Chapter 5: The Phantom of the Umbra

Ren and Morgana have both assembled the Phantom Thieves to aid Cereza in what was about the be the fight of her life and unknowingly to Ren himself, the fight for his existence. Everyone's on the train headed to Shibuya while also planning to fight a god alongside Ren's mother. He confesses to them all that he wasn't born through normal means and that he was conceived through Cereza and her deal with Yaldabaoth.

"I don't understand, how exactly are we gonna to be able access the Metaverse and help Ren's mom at the same time? While we're in there, she'll still be out here in reality. She may be some witch with strong power, but she isn't a Metaverse user." – Makoto asked

"Luckily for us, I've figured it all out." – Morgana replies

"Figured what out?" – Ann questioned

"Remember our last infiltration mission and yesterday in Mementos? Ren was getting stronger and more powerful with each time we went in the Metaverse, and what was the secret to this sudden rise in strength you may ask? It's simple, like mother, like son. Ren's witch powers are increasing and they've gotten to the point where they can even manifest into the Metaverse." – the black cat enthusiastically explains

"Oh yeeeeeah, that's right! So that explains how he was going all apeshit in Mementos! So if he was able to bring his powers into Mementos then…" – Ryuji pauses

"…Then Miss Cereza should be able to crossover to the Metaverse with us!" – Haru carries on

"Correct! I don't really know anything about Ren's powers or his whole witch lineage for that matter, but I'm more than certain that Cereza is capable of doing such a thing. If you ask me, I have a feeling that this isn't her first time crossing over to different realities." – Morgana theorizes

"Take think that we'll have to fight a deity that had a hand in means of our leader's birth. It's all so bizarre. Shouldn't we assume that once this "Yaldabaoth" is defeat and destroyed, wouldn't that mean that all of his wishes will be undone, and by "wishes" I mean Ren?" – Yusuke theorizes

"In other words, Ren would die. Could that…actually happen?" – Ann wonders

"There's no telling what will happen once this is all over, but either way, I have to accept my fate. All this time, I've been unfair and ungrateful to my mom when all she wanted was for us to reconnect again. Everyone, I'm sorry for how I acted yesterday, my mom was warming up to all of you and you guys did the same, and I came in and just ruined it for everyone. If what Yusuke says is true, and I disappear along with Yaldabaoth, I'll be okay with it. My mom has been through enough pain already…so she deserves better, better than me." – Ren apologizes with his head hanged

Futaba moves next to Ren and smacks the back of his head.

"Don't be so quick to die, you idiot!" – Futaba scolds

"Just because you were an ungrateful brat doesn't mean your mom doesn't love you! She's still here, even now trying to protect you because she doesn't wanna lose her only child! When my mom died, I thought it was my fault and I wanted to die too, but I knew that even then, it wouldn't make her happy if she was still here because she still loved me! So don't be selfish and just throw your own life away because of how you treated you mom!" – Futaba displays her heartfelt expression

"The things you said yesterday were utterly repulsive, but you being concerned to help your mother shows that you didn't mean those things at all. If you really love your mother, then you should stand and fight by her side." – Haru states

"And you're ain't alone either, dude! We got your back. Sure we ain't like you and your mom, but at the end of the day, we're the Phantom Thie-" – Ryuji is interrupted by Ann's smack to his head

"Will you shut up, dammit?! This is a public train you know!" – Ann coldly reminds Ryuji to keep their identities secret

"Ah! Seriously, what the hell was that for?!"- Sakamoto exclaims

"What Ryuji's trying to say is, we're all in this together and no matter what happens, we're not gonna leave you to fight alone. Ren, we'll stand with you all the way to the end." – Makoto clarifies

"Thank you, guys. All of you, be focused and be ready. I'm not gonna sugarcoat this, but out of everyone shadow we've ever fought, if you can even call this a shadow at all, Yaldabaoth is gonna be the fiercest. Give it your all and don't hold anything back. With any hope, my witch powers will activate again and it should give us an advantage." – Ren explains

"Alright! In that case, I'm gonna bust loose!"- euphoric Ryuji says standing up clutching his fist

"Do I really need to explain to you how "wrong" that just sounded, Ryuji?" – Makoto facepalmed

The gang laughs as Ryuji sits back down blushing in embarrassment

Half an hour later

On the roof of a Tokyo Skyscraper

Cereza is standing on the roof of the same skyscraper that Yaldabaoth demanded she proceed to to complete the debt. Cereza is fully armed with her 4 Love is Blue guns and Shuraba katana. She had an ultimatum, either surrender the god the Left Eye of the World to the god or risk Ren's soul being taken back for refusal to do so. If she went with first option, than she'd be risking the entire world including Ren possibly being under his control, and selling out her own child was never on her mind. Cereza, in her own mind, knew Ren was not about to forgive her, but like any good parent would, she was prepared to sacrifice herself to keep her son safe. If she were fall in this upcoming battle than at least her son would have a chance to grow his Umbra powers and become strong enough to fight the god himself.

