#this is based off of how some people dont believe she exists (like in prime 2 for example)

[hoshizoralone]

comm for a samus comic based on that one tony hawk tweet. this would happen to her.

[larrythefloridaman]

Y'all like your deities with or without the shell?

Under the readmore is aaaaaaaaall color god observations and musings based on them, because I am studying to become the world's Premiere Chromatheologian and RGB Understander so under the cut is pretty much Oops! All Spoilers! up to the most recent episode of season 3.

Apparently Universal Color God Attributes:

Damage to their domain hurts them, but fixing the issue, or lashing out by using their powers destructively, can help them to repair the damage.

If they sustain enough damage, it can temporarily paralyze them and send them into a strengthened but 'exposed' state (chartreuse's spirit activation in the last fight of 19) and further damage after that will activate a failsafe, which is unique by domain but seemingly designed to give them the chance to balance things, but can get… very out of hand or backfire depending on circumstances. (see: cobalt’s failsafe sending mark's universe into a never-ending apocalyptic war because word of the cure for death became too widespread for the killing urge failsafe to affectively balance anything because every side could simply revive their fallen.)

Chartreuse's failsafe is something of a stopped time bubble quarantine where processes that require the passing of time cannot complete, allowing her the time to wear down the offending party to beat them to death or plan around finishing them.

Cobalt's is inciting war, the casualties serving to balance the scale. I'm not sure we know Crimson's yet- he's never taken enough direct damage without doing damage to compensate in order to trigger it, although i dont remember season one well enough to recall if any of the universe stuff in it tracks with the pattern bc season one is a bit fucky

Connected in a fashion that allows them to simply Sense the overall status of the others to some extent, although they don't know Why theyre in the state theyre in without asking (chartreuse [and by extension, folk, presumably on her information] confronting crimson via crimsonaut for pretending to be dead, Cobalt confronting both his siblings about how they are handling their duties improperly but not knowing about Folk. He knew about the constants deaths because hes a death god, duh, but he didnt use their names like crimson did, possibly implying they're erased upon death so thoroughly that only crimson and the constants can really recall a shattered constants' existence, not even the other guardians.)

Abilities of the guardians can be replicated by mortals through three apparent methods- through machines (dimensional bus, the time machine, presumably J0hn's part in Sephiroth's resurrection,) simply through advanced enough individual skill (Home MD curing death, potentially Dantoinette's universe portal travel, maybe Genwun's sped up time bubble that evolved them into Genfour? although that could very well have just been an illusion and theyre just like, a fuckin theater kid that was doing pretend character development for the Bit or something given GenFive turned out to be a zoroark) or through stealing some of the power of the relevant god (Dr. Order stealing Chartreuse's power, Dani maybe having stolen some of Crimson's when she beat his ass. Dani's one woman universal travel is like, wicked ambiguous)

Cobalt:

Can seemingly perceive or act through any living material. (The Tree. Cobalt instructed Larry to slap his hand on that tree, that shit glowed and he had a new deal tattoo without Cobalt ever having been physically present)

Can influence the resurrected by giving them a killing urge. Represented by an aberrant brainwave and a ringing in the undead's heads. This doesnt appear to be direct control- as the Grunk could clearly restrain himself from killing people that genuinely didn't deserve it (like nightly and cha cha, who WERE grunk event targets but not fatally so. Nagito was a crimson thing so it really doesn't count here. God poor grunk his life really is just a constant plaything in the hands of the gods huh) and Sephiroth very much had personal motivation to want to kill Folk. failsafe activates this ability on the scale of war.

Deals. The extent of what Cobalt can do with these is unclear but Iggy's god powers were taken from him as his part in the deal so what he can take isn't limited to physical things or things obviously related to his domain.

Weaknesses:

Deals. While this ability is impressive his preference for making deals for those that offend against his domain is potentially very exploitable- Larry's knowledge of the cure for death is, if word of it were to ever get out beyond Larry, wildly dangerous for this dimension, so technically the safest thing for the iron-fisted cobalt to do would be to nip the problem in the bud and get rid of him. But, fascinatingly, that wasn't even put on the table, the first thing Cobalt does is threaten J0hn, prompting Larry to make a deal. While Cobalt enforces death, he also doesn't like unnecessary death, and Larry demonstrably knows how to keep a secret for the good of the world even at great cost to himself and Cobalt is aware of this- easily clarifying to Larry the aberrant thing endangering the universe wasn't his timeloop business. So while he's clearly not letting his resurrection fuckery go unpunished, he's being pretty merciful when he doesn't have to be and from a strictly, brutally pragmatic perspective probably shouldn't be.

His control over the undead manifests as a ringing and an aberrant brainwave trackable by J0hn's equipment, and could probably therefore be accounted for and circumvented? J0hn has, wisely, largely sworn off fucking with people's brains after the sephiroth fiasco went So Wrong, So Very Wrong, Oh God Oh Fuck Someone Cool Almost Died, but if he hadn't, and if J0hn let his dislike for authority and keeping Larry safe outweigh reason like he let safety, spite and comedic value outweigh good ethical sense when reprogramming sephiroth, in theory Mr. 'hacked a time machine for breakfast?' could. y'know. probably do it. what is a god's authority to an anarchist, what better to challenge life and death than the cold and eternal machine, you get the point its a fun scenario

Olive Garden Breadsticks and Small Cute Dogs, apparently

Chartreuse's:

Time Clones: taps into parallel timelines to retrieve alternate versions of herself to utilize.

Time Travel: what it says on the tin. Travel to the past creates painful splits in the prime timeline, but through careful action and traveling back into the past, these can be weaved into a time loop. A split from the timeline is a wound, and a successful timeloop is the surgical scar it can become with attentive care, to use a medical metaphor. Carefully closed and healing. Keeping Folk here is essentially akin to chartreuse pulling out her stitches on the initial incision.

Time Stopping: creates a space wherein things that take time to complete cannot complete, where things can move, but everything within is in a perfect unchanging stasis until the bubble drops. This is the form her failsafe takes.

Timeline Creation: can create timelines from scratch.

Can fuse alternate timeline versions of the same individual to allow them to coexist. (Ryan's confirmed in the discord that Dantoinette experienced both failures in 20, because Chartreuse fused the two instances of her to save the post-raid instance from fading. Could... theoretically do this to Folk and save herself the pain, but while Folk and Therapuppy are the same person, there's seven years and untold amounts of difference deriving from the time and circumstance between them and the inherent cognitive dissonances that would result from attempting that would be wicked fucked up to inflict, and that's assuming there isn't some reason that it wouldn't be possible anyway. while the two Danis had like. A day or so's difference between them, so she could be safely fused with the only dissonant thing being that she remembers both being too slow to prevent order's time escape and beginning to dissipate post-raid, AND losing that fight to her pre-raid. RIP Dani, that perfectionism must be kicking her ass)

Weaknesses:

Unwilling to use her powers destructively in her pursuit of domain repair and thereby much easier to damage to the point of paralyzing her, making her particularly vulnerable to Power Theft

Morally Optimistic. At one point in 19, she briefly justifies Crimson's shitty evil actions to herself after experiencing for herself how Wack the kerfuffleverse is firsthand, ("and all he did was kill a couple people!" Chartreuse. Honey.) and when she fights Crimsonaut she seems to actually believe for a second that he's actually worried about her when Crimson asks if she's okay after he beats her. Additionally, as D+, she concerns herself with trying to understand doctor order's motive, and after Larry defeats Order, he makes a point of confirming she feels no remorse before making his request for what Chartreuse does with her, and appeals to the idea of letting Order fulfill her desire to be a god in a way which isn't a problem for anyone and Chartreuse is more than happy to oblige under these conditions after what Larry's done for everybody. Then immediately threatens to evaporate him for playfully teasing her about having a crush on folk. Fucked up a little bit

Crimson's:

Universe Shifting: Travel between universes.

Universe Correction: appears to replace an aberrant individual with the 'correct' version of themselves for that universe, presumably sending them back to their own. (Mario from super mario was universe corrected, but still seemingly exists in wario form as evidenced by smashup kerfuffle, and was simply temporarily replaced with his corrected universe counterpart. But like. The dimensional bus system is still active crimbo doing the Put That Thing Back Where It Came From Or So Help Me routine aint gonna work if they can come back with a shrug and bus fare. you're fighting the symptoms without treating the problem)

Universal Constants:

Three individuals per universe that serve as the pillars which stabilize said universe, created by absorbing red orbs Crimson creates. Becoming a constant grants power, but also makes the constant fragile, and death wipes them from the face of the multiverse, only crimson, those he's possessed and the other constants seemingly able to recall they ever existed, although some physical evidence is still left behind (Larry's record of Nagito's death, which is just as redacted as everything else relating to him but still is very much something Larry has. Kind of a Voidfish adventurezone type beat ironically enough? Taako really has seen all this shit before no wonder he peaced tf out)

To counterbalance the weaknesses the constants have, they have a sort of spidey-sense to alert them to danger, and an intrinsic bonded connection to their fellow constants, and additionally, Crimson apparently doesn't suffer any pain from the death of constants or the structural instability of a universe.

Possession: what it says on the tin! Seemingly can only be done with permission to living things- none of crimson's direct hosts seem to have entered that agreement unwillingly, Valentine lost a bet, Hamburger and Crimsonaut have been by all evidence intentional allies to Crimson- but electronics are fair game, as seen with The Guy's suit. Kinda curious how that rule applies to bitches that are half and half, like J0hn or the clonebot gang, as its unclear whether The Guy's suit was yoinkable without permission because it was mechanical or because its not sentient. could go either way but if it's the former that's potentially very frightening

Fusion: Two individuals from alternate universes can be fused into one shared body which can take on aspects of either depending on which is currently in control. (possibly allows someone who traveled into a given universe to become a fixed resident there without it being an issue for Crimson, whose job is to prevent interdimensional travel?) Monday Mark and possibly T.O.M. are our main examples.

Corruption:

Unpleasant As Hell and can even kill you instead of changing you if you cant handle it.

turns the corrupted individual into a twisted exaggeration of themself, allows them supernatural control over their shape, and makes them very difficult- if not impossible by traditional means- to kill, based on Garfield.

Subjects them to control by Crimson, but can be exorcised of this influence just like crimson's direct hosts can, although the supernatural changes to their physiology are seemingly permanent, judging from Shantae.

Notable Weaknesses:

Exorcism can be performed to free a possessed or corrupted individual of Crimson's influence. Its unclear how exorcism works/is learned in CPUK, but confirmed exorcists: dantoinette and yung papaya's snake dad, confirmed non-exorcists: folk

The universal constant orbs are physical objects so they are Very Stealable and they grant a power boost so theres literally an Incentive to beat his ass for anybody who wants to be strong and either doesnt know or doesn't care about the whole 'getting erased when you die' part

Crimson has lots of tools to create pawns, but all of them have drawbacks. Corruption could kill a potential pawn, possession generally seems to require permission, and he has no control over the constants' choices and actions

Manipulative bitch's highest stat is charisma and it shows. This motherfucker is selling snake oil. If he was mortal rather than a Whole Entire God he'd make an excellent ineffectual saturday morning cartoon supervillain and i think everyone, including him, would be happier for it, ngl

Something interesting ive realized that likely wasnt fully intentional, is that a lot of Dr. Order's creations, considering her motive, can kind of be sorted by a color god it appears to be a crude attempt at mimicking the abilities of. My Grunk is a poorly executed resurrection, the clonebot gang vs chartreuse's timeclones (this one deserves special mention because Chartreuse used this shitty attempted mimicry to her advantage with D+, very smart and ironic play, excellent job Treusy,) spirits are somewhat similar to universal constant orbs (orbs which can be absorbed to grant power, but which have physical repercussions- key differences being that spirits require activation and grow stronger while attuning to a user without being used, and having far less severe drawbacks, taking a heavy toll on the body, but only once they've worn off and without the risk of wiping yourself from the face of existence,) and she also augmented Perfect Spriteman and Larry, which kind of track as crude imitations of Crimson's corruption!

