Sky Striker Princess, but the swan song of Valkyrie.

Hibiki Tachibana, who had just defeated Ryouri and rushed to Quinei without rest, remained vigilant and inquired about the enemy's information from Maria.

"Powerful close-combat ability, the ability to reassemble even if the body is shattered, and even greater strength and defense after glowing. These are the only things I can sense so far."

Maria stood up with some difficulty and then briefly explained her experience to Hibiki Tachibana.

"Hmm, as expected, Zero-chan is strong no matter which armor she wears... Miss Maria, let's use Ignite mode. This isn't an enemy we can overcome without going all out."

With just a few words from Maria and her own experience, Hibiki Tachibana realized the absurd strength of the armor in front of her and pressed her hand against the red crystal on her neck.

"I know that too. Phew, let's go together."

"Draw your sword, Daines Reeb!" x2

A dark aura emerges along with dark memories. Hibiki Tachibana has already moved on, while Maria is fighting to save those who dispel the darkness around her.

The jet-black Ignite armor, exuding a ferocious, beast-like aura, was laid over their bodies. Once dressed, Maria and Hibiki Tachibana immediately launched an attack on the Quine armor in front of them from the left and right.

The tan-colored Quesna armor was not afraid of the two's attacks. Its four mechanical arms stretched out, one hand blocking Tachibana Hibiki's charge on the right, and the other hand grabbing a heavy rock to shatter the flying swords scattered by Maria.

"Tachibana! "

Despite her initial attack being blocked, Maria did not lose heart. She swung her sword, transforming it into a whip-like blade, and struck directly at Lingyi.

Snapped--

The whip struck the joint of the arm but failed to affect it. Instead, it was deflected by the yellowish-brown light. Not only that, the other mechanical arm directly knocked away Tachibana Hibiki, who was kicking down from above with the force of the reassembled power.

“Miss Maria, I understand!”

They were blocked again, but Hibiki Tachibana and Maria's attacks did not stop there. Hibiki Tachibana, who was sent flying into the air, caught the whip sword that was deflected and pulled it to change her position, while also providing Maria with greater power.

"Witness the power of the silver bowl, [SEREtNADE]!"

Maria adjusted her posture, inserted the short sword into her wrist guard in mid-air, ignited the left wrist of her waist armor to accelerate, and launched an attack from directly above Zero with incredible speed, like a black and silver meteor.

Realizing the two's intentions, the Quine Armor attempted to defend itself with its mechanical arms, but Hibiki Tachibana, who was behind it, had already used her body to employ fighting techniques, slowing down the movement of the armor's joints.

In the blink of an eye, with the combined efforts of the two, Maria's Silver Bowl technique struck the wide-open Quesnai, and the explosive force from drawing her sword unleashed the strongest skill, shattering the outer shell into pieces.

"Next up is my turn, with this punch—"

Without missing a single gap, after Maria completed the task of shattering the outer shell, Tachibana Hibiki turned her gaze to the exposed, glowing core and unleashed a fiery punch.

In an instant, under the violent energy of ignite, the gem that emitted an earthy yellow light seemed to burn away completely in the void.

[It's not over yet, Miss Hibiki, Miss Maria. The analysis here shows that the node in this space is still intact, albeit slowly, but the core is still drawing energy from the surrounding area to recover.]

But then came support from Elfnein, informing the two that the battle on their side was not yet over.

Although it is not particularly strong compared to other armors, this earth elemental armor is completely maxed out in terms of survivability.

"Ah, even using all my strength, I couldn't completely destroy it?"

Hearing the question from Elfnein, Tachibana Hibiki was somewhat shocked, but she didn't know what to do at the moment. If her full-force attack couldn't break it, she didn't know how else she could destroy it.

“Absorbing energy…wait, if that’s the case, perhaps the silver bowl can do it!”

In that split second as the core was drawing energy to recover, Maria, in her haste, remembered that the armor she was wearing possessed a special power: the ability to control energy vectors.

Can I do it? No, I must do it here. Despite my weakness, I still have the opportunity to make a difference here.

Realizing this, Maria conjured several silver short swords in her hand, threw them around, and they began to spin, transforming into tentacles through which Maria sensed energy.

[I sensed it! The core, the silver bowl, has severed those energy pathways!]

