I Am Thou, Thou Art I — Persona Raoul!

"Don't worry about me, Joker. I won't truly die. Even if I lose my life here, I'll be able to revive and return before long…"

Realizing she had become a hostage Otto was using to threaten Ren Amamiya, Hare, despite enduring the intense pain of the Elysion Pedion Field constantly weakening the Honkai energy that constituted her body, still managed a weak yet resolute smile for Ren, offering words of comfort.

Hare had attempted self-destruction countless times, yet she had never succeeded, only to awaken alone, again and again, in the Schariac Stigmata Space.

If she could truly die like this, Hare would finally achieve her ultimate wish.

Unfortunately, Hare could clearly perceive that the Elysion Pedion Field wasn't enough to completely erase her existence from its very root; it could only decompose and nullify the Honkai energy forming her current body.

Upon clearly realizing that even the authority of Binding couldn't truly kill her, Hare's bluish-purple pupils trembled faintly.

Her desire for self-destruction unfulfilled, Hare should have felt pure disappointment.

Yet, at this moment, while genuine disappointment did surface in Hare's heart, an unexpected, subtle sense of relief bloomed in its deepest recesses.

"Fight back, Joker! Don't submit to anyone! Follow the voice within your own heart… You should be free, not bound or imprisoned by anyone!!"

As a Stigmata Crystallize, Hare suffered even more suppression from the Elysion Pedion Field than Fu Hua, the MANTISes, did. Her slender figure, clad in a white and purple battlesuit, was already showing signs of becoming translucent.

If the Elysion Pedion Field persisted for even a little longer, Hare truly risked dying here, at least temporarily.

However, Hare paid no mind to her semi-ethereal state. Her bluish-purple eyes gazed directly at Ren Amamiya, whose limbs were ensnared by the chains of Binding, offering him gentle yet firm encouragement.

"Saying you won't truly die… that's a bit troublesome. But even if you can revive again, there must be a price to pay, right? For example… time?"

Hearing Hare's encouraging words to Ren Amamiya, Otto's eyebrow twitched slightly.

He had intended to use Hare's life to threaten Ren, but unexpectedly, Hare, like Fu Hua, was immortal in a sense.

However, even for an immortal, complete revival would require a significant amount of time. Otto had already understood this from Fu Hua's case.

"If you die here now, how long will it take for you to revive and reappear? When you say 'before long,' do you mean a day? A month? A year? Ten years? Or even longer?"

Even if Hare could revive, the period of her "death" would be tantamount to a long farewell from Ren Amamiya, with their next meeting uncertain and far off.

Ren Amamiya clearly realized this as well, and his expression became incredibly solemn.

"I won't let you die, not even once… Just hold on a little longer, Hare! Just a little longer!!"

Ren Amamiya clenched his fists with renewed effort. Within his deep, obsidian eyes, a spiritual flame named 'rebellion' blazed fiercely. Surging conviction and will transformed into power, filling every corner of his body.

Personas are the power of the heart—the so-called power of will.

The more steadfast and fervent a Persona-user's conviction, the greater the power their Persona can unleash. This trait was even more pronounced in a holder of the Wild Card.

"Power—I need more power!!!"

Upon realizing that Hare was on the verge of falling into a slumber of indeterminate length, unsure when they might meet again, a terrifying power, deeply moving to behold, erupted from the depths of Ren Amamiya's heart.

The erosive aura, which had dimmed to its utmost under the suppression of the Elysion Pedion Field, suddenly flared, like a complete rebound after hitting rock bottom, shining with a color even deeper and more profound than before.

The golden Soulium chains, formed by the power of Binding, trembled violently, rattling with a ferocious and menacing momentum that made it seem as if they would snap completely in the next instant.

The crimson-black rust, symbolizing the power of Erosion, climbed rapidly over the golden Soulium chains at a visible speed. In a short while, it had almost completely dyed the Soulium chains entangling Ren Amamiya's body a deep crimson-black.

"If you want power, then take it all! Haven't you always wanted my power? Now is the time to concentrate all of it into one!!"

Seele, who had been suppressed by the Elysion Pedion Field and could only support herself with her massive blue scythe, suddenly straightened her back as if experiencing a final burst of energy. Her ocean-blue eyes quietly deepened into a profound crimson.

Veliona gritted her teeth. Even if she took over Seele's 'account,' it wouldn't do much to reverse the situation within the continuously active Elysion Pedion Field. She could only bear the pain in Seele's stead and prolong their struggle for a little while longer.

However, besides bearing Seele's pain, Veliona could do more!

As Veliona extended a slender, pale hand towards Ren Amamiya and cried out, she completely released the Stigmata's restrictions on him, fully transferring the power of the Stigma of Death to Ren.

