A Variety of Awakenings (Osaka, Wednesday Morning)
The strike team meets with the Osaka police commissioner, who expresses hesitation and doubt over the oncoming raid. Joker contemplates the possibility of Sandā Arsenal's CEO becoming distorted and prompts everyone to proceed with their plan.
Still imprisoned within Sandā Arsenal, Sho reluctantly accepts food from the guards' boss before he breaks free; his Persona then evolves into Amatsu-Mikaboshi. After finishing the rest of the stew he was eating earlier, Sho makes his escape.
As the Osaka police force secures the building's floors and the strike team prepares to split up, they hear an explosion below them. Realizing it was Sho, Joker and his group head downstairs to find him. Upon doing so, however, they discover a horrifying sight: mutilated and abused animals in cages.
While the Persona-users try to understand the current situation, Sho talks to a snake nearby, noting their similarities of getting experimented on by scientists. Sophie then notices Sho's pocket glowing, and through Ayaka's persuasion, the rogue Persona-user reveals a Plume of Dusk and a Vane of Order before explaining himself.
The snake from earlier immediately latches onto Sho's finger, causing its tank to shatter and allowing it to escape. Furious by the unexpected action, Sho tries to attack the reptile, but Aigis and Labrys hold him back. Ayaka decides to name the snake Monty.
Eventually, the strike team and police officers make it to the building's highest floor, where CEO Yasuo Isobe's office awaits. They storm inside the room to find Isobe, along with another man, and Ayaka promptly chews out her grandfather for his crimes. The mysterious man then gives words to Isobe, causing the CEO to get consumed by his distortions and forcing the strike team and police force to retreat.
Once the group manages to get outside, they look back at Sandā Arsenal to see that it has transformed into a Palace taking the form of a fortress.
Tropes contained in this chapter:
- Tempting Fate: The Osaka police commissioner wonders what the worst could happen with confronting Isobe. Not too long after, the Sandā Arsenal headquarters transforms into a Palace.
