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Seta Souji, the infamous magnificent bastard	By : Rago_Dragovian Category: +S through Z > Shin Megami Tensei: Persona (all) > Shin Megami Tensei: Persona (all) Views: 7342 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: The Persona series is property of Atlus. I have no rights to it and do not intend to use this for profit.

Chapter List
- 5
- 6
- 7
Reality can hurt you.
When faced with grim prospects when real events occur, people often shut down and feel that the most realistic thing happening to them is a surreal dream. They view it as a dream because it is sudden, it has not been properly reflected upon, and the change can be wholly damaging to their psyche. Hearing the death of a family member, being in a car crash, or a myriad of different circumstances irregular from the norm that we've become use to.
Many people do not wish to accept this. They believe that good usually prevails over evil or that people are mostly good. They believe in doing what is right, in fairness, justice, and other platitudes that teach to think in terms of good and evil. They do not wish to acknowledge the simple concept that bad things happen to good people, that the 'bad guy' may win, or that sometimes there can be no right answer to a problem. Often they will question why God, or the government, or any other who is seen as a powerful overlord allowed a bad event to occur.
Good intentions are normally believed to cause good results. Many people believe this. Naoto, Rise, and Chie believed it. They thought what they were doing was just, fair, and right. They assumed they could prevail because good was on their side and because they perceived Souji to be evil. Reality finally showed itself when they saw Nanako Dojima die a cruel, heartless, death and they could only blame themselves for causing the situation to occur.
Souji, for all his power, finally realized it too. He realized that he wasn't invincible and that he couldn't prevent harm from coming to his family. Despite all his effort and power, he could not truly prevent anything at all times.
He acknowledged he had been unrealistic… when he saw Ryotaro Dojima's slow death in the ambulance on its way to the hospital.

They stared… and stared… and stared…
Their eyes were glued to the fresh corpse in front of Chie and Naoto. Naoto's body trembled as she attempted to comprehend what just happened, Chie began openly weeping for the child that was lost right in front of them, and Rise looked away from the body. Rise instead turned to face Adachi. She could no longer bear looking at it.
The guilt between the three overwhelmed them. How could they have let this happen? Where had it all gone wrong? How could they have been so fucking stupid?
An innocent little girl was dead. She was dead and it was their fault. They wanted to awake from this horrible nightmare. It didn't sit well with any of them that the girl had been trampled upon by Adachi before she had been killed so brutally.
Naoto was shaking… the blood… the blood was all over her… and some of her… brain…
They couldn't make this right. None of them could. They had failed in the mission they had set forth for themselves. They had put that very person at risk and got her killed with their good intentions.
Rise snapped out of the daze once she had a proper look at Adachi's smirking face. She saw red.
"YOU SICK FUCKING BASTARD!" screeched Rise, unable to control her tumultuous emotions. She ran at Adachi blindly. She wasn't thinking at all. All she saw was Adachi's face and she felt it necessary to pound on it. "WE WERE DOING EVERYTHING YOU SAID AND YOU-!"
BANG!
Smoke came from Adachi's revolver from where he had shot Rise. Rise fell forward due to her bleeding stomach. She felt an intense burning sensation as her vision blurred. Her blood was quickly forming a puddle around her fallen frame. She was helpless as Adachi came closer to her.
The other two were still in shock at what happened. Chie began snapping into attention but was too afraid to act because of what had just happened. Rise was now in that very same danger as Nanako and she honestly didn't know what she could do to prevent Adachi from murdering Rise. Her Persona couldn't stop a bullet nor could it get to Rise when Adachi was in a much closer proximity. Chie was a naïve girl playing in a dangerous game of life and death. Adachi's brutality was enough to shake the resolve of three children foolishly playing detective.
Adachi stopped as he noticed some strange light coming from Rise's coat pocket inside her blouse. He pulled his gun in front of her face as he kneeled down and took what was there from his free hand.
A shining blue card…
Adachi felt the power brimming within it and Rise watched in horror as he crushed it in his hand. A chilling laughter echoed throughout the room as Adachi gained the power of the wildcard. Everything was spiraling downward in a symphony of failure for the investigative team while Adachi was reaching a cacophony of triumphs.
The investigative team was fucking screwed.

"Surprised to see me?" chuckled the shade of Yosuke arrogantly, Souji had seen the portal in the noose room upon entry into TV land and had come to the obvious conclusion. He couldn't sense anything beyond it though and Shadow Yosuke had revealed himself to be waiting for him. "I admit, I never thought I'd come this far and be able to fight against you as an equal. It was a very long and difficult process but I managed."
"I don't give a fuck." said Souji plainly irritated, "Get out of my way, I've more important things to do."
Souji sent a Ziodyne from the palm of his free hand at Shadow Yosuke only for the Shadow to smack it away with a quick flex of his arm. The powerful lightning bolt smacked into a far wall and burned a hole through it. In response, Shadow Yosuke sent a ray of light streaking towards Souji. Souji expertly moved out of the way of the Mahamon spell. He didn't want to take any chances, no matter how unlikely it would be to hurt him with that spell. Souji believed Nanako's life was in danger and this fool was getting in the way. Souji scowled at the fool in question.
"You think I'm just gonna let you pass?" snarled Shadow Yosuke pissed off at Souji's superior attitude, "You're gonna have to destroy me if you want to get through. Don't take this lightly. I've been planning this since our first encounter those months back."
"I told you, I don't give a shit." snorted Souji, perhaps he could try appeasing him? It may work. "How about this… you let me pass and we fight later. I have something to do right now and I don't want to waste any unnecessary time."
The Shadow smiled knowingly. It was getting what it wanted, it was getting Souji's attention.
"You're that desperate? Where is all your arrogant bravado? Don't you want to show me how much better you are?" Sneered the shadow mockingly, "I'm not letting you pass here. Not after going through all the trouble of assisting those three brats in their effort to take you down."
Souji's eyes widened in surprise. Shadow Yosuke sneered in pleasure. That got his attention.
"Oh yes… It started once I sensed Rise Kujikawa return with two people, I knew it was the perfect opportunity. I had kept the glasses left from the stupid bear, including the one you discarded, in case they ever came in handy. I placed them in a visible spot on a table I put near the crater in the shopping district. I sensed their approach and quickly left. I ate shadows in areas they had fought to become strong enough to devour the shadows in Heaven's Feel in a similar fashion to what your Persona has been doing. I found two strong ones, World Balance and Lost Okina that finally helped me get as strong as I am now. Before all that, I devoured the shadows of that reporter and that lying bitch Saki. I made sure to keep away from wherever I sensed you were. I had hoped those three bitches would weaken you before I struck you down but this alternative is fine. I'm going to finally kill you!"
Souji tried to hold back his irritation. The Shadow began powering up on a level that would be a danger to Souji. He couldn't help but grudgingly acknowledge that. He would need to deal with this stupid thing – it couldn't even be classified as a person – first before anything.
"Humor me," began Souji, watching dark aura of the Shadow surround itself in a cocoon. The force of the wind was kicking up as Souji attempted to maintain his cool. He didn't care for the 'awesome' display in front of him, he was one step away from running at the thing and gutting it through. He didn't care how strong it was. It wouldn't stop him. Nanako's life wouldn't be jeopardized because he was too weak. "What exactly did I do to you? You wanted to kill Yosuke for rejecting you and you did just that."
"You don't understand, do you? It's not about that! It's about what you've done since then!" It hollered in anger, "You see Souji, I am the only natural thing in this realm. This world is my world. Only I have the right to exist here! You are a trespasser who kills hordes of what should be my slaves and fucks around with the visitors who get dropped here. Only I have the privilege to do that to those people! Only I should have the right! You don't even belong here and you strut around like an arrogant prick as if you own the place! I'll make you pay for your pompous ass attitude! I wouldn't be so bored if it weren't for you!"
"Who the fuck made you ruler of this world?" snarled Souji, he couldn't believe he was having the stupidest argument in his entire life now of all times! "And hell, it's obvious you're just bitching because you were so bored here. That isn't my problem. The only person who can be held accountable for that is Yosuke for being unable to face you."
'This thing is calling ME arrogant? I should've known Yosuke had been this stupid.' thought Souji, thoroughly annoyed. 'If I HAD just fucking killed Yosuke when I entered with him the second time then this thing would never have been my problem.'
"It is your fault! You're the reason I was unable to have any fun here!" shouted back the Shade of Yosuke, "And this world is my world! I'll make you pay for questioning my beliefs with your sacrilege! Die non-believer!"
The pulsating darkness engulfed the Shadow as it morphed with him and reshaped itself. Souji got into a ready position and summoned Magatsu Izanagi for the fight. He would need it.
The strong stench of death wafted through the air. Souji tried to keep the bile down at the rancid aroma. The harbinger of peaceful death, Thanatos, unsheathed its blade.
"Megidola!"
Two shouts rung forth as both Souji and Thanatos shot Megidola's at each other. The small spheres of light connected with each other at the space between the two. For a moment, both watched in surprise as the two Megidola's converged and were pushed into a small glimmering light. Neither had expected the other to cast the same attack and both combatants gasped in fear as they witnessed the power that had been put into the attack. Megidola was a damaging attack to begin with… but two hitting one another and then turning into a super powerful Megidolan? Souji realized this attack would be much stronger than even the Megidolan that Margaret had blasted him with.
"Oh-"began Souji dumbly, not moving as he watched the combined might of the attack.
"-shit" finished Shadow Yosuke as they both witnessed the attack starting to expand.
They both scampered to the opposite ends of the creepy area for cover. A fantastic wave of godly power decimated the vicinity they had just fled from. The power was so enormous it obliterated everything in its wake. It erupted like a mini-atomic bomb inside the area and unleashed an ear-splitting noise. The walls with the tattered X-marked pictures, the ceiling with the noose, and the entire area itself vanished in a bright blast of power. There wasn't even any debris left. The very area around them shook from the magnitude of the attack and the sharp noise continued for some time until the shaking settled.
Bloody Izanagi got off of Souji so he could get up. Souji acknowledged that had it not been for Bloody Izanagi's quick reflexes, he would've been dead. Thanatos had flown high into the air to avoid the explosion after flying through the hole in the wall and carefully floated back down once the quaking stopped. Souji observed the remaining surroundings to see that only the doorway to where Nanako was likely to be remained intact. Apparently, doorways between different areas couldn't be damaged… Everything else was less than dust. It testified to the power that the two combatants were capable of.
"Let's agree that neither of us use that attack for the duration of this fight…" said Souji, grimacing at the space that had no remains of the building that was previously there.
"Oh, what's that? The Great Souji is in fear of my power?"chuckled Thanatos, attempting to piss off Souji even further. "Why would I refrain from using such an attack? It cannot harm me because this is my world! You're scared because I wish you to be in fear of me!"
"…Seriously," deadpanned Souji shaking his head as he uttered a short sigh, he gave his opponent the most disdainful look he had given anyone; "You're such a fucking dipshit that it's a crime you're still alive. If I wasn't in such a damn hurry I would fucking cut you up."
Souji was disgruntled. Bloody Izanagi was practically out of the fight already because he had taken such a severe blow from that suicidal supercharged Megadolian attack. Souji wouldn't be able to use the multiplying Heat Riser ability and would instead have to rely solely on his own wit and waning strength. Bloody Izanagi being out of the fight meant he was handicapped to only half his power already and the taunting Thanatos knew it.
"Oho, is that so?" said Thanatos mirthfully, "That boastfulness of yours is now your undoing. You've already lost, Seta Souji!"
The personification of death flew at him in a terrifying speed. Souji hoisted his sword carefully and positioned it to the side. The bladed portion was facing his opponent. Souji would have to time this just right. This was a do or die situation. Thanatos, once close enough, made a direct thrust with his sword to impale Souji.
'I refuse to fail Nanako!'
Souji pushed his body backwards. He dodged by bending backwards so that Thanatos's sword hovered over his body instead of impaling through him. Souji had held his sword perfectly still and in a lightning fast motion craned his body upwards to impale his own blade through the heart of Thanatos.
Thanatos began screeching harshly in pain. Once Souji pulled his sword free, he spin-kicked the wailing embodiment of death with enough force to make him soar in the air before slamming some meters away onto the floor. Thanatos wailed as he rolled on the floor. The humiliating defeat gave him more misery than the fatal wound.
Souji watched smirking thinly at his triumph.
'Stupid little shit deserves it.' Souji turned away from the scene to face the door. He didn't care for devouring something so pathetic especially when he felt pressed for time. Bloody Izanagi wasn't able to devour due to severe injuries from the Megadolian regardless. 'Now, onto more important things…'
As he was about to begin his stride to the twisted portal-like doorway that seemed to just hover in the air, unattached by anything, Souji stopped once he noticed Thanatos get up.
"…I…its n-n-not o-oVeR!" cried the strangled voice of Shadow Yosuke, an open hole in his chest clearly visible as he seemed to be disintegrating slowly. "I…reFUse… to… to… lose… ThIsss… w-way…!"
One hand was covering the gaping hole as he tried to still himself by etching his sword on the floor and holding onto it. He was using it as a crutch for support. Shadow Yosuke could no longer control his own flight so he didn't attempt it. Souji still wasn't able to absorb Shadow Yosuke with Bloody Izanagi so injured. He decided to just leave but if he tried to go through the portal now with his back turned then Thanatos could use that opportunity in it's own desperation to critically strike at him and potentially murder him. It was best to just finish the thing off with a precise killing blow.
"Th-this… m-My… i..s…my…w-World…!" He continued ranting nearly incoherently, "I… re-ReFUse to… I… my.. world… I can't Leh-LOSE! W-world! G-g-g-g-GIVe ME Pah!- power..!"
And at the desire for power, Thanatos unconsciously brought the attention of a Goddess who was very willing to help. A bright light enveloped Thanatos as he was reshaped into a new, more deadly, form.
'Fucking shit!'

'No…' thought Rise, slowly losing consciousness, 'No, no, no…. why did it come to this…? How could I have allowed this to happen?'
'…We're dead.'
It was with that certainty in mind that Rise fell unconscious from the blood loss. Somehow, Adachi's revolver was stronger here and even the superior vitality their bodies gained from this world couldn't prevent his gun from harming them just as it would in the real world.
Naoto fell to her knees and heaved the contents of her lunch. She continued heaving and shaking even when there was nothing left to throw up. The mental breakdown she was facing was too much for her to take. She had no idea how to react to what she had seen. Was this how life would be like for the real officer of the law? Were dead bodies of children a normal sight that these people got used to? Had she truly been ready for the dangers that police life encompassed? Would she die here like that little girl?
These thoughts along with the shame and guilt deeply afflicted her. Naoto didn't know what to do and her brain was trying to shut down the images of Nanako's blood and parts of the girl's brain having splattered onto Naoto's upper body. Naoto wouldn't even dare touch her own body in her shaking because she was afraid of both the bits of brain and blood being touched by her hands. She just wanted it off her. She wanted to go home, take a bath, and cry about this. She didn't want to face her own shame. She didn't know how to face a real criminal like Adachi.
Chie was in a similar turmoil. She didn't know what she could do to help Rise, she was terrified to face Adachi, and above all she was sickened with herself for letting the sweet little girl that she met in the grocery store die. How could she live with herself? How could she face Yukiko ever again? Where had everything gone so wrong!
Unable to face these palpable emotions of anguish within herself, Chie attempted to turn her body around as quickly as the crutches would allow to run away. She shut away the thoughts of abandoning her friends, of allowing the murderer to go unpunished, or of how she was at fault for the scenario behind her as she attempted to leave immediately. She couldn't think clearly, all she wanted to do was run away.
Adachi aimed his gun and shot at Chie four times. It was completely idiotic to turn away from an opponent wielding a gun with the intent to shoot. These three were a naïve and pathetic trio of brats that had never truly been prepared for what they were getting themselves involved with.
"AAARGGHH!" cried Chie, as she fell over from the excruciating pain. She openly cried as the bullets ripped through her body. She fell face first onto the floor and became blissfully unconscious of the following events that would proceed.
The first three shots had ripped through Chie's cast leg. The fourth had clipped her shoulder and pushed her down to the floor. Chie's leg was bleeding profusely as a result. She would likely die if she didn't get treatment soon.
Naoto stared at Chie's fallen form in sadness. It proved to her that there was no getting away from this psychopath. She desperately just wanted to abandon everything and leave. But what sort of crime fighter would that make her?
'I…' She closed her eyes and attempted to ignore the smell of blood around her. She got off her knees and opened her eyes to look directly at Adachi so that the dead body wouldn't show-up in her peripheral vision. 'AM NOT JUST A KID!'
Naoto pulled out her fake gun and summoned Sukuna-Hikona to attack with Deathbound at Adachi in righteous fury. Resolve wafted through her body.
She would fight even if it meant her death!