Garfield was an acerbic cat who loved food and hated mondays, now its an actively malicious ever-hungry amorphous entity whose only weakness is monday and whose only consistency in form is 'cat-like.'

Shantae was (to my extremely limited understanding of shantae,) a friendly heroic type who had to introduce herself often, and she became something akin to a biblically accurate angel that can *only* introduce herself.

The Grunks a tough but sweet and supportive single dad with stage presence and a tendency to fly off the handle when he or his family are slighted, and now he gets so hype in the audience when his son does well that he bursts into flames and ascends and we get random grunk events along with the associated murder charges when he gets mad and the target sucks enough that he doesn't hold himself back from killing them.

Perfect Spriteman and Larry fit the trend of exaggeration of already present traits- Spriteman fucking loves sprite and became something that only thinks about sprite, and Larry the Florida Man, characterized from minute one by unpredictability and who spent his first matches in the series pre-shapeshifter transformation staying alive keeping stocks for Shockingly Long even despite getting seventh, became literally physically random as well as developing the ability to regenerate, albeit with the ability to feel pain normally very much intact, unlike Garfield just... Soaking up damage like its nothing in his pursuit of Jon. The fact that Arbuckle legit defeated Garfield, even temporarily, is terrifyingly impressive honestly that dude is fucking built different for being so chronically bland

i dont think they're actually corrupted in any meaningful way we have to worry about, to be fully clear, Spriteman was cured with fucking antacids, i simply think they could be a fucked up attempt at making something that kind of seems like it from a functional standpoint, from the wannabe god doctor that brought us green clones whose only fundamental association with time was accelerated aging and who thought an actively rotting corpse thats just reanimated enough that it can throw hands was as good as curing death

[im-the-punk-who]

Hi, I dont know if you read or know anything about Macchiavelli's "Il principe", but I am studying it in school and I cant help but compare it's fundamentals to how Flint leads. I'm just curious about what you think

Eekekekekekekekekekekkek okay so first off Anon, you are absolutely, 100% right to be getting those vibes. If it’s not actually textual it is at the least meta-textual that Flint ascribes to a very Machiavellian type of leadership. His whole ‘never was there a Caesar who couldn't sing the tune’ speech is...licherally a direct reference to Machiavelli's philosophy that leaders cannot retain their leadership without sacrificing some level of ethical behavior in order to manipulate and deceive their subjects into following them.

And, Flint owns at least two books from thinkers who drew directly on Machiavellian thinking in their texts: De Jure Belli Ac Pacis by Hugo Grotus and The Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes are both visible in Flint’s cabin, and both drew heavily on the type of leadership principles established in books like Il Principe. 

(Also, my eternal quest for the book that sits *under* The Leviathan in that scene remains. Y’all I will literally pay someone for this knowledge. My best guess is Plato’s De Republica.)

In fact, the whole system that Flint’s world was operating under at this time was very machiavellian in influence. 

Henry VIII, who converted to Protestantism and who would eventually lead England in the conversion from Catholicism to Protestantism that would then in turn eventually lead the country into the War of Spanish Succession(the war being fought during the London 1705 flashbacks), was a student of Machiavellian thinking. He took the teachings of Il Principe to heart and used them to transform his country. Over the next hundred and fifty years, England would change from an entirely Catholic country to a Protestant one. Of note, Catholic scholars generally disagreed with Machiavelli’s principles on the grounds that it did not support the Divine Right of Kings.

As well, the Enlightenment thinkers that influenced Thomas Hamilton(and Flint himself) were starting to argue more for personal liberty and choice of the governed, both concepts presented in Machiavelli’s writings. (For those following along, this approach was also being used to justify slavery, as what was ‘good for the state is good for the man’ was used as justification for everything from impressment to colonization and slavery. Men were willing to set aside their morals for what they justified as good for the state. Shrug emoji.)

As James says of England when he and Thomas view the hanging in London:

“You think Whitehall wants piracy to flourish in the Bahamas?”

“No I don’t think they want it but I think they’re aware of the cost associated with trying to fight it. And I think that that sound travels.”

Here we see that Flint knows what Thomas doesn’t or does not want to accept: that England is willing to sacrifice some morality and some amount of lives(both of pirate-prisoners and the ships they take) in order to save themselves the financial burden of rooting out the causes of piracy. The justification for piracy was that it is too costly to fight, and that the nation ultimately benefits from a bit of strife as it drives prices up and allows England to place within the sights of its citizenry an identifiable enemy. (Note that Blackbeard also argues the same of Nassau, that prosperity ‘made it soft’.)

Even as he is changed by Thomas’ line of thinking, this lesson will stick with Flint and we’ll see it over and over again as he deals with the men’s hatred of himself by redirecting them towards other avenues(Vane, Hornigold, England, etc.)

And in actuality, this is what sets Thomas very much apart from his political brethren - he was *not* willing to sacrifice his morals in order to achieve a ‘more effective’ victory. Once he realizes that moral deficit shown by England, he creates the pardon plan to argue directly for a more moral and just way of governance. His whole premise for the pardons was to show England that an approach that considered the needs and wants of the governed was ultimately more effective, both in cost and in gaining the genuine good will of the people. And again, this is another likely reason why Thomas was then targeted by Peter Ashe and his father. Railing against the entire system of government was dangerous. Particularly if one was railing against the government in a way that could be seen as support of an opposing system of religion and political rule(remember how I said before that Catholics were generally against the Machiavellian systems?) Put plainly, Thomas’ rejection of Machiavelli’s leadership tactics would have been yet another argument for his treason against the crown.

Interestingly also, Marcus Aurelius - Thomas Hamilton’s homeboy - is said to be one of Machiavelli’s five “good” emperors, of whom Machiavelli wrote,

“[they] had no need of praetorian cohorts, or of countless legions to guard them, but were defended by their own good lives, the good-will of their subjects, and the attachment of the Senate.”

How we tryna be.

And so we see that Flint has - not so much fallen back into England’s line of thinking but perhaps that he never really fell out of it. And that this is actually a rift in his potential ability to conform to Thomas’ line of thinking, assuming we see that line as more morally correct. We do see Flint, gradually, throughout the course of the show, move more away from this Machiavellian line of thinking, especially once he meets Madi and the Maroons.  And to me at least it’s one of the most important character shifts we see - in contrast to the trajectory of John Silver becoming Long John Silver  - throughout the series. Just as Flint is finally starting to really value the lives of those around him, Silver has learned how effective those tactics can be in achieving his goals. As Hands says - ‘I wonder if he knows how much you learned from him.’

And in fact, Silver almost directly quotes Machiavelli at one point when he talks to Flint about their different leadership styles.

“I once thought that to lead men in this world, to be liked was just as good as being feared, and that may very well be true. But to be both liked and feared all at once, is an entirely different state of being in which, I believe, at this moment, I exist alone.” 

Whereas Machiavelli in his chapters addressing cruelty and mercy writes

"Here a question arises: whether it is better to be loved than feared, or the reverse. The answer is, of course, that it would be best to be both loved and feared. But since the two rarely come together, anyone compelled to choose will find greater security in being feared than in being loved." 

This is clearly the approach Flint has taken - he is the most feared captain on the seas. Certainly in the colonial world and on Nassau, too, his name brings a certain amount of fear with it. Because of this he has been safe from rebellion for quite a long time - however he is also not unaware that his power comes from the people. In the very first episode he talks of his plan with Gates to “position people in all the right places so the crew would never turn.” He has, for an unknown amount of time but I would suspect from the very beginning, been manipulating the crew’s opinion of him to keep them happy. Gates himself, and Silver later, are prime examples. 

Both of them; Gates for the first ten years or so and Silver in seasons 2+3 act as a go between - being the ‘liked’ to Flint’s ‘feared’. They convince the crew - the ‘people’ in this case - that Flint’s plans are in their best interest and not truly the act of a tyrant. It is only when Flint forgets - or neglects to respect - that the will of his crew is how he keeps his power, that he really starts to fail. And, later also, that now he has a rival - Silver. 

Now, I do want to point out that personally I don’t think Flint is a needlessly cruel ‘ruler’ in the sense the crew sometimes thinks he is, nor is he trying to be as a king is to english subjects. He has power, of course, and he does manipulate, lie, and kill if necessary to maintain his power in accordance with Machiavelli’s principles, but he does not do so ruthlessly or to a degree that is unnecessarily violent, nor with only his own advancement in mind. His goals genuinely are in service of the people he leads, even if the tactics he uses sometimes put them in danger for it. Moreso, I would argue that Flint is a prince who created his own princedom. He took an existing power structure(the pirate council in Blackbeard, Hornigold etc) and took most of the power for himself, either through luck, violence, or political maneuvering. And then he kept it through skill and tactical advantage.

Silver, in contrast to Flint’s new princedom, is truly a ‘prince of the people’. He comes to power through convincing the other pirates that he has their interests at heart - even when he doesn’t. But Silver soon learns that being a well-loved leader is difficult. It isn’t until Silver kills Dufresne and Billy uses that fear to build a legend that ‘Long John Silver’ the pirate king comes into being. Silver learns, just as Flint knew, that in a world or corruption, often leaders need to make sacrifices of things they would have once deemed important. 

(I think it’s also important to note for Silver that his main goal is actually one Machiavelli writes of as being ‘a will of the people’. Silver’s main wish is not to rule, not really. His biggest motivator is ‘to be free’. To not have to make choices based on the will or subjugations of others. And so, he attempts to make the leadership forced upon him into something that frees him - unfortunately for him, Madi is right when she says that the ‘Crown is always a burden’ and it would be truly impossible for him to find the kind of freedom he wishes for while wearing it. Which, honestly, is part of why he ultimately fails in that regard as leader of the revolution.)

In the later seasons we see Flint go through this change in philosophy after he meets Madi and the Maroons. He begins to actually value the lives of the people he leads. When put to the choice of going through with the raid on the Underhill estate despite the risk it poses to the slaves on other plantations, Flint resists the idea. As he tells Madi - it would have cost them far more to ignore the ‘will’ of those people he hoped to lead - the slaves - than it would gain them to go through with the plan. And later, even though he can’t be blind to Max’s sway with Eleanor and the others, unlike Billy (and oh how the mighty have fallen, Mr. Bones!) he doesn’t even seem to consider keeping her rather than trading her for the lives of his other men. He no longer wants to trade a potential political victory for the suffering of those he leads. So, too, when he attempts to trade the cache for the fort, he is doing so with the goal being to not have to put those under his power in danger if there is another option. It is, at least to me, an incredibly moving character arc and one that is so very understated. 

And honestly, I think it’s what *needed* to happen before he could move on from his rage-hate bender and begin to find the sort of peace that one might argue those ‘good’ rulers had. Machiavelli’s principles tend to get in the way of your ability to connect with other people: when you see them just as pawns in a game, friends and foes lose their intrinsic value of just being important on an emotional level. It is only through learning to truly value his partners that Flint can learn how to be a better and more just leader.

Also, this passage in chapter 15 absolutely KILLS me in regards to both Flint, and Thomas Hamilton:

“Men have imagined republics and principalities that never really existed at all. Yet the way men live is so far removed from the way they ought to live that anyone who abandons what is for what should be pursues his downfall rather than his preservation; for a man who strives after goodness in all his acts is sure to come to ruin, since there are so many men who are not good.”

Like bitch!! We get it!! Too much sanity!!! Shut up!!!!!

Anyway, all this to say that you’re absolutely right in seeing parallels between Flint’s style of leadership and a Machiavellian prince - he is absolutely written as a prince-like leader. As are Silver, Rogers, even the Maroon Queen(and Scott and Madi as extensions of her) can be compared to certain rulers in Machiavelli’s archetypes. Even Thomas, who models himself after one of those ‘good emperors’ engenders a type of political leader Machiavelli writes about.

