Chapter 6

I am butchering dialogue, battles, and s-links to get the novel version respectable. I can make characters more cynical, mean, out of character, and amusing. My character is "special" personality-wise.
I am warning you ahead of time, Rion is a lot smarter than he looks.

This is one part of the dungeon… a short chapter.

I own nothing related to Persona, SMT, or well anything.

Souji wasn't really looking forward to the morning. He felt mentally scarred by what he saw in the "Midnight Channel" last night. The subtle, sublime love shit. Yosuke and Souji were mauled in his dream last night by those loincloth clad people.

"What the hell is this about?" Souji thought, "All I know is that we need to get him the hell out of there before he gets eaten by a Shadow and spit out. What is going on in Kanji's head? I think Rion knows. We'll have to ask him."

Souji walked to school, and school itself was quite the daze. None of the group was really paying attention in class; well Rion never paid attention, but still... At the end of the day, the entire group of misfits gathered around the desks.

Yosuke let out a sigh, "So, I guess Kanji is already in the TV from the pattern so far."

Yukiko looked despondent, "I wonder what the Midnight Channel really is…"

"Hmm…" Rion seemed to be thinking and muttering at the same time.

"At first, I thought it was one of those paranormal things, but when I gave it a try. It was real," Chie said.

"I wasn't expecting it to work. I thought it was some joke," Souji said. "It feels like it really is sometimes," Souji was thinking to himself.

"I didn't think it would be connected to another world," Chie said.

Yosuke looked worried, "If there's a rumor going around, then that means there are others watching the Midnight Channel too."

Yukiko asked, "How did it go? You stare into a turned-off TV on a rainy night…"

"You'd see your soul mate," Rion finished, "As ridiculous as it is, people started believing that whoever they saw was there soul mate."

"I don't believe that many people would actually try it though," Souji said. "Would they?" Souji thought.

"Unless they were urged to by others; I mean peer pressure is a strong thing," Rion said.

"That is so ridiculous though," Yosuke said, "Who would try that? If they do try it, it actually works. If the rumor spreads, and everyone starts watching the Midnight Channel…"

"It could cause a huge panic," Chie said. Chie shook her head. She could see the consequences it would cause.

"According to Teddie, the missing people that are kidnapped are creating the images we're seeing," Souji said. "So, those are Kanji's crazy thoughts," he thought, "Subtle love shit."

"It isn't random, it's specifically related to whoever goes missing," Yosuke said.

Chie looked angry, "Yukiko had a show too, but she didn't remember doing anything like that."

"No matter how great it looked," Souji thought. He was still thinking about her in that dress.

"This might be a little off-subject, but… The culprit is probably watching the shows that come on," Yukiko conjectured. She shook her head. She remembered her Shadow, and was disgusted by it.

"That's pretty sickening if he's watching not only Yukiko's show and getting a kick out of it, but now Kanji's…," Rion said.

"No doubt, he's probably sitting back and enjoying… Wait a sec, I bet he is enjoying it. He's probably laughing his head off watching the "show" that comes on after he throws people into the TV!" Chie said angrily. Souji looked at Chie's face, and wanted to slowly back away.

"I get it, it is definitely a possibility," Yosuke said.

"This image I get of our killer is a quite disgusting one," Souji said.

"A person one would like to mutilate in a dark alley," Rion said with conviction.

"I wanna see everything about you, Yuki-chan!" Yosuke said in a creepy voice.

Souji had thoughts about taking the killer and as Rion said, mutilating the killer in a dark alley where no one could find him.

"Urgh…," Chie exclaimed, "Wait a minute, so if people were watching Yukiko's show… Does that mean they saw what happened to me, too?" Chie asked.

"That is quite the possibility," Rion answered.

"Oh, that is it! This killer is Dead Meat! I'm going to leave footprints all over this guy's face!" Chie exclaimed.

"Go right ahead… I'm not going to stop you," Souji said. He was still pissed off at the killer watching Yukiko's show.

