Sky Striker Ace, but Symphogear

Because of the blast wave from the explosion, the area around them was no longer as foggy as before. Hibiki Tachibana finally saw the true form of the thing she had always believed was the "moon."

It was a device whose main body consisted of two hexagonal rings with highly technological lines. Even in the lightless darkness of night, dazzling white light radiated from within the hexagonal rings.

Within that white light, Hibiki Tachibana vaguely saw something black that looked like a hand cannon. Clearly, that was the weapon that had attacked her moments ago.

"That's the enemy's weapon. Through this portal-like device, she can use an endless supply of other weapons of considerable scale."

Standing amid the ruins of the hot spring and looking at the glowing device in the sky, Tsubasa Kazanari explained its nature to Hibiki Tachibana.

"The enemy... You mean that's a weapon used by humans, Miss Tsubasa? The one who attacked us just now was human?"

Hearing Tsubasa Kazanari's explanation, Hibiki Tachibana realized that this enemy was not like a Noise, a monster incapable of feeling pain. It was a weapon wielded by a human being just like her.

"Yes, that's right. And you also know the person fighting with that weapon, Tachibana."

Tsubasa Kazanari confirmed Hibiki Tachibana's guess while providing her with even more information.

"I know the enemy? Ah, could it be..."

Hearing Tsubasa Kazanari say that, Hibiki Tachibana did not need long to think before the image of a figure with platinum-blond hair appeared in her mind.

"Yes. Just as you thought. It's good that you understand, Tachibana. Now, enough idle chatter. What comes next is a fated battle to the death between me, a defender of humanity, and the woman who trampled my honor."

Tsubasa Kazanari said this as her gaze toward the white portal gradually turned ferocious.

The next moment, without the slightest hesitation, Tsubasa Kazanari grasped the pink pendant she had always worn around her neck.

[Imyuteus amenohahakiri tron]

Then, a melodious and ethereal chant like the one above rang from Tsubasa Kazanari's lips.

Through this chant, she could activate the Symphogear Device.

Soon, accompanied by the sacred chant, powerful energy fluctuations radiated from Tsubasa Kazanari's body.

Blazing white light radiated from her body, and her blue hair, which had been tied up while she was in the hot spring, instantly spilled loose.

In the blink of an eye, armor with blue and white as its primary colors appeared over Tsubasa Kazanari's body.

[Ya-Haiya—The Echo of the Instant Ya-Haiya—Toward Impermanence]

At the same time, a stirring melody rang out from within the armor.

"Whew. Come, Raye. Fight me. Clash with me. Then let me use victory to wash away the disgrace you left upon my sword."

After donning her armor, Tsubasa Kazanari raised the blade in her hand and pointed it at the white portal in the sky, issuing this roar.

P.S. It's over. I feel like my biological clock has already taken on a hellish shape.

Chapter Fifty-Three: Blue Assault

Boom—Crash—

After Tsubasa Kazanari issued that provocation, the response came in the form of continuous rapid-fire cannon strikes from hundreds of meters above.

"So this is your answer? Then let me show you the strength I've accumulated over all these years of honing myself into a sword."

There was no need for more words. Now that blades had been crossed, all that remained was to oppose blades with blades.

[The Crying Fang of Benevolence—One Sword, One Asura—Seven Zero—Profound Edge—One Flight]

A stirring song erupted from her heart, and explosive power filled her entire body. Tsubasa Kazanari had been waiting for this moment for a long time, and both her body and mind were ready.

The next moment, Tsubasa Kazanari bent her knees slightly. The two armor plates mounted on her battle boots unfolded outward. Soon, blue flames burst from the plates, and her body briefly broke free from the earth's pull and charged toward the sky.

[Thought W Emerges—Book Boast—One Tremor—DD Thunder—Eight Seven]

The silent night sky was cleaved apart by a fierce song. Beneath the black canopy, a blue meteor rose from the earth, flying backward toward the white portal hanging in the heavens.

[Go D—Destruction W! Thoughtless IC—Fierce Stone Flame]

[There you are. That platinum-blond figure really is you, Raye. This time, I'll definitely settle everything between us.]

As she drew closer, Tsubasa Kazanari saw, just as she had imagined, the figure she had longed for beside the glowing portal in the sky.

[Divine Kagura D—Wind Benevolence—Annihilation—L—Scattering Flowers (Deadly Sorrow)—The World]

[With this sword, I'll sever that sinful body of yours.]

