With Akechi on their side, the Phantom Thieves finally go to confront DIO.
Upon returning to Mementos, the group found that DIO's Palace was in shambles. Large sections had entirely collapsed, others somehow being on fire. What this meant was anyone's guess, but the most likely answer was that they'd need to get to the throne room as quickly as possible.
When they finally entered the building, two things became apparent. First was that the Shadows who had previously taken up residence in this place had seemed to disappear. The second was that it was deathly quiet. It was hard to tell whether these were good things or not.
They found out they were decidedly not once they made it to their destination. The entire room was in shambles, DIO smirking on his half-destroyed throne with Jotaro and Star Platinum embedded in a stone slab above his head like a trophy. "I see you've returned, Akechi-kun," he said, propping up his chin on his hand. "This is a bit odd, though. You don't seem to have completed your mission."
"Master, I...what happened here?" The carnage around them was punctuated by a distinct lack of any of the Phantom Thieves. At least, on first glance.
A look of absolute horror passed through the group as they finally realized that a group of seemingly random objects around the room were their comrades. With his newfound power to rewrite reality, DIO's attacks had done far worse than simply kill them.
Ann had been unraveled like a ball of yarn, a continuous trail of herself strung around the room. While it was easy to overlook at first, Prometheus had been transformed into a tiny, black marble sitting between two stones in the floor, Futaba likely crushed inside. Morgana seemed to have gotten off easiest, simply being transformed into a plush toy of himself.
Then there was Makoto. Seemingly in keeping with the biblical nature of his abilities, DIO had chosen to transform her into a salt sculpture of herself in the corner of the room. The absolute fury and anguish of what were her final moments were permanently etched into her face.
"As you can," DIO began mockingly, "I chose to do some redecorating. Frankly, I have no use for this place anymore. Perhaps you could inherit it, Akechi-kun." He chuckled, seeing their speechless expressions. "Oh, I'm sure you're wondering how this came to be. Jotaro, would you mind telling them what became of their teammates?"
"Go to hell," he said, his tone showing that even he had lost all hope.
DIO simply laughed. "The wounds are still fresh, of course."
"Master, please!" Akechi pleaded. "This...this isn't a better world! If anything you've said to me over the time we spent together was genuine, then I'm begging you now to undo this!"
Standing from his chair, DIO casually walked forward. "Akechi-kun, you know that isn't possible. These people opposed me. Opposed our vision. They must be made an example of."
"But what does it matter if they oppose you or not? You've already obtained the power to reform the world in way you want! Can't you see what you're doing? You're not making a better world, only one that's distorted in your image!"
His expression dropped in what may have been disappointment. "I fail to see how that is not a better world," DIO said. "Akechi-kun, my life has been fraught with conflict because, even in my most triumphant moments, there would always be someone insignificant who would oppose me. Through both resolve and luck, I fell each time, but that will happen no more."
The World Over Heaven appeared, picking up a handful of rocks and crushing them in its fist. When it opened it again, a silenced pistol made to Akechi's specifications was waiting for him. "I would never doubt your loyalty, Akechi-kun. It was because of you that I was able to attain Heaven, after all. That being said, I'm afraid these vermin are trying to pervert your mind with doubt and lies."
Handing the gun to Akechi, he gave him a simple command. "Now, as you requested, finish them."
During this time, Haru had separated from the rest of the group. Almost in a daze, she found herself wandering towards what remained of Makoto. She couldn't stop herself from crying as she reached out to touch her face, salt residue sticking to her gloved hands as the realization that her partner was dead began to hit her.
Seeing this from the corner of his eye, DIO turned his attention to Haru with a chuckle. "Were you perhaps close?" he asked. "I was almost impressed with that one's tenacity. It reminded me of a certain woman I knew once whose life I spared. As you can see, though, I did not extend the same courtesy to this one."
His laughter echoing through her head, Haru clenched her fists, rage building. "You have nothing left to fear," DIO continued. "Soon, you'll feel nothing. Rejoice, for I, DIO, am truly merciful even to my enemies."
