"My thousand-year plan, laid to waste in the blink of an eye…" Adam was staring up at the cocoon. "But that won't stop me! The divine power will be mine!"
He disappeared into white particles, leaving Saint-Germain alone with Maia. She walked over to the blue-haired wielder, who's eyes were glued on the cocoon. Saint-Germain looked up at it, seeing the red pulse. Hibiki Tachibana… Just who are you?
SONG's bridge members, along with the Kazanari Twins and Chris were having an emergency meeting with Yatsuhiro.
"It has now been forty-eight hours since Hibiki Tachibana was engulfed by the energy we've come to refer to as the "divine power."" Yatsuhiro said. "The UN is expected to reach a decision soon. It is likely they will vote in favor of military intervention on Japanese soil. If that comes to pass, SONG will serve as the UN's vanguard."
"I feared as much." Genjuro said.
"Fucking hell. Once again the UN is useless." Maia sighed.
"Furthermore, given the circumstances, the deployment of nuclear arms is also being considered as a means to contain the situation." Yatsuhiro added.
"Nukes?!" Genjuro widened his eyes. "But Hibiki-kun's inside that thing!"
"Of course we have no intention of approving such barbarity. However, the US government has an awfully short fuse regarding incidents that could affect the entire world." Yatsuhiro explained.
"So it was the destruction of their spy satellite that gave them all the reason they needed?!" Genjuro realized.
"What is it with the US having the stupidest people in charge?" Maia asked, Chris nodding in agreement.
"Do everything within your ability to resolve the situation." Yatsuhiro said. "Demonstrable progress will help us in the negotiations."
"Understood." Genjuro nodded. "Thank you, brother."
The call ended.
"To think we would be put in the same situation that Val Verde faced just a few weeks ago." Ogawa said.
"We've detected Hibiki-san's life signs from inside the chrysalis." Elfnein said. "I suspect the power of deicide may be stalling the fusion, but who knows how long it will last?
"We need countermeasures now, while there's still time!" Tsubasa said.
"Indeed. That's why they're here." Genjuro said.
"They?" Chris asked.
Miku stepped into the room, Yusuke perched on her shoulder. "Hibiki's inside that thing? Is she alright?"
"Sleeping like a baby. Probably." Maia said.
"Make no mistake, that is her. That's why I sent for you." Genjuro told Miku. "Put us through to Maria and Shuri's teams."
"Yes sir." Aoi tapped a few buttons, connecting them to the others. The first screen showed the FIS trio, while the second one showed Shuri and Rui standing on top of one of the support buildings for the cocoon.
"We're ready over here." Maria said.
"Same here." Rui nodded.
Yusuke jumped off Miku's shoulder, getting close to the screen and his owner. He meowed and licked the screen.
"Hi Yusuke." Rui smiled.
"How can we help Hibiki?" Miku asked.
"With this." Elfnein raised an injector.
"LiNKER?" Shirabe asked. "No, that's…"
"Anti-LiNKER, dess!" Kirika recognized.
"LiNKER and anti-LiNKER are two sides of the same coin." Elfnein explained. "Now that I have a working LINKER recipe, I can synthesize anti-LiNKER as well."
"But how is a drug that lowers the user's link coefficient going to help her?" Maria asked.
"Both Yohualtepuztli and the Divine Weapon needed a vessel to manifest stably due to their immense power." Elfnein said. "Doesn't that remind you of how the Symphogear work?"
Everyone widened their eyes in realization.
"If we assume that the energy that engulfed Hibiki is similar in nature to the energy of the relics that power Symphogear…" Genjuro said.
"Then we should be able to use the anti-LiNKER to pop that thing right off her!" Chris finished.
"That's right." Elfnein nodded, raising several pendants. "So here you are."
"Our converter units!" Tsubasa said.
Elfnein nodded. "I've finished the decontamination procedure. They are ready for service right away. I've given the artificial units back to SOUL, though it's hard to still call them artificial considering everything that has happened. Rui-san's Elekleid has been fully repaired as well."
Rui, Maia and Shuri raised theirs to show they were ready for action.
"Um… Is there anything I can do?" Miku asked.
"You're the ace in the hole." Genjuro explained. "Our trump card."
"Me?"
"It'll be dangerous." Elfnein said.
Miku looked surprised, but a look of determination was on her face. "I understand."
"You, and two others." Genjuro said.
Shuri looked at her hand, as the dark aura of a claw appeared over it.
Saint-Germain had a look of annoyance on her face, as several agents had guns pointed at her. At the same time, this was something she could understand.
"Lower your weapons. This is no way to treat an ally." Genjuro said, stepping up with the other SONG members.
