He clenched his fist as he slammed it against the blue wall of this...labyrinth. How long has he been stuck in this terrible, terrible hell? An hour a day? A week? Weeks? He didn't know, but it was probably a while.
He had discovered a few things in his involuntary stay here. Things that led to even more questions once figured out. Things that he had never wanted to find out and discover in the first place. Things that made his life so goddamn hard. Things that made him want to get out of this place even more desperately.
The guardian spirit. He knows that it is called Neko shogun, or THE Neko shogun as it introduced itself in literal terms. He knows that it can use special abilities and he knows that it doesn't talk much. So essentially a stand, but it's a cat in chinese armor.
The abilities. He can call on the cat to use said abilities to destroy the monsters more efficiently and quickly. But they come at a cost, if he uses said abilities, he finds his energy drained, and his stamina destroyed, rendering himself unable to fight.
Which leads to 3. In his stay in this..hell. He has found something akin to a safe room. Currently at the 16th level there is a set of stairs barred by a barrier that prevent him from ascending to the next level. No monsters spawn here, so he has taken the opportunity to use this place as a safe room, to come here to rest after exhausting himself from all of the fighting.
He had to fight a lot, A LOT of enemies, and nearly died if not for the intervention of these healing items that were scattered around the floor and carried by the enemies. He has found numerous items that have proven helpful in helping survive. Hell, he fought so much that simply every single foe panicked and seemed to be distressed just at the mere sight of him. Which is good but also bad considering the fact that he still knows next to nothing about this damnable place.
The enemies. What was their purpose? Were they here to guard this place? Or is this their residence? They aren't neutral considering the fact that they attacked him without provocation, but then again he might be intruding on their territory and that they are quite simply territorial creatures.. They're also smart, considering the fact that they now flee from him, but they will also engage if pressed.
He seemed to be able to tell that HE, yes HE has gotten stronger. He's now able to run more, use more of the cat's abilities and can take a lot more hits from the monsters in this hell. Which poses the question, was this reality? Was this merely a dream or nightmare? Was he stuck in a different world, much like Inuyasha of Fushigi Yugi? What was the end goal here? Was he meant to accomplish something? What was his purpose for being here?
He recalled the not so distant time which marked the beginning of his entrapment in this place. Running all over the damn place without a thought or reason, just trying to survive if he had to word what he was doing.
No matter how much he explored, no matter how much he fought, no matter how hard he reasoned, hypothesised, he still could not come to a firm conclusion. He couldn't get out, didn't know what he had to do to get out, He was for all intents and purposes, stuck here. There wasn't so much as another human being here, he was the only one as far he knew.
It was lonely, frightening, terrifying at first. Hell, it still is lonely and terrifying. He never even wanted to be here in the first place. And yet here he is still without so much as even a single fucking clue on how to get the hell outta here. He was stuck, and he couldn't do anything about it.
Sigh.
A sigh before the inevitable release of the arm, falling so limply and hopelessly to his side. As he stopped himself from grinding his teeth from all the frustration, he stood there for a brief moment, a pause, a break if you will before deciding to act once more.
"You do realize that if you keep on acting all stressed, you're gonna get gray hairs right?" A low pitched feminine female voice asked, giggling as it did so.
"You do realize that you don't have to try and get a rise from me every time you open your mouth you hear me?
"And you do realize that you don't have to respond right?"
"You do realize there's literally nobody else here but me right?"
"And?"
"That means, I dont have anyone else to talk to Nekomata."
"Oh~ Wow~ How Pathetic~"
"Yea yea laugh it up. Didn't you say it? Thou art I, and I am thou? So, my patheticness? That's 100 percent you."
"Wow, your math is blowing my mind."
"The fact that I'm talking to one of you...what do I call you? Guardian spirits? Stands? Early signs of dementia? Along with the fact that I'm not even weirded out by the fact that I do so regularly anymore is blowing my mind."
"As amusing as it would be to be a pop culture reference, we have already told you, we're the personification of your soul, we are you, and you are us."
"Great, not only do I have the signs of early dementia, I'm also a schizophrenic as well."
"You're also a loser."
"And you're a bitch."
"Didn't you say it? You're me, I'm you, My bitchiness is one hundred percent you."
"How original and witty. Stealing my witty remark and using it to paint me as a bigot."
"But you are though? Also, another correction. I'm a cat. NEKO mata. It's in the name. Idiot."
"...The fact that the only things that are not only friendly, but can also speak to me are both cats is only hammering in the fact that I may very well be autistic."
"Oh~ What's this? Are you implying that you and I are friends?"
"Wow, you're really pouncing on everything that comes out of my mouth aren't you?"
"Apologies, I would be insane to not pounce."
