1/28
"Sister Hijiri?"
Byakuren came out of her room. "What is it, Shou?"
"Um, well…" Shou produced a number of cards. "We found lots of these scattered all over the temple grounds early this morning. Kyouko is still trying to clean and dispose of all of them, but…"
"What do they say?" Byakuren asked. "Can I see one?"
"Uh… sure," Shou nodded hesitantly, handing a card over to Byakuren to read.
Byakruen looked at the card carefully, and read it aloud: "To Byakuren Hijiri, a great arrogant sinner of Vanity. You are a false prophet who sullies the great name of the Buddha to sate your own ego, and who uses your acolytes for your own personal gain. In the name of great justice, we have deemed this wholly unacceptable, and thus, we will take your distorted desires without fail. Signed, the Day Breakers."
Shou gulped. "I-isn't this bad?"
Byakuren shook her head. "I do not know who made this, or what grudge they hold against me. However, this is very clearly a threat against us and our way of life." She crumpled up the calling card and tossed it aside. "All sermons and meditation sessions are cancelled for today. I want everyone, including yourself, on high alert and patrolling the premises."
"Understood," Shou bowed, before exiting outside. Once she was gone, Byakuren turned around, a distorted static flickered, and her shadow form, dressed in a gravity-defying toga, spoke.
"Arrogance? Vanity? Don't give me that bullshit. I'm only doing what's right for Gensokyo, being the grand messiah they need!" She clenched her fist. "Bring it on, 'Day Breakers.' I'll show you just how many tricks this 'old hag' has up her sleeve!"
Looking at the monitor, I was practically grinning ear-to-ear.
"I think we really rustled her jimmies," Marisa smirked.
"You were the one who suggested flying over the temple in the middle of the night to shower the place in those calling cards," Reimu added. "If someone did that to me, I'd be really mad too."
"Don't forget who designed and printed all of them out!" Nitori said.
"Well, 'helped design," Reimu said, "since I did the original art."
"And don't forget who wrote it," Youmu added.
I clapped. "This calling card really was a team effort." I looked over at Mamiko. "Today, we take down Byakuren's fortress and end her abuses. Are you ready?"
Mamiko stood to attention. "I have been waiting anxiously for this moment."
"And the rest of us are all raring to go," Marisa said.
"Splendid," I said. "Let's get our gear together, and begin the operation."
I was restless. Whether it was because of the calling card, or something else, I did not know. But I felt an incredible sense of dread and anxiety, as though my own life were being threatened by an unseen force. Because of that, I could not help but tour the grounds, keeping an eye out for anyone and anything approaching the temple, especially those who appeared to be threats.
So when I heard rustling in the bushes, I raced over, sutra scroll in hand, to see who or what it was. I realized it was likely just a deer or a squirrel, but on a day like this, one couldn't be too careful.
"Hm?" I peered into the brush, and saw… I saw Akechi-kun. I was puzzled. Why would he try to sneak into the temple in such a manner? Especially since the forest surrounding it was known to be home to dangerous youkai? Then, other faces popped up alongside his: Reimu, Marisa, Youmu, Nitori, and another I did not recognize. I knew then they were plotting something, particularly if the incident-resolvers were both present.
I crept closer to them, making sure they did not spot me. I could hear them saying some things, about an "infiltration" and "striking at her core." I wondered: could they, in fact, have been the ones to send those calling cards?
"Just what are they doing?" I thought. "Normally, those two would just force their way in and start throwing spell cards everywhere."
Then I saw Akechi-kun pull out a golden key, and he began speaking to it, with each word lighting it up. "My name… the temple… a… cathedral? ...wha-HUH?!"
Inside the fortress, we looked toward the front square, in front of the basilica.
"Look!" Marisa pointed upward. The hazy cloud we found inside now floated directly over the obelisk in the center of the square. We saw it quickly flash white and condense, changing form into a core virtually identical to the one from before.
"Seems as though Shadow Byakuren wants to end this quickly," I observed. I looked back at the group. "Once we step into the square, she will certainly be ready to challenge us. Are you all ready?"
"Ready as I'll ever be," Marisa said, tipping her hat.
"Good to go over here," Nitori said.
"I've defeated one distorted heart, I shall cut down another!" Youmu proclaimed.
"Let's bury this incident," Reimu said.
Mamiko drew her weapon and twirled it around. "Byakuren's bastardization of Dharma ends here!"
"I like your attitude," I smiled. I switched my Persona over to a Leanan Sidhe I had prepared just for this occasion, fused from the Preta I had before. "Now then, let's finish this!"
Once we rushed into the square, we found Shadow Byakuren, standing on the basilica's front steps, hands folded and hair gently blowing in the wind. She looked almost the same as the real one, save the distinctive yellow eyes and shadowy wisps at her feet, no doubt because we had weakened her distortion by claiming her Will Seeds.
"Welcome, lost sheep, to the grand Myouren Cathedral!" She stepped down. "Dare you come to desecrate this sacred place, to cause havoc and despair in my sanctuary where I guide the lost to the promised land?"
"Enough!" Mamiko stepped forward and pointed her staff at Shadow Byakuren. "You are a shameful individual who uses the Buddha's holy name for your own ends! You talk about enlightenment, about freeing oneself from temptation, yet you indulged in your own ego and turned a blind eye to the insanity and the excesses of those around you, driven to drown their sorrows because they know the truth but won't dare to oppose you!"
"My my." Shadow Byakuren shook her head. "Such a misguided soul as yourself knows not about enlightenment. I am an ancient nun, one who has survived for far longer in the bleak depths of Hokkai reciting sutras for far longer than normal humans will live. I saw the pain and despair in the youkai I was sent to kill by the ignorant, fearful humans who demonize anything who didn't conform to their twisted, dark ideals. I should be exalted for closing the gap between humans and youkai!"
I shook my head. "Extending your life beyond your natural time… a sin in many religions, I'm sure you would agree."
"Not if that extended life is spent devoting oneself to self-betterment and the salvation of others!" Shadow Byakuren countered.
I looked down. "Then tell me… why couldn't you save your brother?"
"...!"
