PERSONA 3 DEVIL'S HERALD

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

...FULL MOON OPERATION...

At that moment, a deafening metallic sound echoed through the tunnel, like something colossal was approaching.

The group formed a circle around Fuuka, protecting her, each member on high alert, trying to identify the source of the noise reverberating through the tunnel.

Yukari, bow drawn, looked around, her fear growing with every second. "Wh-where is it coming from?" she asked, her voice trembling.

Akihiko narrowed his eyes, focused. "Sounds like something heavy..." he murmured, trying to pinpoint the sound.

Hiro, gripping his scimitar tightly, pointed deeper into the tunnel where the darkness seemed to grow thicker. "It's coming from there, further down the tunnel," he said, trying to keep his voice steady despite the sweat trickling down his forehead.

All eyes turned to the direction Hiro indicated.

The darkness seemed to swallow any remaining light, and the metallic sound grew louder and more intense with each passing second.

Junpei swallowed hard, fear rising within him. "I don't like this sound... It's like a..." he started, but his voice faltered.

Yukari, still holding her bow taut, turned to him, her anxiety evident. "A what?" she asked, desperate for an answer.

Hiro, trying to suppress his own fear, responded firmly, "A war chariot. If it is one, we're screwed." He turned to Mitsuru. "Mitsuru, what do we do?"

Mitsuru stepped forward, a decision clear in her mind.

"We finish what we came here to do. Are you all ready? This will be another Shadow Arcana!" she declared, her determined voice inspiring confidence in the group.

Everyone responded in unison, their fears momentarily forgotten in the face of the need to survive. "Yes!"

Mitsuru quickly assessed the situation before turning to Minato. "Good. Arisato, who do you want on the front line? Everyone will fight together, but those with you will strike first."

Minato thought for a moment, his eyes scanning the group before landing on Mitsuru. "It'll be... you, Hiro, and Akihiko."

Akihiko grinned, rolling his shoulders in anticipation. "Alright, time to fight," he said, clearly eager for the battle.

Hiro twirled his scimitar, the blade cutting through the air with precision. "Okay, let's do this."

Mitsuru nodded, satisfied with the choice. "Brilliant. Yamagishi, stay behind Aigis to avoid getting hit. Takeba, you and Iori focus on support. Especially you, Takeba, use Io's healing spells."

With the orders given, Mitsuru drew her rapier and turned to face the tunnel, the tension mounting with each passing second. "Let's go!"

Hiro pulled a glow stick from his coat.

He twisted it, activating it, and the light shone brightly, illuminating the path ahead.

"Minato, take this!" Hiro said, handing the glow stick to Minato.

Junpei, surprised, raised an eyebrow as he saw the item in Minato's hand. "Wait... you had one of those with you?"

Hiro shrugged, keeping his eyes fixed on the tunnel ahead. "Well, since regular flashlights don't work, we have to improvise."

With the light guiding them, the group began advancing through the tunnel.

The metallic sound grew even louder, the walls around them showing signs of destruction as if something colossal had recently passed through.

Old crates and excavation tools were scattered across the floor, heightening the sense of unease.

Fuuka looked around, surprise evident on her face. "I didn't know there was something like this beneath the city."

Yukari agreed, her voice laced with discomfort. "Yeah... and it's giving me the creeps. Feels like something's going to jump out at us any second."

Suddenly, a metallic, deafening roar echoed through the tunnel, like an enraged beast approaching.

The sound reverberated through the corridors, and everyone shuddered, caught off guard.

Akihiko immediately got into a defensive stance, trying to control his rapid breathing. "Damn... that was loud..."

Mitsuru quickly regained her composure, her gaze narrowing. "It seems the Shadow is waiting for us."

Hiro, squinting in concentration, muttered firmly, "And we're ready. Let's go; it's close."

The S.E.E.S. continued walking until they reached a broader section of the tunnel.

Excavation tools lay scattered on the ground, suggesting it was some sort of abandoned work station.

Aigis scanned the area, her sensors detecting a powerful presence. "It is here. My systems are picking up its energy."

Minato, holding the glow stick tightly, narrowed his eyes, trying to spot the Shadow. "It's clearer here than it was up there..."

Minato, maintaining his calm amidst the tension, threw the glow stick into the center of the open area.

The stick hit the ground with a dull thud, bouncing a few times before coming to a stop, its faint light attempting to penetrate the oppressive darkness.

Junpei, with a confused expression, looked around. "Uhhh... Is it really here?" he asked, doubt evident in his voice.

Suddenly, a deafening explosion shattered the silence, followed by the devastating impact of a cannon shot that hit the glow stick directly.

The blast briefly illuminated the tunnel, and the metallic sound of the projectile echoed as the ominous noise of something reloading reverberated through the space.

From the dense mist now covering the area, a figure began to emerge, its presence weighing heavily on the air around them.

Everyone felt a chill run down their spine as the Shadow Arcana revealed itself.

The Shadow Arcana of Justice and the Chariot finally appeared before them.

The creature was a massive war tank with a terrifying appearance.

Its angular, heavy structure resembled armored tanks from World War I but with grotesque distortions.

The upper part of the tank featured the head of a medieval knight, with a black cross on its visor resembling a faceplate.

Large metallic wings extended from the sides of the cannon, near the helmet, creating an imposing and macabre image.

Yukari, utterly terrified, took a step back, her eyes wide. "No way... it's a..."

Fuuka, struggling to control the panic in her voice, completed Yukari's sentence. "A tank!?" Her voice broke, reflecting her growing fear.

Hiro, eyes fixed on the creature, felt sweat trickle down his forehead as he tried to stay calm. "Now we're screwed... It's a damn tank."

Mitsuru, quickly regaining her composure, raised her rapier with authority. Her voice rang out with confidence, even in the face of fear. "Prepare yourselves! Here it comes!"

With her command, everyone assumed their combat stances as the Shadow Arcana finished reloading and let out a roar, signaling the start of the battle.