Let's punch God in the dick! The Shin Megami Tensei LP!

[Kim]

Eventually, Krylo and the others made their way back inside. Krylo, more shocked than the others by the devastation, stumbled as he walked. Ocean as far as the eye could see in every direction. It was all Krylo could do to remain standing.

By the time they finally made their way back to Fifth, it seemed he'd already heard the news.

"Then... that was my..." Krylo couldn't bring himself to finish the sentence.

A troubling silence hung in the air after Fifth spoke these words.

"How can I even get there?" Krylo asked, starting to pull it back together.

Fifth had already figured that one out. "I heard one of the guys in the Gaian camp upstairs caught a turtle... Well, he says it's a turtle. Anyways, it should be able to carry you where you need to go. Just hurry before the idiot kills the damn thing."

As Krylo made his way to the Gaian camp, he lost himself in his thoughts.

"Balance... That's what I pledged myself to. If I just take out Vishnu, that'll leave Chaos with the upper hand over Law. This means I have to betray Fifth's trust and kill Ravana as well. Fifth's done so much for me. I wouldn't be where I am without him, but I have to do this. I'm sorry, Fifth."

"Krylo? We're here..." Pocheros said. Krylo's mind cleared, and they quickly found the man with the "turtle."

"Uh, can I get a look at this turtle?" Krylo asked. The man shrugged and let Krylo into the room behind him.

"You aren't a turtle... You aren't a turtle at all..." Krylo said with a frown.

"Never mind that!" replied the Not-Turtle.

"Fine, fine... fake turtle..." Krylo said and began fiddling with the creature's shackles. However, the merchant outside soon interrupted him.

Krylo had, saying nothing, drawn his sword while the merchant was speaking. A look of fear overtook the man.

"Thanks," Krylo said, almost laughing. He stepped back inside and shattered the creature's shackles with his blade.

The turtle tossed a small flute before Krylo's feet.

Krylo smiled at Pocheros and Pascal. "Well, that worked out well."

Krylo stood before the ocean and played the flute. Slowly, the turtle rose from the water before him.

And so the three of them rode upon the turtle's back, telling it where to take them.

As they traveled, en route to the government building, Krylo felt something calling to him, tugging at his very soul. In the distance, he saw an island with a small building surrounded by trees. A building just like the ones he'd fought the Shitenou in.

"I'm sorry, but can we head to that building first?" Krylo asked. Pocheros and Pascal said nothing, and the turtle nodded.

"Thank you," Krylo said to the turtle, as it dove beneath the waves once more.

Inside the building, Krylo found another set of heavy doors barring his way, the seal undone by the gem he'd found.

A powerful warrior awaited him inside, seemingly anticipating his arrival.

Krylo gave a polite bow. "Nice to meet you," he said.

"Why?"

Krylo held his tongue against acknowledging his own role in the flood's occurrence.

"Do you really think so?"

"I do."

"Thank you so much. I'll put it to good use. I swear it."

"I'm glad to hear that."

Lord Masakado disappeared before Krylo's very eyes, leaving nothing but a sword with an aura of power far exceeding that of the blade Krylo had used up until now.

The voyage the rest of the way to the government building was a peaceful, lonely one. There was little to talk about anymore, and neither angels nor demons alive our here to threaten them. There was only the ocean, the wind, and the ruins beneath them.

The government building had two towers, and Krylo felt the energy of his targets from both of them.

"Well, I suppose it's time." Before Krylo were two elevators, each leading to the top of one of the towers. He stepped into the left one. Pocheros and Pascal followed.

The elevator doors opened at the top, and the three saw heavy, iron doors. Krylo knew, somehow, that behind this set of doors waited Ravana.

"Are you ready?" Krylo asked, looking at the others. Pascal nodded.

"Yes," replied Pocheros, holding Krylo's old blade.

They stepped through, and were greeted by the sight of the many-armed God that was Ravana.

"I know," answered Krylo, "But I'm afraid I've come to kill you."

"Don't worry, the factions of Law and Chaos are still fighting over the cathedral. God won't be summoned. I'll make sure of that."

