To Summon One's Inner Strength [Mod]

[David Moore]

The subway loomed before Dave like a great open mouth. He would hear the sound of the wind whistling through the tunnel, creating a ghostly moan. It was unsettling. He had come here to find one of those black creatures that had attacked him before. He wanted to use that power again, but no matter how hard he tried he couldn't force it. He didn't know why it had become an obsession for him. What he was doing was risky. Purposely risking your life on a gambit was extremely stupid. Completely unlike him.

Nevertheless, he was here. He looked down at the mysterious gun-like object in his hand. The woman had called it an "evoker", whatever that meant. It felt pretty real. Dave briefly wondered if there was actually a place just handing out guns to random people, but something about the construct of the weapon seemed unnatural. It wasn't an actual gun, Dave knew that, but there was something odd about it. He couldn't describe it, but he shoved the weapon into his pocket.

Moving cautiously, he entered the tunnel and felt the air around him grow considerably colder. It wasn't just the lack of sun. There was something sinister. It was an immediate, almost tangible aura of menace lurking in the tunnel. Those creatures were here, he was sure of that. He would find one and it would attack him, like the other one had. He'd then have two possible futures. Either he would summon that power again, or he would die.

You make some shitty plans, Dave. He told himself. He moved further into the tunnel. Every so often, he would glance behind him and see how distant the entrance was. It was only a tiny pinprick now. He took some glowsticks from his pocket and cracked them into life. He fastened them into a necklace and draped it over himself. The light was weak, but he could still see a good distance around him. He wasn't ready to move further inwards. He would have to wait for something to come to him.

[CallmePappy]

A pack of Shadows appeared!

Lawful Maya

• Hama
• Dia

Rs: Light Wk: Fire
Beautiful Maya

• Zio
• Marin Karin

Rs: Fire Wk: Light
Ugly Duck Maya

• Garu

Rs: Dark Wk: Light

[David Moore]

Dave inhaled sharply. These were like the one he had come across the other day. No... they were different. the colors of their masks were of different hues. But that wasn't important. He could feel their intent. This was it, now or never. He produced the brass knuckles he always carried with him from his jacket pocket and put them on hastily. He took a deep breath. It was stupid, but that power felt so amazing. He began to run towards the approaching creatures, their features horrifically exaggerated by the unsteady light of the glowsticks. He tried to punch one.

It connected, and he felt his hand sink into the weird black fluid. It felt like it did something, but not enough. Is there a certain place I should hi- His thought was cut off by a black arm nailing him in the stomach. He felt himself lifted off the ground and set flying back. He landed with a painful thud on the ground. The Evoker skittered across the cement.

Dave saw the weapon and immediately scrabbled towards it, still trying to regain his breath. He snatched up the weapon and pointed it at the shadows, putting his finger on the trigger and firing. He heard the gunshot but nothing else seemed to happen. A trick. The knowledge filled him with despair. The creature wasn't coming to save him. He had to run. He turned only to find that one of the shadowy creatures had already moved behind him and cut him off. He was trapped. Damn it! He began to panic at this point, his mind rapidly flashing through potential ideas before it came back to the gun.

Evoker, Evoker, Evoker. That's what this is called. I knew it wasn't a real gun, but something else. Evoke means "to bring or recall to the conscious mind". Yes, so the gun helps people remember things? Shit! That can't be right. Next definition. Damn! Damn! Damn! It was... to invoke a spirit, or summon a spirit. So, it can summon things, like the creature, but how? The answer is here! I have to think! It's the second one but the first doesn't seem likely. The second definition is incomplete, though. Unless.... I combine the definitions. Then it would be something like "To summon from the conscious mind". So it has to be pointed at... my head! Wait? What?

There was no more time to think. The shadows had tightened the circle they had formed around Dave, and with an unnatural screech, one of them leaped towards Dave. He reflexively brought the gun to his head, resting the metal on his left temple. A single word came to his mind. He pulled the trigger. "Persona!" He felt an intense pain, as if something was being ripped out from his brain. There was a flash of blue light, and the creature... no... my persona appeared. It let out a sound much like the shadows had made before.

"Mudo!" The word came unbidden to Dave's lips, as he already knew what it would do. The creature engulfed the attacking shadow with a run of black energy before the shadow was blasted backwards. Dave began to move. The creature seemed stunned and its mask was staring blankly towards the tunnel ceiling. He closed te distance and jumped. He seemed lighter than before, if only a little. He sailed over the shadow's face and brought his fist smashing down on the shadow's mask. He saw a small crack before the creature exploded into darkness. He stood up and turned towards the other two shadows. He felt an exhilarating rush.

His persona floated overhead, a dark mechanical fisherman with hollow eyes. "Mudo!" He began to charge as he called the command. The dark energy flashed and Dave was ready to deliver a follow up as soon as the attack hit. The energy struck the shadow and Dave swung his fist. He connected only with the black liquid. The shadow seemed unaffected by both attacks.

A light flashed nearby and Dave felt an intense burning energy rocket through his body. He was thrown sideways, groaning in pain. It was an intense electric shock. Dave rolled onto his front and push himself up with his arms, gasping. He was hurt, badly. “Dia!” He tried to shout. He felt a green light envelop him. The burning pain and bruise seemed to fade, as if they had never existed. He staggered to his feet.

I healed myself, but I still feel exhausted. Then using the persona must be draining. He thought to himself. He would have to finish this soon. “Mudo! Mudo! Mudo!” He screamed, calling the attacks in rapid succession. This time the attack was aimed towards the one that had struck him with lightning. The other shadow was apparently resistant to his persona's ability. I’ll have to finish him with my fists. He closed the distance on the Ugly shadow. It glowed briefly and Dave saw a swath of green wind rocketing towards him. He dove, hitting the ground and sliding. He felt the attack rip over him, cutting parts of his clothing.

He didn’t waste any time, he used what was left of his momentum to push himself back upwards and came face to face with the shadow. He swung without thinking and struck the shadow’s must. He swung again and again, raining down as many blows as possible. A couple of times, he felt the shadow punch him like it had before, but he resisted the urge to buckle. If he did, he would die. He screamed and put all of his remaining strength into the final punch. The mask cracked and shattered, the shadow was destroyed. He looked and saw that, as he ad expected, the three Mudo attacks had dealt with the other shadow.

“Dia,” he muttered and felt the green light envelop him again, as the physical pain ebbed away. The fatigue remained. His head hurt. He fell backwards onto the ground, breathing heavily. It had been close. If he hadn’t had that epiphany, he would be dead by now.

He briefly reflected on what had just transpired. He had nearly killed himself on a suicide mission so that he could use the power of some weird spirit monster inside of himself called a persona because he wanted to feel it again. Stupidest thing I’ve ever done. He stood up and walked back towards the entrance, limping, but ok. The question remaining in his head was whether or not he would do this again.

The answer was “Yes”. Because for the brief moment, as he felt the power of his persona flowing through him and destroying those shadows, he had actually felt like he could accomplish something in life.

[CallmePappy]

Success!

You've defeated an enemy!