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| {{Spoilers|media1=SMT2}}
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| The '''{{PAGENAME}}''' is a plan devised to bring forth the appearance of a [[Messiah (Concept)|Messiah]] in {{link|game|smt2}}.
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| ==Profile==
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| According to [[Messian]] teaching, the [[Millennium Kingdom]], a reality where humanity will experience everlasting peace on Earth, will be completed once [[YHVH|God]] sends a Messiah to the people to guide them to its creation.<ref>{{Cite Game|quote=アレフよ
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| あなたは 救世主となるのです
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| メシアとなる 定めを背負って
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| 生を受けたのです
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| あなたのすばらしい力は
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| 人々を救うために あるのです
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| 我々は かつてトウキョウと呼ばれた
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| この地に ”ミレニアム”をつくりました
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| 荒れ果てた世界で 人々を救うため
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| 人々が 永遠に平和な日々をおくれる
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| 千年王国を 現実のものとするために
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| そして 我々のミレニアムが
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| 真の千年王国となるためには
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| 我々を導く メシアが必要となりました
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| そこへ 生まれてきたのがあなたです
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| あなたこそ 神が救世主として
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| 我々に つかわされた御方なのです
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| 神はまた メシアたるあなたにふさわしい|title=Shin Megami Tensei II|developer=|publisher=Atlus|platform=SFC|version=|lang=|transl=}}</ref> Supposedly, this promised Messiah was meant to appear after [[Tokyo Millennium]] was constructed,<ref>{{Cite Game|quote=なった
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| 神の言葉によれば 千年王国が
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| できてのち 人々を導く救世主が
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| 現れるはずが……
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| |title=Shin Megami Tensei II|developer=|publisher=Atlus|platform=SFC|version=|lang=|transl=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite Game|quote=|translquote='''Elder A:''' The Center was completed. Already half a year has passed since its completion... Yet, why God doesn't send us the Messiah?<br/>'''Elder B:''' Don't be so emotional. Let us think about the cause again. God judges when the Center is completed. This is difficult.|title=SMT2|developer=Atlus|publisher=Atlus|version=GBA|lang=|transl=MEGATEN_ALBERT}}</ref> but despite this, even after Tokyo Millennium was completed, the Messiah never appeared. The [[Center Elders]] became perplexed by this, and unwilling to wait any longer for God to send a Messiah Himself, convinced themselves that it would be acceptable to create their own Messiah,<ref>{{Cite Game|quote=なった
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| 神の言葉によれば 千年王国が
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| できてのち 人々を導く救世主が
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| 現れるはずが……
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| |title=Shin Megami Tensei II|developer=|publisher=Atlus|platform=SFC|version=|lang=|transl=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite Game|quote=|translquote='''Elder B:''' Even it is said to be optimistic... We cannot wait many years for the Messiah to appear. ... So, we need to consult... If God doesn't send him to us, then we need to create one, just like we created the Center. Is there a possibility?<br/>'''Elder A:''' What is it about?<br/>'''Elder C:''' ...... No way...<br/>'''Elder B:''' Let's think about this. We are the servants of God. We already act as God's hands. It is necessary to prepare the Messiah. Is there a possibility?<br/>'''Elder A:''' !!<br/>'''Elder C:''' To create the Messiah?<br/>'''Elder B:''' No, I wouldn't say it like that. We prepared the Center. In the same way we need to prepare the Messiah. It is neccesary to recieve God's guidance...|title=SMT2|developer=Atlus|publisher=Atlus|version=GBA|lang=|transl=MEGATEN_ALBERT}}</ref> with their efforts to bring about this culminating in the creation of the Messiah Project.<ref>{{Cite Game|quote=|translquote='''Elder B:''' There is no need to say it deliberately. Eventually you will notice, this Messiah Project.<br/>'''Elder A:''' Messiah Project...<br/>'''Elder C:''' Messiah Project...<br/>'''Elder B:''' Yes. Is it a bad name?|title=SMT2|developer=Atlus|publisher=Atlus|version=GBA|lang=|transl=MEGATEN_ALBERT}}</ref>
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| ==Participants==
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| * [[Center Elders]] <small>''(Administrators)''</small>
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| * [[Center Bishop]] <small>''(Supervisor)''</small>
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| * [[Mekata]] <small>''(Head Scientist)''</small>
