Arc 2: Learn, Adapt, Kill - Chapter 25

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Cross-over from various games, books, anime, manga, and movies.

The familiar characters you see here belong to their respected authors and owners.

"Speech"

Arc 2: Learn, Adapt, Kill - Chapter 25

I am in disbelief. Like truly in disbelief.

"Is this supposed to happen?" Weiss asks Shouko, who seems to have more information than anyone else in the group.

Izanami-no-Mikoto, or simply Izanami, the original Shinto mother goddess and goddess of the land of the dead, begs Ruby in front of everyone.

Izanami finally discovered us, but instead of a big fight. She quickly fell on her knees in front of Ruby and begged for a contract.

I have no idea how or why Izanami found out unless this Persona 4 world had already been visited by others in the multiverse.

Another thing that made me think about it was the fact that Izanami was in the form of Marie.

Marie has pale skin, chin-length brownish-black hair, and gray eyes. She wears a sleeveless white shirt, a short black necktie with various safety pins, and a checkered skirt along with a black belt and a fancy, golden buckle that resembles a heart with wings. Additionally, she has black-striped red fingerless gloves and black-striped white stockings. Her black lace-up dark gray heeled boots are faintly checkered as well. She carries a deep blue bag adorned with golden designs and matches her officer's cap with a golden button and a V gravure, most likely as a reference to the Velvet Room. She also wears a special red choker necklace with a lock.

Overall, I'm lost. So it's time to figure things out, and I'll use the Multiverse Basic Guidebook to see what's up with this Izanami.

Sure enough, just like the warning from before when I picked out this godlike item. Izanami looks in my direction just as I use the Multiverse Basic Guidebook on her.

I ignore the look I get. I turn a few pages until it stops and the basic information about Izanami appears.

What. The. Fuck.

To think the Multiverse Basic Guidebook is a fucking wiki page. Oh, it's also a magical built-in touch screen?! Huh?! This is a freaking book! Not a smartphone! Or a tablet!

"Is something wrong, Jin?" Weiss looked at me with concern; no doubt she saw my shocked expression.

"Nope. Nothing wrong." I found a few differences on the wiki page, mainly this version of Izanami compared to the other versions in the multiverse. Just a brief summary and nothing else.

Out of curiosity, I use the Multiverse Basic Guidebook on Weiss. Same thing, wiki page, but a major change, or more like anything past her escape is missing. Nothing else, but some details about her past and who she is.

Anyway, back to Izanami. The slight difference between the wiki page and the original is the fact that she didn't have her personality split, and this is her current appearance to match the time period. Also, she asked for help from those in the Velvet Room to fulfill her true wish of seeing humanity reach a peaceful, happy life.

Unfortunately, it looks like it will be impossible with the Velvet Room since the main character's arrival time is still a bit further in the future.

So it came to the point that Izanami learned about Ruby's need to form a contract, which she was informed about by the people in the Velvet Room. And once said contract was formed, it would open the back doors of the multiverse to let Izanami get the answers she wanted.

"Please, I beg you to make a contract with me. I will become your personal servant and give you all the powers I have." Izanami continues to kneel in front of Ruby, who looks confused and does not understand why Izanami has to bow to her.

"For a goddess, a powerful one at that." Weiss read the wiki page of Izanami in the Multiverse Basic Guidebook after flipping back to the page. "I wonder if Ruby will make a contract with Izanami."

"Who knows." I shrugged, then looked at Shouko, who seemed to be paying more attention to Izanami than Ruby was.

"She seems desperate." Shouko whispers.

"Well, if what I read is true. She just wants humanity to be safe and happy." Weiss swiped up a little. "And to get revenge on her brother/husband for abandoning her in the past when she was stuck in the underworld for quite some time until she finally managed to get out on her own. Wow, and the first thing she wanted to do was find out humanity's true desire before she realized she just wanted humanity's happiness, and then after that, she just wanted to beat up her brother/husband until she was satisfied."

"I don't think Ruby is the right person to form a contract with." I sweatdrop at what I just heard. "Besides, it would be Izanami who would sacrifice to Ruby instead, considering that Izanami is the one who is asking for the contract and the help she needs."

"Yes, that might be the case." Weiss raised an eyebrow as she watched with us to see if Ruby would accept Izanami or not.

"So, besides the powers you have that I don't know about... What else can you give me?" Ruby frowns as she takes a step back, which Izanami follows, using her elbows and knees to get closer to Ruby.

"I can give you the ability to summon Persona. Even banish anyone you don't like to the underworld at will." Izanami answers quickly.

"I don't know what a Persona is." Ruby looked in my direction for help.

