Genji's Familiar Home

The Shadow endured the second attack from the one named Ejji, and remained kneeling with the globe on its shoulders. With all these speeches and proclamations, it caused the Shadow almost yell in anger. "Shut up! Enough talking, I don't want to here it! When are you going to notice you already died ten minutes ago?! You're a burden I want to disappear!" The Shadow would press the Earth further above him, causing it to glow and bathe him in a healing light. Once this occurred, he'd lower the world back down upon its shoulders and reclaim its initial position. With this done, its attention would turn towards the one with snow white hair who had a stronger connection to Genji than he had known. With the Shadow's new found vigor, it'd continue to hold the world's burden on its shoulders without worry. Its next attack would be just as crucial as the first.

Shadow Genji Stats:

Ejji's eyes narrowed in frustration. This Shadow was a tough opponent, if anything else, and they had to deal with it fast - unless it decided to show any more tricks that could be up it's sleave. It was time to hit it and hit it hard.

Ejji would send Naito a qiick glance and a nod, hoping to convey the message that it was time to get serious. He would be risking a lot, but it was worth it in the end. Ejji's Okatana disappeared from his left hand as he turned to adress the Shadow fully.

"I have no more patience left for you. If you do not wish to listen - then know pain." Ejji summoned the tarot card in front of him, shattering it a quick grabbing motion. His Persona appeared behind him, but something was different than before - it was not as quick to attack and vanish.
Ejji raised his hands, as the spirit above him slammed his spear into the ground before the two, mimicking the action Ejji was doing. It was Punishment Time.

"Be prepared." Ejji began grimly. "This is the end for you - Amatsu-Yarikami, Tenbatsu." he finished, calling for his most powerful technique. He knew the consequences, and hoped Naito would help with destroying this monster.
Ejji watched as a pillar of Fire burns down from the roof, setting fire to a large area, in the center of which was the Giant Shadow. Then Amatsu-Yarikami, vanished along with it's weapon, and Ejji had to exhale, covering up a sudden wave of fatigue that hit him. He would have to deal with this thing with his trusty sword, it seemed.


Ejji's Stats and Actions:

Spoiler:

Naito watched Ejji's attack with a surprised expression across his face. The Shadow was surely persistent, but such a power move like that was surely a morale breaker for it. "Ha! Not bad, Ejji!" The silver haired perfectionist would give a thumbs up to his ally before turning back towards the Shadow. If everything was going to come down to this, then it was about time he put some real effort into it. "Jinmu-tennō, we can't lose to him! Let's give this thing hell, alright?" Naito spoke to himself as his tarot card appeared before him. Opening his eyes, he'd draw his blade and slice through it with precision. "Persona!" And right on cue, the first Emperor would erupt from Naito's soul. Shooting forward towards the Shadow, it'd make two physical strikes upon it. One with an upward motion with its blade into its arm, and the second being a kick off the Shadow and back towards Naito to disappear back within his subconscious. It was risky using his own health to usher such an attack, but it was necessary aswell. The enemy was surely a pain, but Naito knew the end of this battle was right around the corner. If there was one thing he knew, it was that he'd need to get stronger if he wanted to protect his possessions. This battle played living tribute to how much his strength was lacking. He couldn't continue going on like this on just a whim. He needed to be dedicated like no other. And not only for himself, but for those others who were dragged into the madness of this world called Limbo.

This was completely risky, but with the small sign that the Shadow was focused onto Ejji at that moment, it did give some leeway for Naito to suspect he wasn't the target of the next attack.

Naito Stats:

After the devastating attacks from both Ejji and Naito, the Shadow found itself kneeling over, barely being able to hold the world on its shoulders anymore. Its fatigue was obvious at this moment, as it slowly swayed back and forth. Finding some figure, it'd lift itself and head towards the one named Ejji. Slamming the globe down twice upon him, the Shadow performed another Kill Rush like its first attack on the one named Naito. Once performing its attack, the Shadow would drop the globe to the floor and use it as a pillar of support. "I can't believe I was pushed this far..! Why don't you understand I'm doing this for all of you?!" He shot a glare towards his counterpart who seemed to finally rely on others without fearing the risk of losing them. Slowly the Shadow's resolve was falling when compared to its previous self.

