AN: This chapter is up a lot sooner than the last one! Hope you all like it - read, review, follow, favourite if you do, that would be much appreciated! I've been planning a lot of the reveals in this chapter for a long time!
Chapter 41: Afterlife
|July 21st|Theio Kosmos – Meguro Hotel|17:30 pm|
Today, everyone had been summoned by Shigeru. Being in this smaller hotel was hard for Shintaro to get used to, but he knew he couldn't afford to be picky. The less obvious their hideout was, the safer it would be for everyone concerned.
"Thank you all for coming. I thought it'd be best to wait some time before our next meeting. Ginumi, as we're all aware, is still in shock over the destruction of the Golden Laguna. Which unfortunately means it's very likely a Cognition Core will appear very soon."
"But, if we can get that Core, isn't that a good thing?" Akari asked.
"Provided it is us that receives the Core, yes." Shigeru said, frowning. "But as we've seen, the events leading to the core's manifestation are far from pleasant."
"If the Golden Laguna wasn't enough to cause a Core to appear, then..." Reia began, hesitantly. "It might take something even worse."
"Then...we have to be prepared for anything."
"Yes, Teruya, exactly." Hiroyuki said, folding his arms. "We're very nearly finished with the Core defence system – codename Covenant."
Kei looked up, uncertain. "Will Covenant be able to stop Nisa Liat from getting her hands on them?"
"We've adapted biometric scans into the system, so it would need all of our data to access. Without that, the system will forbid access. And if someone were to force their way in, it would be set up to self-destruct."
"Wouldn't that destroy the cores…?" Shintaro asked.
"Perhaps. But it would still mean Bythos cannot use them, which is our top priority." Michiko said, sternly. "Right now, however...there has been unusual activity in the Theio Kosmos, that Toki Hayashi has alerted to us."
"He did?" Shintaro said, frowning. He still hadn't quite forgiven the man for the abduction. Yet when Noboru looked at him, his frown quickly subsided. No matter what he thought of the man, he had to keep his thoughts to himself for now.
"Indeed, he sent a message – encrypted, of course – notifying us of an oddity within Hiyashi. While he didn't know many details, he did know that Nisa Liat had a keen interest. Let me show you..."
Shigeru quickly walked over to the screen on the wall, and pointed to a map of Hiyashi's Yosei Forest. Shintaro hadn't been there in quite a while, but he remembered Kohaku and Noboru explored there previously.
That was when Kei and I were fighting the Berserker together. Before Celestine showed who she really was. If only I hadn't been such an idiot.
"I know this place. But what's so different about it now?" Kohaku asked, intrigued.
"Many years ago, there was a large manor here." Michiko began, in the same tone she adopted for her lessons. "The once-famous Hyuga family once lived there, but after their last member died, their home became abandoned. Eventually, it was demolished in 2014, leaving no trace of it behind – at least, in our world."
I think I remember my dad talking about this back then. There was quite a fuss over the demolition. But that was so long ago. Why would it matter now?
"In this world, that was also the case – until recently." Novalie continued, as the image changed to the grand manor. With vines growing up the front wall, and dark brick walls, it seemed somewhat Western in architectural style. Yet it had various Japanese features as well, such as the lion dog statues to the left and right of the door way. "Netuno, Reia and myself stumbled across it while looking through the forest for any Shadow activity. We haven't been inside yet, however – Shigeru thought it would be best for everyone to be gathered before we investigate."
"Do you think a Shadow is lurking there? One stronger than that awful Pazuzu?" Manami asked, worried.
"That's one possibility. Or perhaps it's a Bythos hideout." Netuno said. "People visiting the forest in our world have had some odd health affects – fainting, insomnia, etc. So we gotta do something about it."
"So are we all heading there now?" Evelina asked, eagerly.
"First, we're going to examine the building, and decide our best plan. We may need to prepare for danger." Hiroyuki said. "Anything can happen in the ghost of a building, after all."
"Then let's depart." Shigeru said. "Inoue, are you ready to join us?"
"Absolutely. I'm not about to run from danger."
The group soon left after downloading the code for the manor.
|Bythos Citadel – Toki's Room|17:35 pm|
Today, the Aeon Admins were given the day off – or rather, Nisa Liat gave them no orders. This seemed rather unusual, they all thought. Yet rather than argue, they decided to take it easy. For Toki Hayashi, however, he felt increasingly anxious. Having recently leaked details to Noboru and his allies, he knew Nisa Liat may grow suspicious of him. Even so, he wouldn't give up his role as a double agent. Not yet.
He still hadn't quite deciphered who had given the defective Gnosis to Teruko. This had been dwelling on him for quite some time now, and now that Kaii seemed to have difficulty with his memories, the father's own heart was plagued with anxiety.
"Dammit...and we still can't find the Azure Squad. Where they hell did they go? If they were still in Shinshuto, we would have found them by now!"
Just then, there was a knock at the door. Confused, Toki got up from his chair, and opened it – to find Asami.
"Huh? What are you doin' here?"
"I'm sorry. I need to talk to you." She said, closing the door. After a few moments, she took a deep breath, and spoke. "You're not really fighting against Noboru and Kaii anymore, are you?"
"W-What?!" Toki went numb. "What makes you think that?"
"I saw you three in Sogen Park not long ago!" Asami said, quietly. "Did you honestly think no one would notice? How long has this been going on?"
"I...well, it's..."
"Since Tarumi?"
Toki, defeated, nodded. To his surprise, Asami breathed a sigh of relief.
"Phew. Looks like I'm not alone in turning against the Princess after all!"
Confused, Toki looked at her.
"My friends were turned into Anomalies. No matter what she says, she did that on purpose. All so that one day, I'd join Bythos..." Asami said.
"Are you...serious?" Toki asked.
Asami nodded, hands over her chest. "I can't trust her anymore. I think – no, I know she's been using me. Taking advantage of me so that I'd join her! If she did that to me, what's stopping her from doing it to someone else?!"
"H-Hey..." Toki said. "Something's been bothering me too. What Nisa Liat keeps secret from us. I don't like it one bit."
"Then...let me team up with you!" Asami pleaded. "Another double agent. If you're in trouble, I'll try to help you. As long as you'd do the same for me. Anything, if it means we find out what Nisa is hiding!"
"You...you really mean it?!" Toki asked. She nodded, eyes closed. "Then...it's a deal."
"Thank you so much, Toki!" Asami said, managing a smile. "Now...what do we have that we can use?"
"Well, there is one ability Shuten Doji has that I've barely used. It's not much good in battle. 'Silent Witness'."
"...Isn't that a British crime show?"
"I dunno. Basically, it allows him to briefly sync with another Gnosis device that I've met, and record audio that one picks up. Then I can listen to it on mine."
Confused, Asami frowned. "Wait. Why haven't you used this before?"
"I did once, to test it. I...heard my son's date with Teruko. I was...in a bad place of mind back then."
"I...I see." Asami looked aside, but then turned back to him. "Does it have a short range?"
"I'd have to be fairly close by for it to work, yeah. He didn't notice me when he was on that wheel – he only focused on Teruko." Toki explained. "But I don't even know if he's in here today. Or if I could overhear him from here."
"Well, you could try." Asami said, pleadingly.
Toki, realising he had no choice, opened the Gnosis. There, he summoned Shuten Doji, who stood temporarily still. Then, an audio file appeared on Toki's screen. Eagerly, he tapped it, and Asami came closer.
"-once famous Hyuga family lived there-"
"Wow..." Toki said, amazed. "I can pick up everything clearly. Who's that woman talking?"
