Yu finishes climbing down to the bottom of the pit and briefly takes a breath as he reaches the bottom. He walks over to Hans curious as to what he's saying. This should be where it is, right? I'd hate to have wasted time for nothing. Especially since time is so valuable to us right now.

Hans places a pin into the chart and turns toward Yu, his finger still on the pin. Assuming all of my calculations in an attempt to triangulate the location are correct, then yes. This is the place.

Yu's eyes are drawn to the chart. He doesn't quite understand the more complicated parts of the plan feels he can at least guess as to how everything ties together. Alright, so now all we have to do is find it here. In other words, we keep excavating this area until something shows up. You don't think anyone will try to get in our way here, do you?

Hans gestures to his belt, the keystone already in place. If we meet opposition, I am ready to defend this place to my last. This final piece is all we need to finally succeed! If it is not in fact here, then I will go back to my mathematics.

"Yes? So this is...? Got it." A young man with long, black hair presses a button on his phone and puts it into his pocket. He adjusts his dark gray hood and blue-marked mask. "So this is the place? I hope the rumors aren't true..." "If they are, it's our job to stop them! Wonder why Coda made us wear this, though..." A girl in a similar outfit shrugs. Her mask has yellow marks rather than blue ones. "Something about keeping the company out of this. I'm more suprised she let us interfere in the first place... Let's go, Allie." He clears his throat and approaches the two. "Excuse me, what's going on here?"

Yu begins walking around the site and looking down at the ground. The idea that such a powerful object could be hidden right beneath their feet was somewhat astonishing to him. He looks back to Hans with his usual indifferent expression. Any idea what it looks like anyway? They're usually crystals so is this one going to be a gem or crystal too? Or will it be something more like the yellow variant?

*Aitome steps into the scene carrying what seems to be a box, yelling out for everyone to hear, making no attempt to stay hidden Hello!?! Silver Hair?!? Cat Thing?!? Snek?!?! Muscly Guy?!?! Are you here? Sheesh... it's not gonna be good for much longer...

Hans grips his sword, prepared for the worst. One potential hostile, two unknowns. Yu, be on guard. I've yet to meet anyone bearing both hood and mask who has the best intentions.

Yu puts a hand to his sheathed blade ready to draw it. He looks over to Aitome with a surprised but still cautious look. Aitome... It's good to see that you're doing ok but what're you doing here? If you intend to try and stop us then I'd have to ask you to leave. I don't want to hurt you after everything I went through to save you.

"That's kind of rude. I'm a nice person!" Allie huffs and crosses her arms. The blue-masked person gives her a look. "For the love of... Allie, just let me handle this. Anyway, I'm simply here to confirm if a certain rumor is true or not. Something about erasing this place from existence?"

Ah! There you guys are! I was looking all over for you guys! *Aitome then sees the weapons and seems to get a little scared, taking a step back W-wh- stop you? No no no! Im here to.. um.. what do you call it... unearth the pickaxe! See! I even brought you something as a sort of thanks and forgiveness! *Aitome then drops the box off and takes a step back, a plethora of scents drift from it, including a sweet one, a spicy one and.. a scent of nothing?

Hans's grip tightens on the hilt. ...And if this rumor were true? What would you do if I tried to completely wipe this place? Would you try and stop me? Before even knowing the reasons, like so many others before you? Or do you seek to end this place too...? An end that is not justified, is evil to me...

Yu takes his hand off his sheathed blade and walks up to the box glancing at it curiously before looking back to Aitome. A gift...? That wasn't necessary but thanks anyway. I'm not really mad at anyone. If anything, I'm only still doing this to save them all. Yu picks up the box and opens it up curious as to what's inside.

"I'll take that as a yes." He takes out a black crystal and tosses it between his hands. "Sorry, but after what we've been through, nothing will convince us to not oppose you. I hope you understand." "Yeah! Emigo and I won't let something like that happen again!" Allie takes out her own crystal: a pure white one.

Upon opening the box Silver Hair sees that there are 4 sections to it, one of them holds cookies that are scorched to black, just by the scent alone it burns his nose from how many hot spices are in it, as well as the black smoke wafts from it In another section area beautifully drawn on sugar cookies with icing and whip cream decorated all over with tiny portraits of the Rift team, however, there seems to be a couple missing and a lot of crumbs, In the third section is a regular white shortbread cookie, however, that's all he can discern from simply looking at it with the naked eye Hehe... I hope you like them!

