The light died down, and Hibiki stood strong, garbed in Gungnir once more.
"She's… attuned with Gungnir…?" Maria said in shock.
"Back in business." Maia said. "Or rather, properly in business, since she's using the actual relic now."
"Wait." Rui looked around, noticing that Ver was gone. "Where did-?"
She looked at the bottom of the stairs to see Ver make an exit hole in the floor. They were about to give chase, before Maria collapsed into Hibiki's arms.
"Dr. Ver!"
Genjuro and Ogawa had arrived on the scene. Ver slipped into his exit, as it closed behind him. Everyone was too far away to follow him… except for one.
There was a blur, as Jeanne jumped in after him the moment before the hole closed completely. The last thing the group saw was an expression of complete fury on her face.
Ogawa looked up to see Hibiki in armor again. "Hibiki-san, where did you get that Symphogear?"
"Maria-san's Gungnir responded to my song." Hibiki said.
"I had a feeling it was the case." Maia said. "I mean, if her hard-headed, reckless, and probably crazy older sister could jack Maria's Gungnir like that-"
"Shut the hell up, partner." Rui glared, as Maia laughed.
The small moment of comedy was short lived, as the ground beneath them began to shake.
"What-?!" Ogawa shouted, trying to stay on his feet.
Genjuro pressed his comm link. "Can we get an update?!"
"A gravitational anomaly has been detected!" Sakuya reported.
"The Frontier has started to move laterally while still rising." Aoi added.
"Why?" Rui asked. "It was stable a few seconds ago!"
"With his left arm connected to the Frontier, Ver can control it any way he likes." Maria said, as the others turned to her.
Ver walked down a hall, dragging his arm across the wall. It glowed wherever his fingers met.
"I may have lost Solomon's Cane, but I still have the Frontier." He said to himself. "I'll use gravity itself to knock down any fools who oppose me."
Unbeknownst to Ver, he had someone following him.
Jeanne had loaded her guns, keeping them out of their holsters.
"The Frontier is powered by the Nephilim's heart." Maria continued. "If we can stop the heart, we can stop Ver as well. I beg you… I don't even have the right to fight anymore… Go in my stead, please!"
"Shirabe-chan asked me something too."
Maria looked up at Hibiki's smiling face.
"She asked me to save you." Hibiki said. "So no worries!"
Maria was surprised, while Rui smiled.
"Yo, old man." Maia said, turning to Genjuro. "Are you gonna-?"
She got the answer when Genjuro punched the ground, creating a large fissure where Ver had escaped.
"Shisho!" Hibiki shouted.
"Leave Ver to us. We'll provide the backup that Jeanne needs." Genjuro told them. "You should focus on-"
"-stopping the Nephilim's heart!" Hibiki finished.
"We got it covered." Rui said, fixing her collar.
"Go kick that son of a bitch between the legs for me!" Maia grinned.
Genjuro and Ogawa nodded, before they jumped into the fissure. Hibiki turned back to Maria. "Just wait here. I'll be right back!"
Hibiki jumped off, kicking off the floating rocks towards her destination.
"Rui, you mind holding down the fort here?" Maia asked. "Someone's got to keep an eye on Maria, and tell the others if they swing by here any chance."
"Wait, why me?" Rui asked.
"Well… I'm the one with the flying board." Maia said.
"...fair enough." Rui said. "Go on."
"You're the best, partner!" Maia said, before jumping on Takemikazuchi and speeding off after Hibiki.
Maria watched as they left, before Rui cleared her throat.
"So…"
Rui sat down in front of Maria, cross-legged.
"You uh… wanna talk or something?"
Hibiki and Maia landed a fair distance from the main building, where Tsubasa, Chris and Shuri were waiting for them.
"Tsubasa-san! Shuri-san! Chris-chan!" Hibiki said with a grin.
"Tachibana. Neesama." Tsubasa said, smiling back.
"We don't have any time to waste." Hibiki said.
"Right. We're in this fight together." Tsubasa agreed.
"Well… we could spare a few seconds." Maia said, looking at Chris.
"Ah, you did it, Chris-chan!" Hibiki said, holding up her friend's hands which were still clutching onto Solomon's Cane. "I knew you'd be able to bring it back!"
"O-Of course!" Chris said.
"What else did you expect from oneesama?" Shuri asked, beaming.
"Lemmie just do something real quick." Maia said, walking up to Chris.
She reached a hand forward and started pulling on Chris's sideburn.
"OW OW OW! WHAT THE FUCK?!"
"That's for shooting Tsubasa in the back and pulling this stupid stunt shit." Maia grinned. "And for when you pulled on my hair back then!"
Chris managed to pry away Maia's grip, rubbing her sore skin. "Okay, okay, jeez…"
"Oh, and you still got Rui to go, so don't be relieved just yet."
Chris groaned as the others laughed. Their comm links beeped, and they all went back on alert.
"Girls! With HQ's analysis, we were able to locate a high-output energy source." Genjuro informed them. "That must be the engine, the heart of the Frontier! Follow HQ's directions and take it out!"
