Novelization of Persona 4 Chapter 31
I don't own Persona, SMT, or anything of the such. Atlus owns it all, plus Atlus-USA. If you want to buy this game in Europe, call Square-Enix.
It's the beginning of the end. It's been fun as we watch it go. It took so long because…
1. It got really redundant with the bosses. I'm tired of Power Charging, Mind Charging, and Debilitating.
2. I was really busy, and am heading to Miami.
3. Light shine upon the Heavens…I'm kidding. Actually, 2-3 papers a day is more like it.
Question of the chapter… Try to answer it if you can. Where in Japan is Inaba? It does exist. I'll give you a hint. It was important during the Meiji Restoration.
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The group walked back from Heaven, which left most of the group confused after fighting someone who nearly killed them all with ease. Souji thought it was a good learning experience, but who was he kidding. He nearly got them all killed.
As they reached the TV plaza, the group collapsed to their knees for a short breather. Souji thought that it was a well-deserved break for them. Unfortunately, Rion was giving him a look like he wanted answers about that last battle. Thankfully, he also gave a look like he was not going to ask out of respect.
"I don't know how… or where I'd start," Souji thought, "The others are already confused about this ordeal."
Yosuke looked up at Souji from near the three TVs, "So… Are we going after Izanami now?"
Souji nodded, "Yeah, now we are going after her."
"Then let's do it!" Chie pumped her arm up from one knee.
"Okay, follow me!" Rise exclaimed as she started to lead them towards the powerful presence. She was the only one not to fight Margaret after all, and was in the best shape.
The place looked scary, not as scary as the area where Adachi was, but it was rather foggy and mysterious. The whole area was made of diagonal red tile, and oddly shaped blue rock-like walls. Spires lined the entryway. Souji recognized the area. It was just like the place where he was in that dream when he first came to Inaba that night.
"I knew it had to be somewhere," Souji thought, "This time… I am going to kick that Shadowy-thing's ass! It was Izanami taunting him at the beginning of the year!"
And so their journey into the place they decided to name "Yomotsu Hirasaka" began.
It would be another lovely journey into hell, Souji would soon decide for himself. He knew it would be hard just because of the fact that he had no choice but to finish it one day without rest and they had already beaten someone stronger than Ameno-sagiri today.
The first floor… The first floor, as soon as they entered the group was taunted by Izanami, "So you came… Your futile efforts will be rewarded."
"That bitch…," Souji muttered.
They had not gone around one corner when the Shadows came out to play, and Souji was raring to go. Can you tell he was being sarcastic?
The first Shadow was a floating book. There were four of them. They were nasty little things. Two had magic barriers in place, while the other two had physical barriers put on them.
"What do we do?" Yosuke asked. "Damn it!" He had just cast "Garudyne!" at one of the two who had used "Makarakarn!"
"You're making this too difficult on yourself," Souji said, pushing up his fog-glasses while smirking at Rion. Rion just chuckled at him. He told Chie and Kanji, "Focus your attacks at the ones who have magic barriers." He looked at Yukiko and Teddie, "Blast away at the ones with the physical shields!"
Yukiko nodded, "Right!" "Hear me Amaterasu!" "Agidyne!"
"Bearsona!" "Bufudyne!" Kamui clawed his card.
"Here now!" "Primal Force!" Kanji attacked the book.
Chie shook her head as she proceeded to back flip, "Suzuka Gongen!" "God Hand!" The Persona flew down into the book.
The books burned, froze, were crushed, or skewered.
"Okay, let's go," Souji said, just to get struck by shards of ice. "Alright, who the hell did that!?" He yelled, obviously pissed off.
Yukiko pointed at the Shadows with the crescent-shaped fins on top, "I think it was them."
"Good observation," Naoto said sarcastically as she pulled out her gun and started firing, only to be hit by lightning.
"Well, that's a shocker," Rion muttered as he pierced his card, "This is why you're no good," "Ameno-waka-hiko!" "Hassou Tobi!"
As the arrows rang home on the pair of crescent-Shadows, another pair of monstrosities came forth firing more shards of ice at Yukiko. "I can't fight them if they're going to knock me down!" she yelled.
"Leave it to me!" Yosuke exclaimed, "Susano-O!" "Magarudyne!"
The wind blew the two new Shadows into the air and away from the battle.
"See, that wasn't too bad," Yosuke shrugged.
"Says you," Naoto said, getting up off the ground, "You didn't get electrocuted."
"It was your fault you got shocked," Rion told her.
"Shut up," Naoto pushed him.
"Anyways, let's get out of here," Souji said, rolling his eyes. He muttered, "Kids…"
Of course, you could never get too far until something else tries to kill you. In this case… it was a pair of Shadows hooked together by spokes that spun around and slammed into you.
Kanji had the misfortune of trying to attack it head on.
"Rokuten Maoh!" "Primal Force!" The attack made it stronger, "Damn it!"
The Shadows just responded by spinning around and into Kanji.
"Damn it," Kanji said, "Oh… I'm feeling a little woozy."
"Hurry up and destroy it!" Souji exclaimed, "Surt!" "Maragidyne!"
The flames scorched the Shadows, but that was not all as Naoto came forward to meet the only living Shadow that was left, "Yamato Takeru!" "Hamaon!"
The light enveloped the Shadow and made it disappear into nothingness.
"Let's move," Souji nodded.
They walked up the stairs to the 2nd level. What would they find, but more Shadows!
"Guys!" Rise told them, "It has no weaknesses." She scanned the idol Shadows ahead of them. She noticed that they were being surrounded and exclaimed, "There are plant Shadows coming from behind. They don't have weaknesses either!"
"Won't this be fun?" Rion smirked, pushing up his glasses. He pulled out his sword and charged one of the idol Shadows, dodging its spikes and slicing its head off.
"Isn't it always?" Souji returned the smirk, as he crushed his card. "Yoshitsune!" "Hassou Tobi!" The general darted in and out of the rest of the idols, slicing through them like they were made of paper.
"That was easy," Souji smiled as he and Miyamoto no Yoshitsune moved away from the whirling branches of the plant Shadows.
"Bearsona!" Teddie cut down one plant Shadow as "Kamui!" fired shards of ice into the plants.
"Persona!" Yukiko sliced through her card, closed her fan, "Amaterasu!" "Agidyne!"
