Mastema



Mastema, known as Mansemat (マンセマット, Mansematto) in the Japanese version, is a demon in the series.

History
Mastema, also known as Mansemat, is an angel of persecution and hostility as cited from the literature of Israel's Second Temple Period. In this regard, he is also similar to Satan, who held more or less the same portfolio in other books of the period. Mastema is said to be the angel that unleashed the ten plagues of Egypt and attempted to kill Moses.

Appearances

 * Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey: Herald Race, Major Character
 * Shin Megami Tensei IV: Herald Race, Minor Character, Secret Boss (Law Route only)
 * Shin Megami Tensei IV DEMONIC GENE
 * Ronde: Boss

Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey
Mastema appears as an angelic figure but with dark skin, black hair and blackened wings. He claims to have been sent by God to visit the Schwarzwelt, but his reasons are vague at best. He often appears in times of great danger and guides the crew of the Red Sprite to the truth, but often gives an impression of being untrustable, and at least once he spoke against free will, preferring absolute submission to the Law.

He relates well to Zelenin, although Jimenez derides him as a nuisance. He helps Zelenin and the protagonist escape from Mitra's Tower in Sector Bootes, aids the Red Sprite's crew against Horkos in Sector Carina, and acts as a translator during the events of Sector Delphinus, stating the contents of several urns in Mitra's Tower as read in demon script. Following this, he is left unseen until Sector Grus, where Zelenin learns he's nearby and consults him, later returning to embrace the "gift" of being transformed into an Angel (Judge Zelenin) to end the Jack's Squad crisis without any blood being spilled. What happens later with him is left up to the game's final choices upon reaching Sector Horologium.

In the Law alignment, he seems to vanish after turning Zelenin into an angel in Sector Grus, only appearing in the Vanishing Point in Sector Eridanus once Mem Aleph has been destroyed, praising the efforts of the protagonist and Zelenin in creating the World of Law.

In the Neutral alignment, he appears again to express his terror and morosity after the player defeats Zelenin, but he chooses not to engage the player, merely angrily remind them whatever happens will be of their own choice only, and that he hopes the forces of Law have better hopes of triumphing with the next time the Schwarzwelt rises, feeling the eternal recurrence of the Schwarzwelt makes their triumph inevitable.

In the Chaos alignment, when his plans to rise the Kingdom of Light upon Earth with the Schwarzwelt are utterly ruined, he breaks down and attacks the protagonist as a boss in Sector Horologium, infuriated by the loss of the possibility of ascending to a superior form. As a boss, Mastema features several unique entire-party hitting attacks such as Great Lament, which charms all non-Chaos demons, Judgement, an Expel element instant death attack with a high activation chance, Untainted Wind, a decently powerful wind element attack, and Mel Faize, a powerful Almighty element spell. His physical attack also hits the entire party. After his defeat, he can be fused by a special fusion of Abaddon, Throne, and Cherub.

He proclaims to be an angel from the "Kingdom of Light". His extreme ideologies and conflicts with Chaos and Lucifer make him extremely similar to Satan, who often held the same viewpoints across the series.

Shin Megami Tensei IV
Mastema is in charge of Midtown and is working with the Ashura-kai. The demons in the building speak of him and how some of them don't like Tokyo being run by a black winged guy like him. On the 54th floor, he appears before the Samurai, provoking a battle against them. He speaks of gloriously slaughtering them like he did the Unclean Ones in the ancient days and cooking them, only to reveal he was joking and that he is one of their fellows. He introduces himself and declines Jonathan's offer to join them as his job is to watch Midtown and prevent the Ring of Gaea and thieves from entering.

He tells them that without the Red Pills all order would be lost in Tokyo, and when questioned by Walter about what he would do if they were members of the Ring he simply laughs it off, stating that he has no intention of being struck down like Tenkai was, though he warns him that Tayama would learn about them if they fought. He lets down the barrier that blocks their way and asks them not to tell Tayama, his last words being that he is carrying out the Lord's will in his own way before the scene ends.

If Flynn goes back in, Mastema will say that siding with Tayama, who is trying to bring order to Tokyo, is what he has decided is the Lord's will, but then realizes he has said more than he should and speaks no more. Mastema appears as an optional boss on the Law route in the Challenge Quest Great Raven of the Underground, as the Archangels send Flynn to get revenge for their imprisonment. The quest to slay him comes after Azazel is defeated. He is surprised that his comrade would be the one to try to slay him, but he will not let him go this time since he is attempting to interfere in his plan. As he is dying Mastema curses Flynn for being a puppet who is only controlled by others, along with Gabriel for her role. He asks the Almighty Lord why he is dying as he is the one who is most faithfully following His will, crumbling afterwards.

On the Neutral Route Mastema will admit that choosing a path of neither angels or demons is an admirable choice, but it means the suffering of the sons of man will continue. Noting that the best route may not be the one for all, he tells Flynn it is not a sin to be troubled as doubts are an opportunity for belief in the Lord to sprout. During the Chaos route Mastema can tell Flynn that he does not condemn his choice and that straying from his path is a way to learn about the Lord as well.

Clipped Wings
In the "Clipped Wings" DLC series, Mastema, under the guise of M, summons Flynn to the Eastern Kingdom of Mikado's early days. Aquila, the first King, requested his help in slaying the four archangels, Uriel, Raphael, Gabriel, and Michael. Mastema justified his actions by stating that the four had gone against God's will and intended to wipe out the humans not chosen by Him. With Flynn's help, the four archangels are defeated, though Mastema spares Gabriel, believing that she cannot do anything to help her allies, and locks the other three in the Kagome Tower. With his promise to Aquila fulfilled, Mastema tells Flynn that he intends to rebuild Tokyo into one where humans follow God's will in their own way. Completing this DLC will also reward Flynn the demon Aeshma, a demon of the Tyrant Race, and also, according to Mastema, one of the two demons wielded by the late Aquila, the other being the Minotaur.