"But sir-"
"If she does try anything, your guns will only get in my way." Genjuro said.
Saint-Germain looked rather amused at the declaration, as the agents lowered their weapons. "Was my data useful?"
"With your notes on the technology of the Philosopher's Stone, I was able to decontaminate the converter units much more quickly. It even gave me an idea on how to restore the two inactive Elekleid units later." Elfnein said, holding a tablet with a diagram. "Thank you very much!"
"Glad to hear it." Saint-Germain said.
"As for your assistance…" Genjuro started.
"I will help you, but I will not join you." Saint-Germain said.
"You serious?" Forte crossed her arms, as she and Lala stepped forward.
"Hm? Ah, you two were subordinates of Tesla, yes?" Saint-Germain recognized.
"Are you really not going to join SONG?" Lala asked.
Saint-Germain was unable to come up with an answer, before Fujitaka contacted them over the intercom. "Commander! Direct call from Kamakura!"
The screen in the room turned on to reveal Fudou Kazanari.
"I have invoked the National Defense Disaster Dispatch clause." Fudou announced.
While the Kazanaris in the room looked alarmed, the others were more confused. Chris was the one to speak up. "National Defense?"
"Did you have them recognize Tachibana as a type 2 supernatural disaster?" Tsubasa asked.
"You stupid old geezer!" Maia shouted.
"Unlimited use of armed force is authorized for all disasters related to relics." Fudou said, ignoring her. "The target must be annihilated without delay."
"We are undertaking a rescue operation!" Genjuro said.
"Fool!" Fudou said. "Do you want the UN to carry out their armed intervention? They will deploy weapons of mass destruction! The country will burn!"
"Wait!" Miku spoke up. "Hibiki's not a supernatural disaster! She's my friend!"
"If the Kazanari duty is to protect the country, then I, the prodigal daughter, will protect my friend and its people!" Tsubasa stated.
"Yeah, so you can go fuck yourself, old bastard!" Maia added, though Genjuro pulled her back.
"Tsubasa! Maia! Do you mean to reject the blood that flows through your veins?!" Fudou shouted.
"I care not for blood!" Tsubasa declared. "The only thing that flows through me… is the spirit of a girl named Kanade Amou!"
"Oh so this is the first time you even cared about me?" Maia chuckled. "Well fuck all of your stupid extremist bullshit! You're unfit to protect anything!"
An alarm rang as Fudou sat back in his chair.
"Commander, we've detected assault forces closing in on Hibiki." Aoi reported.
"The operation will commence in two hours. I will not stray from the path I have chosen." Fudou said, ending the call.
"Yet another instigator of oppression." Saint-Germain noted.
Maia chuckled. "Ah, I am gonna love proving that piece of shit wrong again."
Several of the armed forces took aim at the cocoon. Several shots had been already made, cracking part of the top.
"Ready… aim…!"
"Wait! Someone's falling!" One of the soldiers pointed.
(Insert Time Judged all by Shu Watanabe and Ryosuke Miura)
Rui and Shuri jumped off the building, diving down.
"Let's go, Shuri!" Rui shouted, bringing up her Elekleid.
"Right!" Shuri nodded, inserting her Proto-Gear into Okami.
ICHAIVAL! AUTHORIZED
RELIC BATTLE MODE; READY
"Elekleid, Switch On!"
OKAMI! ICHAIVAL MODE
The armed forces were blinded by the flashes of light. Shuri landed on top of the cocoon, having transformed. She looked at the glowing crack, steeling herself. Rui had landed on the ground, drawing her blades.
"You jerks… GET AWAY FROM MY SISTER!"
With blinding speed, she rushed forward. Blades unleashed, she sliced open the tanks, rendering them inoperable. A few tried to aim their guns at her, but she sped past them and destroyed their weapons. At an accelerated rate, Rui was disarming all of the armed forces.
I feel stronger… faster… is this because I'm pissed off? Or…?
Unbeknownst to Rui, some gold dust from the cocoon started to seep into her.
SONG was observing the battle, watching as Rui protected the cocoon. A few of the remaining tanks tried firing, but Shuri shot them out of the air.
"They're doing a good job protecting Hibiki…" Aoi said.
"But the next step is where we need to be careful… we're playing with dangerous power here." Fujitaka swallowed.
The camera changed back to Shuri, who had formed two Ignite claws.
"Oi, are you sure there's no other way?" Jeanne asked Lala.
Lala shook her head. "If we broke through the cocoon with other forces, the damage might be much wider with how destructive the divine power can be. We need to break in with a stronger, concentrated force."