Shuri nodded, as the comm link ended. "Let's go."
"So what's the plan?" Maia asked.
"Simple. Hibiki-san, Tsubasa-san and oneesama will be the main attack front." Shuri said. "We'll provide support whenever they slip up. Is that clear?"
They all nodded.
"With spear, bow and sword in hand, we'll overcome this together." Tsubasa said.
"And sibling support." Maia added. "Anyways, let's do this, girls! Let's save the world… again!"
Hibiki, Tsubasa and Chris all took off, while Shuri rode Takemikazuchi with Maia.
Ver was watching them move through a monitor down below. The heart of the Nephilim glowing above him on an energy generator.
"You filthy, stray cats! Get out of my garden!" He demanded. "Feel the wrath of the Nephilim as it eats away the Frontier from within!"
The heart pulsed brighter, as the Frontier shook.
Hibiki and the others landed, noticing the ground was shifting.
"Wh-What's going on?" Hibiki asked.
"A ground show or something?" Maia raised her brow.
"It'll take more than this to stop us!" Chris shouted.
The ground morphed and changed into a massive beast-like shape. It started to gain color, before roaring. The spikes on its body shot out, launching several missiles that the girls dodged.
"Is that the autonomous complete relic from before?" Tsubasa realized.
"Well, considering how ugly it looks, I say yes." Maia commented.
Roaring almost as if insulted, the Nephilim blasted a glob of molten rock. Chris only barely managed to dodge it.
"Oh, and it can spit LAVA now! That's just fucking WONDERFUL!" Maia shouted.
"It's too damn powerful!" Chris shouted.
"Consume everything and everyone that stands in my way!" Ver shouted at the heart. "Show them why you're feared far and wide as the "Devourer," Nephilim!"
Rui really hated awkward silences. Then again, she herself wasn't really doing much to fix that. Maria just sat there, staring at the floor. She wanted to start up a conversation somehow, but she couldn't really think of anything.
She was brought out of her thoughts, as Maria stood up and started to walk down the stairs. She stood up herself, but didn't stop Maria.
"I can't do anything…" The older girl muttered, stopping part way down the stairs. "Because of me, Serena's song…"
"Serena?" Rui asked.
"Serena's death was in vain."
Rui saw Maria's tears start to fall. She wanted to reach out to her, but knew that sometimes, space was what a person needed.
"Maria-neesan."
Rui looked around, but there was no one except the two of them.
"What the…"
She wasn't the only one that heard the voice, as Maria also looked around. A bright light glew above them, and they squinted to look above. Through the light was a young girl, with long brown hair in a white dress.
"Serena?!" Maria said, stunned.
The dead girl she mentioned? Rui thought. Wait, with how she referred to her… that's her little sister?
"What do you want to do?" Serena asked.
Maria was silent, before she looked down. "I want to save the world with my song. I want to save everyone from the cataclysm that the fall of the Moon will bring."
Serena floated down, before taking Maria's hand.
"Don't hide your pure, true feelings." Serena said.
"Serena…" Maria said, as her sister started to sing.
Ringo wa ukanda osora ni…
Maria joined in, singing in a tone that matched the younger girl.
Ringo wa okkochita jibeta ni…
Hoshi ga umarete uta ga umarete
Ruru ameru wa waratta tokoshie to
Hoshi ga kisu shite uta ga nemutte
Rui couldn't help but smile at the song, before she noticed that the two were being enveloped in light. She looked down at herself, and saw the light being drawn from her.
"What the… are they…?"
She looked up at Serena, who had turned to look at her. While she was still singing with her sister, the words she was saying with her eyes told Rui everything.
She was saying thank you.
Nastassja was observing things, even as the part of the Frontier she was on had been launched into space. She had pushed off the rubble with a special function on her wheelchair that made herself mobile.
Kaeru toko wa doko deshō…?
Kaeru toko wa doko deshō…?
"Phonic gain from all over the world is being focused at this point through the Frontier." Nastassja said. "With this much phonic gain, it should be possible to restart the Lunar Ruins and restore the Moon to its original orbit."
"Maria! Maria!"
Maria stopped singing, as she heard the voice from the main control panels. "Mom?"
Rui watched as Serena faded away. She swore that Serena had locked eyes with her before disappearing. Her lips moved, but Rui couldn't hear her. What did she say?
"The world resonates with your song." Nastassja said. "This level of phonic gain is more than enough to reactivate the Lunar Ruins. I'll make sure the Moon does not fall."
"We're… we're in the clear?" Rui realized.
"Yes, that's correct, Rui Tachibana."
"But when you say you're gonna make sure that it doesn't…" Rui started.
"Mom!" Maria shouted, realizing what the woman meant.
"Nothing holds you back anymore. Go, Maria. Go, and let me hear your song."
"Mom…" Maria took a deep breath, before smiling through her tears. "Okay, Mom!"
"Back in fighting spirit?" Rui asked.
"Mm." Maria turned around before holding her arm out. "It's time to raise the curtain on the world's greatest stage!"
"Yeah." Rui walked up next to her, before punching a fist into her hand. "This is our stage now!"
