Chapter 63 / Corruption
July 28th, 2012 / Time Unknown
TV World
RISE'S POINT OF VIEW
I knew that we would all be separated. Despite the precautions with us attempting to have one of us end up with Kayane's body. But when I looked around there was no one here. I stood in a field and then I turned and saw it, a certain tree, one that I had seen before. This was the place that Miyuki and Kayane had often retreated to at night. No, wait a moment this is...
"Welcome back to the Velvet Room. It seems you have finally come to need our assistance," A old man with a long nose drew my attention to him, he sat behind a round table with a blue velvet cloth over it, and in front of him a deck of tarot cards. Nearby was the playground that accompanied this space. "Do you remember what we discussed previously with the power you hold in your Persona Inahime?"
It felt like it had been an eternity since the last time I had seen this place, but in reality it had only been a couple months. The Midnight Stage hadn't exactly required many skills or the ability to fight. Although I had certainly seen a fair share of power since the last time I had been here. "If I remember correctly, Inahime's power is related to my relationship with Kayane and I can use more powers with Inahime, and can acquire skill cards based on the powers I have seen."
Igor nodded, "Indeed."
"You've likely already sensed the changes in Inahime since early May. You did fight a number of the fake Shadows and the one known as Kagetsuchi as well," Miuki stood in the full blue outfit and was just off to the left of Igor. "Due to that I also have a number of new skill cards you can use to prepare for the upcoming battles."
"It seems the one known as Nyarlathotep was the one responsible behind the alteration of Ikakure Kayane's fate. And has far from been the only incident he has been involved with in the past," Igor shifted in his seat.
"All because he wants Kayane's power. The combination of Symphonic Discord and his Last Symphony abilities," I shake my head.
"You need not a reminder of the gravity of his use of those abilities. For now, let us look into your abilities of Inahime as well as the skill cards you have accrued," Igor shifted the conversation again and used his abilities to show what I had now. Inahime had learned a number of abilities from before. I focused on the preparations and worked with Miyuki and Igor to fully flesh out Inahime's skill set so that I could cover any possible enemy or Shadow that I might encounter moving forward.
Something curious popped up as I was going through the skill cards. The skills named were familiar... Synchronicity. I unconsciously grabbed it and added it to Inahime's skills.
"Hmm, interesting, I cannot determine the use or purpose for such a skill," Igor stated.
"It is a skill created with my relationship with Kayane, right?" I asked.
"And the name of your band, correct?" Miyuki asked. I nodded in reply. "Synchronicity is the concept that things can be connected without causality. Coincident occurrences of acausal events."
I remember Kayane explaining it to me, he actually compared it to how our lives connected together. Everything that happened depended on a series of events that occurred to not just us, but our family. I'm sure you could call it a result of causality but the presence of Shadows, Persona... the paranormal changed all that. If the world of the paranormal didn't exist then we likely would never have met. His Father wouldn't have developed the Mechanical Maidens, then wouldn't have been brought in by the Kirijo Group and killed by them. Separating him from his sister and leaving him with his Uncle.
"It was a series of coincidences that led to us meeting. Even if it is the result of the choices we both made. The creation of our band also felt like a bit of a perfect storm to even have the opportunity to have. Maybe that isn't true but it's a word that resonated with us and the others in the band, so even if this skill doesn't have a clear purpose, it feels important to have," I looked to Miyuki. "I'm going to save him."
"You've saved him before. Don't forget that," Miyuki smiled. "Are you ready to return?"
"Yeah, I think so," I confirmed.
"With this, you should have all you need. But to reach the one named Nyarlathotep you will have to gather the shards of young Kayane's Persona. You'll need it in order to access the deepest point of the labyrinth he's created. It is at that point where he is using the power that does not belong to him," Igor takes a moment to explain.
"Shards?" I blinked. "Did he do that to better control his power?"
"Essentially," Miyuki stepped forward and shifted the grimoire she held under her left arm and grabbed my hand with her right. "Kujikawa-san, I need you to save him. All this time he's tortured himself over events he had no control over. You know all that, and I doubt you need to hear it from me."
"He was family to you, right? Just as you were to him," I couldn't help but give her a comforting smile.
"I don't know if he told you, but in order to come out of the coma back in December he had to escape the labyrinth that this entity created in his mind. Due to the circumstances I was allowed to accompany him and help ensure his safe journey back to his body and the real world. In those last moments I made him promise to live a long life, and I expected to have stories of not just his life but of his wife and children. I wanted him to finally allow himself to embrace his feelings for you, to let go of the past. But it seems we were unable to expel Nyarlathotep's influence at that time. If anything, whatever we did might have helped solidify his presence within Kayane's mind. It's hard to know for sure. So I must ask you for a selfish request..."
I giggle, "Sorry, Miyuki-san. I have a lot of wishes and things I want to experience with Kayane at my side. Fortunately for you, I'm sure that means he'll have plenty to tell you. But I'm going to make sure that is a long, long time from now."
Miyuki smiled big, "The longer, the better."
"You must return back, time marches forward in your world. And you will be needed to gather at least two of Kayane's shards," Igor spoke up.
"I'm ready," Rise nodded.
"Then we wish you luck. Do your best to alter the fate of the world that Nyarlathotep has set in motion," Igor said as I turned around and started to walk, and as if stepping through a door I found myself in a location filled with fog, so I pulled out my TV glasses and slipped them on.
A corridor that looked different than what Kayane's section of the TV World had looked like, but as it was indicated this labyrinth was created from all of Kayane, not just the side he rejected. When it came to the serial murders and kidnappings the locations often were related to identity and what we denied ourselves from being. For me, it had been turned into a strip club. Of course that had to do with me believing that people only saw me as Risette, an idol that was often sexualized by most of my fans and media. A lot of it were just negative connotations of what we believed people saw. Kayane's original location in the TV world had been a house with ice cold corridors that resembled a house. It was a representation of him believing that people only saw the abuse he sustained and what he went through combined with his guild that his childhood friend Miyuki's death had been something he could have stopped.
Wherever I was, it looked familiar, like the halls of... his home? Yeah, the pattern's on the wall, the tatami mats and everything resembled the bedroom section of Kayane's home. I moved down the corridor and could sense Shadows moving around the area, but there didn't seem to be any near me. I slid a door open and moved inside and she appeared. It was the fake Shadow of myself.
"If it isn't my other self," the Shadow grinned.
"You aren't my Shadow. You can't be if I have my Persona," I declared.
