Mythic
Yu had just enough time to process the acid light tainting Nyverak's fangs as the dragon prepared to strike when a pair of large, cold hands suddenly grabbed him by his shoulders. At once, his world became washed with darkness, coils of shadow winding around his entire body like a shroud.
Then it faded, and after a bewildered look-around, he realized that he was on the other end of the bridge close to the castle gates. The hands released him, and Yu didn't even have to glance to know who it was.
Still, he looked, and Xirskam gave him only a curt, formal half-nod before dissipating back into darkness. There was a clatter where the Shade had stood, and Yu bent down to collect what had been dropped; a simple, steel short sword, hardly his favorite weapon, but leagues better than being unarmed.
Slipping it into the too-big scabbard, Yu jogged over to the ledge of the bridge, peering out between the stone parapets to the city below. As far as he could see from his position, the elemental's numbers had dwindled considerably, the eerie lights only travelling in small, broken pockets now. Dark masses carrying torches made rounds through the streets, the soldiers of eight different human armies moving with far more organization and control than the panicked scattering of the peasants and driving back what was left. It looked as if things were finally under control down there, and he couldn't be more glad.
A roar rose up in the distance, a strident, terrifying sound that served as a reminder that danger still remained, and Yu turned his head to the right.
Though it was over a hundred feet away, Yu could quite clearly see Nyverak as the great dragon buffeted his enormous wings at the Champions, upraised claw crackling with magic and snarling like a rabid dog. Even from there, he cut a terrifying image, a living bulwark of ebon scales and slivered claws. As Yu watched, the magic around Nyverak's paw flickered out, and a fetid green mist enveloped the bridge where they were fighting, bubbling like a volcanic morass and just as foul.
He could not see beyond it, and that frustrated him as he gripped the hilt of his new sword. Yu knew that rushing in blindly was a fool's move, would only serve in getting him killed. God, how he despised this helplessness! If only he could summon his persona, any persona! Just something that could help stop this, something that could . . . that could prevent tragedies like Tiruviel from happening!
"SENPAI!"
He'd only half-turned at the cry before a body slammed hard into his own, knocking the wind from him. Arms constricted tight around his midriff, the body against him shaking with sobs.
His face fell, returning Rise's embrace with an understanding solemnity even as the rest of his friends gathered around him like a flock of panicked birds.
He felt Chie clutch his arm, hair a mess and bleeding from a shallow cut on her neck, eyes gleaming with concern, voice thick, "Oh my god, are you alright?! We saw you fall, and we thought-!"
"Do you hurt anywhere? Is anything broken?" Yukiko asked with a frantic edge, slim fingers probing gently, but urgently, for any injuries at all.
"Fuck, that dragon just snatched you right up! We didn't know what to do!" Kanji stammered, his hand gripping the wet plaster of his hair in shock, face taut with harried fright.
Another pair of arms cinched at his waist, and Yu didn't have to look to know it was Teddie even as the boy let out a low, teary keen, "Senseiiii . . ."
"Senpai, please speak to us," Naoto said, and though she was still the most outwardly composed of anyone, Yu could easily discern the plea in her voice and the worried gleam in her eyes.
"Guys!" Yosuke shouted over them all, and Yu didn't miss the protective downturn of his lips as he pushed people back, "Give him some space! Let him breathe!"
Everyone . . . their faces were so scared, though he very easily understood why. He'd been absolutely terrified. But it would have been so much worse if he'd had to watch one of his friends be carted off by a monster.
"I'm . . ." he coughed, voice feeling dry and hoarse even despite the water all around them. Still, for their sakes, he tried to smile, "I'm alright. Not even a scratch."
Whether they noticed the tightness behind his lips or not, it seemed to work. Slowly, slowly, his friends relaxed. Some began to surreptitiously wipe at their eyes, others exhaled with relief, while the two currently entwined around his body just held on tighter. He met Yosuke's, and after a quiet moment, the other boy sighed and half-heartedly punched him in the arm, "I know you couldn't really help it, partner . . . but fuck, don't ever do that to me again . . ."
He tried to keep his voice lighthearted, but the strain was obvious, as well as the slight tremble Yu knew his friend would want him to ignore.
"I'll try," he whispered, hoping he would be able to keep his word in the future.
Behind them, more roaring and distant shouts continued to rip through the air, loud enough to draw their eyes to the massive fog that swept over the bridge. Just before it, though it was hard to see in the shadowed, rain swept darkness, Tiruviel's still, lifeless form rested, and a fresh spear of guilt plunged through Yu's heart.
"Is that . . . i-is she really . . . ?" Rise's voice was quiet, so quiet he could barely hear her over the rain, thick and ragged and worn.
Yu hung his head, and that was all the answer he had to give.
"Son of a bitch . . ." Chie growled, hurt giving way to anger that leaked through her tone, fists trembling with suppressed rage, "Son of a bitch."