Fire and ice shattered the Shadows into little pieces as they watched the small shards burned.
As the group walked to the stairs, they encountered beetles. Variants of the ones they had fought before, it confronted the Persona-users.
The beetles were striking the group, lifting them into the air, and causing general havoc.
Rion had his visor on with the Persona in the air, trying to scan the Shadows while using his sword to parry a beetle.
"Souji…," he said, "Lightning will be effective in this contest."
"That's all I needed to hear," Souji responded, as he was currently slicing downward at a beetle before it struck at Yukiko. "Yoshitsune!" "Ziodyne!"
Kanji followed up, "Here now!" "Mazionga!" As the beetles fell over, Kanji said, "It's go time!"
Souji shook his head, "Let's just finish them off." As they all charged, fists and kicks flailing, while swords and kunai whirled.
The third floor as expected, contained more new Shadows for the group to fight… and of course, more taunting by the goddess Izanami.
"It never ends," Souji shook his head at seeing mages and pot Shadows coming at them..
"What did you expect?" Yosuke asked, "Let's get moving!"
As the pots advanced towards Yukiko and Yosuke, Yukiko attacked first, "Amaterasu!" "Agidyne!" and Yosuke followed suit, "Susano-O!" "Garudyne!"
"Well, that helps," Chie said, seeing the pots die. "Woah!" she barely moved out of the way of the flames of the magi.
"I'll darken their day," Naoto stepped forward, shooting her card, "All yours!" "Mamudoon!"
Watching the magi disappear into the darkness, they made their way to a door with a strong presence.
"Guys, there's something powerful behind here," Rise told them.
"Let's just get through this so we can reach Izanami," Souji responded.
They opened the door to see a massive Minotaur, larger than any of the others they had ever faced before.
Izanami's voice rang out, "The power that you have attained… And your determination to face me… Let's see how strong they are…"
So, the fight with the super Minotaur began.
"It's really strong guys!" Rise exclaimed as it charged.
The Shadow proceeded to slam straight into Yukiko, or it would have it Souji had not have taken the blow.
"Souji-kun!" Yukiko yelled out as she saw Souji crash to the ground, "Are you okay!?"
"I… I'll be alright," Souji said shakily. "Man that hurt," Souji thought as he struggled to his feet.
"Amaterasu!" "Diarahan!" Yukiko called out and Souji felt his bruises healing.
Souji, then proceeded to yell at his battle lieutenant, "Rion! Weaken it!"
"As you wish," Rion said, "Ameno-waka-hiko!" "Debilitate!"
As the Shadow weakened, Souji charged, "Kohryu!" "Mind Charge!"
Chie kicked her card, "Suzuka Gongen!" "Power Charge!"
"Here we go!" Kanji yelled, "Rokuten Maoh!" "Marakukaja!" The sword-wielding Persona made the group stronger.
Teddie strengthened the team, "Kamui!" "Matarukaja!"
Naoto followed Souji's route, "Yamato Takeru!" "Mind Charge!"
The Minotaur attacked again, smashing into everyone simultaneously by spinning, "Rampage!"
Souji wiped a small amount of blood from his mouth as he saw Teddie and Yosuke stagger around. Teddie yelled through the Shadow's roar, "Bearsona!" "Mediarahan!"
"That's enough!" Yosuke said, albeit a little woozy, "Susano-O!" "Brave Blade!" Souji watched as his Persona attacked the Shadow.
"Hell yeah!" Chie yelled, "God Hand!" watching "Suzuka Gongen!" crash into the Shadow.
"Let's go!" Kanji yelled, "Primal Force!" The sword of his Persona stopped the Shadow from attacking.
"Here me Amaterasu!" Yukiko's fan slit her card, "Agidyne!"
Naoto and Rion, shot and pierced their cards at the exact same time, and they fired away, "Megidoloan!" Of course, this resulted in Rion collapsing to the ground with the Persona's massive effects on the mind. The Shadow suffered from the massive amounts of energy that was afflicted upon it.
"You're gone!" Souji yelled, crushing his card, while standing with one foot forward, "Kohryu!" "Ziodyne!" The Ssu-Ling Dragon's lightning pierced through the Shadow's heart and destroyed it.
"Man, that took forever," Yosuke shook his head.
"Not really," Souji responded.
Yukiko fanned herself, "I'm still sweaty."
"Anyways," Souji was saying, "Let's keep…"
Izanami interrupted with a laugh, "So that wasn't enough to break your will. Come, then… Though you may accomplish nothing but to needlessly prolong your suffering."
"Shut up, you bitch!" Yukiko responded vehemently. Souji wanted to kiss her for that comment. Rion just pushed up his glasses as he smirked.
Anyways, they moved up to the 4th floor. Souji could scream in anguish, "Why did there have to be new Shadows every floor!?"
Pixies attacked the team on their way down a corridor. As they were being barraged by arrows, Souji took command of the situation and was not going to take anymore of the shit.
"Yoshitsune!" "Hassou Tobi!" Souji smirked as he crushed his card.
The general cut through the remaining arrows and the poor little pixies.
"Too easy," Souji said afterwards.
"Well, not all of us have an overpowered Persona," Yosuke rebuked Souji.
"I have one," Rion told him.
"Be quiet," Yosuke responded, "I wasn't talking to you."
Yukiko started chuckling again.
They stopped chuckling when huge swords started attacking them. The Shadows were relentless in trying to slice them in half. The height from which the swords started their attack provided so much force that no single Persona-user could stop the attack with their own weapon.
"Damn," Souji muttered after nearly being cleaved in two.
"Kamui!" Teddie exclaimed, "Mabufudyne!" The shards of ice that appeared and covered the swords rusted them in place.
Teddie growled at the swords as the rest of the group ran towards the Shadows and began to methodically cut them down. A diagonal slice down by a long sword, or kunai slices made short work of the sword Shadows.
They shrugged their shoulders as they put their weapons away. They were starting to become worn out, but they trudged on.
5th floor, new Shadows! Souji shook his head in frustration.
Those dive bombing eagles were an annoying threat as soon as they came up the stairs. Teddie made short work of them with his "Bufudyne!" They barely got a chance to dive bomb them.