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| * [[Hanada]] <small>''(Scientist)''</small>
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| * [[Hiroko]] <small>''(Messiah's surrogate)''</small>
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| * [[Aleph]] <small>''(Messiah)''</small>
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| * [[Beth]] <small>''(Messiah's partner)''</small>
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| * [[Daleth]] <small>''(False-Messiah)''</small>
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| * [[Gimel]] <small>''(Virtual Messiah)''</small>
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| * [[Zayin]] <small>''(Messiah's guardian)''</small>
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|
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| ==Game Appearances==
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| ==={{link|game|smt2}}===
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| Though the plan to create their own Messiah had not been fully conceived back then, in {{link|game|smt1}}, the [[Law Hero]]'s existence as a Messiah revived through artificial means served as the origin of the idea that would eventually become the Messiah Project, with him being deemed as Prototype 0 of the project.<ref>{{Cite Book|translquote='''Okada:''' We wanted to write a story with the theme of Law, so we forshadowed the Messiah Project in the previous game. It was impossible to continue from 1’s Law ending though. The biggest key point that wasn’t shown in the game was Law Hero’s appearance in the Law ending. His existence was the origin of the Messiah Project. This game’s protagonist, one of the first five people, wasn’t named Aleph during his development stages, but was called, together with the others, Prototype 1~5, since we knew about the Messiah Project from the beginning.|des=|chapter=|book={{link|book|SMT2ADJ}}|publyear=1994|author=[[Kazunari Suzuki]]|publisher=Takarajima Corporation|lang=|volume=|edition=|page=|transl=|isbn=4-7966-0841-9}}</ref><ref>{{Cite Book|translquote='''Okada:''' I’m going by extreme logic here, but the previous Law Hero was Prototype 0. He wasn’t a failure, but…|des=|chapter=|book={{link|book|SMT2ADJ}}|publyear=1994|author=[[Kazunari Suzuki]]|publisher=Takarajima Corporation|lang=|volume=|edition=|page=|transl=|isbn=4-7966-0841-9}}</ref>
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| After determining each of the steps they would have to follow to create the Messiah, which would mimic the circumstances of a previous Messiah,<ref>{{Cite Game|quote=|translquote=Elder B: The Messiah before the Great Destruction was born from a human. We just have to follow the steps properly. Have Messiah born from the human body, educate him as the Messiah, and have him lead the people. Is there a problem?|title=SMT2|developer=Atlus|publisher=Atlus|version=GBA|lang=|transl=MEGATEN_ALBERT}}</ref> the [[Center]] gathered a wide array of scientists,<ref>{{Cite Game|quote=|translquote=The Center started the mobilization of scientists. It seems they started to gather scientists of a wide variety after several years. They may be trying to start something incredible.|title=SMT2|developer=Atlus|publisher=Atlus|version=GBA|lang=|transl=MEGATEN_ALBERT}}</ref> among them being the scientists Mekata and Hanada. Through the use of biotechnology such as accelerated breeding,<ref>{{Cite Game|quote=|translquote=Saying that my research is useful for forcibly accelerated breeding technology... In fact, the breeding resembles the demons' biological flow...|title=SMT2|developer=Atlus|publisher=Atlus|version=GBA|lang=|transl=MEGATEN_ALBERT}}</ref> they created five beings from eggs.<ref>{{Cite Game|quote=|translquote=One body is inhabited by in vitro fertilization. There is no problem with this. It's not a big deal. We also used the remaining 4 eggs and sperm. It is culture technology.|title=SMT2|developer=Atlus|publisher=Atlus|version=GBA|lang=|transl=MEGATEN_ALBERT}}</ref> These eggs were strengthened and placed in vats to speed up their growth to whatever age the Center deemed suitable to fulfill the next phase of their plan, though the survival rate for the eggs that underwent the accelerated growth was not guaranteed.<ref>{{Cite Game|quote=|translquote='''Mekata:''' Under the current circumstances, the success rate of 100% cannot be guaranteed...|title=SMT2|developer=Atlus|publisher=Atlus|version=GBA|lang=|transl=MEGATEN_ALBERT}}</ref> This was of no concern to the Center however,<ref>{{Cite Game|quote=|translquote='''Bishop:''' I have said it many times as a problem. In the present situation it should be able to go up to 10000 times acceleration. You do not have to accelerate to that. If it is 5000 times, during a full day and night... He would be 14 years old? Will this increase the success rate to this degree?<br/>'''Mekata:''' That's the case... If you fail...<br/>'''Bishop:''' When that happens... We will perform the next experiment.<br/>'''Mekata:''' Even if life is lost during the experiment, is that alright?<br/>'''Bishop:''' If the experimental body can not withstand acceleration, even if you are called to Heaven without your eyes open, it is a duty. That soul surely will be saved in peace under God. You are a scientist. There is no need for you to think about the whereabouts of the soul.|title=SMT2|developer=Atlus|publisher=Atlus|version=GBA|lang=|transl=MEGATEN_ALBERT}}</ref> and they continued on unimpeded regardless of the implied sacrifices.<ref>{{Cite Game|quote=|translquote=It is because we did not want to lose a life wastefully... But... there are plenty more. This should never happen again.|title=SMT2|developer=Atlus|publisher=Atlus|version=GBA|lang=|transl=MEGATEN_ALBERT}}</ref>
