Moonspeak! 1337speak! Let's Play Soul Hackers!

You didn't vote hard enough and now Naomi is DEAD.

Boo Photobucket.

That's so nice of you that I'm not even going to question why you saved it. But I went ahead and registered an imgPlace account, because there will probably be a handful of other demons that are exposing themselves in lewd ways. And not so lewd ways.

I didn't save it so much as look at it earlier, then see mopinks post and then click on it to check, and find it was still there, cached, so...
OMG she's so hawt tho, rite lol?

Since clearly you're going to have to beat the crap out of him either way, you might as well get something out of it. Take his "help."

You know you wish you were cool enough to hang out with Finnegan. And now's your chance!


Oh.


Oh my goodness.

it's gettin' hot in herre

So does the demon on the right have two sets of testicles?

The only one with two sets of testicles is BandyAid, and they're made of steel.

Update 19: Fwuffy Bunnies!

"Alright, we'll help," BandyAid says. He secretly wonders if he can sneak behind Finnegan and stab him repeatedly with the Thunder God Sword.


Finnegan explains that the demon causing this craziness is on the third floor. The door to the third floor is sealed by six sigils on the second floor. To unlock it, they need to touch each sigil on the second floor in order. Each sigil is behind a gate colored Red or Blue. He says he'll do one color, and TAS can do the other. He asks BandyAid which color he wants to take. BandyAid says Red, and would have asked the Tyrants for their opinion on it but this scene literally happens 30 seconds after we ended last update. Finnegan says ok, and goes on ahead.

Behind Finnegan are two doors: One's the Red Gate, the other is the Blue Gate. Both lead to the second floor, but on opposite ends. The Blue Gate is locked because Finnegan already went through it.

The second floor is huge and contains six large "dark" areas. BandyAid has to find the first Red Gate (they're labeled when he approaches them). If he tries to enter a Blue Gate or a Red Gate out of order, he'll be warped to a random part of the floor.

He chats up another Majuu Orthros and convinces it to join on his way down the winding hallways. There's a Terminal and a Heal Spot on this floor, which is good because MP get used up fast in this dungeon. A number of the enemies reflect or resist physical attacks, so Nemissa is using a lot more MP than normal. Mahamayuri's Banishing Flash (破魔の雷光) is also pretty useful since so many of the demons that reflect/resist physical are weak to Expel.


BandyAid eventually finds the first Red Gate and enters. The dark areas have damage tiles (damage tiles AND dark areas? In the same dungeon? Gasp). You can tell they're damage tiles because they're bright blue in the middle of the darkness and can easily be avoided. Each dark area has two small rooms within: One contains the Sigil and the other contains a chest.

Red 1's left room contains 6000 MAG. The sigil is in the right.
Red 2's left room contains the sigil, the right contains a Pearl (パール).
Red 3's left room contains the sigil, the right contains an Attack Reflect Mirror (物反鏡)

(The Blue Gate is better, because it contains the only Agility Incense in the game. BandyAid did not realize this when he was talking with Finnegan. He is very upset)

Once BandyAid's touched all three sigils in the Red Gates, the center room opens up.


There's a crazy guy standing in front of the hall that leads to the center room. Inside, there are four smaller rooms: The one directly in front of the entrance contains a Disclose Stone (ディクローズの石), the one beside it contains another Server Room where BandyAid can retreat back to Paradigm-X. Behind the Server Room is a room with another Disclose Stone (ディクローズの石), and beside that is the warp up to the third floor. BandyAid's not ready to go up there yet, so he walks around until he encounters Yoki Nyalmot. Nyalmot is actually sort of a pain in the ass, because he's something of a rare encounter here.


Yoki (Ogre) Nyalmot is a stupid demon that reflects Ice, is weak to Fire and voids Curses. He has the abilities Ram (体当たり), Ice Breath (アイスブレス), and Mamorikuzushi (マモリクズシ).

Once Nyarlmot's in the party, BandyAid returns to Paradigm-X. At the Pet Shop, he trades Orthros to Mrs. Ryouko for the Ripper Panel (リパーパネル) software. He returns to real life and pops over to the Goumaden.

Mahamayuri, Virtue, and Nyarlmot are fused to create Megami Pallas Athena.


Megami (Goddess) Pallas Athena is a ferocious goddess that reflects Strike and Skill/Martial Arts attacks and voids Expel. She has the abilities Lightning Pierce (イナズマ突き), Tetrakarn (テトラカーン), and Diarama (ディアラマ). She has inherited Mediarama (メ・ディアラマ), Poisum-Di (ポズムディ), and Sukukaja (スク・カジャ). She is awesome.

Byakko and Roc are fused to create Reichou Yatagarasu.


Reichou (Spirit Bird) Yatagarasu is a friendly demon that's resistant to physical attacks (except Gunfire, which it's weak against), voids Expel and is weak to Force. It has the abilities Maharagion (マハ・ラギオン), Tarunda (タル・ンダ), Diarahan (ディアラハン), and Mapper (マッパー). It also inherited Petra-Di, which is... not good at all. Oh well, BandyAid just wanted him for his Tarunda and Maharagion.


TAS stops by Automatar to buy some more Disclose Stones, y'know, just in case, and then hits the Sea Ark for some Loyalty raisin'. Pallas Athena gets drunk and friendly. BandyAid also recruits a Pixie and a Gallytrot, and installs the Albert and Copernicus software. Then he waits for the Full Moon.


Chinjuu (Oddities) are fused by using any demon from the Beast family (Majuu, Yojuu, Seijuu, Shinjuu) in fusion during a full moon. There's a chance that an accident will occur and a Chinjuu will be created instead. With Copernicus and Albert, fusion accident rate is 99%, meaning BandyAid can guarantee a Chinjuu every time, it's just a matter of getting the one he wants.

The one he wants is Chinjuu (Oddity) Inaba-no-Shiro Usagi, a cute widdle bunny wabbit! Shiro Usagi is a clever demon that voids Ice and is weak to Fire. It has the abilities Rice Cake Pound (月夜のもちつき), Sukukaja (スク・カジャ), and Liftma (リフトマ). It's insanely quick, and check out the effect the Full Moon has on him. I'm pretty sure that's the most any demon in the game is effected by lunar phases. Not that it matters.

BandyAid takes it to the Sea Ark and gets it drunk to raise it's loyalty up to five so it can be metamorph'd into the Iron Bunny Ears (百七拾八式鉄耳). The Iron Bunny Ears increase Luck by 4, and have really good defensive stats to boot. They're great. BandyAid tries to fuse another Shiro Usagi to get some Bunny Ears for Nemissa, but after several unsuccessful attempts, he gives up and returns to the Algon Main Office.