She laughed, "No point in hiding that fact now. But that doesn't mean I don't know you inside and out. You know what I really am, right? I'm a Shadow of you created with the memories and feelings of Kayane. Let me tell you, the desires he has for you is almost too hot to handle. That pesky anxiety of his makes it hard for him to act, but he'd be quite the beast without such limitations in his way. That's why I wanted to twist him. I wanted to get rid of his troublesome inhibitions. You can't say some part of you doesn't want that too."
"To satisfy myself?" I was disgusted by the thought. "You wouldn't understand the difference between love and lust."
"But I do know how much you've thought about him. How you crave his touch, that you want him to satisfy your every need. How you call his name while imagining him doing so while touching yourself. The lack of intimacy has been aggravating, hasn't it? You want him to take you, to become one with you, long before you two had dated," The Shadow emphasized her words by touching her breasts and then running one hand down her body.
"Of course I do," I said without reservation. "I can't help but imagine all those possibilities because I'm so attracted to him. But that is just lust, it's self-satisfaction. And that isn't important to me, because I can see it in Kayane too. He wants it, but he fears being consumed by it. There isn't a lack of wanting on his part. No if anything it just shows how much he loves me, and how important our relationship is to him."
Then the gathering of a larger Shadow appeared behind the fake Rise.
"Do you think you understand? I can feel it, surrounding me. His desire, the passion he keeps bottled up!" the fake Rise is swallowed up by the larger Shadow and after a moment the Shadow reformed. It looked like Kayane, but he had the image of me restrained. She was tied against him.
"I am a Shadow, the true self. I am a reflection of Kayane's sin of lust. I won't allow my passion to be unfulfilled any longer!" the Shadow proclaimed. This Shadow was larger than life, an exaggeration of his lust for me. The way the image of myself was restrained was obvious of that. My fake was also wearing some form of bondage wear and had a look of pure bliss being strapped to the image of Kayane.
This was the desire and passion that Kayane held that he was afraid of. A part he knew he had but did not want to let out.
"Kayane knows the truth deep down. What he truly fears is not lust or his desires for me. What he fears more than anything is hurting me, feeling like he'll become precisely like the monster who hurt Miyuki, who abused her," I pulled out a pair of batons that I bought and trained with in the months since the incident with Minazuki Sho. "But it is because of those exact emotions that means he is so far away from ever becoming like that. No matter how much time it takes, I will be here waiting to accept every part of Kayane. I'm going to take his shard back. His heart belongs to me, and I won't allow anyone to use him anymore!"
"RISE!" The Shadow yelled.
The tarot card of the temperance floated in front of me, "I'll save you Kayane. And I'll satisfy your every desire. Come, Inahime!"
YU'S POINT OF VIEW
Just as predicted we were separated upon entering the TV world, but somehow Yukiko and I managed to stay together. The two of us had held onto each other rather tightly as we went though, so that might have been the difference. Either way we found ourselves on a snow covered path. It definitely felt like we were outside.
Yukiko and I got to our feet, "It's really cold. I wasn't expecting to end up in a place with snow."
"I wonder if Kayane-senpai finds the cold comforting," I look around but there seemed to be only one direction to go. Despite being in an area that could conceivably allow us to travel in any direction, there was also an obvious path to follow. Venturing off of it would likely not be a good idea.
Yukiko shook her head, "No, but he might have convinced himself it is. He wants the warmth that comes from being with others, regardless of what he might say."
The cold could likely be interpreted a number of ways. As it could just be the way he feels about how life is to him. But nothing about this had ever been so easy that it could be figured out so quickly. But to imagine that this place was more than what we had known the TV world to be. Our entry had been controlled enough to separate us, and despite the dangers we had all willingly braved it. Though time was limited, we didn't have much in the way of choice.
"Why should I try? Is there any point in it?" A voice that was distinctly Kayane. "Every day is the same. We're told to learn and give our best effort. But why? So that I can live a mediocre life with a small chance of it having any meaning? And what is the reason for putting in the effort? I won't be remembered once I die anyway. Miyuki is only remembered as a victim, someone who had horrible things happen to them before death. There is no reason to try..."
The voice of Kayane repeated his point over and over.
"No point in living? Does Kayane-senpai believe that?" Yukiko asked as the two of us looked around for a source of the voice.
"I'm sure a part of him does. After everything he's been through I don't think you can truly get rid of those doubts," I look down the path. "It looks like Yamagishi-san can't connect us. So we'll have to move forward assuming we won't be able to communicate with the others."
"Wait... Yu. Isn't this place similar to where he told us he committed suicide?" Yukiko's eyes widened at the thought of it.
Yeah, I remember that story. While on a trip with his class he used a razor blade to cut himself deep enough that he should have died. But his classmate and now fellow band member, Mitsuragi Saya, had located him and got help to him fast enough to save his life. After seeing his Mom's reaction to his suicide attempt he decided he wouldn't try to end his life. Though the reasoning was simply so his Mother wouldn't suffer. He hadn't found a reason to live at that point, just a reason not to die.
Yukiko and I started moving down the path as I readied my katana for any possible combat with Shadows. My life now was completely different than it had been before coming to Inaba. I can still remember how upset and selfish I had been when my parents declared they were going to be going overseas with work, and that I would be staying with my Uncle Dojima. I was upset I would be leaving my friends behind and yet in my time in Inaba I had only heard from a couple of them from time to time. But the relationships I made in Inaba were more genuine than any friendship I had previously. I certainly didn't plan on meeting someone like Yukiko and falling in love like I had. The serial murders, the TV world and the confrontation with Izanami had understandably changed my view of life. Bitching about coming to Inaba just because it would inconvenience me is such a childish thing.
I remember after meeting Kayane and spending time with him that he had made a comment about me.
'You're a dangerous guy, you know that?" Kayane laughed.
I wasn't sure I understood what he meant then. Maybe it was just because I had been with the others for a number of months before meeting him. I hadn't realized how much I had changed and grown because of my power of the Wild Card. My strength grew because of my relationship with others and maybe because of that I felt like I could understand people better than most. Or perhaps it was because I had sought to expand my power as much as I could that I had become so observant of the people around me. Likely a combination of the two. Kayane had seen that, recognized that and in a way was wary of it as a result. Although he tended to come off as amused by it, more than anything else.
It had to be arrogance on my part to play the role of matchmaker and encourage Kayane and Rise to spend time together. And so I pushed the two into interactions, believing that the two of them could really connect. And they definitely did. I made sure that Kayane realized who Rise was, and then also told Rise that Kayane was talented with music. It was Rise's idea to play in the culture festival and her persistence that really pulled them together. Their love of music connected them. That was what I believed. I didn't understand just how deep Kayane's scars were. Even with the power I gained from my connection to others... I couldn't do anything for them, even now.
