Yu glanced down at the strange phone app that Futaba put on his phone yesterday. It was strange as the other phantom thieves had reported that the app had just appeared on their phones after they ended up in the cognitive world but that hadn't been the case for the Detectives. Futaba had instead installed it on his phone for research purposes and had been gracious enough to even give them the 'location' of mementos. Yu activated the app and instantly it called for a new address. Naoto who was sitting beside him working on her part of their report to the Kirijo group glanced up from her laptop to look at him.
"Tohru Adachi." Yu asked the phone.
"Location not found." The app informed him.
Naoto turned back to report and started to type. "That's makes sense, we already defeated Adachi's 'palace'."
Yu let his phone fall to his lap. "I figured, but I had to make sure."
"What would you have done if there had been a result?" Naoto asked not bothering to look up from her work.
Yu paused at the question, an indescribable feeling stirring in his chest at the question. "I'm not sure honestly… So how do you feel about this whole stealing people's treasure to change their hearts Naoto?"
Naoto stopped typing at the question, her fingers hovering just above the key. Yu could see a careful look reflexing in her gaze. "Human nature has a tendency to breed corruption and if this is a way to cut through that corruption then it's a useful tool. It's justice, but at the same time, those kids become judge, jury and executioner. It's not something they should have to do but I fear if this tool was given to the world it too would become corrupt."
Yu let his eyes wonder not looking at anything in particular. "I think someone already has these tools and that's what ruin is coming those kid's way."
Naoto rested her hand on her chin. "You might not be wrong, hopefully we can do something to help them. I don't think we could save Ren-kun a second time from being out right murdered should he end up in jail again."
Yu was well aware of the danger that Ren was in. The stakes for him were far higher than it had been when he was with the investigation team. Even after receiving that threat. The only thing Yu had to worry about was the shadows killing him and eventually Nanako. Ren had captured the attention of a whole country and was a wanted criminal. The stakes could not be higher for him. He did have one thing going for him, those in power were arrogant enough in their power with Ren's 'death' put them at enough ease that they didn't pressed the other teens. Yu knew Sae was doing something behind the scenes to make sure they didn't go sniffing around but how much she was doing was a mystery to him.
Silence elapsed between the two as Naoto went back to her report. She was currently working on the false report they would be giving to Sae in a few days. Their real report was done but a fabrication into their work was essential to keep their cover. The police department fully believed they were helping Sae with the phantom thief case. They were but in a much different scope then anyone truly realized. Hopefully the ruse would last long enough to get Ren exonerated in the eyes of the law, until then Yu and Naoto knew they needed to play their cards very carefully.
The buzz of the airport hummed all around them as Yu got comfortable. Rise had made arrangements for herself, Yosuke and Teddie to all fly into Tokyo airport. They'd be coming to say for the rest of the week before Yosuke and Teddie headed back. The plan was Chie and Kanji would replace them the week after only for Chie to head back. As they were adults now, everyone dropping everything to stay in Tokyo wasn't a viable option. Yukiko was always busy with the Amagi Inn and well they were trying to find a way to get her in Tokyo, it didn't seem likely.
The bigger factor however was how long both Naoto and Yu would be able to remain in Tokyo. Yu had no real idea if the Kirijo group would be willing to finance them until everything with the phantom thieves was done. It was up in the air but if the Kirijo did pull support they would be using their bonus from the case to stay in Tokyo as long as they both reasonably could. This phantom thief thing was something both Yu and Naoto felt that no matter what happened, the phantom thieves could use their help.
From the corner of his eye Yu spotted a few familiar faces walking towards them. Giving a quick nudge to Naoto he motioned in the direction that their friend were coming with a bob of his head. Naoto looked up from her work before catching a glimpse of their friends coming towards them from across the terminal. Yu allowed his partner to put her laptop away before they both headed in the direction of their friends. There was Rise, Yosuke and Teddie heading towards them pulling their luggage with them as they moved towards their friends.
"Yu!" Rise called before quickly closing the distant between them and throwing her arms around him in a huge hug. "I missed you so much."
"It's only been a few days." Yu reminded her.
