New Year, New Sword

* Splash art
* Logo

## Sources

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**New Year, New Sword** is an 25th story event in *Goddess of Victory: Nikke,* and the New Year's event for 2024, as well as the last event for 2023.

The event is centered around Scarlet, reminiscing on the erstwhile days she spent with her late sister, Rose and her life before joining the Goddess squad.

## Synopsis

Amidst the New Year festivities that inundate the Outpost, the protagonist finds the Pilgrim Scarlet slipping her way into the celebration. On her way to catch the first sunrise of the year, Scarlet's mind drifts into days gone by, when her sister was still with her...

## Story

### Prologue - The Last Night of the Year

Noise addresses the crowd before her, hosting a concert at the Outpost to ring in the New Year. All sorts of Nikkes are gathered and drinking in the spectacle. Counters, Aegis, Maid For You, Happy Zoo, 777, A.C.P.U., the Carronades, and even Unlimited came all the way here.

Noise reminisces on the kinds of harrowing scrapes the squads have gotten into over the past year, whether it was being tossed about by waves or being caught in snowstorms. The idol herself has gotten into her fair share of hurdles and stumbling blocks, but just like everyone else here, she made it through with a little help.

Stepping off the stage, Noise approaches the protagonist and hands him a flower as a token of gratitude. Plus a peck on the cheek, much to the shock ~~and jealousy~~ of Counters. While the Commando squad is bickering over who should help the protagonist wash his face of ~~Noise's mark~~ dirt, the man in question beats a hasty retreat as all eyes in the room fixate on him...

Breathing a sigh of relief as he decompresses in a park, the protagonist is ready to go back to the concert, only for a voice to beckon him to wait. It's...Scarlet?

### Encounter Under the Moonlight

Scarlet reveals that she felt inclined to share a drink with the protagonist, finding the idea of drinking alone on the last night of the year to be sad in multiple senses. Though that plan was somewhat torpedoed when Scarlet caught wind of Noise's performance, and decided to stop for a drink while her ears drank in the music. In other words, she was drinking by herself on the last night of the year. Scarlet tries to play it off as her vagrant heart following naught but its whims, to which the protagonist quips that it sounds like the words of ~~a lay-about~~ an unfettered person. As the two idly chat, the protagonist's phone goes off.

It's a message from Rapi, who advises that he refrain from returning to the concert for now. The other Nikkes have found out about Noise planting a wet one on the protagonist's cheek, and they're getting...competitive, to say the least. Not even Counters is immune, as Anis hijacks Rapi's phone to give her own warning...

Scarlet muses over the lady-killer tendencies of her Lord, noting that he now requires a refuge to wait out this storm of passion. With that said, Scarlet invites the protagonist to come see the first sunrise of the year with her. Of course, that requires they make a trek to the surface to do so...

Slinking past the roused Nikkes prowling the Outpost, Scarlet and the protagonist slip into the elevator and ride it to the surface. The swordswoman takes note of the flower in her Lord's hand, the rose that Noise gave as a token of gratitude. Being a flower of the Ark, it of course is a synthetic flower, yet its beauty takes Scarlet all the same. In all her wanderings of the surface, she has yet to find a single rose, so she thought she'd never see one in her life again...

Curious over the Pioneer's interest, the protagonist asks if Scarlet likes roses. She's not any more fond of them than any other flower, but her sister most certainly had an affinity with them. Though she never told the protagonist up to now, Scarlet used to have a sister a long time ago. The commander offers his condolences, which Scarlet takes in stride. Time heals, or at least numbs, all wounds, and the one left by her sister's passing was no different. After a moment's silence, the elevator \*clangs\* to a stop as it arrives on the surface...

From where they've ended up, the two just need to make a two hour walk to where Scarlet claims the sunrise can best be viewed. Though the protagonist balks at the idea of two hours of nonstop trekking, Scarlet is focused on something else entirely. A cold, breezy night just before the New Year...it's almost like *that time*...

Scarlet snaps out of her reverie, deflecting the protagonist's questions by asking if he knows about the "Melee Squad." He answers negatively, prompting Scarlet to muse that since her era, the Ark has not produced any more Melee Squad Nikkes. Something she actually considers a small blessing, in a way...

