Chapter XXV
Ragnarok Vein Begins; The Eight-Headed Conspiracy (ラグナロク静脈が始まる; 八頭の陰謀)
xxxxx
Dimension: PV-CV-19/Provisional Government Outskirts
The stage was set for Ragnarok Vein. Mido, Jinyo, Kriemhild, the Vamkyries, and Akireplica kept their distance from their adversaries.
"What are you all waiting for?! Or, are we going to be staring all day?" Sion yelled out at the enemy side.
"Calm down, Sion," Tennyo quietly muttered.
"I can't say I blame you, Sion. After all, this bastard did take over your body, even going as far as mind controlling Yakumo, Mia, and I!" Engineer said, facing Mido with ire.
"He went that far with you guys?" Yakumo (PV-CV-19) asked the Vein Remnants. Hearing this fueled his disdain for the Revenant scientist. "As if I needed more reason to see him dead again."
Louis (PV-CV-19) consoled his colleague. "Easy, Yakumo. There's no telling what Mido is capable of now."
"So, what now, Joker?" Fox whispered to the Phantom Thief leader.
"My apologies for keeping you all in suspense, but why don't we carry on with your impending destruction?" Mido suggested as numerous red wormholes opened up around the Thieves, the Vein Remnants, and their allies.
"Great, what now?!" Anastasia exclaimed while standing close to Nadia.
"These external energies I'm feeling are coming from Lost! The Yami Matter is releasing an army to wear us down!" Ivy warned everyone.
"You're right! Everyone be on your guard!" Louis (PV-CV-19) cried out.
Within moments, an army of Lost collectively emerged from these wormholes. Of the Lost summoned into battle are Forgotten Devils, Invading Executioner, Queen's Knight Reborn, Dark Vampire Wolves, Euphoric Soldiers, Hunters in Black, Gilded Hunter, Argent Wolf Berserker, Blade Bearer, and Cannoneer.
Readying his Regicide Blade, Sion scoffed. "Is this the best you've got, Mido?!"
Sion (PV-CV-19) then added. "Yeah, I'm not that impressed either."
Joker brandished his Tyrant Pistol. "Just another obstacle to get in our way. Get your Personas ready, everyone!" He rallied the other Phantom Thieves, who quickly invoked their respective Ultimate Personas. Grasping his own mask, blue pyre burst through Joker, who summoned forth the archangel Satanael into battle once again.
"Are you ready, Io?" Tennyo asked Ivy, who without questions summoned her halberd.
"Yes, let's slay these Lost," Ivy replied.
Wasting no time, Mido beckoned the Lost toward their opposition. As the Lost stormed through the field, the Thieves, the Vein Remnants, the Elven Princesses, and the Revenants (PV-CV-19) immediately headed off the abominations.
Observing Ivy fighting alongside Sion and Tennyo, Jinyo tensely stirred. "Should I attack them?"
Mido dismissed her. "Not quite yet, my daughter. If they can get by this first wave, then they're ready to fight you, my Jinyo." Watching Jinyo tightly grip her ko-naginata, he noticed her hands quivering. "I can tell you're dying to face Togo Hifumi. Patience, your turn will come."
As the Queen's Knight Reborn charged forward, Joker, Sion, Tennyo, Ivy, and Sion (PV-CV-19) quickly engaged the sword and shield-wielding monster. Then, several Forgotten Devils intervened, protecting the Queen's Knight Reborn.
"Out of the way!" Sion yelled out, turning his free hand into a demonic claw. With his Ogre-Type Blood Veil, he punched through a Forgotten Devil's torso, tearing it up and spilling its blood as it dissolved into fiery cinders.
Several Forgotten Devils headed off Tennyo and Ivy. As the monsters prepared to attack them, Ivy lunged at a Forgotten Devil, slashing one in two with her halberd. She bisected another and stabbed a third one. Tennyo stabbed another with her ko-naginata.
Sion (PV-CV-19) engaged the Queen's Knight Reborn. When the behemoth swung its sword, the Revenant rolled and dodged every attack. He quickly went for its legs and slashed its knees. Once bringing the Queen's Knight Reborn to a knee, Sion (PV-CV-19) produced a metal tail, which he launched straight for the Lost. The Queen's Knight Reborn quickly stopped it with its sword and bashed him head-on with its shield. Once it knocked Sion (PV-CV-19) back, the Lost raised its sword to crush the Revenant.
Then, much to Sion (PV-CV-19)'s relief, Sion, Tennyo, and Ivy intervened on his behalf, stopping the Queen's Knight Reborn's attack.
"Thanks," Sion (PV-CV-19) offered his gratitude.
"Let us handle this one," Tennyo stated, striking and blasting the Lost's shield into pieces with her Lightning Thorn.
Ivy dashed forward, slicing off the Queen's Knight Reborn's arm, disarming it of its sword. Then, without even realizing it, the Lost's chest exploded as dark blood shot out like a geyser, spilling the battlefield of its blood. A demonic hand was seen sticking out of its chest. Ripping his hand out of the Lost, Sion's critically wounded the Lost.
"He's yours, Joker!" Sion called out.
The Phantom Thief sent Satanael to finish the Queen's Knight Reborn.
"That was incredible, you four," Sion (PV-CV-19) commended his alternate self, Tennyo, Ivy, and Joker. "But, most of all, you were incredible out there, Io." He said, looking toward Ivy, who modestly nodded.
"C'mon, we still have some more Lost to clear out!" Joker rallied the four as they headed off a wave of Lost.
Finding themselves surrounded by Dark Vampire Wolves and Euphoric Soldiers, the Elven Princesses seemed helpless. The elven women faced each other, smiling confidently.
