The Blood Oath.

(We broke through 1 million views and 200k words with this chapter! Also, I am changing my name from Phantom_Voyage to my original author name. BonVoyage. I have a soft spot for that name, so I am glad no one took it after I changed it in the past on my other account.)

— — —

The room was filled with an eerie silence; the three thieves, their eyes fixed on Yusuke's unmoving form, felt the weight of the moment as he clutched onto the seed.

"That was… my mother… the Sayuri?" Yusuke's voice broke the silence, a mix of disbelief and sorrow tingeing his words.

"Why did Ren have to recruit me? Why expose me to this... this heartache?" His voice wavered with self-doubt, resonating with the pain of betrayal, drawing empathetic looks from his companions, with Ann stepping forward to try to comfort him.

"Goemon…" Yusuke called out, his voice resonating with a deep yearning for guidance.

"You have seen the truth that had been hidden from you. Will you avert your eyes now? Or will you stare into the abyss even when it stares back at you?" Goemon's voice echoed, both commanding and warm, filling the room with anticipation.

"I resisted the corruption in my homeland, even at the cost of my life. What path will you choose?"

"The answer is clear, is it not?" Yusuke responded, his voice steadier. "The man who raised me is not who I believed him to be. I attributed virtues to him that he did not possess. The man I admired has long perished, and today, I witnessed his demise."

"Very well, let us renew our pact," Goemon declared, his commanding voice now being heard by the entire group. "I am thou, and thou art I. Let our bond become a blood oath. Let it become the wings of rebellion that break the yoke of thy hearth. Henceforth, let us walk this path together as one."

Yusuke's mask erupted into a dazzling display of bright golden flames before reforming once again. The once-red highlights transformed into a striking combination of dark blue and black, and a blue eye was intricately engraved on the forehead of the mask.

Yusuke's eyes shimmered a bright gold for a moment before settling back to their usual steely blue.

"Woah… what?" Mona exclaimed, his voice a mixture of awe and confusion. He understood personas and the Metaverse instinctively, yet he had never witnessed such a phenomenon.

"Fox, are you alright?" Ann asked, her concern palpable as she reached out to him.

"Do not fret for me, Panther. I am precisely as I need to be," Yusuke replied, a faint, grateful smile crossing his lips. He then turned to Makoto, determination in his gaze. "Queen, I am prepared to proceed."

— — —

(Forgot to post the pic last time so here it is.)

As the group slipped into the painting, they emerged into a secluded corner overshadowed by the lively chaos of a crowded market. Crowds of seemingly ordinary people bustled through the streets, but to Ren, using his third-eye ability, their true forms were clear: all were shadows.

"There's too many of them," Ren murmured, his gaze sharp as he scouted a path through the crowd. His eyes fixed on a cluster of merchants selling oversized cloaks, perfect for concealing their distinctive attire.

"Stay hidden. I'll be back," Ren muttered, his outfit and mask igniting into blue flames and transforming to blend in with the local people. "If I get caught, keep hidden and make your way to the temple. I'll find you."

After receiving nods from his companions, Shiho whispered to him. 

"Be careful, okay?"

"Always," he replied with a reassuring smile and a wink, then ventured into the crowd of the market.

As Ren walked confidently toward the merchant selling disguises, the bustling crowd seemed to slow, their stares converging on him with palpable suspicion.

From their hidden vantage point, the trio felt the tension mount as the sea of shadows eyed Ren with suspicion, the market's vibrant noise dimming to an eerie silence. A lone shadow blocked Ren's path, scrutinizing him with wide, probing eyes.

"Greetings," Ren said with a charming smile, not letting any of the tension he felt show on his face. "Can I help you?"

The shadow stared at him momentarily before resuming its shopping, seemingly satisfied. As the shadow departed, the market grew busy once again, with the countless shadows around him accepting him as one of their own.

Without letting his friendly smile fall, Ren made his way to the store, keeping an eye on the behavior of the shadows around him. Adapting his movements to better match the shadows around him, he spoke to the person selling the cloaks.

"Everything's for sale, my friend. Everything. If I had a sister, I'd sell her in a second. I'd even buy one of your relatives if you're looking to sell! Ha ha ha... That's a little joke." The merchant laughed heartily, his voice echoing slightly in the cluttered space of his shop. 

Ren offered a light chuckle, not missing the approving nod from the merchant. He then turned his attention to the cloaks displayed neatly in the corner and, with a smile, posed his question.

"I have a few friends with… unfortunate appearances, if you get what I mean, cursed by the gods. I was hoping to buy three of your best cloaks. How much for them?"

"A face only a mother could love, huh? I get you. I have a brother myself," the merchant replied, his laughter mingling with his words.

A few minutes later, Ren rejoined his companions, the three large cloaks under his arm, unnoticed by the shadows as he made his way back.