"Take a good look," said Shadow Yosuke in his new form, "For I am the last thing that you shall ever see!"
"Face facts, your death is imminent. Do yourself a favor and give-up."
Souji bit back a biting remark as he brainstormed what he could possibly do to win. Giving-up was something he would never ever do. If Nanako was in danger then there would be no running away either. There had to be a way to beat this fucker!
'Think back… don't focus on being worried or if I'll win or not.' Souji pondered, 'I need to be prepared and strike him at critical points if I want any hope of winning. I know I can do this… I just have to be cautious.'
'I am not afraid. I refused to be fearful of anything after fighting that Shadow Barney.'
Shadow Yosuke had transformed into a form that Souji was familiar with. Yoshitsune, the same type as the one Margaret summoned in her fight with Souji, the difference was that Shadow Yosuke's form of Yoshitsune had Yosuke's voice and yellow eyes reminiscent of people's inner shadows.
Souji braced himself as Shadow Yosuke unsheathed his two swords and got into a ready position. Yoshitsune lunged at a fearsome speed. Yoshitsune struck downward with his left sword only to be parried, he struck horizontally only for Souji to dodge backward quickly, Yoshitsune proceeded to jump in the air to strike with both his swords only for Souji to heave his sword up and block both strikes. Yoshitsune used the momentum in the air to flip behind Souji to strike at him from behind. Souji hastily whirled around and deflected the next two attacks. Souji blocked the vertical strike meant to impale him by bringing his sword down and forcing Yoshitsune's blade downward. Souji reared his left arm back and punched Yoshitsune in the face to prevent him from using the final eighth strike of Hassou Tobi.
Yoshitsune managed to pull his sword free from underneath Souji's and jumped back a few meters smirking.
"Not bad, chicken-shit." laughed Yoshitsune amused, "It was fun while it lasted but I think I'm done messing around. We're done here. Perhaps if you get on your knees and pray to me, the most awesome supreme being of this world, then I'll kill you quickly."
Souji contemplated attempting to spit in his face.
"On second thought, nah. I'll just kill you as I like and paint your blood on the door over there to commemorate by success in defeating you." spoke the Shadow in a giddy voice, "Ready to die?"
Souji did not say a word in reply. He steadied his sword to ready himself for any swift attacks from his opponent.
"Playing the silent game, eh? Don't want to acknowledge the fact that I've got you beat, do you? You're fucked and you know it."
Souji used Heat Riser in response to Yoshitsune's mocking comments. A red hue appeared around Souji's body. Yoshitsune gave a smirk of superiority before using Heat Riser himself. A blue hue appeared around his body. The Shadow guffawed at Souji's dumbstruck look of shock. Souji increasing his overall fighting ability would get him nowhere in this match.
"POWER CHARGE!" came the twin roars from both combatants.
As if it was a signal, they both ran toward each other in their respective super-charged state. They aimed to kill each other.
Souji ran full force with a Vorpal Blade attack. His sword glowed a distinct dark red hue signifying how much power was being put into this attack. Yoshitsune struck at him with a Brave Blade attack that coated his swords with a dangerous blue hue. Souji hefted his sword upward as Yoshitsune brought his left-handed sword downward to strike at him.
A thunderous boom erupted as Souji and Yoshitsune's attacks connected. A fissure erupted from underneath their feet from the connection of their attacks once again. Yoshitsune made to strike with his right sword but Souji skillfully kicked the arm quickly to divert the attack onto the floor increasing the mini-fissure and making Souji back up from the shaking ground to gather his bearings. He looked down to make sure he was fully away from the radius of the mini-fissure. Yoshitsune, however, didn't have as hard a time staying stable on the quaking ground and used it to his advantage.
"Ziodyne!" said Yoshitsune, bringing his palm straight at Souji. Souji snapped his head up, caught off-guard, and his eyes widened in shock as the lightning spell struck at him. He was sent flying into the air from the explosion after the lightning attack had struck at his body. He hadn't even had enough time to scream during impact. The lightning attack was twice as strong as a usual Ziodyne because Yoshitsune had the natural passive ability of Elec Amp. Souji let out a muffled scream as his body was burned by the attack.
Yoshitsune grinned. There was no way that fucking bastard could win now. It was over.
As Souji descended to the floor he made a back flip motion in the air and was able to land on his feet. Yoshitsune looked momentarily stunned before a smile broke out. After all, so what if Souji was still standing? He was going to lose anyway. It just meant that Yoshitsune could torture him more.
"You're a fucking idiot, ya know that?" patronized Yoshitsune, "What the hell can you even do now? You're basically dead on your feet. Get on your knees and bow down, you little bitch."
Souji was tired, his breathing was labored, and he knew that in this situation he couldn't win.
'I guess I'll just have to change the situation to my advantage then,' thought Souji letting out a slow smirk, 'This moron won't even know what hit him.'
Yoshitsune let out an angry growl. How dare that fucker!
"What the fuck are you smirking at?" shouted Yoshitsune, pissed at Souji's show of confidence even now. He wanted Souji broken and defeated before having the satisfaction of killing him!
Souji slowly pointed his finger at Yoshitsune. Yoshitsune snorted in acknowledgement. No lightning, wind, or fear spell that Shadow Yosuke had seen him use would harm Yoshitsune. In fact, any lightning attack attempted would simply repel right back onto Souji. Yoshitsune stood there amused. He hoped Souji would use a lightning spell just so he could laugh at the results before finally killing him.
"Dekaja." said Souji slowly and simply. The results were immediate.
Yoshitsune's eyes bulged as his mouth hung open gobsmacked. A silver light glowed around him as he felt his multiplied power deplete back to its normal stages. His enhanced strength, fortitude, and speed were gone. Him and Souji had been on relatively even ground when they both enhanced their abilities. He had no time to fight back against Souji who still had Heat Riser active to boost his abilities. Yoshitsune was fucked. Souji hefted his sword and ran at Yoshitsune at top speeds.
"No! Heat Ri-URGK!"
Souji beheaded Yoshitsune in one smooth motion. He fell to the floor in exhaustion from the battle. He crushed a pearl to heal some of his burned skin from the Ziodyne that had been thrown at him. He hadn't done so before because Yoshitsune had been too fast and he mentally kicked himself for barely being able to defeat Yoshitsune since Nanako's life was in danger. He had to rely on Yoshitsune's overconfidence to give him enough time to cast the spell that finally resulted in Souji's victory.
Souji got up from his resting and walked through the door. Bloody Izanagi had been healed as a consequence of Souji healing himself and he devoured the remains of Yoshitsune before shimmering into Souji's breast pocket. Souji idly wondered if the same mysterious force that had obviously strengthened Namatame, Shadow Yosuke, and Shadow Teddie had been behind keeping the portal to Magatsu Inaba intact. He wondered what it had to gain from doing such a thing. He was thankful though since it allowed him to journey forth.
Souji felt a stirring of power within himself as he went through the portal after Bloody Izanagi had successfully devoured Shadow Yosuke's remains.

Sukuna-Hikona disappeared from Naoto's vision as a fog had slowly set in. There was the sound of a clash followed by a strange ripping and tearing echo. The strange fog lifted once more and Naoto's eyes widened in shock at what she saw.
Sukuna-Hikona had been torn apart in four different pieces. It's body had been cut in half with its right leg and left arm cut apart from the rest. Naoto felt the brief resolve she held earlier crumble to dust. There was no hope.
BANG
"AAAARRRRRRGGHHH!"
Naoto cried out in pain as the bullet broke straight through her left hand and made her drop her faux-gun. She had been too distracted by her Persona's death and slow disappearance to notice Adachi expertly point his gun to shoot at her hand. Naoto bit back more tears as she tried diving for her faux-gun with her right-hand, only to feel a presence behind her. She had no time to turn around because the enemy Persona had gripped her around the neck from behind. It began to squeeze tightly causing Naoto to slowly choke due to the pain and lack of oxygen. Naoto would die of suffocation if this kept up.
She wanted to scream, cry, anything. She wanted to run away. It had been more foolish to fight back. There was no winning in this situation. Hot tears streaked across her cheeks once more as she realized this could mean her death. She didn't want to die especially not like this!
Fortunately and unfortunately, Naoto was swiftly thrown forward. Her body zipped past Nanako's corpse. She managed to push her right arm up so her head would avoid imminent impact as she fell in a heap near Adachi's feet. Naoto was dimly aware that her hat had fallen off. She coughed and sputtered as she tried to get her ragged breathing stable. She could breathe again! She looked up and instinctively backed away at Adachi's gun aimed pointblank at her face. Naoto hissed in pain as she had unintentionally put pressure on her bleeding left hand.
"Let's play a little game…" began Adachi sadistically, kicking away the hat that had fallen nearby his feet. "Hmm… how ever to start it?"
Naoto didn't move as Adachi came closer with his gun ready to pull the trigger at a moment's notice. He plucked Naoto's glasses right off of her with his free hand and put them on himself.
"Ah, so this is why you wear them? Interesting, I think I'll take it. Thanks for the gift."
Adachi didn't need the glasses. He had other means of seeing clearly in the world of idiosyncrasy but Naoto didn't need to know that. He got a kick out of how vulnerable she looked. It excited him.
The fog set in once again, Naoto was confused once she noticed that the world around her was actually becoming clearer and not foggier as thin wisps of the fog flickered and extinguished around them in the area. Why was this happening?
"Well, Naoto, here's what we're going to do." started Adachi, Naoto already had a profound feeling of dread within her. She no longer had any resolve left. She was now just shaking in fear at the unknown plans Adachi had for her. "I'm going to teach a little twit like you a lesson in why you should respect your elders. It's only fair. This is what you get for not showing me the proper respect as an officer of the law and as a person. You shouldn't have been such a snobbish bitch, you know."
Adachi pulled his gun to the side. Naoto watched as it strangely disappeared into a cloud of fog that had covered Adachi's hand briefly. Perhaps she couldn't see as clearly as she had first thought?
Naoto's train of thought ended as Adachi pushed her roughly to the floor and got on top of her. Naoto shook in fear once more. Adachi ignored the small bits of vomit, blood, and brain parts that ended up on his clothes.
'Oh God, please no, please no, PLEASE NO!'
"P-Please w-wait I-"
WHAM
Adachi slugged her to stop her from talking. She cried out in pain. Sickeningly enough, she could feel his bulge grow from his pants. He was getting sexual gratification from this. This was pleasurable to him.
Adachi began mercilessly beating on her.
"Please I-"
Whack
"PLEASE I-!"
BAM
"I GIVE U-ARGH!"
He back-handed Naoto, he slapped her, he pounded on her, and even spit on her face from time to time. Occasionally he would pick her head up by her hair and slam it on the floor for good measure. He kept up his hate-induced flurry of brutality. He wanted to hear her suffer, he wanted to hear the sounds of her crying, and wanted to deprave her on a level that would make the stupid little bitch regret ever looking down upon him!
'THIS IS WHAT THAT STUPID LITTLE FUCKING BITCH GETS FOR LOOKING DOWN ON ME!' thought Adachi in his incensed state of mind. He intended to make his point crystal clear. 'I'LL FUCK HER UP SO BAD THAT SHE'LL REMEMBER TO RESPECT ME!'
She cried, she screamed, she apologized, and she begged. Nothing made him stop. He wouldn't stop. He would bring the utmost pain and despair on the stupid bitch even if it resulted in her death! Naoto would suffer for being a naïve brat!
Her right arm tried to pitifully block his attacks but that enraged him more, tears cascaded down her cheeks like a river flood, and she cried out in pain. Adachi's angry shouts was all she heard, his fists pummeling her was all she felt, and all she saw was his livid face.
First the choking and now this… Naoto resigned herself to the pain… and just as she did, he stopped. Suddenly he gently grabbed her chin with his right hand; he pulled her head upward from behind with his left hand, and made sure they looked at each other eye-to-eye.
"Do you want me to stop, Naoto-chan?" asked Adachi in a tender voice looking down at all two black eyes, damaged nose, and many bruises on Naoto's face. It was a spectacular work of art to him. Naoto, not trusting her voice nor able to think clearly, looked up at Adachi in desperation and slowly nodded. "Alright then, Naoto-chan. I'll stop but only on one condition."
Naoto's pleading eyes looked up at him. Without words, she begged him to find out what she had to do so that the pain would stop. Adachi smirked knowing that he had her right where he wanted her. Children were so easy.
"Let me take off all of your clothes."
Naoto froze in shock. She wracked her brain and realized there was no getting out of this. She couldn't run, she couldn't fight back, and there was nobody coming to save her. Adachi looked annoyed at her outward reaction.
"Hurry up and decide, or else I'll either beat you or make you into Swiss cheese with my revolver."
Slowly, tearfully, Naoto nodded in acceptance. The warnings she had purposefully ignored all her life was going to become a harsh reality.
Adachi, ignoring the vomit, blood, and brain matter on Naoto's clothes, pulled open the black coat roughly causing the all the buttons to pop out. At the same time, Naoto felt something untie and pull her shoes and socks free leaving her feet bare. Adachi pulled off the coat hastily and threw it away, he had ignored Naoto's bleeding hand causing Naoto to cry out in pain, Adachi responded to that by smacking Naoto in the face, and then told her to shut up. Naoto chose to simply stay silent and cry quietly as Adachi pulled open her white shirt. She bit back a hiss as he pulled it roughly in the same manner and discarded it.
Adachi eyed the bandage-tape of her breasts that hid their true size in delight. Apparently, the stupid bitch wasn't a billboard like he had initially suspected. He grabbed the tape in the middle of her bare chest and yanked it free showing him her rather ample bust-size. He licked his lips as he threw away the tape. The same pressure that had taken off her footwear removed her belt, pants, and underwear. Naoto was naked sooner than she realized. She felt utterly vulnerable and absolutely scared of Adachi's lecherous look as he viewed her exposed body. She instinctively tried to cover her breasts and pull her legs together in a fearful effort to cover herself but stopped when Adachi slapped her harshly. She simply lay stiffly in a vain hope that he wouldn't do anything bad toward her.
"Now then, Naoto, for your compliance I think I'll actually reward you."
Naoto's bruised eyes briefly sparked with hope at those kind words. It was all she could do.
Adachi got up off her and backed away disappearing into the fog. Naoto knew better then to move. Something, some force, was in the fog and it could kill her whenever it wanted. Somehow, she knew Adachi still had his gun securely with him and she didn't dare make a break for it in this shameful state of undress. She knew it was useless even if it was the better option. She was too afraid to fight back anymore.
Adachi returned with a serene smile on his face in mere minutes. Naoto's eyes widened in terrified panic.
"No… no.. please… Please I'll- I'll give you anything! Money, maybe but please don't-!"
Adachi, with lightning quick reflexes, was on top of Naoto again and punched her in the face to shut her up.
"Now, now, don't be so hasty to refuse my gift, Naoto-chan. After all… you wouldn't prefer a bullet inside your pretty little head as the alternative, would you?"
Naoto quieted down again but couldn't stop the fresh tears from running down her bruised, puffy, and red face. Adachi hadn't come back with anything. In fact, he hadn't even come back with his clothes on. His hairy and dirty body could be seen clearly to Naoto as she lay their defenseless. Adachi backed up a bit with his knees and spread her legs wide open. Adachi's body was aroused in excitement. He hadn't had this much fun since fucking his own sister.
"Enjoy my gift, little Naoto-chan! I know how much you idolize us adults so I'm going to give you the joys of becoming a woman!"
Adachi didn't give any more warning as he vigorously pounded into Naoto's helpless nude body. She screamed aloud as he forcefully penetrated her walls. He had already broken straight through her hymen. He repeatedly pushed his length harshly in and pulled away before pushing back in with fearsome intensity. She screamed even higher as she felt immense pain vibrate through her entire body from Adachi's sick sexual assault. Naoto viciously shook her head in denial, wishing she was somewhere else or that it had been someone else. It was then that she felt it… she would hate herself from then on.
Adachi threw his head back at the intense amount of pleasure. He deserved this relief for all the grief in his life! This bitch deserved it for being so stuck-up towards him! Finally, something positive in his move to the shithole called Inaba!
"Yessss..!" he hissed in pleasure and happiness. "Ahhhh…"
"No... no… no, no, no, no, no, NONONONONONONONONONO…!" screamed Naoto at the top of her lungs. She wanted to deny this was happening. Adachi finally came inside of her and she felt her own orgasm. "NOOOOOOO!"
Adachi didn't pull out of her until he felt himself finish. Once he did, she lay on her right side in a fetal position crying at the rape she had just suffered. She felt violated, revolted, and hated herself. She wanted a shower to get rid of all the intense amount of disgust she had for herself. A part of her wanted to just die. She felt her inner juices leak to the floor as a consequence for what just happened.
She was suddenly punched in the face. Naoto turned her attention back in fright. Adachi gave her a threatening look.
"What, don't you enjoy being a woman now?" He shouted irately, causing her to shake in fear. He grabbed a fistful of her hair and slammed her head on the ground aggressively. She cried out in pain. "I'll make you appreciate the fact it was me who gave you such a wonderful gift! Turn around and stick your pretty little ass-up or I swear I will fucking torture you by making you bleed out with the bullet holes I'll put in you!"
Naoto hurriedly turned to her stomach, bent her knees-up to bring her butt skyward, and placed her hands to her sides. She tried to ignore the revulsion she felt as she did this. Naoto understood now that she was nothing more than an idiot who had stupidly put herself in danger. She was now facing the consequences of her own foolishness. The tears wouldn't stop as all the beliefs she had within herself regarding her hopes and dreams crumbled in a haze with each despicable act Adachi demanded of her.
Adachi got down behind her, spread her legs apart a little, and entered into her vaginally. She let out a sharp gasp. He swiftly grabbed a fistful of hair and brought his face close to her right ear.
"Listen, you little bitch." said Adachi icily, there would be no room for argument. "When I fuck you, you will shout 'Adachi-sama'. If you yell out 'no' or some other crap I don't like. I'll shoot you from behind execution style when I'm done with you."
He slammed her head onto the floor and then grabbed both her hands behind her back to hold them with his right arm. He then grabbed her hair harshly again with his left hand as he began fucking her from behind. He didn't care if her left hand was wounded and bleeding all over her back. It served the bitch right!
He zealously pounded in and out of her. This was thrilling! It was fantastic! Words couldn't properly describe how gratifying it was! She bellowed out in pain like a pig as he quickened his pace inside her walls. It had been too long since he'd had a woman. The ecstasy was wonderful!
"AAAAA-ADAAA-CHIIII-SAM-AAAAAAHHHH!"
She forcibly repeated her shouts of reverence for Adachi. Adachi openly laughed. He loved the fact these three bitches had been dumb enough to go after a criminal like him and challenge him. He had plenty energy left to fuck around with this one. He was finally getting vengeance on this bitch to show her just like he showed that Konishi tramp and that self-centered reporter! None could treat him badly and get away with it!
"That's right! YEAAHHH!" bellowed Adachi as he pumped into her thrice as fast. His voice began to hitch. "Yes, ahhh, yeaaah…!"
He would relieve himself once more!
"AAAA-DAAACHIIIII-SAMAAAAAA!"
"Yeeeeaaaaahh!"
He came inside her once more as she shouted 'Adachi-sama' at the top of her lungs. He waited once again to finish his load before pulling out of her and entirely letting go of her arms. He watched her fall like a rag doll and she didn't even try to move. She just laid there breathing laboriously. He loved it. He loved breaking the stupid tart into submission. He still had enough left in him to go and he wasn't going to squander the opportunity. He would take as he pleased and she would spread them or else be punished like the bitch she was.
"Get on your back again and spread your legs." said Adachi in a serious tone of voice, "I'm not done with you yet."
Naoto turned to face Adachi and shook her head in a pleading manner.
"Please… no… no more. I… I can't take it… Please…" moaned Naoto crying openly again and begging, "Please don't. I'm sorry, I'm sorry I looked down on you… I just can't… please… please don't make me!"
Adachi was pissed. He had enough of this sniveling! He put his hand into a cloud of fog that thickened to his right and pulled out his revolver. He shot a bullet to the left of Naoto's head. It missed her by mere inches. Naoto began shaking and hiccupping in response. She couldn't take this nightmare anymore!
"You either do it…" replied Adachi in a deathly tone, he pulled the gun right in front of her face. "Or you die. Your choice. You've got thirty seconds."
Naoto, though part of her wished to die, didn't truly desire death. Despite the horrible pain and suffering she was enduring. She just wanted this torment to end. Her self-preservation kicked in and she immediately spread her legs for him. Adachi put his revolver into the thick coat of fog where it vanished once he pulled his hand free.
He got on his knees and pulled her legs towards him. He positioned himself and penetrated her while on his knees. She groaned in resignation of what was to come. Adachi had thoroughly succeeded in his conquest to break Naoto. He pushed himself inside Naoto completely to enjoy the feeling.
"Wrap your legs around me." demanded Adachi, Naoto did as she was ordered to. There was no will of defiance left inside her. "Good. Wrap your arms around me when I pull you up."
He put his arms around her armpits and pulled her up. She wrapped her arms tightly as ordered. He paced inside of her gently. Naoto felt a hint of vertigo as he rubbed her back. Adachi didn't mind the blood from her left hand on his back. He lulled her into feeling safe as she closed her eyes tiredly. This had all taken its toll on her. Adachi's rhythmic pacing inside her actually felt good. She felt resigned to this anyway. So what if she was being stupid about this situation now? It didn't change what had happened or that she had no means of protecting herself.
Adachi pulled her away a little and started his menstruations on her breasts. He licked and suckled on them gently. Naoto felt a pang of revulsion as she sighed in contentment at his handiwork. She then screamed loudly as he started biting her exposed bosoms harshly. She threw her head back in pain as he chewed and bit her breasts. When he started biting the nipples the pain became too much for her to bear. He started pumping into her rapidly, while making vicious bite marks around her breasts, and after they climaxed together, once he finished shooting his load, he carefully pulled out and threw her onto the floor.
Naoto held her breasts with her right arm in pain. Her chest would never look the same again as Adachi spat out some of her skin from his mouth. He licked the blood around his lips as he laughed.
"Do you want me to stop, Naoto-chan?" snarled Adachi, watching her writhe in pain. Naoto looked up at him and gazed at him pleadingly. She had been so stupid! She couldn't take any more of this. "Get on your knees. Immediately, bitch."
She got on her knees and looked at him. Adachi was still on his knees as well but raised himself up a bit in preparation.
"I'll stop hurting you, Naoto-chan. Just do one little thing for me… but you have to do it well."
She looked at him with those eyes just begging for a way out. Adachi smirked in delight. This bitch was at his beck and call. She was desperate enough to do anything Adachi asked of her. He grabbed her by her hair and pulled her down to his nether regions.
"Suck it."

