Chapter XVI: Assault on Ward 24


As he rode on Fyu-Neru past Ward 24's entrance, Shu, Ayase, Heath, Akiko, the Phantom Remnants, and the various members of Funeral Parlor and the Kuhouin Group entered GHQ's stronghold. Shu's group left the remaining Funeral Parlor and Kuhouin Group members to fend off the Anti-Bodies, Endlave Ghost Units, and Da'ath troops outside Ward 24's gates.

"We've got company!" Heath called out as two Anti-Bodies and a few Da'ath soldiers headed their way to cut them off.

"I don't think so!" Ayase scowled as she powered up her Void boots.

Conjuring a spear-like Void, Shu used Masaru's weapon to impale and take down a few Da'ath soldiers. The others helped Shu defeat the other enemy mooks.

Readying themselves for early combat, Heath and Akiko merged with their Voids. Gliding forward, Heath attacked one of the Anti-Bodies. He quickly evaded the Anti-Bodies' attacks and vertically slashed one with his katana. After Heath destroyed one, Ayase lunged toward the other Anti-Body. She landed a powerful kick, knocking the second one into a wall. During the destruction of the Anti-Bodies, Heath and Ayase had their backs facing each other. While holding each other's hands, they turned around facing and smiling at each other.

"You know, this is a pretty cool money shot if this were an action movie," Heath muttered.

"Oh please," Ayase added with a grin.

"Seeing you wear that outfit, I've imagined you sounding valiant and victorious like a crimson goddess leading our forces to victory," Heath perfectly described how he admired and viewed Ayase in her Karmesin garb.

In response to Heath's praise, Ayase blushed. "I don't even know how to respond to that."

"Show-offs," Akiko chuckled under her breath.

"It's too bad we couldn't pull off our own tag team tandem moves?" Walter gave a half-hearted joke, which made Akiko nod.

"Let's get moving, you guys! We're close. I can feel Gai and Inori being so close," Shu rallied everyone toward their inevitable goal.

After disposing of Anti-Bodies, Endlave Ghost Units, and Da'ath members, the Funeral Parlor, Phantom Remnants, and Kuhouin Group collective were split into smaller groups. Tsugumi and her new partner-in-crime Oracle hacked into GHQ's computer network, neutralizing many of the security networks.

Tsugumi uttered while performing her hacking skills. "Good luck, everyone. And Shu, you had better deliver us a happy ending!"

Shu, still riding on his segway with Fyu-Neru, led Akiko, Joker, and Horkew toward a spacious chamber. Ayase, Heath, and Crow took another path. Queen, Violet, Shinchū, and Sophie went another way. Haruka, Akane, Kurachi, and Joaquin took a different direction. Walter, Argo, Oracle, and Panther headed for another path.

Upon entering the spacious chamber, Shu, Akiko, Joker, and Horkew faced off against more of GHQ's Beasts of Eden. Shu's eyes slightly widened when he faced a clone of the same Fafnir rex that he slew before. The group found scattered remains of animal bones lying in the corner of the chamber, slightly scaring Akiko until she quickly regained her warrior's resolve.

Inscribed on the flesh of the Fafnix rex's left hind leg is the name Cain.

Quickly regaining his composure, Shu, now a seasoned warrior, prepared to fight and brandished Yahiro's shears Void. Leading the charge against the Beast of Eden theropod, Shu, Akiko, Joker, and Horkew evaded Cain's ferocious bites, stomps, and tail whips. Utilizing her Void's power, Akiko lunged at the beast and attacked it with her ko-naginata. At one point, Horkew easily evaded Cain's tail slap and hopped onto its back. Sinking his teeth into Cain's back, Horkew briefly bit the theropod beast before Cain attempted to shake off the wolf. The wolf jumped off and managed to escape safely from the dinosaur.

Readying her ko-naginata, Akiko slashed the back of Cain's hind legs, bringing it down to its knees. Readily conjuring his Third-Tier Persona Raoul, Joker attacked the beast with his dagger while his fiendish gentleman Persona pummeled Cain. Taking no chances to allow the dinosaur to recover, Shu used Yahiro's Void to not only slash open its neck but cut off its life strings, which instantly ended Cain's life.


Ayase, Heath, and Crow found themselves in a similar chamber, but this one was occupied by a different Fafnir rex variant and several GHQ soldiers, who were seen opening the monster's cage door. Standing and rearing its large upper body, a pale-scaled Spinosaurus walked forward on all fours. Its neck, body, underbelly, and tail are covered with sharp spikes. Being an aquatic-dwelling beast, its tail resembled a tadpole's. While this tail doubled as a secondary weapon, the beast still has its sharp teeth and claws.

Unlike Cain, this beast's identification title was carved on the right side of its upper body: Abel.

As its keen eagle-like eyes settled on the group, Abel let out a deep and ferocious bellow. Before attacking Ayase, Heath, and Crow, Abel crushed one GHQ soldier under its weight. Another GHQ soldier was tail whipped and sent crashing into a wall. A third GHQ soldier was snatched by Abel's jaws and snapped in half, tearing apart his upper and lower bodies and spilling his entrails. Then, after discarding the mutilated soldier, it growled and quickly sprawled toward the group ready to attack Ayase's group.

Despite the brutality they had seen, the group didn't waver and headed off the monstrosity. Utilizing his Void's power, Heath quickly launched the first strike. After evading the dinosaur's jaws, Heath swung his katana and stabbed Abel's right side. After summoning his Persona, Crow sent Hereward to attack Abel with its jagged dual swords.

As Ayase jumped high and went for a diving kick, Abel snatched her with its snapping jaws. Screaming out for Ayase and readying his Void's katana, Heath stabbed Abel's abdomen. While this didn't prompt the beast to release Ayase, Ayase channeled the powers from her Void to enhance her upper body strength. Invoking her new upper body power, she used her arms to keep the dinosaur's teeth from coming on top of her and easily escaped while ripping apart Abel's teeth with her bare hands at the same time. She then shoved the teeth into Abel's nostrils to the point where the tips of the teeth pierced through the nostril skin.

Bellowing with excruciating pain, Abel's nostrils spewed blood. After Ayase incapacitated the Fafnir rex, Crow's Hereward shoved its swords into the dinosaur's throat. Finally, Heath's humanoid Void finished off Abel by piercing its katana through the creature's head.


When Haruka, Akane, Kurachi, and Joaquin ran past a long corridor, they stumbled into an aviary. They looked up and saw one of the three Sigrúndactyl beasts. It was Helmwige.

As Helmwige headed off the group, Haruka purposefully fired stray bullets toward a wall to draw the beast's attention. However, Helmwige didn't fall for the distractionary tactic and lunged for an attack, but Kurachi fired a shell from a missile launcher that blew apart a wall section, causing debris to fall on top of Helmwige.

During the final moments of the battle, Akane used her firearms and Joaquin utilized an electrical-powered whip to finish off Helmwige together. After Akane blasted its wings with a machine gun, Joaquin ensnared and sent several powerful electrical charges that electrocuted Helmwige to death.


Entering a similar den, Walter, Argo, Oracle, and Panther entered a spacious aviary and were quickly attacked by the Sigrúndactyl, Waltraute.

