Port Island - Dark Hour - Kazuki
Ice particles drift from the gray-haired guy's hands. He's carefully watching me for sudden movements. A Persona-user? The only person I ever see use magic without one out is Shizuka. But there's nothing to worry about, he's still an ordinary person. I'll get rid of him then get that bastard behind him.
I press forward, prompting my enemy to react. A trail of ice hones in on me, throwing me off my path. Another cascade of ice comes hurling at me. I barely dodge it in time, but a bit of it hits my shoulder. Why is it so fast!? If I wasn't using Shadow-mog, I'd be dead already! A sudden tug at my arm combined with a just as out of nowhere strike against my chest throws my brain through a loop. Not only that, but a cold, numbing sensation is biting at me.
"It would do you well not to underestimate my personal servant here. He is more than competent to contend with you."
And that's the part that doesn't make sense. It hasn't been 10 seconds and he's already got me on the back foot. And his first hit isn't that strong, his magic is. The only time it was this effective on me - in Shadow-mog - was that demon.
"Shiki, I want you to fight to kill."
"As you wish," he softly replies.
Several icicles hurl through the air with the wave of his hand. The hairs on the back of my neck raise on ends. Sharp, cold projectiles pierce through the air to run me through. If those hit, they'll kill me. Now isn't the time to get lost in my thoughts, I just have to take him down.
I duck under the icicles, darting straight for the enemy. His calm demeanor doesn't change even with me hot on his heels. I throw a quick punch at his head. I'll have to lighten the blow so it doesn't kill him. Hm!? Ice? Fragmented ice particles scatter about. He reacted to my attack!
His hands move swifter than Sanada-senpais, grabbing my wrist and slamming his other hand into my chest. A horrible cold sensation pushes into my chest. My body shoots into the sky. Another round of icicles are trained on me but they're smaller than the last ones. However, their travel speed is faster. Several small but bitterly freezing cuts open all over my body.
"Not doing so well for yourself, Kazuki Kei. I suggest you quit holding back."
I know! The fact he was human made me hold back, not wanting to kill him and all. But with how things are going, there's no way I can do that. Also, he's able to use magic without a persona just like Shizuka. She incorporated it into her fighting style, this guy is no different. I'll have to hit him harder.
I instinctually pour my energy into my sword, readying for a giant attack.
"So, you are finally–"
An explosion of energy blows away everything in view, destroying half of the roof. A huge dust cloud shrouds the area, but I can see the enemy. He's in the air, wrapping himself in ice. I chase after him. He notices me but I grab his face before he can do anything about it.
"Get lost!"
I throw him into a neighboring building. His body shatters the window on impact, hurling further into the office space. A normal person should be out of commission with that but I doubt it would do more than just slow him down. All I have to do is find that Nyarlathotep guy and make him tell me where he took Fuu-chan.
"Come here."
A disembodied voice, dark as a bottomless pit, and as light as a whisper, reaches out for me. Cold hands wrap around my face like tendrils. I'm being dragged into a black bog! A desolate, aimless, and nauseating sensation washes over me as I sink further into this abyss.
My mind is fraying, all my senses are failing me. Not good, no, definitely not good! I need to get out. A lack of stimuli is killing, withering away my sanity. A minute…a whole minute… Am I gonna die first or am I going to snap first? God, just let this end!
Then, being thrown out of the darkness, lights, shapes, and the concrete ground floods my vision. The sound of wind is a blessing to my ears. I land on my feet, barely keeping them flat on the ground.
"Glad to you are still sane. I admit, throwing you in there was a bit much, but I was dying to see how you would react."
"...Where…is…she!?"
"Huh? She who? Oh, do you mean…" His appearance shifts again, mimicking Fuu-chan's form. He sports a nasty, downright vile smile, betraying her visage. "...Kazuki-kun, why do you seem so angry? Do you hate me?"
"Shut the hell up!"
"You're so mean, Kazuki-kun… Listening to me when it's convenient, expressing a flimsy love towards me, and now, you even want to take my only role; the only thing I'm worth. So cruel, so very cruel! But then again, I'm no better. I give you love simply because you're the only one who would reciprocate. Isn't that sad?"
The string keeping my rationality in check snapped. A deep, blood-curdling scream explodes from my vocal cords, forcing my lungs to pound like drums playing a violent beat. Small dents in the pavement are made with each step. I'm going to rip his head off, then throw it into the ocean!
