The dim glow of artificial light illuminated the metallic ceiling of the room. Aleph opened his eyes sluggishly, feeling the numbness in his muscles after the intense battle the night before.
It wasn't exhaustion that woke him up, but the persistent echo of his own thoughts.
His golden eyes slid toward the edge of the bed, where Ebony & Ivory rested, perfectly aligned.
He hadn't touched them since he left them there last night.
Aleph clenched his teeth and rubbed his face with both hands.
"This is so ridiculous..." he muttered under his breath.
[Something in particular, Master?]
Burroughs' voice resonated in his mind.
Aleph sighed, lying back down with his arm over his eyes.
"I don't know if I want to use those things. They're cool and all, but..."
There was a brief silence before Burroughs responded.
[Understandable. Your aversion to firearms is evident. However, may I ask why exactly?]
Aleph moved his arm away and stared at the ceiling.
A fleeting thought about how much it must have cost to build Herta's space station crossed his mind.
"...You already know why."
[Your emotional aversion? Yes, I do. But I also know that's not the only reason you're hesitating.]
Aleph frowned.
Burroughs rarely pressured him, but she was always direct when she did.
He sat up on the bed and took a deep breath, casting a glance at the pistols on the table.
"If I use them... will I be able to adapt them to my fighting style? I don't have the talent, skill, or time to master them. I don't even know if I can use them decently in battle. Won't I be betraying my own way of fighting? Spreading myself too thin when I haven't even mastered what I already have?"
[Not necessarily.]
Burroughs continued without hesitation.
[In combat, adaptability is key. You have faced multiple situations where close-quarters combat was a limitation. The range of these weapons can give you a tactical advantage, and they also have great synergy with your mobility and reflexes.]
Aleph didn't respond immediately.
[You could use magic to cover long distances, but you know that's not a perfect option—it has drawbacks. If you run out of magic energy, you'd lose your range entirely, wouldn't you? Ebony & Ivory work with both standard ammunition and special bullets that can be created by imbuing them with magic. They're truly useful weapons. I believe it would be worth giving them a chance.]
He knew she was right. He knew it.
He had been in several fights where closing the distance with the enemy was a problem. He had faced opponents who could attack from afar, forcing him to take unnecessary risks.
Even when he fought the Artificial Emanator, there were moments when he couldn't strike because he lacked the means to do so.
He had managed to fight well alongside Stelle, but what about in the future?
Could he be sure it would always be that way?
He didn't want to end up like those guys who, out of sheer stubbornness, end up thinking, "If only I had X thing at that moment..." when everything goes to hell.
He clenched his fists.
Burroughs took advantage of his silence to continue.
[I understand, Master. I'm not asking you to use them as your primary option. But ignoring a tool just because it makes you uncomfortable is not a wise decision. You can't afford to be selective when it comes to something that could increase your chances of survival.]
Aleph clicked his tongue in frustration.
He knew she was right. Damn it, he knew it.
Finally, he let out a long sigh and ran a hand through his hair.
"Fine."
[Will you train with them?]
"I don't have much of a choice."
He got out of bed and picked up the pistols with both hands.
The cold metal seeped into his skin, and that sense of discomfort ran through his body again.
He frowned and forced himself to ignore it.
"No matter how much I dislike it... if this can help me, then I'll learn to use them."
Burroughs was silent for a moment.
Then, with an almost satisfied tone, she said:
[A wise decision, Master.]
Aleph snorted.
"Yeah, yeah... now there's another problem."
[What is it?]
Aleph spun the pistols in his hands and stared at them.
"...I have no idea how the hell to use these things."
[…Understandable. In that case, I'd suggest finding someone with experience in firearms.]
Aleph clicked his tongue.
"I guess the right guy for that would be Arlan."
He hadn't seen him use firearms, but as head of the station's security, he had to have some knowledge about them.
Wasting no more time, Aleph rolled his shoulders to loosen up the tension and set out to find Arlan.
He had no idea how long it would take him to learn.
But he was determined to do it.
Even if he hated it.
...
The hallway of the Herta space station was unusually quiet.
Aleph walked forward with Ebony & Ivory hanging from his belt, drawing a few curious glances from the researchers and technicians passing by. After all, despite the commotion from yesterday, he was still a relatively new face on the station.
Not that he cared.
He found his target in one of the security areas, reviewing data on a monitor.
"Arlan."
The head of security looked up, raising an eyebrow at the sight of Aleph with the pistols on his belt.
"What do you need?"
Aleph crossed his arms.
"I want you to teach me how to use these."
Arlan blinked.
He looked at the weapons for a moment, as if processing what he had just heard.
Then, he looked at Aleph.
"...You do know I don't use firearms, right?"
