The tower, FL: 2, night(?)
"Now, I think it's time to get this underway, don't you, my masked friend." M dragged something through the pillar we were on. While the masked man was able to float in the air like M, I wasn't able to do anything like that. I was descending quickly until something caught me in mid-air. "Sorry teal, I didn't mean to drop you like that. Come here." I was drifting towards M. "How are you doing, fine? Good. Now as for our friend here, I'm gonna have to ask you to leave." He summoned Black Viper balls and flung them. "Switch." I heard the masked man say. He flicked them away with his hand. "Oh, think that's all I got!?" Several more black orbs were spawned behind him. "Handle this, mr. mask man." M brought his hand down to signal for them to go. They all crashed towards the masked man, creating a black swirl of orbs.
"How's this, gonna brush this off?" The dust was settling, The masked man was fine, there was no scratch on him. "You have got to be kidding me!" "Sukukaja, Tarukaja." In the next instance, he vanished. He was too fast for me to see or sense. "Where did he- Huh!?" M was too late to react to the opponent's fist. The attack hit him square in the cheek. The punch itself was enough to send M hurling around. He then moved again, this time below him. He had punched him in the stomach. He then kept moving faster and faster, out doing M with physical attacks. He then hit him with a gravity spell. It was strong enough to affect the sand and create a sinkhole. M tried to counter but he went crashing to the ground.
"Change." He changed Personas again, this time, I couldn't sense this one was made of static, it was harder to gauge. "This is for you," the masked man declared. "No, this is only just starting." Black viper orbs kept spawning behind him. They were spawning at an alarming rate. "Don't act as if this won't hurt because I know you're only halving the damage; the burn marks on your left arm proves it." He was right, I can see a bruise mark on his hand. "So what would happen if I used all of these against you? Well, let's find out. FIRE!"
He unleashed them all they began to cover over the masked man, swallowing him in a sea of black. With all this almighty energy pouring out all at once, it was too hard for me to analyze. As they kept going, there was a sudden blast from where the masked man was. It seemed as though the orbs were bouncing off him. They weren't hurting him at all. "No, that's impossible!" "Baptism by thunder!" A large bolt of thunder quickly struck M. It was an effective hit. The black orbs dissipated when it made contact. He kept striking at him over and over again. If he continued to attack as he'll...
"Huh!?" Something of equal force to the Zio skill was going towards the masked man. It went around him, the Persona had a natural nullification to Zio skills. "Sorry, we gonna have to leave now!" M grabbed me by the collar and began to fly or the door below us. He was heavily damaged by the thunder strikes, but they should've been enough to keep him down.
"Goodbye door!" He opened the gate with a key. The door lew a red color. "Well, I'd say this was fun but unfortunately I wasn't able to go all out right now. Maybe next time we can have a truly fun fight. Seeya!" We went through the door. As the door behind us was closing, I could see Kazuki-kun on the ground. He was still alive but badly beaten... I never wanted him to get hurt, I don't want him to get killed, but I want to believe; to believe that he'll make it through all this and then save me. So I won't doubt he'll make it through this, I'll put all my belief in him!
...
I saw Yamagishi and that hooded man from Yakushima go through the gate. The fight that he just went through must've left him no choice but to retreat. I could see Kazuki was on the floor next to Masaru, both of them hurt badly on the floor. Takeba was healing Kazuki, I had told her not to heal Masaru but she was doing it anyway, saying that it wasn't right to leave someone this badly beaten on the floor. The two of them were battered to the point of brutality. In this state, they were both vulnerable, both open to a fatal attack. I took out my sword and had it hover over Masaru's chest.
"What are you-" "I'm going to get rid of him right now." "Why, he's already beaten." "So what, that doesn't mean he can't become a nuisance later on. It's better this way." "That's still not right Shizuka!" "Maybe, but it's the most efficient thing to do. Besides, if he were to wake up before Kazuki does, he'll probably kill him. So it's best to eliminate him; it's logical." "That's..." Iori wanted to tell me different but knew he didn't know-how.
"You are some type of bitch, you know that," Takeba told me. "Huh?" "It's logical? Who cares if it's logical, it's not right to just kill somebody and write it off as logical without any type of emotion. You're just a sort of monster!" "..." "Hey, I think we better just calm down guys," Iori urged. "Yes everyone, calm down."
