Part 223: 1/31/10 Part 1

1/31/10

Well I’m writing this, so either I’m alive or I’m having the lamest possible death dream.



> At last, you can confront Nyx at the top of Tartarus.
> You suspect that once you enter Tartarus tonight, you won’t be able to leave until the battle is over.

As expected, things were already going crazy even before the Dark Hour came.



Newscaster: The hordes of people seem to be a gathering of the cult.
Some members are holding placards reading “Nyx” or “Quiet Revolution,” making for an enigmatic scene…

I don’t think they’ll be asking for Nyx again soon after what happened tonight. Getting ahead of myself, right, so we all got together in the command center before the Dark Hour. Yukari brought up something I hadn’t really wanted to think about.

Video- “Meeting”

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> Everyone is gathered with solemn looks on their faces…
Alright… This will probably be the last time we meet like this.
…Is everyone ready?
…U-Um, can I say something?
I know that we have to defeat Nyx…
But if you think about it, that means we’ll be getting rid of the Dark Hour…
Ryoji-kun said before that if he dies, our memories will disappear too…
So if we defeat Nyx… we might not remember any of this.
Our memories…
True… our memories regarding the Dark Hour and our Personas…
They… may disappear.
……

Of course, I don’t think I get the luxury of forgetting what I saw tonight. Hah, ahead of myself again.



Even if it robs us of all of our memories together… I will still remember you all!
* laugh * We know you will, Yuka-tan!
I won’t forget anything.
I won’t forget you, either!
Neither will I!
I will not forget you, Yukari-san.
Don’t worry, even if you do forget about us, I’ll remind you.
…Yeah, so don’t worry about it.
Oh, I’m so glad to hear that…
Okay!

Junpei actually had a good idea, one to make sure none of us ever forget what happened here.



Good idea! But, where should we meet?
I don’t think it should be the dorm… We’ll come back here anyways if all goes well…
Hey, shouldn’t we also decide on when we’ll meet?
Yeah, it should be a special day…
What about Graduation Day?
When the Dark Hour vanishes, our memories might not disappear right away.
So we shouldn’t plan to meet too soon after the battle.
And there’s no day that will have more significance to us all.
Wow… You’re really smart, Yukari-san!
Graduation Day…! Yes, that will be easy to remember.
Yeah, that’s probably our best bet… Graduation Day it is!
Now, where should we meet?
It should be somewhere where it’s easy to recognize that peace has returned to the city.
Someplace with a good view, then? Um…
…Oh, how about the school’s roof?
Ooh, good idea!
Alright, the roof it is!

So we’re going to meet again on Graduation Day, up on the roof, and no matter how hard the world tries to steal away our memories we’ll reclaim what we’ve lost then.



…we should remember how we’re feeling right now…
That no matter what may happen, we will never look back…
…I agree.
Arf!
* laugh * Sorry, but you’ll just have to wait!
Alright then, let’s get going.
Let’s go, everyone!
…Yeah!
…Together.
…I will do my best.
Good, cuz I’m counting on ya!
…This is going to be easy.
…Yes, it is.

The time had almost come. We all had our own reasons for wanting to stop Nyx.



I want to strengthen our bonds, so I can’t let the world end today.
My dad delayed the Fall until now…
…so he could pass me the baton.
And I’m going to run with it until the very end.
I must end the Dark Hour… for my mother, Shinjiro-san, and me.
I will fight with my all. It’s not for revenge; it’s so we can live.
I want everyone to live… And I want to live, too…
That’s what I’m going to fight for.
It all ends tonight…
But don’t worry, I know we’ll win…
Don’t you hear it?
Shinji’s telling us to beat the crap out of Nyx.
Chidori gave me this life… and I’m not gonna let it end today!
I’m gonna beat the hell outta Nyx!
I wasn’t able to save my father…
But, his dreams live on inside of me…
I’ll make sure they come true…
…Alright, let’s get going.
Okay.
There’s no turning back this time…
Are you ready?
I’m ready.
Alright, let’s go.

We returned to Tartarus, where the final barrier had dissolved.



……
……!
I sense something powerful on the 258th floor.
…Huh!? But…
…it’s not a Shadow!
It’s Strega!
I knew they’d be here… Please be careful.

Strega decided to meet us one at a time, I guess they figured it’d slow us down more that way.



I’m not sure which one it is, but keep your guard up.

It really wasn’t a surprise that Takaya sent is crony to fight us first.

Video- “Jin”

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You…!?
Where’s your partner?
Takaya went on ahead of me.
He’s destined for greater things.
So, it looks like you’re serious about fighting Nyx.
How do you know about Nyx…?
I pieced together the information Ikutsuki left behind.
But, not all of it made sense… He was a real nut job.
Did you know Ikutsuki?
We were surprised to find out he was your boss.
We really only knew his name…

It turns out we were just the latest in a long line of people Ikutsuki screwed over.



He “created” you!?
Who are you!?
Heh… There’s no use in telling you… The end is near.
We don’t have time for this... Get out of the way.
Can’t do that, little lady…
There’s no way you’ll be able to stop Nyx…
But, I can’t let you interfere with Takaya’s wish.
Do you even understand what you’re saying!?
If Nyx isn’t destroyed, all life will be destroyed!
Exactly.
We won’t live much longer… and we want to see the end before we die.
That is Takaya’s wish… so I’m not backing down.
But…
Enough talk.
Let’s do this.

Not that knowing that changed anything at all.



We still had to take him down.

Video- “Battle with Jin”

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So now we’re fighting Jin, who uses lots of status effects and tries to specifically target your weaknesses. That is, unless you cover them up, then he just bitches at you like a whiner.



