真女神転生
Shin Megami Tensei
Persona: Shadow Game
Chapter 10: MMO Soul Mage Day 3-5 – Day Passing and Lots of Events in One Day
May 23, 2029, Wednesday
HEKA DORM, MY ROOM, 3:50 PM
"You know what", Atara tells me as he takes the laptop from me. "You should take a nap before they come home."
"I understand", I say to as I curl up in my covers and close my eyes as he puts the laptop away, turns out the lights and leaves the room.
I had such a terrifying dream before everyone woke me up:
Dream
I was running through town during the Shadow Period in my Pharos Shadow Camouflage with Menes flying behind me. I was heading toward the court house where Shadow Sam was. I knew Draco, Centipede, Duo Hound and Blaze were already there taking him on. This felt like 5 minutes to get there.
But when I got there, I saw Centipede, Duo Hound and Blaze pinned down to the ground on their backs by Gold Boomerangs. So I thought to myself Camou Gecko were there too. But when I tried to free them, they exploded in a puddle of black goo! I was terrified and saddened by the sight of three people dying in front of me. But I noticed that Draco wasn't among them, so I paid my respects and hurried to the court house. Then I was surprised with what I saw:
Draco was under a Shadowy figure's foot. I couldn't recognize him at first. He had a purple camouflage pattern from ankle to wrist to neck, he wore gold and silver hiking boots on his feat, silver gloves with gold claws at the end of each finger. But what terrified me the most was the Gold Boomerang on his chest and another one in hand ready to be thrown! But what was he?
"Don't you recognize me?", he asks me as just before turning to Draco, who was under his foot. "Why don't you answer that question for him Nineagle."
Draco didn't respond at first. But when the figure grind his foot into him, he spoke up.
"I can't believe you don't recognize him", Draco complains. "This is Sam! The same one you saved me from!"
"It's too bad he can't now", Shadow Sam waves his Boomerang free hand to from his left to me. "Kill that Persona!"
Then from nowhere a giant silver arrow was shot and hit Menes in the chest. It even shot right through and made Menes melt in pain and agony. Then the tattoo on my hand fades away. Then I try summoning my other Personas, but they wouldn't come to my side!
"Oh, what's wrong", Shadow Sam mocks. "Can't call anymore Personas?"
"How is that possible", Draco says in be wilderness.
"Let's end your suffering, shall we?", Sam says just before crushing him under his boots. All that remained was a puddle of black goo, just like the others.
"Alright Persona Assassin", he calls out to his left. "Would you be so kind to explain to our last Persona User what happened to all his Personas?"
"After I explain I leave", an echoing feminine voice calls back. "Do you recall a silver arrow taking out Shiki-Ouji, Obariyon and Airgetlam? The arrow nullifies that Persona from being summoned. I even took out your friend's Personas too. Leaving…"
"And there she goes", he says as he pulls another Gold Boomerang from his chest piece. "All that is left is one more target, and you get to chose one…"
He turns to the building, calls out "Bring out 'You know what!'" and we see Sensei Imay and Aiko tied on Christian crosses being carried by one Camou Gecko each. They stick their Gold Boomerangs in the cement and leans the crosses on them with the hanging facing us. Both have looks of panic just like me.
"Now choose the one to die in 10… 9… 8", he tells me as he counts down faster. "3-2-1! TOO LAAATE!"
He tosses his weapons at both of them, which stabs them in their chests. Both look at me in despair and melt away.
I felt I couldn't do a thing. Shadow Sam turns around to me looking even more horrifying: his eyes were blood shot, mouth dripping with blood along with his clothes tattered with splats of blood! What's even worse he now laughs maniacally!
"Hahahahahaha!", he laughs at me. "Hehehe… Hahahahaha! This is way too easy! Now Grand Maya! Kill HIM!"
Then I felt an ominous presence behind me. Then I regretted turning around:
A giant black goop raising from the ground with hands the size of me! Its face is covered by a mask in the shape of an upside down star with a rectangular slit as an eye hole with the mark "XXII" on the bottom point of the star. But just before it could fully crush me in its giant left hand, I luckily woke up.
HEKA DORM, MY ROOM, 6:00 PM
"Kenta, wake up!", I hear Imay yell.
"C'mon Kenta, please wake up", I hear Atara as he sounds like he's in a struggle. "We need you up!"
"Titanium!", I hear Xyn command. "Shake him 'till he wakes!"
"He better wake soon!", I hear Dagurasu along with sounds of a blade clanging on a flat surface. "This Demon won't let up 'till he wakes!"
"That does it!", Atara says. "Contender! Help Sapphire Scyther!"
"Herraaaahhh!", I hear in response to Atara as I hear a punch to a solid surface like the slash I heard before.
I was also being shaken by a giant metal being, who would be Titanium from Xyn's command, since I could hear Sensei. Then when I opened my eyes, Titanium let go and joined Contender and Sapphire Scyther to finish off the demon: a blood-red Oni with dark purple armor wielding a steel club with hot-red spikes, but there was less armor than I imagined on it. Then I turned to me of all people in the room.
"Kenta…", it said slowly. "Leave… This…"
"Now's your chance boys", Imay commands. "Take it out while it's distracted!"
"Right!", they says in unison. They then turn to the Oni with the intent to kill.
"Sapphire Scyther!", Dagurasu commands. "Use Sapphire Scythe and Dual Chop!"
"Contender!", Atara commands. "Use Right Hook!"
"Titanium!", Xyn commands. "Commence Meteor Fist!"
Sapphire Scyther responds first: Crossing its arms, charges at the Oni, started to uncross its arms fully just before passing through the Oni with both arms apart pointing behind it. Then a semi-transparent blue slash hits it again, to my surprise!
So that's Dual Chop, I comprehend the second slash.
Contender pursues the Oni after Sapphire Scyther then its right gloved fist glows with a burning passion. Contender socks the Oni in the face breaking the helmet. Both Xyn and Dagurasu were surprised with the power Contender displayed.
"Holly shit!", Dagurasu curses. "That's one powerful punch!"
"He is the top Aeon Collisionist of Master Seiryu's class", Xyn comments back. "Now it's my turn."
Just as Xyn finished, Titananium jumped in the air and crashed down on the Oni with significant accuracy. So perfect in fact Titanium left a hole in Oni's chest!
"Did you finish it?", Sensei Imay asks Xyn. "If you didn't you know what your Ka would do, right?"
"I know", Xyn answers and turns to the Oni. "So, do you give up?"
"Hehehe… I… Don't…", Oni says. Just after he snaps his fingers, my Ka Pendant glows and I see Spell-Bound filling the gaping hole in Oni's chest which in turn heals it to full. "Think SO!"
Then Titanium gets cracks with light leaking out from them and explodes. After the light of the bang dies down. I see Atara and Dagurasu in their Aeon Collision forms. Xyn is being grabbed by the throat by the Oni while another ka was just summoned: A dark grey cloaked figure appears with purple skin holding a silver staff with a purple orb on the top of the staff in its right hand. Before the light faded, there was a lot of commotion, but I did hear "I summon Yami Mage from my heart!". Even though I couldn't identify the voice at the time, I thought it was Imay because the rest of us didn't have a Ka of the same name. I didn't think of Nineagle's Ka because I didn't know he could summon it physically. But then my thoughts were concluded thanks to Imay.
"Yami Mage", Imay commands as his gauntlet and pendant glow. "Use Yami Magic Attack and cast Spellbinding Circle before attacking!"