"Ready to show them we're not hopeless damsels, Nadia?" Anastasia addressed her.
"Yeah! Hey, freaks! Eyes on the birdy!" Nadia called out, producing a black orb of light in her right hand. Squeezing the orb, she threw it as it extended into a long energy whip. She lashed her energy whip, which easily ripped through several Euphoric Soldiers like wet tissue paper.
Anastasia then formed two white orbs in her hands. She magically summoned a bow and a handful of arrows. As several Dark Vampire Wolves rushed her, she fired quick arrows, each empowered with divine light that purified and dissolved the Lost canines. When one Dark Vampire Wolf tried to sneak attack, Anastasia shoved an arrow into its head, causing it to explode into dust.
"You were all very bad dogs," Anastasia chided the Dark Vampire Wolves' remains.
"A little help here!" Nadia called while swinging her whip at incoming Euphoric Soldiers.
"Coming!" Anastasia intervened and blasted a few Euphoric Soldiers with her arrows, giving Nadia recovery to launch a counterattack on the remaining Lost.
Engineer, Queen, Skull, and Louis (PV-CV-19) engaged the Gilded Hunter and a fleet of Hunters in Black. As Skull and Queen fought off the Hunters in Black, Engineer and Louis (PV-CV-19) doubled teamed against the Gilded Hunter.
"Let's see how you fare with this one, other me!" Louis (PV-CV-19) called out, striking the Gilded Hunter with a one-handed sword. Seemingly unfazed by Louis's (PV-CV-19) sword, the Lost retaliated with two consecutive strikes, knocking the Revenant back.
"Louis!" Engineer called out as he attacked the Gilded Hunter with his Ogre-Type Blood Veil. After delivering a critical blow to the Gilded Hunter, Louis (PV-CV-19) recovered enough to decapitate the Gilded Hunter.
With Seiten Taisei, Skull wiped out several Hunters in Black with Maziodyne. After pummeling a few Hunters in Black with devastating punches, Queen's Anat blasted away the remaining Lost with Mafreidyne.
"Thanks a lot, friends," Louis (CV-PV-19) said, propping back to his own feet. He then addressed Engineer. "You have very resourceful allies here."
"They've been a great help, especially her," Engineer said, pointing to Queen.
"Indeed, she has incredible power," Louis (PV-CV-19) sad, having assessed Queen and Skull's Persona powers.
"Louis, let's clear this other side!" Queen called to Engineer. "You, too, other Louis!"
Both of them nodded and joined the two Phantom Thieves.
On the opposite side of the battlefield, Oracle, Mona, Stinger, and Mia (PV-CV-19) were locked in a skirmish with the Invading Executioner. A few Forgotten Devils and Dark Vampire Wolves guarded the tall, twin-tailed Lost.
"Heads up! She's about to wipe us out!" Oracle warned as the Invading Executioner summoned a column of water from out of the ground.
As they dodged the Invading Executioner's area of effect, the Forgotten Devils and Dark Vampire Wolves moved in for the kill. However, Mona fought back, hitting them with consecutive slingshots, which caused them to explode.
"Ok, I've analyzed it's weakness! Stun attacks will be effective!" Oracle scanned the Invading Executioner with Prometheus' Analysis.
"We've got that in spades," Mona said, summoning Mercurius. "Lady Mia, back me up!"
Hearing this, Stinger and Mia (PV-CV-19) both followed the cat. When a Forgotten Devil and several Dark Vampire Wolves intercepted them, Stinger and Mia (PV-CV-19) blasted them away with their bayonets. Mona beelined for the Invading Executioner, sending Mercurius to attack her. When Mercurius went for a Lucky Punch, the Lost sidestepped and slid around her lance, performing a pole dance, but not to anyone's entertainment. She then delivered a sliding attack toward Mona.
"I'm coming, Mona!" Stinger quickly shot out her metal tail, stopping the Invading Executioner at its tracks.
Mia (PV-CV-19) then followed up, firing multiple bayonet shots that stunned the Lost creature. Taking out her laser sword, Oracle slashed the Invading Executioner's arms and legs, critically neutralizing it. Stinger's Stinger-Type Blood Veil then shot plunged through the Lost's chest. To top it off, Mercurius finished the Lost off with a Miracle Punch.
"Heh, it's almost scary how good I am," proudly grinned Mona.
"Bonafide Monafide!" Oracle cheered.
Mia (PV-CV-19) turned over to Stinger. "You have some strange but cool friends, other me."
Stinger coolly smirked. "Yeah, they're awesome, aren't they?"
"We've got trouble! Get ready!" Mona warned them.
Elsewhere, Fox, Noir, Hound, and Yakumo (PV-CV-19) engaged the Argent Wolf Berserker. After dispatching some Dark Vampire Wolves and Euphoric Soldiers, Fox and Noir sent their Personas to deal blows to the Argent Wolf Berserker.
Kamu Susano-o struck the Lost with a Giant Slice, dealing damage and knocking it back. Enraged, Argent Wolf Berserker charged at Fox. Then, Noir and Astarte performed Tetrakarn, forming a barrier that nullified the Lost's physical blow.
"This is our chance! Attack!" Yakumo (PV-CV-19) drove his two-handed sword through the Lost's back.
Hound quickly used his Hound-Type Blood Veil, sending his two hounds to grab and bite the Argent Wolf Berserker's shoulders.
"It's our chance!" Noir called out, sending Astarte to finish the Lost. With her One-shot Kill, Astarte destroyed the Argent Wolf Berserker.