Those little mages that were supported by a horse-Shadow thing was casting wind at the Persona-users from behind. That would be a large problem for Souji, except for the fact he had "Norn" equipped and he was protecting Rion from danger. They used their weakness magic-user to kill them, and that was "Rokuten Maoh" with Kanji with "Mazionga!"
Then one of those wavy monsters that looked like DNA attacked the group. It was amusing when they attacked and did damage by waving their arms and doing damage. Previous experiences against these kinds of Shadows say use magic, so they did and it failed miserably. So, they had Rion and Chie use "Hassou Tobi!" and "Agneyastra!" respectively to get rid of these Shadows.
Souji wiped sweat off of his brow after dispatching the final Shadow, "About time."
"What's awaiting us next floor?" Yukiko asked Souji.
"One way to find out," Yosuke replied, walking up the stairs.
The 6th floor, as Teddie would point out was, "Very Teddious!"
It was filled with long corridors and winding turns. Plus, difficult and exciting new Shadows!
"Yay, Tank Shadows!" Souji exclaimed sarcastically.
It was accompanied by snake Shadows that poisoned the group as the tanks shot at them. While Yukiko dispatched the snakes with "Amaterasu" and her fire, the tanks were joined by mini-tanks. The little tank Shadows were dispatched by Souji's "Odin" despite the group being blasted a thousand times by the Shadows.
Nothing seemed to be working against the big tank, so the group just bum-rushed it. The Shadow suffered from fire damage, freezing, tornados, shocks, pure energy, slices, and arrows. That got rid of the tanks.
After battling many of the various mix of Shadows from this floor and even some from the floor before, they reached another door with a strong presence.
As they opened the door after checking their equipment, Izanami said to them, "All of this has been chosen by mankind. And whatever strength you possess is still within man's scope." She exclaimed to them, "You cannot surpass me… Learn that!"
"Just wait and see!" Souji retorted.
What they came face-to-face with was one of those Shadows that had silverware flying overhead. Except the Shadow, it was colored silver with a blue face. It certainly looked menacing in Souji's eyes.
"It's really strong, guys!" Rise warned.
The Shadow started off with a nice and unhealthy dose of "Megidoloan!"
Rion followed up by piercing his card and exclaiming, "Ameno-waka-hiko!" "Debilitate!"
Souji wondered how Rion had gotten up so quickly after being blown back by all of that energy. It took him a few seconds to get up from that. It had taken all of them a few seconds.
The Shadow followed with searing flames, "Maragidyne!" That wasn't helpful at all.
Yukiko, who wasn't harmed by that second attack, split her card, "Amaterasu!" "Mediarahan!"
Souji charged himself up, "Yoshitsune!" "Power Charge!"
Kanji attacked straight out with his sword throw, "Rokuten Maoh!" "Primal Force!"
"Don't leave me out!" Yosuke exclaimed, "Susano-O!" "Brave Blade!"
Chie kicked her card, "Suzuka Gongen!" "Power Charge!"
Naoto shot her card, "Yamato Takeru!" "Mind Charge!"
Teddie exclaimed, "Kamui!" "Matarukaja!"
The Shadow struck again with "Megidoloan!"
"Well, at least it doesn't move," Souji grumbled as he got to his feet, "You better not miss."
"Yoshitsune!" "Hassou Tobi!" Souji's card was crushed to see eight sword strikes.
"Go! Suzuka Gongen!" Chie yelled, "God Hand!" The two attacks were devastating to the Shadow.
"Megidoloan!" Naoto exclaimed for her cross-dressing Persona to attack.
As the Shadow prepared to attack again, Souji yelled out, "Everyone, attack it!"
The group attacked the Persona as fast as they could. Rion was the first to reach the monster, striking first with his short blade, then his left fist. Chie's roundhouse took down some of the silverware. Souji's thrust made a hole in the box, while Yosuke's kunai made two more holes in the face. Even more holes were formed from Teddie's claws and Naoto's gunshots. The Shadow finally crumpled from blows by Kanji's scudetto.
"Woo hoo!" Chie exclaimed at seeing the dead Shadow, ignoring the burn on her jacket.
"My poor jacket," Souji muttered. He had brought an extra jacket with him because his first one was trashed by Margaret. Now his second one had been set on fire.
"Let's just keep moving," Yukiko rolled her eyes. She had obviously heard Souji mumbling.
Souji huffed at Yukiko, which made her chuckle. He had lost over ten jackets this year from fighting in this world. Yosuke just rolled his eyes and made his way up to the next floor.
Did I say there would be new Shadows? Guess what? Souji fought new Shadows on the 7th floor. It was very frustrating.
It was not as large as the last floor, but fighting a large head Shadow with long hair that fired streams of fire at Souji still could not be considered entertaining. Any hope for his jacket was lost. Souji could only shake his head as he dodged the flames.
Naoto exclaimed, "Yamato Takeru!" "Mahamaon!" The white light enveloped all of the heads.
"Well, that was exciting," Yosuke responded watching the Shadows disappear. It was subsequently punched in the arm.
It also did not help that they were also attacked by those chained lion Shadows. They looked hungry, and wanted to have Souji for a snack. So, they unleashed a bear on it, hoping that they would not knock the stuffing out of it.
Teddie exclaimed, "Kamui!" "Mabufudyne!"
The ice must have caused frostbite as all of the Shadows' limbs turned black from the cold.
They all about collapsed as they stumbled up to the 8th floor. Only a few more new Shadows for them to go.
As the group wandered along the landscape they encountered weaker versions of the Minotaur they had beaten a few areas before. Yukiko's flames and even a powered Chie would make short work of a pair of them. That is, if they were not accompanied by two other new Shadows that haunted the 8th floor.
They were both robotic Shadows, similar to the one that guarded the key card in Naoto's lab. They were either colored pink or green. The team would soon find out just how strong they really were firsthand.
As one of the green robots brought his metallic sword downwards towards Souji, he was pushed out of the way by Yosuke.
Yosuke was knocked out of commission.
"Yosuke!" Chie yelled. "That's it, you bastard!" Chie yelled at the Shadow, "Suzuka Gongen! God Hand!" The Persona took a good chunk of the robot with it as it flew down, weapon in hand.
That did not stop the Shadow from attacking again, this time, Chie. It had the same result.
Rion shook his head, "You should have waited. Ameno-waka-hiko! Debilitate!"