"I know." Aleph nodded. "But you're the head of security. Even if you don't use them in combat, you have to know how they work and, to some extent, how to use one, right?"
Arlan sighed and crossed his arms.
"You're right. I've trained with them, but they're not my style."
Aleph waited in silence.
Arlan finally rubbed the back of his neck.
"Alright, I'll teach you the basics. But don't expect to become an expert marksman in a day."
Aleph scoffed.
"I don't need to be an expert. I just need to be good enough not to miss every damn shot."
Arlan smirked slightly.
"That's a good goal."
He turned and started walking.
"Come on. There's a training room on the station where we can practice."
Aleph followed without overthinking it.
**************
The training room was equipped with various combat simulation devices.
Holographic targets, motion detection systems, and a practice field with moving targets.
Arlan activated the controls on a console, dimming the lights and revealing several floating figures—some stationary, others in constant motion.
Aleph looked around with a grimace.
"This is more sophisticated than I expected."
Arlan shrugged.
"Station security needs to train for all kinds of situations."
He motioned for Aleph to step forward.
"Alright, first tell me something. Have you ever fired a gun in your life?"
Aleph remained silent.
His expression stayed blank.
"...No."
Arlan nodded slowly, as if he had already expected that answer.
"Then we'll start from the very basics."
Aleph drew Ebony & Ivory and held them in both hands.
They weren't too heavy.
But he could feel their weight.
A different kind of weight compared to a bat or a sword.
Arlan noticed his expression.
"Relax."
He stepped closer and adjusted Aleph's posture, positioning his arms correctly.
"You need to keep a firm but flexible stance. Don't go stiff, or you'll lose accuracy."
Aleph frowned slightly but nodded.
"Got it."
Arlan activated the simulator's first level.
Holographic targets appeared.
"Now, shoot."
Aleph took a deep breath.
He pulled the trigger.
…
And missed.
Completely.
The bullet sailed far from the target, not even grazing it.
Arlan blinked.
"… Wow. I didn't think you'd be this bad."
Aleph frowned.
"Don't mess with me."
He took a deep breath and tried again.
Missed.
And again.
Missed.
And again.
Missed.
Arlan crossed his arms, watching Aleph's repeated failures.
"… This is going to take longer than I thought."
Aleph gritted his teeth and raised his guns once more.
"I'm not giving up."
"Even lolis that aren't anywhere near my age can use these in video game and anime worlds—like hell I'm gonna lose!"
[...Master.]
Arlan smirked slightly.
"That's what I wanted to hear."
And so, the training began.
*********
The sound of gunfire echoed through the training room.
And the holographic targets remained untouched.
Aleph slowly lowered Ebony & Ivory, his expression neutral as he stared at the score screen.
0/15 hits.
Not a single bullet had hit its mark.
He crossed his arms, gritting his teeth.
"… Damn it."
Beside him, Arlan let out a low whistle, eyeing the screen with a mix of surprise and amusement.
"Wow."
Aleph frowned at him.
Arlan raised his hands in mock innocence.
"I'm not making fun of you, but…" He pointed at the screen. "How does someone miss every shot? It's almost a talent."
Aleph inhaled deeply.
"Say that again, and I'll shoot you in the face."
Arlan grinned.
"With your aim? I think I'll be fine."
Aleph growled, turning his head away to avoid seeing his smirk.
He looked down at the pistols in his hands.
He didn't like them.
He didn't like the feeling of holding them.
He didn't like the thought of using them.
But he had to.
He couldn't afford to have something useful and not use it. For heaven's sake, he still hadn't even used his Demonica. He didn't want that to become a habit.
If he ever found himself in a situation where firearms were his only option, he had to be capable of using them.
He gritted his teeth and took the correct stance again.
Arlan, noticing his determination, became a bit more serious.
"Alright. Try again."
Aleph adjusted his grip.
Pulled the trigger.
BANG!
The bullet missed—didn't even graze the target.
Arlan sighed.
"Aleph, don't pull the trigger so hard."
Aleph blinked.
"What?"
Arlan took a breath, stepping closer.
"Look, when you swing a bat, you put all your strength into the hit. But guns don't work that way. It's not about power—it's about precision."
He pointed at Aleph's hand.
"You're tensing your fingers too much here. Squeeze the trigger gently, like it's part of a single smooth motion."
Aleph narrowed his eyes.
He tried again.
Took a deep breath, relaxed his hand, and pulled the trigger with less force.
BANG!
The shot passed near the target… but still missed.
Aleph sighed.
"Well… at least I got closer."
Arlan nodded.
"It's progress."
Aleph didn't respond.
He stared at his hands.
At the guns.
Frustrated.
Disconnected.
