Nahobino (Race)

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The Nahobino are a Race of gods in Shin Megami Tensei V.

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Nahobino refers to the original divine forms of Demons consisting of both Eternal Life and Knowledge.[1] After they were banned by the Creator, the only way for demons to regain their former glory was to fuse with the Knowledge bound inside the souls of humankind. However, while the Condemnation was in place, any demons that attempted this were transformed into Miman.[2][3][4]

The Nahobino are noted to be extremely powerful, even stronger than the most influential demons.[5][6][7][8] Ascending to the form of a Nahobino also grants them the authority to enter the Empyrean to claim the Throne of Creation, which has the ability to control the laws of reality.[9]

List of Demons

Shin Megami Tensei V

Name Level
Nahobino
Abdiel
Nuwa
Tsukuyomi

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance

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Game Appearances

Shin Megami Tensei V

Prior to the rise of the Creator, all Demons were once Nahobino in an endless battle for control of the Throne of Creation, an object that gives it's wielder the ability to manipulate the laws of the universe. However, in a bid to maintain his rule, the God of Law instituted the Condemnation, which stripped every other god of their Knowledge, thereby transforming them into their current forms as demons. In this state, none of his former rivals would be able to access the Empyrean to contest his claim on the Throne. But unknown to him, the serpent would sneak into the Garden of Eden where the gods Knowledge was sealed and tempted the humans living within to consume its fruit. This caused the dormant Knowledge to be bound the souls of humankind and their children throughout generations.[10] Due to this, demons once again became able to regain their true power as a Nahobino by fusing with a human's soul, at least in theory, because if this was attempted while the Condemnation was still in effect, they would be transformed into Miman.[2]

This status quo massively shifted with the death of the Creator at the hands of Lucifer. In his absence, the Condemnation was no longer active, implicitly restarting the war for the Throne of Creation as demons could return to their original divine forms.[11][12] However, this conflict was delayed for nearly two decades because the leader of Bethel, Abdiel, refused to accept the announcement of her Lord's defeat and declined to tell her allies the news.[13] Further, even though he successfully overthrew the Creator, Lucifer never claimed the Throne, leaving it unoccupied.[14][15][16][17] This meant that the vast majority of demonkind had no idea that the God of Law was no longer in power, and all of them continued to live under the angels' rule. This changed with the arrival of the Nahobino, who became a living, breathing symbol of the Throne's vacancy to demons, and blatant blasphemy to the God of the angels.[18]

This section contains spoilers. (Skip Section)

Abdiel would attempt to reach an understanding with the Nahobino as they made large contributions to Bethel's fight against the armies of Chaos, but once the war reached it's climax, she was forced into a position where she could no longer turn a blind eye.[19] Even though the world was no longer under threat by the Demon King Arioch, the city of Tokyo was still in danger. The version of the city that existed in the human world was in actuality a substitute created by the God of Law while he was still alive because the original was sucked into Da'at during an event called the Conception. With the death of the Creator, not only did the Condemnation lose it's power, but so was this replica of Tokyo. In response, Bethel Japan led by prime minister Hayao Koshimizu believed that the best course of action was to declare their independence from the broader organization of Bethel and have their Nahobino claim the Throne of Creation to restore Tokyo.[20] Shortly after, Bethel held a pandemonic summit attended by representatives of all of Bethel's branches. Here, the other major world powers: Odin, Zeus, Khonsu, and Vasuki learned of the existence of the Nahobino and immediately understood the implication that the Creator was dead.[11][12] In order to dissolve the problem, Abdiel decided that she could no longer bend the rules by cooperating with the Nahobino and attempted to execute him before the situation grew to a point where it could threaten the perceived authority of Bethel and the God of Law.[21][22] However, she was unable to defeat them, inadvertently emboldening the other gods, who all quickly agreed to abandon Bethel as they began to contemplate the possibility of becoming a Nahobino and recreating the world.[23]

This ultimately led to a full-scale war in the Taito ward, where the Temple holding the portal to the Empyrean could be found. Odin, Zeus, and Vasuki each held a key required to access the portal and gathered their respective armies for a chance to steal the keys from their rivals, but all three would eventually be defeated by the Nahobino.[24] After passing Metatron's trial to judge his worthiness, the Nahobino finally reached the entrance to the Empyrean through the guidance from the deceased Tao Isonokami, now reincarnated as a Goddess of Creation.[25][26] Inside were multiple humans he met across his journey in Da'at now accompanied by the demons whose Knowledge they held, fighting each other for their claim to the Throne: Ichiro Dazai and the now fallen angel Abdiel, who believed that the only way to preserve God's law was to break it by becoming Nahobino, Yuzuru Atsuta and prime minister Hayao Koshimizu, also known as the Amatsukami member Tsukuyomi, who believed that the Creator and his followers could not be trusted to defend their home, and Shohei Yakumo and the mother goddess Nuwa, who believed that no demon should be allowed to decide humanity's future.[27][28][29]

