The ceiling rocked and shook from the tremors. The many people now hiding in the shelters huddled together; with families, couples, and children holding onto each other for dear life.

Nobody really knew what was going on, as the usual alarm signifying the appearance of Noise having caused everyone to scramble for safety. And so they did, and even the residents of Chiba's local hospital were forced to evacuate their sick and wounded in order to safeguard their lives.

Yes, nobody knew exactly what was going on above their heads.

Except a single family that had once been a fractured tragedy.

Harumi sat together with her mother and husband in the corner of the shelter, Ogawa standing by them and watching over them. He spoke to his receiver while the three waited anxiously for an update, wondering what were the specifics of the chaos.

It was still hard for the woman to completely digest what she had heard from the man, even a month after she had been informed. It was so impossible for her to believe that Hibiki was fighting against the Noise and other supernatural threats as a member of the S.O.N.G and the Noise.

She knew first hand the hardship her daughter experienced, and how that hardship had drastically changed all of their lives. Due to this, she believed that Hibiki would rather be too traumatized and too afraid to ever even come into contact with them.

Yet that thought was summarily snuffed out when she discovered that her fate had been sealed at that exact event. The idol died, and Hibiki inherited her power, gladly putting her own life on the line for the sake of others.

Long gone was her disbelief in the supernatural, the Noise proving to be the major point of contention for that mindset.

Her entire world crumbled under her feet, and now she found herself in limbo, torn between what to feel and what to think. And yet, she held onto some measure of hope; as Kazanari Genjuro had told her, they would never abandon Hibiki no matter what happens, and she was inclined to believe him.

She wanted to believe him, and in the ones who were doing their hardest to save her. She didn't know who exactly it was, but she had a vague feeling in her chest that at least one of them was familiar.

It was just a matter of getting the confirmation, something she was waiting to receive from the agent that had been assigned to them.

"I see, very well," Ogawa said into his receiver, causing Harumi to look up at him from the chair she was sitting on. "Then, I'll do what I can on my end. Ogawa out."

With a click, the call disconnected, and the agent turned to the woman. "Well, what's happening?" She asked him.

The frown on his face caused a pit in her stomach to form. "Things are...not looking good at the moment. It's becoming more and more dangerous every minute, and they lost the advantage they had gained."

Listening in on his words, Akira and Kiyoko also sported concerned expressions. The injured man's head went downcast, and he stared at the bandages currently wrapped around his abdomen. "This is my fault," He said somberly. "I did this. I caused this to happen."

"Akira…"

"I already know. What I did hurt her in ways I didn't even try to understand, and this is how she's paying me back. She's right, I really am a coward." He continued, bringing up an arm to touch the stomach area Hibiki's steel tip nearly gouged out. Before he could keep on dwelling, Ogawa spoke up, interrupting his words.

"That may be so, but it's just a single thing among many others," The agent told him honestly. "There are many factors at play here that we don't understand, and even those in headquarters are having a hard time truly coming up with an explanation at real time. The wielders are struggling now against the opponents they are facing, because once again she managed to catch them off guard."

Harumi buried her face in her hands at his words, her heart shattering from every sentence he spoke. "Oh, Hibiki...my sweet darling, why did this have to happen to you?"

There wasn't anything anyone could say to her. Sharing in her pain, Kiyoko put a hand on her daughter's shoulder, her heart breaking in two as well. She looked to Ogawa, searching for answers. "Will you at least tell us...who it is that is fighting out there? Who are the ones who are trying to get her back?" She asked. Ogawa's eyebrows raised at her question, yet he remained quiet. He already told her all he was allowed to, as names aside from their own daughter's was still classified information.

Kiyoko's gaze begged him for an answer. "Please."

Ogawa bit his lip as he stared to the side, unable to truly decide what to tell them. It was then however that Harumi, whose mind has been raging up until now, swallowed down her sorrow and spoke up again.

"Miku-chan is there, right?"

Ogawa's head immediately turned to her with his eyes wide. He hadn't said anything concrete or even confirmed anything, but somehow the woman had discovered the one secret he quite frankly didn't want her to discover.

But as they say, motherly instinct is a force to be reckoned with. Harumi didn't even look up at him as she continued. "She is, isn't she?"

The agent let out a breath, and answered. "Yes."

"I knew it," Harumi said. "Miku-chan has always...supported her and us despite everything. Her mother and father...always helped us whenever we needed it, but she was the one who always came over to keep Hibiki company. She was always there for her, even when I thought that she too would abandon her at any moment. I tried to warn her that associating with us any longer will be dangerous, but she refused. She always...always...stayed by her side."

The woman choked on her tears, the sobs rising again from within. Kiyoko put a hand on her back in comfort. She looked to Ogawa again. "What is Miku-chan's role in all of this?"

"She's...she's the one facing her directly," He answered, and he watched sadly as Harumi's sobs intensified. "She...should never have been involved in the first place, but when we ran out of options...we had no choice but to turn to her."

"Hibiki...Miku-chan…"

"Please tell me," Kiyoko continued. "What do you mean?"

He breathed out again. "After a particular set of circumstances, Miku-san also obtained a Symphogear with a very specific set of abilities that directly counters what Hibiki-san has. That, combined with their bond, was something that we believed would be enough to finally bring her back."

Akira could only hold his own face in his hands as his mother-in-law kept on grilling the agent for explanations. "And this is still happening because of what you told us?"

"Yes," He answered plainly. "Make no mistake, Miku-san and the others are doing all they can to save Hibiki-san. They're fighting very hard right now, for her sake above all else."

"What do you mean by that?" Akira asked.

"Because she's important to them, and to us. It was as the commander told you: should push come to shove, they have no problem putting their lives on the line for the sake of this goal. That is their unifying cause, and what I believe in the end will bring about victory. So please, I ask you to have faith in them." Ogawa said, crouching down to look at them at eye level.

"And you'll tell us everything that is happening, right?"

"Yes, I will. That is what I've been instructed to do, and quite honestly...it's what I want to do as well," The agent said, surprising the family with his personal opinion. "Your way of life has already been disrupted and ruined enough by our mistakes, now and in the past. It is our responsibility, both as an official government department and her superiors to compensate you for our shortcomings."

His shoulders relaxed, and his gaze turned gentle. "But more than that, it's because we want her to always have a place to come back to. You're her family, and regardless of what happened you're irreplaceable to her, and she's irreplaceable to us. You deserve our full support, now and in the future."