But I don't regret introducing them. Seeing them together just felt natural. And the smiles they had were genuine. I probably didn't need to do anything for them to connect to each other. I would do what I could to correct things here. This Nyarlathotep would not get away with this. His plan to create a world of senseless violence could not move forward. Using Kayane's power... It went to show how devastating of potential the abilities of Persona could be. Even with the powers I had, there had been nothing I could do to prevent what happened to Kayane.
This situation was different from anything we had faced so far, but the result was similar to what Izanami wanted. Instead of taking away the need to choose, and turning the world into a place of sloth, it would instead turn it to rage. But both were still taking a choice away from the people of the world. What was with these entities and wanting to steer the world in the direction they saw fit? These were the result of the human unconscious and the different aspects that they created.
The sea of souls was something that I had heard my Personae reference on occasion whenever I gained a new one. And with everything I had seen so far it was obvious that none of it was simple. It was easy to believe when we were dealing with the serial murders and the TV world that no one else had ever dealt with such an ordeal. It was a narrow viewpoint, but we also were more focused on ourselves and the immediate danger to really think too much on it. It wasn't until we had caught Adachi. That was when we started to think about it. In hindsight it would be ridiculous to think that such powers would just sprout in the middle of nowhere in Japan. Even after we learned about Marie and Izanami and their connection, and how it was an entity made of the collective will of people wanting to essentially see people's secrets, it still doesn't really answer why Inaba was the location it appeared.
There was a great deal more that we likely were unable to get answers for. Nor would it really change much if we did know. Our actions wouldn't have changed even if there was something to know about the nature of the world. But it was clear that the world wasn't as simple of an existence as we could ever know. How many times have people had to take up the fight against Shadows? How many times has the collective unconscious given birth to destructive beings that want to change the nature of the world? It didn't matter. We just had to preserve this world.
Yukiko and I continued on the snow covered path and the scenery slowly introduced snow covered trees and also Shadows. I stayed mostly with Izanagi-no-Okami as Yukiko had Sumeo-Okami and in this environment the majority of the Shadows we encountered were weak to fire, so Yukiko was able to deal with the majority of them with me adding support. Thankfully with my Persona's skills our fatigue was essentially gone after every battle so Yukiko was able to let loose without reservation. I hope the others were okay if they were having to deal with Shadows then they wouldn't have any back up.
"Yu, this place encompasses all of Kayane-senai, right?" Yukiko asked as she finished off another Shadow and her Persona returning to her. She kept out her combat fan and kept her guard up as we resumed our way forward.
"Yeah. Originally the TV world only focused on the things we denied about ourselves. That doesn't mean there aren't things we acknowledge that could hold an equal amount of power. In Kayane's section of the TV world it focused entirely on how he blamed himself for the death of his childhood friend. While there were hints of the abuse he suffered, it wasn't a focus. After all, anyone with the ability to make a search on the internet could easily find out about his abuse and other facts about his life. All of which are large factors on his psyche. Think of it like this. Your own persona has changed twice now, both because you've not only faced your problems but have accepted them and moved past them. I imagine Nyarlathotep used all of those aspects that Senpai still fights with to do all he has, to gain his power," I talked my way through my thought process.
"Rise-chan was helping him, I know that... but if he was the cause of that coma... then... It is likely any growth was fought against by Nyarlathotep. Maybe.. we haven't met the real Kayane yet," Rise said softly.
I shook my head, "No, he was there. He just needs our help to finally be free. To no longer be oppressed by anyone."
"Who is it that is wandering around in my place?" It was an image of Kayane, with golden eyes. "This place was my sanctuary. Or it should have been."
Turning away from us, he took a few steps away and as he did... stains of red began to appear in the snow. Blood.
"You wanted to end your own life..." Yukiko spoke softly.
The Shadow nodded, "What good had I done since I was a kid? Just what life did Miyuki give her own to save? She was dead, and what had I done with my life? I didn't have an answer for that. Then after the incident in Tokyo and Takura Productions I had the thought. Maybe it was time I followed Miyuki."
"The incident was when Kanami-san and you found the body of Osada Yuko. But you took all the responsibility, and when you realized Kanami didn't remember anything you wanted to keep it that way. Then if you committed suicide then... you also wouldn't have to carry the weight you had anymore. About Miyuki, Yuko... or the abuse you suffered in your life. You were looking for an answer you believed would alleviate the people around you. Like your Mother," I said.
"Mom, she tried her hardest for me, but I was only a burden that just drained her wallet. Her life would be better without me. That is what I wanted to believe," The Shadow seemed peaceful, not hostile at all. He then turned to us. "I am a Shadow, the true self. I am the reflection of Kayane's sin of sloth. The solution to my problems was avoidance of responsibility and desire to remove myself from this life. I know you're here because you seek to save me. You must claim the shards of my Persona. And for that you must defeat me."
"You want us to rescue you... don't you?" Yukiko asked.
The Shadow of Kayane shrugged, "You'll have to find out for yourself. Talking takes too much energy." Then reality warped around us as the Shadow shape changed and it assumed a new form. Once it began to solidify it was obvious that it was truly a representation of Kayane giving up on life. No longer wanting to put effort into it, as the monstrous form looked to be perpetually bleeding from its wrist as it looked to be on a cross. "Leave me be, I no longer wish to be part of a world that only takes from me."
"We could never do that," I said as I summoned Izanagi-no-Okami it appeared behind me. "You know this isn't true. A part of you might think it is easier, but you have all of us now. More importantly, you have Rise, who loves you and is waiting to be with you again. And you know that is worth fighting for!"
"Then when and take my shard to her. If anyone knows how to put me back together, it's her," the Shadow said. "Now don't hold back!" The Shadow unleashed a skill, as if a thousand blades surrounded Yukiko and I. I grabbed Yukiko and protected her as Izanagi-no-Okami took the brunt of the attack.
The next moment I let go of Yukiko and she quickly flipped around and summoned Sumeo-Okami and unleashed a wide area fire attack to give us space. The Shadow moved back to avoid the fire.
"Yu!" Yukiko motioned up as her Persona turned towards me.
I jumped up, caught by her Persona and launched further into the air. Izanagi-no-Okami was at my side as we fell quickly towards the Shadow. I readied my Persona and katana. "Izanagi-no-Okami!" I yelled as my Persona blasted past me and used his weapon to pierce into the Shadow and I used my own momentum to follow and stab my katana into the Shadow's mask.
"Get clear, Yu!" Yukiko called out.