"A Persona is similar to a shadow, the thing we have been killing in the TV World. Shadows are malevolent manifestations of one's inner thoughts, while a Persona is a manifestation of the same feelings but tamed and trained." I explained. "So, it won't clash with what you have now if you want to accept the ability to summon Persona."

"Summoning, you say." Ruby's eyes gain a sharp glint.

Of course, Ruby would focus on that. Well, it looks like Ruby has another way of summoning besides getting random items and abilities. She will sacrifice another Persona to get the one she wants.

In a few minutes, with Shouko's help and mine, along with Ghost's well. Ruby got her second contract, with me being her first contract.

"So, in exchange for access to the basic, and I mean basic, library of the multiverse. You'll serve under Ruby and give her access to using Persona. Even hunting down other Persona/Shadows for Ruby to sacrifice in order to obtain a new Persona. You'll also be by her side at all times for the parts unless she tells you otherwise. Also, if Ruby's life is in danger. You must do everything in your power to save and protect her, even at the risk of killing yourself." I gave a summary of the contract.

"I feel like Ruby got the better end of the deal here." Weiss put a hand on her hip and gave Izanami a look like she was looking at a fool.

"Because she did." Shouko replied. "She's the one begging for Ruby's help, because she's the only one among us she can get any help from."

"Wait, what?" Weiss looks at Shouko with a confused expression. "What do you mean? Shouldn't you be able to help Izanami? Jin, I don't even know what he can do most of the time, because he seems to be able to do everything. While I, on the other hand, might have something if you give me enough time to make something. Why is it only Ruby?"

"I'm not allowed to help just anyone without permission." Shouko replied. "The Heaven pantheon are strict with rules."

Rules? I will have to look into that later. After all, having sex with one of their members while in another pantheon should have broken at least a few rules.

"Weiss, I must apologize, but you're not as unique as Jin here." Shouko gave a small, sad smile. "In addition, the set of abilities you have been given to you while Ruby learns through self-taught."

"Point taken." Weiss sighs. "Well, at least I have a better lifestyle compared to what others have to go through." She looks thoughtful. "I guess my mother and older sister don't have as much free time as I do."

"Makima is not known to be gentle when training others." Shouko said to Weiss, who was now beginning to worry about her family's safety. "As to why Jin wouldn't be much help. Well, it's because the Eldritch pantheon will go to war if he so much as tries to help someone from the Eastern pantheon."

"Why?" I look at Shouko, completely surprised to hear this news.

"Except to help you and satisfy your sexual needs." Shouko blushes. "It's the fact that the Eldritch pantheon is afraid that you might be stolen by the seduction of the females from other pantheons while you're going through your trials."

"Hm." I look at Izanami, who is currently using Ghost, searching for the answers she desires. "Not seeing much seduction, but it might be because I've been drained recently."

"Because she knows better and would have died if she tried to seduce you, Jin." Shouko said calmly, no longer blushing. "She was warned in advance."

Does that mean I can't have my own harem? I mean, technically, Ruby and Weiss are my girls. No idea about Shouko, but maybe since I took her virginity. I want to say maybe Makima, but chances are maybe not unless something made it happen.

Nyarla and the others. Yes, not a chance. Not with me; they can end me before I even notice why and how. I'm pretty much a pet to them. Although, the way they treated me in the past. I really don't mind being their pet.

Oh, wow. My mindset has definitely changed since then.

"Hey, Jin. Snap out of it." Weiss snaps her fingers in front of my face. "Shouko is trying to get your attention."

"Yes, Shouko?" I look over and see Shouko looking at me like a neglected cat trying to get my attention.

"I was explaining to everyone." Shouko sulks a little, which makes my heart melt.

Damn, not again.

"Okay, I'm listening now." I quickly avoid looking at Shouko's face for a few seconds before I look back. I sigh in relief that she is no longer pouting, too deadly for my heart. I wonder how Ruby and Weiss aren't affected by that pout.

"As I said. Because Izanami had been warned before. Suppose she had ignored the warning. The Eldritch pantheon, maybe even the Heaven pantheon and Hell pantheon would have sent someone to this world to take Izanami away to be punished or just to take us out of this world before they start a war with this world and whoever owns it." Shouko continues to explain while still whispering.

"Proud of you." I smile at Shouko as I pull her into a hug, causing her to freeze and look at me, confused as to why I am praising her. "You managed to speak more than a few sentences without Makima here to help you. In fact, you've spoken even more than usual without Makima here."

"Yeah, I have never heard you talk so much since I met you, Shouko." Ruby chimed in when she no longer had to deal with Izanami kneeling at her feet.

"Now we just have to work on the voice level, which is still a whisper." Weiss continued.

And just like that, Shouko's face turned extra red and she quickly looked around in panic.