The Terminal spits us back out at Kasumigaseki, mere steps away from the command room, where we spill our guts to Fujiwara and Skins to complete the quest.
Nanashi: I've always liked those two. Guess there are actually good people in authority. They've been appearing in my dreams, though; weird. I'm gonna take a bit of a rest outside; all that running and angel-killing was getting to me...
(Cut to OROCHI standing behind an array of fireworks, including one big one pointed at NANASHI. OKUNINUSHI enters)
Okuninushi: Ah, my dear serpent. May I ask what that is?
Orochi Head #1: MELCHOM SELL TO ME.
'Orochi Head #5: NANASHI MAKE ME RE-EXPERIENCE
Orochi Head #6: STUPID PART OF MYTH WHERE ME LOSE
Orochi Head #8: SO ME GET HIM.
Okuninushi: Interesting...
(Cut to ARACHNE and MEDUSA, manning an identical array aimed at ATHENA)
Medusa: Gahahaha... the coup de grace... that pompous goddess thinks she can claim the moral high ground even after what she did to us... I shall paint a masterwork with her splattered corpse!
Arachne: Deliciouuuuuuuuussssss...
(Cut to ATHENA, also with an array of fireworks aimed at TITAN)
Dionysus: Ah, hello, Sister. What might this be?
Athena: Purchased from Sir Melchom. I am concerned of Titanic corruption of young Nanashi's mind... This should convince him we Olympians are not to be trifled with...
Dionysus: Would you rather not have some wine?
(Cut back to OROCHI, who lights his largest firework)
Orochi Head #2: THIS
Orochi Head #4: BE
Orochi Head #6: GOOD!
(The firework flies off. It approaches NANASHI, who just notices it as it abruptly swerves away. OROCHI's rocket flies into ARACHNE and MEDUSA's array, setting all of them off, including the big rocket which flies at ATHENA. She uses Makarakarn to block it, sending it straight at DIONYSUS, who is stuck to its cone and flies back toward OROCHI, OKUNINUSHI, ARACHNE, and MEDUSA. All of them get charred by the rocket. MELCHOM walks by, snickering and counting Macca)
Melchom: Another one born every minute...
Orochi Head #3: WHY THAT NOT WORK?
Arachne: Yeah, you hitting him with paper worked, because it wasn't part of our astral forms. Neither were the fireworks so what gives?
Melchom: Hitting someone with paper does not equal blowing them up. You can't straight-up KILL your summoner, no matter what you use. You idiots aren't getting your Macca back ei-
Nanashi: The SHIT was that?
Medusa: I can explain! The hideous goddess ruined my life!
Orochi: YOU COST ME FIVE MINUTES OF ME EXISTENCE!
Athena: I was only worried about you and-
Nanashi: Just... stuff it. I don't care. I don't care about your petty sour grapes from wherever the Hell you came from. We. Are. A. Team. You're my demons. I'm your summoner. You're MY responsibility. You're my giant, fucked-up family. The only one I've ever had, except Asahi and her dad. Now, we'll all play nice, yes?
Kikuri-Hime: Being nice is good!
6/8 MOON
The next day, we're awakened by Asahi. She informs Nanashi that another war council between Merkabah, Lucifer, and the Hunters has been called... and that can only mean one thing.
Nanashi: So much for niceness...
We head over to the Association, where exactly that happens. Merkabah calls off the ceasefire, and informs us that his Samurai will be marching out to destroy Tokyo. He extends an offer to the humans of Tokyo to come up to Mikado and not die with their city - most refuse, including Fujiwara and Skins, though some take him up on his offer.
Nanashi: Figures. Guess I can't really blame them though.
Thoth: Always kinda sad seein' people who'll give up freedom for a bit of phony security...
Throne: Freedom and security... yes...
Gu Huo Niao: Angel Face ain't lookin' too good.
We get a new quest to prevent "Armageddon" from going down, so it's off to Ichigaya with us!
Tiamat: I do say, love, that demon over there looks curiously familiar...
Ym: ............
Mithras: Can he even... say anything...
Ym: .............
Tonacatecuhtli: Oh hey, it's that kid with the Magnetite and stuff? I think some of our kids are with him? I forget.
