Turn 8: Singed Land


"Dirtied hands can still create good things, only if they wish to."


"I have to admit, this is a very expansive mine shaft." Kal'tsit exclaimed, BOARDs after all just give the selected area a shadowy coat of paint as far as they know. Any physical dimensions of this place are reliant on what the locals have done to the volcano.

"This used to be a natural cave but mining changed this place internally, although now we can see that it's going to bite us back with how long it is."

Molten gold splashed around the volcanic cave and the throes of the Shadows lurking shook up this place, making a sick rhapsody only for Siesta.

Among the embers and sparks that scattered around the volcano, the four rushed towards the innermost chamber where the core of this flimsy board lies. Amphitrite and Miseria covered their behind with Ophiuchus on the front with no commands given, they act more as defenses against the elements.

From chamber to pathway they ventured inside the Pyroclastic Chasm, quickly ambushing any Shadow unlucky enough to be caught off guard. Usually being either Schwarz or the Doctor given how fast the two can move, one by years of skill and the other with a Sukukaja spell on his arsenal and had a means of bringing the foe to them instead.

This time, it was Schwarz who struck down the Shadow with a quick punch and the glob of dark mass split into fourths. The dark mass congealed into more familiar forms.

Three Capricious Guards and a lone Greedy Guard surrounded the four in a chamber of lava. With no moment to waste Schwarz opened fire at one of them, right at its throat making it a critical hit.

However that was not enough to kill the Shadow before her, unlike human opponents these things are far from it, the only indication that she did damaged the guard was because Ceylon finished it off with her weapon.

It was frustrating to not be of much use to them as Ceylon because she lacked a Persona of her own, nevertheless she fired another bolt at a weakened enough enemy that was hit by Amiya's Eiga. As if it had a sense of self-preservation, it used one of it's allies as a shield to protect itself.

The Doctor on the other hand was dueling with the last Capricious Guard on the enemy's side. Schwarz took note of how he fights, it bore a similar style to Hellagur's yet it's differences were apparent. It was fast and precise like the veteran's yet each swing had a purpose behind it, with it every stroke it forced the guard to act out one bad move out of the other.

Comparatively, it was like watching a surgeon use his scalpel.

Schwarz could tell that the man was inexperienced at fighting, his swings lacked the ferocity a warrior would have as if he was holding himself back unconsciously. The Doctor got some distance in between so as to not be an obstacle to his allies and just instead grappled the enemy to him following it up with an upper slash then finishing it with a Frost Edge.

Before the Greedy Guard could escape Ceylon fired a glob of water at it, hitting it's hydrophobia dead on. Seizing the chance, Amiya then raked her claw at the dazed enemy then hitting the other with her ARTS even after her use of melee she is inherently a Caster.

It appears that there was no need to use Soul Forage in this place, the items that normally can be obtained at the hearts of others are here scattered about after each Shadow faded into nothingness. LMD and items all strewn about the room they just fought on, not sullied by the volcano's sooty interior. Kal'tsit took note of this, in the future Closure should add a collection unit within the drone she's using in the meantime the Doctor and the others decided to pick the drops of the enemies up.

"It's strange to have Shadows drop money, won't it inflate the economy if we use it?" Amiya asked, that was a concern of his when he was essentially profiting of the souls of who he defeated before. Given that this place is a home for countless Shadows, they could just farm LMD if they were strong enough like in one of those RPGs they play a lot.

Key word being if, unlike the player in the games they played they are only human. The battle before already took a bit of their stamina and while Schwarz has those for days, there is only so much they can handle not to mention they need every morsel of strength they had for the innermost Shadow within this BOARD.

"A million LMD won't even slightly dilute the trade here in Terra." Kal'tsit commented from the drone, for all the faults Terra as a whole had she had to admit the prosperity of nations who accepted the blue bills as currency. If Infection via Oripathy did not exist then most people wouldn't have taken a combative career to get by.

The Doctor could scarcely remember the stories Igor told him while he was fusing Personas for him, about other worlds that showcased the hearts of man. Whether as a collective phenomena or a massive distortion of a single individual. Yet even though the long-nosed man call them grotesque, there was a certain whimsical intrigue within his words.

As someone who has seen his version of that phenomena he could see why. Molten gold replaced the magma of the volcano and even though the interior looked hot there was the faint gentle breeze of an air conditioner. Wooden doors were the choice for the rooms that this place had been made safe even though they should be burnt into embers by just being inside here.

Obsidian scattered around the place, shining brilliantly even though the thing was unprocessed and unrefined.

While walking towards the innermost chamber of this place, three Molten Idols sprouted from the sea of molten gold and with a slight sigh Ceylon fired a Malaques at them. Hitting their weakness, the idols shriveled until they looked like deflated bronze statuettes.

There was no time to lose, the four proceeded to attack them all-out wiping the floor with their faulty ambush attempt. Two of them dropped a small vial of liquid gold, which the Doctor welcomed.

Even though Cronin's heart stained the volcano, the Doctor was intrigued by the twisted beauty with it. Was it because he was looking at the visual representation of the man's twisted development or looking at the context of the gaudy volcano the place had become.

From a medical standpoint perhaps it was like being at awe of a massive tumor that a patient had developed. While synthesizing new medicine from what the Doctor procured, Folinic was eager to tell that story.

They came to a point where they cannot cross the next platform because of the molten ravine before them, parted by a golden sea. Try as Ceylon might on making a pathway using her water, it only vaporized her efforts.

"How are we supposed to get there, there's no way we could make the jump even with Schwarz's skills." The chasm was vast, climbing the hot ceiling was out of the question even with the air from the AC the volcano was still a volcano meaning hot.

If they could only pull something towards them as a platform, Closure upgraded the strength of the hook and the retraction pull of the device so the Doctor could bring the enemy to him instead of the other way around. The stalagmites made of obsidian looked promising but it was out of range not to mention he couldn't break it with the grappling hook he had.

There was a big enough block of obsidian nearby, just out of range to hop on to but close enough that he can hook it and drag it if he had enough strength. He might be stronger with his new role and power but even can't manage that alone.

Luckily for him that was not the case.

"I have an idea." The Doctor pointed towards the block of obsidian floating around the molten gold, without further explanation he shot out his grappling hook. With it's reinforced hook the thing snagged the immaculate cut of rock and urged them to help him tug the block with the rope.

The Doctor at front with Amiya beside him next was Ceylon and finally Schwarz they tugged the rope of the Doctor's grapple. More like a slightly thicker string of metal but they have places to be and a city to save.

Schwarz and the Doctor were the only one's who had rope burn afterwards but nothing a simple Dia can't fix.

0o0

On the other side barely a few minutes even passed by, Hellagur saw the lynx woman's concerns were apparent they are going inside an anomaly. Unlike the Catastrophes that plague Terra, this was the first of its kind. He could not imagine the stress this woman of science is going through given he himself was only concerned with treating Oripathy.

Though she might not say it outright, it was obvious that the lady was on the edge of her seat and from what he had heard she was the epitome of collected. Was it because of the phenomenon that they are currently facing or was it because of the people going in there?

At the very least, he can now better understand why the Doctor approached him for training. Unlike the good doctor helping them navigate, he was expecting to face these kinds of anomalies. Whatever being lay dormant within these BOARDs it must be truly frightening, especially if a rotten heart like Cronin's was the cause of the distortion.

Alas, he could only stay guard while a young leader, tactician, a reformed mercenary, and a maiden combat the darkness within someone's heart.

"You seem to be deep in thought." Skyfire approached the weary man, old memories almost resurfaced for a while there.

It was hard to not be given the things they are now seeing, even in his old age and his past his eyes can still bear witness to the strangest of things.

"Perhaps, seeing such things before my eyes is a tad shocking." Hellagur replied, looking at the crevice form which the four entered, "As a member of the King's Wand I trust that you yourself are astonished by this development?"

"Indeed, this is unprecedented after all what kind of ARTS can manifest into a separate dimension and influence the world without the Caster being present or conscious?" The Feline eagerly said, "Although, sometimes I wonder if it's actually alright to spread the word of this thing's existence."

It would be troubling for everyone to know that reality can be influenced by this type of ARTS if they managed to replicate whatever Cronin managed to do. Provided that the higher-ups would actually buy into the story, the premise itself is extremely outlandish. From what the Doctor explained they only manifest when somebody gives in to their primal desires or psychological terms if the Id manages to take hold of a person's ego.

