Message to the readers: Hey guys! This will be the second chapter of my fanfic; expect tight-packed action, cheesy comedy, depressing mood and heart-racing romance! I would like to thank the people that reviewed, favorite and follow my fanfic. They helped me to motivate my fanfic works and they make me really smile! :) Another thing, to make things interesting, I will add trivia questions at the end of every chapters. They are usually asked as a teaser or what would you want to add to the story or stuff like that.
Well, that's all. On to the story!
1 THE MAGICIAN 1
Time: 05:30 Date: 10th of April
"Minako-san, you look like a zombie. Every. Morning. Do you even mirror, girl?" Rio teased the ghoul-faced Minako who apparently has very minute sense of being feminine.
"Minako-san, you need to get your hair up. You wouldn't like to stay untidy." Saori is greatly concerned with Minako.
For Minako, she's just laying low, eating her favorite cereal meal. Yuko, on the other hand, was talking to her cellphone.
{Kazushi! WAKE UP! You don't want to be late, do you? I can't keep an eye on you always, so you'd better behave!}
Suddenly, Rio grinned sinisterly, then bends over to whisper Minako's ear.
"You know, Yuko is really in love with Kazushi! She just can't accept it, tee-hee~" Her words creep out Minako. Fortunately, Minako didn't lost her appetite.
Time: MORNING Date: 10th of April
As Minako about to switch her shoes in the shoes locker, she noticed something that caught her attention.
"Arigatou, Akihiko-senpai!" "I brought you my special bento I made it at home! Care to try one, senpai?"
"Senpai! we should take a selfie!" "Senpai, when did you steal my precious heart?"
Looks like there's a celebrity in the school...Akihiko?
Akihiko Sanada? That silver-haired senior? The boxing champ in Gekkoukan High? She can't believe it.
However, figuring things out too long will make her tardy for the next class...
As she entered the classroom, her classmates were already waiting for the teacher. To kill of time, they chat to their friends, or to spread rumors.
"Did you know, that baseball-capped dude and the brunette in pink were sent to the hospital! I wonder when they will return?"
"Yeah, yesterday, that dude just moved in to dorm and then...that happened!"
"What happened? You outta tell me, dude!"
"You know that brunette and that guy were childhood friends. you know how childhood friends of a boy and a girl would happened right?"
"Eew! Eew! You're messing things up!"
"Hahaha! I made up the last part. But seriously, they are both injured. The dude got his body covered in bruises and the girl fell unconscious. No joke."
"Wow, I didn't know they were into a fight huh? Now that's what I call 'relationship'!"
The group laughed hysterically.
"It's that true?"
"That is something, bro!"
"Should we tell this to the teachers?"
"How about we tell them to the Student council first? Sounds cool?"
Rumors do spread lightning speed. Minako knew that was Junpei and Yukari but...something's really wrong.
Time: LUNCHTIME Date: 10th of April
The foursome were eating their lunch at the cafeteria.
"Hey manager, about last night..." Rio asked. That wasn't the best time to ask about "last night".
"Not now, Rio." she answered nonchalantly.
Awkward Silence fills the tension. Of course, who would want to spill the beans at the crowded cafeteria?
Time: AFTER SCHOOL Date: 10th of April
Minako insisted herself to walk alone. She got sick of eating ramen and she doesn't feel that good. Maybe this is the best time to get an early sleep.
It seems she is the first in the dorm. Too quiet. Maybe at least she'll get a quick sleep at her room.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...
KNOCK! KNOCK!
"Minako-san! Osiris-sama is here! You better go to the third floor!" Saori has tinge of excitement on her words.
"Okay, Saori-san. Give me a minute."
As Minako ascended from the stair case, most are gathered on one corner. So this is the third room of the dorm.
This large room is a function room. Aside from a coffee table, chairs, an old computer and the balcony, there was nothing interesting.
"This area will serve as our base of operations. A few changes is needed to make this room...desirable." Osiris continued as he contemplated the surroundings.
"Operations, Osiris-sama? You mean we are like, forming a group?" Rio is already excited, her wide grin reaches to her ears.
Osiris quietly nodded.
"I would like to call our organization...
Shadow
Operatives
Squad
or S.O.S for short. I will distribute your evokers and we have much matter to discuss."
As each sat down on the dusty wooden chairs, they acquired their evokers. It looks like it's colored along the barrel.
Red for Rio.
Green for Saori.
Blue for Yuko.
Pink for Minako.
"And of course, we shouldn't be always relying on our persona. It will drain our stamina easily so each must have these..."
In a chest, Osiris revealed a stash of weapons. From bows, swords and hammers...how did these got here?!
