Great One
| Great One | |
| 大いなる存在 | |
Screenshot from Soul Hackers 2 | |
| Other Name(s) | The Master of All |
| Affiliation(s) | Phantom Society |
The Great One is a recurring entity in the Soul Hackers series.
Profile
The Great One is an ancient being said to have created and given civilization to Humanity. Shortly after, it also created the Phantom Society, a secret organization that controls the development of human society. Their ultimate goal is the nurturing of high quality souls for the Great One's consumption in preparation for it's return to the Earth every 15,000 years.[1][2][3] Due to the Phantom Society's involvement in human society, many religions around the world feature varying accounts of humankind's experiences with the Great One.[4] However, some believe that when the Great One reappears on Earth, the world will end.[5]
Game Appearances
Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers
This section contains spoilers. (Skip Section)
The Great One is referenced in a single line of dialog when Azazel is defeated. As he dies, Azazel exclaims that the Phantom Society hasn't truly been stopped, because they serve "the Master of all" and that his death simply marks the beginning of a never-ending battle.[6]
- End of spoilers.
Soul Hackers 2
Thousands of years ago, the Great One made contact with early Humanity and forged a contract with them to help guide society. When this contract was made, a rainbow formed in the sky symbolizing the creation of the five Covenants, a physical manifestation of humankind's contract with the Great One.[7] These Covenants were an enormous source of energy that could bind themselves to a human soul in exchange for granting them an extraordinary ability and the right to direct the course of human history.[8] Collecting all five Covenants would allow user to summon the Great One in order to form a new contract and with it, New Covenants. These New Covenants would give the user the ability to reshape the metaphysical laws of the world, effectively destroying the world to recreate it.[9][10][11] Due to this, the Phantom Society worships the Great One as a deity and has been guiding human society behind the scenes for millennia in the hopes of creating a new world.[5]
Ringo's goal is to stop the vision she saw of the Phantom Society's leader, Iron Mask, killing Arrow and Ichiro Onda, which ultimately allows him to summon the Great One.[12]
Trivia
- Despite being based on the Abrahamic God, the Great One is unrelated to the character YHVH from the Shin Megami Tensei series.[3]
- It is unknown why the Great One's plan required it to give civilization to humankind even though it's only goal was to steal their souls.[13]
- Only high-level Summoners of the Phantom Society are aware of the organization's true goal of offering souls to the Great One.[14]
- According to Shogo Isogai, the Grigori (Azazel, Shemyaza, and Satanael) were chosen for the story of Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers because he believed fallen angels would be a good fit for characters who serve the Great One.[15]
Nomenclature
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
 English
|
The Master of All Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers | |
| Great OneSoul Hackers 2 | ||
 Japanese
|
大いなる存在Soul Hackers 2 Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers no Subete Ōinaru sonzai |
The Great Being |
| 主Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers no Subete Aruji |
Lord | |
Gallery
-
Screenshot of Ringo's vision of the Great One -
Screenshot of the Great One close-up
References
- ↑ "ファント厶ソサエティは、人類が文明を持った時代に作られた組織である。組織を作ったのは、“主”または“大いなる存在”と呼ばれるもので、実は人類に文明を与えたのもその“大いなる存在”であったといわれている。それ以来、彼らは悪魔の力を利用して、人類の歴史に影響を与え、時には慈悲深い神として人々の尊敬を集め、時には残虐な悪魔として人々に恐怖を与え、人類の進化をコントロールしてきたのである。" "Contact", Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers no Subete (1998), Daisuke Narisawa (et. al). (1 ed.) 26. ISBN-13: 978-4757200111.
- ↑ "ファントムソサエティは、良質のソウルを回収するための家畜である人類を、よりよく育成するために"大いなる存在"が作った組織であるが、その規模やネットワークなどの実体は明らかにされていない。" "Contact", Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers no Subete (1998), Daisuke Narisawa (et. al). (1 ed.) 37. ISBN-13: 978-4757200111.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Question: 大いなる存在って何者なの？ / Answer: 難し質問ですねえ……設定としては人類を作ったのもこの"大いなる存在"ですから、 イメージ的には唯一神みたいなものなんですが。まあ『真•女神』シリ一ズの唯一神とは関わりないけど、それに近い存在だと考えてもらえばわかりやすい…かな？でも宇宙全体を統べるというほどの存在ではないんですけどね。一応、15000年周期で地球にきてる存在なんで、それくらいの公転軌道の規模だと考えてくれれば…… (笑)。(礒貝)" "3", Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers no Subete (2012), Daisuke Narisawa (et. al). (3 ed.) 326. ISBN-13: 978-4047283954.