...Unfortunately, he finds that when he returns, he's back on the first floor. Thankfully, he doesn't have to reactivate the sigils, he just has to walk back to the center room.


The third floor is normal looking. There are a couple of different hallways, but they all end up at the same place. BandyAid moves forward and runs into Finnegan.

Finnegan... doesn't look so hot. He manages to choke out that the demon up ahead, Malsum, sealed his demon's magic. He should have picked up those Disclose Stones. Finnegan says that Malsum's another fragment of Manitou that's infected the computers, and apparently it's Nishi's doings.

...then he says something interesting.
"If only we had Nemissa."

Nemissa is naturally interested in what he means, and he explains, the best he can, that Nemissa would be able to stop Manitou. Then he says that it's Urabe's fault they no longer have Nemissa. Nemissa begs him to explain who, or what, she is.

Finnegan begins to realize who he's talking to, then starts laughing. "This has got to be a bad joke... hehehe... hahahaha."

Then he dies. Well, at least Nemissa didn't incinerate him! I dare say she's making progress.


All roads lead to the Main Server Room. There's nothing inside, at first, then Malsum appears. Malsum likes souls. He was the thing that tried to attack BandyAid at the beginning of the game. Then it recognizes Nemissa. She's designated as a threat, and must be terminated. Nemissa's pissed that the demon killed Finnegan because, like, he was the only one who seemed remotely interested in telling her the truth. Hitomi starts to fall asleep again.


Malsum can be annoying. He has a lot of nasty physical attacks. His abilities are Bite the Dust (バイツァ・ダスト, inflicts Bomb Status), Wood Chipper (木っ端みじん斬り, cutting damage to whole party), Volcanic Storm (火砕烈風破, fire damage), Arc Zoner (アルガ・ゾーナ, strike damage), and the ever dreaded Whisper of Silence (沈黙のささやき).

Arc Zoner is probably the most dangerous. Let's say this is the party:

1 - 2 - 3
4 - 5 - 6

Arc Zoner targets positions 2, 4, and 6. If it hits Nemissa, it will kill her. Same with BandyAid. But, if Pallas Athena, who reflects strike damage, in position 2, and Yatagarasu, who resists strike damage in position 4, then everything's fine. Nemissa gets moved to position 5.

TAS is primed for buffing/debuffing, so that's about all there is to this battle. Yatagarasu casts Tarunda then Maharagions, Pallas Athena casts Sukukaja then Attacks, Cu Chulainn casts Tarukaja then attacks, and BandyAid and Nemissa do as they do. Disclose Stones as needed.

BandyAid and Nemissa get about 10,000 Exp a piece for this battle. They both level up and Nemissa learns Megido. ROCK ON.

Hitomi's tired again, and falls asleep. Nemissa tries to wake her up, but it's no good. They return to the Hideout.


Yu-ichi's there all alone, and Nemissa is happy to see that he's forgiven Spooky. Except... Yu-ichis acting a little funny. He's silent for a long time, then he says that the other three went to the Amami Monolith. A woman's voice is heard outside, and Rei Reihou enters. She says that a Dark Summoner brainwashed Yu-ichi (why do the Dark Summoner's get all the good powers?), and he was sent to act as a messenger.

Yu-ichi was the mole that sold out the team. The game actually makes it really, really obvious, because his portrait changes after he's rescued, and he acts all spaced out in every subsequent appearance.

Nemissa correctly deduces that this all went down when he was kidnapped by Finnegan. Rei says that Nishi was probably the one that ordered it. She says this was a trap set by him, and he's probably at the Amami Monolith in Nikamimon right now.

Then she says that Nemissa's soul is beginning to overtake Hitomi's, and it won't be long before Hitomi's gone forever. Nemissa doesn't really pay much heed, and says they should hurry to the Monolith.

BandyAid fuses an Incubus with MASO at the Goumaden.


His form changes. At least he lost all the weird veiny things, right?

Next time: Rex touches Black Maria and initiates the Third Impact, BandyAid enters the second-to-last dungeon in the game and subsequently tears his hair out because it is long.

BUNNY!

See, that's one of the things that I both like and dislike about these MegaTen games. I've been spoiled by Pokemon in some ways. I want to use demons that I think are cool, but in these games, you can't do much picking and choosing. Everything has a use and a power level where you use it, or is just fusion fodder. It's cool, and a completely valid way to set things up, but I'm just so used to sticking with people I think are neat because I like them, and that gets you all killed and such...
Eh, I'm rambling.

Yeah, it's even worse when you realize a lot of the demons I've fused get used for a few boss battles and that's it.

Update 20: Racial Tension

This place pisses BandyAid off so much.


The Amami Monolith is located in Nikamimon. It's the large structure with two towers, by all accounts the tallest building in the city. BandyAid realizes he's going to want to kill himself before this is over.

The first floor of the Monolith is huge (and fully mapped on BandyAid's COMP), and contains a Heal Spot and Terminal on the west side. Beside the Heal Spot/Terminal is a Tetraja Stone (テトラジャの石).

The Monolith contains enemies from all the previous dungeons on Disc 2, including Naomi's Vision Quest, but they're largely segregated by floor. Enemy groups tend to be clusters of certain races. The first floor is home to most of the trashy Dark demons, the ones that are largely worthless. BandyAid needs to recruit two of them, so he slaps on the Dark Man software so he can talk.

It's also a good idea to have defense against Curses, because many of these things have Mudo/Mudora spells.

And Gibo Eyes is also highly, highly recommended, due to such a wide variety of enemy defenses in each battle.


Jashin (Wicked God) Kanaloa is a stoic demon that's weak to Fire but immune to Curses and Expel. Kanaloa has the abilities Mahabufula (マハ・ブフーラ), Ion Storm (アイオンの雨), and Makarakarn (マカラカーン).

Despite what I said earlier, Kanaloa is the exception: He's actually a useful recruit from the first floor, mostly because BandyAid's team doesn't have any strong, multi-target Ice abilities.

BandyAid heads to the Terminal to install Albert + Copernicus so he can fuse another Inaba Shiro Usagi, but instead winds up with Chinjuu Kuda.


Chinjuu (Oddity) Kuda is pretty much terrible. Stoic by nature, Kuda also reflects Expel and Curses. His abilities are Wall of Light (光の壁), Wall of Darkness (闇の壁), and Psycho Barrier (サイコバリアー), which reflect Curses, Expel, and Mind, respectively. Wall of Light and Wall of Darkness are trash, they're like a cruddier version of Tetraja (which reflects both). BandyAid keeps it because Kuda has over 10 Intelligence, and he's going to need another Scathach from the Pet Shop.