Yami Mage nods in understanding. He moves his staff to form a glowing triangle, he snaps his fingers and the one becomes two. He touches the top of one of them and rotates it 180 degrees so the top point is now pointing downwards. It now overlaps both, now forming a hexagram before the circle is drawn around the triangles. Now he draws the circle around the triangles with its staff and pushes it to the Oni. The Oni gets paralyzed, drops Xyn and is still frozen still with the same cast trapping the Oni! Atara and Daguraus retrieve Xyn and guard him from the foot of my bed.
"My Ten Punch Combo before the Spellbinding Circle couldn't dent it", Atara complains. "What the hell caused that?!"
"I know", Dagurasu agrees and also complains. "But damn, my Great Scythe didn't even make it bleed!"
"It must be Spell-Bound", Xyn says as he struggles to calculate. "With that takin' into consideration, Spell-Bound has the most endurance of all Ka in my database. I only wonder how Oni could call it and if it could call it again…"
"Dude!", Dagurasu scolds Xyn. "That's a good question but don't Jynx it!"
"All we can do is pray that this move will finish it", Imay says and turns to Yami Mage. "Attack!"
Yami Mage nods as he performs the Yami Magic Attack. Yami Mage puts its hand three-fourths up the staff and points the top of the orb to Oni. The life in Yami Mage's face fades as the orb glows in a dark aura. Just before his face becomes lifeless, a concentrated ball of dark energy is shot right where the seal was and shot right through the Oni.
"Waah!", I, Dagurasu and Atara exclaim in unison.
"That is the most famous combo of Imay's Yami Mage", Xyn explains. "Paralyzing the opponent, attack at the seal at first and right through. I filed it the Yami Critical Combo, and yet that's just the Ka itself and not them in an Aeon Collision."
"My Ka called it 'Yami Shatter' when it first happened", Sensei Imay explains. "But you two need to finish it off."
"He's right", Xyn explains to Atara and Dagurasu. "Yami Mage has the same kind of Ability as Titamium, if it didn't finish the opponent off to end the battle, it vanishes for the rest of the conflict."
"Alright, in order for both of us to beat it for good, we have to 'X-Fist Combo' that thing", Dagurasu tells Atara.
"X… Fist…?", Oni says giving them the hint he was still alive along with Yami Mage fading away.
"I can't use Yami Mage now", Imay says as he turns to the two. "Now's your chane!"
"X-Fist Combo!", the two say as they charge at the Oni.
Atara glowed brighter than he did during the first Aeon Collision I have seen. Like the same one, Dagurasu pulled out a blade of ice from his left arm. Both charge at the Oni with the intent to kill, again. Both jump in the air, with Dagurasu lower than Atara. Dagurasu merges the ice blade with his ice claws just to shoot a beam made of all his ice at Atara! Atara at that point gained more height while Dagurasu descends down next to Xyn.
"It's all on you Atara", Dagurasu calls to him.
"No pressure…", Xyn calls too.
"We believe in you!", I call to Atara with everyone in the room not attacking, even Oni isn't.
"Thanks to you, I'll give 'im my all!", Atara calls back as he completed fusing with Dagurasu's Aeon Collision Powers.
He still had his Contender glow and yet he still looked as charismatic as he usually is. Some of Dagurasu's Ice became Goku-like hair while the rest became Icy claws that extended from his knuckles.
"I'll do even better than in practice!", he gives us a thumbs up and charges at Oni. "Heraaaaaahhh!"
As he dives down to Oni he crosses his four-arms and the claws inverted into even more sharp claws than ever before. Atara responded to that with a smug grin and glairs at the Oni, who puts up somewhat of a bad defence from the oncoming assault!
"Did that usually happen, I mean the smug grin causing that", Xyn asks Dagurasu.
"That actually never happened before", Dagurasu explains. "But I guess our encouragement caused a greater affect on the Oni, and telling by the reation to Atara's unexpected expression, it totally worked."
"Take 'im out Atara!", I cheered him on.
"No pressure huh guys", Atara calls back. "Here goes everything we can dish out… MAXIMUM EFFOOOORTTT!"
At that moment, he glowed so bright the ice on him became a blinding white and started falling faster. This worried Dagurasu, telling by his facial expression.
"I hope he remembers the timing on when to hook the claws in cross slash and punch… because at the speed he might fail to land the killing blow", Dagurasu says under his breath. "I just have to believe in him…"
And at literal contact between claws and flesh, Atara hooked the skin deep enough for the fists to go through the body! When Atara made it out, his warms were in the same position like Sapphire Scyther after attacking. The Oni was then glowing in a bright blue blinding light and exploding in a blinding light with nothing remaining of the Oni. After the blinding light faded, we saw Atara on two feet before the door standing upright with just pants and no Aeon Collision-like features on him. Then I see his gauntlet and Pendant in the same spot where the Oni was.
"Why doesn't he have them on?", I ask Dagurasu.
"When two or more Aeonmystics combine their Aeon Collision powers for a single move with one of the two or more harnessing all the powers", Dagurasu explains. "The medium for that power, after pulling off the attack, discards them so they don't weigh him or her down…"
"But enough of fighting", Imay interrupts and starts walking to the silent Atara. "That was a lot of energy you dished out, are you gonna be fine?"
"Yah, I think so", Atara says as he opens the door. "Let me turn in for the night so I can take care of Kenta tomorrow. I lend my duty to Xyn for the rest of the night. And if anyone tries to do it other than Xyn, I also grant him to use Onirai until tomorrow morning to prevent anyone from taking his job…"
Even without letting Imay respond to what he said, Atara left and slammed my bedroom door. Here are what all the expressions I got from the remaining people:
1 ) Xyn: He understood what Atara said, with no question; period.
2 ) Dagurasu: Was bewildered with the response of Atara, he would have said "Who are you and what have you done with Atara?", like that wasn't the Atara he knew.
3 ) Imay: Bewildered in a different way. He got totally ignored again by a new Persona user and with the threat of being attacked by another demon no less.
4 ) Me: I understood like Xyn, but will make sure he doesn't need to summon Onirai. Same response as Dagurasu. Definitely agreed with Atara's response to Imay, but was shocked with the Onirai threat, sounded like he was serious!
After I evaluated everyone's reaction to Atara, Xyn suddenly falls to his knees with one hand on the ground, one hand on his neck along with some mechanical screeching and loud clangs and thuds. We all draw our attention to him, but Dagurasu steps it up: he goes up to him and helps him up.
"Did that Oni bend your neck joints or somethin'?", Dagurasu asks as he helps Xyn up. "If you can't do it in this condition I would gladely do it for you physically."
"That sounds fair to me", Xyn accepts the offer. "I tell you what to do and you do it in my name, right?"
"That's right", Dagurasu reassures Xyn.
Then with that, our day ends after dinner is sent and we all went to bed for the night.
May 24, 2029, Thurseday
HEKA DORM, MY ROOM, 8:00 AM
I was happy I had no nightmares or sent to the Velvet Room in my sleep. So when I woke up, even though it wasn't needed, I heard a knock on my door.
"Kenta, time to get up", Atara calls through the door. "Are you up?"
"Snore, Snore", I try to fake snore.
But when he opened the door to see if I was, I was caught in a lie.
"So you WERE awake", Atara says before he leans down to grab something. "Just in time for breakfast, I made something for me too while making your omelet."
"What did you make yourself", I asked him wondering what a master cook made himself.