(Also lastly, i want to very quickly point out this guy, Cesare Borgia:

Who was a prince of ‘fortune’ who lost his princedom to trusting the wrong person. What a beard, amirite? What a face. He’s even got the rings! I’m sure this means nothing.)

So basically yeah, Flint is absolutely a Machiavelli bitch. 

[trace395]

Symphogear XD Unlimited Kageri Saku Senkō summary from /m/

Prologue: https://pastebin.com/3QXDHaZ9   

First Part: https://pastebin.com/K8LuWF7P

Middle Part: https://pastebin.com/yNhBmx9j

Final Part: https://pastebin.com/yK69e4bG

Our Maria and Chris are helping parallel-Tsubasa fight some noise.

Edgebikki shows up and starts fighting them. Tsubasa doesn't recognize her, asks Maria and Chris who she is. Maria and Chris realize she isn't their Bikki. Meanwhile, Hibiki is at home having nightmares about being alone while Miku watches over her. Miku worries.

>Prologue A few days before, a bunch of them are out fucking about. Everybody notices Hibiki not doing so well and they're told about her bad dreams. Miku worries.

They go to training and Chris beats the shit out of Hibiki too hard and knocks her out. Elfnein does a checkup and says she's fine. Hibiki wakes up Miku continues to worry.

In the morning, Miku confronts Hibiki about her dream-talking, and Hibiki denies that that's what she actually feels (she isn't alone, obviously). Miku's worry approaches criticality.

Everybody else goes back for training, Chris hits Maria too hard and gets chewed out. A Gjallarhorn alert comes up, Chris wants to go alone. Genjuurou says no, Maria volunteers to tag along. They go off, and when they arrive they note that the Lunar Attack hasn't happened in the new world. They immediately locate parallel-Tsubasa and move to assist.

5-3

5-3 Part 1 >Chris/Maria arrive in original underground Div2 base >Chris is bad and keeps confusing Genjuurou, so Maria tells her to shut up and let her explain >Gjallarhorn is explained, told about strong noise (Karma Noise) >There apparently was a noise pattern a few days ago in the parallel world >Genjuurou is worried about strong noise appearing >Flashback about Tsubasa deploying to find the noise, but it dissapeared before she arrived >She sees grey bikki on the scene, apparently recognizes her >They think grey bikki defeated the noise on her own, Chris says that it's impossible without EKKUSU DORAIBU >Karma noise explained >Maria asks where grey bikki is, Genjuurou doesn't know because she doesn't work with them >Want to start looking, but Tsubasa wants to train with our OP geahs since there aren't any other geahs to train with Battle >Maria asks Tsubasa if she knows anything about Hibiki >Says she doesn't, but seems like she does >Chris wishes she would just tell them what's up >Maria and Chris find Hibiki at a park, she seems like a different person >Maria confronts her, asks her about the previous night (prologue) and the Karma noise >Hibiki tells her to fuck off, runs away

5-4

5-4 Part 1 >Chris and Maria return to home base, Genjuurou asks if they got any information from bikki >They didn't >Chris doesn't want to believe that it's really Hibiki >Genjuurou apologizes >Maria asks if Genjuurou knows anything about what happened, Genjuurou hesitates >Maria presses, Genjuurou spills the beans >Hibiki has had a difficult past, can't trust anyone >They tried to help her but she wouldn't accept it >Hibiki just kept fighting noise alone >Genjuurou explains the Zwei Wing concert, Bikki sole survivor, had nobody outside her family >Bikki had nobody other than her family >Chris stops him, asks about "Nobody other than her family" >Maria asks about Miku >Genjuurou doesn't know her >Chris is surprised that Miku isn't by her side >Maria says that they don't know where she lives, if she's even still alive, or if she ever even existed >Maria says it doesn't matter right now, need to deal with noise >Chris slightly upset by this >Maria says they have to prioritize >Noise alarm >Meet up with Tsubasa in town >See Bikki Battle >Back at div2, the noise have vanished >Genjuurou thankful for reinforcements >another alarm goes off >Big reaction, same as a few days ago (Karma Noise)

5-4 Part 2 >Genjuurou warns them about incoming >Karma noise shows up Battle >Karma noise regenerates >Bikki rushes in >Saved by Maria >Bikki says not to do things that aren't necessary >Chris confused >"Nobody ever comes to help in truly difficult times" >Karma noise vanishes >Back in the main world >Our Bikki in a park with Miku >Hibiki wonders what Chris and Maria are up to, Miku says not to worry about it >Hibiki faints

5-4 Part 3 >Hibiki is in the hospital >Apologizes to Miku for making her worry >Hibiki is in pain for some reason >Elfnein shows up, asks Miku to come to the command center >Everybody shows up, worried about Hibiki >Elfnein doesn't know what's wrong, thinks it's mental, asks about her dreams, Miku explains >Nobody believes that Hibiki would have dreams like that >Noise Alarm, Tsubasa, Kiri, Shirabe go fight, Miku told to go stay with Hibiki Battle >Back in the hospital, Hibiki is awake, heard the alarms >Miku says not to worry >Hibiki wants to help people by fighting, but can't in her condition >Hibiki is falling into despair >Miku won't let her >Miku continues to worry

5-5

5-5 Part 1 >Maria and Chris are going to return >Tsubasa is thankful for their help >Maria says they'll be right back after collecting information >Genjuurou gives them a chip, all of the data they have collected thusfar >They return >Chris is glad to be back, Maria asks if she didn't like the other world >Chris just doesn't like edgebikki, wants normal Hibiki >Noise alarm Battle >Everybody welcomes Maria and Chris back >Chris asks about Hibiki, Tsubasa tells them what's going on while they return >Chris arrives at the medical room >Hibiki seems sick, is very depressed >Chris says they managed without her >Hibiki wonders if she is really needed >Chris says she didn't mean it like that >"A time will come when we need your power. Until then, take care of yourself. Understand?"

The following translations are from Dragonmience

EV5-5 Part 2 Elfnein says Hibikis conditions are getting worse quickly. Miku tells them about Hibiki's nightmare sleep talking Im alone, After all, no one helps. Chris realizes that AU Hibiki said the same thing, and says that AU Hibiki has the complete opposite personality of Hibiki Prime. Miku is interested that theres also a Hibiki in the other world, and also asks Chris to tell her about AU Hibiki clearly. Maria and Tsubasa train in the simulation. Theyre both worried about Hibiki. Maria asks what Tsubasa thinks about what Hibiki said in her sleep. Tsubasa says that there has to be some connection between AU Hibiki and Hibikis nightmares. Miku is glad Hibiki hasnt gotten worse, but if it does, it would be bad for Hibikis body. She also believes theres a connection between the two events. But right now, what is it that she can do for Hibiki?

EV5-5 Part 3 Tsubasa, Chris, Maria, Shirabe, and Kirika are all at the simulation room. Tsubasa: Everyone is worried about Hibiki, I guess. Chris teases her: Who was here before anyone else? Tsubasa: I I only got here earlier because of my motorcycle. Shirabe: Everyone came from different places, traffic doesnt matter. Kirika: Yeah, but Chris was the second to arrive, right? Chris: I I just live closer. The five train, but theyre absentminded and decide to cut it short. Elfnein calls them to the main room.

EV5-5 Part 4 Everyone arrives really quickly. Tsubasa and Chris hurriedly ask about the situation. Elfnein thinks she knows the reason for Hibikis sickness, but she hasnt confirmed it. She believes the two Hibiki's spirits are resonating. That is, AU Hibikis negative emotions are coming to Hibiki, making her suffer. Chris asks why its only happening with Hibiki. Elfnein: Its because of the natures of their spirits. Hibiki has strong righteous emotions; on the other hand, AU Hibiki has strong negative emotions. Due to resonance, the difference in emotion potential makes it so that if either side moves, it flows into the others emotions. Even though righteous emotions arent bad, they either dont have much influence on AU Hibiki, or she isnt aware of them. However, Hibiki is rapidly taking in negative emotions, and her mind and body arent adjusting well. It doesnt affect anyone else, since their personalities are probably close. Hibikis recent collapse was probably influenced by AU Hibiki being hit by the Karma Noise, since Karma Noise are connected to negative emotions strongly. Miku: What can we do? Elfnein: I'm afraid, Miku is the key. Noise appear. Later, Chris and Miku prepare to go to AU. //<Flashback to after the battle> Elfnein: If everything is correct up to now, if AU Hibiki's emotions are stabilized, that is, righteous rather than negative emotions are strong, the influence on Hibiki will disappear. Miku is the key. To Hibiki, Miku is an existence that can't be lacked. If that world doesn't have a Miku, then Miku should go to that world. Chris: But thats dangerous. Elfnein: Yes, but thats the only way I can think of right now. Tsubasa: Wait, only gear users can travel between worlds. Miku isn't a gear user. Elfnein: I looked at the records. Miku used a gear in the past, right?     Miku: Shenshoujing (She looks sad) Elfnein: Yes. Kirika: But it was disintegrated then? Elfnein: True, for this world. Shirabe: Perhaps. Elfnein: Yes, even if it's not on this world, that world may still have it. //<End of flashback> Chris: Don't worry, well definitely find Shenshoujing. Maria: Maintain your physical condition, since you may have to go at any time. Miku: I understand. Chris and Maria leave for AU. Miku: Please, you two. The power to save Hibiki...

5-6

EV5-6 Part 1 World Prime: Tsubasa: How’s Hibiki? Miku: Not very good. She slept most of the day. At Miku’s request, Tsubasa, Shirabe, and Kirika all hold onto Hibiki’s hands. Noise appear.

EV5-6 Part 2 (Continuing the fight from Part 1) Tsubasa: If we’re slow in taking down the noise, we’ll just make Hibiki worry unnecessarily. Battle Hibiki wakes up: Thanks for always staying with me, Miku. Sorry. Miku: Apologies aren’t necessary. Miku: Hey, Hibiki… I want to stay here like this, but, I must go to the other world. Hibiki: What!? Why? Miku: Calm down and listen. The reason Hibiki’s condition has become bad is in the other world. In the other world, another Hibiki’s spirit is flowing into Hibiki and causing pain. So, I… want to go to help you, Hibiki. And also the other Hibiki… Hibiki: Even stopping you… (will be impossible). Miku: Yes. I’ve already decided. Hibiki: It is, isn’t it? Hey, Miku… I have a request. The other Hibiki is probably always in total darkness alone, holding harsh thoughts. Because no one helps, she believes in no one, saying out nothing sad, feeling those kinds of feelings. So, I want to help her. Because when it was the harshest for me, the one who taught me that I’m not alone, was Miku. Because the one who helped me on countless dark nights, was Miku. Miku: But, Hibiki. Hibiki helped me countless times right? Haven’t we always lived together like this? So, once more, it’s my turn. Will you let me help? Hibiki: Sure… thanks, Miku. I’ll be waiting, so don’t do anything rash, okay? Miku: Haha… it’s the opposite of the usual, right? Hibiki: Yep, it really is the opposite. I always make Miku feel this way, right? Miku: Since you understand how I feel, starting next time, hold back your rashness a little, okay? Hibiki: Sure… As much as I can, I’ll see if I can do my best.

EV5-6 Part 3 In the AU, Chris and Maria have explained things to Genjuuro. Genjuuro: I see, to help Hibikis, Shenshoujing is necessary no matter what, right? Maria: Yes, do you know its location? Genjuuro: I do. It’s already been made into a pendant. Chris: Really!? Then… Genjuuro: No, but, we couldn’t find a user for it. There was also a forced activation experiment, and it was unfortunately damaged. It was disposed of. Chris: In that case, it’s now gone? Genjuuro: No, even though it was disposed of, you can’t throw away a Relic, so it’s now kept under strict custody. Chris: I don’t care about that. If there’s the possibility you can get it, that would be enough! Genjuuro: I see… you really care about your Hibiki, right? Chris: That, that has nothing to do with it. Genjuuro: … I understand, I’ll prepare. Even here, under current circumstances, there are no objections on increasing the fighting ability of the gear users. Tsubasa: Really? Without the permission of the higher-ups, how are you going to transfer a relic, even it’s been disposed. Genjuuro: Don’t worry about it. I’ll take care of all the responsibilities. Noise appear, so does Hibiki.