"Pick one that suits you."
Rio could not help staring at a warhammer.
"This is badass...I'll get this!"
Yuko is quite interested at whips.
"I'll get this."
Saori doesn't seem comfortable to acquiring any weapon...
"I think I'll use staves instead."
Minako feels swords does not fit her, so...
"oooooohh...a naginata? I'll have this"
As they let themselves to have a feel of their weapons... unexpected swings happened.
"RIO! YOU ALMOST HIT ME!" Minako is dangerously close to Rio when she tried her first swings.
She couldn't help to accidentally smash a potted plant.
"Whoooops...I'll be careful next time" Rio's face turned red while the rest of the girls sweat-dropped.
Osiris might need to intervene here. "Okay girls, tomorrow, we will have our first persona training. Prepare yourself tomorrow so you can defend yourself from shadows."
Osiris dismissed the meeting and walked away quietly. What a day.
...?
Thou art I...I art Thou
Thou hast established a new bond.
Thou shalt be blessed when creating
Personas of the FOOL Arcana...
You have established the S.O.S. Social Link of the FOOL Arcana!
TICK...TICK...TICK...TICK...TICK...
The Dark hour has take its effect in Iwatodai. Minako finally slept earlier than usual, however this record would broke as an unexpected guest pays a visit at Minako's room.
At Minako's side, the black feline sits patiently, waiting for the girl to wake up.
"You will have an interesting journey ahead of you, young woman." These were the first words Minako heard as soon as she wakes up. It was Neku.
"Wh-What are you doing here? How did you get here?" Minako almost jumped out of the bed from her surprise. Neku would only grin sinisterly in reply.
"I am one with the shadow, don't you remember?" Neku answered playfully, it only makes Minako's unsettled feeling worse. Minako would glare at the cat.
The cat fell silent unusually long, he left the bed and fixated himself at the desk. He glance at Minako, its eyes were staring at the confused girl.
The eyes projected...sadness.
Its stare made Minako felt sorry to the cat. She got up and sat on the chair.
"Neku-chan...I'm really sorry..." Minako tilted her head then look down to avoid eye contact.
The cat is still silent. As Minako took a peek at the cat, the cat put a bitter smile on its face.
"The power you have is remarkable. You will summon yours soon enough. Just be patient."
Minako patted the cat. The cat purred to its delight. "Purrr..."
The cat soon cleared his throat. " I have something to give you. Treasure this."
Neku revealed a glowing key on its paws. "When you need to go there, just use this."
As Minako received the key, they spent a long time talking to each other.
Time: 07:00 Date: 11th of April
Minako heard some students gossiping while changing shoes at the shoes locker.
"Hey, guess what! Akihiko-san had broke his rib while having his nighttime training..."
"At least he can go to school unlike the capped dude and the pink girl. They can't even stand!"
Time: Morning Date: 11th of April
Place: Yakushima Research facility outskirts
At the seaside, the familiar girl is sitting on one of the pier. She cast her gaze to the seemingly endless stretch of the ocean that lies ahead.
"I wonder how I can escape this island...my body is not suited for swimming" She pondered to herself. It seems hopeless for her to escape if not for her robotic body.
"If I am just a regular person, I wouldn't be living like this. But I have to fulfill my objective. I must escape this island and find the person I've been looking for."
As she continued to stare at the ocean, she saw something at the horizon.
"A...yacht?" An idea had popped out of her mind. If she can sneak inside the ship as a stow-away, then she might have the chance to go to Iwatodai.
"I...must hide. This is my only chance to get out of this island."
As she got up, she hid on the conglomerate of boulders that sits close to the pier. Moments later, the yacht finally docked in to the pier.
There seem to be few passengers in the yacht. The black-suited men seems to guard a businessman with a strange eyepatch on his right eye. After some time, they left the yacht unguarded.
"Here it goes" the girl sneaked to the seemingly empty yacht. As she inspected the surroundings, nobody was inside.
"Luckily, I knew how to operate a yacht like this" She started the engine and sped away. GTA-style.
Time: After school Date: 11th of April
The girls were having a bite at the Wakatsu restaurant. They seemed to be excited at their first training to be the heroines of the night.
"...And then I'm gonna kick their stupid butts out with my bad boy!" Rio seems to be very determined to have her first shadow defeated.
"I'm not that good with using weapons, so my choice is to rely on my persona to defeat shadows." Saori remarked.
"I hope I can summon mine this evening...I wanna join you guys!" Minako joins in the fun, it seems.
"Let's focus first on finishing our meals first. Let's talk about this at the dorm." Yuko deadpanned.
