Great Will

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The Great Will is a recurring entity in the Megami Tensei franchise. This entity is frequently referred to by other names across the franchise. In the Game Gear version of Last Bible, it is called the Universal Consciousness. In Shin Megami Tensei IV and Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse, it is called the Great Reason, referred to as the Axiom in the localization of Apocalypse.

Profile

The Great Will is commonly described as the overseer of the universe or the infinite cycle of world recreation.[1][2][3] One prominent function of the Great Will is to respond to the collective thoughts of Humanity, by manifesting Demons as avatars, referred to as Bunrei[a] in the Japanese text.[4][5]

Major Law-aligned figures, such as YHVH, often associate themselves with the Great Will.[4][6][7]

Game Appearances

Shin Megami Tensei II

After YHVH is defeated, he rebuffs Aleph for killing him, saying that Humanity is not strong enough to live without his guidance. He follows this by stating that as long as humanity desires his guidance, the Great Will of the Universe will always bring him back into existence.[4]

Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne

In the Neutral ending, Kagutsuchi questions the Demi-fiend for choosing a Reason of freedom, stating that the Great Will once allowed the world to be free in hopes that it would lead the world towards a new evolution. However, this freedom unwittingly fostered an evil that ultimately led to the world's destruction. Because of this, Kagutsuchi declares Demi-fiend unworthy of his powers to recreate the world, and compares him to Lucifer, referring to him as a slave to freedom.[8]

The Great Will is mentioned in the game over screen.[9]

Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne Maniax

In Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne Maniax, the Great Will is confirmed to be the architect of the Conception system. Across the Amala Universe, there are innumerable worlds with their own instance of Kagutsuchi exist, which will all be destroyed and recreated indefinitely as new Reason holders rise up.[1] Similarly, the ethereal forces of light and dark have been engaged in an eternal battle for dominance, forcing all being in existence into becoming helpless cogs caught in the middle of a forever war.[10] One notable example being Jyoji Hijiri, who had the privilege of determining his future lives through his karma taken from him and was unknowingly forced to witness the ravages of their spiritual war for all of eternity due to committing a mortal sin.[11] In order to stop the cycles imposed by the Great Will, Lucifer created the Demi-fiend, so he could serve as his champion.[10][12] For this reason, he had the Demi-fiend battle the Fiends for their candelabra, to test and cultivate his ability, ultimately leading to the Demi-fiend rejecting his Humanity for the sake of demonkind.[13] Metatron, a servant of the Great Will, attempts to stop the Demi-fiend, but fails.[14] This leads to the Destruction ending where all of the Reason holders are defeated and the Demi-fiend meets Kagutsuchi with the intention to destroy the world. As he's defeated, Kagutsuchi exclaims that the Demi-fiend will be cursed for all of eternity for eliminating any chance of the world's rebirth and subsequent evolution.[15][16] With the death of Kagutsuchi, the destruction of the world was assured. This cessation of the cycle tore the fabric of reality and the flow of time slowed to a half as the Blond Child and the Old Man in a Wheelchair fused to become Lucifer, who reveals that he himself was created by the Great Will. After testing the Demi-fiend one last time, Lucifer gathers the armies of chaos to march toward the final battle between the light and the dark.[17][18] The game fades to black as a disembodied voice acknowledges Lucifer's goals and states that doom will forever set them apart.[19]

Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey

See also: Will of the Earth

On the Law route, after Zelenin converts the crew with her holy song, Williams says that the Great Will has corrected their path and encourages the protagonist to defeat Mem Aleph in order to create their paradise.[6]

Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux

When the Three Wise Men, after having transformed into Shekinah, are defeated, they mention the Great Will in their last regrets.[7]

Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse

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Reason: Missing information on the Great Reason and Observation

Shin Megami Tensei V

Upon the Nahobino defeating the Demi-fiend and returning to the World of Shadows, Sophia will mention that it is now the will of Great Will[b] for him to recreate the universe.[2]

Similarly, Tao Isonokami states multiple times that creation is "the will of the universe"[c]. If the Nahobino chooses the Humanity ending, Tao says that if he refuses to create a new world he will reject the will of the universe itself. The term also appears in the epilogue of the True Humanity ending when Amitabha says "Could the world truly exist apart from Mandala? Only the cosmos know what tomorrow will bring.", localized as "cosmos".[20]

Last Bible

Main article: Universal Consciousness

The Universal Consciousness, referred to as the Universal Will in Tom's fan translation, appears in the Game Gear version of Last Bible as the game's final boss.