Scarlet affirms she too was a member of the Melee Squad, as demonstrated by the sword she totes around. Though she lost a majority of her memories to a Mind Switch she suffered, not *all* of them are gone. There are some memories that survive countless Mind Switches, for better and for worse...

The protagonist voices his desire to know more about this Melee Squad and what Scarlet recalls of the olden days. The swordswoman sees no problem with a tale or two, given how long the trek will be...

The tale begins with two sisters who recently became Nikkes. One was obviously Scarlet herself. The other was her sister Rose. The two quickly dove into an intense spar, their 985th by their count of it. As the two crossed swords, they mused on their situation. The sisters are mass-produced Nikkes specially-designed to fight Raptures in melee, of which only *10* were *ever* created...

### Sisters of the Sword

Scarlet finally conceded as Rose's sword is pointed to her throat. However flippantly Rose remarked on the closeness of the match, Scarlet knew her sister barely broke a sweat besting her. The record at the time was 975 wins and 10 draws, all wins in Rose's favor. Sighing over her little sister's bitterness, Rose pondered why Scarlet was so dead-set on trying to surpass her in the sword, when she's so much better at everything else, from cooking to organization. Scarlet believed that as a melee-oriented Nikke, she and the rest of the Melee Squad *must* hone their blades to be ever sharper and swifter, so as to prove their worth on the battlefield. Rose simply mused that the day will inevitably come when her younger sister bests her. No flower ever remains in bloom forever, after all...

As Scarlet once again growled about her endeavor to cut through her sister's lackadaisical mask, an announcement over the PA asked all melee Nikkes to assemble at the training grounds. They've no idea *why* they're being summoned, but the two proceeded to the training grounds anyway...

At the training ground, a United Forces of Humanity officer addressed the Melee Squad. After some grumbling under his breath about how "that mercenary" got the Grimms and Goddess, the man explained that the 10 melee-type Nikkes were to become a Melee Squad, of which he would be the commander. Following the success of Goddess Squad, the UFH had seen fit to implement the same model, assigning a human commander to all Nikke squads going forward. After assigning Rose as squad leader due to her exemplary test scores, the commander dismissed the Melee Squad to prepare for a mission. Scarlet was eager to finally tear into Raptures as she was made and trained to do, but Rose seemed a bit apprehensive...

The day of the mission arrived, and the Melee Squad waited in tense silence in the transport's loading compartment. Along the way, Scarlet and Rose traded idle banter. The older sister brought up Liliweiss, the first prototype Nikke who led Goddess. Apparently, she was strong enough to shred Raptures to pieces with her *bare hands*. That same feat was probably the reason why melee-oriented Nikkes like themselves were still considered viable, thanks to Liliweiss' example. All this was to say that even Liliweiss was probably nervous on her first mission, just as Rose herself felt. But like all other things in this world, her anxiety was fleeting, and would fade into nothing sooner or later. As Scarlet parsed these words, the transport came to a stop. The commander ordered the squad to disembark and prepare for the mission...

As the squad neared a Rapture position, Rose reported the situation to the commander. The man simply barked at them to get in and start slashing before cutting the transmission. The Melee Squad stood stupefied at the maw of the Rapture lair, and Scarlet even heard one Nikke complaining that they're being sent in with swords instead of "proper weapons" like a gun. No one wished to take the plunge, not in this heavy atmosphere.

As Scarlet's own feet refused to move, Rose's words cut the air. The leader mused that in a situation like this, a sword would be far more viable than a gun. Rose leapt off the building into the Rapture horde below, cutting a swathe of them the moment she landed. Seeing her sister cleave the enemy so effortlessly, Scarlet found her nerve ~~thanks to some verbal jabs from Rose~~, and leapt down herself. It's one thing to carve a horde in simulation, where the Raptures move in predictable ways with recognizable weak-points. But to find that reality was much the same...filled Scarlet with a sense of *motivation*.

Exhilarated, Scarlet beckoned to the other Nikkes to come down before the sisters claimed all the kills. While she cannot recall if this sentence ever reached them, she remembered one thing. The squad collectively shook off their fears, and brandished their blades against the Raptures. Their first mission was a resounding success with no casualties on their side...