Rise shot him a look. "Well, you do remember that I am taking a break clearly to be with you," She gave him puppy dog eyes. "Don't tell me you don't want to spend time with me?"
Yu could sense the trap Rise was about to lay down, and thought it would be better to head her off at the past. Quickly he wrapped his arms around her and gave her the type of kiss she couldn't argue about. If there was any lingering doubts that he didn't want her around, hopefully this would clear things up fast. As he step back, the smirk he got from Rise meant his tactic had been a success.
"Laying it on thick partner?" Yosuke chided him as he adjusted his duffle bag.
"Most times an all-out attack is the best option" Yu replied casually.
"Ah true love, is beary precious..." Teddie swooned.
"Glad you guys all made it in one piece." Naoto said looking over the group.
"Yeah no thanks to Ted," Yosuke lamented with a long groan. "He wanted to wear his bear costume on the plane, we almost weren't allowed to board until he took it off."
"My bear suit makes me a courageous bear! And planes are scary!" Teddie explained to the group. "But the flight attendant was cute and gave me my own little pair of wings for being so courageous without it"
Yu caught the aspirated sigh that Yosuke gave as he shook his head. Yosuke should have been used to dealing with Teddies proclivities by now but no doubt the stress of the airport a meant nerves where more frayed than normal. Yu reached out and put his hand on his best friend shoulder as a show up support for the constant headache that was Teddie at times.
"So do you guys need to pick up anything?" Naoto checked her watch. "We'll be a little late but the rest of the thieves should be meeting at Leblanc by now."
"We already got everything." Yosuke explained as he motioned to large suitcase he was pulling behind him.
"Leblanc? It sounds like a small little place I'd find in a back alley in Paris that serves the most amazing food and drink." Rise commented sounding excited.
"You're not too far from the truth." Yu said as he picked up his girlfriend's suit case for her.
"So they are teenagers?" Yosuke asked.
Naoto motioned for everyone to follow her before she answered Yosuke. "Yes, same ages as us mostly during that year. Their leader is the same age Yu was during our time. Granted we had younger classmen in our group, were as this one has two higher classmen. Futaba-chan I believe is the youngest of the group."
"Yep," Yu assured her. "She is 16."
Yosuke whistled. "That's wild, our group got anything else in common?"
"Yes, quite a bit actually. I can't say they mirror us word for word but the similarity are indeed unnerving. Like this; their leader, a boy named Ren-kun is only supposed to be here in Tokyo a year." Naoto adjusted her laptop bag as she switched hands to pull out the keys to their black SUV car.
"So he's gonna have to say goodbye to his friends like we had to do with Yu?" Teddie asked sounding a bit worried about that.
"More than likely but I doubt he'd say away for long and return like Yu did. It's clear the whole group is tightly bonded." Naoto clarified.
"So what the plan to help them?" Rise asked as she snuggled up to Yu's arm as they walked.
"Advise them for now. I believe a trip to something they call Mementos is planned so we can assess their skills." Yu stopped as they reached the car. "Also Naoto wants to do something about a boy named Akechi."
"Akechi… Akechi…? Oh that detective prince kid right?" Yosuke asked.
"Correct, he betrayed the other kids and almost got Ren-kun killed, but honestly part of me feels like he is someone that needs to be saved. Call it a gut feeling if you would… but I can't shake it." There was a bit of a sigh, as Yu knew Naoto felt quite passionate towards the second coming of the detective prince but only had a slight clue what could be done for the wayward boy. "It's rather boorish of me, I'm sure, but I need to at least try."
"We'll think of something I'm sure." Yu advised his detective partner as they arrived at the large black SUV. "You already got 2/3rd of the keywords."
"Keywords?" Yosuke interjected.
"Yeah… Alright everyone load up and we can head to Leblanc. That is unless you guys want to head to the condo? Travel can be tiring. We'll explain more once we are on the road." Naoto unlocked the car and open the back of the SUV.
"I want to meet these kids!" Rise exclaimed excitedly. "I'm use to travel."
"Me too!" Teddie quickly cheered after Rise.
"I'm game." Yosuke answered with a shrug of his shoulders.
"It's settled then…" Naoto said with a nod.