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| At the core of the project was the Messiah, who was to be named Aleph. His creation would differ from the other artificial humans in that he would be created through the use of in vitro fertilization, being a strengthened, fertilized egg that would be inserted into the body of a strong woman who would serve as the egg's surrogate. This woman would be chosen from a worthy family from the Center<ref>{{Cite Game|quote=|translquote=It was said that both my father and mother are honorable...|title=SMT2|developer=Atlus|publisher=Atlus|version=GBA|lang=|transl=MEGATEN_ALBERT}}</ref> under the guise that she was participating in an experiment aiming to improve the declining birth rates after the [[Great Cataclysm]].<ref>{{Cite Game|quote=|translquote=I was called on that day to the Center, and they told me: "You were chosen to maintain and improve the degraded viability and reproductive ability after the Great Destruction"...|title=SMT2|developer=Atlus|publisher=Atlus|version=GBA|lang=|transl=MEGATEN_ALBERT}}</ref> After the woman brought the child to term and gave birth to him, he would then be placed in a vat to age him up to adulthood within days.<ref>{{Cite Game|quote=だが 君だけは違う
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| まず人間の受精卵を バイオ研究所で
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| 強化し 若く優れた女性の体内に
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| うつした
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| そうやって 君は生まれてきたのだ
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| 君は すぐに体をかりた女性から
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| 引き離され まる1日で10何年分に
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| 育てられたのだ……|title=Shin Megami Tensei II|developer=|publisher=Atlus|platform=SFC|version=|lang=|transl=}}</ref>
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| It was decided that the Messiah would have a partner similar to how the [[Hero (Shin Megami Tensei)|Hero]] had been accompanied by a faithful [[Heroine (Shin Megami Tensei)|partner of his own]],<ref>{{Cite Book|quote=救世主計画の一環として造られた、プロトタイプ2号。 名自体がヘブル語で “2”または“家” の意味。 救世主のパートナーとなるべき女性として、センターに育てられた。 テンプルナイトとなるが、 アレフが救世主に認定されると、行動を伴にする。 ダレスの攻撃からアレフを庇った際は 「一緒にいて幸せだった」と言い残し、 事切れた。 その献身的な言動は、 本来の性格によるもので、“命令”という範囲を超えるものだ。 新デザインでは、肌の白さが際だち、 清楚な印象がアップした。 ブルーが基調のデザインは、前作『真・女神転生』のヒロインを意識したため。 ベスの死に反応して、 ザ・ヒーローの像が涙を流すのは、ベスの魂がその転生であることを思わせる。|des=|chapter=|book={{link|book|KKW3}}|publyear=|author=|publisher=|lang=Japanese|volume=|edition=|page=exposition 23|transl=|isbn=4-7753-0609-X}}</ref> so the creation of Beth followed.<ref>{{Cite Game|quote=ベスは 君のパートナー|title=Shin Megami Tensei II|developer=|publisher=Atlus|platform=SFC|version=|lang=|transl=}}</ref> As Beth was created solely to fulfill the role of the Messiah's companion, her mentality was crafted to place the Messiah's wellbeing at the center of her existence, a purpose she was meant to put before even her own life.<ref>{{Cite Game|quote=|translquote='''Priest:''' Who is the one you must care about?<br/>'''Beth:''' The Messiah.<br/>'''Priest:''' What will you do if the Messiah will be in danger?<br/>'''Beth:''' I will protect him at the cost of my life.<br/>'''Priest:''' Still what would you do if you were in a critical situation where you could not protect him?<br/>'''Beth:''' There is no such a thing. No matter when that may happen, I will protect him.|title=SMT2|developer=Atlus|publisher=Atlus|version=GBA|lang=|transl=MEGATEN_ALBERT}}</ref> All other loyalties were to be considered second to her extreme dedication to the Messiah,<ref>{{Cite Game|quote=|translquote='''Priest:''' If... What would you do if God and Messiah fought?<br/>'''Beth:''' ... I... I will help the Messiah.|title=SMT2|developer=Atlus|publisher=Atlus|version=GBA|lang=|transl=MEGATEN_ALBERT}}</ref> though the Center was convinced that this would not pose as a problem.<ref>{{Cite Game|quote=|translquote='''Elder:''' ... Isn't it a little too much?<br/>'''Bishop:''' Is that so? Considering her mission, that's exactly what you want.<br/>'''Elder:''' Hm...|title=SMT2|developer=Atlus|publisher=Atlus|version=GBA|lang=|transl=MEGATEN_ALBERT}}</ref>
