Persona 3 Reload: The Phantom SEES

by Kurei Scale

The Metaverse Crisis was over. The Thieves had finally a time to rest and recover. Yet, there are still questions that remain. And as Minato enters Leblanc to tell them their story, it was only then that they discovered that things were not a simple as they once believed. Part four of Second Chance. (Or prequel)

36. Chapter 35: The Battle for Souls

Chapter 35: The Battle for Everyone's Souls

January 31st, 2010

This is it, the so called Promised Day. Tonight, they would either be victorious or die. But if they were being honest, their spirits were high. Even as they gather in the command room lounge for the last time, and with fear for the coming battle spiking, none of them could wipe away the fires that blazed inside them.

"All right… This will probably be the last time we'll meet like this." Mitsuru tells everyone, meeting their eyes one by one. "At least, until Shido begins his rise, that is. But regardless, is everyone ready?"

"Can I say something?" Yukari asks, holding a hand up. "I know we have to take down Nyx, no question about that. And that doing so will get rid of both the Dark Hour and Apathy Syndrome. But Ryoji-kun mentioned how killing him would remove our memories of the Dark Hour. Won't killing Nyx do the same?" Everyone glance at each other, only now just considering this very possibility right here at the end.

"It's possible that might happen." Haru admits, bobbing her head up and down. "But, that would only be the memories related to the Dark Hour, yes? All of our memories outside of it won't vanish, correct?"

"That should be the case." Mitsuru replies. "Ryoji-kun only mentioned about himself and the Dark Hour, so our memories outside should remain intact. But, we will lose access to our Personas no matter what At least, until Shiho starts messing with the Metaverse anyway."

"But even if we do, that doesn't change anything." Minako speaks up, eyes burning with determination. "Even if we are going to lose some of our memories, I swear I won't forget anyone here! Not after all we have been through outside of the Dark Hour!"

"That goes without saying." Ryuji adds with a grin. "And you can bet it's the same with us!"

"None of us are going to forget each other. And that is a promise!" Ann shouts, pumping a fist into the air as, one by one, everyone makes the same promise. That no matter what, they will not forget each other.

"In that case, how about we all promise to meet each other again after the battle, no matter what happens?" Junpei suggests with a wide grin.

"Good idea, but where do we meet?" Ken asks with a smile while Koromaru lets out a bark.

"I don't think it should be the Dorm. We would all come back here anyway after the battle." Fuuka remarks with a tiny smile.

"What about the school roof? Should be a quiet spot." Shinjiro suggests, folding his arms. "I doubt anyone else would go up there anyway."

"When should we gather though?" Aigis asks, a hand on her chest.

"It should be during a special occasion." Akihiko comments, folding his arms. "How about… when we third years graduate?"

"So some time in March?" Minato replies, hand on his chin. "That sounds good. It's possible that our memories won't vanish the moment we beat Nyx. It might take a few days for it to kick in."

"That, and graduation day is special for all of you." Morgana replies, loafing on the couch. "I can't think of any other day for you guys to meet up. Even if we won't be there to see it."

"Way to bring down the mood Morgana." Futaba admonishes, flicking one of his ears. "There is no guarantee that we will go back to our time after we beat Nyx. We might be stuck here forever."

"We can worry about that after we've beaten Nyx." Makoto tells Futaba, pushing some hair back. "For now, let's all agree to meet up on the roof at school in March on graduation day." Everyone nods at Makoto while Yusuke takes a moment to glance at the clock. The hour hand inching closer to midnight.

"It is almost time. We should leave now so we can enter Tartarus the moment the Dark Hour comes." Yusuke tells everyone as he stands up.

"Right. It's time to finish this." Minako replies, nodding her head as Minato puts his hands into his pockets.

"No matter what happens, we're ending the Dark Hour tonight. And Strega won't stop us." Minato adds as everyone stands up as one. They had already dressed up in their combat gear, so there was no reason for them to wait. But before they did, Morgana lets out a chuckle as he hops into Ren's shoulders.

"Y'know, this would be a good time to say it, Ren." He remarks, with Ren's eyes widening in surprise before letting out a chuckle.

"Of course… I haven't said it once since we came back, after all."

"Said what?" Ken asks curiously. Something that the rest of the S.E.E.S team mirrored while the Thieves all looked at Ren with smirks. They knew what Morgana was talking about as Ren turns to look at the S.E.E.S team.

"Just something I always said when we started one of our heists. And I think this is an adequate situation to say it." His smirk gets larger as he faces the group, the glint of rebellion blazing behind his eye as he shouts the words he hasn't said in almost an entire year of coming back here.

"It's Showtime!"

---

For the final time, the Phantom S.E.E.S blitz through Tartarus towards the top. The shadows that once stood in their way fleeing at the sight of them. Not even those that prowled the highest floors took a chance to fight them as they scurried away at the mere sight. Yet, the team knew it wouldn't be easy, for there would be two foes who would not let them pass. Something that became obvious when they reached the end of floor 259.

"It's Jin. He's waiting for us." Oracle suddenly calls out as the group reach the next corner. "Looks like he won't let us pass without a fight."

"We were expecting this. Let's give Jin a beating he won't forget." Akihiko replies, slamming his fists together. Minako, Minato, and Joker all glance at each other, nodding to themselves as they look back at everyone.

"Junpei, we'll let you pick out a team." Minako tells him, surprising everyone. "We can't let him or Takaya slow us down. Pick out a group to distract him, while the rest of us push forward." Junpei blinks in surprise at the request, just as Minato rests a hand on his shoulder with a smile.

"You wanted to be a leader, right? Here's your chance to be one." Junpei blinks in shock, before putting on a large smile and slamming his hand on Minato's shoulder.

"Thanks man." He tells him before looking over the team. Thinking back to when they first fought him, he remembers that fire, dark, and curse do nothing against Jin. So with that, it made his choice easier. "Okay, Skull, Yuka-tan, Panther, Ken, and Fox. You guys want to beat up Jin?"

"You sure you want me? He resists fire after all." Panther asks, hand on hip.

"True, but you also have a healing spell and can enhance our attacks." Fox reminds, folding his arms. "And against Jin, that could mean all the difference." Panther thinks about it for a moment, before nodding in acceptance until a Fuuka lets out a nervous hum.

"But… what about Takaya? He will be waiting for us after Jin, won't he?"

"He will be." Minato replies, before glancing at Mitsuru. "That's why we want Mitsuru to lead a team against him." Mitsuru's eyes widen for a moment, before she lets out a chuckle at him.

"I see, very well. In that case…" She looks back at the others, her choice already made. "…Akihiko, Shinjiro, Queen, Aigis, and Noir. You're with me."

"I was hoping you would say that." Shinjiro replies, rolling his arm with a grin. "Time for some payback."

"Then that leaves me, the twins, the Navigators, Koromaru, and Mona to face Nyx." Joker finishes, nodding his head in acceptance. "That should work until you guys regroup with us." Joker takes a moment to glance around the corner, seeing Jin standing there with his suitcase over his shoulder as he lets out a sigh. "Shall we get this started?"

"Lets." Minako replies as the team walk around the corner and towards Jin. Each of them calm and collected, even as Jin stared them down with a glare behind his orange glasses.

"So, ya came after all…" He remarks with anger in his voice.

"You should know us by now that we won't give up no matter what." Ken tells him as he tightly grips his spear.

"I suppose that your friend is up ahead?" Fox asks him, resting a hand on his katana.

"Takaya is destined for far greater heights than someone like me." Jin replies, leaning forward. "And if you guys are here, you must really be serious about stopping Nyx, huh?"

"So you know about Nyx…" Queen remarks, hands tightening around her knuckle dusters. None of them were surprised that Jin and Takaya knew about Nyx. After all, they called this place the Tower of Demise after all.

"I pieced together what information that bastard Ikutsuki left behind. 'Course, a good chunk of that was delusional nonsense. What a total nutjob." Jin scoffs, shaking his head as Junpei stomps forward.

"Just like you, huh?" He asks with slight venom in his voice. Jin glares at Junpei, letting his suitcase hand freely.

"What did you say, punk? I'm nothing like that bastard! The man who was part of the researchers who created us!" That caught the team off guard, except for Mitsuru who growls in anger.

"I knew it… you were victims of my grandfather's mad experiments."

"And what's the point of knowing about it now, Kirijo bitch? Let alone telling you." Jin falls into his stance, taking out a grenade as he glares at them. "It's all going to be over real soon." While the team all tensed up, Joker sent Junpei a subtle nod as he pulled out a smoke bomb from his sleeve. It was time to move on.

"Sorry, but we don't have time to mess with you." Joker tells him before throwing the smoke bomb to the ground, obscuring Jin's vision with red and black smoke. As he coughed at the smoke, he failed to notice the team rush past him until he heard the door behind him open. Turning around, his eyes widen in shock as he sees the group run past the now open door, except for seven of them.

"You want to stop them? You'll have to get past us first!" Junpei shouts as he, Skull, Panther, Yukari, Ken, and Fox fall into their combat stances. Jin's face contorts into anger as he pulls out a grenade, glaring at the team with a furious anger.

