As they continued on, Akira switched them up regularly, making certain everyone got ample break time in the back, while the front line handled the combat. Everyone but himself, of course.
Makoto was worried. Her boyfriend was putting on a brave face and acting unperturbed by the endless fighting, but she could see it beginning to wear at him in his slower reaction times and the way he occasionally dragged his feet. Oh, he wasn't stumbling or anything, but he was clearly exhausted. The problem was, who could fill in for the man who could do everything? Nobody, that was who.
"What do you make of this, Queen?" Ann asked, turning Makoto's attention from staring out the window at Akira, to the vehicle's interior.
"Hm? Sorry, I wasn't listening very well," she admitted.
"I asked what you thought about this palace. It's really strange, isn't it?"
Allowing herself to be distracted from worrying about Akira, Makoto nodded. "Yes. The interior is like nothing we've encountered before, at least not in a palace. This whole thing feels more like Mementos than a palace. That aside, we've not seen even a hint of the ruler." They were five floors deep already, and still...nothing. In fact, they hadn't found anything resembling intelligent life since they'd encountered Ryoji at the entrance.
"Yeah. It's really weird. Like, the Shadows are acting normally, patrolling like guards, but what, or who, are they guarding? It kinda feels like guards defending an abandoned prison, or something."
"That's...actually a good analogy. It brings up the possibility that maybe...there is no ruler. What if this is an abandoned palace?"
"I don't think that's possible," Morgana chimed in. "If there's no ruler, the palace should disappear."
"Should," Makoto argued, "but do we know that for certain? What if, say, the ruling Shadow abandoned it, but still exists outside of...well, Mementos? For that matter, is it possible for a person to have multiple palaces?"
"Hm..."Morgana hummed, "I guess it could be, if the distortion was big enough, and affected more than one place. Never heard of it happening, though."
"No, and I'm not saying it ever has. I was just wondering," Makoto agreed.
"It's good to understand what we're dealing with," Ann said, "so I think it's worthwhile to think about things like that."
"I agree," Futaba's voice crackled down to them. "If we have a better understanding of the situation, then maybe we won't be caught off guard so much." Clearly, Ryoji had thrown her for a loop—admittedly, he'd thrown them all for a loop, and hadn't really stopped. They were all on-edge, waiting for him to jump out and ambush them.
"Still. Only one way to know for sure, and that's to press on. Stairs ahoy!" Futaba called cheerily.
The "stairs" as it were, were really just more pits in the floor. Still, after the first couple, jumping into them had gotten easier. A little. Thanks to Futaba and the eerie lighting, anyway.
Piling out of the car, they all climbed atop Prometheus and sank onto the pit. As they touched down, Futaba's voice immediately cut off any chatter.
"Guys, I'm sensing a really strong reading on this floor! It might be the ruler!"
That brought an uncertain silence to the group while they all exchanged glances. It was Ryuji who broke the silence first.
"Well, what're we waiting for? Let's go kick some Shadow ass!"
The words broke the stalemate, and the tired friends exchanged nods and immediately began the practiced routine of checking their weapons and equipment.
"Guys, there's a safe room here!" Morgana called from a short distance ahead.
"Let's go," Akira said, waving them ahead.
Akira dropped into an armchair as the rest of his team also settled in, tiredness evident on their faces. He hated having to ask so much of them, it wasn't fair for them to be forced to fight so much, but he had no choice. The best he could do was take most of the burden upon himself, and try his best to ensure they all got some rest.
It wasn't enough, though. It had been a long day, and there was no sign of it letting up anytime soon.
He really didn't know if they could do it.
None of them were willing to give up, however, so they prepared, rested, ate a few energy bars, and headed out once more. Very little conversation was exchanged at this point, aside from hurried orders to his front and back lines. Everyone was tired, but focussed. He was so proud of them.
It only took them a few doors to reach the source of the reading. The hallway fed into a large room, the walls of which disappeared into the dimness. Cautiously stepping into the open, Akira took a few steps before a noise reached his ears. Pausing, he frowned, glancing back at his friends in question.
"Is that...music?" Futaba asked quietly.
Indeed it seemed to be. Akira exchanged an uncertain look with Makoto, then waved Morgana forward. If any of them could sneak up on this...harp? player, it would be him. It was a tense few moments until Morgana returned at a sprint.
"It...definitely saw me," he panted, glancing in the direction of the music. "It didn't do anything, though, just sat there, playing...playing a harp. It's a Shadow, though, no doubt about it!"
"Good enough for me," Akira said. "Queen, Mona, Fox, with me. The rest of you, stand by. I have a feeling we'll all be fighting. Let's go!"
Weapons drawn, they ran in, taking offensive positions around the Shadow. Despite their presence, it continued plucking away at its harp, barely sparing them a glance. Akira took the reprieve to study it. With a crimson body, and almost mechanical, white limbs, it didn't look all that threatening, but Futaba had warned them it was strong, so he wasn't taking any chances.
