The realm of Collective Unconscious.
This realm is the resting place for the souls who passed away, awaiting their reincarnation. Also known as the Sea of Souls. They are scattered all around, congregating into a colony of sorts where each of which are shining brightly like stars in the cosmos.
However, these resting souls are not the only ones present here.
Within the innermost reaches of this realm lies a seal which holds a significant role to preventing the fall of mankind. Held together by its creator, a lone soul who was reduced to nothing but carved stone. The image itself was akin to that of someone's crucifixion, but instead of a cross holding the statue up, it is chains in the guise of barbed wires. Chained against the door to ensure that nothing will open the door that leads to death without passing through him.
Its golden surface remained in pristine condition even under the test of time and continuous assault from the very being it was made to hold off.
Every attempt that particular being made in the past have always ended in failure before becoming destroyed and left to accumulate strength, as the creature can never be truly vanquished and will always return until its role is finally complete.
However, it is not going to be the same this time.
The creator of the Great Seal have awakened from his eternal slumber. There is no telling how long, but he could only hope it was long enough for the time to pass. He have made the sacrifice of his own life for his friends to live their own, so failing to do his role until the end of time will be very troublesome.
It would, had there not been another reason for why he was imprisoned here alone with Nyx.
Due to some revelations he uncovered prior to the creation of the Seal. Makoto planned ahead for the possibility that someday will weaken the Seal, or anything that would bring strong negative emotions from the world. Enough for Erebus — the being who is constantly assaulting the Seal — to gain even more power than it already have.
His second role is to defend the large, golden gate behind him and not let Erebus get inside. Once that objective is done, he will have to re-create the first layer of the Seal and return to his prison. Awaiting the end of his world.
And now, that role is being placed upon him at this very moment.
There is the sounds of struggling chains under the weight of something pulling them, along with a crushing force surrounding him in the confines of his prison.
This have been going on for a while now, and the chains which held him against the door have long started to release sharp metallic sound of a chain snapping one by one. Indicating the unavoidable battle that was about to begin.
Once the last one finally snapped lose, he knew his role have begun.
The weight crushing his prison seem to have only gotten stronger. Letting him release his soul after it formed enough cracks and turn into rubble.
There is no trouble finding Erebus with its large frame once Makoto have been released, who immediately formed a temporary form — that which resembles a ghostly figure of his former self — and took a stance in front of the large gate.
"That is the farthest you can go." Makoto announced without hesitation to the being in front of him.
Erebus began to retreat back into the fog. But he knew well that it is simply preparing for combat and will emerge shortly.
However, before that could happen. Makoto made his own preparation.
"Come forth, Thanatos!"
Thanatos, the Bringer of Death immediately appeared by his side upon his calling whom which roared with great anticipation.
"Its been a while."
The last time he have summoned a persona was during their final battle with Nyx. He managed to hold on until the promised day after that, with any attempts at summoning a persona leading to his early passing, which is something he does not want to happen as it would make him unable to fulfil his own end of their vow.
However, he is not here to reminisce the old life he could never return to. So with a small sigh, Makoto turned his attention back into the fog where Erebus has been lurking, both heads watching him intently with those huge red eyes.
It was several times larger compared to when i first caught a glimpse of it. Just what exactly happened to give Erebus such a large boost?
Considering how the height difference between Erebus and the great seal is now nearly close to none, gives him a hint of his odds to winning this battle. This is definitely going to be a difficult battle. However, there's no way he will ever back off even when faced with unbeatable odds.
Besides, when have his battles ever become easy?
"Thanatos." [Vorpal Blade]
The persona beside him simply grunted in response and swung its sword in the air, sending out invisible arcs which teared Erebus apart.
The reality around Erebus stilled and became like that of a shattered glass, sliding into place after a second and covering its body with numerous cuts which oozed with a dark liquid substance similar to that of shadows.
Makoto could tell Erebus did not like his opening move as it roared wildly. Retaliating with a hell-storm he couldn't avoid, but he endured it nonetheless through gritted teeth.
Its power is definitely stronger than those he experienced in the past. But not strong enough to be compared to the will of Death he experienced in front of Nyx's true form.
"Orpheus, Thanatos!!" [Mind Charge] [Megidolaon]
A purple mass of energy slowly fell above Erebus until it met the floor, with it came a violent rage of purple storm. Its power increased with the clear mind he had prior to casting the spell.
Resistance to Almighty? The last time i saw something like that was from Nyx Avatar's [Moonless Gown]. But now that I think about it, I should have expected something like this from the start...
After Makoto unleashed his attack, Erebus struck him with [Thunder Reign] which stunned Makoto in place for a second.
There were only two of them in this battle so the stunned effect didn't last long enough to let Erebus follow up an attack. Neither was his current Orpheus weak to anything related to dark or electric attacks.
Makoto began switching personas rapidly to apply enhance skills on himself while also placing de-buffs on Erebus accordingly as a set up. Both sides began launching their own attacks at each other one after another.
