Strife Arc:
Chapter 75: Riots at Shibuya
"It takes a king to use his subject in blood to win a war. It takes a leader to weep for each soul that was lost in the war.
Naoya Toudou spoke of blood so seamlessly, all for the sake of striking down the False Messiah.
But we know. The leader that weeps inside him; That part was gone, missing.
Minato Arisato, do you know if Naoya's true self is weeping for the bloodshed to come?"
-Kazumi Kiba, the Mask Collector, Secret Report in Collector's Compendium
Shin Kanzato
Clear Sky – Early Morning – 3/12/2012(Monday) – Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo
(4 days before Strife's Arrival)
Shin never met the longed nose man called Igor, yet he swore he should, like trying to shape a clay doll, but forgot who he imitated it from. When the strange room with blueish carpet appeared in his dream, he walked, like countless others, through the endless hallway.
And listen to the speaker.
"I am Mitsuru Kirijo..."
The young boy leaped from his makeshift bed, recalling the most vivid dream he ever experienced. The sound of people clamoring outside the tent vibrated through the thin fabric. Ryo was not in his place, and neither was Jun.
"Nii-san?" Shin reached for his cloth frantically. He leaped out of the tent, watching dozens of other tents wedging on the sidewalk street. Dawn was still asleep behind the horizon, but his brothers felt eager to outpace the light. Virtually no passengers from outside the crossing saved for the infected and their relatives. Ryo still wasn't satisfied with the tent position last night, landing them several footsteps from the main road.
The first scene of his younger brother horrified him. Reinforced by Ryo's arms, Jun left the public bathroom with one hand rubbing his eye, still in his nightdress. He was the first to point out at him when Shin arrived. If only Ryo learn to make a better face than a scowl.
"What are you doing? The tent's unattended!"
"Brother, do you have it?"
"Have what? Shin, take your brother to the tent and dress him-"
"Do you have that dream, of Velvet Room?"
His brother paled, but the wearied Jun widened his eyes.
"I dream of a man with a long nose," The youngest brother nodded vigorously, "A beautiful lady with red hair."
"Calling all persona users," Shin agreed. He reached for Jun's hand and pulled, without averting his eyes from Ryo, "I told you, that messiah is a bad guy!"
Their brother, for the first time, remained silent.
"Ryo nii-san!"
"Quiet down!" His brother growled, "Just one breathe of those mist, then we're out."
"Why are you so stubborn?!" Shin lashed out, attracting several walkers' eyes, "You're can't even admit your mistake, Kirijo is the only one who can help us!"
"We can't wait for Kirijo!" Ryo hissed, "All we need is Jun to be safe!"
"And her summon?"
"We got no time for this!" Ryo let another citizen pass him into the washroom, finally noticing the long line scowling at them. They moved away from the rows, Ryo's hand gripping both of them tightly. He continued once secluded behind the small alley.
"Even if we go to Kirijo, there's no guarantee they can help Jun. They summoned us, not helping us!" Ryo grabbed both his shoulder, "I'm not stupid. I know how shady the rumors are, but sometimes..." He made a glance at Jun, "We have to use whatever we can to save our loved ones."
Shin hated his inability to provide a swift answer, an argument ended with Ryo scolding him again.
"We'll leave once Jun is cured," Ryo finalized, "I know better, just listen."
"Do whatever you want," He pushed both hands away, "You won't listen anyway."
His brother's frown deepened than usual, neither did he care. "We'll talk more when we return to the tent," Ryo stood up and surveyed around. His face strained, searching, "Jun?"
Their younger brother was not among them.
"Jun?" Shin called out. Did he run away? "No!"
"Where is he?!" Ryo screamed.
Early Morning - Limbo Research Lab
Wakaba measured the reflex of the patients in the wards and finally exhaled in soft satisfaction. Jotting the last notes of the day, the researcher exited the lab and prepare for home.
The most exciting days of her life thus far. Juugo skipped nearly years of her research in mere days, with much more to expand than imaginable. The cognitive world existed in a state peculiarly near their reality, but where?
The Shadowmen, though, made her skeptical about the deals, but there was close to no evidence of her boss's hidden agenda. She received special privileges of meeting the Messiah. A charismatic and capricious man to converse with, but his stubborn-driven insistence to launch his cleansing today made her admire him slightly.
But maybe it won't probe her daughter out of the house.
"I should see it for myself," Wakaba thought, noticing the man with two bodyguards walking in the opposite direction. The only one who openly dislike her, Kujou-san didn't greet her as she bowed. The pair of man and woman spoke nothing and trailed after him like a shadow.
"You are early, what probes you?" Mareya glared. One of his buttons was undone, letting her catch a glimpse of a strange tattoo on his chest.
"I was finishing my research, and..." Wakaba glimpsed at the window, "I'm sorry, I didn't notice the time. I'll return home-"
"The first cleansing starts at 9," Mareya said, "We'll be busy for the day. Keep your distance until we call."
"Noted, sir."
But he left her without a reply, dragging his crippled leg and his guards across the short hallway.
Mitsuru Kirijo
Early Morning - Abandoned Theater, Somewhere South of Tokyo
As the sudden leader of Masquerade, she was not fully ready to enter the small building, with Akihiko and Aigis so far out of her reach. Pink Yukari at her side provided only minimal security; Kikuno insisted on staying in Raku's Hotel with the original archer, though White Yukari convinced her for a mission. For the best, one must not falter in the face of hundred enemies. Confronting them as two should be enough proof of her courage.
'They're not stupid enough to attack their new leader, or are they?' Mitsuru turned to her right. Thankfully Pink Yukari agreed to ditch the Featherman costume, but her overzealous optimism might hinder the mission here. She needed Aigis, soon.
It's unfortunate to send her to Shibuya, considering Kurosawa's dire news of Sho Minazuki and Adachi breaching out of their prisons. Was 'W' the perpetrator? Then why send him to her in the first place?
At least there was good news. The explosive trucks reach Mikage-Cho today, though Nanjo, her unwilling fiance, insisted the path only opened during Dark Hour. Well, there's an exchange for later.
She returned to reality upon Pink Yukari's voice.
"No one's greeting us?" Pink Yukari reached for the bow hidden on her back, her pinkish jacket obscuring the weapon, "How about we raid it? You can be the red ranger!"
"We're here for their support," Mitsuru warned, "Come on, the earlier, the better."
She pushed the greasy double door with a blue and red pattern. The hinge made no sound. Immediately upon intruding, she saw a signboard depicting a neon image of a mask.
"Take out your bow, just in case," Mitsuru gulped, equipping a small handgun in her palm. Yukari gleefully readied her bow before composing her expression.
They traveled several hallways before reaching the main hall, the empty space lacked the dampness of old. She knew the stench of living being amid faint light, sunlight piercing the holes on the canopy. Mitsuru flashed a light at the stage.
And multiple masked figures stared at them.
"AHHH! Ghost!" Mitsuru screamed, and immediately hugged Yukari close. Struggling to pull the arrow from her quiver, Yukari roared.
"Show yourself!" Yukari aimed the arrowhead at the stage.