Harumi's shoulder shuddered once more. "Hibiki...she has done a lot, hasn't she?"

And he nodded. "Yes, far more than we ever expected. That's why I will ask you again, please don't lose hope. Please believe that we'll make this right."

Harumi breathed in and out, unable to formulate some sort of response to him.

Only one thought-one hope filled her stormy mind, and she held onto that foothold with all her strength.

'Miku-chan...everyone...please, save her…'

-!-

(Play: Dynasty Warriors 8 OST - Solo)

Maria had never fought so hard in her life.

Every single move she made was defensive in nature as she continuously spammed shields, hurriedly and panickingly trying to stop the beasts' attacks from connecting. From the very first one that destroyed her shield, along with Saint-Germain's explanation, Maria knew that it would be impossible to go on the offensive.

They were so strong and so fast she was having an extremely hard time keeping up with their movements. Their minds remained simplistic and animalistic however, and that gave Maria the option of luring them into specifically created openings so they would target those area, which in turn she'd turn to defend immediately.

But it was intense as hell. There were just too many of them to keep up with all of them, not to mention the wraiths were also slowly advancing on her and Saint-Germain. Their limping was slow, but they were something she couldn't possibly ignore.

All of that she was doing in order to keep the attention on her so the weakened alchemist wouldn't be targeted. So far she had succeeded, but she knew for a fact that it was a temporary measure that will very soon fall apart.

All of her talk about telling Saint-Germain she isn't expendable, and yet here she was sacrificing herself for her.

Well, that's how things have turned out. She didn't know what the state of the battle at large was, but unfortunately she didn't have the luxury of knowing either; the total focus on the task at hand did not allow even a tiny distraction.

Again and again they came and struck. Foregoing using her dagger completely, she had materialized barriers that took on the form of square shields, using them freely to block the beasts' attacks. The power they held was so overwhelming however that every one she summoned was destroyed in one blow, and like that she was forced to alternate between the many different opponents she was facing at once. She was surrounded, but at least Saint-Germain wasn't under attack herself.

The alchemist looked to the struggling Symphogear wielder, and focused on restoring her power. She was grateful for the opportunity to do so, and as a result worked as fast as she could in order to both heal herself and restore her energy.

It was easier this time too, because of one very simple reason.

"The Alca-Noise have fallen," She said to the comm. "All units have been destroyed. There is no longer anything to keep the enemy units occupied."

It was simply a matter of time. From the moment she had summoned them she knew they were on borrowed time, but now that the beasts have increased in strength the Alca-Noise numbers dwindled faster than ever before, and right at this moment she sensed the last one being destroyed.

Their army had been routed, and now the rest of the enemy units will focus on the wielders and herself.

Yet, she had to keep holding on.

And for some strange reason, even with the reduced burden she felt her energy restore much faster than she had anticipated. She had already managed to close some of the more minor wounds, and was now working on the more major ones.

She didn't know the reason, but she had no time to dwell on it.

And as Maria fought against the horde, a single gem in Saint-Germain's possession glowed slightly as she recovered.

Even if it was hard to watch Maria be tossed about.

The Airgetlam user yelled, pushing against the blow of a beast on her right. Her shield exploding once more, she twisted and summoned another, moving it in the path of another powerful lunge. And again, the shield shattered, and she ducked under a maddened swipe that sliced through the tips of her hair. She grit her teeth, and as she lay low she brought another shield above her, the fist of a beast slamming into it at full force. She nearly lost her balance from the heavy strike, and another beast took the opportunity to launch a back breaking kick.

She barely avoided it by stepping aside, and quickly turned to block another blow. The barrage was intensifying, and sweat poured down her face in huge amounts as every muscle in her body struggled to keep up with the pressure. Her biceps burned with each blow she blocked, and she could feel her bones rattle from every recoil she experienced.

It was like she was in some sort of crazed trance, keeping up a dangerous dance of total destruction around her. The shield fragments barely even had time to fall to the ground before another joined them, and the air around her was filled with particles of light that somehow worked in her favor.

Her protection was being destroyed so fast that the remains were blinding the beasts for a fraction of a second, and as a result gave her a much needed breathing room.

The dance of death continued.

And she found herself quickly losing her footing.

She blocked a blow from the front, and so another took the chance to strike at her. She was not able to complete avoid its strike, and the claw grazed her side, digging into skin. She groaned at the sharp pain, and nonetheless deflected the next one that came from a different one.

'I need...to put some distance.'

It was only the first injury in the exchange, and yet she knew that many new ones will come in short order. Taking a mad gamble, just as another one of her shields was destroyed she jumped as high as she could, barely evading the lunges that were aimed at her. Several of the beasts jumped up after her at blinding speeds, and she was once again forced to summon another shield to block it. It struck, and using the momentum from the blow she allowed herself to be launched away from the center of their formation, stopping them from surrounding her completely.

It had no real meaning, but the only way to keep fighting was to periodically change her position in order to at least throw the beasts off.

It was almost amusing, the cycle of power. At first, just one managed to overpower them, but then they received the Super Ignite and surpassed them. Now, once again the beasts stood on top, and unlike last time the wielders were all separated from each other, severely limiting their options.

And as she continued to defend herself and her charge, Maria's mind wandered to one thing.

'Come on Miku, you can do this.'

-!-

One strike after another.

She was like a hurricane, relentless and unforgiving. Each blow delivered with all of her might, and all she could do in response was try to block.

Try to avoid.

Try to deflect.

Try to deny.

But no matter what she did, she could not hold up against the assault.

The spear was a blur, and her fan was barely holding itself together in the face of its strength. For all intents and purposes she should be dead by now, and that was what her opponent promised to deliver.

And yet, she refused to fall. Not here. Not like this.

Because in her heart were memories of sunshine…

And an oath she swore to uphold.

-!-

Kanade's spear screamed through the air, slicing through another wraith that had gotten too close for comfort. While she knew that they were unkillable, it was better to cut them down when they could so they weren't as annoying.

Not that it really helped in anything, considering their other opponents.

Tsubasa deflected another lunge from a beast to the side, her blade sliding against its arm. She slashed at its head, but with amazing agility it jumped back, avoiding taking any damage entirely. Before she could try and chase after it, another one dove down on her, and she too was forced to abandon her assault in order to avoid being cut to ribbons.

