AN: I figured having an endnote for these next couple of chapters isn't really conducive to the tone I'm going to be leaving you off on, so anything I have to say will be up here.

Yes, I know Petrichor is vastly different from the singular paragraph she says in-game and the blurbs we get via other means. In the words of Horikoshi, I will handle her character with care. She's a character I want to lean more into the juxtaposition between her being a beastling and her doing all this bad shit. How does a contradiction exist? Well, I'm going to explore it. She's a character who barely had a part in the game itself so the way I see it, I'm pretty much free to do what I want with her.

For you Persona 5-Only Fans (Wow that came out wrong typing it), just keep reading. I promise it'll eventually make sense why Petrichor is an anomaly. Also, let's play a game: how many song titles can you pick out in this chapter? Comment the number and each one. Winner gets an E-Cookie and maybe a shout-out.


*THWIP*

*THWIP*

*THWIP*

*Clunk*

*Clunk*

*Clunk*

Hikari hummed in acknowledgment. Partitio had yet to miss at the target range. Old tree trunks and wooden targets alike were riddled with arrows. The makeshift Oresrush range wasn't impressive in the slightest. The most impressive thing about it was that they were shooting across a gorge, which Hikari considered grandiose in a way.

Partitio exhaled and lowered his bow. After setting it against a stump, he lifted his hat and wiped the sweat from his forehead. Despite being near the end of the summer, the Wildlands were still almost as hot as the deserts. The only relief came in that nighttime was rapidly approaching.

"Your skill is almost on par with that of a Hinoeuma Archer or a Hunter."

"I reckon if you say so. Mama did have some practice with the bow, and she was from there, so I guess you can say I got it from her." Partitio shrugged and scratched his cheek. "If you ask me personally, I jus' don't like the idea of my dinner escapin' me. Helps with the fast ones like Octopuffs and rabbits."

"That's pretty noble if you ask me. From what I've heard you've been almost single-handedly providing for the less fortunate members of the town for a while now."

Partitio laughed. "T'weren't nothing. I'm just doing what anyone would. Right, prince?"

Perhaps it was foolish of him, but seeing as Partitio and his father Papp were the de facto leaders of the town, he decided to come clean and tell them of his heritage. News of his brother's rise to power didn't spread as far. Probably due to the Wildlands having low strategic value compared to the Leaflands and Harborlands.

Hikari picked up his bow and took a proper stance. This was made a bit harder thanks to the clothes he was wearing. Slacks with suspenders and a button-up shirt. He turned down the waistcoat and fedora; he didn't want to be an exact copy of Partitio.

He pulled an arrow out of the quiver on his hip and lined it up on the bowstring, pulling the string taut. Breathing deeply, he released his shot.

*Thunk*

And again.

*Thunk*

And again.

*Thunk*

And again.

*Thunk*

Again

*Thunk*

Again

*Thunk*

Again

*Thunk*

Again

*Thunk*

Hikari reached for the quiver again only to grasp at nothing.

He heard Partitio whistle appreciatively behind him. "And you were the one praising me," he said. "More like pissing on my leg and tellin' me it's raining."

Hikari had pierced all of the wooden targets, even the smallest one tucked away in the brambles of a bush. He had done it almost unconsciously, though almost wasn't good enough against Mugen.

"You've got me beat by a country mile," Partitio said happily while slapping him on the shoulder.

Hikari shook his head. "Don't flatter me… It'll rust my sword."

Partitio watched with a frown as Hikari set down his bow in favor of picking up his swords.

"No need 'ta be all stiff, pal. A bit of praise never hurt anyone."

"Being a prince of Ku, I was required to train in as many physical disciplines as I could," Hikari retorted. He brought out Kusanagi and made a couple of practice swings using both the blade and scabbard. Mugen, of course, was his imaginary opponent. "I must know all that I can so I can set the proper example for those that follow me on the battlefield."

Partitio scratched the back of his neck. "Sounds like all work 'n' no play…"

Hikari spun and slashed, stopping the blade right in front of Partitio's face, which showed no fear whatsoever. "Oh, I played a lot with my friends."

"Really?" Partitio challenged, carefully pushing the blade's tip aside with a single finger. "How did you military folks pass the time?"

"How else? War games and dueling," Hikari said nonchalantly. "Me and my friends Ritsu, Kazan, and Rai Mei would endlessly throw ourselves at each other in hopes of getting better." He sheathed the sword but still held the scabbard in a ready stance. "Care to test your luck, Partitio? I would love to see your 'Arrow of Fortune' technique in action."

Partitio rubbed his chin and mulled over the offer while eyeing the setting sun. "I'm down for a scrap as much as the next guy, especially against the cream of the crop, but I don't think we really have th'time for that right now, partner."

Hikari tilted his head curiously. "Hm? Why? We've finished our work for the day. Wouldn't the rest of it be ours to spend as we please?"

"Yep!" Partitio said. "That's why we're going to the tavern. Nighttime scraps are fun an' all, but it's even better when it happens at the bar and some good 'ole fashioned ale is involved."

"Drunken tavern brawling… I guess there are worse ways to spend an evening," Hikari relented with a shrug.

"There you go! That's the spirit, friend!"

Partitio picked up his trademark yellow jacket from a nearby tree branch and slung it over his back. With a fleeting wave of his hand, he departed from town.

Hikari shook his head exasperatedly and followed behind as Partitio happily stomped his way back to town.

—X—

"Hey, Partitio?"

"Hm?"

"Call me curious, but would it be too far-fetched for the tavernkeeper to carry sake?" Hikari sighed. "It hasn't been too long, but a taste of home would be nice."

Hikari waited a moment for Partitio's usual jubilant answer, but this time nothing came.

"Partitio?"

"…"

He almost bumped into the large man when he stopped in the dead center of the road. It was only thanks to practiced footwork he didn't fall trying to avoid him.

Hikari was about to ask what the big idea was when he saw his gaze was upturned to the sky. He followed it to see he was looking at the enormous red full moon above them. Hikari noted in its presence he couldn't even see the constellations.

"That's weird…" Hikari remarked. "I'm sure it was a Waning Gibbous moon last time I took notice of it right before I came to Oresrush."

Partitio pulled the brim of his hat down over his bangs. "Like I thought… It wasn't a dream after all."

Hikari was starting to get slightly worried. In the short time he had known him, Partitio had never been this tense. His hand instinctively drifted to his swords. "What's going on?"

"Nothing good," came Partitio's curt reply. "Last time this happened, the world started spinnin' and a bunch o' ugly sons of gunnes sprung outta nothing. Complete balderdash I say."

Hikari blinked but remained steadfast. "My Ost is a bit rusty, but do you mean 'Sons of war?'"

"It's justa saying, but it's actually pretty apt given what I saw."

"And what exactly did you see?"

Partitio pulled out his coin, flipped it, and caught it in frustration. He turned his head and stared briefly at the former Giff's manse and then back to the town. "Hard to describe. If I'm right, and I hope I'm not, you'll see fer yourself."

Hikari only had a second of warning before Partitio rocketed off, kicking up red dust in his wake. "C'mon!" he shouted. "Don't move at a snail's pace!"

He reminds me somewhat of Ritsu…does what he wants first and explains later.

Stowing the thought, once again, Hikari took off after Partitio.