Souji was absolutely livid. This stupid place was taking too long to fucking get through!
Upon his entrance into Magatsu Inaba, he had been attacked by Neo Minotaur. It had taken him some time to defeat that damned monster in his current weakened state. Once he did, Bloody Izanagi absorbed it to strengthen his powers.
He had used the newly powered-up Megadolian to achieve victory on the monster laying in wait on the second floor. The Sleeping Table hadn't stood a chance against him regardless. He had absorbed it to feel this strange inner-power inside himself grow a little. He wasn't sure what it meant but he knew it would prove to be a deadly weapon once he unleashed it.
He had gathered what spare healing items he could find around the area. He didn't look around for much because he was in a rush. If he saw something that looked useful then he would take it and go. Nanako was more important than looking around for a bunch of random items. It wouldn't matter if, in the end, it had prevented him from saving her.
Souji had finally made it to the portal leading to where he assumed Adachi would be. He cursed as he felt the same sense of foreboding such as during his fights against Shadow Teddie, Namatame, and Shadow Yosuke. That fucking presence was interfering with his attempt to save Nanako! A shadow suddenly appeared to block his path to the portal.
Souji growled out loud in frustration. He had enough of this shit! He just wanted to save Nanako and leave!
A sense of dread suddenly washed over him causing him to instinctively move back. It seemed he would have to take this fight seriously unlike the other two on the way here.
The Reaper had appeared.

Naoto had continued to do many revolting erotic acts for Adachi. She continued to give into his constant demands until finally… he was bored. He left her their alone with the fog shrouding the area around her. She felt utterly alone.
She lay on her left side with her naked, abused, and bruised body helplessly left on the floor. She spat out his cum from her mouth. She had been foolish enough to give the man head a numerous amount of times trying to force herself to believe his promises. She was sick with herself for what she had done to appease him. She didn't dare move even now lest he come back and force her to participate with more of his despicable sexual fantasies. Her self-hate had returned and she was overcome by it. Her belief in justice and her own hypocritical moral standards had been completely shredded to the point that it would never ever be repaired. Through the heartless brutality of a sexual predator she recognized the truth that she had been so blind to before.
The world wasn't run by moral integrity but rather by power. Those who didn't realize it or weren't strong enough to face it were screwed. She had been stupid enough to put herself and her two friends into very real harm. She hadn't realized what that really meant until she had been raped so cruelly. Not even when that little girl died had she fully understood as she did now. There was no real control of an individual's actions. If they wanted to commit a crime, they would do it. There was no real stopping them unless there was brute force of some sort. Words, laws, and the like could manipulate but only to an extent. Even the thought of not wanting it happen to you could only hold for so long if a person truly believed they could get away with a deplorable action.
That was life. That was reality. There was no such thing as karma. That was mere bullshit people told themselves to feel better. They saw ironies in historical stories that they construed because they wanted so desperately to believe the lie that the world was a fair place. It was not. Naoto recognized that now. Even if there was a court case and she won. Did it truly matter? It didn't take back the brutality she would have to live with, the memories of the event, or the scars on her body left as a mark for the rest of her life. Life was an imperfect, cruel, and heartless bitch of a domain.
A chilling thought suddenly swept over her body and into the pit of her stomach.
"What if I become pregnant?" murmured Naoto quietly dreading the very prospect of having Adachi's child growing inside of her.
Somehow, he had heard.
"Consider it my final gift to you, Naoto-chan!" He replied sarcastically, "A baby is a miracle, right? Hahaha!"
His tone changed to his usual cruel one. His disembodied voice was echoing from the fog itself.
"I don't give a shit. It's your problem. I couldn't care less."
Tears trickled down Naoto's cheeks. She didn't move at all. She didn't dare to out of fear.
"Why…?" She sniffed very quietly. She questioned why God allowed this horrible event to happen to her. Adachi heard her voice. She, in turn, heard his raucous laughter. She would have nightmares about him and that laugh for the rest of her life.
"Because I could." He replied matter-of-factly, "And because you made the opportunity present itself. That's all there is to it. I just wanted some fun and you were the only one left standing."
Slowly, Naoto fell unconscious and into the lull of sleep. Her nude body: bruised, bitten severely, and bloodied was finally allowed a small reprieve.
A realization was acknowledged within Naoto, the little girl who read so many detective novels and romanticized catching crooks so much that she had wanted to make it her life goal. It was a dream that would never be because it had been a naïve fool's dream. It was so basic that she shouldn't have arrogantly denied the fact.
She realized that you should never allow nor expect children to face criminals.

It had been a long and repetitive process but Souji had eventually managed to defeat the damned demonic monster. It had cost him most of his healing items though. Bloody Izanagi made sure to devour the Reaper so that he would gain its immense power.
He felt that mysterious power brimming within him grow exponentially but he was at a loss on how to activate it. He wasn't entirely aware of what it could do either. He knew it was an attack but that was it. He felt he could unlock it but he lacked the right quality of… something to actually do so at this point. He wasn't sure what it meant. He needed the right feeling for it to work and that was what he lacked.
Souji discarded his current sword for the one left by the Reaper upon it's defeat. He was sure that the Blade of Totsuka would prove invaluable in a battle he was sure to have with Adachi. He consumed his last remaining soma as he inhaled and exhaled to calm himself.
He entered into the portal to face Adachi in order to save Nanako.

"It is over for us…" began Igor in resignation, "For what it's worth… I am sorry."
They were in the velvet room watching a TV projection of the events in Magatsu Inaba via the mysterious deck of seer cards. Igor had the ability to view all events concerning the wildcard this way.
"Your apology isn't worth shit to me." She retorted bluntly, she no longer gave a shit about respecting her superiors. Not after the awful events she had just seen transpire. Not to mention… "You've killed us all! My brother is DEAD because he had to go sacrifice himself to keep the seal alive and it was completely in vain! The seal will only hold for a few more hours."
Once Adachi had gained the wildcard, the seal had irrevocably shattered. The many gods sealed in place were already stirring. Doomsday was at hand. Igor had created a massacre of epic proportions due to his foolhardiness.
"Perhaps if you are willing…" spoke Igor in a placating manner, "We can sacrifice ourselves and keep the seal at bay for a few days longer."
"What difference does it make!" yelled the enraged Margaret, "The three people you put your faith into lost, the gamble with the wildcard was lost, why don't you just face it? There is nothing we can do! WE LOST!"
She took a few deep breathes to reign in her anger. The entire fiasco had utterly taken its toll on her.
"I know that but my concern is not about the seal in this case…" said Igor slowly. Margaret felt dread creep-up inside her. She hadn't managed to get her shoes or socks when she fled and she essentially only had her blue coat and pants on her. There was no replacement in this plane for such clothing due to the state of disarray. "This is regarding you. It seems there is some… serendipity to what happened between you and Souji."
"Are you saying that it was a good thing that I was violated?" She shouted to his face. Oh how Margaret and Igor's relationship had changed so drastically in just a few short months!
"It was consensual after a point." He replied pointedly, Margaret bit back a retort and looked away. "Even had it not been, you still committed sin under the guidelines of the contract of neutrality. It doesn't matter if he forced himself on you. It's still your fault."
"I digress, you have a choice because of that event. Eventually we will disappear because the seal has broken open. Only the sacrifice who sealed Nyx is keeping it stable at this point and it won't be long until that disappears too. Once that wears out, we're done for. Unlike me, however, you have a choice. I can either sacrifice myself or wait to perish but you have a different option available."
"You can either fulfill your life-long duties as my assistant and sacrifice yourself with me along with the unborn child growing in your belly or lose your powers and become fully human. Discarding all you know to try and raise that baby without any means of support in the human world. Remember we don't know which deity shall take over for sure so the world may be left alone without any changes."
Margaret sniffed in anger. To many, that wasn't a choice. To Margaret, it meant abandoning the sacrifices by Philemon and her brother to cling to life selfishly. She didn't want to abandon the world she knew, even if she was going to vanish into nothingness. She knew that her brother wouldn't want her to die so foolishly but it honestly had meaning for her to perish with the world that she lived in. It was not something she could explain in logical terms. This was her world. It was all she truly knew. The world of the humans was an uncertain and dangerous route to take.
There was a dilemma. Did the unborn baby inside of her really deserve that? Should she even concern herself with the fact it was Souji's baby and therefore making Margaret one of many that he had impregnated? Did she really have the right to kill it so prematurely? Was she even ready to raise a child on her own if it came to that? If she went to the real world, she would have no identity, no papers, and nothing to protect her. She had been a being created by Philemon to complete assorted tasks; she had no idea what it meant to really be human.
The gods and demons would have much in-fighting in this world before one of them won and tried to take over or destroy the human world. Even if it was a spare amount of time to live, it was still something to cling to. It was, however, a gamble. Margaret held no delusions about being able to fight the gods and win. No such possibility existed in her mind.
It was a conundrum. She couldn't decide what to do. She could sacrifice herself, and an innocent, to hold of humanity's doom for a few short days or live in blissful ignorance within the human world. The world may not end depending on the god that won the battle. She could possibly end-up raising her baby to adulthood.
Margaret watched the live feed of Souji through the cards until she would make her decision. She wasn't exactly sure why but there was little else to do at this point anyhow. Perhaps viewing the events would help her make the decision? It certainly wasn't an easy one to make and she needed some sort of guidance… or perhaps reassurance before she fully decided what course of action was best.

Although Margaret wouldn't admit it, her choice would rest upon Seta Souji's actions once he confronted Adachi Tohru. His actions during this event would be the underlying factor in Margaret's decision.
He walked around blinded by the thick white mist that enveloped the area. Frustration and annoyance crept through within him as he realized attempting to see past the whiteness was impossible even with his special abilities. The white mist was disconcerting. He didn't dare use spells for fear that it would hurt the one he came to save. He couldn't hide his panicked expression.
'Nanako, where are you?'
As if his thoughts had been acknowledged by the environment, the mist thinned around creating a path that he could see. He could make out a fallen figure near the end of it. He quickly ran towards it before the mist could impede him once more. Hope wrung in his heart. Every step closer could be a step in saving the one he had come to love as a sister.
He reached the end and finally looked down. He had been so concerned with the mist possibly blocking him that he hadn't properly looked at the figure before he had run toward it. He had acted solely on the single guiding emotion that had brought him to this point.
Souji gazed upon the fallen figure of Nanako and his world came crashing around him. The culprit responsible laughed to his heart's content at the misery shown before him. The white fog was at his command. Others would only see what he wanted them to see or hear what he wanted them to hear. It was a physical representation of the figurative world of mirages that people lived in.
Unbeknownst to both of them, another watched from afar. She would base her choice on the fight that was soon to come.

Margaret looked away from the scene in guilt.
She acknowledged that even she and Igor were partly to blame for the tragic death of Seta Souji's younger cousin. A child that he had genuinely cared for and loved. Despite his sins, he couldn't be called completely evil like Igor had heavily implied in his conversation with Kujikawa Rise.
Margaret had selfishly been thinking about her own pain. She had forgotten that Souji now suffered two losses as a result of the failures of the three that Igor had put his utmost faith towards. Their inexperience, self-centered righteousness, and varying shades of pride had jeopardized and killed that little girl. Adachi had become the wildcard as a consequence of Igor's blindness.
She would watch and wait. She didn't know what to expect. Souji and Adachi were both insane and their battle didn't really have anything to do with her decision but somehow she felt she needed to confirm something. It was likely, after all, if she were to exist in the real world that she may eventually run into Souji if he survived this battle. What would he do to her if she were in the real world? What would he do if he found out that she was pregnant with his baby?
Fortunately, Souji was the only one who had ever met her so she could simply leave Japan or even just the town and she would, theoretically, have nothing to worry about. There was always a chance though.
Margaret didn't really understand what she wanted. Death was easier than thinking over all these awful choices. It would only be expected of her because it would be following through with her responsibilities. She had a moral fiber though and the nagging guilt for killing her own child by choosing to do her duty bothered her.
She hated Igor for putting her in such a predicament. She had no qualms or sadness over his imminent death. He deserved worse as far as Margaret was concerned.
Igor, for his part, simply stayed silent and watched. He was reflecting upon his own lamentations. It was the only thing left that he could do. He bitterly wished that he still had the power to go back in time. That, however, was dependant entirely on a wildcard user who met the prerequisites and the power was limited to a week at most. A part of him wanted death already.
They watched silently. Neither of them wished to have any final words of parting with the other due to their respective bitter disagreements.