I put all my strength in my legs and pulled my katana free and jumped away from the Shadow. Before the Shadow could recover, Yukiko stepped past me and unleashed a focused fire attack. The Shadow had taken a significant amount of damage from both of our attacks and was reeling. This gave us both a chance to get back next to each other and regroup. Yukiko used her Persona to heal us. I hadn't even noticed that the Shadow had hit me. Leave it to Yukiko for such a detail not to escape her even in a battle. Which is why she primarily took care of healing anyway.
The Shadow charged at us, unleashing a wave of ice attacks. It was hard to know what the attack was without someone backing us up but we had seen enough battles to be wary of it anyway. I jumped to the side and let out a powerful attack called God's Hand. My Persona unleashed it and slammed against the Shadow and forced it into the side of a snow bank.
"Sumeo-Okami! Burning Petals!" Yukiko unleashed her most powerful fire attack and blanketed the area where the Shadow landed. It cried out and then... it went quiet.
When the fire cleared what was left was a white blue like crystal shard floating in the air. Yukiko and I approached it and both extended a hand, it landed between us and we looked at it.
"This is a shard of Kayane's Persona..." Yukiko spoke softly.
"If what he said is right then we should take it to Rise. She might have an idea about this place," I said after a moment and let Yukiko take the shard to hold onto it.
"Wait, Yu!" Yukiko grabbed my hand as the shard started to glow until it was so blinding that the two of us couldn't help but shield our eyes.
I held on tightly to her hand as our vision slowly returned. We no longer stood in a snow covered area but instead stood in a similar area of the studio backlot that we usually entered the TV world to. I turned and saw the body of Kayane. No longer attached to the stretcher, the body was laying on a platform. Yukiko and I quickly moved to him. Yukiko handed the shard to me as she quickly checked Kayane's vitals.
"He's okay," Yukiko sighed with relief.
"Looks like without the corresponding Shadow in place the area disappears. And..." I turned and saw the one person we didn't care to see. "Nyarlathotep."
The fake Shadow of Kayane smiled, "Too little too late to make that connection. My name is unimportant. After all, I have many names. It appears you gathered the first shard. How fortuitous. Too bad you don't have a way to help the others. I wonder how they will fair facing the darkness of Kayane's heart."
"You think they have less of a chance than us? If your plan hinges on them failing then you're betting on the wrong horse. Even if we can't help, they'll all make it back here, shards in hand," Yukiko stood protectively in front of Kayane's body.
"I hope so for your sake. Although, time is running out. Only six hours left for the fog to completely engulf the world. Then it won't matter what you do," Nyarlathotep laughed and the most disgusting smirk crossed his face.
SETSUKO'S POINT OF VIEW
The path was dark, the ground was a wet pavement and there seemed to be only one way to go. Thankfully I wasn't alone. Chie, Labrys and Yosuke had been nearby after I had woken up and now the four of us were moving forward, unsure if we were making any progress at all. There seemed to be trees surrounding the path, likely to keep us constrained, and up in the sky was a low hanging moon that lit the path forward. Or what we had no choice but to assume was the way forward.
"This place is really creepy," Chie comments, staying close to Yosuke.
"I wouldn't say creepy,but there is definitely something off about this place," Yosuke said.
With the amount of time that had passed it was obvious that we were going to be stuck without a navigator. Yamagishi must be panicking from being unable to contact us. There wasn't time to think about that though. Finding the others should likely be our priority. From there we could...
"You worthless brat!" A voice rang out from around us, causing all of us to stop. It was followed by the sound of... wait was that someone being hit? I rushed forward down the path to the source of the noise. Then as if overlooking a hill we could see into the window of a house where there was a man standing over a kid. And without a moment of hesitation the man kicked the kid in the stomach. "You should be dead! Why did you survive? My brother had so much more to do with his life than his goddamn kid!"
I blinked as the man unrelentingly attacked the kid. I stepped forward but hands reached out and grabbed me.
"Oneesan, they aren't real," Labrys said, easing me.
"Is that, Kayane's Uncle?" Chie asked.
"Is there no way to get to the house? Making us watch this is just sick," Yosuke shook his head.
"And what would you do if you could?" a new voice came from above us. Then floating down in front of us was what looked like Kayane's Shadow. "And what would be the point? You can't change what has already happened. I was beaten every day by my Uncle, all because I survived the accident that claimed my parents lives. At least that bastard is rotting in prison. Right?"
"Are you really his Shadow?" Yosuke brought out a pair of kunai and readied to fight.
"It's painful, isn't it? Being unable to do anything. To have that feeling of frustration and hatred and being unable to do nothing," the Shadow turned away from us. "No, you don't understand enough quite yet. Come find me, if you want to understand what true anger is."
The Shadow disappeared and the path in front of us began to extend out. Not only that but the path became populated with a number of Shadows.
"What do you think he means? To understand what true anger is..." Chie said as she stayed on guard of the new influx of Shadows in front of us.
Having seen the image of the young Kayane being beaten by the person that was supposed to be our Uncle. I think I understood what feelings it wanted to convey to us. My brother, he likely had a lot of anger built up inside of him. I could imagine how it happened but all it did was frustrate me. I needed to know more to fully understand why Kayane felt as he did. I moved forward in response. I had done a lot of fighting in my life. But fighting Shadows was different than what Kayane had faced. Some things you were powerless against on your own. And as a child there isn't much you can do. But to be continually weighed down by those emotions... What could I do as his big sister to take some of those emotions away from him? How do I support him? Right now, I can cut through these Shadows. I'll make a path.
"Kishimojin! Primal Force!" I smashed the arcana card that appeared and tore through the first Shadow. I then used the skill, Heat Riser, on myself to buff all my abilities. "I finally remembered him. And all this time Kayane has been on his own. But not anymore. Maybe I'm a bit late, maybe I don't even deserve to, but I won't allow someone to mess with my little brother anymore!"
"I'm not about to let you do it alone, Oneesan. He's my Oniisan after all," Labrys stepped in and attacked the next Shadow with her axe.
"Don't forget about us. Kayane is always going to be our Senpai," Chie added as she stood next to me.
"Then we have to keep moving. Let's mow through these Shadows. If Kayane's Shadow wants us to see Kayane's anger then it's our responsibility to see it. It didn't seem to be hostile. It legitimately wanted us to understand it," Yosuke said before he summoned Takehaya Susano-o. We all started moving down the path that had appeared and fighting the multitude of Shadows that moved along the way.
While Chie had some minor abilities with the Ice element, her primary focus seemed to revolve heavily in physical skills, much like myself. I on the other hand had a lot of skills that focused more on buffing myself. Skills like Heat Riser, Charge and also passive abilities that prevented me from falling under Shadow ailments. If I hadn't had skills like that when I had been younger and fighting alone then I likely wouldn't have survived. But now, I was wondering if my skills would work well with the others. Labrys seemed to be more like me, she was definitely more set up to fight on her own than the others. But we all faced different problems to get to this point, under different circumstances. Labrys didn't have anyone after my Father was chased off by the Kirijo Group. Then the accident killed our parents and split us up.
