Persona Zero: The First Journey
Chapter 3: Awakening
BlueDestiny: Hey, welcome back! You know, this chapter was pretty hard to write because it's a really important one! Souji's finally going to-
Fuyuki: Whoa, dude! This place is cool!
BlueDestiny: Wait, wha-?
Fuyuki: Dude, it must be awesome to be the writer! Do you plan on adding more girls into the story?
BlueDestiny: Uh…
Fuyuki: Oh, oh! And you can make me a super awesome masked hero who fights evil by moonlight, and getting chicks at-
*throws dictionary at Fuyuki's face*
BlueDestiny: Ahem. So, as I was saying. Persona and all of its characters are solely belonging to Atlus. I do not own them in any way at all. So, that aside, let's-
Fuyuki: (on the ground) ….start the chapter!
BlueDestiny: …..Excuse me. *Pulls out hammer.* HAMMER TIME! *Fuyuki's screaming starts filling the room*
Abandoned Warehouse, Iwatodai Residential District, April 8, 1990
"Hello?"
Souji entered the warehouse, looking for that weird upperclassman. The place was very dark, as all the windows were boarded up. However, the sunset's light was able to pass through other holes and cracks along the warehouse walls, allowing Souji just enough view of his surroundings. From what Souji could tell, this used to be some sort of storage for a toy company that got bankrupt a couple of months ago. The clearance notice was splattered all over the notice board, with the ensuing demolition scheduled tomorrow afternoon. What is that guy snooping around in a place like this? Getting free toys? Meh, Souji thought. He doesn't look the sort of person to do that. Although he could think of a person who would do such a thing to get his hands on free toys…
*ACHOO!*
"Onii-chan, you caught a cold?" A 13 year old girl asked his brother. She had the same brown hair as his, and wears a red hairband. The boy then cleared his face of the mucus as he continued to eat his pack of chips. "Meh, I'm fine, Fuuko." But then he frowned slightly. "I'm getting the feeling that someone's talking something about me." Then he cheered back up. "It could be a cute girl!" Fuyuki whooped, leaving his little sister shaking her head at her brother's silliness. "Onii-chan no baka…"
…Anyway, Souji thought, where could that guy be? He was about to just leave it at that and go home when he heard a noise from the back area. Quietly, Souji walked slowly to where he thinks the source is coming from. As he crept closer, the noises are getting louder and clearer; till Souji could make out that it was voices.
"…you have nowhere else to run."
Souji heard the cold, emotionless voice coming from what Souji finally saw as two men behind a shelf full of boxed toys. One of them was the one he was looking for, while the other was an unknown man. He was wearing what it appears to be a repairman's attire. But what alarmed Souji was that the senior was wielding two swords, and the expression the repairman was making. It was a face of full insanity, with bloodshot eyes with yellow pupils, and a sinister smile that could be found on faces of serial killers in movies.
"You cannot stop me, boy." The man spoke with an eerily high pitched growl that certainly does not suit him. "I like this place. I enjoy watching all those fools I controlled killed themselves. Especially my last victim." The man proceeds to lick his lips creepily. "I only spoke a few curses at him, and he goes insane! He started banging his head to a wall like a woodpecker! Hahahaha!" The man then glared at the senior. "That's why I won't leave. And for telling you all that…" he began to look like he was about to lunge at the guy. "…I'll happily make you kill yourself!"
From behind the shelf he was hiding, Souji was shocked beyond anything he had ever felt before. The man was deranged psychopath that has found his next prey. But the senior didn't even flinch from what the man said. He only saw his back, so he couldn't see his face, but seriously, how could he be so calm when he was told he was about to be killed by a man capable of doing so? He had to do something, he had to get out of here and call the police-
*SQUEEEAK!*
Souji looked down and saw he stepped on a rubber duck. What the heck? He thought furiously. Who put that there?! Then he glanced back at the men. The senior was looking at his direction, surprised.