"I know everything. How your brother died a tragic, painful death… you won't admit it yourself, but you yourself fear death. You do everything you can to place obstacles between you and those who pass judgement. You fear losing friends, being alone, being separated from those you love and care about, and that's why you draw acolytes to your temple, not to tread the thorny path to Nirvana but to blind yourself to the pain and suffering you yourself have been put through, to the obsessive expense of everyone except yourself."
Shadow Byakuren growled and stomped the ground. "Goddamn… who told you THAT? I don't… you damn brats, I've accomplished more than your sorry asses ever will! You cheeky shits who think they can just waltz into my sacred church and raise Cain as they please!" The ground started to quake, and we could see the square close itself off and lift into the air.
"What's going on?" We steadied ourselves and looked around. Once the shaking stopped, we were high above the basilica dome, and the entire fortress could be viewed from our vantage. Rows of seats holding thousands of cheering shadows rose up along the sides. We were now in a floating colosseum, and the crowd cheered for our spilled blood. "Praise the great Hijiri-dono! Death to the sinners!"
"You see?" Shadow Byakuren proclaimed. "These are the souls I have saved, and they all wish for your complete and total annihilation. And who am I not to give them what they want? Show them that light always pierces through darkness?"
Mamiko shook her fist. "You…"
Byakuren slowly walked forward, her body twisting and contorting as she continued to speak. "You wretched little whelps… I'll squash you all flat and grind you to paste!" Her figure darkened, embiggened and absorbed energy from all directions. We assumed a defensive formation, anticipating any action. Her shadowy blob grew bigger and bigger, until bursting and assuming the shape of a giant, blocky, Buddhist Transformer, covered in gold and marble armor, with a helmeted head from which purple and gold hair erupted out the back, dressed in a toga and with a golden laurel crown. This hulking, monstrous foe was identified by Nitori as the great tempter of sin, Dairoku Tenmaou. In one powerful motion, she reached out to the obelisk, shattering it with her grip and drawing a massive warhammer which she effortlessly wielded with one hand. The crowd cheered wildly as this transformation finished, with virtually everyone calling on her to crush us to tiny bits.
We would not be intimidated. I drew my gun and pointed it right at her head. "Very well. But know that we will take you down!" I turned around to Nitori, who was already getting her Persona ready, floating in the air and preparing buffs for us. I then looked at everyone else. "Alright, everyone. There is only one target, so we should surround her and attack her from all sides. And we should make sure one person is defending Doktor at all times."
"I'm on it," Marisa said, moving to Nitori's position, while the rest of us dove right in and went to town. Shadow Byakuren's armor was tough, and regular attacks had little or no noticeable effect on it. So we switched over to using magic, seeing if that would have any more effect, and I discovered something important: using Eiga caused her to stagger and stumble back for a second. Nitori then established she was weak to Curse attacks, placing the burden squarely on me to keep the beatdown going. Abusing her Curse weakness also allowed us to better target her more vulnerable head with our other attacks. Her own attacks were fairly predictable, namely attempting to flatten us with her hammer or else try to kick and punch us.
A mighty blow to the chest, courtesy of Reimu, caused Shadow Byakuren to stumble back. "Blast… it would seem I have underestimated you all."
"If 'ya wanna surrender now, we might let you off easy," Marisa said.
Shadow Byakuren laughed defiantly. "I will never compromise my ideals, even if it means perishing to uphold them. But that will never happen, because of the strength I gain from all those who sing my praises!" At that moment, gates along the sides of the arena opened up, releasing chariots pulled by Unicorns and ridden by cognitive versions of several of her acolytes, while Shadow Byakuren herself jumped up onto a massive throne overlooking the arena. "Go forth and finish them, my followers!"
"Geh." The chariots, six in all, started to circle us. "So now she's making her minions do the dirty work. Makes sense, in a way."
"Praise Hijiri-dono! Kill the non-believers!" shouted cognitive Shou.
"Now then," Shadow Byakuren called out, "you won't do any good by attacking them at random. You must focus on one individual at a time!" She pointed at Nitori. "Start with that one, the one giving them support! They'll be helpless without her!"
Nitori flinched. "Er, m-me? But I can't-"
"That's the point," I said. The chariots closed in, with each of their occupants swinging their weapons at us. Thinking quickly, I ordered the group, "circle around Doktor and make sure no attacks reach her."
"Alright, but what are you going to do?" Reimu asked.
I looked at the chariots, trying to see who was going the slowest or following the most predictable path. "I'm going to hijack one of the chariots." I dashed off to the side, and decided to go for the one being ridden by Cognitive Kyouko.
"Starburst! Throw me a bomb!"
"Roger that!" Marisa took out the bag gun and shot a grenade into my hand. I pulled the pin, tossed it in the chariot's path, and took cover. The grenade landed right underneath it, then exploded, launching Kyouko to go careening into the colosseum wall and the Unicorn to flip over. I rushed over, got the cart back on its wheels and took the reins. "HUP!" After some protest from the horse, I managed to gain control.
"Nice one, Crow!" Marisa shouted.
"One down, five to go." The remaining chariots were still circling around the group, who were busy parrying their attacks. I turned mine around, got my knife out, and targeted Cognitive Ichirin next. As I approached her, she realized I was coming right at her and held her sword out, but I managed to knock it out of her hands with my knife, before swiftly pulling out my gun next, firing behind me, and managing to plant one right in her skull, causing her to dissolve.
Her chariot came to a halt next to Mamiko, who turned around and eyed it. "Crow," she asked, "permission to commandeer this chariot?"
I looked at the remaining four chariots. "See if you can lead them away from Doktor!"
"Affirmative." She got in, took the reins, and immediately dashed off toward the far side of the arena. Cognitive Minamitsu took notice and decided to give chase. She attempted to close the distance so she could swing at Mamiko with her lance, but Mamiko proved to be an expert at horsemanship, turning tight corners and driving the horse in unpredictable ways. Minamitsu's attempts to keep up ultimately resulted in the chariot flipping over and the Unicorn tumbling several meters before dissolving into black mist. I simply galloped over to her and performed a drive-by shooting to dispatch her.
"Excellent work, Bull!" I called out. "Keep it up!"
"I appreciate it," she said back.
