Sorry for no chapter last week. I was visiting home and then started my final semester of college! So exciting but a ton of work. My apologies though.
Matt- I actually know who you're talking about
Raven Tsurara-
KeybladeSamurai- I'm still researching individual arc types for decks but thanks for the suggestions.
BahamutX978- If you're worried about following cannon too much there is going to be a big split from cannon soon. As for more relaxing interactions, there are going to be more chapters like that in the future with little moments spread throughout here and there
VongolaHermit- I did not think of making Astral the Aeon arcana! It makes perfect sense now. Thank you so much for suggesting it.
Guest- Black Mist is a coming….
The place was covered in fog…..lots and lots of fog….and it was getting on his nerves! The figure made his way through the fog wonder just what on earth was he doing here.
"Don Thousand….this better be worth it!"
Behind him shadows moved and shifted taking on the shape of a large winged demon that spoke in a low powerful voice.
Patience Vector, the world promises a lot of power to whoever can take it.
"Pfft fine…whatever…since you seem to be in no rush to get those Numbers you need."
Don't tempt me to end your life!
"Fine….ooh lookie here…our first victim…." Vector had spotted a creature that an appearance similar to a jackal…though the presence of a bizarre mask on it was a little unnerving. That was, if you were someone who was not Vector.
"Here doggie!" Vector leaped forward crushing the creature's skull with his hand. It whimpered in pain before falling still allowing Vector to absorb it.
"So this is the power of Shadows…" Vector grinned as he spotted more of the jackal shadows gather. "Come to papa!"
The group had boarded the ship again and Astral activated the coordinates of the next ruins and left the ship on autopilot. Right now they needed to discuss what happened inside of Mach's ruins.
"Okay now that Yosuke has air back in his lungs, can you explain how you summoned your Persona?" Yukiko asked as the group sat down.
Yosuke rubbed his head as he tried to remember, "Well….when I saw Shark and the other guy falling….I just really wanted to save them and get out of there. Then I just felt that rush I usually do when I summon Jiraiya and he appeared."
"But how? We tried several times back home to summon our Personas in reality, how did it work in those ruins?" Chie asked.
Yu turned to look up at Astral, "I bet you have a theory."
"I do actually," Astral answered, "I figured if Personas could have an effect on Numbers, why not the other way around?"
"So that's why you brought them along," Shark scowled, "You wanted to have their…..abilities….handy in case things got messy."
"And it was a good thing too," his sister scolded him, "You still need to thank Yosuke for saving your life!"
Shark just pouted and avoided making eye contact.
"But why just in the ruins?" Kotori asked.
"Maybe there was something in the air who knows…" Yuma said, "I'm just worried about what happens next."
"You're referring to the fact that the Barians now know about our Personas." Yu was worried about this too.
"Yeah," Yuma looked to the ground shifting uncomfortably, "I don't know what will happen to you guys now.
"Eh..don't worry about it," Yosuke tried to reassure him, "We can handle ourselves."
"Can you duel?" Shark asked.
"…..Mostly can take care of ourselves."
"But Yuma taught us the rules." Yukiko said. She then ignored the painful groan from Shark.
"Well at least your prepared in case of an emergency," Rio was a bit more optimistic than her brother.
"Let's just hope it doesn't come to that." Yu hoped.
"I don't recall ever agreeing to be your errand boy."
Trust me Vector, you will require this one's help.
"Fine, fine…." Vector was a little annoyed. He wanted to go straight after Yuma but Don Thousand insisted that they pay a trip to the little world that Yuma had discovered inside the television now he was tracking a rather annoying vagabond also known as Number 96: Black Mist. For the life of him Vector couldn't figure out why they needed his help but then again, he loved terrorizing Astral so he was okay in his book. Right now he was searching in a foreign country, there were rumors of a politician that had recently started dabbling in the underground market. It stank of Black Mist's interference. Thankfully in this neighborhood nobody paid attention to Vector, he attributed to that to the new leather outfit he had chosen for his human disguise no longer needing that school uniform. He eventually found the building he was looking for.
"Time for a little chaos…." He blasted the door open.
The armed guards were no match for them, with his new powers Vector could toss them like rag dolls with just a mere thought. He even started to make a little game out of it over how far he could toss the weak humans. But his little game was cut short when he found the room that reeked of Black Mist's energy.
"So a helpful caring politician actually makes his money but dealing with the underworld." Vector grinned as he blasted the last guard away, "But then again…it's not really you pulling the strings."
The politician let out a dark chuckle as a dark energy surrounded him, "You are very perceptive," The energy flowed off of the man and formed into the dark version of Astral, "You aren't human are you?"
Much to Black Mist's surprise, Vector bowed down to him, "I am Vector of the Barian Emperors and I propose a…partnership…my loyalty."