Together with her Persona Celestine, Panther unleashed a fiery blast that burned Waltraute and its wings. Walter then summoned his two-mouthed canine Void, which snapped and clenched its sharp fangs into Waltraute. As the beasts wrestled each other, Waltraute pierced the canine's face with its beak. The canine retaliated with a quick bite to the winged beast's throat. Panther seized Waltraute's neck with her whip and cast another fiery blast that burned it.

Using Oogumo's launcher, Argo blasted a hole through Waltraute's torso, causing the beast to bleed out. At the same time, Oracle used her Persona Al Azif to finish off the winged beast.


Queen, Violet, Shinchū, and Sophie were immediately attacked by the third Sigrúndactyl, Rossweisse. The white-winged monstrosity flew down and greeted the quartet with a frontal attack.

As Rossweisse pecked the floor with its long beak, the group evaded its bone-crushing strike and counter attacked the giant winged beast. Summoning her motorbike Persona Agnes, Queen rode on a platform and flew into the air. Queen quickly flew off Agnes and landed a powerful blow across Rossweisse's head. Queen's blow also managed to break off the front part of Rossweisse's beak. Shinchū conjured threads with knives attached and tossed them at the winged beast. When Rossweisse rushed for an attack, Shinchū rigged the knife threads to explode, dealing damage and wounding the beast.

Conjuring a giant pair of yoyos, Sophie attacked Rossweisse with them. Queen then pummeled the beast's face and body with devastating body blows. After Queen critically injured the monstrosity, Violet delivered the final blow by swiftly decapitating Rossweisse.


After slaying the Beasts of Eden, Shu's group, the Phantom Remnants, and the Kuhouin Group regrouped and stormed toward a two-forked pathway. The group decided and split into five groups.

Shu and the Reigizan took one path while Joker, Panther, Crow, Akane, Heath, and Akiko took another. The others stayed behind and waited to deal with any more Anti-Bodies, Endlave Ghost Units, Da'ath soldiers, and other experimental monsters.


As they ventured deeper into a large and seemingly empty chamber, Joker, Panther, Crow, Akane, Heath, and Akiko faced something awaiting them. Much to the Phantom Remnants and Akane's horror and dismay, they saw three ethereal forms of individuals they thought had died or gone missing. These three are the revived forms of Shido Masayoshi, Kamoshida Suguru, and Owada Jyun.

"Shido?! What are you doing here?!" Joker and Crow exclaimed in unison.

"No way! Kamoshida?!" Panther furiously screamed.

"Owada!" Akane shouted.

"You know these three?" Akiko asked the Phantom Remnants and Akane.

"Know them? They were our enemies in the past," Joker bluntly answered.

"More than just enemies! Kamoshida is the bane of mine and Shiho's lives!" Panther snarled viciously toward the revived Kamoshida.

"I can tell from a glance these aren't Shadows. They were no doubt revived by GHQ," Crow astutely added, painstakingly eyeing Shido.

"If GHQ revived them, it's probably the same process it took to revive Gai," Heath stated.

"I don't care. This is my chance to finally kill Owada," Akane narrowly glared at the corrupt politician.

"Yes, it took the wonderful and miraculous power from Yuu and Da'ath to revive us. Now, we get another chance to kill you, Phantom Thieves," Shido chortled.

"Is that you Takamaki Ann? Heh, won't it be great when I get my way with you," the lecherous Kamoshida snickered while licking his slobbering lips.

"Since we've been revived to do their bidding, I propose after we defeat the Phantom Thieves and Funeral Parlor, we can repay GHQ and Da'ath by overthrowing them?" Owada proposed to his colleagues.

Shido chortled in response. "Why not? They'll realize the mistake of reviving us. After we get rid of Keido, Yuu, Gai, and Mana, we'll take over Da'ath and create our own paradise! What do you say, Akechi? Would you like to partake in this hostile takeover?"

"Not even tempting. I've been over you for years. I walk my path these days," Crow bluntly replied.

"And I'd like to correct you. We're not the Phantom Thieves anymore. We're the Phantom Remnants. Remember that after we send you back to the underworld," Joker added.

"Heh, why look so tense, Ann? You look even more fucking sexier than before. Why don't you rest your head on my lap after I'm done fucking you?!" Kamoshida sneered and laughed at the red-clad woman.

As Joker tried interjecting on his wife's behalf, Panther beckoned him away.

"You've got this?" Joker asked Panther, who stepped forward as she shook with fury.

"Kamoshida!" Panther yelled out to her old nemesis. "Don't think I haven't forgotten everything you did to Shiho or me for that matter!" Her eyes then burned with fiery and incandescent rage, which matched her unbridled emotions. She took out and brandished her whip. "How about I tear your head clean off, YOU MOTHERFUCKING PIECE OF SHIT?! NOW I CAN SEND YOU TO HELL MYSELF!"

Having seen Panther unleash her fury, Heath and Akiko thought twice to get in the way of her grudge.

Nodding, Akane set her sights on Owada. "And this one's for me and my dad. You took mom away from us! I'll kill you myself!"

Having witnessed the Phantom Remnants and Akane vehemently address their former enemies, Heath and Akiko felt left out of this conflict considering they have no history with Shido, Kamoshida, and Owada. Even so, they knew anyone working with GHQ and Da'ath was an enemy.

"Look, we don't know these jerkfaces but I can tell creeps when I see one. As far as bro and I are concerned, these three are just obstacles to be overcome," Akiko stated.

"But, we'll help take them down all the same," Heath said.

"Who do you think you two are?!" Owada yelled out.

"What?! You two brats won't take us seriously?!" Kamoshida snarled.

"You'll regret those words dearly after we're done with you and Funeral Parlor!" Shido scoffed irritably at the Jones' siblings' disparagement.

The Phantom Remnants sighed, facepalmed, and shook their heads at Heath and Akiko's lack of concern for Shido, Kamoshida, and Owada.

"C'mon, you two! We need to take them seriously! They were major enemies years ago!" Panther tried persuading them.

"If we didn't stop him, Shido could've taken over the country!" Joker exclaimed.

"And that man caused my mother's death!" Akane pointed toward Owada.

"Forget it, you three. As far as these three are concerned, they're nothing more than nuisances. However, this is our battle," Crow reminded them.

After regaining their composure, the three men laughed maliciously as they physically merged into a singular flesh-colored blob entity. As the blob mass morphed into a new shape, it took on a Chimaera-like form with the various body features and parts creating this singular abomination. It has the lion head and limbs of Shido's golden lion beast, and the lion's head forehead has the face of Shido talking and taunting the Phantom Remnants and their allies. A second head and front legs are shaped like a golden ram attached to the lion's body with the animal's forehead having the face of Kamoshida talking. Owada's head is firmly attached to the snake head/tail. Then, various Apocalypse Virus crystals are seen along with various parts of its body, indicating that the three men were killed by the virus.

"Ugh, disgusting," Akiko remarked.

"Let's take that thing down, sis!" Heath declared as the siblings summoned their humanoid Voids. They then joined Joker, Panther, Crow, and Akane to engage the Chimaera-like monstrosity.