There was something deeply uncomfortable about shooting.
Not just because he sucked at it—but because of something deeper. Something he couldn't quite put into words.
He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to clear his mind.
"… Is it really worth learning something that makes me this uncomfortable?"
He didn't have an answer.
But he couldn't quit.
Not yet.
*************
BANG!
Another stray bullet.
Aleph exhaled in frustration, lowering Ebony & Ivory slowly.
"Damn it…"
Before he could finish cursing, a familiar voice rang out behind him.
"Wow, who would've thought the mighty Al would be this bad at shooting!"
Aleph felt a small shiver of irritation before turning around.
March 7th was smiling at him with amusement.
Beside her, Stelle stood with her arms crossed, watching with disinterest. Though, for some reason, her stare felt… a little intense.
She'd been acting weird—well, weirder than usual—since last night.
Dan Heng was there too, though his expression was far more analytical.
Arlan sighed, muttering under his breath.
"Great. Now we have an audience."
Aleph shot them a dry look.
"What are you guys doing here?"
March 7th placed her hands on her hips.
"We saw you walking with Arlan early in the morning—which was already weird since you don't seem all that interested in interacting with anyone outside of us or Stelle."
Stelle nodded.
"Suspicious."
Dan Heng simply gestured toward the training area.
"Also, it's rare for someone to come here without a purpose. And since we heard the gunshots…"
March 7th grinned.
"We came to see what you were up to! But wow… I didn't expect you to be this bad at it."
Aleph felt a vein twitch in his forehead.
Arlan coughed awkwardly.
"Well… yeah, he's still adjusting."
Dan Heng glanced at the score screen.
0 hits.
31 attempts.
He paused.
Then looked at Aleph.
"… You need to improve."
Aleph narrowed his eyes.
"Thanks. I hadn't noticed."
Dan Heng ignored the sarcasm and stepped beside him.
He picked up one of the training pistols—a simplified version of a real firearm—and aimed.
"Your stance is decent, but the way you're holding the pistols is inefficient," he explained. "You're treating them too roughly, like melee weapons. Firearms require stability and recoil control."
Aleph watched in silence as Dan Heng fired.
BANG!
The shot hit the target.
Dan Heng lowered the gun and looked at him.
"Try adjusting the alignment of your arm with the sight. Don't close one eye—use both to improve your depth perception."
Aleph observed Dan Heng's posture.
He analyzed his movements.
He thought about it for a moment.
And then…
He let out a sigh.
"Agh… I hate that you're right."
Dan Heng nodded calmly.
"Use it to your advantage."
March 7th laughed.
"This is great! I never thought I'd see Aleph struggling with something like this."
"You say that like it's easy!"
"Because it is? I mean, at least for me."
Dan Heng nodded.
"March is quite skilled with both bows and firearms."
"…Cheater."
Stelle simply watched.
Aleph sighed again and raised his guns.
Arlan gave him a light pat on the back.
"Practice makes perfect."
Aleph adjusted his stance.
And prepared to try again.
...
Aleph adjusted his stance, took a deep breath, and pulled the trigger.
BANG!
The sound of the bullet echoed through the training room.
And for the first time since he had started, the bullet hit the target.
…Though it only grazed the edge.
A moment of silence filled the room.
March 7th tilted her head.
"…Does that count?"
Stelle patted Aleph's shoulder with a rather calm expression.
"Well, at least you didn't injure anyone in the process."
Aleph let out a grunt.
Arlan, though surprised, nodded in approval.
"It's progress."
Dan Heng crossed his arms.
"Adjust the alignment a little more, and you should improve."
Aleph twirled the guns between his fingers before holstering them.
"Little by little, I guess…"
March 7th grinned and raised her hand enthusiastically.
"Hey, we should have a shooting competition someday! That way, we can see if you're improving or if this was just a lucky shot."
Aleph shot her a sharp look.
"I'd rather have a meteor hit me in the head."
March 7th put a hand on her chin.
"Mmm… I think that's possible if you annoy Himeko enough."
Burroughs, who had been silent until now, chimed in with a sarcastic remark.
[Master, at least you haven't shot yourself in the foot. That's already a considerable improvement.]
Aleph gritted his teeth.
"Burroughs."
[Yes?]
"Shut up."
The AI let out a faint hum of satisfaction.
March 7th and Stelle suppressed a laugh.
Finally, Arlan patted Aleph on the back.
"It's a good start. No one's an expert on their first try… Well, thirty-second try."
Aleph sighed, fully holstering his guns.
He looked at his hands, still feeling that lingering discomfort.
He promised himself that, no matter how long it took, he would master them.
And with that thought, he ended his training for the day.