BandyAid manages to get another Shiro Usagi, and raises it's loyalty so he can get Nemissa some Bunny Ears. At the Goumaden, BandyAid chats with Mary. They have another existential conversation, and BandyAid completes another step in her "sidequest".

Back at the Monolith, BandyAid heads toward the stairs on the west side of the building. On the way, he recruits Akuryo Wickerman.


Akuryo (Phantasm) Wickerman is a stoic demon with the abilities Mudoon (ムドオン), and Demon's Birthcry (悪魔の産声). Wickerman is immune to Nerve, Bewitchment, Curses and Gunfire, but weak to Expel. Wickerman is total fusion fodder.

So here's the dealio with this dungeon: There are two towers, connected by the first floor. Right now, BandyAid's priority is to find Lunch and Six, who are both on the 20th floor. Of the opposite towers. BandyAid takes the left path first, the Tyrants would have wanted it that way. The stairs go up to the second and third floors (Left Tower Second Floor = L2F). There's nothing on L2F that can't wait, so he heads up to the L3F. There's an elevator on the L3F that goes up to the L19F.

2F, 3F, and 19F are filled with Animalistic families: Dragons and Beasts. The demons are the same in both towers.


There's nothing on L19F to worry with except stairs that go up to L20F. 20F is populated by the Ogre family (Chirei, Youki, Kijo, and Jaki). This is an annoying floor because many of the Kijo are reflect Lightning magic, and many of the Youki/Jaki reflect physical attacks. Good thing Nemissa has Megido!

Yama (Night Stalker) Nyx is waiting inside a treasure chest. She's weak to physical, as Yama tend to be, and dies without much fuss. No Falling or covering the world in ice. She's guarding a Luck Incense (運の香), one of the only good treasures in this hellhole.


Lunch is up here. He's surprised to see BandyAid and Hitomi. Nemissa explains everything that went down regarding Yu-ichi being brainwashed, and he feels bad for what he said about Spooky. He heads to the control room here on the L20F, and says that Six is in the other tower. Oh boy.

Luckily, there's a Healspot up here, which is good because everyone's MP are getting drained pretty quickly. Cu Chulainn isn't cutting it anymore, either. He doesn't have the magic to make his Mahazanma spell actually useful, and Pallas Athena is a much better physical attacker, so he's traded for Lugh. Lugh has the magic stats to back up his Maharagion spell, and a lot of Strength for physical attackin'.

If BandyAid wanted a shortcut back down to the first floor, he could follow Lunch to the control room, where he'd open up the elevator that goes down to the first floor. But BandyAid needs to gain levels, so he walks back to the first floor. On one of the Animal demon floors, a Ryuuou Hoyaukamui pleads for it's life and joins TAS.


Ryuuou (Dragon King) Hoyaukamui is a stoic demon that repels Force and is immune to Curses. It has the abilities Constrict (まきつき), Poison Breath (毒ガスブレス), and Petra Eye (ペトラアイ). Hoyaukamui is total fusion fodder.

BandyAid leaves the Monolith and heads to Shibahama to do some shopping. He picks up a shiny new laserbeam gun, the Zillion Gun (ジリオニムガン), which doesn't require bullets. He passes his old Socom Pistol to Nemissa. Then he hits up the Goumaden.


Victor's waiting in the lobby. He says he needs Mary to run some errands he can't because, y'know, he's a vampire and all, and asks BandyAid to escort her, because the two have become so friendly. First, he needs her to go to Automatar, then pick up some software from EL-115.

The owner at the Automatar says that she and all her friends (referring to her dolls, named Elizabeth and Juliet. God this scene is creepy. I mean, the old lady dressed in Gothic Lolita refers to Victor as "Victor-ojisama" which is like saying "Uncle Victor") are happy to meet Mary. Mary greets them. Nemissa says that Mary doesn't have to do that, because dolls aren't actually alive. She actually says they don't have hearts/souls The owner says that Nemissa's rude and makes a remark about them being alive if someone cares about them.

Next, the trio head to EL-115. After Mary does her business, she asks Alpha and Beta if they can make her a "Heart." She says that Victor once told her that if she found someone who was important to her (and someone whom she was important to), she would gain a "Heart." But now she has BandyAid and Hitomi, but still no "Heart." Mary does not understand the concept of casual acquaintances. Nemissa apologizes for calling Mary a doll earlier, and for other such disparaging remarks (dolls have no souls, etc). Mary says it's ok, she appreciates Nemissa's bluntness.

Alpha explains that they can't just give someone a "Heart," and... basically, it's the Tinman scene in the Wizard of Oz. Mary thanks them, and the trio returns to the Goumaden. Mary thanks BandyAid and Hitomi for taking her out. BandyAid heads downstairs, making a note to come back and visit with Mary after the Monolith is finished. He fuses Hoyaukamui with Rex, which bumps Rex's level up to 42 or so. Awesome.

Monolith, take 2: BandyAid ascends the right tower this time, which has a similar layout to the left (stairs up to the R3F, where there's an elevator up to R19F, where there are stairs up to R20F). Six is up here in a room that's almost directly east of the staircase. Nemissa explains what's gone down, and Six takes off to the control room. There's a crappy Otter Hat (かわうその帽子) in the room north of where Six was, and a Healspot to the south. TAS needs it, just from fighting the hordes of Ogres.

BandyAid follows Six to the Control Room, where they get a call from Lunch. He's got the passwords they need to input in each tower to get access to the higher floors.

Welcome to the Monolith's other gimmick: Rather than just inputting the password in, say, a computer, BandyAid has to display them on the lower floors. Each of the lower floors (2F, 3F, and 19F) have several small hallways that were locked when TAS came through. In each hallway, there are paintings that,when raised, display a letter. BandyAid has to display the letter from the passwords by moving these paintings. Each floor contains a different letter for the passwords, each floor has 3-4 different paintings, and it has to be down in both towers. BandyAid is not happy. The elevator down to 1F is now open, but TAS has to input the passwords, BandyAid decides to walk downstairs instead.


Because Atlus's "Should we show mercy?" coinflip was "Heads" this time, they decided it would be a good idea to have Nemissa remind BandyAid what letter they're looking for when they reach a floor. So down the Right Tower they go, until all the codes have been revealed and they're back on the 1F. A quick pitstop at the Healspot, and then they're going up the Left Tower.