A crimson Stigma of Death pattern, like corresponding lunar scythes, blazed into existence in the empty space before Ren Amamiya, who was enveloped in the crimson-black miasma formed by the power of Erosion.

"You can do it, Ren!!"

Raiden Mei no longer focused on Fu Hua, who lay on the ground. She turned her gaze to Ren Amamiya, whose aura was steadily rising. A faint golden gleam flickered within her violet eyes, filled with anticipation and trust.

A deep violet Stigma of Thunder, radiating outwards like lightning, also materialized in the void on Ren Amamiya's other side.

"Hmm? The Herrscher of the Void Core's energy supply—?!"

Just as Otto was fully manipulating the power of the Simulacrum: Oath of Judah - Eternal Prison, attempting to nullify the erosive power Ren Amamiya was using, his eyes suddenly widened in astonishment. He found that the Herrscher of the Void Core's energy supply had become erratic in an instant, as if the will residing within this Herrscher Core was furiously resisting him.

In the next moment, a slightly dimmed, orange Stigma of the Void quietly appeared in the space behind Ren Amamiya.

The crimson-black miasma surrounding Ren Amamiya thickened to its extreme, shaping itself into a massive, crimson-black fox head with a red, three-tomoe pattern on its forehead.

Nine black fox tails surged forth from behind, wrapping around Ren, completely engulfing his figure and plunging him into an unseen, confined state.

The Stigmata pattern symbolizing Kallen Kaslana's power, the Signets of [Daybreak] and [Deliverance] harboring parts of Kosma's and Kevin's strength…

All the various powers Ren Amamiya had collected on his path of rehabilitation thus far now manifested in the void around him, rapidly spinning around the pitch-black cocoon that no one could see through.

"O, thou who hast embarked upon a journey for the justice within thy heart, now is the time to reveal thy true self, to unleash the power thou hast accumulated. The crossroads of fate have appeared before thee. What choice wilt thou make? Surely, thy resolve is already forged."

Within the lightless, black cocoon, Ren Amamiya, his body bound by crimson-black chains, heard a voice identical to his own, yet deeper and more sinister.

The figure of Persona Arsene—wearing a top hat, with black falcon wings, and clad in a bright red suit—had appeared in the void before Ren Amamiya at some unknown point, facing him directly.

"Choose. Wilt thou face thy weakness, acknowledge the conviction in thy heart to protect thy companions? Or wilt thou continue to flee, feigning it as a game, praying in thy heart that the moment thou canst not protect them never comes?"

"...What a terrible experience. I remember that for a Second Awakening of a Persona, all you needed was to strengthen your bonds with your companions and reaffirm your chosen path and beliefs. Why do I now need to be interrogated by another version of myself?"

Persona Arsene, being another self, a materialization of Ren Amamiya's own heart, naturally understood Ren's true feelings perfectly.

Just as Arsene said, Ren knew he was incredibly weak before those malevolent gods. That was why he desperately tried to increase his strength, to save the world, to save his companions.

However, even though Ren had worked hard enough, and his strength had increased at an astonishing rate, making him arguably one of the top Persona-users, this strength was still insignificant before a god.

The power of one person alone could not stand against a god; it was even difficult to break through the numerous obstacles to reach the final stage where the god resided.

Therefore, Ren Amamiya chose to advance with his companions, to embark on the path of salvation by crusading against the gods together.

In the initial stages of the story, no one should have known the difficult future of challenging a god as a mere human.

Yet, Ren Amamiya just so happened to know that future, shrouded in despairing gray.

Ren Amamiya hadn't formed the Phantom Thieves of Hearts to address societal injustice. He hadn't progressively challenged distorted villains in society, step by step, towards the final boss, forging deep bonds with his companions before finally confronting the evil god.

Instead, from the very beginning, he had intended to use the girls' powers to defeat the god.

Even as he brought the girls into the Phantom Thieves, and though he had declared to them that their true enemy was an evil god, an enormous pressure had built up within his own heart.

After all, the evil god Yaldabaoth was far too powerful. In the original story, the protagonist's ability to defeat him was purely due to a miracle.

Ren Amamiya wasn't confident he could replicate that miracle, but he had, after all, transmigrated as Ren Amamiya.

As the sole savior, the true Trickster, if even he gave up and fled, this world would be utterly doomed, destined to sink into deep despair.

Therefore, Ren Amamiya could only brace himself and keep moving forward, shouldering a heavy sense of guilt while selfishly pulling innocent girls onto his 'pirate ship' of a cause. He constantly needed to project an air of confidence, as if he was certain he could eliminate the evil god, even convincing himself of this charade.

Otherwise, if even he, the leader of the Phantom Thieves, lacked confidence, how could the Phantom Thief girls behind him believe in him and follow him?

Although he knew he had transmigrated into a real world, encountering real living beings with their own thoughts, Ren Amamiya had been following the existing 'game guide' to alleviate his psychological pressure, superimposing the game's process and templates onto his own life… engaging in avoidance.

