Conquest Arc:

Chapter 28: The Devil laugh

Foggy – Morning - 22/11/2012(Thursday) – Amagi Inn, Inaba
(1 day before Conquest arrival)

It was foggy today. Unfortunately, the meeting for Investigation Team had to be called off. Moreover, the trees and bamboos that suddenly appeared in Inaba made it hard for each of them to walk home.

"We're delaying this meeting until the fog clear out." Yu said to the Investigation Team. He wasn't sure when the trees around the town will return to normal, but it's safe to stay at home for a while.

Just as suspected, Teddie's glass worked well in the fog, but that didn't assure their safety.

Yukiko, during this time, was listening to Tengu's story about Tsukiyomi and 'her', Amaterasu. She wasn't sure what to tell her friends about this man called Tsukiyomi, and she wanted detail.

"I saw him at Nakatsukuni last few months. He was taking a big box to somewhere before returning to where he came from. Maybe he wants to give a present to Amaterasu-sama."

'That must be Labrys…' Yukiko mused, but she decided to hide it from Tengu. "Why would you think he wants to give me a present?"

"Hmm…" Tengu putted his wing to his nose and began to think before he shouted, "Because he wants to see you! He didn't want you to be angry!"

"You've been saying that since yesterday." Yukiko felt a little off in the conversation, "You said I would be angry if I meet him, why?"

"Eh, you don't remember, Amaterasu-sama?" Tengu bend his head slightly. "Tsukiyomi-sama left the heaven and without a trace."

"Oh, really?"

"Yeah, Susanoo-sama was so angry! After Izanagi-sama left the heaven, Tsukiyomi followed his step and disappeared together! It was so sudden!"

"Izanagi left too? Tell me more." Yukiko moved closer to Tengu to listen, something isn't right.

"Strange you didn't know. Did the work stress you, Amaterasu-sama? If so, please rest for few days and let me do everything!"

"No, it's okay! I just…" 'Should I just tell him I'm not a goddess? But he might feel sad. After all, this is his lord. What should I said?...' Yukiko thought for a while, clearly distress to give answer. After a while, she nodded to herself and said, "Tengu-kun, sometimes a goddess has a lot of work to think off, so you shouldn't expect me to remember much the things that happen centuries ago. So can you please tell me again?"

"Oh, how rude of me!" Tengu bowed, funny cause his small hand couldn't reach the floor. "How could I say such a rude words to the great Amaterasu-sama? I must be punished from eating anything for three days in a row!"

"Wait, don't have to force yourself! I…" Yukiko stood straight and placed her hand on her waist, "*cough* I refuse to punish you and you must proceed with your story!"

It was a bit chaos inside the room before Tengu continued his story.

"At heaven, Izanagi-sama ruled above Amaterasu-sama, Tsukiyomi-sama and Susanoo-sama. But one day, Izanagi-sama made a sudden decision to leave the heaven, leaving all power to Amaterasu-sama to rule. Izanagi-sama was never seen since then, only words that Ameno-Sagiri-sama resurfaced somewhere. Maybe Izanagi-sama went to see Izanami-sama."

"Long after, Tsukiyomi-sama disappeared as well. I don't know what happen, but there's some 'octopus guy' called Nyarla met him. Nobody knew who that is…"

"Nyarla? …Oh, Nyarlathotep. Of course..." Yukiko landed her body on her bed. "Who is this 'Tsukiyomi'?"

Seeing Yukiko like that, Tengu did a quick spin, "But Tsukiyomi-sama was back, so you need to be lovey-dovey with him again!"

"Wait, no!" Yukiko strongly rejected, "I already have someone in mind…"

"Eh? Who was it?"

"…" Before she knew it, her face turned red, "N-Never mind! I just heard someone called me, I should hurry!" Yukiko escaped the room before Tengu could speak another word.

"Wait, Amaterasu-sama, don't do too much! Let me do it!"

Aigis

Sunny - Morning – Iwatodai New Dorm, Tatsumi Port Island

Mitsuru allowed Aigis and Labrys to rest at the dorm today. There's no longer necessary for them to search for the traitor inside Kirijo's company. Taking her time, Aigis visited Yukari at her room who took a day off today.

"Aigis, come in." Yukari said as she opened the door.

