Fool's Gambit
A Persona 3 Fanfiction
Chapter 12: Awakening of the Fool
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[3/15 - Evening - SEES Dorm Lounge]
The atmosphere was tense.
Everyone sat gathered in the dorm lounge, the only sound being the ticking of the clock.
Mitsuru stood at the front, arms crossed.
"The next Full Moon operation is tomorrow," she began. "We need to be prepared."
Yukari sighed, leaning back against the couch. "Yeah, yeah… another creepy monster trying to kill us. Business as usual."
Akihiko cracked his knuckles. "Doesn't matter. We're stronger than last time."
Junpei grinned. "Damn right! And with the boss man here, we'll crush it!"
He clapped Minato on the back.
Minato simply nodded. He had already far surpassed what any of them could imagine.
But he wasn't going to let them know that yet.
Instead, he listened.
Mitsuru continued, bringing up a map.
"The Shadow's presence has been detected near Club Escapade in Paulownia Mall. It's our first time encountering one outside of Tartarus."
That got Minato's attention.
A Full Moon Shadow outside of Tartarus?
That was new.
Something was changing.
And Minato intended to find out why.
---
[3/16 - Midnight - Paulownia Mall]
The moment they arrived, the air shifted.
It was thick with malice.
The streets were empty, time frozen as the Dark Hour engulfed the city.
And standing in the middle of the mall—
Was a towering monstrosity.
A massive armored knight, adorned in chains, its face hidden beneath a black helm. It carried a sword the size of a car, and from its back extended a pair of twisted, featherless wings.
Mitsuru's voice crackled through the earpiece.
"This is the Hierophant Shadow."
The Shadow let out a deep, guttural growl.
Then—
It charged.
---
[BOSS BATTLE: HIEROPHANT]
The ground shook as the Shadow swung its massive blade.
Minato jumped back, avoiding the strike as the others scattered.
"Spread out!" Mitsuru commanded.
"Got it!" Akihiko dashed to the side, fists crackling with electricity. "Time to knock some sense into this thing—Zionga!"
Lightning crashed against the Shadow's armor.
But—
It didn't even flinch.
"Shit, it's got resistance!" Akihiko cursed.
Minato narrowed his eyes. Then let's see if Almighty works.
He reached out—
"Messiah."
A burst of light, and Messiah descended, golden chains rattling as it manifested.
The Hierophant froze.
Then—
It backed away.
Mitsuru's eyes widened. "Minato… that Shadow is reacting to your Persona."
Minato didn't hesitate.
"Megidolaon."
A blinding wave of raw Almighty power exploded from Messiah's hands—
Slamming into the Hierophant.
The air cracked from the sheer force.
When the dust cleared, the Shadow was shaking.
Minato smirked. It's afraid.
This thing was supposed to be an overwhelming enemy.
But to him, it was prey.
"Alright," he said, cracking his knuckles. "Let's finish this."
---
[Breaking the System: Multi-Summon Combat]
Minato focused, pulling at his Fool Arcana.
In an instant—
Two more Personas manifested.
Metatron and Alice.
Junpei's jaw dropped. "Wait—what?! You can summon more than one?!"
The others stared.
Persona users weren't supposed to be able to do this.
But Minato was different.
He was beyond the system.
Metatron raised its arms, casting Mahamaon.
Alice giggled, dark energy swirling around her. "Die for me!"
A wave of light and darkness engulfed the Hierophant.
Then—
The Shadow froze.
It began to crumble.
The battle was already over.
---
[3/16 - Post-Battle]
Mitsuru stepped forward, scanning the remains of the Shadow.
"That was… faster than expected."
Junpei just shook his head. "Man, what the hell are you, Minato?"
Yukari folded her arms. "Yeah, seriously. Since when could you summon three Personas at once?"
Minato simply shrugged. "I've been training."
They clearly didn't know how to respond to that.
Mitsuru, however, was deep in thought.
She had been watching him closely.
And now, she was certain—
Minato Arisato was not normal.
Something was happening.
Something big.
And she intended to find out what.
---
[3/17 - Midnight - The Velvet Room]
Igor's signature chuckle echoed in the dimly lit room.
"You continue to exceed expectations, dear guest."
Minato sat across from him, hands steepled.
"I'm not done yet."
Elizabeth's eyes sparkled. "To think… you are actively evolving the very nature of Personas."
Minato leaned back. "Tell me. Have there ever been others like me?"
Igor smiled.
"There have been many Wild Cards. But none who have rewritten the system quite like you."
Minato closed his eyes.
Then that meant—
He was the first.
The first Fool to break the boundaries.
And if that was the case—
Then he would keep pushing forward.
Until there was nothing left to break.
---
[End of Chapter 12]
Author's Notes:
First Full Moon battle! And Minato completely dominated it.
Multi-Summon Combat is now confirmed.
Mitsuru is starting to notice something's up.
Next Chapter: SEES begins to question Minato's true power, and a new challenge arises.