"Get the hell out of my way! I'm not letting any of you stop Takaya's dream!" With that, he throws the grenade as Yukari loses and arrow. The two projectiles colliding in mid-air causing the grenade to explode as Junpei, Skull, Ken, and Fox charge at him while Aigis and Panther stay next to Yukari. Their fight had just begun.

---

"Do you think they will be all right?" Fuuka asks as the team rush forward, the sound of combat behind them.

"They will be." Mona replies as he looks at the set of stairs just ahead of them. The environment around them had changed from primarily white with black highlights to a complete inverse. With the wall ahead of them open to the sky. "But for now, we have bigger things to worry about!"

"Such as what stands before you right now." Takaya's voice echoes from the top of the stairs as he makes his appearance known. Glaring down at the team as he looks back up to where they had come from. Hearing the distant sound of battle as he narrows his eyes. "So, you have left behind some of your comrades to distract Jin… quite bold of you to do so." He looks back at them as she shakes his head. "You are quite the troublesome bunch. Even in these final moments, you still insist on fighting? Why struggle against the inevitable end?"

"Because it is not inevitable." Queen bites back, glaring right at him. "We are living proof of that!" She motions to herself, Joker, Noir, Mona, and Oracle while Takaya lets out a growl.

"And nothing is going to end. Not while we have anything to say about it!" Akihiko adds, slamming his hands together.

"Cease your petty resistance!" Takaya shouts in anger, his cool composure gone. "Why do you refuse to celebrate in the moment!? My life was stolen from me… and in its place I was given a power I never asked for! And so, I learned that the future is only a delusion! Only by striving to live every moment to its fullest can the soul truly be satisfied!"

"You're the delusional one here!" Mona shouts, aiming his falchion right at him. "All you are talking about is living in the present while being stuck in the past! You claim there is no future because you've completely given up on looking for one!"

"Then consider this for a moment. Who is responsible for reviving Nyx?" Takaya asks the team with an evil grin. "Can a single person boast of this great accomplishment? You all strived tirelessly to prevent it, and yet instead, you unwillingly aided in her coming. So you see, this is not just my will. It is the will of the people."

"Great… another Yaldabaoth…" Noir hisses under her breath.

"People cannot face death without first finding meaning in life. But the world has realised that any meaning in it was long ago… Nyx has come because humanity has cried out for salvation!"

"You sure love talking out of your ass, you know that?" Shinjiro tells him, resting his axe on his shoulder with an unimpressed look. But a sigh from Aigis drew his attention away.

"No… there is some truth in what Takaya says. Wandering without purpose, living an empty life, dying an empty death… passing your day, living in suffering. That's all you are focused on." Aigis tells him, her voice soft but firm. "However, personally, I would never live that way. I want a purpose and to have others I care about… that is why I came all this way. To me… this is what it means to live!"

"None of us are alone." Minako adds, slamming her naginata on the ground. "Sure, by ourselves we may be powerless. But together, we can take down anything that comes our way. Even you!"

"We can make the impossible, possible. That is what you lack." Minato adds, sword pointed at Takaya. "That is why you are falling back on Nyx and her Fall. Because you have nothing to support you. Not even Jin. You chose solitude over everything, and that is why you are weak."

"Silence!" Takaya shouts leaping from the stairs to land before them, his yellow eyes glaring right into them. And at the twins, especially. "I told you two before, that is you stand opposed to me, I would show you no mercy… If you intend to deny the very future I have envisioned… you'd best be prepared…"

"Then try to stop us… if you can catch us." Joker replies before throwing another smoke bomb at Takaya. Obscuring his vision as he, the twins, the navigators, Koromaru, and Mona rush past him. Leaving him along with the remaining members of the team as his anger begins to boil.

"So, you would resort to tricks to stop me!?" He shouts hand grasping his revolver.

"Not tricks…tactics!" Mitsuru shouts, leaping forward to skewer Takaya with her rapier. He ducks, jumping away as he draws his gun, only to dive under an axe swing from Noir. As she spins around, he catches a glimpse of the others rushing up the stairs towards Nyx. He would deal with them once he had finished these pests off.

---

"We're almost at the top!" Fuuka calls out as the small group bound up the final flight of stairs. "Nyx should be waiting for us right now!"

"Whatever happens, don't panic and draw it out until the others join us!" Oracle adds as they reach the end of the stairs. Finding a wide circular platform lined with columns with raven statues on top. Around them, the deep green clouds of the Dark Hour spread out around them like a green ocean, while the moon hovered over them, large and in charge. There was a white pattern on the floor as well, but none of them were paying attention to that.

Instead, their gaze was drawn to the mass of black feathers gathering in the sky above them, condensing into a large humanoid like form with four giant wings as it slowly floats towards the ground. Even without their Personas, the small group could feel its power radiating out from it like the heat from the sun. As its form becomes more solid, its arms and legs are revealed to be encased in black armour, while a giant sword about as long, or even longer than itself was held in its right hand. A black metallic skirt as long as its legs hung around its waist as it came to rest atop the tower before them, with glowing blue veins running along its arms, legs, chest, and wings. But it was the head of the creature that had their attention, for none of them could mistake that smile and hair that was now plastered on this monster.

It was Ryoji's.

"Ryoji…" Minako says quietly while Koromaru lets out a whine.

"So… this is what he turned into." Mona comments, leaping onto Joker's shoulder.

"Ryoji… that was my name for a while. I almost miss it." The figure replies, slowly looking at them. "I am merely a harbinger of the Fall… or perhaps I should say 'former' harbinger. There is no longer a distinction to be made between myself and Nyx."

"So, this was your purpose… but even so, we don't regret our decision." Minato replies, eyes locked on what was one Ryoji's face. "We are stopping you, no matter what it takes!"

"I see… then you must already understand. What people fear most? What they try to turn away from, that is the wretched thing I have become. You must understand that it is futile to resist. Will you still face me? Surely, there must be fear in your hearts."

"We know that. And sure, all of us are scared." Joker replies, hand griping his dagger. "But even so, we are ready."

"We have way too much to live for to run away with our tails between our legs!" Oracle shouts as Fuuka nods in agreement.

"We are going to live, no matter what!"

"No matter how long it takes, or how much we fight…" Minako adds, falling into her stance alongside Joker and her brother. Koromaru and Mona also fall into their stances as Fuuka and Oracle start scanning the Nyx Avatar.

"…this is our final answer. And we will see it through." Minato ends, fixing his tie one last time.

"I see…" The Nyx Avatar replies, as it sends out a mini air shockwave at them. Kicking up dust as its aura changes. As Fuuka and Oracle scanned the Nyx Avatar, they found something strange.

"Nyx's Arcana… is the Fool Arcana?" Fuuka asks out loud as a transparent image of the Fool arcana appears before Nyx. And it was then, that the aura changed again.

"The moment man devoured the fruit of knowledge, he sealed his fate… Entrusting his future to the cards, he clings to a dim hope. Yes, the Arcana is the means by which all is revealed… Attaining one's dream requires a stern will and unfailing determination."

At that, the Fool Arcana hovering in front of Nyx spins around rapidly before stopping just as sudden. Only now, it was showing the Magician instead. As well as something else.

"Ardha! Debilitate!" Joker calls out, weakening Nyx before jumping out of the way of an Agidyne as Nyx summons several arms from his back. Arms that Minako and Minato recognised as the same ones from the Magician Shadow all the way back in April as they two start throwing fireballs at them. "Oracle! What did he do!?"

"Nyx just changed from Fool to Magician! And he now blocks Fire!" Oracle shouts, just as Nyx raises his blade and slams it down on the ground. Almost slicing Koromaru in two as he ducks out of the way. Mona, seeing an opportunity, rushes up on Nyx's arm and slashes at his face while Minako and Joker summon Mother Harlot while Minato summons Alilat.

"Ice Age!" They cry, sending the blast of ice right at Nyx's face only for him to block it with his right arm. Encasing it in a large wall of ice.

As the ice clears, Jin dashes out, tossing a flame grenade at Fox, who ducks under it as Panther boosts Junpei's attack, with Junpei lashing out with a Vorpal blade and forcing Jin back.

"You punks!" Jin shouts, throwing another grenade at the group before ducking under a barrage of rounds from Panther. "No matter how this turns out, this is the end! You can't hide your weaknesses from me!" He grabs his Evoker, summoning his Persona as he scans the group before him until he is forced to duck under an arrow from Yukari. "I'll kill you first!" He takes out a grenade, tossing it at Yukari as it sparks with electricity only for Skull to jump in and tank the blow.

"You think we'll let you try that shit again!?" Skull shouts, summoning his Persona. "Then try on this! Ziodyne!" Seiten Taisei slams a foot down on his cloud, sending out a blast of lightning at Jin, slamming right into his chest and forcing him back. Yukari nods at Skull in thanks before glaring at Jin with rage as she feels her Theurgy building up.

"You think we'll just let you walk all over us? Think again! Isis!" At her call, Isis appears behind her before wrapping her wings around Yukari. Then she opens them up as though revealing Yukari at a show as Yukari holds her right hand out before spinning around. Creating a blue arena as light gathering in her hands. Become a solid blue arrow as she takes aim at Isis's mirror. "Tranquillity!" At that, she fires the arrow, landing right in the middle of the mirror and letting out a bright blue light. Engulfing the team as they feel their magic energy increase to new heights. Something that Ken was eager to repay Jin back as Fox stood at his side.