"Ah...however working for Rhodes Island already feels like taking hold of forbidden knowledge." The veteran concluded. Truth was prevalent in his words, after all they seem to be prepared for even situations like this.

0o0

Walking on a peaceful road inside the chasm, Ceylon and Amiya were at the back and the two hardened veterans were at the front. Personas ever vigilant the Doctor decided to make small talk with the Feline Kal'tsit met.

"I apologize for attacking you before." Schwarz beat him to it, it was awkward for her to be in front with the guy Ceylon trusts and someone she did try to hurt. Orders or not she still forced herself after the man easily reflected her attacks and got her comeuppance.

Surprised at Schwarz dining on humble pie, the Doctor hand-waved her apology, "Ah, it's fine I understand your situation, I sorta did the same thing when Amiya's safety was threatened."

"Oh right, I heard your squad left Ursus amidst a Catastrophe." It was something she learned from Hellagur while the two Persona-users were busy teaching more stuff about Personas to her best friend, "So, what do you mean about threatened?"

The Doctor sighed, it was not a pretty memory to recall no matter how powerful he felt that time.
"Amiya was almost hit in the head by a crossbow bolt, I was in the power high a first awakening gives you...I think you can imagine what happened next."

"Blasted them with ice?"

"Blasted them with ice."

The bodyguard could feel a sort of strange kinship with the Doctor, both were protectors that would go to hell and beyond to ensure the safety of their home. Yet she could tell the man was not cold even though his first power was of ice.

"Hmm...how did you connect with your squad?" Camaraderie among other warriors was not a luxury Schwarz experienced at the time she had no mind for it, but now she would be lying if she said she's not at least curious, "Is it not hard when being friendly with other people that can kill?"

It was pretty easy to feel but difficult to express but the Doctor tried the best he could to answer her innocent question, "I...well a lot of us are already oddballs in Rhodes. A lot of them banter like kids but we still work like a well-oiled machine. We all just wanted Terra as a whole to be rid of Oripathy."

What does a daughter of two Volcanologists, mercenaries, disgraced Rhine Labs scientists, and a former fashion designer have in common? They we're all screwed over by this damnable rock disease.

Schwarz too was a victim of it, fated to die a horrible and painful death up until her surrogate sister set out to find a cure.

Schwarz never really had a goal that all of her allies shared up until now, it brought a certain kind of warmth in her heart. Foreign but welcome, sort of like her according to Ceylon.

"Even though a lot of you are so distinct, Rhodes Island fights under one banner?" The Doctor nodded and their discussion was cut short by another obsidian puzzle.

They gave a certain kind of flexibility and guidance unlike her work with Cronin, nor do they feel isolated, cold, but necessary when she was following Herman's orders.
Even though everyone's lives are on the line, she had to admit it was pretty refreshing to work with these people.

Schwarz smiled when Ceylon was jubilant when her new power actually helped them this time.

0o0

Wealth, that's what matters in this world.
Cheating and deception they are only things that work!

Beyond the puzzle was a large room with gold flowing from the rock formation, of course the rock platforms are as always submerged in molten gold.

"Did I just heard Cronin here?" Ceylon was perplexed, she looked for the source but to no avail.

"I think..." Amiya began, "That was his innermost feelings...we might be getting close."

That can be surmised by how this room was even more gaudy and disillusioned compared to the other chambers of a volcano. The molten sea was even more blindingly gold and obsidian spikes and stalagmites littered this chasm's opening.

"Amiya's right." Kal'tsit confirmed from the drone, "We've picked up the main distortion's energy signal, that thing is at the end of this place based on an earlier obsidian mine shaft navigation map that Herman provided a while ago." Ceylon made a heel-turn at the detail mentioned.

"Wait, father gave you that Dr. Kal'tsit?" The lynx woman nodded.

Meanwhile the Doctor stared at the data the drone projected, "Yup, that's a boss chamber alright.", He observed the area seeing the same situation from the games they played he grimaced, "We might be jumped by Molten Idols again based on the interior of this chamber, so stay on guard."

But before they could take another step Kal'tsit immediately warned them of something, "Hold on, I'm picking up a strong signal similar to the Shadows you fought. Be careful this has a similar intensity of the Doctor's first Shadow encounter only slightly weaker, but still quite powerful."

Torrents of gold lashed out from the pool surrounding them and the obsidian, as if they were magnets attacked themselves onto the glob of gold. Seconds later they formed one of those golems that Earth ARTS user can make with enough power.

"How?...Cronin does not know about these things." Even for a Messenger, the man never delved into combat with ARTS nor does he seemed to be the type to read about for kicks. It was already established that the man craved wealth like the charlatan that he is, so how?

"I'm certain that it isn't like any ARTS construct we've ever seen!" Skyfire was suddenly alerted by the mention of "golem" so she had to check what's going on.

On their way there, the volcano at the very least did not pull anything like this. It still reflected the conscious mind of one crooked Liberi but if they are getting close to the Id crystal...

"We must be at his subconscious." The Doctor figured, their were already signs with the form of the Molten Idols being abstract. Even while the mind is aware the sleeping aspects of it always managed to manifest. "This place is tainted by his rampant desires, so this area must be where those rampaging thoughts are let loose!"

They braced themselves for one hell of a battle, the golem stood beside them meeting the height of a small house and with it's golden rocky appendages it attacked.

0o0

[Play OST: Master of Shadows]

The Unyielding Giant was a strange foe, it's mobility is atrocious as it could crawl around the ground like a snail. Yet when it attacked it was way too fast compared to it's size, must be because of the composition of the thing.

The thing flung it's golden fist at Schwarz, narrowly dashing to the side to evade she fired an Armor-Piercing Arrow at the enemy. The thing is made of metal and rocks, both materials are sturdy and that bolt was made to pierce sturdy in kind.

The bolt chinked the giant slightly and the round fell into the golden pond. The giant did not take it too kindly however as it's two fists are directed at her as a counter.

She was clearly caught, try as she might even if she jumped out of the way she would still be hit. As a last bid for survival however she opened her Feline legs and sprung.

"Shiki-Ouji!" Just as she was about to brace herself the Doctor shielded her with the paper giant she used earlier. Unlike her encounter with the thing however, the giant did not show any signs of its own attack backfiring, "Tch, as I though Physical Moves are nullified against this guy."

Narrowing her eyes at the Doctor assessment, she put two and two together as to how his defenses worked. All her moves are considered Physical Moves, she's useless against this enemy.

While the giant was distracted with the Doctor and Schwarz, Ceylon let out her newest move...
"Aqua Spear!"

A rain of tendrils made of water skewered the golem, it was proven to be effective in hurting the thing but no so much as to knock it out. With that said, she graciously followed it up with a thrust from her water trident. Since it was made of water her Physical Attack got through instead of it being ineffective.

Amiya from Ceylon's rear let out a mean salvo of both Eigas and Eihas from Miseria as well as some ARTS projectiles at the beast.

"Astolfo!" A knight on a hippogriff blasted the golem on it's backside with a gust of wind, with no time to waste the Doctor followed it up with another Persona, Frost Ace jovially appeared and fired icy hail.

Grappling himself on the top of the obsidian giant, the Doctor was ready to hit it with a Bufula from Ophiuchus. But before he could change Personas he was shaken off by the rampaging colossus.

Schwarz was quick to catch him from his fall.

"That thing is reaching it's limit." Schwarz observed and shot at the debris that the Unyielding Giant deliberately made. At the very least she could clear any other obstructions Ceylon faced.

The Doctor breathed a sigh of relief and annoyance, his SP is almost out after that assault and the encounters before. Sure there were items he could use to regain some SP but they should be use sparingly and the only other way to rejuvenate himself was through sleeping.

Yet, he noticed that Amiya and Ceylon have started to degrade in performance a little. Unlike him who is resource exhausted the two are physically starting to feel tired what with all the constant battling. Amiya can bear it but Ceylon literally just started fighting today, it was impressive that she could keep up with her but he knew that it's only a matter of time until she increasingly succumbs.

As much as Schwarz would love to help out they both know that her shots would not do a thing, if only she had a Persona to overcome this deficit.

"Ceylon, stay back!" The Doctor rushed in with Shiki-Ouji at his side, at the very least he could act as a meat shield or a Defender while Amiya downs it with ARTS attacks that proved to be chip damage. The thing is a Shadow, ARTS can hurt them as much as a melee attack could do. "You need to preserve your strength!"