### Painting a Bright Future

In the days that followed, the Melee Squad went on mission after mission, each one made a success by their designs, which were made to be swifter than any other mass-production unit to ensure they could actually fight Raptures up-close. While this made them perfect for reclaiming lost bases and outposts, this was not without cost. Attrition inevitably led to the death of at least one Melee Nikke, and however durable a Nikke is, none can survive should their brain become damaged...

With each success, good fortune came to the Melee Squad. The ~~commander~~ lieutenant notified Rose that the UFH considered officially recognizing the squad, which would entail enhanced prestige and privileges. Scarlet saw little use in the extra privileges beyond an improvement in the supplies and equipment issued, which reminded Rose of something she wanted to ask. The supplies the squad requested had been late by a week now, and she wanted an update on the situation. The lieutenant responded that with the situation worsening everywhere, of course a comparatively new squad like Melee was going to get shafted on supplies. He demanded the Melee work hard, rack up more achievements, and assured the supply issue will rectify itself. Though Rose accepted the words with a smile, Scarlet wasn't so trusting...

As the missions only got harder and harder, the bonds of kinship between the Nikkes of Melee only became tighter-knit. One night on a mission, Melee chose to hole up in a dilapidated building rather than risk an ambush in the dark...

Scarlet kept watch that night by a window, back to the sounds of the others and their revelry. She saw it as letting one's guard down, but to Rose, it was more a needed moment of levity with how everyone was on edge. The two traded banter a little more before Rose pulled out something, a little gift to her hardworking little sister...

Rose pulled out a bottle of liquor and two cups, something she included in the last supply shipment. Despite Scarlet's reluctance to drink in the middle of a mission, the two each took a sip of the spirit. Though Rose relished in the subtle flavors of the liquor, Scarlet could barely choke down what she saw as bitter swill.

Pouring herself another cup, Rose wondered how much of their previous lives they remember. They recall being sisters, but neither Scarlet nor herself can recall much else. They don't remember if they ever drank together like this, or if they had any hobbies back then. Scarlet's comments on the permanence of the memory prompted another question from Rose; did they get along so well they wanted to remember their kinship no matter what? Or did they just aggravate each other so much as to make it unforgettable...?

Either way works, Rose shrugged. Downing the rest of her cup, Rose laid flat on the ground, musing over following the wind and one's heart. Her life plans, she called them, though Scarlet didn't think much of them at the time. The remark served to remind Rose that the other squad members had wishes just as, if not more inane sounding than hers. One wanted to sleep in bed for a week, another wanted to make an entire pot of soup and wolf it all down. One even wanted Melee to become as renowned as Goddess and go on missions with the legendary squad. Scarlet mused on how absurd *that* dream sounded, but to Rose, it was merely a consequence of all other dreams seeming so out of reach. Even Scarlet's "dream" was comparatively humble, wishing to spar with her sister without using their armors...

Taking in the breeze and the laughter of their squad, Rose proposed that they all share a drink come New Year's Eve. Though Scarlet had her reservations with alcohol, she had no reason to object. That night, the Nikkes of Melee laughed, reveled, and dreamed of better things to come...

### Nothing is Eternal

Back in the present, Scarlet and the protagonist have arrived at their destination, a barren plateau that's supposedly the best place to see the sunrise. Scarlet seats herself on a nearby rock and pulls out a bottle of alcohol and two cups, inviting the protagonist to drink with her. The swordswoman sidesteps the protagonist's question as to why she'd have *two* cups if she expected to drink alone...

As Scarlet pours out the cups, the protagonist asks for a continuation of the Melee Squad's tale. However bright their fortunes were, the fact remains that not even a shred of their existence remains in the Ark or the history books, implying that their fates took a turn for the grim. Scarlet concedes that she started the story, and so she has an obligation to finish it. Of course, as the protagonist deduced, the Melee Squad could not remain on the up and up forever...

Scarlet dodged the blade of one of her erstwhile comrades, who has devolved into a gibbering, flailing husk. Rose offered her condolences before cutting down the Nikke. On more than one occasion, the Melee Squad has come face-to-face against Irregular Nikkes, who've lost their sanity to Mind Switch. Even without that sword looming over their heads, Melee still has to deal with bad turns every now and then.