"Is it bad I'm half excited because I have a buddy with me this time?" Partitio said to him once he caught up to his stride.

"You still haven't fully explained what 'this time' is," Hikari said with a bit of agitation but calmed himself when he felt the familiar tug of power at his core. "But I understand. Exploring hidden sand caves in the desert was only half as fun without Ritsu or Rai-Mei by my side."

"You really think highly of them don't you, Hikari…"

"You think highly of your men, don't you?"

Partitio spoke his next words slowly as if he'd thought out each one. "War tears apart everything doesn't it… If I had my way, both it and poverty would just be nightmares of the past. People could wake up and *poof* they'd be gone."

"That's what my father wanted too. Ku has taken so much from others. Ruined countless lives. It was time for that to end. Mugen believes it won't end until Solistia and perhaps the world at large grovels at his feet."

"Then we stop him 'fore he grows too big for his britches!"

Hikari closed his eyes as he ran, letting the sound of Partitio's footsteps guide him through the mesas on their way back to town. "I appreciate the sentiment, but first we have to find out what's going on in town." He then opened his eyes in time to leapfrog over a boulder, his hand barely grazing the surface. "Which by the way, how do you even know something is happening in town."

Partitio stumbled and looked back at him incredulously. "You don't feel it?"

"Feel what?"

"My heart is drummin' like crazy and this voice inside me is…is telling me to just go there!"

"I don't get it."

"Just do me a favor and concentrate will ya!"

Hikari focused on his core and controlled his breathing like he was taught. He would prefer to be still, but he didn't presently have that luxury.

He could feel his heart pick up the pace as they got closer to town…

Then the whispering started…

The moon shines brightly with rays of turmoil that stir the sea of slumber and unawareness… In this state, it's so much easier to influence you. Give in, Hikari. I can easily wipe out what lies ahead. Why play nice with others when you are enough by yourself?

A version of himself with black sclera and golden irises was running beside him, keeping perfect pace. Hikari's eyes flicked to Partitio, which caused his doppelganger to laugh.

Don't worry about him—he can't see or hear me; only you can. You should be worrying about yourself! The other Hikari pointed at him accusingly. What awaits you juuust might have the power to kill you, can't you tell~? But then…maybe…that's what you want, rejecting my power and all. An honorable death for a fool on an errand. If that's the case, grab Father's sword and end it now. Take the samurai's way out. No need to drag down Mr. Sunshine and Beer over there. He has more control than you, I'm fifty-one percent sure he can handle the beast by lonesome. You can round that up to one hundred, right?

Begone! I will never give up as long as I still draw breath. Your power does not tempt me. I will succeed on my own. My friend needs my help and I'll provide it.

I understand, but how about I give you a little taste? No strings attached. I doubt your own paltry strength will be enough.

Sickly purple darkness crawled across his arm at alarming speed. Hikari panicked at the loss of control and immediately broke his concentration; however, the darkness on his arm didn't recede. It stayed like a second skin and looked like an arm guard, no different from the leather wrapping he usually used on his hands.

Remember, I'll be watching. The moment you slip up, I'll be there to claim my spot as top dog.

His double disappeared, but Hikari's uneasy feeling didn't go away.

"You okay over there, partner?"

Hikari grunted at Partitio in reply. "It's fine. Nothing I can't handle."

"I hope that stays true because we're about to come up on something huge."

"I grow tired of saying this but what do—"

The two men skidded to a stop as they crossed into town and onto Main Street. At the intersection between Main and Second Street, the largest man Hikari had ever seen sat on top of an even larger horse.

"Who is—"

"Not a 'who,'" Partitio interrupted. He pointed slowly to the figure down the street, a nervous sweat starting to run down his face. "A 'what.'"

Those were words one never wanted to hear on an expedition.

Hikari squinted and saw the man had not just two, but four arms!

Each midnight black arm was dripping with darkness and clutching a different weapon. The armor it wore was suspiciously similar to that of Mugen's faction, only one shade of red off. The purple-pointed mask that looked like a bastardized, warped crown, engraved with an IV sat on its featureless face.

Just as disturbing was the rider's steed. Six ghostly legs with detached hooves were what caught Hikari's eye first. They shifted from solid to smoke and back again every time the beast cantered. Shadowy mist poured off its mane instead of hair, and its face was wrapped in a yellow fly mask embroidered with the number VII.

Together the pair was barely shorter than the building they stood next to.

"—What the hell is that?" Hikari corrected himself.

"I never thought to put a name to them 'cause everything happened so fast but look." Partitio pointed to a pair of nearby coffins. The horse drew near the coffins and the rider raised its sword arm, its bad intentions clearly conveyed. "I think those coffins have people inside… We have to stop them, Hikari!"

Partitio pulled his spear off his back and chucked it with his immense strength, nailing the rider in the shoulder. Instead of falling, it collapsed forward on its steed while the horse neighed in fright and started thrashing about.

"What are you waiting for!"

At Partitio's shout, the two men rushed forward. They weaved through the flying hooves and disconnected legs. Hikari drew his swords and kicked off the wall, intending to get enough air for a clean neck slice but the rider chose that moment to recover. The top left arm whipped around and slammed him with the butt of the spear, sending him crashing into the dirt.

"Hikari!" Partitio cried. With a flaming knuckle, he uppercutted the horse, and using the horse's head as a footstool, he jumped and grabbed his spear, narrowly avoiding the hand with the ax. He landed near Hikari in time to block the sword hand from crashing down on both of them.

"Now!" Partitio shouted, his back to him.

"Hienka!"

Hikari saw his chance and got up, red sparks flying off him, and with two simultaneous swings of his swords, the rider's arm fell off, spurting apurplish-black gloop all over the ground.

"Hot damn, partner!"

Hikari heard the thump behind him and glanced at his now naked arms.

It seems the shadow no longer has a hold over me…for now.

The rider roared in frustration and hit the butt of the horse with the shaft of the spear and pointed its kukri threateningly at Partitio. The two men braced themselves for the horse to charge when something unexpected happened.

The horse shot backward!

Hikari dove out of the way as the pair crashed into a building.

They could hear the rider spout out angry gibberish and heard the equally forceful blows of it trying to goad the horse into doing what it wanted.

Partitio leaned forward with one eyebrow raised. "That horse don't make a lick of sense."

"More that the rider has no control over it," Hikari said, somewhat amused.

"Darn shame for all that power they have. Bless their hearts."

Hikari huffed and nodded in agreement. "I hope there weren't any people in there."

"That was the provisioners. Their shift ended 'bout an hour ago now, though rebuilding the front will be hella more work for Giff."

It was hard to ignore the devious smile on Partitio's face. Given what Hikari had learned, it was difficult to blame him for finding petty joy in Giff's misfortune.

All of a sudden, the horse leaped out of the building, bounding over them and running away while the rider kept pointing at them.

"I assume we give chase?"

"It's heading for the entertainment area. Let's go, Hikari!"


"If you hand over the bow, I promise to spare your life."

Joker paused for a moment then laughed at the sudden demand by the new masked stranger. "Maybe it's the fact you approached someone at night wearing a mask, but I'm not exactly inclined to give in to your demands."

Roi grabbed his arm. "Ren, I do not think it is—"

He jerked his arm away, not taking his eyes off the threat in front of him. "After all that, don't tell me you were just going to hand the bow over?"

