Inaba, Dojima Residence, Evening, May 18th, 13 days until New Moon.
After returning to the Food Court at Junes from the TV world, the team had decided to rest for now and Yu decided to head back home while everyone else had things to do. Dinnertime was interesting in that Saki Konishi had decided to stop by and she helped Yu make a traditional Japanese recipe. It actually tasted good when Yu tested it and Nanako also had the cuisine for dinner that night. After dinner was over, Yu thanked Saki for helping him and she responded by saying that she could stop by and eat with him for dinnertime every once in a while. After seeing her head off back to the field base, Yu went up to his room and when the time was midnight, the Midnight Channel aired. It wasn't normal though, as it was sunny today. The scene was inside the bathhouse, but instead of Shadow Kanji, a skeletal monk was there on the camera.
"People of Inaba, you have been denying parts of your own personalities and suppressing them for far too long. Because of what you are doing to yourselves, Shadows now roam freely inside your dreams and during a certain hour. If you want to stop these Shadows, do not lie to yourself and be truthful." The monk preached before the video feed cut.
Yu went to sleep when the Channel stopped, but he found himself in the Velvet Room. Igor was there along with Margaret, but an old man with a cane sat next to Igor this time. There was also another newcomer, but one was a young female who wore a sleeveless white shirt and a short checkered skirt that was accompanied with thing-high black-striped white stockings. Yu also noticed that Minato was next to him.
"Do not be alarmed, you both are fast asleep in the real world." Igor said to both Wild cards before continuing, "This man next to me goes by the name of Louis Cypher."
"Thank you, Igor." Louis said before turning his attention to Yu and saying, "Hello, Yu Narukami. You might be wondering why I am here, but that's simple: I had heard that you defeated the Matador back at that castle in the TV world along with Minato."
"It's true." Yu said before he pulled out the candelabrum as proof.
"That Candelabrum is one of eleven that are currently being held by the Fiends. The Fiends are demons that can be used as Personae, but it seems that as long as one holds a Candelabrum, they cannot be used as masks intended to overcome hardships by even a Wild Card user. In order to summon a Fiend as a Persona, you must retrieve the Candelabrum from them and place it on a pedestal inside a special place called the Labyrinth of Amala. My loyal successor, Naoki Kashima, awaits you at the bottom of the fifth Kalpa should you reach it as the eleven Candelabra act as keys to the Kalpas. That Candelabrum of Foundation acts as the key to the First Kalpa. A Fiend known as David holds the Candelabrum of Sovereignty and is hiding somewhere in town. Find him and then defeat him in order to track down the Fiends without having to rely on the Midnight Channel."
Margaret then said, "I saw a Fiend appear at the bathhouse dungeon. It was an Insane Monk who preached for humans to accept themselves."
Louis then said, "That must be Daisoujou. If a demon that can have some of it's power be stored in a Persona ever has or had a Candelabra in its possession at some point, its Arcana will always change from what it originally had to Death. Daisoujou has the Candelabrum of Eternity, so his Arcana has changed from the Hierophant to Death. That is all for now, but I'll open a way for you and your allies to enter the Labyrinth from the TV world."
Minato then asked, "So who's the other newcomer in here?" as Louis disappeared.
Margaret then said, "This person goes by the identity of Marie. She is . . . mysterious, so to speak."
"I think we've kept you in here for long enough. Next time, the two of you will come of your own volition." Igor said before the Velvet Room disappeared.
Yasogami High School, shoe lockers, After School, May 19th, Thursday, 12 days until New Moon.
Yu was getting ready to leave when Saki walked up to him and asked, "Oh, you have any plans for today?"
"No." Yu replied.
"Well then, how about we walk home together?"
"Sure."
As Yu walked with Saki Konishi to the Dojima Residence, they chatted about stuff. Once there, Yu then said, "We haven't exchanged cell numbers yet. It's for the investigation, if you ask."
"I'm alright. Sometimes I might not answer because of work." Saki said as she exchanged her number with the Fool.
When that was done, Saki then said, "I worry about Yosuke sometimes, but the financial situation that my family is going through is quite tough. I feel that all of us have to worry about our grades. I know that Yosuke struggled with Morooka in Philosophy, but I'm not sure if it's the same situation with Reaper-sensei in Mythology."
"When I checked the test results today, Yosuke actually got number six in the top ten on who scored highest in the Mythology tests. I had gotten number two in comparison."
As they chatted, Yu heard a voice say, "Thou art I and I am thou. Thou hast established a new bond. Thou shalt have our blessings when Thou choosest to create a Persona of the Empress Arcana."
Yu Narukami has established the Saki Konishi Social Link of the Empress Arcana. He may receive a boost of power when fusing a Persona of the Empress Arcana.
