*Cognitive World*
Your POV
The first wave charges forth, and Shokan easily pierces the first replica and rips the body in half. You flip the blade and channel your power through the blade. A sudden and quick flash of shadows consumes another group of Ann's in its flames. One jumps and slams a pipe on your arm; it stings for a second before you grab its hair and rip the head off its shoulders. A small dagger slices through your side, and you take a deep breath.
You: Get out of my way!!
Channeling the energy again but rapidly depleting your stored-up power, eliminating a mass portion of the Ann's. Your armor vanishes, leaving you open for damage. Taking a defensive stance, you deflect the attacks from wild angles. It becomes hard to predict, but the rest of the wave becomes simple to take down with some adjustment. Breathing hard, you don't stop and slash through the remainder of the replicas and wipe off the blood from the blade.
You: Where are you, Shadow! I don't have time for your games!
Morgana's Shadow: Come and find me! Just don't trip!
You: For the love of... SHIT!
A fit of rage fuels your movements, and you dash forward after the Shadow. The anger fueling your actions becomes unsettling. The fatigue of battling and not getting any rest has affected your mental state. Rubbing your eyes, you burst through the halls, taking down each replica of Ann with no remorse.
Morgana's Shadow: Wow, someone is angry! Come on, have some fun! Hahahaha!
You: Getting on my nerves! Come here, you little shit!
Dashing forward, you catch up to the barely running Shadow. He looks back and flicks his fingers together, causing a massive cage to slam on the ground.
Morgana's Shadow: Hahaha try and get through that-
You: Heeeaaahhh!!
Without missing a beat, you channel any power within Kage to slam your blade through the massive cage. The steel bends and breaks behind your blade. The Shadow stares in disbelief, and he seems scared shitless for once. The whites of your eyes become bloodshot, and bloodlust fills them.
Morgana's Shadow: You shouldn't be able to do that-
You: SHUT UP!!!
With inhuman strength, you grab his head and toss the Shadow across the hall and into the wall. You breathe heavily as Kage begins to flourish out of control.
Futaba: Y/N! What's gotten into you? My readings say that your power is producing an enormous amount of energy and going out of control!
You: This bastard is going down! Say your last words!
Futaba: Y/N! Wait! It's a trap!
The moment you step forward, the Shadow presses a switch. Suddenly, you are hit by a pulse that freezes your body stiff. Unable to move, you grunt in desperation, hoping you can free yourself with enough effort.
Morgana's Shadow: Hahahahaha! Wow, it worked better than I thought it would! Just pump the entire Palace with some hidden gas to get you really angry so that you would rush in without any thought or care! I won't lie; you broke through that gate quicker than I wanted you to, but you didn't do much to me; just put me where I needed to be.
You: Damn you!
Morgana's Shadow: I am going to enjoy breaking you further.
A group of Anns appear from the walls and approach you with weapons in their hands. The shadow motions them to attack you. They obliged, and one hit you square on the head with a bat. Blood quickly runs down your head as the rest take turns beating you up. A loud ringing burns within your mind. The forced rage status effect is still working, so the pain is tolerable, but you feel yourself slipping in and out of consciousness.
Morgana's Shadow: That's enough girls! I think he needs a final touch by yours truly!
He whips out a long rapier-like weapon and pokes a small hole in your shoulder. The pain shoots through your body, and you feel a sense of urgency build within you. Taking a deep breath, you begin to endure the damage.
Minutes go by, and tiny wounds appear on your chest, arms, legs, and face. The Shadow grows frustrated at the lack of reactions as you don't give him the satisfaction. So, he drives his sword deep into your thigh. Holding back a yell, you nearly bite your tongue off but barely let out a gasp of air.
Morgana's Shadow: Damn it! Why won't you scream! This is becoming a waste of my time. If you don't let me have fun, I shall turn toward the trapped little kitty on the ceiling.
You: M...Morgana?
Morgana's Shadow: Oh? Did that get your attention? Well, now I have to torment you more.
You: Lay a single finger on him and just wait...
Morgana's Shadow: I'd like to see you try.
Taking another deep breath, you focus on the rage within you and then collect the fragments of Kage's growing power again. Channeling it through your body, you feel the space around you grow tighter and tighter.
Morgana's Shadow: Girls, you keep him busy.
They all nod and begin to pummel you once again.
You: Hahaha...
A short fit of laughter breaks through your lips.
Morgana's Shadow: What is so funny?
You: Hahahahaha!
Morgana's Shadow: Hey, stop it-
You: HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Morgana's Shadow: Shut up, will you-
You feel the center of your power boil over, and the sudden explosive wave of Kage rushes throughout your body, shattering the frozen feeling of your body.
You: PERSONA!!!
A gust of shadow explodes from your body, which consumes the Ann's nearby and causes them to evaporate. Leaving you standing still as the armor inks onto you through the shadows. A wide smile grins across your face as the rage fueling your actions still runs deep within you...
Thank you guys for reading this chapter! I hope you enjoyed it! I decided to use some of the game's status effects in future encounters and thought it was a valid idea to use the berserk/rage status for this Palace. I hope it wasn't too distracting, but there is more to be had in the future!
Due to some issues and problems, I am facing in life, I am now promoting my Patreon to anyone who wants to support me financially; this not only will provide me with some sort of income, however small or large it is, that will allow me to focus even more effort into writing for you guys. It is entirely your decision to check it out and provide me with any money you want to give me, the lowest starting is 5 minimum. Entirely up to you again, patreon.com/AKAustin is my Pateron for you to visit! Well, I will See you all in the Next one! Thanks again!