"The usual", he answers as he bends back up to reveal an omelet and a bowl of cereal. "Just cereal. You actually thought I made something incredible?"
"Yes, actually", I answered.
"I only know the omelet recipe", Atara explains. "I was lucky to know the omelet recipe. But enough of that, let's eat."
So we get to eating. Atara let me know lots of things:
1 ) "When Sensei saw, he was pleased with your condition, in a good way. You looked as healthy since when you came."
2 ) "I noticed that you came with 20,000 Yen, you should put that in our S.A.A.P. Funds. But damn, are your parents loaded?!"
"All the high payments come from my dad", I explain.
"What does he do?", he asks.
"He's a businessman", I answered. "But the downside is that he's never home. I was lucky that he was there to see me off, but that was only the tenth time I ever saw him in the two years before leaving. But at lease mom was home for the most part. But she does work at the closest church. She only works on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays during times I was at school. All volunteer, but they would most likely do if for what she would explain to me as 'divine bidding'. Everyone bets 1,000 Yen at most and 50 Yen at least. She even explained the rules to me: If you're familiar with Abe no Seme's Divination challenge, besides the cheating and manipulation of the contents, it's exactly like that. And every time she would participate, she would win. She was the only one to win out of the other 100 who would participate when she participated. I hope you can keep this a secret, don't want more people to hate mom."
"Don't worry, I will", Atara reassures. "But when you get better, I'll make sure you're in charge of enhancing our equipment and getting any healing items we would need. But you need to put your fair share in too."
"I understand", I says as I accept the responsibility for the finances and putting my money in the funds. "What about you?"
"I took my remaining money from my last dorm", Atara answers as he pulls out a 1,000 Yen bill and four 100 Yen coins. "They spent most of my 5,000 Yen I contributed when I got there, which was two years ago no less! But thank God I had this left over."
"You could add them in right now if you don't want Imay catching you hiding money", I tell him.
"Then we should put your 20,000 Yen in too so he doesn't catch us both", Atara realized. "I don't want to be possibly getting caught twice."
"Yah, you wouldn't", I say regretting commenting as Atara takes Pharos' Pouch, my 20,000 Yen, his 1,400 Yen and our dishes downstairs with him.
I know right now the funds are at 7,500 Yen. So adding Pharos' 4,400 Yen, my 20,000 Yen and Atara's 1,400 Yen to the 7,500 Yen. That leaves the total to 33,300 Yen! That is ten times more than dad's paycheck!
After all the finance talk, we got to gaming. We don't focus on the game's main story because our lives are on the line! I asked what Level Ghodd is, Atara answers 100 and explains the level cap so far is 200. Usually in Final Fantasy the level cap was level 100, so I was relieved that the level cap was 200 instead of 100, so we have a chance to beating him after all.
So at the end of the day, Genzo Mana was at Level 70 after finding out Ghodd was at Level 110 along with a message saying:
"I saw that your training is gonna exceed mine so I decided to train up too. Hope to see who is the highest by Sunday Morning XD
"Can't wait to kill ya ;)
"G.O.D."
Yah, that happened and we now think he will be at Level 130 tomorrow and we will need to be at Level 150, because in order to pull off the combo, we need to be at higher levels!
"At this rate, the game designers will have to raise the Level cap to 300 if we both tie", Atara says as we eat dinner in my room. "And if our extended leveling continues to pass 300…"
"The game will no longer be in service like Innocent Sin Online", I finished his sentence as he walks out with our dishes. "We need to make sure that doesn't happen before our battle."
"Yah", Atara agrees. "I hope it doesn't happen."
He walks out the room and the day ends.
May 25, 2029, Friday
HEKA DORM, MY ROOM, 8:00 AM
Today was gonna be lots of leveling. So we ate and got to gaming. By 2:00 PM, we got a message saying we should stay at level 30 differences, to show "an Overpowered Mage vs. a Noble Paladin with a gift from God to defeat the Mage". He wishes us luck and would love to kill a person determined to beat him. At this point Ghodd was at Level 120 and Genzo Mana at Level 140. So we finshed leveling to 150 and decided to not level-up until after the fight on Sunday.
So after that we go to bed.
May 26, 2029, Saturday
HEKA DORM, DINING ROOM, 4:00 PM
Skipping all this day's morning and afternoon, we now get ready to place the Gold Boomerang on the Pedestal before tomorrow.
"But why before the Full Moon", Atara asks after eating a spoon full ramen. "I know both Kenta and I agreed, but I, and possibly Kenta, don't understand why."
"For a long time now during and post Full Moons", Sensei Imay explains. "There have been no Camou Gecko on guard of the Wall, that we know leads to this 'Blood Room' that has the Pedestal thanks to Kenta and Nineagle's help. Xyn has also picked up unexpected voices behind the wall before we knew of the 'Blood Room'."
"I suspect they are of Shadow Sam and the Minor Shadows of the Mountain", Xyn thoroughly explains. "Over the multiple Full Moons, Shadow Sam seemed to sound more frustrated than the last. And seeing from the last New Moon, the frustration built up so much it made him strong enough to take out me and Dagurasu. But he retreated seeing that Kenta made a bond with a Shade too…"
"Wait", Atara interrupts as he spat some of his ramen back in his bowl. "Who's this Shadow Sam?"
"Do you remember Sam Amagi, the last known Apprentice of Master Seiryu?", Dagurasu asks and answers Atara question. "He is Shadow Sam. But instead of being a helpful guide through the Shadow Fortress as we would have thought, he ended up being an obstacle."
"But we were told he was eaten up by a demon in the Red Light district of Tokyo", Atara tells us. "So you're telling me it was all a lie!"
"I was one of them who were had to tell that lie", Dagurasu says as he lets Xyn take the lead.
"I was to blame too", Xyn admits. "When the Shadow Period began, I was in charge of keeping the talk about it at bay; even though they turned into rumors now. One of the rumors that I successfully eradicated was about the demon originated from here and what happened to Sam Amagi here too."
"But enough of rumors", Imay finishes. "Let's finish eating and get ready for your battle."
So we finish eating, wait a bit and wait for the right time to get ready to enter the Shadow Fortress.
HEKA DORM, ARMORY, 10:00 PM
So here we are, getting our equipment on. 30 minutes ago, Dagurasu was teaching us how to summon our Ka with Shadow Camouflages. After that and getting our ear on, we wait in the dorm for the Shadow Period to tick in.
HEKA DORM, MAIN LOBBY, SHADOW PERIOD
With the Shadow Period engaged, me, Nineagle, Atara, Dagurasu and Xyn transformed into our Shadow Camouflages Pharos, Draco, Blaze, Centipede and Duo Hound respectively. Then we huddle up for the game plan.
"We know what the main goal is", Imay starts the meeting off and turnst to Xyn.
"Let me explain to the two newest ones", Xyn says referring to me and Atara. "Long ago a Shadow Priest made that tablet in this room that caused the Shadow Period and the Shadow Fortress to appear with no trace of the Shadow Priest. We theorized he has to be somewhere in the fortress. And if his power caused all this, then his power should destroy it. So basically we explore the fortress until we find him, make him destroy the tablet and make sure he doesn't cause l this again."
"But there is something that we couldn't do", Dagurasu adds in. "On the outside the fortress is far larger than the parts we have explored. And oddly there was a Camou Gecko guarding the end of the hall of that section. It was guarding something until Kenta found out there was more to the fortress as we thought."