"Sorry to bother you, Yukari-san. Are you feeling alright?"

"Still bedridden, that's what the doctor said. But I'm feeling better. Maybe I can go to college next week."

"I see. That is good."

"But… I think something's wrong with Labrys today." Yukari checked the door to see if anyone eavesdropping. Aigis was curious, leaning closer to her.

"What do you mean?"

"…She's been staring outside the window for the entire day."

True to her words, Labrys wasn't her usual self today.

"How's Nanjo's team over at Mikage-Cho? I heard Ryoji-kun was there with them." Yukari asked, worried for Ryoji.

"I don't know, but I hope nothing happen to Ryoji-kun." Aigis said, holding her hands together and prayed. No news from Mikage-Cho, or more like they refused to share information according to Mitsuru. Perhaps they encountered a struggle somewhere.

? – Morning - Inside Ankh pyramid

Over the scorching hot desert, a left hand was seen emerged from below the sand. Like it was trying to find its way out, the hand desperately trying to pull the rest of it body upward. A while later, the right hand holding a sword emerged with blood all over it. Both hands pulled the rest of the body, revealing Thanatos coming out of the sand. Half way buried, Thanatos re-sank his left hand, taking out something surprising even to himself.

An extremely dirty sphere-like device exposed to the sun light, like seeing the sun for the first time. It was dark, but seen through. It was almost three times the size of football, big enough for him to hug it full arm. Thanatos struggled himself to escape the sand, and made his way to the big lake while dragging the giant ball.

The lake was fairly big, with very small forest around it consisted of about 20 trees the least. It wasn't tall, but the leaves were packed, allowing him to take shelter over the hot weather.

"*heavy breathing* I've finally made it." By the time he reached the lake, Thanatos who in his human form had already half fainted. Ryoji dunked the sphere into the water. "I'm sure of this, this must be it."

Using the rest of his energy, Ryoji cleaned the sphere and wiped it. It was a big sphere, like a core to a device or a power source to something big. Ryoji wasn't smiling, yet he did not felt disappointed.

"…" Ryoji remained quiet, gently wiping the surface of the sphere. He slowly closed his eyes, trying to remember something.

Then he saw something inside the sphere through his mind; a flash of scene and few people.

"Nobody shall know the existence of this thing."

"This is the only way to seal the end!"

"I need someone to open this; human."

"…Death… is here…"

Then he heard a conversation happened between two people, and he recognized one of them.

"Make your decision, Zeus."

"How many arcana can be sealed inside?"

"…13 at most."

"Then we sealed Magician arcana till Death arcana including the 'butterfly' inside, while the rest will be on him. Don't you agree, Philemon?"

"May the Nuclear Chaos will never find this power."

"I see…" Ryoji tightly hugged the sphere and rested at the nearby tree. It wasn't long before he passed out. A moment later, Apep was seen emerging from the sand not far from him, but lucky for him, the giant serpent didn't saw him.

Aigis

Cloudy – Late Night – Iwatodai New Dorm, Tatsumi Port Island

It wasn't full moon tonight, like how they remembered. Aigis was in her room rechecking her equipment. Yukari was in her room resting her head and asleep, Labrys in hers, Junpei was swinging his bat around the dorm while Ken and Koromaru were watching TV at the lounge. Akihiko who just returned a few hours ago was training in his room. Fuuka and Mitsuru will return soon before the Dark Hour arrived in half an hour.

'How is Minato, I wonder…' Aigis thought, standing from her chair and proceeded to exit the room to welcome the two members at the front door.

"Junpei-san, stop swinging the bat! I'm watching TV here."

"Whops, gonna put some muscle on my arm! Come on, Ken-kun, join me!"

"Woof! Woof!"

"Woah, woah! Okay, Koromaru, you don't have to bark at me like that!"

"I don't think he barked at you, Junpei-san."

Just as Aigis descended the stairs to see Junpei, Ken and Koromaru, the last two remaining members opened the front door, bringing together a maid who revealed to be Kikuno Saikawa, Mitsuru's childhood friend.

"Welcome home, Mitsuru-san, Fuuka-san. Same goes for you, Kikuno-san." Aigis greeted them with a bow. Kikuno, who was wearing a maid outfit, bowed in return.

