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Mildred's first strike goes wide, allowing Kaneko to retaliate with a fireball directly to her face.
"Stupid, stupid, STUPID! Strength belongs to the people who'll use it right! Not for some stupid ideal! If it's there, why shouldn't we use it?"

Indeed, his pontificating results in him getting a retaliatory smack to the face.

(Proioxis' Great Typhoon activates! +3 DMG/+10 Critical)
(Mildred's fists are raised!)
(Akihiko's Support activates!)

Proioxis casts Tailwind!
Proioxis loses 3 MP!
Proioxis gains +2 AS for 2 turns!

Proioxis initiates!
Hit Rate: 91 to hit
Hit: 99, miss!

Spartoi retaliates!
Hit Rate: 63 to hit
Hit: 20, hit!
Proioxis takes 14 damage!

Proioxis retaliates!
Hit Rate: 91 to hit
Hit: 43, hit!
Spartoi takes 15 damage!

He stumbles back, shaking his head.
"I should be stronger....why?!"
Kaneko turns towards Masaru.
"Shut up! You don't get it! Some civilized wannabe politician like you....you look down on us. You think because you're so high and mighty, because you won't fight, someone with real strength won't cut you down to the rest of us? I'll show you! Might makes right!"

(Masaru is eager to prove...)
(Masaru has practiced efficiency!)

Vasusena casts Sunfire!
Vasusena loses 3 MP!

Vasusena initiates!
Hit Rate: 79 to hit
Hit: 97, miss!

Spartoi retaliates!
Hit Rate: 80 to hit
Hit: 51, hit!
Vasusena takes 7 damage!

Kaneko laughs as Vasusena reels from the blow.

"You idiot. Long as you don't get it, you're weak. You can't solve all your problems by just talking! The only people who use talk are cowards! Strength is the only thing that matters! If you're not strong, you can't decide anything! And the strongest....are those who use their strength to get what THEY deserve! If you don't, you're just weak, hiding behind your ideals! Power is meant to be used, not hidden!"

And so, Shiro shows him that strength does indeed, matter.

(Shiro's arrogance is overwhelming...)
(Kurmala is active!)
(Lustrous Boost is active!)
(Pyrrha's Deep Drive is active!)
(Mildred's Support activates!)

Pyrrha casts Hikana!
Pyrrha loses 3 MP!

Pyrrha initiates!
Hit Rate: 88 to hit
Hit: 82, hit!
Critical: 14, crit!
Spartoi takes 20 damage!

Spartoi is downed!
Pyrrha regains 10 MP!

Spartoi stumbles backwards, shrinking as metal parts fall off of him, revealing more of the human beneath his Akuma form.
"How....I was....supposed to be stronger...than some stupid....wannabe heroes....."

"You don't get it either."
Akihiko clenches his fist.
"Strength is only strength when you use it to protect others, as a tool of justice. In the hands of someone like you, it's worse than being powerless. You'll just waste it on something stupid like getting revenge or getting what you want without any regard for others. The truly strong use their power only to defend others, not to get what they want. It's one tool, not your only one. Even like this....we're only fighting you because it's the only way to save you."
"When you wake up, I hope we've knocked some sense into you. Asshole."

Daiya Kaneko, the Akuma parts having fallen off of him, slumps to the floor, unconscious to be caught by Saya, who deposits him next to Rise and Kanna.
"I'll keep an eye on him with Koga and Sakurajima, Akkun."
Akihiko briefly restrains himself with a glare at Daiya. He would be dealt with. In the proper way, when everyone was safe.
"Good. It's better you deal with him than I do."

He watches as Mori is saved by a passing Yui, pulled from danger, before staring down Shinigami.
"Miyazono, I owe you. Sawatari, I don't know if you're in any condition to listen, but I'll save him for you since you're not right here right now. No, we will. Everyone, you have my back, right?"
"Always, Akkun!"
"You won't stop me from saving Kanna! I....can't let you!"

Marc'heg Gwer Rescues Fantomas!

"Well, our roles were more stuff that we kinda just.....had, I guess? I had water powers, so I got put in charge of the oceans. Rhea was really good at cleaning messes and fixing things up to be better, so she got order. Freya was the prettiest and, well....let's be real, has actual love powers, so she got to be Goddess of Love. And of course she had our mom fooled...."
Serena sighs.
"I guess that's everything, right, guys? If that is....we need to figure out what we're doing to her."
She points at Freya.

Titania sighs.
"I must take responsibility for my part in this. When Freya told me that the demons had declared war on the gods, I tried to contact Demogorgia, to talk her down. But....she must have already been killed by this point, because I could not. Freya convinced me that Demogorgia had intended to do this all along. I couldn't believe it, but without her to speak for herself....I didn't know she intended to kill off all of the demons, just to defend ourselves long enough until we could resolve whatever had gone wrong. She insisted, up and down, that it was simply to defend ourselves, that she wouldn't go as far as annihilation. A cosmos needed attending, and I trusted my children, so.....I left it to my daughters."

She looks down at the ground.
"Freya....you were so sweet. I still can't believe you could do this...."

"And Mephistopheles wasn't going to talk to Mother anyway, given he was already convinced the gods had betrayed him. I'd been talking to Demogorgia in secret, about our origins. It was the one loophole I could find around that hex, because the secret was about her. I was hoping if Demogorgia and Mother could make peace, then Freya couldn't get away with it and maybe everything would be alright, that demons and everyone else could live in harmony. But....Freya must've known what I was going for."
"That much is true, yes. If Titania had shown up, with how angry I had been, I would have likely died in an attempt to avenge my queen. We were baying for blood. Nothing short of Freya's head would have sated it."
"Phis..."

