Working With Phantoms

The Advent of Uncertainty

"Um... well, now we have floating blocks. Are these safe?"

Madran scanned the path ahead of them, with Makoto doing the same.

"Why, yes, they are. The orb is causing them to float, so they should remain up there for as long as the orb is in the pedestal."

"Ok."

The group then clambered across the blocks and ended up at a large statue head. Then, Madran looked to see two shadows on either side of them traversing the blocks to approach them.

"Hey, uh, heads up, we got a fight! Joker, you take the back, I'll handle the front!"

Madran then turned back to face the two shadows that were approaching her, which turned into one Illuyanka and three Arianrhods. Madran then summoned Suzaku to knock over the Arianrhods, which was followed by her attacking all of the shadows with a Deathbound. Wysteria then managed to kill the Illuyanka with a Mamudoon, which was then followed by Chicory killing two of the three Arianrhods with a Heat Wave. The last Arianrhod then got up and attacked the group with a Magarudyne, which knocked Madran over and allowed for the shadow to knock Suzaku back into her chakra with an Ice Age. Finishing the chain, the Arianrhod then hit the team with a Mahamaon, which took Madran out.

"Uh, well, Fwoosh is down! Everyone, we need a revival."

"I got this!"

Morgana then suddenly appeared and utilized a Recarm on Madran, which allowed her to get up. The Arianrhod then attempted to run, but was bowled over by an Agidyne and died.

"Well, that sucked! Is everyone else ok?"

"Yeah, you were the only one hit by the Mahamaon."

"Ah, figures. Thanks, Mona."

"No problem!"

The group then continued on down the floating blocks without any more shadow attacks, with them arriving at a Safe Room.

"Ooh, wow, this is nice. Let's, like, get in."

Everyone then piled into the Safe Room, with Wysteria utilizing a Mediarama on everyone.

"There, all better. How was your fight?"

"Well, there were a few Anubises, there were a few deaths, but Mona and Joker had us handled."

"Ooh, I didn't know that Joker had a persona with Recarm."

Akira then summoned Isis, who bowed and vanished back into him.

"Ah, I see. Let's keep moving."

Everyone then left the Safe Room and walked down a few more eerily empty hallways until they arrived at a long hall with many well-decorated sarcophagi and an altar at the end of it. However, once they made it to the altar, Madran heard the sound of soft footsteps and looked behind her to see Shadow Futaba.

"Oh, uh, hey there."

"Hello. It's surprising that you've made it this far. The other three have made it a ways, but I put a few halters in the way."

"By a few halters, do you mean...?"

"My best shadows. I have a few subpar ones for you here, though."

"Thank you."

"You're very welcome."

Shadow Futaba chuckled.

"The preparations are almost complete..."

Two elite shadows then appeared in front of her and transformed into Mot and a new shadow that appeared to be a gargantuan, four-winged angel with a neck that split into four heads all conveying a dour emotion, a face on the chest, long Egyptian robes, and a staff with yet more heads on it. Madran then began to scan it.