Pocheros and Krylo charged him at once, blocking his many swords while Pascal tackled him to the floor. Pascal jumped back and Krylo slashed, leaving a gaping wound in Ravana's chest that glowed with magical energy even as blood poured from it unceasingly.

Ravana closed his eyes and a sad look overtook his face as he passed away. As Krylo turned to leave the room, another deity that he did not know appeared.

"I'm sorry..." Krylo told Ravana's son. The green-skinned warrior charged Krylo, ready for battle, but it was over in an instant.

The severed head of Ravana's son rolled across the floor, stopping by the side of Ravana himself.

"May you find peace with your father," Krylo said to the fallen warrior.

The trio hurried to the top of the next tower, then preparing themselves for their next battle. There was no time to waste.

They moved through the doors and saw Vishnu before them, scantily clad and playing a flute. Vishnu looked up from his playing and smiled.

"I have come to slay you, Vishnu," Krylo told the deity.

Vishnu created a magical barrier as Krylo went on the offensive. Krylo swung Masakado's blade, unfearing, and the barrier shattered as though it were mere glass. Barely slowed, the blade tore through Vishnu, who fell, bleeding and coughing, to the ground.

By the time Vishnu's spirit left his body, Krylo and his companions were already back in the elevator.

Krylo had just finished telling Fifth what he'd done. He did not give his reasons. They wouldn't have mattered to his friend.

Betrayed, Fifth lost all control of his temper.

Fifth stormed off while Krylo could only watch on. He would be forced to face Fifth, it seemed. It was not something he was looking forward to.

"I have truly lost my last friend," Krylo muttered to himself.

"You still have me," Pocheros comforted.

"Yeah... You're right..." Krylo said, though something seemed to bother him as he did.

Then, it was time to explain the situation to Snake, though Krylo hated to think of this Snake as being the same person he'd journeyed with before.

Snake seemed to already know the truth. All Krylo could do was nod.

As Snake walked away in sorrow, Krylo overheard a familiar voice speaking into his mind.

Krylo followed the voice into the heart of the Cathedral, where he found the old man waiting for him.

Krylo said nothing to the old man, instead merely nodding in agreement.

He stepped out of the room, saying to the old man and the others, "I'll go after the Asura Lord first. Fifth is waiting for me, after all."

As the group made their way down the stairs, they encountered Louis Cypher for the third time. He gave them a pleasant smile and an exaggerated bow.

"I've come to stop the forces of Chaos," Krylo answered.

Krylo nodded.

"I know of an item that would be of great use in this quest of yours. I'd be happy to tell you where to find it, free of charge, from one friend to another," Louis said.

"No need," Krylo replied, "I know you'd be lying."

"Is that so?" Louis asked, his smile growing wider.

"It wasn't that hard to figure out," Krylo answered.

"I suppose not. Well, good luck, hero." With that, Louis walked away, still smiling.

Once Louis was gone, Pocheros asked, "So who is he?"

Krylo gave his answer as he began walking again. "It's pretty obvious if you think about it. It's all in the name."

"Huh..."

When the group reached the seventh basement, they found Fifth waiting for them. Rie was nowhere to be seen, but Krylo felt her presence.

"I'm sorry..." Krylo said, a great deal of sadness in his voice.

"I'm sorry, Fifth, but I just can't support either side. If the only alternative is balance, so be it."

Fifth drew his sword. Pocheros and Pascal, too, readied themselves for battle.

"Please, don't," Krylo said to them, "Fifth is my friend. I'll face him alone."

Krylo pulled out his sword and walked up to Fifth. The two stared at each other for some time before the battle finally began.

The loud clanging of steel echoed through the room again and again with every swing of their blades. Both seemed equally matched.

Krylo felt his arms begin to tire and knew he couldn't keep this up forever.

"All my strength into a single swing. That's the only way," he thought to himself.

He let out a tremendous battle cry as he made his final swing. The blades met and there was a loud shatter as Fifth's broke. Krylo's sword continued, ripping through his friend's chest and abdomen.

