No Straight Roads: Heroes of Symphony

Season 2 | Season Finale Chapter (Part 1): The Tower of Harmony

Kliff, his expression one of nervousness and defeat, moved quickly on his mount through the empty streets of the Floating City. The last echoes of the battle still rang in his ears, and although the city was now free of the corruption of the Discordance, the weight of his failure crushed him. The flashes of neon blue light he had seen during the fight, the power unleashed by Sayu and the artists of Vinyl City, all of it had left him feeling helpless.

As he retreated, his mind kept racing back to recent events. It had been a perfect strategy, meant to keep the artists busy long enough for the Discordance to advance through Symphony. But something had gone wrong. And it wasn't just the power of those artists that worried him; it was that sword, the Sound Sword. The artifact had proven to be far more powerful than any of them had anticipated.

Kliff, gritting his teeth and hands in his jacket pockets, climbed out of the Invader and walked through the alleys, knowing he couldn't prevent what was coming next. He had to inform Lieutenant Banshee. He knew she wouldn't be lenient. He'd already seen what she was capable of when things didn't go her way.

As his thoughts consumed him, he came upon a small base of operations that the Discordance had temporarily improvised on the nearby city walls. Upon entering, Kliff noticed that the atmosphere inside the base was heavier than usual. The neon lights glowed with a duller tone, and the metal structures seemed to vibrate slightly, as if the same tension he felt inside was manifesting in the air. Inside the base, the imposing figure of Lieutenant Banshee was already waiting for him.

Banshee, arms crossed and her expression stern, watched a floating hologram that displayed a detailed map of Symphony. Her eyes moved over the strategic data as the hologram lights illuminated her face with a deep purple glow. She seemed to be deep in thought, calculating each move with precision. However, as soon as Kliff crossed the door, she looked up, staring at him.

Banshee: Kliff. -She said in a tone that allowed no interpretation, direct and emotionless-

Kliff approached slowly, his heart pounding. He knew he couldn't avoid what was coming. He stopped a few meters from her, slightly bowing his head in a gesture of respect.

Kliff: Lieutenant... I regret to inform you that...

Banshee: I know. -She interrupted coldly, her eyes fixed on him- The situation in Nimbos was a disaster. The Sound Sword is in the hands of that girl, and our forces were not enough to stop them. Octorchea has failed.

Kliff swallowed, feeling the weight of her words. He tried not to let his nervousness show, but Banshee's gaze was unrelenting.

Kliff: The Sound Sword is more powerful than we expected, Lieutenant. Sayu wields it with a skill that... I hadn't anticipated. Even the Brute was defeated. There's no doubt that its power poses a true threat.

Banshee was silent for a moment, processing the information. Finally, he stepped away from the hologram and walked slowly toward Kliff, his footsteps echoing on the metal floor of the base.

Banshee: All this chaos, all this delay... it's all been because of that girl and her friends. Vinyl City... I never thought we'd have to face something that could put us in trouble so quickly.

Kliff: Lieutenant, the artists of my world... they're formidable. Their music has a special power, something that can affect even the Discordance in ways we don't fully understand.