English is not my first language.
if someone likes to be a beta reader to point out my grammatical errors I would be very happy
please enjoy!
Chapter 3: Welcome to Tartarus (III)
Day: 09/Saturday Month: May Year: 2009
Tomorrow
"Kill… me…"
"You look like a mess, Tyron," Iori commented.
"I hate school"
"I understand you friend, I understand you"
In context, even though I wasn't too late in compared to others in the same grade, you could definitely tell the difference, while I still had bits of my knowledge in general, it was a little hard to reapply, it felt like my head was still a mess, which became evident when I confused some exercises with others, I was still doing my best to catch up.
"Today is the full moon..."
Officially it had been a little over a month since I arrived in this world (although most of it was being unconscious, it still counts for me), leaving aside my class, I tried to join a school club, the athletics club where I joined. It went very well, I also joined Kirijo as a sort of assistant in the student council, which was ironically easier than classes in general.
"This is in Chinese..." I said wanting to throw my textbook
"I think he's Japanese," Makoto commented dryly as he watched me struggle with my homework.
"Do you think you're very funny?" I answered narrowing my eyes, to which he just snorted before returning to his business, I did not miss the slight smile on his face, no sir
On the other hand, the last few nights have been a bit long, we continued to advance through the maze until we hit a barrier, that was the limit to which we could advance at the moment, on the other hand I have also been working on my new PERSONA, a one of my new PERSONA was Scáthach – Skaði, the ice witch, a result of using the wizard's bond, then getting Nero, the red saber with a pyro touch, a result of using the emperor's bond.
It generated a strange feeling of mixed feelings when their appearance really was a realistic version of their counterparts in the Fate series, soon he should pay a visit to the Velvet Room just to know the reason for their appearance, after all they were quite different from what they were normal
Night
"I'm sure the full moon looks gloomy during the dark hour" Yukari commented as she looked at the sky
"Could be worse" I replied
"How?"
"It could glow blood red as a harbinger of futility and the end of our existence"
"Dude, that's really creepy" Iori said as she looked at me
It was already night, and we had all gathered from the main team at the subway station, it seemed that Kirijo had found the signal of the biggest shadow and it was time for us to act, we were simply waiting for Kirijo to take care of the coordination until we saw her arrive on a motorcycle definitely has style.
"Sorry I'm late, the shadow is located in a train car near the station" Kirijo said as he took off his helmet
"Does that mean we have to go down the rails? It is not dangerous?" Yukari commented concerned
"Don't worry, the machines don't work during the dark hour, which goes for the trains too."
"Hey? And what about the motorcycle? Iori pointed
"This one is special"
"Great, don't you think Tyron?"
"I'm more of the Harley Davison style" I replied shrugging my shoulders
With everything ready Makoto was chosen to lead us, that did not sit well with Iori so I tried to pat him, it seemed that I appreciated the gesture since he nodded, among all the members of SEES I think I can say that I have become a good friend of Iori, with everything ready we advanced along the tracks until we reached the wagons that contained the largest shadow and it did not take us long to enter
"The doors are open…" Makoto said.
"Too obvious for a trap" I muttered to myself although it seemed that everyone heard it.
And just as I said all the doors closed once we were all inside, half of the group turned to look at me while I shrugged, Iori tried to open the doors, but it was all to no avail.
"It's useless, they won't open"
"What's going on? What happened?!" Kirijo asked in our minds
"Apparently, we are locked up" I replied
"Was it a shadow trap?"
"Nothing we didn't expect captain"
Preparing my rifle I shot the first shadow that appeared behind Yukari, Iori, a little more excited, went ahead and ran after him so that he wouldn't be alone, looking back I saw how Makoto and Yukari were surrounded by several shadows, but I was sure that they would manage, my main problem was shooting the shadows that were approaching Iori through his blind spots.
"Thank you" he told me
"I've got you covered, but don't do anything reckless"
As we moved forward the wagons had started moving again and I could not help but freak out, unlike the game it now had a real time limit, so I kept shooting the shadows as we made our way to the last wagon, when we reached the central area, we were greeted by the boss shadow of the place.
