perspectives."

"It is true." Spade added. "Before coming here, all I ever could think about was one thing. Revenge on the one who took all of my comrades from me, but I found support and companionship in my allies and brothers."

"Think back on your time with the Universal Villains, Neo. Surely you have found something to live for by hanging around with them." David said.

Neo still continued to fight, but she was deep in thought through David's words.

"It's working, I think you got through to her, David!" Hope said.

"It's okay if you can't find the answer right away. But some people say the best way to know someone is by fighting them. So what do you say, Neo? Are you willing to fight with all your strength if it means finding that answer?" David asked.

Neo responded to that query by making the Knight throw its Razor Saw Shield Captain America-style.

"I think we'll take that as a yes!" Sonic said as he blocked the shield and turned it into his own shield board, redirecting it back to sender.

"Then come, Neopolitan! Show us all the strength of your convictions!" David said.

Sonic used the Razor Saw shield to dispel the illusions of Giganto and Wyvern before slamming the shield into Knight itself, dealing it damage and disabling it for a second.

"Now, Zi-O!" Geiz shouted.

"On it!" Zi-O complied, delivering a sword combo onto the disabled Knight, ending the combo with an X-slash. "Switch!"

"Right!" Geiz complied, switching with Zi-O and delivered a flurry of thrusts onto the Knight, finishing with a circle swing, sending the Titan crashing onto the side of the arena.

Knight recovered as Neo shook her head to get the cobwebs out. She then redirected the knight to go back on the attack as it tried to slash anybody on the ground and around the craters edge with its sword.

"ALOK KALL!" Simon chanted, summoning Alighieri as he clashed his own sword against the Knight's. After a couple of clashes, Alighieri pushed Knight back and then punched the titan in the face to stagger it a bit.

Neo stumbled a bit on Knight's head before she gave a determined glare and gave a loud snap of her fingers with her right hand, causing three pylons to pop out on each of Knight's shoulders, which unleashed blasts of pure energy as its shield grew out its razors before being tossed around the crater like a top.

"Whoa!" Connor said, avoiding the shield along with some of the group as it rocketed by them, until Kiana summoned her large neko paws to catch the shield without touching the razors.

"You can have this back!" Kiana countered, launching the shield with a circle throw onto the Knight, dealing heavy damage to the chest.

"Let's end this!" Jin said as everyone rushed the Knight for an all out attack.

Neo saw them coming and directed her titan to fully extend its sword, and blowing all the heroes right into the walls.

"Your all out attacks…are garbage!" Torchwick said as the Knight rose its sword up to swing it down on the group. But before it could, Sonic flew and caught it with his hands. "What?!"

"Not today, buddy!" Sonic said as he pushed against the titan before knocking the blade out of its hand as it wedged into the side of the wall.

"This duel is over." Zi-O declared as he and Geiz flew towards the grounded sword while initiating Finish Time.

=FINISH TIME!=

=FINISH TIME! WIZARD!=

Once the mechas are right next to the sword, they threw Tsubasa and Kanade's weapons right onto the Knight's arms, pinning them against the arena wall.

"Sonic, shall we?" Geiz offered.

"Oh, you bet!" Sonic said, flying around the fallen blade and releasing it from its wedge before grabbing it himself with the mechas supporting.

=TIME BREAK!=

=STRIKE TIME BURST!=

The three then flew to the sky and delivered one decisive downward slash onto the Titan, slicing it in half while leaving a trail of flame behind it due to Geiz's Wizard powers.

Neo was right in the line of fire, and right as the sword was coming down, she for sure thought she was done for, closing her eyes and ready to join Torchwick in the afterlife…

But at the last second, Hope ran in and swept Neo off Knight's head right as the sword came down, slicing Knight directly in half as both halves slid off each other, before brilliantly exploding, Hope landing on the other side of the crater with Neo in his arms, the titan blowing up behind them.

(end song)

"To the one who originally piloted this Titan… may you rest in peace." Zi-O concluded.

Right at that moment, that was when everyone saw a vision of Knight's previous pilot.