"So that is why we need to put the Gold Boomerang in the wall and put the other one on the Pedestal to move on", Imay concludes. "But we have to put it in tonight before the Full Moon so Shadow Sam doesn't kill us all."
"But there was something else that happened too", Nineagle interrupts. "The nurse of this Dorm, Aiko, was sucked up into the Shadow Fortress while being transformed from the Sacred Plataue. She was in charge of his D.E.P. as promised by Imay. So we need to get her back as soon as possible."
"Wouldn't Shadow Sam know where she is", Atara suggests. "Since it's explained that the Pedestal was made by him, in the room we couldn't even access before. What do you guys think?"
"Why don't you write a note then", I suggest.
"Why", Atara asks me.
"Since we have been there before the Full Moon", Nineagle explains. "Shadow Sam wasn't there. But when there was a Full Moon, there was a lack of a Camou Gecko guarding the wall. And not to forget voices sounding like Shadow Sam and other Shadows. So when Aiko went missing, Imay thought writing a note to Shadow Sam might do."
"That's right", Imay says before we all turned to him, with questions on our minds. "Before you bombard me with questions, let me explain."
We all relax our tension of this secret and let him continue.
"Thank you", he continues. "I didn't want to put it in unless someone didn't mention it. And since you did, here is the note."
He puts the note on the table for us all to read:
"Dear Shadow Sam (A.K.A. Master Seiryu's Apprentice Sam Amagi)
"We have the thought that you would know where Nurse Aiko is in the Shadow Fortress. We have proof that you are behind the wall Camou Geckoes guard. You even come from it to here at Heka Dorm at New Moons when we weren't able to access the hidden 'Blood Room' behind that wall. So when we see you next, you better have an answer. We really need her.
"From your former Sensei –
"Imay"
"He was the first one from our dorm who was an Apprentice", Imay grieves. "I even took all responsibility for the event and all caused by him, post death and as Shadow Sam."
"I was surprised that a Second Term Aeonmystic could even become an apprentice", Dagurasu says.
"He's right", Atara agrees with Dagurasu. "An Aeonmystic has to be at least Third Term to take the Apprentice Test."
"What's the Apprentice Test?", I ask Dagurasu and Atara.
"No time for that!", Nineagle interrupts. "We need to get that boomerang to the pedestal."
"He's right", I say. "I take back my question for now. So let's go!"
Everyone agrees and we head for the front of the Shadow Fortress with our Sheut Chained Ka Pendants, Imay's Note and the Gold Boomerang.
AEONMYSTIC CAMPUS, FRONT OF SHADOW FORTRESS, SHADOW PERIOD
"This is where we part", Xyn says to me, Atara and Nineagle.
"We got orders from Imay to search the town for Shades", Dagurasu continues Xyn statement. "We agreed with the chance to test Xyn's Shadow Camouflage Ka. I suggest you three test the power of your potential Shadow Camouflage Ka."
"But when someone summons a Ka, their turn ends", Nineagle intervenes. "So won't the Shadows just take advantage of that and weaken these two!"
"You forget that Ka act like a bodyguard for incoming attacks from other Ka", Xyn counters Nineagle argument. "So it makes sense that a Shadow Camouflage Ka can block attacks from enemy Shadows."
"I even have personal experience with even people with powers that don't harm them during the Shadow Period", Dagurasu puts in his experience. "But that's a story for another day. Meet you back here at 12:30?"
"Sounds fair team?", I ask the other two, who nod. I turn back to Dagurasu and Xyn. "All fine with us."
"It's already 11:20", Xyn comments. "So we better look around town then."
With that said, we split our separate ways. Xyn as Duo Hound and Dagurasu as Centipede head into town, while me as Pharos, Atara as Blaze and Nineagle as Draco. But anyways, we now head into the Shadow Fortress' First Floor.
SHADOW FORTRESS, FIRST FLOOR, SHADOW PERIOD
When we entered the fortress, I felt a strange presence, and they weren't not of the cards or the two butterflies. Then I heard a familiar voice.
Long time no see Pharos, the voice rings in my head. I came to let you know Seto let me enter your tattoo when you entered the cave. He also wanted me to tell ya you will be visiting the Velvet Room when you sleep tonight. I asked what it was for but he sent me away. Guess it's a surprise for the both of us huh.
The presence faded as I realized it was Menes. I snapped back in focus when Draco called for me.
"Hey Pharos", Draco called to me as I walked back to the group. "Why don't we try out using those Sheut Chains to summon the Shadow Camouflage Ka?"
"Bet you wanna summon one too huh", Blaze comments to Draco.
"I can't summon it", Draco morns and yet explains how he can use it. "But I can tap into its energy to access great speed. But when I use it to eliminate a weak entity, I tend to get weak after that action as a consequence."
"Let's get to the tutorial", I say as I point at a Shadowy mass with eight limbs.
"Take 'im out Pharos!", Blaze and Draco encourage me.
So I pull out my bloody machete, run at it and slash at it four times. It explodes in a splatter of purple liquid. What came out were two Rooks and two Goblins.
Then Battle was engaged!
"You remember how we summon our Ka right?", Blaze asks. "Well this is different. You have to say that chant before you could know what the Ka's new name will be. So for now Draco has to attack for us."
"I'm fine with that Blaze", Draco responds. "I'll cover for you both, just let me know when you feel like casting the chant, for then I'll cover for ya."
"I'm gonna do the chant", I let Draco know when it reached my turn.
"That was fast", Draco reacted as he summoned Seth. "Seth! Use Double Down!"
"Bomb's Away!", Seth calls as he is summoned. He opens his mouth and shot two cannon balls at each enemy. This eventually killed the two Goblins who were already weak to Wind Skills. "Oh, Goblins are weak to Gun Skills too, forgot to mention that, huh Draco?"
"Doesn't matter now Seth", Draco throws off the question and turns to me. "Now's your chance Pharos!"
"I gotcha… I summon the increased power within", I say the chant Xyn taught me back when right before Blaze fused with Atara. "I hear your name my Ka… Hexagramos!"
As I called its name, my gauntlet glowed. When the glow faded, a symbol of a hunched man with a hexagram over its back appeared facing to my left. Then from my gauntlet shoots out a beam of white and dark purple light twisted in a spiral. That beam became a humanoid figure colored light purple. It had extra features to it too: a single eye that was in the shape of the Eye of Anubis on its face with nothing else on it. It also had the Hexagram floating behind it like on the emblem. I could feel that that hexagram was the catalyst of its abilities. After being summoned, Hexagramos floats in front of me, acting like the Ka I have seen back in my room.
"As I expected of a Ka should act like", Draco comments on Hexagramos' behavior and turns to Blaze. "Ready to set up your Shadow Camouflage Ka?"
"I'm ready when you are", Blaze answers just as he readies the thought of the chant.
"Seth", Draco calls to Seth, who was already summoned. "Use Double Down on the Rooks!"
"Fire!", Seth calls out before he shoots two cannon balls at each of the Rooks. "They look like they can take lots of hits. Let your Ka release all their energy on them…"
"Alright here goes… I summon the increased power within", Blaze chants. Then his eyes light up, as if he knew what the Ka was. "Black Tiger, show what thou are!"