When he had first entered, his view was completely obscured by the thick mist that hung over the entire landscape. He had walked cautiously. He felt panicked, hurried, and desperate. He wanted to save his surrogate sister. Slowly, a portion of the mist receded making a one way corridor of sorts. He walked briskly upon seeing a small figure on the floor at the end.
He practically ran towards the figure. He stopped to catch his breath a bit before looking downward to see her.
His entire world shattered at that point. He fell to his knees as his body shook. A stabbing feeling overcame his heart.
'Why, why, why, why, why, why, why…!'
The word repeated itself in his mind. He felt tears trickle down his cheeks. Nanako's death had been a violent one. Half her head seemed to be missing, parts of her brain gone, and an enormous amount of blood pooled around the floor.
Souji reared his fist back and slammed it onto the floor as he cried out an inhumane shriek of anguish. The pain was unbearable.
'WHY, WHY, WHY, WHY, WHY, WHY, WHY!'
Soon, the what-ifs flared in his thoughts. What if he had ignored the idea of being exposed and simply jumped into a TV at the police station? What if he had been faster in dealing with that stupid Shadow Yosuke and the other shadows that had impeded him? What if he had killed Rise Kujikawa quicker to prevent this from ever happening? What if… what if… what if…
What ifs didn't matter to reality. Reality was never kind. Reality simply was.
The pain of losing Ryotaro Dojima was still fresh in his mind. He had held back in order to keep focused on Nanako only for that to end in vain. Souji realized it had to be Adachi. He had kidnapped her and the other three didn't have the capacity to commit this heinous act.
He felt a pressure upon the back of his head and the click of a gun. Souji slowly turned his head to see Adachi's happy-go-lucky face. Souji had a dark look on his own face. He wanted to cut Adachi's throat open, break his face in, or maybe blast him into pieces. He hadn't decided yet. Rage, like never before, filled him. His chest tightened and felt heavy. Only one word repeated in Souji's thoughts…
"Seeing you blubbering like this is kinda pathetic." chuckled Adachi attempting to bait Souji. "Really unmanly, ya know? Doesn't society teach us men to be tough and robotic instead of pussies? Crying is counted as being a pussy."
"I'm going to kill you," whispered Souji hatefully, Adachi simply chuckled more. "For her and for my uncle."
"Oho, Dojima-san's dead too? Such a shame!" mocked Adachi giggling, "And are you seriously taking the moral high ground here? Aren't you being hypocritical? I didn't do anything you hadn't already."
Souji froze at those words and gave Adachi the most loathsome look imaginable. Only that one word was being repeated in Souji's head. 'Kill, kill, kill…'
He would make that a reality. He didn't give a shit about this discussion despite the initial surprise. He just wanted to bathe in Adachi's blood!
"Surprised? I knew it was you who raped and beat the Amagi heiress." said Adachi happily, "It wasn't hard to figure out. She ended-up in the same hospital as the one you worked in, started dating you immediately after being kidnapped, and of course, Kanji Tatsumi ends-up mysteriously hospitalized after he's seen attacking you in public."
"The hicks in Inaba never realized it. Either due to fear of your connections with the police and Amagi or, more than likely, because they're fucking retarded. It's so amazing to witness how much bullshit people will believe in rumors rather than taking the time to think over the scenario logically."
"I don't give a shit about that!" shouted Souji disregarding the gun pointed right at his face. "I don't give a damn if I'm a hypocrite! You killed the only family that ever gave a shit about me! I WILL fucking murder you!"
Shouting only increased the tension inside him. He needed to murder this faggot! This fucking asshole! THIS MAN WHO TOOK EVERYTHING FROM HIM! Adachi had no right to be happy, to smile, to have any sort of feelings except pain and suffering! He would punish this fucker in the worst ways possible!
"You, you, you, aren't you being selfish here?" goaded Adachi, "I didn't do anything that you hadn't already done. You raped, crippled, and killed all these 'innocents' and you get pissy because I killed someone you cared about? That's pathetic. Isn't this the reality people should be living with daily?"
"Face it, what I did to your family was no different then what you would've done to someone else's family. We're not really different at all when you give it some thought. Hell, if the Dojima family had treated you like trash or had never been in the picture, we may have even teamed-up."
"Yeah, well that didn't happen and you killed them!" snarled Souji thinking over the various ways to torture the fucker, "What the fuck does it matter if we're the fucking same? I don't give a shit if I'm a hypocrite! I'm not denying it. I just don't give a shit. It doesn't change what's happened. I'm gonna fuck you up so bad that you'll bleed to death!"
"You do realize I have my revolver pointed right in your face, right?" snorted Adachi amused, "Even in this world, it's a deadly weapon. What was that quote from my favorite movie? Ah yes… 'Good, bad, I'm the guy with the gun.' Really eye-opening quote once you take it out of context. Point is, you can't do shit to me."
"I can just pull this little trigger here and no more of your whiny vengeance. Face facts, you can swear revenge and say all the terrible things you want. It doesn't mean shit if I have power over you. How will you dodge a bullet right in your face? How will you get your revenge? You're such a-"
Adachi barely dodged having his head severed from his shoulders. He had desperately lunged to the floor to the left of Souji and disappeared into the fog as Bloody Izanagi had missed by mere inches.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA!"
The laughter echoed throughout the fog. Souji forced himself to move away from Nanako's body and hold the blade of Totsuka in a defensive position. Souji held it firmly. He knew this blade was stronger than any he had before. He had taken it with him after successfully murdering the Reaper. He had gained a lot of strength and skill on his journey to face Adachi from the many trials he had endured. He was going to use it to viciously torture Adachi to make him pay for killing Souji's family.
"Well, I've learned one thing… you're not like those pathetic brats. I underestimated you. I had thought showing you that squishy little mess I made would fuck with your mind enough for me to toy with you. I had hoped to torture you but you're smart kid. You put yourself in danger on purpose to give me a false sense of security. I gotta admit, if not for sheer dumb luck, I'd be dead by now. It seems fate is finally on my side now though."
"Fate? Please, you just admit you got lucky. Luck isn't going to be enough for you," said Souji darkly, "I swear you're going to fucking die today. I'll rip out your fucking dick and make you choke on it."
"Ew, that's gross! Have you no shame? Where are your manners, young lad!" said Adachi mockingly in giddiness, he was treating the whole scenario like a joke. He was treating Souji's pain as a joke. "You really think you've got power enough to beat me? You have no idea what I'm capable of. Just take a gander…"
Some more of the mist disappeared. Souji could see the naked and beaten body of Shirogane some yards away from where he was.
"You think that scares me?" said Souji keeping his eyes focused to ready himself for an attack from anywhere. He was back to back with Bloody Izanagi, ready for any incoming attack. "I don't give a crap what you did to those girls. All that matters is what you did to Nanako!"
"Well then, dipshit. Try to hit me!" snarled Adachi, getting annoyed that Souji showed no fear whatsoever. "Oh wait, you can't because of the mist permeating around you. I'm everywhere, Souji. This power makes me invincible! There is nothing you can do."
"That isn't just a hyperbole either. I won't bother explaining… I'll just mess with you until you give up!"
Adachi was not going to fight Souji directly. He wasn't sure how strong Souji was but he was well aware that kid had more experience in this world so he decided to play 'keep away' until he wore Souji down. His powers would provide the perfect way of doing that. The mist thickened around Souji. The fun would begin soon.
"Bring it, you sack of shit!" shouted Souji with all his heart, "I'll fucking bleed you like a stuffed pig!"
'KILL, KILL, KILL…'
Souji quieted as the maddening words repeated themselves endlessly. He wouldn't ever forget this moment in all his life… He would kill Adachi and gain the satisfaction of it. He couldn't focus on anything except depraved images of Adachi under his methods of torture. He tried to stay focused on the mist but the quiet fog only made it harder to concentrate as his thoughts of murdering Adachi overcame him.
Souji closed his eyes and took a deep breath before focusing on the fog once more. His feelings had calmed themselves to a manageable amount. He forced himself to put his efforts on fighting Adachi and not allowing his mind to wallow in hateful images. This was necessary. Once he significantly beat the shit out of Adachi, he would torture him. That was a certainty.
The fog thinned in front of Souji. Out of the mist appeared four Tohru Adachi's. Each had a smirk of arrogance on his face.
'WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS!'
"So Souji, ready to fight us all?" they chorused together.
Souji, in a fit of blind rage, stuck out his left palm and concentrated. His hand pulsated with godly power as he cast a Megadolian straight at the four fucking bastards. The spell hit all four of them at once and a massive blast could be heard throughout the area. The mist whirled about before settling as the spell died away. When the dust had cleared, Souji could see a scorch mark but no body parts.
BANG
Bloody Izanagi blocked the bullet with his spear. The bullet had been aimed right behind Souji's head. Souji turned around in anger. If not for Bloody Izanagi, he would be dead already.
Before he realized it, pain flooded Souji from his back. Souji moved to his right to get out of the way. Souji narrowly avoided yet another attack from behind. He had swiftly turned around and slashed at the offender before it could hurt him. It seemed Adachi's plan was to put him in a state of disarray. His back now had a gash streaking across the middle. Souji finally got a good look at the Persona attacking him.
Yomotsu-Shikome, the first of demons Izanami sent after Izanagi as he fled the underworld after witnessing her decrepit form. An old ugly looking hag monster that wallowed in it's own pitiful existence.
Souji frowned in confusion. Yomotsu-Shikome was a very weak Persona that shouldn't be giving him any trouble. Even if he had been unguarded, it shouldn't have hurt him at all. It looked ready to attack again so Souji briskly moved towards it, held his sword firmly, and cleaved it in two. He broke through its sternum completely with that strike and watched as it dissipated into nothingness.
"Congratulations," said Adachi snickering, "You beat my weakest Persona. Only three more to go!"
Souji's mind spun at the implications. Adachi had more than one Persona? How? Why? What was going on here? Could it have been the same powerful force that had given him a Persona? The same force that gave Namatame power? It was plausible but why?
"Tell me, how does it feel losing everything? Sucks, don't it? I really hated you from the get-go, ya know that? Why should you, someone who is exactly like me, have the right to be happy? Why should you get a happy home, a bitch with money, and even that power? It should be me! I suffered more than you ever could!"
"So what?" snarled Souji pissed off, this petty asshole was the reason his sweet cousin was dead? For something so stupid? "You're jealous of what I did on my own? It's pretty obvious to me that you're nothing but a crybaby bitch."
"Oh, I admit that I was jealous but who can blame me? Everybody gets jealous." replied Adachi sardonically, "Power and prestige are all that matter in the human world. That has always been one of the consistencies of all civilizations. Those who are famous and powerful get to cheat the rules while everyone else drops their pants and takes it up the ass. That's the 'justice' that people laud as 'fair' in a democracy too. Well, I got sick of the fate I was dealt."
"A society always gives special favors! Society idolizes celebrities who are above the law but talk poorly about them out of jealousy. It's not just the really rich who are given special treatment. It's every fucking person in the world. We all give special treatment to someone because of bias… that's why I killed Nanako!"
Adachi rambled on vehemently. In today's society, women gained the most special privileges. The memories of his twin who had gained all the privileges just for being a different gender eclipsed his mind. He had seen the same attitude of his sister's in Shirogane Naoto. He had keenly observed Nanako's over-glorified treatment in the Dojima household and its parallels to his own sister. Souji, someone who had fucked with Yukiko Amagi, should've known better in Adachi's mind. Thus, he had dearly wanted Naoto, Nanako, and Souji to suffer. He had wanted Ryotaro Dojima to suffer too.
'FUCK THEM, FUCK THEM, FUCK THEM ALL! And fuck you, Souji. You stupid fucking hypocrite!'
"You don't deserve what you have because in the end, you're like everybody else! You hate bitches just like me but you were willing to give her special privileges? You would've created another bitch who expects things handed to her on a silver platter! I was saving the world from just one of a million stupid bitches in the future! That's why I killed that reporter and that school girl too! They're all the same! No more than a bunch of self-centered, spoiled, and stupid bitches!"
Souji heard footsteps and swung his sword in the direction it came from. A clang was heard. There was a growl as the presence backed away. Souji blocked an oncoming strike to the side by another one of the monsters. He skidded backwards from the force having pushed him but was unharmed. Souji and Bloody Izanagi both used Heat Riser.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Bloody Izanagi swiftly blocked gun shots aimed at Souji from different directions of the fog. He could not help Souji any further because he was preoccupied with blocking the bullets. Souji would have to fight these three monsters on his own. Souji's sword began to glow a red hue.
"VORPAL BLADE!" yelled Souji slashing his sword sideways.
A blast of red light erupted from the sword and struck into the fog. A red flash briefly overtook the place he had aimed. He could hear two growls of pain.
A whizzing sound could be heard. Souji was too late as he tried to turn around before he was thrown to the floor by the massive shockwave that hit him. Souji had fallen flat on his ass ungracefully and looked up to see Bloody Izanagi having barely stopped a monster in obsidian black from killing Souji from behind.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
"NO!"
Souji wailed in pain as three gunshots hit him directly into the left side of his ribs. It felt like lava was burning through his body. Blood leaked out of his body unimpeded. He dropped the Blade of Totsuka and grabbed his wounds in pain.
'Fuck… no…!'
Adachi appeared in front of him with a gun pointed directly at Souji's face. Souji glared hatefully.
"Nice try…" said Adachi smirking triumphantly, "Oops, I miscounted. Looks like I had five Persona's in total. So sorry, hope that didn't mess you up somehow."
"Now for the cliché line! Any last words? Perhaps you would like to say some pointless insult to make yourself feel better? Idiots love acting tough like anybody gives a shit."
Souji grabbed his sword, flipped his body forward to get on his feet instantly, and struck his blade right through Adachi's heart. He had ignored all the pain shooting through his body to pull off that last desperate strike. Blood poured out of the sword lodged in Adachi's chest. Souji gave a vicious smirk of satisfaction as he stared at Adachi's shocked face.
Adachi's face slowly changed to a happy one before he began laughing right in Souji's face. Souji stared momentarily in confusion. Adachi slowly dissipated into fog. Souji's eyes widened in realization but he was far too late.
BANG!
"ARRRGH!"
Souji fell over and cried in pain once again. Adachi, the real one, had shot the right side of his ribcage this time.
"Damn… I must say, you can take quite the punishment," said Adachi in respect as he witnessed Souji wither in pain on the floor with blood pouring out of his bullet wounds. "But like I said, I'm unbeatable. You can't kill me. Give up now and I'll kill ya quickly. If not…"
"Well, I get my shits and giggles just torturing you!"
Adachi began shooting Souji's beaten body as he wallowed in agony.

Rise woke-up in pain. She heard screaming from somewhere… the noise terrified her. Slowly, her memories flooded back to her…
'No… Who is Adachi hurting? I… I have to stop him.'
"Per-so-na…" whispered Rise quietly, "Kanzeon…"
Kanzeon shimmered into existence. Rise took the time to scan the room. After she had finished scanning Rise realized, to her own chagrin, that she could see through the fog. She hadn't scanned the area before because of the precarious life-threatening situation at the time. After she had gone into a fit of rage and foolishly charged Adachi, it had been too late. She bitterly realized that this entire nightmare was truly her entire fault. She had been the integral source in causing all of it to happen.
She looked to see the dead body of the little girl. She turned away to look around some more… and saw Naoto's naked body. She stared in horrified surprise for nearly a minute before snapping to attention. She slowly raised herself up to her knees and got to her feet. She held her stomach in pain. She needed to bear it. She needed to persevere through this intense affliction. She couldn't fail any more people than she had already. Thankfully, taking hits for Chie had given her some superhuman fortitude.
The cries from a distance were ignored. She carefully walked toward Naoto's nude body whilst holding her stomach to cover the wounds. She couldn't expect anything good once she got near enough to examine Naoto. She prepared herself for the worst after the dead little girl.
The smell of sex already wafted to her nose. Once she got to Naoto, she slowly got on her knees and gasped in pain at all the effort she had gone through. Rise's stomach felt excruciatingly painful and burned hotly. She calmed herself so that she could inspect how severely Naoto had been hurt.
Rise examined Naoto in muted revulsion. Naoto had cum and blood on the floor by her nether regions, her face had been bruised boorishly, her nose looked broken, and a gunshot hole was through her left hand. Cum was leaking from her mouth likely from being forced to perform. Rise had tears cascading down her cheeks once she finished her inspection.
'How could I have let this happen? If I hadn't been so fucking retarded then maybe none of this would've happened…! Naoto-chan, I'm so, so, so, sorry… Oh God, why did this happen! It's all my fault!'
Rise could see that Naoto's pussy had been brutalized. Rise moved Naoto's left hand to examine it for any further injuries only to drop it in alarm when she saw the state of Naoto's breasts. They had been thoroughly bitten and chewed. One of them even had skin missing...
Rise quickly covered the breasts by putting Naoto's left arm back in place before she would vomit. It was a traumatic sight to behold. Shirogane Naoto would be damaged for life. That was clear. Rise turned away to try to locate Chie. She could see that Chie was far away from where she and Naoto were. Chie seemed to be bleeding profusely too. Rise checked to see where the screaming was coming from. If it wasn't Naoto or Chie then…
Rise shut her eyes and cried harder as she witnessed Adachi shooting the bloody body of Seta Souji. She couldn't bear to watch more tragedy around her. All she could do was cry at this point.
'I wanted to help people and do good! Why…? This is all my fault and I cannot do shit to stop it! I can't fight…'

Bloody Izanagi and the obsidian creature ferociously battled in the sky. Bloody Izanagi was utterly unable to help Souji as a consequence. The opposing Persona was on equal terms of strength with him.
After saving Souji from the close call attack, they had taken the fight to the sky. This way, Souji would deal with less and Bloody Izanagi could fight the strongest of Adachi's Personas'. This wasn't working in their favor but it was the best Bloody Izanagi could do. If this Persona entered into the fray with Adachi's other three then Souji would assuredly be killed. Despite that, it seemed as if his efforts were a waste anyway. Souji was practically on borrowed time already.
Bloody Izanagi struck sideways with his spear, curving the blade upward, and clashed with the opponent's double-bladed spear. They broke apart; Bloody Izanagi raised his weaponless arm and cast a Ziodyne the same time his opponent did. The lightning attacks struck each other in a dead-on collision but Bloody Izanagi was forced to fly away before the lightning struck him. His opponent was better with Lightning spells because of the innate ability of Elec Amp.
Bloody Izanagi flew at the infernal bastard before it could disappear into the mist. It was clear that this creature was the one responsible for that ability. However, even Heat Riser's endowment of increased power didn't make him fast enough to catch up with his opponent's active Masukukaja. The spell made it nearly impossible for Bloody Izanagi to land any good hits on the obsidian beast. What was worse, Revolution had been cast by this Persona as well. Revolution increased their opponents' chances of striking fatal blows upon him or Souji. That was one of the key reasons that Adachi was winning. The dense fog and it's mysterious properties being the other reason.
Bloody Izanagi continued attempting to hit the dark monster but his efforts seemed in vain. At the very least, he was keeping it distracted from Souji. That too felt in vain. Adachi had practically won this unless Souji pulled off some spectacular feat soon. He trusted that his human self would come-up with something.

'I'm not going to survive this…' thought Souji, at this point he didn't know whether to feel anger or sadness. 'This fucker… I swear I'll kill him before I die…'
Souji had been shot so many times. Adachi had even reloaded his revolver to continue his 'fun'. Thankfully, Souji's superhuman powers diminished the damage but only to a small extent. Souji would've been long dead by now if not for the fortitude endowed to him from his fights with his Persona. He was far stronger than the investigative squad. They hadn't been able to take the bullets at all.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
"AAAARGH!"
He couldn't help but shout out in pain as the bullets pierced his body. He had enough! If he was going to die then Adachi would be coming along with him!
Souji grabbed the blade of Totsuka and raised himself up. Once he was on his feet, he coughed out blood from his mouth. Blood was pouring from all over his chest, the wounds were gushing out blood from who knew how many holes on his body, and his clothes were completely soaked in his own blood. It has hard to think, hard to breathe, and Souji knew he was going to die soon. He gave Adachi a menacing look. Adachi smiled giddily and kept shooting him.
BANG!
Souji's left arm was shot. It was the arm that held the blade of Totsuka. The arm felt like it was burning from the bullet wound but he didn't let go. He held his sword firmly and hoisted it up.
BANG! BANG!
Souji's chest was shot twice but he didn't stop moving his feet forward nor did he fall over. He moved at a quicker pace and ignored the pain as best as he could manage. He wouldn't stop until Adachi was dead.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Souji ran at Adachi full force, blade held high, and body racked with pain. Every step forward was a step toward his own death. He knew that, he was prepared for it, and he was determined to take Adachi with him.
"You must really love to suffer," snorted Adachi in pity as Souji ran toward him, "And all for some dumbass bitch and her asshole father? Pathetic…"
"That's the difference between you and me. You're a hypocrite and I'm not. It makes all the difference too."
Souji ran forward as fast as he could in the condition he was in. Three dark figures appeared from the mist as Adachi disappeared. Souji could finally see them now. Fuu-ki, Suu-ki, and Kin-ki which meant the one fighting Bloody Izanagi up in the sky was likely Ongyo-ki. He ran at top speed intending to suicide.
Souji struck at Kin-ki first only for a glowing white rectangular shield to automatically block the attack. It seemed Kin-ki couldn't be hurt by physical attacks. Souji dived to his knees to avoid Sui-ki's swipe at his head with it's weapon. He aimed his free hand at Kin-ki hoping for the best.
"Mudoon," whispered Souji, he watched in satisfaction as he heard Kin-ki roar in pain as the death spell hit him full force and killed him. Kin-ki's body extinguished into nothing after hitting the floor with a thud.
Souji brought his sword up and stabbed through Sui-ki's chest. He pulled Totsuka out with a great heave and charged at the last one, Fuu-ki. Souji raised his sword above his head with the full intent to crush Fuu-ki. The enraged Souji broke right through Fuu-ki's attempted guard with his weapon and tore Fuu-ki cleanly in two. Fuu-ki's body disappeared after the two halves fell to the floor in a simultaneous thud.
Souji began to breathe harshly, the intoxication of battle and his own adrenaline ebbing away. He turned around only to have the bottom left of his stomach to the upper right of his chest severely gashed by Sui-ki's Vicious Strike. Souji cried out in pain from the attack. Sui-ki raised his weapon for another blow but Souji was able to block the next Vicious Strike by knocking Sui-ki's weapon away with his sword and backing away from the Persona. Sui-ki had the innate ability of Enduring Soul which enabled him to survive the fatal deathblow by Souji.
'Damn it all to fucking hell! I can't… I can't think straight… FUCK!' thought Souji, his sword glowing a red hue as he held it in both hands, 'These damn wounds, these damn Personas', this fucking fog, FUCK FUCK FUCK!'
He had beaten one of them by luck, he had beaten the other by his adrenaline rush, and this last one was hanging on by a thread.
"Power charge!" yelled Souji, only to witness Sui-ki using the same technique, "GRRRR – GARUDYNE!"
Souji sent a powerful green blast of wind blades at Sui-ki. Sui-ki had expected a physical showdown and attempted to cast Bufudyne too late. He was hit with Garudyne and fell to the floor dead. His body disappeared like the other two.
Souji slammed his sword to the ground and used it to support himself up as a crutch. It was imperative he stay on his feet and his strength had all but waned completely after that battle. Adachi showed himself once more and out of the dense mist behind him appeared an entire army of Fuu-ki, Sui-ki, and Kin-ki's. Souji stared and his mouth hung ajar gobsmacked. Adachi laughed uproariously at Souji's stupid looking face.
"I told ya, didn't I?" said Adachi cheerily, "I'm invincible!"
"How're you going to fight an entire army of them? I told you that you should've just given-up."
Souji stared at the sea of Personas'. His thoughts were racing a mile a minute. How? Why? Finally, he came to the inevitable conclusion.
'It's… It's really hopeless…' thought Souji resentfully, he hated giving up but there was no denying the truth in front of him. 'I can't win… there is just no way. I'm going to die a meaningless death. I won't be able to avenge them.'
'Fuck… I don't want to die!'