The roof floor shakes as it moves. She is surprised and shaken by this sudden movement in structure. She was expecting a large beam of light to appear I front of her, but this wasn't the case…this whole time while she was waiting for the God of Control to arrive, the God of Control was underneath her the entire time! YALDABAOTH HAS APPEARED!

"So, you have arrived it seems, Umbra Witch. I assume you have made the provision of my red stone?" – Yaldabaoth asks

"Answer my question first, why are you so keen on the Left Eye so much? What do you intend to do with it should you have it?" – Cereza demands

"Your concern for my intentions with the Left Eye of the World is of no importance to your debt. Shall I remind you of your draw back shall you go back on our deal?" – Yaldabaoth dismisses

"That red stone is the very pride and treasure of the Umbra Witches, someone of your wickedness would only pervert it's properties. You want it simply because you want to more control over humans than you already have. Am I correct?" – Cereza predicts

Yaldabaoth is impressed by Cereza's wit and decides to confess his purpose for the Left Eye.

"World order…that is the purpose of my being. For centuries aging back to the rise of man, humanity has been enslaved by the cognitions of their own desire, I am a god created by humanity to serve as their administrator to grant said desires and give life to their voices, but with that, comes worldwide demise. If left unchecked, humanity would turn progress backwards and the balance of society would force them into chaos. That is why I, the God of Control, was created. I am to govern humanity and control their free wills and grant their desires to keep them on the righteous path that will lead humanity to a brighter future. It's it thy jurisdiction to keep them in line and rule over the masses. Allowing such free will into the hands of individuals such as humans, would only lead to destruction, therefore, I shall be their guide." – Yaldabaoth monologues

"You, Umbra Witch, are the example of what I speak. You demanded that I grant your desire to become pregnant and in doing so, I gave you what you wished and now you intend to defy order by choosing to not honor your end of the debt…those who defy order will be punished!" – Yaldabaoth continues

Cereza pulls out her guns and takes her battle stance.

"I deny world order when it's that same order that would make the world a horrible place to live in. You know, before all this, before having a son and becoming a parent, I never truly once cared for others. I'd normally view anyone who isn't on the same level of power as me as weaklings, but when I finally had my baby, that beautiful happy frizzy haired boy, I realized that I was wrong. Human life is precious, it's precious to my Ren, so it's precious to me. And if defying god's rule means that he can live freely without being under the heel of some false god thinking he can just control people on a whim, then I'm one big sinner!" – Cereza expresses

"Foolish and defiant to the end, as the God of Control and the administrator of humanity's desires, YOU SHALL PERISH!" – the god declares

Yaldabaoth lifts his hands up into the sky and casts a giant flare of light and out of it comes an entire legion of Cereza's and the Umbra witches sworn enemies…the Angels of Paradiso. Leagues of Affinity, Temperantia, Beloved, Fortitudo, etc. were descending from the light.

Bayonetta, undeterred from the oncoming uphill battle, fires her first shot at the army. The angels land on the platform and began their attacks, Bayonetta jumps and dodges as she counters her monstrous angelic adversaries. She summons the fists of her demonic ally, Madama Butterfly and in a flash Bayonetta launches a barrage of fistful blows towards the angels and in no time at all, she claims victory of the first wave. Bodies of dead angels disappear right before her as she smirks her basks in her victorious moment.

"So, you've made a deal with those ugly halo toting mongrels have you? No surprises on my end, darling. The desperate ones are usually the first to scrape the bottom of the barrel, but I suppose I'll give you an A for effort." – Bayonetta taunts Yaldabaoth

"You are truly an Umbra witch, you slaughtered them with out even so much as a scratch, but that was only the first wave. I wonder how long you can continue this farce without succumbing to exhaustion, witch." – Yaldabaoth wonders

"Bring it." – Bayonetta said standing tall

Yaldabaoth summons another wave of angels and Bayonetta once again continues the fight…

At the front of the Tokyo skyscraper

Ren and the rest of the Phantom Thieves have finally arrived at the building where Cereza is currently doing battle with Yaldabaoth and the angels.

"Alright, everyone ready?!" – Ren asked his team

"Where all here and ready to fight. Now, let's go help Lady Cereza!" – Morgana said readying to help his fair lady

"You sure she's up top on the roof?" – Ryuji asks

"100% positive, my powers are sensing her presence on top of that building…fighting." – Ren informs them

"Okay, activating the NAV now!" – Futaba says launching the navigator app

Commencing transport to Metaverse now.

In the Metaverse

In seconds the Phantom Thieves are in the Metaverse, geared up and ready to battle. Joker's Umbra watch is glowing bright red, brighter than it was last night.

