Part 224: 1/31/10 Part 2

1/31/10

We’d defeated Strega, but our problems were only starting.

Video- “The Nyx Avatar”

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We finally reached the top.
Hey, look at the sky!
The moon’s… warped…!?
Something’s coming!
Is it Nyx!?
I can sense it even without my Persona. This is the first time that’s ever happened…

A dark shape began to form in front of the moon.



And the Avatar of Death descended upon Tartarus.



You…
Huh!? Ryoji-kun…!?
Nyx Avatar: That was my name for a time…
I didn’t mind it.
What’s going on? Wait, are you…?
Nyx Avatar: I am merely a harbinger of the Fall… Though it would be more correct to say that is what I once was.
There is no longer a distinction to be made between Nyx and myself…
Is that so…? Well regardless, I don’t regret my decision.
I’ll defeat you, no matter what you are!
Nyx Avatar: I see… Then, you must already know.
What people fear most… What they try to ignore…
That is what I am.
We know that already.
Yeah… Everyone does.
It’s the one certainty for all living things…

For having been a human for a while, he still didn’t understand the very first thing about us.



Nyx Avatar: Will you still face me? There must be trembling in your hearts…
Yeah, of course I’m scared…
But who cares about that right now? I got too much to live for!
I’m not gonna live in fear anymore!
Being really alive means not turning away from death…
So I won’t turn and cower, not even to you!
…I will stop you, even if I must sacrifice myself to do so. I do this of my own choice!
Nyx Avatar: …I see.
Everyone, let’s go!
Nyx Avatar: Come to me, Aelita…
Get ready, everyone!
Nyx… she’s coming!
I’m also sensing multiple Shadows approaching from the lower floors!
Standby team, intercept those Shadows!
This is the final battle…
Failure is not an option!

Because every day we’re alive we defy death.

Video- “The Battle For Everyone’s Soul”

Bear Witness

Final Boss: Nyx Avatar
First of all kick that video up and bask in the sweet radiance of Battle for Everyone’s Souls.

So, the Nyx Avatar is a very strange boss. At first, the only thing it’ll do on its turn is what you see above, where it taunts you. This will last until you reduce its health to zero, at which point you’ll be introduced to the first gimmick of the fight.



Nyx Avatar: Entrusting his future to the cards, man 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 which point the Avatar’s Arcana changes from Fool to Magician. So yeah, the fight starts with a set of short forms with different attacks and elemental properties, one for each Arcana from Fool to Hanged Man. They’re all pretty predictable, since they all fit the themes of the Personas and Shadows of those Arcana you’ve seen through the game. Most of them shouldn’t last more than a full turn of hitting them. One thing to note is that these forms are a bit more dangerous than they were in original P3, because they have much better thought through spell lists. Anyway everyone who’s familiar with this game has been waiting for this set of quotes so let’s get them through and get to the real fight.



Priestess: The silent voice within one’s heart whispers the most profound wisdom.
Empress: Celebrate life’s grandeur… its brilliance… its magnificence…
Emperor: Only courage in the face of doubt can lead one to the answer…
Hierophant: It is indeed a precious gift to understand the forces that guide oneself…
Lovers: There is both joy and wonder in coming to understand another…
Chariot: One of life’s greatest blessings is the freedom to pursue one’s goals.
Justice: To find the one true path, one must seek guidance amidst uncertainty…
Hermit: It requires great courage to look at oneself honestly, and forge one’s own path…
Fortune: Alongside time exists fate, the bearer of cruelty.
Strength: Only with strength can one endure suffering and torment.
Hanged Man: In the face of disaster lies opportunity for renewal.

And when you finish that form…



Nyx Avatar: 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 beaten path lies the absolute end.
It matters now who you are… Death awaits you.
I sense… Death! Nyx’s true Arcana is Death!

So yeah, Nyx’s main form has the Death Arcana and resists everything. Let’s talk a bit about Nyx’s attacks now. She’s got –dyne level elemental magic, various physical skills, and Almighty Attack. This skill hits the entire party for Almighty damage and is able to be critical. She’ll tend to toss out debuffs when she gets a One More. If this was all Nyx did she’d be tough but not bad. This is not all that Nyx does.



Once you see this taunt, Nyx will start using a skill called Moonless Gown. Until you see it deactivate the skill, anything you do will be repelled back at you for greatly increased damage. So yeah, now you get to slowly drag down the boss that already takes much less damage from most things every third turn or so. Yay. This is annoying as hell, but not what people are probably remembering as the absolute worst possible thing. That can only really happen at low health, when she gets her final move.





Night Queen does heavy Almighty damage and inflicts random status on everyone. The two big risks of this are that it can Enrage people into blowing themselves up with Moonless Gown and that it can Charm people into casting FUCKING DIARAHAN on the boss making you start the Death phase over again. So yeah make sure you either have the Heart Item that negates Charm, the Heart Item that negates all status effects, or the passive skill from Asura that does the same. That, or just blow the bitch up with Armageddon.