There were three chariots left. At this point, the remaining foes realized I was a threat and broke off their assault against Nitori to try and get rid of me first. The others continued to defend her, although Marisa brandished a straw doll. Realizing what she was plotting, I managed to goad Cognitive Shou into chasing me, leading her right by Marisa. Marisa lobbed the doll, which exploded into a Mudo attack which killed the Curse-weak Unicorn, causing the chariot to buck Shou out the front and onto the ground. Marisa followed up on this by shooting her in the head.
"Nice work, Starburst!"
Marisa pumped her fist. "Hell yeah, teamwork!"
The last two opponents were Cognitive Nazrin and Mamizou. I was told the real Mamizou was quite powerful, so I decided to go bump her off first. I kited her until she went in for another shot at Nitori, then I moved to intercept her. I summoned my Persona this time to see if I could land a Double Shot. However, she noticed me, and pointed at me. Suddenly I was surrounded by smoke, and could feel myself tumbling out of the chariot. Dazed, I got back up on all fours…
...wait.
"HOLY CRAP!" Marisa exclaimed. "Crow got turned into a mouse!"
"Seriously?" Nitori shook her head. "Oh, this isn't good…"
I looked at myself and, well, I was, in fact, a mouse. I tried to voice my displeasure, but could only manage pitiful squeaks. How humiliating, I thought. How could something like this happen to me?
And as if to drive the point home, Cognitive Nazrin's chariot came speeding by, and I got caught up in the horde of mice surrounding it. Keeping pace, I jumped in between the innumerable rodents until I jumped up into the back of the chariot, right underneath the mouse girl who did not register my presence. In my weakened state, I couldn't use skills or weapons. There was only one thing I could do, and I was very hesitant to do it, if only to hold on to what little honor and dignity I had left. But, I also realized that the mission was more important.
So I jumped up and bit her on the ass.
"YEEOOOOOOOWCH!" Cognitive Nazrin rocketed up into the sky, never to be seen again, and the mice all scattered. Right at that moment, I turned back into a human in another puff of smoke, and took control of the chariot. Mamizou was the only target left standing, so I ordered everyone else off of turtling Nitori so we could trip her up and dogpile on her, which we did, sending the cart into the wall and causing it to explode.
We turned and stood defiantly at Shadow Byakuren. "Nice try," I said, "but commanding your minions to do your dirty work won't get you anywhere if they're incompenent."
Shadow Byakuren slammed her fist. "Grrrr… you've proven yourself worthy against my acolytes, I'll give you that. But you are still no match for the servants of the great Messiah!"
Two shadows, an Uriel and a Raphael, then spawned in front of us.
"Oh, COME ON!" Marisa complained. "How many more of these guys are there?"
I sighed. "Guess we'll just have to defeat these ones, too." The two archangels immediately dove towards us swinging their weapons, and Mamiko decided to be the first to retaliate.
"Take this!" She went and struck Uriel, only for the attack to be reflected, damaging her and knocking her back. Moments later, Marisa tried to attack Raphael with Freila, but it too bounced back and damaged her.
"Ow!" Marisa got back up and cast a spell to patch herself and Mamiko up. "No way, these guys can bounce our attacks back?!"
"It would seem so," Mamiko said. "I wasn't ready for it, either."
Nitori pulled up her PDA. "Guys, here's what I found: the green one reflects physical attacks. Guns too. And the purple one reflects magic."
"Is that so?" I said. "Then, we'll need to divide our efforts. Fury and Bull, go deal with Raphael. Me and Seraph will go take on Uriel. Doktor and Starburst, focus on supporting both groups."
"Gotcha," Marisa said. So she and Nitori stayed in the back tossing heals and buffs, while the rest of us in our two-person groups each took on these powerful archangels. It was fortunate that they were weaker than some other Uriel and Raphael specimens I had encountered, otherwise we very well may have lost in no time. Even so, they were still tough opponents, using powerful slashing attacks with their swords and attempting to kill us with Hama skills as well; luckily Reimu was able to block those for us. Once I had trashed Uriel with a few Eihas and Eigas, we pooled our efforts into dispatching Raphael, who went down in short order against our combined strength. Again, we gazed triumphantly up at Shadow Byakuren, who was none too impressed with our defiance nor the crowd's boo's.
"..."
"What's wrong?" I taunted. "Are things not going as you had planned? Are you finding that your cherished followers are failing you?"
Shadow Byakuren got up from her seat and picked up her hammer. "Grrr… insolent brats! Guess I really AM the only one who can get anything done around here! The residents of Gensokyo have proven to me that they are incapable of acting on their own strength. They all require a great Messiah such as myself!"
"Once things start going south, you shift the blame onto the masses, is that it?" Reimu asked.
She got no reply. Instead, Shadow Byakuren crashed back down into the arena to the crowd's uproarious cheers. "KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL!" they all shouted. And Shadow Byakuren sure was hell-bent on delivering.
We resumed the strategy we had adopted before: staggering her with Curse attacks, then attacking her head. In addition to hammer smashes and other physical attacks, she also started mixing in buffing herself (requiring us to have to counter with our own buffs and debuffs), and using Kouha attacks, making it tricky to take her on using Bond. Each time she buffed herself, she summoned a scroll with her free hand to do so.
"This sutra scroll!" she proclaimed. "It is the source of my power! I can summon infinite power to crush all those in my way!"
I turned to the group. "Is it really that powerful?" I asked.
"She's not bluffing," Marisa replied. "The real Byakuren keeps all of her spells in it. It's got more stuff written in it than all the books in Patche's library. She's basically a witch just like me and Alice, but she specializes in spells that improve her physical abilities."
"I see." I thought for a moment. "Well, we could continue cancelling ehr buffs, but that would likely wear down our stamina very quickly, and we don't have much left after dealing with her goons."
"What are you proposing?" Youmu asked.
"We need to send somebody to knock the scroll out of her hands," I replied. "We then need to distract her while they find an opening from which to do so."
Reimu pointed at a broken column. "Look over at that pillar. That place would be perfect for an ambush."
"I agree," I nodded. "Fury, you're fairly quick. I suggest that you be the one to go do it."
Youmu bowed. "Then, leave it to me." She quickly dashed out of sight.
