Chapter 69; Blade Fight Pt:1

...10/09/2009 Thursday; Dark Hour...

...Mitsuru's Group...

The hurried footsteps echoed through the empty streets of Tatsumi Port Island, the grotesque shadows cast by the eerie green light of the Dark Hour following them like silent witnesses.

Mitsuru led the group, her sharp eyes scanning every corner, every movement around them.

The guttural growls of the Shadows came from all directions, as if echoing from the very walls of the houses.

Suddenly, Hiro's voice echoed through Fuuka's telepathy, laced with tension.

"Guys, how are things on your end?"

Akihiko, running beside Mitsuru, glanced up at the sky. "We're reaching the residential area now. But surprisingly, no Shadows have attacked us yet."

"I can't say the same," Hiro replied through telepathy. "We've already faced at least five Shadows. They were weak, but they keep coming."

Junpei, lagging a bit behind, couldn't hide his relaxed tone. "So it's just a horde of weak Shadows? Well, I guess that's not so bad."

Yukari shot him an exasperated look. "Oh, idiot! They might be weak, but there are too many of them. If we get surrounded, we're dead."

Junpei scratched his head, realizing his mistake. "Ahhh… Yeah… I kinda forgot about that part."

Minato's voice cut through the telepathic link, calm but tinged with alertness. "Mitsuru, I think Aigis found something. It looks like the Shadows are gathering the coffins."

Mitsuru furrowed her brows as she kept running. "Gathering coffins? You mean the normal people?"

Shinjiro joined the conversation. "Yeah, that's it. Plus, it looks like they're performing some kind of ritual. And the coffins… they're small. Like…"

Yukari abruptly stopped, her voice trembling. "Children… The Shadows are gathering children to consume them?"

"Seems like it," Minato confirmed. "But the strange thing is that some of them saw us and didn't do anything."

Hiro's voice turned urgent. "Shit… that big one just spotted us. Mitsuru, we have to fight now. We'll talk later."

"Hiro? Hiro, are you listening?" The worry in Mitsuru's voice was cut off when Akihiko raised a hand, signaling everyone to stop.

"Wait..." He narrowed his eyes, pointing ahead. "I think they're just up ahead."

The group stopped running and moved silently, cautious steps over the cracked asphalt.

A grotesque, slimy sound filled the air, mixed with low growls.

Peeking around a corner, they slowly leaned forward.

The sight awaiting them made their stomachs churn.

Hordes of Shadows moved around a growing pile of coffins, small and aligned like a macabre altar.

Junpei swallowed hard, whispering, "Oh man… there's so many."

Akihiko adjusted his gloves, eyes locked onto the scene. "It's exactly what Minato said. They're gathering the coffins for something..."

Trying to get a better look, Junpei leaned forward.

He didn't notice the empty soda can beneath his foot.

The metallic crunch echoed through the street.

The Shadows froze, their twisted heads snapping in the group's direction.

One of them roared in fury, lunging with a punch that pulverized the wall beside them.

As the dust settled, there was no one there.

The Shadow frantically looked around, growling at the others.

It seemed to be communicating, and the group knew time was running out.

On the other side of the shattered wall, they hid, hearts pounding.

The heavy breathing of everyone mixed with the muffled sound of the Shadows moving beyond the rubble.

Still holding Koromaru in his arms, Junpei let out a relieved sigh. "Phew… that was close…"

Yukari turned to him, gritting her teeth. "You almost gave us away, idiot!"

Junpei set Koromaru down, giving the dog one last pat on the head before he jumped to the ground. "I didn't see the damn can, alright?"

Ignoring their argument, Akihiko leaned forward to observe. "Can you two shut up and focus? Looks like they're… performing a ritual?"

Mitsuru narrowed her eyes, a shiver running down her spine. "Not just that… it looks like they're summoning something."

She looked at the group, her tone firm. "We need to take these Shadows down fast. As soon as they spot us, they might open the coffins and attack the children."

Akihiko stood up slightly, assessing the situation. "Okay, but if you attack with Penthesilea, the ice might hit the coffins."

Yukari pulled her bow, eyes locked on the scene ahead. "I've got an idea. I can push them back with the wind, and Junpei and Koromaru can burn them down."

Mitsuru nodded, a small smile forming. "Good idea. Iori, get ready. While you attack, Akihiko and I will guard the coffins."

A deep roar echoed through the streets.

Peering over the wall, they saw the Shadow that had destroyed it slowly approaching the coffins.

Its misshapen body trembled as it raised a black, viscous hand, sliding it over the lid of one of the coffins—a larger one than the others.

A faint glow spread, and the crest of a samurai appeared on the dark wood. But nothing happened.

Mitsuru didn't wait any longer. "Get ready… GO!"

She and Akihiko jumped over the wall in a fluid motion. Mid-air, Akihiko spun his body and landed in a combat stance before delivering a powerful uppercut to the Shadow, sending it flying backward upon impact.

Without hesitation, Mitsuru lunged at a grotesque Shadow in the shape of a giant hand with a mask at its center.

Her rapier gleamed under the eerie green light of the Dark Hour as she pierced the creature repeatedly.

"Sanada-senpai! Behind you!" Yukari shouted as she ran.

Akihiko threw himself to the side just as a black spike whizzed past where he had been standing.

The grotesque spear impaled the Shadow he had been fighting, destroying it.

Akihiko glanced up at Yukari. "Now, Yukari! Push them back!"

She slung her bow over her back and pulled out her Evoker, closing her eyes to concentrate.

"Io!" Yukari shouted as she pulled the trigger.

The click of the trigger echoed, and in a flash of light, Io appeared behind her.

The Persona raised her arms, and a whirlwind began to form around the Shadows.

