Recommended Game Story · Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance Part 18
Chapters in this story
Vengeance Route · Two Lost Companions
Spoiler Warning: This series covers the Canon of Creation and Canon of Vengeance in Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance, including all six major endings. The two paths and their respective endings are distinct alternatives. This is not a transcription of the original game's dialogue or a novelization, but an original commentary and critique that interprets character choices and emotions based on key events. Unstated inner thoughts are distinguished as interpretations, and illustrations are AI reconstructions based on public materials.
The Canon of Vengeance in Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance constructs a tragic narrative that stands in opposition to the Canon of Creation. The beliefs championed by Ichiro Dazai and Abdiel exemplify violence disguised as good intentions. This chapter analyzes the loss of Yuzuru and the subsequent reshaping of the Nahobino's destiny. The absence of a companion becomes more than just a loss of combat power; it serves as an indicator of how the order of the world encroaches upon human will. It explores the process by which those who claim to speak for God castrate human potential, and how those left behind fill that void and move forward.
Chapter 1 · Dazai's Conviction Targets Yuzuru
After losing Aogami, the event where Yuzuru and Koshimizu are attacked by Abdiel and Dazai marks a narrative turning point. Dazai attempts to prevent the birth of another Nahobino, and the attitude he displays—having been an ordinary student who now aligns with Abdiel's beliefs—reveals the archetype of violence disguised as benevolence. He believes his actions are in accordance with God's will and dismisses the resulting sacrifices as an inevitable cost. This conviction paralyzes the ethical standards that respect the lives of others, proving that the order he seeks is far removed from human dignity.
The attack on Yuzuru reveals how twisted Dazai's inner self has become. Yuzuru acted with the pure motive of protecting his friends and saving the world, but in Dazai's eyes, he is merely a disruptive element hindering God's plan. This tragic scene, where former friends target each other, demonstrates how differences in belief lead to the ruin of relationships. It is chilling to realize that for Dazai, Yuzuru's death is not a source of sorrow, but merely an obstacle that must be removed to complete his mission.
Dazai's transformation cannot be explained by Abdiel alone. In the Canon of Vengeance, after Mastema demonstrates the power to turn Dazai into salt, he offers him the strength to fight evil in the name of God. The student, who wanted to become stronger and be of help, accepts the offer. It is a combination of the desire to be recognized and the promise of authority that grants power. While this background provides a clue to understanding Dazai's choice, it does not justify his decision to drive Yuzuru to his death.
Yuzuru's end marks the pinnacle of the helplessness this game intends to convey. He tried to uphold his beliefs to the very end, but collapsed before the overwhelming power of Dazai and Abdiel. His death does not simply signify the exit of a character, but illustrates the limitations humans face when attempting to intervene in the realm of the gods. The loss of Yuzuru brings deep sorrow to the player and makes the weight of the tragic narrative that the Canon of Vengeance aims for palpable.
Through this event, one is forced to contemplate how good intentions can degenerate into evil. Dazai did not intend to become a villain; he merely sought to realize the justice he believed in. However, the moment that justice denies the existence of others, it is no longer justice, but violence. Dazai's conviction drove Yuzuru to his death, a painful lesson on the dangerous consequences that arise when beliefs become blind.
Chapter 2 · Tsukuyomi Becomes a New Companion
The loss of Yuzuru is an unbearable shock to Koshimizu as well. By losing Yuzuru, his Knowledge holder, he falls into deep agony between his identity as a god and his emotions as a human. However, he does not remain immersed in sorrow; he fuses with the protagonist to seek a new path for the Nahobino. This can be read as Koshimizu's will to not merely replace Yuzuru, but to inherit the will he left behind and build a new order. His choice demonstrates the strength to overcome grief and move forward.
The fusion between the protagonist and Koshimizu becomes a significant turning point in the Canon of Vengeance. This union, which exists on a different level than the relationship with Aogami, expands the possibilities available to the Nahobino. Koshimizu does not view the protagonist as a mere consumable, but recognizes them as a partner with whom to save the world. Their union is interpreted not as the deletion of previous bonds, but as an attempt to forge a new bond and exert greater power. It symbolizes the solidarity between human and god as they rise above loss.
Koshimizu is not a figure whose body is suddenly taken over by another god who has awakened within. He is Tsukuyomi himself, who led the Bethel Japan branch in the guise of the Prime Minister. Because of the relationship between the Shin-Joma and Aogami, a new union with the protagonist becomes possible. However, since the protagonist was not originally Tsukuyomi's Knowledge holder, this cannot be seen as a simple replacement of the Creation path where he intended to unite with Yuzuru.
Tao's awakening presents another light of hope in this process. She awakens as the Goddess who guides the Creation and assists the protagonist and Koshimizu on their journey. Tao's presence becomes the only comfort in the dark atmosphere of the Canon of Vengeance, and her divine power becomes a great strength for the protagonist. Tao's awakening is not merely an increase in power, but an expression of the will to lead the world in the right direction. She moves toward a new Creation alongside the protagonist.
Tsukuyomi, having become a companion to the protagonist, steps back from a position where he could force his plans through. Even after losing Yuzuru, he opens the path to the throne, but leaves the final judgment to the protagonist. This change is read as the difference between an alliance formed because of shared goals and a companionship that accepts and protects the other's choices. It is not about filling the place of the lost with another person, but about the remaining person starting a different relationship.
Scope of Materials and Interpretation
As of October 16, 2026 (Bangkok), official works, character introductions, and the ending, character, and quest materials below have been cross-referenced. Official introductions were verified only for public scope, and fan wikis and walkthroughs are distinguished as separate materials. This is a text for an overview of major events and original critique, not a reenactment of all dialogue or gameplay scenes, nor an official novel. Optional quests and developments by version or path are not consolidated into facts common to all playthroughs.
Megami Tensei Wiki — Tsukuyomi and the two Nahobino paths
SEGA·ATLUS Official Story and Character Introduction
Megami Tensei Wiki — Yoko's background and path-specific choice comparison
Megami Tensei Wiki — The Nahobino and the new union in the Canon of Vengeance
comments 0