Without any right to argue with his tactics, she retreated.

"Are you alright Ceylon?" Schwarz inquired, offering her coat as towel to wipe her forehead of sweat on.

"I'm ok...I'm actually nearing my halfway point in terms of stamina." The Liberi knew better now than to be reckless, this was the halfway mark and unlike the Doctor or Amiya she has no other skills than slight Hydrotherapy after her energy is dried up. It would only make sense to retreat as even if she just attacked with her trident, she does not have the safety net of Physical Resistance nor Nullification.

"I wish that I was able to help more..." Schwarz mused, if only she awakened to a similar power Ceylon had. "As I am now I couldn't even touch it."

The Doctor was doing his job as a meat shield while Amiya was chipping the life out of the enemy with ARTS attacks, the Cautus was also interested in saving up her SP. They don't have the luxury of resting after all.

Changing gears, the golem took the debris that it made and consumed it.

"Damn, it can heal!?" Everything was going south, they have to really defeat the thing in one fell swoop but as they are they couldn't manage that. Moreover, they don't have the reserves to constantly makeup for the healing this thing can do.

It was a missed opportunity to use Soul Forage on the fallen guards just in case they give Soul Food or Chewing Souls granted they are rare.

If only they had an extra Persona-user...

"Wait a minute..." The Doctor's thoughts race, Soul Forage was power to take abstract qualities and turn into items, weapons, and more importantly Personas and Persona-related materials. Sure it only works once because people have one soul but the rewards were extremely beneficial.

However, if Soul Forage can take from the soul is it possible to give something to the soul? To share an aspect of himself to someone one can count on, even it's for a while.

"Oh well, here goes nothing!" The Doctor stepped back from the rampaging being, "Amiya stall it for a few seconds!"

He retreated towards Schwarz and Ceylon whcih surprised the two but before the two could be informed on the plan, he channeled the energy that he emits when using his ability. Instead of the intent of taking something he instead envisioned it doing the reverse, give, give, give, he wanted to give Schwarz something.

"Gah!" Amiya was caught off guard by the golem and the thing directly launched an atomic fist at the Doctor.

At that moment, a crystal shot out of the Doctor's hand and it was lodged directly at Schwarz's head. Before the mass could squash the Doctor, even though it's a physical attack it has the energy of a Nuclear attack, Schwarz cut off the fluid appendage with a loud thunderbolt.

"What the..." Schwarz was just as surprised as everyone else, but slowly regaining her bearings she continue to order this power, "Zionga! Take-Minekata!"

Once again, the rock monster was struck down by lightning it appeared to be the thing's weakness. While dazed they realized that it is now their chance, no matter what protections you have an All-Out-Attack will do you in.

"It still has some fight left!" Ceylon exclaimed, although now there is a sense of relief since they all have another Persona-user.

Schwarz, ever excited to show the limits of this gift directed her crossbow at the golem's mid-section, "Take-Minekata, Zionga!" As the thunderbolt dropped down the enemy, she fired her bolt at the same time attuning the metal with the element it hit dead-on.

The monster fell down and crumbled into soil and rust, defeated and only leaving a few items such as two Chewing Souls that helped immensely and a few LMDs and Gold Vials as well as a piece of reddish obsidian.

Something that Vulcan would be eager to work with.

0o0

Ceylon and Amiya had a lot of questions after that encounter, as to how did Schwarz summoned a Persona, why did she get one, and lastly is it because the Doctor shot a crystal at Schwarz's cranium?

"I basically reversed the logic of that Soul Forage power I can use." The Doctor explained the concept of the first power to the newcomers who have yet to see him do this, "Essentially I gave a part of me to Schwarz in the form of a Persona."

"That would explain that Schwarz has the same energy signature as you." Kal'tsit mused, "So you can just give out Personas?"

The Doctor shook his head, "I'm afraid not, it is still a part of me the only reason as to why I can take stuff permanently is because no one else has that ability." While the logic of Soul Forage was opening a faux Sea of Souls in order for what he took from one's soul to take shape, "As well as I essentially stole abstract thoughts and feelings for my own, that Persona I gave is not permanent it still is taking a space in my heart."

After getting Wyvern, the Doctor profusely apologized towards Saria and while the Defender did not mind since she doesn't really understand how his power works before also if it helped the Doctor she did not really mind. Since then, he would ask for their consent if he needed to forage their abstract thoughts.

"So, it's just a loan?" When Kal'tsit putted it like that, it was essentially a loan. The Doctor can make non-Persona users able to fight Shadows like them but it came at a disadvantage of the Doctor not being able to use it and have eat up a vacant space.

"Yeah, moreover I can't just give any Persona." The best he could do is give Schwarz a Persona that matched her perfectly otherwise it would be mishandled and it's power weakened.

Schwarz felt a sense of kinship with Take-Minekata, both seemed to be willing participants in enduring hardship. Furthermore, she can clearly see the Personas the trio wielded. Before she they look slightly opaque but now they looked completely solid rather than powerful ghosts.

She instantly knew her borrowed Persona's powers and smiled, she had plenty of energy compared to Ceylon so she'll be able to give her friend a much needed rest.

0o0

"We nearing there..." Amiya noted as she focused her senses, "So much malice is pouring out of here."

The pools of gold looked like they had a hint of purple mixed in them and abstract rock formations decorated the area like a twisted chandelier. They shuddered to imagine what the boss chamber would look like.

I trust that you would see things through Cronin...

"That's my father's voice..." It must have been a memory in Cronin's life. If that is here then perhaps it was one of the catalysts that made his Id crystallize.

I'm sorry to speak out of turn but why are you allocating so much funding towards their kind?

Siesta is home to all, even those who are unfortunate enough to carry that disease. People's lives and their loved ones succumbed to Oripathy, in fact I am perplexed that bigger powers have not done this.

Sir, forgive me for imposing but what about our primary export...obsidian mining? Where are we going to get the funds? You shut down operation on the volcano.

The voices went silent, yet they could derive the context between that exchange.

"So...one of the reasons as to why he did what he did was out of financial anxiety..." Not that it excused his crimes and the events before goes to show his lack of faith in his boss.

Eventually they reached a point where they were running away from something. What are they running from?

"Why are they're so many Shadow Slugs here!?" Amiya panickly asked, firing ARTS at the tide of slugs coming their way. For every slug they managed to rid of, two came by to replace it.

"Maybe this is the nest of the slugs in the volcano!?" Ceylon concluded, she did encounter the local slugs outside the volcano and even then they're so many of them.

Schwarz was unnerved and did not bother to fire a single-target spell at each one of them, at the very least these bastards don't deflect her arrows, "My attack speed isn't as fast as other Snipers..." She was more suited for bigger enemies, so the Doctor couldn't hold it against her.

They finally reached a standstill as they were surrounded, the pathway before and the pathway to the next area were clogged by a mass of Shadows posing as Originium Slugs.

"Tch, It's no use!" Schwarz as she loaded another AP arrow on her crossbow. Turns out if something can pierce hard enough it can go through multiple enemies. It's no Area-of-Effect but it is all that she can give the enemy for.

While running the Doctor noticed an obsidian block just right beside them and figured out something.

"Help me on this one guys!" He shot his grappling hook and swung the block like a hammer toss, the others were there to support him holding the Doctor so that he won't fall by the weight he is carrying around. By doing this the Doctor was able to cut through the horde like a Really Hot Knife going through some really soft butter.

That swirling wheel of death shortened down the Shadow Slug horde right down to a few lone Shadows, which where taken care of by Schwarz and Amiya. As for the block, the Doctor slammed it into a rock spike. The protrusion as well the rock broke in the impact, revealing a strange kind of crystal.

On closer inspection it was a gemstone, a shiny ruby.

"They're gone...but look at all the stuff we have to pick up now." Amiya sighed, the place was littered with materials and LMD bills. Being the frugal people that they are, they naturally have to pick these thing up.

It was a brief respite knowing that the next room was the end of the line.

0o0

Anticipation is a killer in itself, the hall was a miasma of marbled volcanic rock. Spikes of obsidian hanged on the sky-high ceiling and blocks of it were littered all about. The molten gold was transferred like a waterfall of wealth and the pavement had rocky veins of screaming faces.

The core of this absurd game stood despondently, its feelers or whatever is close to it's ocular receptors look around the arena. It seemed to be looking for something to consume, the four opened on it gnawing on a formation of obsidian ravenously.