On one mission, after successfully triggering some timed explosives, Scarlet suffered a body malfunction that affected her legs. On top of that, a Rapture ambush halted their escape from the building, and it came down around them. When the dust settled, Rose did a headcount of the Melee Squad. Of the 8 personnel deployed on this mission...only 7 of them could be found...

Some time later, in Melee's medical quarter. Scarlet asked Rose for an update on one of their number's condition. The Melee leader shook her head sadly, reporting that the Nikke's body and brain suffered massive shocks from the explosions and rubble impacts. Even *if* she were to be resuscitated from such a state, the likelihood of a Mind Switch is high enough that saving her would make no difference...

In this pallor, Scarlet and Rose pondered on the dire straits they've been in. Every mission they've been on has either ended in casualties or fatalities. Rose remarked that such things are unavoidable. Melee Squad's units were made to be less durable, sacrificing armor for the speed needed to engage in close-quarters. Being up-close and personal to the Raptures meant a higher risk of Mind Switch compared to simply shooting them from afar. On top of that, for all that they're melee-specialized prototypes, at the end of the day, Melee Squad is composed of offshoots from the mass-production lines. They're more susceptible to mechanical failure, and that means a greater need for maintenance. That in turn entails greater supply needs, something which has been delayed over and over again...

To make a long story short, Melee Squad had fallen from 10 Nikkes to just 6, and even then, it seemed as though more were fated to die. The supplies had been delayed greatly, the last mission resulted in moderate to severe damage to all Nikkes, and the food supply was dwindling. Meanwhile, the Lieutenant refused to do anything beyond simply demanding they accomplish the mission. Scarlet decided to accompany Rose on her latest attempt to persuade the Lieutenant to do something. With any luck, two voices would achieve results where one alone could not...

### Seed of Discord

Rose beseeched the Lieutenant to update her on the supply situation, but the man continued to seemingly remain aloof. In response, Scarlet rattled off everything that's going wrong right now. Of the 6 Melee Nikkes that yet lived, two have lost function in their arms, and another two are without their blades. Melee was quickly losing their ability to accomplish their mission, yet all the Lieutenant, *their commander*, did was sit pretty in his chair and demand they do just that.

After Scarlet's temper flared up, Rose defused tensions and allowed the Lieutenant to explain himself. He tried to reason out that *everyone* was suffering from resource issues, yet Rose recalled that a squad they'd met previously seemed to be perfectly fine as far as supplies went. The Lieutenant then rationalized that the UFH was still unsatisfied with Melee's performance, and that they needed to prove themselves more.

Shrugging off Scarlet and Rose's skepticism, the Lieutenant told Melee he had a new mission for them. He promised that after this mission was complete, Melee would be officially recognized as one of the UFH's top squads, and ~~probably~~ get a real name and just as much support as the likes of Goddess. At the man's ~~coercion~~ insistence, Rose accepted the mission as leader of Melee. As the sisters took their leave, the Lieutenant stopped Rose so they can speak privately. Scarlet bid her sister farewell as the doors slam shut...

Some time later, Scarlet was in complete disbelief. Rose, her sister and leader of Melee Squad, proposed that they *rebel against the UFH*. She pondered what could have transpired in the private counsel to warrant this extreme response, to which Rose replied...nothing. Nothing happened beyond the Lieutenant whining about petty issues as usual, and that's *exactly the problem*. With Melee's "commander" seeming disinclined to do anything, and HQ seemingly deaf to their pleas for support, Rose came to the conclusion that if the squad was going to be ignored when they made polite requests, they should do so with some...extra force.

Scarlet still couldn't bring herself to accede to this plan. It would mean herself, Rose, *everyone* in Melee turning their blades on humanity, a complete betrayal of their duty and purpose. In response, Rose brought up the dossier on Melee's latest mission. Recapturing the 5th Weapons Depot would be a challenge even with a full squad, but with almost half of their number gone, their supplies and gear in less-than-ideal states, *and* a departure time of *tomorrow morning*? It would be suicide...