"Which is where Shuri-san's Ignite comes in." Elfnein said. "With how concentrated it is in her body, she's our best hope of breaking through without too much widespread damage."
"But it's gonna do a number on her body, even if she can heal." Forte pointed out.
Chris grit her teeth, watching her sister. You can do this… Come back safe!
Shuri took a deep breath, as her claws sharpened further into blades. She could feel the Ignite inside her practically screaming to be released.
"Alright…" Shuri's pupils turned red as her voice grew deeper. "We're going to save you, Hibiki-san!"
She stabbed her claws into the crack, pouring as much of her energy into it as she could. She screamed in pain, as the divine energy burned her arms. Shuri ignored it to the best of her ability, pushing further and further. Her teeth sharpened into fangs, eyes opened up all over her body, and a pair of demonic wings tore open her back. She focused harder, shoving her hands deeper into the cocoon, before one final shout caused an explosion where the Ignite met the Divine Energy. Cracks spread throughout the cocoon, both red and gold.
Rui looked up, seeing the explosion. "Shuri!"
The girl crashed into the ground, blood pouring out of her eyes and mouth. Her eyes had gone completely red, glowing with the Ignite energy. Her lower arms had been completely stripped of their flesh and blood, leaving only the cracked bones. Smoke was rising out of her hands and mouth, charred from the energy overlord. What remained of her mutations were slightly shriveled, almost dead.
Rui could hear Genjuro shout the order for the paramedics to recover Shuri, but her eyes were focused more on the cocoon that contained her sister, now cracking further. It shone gold, lowering itself to the ground with a thunderous boom before breaking apart.
When the light faded, Rui widened her eyes, unable to believe what she was seeing. "What the hell…"
What stood before her was a massive giant, resembling the Divine Weapon. Except several of the traits made it much more humanoid in design. Traits that Rui recognized belonged to her sister.
"Hibiki…?" Rui muttered.
The new Divine Weapon roared, before firing a beam of golden energy from her mouth. It obliterated one of the buildings nearby. With another roar, she fired again, destroying another.
"Hibiki!" Rui shouted. "Stop it!"
The Divine Weapon stopped, slowly looking down at Rui, or at least that's what she hoped considering its seeming lack of eyes.
"Don't you recognize me?! It's your sister!" Rui called up. "Stop-!"
The giant roared, before firing another blast down. Rui screamed as she was knocked away by the explosion. She hit the ground, rolling several times before looking up at the Divine Weapon's rampage.
"Damn it… did we miscalculate…?" She groaned.
Another blast fired straight at Rui, but Maria landed between them. She raised a hand, blocking the blast with a barrier. While she managed to divert most of the energy, it still broke through and she was sent backwards. Kirika and Shirabe jumped in to catch her.
"Are you okay, Maria?" Shirabe asked.
"That insane power has Hibiki-san written all over it, dess!" Kirika said, looking up at the monster.
"Yeah… she always did pack a punch…" Rui stood back up, wiping her mouth.
"We'll handle this!" Tsubasa shouted to what remained of the armed forces.
"Are you the UN's special unit? We are here on orders from the Japanese government! We have received no direction to withdraw! One of your soldiers interfered with the operation!"
Several slashes rang out, as Saint-Germain dismantled the last of the tanks. "If you'd like an excuse, I'm happy to oblige."
"You'll help us?" Tsubasa asked.
"I'm not here to help you, but I will fight." She said.
"That's basically the same thing…" Maia sighed, before turning to the armed forces. "Anyways, you guys can go back home. Go spend time with your families, because this could get real ugly."
The armed forces heeded Maia's words before hastily retreating. SONG's vehicles rode up to take their place. The lead vehicle had Ogawa, Jeanne, Forte, Lala and Miku. Yusuke was standing on the table, alert and back arched.
"The special equipment convoy is in position." Ogawa said.
"Everything's good from our position!" Forte added.
"C'est prêt, Commander." Jeanne said.
"All right!" Genjuro nodded. "We're bringing the party to you, Hibiki-kun!"
The five wielders, two SOUL members and Saint-Germain stood ready, facing down the giant.
"Hibiki…" Rui said, concerned. "We'll save you!"
"Wait, everyone!" Lala shouted suddenly. "Shuri just had a massive energy spike!"
Everyone turned over towards the paramedic team. They could see an aura of dark energy from Shuri's body as the girl slowly stood up.
"Medical team, retreat immediately!" Genjuro ordered.
As all of the staff moved away at Genjuro's command, the others watched Shuri slowly lumber forward. The dark energy surrounded her damaged hands, restoring the flesh… except something was wrong. The way Shuri walked was unnatural. Almost ethereal, yet animalistic at the same time. The Divine Weapon had stopped rampaging, looking at the girl that was walking towards her.
