I became a heart-stealing thief in Azure Files

"Hehe...hahaha...hahahaha!"

After the villain's characteristic arrogant three-part laugh, the black and red mud-like substance on Shadow Saori's body began to surge, gradually showing signs of melting and turning into a monster.

"What a hopeless case... Since 'I' have become like this, I'll just have to end it myself."

"Hehe... If I can win you over, 'Madam' will surely reward me."

Amamiya didn't help Saori, but instead cast a hopeful glance at her as she pressed the Persona Summoner against her brow and slowly pulled the trigger.

Saori, if you cannot reconcile with 'yourself,' then raise the banner of rebellion and let that self-proclaimed noble being experience the pain of betrayal.

'The determination to protect others; the courage to face death; the trust to which one can be entrusted; the yearning for meaning in existence.'

Holding the [Saint of Atonement], Saori slowly closed her eyes before the 'shadow version of herself' surging like a mountain, trying to touch and sense the ripple born in the sea of ​​her heart.

This is how Beatrice views herself...

Besides the despair of having no chance to resist, it was also because his 'disguise' was excellent enough.

It seems that even that 'lady' did not grasp the whole picture, nor did she possess the true insight to understand the mind—

She didn't even realize that the thing she considered as insignificant as an insect was about to grow powerful, becoming a giant she could never reach, and crushing her underfoot.

Saori slowly opened her eyes, pressing the revolver against her temple.

Her eyes were covered by a dazzling blue flame, brighter than ever before.

"Let me show you... my determination."

"My...determination to move towards the future, even if it means facing death!"

Recalling how Amamiya summoned the Persona, Saori gradually tightened her grip on the trigger.

“P - so - na——!”

(Person, personality, appearance, tools—!)

The ripples in the sea of ​​the heart, like the butterfly effect, developed into a monstrous wave, and from it emerged a figure dressed in a monk's robe, holding a broken holy spear.

"Come out……"

"Longinus!"

What will Beatrice's [secret treasure] be in Chapter Seven?

The moment Saori pulled the trigger, she seemed to hear the fateful metallic tremor of the special material of the "Atonement Saint" in her hand colliding with the hammer.

boom!

The .44 Magnum bullet, carrying the tremor of the soul, pierced the temporal bone, and silver-blue, translucent fragments of personality burst forth from the sea of ​​mental images like a galaxy pouring down.

At this moment, Saori finally understood why both Sensei and Misaki had to maintain the 'shot-hit' posture for a while after firing their guns.

—It looks arrogant and even has a kind of childish coolness, but this pose is not just for show.

To outsiders, this seems very childish...

But for someone who has shot themselves in the back, completely shattering their "inner self"... this is more like a nirvana ritual completed in an instant.

Being hit really does cause a pain and impact that is almost like "dying once".

This is the price of using the Persona...

But if this price is to be "paid" to save her own future, Saori would be willing to pay it.

The interwoven light and shadow coalesced into arcs of light, which then converged into rings of light that were gradually taking shape.

The mirror-like fragments reflected a gradually completing image.

Dressed in a monk's robe, draped in worn-out soldier's shoulder armor like that of a defeated army, and wearing a white cloak symbolizing his sainthood, his expression conveyed both the fortitude of an old soldier and the compassion of a saint—

In a burst of light, a saint appeared behind Saori, holding only a short fragment of the Holy Lance, about the length of a dagger, stained with the holy blood of Jesus Christ.

At that moment, Saori heard the saint's sigh of relief and joy, floating in the air behind her, surrounded by ghostly blue flames.

"Hehe...very good, very good."

"It is good that you still have the will to repent."

Your call reminds me of those unbearable past events...

"I hope that you will not repeat my mistake of assassinating a saint..."

"The sea of ​​suffering is boundless; following in the footsteps of the sages is the right choice."

"You have made your decision... then I will become your arm and your help."

"I am you, and you are me..."

"I am you, and you are me..."

The saint, holding a fragment of the Holy Lance, laughed heartily.

"Seeking help from heaven or earth is not as good as relying on yourself!"

"Remember this! My name is... Longinus!"

"I have answered your call and come to fight for your future!"

The saint, who was laughing heartily, resolutely and swiftly plunged the fragment of the holy spear into his palm the next second.

"I will become the spear of destiny in your hands, clearing away the obstacles on your path!"

'laugh--'

The splattered holy blood flew into His own eyes, shattering the saint's mask that symbolized blindness.

At this moment, the shadowy Saori had transformed into a ten-meter-tall weapon of judgment, and without hesitation, she grabbed her forked spear, which was almost as tall as her, and charged toward Amamiya and her group with a thunderous roar.

"...execution, death penalty."

Saori remained unmoved, while the saint behind her recklessly reached out and, in a seemingly overconfident manner, clashed the broken fragments of the holy spear in her hand against the more than ten-meter-long [Forked Execution Spear].

'A fragment of the Spear of Longinus, which gained fame through the stain of holy blood...will it clash with the Executioner's Spear, which has not yet been stained with holy blood?'

The fragments of the Holy Lance collided with the forked spear swung by 'Shadow Saori' with a loud bang.

By shielding herself with her forearm, Amamiya blocked the impact of the oncoming wind pressure on Azuko and the other two. She also used her [Third Eye] to check the other party's information.