"This is... completely different from before... but I can still defeat that thing by myself, Tyron, don't interfere."
"Hey? Wait!"
Before I managed to keep up with Iori who kept moving forward, several shadows appeared to block me, I quickly summoned King Arthur to finish them off and keep running after Iori.
"This shows that breaking up is always a bad idea"
I kept shooting the shadows that crossed me, I kept running until I finally caught up with him in the last car, only he had run out of energy to summon his PERSONA and was about to be impaled by the shadow
"Iori!"
He was so out of his mind that I ran to push him, we managed to avoid most of the blow, but I still managed to rip a part of the shoulder of my uniform letting blood come out, it was much less painful than when I had arrived so I took a position and began to fire, but all the attacks were repelled without much trouble by the shadow gale
"Go! King Arthur!"
I tried to hit him with my PERSONA, but it was really hard to get close, the shadow started throwing several ice stakes in our direction, but before they managed to get there they were stopped by Yukari's PERSONAA, looking like they finally caught up Makoto was the first to move forward and try to hit him with Orpheus.
"This is bad, if we continue like this we are going to crash" I pointed out since the other train could be seen not so far away
"What are you talking about?" Iori said confused
"The train is moving and there is a train ahead, add two plus two Junpei"
The shadow was really strong, the gales that it threw at us prevented us from getting close, on the other hand it seemed that the sudden understanding of the situation prompted Junpei to act recklessly by running forward with the sword in his hand, he was about to grab it, but before doing so Makoto managed to grab it and prevent it from moving forward.
"Jack Frost!" Makoto shouted letting see his new PERSONA
Seeing that Makoto was containing the gale we finally breathed a slight sigh of relief, although now the shadow was being contained, Makoto would lack the ability to hit in that state, with that in mind it seemed that Makoto turned to look at us. cluster
"I trusted them to have my back," Makoto said.
"Damn… That is not how that phrase is used! Get your ass out of there! PERSONA!" shout Iori more excited
"Smug, come on Nero!" I muttered before taking out one of my new PERSONA
Junpei and I looked at each other for a few moments before we both hit the shadow simultaneously, although the group seemed surprised that it could also use more than one PERSONA. Junpei simply smiled as we continued to hit the now defenseless shadow, as such the shadow had no choice but to die.
"It's over..." I said relaxing a bit
"No... We are not stopping yet!" Yukari yelled in alarm.
We all tensed up again and ran to the main car, we looked around the controls, but none of us knew exactly what to do in these cases, I was sure that these types of trains must have an emergency brake lever, so I looked carefully until you land on the only thing that seemed to fit the description.
"Let whatever happens happen"
I carelessly took the lever and pulled it nervous, but the train in front was already close, when I thought that we would not stop in time the train finally slowed down until it stopped just a few centimeters from the other train.
"It stopped," Makoto commented nonchalantly.
"I saw my life flash before my eyes… two weeks of school is not much…"
"Let's never do that again..." Iori said dryly.
"You can say it again…" Yukari replied as she dropped to the ground.
Again, I raised all five and amazingly Makoto responded, he was happy that it seemed like he was opening up bit by bit.
You are me, I am you... you have acquired a new bond, with the power of the FOOL arcane you have opened the way to a new chapter...
Day: 23/Saturday Month: May Year: 2009
Afternoon
"I don't feel the brain..." Iori said with his face against the table
"Did you have one?" Makoto pointed out
"I see the light…" I commented in a state no better than Iori's.
"Aren't you exaggerating?" Yukari said when she saw me
It had already been 2 weeks since our fight with the older shadow, it seemed that near death call had finally woken up Iori, he finally realized that this was not a game, with the shadow defeated the barrier that prevented us from moving forward had been vanished, now we were continuing our expedition without problems... at least until Monday of this week...