We continued the battle as before, making sure to draw Shadow Byakuren's attention away from the broken column. In between dodging attacks and responding in kind, I could see Youmu sneaking around the marble columns holding up the arena's outer wall, quickly jumping from one column to the next when she was sure she wouldn't be seen. From there, she could then leap atop the broken column and wait for the next time Byakuren tried to buff herself.
"I am the one who will guide Gensokyo out of its endless cycle of fear, darkness and strife!" Shadow Byakuren proclaimed. "I provide strength and courage to those who follow my word!"
"Stop thinking of yourself as an almighty god," Mamiko sneered. "Righteousness. Glory. Fame. Those who tread the path to Dharma do not seek any of those things. The road to enlightenment requires all who follow it to discard their 108 temptations, a goal which you have no intention of achieving. You have fallen to the wicked spell of the evil one himself!"
"Humans and especially youkai are dumb animals who cannot follow the road to salvation on their own volition," Shadow Byakuren countered. "Only through following me will anyone's soul be able to be saved."
"If you want to play God so much, why don't you go up there, kill him and take his place?" I shot back.
"When I am successful in my goal, and have eliminated all the sheep who insist on maintaining a world of chaos and strife, I shall be the shepherd who leads Gensokyo into a new age, an age based on peace and harmony, not drunkenness and frivolous spell card fights!" She readied her scroll again. "Now then, are you ready to submit, or must I demonstrate my power yet again?"
"Sorry, but I'm going to shred that power of yours right up!"
Youmu jumped off the column and dashed right through the air where the scroll was. As she made contact, dozens of silver slashes instantly sliced and diced the scroll, causing it to blow apart into useless confetti. Youmu landed gracefully on her two feet, sheathing her sword like any proper samurai.
"WHA- My scroll!"
"Guess you ain't nearly as strong without it," Marisa smirked. "That's why I don't solely rely on one thing to win, not even the Hakkero!"
Shadow Byakuren dropped her hammer, seemingly no longer able to lift it. Then, pieces of her armer started to crack and weaken. "She's weak!" I called out. "Let's finish her off!" We mercilessly assaulted her from all sides, causing more and more of the armor to break away, revealing her true, weak human form underneath. Knocking her down one more time, we then unleashed a devastating All-Out Attack, leaving the helmet the only piece of armor left on her body.
Mamiko walked up to her, and glared down. "I am a Godly General," she boasted. "My job is to strike down evil, and today, evil has been purged once more!" She raised her staff, jumped up into the air, and came down with an apt Skull Cracker to shatter the helmet, leaving Byakuren on the ground, weak and defeated, and leaving the crowd absolutely dumbstruck that their savior had fallen to our hands.
We stepped back, and watched Shadow Byakuren push herself back up, covered in dust and blood and with tears in her dress.
"Are you ready to admit that what you're doing is wrong?" I asked. "How long are you going to insist on running away from the truth?"
Shadow Byakuren growled. "Arrgh… you damn brat! You don't get it! You don't realize what all I've been through! Those years… those years after I lost my brother… I was so deep in despair that I could barely get up in the morning! I kept asking myself, over and over, why didn't I save him? Why couldn't I save him? Was I too weak? Too scared? Was I so focused on my job that I forgot how sacred family was until after I lost it?" She looked down sullenly. "After our parents died, he was all I had left. When I lost him too, I thought 'death is taking my family, one by one, and I'm last.' I didn't want to fall so easily into his hands, so I rebelled, forsook my humanity, and did anything to keep him at bay. I harbored youkai and shielded them from humans, at first because I feared losing the source of the power I had gained. But over time, I genuinely came to understand their stories, their hardships, the tragic roads that led their lives to that point, so I took them into the temple, which I had named after my dear, deceased brother, as my own family, vowing never to lose them like I lost him."
"And then you were sealed away," Reimu said. "You were sealed in Hokkai by my ancestor."
"Indeed… I let myself be sealed away in order to prevent them, my family, my friends, from being hurt again. I rotted down there for a thousand years, with no contact with anyone other than the occasional visit from Shinki. It took every goddamn ounce of strength and willpower I had from my training to keep from killing myself or going completely insane, and even then, a thousand years is an unholy timescale no mortal human should ever know!"
"But you were still willing to do it, for their sake," Youmu said. "Because you loved them as family, because you didn't want to bring any more harm to them, because you trusted they would unseal you one day to return the love and compassion you gave them which no one else would…" She looked up and glared. "and this garish, awful vision of yours, this twisted way of thinking, treating them as little more than accessories to your ego, is how you return the favor."
"Ehhghh!" Shadow Byakuren collapsed to the ground, and began to cry, now that the full force of those wretched feelings which she tried to repress came roaring back. "When did I go so wrong, become so wicked?! Why?! I just… I just wanted no one else to have to go through what I did, to feel my pain! That's why I started the Myouren Temple! So we could all achieve freedom from this horrible, tainted world!" She covered her face and absolutely sobbed. "I'm so… I'm so sorry!"
Mamiko simply looked on at her. "I am very angry with the way in which you conducted yourself, and sullied the Buddha's name. And yet…" She put her hand to her chest. "And yet… I get this strange feeling…"
"Sadness," Reimu said. "When a person loses someone or something very dear to them, they become sad, in some cases crushingly so. That's certainly how I felt after mom died. Right now, you're sympathising with her sadness, because deep down, you want to share your pain. You have a heart."
"A… heart…" Mamiko looked up at the sky. "I am a shadow. I should not have a heart of my own. But if I feel this way… a heart…"
A heart. My heart. My feelings, my raw, unfiltered feelings, laid bare for all to see. My… "shadow," they called it? I could scarcely believe it, watching the fight unfold from behind a column. Then, when my double, my "shadow" collapsed onto the ground and confessed everything, I felt my eyes widen, and emotions I hadn't felt in a long time, memories I had tried so hard to bury, came flooding back and hit me like a raging typhoon. Sadness, helplessness, a need to belong and have a family I cared for… I thought about my actions as of late. Had I truly forsaken the path to Nirvana, led my acolytes astray, espoused a false faith in a Messiah figure, myself? I refused to accept it, but at the same time couldn't help but feel that it was all too true.
I wanted out. Deep down, I wanted to break out of this cage of wickedness, but my conscious thoughts somehow wouldn't allow that. It was as if I were being trapped in a prison of sin, where my own thoughts and fears rang in my head and caused me to act out in evil ways without thinking at all about the damage I was causing. Now, though, my fears and deepest thoughts were right there in front of me, in physical form, confessing them all openly.
