Terror Infinity Side B

Chapter 25, BTOOOM Intermission

Shin: Hey... Come on. It will be alright.

Hikari: I'm, I'm not sure.

Shin: Hey, you can trust me, can't you? I promise you that it won't hurt at all.

Hikari: Like hell it won't!

Shin: Don't be like that. Once, just once I want, I need you to show me how it is done in real life. This is my request of a lifetime!

Hikari: Don't waste it on something like this!

Shin: ...Fine. I guess I'll just ask Aqua to do it instead.

Hikari: ...Wait!

Shin: What.

Hikari: I... I'll do it okay! This will make you happy right, Baka otaku?

Shin: More then you can ever know.

Hikari: Ok then... I'll do it if you insist.

Shin: Thank you Hikari. I know this should just be your decision, but I am sure that both of us will enjoy this. Now... Let's PERSONA!!!

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Once I had finished my exchanges to God, I decided to go show off and see what everyone else had gotten. Half of them were finished like I was, but I first went to Hikari who was not done.

Hikari was to be our group support role, so she needed a exchange to match this position. She was very skilled with computers so at first she wanted something to enhance that, but there was no certainty that she would be able to showcase her skills as a hacker criminal.

Like we had all realized early on Hikari's computer skills were restricted to worlds and settings that had networks like BTOOOM!, but such skills would become useless in worlds like Naruto ( Main Naruto ) and One Piece where the world wasn't up to that level of technology on a wide scale.

In apocalyptic stories like H.O.T.D, where within a few days all electronics were disabled/destroyed in the panic Hikari's abilities would be effectively sealed. If our mission back there started after the EMP incident over Japan then she would have had no hope of being useful.

To rely, or more like spend her 2640 ( 2540 after payying out Shuai ) points on something she can't depend on for any mission would not be an advisable idea. Hikari knew as much, but since Hikari was only especially skilled with computers she was in a delima.

That was where I came in and gave my two cents to Hikari. Using my vast knowledge of manga, anime, visual novels, games and novels, I ran a check through my mental database for characters she was similar to, and came to a conclusion.

Shin: Isn't Hikari similar to Fuuka from the masterpiece of a work that has yet to be surpassed, Persona 3? Fuuka liked putting together computers and other tools, and in the future her Persona abilities expanded greatly with computers. Even Rise admitted that Fuuka was the better support Peraons user in the Arena.

That was it.

If Hikari acquired a Persona, personality wise, she is very likely to be a support type like Fuuka. And if her Persona doesn't have great support abilities for any reason then her Persona should compensate with decent combat power.

I gave my opinion to Hikari that having a support type Persona could fit into her role as a support and enhance her computing abilities as well possibly, but she was a bit against it at first. Even a non otaku like her knew that in Persona 3 you had to use a gun to shoot oneself in the head, and that was scary ( Even Yukari was scared at first ).

Still, I got her to get it in the end. I wasn't proud ( That proud ) of it, but my enthusiasm to see a Persona won out over allowing Hikari to make her own choices. Once convinced, we filtered out God's exchanges for the Persona series section and looked through a few.

SEES Evoker -

Rating 80.

A gun shaped tool that when pressed to the head and the trigger is pulled to summon one's Persona, the mask to protect oneself and a familiar to control. Can not be shared with others. Allows access to Psyche Force. Requires 2000 Points and two D rank rewards.

Persona Taror Card -

Rating 70 ( Author's predigous ).

A tarot card that when crushed will summon one's Persona, the mask to protect oneself and a familiar to control. Allows access to Psyche Force. Requires 2000 Points and two D rank rewards.

Full Analysis -

Rating 80.

Display detailed stats of an individual. Can also see skills, resistances and weaknesses, but take much more observation to reveal of those who resist the scan unconsciously or consciously. Requires 10,000 Points, two C rank reward and support type Persona.

Support Scan -

Rating 65.

Displays the conditions of allys in depth. Requires 6000 Points, C rank reward and support type Persona.

Third Eye -

Rating 90.

A passive ability that forewarns danger and effectiveness of plans with probability. Requires 12,000 Points, A rank reward and support type Persona.

Healing Wave -

Rating 70.

Constantly heals a target with healing magic over time. Requires 8000 Points, two C rank rewards and support type Persona.

Escape Route -

Rating 78.

While inside Tartarus you can escape back to the Terminal Lobby. In the real world or Mission Worlds the user will be able to find ideal escape routes. Requires 9000 Points, two C rank reward and support type Persona.