When that was done, Yu said goodbye to Saki as she went to the field base. Yu decided to spend time with Nanako when evening came by and once again he slept like a log. The next day was the 20th, so the team decided to head into the bathhouse dungeon. This time Saki came with a rapier and apparently it suited her quite well when she fought ordinary Shadows for the first time. Most of the third floor had now been explored, but there was a hallway that was locked on both ends. When Yu decided to check out a chest that he found while searching, he felt the presence of Daisoujou and called Minato, Saki, and Yukiko over to him. They were then sucked into an orange vortex that appeared under their feet.
Fiend realm.
Yu, Saki, Minato, and Yukiko were waiting for something to happen when Daisoujou suddenly appeared behind Yu and said, "Are you the ones who are trying to search for the truth?" before reappearing in front of the team and continuing, "Man is destined to die, yet still you challenge the order of the universe, Minato. Do not lose sight of the truth, Investigators. Your struggle against Death is futile. No matter how many candelabra you gather, the shadows on your hearts cannot be lifted. It is my duty to save those who have gone astray. Let me be your guide. Receive my salvation. . . Accept your deaths!"
Daisoujou immediately yelled at Saki Konishi and drained some of her life energy and spirit power and then did the same to Yukiko. Yu immediately switched to Kaiwan, which was at Level 27 so it had resist Light and it naturally voided darkness and unleashed a normal attack that didn't deal a lot of damage. Saki then used Mana Drain on Daisoujou and managed to steal back almost all of the SP that the monk had drained from her while Yukiko cast Media to heal everyone and Minato unleashed a Megido attack. Daisoujou then unleashed a normal attack on Minato and used another one on Saki, knocking her down and allowing him to use Meditation on Yu. Yu countered by unleashing a critical hit when he used his normal attack on the monk, allowing an All-Out Attack to commence that hurt Daisoujou. Saki then used Mana Drain again and stole some of his SP when she got back up while Yukiko healed Yu with Dia as Minato focused.
Daisoujou then said, "My words shall erase your karma." as he cast Mamudoon and failed to hit anyone. His next action was to cast Mahamaon, which also failed to hit anyone and left him open to Yu using a normal attack. Saki used another Mana Drain to steal SP and Yukiko guarded as Minato unleashed a Power Slash that criticaled due to Focus. Yu allowed the All-Out Attack to happen and Daisoujou responded with a Meditation directed towards Konishi and then he casted Foul Breath on her. Yu guarded while Saki stole SP with Mana Drain, Minato focused again and Yukiko also guarded. Daisoujou then casted Foul Breath on Yu and Minato, which was responded to by Yu guarding again, but Saki Konishi also guarded along with Minato while Yukiko unleashed an Agilao that hardly scratched the monk. Daisoujou's next move was to cast Foul Breath on Yukiko, which was then followed up by an Anima Freeze that exhausted her and no one else. Yu just attacked normally while Saki stole more SP from Daisoujou before Minato unleashed a Focused Power Slash, setting up the third All-Out Attack on Daisoujou, and Yukiko guarded as her SP fell due to exhaustion.
"Fools. How much longer will you remain attached to life? Daisoujou said as he used Startle and then he casted Preach. It damaged everyone and it silenced Yu, enraged Minato, and confused Saki before using Meditation on her and Yu. Yu immediately used a Sedative on Konishi, who then used another Sedative on Minato. Minato decided to guard as did Yukiko. Daisoujou then casted Taunt, raising everyone's agility and attack power while lowering their defense at the same time and enraging Yu and Saki before using Preach again. Yu unleashed two normal attacks that somewhat hurt the monk while Saki recovered and used Mana Drain to steal back some of the SP that had been Meditated off. Minato focused again and Yukiko healed as the exhaustion took its toll. Daisoujou used Startle again and used Foul Breath on Saki before he failed to hit anyone with Mamudoon and Mahamaon again and he decided to use Mega-Debilitate, lowering everyone's overall combat performance. Yu recovered from his rage and guarded as Saki used Stamina Drain, taking some of Daisoujou's HP before Minato used a Focused Power Slash that hit, allowing one last AOA to take place and defeating the monk.
Yu Narukami has obtained the Candelabrum of Eternity.
Persona abilities introduced in this chapter: Meditation, Preach, Startle*. *Exclusive to enemies.
Meditation: drains a moderate amount of HP and SP from an enemy. Almighty elemental. Exclusive to Daisoujou. Cost: 12 SP
Preach: deals moderate Almighty damage and inflicts Confusion, Fear, Exhaustion, Rage, or Silence on all enemies. Exclusive to Daisoujou. Cost: 20 SP
Startle: gives the caster three 'One More' turns. Exclusive to Daisoujou. Cost: 1 SP
Fiend Daisoujou
HP: 2500
SP: 2000
Resistances and Weaknesses: Repel Light and Dark, Immune to all status changes, and resist Physical, Fire, Ice, Electric, and Wind.
Abilities: Meditation, Mahamaon, Mamudoon, Ghastly Wail, Startle, Foul Breath, Taunt, Anima Freeze, Mega-Debilitate, Evil Smile, Preach.