"Hey, dude isn't that your watch? Why's it glowing?" – Skull notices

"I don't know, but the important thing now is to find and help my mom. Now we just need to figure a way how to get up top." – Ren replies

"Leave it all me! Now everyone stand back!" – Morgana orders

The Thieves stand back and watch the thief cat work his magic.

"Morganaaaaa…TRANSFOOOORM!" – Morgana chants

In a few seconds, Morgana transforms into his newest form of transportation, a helicopter.

"Wha-what! You could do that?!" – Ann asked in surprise

"Yep! You like it's Lady Ann? You could say, my training in mementos has paid off!" – Smug Morgana boasts

"And just where that hell was this the whole time?! You've been holding out on all along, us ya damn cat!" – Skull demands to know

"*Siiiigh* Of course, only a clueless scatter brain like you wouldn't listen to what I just said…" – Morgana shames the clueless blonde

"A helicopter…this should get us up to the roof in 5 minutes without delay. We'd all better hurry and find Miss Cereza. I'm sure she's strong, but against a god, she'll need all the help she'll get." – Noir stated

Ren looked up at the tall skyscraper towering front of him and his team and clutches his Umbra watch tightly.

"Mom…I said something horrible to you last night that never should've been said. If I hadn't been so selfish and saw from your point of view at how much you were suffering without me as I was without you, you probably wouldn't be the one fighting for me now. I promise you, mother, I'm coming and this time…, I'll be the one that protects you." – Ren self declares

"Alright, everyone, lets go!" – Queen orders

"Yes, let us proceed with the mission." – Fox adds

After a few seconds the Phantom Thieves all aboard Morgana and the cat helicopter speedily lifts off the ground and ascends to the top of the building. Morgana didn't let up for a minute and focused on their main objective. The team hang to whatever they could so they wouldn't accidentally fall out of the copter.

10 minutes later

On the roof of the Tokyo Skyscraper

Bayonetta is still battling waves of angels and the tides were not conceding one bit. Unfortunately for her, it seemed that her strength was weakening with each passing wave. She didn't know what exactly was happening to her power, but she knew couldn't allow her to stand down and surrender, for doing so would mean putting Ren's existence at risk. She kills the last angel in the current group and kneels in exhaustion. She starts heavily breathing and her vision loses sight and perception.

"What…is this…what's happening to me…?" – She desperately wonders

"Hahahahahaha…you fool! Did you honestly believe that the angels you witches so carelessly battle were just merely a warm up?! The angels that I summoned were ones of my own making!" – Yaldabaoth ridicules the witch mother

"What…are you talking about?!" – Cereza questioned

"You see, there is a reason I am quite familiar with the Umbra Witches as well as their history with the Angels of Paradiso, the Luman Sages, and the Eyes of the World..." – Yaldabaoth continues

"Bullshit…how do you know about them…?" – Cereza disbelieves him

"I am not only the god of creation, I…am the son…of the creator, Jubileus!" – Yaldabaoth reveals

Cereza widens her eyes to this unbelievably shocking revelation. She tries to stand to regain her composure and focus.

"That's a lie…that's a fucking lie!" – Cereza calls the god's bluff

"There is no denying the truth of reality. The creator known as Jubileus was my mother…in her last dying moments, she created me with her light." – He explained

"But earlier you said that you were created by humanity's desire to be the controller of their free will. How the hell can you be the her son?" – Cereza questions

"Correct, however, when I was created, I was but a mere small light. Humanity's desires and need to be governed is what gave me growth. For centuries, I was being brought up simply from their wishes, their deepest desires. Humanity's selfishness, their wickedness, their yearning for dominion over others through tyrannical means, were the basis of my upbringing. My mother, Jubileus was to be reawaken and control humanity free will, but after she was defeated and destroyed by you wretched defiant witches, therefore, I took it upon myself to inherit her purpose and fulfill her destiny." – Yaldabaoth explains his relation to Jubileus

"So…this whole time…you weren't really a god, your just another angel that can grant wishes. Fan-bloody-fucking-tastic. So your evil bitch of a mummy couldn't even take a beating so she died and gave you a quick pitiful birth. I can only imagine how painful the labor was." – Cereza mocks despite her current condition

"Make all of the cheap provocations if you want, witch, but in the end, I will fulfill the wish of my mother, her glory will become my ultimate achievement. Now, Umbra witch, you shall be purged then your son shall be next! Now…DIE!" – Yaldabaoth claims preparing his killing blow

Cereza raises her guard in preparation for the god's final attack, but right before he could commence the attack, a black helicopter appears from above. It was the Phantom Thieves in the Morgana-copter and Joker was standing with his body halfway out of the cockpit. He glared at Yaldabaoth who returns a stare himself. Joker jumps out of the cockpit by himself and lands perfectly on the platform like a superhero ready to come to someone's aid. He pulls out his gun and points it at the god with extreme prejudice.