It jumped from vein to vein, and it was grew to such an alarming rate. Like a volcano popping from the ground it rose and rose until it stood before them like a Goliath compared to the giant from before.

"Guh...it's getting hotter by the second."

The being before them was acting like a mini-volcano in itself, erupting wildly and indiscriminately. A force of nature's wrath.

"That must be the queen..." Skyfire spoke through the drone, the Feline asked permission for the other cat to communicate with them, "Ok, listen up guys after convening with Eyjafyalla and Provence we concluded something about those slugs we first encountered."

"Unlike Originium slugs, this volcanic variant feeds off obsidian." So that thing in front of them is one of those slugs? They why did it became so big? Was it because of the Id crystal?

Skyfire stopped herself from rushing towards the volcano entrance, realizing the true threat of the creature, "Originium slugs like them make their nest in a volcano's core, they are attracted to the special obsidian made in large quantities by the lava mixing with other special components here."

"So, seeing this the people here followed the slugs and eventually exploited the hell out of this place?"

Ceylon read something like that before, "If the food they can easily access here is taken then they have to burrow deeper for it right?"

"Yes, They are essentially drilling a volcano." Even those without a degree in a field of science could imagine the possible damage of doing something that stupid. But the slugs are not to blame, Cronin deprived them of food and now this is the result.

However there is one problem in that assessment, due to the BOARD's manifestation obsidian can be seen as far as the eye can be seen, heck blocks of it are beside the slug.

"Cronin's Id must have been inside the volcanic slug!" It suddenly dawned on the Doctor's mind especially since the man's mindset was because of the obsidian farming being closed. Then such thoughts would be appetizing to the hungry creature, that would explain that no matter how much regenerating obsidian it chowed down it would never be satisfied thanks to Cronin's gluttony.

Amiya pulled back towards the Doctor and whispered, "Yeah, I can feel this Cronin guy's malice when I tried to read what the slug is feeling."

"Any way to stop them Ms. Skyfire?" Ceylon asked, "The slug looks like it is in constant hunger and pain."

"Luckily, we know that this thing which we're going to call "Pompeii" is all on it's lonesome thanks to the BOARD so you four have to pacify that thing." Skyfire jovially said, feeling a bit blessed that she did not went inside the volcano no matter how tempting it was to her scholarly background.

"P-pacify!?"

"You four have Personas and thanks to Cronin's dark rock the thing has the same signature as a Shadow so it will probably work out." With that Skyfire left the communications and gave it back to the lynx.

The volcanic slug looked around for more obsidian chunks and saw the four awaiting its movements, it roared a terrible cry at the sight of them.

"Uh-oh it saw us." Came Ceylon's astute observation, they prepared their choice of weapons and ready themselves at this poor creature corrupted by one man's darkness. It was technically a medicinal procedure since Pompeii ate a bad thing.

[Play OST: Unavoidable Battle]

As soon as the battle started, the Doctor casts whatever buffs he can himself on. Hastliy he threw a few syringes at their direction, these being Rakukazine, Tarukazine, and Sukukazines all made to assist in fighting. Taking time to apply these drugs the Doctor decided to use himself as bait to stall out a few seconds, ignoring his anxiety of the unknown.

Suddenly a red rune surrounded the Doctor, and it broke. Whatever it was the Doctor sensed that Ophiuchus' fire immunity dissipated into the abyss.

Pompeii spat out a bluish fireball at him, this was fire something one of his Personas can nullify. Confident in his affinities he once again summoned his porcelain mask. He broke it in his hand with vigor and readied his arm to swing back with his hooksword.

"Shiki-Ouji!." The paper shikigami answered his call and he braced himself for the flare, to his surprise all he felt a strange burning sensation gradually feeling like he was in a microwave. The Doctor cringed at the damage to his body and felt a little dazed that he couldn't move.

"Nuclear damage!?" That was the only way to explain it, it was none other than an Atomic Fireball, it had an element that physically invincible paper giant had. The penalty of being hit by a weakness is both strong and painful. Before he could react, the beast fired another skill but this time it aimed at everyone.

After firing crossbow bolts at Pompeii's ore sensitive parts, Schwarz called upon Take-Minekata to strike lightning at the beast, the loud crash was too late. Pompeii shot out sparkling fireballs at all of them, and without Ophiuchus the Doctor is as vulnerable as the rest of them to its flames.

"Diarama!" The pink-haired Liberi directed Amphitrite towards the twice-damaged Doctor.

Greenish aura coursed through the Doctor relieving him of his scorch marks and radioactive pains, Amiya scratched Pompeii's backside and followed it up with an, "Eiha!" The cursed energy whizzed and aimed its ghastly faces at the giant slug. Dead on it struck, Miseria's trait did it's magic as it left a dazed expression on the enemy.

Confused and in no control of it's actions, the slug's aim was worse off to the point that it threw an Igneous Rock instead of attacking. While that was happening, the Doctor got up and changed masks into his ever-reliable Ophiuchus. Slashing it with an icy Frost Edge in tandem with an impact from Ceylon's Hydrowave they dealt a nasty technical frostbite of pain to the confused Pompeii.

It roared in pain as it finally came to it's senses, rampaging across the room it almost hit the girls if it weren't for the Doctor quickly switching to Shiki-Ouji to brace and then to Ophiuchus in order to not be exploited on its weakness. This did not stop the from taking their chance let out a hailstorm of arrows, water, and ARTS attacks while Pompeii was occupied.

Obsidian fragments coated the gigantic slug, with no time to waste they fired once more but arrows clinked, water splashed, and ice and curses were repelled by the thick rocky hide. This must have been the effect of eating all that obsidian. After suiting up, its smoldering insides erupted blazing drops of magma all around.

The innate mysticism of the magically-oriented Personas was a boon in that regard.

"What do we do now!?" Amiya anxiously asked, processing any enviromnetal advantages they ahd even among the scorching heat from the air and her magma stained skin. Even though the slug is acting out of primal instincts it had it's own method to the madness caused by Cronin. Looking over to see the Obsidian blocks that it ignored from a far, was it strong enough to break it's armor she wondered.

It is a good a plan as any without a word she pointed those out to the Doctor.

"I see...Schwarz!" The Doctor called as Schwarz dodged an attack aimed at her, getting hit in the leg by the second, "You and Ceylon cover us! Amiya and I have something."

The panther-lady nodded, each duo had a means of recovering from pain so it shouldn't be too difficult to stall.

"On me!" Like before the Doctor used his grappling hook to drag the heavy block of obsidian, with Amiya as his support. The muscles of the two went not overdrive unlike before, with Tarukaja active in the both of them their whole body was swinging with the block like a hammer of death.

Maneuvers like this only happen during sporting events, Kal'tsit could only stood at awe at the feat of strength the two were doing and at the engineering Closure must have put into the small device. Only the finest fibers and steel made up the cord of her creation and only the finest of potentials can bear the pull strength of it.

It was like being rinsed in a particle accelerator, but the duo chose to ignore the pain and instead focused their minds in aiming at the armored giant of a slug.

A loud crack emanated from the room, with it an intense shock wave as mass met massive. That did seem to do the trick however, the armor Pompeii wore shattered into a million pieces.

There was no time for awe to the two stalling for this to happen, armor-piercing rounds and water struck down the shaken slug.

Schwarz finished it off a slice of thunder from the power she was given and Ceylon played off from the sparks with a little water from her trident.

With its last throes of pain, Pompeii spat out the cause of it's pains the rock that used its distortion as a coat of paint to this volcano. Shrinking to a more reasonable size, it ran far from the party.

Although Amiya sensed that it wanted to thank them.

0o0

"They did it..." Skyfire and Provence had their eyes glued to the screen after Kal'tsit said that the giant Originium slug faded away, "Can't imagine how hard one slug must have been especially if was infused with one of the Shadows there."

"The volcano is stabilized slightly now all that remains is for the Doctor to deal with that."

Provence was still hesitant even with the mission being completed, "Yeah...Skyfire."

"I know, I know but that's up to the citizens right?"

The party observed the floating crystal that Pompeii left behind, as dark as obsidian the Doctor approached it and touched the crystal. Slowly it turned into a white and bright stone, giving it the brilliance of diamonds. Like the other stone from before it lodged itself deeply into the Doctor's cranium.

A collage of memories sprung into his mind, whatever made Cronin become so corrupt. A life of anxiety and poverty all the man cover ever care for is profit and things that would benefit him. In the life that he had led there was no room for the concern for others when he could barely care for himself before. Such a perspective on life held no room for compassion and empathy.