"Haaaah!"
Tsubasa slashed her massive blade at the Nephilim's arm, but to her shock, her sword couldn't cut through. Hibiki rushed forward and slammed her fist into its chest, but it had the same effect.
"Looks like we need to go all out!" Chris shouted.
While on the ground, Shuri aimed a shot at its chest, encasing the entire front in ice. Chris followed up by unleashing a spray of bullets in missiles, shattering the ice and covering the Nephilim in smoke and steam. Chris smirked in confidence, but she celebrated too early.
The Nephilim roared and cleared the smoke, before shooting a burst of lava at her. It exploded from behind her, sending her flying.
"Oneesama!" Shuri shouted.
"I got her!"
Maia rode forward and caught Chris in her arms, before speeding out of the way to avoid the Nephilim's massive arms. They slammed into the ground behind her, and she winced as a few small rock shards hit her back.
"Maia-san!" Hibiki shouted.
The Nephilim didn't turn around, as it fired an arm towards Hibiki. Before it could reach her though, it was entangled by a pink wire.
"DESS!"
Kirika flew downwards, using a guillotine to slice the Nephilim's arm clean off in a shower of green blood. Shirabe wheeled in from behind on her buzzsaw wheel, cutting right into the Nephilim's side as she did so. The Nephilim was screeching in pain, as Kirika and Shirabe landed in front of Hibiki.
"Shul Shagana…"
"...and Igalima join the fray, dess!"
"You guys came!" Hibiki smiled.
Kirika nodded, before looking behind her at the Nephilim. "Though even with us, this guy might be a bit more than we can handle, dess."
"But we still have our songs!"
Everyone looked up at one of the floating rocks to see Maria and Rui standing atop it.
"Maria!" Both Shirabe and Kirika called, before flying up to her.
The others landed on the rock as well, uniting the nine of them.
"Maria-san! Oneesan!" Hibiki grinned.
"Hope we're not late." Rui said.
"Nope. Right on time." Maia smirked. "The party's just getting started."
"So.. you made it back." Rui said, looking at Chris.
Chris prepared herself for Rui's famous right hook, but to her surprise, Rui pulled her into a hug.
"I'm glad you're okay." Rui said. "Just don't pull any stupid shit like that on us again, okay?"
Chris blushed at the hug, but was relieved she didn't get punched. "Uh, um… yeah…"
"Aww, I was betting on a punch." Maia said.
"Maia-san, please." Shuri sighed.
"Hey, you punched her in the gut from what Tsubasa told me." Maia said. "Then again, I guess we can't afford to give Chris any more damage right before fighting that damn thing."
She pointed at the Nephilim over her shoulder, which roared at them. Maria held the pendant in her hand, tightly clutching it.
"I won't hesitate anymore." Maria said, looking up. "Mom means to sacrifice herself to stop the Moon's fall."
"I don't care how many of you useless fools get together. I will not lose!" Ver shouted. "Burn them to ash, Nephilim!"
He commanded it to shoot another massive ball of flames. It charged up a ball that grew to nearly its own size, before it shot straight at the rock the girls were all standing on. It collided with the stone and exploded. Ver broke into maniacal laughter thinking he had won.
"Seilien coffin Airgetlám tron~"
The smoke from the explosion faded, showing that all of them were rendered safe in a protective aura. Maria was glowing with energy, as the cracked relic around her neck glew brighter.
I have Shirabe, I have Kirika, I have Jeanne. Mom and Serena are with me as well. With their support, a little miracle like this…
"...is nothing!"
The girls all began to sing.
Takusu tamashī yo tsunagu tamashī yo
Ten wo habataku hikari
Yumi ni tsugaeyō
"Heads up! He fired another one!" Maia shouted, looking at a second ball of flames.
Hibiki went forward, holding out her arm. "Set Harmonics!"
It morphed into a different shape, as she drew her arm back.
"SC2A! Channel all of our phonic gain into this attack!"
She threw her fist forward, completely dispersing the ball of flames with a single punch.
Nan'oku no ai wo kasane
Warera wa toki wo kasanete
Gensho no kodō no uta e to
Warerai wa ima kaeru
Tsubasa held a hand out to Shirabe. "You don't need a reason to be drawn together."
"There are some things not even I can change." Chris said, holding out hers to Kirika.
"I know how you feel, dess." Kirika said
Shirabe and Kirika both took the hands offered.
"Shirabe-chan! Kirika-chan!" Hibiki smiled.
Hibiki took her place between them, and held their hands. The five of them had joined hands in front of Maria.
Tsumugu tamashī yo ude ni tsutsumarete
Taiyō no yō ni tsuyoku
Tsuki no yō ni yasashiku
"I want to believe that you're more than just a hypocrite." Shirabe said. "So while I'm here, show me first-hand what saving people means to you. Show us."
Hibiki nodded.
"She's no hypocrite." Rui said, placing her hands on Hibiki's shoulders, standing behind her sister. "She's the best little sister in the world."
Hibiki beamed at the praise.