************
The Herta Space Station café was a peculiar place. Unlike other sectors of the station, there was an effort here to make the atmosphere feel much nicer than in other areas.
The lighting was warmer, the tables had a more comfortable design, and the air was filled with the aroma of coffee and food.
Aleph, Stelle, Dan Heng, and March 7th were sitting around a table with trays of food in front of them.
Well… more like, Stelle and Dan Heng were eating peacefully, March 7th was enthusiastically picking at her dessert, and Aleph was simply stirring his food with his fork without actually eating it.
"Are you going to keep playing with your food, or are you going to eat it already?" Stelle asked without looking at him.
For a moment, she wondered, Would he stop acting so weird if I hit him hard enough on the head?
Aleph grunted and suppressed the shiver that ran down his spine.
"I'm processing my incredible failure as a shooter, thanks for reminding me."
March 7th chuckled.
"Oh, come on, it wasn't that bad!"
"I missed 31 times in a row."
"…Yeah, but you hit it once. That counts, right?"
Dan Heng, who had been quietly drinking his tea, nodded slightly.
"You made progress. Even if it was minimal."
Aleph sighed, resting an elbow on the table and propping his chin on his hand.
"I can't help but feel like I'm wasting my time with this. I have no talent for firearms, they're harder for me than they should be… and I don't even like them."
"But you're still learning." Stelle looked up from her plate and stared at him. "If you really didn't want to use them, you would have left them on the ground and forgotten about them."
Aleph didn't respond immediately.
He leaned back in his seat, crossing his arms.
"…Maybe."
Stelle remained silent for a moment as she finished her meal.
Then, without changing her expression, she said:
"Herta extended an offer to me."
That caught Aleph's attention.
"Oh yeah?"
Stelle nodded.
"She wants me to try the Simulated Universe."
Aleph narrowed his eyes.
"The Simulated Universe… isn't that Herta's thing where she recreates worlds and battles using data to see what would happen in different scenarios?"
Dan Heng interjected.
"It's more than just a combat simulator. It's a complex experiment designed to analyze the very nature of reality."
March 7th puffed out her cheeks.
"And it's hard. Very hard."
Aleph rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, sure. I bet it's a walk in the park compared to what we went through last week."
Stelle stared at him for a few moments while biting her fork.
"If you think you're so capable, then you could come with me."
Aleph blinked.
"…What?"
"Herta said I can bring someone else if I want. And since you're looking for ways to improve, I thought this might interest you."
Aleph looked at her in disbelief.
"You're offering to throw me into one of Herta's simulations to fight against data-generated enemies from who knows where?"
Stelle took a sip of her drink.
"Yes."
Aleph opened his mouth to respond… but then stopped.
He thought about it.
It was a training ground.
One designed to simulate extreme scenarios, strategies, skill combinations…
Could it help him improve his combat skills? Maybe he could even test things there that he had wanted to try but ultimately abandoned due to the risks involved or because, in a real fight, he wouldn't have the time to concentrate enough to pull them off without giving the enemy a chance to destroy him.
"…Shit."
Stelle raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
Aleph rested his chin on his hand, looking up at the ceiling.
"I hate to admit it, but it's a good idea."
March 7th snapped her fingers.
"Really?! Then you're going with her!"
Aleph responded somewhat reluctantly.
"Hmph. Yeah, I'll go. But don't expect me to be too excited about it."
Stelle smiled slightly.
"I doubt it."
Dan Heng took another sip of his tea.
"If you're really going to do this, then take it seriously. The Simulated Universe isn't just a game. It offers plenty of opportunities for both research and training. It would be incredibly foolish to treat it like just another video game."
Aleph crossed his arms and smirked.
"Then it'll be fun."
Stelle raised her glass.
"Then it's settled. I'll see you in the Simulated Universe."
Aleph grabbed his drink and clinked it against hers with a grin.
"Let the show begin."
**************************************************************************
Since you've already seen the prologue and Chapter 1 of the HI3 fic, there shouldn't be any problem if I start using the characters in omakes, right?
By the way, there's almost nothing left to finish this mini-arc at Herta Space Station.
I'm debating whether to go straight to Luofu or not.
****************
Omake: Honkai Megami Tensei - Devil Survivor
Act 1: The End of the World Begins
The day started relatively normal for Aleph, Kiana, and Stelle. They had decided to visit a special candy shop in Tokyo based on Mei's recommendation.
It had been a spectacular day, even though Kiana got stuck at the top of a tree and had to be rescued by firefighters.
But that didn't matter much!
The three of them were more than sure that nothing could ruin their day.
…until a suspicious app appeared on their devices.
> [Welcome to the Demon Summoning System! Congratulations! You now have the ability to summon demons and survive this apocalypse!]