"Shuri…?" Chris said quietly, terrified of what was happening.
"Shuri!" Maia shouted in concern.
The younger Yukine fell to her knees, clutching at her face. She tore her fingers down, ripping into her cheeks and drawing blood, letting out a demonic scream. The dark energy ripped out of her body, tearing through her skin. It completely engulfed her in an ocean of blood, which expanded in size to surround nearly the entire area around them.
"Wh-What in the world?" Saint-Germain widened her eyes.
"Shuri!" Maria shouted.
"Elfnein, Lala, what's happening to her?!" Tsubasa asked into her communicator.
"I… I don't know!" Elfnein said. "Her energy levels are going off the charts!"
"None of this was in Tesla's notes, Saint-Germain's information or Aiba's memory banks!" Lala said.
"Is she going berserk?!" Genjuro shouted.
All of the blood that surrounded them stopped moving. Not even a drop twitched. It all returned to a single point, where Shuri once stood. The splatter of blood could be heard, as well as the snapping of bones as they formed together, slowly creating a humanoid figure as tall as the Divine Weapon. The horrific noises stopped, revealing what had formed. It was a massive giant made out of berserk energy, heavily resembling the times Hibiki and Maria had gone out of control. Several of the joints had misshapen bones acting as connectors, the Ignite energy swirling around them. The chest had an odd breastplate made out of ribs, with waterfalls of blood leaking between the cracks. The head had bones making a wolf-like helmet with two sets of jaws, the inside being a face made out of pure darkness with two piercing red eyes and fanged teeth. The only part that resembled Shuri was her long flowing hair, stained with blood.
(Insert POWER to TEARER by Shu Watanabe & Akira Kushida)
"Is that…" Maia's eyes widened.
"Shuri…?" Chris said, voice weak.
"OUOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!" Shuri roared, before stomping towards Hibiki. She drew a fist back, throwing a punch straight at the face of the Divine Weapon. The blow smashing at her jaw, Hibiki roared in anger, firing a beam from her mouth. With surprising agility, Shuri jumped straight over it, landing on the other side of her foe. The two giants pushed forward at one another, grasping the other's hands in an attempt to push them back. Their roars shook the entire area, breaking unreinforced windows for miles, as the Avatar of the Ignite Module and Divine Weapon continued to wrestle.
"Restraining Tachibana is one task, but now we have to restrain Shuri as well?!" Tsubasa said, sweat going down her brow.
"Maybe not…" Maia said. "Focus on Hibiki!"
"Huh?! Why, dess?!" Kirika asked.
"Call it a gut feeling!" Maia said. "Let's move!"
The team rushed forward, with Chris aiming first. "Argh, time to tame this shrew!"
Several shots from the two hit the Divine Weapon. She tried to blast at them, but Shuri grabbed her face, smashing her face with a headbutt. Unfortunately, the energy in Hibiki's mouth still went-off, blasting Shuri in the face. The Ignite giant fell on her back, and Maia quickly jumped over towards her. Tsubasa shouted and fired dozens of blades into Hibiki's shadow, temporarily holding her in place.
Shadow Weaving
Maia landed by the head of the Ignite giant, looking into Shuri's eye. "Shuri! Shuri, are you in there?!"
The Ignite giant looked at her, and Maia took a step back in fear. The giant slowly reached towards her, before holding out a finger. Realizing what this meant, Maia smiled and touched the fingertip with her hand. Despite the rough feeling it had, she could feel Shuri's warmth through it.
"You're still with us…" Maia said, relieved. "Then are you still up to help us get Hibiki back?"
Shuri let out a small monstrous groan, but her teeth formed a wicked grin.
"Alright!" Maia laughed, turning to the others as Shuri stood back up. "We just got the best news guys! Shuri's still good to kick ass with us!"
"Shuri!" Chris smiled. "Always pulling through!"
"OOOOOOUAAAAAAAAAGH!" Shuri roared. Hibiki let out a monstrous shout in challenge, before forcing herself forward, ripping out the blades Tsubasa used to pin her shadow.
"It would seem that our usual methods won't be enough this time." Tsubasa said.
"Well it's a good thing we don't just have usual methods!" Maria said, looking back at Shuri stomping towards Hibiki. "Though I'll still put the opening you created to good use!"
Maria formed a barrier with her daggers, before grabbing it and circling Hibiki. The Divine Weapon was about to fire again, but was interrupted with several shots from Saint-Germain.
"Without the god-slayer, this is the only option we have left!" She said.