"Guys!" Chie exclaimed, "First, we save Kanji! Then, we crush the killer! Finally, we crush the killer, then we send him to hell!"

"I understand…," Souji said, "Crush and kill!" Souji ignored the fact that she was repeating herself.

They felt a bond forming between themselves as they decided to crush the killer, and… mutilate him.

Yukiko of course, after Chie's comments, started laughing again. "Chie, those last two, were the same thing."

"I know, Yukiko," Chie responded. Chie futility attempted to stop Yukiko from laughing.

After Yukiko finally stopped laughing, the group headed towards Junes to go into the TV world via the Electronics Department.

They were walking to Junes when Rion asked Souji, "So, have you been trading in your stuff for new armor, and weapons?"

"Uhh, why would I do that?" Souji said. Souji remembered Daidara saying something about that, but he forgot everything he had said about it.

"To improve your fighting capabilities as a Persona-user. Are you still using the fake weaponry that you used in the castle? How about the armor?" Rion rolled his eyes.

"So if I have?" Souji did feel a little silly, but that fake katana had served him well. It had helped beat the crap out of Yukiko's Prince Charming. He probably needed to upgrade his armor though.

"It would be advantageous if you would improve your armor at least," Rion told him the truth, "We don't want you to die out there. Without you, we are lost."

Souji took his words to heart, and headed to Daidara to buy new armor. He again was faced with a new dilemma… Where to hide his sword?

They entered the TV world to try and find Kanji's whereabouts. When they got there, Teddie looked confused and downtrodden. The group needed a happy Teddie to rescue Kanji, and a downtrodden Teddie meant no Kanji.

"Hey, Teddie, someone's here, right?" Souji asked as he turned to the bear.

"Oh, yep, I think someone is here…," Teddie said reluctantly. Teddie really did look kind of lost to Souji.

"You think? Do you know where he is?" Chie asked sympatheticly.

"I dunno," Teddie said.

Yukiko said to Teddie, "We think it's a boy named Kanji."

"I dunno." Teddie said again.

Chie looked concerned at the bear, "What's wrong Teddie? Not feeling well?"

"Well, I sniff and sniff, but I can't tell where the smell is coming from," Teddie responded to the group.

"You can't tell us the location of our missing person?" Rion said.

"Aren't you thinking too much about other things?" Yosuke said, "Last time, you were wondering about who you really are, and how long you've really been here. Your head is empty to begin with dude, so don't stress out about these things too much."

"I don't think you should put so much pressure on the bear. He's doing the best he can," Souji said. He was really thinking, "We're in trouble."

"You're right," Teddie said as he turned around. He was despondent as he talked.

"He's seriously down about this," Chie said. She sounded worried.

"If he can't help us, I don't know how we can save Kanji," Souji said.

Rion look at the group, "I think it might be best to help him out."

"If you can't figure out where Kanji is, then we are in serious trouble," Yosuke said, motioning to the bear.

"We can't exactly wander aimlessly in a place like this, can we?" Souji said, "We'd get lost again."

Teddie turned around and faced the group. He looked excited, "I know what might help! You could give me a clue about this Kanji person! It's just a feeling I have. I think I could concentrate better with it. Do you have anything that could give me a good understanding of him?"

"I don't think I can give you anything substantial," Rion said, "Just that he can't hit me."

"He can't hit you…," Souji thought, "Did you actually fight him?"

"Something about Kanji, huh?" Yosuke said, "I don't think I know anything outside all the rumors I've heard."

Chie looked at the bear, "Yeah, it's not like we know him that well."

Souji shook his head, "I can't really give you anything."

"Even though I used to know him, he's changed too much," Yukiko said.

"I just need some sort of hint. Something that tells me who he really is like," Teddie said.

"We can always ask around, and find out what other people know about him," Yukiko told her idea to the group.

"Well, where should we start?" Souji said.

The group headed out of the and left the TV world leaving Teddie all alone. Souji wondered if it was a good idea to always Teddie alone to think all the time.

They ended up sitting in the table at Junes like always.