Trivia

  • Shin Megami Tensei V features cut dialog in the True Humanity ending where Amitabha says "Only the Great Will knows what lies in store." instead of "Only the cosmos know what tomorrow will bring." This is present in both the English and Japanese scripts.[28][20]
  • In the Japanese version of Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne Maniax, after the Demi-fiend speaks to Metatron in the Second Kalpa, a Flauros tells him that they heard a sound like the voice of the Great Will. In the English version, this is localized as "the voice of the universe".[30][31]
  • Mem Aleph's voice actress Sayaka Ohara described her character as having "the unfathomable presence of the Great Will" when explaining how she performed her role.[34]
  • The Japanese term for the Axiom[e] uses the same kanji as the word for Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne's Reasons[f].

Nomenclature

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Reason: Explain the differences between 意志, 意思, and 意識.
Names in Other Languages
Language Name Meaning
English Great WillShin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne Maniax
Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey
Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux
Shin Megami Tensei V
AxiomShin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse
Will of the UniverseShin Megami Tensei V
Japanese 宇宙の大いなる意志Shin Megami Tensei II
Uchū no ōinaru ishi		 Great Will of the Universe
大いなる意思Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne
Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey
Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux
Ōinaru ishi		 Great Will
大いなる理Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse
Ōinaru ri		 Great Reason
大いなる意志Shin Megami Tensei V
Ōinaru ishi		 Great Will
大宇宙の意志Shin Megami Tensei V
Dai uchū no ishi		 Great Universal Will
うちゅういしきLast Bible
Uchū ishiki		 Corresponds to 宇宙意識, meaning Universal Consciousness

Notes

  1. ↑ Japanese: 分霊, Hepburn Bunrei
  2. ↑ Japanese: 大いなる意志, Hepburn Ōinaru ishi
  3. ↑ Japanese: 大宇宙の意志, Hepburn Dai uchū no ishi
  4. ↑ Japanese: 絶対的な存在Absolute Existence, Hepburn Zettai-tekina sonzai
  5. ↑ Japanese: 大いなる理Great Reason, Hepburn Ōinaru ri
  6. ↑ Japanese: 理Reason, Hepburn ri