Shadow Genji:

Ejji took the attack directed at him, knowing that he could endure and come out a stronger person in the end of this whole ordeal. Even with his Persona now too weakened to be used, he did not despair, for he was not without strength. When it came down to it - Ejji Reiguu and Amatsu-Yarikami were one and the same, and he could still feel this inhuman strength inside his soul.
The Shadow's attack left Ejji wounded, but did nothing to diminish his spirit. Not yet - he still had to finish this damn fight, if it was the last thing he did. Both he and Naito gave it their best to bring this thing down, and Ejji came to admire his fellow classmate a bit more during this fight.

There was one thing bothering him - it was Genji. It seemed he still did not understand what was going on. The snow-haired heir decided to clarify that now.

"Genji. Your Shadow self is hurting just as he is hurting us. But not because he really wans to do this. You are the one hurting him, for he is the feelings inside you. You must stop denying him. You are the one who must accept him, accept yourself, your faults... if you want to truly stop this."

Ejji then summoned his blade - Ame-no-Tsuru - to his hand once more. Shadow Genji seemed weak, and just a bit more was needed to finish him off. Ejji would try to do just that.

"As for you, killing us for our own good is foolish..." Ejji rushed forward, halting only when he reached the Giant. His right hand gripped the hilt of his Okatana and in a single quick movement he unsheathed the blade with a flash of steel, attempting to destroy the enemy before him. He quickly leapt back afterwards, spinning the sword in his hand and sheathing it as fast as it was unsheated moments ago.

"So stay down." Ejji hoped it was enough.


Ejji's Stats and Actions:

Spoiler:

"Oh, what a show off." Naito mumbled to himself, as he kept his scabbard in hand. When the hell did Ejji pick up his style of swordplay anyway? First Kendo and now this? Naito shook his head and pressed the palm of his left hand into his forehead. "Whaaaaatever." The silver haired student spoke with his usual bluntness he was getting known for. If Ejji failed to finish the Shadow off, Naito would have ended it with his own blade. However, if the attack was an success and the Shadow did fall, his blade would vanish from his hand. There was no need for it anymore. Since he didn't much of a connection with Genji, he didn't have the right to stand there and encourage him to take on his shadow. Stepping to the side of the room, he'd lean against the wall and cross his arms. Closing his eyes and using his bangs to partially cover his face, the one named Naito would take a deep breath. "Step aside, Ejji. Genji has to face his problems alone now. Just like you had too. We can't always hold his hand, but we're here to support him." The silver haired student would give a nod while partially opening his eyes. "At the moment, I can't help but be more interested on who's the cause behind this. Why would someone willingly use this place to dispose of people? Is Ueitawa really composed of such people?" Naito raised his hand and pinched his chin between his index finger and thumb in thought. He was sure Genji could handle the process of getting his Persona without constant encouraging words over his shoulder. He was strong, even if he hadn't realized his true potential as of yet.

With the final attack, the Shadow's form would burst away in a mass of darkness. A lone figure would be seen standing in the darkness, soon losing its footing to fall face first to the ground. This figure was none other than the Shadow Genji returning back to its normal form. Pushing itself to its knees, it's stay down with a neutral look. His attention was onto himself, but he had no words to say this time around. How could he have lost?

With the acceptance of your Shadow, Genji has unlocked his power from within...

Genji's shadow has become Belial... Let his power become your own, as you face the hardships of life...

With it all said and done, the newly found Persona would disappear in a bright blue light, bathing Genji in its essence. At this point in time, a blue door would form in the corner of the room. Instead of beckoning the ones to come in, instead the door would open and William would be seen walking out of the blue light. "Congratulations, Genji Kano. You've unlocked your potential. However, this is not a social call." He was the one Velvet Room Attendant who hadn't introduced himself, or shown his face in the room at all. With a hand in his pocket, he'd walk up to Ejji and hand him the two items for the mission complete. "These are the items, as promised. Share them between you two." Turning away, he'd head back towards the door with his hands in his pocket. "I'll leave the job of explaining the Velvet Room to Genji with you two. I can't be bothered with such a task. Please, don't spare any details on the information regarding Limbo, and our sole duty to guide." Once all was spoken, William wouldn't stick around to wait for any responses. Instead, he walked within the light of the doorway and would disappear. The door itself would also vanish. Unlike the other two Attendants, he didn't seem so thrilled with interacting with the guest. He hadn't even given his name in this first in-person meeting.