"Excuse me?" Maia said, putting her hand on Tsubasa's shoulder. "I think that title belongs to Tsubasa."
"Neesama, please…" Tsubasa sighed.
"Hold on there." Chris said. "That title should belong to Shuri!"
"Really?" Shuri placed her hand on Chris's shoulder. "I'm flattered, oneesama, but are you three seriously going to do this now?"
"Sorry." All three of them said in unison, as the aura grew larger.
Wakitatsu mirai
Monogatari wa owari e
There are some things you can only do by holding hands. Maria thought.
The Nephilim fired several concentrated beams of energy at the barrier, and it was slowly starting to drain their strength. Their armor started to crack, with the fabric starting to tear.
But three more voices joined them, as to their shock, Rui, Maia and Shuri sang as well. Rips appeared in their uniforms as they did so, but they were there, supporting their sisters. Glowing with phonic gain, their weapons made an announcement, like they did when they activated their own transformations before.
SYNCHRONIZATION MAX: X-DRIVE MODE, READY
Soshite mata saku no darō
Kiseki wa yagate rekishi e to
Hokori kirameku darō
It's not just the nine of us who sing this song… Hibiki realized.
"It's the Superb Song of everyone on Earth!" Hibiki shouted.
The glowing energy had reached a blinding point, as all of them flew skyward.
Nan'oku no ai wo kasane
Warera wa toki wo kasanete
Kiseki wa yagate rekishi e to
Hokori kirameku darō
The light died down, to reveal that the girls had gained an even stronger form. Their armor was nearly pure white, highlighted by their respective colors with differing wings. Rui, Maia and Shuri's armors were quite similar to their sisters, except with the additions of a long glowing scarf for Rui, and capes that merged with the wings for Maia and Shuri.
"Resonating with the song of mankind, these are our…"
"SYMPHOGEAR!"
The nine of them all charged and pierced straight through Nephilim in a burst of rainbow energy, sending it up in a tornado of pure phonic gain.
"What…?"
"Game over, Ver."
Ver whipped around to see Jeanne, pointing her guns at him. Silent anger in her sole eye.
"Maria and the others have stopped your little plan. You're done."
"You traitorous little-!"
"I was never on your side." Jeanne said. "You can beg for a miracle all you want, but that won't change things."
"You think you can scare me?!" Ver shouted, before he slammed his palm into the controller. "If miracles are awarded for trying as hard as you possibly can, then I deserve one!"
The energy generator glew even brighter to a blinding point.
"What did you do?!" She shouted.
"Just one thing." Ver said. "I made it release the Nephilim's heart."
"What?!" Jeanne shouted.
"Now it will rage unchecked throughout the Frontier, consuming it to fuel its own rampage! The energy released will exceed one trillion joules!" Ver laughed. "If I can't be a hero in this world, it should just evaporate!"
BANG
Ver cried out, as he held his shoulder. Jeanne's arm was shaking, having fired the gun in her hand.
"Rubber bullets?" Ver scoffed, looking at the tear in his coat before laughing. "You tried to threaten me with rubber bullets?!"
"I always knew you were insane, Ver." Jeanne said. "I didn't realize you were stupid as well."
"You… always insulting me, always a pain in my side!" Ver screamed. "I'll kill you right here and now!"
Ver charged forward, grabbing Jeanne by the chest with his mutated arm before she could react. He slammed her into the floor, and she spat up blood. He lifted her up, before shoving her against a stone pillar.
"The Nephilim might destroy everything, but I'll crush you slowly!" He declared, his face close to hers.
Jeanne could feel her ribs starting to crack, as she started to black out from the lack of oxygen. She tried to aim one of her guns, but Ver grabbed it and tossed it to the side.
Dammit… is this… how I die…? I failed… Mel...
Her arm hung limply, brushing against her leg. She felt something there… what was it?
Rubber bullets can only last you so long, so…
She had a burst of adrenaline. No, she would not die here, not if the gift Ogawa gave her could say anything about it.
In one swift movement she drew the knife out, before plunging it into Ver's shoulder. Ver screamed, as his grip slackened on Jeanne. Jeanne put an arm on her ribs, breathing slowly and carefully.
"You… what did you do?!" Ver screamed as his mutant arm gushed blood.
"Your shoulder is still human." Jeanne said, standing back up, not making too many hard movements in case not everything was working. "I simply severed your shoulder tendons, preventing you from lifting that disgusting arm of yours."
Ver started to scoot back on his rear like a coward, as Jeanne slowly approached him with her gun.
"How?! How did you overcome a hero like me?!" He demanded.
"Ce que tu peux faire. C'est aller à la pharmacie… et demander pour un produit qui s'appelle du viagra." Jeanne aimed her weapon right at his face. "Et ça t'aidera à VA TE FAIRE FOUTRE!"
"I don't understand what that means-!"
BANG
Ver was cut off as he screamed. Jeanne fired her weapon, shooting out his left eye. She blew on the smoking barrel, as Ver clutched his bleeding socket.