"No, I would never," Roi said. "I am affronted you would say that."

"Then what's the problem?"

"The problem is that the person in front of us is more problematic than you can imagine! Running is our best option here."

"I would listen to your friend," Petrichor said as she notched another arrow. Joker saw that behind her a tail peeked out and absently traced a path in the dirt and leaves.

Joker's eyes glinted with a mysterious sheen as he appraised her.

Orange… Not exactly at my level, but not out of my league either.

He pulled out his gun and flicked the safety off. "You'll find that I bring my own set of problems to the table."

In the split second after Joker finished the sentence, he pulled the trigger repeatedly. Three magical bullets of darkness collided with three arrows made from light, creating an explosion that obscured both parties' view with thick black smoke. Joker drew it out by adding his own black-powder smoke bomb to the mix.

Joker rolled and used his wire hook to pull Roi down as a hatchet sailed over their heads and embedded itself in the tree behind them.

"We're making a mistake here!" Roi yelled.

Joker used his third eye and launched his wire hook again. After it was wrapped around his foe's leg, he grunted and pulled the cable, slamming her to the ground.

"Then start helping us correct it!"

Raoul flew in, claws extended. Joker's smirk was wiped away when Raoul's dive bomb was intercepted by a volley of arrows that found each of his vitals. Joker groaned in pain at the same time that Raoul roared. The persona crash-landed, his weakness having been struck.

I guess 'Dodge Bless' means nothing to her. Or her aim is just that good. Joker thought to himself as blood trickled out the corner of his mouth.

Harsh olive-green eyes bore down on her fallen opponent, and she raised her other hatchet like the grim reaper. Joker clutched and released his hand to bring Raoul back to his mental scape right as the blade impacted the ground where his neck would have been. He sighed in relief as Iris appeared behind him in a flash of flame. The last thing he needed right now was to deal with a persona break.

"You deserve a timeout for hurting my friend!"

Iris waved her sparklers, and Joker slapped his palms on the ground as a giant earthen wall spread on the ground. He saw Petrichor backflip out of the way as the creation separated them from her. He stacked Materazi on Materazi until it reached the branches of the trees.

He huffed from the drain on his mana and fell to one knee for a quick breather. He knew it was far from over. He preferred not to have his vision blocked against an agile opponent, but he didn't have many options.

He flinched a little but relaxed when he felt a cooling hand on his back.

"You did well obscuring her view… Unfortunately, our opponent is a beastling. Many different types of them possess superior night vision and olfactory senses," Roi praised, pumping more healing magic into him. Joker frowned a bit; he wasn't that injured all things considered.

"That explains the tail," Joker said mockingly, laughing at himself. "Any ideas on what sub-type she is?"

"Wolf. I am ninety percent certain," he stated. "She single tracks when moving on all-fours. Her hair is also more tuft-like in the fashion of a wolf."

"What happened to the remaining ten percent?"

"I have not ever seen her without her mask, so I cannot confirm if she has facial markings or not."

Joker was about to make a quip when Roi cut him off. "But the hunter by herself is not the main issue that makes this situation problematic."

"Then what—?"

Right then the ground began to shake. Joker wheeled his head to Iris who threw her hands up in surrender.

"I like a violent shake-down as much as the next girl, but this isn't me."

Within a few moments, the trembling got stronger and closer. Joker tried to keep his aim trained on a spot just above the wall.

ROOOAAARRR

A massive head suddenly burst through the wall clad in an Incan sun mask!

Joker summoned the Tyrant Pistol to pair with the Nataraja and repeatedly fired as he backstepped. Iris joined in by launching an electric spell. The bullets and magic bounced harmlessly off the beast's pelt and mask. Joker grunted and hopped to the side, searching for a better angle to attack.

He was so preoccupied with the beast's appearance that he almost missed the hatchet that came hurtling down on him. He just barely managed to deflect it using the barrel of the gun, but not without leaving a nasty cut on his wrist. A sudden barrier of light blocked the volley of arrows that came right behind it.

A hand touched Joker's shoulder and he felt even more healing magic funnel into him. Roi then stood beside him and pointed at the beast steadily digging its way through the wall and generally thrashing about. Then he traced his finger up to Petrichor who was now perched in the highest branches of a tree, almost completely obscured in the darkness of the night save for her glinting eyes, observing them.

"That, my friend, is the real problem." His voice was solemn and monotone, a rarity from what Joker had gathered. "One or the other is already outrageously strong on their own. Together, they are truly 'the rock and the hard place' as they say."

"I would suggest taking the fight to Miss Sniper up there…" Raoul said having recovered. "But that would leave our guest star at the mercy of the beast…" Joker glanced at Roi. "Then again, he looks a little green around the gills himself."

Urd clicked her tongue. "The reverse is true as well. Fighting the mutt allows her to pepper us with arrows."

Raoul growled in agreement. "Including those pesky light ones. I thought you didn't get those until the final few dungeons in Zelda."

"That we can agree on."

Joker's costume turned purple, and his mask melted into a ragged scarf. "Let's try our luck then. Phaleg!"

Iris disappeared and was replaced by the Olympian Angel in blue robes.

"Brand's herald himself…" Roi whispered in reverence.

Phaleg raised his spear, and a bundle of prayer slips formed a circle around the head of the beast.

"Duty and War go hand in hand; as a soldier, I must fight when called upon. Forgive me, for both are often done reluctantly."

The persona thrust his weapon forward and the slips attached themselves to their target and delivered a blinding light. It seemed the whole forest paused to witness the outcome of the attack.

When the light faded, the beast was still unharmed as the slips fell to the ground and disappeared.

"What was that?" Roi asked, confused.

Joker cleared his voice and explained. "That attack is called Hama. It has approximately a thirty percent base chance to kill any foe instantly. An extra five percent is tacked on for the costume I'm wearing right now."

"And the other sixty-five?"

"It does absolutely nothing."

Roi groaned in consternation, suppressing the urge to shake some sense into the man. "We are fighting for our lives, and you choose now to roll the dice?!"

"What can I say, I have faith in my odds that the whims of fate would call my name…"

"You are insane."

"There were no odds to begin with; the attack was blocked," Phaleg informed them, using his spear to deflect the arrow shot at him. "The beast possesses an innate immunity to Bless attacks."

"That would explain a lot…" Roi muttered under his breath.

"Damn. I was hoping I could take one of them out of the battle immediately, but I guess I have to do this the hard way."

The beast finally broke through the wall, roaring mightily, allowing the men to see its jackal body and the marred sun marking on its back.

"Aqua!"

Waving his spear, Phaleg summoned the water from the river and used it to blind both the beast and the huntress's vision with a giant splash that also extinguished the campfire. Meanwhile, Joker launched his hook, and it wrapped around the beast's front paw. He launched himself forward, intent on grabbing the mask on its head.

"Watch out!"

The warning was only a second too late. The moment Joker landed on the beast's back he felt every muscle in his whole body cramp inward and his resulting scream came out choppy and uneven. Phaleg broke under the intense damage flooding through the area. Then he felt his muscles clench again and one last time before the pain finally left him and he slumped forward, smoking, as did the beast he was riding.

He cracked open one eye to see three arrows crackling with lightning sticking out of the ground.