The three of them stared at the screen with the same doubtful expression.
"What kind of gacha is this? Will I get an SSR if I do ten summons?" Kiana asked, her eyes sparkling.
Aleph and his wallet shivered at the thought of Kiana diving into gacha hell once again.
"I don't know, but it sounds fun. I accept." Stelle also seemed excited.
"Hmm… what happens if I refuse?"
> [Refusal is not an option. Enjoy your new and exciting hell on Earth.]
Silence.
"…What a friendly interface!"
Suddenly, a bloodcurdling scream echoed through the city. The screen flickered, and a day counter appeared in the corner:
> [Day 1 – 7 days until the world's destruction.]
"…Of course, it's an apocalypse." Aleph sighed, wondering something… Was Fu Hua here too? That was the only way to explain how this happened.
"I'm still accepting it. Let's hurry before someone else takes the power!"
Stelle started getting annoyed.
"What power?" Kiana was still confused.
"The power to speedrun the end of the world!" Stelle's eyes sparkled as she gripped her bat.
With no time to process what was happening, the group was attacked by demons. With no other choice, they opened the app and…
> [You have summoned your first demon!]
Kiana summoned a Jack Frost.
Stelle summoned a Pixie.
Aleph, for some reason, summoned Cu Chulainn with slightly broken stats.
"Why does Aleph already have a late-game character?"
"Why did you guys summon such weak ones?"
Pixie (Stelle's).
"I'll do my best, miss!"
"Hmm… I'm not convinced. I'm selling you and trying another summon."
While Stelle tried to sell Pixie on the COMP's black market, the three fought demons in the streets of Tokyo.
As they advanced, they realized the government had sealed off the city.
> [Emergency Announcement: Tokyo has been sealed. Do not attempt to escape.]
"Can we just break the barrier?" Kiana wondered, tilting her head.
"Sure, if we find the one responsible."
"Then let's speedrun it. Who's the final boss?"
Before they could continue, a group of survivors appeared. Among them, a pink-haired girl with a serious expression stared at them.
"I am Amane Kuzuryu."
Aleph felt a chill.
"Oh no. I already know what route this girl represents…"
"What route?" Kiana observed her curiously.
What a weird hairstyle.
"Probably some extreme religious cult. I like it."
Meanwhile, another group appeared, led by a long-haired gray-haired man with a smile that screamed big bad guy energy.
"I am Naoya."
Silence.
Aleph stepped forward like a mother hen protecting her chicks.
"Oh no, no, no, no, no! This guy is dangerous!"
"How do you know?"
"Because in the original story, he's the most broken villain of all… and also my cousin."
Aleph pulled out a photo from his wallet. In it, he, a blank-faced blue-haired guy, and Naoya were holding rusty machetes on a mountain, with a generic demon all beaten up at their feet.
"Hmm… interesting. It seems you're not as ignorant this time."
"You've got final boss energy. Can we fight you now, or do we have to wait until day seven?"
"Hmph. I won't waste my time on insects."
Naoya commented while reading a notebook he pulled from his pocket. If Aleph's eyes weren't failing him, it said: Cool lines to say if I have to play the role of a boss.
He turned and walked away.
"Phew… We're safe for now."
Terrifying. That guy was like Otto but even weirder.
Being his family didn't help at all… You know, the guy was literally Cain.
"For now?"
"Yeah, that means we'll eventually have to defeat him."
"Doesn't that mean we should train and get more demons?"
"Nah. We can speedrun it. Day one and we're already facing a boss?"
Aleph looked at Stelle like she was either a complete noob or someone who didn't know how to play without hacks.
"It doesn't work like that, but… well, I guess we can try."
And so, without overthinking it, they decided to challenge the apocalypse as if it were a limited-time event.
The first day had just begun.
The end of the world… too.
*********
Act 2 - Speedrun of the Final Judgment
The first day of the apocalypse was moving quickly, and our heroes were already making irresponsible decisions.
Aleph, Kiana, and Stelle had managed to join the demon summoning system, met suspiciously important characters, and were now searching for the fastest way to end the end of the world.
"So, what's next?"
"Well, usually in games, the first days are for gathering allies, understanding the situation, and preparing…"
Stelle interrupted an excited Aleph without much thought.
"Let's ignore all that and fight the final boss."
"…Excuse me?"
"We've played enough RPGs. We all know that sooner or later, we'll have to fight that mysterious guy from earlier."
"So why not go straight to him?"
Kiana cracked her knuckles.
"That's a terrible idea."
"Great! Let's go!"
Kiana and Stelle grabbed their bats.
And before Aleph could stop them, the two were already on their way to Naoya's base.