"I can't believe she's . . ." Yukiko trialed off, eyes falling to the puddles at her feet.
"Damn it . . ." Yosuke breathed, looking sharply to the side.
Yu could almost feel their pain like a physical burn against his skin. He felt it raw against his own heart, his own soul. If only he'd been stronger . . .
"Why does this always happen?"
Teddie's voice broke through the rain and the distant cacophony of battle, watery and sad and lost, "W-we used to be able to do so much, b-but ever since . . . e-ever since we c-came here, everything g-goes wrong! Everywhere we go! T-Tiruviel-" his voice hitches, trips on the name, "Everyone keeps saying w-we'll get stronger, b-but . . . b-but . . ."
Whatever else he had left to say became lost in a piteous sob, one that tears at them all. Pity is there, but so is understanding, and frustration. For all they'd improved, they still weren't good enough, and that was costing lives. Lives they could have saved if only they had their personas.
But their time of somber, grief-stricken reflection came to an end when, on the other side of the bridge, the putrid fog suddenly roiled and twisted as Nyverak burst up into the sky. With two powerful flaps, the great dragon cleared a good quarter of the bridge before dropping back to ground, so close he could feel the stone shake beneath him. With the grace of a cat, Nyverak twisted around to face where the fog was dissipating, acid pooling over his fangs before erupting out in a huge, thick line with all the force of a geyser. Flecks of the acidic slime splattered against the stone caught in it's line of fire, eating clean through the marble and leaving ugly, pitted holes all across the bridge.
Instinct kicked in fast, "Everyone, get back to gates! Hurry!"
The shelter of the portcullis was thankfully not too far, even if it was damaged and broken. The terrace was a mess of torn and blackened stone, fallen blades, arrows, and the darker, more disquieting shapes of bodies. But of the elementals that once ravaged the place there was no sign. The remaining soldiers had gathered along the outer wall and the remains of the gates, coming to observe the battle being waged upon the bridge that not too long ago served as a passage for kings, eyes blown wide and gaping with awe. He still could not see their protectors amidst the crowd, and that made him worry.
Climbing over the heaps of sundered stone, Yu and the rest of his friends positioned themselves behind columns both fallen and standing, where they could better observe the battle as it raged on. His heart was pounding furiously, shivering from cold yet feeling far too hot within the confines of his armor as adrenaline continued to surge through his body with every savage roar.
The first Champion he saw was Yvir, swooping in from the sky, far outfield and out of range of the dragon's snapping jaws. With unerring concentration, the sylph swept his hand out in a large arc, wind trailing out from his fingertips in a powerful and scalding blast. The scorching gust peeled away the rain in its path, slamming into the dragon's back so forcefully Nyverak teetered to stay standing. Small blue flames licked over the dragon's scales before the winds died, charred holes forming in his wings like burning parchment as the delicate membrane was seared to ash.
At the same time, two other shapes emerged into view. Korval was easy to distinguish, his huge, terrifying form a battering ram as he brought his hammer down on the dragon's foot, striking anywhere he could reach scaly flesh and only missing once. The pauldron of his left shoulder was worn down, the spikes eaten away by acid, and a huge rent had been torn in the breastplate of his armor. Yu could only imagine the damage underneath, but regardless, the half-orc powered on.
In tandem, Cahira broke from his side, a green blur as she shot up the dragon's opposite leg in defiance of gravity to thrust her staff into the soft crook of his elbow. It was hard to tell how many times the monk struck, but ice coalesced rapidly around the dragon's scales, cracking with every jerk of Nyverak's arm.
A shadow appeared behind the dragon, well in their line of sight but not Nyverak's as a cascade of glimmering shards were set loose into the dragon's unprotected abdomen, a spell he recalled seeing once before. In sync with Tirin's spell, four golden bolts went flying, two striking the underside of the dragon's neck, one in the crook of his jaw, and the last just before the tender tissue of his eye. Blood welled from the wounds, black in the dark and running wild with the rain. He couldn't see Nyras, but he didn't have to know it was her. Another soul he did not see was Rhysana, bu the could hear her strong, powerful voice singing over the chaos, giving strength to her companions as the battle wore on.
Nyverak screeched, eyes livid with unfettered rage as he turned to attack. Without hesitation, his back leg raked back over the stone, and Tirin was unable to move quickly enough to avoid it. He went flying, hitting the ground with a cry and rolling to a stop a good ten feet from the actual fight. Xirskam appeared beside him, helping him to his feet even as the dragon turned it's sights on his other enemies.
With a snarl, he lashed out with both claws at Korval, who dodged one but not the second. The huge talons razed over his armor with a horrific screech of tearing metal, limey tints of acid eating away at what remained all the way down to the flesh. Without pause, the dragon's head then snaked down and snapped at Cahira, nearly taking her head off but thankfully instead only clipping her in the shoulder. But even from here Yu, could hear Cahira's shout as the acidic saliva coating the dragon's fangs dissolved her flesh down to bone.