Initially, the abomination evaded and countered their attacks but ultimately Heath and Akiko's Void powers were a vital factor in the Chimaera's downfall. Joker used Raoul to wear down the beast. Akane fired multiple shotgun rounds that blew off pieces of the monster's body. Panther and her Persona Celestine set the Chimaera-like creature ablaze with devastating flames. With Hereward's assistance, Crow indiscriminately slashed the abomination with multiple blade strikes. When Joker and Crow united together, they slashed Shido's face on the lion's forehead. Targeting the snake tail, Akane fired off a single shotgun blast, causing Owada's head to explode. Panther unleashed incandescent flames that burned the Kamoshida face on the ram's forehead. As they cut off the Chimaera's legs, Heath used Tamuramaro's katana and stabbed the monster's heart. Likewise, Akiko utilized Suzuka Gozen's ko-naginata and pierced the Chimaera's vital heart spot, which sealed its fate.

After the Phantom Remnants, Akane, Heath, and Akiko quickly slew the Chimaera, the golden beast's body started breaking down and dissolving. While the Chimaera body fell apart, the three souls of Shido, Kamoshida, and Owada screamed fearfully in unison as they were being dragged back to Hell. However, Kamoshida desperately endured and dragged himself toward the Phantom Remnants while Shido and Owada were being pulled into Hell.

"HOW COULD I LOSE TO YOU TWO?! AKECHI, YOU KILLED ME! ME, YOUR FATHER! JOKER, YOU WILL NOT GET AWAY WITH THIS!" Shido set his furious sights on Joker and Crow. "NO! THIS CAN NOT BE! I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE VICTORIOUS! I WAS GOING TO TAKE OVER GHQ AND DA'ATH! THIS ISN'T RIGHT!" Shido screamed desperately as his body and soul started to fade away. Then, he heard Keido and Yuu's voices taunting him.

"Heheh, you truly thought you had a chance defeating your old enemies? You're such a fool, Shido Masayoshi. You weren't even a match of the Jones kids. In the end, you three were just mere pawns in our grand plans," Yuu taunted him.

"YOU PURPOSEFULLY LEFT US WITH SCRAPS AND SET US UP TO DIE?!"

Keido calmly chuckled inside Shido's fractured mind. "To think I once admired you when you nearly became Prime Minister, Shido Masayoshi, but I see the farce you truly are. Your Antisocial Force is a thing of the past. History has already dictated your downfall. GHQ and Da'ath will finish the Phantom Remnants where you've failed."

"YOU USED US… YOU LEFT us… to die… how could you…?" Shido's tone calmed as his unbridled fury and mental breakdown subsided as his soul was seemingly being cleansed before being dragged into Hell.

Yuu interjected and laughed. "Don't feel bad, Shido Masayoshi. You can rest in Hell to reflect on your past transgressions while Earth sees the rise of a new Eden. Unfortunately, you and your colleagues can't be there to witness it. Then again, you were going to die anyway even if you by some miracle defeated the Phantom Remnants. Our Adam and Eve wouldn't have welcomed you into their Eden."

"It's over," Akane muttered, watching Owada undergoing a similar process as his mental breakdown subsided and his soul was being dragged back into Hell.

Out of the three, Kamoshida was the most desperate as he clung with every fiber of his being and resisted being dragged to the underworld.

"No… my vengeance… STILL ISN'T SATISFIED!" Kamoshida bellowed as he sets his murderous gaze on Panther and flew into a furious rage. "You… Takamaki Ann, you… YOU FUCKING BITCH! YOU TOOK EVERYTHING FROM ME! I WAS ON TOP OF THE WORLD BEFORE YOU AND THAT WHORE WHO NEARLY KILLED HERSELF CAME INTO THE PICTURE! SHUJIN WAS SUPPOSED TO BE MY RIGHTFUL KINGDOM! YOU END UP MARRYING REN WHILE I'M LEFT TO DIE TO THE VIRUS?! THIS WASN'T HOW IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE!" He quickly lunged toward Panther. "BEFORE I'M DEAD, I'M GONNA RIDE YOU LIKE A CHEAP PROSTITUTE AND FUCK YOUR WHORE ASS RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOUR BELOVED!"

As everyone else stood their ground, Panther stood her ground and purposefully invited her old nemesis to attack her. He quickly backhanded Panther's face, slapped her a few times, and punched her gut with force. Seemingly thinking he had won, he grabbed Panther and attempted to tear off her clothes. With a lecherous look, Kamoshida prepared to set out what he always wanted: make Ann his personal sex slave.

However, Kamoshida closely inspected Panther and noticed she didn't even budge an inch. Moreover, he noticed no bruise marks on her face and body. It looked as if he didn't damage her. Opening her eyes, Panther evilly smirked. Then, with a scowl on her face, Panther effortlessly kicked Kamoshida back. As Kamoshida was sent flying far back, he felt the immeasurable power gap between him and Panther.

"How pathetic. Even mosquito bites hurt worse than those weak-ass punches you threw," Panther said as she walked up to the terrified Kamoshida. "Look at you. Once a king of his own kingdom, but now reduced to a weak and cowardly little bug who can't even hurt a single lady. Hah, how the mighty have fallen." Demonstrating the gulf of power between them, Panther kicked and easily broke off Kamoshida's left arm from the socket. Then, she punched him far back in a single blow. "Is that enough for you, KAMOSHITA?!" She mocked him with a disparaging name fitting for scum. However, Panther didn't stop there.

Without hesitation, Panther quickly ensnared Kamoshida's neck with her whip and strangled him with it. "NOW, I'M GOING TO BE YOUR FUCKING JUDGE, JURY, AND EXECUTIONER!"

She imbued her whip with flames and slowly burned him from the inside. The pathetic man's screams fell on deaf words as Panther tightened her whip's grip and yanked off Kamoshida's head, causing it to pop off his body and fall on the ground with a disgusting thud. As Panther lifted Kamoshida's head, the head came off with the spinal cord still attached and blood dripping all over the ground. Everyone else noticed she gave no reaction to a severed man's head hanging in front of her.

"Oh, shit…" Akiko cupped her mouth.

"I never thought she had this much anger inside her," Heath muttered.

"Kids, you have no idea," Joker nervously added.

Witnessing Panther publicly executing Kamoshida, Heath and Akiko now knew it's never wise to cross Ann's fury.

"Ann…" Kamoshida's head weakly sputtered as she looked him dead in his eyes.

While holding his head, Panther imagined herself sitting on a throne with her eyes devoid of life and a creepy smile all while holding Kamoshida's head on her lap and her bloodied whip laying on the floor. "Remember my name and face, Kamoshida. And… WELCOME TO MY WORLD, BITCH!" With that, she discharged more flames, which burned Kamoshida's head, searing off the flesh and revealing his skull.

"Takamaki Ann… I… I regret… all the horrible things I've done… I'm sorry…" Kamoshida's soul muttered as he was cleansed and sent back to Hell.

Now having vanquished Shido, Kamoshida, and Owada, Panther regrouped with Joker, Crow, Akane, Heath, and Akiko.

"You did what needed to be done," Crow acknowledged Panther's actions.

"Honey, are you ok now?" Joker asked as Panther hugged him.

"I am now."

"Listen, Miss Takamaki? We're sorry," Akiko apologized.

"We didn't mean to not take your enemies seriously," Heath said.

Smiling, Panther nodded. "It's fine, kiddos. You didn't know, but now that's behind us."

"Let's regroup with the others," Joker said.