"Yuko...c'mon don't kill the joy here! I'm having a blast..." Rio glared at Yuko, but Yuko managed to counter-glare more intensely; so intense that Rio's excitement went dead for seconds.
Time: Evening Date: 11th of April
At 23:00, a knock is heard on the door. "It's me." Osiris called out.
"Come in, Osiris-sama." Yuko is coincidentally on the sign-in counter.
Everyone is now gathered at their newly-furnished base of operations. Osiris stands to give his briefing.
"Has everyone gathered their equipment? Then let us proceed to our first training. We need to maximize our training each night because our time is limited.
We will have a rule that each training day, it follows a rest day; meaning we will train on non-consecutive days.
Expect me to come starting at ten on-wards. And I almost forgot, as a member of S.O.S., you have to wear these pins."
A pin that has a white background and "S.O.S" printed in bold black.
"Now, we must go to our training grounds."
"Osiris-sama, where is this place?" Saori raised her hand.
"...You'll see" Osiris glanced at Saori in response.
It is already 23:59. Everyone is gathered at the front of school gates.
"Alright, but we don't have the key to open these doors" Yuko suspiciously questioned Osiris.
Osiris would glance at Yuko and gave an assertive gesture. "We are not training at the school. Wait and see."
TICK...TICK...TICK...TICK...TICK...
As the dark hour settled in, the school that they knew transforms into a tower that reached astronomical height. The girls shocked in disbelief.
"Wh-what happened?" "What happened to our school?" "That is one disgusting building"
Osiris entered the gates of this newly formed building.
"This is the Tartarus. It is where most shadows originated and replicated. This is the perfect training place."
The girls followed the masked man inside. Inside is a large entrance with a wide staircase ahead. They couldn't believe of its beautiful architecture.
"All of you must be prepared for battle. There are shadows beneath that door." Osiris pointed at the large door ahead of the staircase.
As Rio, Saori and Yuko contemplated at the surroundings, Minako saw a strange blue door at one corner. She entered through it.
"Welcome to the Velvet room. Sit down here, please." Igor welcomed Minako. As Minako sat on the chair. Igor grinned widely.
"You will meet your assistant now, but before that, do you think it is a man? or a woman?"
Minako thought deeply. "Uhhmm.. is it... a man?" As she released her words, a man in blue attendant suit stepped in from a door.
"Correct, my lady. I am Theodore. But you can call me Theo in short. How can I serve you?"
Theo looks like Elizabeth's brother with that blond hair and blue attendant suit and also the Compendium that he was holding.
"My purpose is to fuse personae into stronger ones. Remember what I told you about the SOCIAL LINKS? It creates more powerful personae on its respective arcana."
Although Igor wants to fuse personae, Minako is yet to awaken her own persona.
"I see that you haven't awaken to your persona. Come back here when you finally summon your own. 'Till we meet again..."
As Minako stepped out of the Velvet Room, she heard Rio's remark.
"Minako-san, you look like a zombie there." But Minako shrugged off the issue.
"Everyone, come here, quickly." Osiris gathered everyone at the center. He distributed what seems to be a receiver.
"Each must have these to have communication to each together. I'm forbidden to enter beyond those doors so you four will explore tartarus.
Think of it as a dungeon. Reach as high as you can within your strength and the time allotted." As everyone geared with their receivers, they set foot to explore the dungeons of tartarus. They ascend the stairs and open the gates. As they walked inside, they have entered the first block, Thebel; It is designed with teal hallways and numerous intersections that weaves this labyrinth-like dungeon.
{Can you hear me? Respond immediately.} Osiris tests his communication device.
"Yes. We can hear you crystal clear." Yuko replied affirmatively.
{My role here is to support you and give you necessary information about the floor you're on and the shadows you've encountered. Hold on...}
{...There are two signatures beyond the first intersection. They don't seem to notice you, yet. Attacking from behind is the best tactic, it seems.}
"Roger that, Osiris-sama" Minako complied.
The group tiptoed silently to the unsuspecting shadow. Minako took her evoker and attempt to summon her persona.
PERSONA!
But nothing happened. She tried again, and again, and again; but Minako felt humiliated. Why can't I summon mine? Is it because I didn't summon mine that night?
The shadow noticed the girl and rushed to attack, taking the form of two blobs of darkness wearing a blue mask.
"That shadow's weak in almost all types of attack. Any attack will do. Protect Minako at all cost." Osiris ordered from his transceiver.
"Osiris-sama, how did you know about them?" Saori asked.
{I forgot to mention about analysis. Analyzing an enemy will reveal its weakness; of course strike on their weaknesses to achieve effective takes on many forms, so be careful.}
"Understood." Yuko answered as she prepares to summon her persona.