She was blinded by multiple light bulbs switching on in the ceiling. Mitsuru dared a peek, astonished by the number of masked figures watching them from the balcony and front seats. They wore cloaks with matching black, masks resting lazily on their faces. The Masquerade amount close to hundred, perhaps seventies or eighties.
There's no hostility in the figures, for now.
One of them, a tall man in ragged green clothes with a mask of a rabbit, jumped from the stage and began walking towards them. "You're from Shadow Operative?"
"Yes, we are," Pink Yukari nodded, tapping Mitsuru's hand and grabbing her shoulder, "I think they're friendly."
Realizing she still hugged her, Mitsuru removed herself, tempering the redness on her face. She cleared her throat, "Forgive the unsightly scene. I am Mitsuru Kirijo, leader of Shadow Operative and CEO of Kirijo-"
"Mask Shop rules; none of your background matters, only the ones relevant to the Masquerade," He sighed, "At least those were the rules drilled into us by Mask Collector. Have you met our picky former leader?"
"I conversed with him last night."
"So you agreed to our terms?"
"I agreed to listen first," Mitsuru crossed her arms.
The man with the rabbit mask rested both hands on his waist and looked away, contemplating something. The rest of the masked members had shortened their distance and gathered behind the man. One woman with a bird mask dragged his shoulder to the back and whispered something. Disagreed, the rabbit man shook his head and stepped backward, letting the bird woman take over.
"There's a lot of rules in what we called Mask Shop rules, but we ask that you abide three of them at all cost," The bird masked woman raised her index finger, "First, No invading our true identities. The mask you see is our name, that's it. Called me Bird."
"Difficult rules, considering our history with spy and traitor," Mitsuru raised an eyebrow.
"Mask Collector chose us well!" The one with the snake mask snapped, "He's the only one who knows our identity, and the only one needed to. If he judges us worthy of recruitment to fight the false messiah, then we are!"
"Incredible trust," The young leader remarked, "Let's hear the second rule."
"If we deemed your decision unsound, we have the right to refuse," A huge man with a gorilla mask pointed dagger, "We followed one emperor, Naoya Toudou. With he's gone, the Mask Collector took control of our activities, but not us. Our majority vote has the right to overturn his decision, and so does you."
"Have you ever?" Pink Yukari unstrung her bow and glanced at Mitsuru.
"Just once, when he refused to be our leader," Bird replied.
Mitsuru waited in silence before Rabbit spoke. "Our last rules; everything Masquerade do is for the False Messiah's downfall. We will fulfill Toudou's command, even if we have to use... harsher method. You must accept that."
"The cults and riots," Mitsuru nodded to herself.
Rabbit mask tilted his head to his fellow members before returning to her. "Well?"
This was worse than she thought. Weren't they just vigilantes in masks, then? To handle such a group without breaking apart, perhaps the Mask Collector was a greater man she gave credit for. Was Naoya desperate enough to allow this much freedom to his group? Perhaps only demons can fight a false angel.
"How far can I use your service?"
She heard a chuckle from some of them. The Snake mask gestured towards the stage, "We need you to see something first."
Pink Yukari nudged her to gaze at the back seats, where a young man in a monkey mask played a small film player. The projector began revealing a reel of images on the stage and the lights were switched off.
"What's this?" Mitsuru focused on the video.
"A memento by our founder."
Pink Yukari pulled her hand and took her to the seat. The video made a noisy cracking sound as a figure appeared on the screen.
Wearing a pair of earing.
"Alright. I'll..." The man with an earring stumbled his words, stress sullied his eyes. The room of the stream was enclosed, but bright enough to see a small room. "I'll keep this short. I'm Naoya Toudou. The Masquerade playing this video means I'm already gone, and you're the one leading them. The Mask Collector... I guess he picked you. He's wise at picking a successor, even when it doesn't look so. I hope it's you, Tatsuya, or maybe Kirijo."
"Tatsuya was your first pick?" Mitsuru murmured.
"Anyway, I can assume you know the truth about my disappearance, which makes things easier," Naoya searched for something beyond the screen, revealing a sheet of paper before casting it aside after a remark, "In 2009, about three years ago, I was working with Karu Juugo to experiment on a project creating Limbo Recall. If you read the old articles, you knew it was a disaster. I was caught in the explosion, scattering my shadows and other-selves. The Naoya who sat before you is the one who represents his leadership aspect.
'Thus, Philemon lead me to Mask Collector, his hidden agent, and we had to prepare. This hidden war with Shadow forced us against the corrupted people. Some people had spilled blood for this. We had to counterstrike. Masquerade was born out of such desperation. You may hate their violence, but they can be tamed, long enough to defeat the False Messiah."
Mitsuru glanced at the group of masked members watching them. Tamed violence; was a concerning view. Naoya continued.
"Anyway, the Mask Collector treated them well. So when I left Masquerade, I knew I won't come back. I had a suspicion of where my true body was. Still, seeing as you're carrying my army now, I have tasks I want you to fulfill.
"2 years ago, after the rough destruction of the old lab, Karu Juugo returned to Tokyo, manufacturing something underground. Turns out that before he even met me, he kept a strange child in his containment. Not human, but not quite Shadow either. The girl aged curiously slow, but I lost several men exposing her codename alone: 'Mirror'. She had a noticeably peculiar relationship with Leviathan, Beast of the Sea. He dubbed her Mira. Well, I think it's around that time the first Beast made a shocking decision of releasing this Mira.
"And I just had to meet this strange creature, the progenitor before Sho Minazuki. She was... not what I expected. There's more to her than the eyes can see," Naoya rubbed his face in frustration, "Last time I saw her, Mira made contact with someone here in Tokyo. I want you to find out everything about her from the False Messiah. Now, I'm going to meet Kei Nanjo next week, so I'll end it here."
The video ended. Mitsuru grunted, crossing her arms and remaining on her seat as the light returned to the hall.
"You'll get our full service after we ransack everything about this girl," Bird mask finally spoke after some time, "So-"
"No," Mitsuru made a hard tone, "I don't agree."
The noise began filling the hall. The surprise Rabbit mask stepped forward, "Kirijo-san, if you follow our method-"
"You will follow mine, Masquerade. My final words," Mitsuru stood up, Pink Yukari trailing behind her, "Harsh method can be mandated, but murder, arson, pillage involving innocents is taboo. Mira will be my next investigation but at my pace. I will not accept other answers."
Pink Yukari began shielding her from the group. Different firearms were exposed beneath their capes as they aimed at them.
"Mitsuru, we need to-"
"Hold," She held the archer's shoulder and faced the enraged rogues.
"Revelation took my friends for their secret project," Bird mask revealed, "The gorilla at my back was used as an experiment by Karu Juugo years ago! The Rabbit had no place to live but here, in our little family. This is all we had, and we will not let anyone get in our revenge."
"That's the problem," Mitsuru answered, then began surveying each mask watching them from every corner of the hall, "Toudou was right. Your rage need tempered. I can provide that solution, but you have to accept me as your leader. You need to surrender."
"To you?"