"Kougaon!"

"Bufudyne!"

The two call out, blasting Jin with the powerful magic spells and send him flying. Just as he throws two more grenades at them. Detonating into a blaze of fire that swarmed over them.

Dashing through the flames, Minako slashes at Nyx's left leg while Minato slams his sword into Nyx's chest before both are pushed back by a shock wave from Nyx.

"The Arcana is the means by which all is revealed…" Nyx tells them as the Magician card appears before him. "The silent voice within one's heart whispers the most profound wisdom…" At that, the Magician card spins around, transforming into the Priestess Arcana as Nyx lashes out with his hair. Slamming into Joker's chest and knocking him back as Mona rushes to heal him up as Fuuka and Oracle scan him one again.

"He's now the Priestess?! Are we going through the entire deck!?" Oracle shouts in dismay as Nyx unleashes an Ice Storm on them. "He's immune to Ice! Watch out!"

"Messiah! Agidyne!" Minato cries, summoning his other self and blasting Nyx with the spell as Koromaru attacks with Tempest Slash.

"Atavaka! Inferno!" Minako shouts, summoning her own fire specialist to the field and joining her own flames with Joker's as he summons Lucifer. Nyx roars in pain as he slashes out with his blade. Forcing them all to dodge as Mona leaps onto the sword and runs up Nyx's arm once more. Only to be swatted off by the other arm just as Nyx unleashes Ice Storm on the three Wild Cards. All of them switching to a Persona that nullified the ice while Koromaru dodged the attack.

"Throne! Primal Force!" Minako yells, summoning her Pierce specialist as she lashes out at the Nyx Avatar. Sending down a barrage of projectiles as Nyx slices through the ones he could not dodge.

As the barrage ends, Takaya jumps back, firing his gun at Shinjiro only for Aigis to block the attacks before he himself was forced to dodge an Atomic Flare from Queen. All the while, a manic grin never left his face as he let himself fall into deranged glee.

"Even as we fight, I can feel it. The end of everything! I pity those who cannot see the blessing for what it truly is!" He blasts Hamon at Akihiko who dodges out the way. Watching as the bless attack dissolves the wall behind him. "We are mere mortals! We cannot change our fate!"

"Put a sock it in!" Akihiko shouts, landing a mean right hook on Takaya as Queen follow up with a flying kick to his chest. "I've heard enough about your delusional rambling!" Takaya wipes his face, aiming with his revolver and firing several shots at Akihiko. Growling as the round went wide as he ducks away from Shinjiro axe. Only to be hit by a Psiodyne from Noir, sending him towards the stairs.

"No matter what you say, we won't fall!" She shouts, grabbing her grenade launcher and firing a grenade at Takaya. He manages to get out of the way, but the explosion still had him stumbling as he lashes out with Mudoon. The spell flying over Mitsuru's head and into the wall behind her. Something that Akihiko did not like to see as he started to glow red.

"Alright you punk! That's it! Caesar!" At his call, Caesar appears behind him with his sword encased in electricity. He then points it upward, forming a giant sphere of electricity above them before it shoots back down and into Akihiko. He lets out a breath of air before dashing forward towards Takaya. Unleashing a lightning fast assault on him smashing at him with one more powerful punch. "Electric Onslaught!" He cries as he passes by Takaya, lightning raining down on Takaya as Akihiko comes to a stop next to Mitsuru. Takaya, eyes glaring with hatred, turns to look at them as he blasts them both with Mabufudyne with Mitsuru jumping in front of her boyfriend to tank the blow. The attack becoming a literal wall of ice.

But as it forms, a Riot Gun from Joker punches through, slamming into Nyx as Satanael returns to Joker's heart as Minato attacks Nyx with Agidyne from Messiah while Minako attacks with her own Inferno with Atavaka.

"The Arcana is the means by which all is revealed…" Nyx tells the trio as they leap over the ice wall formed by Nyx. Each of them lashing out with the blades only for Nyx to deflect them with his own large blade. "Celebrate life's grandeur… Its brilliance… its magnificence…" At that, the Priestess card hovering behind him transforms into that of the Empress as he knocks the trio away. Before conjuring up a gate and blasting them all with Magarudyne.

"Okay… now he's the Empress." Fuuka calls out as Mona heals the team up.

"Which mean no elemental magic!" Oracle clarifies as Koromaru lets out a growl.

"But we can still hit him with physical skills! Ongyo-Ki! God's Hand!" Joker cries, summoning his Physical specialist as slamming a giant golden fist into Nyx. Something that the twins were quick to follow up on.

"Messiah Didumos! God's Hand!"

"Surt! Brave Blade!"

The two spells slam into Nyx as he let out another cry before attacking back with Magarudyne from the gate once more. While the trio stood their ground against the wind, Mona rushed forward leaping upwards with his slingshot out and launching a pebble right into Nyx's left eye. Disrupting his concentration as Koromaru rushes up and attacks him with another Tempest Strike.

"Satanael! Riot Gun!" Joker shouts, summoning his other self and landing a hit on Nyx's left arm before dodging out of the way from a sword swing. Leaping over Minato as he grabs his Evoker, mentally flipping through his roster before settling on one as he gives his Evoker a spin in his hand.

"Metatron! Myriad Arrows!" Minato calls, summoning his own Peirce specialist to the field and distracting Nyx while Joker fires with his gun. Minako mentally switches around her own Persona before settling on one as she takes her Evoker out.

"Rangda! Brave Blade!" She calls out, summoning her Slash specialist, sending out the attack towards Nyx in the form a giant blade beam.

A blade beam that Jin barely managed to dodge out of the way as he glares at Fox. Throwing another flame grenade at Fox, Jin then doubles back to avoid getting blasted by Garudyne from Yukari until he is hit in the face by Panther's whip.

"You bitch!" Jin shouts, attacking Panther with Bufudyne that she leaps away from. Infuriating him as Junpei rushes over and punches him in the face. Almost sending his glasses off as he tumbles to the ground. "Ya still pissed that we killed your girlfriend, huh!?"

"Chidori isn't dead!" Junpei shouts, bringing his sword down and forcing Jin to jump away. "She alive, and far better off than she ever was!"

"You lie!" Jin shouts, throwing an EX Flash Grenade at Junpei and stunning him before casting Heat Riser on himself. "Chidori is dead! All because of you!"

"Funny! We weren't the ones who gave Chidori back her Evoker! Or forced her to fight us again at the entrance to Tartarus!" Panther screams, firing her Sa. Vz.61 Skorpion SMG at Jin and managing to graze his left arm. "That was all you!"

"Shut up!" Jin screams, throwing a shock grenade at Panther who calmly takes the hit as Ken rushes forward and blasts him with Kougaon.

"Just give up! You can't beat us!" Ken shouts as Skull blasts Jin with Ziodyne once more. As the lightning coursed through him, Jin yells out with a thunderous yell as he grabs something from his suitcase. A strange injection gun with a red liquid inside.

"You're not… beating me! I'll kill you… I'll kill you all before you get past me!" At that, he forcibly injects himself with the drugs, significantly boosting himself up as the team look on with concerned looks. "MEGIDOLAON!" With a manic glare, Jin unleashed a powered up Megidolaon on the team, enveloping them all in the Almighty blast and almost wiping them all out in a single strike.

But as Jin prepared to unleash another strike, even as he felt his body ache from the drug, he saw Ken standing up with a scarlet aura around him. "I won't let you kill anyone!" Ken shouts as Kala-Nemi forms behind him. Glowing red as he spins his arms around him, forming countless stars as they spin around both Ken and his Persona. "Divine Intervention!" Ken screams, slamming his spear into the ground and generating a symbol under all of them. At the same time, a beam of light shoot up to the roof before exploding into a rain of light. Healing everyone as they all jump back onto their feet. As for Jin, his rage was becoming all consuming.

"GOD'S HAND!" Jin screams, sending the charged up punch right at Ken. Only for the attack to slam into a barrier protecting him. Jin blinks in shock as the attack spins around and takes aim at him. Before shooting forward right towards him. In a panic, he throws up a smoke screen to try to mislead the attack, and hopefully use it as cover against the team.

But the God's Hand did not care as it powered through the smoke, slamming right into Nyx's chest as he lets out a cry of surprise while Minato Smirks. Kali, his strike specialist, returns to his heart as Minako attacks with her own God's Hand from Messiah Didumos. Nyx floats back, shaking his head as the three Wild Cards form up again. With Mona standing on Minato left and Koromaru on Minako's right.

"The Arcana is the means by which all is revealed…" Nyx once more speaks as the Empress Arcana appears before him. "Only courage in the face of doubt can lead one to the answer…" And just like the other times, the Empress Arcana changes once again. This time, to the Emperor Arcana. And they all knew what that means.