My legs moved on my own, into the arena. Somehow, a simple sprint like this tired me out horribly, the wind escaped my lungs, and my bones, muscles and joints all hurt. Only instinct and will power kept me going until I stopped to breathe.
"Byakuren?!" They all turned around, rightly shocked to see me, the real me, right there.
I looked up. I could see them all. Akechi-kun. Reimu. Marisa. Youmu. Nitori. A girl named "Mamiko." And most importantly, me. The other me.
I looked around at the strange, awful place I found myself in. "So this is the world which exists within my heart…"
"Nevermind that, how did you get here? Why are you here?" Marisa asked.
"I could ask the same of all of you, using a key to transport yourselves here," I answered. "When the Temple was showered in calling cards, I grew extremely paranoid, sending my acolytes to patrol the grounds, and after a short while, I started doing so myself. I noticed you all hiding in the bushes, and I went over to see what all of you were doing. The next thing I knew, I was caught up in this place, and did not know what else to do but follow you. I watched you all fight my 'shadow,' and the monstrous being it turned into. I..."
Akechi-kun clenched his fist. "Dammit. We were too careless. We should have been more careful starting the operation, entered the fortress from further away…"
I looked at him. "So… you're the leader of this, a group who ventures into people's hearts and forces them to confess their evil ways… Were your visits to me nothing more than a setup?"
Akechi-kun sighed. "I… apologise for using you in this way, but your crimes and sins could no longer be ignored…"
I approached my "shadow," still on the ground. "And you…"
She looked up at me. "So you've seen it all… your painful past, your true feelings, your distorted present outlook. You've seen this place, an exorbitant cathedral within your heart, where you and you alone stand as Gensokyo's sole beacon of hope and guidance, a Messiah for humans and youkai alike. Your arrogance and fear of death and loss made you lose sight of your path to Dharma, of your mission to help others, and be helped yourself, in that journey. Tell me… how long are you going to keep denying the truth? How long are you going to continue to let your past and fears control the path you tread in the present and future?"
My past… my fears… When Myouren died, right at the prime of his life, I was left without family, without connections. I felt severe weakness and hopelessness. Those feelings drove me to forsake my humanity in a bid to escape death, to take in youkai as a means to preserve my magic, and, ultimately, to have to let myself be sealed away for a thousand years, so that no harm could come to them. But in that same time I realized youkai were beings with hopes, dreams, fears and emotions just like any human, and over time I grew disgusted with the way in which society attempted to ostracize and exterminate them for being "monsters," and "maneaters." Racism and genocide, plain and simple. I was sealed because I knew it was the right thing to do, because otherwise we would all have been killed. I waited, for centuries, for the day when I would finally be freed, in a time and place when I hoped all of those negative things would be long gone, and I could lead people to the path of enlightenment in peace.
I was a fool. If anything, the problem had only gotten much worse in those thousand years.
Deep down, I came to a realization: this world, these people, needed a guide, now more than ever, to help them free themselves from the pain, evil, despair and vices of the world. And I realized I needed help myself, from those same people, to help me rediscover that path to enlightenment.
"I'm no fool. All I ever wished for was to help free innocent people, be they human, youkai or otherwise, from their pain and suffering, from the torment others laid upon them for their differences, and most of all to help them shatter the chains of temptation and sin which only lead to heartbreak and tragedy. I am a Buddhist. I see no purpose in violence; I will not eat animals, I will never engage in anything more than friendly Spell Card Duels." I clenched my fist. "At the same time, I have no love or mercy for those who slither in the dark, those who commit evil acts and tempt others to stray off the path of virtue to do the same. I… to think that even I allowed myself to succumb to that, allowed my past experiences to unknowingly steer my present actions... it was unforgivable!"
I stomped my foot, causing the others to jump in surprise.
"Hijiri-sama…" Youmu said.
I chuckled. "Heh… I was blind. A coward. A prisoner of vice. I can't believe it took me literally going into the world of my distorted heart, meeting the embodiment of my repressed emotions, thoughts and fears face-to-face, for me to realize that. But I will no longer allow that. I can't allow it. I must be a guiding light, a devout follower of the Buddha leading others to Dharma, while they also help me overcome my own temptations. I have to continue being humble, being honest and making sacrifices, for the sake of all those at the Temple whom I have saved." I stomped my foot again and shook my fist at my shadow. "No matter what happens, I will not let the sacrifices I have made for the sake of others and myself go to waste! I will NOT allow myself to fall into the dark pit of temptation again! I will not repeat the mistakes of my younger self, nor will I regret the life and actions I took as a result of me forsaking my humanity so long ago! I… I will live out Myouren's example, and swear to do what he would have done so that he can be happy in Heaven!"
Silence, before the world around me faded to black, and my shadow in front of me rose up and dissolved into light.
"Have you finally acknowledged the darkness within your heart?"
A wave of pain hit me as my eyes widened and I collapsed onto my knees, holding my throbbing head and clenching my teeth as a voice rang out inside.
"Has the false prophet seen the error of her ways? Leading the weak and ignorant off the cliff of oblivion, right into the clutches of the evil Mara? An abhorrent action, all to blind yourself from the pain that has come before in your life."
"Ahhhh… HEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" I screamed, punching the ground and bloodying my fist, and found the strength to stand back up on my own two feet. As I did, a mask resembling a pair of silver-rimmed sunglasses appeared on my face.
"Let us sign a lease, a contract, inked in blood, to allow a different kind of Messiah to pierce through the legions of Hell. I am thou, thou art I. Let us burn a path through the darkness, cleanse the wicked, and guide the lost and afraid down the highway of strife and turmoil to the promised land of peace and enlightenment."
Gripping the mask, I tugged on it painfully. "Yes… seal the contract… come to me…" I ripped it off bloodily with both hands, yelling, "MAGDALENAAAAAAA!"
The blue flames erupted from her, and wind blew forcefully in all directions, threatening to knock us over and forcing me to steady myself against a column.
