Sky Striker Ace, but Symphogear

"Yeah, isn't that right? We only managed a draw once in our previous encounters with Raye, thanks to Little Tsubasa's efforts. The rest of the time, she got what she wanted. Now, we're actually considering a draw as the premise for the next battle."

In response to Shinji Ogawa's question, Ryouko Sakurai emphasized this fact.

"So, I'm very curious, what kind of arrangement could give Genjuro such confidence?"

Ryouko Sakurai adjusted her glasses to conceal her vision, and then asked the question.

"I understand, Ryouko Sakurai, are you worried that not only will our operation fail this time, but we will also lose Tachibana?"

Upon hearing Ryouko Sakurai's question, Genjuro Kazanari replied as follows.

"I guess so. That's why I'm curious, Genjuro, what kind of preparations have you made? At a time like this, it's alright to tell me, isn't it?"

Ryouko Sakurai agreed with Genjuro Kazanari's guess, and then asked further questions.

"The details are a bit complicated, and explaining them would take a lot of time. How about this, I'll show Ryouko Sakurai the list of people involved in this operation. After Ryouko Sakurai see it, you might be less worried."

After thinking for a moment, Genjuro Kazanari retrieved a document from the command post table and handed it to Ryouko Sakurai eyes held a hint of doubt.

"Alright, let me take a look... Hey, seriously? This setup is more than enough for a small battle, isn't it? So much military force, just for the next hour?"

After receiving the documents from Genjuro Kazanari, Ryouko Sakurai quickly began browsing through their contents. A short while later, she asked a question in surprise.

"An air regiment equipped with top-level fighter jets, an armored regiment equipped with the most advanced tanks, an artillery brigade with ammunition and artillery capable of leveling this place, special operations forces adapted to special operations, and even some elite police officers have come to join the fun... You really think highly of her."

Ryouko Sakurai summarized the contents of the document in a monologue.

Although she couldn't see the specific arrangements, just by looking at this list, she could already imagine how many rigorously trained human elites were hidden in the shadows of this small suburb, and how many dangerous weapons manufactured by humans were aimed at this small area.

"Yes, these are all assigned to me by the government. I don't understand why. Every time I emphasize the other side's strength, they think my combat power is insufficient, and then they increase their bargaining chips, which has led to the situation we have now."

Genjuro Kazanari briefly explained why things had turned out this way; he couldn't understand why the government officials valued Raye so much.

"With so many resources, plus the Relic Waveform Detection Device I designed here, and Little Hibiki who has matured after training, it's quite a luxurious setup. With this kind of equipment, we might actually be able to capture Raye."

Ryouko Sakurai said with a smile, seemingly gaining confidence from Genjuro Kazanari's words.

[Yeah, right. No matter how many of you toys there are, you still wouldn't be a match for Raye.]

However, Ryouko Sakurai didn't think that way at all.

[Seriously, having already witnessed the power of this Heresy Technology, why do I still have the illusion that these fragile toys could work on Raye?]

After learning about Second Division's arrangements, Ryouko Sakurai's initially slightly fluctuating emotions completely calmed down.

[What will it take for you to understand how utterly powerless you inferior toys are in the face of truly Heresy Technology?]

Thinking this, Ryouko Sakurai casually picked up the hot coffee next to her, savoring its aroma while watching the members of Second Division nervously monitor their surroundings.

[Oh, right, and those foolish rulers who want to get their hands on the Sky Striker? Ha! The real treasure is the one who developed and used the Sky Striker, yet they only set their sights on the Sky Striker, which she casually made as an auxiliary device.]

Taking a sip of coffee, Ryouko Sakurai couldn't help but think about the ugly behavior of those in power she had witnessed in the past few days.

[Seriously, it makes me laugh. Not only did they mistake the truly precious thing, but they also tried to use such petty, mortal cleverness to scheme against me. How could there be such a ridiculous drama? Ah, I can't laugh, I can't laugh. For the sake of my dream, I can't reveal myself yet.]

The rich aroma of coffee flowed down her throat, and Ryouko Sakurai suppressed the urge to smile.

[Although I can delegate most of the work to Raye, the final step requires me to get Raye out of the way and do it myself. If Raye knew my true purpose, she would definitely stop me.]

[If there's anyone who could stop my plans, it's probably only her... But let's consider that later. At least until Durandal is activated, we need to continue cooperating with her.]

