Chapter Text
[About 7 March 2010]
[Sea of Souls]
Bang! Whack! Slash! Boom!
These are the sounds of something hard and sturdy, that got destroyed.
What got destroyed was a giant glowing gold door with a 1:1 statue of an unfortunate Japanese lass chained to it, opened with 22 hard swift hits. It was the Great Seal.
A very lucky hit, the 22nd hit was. Erebus was about to give up, and how he will complete his duty. Erebus ignores the debris of what was once the seal to reach its creator's great foe: Nyx. Once they contact, the world is damned to end.
From the debris, a glowing orb that arose from the wrecked Great Seal that was once part of it, began to move. It seems like it knows it has to get away from Erebus. So it goes, farther and farther while Erebus is distracted. The sea of souls as a whole is wide and never ending. The orb could get anywhere.
[About 27 December 2016]
[Earth’s exosphere]
The Phantom Thieves made good work of Yaldabaoth in the 24th of December.
However, he tricked them. They didn't actually fight him. Yaldabaoth was in space the whole time and he watched the whole fight and said nothing. In the meantime he met Nyarlarthotep, Azathoth and Erebus.
Nyarlathotep [to Yaldabaoth]: “A pity your clone couldn't deal with them, but its ‘defeat’ distracted them. They haven't made a move since then."
Yaldabaoth [to Nyarlathotep]: “If it was that easy, I wouldn't have bothered participating in your meet up."
Erebus says nothing, as he isn't here. He's at the Sea of Souls.
Nyarlarthotep is not at his prime, he was beaten in his previous schemes, and that struggle to win weakened him.
Azathoth [to the whole group]: “I already had another plan of my own to dominate humanity on my own terms, but I saw great potential here. I will recind my deal with that human."
Yaldabaoth [to the whole group]: “Our plan begins on the first day of 2017 within the Gregorian calendar, the one humans use most often. Any objections?”
Azathoth [to Yaldabaoth]: “I have none.”
Nyarlathotep [to Yaldabaoth]: “I also have no objections. You will all see what I can do.”
[28 December 2016, evening]
[Takuto Maruki’s home]
Azathoth [to Takuto Maruki]: “I must rescind my offer of assistance. I have joined an alliance of beings like me. We shall determine the fate of Earth on our own terms without input from humans.”
Takuto Maruki [to Azathoth]: “Didn't you tell me to seek you? What's going on?”
Azathoth [to Takuto Maruki]: “Your blasphemous fury may be righteous in your point of view, but humanity does not deserve redemption.”
Takuto Maruki: “Are you saying that humanity deserves to suffer?”
Azathoth: “My allies believe so. Now, I must meet up with them to discuss our plan further. You are on your own.”
Azathoth is gone and leaves Dr. Maruki powerless.
Takuto Maruki: “Ugh... damn it, NO!"
The silence is loud.
Takuto: "Rumi... I'm sorry..."
[About 29 December 2016]
[Sea of Souls, then Velvet Room]
The orb is very far away, but also very lost.
Elizabeth and Margaret are near another Great Seal to guard it. There's nobody but them. The orb from long ago passes in front of Margaret and Elizabeth. Elizabeth catches the orb easily and with a quick glance, she notices that the orb share the same exact golden glow of this Great Seal.
It is too interesting to get rid of, and could be important. So she takes it with her back to the Velvet Room, after asking Margaret if she could.
Back at the Velvet Room, Theodore, Jose and Lavenza are guarding Igor.
Igor cannot ignore the shine of the orb that Elizabeth has on hand. The Great Seal-like shine.
Elizabeth [to Igor]: “We've found something that might interest you, master.”
She gives the orb to Igor and he is allured.
Igor [to Elizabeth]: “What a stunning thing! Hmm. We should investigate on what it could be."
[About 30 December 2016]
[Velvet Room]
After some investigation and with the tacit approval of Philemon, only tacit as he is in his butterfly form, and Igor's decree, Theodore commences the creation of a new body for the lost soul, which truly is Kotone Shiomi's, his guest that he missed so much.
Since her soul has her genetic information, her new body will be exact copy of her old one. The soul and the created body fused together. Kotone is back, and there she lays still, sleeping. Yet, not for long. She opens her eyes.
Kotone [internal thoughts]: "I'm... alive?"
She looks at the ceiling while lying on her back in a blue bed. She knows that this is the Velvet Room with its memorable aesthetic. She hears a woman singing, and a koto being played¹. Or that's what Kotone thinks she she hears. Last time she was here, a piano was played.
She's inside a bedroom and wearing an orange kimono. The kimono is a replica of the one she was given by Mitsuru of her universe and wore for New Year's Day of 2010.