After packing up the car and letting Teddie change back into his fur suit they headed out towards Sojiro's coffee shop. The trip wasn't horribly far from the airport but it gave more than enough time for Yu and Naoto to fill the others in about the kids. The thieves would need to give formal introductions themselves but at least Yu's group knew the basic before coming in. Rise was probably the most excited to meet thieves' navigator Futaba. After all navigator was a very specialized role and to be able to chat with another one would definitely be something the idol was looking forward too. As they pulled up to the Yongen-jaya alley way, both detectives finished giving everyone one last finally run down. It was a lot of information but Yosuke and Rise had been listening well. Teddie on the other hand was much too concerned about the city around him as it had been some time since the last time he left Inaba.
Naoto parked the SUV in a familiar spot about a block from Leblanc. Yu went to the back of the car to pull a large bag from the back. When they had come down from Inaba they had brought down the group's weapons with them just in the off chance they would be fighting in that other world. It had apparently been a good idea, as Yu didn't want to worry so much about the nightmare of getting question about having a gun and a katana loaded into a duffle bag. Naoto and Yu both had permits for weapons but it was a hassle Yu was glad he had avoided. Once Yu shoulder the large bag and everyone had filed out of the car they headed towards the small café. When they arrived, the all the phantom thieves where already there. Yu and Naoto entered first as the rest of their friends filed in behind them.
"If you get any more allies I'm gonna need a bigger shop kid." Sojiro off handedly commented to Ren as Yu's group entered.
"Are these your friends Narukami-san?" Makoto asked as she looked at the 3 new faces that entered the café.
"This is just like a cozy Paris shop Yu!" Rise swooned.
"Yes, they are persona users as well. I'll let them introduce themselves." Yu stepped aside so his friends could greet the phantom thieves.
"I'm Yosuke Hanamura, this guy's best friend." Yosuke motioned with his thumbs towards Yu.
"I'm Teddie the most adorable bear ever." Teddie grinned.
The bear was greeted by a string of confused looks. Yu and Naoto had both tried their best to explain the person that was Teddie but apparently the flamboyish nature that was Teddie was something that couldn't quite be explained so easily. Teddie was at times a hard pill to swallow but everyone in Yu's group loved him all the same.
"This is the shadow turned human?!" Morgana yowled from his position on Leblanc countertop. "He doesn't look human."
"Excuse me, you wish to see my final beautiful form?" There was a devious look that played across Teddie face. With a quick unzip of his bear costume the blond haired boy exploded from the costume. "That's right ladies gaze upon this beautiful boy, quite the surprise no?" Teddie winked at the lady phantom thieves which earned him various unsettling looks.
"What?! And he is handsome too!" Morgana seemed to hiss. "This must be my fate to turn human!"
"Don't hold your breath too long cat." Ryuji responded as he leaded against the counter Morgana was sitting on. This comment earned a Ryuji a swipe from said 'cat'.
"Rise I doubt you can top my grand introduction but please try." Teddie looked towards Rise as he pulled his suit off to the side.
"Thank Ted," Rise said with a good natured tune to her voice before she stepped up to the front of Yu's small group and took off her large sun glasses. "I'm Rise Kujikawa, I look forward to meeting you all." The candy like smile Rise gave the group was something only a practiced idol was capable of.
"No FREAKIN WAY… Risette?!" Ryuji gawked with a slightly opened jaw.
"It really is Risette." Ann's amazement was evident.
"Old news. I was wondering when we'd meet her. After all she is dating Narukami-san" Futaba off handedly commented earning her a look from most of her fellow thieves, to which she just gave them a bland stare. "You don't think I won't look up information on our new detective friends? Ren knew!"
Well the others had been shocked Ren moved through the crowded café and stepped up to the 3 new adults. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Ren Amamiya, leader of the phantom thieves. Codename Joker"
"Leave it to Ren to lead the charge. I shall follow your lead, I'm Yusuke Kitagawa. Codename Fox" Yusuke added a slight bow to his name.
"Makoto Niijima. Codename Queen." Makoto gave a more formal bow as she spoke.
"Ann Takamaki. Codename Panther." Ana waved to the newcomers from her spot at the counter.
"It's nice to meet you. I'm Haru Okumura. Codename Noir" Haru gave a bright smile as she spoke.
