Dance of the Cards

XXVIII. The Root

November 2035

Evening

Rekia's hammer slammed into the last shadow with a bit more force than necessary. Everyone was feeling the same frustration. The last month had been a pull and push of keeping the shadows back while trying to find the Wild Card. Despite what Igor had said they felt no closer to finding their missing leader. The only thing that was keeping all of them sane was the fact that defeating these wander shadow were lessening the rate of Sleepers.

The last of the extended twilight hours faded into true night and they all breathed easier.

"Nothing has changed," grumbled Kotori.

"Some stuff has," said Sakura.

"Not the most important stuff. Like finding the frickin' Wild Card. The whole reason for this crap."

No one really wanted to agree with her. Especially since she was right.

"I want to say we should trust Igor knows what he is going but it's really hard to believe that right now," said Himeko.

"Good." Kotori nodded. " 'Cause if you did best friend or not I might have to kick you in the shin."

"Rude."

"Let's just call it a night," suggested Daisuke. "We've been at this for a few weeks. We are all on edge. A good night's rest will help."

Everyone walked together back towards the main part of town. No one was much of talking, too lost in their minds. Akira walked closer than strictly needed to Himeko. As the days stretched on he had been feeling more and more on edge. He hated the feeling. Even more, he had that there wasn't anything he could do about it.

Takahito trudged a little bit behind everyone else. Daisuke slowed his steps to walk evenly with him.

"Something on your mind?" Daisuke asked the younger boy.

"The same stuff on everyone else mind."

"Maybe but it feels like something a bit more. Do you feel better trying to talk to your sister about it?"

Takahito shook his head. "Nah, she already tried. I asked her to back off. Even though she hates doing it she's following my wishes." He glanced at his sister. At the same time, she glanced back at him. The worry was clear on her face but she didn't slow down, just nodded to him. He smiled back before she turned to say something to Akira.

"Do you want me to back off too?"

No, it's okay. I just feel like my Persona hasn't been of much help lately. We are outside of the twilight so it's not like I can scan the real world for things. I can barely locate shadows here. I was kind of hoping that at least in the twilight hours I would be more helpful in trying to find the Wild Card."

"I get that. We are getting super frustrated." He placed his hands into his pockets. "In fact nowadays anytime Igor starts to talk I think of punching things."

Takahito laughed. "I think we all feeling a bit violent."

"Except maybe Sakura. I feel like she would just give us all a super disappointed look. Which would be worse than any punch."

"Tha-" Something caused chills to run across Takahito's nerves.

The other feel it too. Everyone stopped, listening to the night. The cold was been set in long enough that the insects the sounded all summer had been long gone. Even so, there was always something, now there was nothing.

All at the same time, they noticed something, the absence of something. Patches of stars kept winking in and out of sight. It took a moment for them to realize it wasn't the star themselves changing. Something was blocking them from view. A massive creature was moving silently across the Inaba. The utter stillness of it marked it as something that wasn't from their world. It was moving past the main section of town. Towards the Inn.

Takahito felt his stomach drop. He ran up to Himeko.

"Sis," he whispered. He had no idea if the creature would hear him or even care. Himeko reached out to grab his hand.

"Don't worry, I don't think it's interested in the Inn."

"What then?"

"It's like a mega version of what Kotori and I first encountered. It might be going to the tracks."

Kotori appeared next to them. "We should follow it."

"What? Why?"

"It's something big, something important. It's the only thing that we have seen that is different from everything else. Maybe we can get some more clues, maybe we can finally change something."

Takahito didn't know if it was desperate or belief in what Kotori was saying but no one argued against her idea. Thankfully the shadow tonight has been small and easy. None of them feel weak so they hurried after the creature. Takahito hoped they weren't making a massive mistake.

Twilight

Without the dark night to disguise it the creature seemed even larger. Its shape became more defined. It looked like a far larger version of the first shadow Kotori and Himeko had ever fought. Its canine shape was just different enough from how a dog was supposed to be off-putting.

Just as the dark no longer hide the creature from them it didn't hide them from the creature. However, they were prepared; they weren't caught off guard when the shadow turned on them.

As usual Reika and Akira charged at the shadow first. Kotori stayed behind close to Takahito, just in case. The spaces between the mazes worked different, while he was usually safe they were never sure if that was the case by the rift. Himeko and Daisuke worked a half-ring of fire around them, keeping the shadow just where they wanted it.

"Garu!" Sakura aid for the shadow, deftly keeping fanning the flames. The shadow roared. It brought its full attention to Sakura. When it roared again dark spikes shot towards her. She dived and rolled out of the way.

Reika took the opening to smash her axe again on of its legs. It's stumbled in pain. "Oona!" Her persona came out. The shadow stumbled again as many invisible blows hit it. the final blow knocked the shadow down.