The midterms had started, and I produced the idea to ask Kirijo for help, the result, me basically being slaved until the songs were stuck in my head, it seemed that my lack of understanding had made Kirijo more drastic, at least now he was sure he would not have a problem passing, god forbid otherwise Kirijo definitely will not be lenient.
I just have to wait for the results this Monday...
I see my future bleak...
Day: 25/Monday Month: May Year: 2009
Afternoon
"Yukari! Hide me!" I yelled when I saw Yukari's familiar pink sweater.
"Hey?" she answered confused before she threw me into a trash can next to her
It was Monday, the day of the delivery of results, I had run with all my being after noticing the malicious look that Kirijo was giving me, although my grades were not all bad, it seemed that his standard was somewhat high and the one that I stay on that level I consider it as something more PERSONA, that resulted in me running for my life
"Takeba! Have you seen Tyron? Kirijo asked
"He went that way..." Yukari pointed out randomly.
"Thank you. Come on Tyron! You can still improve those terrible grades!" Kirijo yelled as I flinched in my hiding place.
Lifting the lid of the trash can I had been hiding in, Yukari simply gave me a flat look, after an explanation of my current situation she seemed to sympathize a bit before helping me brush some trash off of me.
"You really saved me"
"You are aware that we live in the same dorm, right?" Yukari pointed amused
"That's a problem for future Tyron, now I'll just be grateful to be alive"
"I hope you survive"
"I also"
Day: 30/Saturday Month: May Year: 2009
Afternoon
After some ups and downs, I somehow came to terms with Kirijo, she wouldn't be so rude and I would live to see another day, with that the whole week was pretty smooth, at least until this morning, today was the day when 2 of the girls who bullied Fuuka Yamagishi had been found unconscious inside the school with a clear sign of apathy syndrome, which by default also meant that we were about to recruit her, so Kirijo gathered us all in the room from the student council, Kirijo ironically being the one who was late
"Fuuka Yamagishi, second year student of class E" Akihiko said placing a folder on the desk
"At last! A new girl!" Victor Junpei
"Apparently she was in the hospital I was in, so we realized her potential."
At that moment Kirijo entered, you could tell from his face that he had had a hard day, the matter of girls with apathy syndrome was definitely not a laughing matter, the authorities wanted to investigate the matter, so the Kirijo group had to intervene in that investigation.
"How bad are the girls?" asked
"The girls from class E? It is something scary to know that they could have died there" Yukari told me
"They have…?"
"Yes, they both had apathy syndrome" replied Kirijo
"But... Doesn't it just happen when you are attacked by a shadow?"
"Yes, and the fact that they showed up at the entrance of the school is somewhat worrying"
"Is he related to Tartarus in any way?" deduced Makoto
"I also thought that"
"Oh, I don't think that's the case," Iori added as she tried and failed to look mysterious.
"Know something?"
"The truth has been some rumors in the school"
"You mean about the dead students?" asked
"Hey? You know?"
"Iori, he was by your side when they told you about it."
"What did they tell him?" Kirijo asked us
"Basically, that there were 2 unconscious students overnight at school, which I imagine must be those same 2, if that's true, then the syndrome makes sense" I replied cutting off Iori's drama who just gave me a look of treason
"What do you mean?"
"Just where were their coffins when the dark hour happened? That is…if they were really sleeping inside one…" I pointed out.
Everyone seemed to understand what he meant, if the two girls were at school at night and were attacked by shadows during the dark hour, then they must have somehow ended up inside Tartarus, I have no idea how they got out, but the theory It must be going pretty well for them to connect other dots.
Day: 8/Monday Month: June Year: 2009
Tomorrow
After the incident with the girls from class E we were all investigating, I spent most of my time in the student council room still helping Kirijo, which in turn caused me to miss the first meeting with Shinjiro Aragaki, but already I would have another opportunity to meet him and avoid his death flag, it is the first flag and if I achieve it I will prove to myself that I can change everything for the better, returning to what is important, it was time for us all to meet.
