A little something at the end of the chapter... Also, we also reached the 30th chapter. Hell yeah!
8/17, The sea of Kazuki's soul
"Oi, do you wanna get this over with or what?" "Yeah, let's go, you bastard!" I ran towards him, unwrapping all the cloth that is covering my sword. I swung at him, but he blocked it with his own sword. "You really think that a petty attack like that will take me out?" "No, I don't!" I begin to strike at his sword.
*Clang* "So, how much do you know now?" "All of it!" "I see, so then, you're gonna get me to accept you as the true host?" "That's the plan!" "...Well, you know what I say to that..."
He pushes me back with his sword and he kicks me in the stomach. "ACK!" "Just give it up! I ain't some pushover like you are! I am greater than the original!" "Yeah, whatever you say!" I rush back over to him and I make my next move. "Geez, you can't even hit me. Are you even trying?" "Shut up!" I try to slash at his chest, but he just jumped back. "You snooze you lose!" "Don't you know!" I threw my sword inches away from me and I grabbed on the cloth that was hanging off the handle, and I swiped it to the side. *Slash* "...I use my head when I fight!" "Shit!"
He landed away from me with his hand on his wound. 'Heh heh, you think this makes a lick of a difference?" "...No, but it means that you aren't untouchable. Even in here." "Really...? Well then, I need to show you that you are dead wrong!"
He ran over to me in a heartbeat… *Clang* "What do you think now!? Do you think you still have a chance!?" "Who knows! But I need to do this!" "Don't act like you have this in the bag! ...You should be scared right now, begging me not to kill you!" "Guess what, I ain't. So there goes your dream of me pleading for mercy!" "No, that's not even close to what I dream about. No, no, no. …I dream about killing all of your friends in the blink of an eye, while you watch!"
This guy is off the rails! But, I do have to say, he is strong; I feel like if I make one wrong move, he'll tear off my head…!
"Inferno!" A pillar of fire was rising up from the floor. I dodge out of the way before it hit me. "How are you able to do that?" "Guess I'm just a better version than you." He started to call for more power... "Thunder reign!" I saw a bolt of lightning crashing down from the sky. "SHIT!" I rolled out of the attacks radios. It still hit me somewhat, but I was still okay for the most part. "You dodged that well for the most part. ...But that will change in an instant..." "We'll see about that!"
I was running over to him with my sword, and I was gearing up to summon my Persona. "Per-" "That won't work." "Huh!?" I didn't feel anything coming out. "...The moment you came in here, you weren't gonna be able to use your Persona. No, wait a moment, that didn't make sense. I guess you can say: you wouldn't be able to use me! "I am a shadow, a piece of you. The piece that is your Persona; so, therefore, I am your Persona - Skeith!"
I wasn't as shocked as I would have been if I didn't hear about what this thing really was. "Is that so..." "Yep, it most definitely is. ...I can tap into my own power and use it against you." "If you're Skeith, then you'll be able to withstand this...!"
I ran in front of his face, and I started slashing at him with all the strength I had. He was blocking almost all of my attacks like they were nothing. But that didn't change my resolve. I just needed an opening! "Your moves are so stiff! You'll never get anywhere in this fight!" He was right about that. I need to change how I'm supposed to be attacking. So, in retrospect of that, I began to change up my style...
I was slashing and he was blocking my attack as usual. But, while he didn't notice, I went down and I swept his leg. 'What the!?" While he was still falling to the ground, I took this opportunity to finally do some damage. While I was still on the floor, I kicked him with the two of my feet right into his chest. Hopefully, that did some damage...
"Argg, not bad, but not even good enough..." "Tch!" I began to fight him using my sword and my legs. It seems to be effective for the most part. But, it doesn't seem to be doing much. I feel like anything I do isn't good enough. No, I need to keep pushing back!
'HA!" *Clang* "Gettin' all fired up I see." "So what?" "No reason. It'll be really funny when I beat your ass into oblivion!" "Keep talking shit! We'll see who comes out on top!" "Right you are..."