"We can't let their sacrifice be in vain! They had a plan. Let's do it!" the ancient said in their ancient tongue.

"Hmm… yet another vision of the Ancients. And they look desperate from the looks of it, as if… they're trying to stop something." Geiz commented.

"But this time, we know who's responsible for their destruction… The End." Zi-O added.

"Ah!" Hope cried out as he was stabbed in the side by Neo who jumped up onto a ledge as she pointed her umbrella at them.

"Hey! That's a hell of a way to thank the guy who just saved your life!" Akane said.

"Let it go, Akane. I think… I can actually tell what she's saying." David said.

Neo just made a gag motion. Just when it seemed like a fight was about to ensue, Neo simply smirked and curtsied before she fell over the other side of the ledge.

"Hey!" Jexi called out running to it, only to see Neo floating away on her umbrella as she made a gun motion at the group before she flew far away.

"Think we managed to get through to her?" Hope asked.

"I think so. There seems to be a lot more meaning to her motions now." David said. "It's as if she's saying… 'Next time, I won't be so easy on you.'"

"In other words… we did it." Hope said.

"Are you sure about that?" Cecilia questioned. "With a gesture like that, I thought it would be some kind of trap."

"Pretty sure she wants to kill us but won't throw her life away after? That's…some kinda progress…I think." Rebecca said.

"Kinda wish she was like the other Neo from Siege's team." Ashe mentioned.

"Something to live for… It's going to take a while for her to find it. But as long as she keeps up her vigor, I'm sure she'll find it." David said.

"You okay, Dave? It's not like you to be concerned for an enemy like her." Sachiko said.

"I guess it just shows how much he has grown from seeing the many different people on our journeys." Sectonia said.

"She'll be fine. She'll find her way. She just needs time." Ruby said.

"Uh… guys? I hate to interrupt but…" Houki pointed at Super Sonic flying off.

"Where's he going?" A2 asked.

"Hmm…closest island from the map I made…that would be Rhea Island. He's probably headed there." Connor said.

"We need to go after him. If what Neo's copy of Torchwick said was true and there's an all powerful destroyer of worlds imprisoned on these islands, we can't let him face it alone." Adora said.

"And I don't think the Universal Villains can take on The End alone either." Gunvolt added.

"No choice. We need to hurry to Rhea Island then." Jexi said.

"Yeah. I just hope the villains will stall Sonic until we get there." Kiana said.

"Never thought we'd actually be hoping for their success… I think I might be coming down with something." David said, a bit jokingly.

Neo had just returned to the two as her illusion of Torchwick stood by her.

"So…did you…" Flux said.

"Sorry, bossman. Knight's been checked." Torchwick said.

"Damn. That was the last Titan. No doubt those heroes are headed for the main server on Rhea Island as we speak." Flux said.

"Crud, if they shut down those towers…" DaDan realized.

"They won't. It's time to set up our defense strategy." Techno said. "Sonic's gonna get here first. We have…roughly ten minutes to set things up. More than enough time."

"I've already finished work on the thing that'll stop the heroes in their tracks." Flux said, presenting a thin looking weapon. "Presenting…the Immobilizer."

"I see. And you're certain this will work?" Techno asked.

"Of course. I've combined Inertia field technology, anti-magic, and EMP tech into this thing." Flux said. "If they get out of this, I'm a monkey's uncle."

"Excellent." Techno said.

"Yeah…and…it does what?" DaDan asked.

"I'll show you." Flux said as the weapon sent off a number of waves to DaDan.

"Ha…that…huh?" DaDan said as he was frozen in place. "The hell? I can't move!"

"And neither will the heroes when they get the mega sized version." Flux said. "And if you're worried, don't. The effects are only temporary. Long enough to get them off the islands."

"For once, it's up to us t'save the day? You were right, Amadeus, this is all topsy turvy!" Spinel said.

"Yes. Though…there are odds Sonic could avoid the Immobilizer. But no worries. I've already prepared for that scenario." Flux said. "We'll stop him…dead or alive." he said as he laughed evilly as Spinel joined in.

"I don't get it. But I'm for it." Spinel said.