"Your grief," The young leader began walking. She passed by the puzzled masked figures, trailed by the archer, towards the stage, "I know some semblance of that grief. Some amendment or conclusion to your agony. Even now, I bear that unresolved grief. But I have guidance from a dearest friend, while you don't."
"We only want one thing!" The Snake mask said.
"And you will have it," She reached the stage, where several masked figures back away with their guns still on her and Pink Yukari, "We share the same goal. Unfortunately, we don't share the same ideal. Masquerade is about to change that today."
Mitsuru reached for the Evoker, making them perked up in alert. She aimed the barrel beneath her chin, but freeze. A new voice beckoned her emotion. She leaked a wry smile.
"My name is Mitsuru Kirijo, leader of Shadow Operative. Shadow is my enemy. But for you, I will not rest until Takaya Sasaki falls beneath my heels. All I ask... is let me."
For the first time, she parted way with the small object in her hand and let the voice take her. Bluish fog hissed around her feet. Astonishing, how clean the summoning was, no longer constrained by the Evoker guiding her all those years. Perhaps it was always there, beyond the moonlight and trauma of death, finally crawling free. Was this resolve gifted by the Velvet Bell? If so, then it was promising.
Crash!
"Mitsuru, you summon it without-" She heard Pink Yukari scream in awe, but she was in deep thought.
Above her, Artemisia's body began to crack, exposing the entity emerging from within, the empress broke free, tearing apart Artemisia into a glass statue, exposing her splendor figure.
PERSONA EVOLVE
A tall, slender woman with light peach skin revered herself. Her gold and black dress shrouded a thin light armor visible between the fissure of her dress between her tights and cleavage area, covering until beneath her neck. Her long golden hair frayed behind her upper half black mask, lips deep red like blood. In her right hand was an extremely thin sword with a circular crossguard shaped of a snake.
Cleopatra
Arcana: Empress
The legendary queen of Egypt and its last ruler. She forged an alliance with Julius Ceasar and secured power after the latter's death. Her romantic relationship with Mark Antony ended in separation, where Antony committed suicide believing her dead. Cleopatra killed herself to prevent the Roman from capturing her. Her beauty was a thing of legend in history.
The queen of Egypt gripped her sword and aimed the tip upward. The invisible charm effect ensnared every breath within the hall. The stunned Pink Yukari eyed the masked members as they all flinched back in panic.
"What is this?" The Bear mask growled, "I feel... compelled."
"You charmed us against our will?!" The Rabbit mask stepped forward.
"No, not yet," Mitsuru let her persona fade, "I would, all to bring down False Messiah. But I don't have to, am I? Your answer?"
Silence. Mitsuru felt her sweaty hand grasping the wheel of fate, so close now. The leader of Masquerade is finally ready.
The Rabbit Mask was the first to kneel, "Mask Breaker is currently preparing a raid at Shibuya as of now. I believe it's essential to you, boss."
"Huh..." She began planning, "And who is this Mask Breaker?"
Morning - Rooftop
(30 minutes before the first cleansing)
"All units, prepared for the breakthrough. Masquerade might prowl the street. Keep an eye out..."
She dialed the radio frequency again, each tune closing to the information she needed. Hundred of lives will lose today, and she intended an opportunity. One strike; that was all needed to strike the mad professor.
Babylon turned to her lone prisoner, struggling in his bondage tied to a lone metal poll. His weary eyes looked away upon contact, though the twist of his battered neck made him winced. His delicious fear was a sight to behold, but it wasn't enough.
Babylon reached for the small wrench on top of her bag and walked toward him. He cried out, dried blood visible on his lips as he rattled the iron chain, but to no vail, watching helplessly for another beating.
"Just kill me... Just kill me, *sshole..." He pleaded.
"I wished it was that easy," Babylon flung the wrench on his left foot, rewarding another snapping sound. The man screamed, but no one close enough to hear, not in this abandoned building.
His face was wet with tears once his voice ceased, though his eyes stubbornly glared at her. "...Told me..."
"Hmmm?" She leaned closer.
"He told me he wanted to save me..." His rasped voice was barely audible, "That dying old man sacrificed his life. He took out the progenitor parasite... and allowed himself infected, so I may escape- AHHH!"
"That's enough excuse," She twisted the heel on his knee.
"...Takaya Sasaki already left his compound. Strega is out. We took out the guards first..."
Finally, some good news. Babylon checked her watch, delighted at the time she spared. Enough playing around, time for the big finale.
Babylon packed her stuff before walking to the big mechanical behind the young man. 20 minutes should be more than enough. She started the countdown.
"You want death? Enjoy your last 20 minutes then, Minazuki."
"We both know what a freak Juugo is... You can't beat him."
"You won't live to prove me wrong," She walked away. Soon, the entire building will collapse, a suitable distraction for her to attack the college ground.
"You're a puppet! You're still are!" he screamed, "Killing me won't bring him back! Serizawa!"
But she was already gone, unaware of a silent figure hiding a few floors below.
Shin Kanzato
Shibuya - Morning
"Please give us your full attention. The Messiah will pass through Shibuya Crossing in 10 minutes. Please cooperate with the guards in charge and provide passage to the vehicles. The Messiah will not reveal his face, but his mist will reach you."
When the announcer's voice began spreading across the area, the idea of attaining nothing in this perilous journey sent him into boiling frustration. Ryo had left him and swallowed by frenzied crowds, while he was lost in the midst of infected, scenes made him shiver in fear. Jun will share the fate of these dying figures, yet he was nowhere in sight.
And now, Shin wanted to cry. Perhaps this place was never meant for him. He should have listened to the masked man yesterday. He should have been more stubborn.
He searched in his back pocket and found it. Magician Arcana. If only it was that easy. Everyone in the family has been waiting for a long time since their parents' death, waiting for it to end. Waiting, he believed, for someone to give reason to their living.
A small pebble on the ground was enough to knock the distracted him off balance. He landed face-first on the concrete floor, passing-by people ignored him. Shin cried in his arms, feeling miserable until he sensed kind footsteps approaching him.
"You alright, kid?"
He lifted his head to see. A police officer, hair silver white and had lived long enough to see better days, extended a hand towards him. He took his hand, thankful at no sight of injuries on him.
"I'm looking for my brother," Shin allowed the officer to lead him to the side of the street, "He was sick with those..." He pointed at one of the unconscious figures slumping on the opposite street, "...thing."
"I'm... sorry to hear that," The officer bowed slightly, "If he's infected, then he can't be far now. Are you with family?"
"My older brother," Shin wiped the ugly tears.
"Your name?"
"Shin."
"Alright, Shin-kun. I'm going to look for your brother, but you need to return to your older brother fast," His gulp was not assured, "There were reports of Mayan Cult parading the streets. I advise you to take your family away."
'That's what I said to Ryo yesterday, but...' He nodded.
The speaker resounded again. From afar, he heard a loud screeching sound of vehicles wheeling to the Shibuya Crossing.
Aigis
Tokyo
Aigis made her way to the rooftop, grumping at the length of her long blue skirt as she pushed her shoulder to the roof door. The sky was clear but strangely humid. She went to the edge and glared at the tiny figures walking down the Shibuya Crossing.