On Blaze's gauntlet appeared an emblem of a tiger face with two human fists that dawn claws on their knuckles. Then a beam shot from the gauntlet that formed a man wearing a black skin-tight body suite with purple stripes like on a tiger. Its knuckles did have claws on them. What surprised me that the head wasn't just a tiger mask: It was a real head! Same color scheme as the body suite, but his eyes were yellow with blood red pupils. It then roared to show its presence to the Shadows who then lands in front of Blaze.
"Black Tiger… You… Look… AMAZING!", Blaze fanboys over Black Tiger's appearance before noticing we were still in a battle. "Oh, we still need to fight."
"I'm gonna guard so these guys don't pummel me in the ground", Draco says as he retreats Seth, lands on the ground and uses his wings as shields.
"You are gonna pay!", the two Rooks say as they attack Draco.
"Now's your chance", Draco tells us as he shakes off the hits from the Rooks. "Use your Ka and attack the Rooks!"
"Hexagramos", I command my Ka. "Use Hexagram Pulse on the Rook to the Left!"
In response to my command, Hexagramos' Hexagram energy flows to him while forming a miniature hexagram in his hands. At a point where the hexagram, in Hexagramos' hands, glows with power, Hexagramos launches it in a single beam at the Rook, in turn shattering it into pieces!
"That's impressive Pharos", Blaze compliments. "Now it's my turn."
"Black Tiger", Blaze commands his Ka. "Use Ravage Attack!"
In response to Blaze's command, Black Tiger glares at the Rook. The Rook turns to where its glare came from, but didn't see Black Tiger in front of Blaze; Blaze was surprised by this too. Where is Black Tiger, Blaze is probably thinking. But Blaze couldn't respond to Black Tiger's vanishing, we notice Black Tiger behind the Rook. Black Tiger walks one foot behind the Rook, jumped in the air and savagely slashed + punched it, at the same time, with its FISTS! Even though the claws are on the knuckles so it makes sense the slashing and bashing at the same time makes sense. Nonetheless, the Rook was defeated.
After the battle, each of us gained 4,200 Yen, that's exactly 12,600 Yen total! All the non-money prizes are 1 Gold Crown and 2 Rotted Pickaxes. The experience gain was as followed:
Menes gained a Level Up from 3 to 4, with 300 / 400 left over before Level 5. Menes also gained 1 in Magic and 1 in Luck. I was even more surprised when he gained a new Skill: Evil Smile, which costs 12 SP to cast. The effect is as followed: Inflict Fear to all foes, this has a medium chance to succeed though.
Obariyon gained a Level Up too, from 10 to 11, with 50 / 1,100 left over before Level 12. Obariyon also gains 1 in Strength and 2 in Luck. Obariyon also gained a new Skill too: Lucky Punch, which costs 6 HP to cast. The effect is as followed: Deal minuscule Strike damage to 1 foe. Has high critical rate.
Airgetlam on the other hand doesn't gain a Level Up. But he does have 800 / 900 left over before 10. So with no Level Up, he gains no stat increases and no new Skills.
Blaze's Ifrit is different though, Ifrit Levels Up from 5 to 6, with 50 / 600 left over before Level 7. Ifrit also gains 1 in Luck and 1 in Agility. But he doesn't gain any new Skills.
Now for Draco's Seth, Seth Levels Up from 3 to 4, with 300 / 400 left over before Level 5. Seth also gains 1 in Magic and 1 in Strength. Seth even gains a new Skill: Gun Boost, a Skill that runs in the background of the Persona. The effect is as followed: Strengthens Gun damage skills by 1.25.
Then I felt a familiar presence. A blue butterfly descends down and flutters next to me.
"Look at how much you have grown", the butterfly says in a male voice. "I can tell that you already have three Personas! And one of them is even from a Fusion! I'm surprised that Igor let you fuse a Persona already, what a surprise indeed."
"How do you know Igor?", I ask the butterfly.
"I will explain in time", he answers. "Oh, by the way, you can now hold a total of four Personas since Menes is Level 4. Also real soon I will teach you another useful technique to acquire Personas."
"When will it happen?", I ask him.
"Hahaha", he chuckles as he flies away. "You'll see…"
Just as the presence faded, we were jumped by a dark mass with four legs!
MEANWHILE IN YAMASHITA TOWN
We see Onyx Reaper, the Shadow camouflage of Sapphire Scyther that was seen fighting giant silver blob, and a black metal golem with blood-red eyes and purple glowing claws. Both these figures were defeating Shades, which transformed into capsules with black liquid flowing in them, in rapid pace with more being drawn at them.
"Keep attacking Onyx Reaper", Centipede commands his Ka. "Don't let them near the Saloon!"
"You too Aku Golem!", Duo Hound commands the black golem. "And make sure the people return home safely!"
Aku Golem, who we now know is the black metal golem, guards the door while making sure the drunks gets home safely. When a shade would charge at the people, Aku Golem would repel them at 2 feet away to 5 feet past Onyx Reaper so it can take them out.
"How were you ever able to hold back all these Shades", Duo Hound asks as he and Centipede are back to back fencing off the Shades heading for them.
"Usually they all were hoarding at the windows", Centipede explains as he slashes three in one swing. "But for some reason tonight they're feistier than ever!"
"You said there are usually 10 when you come out, right", Duo Hound analyzes. Centepede looks back at Duo Hound after taking out a total of 10 Shades. "Well according to my calculation we have taken out a total of 100 Shades, which also jumps every time we engage in combat sense we came here."
"And it's already 12:00 AM", Centipede says as all of the drunks leave along with more Shades coming when the ones surrounding them were defeated. "Fuck, that's giotta ne 150 by now!"
"Hope you still have enough stamina for approximately 200 more north of us", Duo Hound informs Centipede as he engages in a strange function. "I have no choice but to use Orgia Mode!"
"Has your Ka ever been effected by that mode?", Centipede asks and gets a shaking head for Duo Hound. "Well, that's good for now, but where are these Shades coming from!"
"I could answer that", says a familiar feminine voice to Centipede, who recognizes it. "After you defeat the Shades and, of course, me…"
"Who was that Centipede?", Duo Hound asks.
"No time now", Centipede dismisses Duo Hound's question as he readies his Katana. "Let's take out these Shades first!"
BACK AT THE SHADOW FORTRESS, 1ST FLOOR
You know that four legged mass that ambushed us? It ended up being two Goblins! They actually got the first turn because they attacked us first! But luckily they used Slash Attack against Blaze, who blocked them with ease. So when it came to my turn, I wanted to try out one of my newest Personas who so happens to have a Skill that does Gun damage.
"Obariyon!", I called as I did the stance. "Use Snap on the Goblin to the left!"
Obariyon appeared on my back, noticing he needed to attack, he did.
"Bomb's away!", Obariyon said as he jumped in the air from my back and held his hands out like a Dragonball character shooting an energy blast. What came out was a bullet and knocked down the Goblin. "Looks like it's weak to my Snap, want me to do it again?"
"Yes, but hit the right Goblin this time", I command it as it clung on my back.
"Yes sir", he says as he attacks again. "Bombs away!"
The Goblins were now knocked down. So we all held up the two Goblins, who were panicking.
"That was cool Pharos", Blaze commented. "How did you get that Persona?"
"Focus Blaze!", Draco redirects his attention to the Goblins.
"What do you want with us!", the right Goblin asks.
"Please! Show mercy", the other begs.
Then I feel a familiar presence as time pauses: A blue butterfly descends down and lands on Obariyon's head.
"Told you the time would come soon", the butterfly says in a masculine voice. "It's time to teach you about growing wild Personas in battle…"
"How can he do it?", Obariyon asks.