Tonacacihuatl: You never remember anything you old buzzard! And you never let me be on top!
Tonacatecuhtli: I want to prevent what happened last time you were on top, geh heh heh...
Nanashi: Gross.
Character notes: The Cannaanite dragon god representing the sea, also spelled Yam. He was the nemesis of Baal the storm god and the Canaanite counterpart of the Mesopotamian Tiamat, who can actually evolve into Ym in this came. No idea why he has staves with Polynesian tikis on them. Almighty and Ice user.
Personality notes: Never says anything.
Character notes: The primordial god couple in Aztec lore, who were often depicted in one body. The male half was named Tonacatecuhtli and the female half Tonacacihuatl. While they were the first gods they were seen as more of a Demiurge figure than a deity with true power - it was their children who were the true creators. Fire and Ice-user.
Personality notes: Old married couple in one body.
On the way out, we meet Stephen and the little girl again. He informs us that she is the Goddess of Tokyo, the very avatar of the city itself, and she's been watching our journey. Stephen once again says he will assist those who walk the middle path before vanishing yet again...
Nanashi: I never signed up for this "great destiny" thing but okay...
The overworld map is now swarming with new kinds of demons, and the background music's changed too. Among those we can find out here include wild Dantalians, but we met him earlier, as well as...
Gemori: At this the dawn of the last days... why not abandon thy quest and come with me...
Victor: Heed not this callow wench, young summoner! You must do your duty as one of God's chosen, and lead the people to truth and justice.
Brigid: Oh. It's... him. This complicates things...
Character notes: The lone female among the 72 demonic nobles of the Goetia. She's an elegant noblewoman riding a camel and is well-known for her ability to make people fall in love with her summoner. Ailment and Fire specialist.
Personality notes: A temptress who cares for nothing but worldly pleasures.
Character notes: A mysterious figure that appeared to Saint Patrick in a dream, exhorting him to Christianize Ireland. While shown as an angel here, some believe he was actually a human bishop, as Patrick knew a bishop named Victoricius. Light and support-user.
Personality notes: Another pompous angel; he has a rivalry with the Tuatha De.
Welcome to my favorite sequence of the entire game: Armageddon. All the factions in the game now converge on the Yamato Reactor - the Ashura-kai and Gaeans under Lucifer, the Samurai under Merkabah, and the Hunters standing for humanity, and we're caught in the middle. As we enter, Isabeau appears leading a group of Hunters! She states that as Merkabah is desperate, she was granted a pardon in exchange for he cooperation with Armageddon. But she's obviously not going to actually destroy Tokyo. She joins us, completing the party once again.
Inside, everything is in flames and an energy barrier blocks the main stairwell. Hallelujah catches a fleeting glimpse of his Ashura-kai mentor, Abe...
Nanashi: Are these truly... the last days?
Kinmamon: NEGATIVE. MY ATTUNEMENT STATES THERE IS SOMETHING BEYOND. MY SENSORS CANNOT ASCERTAIN WHAT AT THE MOMENT, HOWEVER.
Wu Kong: She's right, dude... whatever she is. Ya gotta live in the moment; don't worry when everything seems to be coming down around ya!
Nanashi: You sound like those Maruology people. Wonder what happened to them, anyway?
Character notes: A mysterious goddess who is the supreme deity among some Shinto practitioners in Japan's Ryukyu Islands. Her worship is very esoteric and mysterious, hence why she's in the Enigma clan. Almighty specialist.
Personality notes: Talks like a robot.
Character notes: The Monkey King, Sun Wu Kong! He's one of the greatest heroes of Chinese lore and the protagonist of of the epic Journey to the West. He was a violent prankster who trashed the heavens, requiring an alliance of Buddhist and Taoist gods to stop, and Buddha made him do penance be accompanying the monk Xuanxang on his journey to India. Westerners probably know him best as the inspiration for Goku. Phys and support specialist.
Personality notes: Total wild and crazy guy.
Obviously, we need to get that barrier down. Head to the elevator on the right hand side of this floor and take it down to the basement. From there we go up a series of stairwells until we're in the deepest basement once again, at a point inaccessible from the point we got off the elevator - this place is full of one-way doors for some reason. And of course there's new demons to meet here...