The Doctor knew that he did not change the man's perspective, he was sure that Cronin would curse him and his friends for the remainder of his sentence. Cronin wouldn't be able to get an opportunity to see how his own skewed principles affected others in his lonesome cell or atop a helicopter if his plan worked out. Knowing that, the Doctor couldn't help but feel pity for the man.

GET! Obsidian Feather
"The core of Cronin's obsessive desires made manifest and purified. There is a certain charm in a burnt feather, self-tragedy captured in a single item."
MA + 4, LMD Drop Up! +Fire RES

The volcano's shaft was starting to turn normal and with it a crumbling noise, seeing this as their cue they hastily left to regroup with the others outside.

"Ah! Schwarz!" Ceylon was carried by Schwarz in a piggyback again, she was tired to she did not mind being coddled for once.

The Doctor then carried Amiya in the same fashion much to her surprise but the Cautus did not mind. Whether it was because it was him who is carrying her or because she was so tired after doing a dungeon in a single run remains to be seen.

"Sukukaja!" The Doctor blitzed out of the volcano with Schwarz keeping close with her peak-performance physique. He even teased the Feline a little bit which made the girl go faster much to Ceylon's excitement. The drone following them heated like the insides of the volcano they're in just to catch up with the speed demons.

They exited the volcano panting and chuckling much to Provence and Skyfire's confusion and Hellagur and Kal'tsit's amusement.

"Phew, does everyone still have any injuries left I can still heal." The Doctor asked, still panting after sprinting out of hell and back.

"No, it's fine I have more energy in stock Doctor." Ceylon insisted, she summoned the card of the Empress and crushed it easily. With a silent nod, the Persona inside her casts Diarama on all of them.

"Congratulations, the BOARD dissipated entirely." Kal'tsit announced, looking at the four she was thankful that Amiya was only a bit exhausted while the other three were only either slightly hurt or tired. The Doctor as always was the one who looked more beaten compared to his party members.

Hellagur noticed the twitch in her lips as she looked over the Doctor's condition.

"That's good to hear!" The Doctor exasperatedly said, he pushed himself a tad too far but it was all worth it, "I apologize Schwarz but I'm going to need to take back that Persona." It was shame too, but the Doctor was sure if she would awaken to one that power will be far stronger than what his Wild Card could lend.

"I understand."

Schwarz was slightly disappointed, it was fun using the power that he and Ceylon shared and it was refreshing to kill and destroy actual evil instead of being on a side of the conflict. Alas, all good things must come to an end and at the very least they saved Siesta and her relationship with her best friend and surrogate sister is mended after so long. What else could she ever hope for?

The Doctor outstretched his arm and the crystal containing Take-Minekata emerged from her forehead, that is what it looked like to the Persona-users anyways. The rest weren't able to see the slightly gruesome process of taking and giving Personas, especially the velocity of the crystal boring itself into the Doctor's skull.

After taking back Take-Minekata he can feel the experiences and feelings Schwarz had on he rmind while she using this power. Her anxieties and worries for Ceylon, the thrill of taking down indisputable evil, and the warmth of camaraderie that the two gave the other duo. It did not took words to convey what she was feeling now, with the relief and joy with how things turned out the Feline's heart was ever stronger.

"Something tells me that isn't that last time we're going to encounter these things Doctor." Hellagur stated, the Doctor was familiar with the stone that emerged from Cronin.

"I guess so..." If this the obstacles he must face when searching for the World then he has to steel his resolve, "That's why we have Personas." Fighting the shadows of the real world and the Shadows of another, he accepted this path it was all fine to him.

"It is a shame that most of us are not able to assist you on this burden." A hint of morose laced Hellagur's words, the veteran was no stranger to countless battles but being on constant guard not knowing when the next battle will come. That would explain why he saw the Doctor as someone carrying the world on his shoulders.

"Hey, Kal." The Doctor was so tired he dropped formalities, "How much time had passed?"

Kal'tsit checked on her watch, her eyes bulged in surprise, "Thirty minutes!?"

"Great, alright how about we go back to the concert?" No arguments there, the Doctor urged Amiya to be carried on his back and off they go with his grappling hook. As if he was brimming with energy he rushed out of the area.

Kal'tsit with an understanding nod, followed suit leaving Skyfire, Provence and Hellagur as Schwarz and Ceylon tagged along in the same carrying formation they had exited the volcano from.

"They ditched us!" Skyfire exclaimed, "I can't believe this Prove-"

Provence was already running after them, eager as well to go back to the concert hall.

"Hey!" The Feline followed her Lupo colleague with steam coming through her head, leaving the old veteran on his own.

"Ah...well it is up to me to fix this setup." He reckoned that it will be swift, letting out a gust of wind with his movements he packed up the temporary base with blinding speed. There was no way he would miss this concert for the world, even with his age he was a fan of some of the artists there.

0o0

Returning to the concert hall felt like a hero's welcome even though the people are not aware of the adventure they've been through.

Ceylon saw the cheers and joy that came with the artists performing the songs that they loved. Why would anyone want to cover all of this underneath volcanic rock and ash? Moments like these cannot be priced by any currency and perhaps all this was allowed because blood was spilled before, did that really matter in the grand scheme of things.

Like her Persona said, no king or queen prospered without bartering blood for kingship. It wasn't that she was alright with doing such deeds but it is to understand that good people do bad things for good reasons as well. Should they be go unpunished? No. Her father was already punished in the form of Cronin she guessed and he himself will be held accountable to his sins.

Well, those things are in the past now. She had Schwarz by her side and looking at Rhodes Island she was certain that she was not alone in fighting against Oripathy. With her new power she can protect her home, realizing now that it wasn't Siesta or Victoria.

It is wherever Schwarz is.

"Ok, give another round of applause to DDD ladies and gentlemen." The crowd went wild in excitement, "I guess that's the end of this concert, you have all been a wonderful audience."

Suddenly, the lights went out. The Operators inside the venue wondered if they were under attack.

"Ending the party just like that? Without us? Come on..." The whole audience as fixated on the voice that came with the darkness.

Spotlights aimed themselves at the silhouette, it revealed the one and only...

(Play OST: Take Over)

"MASK!?" Everyone's jaws dropped at awe, the one and only vocalist of MASK slowly being accompanied by the four other performers. The male oni masked drummer, the female oni masked bassist, the red devil masked guitarist, and the bunny demon masked violinist.

"We already got the invite so we might as well stop by." The vocalist, nicknamed by the community as "Hood" because of his attire and porcelain mask stated through the mic.

The rumors were apparently true, everywhere on Terra flipped at the entrance of the band. Siren Heart Records were all to eager to present their newest talent as one of the greats. Frostleaf; the normally reserved mercenary girl, went off the rails screaming along with the crowd as a fan would. She was one of the "OG" fans before the band took Terra by storm in a few days.

Somewhere in Chernobog, Mephisto spat out the popcorn he was eating at Crownslayer's face but the girl was too shocked to even care or be annoyed.

Of course the reveal song they would use would be "Take Over" it was too easy. The singer bolted around the stage acting like they own the stage and that moment they kinda did. Dan from AUS and DDD grooved while Take Over was playing while Frost and Aya hummed with the song.

After MASK finished performing "Take Over" they called for a cheer.

"You know the drill everyone, give them what they need to hear!" As soon as he said those lines, the band took over the stage and went with a song with the highest impact.

(Play OST: Rivers in the Desert)

This is one of the most empowering songs in MASK's repertoire, the loud and blaring sounds goading everyone to start a revolution. Heck, this is one of the reasons as to why Reunion was fond of their music. It spoke to their core and they reckoned that if the band knew what they were doing they would be all in for it.

It just gave a sense of agency and power and the singer is rocking that wave with his high vocals.

The applause was nothing but a torrent of cheers accompanying the performance. The small electric guitarist was killing the notes like a Sarkaz mercenary. The lyrics described an intense battle against a hard foe but based on the music they were winning, gaining an upper hand with whatever they have thought of.

Who wouldn't be absorbed and be enthralled by the power it gave out? When Ceylon was fighting the tainted Pompeii she imagined this song was playing in the background.

Then the calm part of the song came, it was really impressive that the male vocalist can sing in a feminine manner. The Doctor could probably sing that song with his voice.

"Wait where is the Doctor?"

Rivers in a dry land!

