Shattered Justice (A Persona Quest)

For a moment, you consider bringing the spear you got from your dream to the battlefield. While you haven't had that much chance to adjust to actually using it in battle, at least you wouldn't have to worry about it shifting into something useless.

On the other hand, you have yet to think up a good explanation for how you somehow acquired another weapon, and this probably isn't a good way to get into the sort of things that happen in your dreams. And so, after much consideration, you pick up the piece of solidified void, wondering just why neither of your spears are objects that you can prove to be real.

Ikutsuki is normally informed of your affairs involving Shadows, but he hasn't come back since his visit after Akihiko-san recorded that one security tape. It's not really a loss. You aren't really sure what he can give, actually, when you still aren't certain he knows that Morgana exists. Let alone what he'd be willing to give.
It probably shouldn't be so easy to think of him as an enemy. He hid the fact so much better last time.
Morgana is coming along this time. You suppose he can't just stay on the sidelines forever. And you haven't really gotten the chance to see Zorro properly before.

As for Elizabeth, she stands near the door, flipping through the pages of her old book. It sort of reminds you of Akira, and how he always has a book about a certain thief on hand. Except, just by looking at it, you sense that this book is something much more important than some adventure story.

"I will do my best to assist if things get out of hand," She promises, quietly, adjusting the pin in her hair. "But I will not endeavor to do more than that."

"Really?" You aren't sure Morgana believes her.

"While I am on a Journey of my own, that is not sufficient reason to meddle unnecessarily in the Journeys of others. The Attendants of the Velvet Room may not interfere too closely with the choices of the Guests. I may have left those constraints, but a Fool's Journey is sacrosanct." The cat looks at her with eyes that appear determined to pick apart everything she says, but he doesn't continue the conversation.

"By that logic, we should have made Makoto-kun the leader," Yukari-san points out. "I mean, I guess we could still do that..."
Because, you know, it's clearly impossible for a Wild Card to be crushed under responsibility. ...Actually, that would explain a lot.
"...Let's not." You don't actually know if Mitsuru-san bothered considering it or not. "Yuki doesn't need to make his schedule any busier, and you are doing a more than satisfactory job as it is."

For some reason, Yukari-san spends the next several moments wordlessly opening and closing her mouth. This does not hinder your ability to get out the door in a timely manner, but it's still something you take note of.

---

You aren't exactly within sight of Gekkoukan when the Dark Hour hits, but Tartarus is something that can be seen from across the bay, or basically anywhere in Iwatodai with a view of the sky in that direction. Possibly farther, depending on what the weather's like.
We are on the tail-end of a ten-year dry spell, minus the occasional storm. Since when have you ever had to worry about clouds?
It's sort of glowing. This isn't a new observation, but it's a bit more obvious tonight than it usually is. Maybe because of the size of the moon?

Yamagishi-san summons her Persona the instant that the Dark Hour hits and she no longer has to worry about some random person seeing her and freaking out. "There's two Shadows- big ones- coming out of Tartarus? Or... wait... they were below Tartarus."
...There were Arcana Shadows hiding out in Monad!? No wonder it's like that!
"...Does the school have a secret basement or something?" Junpei-san asks. Mitsuru-san shakes her head.

"Not since the explosion a decade ago." ...Okay, then. You'll have to sort through the implications of that later.

"...Wait, what!? I was joking!"

"Grandfather never did seem to understand the concept of workplace safety. Or ethics. Or human rights violations. That's why the robotics department was shut down." Since when was there a robotics department?
I'm more wondering how it lasted long enough to create Aigis-san.
"...Because it wasn't safe?" Yukari-san suggests, hesitantly, more apprehension in her voice than you could have ever expected.

"Because of human rights violations." You make a mental note never to accept an offer to explore the Kirijo Group's laboratories. Something tells you you wouldn't return. "Of course, then they moved on to human testing..."
...Mitsuru-san? Are you okay?
Before Mitsuru-san can continue giving you all a lesson on her family's company's sordid history, a pair of Shadows come into sight, moving toward you as if they'd known you'd come to them and have a significant grudge against one of your members. One of them is round and feminine in appearance, the other tall and thin, with long arms that nearly reach the ground.

You suppose that means this conversation's over.


Ken's HP: 150/150
Ken's SP: 225/225
Nihil Spear power: 42
Nihil Spear accuracy: 59


[ ] Attack the round one
-[ ] With the Nihil Spear.
-[ ] With a Card Scalpel.
-[ ] With Bless magic.
-[ ] With Lightning magic.

[ ] Attack the tall one
-[ ] With the Nihil Spear.
-[ ] With a Card Scalpel.
-[ ] With Bless magic.
-[ ] With Lightning magic.

[ ] Stick to supporting for now.

This is the first time you've seen Shadows this large.

Shadow Morgana is the closest you can really remember, and even he only came up to the Empress' chest. The Emperor- and you can see their masks now, they're closing the distance- is even larger than that, if apparently prone to stumbling over his own legs, which are far too thin to be practical.
They're Shadows. Symbolism trumps practicality every time.
Yamagishi-san, hidden away in the confines of Lucia, is probably safe. The bubble she rests in appears more solid than a Persona normally would be.

Everyone else... well, everyone else is preparing for battle as well as they can when they don't have any information on the Shadows yet except that they are very big, very strong, and clearly have it out for you. Or at least one of you, but you can't imagine they can really tell humans apart from the distance at which they noticed you.

You're not going to let them land the first strike.

You summon your Persona as quickly as you can, picking out a target with your eyes. You can't see any weak points directly, but you can recognize some pretty likely places.

The tall one's legs, for example. While you're aware that Shadows don't necessarily have to obey many laws of physics, gravity's one of those ones that they tend to at least pay lip service to, and the ones that outright defy it tend to be recognizable, as they go about simply floating everywhere. Not exactly difficult to notice.

If this Shadow is walking along the ground... then it must be tied to it. And that's a connection you can easily take advantage of. You consider Cruel Attack, but... if it's not injured, Kouha would probably work better.

...Actually, Kouha would probably work better either way, you're far more confident about your skill with magic than anything you can do that relies on physical strength, and... you're overthinking this again. You throw the spell.

You are then greeted with the amusing sight of an incredibly powerful Shadow tripping over its own arms. Amazing. You have no idea how that just happened, but something tells you you're never going to see that again without the assistance of more time travel.

And you really don't want to deal with more time travel. Once was enough. Not that you have to worry about that. After all, what are the odds that you'll end up breaking time or something?

A powerful blast of wind hits you from ahead. Right, the other Shadow. Morgana changes into his more cartoonish form and starts throwing pellets at it with his slingshot. You still have no idea why it was approved for him to get a slingshot, but you guess it's doing something.

"Okay, I've got it!" Fuuka-san informs all of you. "The Emperor is weak to all magic, but he can't be hurt by physical attacks. And the Empress is the opposite- don't use magic on her. There's some other things they can do, as well, but I'm not sure what they are."

You can already hear Akihiko-san working out in his mind whether or not he and Caesar can do two separate things. You assume that, whatever the answer is, he's going to punch a Shadow. He's predictable like that.

There's also probably going to be lightning involved whether it does anything or not, but you assume Makoto-san and Yukari-san know this already and are taking precautions.

Still, as long as they know what they're doing, it's not your problem.



[ ] Keep doing what you've been doing.

[ ] Stab a Shadow.

[ ] Maybe there should be someone on support? Everyone else seems pretty excited to attack things...