Until today, Ren Amamiya had fulfilled his duty of protecting his team members, never letting them face truly fatal danger.

However, facing the cognitively enhanced Akechi, Ren Amamiya's current power finally proved insufficient.

The state he most wanted to avoid had finally occurred right before his eyes.

Even if Hare wouldn't truly die, if things continued this way, he and Hare would inevitably be separated by the distance of time.

And besides Hare, Raiden Mei and Seele were also facing the same fatal risk.

He could no longer… run away.

Under the soul-searching interrogation from his other self, Ren Amamiya decided to face his true self, to confront the part of his heart that was evasive and weak.

"You're right. I won't run away anymore. I will face these feelings, and then I will become stronger!! The weak part of me from the past is dead. What's coming next—is a brand new me!!"

Ren Amamiya slowly raised his head. His black eyes now brimmed with an incredibly firm resolve. A smile, tinged with a sense of release yet also somewhat sinister, curved his lips.

His spirit grew more exhilarated and fervent, while his mind became increasingly rational and calm.

A new power was boiling deep within Ren Amamiya's heart, ready to burst forth at any moment.

"Yes! With such undeniable truth, rebel against the malicious intent of an oppressive fate! With this resolve, willing even to fall into hell, let us completely liberate our true name from the shackles that bind us!!"

The Stigmata and Signet patterns swirling around the pitch-black cocoon rapidly converged into its interior, transforming into pure power of various colors, completely merging into the space where Ren Amamiya and Arsene resided.

Persona Arsene extended his arms towards Ren Amamiya opposite him with a highly dramatic gesture. A slightly hoarse, deep voice echoed in Ren Amamiya's ears, and indeed, within his very soul.

"I declare! I am thou—"

The pitch-black cocoon, shimmering with a crimson glow, instantly shattered from within.

Ren Amamiya abruptly swung his arms. The Soulium chains, already thoroughly stained dark red and wrapped around his limbs, instantly emitted a sound of unbearable strain and shattered, dissolving into specks of light that dissipated into the air.

"—Thou art I!!"

Shards of the black cocoon, like pieces of broken glass, drifted down from the sky.

Maintaining the pose of having broken free from the chains, Ren Amamiya reappeared before Otto, Hare, and the others. Clad in his pitch-black Phantom Thief attire, his right hand tightly gripping the Jizo Mitama: Etched, he slowly raised his head, revealing the white, spirit-bird mask on his face.

As his lips trembled slightly, the voice Ren Amamiya emitted seemed to be a superposition of two vocal lines, creating a rather wondrous sense of mystery.

"Now for round two. Come, Persona!!!"

Under Otto's increasingly wary gaze, the white spirit-bird mask on Ren Amamiya's face suddenly erupted into pure, azure spiritual flames.

Immediately after, a pillar of deep blue fire shot up into the sky from behind Ren Amamiya. An intense Honkai energy, far exceeding Herrscher-level, surged violently in all directions.

His magical energy, which had nearly stagnated, now, after he confronted his true heart, began to operate within his body with a strength far surpassing its previous state.

Even within this strange, gear-filled domain, Ren Amamiya had regained the ability to summon his Persona.

The wing-shaped black coattails of his Phantom Thief attire billowed continuously in the raging storm, and the black strands of hair on Ren Amamiya's forehead fluttered slightly due to the storm of magical energy.

Accompanying Ren Amamiya's act of forcibly summoning a Persona within the Elysion Pedion Field, the dense golden gears that had pervaded this airspace, completely surrounding the entire Babel tower and silently rotating like some intricate machinery, instantly developed visible cracks.

This was due to the immense Honkai energy erupting from within the Elysion Pedion Field, an energy that it absolutely could not nullify or erase.

The golden gears were forced to halt their rotation. Then, the sound of gears shattering echoed incessantly, like a string of firecrackers.

The golden-red sky, like twilight, completely vanished as the Elysion Pedion Field broke apart. The blue sky, with fine white snow drifting down, was once again revealed to everyone.

"Let's show Pancake-man our true power—Raoul!!"

The pillar of deep blue fire that had soared into the clouds behind Ren Amamiya now burst brilliantly, revealing the Persona figure within, exuding a terrifying aura.

Massive, mechanical bat-like wings, golden on the outside and black on the inside, like a magician's prop, slowly fanned out.

Wearing a red-brimmed white gentleman's hat, a vibrant crimson coat, and black tight trousers, looking like a stylish gentleman, Persona Raoul hovered imposingly in the void behind Ren Amamiya.

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"To forcibly break through the Elysion Pedion Field's seal… Is this a miracle brought about by the power of love? Truly surprising. But then again, considering this miracle happened to you, Joker, perhaps it's not so astonishing after all."