"I should tell you—" Roi said on one knee from behind a flickering barrier. "She can imbue her arrows with elements. Lightning tends to be the one she favors most for the debilitating effects it provides, as you've found out. I am certain you can handle it though~"

"Thanks for the vote of confidence…"

Ame-no-Uzume appeared behind him and waved her fan, casting Diarama.

?

Joker felt no relief whatsoever from the spell. He stared at his hands, confused, until he heard chuckling above him. Petrichor was staring down at him.

"A good hunter knows her quarry. I was given a specific set of runes to engrave on my arrows. When the target touches them, the effectiveness of healing techniques is reduced, then eventually cut off."

Raoul growled. "The arrow we crushed when she first appeared!"

"Given," Roi spat. "You are no more than a puppet."

"I'm not a puppet," Petrichor growled, her voice rising a little. "I faithfully serve the mother who took me in. I have faith that her orders are for the greater good."

Roi grimaced as he got to his feet but quickly fell back down, hacking. Joker knew he wasn't in any shape to move currently. "You might have night vision, but you are the blind one."

Uzume waved her fan again in a panic. "Diarama, Patra, Baisudi, Energy Drop…anything?!"

"I told you; healing is pointless," Petrichor reiterated.

Joker coughed and smirked. "You didn't say those exact words, so you can't claim that."

"Lively one, aren't you? You talk big for being on the back foot."

"I may be hurt, but I'm not out of this fight just yet!"

Joker felt the muscles in the beast ripple, preempting its actual movement. He summoned his strength and flipped upward right as the paintbrush-like black, white, and red tail swatted its back.

"Forgive me, Roi!" Joker said as he launched his grappling hook to a branch that allowed him to just barely avoid the beast snapping him in its massive jaws while he was in the air. The swipe of its claws grazed his foot, causing him to wince.

Down below, the beast clawed at the tree he was in.

"Careful, Trickster!"

"I know, Urd," Joker said while he leaped upward from branch to branch. "No damage runs are harder than they look!" He stressed his last word as he used his knife to deflect an arrow. "At least it's following me instead of going after Roi."

He jumped to the next branch and swung his knife where it met a heavy axe. Underneath the pale red moonlight, Petrichor's mask was almost pink. Her mouth under the mask twisted in a snarl, her sharp canines protruding as she exerted force in their struggle.

"And here I thought the gentleman was supposed to have the bigger responsibility on the first date."

"Do not flatter yourself," she said, pushing him back.

"You know elemental projectiles are my thing." He leaned in and stage-whispered to her. "I should sue you for copyright infringement."

Petrichor responded by kicking him in the chest and swinging her axe again. Joker leaned back and ducked under the blade, then righted himself and charged in. From there they began their duel in the trees. Petrichor quickly abandoned the slower axe to use her bare claws to attack him.

Joker brought a second dagger out from his sleeve and lunged. His right met her left and his left, her right. They raised their knees for an attack at the same moment as well. Petrichor snarled and her fingers wiggled cracking her joints as she upped the speed. Joker smirked as he greeted her in kind.

In a strange, twisted dance, he blocked, parried, and attacked. Mostly the former two; his opponent clearly outclassed him. Only his unpredictability kept his most vital spots from being raked by one of her fierce attacks.

That, however, didn't stop the scratches from piling up. And he was steadily losing ground, almost backed up to the tree trunk.

Her hand shot past him in an over-extension. Seeing his chance, he hooked his arm around hers and flipped their positions. Right when he was about to press his advantage, the whole tree they were in shook.

Down below the beast was ramming its head into the trunk in an attempt to shake him loose.

"ConSUme…sHAdoW!"

"The Darkling seems quite fond of you, brat. I wonder why?"

Joker braced himself as the tree trembled again and put a confident smile on his face. "I tend to do well with animals. Maybe it's my sunny personality."

"…Your puns aren't funny."

"Eventually you'll fall—!"

A loud snap interrupted Joker's sentence and the tree lurched forward, throwing both combatants off the branch they were standing on.

By pure instinct, he caught Petrichor by the waist and used his grapple to swing to the ground while the tree they were on toppled under the force of the Darkling's wicked blows.

Despite the fact they were currently fighting, he couldn't help but notice how tight but soft the muscles in her stomach felt and how she unconsciously clung to him. He also didn't miss the minute jolt of electricity that passed through them both. Unfortunately, he couldn't quip as they hit the ground, and she tumbled out of his grasp.

When they were recovering, he noticed she was staring at him wide-eyed and slightly angry. Her tail behind her was absently wagging, somewhat betraying the face she was making.

"Um…force of habit?"

He saw her tense and realized she had stopped looking at him.

Warning bells blared in his mind as he rolled to his left, avoiding the Darkling biting his head off by a hair's breadth. The putrid, rank smell of drool and shadow came from its mouth as it snarled. He kicked the beast in its snout to stun it just long enough for him to flick his wrist and attach his wire to the stump of the felled tree behind Petrichor. He smirked and saluted at her as he zipped by on his back like a turtle spinning on its shell.

Much to his amazement, the Darkling went after Petrichor instead of him. She hurriedly tried to scramble out of the way.

"But why?!" she cried as she avoided a claw swipe.

"Serves that wench right!" Urd said, haughty crossing her arms. "Shadows aren't beings to carelessly command."

"Obey me!" she shouted. The Darkling paid no heed as it nailed her with one of its claws, shredding through her robes. It was only by the grace of the chainmail underneath that she wasn't cleaved in two.

Joker spotted Roi, who was looking upon the scene impassively, on the other side of the clearing. He noticed Joker watching and pressed a hand vertically to his forehead in prayer.

Petrichor dodged another killing blow, but the Darkling was adapting. Her bow was useless in close range, and all attempts to create space were rendered ineffective by the Darkling's speed.

"DEvouR…DARknESs!"

"No such darkness exists in my heart, for my cause is true; I swear on my pride as a beastling! Cease this at once!"

The message was clear. Taking Roi and running while she was distracted would be so easy.

The beast caught her with its foreleg and sent her crashing into a tree trunk where she fell unmoving. The Darkling loomed over her ready to make the kill.

"The tactical move would be to abandon her to her fate…" Raoul's words trailed off and Joker could sense the persona studying him in a fashion similar to way back in the Casino of Envy.

Joker sighed. Raoul smirked as he materialized into existence and rocketed through the air to the Darkling. The persona grabbed the tail of the beast and yanked it back. Meanwhile, Joker positioned himself between them. He tried to take out a healing grape he bought in New Delsta only for it to wither in his hand.

"How annoying…" he said, bringing up his sword instead. Yukari would have a stroke once he mentioned this to her.

"When you are faced with an animal that can rip you to shreds, many get the hell out of dodge. You, unlike most rational people, run towards it. Why am I not surprised?" Underneath her chastising tone, Joker could sense the spark of respect Urd had for him.

Off in the distance, Roi was smiling at him and running his fingers through his hair despite looking almost worse than he did.

"Why?"

He turned to see Petrichor struggling to recover. "The natural cycle of order demands you leave me to my fate of being devoured. My body provides sustenance for that which is stronger than me. That is what Mother taught me. As is my destiny, I will become a part of the shadow my mother pays reverence to."