Rise had watched as Souji had killed Kin-ki by pure chance, had seen him slay Fuu-ki viciously, and taken a near-fatal blow from Sui-ki only to turn the tides via his wits alone. Seta Souji had a chance against Tohru Adachi. She couldn't let the opportunity go to waste. Souji was fighting for family members that she had inadvertently brought the demise of through her actions.
'I got that sweet little girl killed… someone that he was evidently trying to save.' thought Rise sadly, a knot tightened in her chest out of guilt. 'I can't ever make-up for that. I have to help him stop Adachi… after that… I'll let him decide. It's only fair.'
In Rise's mind, she owed Seta Souji a debt that she could never fully repay. That was why she decided to help as best as she could in the predicament that Souji was in. She breathed in deeply and willed herself to ignore the pain shooting through her body.

"DON'T BELIEVE IT!" shouted a strong feminine voice from somewhere within the dense fog, "It's a trick! An illusion that he's created! You've already killed the real ones! All those behind him are fakes!"
"That's how he's been doing all of this! He's able to create believable illusions of anything! If you hit them then they'll just vanish! He can make it feel like they're physically solid momentarily but they can't hurt you!"
Adachi turned his neck to face the loudmouthed bitch in rage. Rise flinched when she realized that he was looking directly at her. Adachi looked back at Souji. Souji was momentarily confused before realization dawned upon him. These mind tricks of Adachi's were meaningless now.
Souji ran at Adachi intent on killing him for certain. He slashed Adachi across the chest but failed to strike a fatal blow as Adachi disappeared into the mist. Adachi had a large and bloody wound from the top right shoulder to the bottom left of his stomach.
"You'll fucking pay for that, you little asshole!" bellowed Adachi's disembodied voice from everywhere. "I'll make you suffer! Enjoy viewing your worst nightmares!"

Adachi made the fog denser. He turned his attention to the stupid whore of an idol. He needed to deal with this momentary distraction and return his attention to Souji.
"Ya know skank, I'd keep my mouth shut if I were you." spoke Adachi sarcastically, he used his disembodied voice to carry out the message where Kujikawa was. "Or else, I may end-up using that mouth of yours to relieve myself."
"You fucking sicko!" shrieked the dumb bitch, "How can you do this? How could you do that to Naoto! Aren't you an officer of the law!"
"Your job was to protect and help people!"
Adachi couldn't help it. He laughed out loud and allowed the cunt to hear his laughter. How stupid and naïve can you be?
"Wrong, you stupid bitch!" said Adachi virulently, "You actually believe that fucking crap? How stupid are you?"
"I'll let you in on an obvious secret, you little shit. Police officers see crimes every day. We see the drug use, the rapes, the death, and every morbid and enticing of crimes. In cities like where I came from, we're flooded with so many cases everyday that we always try to finish them as quickly as possible. We don't give a shit if we lock the wrong guy up. It just has to look like we're doing the right thing."
"That… that's a lie…" came Rise's trembling voice. "Police… don't…"
The voice trailed off. Rise had realized how stupid it was to argue with a former police officer who actually had experience in the subject.
"If you think it's just me then you would be dead wrong. The system itself makes a person want to step above other peoples' rights. When it became wrong for us to shoot first, we changed to pepper spray tactics, to flashlights in people's eyes, or to psychological bullying others using our authority. We do it all the time. Our job is to incite fear and demand respect. That protect and serve nonsense is bullshit recited so police look good."
"…"
"Ever read about wars, you dumb bitch? Do you actually believe soldiers are more than just trained killers? Do you know how many people join the military just to legally kill other people? There have been surveys." divulged Adachi spitefully; he wanted to show this bitch just how stupid she was. He wanted to make this woman feel like trash that was beneath him. "Why didn't you ever read-up on what really happened in Nanking during World War 2? Or what the Americans did in Abu Ghraib? Let me guess, too busy being rich and famous?"
"Do you want to know what the norm in wars are? It's not valiantly fighting the enemies on the battlefield. That's just exaggerated media bullshit. It is soldiers going into villages, towns, and other such places, rounding up the civilians - including children, and shooting them all to death. No country is exempt from that fact. Hell, sometimes they don't bother rounding up everyone. They just enter and shoot them."
Rise didn't respond. She had nothing to offer as an argument.
"Want to know the kicker?" chuckled Adachi knowingly, he loved the fact he had shut this haughty bitch up already, "Sometimes those soldiers don't kill the women. They escort them out alive so that they can enjoy raping them all. It happens all the time in war. These are 'normal' people. Not 'crazies' like you presume me to be. They get medals for doing this. You probably think there are 'laws' that countries follow to stop this. You would be completely wrong."
"Nations make every effort to suppress events such as a massive rape or civilian deaths. 'Crimes of war' only go punished if the nation has either an image to maintain facing heated press coverage or the nation seeking damages for crimes such as rape is militarily stronger than the nation whose soldiers caused the rape."
"Either way, they still happened and there are always people who spout justice to try to defend actions such as torture and rape during war. They only defend it if it's their nation committing it, of course. It's 'war' so it's not the same as civilized society, right? It's only nameless civilians who die the most during war." said Adachi chuckling at the hypocrisy of humanity, "So then, how am I doing anything wrong here? Think about it. We already made 'special circumstances' with people defending rape and torture. All I'm doing is following the human condition. We give special treatment all the time."
"Look at Messiahs', society justifies the morals they teach by giving them special powers in stories. I'm the most powerful of us here. Therefore, because I have the strongest special powers, I'll be able to justify myself as a messiah or a god to all the dumbasses in our world. You want to know the funniest part? I'm going to succeed."
Rise's body shook in fear as she realized the truth of those words. Adachi could easily claim to be performing miracles with his power. Creating false images that tricked peoples' sense of touch could easily make it happen.
Adachi pulled out his revolver and shot at the direction the Kujikawa bitch was in three times. The girl fell to the floor. Satisfied, his focus returned to Souji.
Souji wasn't dead yet and he couldn't afford to be arrogant against the kid. His Persona was keeping up with Adachi's strongest Persona and Souji had defeated all his weaker ones by himself. The brat seemed to be trying to rest when Adachi's attention was turned away from him. It was entirely possible that Souji could bleed to death anyway. Adachi figured that he should make the kid's last moments fun. He intended to make Souji pay for slashing him. Once Souji lost his mind, he would go in for the kill.

Bloody Izanagi punched the offending Persona before it could critically damage him. Ongyo-ki proved to be a tough challenge. They were practically equal in fighting ability yet his opponent still used the fog, mirages, and other tricks to try to defeat him. Ongyo-ki was not willing to fight without them.
Bloody Izanagi roared at Ongyo-ki as a challenge. Ongyo-ki howled back just as ferociously. This was a battle of Adachi and Souji's instincts. Their true selves wouldn't give an inch to each other.
They cast Foolish Whisper at the same time. Bloody Izanagi flew away before the spell could hit him. The damned Ongyo-ki had Ailment Boost to increase the strength of his spell. Ongyo-ki followed from above, whirled his spear in a circular motion to increase momentum, and flew down to smash it straight into Bloody Izanagi. Bloody Izanagi pulled up a guard position but was knocked away by the force of the attack. Pissed at what happened, he used Power charge and flew toward Ongyo-ki at top speed. Ongyo-ki disappeared into the mist like the damn coward he was. Bloody Izanagi didn't stop, however, he flew all around the sky aimlessly.
Ongyo-ki re-appeared to strike from directly behind. He believed Bloody Izanagi would be moving too fast to dodge. He was surprised when Bloody Izanagi whirled around with a Power-charged Vorpal Blade ready to hit him. Ongyo-ki, in desperation, held his position by using Firm Stance. Bloody Izanagi's vibrant red attack smashed into Ongyo-ki harshly. There was s seismic boom and Ongyo-ki roared in pain from being struck by the powerful attack. He was blown away a few distances but the strike wasn't a critical hit. Bloody Izanagi growled in anger once he realized that Ongyo-ki's Firm Stance had decreased the amount of damage exponentially. Firm Stance was a powerful guard technique that halved any physical attacks received. However, Ongyo-ki could no longer evade Bloody Izanagi's strikes when in that guarded stance thus the fight in the sky had changed to Souji's favor.