Chie and Yosuke though they discovered their power together, faced challenges and dangers together. Seeing them fight, it was clear they trusted each other with their lives. Kayane did tell me the two were dating. Though the times I had seen them they were often bickering with each other, but it just seemed to be the way they were. I was jealous. I barely knew Kayane, my little brother. I even broke up with my childhood friend because I couldn't love him that way. The one I was closest to was Yoko. Now my world had greatly expanded, but that life was just beginning and there was no way I would let my brother get taken away from me again.
Fortunately, Yosuke was able to act in a support capacity and healed and buffed the group as we pushed forward and defeated the Shadows along the way. The path led to a building. The door opened as we approached and after a quick glance with everyone we stepped inside. Inside was like a large living room.
A young girl being held on the couch, a hand over her mouth to stop her from making noise and the man on top of her groped her and began pulling her clothes off.
"Get off her you bastard!" Yosuke yelled and jumped forward but something stopped him. He slammed his body against an invisible barrier.
The girl screamed as the man continued to sexually assault her. Yosuke and Chie slammed their fists against the invisible wall.
"Frustrating isn't it? To see something so horrible in front of you and yet being powerless to do anything. Go ahead, why not look out the window over there," Kayane's Shadow appeared and pointed to a large window. And through it you could see the home next door and sitting in there looking down was a much younger Kayane. Watching as his childhood friend was raped... by her own father. "She isn't allowed to scream, she doesn't have the strength to hurt him. But did you know that when I first witnessed it I ran to Uncle for help."
As if dictating the actions going around us the young Kayane disappeared from his vantage point in the window. Then there was a scream of pain and the sound of violence next door.
"I didn't have anyone I could go to. Every time I tried to tell someone this was the response I got. It was hopeless. There was nothing I could do. I wanted to hurt him for touching her. Miyuki was all I had. I could handle being abused, but I didn't want her to go through it. But all I could do was watch. I tried to call the police, I tried to tell adults other than my Uncle, but no one listened!" Shadow Kayane's anger was visible on his face.
I stepped towards him and said the only thing I could, "I'm sorry, Kayane. I should have been there to protect you and..."
"Words like that don't mean anything. You can't change the past," he said quickly. "And it won't change the anger I have. This is something that will never go away."
Yeah, no amount of guilt or words could ever change what happened. And my brother likely held a great amount of anger over the helplessness of his youth. No one was there for him when he needed it. It was probably why it took so much effort for the others to get close to him. There was probably more to it than that. And I would rather hear it from Kayane himself.
"You're right. Words don't mean anything. What has happened in the past can't be changed. But Kayane is my brother and I have my own anger because I couldn't be there when he needed me the most. I should have been there to protect him. And for that I'm going to do everything in my power to bring him back! I won't let him face anything like this ever again! Not without me!" I attacked him without hesitation. I didn't carry a weapon like everyone else. There was a reason why I did all I could to understand my Father's work. Making my own robotic leg became essential as I couldn't rely on anyone but myself during the Dark Hour. Because of it I also learned Taekwondo to supplement my fighting style as that martial art was focused on kicks. My Sifu found it commendable that I would turn my weakness into my strength. My adopted parents also encouraged it. Yoko also enjoyed attending my promotions when they happened. But for me it had just been a necessity to what was happening in my life.
I went into a full front flip and brought my robotic leg straight down onto the Shadow. The force of it combined with the strength of my Persona sent the Shadow spiraling back. As it did it changed. It grew in size by three or four times and turned into a hulking mass that looked like a living collection of blades and similar weapons.
"I am a Shadow, the true self. I am a reflection of Kayane's sin of Wrath. Nothing can subside the burning hatred within me!" The Shadow growled and proceeded to charge towards me to attack.
Labrys landed in front of the Shadow, halting its advance. The next moment Chie and Yosuke were on either side of Labrys and with a simultaneous attack and forcing the Shadow to completely stop.
"I'm sure Senpai has plenty of things to be pissed off about in the world. I always thought he was never vocal enough with his anger," Yosuke chuckled as his Persona manifested and he healed and increased everyone's agility.
"And we'll listen to everything he has to say. But not from you. We'll hear it from him. So don't get in our way!" Chie summoned Haraedo-no-Okami and readied her next attack. "You'll face us at our best! Dragon Hustle!"
The power of Chie's own magic wrapped around us increasing our abilities even more. In such a small fraction of a moment the tide turned into our advantage as I pressed my own attack, flipping over them and summoning Kishimojin once more. My Persona then smashed down with a renewed and unforeseen amount of power. It was enough to make me tumble back and nearly fall over. I hadn't compensated or knew what my increased stats would do. And I hadn't been in battle in a long time. Even my brief fight down in the Nanjo Groups abandoned facility hadn't been much of battle. So this time here would definitely test my own abilities. But I wasn't about to allow myself to be shown up by those younger than me.
"Come! Kishimojin! It's time to stop playing around!" I summoned my Persona consecutively unleashing a myriad of attacks. I had no doubts that my brother held a massive amount of wrath against all the things that had happened to him, and to those he deemed important to him. But I also had my own. And everything here just added more fuel to that growing frustration and anger inside of me. And I'm sick and tired of everything getting in the way. I could match it's anger, and surpass it. "Megidolaon!"
The massive release of energy from my Persona slammed against the Shadow. The other's sensed the danger and started to retreat. Labrys grabbed me, lifting me up and pulling me to safety. When it subsided, it had reverted to the normal Shadow of Kayane. It started to approach us.
"Please, don't allow me to face my anger alone," he then placed a shard of a crystal in my hand. It was an ice blue color and slightly cool to the touch, but it felt familiar. This was part of Kayane. "Find Rise, Nee-san."
Then the Shadow disappeared. I closed my hand around the crystal.
"Hold on, just a little more, Kay-chan."
HAMUKO'S POINT OF VIEW
Even after all I had seen since awakening to my own persona, it didn't change how fantastical it always seemed to be. The TV world was a place that exposed the truths about an individual's identity that they wanted to hide. Upon being thrown into the TV world their Shadow would manifest as well as arrange the space around them to represent what that individual attempts to suppress. Most of this we learned thanks to the explanations from the others as well as a more formal report that Kayane wrote upon becoming a member of the Shadow Operatives. Now it was a playground for Nyarlathotep to use Kayane's powers.
