April 13 (Tuesday), Palace of Lust
Chapter 41
Ren is pleased with his Metaverse attire, and Nanako observes that it suits him. She also observes the Compendium, finding its pages glowing too brightly to look at without her glasses and projecting Izanagi's card upon turning to his page, setting him as her active Persona. She formally gives Ryuji permission to call her by her name as she empties her bag of everything but the Compendium. They agree to go back in through the vent, and Morgana appears, appreciating the possibility of backup and agreeing to guide them, though only considering them confidants for the time being.
As they go, Morgana explains the nature of Palaces, how the castle is Kamoshida's because he sees himself as king of the school, and how the Metaverse brings inner thoughts to life. Nanako flashes back again to Kunino-Sagiri, falling over and being caught by Ryuji, and Morgana adds that only people with strong distorted desires have Palaces. Ryuji loudly declares he knew Kamoshida was a creep, and everyone hides as, moments later, the door opens.
Nanako listens to the heavy footsteps of a guard until they turn. She peeks out just in time to see Ren drop from the ceiling and grab the Shadow's mask.
Chapter 42
The knight becomes a Pixie, which Ren and Morgana make short work of with an Eiha and All-Out Attack. Nanako notes the dagger that had materialized for Ren, which appears and disappears like Morgana's cutlass as they need them. Ryuji produces a model gun he'd brought and asks if it would work, which Morgana confirms, but directs him to give the gun to Ren.
Morgana leads them to the lower dungeon, where Nanako runs off at hearing a scream and runs into a guard that turns into two Mandrakes. Izanagi smites one while the other lunges at her; in absence of any other weapon appearing, she swings her bag with the Compendium, knocking it into the wall before Ren finishes it with the gun. Morgana praises them and promises to teach them all he knows, but admits at Nanako's questioning that he doesn't know who he is or how he knows what he does. Nanako offers to help with his memories as much as he's helping them in the Metaverse, to which Morgana agrees.
SOCIAL LINK STATUS
- XVII–The Tower: Morgana
Level 1
Chapter 43
Ren has Nanako trick three guards into a deadly ambush, they recognizing her as Kamoshida's new concubine, and the group makes their way to the cell with the student they had left the previous day. Ryuji is adamant about freeing him, and Nanako realizes that Ryuji was confusing the definitions of "cognition" and "convict." As Ren lightly ribs Ryuji about the mistake, Nanako observes Ryuji has a hero's heart, and says they can still use the information that Kamoshida sees them as prisoners. The group goes around memorizing faces, universally disgusted by Kamoshida's torturous treatments of them. After a time, Morgana urges them to leave, as he senses many Shadows moving about.
Chapter 44
The group finds the main hall full of Shadows, and Nanako realizes at once that they can't outright win. Ryuji bitterly stays in the back as Nanako takes in the fight: Ren and Arsene are fighting like demons, a pace they can't maintain forever, while Morgana is being strategic with his actions. Nanako reflects that she needs wind magic like Morgana's, and opens the compendium in a trance-like state to Anzu under the Hierophant Arcana, understanding the nature of switching Personas as she calls Anzu and enters the fray. Morgana and Nanako clear a path to the door, but with Ren still behind, Nanako doubles back to attack some of the foes pressing on him. Ren tackles her to the ground, only to be speared by a Berith and left unmoving on the ground. Another knight pins Nanako while Morgana is sent flying over to her, pinned by a third knight.
Shadow Kamoshida appears and taunts them, causing Ryuji to come out and yell at him. Kamoshida boasts how he's the one with the power in the school, followed by revealing that he had broken Ryuji's leg when he attacked him and broken the track team by getting his coach fired. He says he can do whatever he wants, including killing all of them, and Ren asks Ryuji if he's going to let Kamoshida take everything from him again. Ryuji refuses, and his eyes turn yellow.
Chapter 45
Nanako's guard releases her and runs to protect Kamoshida as, in an explosion of fire and lightning, Ryuji awakens to his Persona, Captain Kidd. Ryuji casts Zio to destroy the Shadow pinning Morgana, and Morgana quickly heals Ren as Nanako switches back to Izanagi. Ryuji materializes the pipe that Kamoshida used to break his leg and beats the last knight to nothing with it, leaving only Berith. Zorro and Arsene parry and distract it before Nanako and Ryuji bring it down with a colossal Zio.
With the battle over, Ryuji falls to his knees, exhausted from the Awakening, and as Morgana senses more Shadows approaching, the group departs for the real world.