"Elegantly done, Noir," Fox openly praised her.
"Thank you," Noir nodded.
"Incredible, maybe we can defeat Mido with your friends' help," Yakumo (PV-CV-19) said, astonished with the Thieves' strong unity.
"They can and we will end Mido. That's a promise," Hound vowed to his counterpart.
"I'm starting to believe."
"Hey, give us a hand here, you two!" Fox called out.
In response, Hound and Yakumo (PV-CV-19) joined in to assist Fox and Noir.
Panther, Akechi, Jack, Eva, Jack (PV-CV-19), and Eva (PV-CV-19) fought Blade Bearer and Cannoneer. Mido's two Lost minions initially proved to be formidable from the start. Between Blade Bearer's ice attacks and Cannoneer's flames, they were tough to overcome until they figured out their elemental weaknesses.
"The Lost with the ice is weak to fire!" Jack (PV-CV-19) informed them.
"Is that so? In that case…!" Summoning Hecate, Panther burned Blade Bearer with Maragi. Enveloped by Panther's flames of fury, Blade Bearer was at Panther's mercy.
"You're just another obstacle in my way since it's Mido I want!" Panther roared, her eyes burned to match her hatred for the Revenant scientist.
"Well done, Panther! Now, how about letting me step in?" Akechi offered.
"She's mine!"
Akechi chuckled. "Suit yourself." He watched Jack and Eva fight off Cannoneer. "Then, how about…?" Suddenly, some Euphoric Soldiers charged at Akechi, who faced them with maniacal laughter. "So, you wish to get in my way?! Heh, I, Loki, won't permit you!" With that, he summoned the Persona with his namesake. "Now die!"
Akechi's Persona quickly annihilated the Lost with Megidolaon.
"Who else wants some of this?" Akechi asked with a crazed look.
Jack mounted Cannoneer's back and shoved his sword through its back. Then, Eva fired shots with her bayonet that stunned the Lost.
"This is it for you!" Jack quickly stabbed the back of Cannoneer's head, finishing the Lost off.
Jack (PV-CV-19) and Eva (PV-CV-19) helped to wipe out the remaining Lost that tried to intervene.
Facing Blade Bearer, Panther raised her whip. "This is a message from me to your master! I'll be coming for him!" With that, she and Hecate finished Blade Bearer off with Agidyne.
As the groups dwindled the Lost numbers, Mido communicated with the Yami Matter.
"I see. They're ready. Time to bring out our big surprise," Mido then snapped his fingers.
The Yami Matter acted upon Mido's wish and opened a dark red portal.
"Look! Another wormhole!" Fox pointed toward the source.
"What he's calling for? More Lost?" Engineer wondered.
"I hope not," Sion scoffed.
"What are you about to unleash upon us now, you bastard?!" Yakumo (PV-CV-19) yelled out.
"Oh, but I can't spoil the surprise. That said, I think the Phantom Thieves will be most pleased with these honored guests," the Revenant scientist folded his arms, watching several beams of black light hitting the ground.
The ground then started to tremble as the earth cracked.
"Now, something's coming out of the ground!" Jack exclaimed.
"Stay on your guard, everyone!" Joker called out.
Six dark blue pillars popped out from the earth in succession. Each pillar has a slot door all perfectly shut. Preparing for the worst, the Thieves, the Vein Remnant, the Elven Princesses, and the Revenants (PV-CV-19) dropped into battle stances. Then, the slots from each pillar opened, releasing huge gusts of air being released after seemingly a long time of containment.
Finally, out came six figures whose faces were briefly masked by the thick clouds seeping out of the pillars. The first figurehead stepped out, pushing up a pair of glasses from the bridge of his nose.
A sinister chuckle came out from this individual, who intently faced down the Phantom Thieves. "It's been a while, Phantom Thieves. My, you're all looking well. You might even say have matured into fine young adults."
The Thieves, but most especially Joker and Akechi, recognized this man's polite but callous tone. Akechi's face contorted with anger.
"Shido?!" Joker and Akechi yelled out in unison.
Much to the shock of the Thieves, the first face they recognized coming out was Shido Masayoshi. The tall, bald-headed man, still sporting his small black goatee and the black business suit, walked out completely unchanged as if he literally stepped out of 2016.
"Shido Masayoshi?!" Queen exclaimed.
"But, how…?! How the hell is he here?!" Skull shouted.
"But, the last time we fought Shido, it was in that cognitive world along with Kamoshida, Kaneshiro, and Madarame!" Noir cried out.
Mona dismissed Noir's assumption. "No, remember those were Shadow cognitions. This is the real Shido in the flesh."
"Then, is he this timeline's Shido?!" Panther wondered out loud.
"Heh, foolish children. Of course I am. Mido and the Yami Matter have granted us another chance at life to get revenge on you, Phantom Thieves!" Shido boasted, displacing his calm and collective exterior he maintained for a brief time.
"We? Don't tell me he brought back-up," gulped Oracle.
"Who else have you decided to dig back up from the dead, Mido?!" Louis demanded from the Revenant scientist.
"Wouldn't you like to know? I think you'd like to show them, Shido?" Mido insisted.
Chortling, Shido removed his glasses, shifting his sights on Joker and Akechi. "Oh, look who's decided to join us. Akechi, it's been such a long time, my boy."
Akechi scowled. "You're not my father, you're just a thing. I have no bond with you. The Shido I know is back home in my time."
Feigning a saddened expression, Shido puckered his face. "And how is the other me?"
"I don't know, but I hardly care. He did try to eliminate me."
