Chapter 12; Tatical moves

...29/07/2009 Wednesday; Dark Hour...

The sound of the tear was grotesque, and the Shadow, now missing both its mouth and nose, spewed an endless stream of black liquid.

Lucifer, satisfied with his work, let out a dark, resonant laugh before soaring upward and vanishing into the air, leaving the creature writhing in silent agony.

Akihiko saw his chance and didn’t hesitate. With his knuckles braced, he charged at the Shadow, his fists tracing arcs of rapid and precise jabs.

Each strike dealt devastating damage to the creature, fragments of its body breaking off and disintegrating into the dark mist of the night.

A well-placed uppercut shattered the Shadow’s remaining jaw, and the sickening crack of its breaking bones echoed through the shrine grounds.

Meanwhile, Yukari, who had been tending to Koromaru, watched the battle unfold with renewed determination.

Feeling the urgency of the moment, she wasted no time. Pulling the Evoker from its holster, she steadied herself and let out a resolute cry.

"Io!"

The trigger was pulled, releasing a brilliant, green-hued flash of wind behind her head.

In an instant, her Persona, Io, materialized, a powerful and imposing manifestation of her will.

Io was a remarkable figure—a fusion of humanoid and mechanical design.

A gleaming white metallic structure, shaped like the stylized head of a bull with massive horns, loomed ominously, binding Io within its chains.

At its core sat a serene, feminine figure with dark skin and flowing blonde hair.

Her black mask obscured her eyes, adding an air of mystery, but her presence exuded an almost angelic grace.

Her pale pink dress swayed around her like a flickering flame, ethereal and captivating.

With a gentle gesture, Io extended her hands toward Junpei, channeling healing magic that flowed like a calm breeze.

The spell Diarahan enveloped Junpei in a soothing, radiant light.

He felt the cut on his forehead close, the pain in his abdomen ebbing away into nothingness.

Junpei stared at his hands in disbelief. "Huh? My wounds... they're gone."

But the battle offered no respite. At Yukari's command, Io raised her hands toward the Shadow, unleashing Garudyne, a powerful wind spell.

A fierce gust swept through the battlefield, spiraling around the Shadow before striking it with full force.

However, something strange happened—or rather, didn’t happen.

The Shadow stood unmoved, unaffected as if the attack hadn’t even grazed it.

Yukari's expression twisted into shock.

"What?" she gasped, fear creeping into her voice.

That was when Minato grasped the truth. The Shadow's weakness wasn’t wind; it was lightning.

Without hesitation, he drew the Evoker from its holster, spinning it deftly in his hand before selecting a new Persona.

In one fluid motion, he pressed the Evoker to his temple, his voice steady and resolute.

"Thunderbird!" Minato called out, activating the Evoker. The echo of the trigger reverberated through the air, and in an instant, a majestic figure materialized behind him.

Thunderbird was a breathtaking sight—a massive, silvery eagle with wings that seemed to crackle with electricity.

Its brilliant yellow mask gleamed like a beacon, emphasizing the raw, thunderous energy radiating from its very being.

Hiro, watching from afar, was utterly baffled at the sight of the new Persona. "What? He can switch Personas?"

Thunderbird wasted no time.

With a powerful spin in the air, it channeled its energy, and a lightning bolt descended from the heavens, hurtling toward the Shadow.

But the Shadow, desperate and agile, managed to dodge the attack, lunging ferociously toward Minato.

"Damn it," Minato muttered, realizing the Shadow’s rapid approach was too quick to evade.

The Shadow reached him, its massive claws grabbing hold of him and slamming him brutally into the ground.

With monstrous strength, it gripped his legs and began smashing him against the ground repeatedly.

Pain coursed through Minato’s entire body, leaving no time to recover.

The Shadow raised its crescent-shaped weapon, poised to deliver the finishing blow.

Suddenly, a voice pierced the air.

"Let him go!" Hiro charged toward the Shadow, his scimitar gleaming under the green moonlight.

With a precise motion, he slashed another part of the creature's face, his blade hooking around its neck as he clung to it.

The Shadow screeched in fury, enraged by the sudden attack.

Without hesitation, it hurled Minato with all its might toward the girls.

Minato was launched like a cannonball.

He crashed violently into Yukari and Mitsuru, sending all three flying into the stone wall with a deafening impact.

Aigis rushed toward the pile of bodies, her mechanical heart gripped with worry.

"Minato-san!" she shouted.

They lay in a heap, Mitsuru on top of Yukari, and Minato beneath them, feeling every inch of his body hurt.

He coughed, a thin line of blood escaping his mouth, the metallic taste filling his tongue.

"Minato... are you okay?" Yukari asked, her voice trembling with desperation as she struggled to help him.

With great effort, Minato lifted his head, his eyes darting frantically toward Akihiko, still on the other side of the sanctuary.

He shouted, his voice hoarse but laced with urgency, "Akihiko! The Shadow’s weakness is lightning! Use your Persona!"

Akihiko grabbed his Evoker and pointed it to his head, ready to summon his Persona.

His gaze locked on Hiro, who was still clinging to the Shadow’s neck.

"Hiro, get away from there!" Akihiko yelled, his voice filled with urgency.

In a swift and precise move, Hiro severed one of the Shadow’s arms, sending a spray of black blood gushing from the creature.

He then leaped backward, escaping the danger zone.

"Now!" Hiro shouted, his voice echoing across the sanctuary.

Akihiko wasted no time.

Pressing the Evoker firmly to his forehead, Akihiko bellowed, "Polydeuces!"

The sharp sound of the trigger echoed, and a surge of electricity illuminated the air around him.

The atmosphere crackled with energy as Polydeuces materialized—a towering, armored figure wielding a massive syringe-like weapon.

Polydeuces wasted no time. Aiming its syringe at the Shadow, it unleashed the power of Ziodyne.

A colossal lightning bolt erupted, tearing through the battlefield with blinding brilliance, striking the Shadow directly.

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