"He needs to do the convincing as usual, that's the first step", he answers the question and flies next to me. "Let time continue!"
As he said, time resumed. I already knew what to do.
"Commit Suicide!", I command the right before my tattoo glowed.
"He's right brother, we have to", the right Goblin admits. "If we don't stand a chance, then what's the point…"
"Fat chance", the left Goblin says as he tosses a pouch towards us. "2,500 Yen, take it and I will leave…"
Then suddenly the left one was knocked down by the right one. He was pinned down as the right one's about to strike him in the heart.
"Brother… I'm… Sorry…", the right one says as he raised his pickaxe with an energy field around the tip of it.
"What are they doing?!", Blaze asks in surprise.
"Their giving up their lives", I answer.
"Now my turn", the remaining Goblin says after killing the left one. He points the other's pickaxe at his heart, while a familiar field surrounds its tip, he's about to kill himself. "I've failed you… BROTHER!"
He strikes himself, in turn killing himself. There were two dead Goblins on the ground. From the body of both-their blood: Slime mass with red eye, green body and a gapping mouth and a ball of pink flesh with 5 faces and 10 limbs on the left and right respectively.
"Yo, my Foolies, come and join us!", Obariyon calls to the two.
"Those are Personas?", Blaze asks in be wilderness.
"Pharos gains new Personas by making Shadows kill themselves", Draco explains. "Let's see what happens."
"My name is Slime", the left Foolie calls himself. "As you can tell by my exterior…"
"And my name is Legion", the right Foolie calls himself. "Like a real Legion, I have an army inside me waiting to be used…"
Then time paused. The blue butterfly was also still on my shoulder when time paused again. But I remember him not being there when times unpause… I put the thought aside and focused on the butterfly.
"If you remember, your level determines how many Personas you can hold", the butterfly reminds me. "So chose which one should be with you."
"But what happens to the other", Obariyon asks.
"I'm afraid the other will try to take its place", the butterfly explains. "But the one you chose will win in the struggle."
"Hope you're right buddy", Obariyon says before it flies away and time continues.
"I'm afraid I could only choose one of you", I explain to Slime and Legion.
"If you have to choose anyone, choose me", Slime convinces me. "Even though I'm lower in level than Legion here, please show mercy on me…"
"Oh come on, choose a stronger one like me", Legion explains his case. "Why would you choose the weakest one, I'm stronger than this pile of goop…"
Now I have to choose from either the powerful Legion or the weak Slime. But remembering from Igor's Persona Fusion and the butterfly's advice, I made up my decision.
"I'm sorry Legion, but I chose Slime to join me", I say to Legion.
"Thank you for cho-", Slime starts to say until Legion knocks down Slime. "Why'd ya do that for?!"
"If I beat you, then I will be part of him instead of you", Legion says to Slime. "So give up!"
"Are you really gonna take that?", Blaze calls to Slime. "Fight Back!"
"Like Blaze said", Draco agrees. "Don't let this guy take your chance!"
"I will lend you my power so you can beat this Legion", I say as I harness some of my SP and toss it to Slime. "Don't let me down!"
"Ommm, munch, munch, munch! Thank you Pharos!", Slime thanks me after eating the SP. "I guess I have no choice! Sorry Legion, but I have to eat you…"
"How dare you!", Legion curses Slime just before Slime opened its mouth to reveal a dark hole that can consume anything, so Legion then cowers. "You're not serious, right? You don't have to eat me to be with him, honest! Just don't…!"
"Sorry brother", Slime apologizes non-sympathetically. "But you murdered me, so it's only fare to take revenge on the one who killed me. And that someone was YOU!"
"NOOOOO!", Legion cries in a suffering fear as Slime grabs Legion by mid-body with his mouth and swallowed it whole. We were all in shock that all that happened. Then when Slime turned to us, expecting it to attack us, but it thanked us instead with a smile on its face.
"Thank you all for helping me through all that", Slime says as it looks down at the pouch. "You can take that money, as a gift from me to you Pharos."
"And to you're and your friend's Personas", he continued to us all. "I will give you 2,000 experience as a gift for encouraging me to fight back. Think of it as a gift."
Then me, Draco, Blaze and even Slime glowed with an incredible aura of experience:
My Yen total was by now 6,700 while the others remained at 4,200 Yen. Now time for experience tracking:
Menes sped through level 4 to 8! With 500 / 800 before level 9. Menes gained 3 in Endurance and 3 in Magic. Menes through this level race gains lots of new skills: Maeiha, costs 10 SP, deals light Curse damage to all foes. Finally, Rakunda, costs 8 SP, it decreases 1 foes defense for 3 turns.
Obariyon goes from 11 to 12: with 1,000 / 1,200 before level 13. He only gained 3 Magic though. Then he surprisingly gains a new skill reaching his maximum skill limit: Resist Brainwash, this applies automatically, now Obariyon is less likely to get the Brainwash ailment.
Airgetlam surprisingly went from level 9 to 12: with 600 / 1,200 before level 13. He gained 3 in Magic and 2 in Endurance. He also gained new skills: Magaru, costs 10 SP, deals light Wind damage to all foes. Dodge Agi, this applies automatically, Airgetlam odds to dodge Fire attacks is doubled.
Slime, who's about to join me, went from level 6 to 8: with 700 / 800 before becoming level 9. Hegained 2 in Magic and 2 in Agility. He also gained a new skill: Eiha, cost 4 SP, deals light Curse damage to 1 foe.
Blaze's Ifrit came from level 6 to 9: with 0 / 900 before level 10. He also gained 2 in Agility and 2 in Magic. He also gained a new Skill: Rakunda, costs 8 SP, it decreases 1 foe's defense for 3 turns.
Seth also leveled up from 4 to 8: with 400 / 800 before level 9. He gained 2 in endurance, Agility and Luck. He also gained a new skill: Unshaken Will, this applies automatically, Seth gains immunity against all mental ailments.
With all that taken care of, Slime becomes a ball of light blue energy and gets sucked into my tattoo on my forehead, in turn Slime becoming a new Persona.
"So that's how you gain new Personas", Blaze comments and comes up with a question. "Does that mean we can do that too?"
"I don't think so", Draco answers. "If we were, I wouldn't only have Seth and that event that just happened wouldn't have either. Legion would have gone to either of us."
"So if he can carry lots of Personas", Blaze continues. "Why could he only carry a certain amount so that Legion couldn't enter with Slime?"
"Only if you knew", said a regal voice with an Arabian accent. "My level determines how many Personas Pharos can hold within him, and one of them is me."
"That definitely wasn't Obariyon", Blaze comments on the mysterious voice. "And even with that accent, Ifrit wouldn't have that manner of language. Who are you?"
"That's Pharos' Initial Persona", Draco explains. "His name is Menes."
"Thank you for introducing me Draco", Menes says just as he appears from behind me. "Sorry to have spooked all you but I had to answer what Blaze asked at least."
"Can you show us the other Personas", Blaze asks. "I'm really curious…"
"Very well", Menes said as I give him a nod of approval. "Come! Airgetlam! Obariyon! And Slime! I call thee from within Pharos' Heart!"
Right on cue, the rest of the Personas comes out for everyone to see. Everyone was surprised to see the strength of every Persona present. All my Personas turn to each while I join my pals to enjoy the conversation:
"So Airgetlam", Menes says. "How's it been sense I've been fused into this lad here?"