"A pleasure as well, Aigis-san. I will be here temporary to nurse Yukari-san until she's fully healed." Kikuno politely bowed, before frowning, "Though I'm not sure if Yukari-san is willing to let me."

"I'll convince her." Mitsuru immediately said, at the same time glancing at the stairs in case Yukari was listening. "Even if she's healed, without a persona, she's basically defenseless if an outsider or shadows attacked the dorm again. We won't be sure when the next arcana shadows will arrive."

"*snaring*… Woof!"

All of a sudden, Koromaru's barked, surprising the team. This time the bark was fiercer.

"Okay, okay, I'll stop with the bat! Don't bark at me!" Junpei dropped his bat and stepped backward.

"Again Junpei-san, it's not you." Ken replied, patting Koromaru's head, "What's wrong, Koromaru?"

"*snaring* WOOF! WOOF!"

"…"

It's louder this time, very loud, like sensing a shadow. It was at that exact moment…

"You, stop right there!"

Someone's shouted from the third floor, followed by the sound of window being opened. The atmosphere changed drastically.

"Labrys, is that you?!" They clearly heard Akihiko shouted and exited his room. Aigis switched to battle mode instantly, dashing towards Labrys' room.

"Akihiko-san!" Upon reaching Labrys' room, Aigis saw Akihiko by the window, with a panicked face. Akihiko turned to Aigis and screamed.

"Labrys escaped through the window! I don't know where she's heading! Aigis, chase her! We'll track you down!"

"I'm on it!" Aigis took a step back before running towards the window, jumping from the third floor and landed hard on the ground. Yukari came to check, only to see Akihiko exiting the room and running towards the stair.

"The Dark Hour is approaching, where is she going?" Mitsuru asked. Akihiko could only gave short answer of "Hurry!"

"Everyone, get your weapon's ready! We might encounter shadows along the way!" Mitsuru gave her order.

"Wait, I'm coming with you!" Yukari, still barely awake, made a decision. However, Mitsuru was enraged by that answer.

"Takeba, don't make me repeat myself!"

Yukar tried to retaliate, but then sighed, knowing that what Mitsuru said is true.

"…Be safe." Yukari felt bad, seeing Mitsuru scolding her.

"I'm sorry, but please rest. Kikuno, please take care of her." Mitsuru was the same, leaving immediately with the rest.

"I will." Kikuno bowed, escorting Yukari to her room. "Let's go, Yukari-san."

Late Night – Paulownia Mall

Labrys could swear that she saw him at her window. That man with unknown purpose, was clearly watching her from that same street. She rushed out without thinking, chasing after that man who might be the clue to her kidnapping.

But even with all her strength, Labrys couldn't catch up to him. Without she realizing it, the man with red hair disappeared from her sight. Now, she finally stopped in front of the fallen Paulownia Mall. A moment later, another footstep approached her, sounding rather metallic.

"Sister!" Aigis stopped a few feet away from where Labrys was. She was clearly worried, seeing her sister turned to her with a weak expression. "I have finally found you. Please tell me, what happen?"

"I saw him, Aigis." Labrys said desperately, "I saw someone watching our dorm yesterday, and today too! I don't recognize him, but I feel like we've met before!"

"Labrys, let's go home first, the Dark Hour-"

3…2…1…

Dark Hour

Speak of the devil; the Dark Hour suddenly occurs. Aigis and Labrys were on standing by for any shadows that might approach.

It's not like it'll help them well, especially against a giant shadow that suddenly appeared behind them.

"! Aigis, look out!"

Paulownia Mall

"Stop!"

Fuuka used her persona to scan the area before stopping the rest of the team. "What's wrong, did you find them?!" Akihiko said.

"I sense… a powerful shadow up ahead! It's the 15th, the Devil arcana shadow! …Wait, what's wrong with Labrys? … Guys, over the school's front gate! Hurry, there's something wrong with Labrys!"

"We must hurry!" Mitsuru said, running with the team towards where the two are.

Gekkoukan High's front gate

Aigis was in her Orgia mode, against Labrys. They were shocked at first, but realized the situation when they saw Labrys' powerful red eyes, like a devil.