Persona Link -

Rating 80.

Enables one to talk to other Peraona users over any distance long as they are conscious. Requires 4000 Points, C rank reward and support type Persona.

Wildcard Enhancement -

Rating 95.

The Persona users ability to summon multiple generic Persona from all arcana. Vastly increases Intelligence and Mental Capacity. Requires 15,000 Points, A rank reward and awakened one's Persona.

Anti Shadow Weapons -

Rating 50.

Weapons that deal extra damage to Shadows and supernatural beings created from the mind. Requires 1000 Points, D rank reward and awakened one's Persona.

Mitsuri's Bike -

Rating 53.

A 'Special' bike with magic resistance. Requires 500 Points and D rank reward.

The Dark Hour -

Rating 100.

The ability of a Persona user to enter the Midnight Hour with others and summon Tartarus at 12 AM. A dimensional training space for Players to explore for one hour per day. Monsters defeated within will randomly give out Points and Rank Rewards for defeating them. Can only enter the Midnight Hour in God's dimension and excessively entering the Midnight Hour will negatively effect the Players health. Requires 25,000 Points, A rank reward and owner must have awakened one's Persona.

Hikari: Hey, Shin, instead of the gun to my head, can't I get the tarot card version? They do the same thing.

Shin: No! It has to be the gun or nothing. Persona 4 was a fine successor to Persona 3, but it can't match up to Persona 3's story and characters ( The murder in P4 was pretty half assed in the end ). Besides, rather than smashing a card, who wouldn't rather stick a gun to one's head and pull the trigger to summon one's Persona?

Hikari: Everyone!

Shin: Not everyone, and the answer is no. Get the gun. 2000 Points and two D rank rewards. Get it!

Hikari: Fine already, I'll get the gun! You Happy?

Shin: Very.

Hikari: ...

Hikari gave me a, "Why do I like this guy again?" look, but never did say it out loud. Then Hikari exchanged for the 2000 Point and two D rank rewards SEES Evoker. The gun materialized in her hand and there it was. The symbol of SEES and Persona 3! And then after giving her a few instructions on how to use it...

Shin: Now say it like like I told you.

Hikari: ...Persona.

Shin: Louder!

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

Hikari: Such a... Fine. Persona!

Hikari pressed the muzzel of the gun to her head and pulled the trigger. Then a blue light and blue flames enveloped her and her Persona appeared right behind her.

Hikari's Person's name was Adrasteia, and liked what we had hoped it was a Persona with support capabilities. Hikari had no instructions for it now and it disappeared in a blue flash and then she fell to the floor exhausted. I quickly moved over to her side, yet she said she was fine and only a little worn out mentally.

Shin: Are you sure that you are alright, Hikari?

Hikari: I'm fine. Just a small headache. I just didn't expect it to drain me so much was all, but... It was really incredible. All my five, no six senses were expanded and a flood of information came rushing into my head. I bet I really could use it to not only for surveillance and see through enemies, but also tap into networks as well. The only problem is that I am still lacking. Most likely in some stats.

Shin: Is it mental Capacity or Intelligence? Personas seem to be related to Psyche Force.

Hikari: It is probably both. At my current ability I don't think I could summon my Persona more then 2-3 times before passing out. And I wouldn't be able to keep summoning it either.

Shin: That is bad. In the Persona series, some characters pass out and need weeks of rest to recover after awakening their Persona the first time. It seems to be a side effect.

Hikari: I wish you told me that first. Whatever the case, outside of my share for the trip to the real world, I should increase my Mental Capacity and Intelligence with the remainder of my points, but it is still amazing Shin. I am lacking a lot of the skills, but it says with a support Persona I have two preset skills, Enemy Radar and Game Mapping. Enemy Radar allows me to spot hostile enemies within range of myself and registered allies. Game Mapping allows me create game like maps of what my Persona can see and relay that information directly into another person mind... It's kind like an app one can bring up when lost. If it didn't take such a toll on my head this would be the absolute best ability.

Shin: I agree, but for now you should rest in your room... I can escort you if you-

Hikari: I refuse! You are not likely to stop to taking me to my room and leaving. Just go check on the others.

Then watching my second future wife leave to go rest in her room, my first wife to be Aqua came over to speak to me about Hikari's exchanges after seing the grand entrance of her Persona. Then after giving her a brief explanation she seemed to understand and gave me her thoughts.