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Lady in Black: Kagutsuchi... It is the light whose sole purpose is to empower the one who will oversee creation. Creation is the act of bringing a new world into existence, made possible by the annihilation of the old world. Kagutsuchi will allow a life form of its choosing to determine the course of the new world. There must be those in Tokyo who yearn to be chosen by Kagutsuchi, in order to realize their vision. The shape of the world to come depends on who is chosen...and what their Reason is. In the vast Amala Universe, this Vortex World is not the only place where creation occurs. Kagutsuchi rises, matures, and falls in countless other places. There are millions--no, billions of worlds that you are unaware of, and they all experience the cycle of death and rebirth. That is the way of Amala, as determined by the Great Will. With my master, I have watched how myriads of worlds came into being, how life prospered in those worlds, and how they were destroyed in the end....all that time, seeking the answer to the unanswerable question, 'Why is the world reborn?'" Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne Maniax. Developed by Atlus. Published by Atlus.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Sophia: Abide by the Great Will, and create a new world." Shin Megami Tensei V (Nintendo Switch).
  3. ↑ "Yamai: 輪廻転生していくことで魂が不滅という考え方は仏教的ですし、 YHVHの立場から見ても、ちょっとグノーシス主義っぽくなりますが、 輪廻転生があったほうがいいでしょうから、「大いなる理」 がそのシステムを作ってYHVHもそれに乗っかっているのかもしれません。" Translation: "The idea of the immortality of souls through the circle of transmigration is Buddhist and, even from YHVH’s position, (this is starting to sound a bit like Gnosticism) the existence of the circle of transmigration is a good thing, so the Great Reason created that system which perhaps YHVH too took part in." Shin Megami Tensei IV Final Kōshiki Settei Shiryōshū + Shinwa Sekai e no Tabi (2016), Nobuyuki Shioda. Published by Ichijinsha. 102. Translation by Dijeh. ISBN-13: 978-4758014953.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "YHVH: 呪われし者たちよ　ついに　最大の罪を犯したな　創造主である　我を滅ぼすとは　万物の父である　我を滅ぼした今　汝らには　頼るもの　すがるものは　何も無い　汝らは　魔界の王ルシファーさえ　手にかけてしまった　汝らのみで　一体どうするのだ？　覚えておくがよい　頼るもの　すがるもの無く　生きていけるほど　人は　強くない　人が　我に救いを求めるたびに　宇宙の大いなる意志は　何度でも我を　生み出すであろう…………" Translation: "YHVH: Ye accursed humans! Ye have finally committed the ultimate sin. Now there is nothing left for ye who have destroyed me, the Creator, the father of all, nothing to trust, nothing to rely on. Ye have even killed the Demon King Lucifer. What shall ye do by yourselves? Remember well. Humans can live with nothing to trust or rely on. But humans are not strong. Every time humans shall seek my help, the great will of the Universe shalt bring me forth countless times..." Shin Megami Tensei II. Developed by Atlus. Published by Atlus. Translation by Dijeh.
  5. ↑ "Shioda: 個人的に、 ゲームの中で神を表現するときによく使われる「分霊」 という言葉が、 今作ではとても重要ではないかと思っています。 根源に「大いなる理」があって、 YHVHや他の神々が生まれていくのも分霊ということになりますか? / Yamai: そうですね。" Translation: "Shioda: I personally think that the term ‘bunrei’ [spirit divisions] often used to name gods in the story is extremely important in this game. The Great Reason is the origin. Does that make YHVH and all the other gods ‘bunrei’? / Yamai: Yes, it does." Shin Megami Tensei IV Final Kōshiki Settei Shiryōshū + Shinwa Sekai e no Tabi (2016), Nobuyuki Shioda. Published by Ichijinsha. 103. Translation by Dijeh. ISBN-13: 978-4758014953.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Williams: 今思えば、私たちは人間を守る大義を掲げこの世界に来たのですね。…何と恥じるべきことでしょう。しかし…大いなる意思に触れた今、謝った道はタダされ、そして私たちはここにいます。メムアレフを倒し、そして地上を浄化し、秩序の楽園を共に築きましょう。" Translation: "Williams: When I think back, we came to this world on the pretext of protecting mankind... We should be ashamed. But we have been touched by the Great Will now. He has corrected our path and led us thus far. Let us defeat Mem Aleph, purify the Earth, and create a paradise together." Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey. Developed by ATLUS. Translation by ATLUS.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Shekinah: O Great Will... It all ends..." Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux.
  8. ↑ "Kagutsuchi: How can you be the one standing before me...? Why have you been chosen...? You, with a heart that follows no rule... The bearer of unnamed Reason... Your heart longs for the kingdom of freedom, a world that has no set future... Will you disregard the past sins of the world, to pursue such an ideal? ...The Great Will once granted the world freedom, in hopes that it would evolve to a new level. However, it was that freedom which gave rise to evil, brought darkness, and led darkness the world to destruction... Freedom is the seed of disaster: its sole fruit is ruin. I will not allow the world to be doomed to failure! My power was meant for one who sought the world's rebirth, upholding a worthy Reason! Hero, you have become a slave of freedom, like that fallen angel! Begone, demon! My light, searing with anger, shall wipe you from existence!" Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne. Developed by Atlus. Published by Atlus.