EV5-6 Part 4 During the battle, Maria: Hey, remember what Elfnein said as we left? Chris: Of course! //<Flashback> Elfnein: If you come into contact with the other Hibiki, there’s one thing I want to try. From what I can tell, the other Hibiki has a strong sense of loneliness. So, please teach her that she’s not alone. To the other Hibiki, flowing from our Hibiki’s feelings, those words will surely reach her. //<End of flashback> Chris: Haha, now that I think about it, we were saved by her, right? Maria: That’s right…That means we might not be qualified for this, right? Haha. Chris: Hahaha. That’s why, your (Hibiki’s) back! Maria: We’ll protect it! Battle Chris: Hey, you… Hibiki: What is it? Chris: I’m Chris Yukine. 17 years old. My birthday is December 28, and my blood type is A. The thing I like is… Anpan! Hibiki: What, all of a sudden? Chris: Remember it! Maria: I’m Maria Cadenzavna Eve. 22 years old. Hibiki: Even you…what in the world? Maria: Haha, just a self-introduction. Just remembering the old days a little, right? Hibiki: I’m leaving. Chris: Unfortunately, she left… Maria: Yeah, but, from now on… Chris: (You saved us. This time, we’ll definitely save you.)

5-7

5-7 Part 1 >Chris and Maria arrive back in our world, welcomed by Genjuurou and Elf9 >"Were you waiting for us?" >Gen: "No, we just happened to be here" >Elf9: "Yes, we've been eagerly awaiting your return" >Gen: "...Anyway, how did it go?" >They hand over the broken SSJ pendant >Elf9 thinks she can fix it >Miku handed new SSJ by Elf9 >She needs LiNKER >Miku is a little scared, relies on her feelings of wanting to save Hibiki >Successfully activates SSJ >Kirika thinks it makes them look bad that she can do it so easily >Shirabe says it's just the power of Miku's feelings >Start training Battle

5-7 Part 2 >Miku thinks she can do well against normal noise >Chris says she's doing well for her first time >Reminds her that they are fighting Karma noise as well, so she has to obtain more power >Training continues Battle >Chris "loses" to Miku >Miku accuses her of holding back >Chris says she can't go all out on someone who hasn't even worn a gear before >Genjuurou registers Miku as a temporary adaptor >Gen wants her to promise that she won't to anything reckless, for Hibiki's sake >Miku says she will save Hibiki

5-7 Part 3 >Miku, Chris, and Maria arrive in the parallel world >Miku says that she can't even tell >Chris says that if you look hard enough you'll be able to see the differences >People who should be there but aren't, things that should be somewhere but aren't >Chris: I am senpai please rely on me >Maria tells them to stop wasting time and go to Div2 >Chris is upset that Miku addresses her as "Chris" but Maria as "Maria-san" >Meanwhile at parallel Div2, incoming phonecall from Nagata (Japanese political center) >It's about a complete relic >Due to all of the recent noise reactions, they asked a specialist >Gen tells them to hold off on doing anything for a bit >Maria and friends arrive >Introductions >Div2 still hasn't bothered to stick a tracker on Hibiki or have Ogawa (where is he?) tail her, so they don't know where she is >Noise alarm, dispatch Battle

5-7 Part 4 >In battle, Miku sees edgebikki >Miku tries to introduce herself but Hibiki just runs away Battle

5-7 Part 5 >Fight is almost over >Karma noise appears Battle >Miku is too close, Chris yells at her to back off >Edgebikki shoes up at pushes her out of the way >Karma noise vanishes, couldn't kill it due to regeneration >Tsubasa asks how they were able to defeat it before >Maria says she will explain later >Miku tries to confront Hibiki >Wonders if saving her was a coincidence

5-8

5-8 Part 1 >Miku is in town, worrying about Hibiki >Flashback to being saved >Concludes that it was intentional, that edgebikki is really Hibiki, wants to talk to her more >At Div2, strategy meeting about Karma noise >Miku isn't present because she had "something very important" to attend to >Maria explains everything they know about Karma noise again (redacted) >There aren't many ways of dealing with Karma noise in the parallel world >Just coordination and saturation attacks >Tsubasa asks how what other ways there are that can't be used in the parallel world >S2CA and Ignite >Tsubasa asks what they are and why they can't use them >S2CA is a superb song, Ignite is berserker strength >S2CA requires Hibiki, who can't fight >Chris says it would be nice if they could just use edgebikki but it's probably too reckless >Maria says that edgebikki's characteristic isn't necessarily even the same >Chris and Maria explain Ignite/Dainsleif, can't use it because of the Karma noise's ｢curse｣ >Therefore, we have to use coordinated attacks >Gen says that we had 3 people, now Miku makes 4 >Chris says that isn't enough >Maria says they need edgebikki's cooperation >Tsubasa asks for help in raising their coordination Simulator Battle >Tsubasa wonders if they will really be able to work with egebikki, worried that they're polar opposites >Tsubasa says that she's met Hibiki on the battlefield many times and tried to persuade her to join Div2 >Hibiki always says that she's uninterested >She can't tell what Hibiki is thinking at all >Chris says that she's too direct because she's an idiot >Maria says that's basically Hibiki >Tsubasa says that both Hibikis are not necessarily the same >Maria says that they aren't necessarily different >Gjallarhorn ties together branches of a larger river, but they all flow in the same way as the original >Therefore an individual's character and taste should be mostly the same >Whether someone has a Gear or not, whether someone exists or not, and other small differences are ok (Someone not existing is totally a smaller change than them having a different personality, right?) >Maria is surprised by the gap between edgebikki and the original Hibiki, but doesn't think that they're fundamentally different >Chris feels the same >Tsubasa still wonders how they're going to persuade her >Maria: "Leave that to the specialist"

5-8 Part 2 >Edgebikki is in the forest (seems like she's training or exercising) >Miku shows up, edgebikki asks why she's so over-familiar >Miku thinks that Gjallarhorn should be a secret, but decides that lying will cause edgebikki not to trust her Explanation >Miku says it's fine if she doesn't believe her immediately >Edgebikki says she doesn't care, tells Miku to go away because she's distracting >Miku says she wants to talk to edgebikki longer >Edgebikki doesn't want to talk >Miku asks about how edgebikki saved her in the Karma noise fight >Edgebikki is surprised >Miku says that she did, and so she wants to thank her >Edgebikki says that it wasn't her intention and is merely Miku's misunderstanding >Miku doubles down and says that edgebikki protected her >Edgebikki reiterates that it was merely a coincidence, and therefore no thanks is needed >Miku says that it was certainly thanks to edgebikki >Hibiki tells Miku to go home and not follow her >Edgebikki wonders what Miku's deal is >Continues to deny to herself that she saved Miku >Edgebikki's heart hurts >Realizes it isn't pain, she wouldn't feel pain from something like that anymore >Convinces herself that she doesn't need anyone, being alone is fine >Noise alarm, edgebikki says she has to go defeat them Battle >Maria and Chris in an apartment >Apparently it was nothing but normal noise this time >Chris wants to just hurry up and kill the karma noise >Miku shows up, asks about Hibiki protecting her >She thinks that edgebikki has been preventing the noise from destroying the town and has been drawing their attention >Even if unconsciously, edgebikki has been protecting everybody >Chris thinks Miku is over thinking it >Miku is convinced because it's Hibiki >Maria says that she can't say that just because it's Hibiki >But Miku is the one who knows Hibiki the best and has the deepest bonds with her, so she trusts her judgment >Chris agrees

5-8 Part 3 >Genjuurou put the Karma noise data into the simulator so that they could train >Chris is surprised that he could do that >Maria says that their Gen is a martial arts specialist >Gen says he knows basic self defense, but has no further knowledge of martial arts >Rather, he likes to handle machines and watches sci-fi instead of action movies >Maria remembers hearing that Kanade's Genjuurou liked to watch mysteries >They train with Gen's new simulator upgrade Battle >Simulator is weaker than the real thing, needs some adjustment >Chris says that they are lacking decisive factor or trump card >Miku apologizes for being weak >Tsubasa says that it isn't her fault, she also lacks power >Miku says that she's the most inexperienced >Tsubasa says that she has the lowest power output >Maria says that everyone is equally weak >Chris says that they have to find a way to work with edgebikki >Tsubasa wants to continue training, but Miku runs off to go talk to edgebikki

5-8 Part 4 >Now that it's just the three of them, there's no point in coordination training >Tsubasa wants to know more about ignite >Maria says they can't use it against Karma noise anyway >Tsubasa doesn't care, feels as though she has not yet mastered Ame-no-Habakiri >Wants to know the true power hidden in the symphogears >Maria says that ignite is due to a different relic, so it would be meaningless in showing the symphogear's potential >Chris says that the berserk is part of the symphogear itself, so it counts >Chris is bored so she ignites >Maria has to copy everbody else so she ignites too Battle

5-8 Part 5 >Tsubasa thinks ignite is very cool >Maria explains how Dainsleif interacts with the Karma noise, making it useless >Chris says that if they could use it freely then any number of Karma noise would be no big deal >Maria says that she wouldn't say that much, but it makes fighting very easy >Tsubasa wants them to fight her ignited >It's too dangerous >I don't care, I'm Div2's sword Battle >Miku in the forest again with edgebikki >Miku asks if edgebikki likes the forest >No response >Miku says she wants to fight with edgebikki to defeat the Karma noise from before >They need to join forces or else they won't be able to defeat it >Therefore they need edgebikki's help >Edgebikki is shocked by the proposal and wants none of it >Says that Miku will have to drag her kicking and screaming >Transforms >"I won't work with anybody. If you want me to cooperate, use your power to force me to submit"

5-9

5-9 Part 1 >"It's no problem if we go all out here. If you want me to listen, then show me your strength. If I end up hurting you with my fist, I'm sorry." >"No. Your fists aren't meant to hurt anybody. Don't say such a terrible thing." >Hibiki drops her transformation >"If you won't listen to me and fight, then just let me do as I please." >"Hibiki..." >Back at Div2, noise alarm >Karma noise pattern >Another, stronger energy pattern from somewhere else >2 Karma noise >One is in the city, Tsubasa, Maria, Chris are already nearby >Gen tells them not to worry about the other one, it's on the outskirts and therefore the city takes priority >But Chris remembers that they only appear where PHONIC GAIN is high >Maria just assumes that it isn't necessarily the case >The other Karma noise actually appeared on top of edgebikki and Miku >Edgebikki gets mad and transforms >Miku tells her not to try to fight alone and to run away >Edgebikki tells her to leave alone and that she won't run away >Miku transforms >Miku won't let Hibiki fight alone Battle >Miku tells edgebikki not to be reckless >Edgebikki gets hit >Miku notices that edgebikki's movements are slow, realizes that it's part of the Karma noise's ｢curse｣ >Edgebikki charges the noise >A little girl shows up looking for her mother >Edgebikki is protecting the little girl from the Karma noise >Miku grabs the girl, delivers her to her mother, and returns to the fight >Both of them attack the Karma noise >Edgebikki asks Miku how she managed to match her movements >They turn to deal with the noise

5-9 Part 2 >Back in the city, the other three are dealing with the other Karma noise >They get word from HQ that edgebikki and Miku are fighting the other noise >They want to finish where they're at fast so they can go help Battle >They are having trouble against the Karma noise >Tsubasa wants them to leave it to her and buy some time >"Listen. This is the song of a sentinel." >Tsubasa jams, as she does when she feels threatened >Maria and Chris shout at her for being dumb >Tsubasa apologizes in her thoughts, continues to jam anyway >Karma noise is dead but Tsubasa faints >The ground starts shaking, as if there was an earthquake

5-9 Part 3 >Edgebikki is having an easier time fighting >It's because Miku is there, and she knows what edgebikki is going to do next and can match her >It's the first time edgebikki has ever fought with somebody else >Edgebikki calls Miku by name >Miku calls her out on it, but edgebikki denies it >Miku tells her that the little girl from earlier thanked her >Edgebikki wonders why she saved her >Miku tells her not to get distracted >(Oh yeah, I remember now. My old childhood friend who was always by my side like this.) >(Kohinata Miku.... I've forgotten that name for a long time.) Battle >Miku is predicting Hibiki's attacks and coordinating with her >They think they'll be able to beat the Karma noise together >Miku says that she's going to help Hibiki >Edgebikki stops dead >"Help... me?"