"I don't think you're really apologetic."
"I don't think you're really hurt."
"Well, I'm lonely and hurting for interaction from something else other than you, that's for sure."
"Oh really? And who else do you suppose is going to talk to you?''
"I dunno, anyone else other than you?"
"What, another human being?"
"...Preferably."
"Who are you kidding? Do you not forget? I am a part of you. I know what your life was like before I was able to actually take on a form and talk to you."
"If you know, then why are you still talking to me then?"
"Because you're the only one that's actually a decent conversationalist. Shogun is more of an, act more, talk less kinda cat...How ironic, that the cynical loser of a loner has decent social skills and can actually talk."
"You forgot to add witty, handsome and intelligent to your less than accurate description of me."
"Intelligent? I know you're scores on literally anything else in history. Witty? More like a cringey kid that makes snarky remarks just to seem like they're the smarter one. And Handsome? You're fishy eyes would like a word with you."
"I knew it, it's the eyes, its always the fucking eyes huh?"
"Oh my, You do possess some intelligence after all."
"Oh really? You think?"
"At least I-" Nekomata managed to say before she was cut off. Cut off by a scream nonetheless.
"Did you hear that?"
"Yep." Was Hachiman's simple response as his body already began to move.
"There's another person here!" He continued speaking with a hint of excitement, his legs already running in the direction of the scream.
"Oh my god, please, don't ever smile again, I thought I was about to have a heart attack."
"Ah stuff it cat! I finally have the chance to interact with other human beings for once!"
"You want to, but are you sure they want to as well?"
"..."
Just like that, Hachiman's feet came to a stop. Like a driver noticing a red light and stopping so that he doesn't break the law. It was a simple thing, a simple question that had a good point. He had been shunned for the later periods of his childhood, all the way now even. To his teens, to highschool.
"You think so don't you? That youth is a lie. That those who claim to enjoy it are deluding themselves and others. They fit to the events and environment around them to the youth mold as self confirmation. They're all liars and hypocrites who enjoy picking and isolating individuals as a group. They're shitty people who do shitty things to others as a way to keep themselves safe and-"
"And what? What would you want me to do then?"
"I...I am not telling you to do anything, it's just…"
"Just that they've never helped me right? So why should I help them?"
"..."
"Man you really are me, that's some cynical spiteful shit right there."
"Apologies, but I am a representation of your soul, your fears, your joys, your thoughts? I know it all. And if they have merit and enough worth to bring up, then I shall. It's your thoughts after all."
"Ugh, Please don't apologize, that is so not you."
"...Look, They might not like me, right? I know that. But I still heard a scream, So i'll check it out, if they need help, i'll jump in. Simple as that. If they don't need help? Then great, I don't need to jump in and risk my life to save them."
"...You know, you're too kind for your own good, you know that?"
"...Kindness? This has nothing to do with that. It's just my mother taught me better, that's all.:"
"...You're such a tsundere."
"Oh my god, if you don't shut up, I will replace you with Nekoshogun."
"Ok! Ok! Wow! I won't talk with anime terms anymore, okay?
"Sheesh, you let me insult you, but one word from anime lingo and bam I have a gun to my head."
The trio looked to be...well, they looked like they had seen better days, that was for sure. 2 females with 1 male, they looked to be around highschool students. They also looked beat up and desperate as all hell.
The male of the group was on the ground knocked down and seriously looking dazed. One of the 2 females was clearly struggling as she attacked one of the monsters with what seemed to be a naginata? The last female screamed something in..spanish? The hell was Dia? Well, no matter. The interesting part about her was that she had a pistol to her head, and seemed to have pulled the trigger as she screamed the word. A bright sooned appeared, but it didn't seem to be what she wanted as she sooned groaned in frustration from the appearance of the light.
"Patra. It's a spell to ward off Panic, Fear, and Distress." Nekomata said neutrally, watching the scene along with Hachiman.
"Didn't she scream out the word Dia though?"
"Yeah, and the fact that she couldn't use a simple healing spell and was instead railroaded to use Patra means that she doesn't have the strongest grip on her ability yet."
"That is indeed bad."
"...Are you going to help them?"
"...Yeah I kind of want to, but the thing is, I would be kind of kill stealing if I do."
"...This guy… You do realize that there is a possibility that they might die right?"
"Yeah, but the one with the Naginata looks like she knows what she's doing. If she's not taken out then they'll get out alive."
"Ugh, don't look at girls so intently. Pervert."
"Sigh, I can't seem to win with you can I?"
"No, I suppose not...Sigh. Re Patra."
"...Come again?"
"Re Patra. It'll help the guy who's been knocked down."
"What's this? How come you've never told me about this ability?"