Fortunately, she was in time to see the Strega trucks marching to the center of the crowd. 5 giant vehicles the size of a bus, with the truck in the middle equipped with several funnels to the left and right. An increased temptation to shoot down the moving truck, but Aigis knew better to spark a war in the middle of civilians. Besides, she was instructed to observe.
"Fuuka-san, I'm at the roof," She spoke to the mic.
"Good work, Do you see him?"
"No, but I do detect body heat within the middle vehicle."
"Stay put, if the information from Mitsuru-san is true, then a member of Masquerade is among them."
"Any sign of Arcana Shadow on their side?"
"Not for now."
She sighed in comfort. This strategy was absurdly risky but predicting the spawn place of the next Arcana Shadow was essential to Shadow Operative. If it spawns back on the island, it should be a comfort. But if it followed Karu Juugo's trail. 'Yukari...'
She didn't notice the beginning of the cleansing.
Nameless Mist smokes swirled out of the middle truck, and frantic swarming of the mass began to race towards the middle truck. The order earlier crumbled in instant.
"It's starting! Aigis, position your lens on the crowd!"
She began equipping her lens and zoomed her eyes on the people. Despite carrying children in their arms, the parents were the ones clawing at the smoke, inhaling the greyish mist. Soon, the mist reached the people overhead, but the wind was not kind to the False Messiah.
Nothing but pure chaos.
"Juugo!"
"Fuuka-san?"
"No. Not you. I just received a report from White Yukari. Karu Juugo just left the college ground. No, there was no sign of Arcana... bzzzz... Shadow."
"Why doesn't it appear?" Aigis fumed. Did Juugo know about their possession of Pandora's Box in Kirijo's lab? "Fuuka-san, I'm losing you."
"I know. bzzzz... I will call you back in a minute. Continue surveillance."
Fuuka cut the line abruptly. The mist began to thicken until naught was seen on the street. It grew taller until it reached half of the building. If she snuck into the crowd, no one would detect her.
Let's find out.
Rooftop, Abandoned building
"Psss, hey."
Sho Minazuki opened his eyes to the speaking figure crouching opposite him. Tohru Adachi seemed to age a decade after a short rest at the prison last night. Barely straightening his back, it's a wonder how he still stood after the overdose of the drug, like an inner spirit dragging his flesh. At least he ceased coughing blood.
"Why don't you run off? She released you."
"As a distraction. I'm not doing what she wants."
"I'm not the progenitor-"
"I heard you, now shut up. Wait here, I'll get something to break the chain."
"Where the hell can I go, idiot?" Sho twisted his head to the left, peeking at the bomb on his back, "How much longer?"
"The timer? Around three minutes..." His words trailed off, "...I don't see a tool that can break the chain."
"Urgh, some help you are!" Sho kicked out his legs, "Damn everything on this planet! Screw it! Leave! Leave me be!"
"I came to repay the favor, and you curse me?" Adachi scowled, "What I wouldn't do for a persona right now."
Silence intruded, minus the beeping sound of the time bomb.
"You're the vessel of Strife," Sho sighed, "If you die, then the prophecy's done. Blind Idiot God wins."
"Isn't that what you want?" Adachi sat next to him. "Or you have something else to do? We can talk. Only got like... A minute left?"
"Does it matter?" Every part of his body felt numb, numerous bones were broken inside with internal bleeding. Even unchained, his flight will be short.
He dreaded the sudden face of Ikutsuki in his mind. In the end, he's still a father to him.
Mira, that girl. He wondered if she had any family. 'Pathetic, Sho. You want to live, do you? Minazuki, are you there? Let me know you're there.'
Silence. He barked a laugh and wept.
"Whoa..." The madman voiced out.
"Shut up."
"No. That's not- Boy, there's smoke coming out of you!"
What the hell he's raving about? What smoke?
He lifted his head and saw himself staring into him like a mirror.
College ground entrance
White Yukari chose to be contented with the mission today, after being absent from work for too long. This sense of helplessness wasn't severe before the prophecy, but now... doing nothing was miserable.
She woke from her stupor at the sight of the professor leaving the front entrance, alone without a companion. He looked irritated in his overlarge orange scarf, and his dresser -if he had one- needed to be fired to choosing that short trouser for him.
"Fuuka, Juugo just left the ground and..." She trailed off.
"White Yukari, what's going on?"
"Stop calling me that!" She hissed, returning her attention to the confrontation.
A figure in a thick coat paused in front of the professor's track, her eyes focused feverishly at her watch. There was something familiar about her red hair. Had she met her, or in the report? The lady taunted with sudden hostility, but they were too far for her to eavedrop. Slowly, White Yukari left her cover behind the billboard and disguised her walk with another group of students.
"...Already been dealt with," The woman spoke, "You'll hear a spark in another 37 seconds to the west."
"Troubling attempt," Juugo exhaled irritably, "I still have use of him."
"Not anymore." White Yukari finally detected the small gun in the red-haired woman's right hand as she spoke, "Once I'm done with you, you have nothing to worry about."
"You are always desperate, Babylon," the professor dropped his orange scarf and don his black hat. "Come, I summon you."
Shibuya
"I'm not lost!" Shin protested.
"Then why are you so far away?!" Ryo shouted, but his voice was distilled by the overwhelming screams crawling for the truck, where the Messiah supposedly curing the infected. There was no news of the next cleansing, which meant it must be now, or Jun may never recover again.
"If you don't mind, young man," The officer between them spoke, "Please allow me to search. Your brother already told me the details."
"Pardon me for adding your work," Ryo bowed, "Jun can't be far. He never strayed from home, ever. He just doesn't want to see our faces. Please find him, sir."
The policeman turned to the crowds, "I strongly warn you to stray further away from them. Pray that your younger brother inhaled some of that smokes and be done with."
"Hopefully so," Ryo nodded and began pulling Shin's hand. His attention, however, lay on a masked figure walking among the crowd.
Almost too similar to the Mask Breaker he met yesterday. There was something in his hand, like a gun-
"RYO nii-san!" He screamed.
But it was too late. The first bullet was fired.
All hell has broken loose.
Aigis
Shibuya
"To the False Messiah, leading the leaders and kings astray, we will expose the false words you spread under the false promise of salvation. We condemned you under true Messiah's judgment!"
The one leading the invasion, a tall man with a cracked mask, declared with a small hand speaker in his hand. Mitsuru should have taken over them. Unless some went rogue? Or did Mitsuru's ascension as Masquerade leader didn't spread fast enough? But the dream last night, everyone should have seen it. Perhaps she gave them too much credit. Even so...
Molotov was the favored weapon of this rebel. All four other trucks were rained with fire, black smokes wrestled with the Nameless Mist, surging control of the battleground. Aigis dodged another bullet on the giant wheels to the backmost vehicles. A woman in gold attire jumped on top of the truck and began chanting madly in some Mayan language. Some followers repeated the actions.