"So, who knows where we should look to find out where Kanji is?" Rion asked while absentmindedly twirling his walking stick…

"He uses his walking stick as a staff… What kind of sick… At least he's talented" Souji thought. "How should I know?" Souji said.

"Well, we could talk to his mother," Yukiko said.

"Excellent idea, Yukiko-san," Yosuke said.

"Well… we could also bug that weird dude that Kanji was hanging out with earlier," Souji said.

"That weird… dude… I think I know what's wrong now," Rion thought, shaking his head. He said, "Sure, that's a start."

"Well, I guess if we come up with more ideas as we go along we can just relay them to each other," Yosuke said.

Rion looked at Yosuke, "I thought Souji was the leader, not you."

Yosuke looked at his feet in shame. Souji could hug Rion for saying that if he wasn't such a smart-ass, and if he wasn't a guy. He wasn't going to be on that Midnight Channel… "If only Yukiko said those words...," Souji thought.

Souji said, "THANK GOD! Someone finally told Yosuke that I'm in charge…"

"I guess we can let Souij be in charge of finding the clues for finding Kanji…," Chie said.

"Alright," Souji said, "Finally, I'm in charge of something."

So forth, they left their table to find where Kanji had been dropped when he was "thrown" into the television. Souji shook his head on stepped forth on his arduous task. Truthfully, he wasn't sure if he wanted to find out where Kanji was, based on what the Shadow looked like, but he had to deal with it.

Souji started by talking to Kanji's mother by her store, Tatsumi Textiles in Shopping District North.

"Do you know where Kanji might be?" Souji asked, "I'm trying to find him so he can pulverize me."

"Oh, you're here to ask about him too?" Kanji's mother asked, "He's always running off. There was a small boy who asked about him earlier. I talked to him earlier, but I haven't seen him since."

"Thanks…," Souji said as he nodded to Kanji's mom. "Man, where is that boy. The one who was hanging on Kanji's arm," Souji thought, "I should call Rion. He'll probably freak out and go kill that kid." Souji saw Rion's face when he glanced at that kid the second time, it was pure anger.

Souji decided to wander off to the Junes' elevators after talking to someone in the Floodplains.

"Have you seen a midget around here?" Souji asked.

"A midget in a blue hat?" a man replied, "He's usually at Junes."

"Hey, have you seen a shrimp with a blue hat?" Souji asked a customer.

"Oh…," the lady looked surprised at Souji sneaking up on her, "Yes, he's been hanging around here lately. He asked me all about the recent incidents that has happened around here. He left a little while ago, but he should be here tomorrow."

"Thanks…," Souji said, "Worthless," Souji said as she walked off.

Souji called Rion after he left Junes, "Rion, I'm going to find that little boy you keep harping on. He should be back tomorrow."

"Okay… I'll check back with you tomorrow," Rion said. Rion proceeded to whack at something with his walking stick.

Souji slept through school, until Morooka hit him over the head. After school, Souji headed over to Junes to meet that diminutive boy. When he reached the ground floor, Souji went over and talked to the boy wearing the hat.

"Is there something you need from me?" the boy asked as Souji addressed him, "This is quite a convenient spot for such a small town."

"I saw you talking to Kanji earlier," Souji said.

"Ahh… When I was talking to Kanji-kun earlier, did I notice anything, do you mean?" the boy asked.

"Uhh… yeah?" Souji responded.

"It seems to be important to you, yes? So, I'll just tell you," the boy nodded

"There did seem to be something out of the ordinary. I called him an odd person because of the way he acted," the hat-wearing boy confided.

"Okay…," Souji responded.

"I was quite surprised upon his reaction to my comment. To the actions he had, they seemed unnatural towards me. They seemed out of character. He may have some sort of complex, I do believe," the boy told him.

"I'll keep that in mind," Souji said. "No wonder Rion thinks he's crazy," Souji thought, "Maybe Rion just thinks he's too smart, or he makes crazy-ass assumptions. I don't know… Rion makes some crazy assumptions too."

