Phase IX

Ruka entering the Moon-Reflecting Cave

Ruka steps into the Moon-Reflecting Cave, and dormant memory fragments begin to surface.
She remembers being taken from the ritual hall, crossing pitch-black pathways to reach this spot, and ultimately being rescued by Choshiro long ago...

In a vision of her memories, Choshiro suddenly appears, handing Ruka a mysterious mask fragment...

Choshiro in her memories

Handing Ruka a mask fragment

Upon receiving the mask fragment, Ruka remembers passing through the massive stone gate ahead when she was forcefully taken away by Yo Haibara.

Memory residual of being taken by Yo Haibara

Stepping forward, the malice in the air suddenly condenses, giving Ruka an ill feeling... The heavy stone door leading into the cavern slowly swings open on its own.
The vengeful spirits Masanobu Fuchiki and Michihiko Ikushima suddenly materialize, letting out piercing shrieks to block her path.

Ruka getting an ill feeling

Vengeful spirits suddenly materializing

Using her camera to defeat these two powerful spirits, Ruka takes a deep breath, crosses the stone gate, and enters the dark, deep Rogetsu Cavern.

Proceeding along the damp mine path, a collapsed wall of rock blocks her way forward.
Ruka carefully squeezes through the narrow gap in the rocks, catching terrifying residual images of past islanders fleeing in horror as they were chased by Sakuya (Blooming).

Squeezing through the narrow gap in the rocks

Reaching a fork, she explores the right path first. At the end, she spots the Ghost: Shivering Male Islander cowering desperately in the corner.

She then retrieves a despair-ridden file from the ground: Fisherman's Suicide Note.

Turning back and heading down the left path, she witnesses the Ghost: Frightened Female Islander at the dead end.

As she steps forward to investigate, the spirit Satoe Mizue suddenly attacks. After purifying her, Ruka moves forward.

Walking to the fence at the far left and looking down into the deep chamber, she can faintly see the terrifying figure of Sakuya (Blooming) wandering within.

Turning right to go down the stairs, she catches another tragic residual glimpse of islanders being hunted by Sakuya (Blooming) at the crossroads.
Stepping into the lower chamber with an anxious heart, Sakuya (Blooming) suddenly manifests!

Faced with her overwhelming and invincible spiritual power that cannot be damaged by the camera, a head-on confrontation is impossible.
Ruka has no choice but to run forward with all her might to escape her pursuit. Once the immediate danger passes, she returns to the chamber and heads deeper down the stairs.

Reaching the first fork, she retrieves the file Origin of Rogetsu Cavern from the ground at the end of the left path.
At that moment, a nameless spirit attacks, and she uses her camera to drive it back.

Choosing the right path, she discovers the file Message Left by Islanders on the floor at the end of the next fork.
The moment she picks up the paper, the spirit Michihiko Ikushima blocks her way again.

Moving up the slope, she spots the Ghost: Woman Standing in the Cavern ahead, immediately followed by another assault from Satoe Mizue.

After the battle, as she reaches the small footbridge, Sakuya (Blooming) appears once more!
Ruka can only turn and sprint, narrowly escaping with her life once again.

Climbing the stairs, she investigates the small shrine at the back, obtaining the file Rogetsu Kagura Evaluation Log.
Composing herself, she pushes open the heavy doors and enters Tsukishiro-do.

Climbing the stairs to the right corridor of B1F. At the collapsed section of the left corridor, she finds the file To the Participants of the Rogetsu Kagura on the ground.

Looking toward the far end of the corridor, she spots the Ghost: Performers Entering the Kagura Hall moving slowly forward, as if to reenact the tragedy of that fateful day.

Continuing upstairs to the right corridor of 1F, she hears the faint sound of ritual music from behind the door on the right. Taking a deep breath, she opens the door and enters the 'Rogetsu Podium'.

The Rogetsu Podium where the Kagura ritual was held

The bright moon hanging high above the Rogetsu Podium

Standing in the center of the Kagura stage, the past ritual replays in Ruka's mind—the horrific tragedy where the Vessel and the five Performers suddenly died mysterious deaths during the ritual.

The fallen Vessel and Performers in her memory

Memory and reality intertwine as the vengeful spirit Vessel and the five Performer Spirits (Song, Bell, Flute, Drum, String) manifest simultaneously.
This is an exceptionally grueling deathmatch where Ruka must face a coordinated onslaught from six powerful spirits alone.

The fallen Vessel

The Vessel and Performers rising as vengeful spirits

After a long and arduous battle, Ruka finally defeats the horde of spirits.
She remembers that during the childhood festival, she was taken to the deepest chambers, forced to participate in the ritual to become a Performer...

Being forcefully dragged away by a hand

The young Ruka being taken away during the festival

Passing through the left door to the 1F left corridor and heading downstairs to B1F, Ruka feels as though she can see her childhood self being led downstairs.

Following her memories down to the 'Antechamber'. Beneath the second pillar on the left, she retrieves the file Origin of the Antechamber.

Standing before the small shrine, raising her camera to photograph the large circular carpet in the center captures the Bound Ghost: Vessel and Performers in Meditation.

Returning to the B1F left corridor and walking toward the collapsed path, she spots the Ghost: Silhouette of Her Father.

Following her father's silhouette, she opens the door near the collapsed pillar to enter the connecting passage of 'Tsukishiro-do 2'. Turning left at the fork, she opens the door into the Altar Room of 'Shogendo'.

On the central stone bed of the Altar Room, she sees the Ghost: Girl Agonizing Before the Altar.

On the altar table ahead, she obtains the file Secret Records of Shogendo.

Investigating the upper-left door reveals it is locked tight. Ruka recalls how her father used to lock himself inside to craft masks in the past...

Leaving the Altar Room and returning to the connecting passage, she continues left and spots the Ghost: Father Returning from Shogendo.

Following his footsteps to the end, she opens the door and enters the 'Yomotsuki Residence'.
Memories rush back; this place was once her home...

Deep below the kidnapping site under Haibara Infirmary lies an even deeper level—the true stage where the island's forbidden 'Rogetsu Kagura' was performed.
Back then, she was taken away by someone while watching the Kagura, brought to another chamber to serve as a 'Performer' for a secret, subterranean ritual...

While Ruka struggles to reconstruct her past, her father, Soya, appears before her.
Chasing his silhouette, she reaches the home where she was born—the Yomotsuki Residence.