As the light dies away, I slowly reopen my eyes, and find my surroundings significantly changed. I'm still floating, but I'm no longer in space — instead, I'm hovering over a sea of cream-colored clouds, dispersed throughout a shining gold sky. Soft white feathers and glimmers of light are gently drifting down from somewhere above, barely visible as more than tiny specks from my current perspective.

Feeling rather confused, I quickly look from side to side, only to be greeted by more of the same. This is... Paradiso, isn't it? Given how everything looks, I imagine it kind of has to be, but that would mean I'm back on Earth, right? Or at least somewhere over its surface...

Did I just teleport?

I glance over my shoulder at my halo, which has already returned to a more "normal" level of radiance. Huh. Well, that was some excellent timing. Crisis averted, at least for the moment... I guess Bayonetta will have to get down from that space orb on her own now. She should be fine, right? I don't imagine she'll enjoy the fall back to the planet proper, but she'll live... probably...

I shake my head, hair-ribbons rippling out in tandem with the motion. Regardless, Bayonetta really cannot be my primary concern right now. She's more than capable of taking care of herself, and I've got bigger issues to deal with, both figuratively and literally. But first...

I look down.

I'd... really like to find something solid to stand on. I don't know exactly how it is I'm floating right now — I'm guessing that it's just my new natural state, since it seems to take no real effort or thought for me to sustain — but in the event that it suddenly cuts out for whatever reason, I'd much prefer to fall from, say, ten feet up, rather than ten thousand.

Trying not to picture the likely result of such a scenario, I slowly begin floating down through the clouds. Thankfully, I don't have to go very far to find land — as soon as I break through the bottom of the cloud cover, causing a large vertical ray of light to briefly shine down on me from above, I'm greeted by the sight of a beautiful vista of floating islands scattered throughout the nearby sky. Ornate buildings and alien structures sit side by side with lush flora and glimmering waterfalls, the sight of it all innately pleasing in some strange way.

Well, at least the scenery here is nice.

Continuing my descent, I begin steering myself towards one of the islands, eventually coming to rest in a stationary hover over a small lake at its very center. I stare down at the water's surface, so perfectly pure and clear that it almost looks like glass, and my reflection stares back up at me, allowing me to finally take in my new appearance in its full, absurdly-detailed glory.

Okay... so. I'm Jubileus. God. This is, uh- certainly a dilemma, and one I'm honestly not sure how to even begin approaching. I did manage to escape from what might have otherwise been my imminent demise however, and it's not like much else is likely to even be capable of threatening me like this, so if I can just get a minute or two to gather my bearings-

Before I can even finish the thought, countless golden portals suddenly begin to appear from all around me, the light created by so many of them in concert near-blinding in its intensity. I frantically swivel around as angels of all shapes and sizes begin to pour forth from the gateways, thousands upon thousands of them simultaneously surging forth to the point that they almost appear a solid mass. Within seconds, they've completely filled the surrounding skies.

And all of them are chanting the exact same words.

BUSD DE JUBILEUS QAAL
(Hail Jubileus, the Creator!)

...oh dear.

My gaze roves around the crowd of still-amassing angels, trying desperately to take everything in.

Affinitys and Accolades in unfathomable numbers.

Dears and Cachets intermingling with Harmonies.

Enchants and Irenics wheeling through the skies.

Inspireds and Glamors circling a fleet of Kinships, themselves carrying numerous Beloveds and Braves.

Gracious, Glorious, and several Joys standing atop Resplendence itself.

My ribbons unconsciously curl inwards. If you were to tell me that this was literally every angel currently in existence, I might just believe it — but somehow, I get the feeling that this is little more than the tip of the iceberg.

The chanting begins to die down as a portion of the sea of angels abruptly parts, and through the newly-made gap fly two of Paradiso's most recognizable members. I watch on as the massive forms of Fortitudo and Temperantia, currently reduced to their lesser aspects of Courage and Temperance, move to the forefront of the crowd and position themselves in front of- wait, what was-?

Oh mighty Jubileus, Creator of All That Is and Ever Was, Fortitudo speaks, his rumbling, deep-as-stone voice somehow managing to sound reverent all the same, the heavens rejoice at your long-awaited rebirth.

Oh magnificent Jubileus, Creator of All That Is and Shall Be, Temperantia follows up in an equally worshipful tone, our efforts have not been in vain, for you have finally reawoken.

A fresh wave of chanting sweeps through the gathered angels, though it settles down more quickly this time.

Reality has been divided in your absence. Fortitudo continues once relative silence returns. The balance no longer swings in our favor.

The denizens of Hell have slipped their chains, and much of humanity has forgotten its place. Temperantia agrees. This cannot be allowed to continue.

As such, we humbly request that you restore existence to its rightful state. the two of them finish in unison. Grace us with your power, and reunite this fractured cosmos!

Throughout all of this, I remain utterly silent, my masked face schooled into a secondary mask of indifference as I panic internally.