"Lend me strength, HERVOR!"
Along with the blue mist the shield maiden evoked from her psyche. "Let's see...cast BUFU!"
The shield maiden channeled her ice magic to create a freezing magic that envelops the shadow. As the ice shattered, so does its victim.
Only one left.
Rio lunged forward and charged to the enemy. She smashed the enemy with her warhammer. The shadow let a piercing cry.
However, the shadow turned into a black mist when a jolt of lightning striked at it.
"Saori...that's supposed to be my kill!" Rio was frustrated when someone steals their kills.
"Sorry..." Saori pouted to apologized.
{*shrugs* Quit finger-pointing. There is another presence if you turn left then go straight ahead.}
As Rio, Saori and Yuko about to proceed, they noticed that Minako wasn't moving. She is frozen in fear.
Minako felt useless. Aside from her naginata, she can't use her persona, so she's screwed. As she stare at the ground, her eyes are ready to burst into tears.
I...can't...be like this...I'm nothing...
{Arisato...try to summon yours now before we fight the next one. If you can't, then you'll either be at the rear or come back here at the lobby.}
As Minako heard it, she unsheathed her evoker then placing it at her temple. She channeled her inner strength and concentrated on her mind before she pull the trigger.
She can't blow it up this time.
"If you are with me, I need you this time...I summon my PER-SO-NA!"
...
...
...
Minako felt her tears rushing down to her cheeks. She's no use."Min-" Saori is at loss of words. Rio and Yuko would feel the Minako would feel any worse, she fell to her knees and her tear would keep flowing down to her is a moment of silence for Minako. Osiris wasn't responding at his transceiver. At the silent hallways of Tartarus, Minako's cry is only heard. Only great courage can uplift Minako's melancholy.
Yuko was the first to spoke up. "Minako, just stay behind us. We believe you have one, they might awaken at the time of great need. We need you. We can do this together." Yuko's words was filled with determination and life. It is unusual to hear Yuko talk like this. At the moment her words come ou of her mouth, Minako stopped weeping.
Minako has her spirit returned to her. "Yuko...you're right. *sniff* Let's do this!" After Minako wiped her eyes, Rio and Saori help her get up and became more closer to each other.
They have finally spotted the shadow. It seems to guard the staircase that leads to the next floor.
Minako had conceived a plan. "Okay, it seems to be a big shadow. Since I can't summon mine, you will handle one shadow each."
"That sounds like good meat!" Rio agreed to the plan.
The group crept behind the shadow and then Minako lunged to deliver the first attack. She swung her naginata to the unsuspecting shadow. The shadow stunned in surprise.
As the shadow split into three individual blobs, the form it took looks like the previous ones but it dons pink butterfly mask.
Yuko is the first to summon her persona "Let's go, team! PERSONA! BUFU!" Hervor has emerged and delivers her ice magic to the shadow. It was very effective.
Saori is the next one. "Give me the power to defeat our enemies! PERSONA! GARU!" Circe sprouted from Saori's psyche. The sorceress channeled her wind magic to the shadow, exposing the shadow's weakness.
Rio seems to be hungry for glory. "Here we go! PERSONA! AGI!" Hippolyta is summoned from the blue mist. Her right hand conjured a fireball and projected it into the shadow.
"...Still alive." The shadow stands alive and deliver its first slash attack to Rio, vulnerable at her shock.
"Mnnnpph...Damn it. It's strong against fire, huh? Well, let's see if you're still alive with this!" Rio held her hammer tightly and pummeled it to the shadow.
After she lifted her giant war hammer, only a muck of the shadow is left behind. Rio shuddered at disgust.
Minako learned a thing or two at the battle. Despite not actively participating at the fight, she felt that she had experience. "Let's go upstairs!" the rest nodded to agree.
Osiris, who is silent since Minako broke down, finally communicated with them.
{We are at the 3rd floor of the Thebel block. There are more shadows than usual here, and much stronger opponents. Keep your guard up.}
Out of the blue, a shadow ambushed the group. It split into 3 individual shadows, two blobs with the butterfly mask and a levitating tiara with the same mask.
{We are under attacked! Two Merciful Mayas and one Muttering Tiara detected. Prepare yourselves.}
The two mayas attacked the blue-haired girl; while the tiara casts bufu on the curly-haired girl.
"Acck!" "Aaaaaaaaah!"
Although Yuko sustained, Saori lost her balance. The odds have turned out bad for the group. Minako felt she is needed here.
"Rio! We have no choice but to cover Saori-san first while she recovers. Everybody, on defensive position!"
