[6/25 (Wednesday) – Afternoon]
[Velvet Room]
"Welcome to the Velvet Room, my dear guest."
Igor's familiar voice greeted him as Clerval slowly stirred awake, finding himself seated once more on his usual seat in the blue-hued train.
Clerval gave the old man a small nod.
"I'd like to enter the Labyrinth after fusing a few new Personas."
"Of course."
Igor spread his hands in welcome, his ever-present grin never wavering.
"Please select the Personas you wish to offer as materials for the fusion."
Beside him, Mary silently stepped forward, already prepared to assist with the process.
Clerval closed his eyes, mentally sorting through the Personas within his stock, and soon opened them once he made his decision.
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[6/25 (Wednesday) – Afternoon]
[Labyrinth - VESTA 1]
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His boots landed softly upon the familiar white marble tiles.
Without wasting a second, Clerval swept his gaze across the surrounding passageways, searching for any signs of lurking Shadows.
The area was clear.
At ease, he broke into a steady jog, pressing deeper into the Labyrinth while absentmindedly glancing at the timer displayed on his watch.
[7D : 11H : 42M : 29S]
There are seven days remaining until the countdown above the entrance to VESTA reaches zero, and he still had no idea what would happen when it did.
That was precisely why he had told his friends he would be occupied for the next week. It would be wiser to devote as much of his free time as possible to reaching the end of the floor and uncovering whatever awaited him than to remain in the dark about what the countdown signified.
Of course, Weiss hadn't let him leave without reminding him about Beacon's upcoming examinations scheduled for the second week of July—the final week before the academy's two-week semester break.
"Wanderer, a Shadow is on your four o'clock."
Mary's calm voice echoed within his mind. His wandering thoughts vanished instantly as he rested a hand on the hilt of his sword and adjusted his course.
Rounding the corner, he spotted it. A lone Shadow crawled aimlessly across the marble floor, completely unaware of his presence.
Slowing his pace until his footsteps became almost silent, he carefully closed the remaining distance.
Once he was close enough, he lunged forward and brought his blade down across the creature's back.
The steel carved through the Shadow in a clean surprise attack, splattering black ink-like liquids all over the white marble as it convulsed and exploded, revealing its true form.
"You are at a severe disadvantage!" Mary warned immediately. "Three Trance Twins and two Obsessed Cupids!"
Five against one.
The surprise attack had stunned them all, but the opening would only last for a moment. There was no way he could deal enough damage and eliminate every Shadow before they recovered.
But...
Something stirred within him.
The power of the Fool welled up from the depths of his soul, seemingly filling him with immense strength!
Without hesitation, Clerval raised his Evoker. Closing his eyes, he reached toward the ever-expanding Sea of Souls within his heart and asked for help.
Two images surfaced in his mind.
"Persona!"
He fired his summoning medium twice, sending imaginary bullets through his skull as fragments of blue glass shattered out of his side of the head.
Twin pillars of azure flame burst into existence behind him.
Freshly forged through fusion, Jack Frost and Lilim emerged from the Sea of his Souls, taking their places as they hovered behind his back.
"Mabufu, Mazio!"
Obeying his commands, the two Personas rained ice and electricity down on the stunned foes simultaneously, knocking all five of them onto the ground after exploiting their Weaknesses.
The summoned Personas dissolved into a sea of blue motes as Clerval narrowed one eye; a strain settled across his mind.
Two more figures of legend answered his call.
"Odysseus, Tam Lin!"
He fired another set of imaginary bullets through his head as Odysseus and Tam Lin, his newest fused Persona, made their entrance with their weapons at the ready.
"Swift Strike, Fatal End!"
With their weapons raised, Odysseus swept through the battlefield first, his xiphos tracing a wide arc that tore through every Shadow at once.
In the same instant, Tam Lin lunged toward the lone Trance Twin that had survived Odysseus's initial barrage; his spear flashed forward in a single, decisive thrust.
The Shadow's body split apart before dissolving into black mist, leaving behind pieces of Golden Pieces scattering across the white marble.
With the battle concluded, he exhaled sharply, his breathing ragged as he staggered toward the nearest wall.
Bracing himself against the cold marble, he pressed a hand against his pounding temple, wincing as a sudden migraine lanced through his skull.
"...Remarkable," Mary murmured, awe slipping into her usually composed voice. "The ability to summon multiple Personas simultaneously..."
"I had initial concerns over the lack of teammates during your Dives, without allies to cover your Weaknesses, each Dive carried a considerable risk." Her tone softens. "But with this newfound power... no matter how dire the battle becomes, you will never be alone."
While the sentiment was appreciated, Clerval raised a hand faintly, requesting silence—the sound of her voice only worsened the throbbing migraine behind his eyes.
Mary let out a light chuckle.
"Very well. I will keep watch for any Shadows that draw near."
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FOOL (I): The Odyssey
Rank: 2 / 10
Ability: Overnumber I [NEW!]
Allows you to summon an additional (1) Persona during combat.
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[6/25 (Wednesday) – Afternoon]
[Labyrinth - VESTA 5]
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"Wait for a moment, Wanderer." Mary interjected as he stepped into the fifth floor of VESTA.
"I am sensing a strong presence in the section ahead." Her tone sharpened slightly. "Prepare yourself. This encounter will require all of your combat prowess—I am certain of it."
Clerval gave a small nod, his grip tightening slightly on his weapon.
His Aura levels were stable, and both his health and spirit had been fully restored after resting on the previous floor. His pockets were also stocked with elemental Gems, medicinal supplies, and consumables—enough to handle most emergencies should the situation escalate.
"Understood."
Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Clerval stepped forward and moved cautiously into the next section.
The moment he entered the adjoining chamber, the atmosphere changed.
Waiting within was a massive Shadow—towering and armored—mounted upon a warhorse with a lance resting in its grasp.
The pressure it exuded was overwhelming.
Without a doubt, this was the strongest enemy he had faced thus far.
Clerval's fingers slipped into his pocket. He retrieved a shiny red orb and held it loosely alongside his Evoker arm, ready for immediate use.
Then he moved ahead.
The instant his foot crossed the threshold—
The Avenger Knight reacted.
Its head snapped toward him, and the armored warhorse reared violently, letting out a piercing, echoing cry that filled the chamber before charging right at him.
Clerval tightened his grip on his sword.
Without hesitation, he drew a sharp arc through the air and broke into a sprint to meet the attack head-on.
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NEXT UPDATE: 6 August, Thursday
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