The Great Will (宇宙の大いなる意志 and 大いなる意志) is an entity in the franchise.
Appearances[]
- Megami Tensei II
- Shin Megami Tensei II: as 宇宙の大いなる意志
- Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne: as 大いなる意思
- Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux: as 大いなる意思
- Shin Megami Tensei V: As 大いなる意志
- Last Bible (Game Gear): Final Boss (true ending) as the Universal Will (うちゅういしき)
Profile[]
The Great Will is the creator and overseer of the Megami Tensei Multiverse and a being often associated with YHVH. Lacking a physical form in the mortal plane, Great Will often appears as various "avatars" ("bunrei" in Japanese). These avatars are often very similar to YHVH; godly beings on a high moral ground who present themselves as the road to salvation, but are ultimately ruthless, arrogant and cruel, only caring for their power and long standing regardless of any cost.
Most of them often appear with various names of God or beings associated with YHVH, including Metatron and The Three Wise Men. Those who aren't instead takes YHVH's place as the God of Law and are often still similar in personality, such as Kagutsuchi. Usually, avatars of the Great Will appear as the final boss of the games they are in, as well as their main antagonist. However, a few appear as recurring endgame bosses.
Shin Megami Tensei IV Apocalypse introduces an entity known as Great Reason, localized as Axiom, who happens to share a fair number of characteristics with the Great Will from previous games, including the use of YHVH as an avatar. However, due to a lack of detailed information as well as conflicting behaviors, it is currently impossible to ascertain if the Great Will and the Great Reason are two names for the same being, or two distinct entities with similar influence over the Megami Tensei Multiverse.
Megami Tensei II[]
First mentioned in Megami Tensei II, upon defeat YHVH states that he is only a small part of the entity which rules over infinite universes, and that its vast consciousness will simply recreate his body, promising the protagonist that he has ensured the harshest path for humanity's future.
Shin Megami Tensei II[]
YHVH again references the Great Will after being slain by Aleph, promising that as long as humanity believes in his salvation the will of the universe will revive him over and over.
Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne[]
Kagutsuchi, acting on behalf of the Great Will, causes the Conception and creates a Vortex World from Tokyo. The purpose of the Vortex World is to facilitate the death and rebirth of universes, as determined necessary by the Great Will.
During the Labyrinth of Amala sidequest, Metatron appears on the Great Will's behalf and tries to deter the Demi-fiend's progress, and is described by the demons of the Labyrinth as having the voice of the universe.
During the sidequest, Lucifer explains the Great Will's actions and the nature of the Conception. Since the Demi-fiend is neither human nor angel, he will be less likely to be blessed by the Great Will.
By venturing to the Fourth Kalpa of the Labyrinth of Amala, the Demi-fiend will be informed that Jyoji Hijiri, a reporter who has assisted him throughout the story, actually died when the Conception occurred, having failed to reach the hospital in time. However, he continues to exist in the Vortex World in the body of a Manikin as his punishment for committing the "ultimate sin." Hijiri is trapped by the Great Will in an endless cycle of suffering, death, and rebirth, forced to witness the creation and destruction of each world without having any chance to affect the outcome.
Should the Demi-fiend choose to reject all the reasons, complete the Labyrinth of Amala and meet Lucifer, he will unlock the sixth ending: the "True Demon Ending." After defeating Kagutsuchi, Lucifer remarks that by defying the Great Will and choosing to side with him, the Great Will shall curse the Demi-fiend for eternity, implying that he will suffer the same fate, or worse, as Hijiri. However, Lucifer will also comfort the Demi-fiend, stating that even if the Great Will cursed him, he'd have the blessing of the fallen angel. The Demi-fiend then leads the legions of Chaos in the final battle against the Great Will.
Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux[]
As Shekinah dies in the New Chaos, New Neutral and New Law endings, she asks for forgiveness toward the Great Will for failing to guide the world. This would mean both her and The Three Wise Men who composes her being as a manifestation of Great Will in this world, and would explain their earlier claim about being beyond time, as the Great Will is beyond time and space.
Shin Megami Tensei V[]
After rising from Tao Isonokami's body, Panagia claims to have encountered a mysterious light. She also claims to act on behalf of the Great Will of the Universe, to bring a worthy Nahobino to the Empyrean realm and the Throne of Creation. Sophia also makes a mention of the Great Will in the "Return of the True Demon" DLC.
Last Bible[]
"I am the will of the universe. I am the whole of it, and at the same time, I am but a single part of it."
In Last Bible, the final boss of the true ending is named the Universal Will. Before the final battle, the Universal Will states it created El to be his adversary, and they exist to destroy each other. It doesn't concern itself with the outcome of the fight, and challenges El to fulfil his destiny.
It is soon realized however, that the Universal Will is immune to all forms of damage. El remembers the spell granted to him by the Goddess of Force, "Coquitoelcos" (A corruption of Cogito Ergo Sum, I think therefore I am) and uses it to materialize the Universal Will at the cost of his own life, leaving Kishe and Uranus to finish the battle.
Upon its defeat, the Universal Will pontificates on the nature of the universe, how countless worlds are destroyed and countless more reborn. It claims the humans have earned a new world for themselves, but it will always be there, as conflicts are waged across eternity. It then promises they will meet again in an untold thousands of years in the future.
Stats[]
Last Bible[]
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Known Avatars[]
- YHVH
- Sabaoth
- Shaddai
- Elohim
- Yaldabaoth (NINE only)
- Kagutsuchi
- Metatron
- Ancient of Days
- Shekinah (and by extension The Wise Men)
- Panagia Tao
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- It is mentioned that Catholic Churches are specific places where people worship the Great Will in Devil Summoner 2: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. King Abaddon. This, however, appears only in the English localization and is absent from the original Japanese script. [1]
See Also[]
References[]
Playable Characters | Aleph/Hawk - Hiroko - Beth - Cerberus - Lucifer - Satan |
Non-Playable Characters | Okamoto - Gimmel - Zayin - Stephen - Haneda - Daleth - Red Bear - Madam - Hanada - The Center's Bishop - The Four Elders - Mekata - Puck - Hanoun - Mutant Elder - Hiruko - Taira no Masakado - Siren - Petersen - Michael - Raphael - Uriel - Gabriel - Fake YHVH - Seth - Virocana - Ozawa - Gotou - Gemori - Astaroth (Ishtar / Ashtar) - Kuzuryu - YHVH |
Locations | Tokyo Millennium - Underworld - Expanse - Eden - Diamond Realm - River Styx |
Terminology | Millennium Kingdom - Great Cataclysm - Order of Messiah - Ring of Gaea - Terminal - Sword fusion - Identification Program - Summon Doll - Seven Pillars of Solomon - Sabbath - Abaddon's Innards - Megiddo Arc |
Content | Demons - Bosses - Skills - Items |