"Whoa! It keeps changing arcana?! I've never seen anything like this!" Necronomicon exclaimed.
And that was a life changing realization right at the beginning of this battle, but they had to keep fighting the huge being in front of them. They needed the precious object to get to Loki's Treasure. Their Persona selves had caught on quick to Palace exploring, but this was something they've never heard of before.
They were all getting tired. Whatever or whoever this was in Loki's cognition, it was extremely tough. Their white mask was was off-putting, their voice a gravelly drawl that chilled them to the bone. They too drew slightly ragged breaths, meaning that they were at least doing something to this shadow.
"What is my name? My nature?" They rasped out.
"Huh?!" Morgana exclaimed.
"Name me. State my nature." They repeated sternly.
They tried to ignore it, but now nothing they did affected the shadow, their attacks all reflected back at them. They couldn't really attack, on the defensive as they discussed how to solve the problem.
"Wait, there were names on that plaque under the portrait! We should try one of those." Makoto said suddenly.
"Well, there was only four names, and we already know who Robin Hood is. It must be Sukuna-Hikona!" Arsene said proudly.
The Thieves stared at him in confusion.
"No... there were five names on that plaque." Akechi said.
"No, there was only 4. Charon, Ophelia, Sukuna-Hikona, and Robin." Arsene asserted.
"Arsene's right. There's only four names." Johanna said.
"But there's five people in that portrait? I mean, their faces are scratched out but there is five of them in it." Ann said slowly.
The Personas looked deeply confused by that, exchaning glances.
"But there's only four...?" Zorro questioned slowly.
"Wait, weren't you guys saying earlier before we fought that something felt familiar?" Ryuji asked.
"Sort of...? It feels like I should know him, but I can't place why." Arsene said.
"Yes, he, I know that much. I... can't tell you why I know that either."
The Personas agreed, sharing sinilar feelings. Akechi sighed.
"Guess we'll have to figure it out on our own. And what does it mean by nature? Could that refer to its changing arcana?" Akechi mused.
"Well, on our way in, the building had a carving that read Memento Mori... I think?" Haru said.
"Memento Mori? What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Ryuji muttered.
Akira was thinking, looking up at the person's face. He thought back to the names on the plaque, feeling that there was a clue there as well.
"Memento mori...?" Akira muttered.
Another round of guarding against the cognition's attacks went by before a lightbulb went off in his head.
"Your name is Thanatos and your nature is death!"
"I knew you would remember eventually." He whispered.
This time their attacks weren't reflected, and there were no many changes to their relief. Even though he was down, he was still so huge compared to them.
"It's been a long time, Trickster." Thanatos murmured.
*This is from a Loki has Palace au I have notes for but will probably never write or finish, with several miniboss fights of all the past selves, Thanatos being the hardest one.
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