Nyarlathotep... Our first run in with him happened after I had awakened to my own Persona. That had only been just over a year ago. March 2011. Eesh, things really hadn't slowed down. Either way, out of curiosity I did some research on him. Supposedly a character created by the author H. P. Lovecraft. And it was part of the Cthulhu Mythos At first I felt it was just a coincidence. But Persona and Shadows had one fact, they were born of the human unconscious. And we knew that there were beings born of the collective unconscious. Such as Erebus, the collective unconscious for humanity's desire for death. And Nyarlathotep had claimed to be humanity's desire for destruction. This is where the comparison might get lost for some as the Nyarlathotep in the mythos actually prioritizes causing madness than destruction. So I was going to dismiss all of it, But just remember how he had acted then... and how personal he seemed to know all of us.
"Interested?" Nyarlathotep put on one hell of a slasher smile. This coming from the face of Arisato Minato's body did not help the impact of it. "I could show it to you... a future where your Grandfather was still in charge...your Father still alive and you blissfully unaware of Shadows or Persona. Simply a rich girl without a care in the world as she is endlessly pampered." He looked over to Junpei, "Or you... did you know that your Father was indirectly affected because of that incident and resulted in him losing his job because of the unstable economy that was a result of that explosion? It had also caused him an injury in his left hand making him incapable of doing certain tasks... suddenly he had no viable skill set and unable to provide for his family. So, he became bitter and began to hold other people responsible. But imagine your Father being a more caring and cheerful man that didn't hide himself behind a bottle and abusing his only son." Once more his eyes turned to someone different... Fuuka, "Or perhaps you...who should have had parents more accepting of your abilities with machines and electronics. But your parents were turned off by it because of the very same incident and began to associate engineers and scientists in a negative light. So, you felt more alone at home than anywhere else as a result."
Mitsuru, Junpei and Fuuka were shocked at not only what was said but the fact that Nyarlathotep just seemed to know... know things about their lives he should not have been able to know. But he did know for a simple fact... because of whom and what he was... he was a Shadow... a collection of almost all Shadows. Or maybe... he was... much more than even that.
Nyarlathotep set his eyes on Ken, "It should be obvious...if none of them got Persona's then your Mother would have lived and still be here to this day. You would not have had to deal with all the adults that blew off your story of what had happened to your Mother. Not to mention Aragaki Shinjiro would still be alive and would not have ended up doing said murder. Speaking of which..." Nyarlathotep took a step and disappeared but then reappeared next to Akihiko. "Miki would still be alive...that fire was a result of a Kirijo experiment you know. One that wouldn't have happened if that collection of scientists didn't join Kouetsu." He disappeared once more only to appear in front of the group. "Even Koromaru, the most loyal dog, would not lose his master as a result. Should I go on...Minato and Minako?" He laughed again looking at the two of them and then Yukari but moved to Aigis instead. "I wonder what you would consider to be a better existence...none of who you cherish would have to suffer but you would also never come to know them or ever cherish them. But you would also never grow beyond being a machine...so perhaps it might be a peace in itself that you would never have to experience the pain and anguish required for you to develop as you have."
"All of what you said would mean nothing if the world is lost in the process," Minato grew more irritated by Nyalathotep as he continued to speak... putting possibilities for everyone in their heads.
"And that is the true beauty of all of this! Don't you see? None of you would be aware or responsible for what happens. Your parents, your lives will be completely unaware...happy. And never have to fight for a day in your life. Takeba Eiichiro would be alive...along with Arisato Kayane and Miyuki. Then Yukari and you would be childhood friends... along with Minako... that's right, you would be Arisato Minako... not Takahashi Hamuko. That identity is a lie... a fake but Arisato Minako would be the truth and a life that you were denied. Why should the outcome matter? The end of your lives would be a magnificent one...one filled with warmth and love...isn't that what all of you want?" Nyarlathotep laughed.
It seemed his ability to know things he shouldn't was still painfully available to him. Except this time he had used his ability of deception to focus on Kayane. This was what made me realize that there was no real difference between the Nyarlathotep of the mythos and the entity that represented mankind's wish for destruction. Nyarlathotep had no desire to cause the destruction of mankind himself. No, his real desire was for mankind to do it themselves. He was just helping it to that end. What better way for that then to turn all of humanity into illogical rage filled individuals that lash out at everyone around them. It would be a world of madness and death. It all fit in line with how the character was generally written. Makes you wonder if the human unconscious is responsible for the creation of these entities, then was humanity destined to create the thing that would lead to its own demise. Always such lovely thoughts when overthinking situations related to Persona and Shadows.
The origins of Nyarlathotep were better left to contemplate some other day. While making discoveries on that front might help us to define signs of Shadow related activity it is always going to be a measure of guess work. Not every bad person was being manipulated by some entity created by the human unconscious. Some people are just bad people.
When I found out I had a cousin, I had been happy at the thought. I had been adopted for most of my life, but I never found a place I called home. Nowhere had ever felt like I could call it that. I had Sayane and Akira. They were my best friends and the closest thing I really had to family. Other than Kana. Kana may be a Shadow but she was more a sister than anything else to me. Even now though... after learning so much about the truth of the world, about my brother, the experiments that were done to me and working as a Shadow Operative... I still hadn't found a place I called home. Yukari, who has posthumously married my twin brother, had let me move in with her. And helping her raise her daughter Kokoro was really one of the most happiest things in my life. But... My brother should be here, not me.
Nyarlathotep was threatening another member of my family. Kayane is my cousin, and I hadn't been able to really get to know him. Plus, Kayane had just found his older sister. And yet that connection was being threatened to end prematurely. No, I was not going to let that happen. No matter what, I would find a way to save him.
"It's no use. I can't get through to Yamagishi," Mitsuru sighed as she turned towards the rest of us. It was Akihiko, Mitsuru, Yukari and I that had all ended up together after we had landed in this world. This place had the details of a school. Similar to how it was when Labrys had been thrown into the TV. It had to be Yasogami High again, but it didn't have the fake TV set like vibe that it had then. Kana had told me all about it.
"Then we'll just have to keep moving. No point in sticking around. She might not be able to reach us from the outside," Akihiko commented.
Yukari was looking over her bow and testing its string and adjusting the quiver of arrows that were now hanging from her back and angled at her waist to make it easier to pull out. I know she had used her power from Isis to use her bow before but considering the danger we had equipped prepared to conserve our energy when possible. These three were more experienced than me when it came to fighting. They had climbed the tower of Tartarus, and along with my twin brother. I had the power of the Wild Card, but it wasn't like I had any special reason for my power. I stopped Nyarlathotep before after awakening my power, and had been to the Velvet Room to help me in doing so. But would anything have happened if I had just never awakened? As what Igor said... when the coin of fate had been flipped it was my brother that was chosen, not me. I'm here because I wanted to know the truth, about my brother, about my family.