Sensing the pathways through which the core obtains energy, Maria then meticulously used the power of the silver bowl to completely sever those pathways. As the pathways were severed, the core, deprived of its supply, entered an unstable state.

"Now, Tachibana!"

"Understood. Seize the opportunity, as fast as you can!"

Maria reminded him, and Tachibana Hibiki realized what was happening, clenched her fists, and swung them forcefully.

Bang—

A sound like something shattering rang out as the yellow gem was completely destroyed by Hibiki Tachibana's attack and could not be restored. At the same time, a scene resembling a shattered mirror also appeared.

slam-la-

The world shifted, space became chaotic, and amidst a flurry of light and shadow, a new scene appeared before Tachibana Hibiki and Maria.

This is the battlefield where battles once took place, the surface of a prehistoric civilization's spaceship called Territory.

Clearly, thanks to the performers' efforts, the protective barrier used to safeguard this important location has failed, and now all that stands in their way is the girl who has always been on the opposite side of them.

"Hibiki, are you alright here?"

Having broken free from the barrier, the musicians from the other battlefields also arrived here one after another, and Xiao Ri stepped forward to ask about it.

"It's alright, but it seems that Mirai and Chris-chan also won."

Upon seeing Kohinata Mirai and Chris arrive, Tachibana Hibiki greeted them with a smile.

"We won too."

"However, Finney was captured by Zero-Clothes Sister Death..."

Tsukuyomi Chowa and Akatsuki Kirika also walked over from the side. Although they had both won, neither of them looked very happy.

“Miss Ryoko… Phew, it’s alright. We’ll rescue you when we defeat Zero.”

Knowing this fact, Tachibana Hibiki understood the urgency of the situation. Given the relationship between Rei and Finney, if they arrived late, Finney might not receive good treatment.

"Elphnein-chan, which way should we go next?"

Without wasting much time, Tachibana Hibiki, who had just finished a high-intensity battle, immediately asked Elfnein about the direction of the next battle.

[Yes, based on external observations, analysis of the earth's vein flow, and a compilation of past territorial data, the core of this airship should be located in the original control room.]

The location is...

Elfnein, who had just relaxed, immediately explained the information she had prepared to the musicians present when she heard Tachibana Hibiki's question.

"Hmph, is the final battle immediately following this one...?"

After recovering, Kazami realized that the next battle was the final one.

"But, in our current state, can we win?"

Chris was a little downcast, knowing that they had already used almost all their strength just to break through the outer defensive barrier.

As for facing Zero's true form, it's unknown whether she will come up with new trump cards during this long period of time. Can their current strength really achieve victory?

"I don't know, the chances are slim, but... if we don't try, we won't even have this little chance."

Maria understood this as well, but she knew that this was the best they could do. The rest of the battle depended on their performance.

"Haha, it feels like the last break before final exams, but at times like this, you just have to use your willpower to get through it."

Hibiki Tachibana shared the same view, but she didn't think too much about it; whether she could win or not, she would only know after the final match.

"Be careful, Sister Lingyi has released her last line of defense."

"So much noise and drone death! (Medical staff abandoned the Yiliuying Erhai)"

Before the group could even compose themselves, the next wave of delaying tactics came crashing down on them as they landed.

"Enough of the small talk. This is a battlefield, so let's raise our swords immediately."

The rights and wrongs of the current situation can be considered later. At this moment, all the performers need to do is use the weapons in their hands to tear down the last line of defense in the other's heart.

Immediately following, charging fists, flying blades, guns and missiles, scythes and saws, magic-slaying lights, and silver short swords charged towards the enemies surging towards them.

........

[Their defenses were breached. They really tried their best.]

Looking at the screen in front of her, at the energy reaction that was converging on her, Lingyi, located in her mental space, knew that now was no time to hesitate.

It must be admitted that the current performer is someone who must be taken seriously and dealt with even at the cost of something. Although she had anticipated this, she still felt a little bad when the time actually came.

[Command requested, agreed. Now, prepare to activate the infinite power.]

With these thoughts in mind, Lingyi pulled the final switch.

Immediately, the world changed, and all those under its control gradually entered a state of unconsciousness, unless there was something particularly urgent.

