PERSONA 3 DEVIL'S HERALD

...06/08/2009 Thursday; Dark Hour...

...FULL MOON OPERATION...

The dark, damp tunnels echoed with an uneasy stillness as two figures waited in the shadows.

Takaya and Jin, concealed in the darkness, patiently awaited the arrival of S.E.E.S.

The hollow sound of Takaya's revolver drum echoed softly as he opened and closed it repeatedly, his movements controlled and meticulous.

Beside him, Jin was finishing the preparation of his special grenades, his expression cold and calculated.

Each one was a deadly weapon, meticulously crafted with Shadow fragments or designed to release electric discharges and liquid nitrogen.

As he tightened one of the grenades too much, a small leak emerged, but Jin quickly loosened the screw and corrected the issue, his eyes fixed on the task before him.

Snapping his briefcase shut with a final click, Jin cast a skeptical glance at Takaya. "Are you sure they'll come here? I trust your intuition, but this place is pretty isolated."

Without looking away from the darkness ahead, Takaya rested a hand on the revolver now secured at his belt. "I'm absolutely certain. Chidori managed to guide Justice and the Chariot here. These children are wasting a potential that only they possess. Fools... The power to become a god, and they simply cannot see it."

Jin adjusted his glasses, the faint light reflecting off their lenses. "And they're trying to destroy the Dark Hour. The most beautiful thing in existence."

Takaya raised a hand, signaling Jin to be quiet. "Wait... They should be arriving soon."

On the other side of the tunnel, the S.E.E.S. group cautiously moved through the debris.

Collapsed walls and abandoned tools painted a grim picture of neglect and desolation.

Mitsuru led the group through the wreckage, her gaze resolute and focused.

They reached an abandoned subway terminal, shadows flickering across the damp, cold walls.

Junpei swallowed hard as a chill ran down his spine. "Man... Just looking at this place gives me the creeps."

Yukari, sensing an unsettling presence, clutched Minato's arm tightly. "I don't know why, but it feels like we're being watched."

Akihiko scanned the area, his eyes landing on a partially buried sliding door under the rubble.

Determined, he approached and attempted to lift the door, but its weight was overwhelming.

"Hiro, give me a hand here," he called, his voice firm yet laced with urgency.

Hiro quickly positioned himself beside Akihiko, gripping the bottom edge of the door.

Feeling the massive weight of the metal, he realized they would need all their combined strength.

"Alright. On the count of three, we lift," Hiro instructed, bracing himself.

Akihiko took a deep breath, his muscles already taut with anticipation. "One, two, GO!"

The two began lifting the door with all their might.

Their effort was evident on their faces—veins bulged on Hiro's forehead while Akihiko's face turned red from exertion.

The weight was crushing, around 150 kilograms of solid metal resisting their combined strength.

Yukari, watching their struggle, clapped her hands encouragingly. "Come on, put more strength into it!"

Hiro, his legs straining and his arms aching, gritted his teeth and retorted, "What do you think we're doing? How about you help out?"

Mitsuru, noticing their difficulty, turned to Aigis with a look of resolve. "Aigis, assist them."

Aigis responded with her usual calm demeanor. "Understood."

She approached Hiro and Akihiko and, with no apparent effort, lifted the door entirely, leaving the two stunned.

Akihiko, catching his breath, couldn't help but remark, "Sometimes I forget you're an android, Aigis."

With the passage cleared, the group moved through the door, but before they could get far, a voice echoed through the tunnels, reverberating against the stone walls.

"You're proving to be far more troublesome than we anticipated, S.E.E.S." The voice was cold and disdainful.

The group immediately turned, their eyes sharp and alert. Two figures emerged from the shadows.

One, shirtless, raised his arms in a theatrical gesture, staring at them with a defiant gaze.

The other, wearing a green coat, carried a silver briefcase in one hand and a grenade in the other.

Mitsuru immediately placed her hand on her rapier, her eyes narrowing in alertness.

"Who are you?" Her voice carried the weight of suspicion after being caught off guard.

Fuuka, frightened, moved closer to Hiro, her trembling voice laced with confusion. "How did they get so close without me noticing? Lucia didn't pick them up?"

The shirtless man, his cold gaze unwavering, replied with disdain. "Who are we? We're just like you... Persona users."

Junpei's eyes widened in disbelief. "What? You guys have Personas?"

Takaya, his eyes glinting with a chilling light, let out a sardonic smile. "Isn't it obvious? Haven't you noticed we're walking freely in the Dark Hour? What else could we be?"

Hiro, sensing the rising tension, placed his hand on the scimitar at his waist, his gaze fixed on the two men.

"I don't know… Jesus Christ, maybe?" His voice carried a mix of sarcasm and threat.

Jin, the man with glasses, scoffed disdainfully. "Hmph… Don't make us laugh. You're squandering an unimaginable gift."

Minato, noticing the growing hostility, stepped forward, placing a protective hand in front of Yukari.

"A gift? Are you talking about our Personas?" he asked, his voice low and cautious.