A Chirei Dwerger forces its way in the party. Yawn. Reveal codes, kill things, get experience, it's all very tedious. Lunch is waiting in the L20F Control Room. He does his thing, the elevator to the 1F is now unlocked, and then he says that BandyAid needs to go back to the R20F. BandyAid is not the least bit amused, especially because the Control Rooms are located in such out of the way locations. He makes his way back down the left tower, because he needs the goddamn experience points.

He hits Level 55 on his descent, and leaves to go to the Goumaden. He loiters around on the Shibahama map until the New Moon, then heads down to Victor.

Megami Scathach and Jashin Kanaloa are fused to create Iryo Black Maria.


Iryo (Entity) Black Maria is a stoic spirit that reflects Fire, Ice, and Lightning but is weak to all physical. She has the abilities Samarecarm (サマリカーム, full revival), Recarmudora (リカームドラ), Lullaby (子守り歌), and Invitation to Eternity (永眠のいざない, instant death to any character afflicted with Sleep). She has inherited Mediarama and Bomb-Di from Scathach. Invitation to Eternity would actually be pretty neat to have in conjunction with Tranquilizer Bullets, but sadly Black Maria won't be staying with TAS for very long. In fact, she's leaving right now.

Under normal circumstances, fusing a Zouma during the New Moon results in it returning to it's Dolly state. However, fusing an Entity to a Zouma of a certain level during a New Moon will result in a Hero being born. In this case, our little Rex (Underoos, Maso, Elvis, etc), fused with Black Maria results in the Hero Jeanne D'arc.


Eiyuu (Hero) Jeanne D'Arc is a friendly ally that voids Curses, Expel, Mind and Nerve attacks. She has the abilities Mediarama (メ・ディアラマ), Samarecarm (サマリカーム), Rakukaja (ラク・カジャ), Sukukaja (スク・カジャ), and Prayer of Orléans (オルレアンの祈り). Prayer of Orléans is a random effect spell that has three possible outcomes:

1. Recovers the HP of the party
2. Recovers the MP of the party
3. Casts Sukukaja on the party

Jeanne D'Arc is one of the best support allies in the game. Her loyalty is naturally maxed out, meaning she'll sacrifice herself to save BandyAid, she has a great whole-party healing spell, can fully revive allies, has defense and evade-boosting spells, and can restore the party's MP. In short, she's great and is the only reason BandyAid bothered with that stupid Zouma.


BandyAid also observes that he could fuse Shinigami (Reaper) Chernobog if he were to combine Cu Chulainn and Wickerman. Chernobog is one of my favorite demons in the series, but... he sucks really hardcore in Soul Hackers. He's highly resistant to everything, voids Curses, Expel, Mind and Bewitchment attacks, but he only has two attacks naturally: Judgment of the Void (虚空斬波, slash damage to all enemies) and Mudora (ムドラ). He would only inherit Wickerman's Mudoon (ムドオン), which would make him sort of a one trick pony. And that makes me sad. Oh well, back to the Monolith!


Jeanne D'Arc's Prayer makes the trip up so much easier now that TAS can recover MP nearly anytime they want. In R20F Control Room, Six makes the Monolith's central annex move up. The upper floors are now open, so that means BandyAid gets to display even more passwords! Oh boy!

The stairs from the 19F also go up to the 21F, where there's an elevator that goes up to the 37F, where there's a staircase that goes up to 38F and 39F. Fun stuff. The password displays are on these four floors. The theme for enemies on floors 21F, 22F, and 38F is "Wings n' Things." They contain Angels and Birdish classes. It would be a very good idea for BandyAid to de-equip any piece of equipment that makes him weak to Expel for these floors. Since a couple of the birds have Mudo, he's stuck using the crummy Yamato Bracers from way back when.


Tenshi (Heavenly Host) Dominion pleads for it's life and joins TAS. Dominion is a ferocious angel that is highly resistant to everything but physical. It has the abilities Venom Zapper, Mudora, Makarakarn and Shockwave of Loyalty.


The 39F is home to the Magical races: Youma, Yama, Yousei, and Maous. Maou demons are actually really, really good for Experience, and are extremely chaotic. Both Lugh and Pallas Athena have to return to the COMP before Baroll will chat with BandyAid.


Maou (Demon Lord) Baroll wears a birdcage on his head, is a ferocious demon, is weak to magic and resists physical attacks. He has the abilities Twister Kick, Maharagion, and Makarakarn.

There's a Terminal at the south end of the R39F, and a Monster-in-a-Box guarding an Incense of Knowledge (知恵の香) across the hall. I bet I know what that smells like, right folks? Right? Eh? Eh? Blessedly, there's a room that unlocks an elevator that goes down to the 1F. BandyAid takes it so he can go back to the Goumaden, one last time before this dungeon's finished.

He fuses Maou Baroll and Akuryo Wickerman to create Shinigami Ghede.


Shinigami (Reaper) Ghede is a clever chap that voids Curses, Expel, Mind and Bewitchment. He's also resistant to everything else. He has the abilities Demon's Roar (悪魔の一喝, Force damage to enemies), Makakaja (マカ・カジャ, increase Magic attack power), Mudoon (ムドオン, most powerful Curse spell, instant death to all enemies), Mahazionga (マハ・ジオンガ), Megido (メギド), and has inherited Makarakarn. It's rather annoying that Ghede has such a great ability selection, and Persephone has a great ability selection, but Chernobog has jack. Oh well.

With that, BandyAid decides it's time to take a break because CHRIST he's already spent nearly 4 hours in this dungeon and it's still not done.

Next time: And what's the deal with Nemissa? Finally, someone explains it. Also someone dies because you guys are bastards and didn't make the right choices earlier in the game

Fuck, I completely love that Wickerman demon, mostly because I'm a fan of the film (the original). It would totally find a place in my team Britannia.

Jeanne d' Arc? After Snappy, Leprechaun, and now this it seems to me this game has the coolest demons.

Also, Nyx and Kanaloa are totally badass-looking. And this Mary subplot is depressingly Aigis-y. =X

It creeps me the hell out.

I'm really sad that a lot of the PS2 games don't use these designs. It's taken until Persona 4 for them to get Loki's design from Soul Hackers, so maybe we'll see some more in Kuzunoha Raidou vs King Abaddon?

Shhh.... don't tell anyone.

It makes sense, if we're getting into the endgame, but the demons just keep getting better and better.


What?


...

What?