5-9 Part 4 >Noise alarm >Large energy pattern from underground "Ruins of Memory" >Gen: "What? Impossible! This energy pattern is...! Why now?!" >Gejuurou tells the geahs in the city to evac, says there's no time to explain >Kaiju from EX2 shows up >It's an autonomous complete relic called Goliath that was stored in the Ruins of Memory Battle

5-9 Part 5 Battle >Kaiju smacks Maria and Chris around >"If only we hadn't just fought a Karma noise" >It's more powerful than a Karma noise >Chris and Maria wondering why something so dangerous was being stored >Maria is running out of stamina because she's useless >It dissappears or collapses or something, the day is saved by doing nothing >Back in the forest >Miku is worried about edgebikki >"Save... You're going to save me?" >"Even though when I really wanted to be saved, nobody was there to save me?!" >"You're just the same as everybody else after all! You're still lying to me!" >Karma noise hits edgebikki >She goes berserkki >Berserkki absorbs the Karma noise >Miku shouts at her to return her to her senses

5-10

5-10 Part 1 >Back in our world >DMJii are at the medical room with Tsubasa watching Hibiki sleep >Hibiki suddenly starts screaming >The three hold her down >Back in parallel world >Berserkki is attacking Miku Battle >Miku wonders if she'll be able to properly deal with berserkki >She's too fast, can't hit her >Berserkki hesitates, Miku punches her >Berserkki turns into edgebikki >faints >Back in the medical room, Hibiki calms down >Everybody is worried, Tsubasa wonders what the hell is going on in the other world

5-10 Part 2 >Parallel Div2 >Maria is worried about the other Tsubasa >She's sustained a lot of damage from the superb song, but finished off the Karma noise >Maria asks what the fuck the Kaiju was >It's an autonomous complete relic called Goliath that was stored in the Ruins of Memory >From 1 Samuel, the Giant that was defeated by David >Received from America for research >Activated by the large amounts of PHONIC GAIN from Tsubasa jamming >So what should we do >I dunno >I guess we should deal with the Kaiju >By the way you should help us with that >We were going to do that anyway >According to legend, Goliath appears from morning to night to trample the Jewish army >With the arrival of night, that power becomes weaker >So we should aim to fight at night >The problem being that our opponent probably won't allow that >Yeah he'll probably just run away like before >By the way, how's edgebikki? >She seemed mostly fine, but escaped before a detailed examination was carried out >So now that the Karma noise are dealt with, let's deal with the Goliath problem >Genjuurou has a report about parallel Miku >"Is she alive?" >"Yes, she is in good health." >"After hearing from you that she was related to Hibiki-kun, we looked into Hibiki's past and found her name." >"Kohinata Miku-kun..... Hibiki-kun's classmate and childhood friend from before the Live Incident and before she entered Lydian." >"Before she entered Lyidan?" >"The Kohinata Miku-kun of this world did not enroll in Lydian." >"Immediately after the Live Incident, due to circumstances of both her parents, she transferred." >"So she isn't by her side, that's the way it is?" >"Yes. We have no reason to expect that she knows that Hibiki enrolled at Lydian or became an adaptor." >"It is also possible that she has no idea of the hell of undeserved bullying caused by the incident that became her daily life." >"Hibiki.... So that's why she was saying things like "Nobody ever saved me"..." >"So do you know where she is?" >"Yeah, we were able to find her somehow, but we haven't contacted her yet." >"Why not, you can't tell her about Hibiki?" >"They were childhood friends... A long time has passed since they were separated. I don't know if we should get her caught up in this." >"It's been so long there's the possibility that she may not even remember Hibiki-kun." >"No, there isn't." >"Miku-kun....?" >"I would never forget about Hibiki." >"Is that so? I apologize." >"For now, we'll have her put under surveillance. Let's think about it again when revisiting Hibiki-kun's situation." >"...Understood." >Out in the hallway, Chris asks Maria what to do during standby >Maria suggests training, because that's the only way she can look good fighting strong opponents >Miku wants to practice more with SSJ so that she can stop another berserkki attack and to protect her >Miku says she won't be reckless, just like she promised Hibiki >They head off to training Battle >They take a break >Chris brings up Miku's parallel self >Miku is troubled that she isn't by Hibiki's side >Maria says that if it's due to her parents' work, then it can't be helped >Miku is sure that she would still want to be able to see Hibiki >she wants Hibiki to understand that she isn't alone

5-10 Part 3 >Miku is out in town while on standby >She sees edgebikki >Edgebikki suddenly turns and starts talking to an old woman >She wants to go somewhere but doesn't know the way >Miku takes note that she started a conversation with an old lady >Edgebikki shows her the way >Old lady asks if she's a student, says that she's about the same age as her grandchild >(She's carrying the old lady's bags and walking alongside her... She's helping people.) >Yappari, Edgebikki is Hibiki >Old lady thanks Hibiki >Hibiki waves it off and tells her to be careful >Miku hands her a drink and Hibiki asks her how long she's been there >Hibiki says it was just because she was annoyed by her loitering >Suddenly the old lady starts screaming about a monster >Genjuurou calls about a nearby noise pattern >Hibiki and Miku rush in to fight Battle

5-10 Part 4 >Hibiki and Miku see a piece of cloth belonging to the old lady >Hibiki gets mad, Miku tells her to calm down >Hibiki tells her not to tell her what to do >Maria and Chris show up >They follow Hibiki into battle Battle >Battle is over >Hibiki is looking at/holding/doing something to/with old lady's cloth >Old lady shows up and says hi >Hibiki shocked >She is okay, says that she was saved >Hibiki gives her back her stuff >Hibiki is glad she's okay >(That old lady was helped, and there was a person who helped her. But why..!) >"Why... Why does nobody..." >"....I hate it" >"What is it... This annoying feeling in my chest..." >Miku: (When Hibiki gave the old lady's things back to her... she smiled just a little.) >(After all, Hibiki is...)

5-10 Part 5 >Maria and Chris have been on standby for several days >Normal noise has appeared, but no Karma noise >Neither has Goliath >Maria wonders if there is a Goliath in their world >Maybe they can find a way to capture it by investigating their inactive version >Maria wonders why there's still a Gjallarhorn Alert, and if Goliath is causing it >All of the Karma noise should have been defeated >While there's still an alert, they can't just ignore it >Also worrying about Hibiki >Miku is sure that Hibiki is okay, because she's Hibiki >Back in our world, Tsubasa fighting noise with DMJii >Tsubasa says that Elf9 said that the alert has gotten stronger >Tsubasa wonders if that means the threat has increased Battle >They're struggling >Have to ganbare for away team and Hibiki

5-11

5-11 Part 1 >Edgebikki is in her apartment, complaining about her chest >(...My chest hurts, it's hot...) >(It hurts.... somebody....) >(....No, there isn't anybody.... No matter how close they are, they will all leave....) >Edgebikki has dream of normal Bikki >Miku is trying to wake Hibiki, who is sleeping while trying to eat breakfast >"School? Lydian? Why are you wearing a uniform..." >"Are you still half asleep? We enrolled together, so it should be obvious." >"Here's your bag. I got everything ready for you. Finish eating that and we can run to Lydian, alright?" >"Are you done eating? Alright, let's go." >Edgebikki wonders why the dream keeps occurring, wonders if it's because she met Miku >Stone/metal fragments have been falling from her chest with increasing regularity and causing her chest pain >Back in our world, the home team is still fighting noise >Wonder if there's too many for the three of them to handle >Let's ganbarou >Wouldn't X-Drive be really nice right about now >We don't have X-Drive Battle

5-11 Part 2 >At SONG, there's a new energy pattern >More noise >Adaptor's vitals falling >Genjuurou orders withdrawal >Tsubasa says no >Worried about what would happen if they withdraw >Is their duty to defend while Maria is busy and Hibiki is in the hospital >Maria is working hard so they have to as well >Genjuurou: Don't be reckless Battle >Noise eliminated >DMJii are sleepy, so they faint >Tsubasa notes that there was such a large number, almost as if Solomon's Cane has been activated >Tsubasa faints too

5-11 Part 3 >Away team returns to SONG >Hear about how home team got their asses kicked by noise >They're going to be okay >Miku asks about Hibiki >Hibiki is having frequent fits, when it gets bad Elf9 administers a sedative to restrain her >Miku runs off to see her >Maria asks about the Gjallarhorn Alert >It hasn't gotten better >It's gotten worse >Chris complains that they've already defeated two Karma noise >Maria says that something worse than the Karma noise must have shown up >Chris thinks it's related to the Kaiju >What Kaiju >Maria explains about Goliath to Genjuurou >Miku arrives in the medical room, Hibiki is sleeping >Miku holds Hibiki's hand >"I will save you, I'm sure of it. So please, hold on just a little bit longer." >Goliath explanation finished >Chris is kind of mad, tells Genjuurou to tell them about it >Genjuurou claims ignorance >Maria says that the parallel world got it from America >Wonders if the American government is hiding it >Genjuurou says that the chance isn't zero, but even if they are then there's slim chance they'll offer information >Elf9 has a plan >Wonders how the Goliath determines "night" >Chris says when the sun goes down, obviously >Elf9 says the sun going down is determined by the eyes >Maria asks if it could be brightness, since it may not have sensory organs that could intuitively be considered "eyes" >Elf9 says that that could be the case, and that it enters a temporary rest period as part of a cycle >If day or night is determined by brightness, then they may be able to fool it >It's worth a shot >So how do we do it? >Go ask them >Okay let's go >Wait, Maria needs to worry about Tsubasa and what will happen with no defense >Tsubasa should wake up in a day >Tsubasa shows up >Chris asks if she's okay >Elf9 says she can't possibly be okay after such a long battle and short recovery period >"This is nothing compared to Tachibana's fight" >"I will absolutely keep my vow to protect while my comrades are away" >DMJii are already awake, but moving is too hard >Everybody is worried about Hibiki >Maria asks if Hibiki's condition is really that bad >It's so bad Tsubasa says she can't look >Hibiki's fits have been getting more frequent and more violent >At this rate, it may put her life in danger >Away team heads off >In parallel world, edgebikki is fighting some noise >There's an "earthquake," Kaiju shows up >Edgebikki wants to defeat it Battle >Parallel Div2 gets the Goliath appearance reaction >Edgebikki is fighting it alone >Tsubasa still hasn't recovered from jamming >Div2 to support edgebikki however they can >Difference in power is too large, edgebikki can't go at it from the front or else she'll get oneshot >(If only I had more strength...) >Relic cancer heating up, power is coming forth >"Like this, I can fight. Even if I'm alone, I can defeat it!" >Suddenly a guy shouts out for help >(Somebody late getting away!? At a time like this-) >(...I have to save/kill them...) >"-Eh? What..." >(They're a person, so I have to save them. They're a person, so I have to kill them.) >"What... is this? What's this feeling inside me?" >"This feeling.... It's like a hazy swirl going around and around... It's unpleasant..." >"Run away! If you don't want to die then run!" >(No... I never wanted to kill anyone... What the hell-) >(...That black noise... from that time...) >"Oh shi-" >Kaiju punches Hibiki >(I can't move... the damage...) >(...Is this how it all ends?) >Night arrives >"It left... Why...?"