Takaya raised an eyebrow, as if mildly surprised by the question, but his gaze remained icy. "Exactly. You possess the innate ability to summon Personas. Without ever stepping foot in a lab."

Mitsuru, her irritation evident, responded firmly. "None of us wanted Personas. Our goal is to destroy the Dark Hour. It's killing people, spreading Apathy Syndrome more and more."

Takaya, indifferent to Mitsuru's words, shrugged as if they held no importance. "And what of it? Those who lack the gift deserve to suffer the consequences of their weakness."

Takaya's cold gaze lingered on the group before settling on Hiro with particular interest.

He pointed directly at Hiro, his extended finger emphasizing a harsh, inescapable truth.

"You… You especially. Would you waste a gift like this?" Takaya's voice was low but carried a sinister weight. "You could be a god, wielding power that few ever dream of. You could rule the world."

Hiro felt a shiver run down his spine at those words.

It was as if Takaya's voice touched something deep within him—something he feared to acknowledge.

Looking down, his thoughts churned. "Every time I think about having a Persona… I never wanted it. But every time I use it… I feel alive, happy..." he confessed, his voice barely above a whisper.

Takaya's macabre smile widened, like a predator sensing its prey's vulnerability.

"Now you understand…" His voice was soft yet chilling. "All of you are gods. And you know that if you destroy the Dark Hour, your Personas will disappear too."

Junpei, suddenly uncertain, glanced at the Evoker holstered at his side. He muttered to himself, as if trying to convince himself of something. "I only found a purpose when I joined S.E.E.S… I like my Persona."

Mitsuru turned her gaze aside, Takaya's words resonating in her mind.

She recalled her father's face, the sadness he felt when he saw her awaken her Persona, as if it marked the beginning of a burden he never wanted for her.

The memory brought back that silent pain, but she clenched her hand tightly, glaring at Takaya with renewed determination.

Fuuka, noticing Hiro wavering, grasped his hand, grounding him with the reminder of their promise.

A vivid memory surfaced in Hiro's mind.

Fuuka's voice in that memory was firm yet gentle: "It's not a deal. It's a promise."

Hiro closed his eyes, calming his turbulent thoughts.

When he opened them again, his gaze met Fuuka's, then turned to Akihiko, recalling their agreement.

Finally, his eyes locked with Minato's, remembering their shared resolve to fulfill their destiny, no matter the cost.

He narrowed his eyes, resolute. "I don't know who you two are. But that doesn't mean killing others will make me feel better." Hiro's voice was firm, carrying newfound determination.

The group looked at Hiro, surprised by the change in his stance.

Mitsuru and Fuuka, in particular, smiled, proud to see Hiro beginning to find his own path.

Hiro, now resolute, stared Takaya down. "I might become a god, but that's not what I want. What I want… is to protect everyone!"

Mitsuru gazed at Hiro, her eyes softening as she whispered to herself. "Hiro..."

Takaya, however, remained unimpressed. His cold eyes narrowed with irritation. "Very well… If that's your answer, then protect this."

With a swift motion, Takaya drew his revolver, the weapon gleaming faintly in the dim tunnel light as he aimed directly at Mitsuru.

He cocked the hammer, the ominous click of the spinning cylinder echoing like a sinister warning.

Panic gripped the group.

Everyone reacted at once, adrenaline surging through their veins.

Junpei's eyes widened, his voice shaking with fear. "Senpai!"

Minato, acting on instinct, rushed toward Mitsuru. "Get down!" he shouted, trying to reach her.

But Hiro was faster. In one swift motion, he threw himself in front of Mitsuru, shielding her from the line of fire. "No, Mitsuru!"

Takaya smirked cruelly, shifting his aim toward the sliding door.

With precise aim, he pulled the trigger.

The gunshot reverberated through the tunnels, a metallic echo that filled the air.

The bullet struck an essential cable, severing it instantly.

The deafening screech of grinding metal followed as the door slammed shut violently, trapping S.E.E.S. inside the tunnel along with the Shadow Arcana.

Hiro, who had thrown himself over Mitsuru to protect her, landed on the cold, dirty floor of the tunnel alongside her.

He immediately scrambled to his feet, concern etched across his face.

"Mitsuru, are you hurt?" he asked, his voice thick with worry as he extended a hand to her.

Mitsuru, still on the ground, looked up into Hiro's eyes, a faint blush on her cheeks but clear relief in her expression.

"No… I'm fine. Thank you, Hiro," she replied, taking his hand to stand.

On the other side of the now-sealed door, Takaya's voice rang out loud and clear. "I am Takaya Sakaki. Remember that name, S.E.E.S."

Jin added with a dark chuckle, "We are Strega. Good luck with Justice and the Chariot."

The group stood frozen, staring at the closed door.

The tension was palpable until Junpei, furious, rushed to the door and began pounding on it with all his might, trying in vain to open it.

"Bastard! He locked us in here with the Shadow Arcana!" Junpei shouted, his frustration boiling over.

Yukari, still catching her breath, analyzed the situation more calmly. "It looks like he broke the door's cable... There's no way to open it the same way," she observed, trying to stay composed.