"Chie!" Souji had gotten up from being pushed out of the way, "Yoshitsune! Hassou Tobi!" With the added effects of "Debilitate!" the sword slices made short work of the robot.
That's where "Sameracarm!" came into effect with Yukiko's "Amaterasu". With that, Chie and Yosuke were able to stand again after returning from unconsciousness.
"Oh my god!" Souji had seen the light at the end of the tunnel. He saw the stairs. "Come on! Let's hurry!"
Unfortunately, he did not notice the dice that blocked his path.
"Souji-kun! Look out!" Yukiko yelled at him. The dice started shaking as if they were getting ready to blow.
"Cut it down!" Kanji yelled, "Rokuten Maoh!" "Primal Force!"
"No problem!" Yosuke said, "Susano-O!" "Brave Blade!"
"Count on me!" Chie exclaimed, "Go Suzuka Gongen!" "God Hand!"
Souji felt thankful that the dice did not explode. He probably would have lost his shirt to the explosion, not just his poor jacket. Souji thought about that, Yukiko might have liked that. He looked around for another dice Shadow, but alas, he could not find one.
"Let's just move on," Souji said, eventually giving up on the chance to show off.
As they walked up the stairs, there was no new floor of Shadows. Instead, a long walkway leading to…
It would have to wait for the group. The team needed a break to catch their breath and bandage their wounds. They ended up at the plaza and got gipped as usual by that fox, who Souji just found out was a girl this afternoon.
After everyone could see straight again and being able to walk without a limp, they all went back up to that floor.
As they prepared to move towards where they believed Izanami was, Rise warned, "We're finally here! Are you ready!?"
"Yes," Souji responded, "We have to finish this."
So the group steeled themselves as they walked along the red path, trying not to stare at the blue fog below.
As they made their way through, Izanami was waiting for them, floating in the middle of throne-like spires. As Souji, stood off to the side, next to Yukiko and Yosuke, they confronted the goddess.
Izanami said to them all, "Congratulations in making it this far."
Yosuke responded sarcastically, "Well thank you very much, Ms. Root of All Evil!"
"You granted certain individuals the power to enter the TVs. You created the Midnight Channel as well," Naoto confronted her, "And lastly, you started a rumor about the Midnight Channel to raise its public awareness. Am I correct?"
"All save one point," Izanami smiled, "This "Midnight Channel" you speak of… It is indeed a device to draw hearts into this world. But it was always your individual wills that would determine what appeared on it. Humans ache to expose their suppressed sides, while the prying eyes around them are curious to see them laid bare."
"Obviously," Souji muttered, "People want to see what they do not want to know."
"The want to show, and the want to see… I granted a "window" to cater to both," Izanami had that sadistic smile on her face, "That is all."
"Everyone wished to know more about the people who became famous through the media," Naoto repeated, "And the Midnight Channel was there to grant there wishes. Once the person they wanted to see entered the realm formed by human thought, they would appear even more clearly. I see… So that's how it worked."
"Are you saying… all you did was give that initial spark to Souji-senpai and the others, then watched things unfold?" Rise yelled at Izanami, "And the rumors spreading, things going wrong… We're to blame for all that happened!?"
"Well, it would be a lot easier if we would all stay dull and boring," Rion rolled his eyes, "Yet… you know how people are, in general."
"People's curiosity was at fault?" Yukiko asked.
Izanami answered, "Everything was for your sake. To create the world mankind so wanted. Man struggles to understand one another. You can truly know a finite number of people within your lifetime." Izanami lectured, "But humans disregard this fact, and try to know more people than is possible. Only by comparing yourself to others can you define yourselves. Thus your ever-present anxiety. Your anxiety causes you to see only what you want to see, and believe only what you wish to believe." She resounded, "As I said… your desire is for a world enshrouded in fog!"
"Just as we told your hideous creation," Souji responded, "That is not true!"
"I must agree that the vast majority of people are exactly as you say," Naoto told Izanami, agreeing with Rion's earlier statement.
"But we don't intend to live that way!" Chie exclaimed.
Kanji gestured, "If we were fine with the world you're making, we'd have never come this far, dammit!"
Yosuke told Izanami, "We'll keep searching for the truth and figuring out who we are, as we go on with our lives."
Souji nodded, "Isn't it that simple? Even if we don't know now, it is only a matter of time till we understand who are."
"We all will… together," Rise agreed with everyone.
Teddie added to the diatribe, "That's right! No more butting into our business!"
Yukiko told her, "We will continue to live in our world with everyone else. That's why…"
Souji finished, "We'll decide our own fate!"
The fog began to thicken around Izanami as the team prepared for battle. Souji stood at the ready as he took off his tattered jacket. Rion removed his glasses and placed them in his shirt pocket.
As they struggled to see through the ever-thickening fog, it was even worse than it was when Adachi was in the TV.
Kanji muttered when he was around Naoto and Rion, Souji thought. "Man, its hazy!"
They all turned as an influx of power came from the side. Souji saw the outline of someone huge. As it came into focus, it was silver-ish with black hair, arms crossed, wearing a dress-like thing, and a red visor over its eyes.
Chie exclaimed, "Shit! It's huge!"
Yosuke responded, "Come on! You know we've been on way worse than this thing. This is just the send off Souji deserves!"
The rest of them nodded.
"Alright everyone," Souji said, "I don't care if it's a damn goddess or the damn empress! Let's kick its ass!"
So the battle against Izanami began.
Knowledge of the truth is not everything. Yet drunk with truth, you exceeded your role, and became too involved. Now, learn for yourselves whose wrath you have brought down."
"I don't care," Souji said, "Let's just get this over with."
"We're not just fighting to solve this case anymore!" Chie yelled.
"Then come, sinful sons of man!" Izanami taunted.
Souji started off first, "Yoshitsune!" "Power Charge!"
Rion followed up, "Ameno-waka-hiko!" "Debilitate!"
Kanji boosted the defense, "Rokuten Maoh!" "Matarukaja!"
Chie was next, "Suzuka Gongen!" "Power Charge!"
Naoto shot her card, "Yamato Takeru!" "Mind Charge!"
Teddie was next, "Kamui!" "Marakukaja!"
Yosuke boosted their skills, "Susano-O! Masukukaja!"