While Saori catches her breath, Minako and Rio act as a shield while the mayas circle the girls. Yuko is left to deal with the tiara.
"You won't get the best of me! PERSONA! CLEAVE!" Yuko's persona used her mighty sword to maim the hovering tiara. The shadow is still alive. Yuko then used her whip to lash out the shadow to finish it off.
Meanwhile, one of the maya is about to assault Minako in guard position. "Hyyaah!" Before the shadow reached her, she slashed it with her naginata. The shadow turned to black mist immediately.
"Die, spawn of darkness!" Rio landed a critical strike to the last shadow.
Saori recovered as the battle is over.
{Good job, girls. If you want, you may proceed up to the 5th floor. There is a strong presence there, so if you cannot hope to defeat it, then please return here.}
The girls are into warpath. Now is not the time to retreat, they hack and slash all that stand in their way up to the 4th floor. At the 5th floor...
{The strong shadow is beyond those halls. If you can fight it, then fight.}
Despite quite tired, their determination made them to fight this shadow. Not later, a gawking noise is heard.
{There are Three Venus Eagles. They are weak to wind, but they can cast wind magic. Be careful, especially you Rio and Minako.}
Rio's persona is weak against wind. That sucks. However, she has the only pierce attack in the team.
The shadows appear before them. Three eagles that seems to have plumes around their necks and dons a gold mask at their faces. Saori lunged forward to summon her persona. "PERSONA! ZIO!" The persona concentrated its magic to the shadow, it was electrocuted, but nonetheless maintains its balance.
A gust of wind is launched from the shadow. Of all the possible targets, Rio was caught in the wind. "What the hell-" Rio was knocked down, unable to stand for a while. Yuko cast her ice magic to the shadow, but missed. The odds were in favor of the shadow as one of the shadow landed a critical hit to Saori, knocking her out and Yuko was badly injured. Only Minako is left standing as the shadow circles her in the air. If I have my persona - maybe this is the perfect time to summon mine, this is my only chance! Minako's heartbeat pumped rapidly, her sweat is cold and her hands were trembling in fear.
She grasped on her evoker, then placing it upon her temple and she closed her eyes. She was scared, but she was not fearful.
She saw only peace. Darkness envelops her vision, but she knew there was somebody there. A pair of blue-green eyes and the sinister grin is all that she could see. "How do you run from what's inside your head? Simple...pull the trigger..."The voice inside her encourage to summon her persona. Now.
P-E-R-S-O-N-A!
Finally, the bluish fog clouds upon Minako's aura. From the fog, the persona of the girl that she have been waiting has finally awakened. Orpheus is the persona who heeded her calling. She has bronze flowing long hair with a golden mechanical humanoid body and a big heart-shaped lyre on her back. The team couldn't believe what the see. Osiris can be heard amazed from Minako's awakening.
When everyone thought it was good, something ruptured the persona from inside. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRGGHHH!" Minako's movement is groggy while the monstrosity finally split Orpheus' organic head, revealing a caped humanoid with crow-like skull as its head and has chained cape of seven coffins. It was Death.
Minako tried to get a hold of herself while clutching her head in pain. Death, or Thanatos, used his insanely long sword to brutally execute the two shadows that circles them while the last one gets the unlucky punishment. Thanatos grabbed the flying shadow and mercilessly crushing it with its hand. The squeezing of the shadow became a muck that would dissipates into a mist later.
As Thanatos reverted back to Orpheus, Minako was able to stand up; she is no longer in deep pain. The rest still have their jaw dropped from the unexpected turn of events. "Minako, how did you do that?" "Are you still okay, Minako-san?" "I've never seen one like that..."
{You did great. Now is the time to rest. Let's schedule our next training session at the 14th. Understood?}
Everyone agreed. Minako felt lucky that she didn't lost her consciousness while the ordeal happened.
Time: Morning Date: 12th of April
There's no school. Everyone except Minako rise up at on or before 06:00 (Minako is exhausted from her awakening last dark hour). Rio did her daily jogging, Yuko is away for a while, and Saori is left at the dorm fidnig someway to kill off time. Minako would wake up as late as 12 noon. Darn, I feel rusty. Might do something to have fun. She went downstairs only to find Saori cleaning up the plates and putting away the leftover lunch. "Saori-san, I'll have my lunch...*shrugs*" After Minako ate, she would surf the net until she hit the bed only to sleep all evening...
Time: Early Morning Date: 13th of April
Minako woke up early. What was the time? As she checked her phone...It's 05:00. She slept, what? More than 10 hours? At least she is full of energy.
At 05:30, a delicious aroma made the sleeping tenants to be charmed to wake up. "What is that delicious smell?"
