April 3rd Tuesday
-Midnight- In front of Sakura Machidou High School-
"What are we doing here?" Kaneda asked as he looked around noticing where they were, In front of their new high school.
"Watch," Mitsuru said as she crossed her arms and focused on the school.
The group of students watched as Sakura Machidou High School began to transform in front of them.
"That's impossible…the school it's…," Shizuka stuttered. Everyone looked in shock as the school they once knew turned into a tall ominous tower, completely unrecognizable.
"Why the hell did our freakin' school transform?" Kaneda yelled confused.
"It is because of the dark hour," Mitsuru said and walked into the ominous looking doors of the tower. Everyone looked at each other and followed Mitsuru in.
-Inside of Tartarus-
Mitsuru waited for everyone to get a good look around at the new surroundings before she began to speak.
"Woah…this place is cool…," Kaneda mumbled.
"Yeah but it's screaming danger…," Akira said as she looked up towards the stairs.
"Wow…," Shizuka said as she slowly looked around.
"This place looks awesome," Junpei said.
"I'm with Akira…this place screams danger…," Yukari said as she looked at Mitsuru.
"Alright, we are going to begin now…since there is an even amount of number of people we should split into two groups and make our way up into Tartarus," Mitsuru started.
"Tartarus…a place where suffering and torment took place…," Akira quoted as she continued to look towards the stairs.
"Talk about creepy Akira," Kaneda said.
"Yeah no kidding…," Junpei added in.
"Sorry…looked up on my Greek mythology," Akira said with a nervous smile.
"Now as for the teams…," Mitsuru started.
"Shizuka and Shuuhei," Akira quickly said. Shuuhei and Shizuka looked at Akira, and then at each other.
"Well…that was easier than expected," Mitsuru said. Shizuka smiled at Akira, Akira winked.
"While in Tartatus we are on our own. Do not I repeat DO NOT go off alone, we've noticed that every time we reenter Tartarus the structure changes and it never the same, so please stay together. When you feel that you're getting tired return to the base immediately do not wait. Understood?" After Mitsuru gave her little lecture, everyone agreed.
"I will contact you if I sense anything strange or sense danger,"
One again everyone nodded and began to walk up the stairs, beginning their long trek up into Tartarus.
-Tartarus 1st floor-
"Sooo I wanna be leader," Kaneda said as walked ahead of Shuuhei's group.
"Sorry pal that's my job," Junpei said cutting Kaneda off.
"Says who?" Yukari spoke up.
"Says me," Junpei replied.
"Um uh no," Kaneda replied and stopped.
"Um uh yea," Junpei replied and also stopped. Yukari watched as the two boys in her group began to argue. She sighed heavily as Shuuhei's groups walked pass them.
"Who cares let's go! Akira-sempai and the other already left," Yukari said as she started walking. The two boys stopped arguing and followed Yukari.
"Of course they're gone, that's how she is," Kaneda added.
"Quit yapping and let's go. I wanna get some action before they get rid of them all.
(It's your first Shadow…don't rush it)
"Piece of cake," Akira said confidently and charged at the shadow.
As Akira charged at the Shadow, the shadow changed into a large deformed dragon.
"Ok! I can do this!" Shizuka said as she charged at the shadow dragon, Shuuhei also charged the Shadow dragon with her.
The Shadow dragon roared and swung its large tail at the three students, Akira slide under the tail as Shizuka jumped over it. Shuuhei sliced the tail and two stopping the shadow dragon in its tracks. The dragon fell over and roared in pain.
(It's vulnerable! Attack it now!)
Akira smirked and spun her sickles that were connected by a chain. Shizuka spun her lance and also smirked.
"It's over!" Shuuhei yelled as he pointed his sword at the dragon. Shuuhei and the girls converged on the Shadow.
"We found the stairs to the next level Mitsuru-sempai," Yukari said as she stood on the stairs.
"and no shadows…," Junpei sighed.
"This sucks major ass," Kaneda said as he also stood on the stair, Junpei was at the base of the stairs.
( All right. I'll inform the others…)
"Ugh! I was totally expecting some fights…," Junpei started to complain.
"I know right…," Kaneda added in.
"I think I hear them coming…," Yukari said as she looked towards the pathway they took to get to the stairs.
( They are coming you can continue…)
"Alright! Let's go!" Junpei said and ran up the stairs.
"Hey!" Kaneda and Yukari said as they ran after him. Shuuhei's team quickly followed after them.
-Several minutes later-
"Woah!" Kaneda yelled as he barely jumped back dodging a giant fist from one of the higher level shadows that the group encountered.
"Hermes!" Junpei yelled as he summoned his persona with his evoker. His winged persona easily dealt with the shadows.
Kaneda slashed at a shadow, then quickly turned around and impaled his sword into a shadow behind him, he quickly ripped out his sword and blocked an attack from another shadow near by. Yukari aimed her bow and released three arrows aimed for the three remaining shadows
"And that's a done deal," Kaneda said as he spun his sword.
"Right. Mitsuru sempai said the others found the stairs. Let's go," Yukari said.
"Yeah! Let's go kick some more shadow ass," Junpei said with a fist pump.
"Awww yeah! I'm down with that!" Kaneda said. Yukari shook her head in disbelief as she watched the two boys give each other high 5's
"Let's go…," Yukari said and started walking.
-Feeling like Several Hours later—
"I'M SO TIRED!" Shizuka whined as she and the others were on their way back to the dormitory.
"Yeah…what time is it?" Shuuhei asked.
"It's 12:01am," Mitsuru replied.
"What? No way, it felt like we were in there for like 5 hours!" Kaneda yelled.
"Calm your face," Akira said annoyed.
"Even though the dark hour only last for one minute, but inside of Tartarus time does not progress," Mitsuru replied.
"So it's like a timeless dimension?" Shuuhei asked.
"Exactly," Mitsuru replied.
"I'm so exhausted…," Yukari said quietly
"Yeah me too…Kaneda is already dosing off," Akira noticed as she looked at Kaneda who seemed to be sleep walking.
A few minutes later the group entered the dormitory and collapsed on their beds, resting from their first and many visits into Tartarus.