Yukiko was the first to deal damage to the goddess with searing flames, "Amaterasu!" "Agidyne!"
It was Izanami's turn as she used "Maziodyne!" to try and break the will of the pitiful people that dared to challenge her.
Souji and Rion pushed Teddie away from the lightning strikes. It would hurt Kanji, Rion, and Souji the least… so it was natural for two of the three to push Teddie away from the fight.
Then the second turn of attacks came around.
Chie attacked first, "Suzuka Gongen!" "God Hand!" as the Persona slammed into goddess.
Yukiko attacked again, "Amaterasu!" "Agidyne!" The flames seared the goddess.
Yosuke forgo the wind, "Susano-O!" "Brave Blade!"
Kanji threw his sword, "Rokuten Maoh!" "Primal Force!"
Naoto proved why she charged earlier, "All yours! Megidoloan!"
Teddie sent wintry cold at the mother of Japan, "Kamui!" "Mabufudyne!"
Rion and Souji attacked at the same time, "Ameno-waka-hiko! Yoshitsune!" "Hassou Tobi!"
Izanami did not like the maggots attacking her… not at all.
She said to them, "What's the matter? Did you intend to defeat me with such pitiful strength?"
She followed up with "Megidoloan!" The pure energy blew through the team.
The searing pain that Souji felt from that attack was immense, but he stood his ground. He was not going to lose this fight because of such a weak attack."
The team continued to charge or attack. Souji, Naoto, Rion, and Chie charged, while Teddie, Kanji, and Yosuke attacked with "Bufudyne!" "Primal Force!" and "Brave Blade!" respectively. Yukiko healed with "Mediarahan!"
A hitch in the plan, stopping the charged Persona-users from attacking when Izanami used "Mind Charge!" to prepare something.
Rise warned, "This might be something bad!"
"Everyone guard!" Rion warned.
So, they abandoned plans of doing major damage, and shielded themselves as Izanami let loose another "Megidoloan!" that did a lot more damage due to her charging. The shielding saved the group from death.
This time, the team let loose with their attacks, except for one member.
"Ameno-waka-hiko!" "Debilitate!" Rion changed his battle plan for maximum damage on the goddess.
"Suzuka Gongen!" "God Hand!" Chie continued her damage.
Yukiko attacked with her flames, "Amaterasu!" "Agidyne!"
Yosuke attacked as well, "Susano-O!" "Brave Blade!"
Kanji's chair slammed into the card, "Here now! Primal Force!"
Naoto's card was full of holes by now, "Yamato Takeru!" "Megidoloan!"
Teddie healed the team, "Mediarahan!"
Souji finished the attacks, "Yoshitsune!" "Hassou Tobi!" He watched the two swords slice and dice into the goddess.
All of this damage being put on Izanami, she was not happy, so she said to them, "You cannot atone so easily for your foolish pride in stepping into the realm of the gods."
She followed with a "Mabufudyne!" after her statement.
That attack required Souji to dive in front of Yukiko, and Naoto to push Rion out of the way. Souji still had icicles on his clothes from that.
And so the cycle began again with charges, flames, ice, blades, or thrown swords. Occasional healing from Izanami's attacks and after the charges, the goddess suffered from pure energy blasts, slams, arrows, and multiple swords attacks.
When Izanami suddenly drooped down, all of them tried to pound Izanami into the ground with their own personal weapons. Whether they be kicks, longswords, ninjato, kunai, chairs, fans, even guns; they weapons had no effect on the goddess. She just continued to use "Megidoloan!" or attacks like "Mabufudyne!"
"Damn!" Souji yelled. He thought, "Why won't she die!?"
Izanami questioned them, "Can you not understand? It is impossible to beat me!"
As nothing worked, even as they continued to try and fight her, Izanami continued, "You understand nothing, I see. Ignorant mortals!"
Souji shook his head. Nothing was getting through. He could not win this way. He remembered that Igor said that this Orb of Sight was "A crystal of power which he had nurtured throughout their journey. An orb that helps him to dispel lies and things that was not true." Margaret had said something like, "Truth is a thing which only appears to those who have observed, considered, and made a choice. At the end of the path you chose lies the truth… Believe in it, and continue without faltering."
As Souji held up the Orb of Sight, Izanami's form began changing. They could see what she really looked like. It seemed her form had not changed from what Edogawa had explained to them as Souji sat in that oil-slicked seat.
"Well then… Allow me to show you my full splendor. I am a goddess. I'll teach you the truth of your miniscule existences," Izanami told them in new form.
She looked more like a skeleton than anything else. Red, gangly and ugly, she was.
"A goddess!" Kanji yelled at her, "Bring it on!"
Izanami rebuked Kanji, "You cannot defeat me with strength alone. Soon, you will understand."
The fight would soon begin, and it would be very painful… At least they would be confident.
"We just won the toughest fight in our life!" Souji told them. He was talking about the fight against Margaret. "Let's make her cry!"
Rion started off with his speedy Persona, "Ameno-waka-hiko!" "Debilitate!" As Ameno-waka-hiko appeared, you could see Rion was not smirking anymore. He was not joking around now.
Souji charged his Persona as usual, "Yoshitsune!" "Power Charge!" Souji's Persona stood in front of him, ready to face this monstrosity.
Kanji was the next to go, "Rokuten Maoh!" "Matarukaja!"
Now Chie charged her Persona, "Suzuka Gongen!" "Power Charge!"
Naoto charged hers as well, "Yamato Takeru!" "Mind Charge!"
Yosuke sped them up, "Susano-O!" "Masukukaja!"
Teddie boosted them like a rock, "Kamui!" "Marakukaja!"
Yukiko took the challenge to heart, "Burn!" "Agidyne!"
Yet, Izanami started the pain, "Mind Charge!" "Marakunda!" She negated Teddie's work.
Rise yelled out to them, "Guys!" "This is going to be trouble!"
"Guard!" Souji exclaimed.
Everyone shifted to a position where they felt they could survive a blow, whether it was a knee or sword in front of them, or arms crossed.
Izanami attacked, "Megidoloan!" The searing pain still almost destroyed the team. The attack knocked them out of their positions, so she followed up with "Mabufudyne!" Souji could not get to Yukiko in time, so she was frozen in place. In fact, so was Rion. His arm was turning to black. Izanami attacked again, using "Kuro Ikazuchi!" That lightning attack which was a circular rage of shock knocked Teddie down. His fur was burned and scorched. She followed up with "Dekunda!" She had negated Rion's work.
