2026-05-15: Doomsday Doctrine

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<Pose Tracker> Moon Penguin has posed.

The lights of the shops and offices down Aoba way go dark one by one by one. People go home at their own time, trying to make the trains or buses before they would shut down.

SEES and it's allies are staging here as concerned citizens. Several of them have clipbords and tissue packs as some of them half-heartedly ask passers-by...

"Excuse me." Yukari Takeba says, clipboard in hand, "Would you be available to sign our petition on the city doing something about the cult in the park?"

Some sign. Most ignore her. It doesn't matter. It's a cover anyway for them all to seem as they have a legitimate purpose for being here this late. A bunch of students gathering at this hour looks suspicious enough as is. They don't want to get in trouble with the cops.
And then...

Tick Tock Tick Tock TOCK

The in-between time known as the Dark Hour hits, and the world shifts into green skies and pervasive gloom. The light of the Full Moon seems not to dispel this sensation, it only deepens it.

They all put on their equipment.

Across the road, in Aoba Park, the square where the cult has gathered has become a graveyard. Hundreds, in an Amphitheater like semi-circle, surrounding the central point of a man who had spent so long standing upon a wooden crate.

The supposed leader, Toshio.

The navigators, or those with greater resonance sense something is afoot, like the Shadow is around, a predator lurking just beyond their senses, veiled. They have trouble pinpointing it down at first.

Then as one, they all detect it, right atop that Wooden crate. A coffin vanishes, Toshio stands in their midst, and makes a smile that's far too wide. "Salvation. Salvation is HERE-gck-!" A blotch of black ichor spills out of his breath has he chokes on the word, spewing emesis at first, but then the darkness keeps spilling out from every orifice, until it's even bleeding out of his pores. "It's- HERE! NOW-" He halts for a beat, like he's losing his train of thought mid-sentence, before his eyes roll back, and he begins to scream.
 
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
 
Hierophant OST - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5ulDSRySkk

His form melts, losing all definition, beginning to look like a puddly Maya, limbs shadowy limbs stretching out of it. Those limbs press down upon the ground, and the Shadow bulges, becoming bloated, as it takes form, shape, definition.

An enormous bulbous torso parodying a man sits upon his throne of two fishnet wearing legs that sport heels, giving the impression he's sitting upon a throne made up of the feminine. His masculine form wears vestments that strain to contain the entirety of him, clasps seeming as if they might pop off at any moment, and stretching out from behind to rise behind him, like the back of the throne is a woman's body, yet sprouting from her neck is a bent cross of gold, sporting red jewels.

The milk crate of course does not survive, flattening beneath it. And as it shakes, two outlines of two-dimensional stick figures like representations of people form on each side, bearing crimson emblems of human faith. Sturdy, Shikigami like Paper Dolls.

His form jiggles, then shakes as he lifts his hands high- then behind him forms what looks like a disc of light, like a portal to the beyond, rays of auroral light spill out, washing over the entire park, becoming brighter and brighter until its blinding.

And each of them is instilled with a fear of having glimpsed something beyond human understanding, a panic. The idea that not only has their end of the world arrived, but that they should submit to it. That there is nothing to be done.

The Hierophant Shadow is here.

AS: Moon Penguin has readied for combat as Hierophant! They are now fully healed! Ready for 17 opponents!
AS: Persona! Moon Penguin has used the Almighty skill Doomsday Doctrine on Aigis, Akihiko Sanada, Eriko Kirishima, and
Hitomi Mandai!
AS: Ruin: Moon Penguin gains 1 Limit!
AS: You still have 16 regular actions and 0 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Persona! Moon Penguin has used the Almighty skill Doomsday Doctrine on Hitomi Mandai, Hyousuke Suzuki, Koh
Katsuhiro, and Maki Sonomura!
AS: You still have 15 regular actions and 0 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Persona! Moon Penguin has used the Almighty skill Doomsday Doctrine on Masao Inaba, Minako Arisato, Minato Arisato,
and Mitsuru Kirijo!
AS: You still have 14 regular actions and 0 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Take! Aigis takes 0 Almighty damage from Moon Penguin's Doomsday Doctrine.
AS: Panic (Damage when using Persona/Tandem!) and Poison (Damage on end of turn!) added!
AS: Persona! Moon Penguin has used the Almighty skill Doomsday Doctrine on Pernelle, Ririka Kawase, Suzume Fukura, and
Umie Akabane!
AS: You still have 13 regular actions and 0 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Persona! Moon Penguin has used the Almighty skill Doomsday Doctrine on Yanagi Nagisa and Yukari Takeba!
AS: You still have 12 regular actions and 0 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Take! Minako Arisato takes 0 Almighty damage from Moon Penguin's Doomsday Doctrine.
AS: Panic (Damage when using Persona/Tandem!) and Poison (Damage on end of turn!) added!
AS: Moon Penguin's turn has ended.
AS: Take! Ririka Kawase takes 0 Almighty damage from Moon Penguin's Doomsday Doctrine.
AS: Panic (Damage when using Persona/Tandem!) and Poison (Damage on end of turn!) added!
AS: Take! Umie Akabane takes 0 Almighty damage from Moon Penguin's Doomsday Doctrine.
AS: Panic (Damage when using Persona/Tandem!) and Poison (Damage on end of turn!) added!
AS: Take! Yukari Takeba takes 0 Almighty damage from Moon Penguin's Doomsday Doctrine.
AS: Panic (Damage when using Persona/Tandem!) and Poison (Damage on end of turn!) added!
AS: Take! Suzume Fukura takes 0 Almighty damage from Moon Penguin's Doomsday Doctrine.
AS: Panic (Damage when using Persona/Tandem!) and Poison (Damage on end of turn!) added!
AS: This is an Area attack and must be cancelled with +cancel/area. Remember to include all your targets or your
returned resources will miscalculate!
AS: Moon Penguin cancels 2 attacks on Hitomi Mandai.
AS: Take! Koh Katsuhiro takes 0 Almighty damage from Moon Penguin's Doomsday Doctrine.
AS: Persona! Moon Penguin has used the Almighty skill Doomsday Doctrine on Hitomi Mandai!
AS: Ruin: Moon Penguin gains 1 Limit!
AS: You still have 16 regular actions and 0 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Moon Penguin's turn has ended.
AS: Take! Maki Sonomura takes 0 Almighty damage from Moon Penguin's Doomsday Doctrine.
AS: Panic (Damage when using Persona/Tandem!) and Poison (Damage on end of turn!) added!
AS: Take! Akihiko Sanada takes 0 Almighty damage from Moon Penguin's Doomsday Doctrine.
AS: Take! Masao Inaba takes 0 Almighty damage from Moon Penguin's Doomsday Doctrine.
AS: Panic (Damage when using Persona/Tandem!) and Poison (Damage on end of turn!) added!
AS: Take! Hitomi Mandai takes 0 Almighty damage from Moon Penguin's Doomsday Doctrine.
AS: Panic (Damage when using Persona/Tandem!) and Poison (Damage on end of turn!) added!
AS: Take! Yanagi Nagisa takes 0 Almighty damage from Moon Penguin's Doomsday Doctrine.
AS: Panic (Damage when using Persona/Tandem!) and Poison (Damage on end of turn!) added!
AS: Take! Minato Arisato takes 0 Almighty damage from Moon Penguin's Doomsday Doctrine.
AS: Poison (Damage on end of turn!) added!
AS: Take! Mitsuru Kirijo takes 0 Almighty damage from Moon Penguin's Doomsday Doctrine.
AS: Take! Pernelle takes 0 Almighty damage from Moon Penguin's Doomsday Doctrine.
AS: Panic (Damage when using Persona/Tandem!) added!
AS: Take! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 0 Almighty damage from Moon Penguin's Doomsday Doctrine.
AS: Panic (Damage when using Persona/Tandem!) and Poison (Damage on end of turn!) added!

<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.

Minako runs forward, the little earpiece buzzing. "Got it, Fuuka-chan!" she says. "Aoba Park--"

With that damned cult in the park. A frown crosses the red-haired co-leader's face, as she comes running up. She didn't expect to come out all the way to Sumaru; she didn't expect, either, that they would detect something like this in Sumaru. She has her equipment on, just as Dark Hour hits.

The world becomes sickly green. Minako turns, her eyes on Toshio -- as black spills from his mouth. As the cult's leader melts into a Shadow, and she feels a sick feeling in her stomach--

And then she feels little at all. Determination sets in her crimson eyes. Minako reaches over her shoulder. Her naginata's breakaway strap falls to the ground, as the SEES-made weapon is gripped and she steps forward towards the cross-bearing Shadow.

"Don't let it scare you!" she says. "We've faced these before, and we can do it now!"

She runs forward, then -- and rushes for the Hierophant Shadow. As Minako gets in close, her boot-clad heel digs into the park's dirt -- and there is a gleam of silver as the naginata's blade slashes across its body.

AS: Weapon! Minako Arisato has used the Slash skill Naginata Slash on Moon Penguin!
AS: Aggression: Minako Arisato gains 1 Limit!
AS: Minako Arisato: Loses 71 HP from Poison! Panic removed!
AS: Minako Arisato's turn has ended.
AS: Take! Eriko Kirishima takes 0 Almighty damage from Moon Penguin's Doomsday Doctrine.
AS: Panic (Damage when using Persona/Tandem!) and Poison (Damage on end of turn!) added!

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.

Ririka had been out this way with Minato and Moriko to scope out the issue with the cultists. And unfrotuantely, nothing seems to have changed. She's trying to keep up the cover of gathering petittions, too, but mostly she's keeping an eye on the cultists, in case something changes with their situation.

The Dark Hour hits, and Ririka rushes to get her Evoker out. With an unsteady breath she pulls the trigger. "Amphion!" Her persona forms, and places a pair of headphones on her head. Ririka reaches out and begins to play, casting her senses out. "Scanning... I'm having difficulty..."

And then her gaze snaps to Toshio and she gasps. "There!"

She gasps, hand going to her stomach as she watches what happens. "What in the world--" She feels a little sick to her stomach. And when that wave of panic hits she grabs the side of her head, her breath growing unsteady. The end of the world.

It would be easier to give up.

Hasn't she wanted to give up before?

That's not what Toshi-nii would want.

And she hears the call one of their combat leaders and forces herself to focus. She has her team to support. She can't let them down this time.

"R-right, Arisato-chan! Then-- Amphion! Analysis!" Behind her, Amphion strums his lyre, sending sounds of waves crashing at the Heirophant and listening to what comes back. 

AS: Persona! Ririka Kawase has used the Almighty skill Full Analysis on Moon Penguin!
AS: Ririka Kawase takes 90 damage from Panic!
AS: Insight: Ririka Kawase gains 1 Limit!
AS: Ririka Kawase: Loses 75 HP from Poison!
AS: Ririka Kawase's turn has ended.

<Pose Tracker> Minato Arisato has posed.

    "Please consider our petition," Minato says, atonally. "For the good of public safety."

    He has collected four (4) signatures. What a bad omen... four people were convinced by his schtick?!

    There aren't generally a bunch of students from Gekkoukan here, no -- not even if one considers that SEES has asked students they know from Sumaru, like Hyousuke, to help. They have a little booth set up which they return to for flyers; what the people don't realise, of course, is that all their weapons are hidden inside it.

    When the Dark Hour falls -- tick, TOCK -- no one has to know they're here to fight.

    (And SEES, in turn, does not have to know... that in Aoba, there are powers always watching. Hidden in the trees of the park and veiled by Anti-Navigation, a Persona in a white gown observes proceedings, alongside the Bride captured in Gretchen's bars... and a flower girl in a deep hooded cowl who keeps the Shadows from pestering her. Today, these two won't interrupt those children... not directly, anyway. Rather, the information they're gathering is for...)

    That's how Minato has his sword, when he approaches Toshio -- it was hidden in that booth the whole time. He grasps his blade, as Toshio emerges... and screams.

    He does not look upon the scene with panic.

    It's just as they said...

    Death is near.

    "Support row, cleanse the aura of the Full Moon Shadow," is Minato's advice-slash-orders, as he raises his Evoker to his temple. "Orpheus."

    That Persona with his lyre appears to strum a song of Tarunda, enervating the Hierophant...!

AS: Persona! Minato Arisato has used the Almighty skill Tarunda on Moon Penguin!
AS: Pressure: Minato Arisato gains 1 Limit!
AS: Minato Arisato: Loses 75 HP from Poison!
AS: Minato Arisato's turn has ended.

<Pose Tracker> Maki Sonomura has posed.

Maki Sonomura is not one of the kids in the park with clipboards. She's here with friends, but they're sitting out of the way at the park, talking amongst themselves. Maki notes the Resonance of many of the assembled people, and quietly relates it to the others. Not only Persona-users, but Persona-users with strong bonds...

That's her impression of SEES.

But the Dark Hour hits... and the group of college students(?) by the way doesn't turn to coffins. Instead, Maki rises to her feet, pulling a handgun from her bag and checking it carefully. She's a fashionable young woman in black and white, with short brown hair and a beauty mark by her mouth.

And she just inserted a magazine into the gun, checking to make sure it's ready to fire like some kind of professional.

And she looks to see hundreds of people in that graveyard, frowning. Until...

She spots it. "The Shadow is here," Maki says. "I can't tell where--"

Suddenly. "No," she says. Toshio is there, with a wide smile--and he starts to change. "My God..." Maki stares in horror at the changes to each of them. It's HERE. NOW.

The Shadow comes, a Shadow more monstrous than any, it would seem. It bulges, it changes shape, it... "Grotesque," Maki says, staring further--and then she feels it. The panic that surges within her, that says that something wrong is here, that the End has come. "No," Maki says. "I won't submit!"

She puts out her hand. "Persona..."

A woman in white appears, faint phoenixes embroidered in her dress. Her head bowed in prayer, she emerges, and her hands come together. A cleansing light settles down on Maki, Eriko, Mark, and... Minako.

"Take heart, everyone," Maki says, and the woman sets her hands on Maki's shoulders, continuing to remain manifest--a Navigator Persona. Maki's voice echoes telepathically through the area.

"...Remember that you hold the potential to overcome something like this." 

AS: Persona! Maki Sonomura has used the Recovery skill Amrita on Maki Sonomura, Eriko Kirishima, Masao Inaba, and Minako
Arisato!
AS: Maki Sonomura takes 90 damage from Panic!
AS: Maki Sonomura: Loses 66 HP from Poison!
AS: Maki Sonomura's turn has ended.
AS: Take! Maki Sonomura takes 0 Recovery healing from Maki Sonomura's Amrita.
AS: Panic and Poison removed!
AS: Take! Masao Inaba takes 0 Recovery healing from Maki Sonomura's Amrita.
AS: Panic and Poison removed!

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.

Hyousuke had kept an eye on the situation. Such was to be expected - it was his home turf, and to not keep an eye on developments there was abject foolishness. But Yukari had managed to get him to stay his hand, and keep a respectable distance away, never engaging any closer than walking by the park whenever his route somewhere else took by the place. When Akihiko had told him that SEES was executing their assault that night, however, Hyousuke leapt at the chance to take action like a hunting hound that had slipped the leash.

Something streaked through the night. Something clad in violet hues and golden-yellow accents, its face a blank sheet of mirrored plastic. Something had a shotgun strapped to its back, surging forth into the fray, gunning straight for the foe that had manifested itself before him. He took only a moment to study its form and scan it for weaknesses, but even then, he refused to stop. He had caught the scent of his prey, and nothing short of a force of nature could cause him to even slow his pace. So he thought, at least.

Fear and pain set in - one an assault on his mental defences, the other a biting pain in his flesh. Hyousuke clenched his teeth and fought back against both, summoning every fibre of willpower to stand against them, all while he adopted a fighting stance and called his Persona to the fore.
"Achilles!" He called out, despite the gnawing ache in his brain. Another figure dragged itself from the darkness to face the Shadow before them. A titanic amalgamation of bronze armour creaked and clanked out from behind him, rising slowly, as if shackled by the weight of its own defences. It bore a shield in one hand, strong and mighty, while a spear as keen as obsidian gleamed in the other. The invincible general had arisen.

Hyousuke thrust his hand forward, directing Achilles towards the Hierophant with a bellowing warcry.
"Rip that thing apart!" 

AS: Persona! Hyousuke Suzuki has used the Pierce skill Rending Rush on Moon Penguin! 3 Hits!
AS: Hyousuke Suzuki takes 90 damage from Panic!
AS: Pressure: Hyousuke Suzuki gains 1 Limit!
AS: Hyousuke Suzuki: Loses 70 HP from Poison!
AS: Hyousuke Suzuki's turn has ended.

<Pose Tracker> Suzume Fukura has posed.

Suzume came along for the operation, of course. This is what SEES is for - even her recent work with Mementos and her plans to look deeper into it, recently shared with SEES, doesn't change what she signed up for.

She's actually with Yukari but isn't doing very well at getting signatures. Part of her is annoyed by this because, well, she's not doing anything useful, but another part of her is: why care? It's only an excuse to hang out in the park so they know where to go when it becomes...

THE DARK HOUR.

Suzume doesn't quite kick over the booth in her haste to fetch her tonfa out from inside, but she comes close, pulling on the coat from her combat uniform even if she's not going to change her entire gear while standing out in the park. It makes her feel a little better, like this is a little more *real*.

(It also makes her feel less stupid when she puts the cat-ear headband from Tartarus on too. She really is going to have to replace that eventually...)

"That's creepy as hell," Suzume says, seeing the coffins all facing the central point in a semicircle. It creeps her out - makes her skin crawl her in a way she's not entirely willing to own up to. Better if she just calls it 'creepy' and leaves it at that.

But she wasn't expecting someone to appear out of the coffin, and -

"Ugh!" That's grosser than the rest of it. She hesitates for a moment - does this count as killing somebody's Shadow? Or did the Shadow already eat him...? Either way they're going to have to beat it up, aren't they?

Suzume's hesitation lasts only an instant before she's sprinting, rising up from the half-crouch she'd started in and tearing across the park like a track and fielder. Her legs pump as she accelerates through the auroral light, which makes her skin crawl even worse, a dread building in the pit of her stomach -

But Suzume deals with her fear by lashing out, and that's what she does, attempting to plow right into the Shadow and drive the weird legged throne backwards by sheer impact. Minato wanted the back row to do support, but Suzume - she's the *front* row.

Better it focuses on her than most of the others! 

AS: Weapon! Suzume Fukura has used the Strike skill Hammer Through on Moon Penguin! 3 Hits!
AS: Pressure: Suzume Fukura gains 1 Limit!
AS: Suzume Fukura: Loses 74 HP from Poison! Poison removed!
AS: Suzume Fukura's turn has ended.

<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.

Yukari Takeba arriving at the park in her pink Cardigan and bearing her bow, looks upon Toshio, and- "Hey! Calm down, it's danger-"

She yelps at the transformation, then puts a hand over her mouth.

"... I think I'm going to throw up." She murmurs, at the horror of it. This is what it looks like for a person to become a Shadow? Is he still in there? Can he be saved?

How many people have met this fate because of what her Father did?

The flash of light blinds her, as she begins to tremble and shake, her knees weak, but then-

'Support row, cleanse the aura of the Full Moon Shadow.'

"R-Right! P... Please help... Io!"

The pull of a trigger, Io appears, and raising her hands, she does her best to mitigate those feelings of doom, a spell like a cool breeze blowing through and bracing the senses.

AS: Hyousuke Suzuki spends Limit on Help Up! Poison removed from Ririka Kawase! Hyper (Next Attack Boosted/Incoming
Damage Down!) appllied to Ririka Kawase! They both receive 8 SP and 30 HP!
AS: Persona! Yukari Takeba has used the Recovery skill Me Patra on Minato Arisato, Minako Arisato, and Mitsuru Kirijo!
AS: Yukari Takeba takes 90 damage from Panic!
AS: Support: Yukari Takeba gains 1 Limit!
AS: Yukari Takeba: Loses 72 HP from Poison! Panic removed!
AS: Yukari Takeba regains 3 SP from Invigorate!
AS: Yukari Takeba's turn has ended.
AS: Take! Minato Arisato takes 0 Recovery healing from Yukari Takeba's Me Patra.
AS: Poison removed!
AS: Hyousuke Suzuki spends Limit on Help Up! Panic removed from Suzume Fukura! Hyper (Next Attack Boosted/Incoming
Damage Down!) appllied to Suzume Fukura! They both receive 8 SP and 30 HP!

<Pose Tracker> Mitsuru Kirijo has posed.

They're spreading.

It was always a possibility. There was no reason the Arcanas couldn't manifest outside of Tatsumi, when the entire country has to bear the weight of the Dark Hour. She had planned for this eventuality.

Mitsuru Kirijo had simply hoped that the threat of her family's sins could at least be contained to the source. But she should know:

There's no kindness they can be afforded in this situation, no matter how laughable calling such a thing a kindness might be.

She's here with the others, handing out flyers, asking in that calm, naturally inspiring voice of hers to sign their petition. She made the flyers herself, of course; they're extremely informative about the cult, but have minimum pictures and almost zero fancy layout work, meaning many people just sort of inevitably don't bother reading them.

That's hardly her fault; she made sure they were comprehensive.

Regardless -- it's all puppet theater, in the end. The real reason why they're here...

tick tock tick tock tick T O C K

... comes with the tolling of the bell.

The world shifts, in that familiar way that Mitsuru Kirijo has lived with for over a decade now. Dark red eyes narrow.

"Everyone," she says into those open lines of communication. "It is time -- start mobilizing on the square, now!"

She can feel it in her bones. Her Resonance is not nearly on the level of Ririka and Fuuka's, and even she can feel it.

The Shadow. It's here.

But where--

There. The... cult leader?

Sprinting on the scene, Mitsuru comes to a heel-squealing halt in front of the sight of that normal man, awake during the Dark Hour. Her eyes widen.