Unfortunately, that doesn’t change the fact that it will one day come for us all.

Video- “Death’s Descent”

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Nyx Avatar: Such a pity…
You understand fate, yet you still fight against it with all of your will…
If more people were like you, then perhaps the Fall could have been prevented…
…but it’s too late now.

Because yeah.



Nyx was the Dark Hour’s moon.



Th-The moon…!
What is that!?
Ryoji-kun’s being swallowed up by the moon…
Wait.. no, that’s not it! Is the moon getting closer!?

So yeah we were supposed to fight the damn moon.



Wait a second here… Is the moon itself Nyx!?
Soon…
It will soon descend… upon us all.
> Meanwhile, at Tatsumi Port Island…

Needless to say that was bullshit.



Brown-Haired Man: I thought I was…
> Though the Dark Hour has yet to end, the people’s Transmogrifications are wearing off…
Young Man: Whoa, what the hell is that!?
What’s that awful looking tower doing there!?
Bespectacled Man: Never mind that, look at the moon!
Am I crazy, or is it getting closer!? I-It’s falling out of the sky!
Believer: Amazing… Look at the moon…
Hahaha, this is incredible! The end of the world’s really come…!
It’s here at last!
Hahaha… Ahahahahaha!
…Urgh!
Young Woman: Eeeek!
Brown-Haired Man: R-Run! It’s a monster!
Terrified Man: I-It’s the end! The world is ending!
Quivering Man: No, no… This is all a dream… If I can just wake up…
> Countless yells and screams fill the city…
> All hell has broken loose…



…Just like Fuuka was when she saved me..,
I’m the one who said we’ll always be connected…
…That’s how I know you’re still hanging in there, Fuuka.
I’m scared as hell right now…
…but I won’t give up!
Right, Fuuka!?
> Tartarus’ peak…
> You can hear pandemonium in the city…

So yeah the moon started attacking us with waves of unspeakable force.



Something’s coming from the moon!
Agh...!
What is this…!? It’s like something’s crushing me…!
Ngh… This is… nothing…!
Ha… Haha… Hahahahaha!
How marvelous! I cannot believe the moment has finally arrived!
> Takaa has come crawling from the floor below…
You…!
Shuddup… you bastard!
Death will be patient no longer… Can’t you see that? Why continue to struggle…?
I will never give up… Never!
Everything will disappear…
Jin…
> Takaya slowly closed his eyes…
Ugh…!

And still my friends never gave up. Not even in the face of death itself…



Nyx Avatar: Give in…
Nuh-uh… I’m not backing down!
My mind’s made up! I’m in this to the end!
Raaaaaaaaaagh!
Agh…!
Ken!? …Argh!
Ngh…!
Ugh!
…Dammit…!
We’ve come this far… I refuse to submit!
> ……
> Your consciousness is fading…
Aelita…!
Aelita-san…!

My vision began to swim…

Video- “The Universe”

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But it seemed it wasn’t yet my time to die.



> The Velvet Room…?
There’s no need to worry.
This isn’t the afterlife… You’re still alive.
Do you remember what I once told you…?
…How the strength of your Social Links will determine your potential?
Listen… Can you hear the many voices?
Each one’s power is limited… Yet, they all reach out to you…
Can you feel them?
Yes, I sense them…
Close your eyes and listen carefully… Their voices may be faint, but certainly you hear them…

And that we weren’t the only ones who wished to defy death.



> The powerful emotions of your friends are flowing into your heart…
I know you’re facing a difficult task…
But I truly believe that you can overcome any obstacle.
Something frightful’s going on… but we won’t give up.
That’s right, dear… Aelita-chan wouldn’t want us to lose hope…
I know in my heart, Aelita-chan… You’re doing all you can right now, aren’t you?
You always helped me out. Now it’s my turn to help you…
Aelita… Things are going crazy right now, and I’m scared… but I’ll be all right.
I can feel from here that you’re doing your best…
You have to believe… that you’re not alone either…
Everyone else is scared, but not me…
You showed me how to be tough!
I won’t give up.
Aelita-sama… ‘ow are you doing? I ‘ope you are okay…
I am ‘ere for you… like you were zere for me!
What on earth made me think of you at a time like this…?
Well, I suppose you did teach me a thing or two about loyalty…
You must be fightin’ the good fight right about now…
Well, you taught me that runnin’ away never solves nothin’…
…so I’m here for ya, kid.
I know I’m not the only one who’s suffered… You’ve endured a lot, too…
But, you can’t just give up… You taught me that.