Looking back and noticing her former partner struggling, Kanade clicked her tongue and disengaged from the wraiths, swinging her spear at them one last time and sending out a shockwave that sliced them in half. A large portion of the advancing wraiths melted the moment they were cut, the cursed liquid making up their form staining the ground beneath them.

Just as another beast was about to ambush Tsubasa from behind, Kanade stabbed forward, piercing it through the back. It growled loudly at the pain, however it still remained in one piece. It grasped at the long weapon protruding from its middle, and began to pull, reigning the red head in.

Her eyes widened as she stumbled forward, and the beast turned to swipe at her head. She released her hold on her spear and ducked, allowing the strike to pass above her harmlessly. She quickly grabbed hold of the handle and pulled the spear out just in time to avoid being struck by a different beast that nearly crashed into her. It slammed against her spear with both of its claws, and she was sent skidding backwards, carving up the ground in her wake.

Interestingly enough, she found herself back to back with Tsubasa, who decided to make a comment about their situation. "This is...far more intense than I anticipated."

"Yeah," Kanade said with a huff. "They're no joke anymore. We really need to find a way to get rid of them or we'll get wrecked."

Their eyes darted to and fro as the beasts surrounded them. "Do you have anything in mind?"

"Not at the moment, but I'll try to come up with something."

Not the most reassuring answer, but Tsubasa was hardly surprised. This was how Kanade operated every time: stab things until they die.

To be fair, it was quite an effective strategy, if a bit rough in execution. However, this time just stabbing things wasn't going to work, so they must find another way to overcome them and not turn into beast food along the way.

With a loud roar, the beasts charged enmasse. Holding their ground against the horde, Kanade and Tsubasa deflected the initial blows, dancing around the following ones with expertise. Covering for each other's back, they turned on the spot, their backs not disconnecting for even a moment.

It was a nostalgic feeling, Tsubasa had to admit. To fight together with Kanade like this after so long…

She was afraid she might suddenly wake up and realize it was all a dream...and in a way, it truly was. A single night that made real endless possibilities, it truly was akin to a dream. She just wished the circumstances would be a bit better, but she had no reason to complain right now.

It was strange to be feeling like that now, she realized. They were surrounded by many empowered enemies, and were quite possibly going to die, yet she found a measure of happiness anyway.

'To soar again with both wings...is truly an indescribable feeling.'

Kanade's brute strength shone through again, as a single swipe of her spear crashed into the abdomen of four beasts at once and blew them away. However, just temporarily getting rid of four was not enough, as for each one she took care of another came to take its place and immediately resumed the attack, giving her barely any breathing room.

She struck another, throwing it back; but in the small window right after her attack, a beast took the opportunity to swipe at her, and Kanade realized she won't be able to escape being injured this time. Preparing for the pain, she grit her teeth in anticipation.

Only the beast to be impaled in the head by a black and blue blade from out of nowhere, surprising the red head. The perplexed expression then quickly turned into a grin, and taking advantage of the opening she decapitated it with a single slash, and then kicked the body away from her encirclement.

Without even turning back, she called out to her former partner. "Thanks for the save there, Tsubasa!"

"Thanks are not needed!" Tsubasa responded back with a shout. Swinging quickly, she deflected aside a beast's strike that came straight for her. "Why are they attacking you as well?! I thought they were on your side!"

"Who the hell knows! Maybe the missy doesn't like me anymore!" Kanade yelled back half jokingly. She wasn't sure exactly why the beasts turned on her, but at this point it really didn't matter. It wouldn't do anything to try to talk to them or to her anyway; she knew that right now she wouldn't listen to anyone.

Whatever the case, Kanade had one thing she needed to focus on: not dying to these things, and making sure Tsubasa didn't die to them either.

Which is why the moment she saw a beast come and try to ambush the blue haired wielder from the side, she thrust right above her shoulder, stabbing it in the throat. Tsubasa seemed surprised for a moment, but then took the chance to slice the beast from shoulder to hip, causing it to crumble to dust.

"My thanks, Kanade."

"Don't mention it!"

And she turned back to her own opponents, leaving her back to Tsubasa.

The battle increased in intensity with every second that passed, and both wielders could feel sweat starting to drip down their brows. Blinking once due to a stray drop, Tsubasa nearly missed an attack from her left. Hurriedly putting her blade in its path, the beast struck violently and powerfully against her blade, pushing her aside and separating her from Kanade.

"Tsubasa!" The red head yelled, but found herself unable to help her as she was quickly surrounded. She struck wildly in an attempt to get to her, but was unable to break the encirclement.

Now alone, Tsubasa too found herself surrounded, and the same beast from before kept on pushing against her, causing her to backpedal more and more with every blow it sent her way. Its claws were nothing but blurs in the night, and she tried her hardest to make sure to catch them just right, predicting where it would try to strike next.

However, a mostly mindless opponent never had real strategy or style, therefore making it unpredictable.

'How fitting.'

Strangely enough, she found that no other beast was trying to ambush her as she was being pushed back, causing her brows to furrow in confusion and concern.

That is, until she realized exactly where she found herself.

'Shit!'

Cursing inwardly, she berated herself for falling for such a trap. Having been completely focused on the beast attacking her, she failed to notice that she was in fact being herded to a specific location: the midst of the wraiths.

The beast kept on its assault, not allowing her to regain her bearings for even a second. It struck powerfully, and she was forced to block the strike that began grinding away against her blade. She grit her teeth, the effort causing her muscles to ache.

Locked down by the beast's assault, she was unable to respond in time as the wraiths approached her. Coming from the side, one of the liquid humans grasped at her arm, its grip slimy and revolting. She tried to pull away, but it proved surprisingly powerful despite her attempts to shake it off.

And then she screamed when it suddenly bit into her arm, sending pain up her nerves.

"TSUBASA!"

Kanade's scream echoed throughout the area, and no longer playing around she increased her effort, powering through the formation with nothing but brute strength. The beasts attempted to hold her off, but she ignored them and let herself be struck, their claws delivering glancing blows against her frame.

Against all the overwhelming odds, Kanade managed to reach her former partner. The beast attempted to turn on her, but she quickly punched it in the face to shake it off, and then sliced through the wraith from above, melting it in one hit.

"K-kuhh…" Tsubasa breathed out through clenched teeth.

