"We should be safe here. Mei-senpai, you seem to have a lot of questions. It's okay to ask them all now."
Leaving Chiba Academy after the battle ended, Ren Amamiya navigated through streets, avoiding pedestrians and surveillance cameras, finally stopping at a long-abandoned amusement park.
He gently set down Raiden Mei, whom he had carried princess-style the whole way, her seemingly boneless body having rested limply against his chest.
Then, under Mei's astonished gaze, the mysterious and cool black wing-like coat Ren wore suddenly dissolved into ethereal blue flames, vanishing along with the white spirit bird mask on his face.
When the blue flames completely faded from Ren's body, he reappeared before Mei in his familiar everyday look, back in the Chiba Academy boys' uniform.
"Ren-kun, how did you do that? Summoning people out of thin air using masks to fight, instantly changing into that cool, stylish black coat and white mask with blue flames, even moving like a superhero from the movies, scaling walls and rooftops..."
Mei's thoughts were currently a chaotic mess, countless questions swirling in her mind.
Given Ren's permission, she poured out all the questions troubling her in one go.
"And what was with those giant robots that suddenly invaded Chiba Academy? They seemed to be after me. They showed no mercy to the other students, but when facing me, they clearly held back, acting like they just wanted to capture me alive..."
Mei still hadn't fully recovered from the shocking events. Her emotions were high, and her words tumbled out somewhat incoherently.
But even if Mei couldn't clearly articulate her confusion right now, Ren naturally understood what answers she sought.
"Let me answer your questions one by one. As you saw, Mei-senpai, I possess supernatural abilities far beyond ordinary imagination, called Personas. 'Kallen' and 'Siegfried,' whom I summoned during the battle at the academy, are among the Personas I possess. The black coat I wore during the fight is my combat attire, the 'Phantom Thief Suit,' which automatically equips when I fully exert my power as a Persona user."
Ren reached up and gently patted Mei's head, disregarding her "senpai" status, his fingertips lightly stroking her smooth, silky purple hair.
Mei didn't resist, standing obediently, accepting Ren's comforting gesture.
Feeling Ren's patient explanation and gentle reassurance, Mei's turbulent emotions gradually calmed, and her tense body slowly relaxed.
Persona Siegfried was a new power Ren obtained in Kaslana's Palace.
The special challenge opponent presented to Ren by the Kaslana collective consciousness was that powerful Persona named Siegfried.
Of course, the Siegfried in Kaslana's Palace wasn't the Nordic hero Siegfried from the Nibelungenlied, but rather a Kaslana clansman who coincidentally shared the great hero's name: Siegfried Kaslana.
Though not the mythical Siegfried, Ren found the Siegfried in Kaslana's Palace incredibly strong and terrifying. In game terms, he'd be at least level 60.
And when Siegfried Kaslana entered his second phase, transforming into his beast form, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say his power level rivaled the mythical Siegfried.
Siegfried Kaslana's second form combat level... was at least level 84!
Among Siegfried's six stats, his destructive power was exceptionally outstanding. Even in his first form, the "Might of An-Utu: Release" was already terrifyingly powerful, requiring Ren's full attention to handle.
Upon entering his beast-like second form, Siegfried spammed "Might of An-Utu: Release" like it cost nothing. Ren didn't even entertain the thought of confronting him head-on—Siegfried's second form not only increased the frequency of "Might of An-Utu: Release," but its destructive power and even the weapon's form changed drastically. It was like he was using his ultimate move as a basic attack!!
Ren could defeat Siegfried Kaslana's first form relying solely on his own strength.
However, once Siegfried entered his second, beast form, Ren could only constantly evade his world-ending, terrifying fiery attacks, seeking openings while relying on Hare's support and healing skills to gradually wear down Siegfried's stamina and strength, getting locked into a lengthy battle of attrition.
Unfortunately, by the time Ren exited Kaslana's Palace, he and Hare still hadn't managed to deplete the second form Siegfried's health. Siegfried's endurance and tankiness in that form were monstrously, unbelievably high.
Because he failed to defeat the beast form Siegfried Kaslana, Ren only received the first form Siegfried Persona as a reward from the Kaslana collective consciousness.
Ren accepted Kallen's power, transforming her into his Persona.
But while being Ren's Persona, Kallen's connection to the Kaslana Palace wasn't completely severed; some link remained.
Through this special connection between Persona Kallen and the Kaslana Palace, Ren could not only summon Kallen but also use the purple iris mask to summon Persona Siegfried into battle.
If he could defeat other special challenge opponents in the Kaslana Palace in the future, the number of Kaslana Personas Ren could summon might increase further.
However, recalling the chillingly terrifying power of the second-phase Siegfried, Ren deeply recognized his own current weakness.
Right now, Ren's team only consisted of himself and Hare as Persona users. Perhaps it was time to try recruiting some teammates, adding some new blood.
The power of just two Persona users was ultimately limited.
And as for potential candidates to join Ren's team, one happened to be right in front of him.
That was, naturally, Mei-senpai, who was gradually accepting the reality and beginning to understand everything.
A Palace and a Shadow existed within Mei's heart.
As long as Mei could accept the part of herself she refused to acknowledge, she could transform Shadow Mei into her own Persona and become a new Persona user.
Having secured Kaslana's Palace as a safe zone, Ren no longer desperately needed Mei's Palace as a safe house for resting during Mementos exploration like he initially did.
Compared to leaving the Palace within Mei's heart, allowing the distortion to continue dominating her mind, having her become a Persona user and join his team seemed far more appropriate.
Of course, Ren only had the idea of inviting Mei to join.
