The two girls looked up at the monitor, a flashing set of lights blinking over a map that displayed the entire country. Among this group of flashing lights, one point was highlighted, shining brighter than the rest. The two knew where this spot was, since it was already difficult to keep a low profile for the residents. Leia used the system to zoom in, confirming their first location of attack. It'd been months since the first activation of their Symphogear system, so it was only a matter of time before they really put it to use.

"This is the first place you'll be going," Leia informed, pointing at the 3D model of the house that was seated beside the giant red blip. While the alchemist's face was stoic, the other girl had an expression that was a bit more apprehensive about this choice.

"Are you sure? That's..."

Leia noticed this apprehension, but only affirmed her resolve. She understood why her sister was scared, but this wasn't something that they could just ignore.

"Records indicate that the first reading of the Yggdrasil System activating was at the Kazanari residence. There's more of a chance of getting information going there rather than any other location."

Usually, she wouldn't have an issue following Leia's demands, this one was a bit different. It wasn't just anyone's property they'd be trespassing on. Otherwise, she would have done so without any questions asked. Instead, it just had to be the home of the idol, Tsubasa Kazanari, someone she always dreamed of meeting face-to-face. She thought that she'd get the chance at the Nouvelle Calédonie, but Leia had pulled her back for an attempt to activate Galatine, so she lost that opportunity.

A part of her was relieved about that, considering the events that had followed. Even though they didn't manage to activate Galatine, she heard about the stage being destroyed and attacked by Noise, so in a way, she was glad that she wasn't able to see one of her idols. But to go from a concertgoer to home invader... it put a bad taste in her mouth. Leia could tell this, so she tried to give her sister some solace.

"You're going to be fine. You make it sound like you'll be face-to-face with someone when you can fly."

She was correct. Laya had gotten more control over the Symphogear she was given, even going so far as to take it on "joyrides" when she got the chance. From her words, "flying was more fun than watching Nidhogg dance," which was something that Leia didn't even know that her sister or the living Relic did. However, Laya's heart was still beating out of her chest, the thought of rushing into the home of a pop star not being easily swayed off her conscience.

"I..."

Leia noticed this hesitation still lingering, so she just shook her head in disappointment, opting not to say another word to try and convince her. Instead, she sat in the rolling chair beside her, leaning back as the air conditioning in the lab whirred softly. "If you don't do it, I'll-" Leia's words were cut off by her sister, who knew exactly what she was going to say.

"No! I'll do it! If it's just in and out, you can count on me!"

She didn't want to risk her sister getting hurt, considering she couldn't use the Gear. Plus...

"Just in... and out..."

Laya took a deep breath, her hand over her chest as she tried to calm her racing heart. She couldn't help but feel stressed at the situation. After all, she was hiding around the corner from the front entrance, a couple of men in black suits and sunglasses guarding it as if it led to the holy grail. "Unsurprising that an idol would have bodyguards," a voice spoke into Laya's mind. The girl sighed with a furrowed brow, leaning back on the walls that surrounded the enclosure. The spot she needed to infiltrate was around the back end of the estate, but it wasn't directly linked to the mansion in any way. While she was happy that was the case, the specific coordinates were still sectioned off by their own little fence, which was expected by Leia.

She had assumed that after the Yggdrasil System fell apart, the Special Disaster Response Team would be all over it, so she was right on the money. However, while Leia was correct in her assumptions based on her research, Laya was still the one on the front lines. She was thankful that her destination wasn't directly past these guards, but it might as well as have been with the way the barrier was put up.

"Yeah, but how're we supposed to get past them," Laya responded to the voice. She wasn't privy to any secret entrances or unknowns that could get the guards away, but she hoped that the other two on her shoulders would have those answers, at the very least. Alas, the dragon that spoke in her mind was of no help and her sister was just as unresponsive.

"Come on, give me something!"