I don't think Kaneko knows much about fashion (or perhaps, he knows too much). Look at practically anyone in this game, or Eternal Punishment (except maybe Spooky and Katsu). I like it that way. I would totally wear Maya's jacket

Persona 3 and, uhh, 1? The "Snow Queen Quest"?

Right on; I'm just wondering what the kanji are supposed to mean. The last two are "iron" and "ears," but the first five are numbers and things.

It literally translates to something like 178 Style Iron Ears, which... I don't really get the reference.

For Nyx in Persona 1, she tries to cover the world in darkness and ice; in Persona 3 it tries to bring about something called "The Fall"

I appreciate it. I'd play more of these games if they didn't seem so unfriendly, but hey, that's what Let's Plays are for.

Come on Kishi, man up. If you can play Contra, you can play Shin Megami Tensei. Apples and oranges sure, but steel balls are steel balls.

21: Canned Peaches and Answers


BandyAid's ascent up the left tower is relatively painless. On L21F, there's a Soma in the room to the east of the elevator. Nemissa hits Level 56 and learns Mediarama, her final healing spell.

On L39F, there's a pair of crappy Flying Color Shoes (とび色シューズ) that give less defense and evade than roller blades and only +2 Agility. Worthless.

A Yousei Vivian begs for her life on L39F and joins TAS.


Yousei (Fairy) Viviane is a clever little minx that drains Lightning and voids Expel. She's fairly underwhelming considering she was a random encounter back at the Algon Plant. She has the abilities Final Nude (ファイナルヌード, charms row of enemies), Marinkarin (マリンカリン, charms single enemy), Paralama (パララマ, inflicts paralyze), Lullaby (子守り歌), and Bomb-Di (ボムディ). She, being the Lady of the Lake, can be metamorphed into Lancelot's Sword (ランスロットの剣), although it seems like Excalibur would be a better fit? Either way, it's not a very good weapon.

In the L39F control room, the lower part of the center section rises up to connect both right and left 39F. In the center area, Lunch and Six join up with BandyAid. Together, they enter the Conference room.


Kadokura's waiting inside. It looks like someone's flipped out and wrecked the place. Kadokura seems a bit disoriented, but manages to tell the group that Nishi's upstairs and is the mastermind behind all of this. Nemissa wants to know where Spooky is. Kadokura asks if they mean Sakurai, and that Nishi took him upstairs. There's a single elevator in the center part that connects the upper and lower floors.


Nishi's waiting in the Vice President's room. He says that they're about to start transmitting a signal that will cause the Carriers to release their souls. He says it's all for the benefit of Manitou. Nemissa's pissed as hell that everyone keeps talking about Manitou-this and Manitou-that, and wants someone to explain just what the hell it is, and what the hell Nemissa is.

Nishi is, of course, very interested when he hears the name "Nemissa." He asks her how she knows about Nemissa. She's all like, "Hey dumbass I AM Nemissa." Lunch is understandable confused, he asks Hitomi what she's saying. Nishi is excited that Nemissa came to him, so now he gets to kill two birds with one stone, as it were.

He transforms into his true form, the Fallen Angel Azazel. Nemissa tells Lunch and Six to get to the antennae before they can begin transmission while they take care of him.

Azazel attacks the party. He has some nasty abilities: Diarama (ディアラマ, to heal himself), Tarukaja (タル・カジャ, increases his attack power), Spinning Slash (回転斬り, slash damage to whole party), Venom Zapper (ベノンザッパー) and worst of all Guillotine Fake (ギロチンフェイク).

I mentioned earlier that Nemissa's Sabbatma spell was useless. I lied. Guillotine Fake is a terrible, wretched ability that hits all allies. It only effects demons, but it will do one of two things: Reduce them to 1 HP, or send them back to the COMP. This is very, very bad, because it'll put BandyAid and Nemissa on the defensive.

His Spinning Slash is no joke either, it can seriously mess up the party. Attack Mirrors and Tetrakarn aren't as helpful as they should be: Guillotine Fake is almighty based.

Pallas Athena casts Sukukaja, Jeanne casts Rakukaja, Ghede casts Makakaja, Lugh uses Lightning Pierce, BandyAid attacks, and Nemissa casts Zionga. When Ghede's finished with his Makakajaing, he helps out with Megido, and Pallas Athena switches to Lightning Pierce. Every little chance to Shock him is helpful.

Azazel is weak to Force magic, but no one on TAS can use it effectively, so they have to go it the old fashion way: Lightning!


Eventually, he dies, leaving behind a "Cross Plate." A Cross Plate and a fuckton of experience. BandyAid levels up twice, Nemissa levels up once and only needs 200 more experience before she levels up again. TAS heads downstairs, stopping in the conference room to check on Kadokura. He's gone. I'm sure he was just afraid of all the demons running around.

TAS makes their way back to the Heal Spot in the left tower, Nemissa hits level 58. She gains Megidola, the second tier almighty spell. It hits an entire row. TAS walk back across the center area to get to the R39F. There's a door to the outside here.


Six and Lunch are busy destroying the antennae (from Internet Terrorism to IRL Terrorism... sigh). A voice calls from off screen, asking what happened to Nishi. But who could it be?


Oh, hay Spooky! What are you doing here?


...oh. Fuuuuuuck. This is in no way a good thing.

It appears that Spooky has been possessed. Or has caught the crazy. The real Spooky is still inside, and manages to tell BandyAid and Hitomi not to worry about him and just fight. The demon possessing Spooky fully reveals itself to be the Fallen Angel Satanael.


Lunch and Six can't believe it, and Nemissa tells them to go back to the Hideout so she and BandyAid can handle it. Satanael attacks.

Satanael is another magical member of the Grigori. He drains lightning and force, and reflects bullets. But BandyAid and Nemissa wouldn't shoot at Spooky, now would they? Satanael has the abilities Agilao (アギラオ), Mahazionga (マハ・ジオンガ), Megidola (メギドラ), Thunderbolt (サンダーボルト),Eye Gleam (光る眼), Evil Trance (イビル・トランス) and MAG Crusher (生体MAG抜き).

Agilao and Megidola are nothing to worry about: One shot of Megidola barely knocks off a quarter of Nemissa's HP. Mahazionga and Thunderbolt are a little bit more troublesome because of Shock status. Eye Gleam is a Curse-based spell that will petrify whichever demon has the lowest level. In TAS, that's Pallas Athena. Pallas Athena, unfortunately, does not naturally void Curses, so Lugh has to cast Tetraja to protect her.

Evil Trance attempts to inflict "Bomb" status on the party, but it only managed to hit BandyAid and Ghede. If a demon is inflicted with "Bomb" and attacked with fire magic, they'll explode and damage the characters standing beside them. This never becomes an issue for TAS.