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| To conduct more tests for the Millennium Kingdom, a third person was created for the project, Gimel. By using virtual reality technology, the Center constructed a simulation that would serve as a test case for what the Millennium Kingdom would look like and called it [[Arcadia (Shin Megami Tensei II)|Arcadia]], presenting it as a new district that was free from demonic threats or conflicts between people.<ref>{{Cite Game|quote=ギメル：ひさしぶりだね アレフ ぼくだよ ギメルだよ どうだい アルカディア・エリアは？ 君が 行方不明の間に ぼくは このエリアを 理想の世界に つくり上げたんだ ミレニアムが 千年王国の実現を 目指しているのは 知ってるよね このアルカディア・エリアは 千年王国が 実現した後 どんな世界ができるかの テスト・ケースなんだ ここでは 悪魔との戦いも 人どうしの 争いもなく みんな平和にくらしてる 世界中がアルカディアのようになった時 初めて 千年王国が実現したと 言えるんだ アレフも ここが 気に入ったなら いつでも来てくれよ 君なら大歓迎さ それじゃあ アルカディアは大成功だと センターの ザインに 伝えてくれないか|title=Shin Megami Tensei II|developer=|publisher=Atlus|platform=SFC|version=|lang=|transl=}}</ref> After hand-picking citizens from the Center to serve as Arcadia's inhabitants, Gimel was to be implemented as the district's administrator and stand-in Messiah.<ref>{{Cite Game|quote=ギメルは 千年王国の
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| テストを行う 仮想世界のメシア|title=Shin Megami Tensei II|developer=|publisher=Atlus|platform=SFC|version=|lang=|transl=}}</ref> Although its appearance was that of a utopia, however, the true Arcadia was in actuality a small facility where each of the Arcadian residents were strapped to chairs and hooked up to machines that would project their avatars into the simulation, with them being none of the wiser of the reality of their situation. The real Gimel is stationed at the facility as well, willingly committed to maintaining the state of the simulation as he shares the Center's extremist views,<ref>{{Cite Game|quote=|translquote='''Priest:''' ... Who are to be saved?'''Gimmel:''' Those who obey God. ... The ones who dedicate their lives.<br/>'''Priest:''' How should a person live?<br/>'''Gimmel:''' Living according to the authority's rules.<br/>'''Priest:''' Who is the authority?<br/>'''Gimmel:''' God.<br/>'''Priest:''' What should be done with those who oppose God?<br/>'''Gimmel:''' They should be destroyed.<br/>'''Priest:''' What about those who obey God?<br/>'''Gimmel:''' They should be rescued.<br/>'''Priest:''' What should be done with those who try to obey God, but don't fit with God's purpose?<br/>'''Gimmel:''' They should be destroyed. It is God who decides salvation. People's will is unnecessary. It is God and Messiah who determine people's happiness. Not the people.|title=SMT2|developer=Atlus|publisher=Atlus|version=GBA|lang=|transl=MEGATEN_ALBERT}}</ref> and operates under the logic that regardless of Arcadia being a lie, it is an acceptable one as it gives people the peace they desire.<ref>{{Cite Game|quote=ギメル：見たね……
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| 見てしまったね ぼくの このエリアの
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| 真の姿を……
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| ……ごらんの通り ここは
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| 真の理想世界じゃない
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| 仮想現実ろいう名のいつわりだよ
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| いつわりでも 人々が望む平和な
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| 世界を与えるのは いけない事かい？
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| みんなが信じたい事
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| それが真実なんだ
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| 暴いてはいけない真実を見てしまった
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| 君を 生かしておくわけにはいかないよ|title=Shin Megami Tensei II|developer=|publisher=Atlus|platform=SFC|version=|lang=|transl=}}</ref>
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| As the Messiah would eventually have to gain the respect and admiration of the people, a sacrificial tool in the form of a False-Messiah was created. Giving him the name Daleth, this False-Messiah was designed to look similar to [[Hero (Shin Megami Tensei)|Hero]]<ref>{{Cite Book|quote=救世主計画のプロトタイプ4号。名はヘブル語の “4”または“扉” の意味である。 救世主アレフの咬ませ犬として、センターに用意された反救世主。しかしグリーンを基調としたデザインは、前作の主人公ザ・ヒーローと同じだ。 これは、どちらも救世主になりうることを示唆しているのだろう。 実際にアレフと剣を交え、正攻法ではかなわぬと悟ると、 惚れ薬の“浮気草の露” を使い、 骨抜きにしようと企むが、 協力者のアヌーンから薬をかけられ、彼女にベタ惚れになる。 以後は、 救世主となる野望を捨て、彼女と共に暮らした。 FATMANのロシアンルーレットの際、 再び相見えることがある。アヌーンを守るため、強いアクマを手に入れようと、奮闘しているのだ。|des=|chapter=|book={{link|book|KKW3}}|publyear=|author=|publisher=|lang=Japanese|volume=|edition=|page=exposition 23|transl=|isbn=4-7753-0609-X}}</ref> and was meant to be defeated by the Messiah, with the spectacle of the fight serving to increase the latter's popularity.<ref>{{Cite Game|quote=ダレスは 救世主の
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| カリスマを高めるために倒される
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| アンチ・メシア|title=Shin Megami Tensei II|developer=|publisher=Atlus|platform=SFC|version=|lang=|transl=}}</ref> To make the conflict that would spark between the two Messiahs seem authentic, Daleth was first aged up to childhood to make him more susceptible to manipulation and then trained to develop his combat skills.<ref>{{Cite Game|quote=|translquote='''Temple Knight:''' Let's stop the combat training for now. Now you should go listen to the Bishop's theological lecture.|title=SMT2|developer=Atlus|publisher=Atlus|version=GBA|lang=|transl=MEGATEN_ALBERT}}</ref> He would also be made to attend lectures held by the Center Bishop that centered around the prophecy about the Messiah, which in reality was fabricated by the Center, where the Bishop would make sure to impress upon Daleth the idea that he himself was the Messiah.<ref>{{Cite Game|quote=|translquote='''Daleth:''' So the Messiah is strong, right?<br/>'''Bishop:''' Yes ....Just like...you, Lord Daleth.