Despite the dire straits, Scarlet still refused to be a part of this rebellion, even if it meant charging off to her doom. Rose noted that with Scarlet's refusal, the squad was officially deadlocked, with three voting for rebelling (including Rose), and three opposed (including Scarlet). Scarlet asserted that now was *not* the time to be afraid of death, not when they'd faced it so many times before and came out the other end. They were no Goddess of Victory, she would not deny that. Yet their valor and duty was no less admirable for it.

With Rose remaining silent, Scarlet decided to do a bit of conjecture. Say that Melee *did* follow through on this rebellion, and coerce the Lieutenant to get the squad some supplies. Even in the best case scenario, the UFH would brand them all traitors, and they would have to live on the run forever. Scarlet echoed Rose's words about impermanence, claiming that between living as a fugitive or dying as a warrior, she'd pick the latter.

Seeing the resolution on her little sister's face, Rose mused on how much Scarlet had grown from their first mission, where even she, the most gung-ho about slaying Raptures, could not take the first plunge into a swarm. Finally, Rose backed down and ceased any more discussion about rebellion. If there were ever a time to discuss Melee's future, it would have to be after the mission. With that said, the sisters bid each other goodnight to prepare for the mission...

### Like a Flower in Bloom

That night, Scarlet opened a window to let the winter breeze blow in. She pondered on how it was only two days away from New Year's Eve. Two days from the promised drinking party, when Rose would crack open the spirit casks. Though she had no fondness for liquor, she found solace in the idea of sharing another drink with her sister, of hearing her squad in raucous laughter instead of silence and gloom. With that thought percolating, Scarlet laid in bed to try and force herself to sleep...

Her attempt at slumber was soon interrupted by Rose's whispers, and a cacophony echoing from the hallway. Hearing one of her comrades shout for her, Scarlet grabbed her blade and rushed out the room...

Scarlet arrived to a scene of chaos. One of her comrades lay bleeding on the floor as another two stood silently with their blades. The fallen Nikke warned Scarlet that she must go and stop Rose from *killing the Lieutenant*. Yet the other Melee Nikkes stood in her way, pointing swords in her direction. With no choice, Scarlet unsheathed her own sword to cut down her comrades...

Flashback to a few hours ago, when Rose was ruminating over her meeting with the Lieutenant. There, the man revealed an excruciating truth, as if he were mocking Rose and the other Melee's resolve. Melee will not receive any support until *only one Nikke is still alive*. The UFH deemed that the damages and Mind Switches Melee suffered in combat made the units too inefficient to mass-produce, even if they were an offshoot of mass-production Nikkes. Ergo, they decided to instead grind the squad down to a single Nikke by denying them supplies and sending them on increasingly dangerous missions, with the "lucky" survivor being remade into a Grimms.

Rose declared that the Melee Squad would not go on the mission to retake the 5th Weapons Depot, but the Lieutenant claimed that even if they refused, enough data had been gathered that they could simply select one Nikke and scrap the rest. The Lieutenant tried to play on Rose's emotions, claiming her cooperation would ensure she'd be set for life after she became a Grimms, her comrades would be given the "privilege" of a painless end, and ~~more importantly~~ he'd be able to get out of this hellhole called the battlefield.

Mind awhirl, Rose doubted the veracity of this information. There was no guarantee that she or anyone else selected would be kept alive. The more she and her squad succeeded, the more data the UFH would compile of their performances. For all she knew, the scientists would just wring the survivor's mind and body of all the data they could, scrap what remained, and transfer the relevant parts into a "more suitable" subject. At that moment, Rose concluded that if success would lead to the annihilation of her squad, then failure would be their only salvation. Later that same night, Rose knocked on the Lieutenant's door to...*discuss*...

Meanwhile, Scarlet dashed down the halls like a woman possessed, feeling oddly out of breath despite being a Nikke. Pleading for Rose not to cross the line, and wondering what she'd do if it happened, Scarlet finally arrived at the Lieutenant's room...she was *too late*...

The room was a scene of carnage, the walls and ceiling destroyed and stained *red*. Standing in the middle of the room was her sister Rose, coated in *human blood*...