"Everyone, she's being possessed by a shadow! I don't know how to force it out!" Aigis cried, hesitating to attack her own sister.

"There's no doubt about it, it's the devil arcana, a parasitic type shadow!"

"Fuuka, is there a way to release her from it?" Mitsuru began her order.

"Not for now, please give me a minute to analyze!"

"This is my own carelessness…" Aigis grimaced, "Please save my sister."

"We're on it." Akihiko clenched his fist.

The Shadow Operative VS Arcana Devil

Labrys, without a single word, swung her axe towards Akihiko who marched towards her. He dodged sideway and landed a blow to the face, only to have her dodged it. Labrys swung a kick to Akihiko's stomach just as he used both arm to defend himself, forcing him a step backward.

"Amada!"

Akihiko's voice signaled the next attack. Ken slid next to Akihiko, spinning his spear aiming for the axe. Labrys countered it, giving the team an opening. "Koromaru!"

With a knife at mouth, Koromaru jumped on Ken's right side and pierced Labrys' left arm. But the skin was literally as hard as steel, Labrys swung a right kick to Koromaru's left rib, sending him flying meters away.

Ariadne: Minotaur Horn- Labrys summoned Ariadne and created a giant bull from the string of maze and attacked Aigis. Junpei stood in between.

"Trismegistus!" Trismegistus blocked the attack from the horn, stopping it momentary before turning to Aigis, "Aigis, land a blow quick!"

"Right!" Aigis jumped ahead and leaped towards motionless Labrys. "Athe-"

Aigis stopped, froze in mid-air. Labrys was staring her with her original silver colored eyes. Her movement weakened before she could summon her persona. It was too late for her when 'Labrys' smiled.

Ariadne: Mental Maze- Aigis vision suddenly blurred and her mind became messy. She couldn't feel her limbs moving, only a faint voice of Mitsuru closing on to her.

"Artemisia: Bufudyne!" Mitsuru stopped Labrys' axe from reaching Aigis who was paralyzed by Labrys' spell. Mitsuru leaped a quick stab towards Labrys, pushing her back away from Aigis. Aigis eventually quit her Orgia mode and overheated. Vulnerable, Mitsuru covered her.

"Amada, Koromaru, attack from both sides!"

"Mudoon!"
Hamaon- "Woof!"
Light & Darkness Cross Blade-Kala-Nemi and Cerberus placed many light and darkness squares around Labrys, respectively. Ken leaped from the right while Koromaru from the left. The moment the squares formed a completely sphere, Ken and Koromaru made a big slash and penetrated the sphere. The moment the sphere dispersed, Labrys was on her knees, weakened.

"Sister!" Aigis screamed, but Labrys recovered from the ground with her eyes still red. She was struck with hesitation when she saw Labrys's gears were damaged hard. "Everyone please stop! Labrys is hurting!"

"Tch, what choice do we have?!" Akihiko said, "Fuuka, got any clue to take out that shadow inside her?"

"Analysis done, but…" The Shadow Operative sensed something that forced Fuuka to halt her word.

"Fuuka, what is it?" Junpei said impatiently, Fuuka finally said.

"In order for Devil Arcana shadow to leave Labrys, she needs to be greatly damaged till her body can't be functioning, or someone else take her place. I'm really sorry."

"…It's alright, Yamagishi. I'll take responsibility." Mitsuru said, pointing her rapier towards Labrys once more. "Junpei, Aigis, make a formation to subdue Labrys. Amada and Koromaru will be on stand-by, while Akihiko and I will attack head on." The rest were shock to hear that.

"Mitsuru-san!" Aigis knew what Mitsuru intended, but even so, she hesitated, "…I'm sorry, sister."

The Shadow Operative continued their attack.

?

"Where am I?" Labrys weakened voice echoed the black space. She couldn't felt any presence or sound, nothing at all. Labrys lifted herself from the ground, but quickly dropped. "My body, it hurts…"

Labrys recapped what happen to her before she passed out. First of all, a shadow, twice Aigis and her size combined with boiling red skin and two massive horns, added with a numeral number 'XV' on his forehead. As the shadow was about to attack Aigis, Labrys pushed her aside, receiving an unknown charm attack before everything turn black.

"Sister…!"