"Well this is interesting," Black Mist smirked, "A Barian working for me? But I should tell you I have no desire to save Barian World."
"Then our goals are the same then."
Black Mist let out a chuckle, "Now this is an interesting turn of events…"
"You still don't believe me? Then how about proof?" It was Vector's turn to smirk, "How about I tell you the location of a new number?"
This caught Black Mist's attention, "You know where a number is?"
"I told you I would give you my loyalty…." Vector then held up a card….Rank Up Magic Barian's force.
"Hold on a minute…is that a Barian card?" Black Mist was rather shocked, "You're willing to give me Barian powers?"
"That's not all…." Vector then held up in his other hand a glowing orb radiating with grey energy.
Black Mist raised an eyebrow, "Now what is that? It feels….odd."
"It's force that I've discovered recently…..lying inside a realm that seems to reflect human emotions and desire and it has quite the effect on humans…..Yuma and Astral have already encountered it."
Black Mist was now laughing, "Are you saying that those two got caught up in something that I can torment them with? Now you've got my full attention…I'll accept you deal Vector."
Vector smirked as both the card and the orb floated over to Black Mist and sank into his chest briefly glowing with energy as they merged with his current abilities. With a small sigh Black Mist glanced over to the unconscious politician, "I borrowed this man's body to mess with the human world but I was getting bored….it was fun while it lasted." He floated upward absorbing all the cards that had been in the politician possession. "Now let's go…..my pet." He floated out of the room.
Vector watch him turn the corner, except for that last little nickname, he was beginning to like Black Mist.
As the Interdimensonal Ship traveled through subspace everyone was enjoying their in flight entertainment, Yuma bouncing all around the ship as he refused to buckle up when they hit turbulence.
"Should we catch him?" Yukiko asked worryingly.
"He had it coming," Shark was rather indifferent to the situation, "He doesn't listen a lot so he needs to learn his lesson."
"I'm glad it's not me bouncing around up there," Yosuke sighed in relief.
Yu watched as Chie and Kotori made their best attempt to catch the bouncing boy and just shook his head. He didn't want to admit that he took some amusement in Yuma's antics.
"Narukami, can I ask you about something?"
Yu turned in surprise to Astral, "What is it?"
"The others mentioned that you have the ability to summon multiple Personas, an ability that Yuma seems to share, can you tell me more about this?"
Yu pondered for a few moments. How was he going to explain this without revealing the existence of the Velvet Room? He and Yuma agreed not to tell anyone about it but….keeping secrets wasn't the best idea in this situation. He took a few minutes before he gave his answer.
"The first thing is…I'm not quite sure why I have this power. But as for how it works….each time I form a new bond with someone…I feel a new power form inside me. And the stronger my bonds are…they stronger the power and the more Persona's I can summon."
"That sounds like Yuma…" Astral gave a small smile, "He believes that dueling is a way to make bonds. When we were collecting the Numbers, Yuma had befriended many that had fallen under their control and fought to save them. And with each victory we gain a new Number. Though….would you say that you have now formed a bond with Yuma?"
Yu took note at the concern in Astral's voice in that last sentence, "Yes…..are you worried about something?" He really hoped that Astral wasn't starting to become suspicious about him.
"If you gain a new Persona with each bond you make and Yuma's Personas are the Numbers…would that allow you to summon the Numbers as your Personas?"
That caught Yu off guard. He never gave thought about what Personas he would gain with his bonds but Astral had a really good point. "This is worrying you isn't it?"
Astral nodded, "Numbers can bring out the darkness inside someone's heart. Many duelist we faced had their personality changed once a Number fell in their possession. If you are able to summon Numbers…please…don't."
Yu could only ask one thing, "Why?"
"I don't think Yuma can bear to watch you fall under its control."
So that's what it was…Astral was looking out for Yuma, and him as well. He felt oddly touched by the concern.
"Don't worry…I won't summon the Numbers."
Astral looked extremely relived, "Thank you Narukami," He then returned his attention back to the map showing their next location, a remote island.
Yu gave a smile but then he felt something warm in his chest. A bond? But it had felt incomplete. I guess I need to talk to Astral more…when we don't have important things at stake. Maybe when we get home.
Vector and Black Mist stood in front of the ruined castle. The architecture was bizarre, doors and hallways skewing off at various angles, staircases going every which way, in short it was a labyrinth.
"Lovely place," Black Mist joked.
Vector just rolled his eyes as he opened what he assumed was the front door. It led into a single staircase that slopped downward. He took one step into the castle…before being overcome shivering in fear. What's…what's going on?! He felt a dark chuckle in his head. This isn't funny Don Thousand!
So you have felt it.