"No, you fool!" she shouts, impulsively. "You can't--"

The black. The way it leaks out of him. The first time she saw such a thing, she was eight years old. It's nothing new to her, now.

But what happens after--

"No -- how is--"

That, very much, is new.

Eyes still wide, Mitsuru takes a single step back as what was once a man, and then a simple Maya, bulges outward into a figure grand in its own strange obscenity. A Shadow. An Arcana Shadow. The man transformed into... but... how--?

She can feel the panic broiling in her bone marrow. The poisonous fear that festers from this thing that was once a man. It makes her want to despair at her own lack of knowledge, her inability to anticipate this completely unexpected form of manifestation. She knows so little. And this is why she will always fail--

"No."

Her voice is firm, cutting through the chaos. Unwavering. -=snap=- goes the button of her Evoker holster as she snaps it out with a smooth twirl of a flourish.

"You have no power over me. Nor any of us."

She brings that evoker to her temple, and stares at the grotesque tumescence of the Hierophant standing before her. Her target. Her quarry.

"You will not escape!"

Her prey.

Click.

In a thousand shattering panels of phantasmal blue glass, Penthesilea forms.

"Arisato-chan is right. Remember why we are here!"

There are other Persona-users congregating here already. Mitsuru will take stock of them later. For now--

"This creature will NOT leave this place alive!"

For now, Penthesilea surges forth, the sweep of her blade lacing spiraling red-white magic into the Hierophant and its high-heeled throne, to eat away at its vaunted defenses -- and leave it all the more vulnerable to her allies, both known and unknown. 

AS: Take! Mitsuru Kirijo takes 0 Recovery healing from Yukari Takeba's Me Patra.
AS: Persona! Mitsuru Kirijo has used the Almighty skill Rakunda on Moon Penguin!
AS: Ruin: Mitsuru Kirijo gains 1 Limit!
AS: Mitsuru Kirijo regains 3 SP from Invigorate!
AS: Mitsuru Kirijo's turn has ended.
AS: Block Worst! Moon Penguin takes 87 Slash damage from Minako Arisato's Naginata Slash.
AS: Take! Moon Penguin takes 0 Almighty damage from Ririka Kawase's Full Analysis.
AS: Ririka Kawase's Strength Scan! Moon Penguin resists Light and Dark!
AS: Ririka Kawase's Weakness Scan! Moon Penguin is weak against None!
AS: Ririka Kawase's Support Scan! Moon Penguin has passive skills Ailment Boost, Break Limit, Explode Boost, Fortify
Spirit, Light Amp, and Peerless Skill!
AS: Take! Moon Penguin takes 0 Almighty damage from Minato Arisato's Tarunda.
AS: Atk_Dn (Damage down!) added!
AS: Take! Moon Penguin takes 57 Pierce damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Rending Rush.
AS: Block Neutral! Moon Penguin takes 14 Pierce damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Rending Rush.
AS: Block Best! Moon Penguin takes 13 Pierce damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Rending Rush. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Best! Moon Penguin takes 24 Strike damage from Suzume Fukura's Hammer Through.
AS: Block Best! Moon Penguin takes 31 Strike damage from Suzume Fukura's Hammer Through. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Best! Moon Penguin takes 31 Strike damage from Suzume Fukura's Hammer Through. Critical Hit!
AS: Take! Minako Arisato takes 0 Recovery healing from Maki Sonomura's Amrita.
AS: Poison removed!
AS: Take! Minako Arisato takes 0 Recovery healing from Yukari Takeba's Me Patra.

<Pose Tracker> Yanagi Nagisa has posed.

    Earlier, Yanagi had been at home in Peacock Silk, over in Tokyo. The moon during the Dark Hour has been a curious state of just-past-full--izayoi, they call it in Japan--for the past couple of days. She has seen this a couple times now, and given the recent ruckus in Aoba Park, she has a hunch what it's about--a hunch she'd like very dearly to see to its logical conclusion, right or wrong. She'd made preparations to go out, but sadly, by the time she came downstairs to leave, only one person--pearcockson?--was about.
    
    "Say, Pernelle!" she said to him. "Have you heard about that cult over in Sumaru City?" Whether he has or not: "I've been watching them lately, and I think they're going to do something interesting very soon!" She smiles and extends her non-cane-holding hand. "Won't you escort this fresh young lady tonight? <3"
    
    Now...
    
    The bells of midnight toll. The world transforms. So, too, do Yanagi and Pernelle. Yanagi's gray hair and eyes dazzle in a flash into sunset pink and peacock green as a scintillating magical girl dress with feather-like hair clips, a long stained-glass back train and reinforced thigh-high boots sparkle into being.
    
    In the park, Toshio is already there. He chokes on a foul ink and explodes into a Shadow. This disturbs even Yanagi, who's able to take most things in stride; as she takes a step back, she murmurs, "This presence... It's exactly what I felt before..."
    
    The Hierophant Shadow manifests and sends out radiant, cursed light. It's like looking into the sun at high noon; it's like looking into the face of god. In this moment, Yanagi is reminded of just how small she is, and she clutches at her throat as she struggles to breathe.
    
    However, that isn't the only light here. A familiar voice broadcasts through her mind, and she directs her senses towards a friend.
    
    "Maki..." Yanagi murmurs. Then she brushes a lock of hair back and giggles. "That's true. What's the end of a world or two to us, Pernelle?"
    
    She swings her gun-cane into a blue butterfly flitting past. Behind her, the ghostly gown of Giselle twirls as she pirouettes on catheter needle legs, and as she dances, a soothing light shimmers down upon Pernelle--as well as Maki, Masao, and Eriko, who are also Yanagi's friends--to help restore their spirit and protect them from the Hierophant's aura.
    
    "Now then... shall we see this dance through?" she murmurs, gaze now turning to the organized machine that are the many members of SEES. 

AS: Persona! Yanagi Nagisa has used the Recovery skill Relaxing Wave on Pernelle, Maki Sonomura, Eriko Kirishima, and
Masao Inaba!
AS: Yanagi Nagisa takes 90 damage from Panic!
AS: Insight: Yanagi Nagisa gains 1 Limit!
AS: Yanagi Nagisa: Loses 71 HP from Poison!
AS: Yanagi Nagisa regains 10 SP from Invigorate!
AS: Yanagi Nagisa's turn has ended.

<Pose Tracker> Hitomi Mandai has posed.

 
Well, it's time to pay the bills; at least that is how Hitomi Mandai thinks of it. Though she does not voice it often with her peers, she has taken a somewhat workmanlike attitude towards the way in which she must conduct herself with SEES. Perhaps it's weary of the world, perhaps it's mature. It's difficult to say.

She had even held a clipboard and solicited passerby, although when none were nearby, she had asked, tentatively, "Can we put our names on this? I never had to do this before. We live here, don't we?" But in a sense, that feels like it was on the other side of the planet.

But active participation in the political life of the community *is* on the other side of the planet, in some ways, from the realms where SEES must go. The Full Moon Shadows are the primary target of SEES, and there is one coming.

No: There is one *here*.

When Hitomi came, she came with SEES. She didn't hasten to get in front - others, faster, stronger, needing to get up close with whatever-it-is, whatever horrors it may be concealing within a contorted cognitive corpus... They can go first. And she does not lag behind, although, perhaps, she's in the back of the middle. She thinks about orders and organizations like that, sometimes. Mostly academic. They have a word for it in Blade World: 'marching order.'

It means she misses a lot of the puking, but she still hears what the man said, and she hears him scream, and she can see him melt, and she can see what laid within emerge.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbI79e5iZKs

Hitomi stares blankly for several long seconds. The feeling washes over her, and it really is a lot like a wave coming in from the sea. A huge wave, a tsunami wave born from some subterranean upheaval barely within the scope of their explanation and far beyond her control. Her lips part for a moment, as if to say something. Her eyes get a little glassy for a moment.

But -- others are speaking. Suzume's exclamation of disgust. The two co-commanders speaking with authority. Hitomi shakes her head for a moment. "Guh - I don't blame you," she answers Yukari, even as her eyes track Suzume for a moment. She takes a deep breath... and her right hand twists in the air as she pulls out, not one card from thin air, but two: one luminous blue, which soon enough evanesceces, and the other one an electric yellow. That one she raises upwards with another twist of her wrist.

"Tyche," Hitomi says. (This is a waste of time, she thinks.)

The Grecian statue appears even so, one imploring hand held outwards in the approximate direction of the Full Moon Shadow. It seems to mirror just how Hitomi's holding her hand, give or take a card. Surging light gathers, along with a rolling tension for a moment before there is a CRACK as the electricity discharges from the un-sky of the Dark Hour towards the Shadow.

(Haha, thinks Hitomi. I'm completely useless here. I'm just going to stand here like an idiot, aren't I? Wait, she thinks further. Wait, though, whatever it did --) 

AS: Take! Masao Inaba takes 0 Recovery healing from Yanagi Nagisa's Relaxing Wave.
AS: Vigor (SP restored on end of turn!) added!
AS: Take! Maki Sonomura takes 0 Recovery healing from Yanagi Nagisa's Relaxing Wave.
AS: Vigor (SP restored on end of turn!) added!
AS: Persona! Hitomi Mandai has used the Elec skill Zio on Moon Penguin!
AS: Hitomi Mandai takes 90 damage from Panic!
AS: Hitomi Mandai: Loses 72 HP from Poison!
AS: Hitomi Mandai's turn has ended.
AS: Take! Eriko Kirishima takes 0 Recovery healing from Maki Sonomura's Amrita.
AS: Panic and Poison removed!
AS: Take! Eriko Kirishima takes 0 Recovery healing from Yanagi Nagisa's Relaxing Wave.
AS: Vigor (SP restored on end of turn!) added!

<Pose Tracker> Masao Inaba has posed.

    Masao's at the park with the others. In truth, the day was hectic enough that he might've only heard half the total conversation other than being aware they were going to be out when the Dark Hour hit. Sometimes life is just like that, even when you are one of those living that awakened double lives by necessity. Sometimes, he looks over to Yanagi over there. Her with the peacock (?!) and the other young woman hanging near the activist kids.
 
     When Maki is moving with urgency and assurance, Masao's not far behind. The whole of the scene has him all bug-eyed as to what happens to Toshio, and...
 
     "Aw shit!" This is understated. The panic, the gut-wrenching twisting that's making him feel like something's sapping him alive (that's 'poison,' by the way). With Maki's call to action, for those near her to take heart, he takes in that restorative blessing, a few vigorous nods.
 
     "Yeah, yeah... all right." He's going to consider it a good thing that he's not too jaded to be freaked out by the most awful thing he's ever seen in the Dark Hour. The way those red armband kids (that's SEES) approach it like they were ready and expectant for the idea of it - as far as anyone can be in the Hierophant's panic-inducing presence - well.
 
     Can't leave anyone here hanging. After all, as Maki says... they all hold the potential to overcome something like this.
 
     "I got ya!" Masao calls, as he finds himself rushing into the range of the soothing, shimmering light cast by Giselle over from Yanagi. He's moving towards the front, gaudy diamond-studded axe in hand with a zeal and recklessness SEES might attribute more to the likes of Junpei - Masao is not quite the mountain of presence or strength that Shinjiro is. (Masao is also on the shorter side for an adult Japanese man, at that.)
 
     "Let's pin 'em down, Elly!" He calls to his classmate, swinging that axe into the Emperor. "Woo!" 

AS: Weapon! Masao Inaba has used the Slash skill Melee - Axe on Moon Penguin!
AS: Aggression: Masao Inaba gains 1 Limit!
AS: Masao Inaba: Gains 10 SP from Vigor!
AS: Masao Inaba's turn has ended.
AS: Take! Pernelle takes 0 Recovery healing from Yanagi Nagisa's Relaxing Wave.
AS: Vigor (SP restored on end of turn!) added!

<Pose Tracker> Akihiko Sanada has posed.

    EARLIER

    Akihiko Sanada: yo, suzuki-san

    Akihiko Sanada: we think there's gonna be a big shadow near Aoba

    Akihiko Sanada: it's your backyard, so i thought you should know

    NOW

    Akihiko is one of those handing out tissue packets half-heartedly. It's a little awkward... "Why couldn't we have just postered up in a ramen shop or something...?" He groans, but, well. There's not very many ramen shops that run into midnight.

    In any case. The Dark Hour dawns. Finally, Aki thinks, as he digs into his school bag for his equipment, including his pick for Jack Frost themed gloves. He straps them into his fists, and pats them together. Time for some action!

    The supposed leader is consumed by the shadow, and Akihiko...is a little less than thrilled. Seeing a guy go like that...

    Maybe it's best not to focus on it too much. The Maya grows bloated, turning into a twisted reflection of the supposed salvation everyone was looking for. It then unleashes it's attack. Akihiko dodges, escaping the wave with nothing but a glimpse.

    The silver-haired boy grits his teeth. "You won't get me like that!" Akihiko brings his Evoker to his temple. "Polydeuces! Carve a path!" He pulls the trigger, and the man in the silver bullet proof vest manifests. Polydeuces points his needle-arm at the Hierophant Shadow and fires a Sonic Punch!

AS: Persona! Akihiko Sanada has used the Strike skill Sonic Punch on Moon Penguin!
AS: Ruin: Akihiko Sanada gains 1 Limit!
AS: Akihiko Sanada's turn has ended.
AS: There's nothing in your queue by that number or attacker.
AS: Take! Moon Penguin takes 0 Almighty damage from Mitsuru Kirijo's Rakunda.
AS: Def_Dn (Block Penalized!) added!
AS: Block Best! Moon Penguin takes 42 Elec damage from Hitomi Mandai's Zio.
AS: Paralyze (Physical and Avoid Penalized!) added!
AS: Block Neutral! Moon Penguin takes 90 Slash damage from Masao Inaba's Melee - Axe.

<Pose Tracker> Koh Katsuhiro has posed.

Koh enjoys handing out the flyers probably more than more than most might. First because it's the easiest thing he's going to do today.

Also because for some reason he's always talking to girls. The lack of signatures indicates the cult probably didn't come up in the conversation.

Eventually, though, it's time to get to work.

His weapon, the big knife, dangles at his side as SEES makes for the park. He nearly drops it when the cult's leader makes his appearance and the Arcana does the same in more spectacular fashion.

"Shit, that's-" He doesn't finish, hand rising to shield his eyes from the light.

His teeth are clenched when he lowers it, his heart feeling like it's beating twice as fast. But he hears their leader's orders and complies.

"Zagreus!" The evoker fires.

The ragged rainbow cloak of Koh's persona billows out behind him, its beaming golden mask spewing out an invigorating fountain of wine-red mist across SEES' front line. 

AS: Block Neutral! Moon Penguin takes 75 Strike damage from Akihiko Sanada's Sonic Punch.
AS: Persona! Koh Katsuhiro has used the Recovery skill Bacchanalia: Revelry on Minato Arisato, Suzume Fukura, and
Akihiko Sanada!
AS: Support: Koh Katsuhiro gains 1 Limit!
AS: Koh Katsuhiro's turn has ended.

<Pose Tracker> Pernelle has posed.

When Yanagi comes to Pernelle, he pries his head straight out of a pumpkin and gives a hop of excited interest before kicking it aside as if it now means nothing to him. "Dearest Yanagi, you needn't even ask. It would be an honor to accompany you on such a fascinating venture."

And so, off they go...

Within the Dark Hour, the once simple peacock becomes... a peacock wearing a snappy indigo vest and a matching tricorn. Oh, it's not quite so mundane as a bird in clothes. There's a cartoonish expressiveness now, and all the eyes of his train feathers blink occasionally -- including the one adorning the brim of his hat.

A grotesque transformation occurs, and Pernelle might ordinarily think it little different from what it's like to tear open a crab until he is struck by the auroral ray like a spotlight.

Not only is this experience beyond human understanding, it is beyond peacock understanding.

He stares into forever, his pupils dilating until his eyes are a large, shiny black. If only, like Yanagi, this fear stole his breath. Instead, Pernelle throws his head back and he S C R E A M S an unbridled and extended EEEEEEEYAAAAAAAA of a peacock's signature honk.

It ends abruptly as Pernelle blinks. The full nuance behind the fear sinks in, and he ruffles his feathers. Nothing to be done! Well, then, what is there to worry about?

"Goodness, for an instant that felt irresistibly important." He nods to Yanagi with firm agreement. "Just so! It is no matter. If the world is ending, you can but smile... for it has not ended just yet."

Giselle washes away the horrifying light with her own soothing wave, and Pernelle spreads his wings. Something metallic glints between his feathers in the light.

"Oh, Yanagi, you know me far too well. I would never turn down an invitation to dance. Enchante~!"

He launches at the shadow, aided by gliding wings as he pivots and spins in an aerial dance, cutting with the blades hidden in his feathers.

AS: Weapon! Pernelle has used the Slash skill Wing Waltz on Moon Penguin!
AS: Ruin: Pernelle gains 1 Limit!
AS: Pernelle: Gains 10 SP from Vigor!
AS: Pernelle's turn has ended.
AS: Take! Suzume Fukura takes 0 Recovery healing from Koh Katsuhiro's Bacchanalia: Revelry. 12 SP regained!
AS: Crt_Up (Critical Up!) added!

<Pose Tracker> Aigis has posed.

    Aigis mostly remains among the crowd of SEES students, but refrains from interacting with anyone so directly while they're all collectively trying to avoid suspicion. Even she has enough self-awareness to realize that she doesn't quite have the social grace to survive scrutiny, especially when she's made out of various synthetic materials. Once the appointed Hour arrives, she has no equipment but herself to bring out.

    At first, there's a faint flicker of ... some emotion in Aigis as she stares on the Hierophant Shadow's form. She raises her arm and her hand spins on its wrist as she takes deadly aim ...

    Then its malevolent light reaches her. "Circuitry eroding -- !" Aigis relays to the rest of the group as thoughts of the inevitable flood her mind.

    That emotion was recognition. Something about this reminds her of that night so long ago. Her failures. Her insufficiency. How can one improve on perfection, designed to the Kirijo Group's exact specifications? And yet, she must if she has any hope to emerge victorious.

    She turns her head to Maki and blankly stares in doubt -- Aigis wonders how she can have the temerity to suggest that they can prevail where she had failed. They may win today, but they don't know what's coming! They don't know the enormity of it!

    (Granted, Aigis has absolutely no idea what Maki has endured, herself. Little does she know.)

    Aigis scans the crowd for her charges: the Arisato twins. Yukari has them covered. They're in good hands with her. It's only now that she notices her automatic self-repair systems kicking in.

    Two in harmony surpass one in perfection. That's how she exceeds her limitations. That's the root cause of her ancient failure: they had sent her off alone. She turns to look at Maki again and nods, taking her cue in earnest now.

    She steps beside Hitomi. "Mandai-san. We've got this," she asserts, before she cries out the name of "Palladion!" Twin pulses of red and blue spread out and cover herself and several SEES members in protective wards.

AS: Persona! Aigis has used the Recovery skill Spear and Shield on Aigis, Hitomi Mandai, Koh Katsuhiro, and Suzume
Fukura!
AS: Aigis takes 90 damage from Panic!
AS: Pressure: Aigis gains 1 Limit!
AS: Aigis: Loses 74 HP from Poison! Fast Heal! Poison removed!
AS: Aigis regains 3 SP from Invigorate!
AS: Aigis's turn has ended.
AS: Take! Aigis takes 0 Recovery healing from Aigis's Spear and Shield.
AS: Atk_Up (Damage Up!) and Def_Up (Block Improved!) added!
AS: Take! Suzume Fukura takes 0 Recovery healing from Aigis's Spear and Shield.
AS: Atk_Up (Damage Up!) and Def_Up (Block Improved!) added!
AS: Take! Koh Katsuhiro takes 0 Recovery healing from Aigis's Spear and Shield.
AS: Atk_Up (Damage Up!) and Def_Up (Block Improved!) added!
AS: Take! Hitomi Mandai takes 0 Recovery healing from Aigis's Spear and Shield.
AS: Atk_Up (Damage Up!) and Def_Up (Block Improved!) added!
AS: Block Worst! Moon Penguin takes 49 Slash damage from Pernelle's Wing Waltz.
AS: Charm (Attacker or Ally takes Damage!) added!

<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.

        'She might yet be saved.'
    'Oblivion awaits.'

    Red sneakers tread with purpose towards Aoba Park, a duffle bag slung over one shoulder as she crosses the last crosswalk, one gloved hand in the the pockets of her jacket, the other grasping her hood, which she pulls over her head, the reinforced fabric propped over the two blonde hair buns as they're hidden from view. In the next second, to everyone mundane around her, she'd just be gone. However, that is the future, and in the now of the Dark Hour, there is just her...

    ... and a lot of other people?? She felt *some* resonances in the noise, but there being so many... Watching across the street, Umie's expression turns thoughtful until she notices the SEES logos on many of the uniforms. "... So word's gotten out that far," she murmurs to herself, as she jaywalks (which is legal during the Dark Hour) right across the street. Added to that are the familiar faces of Maki, Eriko, Masao, as well as Hyousuki, Pernelle, and Yanagi.

    .... There's another presence, as well. Umie can feel it, like a vibration felt through the ground, a presence that is *known*, but vague on all the other details.

    Dropping her dufflebag next to a tree, Umie unzips it and retrieves a mask, painted a checkboard pattern with yellow peonies over one eye, as well as the rope, bifurcated blade and hoop of her kyoketsu-shoge. Looping the rubber band ties of the mask over each ear, the blonde barely has enough time to look up, register that Toshio is still standing there.

    And black ichor is
            coming out of his
                mouth

    'How can you be scared? You've seen it before~' Cool, smal hands trace delicate trails against the back of Umie's ears and neck, snapping Umie from her shocked quiet. 'You've *always* known.'