As soon as Ceylon said that, the vocalist threw his mask into the sky. His face was unfamiliar to anyone but they still were surprised at the stunt, but his face instantly drew attention to anyone who knew him.

"The Doctor is the lead vocal!" Ceylon and pretty much anyone who knew we're at awe. In another part of the stage a certain tourist dropped their ice cream.

Ceylon in her shocked state approached Kal'tsit, "Did you know all this time?"

"I approved of it, our leader and the Doctor didn't expect to be this big but that penguin..." So some of the rumors were true, "Don't worry he'll give you an autograph if you ask." She said in a teasing manner.

Meanwhile Mephisto, W, and Talulah were speechless for different reasons. She looked over to Schwarz and Kal'tsit, the latter smiling and the former shell-shocked as she was.

The other Reunion members had no idea as to who that person on the screen was as some of them have yet to face the Doctor. So they as well are surprised at the reveal, one of the appeals of MASK was their aura of mystery, the masked faces gave that atmosphere but a new aura of mystery surrounded them now. After all the Doctor has no records of everything except for Rhodes Island but no one knows that.

"So, who's SOS?" Ceylon was curious as to who the genius songwriter could be, are they one of the masked Operators or even Amiya?

Kal'tsit was silent for a while, "Even I don't know that all I know is that the Doctor is given sheet music a few times his benefactors call him."

Yet the Feline did not mind the mystery of it all.

"Ok, ok..." The Doctor put on his mask back again, strangely during the time it was off everyone's cameras were foggy and unclear, "You've all been a wonderful audience."

"That's why we still have one more gift to all you fans out there." DDD interjected, readying their groove and just like they rehearsed.

"You ready Siesta!?" Alty shouted directed to the mic, and the last performance had begun.

Burning the night with song, the evening was one no one would ever forget. After It All, all went well.

0o0

The following day, the Doctor looked over his phone. It was to be expected full of text messages from Operators who were fans of their work. He wondered if Yato, Noir, and Vigna were hounded by others who were able to make the connection.

Putting on an actual Persona was quite tiring, how Sora was able to keep up being an idol and an Operator he wouldn't ever know.

"Still, I've never thought we would go so far..." It was a chance meeting with the Emperor accidentally barging in their jam sessions. They were recommended by him to Siren Heart and now they're performing in Siesta as a secret collaborator.

He could still remember Vigna gushing about DDD and AUS while they were practicing that one song.

Yawning he saw Amiya still sleeping in and Kal'tsit looking over the window with a cup of coffee.

"That was one wild concert..." The Doctor said to his fellow doctor, making a cup of his own with the instant packets in the hotel room's cupboard, "I'm surprised you didn't mind my little stunt there."

"I find it entertaining actually not that anyone managed to get a picture of you with your Persona half-summoned." One of the things he practiced with his power was putting it in that state, to not obscure recording devices and to not terrify nearby people, "Besides I understand why you wanted to do something like that."

The Doctor looked at the sky from the windows, wondering if it will start a storm or a Catastrophe would be on the horizon. After this vacation they would go back to fighting Reunion in Lungmen, only one day left of peace and after that back to fighting. This peace is just a taste of the peace that lies in the end of the journey so he might as well savor it.

"I'm heading out, I'm sure Ceylon has a lot of questions yesterday." When the door clicked, Kal'tsit was left to her own devices. She stared at the cup of coffee pensively and sighed.

Reminiscing on an old memory of the time before that awful campaign, she never would imagine this kind of development in her long life.

"...I wonder if you were this kind of person before, would she be still around?"

0o0

Outside, the Doctor tried his best to look for the Ceylon or even Schwarz. In the heat of the what was happening yesterday they forgot to exchange contacts, even while they were preparing to enter the BOARD.

Instead, we could see someone familiar on the shore's horizon. It was Herman, the mayor pensively stared at the sea and he looked at the Doctor as if he wanted to talk to him.

"Splendid performance, Doctor." Emperor must have tipped him off about MASK's identity, understandable and he expected no less if Schwarz was proof of his caution, "I'm surprised that you aren't hounded by fans all the while you walked here."

It wasn't like anyone is familiar with his face and with some Persona shenanigans it was impossible to take a picture. It was good marketing to have only a select few see his face, and it would be a sign of trust towards his dear Operators.

"I was looking for Ceylon, you know save her the trouble of looking for me." They chuckled, the girl was really determined when she wanted answers, "Well enough about that, what are you thinking about?"

Herman sighed, his weary eyes had made peace with whatever is weighing on his heart, "Your own Messengers should know this by now, eventually Siesta will be engulfed with lava from the volcano."

It was hard to accept as the mayor of this city, "I made plans for this, a mobile city that can accommodate to all of Siesta's citizens."

"My condolences, Siesta is a pretty place a nice place to take a breather after..." The Doctor stopped himself, tugging at the memory which Herman caught on.

"I figured as much...your eyes speak of weariness and knowing what your organization does it must have been a rough task." Herman spoke with wisdom, only cultivated through years of experience the man beside was a fellow trader of blood, albeit it was a consequence of their enemies not something sought out willingly, "Before this land prospered I had too make tough calls and orders."

"At some point, I grew numb to all of it." He let out a heavy breath, "I hope that you won't be numbed to it as I have."

Herman decided to stop there before he opened up more than he should, "I haven't thank you yet for helping my daughter, her recklessness has always been something I'm wary of. She has a good heart but she was unaware of when to act out on her goals."

"Her being proactive was not reckless, if anything it was because of Cronin that things went south."

Ah, speaking of the Liberi...

"You should know by now that I taught Cronin, he grew to be very capable it's only a shame that he indulged in his baser nature." Herman solemnly looked at the shore then at the volcano, "I turned a blind eye on his antics and when I left Schwarz with him as a sign of trust..."

"He disappointed you?" Herman nodded.

Still, the Doctor couldn't understand why he was so open all of a sudden. Was it because it was he mourning what is essentially the upcoming demise of his home or did Cronin's betrayal hurt more than it seems? Either way the Doctor couldn't help but sate his curiosity.

"Still, why tell me all this?"

Once again, the older man let out a heavy sigh trying to recall memories of a time gone by, "I enjoy walking in this part of the beach that is because my wife Barbara, sleeps in its waves." But before the Doctor could offer his condolences he continued,

"I still remember that day; the weather was a bit warm and the sunset was splendid. She turned to me here and said, "If only we could stay here forever." and in a blink of an eye I was left behind." For some reason the Doctor resonated with his story, Herman lost what was important to him...

The Doctor looked around the magnificent island, full of buildings, music, and joy. Maybe this was what she wanted to see...

"So, you built Siesta for her?"

Herman nodded, "I knew you would understand, yes this paradise is something I dedicated to her." Love can both create and destroy, and Herman chose how he would spend his grief.

"As for why I am telling you all of this, I can tell that you are a man who understands why made those choices. Not every problem can be solved with good, if you want to protect what's important to you sometimes you have to get your hands dirty."

That seems to be a truer statement than ever before with what the Doctor experienced in only a few weeks. Reunion too, believes in that idea only problem being is that their system of belief is from a narrow perspective.

The Doctor sighed, after this brief reprieve he's going to...

"I hate that, this is the reality of our world."

Herman shared his sentiments yet, "So do I, but good or evil lost it's meaning to me a long time ago. The only things that matter are the results and the city."

Even with all the blood he spilled before at least he could say that it did something.

"You may not know this but I think Ceylon understands." The Doctor assured this unsure man, it did not took a genius to see that was still unsure about something.

"How so?"

The Doctor could feel it when he was fighting alongside her in that chasm, "Her power told me as much, she might not have understood the extent of how far your sins are but she can understand the logic behind it."

Herman should have seen it from afar before, his daughter and bodyguard restrained by his second's goons. Then all of a sudden, she was fighting back with a trident made out of water and a pressuring force by her side.

"So that it what it was..." Herman fondly recalled, seeing his daughter carry herself with a more mature outlook when they reunited. "Schwarz wanted her to be innocent of all this and I was worried of what she will become of when she inevitably grows to that worldview, but it seems like I was worried for nothing." He was not looking to be understood, but it felt relieving to know that in some way Ceylon did not abhor his decisions.

The Doctor agreed, "You raised a strong girl, that's all it was."

"I was distant from her for most of her life," Herman argued, "If there is one that should be credited to her growth it is you and your allies."

He briefly paused, her mother would have been proud of their daughter's strength.

