Persona 5 Part #17 - 4/22: Forked Tongue

Part 17: 4/22: Forked Tongue

Part 16: 4/22: Forked Tongue

It’s the day we’re stealing Kamoshida’s Treasure. Time to head to school and see what Ryuji’s prepared.

Music: Beneath the Mask (Instrumental Version)

I haven’t been able to get any even once.

Oh, don’t you know? It’s always sold out on Mondays, but there’s usually some left over on Fridays.

Are you serious!? I’ll finally be able to get some yakisoba pan today!

Huh, I guess there’s a lot in this world you can only get for a limited time or during certain seasons...

Do you want to try to get some? I’ll come with you.

Nah. We’ve got other things to do today, Morgana.

I heard it was already posted by the time everyone got here this morning.

“We know how shitty you are, and that you put your twisted desires on students that can’t fight back. That’s why we have decided to steal away those desires and make you confess your sins. This will be done tomorrow, so we hope you will be ready. From, the Phantom Thieves of Hearts.”

Music: Disquiet

I looked up a bunch of similar stuff online for reference.

Um… Yeah… I know what you wanted to say, but it sounded like an idiot trying to be an adult.

OK, y’know what? Th-That ain’t true!

Does this mean the rumors are true!?

Wait a sec… Is someone gonna take something from Mr. Kamoshida…?

What’s with this weird logo? And who’re these Phantom Thieves of Hearts people…?

...It got everyone excited, so it’s all good, yeah?

Who’s responsible for this…!?

...Look at that. A predictable reaction for someone who knows what we mean by distorted desires.

I think it’s hittin’ him pretty hard.

Did you do this!? Or was it you!?

The students scatter.

What garbage… Eh, it’s not a problem. You’ll be expelled soon enough anyway.

Music: Tension

The scene returns to normal, and Kamoshida walks away.

Does that mean the Treasure’s appeared!? We’ll be able to get it today, right?

It’s not just “today.” It’s ONLY today. The impact of seeing a calling card doesn’t last long, and it cannot be repeated. This will be our one chance to steal the Treasure.

One day’s more than enough for us!

Music: Life Will Change (Instrumental Version) (Worth a listen)

One great thing that happens on the day you steal the Treasure is that this song will play uninterrupted by anything except entering the Velvet Room. It's really great. But, uh, speaking of which...

Before we steal the Treasure, we have one last Persona to fuse.

It’s this Mokoi, from Saki Mitama and Kelpie.

I am the soul of your shadow… So that would be why I’m becoming your mask...

Mokoi are evil spirits in Australian folklore who used dark magic and kidnapped children in the night to eat them. One of them’s part of our soul now!

All right, let’s head into the castle.

Huh? The door’s open.

This place is probably undermanned now that they all got assigned elsewhere. Either way, we win as long as we can steal the Treasure! Let’s keep going!

Worth noting: The pillars flanking the entrance are a pair of giant legs. Ugh.

Man, it’s huge!

What do you think!? It’s just as I said! Now we can steal it! Ahh… this shine brings tears to my eyes...

...It kinda pisses me off. Why’s it so pretty…? Isn’t this Kamoshida’s desires?

Uh, the cat’s actin’ awfully excited.

What’s wrong? Is something…?

Mrrrrroooooow!

You were completely out of character too. What was that about?

I couldn’t stop it either… To think I’d be drawn to human desires this much… Doesn’t that prove that I’m human!?

How should we know!?

A-Anyway, you guys need to carry it!

All you do is bark orders...

His Palace will disappear if we take this back, right? And Kamoshida will change too...

...That should be the case.

Good. Now’s our chance then.

To think it’d go so well… I’ve even found three Persona users in the process… My judgment was correct. I made the right choice in making a deal with you!

I feel like my bond with Morgana is growing deeper...

We finally get Baton Pass for Morgana, far too late for it to actually help us with this Palace. Whatever, let’s just drag this giant crown outside.

Hm?

Kamoshida spikes...

Right on target.

Kamoshida does a magnificent leaping spiral.

Music: Blood of Villain

He should really shave those legs, though.

The crown shines a brilliant blinding light...

…and reappears, small, in Kamoshida’s hand.

That rat bastard… That’s how he sees me, isn’t it!?

Yo, pervert. Were you waitin’ to ambush us?

I just made it easier to find you. I’ll dispose of you myself. Right here, right now.

What a selfish misunderstanding...

This translation could probably have used another pass, yikes.

The people around me were the ones who kept it secret. Adults who want to share in my accomplishments, students who have the drive to become winners… They willingly protect me so that we all may profit from it.

Profit!?

There are too many imbeciles who don’t understand that! Including naive brats like you and that girl who tried to kill herself!

Wow, Ann. Harsh.

But no matter what kind of fool someone might be… They don’t need your permission to live their lives!