    Umie makes a single erratic swat at empty air, swallowing the bile collecting in her mouth.

    Which is how she enters the fray for those who were paying attention to Toshio's unfortunate transformation: without fanfare, suddenly, and roughly, with splayed fingers calling out a single command:

    "Badb!!"

    The crow goddess of death and war smoothly glides into being behind her, pointing a long clawed lace-covered finger towards the giant shadow. 

AS: Persona! Umie Akabane has used the Dark skill Warrior's Bell on Moon Penguin!
AS: Umie Akabane takes 90 damage from Panic!
AS: Ruin: Umie Akabane gains 1 Limit!
AS: Umie Akabane: Loses 71 HP from Poison!
AS: Umie Akabane regains 3 SP from Invigorate!
AS: Umie Akabane's turn has ended.
AS: Take! Moon Penguin takes 0 Dark damage from Umie Akabane's Warrior's Bell. Resist!
AS: Rage (Weapon Attack and Incoming Damage Up!) added!

<Pose Tracker> Eriko Kirishima has posed.

    Some people, when presented with the presence of a cult forming near to where they work would have the good sense to avoid the area, adjust their routes, be careful on their way home, etc.

    Those people are not Eriko Kirishima, who is lured to the supernatural like a moth to the flame, with her biggest precaution being, well, prior experience.

    So for tonight, she's hanging out in the park with friends, her sports bag slung over her shoulder and wearing her highly fashionable adventuring gear. "Well, something tells me we're in the right place," Eriko murmurs to her group of friends- having recognized more than a few faces in the crowd handing out fliers and getting signatures. Sure it could be coincidence- but, well, Eriko has a hunch.

    And certainly, Eriko is at risk of getting recognized herself, this close to the TV Station. But so be it. She is with people, so only the very rude or careless are likely to approach her tonight. Still, that's not to say she's rude about it. Yukari certainly gets a little wave, but Eriko's not going to interrupt her while she's 'working', and if she spots Yanagi before the transformation, so too will she and Pernelle. (Eriko doesn't know Pernelle but she can appreciate a cool and glamorous peacock, as all should be able to.)

    But mostly, she's killing time, watching the cult from afar and waiting for the world to change-

    And a familiar, comfortable sensation washes over her as the Dark Hour does and her connection to Nike strengthens to the point she can manifest her other self directly. She unzips her sports bag in one swift movement and from it comes her blade- a rapier reminiscent of the Emperor's Sword from the last arcana shadow, and the audacious gold and onyx garterbelt on her left leg glints briefly in the half light of the Dark Hour. Yanagi does good work.

    -And then, something foul spills out of the man as his body contorts, and Eriko does not look away. "How horrible," Eriko says- and for all the nightmarish creatures she has seen in her time, this is no less upsetting. She looks upon the transformation into a grotesque mockery with a terrible curiousity, as the throne froms and the Hierophant rises.

    And then from it comes it's wave of panic and fear- and Eriko Kirishima is certain she is facing her death. Not just hers, but the death of everyone around her. The end of things. Her eyes widen, her pupils become pinpricks, and she can just feel it.

    A spectre of deja vu. A reminder of the penalty for facing gods.

    "No!" Eriko screams, her hand reaching out for her friends. Her family, helpless against the threat. So many people she'll never see again. "No! Don't-"

    And then, a calming voice reaches her, and soothes her spirit with magic and bonds both. "...Maki-chan..." She murmurs, looking to her friend, pulling from the wells of bravery she found in herself as her persona clears the terror. "Thank you." She says, more quietly, before standing up and brandishing her blade again. Masao calls for her support, and Eriko grins. "Of course," Elly replies to the St Hermelin Alumni's resident hooligan (affectionate). "I'll set it up, you knock it down! Nike! Kouha!"

    The cross of holy light flies for the face of the grotesque pope, as Eriko feels Giselle's light fall upon, and Eriko looks to Yanagi and sights her persona for the first time. The implications line up in Eriko's head. But still, she smiles to her friend. "Now, are you here by chance or did you want to see how your work looked in action?" Eriko says. "Oh, and what a wonderful friend you have with you, you'll have to introduce us later."

    Yes of course she wants to talk to the peacock, he's a talking peacock person.

    Eriko waves toward Umie- and indeed, waves for her to fall in with her group. "I seem to recall saying something about how you didn't have to go this your own, Ms Mitsuhide."

    Still, it's hard for her eyes to not fall upon Aigis- now what on earth is she. She's certainly not human but her Persona, well... one hardly has to be human to have a persona.


tEven Shadows can have them, after all. 

AS: Persona! Eriko Kirishima has used the Light skill Kouha on Moon Penguin!
AS: Pressure: Eriko Kirishima gains 1 Limit!
AS: Eriko Kirishima: Gains 10 SP from Vigor!
AS: Eriko Kirishima's turn has ended.

AS: Block Worst! Moon Penguin takes 120 Light damage from Eriko Kirishima's Kouha. Resist!

<Pose Tracker> Moon Penguin has posed.

Minako rushes forward, and the Shikigami to the left leans over strangely, balancing on a single foot, trying to intercept, but Minako's Naginata strike cuts through, gouging the Shadow in the chest.

It burbles in indignation, as Ririka gains a sense of what this Shadow is about, however there is an odd feeling, like something is missing, something is hidden here.

Minato and Mitsuru strike in Tandem, Penthesilea and Orpheus weakening the creature.

SEES' leadership is truly something to behold. Teenagers standing firm against this, even in the face of such horror. Mitsuru's firm resolution to kill this thing ringing in all of their ears.

It's strange isn't it Maki? So far outside of what happened in Mikage-Cho. Why? Why would something like this happen? And yet one can only recall it's not so strange at all. After all, one man influenced so many, with the powers of a god.

Suzume lashes out, and this time a Shikigami does lean in the way, taking the brunt of each blow. Yet, each hammering strike causes it to contort weirdly, dealing damage to the things, even as that strange Star of David like symbol glows eerily red.

The next moment, the symbol is gone? Did her fist do that?

What is the end of the world to someone like the two of you, Yanagi-? Death is something you've been anticipating your entire life. So why not go with everyone else? What irony... that you would not die young of a terminal disease after all.

Lightning descends from Tyche, the Zio spell suddenly meeting the strange cross like protrusion of the feminine figure embracing the Shadow, like a lightning rod, it spares the main mass of the Shadow, at cost to itself.

But as it turns to Hitomi, it leaves an opening for Masao, who swings the axe hard enough to cut into the side of one fishnet covered leg, which limps, ever so slightly. And Akihiko comes out of nowhere, his punch being met with a second Shikigami, which is knocked away from the sheer force of it, needing a moment to recover.

And Pernelle comes in, gliding in a swift aerial dance, wings cutting. How could you end the world when such a beautiful creature exists? Have you no soul, Shadow?

Well it apparently looks transfixed by the display, momentarily enthralled, as Nike's spell of light burns at them. It seems, resistant - and yet, it harms it still.

It all seems manageable despite the unsettling atmosphere. Just another Shadow fight in an impromptu graveyard of hundreds of people. And then the first coffin

... vanishes ...

What comes of Despair - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWxxr4W3-hg

To deposit a person, a woman, whose smile grows a little too large. "Our savior. Our savior is here." She drones as if in a trance. Most of them understand how dangerous it is for any person to be here during the Dark Hour.

She coughs, and black ichor splatters on the ground, she heaves, and spasms- then turns to the crowd, her face, leaking from her eyes, out of her mouth. "Why... why would you try to take this from us? Why? Why?"

Another coffin opens. And another. Then two dozen, who begin to heave their guts out, as the ground becomes stained with black. And some might swear the Hierophant looks... bigger?

The mob advances upon the Persona Users. They walk with a slow, shuffling gait, moving to overwhelm. Some grasp. They're normal people, but only slightly less dangerous than being overrun by a rioting mob.

"The unbelievers must be saved-"
"Hold them down..."
"Why?"
"Come... find peace with us."

There is no longer the chorus in sync with the leader. They each speak with a certain eerie individuality, all united in one purpose.

They all saw what happened to Toshio, the leader. Who knows how many of them will be left, before the night's end?

The Hierophant Shadow's face feels like a grotesque parody of a person, smiling, smirking, as if conveying some truth of the world that is obvious to it, that none of them are aware of.

That smile reaches down in the spirit, and seizes at those feelings of hopelessness and despair. An invitation to join, a desire to join, reaching down into each of their souls.

They begin to close ranks around Eriko, Maki, Koh, Mitsuru, Minato, Umie, Pernelle and Aigis. Grasping, while some begin to clumsily attempt to strike them.

"Save us." One of them pleads to Minato, with inky darkness leaking out of their eyes. "Let death come to us..."
"You have to stop..." Another demands of Maki, while trying to drag her off her feet, their mouth full of something far darker than blood. "... Just accept it, like the rest of us."
"Don't... Don't do this." One asks of Aigis, as a half dozen cling to her, her robotic chassis making it more difficult to gain purchase.
"We just want to be saved..." A teenage girl says to Koh with a smile, that doesn't carry with the ichor leaking out of her, "Can't we be saved together?"
"No... no... it's too much." An middle-aged man, her father's age, says to Mitsuru wearily, like he's waiting to die. Does it remind you of when you were eight, Mitsuru? When you saw men become Shadows...
"Please..." A young adult wearing an earring, about 'his' age says to Eriko. "... I just need it all to end."
"If you can't understand... then just go away. Go away...!" A college aged girl says as she tries to grab Minako's polearm, and wrest it away from her.
"Full of sin." An older woman hisses in Umie's ear, and she might swear that it's the same woman as before.
"You're so beautiful. Stay with us?" A teenage girl asks Pernelle, as she tries to wrap her arms around him a little too tightly, and others try to take possession of him too. "Stay with us until the end."

What do you even do with this!? How can you fight this grinning papal monstrosity, while a mob of people are trying to enclose around you.

AS: Moon Penguin spends Limit on Reach! 

AS: Persona! Moon Penguin has used the Almighty skill Evil Smile on Eriko Kirishima, Umie Akabane, Aigis, Pernelle, Koh
Katsuhiro, Masao Inaba, Hitomi Mandai, Yanagi Nagisa, Mitsuru Kirijo, Yukari Takeba, Suzume Fukura, Hyousuke Suzuki,
Maki Sonomura, Minato Arisato, Ririka Kawase, and Minako Arisato!
AS: Charm results in party damage! Moon Penguin takes 90 damage!
AS: Ruin: Moon Penguin gains 1 Limit!
AS: You still have 16 regular actions and 0 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Moon Penguin spends Limit on Exploit! Moon Penguin can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Moon Penguin spends Limit on Broad! 
AS: Take! Aigis takes 0 Almighty damage from Moon Penguin's Evil Smile.
AS: Charm (Attacker or Ally takes Damage!) added! Panic removed! Explosion! 117 damage!
AS: Weapon! Moon Penguin has used the Strike skill Salvation Is At Hand on Eriko Kirishima, Umie Akabane, Aigis, and
Pernelle! 2 Hits!
AS: You still have 16 regular actions and 0 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Weapon! Moon Penguin has used the Strike skill Salvation Is At Hand on Mitsuru Kirijo! 2 Hits!
AS: You still have 15 regular actions and 0 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Take! Maki Sonomura takes 0 Almighty damage from Moon Penguin's Evil Smile.
AS: Charm (Attacker or Ally takes Damage!) and Sick (SP Damage on end of turn!) added!
AS: Weapon! Moon Penguin has used the Strike skill Salvation Is At Hand on Maki Sonomura! 2 Hits!
AS: You still have 14 regular actions and 0 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Weapon! Moon Penguin has used the Strike skill Salvation Is At Hand on Minato Arisato! 2 Hits!
AS: You still have 13 regular actions and 0 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Take! Mitsuru Kirijo takes 0 Almighty damage from Moon Penguin's Evil Smile.
AS: Charm (Attacker or Ally takes Damage!) and Sick (SP Damage on end of turn!) added!
AS: Take! Eriko Kirishima takes 0 Almighty damage from Moon Penguin's Evil Smile.
AS: Charm (Attacker or Ally takes Damage!) and Sick (SP Damage on end of turn!) added!
AS: Weapon! Moon Penguin has used the Strike skill Salvation Is At Hand on Minako Arisato! 2 Hits!
AS: You still have 12 regular actions and 0 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Moon Penguin: Broad and Reach removed!
AS: Moon Penguin's turn has ended.
AS: Avoid Best! Mitsuru Kirijo takes 12 Strike damage from Moon Penguin's Salvation Is At Hand. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Neutral! Mitsuru Kirijo takes 17 Strike damage from Moon Penguin's Salvation Is At Hand.
AS: Block Best! Aigis takes 11 Strike damage from Moon Penguin's Salvation Is At Hand. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Neutral! Aigis takes 11 Strike damage from Moon Penguin's Salvation Is At Hand. Critical Hit!
AS: Take! Suzume Fukura takes 0 Almighty damage from Moon Penguin's Evil Smile.
AS: Charm (Attacker or Ally takes Damage!) added!
AS: Take! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 0 Almighty damage from Moon Penguin's Evil Smile.
AS: Charm (Attacker or Ally takes Damage!) and Sick (SP Damage on end of turn!) added! Panic and Poison removed!
Explosion! 232 damage!
AS: Take! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 0 ??? damage from #-1 NO SUCH OBJECT VISIBLE's .
AS: Hyousuke Suzuki is unable to continue fighting!
AS: Take! Minato Arisato takes 0 Recovery healing from Koh Katsuhiro's Bacchanalia: Revelry. 12 SP regained!
AS: Def_Up (Block Improved!) added!
AS: Take! Minato Arisato takes 0 Almighty damage from Moon Penguin's Evil Smile.
AS: Charm (Attacker or Ally takes Damage!) added!
AS: Take! Masao Inaba takes 0 Almighty damage from Moon Penguin's Evil Smile.
AS: Sick (SP Damage on end of turn!) added!
AS: Take! Hitomi Mandai takes 0 Almighty damage from Moon Penguin's Evil Smile.
AS: Charm (Attacker or Ally takes Damage!) added! Panic removed! Explosion! 114 damage!
AS: Block Best! Minato Arisato takes 8 Strike damage from Moon Penguin's Salvation Is At Hand.
AS: Block Neutral! Minato Arisato takes 12 Strike damage from Moon Penguin's Salvation Is At Hand. Critical Hit!
AS: Counter Worst! Eriko Kirishima takes 94 Strike damage from Moon Penguin's Salvation Is At Hand. Critical Hit!
AS: COUNTER! Moon Penguin takes 30 Strike damage in return for their attack! 
AS: Counter Neutral! Eriko Kirishima takes 69 Strike damage from Moon Penguin's Salvation Is At Hand. Critical Hit!
AS: COUNTER! Moon Penguin takes 42 Strike damage in return for their attack! 
AS: Avoid Best! Maki Sonomura takes 11 Strike damage from Moon Penguin's Salvation Is At Hand. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Worst! Maki Sonomura takes 44 Strike damage from Moon Penguin's Salvation Is At Hand.
AS: Take! Koh Katsuhiro takes 0 Almighty damage from Moon Penguin's Evil Smile.
AS: Charm (Attacker or Ally takes Damage!) and Sick (SP Damage on end of turn!) added!
AS: Take! Yanagi Nagisa takes 0 Almighty damage from Moon Penguin's Evil Smile.
AS: Charm (Attacker or Ally takes Damage!) and Sick (SP Damage on end of turn!) added! Panic and Poison removed!
Explosion! 227 damage!

<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.

"Thanks, Kawase-san," Minako tells Ririka. She glances back at her brother. She nods at Minato; she'll stick with the front line. Then, she breathes out as Maki's healing spell washes over her. She gives her a surprised look.

"Thanks for the assist!"

And--Hyousuke, too. She glances at him, nods, and looks back at Hierophant. "No kidding," she tells Suzume. "We've got this, Fukura-chan!" Then, a glance backwards. "Thanks, Yukari-chan!"

She looks sideways at Mitsuru for just a second. The support is welcome, even if she hesitates for a second -- this is the sort of thing that has been on her mind, ever since she split up with Ren. The part of her life she can't tell others about. She exhales. She can't let herself focus on that.

Especially with how that shikigami tried to intercept. Landing a hit won't be easy. She takes a step backward -- and that's when the coffins start to open. SHe turns, her eyes widening -- at the people spitting out of them, accusing them, and threatening to become Shadows. One of them, a college student, grips at her naginata. Minako doesn't hesitate.

She kicks the girl away from her. "Hey, I'm trying to save your ass here!" she snaps. She pulls her Evoker out, with her other hand, and puts it to her temple. Then, she fires.

Blue light and glass explode from her temple, as she cries out: "Narcissus!"

And a mostly nude, muscled, beautiful man with long blond tresses and a flower blooming from his head -- and a scarlet cloth covering his dignity -- appears nearby. "Go on, people! Go ogle the super sexy guy while we handle this Shadow!"

Narcissus does a Sexy Dance!

AS: Take! Minako Arisato takes 0 Almighty damage from Moon Penguin's Evil Smile.
AS: Charm (Attacker or Ally takes Damage!) and Sick (SP Damage on end of turn!) added!
AS: Avoid Neutral! Minako Arisato takes 11 Strike damage from Moon Penguin's Salvation Is At Hand. Critical Hit! Resist!
AS: Block Best! Minako Arisato takes 8 Strike damage from Moon Penguin's Salvation Is At Hand. Resist!
AS: Persona! Minako Arisato has used the Almighty skill Sexy Dance on Moon Penguin!
AS: Charm results in party damage! Minako Arisato takes 90 damage!
AS: Ruin: Minako Arisato gains 1 Limit!
AS: Minako Arisato: Loses 8 SP and 24 TP from Sick!
AS: Minako Arisato regains 6 SP from Invigorate!
AS: Minako Arisato's turn has ended.
AS: Take! Pernelle takes 0 Almighty damage from Moon Penguin's Evil Smile.
AS: Sick (SP Damage on end of turn!) added!
AS: Avoid Neutral! Pernelle takes 23 Strike damage from Moon Penguin's Salvation Is At Hand. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Best! Pernelle takes 11 Strike damage from Moon Penguin's Salvation Is At Hand. Critical Hit!
AS: Take! Ririka Kawase takes 0 Almighty damage from Moon Penguin's Evil Smile.
AS: Sick (SP Damage on end of turn!) added!
AS: Take! Umie Akabane takes 0 Almighty damage from Moon Penguin's Evil Smile.
AS: Charm (Attacker or Ally takes Damage!) and Sick (SP Damage on end of turn!) added! Panic and Poison removed!
Explosion! 231 damage!
AS: Umie Akabane spends Limit on Brace! 
AS: Avoid Worst! Umie Akabane takes 51 Strike damage from Moon Penguin's Salvation Is At Hand. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Best! Umie Akabane takes 7 Strike damage from Moon Penguin's Salvation Is At Hand.

<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.

"Anytime!"

It's a Shadow fight. It's what they're used to.

As the first coffin opens, she realizes they're not used to this.

"What? What do we do!? We can't hurt them!"

Then Minako acts and-

"Th-That's your Persona?!" Yukari says, as if startled by the beautiful form of the man, before tearing her eyes away, mumbling, "Well... I guess that's one way to handle this." Does she seem a little flustered?

Some are looking pretty bad out there as the Shadow smiles, so Yukari places the Evoker to her temple again, and pulls the trigger, "Io!" And a healing sea-scented breeze wafts in to try and mitigate the worst of the damage as chaos erupts among them.
 
And then she pulls the trigger and does it again because- IT'S BAD! And this is her best response when things are HORRIBLE!

AS: Yukari Takeba spends Limit on Exploit! Yukari Takeba can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Take! Yukari Takeba takes 0 Almighty damage from Moon Penguin's Evil Smile.
AS: Charm (Attacker or Ally takes Damage!) and Sick (SP Damage on end of turn!) added! Poison removed! Explosion! 116
damage!
AS: Persona! Yukari Takeba has used the Recovery skill Naiad Mediarama on Umie Akabane, Aigis, Hitomi Mandai, and Yanagi
Nagisa!
AS: Charm results in party damage! Yukari Takeba takes 90 damage!
AS: Support: Yukari Takeba gains 1 Limit!
AS: Take! Aigis takes 145 Recovery healing from Yukari Takeba's Naiad Mediarama.
AS: Take! Hitomi Mandai takes 140 Recovery healing from Yukari Takeba's Naiad Mediarama.
AS: Take! Yanagi Nagisa takes 143 Recovery healing from Yukari Takeba's Naiad Mediarama.
AS: Take! Umie Akabane takes 113 Recovery healing from Yukari Takeba's Naiad Mediarama.
AS: Persona! Yukari Takeba has used the Recovery skill Media on Hyousuke Suzuki, Maki Sonomura, Ririka Kawase, and
Yukari Takeba!
AS: Yukari Takeba: Loses 8 SP and 24 TP from Sick!
AS: Yukari Takeba regains 3 SP from Invigorate!
AS: Yukari Takeba's turn has ended.
AS: Take! Yukari Takeba takes 103 Recovery healing from Yukari Takeba's Media.
AS: Take! Maki Sonomura takes 101 Recovery healing from Yukari Takeba's Media.
AS: Take! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 120 Recovery healing from Yukari Takeba's Media.
AS: Suzume Fukura spends Limit on Exploit! Suzume Fukura can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Take! Ririka Kawase takes 90 Recovery healing from Yukari Takeba's Media.

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.

Ririka takes note when Minato goes offers the order-slash-advice, though she can't act on it immediately--and she has her part to play, anyway. But she glances over when she hears Maki's voice spread through the area. Another Navigator... she sends her own thought out. "I'm analyzing the Shadow. Please stand bye!"