Rui grit her teeth, knowing that she and Maia couldn't risk any direct attacks on Hibiki, lest they risk devastating damage thanks to their own connections to Gungnir. Maria flew around the Divine Weapon, enwrapping it in energy.
"STOOOOOP!" Maria shouted, locking Hibiki in place.
The Divine Weapon roared and blasted widely, but a punch from the Ignite giant forced it to stop. Maria landed on the ground, pulling her bind taut. The pink-haired user winced as she struggled to keep the bind, glowing with power. Shirabe and Kirika placed their hands on her back.
"Maria! Take our power…" Shirabe started.
"And add it to yours, dess!" Kirika finished.
Hibiki was close to breaking free, but Shuri roared, moving behind her. The bones on her chest spread out to let more berserk energy connect them, forming two extra arms. With four arms together, she enwrapped the Divine Weapon, preventing it from moving too much. Before Hibiki could fire again, Shuri roared and bit into her shoulder, dealing enough damage to prevent her from causing more destruction.
"You're not alone!" Tsubasa said, as she and Chris placed their hands on Maria's shoulders.
"We'll save her together!" Chris declared.
Rui and Maia ran over, placing their hands on Maria's back. Maia grinned as she felt the power spike with four extra sets of abilities. "Here we go!"
"Incredible…" Saint-Germain was amazed, watching them all match the Divine Weapon's power. Though she had fought them many times before, this was the first time she could properly see their potential together. "How?"
"Well, it's because we're well trained." Rui smirked with a small salute. "But we also share our resolve!"
Hibiki unleashed another blast from her mouth, but one of Shuri's arms wrapped around her neck in an attempt to stop it.
"Now, Ogawa-san!" Tsubasa shouted.
"Good to go." Ogawa nodded.
"Alright. Let's move!" Jeanne shouted.
"I've been waiting for this!" Forte grinned, before she slammed her fist down on a large button.
The truck that had driven up fired the odd cannons hoisted atop their backs, launching three anti-LiNKER injectors. They latched onto Hibiki's chest, as she roared at the sudden injection. She swung her head back, slamming it into Shuri's face and forcing her to let go. Though this action left her open from behind, as two more of the cannons shot injectors into her rear.
"Anti-LiNKER pods hit! Injecting!" Fujitaka announced.
"Link coefficient decreasing rapidly in the target!" Aoi added.
Lala watched as the Ignite giant stood back up, roaring. Shuri-san…
"Gen! The UN negotiations are nearing their end." Yatsuhiro reported, contacting them. "Everything comes down to what happens here in Japan… and Hibiki Tachibana."
"We're doing everything in our power, right now!" Genjuro shouted.
"The situation is overwhelmingly unfavorable." Yatsuhiro said. "When one individual poses this much of a threat, they will authorize nuclear weapons. Count on it."
"Hibiki-kun…" Genjuro said, as the call ended.
Blue flames appeared on the head crest of the Divine Weapon, as Hibiki roared and ripped through the energy binds. The force of the burst sent everyone flying. She charged another blast in her mouth, shooting it at her friends. Saint-Germain ran forward, creating a barrier and reinforcing it with the blade Maia had given her.
"Is this your way now?" Saint-Germain asked. "Will you bite the hands you once held, Hibiki Tachibana?!"
The Divine Weapon roared, as the Ignite giant rose behind her, letting out her own howl. Hibiki turned, charging at Shuri. Shuri raised her arms to stop the charge, but the two smashed foreheads together. The blue flames from the Divine Weapon spread over to the Ignite giant, but neither had a distinct edge.
"Link coefficient is rising once again!" Fujitaka said.
"It's a defense mechanism inherent to the divine power." Elfnein realized. "It's altering the underlying principles of anti-LiNKER's effect in real time!"
"Her link coefficient has reverse velocity." Aoi reported. "Now rising rapidly!"
"Well, this much we anticipated." Genjuro said. "Here it goes!"
Jeanne stood atop one of the trucks. She was holding a mic in her hand. "Aiba!"
"Calculating wind velocity and required strength." Aiba said. "Calculations, finished!"
"It's all yours, Rui!" Jeanne shouted, throwing a mic towards her. Rui raised a hand and caught it out of the air.
Inside the other truck, Miku took a deep breath, before shouting into her own mic. "HIBIKIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!"
"Hibiki! How long are you gonna sleep in?! WAKE UP!" Rui yelled.
The Divine Weapon stopped fighting. Seeing the sudden halt, Shuri let go, stepping back.
(Insert Futurism by Ayahi Takagaki)
"Hibiki-chan's movements have stopped!" Aoi said, amazed.