"…I'm going to die in this apocalypse." Aleph couldn't help but mutter, his face expressionless.
And so, without preparing or gathering allies, our heroes marched straight toward what was supposed to be the final boss of the game.
.....
Naoya was waiting for them on the rooftop of a skyscraper in Shinjuku, surrounded by powerful demons, his expression utterly indifferent.
For some strange reason, he was sitting on a plastic chair, and a music player was blasting Bury the Light at full volume.
"I didn't expect you to come so soon. Your impatience is… annoying."
"That's because they're not following the story like they should!" Aleph looked like he was about to foam at the mouth in anger.
"Yeah, yeah. Can we fight now?"
Naoya sighed in disappointment.
What was the point of preparing all his dialogue for the seven days and their variations if these idiots were just going to face him from the start?
"As you wish. But I warn you… you will die."
Kiana just stuck out her tongue.
"I doubt it! I have my Jack Frost at level 5!"
Naoya snapped his fingers.
Out of nowhere, a gigantic demon with an overwhelming presence appeared.
> Belberith has appeared.
Silence.
Kiana and Stelle stared at him, wide-eyed.
"Hmm." Belberith's eyes focused solely on Aleph. "A human with the presence of a Bel… and none other than Belzebub himself. Interesting."
"Ah. Great. We skipped the game, and now we're fighting a damn final boss on day 1."
Upon hearing Aleph's words, both Kiana and Stelle calmed down.
"Perfect! This is a speedrun, after all."
"That's not how this works!"
Belberith roared, causing the sky to darken.
"Destroy them."
Aleph sighed.
"Well, if we're going to die, might as well go down fighting."
The three unleashed their demons.
Jack Frost tried using Bufu.
It did nothing.
Kiana blinked in surprise.
"…Oh."
Pixie cast Dia to heal.
Nothing relevant happened.
Stelle frowned.
"Hmm… Pixie, you're dead weight."
Aleph had Cu Chulainn attack with Gae Bolg.
It did a little bit of damage.
Aleph honestly wasn't expecting much, so he wasn't too disappointed.
"Well, at least something…"
Belberith raised his hand and launched an attack that nearly killed them in one hit.
Aleph coughed up a little blood.
Kiana was lying in a small crater, doing the Yamcha Pose.
"This is the WORST speedrun in history!"
Naoya looked at them with a mix of mockery and disappointment.
"You are insignificant. You stand no chance against me."
"Hmm… so we should run, right?"
Aleph nodded. He wanted to have kids one day, and that wouldn't be possible if he died.
"Yes! That's the best option right now!"
But the girls still had complaints.
"But if we run, we'll lose time…"
"And Stelle wanted a speedrun…"
Stelle sighed.
"Fine, then I have an idea."
"What is it?"
Stelle took out her phone and opened the COMP store.
> Buy random demon? - 9999 macca
"Where the hell did you get that much Macca?"
Stelle looked at him with what seemed like a demonic grin.
"You know, capitalism reigns even in hell. Plus, I made some online bets before the world ended."
Aleph blinked, looking dumbfounded.
"…What?"
Stelle handed the phone to Kiana and made her press the button.
Soon, a bright light appeared.
> Congratulations, you have summoned Metatron.
Absolute silence.
Naoya lost his confident expression for a second.
"Wait… what?"
Metatron descended from the sky like a vengeful angel, his voice echoing powerfully.
"Who has summoned me?"
Stelle raised her hand.
"Me."
Metatron stared at her for a few seconds before nodding.
"What do you require of me?"
"To do a speedrun."
Metatron looked at her as if she were insane.
"…What?"
Stelle pointed at Belberith.
"Kill him."
Without asking questions, Metatron unleashed a light attack so powerful that it turned Belberith into dust in a single hit.
Naoya blinked, his expression showing utter confusion.
"…What did you just do?"
Kiana whistled.
"Wow, that was convenient."
Aleph was in total shock.
"How did we just skip half the game?"
Naoya clenched his teeth in rage.
"This isn't over."
He turned and disappeared into the shadows.
Stelle crossed her arms proudly.
"Well, that was the final boss. What's next?"
Aleph grabbed his head in frustration.
"This is NOT how it works! We didn't even recruit allies or strengthen our team!"
"Yeah, but… we're winning, aren't we?" Kiana gave him an Aqua-like smile, nodding with her arms crossed and a slightly smug expression.
Silence.
Aleph looked at the day counter on the screen.
> Day 1 - 7 days remaining until the world's destruction.
He whispered with a mix of annoyance and resignation.
"…This is going to be the longest apocalypse in history."
************
Act 3 - Is This the Worst New Game+ in History?
The first day of the apocalypse still wasn't over, yet our "heroes" had already prematurely defeated Belberith, effectively ruining the main story.