And there it is. She listens, as reflected Resonance filters through her senses. She sends the thought to all of the Persona users in the park. "The Shadow resists Light and Dark attacks--" A soft gasp. "And it doesn't have any weaknesses! It's skilled at afflicting others and has strong light attacks, too." She sends the rest of the data she got, too.

But then she pauses, frowning as something else reaches her. "... is something missing...?" she muses to herself for a moment, before sharing the impression she got with Yanagi and Maki. "Do either of you know what this could mean?" This isn't the time to be withholding.

But there is a shocked gasp as the first coffin vanishes. "No-- you can't!" But then there are more, and Ririka calls out, "Everyone, please be careful-- some people are out of their coffins! Try not to injure them or you could kill them!" Then again, will there be anything left if they don't act?

And the unsettling panic from earlier hasn't exactly gone away, not with the innocent people out and grabbing for all of them.

This is a rapidly worsening situation, and Ririka devotes herself to trying to track the civilians and help steer people away from them, and as she does that she calls on Amphion. "Amphion! Healing Song!" She's pushing herself hard, trying to reach as many people as she can to keep them up through the battle. Strands of melody drift out to encircle a number of the Persona Users present and work to continually knit their wounds. 

AS: Ririka Kawase spends Limit on Exploit! Ririka Kawase can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Persona! Ririka Kawase has used the Recovery skill Healing Song on Umie Akabane, Aigis, Yanagi Nagisa, and Hyousuke
Suzuki!
AS: Ririka Kawase takes 90 damage from Panic!
AS: Insight: Ririka Kawase gains 1 Limit!
AS: Persona! Ririka Kawase has used the Recovery skill Healing Song on Hitomi Mandai, Maki Sonomura, Eriko Kirishima,
and Ririka Kawase!
AS: Ririka Kawase: Loses 8 SP and 24 TP from Sick! Hyper removed!
AS: Ririka Kawase's turn has ended.
AS: Take! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 0 Recovery healing from Ririka Kawase's Healing Song.
AS: Regen (HP restored on end of turn!) added!
AS: Take! Ririka Kawase takes 0 Recovery healing from Ririka Kawase's Healing Song.
AS: Regen (HP restored on end of turn!) added!
AS: Take! Hitomi Mandai takes 0 Recovery healing from Ririka Kawase's Healing Song.
AS: Regen (HP restored on end of turn!) added!
AS: Ririka Kawase spends Limit on Help Up! Charm removed from Maki Sonomura! Hyper (Next Attack Boosted/Incoming Damage
Down!) appllied to Maki Sonomura! They both receive 8 SP and 30 HP!
AS: Take! Maki Sonomura takes 0 Recovery healing from Ririka Kawase's Healing Song.
AS: Regen (HP restored on end of turn!) added!
AS: Take! Umie Akabane takes 0 Recovery healing from Ririka Kawase's Healing Song.
AS: Regen (HP restored on end of turn!) added!
AS: Take! Akihiko Sanada takes 0 Recovery healing from Koh Katsuhiro's Bacchanalia: Revelry. 12 SP regained!
AS: Spd_Up (Avoid Improved!) added!
AS: Ririka Kawase spends Limit on Help Up! Charm removed from Umie Akabane! Hyper (Next Attack Boosted/Incoming Damage
Down!) appllied to Umie Akabane! They both receive 8 SP and 30 HP!
AS: Eriko Kirishima spends Limit on Help Up! Charm removed from Yanagi Nagisa!
AS: Masao Inaba spends Limit on Help Up! Sick removed from Umie Akabane!
AS: Take! Aigis takes 0 Recovery healing from Ririka Kawase's Healing Song.
AS: Regen (HP restored on end of turn!) added!
AS: Take! Moon Penguin takes 0 Almighty damage from Minako Arisato's Sexy Dance.
AS: Charm (Attacker or Ally takes Damage!) added!

<Pose Tracker> Yanagi Nagisa has posed.

    Yanagi naturally waves gaily at Masao whenever he looks over her way. He's a kind person! So nice of him to rush out to the front like that. Eriko of course gets a wave too!
    
    "Oh, I'm here on purpose, but I didn't come here for you," she tells Eriko with a bright smile. "Though you do wear it splendidly--I'm so happy to see it!" Eriko's desire for introductions, though, get an even brighter, "Why wait? Eriko, this is my dear friend, Pernelle. Pernelle, this is my friend Eriko! And that's Masao, and that's Maki! We should all have tea and cookies together sometime!"
    
    And who wouldn't want to have tea and cookies with Pernelle, with how gracefully he soars into a sky-dance with those blinking tailfeathers and hidden blades? Yanagi waves to him too--but before she can call further encouragement...
    
    A coffin vanishes. And a woman staggers out, retching ichor. Yanagi stops to stare at her and the others emerging from their death boxes.
    
    She tilts her head.
    
    "It isn't about you," she says plainly.
    
    It would be ironic if she died to something other than her terminal illness. That's conveyed keenly well by the Hierophant's grotesque smile that wrenches at Yanagi's soul--and feels as though it rips something from her. Giselle opens her mouth in a soundless wail, and Yanagi staggers, clutching her gun-cane for support as she nearly faints outright. If someone or something else wants to take the card that's been reserved all her existence, though, she won't go quiet into that good night--much like Pernelle's SCREMES from before.
    
    A sea breeze wafts around her, bringing with it healing energy that strengthens Yanagi and firms her step. She's mildly surprised that the source is Yukari, but not ungrateful, as her smile indicates. Ririka sends out her a psychic message with the analysis she made--but there is something else there. Or not there. Yanagi raises her chin as she sends a message back to her and Maki.
    
    "I don't really know, but... there have been a few of these types of Shadows before in Port Island, haven't there? Perhaps it's lost..." Her gaze sinks to the crowd now zombie-ing towards so many of them. "...searching for its flock."
    
    It's not just Pernelle in that group; it's not even just Maki and Eriko. There's also Minato, that boy with the ability to hold multiple Personas, just like Tsumugi... Yanagi certainly can't let him fall before she's had a chance to get to know him better. She reaches forward as she sings a high, clear note in tandem with her Persona and Ririka's, and an invisible wind delivers her song to the four. Listen to her song, to the ends of the galaxy!! 

AS: Yanagi Nagisa spends Limit on Shift! Eriko Kirishima can use another Weak skill this round! Hyper (Next Attack
Boosted/Incoming Damage Down!) applied to Eriko Kirishima! They both receive 8 SP and 30 HP!
AS: Take! Yanagi Nagisa takes 0 Recovery healing from Ririka Kawase's Healing Song.
AS: Regen (HP restored on end of turn!) added!

<Pose Tracker> Minato Arisato has posed.

    They're distressed...

    The Shadow is distressing.

    But there's a peacock fighting the Shadow...

    Minato takes a moment to focus on Pernelle. Thankfully, that's when Yukari's Patra comes in to heal the poison that Shadow leeched into his veins. "Thanks," he nods, to her. With the power of Yukari's healing, a peacock's dance may stand against the horror, for a moment.

    So there is a Shadow with a throne made from women's legs, where the man sits, and that man who is a Shadow poured from the mouth of a man who preached the Shadow, and that's fine.

    "All right," Minato says, as he steps forward --

    -- and another coffin opens.

    Even though he told them...

    Was he playing into their hands all this time?

    He looks at the girl, grasping him. "I," he starts, when she pleads.

    Save us. Isn't that what he's trying to do?

    Isn't that why he's fighting?

    Minako, in the end, is what breaks through his frozen core. Narcissus --

    "That's right," he nods, to her, freeing one arm from the girl pleading with him to bring his Evoker to his head.

    "Narcissus."

    And there, rising up --

    -- is ANOTHER beautiful man --

    -- and are those Personas admiring each other?!

    The sheer force of their beauty and passion for themselves... it's captivating!

AS: Persona! Yanagi Nagisa has used the Recovery skill Victory Song on Pernelle, Maki Sonomura, Eriko Kirishima, and
Minato Arisato!
AS: Insight: Yanagi Nagisa gains 1 Limit!
AS: Yanagi Nagisa: Loses 8 SP and 24 TP from Sick! Gains 72 HP from Regen!
AS: Yanagi Nagisa regains 10 SP from Invigorate!
AS: Yanagi Nagisa's turn has ended.
AS: Take! Maki Sonomura takes 0 Recovery healing from Yanagi Nagisa's Victory Song.
AS: Spd_Up (Avoid Improved!) added!
AS: Take! Minato Arisato takes 0 Recovery healing from Yanagi Nagisa's Victory Song.
AS: Crt_Up (Critical Up!) added!
AS: Take! Eriko Kirishima takes 0 Recovery healing from Ririka Kawase's Healing Song.
AS: Regen (HP restored on end of turn!) added!
AS: Take! Eriko Kirishima takes 0 Recovery healing from Yanagi Nagisa's Victory Song.
AS: Def_Up (Block Improved!) added!
AS: Persona! Minato Arisato has used the Almighty skill Submission on Moon Penguin!
AS: Charm results in party damage! Minato Arisato takes 90 damage!
AS: Ruin: Minato Arisato gains 1 Limit!
AS: Minato Arisato's turn has ended.
AS: Take! Moon Penguin takes 0 Almighty damage from Minato Arisato's Submission.
AS: Crt_Dn (Critical down!) added!

<Pose Tracker> Maki Sonomura has posed.

"Yanagi-chan," Maki realizes, is here. She looks towards her, needing not sight to spot her with her Persona out. She feels better immediately for her help, more able to focus.

But when Aigis turns to stare blankly, Maki insists telepathically to all, "The power of Persona is the power to stand against these horrors. The face of divine love... the mask of demonic cruelty. All belong to us."

If nothing else, she sounds certain, despite the fear at the back of her mind. 'They' can do it...

But it's true that victory rarely comes without sacrifice. What will they pay for this victory, should they attain it?

But Aigis seems to get it as she speaks to her friend Hitomi, and Maki smiles. Then, she returns her focus to the battle, Taishan Niangniang still standing behind her, a goddess with her hands on Maki's shoulders. It is so strange, but...

Eriko says her name, and Maki smiles gently at her. "...Together this time," she says. "I want to support you like you all did me."

But soon there is no call for smiles. To 'save' them', these people emerge from their coffins...

They all speak on their own. So many--

Maki tastes nausea. She sees them going, grasping, striking--

"I won't--"

Maki's Persona shields her. Hands slide off of Maki's shoulders and create a barrier before her, off of which that one person with ichor in their mouth bounces. This is too much. It's--

No.

"Remember... the reasons you chose to come here," Maki says. "Remember that resolve!"

It's hard for her to remember it, though. The monster is bigger than it was. She feels sick. It's hard to think straight. Even trying hurts. But...

But Ririka's presence helps her some, another Navigator to steady herself against, and the pain abates. "I don't know," Maki admits of what it could mean. "But we'll find out."

And then she realizes--

"...It's influencing them," she says. "If we can defeat the Shadow, we'll defeat its influence over them!" She trusts in her Persona's ability to shield her for the moment and focuses in on the Hierophant, instead. Taishan Niangniang raises her head, opening her mouth as if to sing--and flames burst forth, cascading forward in a rush of heat towards the Shadow in three distinct waves.

She feels faster with Yanagi's power, too. Maki will thank her later--right now--

She stares at the people before her. "...This isn't salvation," she tells them.

"'There's no meaning in life. There's no reason to live.' These things are poison to you--they're what your mind says when you're in pain. But ti's not true."

"...You can change. I did."

The twins summon twin Personas. "...So you're both like 'him'," Maki marvels, looking to them a moment rather than to the horror. "They're the same, but... unique. Just like twins. Just like you."

"Elly-chan, maybe I can tell you about it later..."

She puts on a brave face; she wants to be able to think of 'after' a fight like this.

"I'll rely on both of you, for now." 

AS: Persona! Maki Sonomura has used the Fire skill Fire Breath on Moon Penguin! 3 Hits!
AS: Maki Sonomura: Loses 8 SP and 24 TP from Sick! Gains 73 HP from Regen! Gains 10 SP from Vigor! Sick and Hyper
removed!
AS: Maki Sonomura's turn has ended.
AS: Take! Pernelle takes 0 Recovery healing from Yanagi Nagisa's Victory Song.
AS: Def_Up (Block Improved!) added!

<Pose Tracker> Suzume Fukura has posed.

Suzume swings like she's trying to pummel through the shikigami by sheer repeated effort. She's doing SOMETHING to it and that's enough for her to want to push it - keep it off-balance and maybe it won't be able to use its better techniques, right?

She doesn't realize there are quite as many people who aren't part of SEES here until a bird whips past her and she reflexively looks up at the movement, and sees Pernelle. Then she actually half-turns - well, they're not on Port Island so maybe it shouldn't be a surprise, especially since she's seen some of these people at Tartarus before too. But it still is a little unexpected.

"C'mon, big guy," Suzume says, focusing up again just as Hierophant lurches further upright. "Look over here..." She raises her tonfa defensively in front of her. Energy surges through her - from Hyousuke, from Koh, from Aigis - and Suzume reaches for her Evoker, trading one of her tonfa for it while her other remains raised.

Of course, she wasn't expecting him to call for help...

"What - hey!" Suzume isn't being swarmed (yet) by the cultists, but their presence alone has knocked her off her game. She evades around the Hierophant, circling like a boxer looking for an opening, and it gives her a good view of the others too.

And of Minako summoning Narcissus. Suzume's expression to *that* can be best summarized as :|

Still, she can't *punch* them. They're not swarming her, so she doesn't have to shove yet, but it gives her an idea, a flash of insight. What if she did... "I got it! Atalanta!"

Suzume's Evoker fires, and Atalanta appears: a woman in a short tunic and a decorative breastplate, a bowgun mounted on one bracer. Her blonde hair tumbles into her lionskin cloak, somehow being nearly indistinguishable in places, and her eyes are cat-slit green.

She doesn't appear near Suzume. She appears near *Yukari*, rising up above her like she was her Persona and not Suzume's, whipping winds appearing around her to keep the worst of the attacks away from the healer. They may not be close friends, though they apparently hate each other less these days (maybe? Suzume thinks so) but this goes beyond any personal feelings anyway. "I got you!" Of course, manifesting a Persona like that is hard, and she's risking having Atalanta's summoning broken...

...but Suzume doesn't let that stop her, letting Atalanta raise her bowgun-arm and fire a pair of purple-pulsing arrows over most of the crowd toward the Hierophant! 

AS: Persona! Suzume Fukura has used the Recovery skill Protective Winds on Yukari Takeba!
AS: Charm results in party damage! Suzume Fukura takes 90 damage!
AS: Pressure: Suzume Fukura gains 1 Limit!
AS: Persona! Suzume Fukura has used the Pierce skill Poison Arrow on Moon Penguin! 2 Hits!
AS: Suzume Fukura: Hyper removed!
AS: Suzume Fukura's turn has ended.

AS: Block Neutral! Moon Penguin takes 73 Fire damage from Maki Sonomura's Fire Breath.
AS: Block Best! Moon Penguin takes 57 Fire damage from Maki Sonomura's Fire Breath.
AS: Block Neutral! Moon Penguin takes 109 Fire damage from Maki Sonomura's Fire Breath. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Worst! Moon Penguin takes 185 Pierce damage from Suzume Fukura's Poison Arrow. Critical Hit!
AS: Poison (Damage on end of turn!) added!
AS: Block Neutral! Moon Penguin takes 121 Pierce damage from Suzume Fukura's Poison Arrow.

<Pose Tracker> Masao Inaba has posed.

    Masao twirls the once as he overcommits to the swing, staggering off a few steps to give space for that incoming Akihiko. He pumps a fist to the younger man, and takes a step back because okay that's a peacock man coming in. Right. Was that the peacock he saw with Yanagi - that is Yanagi! She looks so different in this space, like a fundamental change was made.
 
     ...There's more to worry about than that.
 
     "Huh WHOA," he's uncomfortably close to that coffin that suddenly vanishes. "Guys? Hey, we got--"
 
     Masao doesn't have to say, when coffins start opening everywhere. He looks up towards that horrible Shadow's smiling face, as that sickness twists in his gut anew. That second or two he stays transfixed, the droning of those pleading for salvation - and company - seem to go around him.
 
     "These are just people," he says, with some horror, seeing an older woman creep up on Umie. "Hey! Don't let 'em get to you," he shouts.
 
     When he looks back, he sees someone trying to take Maki. His eyes widen. He sees how she holds strong against this emotional poison of masses whose seeming slavish devotion to this singular idea is about as horrifying as what he and the others saw in the realized world of Takahisa Kandori.
 
     Still. Elly's setting it up - and it'll be his to knock it down, soon.
 
     "'Elly-chan! Give me a moment!'" He shouts in very good English. (The more formal 'moment' instead of slang-like 'sec' is how you know it's a second language.) Maki is a stronger mind, heart, and soul than almost anyone he knows, but...
 
     He's not going to leave her to be eroded by what this Shadow is doing to these people, and these people to her, by proxy.
 
     "Ogun!" He calls, a blue column around him as the familiar masked spear-wielding Persona comes down, raises and lowers their limbs in a somewhat choppy fashion, and a rejuvenating droplet of liquid energy washes down to cleanse the spiritual ickiness on a dear friend. 

AS: Persona! Masao Inaba has used the Recovery skill Energy Drop on Maki Sonomura!
AS: Masao Inaba: Loses 8 SP and 24 TP from Sick! Gains 10 SP from Vigor! Sick removed!
AS: Masao Inaba's turn has ended.
AS: Take! Maki Sonomura takes 0 Recovery healing from Masao Inaba's Energy Drop.

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.

Poison raced through Hyousuke's veins like wildfire. Every scrap of flesh it touched, every inch of vein it tainted, the toxin left him with a pain that felt as though everything was being burnt and rotted away. Every movement made it feel like his very body would slough from his bones like the rotting meat of a carcass left to decay. But the physical pain was nothing. It hurt, and it left him tense, but he could push through it. The assault on his mind, however, was another beast entirely.

The ichor flooding from the cult leader's mouth had shaken him, but rage and momentum had carried him forward with single-minded hatred and determination. The transformation of the man had been cause for concern, but a hound did not concern itself with questions when there was prey to be hunted, and there would be time to consider the implications later. That momentum had even carried him past the first few assaults the *thing* had made against his psyche, his instincts overriding any active thought that might have rooted him in place or stayed his hand. But it couldn't last forever.

Even the brightest of flames were fated to wane against a storm. The cold would smother them, the dark would engulf them, and only cinders would remain of what had once been a beacon in the black. He could rage and lash out and fight and hate - but his strength would falter. His body would cave in on itself, his mind would collapse beneath the strain, and even the might of one of Greece's foremost heroes would not save him. He could feel it laughing at him. He could feel it mocking him, belittling him, showing him and everyone else just how powerless he truly was...

And something *snapped.*

A cry ripped itself from his throat, like an explosion ripping from a cannon. It was equal parts a cry of pain wrought from the conditions that plagued his mind as surely as his flesh, and incandescent rage. He saw red. he felt fire. He felt his psyche turn to brittle glass and shatter over and over and OVER again, until his legs gave way beneath an utterly monstrous surge of damage. He could feel his lungs scream for air, his short and pained gasps barely enough to keep him conscious, let alone in fighting shape. He could feel the scattered fragments of his mind attempt to pull themselves together, then fall away again as he struggled to stand beneath the agony. The healing magicks bestowed on him by Yukari and Ririka achieved little - a single look behind his mask would have proved that immediately.

His eyes had grown wide and were left gleaming from the tears he barely held back. He heaved breaths through clenched teeth, themselves gnashing against each other with such force they threatened to shatter under the pressure. His skin had gone pale, wracked by sweat and pain and fear, and colour was slow to return to it. When he stood to fight, it was more on instinct than willpower. Something had shaken it, even if it had only been for a moment, and he rose more from an urge to fight than anything else.

When he finally did speak, he attempted to sound brave. Like he hadn't just suffered a surge of some emotion so strong and incomprehensible that it had left his mind in tatters.
"Kawase-san, Takeba-san, thanks for the help!" There was a shake to his voice. Something that hadn't been there before, and something that he was immediately ashamed of letting out. He clenched his fists hard enough to turn the knuckles bone-white, and steeled himself again. He couldn't show weakness - not again. Not in front of them. Not with a horde advancing.

The hordes shambled from their coffins, tar-like fluid seeping from them like spilled blood. His first instinct was to throw a punch, give a command, fire a shot - anything to force them away, and remove the threat entirely. They were the only things that he, that sledgehammer of a man, could think to do. It was only Ririka's instruction that stayed his hand, but even she could not hold back the indignant cry that followed.
"Will someone please tell me what the hell's going on?!" He called out, mostly speaking to the gathered members of SEES, but silently hoping anyone at all would sheld light on things. Achilles stood between him and the crowd, his mighty bulwark more like a riot shield used to hold back an unruly mob, while he himself shoved a few back that tried to claw at his face. None seemed to have a personal vendetta against him, though he was certain that would not have stifled their attempts to assimilate him.

"Son of a- get the hell off us!" Hyousuke cried out, indignation beginning to scour away whatever uncertainty or fear or shame might have plagued him. "Damn it, I can't get close! Screw this, I'm shooting the freak!"
Hyousuke made good on his word, and with barely more than a second taken to aim, he levelled his shotgun at the Shadow and fired off a burst of buckshot. 

AS: Weapon! Hyousuke Suzuki has used the Pierce skill Shrapnel Shredder on Moon Penguin! 2 Hits!
AS: Charm results in party damage! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 90 damage!
AS: Pressure: Hyousuke Suzuki gains 1 Limit!
AS: Hyousuke Suzuki: Loses 8 SP and 24 TP from Sick! Gains 72 HP from Regen!
AS: Hyousuke Suzuki's turn has ended.

<Pose Tracker> Koh Katsuhiro has posed.

The battle grows somehow more horrific.