"That's Michiko Suzuki, Biology teacher at Kansei. She used to be friends with Koyanagi-sensei, but...not any more, obviously."
"I see..."
Listening to the rest of the audio, he overheard the group talking about the Hyuga Manor, which had recently reappeared in Shinshuto's lush Yosei Forest. Their plan was to investigate why it still existed here, it seemed. Then, suddenly, the audio dropped – presumably, Noboru had warped over to Hiyashi,
"Wait...that place again?" Asami said, afraid.
"Yeah...our old HQ."
"But Nisa Liat's over there just now! Then...maybe she'll say something she doesn't want us to hear. That's why she sent us all home, don't you think?"
The two stand down by the table, Toki's Gnosis ready to keep using the Silent Witness. In Feather Man, his character had a similar espionage ability that allowed him to overhear certain secrets from long distances. Perhaps, if he mastered this ability, he might hear some of Nisa Liat's darkest secrets.
|Hyuga Manor – Gardens|17:45 pm|
The group arrived in the forest, and gasped. There it was, as if it had never been torn down to make room for the public park. The grand estate that the Hyuga family once owned. Yet something about it felt off, Shintaro thought. He shouldn't put his finger on it at first, but when he got closer, he thought that the building looked far too 'new' for one first built in the 19th century.
"Why would this house come back now?" Evelina asked. "There aren't any Hyuga left, are they?"
"Not in Shinshuto, anyway. The family's end wasn't particularly eventful. Based on our records, the last heir was unable to have children, and thus he died unmarried." Shigeru replied. "And that was in 2009. They were a relatively popular family with the locals at the time, so they had no enemies."
"Interesting. Then we can assume this has nothing to do with the Hyuga family?"
"I'd assume you're right, Kakusa. Someone, or something else, must have assumed control of this building. Why, however, I don't know, but -"
Before Michiko could finish, the large wooden doors swung open. Standing there, with a wicked smile on her face, was Nisa Liat herself. To her audience of shocked spectators, she bowed, and giggled darkly.
"Thank you all so much for coming. Isn't it a wonderful home that I've resurrected from the public consciousness?" She gestured to her left and right, proud at the architecture surrounding her. "Trust me, it's even more enchanting inside!"
"Nisa!" Shintaro shouted. "What the hell are you doing here?"
And why did you give me that book?
"Oh dear, that won't do. You're not very friendly guests, are you? Of course, you didn't come here for my hospitality. There's so many of you today, I see. And...well well, look who we have here. Shigeru Komatsu, it's an absolute pleasure to see you again. How have you been?"
Shigeru, upon locking eyes with Nisa, froze. His own eyes widened with horror, and he clenched his fists.
"No. Not...not you! It can't be – you can't be Noriko!"
"N-Noriko?" Evelina asked. "Who is that?"
"You don't mean Noriko Ashikaga?" Hiroyuki inquired, stunned.
Nisa laughed out loud, her voice reverberating throughout the forest.
"I'm glad you remember me. You were always so kind to my mother and me during my first life, especially after my father left us. Those were special days, weren't they? Then he ruined everything. One bullet, and everything was destroyed in an instant."
What? She's he mayor's daughter? Who was killed? Then how is she here now?
"I can't blame you for being so surprised, Komatsu-san. After all, I'm supposed to be dead. Yet here I am. No longer the meek, shy girl you once knew. Perhaps one could say I've been reborn."
"This is fucking crazy!" Kaii shouted. "How did you come back to life here?"
Chuckling, the Pleroma Princess looked behind her at the dark corridor. Shintaro couldn't make out any details clearly, other than an eerie red light far behind her.
"This is where I first began my new life in this world. There might be some leftovers of those early days, before I created the Bythos Citadel. Have a look around, if you're interested. Don't worry, my Aeon Admins aren't here, but there's plenty of my Shadow pets for you to play with. Perhaps I'll see you inside."
Waving, she practically skipped back inside, and faded into the darkness. No one knew quite what to say to this. Shintaro, looking left and right, could see that his friends were in as much shock as him.
Nisa Liat is a ghost? The Mayor's daughter, Noriko? This can't be real. Why does she act so different here than in my dreams? Or when she appeared to give me that book I supposedly gave her? What is happening?
"Komatsu-san, are you alright?" Novalie asked, approaching him.
"I'm fine." He said, motioning for her to stop. "We came here to investigate this building. Our mission has not changed."
"Got it." Netuno said, albeit hesitantly. "I wonder if she was telling the truth about there being no Aeon Admins inside..."
"I think she was..." Reia said, nervously. "But we can't turn back now. We can find out exactly how Nisa Liat came to be, and what exactly happened here."
"Okay...then let's go." Shintaro said, following everyone inside.
|Hyuga Manor – Entrance Hall|17:50 pm|
The hall was at first dark, then there was a tremendous flash of light, and everything suddenly became clear. The walls were white, yet the doors were dark red. Everything seemed 'normal', at first, with the various ornaments, paintings and flowers surrounding them. Then, in the middle of the room, there was a tremendous pulse of red light, and once it faded, there she was – Nisa Liat, in a black school uniform. Her hair was shorter, and there was a red stain on her clothes. However, that stain rapidly faded.
"Noriko…?!" Shigeru said, tense.
Blinking her eyes, the girl awoke, holding her chest - when she noticed the absence of blood, she looked all over, confused. She got to her feet, taking in her surroundings. Her body went straight through everyone else present, sending a shiver down Shintaro's spine.
"What is this place?" Noriko asked, looking up at the ceiling. In 'response', there was a terrible, dissonant sound – akin to a record scratching.
"What was that?!" Manami asked, hands over her ears.
"I-I don't know!" Evelina replied, her ears in agony.
"This place was built just for me?" Noriko asked seemingly no one in particular, stunned. "Am I really dead…? Can I see my mother again?"
There was a flash of green light this time, and the sound of a door unlocking – one to the left. Hesitantly, the apparition of Noriko moved to it, and went through to the glowing green room.
Nisa Liat then came out from the room on the opposite side, smiling.
"That was the first day I spent in the Theio Kosmos. As you can see, I was scared, and confused. After all, I had just been shot in cold blood outside my school. I lay there dying, calling for my mother...and then everything went blank. However, my 'death' was simply the beginning."
She clicked her fingers and laughed, causing a bolt of red lightning to strike the ground. From the resulting blast, a powerful Shadow emerged. The Gnosis identified her as 'Lailah', a dark female angel wearing a black hat, with a red rose on the brim. Flanking her were Virtues, powerful angels.
"My memories have lingered here for quite some time. They'll no doubt take on all sorts of shapes and forms. Can you handle them all? I'll find out soon enough, no doubt."
With that, she vanished, as the leader Shadow began to cast her spell.
"Damn!" Kaii said. "We gotta hurry up and take this angle down!"
"Right! We have to make it through this place!" Noburo agreed.
Kei raised her sword, and advanced, the others not far behind.
|Hyuga Manor – Lounge Room|18:15 pm|
Lailah was strong, no doubt born from very powerful emotions surging from Nisa's soul. Yet even this couldn't stop Kei and her allies. With one final swing of her sword, the angels were vanquished, leaving nothing behind but black feathers falling to the ground.
With her defeat, the team walked into the next room – and they saw a tastefully decorated green room, with plush armchairs, a sofa, and bay windows. There was a huge home cinema system, with many movies, mostly anime marketed to young girls. Standing there was Noriko, and in front of her was Yoko Ashikaga – her mother.
"Yoko!" Shigeru shouted. Alas, she didn't seem to hear him, or even notice the huge crowd of Persona users wading inside the room. Instead, she opened her arms wide, and embraced her child. Her face seemed so full of life and joy, compared to the haggard face Shintaro had seen in the media for months.