As the song continued, Tsubasa Kazanari's gaze grew resolute. She now understood perfectly what she had to do.

She tightened her grip on the blade, transforming it from a rapier into a broader sword, then swung it with all her strength.

Accompanied by a violent flash, a sharp white sword wave appeared between Tsubasa Kazanari and the platinum-blond figure, following the motion of her blade.

"It's not over!"

Tsubasa Kazanari shouted as the blade in her hand returned to rapier mode. Points of starlight appeared around her, spreading through the air and transforming into dozens of small blades.

[Old Going—Nothing... Heart C—Full—Dragon—Resolve]

After summoning the blades, Tsubasa Kazanari stepped onto one of them and used it to accelerate herself through the air a second time. The other blades followed the sword wave like raindrops, attacking the platinum-blond figure in the sky.

This was Tsubasa Kazanari's greatest possible output. In other words, aside from Swan Song, it was the strongest attack she could unleash. She was confident that even the nightmare that had haunted her heart for so long would be thrown into disarray beneath such an assault.

But was reality really as Tsubasa Kazanari imagined?

It was!

From Tsubasa Kazanari's viewpoint, the sword wave she had launched struck the glowing portal cleanly, and the countless blades that followed seemed to hit it as well.

After those two consecutive attacks, the platinum-blond figure's flight through the air seemed unsteady and close to collapsing beneath Tsubasa Kazanari's gaze.

I might actually win.

Seeing the tremendous results of her attacks, Tsubasa Kazanari could not help feeling this way.

As that thought arose, Tsubasa Kazanari finally drew near Raye. Several wounds inflicted by the attack still pierced Raye's body.

"Pay for your sins!"

Without the slightest doubt—or, rather, without having time to form one—Tsubasa Kazanari, who had reached a point above Raye after her second acceleration, threw the rapier in her hand, preparing to use her strongest attack in her normal state.

[Wu Hu—Bond—Benevolence—Eight—Flight—Gamble—L—Left Flash—D—Sword]

The rapier thrown into the air expanded with the wind, transforming into a gigantic broadsword. Tsubasa Kazanari had already reached the hilt, pressing her battle boot against it, while the armor blades extending from it erupted with even greater thrust.

Massive weight contained massive energy. Under Tsubasa Kazanari's control, the giant blade carried an unstoppable, overwhelming force as it bore down on the seemingly unstable golden-haired girl.

Amid a cloud of dust that enveloped a vast area, the devastating blow struck its target completely from Tsubasa Kazanari's perspective.

"Did I defeat her?"

Tsubasa Kazanari stared intently at the dust cloud and asked nervously.

"Well? What do you think? Do you think that attack of yours was enough to defeat me?"

A voice came from within the thick dust. The familiar figure of the girl slowly emerged from the cloud. Aside from some dust, there was no sign that she had just suffered a heavy blow from Tsubasa Kazanari.

"As expected, victory won't come that easily."

Looking at Raye, who had suffered almost no injuries, Tsubasa Kazanari wore an unsurprised expression.

After all, she had personally experienced Raye's terrifying strength several years ago. It would have been strange if someone capable of harvesting every Noise spread throughout the venue in such a short time, someone possessing that level of power, had been defeated so easily.

"All right, Miss Kazanari, don't be too upset. After all, you're facing me. Naturally, I can withstand an attack of that level."

Noticing Tsubasa Kazanari's remark, Raye spoke in a teasing tone.

"You..."

Raye's self-congratulatory, flippant attitude caused Tsubasa Kazanari's emotions to waver.

"But speaking of which, you've grown quite a lot."

"After discovering me, you transformed and charged over without any unnecessary movements. You launched such a powerful attack, and while attacking, you took great care not to harm any innocent bystanders, driving me here to this deserted wasteland."

"Honestly, I'm very impressed by your growth, Miss Kazanari."

Ignoring Tsubasa Kazanari's emotional fluctuations, Raye clapped her hands and lavishly praised her actions in an admiring tone.

"Whew—so why exactly did you come here?"

Faced with Raye's inexplicable praise, Tsubasa Kazanari did not respond in kind. She simply calmly questioned Raye about her purpose.

After all, Tsubasa Kazanari was not confident she could keep Raye here. She intended to stall for time until her uncle and the others realized what was happening and arrived with reinforcements, allowing them to capture Raye together.

"Oh? You should know that's not a useful question. I see, I understand. You're trying to stall for time, aren't you?"