"Shit! Tsubasa, we gotta move!" Kanade yelled to her. The blue haired wielder checked her arm for a moment, a strange numbness suddenly overtaking it. She grit her teeth again, and now holding her sword with one hand she followed after her former partner, getting away from the wraiths as soon as possible.

Kanade led the way, once again using nothing brute force to tear through the beasts. "Tsubasa! You alright!?" She asked.

The blue haired wielder swung at an attacking beast. However, she was shocked to find that despite striking true, her blade failed to cut through its frame as it should have. "What…"

And then she was hit in the stomach and thrown across the street, her back slamming against a pile of rubble.

"Ugh-!"

Kanade clicked her tongue, and roared. "You goddamn bastards!"

Forced to change directions again, she quickly made her way to Tsubasa, weaving in between strikes once more. Her body was littered with wounds, and she now sported many more holes where her fake flesh should have been. But she brushed it off, and kneeled down by the Ame-no-Habakiri wielder. "Tsubsa!"

"K-kuh...these things...what have they done?" She asked, looking at her arm once again. It wasn't like the wraith had done any physical damage; in fact, her arm was in one piece and uninjured, but for some reason a weakness she could not explain filled her frame. "Why do I-"

"These fuckers aim for anything with curses in it," Kanade interrupted her. "They swarm to it like bees to honey. That's why I said you should watch out."

"Damn it…" Tsubasa let out, forcing herself to her feet. Unfortunately, in the time the two were conversing they were once again surrounded, and the two's eyes darted to and fro in between all of the enemies.

"This is going to get ugly," Kanade said ominously. "God dammit, this is exactly what I didn't want to happen."

"Kanade…"

Tsubasa agreed with her wordlessly. Shaking her arm once, she grasped her blade with both hands once again, her fingers slightly shaking. "We must push forward."

"Yeah, tell me about it."

With those words uttered, the beasts charged once again.

And the two met them head on.

-!-

Beams of light were fired repeatedly, striking against her opponent's frame. Yet, they lacked the power she required, and as fast as the damage was done it was reversed, leaving her opponent unfazed.

And in return, she was struck once more, an armored fist planting itself in her stomach. Blood flew out of her mouth as she felt her internal organs getting squished under the blow. She was launched across the wreckage, crashing into another barely standing building, leaving a huge indent on its outer wall.

She fell to her hands and knees, and coughed up blood, painting the ground beneath her red. Her opponent taunted her, deriding her attempts at fighting it.

She chose to ignore its words. Clenching her teeth tightly, she planted her fan in the ground for support, slowly rising again to her feet. Breathing heavily as her opponent advanced on her once more, she again raised her fan in defiance before it.

She couldn't allow herself to be defeated. Not here. Not like this.

Because in her heart were memories of pure light…

And an oath she swore to uphold.

-!-

With her blades destroyed due to the titan's strike, Zababa had no choice but to meet it head on in unarmed combat.

However, due to the efforts of the so called wraiths the two wielders learned about, the fight was now much more even. Blows that Zababa was previously able to effortlessly avoid or deflect now actually struck, denting the metal making up her frame.

Her movements were slowed, her defense was compromised, and her attacks weren't as effective as before.

"Tch-! These annoying things!" Kirika exclaimed, once more willing Zababa's legs to move as she tried to shake away the wraiths encroaching on her feet.

They were like leeches, or mosquitos. They refused to let go despite her many attempts to throw them off, causing her to lose her focus on the important fight happening right in front of her.

The titan struck again with a powerful left hook, and Zababa raised her arm to defend against it. Her entire frame shook mightily as she was thrown to the side, the blow causing her to stumble over several city blocks.

"We won't be able to win like this!" Shirabe exclaimed, a thought that Kirika instantly agreed with. Deciding to try a different strategy, Zababa beat her wings, the wind tearing apart the ground beneath her as she slowly rose into the air. If they couldn't beat it at close range now, then maybe they could try something from a distance-

The titan moved, and the two's eyes widened when they saw it coming faster than they could register it. It grabbed Zababa's legs before she could rise high enough, and with a strong heave slammed her back into the concrete below. The whole city shook as she impacted the earth, instantly causing a massive crater to form right under her.

Both wielders screamed in pain as they were tossed about in their cockpits, and several alarm sounds rang out around them as damage reports quickly filed into their displays; however the titan was not done yet. It planted its foot in her stomach, pinning her to the ground, and with both hands grasped the wings on her left side.

And with a single, powerful yank, tore them out of their sockets. The eagle feathers crumbled to dust into its grip, now separated from their main body. Kirika and Shirabe let out blood curdling screams as sparks filled their cockpits.

But it was not done quite yet. Releasing the featherless mechanical wing, the titan repeated the action with the other side, grasping and tearing them out of her back. The two wielders within lost consciousness for a moment from the overwhelming pain, and the titan screeched as once more the feathers crumbled away.

It tossed away the remains of the wings, and looked down at the defenseless goddess trapped under its foot. Willing her hands to move, Shirabe and Kirika attempted to get the foot off of Zababa's stomach, trying to gain some distance from it.

But it was a futile attempt. The wraiths draining away her power, Zababa was no longer able to muster enough strength to throw it off. Staring down at her, it turned slightly, and with its foot still planted in her stomach it reached for one of her legs. Grasping the limb with both hands, it pulled.

And in a shower of sparks and metal, tore the leg off in one yank. Zababa's attempts to fight it off faltered as the two wielders within barely held themselves together. Yet the titan still did not stop, and throwing aside the leg it repeated the action once more with the other.

It screeched once more, and now seeing its opponent downed and not fighting back, the titan reached over with both hands, and with a strong heave raised the defeated goddess above its head.

And grasping her with one hand on her neck, and the other in between were her legs once have been, it began to pull. The metal making up Zababa's frame groaned and screamed, and more sparks filled the two wielder's cockpits to the brim.

The titan's screeching filled the air, and little by little the metal began to give way. The links within snapping one by one, Zababa's abdomen began to be torn in half, and the two wielders within could do nothing to oppose it.

Shirabe, with one eye open and the other numb from the pain, found she could do only one thing in response in order to save herself and Kirika. Clenching her hand, she lifted the cover off the button on the side of her cockpit.

And slammed her fist into it with all the force she could muster.

