march to the beat of the war drums;

[crouching_sin]

Who: Naoya and Atsuro
Where: Near the Dungeon
When: The Dark Hour, the night of January 30th
What: With all the things that are going on, Naoya refuses to be left defenseless. Atsuro refuses to be left behind.
Rating: Possible language, violence.
Status: Closed

[There was no way he was going to go around defenseless. It was time to see if he could awaken this 'persona' ability. As soon as he saw the sky turn green, Naoya headed out, Atsuro in tow. A few of the smaller monsters were gathering around, but he paid them no mind. He followed the trail, and eventually arrived here.]

[So now Naoya is near the tall building, eying it suspiciously.]

This is the place, then.

Comments

[babel_hacker]

That's right.

[Thankfully, they're not attacked on the way here. A part of Atsuro wonders if it's because he's strong enough to be threatening.]

The Shadows are stronger the deeper we went in.

[crouching_sin]

I need to be in danger for this to work, don't I? We might as well go deeper, then.

[It's not like he'll be in danger from weak monsters. :| ]

[babel_hacker]

Really in danger, since I'm pretty strong.

[Not bragging. He's been here for half a year or so, and grown a lot.]

Unless those Shadows immune to physicals pop up.

[crouching_sin]

Oh, is that your specialty? Well then.

[He grins, and then starts heading inside.]

How deep do you estimate we'll need to go?

[babel_hacker]

Yeah. Dunno why I got a warrior and not a magic-user, but Amirani's good at what he do.

[He gotta be, if he got an epic or two dedicated to him. Atsuro walks with Naoya inside.]

Let's see...the first block's full of the weaker Shadows. The second block's probably my guess, since the Calm Pesces are more common there. Visceral Mayas are in the first block, but they're not as common.

[crouching_sin]

Amirani? Heh. Interesting.

[It suits him, but that's another matter entirely. He looks at the Shadows nearby and swiftly heads down the stairs. These will not do. It has to be a lot of them.]

[babel_hacker]

[While most of the early Shadows ignored them, a couple try to attack them. Atsuro summoned Amirani for them, who strike them down easily with his sword.

It wasn't long before they're in the second block. Atsuro frown as he glance around, warily. The Calm Pesces should be around.

...He can hear some Shadows coming.]

Heh, a welcoming party.

[crouching_sin]

[He watches Atsuro summon his Persona, keeping back. This is interesting... he'll have to study it further. Would they show up on video?]

[... But as they descend, Naoya prepares himself. This is going to be distressing, most likely, if he has to put himself in danger...]

[And as they stop, he looks around, listening to them skitter in the darkness.]

So it is.

[Two of the Shadows lunge towards them, and Naoya raises his arm, ending up on his butt due to the physical resistance.]

So they reflect physical attacks... unfortunate for you, isn't it?

[babel_hacker]

[Personas can appear on videos. However, none of the natives can see it. Even in broad daylight, if Atsuro choose to summon his Persona.]

Yeah.

[He's trying to keep calm, not to panic. He wince a bit when Amirani got hit.

Dammit, why didn't he ask Tatsuma or Madoka to come along--?]

[crouching_sin]

[He can hear that note of panic, but he doesn't comment on it, just getting to his feet and walking further towards the Shadows.]

You call yourselves Shadows. Jung would find you pathetic. Some repressed emotions you are.

[That seems to do it. Five of them rush him, and he laughs even as they shove him down, start trying to smother him with attacks. It hurts, it hurts badly, but he can't stop laughing.]

[He's on his knees, laughter dying down into chuckles as they keep hitting him, and then... ugh. It really is hurting. Perhaps... perhaps he went too far.]

[Of course not. But as another attack sends him slamming into the ground in pain, he hears a voice.]

[Thou, who art in need of power
Call upon me
I shall be thy tool of destruction]

[Quietly, Naoya speaks its name.]

Tao Tie.

[The sheep-like monster appears above him, casting Zan on the Shadows a few times until they back off. Naoya groans a bit, and blinks in confusion.]

Mm... it's not a wind spell here. I see...

[babel_hacker]

[There's that familiar feeling of helplessness. Yes, Naoya provoked them and this trip was planned, but Atsuro can't help it.

Then Naoya finally summon a Persona. A sheep.

Immediately, he cast Tarukaja on Naoya and Taotie. Atsuro know he can't damage these Shadows, so he's forced to be on support.]

Think about that later, Naoya.

[crouching_sin]

Of course.

[Right now, he'll just keep spamming Zan. It's not long before the Shadows disappear in puffs of black smoke, though he's still taken a few more hits. Once they're done, he turns back to Atsuro.]

Not the most elegant battle I've ever participated in, but it worked.

[babel_hacker]

[He glance over Naoya, checking his wounds and injuries. Nothing fatal, and it seems like Naoya can walk.]

I don't think we ever get any 'elegant' battles with them... [He thinks back to the Death Arcana Shadow.] ...or something close to it.

[crouching_sin]

Tch. Well, I got what I came for... unless you'd like to train here a bit more.

[babel_hacker]

[Shake his head.] No, not without healers, unless your Persona know a healing spell.

[crouching_sin]

No. Not yet at least.

... One of the Four Fiends, hm? Interesting...

[babel_hacker]

Your Persona, right? Tao Tie?

[crouching_sin]

That's right.

[He's not even going to mention the sheep thing right now... dammit. Really?]

[babel_hacker]

I don't recognise him...do you know him?

[Apparently, his Internet browsing ways never turns up Tao Tie. If it did, he forgot.]

[crouching_sin]

Yes. He's a Chinese demon. One of the Four Fiends, actually.

[babel_hacker]

Interesting. I wonder why you end up with him.

[crouching_sin]

[... Shrug.]

Who knows? There could be a number of reasons.

[babel_hacker]

There could be.

[Glance around.]

We better get out of here.