"Guys! Senpai!" Rise was hysterical, "You're really hurt!"
She was right, Souji was blacking out from pain. Yukiko was still frozen in place and Yosuke was bleeding all over the place. Chie had no ice shards in her, but the energy and lightning had taken its toll on her. Teddie suffered the worst from the lightning, while Rion's arms were suffering from frostbite. Naoto felt like she was going to be sick. That may have been from the internal injuries from when she hit the floor at high speed. Kanji probably had suffered the least, only because his chair did a good job of blocking the energy bomb.
Souji had to turn into the de facto healer, even if he was barely conscious. He tried to find the right card. He pulled one out, "Ishtar!" "Salvation!"
Souji sighed in relief as the saw his friends and teammate slowly break free from their frozen state, or heal from their wounds.
Unfortunately, Izanami attacked again. "Masukunda!" "Stagnant Air!"
"G…Guard!" Rion got out eventually. Rion knew it had to be bad, and Souji had to agree.
"You heard him!" Souji responded, "Protect yourself!"
So the team tried to guard again, and Izanami attacked again. She used an attack where a cesspool formed underneath them, "Summons to Yomi!" Luckily, it worked and no was hurt. Unfortunately, her next attack, "Magarudyne!" did a good amount of damage.
Rion opened the door for some damage, "Rise and Resurrect!" "Debilitate!"
Souji brought forth the pain, "Yoshitsune!" "Hassou Tobi!"
Chie was next, "Suzuka Gongen!" "God Hand!"
Naoto released her charge, "All yours!" "Megidoloan!"
Kanji released his frustration, "Persona!" "Primal Force!"
Yosuke attacked, "Throwdown!" "Brave Blade!"
Teddie clawed his card, "Bearsona!" "Bufudyne!"
Yukiko healed the damage, "Amaterasu!" "Mediarahan!"
Izanami didn't like gnats bugging her, so… she attacked with… "Fury of Yasogami!" That was her raking those big claws of her all over the team. Souji thought that was unpleasant indeed. Especially when she followed it up with "Maragidyne!"
"Thank god that I already had lost my jacket," Souji thought, "Yukiko is going to have to heal us again."
The team began to charge their Personas again, while Teddie healed the group with "Mediarahan!" The only damage came from "Primal Force!" courtesy of Kanji and Yukiko's "Agidyne!" They would have to start boosting their defense and speed again.
They would not be able to attack with their charged Personas because Izanami used her own "Mind Charge!" and then screwed over Teddie with a "Debilitate!" of her own.
So, the group guarded again when she used "Megidoloan!" again, followed by "Mabufudyne!" followed by "Maziodyne!" followed by "Magarudyne!" followed by "Dekunda!"
Man, did life suck for Souji. He had to summon Ishtar again. "Mediarahan!" At least he felt himself get better. He saw Yukiko revive Rion from his unconscious state. Rion did not like wind or ice. Teddie, Yosuke, and Kanji all boosted the group's stats with the various "kaja" skills.
Souji was sick of being knocked around. "Screw you!" Souji yelled as Izanami prepared to use some kind of magic, "Yoshitsune!" "Hassou Tobi!"
As the sword strikes hit Izanami, she felt the pain course through her body.
"The stage is already set for your demise… I'll end your lives right here," Izanami proclaimed after taking the damage.
Izanami started off with another "Fury of Yasogami!" and then "Kuro Ikazuchi!" That involved Kanji or Sensei jumping in front of Teddie to negate the damage.
It would become a battle of wills for a while. With Izanami forcing guards with her charged "Megidoloan!" or whenever she cast "Stagnant Air!" followed by "Galgalim Eyes!" and then "Summons to Yomi!"
Whenever they were not guarding from weaknesses or pure power, Souji was charging or attacking, Rion was weakening her or attempting to get in his own attack, Yosuke was attacking or speeding them up, Yukiko was mainly healing, Chie was attacking, Kanji was either attacking or strengthening them, Teddie was either using magic, healing, or boosting defense, while Naoto charged and used magic.
Even when Izanami was not forcing them to guard, she still used "Debilitate!" often enough, along with "Maragidyne!" "Fury of Yasogami!" and "Megidoloan!"
With more damage caused by the charged "Hassou Tobi!" by both "Ameno-waka-hiko" and "Yoshitsune", Izanami told them, "The time has come for us to end this!"
"Don't listen to her!" Souji responded as he told the other Persona-users, "We can still kick her ass!"
"You bet!" Yosuke responded.
Of course, she followed off with "Megidoloan!"
"Here we go," Souji said, "Helel!" "Morning Star!" His retaliation of pure energy was even more powerful than Izanami's.
Yosuke had cut through his card, "Susano-O!" "Brave Blade!" "Take this!" Even though, he was tired… he was going to finish her off.
"Persona!" "God Hand!" Chie's attack hid the fact that she was actually really tired.
Rion started to smirk again even with the blood running down his face, "Persona! Megidoloan!"
Naoto seconded that attack, "Persona! Megidoloan!"
Yukiko wanted to make her suffer as she breathed heavily, "Hear me Amaterasu!" "Agidyne!"
Kanji had thrown his chair and was ignoring his wounds, "Rokuten Maoh!" "Primal Force!"
Teddie's fur would need sewing as he attacked, "Bearsona!" "Bufudyne!"
"Go…," Yosuke said as Rion nodded, looking at Souji. Souji ran at Izanami, but again, the attack did not do anything to her.
Izanami said to them, "Goodbye… Accept the reality of your death!"
Izanami used an attack called "Thousand Curses!" and it aimed right at Souji. It surrounded Souji, and the arms tried to grab him from below and drag him to Yomi.
"Oh my god!" Souji would yell when Chie pushed Souji out of the way.
"Chie!" Yosuke yelled.
"Chie-senpai! No!" Rise yelled as well.
Izanami used it again, and again it was aimed at Souji. This time, Teddie jumped in front of the attack.
"Teddie!" Rise yelled.
"Teddie…," Souji muttered.
Rion, Kanji, and Souji all tried to shake off what happened by bringing their weapons to bear. Sword slashes and chairs to the skeleton had no effects on Izanami.