A rush of air suddenly filled her cockpit and Kirika's as the two were ejected from their seats. With Zababa's head dangling downwards, the two were launched towards the ground at breakneck speeds.

Yet her sight remained locked on the goddess, and she watched as the titan let out a triumphant roar, and with a final strong pull the goddess was torn in half in the middle, with shards of metal raining down on the ground below.

The two wielders crashed into the concrete a small distance away. Groaning painfully, Shirabe dislodged herself from the wreckage she landed in, her eyes scanning her surroundings for any sign of Kirika.

"Kiri-chan!" She yelled. As if on cue, a pile of rubble nearby rose slightly as Kirika dug herself out weakly, nearly collapsing from exhaustion and pain.

"Shirabe…" She could only murmur. The two rose to their feet uneasily, and made their way to each other as fast as they could, their legs still rattling from what had just occurred.

Grasping for each other's hold, their hands joined as the titan dropped Zababa's two severed halves, the remains of the goddess impacting the ground. With the two wielders no longer within her to pilot her, and her body destroyed, the goddess began to disappear into motes of light.

And just as she vanished, the titan located the two wielders, staring down at them with its eyeless face. It screeched once more, the air screaming and forcing the two to cover their ears as their brains shook from the sheer volume.

They could do nothing as it loomed over them, and took the first step towards the two downed wielders.

-!-

She was knocked away again, her legs nearly giving way beneath her as she steadied herself uneasily.

She fired another beam of light, but with one eye closed due to the blood flowing over it, her aim was off and she missed, the ray striking the ground in a puff of smoke.

She fired again and again, and yet found herself missing every single shot despite her best efforts. She clicked her tongue, and forced her visor down on her eyes in order to correct her aim.

Yet her attempts were denied as a punch struck her visor head on, once more shattering it into pieces and throwing her back. She was launched into another wall, crashing through it and bouncing over the ground again and again.

One of her bulky knee guards cracked, several of its parts flaking away into the wind. She pushed herself off the ground with all the strength she could muster, but before she could raise herself fully she was kneed in the chin. Her jaw nearly shattered from the blow, and once again she was launched backwards, her fan falling from her hand.

Her vision swam as her face met the ground, and her eyes fluttered weakly as she tried to keep hold of her awareness.

She couldn't allow herself to lose consciousness. Not here. Not like this.

Because in her heart were memories of joyful smiles…

And an oath she swore to uphold.

-!-

"GRRRAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Her bestial howls echoed throughout the courtyard as she struck out against the beasts, her hands-now claws tearing through the air towards them. Reason was lost, for her mind slowly began to be consumed by the berserk state encroaching on her.

Yet she could not care about that.

The beasts she was fighting responded with the same ferocity, and the wild clash was like a fight between lions; unrestrained and animalistic, the two forces crashed against each other with reckless abandon, neither one willing to budge an inch.

And yet, Chris still found herself being pushed back.

She knew what was it that made the beasts stronger, that was obvious, but there was nothing she could do about it. Thought processes ceased as nothing but rage filled her, and her form was nearly completely pitch black, only the right side of her face still remaining untainted.

Two punches collided, and she was the one that was sent flying back. She skidded to a halt on her hands and feet, taking a primal stance and then promptly leaped forward, roaring all the while. She pounced on the beast that screeched back at her, and the two enemies swiped at each other. Both strikes found purchase, yet Chris was inflicted with the deeper wound.

She grimaced and jumped back, ignoring her wound completely. Blood dripped down to the floor from her chest, but quickly sealed itself shut.

She was in a bad situation. Not only was she losing in a contest of strength, but she was also outnumbered completely.

Yet, in her current state she could not bring herself to care about that.

She reared her head back and howled again, the darkness slowly starting to cover the untainted part of her face. At that moment she was jumped from all sides, and reacting wildly she swiped her arms in all directions, intent on tearing them all to pieces right there and then.

But she was far too outmatched. A swipe sliced into her back, and a punch connected with her face. Sent reeling back, another punch found purchase in her stomach, and once more the Ichaival wielder was launched through the air.

She flipped, landing on her hands and feet again. She growled like the beasts, and her eyes shone with the berserk red color brightly.

It would not be long before she lost her mind completely.

Yet, in her current state she could not care about that. All thoughts fled her mind in an instant, and all she could bring herself to do was to jump back into the fray, claws extended outwards as she began what she considered her final battle.

-!-

A multitude of mirrors flew out of the compartments on her knee guards. Numbering two dozen in total, they floated in the air around her, firing beams of light at her opponent without end.

It only managed to hold the enemy off for less than a second before she swiped her arm, and a wave of blackness erupted from it. The beams firing from the mirrors could not hold out against it, and the first dozen were instantly destroyed without much of a fight.

Deciding to retreat to get a grasp on her surroundings, she floated off the ground and took off in a straight line, trying to put as much distance as she could between the two of them. She glanced back once, seeing what remained of her mirrors being destroyed by another wave of darkness.

She looked back forward and increased her speed, her vision slightly red from the blood that stained it.

Only to let out a silent scream as a fist smashed into her back, causing her charge to stop halfway and slamming her into the ground. She bounced off like a ragdoll, and as she hung in the air momentarily she was once again punched in the stomach, and she heaved as she was once again launched through the air.

She rolled on the ground, her muscles screaming in pain and her bones rattling from the force. Rising to one knee, she barely had time to put both arms before her to stop another punch from connecting with her face. She felt something crack in her forearms as pain shot up her arms, and she was knocked backwards, her feet skidding against the ground. Her arms fell limply by her side, each tiny movement causing her more pain than she ever thought possible.

She breathed in and out, the air causing her lungs to burn. But she grit her teeth regardless, rising to full height once more

She couldn't let her body break. Not here. Not like this.

Because in her heart were memories of hearty laughs…

And an oath she swore to uphold.

-!-

"Z-Zababa has been destroyed!"

"Chris-san's mental state has nearly reached total berserk!"

"Tsubasa-san and Kanade-san are being overwhelmed!"

"Maria-san can't hold out much longer!"

The reports were nothing short of horrifying. He could not bring himself to speak as he watched as one by one the wielders were being beaten, and there was nothing left they could do to help them. The missiles stopped being effective against the beasts, and the wraiths were just plainly unkillable. What remained of the Noise still hung around the area, but they were now a mere afterthought in comparison to everything else.