"Uhh… My turn..? Ryuji Sakamoto. Codename Skull." Ryuji looked panicked for a moment before he gave his name but was quick to recover.
"Clearly you can understand me, but I'm Morgana. Codename Mona." Morgana jumped from the counter over to the table Futaba had set up her computer.
"I'd say I'd be surprised about a talking cat but Ted here really blows things out of the water so my degree of things that surprises me is kind of high I suppose." Yosuke informed Morgana.
"Futaba Sakura. Codename Oracle, I'm the navigator." Futaba explained not bothering to look up from her computer.
"So you're the Navigator! It's nice to meet other navis like myself. There so much I want to talk to you about." Rise bubbled.
This caught Futaba attention as she looked up from her computer screen as she gave Rise a surprised look. "You're a Navi. Kujikawa-san?"
"Yep, my persona isn't at all suited for fighting but that doesn't mean I can't support." Rise tilted her head as she explained with a warm smile. "Also call me Rise,"
Futaba reeled slightly almost like she had been struck. "Whoa that charisma stat is off the charts and I thought Ann's was high."
Rise got a confused looked before Makoto stepped in. "Futaba is quite… unique. I'm sure you'll get along fine after all you both are navigators."
"Unique is a rather bland way of putting it." Yusuke shrugged with a wave of his hand.
"Shut it Inari!" Futaba growled before turning her attention back to Rise, much of that previous aggression faded quickly. "Yeah, let's work together I wanna see what you can do!" Her attention switched to Ren as he stood calmly among everything happening. "We are going to Mementos today right Ren?"
"Yeah, if everyone is up too it." Ren nodded and looked over the group.
"You do realize that question was directed at you Ren." Makoto folded her arms across her chest. "Are you sure you are up to it?"
Ren glanced in Makoto's direction before rolling his shoulders. "I'm fine."
"You where drugged and beaten 2 days ago, but I'm not your mother…" There was worry in Makoto's words, she clearly cared about Ren's wellbeing.
"I'll take that as my que to leave, Ren take care of Futaba and stay out of trouble." Sojiro remarked as he pulled his coat and moved towards the door.
"Mementos?" Yosuke asked directing his question towards Yu.
"It's the collective palace of the masses here in Tokyo. It keeps going down and I believed that I'd find the truth of who I was at the end of it… But now I'm not entirely sure. Also we'll probably be a lot slower. I don't think I can hold this many people." Morgana explained just as Sojiro disappeared from the shop.
Yu stepped forward, "We can figure that all out after we get there."
"Then let's do this." Ren said as he pulled out his phone.
Ren took a deep breath as the world faded around him and everybody found themselves within the dark red and black hell that was memento. Joker checked around making sure everyone had made it on the other side. Well it wasn't at all a surprise that Yu and his group now joined the phantom thieves it just felt strange. Everyone that had come here in the past had been teenagers, now they were bringing adults here too. Cool adults but adults none the less. Around Joker everyone was getting their weapons ready for the dangers that lurked deep in Mementos, even Yu and his group pulled out weapons. As the group got ready, the leader of the phantom thieves took this opportunity to dart to the left of the station entrance towards the familiar blue jail cell and its twin keepers.
"You need something Inmate?" Caroline quipped as she smacked her baton against her palm.
"He appears unnerved about something Caroline" Justine's calm voice interjected not even looking up from her clip board.
"So what Justine? Sense when do I have to care about what the Inmate is feeling?" Caroline growled towards her twin.
"What can you two tell me about him?" Joker asked pointing to Yu.
The two turned their one good eye towards Yu and for a second Joker could have sworn he saw them both instantly lose their composure. Igor had not mentioned Yu the other night when he got pulled into the velvet room after he escaped from the police. Could it be that Igor didn't know about Yu and company? Caroline jumped down from the top of the gate, her mouth slightly ajar as Justine fumbled her clip board almost dropping it. The twins exchanged looks before turning back to Joker with confusing lingering in their gaze.
"Since when did another wild card show up Inmate?" Caroline demanded as she took an aggressive step towards Joker.
"I wonder if one of our other siblings knows him." Justine folded her arms studying Yu from a distance.
