"Please be careful, those Shadows are really strong!" Fuuka watched from the bubble of Lucia as S.E.E.S. fought to make their way towards the next temple. The narrow hallways were optimal for the Persona users and their fighting styles, but the Shadows were still strong. Luckily, having Rise and Futaba beside her helped.
"Can you see anything ahead yet?" Rise lifted the visor of Himiko to look at the other two Navis. Fuuka shook her head. Ever since the Persona users had went into the Chaos Realm today, there was some weird feeling deep within. The three Navis had tried to check ahead, but it seemed like the place wouldn't let them look too far ahead of the fighters. It was more than just a little frustrating. "Ugh…" She pulled the visor back down. "At least they're still doing ok. We'll probably have to go back once they reach the temple."
Fuuka nodded, though there was a prickling on her spine. It feels like they're getting more worn out than normal. Checking their power levels only confirmed this, the longer they went along, the more their stamina drained from them. Futaba spoke up, voicing all of their concerns.
"I think the place is draining their stamina quickly." More information popped up in front of Fuuka's vision, indicating that the rest of the Persona users, even those following S.E.E.S. at a distance without fighting, were becoming weaker. She shivered. The other two places hadn't done this, so this made her feel that something was even more off.
Quickly making the connection to the advancing group, Fuuka relayed their warning. "Be careful guys! We think this place is draining your stamina!" The groups acknowledged what was happening, but the three leaders pushed on without much slowing down. Are they insane? Fuuka narrowed in on their conversation to hear an argument.
"I'll prove to you that I'm the strongest. Some shitty temple isn't going to stop me from saving Tafu!" Narukami was blocking Kurusu and Minato from getting ahead of him with his body and sword. Even with the Shadows around them, the three leaders couldn't work together in the slightest.
"Shut the hell up and get out of my way. These are my people, and if they're tired, we'll have to go back. Doesn't matter how strong you think you are." Minato's voice was sharp and carried a note of venom. It was bad enough that Fuuka flinched. The argument continued, so aggressive that it was causing interference for the Navis.
Rise was about to tell them off when all three noticed something. Through the haze of static and information, a huge amount of power set an alarm off in the edge of Fuuka's vision. "Guys, look!" She looked deeper towards the power, carefully unraveling the static to uncover what appeared to be the temple. The unbelievable power in front of it though…
"Fuuka, they aren't going to listen to us, we have to go to them, now!" Futaba lifted off in Necronomicon, leaving the other two to follow her. Fuuka retracted Lucia and ran next to Rise as the ginger zoomed ahead. I can only hope we aren't too late. The closer they got, racing past the other Persona users, the more and more worried Fuuka felt. Please, everyone be ok!
They burst forth from the tunnels just in time to catch Futaba as she flew through the air. Rise held the redhead, and Fuuka noticed how she didn't have her goggles. She's been separated from Necronomicon! Without waiting, she sat in front of Rise and Futaba and summoned Lucia, determined to protect them. Now that she had her navigation up, she could see what was going on.
The leaders had been knocked to the ground by that police officer, the cultist, Zurui. Her Shadows and followers had also thrown the rest of S.E.E.S. back, and were tossing aside the Persona users that tried to save their friends. They drained their stamina so they couldn't fight back. A wail formed in Fuuka's throat, but she swallowed it. We're outmatched here!
"I recognize you children." Zurui's voice was calm, unlike the voices of Inoshi and Hokori. And that was scarier, as it was clear she was much more calculating and devious than the previous cultists. Even so, Narukami got to his feet and ran forward, growling as he swung his sword. That's our leaders, always fighting back no matter what. Zurui narrowed her eyes. "You're Narukami, the one who found the body. I should have expected you here, especially with all that immortal blood on your hands."
"Gah!" Narukami choked out a painful cry as the woman ducked beneath his strike and slammed her foot into his gut. Quick as a flash, she grabbed his arm and flipped him into the ground. The impact shook the floor, and left the boy completely breathless. His chest heaved as Zurui planted her foot on him. With a click, a gun was pointed at his head. No!
"You God Slayers are so persistent, but something I took note of from those absolute idiots you defeated before was that you don't like to work together." A gunshot rang out through the area, and Fuuka held up her arms in fear. When she looked back, she noticed how Narukami had dodged the shot, the bullet grazing his face. Zurui grumbled a bit. "I forgot, you aren't called God Slayers for no reason. Fast enough to dodge a gunshot, even if you're nothing but children. But there is nothing you can do to resist the power of an Acolyte!"