Joker spat on the ground and red stained the dirt. "All I heard—is that you have a death wish. Just a flimsy excuse to give up when you think you might be outmatched. In this world, you struggle until you break free of that cycle…or then and only then you die trying."

Raoul flipped and hurled two handfuls of dark curse magic at the Darkling, engulfing the beast. Its pained howls filled the night sky.

"A pointless rebellion."

Raoul landed by Joker, one leg extended. "You've never tried, so how would you know?"

"I do not claim to know everything, but I do know one thing: You are outmatched. Observe."

The Darkling shook off its pain with a guttural roar and charged towards them. Raoul threw a punch, but the Darkling's massive head slipped to the right and it clamped down on Raoul's armpit and side.

Joker screamed in pain and dropped to one knee. A dark whitish-blue aura enveloped Raoul and Joker and started to flow into the Darkling. Joker felt himself get weaker. The Darkling's teeth sank deeper into Raoul with a sick crunching sound.

Roi watched in half fascination and horror as Joker sank to his knees. His white shirt was starting to turn red with blood.

How interesting… The pain of one affects the other. I wonder if that's the shadow the scientist was referring to. Petrichor got to her feet and held her hands up to the sky as if she were being blessed. "Now we shall witness the potential of a being more capable than ourselves. Be honored that you will be the first person to engage it in combat."

"You sound…like a…deranged cultist…" Joker huffed in between gasps, falling back on his butt. This wasn't good. Whatever the Darkling was doing hurt like hell. The presence of death blackened the edge of his vision.

The Darkling rag-dolled Raoul until finally, it managed to tear a chunk of flesh and one of Raoul's wings away and tossed the persona into the dirt.

Golden ichor splattered the ground and various mechanical bits and bobs went flying. Joker and Petrichor shielded their faces, but it didn't stop the blood from getting on their clothes.

"I guess…that's the gruesome nature of the beast…" Raoul said, still trying to be lighthearted while clutching his side that flowed with ichor.

CRUNCH

Petrichor slammed her hands over her ear due to the metallic crunching of the Darkling feasting on its hard-won meal. The beast mercilessly devoured the part of Raoul it had ripped off until not even a scrap remained. Once finished, it stared straight ahead at Joker and Petrichor, its muzzle drenched in gold.

"EnVY…dESpair…DArkNeSS!"

AWOOOO

The Darkling angled its head up and howled to the moon, signaling the beginning of the grizzly transformation it started to undergo.

Joker edged back as the beast grew bigger, now completely dwarfing even Raoul. The tail alone tripled in size and was marked by red, white, and black circles resembling eyes.

The eye holes on the sun mask multiplied from two to four. The XIX was now joined by the number 0 next to it. The brown fur on its body turned a sickly poison purple bristling with unmistakable curse magic. Its nails lengthened to a blood red that was the same color as Raoul and Joker's jackets. Completing the look were disturbing red tentacles that protruded from its back.

Joker tried to suppress the building fear in his throat from the sheer malevolent pressure the beast was now intensely radiating. Petrichor and Roi were also not immune; the former's tail puffed up and the latter emptied the contents of his stomach on the spot, not realizing the bow in his hands shone a bit brighter.

Its transformation was complete; it took a step forward and shook the ground.

"Now to see what this creature is truly capable of…" Despite her words, Petrichor's hand went to the bow slung around her shoulder.

The beast opened its maw and formed an impossibly toothy smile. None of the three humans would ever forget the words it next spoke.

"Tyrant…YELL!"


In Oresrush—Entertainment Center.

"Hey! Quit running, ya bastard!"

Partitio used his spear to deflect a blow from the rider's kukri. The rider himself had resorted to sitting backward on his mount, having given up on trying to control it.

"A running fight." Hikari lunged, and his swords only scored a glancing blow against the horse's flank, making it zig and zag even more erratically. "How irritating."

"Could be worse, partner!" Partitio yelled, keeping up alongside him. "We could be out in the flats where this thing would have had more space to work with than fabric on a fat man's ass!"

The horse bucked and crashed into a stack of lumber, smacking the rider and causing it to falter in its next attack.

"D'aww, c'mon! We were going to use that to renovate the Saloon!" Partitio cried as the two men dodged the tumbling debris.

"We should try to take out the horse's legs. It'll crash and take the wind out of their sails."

"Problem. The horse may not be following commands, but the Rider is still protecting it!" Partitio pointed out. To prove his point, he fired a fireball from his hand at the horse's leg that was swiftly batted back by the rider's axe.

Both men jumped out of the way of the redirected attack as it exploded behind them. "See what I mean?"

Hikari landed and resumed running, taking a brief moment to come up with a plan. He didn't know whether to grimace or smirk when those strange arm guards reappeared on his arms.

No. This is bad. This power will corrupt—but I'll use it if it means ending this madness!

"Partitio, one of us needs to get in front of him for a distraction, meanwhile the other takes out the horse." Hikari narrowed his eyes. "The only issue with my plan is finding a way to outpace a horse."

Partitio slammed his fist in his palm. "If it needs to be done, then I'll do it!" Hikari's eyes widened when yellow sparks poured off the man and his eyes turned golden. "There's a little trick I've been dyin' ta try out!"

Watch carefully, Dark Hikari whispered in his ear. That man is far ahead of you in every area that matters!

Small sparks suddenly burst into full-blown yellow lightning that rippled through Partitio's body, making his muscles bulge even more. Hikari didn't miss the insane yet joyful look on the man's face. "I've always had more grit than I could handle, now let's hoot and holler till we've had our fill!"

The dusty dirt road cracked under Partitio's boot before he launched himself into the air. He kicked off a building and got into position right above the horse's head where he brought down his spear like a Bo staff.

The rider contorted its torso inhumanly one hundred and eighty degrees as it intercepted the attack with the remaining upper arm that held the kukri.

"'S your show now, Hikari!"

"Hienka!"

...

I told you your power wouldn't be enough. Adjucha Arcana Shadows are a cut above the cannon fodder filth that usually rears its ugly head at this time.

Hikari clenched his teeth as his swords struggled against the rider's axe and spear.

"Such biology is impossible!"

The lower two arms of the rider's torso had rotated back around to block Hikari's attack.

The rider leered at the two men in turn and dropped the spear and kukri, aiming to grab them out of the air by their arms.

"This ain't gunna be pretty, I reckon…" Partitio said as the rider manhandled him like a child's toy, bringing both him and Hikari to face level.

Buh huh huh huh!

One moment Hikari was looking into the eyeless sockets of the monstrosity that grabbed him, the next the world turned into a blur of silver streaks, his captor's face showing up intermittently. His stomach started to go up and down and the force of the wind pressed into his cheeks. Partitio's yells entered his ears in the same rhythmic fashion he glimpsed the rider.

This is hilarious! He's got the both of you trapped in a cyclone spin, and the Chariot is still out of control, running aimlessly. The last thing Hikari needed was for his counterpart to show up too, his smug face appearing in tempo as if he was opposite of the rider. I wonder how long you and your battle buddy can withstand the force before you pass out. Personally, I hope he tosses you. Maybe if the Emperor here uses enough strength, he can toss you all the way to the stars~! Hikari tried to beat the thick arm of the Emperor with the butt of his sword while Dark Hikari continued to talk. I've always wanted to meet Marshall Tienpeng, the Shishin, and most importantly Steorra. Testing my blade against a god… What a rush!