Raye tilted her head as though thinking, then spoke as if she had suddenly realized the answer.

P.S. Everyone, remember to protect yourselves. Unlike me, you really don't want to end up coughing your lungs out.

Chapter Fifty-Four: The Truth and Falsehood of Words

Regarding Raye's claim, Tsubasa Kazanari neither admitted nor denied it.

Without saying a word, she simply raised the blade in her hand and thrust it at Raye, apparently planning to express her opinion with her sword.

"Oh? You don't intend to talk? Or did I guess correctly?"

Raye spoke as she dodged Tsubasa Kazanari's attack like a sheet of paper floating through the air. Then she quickly withdrew, attempting to widen the distance between them.

"That's none of your business."

Facing Raye's evasive maneuver, Tsubasa Kazanari used the momentum of her previous charge. She leaned forward and supported herself with one hand on the ground, then began spinning upside down as the armor blades on her boots unfolded in sync.

In an instant, the two armor blades on Tsubasa Kazanari's boots and the sword in her other hand formed a storm centered on sword blades, rapidly closing in on Raye, who was trying to escape.

However, Tsubasa Kazanari's almost certain strike did not receive the feedback of hitting anything.

"Dangerous, dangerous. I was almost actually cut. That would have been bad."

A thick white mist suddenly burst into being, instantly reducing visibility in the area. At the same time, Raye's voice came from behind the direction of Tsubasa Kazanari's attack, though no one knew when she had moved there.

"Such a cheap trick."

Tsubasa Kazanari halted her advance. In the smoke-filled surroundings, points of starlight appeared around her, and dozens of blades materialized in the air for a second time, shooting toward the place where Raye's voice had come from.

"Come at me head-on, Raye!"

After doing this, Tsubasa Kazanari charged rapidly toward the source of the voice. She soon broke out of the smoke, which had never covered a particularly large area, and saw Raye, who appeared to have just dodged her blades.

"Honestly, people who cling on relentlessly aren't very likable. When you get down to it, there's no reason we have to fight."

Raye turned to let Tsubasa Kazanari's blade pass by and spoke in a slightly helpless tone.

Then, while Tsubasa Kazanari's previous strength had been exhausted and her new strength had yet to build, Raye took several steps backward and widened the distance between them.

"Whew—it's impossible. At this point, there's no room for reconciliation between us. The humiliation you brought upon us—the humiliation of having two Complete Relics taken from us one after another—must be repaid through battle."

Tsubasa Kazanari panted as she spoke, adjusting her breathing.

After more than a minute of attacking with all her strength, even she, who was accustomed to high-intensity combat, needed to catch her breath before continuing the fight.

"If that's the case, then there's even less reason for you to keep hounding me."

"I'm just someone paid to do a job. I don't own those two Relics. Instead of wasting your time fighting me here, you should think of a way to find my employer."

"Think about it. Compared to dealing with a professional like me, handling someone who has to outsource this kind of work would be much easier—if you can find them."

Raye spread her hands and seriously analyzed the situation for Tsubasa Kazanari.

"Then I'll defeat you and force the identity of the person behind you out of you."

Raye's words did not sway Tsubasa Kazanari in the slightest. Having recovered her breath, she raised her sword again and began charging her strength.

"And there's only one way to make your words credible: when you're in bed—"

Tsubasa Kazanari spoke as the blade in her hand changed shape and a sword wave shot toward the seemingly defenseless Raye.

She had always believed that an enemy's words might contain some truth, but that truth would only emerge after the enemy had been defeated and interrogated in a room.

"You really are stubborn. Fine. I accomplished what I came here to do today anyway. As long as I take a report of our battle to the person trying to dock my pay, I can demand more compensation."

Raye dodged Tsubasa Kazanari's sword wave as though frames had been skipped, then tilted her head and spoke to her.

"What do you mean?"

Tsubasa Kazanari was somewhat bewildered by Raye's words.

"I mean exactly what I said. Someone thought I wasn't worth that much pay, so they docked some of it. I've always worked according to the amount I'm paid, so I've finished today's job. Time to clock out. Armed Request—Eagle-Type Thruster."

Raye spoke, and a pair of mechanical wings appeared behind her from a portal that had formed there at some unknown point.

"So I'm leaving now. Maybe we'll meet again someday. Or maybe not. I'm not even sure I'll take another job after this one."

The mechanical wings attached themselves to Raye's back. Then, as tail flames slowly emerged from them, Raye's body began to rise from the ground.