"That one was for Mom, you fils de pute." Jeanne said, sliding her weapons back into her holsters, satisfied with the vulgar words she used. "An eye for an eye, chien."
While Ver was screaming in pain and rolling on the floor, Jeanne turned to see Ogawa and Genjuro run up.
"Jeanne." Ogawa said.
"Ogawa." Jeanne responded. "I took care of things, but… you're not gonna like what the trash did."
Jeanne had explained the situation, and Genjuro had relayed the information to the Symphogear-users and SOUL.
"Understood." Tsubasa said. "We will stop it before it gets critical."
Ogawa was driving the jeep back towards the base. Jeanne sat next to him in the front, carefully nursing her wounds, while Genjuro sat in the back to keep an eye on a handcuffed Ver. There was a makeshift patch on his shoulder and his lost eye.
"Why would you capture me alive?" Ver asked, with a mixture of both amusement and incredulity in this voice. "It would make things so much easier for you to simply kill me now-"
He suddenly screamed, as a massive boulder fell and was about to crush them all. Ogawa and Jeanne didn't flinch, as Genjuro obliterated it in a single punch.
"We're not going to kill you." Genjuro said. "We won't let you become the villain who destroyed the world, or the hero who sacrificed himself for his ideals."
"You don't deserve the easy way out, trash." Jeanne said.
"You will face justice for your crimes, just like any other human." Genjuro declared.
Ver sat in stunned silence, before devolving into what could only be described as a temper tantrum. "Dammit! Kill me! Make me a hero! Make me a hero! I want to be a hero, goddammit-!"
BANG
Ver screamed, as he fell over, clutching between his legs. Jeanne pulled her arm back, before putting her weapon away.
"Jeanne…" Ogawa said.
"I wanted him to shut up." Jeanne said. "And shooting him in his "little hero" does that job just fine, don't you think?"
Ogawa sighed, but smiled. "Well, Maia-san will be happy about that."
The wielders were all floating above the main building, watching as lightning and energy was flowing out of it. The light faded, before there was a massive explosion as Nephilim rose. They all held up their arms to defend themselves from the billowing wind and boulders. Hibiki saw from the corner of her eye that the Sector Two submarine managed to get off the rock and back into the ocean.
"Look at that!" Tsubasa shouted, as the Nephilim practically enveloped the whole floating island.
"It's just like the commander said." Shuri said.
"It's regenerating… the Nephilim's heart!" Maria said.
The Nephilim had taken a new monstrous form that dwarfed all of them.
"Holy… fucking… shit…" Maia muttered.
Shirabe, Kirika and Rui were unfettered by the Nephilim's growth spurt, as they all rushed forward. Shirabe decided to match it in size by transforming her armor. It formed a massive robot with buzzsaws for arms and bladed rabbit ears. She piloted it from a cockpit atop the head.
Final Omega Style: Dystopia
Kirika twirled her scythe, the three blades whirling as she charged forward.
Final Oppression: Neverland
Rui flew towards the face, before switching into a flying kick pose. Flames surrounded her legs as she shouted.
"OREYAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
MIGHTY KICK
Kirika and Shirabe slashed right through, while Rui kicked it straight through the face, creating a massive explosion in the gaping hole.
At first, their attacks seemed to have worked, but the three of them all cried out as their armor cracked. Energy seeped from the damage, back into the quickly regenerating Nephilim.
"So it consumes not only relics, but also the energy they produce?" Maria said.
"If it goes critical, the planet…" Tsubasa said.
"Will evaporate!" Hibiki realized.
"Oneesama! Now!" Shuri shouted.
Chris flew forward, before holding up Solomon's Cane. "Gate of Babylon, open!"
She shot a burst of green electricity from the relic, creating a massive translucent portal behind the Nephilim.
"The Treasury of Babylon?!" Hibiki shouted.
"She used X-Drive to amplify Solomon's Cane and open the gate?!" Tsubasa said.
"If we could trap the Nephilim on the other side of the gate… in the Treasury…" Maria realized.
Chris grit her teeth, as her arm began to shake. It started to waiver, but she felt someone supporting it.
"Together, oneesama." Shuri said, one hand on Solomon's Cane, the other on Chris's arm. "We'll end this together."
Chris smiled, before the two of them shouted in unison.
"Show us that your Cane isn't just a tool for murder, Solomon!"
The electricity grew stronger, before the portal became tangible.
"This will do!" Hibiki shouted.
Tsubasa paled, as she recognized the Nephilim was moving.
"Yukine! Shuri! Dodge!" Tsubasa shouted.
The Nephilim swatted the two aside like flies, knocking Solomon's Cane out of their hands. Maria managed to catch it out of the air, while the Kazanari twins caught the Yukine twins.
"For the future!" Maria shouted, aiming Solomon's Cane and firing, making the portal even larger. The portal started to pull the massive monster towards it.
The Nephilim roared and tried reaching for Maria, who almost managed to fly out of the way. Tendrils shot from its hands, binding Maria and keeping her from moving.
"Maria!" Kirika and Shirabe screamed.
Maria struggled against the bonds, as Nephilim slowly dragged her down.