5-12

5-12 Part 1 >Edgebikki has dream of Hibiki helping the cat in S1 and some other stuff with her friends >(...Is that... me....? No.... this is... this is all-!) >(This is... me...? I don't know... this...) >Edgebikki wakes up in a fit >Wonders why our Hibiki is so different, why she is able to smile >Another rock from her chest >Doesn't understand what it means >Ever since the Kaiju fight, she hasn't cooled down >She doesn't feel the black noise's influence anymore, but feels like it's still there >"Even though it's my own body I have no idea what's going on" >"Somebody, tell me... Somebody... help me...." >"I'm scared... of being alone..." >(There's nobody... to help me...) >(That's the way it's always been... Why, suddenly...) >"Anyway, everybody is gone. But I..." >Away team arrives back at parallel Div2 >Maria tells Genjuurou about Hibiki and the home team >Genjuurou tells Maria about edgebikki fighting Goliath >Time ran out for the Kaiju and edgebikki is fine >Maria tells Genjuurou about Elf9's plan >He says he can do it >Noise pattern, large number >Away team about to head out >Tomosato says that they're suddenly rapidly decreasing in numbers >It's edgebikki Battle >Miku in SSJ catches up to edgebikki >Maria and Chris surprised that edgebikki already killed them all >Miku approaches her to make sure she isn't hurt, notices the heat >Everybody realizes that it's relic cancer >Miku tells edgebikki to come with her to Div2 and get properly examined >Edgebikki tells her to leave her alone and runs away >Miku knows she has to do something >Edgebikki alone in the forest >Wonders if the fusion is why she's heating up >Wonders what would happen if it continues >She's scared of not knowing, but she's more scared of knowing that there's nothing she can do >Miku shows up out of nowhere >"Who!?" >"I'm right here." >"Oh, it's you again..." >(Why am I relieved?) >"What are you doing?" >"Nothing... Just looking at the stars." >(I wonder if this Hibiki also likes to look at the stars?) >"Then I know of a good place to go stargazing. Let's go together sometime." >"I guess I want to see just a little bit..." >"Then it's a promise. We'll go together." >"....." >("Promise?" "Together?" I wonder if it would be okay....) >Edgebikki starts screaming and heating up, a black fog swirls around her >(I have to kill...) >"Black... fog....? That's-" >(I saw it when we fought that Karma noise-) >(I have to kill...) >"Hibiki! Get ahold of yourself, Hibiki!" >"---Shut up---!" >"Hi-Hibiki...?" >"Ah.... It's nothing. Anyways, I'm going now." >"Wait, Hibiki!" >"Leave me alone!" >"If you keep using your Gungnir your live will be in danger. So please, will you let me look at it? Besides that, now-" >"Go away!" >"Hibiki..."

5-12 Part 2 >Away team is at an apartment, discussing edgebikki's relic fusion >Miku wonders what she should do to save Hibiki >Chris says that they can't allow her to fight >Maria suggests vaporizing it with SSJ, like in the original world >Miku thinks it might be a different ailment than the original world >Explains the Karma noise and black fog >If edgebikki fused with a Karma noise, then they can't just blast her with SSJ as it may erase her body as well >Need to have her undergo a medical examination, but it's easier said than done >If she stops using her power, her rate of progression will slow >Have to persuade edgebikki to come along for an exam >Have to rely on Miku >Next problem: Alert cause >Previously thought that defeating Goliath would resolve the alert >Maria thinks to herself that it could actually be due to edgebikki's Karma noise absorption >In the worst case scenario, "resolve would be needed" >Instead of letting everybody know this, she decides to keep it to herself and say that there may be other Karma noise around or some other cause >Chris wants to focus on the Kaiju and worry about the alert later >Genjuurou calls, noise >About to start fighting >Genjuurou calls, more noise >Edgebikki is already at the other location >Miku goes to the second location to find edgebikki Battle

5-12 Part 3 >Miku finds edgebikki >"Why are you being so reckless!?" >"It doesn't concern you. This is my fight." >"No, Hibiki! If you use Gungnir anymore, the fusion will-" >"Get out of my way!" >"Hibiki!" Battle

5-12 Part 4 >Noise fight finished >Edgebikki collapses >Miku sees a fragment of Gungnir fall off edgebikki's body >"Please, don't use your gear anymore, I will-" >"I don't want your lies about helping me! Nobody ever helped me!" >"The Hibiki of your world is what's important to you, and I'm just a secondary concern. Am I wrong!?" >(That's right, the scene I saw in my dream-- No matter how much I desire or wish for it, that life will never be my own!) >"Don't ever bother me again!" >(Even though I don't have it, even though I understand... I can't let myself have hope!) >"I can't just leave you alone!" >"I am not your Hibiki." >(I can't smile like that, I can't live like that. -Because I don't have anyone!) >"I don't care! Hibiki is Hibiki!" >"Then I'll prove that I'm not your Hibiki." >(Yes, if I can't have it, then-) >Black cloud surrounds hibiki >"Hibiki..." >(I can see that black fog.... Is it responding to Hibiki's emotions? If that's the case-) >"If that's the case, I'll stop you!" Battle

5-12 Part 5 >"Don't get carried away just because you have an armed gear!" >"Haven't you thought about why you don't have an armed gear!?" >"What about it!? Even without an armed gear, my hands can break anything apart.... destroy anything!" >"You're wrong, you're hands are-" >"Yeah, just like this! To break anything and everything that stands in my way!" >(Yes, destroy! This girl right in front of me!) >Flying noise appears >"Wha-!?" >"Noise!?" >"Hibiki, watch out!" >Miku is hit >(--Now! Now's my chance to kill-!?) >Hibiki: "No! STOOOOOOOOOOOP" >"No, no.... I don't want to do something like this...." >"Hibi..ki, are you, okay?" >"This isn't the time to be worrying about other people!" >"I'm glad... that you're not hurt...." >Miku collapses >(No, why did I-) >(I didn't want to do something like this, why did I do such a terrible thing-) >"Sorry.... Miku, I'm so sorry" >"It keeps welling up..." >"I won't let you lay a finger on Miku... I will pulverize you all with this fist!" Battle >"Miku!" >"Get a hold of yourself, Miku!" >"Hibiki.... You finally called me by name..." >"More than that, are you hurt?" >"I'm alright... But more than that, I'm worried about you." >"What?" >"Gungnir's fusion... the more you use it, the faster it progresses." >"Why do you know..." >"There was another Hibiki who was just the same. I know it very well." >"That time, no matter how much Hibiki was troubled.... and now, no matter how much you are suffering..." >"So please, get a proper medical examination. I don't want you to push yourself anymore." >"..." >"Please, will you listen to what I have to say?" >"...It's not fair. If you say it like that, I can't refuse..."

5-13

5-13 Part 1 >"Is the inspection done now?" >"Yes, it looks like it. We'll get the results in a few days." >"Even though it wasn't really needed..." >"No, you have to do it properly" >"Or I'll end up like your world's Hibiki?" >"I hope you won't. Anyway, the inspection is over, what should we do now?" >"Go home?" >"You can go home later. If it's no problem, would you go out with me?" >"Ah, wait- Fine." >"Hmm? It looks like there's someone in the training room." >"..." >They meet Tsubasa in the training room >She's rehabilitating, but not ready for combat yet >Maria is there, complains about sword never listening to anybody >Tsubasa is finally able to welcome edgebikki to Div2 >Miku says they're going to go >Maria asks where they're going >Going to town for a date >Tsubasa is shocked >Maria just tells them to be careful, notes how "the snow is melting." >Tsubasa is surprised that they're getting along so well >Maria asks Tsubasa out on a date >Tsubasa spaghettis and says that her concern isn't needed >Yappari, this sword is too cute >Maria just asks her to go shopping some time >Tusbasa reiterates that her concern isn't needed >Maria says that she wants to go, and wants Tsubasa to guide her since she isn't familiar with this world >Tsubasa hesitantly accepts >"We'll go after you calm down" >Maria is thankful that edgebikki accepted Miku >Tsubasa can't believe that edgebikki would hold hands with someone like that >She wants to make friends too >She says she knows the pain of Tachibana's loneliness >Maria complains to herself about how sword should just be more honest and direct, but is willing to meet her half way >Maria decides to accompany Tsubasa for more rehab training Battle >Edgebikki and Miku went to Flower >"The okonomiyaki here is delicious." >"Here, eat some." >"O.. okay" >"It's fine.. I guess.." >"Would you just be honest and say that it was good? Yappari, Obachan's okonomiyaki is the best." >Obachan: "Oh? Have you been here before?" >"Oh... uh... I used to come here before." >"Is that so? I usually remember my customer's faces, so forgive me." >(I guess that's true. This world's me hasn't ever been here before, since she isn't enrolled in Lydian...) >"I look forward to your continued patronage." >"Yes, of course. Now, lets cook up and eat a bunch. Obachan, please add the seafood mix and tomato cheese." >"Sure, wait just a moment." >(....It's good)

5-13 Part 2 >Edgebikki and Miku back in town >Talking about how they ordered too much >Edgebikki tells her to stop confusing her with the other Hibiki >Miku says that the Hibiki in front of her is another, entire separate Hibiki. >"If you understand... then it's fine I guess." >"...Hey, the other me, what kind of person is she?" >"..What kind of person... Ummm... A person who likes to eat delicious meals, I guess?" >"What? That's it?" >"Well, she likes to oversleep and then nap in class, let her homework accumulate and then cry for help..." >"Isn't that just a failure of a person?" >(But after all... it's just like what I saw in my dream...) >"Haha... I guess if that was all there was to it. But she has a lot of charm points." >"She can't help reaching out a hand to those in need... Ah, but, that's just like you." >"I'm not like that... I help people, they rely on me, and I betray them..." >"No, you don't do anything like that. At least, the Hibiki I know would never think of anything like that." >"Hibiki is... Even if she hurts herself, even if she suffers, she will never give up, and she will never give in." >"Even if you say it's fine, even if you say that you give up, she absolutely won't allow it." >"And even when she's in pain, she will always be laughing. 'Heiki, hecchara,' she'll say." >"Where have I heard that before..." >"'The magic words to help you get through any tough any tough spot'" >"Of course not... There's no magic words..." >"That may be so, but if Hibiki believes them I believe them." >"Even when she's suffering, she never loses faith, never gives up, and never hangs her head." >"That way, she continues to shine brightly on me and everyone else" >(...I just look away from suffering...) >"She calls me her sunshine, but to me she is really the sun. Without the sun, sunshine isn't... I'm not needed." >"...She's my best friend in the entire world." >"...Best... friend..." >(I'm envious... I'm jealous... This person... I want to destroy her...) >(No! I won't think about something like that--!) >"What's wrong, Hibiki-" >"It's nothing, I'm fine." >Ring ring >"Hello yes this is Kohinata." >Noise has appeared within the city, have to go deal with them >"I'm sorry, Hibiki. I'll be right back. >"I'm going too." >"No. The results of your medical examination still haven't come in yet. I'll take care of it this time, please wait here and don't fight." >"But..." >"Please. Leave it to us. Okay?" >"...Fine." Battle >"Thanks for waiting for me, Hibiki." >"It isn't like that. I thought there might be a situation where I have to fight, so just to be sure I stayed behind." >"Really? So you were worried about me. Thanks." >"Don't think of it that way. I just can't forgive the noise..." >"That's fine. Then, let's go part of the way home together." >"Together? Why?" >"Because we're in the middle of a date." >"Do what you want." >"I will." >"Well then, Chris, Maria-san, I'll see you later" >Maria and Chris show up out of nowhere >Chris: "We're close to Div2 so we're going home." >Maria: "Be careful." >Chris and Maria are surprised that edgebikki is being obedient, isn't fighting, and underwent her medical examination >Surely, Miku is getting through to her >If edgebikki's negative emotions are going away, then maybe our Hibiki will get better >Edgebikki is alone at her apartment >"I...." >(Holding hands with that girl... It was just so warm, but now...) >"Now it's freezing, it's cold..." >"No. She isn't helping me." >(I'm just secondary. That warmth, it's not for me.) >"The warmth will soon be completely gone from my hand..." >"This is just... painful..."