Any relief that Koh might have had about SEES unexpected reinforcements is outweighed by the fact that the Shadow also brought an army.

"What the hell, they can do that?" His eyes dart across the ring of people that crowd in around them, backing up as he does. Their voices rise, drawing his attention.

Oh. A girl needs him.

...

"Uwaah!" It's only as she's drawing in close, close enough that he can't ignore the black stream running for her eyes, that he manages to shove her away. His hand is stained with ichor.

"Sorry!" He feels compelled to say, "I'm sorry!"

He tries to focus, one hand on the grasping girl's forehead to keep her at arms length and another pulling the trigger of his evoker again.

"Takeba, Kawase-san, keep it up!" Another flood of rejuvenating wine--blood?--washes over his allies. 

AS: Persona! Koh Katsuhiro has used the Recovery skill Relaxing Wave on Yukari Takeba, Ririka Kawase, Koh Katsuhiro, and
Aigis!
AS: Charm results in party damage! Koh Katsuhiro takes 90 damage!
AS: Support: Koh Katsuhiro gains 1 Limit!
AS: Koh Katsuhiro: Loses 8 SP and 24 TP from Sick!
AS: Koh Katsuhiro's turn has ended.

AS: Block Best! Moon Penguin takes 43 Pierce damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Shrapnel Shredder.
AS: Block Worst! Moon Penguin takes 80 Pierce damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Shrapnel Shredder.
AS: Take! Aigis takes 0 Recovery healing from Koh Katsuhiro's Relaxing Wave.
AS: Vigor (SP restored on end of turn!) added!
AS: Take! Koh Katsuhiro takes 0 Recovery healing from Koh Katsuhiro's Relaxing Wave.
AS: Vigor (SP restored on end of turn!) added!
AS: Take! Ririka Kawase takes 0 Recovery healing from Koh Katsuhiro's Relaxing Wave.
AS: Vigor (SP restored on end of turn!) added!

<Pose Tracker> Pernelle has posed.

Pernelle sweeps out a wing and brings the other under his chest as he bows in greeting to Eriko with Yanagi's introduction. "Delighted to meet your acquaintance, Eriko. Yanagi is quite right: you are a perfect match for such a piece of art. Ah, and well met to Masao and Maki. Friends of Yanagi are friends of mine."

He bounces up and down in place, eyes practically sparkling as Yanagi mentions tea and cookies. "Just so! The wisest suggestion I have ever heard!"

But the battle...

Minato gets a wink when stares at Pernelle's dancing a little too long.

There is one thing Pernelle must always be, no matter the fear, no matter the oncoming end: beautiful. His feathers shine iridescent in even this sickly light as he loops around to land on the front lines, yet positioned still between Yanagi and the Hierophant. For, regardless of his diminutive size, he is her escort, and she, the navigator!

"Immaculate performance, one and all!" Pernelle encourages of the group with a delighted ruffle of his feathers. "I dare say, we should have this sticky wicket wrapped up within the --"

Pernelle's pupils shrink. He whips his head around to the vanished coffin as its occupant appears to speak of her savior.

"Hmm."

Then, shortly, there are many more.

"... Hmmmmmm."

He subtly tries to scoot his fluffy peacock rump back nearer Yanagi, sensing that being nearby may behoove them both in a moment. Unfortunately, he finds himself encircled as the people grasp and plead.

And Pernelle is, well, a three foot tall peacock, scooped and grabbed.

"Human fledgling, I implore you to unhand me...!" He flails his wings and squawks, managing to tumble to the ground in a roll, where he must push his glasses back up his beak with a particularly articulated pinion. "My own pulchritudinous plumage delivers me to a precarious predicament... A cruel irony...!"

He shoves up onto his clawed feet. Yanagi!" Pernelle calls as he feels the song on the wind. "Fear not! Even an offering of potato crisps would not see me abandoning you for their cultish ways!" He turns to the people. "Off with you, shoo, shoo...!"

Pernelle brushes his wings out at them in one such gesture.

"Anqa! Let us buy some time!"

A butterfly glimmers inexplicably before Pernelle. He chomps it out of the air with a flap of his wings, and his golden, stitched doll of a bird persona appears. Her stitches break open as she explodes in sparkling, healing light over some of those trapped in this cult circle with him.

AS: Pernelle spends Limit on Help Up! Sick removed from Yanagi Nagisa!
AS: Persona! Pernelle has used the Recovery skill Mediarama on Aigis, Umie Akabane, Eriko Kirishima, and Minato Arisato!
AS: Pernelle takes 90 damage from Panic!
AS: Pernelle: Loses 8 SP and 24 TP from Sick! Gains 10 SP from Vigor!
AS: Pernelle's turn has ended.
AS: Take! Aigis takes 153 Recovery healing from Pernelle's Mediarama.

<Pose Tracker> Eriko Kirishima has posed.

    Well, introductions are coming early and Eriko smiles in return. "It's nice to meet you, Mr Pernelle!" Indeed, Yanagi suggests tea and cookies and Eriko looks briefly delighted. "Oh my, I haven't had a tea party in some time. It sounds like a wonderful evening!"

    Pernelle, too, is wonderfully polite. "Aha, as gentlemanly as you are fashionable!" Eriko responds, joyfully. "I should love to get to know you more."

    Maki reassures her that she wants to repay their support, and Eriko nods. "Of course. As the crowd surrounds them, Eriko starts to find herself hemmed in, along with others. The cultists start to surround them, reaching out for them. Flailing like zombies. "...Are they even still alive?" Eriko asks, her eyes looking on them. Unfortunately, without the pale pallor or lust for flesh, it's hard to tell a zombie from the living in the heat of combat.

    At least these one's don't look like people she-

    'Please... I just need it all to end.'

    "Nao-"

    You're just obsessed as that man was. Seeing any man with a superficial resemblance as him.

    For a moment, Eriko is completely paralyzed as the mob starts to grab her. Pull at her. Tear at her, in desperation. Her eyes fixate on the man with the earring. He's not him, but...

    Tasted sweet, didn't it?

    "...Get away from me!" Eriko yells, her eyes wide with anger. Suddenly and mercilessly she slams the pommel of her sword into the temple of the man grabbing her, and then delivers another strike in quick succession to the back of his head, as he grabs at her.

    "No angel would grant your twisted salvation!" Eriko yells, voice full of pain and anger as she swipes outward, heedless of the 'normal' humans pinning them in. "Nike!" She calls, lifting her sword in a salute. "Blow them all away!"

    The metallic angel of victory manifests above Eriko, and from her engines come rapid gusts of wind- blasting into the crowd, toward the twisted Hierophant, at anything too close to her right now, and there's a frenzy in her eyes.

    "...You're not him," Eriko says- mostly to herself, voice shaky. "He would feel more alive than ever right now."

    Still, in the crush of people, it's hard not to see the damage that has gone out, and moving defensively with her sword in front of her- more than ready to slash at anyone who comes close, she wordlessly extends a hand to Yanagi. That thing hit her, and hit her hard, and with the fear for everyone she cares about recently put in her, she's worried. If Yanagi grabs it, she'll pull the other woman to her feet and get ready to return to the fight.

    And she sees, too, how much of a hit Umie has taken, and frowns. "Nike, support our friends with your blessing! Diarama!" She calls, and the jet engine angel bursts across the field, a trail of green light falling over 'Mitsuhide', as she readies.

    And as angry as she is right now... "I feel alive, too," she murmurs, to the memory of a boy, to a memory of his 'brother'. "I refuse your salvation. I have too much left to do- I'm not prepared to die today."

    Not like she was once.

    As Mark moves to take care of Maki, Eriko nods to his response in English. "Good work-" Still, they're just people, are they?

y"...This isn't the first time we've fought 'just people', Mark." She says, switching to English. Or something as close to them. "...I'll try to make sure they live through it," Eriko says, a few moments later. "But there's no knowing if they'll be normal or if they'll transform like that... thing." It sounds awful, but also practical.

    And frankly, there are times when she's been trapped in a room with 'just a person', and she would have had Nike's winds strip the flesh from his bones, if she could.

    Still, she gazes, eyes wide as Minato and Minako summon the same persona. "Narcissus, the son of a nymph and a god, a man of such unbridled beauty that all who saw him would fall in love- even himself. When he saw his own reflection, he could never look away- until he realized he could not receive his own love and melted away into a flower."

    "Still, both of you are like our leader...?" Maki says that the Narcissi (Narcissodes?) are similar, but not the same, and Eriko frowns. "...So... they're not the same Persona, but they are?" Eriko asks Maki- though that might be an explanation for later.

    Either way, she remains certain: the resonance she felt facing the Joker Killer- that was the same as that man's. If these two personas feel different, then... "...I should like to talk to you both later, sometime when things are calmer, if you don't mind!" 

AS: Take! Eriko Kirishima takes 128 Recovery healing from Pernelle's Mediarama.
AS: Persona! Eriko Kirishima has used the Wind skill Consecutive Garu on Moon Penguin! 2 Hits!
AS: Charm results in party damage! Eriko Kirishima takes 90 damage!
AS: Pressure: Eriko Kirishima gains 1 Limit!
AS: Persona! Eriko Kirishima has used the Recovery skill Diarama on Umie Akabane!
AS: Eriko Kirishima: Loses 8 SP and 24 TP from Sick! Gains 67 HP from Regen! Gains 10 SP from Vigor! Hyper removed!
AS: Eriko Kirishima's turn has ended.

<Pose Tracker> Hitomi Mandai has posed.

 
There are other familiar voices, ringing outwards. Most of them are calls, statements, but man, what's the point, thinks Hitomi, a shiver running through her back. Something else does stand out, and it's - circuit--

Hitomi feels herself telescope back inside slightly. Focus increases, even if that lingering sense of fatalism remains. But something about that sense of futility is tugging at the edge of her mouth here. With multiple other problems (the Shadow, that sense of rising futility, whether or not her leggings got bunched up) conflicting, she is less hesitant than she might have been to...

It's a sensation like she's passing something to a confederate, a secret maneuver. And that tug at her lips turns into a small if rueful smile as Aigis comes up to her. "Aah, we do, don't we?" She brings up that hand which held the card, which is now empty, up to toss back a stray lock of hair that had escaped its binding clip.

"It's doing something, huh? I wonder if that's how he got a cult together... that's the kind of thing you need a compound to do, right?" It's easier to talk, even as the pulsating red and blue lights wash outwards. She takes in a deep breath through her nose - and then groans for a moment.

"Oh god, he *did* puke."

A lighthearted comment. Perhaps, one might even say, a *quip*. If her tone had some shakiness in the timbre, that's just to be expected. Her eyes stay on the Shadow, but that part of her that's somehow relishing it all notices that one of the coffins disappeared. Dislodged and knocked somewhere? Is that even possible?

Her eyes widen as the question is revealed. Somehow...

... Someone else has joined them. And the look is not wholesome. Hitomi stares for several long seconds as they stagger forwards. Begging. Pleading. *Imploring* them to join them, to let it happen, to just - just - just - They're coming *towards* her, and Hitomi raises an arm as if to shield herself from an assault...

... that...

Doesn't come, as the people, the victims, the manifestations, whatever they are, mostly just focus on Aigis's implacable robotic body.

For a fleeting moment, Hitomi is cringing at absolutely nothing.

Just a moment, though. Thoughts cross her mind. The first one is a sort of muted pique; what's wrong with her? But it is a thought that usually leads into a defeated bitterness that she's felt strangely less often these days. Her eyes turn to track the swarm on Aigis for a moment, even as she hears Yukari, and a beat later feels the touch of Io's beneficence upon her.

Which makes her think of another possibility... and so, Hitomi laughs.

Pivoting around, Hitomi raises up one leg as she says with an air of recitation, "By the merit of His infinite light, when we attain until that divine and omnipotent faith, the ice of illusion -- unfh!!" That part wasn't a quote. Hitomi, taking advantage of her relative freedom of motion, swung up one leg to plant her foot on the side of a congregant... and *push*. It takes two heaves to do it, and as some of them sprawl to the side, Hitomi lurches forwards, finishing her thought:

"Shall melt into the water of perfect wisdom, GET LOST!"

Coming down into a heavy and off balance crouch, Hitomi takes a moment to recover her stance, speaking as she does: "Typical cult! The big leader's hiding behind his victims... he's scared, I bet you," this last to Aigis as she finishes getting upright.

Amphion's song rings outwards, filling Hitomi's ears even as her head snaps to look back towards the Full Moon Shadow. Her right hand slides into the hip pouch on her gear belt. Her eyes swing briefly up to Narcissus and Narcissus gaze upon themselves. There is more mirin' in that moment than a restaurant's latest crate of industrial-strength sweet rice wine.

Something rattles skeletally. Hitomi's hand draws out...

She lets out a brief two-note shrill whistle, pressing her tongue against her teeth and blowing. "Now we'll get snakes," she says (also probably to Aigis), before straightening up and *hurling* her hand of three dice, glittering pieces of plastic that let out a rather underwhelming *clack* as they ricochet off the floor of the Dark Hour and rise again towards the sheltered Hierophant. They are tiny things, really.

Except that they explode. 

AS: Take! Umie Akabane takes 104 Recovery healing from Pernelle's Mediarama.
AS: Take! Umie Akabane takes 103 Recovery healing from Eriko Kirishima's Diarama.
AS: Umie Akabane has no more TP available for healing!
AS: Weapon! Hitomi Mandai has used the Strike skill Exploding Sixes on Moon Penguin! 3 Hits!
AS: Charm results in party damage! Hitomi Mandai takes 90 damage!
AS: Aggression: Hitomi Mandai gains 1 Limit!
AS: Hitomi Mandai: Loses 74 HP from Poison! Gains 73 HP from Regen!
AS: Hitomi Mandai's turn has ended.
AS: Block Best! Moon Penguin takes 69 Wind damage from Eriko Kirishima's Consecutive Garu.
AS: Haze (Physical and Block Penalized!) added!
AS: Block Neutral! Moon Penguin takes 89 Wind damage from Eriko Kirishima's Consecutive Garu.
AS: Block Best! Moon Penguin takes 73 Strike damage from Hitomi Mandai's Exploding Sixes. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Worst! Moon Penguin takes 65 Strike damage from Hitomi Mandai's Exploding Sixes.
AS: Block Best! Moon Penguin takes 73 Strike damage from Hitomi Mandai's Exploding Sixes. Critical Hit!

AS: Hyousuke Suzuki spends Limit on Help Up! Panic removed from Ririka Kawase! Hyper (Next Attack Boosted/Incoming
Damage Down!) appllied to Ririka Kawase! They both receive 8 SP and 30 HP!

<Pose Tracker> Mitsuru Kirijo has posed.

With a moment to herself, Mitsuru Kirijo can take stock of the unknown agents that have joined the fray against the Hierophant.

There are several familiar faces. Eriko, for example, and her companions -- several of which match descriptions she's heard from Kei about his friends. She regrets, for a moment, that he couldn't be here with them.

Others, like Umie -- she remembers them, but she does not know them, or of them. Which makes her wonder... why are they here? What have they to gain? Especially so of Yanagi and her... pet? ... talking peacock... who she remembers to a certainty simply stayed in the backlines playing commentor and spectator when they struggled for their lives against the Priestess. Why would they help now? ...

She hates that she must look at assistance with such a suspicious eye, but... what has this past year taught her, if not the necessity of skepticism? ...

These thoughts roll through the Kirijo heiress' mind even as Minato and Minako queue up their dueling Narcissi. That is enough to earn a slightly alarmed side-eye which from Mitsuru, queen of understatement, should be alarming --

but there's more dangerous things to be concerned about.

"The coffins -- they're opening--!"

One after the other, they burst open, releasing a chorus of zombified zealots all subsumed by the sweet siren song of the Hierophant. To embrace the sweet release from thought - to only be expected to believe, even in the end of all things - is this what humanity is?

Mitsuru's gaze narrows as she steps back, a gloved hand falling to her rapier. "Listen! We must end this, swiftly! The longer these people linger like this, the greater the odds they will--"

_No... no..._

"--be consumed--"

_... it's too much._

A man looks at her like he is on death's door, simply waiting for it to open to him. In his middle years. Just like her father.

The wicked, warped smile of the masked Hierophant sears into her brain as she takes a single step back.

"N-no," she murmurs. "Stop. I can save you."

She has to. She _has to_.

but what if it's not enough?

what if it was never enough.

from the very beginning.

what if the best she can do is embrace the end with him--

"........ enough."

It's a whisper at first. A hiss.

"ENOUGH."

And then it is a roar.

The temperature around Mitsuru Kirijo PLUMMETS with dangerous rapidity as blue light bursts around her, royal red hair fluttering upward and outward within the screaming gale of her winter wind. Her eyes are wide, possessed not of terror but WRATH.

"How dare you. How dare you use these cheap parlor tricks."

Her rapier snaps outward, pointing at the Hierophant.

"How dare you warp these people."

Moisture rapidly condenses and solidifies, until a half-moon of glowing white-blue ice surrounds that man and anyone else around him like a shell. The chill, she hopes, lock some of them down -- slow or shock them enough to keep them from transforming.

But even if not, it doesn't stop what comes next.

"HOW DARE YOU."

As that half-shell of ice unspools shard after shard of magicked ice from its surface, fired DIRECTLY into the Hierophant's bloated corpus like a relentless broadside cannonade.

How dare they.

How dare they make her doubt herself. 

AS: Mitsuru Kirijo spends Limit on Exploit! Mitsuru Kirijo can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Persona! Mitsuru Kirijo has used the Water skill Bufula on Moon Penguin!
AS: Charm results in party damage! Mitsuru Kirijo takes 90 damage!
AS: Ruin: Mitsuru Kirijo gains 1 Limit!
AS: Persona! Mitsuru Kirijo has used the Water skill Bufu on Moon Penguin!
AS: Mitsuru Kirijo: Loses 8 SP and 24 TP from Sick!
AS: Mitsuru Kirijo regains 3 SP from Invigorate!
AS: Mitsuru Kirijo's turn has ended.
AS: Block Worst! Moon Penguin takes 210 Water damage from Mitsuru Kirijo's Bufula.
AS: Bind (Magic and Avoid Penalized!) added! Haze removed! Explosion! 73 damage!
AS: Block Worst! Moon Penguin takes 190 Water damage from Mitsuru Kirijo's Bufu. Critical Hit!
AS: Bind (Magic and Avoid Penalized!) added!

<Pose Tracker> Aigis has posed.

    While Aigis has managed to put on a brave face, she's only put the fear-thought process to sleep. Such is the thrill and terror of acting in such an 'off-label' manner working in concert together. The former carries her through the latter, keeping her just barely mentally afloat for now, but this mindset, this departure from the stable branch into an experimental one, is all admittedly uncharted territory for her.

    "A compound ..?" Aigis tilts her head at Hitomi in mild confusion. An explanation on cults is perhaps best saved for a less chaotic situation. Even so, Aigis is glad to see that Hitomi seems to have found some measure of boldness again.

    Fiercely glaring at their opponent, Aigis raises her arm towards the Shadow once again. With the approaching crowd, however, she hesitates and lowers her arm as she tries to scramble away from being surrounded. "Keep back! It is not safe to be so close -- " -- to her and her live ammunition, she means.

    "You ... you want this?" The shock of the realization -- as much physical as it is mental -- is enough for her to briefly stop struggling. "I do not comprehend." Ririka shouts instructions to avoid harming them, but ...

    Aigis has her own priorities. Whether she's conscious of the memory or not, she made this decision long ago, under circumstances very similar to these. She raises her arm again and coldly stares at those blocking her way, warning them, "I must proceed. I must. I am sorry."

    She tries her absolute best to aim around them, to find a good angle, but when push comes to shove, her mission comes first. She can't hesitate.

    Fortunately for everyone involved, she doesn't have to. Hitomi kicks the crowd aside. Ririka, Koh, and Yukari all send their assistance, turning a bad situation into a more favorable one. Both Aigis' outstretched arm and Palladion's extended drill-bit of a cannon swivel towards Hierophant, finally unhindered --

    'He's scared.'

    Aigis gives the temporarily-unsteaded Hitomi a brief glance. "He should be," she states matter-of-factly, just before she and her Persona each emit three reports of heavy ordinance.

AS: Tandem! Aigis has used the Pierce skill Six Shot on Moon Penguin! 3 Hits!
AS: Charm results in party damage! Aigis takes 90 damage!
AS: Pressure: Aigis gains 1 Limit!
AS: Aigis: Gains 72 HP from Regen! Gains 10 SP from Vigor!
AS: Aigis regains 3 SP from Invigorate!
AS: Aigis's turn has ended.
AS: Block Best! Moon Penguin takes 105 Pierce damage from Aigis's Six Shot. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Best! Moon Penguin takes 105 Pierce damage from Aigis's Six Shot. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Worst! Moon Penguin takes 173 Pierce damage from Aigis's Six Shot. Critical Hit!

<Pose Tracker> Akihiko Sanada has posed.

    Akihiko pumps a Jack Frost-clad fist towards Koh. "Thanks, Katsuhiro-san!"

    Similarly, Akihiko waves at the older boy - Masao. "Nice coordination!" He beams.

    And... "Good to see you again, Suzuki-san!

    People start leaving their coffins on mass- "What?!" That's bad! That's really bad! Akihiko really, really hopes that no further shadows join the party. That could make this mission extremely messy. He almost wants to shout an order to Ririka about checking the area, but that might be...overstepping.

    He might as well make a request though. "Arisato-san!" Akihiko yells at either one of the twins. "We're gonna be in trouble if any other Shadows get our scent, with all of the civilians! We might need a radar going around!"

    Though, it's difficult to take his eyes off of the big Shadow in front of them. As the civilians attempt to swarm some of the others, it leaves Akihiko free to maneuver at the very least. Best take the chance to draw the big guy's attention then!