But Nyverak wasn't done. His wings flared out in out quick, violent thrusts, but it was hard to tell who he was aiming for. Even so, he could tell they were powerful, the rain churning in the wind generated by the strong strokes. Then, with a deft and quick swing of his hips, Nyverak's tail swept out in a large arc that caught all of them in it's grasp. Stone cracked and turned to dust beneath the crushing appendage, the once mighty parapets being swept away and leaving nothing but a huge, gaping hole open to dizzying blackness beyond. The dust was tremendous, spreading out in a heavy, choking cloud the color of pale ash that seemed to mute whatever sounds remained. It tickled his throat and made him cough, the taste dry and harsh and laden with grit. Hands clutching the molded rock beneath his fingers with almost bone breaking force, Yu searched desperately for any signs of life, fear burning higher than ever.
No, we can't lose them too! he thought frantically, with half a mind to run out into danger to search despite his instincts screaming for him not to.
The rain swept the dust away quickly, to reveal Nyverak still raging on the bridge, trying vainly to bite an evasive Yalathas out of the sky. The paladin was soaring on those same wings of metallic silver, the sword-sharp primaries gouging through Nyverak's scales whenever he flew by. For good measure, he'd thrust his own sword deep, the crystal blade trialing holy light even with the crimson staining it's length.
At the dragon's feet, Korval was still hammering away relentlessly, even though he looked far more battered than before. Even from his position, Yu could tell some of his wounds were bad, to the point where he wondered how the half-orc was standing. But the barbarian didn't look pained at all. In fact, he just looked furious, and that fury was channeled in every swing.
Tirin was up as well, thankfully looking like he'd dodged the tail and escaping with only claw marks and bruises. He still had not drawn his daggers, instead relying on magic as he shadow-walked from one space to the next, keeping on the move and away from the dragon's wrath.
Of Cahira and Nyras, he could not see.
What he did see was an intense halo of orange light drew his eyes, to find Ylvaria standing proud amidst the ruin. Her cloak was gone, flaring out instead as wings of burning fire that refused to bow to the rain, with flickering feathers of orange and yellow all trimmed with azure blue. Her holy symbol was in her hand, a magnificent aura of warmth radiating from it and from her, rushing out in a wave of healing magic that knit the Champions wounds closed in a matter of seconds.
Five bright, scintillating streams of pure energy blasted down from above, slamming dead on into the dragon's chest in an explosion of brilliance. Spitting mad, but also flagging, Nyverak pointed a great claw at Yvir, and a thin ray of black light shot out from the digit. It hit Yvir, who could not twist out of the way in time, and Yu could see the man writhe as the dark energy encompassed him. When it ended, Yvir dropped.
Yu lurched forward out of pure reflex, as if he could sprout wings then and there and save him. But luckily for him, someone up there already did have wings, and was diving fast after the sylph. For seconds that lasted entirely too long, Yalathas chased after Yvir with the gap between them inching closed bit by bit, brow knitted in hard concentration.
Then they both vanished over the side of the bridge, and could not be seen anymore.
"Oh no," someone whispered, not one of his friends.
"Did he fall?"
"What happened?"
"Can anyone see?"
If there were answers within the murmurs, he did not hear them, because now Nyverak was turning, acid gushing from his mouth. It pooled across the bridge, a lake near as large as the black dragon himself, spilling over the sides and gushing around the Champions legs. They were all moving to get out of it, the bubbling mire no doubt burning worse than fire, but that distraction was all Nyverak needed.
Wings flaring, the black dragon leapt over the side and began to fly away.
"NO!" he shouted. He still had the gem that had taken Tiruviel! If he got away now, Yu knew with certainty there would be no chance of saving her again!
In desperation, he reached inside and searched for Izanagi, for anyone, begging, pleading, but only a stirring was his answer. A stirring that could do nothing to help him, nothing at all.
He heard the sharp twang of bows, the archers and Naoto firing into a sky paling grey with the coming dawn, but only a few reached their retreating mark. As the arrows plunged down into darkness, Yu felt his hope begin to die.
Then a flash of silver caught his eye, a streak like starlight over the lake that just as soon shot up into the sky in pursuit of the great beast.
A smile came unbidden as he recognized Yalathas, with Yvir at his side, the sorcerer weaving magic between his fingers even in chase. At once, the air around the dragon pulsated, and suddenly Nyverak was dragged down as if a great chain had been attached to him, eviscerated wings beating madly to stay afloat.
Then Yalathas was upon him, crystal sword drawn as he slashed it through the dragon's gut. Roaring, Nyverak turned and spat, more missiles of pure force flying from his claw tips in an effort to dissuade pursuit. But in the scramble to stay afloat and the concentration it took to cast his spell, he made one slip, one Yu almost missed had it not been for the glimmer of green as it fell from his paw.