Souji decided to head to the TV world with the clues that were given by the strange boy. They had gathered by the table first.

"You got the clues from that boy who was with Kanji?" Yukiko said.

"That boy…," Rion thought, "It couldn't be… that."

Well, before that they noticed the fox that Souji had corralled from earlier had followed them here and was sitting patiently by Souji.

"What the hell is that?" Yosuke yelled.

"Something is here!" Chie screamed, "It's a fox!"

"It's just your friendly neighborhood fox," Souji said. He was shocked at first by the fact the fox that he had met from before followed him. He met the fox one evening and conversed with the fox somehow, and it "told" him that it'd heal the others with leaves. It sounds really fishy.

Rion rolled his eyes, "Is that even possible?"

"When did it?" Yosuke said.

Chie looked scared, "It's freakin' terrifying."

Yukiko looked accepting, "I think I've seen it at the shrine before. This apron looks familiar."

"Yeah… I met it after I found some cream for some old person's legs," Souji said, "All I know is it is a money-hungry bastard. It will cure us for tons of money…"

"Cure us?" Chie said.

"With leaves…," Souji said.

"Oh god, help us…," Chie said.

"I think it will work…," Yukiko muttered.

Rion thought, "I think it's going to get bloody rich from us and buy crack."

"So, you're serious right… It wants money to fix us up?" Yosuke said.

The fox yipped in agreement.

"It understands you…," Rion said.

The fox yipped again.

"Oh shit, and we badmouthed it," Yosuke said.

The fox yipped in agreement again and it growled at them.

"Well, here goes our chances for getting cheap fixes this week…," Rion muttered.

Souji laughed, "You're right on that…"

"Since it does understand us, how come the police didn't find it?" Chie inquired.

"It's cause the police are morons beyond belief," Souji said.

"Let's just let it follow us into the world," Rion said, "If it can help us, what's the worst that can happen?"

Pictures of the fox mauling all of them into a bloody mess entered Souji's mind. He shook his head and again and a picture of a fox tearing Souji's head off came into his mind. He shook his head again, and finally a picture of happy thoughts entered.

"As long as it doesn't fuck up the store," Yosuke said.

"Okay, you can come with us," Souji nodded.

The fox looked happy as the others had relented to the fox being in the TV.

They jumped into the TV hoping it would be enough to find Kanji. When they got to the

TV world Teddie was there to greet them. He looked rather happy that they had returned within 2 days. Souji wondered in Teddie knew what a day was. Souji couldn't keep track of time here. It seemed like they were fighting forever while they were saving Yukiko.

"Sensei, you're here!" Teddie exclaimed as he bound toward the group who was walking towards them, "Any clues?"

"Yeah… That we're hopeless," Rion said.

Teddie looked dismayed at first, but Rion rolled his eyes to show he was joking, "You found some!" as Souji walked forward

Souji told Teddie about what he found about Kanji while Yosuke and the others lounged about, preparing their gear. Yosuke pulled out his newly bought kunai, Yukiko opened her fan, while Chie adjusted her cleats, and Rion just shifted his scabbard to his left side.

"A complex, that's all! You're working me to the stuffing! Oh, well. I'll just have to open up my nose really wide and see what I can find," Teddie said at Souji's clue. Souji shook his head. He really didn't give much for Teddie to go on, but what the hell was there? He could have gone for police reports, but… he couldn't exactly go to the police.

"Good luck…," was all Souji said.

Teddie sniffed and sniffed like he was doing the crack the fox gave him.

Teddie lifted his head and pointed northwest, "Oh… I think I found something! It feels like our target! Is this it?" He looked at the group expectedly.

"Well let's go!" Yosuke said, walking up to them. Yosuke resumed command.

"So much for what Rion said…," Souji thought.

The others followed Yosuke, Teddie, and Souji to where Teddie had "smelled". It would be even worse than Yukiko's castle. It would be much, much worse Souji would soon decide.

It ended up being a large bathhouse with large locker rooms in the front for clothes and towels.