"Big bro?" asked Nanako walking out of the mist, "Big bro, you're hurt! Let's get out of here and to a hospital to treat your wounds!"
Souji stared dumbly at the little girl who had come out of the mist. She had a few scratches and a bruise on her face but otherwise looked relatively unharmed. He quickly snapped into attention and aimed his sword at the little girl.
"I'm not stupid, Adachi." snarled Souji pissed off at the mirage, "I won't fall for such an obvious trick."
"Big bro, what're you talking about?" shouted a frightened Nanako beginning to cry, "W-what trick? A-adachi-san… he punched me and threw me in this all white place. I woke-up just a few minutes ago and heard your voice so I followed it. I came here thinking you had come to rescue me!"
"D-don't you love me anymore, Big bro?"
Nanako made to take a step toward Souji cautiously but Souji brought his blade closer to the girl's throat. His sword hand was shaking heavily. He took a heavy step back. He would not be fooled!
'I'm going to fucking tear you to pieces, Adachi!' thought Souji resentfully, the pain of loss had returned a hundredfold. 'HOW DARE YOU DO THIS!'
"I. Won't. Fall. For. It." bit out Souji angrily, knowing Adachi was laughing somewhere in the fog. "Just go away and disappear!"
"Don't you love me anymore, Big bro?" cried Nanako repeating her words in sadness, "Adachi-san… he told me! He told me everything about you! About all your evil secrets! I… I guess it's true then, isn't it?"
A cold chill ran down Souji's spine. He felt a sense of foreboding. He knew that he wouldn't like where this conversation was going... His sword arm shook badly.
"I… I still love you, Big bro. I don't want to lose that! I don't want to lose you!"
Souji watched in a wave of nausea, disgust, and shock as Nanako proceeded to rip all of her clothes off with ease. She stood there completely naked in front of Souji.
'WHAT THE FUCK!'
"You think all women are just fuck toys, right? Then just do that to me! That way… that way at least I know you actually care a little…"
"ADACHI, STOP THIS RIGHT NOW!" He couldn't help but shout. The mist burned his eyeballs every time he attempted to close his eyes. He just knew that Adachi was the cause of that too.
"Take me, Big bro! Show me what it's like to be a woman! Like you showed Yukiko-chan! Make me fear you like you made her fear you! That's all women are to you, right? We only exist to please you."
'STOP IT, STOP IT, STOP IT, STOP IT, STOP IT, STOP IT!'
"I want to prove my love to you, Big bro! Fuck me!"
Nanako began playing with herself. Souji hollered in pain at the mental torture he was receiving. It gave him physical pain to be forced to see this. He was too tired to run away, he couldn't close his eyes, and he was beginning to wonder if the dead Nanako he saw earlier had been the fake.
"I know you want to. Why else were you so kind to me all this time? Take what you want. I'll love you anyway."
Souji was startled when he felt a hand firmly grasp his right shoulder. He turned to see Kujikawa Rise. She had grabbed his shoulder with her left hand. He took note of the fact she had a uselessly limp right arm full of bullets in them. Rise had been able to see where Adachi was aiming and block the bullets by sacrificing her right arm as a shield. She had pretended to have fallen in pain and crawled here in the hopes of being undetected.
"Look again," whispered Rise confidently; ignoring her pained state. She stared directly into Souji's eyes. "She's not there."
Souji looked back where Nanako was supposed to be and saw only empty space. He looked around to see the fog was gone. He could see the dead body of his real surrogate sister, the raped body of Shirogane, and the bleeding form of Satonaka Chie. He looked around some more and spotted Adachi. He was a few yards away to the left of Souji. His patented revolver pointed right at Souji's head.
BANG!
CHINK!
To the amazement of Rise and the utter dread of Adachi, Souji skillfully knocked away the bullet with his sword. Once Souji moved away enough from Rise's grasp, the fog had magically come alive once more to obscure Souji's view. Adachi couldn't focus on Rise as Souji ran forward despite the fog. He was running at an unprecedented speed. Rise summoned Kanzeon and began her spell.
"Enemy Radar!" yelled Rise boldly, Kanzeon shimmered into existence and radiated a blinding flash of bright light, "FULL ANALYSIS!"
The fog vanished completely. Nothing was obscured anymore. A bloody Souji ran at Adachi at blinding speeds, an angry Adachi pointed his gun to shoot, and an exhausted Rise fell to her knees but forced herself to stay conscious to keep the spell active. The fallen forms of the three girls could be seen clearly and the two Persona's fighting in the sky swooped down to intervene between their human selves.
Souji knocked away the bullets that Adachi kept shooting easily. Adachi dared to run toward Souji in hopes of shooting him fatally to end it. As Adachi raised his gun to shoot at Souji to end his life, Souji brought his sword toward Adachi at lightning fast speed, and he severed the hand holding the gun from Adachi's body.
"AHHHHHGH!" cried Adachi in pain; he looked at the bleeding stump of an arm aghast. "FUUUUCK - FUCK YOU!"
Souji's killing blow was stopped by Adachi's true self, Ongyo-ki, slamming his double-edged spear onto Souji. Souji flew back a few yards but impacted lightly on Bloody Izanagi who swooped in to catch Souji. Souji was let down and both headed straight of their opponents. Bloody Izanagi flew alongside Souji's fast pace.
Ongyo-ki charged forth in front of Adachi so that Adachi could use a spell on Souji with his remaining hand in surprise. Adachi followed behind Ongyo-ki. Souji and Bloody Izanagi held their swords horizontally in the exact same manner, pointed at their opponents, and were determined to break open their opponents' bodies. They both saw crimson.
'KILL, KILL, KILL'
The frenzy of desiring Adachi's blood was back. Souji didn't stop himself this time. He allowed himself to bathe in the thoughts of Adachi's blood. Bloody Izanagi felt the same. They wanted to wreck havoc upon their enemies. Cutting Adachi's hand off wasn't good enough to satisfy them. They wanted more blood!
Unbeknownst to them, a crimson glow washed over them. It burned brightly and a sphere of dark red began to cover their forms. A cocoon of red briefly covered them entirely and flew at Adachi. It traveled at an inhumane speed. Soon, a figure burst forth from the cocoon. The cocoon fell to the floor. The dark red blood began to slowly burn the ground it had fallen on. Steam obscured the view of what happened.
Ongyo-ki and Adachi had stopped in confusion. Rise watched in mixture of awe and fear. Flying out of the steam was a Bloody Izanagi with an ominous dark red aura. The fiercer Bloody Izanagi impaled his spear straight through Ongyo-ki and Tohru Adachi in one smooth motion once he had closed the distance.
"ARRGHHHKK KRAAAAAHHH!" cried Adachi in pain while his Persona roared in pain. It slowly began to dissipate into nothing.
This was the end.
The mighty victor hoisted the added weight to his spear vertically and flew into the air at tremendous speeds.
"Adachi!" spoke the voice of Seta Souji from the mouth of Magatsu Izanagi, "Choke on your own blood and die!"
Adachi and Ongyo-ki felt their own insides melt from within. The spear was nearly as hot as the surface of the sun. Adachi and Ongyo-ki were being cooked alive from the inside out.
Magatsu Izanagi opened his jaws revealing sharp obsidian teeth. It began sucking in the powers protecting Adachi as Ongyo-ki fully vanished. Adachi lost the power of his Persona, the wildcard, and the special abilities given to him by the Goddess. Once Bloody Izanagi closed his jaws after digesting Adachi's powers, Adachi's body burst into flames and Bloody Izanagi swung his spear down with a heavy force causing Adachi's body to come loose. His burning remains plummeted to the floor. His body finally hit the ground with a sickening crack.
Bloody Izanagi looked up at the sky and roared a Victory Cry.
Victory Cry was the new ability that he had gained from absorbing all of Adachi's powers. The terrifying Persona-human hybrid descended to the ground and separated into two people once his feet touched the floor. There was a brief flash of blood red before the two finally separated. Bloody Izanagi shimmered back to card form within Souji's breast pocket.
Souji panted harshly as he noticed all his bullet wounds and blood were gone. He had no idea how the hell he had even done that fusion. He reasoned that he wouldn't be able to call upon that ability again because he didn't know how that power worked.
The tears in his clothes were all that remained damaged. Souji looked toward Adachi's body to find the flames had scorched through everything inside and that only the skeleton remained. The fire would slowly burn that away too.
The burning skeletal remains of Tohru Adachi rose from the floor.
Souji and Rise stared dumbfounded and terrified. The thing began flying off the ground and took a cross-shape. It flew in front of Souji. The skeleton hung in the air, in a cross-like shape, and it was still on fire. A sickly dark aura appeared amongst the fire and seemed to give off smoke from the skeletal remains.
"Is he a demon or a god?" said Rise thinking aloud in her shock by the extraordinary event happening before her, "I can't even tell the difference…"
"All humans will become shadows…" spoke the ominous voice of Adachi, "And I shall descend upon the united world… as the master of order."
Rise blinked. Souji raised his eyebrow. What was this crazy shit being spouted out now? The initial terror they both felt died away at the thing's words. Somehow, the end of the world seemed less important given the events that preceded the sinister new arrival. Dealing with some monster that talked about some apocalypse seemed much less difficult than dealing with dead body, an injured person, and a rape victim. The idea of fighting something that proclaimed an end of the world scheme seemed hollow and childish by comparison to what they had just gone through.
'After all the shit that's just happened,' Souji thought in a sense of detachment, 'Who the fuck cares?'
Rise was more concerned about her friends and her guilt. The ramblings of some insane abomination seemed like just that... the ramblings of some insane abomination. There was no difficulty in knowing how to react towards it normally. It was just that… it felt pointless after what they went through.
"It's… It's not Adachi…" clarified Rise, though she didn't think she had to, "It's… something else. I'm not sure what."
'I'm not sure if I even care…'
"Both this world and yours will be enclosed in a fog that never lifts. It will be the peaceful world that mankind has longed for..."
"They already live in fog, if you really think about it.." replied Souji, not knowing what else to say.
His shoulders sagged. Should he leave? He wanted to just take Nanako's remains and bury them properly. Adachi's carcass was being used as some prop by some random monster that came out of nowhere. He turned to look at the dead body and immediately looked away. It was still too fresh in his memories. Adachi's little mindfuck still hurt him. Dealing with some mad monster would be easier.
He gave this thing his undivided attention.
"Do you have a name?"
"I…" began the thing purposely trying to seem ominous, Souji wondered how it could be using the voice of a dead skeleton. "am Ameno-sagiri…"
"One who rules the fog. One awakened by man's desires. Do what you will but your world's erosion cannot be stopped. It is an inevitability... You played your part well, stirring up the will of the masses into madness. But that will soon come to an end… Mankind will soon become shadows and live on in the darkness of the fog, oblivious of their reality…"
"…Does everything you say have to be so cliché, arrogant, and pseudo-intellectual?" deadpanned Souji, wondering why this thing had randomly decided to appear in the first place. "What are you anyway? Are you the master of shadows or something? You're not that immense force of power that I've sensed during my excursions here so I'm at a loss for why you would even be here."
"I am the one that shepherds humans to their true desires," said the skeletal remains which were still on fire and still had the dark aura smoking from the back, "Though their hearts longed for peace, it could never be attained… So they tore down the wall between image and reality. Indeed, this is the outcome desired by mankind. And mankind's desires are my desires."
"That is why I decided to expand this world…"
"Bullshit." chorused the voices of Souji and Rise.
"That strange fog power that Adachi had did not come from you." said Rise pointedly from her seated position on the floor, "I scanned it thoroughly. The scan I'm picking up from you already proves that you're not its source."
"My sensing ability tells me that you're not that extraordinary power that's been running amok and screwing around with everything here." said Souji brashly to the fake in front of him, "I intend to find that power someday and when I do I'm going to fucking torture it for having a hand in my sister's death!"
Rise stared at him solemnly.
'His cousin was like a sister to him… and I had a hand in taking that away…'
They seemed to have a temporary truce at the moment. If he began attacking her then she wouldn't fight back. She would request that Chie and Naoto get tended to a hospital first and accept all the blame that came afterwards. That would spare Naoto and Chie any further pain.
Ameno-sagiri continued as if the thing hadn't heard the two calling it out on it's lie.
"This is part of the sea of unconsciousness that exists within human hearts. A hollow forest born from bloated desire and false imagery. Humans view things as they see fit. They wish not for truth, but rather prefer the undesirables be hidden in fog… Still, humans fear what they cannot see. That brief yearning for truth becomes a ray of light which breaks the fog and torments the Shadows… Mankind abandoned its pursuit of truth, placing itself in the depth of chaos and falsehood. Thus, my strength has grown, and the fog will not lift. Your world will be engulfed by the hollow forest."
"Just shut the hell up with the arrogance and self-justifications!" responded Souji angrily staring at the burning skeleton, "I've had enough nonsense to deal with for one lifetime! Shut up and go away, you worthless fake!"
"Humans fail to see things as they really are. They choose to see only what they wish." ranted Ameno-sagiri, ignoring Souji's spiteful remarks entirely, "I acted only in support of this. A world filled with desires… Viewed through a window, from which one sees what one wishes to see… Humans departed from reality of their own volition, craving more false images."
That information literally didn't make sense to either of them.
"The Midnight Channel?" concluded Rise in confusion, "That's not possible. That completely contradicts my journey with people, who weren't shown on television, facing their shadows. Naoto may be famous but Chie never was."
"Neither was Yosuke," added Souji staring at the thing in irritation. "My bullshit meter's on overload and I've had just about enough of it."
"Either you shut up and leave or I'll make you."
"I'm in agreement. You're just spouting nonsense." said Rise analyzing the information given, "If what was seen was only what the populous viewed us to be then how could we have faced our 'true selves'? Those were our inner secrets that emerged. They weren't just representations of popular opinion."
"You have a power I did not foresee… the ability to master your own shadow that emerged to kill you, and use it's power… to have come so far with such power." blathered the thing, "You must be tested, Seta Souji."
"What?" shouted Souji startled, "Wait, why just me-?"
Fire erupted from the ground and covered the burning skeleton. It was similar to the power Souji had used to momentarily fuse himself with his Persona and kill Adachi. The fire roared and swarmed around the remnants of Adachi, shadows from all around started merging with the carcass just like with Namatame, and it twisted around before melting into the ground.
The water that had suddenly appeared rose up to reveal Ameno-sagiri's new form. The thing revealed itself to be… a gigantic eyeball. Souji stared at the thing and facepalmed. Was he expected to take a giant eyeball seriously? Why would anyone take a giant eyeball at face value?
"To defy me is a senseless act that goes against your world's wishes…"
"Weren't you just saying you were going to test him?" questioned Rise, "Why are you acting so… robotic?"
"Now… let everything vanish into the sweet fog of illusion…"
"Wait! Why are you acting like he has to face you! No one challenged you-"
"Let us begin…"
"Stop! You don't make sense!"
Ameno-Sagiri immediately used God's Judgment upon Souji. The twin gold hammers slammed into him and damaged him severely.
Souji pointed his sword right at the damn thing's overly large iris. He didn't need Bloody Izanagi for this. He had just the power to crush this monster.
He summoned forth the untapped power that had been birthed after the defeat of Shadow Yosuke. This power had significantly increased during his fight with those two shadows sent by that powerful force and had increased monumentally after absorbing the Reaper's powers. The blade of Totsuka was stern enough to handle such magnificent power. This power was a reflection of Souji's own soul. A soul that yearned for a different path then the intended – expected – course in it's life. A path that followed the basic primal instincts of animals and Souji's embittered passionate rage toward his own life. The deplorable lifestyle of his childhood and the loss of those he loved. The desire to bring carnage, havoc, and outright annihilation to all the hypocritical social conditions that existed.
A power on the same level as a myriad of truths.
"Piercing Truth," whispered Souji pointing the bladed edge of his sword at Ameno-Sagiri.
The results were immediate.
The sword's blade flashed a blinding deep blue that protruded outward at high speeds. The thin blue beam – shaped as the blade it had enveloped – punctured straight into the eye of Ameno-Sagiri. Ameno-Sagiri bawled loudly in pain as dark goo began to leak out of the large eye socket. The beam kept going and blasted out of the back of Ameno-Sagiri causing the back to leak out the dark goo as well.
Ameno-Sagiri continued wailing in pain until it slowly seemed to slump and quieted. The beam of blue light flickered like a flashlight for a few moments before completely dying away. The blade of Totsuka was back to normal. Bloody Izanagi emerged into existence and devoured the obscene amount of shadow power that the pitiful creature had. Souji felt his powers grow exponentially.
Oddly enough, the husk of Ameno-Sagiri remained. All power contained within it was gone. The only thing left was a giant dead creature. Bloody Izanagi cried out in Victory. The Victory Cry healed all damage inflicted by the waste of power, Ameno-Sagiri.
A shining bright light beaconed from the sky. Down floated a figure majestically; she wore a simple white robe around her which covered her sensuous body entirely. She had high-defined cheekbones, creamy-colored light skin, rosy lips, dark-red eyes, and long tanish-silver hair.
She landed on top of the large eyelid of Ameno-Sagiri and sat down.
"Congratulations," spoke the sweet melodic voice of the Goddess, "On making it so far."
"I am Izanami, the true creator and ruler of this domain."
"After seeing a flying skeleton on fire," began Souji eyeing the new arrival, "You're just not as threatening by comparison."
The young lady in white moved the back of her right hand to her lips and giggled. It seemed she was amused by Souji's introduction.
"That being said, I can sense that you're the source of that monstrous power that's been interfering throughout my journey. Be ready, you pristine looking bitch because I'm going to fucking torture you."
Izanami put her hand back to her sides and started kicking her legs childishly from where she sat comfortably. An innocent and happy smile was on her flawless features.
"Oh, is that all?" broached Izanami, tilting her head cutely, "Don't you want to know why I did all this? I was about to go into a lengthy monologue of how humans debase themselves! Aren't you curious to learn the perspective of humanity from a deity's point of view?"
"You're… God?" asked Rise in fascination and alarm, Kanzeon flashed into existence. "You… are. Kanzeon can sense it… you're the Goddess who caused all of this…"
"Why?"
'And why didn't Igor warn me about this! How could he imply Souji was a worse threat than this! It's an evil Goddess for heaven's sake!'
Ameno-Sagiri seemed to just be a random monster. This person… this Goddess had a mystifying air about her. The power she was radiating by her presence alone was giving Rise chills. Izanami wasn't acting pompous like Ameno-Sagiri. She seemed to be treating the situation like a joke.
"At first, it was for the same reasons as my creation Ameno-Sagiri…" admitted Izanami bemoaning her own actions, "However, after studying Seta Souji-kun and seeing his triumphs through his own selfishness… I began to question myself. I decided to take my own journey and left to experience more of the world outside the town of Inaba. Ameno-Sagiri was efficient enough to maintain this world – the world of human desire – until I returned. I learned so much more than I had ever known when trapped in hell abandoned by my lover…"
"Once I returned, I had felt changed from the person I use to be. I extinguished my own palace, Yomotsu Hirasaka, and changed my human appearance to one more aesthetically pleasing to myself. I used the aggregate power left over from my palace in order to do that. I left Ameno-Sagiri unchanged because he was a representation of my past self. I wanted to keep him just in case my change in ideals was proven wrong. His ability to respond to questions was limited. While he is an 'organism', he barely functions beyond the basic capabilities of what you call a 'toy'. If you had just mindlessly yelled at him instead of rationally questioning him then he would've successfully hoodwinked you."
"Why the hell did you keep sending powerful monsters out to kill me?" demanded a livid Souji, this bitch was entirely responsible for everything that happened! Nanako was dead because of her! "Why target me? Why did you purposely make it more difficult? Why didn't you just stop it completely if you had changed?"
"The answer is you, dear." replied Izanami sincerely, startling Souji. Rise furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. "Let us back track, the Persona given to you from my repertoire was one that I hated with a seething passion. Your mannerisms are the exact same as my beloved's when he abandoned me in hell because he was disgusted by my appearance. I sent creatures to stop him, I begged him to come back numerous times, and I'm unashamed to admit that I fell to the floor crying for him to return… to comfort me, to love me."
"I wanted to believe that our love was stronger than mere looks. I had given him my womanhood, birthed him many children, and I was thrown in hell just to be of assistance to him. Yet, he abandoned me and proved his love was a fraud because he couldn't stand to look at my figure when it was hideous. I threatened humanity in a blind fit of rage because of my distress… he took it seriously and treated me like an enemy from thereafter. I hate Magatsu Izanagi. Souji-kun, you are Magatsu Izanagi."
Souji didn't understand. So what if he acted the same as her lover? That didn't mean anything. Their personalities might be the same but Souji wasn't the ancient Izanagi. She had no right to throw her hate for Izanagi on him.
"Why did you give me this power if you hated it?" asked Souji confused, "Why didn't you just destroy it?"
"I didn't really have a choice," explained Izanami softly, "When a person awakens their inner soul there isn't really anything that even a deity can do to stop it. Magatsu Izanagi was your true self."
"If your soul was different then I would've bestowed upon you the weaker variations of Izanagi and forced Magatsu, the highest form, on someone like Adachi who would never have been able to unleash your real power. I suspect that he would've fought pitifully with it. Magatsu is the last form Izanagi took before he reincarnated his soul. It is the unveiling of his primal instinct upon the world. His true nature."
"His true nature?" questioned Rise, rising up from the floor slowly. She held her stomach in pain with her left arm. She slowly moved so that she was a few feet away from Souji but near enough to look up at Izanami next to him. "If it was just like Souji's… then…"
"Izanagi, even before the revelation of his true nature, would use his authority as a divine being to convince young virgin women to give themselves to him." said Izanami smiling sadly, Rise gasped in astonishment. Souji wasn't surprised. "While I birthed many children for him out of love… the amount of children we were said to have together is exaggerated. Many of them were demi-gods born from innocent women that were blinded by the idea that a God was only ever pure love or a force of good. This blindness led them to become the many Yomotsu-Shikomes' in hell once they passed away."