- ↑ "ファントムソサエティは“大いなる存在”が望む、良賀のソウルを大量に作るために人類を進化させようとしてきた。そのため彼らは、歴史の節目には必ず関わっていたといわれている。しかし、それらの記録は歴史には何も残されていない。が、彼らが悪魔を利用する組織であることを考えると、もし^かすると神や悪魔に関する伝承は、ファントムソサエティの人知を超えた能力を自撃した人々によって作られたものかもしれない。" "Contact", Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers no Subete (1998), Daisuke Narisawa (et. al). (1 ed.) 28. ISBN-13: 978-4757200111.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Tips: Great One - A being worshiped by the Phantom Society, said to return to Earth in fixed cycles. Some say the world will end when it reappears. Many faiths and mythologies from around the world feature varying accounts of the Great One's encounters with humanity, and each one suggests different interpretations of the being's true nature or identity." Soul Hackers 2. Developed by ATLUS.
- ↑ "Azazel: ...Ah... Ahahaha... Do you really think you’ve won!? Do you think our plans have truly been halted? ...You merely thrash against the bars of your cage... The Phantom Society is everlasting. We are with the Master of all... This is not the end... Know that my death is only the beginning of a never-ending battle. Hahaha... Ahahahaaa!" Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers (3DS). Developed by ATLUS.
- ↑ "Raven: In ancient times, the ‘Great One’ manifested, forged a contract with humanity, and cast a rainbow across the sky. That’s the Covenants’ origin, according to myth." Soul Hackers 2. Developed by ATLUS.
- ↑ "Raven: The contract is essentially a pledge to guide humanity. And those who carry a Covenant have that right, to direct the course of our evolution." Soul Hackers 2. Developed by ATLUS.
- ↑ "Milady: When the Great One appears again, it will bring forth a new contract. New Covenants. They can reshape the basic laws and principles of this world. That’s what the Phantom Society wants." Soul Hackers 2. Developed by ATLUS.
- ↑ "Tips: Covenant - Said to be the manifestation of the contract forged between mankind and divinity when the Great One descended to Earth. Passed down through generations, they grant their bearers a power capable of uplifting the human race. It's said that the Great One will appear to those who collect all five Covenants." Soul Hackers 2. Developed by ATLUS.
- ↑ "Arrow: All right, this is my understanding of it. Covenants are like a big source of energy, and they’ve been passed down from soul to soul for generations. Supposedly, these Covenant-holders wield great power. / Figue: “What kind of power?” / Arrow:“ Well, simply put, possessing a Covenant awakens the holder’s latent abilities. In some cases, it can even spark, well… evolution. They say there’s a total of five Covenants out there. Having one is powerful as it is, but the effects would only go as far as the individual could take them. Now, if someone were to possess all five, then that’d be something else entirely. Gather up all five Covenants, and you could…” / Ringo: You could what? / Arrow: You could call forth what’s known as the ‘Great One,’ a being prophesied to bring ultimate destruction to the world as we know it… That’s what they say, at least. Summoning this ‘Great One’ is Phantom’s top priority. Am I right, Milady?" Soul Hackers 2. Developed by ATLUS.
- ↑ "Flamma: The world of humanity is coming to an end. / Ringo: I take it that's the point of the vision you showed me. / Flamma: Very soon, the deaths of those two humans will set apocalyptic events into motion. / Figue: So that's our mission, then. Directly intervene in the human world, and prevent their deaths. Thus averting the apocalypse?" Soul Hackers 2. Developed by ATLUS.
- ↑ "“大いなる存在”は人類に文明を与えたとされているが、その目的はソウルの収集であり、なぜ人類に文明が必要だったのかなど、多くの疑問が残されている。" "Contact", Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers no Subete (1998), Daisuke Narisawa (et. al). (1 ed.) 37. ISBN-13: 978-4757200111.
- ↑ "幹部のサマナーたちは組織の幹部が悪魔であるということ、そして人類のソウルを“大いなる存在”に捧げるために活動しているということを知っているが、下級構成員のサマナーたちはその事実を知らない。結局のところ、サマナーとは命令に基づいて、働く特殊な職業の人間に過ぎないのである。" "Contact", Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers no Subete (1998), Daisuke Narisawa (et. al). (1 ed.) 36. ISBN-13: 978-4757200111.
- ↑ "Question: グリゴリの堕天使を敵としたのはなぜ? / Answer: 役どころとして"大いなる存在”の下で働いてるものにふさわしいのは？ って考えて持ってきたんですけど。彼らは結構怪しい堕天使ですからね。グリゴリっていうのは解釈がいろいろあって、人間の味方の天使っていう説もあるんですが、今回は悪役になってもらいました。設定的にはきれいにはまってますよね。(礒貝)" "3", Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers no Subete (2012), Daisuke Narisawa (et. al). (3 ed.) 326. ISBN-13: 978-4047283954.