### Fleetly Fading

Scarlet was horrified to see that the Lieutenant was not the only casualty of Rose's uprising. In her bid to cut down her commanding officer, the Melee leader went so far as to *murder one of her own Nikkes*...

In contrast to this complete betrayal, Rose was calm, almost laidback. When interrogated for her methods, Rose pulled out a bright red blindfold. As things turned out, even with a Nikke's restrictions on friendly fire and assaulting humans, bypassing said restriction was as easy as covering her eyes and pretending she was cutting down Raptures, a feat made simpler by the fact her blindfold was as crimson as a Rapture's core, something all of Melee has become *very* familiar with seeing...

When asked about the dead Nikke on the floor, Rose lamented it as unfortunate collateral, as the Lieutenant was the only person she had any plans to murder. Scarlet then wondered *why*. Why did Rose decide to stage her rebellion after promising she'd hold off the discussion to after the mission? Rose simply repeats her old credo; "No flower blooms in perpetuity."

Scarlet remembered her last conversation with Rose and came to a single conclusion; her elder sister was *playing along*, merely *pretending* that she'd delay her revolution. Nonchalantly, Rose provoked Scarlet, claiming that if she truly intended to remain steadfast in her ideals, of being a warrior of humanity...then she'd cut her traitorous leader down in a heartbeat. And should Scarlet's blade waver, and stop short of Rose's neck...then she would *continue* her rebellion. She would swing her blade, carve Rapture and human alike, until her sister's blade finally quells her carnage *permanently*. However remorseful she was that things had come to this, Rose was hellbent on dying no other way than by Scarlet's hand...

Scarlet stood frozen in place, mind whirling with indecision. She *must* kill Rose. Her sister and leader betrayed the squad, betrayed the UFH, betrayed *all of humanity*, and needed to die for her transgressions. And yet...she remembered when they'd first met after becoming Nikkes. Rose had questioned Scarlet on her antiquated manner of speech, yet still asserted one thing above all. *They were sisters...*

Finally, Scarlet unsheathed her blade and brandished it towards her sister. Scarlet requested Rose hold nothing back in this final spar as she'd do the same, and her sister accepted, with the same smile she gave when they'd first met...

The two crossed swords for God knows how long. Over the course of their 985 spars, each swordswoman knew the other's blade as well as their own. Scarlet managed to parry Rose's sword in such a way as to break her guard, and her sword beelined for the torso...

The distance between sword and flesh was but one step. One step would be all that was needed, and Scarlet would puncture Rose's core. She'd bring punishment upon a traitor to humanity, as her duty demanded. To execute a kin slayer who'd turn her blade on her own comrades. To kill...*her one and only sister*...

Scarlet's blade stopped just a hair's breadth before Rose's torso. Bemoaning her sister's foolishness, Rose gripped the tip of Scarlet's sword...and *forced it into her core*...

Scarlet *screamed* as she grasped a collapsing Rose, clutching her tightly. Rose beseeched Scarlet to become stronger, strong enough that none would hold any power over her...and with a final apology, slipped loose from the mortal coil, Scarlet's screams and pleas only answered with silence...

Wrapping up the story, Scarlet explains it was only some time after the failed rebellion that the UFH *finally* caught wind of Melee's plight. By the time they sent anyone to look into the matter, the squad was already wiped out, as blades made to protect humanity were instead turned upon their wielders. An investigation was carried out, but they chalked the annihilation of Melee to "internecine conflict" and concealed the fact that Nikkes could attack and kill humans. Though the investigators took whatever they pleased, they left Scarlet and her belongings completely alone. With Rose's blade, Fleetly Fading, clutched in her hands, Scarlet set to work burying what remained of Rose and the other Melee Nikkes. It was only much later, after Scarlet joined another squad, that she discovered Rose's motives, and what price she paid for her decisions...

With the story ending on a somber note, the protagonist wonders if Scarlet never resented...well, *anyone* involved in that mess. While sipping some more spirits, Scarlet admits...even if she did, that sadness and resentment...just like her sister Rose said, those too, faded from the world in due time...

