I've never written any combat before so I'm sure I'll come back in the future to clean this up. Any suggestions? - Raoul
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"Let's do this, Arsène!" Ren declared.
"What the hell—? Guards! Guards!" Kamoshida shrieked, panic cracking his voice.
Stepping forward, one of the armored knights looked up and howled,
"The Harbinger dares to awaken in the King's castle?!"
The knight disintegrated into a swirl of black mist—only to reform into… flying pumpkins holding lanterns.
Suzui stared.
"…They're kind of cute," she admitted.
That lasted exactly half a second.
"Your blood would look good as a painting, ho!" one of the pumpkins cackled in glee.
A blast of fire erupted from its lantern.
Ren jumped, twisting midair as the flame scorched past him. He kicked off the wall, landing hard.
"Arsène!"
"YES, TRICKSTER," Arsène's voice rang out behind him. "DETEST THE ENEMIES BEFORE YOU. CHANNEL THAT RAGE INTO POWER."
"Eiha!"
A black sphere of energy exploded from Arsène's outstretched hand, slamming into one pumpkin and reducing it to ash. Ren followed through, slashing down with his knife as the remaining enemies burst into black mist.
Behind him, Ryuji scrambled to his feet and motioned urgently to Suzui before tackling Kamoshida to the ground.
"Run!" Ryuji shouted. "I've got him!"
"The keys!" Ren yelled.
"Got 'em!" Ryuji shouted back as he sprinted out of the cell, slamming the door shut and locking the King inside.
"Ah—shit—I'm definitely losing it," Suzui gasped as they ran. "Superpowers? Really??"
"Dude, what was that?! And your clothes—!" Ryuji started—
A flicker of blue flame flashed, and Ren was suddenly back in his school uniform. His broken glasses rested in his palm, the lenses slowly knitting themselves back together. Without thinking, he shoved them into his bag.
"Aww," Ren muttered.
"You liked those clothes?!" Ryuji yelled.
"I thought he looked charming…" Suzui murmured, then shook her head. "Focus!"
"Gahhh, what the hell is going on?!" Ryuji shouted, yanking uselessly at a locked door.
"Shit…" Ren whispered.
He glanced toward the canal and spotted a series of sturdy iron cages lining the water. Without hesitating, he leapt onto the first, then the next.
"Let's go, people!"
"Ugh, fine," Ryuji grumbled, watching the fluffy-haired boy hop from cage to cage with surprising finesse before following along with Suzui close behind.
They rounded a corner—and Suzui suddenly hissed, "Stop."
They slowed, peeking around the bend. Three guards patrolled the corridor ahead.
"Looks like this way's a no-go," Ren said quietly.
"Yeah, eff that. Nice catch, Suzui."
"No problem," she exhaled shakily. "We're so screwed, huh."
"Not quite yet," Ren said, already backing away.
They doubled back, searching for another route, until they came across a gaudy stone bust of Kamoshida's face beside a raised drawbridge.
Suzui blanched.
Ren stepped closer, running a hand over the statue. Something about it felt… off.
"Hey! Blondie! Frizzy hair! Ponytail! Help me!" a boyish voice yelled.
"Huh? Someone else is here?!" Ryuji exclaimed.
"Be quiet, Sakamoto!" Suzui snapped.
"They already know we're here," Ren sighed. "Let's move."
'Arsène… can we protect everyone if we have to?' he asked silently.
'There is no need to worry, Trickster,' Arsène replied.' The Magician will not harm you.'
'The Magician?' Ren frowned inwardly. 'And why have I been called inmate, harbinger, and trickster?'
Arsène did not answer.
They approached the cell—and froze.
Inside sat an anthropomorphic cat that looked like it had wandered straight out of an anime mascot lineup.
Ren pinched the bridge of his nose with a resigned sigh.
"A monster cat?!" Ryuji yelped.
"Ahhh, it's so cute!" Suzui cooed.
"I am NOT a cat!" the creature snapped. "I am Morgana! Hey, frizzy hair—you look calm. Let me out!"
"You obviously look like an enemy!" Ryuji accused.
"Come on, Sakamoto," Suzui said. "Why would an enemy be locked up?"
