Inside of a void, I am by myself. The void is vast, no light is there to guide my path, only emptiness that haunts me. Stepping forward is unimaginable, I can only stare at the darkness as it stares at me. There's no change but I sense an evil presence further in, waiting for me to come.

I can't go any closer, I don't want to go any closer. I back away from the pit. The dread doesn't leave, instead, growing stronger as I move away from it.

"A pitiful coward such as yourself cannot escape."

Who– Static plays in my head, the sensation of my skin ripping apart roars around my chest. Someone's hand is stuck inside my chest, blood painting over the pigment of their skin. A whimper is all that comes out of me as I struggle to rip this hand out of me, but it's no good.

"...Just die."

Those cold, cruel words destroy anything resembling bravery inside me. Then, in a span of a second, my hand is torn off my shoulders, soaring through the air as it descends to the ground. My vision blurs, making it impossible to see anything in this dark world.

"You are —-"

No, that's not true! I'm not! I'm…I'm…"

7/25 - Sa - Iwatodai Dormitory - rooftop - evening - Kazuki

I sit up off the ground. The hot summer air warms the sweat on my face, telling me this is reality. The moon hangs in the air, almost at the half-phase. It's a reminder to tell me that we'll have to fight a strong enemy soon.

How long was I out? The last thing I remember is training with Shizuka, we took a break, and then I went to sleep for a bit. Now that I notice, the sun was setting when we took a break. Shizuka just let me sleep out here by myself? Honestly, she could stand to at least think about other people's well-being every once in a while.

But that dream… Wait, I had a dream? I'm sure I did, but I can't remember it. That's weird… Eh, I guess it wasn't important if I can't remember it. I take out my phone, the time is 9:34 P.M. Shit, I must've been out for 3 hours at most. Today's training was like every other day: torture, so I'm not too surprised. Ever since Yakushima, Shizuka has been training me non-stop, giving me little to no time at all to relax.

Speaking of, 4 days passed since we came back from Yakushima. Our fight with M was reported to Kirijo-senpai by Aigis, who's now a member of SEES. Shizuka's involvement in the fight was something me and Fuu-chan noted since we had no choice but to. Shizuka played coy on not knowing what a Persona was to not raise suspicion. So, during the boat ride home, senpai recruited her into SEES. Oddly enough, she accepted.

It's weird since she belongs to some organization or something. Though, thinking about it, with M, he did say something about her being replaced. I don't get what's going on anymore since she's not telling me anything.

Worse of all, that fight is still stuck in my head. Shizuka was easily taken down, Aigis was beaten in seconds by her own bullets, and I'm no better. He was just playing around with me. No matter what I did, I was never going to beat him… If I have to fight him again, I don't think I'll be coming out alive.

"This is the worst."

"Is something the matter, Kazuki-san?"

The voice of a child calls my name, concerned, but somewhat removed. A boy wearing an orange vest, curious, stands by the stairs.

"Ah, Nah, nothing's wrong, just talking to myself."

"I see… Well, if you'll excuse me."

The boy, quick to end the conversation, heads for his room.

"H-hey, so how is the dorm treating you, Ken?"

Amanda Ken, an elementary school kid, who recently joined the dorm. Since this is a dorm for those with the potential, Ken can use a Persona, but we haven't told him that yet. I don't like it, dragging a kid into this, we're more than enough to keep exploring Tartarus.

"It's fine, everyone has been treating me quite well."

"Ah, that's good. Wanna talk for a bit?"

"Are you sure?"

"Sure, it's not like I'm busy."

"I see…"

Buying something from the vending machine, I take a seat in the rest area with Ken.

"So, Ken, miss your old dorm?"

"Not really, I didn't know any of the other kids there, so switching dorms doesn't bother me."

Talk about detached, the kid doesn't even act like a child. It's kind of disheartening.

"My, well, hopefully, you make many friends during your time in elementary school and after."

"I'm not particularly interested in making any."

"Why not?"

He stares at his lap, keeping silent about his reasons. Hm, kids nowadays sure are reserved. Maybe he's just shy? That was my case when I was a kid, so maybe the same applies to him. Then I'm gonna need to open up with something he might like… Ah, got it!

"So, what Manga do you read?"

He glares up at me, startled by the question, only for him to quickly regain his composure. "I don't read them as much, I think it's sort of childish."

"Well, I mean, some of them are, but there are some darker stories out there. However, I'm into more light-hearted stuff and some action. But nothing beat watching Phoenix Ranger when I was a kid."

