Day Two, Nighttime: Monday of Resolve III

Night. The foretold hour had come. This night, Yasuo had approached the Church that had formed during the events that followed the lockdown on Port Island to risk his life if necessary to establish an alliance with these people... Who they were and what they praised?, Yasuo possessed only a rough idea from Yukino's explanation. There was so much he did not know, so much that could go wrong and yet, here he was, in front of the building, observing his surroundings.

Everywhere he looked, there was people. Children, women, men... The Church had given asylum to so many they couldn't even house them within its walls... 'This is a disaster waiting to happen.', thought Yasuo to himself as people looked back to him. Even though he saw with good eyes their charity, the demons would soon come around here and without shelter, they would be able to fight them off only for so long.

"Wait for me here", said Reiki to the two students that accompanied here... If he was to be attacked on sight, he wanted his students to at least have a chance to make it back to the university. "I'll make you a sign when it's ok to approach."

With a nod, the two young men obeyed their teacher, and so, Yasuo made his way through the crowd at the entrance until he reached the guards at the door.

Maintaining a respectful distance in order to prevent being seen as a possible threat, Yasuo located himself in front of the doors, at which sides there were two guards, a man and a young woman.

"I apologise for distracting you in your guard, but I come to negotiate with your leaders. My name is Yasuo Reiki, computer science teacher and I speak in behalf of the Tiekuru University, it's staff and the student body. May I and my escort pass?"

The two robed members at the door simply looked towards the man before giving a bow. "You do not need to ask of entry." One of the robed members would speak with a strange tone. "Please, come in. We are always expecting guests." The second robed member would speak with the same mysterious tone. "The truth awaits all those who wish to venture within." Both spoke in unison at this time, and would push the doors open. Within the church were various people and supplies. A young silver haired woman would be directing people and offering blessings for those who wished for it. Turning towards the opening doors, the young woman would make her way to them to meet whoever attempting to enter the church at the time. Just like the others, she wore a robe, yet had a blank stare to her dull eyes. There seemed to be a feint twinkle of life within them.

"Hello." She spoke with a soft tone as she eyed the individual. "Are you looking to join our church? My name is Beth, I am one of the priestesses here. We are always looking for new children to take under our wing. As you see, we have accepted this ordeal from our God. He is punishing the sinners, but he keeps a watchful eye on those of this church. Those that follow his path. Are you interested in becoming a member of our family?" She spoke highly of the church, and its God. In a world where demons were coming into their plain of existence, it was not unbelievable to believe God also existed, correct? Infact, it was further proof that the omnipresent being did, infact, exist. "Our loving Father has given us a gift to protect ourselves from these foul beasts. This lockdown is simply a test of will, and we will surely help you find your own power if you agree to his blessing."

'The truth awaits inside, huh?...' Thought Yasuo as the doors opened before him, revealing the crowded interior of the building. He didn't know if he would find that here, but teacher certainly hoped to make some kind of progress.

"Good night, young lady", said the old man as a priestess approached him to attempt to make him join their church while she spoke of fire and brimstone and punishments when YHWH had unyielding love for every of his sons. But he already expected this. Yukino had already told him of how these people believed this was all an ordeal of God... What he didn't expect was to be spoken about power... Did this woman know he had the Potential?, And how did she?... Certainly there was something out of the norm here and Yasuo would make sure to find out what it was, the source of her mysterious power, whichever the price was. "Certainly the Father will watch upon all of us.", he replied, "But we must protect ourselves and our people as well. Such a thing is what I've come here to do. You see, Beth, I am but a humble teacher in the Tiekuru university, and I've been so for ten long years... The students, they are under my responsibility and it is my duty and pleasure to protect them, with my life if I must. As we are children of the Father, they are my children as well. The Father would never abandon us and I shall follow his example..."

"But I'm powerless Beth. As things are now, I do not stand a single chance to protect them against the horrors that await us... Either by the hand of demons or our own fellow man, we'll die. And I cannot allow that. Not while my heart still beats. That is the reason I come here with nothing but the most honest words and pure intentions. I need help. We all need help... Being so far the last member of the staff left alive, I want to speak with your leader to see if we can come to an agreement that benefits us all, so we may walk together the path of righteousness together... But I also want to hear more about this power, this gift you speak of."