"We can take the same path we used to get in here," Heath suggested as he and Akiko led the Phantom Remnants and Akane out of the chamber.


Before being let loose to confront its opponents, the latest Beast of Eden emerged fresh out of its test run. A tall, ominous-looking figure walked out of its chamber, creating loud creaks with its heavy feet. The sound of heavy breathing emanated from within the chamber, sending terrifying dread down the GHQ soldiers' spines.

A computer screen on the side of the chamber had identification for the subject:

SUBJECT: Oni-Blade Slasher
Other aliases: GHQ's Slasher, the Beast Slayer
PRIME DIRECTIVE: Eliminate Funeral Parlor and their allies

Several GHQ soldiers were on stand-by and readied their firearms. One of the troops cautiously walked forward with rifle ready. The sound of claws extracted. Before the soldier could even blink, two claws poked out through his head and gouged his eyes out.

The Oni-Blade Slasher is a tall artificially created humanoid clad in silver body armor with black and dark brown flesh seamlessly meshed with the metal armor. A pair of metal claws are seen equipped on its hands as the claws on its left hand are drenched in the GHQ soldier's blood. Its face is covered behind a silver steel mask, which has eye silts for it to see through. Behind its eye silts, its red eyes scanned the apprehensive GHQ troops.

"Hold your fire. Don't shoot," The commander of the unit muttered behind clenched teeth.

"Fuck this! It killed one of our friends!" A soldier screamed.

Suddenly, one of the other soldiers stepped up and fearfully shot the behemoth. Several bullets bounced off the Oni-Blade Slasher's armored chest. Unscathed, the Oni-Blade Slasher punched the GHQ soldier's head off his shoulders.

"Did Master Gai alter its programming to target GHQ soldiers, too?!" The commander realized that he and his men were now expendable in the long term.

Another soldier instinctively opened fire. The cybernetic slasher quickly backhanded the soldier with enough force to smash his face in, instantly killing him. It then seized another soldier by his throat, lifted him, and stabbed his chest with its claws. The commander and another soldier opened fire but the Oni-Blade Slasher held the soldier forward and used him as a human meat shield as bullets instantly tore through his body. The Oni-Blade Slasher finished off the soldier and used its superhuman strength to tear him in half like paper.

Witnessing their colleague getting ripped in half caused the commander and his grunt to consider withdrawing.

"Commander, get out of here! I'll handle him!" The last remaining soldier yelled out as he fired rounds into the behemoth, allowing his superior to flee with his life.

"Crush…. Crush… kill…" The Oni-Blade Slasher muttered behind its mask. It then ripped off a metal beam from the hinges of its chamber. It turned and impaled the soldier. The sound of metal piercing through the man's flesh sounded excruciatingly grotesque. Then, the behemoth lifted the dead soldier and tossed him off the metal beam. "Kill… kill… crush…" Setting its sights on the fleeing commander, the Oni-Blade Slasher threw the metal beam from a greater distance between it and its victim. "KILL!" The behemoth bellowed with excitement. With perfect accuracy, the metal beam pierced through the commander's chest as blood splattered out of his body and all over the pristine floor.

Scanning the slain GHQ soldiers, the Oni-Blade Slasher faced the entranceway and walked out to find its real victims: Funeral Parlor and their allies.

Suddenly, the Oni-Blade Slasher paused its murderous path and heard footsteps coming toward it. Clenching its hands, the behemoth breathed deeply.

"Crush. Kill. Kill."

Upon entering the chamber, Shu and the Reigizan were baffled by the dead GHQ soldiers scattered all over the chamber. Then, they shifted their sights on the perpetrator. As it analyzed the newcomers, the Oni-Blade Slasher readily brandished its claws for its next set of victims.

"Funeral Parlor. Kill. Kill. KILL!" The Oni-Blade Slasher bellowed fiercely.

"Yo, dudes, what the hell is that?!" Subaru shrieked at the sight of the Oni-Blade Slasher.

"Looks like a Halloween show reject. There's five of us and one of them," Masaru growled.

"Don't make the mistake of overlooking this big freak, Masaru," Aneko reprimanded him.

"Even something like this thing has to have an Achilles heel," Yoshitsugu meticulously eyed the Oni-Blade Slasher.

Upon seeing the Oni-Blade Slasher, Shu frowned. "That looks awfully like one of those masked slashers from those horror films Yahiro showed me."

Extracting and brandishing its hand claws, the Oni-Blade Slasher hastily rushed toward the group. Shu and the Reigizan quickly spread out and conjured their Voids.

"He might be too slow to react when he's fighting multiple people at once! Let's attack him from all sides!" Aneko exclaimed.

"We can't be too sure about that," Shu said.

"Then, I'll kick things off!" Masaru declared as he ran toward the Oni-Blade Slasher with his spear Void. The other Reigizan rushed in and implemented coordinated attacks. As he jumped high, Masaru ran his spear into the Oni-Blade Slasher's right shoulder.

At the same time, Yoshitsugu clashed with the Oni-Blade Slasher's claws with his light sword Void. After hitting the masked monstrosity with multiple sword strikes, Yoshitsugu slashed its kneecaps, bringing it down to a reachable size. When the monster tried slashing with its claws, Aneko blocked them with his shield Void. Readying a bow Void, Subaru fired a barrage of light arrows at the behemoth.

Before Shu made his move, the Oni-Blade Slasher quickly rebounded from the Reigizan's simultaneous attack. It quickly ripped out the spear from its shoulder and punched Masaru back. When Yoshitsugu attempted to slash the behemoth, the abomination kicked him down. Subaru rushed while firing numerous arrows but the Oni-Blade Slasher deflected them with his claws and seized Subaru's throat, attempting to strangle him.

"Help me!" Subaru shrieked as he felt his throat about to get crushed.

"Bro! Lay your hands off him, you big bastard!" Masaru shouted as he lunged for another spear attack, but the Oni-Blade Slasher quickly grabbed Masaru's throat as well.

As it held both Masaru and Subaru in chokeholds, the behemoth bellowed. "Kill. Kill.KILL! KILL FUNERAL PARLOR!" He quickly picked up Subaru and Masaru.

As he struggled to break loose, he reached out to save Subaru. While doing so, he dropped his spear. Quickly fetching the spear Void, Shu stabbed the Oni-Blade Slasher's right arm with it, releasing Subaru from its grip.

"Masaru!" Subaru cried out as Shu helped him off the floor.

"Bro… you're safe… I'm glad… you and the others hang on a little longer…" Masaru gritted as he turned and intently glared at the Oni-Blade Slasher's red glowing eyes. "...never put your hands on my little bro… again… or you deal with me."

"Masaru! Hang on!" Aneko yelled out as he and Yoshitsugu ran forward to save their brother. As Yoshitsugu slashed the Oni-Blade Slasher's left arm, the behemoth barely budged and elbowed him down.

When the masked abomination tried to attack Aneko, the Void user guarded himself with his shield. Five punches from the behemoth were enough to send Aneko flying back.

"Forget it, bros! If I'm going out… I'm going out in style…" Masaru growled as he planted an explosive device to the Oni-Blade Slasher's chest, igniting an explosion that knocked the Oni-Blade Slasher back. However, at the same time, the Oni-Blade Slasher stabbed Masaru's chest with its claws and tossed his body on the floor.

