Rita Arsenico

**Sub-Pages:*** **Main**
* History

* Rita Arsenico
* Ministra

* Base

* Base

## Ministra

**Rita Arsenico** was an employee of Horizon Finance who later became an Apostle of Thagirion known as **Ministra**.

## Collection Profile

* Rita Arsenico (Base)
* Ministra (Awakened)

*Rita Arsenico is a Supporter summoning Omertà to repel enemies. Her ability to control metal is especially threatening to Mech units.*

*She wouldn't admit to this, but she's a main contributor to Horizon Finance's ruthless reputation among its customers, who can't help but cooperate in the face of her glaring eyes and intimidating tone of voice. According to a bartender at her favorite bar, Rita's customers range from heinous criminals to lawyers, a curious combination that hints at an interesting past.*

*Ministra, a Demon-Type C.O., is a Ranger who specializes in weakening the enemy through AoE debuffs. The objects she makes by reassembling her dead enemies spread fear and hopelessness.*

*The other Shadows—or Sisters—she has created while wandering the Counterside all have a similar appearance to Spira, which implies the strong bond that once existed between them. She has sadistic tendencies and enjoys watching her prey wither away in isolation, leaving her victims with no prospect but a horrible death. Due to this, she has been categorized as "extremely" dangerous by the Administration.*
## Abilities

* Rita Arsenico
* Ministra

### Powers

* **Enhanced physiology:** As with all Counters, Rita had enhanced physical strength and durability as well as some innate resistance to Corrution Rays.
* **Metal manipulation:** Rita could telekinetically transmute metal objects. Notably, she could use metal to form and summon Omertà, a winged metal beast that served as her companion. Omerta herself could be transformed into different types of weapons.
* **Flight:** Rita could fly and levitate in the air.

### Equipment

* **Companion after Work:** *Rita's liquor bottle that she used to keep in her office refrigerator. Horizon wanted it to store her lubricant but Rita said no.*

### Powers

* **Enhanced physiology:** Ministra had enhanced strength and durability.
* **Corruption ray emission:** Being a Corrupted Object, Ministra innately emitted Corruption rays. Her corruption core alone was potent enough to cause a CSE level 3 outbreak within the Normalside.
* **Accelerated healing:** Ministra could rapidly heal from her wounds.
* **Levitation:** Ministra often levitated above ground as she moved.
* **Reassembly:** Ministra would disassemble and reassemble Counters into Shadows as part of a "sisterhood" she created. This "assembling" process is described by her as long, slow and painful—as she underwent it—like being torn apart fingernail by fingernail. The process is incredibly agonizing and the pain was so acute that it had made her body convulse uncontrollably. It eventually turns into eternal ecstasy as she becomes a transcendent being, capable of feats she was unable to do as a human and able to explore the mysteries of the Counterside as she sees fit.
* **Teleportation:** Ministra could teleport long distances within the Counterside and also hide within her own subspace's Shadow Palace.

### Equipment

* **Quilt:** Ministra could summon corrupted swords that could disrupt a Counter's abilities. She could summon up to three of them and or combine them into a single, large sword. She uses it disassemble and reassemble her victims. Its Alternium Reactor reflects the "lingering will of [her] unsatiable desire for reassembling" as a source for increased power.

## Personality

Rita can be best described as an intense individual, fitting of her loan shark profession as someone who is cold and harsh towards debtors, but is capable of showing care towards Dash. She takes her duties working with Horizon Finance seriously, tracking down those who haven't paid their debts in time. While Dash has more idealistic and optimistic approach in life and Horizon being the voice of reason, Rita can be seen as in-between, as she has a more realistic view in life due to her being raised in a criminal family, but put into consideration of other the well-being of people she cares about. Towards Dash, Rita outwardly treated her with the same strict and unfriendly attitude, even briefly dehumanizing her at one point by reminding her that she is Rita's "property".

However, despite her cold and ruthless demeanor, deep down, Rita was a woman who was broken on the inside with conflicting feelings and emotions. Rita cares deeply about Dash due to her bringing happiness in her life that she never had and wanted to protect her from facing the harsh realities of the criminal underworld and the Counterside. As the Administrator pointed out in his conversation with Rita in the afterlife, she was only acting cold on the outside primarily because of the circumstances being raised in the criminal world, but both Dash and the Administrator see her as a genuinely good person at heart.

Her conflicting feelings towards Dash and herself serves as a major plot point in Bottom of the Shade event as they were among the main reasons she was a target for corruption by the Demon Lord Thagirion; resolving these feelings was one of the Administrator's main objectives to allow Dash and Rita to peacefully move on in the afterlife in the event.

After transforming into Ministra, Rita's behavior can be described as sardonic and arrogant. She punctuated her speech with affectionate terms of address such as "darling" or "dear" when referring to others, yet openly showcased a sadistic streak, as shown by the perverted statements she made, as well as a deep contempt for humanity. Ministra also grew hateful of her past self as Rita, calling her "terribly foolish and ignorant" and a "scumbag." During her destruction, she started laughing maniacally despite being adamant not to die.

Despite her demeanor, Ministra still wished she could return to the Normalside. In her non-canon lifetime contract dialogue, she states that Rita still exists somewhat as a thought process within her decision making, favoring bold individuals, but still subjected to mortal whims.

## Gallery

* Cutscenes
* Skill Cut-in
* Skins
* Comics
* Miscellaneous

Ministra's first appearanceRita confronts Dash.Rita hangs onto Dash.Ministra reassembles Dash.

Default (Rita Arsenico)Embarassing UndercoverDefault (Ministra)A Bow for the Flower

Rita Arsenico — Embarrassing Undercover

Ministra — A Bow for the Flower | *A flower blooms for a fleeting moment. Only regret and loneliness remain at the tip of the flowerless branch. Let us all bow to the fallen flower. For the possible future of greeting it once again.*
*A gift for me...? I'd be lying if I said I wasn't happy.*

*Big Sis Rita Gets Worried*Ministra and Spira decorate.

## References

1. ↑ Companion after Work gear description
2. ↑ *New Recruit* Act 4
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 *New Recruit* Act 4-2 — Crocodile Tears
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Ministra Lifetime Contract
5. ↑ Quilt Alternium Reactor description
6. ↑ *Bottom of the Shade* Act 4-6 — Resistance
7. ↑ Ministra "Tap 1" dialogue
8. ↑ Ministra "Tap 2" dialogue