What more, Saint-Germain's announcement only served to bring their spirits lower. Their army had been defeated, and their greatest fighters were no longer able to hold the enemy at bay.

But all of that paled in comparison to the last report.

"Miku-san is no longer able to keep up!"

Miku was losing. Miku, the one who they hoped would be able to turn the tides on Hibiki was no longer able to keep up with her. It would have been fine if she was able to achieve victory, but her loss would mean one thing: the final fall of their last hopes.

With Miku defeated, there would no longer be anything or anyone left in the world that would be able to stop Hibiki. With the army of beasts on her side, and the titan still around as a symbol of total destruction, she'd become unstoppable.

The state of the world at large wasn't all that good either. He had ignored it until now, but the reports were no longer something he could brush aside: international armies were losing ground, and the casualties nearly reached a million at this point.

In a single night, nearly one million people died, the vast majority being soldiers who put themselves on the line in order to protect civilians. Yet not all of them were successful, as several cities both small and big were already overrun by the beasts and the Noise.

And yet, even those people were nothing but sacrifices in order to ensure Miku's victory. But considering her current state…

That one million will eventually become seven billion.

He clenched his fist tightly, the frustration nearly overpowering him. "What the hell are we supposed to do now?"

"I suggest we withdraw," Adam said. "There is nothing more for us to attempt here."

As much as he wanted to argue, Genjuro couldn't bring himself to speak. Noticing the commander's silence, Adam raised an eyebrow and continued. "No, I guess running away is meaningless either way. We can no longer win even if the Symphogears throw their lives away. It matters little if we escape to sea, for the entire world will eventually be consumed. She'll open more holes to the Treasury and the miasma will envelop the planet, slowly corroding it until it becomes a barren rock of curses and evil."

He had raised this hypothesis in the past, and at the time is sounded too ludicrous to consider real in any shape or form.

But now, that possibility was not only very real, but might soon become an inevitability.

And there was absolutely nothing they could do about it.

The former head of the Illuminati chuckled. "How ironic. The Custodians' greatest creation, humanity, ended up being what would eventually result in their downfall; and in a manner that was quite unexpected indeed. There is nothing they can possibly do against the god-slaying power now, and as such they'll be massacred. I wonder if we'll stay alive long enough to witness their demise."

Despite his harsh words, those on the bridge could not help but adopt his defeatist attitude; their spirits dropped, and one by one the endless typing came to a halt.

And looking on through the display, they could only bear witness to the end of the world.

-!-

(Play: Nier Automata OST - Crumbling Lies)

'Happy days'.

What did that particular pair of words mean to her?

Should someone ever bother to ask her that question, her answer would be unequivocal:

"Everything."

And that would be it, for with just that answer they would know exactly what she was referring to: the comfortable quiet that accompanied the dawn, the muffled sizzling of food on a pan, the running of a shower head, and the whirling spin of a washing machine.

The ruffling of clothes as she put them on, and the slight hum of a melody leaving her lips. Such simple and mundane things were her happy days, even the frustrating ones such as an undone pile of homework, or a loaf of bread that had gone stale while they weren't looking.

Yes, those were her happy days.

The smiles, the laughter, the sorrow and the tears that every person experiences in their lives. The march of time, and the ever changing scenery in their daily lives.

The world? Nah, that wasn't even close to being important. She couldn't see them, she couldn't hear them, and she could not sympathize with them. All she truly cared for was the small share of happiness that belonged to her.

And shining brightly in the center of it all…

Was a smile she swore to protect.

And so, she carried in her heart the memory of those happy days.

Along with an oath she swore to uphold.

-!-

Her legs shook as she attempted to rise to her feet again. Using her fan once more as a crutch, Miku kept herself standing with willpower alone, all other vestiges of strength having fled her body. Her Symphogear was in tatters, her body bleeding and broken, and her vision was marred by blood and dirt.

In comparison, Hibiki was unscathed and untouched. The facsimile of Gungnir that she was wearing was still sporting its unmarred shiny black, and she advanced on the injured Shenshoujing wielder with heavy steps.

"Miku, please stop fighting," She told her. "I don't want to hurt you more than I already did. It breaks my heart to see you like this, but you know that you brought it on yourself. I said time and time again that I'm not holding back, and yet you still try."

Miku breathed in and out, rubbing her eyes with her forearm to try and clear her sight. "But I know why you're still fighting. I know you well enough to understand, but you need to know when to quit, Miku. Just like that day that you refused to let go of my hand; and just like back then, you don't have a choice anymore. Some things are meant to happen, even some you don't like. You're going to have to accept that, Miku."

The irony of that statement coming from her did not pass over Miku's head. However, at the moment she had enough trouble breathing, much less speaking.

Gathering up what remained of her strength, she ignored her opponent and took to the skies. She rose through the air, climbing higher and higher above the abandoned concert hall. She grit her teeth as the wind battered her, yet she paid it no heed as she tried to put some distance between herself and her, attempting to think up another strategy.

But it was far too late, and far too useless.

Hibiki simply teleported in her path, and Miku was helpless to do anything in response to the blow that came. Having decided to discard her spear earlier to better control her strength, Hibiki was now unarmed and in her most dangerous state.

She spun in place far too fast for Miku to catch, and a second later her leg smashed into her midsection. Blood once again flew out of Miku's mouth, and like a ragdoll she was thrown back, streaking through the air.

She did not have even the tiniest bit of strength to try and soften the landing. Leaving sonic booms in her wake, she crashed into the stage with the force of an explosion, the abandoned hall empty save for herself.

Looking down at her from high above, Hibiki narrowed her eyes before she began to float down slowly towards the stage. She knew it was purely a coincidence that Miku landed there, but the bittersweet memories related to this place were indeed affecting her more than she realized.

From the wreckage at the other end, Miku stirred from within the pile of metal and concrete. Pushing a heavy piece off herself, she uneasily climbed out, and was able to take only a few steps forward before she fell to one knee. She stared at the floor, watching with morbid fascination as blood and saliva dripped from her mouth freely.

She was in an incredibly bad shape, and she knew it.

But still, she refused to give up.

Even as her body screamed at her for rest, she pushed herself to two feet. She stared straight at Hibiki, who stood across from her on the other side.

No words were exchanged between the two for a heavy minute, simply looking into each other's eyes over the fairly long distance.