"KILL FUNERAL PARLOR!" The Oni-Blade slasher bellowed.

Saddened and enraged by Masaru's demise, the Reigizan attacked the masked behemoth in unison. Brandishing Masaru's Void, and before the Void vanished for good, Shu ran forward and drove the spear through the Oni-Blade Slasher's throat. Then, with one quick slash, he cut open the Oni-Blade Slasher's throat. Aneko tossed one of his explosive bombs to Shu, who stuffed it through the neck wound and inside the masked behemoth's body.

Everyone quickly took cover as the bomb detonated and the Oni-Blade Slasher exploded into heaps of metal and burned flesh.

After slaying the Oni-Blade Slasher, Shu saw the spear Void crystallize into dust in his hands. He pivoted toward the Reigizan and watched them mourn Masaru, who just died from his wounds. Shu approached the Reigizan and reminded them that Masaru died to keep them alive. After honoring Masaru's sacrifice, Shu procured the Reigizan's Voids and headed off to reconvene with the others.


After defeating the Beasts of Eden, Shu regrouped with his colleagues and reencountered the Aragami.

"Welcome and congratulations for making it this far. If you made it this far, then you were able to get by the Oni-Blade Slasher and slew our trusted beasts. Rossweisse, you will be avenged!" Sasaki commended Shu and his group.

"Yes, but unfortunately for you and your allies, Ouma Shu, this is where your luck ceases. I will kill you in Helmwige's honor!" Arima chortled.

"You will not get away with killing my dear Waltraute! We won't let you interrupt Master Gai and Mother's ascension as the Adam and Eve of our new Eden!" Ryōko exclaimed.

Intending to kill Shu's group, the Aragami underwent monstrous transformations. Sasaki turned into a three-armed humanoid wielding three gunblade-like katanas and garbed in a dark violet cowboy hat, a black flowing cloak, and long black tattered pants. Sasaki's hair became longer and unkempt. Sasaki's third arm is seen hanging out of his back.

Arima transformed into a tall, muscular and horned humanoid wielding a kanabō. The behemoth bellowed menacingly at Shu's group.

Ryōko turned into a massive three-headed silver fox with nine tails and retained the hairstyle they had in their human form on the middle head. The three fox heads let out menacing roars and screeches at their adversaries.

"We've come too far to let anyone beat us now," Shu firmly stated.

"These three sure won't stop our momentum!" Ayase added.

"You got that right, Ayase," Heath nodded.

"Let's do this, guys!" Akiko cried out.

Shu, Heath, Akiko, Joker, Crow, and Shinchū engaged Sasaki. Walter, Ito, Queen, Sophie, Akane, and Joaquin battled Arima. Ayase, Kurachi, Yuko, Panther, Violet, and Horkew fought against Ryōko.

As Heath attacked Sasaki with his katana, the Aragami leader quickly brandished his three katanas and countered the humanoid Void's strikes. Akiko assisted her brother but Sasaki managed to hold off the Jones siblings. Joker and Crow summoned their Third-Tier Personas to attack Sasaki from the rear. Shinchū unleashed threads equipped with flowers, which exploded like grenades and proved effective against Sasaki. Amid the battle, Shu conjured Yoshitsugu's light sword Void and clashed with Sasaki's third arm.

After knocking away Joker and Crow, Heath and Akiko's Void powers pushed back against Sasaki, who fought back with his katanas. Heath and Akiko channeled their Voids' energies, allowing them to generate psychokinetic waves that neutralized Sasaki. Heath cut off one arm. Swinging her Void's ko-naginata, Akiko tore off the second arm. With only one arm left to fight with, Sasaki used it to duel Shu. After dodging Sasaki's attacks, Shu cut off Sasaki's head with the light sword Void.

Arima defended himself from Walter's canine Void and Ito's dual katanas with his kanabō. As he swung his kanabō, Walter and Ito dodged. Walter's canine quickly ensnared Arima's weapon with its jaws. Swinging his kanabō, Arima knocked away Walter's beast Void. Akane fired multiple shotgun blasts into Arima, which slowed down the behemoth. Joaquin ensnared Arima's kanabō-wielding arm and stopped him from swinging it around. This enabled Sophie to knock Arima around with her giant yo-yos.

As she rode Agnes toward Arima, Queen blasted and crashed head-on against him. Queen quickly jumped up and punched Arima's punch. After Queen disoriented Arima, Walter's canine bit off Arima's non-kanabō wielding arm. As Arima broke loose from Joaquin's whip, he tossed Joaquin back. Ito swiftly attacked Arima and cut off his other arm. Then, Ito finished off Arima by shoving his dual katana through the monster's forehead.

Assisted by Horkew, Ayase delivered a flurry of kicks against Ryōko's body. As Ryōko fought back by swinging their nine tails at Ayase, Horkew jumped on the fox's back and bit the back of its middle head. Ryōko let out a pained roar and shook Horkew off. Setting their sights on Horkew, Ryōko charged at the wolf. Then, Yuko cut off two of Ryōko's tails with her sickle. Kurachi shot off another tail with a missile launcher. With Celestine's assistance, Panther unleashed fiery blasts that burned Ryōko. Fighting their way through the flames, Ryōko lunged at the group and swung their remaining tails, knocking away most of their enemies.

As Ayase readied her next attack, Queen stood firmly beside her. With Queen heading off Ryōko, Ayase jumped high into the air and waited for Queen to draw Ryōko's attention away. Violet summoned her Persona, Ella, as they attacked Ryōko together. Violet struck Ryōko with repeated strikes with her rapier. As Queen punched Ryōko's left head, the force of the blow caused its neck to snap and break, killing it. Yuko cut off the right head with her sickle. Ayase landed the final blow as she executed a flying sidekick and unleashed enough force to make the top part of Ryōko's middle head explode in gory fashion.

Having defeated the Aragami, Shu and his group recuperated and planned their next move.


While Funeral Parlor and their allies worked their way through Ward 24's horrors, Gai was ready to remove Inori's memories in preparation for Mana's return. Before initiating the soul transfer process, Gai questioned Inori why she loved Shu.

"I remember when I first discovered you, Inori. You were grateful for what I did. Do you hate what I've become now?"

Inori nodded. "I can't resent you. I'm grateful. Because of you, I got to experience life. If you hadn't awoken me, I never would've met Shu."

"What was so precious that Shu gave you? I'm curious what wonderful things did he show you?"

"He showed me the world. All of its sadness, its pain, and its beauty. Shu suffered, doubted himself, hurt people, and made mistakes. And he felt shame and remorse for his actions. That's why… that's the true reason why I love him. His boundless humanity. Shu showed me how to be human… he showed me how to live…" As she went on, her crystallized bindings wrapped over her waist and body. "...even though I'm not a real human. He gave me the chance to fall in love just like a normal person." Her visions of Shu started crumbling before her eyes as Mana's essence engulfed what was left of Inori.

"Is that so? Shu means that much to you, does he?"

"...who is Shu?"

Gai responded. "I guess that's the name of the only man you ever loved."

Inori sang her final song as she started losing herself to Mana's essence possessing her.

With that, as crystals quickly engulfed and took over her body, Inori nevertheless sang a song and shed a tear from her eye unbeknownst to Gai as it left a crystallized flower.


Being the only one who could hear Inori's song, Shu led his group toward the center of GHQ Headquarters.