Ken leans forward, giving off a surprised, yet lively expression. "You watch it too!?"

Bingo! Got my in.

"Yeah, not as much anymore, but I still think the outfits still look pretty cool."

"Right!? But not only that, the…" He cuts himself off, lowering his head again. "...Um, I… Can you keep this a secret?"

"Why?"

"I just…don't want people to think of me as a child."

"But you are."

"I know, but I don't want to be childish, so can you?"

Wow, talk about intense. I never thought about that sort of stuff before, being a kid, an adult, or whatever, none of that really matters to me, so I can't help him with any of that.

"Kazuki-san, may I ask you something?"

"What is it?"

"It's…about Aigis-san… Is she a…?"

Um, am I supposed to tell him about her?

8/6 Thu - Dark Hour - Weapons Depot - Kazuki

Tonight, we're going to confront another Moon shadow. With Fuuka locating its position, we made our way to an old weapons depot near the abandoned warehouses in the city. Inside is a grimy place, metal worn by the ravages of age, the inside smelling like gunpowder with iron mixing in.

"Where is it?" Junpei, eager for battle, asks. "Did we get the wrong place?"

"No, it has to be here," Fuu-chan corrects.

"Everyone, keep your guard up. The Shadows will take advantage of any carelessness," Kirijo-senpai reminds us.

"Mitsuru's right. You guys better…" Aki stops mid-sentence, turning to face the entrance behind us. "Who's there!?"

"Well done."

A pale, malnourished man, tattoos etched all over his body, claps his hands. Next to him is someone significantly younger than him, wearing a bright green jacket, wearing glasses, and holding a briefcase.

There's a nasty feeling coming from both of them, making the upper part of my back tingle.

"This is the first time we met in person," the pale man says. "...My name is Takaya, this is Jin. We are known as Strega…" The heavy noise coming from behind us is getting louder. "It appears we have little to no time to speak. Shame, I had wished to understand why you'd want to get rid of the Dark Hour?"

"Who wouldn't want to!?" Yukari yells. "You think we like this!?"

"Perhaps you do not. What about the rest of you, do the rest of you wish to return to your pathetic, ordinary lives?"

"Of…"

Why can't I finish that thought? I mean, the Dark Hour is bad, it really is, so why did I hesitate for a moment… Is it though…? The hell am I talking about, this isn't the time to be hesitant!

Pushing through everyone, I rush for our enemies. Right when I'm about to summon, Jin kicks a switch, shutting the door in front of us.

"Open the door, you bastards!"

"You've each got your own reasons to fight… Justice is only an excuse, and that makes you all hypocrites! Have fun in there."

That little… Huh, what's that sound? A sort of hissing sound makes its way into the room, alongside the sound behind us. Purple mist leaks in through the front gate. No way, that's poison!

"The Shadow is here!"

Shit, this is great! The shadow ramps up from the slope leading further into the mine. It's a freaking tank! Wings behind its mask.

"Everyone, get ready for battle!"

Drawing their weapons and Evokers, we ready ourselves for battle. Fuuka summons Lucia, protecting herself from the purple fog, which is quickly enveloping the area.

"Kazuki, Shizuka, Arisato, get the door open," Kirijo-senpai commands.

Already at the door, I summon Janus to help pry it open. Minato uses her spear to help open it.

"Are you using all your power!? Open it!" Shizuka barks at Minako.

"Are you?" she asks, lacking interest in this situation.

"Damn it, come…on. Open!

"Watch out, it's coming for you three!"

The shadow breaks through our defense, charging for us.

"Kazuki, we're going to fight! Arisato, you get the door open."

"Fine…"

I whip out my sword, and Shizuka follows suit. "Kazuki, follow my lead, summon your Person for defensive measures."

"Got it!"

We race off. Shizuka throws a stone at the shadow. Thunderclaps against the shadow's hard exterior, stunning it for a moment.

"Aim for the head!"

Jumping on the shadow, its head is gone. A hole inside is left for us to see.

"Where's the head!?"

"In front of you."

Shizuka reacts to Fuuka's warning by pushing me out of the way. A loud boom goes off, a flash of light, surrounding my smoke, is all I see. Shizuka was blown into the wall.

"Shizuka!"

Poison is spreading throughout the room, filling my lungs with a nauseating stench. I keel over, trying to catch my breath.

"Everyone! Focus on getting the door open!" Easier said than done, if I can just get a bit off air, then I could summon. "Kazuki-kun, it's coming at us!"