"I'll close the gate from the inside, trapping Nephilim in with me!" Maria declared, determination in her eyes.
"Do you mean to sacrifice yourself?!" Kirika shouted.
"Maria!" Shirabe called.
Maria closed her eyes as she accepted her fate.
"Even this sacrifice does not come close to atoning for my sins." She said. "But I will protect the lives of everyone in this world."
"In that case…"
Maria opened her eyes to see Hibiki flying alongside her.
"It's only fair we protect yours."
"I keep meeting people that are more reckless than I am." Rui commented, as she joined her sister's side. "Good freaking grief."
The others all flew alongside them, a smile on all of their faces.
"You all…" Maria said, touched at their actions.
The nine of them all floated into the Treasury, as the Noise grew aware of their presence.
"I'm not a hero. I can't save the world." Hibiki said. "But we… we're not alone!"
"We're gonna take this damn thing to hell, before crawling out ourselves!" Rui declared, as the gate closed behind them.
"Hibiki! Rui!" Miku shouted, as their signals disappeared.
"Brace for impact!" Aoi ordered, before deploying safety measures to make sure they got back to Earth safely.
"Phonic gain projection successful." Nastassja said, before coughing more blood onto the mainframe. "Lunar Ruins and Curse of Balal restarted and confirmed operational. Adjusting the Moon's orbit..."
She looked at the screen, which showed the world beneath her. She smiled, before slowly collapsing.
That day... when the star became…
"TAKE THIS!"
Hibiki shouted with the spear on her wrist, obliterating dozens of Noise as she charged. Tsubasa cut a massive Noise in half, before using her leg blades to slice up several more. Chris unleashed an array of blasts that blew up hundreds of Noise.
"Let's go, Shuri!" Maia shouted.
"Right!"
Shuri unleashed rapid fire bullets at all the Noise, while Maia weaved in-between all of them on her board. She wreathed her blade in flames, before slashing through an array of the Noise. It stunned them as Shuri charged up a massive beam of energy before Maia flew back to her.
SLIPKNOT COMBINATION
The blast shot out, completely disintegrating any of the Noise in its path, causing an explosive shockwave that took out several more.
Rui smirked, as yellow energy was concentrated in her leg. She blitzed the Noise, kicking from every direction, before shouting as she struck a flying kick pose.
RISING IMPACT
She tore straight through a row of Noise, causing them to explode.
Kirika was keeping the Nephilim occupied, before looking back at the bonds that held Maria. "Shirabe, are you done yet?!"
Shirabe was wincing, as her robot was sawing and cutting away.
"Just… a little… more!"
Her robot shattered, but managed to cut the bonds keeping Maria prisoner.
"Maria!" Shirabe said, flying up to her.
"I can't control this many Noise with the Cane alone! It's not enough!" She said, as Kirika joined the two.
"Concentrate on reopening the gate!" Shuri shouted, before she blasted away another squadron.
"What?!" Maria asked.
"If it's possible to open it on the outside, you should probably be able to open it from the inside too!" Maia shouted, cutting another Noise in two as she and Tsubasa entered a sword dance against the Noise. "Simple logic!"
"That thing's a key!" Chris shouted.
Maria tightened her grip on the Cane, before aiming it and shouting. "SERENAAAAA!"
The green electricity tore through space again, creating an exit portal. They saw a beach from their world.
"Let's get out of here, dess!" Kirika said.
"Before the Nephilim escapes!" Shirabe added.
Tsubasa kicked away the massive blades on her legs, shredding a few of the Noise.
"Let's go, neesama!" Tsubasa shouted.
"Yeah, I got it!" Maia said, before she shot a sword beam that cut a few more up.
"Oneesama!" Shuri called.
"I know!" Chris broke off all the excess armor, which exploded straight at all the Noise around her.
Hibiki and Rui flew ahead of the others to try and clear the path, but their exit got cut off. The Nephilim floated in the way, practically holding its massive arms out to stop them.
"I guess it's not gonna stand aside for us." Chris said.
"Then the only way we can go is through." Tsubasa concluded.
"Let's hold hands!" Hibiki shouted.
"Yeah. Together." Rui agreed.
Maria was left between Shirabe and Hibiki, while everyone else had joined hands.
"Maria." Shirabe said.
"Maria-san." Hibiki said.
Maria created a sword from the gem on her chest, drawing it out and tossing it above her. Maria grasped both Hibiki and Shirabe's hands.
"I'll never let go of your hands!"
Hibiki and Maria raised their hands, before they both shouted.
"The fastest, shortest way…"
Gold and silver energy surrounded them all as they started to fly forward. The extra armor on both Hibiki and Maria broke off, before reforming into two mechanical hands.
"...is straight through!"
The hands enveloped all nine of them, charging forward. The Nephilim shot out its tendrils again to try and stop them, but the hands spun like a drill, breaking through all of its attempts.
"HRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
The hands pierced straight through the Nephilim's chest.
Vitalization
The hands continued on, smashing through any other Noise, before crashing right into the sandy beach. The Sector Two submarine was beached nearby.