Klang. Kurusu had lunged for Zurui, his knife glinting in the black and white lights. She blocked him almost effortlessly though, a blade flicking into her palm. She struck quickly, grabbing the Thief's coat, aiming to drive the knife into his chest. He twisted away, though the blade caught under his arm. He managed to kick away the blade, but Zurui wasn't done. She flung Kurusu hard, the boy slamming into one of the walls and sliding down. She's so strong, but how? "Kurusu. I recognized your name as that criminal from last year. Leader of the world famous Phantom Thieves." She smirked. "Not so strong now."
A blazingly hot explosion hit Zurui, knocking her back. Minato had stood up with Orpheus in tow, fire weakly flickering around them. Normally his flames were powerful enough to incinerate most Shadows that came his way, but the cultist just patted the fire out. It was clear that he couldn't pack the same punch. "And of course, the walking corpse, Arisato. You should be dead, with the rest of you no good God Slayers."
Before Zurui could retaliate against Minato, a blue bolt of lightning weakly struck the boy's chest. It hit hard enough to launch him backwards, and as Narukami stood up, Fuuka noticed the lightning was from him. No! Why are you fighting him? There was a snarl in his words.
"Stay the hell out of my way, both of you. I can do this on my own." Narukami faced Zurui again, readying his sword. As he went to attack her, Kurusu practically threw his mask at him, Arsene unleashing strings of darkness upon the silver haired boy. Izanagi managed to block the attack, but for the moment, all three leaders were at each others' throats.
Fuuka desperately tried to scream, but she couldn't be heard over the thunder and explosions. The other Persona users couldn't help either, being incapacitated by the cultists earlier. She could only protect Rise and Futaba as the leaders clashed in their anger, wave after wave of their power hitting Lucia. It was all she could do to hold on.
With a sweep of her arm, all three boys were flung into the side of the temple as Zurui cackled. The impacts were so brutal they made Fuuka flinch. The wind sliced into their skin, and she could see how their faces changed from fury to fear. Please...please get up! Fuuka begged silently, watching in horror as the leaders remained trapped and weak. She pressed her hands to the glass of Lucia, trying to reach them.
"Get up! Go, we have to retreat!" Fuuka could only hope that they heard her.
Narukami was the first to stand up. At first he seemed like he was about to challenge Zurui, but then his vision shifted past her to the Persona users. His voice was more than pained, desperation lacing every word. "No… please get out. I'll hold them off. Get the hell out and don't come back!" He emphasized this by sending another lightning bolt towards the cultist, holding her attention. "Rise! Get everyone out now!"
Rise stood up, though Fuuka could feel her reluctance. The idol couldn't go against the leader's wishes, and started to round up the ragtag group. I should help, but...this isn't right. I won't go until-
"Fuuka. Mitsuru. Help Kujikawa get everyone out." Minato's cold, pained voice cut through her thoughts. She couldn't hold the gasp back, her hands starting to shake. Fuuka eventually retracted Lucia, her heart getting stabbed through with ice as she helped S.E.E.S. get to their feet. Zurui cackled, lunging forwards to intercept the Navis. She was cut off by tendrils wrapping around her feet and pulling her into the ground.
"We didn't say to go slow. Get everyone out as fast as you can, dammit!" Kurusu couldn't get on his feet, but Arsene still yanked on the cultist to keep her at bay. "Get moving!" He cried out, driving Fuuka to start shuffling the groups out faster. The desperation in the leaders made her hurt, so much so that tears started to prick at her eyes.
The Navis managed to get everyone out of the new portal, though they hung back to try and support the leaders. By the time they had gotten back though, the three boys had been restrained and their Personas had been taken from them. When Minato caught Fuuka's eye, he glared, though she could tell he was barely keeping himself together for this. He pulled against the restraints, despite how they cut into his skin.
"We said leave, leave Fuuka and protect S.E.E.S. in my place." There were tears starting to pool in his eyes, matching the ones in hers. "I'm replaceable Fuuka, but the team can't be. Go protect them and solve this mystery and for the love of god, don't come after us!" With that final wail, the leaders were pulled into the temple, the doors closing with such finality it felt like a guillotine blade.