"Noriko-chan…I'm so glad you're here! Welcome to our new home. This is the Theio Kosmos, darling. Here, we can all live in peace. Everything will be alright from now on."
"Mum, I...I thought I died! But I'm here...!" Noriko said, happily. "This really is our house now, isn't it?"
"Yes, my dear Noriko. Forever. Much larger than our old house, and we're surrounded by such beautiful scenery. All your friends will love it when they come over. Look, out there!"
The Mayor pointed at the window, and Noriko gasped. Running towards the house were tons of boys and girls her age, dressed in the same uniform. Before long, they were swarming inside the room, laughing, cheering, and being very much at peace.
"This is amazing!" Noriko said, sitting by two other girls. "This isn't the afterlife, is it?"
"What?" The girl on her right said. "No way, Nori-chan! This is a new life!"
"That's right. We're all here to make sure you're never lonely ever again!" The other girl replied. "The Theio Kosmos is the way Shinshuto should always be. And it never has to change. If you want things to stay like this forever, all you gotta do is think it!"
"I can't believe it." Noriko said, happily. "I didn't have all these friends before...and mum was always busy at work...now everything's so much better! This is perfect!"
Just then, everything froze, and the room suddenly changed. The furnishings lay in tatters, the windows shattered, And in place of all the humans, many Shadows had taken their place.
"W-Where did Noriko go?!" Shintaro asked.
"I don't see Mayor Ashikaga any more, either." Noboru said, nervously. "Was that really her?"
There was a loud burst of energy, from which Nisa Liat then appeared, floating down from the ceiling. She walked towards the smashed window, and stared out into the forest, with a blank look on her face.
"It was indeed 'perfect', at first. I could have preserved this reality indefinitely, perhaps for millennia. Popular at last, a mother who never had to drop anything because of work, a huge house in my favourite place in the city...I was happier than I had ever been while I was alive."
"Then what happened?" Shintaro asked, curious. "It wasn't simply getting bored of this world, was it?"
"How perceptive of you. To tell you the truth, I assumed my mother and all those friends were the real deal. That they too had been taken to the Theio Kosmos, so I wouldn't be alone. They looked just like them, and acted like them too. Or rather, acted the way I wanted them to."
"They were just fabricated from your cognition." Kei said, flatly. "Your friends and mother were still alive in the Theio Kosmos..."
Nisa Liat turned around, and glared Kei straight in the eyes, full of hate.
"You're damn right they were fake!" She screamed. "I was basically playing with dolls. I didn't want a copy of my mother, I wanted the real person. But she couldn't come here. Nor could any of my friends. When I finally found out the truth, I snapped. And my 'friends', my 'mother', all revealed their true selves. These 'Shadows' were simply beings of repressed thought that became replicas of the people I knew."
"So you really were all alone in this world…" Shintaro said.
"I had no one to turn to. The Shadows weren't actual humans, just bizarre demonic forms that had human-like voices. I was heartbroken, but then I discovered something else. I could influence the Shadows. They sensed something inside of me..."
Nisa Liat then walked past them straight through the door – her body phasing through it completely.
"So this is where it all began..." Shigeru said, despondently. "We have to keep going, and find out more -"
Just then, a new Shadow emerged. The Buddhist goddess Hariti, once a devourer of children, now their protector. She chuckled, preparing to attack, an icy mist surrounding her.
"Damn!" Natsumi, sighing, called upon Brigid. "We'll get rid of you too!"
|Hyuga Manor – Master Bedroom|18:35 pm|
Hariti didn't take too much effort to dispatch, yet the team were already feeling weary of this place. Seeing so many dark memories was hard to bear, Shintaro thought.
Upstairs, in the centre of the landing, was the master bedroom – a lavishly decorated space with lilac walls and purple furniture. There was a bookcase filled with many unusual tomes, and a vanity that a girl was sitting at – Noriko.
"Why...why can't my real mother be here…?!" She wailed. "What do I need to do…?"
Another piercing sound, alien to Shintaro's ears, echoed throughout. Noriko looked up at the ceiling, with fright.
"No! This isn't fair!" Noriko screamed. "I...I don't want to be here alone! This Theio Kosmos is too big for just me...I need everyone here!"
She stood up, her eyes full of rage. The ground started to shake, and there was a blinding flash of light. Noriko seemed to fly up into the air, but in an instant, came back down to the ground. And she had a sinister smile on her expression.
"Fine! I'll just have to do it all on my own...with this!"
In her hand, a black sphere of energy appeared, which began to twist and pulse with blood-red electricity. This soon coalesced into a smartphone. With it, Noriko smiled, and became surrounded by a red whirlwind of power.
"This power...will be what I need to transform the Theio Komos! Persona!"
Out of this whirlwind appeared Rosmerta, the Persona eerily alike Ostara. With a click of her fingers, the Persona unleashed her power, and swiftly ripped apart everything in the room that wasn't human. Noriko and Rosmerta vanished, leaving the stunned onlookers.
The door to the closet fell down with a heavy thud, and out came Nisa Liat once again.
"That was the first time I ever discovered my power. I couldn't bear being in this world alone, as you just witnessed. Thus, I created the summoning device, the Gnosis you all know."
"How did you create that Gnosis, exactly?" Natsumi asked.
"It's actually far simpler than it seems. I fashioned the energy of the Theio Kosmos into a device the human cognition considers a portal to other worlds, via the internet. Of course, the Gnosis is far beyond anything on the world wide web. Yet it wasn't just Rosmerta I could wield. The Shadows that had once been my mother, my best friends? They became my first test subjects."
In a flash, the group saw two Shadows – a Pixie and an Angel – appear. They vanished as quickly as they appeared, via Nisa clicking her fingers.
"You had the Wild Card..."
"Exactly, Kakusa. Just like yourself. I don't know why I was blessed with this gift – perhaps my psyche was far more mutable than most. I had to test this power was truly mine. Thus, I gave myself a new name, the one all of Shinshuto knows very well."
Nisa Liat walked towards the ruined bookcase, admiring the devastation she had caused.
"Then...I created the one you fear the most, Noboru."
Eyes wide with terror, he gasped – as the vision changed. They were in a world of purple light, with nothing else in sight for miles. Gaseous shapes vaguely in human shape floated past, too far for anyone to reach. Then, they saw Noriko approach – and a dark object in front of her, surrounded by a blood-red aurora.
"I-I've seen this before!" Toshiaki screamed. "When I was possed by EX-NIHILO!"
"You did?" Evelina asked, surprised. "But how?"
"It's finally ready!" Noriko said, with a wicked smile. Her voice seemed to resound throughout the entire area. She leapt up, and her hair seemed to be swayed by wind. "Wake up! For you are my first creation."
"Initializing. Physical condition: 100%. Able to use all five senses in the same manner of a human being." The being said. The aurora finally cleared, and the being took shape. It was the same masked nightmare that had caused so much misery, to the twins, Noboru, Toshiaki, Evelina's father, and perhaps others. "Creator sensed in front of me. Recognising voice and face as creator's."
"Yes, that's exactly right. From now on, you will obey my every wish. You will cut down all those who get in my way. The time has come for me to finally take the Theio Kosmos for myself!" Noriko said, elated. "You understand your combat parameters, yes?"
"Affirmative. Each BATTLE sequence will comprise of innate energy and power derived from the chosen host."EX-NIHILO said."Strategies will be dependent on who the host is. Each battle will increase combat ability, via perpetual learning."
"Well done!" Noriko said, fondly. "Now, we need to give you a name. Let's see. Born from the power of nothingness... I shall deem you EX-NIHILO. I hope you don't have any complaints."