Hans lets go of his blade, changing his hand to his belt. How much longer must I be delayed!? Only to meet troubles with ignorant fools, who don't know of their own lingering demise! Hans flips the lever on his belt, as he does so a bright green light flashes, and he is covered in bulky green armor. I won't stand for any further interruptions.

Uh... Thanks, Aitome. Yu puts the lid back on and sets the box down before noticing Hans' transformation as he faces the Chimera Agents. Looks like we're going to have to fight now, though. You don't have to get involved if you don't want to, Aitome. This is our fight. Yu holds up his wrist as his blue bracelet begins glowing. Henshin! The bracelet begins admitting blue energy that gathers around Yu's body before solidifying into a blue set of full body armor. Yu unsheathe his katana as a card forms in his hand glowing with a blue light.

"Whoa... Is he a Power Ranger or something?" Allie points at Hans, still holding her crystal. "I think it's based off something else... Anyway, let's do this." Emigo and Allie hold out their crystals. The moment the gems touch, they begin to glow. "Paradox Dragon!" They shout in unison and throw the fused crystals. A blinding flash obscures them, and once the light clears, in the gems' place is a two-headed dragon. Its white head is rugged, resembling a bearded dragon somewhat, while its dark gray head has soft, black fur on parts of it. Its gray body has a strange eye pattern on the chest.

Aitome sees the approaching fight and backs off rather quickly, taking ahold of her rift weapon and cutting into the air, creating a portal to another world Y-yeah... Im just gonna go! Im glad we could unearth the pickaxe though! Send my regards to the others! *Aitome then steps through the portal and closes it behind her, escaping the battle

ooc: I returneth

Yu crushes the card in his hand as a burst of blue light flashes behind him. From within the blue light, Izanagi-no-Okami emerges with its white cloak flowing and a powerful aura coming off it. The size of the foe doesn't matter... I won't lose! Too many people are counting on me now! Holding his sword over his shoulder Yu holds out his hand towards the dragon as Izanagi-no-Okami lifts itself into the air and faces its two-sided blade towards the beast as it slowly begins spinning it in place. The blade begins to pick up speed as sparks surround it and an electric energy surrounds the spinning blade. As the blade reaches max speed a stream of lightning wildly shoots out from it aimed at the dragon.

Hans walks forward, bracing his arm before it turns into a Gatling Gun. Yu, watch your step! Hans shoots a barrage of green needles at the dragon, the needles should the pierce the skin begin to drain the dragon's energy.

The heads snarl in unison as the electricity strikes the dragon. Paradox Dragon, despite the pain, lunges forward. "Shadow Blast!" "Light Blast!" Its masters shout in unison. The white head sends a ball of light energy at the Persona, while the dark head breathes out a shadowy, shifting sphere.

The needles are barely given any notice. For now.

As the ball of light and ball of shadows heads for Izanagi-no-Okami it begins spinning its blade in their path. The two ball of energy collide with the blade and burst into a flash of light and dark the envelop Izanagi-no-Okami. When it emerges from the two blasts burn marks can be seen on its cloak as it struggles it staggers back down to the ground next to Yu. Seems like it's time to take a different approach to this... Yu resummons Izanagi-no-Okami's card into his hand as he seems to twist his hand slightly. The card dissapears and another takes its place. He crushes the new card within his hand as Izanagi-no-Okami fades away in a blue flash and in a flash of brilliant white another Persona takes its place. From the white flash emerges a horned angelic being with six wings and a white robe, Helel. No more holding back now... Yu rushes forth toward the dragon as he quickly dashes to its side to try and strike down with his sword on the white dragon's neck. Helel meanwhile, flies down towards the dragon's front and attempts to slam its fist directly into the white head.

Hans lets another barrage of needles fly at the dragon, almost scanning as he does so. Come on damn you!

Paradox Dragon leaps back, avoiding the sword strike, but the blow to the white head leaves it stunned. The dark head growls and nudges its other half. It roars as one of the needles strikes its face. "Keep it together! Slash!" At Emigo's command, the dark head takes full control, forcing its body to sink its claws into the angel and attempt to rake through in one swift motion.