MAG Crusher is the same annoying spell that Win-Pe had way back in Judah's Quest.

TAS follows the same tactics from the Azazel battle, buffing until Nemissa's dealing 1500 damage with her Megidola spell and the Satanael can barely touch the anyone. It doesn't take long before Satanael is destroyed.


After the battle, Spooky is free! Except... he doesn't look so good. Like, bleeding and MAYBE Nemissa shouldn't have zapped him with so many Megidola spells? He explains that he did some freelance computer work for Algon Software back in the day, but he didn't like how things were run, and that's why he founded the Spookies. Y'know, stick it to the man. It's also why Kadokura referred to him by his real name, Sakurai.

The reason Spooky is telling the BandyAid this is because he is dying. Nemissa starts sceaming for Hitomi to wake up before it's too late. Hitomi and Spooky say their goodbyes and...


The screen goes dark, with Hitomi screaming that Spooky can't die, he just can't. Nemissa says she feels sick.


Kadokura appears, and is shocked that the antennae is being destroyed. He's pissed that Azazel didn't finish them off. He was just acting before, he's been in charge the whole time. He's also half crazy. He blasts BandyAid and Nemissa with energy and they die.


When BandyAid opens his eyes, he sees a scene he saw once before, when Nemissa followed Moowis into the computer. He hears a familiar voice that explains he's seeing the past.

Storytime: Gospel of the Redman

Untold ages ago, before written history, there were many tribes in North America. One was known as the Algonquian tribe, led by the Shaman Redman. Because, y'know, that seems highly likely! One day, a strange and powerful extradimensional being appeared in their lands. They referred to the being as "Manitou."

Redman was able to tame the being, and with it's power, the Algonquian tribe was able to destroy many of their enemies and win many battles. The souls of the defeated were offered up to it as a sacrifice. As time passed, Redman began to notice changes in Manitou, like how it would react to the changing mood of those around it. Manitou was an empathetic being.

Redman, being the noble and wise savage that he was, began to grow fearful of Manitou's power. He realized that maybe constantly subjecting an empathetic being of unlimited power and potential to wars and battle isn't such a good idea. Y'know, what with all the bloodthirsty warriors running around killing each other and all.

In a remarkable amount of foresight, Redman decided to seal away Manitou before it could bring any sort of catastrophe.


And in any even more remarkable amount of genre-savvyiness, he recognized that he was creating a seal in an RPG his seal might not be able to end the threat of Manitou. And so, before sealing it away, he pulled a fragment from it. A fragment that could grow as powerful as Manitou itself. A fragment that would be able to destroy Manitou if it ever became necessary.

In Another World, you might say he created a Daughter-Clone of Manitou. Who wants to guess who it is?

The fragment was named Nemissa, after the Algonquian word for Requiem. But, for that fragment to have a chance against Manitou, she would need the sheer strength of will to do so. To achieve that, she had to be raised with humans: To bond with them, to feel the same things they do, to understand the how and the why of their existence.

Redman sealed Nemissa away, and gave up his corporeal form so he could watch over both.

Other fragments of Manitou, other spawn, have already begun appearing in this world, heralding his awakening. Moowis, Malsum, Win Pe...

It's because of Kadokura. Ten years ago, he traveled to North America and accidentally made contact with Manitou. He was instantly twisted by Manitou's power, and began to work on a plan that would allow him to unseal Manitou and gain his power. But humans and Manitou can't coexist, they'll ruin each other. Plus, Kadokura's already gone bonkers, so god only knows what'll happen if Manitou wakes up while he's nearby. He's gotta be stopped, and Redman picked BandyAid as his bitch, so looks like we got a job to do!

Nemissa wakes up, and the two find themselves in the VR Theater. Nemissa says she remembers her true purpose, and says that she's sad that Spooky died and doesn't want to lose anyone else. She says they have to tell the others at the Hideout what happened.


The two automatically return to the Hideout, where they thankfully skipped showing them having "The Talk." Six and Lunch are seething, but Yu-ichi's bawling like a baby. Y'know, it technically is his fault that Spooky's dead. BandyAid tells himself this because he's technically more to blame, what with him being the one who was swinging his sword at Satanael and all. I guess he's back to normal.


The news comes on, apparently there's been some sort of incident in Nikamimon. Something big. And mysterious. Police are keeping everyone away, and it can't be accessed from the City Map. But fear not, Lunch, who once again proves to be the most useful member of Spookies, say he's got a plan!

Next time: Say, really, what are the odds that we're going to have to fight Manitou before this is all over?

tl;dr version:

Nishi is really Azazel, a fallen angel and member of the Grigori. It seems that the Phantom Society, which has always been watching over mankind and involved in pretty much every major event in human history, is actually run by the Grigori.

TAS kill him.

Spooky is possessed by Satanael, another Grigori, and TAS have no choice but to fight him. As a result, Spooky dies.

Kadokura, the head of Algon Software, is a huge asshole because his mind was raped by an alien space flea known as Manitou. Manitou was originally found by Redman, who realized it was too powerful and sealed it away. Redman created Nemissa from a fragment of Manitou so, in the off chance that it was ever unsealed, Nemissa would be there to destroy it.

It would also appear that Azazel and Satanael have also been mindraped by Manitou, because they're sticking with Kadokura despite him screwing over the Phantom Society.

Manitou is an empath, so it reacts to the feelings of others. It needs to feed on the souls of others to awaken. The souls it's being fed are angry, violent souls because of the disease that's going around. He's probably going to be cranky when he wakes up.

Oh, and by the way, the souls of the incredibly powerful Naomi and the incredibly powerful Tiamat were both sacrificed to Manitou. Both were bitter and angry at the times of their deaths. Surely nothing bad will come of this!

So with all the betraying and Finnegan being dead, does this mean anyone's going to tell BandyAid what's up with the Phantom Society? Are they just a distraction from the whole "Manitou" thing?

We've heard all they're going to tell us about the Phantom Society. They're still around, they just aren't important to this game's storyline. Apparently they're never going to be finished off, either, but I kind of hope that KRv King Abaddon leads back to their subplot.

Update 22: At the end of the battle

Lunch says his dad can help them get into Nikamimon, and he's waiting for them at the Algon Plant. But first, BandyAid hits the town:


He chats with Mary one last time, who smiles and says that she's kind of understanding what it means to have a heart. Carol J is hanging around northern Yurajima, I guess it's good to know he's still alive.