Until Hibiki spoke up, raising her hand to point at a location somewhere in the ruined audience stand. "Do you see that rock over there, Miku?" She said.

Caught by surprise, Miku's eyes widened. Almost by instinct she moved her gaze to follow where Hibiki was pointing, catching sight of just another piece of wreckage in the expansive hall. "That right there is where I was hit in the chest by Gungnir's fragment. It was right there that Kanade told me to never give up on life...and it was right there that I saw her die, with Tsubasa holding onto her crumbling body."

Miku stared, looking upon that particular spot as if it was an entirely different planet.

"That was where I died," Hibiki continued. "And that is where I was born again. That is the place I lost my old self, and was replaced by what you see now."

She lowered her hand, and Miku's gaze was forced back to her. "Looking back on it now, I realize that Fine had the right idea," She said, shocking Miku to the core. "People really can't understand each other, and it has nothing to do with any Curse of Balal or the moon or anything like that. There will never be understanding, and there will never be peace. So long as people exist, they will continue to hate and spread their curses, seeing nothing but themselves. That was the first thing I learned after that day, and now that is what I'm going to solve here and now."

Miku's legs shook, barely holding up anymore. She fell to her knees, her eyes locked on her loved one across the stage.

Her eyes burned, and she felt her vision blur not due to blood, or sweat, or dirt.

But by tears.

"Goodbye, Miku. If it can come true...I hope we can meet again...after the darkness."

A phrase that hammered down the final in the coffin.

And with it, came the unbridled sorrow.

To see Miku cry was always a scene that broke Hibiki's heart. No matter the context, or the circumstances, and regardless of how they felt towards each other, there was no sight more heartbreaking than to see the tears mar her face.

To see how her shoulders shuddered, and to see the drops fall to the floor. No matter what stage in life they may be, there was nothing that crushed her more.

Yet, now it was a necessity, as everything else had been. She knew that now the other wielders were being defeated. That Zababa had fallen, and her titan had emerged victorious. That the beasts were unstoppable, the Noise bent to her will, and the wraiths draining every last vestige of cursed power that may be left to oppose her.

There was nothing left for them to do. Their hopes crushed and their last resort on her knees, broken and crying, there was no future for the world that had deliberately shunned its greatest hero.

There were no more words left to be said now.

Hibiki waited. Letting her closest friend shed her tears, she did nothing as she waited for them to stop running, not willing to strike her down at such a vulnerable state.

Miku wheezed, sobbed, and cried loudly.

'It's my fault.'

That was the only thing that ran through her mind at that moment.

'It's my fault.'

The regret she had harbored deep inside burst out to the surface.

'It's my fault.'

It was all consuming now. The secret wish she had harbored in her heart was now the only thing that defined her:

To never having invited her to the concert in the first place.

For it was from that day that everything changed and went wrong, and led to this point in time. It mattered very little to her that the world might have been destroyed in the process, for she never cared about that.

She did not want Hibiki to go through this torture, to have to realize the world was such a wretched place. She wished that it would never have come up in the first place, that she would have never told her about it.

That was all she wanted.

To go back to those days, and live out their happy days.

Despite herself, her head rose slowly, desiring to look upon her loved one's face for one last time. Though the tears kept falling, she just wanted to burn that final image into her mind, to go down fighting with her face in her heart.

And she looked, and the emerald green eyes stared back at her.

At that moment…

Something twinkled in the night sky.

Her head rose higher as if by reflex, wanting to understand what it was that suddenly shone high above her. She tilted her head up, staring into the dark night as if in prayer, and simply looked on as it remained as such.

And then, as if on cue, the twinkle returned.

Streaking across the sky.

Everything stopped. Her tumultuous heart, her raging mind, and her aching body, everything simply ceased to work and move, and her eyes widened, her pupils now as big as saucers.

00

"Hey Hibiki, would you like to see the shooting stars with me?"

"Heh?! Really! Of course I do!"

00

"I'm sorry Miku, that I couldn't come with you like I promised."

"It's fine, Hibiki. I know something came up. We have another chance, so it's okay."

"Thank you Miku, I knew you'd understand. You're my sunshine for a reason after all!"

00

"I'll stop it somehow." She had said.

Miku wanted to stop her. To tell her that she doesn't have to take on that burden. And yet, staring at her unwavering back, she could not bring herself to speak.

She turned back to them. "I'll be right back," She said with a smile. "So don't give up on living!"

Leaving behind those words, she soared into the sky, leaving Miku to watch her go. What was the meaning of those words, looking back at it now? What sort of emotions and burdens weighed down on her mind as she said them?

And what sort of fate did she expect herself to meet, up there between the stars?

There was nothing she could do except watch her go.

"Hibiki…"

On that day, she heard a song. A beautiful yet sorrowful song that rang out loudly in her heart.

She sang it, up there, for the defense of the many. Putting herself in harm's way, she stopped the calamity with all of her strength.

And on that day, the shooting stars that followed were more beautiful than she had ever seen before.

00

"Ah…"

It all became clear.

"Shooting stars…"

A pair of words said as a lifeline that she held onto to this very day. The remains and fulfillment of a promise that she had dearly wished to keep.

She remembered it, the way she felt as she stared up into the sky, watching as the moon fragment exploded into many tiny shards that streaked across the sky.

Just like the one now.

Coming to her like a ray of light, serenity filled her to the brim. She could not explain it, nor could she describe it in any manner that would make sense to others.

Hibiki's eyes narrowed as she watched Miku rise to her feet. The tears had abruptly stopped, as fast as they came, and she looked on with confusion and concern as even the constant shaking that had plagued her ceased completely.

Watching her from across the stage, Hibiki saw as Miku's form changed. Gone was the nerve wracked and broken girl that had stood up against her against all odds. Gone was the sorrow and despair that had come over her upon losing her ground.

The only thing that marked Miku's expression at that moment was a peaceful gaze that betrayed no other emotion.

Yes...she remembered it now, what was it that was said to her time and time again. What was it that she had forgotten, and what she unconsciously pushed away in all her resolve.

She hated the Symphogears. She hated S.O.N.G. She hated Gungnir.

And she hated the demon.

But the demon was no longer what she saw. Even if her body was clad in the corrupted and twisted version of its original...and even if her heart was tainted and its darkness was set loose upon the world…

There was only one person who stood before her now.

"Hibiki...it's been hard, hasn't it?"