    He summons Polydeuces once more, who offers the loosening, strengthening energy of a buff. Then, Akihiko charges. Dodging and weaving through the people, he makes it to the Shadow and starts wailing on it with his fists.

AS: Tandem! Akihiko Sanada has used the Elec skill Polydeuces, to me! on Moon Penguin! 3 Hits!
AS: Akihiko Sanada's turn has ended.

<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.

    The SEES twins are summoning two nearly naked, beautiful blonde men that admire each other, like mirrors of one another.
    
    Umie stares, for a moment, before her gaze is grabbed by the melting cultists.

    So many souls that will disappear with the light. Did they have families? How many will have kids, wondering where they went?
    'Full of sin.'
    Murderer.
     
    At another time, Eriko's polite quip and use of Umie's codename would have caused Umie to quip back, and Mark's call to bolster her spirits would have been met with a prideful (but well-meaning) comment. She would have met Mitsuru's doubt with a quick bark of support, understanding a little of where that horror may be stemming from.

    Instead, all there is in the pit of Umie's stomach is denial, helplessness, and *anger*.

    "I've done this for years _without any help_," Umie, wild-eyed, snaps at Eriko and Masao. Then, in a softer, mocking tone meant to be loud enough for the three of them, she adds, with a spreading, open-mouthed smile, "Besides, all of you'd probably breathe a sigh of relief to not have my *tainted soul* around all of you, wouldn't you? Reminding you of your *failure*--"

    She would have said more, but when Ririka's healing magic settles over her, Umie's manner immediately changes. Pernelle's and Eriko's own further bolster her health.

    .... Well, at least she's snapped out of the spell, but there can only be complications when someone who is Marked enters the fray. ... as opposed to Mark, who is valid in being Mark. Instead, cheeks flush with shame, Umie turns her face away, as simultaneously Badb's form emerges, her red smile standing out over the pale white of her flesh.

    ".... This is what potentially happens to people exposed to the Dark Hour, without a Persona," she says, without a break, raising her voice for those still confused, like Hyousuke. "But I've never seen it happen like this. Just focus on the big shadow. You can't help those who've already turned."

    Murderer.
    'HOW DARE YOU.'

    "Just get back up and _curse them back_," she hisses, pointing a finger at the Hierophant Shadow, Badb's red lips casting a ghastly wail.

    "So how does that feel... to be cursed?!" Umie yells. "Your clock is running out!!"

AS: Block Worst! Moon Penguin takes 84 Elec damage from Akihiko Sanada's Polydeuces, to me!.
AS: Block Worst! Moon Penguin takes 101 Elec damage from Akihiko Sanada's Polydeuces, to me!. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Worst! Moon Penguin takes 84 Elec damage from Akihiko Sanada's Polydeuces, to me!.
AS: Umie Akabane spends Limit on Help Up! Charm removed from Eriko Kirishima!
AS: Persona! Umie Akabane has used the Dark skill Bad Moon Rising on Moon Penguin!
AS: Umie Akabane takes 45 damage from Stress!
AS: Ruin: Umie Akabane gains 1 Limit!
AS: Umie Akabane has no more TP available for healing!
AS: Umie Akabane: Gains 70 HP from Regen! Hyper removed!
AS: Umie Akabane regains 3 SP from Invigorate!
AS: Umie Akabane's turn has ended.
AS: Note that 0-damage attacks like #1 must be responded to with +take.
AS: Take! Moon Penguin takes 0 Dark damage from Umie Akabane's Bad Moon Rising. Resist!
AS: Omen (Damage in 2 rounds!) added!
AS: Take! Minato Arisato takes 144 Recovery healing from Pernelle's Mediarama.

<Pose Tracker> Moon Penguin has posed.

Eriko refuses the poisoned salvation of the mob, blasting some of them over as they come at her, traumatized as she is by their past experiences.

The gusts of wind blast them over, causing some to just stay down- while others, bruised and battered, try to rise. Whatever the case, it delays them long enough to give the others more time.

Mitsuru asks the Shadow how dare it? Can the Shadow truly be responsible for its own actions? Does it have a will to be responsible with? Such are questions the greatest Kirijo scientists were divided upon, the possibility of such Shadows ever developing a will.

Whatever the answer though, she demands it to be ENOUGH. And for a moment, the icy shell encases several, preventing them from coming forward.

Before the Shadow, is struck with a storm of ice shards like razor hail. It's form looks shredded in multiple places, one shard even embedding right in it's very mask.

HOW DARE YOU

The Shadow lets out a wail of agony, as its execution becomes close at hand. A 'Dead Shadow Walking' so to speak.

Narcissus, such a beautiful youth, captivated by their own image. Certainly it can captivate others as well. The Sexy Dance causes a number of the unruly mob of victims to be captivated, giving up their own assault in order to simply admire him.

(And also their twin, which soon enough comes forward)

The Hierophant's body jiggles as Minato's Persona tries to enforce submission, as if the Shadow were attempting to resist being captivated by it as well. And the flames of Maki's Persona try to incinerate it, as the Shikigami cross themselves to overlap, trying to brunt the worst of it, with limited success.

Right as the Poison Arrow from Suzume's Atlanta strikes the feminine figure's torso, sprouting an arrow right where it's heart would be, as greenish hues begin to criss cross it. The woman in the back rears her head in agony, as she has no mouth by which to scream.

A shotgun from Hyousuke fills it with lead, and the Shikigami on the second shot does what looks like a cart-wheel, flipping end over end to take the blast head on, falling over.

Before rising again, wobbly. This same Shikigami has to hastily whip around to fend off the exploding dice from Hitomi. Even with this, even with parts of itself, it feels like it's hiding behind its members, its minions. They explode.

One explosion comes far too close to the Shadow for its comfort, as it burbles horribly.

Fortunately for Koh, you don't have to ghost a girl when another boy has now captured their attention. (That boy is Narcissus.)

Pernelle is less fortunate, being hugged like an oversized plushy, but at least they acknowledge how beautiful they are. "Unhand...? Oh-" She's no longer looking at Pernelle, instead, and without any gentleness, she simply lets go, dumping the Peacock back on the ground.

Pernelle, you may be in competition with the beauty of a Persona, GASPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP

Maki speaks to some of the people who are only barely enthralled by Minako's spell...

And for a moment, just a flicker of a moment, it's like those words actually reach the those people. Then one of them asks, "Aren't you just fooling yourself...?"
"Nobody can truly change..."
"The end is coming anyway..."

There must be a spell they're under, after all, several of them are still coughing and hacking that terrible black out, leaking out of them slowly, by inches. And some few will see the black on the ground is not immobile, it's slowly moving, moving- creeping towards the ever-swelling Hierophant.

Aigis, freed from the Shadows surrounding them by the efforts of Hitomi and Minako- shows everyone why she's called an Anti-Shadow Suppression Weapon, when Palladion's cannon fires three times. The Hierophant is blown off one side of its fish legs, sideways with its corpulent form.

Which is then struck again. Sending it careening over, unbalanced, the third shot hitting it in the air, knocking it over with a thunderous detonation.

Eerily, the fishnet legged limbs of its throne just spring back up, moving like nothing could of that mass and weight, as it comes back to its feet, right as Akihiko charges in, punching once, twice, thrice with electrified fists, tazing the Shadow repeatedly, before a Shikigami's quick movement forces him to back off.

Whereas Badb curses it, spelling its coming doom. She asks, the Shadow answers by raising its arms, as a lance of light forms - sending it across the way to attempt to stab into Badb, imbuing it with a 'Curse' of its own. It then raises its arms to the sky anew, and Paper Talismans begin to swirl around the crowd of the Persona Users, for a spell all of them would recognize well.

Mahama. Light shines, criss-crossing between the sealing talismans, attempting to take each of them to 'Heaven' so to speak, that being the salvation it offers. What comes after this life? Will today be the day each of you learn the answer?

More coffins spill out their contents. The number of people is fast becoming overwhelming, people meeting a slow death at the hands of this Shadow's influence, a transfiguration.

It's hard to expect it, when the first person in the oncoming crowd pulls a knife, and tries to jam it into Masao's side. Who in Japan carries weapons? They're illegal, after all. So many wouldn't even have access.

But the cult has ensnared so many, it was only a matter of time.

So too does someone else, with a long, sturdy hair pin trying to push it into Akihiko Sanada's back. More finally reach Ririka, and try to grab her from every which way, another attempting to pull her Evoker out of her hands.

"Don't take this from us."
"The bloodied... the bloodied won't know salvation, nor will the bloodless..."
"Their-gck-punishment."
"Justice."
"It'll be just like-just like going to sleep."

And then a single person wordlessly collapses fully, the woman who first came out of the coffin, vanishing into inky goop, as limbs... limbs begin to crawl out.

Will all of their fates be to become Shadows? Or a part of the Greater Whole that is the Hierophant?

This is getting worse with every passing moment. They must end this quickly, or no amount of Persona usage will be able to deal with the coming tide of people.

AS: Persona! Moon Penguin has used the Light skill End of Days on Umie Akabane!
AS: Charm results in party damage! Moon Penguin takes 90 damage!
AS: Ruin: Moon Penguin gains 1 Limit!
AS: You still have 16 regular actions and 0 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Moon Penguin spends Limit on Reach! 

AS: Persona! Moon Penguin has used the Light skill Mahama on Akihiko Sanada, Aigis, Mitsuru Kirijo, Hitomi Mandai, Eriko
Kirishima, Pernelle, Koh Katsuhiro, Hyousuke Suzuki, Masao Inaba, Suzume Fukura, Maki Sonomura, Minato Arisato, Yanagi
Nagisa, Ririka Kawase, and Minako Arisato!
AS: You still have 15 regular actions and 0 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Moon Penguin spends Limit on Exploit! Moon Penguin can use another Weak skill this round!
Huh?  (Type "help" for help.)

AS: You already have Reach active.
AS: Avoid Worst! Minako Arisato takes 79 Light damage from Moon Penguin's Mahama.
AS: Moon Penguin spends Limit on Broad! 
AS: Avoid Best! Mitsuru Kirijo takes 16 Light damage from Moon Penguin's Mahama.
AS: Exhaust (Damage when using Weapon/Tandem!) added!
AS: Weapon! Moon Penguin has used the Pierce skill A World Full Of Sin on Akihiko Sanada and Masao Inaba!
AS: You still have 15 regular actions and 0 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Weapon! Moon Penguin has used the Strike skill Salvation Is At Hand on Ririka Kawase! 2 Hits!
AS: You still have 14 regular actions and 0 bonus Weak actions!
AS: Moon Penguin: Loses 72 HP from Poison! Charm, Broad, Paralyze, and Reach removed!
AS: Moon Penguin's turn has ended.
AS: Block Best! Koh Katsuhiro takes 28 Light damage from Moon Penguin's Mahama. Critical Hit! Weak!
AS: Avoid Best! Hitomi Mandai takes 25 Light damage from Moon Penguin's Mahama. Critical Hit!
AS: Exhaust (Damage when using Weapon/Tandem!) added!
AS: Avoid Neutral! Eriko Kirishima takes 24 Light damage from Moon Penguin's Mahama. Critical Hit! Resist!
AS: Exhaust (Damage when using Weapon/Tandem!) added!
AS: Avoid Worst! Maki Sonomura takes 57 Light damage from Moon Penguin's Mahama.
AS: Avoid Worst! Akihiko Sanada takes 105 Light damage from Moon Penguin's Mahama. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Best! Akihiko Sanada takes 9 Pierce damage from Moon Penguin's A World Full Of Sin.
AS: Avoid Neutral! Minato Arisato takes 67 Light damage from Moon Penguin's Mahama. Critical Hit!
AS: Avoid Neutral! Umie Akabane takes 80 Light damage from Moon Penguin's End of Days. Critical Hit! Weak!
AS: Pain (Attacker takes damage on healing and PL 0 attacks!) added!
AS: Block Neutral! Suzume Fukura takes 24 Light damage from Moon Penguin's Mahama. Critical Hit!
AS: Exhaust (Damage when using Weapon/Tandem!) added!
AS: Counter Best! Masao Inaba takes 85 Light damage from Moon Penguin's Mahama. Critical Hit! Counter Light!
AS: Exhaust (Damage when using Weapon/Tandem!) added!
AS: COUNTER! Moon Penguin takes 117 Light damage in return for their attack! Resist!
AS: Block Best! Ririka Kawase takes 24 Light damage from Moon Penguin's Mahama. Critical Hit!
AS: Exhaust (Damage when using Weapon/Tandem!) added!
AS: Take! Yukari Takeba takes 0 Recovery healing from Suzume Fukura's Protective Winds.
AS: Spd_Up (Avoid Improved!) added!
AS: Cover applied!
AS: Take! Yukari Takeba takes 0 Recovery healing from Koh Katsuhiro's Relaxing Wave.
AS: Vigor (SP restored on end of turn!) added!
AS: Block Best! Masao Inaba takes 32 Pierce damage from Moon Penguin's A World Full Of Sin.
AS: Block Best! Ririka Kawase takes 11 Strike damage from Moon Penguin's Salvation Is At Hand. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Neutral! Ririka Kawase takes 18 Strike damage from Moon Penguin's Salvation Is At Hand.

AS: Counter Best! Aigis takes 111 Light damage from Moon Penguin's Mahama. Critical Hit!
AS: COUNTER! Moon Penguin takes 113 Pierce damage in return for their attack! 
AS: Avoid Worst! Pernelle takes 75 Light damage from Moon Penguin's Mahama.

<Pose Tracker> Minako Arisato has posed.

"...One of them?" Minako says, with a little laugh, in Yukari's direction. Then, she turns. She looks at her brother -- and she stares as he also summons Narcissus. But then, she nods once.

"Good thinking, Minato-kun!"

Then, she looks at Maki -- and there is a moment's hesitation, a brief look of confusion, and then realization. "Someone else... like us?" she asks. "I--I didn't realize--things to figure out later!"

Then she shoots a sidelong glance at Suzume -- and gives her an apologetic grin. Her eyes turn towards Hyousuke; she hesitates, before she calls out: "There's some very powerful Shadows out here! We don't the whole story, really, but--they're something we've got to stop!"

She looks towards Aigis and calls out: "They're--they're not themselves, I think! Someone's... fooled them, or hurt them, or--" She hesitates. She realizes she might be hoping that, instead of knowing that. Akihiko calls out a suggestion; Minako nods, immediately.

"Right," she says. "Kawase-san, Katsuhiro-san! If either of you sense more Shadows coming--let us know!"

She looks back in tme to see Aigis send the Hierophant flying -- and a grin splits across her face. Until, of course, she spots the swirling paper talismans. She tries to dive to the side -- but the blast of light slams into her. She is hurled back, and she lands while skidding over the ground. Her eyes shift left, then right.

All around, the cultists are becoming Shadows. It might not matter if more come. She exhales, raggedly. Then she looks up at the Hierophant. "Stop it," she says. "This--this isn't what they want! You're just... twisting their thoughts into--into wanting this!"

She puts her Evoker to her temple again. With a bang, light swirls behind her -- "LINOS!" -- and the golden form of her Persona appears, scarf and red hair fluttering, as she spins her harp around. Her fingers strum across the strings.

And then, beads of blue-white flame appear. Like tiny marbles, they glimmer, but with their own light. Then, each explodes outward -- fireballs of blue-white nuclear fire erupting across the terrible Shadow.

AS: Persona! Minako Arisato has used the Fire skill Trio Freila on Moon Penguin! 3 Hits!
AS: Charm results in party damage! Minako Arisato takes 90 damage!
AS: Minako Arisato: Loses 8 SP and 24 TP from Sick!
AS: Minako Arisato's turn has ended.
AS: Block Neutral! Yanagi Nagisa takes 38 Light damage from Moon Penguin's Mahama.
AS: Exhaust (Damage when using Weapon/Tandem!) added!
AS: Block Worst! Moon Penguin takes 73 Fire damage from Minako Arisato's Trio Freila.
AS: Blast (Magic and Block Penalized!) added!
AS: Block Worst! Moon Penguin takes 84 Fire damage from Minako Arisato's Trio Freila.
AS: Block Neutral! Moon Penguin takes 91 Fire damage from Minako Arisato's Trio Freila. Critical Hit!

<Pose Tracker> Yukari Takeba has posed.

"Of course!" Yukari says, smiling tiredly, anxiety causing her eyes to dart side to side as she watches the crowd.
 
Before Minako laughs at her comment and she blurts out, "Oh come on! You know what you're doing!" Before the sight of someone bringing out that long hair pin fills her with dread, "Sanada-senpai! Behind you!"

It's Koh that puts her mind back on what she's doing. "On... on it Katsuhiro!" Yukari says, shakily as she tries to let herself Relax. Sure it's healing magic but- there's something about it that's calming all the same.
 
The press of the crowd is becoming worse, even as she becomes increasingly alarmed by their reactions.
 
Does being strong mean even standing against this?
 
What kind of standard should one set for themselves? Suzume lands near her, and she back peddles to give her room.
 
"A-Appreciated!" She says to her protective winds, "I was worried what would happen if they got too close."
 
She admits that much at least. It's not like a bow is an ideal weapon for crowd control.
 
Placing the Evoker to her forehead, she calls out again, "Io!" And yet again, she brings forth healing energy that wafts through herself, Minako, Suzume and Akihiko for good measure.
 

AS: Persona! Yukari Takeba has used the Recovery skill Naiad Mediarama on Yukari Takeba, Minako Arisato, Suzume Fukura,
and Akihiko Sanada!
AS: Charm results in party damage! Yukari Takeba takes 90 damage!
AS: Support: Yukari Takeba gains 1 Limit!
AS: Yukari Takeba: Loses 8 SP and 24 TP from Sick! Gains 10 SP from Vigor!
AS: Yukari Takeba regains 3 SP from Invigorate!
AS: Yukari Takeba's turn has ended.
AS: Take! Yukari Takeba takes 140 Recovery healing from Yukari Takeba's Naiad Mediarama.
AS: Take! Suzume Fukura takes 137 Recovery healing from Yukari Takeba's Naiad Mediarama.

<Pose Tracker> Yanagi Nagisa has posed.

    A hand stretches out towards Yanagi; she looks up it at Eriko. She smiles again and accepts it, and her help; it does quite a bit to stabilize her, and she especially appreciates Eriko's discretion in offering it. Pernelle of course is her escort and guardian first and foremost, as seen by the position he takes in between her and the Hierophant, but there's always a chance for more friends--especially with tea and cookies!
    
    There is still a battle, though. First they'll need to deal with this. And on that mark, when the crowd bemoans Maki's attempted encouragement...
    
    "Does it matter if the end is coming anyway? Does life even need a meaning or a reason behind it?" she muses, tapping a finger on her cheek. It's in response to Maki's call to the crowd, but her words are really meant for everyone--the crowd and all. "No matter what someone accomplishes in life, everyone dies one day. Over time, empires fall to ruin, and planets are blasted to ash. The more you zoom out into the big picture, the more you realize that an individual life is cosmically insignificant."
    
    She beams, hair cascading as she tilts her head the other way. "So forget about the big picture and do whatever brings you joy! What is 'meaning' in the face of the pursuit of happiness? Be free!"
    
    Not unlike the twin Narcissi, who are free to admire how ~*handsome*~ the other is. Yanagi gasps with delight, eyes sparkling as she is reminded there is not just one but two Wild Cards here tonight. That's right, the twins! And seeing them now, it's fascinating how these two Personas, though superficially the same, have subtle differences to her senses... But that lasts only for a moment before Minako re-summons Linos. Alas, another time, she'll bask in that beauty...!
    
    The way the crowd would part Pernelle from Yanagi remains troubling--but Pernelle is the best at lifting spirits. Yanagi gasps, lifting one hand in front of her mouth. "N-not even for potato crisps...?! Pernelle...! You really do love me!"
    
    She is deeply, genuinely touched.
    
    Her gaze turns then towards the heiress of SEES in all her icy wrath, contrasting her ferocious outrage. There are many here performing splendidly, but the lakes of drowning and the frost of the grave are parts of her soul. Seeing such annihilating frigidity can't help but capture Yanagi's awed attention.
    
    Perhaps not the best moment for it, given the searing, killing light of that Mahama... The talismans rise up and float and pierce her through--but as Yanagi would collapse, Giselle reaches down to support her with her needle arms. Yanagi's pink eyelashes flutter as she gazes up at her other self.
    
    Yes... She's always been a ghost. She won't be easily banished from this plane. It is her role to linger.
    
    Which means they really must be done with this Shadow. From the crowds--is it Yukari? Is it someone else? The voices melt together for a moment--she thinks she hears someone say that they need to take down the Hierophant directly and ignore the crowds.
    
    "As ever, the stage exists for the primadonna..." she coos in a lilting sing-song. "Giselle, let us sing, let us dance...!"
    
    That light illuminates Giselle in her pas du deux with Yanagi, taking on that Mahama and transmuting its killing power into one her allies can use. That brightness shines on Pernelle to fan his flames, on Masao to shine on his crazy diamond axe, on Maki to make her even more heavenly on earth, and even on Mitsuru--for surely her ice makes them kindred spirits, like the Wilis. 

AS: Take! Minako Arisato takes 137 Recovery healing from Yukari Takeba's Naiad Mediarama.
AS: Persona! Yanagi Nagisa has used the Almighty skill Bright Revel on Pernelle, Masao Inaba, Maki Sonomura, and Mitsuru
Kirijo!
AS: Yanagi Nagisa: Gains 74 HP from Regen!
AS: Yanagi Nagisa regains 10 SP from Invigorate!
AS: Yanagi Nagisa's turn has ended.
AS: Take! Pernelle takes 0 Almighty damage from Yanagi Nagisa's Bright Revel.
AS: Atk_Up (Damage Up!) and Crt_Up (Critical Up!) added!
AS: Eriko Kirishima spends Limit on Shift! Masao Inaba can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Take! Masao Inaba takes 0 Almighty damage from Yanagi Nagisa's Bright Revel.
AS: Atk_Up (Damage Up!) and Crt_Up (Critical Up!) added!
AS: Take! Mitsuru Kirijo takes 0 Almighty damage from Yanagi Nagisa's Bright Revel.
AS: Atk_Up (Damage Up!) and Crt_Up (Critical Up!) added!