"Where are we?" Shu scanned the vicinity.

"This is the hub of central command. We can take the elevator straight to the top from here," Haruka said before sighting Keido riding an elevator.

Just then, Shu, Heath, Akiko, Ayase, and the others encountered Yuu, who waited for them on a platform. As he welcomed them, Yuu peered down at his adversaries calmly.

"I know you've already heard this from the Aragami, but congratulations on making it this far. I'm not surprised you've been able to defeat the remaining Beasts of Eden and the Aragami. Ouma Shu, you've demonstrated your full potential manifesting a Void Genome. Your power might be even comparable to Gai's now. However, in the end, Gai was selected to be our Adam."

"Where is Inori?! And where is Gai?!" Shu yelled with anger.

"Calm down. You'll see them soon enough, Ouma Shu. Allow me to tell you all about me. I am Yuu, the envoy of Da'ath. However, I'm more than just that. I am an anthropomorphic personification and was conceived by the collective consciousness of the first members of Da'ath many centuries ago. I have continued to exist so long as Da'ath is still around with the current members fulfilling their goals. I am the one who's been guiding this secret organization, fostering the growth of technology and allowing foundations such as GHQ to rise in prominence. Have you ever wondered why technology and science have advanced so far in such a short time? You can thank Da'ath for that. It was us that created the Apocalypse Meteorite, whose powers and elements are traced from an extinct alien race. We sent it into space, deliberating waiting for it to crash land into Earth."

As Yuu explained, he showed a visual of the source of the Apocalypse Virus being created and sent into space before landing into Izu Ōshima. Seeing this, Shu scowled knowing this was the catalyst that led to the beginning of his family's despair. It then showed Mana making contact with the meteorite and becoming influenced by the virus.

"How fortuitous that your sister, Mana, found the meteorite, contracted the virus, and became patient zero, Shu. That day, Mana became our Eve," Yuu smirked as he closed the visuals. "But, that's enough of that. I know you're here to rescue Inori and stop Gai, but I'm afraid this is where your path ends." With that, ceiling lights beamed across the darkened vicinity, revealing Yuu's Da'ath followers.

Now holding a red apple in his hand, Yuu negotiated with Shu. "Listen, Shu. There's only one way for mankind to progress from here: complete obliteration at the hands of Adam. And it's all in your hands. Will you spend eternity with Mana and shape the next phase in humanity?"

With an irked frown, Shu replied. "You can't be serious?"

"Just a simple yes or no answer will do."

"Hell no," Shu coldly replied, and then before he realized it, Yuu vanished out of thin air. Shu then pivoted and saw Yuu floating next to him.

"That's what I figured you'd say. With Gai, no hesitation. He said yes before I could even finish the question. I suppose that's the difference between you two."

"Because Shu isn't a sell-out lapdog like Gai has become!" Heath called out.

"Shu won't be your puppet! He's here to take you and Gai's asses down!" Akiko berated Da'ath's envoy.

Yuu shook his head as he floated away from Shu. "Oh well, in the name of Da'ath's reign, I strip you the right of the succession of the throne!" Yuu adamantly declared towards Shu.

"I've heard enough! Let's beat him to a pulp and find Inori & Gai!" Ayase fiercely declared.

Making his first strike, Argo attempted to fire at Yuu, but Da'ath's Envoy repelled his bullets. Then, Ayase lunged toward Yuu first. However, Yuu was prepared for an aggressor attack and extracted a Void from a Da'ath follower which took the form of dual whips.

Yuu swung the dual whip Voids toward Ayase, who quickly moved out of harm's way. As the Jones siblings fused with their Voids again, Heath aided Ayase and fought off Yuu's dual whip Voids with his katana.

"I've got your back, Ayase!" Heath declared.

"That was bullheaded of me but now I know how he fights," Ayase said, scanning the other Da'ath followers, who were undoubtedly going to be used as Void resources.

As Shu, Heath, Akiko, and Ayase stayed behind to fight Yuu, the others, including Haruka, the Phantom Remnants, and the Funeral Parlor, went their separate ways to clear GHQ's facility. Joker, Panther, Crow, Violet, and Sophie voluntarily accompanied Haruka to find Keido.

Having merged with her Void, Akiko attacked Yuu, who swiftly extracted a different Void from another Da'ath follower. It took the form of a silverish white lightsaber. Yuu struck Akiko's ko-naginata with his lightsaber. While dodging and striking Akiko, Yuu jumped around and defended himself with the lightsaber and dual whips.

"Hold still, you freak!" Akiko shouted with frustration in her tone. When Yuu's whips tried to ensnare her, Akiko swung her ko-naginata around to protect herself from Yuu's dual whip strikes.

When Shu charged toward Yuu, he invoked Subaru's bow and fired a barrage of arrows. Quickly responding to Shu's direct attack, Yuu extracted a single Void from a pair of female Da'ath twins. The Void manifested into the form of a parasol shaped like a solar panel shield, defending him from the arrows. While running and jumping around, Yuu fought off and blocked his adversaries' attacks.

"Surely you can do better than this?!" Yuu cackled.

"We're not done yet!" Shu called out.

As she flew over Yuu, Ayase swiftly attacked Yuu's shield Void with a diving kick. Having augmented her legs' Void power, she knocked Yuu into a wall. Yuu scaled down the wall with Ayase diving after him. As he avoided another diving kick from Ayase, Yuu extracted a dual-bladed disc Void from another Da'ath follower and tossed it toward Ayase. As she quickly sidestepped the spinning disc, it followed her. As it came toward Ayase's back, Heath drew power from his Void and conjured a psychokinetic barrier that stopped Yuu's bladed disc.

"You're all good. Much better than I anticipated!" Yuu said with a slightly annoyed sneer.

"Give up. You can't win," Shu said, preparing his next attack.


Meanwhile, other battles occurred at the same time. In another location, Walter, Argo, Shibungi, Tsugumi, Oracle, Jessica, Kai, and Danielle fought against Daryl and his second Gespenst Endlave and other Endlave Ghost Units & Anti-Bodies. Amid this battle, Kenji supported Daryl and interfered with Tsugumi & Oracle's hacking skills.


Elsewhere, Queen, Shinchū, Akane, Joaquin, Horkew, Kurachi, Yuko, and Ito confronted the traitorous Arisa. Appalled by her rival's decision to join GHQ, Yuko affirmed that she needed to stop Arisa.

Unfazed by her adversaries' stances against her, Arisa arrogantly declared her ultimate goal: overthrowing Mana, Yuu, and Da'ath to become the new Eve so she can have Gai all to herself to rule over the new Eden. As she said this, it became painfully clear she completely lost her mind. The once calm and mature school president regressed into a depraved and power-hungry sociopath.

"You've completely lost your mind. I can no longer see you as a friendly rival," Yuko dismissively remarked.

"Insects such as you are no longer a concern for me. Now, behold what Da'ath has bestowed upon me! Grovel before your goddess! Ohohoho!" Arisa cackled maniacally as she grew taller than her adversaries and mutated into an eight-armed goddess-like being. Her clothes became a long flowing dress with the skin complexion of a giraffe and a qilin, but the colors are silver and white instead of peach and brown. "Behold, I have reached my zenith power!"

"All I see is a scared and desperate woman hiding behind a goddess facade!" Queen chided her.