<br/>'''Daleth:''' Hmm...|title=SMT2|developer=Atlus|publisher=Atlus|version=GBA|lang=|transl=MEGATEN_ALBERT}}</ref> Daleth would soon be aged up to adulthood and be told about the final part of the Messiah's prophecy, in which after the Messiah emerged from the wilderness to help the people,<ref>{{Cite Game|quote=|translquote='''Bishop:''' Well...he'll have to be penniless, to start with. He'll emerge all alone from the wilderness, helping the people...becoming more and more famous, bit by bit.<br/>'''Daleth:''' I see, I see.|title=SMT2|developer=Atlus|publisher=Atlus|version=GBA|lang=|transl=MEGATEN_ALBERT}}</ref> the False-Messiah would appear to challenge the true Messiah for his own personal interests. The two would fight and the true Messiah would prevail, completing the prophecy. This causes Daleth to view the False-Messiah's defeat as his ultimate goal,<ref>{{Cite Game|quote=|translquote='''Bishop:''' And then the fight with the false Messiah that appears...<br/>'''Daleth:''' False Messiah?<br/>'''Bishop:''' Yes. A false Messiah with a grudge against the true Messiah, scheming to increase his own fame will appear. That is what is written in the prophecy.<br/>'''Daleth:''' A false Messiah...<br/>'''Bishop:''' And when the true Messiah defeats the false Messiah, he will have overcome his final trial, and the people will all revere him as a true hero.<br/>'''Daleth:''' So defeating the false Messiah is the ultimate goal...|title=SMT2|developer=Atlus|publisher=Atlus|version=GBA|lang=|transl=MEGATEN_ALBERT}}</ref> convincing him to finally escape the Center to follow in the prophecy's footsteps, unknowingly acting according to the Messiah Project's grand plan. As an extra precaution, Daleth was also monitored to ensure that he would survive until the time came for him to be defeated by the Messiah.<ref>{{Cite Game|quote=|translquote='''Bishop:''' No, there is a following to the prophecy... "Messiah will eventually beat the impostor and bring salvation to the people". The true Messiah defeats the false Messiah, and with that the Messiah Project is completed. He is charged with an important mission. ...But, it is a mission for him to be knocked down.<br/>'''Zayin:''' The Anti-Messiah...<br/>'''Bishop:''' As expected, you understand. Well then, Zayin, I would like to ask a favor... The people are seeking fulfillment of the prophecy. In other words, the prophecy refers to a plan to save the people? Also, in order to fulfill the plan...<br/>'''Zayin:''' I have to protect him?<br/>'''Bishop:''' Yes. However, don't be conspicuous.<br/>'''Zayin:''' I understand. I will watch him as a Temple Knight from the shadows. ...Until the day when the true Messiah will beat him will come.|title=SMT2|developer=Atlus|publisher=Atlus|version=GBA|lang=|transl=MEGATEN_ALBERT}}</ref>
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| Aside from Daleth, other plans were put in place to elevate the Messiah's image. Once the Messiah was to venture out to the world, the Center planted demonic threats around Tokyo Millennium,<ref>{{Cite Game|quote=|translquote='''Jack Frost:''' Hee! Ho! Would you like something else? Hyahaha!<br/>'''Bishop:''' ... Fairy Jack Frost, don't you want more power?<br/>'''Jack Frost:''' Hee-ho, hee-ho! I'm alright as I am right now! I could freeze anyone I wanted! Hee! Ho!<br/>'''Bishop:''' Hm... I was telling you about making you even stronger. Like, a Tyrant class.<br/>'''Jack Frost:''' Hee? Do you mean, to make me a Tyrant? Hee? Hee? I don't understand it well.<br/>'''Bishop:''' ... Compared to what you can freeze right now, as a Tyrant, you could freeze a whole building... No... a city... you could freeze it whole.<br/>'''Jack Frost:''' Hee! Ho! That's awesome! I could freeze everything that I see? Great! Great! Hee! Ho!<br/>'''Bishop:''' However, there are conditions. The only area you can freeze is the Holytown area. If you can keep to it, I will make you into a Tyrant.<br/>'''Jack Frost:''' Hmmmm? I don't understand this well, but I can do anything if I can become a Tyrant. Hee! Ho!<br/>'''Bishop:''' ... ...Very well. I will bestow the force onto you. From now on, you will become Tyrant King Frost. You can strengthen as much as possible as a Tyrant in the next room.<br/>'''Jack Frost:''' Hooray! Hooray! I'm Tyrant! I'm Tyrant! I'll freeze 'em good! Hee-ho! Hee-ho!<br/>'''Bishop:''' ...Good grief. It is hard to deal with the Fairies. ...It is much harder to bait them compared to the legend of Messiah. ...|title=SMT2|developer=Atlus|publisher=Atlus|version=GBA|lang=|transl=MEGATEN_ALBERT}}</ref> artificially creating situations for the Messiah to go handle, thereby building up his credibility in the eyes of the people.<ref>{{Cite Game|quote=テンプルナイト：キングフロストを
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| やっつけたそうですね
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| さすがです アレフ|title=Shin Megami Tensei II|developer=|publisher=Atlus|platform=SFC|version=|lang=|transl=}}</ref>
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| The fifth and final member of the Messiah Project was Zayin, who, created with the most power out of all the artificial creations,<ref>{{Cite Game|quote=男：……君たちの中で 最も優れた力を