  9. ↑ "Narrator: The comfort of death will come, for men and demons alike... by the guidance of the Great Will." Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne. Developed by Atlus. Published by Atlus.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Lady in Black: The forces of light and darkness have fought throughout the universe, even beyond the flow of time. Their battles have affected every living being in existence. Demons and humans are no exception: they have simply been cogwheels in the infernal machine called war...And the war still rages on, even as we speak. However, one individual vowed to put an end to this eternal war. He decided to create a demon of chaos, one that would inherit his will... ...and enter the final battle against the forces of light." Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne Maniax. Developed by Atlus. Published by Atlus.
  11. ↑ "Lady in Black: It was all because of the mortal sin which he committed... He was a being toyed with by fate, condemned to carry the burden of atonement forever. His punishment was to see with his own eyes all that happens in the world, to record the balance of events through all the ages. A task as endless as scooping water out of the sea with a cup... He was condemned to wander the infinite span of time. Man can change the course of his next life, by his karma... But, that privilege was taken away from Hijiri. Though his body may perish, his soul will remain unsaved: he must continue on with his task. He lives a cursed eternal life, just like a demon. 'Watch, and record the history of the world... Witness the entirety of the endless war between order and chaos... That is your punishment for your unforgivable sin...' Do you understand now? By the will of Amala, he was given a life of torment...and emerged in the Vortex World, without realizing that he had died." Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne Maniax. Developed by Atlus. Published by Atlus.
  12. ↑ "White Rider: ...Well met, you who was once human. The moment you stepped into this Labyrinth, the wheel of fate began to spin... / Red Rider: Time is a loop that repeats itself. But, we serve the fallen angel in order to rise above that fate. You wish for the same thing, do you not?" Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne Maniax. Developed by Atlus. Published by Atlus.
  13. ↑ "Lady in Black: The Fiends were prepared for the creation of that demon. He believed that by challenging and overcoming death, the demon would become the fruit of destruction, the black hope that we awaited for so long...That is what he and my master planned. The Fiends and the Labyrinth of Amala were ordeals meant to test you. One Fiend challenged you, unaware of the truth, while another Fiend fell to you, dreaming of a future of chaos. Yes, this was all in preparation for the final battle... You have vanquished all the Fiends, and now you stand here, just as he hoped... A demon with the strength to become the champion of chaos... Hero... Will you lend your strength to us, for the sake of all who live in darkness? I cannot force you to help us...If you choose to walk the path of a human, then there is no need for you to return here. But, if you have doubts about the laws of the universe... about fate, or the providence of the Absolute One...then you should come to us, at the very bottom of the Labyrinth. There you shall be born again as a full demon, body and soul..." Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne Maniax. Developed by Atlus. Published by Atlus.
  14. ↑ "Metatron: ...Fiend, accomplice to the fallen angel... Do you know what cause you serve? Do you realize which path your actions are leading you down...? I have watched your every more from above. You have been seduced by darkness and now you are about to defy god's will. Hero, the one with a demon's body and a human heart, heed my warning! End your dealings with the fallen angel, before your heart is consumed by darkness!" Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne Maniax. Developed by Atlus. Published by Atlus.
  15. ↑ "Kagutsuchi: How can you be the one standing before me...? Why have you been chosen...? I came into being for the creation of a new world, and those with Reasons came here to make their visions reality. Alas, their dreams were shattered, and the possibility of a new world has been crushed forever... by the hand of a demon. Persuaded by the fallen angel, you destroyed the seeds of creation, denying the reincarnation of the world. With the cold heart of a demon, you rejected the possibility of evolution. By casting aside your humanity, you became the living incarnation of bane itself. Begone, accursed one! I shall never forgive you for causing the death of the world! My light, searing with anger, shall wipe you from existence!" Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne Maniax. Developed by Atlus. Published by Atlus.
  16. ↑ "Kagutsuchi: How foolish... What good can come of this, when you are tainted black...? ...Be forewarned, demon who was once human. Though I may perish, your soul will never again be at ease...The final hour is imminent. Darkness shall face justice in the last battle... You will not escape from the fire of judgment... Let fear grip your heart! Because of your transgressions, you will be cursed for all eternity!" Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne Maniax. Developed by Atlus. Published by Atlus.