"I was always second-rate to his sexual urges. I knew… I knew that once Souji-kun had awakened Magatsu Izanagi, the primal form, that he would act out his nature. I had vainly hoped Souji-kun would contradict my assumption... I couldn't stop him from awakening his true powers. I had already given his power the gentle push it needed. I was still foolishly clinging to the idea of giving humans the fog at the time. Souji-kun, Adachi, and Namatame were to represent the three different aspects of humanity's adaptability to the truth. I would awaken a unique power for each based on their personality if they accepted their true selves. Regrettably, nothing went as planned. Souji-kun sought to expand his selfish desires, Namatame was an utter failure since he could never face his true self, and Adachi only wished to degrade others for his own amusement."
"I begrudgingly unlocked Souji-kun's innate nature when he obtained his Persona. He wanted to use others to his advantage and thus Magatsu Izanagi was bestowed the power to devour. I acted upon my own reward-based system and I was proud that Souji-kun had earned his power by accepting his Shadow without complaint. I genuinely did not expect such power to expand itself frenziedly and become a dangerous weapon that could consume everything around it. I am not surprised by the results, however, because of his true nature."
"Adachi was the other person who accepted his Persona without complaint. The closest that his personality came to was Magatsu Izanagi, which was already given away to it's true self, so I allowed Adachi to gain his initial Persona, Yomotsu-Shikome, and awakened it's strongest form, Ongyo-ki. He accepted his true self without complaint so I rewarded him with his Persona's ultimate form. I unlocked his innate nature which was the ability to hide his true self in fog and show people what he wanted them to see. The white mist ability represented Adachi's true desire since he was constantly rejected by others because of their preconceived notions of him. Adachi had learned to hide himself in a façade but the fundamental longing to show his real nature never left him. That's why he was given the power to show what he wanted others to see."
"Namatame denied that his estranged view of this world was wrong at every given turn. He was being willfully ignorant. I decided to use the shadows to strengthen his power and turn him into his worst fear by playing upon his desires. His ignorance represented humanity's vast ignorance. He never unlocked his innate ability. I cannot even guess as to what it would've been. He was unwilling to see the reality of the situation so I used him to further test you, Souji-kun. That was his punishment."
They both listened rapt in the story. The pieces of the mystery that Souji had been wondering about were finally being explained. Rise wanted to know as well. She realized the depth of her own foolishness at Izanami's unraveling of the events. She should have prepared everyone for Izanami and not Souji.
"Test me for what?" bit out Souji seething; while his curiosity was being sated, it didn't change what occurred. "You got my family killed because of this bullshit! You better have a good explanation!"
"The only reason I haven't attacked you yet is because I want an explanation! I want to know why! Why! For what fucking reason is my family dead?"
"Initially, it was for the same reason as this pitiful construction here," answered Izanami patting the carcass she had seated herself on, "After watching you; I was forced to question my own beliefs. Your selfishness persevered beyond anything I had anticipated. Namatame, at least, wanted to help others in his own atypical way. Adachi was too lazy to really do anything until cornered or given power. You consistently came back here to assert your own dominance over others. Your actions weren't about truth but acting as unrestrained as you pleased. For the most part, you did everything you could to defend that dominance of yours."
"My intentions regarding this world took an unexpected path so I traveled to other parts of the world to research and study humanity more thoroughly. I studied your many wars, your philosophies, your faiths, and your nations. I eventually came to a startling conclusion. I had been on the precipice of this unsettling realization with my old beliefs…"
"That would be?" beseeched Rise, waiting breathlessly in anticipation for what the Goddess had to say.
Souji scowled darkly. He felt he wouldn't give a damn what explanation was used. He just wanted to know why the fuck this bitch had let it continue.
"The truth… the actual truth is meaningless to the perspective of most humans."
"What?" said Rise alarmed, what the hell was she talking about? "Humans search for truth all the time! That's how we grow and find ourselves!"
Izanami shook her head dismissively. She would expound upon the resolution she had come to acknowledge.
"That is incorrect." said Izanami piercingly, "Let me elaborate, most humans act under the defined mindset of their location. This hasn't really changed. All that did change was the proportion of people. Tribes of ancient civilizations simply became known as nations, knowledge of right and wrong is always determined by those in charge of the nation, and people only complain about what personally afflicts them."
"All humans want special attention. They do not concern themselves with the suffering of others they do not know. You humans will insist you are helping by donating to charity, prayer sessions, wearing something on an 'awareness' day, or writing some pointless message online. Most do not actively participate to help others. The methods that I have just listed are ways humankind shirks responsibility to make themselves feel better. All most humans do is find unique ways not to care."
"Repugnantly, humans will even act upon atrocities toward others of their species by mere words from those in power. All it takes are words to spread hate easily. They ignore their own crimes in this state of willful ignorance. Those in power only have to utter a few changes in phrases to make a massive death toll. Words like genocide change into ethnic cleansing, organized murder into war, or killing into defending. Often when these tragedies are occurring, other nations do not concern themselves to be involved unless they have materialistic resources at stake. No nation sacrifices the lives of soldiers unless there is a boon for the taking. They dissuade their public from helping fellow humans who are being exterminated like cockroaches. They easily sway the masses by changing words such as massacre into tragedy, murders into casualties and many, many other ways."
"When confronted with this reality, the realities of Rwanda, Georgia, Kosovo, Cambodia, and other nameless mass murders, the general reaction of those unaffected is to shy away. The norm is to justify themselves by speaking of how they cannot do anything about it. They simply don't want to try. Their actions say what their words never will: they don't care. It doesn't affect their daily lives therefore they do not want to bother with it becoming their problem. That is all. That is the realistic truth."
"I…" began Rise at a loss for words, "I don't know what to say…"
"That is normal." said Izanami, "That is one of the two habitual responses to any argument. The other is to continuously deny the opposing view and recite your disproven argument constantly. Humans are pathetic in that particular regard. Truth is irrelevant to nearly all humans."
"All of that is why I stopped my plan to cover the human world in fog. I have been shown the enormities of human selfishness. I must take charge and govern humanity into a golden age of peace. I shall extract the emotion of selfishness in human hearts and bring forth a free benevolent world in which all are compelled to help each other. No more greed, no more wars, no more genocide, no more nations, no more religion, and no more suffering!"
"You don't have that right!" hollered Rise angrily, it sounded like a good idea but who was she to take over humanity like that? It sounded like some type of enslavement method.
"What's the catch?" asked Souji cynically, "There is always a catch."
"I don't have the right?" laughed Izanami, the laughter was beautiful and harmonious, "From my own scrutiny of your peoples', I've found many religious wars, hysteria, and travesties justified by God. All of these were committed under the name of a deity of some sort. Holy wars, witch burnings, terrorism, religious subversion, and religious oppression have all taken place under the presumptuous justification that deities were on their side."
"Going through human history the justification by tribal leaders ruling during olden ages was that they had been born from divinity, the justification for absolute monarchs was the divine right of kings – that the position was given by God, and you humans laud the current popular form of governance – democracy - by proclaiming that a Creator has given you democratic nations as a gift. I am an actual deity who has come to rule you and you turn the other cheek? By my analysis, I'm simply following predicate."
"Humanity has already ordained me as ruler."
Rise frowned at Izanami's words. She tried to find a hole in that logic but failed. Izanami was the Goddess so did they even have a right to challenge her supremacy? If God suddenly showed up and proclaimed that it would rule the world from then on. What would the reaction by most people be?
Souji scowled because his question hadn't been heard. He didn't care if he was going to fight a Goddess. He would admit that he was scared of the prospect and that was partly why he was holding back but he wasn't going to just give-up. He could never let this go. He wanted vengeance for all that he lost.
"As for the catch?" lamented Izanami somberly, bringing up Souji's question. "There are some people who will never let go of their selfish desires. Thus, I wouldn't be able to extract the selfishness from them no matter how hard I tried. I must take the necessary and unavoidable measures to achieve this peace for the betterment of all humankind. I must kill all the self-interested people."
"I am sorry to say that one of those people is you, Souji-kun."
"Good." said Souji smirking maleficiently, "I was going to challenge you regardless because of what your actions did to my family."
"Those were the actions of Tohru Adachi," replied Izanami smoothly, "I was neutral to his and your deplorable actions. However, I shall accept some of the responsibility. I did give him power."
She raised herself to stand on the eyelid of Ameno-Sagiri. The husk slowly dissipated away as Izanami floated down a few yards in front of the two. She walked forward from the water she landed upon. Her feet walked on water before they touched the solid platform of the ground. She turned her attention to Souji.
"We shall fight to the death. Neither of us are the type to give up until we've won. I won't mince words: I'm going to crush you. You have become the world's very personification of selfishness while I have changed from the embodiment of useless truth to that of Goodwill."
Izanami put her delicate hands on the neckline of the fabric she wore. Her hands tightened around it.
"I would like to take this moment to congratulate you personally. You are the only one to have faced all the trials I set forth. You defeated the shadow of a shadow, Kunino-Sagiri, Shadow Yosuke's transformation, Neo Minotaur, Sleeping table, the Reaper, and Adachi's innate powers with the Wildcard. You are the only one deserving enough to engage me in a fight."
Izanami loosened the fabric and pulled off her only article of clothing. She threw the white robe away. It flew into the air wildly before crashing into the waters behind her and sinking into the murky depths. Izanami revealed her voluptuous body for all to see.
Rise stared in jealousy before snapping out of it. The beautiful woman had an hourglass body. The skin of the ample bust-size didn't have any blemishes, she had a physique worth killing for, and she was an absolutely gorgeous figure of womanhood.
"Uh…" He was at a loss for words. Souji couldn't help but stare dumbfounded, "This… wasn't exactly the type of 'fighting' I had in mind…"
Izanami shook her head in annoyance. Inwardly, she was quite delighted by his reaction. She made sure to keep that to herself for the time being.
"If this serves as too much of a distraction then you are not serious about a death match," said Izanami simply, She smirked. She brought her left hand on top of her left breast and moved her hand down seductively, "If I have the ability to use my sexuality as a weapon then I will."
'Fucking bitch!' thought Souji, being affected by her sensuous movements, 'Fuck, it's getting harder to come-up with a plan… I need to distract her for a little bit. Damn, I want to fuck her…'
"Why do you call me Souji-kun?" He asked; He was sincerely curious about why she thought she had that personal right. It's not like she knew him.
"I've already told you the answer." replied Izanami in a sing-song voice, "You simply weren't paying attention."
The death match to determine the fate of humanity began. The reasons behind the fight were a secondary priority to both of them. The two combatants were more concerned with either killing or being killed. In a battle, that was all that mattered. Ideals took a backseat when one is faced with a real life and death struggle.
They raised an arm at each other. Their palms ready to cast a spell to destroy the other.
"Megadolian!" came the twin cries from Souji and Izanami.
Souji and Rise fled as they watched Izanami snort in amusement. She kicked the compressed Super Megadolian up into the air and watched as it blew-up into the high sky without hurting anyone. As Izanami brought her foot down she smirked when she saw that Souji had been staring at her pussy since she had brought her leg up. Souji saw the smirk and snapped out of his daze. He was angry at himself for losing focus so stupidly.
Souji didn't want to fight her up close. He was having a hard time controlling his urges already and getting closer could make him lose all self-control. He knew she had planned it this way. It was written all over her smirking visage. Izanami somehow knew what buttons to push. He chalked it up as his personality being the same as the real Izanagi.
"Hamaon!" said Izanami, she summoned a bright white light where Souji was.
"Mudoon!" shouted Souji in retaliation.
A dark and ominous black light was summoned around Izanami. It had no effect. Souji was able to expertly dodge the Hamaon spell. Izanami was inherently immune to death spells.
"Full analysis!" said Rise scanning the Goddess; she wished to be of help in this fight. "She's immune to light and dark spells and she has no weak-"
"Bufudyne." interrupted Izanami pointing the right hand of her index finger at Rise, "This battle is strictly between Souji-kun and I. Don't intervene or else you shall perish along with him."
Ice came into existence and froze around Rise's feet all the way up to her neck. Rise, no longer able to keep balance, fell over. She cried out in pain as her previous injuries suffered from the contact of the ice. She glared at Izanami.
"You have no right to dictate what is good for humanity!"
"Oho, is that so?" replied Izanami still keeping her attention on Souji, she sent a Mabufudyne at Souji and watched him scamper away from the ice shards from where they had been cast. "Have you even reflected upon what your kind has done to better itself? Weapons that destroy whole cities in the name of peace or defense, various concealed carry weapons that can kill at varying distances and which may break through stone, overpopulation of your species, and an economic lifestyle that relies on materialism and exploitation being paraded as a positive. The alternatives to that economy possess their own deficiencies."
"Eventually, I suspect humanity will destroy enough of the resources that sustain their civilizations and kill each other trying to salvage the remnants. I'm providing an alternative that makes all of the aforementioned unnecessary. I'm going to create world peace. The only real drawback, in the grand scheme of things, is that you won't have a choice in helping others. You will simply do it."
Souji launched a Ziodyne at Izanami. Izanami knocked it away with her hand but she did show discomfort from being hit by it. Souji noticed that her hand was a bit burned. He moved closer.
"Ziodyne!" shouted Souji sneering in satisfaction; he made sure to charge every bit of power into it.
The spell hit Izanami dead center and she doubled back in pain but was otherwise unharmed.
"Stagnant air!" called forth Izanami, silvery wisps of fog enveloped the area around them. "Foolish whisper!"
It wasn't thick like Adachi's white fog and they still had a clear view of each other. This silver fog's only purpose was to increase the likelihood of ailment-induced spells connecting with the target. It was a double-edged sword to use in a fight.
"Foolish whisper!" mimicked Souji ready for that spell, the two curses were unsuccessful. Neither was muted by the opposition's spell. "That's it! I've had enough of this dicking around!"
"Dicking around?" repeated Izanami raising a dainty eyebrow, "This isn't foreplay, Souji-kun…"
"Mind charge!"
"….SHUT UP!" shouted Souji embarrassed, he hated being so distracted by her sexy appearance. "I've had enough of this."
"Fuck you!"
He had shouted those words out of habit. It only made his thoughts worsen because she was so appealing. It was torment to look at her and not have her. His hard-on raged.
"Sure," said Izanami in an affectionate tone, "I would be happy to relieve the stress that you've built-up. We can take a temporary recess from our destined battle and soothe each other."
"…" Souji gaped at her like fish; he couldn't help but ogle her body. His thoughts and his body's urges were becoming nerve-racking! He contemplated the suggestion…
"AGIDYNE!" shouted Izanami smiling devilishly, she watched as Souji was hit dead center by the spell. He flew a few yards before falling to the floor and rolling in pain with the fire still damaging him. "You're making this too easy, Souji-kun."
Izanami shook her head and chuckled in merriment as she watched Souji. He took off his coat while rolling on the floor, got up, began trying to stomp the fire out, and gave up. He left the burning coat on the floor. It had holes in it anyway. Izanami took note that his buttoned-up white shirt and undershirt had holes in them too.
'Well, that just won't do~' thought the Goddess playfully, 'Not at all!'
"Garudyne." said Izanami, sending a wind spell at Souji. Souji, being distracted, was hit with it and fell over. "I know that you can do better than that, dear…"
Souji tore off the shredded remains of his buttoned white shirt and undershirt. Izanami smiled seductively when she saw his toned chest.
"I'm beginning to think that you took those attacks on purpose in an effort to seduce me." giggled Izanami mirthfully, "Sorry but it won't work, Souji-kun."
Souji walked forward with a dark look on his face. He pointed his sword at her. He was going to fucking end this! He didn't want to use this so much in battle because it took a lot of energy to successfully pull off.
"No need to look so irritable. I took advantage of the fight to my favor. You wouldn't have fought any differently and you know it."
"Piercing Truth."
The blue blade beam struck right through Izanami's chest. Izanami coughed blood that fell to the floor. Her face split in momentary surprise before sadness over took her. She looked up at Souji's cold visage of indifference. Tears began cascading down her porcelain cheeks. She smiled bitterly.
"You always find a way to break my heart…"
"I'm not-" Souji began but was interrupted by Izanami.
"There is a reason why Magatsu Izanagi represents both the Fool and World Arcana. He's the only Persona to represent two Arcanas. You are living proof of why that is."
"What?"
The beam disappeared like a flickering flashlight. Izanami's wound healed itself. The blood on her chest and out of her back still remained. She stared at Souji tearfully before her eyes hardened. Souji felt the monstrous power contained within the beautiful woman unleash itself.
"Well then… allow me to show you my full splendor…"
Izanami began touching herself and dancing erotically as a shining white light overtook her figure. Souji covered his eyes only when the light became too much to bear. There was a monumental boom and out of the sandstorm of dust revealed Izanami-no-Okami. The rotting, death-ridden, and disfigured true form of the Goddess.
Izanami had been forced to unleash her true powers. Souji had pushed his own interpretation of life's truth into her heart and awakened the gnawing powers within. She couldn't hide in a façade from Magatsu Izanagi, neither did she have that desire. She wanted him to see the twisted results of her stay in hell.
"Behold…" began Izanami scathingly, unbeknownst to Souji she had just activated Beast's Eye. "Witness what you've done to me! How I've been tortured for countless eons because of you!"
Souji flinched back at the power radiating from the monster before him. At the very least, he no longer had a boner. He could focus on killing her now.
"Look at me! It's your entire fault! I hate you, I hate you, I HATE YOU, Izanagi!"
Rise shook with fear. She couldn't even escape because the ice spell still had her encased. The gigantic creature screeched an eerie and painful shrill. Her death-ridden eyes were solely focused on Seta Souji.
The twelve-armed creature used Power Charge and then struck with Fury of Yasogami. Ten arms were ready to crush Souji. It seemed that Izanami hadn't been speaking figuratively about crushing him. Souji immediately summoned Bloody Izanagi to block the first strike. Bloody Izanagi used his spear as a guard. The attack struck Bloody Izanagi with great force but he held steadfast. Souji ran to his right to avoid the second fist, and he shot a Magarudyne to stop the third and forth bony fists. He used Heat Riser to escape from the fifth one as it crashed to the floor in close proximity to him, he barely lunged out of the way of the sixth one as it impacted the floor near him heavily, Bloody Izanagi had recovered enough to take the seventh one while Souji was still getting up from the floor, Souji used Vorpal Blade to stop the eighth one as he started running once more, and jumped out of the way of the ninth one. Panting from the excursion, Souji shot a strong Maziodyne at the last one in hopes that it would blast the bony fist in a different direction. That proved to be a mistake. Izanami-no-Okami absorbed the lightning attack and healed any internal injuries left over from Souji's Piercing Truth. The last fist connected with Souji harshly and he was thrown into the air like a ragdoll.
Izanami used Mind Charge followed by Kuro Ikazuchi as Souji flew helplessly in the air. Souji screamed in pain as lightning bolts from the sky were summoned and fatally burned his shirtless body. He crashed into the ground and crumpled in pain. Burn marks could be seen all over his chest. His skin smoked and his flesh rotted from the exposure. Souji realized that he would need to use his full arsenal to have any hope of taking her down. He got up swiftly and observed what he could use to his advantage. A plan had formed in his mind.
Izanami turned to face him and cast Megadolian where Souji was. Souji ran at his fast pace to get out of the way but was launched into the sky by the outcome of the blast. He didn't take any damage but he was thrown into the sky yet again. Izanami, hoping to conclude the fight, cast the spell Debilitate but that proved useless as Bloody Izanagi swooped in and flew Souji away before the spell could complete to hamper his abilities. Souji began his plan and closed his eyes to concentrate. Izanami shot spell after spell at the fast flying Persona. Bloody Izanagi was evading Maragidyne, Mabufadyne, Maziodyne, and Magarudyne.
Izanami-no-okami shrieked in rage. Magatsu Izanagi roared in defiance right back at her. Izanami was so focused on her anger toward the flying duo that she didn't notice the Power-charged Vicious Strike from behind until she was crying in pain from having been hit by the critical blow. She slowly turned around only to have a Bufudyne cast around her head and break apart right in her face. She screeched in pain before looking at her mysterious assailant. It was the girl who in the crutches who was now attacking her with Sui-ki.
Izanami was pissed. She realized what had happened when she got a good look at her attacker. Souji had his power of 'possession' to take over the girl's body and used her to summon one of the Wildcard Persona's that he had acquired from Adachi. She was about to strike it down when she was hit by a Power-Charged Gigantic fist from her left side. She stumbled a bit before she saw the rape victim being used to summon Kin-ki. Enraged at Souji's continued selfishness, she was about to turn around and do her best to kill Souji when a voice stopped her.
