One was crushed, another brutally sliced in half- and Akechi was tearing his mask free again, bellowing, willing Captain Nemo into existence beside him. There was little opening, he knew, but he had to take it. Had to finish it. He didn't know if Adam Kadmon was a possibility here, but he had to make every effort to stop it coming. Nemo's eyes burned, hand outstretched.
"Manifest! Blow him away!"
A spark. And then light, brilliant blue-white, expanding, tearing the ground to pieces, radiating outwards in the unmistakable radiance of Megidolaon.
It was enough to stun even Azathoth, and bring Maruki to his knees, the man wheezing in pain. "This… can't be. I thought- I can't be reaching my limit already. I have so much to do still. Please-"
Akechi drew his pistol again, aiming staring down at the man. "I'd hoped that might be the case. You don't have the cognition of the masses to give you strength, here. Or maybe you can't tap into it for another reason."
Maruki looked up, now, apprehensive for the first time. "What reason is that?"
"The truth? You and I are more alike than you think. Both Persona wielders, both too stupid to see the flaws in our own dumbshit plans. But in this particular instance... You're not Maruki. I watched his Palace collapse. I was there. I know better than anyone that he gave up on this. You've been created, dropped into the world with your perceptions distorted, your life bent toward a purpose the real you would've found completely abhorrent. How does that make you feel, Doctor?" The man flinched, and it would've been a lie to say Akechi felt no particular joy, seeing that. "Struck a nerve? You're not helping anyone here. All you're doing is keeping them away from the real problem. The Story Eater. So give. Up."
1/2, Enjoy your Phase Transition
"Manifest! Blow him away!"
A spark. And then light, brilliant blue-white, expanding, tearing the ground to pieces, radiating outwards in the unmistakable radiance of Megidolaon.
It was enough to stun even Azathoth, and bring Maruki to his knees, the man wheezing in pain. "This… can't be. I thought- I can't be reaching my limit already. I have so much to do still. Please-"
Akechi drew his pistol again, aiming staring down at the man. "I'd hoped that might be the case. You don't have the cognition of the masses to give you strength, here. Or maybe you can't tap into it for another reason."
Maruki looked up, now, apprehensive for the first time. "What reason is that?"
"The truth? You and I are more alike than you think. Both Persona wielders, both too stupid to see the flaws in our own dumbshit plans. But in this particular instance... You're not Maruki. I watched his Palace collapse. I was there. I know better than anyone that he gave up on this. You've been created, dropped into the world with your perceptions distorted, your life bent toward a purpose the real you would've found completely abhorrent. How does that make you feel, Doctor?" The man flinched, and it would've been a lie to say Akechi felt no particular joy, seeing that. "Struck a nerve? You're not helping anyone here. All you're doing is keeping them away from the real problem. The Story Eater. So give. Up."