Darkness crept on the edge of his vision, and his eyelids drooped. Dammit…I'm starting to black out!

Dark Hikari turned his head and his eyebrow quirked in amusement. Saved by the bell… Tch. Hope… What a fickle thing to hold on to.

"Whirlwind Blow!"

Both men heard the surprised neigh of the horse shortly followed by the harsh sound of a large body crashing into the dirt. Another wind gale wrenched the two men from the shadow's grasp. Unfortunately, it sent them flying into a stack of beer kegs. Hikari winced as he adjusted himself and tentatively sniffed his sleeve. He utterly reeked of booze now.

"I told ya we'd go drinking tonight! Heh," Partitio said happily right next to him as he used his hat to catch some of the leaking beer and then sipped it.

Hikari recoiled at how fast Partitio switched gears. "That cannot be sanitary…"

"Oh, I'm sorry!" a new feminine voice said. "I've been practicin'… Oops, I mean practicing a newfound affinity for spread magic. It's still a bit shaky and it leaves me at times, but I'm getting there!"

A woman in one of the most beautiful dancer dresses either man had ever seen stepped around the corner. Based on her face, Hikari would have placed her just a year or two younger than himself. She bashfully scratched her cheek with one finger and twirled her braid with her other hand. Hikari noted that her eyes were the same molten gold as Partitio's.

"You two are the first actual people I've seen since coming here. Is the town normally this creepy?"

"It is as long as the moon above us is shining redder than a baboon's butt. At least that's what I theorize," Partitio said, taking another gulp of beer from his hat.

"Umm…?"

"It's a long story, I assume." Hikari stood up and dusted himself off, then pointed his blades at the Arcana Emperor who had retrieved its weapons. Thankfully, the horse was nowhere to be found, its fly mask left behind. "We have more pressing issues right now. We can pool information later."

"Oh yeah, I almost forgot about him," the woman said jubilantly while pirouetting and pulling out a dagger. "I saw him taking you boys for an unwanted spin on the town, so I thought I'd step in."

Partitio polished off the last of the liquid in his hat and replaced it on his head as he stood up. "We're certainly glad you did. This guy was giving me an' Hikari here heaps of trouble. The more hands to help the better, I say."

"Mind if I have the name of our new unexpected teammate before we start fighting?"

The woman shook her head in frustration, her braid whipping around. "Where are my manners? My sister would be so mad at me!" She quickly straightened up and looked Partitio and Hikari in their eyes in turn. "I'm Agnea Bristarni: Aspiring starlet!"

The Emperor Shadow roared and levied its weapons, starting to charge at them.

Hikari rushed forward, swords at his sides. "I hope combat capabilities are included in the training."

Agnea kicked her leg and three blades of wind sliced through the air, forcing the shadow to block them. Partitio rocketed in front of Hikari using his increased speed, held his spear parallel to the ground, and swiped downward, pinning the vulnerable shadow's lower two arms.

"Seems like the little lady does have some skills. Let's not put them to waste, Hikari!"

The yellow lightning arced off Partitio and hit Hikari square in the chest. Instead of freezing up, he felt his muscles fill with strength. A musical staff wrapped around his body and Hikari could feel himself turn light as a feather.

"Go!" Partitio shouted.

"Take him down!" Agnea cheered.

Hikari didn't waste the opening his comrades provided. Using Partitio's back as a springboard, Hikari jumped into the air and reared his swords back, ready to slice.

For a brief moment, Hikari saw Mugen reflected in his vision instead of the Emperor's mask.

Just like my brother, you aren't fit to lead. I'll strike you down here and now.

"I'm taking your head!"

The shadow tried to raise its kukri in defense, but the Kusanagi sword tore into its flesh like a hot knife through butter. The image of his dark counterpart laughing went through his mind and red lightning traced through his arms.

My friends are counting on me. I will not be stopped this time, darkness be damned!

"Hachimonjigiri!"

Both Partitio and Agnea watched in amazement as Hikari simply vanished from sight and then reappeared in the air not too far away. He landed on the ground untouched and sheathed his swords. Behind him, the shadow stumbled, but then righted itself.

…But then its head fell off and hit the ground.

The head bounced down the road until a laughing Partitio halted it with his foot.

"I guess we headed off your joyride!"

"That was horrible!"

"Couldn't you come up with something better?"

Partitio mockingly rolled his eyes. "Everyone's a critic…"

Partitio frowned when he felt something squish under his foot. He moved his boot to see the head dissolving into goo, leaving the pointed mask behind. He picked up the mask and spun it on his index finger.

"Hey, Hikari? I think this is your spoil of war." Partitio caught the mask between his thumb and forefingers then tossed it like a disc to Hikari, who adeptly caught it.

Hikari studied it and compared it to the nearby fly mask stitched with the number VII. Dark Hikari appeared in the Buddha pose atop a stack of crates. A wide Cheshire-like grin was plastered on his face.

I guess a congrats is in order. That mask on the ground over there belongs to your friend in the hat; just as the one in your hands belongs to you. The object appeared because of yours and his presence. They'll be useful in recognizing others like you. He put a finger to his chin. I do not think there is an enemy classification for Miss Pretty Dancer over there. Either way, your journey has taken its first steps, and you get ever closer to me~ Hikari ignored the insane laughter as he picked up the other mask.

"This belongs to you, then," Hikari said, holding out the fly mask for Partitio.

"Give it to the little lady over there," Partitio said, jabbing a thumb at Agnea. "She made the kill on the horse."

"Little lady?"

Dumbass. He's too nice for his own good.

"These two masks would not have appeared if we weren't here. As much as I would like to give it to Agnea, it's yours, Partitio."

The larger man raised an eyebrow but then quickly shrugged his shoulders. "I guess I've got no choice then… Man, this phenomenon keeps getting weirder and weirder."

"What's even going on here?" Agnea asked. "I think I've come across something similar, but I don't remember seeing the sky like this. Then again, I was in a forest at the time, so I can't be completely sure."

"Seems like both of you have notes to compare. Meanwhile, I am left in the dark."

Partitio walked over to Hikari and took the mask. "I do owe you an explanation, partner. I'll tell you and Agnea over at the tavern while we wait this night out." He slapped him on the shoulder and continued in the direction of hisadmitted favorite establishment.

Hikari and Agnea shared a look, nodded, and followed behind him.

Dark Hikari laughed again from atop the crates as he watched the duo-turned-trio go off into the distance.

He still thinks I'm a demented dark counterpart of his even though I've given him more than enough breadcrumbs… He can't ignore what I am forever. I am a shadow: the true self!

Hikari's Shadow held his gut and almost rolled off the crate, he was laughing so hard. On the "bright" side, the more he resents who he is, the stronger I get. Suddenly, his face turned serious, and his eyes slipped to the east. Speaking of getting stronger… There were already two huge shadows I could feel engaging, and one just got even bigger at that!

Hikari's Shadow willed himself out of existence for the time being.

I wonder how that fight will end… The time of the moon ticks downward.


"Tyrant's Wave."

Two spoken words from Shido's mouth were the only prelude the Phantom Thieves got before each one of them was assaulted by heavy-class almighty magic.

"Tyrant's Fist."