When the back truck opened its door, the fate of these clashes was destined to be a bloodbath. With bulletproof armor and heavy firearms, the Strega squad reload and opened fire at the blinding mist.
She saw the ringleader evading another bullet, surging for the middle truck. Even the mask couldn't hide his shocked expression when she blocked his path. Multiple riffles on her, but they couldn't dent the single steel beneath her blouse.
"Cease fire!" The man at the front shouted, "Impossible... What business Shadow Operative had with us-"
"Stop this attack!" Aigis interrupted, "Mitsuru Kirijo is the new leader of Masquerade! You will not command this fight without her approval-"
"The False Messiah is inside that truck. We can't let this chance go to waste!"
"Rihito Shimizu-"
"Don't use that name in the public," He growled. He gestured his followers to the seamless mist, "If we cuff Takaya, we can influence the outcome of the war. We will dominate these Shadowmen."
"And allow the mass to turn on us, on Shadow Operative?" Aigis shook her head, "Mask Collector would never approve of this."
"He'll be surprised when I tore off Takaya's face in the public-"
A stray shotgun bullet blew off the head of the masked figure to Mask Breaker's left. Aigis's eyes filtered the mist and saw, to her horror, a group of heavily armed soldiers exiting the truck.
Strega began the counterattack.
"Move!" The Mask Breaker dashed past her and reached for the unmoving middle truck.
College Ground
An explosion to the west signaled the first attack by the one named Babylon. But the bullet was flung to the side by the sudden drop of a heavy object falling from the sky. White Yukari examined the origin of the attack above her and was shocked to see an invisible star-shaped structure looming above the professor, shaped into existence like a ray of light.
The metal giant with golden skin had a large, oversized disk at the center; an expressionless face pasted on it. Two iris-less eyes peered down on Babylon; its nose was crooked and its mouth formed a thin line. From the sharp edge of the five points, a small rock began enhancing in size for the next shoot.
Arcana Star
The 17th Arcana Shadow. Spawn from Karu Juugo. Always looming above, watching, striking.
"It's here!" Yukari hid behind one of the coffins and tapped her ear speaker, "Fuuka, the Arcana Shadow is here, summoned by Juugo! You're right, and- Fuuka?" The device was unfunctional. "Urgh! I need to get out of range."
Babylon didn't flinch, instead grunted impatiently as red fog encircled her. Her eyes were bright red, "Harlot!"
Crash!
Harlot
Arcana: Empress
The Whore of Babylon as mentioned in the Book of Revelation, she spread evil and abomination. She rides the seven-headed Beast with ten horns, a golden cup in her hand.
A massive red-scaled beast stormed the concrete ground, rivaling Star Arcana in size. A top of it was a skeletal woman in a deep purple gown. The cup in her hand filled with red blood as she began laughing at the Arcana Shadow.
Almost like a wild instinct, Arcana Star lunged forward.
Babylon VS Arcana Star
"A mistake to assume I am alone," Juugo adjusted his hat and proceeded to the right, ignoring the fight, "Stall her but kill the other woman."
She felt chill, feeling his eyes on her. Yukari dared a peek and nearly yelped as the red-haired woman glared.
"What are you doing here?" Babylon growled, then sounded amused when there was a hint of recognition in her eyes, "Huh, I guess Shadow Operative is busy."
"Do I know you- Watch out!" She pointed.
Babylon dodged to the side when one of the stars shattered the ground where she stood earlier. Harlot lashed out one of its heads and attempted, but the Shadow floated higher out of the bite's reach.
Meteor Shower- Several meteors conjured amidst the sky, aiming for the mother Harlot. But the whore spread her cup of blood on the heads of the beast, and each jaw began to swell, charging power.
Mamudoon- The curse attack burst from the seven mouths of the beast, obliterating the meteors. The broken shards scattered around the concrete ground, but Babylon stood her ground and sneered at the attempt.
White Yukari dodged to the side from the falling stars, rushing to the edge of the closed realm. She hoped too much, seeing as the translucent wall sealed her inside. Yet Karu Juugo passed through the wall with ease, the sunlight bathing his white coat.
Damn him.
Aigis
Shibuya
Everyone was screaming in the deep mist, arms stretching for a way out, for family, for salvation. Yet she was forced to turn blind eye to the horror surrounding her as she continued her chase for Rihito Shimizu, the one known as Mask Breaker, as he began shooting at more Strega. But the counter-attack was vicious. Most of the masked members were shot dead. The third party, composed of multiple cults including the Mayans, heated the event.
Mask Breaker reached the center truck and shot the door handle. He pulled the door open and-
"Gozanze!"
A huge red spike burst from the dense interior of the truck. Mask Breaker screamed in agony, gripping his bleeding left shoulder and plunging him to the front side of the back truck. He pulled it free, dodging another spike piercing where his head was earlier.
"Shimizu-san!" Aigis rushed to his side and dragged him from the attack. A man, crippled on one leg, gently dropped down from the truck, trailed by a man and a woman in dark suits. Wearing goggle eyewear, he observed the fallen Mask Breaker and sneered. She noticed the mist seemed to swirl around him. From him.
"It's a trap," Rihito regained his footing with his hand pressing the wound on his shoulder, "I should have expected Takaya isn't here."
"You're mistaken, Masquerade," The crippled man smirked, "The Messiah is here..." He unbuttoned his coat and exposed his bare upper chest. A large red butterfly symbol was etched on him, a constantly glowing red hue, "his power of cure."
"Well, I settled for you, Mareya Kujou," Blue fog thickened around Rihito, "Sandalphon!"
Crash!
A seraphim angel of Kabbalah emerged above him and formed a fist, aiming for the crippled man. But his two bodyguards blocked the attack, and their eyes began to change. How did she miss two Arcana Shadow next to him? Only when they assumed their true forms did the illusion break free.
"Break them, Sol, Luna!" The crippled man commanded.
Arcana Sun & Arcana Moon
The 18th and 19th Arcana Shadow, travel together beneath the shades of the False Messiah. The human flesh they wore was fresh as if newborn. But when assuming their true form, both Shadow resisted the absence of moonlight and Dark Hour.
The male Arcana Sol towered above the trucks and stood equal height to the seraphim. His smiling face pasted on the blazing red spherical head, his bloated armor tattooed with scorching design, on his chest were two figures of children holding hands at the center. The female Arcana made a jarring contrast compared to her counterpart; her glooming face pasted on the glowing crescent shape mark on the left side of her spherical dark head. Caucasian claw hands jotted out from her skinny dark robe, the pattern of sea emblemed on it.
"Shimizu-san, we can't fight this!" Aigis shrieked, but it fell on deaf ears as Sandalphon punched Arcana Sun in the face. Arcana Moon whipped out her claws, snapping the seraphim by the ear, but the hard metallic skin repelled the claw.
"Aigis!" A familiar voice boomed in her head, "I lost contact with White Yukari! And you too! Those Mist are hampering Juno's power!"
"Two confirmed Arcana Shadow before me; Sun and Moon. No vision of Star Arcana. Can we presume White Yukari encounter one?"