Seeing the grave look on her Lord's face, Scarlet chortles and gestures towards the horizon. The protagonist is taken aback by the rising sun, the red dye of the distant sky reminding him that another year has gone by. To the both of them, the spreading red light gives the feeling of watching a flower bloom...

As the two bear witness to the beginning of another year, Scarlet gives some more advice to the protagonist. Just as her sister Rose said, nothing in this world is truly eternal. Therefore, it is more ideal to live in the now than to mire oneself in the past, to let whatever ills befall today fleck off and become a distant before. The two clink their glasses as they drink to a new year. The protagonist muses on the slight bitterness to the drink, and Scarlet chuckles that it tastes like life...

### Hard Mode Epilogue - To my Beloved Sister

In the morning, Scarlet marvels as she works the soil, seeing that the seed she planted has begun to sprout, even amidst the chill of winter. She bids the plant to continue to grow strong, as she puts it back in the earth...

Scarlet muse to herself about how she shared a drink and rang in the New Year with someone else. She finally had the chance to open that cask of wine, the one she'd promised to share with her sister all those years ago. The wine had aged for so long that even *she* found it bitter to swallow despite her affinity for liquor. It was like she'd gone back to that night she shared her first drink with Rose...

Scarlet admits that were she drinking that the nearly-century-old wine would have been too bitter for her had she drunk it alone. The protagonist's presence helped her work the nerve to force it down. Finding such a remarkable individual in a time as devoid of joy as this...she wants to take some of the finer wines and see him again soon...

Later in the afternoon, Scarlet trains with her sword. Then she noticed something by her feet. It's a rose, the flower her sister loved so much. Nigh-on a century she has wandered, and only now does she find it in a place like this. Growing proud and unyielding, just like the buds she saw earlier. Her sister's absence is felt all the more keenly...

Night falls, and Scarlet lays on a rock to rest. She takes a moment to examine her blade, Fleetly Fading. Though it was technically Rose's sword, Scarlet had no choice but to use it herself. Her original blade and Rose's remains were confiscated by the UFH investigators. She'd first thought it would be a momentary use as the blade was already cracked, but with some help from a blacksmith, Scarlet tempered the sword using Rose's own core...

Gazing upon Fleetly Fading, Scarlet muses on how Rose was fixated on the transience of all things. Despite having internalized that teaching herself, Scarlet still remembers her sister every time she looks upon the blade. She resolves to keep that memory as long as she can, and if they one day meet again while she does, she can call her sister. Pouring out two glasses of wine, Scarlet then wonders...even if she remembers their kinship, would *Rose* still call her sister...?

Taking a deep drink of wine, Scarlet stands in the meadow and brandishes her blade. Almost as if past and present are overlapping, a past version of Scarlet is charging down a battlefield, swinging her sword amidst fire, smoke, and rubble. With one last swing, she cleaves a shadowy black phantom. As Scarlet sheathes her sword, her mind returns to the present, and she gazes to the rising sun with a small smile...

Scarlet muses on her life, how even as the moon falls and the sun rises...her life, however ephemeral it is meant to be, yet blooms beautifully. Whether shedding her old memories to keep blooming is a blessing or a curse, she will have to keep living anyways. After all, she made a promise to her dearest sister...

## Gameplay

Event Tickets (Wine Glasses) are spent to play stages and earn event currency (Desiccated Roses), which can be traded in the shop for rewards. Wine Glasses regenerate up to 5 per day, and more can be purchased in the shop for Gems.

### Challenge Missions

One-time missions that award extra Desiccated Roses. Completing stage 12-N grants a Memory Film to unlock an event in the Archives and the CG "NEW YEAR NEW SWORD" to decorate the Lobby.

### Challenge Mode

Spend Challenge Chips to play increasingly-difficult battles against the boss Harvester. Chips regenerate to a maximum of 1 per day.

### Sunrise Pass

Duration: Midnight, January 1st to 5:00 January 18th (UTC+9)

An event-exclusive Mission Pass separate from the standard one. The premium track for this pass offers the costume "Cute Sunflower" for Liter.