"Wow, the steam here… It's killing me," Rion said wiping his forehead. He took off his glasses and wiped them on his shirt.

"Is it just me, or does the fog here seem kinda different?" Chie said.

"My glasses are fogging up," Yukiko said wiping her glasses.

"Man… it's hot in here. It's like a---," Yosuke was saying.

"A sauna," Rion finished his sentence, "Where better for Kanji to express his subtle, sublime "love" than a sauna?"

"That's sick Rion," Chie said.

Souji had to agree with Rion, but also with Chie… it was beyond disgusting.

Just then, a voice rang out from the doorway.

"C'mere, pussycat!" The voice said, "Oh… Such well-defined pecs… There's no need to be scared… "

"Anyone have a feeling to run and hide?" Souji said.

"Uhh…," Chie said, "What the hell."

The voice continued, "Now, just relax…"

"I'll take you up on that running and hiding. I really don't want to go," Yosuke said.

"We need to deal with this. This one is much worse," Rion said. Rion had an urge to take the end off of his walking stick and extend his staff.

"Is Kanji-kun really there, Teddie?" Yukiko said, obviously worried.

Teddie nodded, "The nose knows! The bear don't lie."

Souji wondered if Teddie was warm in that outfit, even if he was hollow.

Yukiko and Chie had placed themselves in front of the three boys and bear. They still didn't feel that protected. They had to though, they were girls after all. "Lucky…," Souji thought.

"Uhh… I'm usually all for dealing with Shadows, but this time, I'm not so sure," Souji muttered.

"We're really going in there? I can already feel the sweat rolling down my back," Yosuke said.

"That's because it's so hot," Chie rolled her eyes at Yosuke for about the millionth time today.

So, they decided to enter the Sauna from hell… Already, Souji wanted to Goho-m.

"God… I hate myself…," Rion said as Tajikarawo blocked a blast from one of the pistol-toting guards. He drove his staff up its ass and decapitated its overly large head with his sword.

"Well, quit complaining," Chie said, as Tomoe's "Bufu" froze the guard long enough for her to kick it in the non-existent nads.

"Damn…," Yosuke yelled as one of his kunai was shot out of hands, "Souji!"

"Nata Taishi!" Souji exclaimed, "Sonic Punch!" to hamstring the Shadow. Souji and Yosuke with his remaining kunai drove their blades into the Shadow, effectively destroying it.

There was a rock-like Shadow that only the "Garu" skills of Jiraiya could handle. So, Yosuke had Jiraiya use "Magaru".

"Let's go, Partner!" Yosuke yelled after all were knocked down.

So, they went… None were destroyed.

"Worthless," Souji said, "Just keep using your damn wind attacks, Yosuke."

There were there wispy Shadows with the only distinguishing marking… were the sigils on the proverbial foreheads.

Every attack they threw at was pointless. Yukiko fired her "Maragi" at it with Konohana Sakuya. It did exactly… nothing. Souji's Oberon with "Zio" and Jiraiya with "Magaru" were completely worthless. Tajikarawo and Tomoe were ineffective at attacking it physically.

Souji and Rion shared a look as they dodged the Shadows' attack, "Chie, use your ice attacks."

"Tomoe!" "Mabufu!"

Needless to say, it had quite the impact it needed. The Shadows disappeared in purple smoke.

While they had been struggling with the wispy Shadows, arrows were flying at them.

Yukiko threw her fan in defense. They were small pixies carrying bows. Konohana Sakuya was still summoned and she had fired her flames in retaliation of the arrows, "Maragi!"

While the attack did damage to the Shadows, it did not destroy them, and they again fired arrows at Yukiko. She was driven back by the repeated attack.

"Chie!" Yukiko yelled.

Chie had just finished off the other Shadows, "What is it!?" as she turned around.

"Help me!" Yukiko exclaimed as the pixies drew their arrows for another volley.

"Oh no, you don't!" Chie yelled, "Mabufu!" as Tomoe fired shards of ice into the pixies, ripping them into shreds.