Fifth stumbled backwards against the wall and dropped what remained of his sword. He clutched at his abdomen, trying, in vain, to stop the bleeding.

Fifth let out a few wet coughs, and Krylo could see the blood his friend was coughing up stain his facemask. Fifth pulled the mask down, revealing his face once more. His lips were stained with blood.

Fifth began to cry.

His eyes grew distant as his vision faded.

He struggled to remain standing.

Fifth fell to the floor. Tears welled up in Krylo's eyes, but he had little time to grieve.

Rie stepped into the room.

"This hurts me more than you could possibly imagine..." Krylo answered.

"I know..." Krylo answered.

There was silence, then the two charged one another.

Krylo won, of course. Like so many before her, she ending up with a gaping wound in her chest.

Lilith wasn't as strong as Fifth. She must have known that. She must have known she'd lose.

Krylo made to say something, but she shook her head and continued.

Lilith fell to the floor beside Fifth.

"I don't understand..." Pocheros said.

"Hm?" Krylo asked.

"I don't understand her. I don't understand anything about her."

"Do you know the story of Lilith?" asked Krylo.

"...No," Pocheros replied.

"Lilith was Adam's first wife in the Garden of Eden. Like Adam, she was made from the clay of the Earth. She and Adam were meant to be equals. However, in his arrogance, Adam didn't want an equal. He wanted someone beneath him. Unwanted, Lilith left the Garden of Eden and joined the demons outside. Lest the same events happen again, Adam's next wife, Eve, was made from his rib. She was one who existed for his sake and his alone. She was never meant to be his equal," Krylo explained.

"What does that have to do with you?" Pocheros asked.

"Who knows... Can I ask two favors of you?"

"Sure, anything."

"Can I have your cape and the golden apple we found earlier?"

"Of course," Pocheros answered, handing the items over to him without question. Krylo draped the cape over Fifth's corpse. A proper burial would have to wait until later. As for the apple, he clasped Lilith's hands around it.

It was then that the old man appeared once more.

The old man transformed. His new form was much younger than his previous one and had a long, black beard. He had the dress of a religious monk. It was the old man's true form.

"My name is Taijorokun. Long have I fought to maintain the balance of this world. Now..."

Krylo nodded and proceeded down the stairs before him, Pocheros and Pascal sparing only a brief moment to look at the man who had guided them before heading down the stairs.

"Once we face the Asura Lord, all that will remain are Snake and Michael. Are you two ready?" Krylo asked. His companions nodded. "Then let's do this."

Krylo said nothing throughout the speech. He couldn't care less what this demon thought of him.

Pocheros charged first, swinging her sword again and again, though each attack was blocked effortlessly by the Asura Lord. Pascal followed after her, leaping at the powerful demon, but was knocked out of the air by one of his arms.

Pascal slammed into the wall and Krylo heard several bones crack. Krylo winced at the sound.

Krylo had hung back this long looking for a weakness. Anything that would let him take the demon down. Krylo could feel the Asura Lord's power, and knew it wasn't enough to simply run in swinging like he had so many times before.

A flash of inspiration, followed fast by the Asura Lord punching Pocheros with one of his enormous fists. Pocheros blocked, but was sent tumbling back several feet, soon standing once again. Pocheros and Pascal then charged the demon at once and Krylo knew the moment had come.

Krylo threw his sword like a spear. It tore through the air, carried both by the strength of the throw and the magic Masakado had imbued it with. All of Krylo's attention was focused on the blade, which began to give off a magical light.

Then, against Krylo's greatest wishes, the Asura Lord saw the blade and raised a hand to block it. Krylo watched in disappointment as a barrier was raised between the hand and the sword.

KRNCH

A sound neither Krylo nor the Asura Lord had anticipated. The sound of the sword piercing the demon lord's hand, ripping through it, and lodging itself square in the forehead of the monster.

These were the only words he managed to speak before falling, dead, to the ground. Pascal and Pocheros dove out of the way of his falling body, which shook the room as it landed. Krylo stepped forward and pried his blade free of the demon's head.

"It's almost over..." he said with both sadness and relief.