Unfortunately for the team, "Thousand Curses!" was used again.
Souji felt scared when he saw the arms try to grab him, only to see Kanji push him out of the way.
"Kanji-kun!" Rise yelled.
The attack was coming again, and he thought Naoto was coming for him when Rion shoved Souji out of the way. "Figures…," Souji thought, "But oh god, they're all dying…"
"R… Rion-kun…," Rise was losing it.
Souji didn't have the heart to attack anymore as Izanami used "Thousand Curses!" again.
Now Naoto risked and gave herself for Souji as the arms were closer than ever to getting him.
"Naoto-kun!" Rise yelled.
"Why can't we stop this!?" Souji yelled at himself.
Only Yukiko was left with Souji, and he knew what was coming. They were going to die together.
As Izanami aimed "Thousand Curses!" at Souji, he was not going to let Yukiko push him out of the way. He was going to die on his own. But, she still managed to catch him off guard as she said, "Sorry, Souji… This looks like it's the end."
"Damn it all!" Souji yelled, "You're going to die you fucking bitch!"
Izanami just laughed as she said, "It's unfortunate that our battle must end this way."
The arms grabbed a hold of Souji as "Thousand Curses!" took him to Yomi. He cried out in pain as Rise exclaimed, "No… Get up! We came so far!"
Souji felt himself… He was dead right. He felt himself awake. He was in that same foggy world he awoke in all that time ago. Yet, he was still losing his life. "Am I going to die here? To Izanami?"
He looked up slightly as he heard a voice as Margaret appeared in front of him. She said in that same voice, except demanding, "What are you doing!? Get up! You are not allowed to fall here! You must know already. The nature of bonds… What bonds give to you…? Here, listen closely."
"I'll try," Souji muttered.
Next person to appear was Dojima as he asked, "What's the matter, Souji? Isn't it a little early to give up?"
"Maybe," Souji responded.
"You taught me what a family really is. I had my hands full with just Nanako when you came in," Dojima chuckled, "I didn't know what to do. But then again, I can get back up again no matter how many times as I need to with you two with me… However painful it gets, I'll just grit my teeth… I'll get up as many times as I have too for you two. A father can be pretty stupid that way, huh?"
Yosuke appeared in front of Souji, "Don't go, Souji. Everything inside of me changed after I met you. I'm… glad we met. I wouldn't have made it half this far if I hadn't done it alongside you."
"Like I would have done any better if you weren't there," Souji answered.
"You can't let it end this way, right?" Yosuke asked, "You can keep going… Right, Souji?"
Yosuke disappeared and Chie appeared in front of Souji, "No, Souji-kun… Don't leave me! I'm scared! I'm such a stubborn, two-faced coward. But… you understood me. That's why… I can become as strong as I need to be."
Souji said, "Me too."
His girlfriend appeared when Chie disappeared. She said to Souji slowly, "Hey, Souji-kun… Can you hear me? Don't close your eyes yet. I'll give you our strength. You are our last hope. Please… get back up, one more time."
"I'm trying…," Souji tried to tell her.
Souji saw Rion, still standing, but bent knees to try and talk to him. He said, "Are you planning on lying there all day? We all sacrificed ourselves here, and here you go, acting like me… lazy as none other. Even though you taught me not to rush ahead, this time… it is all on you this time, Souji. Don't make one of us do it for you… we'll help you succeed you bum."
"You're a typical jackass right up until the end," Souji chuckled, "Just… like… me."
Kanji just chuckled at him, "Yo Senpai, how much longer are you just gonna lie there? You ain't like that, Senpai… You're not the kinda guy who can let it drop like this. That ain't the Souji-senpai I look up to. Get back up… Just one more time… Let me protect you."
"You're protecting me, Kanji?" Souji mumbled.
Rise appeared in front of Souji as her sweet voice said to him, "Senpai… Thanks… I'm glad I came to this town… When I think back to all the fun I had with you. Senpai… Please stand up one more time. We'll be your strength."
"It was fun, wasn't it," Souji shook his head.
Naoto was nearly in tears when she talked to Souji, "S… Senpai… If you stay down… I won't forgive you. You gave me a reason to stay here. For someone like you to leave me halfway in the dark like this… Souji-san… Please, stand up, just once more. Let's fight this together. Never fear… We're always together."
"We are always together, aren't we?" Souji thought. He was thinking a lot.
He thought he was done of seeing people as everyone who could see Personas had left except for furry people, but then Kou and Daisuke came by.
Kou said to him, "What's the matter, Souji? You gonna let this all end here? C'mon, you're not alone in this? Just like Daisuke and I. We won't let you do this alone."
His favorite person to skip class with even showed up to cheer him on, "You gotta be joking, Souji. Don't you care that I won't be able to take another step forward if you disappear? I can't be friends with someone who'd do that to me."
Shock and surprise came next when the drama girl showed up. If she was showing, then Souji really was in trouble and about to die, "You idiot! Always insisting on doing everything by yourself. Some things you can only do because you're not alone. It doesn't matter if it's a boyfriend, friend, or family. You'll always have to part someday. But… our bonds means we never have truly say farewell."
Finally, Teddie showed up.
"Sensei… I'll… protect you, Sensei. You gave me my life. You're important to me. I'm not alone anymore… And neither are you, Sensei. I'm sure together, we can do things that no one could do alone."
"You're right," Souji said.
Finally, he was almost hoping to see this person, and she arrived.
Nanako called out to him, "Hey… Big bro! Are you going to leave me behind!? I'll be a good girl. So don't go… I don't want you to go… Big bro."
Nanako slowly faded away.
Souji felt new strength in himself as he thought, "I must get up… for Nanako, for Dojima, for Teddie, for Yukiko, and everyone else. With all of them, I can beat that bitch!"
He slowly got to his feet, supporting himself with his arms. The blue fire of his Personas grew stronger. That Izanagi he had been harboring for all this time, making stronger, had suddenly evolved. The bancho had developed into a much more deadly weapon and the armor seemed more protective. Souji was ready to face his fate one more time as he stood tall and strong.
He had returned to the battleground to face the goddess, Izanami. He was all alone, but this time… He had everyone's will inside him. He was not alone, and they were all together as one to defeat her.
"You are going to hell, you bitch!" Souji yelled.