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| 持つのが 彼だ……|title=Shin Megami Tensei II|developer=|publisher=Atlus|platform=SFC|version=|lang=|transl=}}</ref> was meant to be the Messiah's guardian.<ref>{{Cite Game|quote=そして ザインは
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| 君の見はり役……|title=Shin Megami Tensei II|developer=|publisher=Atlus|platform=SFC|version=|lang=|transl=}}</ref>
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|
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| Eventually, Mekata grew disturbed with the Messiah Project, and after finding out it was his daughter Hiroko that was chosen to be the Messiah's surrogate, finally decided to rebel against it, working with his fellow scientist Hanada, who was tired of his research being restricted by the Center<ref>{{Cite Game|quote=|translquote=If the Center does not approve of my experiments, I will continue them, even if I'll have to escape...|title=SMT2|developer=Atlus|publisher=Atlus|version=GBA|lang=|transl=MEGATEN_ALBERT}}</ref>, to sabotage it. They took Aleph and wiped the fake memories and loyalty to the Center that had been implanted in him,<ref>{{Cite Game|quote=|translquote=I tweaked the personality forming part of the training program, and deleted loyalty to the Center from the program.|title=SMT2|developer=Atlus|publisher=Atlus|version=GBA|lang=|transl=MEGATEN_ALBERT}}</ref> and were planning to do the same with the other experiments, but were unable to reach them before the Center discovered their scheme, forcing them to cut their losses and escape only with Aleph in tow, causing an explosion after to get away without detection.<ref>{{Cite Game|quote=目加田：私も センターの命令に
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| 何のうたがいもなく 従っていたが…
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| このメシア・プロジェクトには
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| どうしても 我慢できなかった……
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| 救世主を勝手に作りあげたことも（＊“造り”ではない）
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| ……私の娘をプロジェクトに
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| 使われたことも 何もかもだ
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| 私は花田と協力して 君の記憶を消し
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| センターに 爆破さわぎを起こして
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| 脱出した|title=Shin Megami Tensei II|developer=|publisher=Atlus|platform=SFC|version=|lang=|transl=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite Game|quote=男：君は これから我々と脱出するのだ
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| 君のいまわしい記憶は 消しておいた
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| 君が 自分の名前を思い出すのに
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| 苦労したのも 実はそのせいだ
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|
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| もう1人の男：まずいぞ 目加田
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| 感づかれたらしい
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|
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| 目加田：まだ 4人残っている……
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| うーん ならば アレフ
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| だけでも…
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| わかった花田 すぐに始めてくれ
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|
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| 花田：よーし スイッチを入れるぞ
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| 奴らに思い知らせてやる クヒヒヒヒヒ|title=Shin Megami Tensei II|developer=|publisher=Atlus|platform=SFC|version=|lang=|transl=}}</ref> Aleph was then left to wander around Valhalla,<ref>{{Cite Game|quote=あの日 おまえはヴァルハラの街を
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| ふらふらしていたよな……
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| |title=Shin Megami Tensei II|developer=|publisher=Atlus|platform=SFC|version=|lang=|transl=}}</ref> so that he would be allowed to decide his own fate outside of the Center's control.<ref>{{Cite Game|quote=|translquote=But I can not let him stay in the Center like this. Messiah is supposed to emerge from the wilderness. He is very special. While being born as a warrior with a strong spirit and body, he is also born with a free heart unbound to the Center. I wonder what will become of him in the future. Even I don't know. Will he become a free entity? Will he become an enemy or a friend of the Center..? That nobody knows...|title=SMT2|developer=Atlus|publisher=Atlus|version=GBA|lang=|transl=MEGATEN_ALBERT}}</ref>
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|