That voice immediately alerted all my senses. I slashed at whoever was behind us. They reflexively dodged the attack. "Wow, Shizu, you slashed first and showed no mercy. Well, that's okay, I'll let it slide this once." "I'm getting tired of these surprise visits, Ichirou." "I'm so sorry for interrupting you Shizu but we don't have time anymore. I must insist you see master, now." "What makes you think I'll say yes this time?" "It doesn't matter if you do, I'll just drag you to him if I have to." She wasn't joking, I can feel the seriousness of her. Still, it's not like I'm worried about it.
"Shizu-chan, do you think I cam here without any type of backup? Don't underestimate master's readiness." Before I knew it, something else had slipped past my notice. There a black creature with dangly arms. It had its razor-like nails at Kazuki's neck. This thing had to move faster than I can sense to slip past me. If it can do that, then how many seconds would it take for them to slit his neck...
"Shizuka, you know that we have to put our weapons away," Makoto suggested. "I know..." I sheathed my sword into my scabbard. "Smart move Shizuka." Ichirou had snapped her fingers and the black monster had hopped away. "Now, let's be on our way. Oh, I'll have to ask the rest of the peanut gallery to stay behind." "Like hell, we will, what are you gonna-" "It's fine, I'll be okay. Just make sure Kazuki is alright."
I got down to my knees. I had taken something out of my pocket. "This will take him to the last floor for this tower...". I put a rainbow crystal key in his pocket. I had placed another item in his pocket.
"Take care of him...in my stead." With that last request, I walked forward towards Ichirou. "Wait, Shizu-tan! You can' seriously be willing to go with that freak," Iori yelled. "Does it look like we have a choice?" "I know we don't but still, we can't just let you go." He pulled out his Evoker, only for Yuki to stop him. He knew that it would be pointless to fight back...
"Yuki... Tell Kazuki nothing about me, tell him that I guided you and left before coming inside this world. ...Can you relay this to him?" He nodded. Then that's it, I do not need to worry now...
"Let's go." "Yay, Shizu is coming back!" Ichirou leads the way towards the door. I knew going back with was going to lead me towards that man but really when wasn't it?
...
My head was pounding harder than I could imagine. I opened my eyes to the dark sky above. "Ow...ow! My head..." "He's awake!" I heard someone at my side. It was Yuka-chan and Jun." Am I hallucinating?" "No, you're not dude." Yuka-chan helped me off the ground. "You okay?" "Yeah, I just have a minor headache." I looked around, Katsu was still unconscious on the floor. He seemed to have been healed though. Then I saw Ko, lying down on the ground. "Ko!" I ran over to him. I got down to his level...
"Hey, Ko! Ko, you alright!" I had thought he was heavily injured from Katsu's kick. But as soon as I heard his breathing, I realized he was fine but I also realized that he was sleeping. I was a bit surprised but it's amazing how he's able to sleep. Considering all the stuff that happened so far, he deserves a break.
"Hey, Kazuki, who is that?" "He's my partner in crime: Ko." I held him in my arms. I just now noticed that Yuki was here as well. He seemed unwell like he was barely hanging in there. "Makoto, why are you here?" "To help you." "In that condition, you'll get hurt." "Kazuki-san, I'm fine. I just need to pace myself." I want to believe that he just needs to do that but I think I knew better than that.
Suddenly, a thought popped into my head.
"How did you guys get here?" Their faces sullen when I asked. "I-" "Shizuka brought us here." "And where is she?" "She was taken by this kid. She was fast and stronger than my Persona." Stronger and faster than a Persona... Could it be Shadow-mog? "Hey, was their eye color gold-yellow?" "No, chestnut-colored." Not Shadow-mog. Must've been something else then.
"So what, she just took her?" "Nah, she made her go with her because there was a monster at your neck, literally." I gazed over at the door. It was yards away from us. It had seemed like to stretch to and beyond the sky. "Hm?" I felt something in my pocket. I took out whatever it was. There was a key in my hand, and it had a rainbow color to it.
"Shizuka said that'll take us to the final floor." "Seriously!? Then I catch up to Fuuka even faster now!' "Yeah..." Junpei sounded less enthusiastic about that. "What's wrong, man?" "Nothing, it's a good thing we can catch up to her now but I just don't feel right about it; abandoning Shizuka-chan." "Yeah...I get what you mean," Yukari added. I didn't as well. I should be happy that I can catch up to Fuuka quicker now, but Shizuka being a trade-off for that didn't feel so great.