"Man, you had me sweating bullets when those shadows started eyeing you," Ryuji said with a nervous laugh, slipping into his cloak.

"The more I learn and see in the Metaverse, the more I wonder what I got myself into. Have all your missions been like this?" Takemi asked, her tone a mix of awe and worry, as she draped herself in one of the cloaks.

"Not always, but you should've seen Ren handle Kaneshiro last time, he had him blushing." Ryuji joked, his laughter easing the tension as they prepared to delve further.

— — —

As they navigated the Palace, the team marveled at Yusuke's transformation. His movements seemed fluid and practiced, almost as if he had done them a thousand times over. Silently, he glided across the floor, not making a sound, his gaze sharp and more focused than ever.

Leading the charge was Makoto, with Futaba orchestrating their path remotely. They entered a new area where the scenery turned bewildering. Golden walls adorned with stairs crisscrossing in every conceivable direction resembling the painting the "Penrose Staircase."

Futaba's voice echoed in their minds, providing essential guidance:

[There's a seed nearby, guarded by a formidable shadow. You won't be able to bypass this encounter, but luckily, it's isolated. Feel free to make as much noise as necessary.]

Makoto acknowledged with a nod, her eyes scanning the labyrinth of stairs that twisted throughout the golden chamber. They could walk on the stairs no matter what direction they were, even if upside down. However, gravity persisted as usual, evidenced by Ann's hair cascading towards the floor.

"Are we at risk of falling if we dodge an attack here?" Ann questioned, eyeing the myriad of stairs.

[Technically, no. Just stay close to your current stairway,] Futaba instructed, her tone less confident than usual.

Mona flashed a confident smirk. 

"Don't worry, Panther. If you slip, I've got you. Remember, I can fly now."

"Let's avoid any risky maneuvers. There is not enough room here to fly with a helicopter without crashing against the stairs," Makoto interjected, her hand instinctively reaching towards the back of her neck as she surveyed the walls adorned with paintings. "Futaba, are we being watched?"

[I'm picking up enemy signals within the paintings. They shouldn't be able to interact unless you get too close,] Futaba reassured, although Makoto's unease lingered.

Yusuke, his demeanor somber since their last encounter, surveyed the area and nodded in confirmation.

"I can see the shadows, they are all trying to escape, but they are trapped." Yusuke said, his voice tired.

They continued through the paradoxical chamber until a large shadow loomed in the distance, guarding a doorway.

"Is everyone prepared?" Makoto positioned herself behind another stair for cover, surveying her team for confirmation. After receiving affirmative nods, she glanced at them, ready to initiate their strategy.

"My persona's abilities are limited in this space, so I'll provide support from afar. Fox, with your prowess in melee combat, I'll back you up and keep you healed while you engage the shadow directly," she instructed Yusuke, who nodded in understanding.

"Mona, Panther, your combined attacks are crucial. Even if the shadow resists fire or wind, use your skills strategically to obscure its view of Fox. Only stop if it seems to absorb your attacks," Makoto directed Ann and Morgana, who prepared their respective abilities.

Turning to her navigator, Makoto sought further assistance. 

"Oracle, could you pinpoint the best locations for us to attack?"

[On it.] 

Utilizing the bizarre architecture to their advantage, the team maneuvered into position, with Futaba's guidance helping them find vantage points. They tensed, ready on her countdown.

[Ready? Go!]

As Futaba gave the signal, Ann unleashed a massive fireball from her upside-down stance above the shadow. Just as the shadow noticed the flames and moved to evade, Morgana launched a series of wind blades from the side, pinning it in place and enhancing the fireball's intensity.

The interaction between wind and fire intensified the flames to a blistering blue, and as it exploded, the shadow shrieked in agony.

With the shadow's attention fixed on the flames, Yusuke leaped from his perch. The pull of gravity aligned him perfectly behind the shadow, katana in hand.

"Goemon," Yusuke murmured, the frosty essence crystallizing along his blade as he became one with his persona. In a fluid, graceful arc, he slashed through the shadow, bisecting it with icy precision.

As the shadow's form ruptured, it reassembled into a formidable figure: Futsunushi, a meditating man crafted from metal, encircled by an array of levitating swords. From the cleave Yusuke had delivered, a faint scar marked the metal.

The moment Futsunushi's gaze fixed on Yusuke, a surge of blue nuclear energy from Makoto's Johanna struck its back, causing a brief stagger. In response, Futsunushi raised a hand, directing its swords toward Yusuke.

Drawing a calming breath, Yusuke relaxed his stance, his tension dissolving into the air. He parried simultaneously with the shadow, their blades clashing with a resounding metallic clang.

"Goemon," he whispered once more, summoning his persona's power as golden flames ignited behind him. Goemon, manifested in its towering form, struck down on Futsunushi with a massive pipe, though the blow seemed to barely scratch the metallic adversary.