Two more words followed as a massive fist slammed into the deck, sending all the Phantom Thieves but Joker flying through the flames into the mast of the yacht, effectively ejecting them from the battle. The dark fire now a river in the desert separating them from their leader.

Joker turned his head away from his friends to see Shido glaring at him hard with the eyes of a despot.

"I never would've imagined…that impertinent brat from so long ago, managing to get in my way this much… Honestly unbelievable, I should have finished you off before this could've happened… Hahaha, it seems I too was naïve. However—my dream has been attained! My desire to steer this country has finally come to fruition! But my ambition has only yet begun! I WILL NOT stumble over mere minutia like yourself! This time, I'll be dead certain to seal your fate. I will reduce you to nothing!"

Joker raised his knife and made a 'come hither' gesture. "Bring it. Your ambition stops with me. I'll cleanse your distorted heart and leave you pure as a lotus!"

...

...

..

.

"Tyrant's Mind!"

Joker felt his senses sharpen underneath Satanael's guidance. Much needed as his knife collided against the currently deranged Yoshizawa's rapier.

Above them, Cendrillion spun like a top, deflecting the bullets from Satanael's gun.

"Personas are a power of the heart, and now I'm finally getting to hear yours scream out loud." Joker disengaged and flipped back. "But is this truly what you want?"

Off to the side, Crow sneered and growled. "Quit with the romantic, flirting, grandstanding bullshit and end it already! The more time you waste, the more desperate she becomes and the stronger she gets!"

"I refuse to return! I will never go back to being such pathetic, soot-coated garbage!" Cendrillion raged, spilling Sumire's true thoughts as she flew towards Satanael.

Sumire's tears were freely flowing as she blindly rushed Joker. "Why are you doing this, Senpai?! I refuse to live as Kasumi's killer!"

Joker hardened his heart and delivered a cross-counter that cracked the gymnast's mask and sent her flying back from his increased strength. "I'm sorry, Sumire…but I refuse to run from my problems…to run from reality. It may be selfish of me, but I refuse to watch you run too."

"You don't get to decide that!" Sumire wailed, utterly heartbroken. "You don't have the power to change anything like the Doctor does. Why should I put my faith in you? Tell me… Tell me. Tell me! TELL ME!"

The aura around Sumire and Cendrillion flared a brilliant dangerous red as the girl's emotions slipped into the hysterical.

Joker flipped his knife to a reverse grip, allowing Satanael's presence to erupt as well. "Quibbling about what I can and can't do is pointless. Allow me to show you my conviction instead!"

"It's time for the clock to strike midnight for you!" Satanael's gunblade met Cendrillion's bladed heel, sending a shockwave through the field that short-circuited the screens.

Crow had a wicked smile painted on his face, his red eyes dilated in rapt attention.

"Now this is a fight!"

...

...

..

.

"Tyrant Stance!"

Maruki extended his hand and Joker felt his ability to cast magic leave him as if it never existed in the first place. A quick glance at the other's strained faces told him that he wasn't the only one suffering from whatever the doctor did. Crow and Noir were the first to adapt, opting to start hacking through the tentacles like madmen to try and get to the persona behind it. Fox and Violet followed next, swords in hand.

"Suffering and pain bring nothing to people except their ruin! Why would you force yourself into that? Just…let me save you all, just this once!" Maruki pleaded with him, honest truth shining in his eyes. "Please! Throw away your masks!"

Joker laughed a single time and pulled the trigger on his gun, shooting a tentacle headed his way, eradicating it in a single hit. He strolled through the chaos of his teammates fighting as if it was a walk in the park. "Listen doc. One of the many reasons I reject your world is because you are the exact same as the God of Control. Trying to force an unwanted world on people is tyranny at its finest. The singular difference is that you asked us nicely before trying to force it on us anyway. It's in the name of the move you just said."

"That's…! That's not… That's not true!" he desperately refuted. Despite the tentacles of Azathoth protecting him, Maruki backstepped. He watched as bullets and explosions seemingly bent around Joker and his indomitable will. Even the stability of the cognitive world distorted and warped in his presence. Joker's 'real' was overcoming his 'ideal.'

"Trying to put things in order is nice and all; I'm a clean freak myself. But here's the thing: Free will is an inherently messy thing. It comes with a lot of pain and suffering, but it's because of the mayhem we call life we can grow as people." He looked at Morgana fighting his hardest with his scimitar. "And animals," he amended.

Azathoth gasped in almost awe. "This boy… He's chaos incarnate!"

Maruki clenched his fist. He couldn't let Ren's will so easily overpower his own!

"Then so be it!" he yelled. "If I have to wear the mantle of a tyrant to end the suffering of everyone, I will wear it with pride!"

Joker put on his trademark mischievous smile. "That's the spirit. Our ideologies are incompatible, so we were bound to come to blows eventually. Don't worry about what happens next. What's important is that we leave everything we have on the battlefield right now. Let our convictions be our guiding light. From one tyrant to another~"

Maruki nodded and raised his hand one more time, his resolve renewed.

"Tyrant Chaos!"

"Tyrant's Mind!"

...

...

..

.

"Tyrant…YELL!"

The ghastly wail washed over them, making them flinch back.

Joker could see black spittle fly from its mouth and the world distort in time with the sound waves. Eventually, the beast stopped and went still, waiting for them to make the first move.

The air was filled with nervous tension. Tyrant Yell had an effect—all three people could feel it, but they couldn't tell what it was.

"Stay on guard," Raoul said while holding his hat. "I shouldn't have to warn you at this point, but Tyrant-class skills are their own unique branch of troublesome."

Joker nodded and extended his hand. The other held his side, which was bleeding heavily. "Right. Then you should retreat for now since you're pretty banged up."

"Very well. I imagine Urd will be a good pick. Call it resonance…but a Tyrant skill isn't the only thing he gained by 'devouring' me." Raoul eyed the patiently waiting enemy that was seeping with curse-fueled magic. "I can sense Dark Driver in play here too. Expect plenty of dark and curse-based attacks."

Joker clenched his fist in a grabbing motion to send Raoul back, and the persona was engulfed in blue flames. Raoul was still there when the fire disappeared; his carved mouth twisted into a frown of confusion.

Joker tried again to no avail.

And again.

Raoul looked back at him in worry.

A bead of cold sweat ran down his neck. He turned his attention inward to see if he could sense Urd or any other persona and found himself cut from contact completely.

On a hunch, he tried to exchange his sword for his gun and found himself unable to do that too. Even items weren't responding to his call.

On the other side of the clearing, Roi was continuously recasting his barrier, a confused expression on his face. Behind him, Petrichor's bow was stuck to her hand, rendering her incapable of picking up her hatchet.

"Damn…"

"A forced encore effect… The timing could not be worse." Raoul's stub of a wing fluttered weakly. Joker winced, realizing his ability was limited now that he couldn't fly. "This may be a losing match, but remember I've got your back."

Raoul extended his hand, and a lukewarm jet of Eiga flew from it. The Darkling matched it, spewing curse magic from its mouth.

The persona slid back as it was slowly overwhelmed. Joker charged in and slashed his sword, but the blade bounced harmlessly off the side of the mask. The follow-up was cleanly dodged, not even shaving a single hair.

He tried to jump on the Darkling's back, but the beast was too fast, and his body was giving out.

The beast knew that, and with a sinister smile, it danced around the pair, showering them with curse magic.