"I've heard lots about ya", Obariyon says as he clings on Menes' back. "You've been a dick to Shiki-Ouji sense he joined our family. And now that I'm here, I got my eye on ya Airgetlam."
"Don't worry Obariyon", Menes reassures Obariyon. "As long as Shiki-Ouji isn't here, all's fine."
"Who's this 'Shiki-ouji' I'm hearing about?", Slime asks. "According to you guys he sounds like a guy I might get along with."
"If you insult him, you'll get it pretty boy", Obariyon warns Airgetlam with a fist in hand jesture.
"I understand", he says to Obariyon and turns to Slime. "So, Slime, how did you end up being so strong?"
"Well", Slime begins. "I was conjured from a shadow and ate his brother's conjured Persona, who was a Level 20 Legion. I was a level 6 at the time. I was about to be level 9, but I was 100 experience off. So I'm not as powerful as I wanted, but I'm still powerful."
"But I'm curious", Slime continues. "Where did you come from, Obariyon?"
"Oh, funny you should ask that… May I explain Menes?", Obariyon asks Menes, who looks at me, I nod in agreement. Menes then nods to Obariyon to let him continue and Obariyon turns to Slime and begins. "I was born in a dream. A man with a long nose used a golden two balance scale to fuse both Menes and Shiki-Ouji and I was born. But it did cost Pharos a pretty penny to fuse me, though. But it was all worth it, right Pharos?"
"So that's when I checked your pouch you were missing Yen", Blaze comments. "Will you need more money to do more fusion?"
"It was worth it Obariyon", I answer Obariyon and turn to Blaze. "Yes, I do. Sorry for not telling you, and with that taken care of, please don't peak at anyone's money pouch again, ok?"
"I'll stop", Blaze answers.
"OK, since we got to know my current roster of Personas", I say to end the break. "Why don't you all come back in me so we can move on?"
"We will. But we need to know one thing", Obariyon asks. "Who are ya gonna equip first?"
"I admit Airgetlam was the most help back in the first encounter", I say. "I'll have to equip Airgetlam but I will summon you when I need a boost, so be ready Obariyon, 'kay?"
"We gotcha, right boys", Obariyon calls to the others.
"Right", the rest say in unison before vanishing away.
"Man, Airgetlam sounds like a dick from Obariyon's mouth", Blaze comments. "Did you know about this Draco?"
"I actually didn't, this' my first time finding out", Draco answers. "So what caused all that?"
"All that was the result of the Persona Fusion thing", I try to explain. "Airgetlam wanted me to fuse a Persona using him and Menes that would cost more than Obariyon. I didn't want to spend over 8,000 Yen so I decided to go for Obariyon."
"That makes sense now", Blaze sympathizes. "But now knowing that, it costs us to buy food and enhanced gear, right Draco?"
"That's true", Draco answers. "But we need to move on!"
We all agree and walked on.
YAMASHITA TOWN, SHADOW PERIOD
A shade knocks down Centipede, which makes him drop his katana and making Onyx Reaper fade away. Just before the same Shade could finish off Centipede, Duo Hound knocks it back with Aku Golem. After its remains become a coin shaped tablet, Duo Hound walks in front of Aku Golem to confront the remaining 10 Shades, who slowly walk toward the wounded Centipede.
"I'm really getting sick and tired of all you!", he yells at the Shades, and the voice of the mysterious women. "So I'm ending this NOW!"
"And how will you do that, Tin Man?", the women's voice mocks.
"Just watch, Orthrus!", Duo Hound summons his Persona while still in Orgia Mode. The Persona was a giant metal dog with two heads, a furnace-like chest and fire and smoke leaking from its body. It had a glare like it will kill anything in sight, good or evil.
"The first time I ever summoned Orthrus", Duo Hound explains part of his back story, the part that's related to the situation he's in right now. "I was between a rock and a hard place, which was caused by two Camou Gecko. Then he told me to go into Orgia Mode: And when I did… I felt an incredible sensation of POWER!"
"And now…", Duo Hound says in a distorted voice while looking manically in the face. "Let's get even more power shall we? Aku Golem: Use Sacrificial Power!"
In response to the command, Aku Golem melts into a vapor of black aura and pores down on Duo Hound. When the aura settled in, he looked back up at the Shades and laughed loud and manically. Duo Hound eventually stopped laughing and had a look, which had the intent to kill!
"Now with some extra power, time to kill!", Duo Hound says as he turns to his Persona. "Orthrus, Use SKOLL AND HATI!"
"Alright, Come my fires of HELL!", Orthrus calls as he emits more fire than smoke from all the joints of its body. Eventually its body explodes to reveal two wolf-like fire entities. One of them of light blue color and the other is red. Both come from the metal corpse that was the remains of Orthrus and go to Duo Hound like cats would go to the person who they like best.
"Let me introduce the two wolves I summoned from Orthrus", Duo Hound plays around with the flames of the two fire-like wolves. "The red one is Skoll, one who tries to eat the sun. The blue one is called Hati, the one who tries to eat the Moon. Enough for introductions. Skoll, Hati, kill them!"
Then Skoll and Hati howl in the air and charge forward at the enemy. Skoll charges past the Shades and into the distance where the mysterious women's voice came from. While Hati slithers around the 10 Shades in infinity loop and strangles them in the loop. 1 minute of strangling, Hati chomps off the Shade's heads off, who dematerialize into the coin tablets filled with black liquid-like substance. Then a woman with silver geometric-like lines all over her body is wielding a crossbow-like sword on her right arm, like how Duo Hound wielded his sword, trying to fend off the Skoll. But every time she tried to stab at it, those stabs would just go through him with no reaction when he cornered him between him and Hati. When Duo Hound took a look at her, she had a look of panic, and it got worse when she turned to look at the yellow eyes and psychopathic smile of Duo Hound; she was in a frozen state of panic, like she was looking at an embodiment of death in the face.
"So you must be the women I heard so much about from Centipede", Duo Hound says as he sways around like some kind of clown enjoying the time of his life. "Everything looks accounted for, the weapon, the body tattoo and the scanting clothing like a female casino owner. But there is one thing missing from this. I can't put my finger on it, you have a tattoo on you, and anyone who has tattoos that glow like yours would wield a powerful spirit like mine that created Skoll and Hati. Oh yes, where was the silver-blob of a Persona I heard so much about?!"
"This demon Skoll burned it under its fangs just after I summoned my-", she tries to say before Skoll crunches on the weapon, in turn shatters while burning her skin. "Aaaaaaahhhh! Why'd that mutt do that?!"
"Just so we could have an easy time to overpower you, hahahahaha", Duo Hound says just before Orgia Mode hit Critical Potential, which makes him turn serious. "Well, time to end this!"
"Please NO!", she begs just before Duo Hound howls in the air, which triggers Skoll and Hati to circle around in a spiral like the double helix, without the later-like pegs between them, and vanish in the sky. A split second later though, they come down as a gold-colored fire wolf head with the right eye of the Sun and the left of the Moon.
"Aaaaaaaaahhhh!", she panics as the wolf entity opens its mouth with the intent to bite her whole. But after it closes its mouth on her, it explodes in an atomic bomb mushroom cloud. All that's left after the attack was the girl passed out on the ground face-up with her face facing her arm with the burned mark, her right arm.
"Hehehehe… Hahahaha, there!", Duo Hound laughs distortedly as at the girl's fainted body. "Didn't expect a Tin Man without a Plume of Dusk in them to have such great power, huh?!"