"Well there is only one way to find out. HEY YOU SILVER BOY GET OVER HERE!" Caroline called out towards Yu.
Yu looked up and in the direction of Joker and the twins, which surprised Joker. His friends had never acknowledged the two nor had they seemed to see the blue door. Whenever he had entered they had always said he just stood there looking like he was staring off into space. Yu said something to his group before walking up to the three of them. Joker watched cautiously curious about how this situation would be playing out.
"Who are you?!" Caroline seemed to growl as she pointed her baton an inch away from Yu's chest.
"Yu Narukami." Yu answered dryly as if it was the most simplest answer in the world, Joker for the first time noticed the glasses the other man was wearing.
"That doesn't answer my question wise guy! Who gave you the power of the wild card?" Caroline eye narrowed as she stared daggers at Yu.
"Igor." Again a simple answer but this one seemed to make both twin cringe and take a step back from Yu's towering form.
So that's how Yu knew about Igor, not that it honestly surprised Joker. It was kind of assumed at this point but it was nice to have exact conformation. Joker filed away the information into this brain as his gaze returned to the twins, he had never seen them his rattled. If they didn't know about Yu then it was probably safe to assume Igor didn't know Yu was here either.
"He knows our master Caroline but he isn't a…" Justine started.
"I know Justine." Caroline grabbed her sister and drug away from both men to converse in private.
"They are interesting..." Yu voice held a more jovial tone as he looked at Joker.
"You have no idea…" Was all Joker could reply with.
After a minute or two the twins returned looking far more composed then they had been a few second ago. "Who was the name of your attendant Wild Card?" Caroline asked with slightly less hostility in her tone.
"Margaret." Yu folded his arms across his chest as he spoke.
The twins gave each other uneasy glances before looking at Joker. "Since this Wild Card has already seemed to have complete his rehabilitation..." Caroline started.
"We feel he may serve as a positive role model for you to aid in your rehabilitation so please continue to work with him towards your rehabilitation Inmate." Justine finished with a tap of her clipboard before turning her attention towards Yu. "But first we must evaluate both of you, but to make things even both of you are to use your original personas. Do you have access to that persona Wild Card? I know our Inmate does. If you do not we can assist you in regaining it. Also this is an evaluation, don't kill each other with your weapons. If you actually hurt each other we will need to step in."
"I will not be happy if I need to step in." Caroline warned glancing between the two of them.
Yu closed his eyes for a moment as a card appeared in his hand, with a quick motion he crushed it. Joker put his hand to mask cycling through his powerful group of persona to find his most trusted ally among them. Joker was tempted to try and defy the twins but something deep down wanted to fight Yu and Yu didn't seem to have any problem with this apparent directive. He could feel Arsene's aura flow over him and as a deep chuckle echoed in the back of his head accompanied by the signature rattle chains, Joker knew Arsene was ready for this. Eager almost…
Yu reached to his side unsheathing a large katana and held it at the ready at his side. Instantly Joker picked up the difference between Yusuke's and Yu's styles. Yusuke was all about the draw and the flourish of swordsmanship. Yu's style was a far more brutal one, one born from necessity then one refined by a master. Joker smirked devilishly as he pulled out both his dagger and gun, Yu returned the smirk with one of his own. His own style had a similar feeling to it. Before he got involved in this whole persona thing he had never touched a weapon but the basics of it all had quickly come to him. He adapted and his fighting style had grown with it.
"Neither of you battle alone so we will make the others aware and allow your navigators to aid you both but this battle is yours alone. They will not remember afterwards of course and no evidence will remain of this battle, further more we can't allow you to kill each other, so maybe hold back those physical blows a bit." Caroline beat her baton upon the ground and it seemed to set off some sort of chain reaction as it sparked against the ground.
Instantly Mementos when silent. The chats their respective groups had been using to psyche themselves up for mementos instantly faded. Everyone eyes were on Joker and Yu as they both took their places on the battle field to face each other. Not to mention the sudden appearance of two little girls in blue costumes.
Justine stepped up. "We'll begin the examination in a moment, you all will bear witness to it"
"Navigators support your Wild Cards, or don't. I don't care." Caroline announced with a shrug.