The dust settled, to show Solomon's Cane stuck in the sand. All nine of the girls had exhausted most of their energy from the attack. Maria tried to stand up, but her body failed her.
"The Cane… If we don't close the gate right now, the Nephilim's explosion…"
"Don't give up yet…!" Chris said, trying to push herself up.
"We have one more strong-willed comrade who can save us…" Tsubasa said, the first to kneel up.
"A comrade…?" Maria asked.
"My best friend…" Hibiki smiled, seeing Miku running towards them.
Hibiki taught me that you don't need a Gear to fight! Miku thought. "I'll fight too!"
She grabbed the Cane, before aiming up at the open gate.
"Send that fucking Cane to hell, Miku!" Rui shouted, holding a fist up.
"Wait." Maia winced, holding her arm as she sat up. "What is she-?"
"Please, close the gate!" Miku shouted, before throwing Solomon's Cane like a javelin, straight at the portal. "So that Hibiki… so no one will have to fight in this world!"
The Nephilim glew white, starting to disintegrate all nearby Noise. But the second before the explosion could make it, Solomon's Cane flew right through the gate, closing it. The sky phased through multiple colors as the explosion went off in the alternate dimension, but the destruction was stopped. The sky went back to normal.
It was over.
Miku let out a breath of relief as she fell to her knees. The others did so as well… except for one.
"How the… how the fuck…" Maia stammered. "How did Miku… that shouldn't… how...?"
"Just don't question what Miku can do." Rui groaned, closing her eyes. "I'm gonna take a nap…"
The sun was just over the horizon now, as Sector Two had deployed their members to get to work. Ver was still giggling with insanity as he was taken away. "A world that has no need for heroes is just wrong…"
Ogawa was giving a report to Genjuro. Jeanne stood next to them, a few bandages on her ribs.
"The Moon is returning to its normal orbit." Ogawa reported. "But we can't reach Professor Nastassja."
Jeanne made a small sharp inhale, as Ogawa gently patted her on the shoulder. Genjuro frowned, before looking at the FIS girls that were looking up at the Moon from the beach. The pendant around Maria's neck was broken in half.
Mom opened the way to the future for us. Maria looked at the Moon and smiled. "Thank you… Mother."
"Maria-san."
Maria turned around to see Hibiki holding out the Gungnir relic. She smiled at the gesture, but declined. "You're the one most worthy to wield the Gungnir."
She turned back to the Moon.
"But the Lunar Ruins were reactivated."
"The Curse of Balal?" Tsubasa asked.
"So mankind is even further away from being able to understand each other." Chris said.
"I dunno, really." Maia shrugged. "I mean, mankind is just full of stupid people, so I doubt that would've changed any-YOW!"
Rui and Shuri both stamped on Maia's feet.
"It'll be fine." Hibiki said. "It'll all be okay!"
Maria, Kirika and Shirabe all looked at Hibiki.
"After all, this world has songs!" She said.
"Had a feeling you'd say that." Rui chuckled, rubbing the back of her head.
"Hibiki…" Miku smiled. The Kazanari and Yukine twins also smiled (while Maia hopped around to lessen the pain).
"Songs, huh?" Kirika said.
"One day… people will come together." Shirabe said. "But it won't just be "some other place" or "some other time" in the future. Mark my words."
Hibiki nodded, as Maria started to speak.
"Hibiki Tachibana. Rui Tachibana." She said. "I'm glad to have met you two."
Hibiki nodded again, while Rui gave Maria a thumbs-up.
Genjuro, Ogawa and Jeanne walked up to the FIS trio.
"While you three have cooperated with us during this conflict, there are a few things that must be done." Genjuro said. "The Japanese government will take direct custody of you. I hope you'll continue to cooperate here on out while the situation is dealt with."
"I understand." Maria nodded.
"We'll definitely... meet again, right?" Hibiki asked. "And when that time comes, let's have a long chat."
"She wasn't much of a talker though." Rui muttered.
"We can always, surely, absolutely become good friends!" Hibiki said.
"I wonder… if we really can." Maria wondered.
"Sure we can!" Hibiki said, waving her hand. "I mean, even Chris-chan was a big handful at first!"
"Y-Y-You idiot!" Chris stammered, as Rui and Maia began snickering. "What point are you trying to make here?!"
"Man, I want to show them. They haven't seen the pictures of you in the Nehushtan Armor yet!" Hibiki said. "Back then the armor made you look all evil, and all the stuff you'd say was really mean! But even now Chris-chan isn't really all that different..."
As Hibiki continued on, with Chris growing more and more embarrassed by the second, Jeanne spoke with Maria.
"This'll be goodbye for now, Maria." Jeanne said, her arms crossed. "I'm glad you came around when you did."
"You came to your senses before all of us." Maria said.
"Why aren't you coming with us?" Shirabe asked.
"Well, my situation has already been worked out." Jeanne explained. "I'm currently under supervised rehabilitation."
"Who's your supervisor, dess?" Kirika asked.
Ogawa chuckled and waved.
"Oooooh." Shirabe and Kirika both had knowing smiles on their faces.