"If it's not hostile, don't engage it. Go around and head for the door," he ordered softly. "Just be careful."
They began the slow game of creeping around, and for a moment, it seemed like they were going to get by without a battle—and then the Shadow stood and strummed its harp.
"It's focussed!" Futaba shrieked.
And like that, all pretence of peace was gone.
"Get me a reading, Oracle! Queen, Fox, buff us!" Akira yelled, taking up his own position, knife ready. In quick succession, he felt the results of Makoto's and Yusuke's spells raise his defence and agility, respectively. Calling upon Odin, he added his own attack buff to the group.
Without direct commands, Morgana rushed in, blade swinging. With a sharp meow, he backed off when his attack appeared to fail.
"Joker, it repels physical!" Makoto yelled. "Don't use physical attacks!"
"Got it!" he called back, immediately reevaluating his strategy. "Fox, switch with Panther the second you get an opening. Mona, stick to wind skills!"
"Got it!" Yusuke called, immediately seeking an opening.
This was the problem with being the leader. He needed to strategise and fight. It got to be a lot to manage—but they needed him.
"Watch out, Joker!" Futaba yelled. "It's agile! You need to find a way to slow it down!"
Great.
"Michael!" he yelled, swapping personas again and casting a Debilitate on the enemy.
"It's going to attack!" At Futaba's warning, Akira cancelled his spell and braced himself as a massive Wild Thunder spell clapped down around them.
"Mona's down! Watch out!" Futaba warned.
"Dammit. Queen, heal us!" Akira ordered, running out to draw its attention before it took out Morgana. Luckily, the ploy worked, and he found himself the target of a nasty God's Hand skill. The pain only lasted a moment before a relieving Mediarahan washed over them all.
"Panther here!"
"Focus on damage! Stick to Concentrate and Blazing Hell!" Akira ordered. "We need damage off!"
"Roger that!" Ann called back, summoning her persona.
"It's focussing again! Another big one's coming!" Futaba warned.
Swearing, Akira swapped his own persona and focussed himself. Whatever its resistances, Black Viper would hit it hard.
"Watch it!"
Futaba's shrieked warning was the only notification they had. Luckily, their reflexes were still boosted, and Akira and Morgana both managed to narrowly avoid the devastating Megidolaon that smashed down amongst them.
"Panther's down!" Damn, she didn't have their buffs, did she?
"Mona, take care of it! Queen, Matarukaja again!"
"Joker, it's charging!"
Dammit. How fast was this thing? "Mona! Hit it!"
"I'm trying! It's fast!" Morgana yelled back.
Dammit. Back to Michael, he tried another Debilitate, this time successfully getting it off in time. "Try now!"
"Joker," Futaba's voice was strangely serious, "this is dangerous. Maybe we should retreat."
"Dangerous how?"
"It's resisting all your hits."
"It won't resist this!" Back to Satan, he unleashed Black Viper.
It dodged.
"Dammit!"
"I'm trying to tell you! Queen analysed its skills. Joker it's too fast!"
"Give me the list!"
She did.
Harbinger of Nothingness
Slash:Repel Gun:Repel
Agi:Resist Bufu:Resist Zio:Resist Garu:Resist Psio:Resist Nuke:Resist
Bless:Resist Curse:Resist
Wild Thunder, Megidolaon
Concentrate, Charge,
God's Hand, Repel Physical
Ali Dance, Healing Harp
"It's like one of yours! Like someone built it to handle everything!"
Akira clenched his jaw. She was right. How were they supposed to deal with both Ali Dance and healing? "Well, we can't give up here."
"Maybe we can sneak around. Just please, fall back!"
Akira paused to consider, but a split second later, Makoto's cry broke through any thought.
"Mona!"
"Mona's down!" Futaba warned almost on top of her. "Quick, car—"
The Megidolaon knocked them all flat. Groaning, Akira struggled back to his feet. "Panther, item!"
"Got it!" she acknowledged, pulling out a Bead Chain and tossing it to them. Relief washed over him instantly, and Akira straightened.
"Joker, it's so strong," Makoto called, glancing at him worriedly. He waved off her concern.
"Keep hitting it! We've survived all of its hits! Just keep up the offence! We can outlast it!"
Makoto hesitated, then nodded. Anat's Atomic Flare took the Shadow right in the face.
...they trusted him so much. He couldn't fail.
The next charged up Wild Thunder also hit Morgana too hard. The cat was thrown back, hitting the floor hard. Before anyone could act, the Shadow was slamming them with another Megidolaon. This time, Akira wasn't so quick to rise.
Had he done it this time? Had he led them into a fight they couldn't win? He could only pray they saw sense and left him to save themselves. If only they lived, he could find peace...
He vision blurred and darkened to the sound of footsteps running towards him.
Thanks for the support guys. :) Next chapter is a good one.