## List of Bonus Nikkes

Complete stages using the following Nikkes for a chance to earn extra Desiccated Roses. Bonus caps at 100%

## Version Updates

### Recruit

#### New SSR Nikke: Scarlet: Black Shadow

Duration: Midnight, January 1st to 5:00 January 18th (UTC+9)

Scarlet: Black Shadow will be on rate-up in the Special recruit for the duration of the event. Molds to directly purchase her will also be available in the Mileage Shop.

*\*Scarlet: Black Shadow will be added to the Standard and Mold Recruit pools in a later update.*

#### Reissued SSR Nikke: Modernia

Duration: Midnight, January 1st to 5:00 January 18th (UTC+9)

Modernia will temporarily be on rate-up in the Special Recruit for the duration of the event. Molds to directly purchase her will also be available in the Mileage Shop.

*Note: Modernia is **NOT** available on Scarlet: Black Shadow's banner*

#### Step Up Recruit

Duration: Midnight, January 1st to 5:00 January 11th (UTC+9)

A limited-time recruit package. Each step can be purchased using Free or Paid Gems. Draws from the same pool as Special Recruit, with some exceptions. Mileage Tickets will **NOT** be awarded for Step Up Recruit draws. After completing step 4, a New Year SSR Selection Box will be awarded, allowing players to choose one SSR Nikke to add to their roster, excepting Pilgrim, Limited, and free event Nikkes.

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### 7-day Login Event - New Days

Duration: End of maintenance to 5:00 January 11th (UTC+9)

Additional rewards will be given for up to 7 days of logins, including Advanced Recruit Vouchers.

### New Year Daily Mission Event

Duration: 5:00 December 30th to 5:00 January 8th (UTC+9)

Complete daily missions during the event period to earn additional rewards.

### Full Burst Day

Duration: 5:00 December 30th to 5:00 January 8th (UTC+9)

During Full Burst Day, all rewards from Simulation Room and Interception will be doubled.

### Solo Raid

Duration: 12:00 January 4th to 5:00 January 11th (UTC+9)

Players form squads from their roster to fight the Boss Material H and earn Harmony Cube materials. Sufficient performance can also net rewards via the leaderboards.

### Coordinated Operation

Duration: 12:00 December 29th to 5:00 January 4th (UTC+9)

Players team up to take on the boss Alteisen and earn Broken Cores to trade in the Shop for rewards. Teams can be made randomly or with Friends and Union members.

### Archive Update

The event Nya Nya Paradise will be permanently available in the Archives.

### Costume Gacha- Noise: Classic Diva

Duration: Midnight, January 1st to 5:00 January 18th (UTC+9)

Noise's costume Classic Diva is available for drawing, with new visuals, voicelines, and Burst animation.

Diva Concert Tickets are purchased via microtransactions, which are then spent to roll the gacha. Unused Tickets will be converted into Free Gems once the gacha expires.

*\*All ticket prices are rendered in USD*

 2
 4
 6

 2-3
 4
 5-6
 7 and onward

* Note: Odds are unweighted averages rounded to the last non-zero number, and do not account for changes as the prize pool narrows. Classic Diva can only be drawn from Draw 5 and onwards

Prizes and Odds
 2
Recruit Voucher x10
 3
Custom Module x2
Recruit Voucher x5
1.55%
 4
Date with the CO x5
 5
Ultra Boost Module x20

### January Mission Pass

The Pass will be reset on the first day of January (UTC+9). The premium track offers the costume "Dark Tracer" for Guillotine.

### First Purchase Reset

The bonus attained from purchasing Gem packs for the first time in the Cash Shop will be reset, allowing players to obtain them again.

### Lobby Update

The Lobby Screen will be updated for the New Year season

### Outpost Theme update

The Outpost aesthetic will be updated for the New Year celebration

## Trivia

* New Year, New Sword is currently the only event in the first type of format to have an animated cutscene.
* The "Wine Glass" used as the event ticket is actually a sakazuki, a saucer-like sake cup often used for ceremonies.
* A minor update was held on January 5, 2024 due to the NPC mass-produced Nikke being similar to the design of neco's *FALSLANDER* series samurai.

## References

Notes

References
1. ↑ https://twitter.com/NIKKE\_en/status/1743242357410304239
2. ↑ https://twitter.com/neco\_person/status/1741456188615860440