Getting into the swing of things, Taichi now felt more comfortable. He was no longer in his fully armored form, but the stat boosts from his mask still made him feel light as a feather and fast on his feet. Best of all, moving like this didn't make a sound like clanking armor.
Taichi and Ren entered the Palace to find the Shadow Yukinoshita sisters and lead them to the main entrance, where Yukino Yukinoshita was waiting to see them. Ryuji and Morgana stayed behind to protect Yukino, Yui Yuigahama, and Ann.
"Next time we come here, I should probably get a gun," Taichi said, looking enviously at the pistol in Ren's hand.
"Skull has some connections. You could ask him to help you buy one," Ren said with a dashing smile.
"I was just talking. I can't even afford a toy gun right now," Taichi said, shrugging.
"Actually, this is a model gun," Ren said, raising the pistol. "But once we're in a Palace, the Metaverse gives it properties that allow it to fire like a real gun."
"I can't even afford a toy gun right now," Taichi repeated.
Taichi's words silenced Ren. Although Ren was also poor, his family had given him money when they sent him away. Compared to Taichi, Ren was a man of some means, but not enough to just lend money to others. He could only remain silent.
They turned a corner and ran into... Shizuka Hiratsuka! They had peeked around the corner and hadn't seen any Shadows, but after taking a couple of steps, Shadow Shizuka Hiratsuka appeared at the opposite corner. Their eyes met.
"Intruders! Intruders detected! Capture them! Capture them!" Shadow Shizuka shouted a few formulaic commands, then charged at Ren and Taichi with the other minor Shadows.
"Break through, we don't have time to get caught up with them."
"Arsene!" Ren immediately summoned his Persona's power. Taichi silently used the physical boosts from his mask, trying to rush through the path Ren was carving out. He couldn't shake the feeling that Ren was stronger today than he was yesterday. It seemed he had been training in the Velvet Room.
Arsene's Cursed Slash combined with Ren's quick shooting managed to stop the Shadows from advancing and even blinded them for a moment. Taichi and Ren took the opportunity to rush through the Shadows and sprint toward where Shadow Shizuka had appeared. Since the leader of the Royal Guards was here, the Shadow Yukinoshita sisters, the Queen and Princess, must be on her patrol route and not far away. Otherwise, she wouldn't be much of a Royal Guard.
However, Shadow Shizuka's shouts had alerted others. After they rounded the next corner, two or three more Shadows charged at them. They had no time to fight.
"Joker!" Taichi reached out to Ren, who had no more bullets for his long-range attacks.
Ren was stunned for a moment, then tossed his gun to Taichi. With a smooth motion, Taichi reloaded the gun and it was immediately filled with bullets. Sure enough, the minor Shadows were mindless!
After rounding the next corner, Taichi and Ren successfully found their targets: Shadow Haruno Yukinoshita, and Shadow Yukino Yukinoshita standing behind her. But there were too many Shadows around them. It would be hard to lure the sisters away.
"We'll have to abduct them!" Taichi frowned, handed the gun back to Ren, and put a hand on his mask. "Mordred—!"
The full-body armor instantly covered Taichi. Holding his sword, he slowly raised it as he had before and then brought it down in a powerful arc. Mana Burst! A crimson wave instantly sent the Shadows flying.
"Now!" Taichi slid the sword back into its sheath on his back, rushed over, picked up a Shadow sister in each arm, and took off. "Joker, lead the way!"
"Got it!" Ren made a cool turn, fired a volley at the pursuing Shadows, and then ran past Taichi and the two Shadow sisters toward the next corner. He had to create a path for them to return to the entrance.
Meanwhile, a slightly impatient Ryuji was pacing back and forth at the Palace entrance.
"Stop pacing! You're making me dizzy!" Ann scolded him, glaring.
"But I'm worried! They've been gone for so long! What if they're in danger?!" Ryuji said, wringing his hands anxiously.
"Skull! Don't jinx it!" Morgana shouted at him, looking a little uncomfortable. "Our job is to protect everyone here. You can't do that if you're just pacing around!" Morgana was also feeling uneasy under Yukino Yukinoshita's stare.
"Even if you say that..." Ryuji was still very agitated.
"Are you intentionally trying to make us uneasy?" Yukino Yukinoshita asked, finally breaking her silence and glaring at Ryuji. "If someone with power like you acts so pathetic, it only makes us lose our trust in you and feel more insecure."
"Gh... I'm sorry..." Ryuji stammered, words barely coming out. But this time, he settled down. At least he wasn't pacing in circles anymore.
"That's so cool, Yuki-chan!" Yui Yuigahama looked at Yukino Yukinoshita with admiration.
This made Yukino, not Morgana, feel uncomfortable.
"Generally, Shadows only move inside the Palace. As long as we don't go in, they won't rush out to attack us," Morgana added. "But it's better to be prepared."
"There's no evidence that they can't come out."
"So get ready to fight them with the determination that they will come out and attack us!"
"...I can't hold back anymore. Excuse me, I apologize." Yukino Yukinoshita suddenly walked behind Morgana, crouched down, and placed a hand on his head. She began to rub him skillfully. Morgana immediately stiffened. He knew it! This woman, Yukino Yukinoshita, had a thing for him!
Although being gently petted by a beautiful girl was not something he would object to, they were in front of Lady Ann! What if Lady Ann thought he was a two-timing cat who would go with anyone? Morgana was incredibly loyal to Ann.