"Because you never had anyone to fight alongside with dipshit."
"...Point taken. Fine, let's go and save them shall we?"
"...Dude, can you stop being so nervous? I'm starting to get a bit nervous too."
"...You always have to get the last word in huh?"
"Bitch I'm a cat, that's my whole schtick."
"DAMNIT!"
"It's okay Yukari! Nobody's perfect! Nobody gets it on the first try!" The red eyed, high ponytail girl exclaimed reassuringly to her friend, blocking an attack from one of the many shadows that inhabited tartarus.
"Just, focus on healing Junpei, I'll fend them off-"
"Re Patra!" An unfamiliar voice rang out. Sharply and in a low tone, the red eyed girl looked to see a shocking intriguing sight. A fish eyed stranger that seemed to be dressed in a light blue tracksuit that was much more suited for sleeping and lazing around.
"Whoa! What the?" This time, it was Junpei. Looking at Junpei, she saw that he was now on his feet, seemingly right as rain as he gave thanks to the stranger.
"Hey, I don't know who you are, but thanks for the assist!" Junpei exclaimed excitedly to the stanger.
"Less talking, more fighting shall we?" The stranger said, only to continue as he looked at the red eyed girl.
"You there, You're probably the leader, you guys look like you're not having a good time, I'll help you out, just tell me what you need me to do and I'll do it." The stranger said neutrally as he nodded to her.
"..." She said nothing as she nodded at him back, clenching her Naginata hard now as she saw the chance for a quick and easy victory.
Acknowledging the nod, The stranger looked at one of the 5 shadows, and simply grinned mockingly, which enraged it greatly as it immediately came for him. Only to miss in return.
"Junpei!" The red eyed girl exclaimed.
"ON IT!" Junpei replied ecitendly and eagerly as he pulled out his envoker, using the cleave skill, the red eyed girl along with he himself were pleasantly surprised when they saw that the shadow died in one hit.
"DIA!" This time it was Yukari's turn. Using her heal spell correctly, she managed to heal Junpei who thanked her in turn.
Continuing her attack, the red eyed girl pressed the attack on the one that she had wounded previously from one of her attacks. Killing it, she mentally let out a fist pump of relief and joy as she counted only three left.
Wordlessly, the shadows began their counter attack, with one attacking Yukari, who looked pretty damaged by said attack. Junpei who shrugged it off. And the Stranger in the blue tracksuit who didn't even look phased at all by the attack.
With a shrug, he exclaimed cleave, and the Persona Nekomata appeared, and just as quickly as she was summoned, the shadow was cleaved in half. Great, two left.
Junpei used Agi next, which damaged one of the shadows.
"Dia!" Switching to pixie, the red eyed girl healed up Yukari, and was given a thanks from the brunette,
This time, the Shadows attack once more, attacking Junpei again, and the red eyed girl. Making Junpei stagger in the process as he looked visibly beaten up once more.
Shit.
She thought to herself as she tried to formulate a plan through the pain. Only to disregard it once she looked at the stranger, who gave her a reassuring nod.
Using the same move he used before, he provoked one of the two into attacking him, this time having it miss amusingly as he simply stepped to the side to avoid said attack.
Yukari used her bow at the one who had just attacked the stranger, with the arrow connecting and hitting its target.
Junpei finished off the shadow that he had promptly hit with Agni, letting out a fist pump as the shadow vanished.
With one shadow left, the red eyed girl smiled in relief as she finished off the last remaining foe, gaining the cheers of Junpei and Yukari. And the silence of the stranger, who looked at them apprehensively.
You know that you could have killed them all with maragi right?
Nekomata asked him internally as looked at the trio with unease.
Yeah, but they're noobs, if they're stuck in here like I am, then they gotta know how to fight.
Whatever, softie. Just say that you were worried about them.
I would shoot myself before I ever say anything like that.
Weirdo. Scoffed Nekomata as she faded away, ready to be called into the next fight.
"I believe we aren't formally introduced." The red eyed girl said with a soft smile as she looked at Hachiman.
"...Hikigaya, Hikigaya Hachiman. And I don't suppose that we have as well."
"Well, Hikigaya san. First of all, thank you very much. And second of all, We're-"
"We're SEES" The male jumped in excitedly, cutting the red eyed girl off.
"Oh, and I'm Iori Junpei by the way-"
"And I'm Yukari takeba. Thank you for the assistance by the way, it was very timely."
"Timely indeed, but I must ask, what the hell is SEES?"
"SEES. Specialised, Extracurricular Execution Squad." The red eyed girl interjected softly as she extended an open hand to him.
"My name is Arisato, Hamuko Arisato, and I wish to thank you once again for helping us out."