"Get the hell away from my mom, you fake god piece of shit!" – Phantom Thief leader demanded

"Ren?! Is that you, dear? And what in devil's name are you wearing, son?" – Cereza asked seeing her son in his Phantom costume for the first time.

"Hi, mom…" – Ren greeted

The Morgana-copter lands and the rest of the Phantom Thieves jump out of the copter while Morgana turns back into his phantom form.

"Everyone?! You're all here too?!" – surprised Cereza asked

"Lady Cereza, the Phantom Thieves have come to your aid!" – Morgana said cornily

"Phantom what? Ren what is this what's going on?" – Cereza said confused

"Mom, I'll explain later, but right now, we have more important matters to finish." – Ren diverts his mother's concerns

"So…you've finally appeared have you, trickster?" – Yaldabaoth asked rhetorically

"So you're Yaldabaoth, the person made my mom pregnant? The reason I exist…I'm kinda glad I don't have a blood father, otherwise, I'd disown you now. Besides, vile scum like you have no business being with someone as kind as my mother." – Ren berates the god

"Ren…what did you just say?" – Cereza asked surprised by her son's words of praise towards her

Ren shifts his mask to his forehead as he turns to his mother and begins to walk up to her. He stares at her for a quick moment and reimagines himself seeing her for the first time as a baby.

"Momma…" – He says softly before moving in for a hug

Ren lifts himself as high as he could and wraps his arms around Cereza hugging her tightly. A small tear falls from his cheek and quickly wipes it off.

"I'm so sorry, momma…you just wanted to be back in my life and I pushed you away at every turn, but no more. I love you and I want my mom back." – Ren apologizes in a slightly breaking tone

Cereza also shows tears herself and smiles brightly as she finally heard the words she wanted to her for so long from her own child. She returns the hug and kisses her son's cheek.

"Oh…my son…my dear sweet child! You don't have to apologize to me, I caused you so much pain and I tried to act like it never happened, but I only did it because I wanted to be back with you. Still, it's that's no excuse for a mother to abandon her own child. Ren, I'm going to make it up to you for all of the lost years and protect my child here and now." – Cereza declares

"No, mom. Not this time. For so long, you and auntie Jeanne have protected me from danger and I've had to rely on you to stay safe, but I'm not letting you fight for me anymore. This time, momma…I'm the one who will fight for you." – Ren rejects his mother's protective nature

"Ren…" – she says softly

"Foolish beings! You have disrupted my divine rule for the last time! All sinners must be severely punished!" – Yaldabaoth claims in anger

"Can…we really take on something like that?" – Queen questions

"Yeah, not to doubt us or anything, but do we really have the strength to take on a literally god?!" – Panther panics

"Yaldabaoth's power is on a completely different scale, it's so huge it needs it own area code!" – Oracle analyzd

"Guys, keep it together!" – Skull defuses the panicking

"Ryuji's right! Everyone stay calm and focus! We're at the point of no return here, if we falter now and doubt ourselves, then we've already lost before we even executed the first attack!" – Morgana encourages

"This will be our biggest show ever! The Phantom Thieves vs a god! Together we'll take the world!" – Morgana declares

"Mona's right, I did not come this far just to run away! I came to help a friend and his mother in need and that is what I aim to accomplish!" – Fox adds

"Correct! We are the Phantom Thieves of Hearts and no matter the task, we always get it done!" – Noir joins in

"Yes, as a the leader of the Phantom Thieves and newest and one of the last remaining members of the Umbra Witches, we will put an end to you and your rule!" – Joker declares

"Pathetic bravado will only lead you to defeat. You defiant humans will fall here…now perish!" – Yaldabaoth says

"Mom…you fought enough, now stand back and rest." – Ren orders his mother

"Son…hold nothing back and kick his ass for mummy!" – Cereza motivates him

"You got it, mom!" - Ren replies

"This guy's is strength is no joke, any hesitation could have seriously bad results, but we're all together. We can win!" – Oracle claims

Ren makes the first move and summons the persona, Black Frost and activates Rakunda to lower the god's defense. Ryuji follows this up with Seiten Taisei's Matarukaja and to boosts his team's attack strength. Morgana calls forth Mercurius to activate Masukunda to lower Yaldabaoth's accuracy and evasion, then Makoto uses Anat's Marakukaja's ability to increase the team's defense.

Yaldabaoth moves onto the offensive and uses his Arrows of Light to attack Mona, but his accuracy causes him to fail to make the attack connect.

"Black Frost! Diamond Dust!" – Joker shouts

Black Frost activates his most powerful ice ability and to deal a massive freezing damage to Yaldabaoth and though it connect, it was going take more than ice to defeat him. Ryuji cross his arms in front of his face to summon Seiten Taisei.

"Personaaaaa!" – Skull shouts

"Charge me up!" – he yells

Seiten Taisen charged his master up to allow him to deal more physical damage.