AS: Take! Maki Sonomura takes 0 Almighty damage from Yanagi Nagisa's Bright Revel.
AS: Atk_Up (Damage Up!) and Crt_Up (Critical Up!) added!
AS: Hitomi Mandai spends Limit on Shift! Ririka Kawase can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Yukari Takeba spends Limit on Shift! Suzume Fukura can use another Weak skill this round! Hyper (Next Attack
Boosted/Incoming Damage Down!) applied to Suzume Fukura! They both receive 8 SP and 30 HP!

<Pose Tracker> Pernelle has posed.

Pernelle is dropped like a sack of potatoes, which he could probably interpret as some kind of compliment, but also distressing in context. There, he looks up to the beautiful dancing Narcissi, and his beak falls open. He raises his wings in the air and begins hopping back and forth from one foot to the other. "Yes! YES! Such poise! Such pizazz! Your souls cry out to be beheld! Know that you are witnessed, in all your glory...!"

Unfortunately for the Arisato twins, Pernelle will remember this.

But his sincerity in his loyalty? As pure as the snack food he would reject for Yanagi's sake. "Without doubt or hesitation!" he cries, which would be more dignified if he was not promptly blown up by Mahama talismans.

The light fades, and Pernelle's head does circles on his long neck. Maybe he sees heaven... a distant whisper of what lies for him when he squawks his final squawk, and honks his final honk...

Giselle and Yanagi dance, providing a beautiful shine that puts fire into Pernelle's eyes.

Pernelle did say he could never pass up and invitation to dance, didn't he?

"ANQA!"

His shouts for his Persona, launching into the air with a single, powerful flap. With shattering light, Anqa appears in the air beside him. They grab each other, spiraling to the ground in their own twirling dance. And each time Anqa is spun to face the Hierophant, her head rips open at the seams and

EXPLODES

"ONE!"

"TWO!"

"AND AGAIN!"

AS: Persona! Pernelle has used the Fire skill Freila Freila Freila on Moon Penguin! 3 Hits!
AS: Pernelle takes 90 damage from Panic!
AS: Pernelle: Loses 8 SP and 24 TP from Sick! Gains 10 SP from Vigor! Vigor removed!
AS: Pernelle's turn has ended.

<Pose Tracker> Masao Inaba has posed.

    Masao just kind of waves a hand at Akihiko for the praise, and side-eyes the fanciness and formal politeness that is Pernelle. Okay, sure, he internalizes. "Y-yeah, nice to meet you," awkward, but he gets that there.
 
     Also because he feels his blood run cold by Mitsuru's icy defiance. She might be scarier than when his mother is mad. That is one hell of a bar to clear. That may be a new world record.
 
     Not so frightening that he will be pulled from the Shadow, and the way people turn into Shadows themselves. He feels it, that urgency, as that light comes down in that invitation to accept an eternal peace by cessation.
 
     He swings into it, whole-hearted. The Big Apple Necklace - the jewelry that Yanagi had made for him out of labradorite - refracts and redirects much of the heavenly light that invites those within to come to their peaceful rest (or otherwuse be expelled from the place, either or).
 
     It stings, it blinds, it burns as much as it should becalm on some spiritual level - but it is denied, with all his being, back towards the Hierophant. His will, further enhanced by the handiwork of a good friend at Peacock Silk.
 
     He owes Yanagi one for sure. This is a happy customer (also an angry and frustrated one). This is a happier one when Giselle's power takes that light and entrusts him with more strength.
 
     "We're stayin' right here! Alive!" Masao shouts over the spiritual noise and the gloom of the cultists released into their annihilation. "Yeah, a lot of stuff's gone to complete shit!" He clenches his teeth. "I'm not done bein' an artist yet! Hell! A lot of you're too young to give up on all of--"
 
     Someone's coming at him with a knife, and that's enough to shut him up.
 
     It's a bit of a clumsy shoving match, but that knife doesn't find greater purchase than a single shallow slice through his hoodie before he hauls off and shoves that cultist off. They're not going to listen.
 
     Eriko reminds him this isn't the first time they'd been put up against normal people, twisted and turned against them by whatever influence (shady company employment, divine manipulation, or otherwise). She trusts him to clear the way, implicitly, and hey... that's what Ogun does.
 
     "Ogun!" He calls again, raising an axe high as that spear-wielding figure appears again in a narrow colorful line that unfurls horizontally to their full stature. In tandem, that axe is also wielded. Masao's righteous anger gives way to that impish youthful smile he's known for, and with that...
 
     "Let's get funky!" He swings that axe down - Ogun his spear - in a cutting motion as one, towards the immense Shadow whose influence may yet stand to overpower them.
 
     And that's not all, hoisting that axe back over his shoulder as he throws a hand up. "You're not takin' these people to wherever either," even if it's only a rapidly shrinking number of coffins. "Magry!"
 
     Ogun gestures anew in a little dance, and a wave of purple spheres with yellow emission rings fly forward. (It feels like it should hit more around the Hierophant, but the SEBEC incident survivors are all too aware how often Magry missed.) 

AS: Tandem! Masao Inaba has used the Slash skill Flurry Stab on Moon Penguin!
AS: Masao Inaba takes 90 damage from Exhaust!
AS: Aggression: Masao Inaba gains 1 Limit!
AS: Persona! Masao Inaba has used the Earth skill Magry on Moon Penguin!
AS: Masao Inaba: Gains 10 SP from Vigor! Vigor removed!
AS: Masao Inaba's turn has ended.

<Pose Tracker> Ririka Kawase has posed.

Yanagi remarks on there being others. "Yes, there have... this is the first one we've seen outside Port Island," she sends back. Lost... "Maybe... I wonder if a rumor rumor was involved somehow..." But Maki responds, that she doesn't know what that absence means either. "I see. Thank you both for your input!"

Ririka must have seen Minato and Minako's Narcissi Personas before, but... has she seen them both out at once? She gives the interacting pair a very confused look. Is that supposed to happen...?

She nods in Hyousuke's direction. "You're welcome, Suzuke-san!" She calls back. She's glad her warning kept Hyousuke from harming anyone, but... "I think she's right--" She meaning Maki--Ririka doesn't know her name. "If we can take out the Shadow, hopefully it will release the people."

But Koh uses his own skills to provide energy, something Ririka needs after pushing herself so much. "Thank you, Katsuhiro-san!"

Ririka feels an increasing sense of dread as more people spil;spill from their coffins, hher hand clutching her headphones to her ears as she keeps trying to track the situation of the innocents.

But she spent so much time watching everyone else she couldn't get away herself, and her eyes snap open as she's beset. "H-hey--!" She yanks her Evoker hand back, but then has to try and pull herself free, backing away from the crowd. "You can break free-- That Shadow is just-- is just using you--don't you ahve hopes? Dreams? People that are precious to you? Do you--ngh--really want to leave them behind?"

Another sickened gasp as she sees the woman collapse. And with the black ichor moving... Ririka gasps. "Everyone!" she transmits. "Earlier I sensed something missing in the Shadow-- it's-- I think it's absorbing something from the people! If we don't defeat it fast, it might take all of them with it!"

Ririka looks around. The situation is getting desperate, and more people are at risk of being injured or worse--both Persona Users and civilians alike. "Everyone, please hold on-- I know we can make it through this! Amphion!"

Amphion strums again, but not for healing winds, this time to stir the power of the earth beneanth their feet. It is a twinking, multi-facted blessing--like the shining surfaces of a gem reflecting the short-term possibilities ahead, building up to more power later. It flows into into Minako, Hitomi, Hyousuke, and Yukari, to help any lagging defenses.

Minako calls for them to sense shadows. "Hai, Arisato-chan!" There's already so much to track, but... adding more Dark Hour shadows to the situation will just make things worse. 

AS: Persona! Ririka Kawase has used the Almighty skill Lithomancy on Minako Arisato, Hitomi Mandai, Hyousuke Suzuki, and
Yukari Takeba!
AS: Ririka Kawase takes 45 damage from Stress!
AS: Insight: Ririka Kawase gains 1 Limit!
AS: Ririka Kawase: Loses 8 SP and 24 TP from Sick! Gains 67 HP from Regen! Gains 10 SP from Vigor! Hyper removed!
AS: Ririka Kawase's turn has ended.

<Pose Tracker> Suzume Fukura has posed.

Suzume's perfect :| face remains in place for long enough for Minato to *also* summon Narcissus. Because...

...well, come on.

Really, though, she has more urgent things to pay attention to than the twins deciding to summon underdressed men to try to distract Shadows and people (and that is not a sentence Suzume ever expected to put together before, but there we have it).

Summoning Atalanta like this is more difficult than Suzume expected. It was an instinctive thing, not something she's ever practiced or even thought about doing before, and keeping her in place to keep Yukari protected while she heals is *hard*.

But she gives Yukari a thumbs-up anyway while she keeps Atalanta in place. "I gotta take on the big one," she says, "but I'll give you what I can if you can keep me up!"

So when Io heals her, Suzume takes that, letting the power flow through her. It helps even though she's kind of battered already, and it's only going to get worse from here, especially as one of the people...

Collapses. Falls into a glob, arms reaching - a Maya, or something, Suzume doesn't get a good look at it. She freezes for a moment. Is that what happens to people here? She swore she'd protect them, and they're still -

Does this mean SEES is failing? Does this mean *she* is failing? She can't allow it. She has to do better. They have to do better.

Suzume lets out a roar, a battle cry really, though her voice threatens to crack near the end of it. She rushes forward again, the light from the Mahama burning along her body, pulling a fountain of little shards and sparkles off of Atalanta as she wavers for a moment.

But as she runs she gathers wind to her tonfa - to her hands, like she was gripping wind itself and pulling it along with her. It streams down her arms as it intensifies, her arms pulling more with her as Atalanta guides the winds. If one of the people gets in her way, well - they might find themselves blown to the side like a sharp shove as Suzume rushes the Hierophant.

"Tornado..."

Suzume punches. Her fist is wreathed in green-glowing winds, Atalanta reaching along with her, and it impacts with a dull thud... then silence, the calm before the storm.

"CROSS!"

And a tornado *erupts* from Suzume's fist, a slightly delayed blast of wind sufficient to launch Suzume herself backwards, stumbling as she tries to keep her feet. And that's with most of it aimed the *other* way - at the great Shadow! 

AS: Tandem! Theurgy! Suzume Fukura has used the Wind skill Tornado Cross on Moon Penguin! 2 Hits!
AS: Suzume Fukura takes 90 damage from Exhaust!
AS: Charm results in party damage! Suzume Fukura takes 90 damage!
AS: Pressure: Suzume Fukura gains 1 Limit!
AS: Suzume Fukura: Hyper removed!
AS: Suzume Fukura's turn has ended.
AS: Suzume Fukura's Cover tactic expires on Yukari Takeba!
AS: Take! Yukari Takeba takes 0 Almighty damage from Ririka Kawase's Lithomancy.
AS: Prophecy (Healing in 2 rounds!) added!

<Pose Tracker> Maki Sonomura has posed.

"Hi, Pernelle," Maki says, though she can't manage the same cheer as Eriko in the moment. "It's nice to meet you." It's a little strained.

Mark helps her. Mark is always there, isn't he? ...Not that it's like that, of course. "Thanks," Maki says. "You're right--they're just people. We have to be careful."

"...You're right. I don't know if they'll change. The others seem to think they can be saved, still..."

But she doesn't blame Eriko for striking back, either; they have fought 'just people' before.

Maki feels stronger thanks to Mark, anyway. But she sees the apparent leader of the ones with the armbands--

How dare you, she says. And Mitsuru confirms--they have to end it quickly. "Right!" Maki's telepathic voice calls. "I'll do what I can!"

Umie... snaps. And that mocking tone of hers--

"What failure?" Maki wonders of Umie. "Were you there, back then? Then why didn't we find you...?"

Maki has entirely the wrong idea. But she shakes her head. "It wouldn't be a relief to not have you around," she says. "I don't know what you've been doing on your own all these years, but we can help you now."

Minako is confused for a second--"Right! I'll tell you later!" Maki won't try to focus on that just now. Instead...

She focuses on what happens here, and now. The light of the grave shines--but Maki doesn't fear the Light anymore. It hurts, but not nearly as much as it would otherwise. But as the people bring out their weapons...

Maki's teeth clench together. Is this their fate?

...No.

But Yanagi has things to say, too. Does it need that? Hmm. No matter what they accomplish...

"It's because of that transient nature," Maki says, seeing the people she almost started to reach start to succumb again, "Because of the fact that it doesn't last... that life is so precious. I think it matters. I think each life matters, is a whole world unto itself."

She looks to Yanagi, "...But being happy isn't so bad, either," she says with a quirk of her lips into not quite a smile. "...Maybe multiple perspectives can help them resist better. Or maybe not. But I'm glad neither of us is here alone."

Either way, she feels stronger with Giselle's dance. She feels brighter, more vibrant.

And she needs that, because it's about to be time to end this as best she can.

"My Persona is primarily best at support, but..."

"You learn to improvise, now and then."

Taishan Niangniang raises her hands from Maki's shoulders, setting them out in front of her, palms-out. She takes a breath, and lifts her eyes once more where she'd bowed her head again.

As a bright blue column of light bursts around Maki's feet, encompassing her and her Persona both. Mark invokes the idea of getting funky--

And flames bubble up at the same time as those purple spheres come down. Great flames explode all around the Hierophant at Maki's direction, flames of life and light to stand against Shadow. 

AS: Maki Sonomura spends Limit on Exploit! Maki Sonomura can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Block Best! Moon Penguin takes 65 Fire damage from Pernelle's Freila Freila Freila.
AS: Block Best! Moon Penguin takes 65 Fire damage from Pernelle's Freila Freila Freila.
AS: Block Best! Moon Penguin takes 105 Fire damage from Pernelle's Freila Freila Freila. Critical Hit!
AS: Persona! Maki Sonomura has used the Fire skill Agilao on Moon Penguin!
AS: Persona! Maki Sonomura has used the Fire skill Maragi on Moon Penguin!
AS: Maki Sonomura: Gains 67 HP from Regen! Gains 10 SP from Vigor!
AS: Maki Sonomura's turn has ended.
AS: Block Worst! Moon Penguin takes 308 Slash damage from Masao Inaba's Flurry Stab.
AS: Block Best! Moon Penguin takes 123 Earth damage from Masao Inaba's Magry. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Worst! Moon Penguin takes 215 Wind damage from Suzume Fukura's Tornado Cross.
AS: Block Worst! Moon Penguin takes 215 Wind damage from Suzume Fukura's Tornado Cross.
AS: Take! Hitomi Mandai takes 0 Almighty damage from Ririka Kawase's Lithomancy.
AS: Prophecy (Healing in 2 rounds!) added!

<Pose Tracker> Minato Arisato has posed.

    A beautiful peacock...

    And a beautiful Persona!!

    If only that were all that were here. Someone -- Minato -- hears Mitsuru suffering. Sees Aigis tearing through. Hears Akihiko give a senpai's wisdom about the situation.

    "Understood," is what he answers, to that last one.

    There are five more beats of silence, as he deals with the situation, before he looks to Eriko -- "I didn't know that Narcissus was a Leader's Persona," he explains, as if he hadn't left that gap of silence at all.

    "Actually, we both created him on a dare."

    Why does that matter, right now?

    They're crawling from the coffins, even though that boy said it wasn't yet time.

    'Even so,' he said, 'somehow, I feel like it's inevitable... isn't that a nostalgic feeling?'

    A nostalgic feeling...

    "This Arcana Shadow is operating under a time limit," is what Minato says.

    "If we don't defeat it within the next five minutes, every normal person here will turn."

    He says it so confidently. So clinically.

    He raises his Evoker to his head.

    "Orpheus."

    And he enacts a grievous assault.

AS: Minato Arisato spends Limit on Psych! 
AS: Minato Arisato spends Limit on Exploit! Minato Arisato can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Persona! Theurgy! Minato Arisato has used the Fire skill Blazing Soul on Moon Penguin!
AS: Charm results in party damage! Minato Arisato takes 90 damage!
AS: Pressure: Minato Arisato gains 1 Limit!
AS: Minato Arisato: Psych removed!
AS: Minato Arisato's turn has ended.

AS: Block Worst! Moon Penguin takes 339 Fire damage from Minato Arisato's Blazing Soul.
AS: Block Worst! Moon Penguin takes 248 Fire damage from Maki Sonomura's Agilao.
AS: Haze (Physical and Block Penalized!) added! Bind removed! Explosion! 74 damage!
AS: Block Best! Moon Penguin takes 174 Fire damage from Maki Sonomura's Maragi. Critical Hit!

AS: Take! Akihiko Sanada takes 137 Recovery healing from Yukari Takeba's Naiad Mediarama.

<Pose Tracker> Koh Katsuhiro has posed.

Koh is saved by oneno, two Narcissi.

God I wish that were me, he might think. If he had less to worry about.

"Here to help!" Koh calls to Akihiko and Ririka, the words less confident than he'd like. Minako get's an: "I'll try!"

"....But I think this is only going to get worse!" The woman melting into a Shadow proves his point.

Minato states the situation matter-of-factly, as their leader does.

"Leave these people alone!" They don't deserve it. They didn't do anything. It's not fair."It's not fair! YOU die! Zagreus!" The ragged shape appears again, lunging madly for the Hierophant. It only has one arm, but that's enough to tear something open. 

AS: Koh Katsuhiro spends Limit on Exploit! Koh Katsuhiro can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Persona! Theurgy! Koh Katsuhiro has used the Earth skill Sparagmos on Moon Penguin!
AS: Charm results in party damage! Koh Katsuhiro takes 90 damage!
AS: Koh Katsuhiro: Loses 8 SP and 24 TP from Sick! Gains 10 SP from Vigor!
AS: Koh Katsuhiro's turn has ended.

<Pose Tracker> Akihiko Sanada has posed.

    Akihiko gets grappled from the back as someone tries to stab him. The hair pin luckily doesn't find purchase, instead tearing through the back of his vest as Akihiko judo-flips the person over him. "Hey! Lie down for a bit, lady!"

    All things give and take however, and Akihiko takes a nasty hit from the beast's Mahama. Then, Yukari's healing light reaches him. He lets out a heavy sigh of relief and pumps his fist up. "Thanks, Takaba-senpai! All good here!"

    Mostly. Akihiko spots the first lady turn into a Shadow and grimaces. Shit. This can get real bad, real soon. Time to kick up the pressure. Time to bring the thunder. "Polydeuces! Bolts of Judgement!" He brings his Evoker to his temple, and Polydeuces manifests once more. There's a crackle of electricity that seeks it's target. Then, the heavy lightning bolt descends, much harder. Only afterwards, the rumble of thunder could be heard.

AS: Akihiko Sanada spends Limit on Psych! 
AS: Persona! Akihiko Sanada has used the Elec skill Bolts of Judgement on Moon Penguin!
AS: Ruin: Akihiko Sanada gains 1 Limit!
AS: Akihiko Sanada: Psych removed!
AS: Akihiko Sanada's turn has ended.

<Pose Tracker> Eriko Kirishima has posed.

    Mitsuru's not the only one wishing Kei could be here- Eriko even tried to contact her investigative partner beforehand. Unfortunately, Japan's #1 Man can't devote himself purely to battling shadows and there's the matter of security that Matsuoka so insists upon.

    But it's hard for Eriko not see that grief sneaking into the young woman's voice, the look of terror as she declares her intent to save someone. "Miss Kirijo-"

    Fortunately, Mitsuru finds her wrath and anger, and the execution begins. It seems an adult doesn't need to step in for her right now. That's both a good thing- and kind of worrying in it's own way.

    Umie's sudden ferocity catches Eriko completely off guard. "Ms Akabane...?" She asks, shocked. She knew Umie worked on her own but- this venom is different. Nothing she expressed before. "What are you talking about?" She stares for a bit. "What failure?"

    Eriko Kirishima may not be known for her discretion- which just makes her ability to be discreet all the stronger. And well... she can intuit why Yanagi might be a little particular about how help might be offered.

    Eriko realizes she has confused matters. "Oh, it wasn't- Narcissus wasn't his persona, it's..." Minako seems to put together what Maki said, and Eriko nods. "Right..." No wonder she wants to talk to them both- but she lets out a giggle at the idea of creating Narcissus as a dare. "Oh my, is that how it works?" Persona 'creation', is that what he did?

    The Hierophant, on the other hand, appears to have chosen it's method of dealing with them: the holy might of Mahama, the exorcism spell. "Hmph. I'm not going to Heaven today, especially not to the hands of such a wicked clergyman as you!" She darts with Nike's speed, the light that crashes against her is mitigated greatly, even if the spell's lingering effects weaken her weapon arm- and then she can only watch, that grim fascination, as a woman melts away into a shadow... It's horrible, and yet a part of Eriko can't help but wonder what it would feel like, if it weren't so dangerous...

    But they're on a time limit. Mark and Maki prepare for the offense, and Eriko looks serious for once. "If we don't act quickly, more people will become like her. We have to put an end to this as soon as we can. Nike! Rid us of this meddlesome priest!"

    With a slash of her sword, Nike comes to life behind Makoto and summons her mighty cutting winds, aiming to shred apart the Hierophant and his twisted throne. 