"Emperor Arcana! Don't use physical strikes!" Fuuka calls out instinctively as Nyx attacks with a sweep, the sword now glowing in a deep purple aura as black flames rush up along the blade. Looking like a more larger and menacing form of the Emperors blade. "Look out for that sword! Nyx has powered it up!" The Wild Cards, Mona, and Koromaru dodge over the blade as it passed under them, while Fuuka and Oracle duck as the blade almost lobbed off their heads, but managed to cut off a few stands of hair. Koromaru glances back, seeing how close the blade was to hitting them in the head before letting out a loud howl. From him blasted out a wave of darkness as Cerberus appears beside Koromaru. Eyes glaring with rage as both canines glare at Nyx with fury.

The two then dash forward, slashing at Nyx from all angels with dark auras surrounding them before landing before the twins once again. Then, after a brief moment of pause, the two dash forward and slash into Nyx from the front before repeating the process and slashing from behind. Landing before the navigators as both Koromaru and Cerberus let out howls of victory as Nyx is consumed by dark explosions.

"Just accept it." Nyx commands, slamming his blade into the ground as he tried to cleave Joker in two, only to miss.

"Never!" Minato shouts, aiming his Evoker at his head before narrowing his eyes. "We won't ever give up! Thanatos!" Nyx looks over at Minato, his face emotionless as the Persona forms behind Minato. A humanoid form with long legs that resemble those of Aigis, with white boots and golden heels. Wearing a deep blue jacket and pants, with white gloves and a sheath connected to a belt with a golden buckle with a skull and crossbones. Eight coffins, similar to the ones on Messiah hover around him like wings. All connected to Thanatos with chains while his head was a white mask with spikes for teeth, and a lower jaw with similar spikes for teeth. And in his right hand, was a straight katana.

"This will hurt, Ryoji! Door of Hades!" At his call, Thanatos generates an orb of Almighty magic with his free hand before throwing it at Nyx. The orb impact's Nyx's chest, condensing as curse and dark magic flow into it before exploding and enveloping Nyx in the Almighty spell. Minako nods at Minato as she summons her own Dark specialist, Helel while Joker follows up behind with Alice. The two of them blasting Nyx with a joint Eigaon attack before leaping away from another Sweep attack.

"Accept your fate. For all shall fall." Nyx tells them, slamming its blade down once more as Joker fires his gun again before reloading it.

"We won't give up! Not while we still draw breath! Ishtar! Atomic Flare!" Joker cries, summoning his Nuke specialist to the field and blasting Nyx with the severe Nuke spell. It was all Nyx could do to shield himself with his sword as the blue flames wash over him.

Blue flames that Takaya jumps away from, the flames licking at his jeans as he fires his revolver at Queen only to just graze her right arm with a single round before ducking away from Aigis. "I should have killed both you and Ren when I had the chance!"

"You had your chance, and you lost it!" Queen shouts back, healing everyone with a Mediarahan. "And now we are going to see your plan fail!"

"How can you summon such power even in the face of death!? Incorrigible as always!" Takaya screams, lashing out with a Maziodyne at everyone, growing reckless as anger clouds his mind. "That look in your eyes… I hate it! What is it that you see before you now!?" Takaya screams, firing his revolver once more before running out of ammo. The final round bouncing harmlessly off Aigis who fires back at him with her own hand guns.

"You want to know, Takaya? It is a promise! A promise that we all made as one!" Noir shouts, attacking him with a One-Shot Kill and leaving a sizable dent in the floor as a result of Takaya dodging the attack.

"A promise!? That's truly ridiculous! How absurd! I can't stand to watch you any more!" Takaya screams, blasting everyone with a Megidolaon before lasting out with Eigaon at Queen. Only to growl as he watched his attack do nothing to her as she heals everyone else up once again.

"If that doesn't agree with you, then how about this!?" Shinjiro yells, lashing out with a Bloody Charge. "We fight for the hope of a better future! A better tomorrow!"

"And if you still fail to realise that, then there is truly no hope left for you!" Mitsuru roars, holding her rapier before her in a salute like stance as Artemisia forms behind her. The two of them glowing scarlet. "It is time for your execution!" With that, Artemisia spins around behind Mitsuru before throwing out her whip at Takaya. Slamming him in the chest and sending countless chains out to grab and hold him in place. With that, Mitsuru holds her hand out, forming a sphere of Almighty energy while infusing it with the three weakening spells before slicing it with her rapier. "Blade of Execution!" She shouts, landing on her feet and flipping her hair to the side, detonating the sphere and encasing Takaya in its magic.

"I won't… die here!" Takaya yells, attacking with a Spirit Drain and draining Akihiko's energy to fuel his own. Even as the weakening spells ravaged his body. "No matter what you do, I refuse to fall!"

"You are staring to become a broken record!" Aigis cries, attacking with a Primal Force. "Surrender, and we will let you live!"

"Or don't… and be ready for another world of hurt!" Akihiko yells as he blasts Takaya with Ziodyne. The lightning conjures up a thick dust cloud as everyone readies themselves for another engagement. They knew Takaya wouldn't go down that easily.

And they were right as Nyx floated up above the dust cloud as Joker, Minato, and Minako glare up at him. Two Odins float behind Joker and Minato while Thor stood behind Minako as all three returned to their hearts.

"I thought a triple Wild Thunder would have done it!" Oracle shouts, shaking her head as Fuuka lets out a nervous hum.

"He's about to change again…"

"The Arcana is the means by which all is revealed… It is indeed a precious gift to understand the forces that guide oneself…" With no surprise, Nyx once again changes his Arcana to that of the Hierophant, unleashing a Doomsday Doctrine on the team as the three Wild Cards switch Persona yet again. Just as Nyx summons the small paper minions that once stood with the Hierophant Shadow to aid him.

"Garudyne!" Mona cries out, blasting Nyx with Wind and disorienting him while Koromaru manages to run up his arm and slash at his face. In response, Nyx slams his blade into the ground, sending black feathers flying all over the place as Fuuka and Oracle's scans start to go into overdrive. The paper minions charge forward, eager to join the fray but are sent flying by Joker as he blasts them with Lucifer's Morning Star.

"What the!? Nyx's feathers are floating around us?" Fuuka questions, watching a feather get close to her before bouncing off Juno.

"There's something in those feathers as well! Watch out, guys!" Oracle calls out as Nyx attacks with Eerie Sound. "Mental aliments will hit us more easily!"

"Thanks for the tip!" Mona shouts back, leaping away from Nyx's sword as Joker rushes up with Futsunushi behind him. Minako and Minato flanked him, themselves summoning Kikuri-Hime and Kohryu as they all shout as one.

"Panta Rhei!" Six saw blades of wind surge forward, slamming into Nyx as it kicks up a vicious storm of wind, dust surging along with it as Nyx is obscured from view.

As the dust settles, Jin was barely standing as the drug starts to wear him down. He takes out his last grenade, priming it and throwing it at Panther as it explodes into fire. Panther calmly walks through it as Jin grabs his Evoker, aiming to do one last Megidolaon to wipe them all out.

"I'll kill you… I'll kill you all!" He shouts, aiming the Evoker at his head until a glow of red catches his eye. Glancing over, he sees Junpei calmly walking towards him, glowing scarlet as Trismegistus forms behind him. His eyes narrow as Junpei snarls at him with rage.

"Like hell you will!" With that, he holds his blade high as Trismegistus infuses it with four blazing orbs of fire. Grinning, Junpei points his sword at Jin as he and Trismegistus charge forward together. Junpei slashes forward, sending sword beams made of pure fire slamming into Jin that slice right through his immunities while Trismegistus flies around blasting him with more fire. "Blaze of Life!" Junpei yells, slams his blade down in one final swing from Jin's head and right down his spine. How the blow didn't slice him in half no one questioned as Junpei glared at him. Jin, falling to one knee, looks up in anger as he catches a fiery visage of Chidori hovering behind Junpei. Giving him a look of rage as she hugs Junpei from behind before vanishing.

"It's over, Jin." Fox tells him as the team surrounds him. All of them glaring at him in anger.

"No… it's not!" Jin bites back, struggling to stand. "So long as I still draw breath… I won't let you pass!" As the group got ready for another fight, something strange happened. A mass of darkness erupted under Jin's feet, catching him by surprise as dark branches race up and hold him in place. "W—What the hell is this shit!?" He shouts in a panic as he is slowly dragged into the dark puddle. "Let me go! NO!" He screams in defiance, but is soon quickly pulled under as black hands grasp onto his head and shoulders, quickly dragging him into the dark pool as it quickly vanishes. Leaving the team shocked until an explosion up ahead, reminding them of the here and now as they rush forward.

Only for Joker, Minato, and Minako to jump back as Nyx tries to slice at them again with a Sweep, forcing the Wild Cards to duck once more as Koromaru blasts Nyx with Maragidyne, joined by Mona's Garudyne. The joint attack taking Nyx off guard as he loses his balance, allowing the three Wild Cards to land a devastating hit on Nyx's chest.

"All right! Next phase!" Oracle calls out as Nyx hovers above them out of range. "Along with the same old speech…"

"The Arcana is the means by which all is revealed… There is both joy and wonder in coming to understand another…" Nyx predictable remarks as the Arcana card changes once again. Switching to the Lovers Arcana and suddenly making everyone feel nervous.