Having two personas stand by his side. Makoto has been able to cover up his weakness by summoning a persona which specifically counters an element or physical attack, then attack with both. Although, while there's actually no need to switch Orpheus Telos with something else due to its strength against all types of attacks besides almighty, if he could repel or absorb them instead, then switching is a slight way to increase his advantage.
Its a good thing i know how to use two personas at once already. If not, then...
The battle haven't reached a minute yet, but Makoto already knew he was at a huge disadvantage. The reason why is because Erebus is generally resistant to all elements including almighty, with both light and dark completely nullified. However, that's not all.
Erebus may seem to not have any form of resistances from all types of physical attacks which he could exploit to win this battle, but looking at his own current state, Makoto does not plan to unleash a series of attacks to aim for that lack of resistance any time soon. At most, he'll only choose to do it occasionally whenever necessary.
The assault with two of his personas by his side continued until a sudden shift in their battle occurred. Erebus seems to have changed its tactics and conjured a mass of dark energy whilst sending an ailment spell his way.
It's here! Makoto noted as he saw Erebus using [Dark Embrace].
"Orpheus, Helel!!" [Megidolaon] [Morning Star]
A pillar of light and purple mass of energy descended towards Erebus without any resistance whatsoever. Makoto took notice of this and smirked, commanding his personas to repeat their action to disrupt the almighty attack Erebus is charging.
However, Erebus' spell came first, locking him in place with the instant death spell [Mamudoon].
Crap!
Makoto immediately switched Orpheus with Thanatos just in case he was caught from it.
But with Orpheus' spell interrupted midway, Makoto was only able to successfully cast [Morning Star] this time around. If he didn't risk using a physical skill here, he will be facing the very skill he is wary of.
So with no other choice, Makoto gave Thanatos the command to use [Vorpal Blade] this time along with [Morning Star]. Repeating the same attack to maximize damage output and disrupt [Dark Embrace].
However, before he could actually do anything with his personas. Erebus have already finished charging up [Dark Embrace] and unleashed [Primal Darkness]. Bombarding him with waves upon waves of dark almighty energy he has no resistance against.
Makoto couldn't do anything but to grit his teeth until it ends and take his turn. Changing the orders he previously gave and unleashed it once the duration of [Primal Darkness] was over.
The battle continued back to normal after that, with a few instances where Erebus attempts to cast [Primal Darkness] every once in a while. Although, while Makoto took it as his most highest priority to disrupt its charging phase, there are still times where he was unable to, and had to face a force which seems to only grow stronger after each successful casts.
Additionally. Having no physical body meant Makoto is unable to heal himself, relying on the passive invigoration skill he have placed upon Orpheus during its fusion.
Fortunately, despite his inability to invigorate at a much faster rate. None of them could take the advantage against each other, making their battle the longest Makoto has ever experienced. Several times longer than even fighting Nyx Avatar which took nearly an hour.
Makoto found Erebus preparing to cast [Primal Darkness] again — which he immediately went to disrupt. He cannot let Erebus do that attack one more time, or his soul won't be able to endure it.
Using Thanatos and Messiah to repel both light and dark spells. Makoto gave the command to use both [Megidolaon] and [Vorpal Blade] to maximize his damage output.
The first and second assault were successful and dealt enough damage to disrupt Erebus in his next attack. But what Erebus did is something he failed to negate.
Erebus leered at him with its menacing eyes and inflicted fear in his mind, making him lose focus and disrupted from doing anything.
This ailment will usually cause him or his party members to lose their wits and run from a battle. But...
Knowing what is at stake here. Makoto pushed the sense of fear he is feeling and recovered only after a second.
However, with that one second opportunity gone, [Dark Embrace] was completed.
...Too late. Makoto lamented.
Seeing the orb of dark energy finish its charging phase, it should have made him dread what comes next. But instead, there was only the determination to keep protecting his world that goes in his mind.
Even if the cost to his sacrifice this time was his own existence, he doesn't care. If it could prolong the inevitable one last time, he'll do it.
Besides, his end will be the same even without using his trump card the moment Erebus finished its charging phase. There's no other choice for him to take other than this.
With Satan and Helel by his side, he gave the command to cast the fusion spell [Armageddon] just as [Primal Darkness] was about to be unleashed.
Everything seem to pause around him as he waited for the wave of dark almighty power to sweep him away. His mind lingering on the image of his friends and the bonds he created over that past year, making him smile genuinely for the memories he created with them, no matter how short it was.
The last time he sacrificed his life to save humanity, there was enough time for him to cherish the memories he created even when they are mostly forgotten by everyone else. He expected to see them waiting for him in the Sea of Souls once his role has ended. But now, he is sure to be forgotten eternally.
Farewell, everyone.
Two almighty power clashed with each other and swept both oppositions with a power no one has ever seen before.
The last thing he saw was Erebus facing the same destruction as him, turning to dust before everything turned dark.