We separated from each other and immediately after that, he was gearing up to use another spell. "Deadly wind!" A gust of wind came out of nowhere and began to push against my body, while at the same time, cutting me... "That must hurt, doesn't it? Well, that's what you get for messing with me!" I was getting pushed away from him. I getting far away from him.
"THUNDER REIGN!" I heard the shadow yell that yards away from me. Lightning was coming down on me. "AHHHHH!" "Good... Suffer!" He cast the same spell again..."AHHHHHH!" This isn't good at all. I need to change my situation fast...!
The lobby of Tartarus, Dark Hour
Blood was dripping from his mouth. "Shizuka-chan, what is happening!?" "Like I said: He is in combat right now. He'll continue to spit out blood like this if he takes damage in there." I went silent for a minute to really process what Kazuki-kun got himself into...
"Please, Kazuki-kun. I need you to come back to me alive..."
The sea of Kazuki's soul, Dark Hour
I was still getting electrocuted by the shadow. "AHHHHHH!" "Come on, put up a fight!" I was trying to get out of getting hit consistently by the Zio spell, but every attempt was a failure; I was stuck in this never-ending cycle of pain. This doesn't look good at all. ...I don't even think I can win; this might be curtains for me... My eyes were getting heavy, and in no time at all, my eyes were closed shut...
"Naoya!"
?, Naoya's apartment,?
Huh...where am I?
"Damn it, I lost!" "Sorry, better luck next time..." I remember this. Naoya and I wanted to see who can eat a bowl of ramen first. ...Of course, I lost.
"You're lucky that I went easy on you Naoya." "Yeah, yeah, but you can't use that excuse every time." "Huh," I didn't expect Naoya to drop advice on me out of nowhere. "You can't hold back on anything. You need to apply everything you have on the matter at hand; it could make a big difference more than you think, and you might have people relying on you." "..." I thought what he told me that day was just make himself seem mature. But now, I know he really meant it. I can't give up now. I need to get back out there!
The sea of Kazuki's soul, Dark Hour
"Oi, Kazuki, I'm gonna kill you now~..." I heard a lightning bolt coming from the sky. I wasn't gonna allow him to keep this battle in his favor. Not anymore! "Die!" "Ocean's stream!" I shot a wave of black energy at the huge thunderbolt that was heading my way. "What the hell!?" I began to descend down on top of a building. "How did you do that!?" "I don't really know myself, but it doesn't matter. ...What matters is that I win this!" "Win this, huh?"
Without wasting any time, I went towards the shadow. I was charging up another Ocean's stream. "RAGGGHH!" I shot a couple more at him. "You son of a bitch!" He got hit with a few of them.
"*Pant* *Pant* *Pant*" The dust was clearing, and I was in awe of what I just did; I was finally able to shoot off more than one! "WOOO!" I was kind of proud of myself at this moment. But if I want to shoot off multiple I need to put less SP into my sword. "ARGHH! You little bastard!" I looked to my right to see that the shadow was still able to move. "So, you wanna use stream attacks, fine! ...I'll play along! He was charging up an attack of his own... "SHIRO STREAM!" He launched an Ocean's stream at me. I was gonna shoot mine to cancel out his, but it was almost near me. So I had to slash at it while I had the almighty energy stored in the blade. *BOOM* It exploded right in front of my face, but I was okay and that's all that matters. Although, I did have a few cuts on my face.
"Oi, Kazuki, can I ask you something?" "What is it?" "In a battle, you are meant to defeat the other person, yes?" "Yeah, why?' "...In a fight, you can have many attributes, you know that, right?" "Y-Yeah..." "But, you probably didn't know this... There is one attribute you need to have when you're in a fight..." He put his left hand over his face. "What is that one thing!?" He then swiped his hand across his face as if he was ripping something off. "YOU NEED TO HAVE THE AGGRESSION OF A MONSTER!" A red aura was seeping out of him...
"YOU NEED TO BE BRUTAL, VICIOUS, MERCILESS, AND FINALLY BUT NOT LEAST; YOU NEED TO DESTROY YOUR ENEMIES INTO NOTHING UNTIL THEIR BLOOD IS ALL OVER THE PLACE!"