"EX-NIHILO. Name of self registered permanently." The being said, saluting. "Master. Awaiting orders."
Noriko smiled. "I like your attitude. Let's see. My name is Nisa Liat. The Pleroma Princess. Do you think you can remember that?"
"Nisa Liat. Name of master registered permanently." EX-NIHILO responded. "We must go after the murderer. Make him suffer for all eternity."
Nisa Liat laughed out loud, and the land around them seemed to shake. Shintaro had a feeling this was the same 'Pleroma' he had seen in his dreams.
"Yes! The entire time I constructed you from that fragment, I had his fate prepared. Our second experiment. You must aid me in bringing him to justice." Nisa Liat said. "Follow my every instruction, EX-NIHILO. I assure you, the powers you possess will be most useful."
The area changed back to the bedroom, and Nisa was sitting on the dark sofa, smiling.
"I was right, wasn't I?" She said, smirking at Noboru's enraged face. "Indeed, EX-NIHILO was a grand first foray into manipulating Shadows. Stronger than I could have imagined. Loyalty was coded into its very being. Even now, it remains my favourite."
"How the hell can it keep coming back to life?!" Masato demanded.
"Idiot. If I created it once, I can do so again and again." Nisa Liat said, getting back to her feet. "Its memory data returns to my Gnosis after every 'defeat'. Ready to be downloaded into the next body. I haven't gotten around to reviving it yet again, but..."
"Who was it that gave it to Teruko?" Noboru demanded. "Was it you…?"
"Actually, I used the Azure Squad to do so." Nisa Liat explained. "They had no idea her Gnosis was infected, of course. They simply did as I asked."
Those guys? Aritomo, Fumika, and Rumiko? Is that why they disappeared? Were they afraid of Toki?
"Where they are now, I still don't know. But they weren't exactly worth holding onto. Just like that stupid bitch Yoshikawa, am I right?"
Enraged, Noboru charged at her, but Shigeru quickly restrained him. Cackling, Nisa Liat walked over to the door, swishing her raven black hair. Everyone's hatred of her seems to fuel her own sadism, Shintaro thought.
"Unfortunately, as I was dead in the Akartharto Kosmos, I had no means of returning there. But that didn't mean I couldn't influence that world. Human thoughts are what shaped this dimension, after all. The reverse holds true in some ways. I began to build my strength, so that I could find a new test subject for my second creation."
"Test subject…?" Michiko asked.
"Yes, exactly. I wanted to see if I could bring another human being into this world, and 'change' them somehow. You understand what I mean by that, don't you? Come downstairs and I'll show you that experiment. If you can make it out of here alive, that is."
Laughing softly, she again left the room in her ethereal manner. Before anyone could pursue her, another horde of Shadows appeared – this time, made up of the foul demonic elephant Girimehkala. Together, they raised their swords, with murderous intent.
"Dammit. Get out of our way, you pachyderms!" Kaii bellowed, summoning Grannus.
The demons and the Personas collided, and a battle erupted yet again.
|Hyuga Manner – Basement|18:55 pm|
The army of Girimehkala were fierce indeed, but thanks to the strength of Kaii and the others, the team were able to slay it. Now, they were able to follow Nisa Liat down to the basement, bracing themselves for the possibilities of further horror.
This area looked far different than any basement Shintaro had been in, either in Theio or Akarharto Kosmos, In the far bank was a silver, sleek machine, somewhat like a tanning booth. Yet it was connected by hundreds of thin wires to towering black cylinders, each one emitting an eerie purple glow. The wires flashed red, and within the machine, a man screamed.
"What was that?!" Akari shouted, frightened, clinging to Kaii's arm.
"I-I don't know." He held on tight, and they briefly looked at each other – red in the face. Yet the man screamed again, causing them to leap with fright.
Strapped into a silver oval machine was an unkempt man in a prisoner's uniform. His hair was thinning, his face sallow, his teeth yellowed. He looked incredibly underweight, and there seemed to be blood dripping from his hands.
"Who's this man?" Toshiaki asked, looking in closer. "He doesn't look so good..."
"That's Nozomu Kanami." Shigeru said, clenching his fists at the sight of him. "The man who killed Noriko."
"Stop! Stop this! Let me go back to the real world!" The man screamed, desperately trying to break his restraints. "Let me die there! Please!"
Noriko, now in a black coat and jeans, laughed maniacally. Then, she swiftly closed the lid on the machine, enclosing the man. His screamed intensified, but so did her laughter.
"You killed me, and expect mercy? From me? No, you don't get to simply die. My plan for you is much more elaborate than that. Your body's still human, but before long..."
The wires continued to flash red, until finally, every single one glowed in unison. The machine became enveloped in a purple sphere of energy, until finally, there was a blast huge enough to shatter it altogether. The wires snapped, dissolving into black dust. Now, the man inside gone – instead, it was a beast very familiar, a huge brute with giant, spiked fists, and bloody chains attached directly to its wrists.
"Well well, this was more than I was expecting." Noriko said, in deep thought. "A human becoming a Shadow. An anomaly...yes, that's what you are, you wretch. You need a new name, too. Perhaps Menoetius. Yes, I like that. I think I'm going to get a lot of use out of you...let's see how well you cope with my other pets, shall we?"
She clicked her fingers, and a swarm of Shadows invaded the room. They began to attack Menoetius, whose screams of terror deafened everyone around them. Finally, it began to attack – and every single Shadow it attacked was destroyed instantly. As she watched this, Noriko applauded. Then it ended, leaving the 'real' Nisa Liat standing in the centre of the room, continuing the applause her past self had started.
"The experiment was a roaring success. Not only could I torture Kanami as much as I liked, he made a splendid guard dog." Nisa Liat explained, giggling at the thought. "He deserved it. He allowed some stupid cult to brainwash him, and then he murdered me! His masters ordered him to claim the lives of those he deemed worthy to go into their stupid version of heaven..."
"This cult…" Hiroyuki began. "Were they the Order of Apoina?"
She nodded. "They were all deluded fools. Dear Rinaka Tamura suffered at their hands as well, I recall. Indeed, her family died because of their 'blaze of benevolence'. After I finished with Menoetius here, I began using my Gnosis to punish the rest of them in any way possible. One, after another..."
She made a throat-slitting motion with her hand, with a sadistic smile.
"No one quite figured out how so many unconnected humans committed suicide in such a short space of time. Even to this day, the police is still stumped. They hid their cult membership very well, and never found that out. Fools..."
"This is insane..." Novalie remarked.
"How exactly did you bring a human into this world, anyway?" Shintaro asked.
"Do you remember when Hayashi abducted you? Of course you do, don't give me that angry stare." Nisa Liat sait, wagging her finger. "He used his Gnosis to generate a 'crack' between the two Kosmos. That was the same process I used to warp Kanami from the prison to here. The police were fooled by my illusions, of course. They have no idea that the man they 'executed' was simply a fake, that faded away the instant they 'cremated' him..."
Shintaro shuddered at the thought. This girl had once been a lonely, but innocent child, but now she had become twisted, fuelled with rage at her predicament. Against her wishes, she was brought to a replica of her city, shaped by the human psyche. All alone. In her loneliness, she gained unimaginable power, only to use it to torture those who had wronged her.
"Menoetius was hard for me to control, at first. But I was so overjoyed with my success...that I decided to seek out other humans, who actually wanted to be free from the confines of the Akartharto Kosmos. The next generation of Anomalies, whom I would grant sanctuary. To that end, I scoured the internet for possible candidates..."