Kudlak: Blahahaha! Hello! Aren't you just the tastiest morsel!
Kresnik: KUDLAK! Stand back you naive child - this is a beast for slaying!
(KRESNIK charges, but his attack is blocked by a HUGE, GREEN DRAGON)
Pendragon: PENDRAGON PROTECT ALLY KUDLAK.
Rangda: Eeeeeeeeeeheeeeheeeee... these rivalries spilling over... brings a tear to my eye! How delicious, watching them all crawl!
Character notes: An evil Slavic vampire from Slovenia, he is Kresnik's nemesis. He brings misfortune, such as disease or failing crops, to people until Kresnik drives him off; the battle between them, like a lot of struggles in myth, has no end. He's an ailment user who gets the delightful Death's Door, which reduces all Sick foes to 1HP, and Pandemic Bomb to go with it!
Personality notes: Stereotypical evil vampire.
Character notes: The greatest of all dragons in English lore, his name literally meaning "Head Dragon." When the legendary King Uther of Britain defeated the Saxons, he commemorated his victory by taking the name "Pendragon," which was inherited by his son, King Arthur. Phys-user.
Personality notes: Speaks in monotone statements and likes protecting people.
Character notes: The embodiment of evil in Balinese Hindu lore. She is every bit the typical Wicked Witch and enjoys tormenting humans with misfortune. Much like Kudlak, though, she has a nemesis, the holy beast Barong. They will battle until the end of time. She's a Wind and ailment user who sadly don't get Debilitate in this one.
Personality notes: Card-Carrying Villain witch.
These passageways end up spitting us out at a seeming dead end with a portal in the wall. It's guarded by a demon dressed as a hunter, who summons more of his kind to aid him...
MINI-BOSS: FALLEN BARBATOS x4
Level 69. Repel Gun, Weak Fire, Null Wind, Resist Dark
Not much to say here. These guys have only slightly more HP than their random encounter versions so just hit them with all the Fire you can muster. Their primary method of attack is the randomly-hitting Gun move Myriad Arrows, so of course, protect against that.
Inside, we enter a huge, ostentatious chamber. It's... Lucifer Palace from the first SMTIV, now called the Realm of Chaos for some reason. We're in the Hall of Eternity, the room with all the trick doors from the first one, and the gimmick's the same here, though there are only two alternate versions of the room to warp between this time - one has a Power Spot on the landing and the other doesn't. Our destination is the door blocked by two Wraithwalls on the second-level of the non-Power Spot room, meaning we need to power up at the P-Spot, warp into the other room, and destroy the Wraithwalls.
Koumokuten: Halt.
Nanashi: Yeesh. Another... jar guy.
Koumokuten: Thou enter into a strange and dangerous place - perhaps I could be of some assistance? Young one who could best the Devas - show me what thou have...
Long: Lo, I had better come along too... for your safety...
Pendragon: PENDRAGON SMELL OTHER DRAGON.
Gui Xian turtle head: I have no idea, they said he'd be here!
Gui Xian dragon head: Why didn't you get a map you old fossil?
Gui Xian turtle head: Takes one to know one!
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Character notes: The protector of the West in Buddhist lore, one of the Four Devas. His original name is Virupaksha; Koumokuten is his Japanese name. He's of a less martial sort than the others, preferring to enlighten humans with rousing speeches. Elec specialist.
Personality notes: Same as the other Devas.
Character notes: One of the most famous Chinese creatures, the Azure Dragon Qing Long! He is one of the Four Symbols or Si Xiang of the Chinese constellations, and guards the east and the element of wood. This set of creatures are notable for a gaffe Atlus made with their names - these four's names were mixed up with those of the very similar but distinct Four Holy Beasts or Si Ling; as mentioned, his name should be Qing Long. Anyway, Wind user.
Personality notes: Calm and collected knightly sort.
Character notes: One of Qing Long's pals, the Black Tortoise of the South. Correct name: Xuan Wu. He oversees the element of water and is often, as here, depicted with both a turtle's head and a dragon's. Ice-user.
Personality notes: The heads are a pair of cranky old roommates that always argue.
Make your best preparations and enter... to be greeted by Lucifuge Rofocale, Prime Minister of Hell. He sees us as little ,pst sheep and is prepared to show us the door... by force. Brace yourself.