"Come forth, my other self!" – Mona shouts

"Hit him with Garudyne, Mercurius!" – the cat ordered

The attack was successful, but the god still stood.

Queen moves in for her own attack and calls forth Anat!

"Anat! Use Freidyne!" – She commanded

Anat deals nuclear damage to Yaldabaoth and its enough to chip away at the god's health and the Thieves end it with a decent cut at Yaldabaoth's health, they all look confident to beat him, but this was only beginning.

"I release upon you the deadly sin of lust! You have no means of escape, humans. The insanity of mankind shall bring forth demise…" – Yaldabaoth says pulls out a gun

"This is Distorted Lust!" – he says

The attack hits Makoto, damaging her and inflicting her with lust.

"What is this attack? One of mankind's deadly sins?! Don't let your guard down until we know what it does!" – Morgana ordered

Joker once again uses Diamond Dust on Yaldabaoth and the attack connects, Queen tries to summon Anat, but to no avail. It seemed that she isn't able to move due to Yaldabaoth's Distorted Lust.

"What's wrong with me…why can't I move?!" – She panically wondered

"I release upon you the deadly sin of vanity! You have no means of escape, humans. The fraudulence of mankind shall bring forth ruin!" – Yaldabaoth declares pulling out a bell

"Everyone be careful! It may be a bell, but there's no telling what'll happen!" – Morgan warns the team

"Distorted Vanity!" – the god shouts

Makoto is once again hit and is now weak to all affinities.

"You damn son of a bitch! You'll pay! Come on, Seiten! Ziodyne!" – Skull shouts summoning his persona

"Goemon, strike!" – Yusuke summons Goemon and attacks with Bufudyne

This attack proves fruitless as it misses the god making him laugh.

"Pathetic peon, is that really the best effort you can muster?!" – he mocked

"No, but here's my effort! Mediarahan!" – Morgana yells

Mercurius uses his skill to heal the teams

"Thanks, Mona! Now it's my turn!" – Makoto yells

"Persona! Freidyne!" – she commands

And the massive nuclear attack connects hitting Yaldabaoth's chest. Yaldabaoth uses it's other arm to pull out another deadly sin of mankind. Noir summons Milady and attacks with Psiodyne!

"I release upon you the deadly sin of gluttony! You have no means of escape, humans. The selfishness of mankind shall bring forth ruin." – Yaldabaoth declares pulling out a blade

"I condemn you with Distorted Gluttony! – He yells

This skill causes the team to use more spirit to summon their personas.

"Everyone be careful! His attacks are a lot stronger this time!" – Morgana warns

"Sword of Judgement!" – the god attacks but fails to connect

"Wind Cutter!" – he attacks once more but hitting Ryuji instead

"Skull are you okay?!" – Oracle asks

"Yeah, but this son of a bitch didn't finish me yet!" – Skull recovers

"I release upon you the deadly sin of wrath! You have no means of escape, humans. The passion of mankind shall bring forth ruin!" – the god says summoning a book

"It's a book this time watch out!" – Oracle says

Oracle's warning comes too late as Yaldabaoth attacks Morgana with Distorted Wrath damaging him and causing him to feel rage.

"Oh no, Mona you have to calm down!" – Ryuji says

"I release upon you the deadly sin of greed! You have no means of escape, humans. The fixation of mankind shall bring forth ruin!" – Yaldabaoth declares

"Distorted Avarice!" – he yells hitting Joker with it

The attack was strong enough to make Joker hungry, but he stands tall against the hunger and uses Arsene to attack with Eigaon and it hits the god in the chest. Morgana then attacks with Garudyne also hitting him in the chest as well. Panther comes in and attacks with Agidyne.

"I release upon you with the deadly sin of pride! You have no means of escape, humans. The ingratitude of mankind shall bring forth ruin…" – Yaldabaoth declares

"Guys don't attack or he'll counter you instantly." – Oracle warns

The team holds off on the attacks for a bit and use their personas heal and attack and defense boost abilities to charge up some offense and defense. Yaldabaoth uses this opportunity to heal all damage he took during the last few minutes as if he never took any damage at all.

"The abyss of the unconscious yearns for ultimate ruin…, you have no means escape, humans. Punishment shall strike you all…as you pass the gates of destruction!" – Yaldabaoth declares

Yaldabaoth uses three black and red beams to charge the center of his body all at once and prepares for an attack and the thieves brace themselves for what is about to be his ultimate devastating attack!

"Everyone watch out it's going to be a big one!" – Oracle warns

The thieves stay firm on the guard and Yaldabaoth shoots out his monstrous attack causing major damage, but they manage to survive!

"So…this is the power that resists ruin…my control shall not bow down to ruin. My control is the ultimate truth of this world." – Yaldabaoth stays firm on his rule

"Guys it's not over yet, here he comes!" – Morgana warns the team

Yaldabaoth uses his sword to attack, but instead of aiming for Joker or any of the other Phantom Thieves he aims for none other than Cereza instead!