"Show me what you are capable of, Kazuki Kei."
I take to the air, kicking off the ground without a care. He's staring me down with my face, glaring right into my eyes. It's like a mirror version of myself given form just to mock me in every conceivable way. He takes on our forms, wearing our skin without a semblance of the person's soul.
I slam smack dab onto him. He should be sandwiched between my feet and on the ground, but he's not there. Chunks of concrete rain down all over, and a cloud of dust obscures my vision.
"How destructive!"
A solid hook hits me on the cheek, throwing my senses out of whack. It didn't do that much damage, it just surprised me. I thought the enemy wouldn't try close combat from how he was acting.
"No good, Kazuki… Not good at all. You need to put your heart into this. Or maybe, you have not awake to reality yet?" He transforms into Fuuka once again. He takes her thin index finger, snapping it in two. The disgusting crack associated with the action makes my blood turn cold. "Maybe I will break her precious fingers if you do not take this seriously?"
I speed on, no longer concerned about the bridge or what damage I'll cause during this fight. I just want him dead! A gnarly battle cry reverberates throughout the nightmarish hour.
"Wow!" Everything turns to a blur, but I can see my target clearly. My fingers puncture a hole in his chest as I glide past him. I stomp my feet hard on the ground to stop myself. "You…you…little…!"
He lifelessly hits the ground like a wet blanket. His blood sprayed all over. He's dead…? Really, dead? I just killed someone…? I know what I said, and a part of me wanted to kill him, but…I…I didn't think I could do it.
I hesitantly approach him, anxiety crawling through every part of my body as if bugs were stirring inside my guts. Staring down the motionless body, I can't find the words to ask if he's alive or dead. It just happened, my mind went blank and before I knew it, he was dead… Am I really capable of doing this?
"Why is this so different?" The body stands up, black bits are drooping from its face. "...Why is killing suddenly such a forbidden act? Is the idea of taking human life a frightening one? And if so, why? Are your morals steeled and prevent you from trying to take a life? Or maybe…you don't wish to confront the truth of who you really are?"
"Shut up! You're not making any sense!"
He lets out an annoying boisterous laugh, ridiculing me for answering. "How sad, very sad, but expected for one such as yourself, Kazuki Kei."
"Give her back!"
"Take her back, I say. If she means anything to you, you should force me to give her back. Oh, with an added condition…" He snaps his fingers with a showy flourish. Shadow-mog deactivated, bringing me back to my original state. "...Force me without that power. I want to see if your supposed love is strong enough for the task."
Power or not, I'm getting her back. I charge for him. My drop in speed is alarming and my head can't wrap around it. My feet feel like they're being weighted by muck. Was I always this slow? No, snap out of it! Slow or not, I have to beat him!
…/Shizuka
A forbidding sense of malice, bordering on insanity, has kept me on guard ever since Kazuki ran off. Tonight's operation has gone out of control. Yamagishi's disappearance, Kazuki taking his leave, and now the dorm residents have seen his extraordinary abilities. He just had to go and make matters complicated. But, despite my rightful anger, I doubt he'd leave without a reason; it has to be centered on Yamagishi.
Explaining any of this to the others is going to be bothersome, and frankly, I don't think I'm going to bother. It isn't as if I would benefit from explaining anything to them. At most, I'll be expelled from SEES, which is of no consequence to me. However, it would affect Kazuki's standing in the group. He would be the one to suffer from any type of fallout, so the least I can do is cover for him when the time comes…
I stop on top of a building, it's high enough to act as a vantage point, giving me a view of the city. An apartment complex has a large chunk of its roof missing. He was definitely there, but what was he fighting? A Shadow is a plausible answer, although, I doubt he'd need to use anything but his raw power for them…
Pondering what the monster was is going to have to wait. I unleash a charge of electricity, trained on the person behind me. A tremendous wall of ice protects the enemy, canceling out my attack. I'm several stories above ground and to be able to conjure ice this thick in little to no time at all… It has to be Shiki!
A sheet of ice spreads quickly from under the ice barrier, traveling to reach me. I take to the sky before it can touch where I was standing. A glint of grey hair confirms my suspicions. If he is here, then his master is here in tow! Electricity flows through my arms. The ice wall expands upward, chasing after me. Too late for that! I shoot another charge, but this time, I know who I'm up against. It penetrates the ice, shattering it to bits. Landing behind him, I waste no time drawing a knife from my utility vest under my uniform. Weaving under various ice constructs, I drive my knife for his head. A thick wall of ice catches the blade; barely an inch from his head.