"The aggression of a monster..." I charged up my next attack. "You really are nothing like me." "Thank God I ain't. I'd rather kill myself!"
Without further delay, I rushed over to him. "LET'S GET THIS ON!" We clashed swords multiple times. I jumped at him with my sword pressing against his. I was pushing him back, and I need to keep it that way.
"This battle isn't yours! Ice age!" A giant block of ice was heading for me. "Whoa!" I dodged out of the way. "Now, Inferno!" I thought the attack was coming straight for me. But, that isn't what happened. He hit the ice that crashed into the roof. It made a giant wave of smoke and it surrounded me, making it nearly impossible to see anything."*Gasp*" I heard a noise behind me. I slashed at an empty space in the air... "Got ya!" "Shit!" I was too late to react in time. *Clang* He knocked my sword out of my hand. "THE KILLING BLOW!" He drove the sword through my chest. "ACK!" I was spitting out blood...
"How does that feel? Good?" He was just toying with me at this point. Nonetheless, I felt the pain coursing through one point of my body. "AGGRHH!" "Hurts doesn't it. You came far, but this is the end for you..."
No...this can't be it, not yet! "If only you acted like me, you wouldn't be in this situation."
If only I acted like him... I kept repeating what he said to me in my head, over and over again. It bothered me so damn much! And while this shadow was still laughing at me, he reminded of memories of my past battles. I remember the full-moon shadows and what happened during those fights. I fought those shadows with all my strength. ...Not only that, but I did anything I could just to survive the fight. Wait "I did anything just to survive"... I did all of those things I did, to survive. I need to survive; by any means necessary!
"I ain't done yet!" "Huh, you say something?" "I said... I AIN'T DONE YET!" I pulled back my hand... I thrust my hand with all the power I can muster at this moment and I drive it towards his chest. "ARRRGGHHH!"
I felt my hand go through something. I looked down to where my hand went through. It went through the shadow's chest...
"ACK! You...!" "..." "You pierced me...like a monster. Hehehe..." "...I did this to survive. I'm nothing like you, nor are you nothing like me!" "That's fine by me. ...I wouldn't have it any other way."
I looked at the shadow's feet- They were starting to disappear. "You bested me...for now. ...But, always remember this: I'll always be watchin' you, even if you don't know it..."
And with that, he disappeared like scraps of paper being pushed in the wind. I was looking where the sword pierced me. The wound is no longer there, neither is the sword. (Obliviously) I also felt like there was someone else here as well...
"Who's there?" "You need not fear me, but instead notice me." This guy was talking in a weird way, but not to the point where I couldn't understand him. "You did well in that fight. Even though you had no chance, you pulled through nonetheless. Perfect work, Kazuki-sama..." Why did he address me that way?
"Umm... Thanks, I guess. ...But who are you?" When I asked that, he put his hand in front of my face. "Sorry, but there I need you to return to the other world, now." ...Wait! Why do I need to go back!?" "This place is unstable. I need to tend to this place."
He put all of his other fingers away, besides his index and middle finger. "Remember this name: Phi." Phi... What a bizarre name. But it didn't matter to me. "Okay, I got your name Phi." "Good, now close your eyes.
When I did what I was told, I felt his fingers touch my forehead. After he did that, I felt a disconnect with my own soul. I also felt like I was just drifting away from it...
The lobby of Tartarus, Dark Hour
I jolted myself wake after I felt Kazuki-kun's head move
"Kazuki-kun!" "Kazuki, you did it!" "This isn't Kazuki. ...But instead, the greatest being to have ever existed in this universe!" "...!" "No, that can't be!?" "Oh yes, it can be. It was the obvious conclusion." "You bastard!" He grabbed Yamagishi by the wrist and pulled her over to him. "I think I finally understand why he likes you." "Huh!?" "You son of a...!" "I think I'm gonna rule this world with an iron fist. But first, I'm gonna destroy this city." I was still shocked that Kazuki-kun lost in there. He said he would come back to me.
