Disclaimer: Persona Series obviously doesn't belong to me.

Warnings: Explicit gore, fanon.

Author's Note: This is my first collab project. Most of the ideas are from Thanzintay.2000 and I just help writing them out hohoho. The first few chapters are fanon that starts eleven years before the main events of P3. This fic is quite a major AU so forget everything you know, sit back and read. If you have questions or theories you want to shoot, please do.

Oh well, hope you enjoy this^^

Zeus who thunders on high was meditating marvelous deeds,

even to mingle storm and tempest over the boundless earth,

and already he was hastening to make an utter end of the race of mortal men,

seeing their fate with their own eyes.

But on those who were born of immortals and of mankind verily Zeus laid toil and sorrow upon sorrow."

-Hesiod's Account, 8th century BCE.

Till The Bell Tolls

Chapter I

22nd December 1998 Heisei 10, 08.01 AM, Kirijo Group's Ergo Project Laboratory, Port Island.

Ikutsuki turned around in front of a pure bronze mirror, re-tying his long hair and checked the cut of his brand new suit. He wiped out the beads of sweat that fell on his cheeks with a handkerchief he tucked on his breast pocket as he struggled to calm his nerves, in order to give the best first impression on the person that might be his future employer.

He let out a frustrated breath as the last button refused to budge and let him pin it, finally giving up on it. A total lost cause. His hands were sweaty and the digits trembled faintly.

He was nervous.

Right after the First Science Conference on Discovery Science held in Fukuoka a few days ago, a man clearly from an important affiliation approached him while offering acknowledgment and respect not usually given to younger scientists like him. Since the death of Kenichi Fukui, the first Japanese laureate of Nobel Prize who had been strongly critical on their country's system of fixed traditional hierarchy, there has been no voice that encouraged long-term research that was fundamental as the support beam of a country's technology level.

There were cases where young assistants of famous professors were stolen from their original work, eventually claimed by names that has more power within the tight structure of academic achievement. No matter how many hours they worked, no matter how many nights they spent with no sleep, it was useless in the face of authority.

It was the way society works, like a well-oiled, revolving machine. But it was only something that rarely changed its gears. His roots taught him to respect elders and conform to his betters, because the nail that sticks out will be hammered down.

But the man that contacted him was different, and with years of experience that was practically prevalent unto the man's features that told Ikutsuki things that the man had weathered so far, it was difficult for him –someone whose brain was his only asset- to not feel even the slightest edge of respect.

"A pleasure to meet such precious young talent, Shuji Ikutsuki-san."

It was Kouetsu Kirijo, the master of the project and the Family Head himself, who came to greet him in front of the massive laboratory complex where researchers that dreamt of potentially altering the course of human history worked. The man that was known in corporate business as someone who single-handedly elevated Kirijo Group's standing in medicine, science and technology sectors extended his hand towards Ikutsuki. As they shook firmly, Ikutsuki bowed with the courtly manners expected from him, murmuring a polite greeting afterward.

Ikutsuki gave the man a traditional bow, his back bending forward at 30 degrees as he averted his gaze to look down at the man's feet. When he straightened out, the much older man nodded and smiled approvingly with a tobacco held between his wrinkled fingertips. Ikutsuki let his gaze swept over the vast, technology-driven laboratory complex.

The complex was both a high school and laboratory, blending in the important, high-risk factors of social experiment unto the more secretive nature of Ergo Project. He knew that such knowledge was limited only to the inner workings of Kirijo Group, and the fact alone that the man let him step inside was both an invitation and a warning.

A thin sheen of sweat trickled from his forehead.

The high, symmetric walls were a perfect reminiscent of Georgian style and the gated perimeter was filled with nature and benches, though it was currently empty because it was the time to hold classes. A three-tiered observatory tower peeked through the surrounding trees and if he didn't know beforehand, he would've thought that this school was an ordinary, prestigious private school.

"A perfect situation, don't you think?"

Ikutsuki got his fill of the surroundings and faced the older man again. It was still difficult to ground himself with the man's presence. Kouetsu Kirijo was the very epitome of a man that stood on the pinnacle of power in photographs, let alone standing directly within the man's line of vision. It was another thing to see him in person.

