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The cloaked figure seems to grin bemusedly as Mori approaches.

Then he lets out a laugh, as Mori continues, before cutting him off at the end.
"Oh, Fantomas. You have....such a horrible way with words."

Otoya clenches his fists as Mori finishes.
"You could....have healed her? Why not before....why not now....."
"You talk like you understand what it's like....to lose someone....I've lost everything before. I....I'm not sanctimonious, I don't want to lose anyone else! It's...that's not fair. My mom, my dad.....and now her...."
"I...I can't lose her too! I won't lose her! Even if this is all I have left to try-!"
"Otoya!"

Suddenly, Otoya doubles over, collapsing to all fours, screaming, his hands scrabbling for the back of his neck. Before Gawain can stop her, Kanna runs over to him, trying to pick him up.

The cloaked figure is right behind Mori, masked face peering over his shoulder.
"Don't you know, Fantomas? The Akuma Seed amplifies your negative emotions, it just doesn't feed on them. You called him childish, a prick, a monster for such an innocent desire to keep his beloved close. You confirmed his worst fears. That the world would not stop until it had taken him up and squeezed him dry. That nothing he would ever do would be good enough to keep the one good thing in his life here. That he was a monster for wanting to hold on to the light above the depths."
"You fed it."

He slinks back over to the piano before Mori can retaliate.
"The Genius Cellist...you broke his heart. I can't say it's my fault he's like that now. You're not nearly as clever as you look. I was simply granting his wish, nothing more."

Gawain steps forward, sword drawn.
"You...I'll cut you down!"
"Chasing me for so long, Gawain....you're rather determined, aren't you? Chasing me in the hopes that it'll fix her....that's rather cute. And yet so plain to see through."
"How dare you....!"
"Maybe you and I can make a deal. It wouldn't be so difficult, would it?"

Mephistopheles scoffs.
"Do you not believe I tried? You, spawn of a godling....I tried that first. But your side, your people kept blaming us for the war. Saying that that Cecil....the man you have a statue of, celebrate like some sort of hero....he wouldn't have cut her down if he didn't have a reason. That WE were betraying YOU. I tried to salvage her vision and for what? To be blamed for your crimes?"
"You have godlings on your side. Half of you were summoned or created by godlings. Why should I believe you?"
"I know your pain, Lord Mephistopheles. My sisters.....they've always treated me like a scapegoat too. But....this isn't the answer. Believe that we're trying to fix everything. I know it's hard to change just in a flash, it took me this entire journey to realise it, but it can be done."

Mephistopheles just stares at the ground.
"Am I supposed to just....sit down and pretend like your kind hasn't treated us like the enemy for centuries? To just....redirect my anger, after all that was done?"

Tadano Team
Jin jumps at the idea of kicking some asses.
"Heh. Don't have to tell me twice. Kasuga, Honda, uh....Honda's buddies! Let's go!"

Suddenly, as if snapped out of their compulsion to fight each other, a group of Onibi approaches the party. Before anyone can react, however, Kazuya simply sighs.
"Don't worry about it. I'll handle it."
He snaps his fingers.
"Arise, Abe no Seimei!"
A haze shimmers all over Kazuya's body, a flash of light concealing him for a brief second. When the haze and the light disappear, what remains is a tall humanoid figure in blue robes, a porcelain fox mask concealing his face, a red kimono hidden by the larger robes.

He glances back at the group.
"Well, go on. I got this."

Jin and Akihiko share a glance, before Jin advances down further into the Domain, Akihiko trailing him with Saya.

---

Sakurajima Team
"I...."
"....you're right."
Kanna simply, quietly nods, before staying behind Tsukasa. The armored Kaijin sighs.

"Let's move. If my senses are right, the center of the Domain isn't far off. Your friend's pretty close."

Tsukasa heads off, catching up to Shiro....
....
As Shiro is further down the corridor, she is the first to see what might be the center of the Domain.

It appears to her to be a stage, seats lined up beyond it like an auditorium, extending as far as the eye can see. A piano sits, the cover on the keys, to the side, and a singular spotlight shines on a young man in the middle, kneeling on the floor, looking listlessly into the distance.

"....Sakurajima...."
"Wait!"

Tsukasa suddenly draws his blade, stopping right next to Shiro. Following his gaze, you see a cloaked, masked figure, leaning by the piano.

"....intriguing, isn't it?"
"You-!"
"W-who is that, Senpai?"
"....Sakurajima Kanna. The dying girl who taught this boy how to live. Is that right?"
"Keep her out of this, you bastard. She has NO PART in this!"

Mephistopheles clenches his staff. Though he has a slight smile on his face, the tone of his voice and the intensifying of his presence makes it clear; he's restraining centuries of fury.
"So. You know the story. And yet you side with Goddesses. The liars. The decievers. The ones who stood by as that witch had my Queen murdered."
"And you claim to be here to resurrect my lady? With a GODLING? After all they've done to me and my people?"

The Jasmine Efreeti suspends itself not far off the ground, far enough for the party to jump off somewhat safely.

As the party jumps off, however, they find themselves slowly approached from the coat. Serena and Rhea freeze, the presence they'd been dealing with getting stronger. Lord Mephistopheles studies them, staff in hand, knife in the other.
"So. This....is the legendary Team F. The ones who have caused my crusade so much trouble."
"I can't say I'm disappointed. To defeat all my generals....if I was a fool, I would think it was a fluke."

Tadano Team
Akihiko thinks briefly.
"If Miyazono's in here....oh no. Someone told him about what was going on with her. We have to find him. If it's anything like last time, the exit to this Domain is probably at the center, and Saya'll be there too-"

The pair's conversation is suddenly interrupted by an Onibi being hurled into a nearby wall, splattering with a sickening crack, before falling to the ground, motionless, fading into a burst of metal parts.

"Pick on someone your own damn size!"

A tall, muscular figure walks forwards, Amamiya uniform on clear display. With him is Saya and, surprisingly, a smug-looking Sugiura. The chain that yanked Saya in is still visible on her ankle, albeit fading away with the Onibi that threw it.

"....Akutagawa?"
Jin simply grins as he cracks his knuckles.
"Kasuga? That you? Damn. I didn't know you were one of us now. Guess that's Honda with you, huh? And who are these two other nerds?"
He gestures towards Masaru and Misa.

Sugiura simply shrugs.
"Told you I was tight with Akutagawa."
Saya runs over to Akihiko, giving him a quick hug, equally as quickly reciprocated.
"Akkun! I'm so glad you're here. Don't worry, I'm fine. As soon as I got yanked in here....these two showed up."
"Sugiura called me as soon as something went down. Well. Couldn't resist a fight."
"I heard Koga and Kaneko yelling about something deeper in here somewhere. They're pretty deep inside. It's weird. I kinda....feel like I know exactly where, in this giant maze."
"Saya....damn. I'm glad you're okay. But....you should get out of here."
"Wouldn't recommend it. The Onibi dragged her in here for a reason and they'll just drag her back in. She's safer where we can keep an eye on her."
"No way! I'm not putting her in danger again!"

---

Sakurajima Team
Tsukasa notes his words briefly. His eyes linger on Shiro, slowly cutting their way through the Onibi.

"I'm guessing one of your friends is already in there? Come on, let's go. I'd like some answers myself. Sakurajima is one of your people, but she's my friend."

With that, Tsukasa calmly walks into the Domain, stalking off after Shiro.

"We'll be touching down soon, guys. I can't land too close, so just use the rope ladders to get down."

Serena looks over at the rest of the group.
"Okay. I....feel like it'll all be over, after today, no matter what. Are we ready?"