5-13 Part 3 >Miku and friends are at parallel Div2 >They got the results of the medical examination >"I thought it would be a good idea to tell you in advance before Hibiki-kun." >It's cancer >Edgebikki wandering Div2 >(-I wonder if Miku's here.) >(It's nothing but painful, but, I don't want to be apart from her...) >(...I don't want to be alone anymore...) >Overhears a conversation >"Hibiki-kun's condition is..." >(They're talking about me?) >"If this continues, she will die soon. That is the conclusion of our medical staff." >(---!? Then, after all...) >Miku: "No, it isn't like that." >"I understand how you feel but..." >Maria and Chris explain how it's already happened to our Hibiki >Genjuurou is shocked >Explain how SSJ can be used to vaporize relics >(Am I... saved? Will Miku save me?) >Genjuurou didn't even know SSJ could do that >It worked before, let's try again >Maria: "But before that, I want to hear a little bit more about the results of the medical examination." >"...Meaning?" >"I wanted to keep this a secret from her, but there's a possibility that there's something other than the Gungnir fusion affecting her." >"Another influence?" >Chris: "It seems like she absorbed a black one, that time she went berserk." >"Black one... A Karma noise!?" >(--So it really was that noise's--) >Miku: "Yes, so we can't use Shenshoujing carelessly-" >"Wait... I see. The truth is, we found many mysterious readings during the medical examination." >"We suspected that it was due to equipment breakdown or malfunction, but if it's like that then it seems we were wrong." >"...Inside her body, there was a mysterious energy reading. It was a different type than Gungnir." >(...) >"It fluctuated, becoming weaker or stronger. But, it was the same type as noise." >"It's unthinkable that something like that would be inside her body. To a person, that energy is a deadly poison." >"But if that's the case, then it is likely that the Gungnir's fusion is in opposition of the Karma noise's energy." >"So the Gungnir's fusion is saving her?" >"We can't be certain, but if it's not the case then I can't explain it." >"Hey wait! So if we erase her gear--!" >"It would be impossible for a normal human body to withstand that energy. Perhaps, as soon as you erase her gear..." >"Thats--" >Edgebikki stops eavesdropping, enters room >"Haha... Nothing ever changes after all. After all, nobody will save me." >"Hibiki... how long where you there?" >"After all, I'm--" >Edgebikki runs away >"Hibiki! Wait I want to talk-" >Egebikki in the woods >"So that's the way it was..." >(The chest pain, the abnormally high body temperature... I always thought it was strange...) >(The strange stones falling off of me... I don't think I'm a normal human being anymore...) >"I see... So, I'm going to die.... alone... why..." >"If I'm just going to die here, then why--" >"Why did I survive that time? If only I hadn't survived, then I wouldn't have to feel this way." >"I always suffered, it was harsh, I was lonely. Even so, nobody came to my rescue...." >"My friends, my family, everybody vanished from in front of me..." >"On top of that, I'm going to become a monster and die. I hate it.... What did I do to deserve this?" >Edgebikki gets a call from Div2 >More noise >(Thats right. If I'm going to die anyway...) >"Then I'll fight. The noise that destroyed my world, I'll take them with me!" >Karma noise appears >Egebikki starts to get mad >"It's your fault... that I became this way, everything, all of it!" >"I'll kill you!" Battle

5-13 Part 4 >Edgebikki is overpowering the Karma noise alone >She is heating up >Tells Chris to leave her be as she's going to die anyway, may as well take the noise with her >Chris tells her not to be dumb >Miku says that she will save her >Edgebikki complains that it's just words >Miku says she can save her with her gear >Edgebikki says she's lying, if she erases the gear then she'll die >Miku won't let edgebikki die >"I became an adaptor to save you, Hibiki!" >(I want to believe her... I want to... but...) >Edgebikki is running out of time >Maria wants to bring her to the medical room >Chris wants to knock down the Karma noise, it's already wounded >Edgebikki agrees >They shoot at it a bit, it disappears >Nope >Edgebikki absorbed it >Turns into berserkki >Berserkki's phonic gain is increasing into the danger zone >At the worst possible timing, Goliath shows up >(I won't give up either, Hibiki. No matter how hard it is or how much it hurts. I won't give up.....) >"Heiki hecchara, right Hibiki...." >"So... I'll absolutely save you!" Battle

5-13 Part 5 >After the battle >"Hibiki! Wake up, Hibiki!" >Chris: "Shit, we aren't getting to her. Isn't there anything we can do old man!?" >Absorbing the Karma noise's curse has, in combination with her relic cancer, has provoked her berserk state and placed strain on her body >"That's not what I was asking! I was asking for a way to help her!" >Maria: "Now that it's come to this, there's nothing we can do except for to fully purge her with Shenshoujing." >Chris: "If you do that now, then she'll die of the curse!" >Inside edgebikki's mind >"Ah... after all... this pitch blackness, is where I belong." >"In the end, I'm alone and nobody rescued me." >"So... I'll destroy... it all!" >Resume berserkki >Attacks Maria and Chris, heads downtown >Miku asks if they're okay, Chris says to chase the idiot >Leave the Kaiju to Chris and Maria, Miku is the only one who can help edgebikki >Tsubasa shows up >Miku goes to save edgebikki, leaving Tsubasa, Chris, and Maria to deal with Goliath >Chris says Tsubasa is being too reckless >I am sakimori sword >Sun is about to set, preparations are almost done, need hold out until then >Night falls >They implement the plan, flash, Goliath stops moving >Fooled it into thinking the sun was still up using artificial light, its energy levels are dropping >Chris and Maria ignite Battle >Goliath is defeated >No time to rest here, gotta catch edgebikki >Genjuurou calls, things not going will for edgebikki >Lots of energy due to the synergy of relic cancer and karma curse >If a normal human were to approach, they'd probably die >If edgebikki gets to downtown, there could be a lot of casualties >It will be difficult to capture her in berserkki state >"If Miku-kun can't destroy her gear, then there will be no other way to stop her than to defeat her." >Chris: "And will she be saved by that!?" >"That's..." >Tsubasa: "At that time... I'll.. do it. I will cut her down." >Maria: "Tsubasa..." >Tsubasa: "That is the duty of an adaptor in this world." >Maria: "Wait! She is desperately trying to help her, even now!" >"As long as she doesn't give up, we shouldn't give up either!"

5-14

>"Hibiki, this incredible heat... Even from this far away, I can tell..." >"If I can't stop her and she gets to town, it'll be bad..." >"I won't let Hibiki hurt anyone! Hibiki! Please stop!" >"Shut up.... shutupshutup! Nobody saves me... nobody!" >"Killing... Destruction... That's what this fist is for--!" >(HAYAI!) >(If she won't let me focus Shenshoujing's power, then I can't disintegrate her gear...) >(I have to find a way to stop her from moving...) >(But, what should I do....?) >(If I can force Hibiki to regain her will, her memories, just for a moment....) >Flashback to earlier in the event >"Then I know of a good place to go stargazing. Let's go together sometime." >"I guess I want to see just a little bit..." >"Then it's a promise. We'll go together." >End flashback >(This Hibiki doesn't know that place... But, if their spirits are in sync--) >"Over here, Hibiki!" >Miku leads Hibiki to a clearing in the forest >(Hibiki's movements have stopped....?) >"The other day, I promised you. That we'd go to a place where you can see the stars clearly." >"This place is... for me, a very sentimental place." >(Promise.... sentimental...?) >"Please, Hibiki! Come home! You can't be in such a dark place!" >"I am not in your memories. A promise..." >"Hibiki.... Can you hear my voice?" >"...is good for nothing. Watching the stars, in a place like this, means nothing." >"That's not true! We promised, you aren't alone!" >"A promise.... I don't understand..." >"You can't make a promise by yourself you know." >"When small promises pile up, you can create precious memories." >"Even in difficult times, they continue to shine in your heart, becoming stars." >"So... Hibiki. Understand. You aren't alone anymore." >"Tsubasa-san, Genjuurou-san, everyone is worrying about you. Your feelings, your anxiety, people who care about you are close to you." >"Do not turn away from the promises you've made and the connections you've formed." >"Do not give up on anything. Stop grasping things as if you are going to destroy them." >"Your fist is not for that..." >"...Shut up! Do not impose your selfish feelings on me! I, my fist, is to destroy, destroy everything--!" >"No! Hibiki always is, a good girl who can't go without helping people..." >"Be honest with yourself! Don't deceive your true heart!" >"How could you understand anything about my feelings!? You never helped me! You abandoned me! How-" >"Hibiki, show me your hands." >"Your hands without weapons, they're proof that you really want to hold hands with people more than anyone else..." >"Those hands... Are Tachibana Hibiki's armed gear!" >"These hands... are my... armed gear...?" >"And another thing, that you're wrong about..." >Flashback >"But if that's the case, then it is likely that the Gungnir's fusion is in opposition of the Karma noise's energy." >"So the Gungnir's fusion is saving her?" >"We can't be certain, but if it's not the case then I can't explain it." >"Hey wait! So if we erase her gear--!" >"It would be impossible for a normal human body to withstand that energy. Perhaps, as soon as you erase her gear..." >End flashback >(It's okay. I believe. Shenshoujing, my song, will certainly save Hibiki) >(So, no matter what happens-) >"Kohinata Miku will never abandon Hibiki! Never!" >(Hibiki.... Lend me, your strength...) >Miku sings her superb song >"Thats her... superb song..." >(Don't sing that! If you sing that then...!) >(...Why, for someone like me... Nobody saved me anyway... Everyone else was together, and no one with me... but...) >(--No. Kohinata Miku was always concerned for me, always by my side, and was the one to help me. And so, I loved Miku.) >(Why did I forget, something so obvious...) >(I have to save...) >(I HAVE TO SAVE MIKU!) >Edgebikki sings her superb song >Tsubasa, Chris, and Maria show up >Tsubasa: "Where did those two go? >Maria: "Surely they should be around here... We have to hurry!" >Tsubasa: "Wait! This is, Kohinata and Tachibana's song.... It can't be, their superb song!?" >S2CA tornado appears >Tsubasa: "What was that light just now? What's going on--!?" >Chris: "That was, it can't be, S2CA!" >"How?! Without that idiot, why is S2CA!?" >Maria: "Perhaps, Tachibana Hibiki finally grabbed her outstretched hand." >"The Tachibana Hibiki we know and the Tachibana Hibiki here are fundamentally the same." >"A girl who wants to hold hands more than anybody else." >Chris: "You don't think, that this light, is because..." >X-Drive Miku appears >Miku: "This... This power..." >(I can feel it... The warmth and the strength... This is the power... of my feelings for Hibiki...) >Hibiki: "Stop.... Don't shine that light one me!" >Miku: "Hibiki... Tell me.... What is it you truly hope for? What is it you truly wish for!?" >"For your sake I can do anything.... I will grant you anything!" >Hibiki: "I don't have any hopes! Leave me alone..." >(No! I'm sick of being alone! I hate being alone in this dark place!) >"I was never helped anyway. So I being alone from the start was fine..." >(...Hope is useless, even if I wish for it, nobody will save me...) >(I understand that! But... If it's this person, I feel like she can save me.) >(So please, just one more time...) >"Please.... save me...." >Miku: "Hibiki.... you finally answered. I've finally heard it. Your true voice." >"Okay. I'll save you. I promise." >Berserkki attacks, Eiai Promise starts playing >"Hibiki... I won't let go of your hand! NEVER EVER!" Battle >Miku: "My thoughs... Everyone's thoughts... How much we treasure you, everybody's feelings--- will reach you!!" >"I will shake off the darkness that gnaws at her heart---!" >Very poorly pre-rendered version of X-Drive Miku's laser beam >Hibiki: "AAAAAAA!? It doesn't... hurt...? What is this... light..." >(Aahh... it's warm... almost like...) >Miku drops her transformation >Miku: "HIBIKI----!" >Hibiki: (Miku is... reaching her hand out, to me--) >"MIKU....MIKU----!" >(...I finally understand what the other me said. That's right... To me, Miku is-) >"Mi,ku.... I'm.. sorry..." >Miku: "Heiki, hecchara, isn't it?" >Hibiki: "Yeah... thanks..." >Miku: "Welcome home, Hibiki..."