"He's not going to do what I think he is, right?" Minako asks with some concern. And it was justified as Nyx does a Sexy Dance on them, managing to hit almost everyone apart from Minako, who shakes her head in amusement. Along with Oracle and Futaba, their Personas keeping them safe from the mental aliment. "Men… Let's fix this, Titania! Amrita Shower!" Calling her healer Persona to her side, Minako cleanses the boys of their status aliment before all of them dodge Nyx's next swing. Which was then quickly followed up by a Heartbreaker, hitting all of them as Minato switches to his healer Persona.

"Scáthach! Salvation!" He calls out, healing them all up as Joker glares at Nyx with anger behind his eyes.

"No more holding back then! Chi You! Psyco Blast!" With his Psi specialist by his side, Joker blasts Nyx with psionic energy, even tearing apart some loose stone and metal and slam it into the Avatar as it struggles to readjust. Falling to the ground and kicking up a large cloud of dust.

AS the dust settles, Takaya shakes his head while on the floor as the dust falls around him, groaning at being on the receiving end of Noir's Psiodyne. To have a weakness such as that… it infuriated him that such magic even existed! But more than that, why was he losing!?

"Why…?! Fate is supposed to have chosen me! Is my resolve still not strong enough!?" He yells, pushing himself back up to his feet. "If so… I'll throw away my trivial pride!" He reaches into his back pocket, grabs the Black Evoker and aims it at his head. Something that grabbed Mitsuru's attention. "With my entire being! I will bring you to your knees!"

"That Evoker!" She called out, trying to rush forward, but she couldn't reach him in time as he slowly pulled the trigger. Instead of the usual blue like theirs, what came out from the side of Takaya's head was a deep purple mist. Behind him, Hypnos forms in a cloud of black and purple energy, with spiky thorns emerging around Takaya as he grins darkly. Just as Junpei's team arrives on the scene to witness this attack.

"Paradise of Quietus!" At his call, those same purple thorns spread out all over the place, impaling everyone from underneath. Even Junpei's team were caught in the blast as they were forced to their knees as Takaya lets out a victorious laugh. "This is my victory! I will win!" He cries, grabbing and reloading his revolver, aiming it at Mitsuru. "And I will start with you!"

"No, you won't!" Aigis screams, blasting forward and punching Takaya in the face. Sending him flying as Aigis glows scarlet. "I already said I won't let anyone die, and I WILL keep that promise! Pallas Athena!" At her call, Pallas Athena appears beside her as Aigis deploys two missile pods on either side of her. Then, the two fly up into the air as Aigis fires a surge of missiles at Takaya as Pallas Athena blasts him with a beam of lightning. The attacks slam into him as Aigis flies around, unloading everything from her finger guns before flying onto Pallas Athena's shield. "Maximum Firepower!" She yells, using the shield as a springboard as she propels herself to Takaya with a burning kick. Slamming right into his chest and erupting the very floor around them.

From the explosion, Takaya was sent flying onto the floor. Gravely injured as he lay spread-eagled. He couldn't even work up the energy to push himself up, but his will refused to give up. "I… have not failed… not yet!" He groans, pushing his head up to glare at the team as Yukari heals them up. "It's not over… until I say… it's over!"

"Enough, Takaya. You have lost." Mitsuru tells him with a cold glare as they all walk up to him. "Surrender." Takaya growls at her as the yellow in his eyes seems to turn darker. But it was at that moment that the mysterious pool of ichor appeared under Takaya. He didn't even have a chance to shout as he was quickly pulled under as the team looked on in shock.

"The hell?! That's the same thing that happened to Jin!" Panther shouts in alarm until a deep rumble from above draws everyone's attention.

"We can worry about that later!" Queen shouts, rushing for the stairs. "Joker and the others need our help!"

"Let's go!" Yukari shouts, rushing for the stairs as everyone else chases after them. Just as they do, a large piece of rubble falls from above, forcing some of them to dodge as dust is kicked up from the impact.

Rubble from a collapsed pillar that Nyx had sliced in half, attempting to crush the Wild Cards and Koromaru as his attacks start to become more primal and uncoordinated.

"That was too close!" Mona shouts, running around the collapsed pillar as he glares at Nyx. "Trying to cut a pillar on me!? So not cool, Ryoji!"

"Kohryu! Kougaon!" Joker cries, summoning his Bless specialist to his side and blasts Nyx with holy energy. Minako and Minato slide up to him, Evokers in hand, as Koromaru leaps up and slices at Nyx's chest.

"Sandalphon!"

"Raphael!"

"Kougaon!" The twins scream, summoning their respective light specialists as they slam holy energy into Nyx's chest. Forcing him back as he takes flight once again.

"The Arcana is the means by which all is revealed… One of life's greatest blessings is the freedom to pursue one's goals." Nyx tells them, as the Arcana card changes to the Chariot Arcana. The group of five start to pant hard, feeling the strain of the fight starting to wear them down as Nyx unleashes a Heat Wave on them. Forcing them back as Joker switches Personas around.

"Cybele! Salvation!" With his healer Persona bringing them back up, the team took a moment to collect themselves just as Nyx unleashed a Deathbound on them. But just as it was about to hit, Skull leaps forward and tanks the blow for them.

"Skull!" Mona shouts in joy just as everyone else joins them on the platform. "You guys made it!"

"Sorry that were late! Had a traffic jam to get through!" Junpei snarks as all eyes turn to the Nyx Avatar. "Da hell!? Is that Ryoji!?"

"No any more…" Fuuka replies, shaking her head. "It's the Nyx Avatar… and he changes Arcana the more we damage him!"

"What Arcana are you on!?" Mitsuru shouts as Noir and Queen blast Nyx with Psiodyne and Atomic Flare. Nyx tries to retaliate, swinging his sword around only for Skull and Junpei to block it with their weapons while Panther lassoed her whip around the sword. Holding it in place and letting Koromaru and Mona rush along its arm and slash at Nyx's head.

"Chariot! And we're starting to get exhausted!" Minako shouts, wiping her head to remove the sweat as Shinjiro rushes forward. Glowing Scarlet with Augustus hovering behind him.

"Then lets relieve some of that stress!" He shouts as Augustus throws his shield into the air. It comes flying down as Shinjiro leaps up to grab it before slamming it back down to the ground with a thunderous force. "Ultimate Phalanx!" At his call, rows upon rows of shields, stylised after the Roman centurions of old, appear around them as numerous spears emerge from behind them. Then, all glowing a deep golden glow, the shields and spears all condense around the team and dramatically boosts their defence and attack. While also invigorating them at the same time as the Wild Cards, Mona, and Koromaru all stand taller.

"Hah! Now it's a real fight!" Akihiko shouts as he and Queen rush forward. Ducking under a Deathbound from Nyx as they leap up and slam their fists into Nyx's stomach. Mona was about to charge forward himself, but Koromaru lets out a bark. Mona looks at him, wondering what he wanted until he saw him motioning to his back.

"You want me to hop on?" He asks, tilting his big head. Koromaru nods back, a fire behind his eyes that Mona couldn't help but grin at. Whatever it was that Koromaru was planning to do, he felt something inside him tell him that they could both do it. "Well, okay then! Let's go!" Mona shouts, leaping into the air and landing on Koromaru's back as he dashes forward, the two of them glowing not a deep red from Theurgy, but a brilliant blue. Mona encases them in a shield of Wind as Koromaru infuses it with Fire before they dash right into Nyx. Blasting right past him as the team look on in shock. Then, Koromaru and Mona vanish into a dark portal before reappearing behind Nyx and striking him once again. The team watch as Mona and Koromaru repeat this attack three more times in rapid succession before leaping high above Nyx. "Order up!" Mona shouts as the two send the shield surrounding them, now also encased in Dark magic, right at Nyx before exploding in his face.

"What was that!?" Fuuka cries out, glancing at her readings. "That wasn't Theurgy!" Oracle looks at her own readings, glancing through them before noticing something about Koromaru and Mona. Everyone's Persona gave out unique waves that made them distinct, and no two waves were the same. Even with the multiple Persona's that Joker, Minako, and Minato could use, none of them were the same. And yet when Koromaru and Mona unleashed their attack, their Personas were harmonising!

"Whatever it was, Mona and Koromaru's Personas were in complete sync! I've never seen anything like it!" Oracle calls out in amazement. But before anyone else could comment on it, Nyx sends out a shock wave with his wings, propelling himself into the air once more.

"The Arcana is the means by which all is revealed… To find the one true path, one must seek guidance amidst uncertainty…" Nyx tells them as the Chariot Arcana switches to that of the Justice Arcana.

"Does he say that every time he switches?" Yukari asks the Navigators as Mitsuru rushes forward and jabs at Nyx's chest. Nyx tries to attack her with his sword, but Noir and Shinjiro manage to parry the swing with their axes, giving Yukari an opening to fire an arrow at Nyx.

"Yep!" Oracle replies with a grimace. "And his resistances change to match those of the Arcana Shadows we've beaten before! As well as their attacks!" The moment Oracle said that, Nyx blasts them with Divine Judgment, taking out half of their vitality before Mona quickly healed them up. Right as Nyx sends out a blast of Makougaon at them.

"Dang it! I'm getting pissed off now!" Junpei shouts before looking over at Skull. "Yo, Skull! Let's go all out!" He grabs Skull's attention, who blinks for a second before putting on his iconic shark grin grinning.