As I looked back up, I heard it before the flames cleared to let me see it, the deep, rumbling sound of an engine. As the flames cleared, I saw a platinum and gold-plated Harley-style motorcycle, with oversized golden exhaust pipes, caricatures of angels smoking cigars punching demons in the face, trims resembling angelic wings coming off the sides, and a platinum ornament of a skeleton in a woman's robes above the headlight. Seated on it and gripping the handlebars was Byakuren, now dressed in high-heeled boots, jeans, a silvery-white biker jacket with a shortened navel-and-cleavage exposing shirt underneath, fingerless gloves with studs on the knuckles, a white, studded cowboy hat and a multicolored bandana around her neck. Her hair flowed, and chains circled the base of the motorcycle.
After a short while, she looked up, revved up the engine and did a lap around the colosseum as a demonstration of new power.
"No way…" Marisa said.
"Hijiri-sama… she has a Persona!" Youmu exclaimed.
"No… that's not a Persona," Nitori replied. "...that's a bike!"
Byakuren pulled up right in front of us, jumped off the bike, and recalled it into her mask. She looked at her hands, looked at herself. "This new power… I can feel it… myself… my Persona!"
The sky suddenly reddened, and the shadows in the audience began to twist and react. "The p̴̭͐r̶̡͘ì̶̬s̶͍͠o̴̠͛n̴̖͛e̴̬̋r̵̺̾Messiah has b̴̭̐r̷̙̓o̶͕͝k̴̖̒ȅ̶͇n̷̂ͅ ̴͙͌c̸͉̒ô̴͇n̷͚̕ẗ̶̯r̸̢͒o̴͋ͅl̷̯̓been corrupted! We must d̷̼̾e̸̻͑s̸̫͂t̸̰͒r̷̰̅ỏ̶̱y̵̧̔ ̷̹͆h̵͕̄ȩ̴͋r̷͖̔ ̴̩̎ã̶̖t̷̩͘ ̶̞̆o̷̳͒n̸͍͂c̸̭͑e̴͖̓save her!" All the shadows jumped down, turning into Daemons, and dive-bombed us.
"No… I don't think so!" Byakuren dashed up close to a group of them and unleashed a flurry of punches and jabs, knocking their teeth out and causing blood to spill everywhere. As she did, she unleashed her pent-up rage, screaming and yelling while taking no prisoners.
"Holy Hell!" Marisa said, standing back in shock.
"This is like… super pissed-off Byakuren mode!" Nitori remarked.
"This is just like how Nijima-san fights," I said. "She even has a motorcycle Persona…"
More waves of Daemons came swarming in. For them, Byakuren whipped out her second weapon: a large gatling gun. The way she revved it up and blasted them all was just like the Heavy Weapons Guy. "This is how I punish the tempters in the dark!" she called out. Bullet after bullet streamed out of the barrel like water from a firehose, shredding their wings and turning them all into a black pulp.
Still more Daemons kept closing in. Byakuren decided it was time to demonstrate her Persona's powers. Taking her mask off and jumping on the back of the bike, she spun donuts, causing balls of light to manifest in the center and erupt in all directions - Makouha. Each ball locked onto a target, before turning into a lighted dark piercing through the heart of a Daemon, felling it instantly.
After the Daemons, several shadows combined to form a more powerful foe, an Andras, which loomed back to launch a powerful attack. Byakuren unleashed her last trick: driving right by it, she manifested then flicked a card in its direction, creating a holy circle on the ground around it, before it found itself surrounded in ofuda. The whole thing then exploded into light, destroying the Andras instantly. I realized then that Byakuren also possessed the power of Hama spells.
After the Andras was defeated, there was a brief respite in the shadows, but more kept spawning into the stands. I looked up, and saw the core appear, before its protective barrier shattered, leaving only chains and light.
"Byakuren!" I called out. "Quick, destroy that thing so we can get out of here!"
Byakuren looked up. "You mean this?"
"Yes, that, destroy it quickly or else we'll get swarmed!"
She nodded. "Got it!" She kicked Magdalena into high gear, then drove toward a fallen column, jumping onto it and using it as a ramp to launch herself into the air, off a stray Daemon, then backward and upside down toward the core. She then recalled her Persona, grabbed a hold of a chain, and allowed gravity to do the rest, causing the chain to break just as she touched the ground and causing the core's lights to erupt into the sky and smear the entire fortress. Shadows disappeared into the vast light as it closed in on us, and within moments, everything, including all of us, were engulfed.
We were back outside the temple, still at midday, on the cleared stone path leading up to it. After we caught our breath, we looked around to see if we could find Byakuren.
"Hijiri-sama?" Youmu asked.
"Byakuren?" I said. "Where are-"
I turned around to see Byakuren lying on her back in the snow. We rushed over to her to see if she was alright.
"Hijiri-sama!" Mamiko put her hand on Byakuren's neck to check her pulse, and to see if she was conscious. Marisa likewise came up and put her hand on Byakuren's forehead.
"...mmmhhh…" A weak groan escaped her lips. Her sutra scroll, which had fallen into the snow beside her, began to subtly glow, seemingly causing power to flow into her in an effort to revive her. Slowly, she fluttered her eyes open, and turned her head toward me. "...A...Akechi...kun?"
I reached out my hand. "Allow me to help you up." She took my hand, and I helped pull her up while Mamiko supported her from the back. It took a moment for Byakuren to steady herself on her own feet; Marisa grabbed the sutra scroll from out of the snow and gave it to her. Once it was in her hands, Byakuren opened it and read out a short spell, causing some more power to flow into her body. After a few moments, she was standing on her own power, although she was still clearly in a drained state.
"How are you feeling?" Reimu asked.
Byakuren looked around at all of us. "I…" She paused, looked down, then looked up again. "I'm… I'm alright…" She looked around the temple grounds. "...my...my acolytes… I need to… gather them…"
"We'll go get them together for you," I offered. "Right now, you must rest." I took her hand and led her back inside, with Youmu coming with me while the others broke off to go find her acolytes. "We will make you some tea, and get you comfortable."
Several minutes later, everyone was gathered inside the temple's main room, including all of us, the Day Breakers, as well as Kyouko, Mamizou, Shou, Minamitsu, Ichirin, Unzan and Nazrin. Byakuren insisted on sitting in the middle of everyone, and, knowing what she was likely about to do, I did not object.