Although my official name was Takahashi Hamuko... the name I should have had was Arisato Minako. If we had grown up together we would have been Minako and Minato, that's definitely a clear indicator of being a twin. I wonder if it was me or my brother that had been officially born first. Pointless to think about, but I can't help but have my mind get distracted like this.
"You can't sense anything either, Mitsuru-sama?" I asked after adjusting my naginata in my hands and took some room to spin it around and stretch slightly.
She shook her head, "Even with my Artemesia's limited abilities I can't even get a sense of our immediate surroundings. Nyarlathotep must be capable of blocking it."
"That makes things difficult," Yukari sighed as she slung her bow over her shoulder. She was in a tight fitting outfit that was primarily pink and red in color. It was similar to the suit she used when doing stunts for the Neo Featherman show. She found it incredibly useful to have an outfit that didn't have a chance to snag or interfere with her archery skills. Not to mention she had started doing a form of gymnastics to support her ability to do stunts for her career. It had been incredibly useful in adapting a fighting style that was better capable of fighting on her own. "First Nyarlathotep attempts to undo Minato's sacrifice and now he is trying to use Minato's cousin to essentially end the world, again."
"And another reason the Shadow Operatives must exist," Mitsuru added.
"We're not about to let anyone destroy the world Minato protected," Akihiko slammed his left fist into his right palm.
"Let's get moving. Time is a factor," I held the naginata and began moving, the others didn't waste time falling behind me. Mitsuru was using a rapier as her weapon and Akihiko and put on a pair of gloves to maximize his boxing skills. All four of us had an evoker in a holster as well. Maybe we didn't need it here but I doubt they would go into any situation involving Shadows without one on hand.
Why was this location modeled after Yasogami? If this was all created using Kayane's power as its core then the answer might be much simpler than expected. We traveled down what was the hallway of Yasogami and arrived at the Entrance Hall. We found ourselves looking at... people? Students going about their business like a normal day and didn't acknowledge us or the weapons we all had. All but one.
"Look at them, normal people, going about their lives, unaware of the truths of the world. Ignorant, happy, normal people," A Shadow of Kayane stood in the mass of students. Despite the chatter of the many students we could hear him perfectly.
"Is it his real Shadow, or Nyarlathotep?" Yukari asked.
"What is it that you know that they don't?" I decided to test this Shadow.
"Loss and suffering," The Shadow answered and moved through the crowd towards us. The students were likely fakes, or Shadows made to fit the role. Either way, they moved in a way that avoided Shadow Kayane. "No one here has experienced true loss. To lose someone they depend on, someone they love. They don't know what it is like to be abused by the one called family. They go about their days blissfully unaware of such horrible truths. But it isn't like I hate them. No, quite the opposite."
"He's definitely a Shadow," Akihiko confirmed.
"I'm sure you all would understand better than others," The Shadow stopped and turned to the crowd of students. "Each of you experienced loss, even if it was different than mine. You also saw a glimpse of a future with that person only for it to be taken away. How do you feel when you see a scene like this? People going about their lives with their loved ones. Unknowing what that pain feels like. As you have guessed, I am a Shadow, the true self. I am a reflection of Kayane's sin of Envy. I segregated myself from others simply because of my jealousy of their ignorance. I didn't care for anyone to understand my pain. I simply wanted to know what life was like without it."
"You are distinctly non-confrontational for a Shadow," Mitsuru noted.
"I am but one aspect of Kayane. And my existence itself is unusual. But you must defeat me," The Shadow then turned back to us and the presence of the students steadily disappeared until the Yasogami Entrance Hall was empty besides us. The visibility of the area began to grow dark as a black aura surrounded the Shadow. "Show me that there is strength in overcoming loss."
"You're right, we do understand loss. And if Minato had been here, he would have understood you better than any of us. But I know you can overcome the darkness of your past to embrace a future you believe in. You love Rise, right? Then you can't let her go forward in life without you. If you are Kayane's envy and jealousy, then you must also desire to never let anyone take her from you," Yukari readied her bow. "You're allowed that selfishness."
The image of the Shadow turned black and then grew double... triple in size before it began to take a new massive form. Like a massive beast, similar to an ox it emerged and let out a near deafening cry as the four of us prepared to fight. "I won't hold back, for her sake."
The behavior of the Shadow was definitely unusual, but then again this was a Persona that had been forced back into a Shadow. Or tricked into it. But it wanted us to defeat him. I guess in a way Kayane might feel that we would understand that aspect of his feelings. Well, I think the others probably understood better than I did. Yukari, most of all. Minato's death had been needed in order to save the world. Kayane's childhood friend had died while attempting to protect him. I suppose in a way it was similar but when Kayane had told me about it he had also commented that Miyuki had never intended to die and that her death was more an accident. But it was her death and the diary she left behind that had led to saving Kayane from his abusive Uncle. And her death had greatly affected Kayane. While not her intention, the result had been the same.
Ever since I had met Kayane he had never willingly shared things like this. It was more because of other investigations. His past was something anyone with an internet browser could find out. I doubt he cared to ever talk about those experiences as he had spent so much time with people that had pestered him with those questions. Therapist, psychologists, people that were supposed to help him face and move on from his friends death, but it seemed he had simply become a popular case study for child abuse. None of them had been interested in helping him, only studying him. It made me sick.
The ox like Shadow charged at us, we all dove to opposite sides, Yukari and I diving to our right as Akihiko and Mitsuru went left. I pulled out my evoker and put it to my head, "Surt!" I unleashed a concentrated fire attack that it couldn't avoid. As I did the others all consecutively summoned their own Personas to stack on their own attacks. The Shadow got the full brunt of it but still stood back up and answered with its own attack. It used Vorpal Blade, a physical attack to hit all of us. Looks like it wasn't about to go down that easily. Fortunately, Surt, my currently selected Persona, was resistant to it. Fortunate for me. But fire seemed to be something this Shadow was resistant too, or rather it seemed to have a high defensive power. In that case, this battle might be drawn out. Time to change the flow of battle.
"Trumpeter! Debilitate!" I used my evoker again, this time lowering the Shadow's abilities.
"It seems weak at lateral movements. Dodge to your sides and try to keep circling it," Mitsuru advised.
"Looks like it might be a battle of attrition," I muttered. I swapped my Persona to Siegfried and charged my next attack. Even if it was resistant, a charged attack after lowering its defense and agility would still hit hard. "God's Hand!" The attack slammed down against the Shadow, causing it to buckle from the force.