"Why the hell not!?" Skull shouts as the two start glowing blue, just like Mona and Koromaru, right as Aigis jumps to their side. Glowing a similar blue to them.

"Allow me to start us off!" She shouts, raising both hands and opening fire at Nyx. Catching him in the crossfire with Almighty infused rounds. Skull and Junpei grin before rushing forward. Skull's mace brimming with Elect magic while Junpei's sword was engulfed in Fire. Skull jumps into the air as Junpei cleaves right through Nyx. Leaving a searing gash as Skull comes down from above. Slamming his mace into Nyx's head and sending lighting coursing through him.

The two jump back to Aigis, who hand changed her right hand for a canon arm somehow before firing one more Almighty shell at Nyx. Detonating a gigantic blast that sent him flying back, yet failed to end him as Nyx flew high into the air.

"The Arcana is the means by which all is revealed… It requires great courage to look at oneself, and forge one's own path…" Once more, Nyx changes Arcana, switching to the Hermit as he blasts Mona and Yukari with a High-Voltage Current. Only for the two of them to just barely dodge out of the way while Fox blasts Nyx with Bufudyne. Followed closely by Queen as she attacks with Atomic Flare, stunning Nyx as Yukari and Panther glance at each other. Nodding as one, they turn back to Nyx just as he unleashes a Terra Spark on everyone. Panther jumps in front of Yukari, her resistance to Elect magic managing to protect her while everyone else either resisted the strike or were paralysed by Nyx. And it was enough to get their blood boiling.

"Okay, Ryoji! Let's see you handle this!" Yukari shouts, glowing blue as she channels Wind over her drawn arrow. While beside her, Panther, glowing blue as well, channels an orb of Fire between her hands.

"And trust us, this will be hot!" She cries, throwing the orb as Yukari fires her arrow. The arrow of Wind pierces the orb of Fire, sending both right into Nyx before exploding into a tornado of Fire and Wind magic. Nyx lets out a cry of surprise as Joker and Skull run up the blade and slam their weapons into Nyx's head. Forcing him back before he reorients himself. With the Hermit Arcana hovering before him.

"The Arcana is the means by which all is revealed… Ever-present alongside time is fortune, cruel and unflinching…" And predictably, the Hermit Arcana changes to the Fortune Arcana. But it was the spells that Nyx blasted them with that caught them off guard. Lashing out at Fox and Mitsuru with Inferno, followed up by Diamond Dust at Akihiko and Panther. As Skull and Junpei rush forward, they were caught off guard by Panta Rhei from Nyx before he blasts Mona and Aigis with Thunder Reign. Just then, Nyx summons a Wheel of Fortune, spinning it around as the arrow lands on a red tile and shoots a beam of Almighty energy at Shinjiro. Barely missing his left shoulder as it slams into the ground.

"Nyx is not holding back any more!" Fuuka cries out in alarm as Nyx lashes out with his sword once more. Sending the team flying back even as Shinjiro and Noir try to block the swing. Ken glances around, seeing them getting put on the back foot just as Fox lands next to him. Cured of the burn he received from Nyx by Yukari.

"Ryoji thinks he has us, but let's show him what we can really do!" Ken tells Fox, glowing a soft blue light as Fox glows in a similar light.

"Very well." Fox comments as Ken manifests a spear of light in his left hand before Fox quickly coats it in a thick layer of ice. "Let our aim be true!" Fox cries as Ken throws the spear at Nyx. Impaling him in the chest as the ice quickly covers over him while the spear of light continues to pierce through before exploding from the inside of Nyx.

"Why? Why do you still resist?" Nyx asks, floating backwards as he watches the team recover. "The Arcana is the means by which all is revealed… One needs strength to endure, and rise above suffering and torment…" With that, the Fortune Arcana changes once more. Becoming the Strength Arcana with Nyx lashing out with a Mobius Rondo. Hitting everyone with six blasts of Strike damage before buffing himself with Tarukaja. He then summons spiked cages that resembled that of the Strength Shadow and sends them flying towards the team, aiming to trap them and managing to coral them into a central group. As he readied himself to swing again, Ken rushes forward and blasts Nyx with Kougaon while Koromaru attacks with Eigaon. The two spells mixing and slamming right into Nyx's face. Disrupting his attack as Mitsuru glares at Nyx with rage.

"We won't allow ourselves to fall. Not matter what!" Mitsuru shouts, glowing blue as Shinjiro lands beside her, glowing a similar glow before Mitsuru glances at Noir. "Noir! With us!" Her voice grabs Noir's attention as she looks over, nodding her head as she joins up with them. The three of them looking at Nyx attacking the Wild Cards as Shinjiro rushes forward. Dragging his axe along the ground and grabbing Nyx's attention. But it was too late.

"You're wide open!" He shouts, slashing upwards with a powerful uppercut, seemingly splitting Nyx in two as Mitsuru charges in and slashes at Nyx's chest. Leaving a snowflake pattern on his chest before freezing him in a block of ice. As she falls to the ground, Noir comes in with her axe, slashing horizontally across Nyx before using her Psionic powers to throw the block of ice into the air. She and Mitsuru then fire Psy and Ice spells at each other, the two colliding and forming into an orb between them before Shinjiro bats it into the air with his axe. Slamming into Nyx and detonating in mid-air, sending him flying away before he reorients himself.

"The Arcana is the means by which all is revealed… In the face of unavoidable disaster lies the opportunity to search for redemption." Once again, Nyx changes Arcana to the Hanged Man. Looking down at the team as he used Grim Transcendence on himself before quickly using Concentrate with the team instantly knowing what was coming next.

"BRACE!" Joker, Minako, and Minato all shout as one as Nyx unleashes Megidolaon on them. The powered up attack tearing through them like a blizzard as they felt their strength wane. But they refused to fall as Joker summons Cybele to heal them back up as Akihiko levels a glare at Nyx. Even as he summoned the Hanged Man Shadow's halo and unleashed a God's Hand at them.

"That was a good hit, Ryoji." Akihiko remarks, brushing away some sweat. "But can you stand up against this!? Queen, match my moves!" He shouts, Elect magic coursing over his hands as he glows blue.

"All right then." Queen replies, Nuke magic covering her own fists as she, too, glows blue. "On your mark!" At that, Akihiko dashes forward, Queen right behind him, before they appear on either side of Nyx. Then, the two of them unleash a storm of punches as though they were in the middle of a boxing match. Each blow covers Nyx in both of their magic before they leap away. Forming a sphere of energy of their respective element in front of them before punching the orbs at Nyx. The two orbs slam into him, detonating in a furious blast and kicking up a large dust cloud. But just as they began to think that they had won, Nyx floats up through the cloud. Looking down on all of them with an unchanging expression.

"The moment man devoured the fruit of knowledge, he sealed his fate… Entrusting his future to the cards, man clings to a dim hope. Yet, the Arcana is the means by which all is revealed… Beyond the journey you have taken lies the absolute end. It matters not who you are… One thing is always certain: death awaits all." With that, Nyx summons the Arcana card and, for the final time, changes it. But unlike all the others which were facing up, this one was not. For it was the Death Arcana, but inverted.

"Death… this must be the final phase." Fuuka comments quietly as the Nyx Avatar goes under another change. Blood-red veins appear on his wings, chest, and arms. The aura that he projected was no longer imposing, but suffocating. So much so that for some of the members of the Phantom S.E.E.S, they could feel their legs trembling.

"I didn't want you to suffer… But, the time for that is long past… Is this really what you desire…? Well, I already know the answer. Very well, let us continue… until the world meets its end." Nyx tells them, pointing his blade at them with no emotion in his voice. As for the team, they still stood strong. Showing no indication that they will buckle under the pressure.

"The world won't end." Ren tells him calmly, flipping his knife in his hand.

"We will make sure of that." Minako adds, eyes narrow and mind focused.

"So let's go, Ryoji. It's time we finished this." Minato ends, sword pointed at Nyx.

"Very well… if that is your wish." Nyx draws his blade back as he holds up his left hand. Eyes devoid of emotion. "But you will never be able to defeat me. Moonless Gown." At his call, as transparent barrier forms around him as Fuuka and Oracle's eyes go wide with shock. What they were seeing… was not possible!

"Whatever you're doing won't scare us!" Junpei shouts as he, Skull, Ken, and Shinjiro charge forward. Ignorant of what Nyx had just done.

"Wait! That barrier—!" Fuuka tries to warn, but she is too late as the boys lash out at Nyx. But their weapons fail to penetrate the barrier, and all four of them and sent flying back from Nyx. Landing hard on the floor as four beams of Almighty magic are blasted at them from the barrier. Hitting them hard and kicking up a lot of dust.

"Skull!" Panther cries out in alarm as the dust settles, showing the four were still alive, but badly injured.

"What the hell was that!?" Yukari shouts as she gets to work healing them up.

"It's a barrier that stops EVERYTHING! Including Almighty magic!" Oracle shouts with dread in her voice, until Nyx starts floating above them. Emitting another aura that sent shivers down their spines.