Aqua: A rear support Persona, huh?

Shin: Is that a problem?

Aqua: No, in fact I would say that it was a very good choice, but it is shame that she lacks the points to really bring out it's full potential at this time.

Shin: What do you mean? Do you mean the support skills for Personas?

Aqua: That to, but I didn't mean the Persona itself. Remember that she now has access to Psyche Force. From what I know it takes a real talented individual with a good brain to use it to its full potential. With Psyche Force the corresponding skills Hikari could create detail maps for us of an area and download that information into our heads, and brainwash NPCs with low level Intelligence and Mental Capacity. The Psyche Force path cost a lot of points, but it is worth it. In the future, Hikari becoming the core of the team is very much a possibility.

Shin: That's great, but wait. Are you really saying that Hikari can brainwash others?

Aqua: If she gets the right skill and has the potential then yes she could. If it wasn't for the fact that it was unlikely that it could work on the strong enemies on the missions like bosses it... In your words it would be too OP as it were.

Shin: I had no idea. If you could control the actions of others in missions... That would really be cheating.

Aqua: And it doesn't just end at brainwashing. A skilful Psyche Force user could even help out their teammates. For example, there are some skills where even if you exchange for it are hard to master. Talent still plays a part when using skills like Ki, Nen and Psyche Force. If Hikari was skilled enough she could use her powers to help you, Shin, use a Ki skill you are unable to use well, or even better, enhance it to perfection. Now, if Zero was still with us then Hikari could extended his sniping range by guiding his aim even if he himself couldn't see the target originally. It's even better then when soldiers have the advantage of real time satalite surveillance to back them up in the field.

Shin: That already sounds too OP. Why didn't you mention this earlier?

Aqua: I didn't want to just tell people that they could brainwash others and have them make that exchange for kicks ( Didn't want the story to turn NTR ). Also, Saki would have insisted that one of us, or more likely herself get such a useful skill set.

Shin: Is that a bad thing?

Aqua: It could be. Saki is the smart type who is far too logical at times. Give her that kind of power and if she had the potential for it... Really could end badly, because only those with high Mental Capacity, will power or have unlocked the Genetic Constraint could resist her.

Aqua didn't say anything more, but I got the picture. If Saki was an evil villain then she could turn everyone here, other then Aqua and I into puppets to attack us. That kind of worst case scenario could end for a wipe for our Team Japan, and now...

Shin: ...That kind of power is in Hikari's hands.

Aqua: I don't know what has been going on between you two, but you better make sure to be nice to her from now on. That is, if you don't want to reach the worst BAD END.

Shin: ...I'll keep that in mind. I'll definitely keep that in mind like my life depends on it ( To avoid reverse NTR ). So should we keep this info to ourselves?

Aqua: You can do what you want because in the end my worry may have turned out to be needless. I was just worrying about a worse case scenario.

Shin: So you are not worried?

Aqua: I am, but... Shin, try looking up Psyche force skills. Don't get it, but just take a look.

Shin: Okay.

I closed his eyes and connected with God. Then navigated to the psyche force section, but as soon as I chose one of the techniques I heard God's voice in my head giving me a warning.

- Your body can't sustain Psyche Force. Unable to learn psyche force techniques. Please make sure your mental capacity is over 3000.

Shin: What the hell!? There is a 3000 Mental Capacity restriction just to learn Psyche Force. What is that?

Aqua: Mine was 3400. People who can enhance their Mental Capacity and use Psyche Force and skils are very rare, and in our group, I could had only imagined Saki learning them easily. It really came as a shock that Hikari gained a support type Peraona. For her to develop a support type and not the more common combat type showed that she has the potential for Psyche Force. She shouldn't even have over 200 in Mental Capacity yet.

Shin: Then it was good that I made her get it, huh?

Aqua: Yeah, but. It has its its ups and downs... We'll save that talk for another day.

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Authors Note:

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This chapter was supposed to cover all of team Japan's enchantments, but Hikari's alone was this long. Sorry, but I'll be cutting it into two or three chapters.

Also, when I made this chapter the info for Psyche Force wasn't out yet, so I had to do a massive rewrite. I thought that Lan was going to go down a magic route, so I would make Hikari take the Psyche Force route. I don't want the two to be the same, so I'll plan for Hikari to be Magic/Psyche Player, but still an overall support role and I'll have another character in the future becoming an offensive magic Player.