"USE ME!" yelled Rise desperately, "I want to fight too! Use me! I want to be of assistance!"
"We have to defeat this monster at all costs!"
Rise knew it wasn't fair to use them but what other choice did they have when fighting an actual God? Perhaps whatever was in the afterlife would forgive her but she had no problem with using her comrades in this manner if it meant saving humanity. They had come in here knowing the dangers in the first place. It didn't really seem uncalled for or unfair in Rise's opinion.
"Such selfishness…" lamented Izanami disgusted by Rise's words, "Shameful."
"And to what end? To stop world peace? You repulse me, Kujikawa."
The distraction became a devastating mistake. Sukunda was cast upon Izanami. Izanami shrieked in pure rage and slowly turned to see the skeletal remains of Adachi being used to summon his initial Persona, Yomotsu-Shikome. It had cast the spell from afar. Izanami lost her temper.
"Thousand Curses!"
The dark hands of the underworld came and took Adachi's skeleton to hell. The skeleton was then spat out of the dark void and fell uselessly on the floor. This was Izanami's second mistake. She laughed in victory at her temporary triumph as Yomotsu-Shikome disappeared back into Souji's soul as part of the Wildcard.
Kin-ki took advantage and slammed a Power Charged Vile Assault upon Izanami. This time it was even more effective because he had cast Revolution when Izanami had been distracted by Adachi's skeleton. Izanami tried to cast another Thousand Curses but was interrupted by Sui-ki's follow up with another Power Charged Vicious Strike. Izanami weaved her body back and forth in pain. She was thoroughly pissed off. She turned to Sui-ki and used Galgalim's eyes. The powerful beam of light struck Sui-ki fully. Izanami was content because she presumed that Sui-ki would be trying to heal itself after that fatal attack. Victims were left with barely any life when Galgalim's eyes impacted upon them.
Izanami turned to Kin-ki to begin charging a spell to destroy it only to be hit in the face by a Bufudyne by Sui-ki. Izanami turned to Sui-ki once more and struck him in rage with Fury of Yasogami.
"Chie!" cried Rise as she saw Izanami slam all ten of her bony fists onto the helpless Sui-ku and Chie as a consequence. "CHIE!"
The brainwashed Chie and Sui-ki were continuously pummeled by Izanami's fists. When Izanami turned away from them, Rise could see that both of Chie's legs had been smashed and her right arm had nearly been torn from her shoulder. It was bent in an odd angle. Rise screamed in horror at the sight as more guilt built-up within her.
Izanami calmed herself before turning to face Kin-ki who had power charged again. Izanami concentrated to summon Hell's Judgment when she was struck in the face by with a Vicious strike. Her emotions peaked. She instantly turned her attention back to Sui-ki who, unbeknownst to Izanami, had survived because of his passive ability Enduring Soul. She let out an irritating ear-splitting noise and began to summon one of her strongest magical spells in her blinded tantrum.
"Oho Ikazuchi!" bellowed Izanami seething in rage, "Oho Ikazuchi!"
Izanami cast her most damaging lightning spell upon Sui-ki and Chie. Rise shouted but her voice was deafened by the lightning strikes. Silver-grey clouds formed and dark bluish-black lightning shot forth from them. The injured disoriented Chie and the Persona Sui-ki were mercilessly burned as the dark lightning impacted upon their prone forms. The lightning melted their skin and incinerated their bones. They were assaulted over and over; again and again. It seemed like Izanami wouldn't stop. The lightning strikes went on for only a few minutes but it felt like a lifetime to Rise.
Finally the lightning died down as Rise wept. She prayed that Chie was alright. Naoto's rape and the little girl's death had been bad enough. Izanami called the spell forth yet again.
"OHO IKAZUCHI!"
"NOOOOOOO!"
The dark lightning shot forth again. One final heavy boom erupted as the spell caused a miniature earthquake. The very ground it hit was burned through and formed a miniature crater. Everything it struck was vaporized. Sui-ki would live again… Satonaka Chie would not.
Kujikawa Rise would never know that Souji's Revolution spell was partly at fault for making Izanami's spell so powerful.
Hatred. Pure unadulterated HATRED swept through Rise. Struggle as she might, however, she couldn't free herself from the ice spell keeping her imprisoned. She couldn't do anything so long as she was stuck in it. She growled out her malevolent rage loudly. She was unable to do anything more than that.
She wanted to tear Izanami apart with her bare hands! Crush her underneath her heel! BREAK HER UGLY FUCKING FACE! KILL HER! Chie was DEAD and that stupid monster was the reason! Any trace of terror was erased with hatred inside Rise's heart. She was out for blood. Izanami's blood!
Izanami turned to face Kin-ki only to be struck with a Power Charged Gigantic Fist by Kin-ki on her sternum. Izanami used Mind Charge to strengthen her next spell.
"World's End!" chanted Izanami, summoning an almighty powered blast of unearthly water. It was summoned on the ground that Kin-ki dropped down to stand upon.
Kin-ki was too late to avoid the attack and was blasted severely by the burning Almighty water. He roared in pain as he fell to the floor prone to more danger.
Before Izanami could capitalize on the opportunity, she was accosted by a Power-charged Vorpal blade from Magatsu Izanagi. The Persona had slammed the back of Izanami with the spear radiating a red hue. The double Heat Riser and Revolution's effects increased the damage exponentially and Izanami cried in pain from the excruciating blow. Souji slammed his own Power-charged Vorpal Blade upon Izanami's legs as a follow-up. Izanami felt herself being pushed back by the agonizing physical attack.
Souji summoned Ongyo-ki using Rise. Ongyo-ki raised its double-sided spear and slammed it on the ice to break Rise free from being imprisoned. Rise got up and embraced the power she felt was being forced into her body. Ongyo-ki had temporarily become her Persona. Now she could get her revenge!
Souji allowed Rise to have temporary control of Ongyo-ki. He had enough of a challenge controlling several different Persona's and giving them commands at once. It was a harrowing process and he needed some pressure off of him to properly fight. He had used Sui-ki as a scapegoat and was aware of the possibility that Chie could die by doing that. Rise would never know that particular detail and Souji wasn't going to tell her if it meant she could be of some use for the fight.
"Masukukaja!" shouted Rise, using Ongyo-ki's powers. Everyone of Souji's Persona's got a power boost of speed and evasion.
"No!" bellowed Izanami utterly pissed, she realized how futile the fight could be now. "I WILL NOT GIVE-UP SO EASILY!"
Izanami-no-Okami tried her best but each time she tried to hit any of them, they would get out of the way in time. Neither physical nor magical attacks worked. She had been outmatched. Masakunda, Dekaja, and Debilitate weren't fast enough to hit them either. Any time she tried using Oho Ikazuchi or Thousand Curses, Souji and Rise would viciously interrupt the spellcasting. It went on for several more hours but it soon proved futile for her. Every time she charged herself and used a spell or physical attack they would get out of the way, charge themselves, and then strike at her harshly. Revolution being in effect made virtually all their attacks a critical hit. Despair was felt through her…
Finally, she caught a lucky break. Kin-ki was struck down to the floor once again. Naoto's possessed and naked form right next to him.
"World's End!"
"NO!"
Rise ran into the direction that the burning Almighty attack was being summoned. She grabbed the naked Naoto desperately and pulled her away to safety before she would be killed along with Kin-ki. Kin-ki was destroyed by the geyser of burning Almighty water. Rise was about to gently put her down on the floor when Naoto slumped onto Rise's form because Souji's control had been broken. Souji smoothly possessed Naoto once more and summoned Fuu-ki. Naoto acted like a puppet for Souji once again. Rise moved a bit away so that Naoto wouldn't be hit if Izanami targeted her.
Izanami used Galgalim's eyes on Fuu-ki. It proved to be in vain. Fuu-ki had the passive ability of Null Exhaust. Izanami became annoyed that her success had been so short lived because of the new arrival.
"Agneyastra!"
Izanami summoned several fireballs and sent them hurtling toward where Fuu-ki and the controlled Naoto were. The fireballs merged together to become one huge fireball. Souji used Heat Riser on Fuu-ki so that he could easily dodge the attack. Rise pulled Naoto out of harm's way again. Izanami grew frustrated.
Fuu-ki used Torrent shot which was significantly increased by Fuuki's own passive skill Apt Pupil combined with Revolution. Izanami finally got sick of it all and began charging a super-powerful Megadolian. She wouldn't go down without taking them all with her!
"Hell no, you fucking don't!" said Souji, moving to the front view of Izanami and channeling his last attack. He would annihilate her with this next attack.
Izanami raised the two shortest of her hands in the air. She concentrated all her power on the Megadolain she was creating. It began to grow slowly into a bright purple orb.
Souji brought all his power back to him. The two puppets were relieved of the Personas' they held. Naoto and Rise fell to the floor from their bodies' exertion of handling that kind of power. It was like taking a drug such as alcohol. Once you were off it, your body felt the aftereffects of the hangover. In this case, the hangover was bodily pain. That had been why Mitsuo had fallen unconscious after Souji had used him as a puppet. Naoto had been unconscious from the start. Rise slowly slipped into unconsciousness due to the pain.
Dark red fire – the color of blood - surrounded Souji as his sword began to brim with that same color. He held his sword in both hands and pointed his sword at Izanami. Actual flames erupted from the sword for a brief moment. Souji kept concentrating and churning all his power into this attack. Magatsu Izanagi shined above Souji for a few moments before exploding into a billion pieces and slamming into Souji the same way that shadows merged with Adachi and Namatame. Despite the pain, Souji held onto his stance and his sword pulsated a deep blood red.
"It's unfortunate our battle must end this way…" spoke Izanami tiredly, "Goodbye… accept the reality of your death."
"Megadolian!"
Izanami-no-Okami unleashed the enormous Megadolian and sent it hurtling toward Souji. Souji held onto his sword tightly and kept his stance. He waited patiently. The pulsating deep blood red bladed portion of his sword was finally alive with fire siphoning off the blade. Souji finally let it loose.
"Piercing Carnage!"
It was a step above Piercing Truth, a step above a myriad of truths.
Izanami, anticipating a powerful attack, added an extra one for good measure.
"Oho Ikazuchi!"
Izanami summoned the silver-grey clouds behind the Megadolian. The cloud was summoned on a sideways angle and shot the powerful dark lightning into the Megadolian. The Megadolian expanded into a large, pitch-black orb of destruction. It rumbled and shot out lightning occasionally.
Piercing Carnage was an attack that burned all struggles into the fiery depths of selfish rage. People were easily enraged by the most trivial of subjects or the most serious of issues. People were always passionate about something regardless of if there was truth to it.
The streak of fire burned a hole through the Dark Megadolian of Izanami's and melted straight through her body creating a gaping hole in her sternum. Izanami's monstrous form burst into flames.
"AAAARGGGGGH!" screeched the burning Izanami, "No! No! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NOOOO!"
The Dark Megadolian burst between the space of Souji and Izanami. Izanami's flaming body was pushed into the air and soared upwards like a ragdoll. Somehow, she stopped herself in the air and raised her tiniest arms up into the sky.
As Souji's power died away and finally extinguished, Bloody Izanagi came forth and flew at Izanami in a mad dash. He began to devour her burning body. That proved to be a short-lived endeavor. Izanami slammed used the ten arms on her feet to attack him with a Fury of Yasogami. Bloody Izanagi roared as he plummeted to the ground and crashed in a heap.
"YOU SHALL NOT DEVOUR ME!"
Souji dropped the blade of Totsuka as his arms numbed. He stared up in wonder at the beast that persevered through that harrowing fight. Souji admit that he was at his limit. He knew that she didn't have anything left either. She would die and he wouldn't. The battle was already concluded.
"Behold the folly of what you've accomplished with your efforts!"
Souji stared in amazement as the skies of TV land parted to reveal a strange and intricate sealing pattern all across the sky. Beyond that large pulsating sealing pattern were many more monsters from old lore and modern religion. They all appeared to be petrified in a battle amongst each other – frozen in time and ignorant of all the time elapsed. Souji's mouth hung open as he realized the implications.
'SHIT! Is she going to free them? Was that what this was all about?'
"I had desired to usurp them all and take control of this world to herald a golden age of peace before they awoke! That way, I would have power enough to eradicate them all!" explained Izanami as her body slowly burned into nothing, "You have destroyed any chance of that happening! You have destroyed the chances of World Peace with your selfishness!"
"While I despise the world for its imperfections, I have grown fond of it in my study of it and of humanity. This seal is severely weakened. If these Gods and Goddesses, my own kin, were allowed to roam free then it would plunge the world into an apocalyptic Dark Age. I shall not allow that to pass! I will sacrifice all of my life force, my only remaining power, to seal them for as lengthy a time as possible!"
"I recognize that this is only a temporary solution. I do not have enough power to make this seal permanent nor restore it to the way it was before. My fellow kin shall awaken one day and bring absolute destruction upon the mortal world."
Souji scowled in anger. Everything – everything – had been meaningless in the end. What worth could there be in a journey if it all ended like that? It seemed to him that no matter what he had chosen, the world had been predestined to be destroyed by someone else's fuck-up.
Izanami-no-Okami's body began burning brightly and parts of her began to vanish. Small sparkles of her moved up into the intricate yellow seal in the sky. Souji couldn't make out what the design meant. It was too archaic.
"Know this; I'm sealing all of you inside this world. You shall all be stranded here with no way of escape! I was gleeful that Adachi killed your uncle and younger cousin. You have not suffered enough for what you've made me go through in hell! You trapped me in hell for eons so I shall trap you in here with no way to escape! SUFFER AS I HAVE SUFFERED!"
Souji growled out in rage. He didn't have any power to stop her and he was too weak to make it to the exit portal to the hospital in time. It seemed his life would expire in a few short weeks with no food or water and he would never be able to give Nanako a proper burial.
"FUCK YOU!"
"I had hoped to give you all a last reprieve of what human hearts are truly like by showing a soothing image of falsehood. However, you shall bear witness to what no mortal has seen. The true capacity of humanity."
Izanami's body broke down into sparks that disappeared into the seal.
One sparkle – one piece – of her slowly drifted from high in the sky to down on the ground. It landed a few feet in front of Souji. It shined brightly and once the light had ceased, it revealed the naked human form of Izanami. She was just as alluring as ever but looked tired and stressed. She gazed at Souji poignantly. Slowly, she trekked towards him. He noticed that every step seemed to bring her discomfort. Her body was racked with pain trying to make it to him. He could tell from just looking at her. As she walked, the murky world around them began to change into a beautiful landscape that looked like ancient Japan.
The dirty yellow sky slowly changed to one of clear blue, ugly strange water changed into a picturesque valley stream, and the far away foggy places turned into wondrous mountain capes. It was breathtaking and beautiful to see.
She walked undaunted by these changes. Her eyes were fixated upon Souji. She began mumbling to herself quietly. He only caught a few words…
"...Naka..jima..." He heard from her tender voice, "…kun..Izanagi-kun….Seta..Souji-kun…"
She finally stood directly in front of him. Her eyes stared at him in a mixture of warmth and sadness. He had no way of defending himself if this was a trick to attack him. He wondered how he could possibly get out of this.
Souji stood there with his chest bare, she stood in front of him stark-naked, and they were surrounded by a beautiful landscape that existed only in dreams. They stood there in the quiet peace gazing at one another for a moment. Izanami at last unveiled why she had used the last of her power to stand here before him in a weakened state.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, pressed her breasts on his chest, and gave him the most passionate kiss that he had ever experienced. Souji, by instinct alone, wrapped his arms around her back and held her close. Their tongues battled playfully for dominance, the warmth they had together captivated both of them, and both felt a oneness that they had never experienced until this moment in their respective lives in this world.
Memories began to flood into Souji's mind. Memories that he couldn't fully make sense of.
A man and a woman on an island together in a heavenly plane, traversing through that to live on earth, and living happily in a palace for periods of time far longer than the human lifespan. The man became selfish, greedy, and arrogant because of his want. The man had already mated with the woman but was unsatisfied with the first two children they had together. He demanded to have her discard them because they were not to his liking. The woman was hurt by the demand but eventually gave in to protect her union with the man she loved.
Self-hate began to form within her for her own actions. He challenged the other gods in that time and expanded their palace. She hoped that this would sate his greed instead he lusted for more. He had four children with her and then broke his vow to find innocent human women of which he could take pleasure from. She was deeply hurt by this but still loved him because she believed that he loved her just the same. The self-hate grew and she believed that she simply wasn't being good enough for him.
He had three more children out of union with young women ready to submit their womanhood out of piety and three more children with her. Her self-hate grew too much to bear and she was sent to hell after birthing the last two children. She had made sure to give him the children that he had wanted before hell took her. He became livid and blamed one of the infants for what happened. He tore the innocent baby to pieces and used its divine parts to make weapons of war. She watched in hell and became so distraught that she drank the poisons of hell just to relieve the pain in her heart from what she had witnessed. Her lover had murdered one of her beloved children!
He finally made his journey to hell so that he could save her. He was disgusted by her form because she was no longer beautiful. He turned back and left without a care. She begged him not to leave her, to at least give her words of comfort, and cried once she realized that her life never had any worth to him beyond being a prized trophy. He had never loved her. The souls of the women he had fooled chased after him in rage. She followed because she so desperately wanted to be with him. He sealed her into hell forever after his narrow escape. In her grief-stricken mind, she shouted something in anger that she never truly meant. He replied to the message in his usual arrogance and spitefully insulted her. She cried her heart out as he flew away. He ignored her voice constantly begging him not to leave her.
He went on to fool and impregnate more virgins while she suffered in hell for eons. He proved his true nature.
The next flood of memories was distinctly different…
It was a teenage boy and a teenage girl from the distant past.
The boy was hateful of his school life and wanted vengeance. He wanted power! He wanted to make others suffer! He would use others to his advantage.
The girl was sweet, compassionate, and kind. She had a bubbly personality, she was innocent, and acted adorably. She only desired to help others.
The girl was attracted to the boy. She didn't know why but he was so sexually appealing to her. She felt deep affection for him. He considered her a nuisance. He was summoning the demon of trickery into the world as vengeance. He allowed the demon to rape one of his teachers and watched fascinated by it.
He selfishly used the altruistic girl as the next rape victim for the demon. The foul trickster demon revealed his treachery. He had been using the boy from the start so that he could awaken in this world. The girl, at the cost of her own life, awakened her powers and rescued the boy and herself from danger. The trickster managed to injure her fatally before the escape.
The boy was filled with self-loathing. He brought the girl as instructed to the tomb of the Goddess that she was reborn from. Eventually, the boy and the girl destroyed the trickster demon.
The memories became jumbled but Souji recognized that it was the same two people…
The girl had been captured and used by the child of the rape victim and the trickster demon. She was being used as a portal to allow more demons into the world. The altruistic girl begged the boy to destroy the portal and allow her to be sealed into the void behind her so that no demons ever surfaced into the human world ever again.
The boy had to choose between the girl he had come to love and the world. He used a weapon that the man from the previous memory had forged from killing his own child. The boy flew at the gateway between the human and demon world.
"I pick you over five billion other people!"
He tore open the seal completely, allowing demons into the human world forever, and held her close. They plunged into hell together. The vileness of hell couldn't break their tender loving embrace.
The memories fizzled out and then continued once more.
The Devil had come to the boy to entice him away from her. The Devil succeeded. The boy became a puppet and tried to murder his love. He broke her heart with his attempt at her life after all they had been through. The Goddess came forth and struck him down. He died…
The girl was in tears alone but nothing more was known because the memory faded there…
Izanami broke the kiss. Souji was momentarily out of sorts before he remembered where he was and who was in his arms. He gazed at her questioning why she had shown him those memories. She smiled lovingly at him. She would be gone soon. She could barely even speak at this point.
"I love you, Souji-kun." whispered Izanami breathlessly, her eyes shined with yearning.
He stared at her in confusion and surprise. Before he could answer, she faded away completely.
Bloody Izanagi shot up into the sky from where he had been knocked down. His Persona spread his arms out, showing off the claws on his hands, and looked ready to roar. He noticed that his Persona had left his spear on the ground. Souji's eyes widened as he heard what his Persona said.
"Forgive me, Izanami!"
The Victory Cry healed all his wounds and so he could move again. Bloody Izanagi continued to roar into the sky to lament the pain deep within their soul. It seemed his true self had wanted to be forgiven for his deplorable actions of eons-
True self…
His true self
Further thought on that was derailed when he felt a droplet hit him in the face. Souji stared up at the sky. He noticed the seal became covered by the cloudy sky once more.
Souji turned to see the crater that Chie had died in was gone. Chie was essentially gone without a trace. Adachi's remains would probably never be found here especially since nobody would care to look.
He looked around some more. His heart wrenched when he noticed the corpse of his surrogate sister laying there on such beautiful scenery. Half of her head still removed from the body as it lay upon the beautiful field of flowers. Naoto's raped and unconscious body lay nearby Rise who had slowly awoken and was getting up.
Souji gazed upon the stunning scenery around him to take it all in.
He noticed how it started to rain on the vibrant river valley, on the wooden boat in that valley, on the pleasant flowers, on the wooden bench, on the wooden swing set, on the glittering grass, on the beautiful snowcap mountains, and on the lush forestation.
It was raining blood.
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Seta Souji, the infamous magnificent bastard