"Thank you all for coming around back inside," Byakuren said. "I want to thank you all for your hard work this morning. And, I want to thank the rest of you for helping me in, and hearing me out."
Minamitsu leaned into Ichirin's ear. "What's goin' on with Byakuren? She's been actin' weird since this mornin'."
"Well, those calling cards were rather threatening and off-putting…"
"Did they do something to her?" Nazrin asked, referring to us.
Byakuren straightened her posture, before continuing. "I have a confession to make to all of you." She looked down. "Lately, I have been acting in ways unbecoming of one who has dedicated their life to the Buddha. I… I used my position, as the head priestess of this temple, to make myself out to be a prophet, an all-powerful messiah who saw the people as Gensokyo as ignorant sheep who all needed to be herded and led, just to satiate my own sense of self-importance and…" She paused briefly. "...I thought I left my grief from losing Myouren behind so long ago, but I realize now that is very false. Even now, I refuse to allow situations to slip out of my control, allow anyone to take any action not of my word, simply because I…" She started to cry. "...I didn't want anyone to die on my watch again. You are… you are all my family and…" At that moment, she broke down, knelt into the floor and started bawling. "I-I-I can't apologize enough for the evil things I have done!"
Minamitsu was the first to come over and comfort her. "Hey, hey, hey, you don't gotta cry. You got all of us here to support you."
"Absolutely," Ichirin nodded. "We all owe you major debts. You saved us all from lonely, despairing fates."
"There's no way we'd ever abandon you!" Kyouko chirped.
Byakuren managed to calm herself, and look up at the people around her. "So… you don't hate me? After all, I…"
"You are a strong person, Sister," Shou nodded. "And strong people have the courage to admit wrongs which they have committed, however grave they might be."
"Honestly, I was waitin' fer 'ye to admit yourself that somethin' was wrong," Mamizou added. "Ever since lil' Kokoro here had that fit that one time, and I came to hole up at here, and especially recently, it seemed to me that 'ye weren't as serious 'bout reachin' Dharma as you claimed, runnin' the acolytes here into the ground, and they all just accepted it 'cause you saved 'em once upon a time. Iunno who dumped all those Callin' Cards on the temple, but whoever they were must've wanted 'ye to see the issue yerself. Bein' a youkai Buddhist leadin' other youkai to enlightenment ain't the easiest thing in the world to do, and 'ye gotta realize that you'll make mistakes. And, you know, today just happens to be that day."
Byakuren looked around, around at all the smiling faces of the people under her care, and our faces who helped her overcome her distortion. She smiled. Really smiled, not one she wore simply to be polite. "Thank you." She stood back up. "Now then, I realize simply admitting my wrongdoings and faults up to this point is not enough to align myself… align our selves… back onto the path of enlightenment. Major changes to the way we manage this temple and conduct ourselves in our daily lives are going to be necessary, if we are to gain more followers and wish to remain committed to pious acts and freeing ourselves from temptation." Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Reimu's face was one mixing jealousy and gratefulness, no doubt because she was happy for Byakuren despite being a "competing" religious establishment. "However, I do not wish to make these changes unilaterally. Tonight, at dinner, we will have a free and open discussion, one where everyone's opinion is welcomed and equal, where we will discuss the future of the Myouren Temple, which changes should be made in our operations, and which direction we should chart going forward." She held out her hands. "The Temple will remain closed for the rest of today. I want you all to go out and enjoy the outside today, as a reward for all the hard work you've done, and as an apology for my actions and behavior until now." She then shot a look at Shou, Minamitsu and Ichirin. "As long as no one gets drunk, that is."
"Awwwwwww…" A collective groan emanated from all of them, before they dispersed out the door into the snow-blanketed world just outside. Once they were all gone, we turned to face her again.
"I want to thank you, Akechi-kun," Byakuren bowed. "I never imagined such an ugly world existed within my heart, or that only you and your group were able to free me of it."
I shook my head. "Nonsense. You were the one who resolved to make the change yourself in the end, all we did was provide the necessary push."
Mamiko stepped forward. "It was what needed to be done to steer you on the correct path to the Buddha."
"...oh?" Byakuren looked at Mamiko. "And who might you be?"
"I am Mamiko Shinshou. Servant of Margatroid-sama, and formerly a shadow bound by the Metaverse's wicked distortions. I represent the Godly General Vajra."
"Meta… that world we were all just in?" Byakuren asked.
"Correct," I said. "It is a world where people's 'shadows', the negative emotions and thoughts we all repress, exist. These shadows can become distorted, causing their owners to behave irrationally and forming grand 'fortresses' atop real-world locations significant to them. I have the ability to enter the Metaverse and tame these shadows, free them from their distortion, and take them as a part of my own heart. I have also brought all of these people into the Metaverse with me, where they all awakened to their Personas, just as you have."
"A… 'Persona?'"
"When you meet your shadow face-to-face, accept your faults and resolve to overcome them, that shadow returns to you and becomes your 'Persona,'" Nitori explained. "With it, you can fight in the Metaverse and help us explore it, taking down fortresses."
"It's also required for a youkai to have one to be in there," Marisa added. "That's why you got so pooped quickly even though you're a strong-ass person."
"I see… are there more of these 'fortresses' out there, besides mine?"
"We believe so," Youmu said. "We've already taken down one belonging to Yuyuko-sama before you. There is also, besides the individual fortresses, a truly massive one in the center of it all called 'Ethos,' where the distorted shadows of the masses as a whole convene. Together, all of us, the Day Breakers, seek to shatter evil and dispel the fog of distortion, like the sun rising from the horizon."
"Truly amazing…" Byakuren thought for a moment, then opened her eyes. "Then, allow me to join you. As a member of the Day Breakers."
"Eh?" Marisa wondered.
"I was an unknowing prisoner of distortion, still being affected by the loss of my brother, my choice to forsake my humanity to escape death, and all the ramifications of those events and actions in the centuries since. As one who swore to tread the hard path of freeing myself from temptation and helping others do the same, I simply cannot stand for these distortions to continue affecting anyone else, or for evil to continue being allowed to win. With Magdalina and all of you at my side, I swear I will strike down the darkness and lead lost souls into the sunrise of enlightenment."