When the group attacked Arisa, the giant woman conjured her Shield of the Coward Void to protect her from their attacks. While punching Arisa's shield Void, Queen recalled being the school council president in her youth and found herself relating to Arisa in that regard. She also could discern that Arisa might've had moments of loneliness. However, unlike Makoto who redeemed herself by becoming a Phantom Thief, Arisa allowed herself to fall into darkness after Gai's death and sold her soul to Da'ath.

"You had a chance to change your ways like I have, Arisa, but you chose to join GHQ and Da'ath! You're the one who sold your soul to the devil! You are the one who was responsible for that civil war! All of those deaths hang over your head!" Queen angrily reprimanded Arisa while flying around and punching Arisa's side.

"How dare you talk down to me?! Do you think you were a better student council president than me, Niijima Makoto?! YOU THINK YOU'RE BETTER THAN ME?!" Arisa screamed vehemently. "AND YOU'LL NEVER BE BETTER THAN ME!"

"As far as we're concerned, everyone here is better than you," Queen scoffed as the others held their ground against Arisa.


In another location, Joker, Panther, Crow, Violet, Sophie, and Haruka faced off against Keido. The GHQ leader chuckled and welcomed his adversaries, even briefly interacting with his younger sister Haruka.

"Keido, you have a chance to get out of this ordeal and turn yourself in for the crimes you've committed. You can even answer to the crime of murdering Kurosu!" Haruka tried reasoning with Keido, who was beyond reason now.

"I already decided my path after removing that fool Kurosu from this world. I've sold my soul to see the end of the old world and the beginning of a new Eden." He glanced over toward the Phantom Remnants. "Isn't that right, Amamiya Ren, Takamaki Ann, Akechi Goro, and Yoshizawa Sumire? I know all of your identities. I'm also well aware that the ex-SIU Director Niijima Makoto and Sakura Futaba are present inside headquarters. Well, they'll be dealt with soon enough," Keido identified them.

"How do you know about us?" Joker asked.

"You underestimate how deep and vast the Da'ath network is. When you have someone such as Yuu coordinating with you, he feeds me the necessary intel and that's all I need to know. It's thanks to him that one of our agents was able to procure one of Mrs. Niijima's blood samples to create a clone based on her," Keido firmly stated without a second thought.

"Well played but that clone was a failed experiment. You can thank our friend Makoto for dealing with that thing," Crow smirked.

"Yes, well, not every experiment will meet our expectations. That one was due to termination. You did us a favor. That said, Akechi Goro, unlike your father, I now hold power over this nation."

Violet quipped. "Not for long, you monster."

"It's quite an honor to have you face me as opposition, Phantom Thieves. A pity all of you couldn't make it but I can surmise the Apocalypse Virus sealed their fates ten years ago." He calmly chuckled and folded his arms behind his back. "I'll have you know you won't be able to change my heart as you've done with your prior enemies such as Shido Masayoshi. Where he failed, I succeeded in claiming sovereignty over this entire country as its prime minister."

"Your organization's virus not only took away our friends and loved ones but Loop 7 destroyed precious memories and landmarks we fondly remember!" Joker chastised Keido as he faced him with fierce determination. "By destroying the lives we cherished and wiping these memories, this has become personal and we won't forgive you, GHQ, or Da'ath!"

"As Joker said, your petty grudge against one man brought an unwanted apocalypse. Shiho, Morgana, Ryuji, Haru, Yusuke, Sojiro, Sae, and among many others are gone! Your organization brought this country a great deal of trauma that will take years to recover!" Panther angrily decried Keido.

"Although I had already been considered a criminal, your country exiled me from Japan, but I've returned to redeem myself and right the wrongs you've caused. You and GHQ are far worse than Shido ever will be. I've had to witness the Apocalypse Virus purge countless lives," Crow condemned him.

"All of those innocent lives are gone. Among them were our lives. It's been ten years since and this country is overdue to see its freedom restored!" Violet shouted.

Sophie added. "I may not be human, but the Phantom Thieves have shown me that AI can miss the departed. I won't forgive you for your malignant actions!" Sophie cried out.

"The Phantom Thieves are no more but we, the Phantom Remnants, have resurfaced in their place with a greater purpose. The time has come for you, GHQ, and Da'ath to pay for your crimes against Japan! Keido Shuichiro, we won't end your life, but you will answer to the authorities for all of your wrongdoings! We, along with Funeral Parlor, will liberate this nation from your tyranny!" Joker passionately declared.

With that, the Phantom Remnants brandished their weapons and jumped down to confront Keido, who on the surface looked calm as ever. However, the Phantom Remnants' passionate words and Haruka's presence struck a nerve within him.

"I must answer for my crimes? Ludicrous. As if I'd surrender to the authorities when we have control over them!" Keido shot back as his usually calm demeanor contorted with irritation. "We'll see who comes out on top of this exchange, Phantom Remnants. I'll ensure you are reunited with your loved ones soon!" With that, Keido's body mutated and quickly turned into a tall, limber-limbed creature with a hard-armored albino body. While he retained his face, a pair of goat-like horns protruded from Keido's cranium. His ears become pointed. Both of his hands gained three long-nailed fingers. His feet gained two long toes.

"Yes, it will be an honor to fight the remaining Phantom Thieves. And it will have the satisfaction of ending your legacy," Keido spoke in a slightly deeper and distorted voice tone. He slowly veered toward Joker and smirked. "And I'll know just how you managed to defeat Shido, Amamiya Ren."

Without hesitation, the Phantom Remnants attacked Keido head-on while Haruka hid safely and avoided getting caught in their crossfire.


Back in the war against Yuu, the Da'ath envoy declared while fighting off Shu, Heath, Akiko, and Ayase with the dual-bladed disc Voids. "Here you are trying to resist me and evolution!" As he dove past Ayase, Heath, and Akiko, he clashed with Shu head-on. "You have some nerve resisting Mana twice! She so badly wanted you! And look who you've devoted yourself to… a soulless test tube child!"

Gritting his teeth with anger, Shu's feet formed crystals, which granted him height leverage over Yuu and allowed him to swing his Void at Yuu's head. "SHUT UP!" He then repelled Yuu away. "You're wrong about Inori! You know nothing about her! I'm the only one who understands her!" Putting his hand out, he channeled power for his next Void. "She's real! She fought the ugliness you planted within her and she suffered! Even when I hated myself for making the same mistakes, she gave me the love I needed!"

Yuu combined all of his followers' Voids to create twin-barrel laser cannons, which he fired his enemies with. However, Shu intercepted the incoming beam and used a tri-blaster Void in firing a large energy sphere to counter Yuu's attack.

"No matter what happened, she was always there! She always had faith in me! And this time I'll be there to stand by her side! I won't let you take her! I won't!"

The greater power from Shu's Void pushed back and neutralized Yuu. Yuu was ultimately defeated but not killed.

After a few deep breaths, Yuu chuckled. "Yes, you've impressed me, Ouma Shu. Now, you may see your dear Inori." With that, the envoy retreated, leaving Shu, Heath, Akiko, and Ayase to arrive near the King's Throne.

However, by the time they arrived at the top floor, Gai turned and greeted them with an indifferent look. "I'm sorry, but you just missed her." As he said this, he revealed 'Inori' breaking out of a crystal as her mind and body became Ouma Mana's. "Our fallen Eve has been resurrected."