That was the opening the psycho needed.
Suddenly, his arms began to stretch and his hands curved into fists. The senior realized his mistake, but it was too late as he turned just in time to see the fist connects to his face, resulting in a sickening haymaker punch. He was thrown backwards and crashed into a shelf nearby, causing it to fall over. He did not rise up. Souji was stunned. What the hell happened?! Clearly this guy is NOT human, Souji thought. The man's arm then reverted back to its original form, and he started laughing maniacally. "Hahahahahaha! That's what you get if you mess around with me!" Then, he turned to Souji, who was petrified by the sudden turn of events. "As for you…" He then walked slowly over whom to Souji, who in turn stepped back, trying to distance himself with him. "I dunno who you are…" He licked his lips again. "…but you would look good…AS A BLOODY HEAP ON THE FLOOR!
Oh god, Souji thought. He was gonna die, he was gonna die, he was going to die and they'll be no one that'll recognize his-
WHY ARE YOU AFRAID?
Suddenly, Souji's head began to hurt again. "Kuh!" He clutched his forehead as it became more painful. It was the same voice that was talking to him outside the warehouse.
LOOK CAREFULLY AND SEE THAT HE IS NOT WHAT YOU THINK HE IS…
The moment it said that, Souji's vision started to become distorted. He flashes of the man's image, then it suddenly turned into…some sort of blue creature. It has a blobish like body, with limbs without hands and feet. It's face looked like the one you see on aliens in sci-fi movies, but that devilish grin was still etched on its face. The man stopped, looking puzzled. "What's wrong with you? Don't tell me you're dying of fear right now, kid!" His vision flashed between the two forms of the man, until the blobish form became much clearer. Souji's head felt it was going to explode. He clutched his head while screaming loudly, then falling down on his hands and knees.
Suddenly, it stopped just as abruptly as before. "You done?" The man asked. "Okay, I'll guess I'll kill you now." Then, Souji slowly lifted his head towards the man.
"I see you."
"Huh?" was all the man could say before suddenly, a bright blue light engulfed the room. The man suddenly felt hot. "Wait, what the hell?!" And slowly, he saw his skin melting, revealing the blue, slimy one within. "What the hell did you do to me, you bastard?!" The skin continues to melt off, till finally all of it was gone, and there stood the blue creature that Souji just saw in his mind.
From the shelf nearby, the senior sat up, clutching his face, still feeling the sting of that punch. Then he noticed the scene in front of him, and his eyes widen. "That's…"
Slowly, Souji stood up, panting heavily, but his mind suddenly becomes clearer. He didn't feel as scared as he was before. In fact, he felt…stronger.
…WHEN FACED WITH THESE DEMONS, CALM YOUR SOUL AND EMPTY YOUR THOUGHTS…
Souji, without knowingly, suddenly raised his right hand high. "You…" The blue creature snarled at him. The limbs stretched and became sharp at the edges.
…AND WITH CONVICTION AND RESOLVE, CALL OUT TO YOUR OTHER…
"I'LL FREAKIN' KILL YOU!"
And the words came out of Souji's mouth.
"Per…..so…NA!"
Souji snapped his fingers, and sound of glass breaking is heard. A wave of energy pushed the creature back, as a dark shape began to materialize behind him. "What the hell?!" said the creature as it looked at the scene in front of him.
I AM THOU, THOU ART I…
The head and torso took shape first. It was wearing a red helm on his head, with a shining white face. It was wearing some sort of battle armor of the same color, it's muscular form visible even under the breastplates.
…I AM A BEING CREATED FROM THE SEA OF THY SOUL…
Its arms materialized, not covered by the armor, the strong, well built form brandishing a spear on its right hand and a shield that shines brightly, with an emblem of octopus or some sort on the other. It's legs, clothed by a black grey subtly followed by matching grey boots.