"Die, Umbra witch!" – Yaldabaoth yells commencing his strike towards her

Cereza's eyes widen as she is unable to move out of the way, but Ren quickly notices the attack and runs with all of speed!

"Mom! NOOO!" – He yells still running towards her

Ren tries with all his might to get to his mother in time before the attack lands on her, but isn't fast enough he closes his eyes and opens them again and opens them again, but this time they turn purple. He leans forward and in a quick flash Ren activates his new witch power that allows him to turn into a lion! Ren has activated Beast Within!

Everyone is shocked by this and even Cereza. The boy roars loudly and runs twice as fast as he did seconds ago and finally makes to her in time to defend her but as he turns back into his human form and pushes her out of the way, the sword devastatingly slashes him across the chest!

Cereza gets up and looks at her son, who was flown back by the attack and instantly tears up and covers her mouth at this horrible sight. She uses all of her strength to get up and runs over to her son who starts bleeding.

"REEEEEEEEEN!" – She cries out

"Joker!" – the Phantom Thieves yell out as well

Ren spits up blood that spills on his chest and covers his mouth. He writhes in agony and shivers in cold. His mom is crying as she grabs her son's body. He opens his eyes to see his mother bawling. The Phantom Thieves reach to him as well as they all cry in unison at the sight of their leader's fall.

"Ren! My baby! My baby, no! Dammit! No! Please get up, son! Get up!" – Cereza cries out to him

"Come on, dude! This isn't funny…stop clowning around! We have to keep fighting just like you said! Now get up!" – Ryuji yells at him with a breaking voice

"Ren…please don't die…we need you…I need you." – Makoto pleads

"This…isn't happening, someone please tell me I'm dreaming…" – Yusuke says hoping that's all a nightmare

"I…I wish this was a nightmare as well…" – Haru agrees

"No…Ren…no…why?!" – Ann cries

"His pulse, his heart beat…they're all slowing down, they're fading…" – Futaba analyzes in a breaking tone

"Yaldabaoth, you monster! You evil damn monster!" – Morgana angered

"Now do you foolish defiant humans understand? Can you now comprehend the magnitude of your disobedience?!

Resistance is fruitless, ruin is an inevitable fate…you mere pawns of my game have only yourselves to hold liable. Had you simply stayed complacent, and not fight your fates, this tragedy needn't to befall on you all. This trickster has filled your heads with hubris and false senses of hope and free will and now before you, lies the result of such arrogance and pride. His nonsensical morality shall now become his permanent end!" – Yaldabaoth ruthlessly mocks the thieves and dying Ren

Cereza's purple Umbra aura begins to grow larger and dark as she clenches her teeth and fists in extreme enragement. She pulls out her gun and fires an intense line of bullets at the god of creation, but they prove meaningless…

Ren, in a severe state of pain and agony, grabs his mother's arm to get her to stop and look at him. She does this and glances at her dying son.

"M…mom…" – weakened Ren calls to her

Cereza grabs her son's head and holds him closer to her stomach as he rests on her knees.

"I'm here, son! I'm here, baby. Please stay with me!" She pleaded crying once more

"Mom…I'm…I'm sorry. I'm so…sorry…" – Ren apologizes

"Stop apologizing, you don't have to do that anymore. You know I'll always forgive you, you're my son you understand?! My son and nothing is going to take that from us!" – Cereza reassures him

"Please listen…to me, mom. I should've…been a better son to you…if I hadn't been…so selfish and hateful to you…this never would've happened. This is all…my fault. I pushed you away...when all you wanted to do…was be my mom and I hated you for it. I'm so sorry, momma. At least…now…you don't have…to worry about protecting an ungrateful…bastard child like me…at least now…you can have your old life back…and I…won't be in the way…anymore." – severely injured Ren apologizes once again

Cereza's tears intensify to the point where they begin to fall onto Ren's face.

"You stupid silly little boy…don't you get it, son?! I don't want my old life back! I don't want it back because…you're my life! You're not ungrateful because you had every right to be mad at me! I'm the one who abandoned you and led you down this path! If I had been a stronger mother for you and chose loving you over protecting you, then you never would've had to leave me! This is my fault! I did this to you and now you're paying for my mistakes! I'm the worst mother in the world and I'm so sorry, Ren." – Cereza expresses her deepest sorrowful apologies.

"Mom…that was all…in the past…you don't need to blame... yourself anymore, momma…I love you, momma. I…always will…" – Ren utters his last words before exhaling his last breath

Cereza doesn't say another word, all she can do right now is stare at her son's lifeless body in crippling pain and anguish. Silence filled the air around them. Regret and doubt cloud their minds. The sense of despair fills the now grieving mother. She is unable to continue and her will to fight has all but depleted…

The Velvet Room

Ren awakens in the Velvet Room inside his cell. He goes up to the cell bars and sees Igor and Lavenza staring at him.