Serena nodded, a slightly bitter glare at her mother.
"Seems like you really trusted Freya far too much, mom. She pulled the wool over your head. You sided with her over me every time, you trusted her advice...."
"I'm so sorry, Serena. I'm only just realising how badly I've failed as a mother, and....I know apologies won't fix it, but it is all I have to offer for right now. You'll understand when you're a mother someday; the love you have for your children can blind you to their worst flaws."
"And of course, Serena never even knew about where the demons came from, meaning she didn't trust them.....which made Serena the perfect patsy for Freya's plans."
"I suppose when Freya "accidentally" wiped out the demons while defending the Goddess Races, she'd then turn it on me, say that I'd convinced her, and then silence me to prevent me from talking. Like she did Discordia, Borea and Demogorgia."

"The truth? If you're talking about why I was ...._killed....I'm sorry, I don't know. But, I do have my suspicions."
"Freya never liked demons. That hag...."
"Even if she must be punished for her misdeeds and must face justice, she is still my daughter, Sir Mephistopheles. Please continue, Lady Demogorgia."
"The secret I believe this might have all started over was something Discordia told me."
"Discordia? How? Why?"
"She felt that it was important we knew our origins, Serena."
"Your origins?"
"Yeah, uh....you guys came from Hellrealm, right? A separate plane from Generia, created by a foreign god. At least that's what they taught us."

Demogorgia shook her head.

"Hellrealm is very real, yes, but it is not separate from Generia. The Goddess Dragons created the Demons and Hellrealm."

At that, Titania stared at Serena, a look of confusion in her eyes.
"My daughter, do you know anything about this?"
"No, of course not! I came all the way here to find this out! But....I don't remember being involved in creating demons! You can call me lazy, you can call me kind of an asshole, and you can call me pompous, but I would never abandon my own creation! That'd be like abandoning my own children!"
"Discordia did not lie."

"Hacked? You kidding me? Nobody's cracked Rebel Impulse in three years. They don't even have an anti-cheat!"
"Answer the question."
"With what? You wouldn't believe me if I said anything."

"A little help here!"

Joey slumps into view, dragging not one, but two chests, locked with padlocks.

"I found both of these stacked on top of each other in that alley. They're both marked as his."
"What?! No, you fool, there's only one!"
"Can one of you pick the lock? I'm keeping him restrained."

-snip-

Mephistopheles just gives Marcia the blankest look.
"....who is this....sassy lost mortal again?"

"It was Serena who convinced me to get the system in place. She wanted to end the war as fast as possible, and she suggested we use heroes from another world, those who could get have a fresh perspective on the situation. Even back then, she wanted to stop the war. Freya agreed. Wholeheartedly. It was nice, seeing them get along for a while, but...."

Serena nodded.
"That's right. I helped come up with it. I just thought it'd be a win-win situation for everyone. The dead would get their chance to live again as heroes, get a second chance at life, and we'd get someone who could maybe, finally end the war. I just....didn't realise how far Freya would go to make the war go on forever....."

She strolls up to the casket.

"Here goes nothing."
She extends her hands over the casket holding Demogorgia's body. Freya squirms, visibly protesting, but Rhea restrains her with one hand.
"True Resurrection."

The casket glows with the power Serena has sent into it.
"....my queen?"

For a moment, nothing happens.

And then slowly, the casket's lid is pushed open from the inside. Serena steps back.

A tall woman blearily, slowly, pulls herself out of the casket. Her attire is velvety red against her pale skin, with black fur and golden trim all over, and her body, though mostly concealed by thick robes and modest dress, is visibly volutpuous. A small crown rests upon her brow, with black horns protruding from either side of her head from under a curtain of long red hair. Soft, red eyes gaze out over the chamber, her expression confused.

Mephistopheles looks down, almost instantly kneeling upon her approach, averting her gaze. His voice is trembling.
"M-my queen....you've returned...."
The true Demon Lord's voice is soft, light; more fitting of a flower girl than the monarch of all demons.
"Phis, what happened? I...I remember....that knife....the fighting....didn't I.....did you...find a way to bring me back?"
"My lady, the goddesses...they brought you back."
"Lady Demogorgia. There's much you need to know. But much you need to explain."
"Huh?"

"You have no idea what kind of game you're playing, pal!"
"We just exposed you as a scammer in front of hundreds of people, buddy. Not much of a game now."
"...tch. I can't tell you who, but I can lead you to them. Relax, you don't have to let me go. There's a bunch of others but I didn't exactly ask for a name or a friend request. You think we're that stupid? I've got some dirt on them."
"Where?"
"Take a guess, genius."
"Shall I-"
"I'll get the chest, partner. You keep him restrained."

Joker sprints off to the alleyway Melthorion indicated earlier.

"You have no idea what you're getting into."
"What kind of glamour are you putting on these weapons to mask the stats? I can't sense it."
"See? Like that."

Maya curtly nods at Alexis.
"Likewise."
She presses her knee down on Melthorion harder.
"Talk. Who are your partners?"
"Go to hell!"

Joker tips his hat at Gustave.
"Maybe I should say something cool like "we work alone". But....honestly, I kinda wanna get this case wrapped up. So yeah, as soon as our perp here talks, any assistance is welcome. That goes for the rest of you guys."
"Alexis. Perhaps you'd like to use your axe-"
"Alright, alright! I keep the money I made in a little chest hidden in an alleyway nearby. If I give you that and you give that to all the players I scammed, will you let me go?"
He nudges his head towards the alleyway in question.
"Not until you give your friends up, pal. My partner said you had help. Start talking."