Whether she actually wanted to awaken her Persona and join his team depended entirely on Mei's own thoughts and decisions.
Ren would respect whatever choice Mei ultimately made.
Therefore, the most crucial thing Ren needed to do now was to explain Persona-related knowledge, as well as Mei's current situation and predicament, in detail to her.
"Personas are the power of the heart. As long as something possesses a heart—even cats, dogs, or robots—it's possible to awaken a Persona. But under normal circumstances, Persona powers can only be used in the other world. My ability to wield Persona user powers in the real world is just a special case... Of course, it's possible some organizations have mastered systematic methods for summoning Personas in reality."
While explaining Persona basics to Mei, Ren suddenly recalled Bronya, who could also summon her Persona, Project Bunny, in the real world, and added that last point.
"Normally, Persona abilities can only be awakened while in the other world. Either by igniting the hidden spirit of rebellion within one's heart, or by confronting one's own Shadow and accepting the true self that one refuses to acknowledge... And Mei-senpai, if you want to awaken the power of Persona, you can only choose the second method."
Hearing Ren's words, a look of bewilderment appeared in Mei's eyes.
"I can awaken a Persona like Ren-kun? And what does confronting a Shadow mean... accepting the true self I refuse to acknowledge?"
Although she couldn't yet grasp the technical terms Ren used, Mei instinctively felt a strong sense of resistance.
Accepting the true self I refuse to acknowledge...
That sounded incredibly difficult.
If it was a part of herself she refused to acknowledge, a normal person would just deceive themselves, avoiding even looking at their true heart. Openly accepting that ugly, dirty true self would be even harder, an immensely painful process.
Only oneself truly knows the ugly, hidden secrets lurking within their own heart.
Mei naturally didn't want to face the true self within her—the one growing faster, becoming more violent and distorted, making no effort to hide its destructive desires, wanting to obliterate the entire world.
"Mei-senpai, your heart has already begun to form a Palace due to distortion. Because of the Palace's existence in Mementos, you yourself in the real world will become increasingly paranoid and distorted... like when you faced those girls alone before I arrived. The Shadow within the Palace nearly dominated your thoughts and body, causing you to say and do things completely unlike your usual self."
Hearing Ren's words, Mei's pupils instantly dilated to their maximum. Her flawless, delicate face turned deathly pale.
With Ren's explanation, Mei now understood why she had suddenly reverted to her former personality earlier, acting high and mighty and delivering judgment upon the girls bullying her.
"Because of your unique condition, Mei-senpai, a woman named Cocolia has targeted you. She's the mastermind behind the robot army attack on Chiba Academy. All the misfortune and setbacks you've encountered in life might have been deliberately arranged by Cocolia to nurture the distortion in your heart—like the bullying by those students, or perhaps other sad events I don't know about."
Ren made a bold assumption, preemptively blaming Cocolia. As a mastermind orchestrating unknown schemes, Ren felt perfectly justified in pinning a few things on her.
"To nurture the darkness and distortion in my heart... Cocolia deliberately arranged all the misfortune and setbacks in my life?"
Mei murmured Ren's words, repeating them softly. Her previously resistant, dim purple eyes now seemed to have a flame flickering faintly within them.
Ever since her father, Raiden Ryoma, was imprisoned for economic fraud, Mei's life had been nothing but misfortune piled upon misfortune.
The only two rays of light she grasped onto in that darkness were her friends, Kiana and Ren.
If the truth was as Ren said, if all this was arranged by Cocolia for some ulterior motive... then her father... was he truly imprisoned for committing economic fraud?
Was it possible... that her father was framed by that Cocolia and imprisoned unjustly?!
Someone who could brazenly dispatch hundreds of giant robots and a superhuman capable of manipulating gravity to invade a prestigious institution like Chiba Academy, completely disregarding the safety of Nagazora City's upper-class children...
Judging by Cocolia's arrogant attitude and terrifying power, Mei believed she was entirely capable of framing the CEO of ME Corp, Raiden Ryoma, and sending him to prison!
"That's right. Mei-senpai, you now have two choices. One: let me infiltrate the Palace within your heart, steal the Desire Stone and Treasure from your Palace, restoring your heart to its normal, undistorted state. With the Palace gone, you'll lose the unique quality Cocolia covets, thereby losing value in her eyes and no longer being targeted."
Ren slowly held up two fingers towards Mei, presenting the two options to the solemn-faced girl.
"The second choice: enter the Palace within your own heart with me, confront your own Shadow, and subdue the Shadow, transforming it into your Persona. Persona users don't have Palaces or Shadows, so you'll similarly lose the value Cocolia covets. But you will also gain the power to resist and deliver righteous retribution against Cocolia, the one who manipulated your life and plunged you into misfortune!"
Ren now understood clearly. The person Mei truly needed to rebel against wasn't the superficial female students on the surface, but the mastermind maliciously manipulating her life from the shadows—Cocolia!
"If that's the case, then there's only one answer... I want the power to resist Cocolia! I want to prove my father is not a criminal guilty of economic fraud! I will make Cocolia understand the severity of her crimes and make her repent for everything she's done in prison!"
Mei's answer didn't surprise Ren.
Seeing the determination and fire burning quietly in Mei's amethyst eyes, a satisfied smile touched Ren's lips.
He knew that look very well.
It was the look of a rebel, the look of a phantom thief who, having made their resolve, raises the flag of rebellion against an unjust fate!
Mei had ignited her own spirit of rebellion. The next step was to enter the Palace in Mementos, confront her own Shadow Mei, and transform her from a Shadow into a Persona.
"Please, Ren-kun! Help me become a Persona user, just like you!!"