"So…it would appear that you have fallen in battle have you, trickster?" – Igor asks

"I…had to save my mom. I owed her for everything she did for me and for how horribly I treated her." – Ren replies

"I see…you're selfless act ended in death, it was courageous none the less. A trickster who is willing to sacrifice his or her own life to protect others are more than just mere tricksters…" – Igor commends him

"Though it was a sudden death, we have most fortunate news for you, Ren Amamiya. There is someone that would like to speak with you…" – Lavenza said

"Someone that wants to speak with me? Who and what do they want with me?" – He asked

Igor then opens Ren's cell gate

"You should ask her yourself, trickster. She's been waiting here for you for quite a while…". – The short man said

Ren walks out of the cell gate and looks around. The ground begins to shake and shocks Ren so much that it causes him to fall to the ground. A red and black portal opens up from the ground and out of him comes two large purple hands with red nails that carry the boy upward. Soon a butterfly shaped headpiece with a gold piece on the center bottom appears from out of the portal and soon after the face of a purple skinned woman with blank red eyes and lips. This demonic looking woman is starring Ren dead in the face, but to him, he feels no fear, for he himself has felt this presence before.

"Do you know who I am, boy?" – The demonic woman asked

"No…I don't, but for reason, I feel like you and I are oddly connected in a way…if I'm not mistaking, you remind me of my mother." – Ren responds

"There is no mistaking then…you are her son, boy. You…share the same Umbran blood as her. She and I have made a pact with each other centuries ago. She is my vessel and I am her power. You are her son, therefore, you and I are also a pact, yes?" – the demonic woman asked

"You know my mom? So then in that case…you must be the source of all her power! You're the reason she's so strong and powerful!" – Ren discovers

"Precisely, boy. For many years, I have fought along side your mother and aided her conquest to bring chaos and destruction to our enemies and fought alongside each other as one! And now, you have become an Umbra witch as well as your mother once did, but to truly become a witch, you must obtain power! That is why the time has come for YOU and I to become one as well! By forging a contract with me you and I will be bound to each other for eternity and I shall help you in this time of crisis. Will you form a pact with me, boy?" – the demon woman asked

Ren takes a moment to process what the demon woman was offering him and lifts his head back up remembering that he made a promise to protect his mother.

"If this means that I can become as strong as mom and protect her from now on and not vise versa, then I'll take it! YES! I will form a contract with you!"

"Perfect!" – the demon said smirking

The demon then lifts its one hand and uses it one finger to point it Ren's head. A light shines upon in front of the boy and demon and in an instant they are transported back to the world of the living.

Back on the Tokyo Skyscraper

A blinding light shines upon Ren's seemingly dead body as it is being lifted into the air out of Cereza's airs, she wonders what is happening to him, as she herself has no control over this shocking moment.

"What?! What the hell's happening?!" – Ryuji desperate for an answer

"I don't know!" – Cereza replies

Ren's eyes are still closed but his body descend on to the floor and he lands perfectly. He stands up with his eyes still shut and with no expression on his face. He opens his mouth and begins to speak, but his usual deep voice is shadowed by the voice of the demonic woman that only Cereza could recognize.

"I am thou…thou art I…the raging blood of the demon burns deep within thine soul. Slaughter the fraudulent idols and make them fall to the ground from their own fake towers of their own cognition. Let them burn and be devoured by their own chaos! Watch them as they writhe in screaming agony and despair as they beg FOR MERCY!" – Ren and demonic women speak the contract quote

The contract is finished and it is signed. Ren lifts his head up and opens his eyes and appearing from purple flames, comes a butterfly shaped mask, the same mask as his mother Cereza's and grandmother Rosa's. He rips it off and calls forth his newest umbra persona.

"Come forth! MADAMA!" – Ren shouts

A large red and black portal and out comes Ren's newest persona. The demon that has always been apart of Cereza since the very beginning.

"I…am the Mistress of Atrocity…MADAMA BUTTERFLY!" – she shouts

"What?! What is this power?! You should have been dead a while ago!" – Yaldabaoth protests

"This is unbelievable…" – Fox amazed

"Holy freakin shit, Ren." – Ryuji says

"Wow…" – Makoto dazzled

Cereza is looking at Ren and is smiling like she has never smiled before. She's not just looking at her son anymore, but rather her successor and legacy.

"Ren…you've done it…you've become strong…just like your dear old mummy. I…couldn't be any more proud of you, son!" – She says wiping a tear from her eye.