As Rio, Saori and Yuko got downstairs, they are surprised that the breakfast table is filled with mouthwatering meals. Along with the delicious breakfast, an individual bento is prepared for every resident of the dorm.
"Minako-san...Is...this for us?" Rio's mouth is already drooling from the food.
"Wow...Minako-san, it's a good way to start our day." Saori tried not to look, but she can't resist as she placed a bad pokerface.
"Looks like it's the right decision not to wake her up yesterday. Let's dig in." Yuko join in the feast.
Their growling stomachs are now satisfied thanks to Minako's cooking magic. Boy, she cooks great!
"Remember that this week is student council election. Don't miss to vote." Yuko reminded them while about to exit the dorm with the girls.
Time: Morning Date: 13th of April
Unusually, Minako sits in the class listening to Ms. Ounishi's lecture. Everyone knows Minako's a genius, she does not need to stick her ear to the boring lecture.
She, still, enjoys the lecture as she happened to witness Ms. Ounishi caught Kenji sleeping in class. Again. KENJI TOMOCHIKA!
Time: After school Date: 13th of April
While passing through the strip mall...
"Whhaaaat? I don't want to do these home-works... I wanna kick some butt!" Rio is officially addicted to tartarus exploration, it seems.
"Rio, we can't go tonight. Maybe tomorrow night. We need to regain our strength." Yuko glared at her to suppress her excitement.
"*grumble* Stupid home-works, stupid quizzes, stupid Kenji, and stupid lectures..." Rio mumbled grumpily to herself.
"IKR, I just want to hit on my Laptop." Minako then fist-bumped with Rio. Saori, who is grade conscious at the start, stays silent.
MEANWHILE...
The girl has arrived midnight at Tatsumi Port Island Docks with her stolen Yacht. Her sensors tells her that this place is very near to Iwatodai, her destination. As she wander the docks with the green moon to guide her, she stumbled upon a shady teenager who, unlike the rest of the people, didn't transmogrify.
She approached this teenager who is in maroon pea-coat and wears a beanie on his head. "Huh?"
The girl tried to communicate this person as humanly as it can, hoping to get to this 'Iwatodai'.
"Sir, do you know where is this particular IWATODAI?" The girl asked.
The teenager, unsure how he would answer to this robotic girl, gave a uneasy glare and turned away.
The girl asked again, but ends with his ignorance. She must do something.
The girl walked around to where the teenager is facing, only to irritate him further.
"What do you want?" The teenager scowled back to the girl, hoping to make her walk away.
She is a persistent one,it seems. "Where is IWATODAI? Or else..." there is hostility in her words.
As she prepares her unusually large battle-axe from her back, he would only ignore her.
{ORGIA MODE ACTIVATED} Her robotic body became overpowered, her attack and speed increases at unusually high level. As she swing her axe to the teenager, he quickly dodged the attack side-wards.
"Tch, another one to fight." The teenager mumbled at his breath. He took a large lead pipe that happens to be beside him and rushed forward to attack the girl.
"Hyyyargh!" The girl clashed with the teenager in close combat under the shining green moon. They exchanged powerful swings at each other, only to be blocked or dodged. At this moment, no one is gaining the upper hand.
It was a good fight.
Time: Morning Date: 14th of April
Rio was already up at 05:00. With her track suit, she jogged around the Naganaki shrine near their dorm to get energized for the persona training. Saori woke up a little later and did her daily cleaning routine. Yuko is preparing herself for the school and Minako...she's still sleeping like a log.
Not much happened for the school except for these boring lectures.
Time: After School Date: 14th of April
"Hey, Mina-tan! Wanna go eat something? I'll treat you this time.*grin*" Junpei invited Minako with unusual cheerfulness. Minako's stomach grumbled in agreement. "Hahaha...Sounds good!"
At the Wakatsu Restaurant
"Two specials, please."
"Nice, what's the difference, though?" Minako asked curiously.
"Regular is nice enough but the special; it's pure awesomeness!" Junpei smiles brightly.
As the two special ramens were served, Junpei couldn't resist to dig in. He ate rather noisily.
Junpei and Minako finished eating with satisfied stomachs. Minako would seemed bother at something that worries Junpei at some point.
"Hey Minako, is something wrong?"
"Huh?" Minako answered sadly. "It's, what happened to you?"
Junpei spaces off at the distance while thinking. "That's...that is...there is an accident...yeah...and I got bruises and Yuka-tan fell unconscious." Junpei lied at this 'accident', Minako knew he is bad at lying.
"Oh...why did you transfer to the student dorm, anyway?" Minako tried to undermine Junpei's reason.
"That's because...I just want to!"