Almost immediately after her outburst, she covered her mouth, her hair on edge as she turned back to the guards, who remained motionless. If they had heard her, it would have been a disaster. "Just transform," another voice ordered, this time, coming from an earpiece in Laya's ear. While the previous voice came from the Relic in her pocket, the other voice was none other than her sister, figuring that she would need the extra backup.

"But what about-"

Laya's worries were cut off immediately, her sister growling at her in the mic as she reprimanded, "What are they gonna' do? Catch you? Need I remind you that the only way you get caught here is if you let it happen." Laya winced at Leia's raised tone, but she was right. Unless these guards were ninjas or something, simply flying above them would suffice in making sure she remained untouched. Even if they had weapons, it's nothing the Symphogear couldn't defend against. "Jeez, fine," Laya exclaimed, this time, not caring if anyone heard her distress. Clutching the Relic in her pocket, she closed her eyes as she began to sing.

"Keios franzell Nidhogg tron..."

The converter in her hand shined again, the bright light transforming her attire into the mechanical suit that she had grown accustomed to. After the flash of light, Laya felt as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders, even if the outfit she was wearing was a bit heavier. However, that ease of mind would be cut short as she heard voices coming from around the corner, presumably from the guards she was just surveying.

"What was that light? Quick, tell the Second Division!"

Amidst the shouting, Laya realized that the footsteps were rapidly approaching her. "So much for our cover," Nidhogg relayed, Laya's eyes rolling at its comment. Had she transformed before this, she may have avoided all the commotion, but for some reason, being in the Gear made her worries fade away. She exuded confidence now, though she didn't know where this confidence came from.

The wings on her back whirred as the guards turned the corner, their guns drawn on her as they ordered her to freeze. She paid them no mind, the Gear now propelling her up into the air at an incredible speed that the guards had no hope of following. To them, it was like she vanished without a trace, not even disrupting the leaves that were already falling from the trees around them.

Leia watched from the lab, her monitor linked to the Gear as she watched Laya zip and zoom in the air. She was surprised that she was able to maneuver the Gear so precisely, it was like she had it her entire life. More importantly, her speed was felt completely alien to what Leia was expecting. She expected her to be fast, but the way the video displayed, it seemed like time had frozen. Nothing moved, up until Laya stopped right on the edge of the cavern made by the Yggdrasil System. Without a moment's notice, she leapt down into the darkness, only this time, there was no fear of hitting the ground and not waking up after.

The floor of the hole was stuck in complete darkness, the only thing visible being a glimmer of light from the surface, just like last time. Laya's feet touched the ground, the wings' whirring diminishing to a soft hum as her speed decreased before ultimately stopping as she stood still. She tried to look around, but everything was in pitch-black. Without any other options, she started walking in a straight line, even though it was much safer to just stand still and wait for Leia's instructions.

She was getting antsy, the thought of being within Yggdrasil making her want to be up around and moving all over the place. This would be short-lived, as a moment later, her foot connected with a metal bar, causing her to seethe in pain. Leia would shake her head, taking no pride in her sister and her careless actions, though Laya wouldn't see or hear this happen. The monitor in front of Leia changed in perspective, the screen now having a green filter as the black disappeared. At the same time, Laya's eyes lit up, allowing her to see everything around her with perfect clarity. While Leia had night-vision as an addition to the recon equipment she gave her sister, Laya didn't have a way of seeing in the dark. Or so, she thought.

"What... is this place...?"

Laya was awestruck, the phonic gain that flowed to her eyes granting her complete visibility for the room that surrounded her. It seemed like a control room, though it was a bit worse for wear. The circuitry was all fried, covered in layers of soot as imprints of what appeared to be roots were pressed against the walls. She could tell that the room was intended to be much smaller, but from the activation of Yggdrasil, the space in the room was expanded far beyond a normal room. She couldn't believe what she was seeing, but then again, she was wearing a suit that was made from her singing, so this wasn't too outlandish.