Yukari launched a quick barrage of arrows, keeping it pinned as Akihiko charged in. Just as Yukari's final arrow landed, Akihiko came sliding in and summoned his persona, Caesar. He unleashed an attack connecting underneath the Shadow's jaw and at it's throat and enough force to send it into the air. Mitsuru finished the combination of attacks with a massive ice attack that surrounded and encased the Shadow. It had happened so fast that someone might mistake it as a well coordinated dance. But that was just how long those three had fought together. They used me as a lead and then followed up with appropriate attacks. It was truly impressive.
The ice around the Shadow shattered and it stood, enraged as it smashed the ground, causing all of us to have to brace ourselves to stop from falling over.
"Careful, it looks to be charging some sort of attack," Mitsuru called out.
"It might have only been assessing our abilities before attacking in earnest," Akihiko grinned. "Looks like this fight is about to get interesting."
"Don't look happy about it!" Yukari glared at him briefly. "Hamuko, leave the healing to me. Focus on taking it down."
I nodded and holstered my evoker, this time preparing my naginata for action. If it really had issues with lateral movements, then there was a martial art form I might be able to utilize against it. Though it wouldn't be capable of dealing a fatal blow like my Persona, I could absolutely create an opening for the heavy hitters of Akihiko and Mitsuru. I rushed in and slashed across the side of the Shadows body and forced it to start attempting to attack me. Circling the Shadow, I landed quick slashing attacks with my weapon and maintained distance as the Shadow struggled in its Ox like form to keep up with my constant movement.
"Just keep it up a little more!" Akihiko said.
The Shadow tried a wide sweeping attack to try and go above my range but I used my weapon to get out of its range quickly. But it was relentless and followed up, and I had unstable footing. So I dropped to the ground, under its incoming attack and quickly rolled to my side as I switched my Persona. "Cybele!" Using the higher agility I could quicken my roll and spring back up to my feet, with more than enough air and momentum to land on my feet and come sliding to a stop. I brought a defensive position as I unleashed one of Cybele's attacks. "Myriad Arrows!" A barrage of arrows rained down on the Shadow, making it unable to do a followup attack. Though the attack itself seemed to be brushed off by the Shadow as if it were just an annoyance. Continuing the use of Cybele I used the increased agility and my naginata to cartwheel around the Shadow and then propel over it and landing further away and seemed to irritate it even further.
Even with my improved mobility, the Shadow changed its tactic to instead release an attack in all directions around it, ensuring I could not dodge it. It was a massive blast of wind but with Cybele as my Persona all it did was cause my movements to come to a stop as I had to do so to stop from falling over. I used my naginata to keep standing. The Shadow was quick to follow up, thinking it finally had an opening at me. It went to attack me but Akihiko jumped past me and met the ox Shadow head on with Caesar summoned it met the force of the Shadow's attack with his own.
"Sorry to keep you waiting," Akihiko grinned as the power of him and his Persona seemed to concentrate into his very fist. The Shadow and Akihiko clashed, power against power. Neither moved and I could feel the pressure of both attacks. But, Akihiko began to push the Shadow back. "You'll have to hit harder than that to move me! Mitsuru!"
"Allow me to showcase the results of my own training," Mitsuru had at some point navigated to put the Shadow into a pincer attack. Appearing behind the Shadow, she struck with her rapier and released an ice attack that erupted out from her and surrounded the Shadow imprisoning it. "There is no escape."
The next few moments was a devastating combination attack between Akihiko and Mitsuru. Akihiko released several powerful physical blows and electric attacks while Mitsuru attacked from behind and used her ice attacks to keep the Shadow from being able to even move from the spot it was at. It was a brutal onslaught of nonstop physical and magical attacks.
I swapped my Persona to Surt and charged my own attack this time.
"Takahashi!" Mitsuru called out.
"All yours," Akihiko and Mitsuru jumped back and cleared the Shadow. It was still struggling to break free from the ice.
"Ragnarok!" I unleashed the best fire skill possible and it struck the Shadow that could not do anything to escape it. With the complete offensive we had been on... it seemed to have been enough. The Shadow slumped to the ground and then slowly reverted to the form it had before the fight.
"I see. You have a great amount of power, and if you are so determined to rescue Kayane then take this," the Shadow of Kayane walked towards me and extended his hand. Sitting on the palm of his hand was an ice blue crystal.
"This is..." I stared at it.
"A part of my Persona. Deliver this to Rise. She will know what to do," the Shadow said with a smile. The Shadow began to slowly fade away. "Hopefully when this is over we can get to know each other, cousin. Naturally, you should come too, Yukari-san." The Shadow was gone and I was left with a crystal in my hand.
A moment later the environment we were in began to melt away. What was with this crystal? More importantly... what came next?
A/N:
I think most people agree that this year has been quite a roller coaster. I can certainly attest to that considering how many ups and downs I've had. Which has affected me negatively in a few ways. And well my personal issues and ongoing fight with depression aside... that isn't why people are here. But if you want some context as to why my updates are so far apart its because... this year is horrid.
Moving on.
I think if you are familiar with the first few Persona games you probably saw something like this coming as it is kind of Nyarlathotep's MO. If you aren't familiar, our lovely Nyarly acts primarily through the manipulation of others. He is supposed to be the representation of Mankind's darker side and destruction. And many of the big bads in the series have all claimed to be the origin of Shadows. Most of this is just... wrong? Even the original game leaves a lot implications that the events can only happen if Shadows had been around and known about for a long time before then. The situation only comes about because of the creation of the Deva System and Maki unintentionally becoming linked with it. I won't go too in depth but the fact that Deva System could be used to influence reality can't happen without some sort of prior knowledge of Shadows. Kandori basically confirms this considering he was planning to use it to basically to become a god. But his Persona is actually Nyarlathotep and... Yeah. Anyway my point is that the actual origin point of Shadows is... well whenever humanity was born.
Back on Nyarlathotep. For him, it isn't enough for people to be killed. People dying is never really a goal of his. But what he enjoys is seeing humanity destroy itself. And most of it is to prove a point to his counterpart Phillemon. And I've always enjoyed this dynamic ever since I played the original. Even if the translation and decisions for the original are just... questionable at best. It was still something I played and enjoyed when it came out back in 1996. And I definitely wanted it to continue here. And hopefully you guys see this as we continue towards the end of this story.
I'm aiming to up my release schedule to every couple weeks to push it out. I already got the next chapter mostly done. Promising right? Anyway I thank you for your time and hope you enjoyed this chapter. We'll be getting to the end of Kayane's story here not too long from now. Let me know what you think.