"Now that the increased link coefficient has caused the fusion to progress, Miku-san and Rui-san's voices, converted into electrical signals, are bound to reach the vessel, Hibiki!"
The red crystal on the Divine Weapon started to pulsate.
"It's your birthday today, you know." Miku said. " But… You're supposed to be a part of it too!"
"Hey, don't you remember what we'd always do for our birthday!?" Rui shouted. "Remember when we went to one of the local stores and I'd buy all the Kamen Rider Kaixa merch I could?"
Inside the Divine Weapon, Hibiki's consciousness began to stir.
Someone is calling me… I know these voices…
"Hibiki… Happy birthday." Miku said. "Though… I guess what I really want to say… is "thank you." It's because you and I were born into this same world that I learned how to run alongside someone else."
"You being here for me… You're the greatest twin sister I could have ever asked for." Rui said. "So come back to us… we're all waiting for you! I'm not celebrating our birthday without you!"
Miku… Oneesan…
"You made me realize that with someone else beside me, I could reach goals I could never reach alone." Miku said.
"You taught me to reach out, to lend a hand to everyone." Rui said. "Now it's our turn to reach out to you! Take our hands, because we'll never let go!"
"Miku… My sunshine!" Hibiki recognized.
"Hibiki! My shining Sun!" Miku smiled.
"Oneesan… My strong oneesan Rui!" Hibiki remembered.
"Hibiki! My heroic little sis!" Rui grinned.
The Divine Weapon started to crack, gold energy seeping out. It flowed into the Ignite giant, who fell on her knees. The crystal on the Divine Weapon cracked open, and Hibiki fell out of the shards.
"Hibiki!" Miku stood up. "I knew you'd come back!"
Rui took off, catching her sister out of the air. She carefully landed back on the ground, as Miku ran up to the two. They embraced the younger Tachibana in a hug.
"Hibiki-kun's fine! She's alive!" Aoi smiled.
"What about Shuri?" Lala asked.
They looked up at the Ignite giant, which had turned gold. Like what remained of the Divine Weapon, it started slowly turning into glowing gold dust. As it faded away, Shuri was left on the ground. Her clothes were utterly torn apart, but she herself was unharmed. Chris and Maia quickly ran over, as she began to stir.
"Ugh… did we do it?" Shuri asked, opening her eyes. They were back to normal, no longer a piercing red.
"Yeah… hell yeah we did!" Chris laughed, hugging her sister.
After staring at her girlfriend's rather torn uniform for a few moments, Maia tapped her communicator. "All good here. Shuri's safe. We're just gonna need a new set of her uniform."
"We've confirmed the situation." Yatsuhiro said, appearing on the monitor. "The military intervention proposal has been rejected."
"Yatsuhiro…" Genjuro said.
"We have the trust you've built up with your work so far at SONG, along with Vice Minister Shibata's expertise in noodles- specifically, using his own- to thank for this victory."
"Lala would say that's ridiculous, but one of our saviors happens to be a total Kamen Rider nerd, so it balances out." Lala chuckled.
"People can connect." Genjuro smiled. "We can work together as one."
"That's right." Yatsuhiro nodded. "Without the need for nuclear weapons."
Though all that seemed to disappear as alarms started to blare. Fujitaka rapidly typed, revealing footage on a monitor. "We're detecting the launch of a high-speed projectile from the Pacific!"
"They fired it?!" Yatsuhiro shouted.
Across the sea, a red button had been pressed, having launched the nuclear strike.
A button pressed by the president of the United States.
"Our country is built on freedoms originating from an age of true divinity." The United States president said, putting the activation key away. "May this strike open the way to a brave new world of mankind, built by mankind for mankind."
"Prepare to intercept!" Genjuro shouted.
"We won't make it at this distance!" Fujitaka said. "Estimated 330 seconds until impact!"
The girls looked into the sky, seeing the approaching warhead, having heard everything through communications. Maia threw her sword on the floor. "Fuck those god damn idiots running that god-forsaken hell they call a country!"
"Now's not the time to throw aside your blade, Neesama!" Tsubasa said.
"I'll cut it down, dess!" Kirika declared.
"You can't!" Shirabe said. "If it ends up detonating up there, the shockwave will devastate the area, and the fallout will contaminate the Earth!"
Rui grit her teeth as she gently laid Hibiki down. "Then I'll use Kagutsuchi to-"
"Not a chance." Miku said, putting her jacket over Hibiki.
"With the damage you took trying to subdue the dummy, there's no way you can absorb all that!" Chris said.
"It may be that I've lived all this time in preparation for this moment." Saint-Germain spoke up.