Beth listened to the man, periodically giving a cough every now and so. She was not aware the school was standing after all of this time had passed. The pale faced young woman would raise a hand and place it upon the man's shoulder. "For you to claim the power to protect everyone, and to truly be cleansed before our God, you must first present a sacrifice. The old world is dying, and as such, all of the members of our church cast their previous lives behind. By presenting this sacrifice for our lord, he grants us the renewal we all crave deep down within the bowels of our hearts. Once this sacrifice is given to our Lord, then our Shining Leader will welcome you."

The faded eye'd woman would bow her head to the man before raising it back up to look at him. "This ordeal will have many casualties. Those who lose their lives are those who are not willing to step within the God's guiding light. In the old world, we all told ourselves that we were content with how it had turned out. We told ourselves this over and over, attempting to forget it was simply a lie. What does the old world hold for us? Death. War. Plague. Our Lord will rebuild this world and remove such things. It will truly become the promised land." The pale faced Beth spoke with enthusiasm when speaking of her guiding light.

... A sacrifice... What kind of sacrifice was this girl talking about?... Yasuo looked down upon the girl as her hand rested on his shoulder, the expression of the middle-aged man frozen and unreadable thanks to his visor. A new world?, Promised land?... This girl was being delusional. If the Lord had intended such a world, he would have created such a world right away. In the new world there would be as much darkness as in the old, for it was through hardship how people matured and grew... A world without darkness would be a eternally stagnant world, a blissfully unaware world where no one would ever scratch even the surface of their potential... No, Yasuo didn't think such a world would ever come to be. If this was truly the Almighty's design, it would certainly change... But the ways of God were mysterious and Yasuo but a mortal. Assuming His intentions was arrogant... All he could do was what he had always done. Forge his way through life.

"Let us proceed inside, where you'll be able to demonstrate me what this sacrifice you speak of consists in. You don't look so good to stand in the middle of a cold winter night like this", he kindly said as he himself put his enormous hand on her shoulder and smiled, gently encouraging her to proceed inside the 'temple' as he did so.

Without being made the signal to proceed, Yasuo's escort would remain in stand by among the church followers.

The girl would stare at the man with her faded silver hues. His response to her sayings was unlike those who were newcomers to the church. Did he not believe in the power of their lord and savior? Removing her phone from her robe, she'd press a button. Suddenly a burst of power would appear beside her, and the angel like Persona by the name of Sarasvati would appear. "I can explain this here. My health is of no concern, as all will be better the sooner judgement day arrives." The Hindu goddess would begin to play its instrument slowly in the background as Beth continued to speak. "If you haven't noticed, many humans are beginning to unlock the potential to summon these powerful figures by their side. This was a gift from our Lord in order for the capables of humanity to strive and survive. Starting tomorrow, those of this world will be forced to overcome ordeals that could change this planet as we know it. This world we live in is slowly fusing with the world of the demons, and Tokonosu is ground zero. By the end of the week, both worlds will be completely one, and the rebirth can truly begin. Those of this church have all offered sacrifices to our lord, and in return he gives us his blessing to live through the annihilation of all infidels and heretics. If you, too, wish to be saved; then I might recommend something, sir." Beth stepped beside Sarasvati, and placed a hand upon the Goddess. "Bring us the corpse of a leader, and with that blood we'll give you the protection to survive judgement day. If you are the leader of the school, bring us the dead corpse of a leader of another faction. With this sacrifice, we offer you the protection you will need, and you will become a much welcomed child in this church. Do not fear making such a decision. It is not a sin to cut the flesh of those in this coming age." The pale woman turned back towards Yasuo with a smile. "Surely you wish to survive this ordeal, don't you my fellow child?"