"Now!" shouted Akira. All of them rushed the shadow. They leaped back before it could land any of its counterattacks. It stayed crouched down. However, it wasn't clear if it was because it was weakened or if it was getting ready for an attack.

It turned out to be the latter. The shadow tried to leap over the lowered flames towards Akira but Himeko was ready. She raised the flame and infused them with a lot more power. They engulfed the shadow. It stumbled back and slipped off the edge, falling into the rift itself.

They all paused, unsure of what had just accrued.

"Wait…really?" Reika looked at her teammates. "Did that really just happen?"

"Yeah…" trailed off Daisuke.

"Is it coming back?" asked Sakura. "It seemed pretty powerful."

"Yes, but we don't really know how far down that goes. And I don't think a shadow like that can fly." Himeko looked to her little brother. "Can you scan for it?"

Takahito shook his head. "I already tried. I can't read it anymore but that doesn't necessarily mean it's dead."

The air became heavy and hot. Even Himeko and Daisuke could feel the air burn into their lungs. The others buckled under the pressure. Before they could rush to help their friends a large humanoid comes out of the rift. If SOTA wasn't having trouble breathing before they certainly did now.

The creature was massive, far large than the one they had just fought. The size wasn't what was unnerving about it. It was the fact that its skin seemed to be constantly rolling of it. The skin would burn away before it fell very far. Eight massive cuts were spread around its body to the point it was nearly cut into pieces. By far the worse part was its face. Its mouth was open and full of flames. Its eyes were far too large of its face. The hatred they could all see in them sent shivers up their spines.

"You think you have victory. You do not have what it takes, you do not have the power to bend all to your will."

The emotions behind the voice brought Himeko and Daisuke to their knees just like the others. The creature pulled itself fully from the rift. It was stories tall.

"Oh, how I wish to crush you in my hands." It turned its attention to Takahito. before looking to Himeko. "Which of his should I start with?"

"You will not touch any of them." The calm voice of Ann washed over all of them. Finally, they could breathe easy again. However, none of them made a move to stand.

The creature laughed. "Good little servant, come to protect the wards."

"Hinokagutsuchi, stop these games."

Hinokagutsuchi laughed. "These games are so fun though. I do enjoy making up all the rules."

"You cannot go against our master or your father."

Rage contorted his figures even more. "DO NOT SPEAK OF HIM!"

Ann remained unfazed by his outburst.

"Do not think," he was no longer shouting but his voice was still full of rage, "I am not well aware of my father's rules. I had killed none. It is not my fault their body are so fragile that they cannot help a few decades of sleep. Maybe if Father loved his creations so much he should have made them better."

He spread his arms wide. "Come for me when you dare, little humans. Just now that when you die know it is your father's fault. He should have chosen his side better. It was foolish to align himself to a god that cares not for his family."

Ann extended her power before he could say more, soft blue light surround them and carried them away.

Velvet Room

"The god of fire! A prime god? That's what we are dealing with?!" Kotori collapsed on the many chairs in the Velvet Room.

"You command avatar every day, surely this cannot be too much of shock," said Ann.

"Yeah, avatars, not like actually gods," responded Reika.

"Enough," cut in Igor. "We do not have time to debate the semantics. Regardless of Hinokagutsuchi status, he does not hold the power behind the true issue here. He is behind the Sleepers but not the disappearance of the Wild Card. That is why they can't be found even after defeating the corrupted guardians. Someone has be manipulating Hinokagutsuchi's anger to cover their tracks; to bend the rules even more."

"Which is still something we can't do," said Sakura. She could understand the principle behind it but it was started to get very annoying.

"Yes."

"Who is hiding the Wild Card?" asked Himeko.

"Someone far older and powerful. You have little hope of unraveling their web before time is up. There is something I can find that may be able to help you subdue Hinokagutsuchi but I am unaware if any of you will be able to use it. There has never been a missing Wild Card before." Igor steeped his hands. "You must not return to the Twilight under any circumstances. I will find the item shortly. I suggest you take what is left of today and tomorrow to prepare yourself. I should have everything ready by then. Put your affairs in order."

"Our affairs in order?" That phrasing didn't sit well with Akira. "Are you suggesting we are going to die?"

"It was always been a possibility."

"Yes, but never so certain."

"It is no more certain now, but if Hinokagutsuchi is not stopped all of Inaba will become Sleepers." Igor looked at each one of them in turn. "That includes all of you. Himeko and Sakura know this better than any of you."

Akira felt Himeko stiffen next to him. He put his arm around her. He saw Reika and Kotori do the same with Sakura.

"For now rest," said Ann. "Save your strength for whatever is to come."