[Kim]

The seventh floor.

Reaching the seventh floor was without challenge after defeating the Asura Lord.

Of course, Snake was waiting there for Krylo.

"I've found my own truth, Snake," Krylo answered.

Snake shook his head. "You don't understand..."

"Better to chase a dream than a nightmare."

"Still you blaspheme against God."

Snake let loose a deluge of magic arrows, which Krylo sundered immediately with his blade. However, no sooner were those fire than Snake sent out yet more. Krylo sidestepped them and closed the distance between himself and Snake, quickly swinging his blade, though Snake deflected the attack with his own sword.

Without giving Snake even a second more to react, Krylo headbutted him. In the brief moment of advantage the headbutt gave him, Krylo stabbed his sword through Snake's chest. Snake's eyes went wide and he looked down at the blade running through him. He looked back up at Krylo and stumbled backwards.

Snake tried to grab at the blade, but every grasp awkwardly missed its aim.

Finally, he got his fingers around the sword, but he no longer had the strength to pull it out. Snake's stumbling finally brought him to the back corner of the room. He quickly sat down.

His breathing grew shallow. He looked at Krylo with tears in his eyes.

It was as this realization dawned on him that Snake's spirit finally left his body.

The fight over, Pocheros spoke up. "Are you going to be okay, Krylo?"

Krylo nodded. "Snake's spirit can finally, truly rest now."

Krylo walked over to Snake's corpse and pulled his sword free. Krylo only paused for a moment before turning to Pocheros and Pascal.

"It's time to end this."

The Archangel Michael was waiting for them on the eighth floor.

"I'm not one." Krylo countered. He added nothing more to that statement.

"The person I fought was not Snake. God took Snake away from me long before then."

"I couldn't care less what you think of me."

Michael created a magical barrier and readied his holy lance.

"I've got an idea. Hurry!" Krylo ordered, hopping onto Pascal's back. He pulled Pocheros' onto the great hound's back as well. "Charge him and leap as high as you can, Pascal," Krylo whispered into the dog's ear.

Pascal rushed, quickly sidestepping a blast of holy light cast from Michael's palm. As Pascal leaped, Krylo turned to Pocheros, "I'll need your help for this!" Krylo quickly worked to stand on Pascal's back while Pocheros, catching on quickly, helped him keep his balance. Pocheros threw Krylo into the air as he pushed off with his feet, reaching great heights thanks to Pascal's own jump.

Krylo drew his sword and swung with all his might as gravity pulled him downward.

The barrier shattered.

The sword ripped through Michael, top to bottom.

Blood and flesh spilled everywhere.

A battle decided in a single all but impossible attack.

Krylo hit the ground with tremendous force. It hurt like hell, but he didn't mind. He'd won.

Michael was slain. The battle was finally over.

Before the three warriors, just past the angel's corpse, was a stairway leading further up. They followed it, and found Taijorokun waiting for them on the cathedral's roof.

The sun was setting and the world was beautiful.

Krylo stepped to the edge of the roof as Taijorokun continued to speak. He sat on the ledge, looking over everything that spread out below him. Pocheros and Pascal joined him on the ledge.

"I'm going to build a society where Law and Chaos coexist. Neither side is right, but I can't just destroy them all. I'll show them that balance can work."

With these words, Taijorokun vanished, leaving Krylo to contemplate everything that had happened and how best to create his society of balance. He was just a teenager, but this constant conflict had given him a great deal of insight.

Then, a thought floated to the surface of Krylo's mind.

A memory.

Krylo began to cry and whispered, "I miss you, mom..."

Pocheros and Pascal said nothing.

All they could do was be there for him and help make his dream a reality.

THE END

Epilogue

[Overcast]

Well I am terribly sad now, but that was more than worth a read. Perhaps even worth us starting up an archive of cool threads that are probably not existing anymore. Something like the Dead Threads area but more exclusive and with red vinyl rope barriers.

[Kim]

Glad you enjoyed it!

I'm not sure when, but I'm definitely planning on doing an LP of the sequel at some point in the future, so I hope you check it out when that happens!