"Yu what's going on?" Rise asked the concern dripping from her tone.
"A duel right?" Yu asked looking towards Joker.
"Yep. Just a simple duel." Joker explained as he pulled at his deep red gloves.
"Well Narukami's power level have lowered." Oracle informed the others as she put her hand to her visor. "Honestly it looks as if they are pretty evenly matched. Go Joker you got my support." Oracle smirked before the next second she was instantly she was enveloped by her persona, Necronomicon.
"Alright, Yu if you need support you know I always have your back." Rise took a deep breath as Kouzeon suddenly appeared to tower over the idol.
Joker gripped his dagger as he sunk low, coiling himself like a cat ready to strike. He kept both eyes directly on Yu, but also kept the twins in his peripheral vision. Yu kept his stance open, reaching up to adjusted his glasses obscuring his eyes in the shine of the dim light of memento. A tactic Joker was familiar with but the duality of how they booth wore glasses wasn't lost on the leader of the phantom thieves. One wore them in the real world only, the other wore them in this world only.
"And begin." Caroline called out slamming her baton on the blue cage door making a loud clanging sound.
In a flash both men darted at each other closing the distance between them in the blink of an eye. The sound of two blade meeting each other rang out seemingly louder than Caroline's baton. To Joker one strike wasn't enough; he knew he had to press the advantage with his lighter faster weapon. 2 more strike.
Cling… Clang…
Yu moved with a speed no human should be able to match but was quickly backed into corner against the faster lighter weapon and Joker's absolute aggression. Still he wasn't going to give ground to the young punk just because he was younger. Adjusting his stance afforded him only a moment but it was more than enough time. As Joker went in for the next strike his blade clashed not only with a katana but an electrified katana. The electricity ran down Joker dagger and into his hand causing the thief to jump back a good distance.
Joker caught Yu's smirk as the electricity faded from the blade. Joker shook the hand that had received the shock and only returned Yu's smirk with a cocky one of his own. Yu stance once again became open as he reached out with a hand and beckoned Joker with a wave of his fingers. The two of them circled each other keeping a good distance between them. It was the kind of distance that allowed them to react should either one of them suddenly attack. Joker rolled his shoulder reaching into his rebel attire and pulling out his pistol. Yu expression instantly changed now that he was staring down the barrel of a gun.
"Here come the buffs" Oracle called from her sky eye view.
Energy surged through Joker climbing his body to greater feats of strength. In an instant, a storm of bullets lefts the chamber of Joker's gun heading straight towards Yu. The only thing Yu could do was throw his arms up in defense but it wasn't enough to stop him from falling to the ground from the sheer magnitude of the attack.
"No, Yu! We aren't done yet! He's weak to Ice and Bless!" Rise announced from her position.
Joker took Yu down position to his advantage closing the gap he had created between them in less than a breath. Jumping up Joker moved to come down with a devastating slash of his blade only for his dagger to taste nothing but the hard ground of Mementos. Yu rolled out of the attack before returning to his feet and that left Joker in the down state from the failed attack. Yu wouldn't let this advantage linger long. Well Yu's Izanagi didn't have Ice or Bless skills that didn't mean it would be useless in this fight. Summoning the arcana card, Izanagi appeared over Yu ready to exact vengeance for that cheap gun trick.
"Tempest Slash!" Yu commanded with pointing to his prone opponent crushing the arcana card.
Izanagi golden eyes lit up as it exacted his user's command wordlessly. Joker had little choice but to take the full assault of his foe persona head on. Pain roared crossed Joker back at the assault but it was far from enough to be the end of the leader of the phantom thieves. Biting back his pain, Joker back flipped to his feet. Yu wasn't giving him any time to recover though as Joker had to quickly parry the katana as it slashed across his front.
Cling... Clang...
Yu wasn't letting up as the two blade crashed against each other but lucky the buffs Futaba had given him kept him just one step ahead of Yu assault. Still Joker understood the buffs wouldn't last forever and he still needed to strike well they were still active. With a serious of black flips, Jokers greater speed allowed him a second of breathing room before Yu would be upon him once again.
"Arsene! Eigaon!" Joker yelled putting his hand to his mask.