"That's because you're a failure of an assailant, Akechi Goro! But, most of all, you're a failure as a son!" Shido growled intensely, gnashing his teeth hard. "You'll be one of the first that I intend to eliminate along with Amamiya Ren!"
Quickly brandishing his Paradise Lost dagger, Joker faced the man responsible for his year-long probation. "You can do your worst, but we intend to go through you to get to him!" As he said this, he pointed the dagger toward Mido's direction. "But, I'll gladly finish you where we left off, Shido."
With his lips curling up with a sneer, Shido angrily retorted. "You'll regret looking down on me! Let's see how you handle my entire Conspiracy!" With that, the five pillars revealed the other members of Shido's Conspiracy accomplices. "Come forth, Ooe."
The first is a man with short brown hair and glasses. He has on a light brown coat and gray pants. "Heh, remember me?" A blinding flash of light, his clothes were replaced with full-bodied dark green armor. The armor has a snake motif, representing the very Persona his cognitive self transformed into: Orochi (Shadow).
The second is a rotund, bald-headed older man garbed in a dark blue business suit.
"It's that old politician guy we talked to while we were in our swimsuits!" Panther exclaimed, recalling her, Queen, Oracle, and Noir gathering intel from this specific man.
"The Former Noble, good to see you," Shido chuckled.
"Yes, and I remember you, young ladies, very well," A sadistic grin adorned the Former Noble's face. A similar veil of light burned his clothes away, replacing them with lavender armor with a manta ray motif, which was based on the same Forneus Persona he turned into.
The third individual to emerge is a gray-haired man in a black business suit.
"That's the TV Station president!" Noir recognized him.
"Yes, and I'm here to help Shido destroy you!" The TV Station president openly boasted. A veil of light replaced his business wear with golden armor and a crown coupled with a blue and green embroidered loincloth. He brandished a long scimitar to fight with. His armor is based on the very Persona he turned into: Hanuman.
The fourth Conspiracy member, a younger man with slick black hair, emerged. He has on a black suit and pants coupled with a light dress shirt underneath the suit.
"Isn't that the IT Company President?!" Oracle cried out.
"Indeed, he just like the others is dying to finish you," Shido smirked evilly.
Wearing a fiendish grin, the IT Company President added. "It'll be a pleasure to end you." With that, his clothes turned into full-bodied red and white armor. Adorning his back is a pair of fairy wings. He brandished a long rapier to fight with. His armor is based on his Oberon (Shadow) Persona form.
The fifth and final Conspiracy member, a dark-haired man with sunglasses, dark red striped pants, no shirt, and shoulder tattoos, emerged.
"It's that Yakuza guy!" Skull pointed out.
"The Yakuza Cleaner, surely you remember the Phantom Thieves," Shido addressed his crony.
"Yeah, I sure do and I'll be good to pay them back with their lives," the Yakuza Cleaner grinned as he discarded his shades. Then, a flash of light enveloped the man, changing his garb into full-bodied black and dark brown armor. He even gained a masked helmet with eye and mouth silts, allowing red light to seep through the silts. He is now armed with a double-sided scythe-like weapon. His armor is based on his Ongyo-Ki Persona form.
"Yes, and we are not mere Shadows or cognitions. Together we, the Conspiracy, have been reunited to reap the rewards by defeating you, Phantom Thieves, and your new band of allies!" Shido declared with a maniacal expression adorning his features. "Now, watch as I rise and crush you beneath my feet, Phantom Thieves! I, Shido Masayoshi, am the chosen one by God himself!" With that, a veil of light consumed the Conspiracy leader. His clothes were replaced by the same attire worn by his Shadow self: donning a black army general uniform coupled with a long cape, fore-arm length white gloves, and knee-high white boots. He once again donned the spiked helmet resembling the Statue of Liberty.
"Talk about a gaudy outfit," Stinger remarked.
"Gaudy is being too nice," Hound added.
"He's sure hamming up the emperor gimmick a bit too far," Jack concurred.
Chuckling and with arms folded across his chest, Shido's eyes turned bright gold just like his Shadow self. "Now, when this is over, all of you will bow before me after I'm done with you!" He slowly pivoted, facing Mido with a grin exuding sheer confidence. "And don't think you'll be off the hook either, Mido. Don't be surprised if I tend to overthrow you."
Seemingly unfazed by Shido's threat, Mido responded sardonically. "Yes, as you say."
"Now, members of the Conspiracy! Let us show the Phantom Thieves and their allies no mercy!" Shido enforced his first course of action.
As the Conspiracy headed off their opposition, the Thieves and the Vein Remnants headed them off.
"You guys stand back, we'll handle them!" Sion instructed the Elven Princesses and the Revenants (PV-CV-19).
Joker, Akechi, Tennyo, Sion, and Ivy engaged Shido. Queen and Engineer teamed against Ooe. Panther and Stinger engaged the Former Noble. Noir and Skull fought the TV Station President. Oracle and Mona went against the IT Company President. Fox and Hound teamed against the Yakuza Cleaner.
Shido had the hardest time not only fending off Joker and Akechi, but Tennyo and two Revenants proved more troublesome than he bargained for.
Despite his armor power-up, Ooe couldn't hope to match Engineer's sword skills and his Blood Veil. Adding Queen's brute strength, Ooe was dealt with devastating force. After Engineer neutralized him with his demonic hand, Queen landed a two punch combo, finishing him off with her Nuclear Fists. Overwhelmed by Queen's raw power, Ooe screamed in horror and exploded.
"Huh? That's it?" Engineer blinked.
As the Former Noble charged at Panther and Stinger, the former wasted no time striking him with her whip. She then folded her whip around the Former Noble, setting him ablaze. Stinger then finished him off with her Stinger-Type Blood Veil.