"Thanks…," Yukiko said as Chie wiped the sweat off her brow.

"Guys…," Souji broke up their proverbial faux-love-dovey fest with a warning, "We've got company."

Rion had just stabbed one of those police-looking Shadows with his sword, and his Persona was holding another one off with his staff. Rion said, "Tajikarawo, Torrent Shot!" He was perfectly calm as he removed his sword and diagonally cut up the Shadow diagonally to the left.

Yosuke threw one of his kunai into the Shadow before running away from it. Souji came forth to protect it and crushed his card. "Lilim!" "Mudo!"

The dark energies that covered the Shadow evaporated the aggressor.

The winged girl-deity winked at Souji before she disappeared. "Creepy," Souji thought.

All the while they had been fighting, Teddie was barking orders, and mainly being a pain in the ass to everyone.
"Teddie, shut up, and let us deal with it!" Souji yelled while his sword cleaved through a monster.

"Souji pwned an enemy!" Teddie yelled.

"TEDDIE!" Souji yelled.

"Sorry…," Teddie said. He looked down, "I'm just trying to help…"

As they walked up to the third floor, the sauna seemed eerily empty as they reached a door.

"This is a little peculiar. I think this should be the last floor we go through until we head back," Rion suggested.

Souji nodded in agreement, "That's fine with me. I don't think I can use Jack Frost much more before I get dizzy…"

As they unlocked the door into the middle area of the third floor they ran ahead only to see the Shadow Kanji in his towel. His back was facing them, and it wasn't a pretty sight to see his butt-cheeks.

"There he is!" Chie yelled.

"Kanji!" Yosuke yelled.

"Hey!" Souji said, "Turn around!" He was disturbed enough already.

Kanji turned around… if at Souji's request or just because there were people here, Souji wasn't sure. Kanji had a microphone in his hand and he said, "Ohh… my my! Thank you for your undivided attention. At last I've penetrated the facility."

"Anyone hear something wrong with that last statement?" Rion asked. Rion shook his head.

"That's so wrong," Souji muttered. "I didn't need to hear that," Souji thought.

Kanji didn't seem to hear either of those last two comments, "These images are coming to you live from inside the steamy paradise. But I've yet to have to any charming encounters. Could this hot fog be the cause? It's like steam rising from sweat. My body is tingling from excitement!"

A sign appeared above Kanji's head. Men Only! Kanji Tatsumi in Rosy Steamy Paradise.

"This is so wrong," Souji said. He looked at Yosuke who had a green tinge on his face.

Chie shook her head, "I remember it kind of being like this in Yukiko's show too."

Yukiko tried to deny it, "No, it wasn't anything like this."

"Are you sure about that?" Rion said.

"No, no, no…," Yukiko continued to deny it.

Voices were heard laughing throughout the dungeon… It was annoying to Souji.

"Those voices again," Yosuke said. He put his headphones on, sans music, to tune them out.

"They were in Yukiko's dungeon too. They're louder this time," Chie remarked.

"Could it be people watching from the outside? I was wondering what it might be," Yosuke asked.

"So, it could be the people watching the Midnight Channel are reacting to what they see here?" Souji said.

Chie looked shocked, "If they see this, he's going to be a legend in a way he never intended."

"You're not kidding," Souji looked at the others. "As long as Kanji isn't a legend to me, I could care less," Souji thought.

"Well, it isn't really him, but everyone else won't know that," Yosuke said.

"Guys," Teddie warned them, "The Shadows are getting really restless."

"Great…," Rion said, idly spinning his staff.

"That elusive thing I really yearn for… Will I find it here?" The Shadow chuckled, "Well then, onward and forward to reach further into the realms of romance. Let's get going Dammit!" The Shadow ran off into the fog. The group was far too disturbed to chase after Kanji's Shadow.

Yukiko stepped forward after a moment, "Kanji-kun!"

Teddie stepped forward as well, "That was his other self. It's trying to reveal his hidden feelings."