5-15

>Chris and Maria at the Gjallarhorn gate >Chris: "So it's finally over?" >Maria: "Yeah it seems like it. We've defeated the bosses and saved the girl." >Miku: "Uhm, I'm going to go check on Hibiki-" >Elf9: "Welcome back, everyone." >Gen: "Good job, I'm glad you made it back safely." >Chris: "What's with you two? Were you waiting for us to come back again?" >Elf9: "No, the Gjallarhorn Alert stopped, so we thought you would return soon." >Maria: "Really? Well, I'm glad the alert finally stopped." >Chris: "If that wasn't enough to stop it, then we would have to give up" >Gen: "It seems like this time was a tough fight, too. Good work you three, you've earned a good rest." >Miku: "Um, before that, how's Hibiki's condition?" >Gen: "I think it would be faster to hear it from her directly." >Miku: "Eh?" >Hibiki: "WELCOME HOME, MIKU!" >Miku: "Hibiki..." >"HIBIKI----!!" >Hibiki: "Miku, I'm so glad you made it back safely~." >Miku: "Well I'm so glad that you got better..." >Elf9: "The alert was resolved and at roughly the same time she regained consciousness" >"As if there wasn't anything wrong in the first place, she suddenly recovered." >Miku: "Hibiki, does it still hurt anywhere?" >Hibiki: "Nope, I'm fine now-owowow" >Miku: "Hibiki... Are you..." >Hibiki: "It- hurts-" >Chris: "H-hey! What's going on? Didn't you say that it was all better!?" >Elf9: "Please calm down. It is likely that it is simply a stomach ache due to over-eating." >Maria: "Over-eating...?" >Gen: "Honestly, even if her physical condition has improved, I can't believe she can eat that much." >Hibiki: "But, I was really hungry... It was almost like my stomach and back were stuck together 100 times." >"Uu, I'm going to throw up..." >Chris: "You idiot! Don't mislead us like that!" >Chris assaults Hibiki >Hibiki: "Ow! I'm still sick, so you should pity me more~." >Miku: "Hibiki please." >Maria: "As surprising as always I suppose. It doesn't even seem like she went through any hardship." >Gen: "If she's like this, then it means you managed to safely help the other world's Hibiki." >Miku: "Yes. It's already fine." >"Not just the matter of her fusion, but her heart too..." >"I was able to get through to her that she wasn't alone... Besides--" >In the other world >Gen: "It's incredible that only the corroded portions were removed so cleanly.... I'm nothing but impressed." >Tsubasa: "That's the results of Tachibana's medical check?" >Gen: "Yes. In their Miku's light, the tissue that began to fuse was completely erased." >"Of course, this includes the energy thought to be from the Karma noise was also erased. Everything has vanished completely." >Fujitaka: "But, since that includes the Gungnir fragment, she can no longer wear a gear." >Gen: "Yes, but, compared to her life, it's rather trivial. Well, I suppose it is unfortunate that our combat capacity has decreased." >"That reminds me. Ryouko-kun should be returning soon." >Tomosato: "Yes, the Shenshoujing pendant that Ryouko-san made, she'll surely be surprised that we found a suitable adaptor for it." >Fujitaka: "She also missed the X-Drive Mode activation. She's going to be pretty frustrated." >Gen: "Haha. No doubt about it. She'll just have to make due with the observation data." >Tomosato: "But... it really was a miracle to be able to save Hibiki from that state." >Gen: "Well, that's not the real miracle here." >"The power to save the heart of a girl, alone in despair, who rejected herself and everything else in the world, now that is worthy of being called a miracle." >Tsubasa: "...Yes, I suppose that is true." >Gen: "Well, anyway... We don't have to worry about Hibiki anymore. She has regained the courage to take other's hands and to connect hearts." >Tsubasa: "Anyhow, where is she now? I heard that the examination was completed but..." >Fujitaka: "It seems that after the examination finished she went home..." >Tsubasa: "Honestly. Even if she isn't an adaptor anymore, I wanted to do some things with her..." >"I had hoped that we would be able to work cooperatively, just a little...." >Gen: "What, isn't that unexpectedly early?" >Elsewhere >Hibiki: (These hands...) >"These hands aren't for destroying anything... Right, Miku..." >(Joining hands with someone... This hand, can join with someone...) >"I'm not alone... Once I joined hands, even after letting go we are still connected..." >(So, it's okay. I'm heiki, hecchara.) >"....Speaking of which, she's gone now. I wonder if I'll be able to meet her again...." >(I guess... it's impossible. Since she lives in the other world.) >(But I'm sure, one day I'll meet her again-) >???: "Hibiki..." >Hibiki: "Eh...?" >"Miku...?" >Memoria scene >"Why are you still here?" >Miku: "Hibiki... Hibiki! I always wanted to see you again..." >Hibiki: "We just separated, why are you acting that way..." >(Huh? Something's... different? >Miku: "I'm sorry... After that, I left you without saying goodbye." >Hibiki: "Eh? Are you-" >Miku: "I wrote you letters, but you never replied... No matter how many times I came to see you, you were never there..." >Hibiki: (This girl... No, this Miku is--) >"Miku, why are you....?" >Miku: "Some people from the Disaster Relief Squad came..." >Hibiki: "Those people did..." >Miku: "I'm sorry. I wasn't by your side in your darkest hour-- But... I'm glad I finally got to see you... Hibiki..." >Hibiki: (Miku..., she's warm... oh.. that's right. At that time, I remembered. Miku was always my sunshine.) >"That's right. I finally found you. The place where I belong is right here." >Hidamari Memoria Finish

[nchyinotes]

How to turn your activist goals into reality in 2018

February 6 2018

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/how-to-turn-your-activist-goals-into-reality-in-2018-tickets-42197663347#

Thoughts: They were all so funny and real and genuine, and it was a pleasure to hear their honest accounts and journeys to where they are now. The Q&A was very helpful and rich with advice. Really motivating, felt a very encouraging “just do it!” push.

Carys Afoko (Levelup) - “Full time feminist”

4 stages:

1) Idea

Most ideas are simple, don’t be too obsessed with being new

Look for closest examples of your idea that exist + rip it off

For her: ultraviolet (US), ultra gender?? (aus), 38 degrees (UK)

Trying to think more broadly about other groups that inspire me

2) Team

Very important in early stages

People who share and believe in your vision - Co founders, or people who generally support you

Women of color in leadership positions was very important to her

3) Testing

Get it into the world ASAP

Pays off 100%

Hard if you’re a perfectionist

Just trick yourself into it by reframing it! Say it’s in beta mode or something

It’s how you learn + find other people + get more confident

4) Funding / resourcing

Don’t be embarrassed to say that you want to pay yourself! Plan this! Don’t martyr yourself!

Biggest lie people tell themselves: I can just do this stuff for free

Gendered stuff about people who can (afford to) work for free

She was glad to take the risk + bet on self

Fuck it, just do it

Paula Akpan (I’m Tired Project + gal dem writer)

Microaggressions photography project

Social media → real life: exhibitions + workshops in schools in NY and Nairobi

Way to bring this art to the real world!

Arts council funding (ask for tips!)

Nicole Crentsil (Unmasked Women)

Exhibition of mental health in black community

Safe space to openly talk about it with different artistic mediums

Spent a lot of time talking to people, hearing their stories

Got too immersed in research + stats?

Always mentally doing so many things

Expectation management → to follow how great it is, not just stop

Curation, art, cultural research, public speaker

Nicole & Paula - story of the first black girl festival

WOW @ southbank (angela davis, chimumandah)

So many black women! Electric energy

Exhilarating to feel that energy

“We should do a project” —> 2 hour phone call, do a festival, googlesheets

Left it, knew they were sitting on a gold mine

Got approached for a venue (unrelated)

Black history month = 7 months to plan this

With only a spreadsheet + venue

Approached friends at ICA, southbank, was told that name might be controversial & that black women dont want to come to the southbank, come back when its successful, etc

Had to fund it themselves

Took domain and social media handles just in case

Made the crowdfunder - 3 hours work, tips on website, so easy

Critical point: will people actually give money?

2 days and (30 pounds) later, crowdfunder website co founders wanted to meet because thought it was a great idea, envisioned 10k + success, gave them tips (ie. facebook is the way to make community), really gave them a mental boost

Both working full time jobs

Actually had to check in with each other, were only whatsapping each other about work

Ended up getting lots of support online, breaking goal, stretched it - to make sure to pay every black woman who helped out

Free, community festival for all ages. 350 capacity, 4000 tickets sold

Best thing they’ve ever done

Engaged with so many different organisations, sponsorships, so many people wanted to support in some way

Paula induced anxiety by downloading kickstarter / eventbrite apps (looool, so relatable)

Emotional, cried so much during day

Q&A

Getting over anxiety hurdle for putting idea into world?

Lowering stakes for self - doing a small version, iteration (lean startup) + improve

You need people who will tell you you’re great OR to do it as a team

Your tone + way you market need to come off as confident, so people believe in what you’re doing

Should come up with 1 strap line to not waffle (one mission / vision statement?)

How to get past people critical of what you’re doing?

Was asked: What would you do if it was called ‘white mans festival’ (actual reactions)

Mayor of paris, feminist festival? Something?

Assumption it’ll exclude other people, but is actually not? For anyone who celebrates black women. No racism, etc

Why are you not doing it for all women? Because i want this specific conversation.

But if someone is asking you questions like that, is not for them

Issues of inclusivity - role of white, middle class women?

The change needs to be in the way jobs are applied for and advertised (HR and directors)

In creative industries, an issue is that people don’t actually know what the roles mean

Creative mentor network

Access for young people to creative industry

Everyone experiences privilege and oppression

Most things are not in your experience

Intersectionality

Allyship should really be about ‘creating space’ - bringing someone else’s voice in

When should i be opening out the convo, rather than speaking for

When challenging someone on their power = defense mechanisms often go up

How to be valued + not exploited for my work, but to work with new people and organisations?

Morally align with ethics? Orgs that work alongside what you believe

Black pain is now cool to talk about / monetise

You should tell your own story, champion yourself, create that work

Think about how do people approach you - do they talk about fee / payment / budget, or just “exposure”?

You need to value yourself (time, craft, expertise)

Be smart about how much you’re giving to people (writing everything on a twitter thread vs a piece you can pitch)

You can’t keep giving out of an empty vessel - it’ll deplete yourself, you need to look after yourself!

Fundraising is a feminist issue?

Definitely had sexist / racist reactions

How people perceive your ask, steeling yourself for this

There is the expectation that we should just do for free

Lessons from fundraising

Facebook, videos = more money

Went to people in network with a high ask (100+ pounds)

Crowdfunding is tied to your social network

Have your people primed to share it - don’t be embarrassed of that!!

You have to be a good listener - why they’re giving, motivation for it, what will get us both excited

Personal relationships matter

Person most likely to give you money has already given to you → more sustainable model

Incentives

Project based vs idea based (different difficulties)

How the platform you’re using works + how people engage with it

Crowdfunder UK for the community aspect

The more it gets shared → bigger community

Keep engaging, re engaging, thank yous + pay attention to high donor

Doing things (imperfect testing) vs selling the idea

Nonny + Sophie: positive money = economic reform for fairer, youth network, dominant voices are white old male, we experience the brunt of the stupid decisions made  race/gender/class blind