And then I remembered that as long as you touched the lives of others, even when you’re gone you’re not really dead. And so I found in them the power to defy death itself…



These are the voices of hope that wish to help you…
Separately, they are weak… But together, they will bring about a great change in you.
Now is the time to draw on the truth strength of the bonds you have forged!
I never dreamed of seeing that card with my own eyes…
This is indeed a surprise…
Behold the last power you and I shall unveil…
It is the power to bring about a new beginning, or the ultimate end.
It may be possible now, with this newfound power…
You may be able to defeat the one who cannot be defeated.
What you have in your hands is the power of the Universe…
…Nothing is outside the realm of possibility for you now.
> Through the strength of the bonds you formed, you obtained the Universe…
We will soon reach your destination.
It seems that, in addition to Death, fate has also dealt you the wild card.
…You must accept your destiny.
Our contract has been fulfilled… I have completed my role as well.
…You were a truly remarkable guest.

The elevator reached the top.



And I found myself back on the roof of Tartarus.



> Tartarus’ peak…
> Under the intense waves of power from the falling “moon” that are crushing your friends…
> Everyone is fighting it witih all their might…
> But…
……!?
How… can you move…!?
> Your body feels light…
Aelita…!
Wait… Are you going to go alone!?

What was coming next was something only one of us had to do.



No way… Why!?
Dammit… Why the hell can’t we stand up!?
Wait… please… we’ve been through too much together…!
Urgh… Dammit!
I said, WAIT!
Come back, you idiot!
> You began to float toward the coruscating pool of power in the sky…
> Into Nyx…

No matter how much I wanted to bring them, I knew this was my burden to bear.



It was up to me to face down the Mother of Shadows.



The power of death itself bore down on me…

Video- “Nyx”

Burn Your Dread

Unfortunately for Nyx, it just wasn’t my time yet.



Don’t give up! We have to believe in her!
Give her strength! Take my life if you must!
> The power of friendship surges in you!
> You can’t fall here…!
Yeah, I’m willing to risk mine, too!
She’s going to face it all by herself!
No, she’s not alone! I won’t let her die!
> Aelita is recovering HP!
* bark * * bark *
I won’t allow this world to be destroyed!
Alright, let’s do this.
> A new power is yours!

Because it was time for the unstoppable force to meet an immovable object.



There are aspects of what happened next that are fuzzy. I sort of, I don’t know, felt everywhere at once.



I know I got my friends somewhere safe. Or maybe Nyx did that, because I wanted it to happen. It doesn’t really matter I guess.

Video- “The Greatest Question”

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Where are we…?
Did Nyx create this place? …Or, was it her?
Is she alright, Fuuka!? What happened!?
Everything was engulfed by a bright light… I don’t sense her.
Don’t tell me she…
No! That can’t be!
Try again! She can’t be the only one…!
……
You gotta be kidding me…
Dammit… Not again…!
We all decided to put our lives on the line…
In fact, we came here knowing we would most likely die.
How could I be so powerless…?
This is what I was trying to prevent!
You’re there, aren’t you!? I know you are!
I refuse to believe that you’re gone!
Answer me!
I know you can hear me!
We’re here! Please let us hear your voice!

It was hard to reach them, like they were so far from me. Still, I gave it my everything to let them know I was alright.



It’s alright…
……!?
……!?
Familiar Voice: …Don’t worry.
That voice…!?
Familiar Voice: I will sleep once again.
Normal days will return to this universe, for you… and for her.
……!
Familiar Voice: She’s 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…
Familiar Voice: Aigis… You’ll find the answer one day as well.
You, too, are a precious living thing…
You just need to realize how the bonds of friendship have changed you…
The bonds… of friendship…
Familiar Voice: The Dark Hour will soon vanish from this world…
All will truly be relinquished from its dominion, and the legacy of life will continue.
Congratulations, you have the miracle you sought.
We shall meet again some day…

I know they ended up outside of Tartarus.



Huh? The entrance to Tartarus…? When did we…?
…Wait, look!

The dread Tower was beginning to fade into the sky.



It’s disintegrating… disappearing into the sky…
……

And as though it had never been, the Dark Hour ended. And once more, I was reunited with those I care about most.



It’s over…
Ah…!
Look…!
Aelita-san…!
She came back…
Aelita-chan… Thank goodness…
You sure took your time! You were really stringing us along there! Honestly…!
You scared me… I-I thought we might not ever see you again…
Guys, c’mon. This isn’t something we should be crying about…
Look who’s talking…
Finally… the gang’s all here.
Woof!

Takaya was right about at least one thing, I’ll give him that.



Huh…? I…
> Tears are running down from Aigis’s eyes, despite the fact she is a robot…
Uh-oh… They won’t stop… T-This is most unusual…
> In the midst of your warm welcome back, the Dark Hour is quietly coming to an end…
> This time, never to return…

You never know how long you’ve got left, so you have to live each day like it could be your last.



> By an unexpected miracle, the world was saved from the Fall.
> Peace was restored, and people resumed their busy lives.
> No one remembered anything about the extraordinary turn of events.
> And so, the season changed…

I’m… probably not going to write much between now and Graduation Day. That story, the joys and sorrows of normal life… that’s not this story. I’ll pull this book out one last time then, when it’s time to write about how this story ended.