"You just think he's cute!"
"So… Morgana," Ren said carefully. "If we let you out, will you explain what's going on here?"
Morgana locked eyes with him, practically pleading. "I will!!"
Ren unlocked the cell.
Morgana stepped out, stretching dramatically, his oversized head wobbling awkwardly. "Ahhh, freedom at last—"
"Let's go, cat!" Ryuji snapped.
"I am NOT a cat!"
"You'd better not be lying," Ren said flatly.
"…I'm not! I swear!" Morgana panicked.
'Scary eyes! Isn't this guy a Shadow?!'
Suzui scooped Morgana up and hugged him tight. "You're just too cuteeee."
"I'm not cu—purr—"
…the not-cat began to purr.
"Haaaah," Ren sighed, rubbing his temples. "Just show us the way out, Morgana."
"You had the right idea, frizzy hair! Check the statue's mouth!"
"Ew," Suzui groaned as Ren pulled the statue's chin down.
With a heavy creak, the drawbridge lowered.
They crossed quickly and hurried down the corridor.
"Hm… something's strange," Ren muttered.
"Huh? You feel it too?" Morgana asked, glancing back.
Suzui gasped.
Ryuji's shout turned sharp with rage.
Inside a nearby cell lay an injured teenage boy, barely conscious, groaning softly.
"C'mon, we gotta get him out of here!" Ryuji yelled.
"That's the volleyball uniform!" Suzui exclaimed.
"Wait—he isn't—!" Morgana started. "Shit. Here they come."
The clang of armor echoed as guards approached, bodies warping as Shadows emerged.
Morgana drew a cutlass. "You can fight, right? Let's go!"
Ren nodded.
Blue flame surged. His black coat returned, red gloves snapping into place as a bone-white mask settled over his face. He drew his dagger.
"Witness my resolve—Zorro!"
A stocky figure burst forth behind Morgana, rapier carving a sharp Z through the air before striking a confident pose.
From behind Ren, Arsène rose, cape unfurling.
"Ah—glad to meet another thief," Arsène said with dramatic delight.
"Arsène?! I've heard of you!"
"It seems my reputation precedes me," Arsène replied. "The drinks are on me after we escape, my friend!"
With a laugh, Arsène tore through a reformed pumpkin, shredding it into mist.
"Heh—amateur! Watch this!" Morgana grinned. "Garu!"
A blast of roaring wind erupted from Zorro, hurling an enemy down the corridor and dispersing it entirely.
Silence fell.
'…I feel stronger,' Ren realized.
"Whoa!!!" Ryuji shouted. "You got one of those things too?!"
Suzui stared between the grinning Ren and the puffed-up Morgana.
"We only have two fighters right now," Morgana said, suddenly serious. "So let's regroup. Hey, frizzy hair—you felt something off, right? What direction?"
"Right there," Ren said, pointing to a door phasing and pulsing strangely.
"As I thought!" Morgana exclaimed, hopping toward it. "Everyone, come on! The Shadows won't follow us in here!"
They piled inside.
Ryuji immediately lost it.
"What the hell is going on?! What is this castle?! What are those monsters?! Why Kamoshida?!"
"Calm down," Ren said, even though he was hanging on by a thread himself.
"How can you be so calm?!" Ryuji snapped.
Suzui cleared her throat. "So… Morgana-chan. I'm Shiho Suzui. That's Ryuji Sakamoto. And Ren—sorry, I didn't catch your family name."
"Ren Amamiya, at your service," Ren said with a theatrical bow.
"Well," Morgana said, "we've got a lot to discuss, but—"
"Shit, we're gonna be late!" Ryuji swore, pulling out his phone. "No service?!"
Ignoring him, Morgana turned back to Ren. "Your Persona is pretty strong."
Ren frowned inwardly.
Why is he nervous around me? Ryuji, Suzui—even Takamaki earlier—just looked uncomfortable. Morgana looks… wary.
Before he could respond, Ryuji blurted, "Persona? You mean those dramatic ghost-things? That's totally a JoJo reference!"
"What's a JoJo reference?" Morgana asked, tilting his head.
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