AS: Persona! Eriko Kirishima has used the Wind skill Garula on Moon Penguin!
AS: Pressure: Eriko Kirishima gains 1 Limit!
AS: Eriko Kirishima: Loses 8 SP and 24 TP from Sick! Gains 73 HP from Regen! Gains 10 SP from Vigor! Vigor removed!
AS: Eriko Kirishima's turn has ended.

<Pose Tracker> Aigis has posed.

    'Someone's ... fooled them, or hurt them, or --' Aigis gives Minako a sidelong glance, more than willing to call her bluff, and replies, "How do you know for certain? I do not think it changes what action we should take, regardless."

    Minato, on the other hand, relays some information which underscores the urgency of the situation. The servos in her right hand spin up and whir as they wind up. "Understood," she answers to Minato.

    Aigis makes no motion to defend herself from the golden light of Mahama. She grits her teeth and winces through the pain of it as she doggedly fights to keep her right arm steadily locked on to the Hierophant Shadow and struggles to hold it in place with her left hand. Undeterred, but not undamaged in the process, a hairline fracture forms in the side of Aigis' torso as she fires back simultaneously, vindictively, defiantly.

    After all, neither Heaven nor Hell waits for someone like herself. Only oblivion, should she ever finally fall into a state of disrepair ... but that's the thing. She can always be repaired. It's everyone else that she has to worry about. The transient nature that Maki speaks of, that which makes life so precious -- that doesn't apply to Aigis herself, or so she presently believes.

    In-between rounds of gunfire, the woman collapses fully into the form of a Shadow. Aigis pauses briefly to curiously regard her, then dashes at full speed to meet the Hierophant Shadow head-on, call out for "Palladion!", and tilt it forward so that both her hands and her Persona's cannon fire into it point-blank.

AS: Aigis spends Limit on Exploit! Aigis can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Weapon! Aigis has used the Pierce skill Suppressive Fire on Moon Penguin! 2 Hits!
AS: Charm results in party damage! Aigis takes 90 damage!
AS: Pressure: Aigis gains 1 Limit!

<Pose Tracker> Mitsuru Kirijo has posed.

It's affecting them.

It's something that Mitsuru had clocked even before the Navigators and those with more keen resonance glean the truth. Even without that knowledge, these many people, released into the Dark Hour? ... It was unbelievably dangerous, for the people released, and for the Persona-Users fighting.

Every second they waste risks another turning to Shadow. And what can she expect the people here to do about that? To eliminate what was once an innocent - if manipulated and indoctrinated - human life? ...

If it comes down to it, she will do what she has to in order to protect them all, like she did back then, too. They shouldn't have to bear that burden.

But until that moment comes, she will fight to the end to prevent it.

With everything on the line, with such a horrifically slim margin of error - these are the circumstances in which Mitsuru Kirijo excels. Anger already focusing and sharpening her senses, the bone-chill around her desaturates slightly but does not entirely dissipate as she turns her attention towards the Hierophant -- just in time to see the flashing build up of would-be holy light emanating from its talismans. Her eyes widen - and then narrow to knife-sharp points as she -LUNGES- rightward. Light sears at the fringe of her shoulder, and the blaze of its radiance alone is enough to make her wince. She pushes through, landing in a controlled tumble-slide across the frosted streets until she skids out into a three-point crouch.

Past the veil of her royal red bangs, Mitsuru snaps her stare up.

Just in time to see the influence this Shadow has upon its would-be followers in the most visceral way as that one tumbling cultist lunges towards the back of one of her precious few friends with a hairpin.

"AKIHIKO--!"

Too late. Her words of warning come too late. She can only feel fortunate the hairpin did not find purchase, a fact that does little to assuage the rage in her stare as it affixes on the Hierophant once more--

--only for a blink to flutter at long lashes, as she feels bolstering magic from an unknown and unexpected source wash over her. Surprise and alarm are writ large for a second on those fair features before it all settles down anew and that dark red gaze casts an impassive, inquisitive stare towards the source: Giselle, and her User. Yanagi. One of the duo who had been so content to sit on the sidelines during the fight with the Priestess.

"..."

That look is a questioning but brief thing: right now, Mitsuru does not have time to question the actual generosity of a boon anymore than she could look a gift horse in the mouth. Her attention is instantly back upon the Shadow, as its would-be followers start sowing dazed, dangerous havoc on the battlefield. Her eyes shut tight.

Another cultist falls, subsumed into Shadow. Another failure.

No. Not one more of them. Not one more.

She will protect these cultists. She will protect the people here.

She will protect Akihiko.
she will protect her father
"... Did you not hear me?"

She will protect them all.

"I said: ENOUGH."

Eyes snap open wide. Her evoker trigger is squeezed.

And it's a blinding, cold light that bursts across the battlefield as the entirety of the street is flash-frozen into a great, glimmering field of ice.

Mitsuru is instantly on her feet, sprinting. She builds up exactly the momentum she needs so that when she drops into a controlled slide, she glides like a shot across the ice field, her saber drawn back.

"Your fate was decided before you were born! Now--"

One slash. Two. She slices the literal legs of the Hierophant's throne, even as Penthesilea snaps her blades forward, causing the icy ground beneath the Shadow's feet to ERUPT into massive pillars of ice. To trap it.

Still working off all that momentum, Mitsuru leaps; onto the first craggy outcropping of ice crystal, and then with another leap, to the very peak of it. She lands seated, prim, perfect.

Gloved fingers pinched.

"--face your EXECUTION."

-=snap=-

And with a single snap of her fingers, Mitsuru falls away as all that ice simply EXPLODES into fragmenting boulders of frost and crystal, intent to violently rupture the Shadow within.

She must end this.

She must end this now. 

AS: Tandem! Aigis has used the Pierce skill Dual Thrust on Moon Penguin! 2 Hits!
AS: Aigis has no more TP available for healing!
AS: Aigis: Gains 74 HP from Regen! Gains 10 SP from Vigor! Charm removed!
AS: Aigis regains 3 SP from Invigorate!
AS: Aigis's turn has ended.
AS: Tandem! Mitsuru Kirijo has used the Water skill Blizzard Edge on Moon Penguin! 2 Hits!
AS: Mitsuru Kirijo takes 90 damage from Exhaust!
AS: Charm results in party damage! Mitsuru Kirijo takes 90 damage!
AS: Ruin: Mitsuru Kirijo gains 1 Limit!
AS: Mitsuru Kirijo: Loses 8 SP and 24 TP from Sick!
AS: Mitsuru Kirijo regains 3 SP from Invigorate!
AS: Mitsuru Kirijo's turn has ended.
AS: Block Worst! Moon Penguin takes 256 Earth damage from Koh Katsuhiro's Sparagmos. Critical Hit!
AS: Block Worst! Moon Penguin takes 236 Elec damage from Akihiko Sanada's Bolts of Judgement.
AS: Sick (SP Damage on end of turn!) added! Poison removed! Explosion! 109 damage!
AS: Block Worst! Moon Penguin takes 206 Wind damage from Eriko Kirishima's Garula.
AS: Haze (Physical and Block Penalized!) added!
AS: Block Best! Moon Penguin takes 81 Pierce damage from Aigis's Suppressive Fire.
AS: Block Worst! Moon Penguin takes 137 Pierce damage from Aigis's Suppressive Fire.
AS: Block Worst! Moon Penguin takes 132 Pierce damage from Aigis's Dual Thrust.
AS: Block Worst! Moon Penguin takes 182 Pierce damage from Aigis's Dual Thrust. Critical Hit!
AS: Moon Penguin is unable to continue fighting!
AS: Block Worst! Moon Penguin takes 133 Water damage from Mitsuru Kirijo's Blizzard Edge. Critical Hit!
AS: Moon Penguin is unable to continue fighting!
AS: Block Worst! Moon Penguin takes 104 Water damage from Mitsuru Kirijo's Blizzard Edge.
AS: Moon Penguin is unable to continue fighting!

<Pose Tracker> Hitomi Mandai has posed.

 
Hitomi's head lifts slightly and she gives Aigis a wordless sidewise look. It seems fond.

Mitsuru's voice rings out over the space -- they're all engaged, I'm not alone at all. Were people being weirdly quiet, or was I just not hearing them? Was it really messing with me more than I thought? (wonders Hitomi) -- and as Penthesilea sweeps upwards and joins the barrage, a cool wind blows, stirring a lock of hair. "... They're the actual people?"

Her tone's one of dull surprise, perhaps, or at least muted from horror. Shock or something. Maybe it's lingering emotional numbness from swinging around. Her head nonetheless turns as she looks, with concern, towards the people she just kicked over. There isn't time for more than an inward 'oops' even as Akihiko-sempai and -- ah, her from the asylum. Huh?

Hitomi also briefly glimpses a peacock.

Well, I knew I was insane already, she muses inwardly as the dice clatter improbably near to her, scooped up and pocketed with a brief dipping kneel.

Alarm is in Hitomi's voice as she says to Aigis, "We have to move, he'll kill them if he starts blasting!" The thought of what would become of someone in the Dark Hour without the power of Persona flits through her mind's eye, along with a momentary memory of Ikutsuki in the Yakushima meeting room, the night they learned the truth. It's a brief flash of thought: shortly thereafter, three rounds rapid fly into the Shadow, bowling it over.

Hitomi moves a step or so to the side but seems momentarily uncertain. Maybe this is their opening-- but perhaps not quite. The Shadow is getting back up... and it's not just the Shadow. The others seem to be asking. Speaking weary but fatalistic words. Hitomi looks away from the Shadow, towards the dazed -- people. They're not cognitive phantoms or some kind of sub-body. It's people.

"... did the Shadow do this to all of you?" Hitomi says, eyes widening behind the lens of her glasses.

Then light dawns.

            It's warm.
            Gentle, almost.
            Detaching. Soothing. Somewhere, water is running.
                You could get off here.

    It'd be alright.

        No.
        I'm not tired of any of it yet.

    Oh, it hurts --

-- and it seems that Hitomi's luck has held up, because while she reels she does not fall over, either stunned or deliquescing horribly like that poor one woman is doing. Or did. Through the chaos as Hitomi reels from the sheer incinerating paradoxically-pure light, she can hear other people. Cries of battle, but also Minato's steady deadpan: Five minutes. Her ears are ringing, but at that, Hitomi lifts her head without straightening up.

She looks straight at the Shadow.

"Disgusting," Hitomi says, and she rises up the rest of the way while swinging her right arm around, bringing it up short to where the luminous blue card can be glimpsed *just* flying out of her sleeve as her head tilts up. Hitomi tilts her head up a great deal; wherever it came from, it seems to just be a minor tic, most of the time. (Is her family even taller than her??)

This time she is not giving a fond glance from the side. It is perhaps not enough of an angle to properly look down one's nose, but she is giving it the level try. As the jeweled light of Amphion shines up around her, her eyes remain fixed on her target. The card is flipped upwards. Tyche forms above her, and this time their poses don't exactly match. Where Hitomi is raising her hand up with a dramatic flourish, Tyche has only raised her right hand enough to turn the palm just-so outwards, as if to dismiss what is before her.

The lights of other hearts flicker on the blank stone eyes of Tyche for an instant, and then the bombardment begins. Whistling, screaming, the burning rockets fly downwards. Each of them bursts in a shower of shimmering golden sparks, impossibly bright and metallic, a steady walking bombardment with teakettle shrieks aimed from the Shadow's lower half up with a single grand finale towards the upper body, which bursts emerald green.

Hitomi's remorseless expression fades as she sees (as it were) Akihiko wind up for a great blow. Then, with another ominous-but-not-for-them chill, Mitsuru surges inwards. Hitomi calls out, "SenPAAAI~, execute the shit out of this fake priest!" Her hand comes down, swinging in an arc that abruptly tightens when Aigis surges forwards. Which means Hitomi - who, despite her earlier comments, *has remained in the exact same place* - is now standing alone surrounded by several of these unfortunates, who may unfortunate be, yes, but one of them firmly grasps at Hitomi's leggings, nails tearing at the reinforced fabric.

"kuh!" And with that *she* runs closer as well. "... hope the spell breaks-" It is a spell, right? (She hopes it's a spell.) 

AS: Persona! Hitomi Mandai has used the Fire skill Explosion of Fortune on Moon Penguin! 3 Hits!
AS: Charm results in party damage! Hitomi Mandai takes 90 damage!
AS: Aggression: Hitomi Mandai gains 1 Limit!
AS: Hitomi Mandai: Loses 74 HP from Poison! Gains 72 HP from Regen! Charm removed!
AS: Hitomi Mandai's turn has ended.
AS: Block Neutral! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 69 Light damage from Moon Penguin's Mahama. Critical Hit!
AS: Exhaust (Damage when using Weapon/Tandem!) added!
AS: Moon Penguin is unable to continue fighting!

<Pose Tracker> Umie Akabane has posed.

    Another night, Umie was laughing and soaring through the night as she attacked a Gourd King, not every night can be like that, can it? For every high, there must be a low.

    Light sears through her, snapping painfully and making her understand just what kind of creature she is, and for every upside of being one with shadows, one can't make light of the downsides.

    It could have been a lot worse, but her own venom... she'll have to deal with that, as Maki and Eriko are understandably confused. "I meant--" Wait. Umie palms her face. "It happened before that," she clarifies, discreetly communicating about the SEBEC Incident. "It's... yeah, I was just being needlessly petty. There's nothing any of you are at fault for-- if I was being honest, I could've been the one helping you, at that time." She just wanted something sharp to attack someone, anyone, with. Only, she's attacking with words, trying to find purchase wherever she can like a frightened, cornered cat.

    Did it matter that it didn't even make sense?

    ... Just like how one of the cultists attack Masao, just now. "Watch out!" Umie stammers, but Masao is quicker.

    'Nobody can truly change...'
    'The end is coming anyway...'
    
    It makes Umie angry all over again, for an entirely different reason.
    .....
    ..... Ah, that *may* be a tactic. If understanding can't work, might as well aim for the gut, right?

    "Did any of you actually listen to them?" Umie yells now, at the remaining cultists. "Or are you all so wrapped up in yourselves that you can't see straight?"

    She points a finger out, the coin-fringed cape of the Badb manifesting behind her in a spiritual wind.

    "I'll crush your sleep. I'll scream and ruin that peace of yours. I'll make you stay awake, so you'll listen to the people trying to save you!!"

    Badb shrieks again, with red-tinged lips stretched wide.

    "We'll all take your salvation right from you." The words don't bear the heavy iciness of Mitsuru's, but the threat remains the same, as Badb issues out a blast of dark. 

AS: Take! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 0 Almighty damage from Ririka Kawase's Lithomancy.
AS: Prophecy (Healing in 2 rounds!) added!
AS: Umie Akabane spends Limit on Exploit! Umie Akabane can use another Weak skill this round!
AS: Persona! Umie Akabane has used the Almighty skill Soul Break on Moon Penguin!
AS: Umie Akabane takes 90 damage from Pain!
AS: Ruin: Umie Akabane gains 1 Limit!
AS: Persona! Umie Akabane has used the Dark skill Pale Shriek on Moon Penguin!
AS: Umie Akabane has no more TP available for healing!
AS: Umie Akabane: Gains 75 HP from Regen! Brace removed!
AS: Umie Akabane regains 3 SP from Invigorate!
AS: Umie Akabane's turn has ended.

AS: Block Worst! Moon Penguin takes 117 Fire damage from Hitomi Mandai's Explosion of Fortune.
AS: Moon Penguin is unable to continue fighting!
AS: Block Worst! Moon Penguin takes 117 Fire damage from Hitomi Mandai's Explosion of Fortune.
AS: Moon Penguin is unable to continue fighting!
AS: Block Neutral! Moon Penguin takes 143 Fire damage from Hitomi Mandai's Explosion of Fortune. Critical Hit!
AS: Moon Penguin is unable to continue fighting!
AS: Take! Moon Penguin takes 0 Almighty damage from Umie Akabane's Soul Break.
AS: Exhaust (Damage when using Weapon/Tandem!) added! Rage removed! Explosion! 110 damage!
AS: Moon Penguin is unable to continue fighting!
AS: Take! Moon Penguin takes 121 Dark damage from Umie Akabane's Pale Shriek. Resist!
AS: Moon Penguin is unable to continue fighting!

<Pose Tracker> Hyousuke Suzuki has posed.

Something gnawed at Hyousuke's mind. A sickly, overpowering, thought that mocked him from the darkness, speaking of the peace of death and how much simpler it would be to just *stop.* How much rest had been earnt, how easy it would have been to simply lay down and allow the cold and the dark to spill over one's being, how little the fight mattered no matter what Minako or Ririka told him to do. He could not tell whether it was the Shadow's doing, or something deeper, darker, and more personal. It mattered little. He had a job to do, and the darkness could be held at bay with the fires of his fury.

"On it!" He called out to those that relied upon him, and he turned his attention back to the Hierophant... as well as his hatred. He straightened himself, heedless of the pain that left his muscles screaming for relief and his head wracked by splitting pain. He clenched his teeth against the haze, and with whatever strength he had left, he summoned the mighty general to cast down those that would send the hordes of civilians against them.
"No more..." He snarled, like some bare-toothed animal in the closing moments of a hunt. "NO MORE! You don't get to hurt any more of these people! PERSONA!"

Something surged from the darkness. Something wreathed in tattered bronze, heaving its spear forward with such force as to send a ripple through the air when it made contact, and an ear-splitting shriek of colliding metal. 

AS: Persona! Hyousuke Suzuki has used the Pierce skill Pelian Spear Strike on Moon Penguin!
AS: Charm results in party damage! Hyousuke Suzuki takes 90 damage!
AS: Pressure: Hyousuke Suzuki gains 1 Limit!
AS: Hyousuke Suzuki: Loses 8 SP and 24 TP from Sick! Gains 68 HP from Regen!
AS: Hyousuke Suzuki's turn has ended.
AS: Block Worst! Moon Penguin takes 205 Pierce damage from Hyousuke Suzuki's Pelian Spear Strike.
AS: Moon Penguin is unable to continue fighting!

<Pose Tracker> Moon Penguin has posed.

How many ways can one kill a Shadow?

With nuclear flame, tripled from Linos, twinned with Orpheus' great expression of emotion, the flames detonate, mushrooming into the sky. While a jealous Pernelle, not one to LET THIS SLIGHT GO- also tries Nuclear Fire. Nine Freilas! Such beauty, such grace, such atomic fire in your face. By detonation from Hitomi's die- perhaps fortune itself, a bombardment of rockets building up the terrible explosion.

By axe and by spear- impaling and cutting as Masao and Ogun act in tandem. As gravity itself presses down upon it, its fishnet covered throne legs buckling under the weight. A spear joined by yet another spear from the raging youth that is Hyousuke By fist and by storm, a Tornado erupting from Suzume's fist causing a great wind to billow in the sky, fortunately only knocking a few people in the crowd over thanks to her aim.

Perhaps if it had to perish twice, it might prefer ice. But this time, this first time? It doesn't like it at all, as Mitsuru consigns it to its execution, a craggy icy tomb. A finger snap, a roiling shock to its entire integrity.

Right as rounds of heavy ordnance from Palladion's cannons try to shatter it apart completely, and Zagreus tries to make certain it dies, lunging madly, one arm ripping and tearing. If it had blood, Zagreus would be covered in it right now.

Lightning descends from Polydeuces, one bolt after another. Nike sends great gusts of wind to try and send it not to Heaven, but to Hell.

Through the darkness itself, shrieking its curses from Badb's call.

The Hierophant Shadow feels like it must be on its last legs. It must be. Its entire form is sagging, like the masculine figure seated upon the feminine throne might fall off if they weren't grafted together.

And then, the Shikigami figures guarding the Shadow divide into two more Shikigami in an odd mitosis, the distinctions washing away. They encircle the figure, twirling, dancing.

And in the distance a bell rings, interrupting its death knell. Chiming like a Priestess wielding a Kagura Suzu, but there's something wrong with it.

The Shikigami all take positions, their parodies of limbs joining together as they all bend strangely where their waists might be in one grand bow.

"I invoke the power of the Kimon Tonkou. Wander endlessly in your banishment from this realm, Shadow of the Arcana."

A feminine voice splits the night, from a figure in a stylish black dress and a veil that simply melts out of the shadows of Aoba Park.

Bringing forth a Paper Talisman, it catches fire in front of them as a gate of gray light opens beneath the Hierophant. Mist pours out from this portal to another realm.

The Hierophant Shadow lets out a burble of protest as it panics, trying to smash against one of the Shikigami, but the blow is deflected. It begins to become translucent. Then it vanishes entirely, the Shikigami do the same soon after.

Then it is gone. The navigators cannot even feel the smallest hint of its presence. Only the lingering absence.

Replaced by something far- different. Far worse.

The click of the footsteps of a man's well polished shoes sounds louder than that of the people beginning to collapse, hitting the ground like dominos, insensate, eyes rolled back, the ichor... gone, completely.

That man is wearing an off-black business suit with an even darker dress shirt, sporting a pair of sunglasses with jagged lines of black trailing down his face from each lens.

The Navigators may speculate if he's a man at all, if he's not the some god or devil incarnate here to make a deal for their souls. He certainly looks the part. Maki Sonomura, Eriko Kirishima and Masao Inaba, all know he isn't a man, not really anymore.

He doesn't have to step over the bodies. The path he takes is a straight line, and not a single one bars his way. The man stops a short distance from the battleworn figures and speaks with a hint of sardonic irony. "The Arcana is the means by which all is revealed. It is said that to know the forces that guide one's self is a precious gift."

His smile is just a little too wide as the veiled woman walks to stand just behind him.

"It is past time you children learn what a curse it can be."
 
TO BE CONTINUED

AS: Moon Penguin has readied for combat as Nyarlathotep! They are now fully healed!
AS: Atk_Up added to your status!
AS: Moon Penguin has readied for combat as Nyarlathotep! They are now fully healed! Ready for 12 opponents!
AS: Atk_Up added to your status!
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