Are you afraid to face them?

He’s still super easy, just beat him down and cure whatever status crap he drops on you. Nothing else to it.

He explained a bit more after the battle.

Video- “Hermit’s End”

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What’re you waiting for…? Finish me off!
I would do anything for Takaya…
Why are you so loyal to him?
Heh… You wouldn’t understand…
Takaya showed me the light when I was in the darkness…
It was a long time ago…
In order to better understand the Dark Hour…
Kirijo rounded up kids that were living on the streets, and gave them special powers…
…so they could investigate Tartarus.
What…?
But, when that power doesn’t emerge naturally, it’s difficult to control.
So the kids had to take experimental medication so their powers wouldn’t kill them.
Only three kids out of the original hundred survived, and after six months, the experiment was cancelled.
Then, those three were…
You all suffered at the hands of Kirijo…
Takaya saved me from it all…
He said, “Don’t let the past control you, and don’t look to the future; simply live in the moment…”
To be honest, I don’t even care about Kirijo anymore.
But, Takaya’s wish… must be… fulfilled…!
You…

That guy…



Tch! We were here too long!
We’re running out of time! We have to go! Now!
But… we can’t…
You idiots! I don’t want your pity…!
……
> Mitsuru turned around and headed for the floor above…
……
* whimper *
> Ken and Koromaru headed upstairs as well…
B-But…
No hesitation. If we don’t defeat Nyx, then this was all for nothing.
A-Alright…
…Dammit…
…Let’s go.
…Yeah.
> Fuuka and the others headed upstairs as well…
……
Aigis… It’s time to go.
> Everyone headed to the floor above…

He made his choices, and I don’t have to save him from them.



Heh… I won’t let you eat me…
I believe in you, Takaya… Fulfill your wish…
I will hold on to the freedom you gave me to the very end…!

No matter how sad it is to die for someone who doesn’t care the tiniest bit about you.



Hey… was that…?
Did he…!?
Don’t look…!
……
…Let’s go.
……

Shortly after that Fuuka sensed that bastard Takaya.



……
……!
I sense another human on the 262nd floor!
It’s Strega again. It must be that guy Takaya.
This is it… Be very careful.

He was waiting for us just before the summit.

Video- “Takaya”

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Indeed.
Then, let us through.
I am not standing in your way.
I take it you have defeated Jin… You are quite troublesome.
What is it that you seek? These are your final moments…
The end is nigh.
Sorry…
But, we’re not gonna let that happen!
You are merely wasting your energy…
Why not celebrate this wonderful moment?
What better way could you spend your final moments together?
Will you shut up already!?

He started up with this stupid little whiny fit to explain why he’s a useless nihilist who sees the world is awful but doesn’t bother to try and make it better.



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.
That is why we welcome this glorious revelation, to shine a light upon this darkened world!
You’re so full of shit!
I’m not dying so you can have a friggin’ night-light!
This is not merely my desire.
There are many who have also gathered to rejoice in her arrival.
That’s just because all these weird things have been happening…!
That is untrue…
Who is responsible for reviving Nyx? Can a single person boast of this great accomplishment?
……
You all worked tirelessly to prevent it, and yet in doing so you unwittingly aided in her coming…
So you see, this is not just my will; it is the will of all people.
Man cannot face death without first finding menaing in life…
But the world has realized that any meaning in life was lost long ago…

Who never realized that no matter how brief your life may be, if you made an impact in the lives of others you never really die.



That can’t be…!
I-I don’t believe you! Who would ever wish for Nyx to come!?
And yet, there is truth in what he says…
Aigis…
To live a still life, never searching for one’s purpose, going into a still death… to avoid pain above all…
I don’t know if this can be called right or wrong.
But as for myself, I wouldn’t want to live that way…
I want to live for a reason, and to live for others… That’s why I came all this way.
That, for me, is what it is to live.
We are not alone. What is impossible for one becomes feasible with the help of one’s friends.
You lack such things; thus, the coming Demise appears as salvation to you.
In choosing solitude over bonds with others, you are limited by your own abilities. We have no such limits.
……
What utter foolishness…!
Those who rush into battle where death is certain are denying the Demise!
Very well then… If you insist on proving the superiority of your way, I shall do the same!
But whatever the outcome, your actions are pointless… Nyx’s advent is but moments away!
* laugh *
Ahahahahahahaha!!

Going to be honest I was really mainly just looking forward to pounding this guy down.



Not for revenge or anything, just because he’s a piece of shit.

Video- “Showdown with Takaya”

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It’s only a matter of time.
Please be careful! I sense even greater power than before…!

He’s a lot like he was the first time, with more powerful magic. And much like the first time I crit him almost immediately and the fight’s over. Watch for his Megidoloan if you’re not way overpowered for this fight I guess. He’s really not a problem, though.

Okay maybe a bit for revenge.

Video- “What a Jerk”

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I have failed… haven’t I…?
……
There is nothing more I can do…
Now… kill me.
…Are you scared?
…What a peculiar question.
You know nothing of death, if you think that it is something to fear…
What do you mean?
You fear it because you do not understand it…
…I will not explain to you any further.
……
> Aigis is quietly looking down at Takaya…

Going to be honest killing him did feel like an option for a second but I figured he should have to watch while his stupid end of the world didn’t happen.



You will live to see if what you wished for comes true or not.
Yeah, lie there and repent for what you’ve done.
* laugh * You are all so odd…
> ……
> Everyone is looking up beyond the stairway…
We’re finally here…
Up ahead is the top of Tartarus…
The promised place Ryoji spoke of…
…Let’s regroup for the final battle.

There was nothing left for us but to face down death itself. We really thought we were ready.

We were wrong.