"That he is an insecure little bastard who can't decide what he wants to be?" Rion muttered, pushing up his glasses.

"It seems much worse than last time with Yuki-chan's shadow. At this rate… It might end up getting "bear" naked," Teddie said, apparently trying to get a laugh out of Yukiko in general.

"Bear… naked?" Yukiko muttered. She wasn't laughing.

Chie looked at Yukiko, "Oh man, here it comes." Chie was expecting the worse.

"Uh… was I supposed to laugh?" Yukiko looked at everyone.

"Thank god!" Souji thought, "We won't have to wait."

While the rest of them ran off, Teddie fell over in a heap at his failure to make Yukiko giggle like a school girl.

"Let's keep moving everyone," Souji said.

So, the group continued forward through the sauna.

"Tajikarawo!" Rion yelled for what it seemed about the hundredth time. They were facing a lion-like Shadow that had a ball attached by a chain. Magic was doing damage, but it wasn't knocking it over. "Torrent Shot!"

"Thank you!" he muttered. The others were thanking him as well as one of the lion Shadows had disappeared. But the others were still coming.

"Magaru!" Yosuke yelled as Jiraiya shielded him from a lion's paw.

"Mazio… Oberon," Souji muttered as the fairy swung his sword, emitting sparks.

As some of the Shadows fell, it gave them time to back away and move farther into the sauna.

---

"Are we almost done?" Yosuke asked as they were currently in the middle of another fight.

Chie cuffed him, "Why are you asking me? Ask our fearless leader," she had just kicked a huge humanoid monster with large fists and a blue face that Tomoe had driven her spear into. Souji had used "Bufula" with Jack Frost on the other gigas and sliced downward.

Rion rolled his eyes, "We need you to attack them, not ask questions." His Persona was not very useful against this type of Shadow.

"Fine…," Yosuke huffed, "Let's go, Magaru!" as Jiraiya's wind blew the gigas in the air and down again.

"Well… that's one type of Shadow down," Chie shrugged.

As they futilely tried to open a locked door, they were forced into a battle by fishy Shadows.

As Rion swung his sword, trying to find an opening, he told Souji, "Do you still have Archangel, or a derivative of such?"

"Yes, why?" Souji asked.

"I think it will work against it," Rion responded, "Hurry…" as Rion rolled to the right from an attack.

As the fish advanced, Souji took the card in his hand. The Shadows turned their attention to him, "Principality!" "Mahama!"

The same spell he had used with Angel in the castle had surrounded all of the Shadows in a circular pattern on the floor and it rose to destroy them.

"Are we done yet?" Teddie asked, walking through the dead Shadows' fog.

"What!? Are you tired of us pwning enemies already?" Souji asked.

"No… no, it's just…," Teddie pointed, "Look!"

Souji turned to see more Shadows that were attracted by their battle. They were pots… pots were people in them. Pots… that casted spells at people.

"Shit…," Souji muttered as he was thrown to the floor. Yosuke helped him up while Yukiko fired back with "Maragi".

"We can't win by doing minimal damage," Souji said as the Shadows retaliated against Konohana's "Maragi".

"I know you can win this, guys," Teddie said, "Just keep at it!"

"Use electricity…," Rion said calmly as he and Chie were currently engaging one of the Shadows with their staff and greaves.

Souji moved away from a crater that a spell had caused and exclaimed, "Oberon!" "Mazio!" The pots fell to their sides.

"Let's kick their asses!" Souji rallied the group.

"About time!" Chie yelled as everyone rushed forward into the pot Shadows.

"Okay, here is the stairs," Souji said after walking and battling endlessly. It seemed that there was two ways to get to the next level, and this was the way that wasn't locked. Everyone looked like they were about to collapse anyways, besides… Rion, Souji noticed.

"Let's go home," Souji told the group.

"See you later!" Teddie said as they left the TV world.

Souji could do nothing but say hi and then fall asleep. He dreamed of wrestling that fox, and the fox won. He would have to check and see if he had all of his limbs in the morning.