Undeterred, Yusuke maintained his focus, ready to evade the incoming barrage of blades.

As Futsunushi unleashed its swords, a sudden curtain of fire, courtesy of Ann's Carmen, erupted, obscuring its vision. From within the fire curtain, countless wind blades cut through, carrying with them blue fire as they struck the shadow.

Utilizing the fiery distraction, Yusuke glided silently behind Futsunushi, his blade poised. He struck the same vulnerable spot with precision, eliciting a visible flinch from the shadow. As it swung its blades in retaliation, more of Johanna's nuclear blasts pounded down, further destabilizing it.

Despite the onslaught, the shadow's blades continued their relentless assault. Yusuke nimbly dodged, the blades grazing but not doing any lethal damage.

"He won't be fooled by the same maneuver twice. We can use that," Goemon's resonant voice filled Yusuke's mind. Acknowledging with a nod, Yusuke prepared for his next move as the fiery barrier momentarily blinded their foe.

Anticipating the Yusuke's next action, Futsunushi commanded its swords to shield its back. But as it turned to defend its weak point, it felt the chill of Yusuke's blade once more. This time, Yusuke held his ground, perfectly positioned to strike as soon as the curtain of fire dissipated.

"Bufula!" Yusuke called out, his blade exuding a frosty aura as it unleashed an explosion of ice within the wound he had previously inflicted. As he withdrew his blade, he braced to parry the next onslaught.

Blocking the first blade caused his hands to throb painfully, and he swiftly leapt back to evade the next three strikes, though one grazed his leg, drawing blood.

As the fiery barrier rose again, Yusuke steadied himself, Goemon materializing with a spectral presence behind him.

"Rising Slash!" In unison, they cleaved through the curtain of fire, the force of their attack slightly repelling the shadow. 

Before it could stabilize, Morgana conjured a gust of wind that spiraled into a tornado. Ann's fireball collided with it, transforming the vortex into a blazing azure hurricane that engulfed and scorched the shadow.

The creature's shriek pierced the air, and Futaba's voice echoed urgently in their minds.

[Not good. It's getting stronger!]

As she warned them, the shadow's blades whirled violently, slicing through the fiery tornado toward Yusuke, leaving deep gashes across his body. Despite his cry of pain, Makoto was swift to respond, her persona's energy knitting his wounds back together.

Another fiery barrier descended, but the shadow, fueled by rage, slashed through it, its eyes seething with fury fixed on Yusuke.

From her vantage point, Makoto sensed the escalating danger.

"Panther, we need to draw its attention. It's too much for Fox now, jump down there with me!" she commanded, plunging towards the fray.

"Mona, fetch a painting with Zorro, quickly, before the shadows can react!" she called out as she descended."

Ann, landing beside Makoto, snapped her whip towards the shadow's arm. While she couldn't halt it, her action diverted its focus.

"Johanna!" Makoto bellowed, releasing bursts of nuclear energy upon noticing the shadow's susceptibility to them.Since other than attacking the weak spot on his back, it was the only other thing that had made it flinch.

"Carmen," Ann cried out simultaneously, as the crimson dancer materialized, her hands weaving an intense, mystical blue fire, preparing to unleash her fury.

Without hesitation, Yusuke seized the moment to summon Goemon, who drew a deep breath through his pipe and expelled a torrent of ice, frosting the shadow's skin. This chilling assault allowed Goemon to advance and deliver a powerful strike to the now-vulnerable frozen area.

While Yusuke, Makoto, and Ann kept the shadow engaged, Morgana utilized his remarkable agility, leaping from stair to stair with precision. He soon spotted a painting depicting a vast desert guarded by three sphinxes staring ominously out at him.

"Zorro, let's make this quick!" Morgana commanded as his persona materialized, the robust figure hastily grabbing the painting. 

As the sphinxes charged towards them, Zorro inhaled sharply and hurled the painting with a mighty gust, sending it spinning through the air the wind causing it to dodge and weave around the stairs and back on the platform, landing with a series of thuds.

As the painting settled near Futsunushi, shadowy arms erupted from its frame, grasping at the bewildered shadow. For the first time, fear flickered in Futsunushi's eyes as he struggled against the dark tendrils dragging him toward the painting.

His swords attempted to sever the encroaching arms, but with each slice, more shadowy limbs emerged, pulling the weapons into the canvas.

The trio watched in stunned silence as Futsunushi valiantly resisted, but he was drawn into the painting without being able to resist. The canvas shattered just as it swallowed its captive, sealing him inside without escape.

[Damn…] Futaba's voice resonated through their minds, mirroring the group's awe. [I didn't send Ren into a place like that… Did I?] Concern tinged her words as she hastily checked to see if his team had exited the painting.