Then suddenly he breaks down due to overheat from being in Orgia Mode for so long, on top of exerting too much energy from performing Skoll and Hati, the Orgia Mode exclusive Skill for Duo Hound's Persona Orthrus. When Centipede woke up from being knocked out, he noticed Duo Hound was de-Shadow Camouflaged, which then Duo Hound would be called Xyn. Centipede then runs towards Xyn's broken down, steaming body, in worry.
"Xyn!", Centipede runs to Xyn's disjointed body and tries to wake him up by shaking him. "C'mon Xyn, wake up! Why does this keep happening? Xyn!"
"Fuck these Shade remains", he curses at the tablets that the Shades formed and turns to Xyn. "I care too much about you right now, Xyn. I promise to call your Aunt Labrys. I don't want your mom involved, who would probably have a panic attack."
Centipede picks up Xyn and hurries out of the scene, assuming to be heading back to Heka Dorm. All that was left at the scene was a bunch of scattered Shade tablets and a wounded girl from the night Centipede first met her. Then two hooded figures walked toward the girl from where the girl ran from when being chased by Skoll.
"I got the subject", the one to the right tells the other. "All you need to do is gather the tablets they left behind. Guess we got lucky that he got worried about the Shadow Suppression Weapon X.Y.N."
SHADOW FORTRESS, FIRST FLOOR, SHADOW PERIOD
Now we made it to the wall leading to the First Blood Room. We were expecting to see a Camou Gecko guarding the wall, but there was not at least one there.
"Are we too late?", Blaze asks. "Are you guys sure it's before the Full Moon?"
"Imay wouldn't lie about this", Draco answers.
"Haven't you seen the moon outside", I say to Blaze. "It's definitely almost a full moon."
"Pharos' right", Draco responds to my comment. "This is also our opportunity to get through to the Second Floor. So why would he send us here if we were too late?"
"Let me see if there are any Shadows mumbling behind the wall", Blaze walks toward the wall. "Ya know, just in case."
Just as Blaze reached the wall, I noticed something crawling on the sealing of the cave. But it crawled away just as soon as I looked up. This gave me a feeling of we were being watched, strange…
"I got a bad feeling", I say in a shaky voice toward Blaze. "Are you sure you should be hearing what's past the wall right now?"
"Relax, I'm sure I should. I'm just wondering how Xyn could do-", Blaze reassures me just before noticing something while he is hearing what's past the wall. "Huh, that's odd. I hear a laugh of a guy with a distorted voice, who could that…"
"Hahahaha… You guys really THAT clueless?", a voice that sounded like a Camou Gecko from above us. "Guess we have to assault, huh? What a bore!"
Right then, TWO Camou Gecko fell from above and left us to a state of surprise. When we panicked, they started to laugh hysterically.
"Hahahahahahahaha!", the one closest to Blaze laughs and confronts him. "You guys were priceless… Hehehe… Hahahahahaha!"
"You said it brother", the other one closest to me and Draco says while turning toward me and Draco. "Now that we had our laughs… Let's get to our slaughtering!"
And before we knew it, we had to engage in battle.
"Eat this!", the Camou Gecko to the left slashes at Blaze.
"Eat this too!", the other Camou Gecko slashes at Draco.
"Why'd you do that toward Draco", the Camou Gecko who attacked Blaze asks. "Weren't we supposed to save him for Sam?"
"You know I had my eye on Draco since he betrayed us", the Camou Gecko who attacked Draco answers the other Camou Gecko's question. "So wouldn't I take that chance to get my revenge when I can? Besides, did you forget Blaze is immune to our attacks?!"
"Obariyon!", I call for the Persona I don't have equipped to me at that moment, in turn having Obariyon equipped to me now. "I need you to give me a Tarukaja boost!"
"Alright, here's a power boost!", Obariyon says as he jumps off my back and tosses a coin to me just before landing back on my back. "Don't spend it on one place!"
"Don't worry", I reassure him as I feel the attack boost before turning to Blaze and Draco. "If you can debuff the two Camou Geckoes, here are your chance guys."
"We can", both Blaze and Draco say in unison. "And we will!"
"Seth!", Draco calls as he hummons his Persona. "Use Rakunda on the right Camou Gecko!"
"I'll do the same, Ifrit!", Blaze calls his Persona with the intent of using the same skill as Draco's Seth. "If you can use Rakunda, do it on the Camou Gecko to the right!"
"You got it kid", Ifrit says to Blaze just before turning to the already summoned Seth. "Ya doin' the same?"
"That Camou Gecko threatened my summoner, Draco", Seth explains his situation. "So I have to defend him with all my power. So if I have to weaken this one, then I'll do it."
"Didn't here ya that time, what were ya sayin'?", Ifrit asks just after he used Rakunda on the Camou Gecko that attacked Blaze. "Just do your thing before the Shadows get bored…"
"So you weren't listening, huh", Seth mumbles before roaring his Rakunda at the Camou Gecko who attacked Draco. "You happy now Ifrit?!"
"Well we sure ain't", the two debuffed Camou Geckoes grunt in unison. "Now time to charge our Boomerangs!"
Right then, they put their entire aura on their boomerangs as they skip their turns. Me, Draco and Blaze remember that this is their most powerful move, so this is our chance to weaken them so we can take them out next turn.
"Obariyon, I need to switch you out for Airgetlam", I tell Obariyon, who was still clinging to my back. "But I will still have the power increase if I switch out, right?"
"You got it kid", Obariyon answers my question. "Good luck!"
"Thanks. Now, Airgetlam!", I say to Obariyon and call for Airgetlam. Obariyon jumps in the air, curls in a ball and rolls while turning into a ball of energy over a couple seconds. Then the ball of energy exploded into Airgetlam, who floated behind me waiting for my command. "Use Magaru on the Camou Geckoes."
"I feel the potential of my winds to do extreme damage on both of them!", Airgetlam says as he casts a gust of wind on each of them. This surprisingly knocks them down when they were charging for their Maniac Boomerang attacks. We see this as our chance and do a hold up on the two knocked down Camou Geckoes.
"Gaaaaah!", the two Camou Geckoes grunt as they were knocked down and continue as we three hold them up.
"Brother, how's this possible?", the left Camou Gecko asks his right counterpart.
"I don't know, we were just doing our job and these guys come-", the other Camou Gecko answers in bewilderment before Blaze interrupts.
"You know why we're doing this", Blaze says to the right Camou Gecko. "Besides I got some revenge of my own after one of your kind of Shadow tried to kill me! So now you're kind and I will be even after this."
"You have a more good reason for this, huh", Draco comments to Blaze as he has his feather blades' tips just barely touching the right Camou Gecko's neck while me and Blaze point our blade and enhanced brass knuckles.
"Would you let us finish!", the left Camou Gecko yells at me and Blaze.
"With that attitude, no", Blaze answers and turns to me. "Enough talk. Let's kill them!"
"Let's Go!", I command as we perform the all out attack. When we were done pummeling them with fists and blades, I gave my own one liner while whipping out my Bloody Machete toward the bottom right side with a smug smile. "Just another Sacrifice, right?"
Author's Note: Had to change things before in this before posting Ch. 11; like the skill gain of Menes. Also before I post ch. 3 of Hacker101, please check out the pole on my main page to help me choosing a secondary school for my Life Wizard... Happy Polling :)
This is a revised version of this Chapter so it can match the same wordings as the later chapters of this Series.