Once all of the protagonist's competition for the Throne are defeated, if they choose to claim it instead of destroy it, Lucifer will reveal himself to them along with the secrets he learned upon defeating the Creator. Following the rebirth of the world, another Da'at will eventually be formed, sparking a resurgence of the battle of the gods for the Throne of Creation. This will ultimately lead to the death of the current Nahobino holding the Throne and the subsequent recreation of the world by another in an endless cycle. However, Lucifer offers an alternative: defeat him and consume his Knowledge. He claims that this will give the Nahobino the ability to free the universe from the eternal cycle, but ultimately, it is left unclear whether his plan will be truly successful.[30][31][32]

End of spoilers.

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance

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Trivia

  • Under normal circumstances, Nahobino can only be created through a combination of Knowledge and Eternal Life from the same deity, but there are exceptions:[33][34]
    • Demons are able to become Nahobino using the Knowledge of other demons who are closely associated with them. For example, Baal and Zeus can become Nahobino using Susano-o's Knowledge.[35][36]
    • In Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance, Proto-fiends have the unique ability to merge with Knowledge unrelated to their respective deity due to having been specifically designed to fuse with humans.[34] However, in these cases where the Knowledge and Eternal Life do not match, only the human half of the resultant Nahobino would be able to control the Throne of Creation's powers if they were to reshape the world.[37][38]
  • Even though Lucifer consumed the God of Law's knowledge, it is unclear if he can be considered a Nahobino as his race is listed as Matter rather than Nahobino.

Nomenclature

Names in Other Languages
Language Name Meaning
Japanese ナホビノ Nahobino Nahobino
合一神Name for the race in gameplay Gōitsushin United God