"Wow, these guys are… weak," Stinger balked at how easily they finished him.
Skull clubbed the TV Station President with his mace. After being decked by Skull's weapon, Noir split him down the middle with her ax. Screaming in pain, the TV Station President's bisected body split apart and dissolved.
"Tch, didn't even break a sweat," remarked Skull.
The IT Company President was pelted by Mona's slingshot projectiles. One projectile exploded, dealing damage to him. Oracle then sliced the IT Company President's torso, cutting him in two. Like the TV Station President, the IT Company President dissolved.
"That was anticlimactic," Oracle said.
Not giving the Yakuza Cleaner much of a chance to fight, Fox delivered quick katana strikes. Hound used his hounds to crush the Yakuza Cleaner using their jaws.
"Bastards! They may be weak, but I won't fall so easily!" Shido roared in defiance. He went for a straight punch, but Joker blasted his helmet off with his pistol. Akechi followed up by sword slashing Shido's chest.
"That's for the Shido that betrayed me," Akechi looked the bald-headed man dead in his eyes.
As Akechi sidestepped away, Sion stabbed him with his Regicide Blade. Ivy then summoned spikes from the ground underneath Shido, catching him with spikes piercing through his body. Tennyo then blasted him with a lightning bolt from her ko-naginata. Joker finished Shido off with a bullet to his head, mirroring exactly what Akechi did to the cognitive Ren before.
Falling to his knees, Shido's face contorted as he collapsed.
"...how… can this be… they beat us…?" Shido weakly muttered as he heard Mido laughing.
"You really thought you and your corporate cronies stood a chance against these heroes of rebellion?" Mido dismissed Shido. "And did you think the Yami Matter would've been foolish to have given you more power than I? You're a fool, Shido Masayoshi. You and your followers are just a means to an end for the Yami Matter."
Hearing this, Jack gasped. "Now what?"
"I don't like where this is going!" Anastasia dreaded what may be forthcoming.
"What are you going to do now, Mido?!" Engineer bellowed at him.
"You have my thanks, Phantom Thieves and Revenants. Now, you've helped us make sacrifices to summon your next grand challenge," Mido chuckled as the Yami Matter extracted six glowing orbs of spiritual light from the remains of the Conspiracy members.
As their souls were extracted, the Conspiracy member's physical bodies vanished.
"Those are their souls!" Ivy cried out.
"What are you doing with their souls?!" Sion called Mido out.
"Why don't you just watch, my friends?" Kriemhild addressed the group.
As the six essences of the slain Conspiracy members coalesced, a colossal entity materialized in their place. A large body, roughly 20-foot high and with a thick black scaly hide and gray underbellies, formed, extending at a length of 30 feet long. Then, six glowing spheres of light emerged from the snake's body, initially forming into six snake heads. After the first six heads formed, two more snake heads appeared to complete a full set of sight for the summoned the eight-headed abomination. Each head has distinguishing colors, single forehead horns, small yellow Amrita facial spikes, and different head protrusions. Each one has red eyes that scanned over their opposition.
The first and second heads, lacking elemental powers, each have distinguishing horn shapes. The first head has a long, curved white unicorn horn and the second has two white horns. The third head has red horns to determine its fire abilities. The fourth head has light blue horns, granting it water-based abilities. The fifth head has light green horns, giving it wind powers. A sixth head has bright yellow horns with lightning flashing over them. A seventh head has purple horns covered with rocks. The eighth and final head, acting as the main one, has red curved horns. With the power of discord, the main head communicated with the other seven heads while acting as the leader.
The main head with the dark red horn opened its mouth, exposing its long sharp red fangs. Already preparing for war, the eight-headed monster, powered by each men's sins, set its sets on the Phantom Thieves and the Vein Remnants.
"It can't be! They formed the Yamata-no-Orochi!" Fox exclaimed.
"But, we defeated that monster before!" Queen cried out.
"And this one will be harder to beat if we're not careful," Tennyo warned them.
"It's obviously not the same one. This one was created based out of Shido and his cronies' souls," Joker informed his friends while apprehensively facing the eight-headed monstrosity. At the same time, he vehemently thought about truly ending Shido, the same man that previously ruined his life. As far as Joker was concerned, he saw Shido as nothing more than Mido's pathetic pawn now.
"How astute of you to recognize this Yokai, but you are correct this is not the same one that you Phantom Thieves stopped before. Thanks to the voluntary sacrifice of Shido and his foolish merry band of followers, another Yamata-no-Orochi has risen," Mido stated, eyeing the eight-headed behemoth as it headed toward its adversaries.
"Voluntary sacrifice, you say? The fools have always been our pawns," Kriemhild evilly giggled at the expense of the Conspiracy group.
"Now, let's give them some credit, Kriemhild. They've proven some worth to us. Their sacrifices produced a Yamata-no-Orochi to entertain us with," the Revenant scientist chuckled.
Hearing this, Sion scoffed. "I shouldn't be surprised. They were more pawns for this gross experiment of yours. But, don't think I'm shedding tears over these people."
"You're right. Anyone who sides with Mido is our enemy now!" Engineer declared.
The other Revenants stood their ground and resolved to slay the Yamata-no-Orochi.
"Well, dude, what do you think?" Skull turned to Joker, who didn't hesitate to whip out his dagger and pistol. "Hell yeah! That's what I thought!"
"They signed up to join the devil. Because of that, they get no sympathy with me," Fox plainly stated without regret.
"This thing is just another obstacle between us and Mido," Panther said, her fiery eyes intently locked onto Mido.