"What are you saying?" Maria asked.
A green hexagram appeared at Saint-Germain's feet, as she rose skyward.
"Hey!" Rui shouted. "What are you-?!"
"I may not be able to do it alone." Saint-Germain said. "No… "Even so…" wasn't it?"
The red crystal on her chest had started to glow.
(Insert Shitō -Ewigkeit- by Minako Kotobuki, Shouta Aoi and Rina Hidaka)
Saint-Germain had begun to sing, but was surprised when she heard a familiar voice join her. Turning around, she saw a familiar blue-haired alchemist. "Cagliostro?"
Cagliostro smirked, giving her usual wink. A third voice joined, and Saint-Germain turned to see another she believed dead.
"Prelati?"
While her surprise was great, she turned back to the task at hand. With her two allies at her side once more, she knew they would be able to succeed. They took-off towards the warhead, determined.
"Going it alone, were you?" Cagliostro chuckled.
"Basically, that's far too depressing a thought." Prelati said.
"You two…" Saint-Germain was touched, letting a few tears fall, before she continued singing.
Down below the wielders watched the alchemists fly. Hibiki opened her eyes when she heard their voices, which Miku noticed.
"I know those voices…" Hibiki said.
"Hibiki!" Miku leaned down.
"Miku?" Hibiki turned her head, looking around at the others. "Oneesan and everyone… And…"
She sat up, looking in the sky to see the Illuminati trio. Rui clenched a fist, gritting her teeth.
As the three alchemists flew towards the warhead, they explained what had happened, and how they were still alive.
"My woman's intuition told me not to trust the Lodgemaster, so I faked my death and hid." Cagliostro said, remembering how she had backed out of the final clash at the last second. Though Rui's contribution made it a very close call.
"Basically, Cagliostro saved me, and I've been preparing a vengeful transmutation ever since." Prelati said, recalling that the second before Shuri's darkness could envelop her, Cagliostro used the explosions as cover to rescue her. Saint-Germain drew her pistol, as Prelati handed her the special bullet that she had prepared. Feeling the determination from her allies, she loaded the clip into her weapon, before aiming.
She fired. The bullet crystalized, before slamming straight into the warhead, containing the huge explosion in an energy field.
"The weapon has detonated!" Aoi said.
"Shockwave will reach us in-!" Fujitaka started. "What the?!"
The footage on the monitor showed the explosion being contained.
"That's the lapis philosophorum…" Elfnein recognized.
"Holy crap, they're really holding it!" Forte said, amazed.
This is the power that the Illuminati held… No wonder Tesla never told them about his true plans. Lala realized.
The energy field containing the explosion was trembling, but the three alchemists stood determined.
The purest light that has ever been seen. Prelati thought. Basically, my magnum opus!
We originally researched the lapis to find a way to break the curse. It has finally been used for mankind. Saint-Germain tightened her hand.
Honestly, I'd rather ram this thing up the Lodgemaster's ass. Cagliostro smirked. But it seems like you joined hands with those girls while I wasn't looking.
"We didn't join hands." Saint-Germain said.
"Energy readings are still growing!" Aoi said.
"They won't be able to contain it!" Fujitaka shouted.
Genjuro grit his teeth, before another blip appeared on the monitor. "This is-?!"
In the other vehicle, Lala and Forte begun to smile.
Cagliostro held a fist forward. A perfect incineration of life…
That is basically how the lapis shines! Prelati said.
I haven't joined hands with those girls. Saint-Germain thought, knowing they were all looking up at her. I wish I could.
She slowly raised her weapon, pointing it at the blast.
"I'll carry the world through the night by lighting the way… WITH DEATH!"
The shot fired, piercing the explosion and causing it to transform into particles of gold. The explosion was no longer at risk of causing severe damage. Seeing that the threat was over, she turned to Cagliostro and Prelati, gold particles flaking off their bodies as they started turning translucent.
"Thank you for coming with me." Saint-Germain said.
(Insert TESTAMENT -Aufwachen Form- by Nana Mizuki)
"Basically, I wouldn't miss seeing this wonder for the world." Prelati said.
"Wonder?" Saint-Germain asked.
"Saint-Germain, you're smiling." Cagliostro chuckled.
A smile was on the alchemist's face. "I can't even remember the last time I didn't want to die."
She dropped her weapon, as Cagliostro and Prelati started to fade away. With one smile, Saint-Germain fell back.
Mother…
But she then felt herself caught in someone's arms. Suddenly, her body had stopped fading away. Both Prelati and Cagliostro looked surprised.
"Wha-?"
"I'm not letting anyone else die on me."