Gallery

Notes


References

  1. ↑ "Koshimizu: Eons ago, the gods were gifted with both Eternal Life and the Knowledge of Good and Evil. In those days, they were known as Nahobino." Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Miman: Ahh, if only Lord of Chaos slay God a bit sooner... Then I no become Miman..." Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  3. ↑ "Miman: You figure it out yet? Miman what left of those who no return to be Nahobino. Sad, huh?" Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  4. ↑ "Miman: Demons power, humans Knowledge. Thought was all we needed to be Nahobino again. We were wrong..." Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  5. ↑ "Amon: If there was one thing I did not account for, it was the extent of your own power. I see now. A demon with a soul can well surpass their own limits, transforming into something even greater than their name suggests. To say that they can rewrite legends doesn't sound near improbable as it once did." Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  6. ↑ "Demeter: Truly, of all this world's yields, the Nahobino must be one of the most vibrant with life, with strength, with potential." Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  7. ↑ "Zeus: Hell of a fight, boy... You're a feisty one. If I'd found my Nahobino form, we would have seen some real fireworks..." Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  8. ↑ "Amon: Impossible... Even after regaining the sun god's power, I was not enough... Is the might of a Nahobino even greater than that of the sun god...?" Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  9. ↑ "Koshimizu: The Throne of Creation lies at the pinnacle of Empyrean Heaven or simply the Empyrean, as it has become known. That is where the Creator would be now, were he not ousted by Lucifer, as was claimed. Only Nahobino are allowed in the Empyrean’s sacred space. As such, none have entered thus far." Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  10. ↑ "Narrator: Long, long ago, before these creatures known as “humans” gained Knowledge… The God of Law seated Himself upon the throne of creation. He seized all Knowledge from the other gods, rebuking them, so they could never dare to approach the throne… …reducing them to mere ‘demons.’ The Fruit of Knowledge was secreted away in a paradise of His own creation. One day, a serpent sought out the mortals, seeking to tempt them into doing his will. ‘Eat the Fruit of Knowledge in this paradise and you will become more like God.’ The serpent’s goal was to revive the war of the myriad gods. Oblivious to the serpent’s machinations, the mortals of each realm ate the fruit… …one after another, without fail. The Knowledge they devoured then bound to their souls, birthing ‘humans’ closer to gods. When the God of Law saw this, He banished all humanity from His paradise in a fit of rage. Humans… You curious creatures infused with precious Knowledge… Know that you are observed by countless demons, waiting for their chance to strike." Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Abdiel: Not while the Condemnation stands, it won't. It is undeniable proof that the Most High still sits upon the throne. / Khonsu: Does He? Then, how do you explain the Nahobino standing here before us? Are we to take it this God of yours deems him a worthy successor to the throne?" Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Zeus: If the Creator’s dead, his throne ought to be free for the taking. At least, that’s how it should work… Bah! I’m sick of hearing babble from that winged wench and her automatons. / Odin: Long ago, the Creator, in his boundless arrogance, issued an edict of Condemnation, damning all gods to primitivity. This Condemnation forbade the existence of Nahobino outright, thus preventing any challenge to his reign. Oh, how I long to break free of this curse… But wait, are you not a Nahobino? How could you have broken the shackles that bind us?" Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  13. ↑ "Abdiel: The Creator can never be defeated. But, were that even to be true… Surely He would rise up once more. Yes, we must await His glorious return. Until then, we join hands and guide our people. That is Bethel’s duty." Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  14. ↑ "Arioch: Very soon, what divine spark may be left in this world will heave its final cry. The throne is now godless. The time to claim Knowledge and reform is at hand!" Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  15. ↑ "Tao: One side desires the throne for a land reborn anew, while the other pines for the world of old. Such a position of power cannot remain vacant for eternity. A leader must rise and take it. You must take it." Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  16. ↑ "Zeus: If the Creator’s dead, his throne ought to be free for the taking. At least, that’s how it should work…" Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  17. ↑ "Koshimizu: The Throne of Creation lies at the pinnacle of Empyrean Heaven or simply the Empyrean, as it has become known. That is where the Creator would be now, were he not ousted by Lucifer, as was claimed. Only Nahobino are allowed in the Empyrean’s sacred space. As such, none have entered thus far." Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  18. ↑ "Koshimizu: I had an inkling when you returned with Aogami, but it seems I was right. The Condemnation has been lifted after all, then." Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  19. ↑ "Abdiel: Yet know this, Protagonist: to live as Nahobino is to live condemned. By virtue of their being, they threaten the natural holy order. The word of God is the only true path to save this world. Your very existence profanes your triumph. One day, I will have to decide whether the sin of your being must be judged." Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  20. ↑ "Koshimizu: So the Demon King is dead, then. You're a credit to Bethel Japan... That was no small feat. / Ichiro: Yeah, Master Abdiel said that too! So... did we save Tokyo? Is the world safe now? / Koshimizu: No... I'd say the true battle is about to begin. / Ichiro: What... What do you mean? / Koshimizu: I said it before. The real Tokyo is long gone. This Tokyo is a sacred simulacrum, restored by the power of God. But its time is running out. The world is fracturing, collapsing. If this demonic conqueror in Aogami's report really did kill the Creator, all His divine miracles must be waning. Slaying the Demon King did much to protect the world at large. But Tokyo itself is now on the brink of destruction. / Ichiro: What!? / Koshimizu: So our course is clear. As of today, I will be declaring my independence from Bethel. / Yuzuru: You're leaving them? / Koshimizu: If we want to save Tokyo, we have only one option left: to take the throne of a Nahobino, and craft a new world. But Bethel HQ remains doggedly opposed to this. Which makes them our enemy, I'm afraid." Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  21. ↑ "Abdiel: Hear me. Bethel's mission is to sustain this world, God's world... Any objections? / Zeus: Damn right there are! I say you cut the act and admit your "God" is dead and gone!" Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  22. ↑ "Abdiel: ...Very well. If his existence serves as blasphemy, I cannot remain in ignorance. Witness as I smite this aberration and blot out his sin from the earth!" Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  23. ↑ "Abdiel: Impossible... How could I have fallen? / Odin: So this is the power meant for us... Not bad, Nahobino. God was right to be afraid. Perhaps I, too, will seek out my old Knowledge. / Khonsu: And so were our ties to Bethel severed. When we next meet, it shall be as adversaries. May none be so foolish as to cross me. / Vasuki: I must inform Lord Shiva of this new... development. / Zeus: Well, I'm done." Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  24. ↑ "Tao: Long before the first human being, the entity who oversaw this world created a bridge to the throne. However, Bethel headquarters has hidden the keys to access it, and so the path remains closed. There are three keys in total. It used to be that Bethel guarded them for safekeeping. But now, the branches that possess them think only of their own gain." Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  25. ↑ "Metatron: This is the path that leads to the throne. It is a sacred place that only those who are worthy may enter. I, Metatron, shall be your judge!" Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  26. ↑ "Tao: The Tao Isonokami you knew did die. But her soul was reborn by a power beyond description, forming who I am now. As the Goddess of Creation, my new purpose is to guide the Nahobino to his throne." Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  27. ↑ "Ichiro: I’m here to do what needs to be done, even if I stray from the path. I’ll do whatever I have to do! It doesn’t matter, so long as we win! / Abdiel: God’s word remains unchanging. As Archangel, I am sworn to defend it. And if I must taint myself as a Nahobino to do so… Then we shall carry out His will! As one!" Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  28. ↑ "Koshimizu: We were wrong to place our trust in one God. Only a multitude of divine beings can give the world the proper attention it needs. Furthermore, it is only right for us, the Amatsukami, to keep our land secure." Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  29. ↑ "Nuwa: Indeed, the Empyrean Throne is rightfully ours. Though of course, we have something a little different in mind for it. / Yakumo: With my own two hands. I will destroy that throne. And humanity will shape their own world." Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  30. ↑ "Lucifer: As the Lord of Chaos, I defeated the Creator, consumed his Knowledge, and became more than He could possibly imagine. It was then I came to understand this world. Allow me to share what I'd learned. Following the world's recreation, a new Da'at will eventually appear, and soon after the gods will rise up to claim the throne. Battle after battle, you sought to purge demons from this world. But they will come slithering back, as they always do. This endless cycle is the result of a spatial governing phenomenon known as the "Mandala System." Do you not wish to be free of such restrictions? Do you not wish to be free from Mandala's eternal machinations? Long have I searched for a way to truly be free. At last, I have found but one possibility. End me. Consume my Knowledge. And with it, wrest this world from the Mandala's endless eons. This is the reason for my transcendence.[True Humanity Ending]" Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  31. ↑ "Lucifer: As the Lord of Chaos, I defeated the Creator, consumed his Knowledge, and became more than He could possibly imagine. It was then I came to understand this world. Allow me to share what I'd learned. Following the world's recreation, a new Da'at will eventually appear, and soon after the gods will rise up to claim the throne. At which time, the Nahobino of that world will destroy you, and the throne will once again receive a new ruler. This endless cycle is the result of a spatial governing phenomenon known as the "Mandala System." Do you not wish to be free of such restrictions? Do you not wish to be free from Mandala's eternal machinations? Long have I searched for a way to truly be free. At last, I have found but one possibility. End me. Consume my Knowledge. And with it, wrest this world from the Mandala's endless eons. This is the reason for my transcendence.[Preservation Ending]" Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  32. ↑ "Goko: And thus ended the world of man. With the new ruler came a new world order. It was an order akin to the world of old, and yet it was altogether different. Desires of a world free from demons, of a never-ending cycle of creation at last being broken had led to this moment. But all things must eventually come to an end. Could the world truly exist apart from Mandala? Only the Great Will knows what lies in store. Only the cosmos know what tomorrow will bring." Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  33. ↑ "Zeus: I looked for the human with my Knowledge and you know what I found!? The demons already killed them! Now I’m stuck wasting my time until ANOTHER human with my Knowledge comes down the proverbial pipe. But a few centuries is nothing to me. I can afford to wait until my next human partner is born." Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 "Researcher: It's thought to be impossible for completely unrelated demons to share specific mythological characteristics. Yet you are able to contract such characteristics from others perfectly well... It's a feat truly beyond human understanding. You really are greatly different from other... demons. And speaking of unbelievable discoveries... I've heard that Proto-fiends, like Aogami, were mass-produced purely for combat, but... This data seems to suggest otherwise. / Koshimizu: What do you mean? / Researcher: The design's far too complex. It seems like the premise of the Proto-fiend wasn't to fight, but rather to merge with humans..." Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  35. ↑ "Baal: With that charlatan who deigns to be a Creator gone, I must make my return as a Nahobino. It is time to reclaim my throne. Now, Nahobino. You possess the right, no, the divinity, to rule. The divinity of the bull god to inherit Baal. Not only that, but you will be reborn as a Nahobino. Very favorable indeed. That is the charge I give you, [MC], and your soul of a Nahobino. Even more fortunately, your soul can be reshaped to serve as my own. That is how well-suited you are. Now is the time. I shall permit you to become my soul. It matters not that you aren’t my other half." Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  36. ↑ "Demeter: Zeus, too, traces his origin back to the bull god. By using your soul, he can achieve his form as a Nahobino. Originally, my plan was to kill you, that I might see Zeus claim the throne, after which he would create the rich and fertile would I dreamed of." Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  37. ↑ "Koshimizu: What world will you wish for, once you reach the Empyrean? The vision required for a new world is born from Knowledge... namely, you. So I am curious to hear your thoughts. With Yuzuru Atsuta gone, I can no longer re-create the world as Tsukuyomi..." Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance. Developed by ATLUS.
  38. ↑ "Koshimizu: Now that the one with my Knowledge is gone, I can no longer claim the throne. Protagonist, as of this moment, I swear to follow you in Aogami's place." Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance. Developed by ATLUS.
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