Clenching her fists hard, every knuckle popped in Queen's hand. She raised her fists to fight. "And I'm ready to go."
"Wait, you guys stand down," Joker requested much to the other Thieves' shock.
"Huh? But why, Joker?" Oracle asked in befuddlement.
"Skyler and Hifumi are the only ones I need to beat this thing. The rest of you conserve your powers once we deal with Mido, Kriemhild, and their cohorts," Joker said as he approached Sion and Tennyo.
Sion turned toward Engineer. "Is that ok with you?"
Nodding, Engineer unconditionally accepted. "You don't even need my permission, but you and Hifumi be careful."
With that, Sion and Tennyo walked away from the Revenant side. As they stepped away from their friends, Joker, Sion, and Tennyo confronted Yamata-no-Orochi.
"Oh, so it's just you three then? Well, this should provide some entertainment," Mido stated, keenly observing with Kriemhild.
"Hold on!" Mona called out, sprinting over to Joker, Sion, and Tennyo.
"Mona, wait!" Panther called out to the cat-like being.
However, the battle already commenced and the Yamata-no-Orochi struck, slamming through the earth with destructive force. Joker, Sion, and Tennyo quickly split up, separating themselves while throwing off the eight-headed monstrosity. Setting his sights on the discord, the purple-horned, and the white unicorn horned heads.
Summoning Satanael into the battle, Joker sent the fallen angel Persona to attack the Yamata-no-Orochi. The discord head's red horns unleashed blasts, which Satanael countered by firing Megidolaon to stop the discord snake's attack. At the same time, Satanael's almighty attack blasted the discord head and disoriented it. The purple-horned snake then launched large boulders at Satanael. Utilizing its wings, Satanael evaded every boulder save for one that impacted its left side. This prompted the white unicorn horned snake to strike Satanael.
Taking immediate action, Joker pumped out rounds from his Tyrant Pistol, simultaneously striking the three heads. Distracted by the Phantom Thief's actions, the three heads went straight for Joker, who threw down a bomb. When the bomb exploded, smoke dispersed and blinded the three heads. This gave Satanael enough time to recover and engage the three heads. The discord head quickly turned as Satanael fired it and the other heads with Riot Gun.
Meanwhile, Tennyo bounced around, evading close quarters with the blue-horned and green-horned snake heads. The green-horned snake unleashed a wind-based attack, sending Tennyo flying back. Then, as she landed and planted her feet down, Tennyo readily brandished her ko-naginata and rushed ahead to meet the two snake heads. The blue-horned head expelled a water beam at the woman, who sidestepped the attack. Determined to survive, Tennyo summoned Lightning Thorn and blasted the blue-horned snake with it. Once the blue-horned snake was quickly felled by Tennyo's lightning blast, the green-horned snake fired another wind attack, but Tennyo sidestepped and jumped up, swinging her ko-naginata at it. She then slashed both of the green-horned snake's eyes, taking away its sight.
Sion fought off the remaining three heads while evading their direct attacks. At one point, the red-horned snake expelled fire blasts to catch Sion off guard. Evading the fire blasts, Sion used its Regicide Blade to defend himself. Then, the yellow-horned head unleashed lightning from its horns, blasting Sion away. The two-horned snake then headbutted Sion, slamming him hard into the ground.
"Sion!" Tennyo called out, leaving herself open for the blue-horned snake to take her out with a water blast.
"Hang on! Help Is on the way!" Mona called out as he instantly transformed into his train rollercoaster cart form, which Panther and Skull immediately recognized.
"Yeah! He's turned into that train like the last time!" Skull enthusiastically shouted.
"Yeah, that was way back during the first Yami Matter event!" Panther recalled her, Joker, Skull, and Mona's skirmish against the Gasha-dokuro.
"Jump on, you two!" Joker immediately called out to Sion and Tennyo, both complied and hopped into the Mona train. When the discord head fired another set of destructive blasts, Satanael intercepted the eight-headed behemoth, allowing Joker to slip away and escape. Jumping high into the air, Joker landed on top of the Mona train.
"Epic landing there, Joker!" Mona's voice was heard accompanied by loud meowing from the train cart.
"Hey, I remember Joker told us you turned into a train. Wow, it's surreal to be riding inside you now," Sion was taken aback.
"Joker, get inside!" Tennyo called out to the Phantom Thief.
Setting his sights on Satanael and Yamata-no-Orochi's clash, he readied his Tyrant Pistol. He watched as a long trail materialized toward the giant monster battle.
"Hold on tight, you three!" Mona warned them as he flew Joker, Sion, and Tennyo around Yamata-no-Orochi, evading every projectile and elemental attack unleashed from the two monsters. At one point, pillars of fire and water nearly collided with Mona, but the Mona train swerved off the trail for a split second before another trail formed to catch his fall.
"That's cutting it too close," Joker apprehensively muttered, feeling his heart racing as if he just finished a marathon run.
Mona apologetically responded. "Sorry, Joker, but those attacks came out of nowhere! I'll keep my eyes on the trail! Ok, get ready, guys! I've found a blind spot!"
With that, Joker invoked Satanael's Heat Riser to buff up Tennyo and Sion while increasing their defense power and agility.
The Mona train continued its way toward Yamata-no-Orochi, revealing a blind spot on its left side. Standing up, and having been empowered as a result of Satanael's power, Sion and Tennyo hastily attacked. Converting his right arm into an Ogre-Type Blood Veil, the Revenant slashed the two-horned snake's head, tearing through its neck before ripping it clean off in gory fashion. With her ko-naginata, Tennyo blasted the blue-horned snake with her Lightning Thorn. Then, using her same ko-naginata, she sliced the blue-horned head off.