"That is why I am fine with Ceylon joining you." Ok, that's sort of sudden now that the Doctor thought about it, "I will have Schwarz come along, after all Siesta is no longer her paradise."

The Doctor noticed that he was all too calm about his home being engulfed in magma in the future, but he guessed that was just a guy like him can be. Knowing when to let go of an inevitable loss.

"With that said, is it too much to ask for your autograph?" Herman half-jokingly asked, he was a fan of their music after all one of the few things he and his daughter had in common perhaps, "A memento of sorts after you depart."

That was surprising to hear from the older man, so much so the Doctor forgot what he was going to ask for.

But he is one of the band's sponsors so Hood couldn't refuse.

0o0

Kal'tsit went out for fresh air after Amiya wanted to look around Siesta on her own. Days of peace like this are rare in her long life, so savoring it is all right for her.

Walking around town, she was suddenly approached by Schwarz the fellow she encountered at one of the bars.

"So..." The lynx was clearly amused at this sudden development, "Can I buy you a drink?"

Wrenching at the memory Schwarz replied, "I'll pass for now."

"Ok...so how can I help you?" Schwarz wasn't here to greet her for pleasantries that much she knows, "I'm sure you didn't just sought me out to say hi."

The grey Feline nodded and while pondering on the words to say she couldn't help but bask in the Siestan sun they fought for, "First of all, I want to personally thank you and the Doctor for helping us with the volcano."

"Ah, I did not do much other than monitor you four." Kal'tsit was slightly embarrassed as the woman bowed her head in gratitude, "The Doctor and Amiya were there by your side so they deserve more of the credit."

Schwarz nervously chuckled, she still feels bad at trying to beat the Doctor and then escalating in violence when she couldn't understand what was happening before. Being unfazed by one of his many Personas.

"Besides, your charge grew a lot even before asking us for help."

"M-mi-" Schwarz stopped herself it was hard to break that habit, "Ceylon wanted to invite you three for tea at Cafe Chagall."

"I see, hold on I'll call him and Amiya should be near here..."

Before the Doctor could leave the old mayor alone, his phone buzzed once more.

"Say, Herman do you mind joining us for a cup of tea?"

0o0

Chagall Cafe started as a cafe in Higashi, overtime it grew in popularity and like all things decided to branch out into franchises. A mystical and spiritual vibe echoed throughout the place almost as if your very soul is relaxed when coming here.

It was very easy favorite for peace-loving bookworms like Ceylon.

In a private booth courtesy of the mayor; Amiya sipped peacefully at her latte, smiling in pleasure at how the brew dances in her mouth. Schwarz wondered if the coffee here is really that good when Herman sighed in bliss after drinking his cup of strong coffee.

"So, what's the occasion...?" The Doctor braced himself, he knew what would happen when he did that little stunt.

Ceylon produced two sheets of paper, forms of registration with their signatures on it filled with a resume, "I want to join Rhodes Island, is what I would say but judging from my father's presence he probably briefed you on it."

"So, I'm going to ask you a different question..." The Doctor sipped his soda-blend in nervousness.

"How long have you been "Hood!" ", Thank Terra the walls are soundproof, Ceylon demanded answers she couldn't get much sleep with all those questions swirling in her mind she wanted to reach out to the truth after all.

Well, he was looking for her to tell that story. Resigning himself to his fate, he chuckled softly like recalling a good memory of a time where fighting was the least of his worries.

"Alright, it's a long story..."

CHAPTER END


Extra Turn: Volatility

Cafe Renegade is known to attract a more rambunctious crowd with it's red and black aesthetic. A place for young rebels and stylish rogues alike coupled with the fact that the hot chocolate they have is killer.

When W has a contract separate from Reunion's this is the place that she meets the Doctor.

"So...what do we have now?" The Doctor asked sipping through a Blackberry Bomb frappucino, they went on a lot of hits here at Lungmen. Most of the time the contracts came from a guy called "Rat King" all of them are about ridding the city of filth not even the LGD could touch. Corrupt businessmen and drug lords as well as the occasional human trafficker.

Every city has it's dark side after all and the Infected abuse was just the surface.

This time it was no different, another post about some bad apple in the orchard. W looked at the paper she held and while it was stupid to have these things out in the open, it was in encrypted text.

"This might be something interesting." W answered, sipping at her caramel latte, "Big fish this one, been using rocks with legs as pawns in his carriage. Not much for daylight, prefers to revel in the afterglow, a man who loves to walk on the shore though" It all sounded nonsense at first but the Doctor slowly got used to what mercenary talk.

"My merry band has gripes with this king, I'm no Robin Hood but you, court jester should see why you should talk smack at him." A bit of both, this contract target seems like the scum of Terra if he's using the Infected as delivery guys in his business.

The Doctor bit his lip in righteous anger, "The Hermit wants a reversed Emperor to leave the reading I see, well how should we stack the deck?" He preferred to speak in tarot card terms, W was smart enough to understand what he meant, "I don't blame him, that card spells of bad fortune and as always he wants it out of the field not in the graveyard." If there is one thing he liked about Lungmen is that when the LGD catch a criminal, they get treated like one.

"Hanged Men while the Moon is flipped face-down, can't play while the Sun is upright. Guess that arranging a reading with the Devil then waiting to draw a Chariot would be an optimal turn?" Better to wait for the night to come since they are only two people, "So the Fool should wait for the Tower to fall when?"

W looked over the cafe's watch then at the menu, "Two double-shots and a sparkling water, after this remember to leave your chaperon a tip K?" As always she wanted one of the crystals he got from Soul Forage.

After spending time with the band and attending Eyjafyalla's seminar, the Doctor met up at the designated place as stated. Eight-thirty PM.

Hugo Pezo of the de Merda family was a careful Siracusan mafioso. Even though the Siracusan mafia took a hit in recent times he was one of the few who managed to survive the tempest of Terra that swallowed up many dark brotherhoods alike. Managing to whisk away Infected from every corner of Terra in order to build his workforce of couriers, and due to discrimination nobody batted an eye.

It was only because one of the Reunion members was once a pawn in that gang did Talulah and the others knew about him.

Hugo shielded his identity and under the counter transactions by buying out small-time logistics companies, making sure to stay away from Penguin Logistics. Especially after hearing that some Siracusans met their end when they decided to mess with the Penguin and his "squad of bitches", as a survivor had eloquently described.

But the Rat King heard something strange from the grapevine and decided to not let this pass, especially in his home. Not a nice gift basket to give to the landlords if it's a bouquet filled with dubious needles.

"How cliche, they're at the ports..." The Doctor scoffed a top a building, using High Pixie's small stature he was able to beat binoculars in terms of sight. The wind blew at his coat, making him look like an anti-hero from one of those comics.

W checked her grenade launcher to make sure everything is spiffy, not that she uses it a lot especially for covert work like this but Originium weapons are volatile to say the least.

"Oh, they're starting to move." The Doctor notified, immediately carrying W on his back and jumping down the skyscraper they were currently on. There was certain thrill in doing these types of things that made him feel elated.

Once they were at two-thirds of the building's height, the Doctor shot out his grappling hook at a lower building. He swung around each building in order to descend and as well gain speed to catch up with the mob's new location, putting a lot of points in Endurance for High Pixie really did help in stopping his bones from breaking while W was having a grand ol' time like she was on a theme park ride.

Not one single Lungmenite saw them glide through the urban sky.

"So this is the spot they're convening..." The Doctor and W hid behind the steel bench, the target was looking over his vicinity. It's a shame that he took High Pixie for a moth on the Lungmen lamp.

W already just polished her knife nonchalant about the mission, "He's going underground I take it?"

"Yeah...how did you know that?"

The Sarkaz girl sighed, she was did bagged a dime a dozen scumbags after a certain war for cash, "Call it a lucky guess."

"I'm betting that the drug den there is heavily protected." Of course it would, what self-respecting disrespectable despicable crime lord would not fortify his area of business? "So, any ideas in getting in?"

W though to herself, no doubt thinking of something devilish, "Barge in?"

"B-barge in!? You can't just barge in a fortified drug den." Ever the voice of reason, that's just how most of these missions with the Sarkaz goes.

The Sarkaz in question pouted at him, "Aw...why not?" He had to admit the devil of a girl had a cute face but it was still a bad idea.

"W, you can't just go in there and go "Hello~, drug dealers!" "

W loudly opened the door.