Rui made this declaration, with the Elekleid glowing. The other two alchemists stopped fading away as Rui grit her teeth.
"I can try to change reality… let all three of you survive…" Rui grit her teeth as she concentrated on trying to restore the three.
"With your level of power, kiddo?" Cagliostro said. "I don't think you can."
"Why?" Prelati asked. "Why would you try to help us?"
"Because letting people die… that's not how we roll at SONG! No matter who it is, I'll reach out to them!" Rui declared, pushing her power as far as she could. "And I made a promise… to protect the people in this world! Elekleid, Symphonic Drive! Henshin!"
With a burst of gold and violet, Rui had transformed into her Symphonic Drive form, her power resonating. The alchemists widened their eyes, seeing the figure of a blonde woman behind Rui, though it faded away soon after.
"That was…" Cagliostro recognized. "Tesla's assistant."
"Basically, she passed this will down to her." Prelati realized.
"Tesla's Instrument of Change…" Saint-Germain said. "No, Rui Tachibana…"
Cagliostro and Prelati glanced at one another before nodding, holding their hands outward. They started fading away once more, but Saint-Germain's body became solid.
"What…?" Saint-Germain watched the two. "What are you two-?"
"Basically giving up what's left of our life towards you, Saint-Germain." Prelati smiled.
"No way that girl has enough power to save all of us." Cagliostro chuckled. "So how about you live for us?"
"W-Wait!" Saint-Germain tried reaching out towards them, but her body was still too weak. Her Spellcaster dropped from her hand.
Cagliostro and Prelati smiled, before they completely faded away. The gold in the sky turned brighter, reacting to Rui's Elekleid, before she slowly descended towards the ground. Her friends all watched as she approached with a depowered Saint-Germain in her arms.
"Alchemists… Those who dedicate their lives to relentlessly pursue an ideal." Tsubasa said.
Shirabe turned to Kirika. "Now we just have to gather the scattered divine power, and-"
"Wait!" Maia shouted, as she and the others noticed the divine power moving towards a single point away from them. "Where's it going?!"
A crack in space had Adam's arm held through it. "I should thank you all."
Reaching out was his remaining arm, before it shattered to reveal where he was hiding.
"Adam Weishaupt!" Tsubasa shouted. "Do you still have the power in your sights?!"
"It's already in my hand!" Adam declared, throwing his arm skyward as it pulsated with power.
"We have to stop him!" Tsubasa raised her blade.
"Aim for the arm!" Maia shouted, as they all ran forward.
"I won't let you stand in my way any longer!" Adam threw an orb of water, slowing the girls down. A second orb hit the water, freezing it and locking all of them in place.
"Even so!"
"I'm well aware of it!"
Hibiki and Rui jumped forward. The former recovered enough to have transformed, and Rui had given Saint-Germain to the med team. The two jumped skyward.
"You two are the last people I'm letting anywhere near it!" Adam shouted, charging energy in his hand.
But before he could fire a blast, what remained of Tiki jumped out and grabbed his leg, disrupting and knocking him down. "Adam you're so mean! You wouldn't hold me, so I'll hold you instead!"
"HOOOOAAAAAAH!"
"OREYAAAAAAAAH!"
"Stop!" Adam screamed. "That god-slaying power isn't as convenient as you think! Two millennia of belief and malice formed that philosophical armament! Use it, and its curse will befall you!"
"I'll punch it apart, with a song in my fist!" Hibiki shouted, drawing her fist back.
"That's right! This is our stage now!" Rui shouted, outstretching her leg.
The two sisters hit the arm dead on, power spiking and tearing the arm in half. Adam could only watch in shocked stupor, before the divine power was completely obliterated.
The power was gone.
A/N: Here we have one of the bigger chapters as AXZ's penultimate chapter is released.
Expanding on the lead-up to the divine weapon reveal was fun to add, with Rui and Shuri getting involved, as well as Maia's addition. Rui being one to call out to Hibiki was one of my favorite parts too.
Shuri's transformation is very much an Evangelion reference. I had Shuri going full berserk planned all the way since G to match Hibiki here, but I decided to make it a full on Ultraman vs Kaiju style brawl to make it even crazier. Happy Birthday to the Yukine Twins as I upload this on December 28th.
And perhaps the biggest surprise, Saint-Germain is still around and kicking here! I'm unsure how many of you had that on the list, but I do have my reasons for doing so, which will be seen as the story reaches its final arc. It was an intentional call-back to Rui's arc during the events of Lost Song, considering what happened with Starlit.
And thus, the final chapter awaits for AXZ.
Feel free to leave a review. See you all next time.