Felt what?! What did you do?!
It is not what I have done it's what you have done.
Stop talking in riddles!
It's no matter now…just focus on absorbing 96 as soon as possible.
Vector had calmed slightly, I know…I'm just waiting for the right time.
"Hey…what's the hold up?"
Vector never realized that Black Mist had already begun making his way into the castle, and was quite a bit ahead.
"Nothing….I'm coming….." Vector began to follow Black Mist down the stairs trying his best to ignore the dread his was feeling. The illustrations on the walls weren't helping.
"What a refreshing atmosphere here…I can hear the human spirits screaming in anguish and malice…"
Vector just glared at his companion, even he was getting a little disturbed over what Black Mist was saying.
"You know…humans are creatures who build history atop endless piles of resentment and hypocrisy…..utterly foolish creatures…" Black Mist chuckled as they entered a room that branched off into five different hallways. "Now….where to?"
Vector glanced each option over but to his surprise his body started moving on his own heading to one of the branches. As he stepped onto the first step of the stairs, that section began to sink down like an elevator.
"Interesting…" Black Mist floated down to rejoin Vector, "Have you been here before?"
Vector snapped out of whatever trance he was in, "N-no….My body…just moved on its own." He then proceeded to ignore Black Mist's stare of suspicion.
The platform brought them down to a large throne room. The throne was on its own platform high in the room to overlook everything. Several cages lined the circular room and several pillars rose out of the seemingly bottomless pit.
"Seems like executions where held here," Black Mist said as he gazed at the various weapons that lined the room, still stained with blood, "A fitting place for taking so many humans lives."
Vector began to visibly tremble as whatever feeling he felt upon entering this castle was now several times stronger. What is this….is it….fear? Then he felt something else. "Yuma and Astral…they're here."
"Well then….I'll just take that Number and send them to hell myself," Black Mist grinned in anticipation.
"Hey! Yuma is my target! You-GAH!" Vector stopped mid sentence as he felt a familiar claw grip his heart.
You'll have your share later….
W-what are you doing?!
If Black Mist noticed the pain Vector was in, he simply didn't show any signs of caring, "Now to take that Number…" He flew over to the center pillar where he could the card held in place by a large ax. He was about to reach for it when both the card and ax began to glow with purple energy. He watched in mild disinterest as it formed into a humanoid blue ox wearing yellow armor.
"So…you're the one guarding this number?" The ox simply roared in response, "So you want to see which one of use is stronger…very well. I'll accept your challenge!" Black Mist raised his arm as a purple version of Astral's duel disk formed on his arm, "I'm getting excited….DUEL!"
Vector watched from the throne platform trying to catch his breath. He was rather impressed when Black Mist defeated the guardian in two simple moves. "So…" He asked Black Mist, "Shall we set a little trap for our…..guests?"
Black Mist went from calm to psychotic, "I thought you would never ask…." He started laughing hysterically as he glowed with energy creating a portal…which fog started pouring out off.
The gang stood in front of the ruined castle rather hesitant to enter the front door.
"Looks like something from the TV world," Yosuke pondered out loud.
"It gives me the creeps," Chie let out a small shiver.
"I'll have to agree with you there," Rio said, "It may be really dangerous in there."
"Don't worry guys, we've got Yu and the others to protect us!" Yuma tried to reassure the group.
Shark just let out a grunt to show is displeasure about this situation.
"We could not go in…." Yukiko propose.
"But then how would we get the Number? Astral needs them." Yu pointed out the facts.
"He's right!" Kotori was in agreement, "We need to get that Number!
Astral gave a small smile grateful that Yu and Kotori were looking out for his well being. Strange, he thought, I seem to be more expressive than I was when we faced Yuma's shadow.
"We'll just stay on our toes," Yu assured the group before turning to the other Persona users, "We don't know what kind of long term effect that summoning Persona's here will have so only summon then in an emergency."
All three of them gave a salute and a firm okay in respond. Rio and Kotori chuckled at their antics while Shark just rolled his eyes.
They began that trek down the stairs with Yosuke muttering something about "too many stairs in this adventure", keeping a sharp eye out for traps. So far all they found where illustrations on the walls. And they weren't depicting anything pretty.
"Are these….executions?" Chie asked.
"Just what was the back story about this place?" Shark wondered.
"There's grief gathered here….from the people from the past," Rio closed her eyes as if she was trying to sense something.
"Uh…Rio…are you alright?" Yukiko asked concerned for the girl.
Suddenly Rio started giving off a green energy and her eyes shot open revealing them to be glowing with the same color. The Investigation Team backed up in shock not realizing that this was normal for Rio.