Now, the world didn't know what to do.
Literally.
…
The news was in chaos.
Reporter:
"Breaking news! A group of idiots has caused a critical error in the narrative of the apocalypse! Experts are baffled!"
The demons, who had been wreaking havoc throughout the city, were now just standing around, doing nothing, as if waiting for instructions.
Random Demon:
"Uh… so, what do we do now?"
Even the angels and demons of heaven and hell were confused.
Lucifer, who was preparing for his grand final entrance, received a report that Belberith had been destroyed on Day 1.
Lucifer stared at the report, speechless.
"…What?"
…
Meanwhile…
Aleph, Kiana, and Stelle were sitting on a park bench.
After the battle against Naoya, the world didn't collapse or move forward—it just got stuck.
Everything was on pause.
Kiana took a bite of her taiyaki.
"Hey, Aleph, what happens now?"
"Well… technically, we should be fighting demons and deciding our fate, but thanks to you two, we've entered a… 'softlock.'"
"That sounds boring."
"Because it's a fatal error in the story!" Aleph sighed, rubbing his temples.
How were the rest of the Bels supposed to appear now? Would he still have time to collect the Viscum Album? Would he still have to take care of Haru? (Not that he really minded that.)
Was there still a way to get involved in the War of Bel, rise as the Champion, fight Babel, and become a Demon King? If he was being honest, he really wanted to know what it felt like to be a Demon King. He'd have the power to make short skirts and secretary outfits mandatory for demon women on Fridays.
And most importantly…
He wouldn't have to deal with Midori or Keisuke, right?
One was like a more annoying version of March 7th but on steroids, while the other was half-crazy, half-idiot.
He pointed around.
People were still going about their normal lives, the trains were still running, café music was still playing—but the sky had a massive black-and-red crack floating ominously.
A Game Over that never fully activated.
Kiana looked up at the sky.
"Wow… looks like a Ubisoft game bug."
"Yeah."
"Because that's exactly what you two caused!"
…
As they argued about how to break the softlock, the sky suddenly lit up.
The world stopped.
Demons, humans, and angels froze in time.
A celestial choir echoed.
And then, a divine voice resounded everywhere.
"Idiots."
"Oh no."
"Oh great, is this the punishment screen?"
"Do we get a trophy?"
The space around them distorted, and before they could react, they found themselves in a completely different place.
An infinite white hall.
Floating before them, radiating divine light, was a massive golden head.
It was none other than YHVH Himself.
An Archangel beside Him rubbed his temples like he had a migraine.
"…Why are you all so stupid?"
Aleph felt offended.
"Hey, don't lump me in with them! I wanted to play the game properly!"
"I just wanted to fight demons."
Kiana didn't look the least bit guilty.
"I wanted a speedrun. And a pet Nekomata."
YHVH let out a deep sigh.
"Because of you three, the story is broken. The apocalypse cannot move forward, but it also cannot end. The world is trapped in limbo!"
Silence.
Kiana nodded.
"So… did we win?"
YHVH was so tempted to smite them on the spot.
Aleph sighed.
"Alright… how do we fix this?"
YHVH narrowed His eyes.
"There are only two options:
1. We reset everything, and you start over from Day 1.
2. You face the final entity directly—the true demon behind everything: Babel."
Aleph shuddered at the name.
"Babel?! But we're only supposed to fight him after defeating all the Bels!"
YHVH made the Archangel beside Him cross his arms on His behalf.
"Well, maybe you shouldn't have cheated."
Kiana looked at Stelle.
"Stelle, what do you think?"
"Resetting sounds boring. Let's fight the secret boss."
"I'm in!"
Aleph screamed like his life depended on it.
"THAT IS NOT A GOOD IDEA!"
YHVH sighed in resignation.
"…Very well. So be it."
…
Before they could react, the world around them changed again.
They were now in a colossal tower stretching beyond the sky.
Before them, an overwhelming presence emerged.
A massive being made of pure darkness, with the face of a woman resembling a statue fused into the tower.
Babel.
The true final boss of the game.
Aleph turned pale.
"…We are not ready for this."
Kiana stretched her arms nonchalantly.
"Eh, we'll be fine."
"Yeah, we just have to attack fast and avoid the fight mechanics."
Aleph wanted to strangle them both.
"This isn't Dark Souls, damn it!"
And so, without preparation or allies, they charged straight into the hardest (longest and most annoying) battle in the game.
…....
Act 4 - The Worst Team vs. The Strongest Enemy
In every Shin Megami Tensei game, the final boss fight is usually a brutal challenge.
But this time, it was even worse.