"Without persona? Certain death. She was only to survey from afar, but perhaps her motive changed," Fuuka sounded agitated, "Something is disrupting the signal connection. You need to leave!"
"The Pandora's Box..."
The navigator paused for a while, "I'll not risk that-"
The telepathy connection, along with the wireless signal, ceased to operate within the thickened mist when Rihito's body crashed on her. She forced her stance and stood upright, watching in shock as the Mask Breaker gained another wound on his torso, but he was alive, though faintly. She watched the Arcana Moon stranded on top of the truck on the right, while Arcana Sun was conjuring blazing humanoid figures.
Rihito Shimizu & Aigis VS Arcana Sun & Moon
Sun's Children- The little human-shaped fire crawled towards them like a frenzied mass, devouring hungrily the fallen bodies around them. Aigis pushed Rihito to his feet and summoned Aigis.
"Athena: Aegis Shield!" The Goddess of War slammed her giant shield to the ground, creating a rift between them and the flaming children. The children exploded into a burst of magma fire upon contact with the flying concrete debris, drumming the giant shield with a deafening thump. But Athena resisted the continuous impact and undid her weapon.
"Wait, Shimizu-san!" Aigis reached out to the staggering leader, but he shoved her arms away. Rihito stepped forward and summoned his persona.
"Darklight Hammer!" Sandalphon conjured a massive black hammer with gleaming white light and slammed it vertically at Arcana Sun. Arcana Moon, out of nowhere, ushered the other Shadow away and blocked the attack with her claw. A direct hit, as it punched through her arms and bashed the flat side of the hammer on her spherical head. With its massive weight, the hammer dragged the face into the concrete ground. The massive impact sent the vehicles flying through the air before they disappeared in the mist.
"You killed it," Aigis shouted.
"No," Mask Breaker's breath became ragged behind the mask as he pointed, "An illusion."
The place where the Arcana moon crashed was empty. She realized too late the Arcana Sun and the man Mareya Kujou was nowhere in sight.
"A skill from Arcana Moon," Rihito nodded to himself, "Hate to be wrong, but I guess we're underpowered. Your navigator, what of her?"
He knew Fuuka. Of course, Masquerade knew almost all their activities now. "Fuuka-san can't pierce through the mist. We'll have to break free."
"I heard you wanted the Arcana Shadow," He began rummaging for something under his cloak, "What for?"
"That's confidential."
"Tight lips, are you? Fine," Aigis saw him taking out a velvet book, reminiscent of Velvet Compendium, "I'm going to stun the Moon Shadow for a split second and break the illusion, but you must strike her weakness fast enough."
"I don't know their weakness. Like I said, our navigator-"
"No time!" He removed one card from the book; Arcana Moon. Slotting the book back into his coat, he held the Arcana card high above his head. The card glowed as he gripped it with both hands.
And shredded it with a clean tear at the side.
Something screamed in the mist to her left. She didn't wait for Rihito's signal and began emptying the bullets in her fingers' chamber. The large Shadow appeared in mid-air, escaping, but her bullet was vicious. Behind her, Rihito summoned his persona and clashed against something, assumingly the missing Arcana Sun. She no longer detected Mareya's presence. And now, the weakening effect of Moon didn't allow her to navigate through the fog as of yet.
Shin Kanzato
Ryo's hand felt sweaty on his wrist. His hand ached with pain, but his brother almost fiercely gripped it tighter with each turn they made around the corner. There's no other outcome. Jun must have breathed in the mist. So why run? Why hide? 'Jun, why?'
Unless... could it have been her?
"Yuki!" Shin shouted.
Ryo stopped and faced him. His brother's face was wet with sweat and anxiety.
"I-If Jun's healed up, doesn't that mean Yuki took over him?" He took another moment to catch his breath, "Our sister. Maybe she's the one who runs away!"
It's been a long time since Ryo failed to give him an answer. The older brother was silent, but he saw in his eyes a truth discovered.
"Shin..." He spoke, but nothing more after a while, and resumed their run.
Shin didn't even see where the bullet came from. All around him was noise; not all bullets missed their marks, and not all were the intended target.
Ryo's body was flung to the left with a piercing cry. His hand was still in his, and they both fell hard. Shin tasted blood in his mouth, unable to voice a cry. He lifted his head to see.
Redness coated Ryo's back. A small but lethal bullet punctured through his ribs. Deafening shots muffed whatever cries his brother had. He crawled to the head whose face was against his side. His body was heavy when he turned it around. His brother's half-opened eyes didn't respond.
And the world suddenly became empty.
College Ground
Mind Charge- The seven-headed Beast sank to the ground and began shifting colors from red to deep purple. The lady on top of it drank from her cup again, though this time she stood up and faced the Shadow impossibly high above the ground. White Yukari watched the entire event behind one of the coffins, but she sensed the overwhelming power from here.
Arcana Star began charging something, its expression turned to deep anger. Its cracked golden skin was pulsed with rhythm. So much savageness behind Harlot's attack, one of its five points lost an edge. But the same could be said for Babylon, whose face was marred with blood. The rage in her eyes was vicious.
"Come back down, little sh*t!" The woman attempted another shot with her gun, but the Shadow dodged with ease.
Falling Star Bomb- Arcana Star roared and began to spin vertically clockwise. Until the speed was a blur, it began falling towards Harlot and Babylon.
Ice Age- Harlot's Beast began to spit glittering white miasmic balls. Each strike landed on the falling star, each burst into explosive ice. The chill spread even towards White Yukari's feet, and she hurriedly lifted her shoes in avoidance.
She didn't look at the destruction as the Arcana Star crashed straight for the persona. But the ground and the air hissed in hotness. The enclosed Dark Hour didn't alter the brightness of the explosion.
When she breathes again, multiple screams were heard. White Yukari realized she was freed from the closed realm.
"bzzzz... White Yukari! Yukari! Can you hear me?"
Fuuka's voice screamed in her ears.
"Fuuka, I was trapped in a Dark Hour, the same thing happened to me as Akihiko!" White Yukari gasped, "The Arcana Shadow is here!"
"Then get out of there! I was..." She heard a few typing sounds, "...I was 500 meters to your south! What's happening there? Who engaged the Shadow?"
"Some woman I don't know..." She returned her gaze to the explosion, "Ah!"
"White Yukari?! Confirm your status!"
White Yukari blinked as the smoke died out and one figure stood upon the fallen creature. The only persona user she saw who could single-handedly defeat an Arcana Shadow was her leader, the true Messiah. But this Babylon, standing over the fallen Shadow with her face smeared with dust and blood? True, she was out of breath, and it seemed she could have fallen unconscious any second. But her rage, her frustration; almost as if she's seeking any prey to direct her thirst, no matter who.
The Arcana Star stirred, no longer sustained by Dark Hour. Taking one deep breath, she began reloading.
Wasn't this the opportunity she seek?
"Wait!" White Yukari ran towards her as the rest of the people escaped the explosion, "Don't kill it!"
The lady raised her head and studied her, "I have no quarrel with Shadow Operative. Leave."