Ejji accepted the items offered, glad that there was some reward to it. He would have saved Genji's life even without these things, but he did not doubt they would come in handy later. He watched the yet unnamed attendant vanish back inside the Velvet Room, and the door disappear with only a small sigh. There were so many things they didn't know yet. Sure - the attendants helped and all, but this little run-in reminded Ejji to be ever-watchful. Could they really trust these mysterious people? Facts were - they probably weren't even humans at all, so their motives were unknown. They did say the objective was to uncover the mystery, but Ejji was not sure yet this wasn't just an elaborate test... and if they weren't lab rats in the maze.

Ejji then turned towards his fellow humans and cast a look at Naito. "It was a good battle. You're a good partner." Ejji smirked. He would give praise where it was due. Next he turned towards Genji, who had asked all these questions. He guessed Naito wouldn't like to explain these things again, so he decided to do it now. He liked explaining, after all.
Where to begin?

"Yes, as for your first question - you have just obtained your Persona. It is a power inside you, basically a part of yourself, that represents your ability to cope with this and the real world and is your mental facade. It is a phatom, capable of doing miraculous feats of strength and... let's call it 'magic' for lack of better word. Like my Persona weilding fire." Ejji made a small pause, to make sure Genji understood, and had the time to think this over. "As for this place - it is called Limbo. It is a spiritual, or a parallel world completely different from ours. We have actually yet to truly explore it."

Ejji looked back at the red door not too far away. He pointed at it, simultaneously unsummoning his sword. "That is one of the doorways scattered all over our world and Limbo. They grant access between them, and are large in number. The problem though, is that someone has thrown you in here against your will. A Persona user like us, we suspect. We must traverse the trecherous world of Limbo in order to find out the truth, and to prevent more deaths. One of the attendants said that the mysterious disappearances in Ueitawa were connected to this." Ejji made an another pause, going on to the last topic.

"The man you saw was not human, probably. He is one of the attendants of the Velvet Room, a place between worlds it seems. The master of the room a man named Igor, was the one who set us with this task. They explained everything to Naito... and he explained it to me... when I was in the same ordeal, so yes. We all faced our Shadows." Ejji sighed, running a hand through his slicked-back, white hair.

He smiled then, a little bit, extending his hand to Genji. "I am glad I helped you, friend. And you may join us in this venture, if you want to..." his smile vanished, replaced by a serious expression. "... however as you can see, it's dangerous. Be warned - you don't have to do anything. No guilt or pressure."

Ejji sideglanced at Naito, wondering if he would say something as well, or comment on the items handed to him.

"..Us?" Naito shot a glare towards Ejji as he pressed himself from off of the wall and kept his arms folded across his chest. "I haven't said anything about us being teammates here. Don't automatically group us together, that's far too hasty." His tone was blunt like usual, but surprisingly it wasn't as condescending as he usual was. For once, he wasn't speaking as though he was above the others. "This place is dangerous. From that battle alone, there was a good chance we could have died. I can't, in my right mind, let you both traverse this place so freely. There needs to be rules in place so you don't end up dead in a ditch with no one here to bail you out." Naito closed his eyes as he thought to himself. "Though, with three Persona users, the chance of failure drops down from 99% to a mild 75%. Still not impressive, but better than nothing." The silver haired student raised his hand and pinched his chin between his index finger and thumb. "And.. it'd be rather easier to find who's doing this nonsense by tossing people in here. I'll have to give this some thinking time." Turning on his back heel, Naito would head straight for the red door still in thought. He didn't turn once to look at the two, as he opened the door and left the room altogether. Such an abrupt exit.

[Exit]