A simple question that sent Hibiki into shock. "Miku, what are you-"

"We will give our lives for her sake."

"All this time...this is what you really felt, what you really desired…" Miku continued, as if in a trance. "But I didn't want it to become a reality...and I held you down because of my selfishness…"

Hibiki could articulate no response to her, and could only remain silent as she continued to speak. "I'm sorry, Hibiki. I'm sorry that I forced this burden on you. I'm sorry...I couldn't be there when you really needed me. I'm sorry...I couldn't take away your pain."

"We must not fight out of hatred…"

It was so obvious now. She had allowed her hatred and resentment against Gungnir to cloud her heart and mind, and that was what had empowered it. That was what set Hibiki off, for Miku could not see her as anything but the demon she swore to defeat.

But now...the words that Saint-Germain said to her...and the words that Tsubasa said to her...finally came to the forefront of her mind.

"But out of love."

For now, the desire to save her outweighed everything else in the world.

And now...Miku will save her with the last thing she had left to give.

"M-Miku?" Hibiki mumbled, caught completely off guard. Miku's hands were by her sides, and her eyes took on the normal, vibrant green shade that she always saw upon waking up every morning.

"I'll do so now…"

A small smile graced her features, and Hibiki found herself left breathless.

"Let us go, Hibiki…"

For if she desired to just let go of the world…

Then Miku was more than glad to join her.

"Let us go...together."

Everything stopped. As if time itself was frozen in place, Hibiki looked with wide eyes at the sudden change in scenery. All sounds of battle from outside the stage had been shut away completely, leaving only the two of them in the ruined hall.

A red shine from Miku's pendant drowned out all other light.

And with the first step she took forward, she sang the song she had heard that day.

"Gatrandis babel ziggurat edenal"

The girl walked forward, her strides gentle, barely touching the ground beneath her feet.

Hibiki was paralyzed, her entire body refusing her orders to move.

It was a song unlike any other, and one that had been engraved into the very core of her heart. It was by this song that her life was saved...and by this song that a life was burned away in exchange.

"Emustolronzen Fine el balal zizzl"

A song that decried the crime committed by a long gone priestess that wished for love, and how that love brought about humanity's ruin. A song that is sung with one's life on the line, and the final performance that one gives for the sake of someone else. The final offering to their hearts.

A swan song.

"Gatrandis babel ziggurat edenal"

Despite them using it multiple times in the past, and despite the fact that Hibiki's own Armed Gear negated the harmful effects of it, she had always found herself mesmerized by it, for it was one that was engraved upon her at the brink of death. A song that brought hope and sorrow all at once, and a song that promised certain death, and one she had sung for the sake of the world.

Miku stood right before her, stopping within arm's reach. She looked up into Hibiki's eyes, the green glow from them no longer eliciting any fear from her. Her expression oh so kind as Hibiki's was twisted in pain, her body not moving an inch.

The gentle girl raised her arms, and for the first time in a long time...finally held the one she loved in her hands, cupping her cheeks tenderly.

And now, it would be the final time she'd do so.

Hibiki gasped.

"Emustolronzen Fine el zizzl"

A powerful light shone from between the two.

And the world vanished in a flash.

-!-

The alarms blared in headquarters suddenly, catching them off guard. Startled by the abrupt loud sound, Genjuro shouted out his orders. "Status report! What is going on?!"

Something had changed in the battlefield. They had reprogrammed the alarms to not activate if a danger appeared, for it was the norm during a fight like this, and it was done so the crew would at least not be unnerved by the light and the sound.

But the fact that it activated now meant something new happened.

He waited for an answer from someone, but no one on the lower parts of the bridge had any to give.

It was then then Aoi gasped loudly, putting a hand over her mouth in shock. "Commander...it's...it's...it's a Superb Song signal!"

The sheer shock and horror that filled the crew members to the brim could not even be vocalized. Staring at his subordinate with wide eyes, Genjuro yelled out again. "WHAT?! FROM WHO!?"

Her eyes did not leave her console's screen for even a moment as she registered the source. "S-Sh...Shenshoujing!"

His chair, the one thing remaining in one piece on his station, flew out from under him as he stood up suddenly, staring at the large display before him.

"Miku-kun...is this...what you really want?"

He wanted to scream. He wanted to shout, and to try and stop her. Yet...what good would it do?

Even if she could have heard him, it was already too late. Just like the Ignite Module, a Superb Song was something that could not be stopped until the moment it was finished.

But unlike the Ignite Module, only one fate awaited the one who used it.

The sound from the outside finally reached the inside of the bridge.

And all together, they heard the final song of the gentle sunshine.

-!-

It mattered not who was on the battlefield or where they were. Even in the face of death, they all stopped every act they performed in order to turn their heads to the source, hearing the familiar lyrics of the song.

They all knew who it was that sang it. They all knew under what circumstances she had done so.

Yet, their hearts cried out in sorrow. The light rose from the ruined stage, illuminating the night sky like a second sun. It grew, and grew and grew, and all beings made of the curses of mankind recoiled in fear from it, ceasing all actions they took were performing.

Staring up at the rising glow, Saint-Germain smiled weakly.

-!-

She was being blown away.

As if caught in the heart of a hurricane, the powerful winds threatened to tear her apart bit by bit. No, in fact they were already doing so as she felt parts of herself flake away and be shed by their source.

She could barely hold her ground against it, and she stared into the very center of it, the bright light at its core blinding her almost completely. She raised an arm to try and preserve her sight, but it was completely useless to resist.

If she stayed here any longer, she'd be vaporized until there was nothing left. The smartest course of action to take would be to simply leave, to run away, to turn back and never look back again.

Yet...she couldn't. She couldn't leave, and she couldn't run. As much as she wanted to, as much as her mind was screaming at her to do so, her heart refused to allow it.

Because within that light was something more warm and beautiful than anything she had ever laid her eyes on, and she was not willing to let go of it so easily.

"U-ugh-!"

Her one free arm struggled to rise in the wind. Yet she pushed all the strength she could into it, the armor covering it slowly but surely being eroded as she brought it up more and more.

"I can't-"

She wasn't going to just let things end like this.

"I won't-"

Her eyes widened as a fiery resolve filled her frame.

And with a single, forceful move, thrust her hand towards the light.

"I WON'T LET YOU GO, MIKU!"

Her hand touched the light.

And she was consumed.