Wanted to get this up last night but I had work and we had a major storm that knocked out the wifi and power to many places so here it is! I was sooooooooo looking forward to this chapter.
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"W-what….what….what the hell is going on here?!" Kanji was the first on to find his voice.
"It's….." Rise was trembling as she scanned Yuma, "It's like the Shadow possessed him….."
"Is that even possible?! Do you know something Teddie?!" Yosuke demanded answers from the bear.
"I've never seen anything like this…." Teddie was trembling in fear, "It really shouldn't be possible…but….this is wrong."
"You said you've seen something like this before….just exactly is going on here?" Naoto turned to Shark for answers.
Shark gritted his teeth, "Yuma and Astral can actually fuse to unlock a power, they called it Zexal. They only used it in emergencies but this here…..This happened when Astral was corrupted by Vector. The result was a darker version of their power….but the problem was they were a complete masochist like that!"
"So the Shadow won't care about Yuma's safety?!" Chie panicked.
"Very likely…..was this your goal Vector?" Shark dammed of the Barian.
"Not really…though I do love the results," Vector's mouthless face seemed to be smirking, "If it destroys you all, then I don't care."
"You're a heartless monster!" Yukiko said accusingly.
"Why thank you…." Vector gave them a bow, "Care to state the obvious again?"
"Change them back…."
Vector scowled, "You are in no position to make demands of me Astral…."
"I said….." Astral managed to stand up and match Vector's gaze, "Change them back!"
Is that concern I hear? The fusion didn't even look at Astral, As touching as it is I don't care…..He waved his hand as the ring of fire became a cage around Astral. Just wait right there while I eliminate the others.
"Not if we can help it!" Yu regained his composure, "We're getting Yuma and Astral back!"
"I hope you have a plan to go with that boast…" Shark whispered.
"It isn't much…." Yu turned to the group, "We have to go easy here….we're not just fighting a Shadow anymore….this is a person. We need to delay him until we can figure out a way to get Yuma back. Plus we need to get Astral out of that cage and out of harm's way."
"What about punching some punk in the face while we're at it…" Kanji caught his fist looking straight at Vector who seemed to notice the glare.
"Are you referring to me?"
"Have your fun then Kanji….leave some for me." Shark said.
"Will do…..COME HERE YOU WALKING STATUE!"
"GAH!" Vector had to leap to avoid in incoming fist from both Kanji and Take-Mizazuchi, "What are you attacking me for?"
"You know what you did!"
"Rise….if you find some way to separate Yuma from the Shadow….let us know." Yu said to her.
She nodded, "I will Sempai….."
"I'm counting on you."
Done plotting? The fusion questioned, Then let's get started. Come to me! Zexal Weapon Chimera Cloth!
In a burst of flames a dark purple and gold feline like creature with wings appeared behind him.
"A Persona?" Yosuke questioned.
"Not quite….it's another aspect of Yuma and Astral's power." Shark explained. "But that's not the part you should be worried about."
"What's that?" Chie's question was answered when the beast transformed into a double bladed scythe which the fusion took and spun then took a battle stance with great expertise.
"He's not going to try to attack us with that is he?" Teddie sounded hopeful.
Yuma's body smirked before dashing with great speed past the Personas and to the humans scythe raised and ready to strike.
"Ara Mitama!" Yu managed to get defensive Persona summoned into to block the attack. "Yuma snap out of it!"
He can't hear you…..He leapt back and charged again. He's finally quite. Ara Mitama fizzled out as it took another hit but thankfully everyone had scattered to avoid the deadly blade.
"I don't get it…why is he going for us!?" Yukiko asked.
"Maybe because he sees us as defenseless. We've only got our Personas for protection but no real weapons of our own." Naoto grunted, "And due to many of them being large size and stature…they won't be able to get to us in time if he got past them."