"Ciao! spacciatori di droga!" W announced to the whole corridor, the Doctor slapped his face heavily because of what they are doing and the fact that he can still remembers Siracusan even with amnesia.

He smacked a bodyguard with the blunt end of his blade lazily, W on the other hand delivered a body blow to the guy in her right, an axe kick to her left and followed it with a leg sweep towards the front.

Before another guy could stab her in the back, the Doctor had Jack breathe an icy gale of Bufu at him.
Following that chilly breeze was a chop to his neck, instantly knocking the guy with his body making a loud thud on the ground.

Hugo on the other hand wondered what was happening, it was too quiet. Normally he would hear his men doing something to pass the time, the noise earlier was probably the case but it suddenly went silent.

Ah, no matter he had armed security to well secure his well-being and whatever comes their way would be shot and stabbed and thrown in the Lungmen restaurant garbage. Preferably Whelp Cove, he didn't like the fact that it serves kids.

He was getting a bit nervous however, thankfully the AC was there to chill his sweating forehead. Never mind the fact that someone turn the settings higher making it a tad bit colder.

Wait, colder?

If only he noticed that fact, otherwise he would have seen the frost gathering in the metal door of his office. His goons must have mistaken it for the AC as well as they had not time to react from the door bursting out and embedding itself to the wooden desk.

Before he could respond to what is going on, a familiar looking plastic was shoved in his mouth. He couldn't even scream for help but that was a moot point, they must have got through all his guards.

Hugo managed to mumble out a "What do you want from me!?" from the plastic bag in his mouth. Now he realized what was in that bag, his very own drugs.

"Caught ya~" W laughed at the state of the man, now tied to a bundle of cords that turned into a makeshift rope. While the Doctor did not like the idea of torture, the man before him was a wretch; a bunch of dregs even in Terra's dark underbelly.

Pity was the last thing in his mind after hearing of his exploitation and trafficking of Infected people.

While W was looting Hugo's stash of goodies, the Doctor heard a loud shout from the corridor behind them.

"LGD!" This was Ch'en's voice, have they been had by the Rat King? The man who be explicit if he wanted to get rid of them.

Come to think of it, Ch'en once mentioned a druglord that she was pursuing with Swire's intelligence when they were reviewing minor Lungmen criminals that may be interested in funding Reunion.

"W, we gotta go." The Doctor pulled W by her jacket with the Sarkaz still hauling gold bars and wads of LMD.

W sighed in defeat and handed the Doctor some smokescreen balls, a Higashi export that W reverse-engineered.

When Ch'en burst through the door, her nose was assailed by scent of smoke. Her squad was confused that they did not notice two shadows blitz pass them.

To their surprise when the smoke settled they saw Hugo's men downed and the door itself blown to high heaven. There was a battle here, well more like a slaughter.

Ch'en bit her lip in frustration, somebody got through the bastard before them not only that it seems that they cleaned Hugo out and got away with it.

That doesn't really matter since her goal was to arrest the man, but for somebody else to get to him first ...

"Madam Ch'en..."

"I'm fine, just arrest the targets." They would be questioned about Reunion and other dark establishments later, and the mystery of the assailant would elude her.

Meanwhile, W was laughing beside the driving Doctor. Happy about the haul that she just got and the skulls she cracked even without her explosives.

"Come on, Doc talk about a job well done." The Doctor manifested a crystal on his palm and gave it to her, it was a Garula Gem and the woman did promise to not use it when fighting Rhodes Island.

W eyed her prize and marveled at the green gem's clarity. To think that one gemstone carried the explosive force of the very wind itself.

It was a good night for the Tower all things considered.


Extra Turn: That Lady at the Orphanage

In a remote region of Higashi there was an orphanage, in Terra refugees from tragedies alike flock when they have no place to stay. Adults would drop their kids here seeing that they have not much longer to live.

One of the reasons why this orphanage was so popular is because of the caretaker there,
A blonde-haired woman with a smile of a saint.

During her duties she performed so well that one would think that she was a machine, yet when she talks to the kids she was like a mother.

Nobody paid her any heed or wish her ill will, there was that one time bandits demanded lodgings and they mysteriously vanished the next day. The village believed that she was protected by the gods because of the good deeds she had done.

Yet, no one really knows anything about her.

Nor did they question it.

Although in a certain day, she would go to the shrine and pray. The children wondered who she was mourning or was it a tradition for where she came from.

No matter, that was the only day in March where she needed her time alone.

Sakura bloomed and fell on the old shrine that she had the flowers accompany, the blonde woman sat down and prayed. Lighting two incenses she removed the red ribbon on her neck and cried.

One would think that it was tears of grief but they couldn't be more wrong, they were nothing but tears of joy.

"Makoto..." She whispered in melancholic joy, she did not know how but she would not question it. His burden was finally gone after such a long time, the bringer of death had long left this world. Mankind did not wish for death no longer.

Her beloved was finally able to cross the other side. Until they meet again, she would cultivate more lives and watch them grow and wither.

Teaching them the same lessons and what it means to live like the boy who died for them all.


New Personas

Astolfo LV17

Weak: Earth
Resists: Wind
Null: None

"The Son of Otto and one of Charlemagne's Paladins, he's a hero who had gone on many adventures like capturing a giant or flying to the moon."

Transmutates into: Argalia
Weapon: Staff
"A lance by a renowned knight, it can ensnare anyone and anything even the hearts of women and even men alike."
May sometimes either Brainwash or Paralyze the enemy hit by this.

Paladin's Soul
Regular Physical Skills can act as Bless attacks if the enemy is weak to it.

Learns: Physical Skills, Wind Skills, Light Brand and other Light Physical Moves

Boss Data

Starving Primal Slug Pompeii

Arcana: Emperor
Skills: Mafrei, Maragi, Atomic Fireball, Rampage, Fire Break
Personal Skills:

Force of Hunger (Phys AOE attack)
Eruption (Fire AOE attack)

"The reversed Emperor symbolizes the lack of discipline and control in one's life. The Id Crystal inhabiting Pompeii's body manifests the immaturity of Cronin, a knave who wanted his land be scorched in molten rock if he cannot earn from it."


Review Answers

kerrowe: It was a call back to the girl that the Doctor remembered after Episode 8. The girl that PRTS was supposedly derived from known as Priestess she was a brunette who seems to be a human like the Doctor.

KnightSpark: Good eye, glad to see you caught that.

Turn 4 Reviews

GXY-2013: Yeah, there are going to be a few more RI Operators that will get Personas for themselves, major characters especially. Who they are is going to be revealed anyways.

Turn 1 Reviews

: I have a little thing planned for Phantom, nothing game-changing but something I hope is nice.


Author Notes

Phew, I hope you guys like this chapter because the next update would be the origin of MASK and we're going back to Lungmen to fight Mephisto and Frostnova.

As for the Doctor starting a band, when I wanted the Doctor to learn of different perspectives with the other Associates that and it would have some interesting implications towards those who now know his identity. A bit of cruel irony that some of the music MASK has is the personal rallying cry of Reunion members. As well having interactions with Sora and AUS since the latter have ties to the Abyss.

That and I wanted to incorporate the music of the Persona series somehow, (Guess what the in-story songwriter SOS means.)

With Schwarz I wanted to bring back the Persona 1 and 2 mechanic of anyone using Personas but with affinities as a draw back and now with the extra condition of the Persona still being in the Doctor's stock so Operators wouldn't be running around with Personas that aren't from their heart.

Oh and for browser viewers, I decided to spice up the cover by showing some of the Personas in this story. The first one is Ophiuchus and I want to hear your thoughts about his design, I'm no pro in drawing but I'm aspiring illustrator as well. In the future I'm gonna replace the cover into other main Personas of the cast, (in order of appearance.)

Hopefully, I can make a good cover that would encompass the Reunion Arc in the future.

Thank you so much for reading, 10K views, 90 followers, and 70 favorites are so much. I really have to thank you guys for giving this story a chance even with my shortcomings. I'll keep writing in earnest and hopefully iron some mistakes while on the way, especially since the arcs in the future are some of my favorite places to write.

Things have been rough on the other side, so I'm glad that I was able to finish this.

With the pieces of the board set and rules of the game now made clear, let's be done with the tutorial shall we?

Once again I Wordbound, thank you for reading.

Good luck in getting Surtr guys, and the EX chapter is coming soon.

"Keep an open mind."

Next Turn: Turn 9: Pulling the Trigger
Next EX: EX-2: Heartbeat