"Great work, Hifumi! Just six more heads to go!" Sion called out.
The unicorn-horned snake went for a headbutt, but Sion stopped it with his Hound-Type Blood Veils. Two hound heads popped out of Sion's back and bit down on the unicorn-horned snake, mauling and immobilizing it. The purple-horned snake moved in to aid the single-horned head, but Joker fired at it with numerous Tyrant Pistol rounds. Tennyo swiftly shoved her ko-naginata through the purple-horned snake's throat, ripping it open. Throwing its head back, the purple-horned snake hisses loudly in pain.
"Most of those heads have been taken out, Joker! This is your chance!" Mona suggested, heading his way toward the Yamata-no-Orochi.
With his eyes set on the discord head, a determined gaze formed on the Phantom Thief's face. As he eyed the discord head, Joker sensed Shido's presence inside this specific head. Then, as he waved his hand across his face, blue pyre erupted from his mask.
"Now, Satanael! Ravage him!" Joker beckoned his Persona to brutalize the monstrosity with Cosmic Flare.
When the two-horned head attacked on behalf of the discord head, Sion intervened and struck it with his Stinger-Type Blood Veil. Wailing in pain, the two-horned snake's head was skewered by Sion's metal tail. The red-horned head went up to defend the discord snake, but Tennyo bisected the top of its head with her ko-naginata.
Readying his pistol, he pointed and aimed for the main discord head. Upon realizing Joker's intent to kill, the discord head's red horns fired multiple blasts at the Phantom Thief. Satanael materialized in front of the blasts, guarding Joker against the wanton of destruction thrown his way.
Finally, without hesitation, Joker and Satanael both pulled their triggers, firing Sinful Shell, delivering a headshot through the discord head. Letting out a pained wail, the discord snake recoiled from the headshot. Then, an image of Shido appeared inside the discord snake, screaming in agonizing pain as if he was dying from a fatal blow.
With the discord head dismembered, the other heads of the Yamata-no-Orochi fell. Each head dissolved, releasing the soul essences of Shido's cronies. Ooe, Former Noble, the TV Station President, the IT Company President, and the Yakuza Cleaner all horrifically wailed in unison. They felt their souls being called back, removing them from the physical plane and returning to the underworld.
Shido's soul roared in defiance. "THIS CANNOT BE! HOW CAN I FALL TO THE PHANTOM THIEVES AGAIN!?" Then, he heard insidious laughter interject inside his own mind. "YOU! YOU SET ME UP TO FALL, MIDO! YOU TRAITOROUS BEAST!"
"You've only just realized that just now, Shido Masayoshi? You're an example of how much greed and power has poisoned your feeble human mind. It's corrupt politicians like you that stifle the progression of human evolution. Progressing human evolution is what I am striving for. So, I'd rather just cut my losses with you and your useless cronies. Corporate goons like you and your Conspiracy followers always put profit over scientific progress. Your kind makes me retch!"
"BUT, YOU GAVE YOUR WORD WE'D CONTINUE BUSINESS AFTER WE DISPOSE OF THE THIEVES AND THOSE REVENANTS?!"
Mido then replayed Shido's intent to overthrow him.
"And don't think you'll be off the hook either, Mido. Don't be surprised if I tend to overthrow you." Those sentences continued to burn inside Shido's mind. He came to the realization of his folly and didn't expect Mido to throw this back at him.
"Did you think I'd forget? You always intended to betray me, Shido Masayoshi. You view yourself as superior to the rest of your species, but you're no different from the rest of the Homo sapien monkeys."
"YOU BASTARD! I WON'T LET YOU HUMILIATE ME IN THIS MANNER! I AM SHIDO MASAYOSHI! I WAS CHOSEN TO LEAD A COUNTRY!" Seething, Shido angrily chastised him.
"You've set up so many to fall and die to cover up your heinous actions. You've made so that you and your Conspiracy maintain and consolidate as much power to rise unopposed. In the end, you had Amamiya Ren arrested only for him to rebound and defeat you. Not once, but now twice. You're not a powerful man, Shido. You're just a lowly life form in my eyes. Not fit to even draw breath in the new world I intend to create. Now, join the rest of God's failed experiments of Earth's past."
As Mido unabashedly taunted the former politician, Shido's face contorted with utter humiliation and disbelief.
"You have no one but yourself to blame for your own failure again."
"NO... NO! NO! I CANNOT ACCEPT THIS!"
"Do not deny it, Shido. We gave you a chance for revenge, but you still blew it. Oh well. Now watch from the ethers of the underworld as Kriemhild and I show you how we handle the situation."
As the distraught look from Shido's face faded, his mental state regressed. At that moment, Shido slowly returned to the state he had been during his change of heart phase, the darkness that returned to take him over left him again.
"Oh, what's wrong, Shido? Are you not remembering much of what happened? Don't worry you can join the rest of your cronies in the underworld. Heheh, as much as I've enjoyed harping on you, I should be in no position to judge you. I've committed heinous acts against humanity, but I don't cower behind cronies to protect my well being."
Gritting his teeth, Shido's face became mellow and pathetic, feeling every sting from Mido's piercing words.
"Now, you are dismissed, Shido. Return to the underworld from which you came!" Mido laughed as Shido's soul vanished from the physical realm.
Having witnessed Shido's essence vanish, the Thieves, the Vein Remnants, the Elven Princesses, and the Revenants (PV-CV-19) remained silent. Even Akechi, who helped fight against and listened to his father's last words, didn't say a word.