"Then divide and conger! Naoto, stay with me. We'll keep Yuma busy. Shark…stay with Rise and help her figure out how to get Yuma back. Chie, Yukiko, and Yosuke start working on that cage to free Astral. Teddie go help Kanji keep Vector occupied." Yu said it determination in his voice. Everyone ran for their targets, except for Shark.
"I'm not sitting on the side lines!" He protested and ran for Yuma.
You are charging me head on? You must have some brain damage! Yuma swung the scythe again but Shark rolled out of the way than sprang forward grabbing his midsection tackling him to the ground. "Get the scythe!"
"R-right…." Naoto was shocked at Shark's recklessness, "Sukuna-Hikona!" The smaller Persona was on the scene in an instant trying to wrestle the weapon out of Yuma's grip.
Let go of me!
Yu and Naoto joined Shark in trying to keep the possessed boy pinned to the ground while Izanagi grabbed onto the scythe as well slowly sliding it out of his grip.
Chimera Cloth! The scythe returned to its bestial form knocking the Personas back while Yuma let out a shockwave knocking the humans off of him. You'll have to try better than that….He said as Chimera Cloth returned to his master's side regaining its weapon form.
"We plan to…" Shark promised him that.
Astral could only watch in horror from his prison. He didn't mean for everything to end up like this.
"Astral get back! We're going to try to break through." Yosuke warned him.
Astral retreated to the far side of the cage as he watched Jiraya, Konohana-Sakuya, and Tomoe started hacking at the bars holding him in place.
"What were you thinking? Coming in here alone like this…." Chie started scolding him.
"I just wanted answers…." Astral wasn't quite sure why he was trying to defend himself. There were others way he could have gone about this.
"By talking to your Shadow self? That's some weird form of therapy…why didn't you talk to Yuma?" Yosuke asked
"I couldn't…..I couldn't talk to him….he's already got enough burdens…"
"That's not a good excuse….Yuma has been worried sick about you. Friends are supposed to talk about their problems." Yukiko pointed out.
Astral only looked to the ground in shame.
Jiraya ripped a large section of the cage free providing a way out. "Come on…" Yosuke held a hand out to him, "We need to save Yuma. Then you can apologize to him."
Astral looked at them, then at Yuma. Last time this happened….Yuma was the one to pull him out of the darkness. Now it was his turn.
"Alright…." Astral flew free and faced his friend, "Yuma!"
Yuma paused in his onslaught and turned around, You are just begging to be killed aren't you.
Astral swallowed a lump in his throat, "Please….let Yuma go…I'm the one you want."
Yuma's face twisted into a harsh glare as he slammed the scythe into the ground the sound echoing catching everyone's attention. That's not true anymore….you just want to save the boy.
Astral opened his mouth to say something but the Shadow continued.
You've been like that for quite some time now. Ever since you first discovered Zexal….you've been protective of him. But it's not because you see him as a friend, you see him a necessity. You can't access your full power without him. He's just your tool to complete your mission. But you've allowed him to corrupt you with….morals. He spat the last word with malice, How hard is it to destroy a world and all of its inhabitants? Should be simply really I mean….they are Barians. Evil to the core and if you don't destroy them, they'll destroy you. So why are you having second thoughts?
Everyone not aware of Astral's mission before was now staring in shock and looked to Astral as he came up with his answer.
"Because if I destroy their world…..I'll just be like them won't I?!" Astral kept in intense gaze, "It would make me no better than Vector!" He pointed to the Barian in question who was currently pinned under Kintoki-Douji, "If my mission is supposed to be a righteous and just one then why am I committing such a sin?"
The Shadow was speechless, like he wasn't expecting that answer. And Astral kept going.
"I made a mistake coming alone looking for you. I forgotten an important lesson I learned from my time on earth….that I should rely on my friends more. Yuma….and even Yu knew that I was making a mistake wanting to blindly follow the mission I was given. But I ignored them and refused their help. But not anymore….We are taking back Yuma and freeing you from corruption!" Astral gave Yu a look who returned with a reassuring nod.
"That's the Astral I know…" Shark chuckled to himself.