What do I do?! What do I say?! If I don't pretend to be Jubileus here, my so-called "servants" may just slaughter me on the spot, but I have no idea how she's supposed to act! The only thing Jubileus even gets to do in the game is fight Bayonetta; she never actually talks beyond screaming in anger or pain, so I have no idea how she might respond to this! Hell, I don't know if she even has a defined personality beyond being-!

A memory suddenly sparks at the back of my mind; a tiny bit of random trivia that I only vaguely remember. Wait... I could be wrong about this, but didn't the game's director at one point state that Jubileus's personality is basically just that of a typical, self-absorbed sixteen-year-old girl? I don't know if that necessarily holds true here, or if that was even meant to be canon, but if so...

I can work with that.

BAGLE
(Why?)

A portion of the surrounding crowd recoils from the sheer volume of my rebuttal, even the two Sequi rearing back slightly. Er, I meant that to be loud, but perhaps not that loud. I really need to lower my voice a little.

Forgive us, Creator, but we do not understand. Fortitudo replies after a moment, a tinge of confusion coloring his words.

Why exactly should I care about any of that? I clarify in a slightly quieter tone, staring down at him and Temperantia imperiously.

A long silence ensues. I might as well have asked them why the sky is blue — or gold, here, I guess.

You are the ruler of the heavens, of Paradiso itself- Temperantia starts.

I never asked for the position, I interrupt, internally praying that really is the case, since I don't actually know for certain, nor am I particularly concerned with what humanity does or does not do. So I repeat, why should I care?

Honestly, I do kind of care about the demon issue, since they could be a genuine problem if they manage to get loose of Inferno, as Bayonetta 2 pretty clearly showed. Reminding humanity of its "proper place" however is both a pointless and horrifying concept, especially since the only sort of "respect" from humans that I expect these angels would acknowledge as such is complete and utter zealotry. Much like the type they seem to be aiming at me right now, frankly.

Reality in its current state is impure. Fortitudo tries again, evidently not grasping my point. For us to once again rule over all, as is proper, this universe must be destroyed and remade, by your will-

Except that isn't my will. I say icily, crossing my arms under my chest. I have been asleep since before reality in its current state even came to be. Do you seriously expect me to erase and replace it without even having seen any of it?

Were it possible for giant, semi-monstrous incarnations of the cardinal virtues to uneasily shift in place, I am absolutely certain that both Fortitudo and Temperantia would be doing so right now.

We believe we understand. Fortitudo speaks after a short pause, seeming as though he's come to some sort of realization.

Do you now? I ask, highly doubting that.

Fortitudo's two draconic heads nod in tandem. Your awakening was incomplete. The full extent of your might and knowledge yet remain locked away.

...meaning no, you don't. As I figured.

The Left Eye still eludes us then. Temperantia says with an undercurrent an anger unbefitting of his name. The Umbra Witch must be located once more and made to submit-

GNAY GE
(Do not!)

Only after having already spoken that pronouncement do I stop to think that perhaps that sort of flat denial may be a tad too suspect, and add ...for now. I will judge this new reality how and when I so please, after having observed it firsthand. Until then, the Left Eye is irrelevant.

Though their marble faces lack proper expressions to go off of, I still get the sense that the pair are on the verge of protesting, only their sheer reverence for their God holding them back from doing so. Not wanting to give them the chance to potentially get over that, I decide to try and end this here.

Now leave. All of you. I order, sweeping my gaze over the crowd. I've much to consider.

Before I've even finished speaking, the surrounding throng nigh-immediately begins to thin, the portals from before reappearing en masse as every angel present practically races to be the first to follow my command. It's all I can do not to flinch back in uneasy surprise — honestly, the idea of being discovered as a "false" God almost seems less scary in comparison to the idea of having this kind of unquestioned power and sway at my fingertips.

Fortitudo and Temperantia are slower than the rest, still seeming relatively bewildered, but eventually incline themselves in my direction as if to bow.

By your will, oh wise Creator. they echo each other, before turning and disappearing through portals of their own.

Within less than half a minute, the skies that had been all but blotted out are clear and visible once more. As soon as the final angel has vanished from sight, an enormous wave of relief washes over me, to the point that were I actually standing on anything right now, I expect I might have collapsed to my knees.

Thank God (...er, me?) that worked. I honestly have no idea how I got through that conversation, but somehow I managed it. Not sure I quite nailed the "obstinate teenager" persona I was going for, but it seems to have worked out, at least for the time being.

I glance down at my own reflection again, no different than before. Back to my other major, slightly more personal issues then. I still don't really have any sort of plan to deal with... this yet, but I do believe I at least know what the first step will be, regardless of how I end up approaching things afterwards.

I straighten up to my full, skyscraper-sized height, my halo spreading out behind me like the wings it resembles.

Time to figure out how to use these so-called "Godly" powers...