"No, it can't…" Heath shook his head with his eyes widened with terror.

"We couldn't save Inori?" Akiko was flabbergasted.

Ayase apprehensively muttered. "There's no way. It can't be for nothing!"

Shu muttered with horror. "I'm too late…"

After her crystallized cocoon shattered and the shards scattered to form her clothing, a familiar young woman stepped into view for the four to see. However, it wasn't truly the same woman. Unlike Inori who had a mysterious but gentle aura about her, a malignant vibe emanated from her dark pink essence. Shrouded by the baleful light, the woman wore a crown made of purple crystals, which adorned her long pink hair. She is seen garbed in a long, thigh-length black and jelly purple ballerina corset and a dark purple back dress. The top sections of her dress revealed her pale and bare shoulders. The woman's pale complexion, nearly as white as a ghost, stuck out among her dark-colored wardrobe. Purple crystals adorned her bare shoulders. She wore purple crystals like bracelets on her wrists. She is also seen wearing pink ballerina shoes coupled with knotted straps that crisscrossed barely below her knees.

When Ouma Mana finally opened her eyes, they were blood red with a gleam of malignancy. A baleful smile smeared across her pale face. Her sights fell on Shu, Heath, Akiko, and Ayase, seemingly ready to determine who's qualified to live in her and Gai's Eden.


A/N: Oh boy, there is quite a bit to unpack with part one of the final conflict. We have more Beasts of Eden, Arisa's ascension into a secondary boss, multiple battles (summarized and dialogue-heavy ones), Phantom Remnant bonus content, and Mana's revival number however many at this point.

This chapter saw the return of the bad Fafnir rex (albeit a clone of the original in Chapter II) along with a Spinosaurus-like variation. Both of their names are derived from the Biblical characters Cain and Abel. If two theropod beasts weren't enough, the Sigrúndactyl trio served as more monsters to contend with.

In a twisted turn of events, GHQ revived three of the Phantom Remnants' former enemies and combined them into a horrific chimera-like monstrosity, which is fitting based on their already twisted personalities. Of the three, Kamoshida endured the worst punishment with Panther getting her long retribution. Joker and Akechi got another chance to settle their score with Shido. As for Shido already plotting to overthrow GHQ/Da'ath, well that's hilarious. Keido and Yuu already knew about Shido's treachery ahead of time. So, Shido, you played yourself, fool.

In what was one of my favorite scenes to write (the other one being Joker, Crow, and Panther vs. Shido, Kamoshida, and Owada's chimeric form, and Panther massacring Kamoshida), Shu and the Reigizan got to fight Jason Voorhees (Jason X Uber-Jason version). Except, this thing also had attributes of the Predator and the Shredder's claws and parts of the kabuto mask helmet. So, while not a final boss (though he could've been if its role was expanded), the Oni-Blade Slasher did leave an impression and killed one of the Reigizan. Had they not blown it up from the inside, the Oni-Blade Slasher would've hot on their tail like Jason, Mr. X, and Nemesis all the way through.

The real bosses are no doubt Yuu, Keido, Gai, and Mana. You can even make a case of Arisa being one of the final villains since she's grown into such a conniving villain. How fitting when two former student council presidents go head to head. Who's rooting for Queen/Makoto to break Arisa's 'pretty' face?

The Phantom Remnants who is essentially someone within their age range (though Keido looks much older than they) and this is it as far as their battles go. Shu, Ayase, Heath, and Akiko are the clear protagonists of this story, and they'll handle Yuu, Gai, and Mana.

Our heroes have made it far but now they must contend with the revived Mana. But, who gets to fight her? After all, she never had an opponent to fight in the show while Gai did.

All There in the Manual - Chapter XVI

-The names of the Reigizan's Voids: Aneko - Vaiśravaṇa's Protection (the shield), Yoshitsugu - Virūpākṣa's Swiftness (the sword), Masaru - Dhṛtarāṣṭra's Piercer (the spear), and Subaru - Virūḍhaka's Aim (the bow and arrows).
-Yuu's Voids: The name of the dual-bladed disc Voids is Sudarshana. The name of the dual whip Voids is Ogmios. The lightsaber Void is named Avalon Saber, and it is inspired by a lightsaber Void seen in the Guilty Crown mobile game. The parasol Void from the female twins that shared the same Void is named Kriemhild's Parasol.
-The female twins that assist Yuu are named Zoe and Abeline (OCs that are based on the twins from GuiltyKingOumaShu's Reclaiming the Throne story).
-Just like in canon, Da'ath has been around since the Freemasons and Priory of Sions.
-Shido, Kamoshida, and Owada's chimeric form is called the Chimaera's Conspiracy.
-The Aragami's transformed states tribute the three great Yōkai: Sasaki - Ōtakemaru, Arima - Shuten-dōji, and Ryōko - Tamamo-no-Mae.
-Since Heath and Akiko's Voids have references of Tamuramaro and Suzuka (and both fighting Sasaki that tributes Ōtakemaru), the inspirations of naming Yuko and Ito's Voids also bring references to Abe no Seimei (for Yuko) and Minamoto no Yorimitsu/Raikō (Ito) since Yuko/Ito are involved in the final battles that Yuko and Ito fight Ryōko (tributing Tamamo-no-Mae) and Arima (tributing Shuten dōji).
-The Beasts of Eden have code names relating to the Kabbalah/Sefirot (more connections to Sephirah Genomics and Da'ath being Da'at).

Fafnir rex - Keter - "Crown"
Shokuin - Chokhmah - "Wisdom"
Yaoshikepu - Binah - "Understanding"
Cryptical Nue - Chesed - "Kindness"
Gozuki - Gevurah - "Discipline"
Miss-danuki - Tiferet - "Beauty"
Sigrúndactyl - Netzach - "Victory"
Mezuki - Hod - "Splendour"
Ouryu Kyōchō - Yesod - "Foundation"
Oni-Blade Slasher - Malkuth - "Kingship"

-The technology/rejuvenation pool GHQ used to revive Gai and the Persona 5 villains can only be used for people that are killed and from unnatural circumstances (like the Apocalypse Virus, since it's not a natural disease and is genetically engineered by Da'ath of being traced from the extinct alien race, alongside Mana caused Lost Christmas that killed people also counts as murder). It cannot work for those that died of natural causes like old age and Earth-based diseases.
-GHQ/Da'ath reversed Shido and Kamoshida's Heel Face Brainwashing upon reviving them and had them gain the memories of their Shadow selves, hence the reason why they are now aware of their enemies being Persona users and changing their hearts. Their Heel Face Brainwashing returns when they're killed again.
-If the Reigizan is like the TMNT, then the Oni-Blade Slasher is like the Shredder. Oni-Blade Slasher is also like a slasher horror villain like Jason Voorhees' Uber-Jason form in Jason X.
-Saklas's Jealousy - the name of Keido's transformed state. Exalted Yuga - the name of Arisa's transformed state.

With this chapter done, there are two left and an epilogue. I won't say how the final battles will end but the conflicts should be resolved within the next entry. I will not say anything about the final chapter and the epilogue's story content.

Once the next chapter arrives, be sure to leave your comments and reviews. Later, readers!