The emerald he'd used to siphon Tiruviel's life force away.
Nyverak noticed immediately, folding his wings to his sides and dropping after the wayward gemstone. Yalathas was not far behind him. Even after taking the hit from the dragon's spell, he did not let that stop him.
Yvir, however, beat them both, grabbing the emerald midair and just barely getting out of the way in time as Nyverak fell upon him, flying up as the dragon plunged to the lake. The black dragon craned his sinewy neck around and a line of acid shot from his mouth, flailing his head wildly in an effort to hit both of them at once, wings fanned out at his sides.
He missed, and in the time it took for the dragon to gather the wind he needed to fly back up, Yvir threw the stone Yalathas' way. Without hesitation, and with only the dove grey light of the predawn stillness as a choir, the paladin gave a mighty swing of his sword when the gem came to hover beside him and watched as it shattered in two.
At once, light erupted from the falling, broken pieces, sailing away from the wreckage and back to the bridge. At the same time, Ylvaria held up her holy symbol and began to chant, unknown runes etching themselves in fire at her feet as she drew magic towards her. The same runes appeared around Tiruviel's lifeless form, casting her body in ruddy red light that promised hope.
Except the light did not travel to her body, as Yu had expected. Instead, it twisted and flew to the broken gates they took shelter in, falling upon the crowd like a mist of warm, ghostly light. Something shown at Yu's feet, something that had not been shining before, and he looked down at once. It was there, hidden beneath a pile of loose rubble that he quickly kicked away, and when at last it was freed, he dropped to a knee.
The diamond he thought he had lost glimmered at him with pale, snowy light, flickering across his face as he picked it up with a careful hand. But it felt different now. It felt warm, strong, bursting with vitality and brimming with something new.
Something alive.
And all around him, his friends were upending their own glowing jewels from their pockets, staring down in awe, in wonder, shocked but amazed, hardly daring to breath.
With a quiet, reverential whisper, Yu spoke, "Tiruviel?"
And the gemstone in his had flared like fire, a voice speaking back, 'Have no fear, little one. This was always meant to be, and now I can do more than I ever could before! Now take this last lesson I give you! Though stifled, the fire inside your soul burns strong! A spark will awaken it, but you must remember how to incite that spark yourself when the time comes! Take this feeling, learn it well, and you will never have to know fear again!'
The light seemed to reach into his very soul, mingling with the chords of his blood and thrumming in time to his heartbeat, fire and sun and power. A spark had been gifted, dropping into his being like pebble in a pond, and a bonfire was lit in response. A bonfire that was familiar, and the white light that burned around him, as wild as any blaze, began to shimmer and become blue.
Only one other time he could recall this feeling. Only one other time . . .
Inside him, Izanagi-no-Okami opened his eyes.
"Persona."
And the light shattered and took another form, a proud, if transparent figure garbed in white and wielding a double-edged sword, its grip carved to resemble a golden sunburst. All around, others joined him, familiar shapes that never made him feel more hopeful, more alive.
No command needed to be spoken. As one, the eight persona shot out into the sky, weapons bare at their sides as they raced towards Nyverak. The dragon panicked, a blast of cold erupting from his paws, but it did not deter them.
Another mind touched his own, and he welcomed it wholly as Rise began to speak, 'Alright you guys, the Champions have already done some damage, but some more work needs to be done before this thing goes down.'
'Way ahead of you,' Yosuke replied, speaking for all the I.T as their persona descended on the dragon.
'Quickly!' he shouted through their reformed link. While strong now, he could already feel the fire Tiruviel had given them start to wither, becoming embers the longer they stood there, 'We don't have a whole lot of time!'
'Then we'll leave this to you, partner! Take that thing down!'
The dragon easily dwarfed them, bees to a massive bear, but they didn't need size to cause damage. As one, his friends persona all leapt upon him, grabbing limbs and spines and holding on tightly as the dragon thrashed in the air, twisting like a mad bull to shake them off. But that was all he needed.
With Tiruviel's life lending strength to his own, he channeled all his power into Izanagi as the great persona brought his blade down on the dragon's head, "Megidolaon."
White flashed in the sky and behind his eyes, the world fading away into colorless nothingness as all his focus fell on the sensation of steel grinding through bone shooting up his arm, a faint bloom of liquid warmth splashing along the underside of his hands, and too late he remembered that what they were fighting was far, far different from a shadow.
Then it was over, and he awoke to find himself laying on his back, disoriented and very, very weak. The gem in his hand lay cracked in tiny, splintered pieces, impossible to mend, and Tiruviel's presence was gone. He felt cold.
Above him, the rain softened as the clouds began to break, and the long night gave way to morning with the light of the rising sun.