"You cannot avoid death… To live is to die. They are one and the same… Apocalypse." With a thrust of his right hand, Nyx blasts the field with a red beam, causing a furious eruption that blasts everyone with red energy. Draining all of them of their stamina as they collapse to one knee.

"Oh no! One more attack and they are done for!" Oracle shouts in alarm as Fuuka gasps in shock. The two of them watching as Nyx readied one more attack to finish them all off. But as they glance at everyone, seeing how they were still fighting to stand up, they both knew they couldn't stand on the sidelines any more. "We have to help them!"

"Right! Match your breathing with mine." Fuuka tells Oracle as she knees down in Juno. Oracle nods at her, copying her movements and breathes out slowly. The two glowing a light blue before channelling that magic into an orb above the battlefield. Then, the orb pops, sending down healing water that not only cures the team of their wounds, but also charges them up with a party wide Heat Riser. And just in time too as Nyx begin his next attack.

"Behold. This is the path you have chosen. Night Queen." Nyx holds his blade up high as around him, every single card from the Tarot Deck appears around him. Each one glowing red before turning into spheres of red energy. Shooting up into the air and raining down on everyone like meteors. And if they were still in the condition that Apocalypse had put them in, it would have been fatal.

"We can't take another hit like that!" Mitsuru shouts. "We have to end this now!"

"This should be the final phase! But we can't be sure!" Oracle calls out from the back as everyone stars breathing heavily.

"Even so, that's good enough for us!" Minako shouts, landing next to Joker as they both glow blue. Minato joined them a second later, glowing in a similar aura. "Let's finish this now!"

"After you." Joker insists, shadow stepping into the air as Minako and Minato rush forward. Minako's naginata and Minato's sword were both alight with flames as they slashed at Nyx. Their attacks bypassing the barrier he had set up, earning a gasp of shock from Nyx. Forcing him back as Joker leaps around the columns around the arena. Firing his gun at him and peppering Nyx with Curse-infused rounds. The Curse magic mingles with the Fire magic left by the slashes, with Nyx gasping in shock as the magic burns through him.

While Joker lands on the ground with Minato and Minako next to him. Standing opposite Nyx, they charge a large sphere of Almighty energy before them as Joker aims his gun at it. While Minako and Minato point their fingers, imitating guns, at the sphere as well.

"Checkmate!" All three of them shout with Joker firing his gun and the twins imitating the recoil with their hands, sending the sphere of Almighty energy into Nyx. The orb of Almighty magic, mixing with that of the Fire and Curse left behind by the trio, erupts into a pillar of magic that enveloped Nyx.

"And for extra measure…" Minato comments, pulling his Evoker out as he and Minako glow scarlet red.

"…here's our ultimate attack!" Minako ends, as the twins aim their Evokers at their heads. They would deal the final blow in this fight, no matter what.

"ARMAGEDDON!" With that, the fire their Evokers as one, both of their eyes glowing a deep red as Helel appears behind Minako and Satan appears behind Minato. The two of them glance at each other before combining their powers as one. Forming a giant sphere of Almighty magic between them before blasting it right at Nyx in one gigantic blast. With Nyx letting out one final gasp of shock as he falls to his knees.

"Did we do it!?" Noir shouts as everyone remains on guard. While some of them wanted to say yes, they couldn't be sure until The Dark Hour vanished. But their hopes were quickly denied as Nyx once more stood up, floating high above them as he spread his wings wide.

"Such a pity… You understand your fate, yet you still fight against it with all your might… If only there were more like you, then perhaps the Fall could have been prevented… But… it's too late now." Before anyone could ask, the moon behind him suddenly went from bright green to pure black. Then, red cracks appeared all over the moon, until its very surface was torn apart, spreading apart like some form of flower as it revealed what was hiding inside. A giant metallic sphere with a glowing red eye. Then, a beam of light shoots from the eye, colliding with Ryoji and stars absorbing him inside. Or rather… he was dragging the moon towards them! And it was only then that they realised what Nyx truly was.

"The moon is Nyx!?" Ken cries in alarm as everyone suddenly understand why Ryoji was saying it was impossible to kill Nyx. As everyone began to realise what this meant, cries from down below suddenly drew their attention. Everyone who were in coffins were not walking around outside them!

"We can't give up! Not while we're still standing!" Minako shouts as everyone gets ready to fight, only for them all to suddenly collapse to their knees as a giant pressure wave falls on them all.

"What the—!? Something's crushing me!" Shinjiro shouts, fighting against the pressure wave.

"Whatever this is… it's nothing!" Yukari shouts, forcing herself on her knees. Even Koromaru lets out a bark of defiance as he forces himself up.

"I will never give up… never!" Aigis screams, even as her metallic body groans under the strain.

"Why…? What good will it do to rise up?" Nyx asks them, confused as to why they refuse to give up.

"Like hell… are we ever backing down!" Junpei yells, stabbing his blade into the ground. As for the Wild Cards, as they fought to stand once more, they could feel themselves being called away. Their world is then suddenly engulfed by a blue glow, the crushing pressure threatening to kill them passes away as a gentle melody fills their ears. Opening their eyes, they find themselves once more in the Velvet Room with Igor and the attendants standing before them.

All of them looking at them with a certain understanding in their eyes.

"There is no need to worry… this isn't the afterlife. You are all still very much alive, but time is running out." Igor tells them gently as his gaze falls on the twins. "Do you remember what I once told you? How the strengths of your Social Links will determine your potential? Listen… Can you hear their voices?"

Minako and Minato blink in confusion until they open their ears. Hearing the voices of everyone they had bonded with during their year here in Tatsumi. Everyone they helped overcome their internal struggles. And now… they were cheering them on instead.

"I can hear them…" Minako breaths, resting a hand on her chest.

"It's like they are here with us." Minato agrees, hand also on his chest. As they do so, the world around them goes dark as a sphere of energy forms before them. A glowing orb of hope that continued to grow until its power was fully charged. Transforming itself into a Tarot Card they had not seen since April.

"The Universe…" The twin's breath as the Tarot card appears before them. But… why was it appearing before them now? Wasn't it connected to Joker and the others? If that's the case, shouldn't it be at max rank then?

"I never dreamed of seeing this card before my eyes…" Igor comments, his voice filled with uncharacteristic sadness. "This year has been full of surprises…"

"The Universe… can defeat Nyx?" Minato asks as he and Minako look at card floating before them. A glance at Joker showed that it was somehow separate from the Tarot card that he and the Thieves represented. It was still at rank nine according to him. Was this card a different power entirely?

"It is the power that can bring about a new beginning, or the ultimate end." Igor tells them cryptically. But for the two of them, feeling the power emanating from it, they understood what it would cost them if they were to use it against Nyx. "And this power… would originally be yours to use."

"Originally?" Minako asks, tiling her head until they both watch the card float away from them… and into Joker. "Joker? What's going on?" Joker glances at them, giving them both a sad smile as he stands up. Walking over to Igor and Lavenza as the Velvet Room Lift comes to a stop. The large doors behind Igor opening up as Joker gives Lavenza a pat on the head.

"Thank you, Lavenza… for everything. Even if it was as Justine and Caroline for a good part of my journey." He tells her as Lavenza looks away. A tear dripping down her face. Even Elizabeth and Theodore look away from him, hiding their own faces as Minako and Minato suddenly understand what it was that Joker was going to do.

"Ren… you truly were one of the most remarkable guests I have ever seen." Igor tells him gently, catching his attention as Joker looks back at him. Giving him a warm smile as he nods back.

"And you were truly one of the closest allies I could ever ask for. Even if you were imprisoned for a year." Igor blinks in surprise before letting out a slow clap. Shaking his head with an amused chuckle.

"To think, I would hear my own praise replied back to me… you really are the Trickster." Joker smiles at him, walking towards the light before he pauses. Looking back over his shoulder at Minako and Minato. And gives them one final warm smile of appreciation. Even as he lets out a lone tear from his right eye.

"It's been fun… but this is the end…" He tells them gently, before turning around and walks towards the light. Minako and Minato tried to stand up, but found themselves frozen to tier chairs as they watched Joker heads towards the light.

"What are you doing!? Come back!" Minato shouts desperately.

"It should be us, not you guys! Don't go!" Minako pleads with tears running down her eyes. But Joker doesn't stop, as the flash of light blinds them all. When the twins open their eyes, they are back on the platform with the crushing pressure bearing down on them.

"How are you guys standing!?" Junpei shouts as the twins glance around. Seeing every member of the Phantom Thieves walking forward towards the platform edge.

"Don't tell me you guys are going to fight it all by yourselves!?" Akihiko shouts as Mitsuru tries to force herself up. The Thieves stay silent, watching as the moon draws closer as they all let out a collective breath of air.

"Koromaru, do me and favour will you?" Mona asks out of the blue. "Stay close with Ken no matter what, alright?"

"Junpei, don't give up on your dream." Skull calls out. "You have what it takes to be a baseball star, you hear? Don't give it up."

"Yukari, you can do so much with yourself." Panther remarks, shaking her head. "Don't be forced to do what others want. Do what you want to do."

"Ken, you are not alone in this world. If you ever find yourself struggling to move on, there are those around you who can support you." Fox calls out, his gaze not leaving Nyx.