She was broken from her trance when Nidhogg interjected, "An overload..."

Laya's mind snapped back to reality, realizing that from its words, Nidhogg knew exactly what had happened here. It had been locked away for such a long time, but it could still recognize that the systems here were all overloaded, unlike the twins. "What do you mean by "overloaded", Nids," Laya inquired, her curiosity peaking at what it was insinuating. Nidhogg's knowledge about the Custodians was much more compared to the other two, so the two obviously waited for an answer from it. Even Leia waited patiently, though she did cringe at her sister calling the beast stowed away by the Gods a name like that. She was still trying to find something that stuck as a nickname, it seemed.

"The Yggdrasil System's control room has a feature that saves itself should it happen to be destroyed carelessly. It links to every base of the System simultaneously, allowing it to transfer itself to another area if it is broken."

Leia noted this explanation, coming to a conclusion before the dragon could explain more. "But if the entire System is overloaded, then there's no place a new control room could pop up," she chimed in, the words now being transmitted through the Gear's speakers to Laya. Laya understood this, but there was something that didn't add up here. "Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait," Laya interrupted, "but this thing happened all over the world! You mean that there's someone who could blow up all the terminals everywhere!?"

There was silence, but the other two knew that the other's silence confirmed the answer to that question. Nidhogg was aware of how the Yggdrasil System's controls functioned and Leia could put two and two together, so it was safe to assume that whatever their assumptions were, they were accurate. Despite this, Laya was still in disbelief. "But who could-"

"Imyuteus Ame no Habakiri tron..."

The voice cut Laya off right in her tracks, causing her to look around the area she was standing in. She didn't see anyone around her, though it wasn't like anyone could hide here, aside from under the rubble. Even then, the way the debris was clattered, no one would be able to hide under it without giving themselves away immediately. Leia also heard this voice, though her reaction didn't appear as shocked as Laya's. Her arms were crossed, leaning back in her chair as she remained vigilant on the screens before her, displaying the Gear's current output and any other signatures on the map.

"She's finally here, huh," the alchemist murmured, having the events that were about to happen play out in her mind with a prediction.

Laya was still unaware of what was going on, still scrambling to find out where that voice was coming from. "Who is-"

(One Thousand Tears)

Her words were cut off, a rain of swords doused in blue light coming down at her as she looked up into the air. Without a second to spare, she waved her hand, the four wings at her hips and back now flying up and spinning in front of her. She didn't even need to think of the defense tactic, the shield generated by the Armed Gear blocking every sword that entered her area.

With each sword that dissipated, the area before her got clearer, until another flash of blue light came down on her. Yet again, this attack was blocked by the Armed Gear, but this time, Laya was pushed back slightly. She nearly fell back on a piece of debris, catching herself in a flip before landing upright as the wings flew back to their normal positions.

She was about to scream out at the person that was clearly attacking her, but before she could, she could hear a faint singing, getting louder and louder as a new girl appeared, one clad in armor similar to her own. Laya looked on at the girl, admiring the grace she had as she reached the floor, the azure hair she adorned fluttering as her heels clacked.

"Her voice..."

She couldn't help but notice her voice, the singing of this new foe sounding all too familiar to her ears. Even if they just met, she felt like she heard this person's voice several times before. Leia twirled the strands of hair on the left side of her head, now in anticipation of the upcoming fight. It would be a good test of Nidhogg's capabilities, especially with a Candidate, if she's willing to fight. Within all the admiration of the enemy's song and the power to push her back, the Candidate only had one thought in her mind, that single track of thought not allowing anything else to run wild in that head of hers.

"It sounds just like Tsubasa's..."

So, it begins! Can't go too long through Symphogear without a conflict, so that's what's gonna' happen! I'm not going to spoil anything about the fights themselves, you'll just have to see exactly how they go for your own opinions, but I do hope you enjoy them nonetheless! That being said, until next week!