"Kisuke. What the hell is going on? Fate changed? A Persona? Branching timelines? What the fuck?!"
Yoruichi yelled as she fell back into a seat.
"A fucking cat killed a Hollow without transforming. It's obviously a shapeshifter, but it fought as a cat the entire time!"
The two had moved from where the shack was located and were now in the basement of the secondhand shop in Yongen-Jaya. The basement was impossibly large. It had a massive training ground covered in sand and a recreation area where the two were sitting.
"A game between gods," Urahara giggled.
"And I've been invited as a player!!"
"There are only two gods, Kisuke. The Creator and the Soul King... The Soul King has been silent for thousands of years, and we only know of the Creator because of the Soul King."
"Ah, ah, ah, Yoruichi. You're making a fundamental mistake!" Urahara fanned his face. "If there are two gods confirmed, why would there not be others? The Soul King holds the three realms together, but what about other universal concepts? What controls and maintains those?"
Yoruichi was silent before sighing.
"I'll keep an eye on the kids while they're at school. They deserve one peaceful place since they're involved in this crap."
She glared at Urahara.
"I'm still pissed off at you, you shitty hat."
Urahara didn't answer, seemingly lost in thought.
"Their spiritual power will grow. They've already encountered a Menos. The one who lives in Leblanc grows stronger by the day..."
Yoruichi grimaced and looked out toward the training grounds.
"More Hollows will show up soon."
"Yes." Urahara nodded gravely. "For now, they will be attracted to us. But we can't just keep blasting our spiritual pressure out to attract them. Soul Society will find us."
---
---
CHAT LOG
---
[Joker]
@everyone
Morgana was attacked by a Shadow. He managed to kill it and get back. He was injured, but it isn't serious. I cleaned him up, and he's resting.
.
.
.
We are using the buddy system from now on. No excuses.
[Everyone is typing...]
---
Ren smiled and petted the sleeping Morgana.
"You're very loved, my friend," he whispered.
Morgana purred and pushed his head into Ren's hand before lying back down and sleeping peacefully.
'Tell him that when he is awake,' Angel advised.
"Soon," Ren replied quietly.
Then he lay down to go to bed.
---
CHOOOOOO!
Ren awoke sitting on the couch in the Velvet Room.
He was still a bit uncomfortable in this Room, but it wasn't horrifying like before. He calmed down. Igor was waiting for him to relax, and the twins were looking at him in worry.
"Welcome back, Trickster. It seems the Magician had a run-in today."
"How are Shadows coming into reality?" Ren asked directly. He was upset that Morgana was hurt.
Igor gave a sigh and raised his hand, creating an illusion of a Shadow. It was black and liquid-like, almost like goop, holding a blue mask with many arms.
"The Shadow is something you're well acquainted with. I won't go into detail. But they come from the Sea of Souls, just like Personas."
Ren quietly listened. This was the most information he had gotten out of anyone. He wasn't familiar with Shadows that looked like that, but he could tell Igor wasn't lying.
Igor held up his other hand and formed the monster that Ren and the group had come across. Imposing, with a bone-white mask and a long nose. Spikes surrounded where its neck should be. It was an amorphous blob like the other, but it seemed more solid. A massive hole in its chest.
Heavier than the other illusion
"This... is not a Shadow," Igor gently revealed.
!?!?
Ren was speechless.
No way. More supernatural crap?!
And it was unrelated to Shadows?!
"While it is true that Shadows can come into reality, they must either be extremely weak and newly born from the Sea of Souls, or so overwhelmingly powerful that they have no reason to act mindlessly," Igor continued. "This being... is called a Hollow."
Ren suddenly remembered that Maria had said the same thing to Orihime. A single word.
"Hollow..." Ren repeated in confusion.
"What is it?" Ren asked, holding his breath.
Igor chuckled. "This is your journey, isn't it, Trickster? I can offer guidance, but not answers."
"Ugh." Ren groaned. "At least I can tell you aren't mocking me like that other bastard."
"Let us talk, our newly freed guest. You deserve a true introduction to Persona fusion. Not the crude executions you were forced to do before."
Caroline looked at the ground in shame.
"I'm sorry, Trickster."
"Caroline apologizing? Impossible!" Ren gasped to break the tension.
And it worked.
"Grrr!" Caroline growled and ran toward Ren across the train before beginning to hit him with her baton. They weren't heavy hits. She seemed to be trying to show affection, at least in Ren's eyes.
It was nice.
Caroline's baton vanished, and she fell onto Ren. Exploding into a blush, she transformed into a blue butterfly and flew away.
Igor chuckled while spinning Caroline's baton in his hand.
"I'm sorry for my sister, Trickster," Justine said.
Then she added gently, "But thank you."
"Trickster," Igor said, flicking his finger and displaying a full deck of the Major Arcana.
"Trust your Social Links. Grow your relationships. Sometimes, a devil is an angel in disguise. And sometimes, an angel is a devil in disguise."
---