Using magic without vocal commands or hand signs isn't difficult, but his lag time is nonexistent. I have to be swifter if I want to kill him.
"Your presence here is no longer needed," he says, lacking emotion, even killing intent. "Master told me to dispose of you, a mere guinea pig."
I surrender my weapon, opting to gain distance. "Is your master here, by chance."
"Yes, but that won't be your concern for long."
It makes sense now… Yamagishi's disappearance, her strange behavior before that, and Kazuki suddenly taking off. But when did he swap with her?
"What of Yamagishi Fuuka? Is she still alive?"
"Yes."
"And when you took her, that was far before all of this, right?"
"Correct. We acquired her this morning, and my master took her place." he sighs, seemingly disappointed. "...Your ally was easy to capture and detain, but what truly surprises me is how simple it is to fool you all. Well, I suppose it's more surprising you - of all people - were easily deceived."
"Not easily."
There's no point refuting it, however, I can't help myself. Yamagishi being alive is weird. I doubt Shiki would lie to me about that since it would do him no good or harm. Furthermore, if they wish to take her place, her survival isn't necessary for Nyarlathotep to transform into someone. Could they have a use for her abilities? Actually, while I have him in conversation, I have to ask the more pressing question.
"What about summoners? I heavily doubt they haven't picked up the demonic activity here as of late. Also, I know they're capable of moving during the Dark Hour. Or have you dealt with them already?"
"We have. If you mean to threaten us with their arrival, I'm afraid they will not be able to mobilize here on time."
Figures. They'd be fools not to deal with them before attacking like this. Wishful thinking is just that, wishful.
"...Shizuka Rin, the time for talking is over. Someone is getting impatient."
Another enemy!? The bottom of the roof explodes as something tears through the building. Large chunks of the roof launch into the air. Luckily or not, the spot I stood on was also propelled into the sky. Such destructive force… I'd shudder to imagine what would happen if that thing hit me.
Beating both Shiki and this new arrival could take time, and the likely outcome isn't promising. But fighting them would be a waste of time. Kazuki is likely battling Nyarlathotep, no doubt spurred on by Yamagishi's disappearance. I click my teeth with my tongue. They must've been planning for this day; using our next operation to get Kazuki by himself. If Yamagishi were still around this wouldn't be an issue… It's fine, calm down, Rin. Yamagishi's capture is inconvenient but nothing you can't work around. First, I must escape, then locate Kazuki.
I jump off the chunk of the roof, crashing through a window for an office space. My entry is perfect, no minor or major injuries to speak of. Now, to locate Kazuki. Time isn't on my side, so I have to be swift. Expanding my senses, I wait for a ping of magical energy to hit me… Got it! I don't have an exact location, but I know the direction it's coming from. Hold on, Kazuki!
Moonlight Bridge - Dark Hour - Kazuki
Again and again, no matter what I do, how I come at him, or how fast, I can't hit him! He's seeing through all my moves and dancing around me. Swinging my sword is just tiring me out, and worst of all, I can't use Shadow-mog. He hasn't even broken a sweat making fun of me while parading in my face.
"I am thoroughly unimpressed by your display. Must I remind you what is at stake?"
"Shut up!"
"...Is your love weak for the girl? Does the threat of her life coming to an end do nothing for you?"
"Goddamnit, I said shut up!"
"...Or maybe…her corpse would stoke the flame of hatred proper?"
The strand of reason snaps again. I charge forward in a rage-induced stupor. He doesn't move, and he isn't guarding this time either. Both my hands squeeze his throat and we fall to the ground. I don't need Shadow-mog to strangle the life out of him, tear his neck off, or snap it like a twig…
"Kazuki…kun?"
Fuuka's soft voice breaking under my hands stops my heart…
"Fuuka…?"
It's a trick, it is! He's turned into her before, don't let up!
"Kazuki…kun? Why are…you…? Do you not…love me?" It's a trick, it is, I know it is! He can turn into her…! "...Do I…irritate you…now? Do you just…want me…to die…now?" Is it really her? No, it can't be, it can't, there's no way it can be! "...Then…kill…me. Crush me…under…your own hands… Show me all of your…hatred."
Is…is this really her? What if h–he swapped out with her! Oh god!