Babel, the supreme entity behind the apocalypse, was a boss designed to face a protagonist at their peak—fully prepared, with the best equipment and strategies.
But Aleph, Kiana, and Stelle had jumped into battle with no preparation, no optimal fusions, no buffs, and no strategy.
It was the equivalent of a group of rookies facing a secret boss with sticks and stones.
....
The Great Tower of Babel
The battlefield was an infinite tower, with arcane symbols floating in the air and a sky that seemed to be collapsing upon itself.
Before them, Babel loomed, its sheer presence instilling primal terror in human minds.
It was a colossal figure, radiating an aura of absolute chaos.
Its voice echoed through the space.
"You have disrupted the flow of fate… And now, you shall face extinction. You are unworthy of becoming the King of Bel."
Aleph timidly raised his hand.
"…Can we talk about this?"
"No."
Kiana pulled two pistols from her pockets while keeping her trusty bat slung over her back.
"Bah, it's not that big of a deal. Let's take it down!"
"Yeah. We'll kill it quickly and get back to the story."
"That's not how this works!"
And then…
The most unfair final battle in history began.
Babel launched the first attack.
"Megidolaon ∞"
Infinite Megidolaon.
A spell that hit all enemies with pure damage—completely unavoidable, impossible to resist.
The battlefield was consumed by a wave of destructive light.
BOOOOOOOOM.
When the dust settled…
Aleph, Kiana, and Stelle were lying on the ground, each with only 1 HP left.
"…What the hell was that?!" Aleph screamed while trying to put out his burning clothes.
Beside him, Kiana and Stelle groaned.
"Aww… that hurt."
"Tch. It didn't kill us—we're still alive."
Babel fell silent.
YHVH, watching from the heavens, was also in complete shock.
This attack was programmed to instantly kill any unprepared player.
But…
These idiots had survived purely by dumb luck.
.....
"Alright, our turn! Time to hit back!"
Aleph checked his abilities.
He had nothing useful.
Only support skills and mediocre counterattacks.
"…I'm completely useless in this fight."
"Don't worry, I got this."
Kiana rushed forward with her pistols and started firing wildly.
BANG BANG BANG BANG—
The damage was… practically nonexistent.
Stelle sighed as if she had expected this.
"I see the problem. This boss has broken stats."
"Obviously! It's the final boss!"
Babel didn't even flinch.
In fact…
"Why do I have to take this seriously?"
And so, it decided to do nothing on its turn.
The Dumbest Strategy Ever
Since Babel didn't attack, Aleph, Kiana, and Stelle had another chance to act.
....
"Okay, new strategy! We need to exploit its AI!"
"What does that mean?" Kiana blinked in confusion.
"It means… we have to do something so ridiculous that the game doesn't know how to respond." Aleph grinned smugly.
"Oh, so we just have to do what we do best—cause chaos."
Aleph nodded.
"Exactly."
So they did…
Something stupid.
Kiana grabbed the nearest tower and started climbing it at full speed while singing a song about mountain climbing that somehow sounded like a double entendre.
Stelle pulled an electric guitar out of nowhere and started playing a rock solo in the middle of the battle.
And Aleph…
Aleph held up a sign that said "DO YOU WANT TO BE MY FRIEND?" and raised it toward Babel.
The final boss, the last obstacle on the protagonist's path to becoming the King of Bel, a supreme entity of destruction…
Had no response.
"…"
Babel: "What the hell am I even looking at?"
At that moment, the game's code collapsed.
The screen froze.
The sky distorted.
And before they could do anything else…
The entire universe did a soft reset.
Aleph, Kiana, and Stelle woke up in the same park where they had started.
Everything was back to normal.
No demons.
No cracks in the sky.
No apocalypse.
It was as if nothing had ever happened.
"…Wait, did we win?"
"YES! SPEEDRUN COMPLETE!"
Stelle seemed satisfied.
"Good ending. 10/10."
YHVH appeared again, with a completely neutral expression.
"Never again."
"Huh?"
"I will never again allow you to alter the story like this. You have been banned from all Devil Survivor realities. Goodbye."
SNAP.
Aleph, Kiana, and Stelle were expelled without any chance to protest.
Aleph felt like crying. His plans! His waifu!
"Haruuuuuuu!" he wailed in tears as he vanished.
Kiana and Stelle just looked at him in irritation.
"Idiot."
"Redhead fetishist."
*******
Extra Act: Why Are We in a School?
Aleph, Kiana, and Stelle woke up abruptly in a completely different place.
They were no longer in a post-apocalyptic world filled with demons.
They were no longer facing Babel.
Now, they were in a school.
A completely normal school…
Or so it seemed.
The three of them looked up at the institution's name.
"…'Karukozaka Academy'?"
FIN?