"I don't believe you, Junpei..."
"Mina-tan, you're scary..."
"There's a good reason why you transfer at the student dorm, and why you have that 'accident'."
"Uhmm... let's not talk about this. I mean, come on! Let's enjoy while we're still young! No use worrying, Let's have fun!" Junpei changed the subject with his carefree demeanor, Minako would let this slip by. He didn't knew that she knew something about the dark hour. Something appeared at Minako's subconsciousness.
Thou art I...I art Thou.
Thou shalt be blessed when creating
Personas of the Magician Arcana.
Minako has established the Junpei Iori Social Link of the Magician Arcana! Minako happily received The Magician tarot card.
"Let's go home..." Minako expressed with tired words. Junpei nodded in reply.
Time: Evening Date: 14th of April
"Today's the day! All shadows will prepare their butts to be kicked, yeah!" Rio exclaimed while brandishing her war hammer at the base. It is already 23:00 and Osiris is yet to show up. Yuko is spacing off at the balcony while Saori sits patiently at the wooden chair. Minako is nowhere to be found.
{*static transmission*...come in?} Osiris' transmission is heard from the receiver by the computer. Rio picked up the receiver and fine-tuning the modulator to have the same frequency.
{bbzzzz...Please...zzz..can you hear me?}
"We can hear you fine, now. Where are you, Osiris-sama?"
{At the strip mall...meet me there as soon as possible. Training is suspended as of the moment.}
"Roger."
As they prepare to leave, Minako was on her way to the third floor. She was sleeping all along in her room...
TICK...TICK...TICK...TICK...TICK...
Place: Iwatodai Strip Mall
The group arrived at the front of the strip mall. The coffins and the blood puddles were dotted on this area.
{Come in}
"Yes, Osiris-sama?"
{I sent you here because I detect a stray shadow in this location. Unfortunately, the presence is lost as you arrived here.}
"So, what now, Osiris-sama?"
{Wait...give me a moment...there are shadows that spontaneously appear outside of Tartarus although rare. Now, I detect multiple presence at the Naganaki shrine! You must go there immediately!}
"Roger."
The group quickly left the area to pursue the threat. But before leaving the area...
"Meeeoooow!"
As they glanced to the cat, it was the same cat that Minako would meet every dark hour. What is Neku doing here?
"Neku-chan, what are you doing here?" Minako asked as she approached and squat down to see the black feline.
"Meow!" The cat stares blankly at Minako's crimson eyes.
Minako inferred that Neku wouldn't talk when there are people around so she whispered the cat to tag along with her if he wanted.
The cat meowed cheerfully in response.
"Minako, it may be cute, but we don't have time for that. Double time!" Yuko called out Minako as they sprint towards the shrine.
Place: Naganaki shrine
"Hyyah! Eliminating shadows! Ha!" The grunting of a voice is heard as S.O.S. approaches near the shrine. A loud crashing sound is also heard.
{Come in. The shadows are decreasing one by one. Is there a persona user present that is eliminating the shadow's presence?}
"Maybe, we'll take a peek who is this persona user."
{Standby. I'm on my way there. Out.}
S.O.S. crept quietly to the bushes to observe this mysterious owner of the voice.
They noticed something unusual to this one. A girl with bluish-white hair with bloodshot red eyes and wields a large battle-ax. She fights with agility and easily annihilating the shadows that surrounds her. All of the shadows are in the form of a samurai warrior - the Hakuras. Hakuras are powerful plus agile Strength arcana shadows but they are no match to this girl. Wait, does the girl seems mechanical?
"ORGIA MODE 4X" This girl seems like it's on a mindless rampage. 5...4...3...The shadows could not hit an attack to this girl gone berserk. Her body is faintly glowing, her attack and power is incredibly high. Can the S.O.S. defeat this girl in violent state.
WHAM!
The ground shook. That is the last shadow that the girl delivered her final blow. The last shadow dissipates into mist.
"Whoa-" Minako is filled with awe. Unfortunately, the girl slowly turn its head to the source of the noise.
"ARE YOU...AN...ENEMY?" The girl threatens as she fixed her eyes to the suspicious mivement. Before the S.O.S. make a move, the girl sprinted forward and swings her ax to the bush.
The S.O.S. barely dodged the attack, becoming scattered in result. As the bush is cut into half, Saori is seen ducked down, almost have her head hit with her ax. As the girl about to commence a guillotine-style swing, her arms became ice solid causing to temporarily lose her balance before it shattered like a glass.
"Another late intervention. I deeply apologize, but better late than never I guess?" The masked man arrived at the near the staircase that leads to the shrine. Osiris' timing couldn't been better. The group is filled with hope and joyfulness.