"This friendship talk is all sappy in my opinion…." Vector took the moment while everyone was distracted to heave the tank like Persona off of him.
"I thought I told you to stay down!" Kanji punched him in the face dazing Vector for a bit.
"That hurt you know!" Vector grabbed Kanji's sleeve and tossed him into Teddie sending the two rolling into the wall. "I'm not going to let you win Astral!"
All of the Personas got in between the two. "And I'm done playing with all of you." Vector's eyes flash red as a whirlwind kicked up pushing everyone back. "Time to bring things to the next level!" He drew a glowing card and threw it at Astral.
"Astral look out!" Yu cried out in alarm.
Astral held his ground ready to catch the incoming card, only to see it sail past him and was caught by Yuma who looked it over.
What is this?
"Guys!" Rise shouted, "There are tons more Shadows heading this way! That card is calling them here!"
"Yuma drop the card!" Astral called out.
Why should I? It will make it easier to destroy you.
Shadows were now crawling from everywhere, the hallways and even from the skylight above. Konohana-Sakuya was already setting them on fire, "We shouldn't let them get close!" Yukiko advised.
Oh let them…..They make a great army…..He grinned watching the unformed Shadows crept closer and closer. Attack them my….A tendril shot up from the globish Shadow and wrapped around his wrist. What is….Another tendril, then another, and another. More and more Shadows got past the others and where closing in on the dark fusion. What is the meaning of this!? The card in his hand was now crackling with red lightening. I…I can't let go! Suddenly his body arched in screaming pain as the Shadows liquefied and shot into his chest.
"YUMA!" Astral cried out before clutching his own chest in pain.
"What's wrong?" Shark panicked.
"Pain….screams…..it's hurting him…." It was all that Astral managed to say.
Shark could only look on at the scene. All the Personas were trying to get close to so something but an odd purple barrier flashed into existence just long enough to block them. The liquefied Shadows began to coat Yuma's body forming new shapes silencing his painful cries when it covered his mouth.
"I'm…..going to be sick…." Chie covered her mouth in horror.
"The Shadows…..they're fusing with Astral's Shadow that's inside Yuma…."Rise reported.
"But what about Yuma? What's happening to him?!" Kanji demanded.
"I don't know! The signals from the Shadows are overlapping so much I can't even detect him even though he's right in front of me!"
"H-He's there…." Astral managed to say, "I….I can tell….but he's weak."
"You know this how?" Teddie asked.
"That doesn't matter we are running out of time!" Shark said as the Shadows were fully absorbed by Yuma revealing his new figure.
He stood a few inches taller and his hair had grown to reach his waist while his bangs now framed his face. The bodysuit was now grey and black with green designs running down his torso and legs. A grey chest plate was attached to the suit and two large triangular shoulder guards seemed to float on his body. Dull red and grey plates were attached around his waist and reached his knees with similar boots fitted his legs. A piece of armor lined his jaw line up to his ears sharpened his features as he looked on them with gold eyes while the sclera had turned black. The new version of the fusion didn't say a world as he reclaimed the scythe from where it was dug into the ground from earlier and slowly started to approach them.
Yu involuntary took a step back. Was there any chance at getting Yuma back now? Before he could blink he noticed that the blade was coming at his neck. Only the timely intervention of Shark yanking him downward saved his life.
"When did he…" Yosuke was cut off when the blunt side of the scythe was rammed into his gut.
"Leave him alone!" Yukiko shouted as Konohana-Sakuya sent a barrage of flames. Yuma just stood there as the flames had no affect on him. Faster than anyone could see, he left a deep gash in Konohana-Sakuya's chest.
"Yukiko!" Chie cried out in alarm, "Freeze him!" Tomoe spun her glaive and rammed the blade into the ground creating an ice patch that began to climb up Yuma's body but he broke out just by walking. He stood to attack again but Sukuna-Hikona parried his scythe briefly sending him off balance. Kintoki-Douji took the opportunity to body slam him only to be chucked away when Yuma used the scythe like a baseball bat.