[Cognitive Existence: Before the Spindle - Hope's Exile - Spear of Fate - Yarn Weaving]

[Initial Level: 88]

Arcana: Eternal Calamity/Judgment

[Prototype Description: Longinus, who was responsible for stabbing Christ to death with the butt of his spear, and his appearance before being converted.]

He was a bloodless and tearless centurion, merely following orders; a perfect and cold machine.

Before being converted by the blood of a saint, He never imagined that His 'fate' would change with the blood of a saint.

Rest in peace...

"It is you who should rest in peace."

Surrounded by her own dark blue flames, Saori temporarily dropped her gun and a light-forged spear appeared in her hand.

"Longinus...the Spear of Destiny!"

"Spear of Longinus: Deals two guaranteed hits to a single enemy, ignoring elemental resistances, with a high critical hit rate and extremely high gun-type damage. The effect is doubled against enemies afflicted with any mental abnormal status."

"Upon hitting the target, there is a high probability of inflicting fear or despair upon the target."

Holding the light-forged spear in her hand, Saori silently prepared to throw the javelin.

The saints behind her made almost identical movements at the same time.

The two spears connected in the air to form a dotted line, trailing a scarlet arc of light and carrying surging, continuous Mach rings, before slamming into the enormous, bloated body of the shadowy veil.

The terrifying explosive power generated in an instant is no less than that of the legendary god Odin. When he throws the "Meteor Spear," which is said to hit the enemy as long as it is thrown, the Meteor Spear transforms into an arc of light in the sky, followed by a magnificent scene of chasing stars and the moon.

The 'sky' of the underground world was dyed crimson.

'He who wields the Spear of Longinus will be invincible, sweeping away all enemies and ruling the world... But once the spear leaves its wielder, the wielder will instantly perish...'

Recalling the various legends surrounding this mythical weapon, Amamiya watched the scene that resembled an execution.

The ear-piercing sound of metal being pierced rang out one after another, and two large, blood-soaked holes appeared in 'Shadow Saori's' chest and abdomen.

Dark red mud gushed out from His hideous and terrifying wound.

"What kind of power is this...?"

The 'Shadow Saori', pinned to the wall by the immense force of the spear, spoke with a voice that was significantly weaker than before, her words filled with shock at the terrifying explosive power.

Straining her weakened body from the outburst, she slowly walked to her 'other self,' raised the cold [Saint of Atonement] and pointed the gun at Him. Saori coldly replied, "This will be a power you can only look up to but never reach, a power you can never touch."

Amamiya nodded silently as she watched this overwhelming battle unfold.

Saori was absolutely right.

Ultimately, a persona is a power born from within—composed of various precious positive emotions such as the will to rebel against injustice; the determination to tear apart falsehoods and reveal the truth to the public; and the courage to face death and move towards the future.

In a more poetic way, this power is called "hope".

Hope, on the other hand, is a shadow formed by negative consciousness that never harbors any hope; it is a power that can never be touched.

Saori didn't waste any more words with her other self, and the defeated 'Shadow Saori' didn't bother to say anything more either, and didn't even intend to beg for mercy, willingly closing her eyes.

"..."

"Go ahead...this is your victory."

"How dazzling."

"boom."

Amidst the clear sound of bullet casings hitting the ground, the girl watched as another version of herself was consumed by holy flames.

Before the drifting black ash could touch the ground, it turned into countless stardust fragments and merged into the crown symbolizing eternity atop the expressionless head of the saint in the Taoist robe behind the girl.

The spearhead that pierced the savior's chest thousands of years ago has become the North Star, guiding those who have lost their way.

The same is true today.

This time, the spear of fate did not pierce the "savior," but rather pierced "oneself."

However, its purpose remains unchanged—

Seeking their own salvation.

Take control of your own destiny.

Create your own future.

……

After the battle, Amamiya led Saori and her group to rest for a while before setting off again.

By changing his Persona to Ariadne and using the Ariadne Thread to solve the labyrinth, Amamiya led Saori and her group through the complex and winding underground labyrinth using a 'brute-force' approach.

To Amamiya's slight surprise, the exit of this underground labyrinth was not the hidden treasure space he had imagined, but rather—

At the top of the World Tree of the Holy Trinity lies a void city that, from afar, resembles the 'City of Eden'.

Radiant with light and color, resplendent in gold and jade, filled with harmonious music...

Angels fluttered and danced in the sky; the echoing sacred hymns, praising 'God' (Beateritchie), reached their ears the moment the Amamiya group stepped out of the underground labyrinth.

After observing the absurd and distorted scene for a while, Saori felt disgusted and frowned deeply.

"This is……"

"The hiding place of the 'treasure'...?!"

Looking around at this utterly absurd scene, Saori subconsciously began to mutter to herself.

Having finished observing the area, Amamiya nodded leisurely: "This is the hiding place of the secret treasure..."

As he spoke, he turned his gaze to the "sun" in the sky above Eden.

Noticing Amamiya's movement, Misaki, Akiko, and Hiyori all instinctively looked over—and then they discovered that the thing floating in the air that gave this Garden of Eden light was not the sun at all.

It was a mass of… twisting and writhing, its shape unpredictable, like 'liquid light' that wasn't a Newtonian fluid.

Hiyori gasped, her mouth slightly agape in disbelief, "That's... a secret treasure?!"