Reimu turned to me and asked, "can we… trust her? I mean, she might have a Persona and all, but she was still a fortress ruler, and…"
"I don't see why we shouldn't," I said. "Anyone, regardless of whether they had a fortress or not, who accepts their shadow as part of themselves, has taken full control of their emotions and desires and has made a vow never to lose sight of them or repress them again. One of the Phantom Thieves' own members once had a fortress, after all."
"Besides, Byakuren's a really, really powerful ally for us to have, inside and outside the Metaverse," Nitori added. "And she's offering to join us on her own."
"I agree," Youmu said. "We should allow her onto the team, It would allow her to show her gratitude to us, and she would be very beneficial for us to have."
"I would like for her to join," Mamiko said, "if only so that we can lead her back onto the path to Dharma, and so that I may grow by her as well."
"I ain't seein' objections here, and she's really strong, so let's do it," Marisa said.
I nodded and looked back at Reimu. "We're all waiting on you now. Would you like for Byakuren to join us?"
Reimu looked conflicted at first. She looked at Byakuren, then at us, then Byakuren again, then us again, each time seeing the expectant looks in our eyes hoping she would say yes, and the look in Byakuren's eyes saying the same.
Finally, she broke her silence and nodded. "Well, she did fight very well in there, and shattered her own distortion. If having a Persona, as Goro says, means that she's free of her distortion and has really resolved to be a better person, then…" She turned to face Byakuren. "Per the word of the Hakurei Shrine Maiden, you may join the Day Breakers."
"Excellent. I will not let you down."
I stuck out my hand. "So then, we officially have a deal?"
"Yes we do," Byakuren answered. "From now on, you have me and the full, unconditional support of the Myouren Temple. I trust we can find true enlightenment together?"
"I'm certain we shall," I said. She took my hand, and we shook. "Welcome aboard."
I am thou, thou art I. Thou hast acquired a new vow.
It shall become the wings of rebellion that breaketh thy chains of captivity.
With the birth of the Hanged Man Persona, I have obtained the winds of blessing that shall lead to freedom and new power…
When I woke up, I could see I was in the Velvet Room. I pushed myself onto my feet, and faced Igor in front of me, and Lavenza and Rika on either side.
Lavenza bowed. "My master has summoned you here once more," she said. "It would seem that not only have you brought down a second fortress, but have turned its ruler to your cause. A truly remarkable feat, as expected of a Trickster."
"Indeed," Igor added. "Byakuren Hijiri, a nun who had turned down a dark path because of her painful past, which instilled a fear of death into her heart. It was no surprise that her heart would fall into the abyss of distortion, and yet you helped to pull her out towards the light once more. She has made countless sacrifices for her acolytes, who owe her their lives and gratitude; now, as the one who helped break her distortion, you must also be the one who helps her and her followers find the path back to Dharma."
Lavenza produced a set of Tarot cards, which brought up my list of deals once again. "Your newfound bond with Byakuren Hijiri appears to represent the Hanged Man card. A card of self-sacrifice, paradoxes and hanging between Heaven and Earth, those individuals with this arcanum often find themselves caught between worlds, between past and present. A Buddhist nun, who is such despite being a youkai, haunted by her past yet looking toward the future, and who made the ultimate sacrifice for the sake of her followers."
Igor chuckled. "And now, a member of your growing circle of closest and most trusted friends and allies. I hope you realize the weight of such an action, and will take responsibility for helping guide her back onto the path which she wishes to be on."
I nodded. "Absolutely." I paused. "Although… during her awakening, the shadows around us turned into demons, and their distorted speech made references to her being a 'prisoner' before seemingly correcting themselves. I wonder, are these distortions natural, or..."
Lavenza shook her head. "There is still much we do not know about these 'fortresses.' As you have seen, while similar, they possess important differences from the palaces of Outside. These only came to our attention right as the God of Control took control of Mementos and merged it with reality. As well, we are still assisting our other guest, our other Trickster, with the strange distortion which once again threatens the world."
"You have chosen to pursue the path of investigating and taking down fortresses, as well as 'Ethos,'" Igor said. "I am certain you will find the answer as you ascend Ethos and uncover more fortresses. Of course, our services will always be available to aid in your journey."
"Speakin' of services," Rika said, "you've come here a couple times but never did anything with that Ame-no-Uzume with Dodge Fire. I happen to know you can fuse that thing into a Yuki-Onna. So, let's go do it!"
I smiled. "Well, alright."
…
"I'm a Yuki-Onna. Allow me to become your mask, and let us waltz in the cold night together…"
Rika clapped her hands together. "Excellent. Another fusion crossed off the list. And, I got a reward for 'ya as well." She clicked a remote, which caused another device to be dispensed from her tank. "This thing lets you fuse Personas with either blank cards or certain mutable artifacts to create items. In other words, you can imbue that Persona's essence into them to create super-strong equipment, or make cards so 'ya don't gotta hassle with complicated fusion." She booted the machine up. "Let's try it now: try taking out a card."
"Alright." I reached into my pocket and grabbed… the amulet that Reimu had given me for the drinking date that I never used. "No, that's not it. Let's try-"
Then, all of a sudden, the amulet glowed, then inserted itself into Rika's machine in the Persona slot.
"...huh, that's a pretty assertive amulet," Rika noted. She shrugged. "'Ya know, let's try an experiment. Put a card in the machine, then let's see what happens."
"Okay…" I reached into my pocket again, got a blank card, and inserted it into the machine. Once the components were in the machine, it whirred, hummed and shook, before producing something from its outlet port: a skill card.
I took the skill card between my two fingers. I was amazed at what I had. "Fascinating…"
Rika came over to look. "Yup, that's a… yup. Well, that wasn't quite what I was expecting, but it looks like that amulet, which I assume Reimu gave 'ya, fused with the blank card to make a Makougaon skill card." She looked at her clock. "Well, look's like the night's windin' down. Next time you come here, we'll test out the rig properly." She took her list of requests and pointed to the next one. "This next one'll be kinda hard, since you'll need to either chain fusions or make a skill card to do it. I want a Nue with Dekaja. Bring it to me, and I'll give 'ya your next reward."
"I'll be looking forward to it," I said, as the bell rang and the room faded to black.