The man was all sharp edges, defined chin and unforgettable face with a shock of graying scarlet hair. His wide, tall body carried his features well and it served to preserve the glory that came with being a Kirijo. The man was ambition made flesh, one who would stop at nothing to achieve things unimaginable to humanity. The older man was also one of the backing powers that was said to influence the economic stagnation that happened in Japan during late 1991 and early 1992.

To inexperienced, young eyes like him, the Lost Decade only meant that you can't eat if you don't work. It was why he spent months upon months upon months to complete his essays, offering new findings to the already-growing field of knowledge overseas. He still followed his country's development even then, and he returned as his proceeding papers got published.

It was how someone like Kouetsu Kirijo noticed his talent in that fortunate science conference and personally invited him to this modern man-made island.

But from the eyes of those whose power and privileges inferred responsibilities of many lives, the real horror of the Lost Decade was not the external pressure that foreign nations imposed on them, but instead it was the internal pressure. Ikutsuki wouldn't have believed it if it didn't came from Kouetsu Kirijo's mouth himself, but the experiences of harsh survival competition and non-performing companies that were in bankruptcy in all but name were enough to change his view.

But then, what was the true definition of the Lost Decade?

Even though the world called that era as the Lost Decade, in reality Japan didn't experience the severe economical, political, and social collapse like what happened during the Great Depression. Though it was true that Japan didn't recover the ludicrous highs of housing price and stock market it touched in the peak of its economic growth, it was obvious enough that Japan survived more intactly than any other country that has faced the same predicament.

The citizen's life expectancy grew to 83 years. The unemployment rate was 4,2 percent, which was half than in the United States during the Great Depression. Its account surplus totaled into $196 billion which was threefold since 1989.

All in spite of the recession.

The so-called miracle that overturned the dark, tumultuous era brought forth by the what was known as the Lost Decade was the sudden, abrupt change of tide when the massive fiscal stimulus has offset everything in the late 1998. The country was able to counter the almost-unavoidable path of Great Depression in 1929 that struck the States during the sudden stock collapse in one sweep.

Japan avoided a 46% decrease of national GDP, and the man that stood in front of his eyes was one of the few people that made it possible.

Kirijo Group, along with four other gigantic corporates that supported the wave of economic consolation, now became one of the major powerhouses behind the merge that resulted in four national banks in Japan. It was no exaggeration to say that Kirijo Group held one-fourth of Japan's might in its palm.

The older man smiled and gestured with his hand, "Thank you for taking the trouble to cross the sea, it must've been a difficult travel. Do you want to see what you've traveled so far for?"

What did the man meant?

He voiced his question, but he only got another smile as the man walked away so he was forced to follow the pace. They passed through the building entrance, where lines of shoe cabinets greeted them, and Ikutsuki quickly noted that the place was just like an ordinary school, with a cafeteria in the nook of the west wall and a notice board directly across it.

Faintly, he could hear voices overlapping with each other as teachers gave their lectures and subtle talking voices of adolescents. He still couldn't believe that this complex was the base of Ergo Project.

Kouetsu Kirijo noticed his turmoil and the man said, "Surprised? Trust me, this place is the best environment for the progress of our goal. By the way, what made you chose that title for your research papers?"

They turned to the left wing of the building and several wooden plates were hung on top of the doors. Faculty Office, Library, Clinic. "Ah, the research paper when we first met in Fukuoka?" The man nodded, unlocking the emergency door located in the end of the hallway that appeared to lead into the observatory tower he saw outside.

There was a small space where the only object in the room was a long spiral staircase.

"I'm interested in Kenichi Fukui-san's research that received Nobel. It's actually plausible that energy difference can be used to predict strength and stability in molecule. Not only that, but it could also determine reaction rate between reactants." Ikutsuki explained shortly as they proceeded into the observatory tower. It excited him that such line of thought was considered by a big name.

But unexpectedly, the older man laughed.

It was not a mocking laugh like what he has faced before, it was not one that ridiculed him, either. It was a laugh that spoke of victory and promises of glory. It made the hairs on his arms rose.

"Now, I'm going to lead you into the secret of Japan's Lost Decade and how we solved it. We are capable of miracles more than that, young man." They reached the only door on top of the staircase and Kouetsu Kirijo placed his palm on the scanner that authorized him.

"Behold, the fire that shall change the world!"