She flew up into the air, right through the ceiling. Falling down in her place was another Shadow, this time a Balor. This being had a human body, albeit with vivid red skin and furry arms and legs, but in place of a head was a bird cage, and within that cage seemed to be a floating green eye on a brain. Before long, smaller Shadows appeared to accompany it, including Fomorians and Nues.
"Not again…!" Netuno shouted. "C'mon, Reia! Let's kill these things!"
"Got it!" Reia replied, calling down Eunomia.
|Hyuga Manor – Study|19:15|
The Shadow army was reduced to ashes at long last, with Kei severing the 'head' of their commander with a katana strike she had learned at Kendo Club. Now, the team were back on the ground floor, and found the only room that was unlocked.
The study, like most rooms in this manor, was a spacious one. Sitting at the large blue wooden desk was Noriko, looking somewhat closer to her future Nisa Liat self, with longer hair. Opposite her was an older woman in a red dress, and a fur scarf. Her hair was greying, and she was wearing lots of ostentatious jewellery.
"I...I don't understand, young lady, what exactly can you do for me? Is this safe?"
"Hashira-san, it's okay. I brought you to this place for a reason. Your lost wealth, your lost youth...with my help, we can restore you to the way you're meant to be. Doesn't that sound exciting?"
"Y-Yes, it does..." The woman said. "How exactly does this work? Is it some kind of plastic surgery?"
Noriko laughed out loud, much to 'Hashira''s surprise. "Don't be silly. It's a transformation far more complex than that. We're talking about a whole new body. One that you truly deserve. After that, you can live in this world, forever, and never have to worry about losing your looks. And you can live in luxury!"
"I've...been so lost since my husband died. And then, the money ran out, and I grew older and older..." The woman said, tearfully. "A new world, where I can be free...I want that more than anything. I've made up my mind. I'll go for this 'Shadow Compression' procedure!"
Delighted, Noriko shook hands with her. "Well done, Hashira. Or...Katsumi-chan. Of course, we'll need a new name for you. No one will be calling you Katsumi Hashira anymore. From today forward, you will be the Bella Donna Della Notte – Nox!"
The two women got up from their seats, and left the room. Appearing back on the seat behind the desk was Nisa Liat, legs up on the table.
"I'm sure you knew which Anomaly she became." She said, smirking. Then, her smile faded to a grimace. "Unfortunately, they were too difficult to keep under control all at once. So I had no choice to seal them all away, one by one. Let me show you the others..."
Three teenage girls walked in, and Toshiaki jumped back in surprise. It was none other than the Parcae – or rather, the girls they once were. Ayako, Miyuki, Takumi. They had a very solemn look on their faces. Instantly, they faded away.
"Those three you know, of course. Dear Asami-chan's best friends, driven to suicide. Before they could go through with it, I offered them an alternative. One they readily accepted, of course. But
Next to walk in was a woman in a business suit, looking very worried and on edge, her red hair out of place. From the look in her eyes, Shintaro surmised this was the woman who would become Mnemosyne.
"Ah yes, of course I'd remember the Memory Mother. Ryoko Yamane, she used to be known. She found out her employers were up to no good, and reported them to the police. A noble decision, alas...not all of them were incarcerated. One swore revenge. She was so terrified, she refused to leave her room. It made it all too easy for me to drag her to this world."
"Oh my god..." Evelina said, stunned.
"Next..."
The harried woman disappeared, and instead an athletic man appeared, with muscles bulging beneath his black shirt. His wavy brown hair was recognisable, as Shintaro had seen it on TV several times in the past.
"Koji Igarashi…?" Masato asked. "Oceanus, right?"
"Oh, you already figured that out?" Nisa Liat asked, amused. "A braindead swimmer, whose rivals wanted him out of their way. A perfect candidate for Shadow Compression. He was surprisingly lackadaisical even after I changed him. Even so, all of them were worthy experiments. Didn't you have fun fighting them to the death?"
"You're sick...you keep toying with humans! How dare you!" Manami shouted.
"Ah, Katashi's girlfriend. Former girlfriend, I should say. As if you could ever understand how I feel, living here in this world full of Shadows and empty, dead buildings!"
"How you feel?!" Kei exclaimed. "Think about all those people who died because of you! And everyone else left behind! They're suffering because you kept experimenting on those vulnerable, desperate people!"
"Oh, are they? Tell someone who cares."
Stunned by this, everyone stared at her – with pure contempt. Relishing this, she laughed, standing up from the desk.
"The Anomalies didn't last too long before I had to seal them away, one by one. They were far too unreliable. When one grows bored of one set of toys, they need to find another. Guess what – or who – the new set is…"
She quickly sank into the floor, laughing, as a Shadow emerged from the desk. This was Dantalian, a multi-headed demon holding an evil tome of magic, and a multitude of Thoth surrounding it. Without warning, it cast down a mighty Mazionga.
"Dammit!" Shigeru cried. "Die, all of you! Dis Pater!"
|Dining Hall|19:35 pm|
The last army of Shadows fell eventually, yet everyone was exhausted. Their leader was obliterated by Dis Pater's Phantom Nexus, leaving the room in even more disarray than it had already been.
On the ground floor again, the team found the next area, a grandiose This time, Noriko was there, in an outfit very similar to her Nisa Liat attire, albeit without the orange accents. She was at the head of the rectangular dining table, and in rows to her left and right were some very familiar faces.
"Celestine!"
Before he could approach, Kohaku held him back.
"It's not her, Taro-kun. Just like that's not Aika. They're just memories..."
On the table was a mighty feast, of the tastiest dishes Shintaro had ever seen. Nearly everything one could want for dinner was there. Wine was being poured, although Asami and Katashi didn't touch the alcohol. Kaii wasn't there, Shintaro noticed. Presumably, he hadn't joined Bythos at this point. Either that, or he hadn't been invited to the party. Nisa Liat's cruelty wouldn't make that a surprise.
"Everyone, thank you for coming tonight. It's good to finally spend some quality time together, the nine of us." Nisa Liat said, happily. "Especially as we move to our new base of operations."
"Oh? I was starting to get used to this place." Keiya said, passing the bread to Asami.
"Same...but if we're gonna start recruiting more people soon, we'll need a bigger place." Toki said, taking several large slices of beef.
"Where is this new place going to be?" Toki asked, curious. "I mean, are we gonna steal the government offices or something in this world?"
"You moron. It's gonna be a lot bigger than that. Don't you have any imagination at all, Hayashi?" Katashi said, sighing. The 'present' Kaii swore under his breath, cracking his knuckles.
"Settle down, children." Shiro said, shaking his head. He poured wine for Aika and Celestine, and a glass for himself. "I'm sure our Princess has something truly grand in mind. Beyond all expectations."
"Like a giant castle in the sky?" Asami asked, dreamily.
"It's not going to be that, is it?" Aika asked.
"Surely not..." Celestine remarked.
"Oh, Hamasaki...I'm sure my floating castle will be an engineering wonder, more than anything you could dream up." Nisa Liat said cloyingly, with a somewhat fake-looking grin. "Perhaps even greater than Laputa. Eat, drink, and be merry. For we have a lot of hard work ahead of ourselves. Together, we will lead Bythos to glory! To reshape the city! I, Nisa Liat, will guide you to a new Shinshuto!"
Everyone clinked their glasses, and the feast continued. After a few moments, however, the past Aeon Admins disappeared, and Nisa Liat remained. She got to her feet, her outfit finally changing to her current one.
"That was the day Bythos began in earnest. For I had assembled my new army of Persona users. Each one had a different reason for joining me. I hadn't planned on more than eight Aeon Administrators, but Kaii came along later...thus, he never knew of this place."