"Unfortunately, I don't think we can give chase. They have already opened the door." The door beyond was opening, it was a purple color than it was a black empty void. It had shut a minute after opening.
"They just left." "Yes, how unfortunate." She was now gone, she was now in another part of this place. The prospect of that was too hard to believe...
"Hmm..." Makoto hummed to himself. "The color was different." "What," Jun asked. "The color to the next floor changed. It was pitch-black but now it was purple." "So?" "Kazuki was this man on the floor your opponent," he questioned me. "Yeah... And he also had a key on him!" I was able to puzzle together what Makoto was leading onto. I got down to Katsu. I searched all the pockets...
"Here!" I pulled out a purple key!" It was radically different from the one I had. "I see... Now that I think about it, during my time here I had collected many three keys; different colors from one another and the gate would respond differently. I think the door works as just a connector to different other doors, not to a specific one." "So that would mean with the right key we can go where Shizuka went! But this would only be valid if the gate turns purple..."
No matter, I'm willing to find out one way or the other.
"Guys, I'm going Fuuka no matter what, but I can't exactly leave Shizuka behind either. So even though we have the means to go to the final floor of this place, I want to try and help Shizuka." I bowed my head. "You don't need to bowman, of course, we're going after her, right guys," Jun declared. "I suppose if Kazuki wants to, then I have no objections," Yuki said. "I mean... I have no choice, I'll go too." Yuka-chan was on board. "Thanks, guys."
I had just remembered something else. The metal box, Ko was the last one to have it. I have to find it. "Guys, go to the gate and wait for me there." "What are you gonna do," Jun asked. "I need to find something. I'll be with you guys in a minute, and can someone take him." "I got him." Jun took Ko from my arms and began to walk off. "Um, I think I'll stay and help him," Yuka-chan said. Jun and Makoto soon walked away.
"So, wanna get started?" "Yeah, let's check over here." So we began to search for the box. It shouldn't be too far off...
"So, are you alright Kazuki?" "Yeah, I'm fine." "It's just... I have never seen you so beaten up before. I didn't know if I was able to heal your wounds." "Yeah, it still hurts but not as much." "I see. So who was that guy that was lying next to you?" "We fought each other." "He was the one to do that to you!?" "Yeah, he punches pretty damn hard. But you know what, each if those punches had emotion behind it; they were desperation above all, and I get that. He was desperate to prove himself, and I realize this and get this because I was desperate to win too. I wanted to prove I had the strength to save Fuuka." "Do you?" "I don't know... I didn't actually win, I bearly knocked him down. So really, I might not be as powerful as I want to be." "Kazuki, you're-" "But that's when I realized something else: I'm not powerful enough to take on powerful monster and foes all at once. I need help from other people to get through this. Doing all this by myself is kind of impossible, I would eventually run myself ragged and then probably be finished off by some demon. So I'm glad that you guys are here." "Really?" "Yeah... Plus, I was missing you guys incredibly." "Oh...well, I missed you too."
As we kept trying to find the box, I noticed Yukari seemed to have been muttering under her voice. "Kazuki, do you know that Shizuka is with the enemy?" The question was something I didn't want to answer or ever hear. But somehow, I knew I would hear it. "Yes." "Why didn't you say anything then? She's dangerous!" "No, she's not." "But what if she wanted you to believe that, what if she was just manipulating you?" Maybe, maybe she was manipulating me, maybe not, who really knows. "Maybe, I don't know if she was or wasn't. But I want to believe that she really is my friend. Because there were times where she didn't need to help me, but no matter what, when my ass needed saving, she was there to save it. So I want to believe that she does mean well to an extent."
I felt something hit my foot. It was the box we were looking for. "Here it is." "Can I see it." She took a quick glance at it. "Looks rather plain." "I mean, it's not a jewelry accessory." "Do you have to say it like that?" "Wasn't trying to sound snarky, honest." "Well, whatever... But do you know, you're too kind Kazuki." "I am?" "Yeah, I don't know if I would want to call Shizuka a friend." "Well... I don't think it's because I'm just kind, it because that's what I see her as wheater she saw me like that or not."
Shizuka was always guarded around everyone. She was like a cloud to a person on the ground; she was distant from all of us. But I want to reach the sky and that cloud, I want to destroy that distance between us. When I find her, I'll do it!
"Who's there!?"