…THE LESSER DEMONS COWER BEFORE MY SPEAR, AND THEIR FUTILE RESISTANCE BOUNCE OFF MY ARMOR MADE OF THE PUREST LIGHT..
And finally, the being began to sprout wings. A pair of big, black wings emerged from its back, flapping it once, leaving feathers to fly about inside the warehouse. Its cold, gaze not leaving the now terrified blue creature, who was shaking from fear at this new sight.
…FOR I AM POWER, MIGHTIEST OF HEAVEN'S LEGIONS...
The being pointed the sharp edge of its huge spear at the creature, with its face still devoid of emotion as it finishes its monotonous speech.
…AND I HAVE COME TO PURGE YOUR UNHOLY SOUL.
From a distance, a hooded figure was watching the scene unfolding, and smiled knowingly as the outcome of this encounter became clear. "Such marvelous power. Fufufu…"
The blue creature, clearly intimidated by the gesture, then wildly flailed its long, sharp limbs at the being, hoping to do some intimidation of its own. "I-I…I'm not afraid of you!" It then moved to a battle stance, ready to pounce at the being. "I'LL EFFIN' KILL ALL OF YA!" It loudly screeched and lunged towards Souji.
Souji flung his right hand towards the creature, as a gesture of order to the being, and the being complied. It lifted up its shield and the creature's attack hits on the thickly forged steel, then used the shield to push it back to a corner. The creature hit the wall with a loud crashing bang. The creature, desperate and enraged, yelled and charged again at the being. Souji, his pupils turning blue throughout the entire scene, gestured again and commanded, "Zio."
The being's wings spreads wide, as it raises its spear high, and a bolt of lightning emerged from the tip and struck the creature, causing it to screech in shock and pain before falling in a heap. Souji, who now is starting to have difficulty standing up, stared as the creature slowly, painfully rises, still denying to accept its defeat. "I…I can still m-move!" It formed its sharp limbs again, and then screamed at Souji with an astounding amount of defiance. "I REFUSE TO BE KILLED BY A MERE HUMAN!" It raises itself off the ground and started charging again at Souji. The boy, looked at the crippled thing with disgust, and decided he had enough. "Finish him." Power then readied its spear, and threw it at the charging demon. It hits him in the face and went through its whole body before hitting the wall behind them. The creature froze midair, as it began to die. "All….hail…Nyarlathothep," was its last words as the creature disintegrates in a ball of black flames. Then, Power looked at Souji, who was kneeling from the sheer amount of energy spent on that battle.
THOU HATH DONE WELL, YOUNG ONE. REST AND RECOVER YOUR STRENGTH…
Power then began to disappear bottom first, and was engulfed by a bright light.
...AND CALL UPON ME AGAIN WHEN THE OCCASION CALLS FOR IT. FOR NOW…FAREWELL…
Power completely disappeared, then in his spot, appeared a shining card, with a picture of a sword and balance, and VIII written on the bottom, approached Souji and lay on his open palm, before it too disappears inside Souji.
By now, Souji was completely spent. "M-Mom…" He fell over to his side after uttering that, and moved no more.
The other boy in the warehouse looked in awe over what had just happened, as he finally picked himself up off the shelf. He approached Souji and examined him, relieved to find that he is alive, but extremely exhausted. Just at that moment, he heard police sirens in the distance. Someone has bound to heard all that commotion and called for the authorities. He sighed to himself, glancing back at the unconscious Souji.
"What a pain in the ass…"
WHOO! That was hard to write, but there you go, Souji's awakening!
I really felt that I should've made this a bit longer cause it's a really important chapter, but it was past midnight by the time I finished writing this. *Yawwnnn*And I'm no good writing while being sleepy, so, bear with me, okay?
So, as always, thanks for reading! Feel free to rate and review, and any suggestions is welcomed! No hate reviews, okay? Is better to tell me on what I can improve other than whining how my writing is bad. Keep in mind, this is my first fanfic!
Welp, that's all for now! Seeya on the next chapter!