Ryouko Sakurai suppressed her true thoughts and put on the same mask as always.

[Now, I'm a little curious about how she'll achieve her goal. Even if these things are just fireworks toys, their sheer number would still harm her, who is no longer as powerful as before. So, what will she do?]

After downing her coffee in one gulp, Ryouko Sakurai returned to her seat and resumed her duties as a Heresy Technology advisor, beginning her wait.

And this wait lasted a full thirty minutes...

"Xiang, concentrate, the meteor shower is about to begin."

Looking at her friend who had been spacing out for who knows how many times, Kohinata Miku said with a hint of helplessness.

"Ah, I'm sorry, but I will in the Miku."

Hearing her close friend's reminder, Hibiki Tachibana answered while trying her best to relax.

Since she had no idea when or from which direction Raye would attack, Hibiki Tachibana had to be vigilant about her surroundings and watch out for any signals from Second Division.

"Hibiki, is something on your mind? But whatever it is, at least when the shooting star appears, put it aside for a moment and enjoy it, okay?"

Kohinata Miku said in a slightly complaining tone.

"I'm sorry, Miku. I promised to come out with you, but I was so distracted. I understand. I'll concentrate from now on."

Realizing that her actions were inappropriate, the flaxen-haired girl assured her best friend.

[It's been so long, and Miss Raye hasn't come yet. Maybe she's already figured out the trap won't come... Even if Miss Raye does come, Master and the others should have given me a signal beforehand... So, I guess it's okay for me to relax for a little while.]

With this thought in mind, Hibiki Tachibana smiled and began to focus her gaze on the sky, preparing to enjoy the beautiful meteor shower with her friend.

"Hmm, it makes a sound."

Seeing her friend's change, Miku also wore a faint smile and focused her attention on the upcoming meteor shower in the sky.

Then, just minutes after the meteor shower began, as countless points of light streaked across the night sky, a deafening alarm blared, shattering the tranquility of this suburb.

P. S. Good evening.

Chapter Ninety-Three Crushed to Death

A meteor is generally defined as a meteoroid traveling through interstellar space, in which the immense kinetic energy propelling it through the universe is transformed into a fleeting and beautiful burst of light and heat upon friction with the atmosphere.

This phenomenon, besides its scientific significance in astronomy or other disciplines, is also a popular attraction for enthusiasts due to its rare and fleeting beauty—the streaks of light tracing across the deep night sky.

"Shooting star... so beautiful."

Hibiki Tachibana gazed at the sky, at the bright night sky filled with beautiful streaks of light. For a fleeting moment, just a fleeting moment, she was captivated by this beautiful sight.

"I see, you took some great photos."

With Miku smile, Wei Lai adjusted the camera and began to appreciate the countless streaks of light that were scattered across the sky for the last remaining moment.

"I was right to come see the meteor shower. I would have really regretted missing such a beautiful sight."

[If Miss Raye is going to take action, she'll probably come from somewhere in the sky. What will she do? Will she hide in the meteor shower and launch an attack?]

With her eyes fixed on the sky, Hibiki Tachibana said this, while thinking to herself.

"Hibiki, um, there's something I want to talk to you about. There's something I've been keeping from you, and it's been bothering me."

[I have no one else here but Hibiki, so it's okay if I say a little something related, right? If you still want to be Hibiki's friend, you have to let her know the mistakes I've made.]

Bathed in the light of the meteor shower, Kohinata Miku made a decision and turned to Hibiki Tachibana beside her, saying this.

"What about the Miku?"

Hibiki Tachibana was somewhat puzzled, not understanding why Miku would say such a thing at this time.

"Actually, a few years ago, well, it was probably..."

In the Miku, he organized his thoughts and prepared to begin speaking.

Woo-----woo--

What was that sound?

Just as Kohinata Miku had organized her thoughts, a loud, penetrating voice rang out, drawing her attention and interrupting her narration.

Hibiki Tachibana, Tachibana Hibiki, Kagosaki, and Shizuka Etsuyoshi realized what had happened as soon as the alarm sounded.

The being she had always been wary of took some action, which was noticed by others and used as an alarm to remind her.

"Excuse me, I have to leave for a moment. I need to go Miku."

With her nerves on edge, Hibiki Tachibana said this to Miku beside her and then made a gesture to leave.

[Where will the attack be launched, and how? Will it be from the sky? Will they unleash the same level of firepower as before through the air?]