Drop the attitude, you mediocre peasant! There’s no wrong in using my gifts for my gain! I’m a cut above all other humans!

Above...? You mean beneath! You’re a goddamn demon obsessed with your sick desires!

Music: Blooming Villain (Worth a listen)

...Well, that’s certainly a change.

I’m allowed to do whatever the hell I want!

Boss: Suguru Asmodeus Kamoshida

So, this is the ultimate form of Shadow Kamoshida. He’s known as Asmodeus, a reference to a king of demons from the Book of Tobit. He represents the deadly sin of lust.

We should catch him off guard and steal it! Let’s attack him and wait for that opportunity!

We use three Personas in this fight, primarily: Bicorn for Tarunda, Genbu for Rakunda, and that Mokoi we just fused for its Skull Cracker, which as a Medium Physical attack is stronger than anything else in our arsenal.

It's worth noting that boss fights in this game have some unique properties. They don't have any weaknesses and can't be critted (so no knockdowns or Baton Passes), and are immune to all ailments. That removes a lot of the more interesting and fun battle strategies, sadly.

Tragically, however, I’m too much of a dumbass to realize Skull Cracker is Medium instead of Light, so I waste Ryuji’s Tarukaja on himself instead of Maaku.

Volleyball Assault is the main reason we want to keep Tarunda up. It doesn’t hit for much even unhindered, but it can strike up to three times. Oh, and Asmodeus gets to attack twice per turn. If you don’t reduce his attack, healing can become a full-time job.

A funny thing happens when we get Asmodeus down to about half.

He eats one of the figures in his trophy for a full heal.

Come at me, you pieces of shit! I ain’t lettin’ you sleep tonight!

So, we’ve just got to focus down the trophy instead. Gotcha.

You don’t know what this is worth, so stop touching it! Don’t do it anymore, got it? I’ve warned you!

When someone tells us not to do something, it makes us want to do it even more!

While we work on destroying that trophy, we have to deal with Asmodeus’ Tongue Whip, which hits everyone...

...as well as his Lustful Slurp, which raises his attack, meaning we need to Tarunda again. That figure in the glass he's taking a swig of? Cognitive Ann. Eugh.

He’ll also follow the lead of the Torn King of Desire and stare at Ann.

He then… licks her. All right.

One smashed trophy later…

No way… This was from when I won the national...

All right!

...I am Kamoshida! Don’t you get it!?

Huh…!? Like I keep saying! I am Kamoshida! I’m the king!

You look down on everyone… but you’re seriously lame right now.

We came all this way to steal that! Will you just give it up and hand it over?

Silence! I won’t let the likes of you have this!

You still have the energy to say things like that!? Then we’re going to up our game as well!

I’m the king…! If I’m not, then who is!?

We won’t get anywhere with brute force...

This is an explanation of a new mechanic to the series, wherein we can send party members to perform tasks for us in the heat of battle to help us out. It’s not super involved or even always that useful, sadly.

What do we do!?

I see… In that case, time for Plan B!

While the others are drawing Kamoshida’s attention, have someone go there! Let’s steal the Treasure without him noticing!

Kamoshida will now start using Golden Knife to deal a ton of damage, which is a good incentive to keep Tarunda up.

Sure, let’s send someone.

Ann’s got too much heat right now, so a poor choice for a stealth mission.

And let’s keep Morgana just for the sake of healing.

Alright, you’re up, Ryuji.

Gotcha. Keep him distracted by attackin’ him!

Now Ryuji will be unavailable for a good portion of the battle.

Slaves! Bring over you-know-what!

Time for my killshot from when I was active and rockin’ it! Killshot… as in I’ll make the kill!

So, at around this point I’m thinking, “They’ll probably give me two turns, right? For ultimate moves, the boss generally gives you two turns in Persona games, so you get a chance to heal and what-not. I’m probably fine this turn.”

“But let’s guard to be safe and have Morgana heal Joker, it’d really suck to die here because you still game over when the protagonist dies.”

“Oops.”

Morgana, sadly, was not guarding, and is KO’d instantly because the attack deals only slightly less than his maximum HP.

In the middle of all this, Asmodeus will mix things up by recycling old moves like Lustful Slurp, forcing us to Tarunda again. Eventually, we deal enough damage between heals to move onto the next step:

You’re the only ones who don’t respect me, you know!

Anyway. Now’s my chance!

Some more damage later:

They came on to me because they wanted to get on my good side!

But at least it’s lettin’ me get closer to the Treasure.

Ryuji’s finally in place. Just a bit more to go.

...Ah, I get it! You want to see my killshot again, don’t you?

Ah shit.

I ended up healing Maaku and Morgana here for… some reason. Morgana was fucked no matter what, but I guess I assumed that Ann could survive the attack.