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| Eventually, the Center managed to find Aleph and brought him back to the Center to get their Messiah Project back on track, but in the end, their plans fell apart and backfired on them, with Beth dying to Daleth, Daleth escaping death from Aleph's hands, Gimel being killed{{Note|The truth of Arcadia and Gimel's death are optional events.}}, and ultimately, Aleph and Zayin coming to rebel against them instead of serving the purpose the Center had assigned them with. Seeing this, the Elders admitted the project to be a failure, but settled on starting the project anew once they disposed of Aleph and Zayin.<ref>{{Cite Game|quote=|translquote='''Elder C:''' Yes, nobody is at fault. I did not object to this plan. We have responsibility as well.<br/>'''Elder B:''' ... I intended to do as he expected. ...But, what I made stopped working as expected. ...Let's admit failure.<br/>'''Elder C:''' He says he has not gathered to condemn it. What will be done in the future?<br/>'''Elder B:''' Do we start over from the beginning..? In the meantime, Zayin and Aleph have no choice but to justify it. Their actions are too selfish. Far away from obeying our will, they're going against it. After that, we will launch a new Messiah Project...|title=SMT2|developer=Atlus|publisher=Atlus|version=GBA|lang=|transl=MEGATEN_ALBERT}}</ref> Once they confronted Aleph however, the three were slain. The last remaining Elder appeared after their deaths and unveiled herself as [[Gabriel]], who revealed that because the other Elders had attempted to create their own Messiah, God had abandoned them.<ref>{{Cite Game|quote=人間を支配するものに なった
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| 神の言葉によれば 千年王国が
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| できてのち 人々を導く救世主が
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| 現れるはずが……
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| ミレニアムには 現れなかった
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| 救世主を待ちきれない大天使たちは
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| 自ら救世主を つくり上げようとした
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| こうして彼らの行いは 神の御心と
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| 離れていったのだ……
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| 神は 大天使たちを見放した
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| そして我につげた
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| ミカエルたちと別れ 真の道を
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| 行けと……
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| |title=Shin Megami Tensei II|developer=|publisher=Atlus|platform=SFC|version=|lang=|transl=}}</ref>
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|
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| At the end of the game, if Aleph is on the Neutral route, Zayin explains to him the truth of God's promised Messiah; That there was never going to be one. God never had any intention of sending a Messiah onto Tokyo Millennium. Instead, once He discovered the existence of the Messiah Project, he sent the soul of his tool of judgment, [[Satan]], into one of the humans in the project, which ended up being Zayin. Being an incarnation of Satan, Zayin was called not to follow the Center's orders, but to deliver God's judgment on the Archangels, demonkind, and humanity.<ref>{{Cite Game|quote=ザイン：……神は
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| TOKYOミレニアムを見捨てていた
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| 今の人間が いる限り 理想の世界は
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| 実現不可能だと 知っていたんだ
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| だから メシア教徒や天使たちが
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| 理想世界…千年王国を造ろうとしても
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| 神は 救世主をつかわさなかった
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| センター元老院は 現れない救世主を
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| 自分たちで造ろうとした
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| それが メシア・プロジェクト……
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| プロジェクト5番目の人間
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| ザイン つまり ぼくの
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| 能力は 最も優れていたはずだった
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| なぜなら ぼくは 神につかわされた
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| 魂だったからだ
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| 救世主ではなく 裁く者サタンの化身
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| ぼくをつかわして TOKYOミレニアム
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| 大天使たち 人間 悪魔……
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| 全てを 裁こうとしているんだ
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| そして 最も強く 神に逆らう人間
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| ……アレフ を裁く|title=Shin Megami Tensei II|developer=|publisher=Atlus|platform=SFC|version=|lang=|transl=}}</ref>
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|
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| ==Trivia==
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| * Each person created as part of the Messiah Project is named after Hebrew letters, which are meant to be code names for them.<ref>{{Cite Book|translquote=This game’s protagonist, one of the first five people, wasn’t named Aleph during his development stages, but was called, together with the others, Prototype 1~5, since we knew about the Messiah Project from the beginning.|des=|chapter=|book={{link|book|SMT2ADJ}}|publyear=1994|author=[[Kazunari Suzuki]]|publisher=Takarajima Corporation|lang=|volume=|edition=|page=|transl=|isbn=4-7966-0841-9}}</ref>
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| * Aleph's intercourse-less birth was to symbolize the virgin Mary's birth of Jesus.<ref>{{Cite Book|translquote=Kaneko: The setting was borrowed a bit from the Messiah’s legend, so a virgin/holy mother was needed to give birth to a Messiah.|des=|chapter=|book={{link|book|SMT2ADJ}}|publyear=1994|author=[[Kazunari Suzuki]]|publisher=Takarajima Corporation|lang=|volume=|edition=|page=|transl=|isbn=4-7966-0841-9}}</ref>