For a second, Labrys could hear her sister's faint voice. She realized immediately that something must have happen outside, and she's the cause of it.

"Oh no… Am I hurting my friends again?" Labrys said regretfully. She was so close to find the man who might be her kidnapper, but now she was carelessly being attacked. "Everyone, I'm sorry… I'm really sorry…"

"Again? You just gonna cry there?"

"Huh?!" Labrys gazed upwards and surprised to see the person she didn't expect. Herself, rather, her shadow self, Shadow Labrys (Persona: Asterius). She was almost speechless to see her.

"You're me. But…"

"You really weak, you know that?" Shadow Labrys gave her a quick scolding, "Yeah, your friends are fighting outside. They have to save you, again!"

"No, I have to do something!" Labrys said, "I can't hurt my friends any longer!" She reached for her counterpart's hand and pleaded, "Please help me!"

"Hm, figure you'll need my help again." Suddenly, Shadow Labrys took out her battle axe. "Stand back, will ya?"

Using her full strength, the shadow swung her axe to the ground. From the massive shockwave, the blackness around them collapse like a shattering glass. Labrys could only saw in awe, until her shadow surprised her with the next word.

"But this time, I'm taking over."

Gekkoukan High, Tatsumi Port Island

Arcana Devil suddenly lost control of Labrys. The red aura around her vanished and replaced by black aura. As Labrys's body was already badly damage, Shadow Operative immediately halted their attack.

"Yamagishi, what happen?" Mitsuru asked.

"*gasp* the shadow is leaving Labrys's body! Something is pushing the shadow from inside Labrys's body!"

"What?"

"Everyone be careful!" Akihiko gave the signal, taking a few steps backward.

Labrys was seemingly in pain, trying to force something inside her out. She clenched her head hard, before slowly forming a fist and pulled. A soul-like creature was seen being pulled out of Labrys, red and formless.

"Get the hell out of my body!" Labrys's shadowy voice screamed. Shadow Labrys singlehandedly took out Arcana Devil before threw the giant shadow across the school gate, causing it to land on the former Tartarus's front garden. Shadow Labrys observed her own arm before laughing maniacally.

"Hahahahaha! Now we're talking!" Shadow Labrys took her axe and kicked the gate open. Dragging her axe, Shadow Labrys preyed on the giant arcana shadow.

"That's… That's Labrys's shadow! She's taking over Labrys!" Fuuka said in surprised, shocking the rest of the team.

"Great, just great!" Junpei growled, "Now we got two shadows to deal with."

"Let's save her and beat the shadow first." Ken commented, sharpening his stance, but Mitsuru disagreed.

"It appears that Labrys's shadow is engaging battle with Arcana Devil. Let's use this to our advantage."

"Agree, but Labrys is still badly damaged." Akihiko noted in details of Labrys's condition. "Aigis, what's your thought?"

Aigis was left in thought for a while, before she nodded to herself and marched towards Labrys and Arcana Devil. The others followed her shortly after.

Shadow Labrys landed another blow to the ground, but despite having no wings, Arcana Devil could leap very high and dodged Shadow Labrys's attack. Vulnerable without a host, Arcana Devil aimed for the next target, just as Aigis reached the battleground.

Possession- Arcana Devil spilled a smoke towards Aigis to charm her. Aigis however, won't repeat her mistake. She dodged to the left and released a burst of rapid machine gun bullets, avoiding the charm attack.

Unfortunately, the devil caught another prey inside the smoke, Junpei. "Aigis, where are you- *cough* *cough*!" As the smoke fade, Junpei was immediately on his knees. "Ah, my head!" He was unaware of the devil that was leaping to him like a beast.

"Junpei-san!" Ken and Koromaru stood in front of Junpei, blocking him. Akihiko, out of nowhere, dashed towards the closing shadow and prepared an uppercut while Evoker on other hand.

"Ziodyne!" The quick heavy lighting attack was to temporary froze the shadow's movement while he, using full strength, let out a powerful uppercut to the lower jaw of the shadow. It didn't staggered, but still jumped itself backwards from Akihiko's range. It took only a few seconds for Fuuka to analyze the arcana shadow.

"Arcana Devil, he's weak against ice! It has low HP and but powerful charm attack and spell!" Fuuka gave her analysis.