"What?" Jeanne asked.
"Nothing." They both said.
Maria chuckled, before pulling Jeanne into a hug. "Take care, Jeanne."
"Maria… ribs…"
The girl let go, letting Jeanne hold her aching chest. "S-Sorry."
"It's fine…" Jeanne said, taking a few breaths to let the pain fade away. "Though, Maria… I was wondering something."
"Hmm?"
"Do you feel better?" She asked.
Maria knew what Jeanne was saying, and nodded. "I think not just Mom, but Serena and Mel would be happy, seeing us now."
"Yeah, I thought so too." Jeanne said. "Au revoir, Maria."
"Au revoir, Jeanne." Maria said, as the three of them followed Ogawa back to the ship.
"GO. TO. HELL!" Chris shouted, before smacking Hibiki upside the head.
"Super repentance time!" Hibiki groaned, before hitting the sand.
Maia whistled. "Whoa. What was that, nine, ten feet?"
"Neesama, please." Tsubasa sighed.
"Maria-san!"
Maria turned around to Hibiki, who was rubbing the spot where Chris hit her as Rui helped her up.
"Well, that's how things worked out." She said. "So…"
Rui looked at Maria, before hitting her own chest twice then holding out a fist towards her, all with a (surprisingly) friendly smile.
"Thank you. See you again, someday." Maria told them all.
Once Maria and the others were out of earshot, Maia spoke.
"Really, Rui?" She asked. "You did that motion to tell her you wanted to be friends? That is so like you."
"Shut up, partner."
It was another new day at Lydian, as Hibiki ran through the courtyard, Rui and Miku right behind her.
"Tsubasa-san! Chris-chan! Shuri-san!" Hibiki called, seeing her school friends, as well as another. "Oh, Maia-san?"
"Yo." Maia waved. "Got bored, so I'm hanging out today again."
"You need a hobby, partner." Rui said, as Maia shrugged.
"Anyways, I came at a great time though." Maia grinned. "Go on, Tsubasa."
"Right. You three won't believe this." Tsubasa said. "Since that day, Chris has refused to call me her senpai again."
"Repeat after me, oneesama." Shuri said, clearing her throat. "Tsubasa-senpai."
"Thank you, Shuri." Tsubasa said.
"Come on you two!" Chris shouted, a furious blush on her face.
"What, what?" Hibiki said, a mischievous smirk on her face. "Chris-chan called Tsubasa-san her senpai?"
"No way." Rui said, also grinning.
"She called me senpai too!" Maia grinned. "Before Tsubasa, in fact!"
"No freaking way!" Rui started laughing.
Chris put on a fake smile. "Let me tell you this here and now…"
She grabbed Hibiki by the face and raised a fist. "I'm older than you two! That makes me your senpai!"
While Hibiki was flailing her arms, Rui scoffed.
"Chris, the day I ever call you senpai is the day I die." Rui told her.
"Why you little chunnigure!"
"Little? You're shorter than me. You're cheating with those stupid heels of yours." Rui said, though her own face was a bit red as well. "Also, I told you to stop calling me that!"
Maia was laughing so hard her sides hurt. "She calls you "chunnigure"?! Bwah ha ha ha!"
Chris's face turned as red as her relic, while the others (except Maia) sighed in exasperation. Tsubasa and Shuri held Chris back, while Hibiki and Miku pulled Rui back.
"Please calm down, oneesama." Shuri said.
"Cut it out already." Tsubasa said to the very angry Yukine. "Your wounds haven't fully healed yet."
Hearing that reminded Miku of something. "Hey, Hibiki."
"Hm?"
"Are you alright? Does anything feel strange?" She asked.
"Hee, you're such a worrywart." Hibiki said, before letting go of Rui and pulling Miku into a hug. "That relic that was spreading through me was totally wiped from my body."
"Hibiki…" Miku said.
"But… the fragments of Gungnir may be gone from my chest, but the song Kanade-san gave me will always live on within me."
Tsubasa and Maia both smiled at Hibiki, as did the others.
"And that doesn't just apply to me." She said, looking at the bright sky above them. She reached up, and moved her arm as if she was grabbing the Sun. "I just know… that songs resound through all our hearts."
A/N: And thus, the second arc of Symphogear X2 wraps up.
Rui, Maia and Shuri have all debuted their X-Drive Modes, which was briefly teased with the healing back in Season 1's finale. Simple version is that it can only activate when their respective twins activate theirs. The X-Drive Modes basically act as a perfect copy ability-wise of the normal X-Drive of their sisters, with the difference being that they're more suited to the combat style they normally use themselves. And thanks to this new full synchronization, they can finally use attacks with splash cards.
And yes, Rui's attack names are all references to Kamen Rider finishers. Because as the big nerd she is, of course she would. Maia and Shuri's are based on the attacks of Tsubasa and Chris's parallel selves in XDU.
We're not just done yet either. I'll be uploading something else for the fic in a few hours. Those on the r/symphogear Discord server will likely be familiar with it.
Feel free to leave a review. See you all next time.