ARKS operatives have been sent to the planet Harukotan to confront Dark Falz [Gemini], who has been consuming entire planets for purposes that are only now becoming clear. [Gemini] reveals the truth: the Dark Falzes exist to revive the Profound Darkness—a corrupted clone of Xion created by the Photoners, sealed away after destroying their ability to use Photons. After defeating [Gemini], the player and Matoi are hit with concentrated F-Factor; Matoi absorbs it to save the player, becoming the Profound Darkness herself. [Persona] appears with an offer: help kill Matoi and end the threat. The player refuses, uses the Divergence Matrix to find a different fate, and—with the Council of Six—seals Matoi's power instead. Matoi attempts to destroy herself with F-Factor before the Profound Darkness fully emerges. [Persona], inspired by the player's defiance of fate, uses the Clarissa to absorb the F-Factor from both of them, becoming the new host. ARKS repels the Profound Darkness, but Xiao warns: with this host, it may return.