"Yeah, we were already in the Bythos Citadel by the time you found me."
"Of course. It was nice to meet Toki's eldest son in our new headquarters..."
"Wait. You knew?" Akari asked, stunned.
"Obviously. Honestly, did you think I couldn't sense it?" Shaking her head, Nisa Liat got up, sword in her hand. "I needed capable warriors to fight at my side, ones I could actually control. Twisting their emotions a little was far simpler than with Anomalies."
"You...you bitch!" Kaii shouted, Noboru standing nearer him. "I can't believe I ever trusted you! Fuck you!"
"That's no way to talk to your former Princess." Nisa Liat said, tutting. "I was no longer alone in this world. Actual human friends, ones who worshipped me, and spread my words across both worlds. And once I have all the Cores..."
"What? What will happen when you get all of them?" Natsumi asked.
"The Akartharto Kosmos will cease to be."
There was a dead silence, as everyone looked at each other, uncertainly.
"What did you just say?!" Masato demanded.
"The world we come from, you pathetic fool! That world will no longer exist as you know it. Everyone will come to the Theio Kosmos, like I did so long ago. Finally, the utopia I wanted from the beginning will become real! I don't have to use dolls to replace my mother, my old school friends. I can have the real ones right here! And all the Aeon Admins! And you too!"
"...You're insane!"
"Am I, Komatsu-san?" Nisa Liat asked, sweetly. "All I have to do is turn Shinshuto's people against each other, and soon enough, the Cores will appear."
"But I thought Bythos was against the city's government! The same one lead by your mother!" Novalie said. "Why are you turning half the city against her?"
"You don't get it, do you? It's all part of my plan! One half of the city supports my mother wholeheartedly. The other worships the ground I walk on. Two conflicting sides, causing conflicts powerful enough to generate the Cognition Cores! All six will be mine. You can guard them as much as you like from me, but..."
She chuckled to herself, as her body began to glow a dark red.
"They'll be mine for the taking!"
She clicked her fingers, and suddenly, tons of Bythos soldiers swarmed in, dressed in the default black uniform. Each one was armed with their weapons, and of course, their Gnosis. Kei, however, took out her katana, and approached her dark counterpart.
"No. They're ours." She said, flatly. "You don't scare me. Never have, never will."
"Kei!" Shintaro said, running forward, sword at the ready. "I'll fight at your side!"
"Me too!" Kohaku replied, nagianata in her arms. "Noriko – no, Nisa Liat can't be allowed to win!"
"Sis! Come on, we gotta help Kei! Nisa Liat's going down for sure tonight!" Masato said, grabbing his sister by the rest, their weapons already drawn.
"I didn't realise how twisted Nisa Liat had become. If she succeeds..."
Natsumi, and the others, called down their Personas. Their comrades were fending off the weaker Bythos soldiers, leaving just five to face down Nisa Liat.
"I've wanted to fight you for a long time, Kakusa. The only other Wild Card but myself to enter the Theio Kosmos. You've defeated the Aeon Admins quite a few times now...but they don't even compare to me!"
The two Wild Cards immediately clashed their katana, and their swords continued to clash, faster than Shintaro had ever seen. What unsettled him, however, was the abilities Kei had learned from kendo – for Nisa Liat seemed to be able to mirror them, step by step. At the force their weapons struck each other, he half expected one – if not both – to break into pieces.
"Ha!" Nisa Liat cried, as both she and Kei performed the 'Five Star Slash', a rapid medley of attacks. "You think I can't keep up with your swordplay?"
Shintaro tried to lunge at her, but her blade went straight through him – halting his futile attack. Kohaku ran to his aid, only to be struck down as well.
"Damn!" Masato yelled.
"I've had plenty of time to work on kendo, Kakusa. You might believe yourself to be skilled, but my talent surpasses yours!"
"Don't be so sure." Kei shouted, swinging back. "I've practised with Haia. I've learned a lot through her...about never giving up, no matter how strong the opponent is!"
"Ha! Did she steal that from a fortune cookie?"
"Go to hell!" Shintaro shouted. "Ogma!"
A blast of wind hit the Princess, the Garula gathering more strength than normal. She staggered somewhat, but did not seem too shaken. Smirking, she swung her sword again at him, and it was all he could do to block. Then, to his shock, his sword snapped in half, and he was sent flying back, nearly hitting a shocked Natsumi.
"W-What? That didn't do anything!"
"Wind must not work on her. Earth will bring her down! Airmid!"
Alas, the Magnara Kohaku summoned didn't seem to affect Nisa Liat much more. Once the earthquake subsided, she found herself dodging a sharp thrust. Quickly, she swung her naginata, but it missed the target, and her guard was down – allowing the Princess to strike her.
"Dammit!" Masato screamed. "Camulus, hurry!"
Sparks of fury came together to shock Nisa Liat, and the Zionga did halt her movements – albeit only for a short time. Rushing furiously at her, Masato leapt at her with his bat – but with a timed kick, she sent him tumbling back down.
"Bro!" Natsumi cried. "Brigid, get her!"
The Persona's bladed ring was sharper now, and this time, as it was thrown, it became a Rending Ring. Nisa Liat actually gasped as it hit her, and only barely stood still. With a smug smile, she called down her first Persona.
"Cerberus!"
Despite what Shintaro knew of the mythical guard dog of Hades, this being only had one head. Even so, it was not any less intimidating. With a potent howl, it breathed radiant, burning flames at all within its reach – a furious Maragilao.
"No..." Shintaro gulped, as the pain overtook him. These flames were far hotter than any he had been hit with in this world before. Could anything counter her? Even Natsumi looked like she was in trouble. This did not bode well, he realised.
"N-No..." Kei, still standing, held her sword tight with both hands. "I won't lose here! Hecatoncheires!"
The green-skinned giant emerged, its many eyes bulging out of its head, and its myriad of arms swinging around rapidly. Its brute strength evident in its muscles, it lunged at Nisa with a mighty Assault Dive, smashing into her with immense rage.
Whoa. When did she fuse that? I never saw her use that earlier!
"N-Not bad…!" Nisa Liat said, no longer looking as arrogant. "But that's not quite enough to defeat me -"
"Aengus!"
To Shintaro's shock, Noboru had just emerged by his side, and his Persona's swords were ready to strike. This time, they were even more visibly sharp, and each one combined to create the Lion's Wrath. Nisa yelped in pain, and shot him a look of hatred.
"Sorry we're late. Let's help them, Epona!" Akari said, quickly healing up the fallen Knowledge Seekers with a helpful Mediarama. Not far behind were Evelina and Toshiaki. "Get her, you two!"
Nodding, the Swede fired a number of bullets – yet this did not stop Nisa Liat brandishing her katana. Panicking, she summoned Aoife.
"Eiga!"
A cursed volley of darkness flew straight at Nisa Liat – who braced herself, grimacing, trying to block it with her sword. Angry, she leapt at Evelina, slicing her as fast as she could. Then, she saw Toshiaki, and began spinning at him, attacking far too many times for him to block her assault.
"No!" He cried, finally slashing her in the face with his sword. Then, he jumped back, and hurled a grenade at her – and wasted no time in calling down Conchobar. "Get her, now!"
Wasting no time, the Persona aimed his machine's guns at the downed Princess, and fired down the mighty Hunting Gunner – three bullets, each with a red pulsing light. Now, her smile was gone. Nisa Liat was furious, and glared at her new assailants with contempt.
"You can't expect to win with such cheap tricks!" She bellowed theatrically, pointing her katana at Kei directly. "It doesn't matter how many of you stand against me. I cannot lose in my own world! Hel!"