"Fool. That is what you reap for helping your opponent," Petrichor taunted, leaning against a tree. "If you had left me to my fate, you would have avoided this outcome."

Joker shielded his face from the ineffectual flame and glared at the huntress. "I don't regret what I did, not one bit. What you should be worried about is this beast coming after you next."

That remark made Petrichor bite her tongue and grip her bow even harder.

The magic stopped, and once Joker thought he could catch a break, the Darkling showed its next terrible spell.

The Darkling jumped high into the air, to the point where its body outlined itself on the moon.

"Curtain Call!"

A giant blue sheet appeared over the entire area, covering up the sky.

"What the hell?!"

"All three moves!"

"Can't…dodge it!"

The curtain pulled back and Joker saw Petrichor start to fall. He caught her in his arms as she started to snore gently.

His own limbs grew heavy as his body succumbed to the spell. He tried to resist but felt his eyes closing anyway. What a lame way to die.

No… Not here!

...

...

..

.

—X—

"Pontiff, I beseech you, the matter is most urgent!"

Roi nervously gulped as the Pontiff closed his book of scripture and adjusted his glasses.

"It must be quite important considering Temenos is nowhere to be found. You two are quite inseparable; I guess that stems from your delinquent days…or so the both of you have told me."

"Yes, it is that serious. Temenos' ears do not need to hear what I have to say. If he did, he would be dragged down with an unneeded burden."

"Yet you entrust the burden of this knowledge to me?"

The mantle of the head inquisitor had never felt so heavy on his shoulder.

The Pontiff put his hand on Roi's shoulder and only then he realized he was trembling. He looked at the elderly man's smiling face, and that put him at ease.

"Meet me in the stables later, my son. Whatever it is, we will get to the bottom of it."

Roi watched him walk off and renewed his resolve. This was for the best. He hoped the Pontiff would agree to his plan. He hoped Temenos would carry on where he left off.

Later That Night…

"So an ordinary weapon like that will be the cause of a mountain of trouble…"

The Pontiff wearily eyed the bow in Roi's hands.

"Yes, your holiness. The time that they will come to seize it draws closer every day. My research on the other three relics has proved fruitless."

"I have given you the power of the head inquisitor. You should have the free reign to prosecute and execute as you see fit. Would it not be simple to do so to the leader? She is within arm's reach after all."

"I would if I could…but she is too powerful!" Roi clutched the Darkblood Bow tightly. "Both physically and influentially. Dare I say the Flamechurch's center contains more cultists than worshippers at this point! If we brought her to trial it would be a kangaroo court that would expose exactly where her goal lies."

"So, the situation is that dire, I fear…" The Pontiff stroked his chin. "I assume the Sacred Guard is compromised too?"

"In a way, I suppose. While…certain people hold contempt for the church, she manipulates them. Their rage and wrath is not truly their own."

"What is your move then? You and Temenos never inform me of a problem unless a solution is already in mind."

Roi looked at the horse that was absently grazing next to them. It was already prepared with saddlebags and stirrups. "She thinks of this whole thing as a game, and we are all pieces. You, me, Temenos, the Sacred Guard, and even seemingly unrelated parties such as a dancer, a performer, and a huntress." He braced himself for what he had to say next. "Therefore, I will remove both myself and his accursed bow from the board for as long as possible, if not find a way to destroy it."

"You know, I created the inquisitors in anticipation that something along these lines would happen one day." The Pontiff pulled Roi into a hug. "You have exceeded even my wildest expectations, my child. I shall play my part in this façade too."

Roi stepped away, trying to keep the tears out of his eyes. "I know I am asking a lot, but at the same time, someone has to keep a direct eye on her and put her down the moment she slips up!"

"Do you think Temenos has noticed something amiss?"

"Probably. He pores over scriptures and notices holes where there shouldn't be. I am confident in leaving the rest to him as head inquisitor after I leave."

The pontiff hummed in agreement. "A fine pick for the position. Your will shall be carried out once the timing is appropriate to throw off pursuers. It is a shame such a wolf walks among the sheep."

"Everything about her is a lie! I doubt her real name is even—"

...

...

..

.

Roi watched as Joker and Petrichor helplessly fell asleep. For some reason, Raoul was unaffected, but his lower leg was burning with a blue flame, slowly but surely traveling upward.

What a potent sleep spell. His barrier shone iridescently in the moonlight. Roi knew it was why he hadn't succumbed like the other two.

The Darkling howled and pounced on the unsuspecting sleeping duo. Thinking fast, Roi released the barrier around himself and formed one around Ren and Petrichor. The beast's teeth gnashed harmlessly on the wall of magic.

He coughed up more blood under the drain of the mana. "Demon? Can you fight?"

"Not for long." The demon pointed to his leg, which was now halfway consumed by fire. "With my other self down for the count, I am slowly being pulled back into his mind. I am stronger than the others, but we have a minute at best!"

Roi thought back to what was at stake. "You have exceeded even my wildest expectations, my child."

And he made his decision.

He tossed the bow in his hand using whatever strength he had left. Confused, Raoul caught it in hand.

"If you cannot fight, then take that bow, take Ren, and get out of here." Roi clenched his teeth seeing Raoul still hadn't moved. "What are you waiting for, demon!? Get out of here!"

"What about you, Justice? My other self would be beyond mad if I left you behind!" For a second, the worry in his voice sounded identical to Ren's after they beat the Ratkins.

"Justice, huh?" Despite everything, Roi managed to laugh. "That word is why I went on my journey in the first place. If you feel the need to honor me, then do it by taking the bow and keeping it out of enemy hands."

Raoul's carved-out red eyes closed in contemplation then opened again with a resolute spark. He bent over and picked up Ren, stashing him under his arm and separating him from Petrichor. "I should last long enough to get you to the river, I'll let nature do the rest. Wha—!"

Petrichor had somehow woken up and was clinging to Raoul's other leg, preventing him from escaping. "You're not getting away with that bow!"

Raoul tried to shake her off, but she clung to him fiercely.

No! Summoning hidden strength, Roi launched himself across the clearing on shaky legs and tackled a gasping Petrichor, tearing her off Raoul.

"Go!" he shouted, struggling to pin her arms.

"So, you wish to die together then?!" Petrichor applied an iron grip to Roi's face, but the man refused to let go.

"Be my guest, kill me then! Add it to your already long list of wrongdoing!"

"Kill you…? Wrongdoing…?"

Roi had no time to decipher the spark of shock in Petrichor's eyes as the barrier behind them started to crack under the heavy force of The Darkling's claws and fangs. He watched tensely as Raoul limped to the river, forcing the bow into Ren's hands. Right before putting Ren in the river, Raoul looked back at him one last time.

Roi put on the happiest smile he could. "When he wakes up, tell Ren that…the coffee and curry were excellent." He felt Petrichor squirm beneath him, perhaps seconds from overpowering him. "Temenos would love it, perhaps with a touch of mint. The oddness of the flavor sticking out is what makes it the best!"

Roi finally allowed himself to turn his gaze upward once he heard the splash and the sound of a fire going out. Red was leaking out of the moon above and the sky was returning to normal. He never thought he'd miss the normalcy of a milky-white moon, but there it was.

"…This is where my journey for justice ends."

The barrier finally cracked when Roi's body finally gave out.