Yasuo gave two steps back in awe when the graceful goddess appeared before him, so, this was the power that Yukino had talked them about... The power that he himself had within him asleep... Just what kind of wonder was this Persona?, he thought as he brought a closed fist next to his chest, trying to delve inside him. If Yukino had awaken a Goddess of Justice and Beth an Hindu Goddess... What would awaken from within his soul?

In silence, he listened to Beth as he tried to hold back the fear and the awe... Her words didn't shake him though, for he had already imagined on what would the sacrifice consist in. Still, he was worried to see his worst fears confirmed.

A human sacrifice... The life of a man. The spilling of his fellow man's blood and the destruction of everything that person was alongside it. That was what was being requested to him... Yasuo couldn't help but to snap and loose his composure... There was no reason to keep it anymore, for this was the moment to take off the masks and show his true colors and resolve. It was the moment of truth. "Heh...", he chuckled a bit, though it was a soulless laugh originated from the sheer appall. With a slow movement, he reached for his ears, then loud clack was heard and Yasuo took off his mechanical visor, looking at Beth with blind golden eyes... They said eyes were the windows of one's soul... Well, Yasuo wanted Beth to gaze into his and see his and the epiphany about to come, even if he wouldn't be see her. He didn't care, he was not afraid. Not anymore.

"So... It comes to the price of blood, doesn't it?", his eyes wandered in a futile attempt to locate the woman as Yasuo grasped his head, bent by the inner turmoil raging inside him. "... I shouldn't be this affected. I knew from the very start that sooner or later I'd have to stain my hands with the blood of my fellow man... But I truly hoped that it wouldn't have to be that way, that I could be able to achieve my objectives through peace. I wanted it so hard that I blinded myself to the truth... And that is that the time of old men like me and compassion is gone. If I refuse to be the butcher, I and many others will be the butchered."

Yasuo stood then up, taller than ever, the resolution of his heart imprinted in his face. "So be it. You'll have your offering and you'll have it hundredfold. For even if my very soul is to be damned for all eternity, I shall cut down every single man and woman on the way of the survival of my children... Here I swear in my own name, Yasuo Reiki, that the new world will be theirs to rebuild. Priestess, I do want to survive."

"... But I want you to know something, Beth... And that is that a blood sacrifice has already been made tonight. Check the Death Mail for this night. One of the two mentioned victims is the only person I can truly call a friend... And by now, he is surely already dead or dying in the cold pavement as we speak...", at this point, Yasuo remained silent a few seconds as his eyes deviated down in guilt and his grip on his artificial eyes greatly tightened. "By omission, I spilled his blood. A blood much more valuable to me than the one of any leader of whatever faction. They are strangers. They don't truly matter to me. He did... And not being there for him when he needed me the most is one of the greatest sacrifices I could..."

"Don't be mistaken. You'll have your corpse... But doesn't his blood have any value to God?", he continued after yet again another period of silence, raising his eyes drifting eyes towards the woman.

Beth shook her head. "Such a foul thing you've done, but it still does not count as a proper sacrifice for this church. If you truly wish to save the children you care so much about, then I implore you, sacrifice them to our lord. Their souls will forever be cherished as the foundation of the new world." Beth raised a hand and pointed it towards one of Yasuo's escorts. "You seem to have met a strong resolve within your soul, I wish for you to show me this resolve. Please, offer this one's soul to our lord and I'll unlock your inner strength here and now." Various robed individuals lining the walls of the church began to bow before Yasuo, chanting various words and phrases that seemed to be in old latin. "Your potential is craving to be released, yet something is holding it back. Mortality. The weak heart of a broken man is keeping you from taking that final step towards the divine. I, too, was once the same way. I laid broken in bed rest for the majority of my life until I met a man. Our leader took my hand and showed me the ways of the church. When I had performed my first offering and sacrifice in our lord's name, I felt blessed. A new energy washed before me, and I spoke with god himself. I heard his voice bless my ears, and from that moment on I became a loyal follower of our church." Beth extended her hands as her faded eyes looked towards the ceiling. A smile came across her face, and Sarasvati played a soothing melody that paralleled her current mood. "Join us, brother. Welcome home."