Just as Kei was prone to doing in battle, Nisa Liat had switched to a new Persona – this time, the icy cold goddess of Norse lore. With a gleam in her eyes, she caused the entire room to cool, and then sent a chilling Mabufula at anyone close enough to freeze.
"Ah!" Akari cried. "T-That hurts…!"
"Yeah..." Kei said, wincing. "But...we can't stop here. Thor!"
To Nisa Liat's surprise, the mighty hammer-wielding god emerged, and struck the ground with his hammer – which began sparking with indignation. This lightning became a Zionga, one that struck the Princess with a gigantic flash. She screamed, dropping her sword – momentarily.
"K-Kei!" Shintaro cried, amazed. "We can do this, I know we can!"
"You hear that, Nisa? You're going down tonight!" Kaii said, running up, Manami in tow. "Ain't that right, Manami?"
"R-Right!" The dancer said, but she was far less sure of herself than him. The newest to fighting with her Persona, she never expected to have to fight Bythos' greatest fighter so soon. Even so, she still summoned Li Ban. "Persona!"
Together, the dancer and the Persona twirled, causing a blue spiral of water to encircle her. This soon expanded into the Twirling Typhoon, a constantly twisting storm. Nisa Liat, focused, stood her ground, just barely managing to stay on her feet.
"Your dancing is even better than Katashi says. Not that it will do you any good when I bury you!"
She swung her sword, sending a red blast of sharp energy at the dancer and those nearby. Screaming, Manami almost toppled over, yet when she saw Kaii run in, she managed to stand aground.
"Take this! And this! And this!"
Kaii's fists were jabbing at his former master. Nisa's agility was only just enough for her to avoid the flurry of punches, weaving out of harm's way. Then, when she was about to slice him, Grannus appeared in front of her, her sword flowing through its body.
"What?!"
"Freila!"
A blast of nuclear energy, bright blue, illuminated the room for a moment. Unwilling to take this from her deserter, she stabbed at Kaii, aiming straight for his heart.
"Damn you, Murayama! If you weren't such a failure in life, you could have been one of my best Admins! Just like your father!"
"I..I'll never be like him. He's no father of mine!" Kaii roared, clutching his chest.
"Indeed. Toki, like all of your Aeons, is a deluded fool."
Having defeated their share of Bythos' lower soldiers, Shigeru and Novalie had joined the fray. Cracking his knuckles, he summoned the dark, majestic Dis Pater to the field, its aurora looking even stronger than before."
"It's truly unfortunate how much you've changed, Noriko. If your mother knew of what had happened to you, her heart would never heal."
"...If you hand over the cores to me, perhaps I can help her!" Nisa Liat said, passionately. "You don't her to suffer any more, do you? Then maybe, if you just sacrificed the Akartharto Kosmos, a world we no longer need, she can live here with me!"
"I'm sorry, Noriko. But even if you are Yoko's daughter, the reason for living she lost so long ago...I cannot stand by and let you control reality. Dis Pater, come!"
Shintaro almost expected to see the Phantom Nexus again, except this time, the Persona took off the cape, and hurled the Darkness Veil into the air. It soon fell upon Nisa Liat, who struggled in vain to break free – yet by the time her sword touched the cloak, it had become a dome of dark power. It then started to glow red, then exploded in a pillar of crimson light.
"...Dad, your Persona is a little frightening sometimes."
"Thank you, Noboru."
"Damn you, Komatsu-san!" Nisa Liat cried. Getting to her feet, she rushed forward, but her sword only hit Novalie's. "Get out of my way, whoever you are!"
"I don't think I will. Not until you're no more!"
With a graceful thrust, Novalie pierced Nisa Liat, and summoned Sága.
"Please, aid us!"
A chilling aurora emanated from the Persona, and the icy cold mist condensed into a pillar of frost – Bufula. Shaking, Nisa Liat swung her sword wildly, hitting all those nearby. Shintaro barely avoided her attack, and his own sword narrowly missed its target. Natsumi tried to kick at her, but Nisa Liat's own legwork kept her at bay.
"Enough! Kinmamon, it's time!"
Now, Nisa Liat had called upon the God from Beyond the Sea, a black robed figure with a giant black orb for a head, complete with a red sun insignia. Holding up its hands to the heavens, it caused a tidal wave of Malaques. The pressure of the water engulfed everyone, drenching the entire hall.
"Kakusa. It doesn't have to be this way. You cannot overcome me, not even with so many of your precious friends fighting by your side."
"...You can say that as much as you want." Kei said, holding her own katana tight. "But it doesn't make it true! Die!"
The two screamed at each other, their blades clashing once more, sparks flying from each sword. Their faces seemed contorted with rage – the sight chilling Shintaro to his core.
Swiftly, he slashed at the Pleroma Princess, distracting her long enough for Kei to break through her guard. Screaming, Nisa Liat fell to her knees, while her rival summoned her new Persona.
"Kikuri-Hime!"
The Shinto goddess emerged, the same one who had once mediated between Izanagi and Izanami. This time, however, she had no intention of negotiating between the two Wild Cards. This time, she gathered her fiery power, and sent forth a blaze hotter and more intense – an Agidyne.
"Argh!" She screamed, the flames surging through her. Something about her seemed to have changed after this attack – her voice seemed far less bombastic, more controlled. "Your power's grown far too strong for its own good. Are you planning to rule the Theio Kosmos yourself?!"
"...Don't compare me to you," Kei said, screwing her face at the thought. "I don't want to rule anywhere! All I want..."
"...Is what?"
"To find out what really happened to my aunt."
What?! This again?
"Oh, is that right? Well, whatever you want will never happen. This world is mine! The moment the Akartharto and Theio Kosmos merge is the day of eternal peace! Those who can survive here will thrive. Those who can't...well, they were never worth existing in the first place!"
Before Nisa Liat could continue her psychotic speech, she felt someone strike her from behind. It was Hiroyuki's rifle. Furious, she turned around, and glanced at the devastated dining hall. All her soldiers had been bested, and had fled, leaving her and her alone to fight.
"...Weren't expecting us to be done so soon, were you?" Netuno asked, guitar at the ready.
"Let's end this," Michiko said, her sword and dagger in her hands. "This ghost has to be stopped to save our city."
"Eunomia! It's time for you to shine! Destroy her, now!"
With her needles, the Persona stitched a glyph in the air made of light – resembling an atomic warning symbol. When finished, Eunomia struck the glyph, and it fired a fierce Atom Ray, completely shattering the dining table that had somehow survived the confrontation – until now.
"You're a strong one...but that still isn't enough to kill me! Nothing any of you can do will ever end this new life!"
She stabbed the ground with her sword, and a ray of fiery light shot beneath her feet – sending Reia into the air. Netuno did his best to catch her, but he was slashed before he could.
"The rock star from Portugal..." Nisa Liat murmured. "How is Lenore coping? Wasn't she supposed to marry that salaryman?"
"...Was it you that killed him?!" Netuno demanded.
Smirking, Nisa Liat swung her sword at him, his guitar managing to block her strikes. "Ha! I couldn't get any of the Aeon Admins that night. Somehow, they all managed to have something else on in the Akartharto Kosmos that needed taken care of. So, I decided to handle it on my own...and I did a fine job too, didn't I?"
"You fucking bitch!" Netuno screamed. Tam Kung emerged, equally furious. "Kill her! Kill her and everyone else in Bythos! Now! Now!"
The Persona began to play its own guitar, a rather sorrowful tune. This caused the instrument to overflow with electricity, and soon, Nisa Liat was subject to the intense Despair Chord.
"...Nice. You're so full of hate towards me. Just like me towards Kanami! But you'll never come close to the rage I feel, every single day!"