At the plant, Lunch's father says they'll need an ID card to get into Nikamimon now. There's an entrance Kadokura's flunkies use in western Shibahama, and there's an elevator that goes deep underground near the Monolith. If Kadokura's anywhere, he's going to be there.


Nikamimon is lookin a lil bit funky, there's a strange fog billowing out from the Monolith, and everything's tinted red. There's an elevator in the building right beside the Monolith (you can't miss it if you attempt to talk to the sole person on this map). It leads down to B1, which looks strangely familiar. Yup, this is where Naomi's Vision Quest took place. Luckily, BandyAid has an automap, although the layout's changed.


Lots of new an exciting enemies here, and lots of old ones too. None can hold a candle against Nemissa's Megidola spell, though. East of the entrance is a shitty Dolphin Helmet (ドルフィンヘルム, + 2 Intelligence). At the North end of the area, there are three halls: The center one leads to the next area and the others lead to treasure. The western hall contains a Pearl at the southern end, and a Jewel (宝玉, fully restores HP) at the northern end. The eastern hall has a Chakra Pot to the south, and a Maximilian (マクシミリアン) to the north. The Maximilian isn't very good. Nemissa does, however, equip a Demon's Skin armor (デモンズ・スキン, + 4 Constitution, Immune to Slashing but weak to Strike) that enemies have been dropping left and right.

In the second area, there's a chest containing a vaguely useful Daihanya sword (大般若長光, hits enemy's front row) to the east of the entrance. Not long into the second area, BandyAid comes across the first large cavern that Naomi found. There's no save point now, but there are two paths. The correct one is the one on the right, regardless of the choices made in the Vision Quest. On the way down the path, BandyAid receives a call from Yu-ichi, who's found some information on Tiamat, Naomi, and the Ruins. Basically it's foreshadowing that the final boss is going to be magical in nature so BandyAid can get his team prepared properly.

...it's pretty darn amazing that BandyAid's cellphone works this far underground, isn't it?

At the end of the path is a small cave. Nemissa and BandyAid fall into it, and ride a looooooooooong slope down...


And find themselves in an ancient temple. They can't go back the way they came, but directly north is a warp tile that'll return them to the large room in the previous area. There's a terminal to the right, to the left there are two doors: The third area's schtick? Warp points! There also what appears to be large holes in the floor that are actually damage tiles. Damage tiles that will take off roughly half the party's HP. It's best to avoid them.

There are a couple of treasures here, such as the Fierce Deity Gauntlets (鬼神の小手, void Curses, weak to Expel, + 2 Strength) for BandyAid. There's also the fist piece of a new set of equipment: The General's Helmet (将門の兜, voids Bewitchment but weak to Mind, requires 10 Magic to equip). If all the General equipment is worn, BandyAid will get + 8 to all stats. It really isn't worth it.

There's a Healspot eventually, which TAS gladly uses.


BandyAid recruits a Ryuuou (Dragon King) Yamato-no-Orochi, a ferocious little bugger that voids Curses and Fire but is weak to Ice. It has the abilities Volcanic Storm (火砕烈風破), Rage (大暴れ), and Human Cannonball (肉弾). It isn't very useful.

Eventually, BandyAid comes to a staircase that leads to the forth area:

The walls of the forth area are supposed to be covered in fungus, but it looks more like a money shot gone HORRIBLE WRONG. There's a terminal here, and lots of winding passages. TAS come to a door that leads into a damage tile-filled hallway, which is frankly nothing for them.

The damage tile hallway leads to a treasure room that contains three chests of Nemissa-only equipment:
The first contains an Ash Bow (とねりこの弓), the second a Hurricane Spear (風波の槍, + 2 Agility, attack from back row), and another Hagaromo of Deneb (首星の羽衣). Nemissa actually equips the Hurricane Spear, because why not, right?

Outside of the treasure room, there's a hallway that runs the length of the floor. The north end has a treasure chest that contains the General's Leg Guards (将門の具足) that are being guarded by MIAB. Several monsters, in fact, guarding the same box. They don't last long against Nemissa's Megidola.

The southern end has a heal spot, thankfully. The center area leads to a door with two bins located on either side


BandyAid has to inspect both bins and the door before he can do what he knows needs to be done. See, the green bin of the left carries the same image as the Cross Plate that Azazel dropped. Placing the Cross Plate inside unlocks the door to the inner sanctum. But... TAS isn't ready yet. They need more powerful allies first. The enemies here give soooo much EXP too, and BandyAid is not one to pass on precious Ecks-Pees.


A Yama (Nightstalker) Nyx weasels her way into TAS even though BandyAid was totally not addressing her. Nyx is, amusingly enough, a stupid demon that is highly resistant to magic, but weak to Guns. She has the abilities Mahazionga (マハ・ジオンガ), Paralama (パララマ), and Tetraja (テトラジャ). She kinda sucks which is why BandyAid wasn't talking to her at all.

He was, on the other hand, trying to chat up this hot little gal:


Youma (Trickster) Valkyrie is a ferocious little lady that reflects Martial Arts and Strike attacks and voids Expel. She has the abilities Duel Slice (両腕落とし), Heat Whip (ヒートウェイブ), and Liftma (リフトマ).

BandyAid's next destination: The surface, one again!

...Liftma is actually kind of useful on the way back up.

First, BandyAid drops by Paradigm-X's Pet Shop to do some trading. Dr. Thrill wants Shinigami Persephone, which BandyAid sadly gives up. By girlfriend!

His reward is Senshi Melon Frost.


Senshi (Ranger) Melon Frost is a stoic little fella with but one attack: Hamaon (ハマオン). He drains Ice and is weak to Fire. Boy, that was a bad trade wasn't it?

But wait! Rokusuke wants a demon with Hamaon! The reward is Seitentaisei with Tarukaja.


Hakaishin (Destroyer) Seitentaisei is a ferocious fellow that reflects fire, voids Expel and is weak to Ice. He has the abilities Spinning Slash (回転斬り), Makakaja (マカ・カジャ), Diarahan (ディアラハン), and since BandyAid got it from Rokusuke, Tarukaja (タル・カジャ).

BandyAid also buys more teomettle at the Casino before heading back to the Goumaden. Hakaishin Seitentaisei, Youma Valkyrie, and Ryuuou Yamato-no-Orochi are fused together to create Majin Osiris.