With a scream loud enough to shatter the Heaven DIO dreamed of for all those years, Haru called out Astarte and let loose a full salvo again the vampire. Akechi barely had time to retreat before the blasts began to hit, augmented by Haru's grenade launcher.
Everyone knew this would do nothing, but Haru couldn't be bothered to care anymore. If they were all going to die, she would at least do what little she could to avenge her Mako-chan. Predictably, DIO was unbothered by this, merely walking forward through the blasts which seemed to be becoming more and more erratic with each moment, flying off into random directions to destroy the walls around them.
"Your ability is quite strong," DIO complimented, Haru pointlessly pulling the trigger on an empty gun as he moved within reach of her. "In another situation, I might have even made you one of my followers. Now, I'll simply end your suffering."
He placed his index finger against Haru's forehead, beginning the process of turning her to salt just as he had Makoto. Realizing this was the end, she did the only thing she could think to do. Her final moments were spent looking back to Makoto and holding the hand of the statue, the two becoming forever linked.
"Now, who shall I liberate next?" DIO asked the group.
"How about you try me?" Jotaro said, putting everything he had into a single punch from Star Platinum to knock DIO through a wall. "It wasn't for nothing," he whispered, acknowledging Haru's true goal of breaking his binds.
Realizing they had mere seconds before DIO would be back, Jotaro sprinted to the remaining Thieves. "We don't have much time," he said. "If you've got anything left to throw at him, now's your chance. I'm pretty tapped."
"What could we even do against a monster like that?" Yusuke asked, still readying his Persona.
"No clue, but I ain't coming here just to die!" Ryuji said, removing his mask.
"And I won't be manipulated any longer," Akechi said, Loki coming to his side and casting a spell to increase the group's power.
"We're going to stop him. For everyone!" Ren summoned Alice, casting her signature ability the moment DIO walked back into the room. Though it appeared to do more than most attacks had up to this point, DIO was still alive – generally a bad sign for a spell meant to cause instantaneous death to all enemies.
"It's not working!" Ryuji said as they all launched a series of attacks to compound with Ren's.
"DIO's attained Heaven," Akechi said. "If that's even half as powerful as he told me, he really has surpassed the level of a god."
"Then let's find out," Ren said. Removing his mask once more, he called out the only thing left that might stand a chance against the tyrant. "Pillage him, Satanael!" Tearing through the chains that bound him, both literal and metaphorical, the symbol of the Phantom Thieves' resolve appeared on the battlefield once more, breaking apart what remained of the Palace with its immense size.
"Joker!" Akechi shouted, throwing him the gun DIO had made for him. "That one has ammo."
He nodded, Satanael charging up its attack as it raised its weapon. Overconfident as always, DIO merely laughed in the face of challenge, crossing his arms and patiently waiting for Ren's signal. "Do as you like!" he said. "None can stand against DIO!"
"Begone!" Ren shouted, the Sinful Shell spiraling out of Satanael's barrel as he pulled the trigger. Realizing far too late what he'd signed up for, DIO summoned The World Over Heaven to try and stop the impact. Though it managed to catch the bullet, it was merely delaying the inevitable.
"Impossible!" DIO screamed as half his body was torn through by the attack. The world around them shattered like glass, bringing them back to the tunnels of Mementos as the distortion had cleared.
Though still alive, it was clear DIO's reign was at an end. Missing half his body and only a sliver of his head, he tried desperately to repair the damage done to himself, but it refused to change. "How...how could this...happen…? I...am DIO!"
"You're an old man who doesn't know when to die," Jotaro said as the group approached him. "This time, don't even think about coming back."
"Just another shitty adult who wants to ruin the world so he can live big!" Ryuji agreed.
"Detestable in every way," Yusuke added. Akechi merely sighed, wondering how he could have ever been fooled by a bunch of flowery words and praise by such an evil soul.