"Mitsuru-san, it's your turn!" Aigis blocked another attack from the shadow. Mitsuru made her move and dashed towards her target, ready to pull her Evoker's trigger.

"Bufudyne!" Artemisia trapped Arcana Devil inside the giant ice and dealt a few stab on it. The ice cage shattered apart, leaving Arcana Devil with heavy damage. When Aigis tried to confront the shadow up close again, Shadow Labrys pushed her aside and took the lead instead.

"Asterius!" Summoning the gigantic Taurus, Shadow Labrys let Asterius to deal the punch to Arcana Shadow who was almost the same size, albeit the Arcana Devil was bigger. The shadow dropped its whole body to the ground before being choked by Asterius. Shadow Labrys stood on top of Asterius's two horns and gave a laugh. "Stay there and don't come back." She raised her axe high to the air, aiming for the head of Arcana Devil.

…
Strange, she didn't land the finishing blow. Aigis wasn't there to stop her, not Mitsuru or Akihiko, not Ken or Koromaru, not even Junpei or Fuuka that were distant away from her. Yet Shadow Labrys stopped? "Guh?!" The moment Shadow Labrys looked up, she understood.

A rope in a form of lightning was subduing the handle of the axe, stopping her from swinging her axe. It was a long rope, extended from the top of the giant staircase that replaced Tartarus 1 week ago. It came from the cloudy sky at the top of the staircase, like someone was controlling the lightning from the above.

"Don't mess with me!" Shadow Labrys used her full strength to land the attack on Arcana Shadow and broke free from the lightning rope. Asterius lend a hand, grabbing on the lighting rope with his left hand, until he was suddenly being electrolyzed by powerful energy, making it disappear and dropped Shadow Labrys to where Arcana Devil's head is.

Breaking free from the rope, Shadow Labrys swung her axe, decapitating the shadow's head with one strike. The Shadow slowly dispersed into smoke, leaving Shadow Labrys weakened.

"Sister!" Aigis rushed to her side only to see her unconscious, with no trace of shadow on her.

Labrys's consciousness

"Did you… help me?" Labrys said, seeing Shadow Labrys again in that dark space. Shadow Labrys remained silent for a moment before facing her true self.

"The guy controlling you is still out there, sooner or later you're gonna need my help again. Could you not be so useless next time?" Shadow Labrys showed an annoyed face, but Labrys herself instead smiled.

"Thank you, me."

After Midnight - Iwatodai New Dorm, Tatsumi Port Island

"Sister! You wake up!"

Labrys opened her eyes to see Aigis and everyone inside her room, clearly worried about her. Mitsuru and Fuuka were outside, arranging something for her machinery. Of course, Aigis was the one who worried the most.

"Your shadow possessed you for a while, you know Labrys?" Junpei said, "I almost got hit as well!"

"Fuuka-san said your body is still malfunctioning, but you will recover in no time." Kikuno said, "Rest assure now."

Labrys suddenly giggled, surprising the team. "Is there something funny?" Akihiko said, confused.

"The other me, she saved me…"

Meanwhile, Mitsuru was having a serious conversation with Fuuka.

"I'm sure of it, Mitsuru-san. That lightning came from the peak of the giant staircase."

"I understand that, but what I don't understand is why it stopped Labrys from killing the Arcana Devil? What's more, who did Labrys see and Koromaru barked to?"

"Labrys is still tired. Maybe we should ask her another time."

"…Fuuka, why are you shivering? Is it cold?"

Fuuka was tightly grabbing her sleeves and shivering. It wasn't cold, it was fear. "Mitsuru-san, today is 23th."

Mitsuru understood instantly, "Yes, today is Friday."

"I don't know if anyone else noticed this, but…" Fuuka looked terrified.

Clear Sky – After Midnight - 23/11/2012(Friday) – Tatsumi Port Island
(Friday of Conquest)

"…I sense a powerful presence somewhere. I'm scared, Mitsuru-san."

"…Conquest will be surfacing on our world today."

A/N: The fifteen Arcana shadow has been defeated, and I won't reveal when the next Arcana shadow will appear next. Next chapter will return to Naoya and the St. Hermelin team. And the awaited day of Conquest's arrival is finally here.