"Akechi, I'm sorry," Joker muttered as he, Sion, Tennyo, and Mona rejoined the group.
Nodding, Akechi replied with a neutral expression. "Don't be. I'm not."
"Alright, Mido! No more games! This time it's us against you, Kriemhild, and your followers there!" Engineer angrily snapped at the Revenant scientist.
"Pfft, you expect Mido to fight his own battles? He's deathly afraid of what I'm going to do to him." Panther faced the villain with scorn.
"So, when are you going to sully your hands, coward?!" Yakumo (PV-CV-19) called him out.
Having heard enough of their angry tirades, Mido uncrossed his arms and let out an exasperated sigh. "Congratulations for clearing the first stage, my friends. Now, the advent of Ragnarok Vein will truly take off. The Yami Matter now wishes to see blood being spilled on these hallowed grounds."
"It's about time," Kriemhild said with a mischievous smirk. Beckoning the Vamkyries toward her, she glared down at the Thieves and Vein Remnants. "You fought well against the Vamkyries last time, but now you'll fight me and my vessels at the same time. You will all have the honor of being flayed down to your bones by me Kriemhild!"
Jinyo fiercely gazed at Tennyo and Ivy. "Just as long as you leave these two for me."
"Enough. It's time," Mido declared as he, Kriemhild, the Vamkyries, Jinyo, and Akireplica descending, standing between the opposition and the Provisional Government building. "I have an inquiry for you, Louis."
Louis (PV-CV-19) scowled. "Not like it matters, but which one?"
Engineer frowned. "He must mean me."
Mido chuckled. "Astute as always. Now, how many of you have Envoy of Vein forms?"
"Why does that matter?" Stinger rebuked.
"Just answer the question," Mido responded with annoyance.
"Four of us do. Skyler, Mia, Yakumo, and I possess the powers of Envoy, but you know this already," Engineer elaborated.
"Yes, but what if I told you there was another with the power of Envoy Vein?" Mido tossed a vague question at them.
"There's a fifth one? But, there shouldn't be another!" Sion said.
"That's because you're all looking at the one," Mido tapped his chest.
"But, how…?" Joker was flabbergasted.
"But, you didn't have that kind of power before!" Tennyo called out his bluff.
"But, how long has it been since our last big battle? Hmm? Those months ago after I briefly possessed Sion's body and revealed myself to all of you! And the last time I faced you four, you invoked Envoy forms to best me. Well, I've found a way to harness that power and call it my own!" Mido boasted as a dark red aura enveloped him from head to toe, encompassing his entire body. "As a man of science, I should be able to create conceptualized things out of nothing! And after seeing your Envoy powers in action, I've replicated that power to create my own Envoy of Vein! Behold, the Envoy of Evolution!"
Not giving them a chance to react, the aura surrounding Mido expanded. His body underwent a quick metamorphosis. His overall appearance stayed relatively the same, even retaining the spikes on his armored arms and his armor color scheme. However, his previous bulkier frame slimmed down, giving him a slender body. Gone was the giant cloak. Two long, sharp spikes protruded through the front of his face and above his eyes.
With his right eye still glowing red, the Revenant scientist adjusted his newly modified form. Gazing upon his Envoy form, he malevolently chuckled, expelling compressed air from his mask. "Yes, I have achieved the next stage of Revenant evolution. Now, my friends, let's determine who's fit to survive in my new world!"
xxxxx
Chapter Soundtrack
VAMP - In This Hell - vs. Lost, Shido, and his group.
Code Vein OST - Boss Fight Phase 2 - Tennyo, Joker, Sion vs. Yamata-no-Orochi. They slay Yamata-no-Orochi and the souls of Shido and his cohorts are sent back to the underworld. Shido suffers a huge breakdown screaming in anger before he regresses back to his 'Heel Face Brainwashing' phase.
xxxxx
A/N: Shido and his stooges came and went, didn't they? Hah. They sure didn't last long and all just to be discarded to be Mido's sacrificial pawns. :P
To clarify if it wasn't made clear, these are the PV-CV-19 variations of the Conspiracy. The Yami Matter revived them for this battle.
This chapter was just the first stage of Ragnarok Vein. Lost, Shido & the Conspiracy, and the Yamata-no-Orochi. A gauntlet consisting of Code Vein, Persona 5, and Nioh enemies. All I was missing was something from Kakegurui, but that series lacks potentially dangerous villains and monsters on the scale of the ones aforementioned (though the Conspiracy pre-Orochi sacrifice were just jobbers).
This chapter also marks the return of Mona becoming a train cart. That's right, we haven't seen it since Chapter 4! We couldn't have picked a better time to bring it back but the Orochi fight.
The chapter highlights some neat Revenant team action, especially the Vein Remnants helping out their PV-CV-19 counterparts. Those made for some cool interactions.
Moreover, we have some brief Shido and Mido interactions, including Mido verbally destroying what little pride Shido had left. Also interesting to point out, Shido and Mido share the same English voice actor (Keith Silverstein, who also voiced Hisoka from Hunter x Hunter (2011) and Professor Tomoe from the Sailor Moon redub as well as Sailor Moon Crystal). That's just something to put out since he's voiced two of central antagonists of this story's top two franchises. I just wanted to throw this trivia out there for those curious.
Finally, yes, Mido has his own Envoy of Vein form. He's just a slender version of himself, but the way my partner sketched his Envoy of Evolution form out, he looks like a villain straight out of Tokusatsu.
Anyway, that's all from me regarding this chapter. The next couple of chapters are going to be crazy with the second phase.
Until then, send a review and see you in the next update!