"By the way, if you stop time, I'll make it hurt even more." Jotaro cracked his neck, Star Platinum at the ready.
Then, from out of nowhere, a voice could be heard. "Well done, children." Seemingly without his provocation, The World Over Heaven appeared behind DIO, none of his injuries having transferred to its body. "I mean that sincerely. You've pushed us far beyond what I thought would be possible."
"What the hell?" Jotaro said, never having scene a phenomenon like this before.
"Is his Stand...sentient?" Akechi questioned, unable to come up with any answers despite having spent so much time with DIO.
"Where are my manners?" it said. "I should introduce myself properly, since Philemon has only bothered to inform one of you in the vaguest terms. My name is Nyarlathotep, The Crawling Chaos. I am an entity born from the dark thoughts of humanity."
"Then I take it you're the reason DIO made it here," Jotaro said, realizing their initial battle was only the tip of the iceberg.
"Quite an astute observation," it said. "It's been some time since my game with Philemon ended. I was patient in finding a way to regain my power. I even explored other worlds to see if a viable strategy existed. In one of them, I learned of a man named DIO thanks to the adoration of his follower, Pucci."
"DIO has followers in another world?" Akechi said, feeling even more betrayed than before.
"You weren't foolish to believe you were the only one, right?" It shook its head. "As I was saying, I created a new form for DIO using the memories of Pucci, placing him inside the Palace of Masayoshi Shido. And it just so happened to be on the day you were fated to die by your double's hand."
"Impossible," Yusuke murmured. "Everything we've done was set in motion...by you?"
"In a manner of speaking. It's more accurate to say I simply had faith in your triumph over the Holy Grail. Though our goals may be similar, it merely wished to subjugate you beings. I will only be content with annihilation. And what better way to facilitate that...than with Philemon's own gift of the wild card?"
"I don't know what half of the shit you're sayin even means," Ryuji said, brandishing his club. "But if we gotta kick your ass to save the world, then come on!"
"All this talking's starting to bore me, too," Jotaro agreed.
Nyarlathotep chuckled. "Very well," it said, seemingly prepared to assume a new form. "Then, without further ado, I will-" It stopped speaking, noticing DIO clawing at it from below. "Excuse me one moment," it said to the group.
"My Stand...will not...betray me..." DIO growled, sinking his fingers into Nyarlathotep's torso.
"It won't do you any good," it told him. "You're a mere Cognition brought to life by my own powers. You couldn't possibly...possibly...couldn't...what are you doing?" Its voice suddenly became more panicked, gripping DIO's arm to try and rip it apart. "Stop that right now!"
"I won't...be beaten! I...am...DIO!" With a determined shout, The World Over Heaven's form began to sag and contort, seemingly being pulled inside DIO as if it was having its blood sucked. "You are mine!"
In a tremendous flash of light, Nyarlathotep disappeared. Shortly after, DIO's uproarious laughter could be heard echoing through Mementos. "Jotaro," he said as the dust began to settle. "Where you there when I sucked your grandfather's blood?" DIO's body had been restored, now even more muscular and beautiful than before. A black crown had formed on his now faceless head, a pair of large bat-like wings on his back fused with The World's holster-like apparatus.
"When I called that feeling the greatest high, I never could have imagined I would experience this!"
Pretty traumatic scene to walk in on for those kids. Surprised Haru's the only one who started shooting right off the bat.
Finally got to see Satanael make its big appearance. Heat Riser Sinful Shell is about the only thing that can take out DIO at this point outside of another Star Platinum asspull power.
Since this is Persona, though, it can never be as simple as a human(-like) character doing bad things. There's always some evil god manipulating shit from behind the scenes. At least now Philemon showing up makes sense. Wonder if he's going to factor into this again.
Now we've created a new form of DIO. We'll call it DIO, Gone to Hell. Finally took Jotaro's advice after all these years.
Thanks for reading. Share with a friend if you're enjoying it. Always remember that DIO will always find some way to put himself back in the spotlight.