"All right, Risetteers! Don't touch that dial! When we come back, you'll get a good, long look at the real me! Maru-Q!" Shadow Rise smiled before turning and running off.
"Not good, if we don't move fast not only will Rise be in grave danger from the Shadows but her Shadow's going to do something she'll never be able to live down." Yosuke mentioned quickly just before the members of the Investigation Team heard distorted growling.
"That sounds bad, come on you guys we need to find the real Rise and fast." Chie pointed out.
The other members of the Investigation Team nodded at that as they continued running through the halls only to hear more growling that seemed to be getting louder only for a group of five shadows resembling blue birds holding lanterns to appear and surround them.
"Not good, we're outnumbered." Teddie panicked seeing them.
"Calm down Ted." Kanji told him. "Take-Mikazuchi, Zionga!"
Kanji's Persona appeared and struck one of the shadows with a bolt of lightning causing it to fall to the ground.
Seeing that Yu closed his eyes. "Change, High Pixie Mazio!"
His Persona appeared and struck all of the shadows with small bolts of electricity as they all collapsed to the ground.
"Quick, before they get back up." Chie mentioned quickly before the members of the Investigation Team ran up and destroyed the shadows.
"Were they waiting to ambush us after we saw Rise's shadow?" Yosuke asked with a frown. "Just what are…"
Suddenly the lights dimmed drastically making it nearly impossible to see anything.
"Huh, what happened?" Yukiko inquired curiously.
"Can't you be a little patient?" Shadow Rise asked as her voice echoed through the halls. "I promise what you're going to see will be more than worth the wait, but we can't have anyone sneaking a peek before I'm ready."
"Great so she can turn down the lights now?" Kanji questioned in annoyance. "What are we supposed to do if we can't see where we're going?"
"It isn't actually that bad, if we wait for a few minutes our eyes should adjust to the lower lighting." Yu pointed out. "It won't be ideal, but we should be able to at least see a little bit."
"It's better than nothing, and we have Ted's nose to let us know if any Shadows are nearby." Yosuke added. "We're counting on you Teddie."
Teddie looked down slightly. "I'll do my best… but my nose still isn't working right."
"It'll be fine Ted, if you even think you smell something just let us know." Chie told him with a small smile. "Better safe than sorry right?"
"Definitely." Yukiko agreed only to pause. "I think I can see a little better than before."
"Yeah, same here." Kanji mentioned. "It's still dark but I can make out a few things."
"Alright, then we should get moving." Yosuke pointed out. "Hopefully if we're lucky we'll figure out a way to get the lights back on."
The rest of the Investigation Team nodded at that as they continued running through the halls to try and find the stairs while Teddie kept his nose open in case any Shadows tried to ambush them.
"Is that a door up ahead?" Chie asked. "It kind of looks like one."
"Yeah, I think it is." Yu nodded as they approached the door and opened it slowly. "Stairs, good we…."
"Sensei look out!" Teddie cried quickly. "There's a bunch of shadows in there!"
"Tomoe, Bufu!" Chie called as her persona appeared and struck one of the shadows only for it to barely react as another shadow struck Kanji from behind.
"This is bad, we're fighting blind… any idea how many enemies there are Ted?" Yosuke asked while looking around to try and see the Shadows.
"There are six of them, and they're all pretty strong." Teddie answered nervously.
"Konohana Sakuya, Agilao!" Yukiko called at that as her Persona appeared and enveloped one of the shadows in flames causing it to fall over as they saw the six shadows looked like statues of nuns wearing strange masks before one of them tried to attack Yu only for him to use the flames to see and avoid it.
"Any weaknesses?" Kanji asked Teddie.
"I don't… wait, I think electricity might work." Teddie answered.
Hearing that Yukiko closed her eyes. "High Pixie, Mazio!"
At that a new Persona appeared and struck the shadows with electricity causing all of them to collapse to the ground.
"Oh yeah, I almost forgot about that little trick." Kanji admitted before grinning. "Let's take them out."
"Sounds good to me." Yosuke grinned as the members of the Investigation Team struck the shadows destroying four of them before the remaining two managed to get back up only for the light from Yukiko's flames to fade leaving the area in darkness again.
"Quick, before you lose track of them!" Teddie panicked.
Yu turned to Kanji and nodded at that while Kanji smirked.
"Izanagi/Take-Mikazuchi, Zio/Zionga!" the two of them called together striking the last two shadows destroying them.
"Well, at least we have a way to get some light or a little while." Chie admitted. "Do you guys think there's a Shadow keeping the lights off though?"
"Probably, the only question is where is that Shadow?" Yosuke asked with a frown. "It's so dark we could walk right past it without even noticing."
"Teddie, can you help us find that Shadow?" Yukiko asked politely.
Teddie swallowed nervously at that. "I can try, but I don't smell anything weird on this floor."
"That makes sense, I doubt this would be that easy for us." Yosuke sighed before grinning. "Ready to keep going you guys?"
"Yeah." Yu nodded as they started heading up the stairs to head farther into the dungeon.
(The Shadows in Marukyu Striptease have attempted to disorient the members of the Investigation Team by drastically reduing the light and visibility in the dungeon. Next chapter the Investigation Team will continue searching for the Shadow that is controlling the lights. As always any reviews or critique is appreciated.)