Izanami tried to use "Thousand Curses!" on Souji again.
This time, as the festering arms tried to grab Souji, they were unsuccessful in taking him down to Yomi.
Izanami was dumbfounded to say the least, "Impossible… Can the will of so few surpass the will of all mankind!?"
Izanami attacked using a variation on one of her other attacks with "Oho Ikazuchi!"
The lightning burned Souji, but Souji shook off the pain. Souji was just happy that his jacket had already been burnt off before. He did not need burns from over 10,000 volts running through his body being shown through that coat.
Izanami tried again with "Oho Ikazuchi!"
Souji again shook off the pain. It hurt tremendously, but with everyone at his side… There was no way in hell he could let them down. He just did not want to die after all of this.
Izanami asked in shock, "How can your powers rival mine!?"
Souji responded, "Because you pissed the wrong people off! Mankind!"
Again, she tried "Oho Ikazuchi!" and the results against Souji Seta were the same.
Souji's hair was starting to smell kind of burnt, but he stayed on his feet.
And again, Izanami attacked, and Souji still stood his ground.
Izanami pleaded in wonder, "Why!? Why don't you humans understand? It's impossible for humans to understand the truth with their own hands."
It was Souji who finally understood the truth. He understood that he could not do it alone. He knew that no one could know everything, even if some people seem to act like they do. Souji would be the one out of the three she gave the power to… it was a mistake to give the power to him. Her mistake, to give him the power of Izanagi.
Souji threw off his glasses just before he crushed his card, "Per… So… Na!" "Myriad Truths!"
The new Izanagi came forth to confront the wicked Izanami. Husband and wife… were finally reunited… Izanagi spun his bancho, and the energy that came forth sent a wave of power that brought Izanami to her proverbial "knees".
When his Persona, Izanagi disappeared. Souji was rejoined, thankfully, by all of his teammates. He wouldn't say it, but he more than delighted.
The whole group saw Izanami slouched over in front of them. Izanami struggled to get up, to no avail. She said to them, "This can't be. How could I be defeated? How am I to be the one to disappear? Instead of the endless struggle, wouldn't it be easier to wrap oneself in lies and live in blissful ignorance? Isn't that true peace for humans?"
"Maybe for you, it is," Souji told Izanami, trying to fix his scorched hair.
"How many times do we have to tell you!? The hell with that shit!" Kanji exclaimed.
"Stop assuming you know us!" Chie responded.
Izanami laughed, "Very well… Then try and live your way. Power enough to erase my existence. You have far exceeded what I thought humanity would be capable of. You have lifted the fog in this world, as well as the fog in your own. Whether that leads to happiness or not, rests upon your shoulders."
"Good thing I have broad shoulders," Souji muttered.
Izanami started disappearing through red particles. As she was doing so, she said to them, "Children of man… Well done!"
Souji heard one last thing from Izanami in his head as she disappeared from sight, "This isn't over, husband…"
As the team faced to turn each other, Souji and Yukiko together as always… Yosuke at his side, Kanji yelled in excitement, "Alright! We did it!"
"Thank goodness!" Rise said in relief.
Yukiko smiled, "It's really over now…"
Chie said happily, "Yep! This time it's all over!"
Rion rolled his eyes, "Unless there's some other god or goddess that we have missed somewhere." That only resulted in him getting hit by both Rise and Naoto.
Naoto said after hitting Rion, "This seems more like a beginning for us, though."
"The start of a new day, and a new year," Souji nodded.
Yosuke smiled, "Well now, we've got no more regrets for tomorrow."
Everyone huddled in towards Souji. His claustrophobia was setting in. Well, thank god he was not claustrophobic.
"I can't believe… we did this… everything… with all of you," Souji said, "It's been amazing what we have accomplished."
Just like that, Souji appeared in his room that showcased his favorite color of velvet. Well, if it was not his favorite color of velvet before, blue certainly became so quickly enough. "I guess I'm done fighting, so…," Souji thought.
Igor laughed, "How marvelous… You have driven back a godly being, and brought forth a new world." Igor gestured to Souji, "This will be the last time we summon you here."
Souji nodded, "I figured as much."
Margaret explained, "Soon, the fog will lift, and our destination will be visible. We will be arriving shortly."
Igor said to him, "This journey was a fruitful one, worthy of marking a turning point in your destiny."
"I wholeheartedly agree," Souji nodded as he thought about his friends, Yukiko, and how he had changed as a whole.
"Many a time along the way did fog of lies prevent you from moving forth. Yet in every instance, you overcame easy exits and false temptations. In forging bonds with those precious to you, you moved closer to the truth, one step at a time. And my heart danced with delight to see you succeed. I am most honored to have borne witness to such a wondrous journey."
Margaret told the pair, "Our destination is close at hand now."
Igor said, "Well then, we have finally come to your journey's true end. Our contract has been fulfilled. My own duties here end as well. You were truly a remarkable guest."
"Thank you," Souji nodded.
Igor nodded and said, "Now go forth, and see with your own eyes. See the world you have won… The bright, magnificent future."
Souji slowly left the Velvet Room from his psyche. He wondered what world he had created from defeating Izanami. He would soon find out, and he would not be disappointed.
Souji's first view… Flowers! There were blossoming flowers among waterfalls. Clean and pure water with endless amounts of flowing green grass.
Teddie said in amazement, "The fog is… all gone."
"It's… beautiful...," Souji said.
"It's nice," Yukiko said.
"It feels kind of…," Chie couldn't find the words.
Most of the group was searching for words to use for its splendor.
"I know this place," Teddie proclaimed.
"You do have memories," Souji smiled.
Teddie said, "A long, long time ago. Everyone in this world used to look like this."
Yukiko walked up next to Souji and Teddie and said, "So this is the world inside people's hearts."
"These are the people who fall in love," Rion smiled. That got him a few smiles, including one from Souji.
"This feels so nice," Rise said, resting his head on Rion's shoulder.
"Yeah…," Souji said as Yukiko did the same. A small swing on the background waved back on forth with the slight breeze.
----
Okay…
Sorry… This took forever because I wrote about 10 papers over the last 2 weeks.
Regardless, I have one chapter left, and it should be the shortest one. There is a very small tidbit within the chapter you read regarding the next story of mine. So, I hope you enjoyed.