After a series of battles in what looked like the inside of a palace, the groups stands in the Judgment room again.
"This room is vulgar no matter how many times I see it. It makes me sick just looking at it." Himeno said.
"Really now. How long is this gonna continue on for?" Mana asked.
"I know what must be done, but I'm not anxious to do it." Sojiro said.
"Complaining about it isn't going to solve anything either. I hate that we're playing right into The End's hands." Chikasu said.
"So we have to vote again… Another person to sacrifice." Sho said as The End appeared.
"That is correct. Now choose. Whom will you discard this time?" The End asked.
"Of course he'd appear now." Chikasu said.
"You always show up when we're least excited to see you." Agito said.
"Is observing us from afar all you can do, coward?" Nagi asked.
"How long are you going to make us do this!?" Yoko asked.
"Not again… Do we really have to, this time?" Marco asked.
"If you wish to proceed, you must cast your vote in Judgment." The End said. "Forsake the life of another, in exchange for your own happiness. That is the burden you must each bear." He said as he disappears.
"Is this the only way?" Sho asked.
The group all casted their votes, which caused the screens to flicker between different people before settling on…
…
…
Agito.
All screens then turn red with his portrait.
"Wow, you mean it for real? I'm the one being erased here?" Agito asked. "It's a shame being the bad guy. Turning traitor isn't good for your public image."
"Agito, I'm sorry." Chikasu said.
"Ah, don't apologize. It was totally my bad. This is just how things turned out." Agito said. "But hey, it's not like I have any ill will towards anyone. It's just luck… You're born an enemy or an ally. And in this timeline, I turned out to be an enemy. That's all. Honestly, I don't have what it takes to actually kill anyone, so who cares?"
"Well, that's probably true…" Chikasu said.
"And Chikasu? All that stuff I said about saving Cheetah's soul… I really meant it. If your kid is as pure-hearted as you say he is, then I know he can pull it off." Agito said. "Maybe he and I will meet in another life. Maybe we'll even be best friends."
"I do hope that is the case. The multiverse could use people like you, Agito." Chikasu said.
"Look, I'd like to stick around and chat, but I guess it's time. Thanks for everything, Chikasu, and I'm sorry…" Agito said. "I had fun though! Toodles!" he said as a beam hit him, causing him to vanish leaving behind his Materia.
"Guh… We've done it again." Sho said.
"Even if it's to move forward, there's no way this is the right thing to do." Yoko said.
"I-I know we can't avoid doing this, but…" Marco said.
"Something's wrong. Ordinarily, the staircase appears just after our vote." Sojiro said as The End appears.
"Judgment is not over for today, I'm afraid. I'm going to need you to select one more time." The End said.
"What!?" Sho asked.
"You gutless worm! Do you plan on continuing this until there's only one of us left!?" Nagi asked.
"This is rather unfair. Don't you think this game is becoming a little too one-sided?" Himeno asked.
"You string us along with some form of hope and now this. That's rather wicked of you." Mana said.
"Stop your worrying… This will be the final Judgment, I promise." The End said.
"Final, you say?" Chikasu asked.
"You long to reach me, correct? You long to save the world…?" The End asked. "Then judge! Theatrics won't save you… You have no option but to obey." he said as he disappeared.
"You're quite the dictator." Himeno said.
"There really is no other option… I hate that he's right." Chikasu said.
"Damn it. And all we can do is comply…!" Sho said.
The group all casted their votes, which caused the screens to flicker between different people before settling on…
…
…
Sojiro.
All screens then turn red with his portrait.
"*sigh* And so it has finally come to this." Sojiro said. "It's a pity for me...but you all certainly made the right decision. Congratulations are in order. You managed to bump off all of the traitors."
"So, we're all that's left." Yoko said.
"Yes. This appears to be the true team." Himeno said.
"All of us against The End." Mana said.
"Your sacrifices will not be in vain. We shall see to that." Nagi said.
"It's a little too much to wrap myself around, but...I actually like whoever is left. We seem like a very solid group." Marco said.
"And if this is how it all ends, well, everyone, I had a wonderful time working with all of you." Sojiro said. "If there were a future we could coexist in, I would've loved for you all and our allies to be my assistants. But that's impossible, no matter what… It just wasn't in the stars for our paths to intertwine. Oh well! This isn't so terrible an outcome. I really was the odd one out in this, all along. My sincerest regret is that I couldn't heal your eye, Chikasu. Perhaps if there'd been more time..."
"Don't worry about the what-ifs. Thanks for everything, Sojiro." Chikasu said.
"And the rest of you. Once you beat The End, you will be on a most extravagant journey. One I regret I couldn't take part in myself. And thus, I wish you all the best of luck." Sojiro said with a bow as a beam hit him, causing him to vanish leaving behind his Materia.
"Ngh… Damn him…!" Sho said. "Just how heavy a sin does he intend for us to bear…!?"
"This is the final Judgment. All we can do is believe in The End's words." Himeno said. "It makes me sick to think we actually have to trust him, though."
"Please forgive us. We promise that we will save the world." Yoko said.
"...Let's go, everyone! It's time to put an end to all of this." Chikasu said.
A/N: The reason why I didn't make a chapter on the fourth stratum is because not a lot of major events happen there. Now, on to the results.
Agito... Yeah, I had a feeling that his demeanor wasn't going to gain much popularity. Honestly, he was one of the two characters I really wanted to bring to the end, the other being Yoko, just because there were so many plot ideas that I had for those two. I kind of expected that something like this would happen, but as soon as it did... Yeah, ouch.
And Sojiro... Sojiro's kind of been a mixed bag. But ultimately, it had to be done. It's gonna be hard for the team without a medic. Then again, I have plenty of medics already, so I let the chips fall where they may.
Himeno... Honestly, I kind of knew Himeno was gonna have a spot on the team. Especially since she didn't get a single vote in the erasure polls. So, as soon as we got to the fourth poll, I kind of knew her spot was guaranteed.
I honestly was kind of worried for both Yoko and Marco. They were both at risk quite a lot and were usually just one vote away from being erased. But they survibed, so I can leave my worries behind.
And Nagi and Mana, honestly, they haven't been in much risk at all. They usually had like one vote at most.
Overall, I'm really happy with who I had left. They seem like a very solid group. But it's not over yet. Just one more chapter, and this story is all but finished. Looking forward to that! Thank you all so muchfor your votes and support, I really appreciate it, and I'll see you all next chapter.
