Working With Phantoms

All the Right Ways

August 8th

Madran arrived back in the Velvet Room much earlier than everyone else, seeing that only Philemon, Sheila, and Marie were in there. Madran then noticed that Sheila was looking at some of Marie's skill cards.

"Hey, guys, what's up?"

Madran sat down next to Sheila as she exchanged a skill card for some Yen.

"Well, I figured that I could get another skill card and exchange Pulinpa for something called 'Ailment Boost.'"

"Sounds cool."

Sheila then used the skill card and turned to Madran.

"So, today, are we going to get to the next floor?"

"I'd hope so. Hey, Marie, how's everything doing?"

"Well. I'm now a couple Yen richer, and Sheila's Petrali and whatnot are actually going to land more."

"What exactly does Ailment Boost do?"

"Well, it causes the effect to track down a shadow more so that its chances of hitting are higher."

"Cool."

"Do you want to buy anything?"

"No, not really. Ooh, Margaret, can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Is it possible for you to fuse two of my chakra personas?"

"Yes, which ones?"

"Take-Minakata and Ouroboros."

"Hmm..."

Margaret opened her compendium and flipped through it. Madran then produced both of the persona cards and handed them to Margaret.

"Why, yes. The persona created from those two will be Chernobog."

"Um...?"

"Chernobog is a Slavic deity of death. If you are not happy with this result, then you can always try something else."

"Oh, no, I just wasn't familiar with the name. What are its skills?"

"As they lie, Chernobog can use a mix of Mudo spells and very powerful physical attacks. Be careful, because he is weak to Agi."

"Ok, well, what next?"

"Now, you can have the other personas pass two skills each onto Chernobog."

"Gotcha."

Margaret then showed a list of Ouroboros's and Take-Minakata's skills as Madran finished her selections. Margaret then created a magic circle, joining the two cards together into a new card that had an odd, skeleton-like man with long black robes, a large mushroom-like head, a jeweled longsword, and fungal growths popping up around his feet.

"This is Chernobog. It appears that your bond with the Death Arcana also gives him some new power."

"Oh, so, is that how it works?"

"Yes."

Chernobog then appeared from the card, staring at Madran.

"I art thou, thou art I... I am Chernobog. Let my blackened mist permeate the air... my power is for us both."

Chernobog then turned back into a card, merging with Madran. By then, everyone else had arrived and were awaiting Madran's instructions.

"Well, now that that's done, let's get a move on."

The group then got up and went into the Metaverse. Then, Philemon left with Sheila and Maya as Marie looked around at the area.

"Wow, this place seems much brighter already. Those lights were a really good idea."