"Wow…who would've thought that our own leader would be able to hold so much power. You truly are amazing, Joker. What better way to end this with a gigantic finale as a trickster?! Now go and finish him off!" – Morgana says to him

Ren's deathly stare at Yaldabaoth increases as he pulls out his gun which has been turned into a desert eagle pistol with the words, "Saturday Night Special" engraved onto the gun. He points it at Yaldabaoth and takes great aim at his head with Madama Butterfly turning her hand into a cannon pointing at the god's head as well. Cereza then comes from behind the boy and places her hand on the trigger as well. Ren looks up at her and smiles and she happily returns it. They both look back at Yaldabaoth who is shaken with fear.

"Preposterous! You dare rob the people's wishes?!" – He asked

"Hey, Yaldabaoth..." – Ren calls his name

"Huh?" – the god confuses himself

"…DON'T FUCK WITH A WITCH!" – Ren ends it pulling the trigger

The purple bullet flys and go straight through Yaldabaoth's face dead center. The god is leaning back as his arms holding the deadly sins disappear.

"I am the God of Control, the God of Creation, Yaldabaoth! How could I have fallen to such mere humans?!" – He wonders

"Take a look at me, god. I'm not just a human or a trickster. You're looking at the newest Umbra Witch and the strongest one yet." – Ren tells him

"How…unpredictable. To think such a mere boy could change his own fate like that…but I guess that is the true power of the trickster after all. You have not only defeated a god, but the child of the creator Jubileus. You, boy, are truly the changer of fate…" – Yaldabaoth concedes as a red portal full of hands begin to take him under.

Madama butterfly disappears and Ren kneels in exhaustion. Cereza catches his body and he looks up to her face.

"Well, mom…how...was that?" – He asked

She hugs the boy tightly into her chest.

"Smashing, son. I'm so proud to call myself your mother." – She praises him

"Well Phantom Thieves looks like this is a mission complete. Great job!" – Morgana says

Back at Leblanc

Ren wakes up in his night clothes to see his mother lying down on his bed right next to him.

"Oh hey, mom." – Ren greets

"Did you have a nice beauty sleep, my dear son?" – She asked

"Hehe…sure I guess." – he chuckles

"Where is everyone?" – he asked

"They all went home when we came back, dear. They'll be back soon when I tell them you've awakened." – She informs her son

"Oh okay, good." – Ren says

The room is silent, but Ren soon breaks it and speaks

"So we did it, huh?" – He says

"You did it, son. That was your most best battle ever and mummy's very proud of you." – Cereza praises him kissing his cheek

"But still, don't ever die on me again! You scared mummy half to death and she was very worried, young man! Got it!" She says grabbing his ear

"Ouch okay yes yes I give I give!" – Ren obeys

Cereza soon then begins to tear up and hugs her son tightly. She sniffs and tries to speak.

"Good…because I mean it. Don't do it again." – a crying Cereza ordered

"Don't worry about me, mom. I'll be okay." – Ren assures his mother

The mother and son share a beautiful moment and lay back down in the bed and fall back asleep this time Ren wraps his arm around Cereza's body and lies his head close to hers. He smiles.

Monday April 1st, 20XX

Lelblanc, Morning

Ren is all packed and ready for another day at school. He's sitting at the bar eating his morning curry and drinking his morning coffee, but it was Sojiro who made it this time, who was sitting at a table reading the paper, it was Cereza who made them. She's wearing a white teeshirt and black skin right jeans with an apron to match.

"How do you like it, son, is it to your liking?" – She happily asked

"It's great, mom! Thanks!" – Ren thanks her

Ren looks at his watch and widens his eyes.

"Oh crap! I gotta go! See ya mom!" – Ren says grabbing his bag with Morgana inside and heads off

"Ren darling, aren't you forgetting something?" – Cereza asked tapping her cheek

"Of course not, how could I forget." – Ren replies running back to her kissing her cheek

Cereza brightly smiles and waves good bye to her son.

"Have a great day, my dear sweet child!" – she says

Cereza looks back at the counter and notices that Ren forgot his lunch as well. She grabs at and runs out the door to give it to him, but as soon as she reaches the outside, debris is falling from the sky. People are running and screaming taking cover. She looks up to notice that it was none other than the Angels of Paradiso causing trouble again. She rips off her clothes and changes into her Umbra uniform and creates an Umbra portal to Purgitorio. She pulls out her Love is Blue guns and takes a battle stance. However, as soon as she's about to begin to fight. She sees another Umbra portal be created and out of it comes her son Ren wearing his Phantom Thief outfit. He looks at her and smiles and she smirks back it him as they both point their guns at the now charging angels.

"LETS DANCE, BOYS!" – Cereza says

"CAUSE IT'S SHOWTIME!" – Ren completes his mother's catch phase

"I love that boy." – She says smiling

END OF CHAPTER 5!

Hey guys thank you for reading chapter 5! Sorry I was late but a lot of things happened and as it stands I will still be on hiatus for 2 and a half months, but don't worry more will come when I come back. Next chapter is gonna be a fun side chapter.

Next time: Dancing in Starlight Moonriver

Thanks for the support guys, love you all! ;)