The creatures were swept up in the ascending current, roaring in fury as they struggled to reach the coffins.

Junpei pulled out his Evoker and pressed it against his head, his eyes gleaming with determination. "Persona!"

The sound of the trigger firing rang out, and in the blue glow, Hermes appeared above him.

Koromaru barked twice before howling, activating the Evoker attached to his collar.

Cerberus emerged beside him, its three heads growling at the Shadows trapped in the air.

The two Personas readied themselves. Cerberus opened its central mouth, forming a sphere of intense fire.

Hermes spun his wrists, gathering flames in his hands before pointing them at the target.

Both unleashed Agilao at the same time.

The blazing flames intertwined in the air and surged forward like an incandescent wave, consuming the Shadows trapped in the whirlwind.

The creatures' distorted screams mixed with the crackling sound of the fire.

They writhed, trying to escape, but the wind vortex had now become a tunnel of flames, devouring everything inside it.

Junpei holstered his Evoker and drew his sword from his back. "Yuka-chan! Duck!"

Without hesitation, Yukari threw herself to the side. A bipedal Shadow with a twisted form struck with a horizontal slash, missing her by mere inches.

In the same motion, Yukari kicked one of the creature's legs, throwing it off balance.

She swiftly pulled three arrows from her quiver and, still on the ground, aimed at the Shadow's chest.

The arrows flew, piercing the creature's torso. It let out an enraged shriek.

Junpei charged forward, yelling as he raised his sword. With a powerful swing, he cleaved the Shadow in two.

Its body split apart and collapsed to the ground, dissolving into black mist.

Junpei turned just as another Shadow rushed toward him.

Its grotesque form was similar to the previous one, but this time it wielded an improvised stake like a spear.

Junpei's eyes widened as the creature lunged at his chest.

With a quick reflex, he raised his sword, blocking the attack with a resounding clash.

But the Shadow's strength was overwhelming.

He felt his feet sliding backward, the creature's weight pushing him down. His arms trembled under the strain.

"Damn… this thing is strong!" He gritted his teeth, forcing his legs to hold firm.

Junpei adjusted his stance and, in a swift motion, redirected the Shadow's arm downward, making the stake strike the ground.

In the next instant, before the creature could react, he delivered a brutal elbow strike to its deformed mask.

The Shadow staggered backward, disoriented.

Junpei didn't waste any time.

Spinning on his heels to gain momentum, he delivered a clean, single slash with his sword, decapitating the creature.

The Shadow dissolved into black mist before its head could hit the ground.

He then turned and ran toward Yukari, extending a hand. "You okay?"

Still surprised, Yukari took his hand and got up. "Yeah… But how… how did you learn that?"

Junpei grinned, scratching the back of his head. "Ahh… that? I just asked Hiro for a tip."

On the other side of the street, Mitsuru and Akihiko continued protecting the coffins.

Mitsuru was facing three Shadows, each wielding pieces of fencing or rusted pipes.

One of them lunged forward with a horizontal strike.

With a fluid movement, Mitsuru deflected the trajectory of the attack with her rapier.

Without hesitation, she pierced the Shadow's head, twisting the blade before kicking it away.

But she let her guard down, and another Shadow took advantage of the opening, striking the side of her head with force.

Pain exploded in her temple, her vision shaking as she staggered.

A cut opened on her cheek, and warm blood trickled down her skin.

She clenched her teeth. "Tsk..."

Wasting no time, she pulled out her Evoker and pressed it to her head. "Penthesilea!"

The gunshot echoed in the air, and in a blue flash, Penthesilea appeared above her.

The Persona lunged forward without hesitation. Her twin swords spun, piercing the attacking Shadow's abdomen.

The creature screamed, writhing as it struggled to break free.

But Penthesilea drove the blades deeper and, with a brutal motion, tore the Shadow in half.

The creature dissolved before it could even hit the ground.

"Mitsuru, more are coming!" Akihiko warned, knocking down another Shadow with a cross punch.

Mitsuru kicked one of the Shadows back. "I know! Don't let them get near the coffins!"

On the other side, Junpei rushed toward a Shadow in the shape of a giant hand. He spun his sword and severed one of the creature's fingers.

The Shadow let out a distorted screech and, despite the amputation, channeled green energy around its hand.

Junpei's eyes widened as he saw the winds condensing around the Shadow. "Ah, shit..."

With a roar, the creature unleashed Garudyne.

Junpei knew the moment the spell was cast—there was no way he could withstand the attack since it was his weakness.

In a desperate reflex, he threw himself to the side, rolling clumsily on the ground.

The attack struck where he had just been, sending a blast of debris into the air.

Shinjiro's voice came through telepathy, tense. "Mitsuru! Akihiko! How's it going over there?"

Akihiko, in the middle of exchanging blows with another Shadow, responded breathlessly. "We're keeping the coffins safe from the Shadows. But there's a lot of them… How about you?"

This time, it was Aigis who answered, her tone alert. "We are holding out. But the street collapsed, and Hiro-san was caught in it."

Mitsuru froze, her eyes widening. "What?! Are you all okay?"

Shinjiro's voice came a second later, interrupted by a grunt of effort. "I'd say so. But Hiro's fighting like… I dunno… forty Shadows alone, and we can't reach him."

Akihiko paused for a moment, the shock evident. "Forty? Holy shit… And there's no way you guys can hel—"

Before he could finish his sentence, something moved too fast for him to react.

A Shadow lunged and grabbed him with crushing force.

Akihiko barely had time to process what was happening before he was hurled backward like a ragdoll.

His body crashed against one of the coffins with a harsh thud, and he grunted in pain as the impact spread through his back.

The coffin he was slammed into was the same one where the samurai symbol had appeared.

TO BE CONTINUED...