BOSS: TYRANT LUCIFUGE
Level 70. Repel Gun, Weak Elec, Repel Wind, Null Dark
Sweet merciful crap. Like Sukuna-Hikona, Lucifuge is another of the game's hardest mandatory bosses, and is even more impressive as he's FAR from the last boss of his dungeon. His difficulty mainly stems from having THREE elements at his disposal, unusually for a mid-boss - Gun, Wind, and Dark. All are common weaknesses, and it's hard to protect against them all at once. I brought Long to make him waste turns with his Wind attacks and apply de-buffs.
Long: The might of a dragon brings lis foul creature to its knees!
As if that weren't bad enough, he also has Makarakarn, meaning he can arbitrarily make himself immune to anything that isn't Phys or Almighty.
Wu Kong: Haha... these scholar types are always so weed- ACK!
To top it all off, he has his unique skill Light Devourer, which is Mamudoon and Life Drain stacked on each other. Yeowch. His AI is also very smart, and he'll attack around whichever 'karn you put up, though you can absolutely cheese him with both. His weaknesses include low HP and no Dekunda, though he can manually buff himself back up. Once defeated, he drops a mysterious seal. and a warp back to "real-space" appears...
Nanashi: That guy was just Lucifer's paper-pusher? I can only imagine how tough the man himself must me... oh, hello.
Alciel: You didn't see me, nope nope nope.
Nanashi: What the?
Master Therion: Thou must forgives him. He hath many vulnerabilities, so he is content to remain with just his head 'hove ground... heh. I said "head."
Seigfried: Whoa, hey there kid! Just thought I'd scotch on in, too!
Hagen: Back to your pathetic hanger-on self, eh Siegfried? Bah.
Character notes: Another demon so obscure his name was Romanized wrong, this is in fact Arsiel, a Babylonian god of the underworld who was later taken into Judaism. His name means "Black Sun," but not much else is known about him for sure. H'es a reverse Taotie - nulls all four elements but is weak to Phys and Gun, though he gets Tetrakarn to counter that.
Personality notes: Likes hiding underground and hates coming out.
Character notes: The Beast of Revelation himself, Therion is said to be a wicked ruler in Christianity who will appear at the end of time, declare himself the second coming of Jesus, and usher in a worldwide dictatorship. His associated number is 66, which all people must have branded on them or be executed. Famously hedonistic occultist Aleister Crowley was known for claiming he was the Beast. Fire, Ice, and ailment user.''
Personality notes: Alternately genteel and crass.
Character notes: The protagonist of the Germanic epic Nibelungenlied, perhaps most famous for its adaptation as Wagner's Ring Cycle of operas. He slew the dragon Fafnir and was drenched in its blood, making him invincible everywhere but a spot on his back that was covered by a leaf. He spurned the leader of the Valkyries, who arranged his death at the hands of Hagen. He's a Phys specialist who is one of the few demons that drains Phys, and also gets support skills like Critical Eye and Enduring Soul, which revives him once per battle with full HP!
Personality notes: A cocky young adventurer.
Take the warp back to the main area. After this we need to go down the stairs on the opposite side of the first floor and repeat the process of weaving and bobbing through the floors. On the way there, there's a funny scene between a Gaean mob and an Ashura-kai gang arguing over who gets to kill Merkabah. Even on the same side, they can never agree!
Feng Huang: Well that's certainly silly. Nobody can agree on anything even when on the same side, too bad so sad, you know this reminds me of that time in Beijing when I was talking to that lovely-
Gui Xian dragon head: Aww SHEDDAP!
Anat: I can ring his neck for you if you want, turtle-man. I'm just looking for my pissant husband; apparently he's in this city.
Alice: Yaaaaaaaaay! Wringing birdie necks! Uh-oh. Uncle Nebby, do you sense-
Nebiros: Yes... a very... familiar presence...
Character notes: The Vermillion Bird of the South in Chinese lore. Correct romanization: Zhu Que. He's the third of the Four Symbols, governing fire and, of course, the south. He's obviously a Fire-user.
Personality notes: Talks really fast and never shuts up.
