DUEL

As the name ("duel") implies, the piece pits piano against violin, the two instruments racing to outplay one another. The visuals push the idea further by personifying both as moe female characters: Aria, the white-haired figure on the piano side, and Lyrica on the violin side, the latter often noted by fans for her distinctive hairstyle. The illustration is credited to MimiChair and the BGA visual to Len. During the closing stretch, a key change is mirrored on screen by an effect of the piano and violin seeming to come apart.

On PHOENIX the standard charts span Single S10, S13, S16, S18, S21 and S22, plus Double D14, D18, D21 and D24, with a Short Cut adding S16/S19/S21 and D18/D21/D23. With few real rest spots, most charts drain stamina more than their level would suggest. The S21 and S22 charts, built by EXC and FEFEMZ*, are designed as dueling twins: S21 leans on extreme-angle twist drills and long runs, while S22 piles on relentless twist runs and siderun. S22 is generally rated a touch higher, though its sparse note count and lack of long-note breathing room make scoring tricky. D24 unfolds S22's ideas across the full pad, with a memorable twist around the 1:05 highlight where managing stamina and life gauge decides the finish.