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| * Beth and Daleth's designs were intentionally made to resemble ''Shin Megami Tensei'''s Heroine and Hero.<ref>{{Cite Book|translquote='''Kaneko:''' I designed Beth to resemble Heroine, while Daleth resembled the previous Hero. Giving him the same nuance of green was fun. Beth is conversely the Messiah Church’s Heroine, so her keynote is blue. I think this was also influenced by her contrast with Aleph.|des=|chapter=|book={{link|book|SMT2ADJ}}|publyear=1994|author=[[Kazunari Suzuki]]|publisher=Takarajima Corporation|lang=|volume=|edition=|page=|transl=|isbn=4-7966-0841-9}}</ref> As the two had become legends by the time ''Shin Megami Tensei II'' occurrs, the Messian Chruch sought to remind the people of them through their visage.<ref>{{Cite Book|translquote='''Kaneko:''' The Messiah Church probably used their image to remind the citizens of the existence of the previous Heroes.
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|
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| '''Narisawa:''' Not the messenger from Shinjuku, but…
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|
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| '''Kaneko:''' They’ve definitely become legends and Daleth appearing among them would remind them of that person from long ago, same for Beth… I believe some similarities are intentional.
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|
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| |des=|chapter=|book={{link|book|SMT2ADJ}}|publyear=1994|author=[[Kazunari Suzuki]]|publisher=Takarajima Corporation|lang=|volume=|edition=|page=|transl=|isbn=4-7966-0841-9}}</ref>
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| * In {{link|book|MTJ}}, it is said that there were originally meant to be two other Messiah Project creations named after the 5th and 6th letters of the Hebrew alphabet. However, they were lost in a failed experiment and were "eaten" by Zayin.<ref>{{Cite Book|quote=メシア・プロジェクトにおいて最強の能力を持つ人造人間テンプルナイトNO.7。 ちなみにNO.5とNO.6は、 実験の失敗で消滅したとも、 ザインに 「食われた」とも言われている。 アレフたちから1年遅れてプロジェクトに投入された。 センターの訓練を受け、 強力なマインドコントロールもプログラムされているはずだが、 そんな事は微塵も感じさせず、一貫して自由意志で行動しているように見える。|des=|chapter=|book={{link|book|MTJ}}|publyear=1998|author=CB's Project|publisher=Aspect|lang=Japanese|volume=|edition=|page=exposition 23|transl=|isbn=978-4-89366-917-9}}</ref>
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|
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| ==Nomenclature==
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| {{Names
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| |ja=メシア・プロジェクト
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| |jaR=
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| |jaM=Messiah Project
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| |zhS=
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| |zhSR=
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| |zhSM=
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| |zhT=
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| |zhTR=
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| |zhTM=
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| |fr=
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| |frM=
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| |de=
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| |deM=
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| |it=
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| |itM=
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| |ko=
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| |koR=
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| |koM=
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| |es=
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| |esM=
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| }}
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|
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| ==Gallery==
| |
| <gallery>
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| SMT2 Law Hero Messiah Zero Artwork.png|Artwork of Law Hero as Messiah Zero
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| SMT2 PS Messiah Project Man Sprite.png|Sprite of a male Messiah Project subject in a vat.
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| SMT2 PS Messiah Project Woman Sprite.png|Sprite of a female Messiah Project subject in a vat.
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| </gallery>
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|
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| ==Notes==
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| {{Notelist}}
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|
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| ==References==
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| {{Reflist}}
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|
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| [[Category:Terminology]]
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