The tank barrels toward us, getting ready to ram us. I stop it in its tracks using my sword. Being a Persona-user, my physical attributes are better than a normal person's, but this isn't something I can stop on my own. All I'll be able to do is halt it until it decides to push harder.

Shizuka is still out of commission, I can't summon, and I barely have any strength in me. But there's no way I can stop, I'll die! Shit, shit!

"Hey! Can you hear me!? Help us!"

"Hmm...no."

"Why not!?"

"The situation does not pique my interest, so why should I interfere?"

"Cause then we'll both die, you want that!?"

"It would be an issue… Fine, but after I deal with that monster, I'll take my time ripping apart everyone in this room."

No, it's no good! There's no doubt in my mind that he'll really do it! But what do we do? Between the poison and these shadows, we're sandwiched between a rock and a hard place!

"Situation assessed… Activating Orgia mode!"

Aigis glows red, and the sound of an engine roars as she jets off against the tank shadow. A single kick repels the enemy, crashing it into the metal walls. The shadow, holding a big gun, fires at Aigis finessing the attack. Her speed is inhuman, yet somehow pales to Shizuka's. However, her movement is odd, like a puppet flailing its arms in odd directions and angles. Rust below her feet follows her up as she jumps into the air. Clenching the enemy, she slams it against the ground. It sends a shockwave through the cold, metal floor. Aigis sprays it with bullets, point-blank at its small head.

This is good, Aigis' got this!

"The tank is recovering!"

"I'll–"

My eyes witness a black blur zooming past me. It smashes the Shadow back into the wall. Something repeatedly strikes at its steel frame. Each hit is accompanied by a thud that shouldn't be coming from a tank. Its last strike pushes further into the wall.

"...Is that…Shizuka!?"

I know she's powerful but damn, how is she able to punch a tank like that? Even if she keeps on doing that, she'll need a weapon to end this. Should I use Ocean Stream? If I'm going to do it, it should be to destroy the door!

"Let's do this then."

Gather all of my energy, pour it into the sword, all into my sword! Blue energy coats my sword, surging in destructive power. Now, all I have to do is release– Intense pain burns away at every sense in my body. All feeling in my body throbs at one point.

W-wha-w-what!? It hurts, it hurts, it hurts! IT HURTS!

"Kazuki-kun!?"

My blood, why is it leaking, why is there a slash at the side of my chest!? It hurts, it's painful, it's agonizing!

Staring at who attacked me, Minako faces me, her face devoid of any life, vacant of guilt.

"Well, what a bold invitation… I guess I shall accept it." Make it stop, make this pain end! "Quit your whining, it'll end now…"

…

Purple fog pollutes the air we breathe, yet I can still breathe just fine. Everyone else, save for Yamagishi, Shizuka, and Aigis, are barely conscious, unable to fight against the poison. If those doors don't open, then they'll die. I don't want them to die, however, I was told not to open this door by Nyarlathotep. I can hear his voice in my head as his malicious tone spreads across my brain, issuing me orders.

It was to force Kazuki Kei into a corner via extreme measures. Our situation is extreme, but Nyarlethnotep seemed unpleased with the result, so he asked me to mortally wound him with my spear. With this fog and my spear's speed, it went unnoticed.

"What now," I ask the malignant entity.

"Hold," it demands, its voice sounding mature yet holding that sinister expression I've come to expect from it. "...Here it comes!"

Its excitement catches me off guard. That moment is when I face down an unbearably evil presence. Staring me down, Kazuki Kei faces me, closing a distance of 60 yards.

"Such a bold declaration, yet you quiver beneath me." Every cell in my body reacts, unified by a singular feeling: fear.

In the blink of an eye, he moves to the door, standing in front of the metal doors. He swings both doors open, allowing fresh air to seep into the bunker. His strength is unreal, to swing open those doors would require monstrous strength, and he doesn't even look like he broke a sweat.

"...Now…" He disappears, reappearing in front of me. "...I shall reward you."

With a vice grip, he grabs my head. We travel all the way outside in the blink of an eye. He throws me like a baseball. I roll against the asphalt concrete. My skin tears open around my legs. I manage to stop my momentum with my spear.

"...I admire your gumption, yet harming me is truly outrageous. Still, I commend your bravery it nonetheless. So, as your reward, I'll give you a horrible death."

I'm gonna fight this thing? No, there must be a plan to all this. Nyarlathotep wouldn't just throw me away so thoughtlessly, not after letting me live for so long! Whatever, I'll just need to hold out.