"What do we do now? He's whipping the floor with us!" Kanji winced as his Persona was attacked next.
Yu gritted his teeth as he changed Personas, "Go! Stardust Dragon!" The pristine white dragon roar as it reared its head back charging a beam before firing. Yuma just stared at the incoming attack as what could be described as a being of dark fire with eyes shot up from the ground shielding him from the attack with no damage.
"Rise what is that?" Naoto asked.
"The best way I could put it is that it's an extension of the Shadow in Yuma. I don't think it can attack but it's already clear that its got high defenses."
"Great….that things going to protected him from ranged attacks and if we get to close he's going to cut us to ribbons." Shark laid out the situation for them.
"Not to mention he's moving at incredible speeds." Naoto added. "I'm worried about the toll this is taking on Yuma's body."
"It won't be good…." Astral winced, "If only I could get close."
"You think you can force it out?" Yu asked.
"I think so….it's risky but….I'll do anything to save Yuma."
"But how are we going to do that with him killing us! I would like to get back in one piece!" Teddie protested.
"We need to neutralize the fire specter first." Naoto started laying out the plan, "Then we need to slow Yuma down so that Astral can get close enough to force the Shadow out."
"The fire specter is weak to light so maybe an attack strong enough could dispel it." Rise said.
"I think that's your department Sensei." Teddie said.
"Yeah….I've got a light based Persona in mind and one that can control time…I just hope I can switch between them fast enough."
"Don't doubt yourself…." Astral gave him a smile, "I know you can pull this off."
"Astral….thanks."
CRASH!
I am though, and I am Though
Though hast established a new bond…
It brings thee closer to the truth…
Though shall be blessed with the skills of and the creation of Persona of the Emissary Aranca
A Social Link forming at a time like this?! With Astral?! Yu was in disbelief. The wording in his head was a bit different too. That's when his pocket started flashing light.
"What's with the light show Yu!?" Yosuke said shielding his eyes.
Yu reached into his pocket and pulled out what was causing the light. It was the blank card, but it was blank no more. It was now Number 74 Master of Blades.
"The Number…." Now it was Astral's turn to be surprised. "How did it…"
Yu didn't care and stood up, "Be ready Astral…..we are doing this."
Astral collected himself and nodded, "Give me a signal."
Yu held up the card and felt power course through him as Igor's voice entered his head.
The power of the Emissary Arcana has granted you the power of the Numbers…as well the ability to summon multiple Personas…though do take caution when doing so.
Now's not the time for caution, Yu thought as the Duel Monsters card became a Persona Card while two more floated down from above to join it. "Come!" Yu crushed all three cards, "Master of Blades! Blue Eyes White Dragon! Chronos!"
The room became brightly lit as the three new Personas took the stage. The first was Master of Blades who looked like an Arabian warrior dressed in purple and the glint of hidden blades shown under his clothes. The second was the Blue Eyes White Dragon true to its name was a white dragon style very similar to western dragon lore. The last was Chronos that was a black humanoid being with a clock for a face surrounded with golden wing themed armor.
"What?" Vector shouted from his position, "You're just pulling these powers out of your…." He was silenced by Take-Mizazuchi's fist.
"Nice one." Shark complimented.
"First….Blue Eyes!" Yu called out. The dragon shot a stream of lightning striking the defensive fire specter dissipating it into ember.
"Chronos!" The clock being snapped his fingers as a clock face appeared below Yuma slowing down his movements significantly.
"Master of Blades!" Taking advantage of Yuma's slower speed, the Arabian warrior kicked the scythe out of his hands then pinned it to the wall with several flying daggers.
"It's now or never Astral!"
"Right!" Astral started glowing with a blue aura surprising everyone. "I'm coming Yuma!" Then he dove headfirst straight into Yuma's body.
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Dark Zexal was something that I was planning from the beginning, so being finally able to write it was so much fun. Hope you all enjoy, especially the appearance of Dark Zexal II