Majin (Magic God) Osiris is a stoic God that resist everything, and voids Curses, Expel, Mind and Bewitchment. He has the abilities Hamaon (ハマオン), Mudoon (ムドオン), Assassinate (闇討ち), Dekaja (デ・カジャ), and the inherited Diarahan (ディアラハン) and Tarukaja (タル・カジャ). In regular battles, he would be known as an instant-death machine if we didn't already have Nemissa, who we found out last time is literally an incarnation of death.

However, Osiris's Assassinate is a GREAT attack skill that hits 4 times during the New Moon. Osiros also happens to be at his strongest during the New Moon (His damage output is doubled). Now TAS is ready to take on the last battle.

On the way back down the Nikamimon Underground Ruins, a Youma Peri forces her way into TAS.


Youma (Trickster) Peri is an utterly unspectacular clever demon. She drains Lightning and voids expel and has the abilities Zionga (ジオンガ), Mahazionga (マハ・ジオンガ), Sukukaja (スク・カジャ), Tetraja (テトラジャ), and Bomb-Di (ボムディ). Maha/Zionga would be useful if, say, we didn't have Nemissa, we already have two Sukukaja casters and Bombi-Di is worthless. At least she looks cool.


Past the door in the fourth area is the giant temple area that Naomi found herself in when she faced Tiamat. There are no encounters her, so TAS walks around until the New Moon before continuing.

Inside, the come face-to-face with... a giant glowing mushroom. Nemissa starts flipping out, saying that she can hear Manitou calling out to her, as well as the troubled screams of all the souls it's devoured. This is SO not the time for her to start wussing out. The two hear a man's voice, and there's a strange grainy FMV pan up to the top of Manitou, which I guess is Nemissa flying herself and BandyAid up because after the FMV is over they're both standing up at the top of the room.


Kadokura's waiting, he's about to ascend to godhood through Manitou. Nemissa tries to get him to stop, because Manitou and Humans can't coexist and BLAH BLAH BLAH. He levitates into the air and becomes a god.

...he actually looks really, really lame.

Kadokura has the abilities Mahazionga (マハ・ジオンガ), Tetrakarn (テトラカーン), MUTANT KILLER DEATH SPORES (異形胞子飛弾), Aurora Slash (極光大破斬) and Agilao (アギラオ), since Naomi killed Tiamat.

Of these attacks, MUTANT KILLER DEATH SPORES and Aurora Slash are the most dangerous. MKDS hits the entire party with damage and random status effects, which can be disastrous. Aurora Slash hits the front line 3 times, which can also be bad news. Tetrakarn can be a pain in the ass too.

Osiris casts Tarukaja, Pallas Athena casts Sukukaja, Jeanne D'arc casts Sukukaja then Rakukaja, and Ghede casts Makakaja. BandyAid attacks, since he always gets his turn in before Kadokura, and Nemissa casts Megidola. After buffing, Pallas Athena switches to healing and Lightning Pierce, Jeanne D'arc focuses exclusively on healing, Ghede casts Megido, and Osiris uses Assassinate.

Unfortunately, Pallas Athena uses Lightning Pierce after Kadokura casts Tetrakarn and ends up dying. Sucks to be her!

Eventually, the battle ends.


A giant peni---TOWER THING, erupts from Manitou and shatters into tiny pieces. This is... this is not good at all. A cloud of darkness emerges, and...


The Great Spirit Manitou is awake. Little known fact: This is actually how Japanese people see Americans.

Manitou is an ugly fucker with some downright dangerous abilities: Megidolaon (メギドラオン, almighty damage to entire party), Dekaja (デ・カジャ), Dekunda (デ・クンダ), Armageddon (ハルマゲドン), Demon's Birthcry (悪魔の産声), Necro Dogma (ネクロ・ドグマ) and MUTANT KILLER DEATH SPORES (異形胞子飛弾).

So basically, it has a lot of almighty magic, so Makarakarn is out of the question. I've never seen it cast Dekaja or Dekunda, but apparently this version of it has them. Armageddon halves everyone's HP (including Manitou's, except the effective "cap" is 500 HP, so it'll only deal 500 damage to itself which isn't that uesful when it has 20,000 HP). Manitou resists all magic.

BandyAid begins the battle by using a teometle on himself to raise his max HP. Then he starts cutting, and manages to shock Manitou more often than he expected he would. The four demon allies do their buffing thing, Nemissa heals and casts Megidola, etc, etc. BandyAid has to use the first Chakra Pot of the game on Nemissa because she starts to run low on MP. Eventually, Ghede kills it with Megido.


After the battle, Nemissa and BandyAid are back on the ground. Nemissa says that she hears Manitou calling out to her, he's sad. He wants to die (although you wouldn't have guessed it from the battle). She says she understands her reason to exist, and tells BandyAid that it's been fun.

"You can wake up now, Hitomi"


Hitomi's hair goes back to normal.


Nemissa's spirit disappears from her body and floats into the air, revealing her true form. She then transforms into a ball of light, and flies to Manitou.


Manitou falls silent, then begins to disappear from this world. The staff roll begins. I sigh and remember that Shin Megami Tensei Nocturne is the only Megaten game with a decent music for these things.


After the credits roll, Hitomi and BandyAid are back where it all began. Hitomi muses about how their adventure started here, and remembers how excited Tomoko was when she called. Right on cue, Tomoko calls BandyAid and says that Six is on his way to pick them up.

Everyone's waiting at the Hideout. There's a lot of "You guys are awesome!" "We did its!" and "Where do we go from here?" The Spookies are officially disbanded.


Outside, Hitomi reflects on everything that's happened (again), and the screen fades to sepia. There's some discussion amongst the members about their plans for the future: Lunch is going to become a reporter so he can continue to investigate the Phantom Society. Six wants to open up a firing range/gun shop. Yu-ichi's going to become a Super Awesome Hardcore 1337 Hacker, just like Spooky! Hitomi says she's going to travel with her father to America, the place where Nemissa was born...

She asks BandyAid what he's going to do. He doesn't get a chance to answer, because an email from an unknown sender arrives. It's a message from BEYOND THE GRAVE, from Spooky. Presumably, he composed it before everything went to hell, and is filled with all sorts of "Believe in yourself" and "You can do anything" that these things tend to have.

The screen fades to black

BUT DON'T TURN OFF THAT PLAYSTATION JUST YET!

After a few seconds, a prompt comes up to save the game.

I remembered I had to get a few misc. screenshots, so I loaded up the Game Cleared save data. It loads back at the Hideout, which, WEAKSAUCE guys. A message pops up on the screen that says there's a new post on Summoner's Net. Hmm...


Apparently, there's something strange going on at the top of the Sea Ark. How mysterious! I wonder what it could be? A temporal distortion causes by time travel?