"Go!"

I open by throwing my spear. It glides through the air at an alarming rate. Kazuki was barely able to dodge, let alone block this type of attack. It centers in at his chest, barely an inch. Beyond any of my predictions, he catches it, killing all of its force.

"Don't get too fired up at the beginning."

My spear leaves his hands, coming back to me. I whip out my Evoker, summoning Susano'o. Hovering above me, he unleashes lighting to smite my enemy. Asphalt clouds his figure, electricity fills the air.

"Did I get him?"

Air leaves my lungs, and a sigh of relief leaves them as well. Then, in between my relief and to catch my breath, the warm sensation coming from my back runs cold, freezing over the skin. Rough-in texture, something presses up against the upper left part of my back…

"Your heart, such a nice rhythm, delicate, too… Is this what fear sounds like?" Base instinct takes hold, I automatically jump away from him. Any longer and I'm sure he would've pushed through my back to rip out my heart. "...Hmm, how boring. Very well, I suppose we should stop playing." Once again, he disappears. "...Time to claim your reward."

He's– His foot hits my gut. My head goes blank, my sick rises from my stomach to my throat, but I manage to choke it down. I swing my spear only for him to block it with his forearm. The blade didn't tear apart his arm.

"What a joke!"

He kicks me into the air, sending me skyrocketing meters into the air.

"Persona!" Summoning Susano'o to act as a landing spot is the best method to catch my breath. "Reign lightning, no–"

Another crushing blow lands against my head, creaming me through an abandoned warehouse. I tear through steel beams, crushing the bones in my body. It worsens when I hit the ground. Blood leaves my arm, torn open from the wrist to the upper part of my forearm. All of my nerves are scrambled. My brain has been thrashed thoroughly from the crash.

"Impressive" Nyarlathotep says, astounded by all this.

"H-help…" Words are failing me, my lungs are on fire.

"Help? You request help?"

"Y-yes…please."

For the first time in my life, death frightens me. The prospect of having my life ending in such a quick and uneventful way frightens me. Without resistance, without Makoto seeing me, joining my parents… NO! I don't want to die!

"Please…save me!"

Please, please, please! I'll be a good girl, I'll serve you until I die, and I won't complain! Please, just save me!

"Is this all you are capable of?" Kazuki appears before me, wearing a wicked smile while he strolls closer to me. "Tell me, why are you weak?"

"Weak…?"

"So even you do not know…? Well, whatever, I suppose why you are does not matter to me." His footsteps echo louder as he approaches. "...Stand."

"Stand up."

Hesitant, I stand up. He rushes me, striking me with a flurry of punches. My left arm has gone dead, and my right is barely blocking some of them.

"Stop that!"

His hand wraps around my wrist, pulling in outward. Monstrous strength is used to snap my arm in two. A blood-curdling scream stretches out my lungs… Blow after blow, each hit destroys my will. Each time his knuckles hit my head, the bones inside break, blood sprays his hands, and my mind turns to mush.

"You wished for my help, however, I see no need for such a thing…"

Ah, of course. From the beginning, I knew that he was no good, but I at least thought he wouldn't let me die… Such a foolish thought. Whether it's this demon smiling in front of me, gleefully inflicting pain upon me, or this unholy being holding a nose over my neck, they are both demons…

…

Minako lies beaten, her face caked in blood. The being possessing Kazuki stares at her unconscious, broken body. The excitement of fighting, destroying a person, nearly killing them has gone away, leaving him with nothing but his own thoughts.

"Why," he whispers to himself. "...why do I feel no pleasure?"

This question does not come from guilt, shame, contempt, but from sadness and confusion. The mere idea that a cruel being can feel such a thing is unthinkable, yet here we are. His confusion stems from the exhilaration he felt when he first took control of Kazuki's body. Why was he able to feel excitement and joy then, but feel nothing but sadness now? Of course, this answer eludes the being, he doesn't even know what he is feeling is sadness.

"Does inflicting pain on others make you happy?"

A dreadful sensation runs through his body, freezing him in place for a moment. Instinct takes hold, he rushes to kill this individual. His voice incurred an unknown wrath in the being, his cells telling him this man must die.

"Hierogly–" Otherworldly energy shines brightly, becoming a temporary sun for approximately 3 seconds, blanketing a mile-long perimeter. Is such power used to destroy those it envelops in its light, or perhaps it is meant to save from evil, or maybe…