I looked towards who was shouting over at us. The voice was familiar. "I said who's there!?" When they came into view I was able to make out who it was. "Hisoka? It's me, Kazuki!" As they came closer, I was able to him, but I also saw him carrying Ryota. "Do you have anything to heal Ryota with, he's injured!" I could hear the direness in his voice. He must be seriously banged up. "Yukari let's go!" "Okay!"
Yukari was healing Ryota's wounds. He had a broken arm and bruises but that was about it. While that's all it was, his opponent must've been hitting hard. Hisoka said he didn't know who attacked. He told me had lost Hana in the town that I fought Minotaur in. I had told him about what happened with Katsu (except for the talking bits) and how we got two keys, and even what I'm planning to do now.
"So we're going off course for another rescue mission?" "Yes. Don't worry, this doesn't make our current mission void, we're just going to save someone else." "Are you sure, I don't think we have a lot of time left, who knows what will happen if we waste time trying to save someone else instead of heading to the top of the tower." "Don't worry, I still plan on getting to the top, but this detour is important. Besides, if we all work together, I'm sure we can get through it in no time."
Though, I'm not going to say that it'll be easy. It probably will be harder than the first floor. But it doesn't matter, I'll save Shizuka and Fuuka.
"Someone else is coming." Hisoka hoisted his sword up. I put up my guard as well...
"Who's there," the person in the distance shouted. The voice was familiar and I knew who it belonged to. "Hana...?" "She came into view
After another minute of explaining what happened, she seemed to have gotten the gaps out of the way.
"Okay, so we're going on a side rescue mission?" "Right, is it a problem," I asked her. "No, I'm just making sure I understand. But, what I want to understand is that you have a key that allows us to reach the top floor of this?" "I'm guessing that's the case." "That's a suspicious guess." "Well, that's why we'll put iff on using it until we can confirm it works."
Yukari came over to me and said, "I think I healed him long enough." "All right then, I think we should get going then." "Where is Ko," Hana asked. "Don't worry, he's safe."
I began to lead towards the door. "I'm not carrying this fool," Hisoka stated. "I...don't think I could either," Hana also said. "I don't think I would want to too," Yukari added. "Huh, so who's gonna carry him?" The silence that was coming from all three of them resulted in them shooting looks at me... "Oh, what the hell guys!"
The tower, FL: 3,?
"*Pant*" "*Pant*" "Nice Shizuka, an impressive display. You're really giving it your all." I had just fought a wave of demons Needless to say, it was exhilarating to fight all of them at once. Thankfully, the damage was minimal at best so I could heal it all.
Before I could get a healing spell going something went darting past my arm and grazed it. "I'm not gonna let you heal Shizu. I wanna savor hitting you and making you squirm in pain!" This feeling that suddenly wrapped itself around me was constraining; I can still move my limbs but something was restrained.
"Your Persona is sealed so you can't use any more magical tricks. Oh don't worry, it's not sealed forever, just enough for me to beat the ever-living hell out of you." She drew her sword out. I could feel the monstrous feeling coming from her when she drew.
"She is not for you Ichirou, she shall answer to me." "Huh?" That voice, this sensation, it was him. "Master," Ichirou whispered. "Ichirou, do not interfere anymore. I shall take of her from here on out." "Okay~" Ichirou retreated behind that man.
"Shall we pick up where we left off." "Yes, we shall!" I positioned my sword in front of me. "This is no ordinary sword I hold in my hand." I activated the swords hidden function. As I did so, lightning shot out from the sword. It had stored some of the electricity I had put in it. "What a fascinating blade." "I know and I'll be the blade that kills you!" "Come then, kill me."
As he challenged, I darted towards him, intending to kill...
Well, this took longer again (to be honest this becoming common now). Hello everyone, Sage's saga here, and yes, I am alive. As common, I have nothing to report (wink wink, nudge nudge). But I do have one thing to say, and its the fact that by the time this is released, I will have started another fic on FE (fire emblem). I'm not gonna let it take up most of the time I spend writing for this; mostly by a week process, if I can. So yeah, just wanted to get that out there, however, after I release the first chapter, I will immediately work on the next chapter for Kazuki story, that way, I can get that out of the way and start working on FE fic (the name is to be determined soon). Really, not only is this self-promotion but to explain the work process behind all this, hooray. So with that, this is the end of this report from this gatekeeper (g-get it). Until the next time; see ya.