Arsene obey the order with an almost mad chuckle; as dark energy appeared in his hands. Without wasting a moment Arsene launched the accumulated dark energy at Joker's opponent. Yu paused at the attack before Izanagi appeared taking the full brunt of the attack seemingly for him before fading away back Yu's mind. Izanagi was immune to dark attack which meant Yu had more of an advantage then he previously thought. Perfect, well if they were going to be slinging elemental attacks… Yu reached out grasping at an arcana card about to ruin Joker's day. Joker could only curse his luck.
"Izanagi, Maziodyne!" Yu crushed the card with a smirk of superiority appearing on his face.
Izanagi once again loomed over Yu as pointed it's sword at the sky seemingly capturing a bolt of raw energy. As the persona brought down the sword the full weight of the bolt of thunder came with it electrifying the ground Joker now stood upon. Joker wasn't waiting for the attack to hit him, as soon as Izanagi appeared he darted to the side but it wasn't enough so save him from the assault of the lightning attack. The pure destructive power of the attack shook the battlefield and caused dust to kick up obscuring the vision of all the witnesses as well as the two combatants.
"I can feel it." Joker muttered to himself as he activated his third eye.
The battle field become clear as day as Yu was outline in a thin red hue. By how Yu was looking around it was clear that he had no ability to pierce this destructive cloud that he had set into motion. Joker knew this obfuscation wouldn't last long and he would have to strike quickly if he wanted to make full use of it. Futaba buffs there now history but a powerful attack could hopefully end this in Jokers favor. Moving around the battlefield Joker took a position that was just far enough from Yu that he had time to react should Yu suddenly discover his location.
"Arsene!" Joker called to his oldest persona.
Arsene had long ago been put upon the guillotine and brought back several times. He was probably the most abused of all of Joker's persona but every time he came back, he'd come back stronger than he had been before infused with energies from all sorts of different personas and different cards. Arsene had even thrown into isolation and left for a while. Even though Arsene was abused, the persona was always ready to stand by Joker the moment he was summoned, and a few times he hadn't been summoned… This newest incarnation of Arsene was the strongest one yet with a hidden almighty surprise available to him.
"Megidola!" Joker ordered in a low voice as he grabbed at his mask. Arsene had no problem in this fog as he put his hands together drawing upon the almighty energy. The ball of energy grew to destructive levels before Arsene threw it towards the still blinded Yu.
"Yu, attack incoming to your left!" Rise shouted giving Yu only a heartbeat of time to react.
Yu pulled up his katana to block but was suddenly overwhelmed by Almighty energy. Bracing himself against the attack; he refused to be down by such an attack but it was definitely a powerful energy bearing down upon him. He felt his strength start to wane but it only inspired him to push himself further and withstand the whole attack. The dust that had been blown up by his attack was quickly blown away by the power of the Megidola and as Yu looked up, he caught sight of Joker just out of melee range.
Joker once again pulled out his gun knowing he now had the advantage in this battle, he wouldn't be able to keep Yu at a distance for long but some cheap potshots would definitely wear down his foe. Yu quickly weighted his options as he stared down the barrel of Joker's gun. He could cast another big electric spell but that had no guarantee that it wouldn't kick up dust again and give Joker an advantage. Well Yu glasses could piece fog, debris was a whole other animal. Knowing this Yu decided that the best option would be to just charge straight in. Sure there would be gun damage but if Yu was fast enough he could hopefully hit Joker before he had a chance to switch back to his dagger to parry his blade. Yu decided to roll the dice.
"Power Charge." Yu called to his persona as he charged towards Joker.
Joker let the bullets fly, sending a full clip in Yu direction. Each bullet hit its mark but it didn't stop Yu's momentum as he quickly moved to close the distance between him and Joker. Yu was betting everything on this attack ending it, and as he griped his sword to come down in an overpowering swing; Joker was ready for him and raised his gun to Yu chest, energy forming at the tip of the barrel.
This would end it… but for who?
Hopefully I did a good job on the combat for you my dear reader. There are quite a few combat scene in this fic as a whole. This one is one of my favorites fights along with [redacted]. I've been giving you all shorter chapters so hopefully this longer one makes up for that.