I immediately let go of her neck, anxiety creeping over me like a centipede."Fuuka, a…are you–"
"How gullible."
A heavy impact on my gut and cuts against my skin is all I can understand in this brief second. Severe, agonizing pain is the only thing keeping my consciousness from slipping out. Hard concrete catches me on the return trip down. My back is pounding harder than my heart. Breathing hurts even in small doses… Shit…shit…shit!
"Love, a blinding, fleeting, and fickle piece of sentimentality. Yet, it is an irresistible emotion when you taste it. Wouldn't you agree, Kazuki Kei?"
"You…you!"
"As much as I would love to keep playing with you, time is not on my side. Let us conclude this skirmish."
Crawling to my feet despite the intense pain all over my body is all I can manage. Blood is trickling down my eye. Must be a head injury… "...Give her back… Give me back Fuuka."
"Persistent, good. As I have said: if you wish to have her, you must take her back with your own power." I have to…get up! I need to…save her! Nothing else matters, nothing! "For now, I need you to sleep. So rest well, my–"
A streak of lightning pierces Nyarlathotep. He explodes and black chunks splatter everywhere, leaving the lower half of his body intact.
Jet black hair catches my attention almost instantly as her name fumbles out of my mouth. "Sh-Shizuka!?"
"Kazuki!" She sprints over to me without glancing at the body. "Stay still, I'll heal you!"
"Fuuka, where is–"
"They had already taken her this morning."
"What!?"
"There's little time to explain everything! We have to retreat until the Dark Hour ends!"
"No, no, I need to find Fuuka."
"We're no good to her if we're dead."
"Listen to the guinea pig, Kazuki Kei."
The black blobs begin to come together, clumping on top of each other and merging, shifting and morphing into the shape of a figure. Nyarlathotep returned to the gentleman in the suit, smiling as if nothing happened.
"I knew that would do nothing."
"Yet you attempted such a futile attempt on my life. Human beings are such contradictory beings. Then again, I suppose that statement is wrong in your case, Shizuka Rin."
"How kind of you to remember my name. I thought I would be someone of little notice."
"You are, but you are a special case. However, when I say special, I mean it in the loosest of terms." She arms herself, ready to face him down. "Shiki, handle them, now."
The gray-haired man from before drifts from behind, sliding on a layer of ice. A wave of ice blankets the bridge, glazing everything on it. Our bodies are stuck frozen to the ground. I can't feel anything except the bitter breeze striking my face.
"Can't…move," I mutter, fighting to keep awake.
"Use Shadow-mog!"
"Can't…!"
I can't flip it on no matter how deep I dig through the mounds of dirt.
"Excellent."
Come on, break goddamn it, break!
"Kazuki, summon Janus!"
Right, I just… Huh? What the…? Janus… What did he look like again? The familiar visage that always came to mind isn't coming. There hasn't been a time where I had difficulty summoning him, so why now?
"Having trouble recalling something?" He asks, as if he's peering into my mind. "...Matters little. Summoning will not help."
Not like this! I can't let him get away with her, not while my heart is beating! Just gotta break through this ice! Shizuka is probably doing better than me in that case. I need to give her some time, but that's easier said than done…
"Kazuki, 12 o'clock."
12 o'clock? But it's… Oh! A blue shimmering light is coming from 12 o'clock. It's quickly approaching this way, coming closer to the ground with each second. Please tell me that isn't another enemy.
"That's– Brace for impact!"
The light crashes onto the bridge. The ice on the ground explodes outward from the power and pressure of the object. An incredibly cold gust of wind whizzes past us. This light…is it!?
"Palladion!"
The mechanical maiden charges, crushing the ice below it. A gigantic wall of frost attempts to stop her assault. But Palladion breaks through it like a rock going through a window. Of all the people I could ever see saving us, she's the last person I'd ever imagine doing it; Aigis!
"Are you both unharmed?" she asks, keeping her eyes forward.
"We're…fine," I tell her in between chattering teeth.
That won't be so true if we stay on this ice. Luckily her impactful entrance weakened it.
"What a bothersome annoyance. Shiki. I want those two alive, but the android can be destroyed. Are you capable of this?"
He stands up, coating himself in ice again. "Of course." He approaches Aigis, freezing the air itself with each step. "...You will have to excuse me, but I am not used to destroying machines. After all, you cannot kill what isn't alive."
She doesn't hit him with a comeback, instead pointing her guns at him. "...Orgia mode engage!"