At the same time, with this in mind, Hibiki Tachibana focused most of her attention on the sky, trying to find any possible offensives that might have already begun, following her usual approach.

"Sound, watch out!"

Suddenly, her best friend's voice rang out. The panicked, helpless yet worried voice drew Hibiki Tachibana's attention, and her gaze shifted to Kohinata Miku.

"Miku?"

When Hibiki Tachibana turned her gaze to Kohinata Miku, she saw the black-haired, intelligent girl staring in horror at something behind her.

[There's something behind me. No, I need to get dressed immediately, but if I dress now, what will happen in the Miku...?]

Reminded by Kohinata Miku, Hibiki Tachibana immediately realized that there might be something strange behind her, and it was very likely an attack from Raye.

Reason told her that she should immediately dress in Symphogear and fight back, but at the same time, the instinct to conceal the Miku made her hesitate for a moment.

In that instant, she lost her chance to escape, which she had previously had.

A heavy feeling crept over my entire body without me even realizing it. The immense weight stopped all resistance. A mechanical arm emitting a yellow glow appeared before me—no, it was a finger of an even larger mechanical hand.

[It was an attack from underground...]

Hibiki Tachibana only had time to realize this before the yellow mechanical arm completely shut down her senses, and a feeling of falling even stronger than when she first rode the Second Division underground elevator invaded her senses.

"Ring!"

Kohinata Miku was completely baffled by what had happened. In her eyes, it was just an ordinary outing with friends, an ordinary day that couldn't be more commonplace.

However, what is happening now makes Kohinata Miku realize that the ordinary and taken-for-granted daily life she expected seems to have never existed in the first place.

She couldn't understand what Hibiki Tachibana Hibiki Tachibana been doing lately, why she was undergoing strange training, and even less why a mechanical arm would emerge from the ground and take away her friend.

What should I do? What should I do?

Such a question crept into her mind, instantly throwing her thoughts into disarray.

However, she realized the next moment that she didn't seem to need to be confused.

At the same moment that Hibiki Tachibana was sealed by the tan-colored mechanical hand, Kohinata Miku saw two identical mechanical hands appear in front of her.

"Um?!"

Before Kohinata Miku could react, the same treatment as Hibiki Tachibana was applied to her; a huge mechanical hand enveloped her, and a violent feeling of falling assaulted her senses.

Soon, in just a few seconds, the two girls who were watching the meteor shower disappeared from the open space as if by supernatural means.

"The alarm's going off! What's happening?!"

The scene shifts to the Second Division's command post. As the alarm sounds, Genjuro Kazanari and the others realize that the battle has begun. Commander Kazanari immediately begins to inquire about information related to the battle.

"Commander, just now, there was a sudden and violent fluctuation of Heresy Technology, which triggered the alarm."

The personnel responsible for detecting reactions related to Heresy Technology answered his questions.

From which direction?

Commander Kazanari asked calmly.

No, I don't know.

However, his inquiry received this response.

"From the monitoring equipment, fluctuations in the Heresy Technology are everywhere. Just a moment ago there was nothing there, it's as if someone had set it up in advance."

The personnel in charge of monitoring nervously explained the unknown reason.

"What did you say? How is that possible?!"

Genjuro Kazanari said, somewhat puzzled.

It's important to know that, to prevent intelligence leaks, they arrived here in advance after confirming the location and spent only one day setting up a monitoring system, scanning the area day and night, and the results were all positive.

He was told that the place he thought was safe had been infiltrated like a sieve by the locals, which was completely unexpected.

"It's terrible, Commander! Just now, Hibiki Tachibana and Kohinata Miku were suddenly grabbed by a mechanical hand that emerged from underground!"

As if things weren't going to go wrong, just as Genjuro Kazanari was wondering how the other party was working right under their noses, another piece of even worse news arrived.

"Tachibana was kidnapped, and from underground no less!?"

The worst news and the worst outcome sent a Genjuro Kazanari's spine.

"That's right, it's underground. I saw it with my own eyes. People are already searching the location where he was dragged down."

That's what the person who brought the message said.

"Commander, the location of the Heresy Technology fluctuations has been determined. It's underground, covering an entire circular area centered on the meteor observation point, and we've just detected significant noise activity underground."

Meanwhile, the Heresy Technology detection personnel finally revealed the direction of the enemy's offensive.