"First of all, I don't know who you are. Maybe you met my other self, but I..." Babylon's eyes sent cold sweat on her skin, "A-Anyway, we need that thing alive. Something bad will happen if we kill them all!"
The lady in red stared at her.
"A-And we don't know the risk! Why not just capture them and study them-"
"To study them, weaponizing them. Typical Kirijo's mob," She turned her attention to the Shadow and pulled the trigger.
"Wait-"
Bang!
Shin Kanzato
He gave up screaming a while ago, seeing as none listen to the weep of a single child. Tokyo truly was too big for a ten years old boy, especially for those without family. The blood of his brother on his hand resisted being removed no matter how many times he wiped it on his shirt. His head hurt; too much noise, too much of everything.
He heard a cry, familiar and soothing.
Shin turned in one direction, searching for that voice. "Jun?"
No thoughts crossed his mind when he rushed to the back alley of the street. There, huddled in a lump of garbage cans deep into the dark alley, was his only known family.
"J-Jun!" He screamed. It was dark, but he found his younger brother. Now, he couldn't stop smiling. Shin's hands were pulling the plastic bags away. Jun's body was covered in dirt, but he was good enough to walk. His eyes when looked upon him, however, were concerning.
"Where were you?!" He gripped him by the collar, tears pouring down his cheeks, "Ryo nii-san and I searched everywhere for you! You're not there!" He checked his eyes and mouth, "Did you breath it in? Jun, are you okay?"
"Brother," His brother's voice was a whimper, "Don't breathe it... Too much pain, too much misery in it. I can hear his scream in my head. Shin nii-san, don't breathe it. The Messiah uses blood to turn himself into a cure... I can't let Jun breathe it."
Shin blinked a few times. He was right. The one sitting before him wasn't his brother, "Yuki, you can't take Jun's body. You're gone."
"I thought I was your family," His younger sister said.
"You're still are, just not in here," He placed a hand on Jun's chest, the other on his chest, "But in here."
Yuki, Jun's twin sister, smiled. She blinked, but he knew Jun returned as the dominant soul within the body. All of sudden, the pair of eyes darted to the right, where the exit was. Shin followed Jun's trail of sight.
Three thugs emerged from the mists, carrying bats and some fire Molotovs hanging on their waists. One of the Mayan fanatics noticed them and whistled.
"Two kids, that's rare," The man at the left pointed.
"Families probably dead," The woman on the right chuckled, "Hey, kiddo. How about you join us?"
"We're just passing by," Shin immediately answered.
"You don't look like passing by," the man in the middle leaned forward, "Whose blood is that?"
"I don't want trouble," He hid his bloody hands and began carrying Jun to his feet.
"No trouble awaits you in our path," The lady on the right began approaching, "Come with us. Better us than those fools."
The middle man sighed when Shin did not move, "Well, you're both cute. Might fetch some if we sold you to our boss."
Shin froze, fear enveloped him as the three neared him and his brother. Taking away the only family he had? No, not in this lifetime. Shin gritted his teeth, fury boiled his heart.
"You will not..." Shin growled, "Take another family from me again!"
Blue fogs swam the ground around his body at rapid speed. His other self, the one he swore to remain buried, answered his cry in ecstasy.
"ABEL!"
Crash!
A persona twice his height emerged above him. Turquoise armor glittered in a ray of blue light. The great grey sword in the warrior's right hand slashed out in a mad frenzy.
"What?! What demon is this?!"
"Argh!"
"No! Stop!"
Abel cut off one of their arms clean, another slash on the shoulder, another on the abdomen. Their screams lingered still even after they escape, crawling away into the open street.
Shin felt his mind fading as his persona disappeared. Only with a soft tug from Jun did he regain his awareness. Away now, as he carried his brother on his shoulder. No idea where, but not here.
"Kirijo," Jun answered as if reading his thoughts.
"Yeah, Kirijo," Not much time left, he needed to leave, "Not a bad idea."
"No. Listen," Jun tugged again, pointing in one direction, "She's here."
They emerged into the street, and suddenly it was crowded with more masked figures. However, they were not led by the same man as yesterday.
A small jeep car drifted into the main area. And he saw her in the backseat, next to a lady in a pink suit.
Mitsuru Kirijo.
Aigis
Reflection of Moon- Arcana Moon summoned a sphere of light and collided it with Sandalphon's barrage of Bless spells. It absorbed the light slash before returning it to the seraphim. Athena plunged forwards and nullified the reflected attack again.
"Shimizu-san-"
"In the name of Philemon, Igor, and our lord and savior Minato, don't use that name in public!"
"Shi- Mask Breaker, I just received news that the Arcana Star was obliterated at college ground!"
"And?"
"Seeing as we only had four Arcana left, I believe we should capture one of them, to be sealed off."
"More Kirijo's experiment?"
"Nothing of a sort. Please trust me. Do you know any members strong enough to tank an Arcana?"
"A few might be interested, but they're not as strong as you need."
"Can you not find some-"
"No, I got this."
Aigis and Rihito landed on the ground after dodging the flying truck thrown by Arcana Sun. Attempting Orgia mode took too much risk. Even the Mask Breaker already losing breath. However, the fog had begun to clear, revealing riots tearing apart the great Shibuya. Many dead bodies, Masquerade, Strega, or the cults alike, lay on the ground.
"Aigis, report!"
She was startled by the voice returning to her ear speaker, "Fuuka-san, I receive your signal."
"Good, the signal's clear! I detected your presence! Aigis, help is on the way!" The navigator spoke.
She shifted her attention to the back, where a jeep car drove towards them at a drastic speed. Aigis instinctively smiled when the Archer with Pink Argus mask stretched her body out of the side window and aimed with her arrow.
"Isis: Garudyne!" The arrow flung from the bowstring. It struck one of Arcana Sun's eyes, sending the Shadow toppling down. The jeep car braked after a sharp turn, where Mitsuru leaped into the battlefield. She made a double scan on her leader. Something else had changed. What was it?
"Two Shadow, threats level 4, confirmed on sight!" Mitsuru commanded, "Yamagishi, some intel!"
"Give me a moment!" Fuuka's voice spoke in the speaker, "Yes! I can analyze them now! Arcana Sun is strong, but his state doesn't change. Try ice or curse! Arcana Moon changes her state almost every few seconds, but her stats aren't high enough against all of you."
"Mitsuru-san, I don't think I can seal him away in such condition," Aigis remarked, "The box. If we had-"
"Not a problem, Aigis," Mitsuru whipped out her rapier, her eyes radiating supreme confidence, "Pandora's Box has been tested." She tapped her earphone, "Dropped the container near my position!"
She turned to the sky where high above, a small cyan-shaded helicopter emerged from the clearing dusk, carrying a heavy metal cargo. At the side of the helicopter was the name Nanjo Enterprise. The rope tying it snapped free, and the cargo dropped at high speed on top of them.
"Eyes forwards!" Rihito shouted as the two Arcana Shadow crawled towards them.
"Cleopatra!"
A new persona emerged into thin air, slashing downward at the male Shadow with her long rapier. Aigis stared in awe, and Mitsuru smirked as she glanced at her reading her mind.