"Akihiko. Make sure you become a cop that no one can corrupt. Not matter what, never lose sight of what your justice is." Queen adds, cracking her knuckles.

"Mitsuru… never force yourself to become an island. If the company tries to make you bend to their way, turn it around on them." Noir adds, her gaze not falling from the moon.

"Shinjiro, Aigis. You guys don't have to carry everything by yourselves. Let those around you share that burden, no matter what." Joker tells them as he flexes his hands.

"Fuuka, never be afraid to be who you are. Even if those around you make fun of you for it, don't be afraid to show it." Oracle adds, her gaze locked on the moon above them. As for the members of the S.E.E.S team, they could only watch in confusion, the words said to them making no sense in the current situation as the Thieves cast one more glance back at them, their masks removed. And each one of them shedding a lone tear.

"Minato, Minako. Promise us. Promise us that you will live for all of us." Joker tells them, the twin's eyes widening as Aigis looks at them confused. Until she managed to piece it all together. But… it was too late as the Thieves leapt off from the edge of the platform.

"PERSONA!" They call out, summoning their other selves to the field and riding them up towards the glowing red eye of Nyx. Even as the rest of the S.E.E.S team calls out for them to stop, they don't listen. Instead, they carry on, finding themselves in a strange tunnel of light before arriving at what could be called the heart of Nyx. A giant yellow egg with skeletal arms and hands with wings.

"So… this is Nyx's core, huh?" Mona asks, falchion resting on his shoulder.

"Didn't expect it to be an egg." Oracle remarks, as they all got ready for a fight. But as they did so, Nyx unleashed a colossal blast of energy that almost wiped them all out in one hit. The hands of death strangling them around their necks as they all clung to life.

"What can we do? How can we help them?" Ken's voice echoes around them as they all struggle to stay on their feet.

"The only thing we can do! Believe in them!" Shinjiro's voice follows as they feel a surge of energy flow into them.

"Don't give up! We're gonna get through this together!" Akihiko's voice echoes as the Thieves all glare at Nyx.

"Give them strength! Take my life if you must!" Mitsuru's voice reverberates as the thieves feel their strength return.

"Sorry, Akihiko… but this is where it ends for us." Queen quietly comments as she rolls her shoulder next to Joker.

"Even though it will costs us our lives, we will see this through, Ken." Fox adds, standing tall next to Noir.

"We won't let any of you die, Mitsuru." Noir adds quietly, just as Nyx unleashes another blast of energy at them. But unlike last time, it did not hurt as much. Evidently, the power that the S.E.E.S team was sending their way was giving them the strength needed to beat Nyx.

"You all better come back from this!? You hear me!?" Yukari's voice echoes around them as more power flows into them.

"You're not facing it alone! We are here with you!" Fuuka's voice reverberates around them as they tighten their grips on their weapons

"We're not letting any of you die!" Junpei's voice, mixed with Koromaru's howl surges around them as the Thieves stand tall against another of Nyx's energy blasts. The attack doing nothing to them.

"You've been a real bro, Junpei. But now… you've got a life to live. We don't." Skull quietly tells himself as he shakes his head, standing close to Panther

"Go out there and be famous, Yukari. We know you can do it…" Panther quietly adds as her left hand trembles, with Skull gently grasping it.

"Keep on improving yourself, Fuuka. I know you can do it." Oracle quietly responds as Joker and Queen hug her.

"You the first real dog friend I made, Koromaru. And one with more loyalty than I can imagine." Mona quips, jumping onto Joker's shoulder.

"You promised us, didn't you? Please, you have to make it back!" Aigis' words echo around them as Nyx seems to quiver. As though it knew what they were going to do. Or rather… it was afraid of something else.

"Don't give up! No matter what, we are by your side!" Minako's voice calls out as the team glance behind them as they sense a strange presence. Seeing a strange figure slowly forming outside of the nest they were in.

"You can do this! Our strength is your own!" Minato's voice calls out as the Thieves narrow their eyes at the figure. Strange, how in these final moments they finally understood what the true threat was. And how things could have been different if they did know before all of this.

"Minako, Minato… you've done enough sacrificing for one life. And we won't let you end up like this." Joker quietly comments as he locks eyes with everyone. They knew what they had to do as they all place their hands into a pile. Glaring at the strange shadow before them as Nyx quivered behind them. And as one, they let out a defiant cry of rage, even as they all let out one final tear from their eyes.

"SHOWS OVER, EREBUS! GREAT SEAL!"

---

Minato didn't know what had happened when the Thieves flew into Nyx. One moment, they were all lying atop Tartarus, watching as Nyx got closer to them. The next, they are standing here in the void of space, somehow able to breathe despite the obvious lack of air.

"Where are we…?" Yukari asks, standing next to Minako.

"That's the million-dollar question." Shinjiro remarks as he shrugs his shoulders at her.

"Did Nyx create this place? Or was it them?" Mitsuru asks, standing next to Akihiko.

"Fuuka, what happened to them? Are they all right?" Akihiko asks Fuuka who was busy trying to scan the area. But all she got was nothing. As though the void they were standing in negated her scanning abilities entirely.

"Everything disappeared after that light covered us… and I can't sense anything. It is as though… I'm trapped in the eye of a storm with no way out." Fuuka replies, letting out a shiver as Minato hugs her.

"Don't tell me they…" Ken starts before stopping himself as he shakes his head.

"What the hell are you saying? That's impossible!" Junpei shouts, slamming a foot down. "They're not dead! They just went back to their own time, right!?"

"That seems like the logical solution." Mitsuru remarks, flipping some hair back. "If they came back in time to stop Nyx and save us, then they would go back to their own time after completing their mission." Minako, Minato, and Aigis all glance at each other, seeing how their friends were all falling into the mindset of them going back to their time. But in truth… they knew what really happened. But they couldn't bring themselves to say it.

"Why am I so powerless? Am I really incapable of protecting the ones closest to me?" Aigis asks quietly to herself, not looking at anyone as she has her back turned to them. "This is what I was trying to prevent…"

Don't worry. A voice calls out to the group as they all glance around with confusion in their eyes. A voice that sounded very familiar to them. I will sleep once again. Peace will return to this universe for you… and for them. They and two others have found the answer to life's greatest question. It just happened a bit sooner than it will for the rest of you.

"Life's… greatest question…" Aigis parrots, looking at Minako and Minato as they silently nod at her. They knew the answer but would keep it secret from everyone else. After all, it was their answer to find on their own.

Aigis… You'll find the answer one day as well. Your life, too, is precious… irreplaceable. You just have to realise how the bonds of friendship have changed you. Aigis remains silent, letting the words echo within her mind as she looks at her hands. A conflict of emotions runs through her as she clenches her hands. As though it would one day threaten to tear her in two. The Dark Hour will soon vanish from this world. You will truly be liberated from its dominion. The legacy of life will continue. Congratulations, you have the miracle you sought. May we meet again someday…

With that, the team find themselves back at the entrance to Tartarus, just outside the entrance The green glow of the Dark Hour still lingered about, but there was a noticeable difference about it. The moon was at its normal size. And as they looked upon it, the sky erupted into light. As though a massive hole was opened up as the Dark Hour dissolved around them. Vanishing into a calm blue light as Tartarus began to revert back into Gekkoukan High School in a similar flash of light.

"We did it." Yukari comments as they watch the calm, deep blue of the night sky return. "The Dark Hour is vanishing." As they watch Tartarus finally vanish as the school once more takes its place, they all realised that a good portion of the team was missing.

"Where are Ren and the others?" Fuuka asks, noting the absence of the Thieves.

"They must have gone back to their own time." Junpei remarks, shaking his head. "Dang it, they didn't even have a chance to say goodbye."

"Not even a passing word of encouragement." Shinjiro remarks as Minako, Minato, and Aigis look at them in confusion. Ren and the others did say something to them when they left to defeat Nyx. Unless…

"Now that you mention it… I've got a gap in my memory." Ken remarks, rubbing his head as the other members of S.E.E.S do the same. "Did we forget already?"

"Forget what?" Akihiko remarks, rubbing his head. "I mean, we were warned we would forget about something, but what was it?"

"Let's discuss this when we are more awake than we currently are." Mitsuru tells them, shaking her head. "It's late, and we should be heading back to the Dorm. Why are we out so late anyway? IS it related to what we have forgotten?" The other members of S.E.E.S all shrug their shoulders as they start making their way back to the Dorm while Minako, Minato, and Aigis trail behind.

"They forgot about the Dark Hour already?" Minako asks quietly, shaking her head. "That's just… wrong."

"I hope they remember soon." Minato tells her, letting out a sigh. "It's not right that we still remember when they don't." Minako nods her head until they both notice Aigis start to slow down. Her face is downcast as the twins look at her in concern. "Aigis?"

"Minato… Minako… Ren and the others… they didn't go back to their time, right?" She asks quietly, her eyes filled with hurt as she looks at them. "Please, tell me that I am wrong. That they did go back to their time." The twins look at each other, hurt visible on their faces as they look back at Aigis with sadness in their eyes. And with the shake of their heads, Aigis could feel her artificial heart break in two as they tell her the truth she dreaded to hear.

"Aigis… The Thieves… are dead. They sacrificed themselves so we wouldn't have to."