"The legend of the cursed royal palace…A prince who governed this island used to dwell inside this royal palace. He was childish and had no faith in humanity. He doubted everyone and anyone, casting judgment upon them. He lived as a person who stole the lives from everyone around him and as the last one standing, the prince took his own life as well. The cursed legend…." Just as suddenly that Rio had entered the trance, she snapped out of it and felt weak in the knees.
"Rio!" Shark was quick to catch her.
"I'm alright…honest." She reassured her brother.
"Wh-what….was that?" Yosuke backed up a bit, "That was not normal!"
Shark gave him a stink eye, "What was that?"
"I-I mean…" Yosuke couldn't believe that a 14 year old was intimidating him, "Aren't you concerned that she started acting like that?"
The air was tense before Shark answered, "Rio has had this ability since we were little."
Yu gave a nudge to Yosuke and a look to hint that he should drop the issue and continue onward but Yu was going to talk to at least Astral about this later when he had the chance.
They continued the walk in silence until they hit the five way fork in the road.
"Which way now?" Kotori asked.
"Maybe we could split up…"
"Yukiko….have you seen a horror movie?" Chie asked her friend, "Bad things always happen when you split up."
"We may have to," Shark shrugged, "We don't have a lot of time and if we split we have a higher chance of heading down the right path."
"What if we on the team that's on the wrong one?" Yosuke asked. Shark just sent him an annoyed look.
"If we are going to split….let's have it in pairs. One duelist, one Persona user. That way we'll be prepared for any sort of attack." Yu said.
Everyone nodded in agreement, it was a good plan after all.
"I'm going with Yu!" Yuma ran to be by his side. Astral didn't say anything as it was clear who he was going with.
"Come on Kotori!" Chie grabbed the confused girl in question and dashed into one of the hallways.
"Can we?" Rio asked Yukiko.
"Sure," was her answer as she smiled and they proceeded to choose another hall and began to make their way down.
It was at this point did Yosuke realize who he was going to be paired with, "Uh…..Yu can we…" Too late, Yu was already gone with Yuma.
"So…."
"No. Not a word out of you."
"Great….with the Shark…literally." It was not Yosuke's day.
Yuma and Yu traveled down the staircase, testing their footing to make sure they didn't activate any switches or traps and staying away from the walls as much as possible. Yu couldn't help but notice the solemn look on Yuma's face, "Is something wrong?"
Yuma just sighed, "Not really…..it's just…this reminds me of the times that Dad would take on his adventures. I can hear his voice telling me to be careful and how to avoid traps….." he said with a sad smile.
Yu wasn't quite sure what to say. From what he picked up, Yuma's father had disappeared some time ago along with his mother. And somehow he had become knowledgeable about what Yuma was now involved in and seemed to be assisting from where ever he is. Now that he thought about it…just what is preventing Yuma from seeing his father?
Yuma glanced up to his right before sighing again. It was probably Astral saying something but Yu didn't have his glasses on so he wasn't quite sure. Then Yuma said something that put Yu on guard, "Yu….is it getting foggy in here?"
Yuma was right…..there was fog floating up towards them. Yu felt every muscle tense in his body. Fog was never a good sign…but what was it doing here? He even felt himself back up a bit.
"Glasses?" He heard Yuma ask.
"Glasses…" Yu pulled out his black framed glasses while Yuma put on his gold ones and surprisingly to them, the fog cleared, "It can't be….it's fog from the TV world."
"What is it doing here then?" Yu now being able to see and hear Astral due to the glasses.
"I don't like this at all…"Yuma backed up closer to Yu.
"What's that sound?" Astral asked.
What sounded like slurping was faint at first was getting louder….and closer. Yu stood in front of Yuma and Astral defensively arms spread and hand twitching ready to summon Izanagi. Then they say it…it was a large pile of sludge…but there was the undeniable mask of a Shadow on it.
"A Shadow?!" Yu was shocked.
"Isn't it impossible for it to be here?" Yuma asked.
"If the fog from the TV world is here then it would make sense for a Shadow to follow…but it looks incomplete…" Astral concluded.
Yu didn't say anything but instead held out his hand to summon Izanagi. With great satisfaction he crushed the card as the trench coat wearing warrior appeared behind him. "Get ready Yuma, this just got more serious."
Yuma gave a nervous nod, "Okay…" He pulled out Hope's card transforming it into a Persona card before slashing at it to summon the winged warrior.
Astral stayed behind the two boys, This just got more dangerous….just how did the Shadows get here? Perhaps that Personas and Number are more closely linked than we thought….
The Shadow rose up to its full height nearly taking up the entire hallway and charged at the group, the battle had begun.
Sooooooooo…yep…things getting crazy! However I am out of buffer chapters that I had wrote ahead of time so updates might be every other week rather than every week depending how fast I can write in between school and homework.