"Your soul will never be free if you can't let go of that anger..." Michiko said, sadly.
"I'll only be 'free' once the Akartharto Kosmos is dead and gone! And everyone within it worth sparing lives here, with me to lead them. I can give you all whatever roles you want."
"...I already have what I want in life. To teach generation after generation of Japan's finest! Nidaba!"
With her sharp mind, the Persona sent down the potent Psio, causing Nisa to briefly clutch her head in pain. Quickly, however, she recovered, and her katana locked with Michiko's twin swords. Both were fast, yet it was clear the Princess had the stronger skill with the blade.
"Your sword is quite an impressive one..." Hiroyuki commented.
"What? Why do you care about that now? If you must know, I made it all on my own. The Mumeiro." Nisa Liat said, smug at her grand blade.
"Amazing. Let me show you another, made by Masamune himself!"
The swords smith of legend emerged, and with a grand flourish, summoned his newest creation, the seven-branched sword – or Shichishito. Immediately, upon taking up its hilt, he swung it at Nisa Liat, the blade's branches slashing her painfully.
"Hmm..." The Princess said, managing to stay calm. "Your Personas, and your weapons, you've done well with them so far. But still, you can't quite surpass me! My power over the Wild Card has grown for three whole years. Far longer than either of you!"
"That's odd, neither of us have been defeated by you yet..." Kei said, sword as sharp as her tongue. "Do either of your Admins know what will really happen if you were to get the six Cores?"
"...They know that the world will change. All of them will do very well in the new world!" Nisa Liat said. "And if you were to submit to me, you would too!"
Kei sighed, and shook her head.
"Very well...Cu Chulainn!"
The white-armoured Celtic hero emerged, spear in hand. Concentrating deeply, the brave soldier summoned intense green winds of chaos, the Magarula. They tore through the dining hall, making quick work of anything that wasn't already destroyed.
"A-Ah!" Kohaku screamed, unable to move. "Shintaro..."
"Ugh..." Hiroyuki groaned.
Kei, however, did not utter a word. Instead, she changed to yet another Persona, this time to a female armoured warrior, wielding a thin sharp sword in one hand, and its head under the other. This was the Dullahan, an unseelie faerie. With the head, the knight cried, and with the sword, she performed Myriad Slashes, each one cutting Nisa Liat viciously.
"Just how many Personas are there in your Gnosis?" The Princess asked, intrigued.
"Perhaps I could ask you the same question?" Kei asked.
"I see. I doubt any of yours can match my true one, the one I've had since my rebirth! Come, Rosmerta! No more holding back!"
"It's time… Ostara!"
Almost in sync with each other, the two Personas emerged, eerily identical to each other in every way except their colouring. Ostara looked more resolute, however – as if she had been renewed.
Rosmerta flew to the ceiling, However, Ostara followed her lead. The dark Persona became cloaked in red energy and raised both arms to the sky. Black spirals of even more power surrounded the Persona. At the same time, however, blue and white energy had been enshrouding Rosmerta's counterpart, who was in the exact same pose.
"W-What's this?" Manami asked.
Shintaro gasped. "It's...like on that moon base all over again. Except, now it's both of them!"
"Cosmic Votum!" both Wild Cards cried.
The Personas flew up in the air, vanishing, only for a colossal pillar of light to fall down upon the room. This mighty beam expanded, and before long, it had covered the entire room. A barrage of energy began raining down on the building, and no matter how strong the structure, it was powerless before this display of power. The ground around them was shaking, and the foundations of this manor were falling apart. Finally, the light subsided….
|Toki's Room|19:50 pm|
The two Aeon Admins stared at each other in horror. They had heard some disturbing truths tonight, including who Nisa Liat truly was. And how much she had hidden from the Aeon Admins she supposedly trusted more than anyone else. Once the fight between Nisa Liat and Kei Kakusa began, however, the audio recordings stopped. Silent Witness was no longer picking up anything.
"How could I have been so stupid?!" Asami said, head in her hands. "She knew I was friends with the girls all along..."
"And she knew about Kaii being my son, too," Toki said, fists clenched with anger, "That bitch!"
"What do we do now?" Asami asked. "Are we the only Aeon Admins that know the truth? Should we tell the others?"
"...Not yet." Toki said, warily. "Nisa Liat's power is incredible. If she caught on to what we were doing, she'd kill us. Or worse."
Angry, Asami slammed her fist on the table. "But we have to do something! I can make Keiya understand, I'm sure I can! And you can talk to Katashi! Then maybe -"
"Are you serious? You think that kid listens to me? To him, Nisa Liat is the only one who can save him and his family from the shame of his brother."
"But...what if Nisa's hiding something about that, too?"
Would she really go that far? How would she even do that, anyway? Could she have made his brother kill someone? Or frame him?
"We have to find out more. If we get more evidence about what Nisa Liat's hiding, we can get more Admins to jump ship. For now, we act normal. If we have to fight, we fight."
"Okay..." Asami said, still unsure. "I just wish...right now, that this had never happened. That whoever killed Noriko had never been born. Then we wouldn't be in this mess right about now."
"It's too late to think about that. C'mon, let's go home for now. Kaii's gonna be wondering why I'm so late back."
"...Say hi to him for me, will you?"
Surprised, Toki nodded, and they both departed for the regular world. Now, they knew they could trust each other – in betraying their Pleroma Princess.
|Yosei Forest|19:55 pm|
Once the light was gone, Shintaro felt a breeze – and he could see many trees around him. The Manor simply couldn't withstand the two Personas, and thus, it was once again sent back into the aether. Not even debris or rubble was left. Feeling the fatigue, he looked up at the sky, which was still bright at this hour.
"...Is everyone alright?!" Kohaku cried. "Shintaro?"
"I'm okay!" He replied. He looked all over, and saw the others, looking a little worse for wear. Yet he didn't see their sworn enemy at all. Had Nisa Liat truly been defeated? Could Kei finally have been the one to match her strength?
Wait. I don't see her either. Wait, over there -
"Kei!"
Lying on the ground, the Wild Card was completely unconscious, her katana and Gnosis right beside her. Her face looked like she was in pain, but she was breathing.
"Kei, hang on!" Shintaro cried. He ran to her, and held her in his arms. "Please, wake up! Let us know you're okay! Please!"
Opening her eyes, she looked deep at him. With a smile, she grabbed his hand.
"Hey, Shintaro-kun...how did I do?"
"You were great. You've always been amazing."
"Thanks. I…I hope I can do that again someday. But right now, I'm really tired..."
With that, she closed her eyes again. To his relief, she was still breathing. Yet seeing her so weakened was unlike anything he had expected.
"Don't look so worried, Nakahara." Shigeru said, walking over. "That level of power she just unleashed, combined with Nisa Liat's strength, must have exhausted her. But as a Wild Card, she's a little hardier than most."
"I didn't think she'd ever end up like this, somehow." Shintaro said, tearfully. "Please don't do that ever again. Ever..."
The others stared at the two of them, as he held her close. Taking her Gnosis, he finally allowed Hiroyuki to take her from him.
"Shintaro, she'll be fine, once she has a good rest. Let's go home." Kohaku said, arm around his shoulder. "You...really care about her, don't you?"
"I...I...well, of course. She's our friend, the one that we've been supporting this whole time."
The team departed to the Akartharto Kosmos, grateful to have survived such a battle against Nisa Liat herself. But would it be the last? Would Kei be able to win? Right now, all Shintaro wanted was for her to be safe, so that they could one day live peacefully in Shinshuto. Not the one of the Theio Kosmos, but the one they could always call home.