Subsequently, as people entered a state of unconsciousness, tiny string amplifications began to emerge around them. These tiny string amplifications flowed into the spiritual veins and flowed into the territory.

.......

"They're nothing but a bunch of rabble-outs, just die!"

Meanwhile, thanks to the combined efforts of the musicians, the defensive line, which was ultimately just a mass of miscellaneous soldiers, was soon breached. Following Elfnein's guidance, they arrived at their destination. Immediately afterwards, a wide variety of equipment and pipelines came into view.

Among these technologically advanced devices, what attracted their attention most was the transparent culture chamber at the center platform, connected to the massive sphere behind them, containing a light green solution. And suspended in the solution within that chamber was a girl with long, casually flowing platinum-blonde hair.

"Zero-chan, is she in the jar?"

Seeing this scene, Tachibana Hibiki subconsciously felt a little confused.

"Why worry about so much? We must seize this opportunity and cause as much destruction as possible!"

Although she was equally interested in the beautiful scenery seen through the incubation chamber, Chris knew exactly what they were there to do.

In an instant, Chris's crossbow transformed into a machine gun, launching an attack on the massive, obviously important mechanical sphere connected to the incubation chamber.

However, as expected, just as Chris's bullets were about to hit, azure ripples appeared, repelling her attack entirely through the membrane.

"Yukine's attack had no effect? ​​Then I'll take over..."

Seeing that Chris's attack had no effect, Kazemiya stepped forward to launch another attack, but when her gaze fell on the transparent culture tank, she paused in her speech.

Shortly after the musicians arrived, the girl in the liquid opened her eyes, followed by the sound of shattering glass.

Snap—splash—

As the outer glass shattered, a light green solution flowed out, and the girl opened her eyes, revealing her smooth and jade-like body to the group.

Then, one step, two steps, her fair and translucent bare feet lightly stepped onto the spotless liquid, her wet, platinum-gold hair casually draped over her fair body.

With a cool and aloof expression, Lingyi appeared before everyone.

"Zero-chan... is there no way to avoid a battle now?"

Seeing the beautiful young girl, Mijiro, emerge from the water completely soaked, Hibiki Tachibana didn't have any other thoughts.

After all, she understood that the other party's attitude could only mean one thing.

The battle that follows will no longer be the childish fight with her clones. Instead, you will face Zero herself, someone you have fought many times before but never had a chance of winning against.

Despite knowing that a battle was inevitable, Tachibana Hibiki still held onto a last shred of hope that the conflict could be resolved through dialogue and extended an invitation.

"Didn't you already know the answer to this question a long time ago?"

As for Hibiki Tachibana's last illusion, Rei, still covered in water droplets, slowly shattered that hope with her cold words.

"Is that so? Dad, I understand."

The final conversation was thrown back at him, and Tachibana Hibiki clenched her fists.

She realized that at this moment, there would be no way for them to communicate with Lingyi except through fists.

P.S. Good evening.

Chapter 43 Zero

“I admire the effort you have put in to get here.”

A stack of clothes fell from the space. After catching her own clothes and the moisture on her body evaporated under the action of energy, Lingyi slowly began to put them on.

"If you don't push yourselves to the limit in peacetime and in battle, you will never be able to break through my defenses."

Wearing a black headdress and a neat top, she quickly slipped on black stockings above her knees with a flick of her fingers, completing her dressing.

“But this is the end. I know Symphogear’s limits perfectly well. Even with the help of that demonic sword, there is still an insurmountable gap between your strength and mine.”

Rei stood up, dressed in her usual casual clothes, and looked down at the seven people standing in front of her. She calmly stated what she believed to be the truth and extended her hand.

"Unless a miracle occurs, no, even if a miracle does occur, even if it does, a single miracle cannot bridge this insurmountable gap. [Flash Blade Activation? Flash Interaction]."

The black and red blade appeared merrily in front of her, placing the hilt in her fair palm. She happily grasped it, and a blue light flashed as basic armor was donned over her body.

"Is the battle about to begin? From where will Zero-chan's attack come, and in what form...?"

As Zero entered battle mode, Hibiki Tachibana nervously swallowed, recalling past battles with Zero in her mind, striving to make the best reaction when the battle began.

"【Flash Blade Asian Style? Double-Twin Infinite Gate】, forcibly activated."