"I didn't want this to happen..." Fuuka's stalker said when questioned
"The day before you found the two unconscious students, the four of you stayed inside the school. What were you doing? What did they do to Yamagishi? kept pressing Kirijo
"We were just… we were just hanging out!"
"Did they lock her up?" Makoto asked
"Later at night my classmates thought he might have killed himself, so they went back to school, but they never came back!"
"And the next day they were found unconscious in front of the school…right?"
"She was scared! I went to the gym thinking about freeing Fuuka and the door was still closed, but when I opened it, Fuuka was not there!"
"She, wasn't she? I see… Did you notice anything weird about your friends who were hospitalized?"
"Voices… voices calling them, they said they heard horrible voices calling them"
"It seems that what you said was partially correct Tyron, they were drawn to the dark hour, the shadows are targeting the humans" Kirijo said turning to see me
"But what about Yamagishi?" Yukari asked concerned
"Maybe... she's still inside..." I replied
"It is most likely, we will meet in the operating room after school, there we will see how we will face this"
Night
With school over we all gathered in the dorms, Fuuka's friend was now under our protection, we all prepared our equipment ready for the possible next operation.
"So, what do they mean she's still in school?" asked Iori
"What happens at school at 12?" Kirijo replied
"She Becomes Tartarus"
"Exactly, Yamagishi probably wandered from the gym to Tartarus."
"Impossible! That means Yamagishi has been in Tartarus for at least 10 days."
"Don't give up yet"
"Think Junpei. What happens to the Tartarus when the dark hour ends?" I told
"Disappear…"
"And what about what's inside?"
"He's leaving too... wait, does that mean Yamagishi...?"
"She fundamentally ceases to exist once the dark hour is over and since she only reappears at the dark hour, which means he's only been in it for 10 hours."
"Exactly, as such there is still hope that she is still alive, an ordinary PERSONA with no PERSONA trapped in a place full of shadows..." Yukari said losing heart
"So, you want us to let her die?!" Akihiko yelled at him
"Akihiko is right Yukari, we must have faith, I believe with all my being that Fuuka is alive" I replied
"Perhaps there is a way to enter Tartarus…" Kirijo said.
"How?" asked Iori
"The same way Fuuka did it."
"Shall we wait in the gym?"
"In all probability she will leave them in the same place where Fuuka ended up, which in her fault means that she should be close to her too" I added.
"To be honest, I can't approve of this operation, in the worst case you could end up stranded in the same way as her, however..." Kirijo stopped when he saw us.
"I can't stand by and watch, not if it means there's a chance to save her, I don't want to regret it, if you guys don't go, I'll go on my own" Akihiko announced by all
"I understand that there are risks... I cannot guarantee her safety, but I am counting on you"
"Understood," Makoto said dryly.
"Do you really understand?" Yukari told him
"What's wrong Yukari?" I asked for
"I don't have the same determination as Akihiko, but despite that if I see someone in danger, I want to help him, I also want to help Yamagishi, you don't care, you only do it because they told you to, that part of you really makes me angry "
"Understood" Makoto answered again dryly.
"H-hey, what do you mean understood? Hey wait Makoto! Yukari did not mean it!" poor Iori tried and failed to calm them down
After that Makoto just left us, Kirijo and Akihiko also left, Iori went to prepare an instant soup and I went for my rifle, I checked all its parts making sure it was in the best conditions, this time we had 2 difficult shadows and without the Fuuka's ability would just be hitting blind, she had 4 PERSONAAA available, King Arthur with light attribute, Scáthach with Ice attribute, Nero with fire attribute and lastly Atalanta with wind attribute, she hoped they were enough.
"Don't you think you were a bit harsh on him?" said Iori looking at Yukari
"I'm scared, if Makoto keeps fighting mindlessly on his account, he's going to get him killed one day"
"You are thinking too much"
"Takeba, Iori, Tyron, everything is ready, let's go" Kirijo said
"Good!"
"Just wait for us Fuuka, we are going to save you"
With that we went to what would be the beginning of a long night...