  17. ↑ "Blond Child: Kagutsuchi lost its light... ...by the hand of a demon. The world will never be born again. Creation is no longer possible. Be born, grow, die, ...and be born again. That was the way of the world. One demon has changed that. / Old Man in a Wheelchair: A world is created, populated by mankind, and destroyed... This cycle is what maintains the flow of time: when the cycle stops, so does time. And now, time has met her death. In place of the the creation of the new world, a new power of darkness emerged... reigning over chaos, heaping death upon death. You must no longer have any notion...of where your strength will lead you. The Great Will shall curse you for going against his way, and place a heavy burden of atonement on your shoulders, which you shall bear for all eternity. Fear not, for only by receiving that curse can you truly walk the path of conquest. But first, I must know the extent of the power of darkness you hold within. Behold the supreme power of darkness, created by none other than the Great Will himself..." Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne Maniax. Developed by Atlus. Published by Atlus.
  18. ↑ "Old Man in a Wheelchair: All of you who have lurked in darkness and waited faithfully for this day, hear me... A new demon of darkness has been born...The time has come. Together, let us march onward! To the final battle... where our true enemy awaits!" Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne Maniax. Developed by Atlus. Published by Atlus.
  19. ↑ "Voice: ...You have created a new demon in your heart's likeness, fallen angel? Then, doom shall set us apart... now and forevermore..." Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne Maniax. Developed by Atlus. Published by Atlus.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 "Amitabha: マンダラを超えた世界が 恒常に存在できるものか否か 未来は 大宇宙の意志だけが知っている" Translation: "Amitabha: Could the world truly exist apart from Mandala? Only the cosmos know what tomorrow will bring." Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  21. ↑ "" Translation: "YHVH: I have one last word for ye. I am but one part of an incorporeal entity which controls countless universes. There are much stronger aggregations of consciousness than this universe. Hear? This is not the end. Pitifully, ye have chosen an even more painful path..." Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei II. Translation by Dijeh.
  22. ↑ Page description: A flowchart depicting the Will of the Earth with two arrows pointing from it, one towards the Three Wise Men, and another pointing towards Mem Aleph. Mem Aleph also has an arrow pointing from her to the Schwarzwelt. Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey: Schwarzwelt Reminiscences (2010), Daisuke Narisawa (et al.). Published by Enterbrain. 111. ISBN-13: 978-4047265578.
  23. ↑ "Lucifer: 私たちや神 そしてホワイトメンは 人間がいる限り消えることはない" Translation: "Lucifer: As long as humans exist, beings such as myself, God, and the White will never truly disappear." Shin Megami Tensei IV. Developed by ATLUS.
  24. ↑ "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." Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  25. ↑ "Satan: Nahobino, you have freed another world from the clutches of the Mandala System. Yet amidst the countless other worlds, your deeds are trifling. They have not had the slightest effect on the whole of the system. However, your actions have revealed new possibilities. Possibilities that cannot be ignored. Therefore, I shall judge on behalf of the system." Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance. Developed by ATLUS.
  26. ↑ "Baek Yong: I shall wait for you where sons of man pray to the Great Will..." Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. King Abaddon. Developed by ATLUS. Translation by ATLUS.
  27. ↑ "Baek Yong: 異国の神へ祈る場所にて、キサマを待っているぞ･･･" Translation: "Baek Yong: I shall wait for you where sons of man pray to foreign gods..." Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. King Abaddon. Developed by ATLUS. Translation by Eirikr.
  28. ↑ "Amitabha: 未来は大いなる意志だけが知っている" Translation: "Amitabha: Only the Great Will knows what lies in store." Shin Megami Tensei V. Developed by ATLUS.
  29. ↑ "全ては “車椅子の老紳士” の罠だった。 老紳士の正体は、カオスの首魁 “魔王ルシファー”。主人公との出会いは偶然ではなく、ルシファーによって仕組まれたことだった。ルシファ一の目的は、魔人たちにメノラーを集めさせることなどではなく、 そのために魔人同士が殺し合う “魔人バトルロイヤル”を演じさせることだったのだ。“メノラー集め”や“魔人バトルロイヤル”などの幾重にも編まれたシナリオに隠された彼の真意、 それは仇敵である“唯一神YHVH" を討つべく、 “魔人の精鋭”を集めて自らの戦力にすることであった。" Gekkan Ayakashi Tokubetsu Saishū-gō (2020), Nobuyuki Shioda. 95.
  30. ↑ "Flauros: I just heard a voice coming from your direction. It was the voice of the universe... You weren't harmed, were you?" Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne Maniax. Developed by ATLUS. Translation by ATLUS.
  31. ↑ "さっき、オマエの来たほうから･･･ ･･･凄い声が聞こえたぜ。まるで、大いなる意思そのもののような··· オマエ、近くにいて大丈夫だったか?" Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne Maniax. Developed by ATLUS.
  32. ↑ "Lady in Black: If you choose to walk the path of a human, then there is no need for you to return here. But, if you have doubts about the laws of the universe... about fate, or the providence of the Absolute One...then you should come to us, at the very bottom of the Labyrinth." Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne Maniax. Developed by ATLUS.
  33. ↑ "Lady in Black: There are many you have spoken to: the Fiends... us... You have heard the voice of the Absolute One, too." Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne Maniax. Developed by ATLUS.
  34. ↑ "ラスボスという立ち位置ながら、絶対悪というより、ヒトという生物と対極にある「大いなる意志」という底知れぬ存在感を持つキャラクターという点をいちばん意識しつつ、その奥行きをどれだけセリフにのせられるかの緊張感が常にありました。全体を通して「中性的であり尚且つとてつもなく大きい存在」を意識しつづけていた中で、攻撃されるリアクションボイスに想像以上に苦労しました。生々しさを出さずにダメージを負う、というお芝居は他ではなかなか求められないことだったので…燃えました（笑）" [1]. Published November 24, 2017. Retrieved October 6, 2024. Atlus.
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