The cargo from above crashed onto Arcana Moon's head, seemingly killing the Shadow. It broke, revealing a familiar spherical object within.
"The Pandora's Box!" Pink Yukari shouted, "Aigis?"
"Not asking for help, Mask Breaker?" A man with a rabbit mask stepped forward and joined the fight along with a few others.
"You're all useless anyway without Mask Collector," Rihito growled, "No matter. Keep them alive as long as you can!" The mask regarded the android, "Go."
She grinned. Finally. "Make some space for me."
Shin Kanzato
There's no more strength left in his mouth, but his feet keep dragging him and Jun towards the battlefield. Towards their summoner. The one in the torn blue blouse, a robotic girl, was channeling some kind of energy in her hands. It grew quieter, as most of the fight was dragged elsewhere. Still, the damage was done. Too much was destroyed.
"Come on, get me out of here! And quietly!"
He turned to the voice closing on them. A man with a walking stick, guided by two figures in a white uniform -probably Strega- hurried in their direction.
"Stupid bodyguards! Can't even kill a few guys!" The crippled man cursed, "Well, he told me they'll return no matter what- What are you looking at?!"
One of his guards knocked him and Jun aside, felling them both to the ground. He attempted to his legs, but a burning tent went flying in his direction. He dodged to the side, avoiding the large burning tent separating him and his fallen brother. He stared into the eyes of the crippled man and saw recognition. A man from two years ago.
"Wait, wait up!" The man halted his guards and watched the fallen Jun, "Is that... Kanzato? Unbelievable. What fate brought us together!"
"Hey, leave him-" Shin's voice fell on deaf ears as a molotov flung to the tent next to him. There was fire everywhere now.
"We got them!" One of the masked figures shrieked. He turned to see the battle won by Masquerade. The robot girl was pushing an orb of light into the giant metal ball.
"Retreat! Tell every member to fall back, now!" Kirijo commanded. They both to the car and prepared to leave.
Shin turned to his brother, now under the embrace of the surgeon who operated on Jun long ago. He shifted to the opposite direction, where Mitsuru Kirijo, his summoner, was entering the car. Only one path to go.
He choked down his sobbing, almost disgusted by his hesitation. He knew now the hardest part of growing up was making a big decision, knowing regrets will linger, no matter the choice.
Alone in his world, he answered his brother's voiceless cry and chased.
Medical tent
Reporters were crowding outside the tent to scoop as much as they could from the riots that took the lives of nearly a hundred people, civilians, Strega, and Masquerade alike. Doctors rushed by like a madman, begging for space and assistance from nearby watchers. A nurse, face wrinkled beneath the surgical mask, pushed a bowl of water towards Hidehiko Uesugi, one hand still holding the camera.
"Look at this, people," He squeezed his face into the screen and surveyed, "So much death from one cleansing! Someone needs to stop this madness!" He pointed at the doctor treating one patient to his right, "Is this the price of healing? These deaths? Open your eyes, people! This civil war is not the answer!"
He turned his attention to the small crowd not far from him. A young man with round glasses, a bullet wound on his torso, was gripping the collar of a supervisor in charge. Multiple figures, including a police officer, tried to pry his hands away.
"You didn't search hard enough?!" The young man shouted, "My brothers never stray far from me! They must be around here!"
"Calm down, young man! You were alone and unconscious when we found you!" The supervisor gripped his wrists, "You're not the only one missing a family!"
"Sir, you can keep looking!" The police officer pulled free the man with glasses from clutching him, "Let's go search somewhere else."
"Shin! Jun!" The man with glasses went surveying the other side of the camp.
"Look at that! Another family missing!" Hidehiko pointed, "Stay inside, stay safe, stay healthy! You're watching 'Monday with Brown on to go!', live here in the medical camp!"
Hidehiko pushed the water bowl to another nurse and ended the video. Taking a deep air with the stench of smoke and blood, he pushed the patient to the next tent. 'So much blood... I hope this is worth it, Tatsuya...'
He didn't realize the significance of noticing the man he crossed his shoulder with. His face was deep in the hood when Hidehiko attempted apology, but his grey shirt with red collar... An office worker wearing a large jacket? What an odd, mismatched fashion...
He glanced around before delving into the small alley out of the tent's reach. The amount of bandage and antiseptic should be enough for him. He whistled in the dark after removing the hood, waiting for the pair to emerge.
The Shadow counterpart, Minazuki, mimicked the attire of his original self. Baffling, how the shirt came into being. Like, could he attain enough shirts to open a shop if every version of him handed it to him?
"Think of something foolish?" Minazuki called out.
"Just can't believe you're separated from him, progenitor nonetheless."
"True, they say once you are infected with enough disease, the body will naturally build their immunity," He nodded to himself as he examined his hand. Unlike his real self, Minazuki suffered no visible injury from Ulala's beat down. Unexpected mercy, as Sho attracted too much attention in the open.
"Why back then?" Adachi asked, "Minutes before you die..."
"Maybe his fear manifested as me," He answered, "Babylon certainly never expected this. I plan on keeping it that way for now."
"What do you... Hey!"
He ignored him and walked towards the sulking figure slumping on the wall. A battered Sho the human slept since they first slipped into this place, a risk Adachi took after running like mad from the exploded building.
Minazuki applied the antiseptic to Sho's wound, gently to not awaken him. His voice was cold, unlike Sho, "We cheated death, free from Babylon's vengeance. For the first time, I feel so... lost. The solitude plagued us still, but now the bloodlust was thin, drained by the progenitor and Revelation. Maybe..." The Shadow faced him, "Maybe we need time to heal, away."
He widened his eyes, "Where would you even go?"
"Don't know. I'll think about it when we steal a ride outside, underground or something," Minazuki extended a hand, "Which means this is where we partway."
Adachi stared into his eyes and saw unspoken resolve. This child, this man, is not lost. Unlike him, there's still light at the end of his journey.
"Man, I thought you can help me escape the prophecy," Adachi sheepishly shook his hand, "So much for being a 'vessel'."
"Sho will not speak of this," Minazuki exposed a small curve on his lips, "But for saving Sho back then, we'll return the favor someday."
He couldn't hold back a laugh, "You only got a few weeks left, idiot!"
"Still..." He didn't share his humor.
"Yeah, I get it. A teenager needs a holiday," He scratched his hair and turned around, "Well, good luck."
He waved his hand and heard nothing from the kid.
A good thing. At least one junior learn to respect him.
A/N: It's been so hard finding time to update a new chapter. Busy with life, busy with everything. Still, I'm satisfied with keeping it slow. Sorry for the late update. Let's see...
It took so long to decide on Mitsuru's new persona, seeing as with her newfound role, she need a new persona to lead the Masquerade. This is the same for Ulala Serizawa, who embraced her role as the Whore of Babylon. Shin and Jun's background retained the same way the Trinity Soul did, but I will expand their story later.
With only a handful of Arcana Shadow left, how will Kirijo use the imprisoned Shadow to her advantage? With Sho Minazuki deciding to leave, where will Adachi go?
Please wait for the slow update.