As Osiris leaped near to the girl, he raised his cane pointing to the girl who is recovering her balance. "I've never see you before...If you wish to fight them, let me be first." As the girl readies her battleaxe, she pumped in much more strength. "ORGIA MODE 8X"
Osiris would chuckle at her. "This battle would be worthwhile." He remarked as he toss away his cane and removes his suit to show confidence.
As the battle started, the girl sprinted much faster while she readies her battle-ax. The thrusters that were built-in at the battle-ax and at her body makes her speed devilishly fast. On the other side, Osiris balled his left hand for his battle stance.
The masked man psyched up his persona. "Let us commence a fusion spell. Zio and Vicious Strike! LIGHTNING STRIKE!" His left hand is filled like a ball of pure electrical charges. The second the battle-ax is point blank away from Osiris, he would only mock at the girl.
At the split second, Osiris sidestepped quickly, almost had his hat being touched by the sharp end of the ax. The moment the girl realized her mistake, the masked man quickly leaped upwards, grabbing the neck of the girl. At the highest point, the masked man scorned as he mercilessly bashed the girl downwards to earth. The ground violently shook as the girl is sent to the ground, leaving a rather large crater. The masked man, while pinning her to the ground with his left hand, still channels his electrical charges to the base of the girl's neck as she struggles even while being electrocuted. Fragments of seconds pass as the struggle gets weaker and weaker until she no longer moves.
The S.O.S. could not keep up at the battle that happened almost instantly. Osiris, their respected mentor, singlehandedly defeated a devil incarnate.
Osiris stood up as he get his suit and his cane. "I thought she would be a good competitor. She might need more training." Minako, Rio, Saori and Yuko widen their eyes in shock. This masked man might be much more powerful, if not almost omnipotent...
The masked man glanced at the girls who he found them speechless from the fight. "She has only gone...berserk. I'm afraid the training is over as the dark hour approaches its end. Worry no more, I'll take care of this girl." Then, the girls left the shrine, disappointed from the sudden turn of events.
Time: Morning Date: 15th of April
At the Tatsumi Port Island Hospital...
"Shinji!" The silver-haired senior rushed along the empty hallways of the hospital. As he finally entered a hospital room...
"Shinji-" A doctor and his nurse is attending to the teenager in beanie, who was covered in serious bruises and scratches. The doctor would look back to find the senior catching his breath at the doorway.
The doctor with a tie spoke up. "Is this your friend? He was admitted early morning when we found him in this...condition. It seems your friend has gone into a fight." The silver-haired senior would ignore him, approaching the teenager with a worry look on his face. "Aki-*cough**cough* bastard..." The teenager was struggling to find words for his dear friend. "Shinjiro Aragaki, is the name of our patient, right? And you are...?" The doctor asked the senior. "It's Akihiko Sanada. What really happened, Shinji?" The senior would reply with haste. He needed answers to his questions.
"Doctor...give *cough* us a moment." The teenager scowled at the doctor. The doctor and his nurse reluctantly leaves the room as Shinjiro gave a threatening glare to them. Akihiko sat down by the chair as he let out a big sigh. Shinjiro would only laugh at Akihiko's worrisome attitude. "It was a good fight." Shinjiro smirked as he recall his recent street fight, only to frustrate Akihiko.
"Shinji, you're always looking for a fight. Look at you!"
"Tch, you're like that you little piece of- It's not an ordinary fight." He mocked the senior.
"I fought...a...girl..." Shinjiro trails off as he stares blankly at the window. The irked Akihiko immediately left him as he quietly left the room without saying a word.
[The Arcana is the means which all is revealed...The silent voice within one's hearts whispers the most profound wisdom...]
END
Author's Notes: That wraps up for this chapter...Oh, FYI, I will add chapters every week for this fanfic. I'm certain you're waiting for the next chapter: The Priestess, right? Yes, my chapters are named after the arcanas in order (You've probably knew them already). There are some minor changes on this chapter but I won't point it out individually of course.
THANK YOU for supporting my fanfic (It makes me very very happy :) )
I feel quite shameful of myself for drawing such a crappy sketch...
- Hey, Is there somebody willing to sketch my OC's and for the cover pic for this fanfic? For Free? I don't feel to confident on drawing them myself like I have THAT talent. For those kind souls who would like to try, just PM me and I'll try to describe them one by one. Then maybe you might post on Deviantart website (I have an account there! The username's noypi6) and inform me if it's done. PLEASE I badly need one.
Question: Who would you want to be the Social Link for the Hermit Arcana?
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I DO NOT OWN ANY OF THE PERSONA SERIES