Character notes: The goddess of love and war in Canaanite lore, known as a wrathful goddess whom even the male gods like her father El feared. She's the wife of Baal, and every year she rescues him from captivity in the underworld at the hands of its king, Mot. If that sounds familiar, yes, she's the Canaanite counterpart of Isthar. She's another Phys user, maxing out with Phys Pleroma.
Personality notes: Stereotypical female bully.
Follow this one to reach a dead end on the other side of the basement floor. The portal in this wall is guarded by two Hordes of Fallens who I don't think are any different from the random encounter versions around here. they're vulnerable to instant-kills, even. The first one scores points for being led by a Melchom, though.
Melchom: As it damn well should be!
Proceeding through drops us into the Hall of Eternity again, this time a different version. Again, there's two versions of the room, but this time one has the Lady of the Fount at the back and one doesn't. Our destination is the bottom-left door on the second level, fenced in by Wormwood.
First, however, we see a group of unconscious Hunters. W'ere given the option to escort them to the entrance, which nets us Peace points and a free Soma, but makes us hike back, or leaving them for Anarchy points (I chose the first).
Cerberus: BOWOWOWOWOWOW! ME SMELL OTHER DOGS ON YOU, KID! ME SMELL STUPID BABY BROTHER!
Orthrus: ME KEEP KID SAFE, WHAT YOU DO. KID HAVE LOTS MAGNETITE; LOTS DEMONS WANT EAT HIM. ARFARFARFARFARF!
Shjisaa: I was his first dog; I love him most!
Inugami: I don't care either way.
Fenrir: AWOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! AS THE LARGEST AND MOST COMPOSED CANINE HERE, I DECLARE THAT WE SHALL ALL GORGE ON THIS CHILD'S TASTY MAGNETITE! AWOOOOOOOOOO!
Other canine demons: AWOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Osiris: Ah the simple story of a boy and his hell-dogs...
Isis: This is why we're cat people, dear.
Character notes: Perhaps the most famous of Greek monsters, Cerberus is the three-headed hellhound that guards the underworld; he's another of Typhon and Echidna's mutant spawn and the older brother of Orthrus. He prevents souls from attempting to escape the underworld, but was once captured himself by Hercules. He's the top Beast and is a Fire and Phys user.
Personality notes: Standard "Beast" personality he usually has in the series.
Character notes: The Beast of the Apocalypse in Norse lore. He's the gray wolf who is the eldest son of Loki and Angrboda, and older brother of Hel. He was prophesies to destroy Odin, so the gods bound him, but as You Can't Fight Fate, his bindings will eventually snap and he will rise against the gods, playing a major role in bringing about the end of the world. He's the top Wilder and yet another Phys specialist. He also has positive affinity towards Ice, but he doesn't learn any Ice moves naturally.
Personality notes: Tries to present himself as more dignified than the other dog demons, but easily gets sucked in.
Enter the correct door to find...
Nebiros: Oh dear he's in one of his moods again...
Alice: UNCLE BELLYYYYYYYYYYYYY!
Yup, just like in Vanilla, Belial is the other guardian. And of course, he's not going down without a big fight...
BOSS: TYRANT BELIAL
Level 70. Null Fire, Weak Ice, Null Dark
Belial isn't quite as hard as Lecifuge owing to having only two elements (Fire and Gun) but he still has a couple interesting gimmicks. He's the first boss thus far, apart from the unwinnable Odin fight, to have a fourth-tier spell, in this case Trisagion, and is the first boss with a "Will of" skill. What these do is give a piercing effect to their corresponding element - thus Belial's Will of Flame pierces Fire resistances. And no, you can't cheat with Makarakarn either.
Kudlak: Bwahaha... toasty in here even for me.
Kresnik: Good. A thing from Hell roasts a thing from Hell.
He also does have Dekunda, but that just means you need to keep him de-buffed all the time. He has no 'karns to arbitrarily cheese his weaknesses, either. Pile on the Ice and it shouldn't take too long.
Alice: Bye Uncle Belly; see you soon!
Nanashi: Huh, he's right; he appeared on my fusion list, and the other one too. Still dunno why the Divine Powers guys didn't, though...'
Belial drops a seal that matches the other one. These of course, undo the barrier on the main stairwell (we needed Masakado for that in Vanilla); thus, into the bowels of Hell we descend...