She remembers showing the original to Theodore with pictures and then in person.
She then looks to her right side. It's Theodore himself.
Kotone's mood brightens. She's indeed alive. She sits up on the bed.
Kotone [cheerfully]: "Hey, Theodore! How've you been?"
Theodore is content that Kotone has her memories intact, but he feels immensel guilt for not being able to find her soul for years after finding out her Great Seal was obliterated.
He could barely hide his sadness by having to tell her the truth and Kotone could tell from his face.
Kotone [to Theodore]: "Uh... what's wrong?"
Theodore tries to maintain the act of stoic professionalism. He struggles, but he will speak.
Theodore [to Kotone]: “...My master would like to talk to you about your current situation. Please follow me to his desk."
Kotone: "Sure..."
Theodore stands up, walks, and opens the door to exit the room. He doesn't bother to close it since he expects Kotone to arrive too.
She understands the importance of Igor's words; it would be impolite to just ignore his call.
A pair of zori is beside the bed. She puts them on, as Velvet Room folk always have footwear. She was already wearing a pair of tabi (socks), so might as well.
In front of the rooms door, there's a very big library. Yet, she only glanced a bit and follows where Theodore went.
Igor is at the desk reading like he usually is and sits down on the empty chair. Elizabeth, Margaret and Theodore stand next to him. She sits down on the empty chair.
Igor [to Kotone]: "Welcome back to the Velvet Room, guest of yore..."
Igor realizes that he should get to the point. She must know.
Igor [to Kotone]: "I have unfortunate news to tell you. Your Great Seal that you created was severely compromised with vile strength."
Kotone: "...!"
Kotone is aghast. This revelation made her panic inside.
Margaret [to Kotone]: "Erebus, of your universe, was able to make contact with Nyx, of your universe, to commence The Fall again. Everyone you knew in your Earth died as it was destroyed. Now, you are taking refuge in another universe. A boy with blue hair that shared the same age, role and fate as you, created the Great Seal of this universe. His seal still stands."
Her eyes begin to water. Her sadness is overwhelming.
Elizabeth [to Kotone]: "Your soul roamed around and was found by me. It shouldn't have wondered off on its own if your seal was intact.
It is too much to hear already. Kotone was already sobbing. All her friends, whatever hopes and dreams they had, and her home are gone.
She also knows that Ryoji Mochizuki didn't want this to happen, but had no choice when he was no longer distinct from Nyx.
The folk of the Velvet Room say nothing more. They didn't want to bother her. They understand her reaction to her loss.
She sobs. Eventually, she quiets down, yet she is still teary eyed.
She hesitantly speaks up.
Kotone [to Igor]: “...I'm grateful to be alive again but… I don't know what to do, where to live..."
Igor [to Kotone]: “You may stay here. Erebus of this universe hasn't succeeded yet. The attendants guard this Great Seal after discovering the destruction of your seal. This is a safe place for you to be in.
However, it is your choice to return to a normal human lifestyle. We will respect your decision. We have no intentions to punish you, as it wasn't your fault. The room Theodore resurrected you in will be yours until you find a suitable home outside.
Kotone [to Igor]: "Thank you, Igor-san. I'll talk to Theodore there about... what I missed out on."
Theodore [to Kotone]: "Then, let's return, dear guest. We have many things to discuss. I have my own stories to tell as well."
Kotone nods. She feels a little bit better, but her iconic cheerfulness just isn't there at the moment.
Igor [to Kotone and Theodore]: "Very well, I shall leave you two be.”
[About 31 December 2016]
[Velvet Room]
A suspicious black cloud that appeared suddenly in the Velvet Room is enough to make Elizabeth, Jose and Lavenza ready to fight. It's nobody other than Yaldabaoth but in a smaller and a very weak form.
Jose [to Yaldabaoth]: "Halt! Don't get any closer!"
Lavenza [to Yaldabaoth]: “You hideous thing! What do you want?! How are you alive?!”
Yaldabaoth [to Elizabeth and Lavenza]: “Your cherished Phantom Thieves are such dupes and so are the beings that help them.
They thought they fought the real me and stole my ‘treasure’. They went about their day without a single thought to question anything.”
Elizabeth [to Yaldabaoth]: “Hmph. Are you here to brag or do you have something important to say?”
Yaldabaoth [to Elizabeth and Lavenza]: “1st of January 2017, in Earth time. Gregorian calendar, of course. That's when the 'new game' begins. Me and three other's judgment is that man doesn't deserve of any kind of salvation from our keen observations and experiences, but we'll be 'fairer' to the best soldiers of humanity and test their endurance..."
Yaldabaoth leaves the Velvet Room. He only came just came to threaten them. Hard choices must be made now.