PERSONA 3 DEVIL'S HERALD

...27/08/2009 Tuesday; Midday ...

The dormitory rooftop was wrapped in a silent tension—not one of conflict, but of anticipation.

Everyone watched as Ken trained under Hiro, their eyes fixed on the boy's movements.

Though panting, Ken spun the practice spear in his hands with impressive dexterity, his focus locked onto Hiro, who wielded a dull replica of his kukri, meant only for training.

Hiro made a simple gesture with his hand, encouraging the boy to come at him again. "Come on. Try again."

Ken let out a battle cry and lunged forward, delivering a flurry of thrusts and sweeping strikes, doing everything he could to land a hit.

But Hiro dodged effortlessly, his precise movements diverting the spear's tip with practiced ease.

It was clear he was more interested in analyzing Ken's stance and technique than overpowering him.

From a distance, Mitsuru observed closely, recognizing his strategy. She knew Hiro was testing Ken's limits.

Concerned, Yukari whispered to Minato, "They've been at it since ten in the morning. Shouldn't they take a break?"

Minato scratched his head, not taking his eyes off the training. "Hiro wants to see how far Ken can go."

Fuuka, always gentle, looked at Mitsuru. "Kirijo-senpai, we haven't even seen Ken-san's Persona yet. Is it okay to push him this hard?"

Mitsuru's gaze remained firm. "Tomorrow, we'll take Amada-kun to Tartarus to test his Persona. I need to make sure he's ready—after all, he's just a child."

The training continued. Ken planted his spear into the ground, using it as leverage to leap high into the air, attempting a downward strike on Hiro.

But Hiro rolled aside, dodging with ease, then stepped onto Ken's spear before slamming his shoulder into him, sending him crashing to the ground.

Ken, rubbing his head, muttered, "Damn… I almost got you."

Spinning his training kukri in his hand, Hiro extended the other to help Ken up. "You fight well. Even though you haven't hit me more than five times, you never drop your guard. Someday, you might even surpass me."

Bright-eyed, Ken grabbed Hiro's hand and stood up, smiling. "Thanks, Mikoshi-senpai. One day, I'll beat you."

Hiro grinned back, tossing his training kukri into a nearby box.

He patted Ken's back a few times, dusting him off.

Akihiko approached, handing Ken a water bottle. "You're faster than you look, Ken. I don't think we need any more tests."

Fuuka, watching as Ken drank the water eagerly, stepped forward. "Tomorrow, we'll take you to Tartarus. We need to see how your Persona performs."

Ken let out a relieved sigh after taking large gulps, then turned to Mitsuru with a curious look. "Kirijo-senpai, I wanted to ask something. These Shadow Arcana… when is the next one?"

The group was caught off guard by the direct question.

Hiro scratched his head, bewildered. "Damn… I didn't expect that."

After a brief pause, Akihiko answered, "Shadow Arcana appear every full moon. The next one will be on September 5th."

Hands in his pockets, Minato added, "That means it's next Saturday. Fuuka, which Arcana is next?"

Fuuka looked down at her hand, counting through the Tarot cards up to the ninth one.

Card 0: The Fool.

Card 1: The Magician.

Card 2: The High Priestess.

Card 3: The Empress.

Card 4: The Emperor.

Card 5: The Hierophant.

Card 6: The Lovers.

Card 7: The Chariot.

Card 8: Justice.

Card 9: The Hermit.

After a brief moment of focus, Fuuka answered, "It'll be the ninth Arcana—the Hermit."

Yukari narrowed her eyes in thought. "The Hermit… I wonder if it resists magic attacks."

Raising an eyebrow, Hiro looked at Ken. "Why are you so interested in the Shadow Arcana?"

Ken, slightly embarrassed, scratched his head and forced a shy smile. "I just wanted to know how much time we have. I want to get stronger before the day comes."

Akihiko smiled, impressed, and ruffled Ken's hair, making him laugh. "That's the spirit I like to hear. Wanting to get stronger is a good thing."

As the group shared lighthearted laughs, an unsettling feeling started creeping over Hiro.

Suddenly, his eyes caught sight of a sinister figure standing behind Mitsuru.

It was Lucifer.

With a macabre grin, he laughed silently and raised a finger to his lips, signaling Hiro to stay quiet.

Noticing his strange expression, Mitsuru asked with concern, "Hiro? Are you okay?"

He quickly shook his head, snapping himself out of the disturbing vision. "Ah, sorry. I was just… lost in thought."

She seemed to relax, turning her attention back to Ken.

But Hiro clenched his hands, still shaken, fighting against the overwhelming sensation that he was losing control of his own mind.

He whispered to himself, "Shit… now's not the time to lose sanity… Hiro."

...27/08/2009 Tuesday; Dark Hour...

The Dark Hour consumed the world once more, the sky tinged with an eerie green hue that crept along the edges of every building, every empty street.

Inside the dormitory, the wind softly tapped against the windows, almost like a whisper, but no one was awake to hear it—everyone in S.E.E.S. was in their rooms, trapped in restless sleep.

Minato, in his room, tossed and turned in bed. Something was bothering him.

It wasn't just the usual unease of the Dark Hour. There was a growing pressure in his head, a weight he couldn't ignore.

Then, suddenly, everything became clear. A vision overtook his mind, as if he had been ripped from the present and thrown into a desolate future.

He saw chaos. The members of S.E.E.S. were in the middle of a battle, surrounded by destruction and screams.

"Protect Takeba and Iori!" Mitsuru shouted, her voice firm but laced with urgency.

Junpei and Yukari ran toward Hiro, who was unconscious, slumped against a car.

Hiro's face was smeared with blood, dripping slowly from a deep gash on his forehead. His pale complexion made the severity of his wound evident.

A suffocating sense of despair hung in the air.

Among the chaos, statues of saints stood in solemn reverence, their hands clasped in prayer, as if witnessing an inevitable tragedy. The contrast was haunting.

"She's coming back! Get ready!" Akihiko shouted, pointing at the sky.

Following his gaze, Minato saw an enormous Shadow soaring through the green-tinted sky of the Dark Hour.

Its full form was hard to discern, but two things stood out: an inverted cross rested upon its back, and two golden halos glowed around it, encircled by countless wings.

Its presence left no doubt—something catastrophic was about to unfold.

Then, a voice echoed in their minds, sharp and piercing, slicing through their thoughts with brutal clarity.

"The Devil's Herald is coming..."

Minato jolted awake, his eyes fixed on the ceiling, the lingering echoes of that voice still ringing in his mind.

His breath was heavy, cold sweat clinging to his forehead.

He sat up, running his hands over his face in an attempt to clear the fog of the dream—or was it a premonition?

As he lowered his hands, he noticed something that made him freeze.

A figure stood beside his bed.

Its presence, though unexpected, did not stir surprise in Minato's heart.

The boy before him had an almost ethereal appearance.

His black hair, faded with hints of pale blue, matched his eyes—one a light azure, the other a deep, abyssal blue.

His skin was so pale it looked as if he had already crossed the boundary between life and death.

He wore striped pajamas, black and white—almost like a prisoner's uniform.

Minato stared at him, not a trace of shock in his tired eyes.

"Pharos? You're back..." Minato murmured, his voice thick with sleep.

Pharos took a few steps closer, standing at Minato's bedside.

His deep, enigmatic eyes seemed to pierce straight into Minato's soul, as if he knew more than anyone else.

"Good night, Minato," Pharos said, his voice soft yet carrying a weight beyond its words. A faint, almost imperceptible smile played on his lips.