Hans smirks. There we are! Hans unleashes a much larger volley at the black head.

The black head is forced to close its eyes as the needles pierce its scales. This gives Yu an opening to slash its underside. A few sparks fly out from the wound, almost as if Paradox Dragon is slightly glitching. It flaps its wings and lands beside its masters. "Aw, poor thing... And this is looking bad... What do we do, Emigo?" Allie plucks out a few needles as she speaks. "Let's leave it up to chance. That's our best bet. Use your ability!" Emigo points at Helel. Paradox Dragon's maws glow with white and black. They fire, combining the attacks to create a beam of ???, which, if it hit, would halve their current vitality.

Hans's tactic remains unchanged, as he continues to fire needles at the dragons black head. Something has to give!

Unable to dodge the attack Helel is struck directly by the beam and pushed back. Its legs start shaking as it no longer floats but resides on the ground and burnt marks can be seen all over its body as blue static seems to be coming off it in a few areas as well. Yu begins looking tired out as well as he breathes heavily under the mask. Thing aren't looking the best for me either... Time for an all or nothing attack. I'll probably be out of energy if this doesn't work so I have to put my all into this! Yu stands up straight as he holds Helel's card in his hand once more. Helel begins holding up the ball of condensed energy as it begins growing to the size of a small sun.[/u] Now! Time for this to end! [i]Yu crushes the card in his hand as Helel disappears in a flash of light. Helel reappears next to him and throws the mass of energy into the air before it comes crashing back down to where the dragon and its masters reside. When it hits it will burst into a mass of almighty energy. With this last attack, Helel fades into a shimmer of light and Yu collapses to his knees out of breath.

Paradox Dragon gathers Allie and Emigo under its body, and braces itself for the incoming blast. The sheer intensity of the explosion sends it to the ground, and even the humans it shields are hurt somewhat. The beast's heads struggle to rise as its breathing becomes labored.

Hans charges at the dragon, and grabs it by the leg. Time for my signature move! Hans lifts the dragon's leg with every ounce of strength he has, in an attempt to lift it over his head.

The dragon is massive, over twice as tall as a human, yet it's so weak that it puts up no resistance to the scientist's attempts.

Upon hitting the ground after that mighty suplex, the dragon's form shatters. A black crystal and white crystal clatter to the ground. Allie and Emigo stumble to their feet. "I guess it was technically a three-on-two... I kind of expected this." Emigo sighs and looks down at his feet. Allie looks at Hans, the crystals, and Hans again, then dashes to pick the gems up.

As Yu lies on the ground a spectral image of Izanagi-no-Okami appears above him as the dragon shatters. A green energy surrounds it as it gives out a loud victory cry before disappearing. Suddenly the aura surrounds Yu as well and his eyes shoot open as he slowly gets up. He stands on his feet and looks at his hands before turning back to the fight. Seems like my last effort to change to Izanagi-no-Okami wasn't in vain... Though still, that's always a bit of a head rush.

Hans brushes off his armor. Now if you're quite done...

Allie snatches up the crystals, then tosses one to Emigo. He catches it with one hand and pockets it. "Very well. You two have won, so we shall take our leave. Perhaps we should convince the boss to give us more monsters... Although I doubt they trust us enough to do that." Emigo shrugs. "Either way, farewell." He waves, and the duo walk away, off to who knows where.

Hans returns to normal as soon as the duo are out of sight. Back to business. Surely all of that fighting excited it... Hans pulls out his compass.

Yu picks up the box and walks back over to Hans. He glances at the compass unsure of how it might work but also curious enough to ask. Is that compass what we need to find the shard? I didn't think we could find it with something like that unless the same properties as the blue variant apply to the final variant.

Hans clasps the compass shut. They all function with the compass. More importantly, it is in fact in this location.

Yu Looks around wondering where the last variant could be. Perhaps deeper underground? Never the less he was unsure as to It's exact location. So, do we have to dig for it? Or is there an easier way to find it?

Hans picks up a shovel, plunging it into the wall. I will have to continue my work excavating it. You may leave, I will give you notice once I have found the final variant.

Yu Looks over to Hans with worry. Will you be fine doing this by yourself. I'd hate to leave you with all the work.