"So in this world your cards are just as real as our personas?" Mitsuru asked in shock.

"Pretty much, it's probably because of us being here." Joey said. "I mean when you mess with these Millennium Items strange things tend to happen."

"That seems to be a fair assumption of the situation." Aigis said calmly. "Fuuka-san, have you managed to get in touch with the investigation team?"

"Yes, they should be just a bit further ahead of us." Fuuka said before a bolt of lightning shot into the sky.

"I'm guessing that's them." Yukari said. "Well at least we managed to get back together pretty quickly."

"Agreed, still we need to find and eliminate Zorc before he finds a way to influence our world." Mitsuru said calmly as Yugi, Joey, and the shadow operatives landed next to the investigation team.

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"These mortals are more dangerous than I initially expected, however I am far from defeated." Zorc said calmly.

"Master Zorc, please allow me a second chance to destroy them." said a figure in the shadows.

"No, you will remain here if they manage to reach us." Zorc said calmly. "I have the perfect solution for them."

"Of course, forgive me for implying you were unable to deal with them." the figure said apologetically.

"Silence." Zorc said angrily before a creature began to emerge from the shadows. "This being pales in comparison to the true version, however it should be more than sufficient to defeat these mortals."

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"So that's what happened, well the important thing is that we're back together and we can take down Zorc." Chie said.

"Wait, I'm picking up something powerful heading this way." Rise said nervously. "I don't know what it is."

"This feeling, it can't be." Fuuka said fearfully. "How is he here?"

"Yamagishi, what is it?" Mitsuru asked hesitantly.

"It feels slightly different, but I sense Erebus." Fuuka said nervously.

"Erebus, wait but what happened to the seal?" Junpei asked.

"It's not the real Erebus, Zorc must be trying to get into our heads." Akihiko said as the massive two-headed creature emerged from the darkness. "Looks like we'll need to take him down a second time."

"Wait, you mean you fought something like this before?" Yosuke asked in disbelief. "I thought you guys fought that Nyx guy, you're telling me you had to fight two gods? Are you sure fighting him is a good idea?"

"So it's a little bit bigger than the shadows, that won't make any difference." Chie said. "Tomoe, Heat Riser."

"Be careful, this creature is far more dangerous than anything we've encountered before." Rise said.

"Narukami, divide and conquer." Mitsuru said calmly. "Artemisia, Bufudyne."

"Kanji, give Akihiko-san a boost." Yu shouted just before a block of ice appeared around Akihiko and he crashed to the ground.

"Sempai, Isis Garudyne." Yukari said quickly.

"Takeba, calm down." Mitsuru said. "We can't be reckless against this opponent."

"Mitsuru-san is correct." Aigis said. "Athena, Masukukaja."

"Good idea, Caesar Masukunda." Akihiko said getting back up. "The sooner we take him down the better, he's a lot stronger than he looks."

"That's great, he already looks nearly as tough as Izanami." Yosuke said.

"Perhaps, but our strength has grown as well Yosuke-sempai." Naoto said calmly. "Sukuna Hikona, Agidyne."

"Naoto, are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Kanji asked.

"Right behind you Kanji-kun." Naoto said before a skeleton appeared around Erebus and a beam of purple light shot through him.

"Whoa, where'd you learn that?" Junpei asked.

"We can talk about that later, right now we need to make sure we take Erebus down." Akihiko said.

"Agreed, Artemisia Bufudyne." Mitsuru said quickly as a block of ice appeared around Erebus only for it to fade as a massive purple ring appeared around the persona users.

"No way, he can use Mudo? Yosuke asked nervously just before the ring vanished and Kanji collapsed to the ground.

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"Interesting, this creature is far weaker than the true Erebus however I severely doubt it will succeed in destroying them." Zorc said.

"If you don't mind my asking lord Zorc, if this creature is unable to defeat those mortals why are you allowing him to face them?" asked a figure in the darkness.

"Fool, these mortals possess powers far greater than you can imagine." Zorc said angrily. "Unlike your Ka they pose a threat to my existence, which is the precise reason that determining their strengths is crucial to destroying them."

"Of course, however I assure you they will not make it past me." the figure said confidently. "The more powerful they are, the more powerful I am."

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"Does anyone have any ideas?" Chie asked nervously.

"I don't know, try kicking it or something." Yosuke said. "Jiraiya, Garudyne."

"Wait a minute, that might work." Akihiko said quickly. "Yukari can you heal him?"

"No problem, Isis Samerecarm." Yukari said quickly.

"What are you thinking Akihiko?" Mitsuru asked.

"If we can lower his defenses enough Chie might be able to knock Erebus off his feet." Akihiko said. "Then we'll have to go all out on him."

"Hold on, there's no way we can be sure that would be enough." Yukari said. "I mean weaker shadows can survive all-out attacks."

"Maybe, but most shadows don't have to fight all of us at the same time." Akihiko said. "Besides against this guy we can't afford to be cautious."

"He's right, can you handle this Satonaka?" Mitsuru asked.

"You can count on me." Chie said. "Tomoe, Power Charge."

"Right, Caesar Marakunda." Akihiko said confidently.

"There, strike Erebus right now." Mitsuru said quickly.

"Ok, I'll hit him with everything I've got." Chie said confidently. "Agneyastra."

The moment Chie said that, meteors descended from the darkness and collided with Erebus sending him crashing to the ground.

"Now's our chance, let's go." Yosuke said quickly.

"Right, this time Erebus is going down no matter what." Junpei said before the persona users charged towards Erebus and launched a relentless attack on him.

"This isn't good, he isn't beaten yet." Junpei said nervously.

"Dark Magician, destroy this shadow creature with your Dark Magic Attack." Yugi said suddenly as his magician appeared and engulfed Erebus in a massive orb of dark energy.

(Zorc has created an artificial Erebus to test the persona users despite being unable to defeat them. Next chapter Erebus will be defeated. As always any reviews or critique is appreciated.)