[Tower of Illusions - Outer Defense Ring] Five figures of the Phantom Order, as if from another dimension, tore through the outer barriers of Tokigumo Academy.
The sky twisted like ink in water, whispers of an alien realm drifting on the wind-an inhuman logic slowly seeping into reality.
Their goal was clear: a complete reconstruction of the Academy's persona system, with the Black Ace as its core, forming a new network of otherworldly personas.
[Phantom Order - Member Roster] Cléa of the Obsidian Armor (Silver-Masked Knight) → Domain: Seal of Mirror Lock → Abilities: Persona Freeze × Space Suspension × Mind Suppression Roman the Thought-Eater → Domain: Memory Predator → Abilities: Memory Consumption × Magic Rebuttal Frayel the Phantom Flame → Domain: Illusion Sync → Abilities: Reality Folding × Mind Interference × Increased Illusionary Pain Zoi of the Heavy Blade → Domain: Persona Fusion Warrior → Abilities: Force Field Control × Replicated Persona Shield Noval the Soul-Seeker → Domain: Mental Erosion → Abilities: Psychic Resonance × Command Override × Purge Protocol All five are otherworldly persona hosts, each coexisting with at least one non-human consciousness. Their fighting styles are twisted and deadly.
[Ryuga Field - Battle Preparations] The Magus Division set up a temporary stronghold on the eastern side of Ryuga Field.
Hakuran stepped forward first.
"Sou, let's split up."
"I'll test their structural will on the eastern front. Karuma holds the center."
Koudou Saya glanced sideways at Yorumi Sou:
"I ask to accompany you - to the core of the tower."
Sou nodded slightly.
He understood: this battle would not be won with blades alone - it would be fought in the depths of will and identity.
"We have one goal -" "To push them back before they reach the core."
[Battle 1 - Kagurain Kuren vs. Zoi the Heavy Blade] Kagurain Kuren, Vice Captain of the Sword Division, led a scouting party to intercept Zoi.
Twin blades drawn, their Mind Imprint sheaths activated - phantom blades formed in sync.
Zoi, a living Persona weapon, transformed his right arm into a colossal Persona shield and slammed it into the ground.
"Persona Fusion - Defensive Construct: TYPE-Z4 - Activate!"
Kuren, her face unreadable, spun her two blades:
"Shirakawa's will... I'll be the one to end this monster."
Streaks of crimson gold flashed as she unleashed:
"Thousand End Blade Formation - Afterglow Style!"
[Battle 2 - Hakuran vs. Frayel the Phantom Flame] Leading a team of support mages, Hakuran faced Frayel, the Illusion Synchronizer.
The battlefield collapsed into layered fields of illusion.
"Everything you see is just the fear buried in your subconscious," Frayel smiled, slowly advancing.
Hakuran's brow furrowed. He immediately cast "Veil Trick": Mirror Clone ×6", countering her psychic influence.
"Fear can be deceived... but I command the origin of deception."
Illusion clashed with illusion, falsehood mixed with truth - the entire field became a testing ground for illusionary warfare.
[Battle 3 - Funck vs. Roman the Devourer] The moment Roman made his move, Funck felt it - his memories being eaten away.
"I don't need to know who you are. I just need you to forget who you are."
Gritting his teeth, Funck activated the arcane patterns engraved on his skin.
"Try to swallow this ten years of anger. I crawled out of corpses to get here."
He raised a staff inscribed with runes.
A memory bomb exploded, echoing through the room with fragments of loss and madness.
[Main Battle - Yorumi Sou × Cléa] At the heart of the Tower of Illusions, Yorumi Sou and Koudou Saya stood face to face with Cléa.
Cléa removed her mask, revealing a partially metallic face and hollow eyes.
"You... are the terminal of the Persona system?"
"No... you are more than that - you are its last guardian."
Sou didn't answer.
Instead, he slowly drew the Queen and Joker cards.
The cards reversed in his palm, forming strange double-faced sigils.
"I'm not protecting a system."
"What I protect - is their will."
[Tower Top - The Principal's Whisper] At the top of the Black Tower, Principal Mitou looked out over the battlefield.
In his hand, he opened an ancient black tarot deck.
He whispered:
"It's almost time... 'Jack of Hearts,' you're about to awaken."
"What we couldn't finish then... Sou-it's your turn to finish it."