"You promised me Kazuki." "Yamagishi, get away, now!"
The shadow went over to the staircase. "I will destroy this whole world, mwahaha!"
Shizuka-chan was powering herself up. "Perso-" Suddenly, the shadow started to make silly faces. "PSYCHHHH!" "Huh?" When I looked into his eyes there was no glow in it. It really was him! "Aw, man, I can't believe you fell for that. "Kazuki-kun!" I hugged him after I realized that. "Yeah, it's me. ...Sorry for the prank-" *Smack* "Ow, what was that for!?" "That was a prank! I thought I really lost you! Do you have any idea how I felt about that!?" "I-" "You're a jerk!" Fuuka ran off outside of Tartarus. "Hey, wait!" "Ths is what happens when you act insensitively... She worries about you all the time when you fight, now you go and do this. How stupid can you get!?"
Rin was right, I was acting like an idiot. I need to go find Fuuka!
Somewhere in Iwatodai, Dark Hour
I was running around the city, following the trail of bloody footprints. They led me into paulownia mall, where I found Fuuka sitting on a bench. "Hey." "Hey..." "You know there was blood on your shoe?" "Oh..." This had gotten awkward...
"So, do you mind if I sit next to you?" "Sure." I sat down next her. "Hey, I'm sorry about earlier. It was totally uncalled for and you didn't deserve that cruel prank." "It truly was..." "...And to be honest, you have a right to be mad at me. I do some of the dumbest things a guy can do, huh... Loving me must be hard; I'm sorry" Fuuka said nothing, so I thought that was my cue to leave... However, I felt something tugging at my sleeve. "Loving you isn't hard, it's just scary." "..." "...I feel a form of doubt when you go and fight. I can't predict what will happen, so I get scared about what will happen to you; I get scared because of those risks because I'm afraid of you dying; I'm scared of being alone all over again!"
She was really pouring her heart out on this one, and I should have known this is what she fears; loneliness...
"I feel the same way," I said remembering that fake world. "You do?" "Of course, that's why I do all those self-courageous acts; to protect you, but I wasn't thinking about how you felt." "So, that's how you feel." "Yes, I sound too overprotective, don't I?" "No, no! I actually like that about you." "Oh really~" "Y-yes..."
Fuuka came a bit closer to me and I wrapped my arm around here. "Want to go home now?" "Mhm..."
I held her hand all the way back home, and I didn't want to ever let go. Also, that night, I told her about the fake world and what happened in it. I felt a type of weight coming off my shoulders.
Outside of Iwatodai dormitory, Midnight
I was watching the pair go back inside the dorm... They make me sick! More importantly, I was trying to understand why Yata was still here... "Tch, why are you even sticking here? There has to be an endgame you're trying to play at here, isn't there...?" If only it was the Dark Hour I would've gone in there and asked her myself, but I didn't want to run the risk of getting the police on my ass.
"Hmph, maybe another time then..." I began to walk away from the dorm with ideas running around in my head...
Another chapter, another dollar. (Not really) Hello everyone, Proxy's saga here. And I think this might be the last chapter for this year because of the holidays, and plus I might not finish the next chap in time for new years. So, yeah. Bye!
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You still here? Fine, I'll speak some more. I want to thank the people who supported the series in any way possible; either it is by reviewing, reading, and just taking the time to like the series. ...No, that isn't enough... What would Rise say? No, that's a bit cliche... OH, I got it! Thank you all of you kick-ass people who supported the series this far! Hopefully, we can give another kick-ass year with this story!
Whew...that was a lot. So, yeah, I hope you guys enjoyed this last chap...of the year. And the last chap of the first arc; because now, things might a bit bumpy for our lovable Kazuki. (Okay, that sounded better in my head.) So until then, please leave a review if you wanna leave your thoughts on what you thought about any of the chapters. And follow the series to know when I upload a chapter.
And also, if anyone wants to PM me just to start a convo with me, go right ahead. (It's not like I do anything productive anyway.) So, on that note, I hope you all have a fantastic December. So, until the next time; see ya!