A barrier. Hexagons of light, so much like the cones of a beehive, tessellated before her in the form of a shield. It brought Nao up short, its sudden appearance a source of confusion and surprise, but only for the barest of moments. [i]Rakukaja[/i], her soul sang out, the information finding its way into her mind with little to no issue. Was this knowledge afforded to her by the ethereal manifestation ([i]the Persona[/i]) she had summoned? She did not know, but its presence was welcome. Brown eyes flickered towards her left for an instant, and relief filled her. Fujisawa was conscious ... safe and conscious, and if the spirit floating above his body ([i]Hermes, the emissary of the gods, the deepest corners of her very self recognised it to be[/i]) was any indication, he too had found himself in possession of a similar power.

As had so many of the others. The foul-mouthed girl who had taken leadership ([i]Izuki[/i]). The blinded woman who had sought out the horrifying beast's weaknesses ([i]Mari[/i]). The youth with the dyed-red hair. Fujisawa, who had chosen to fight on even after his blow to the head.

"[color=a36209]Thank you, Fujisawa,[/color]" she said, the three words escaping her mouth through the pain that still gripped her very body. Her skin continued to feel as if it was being pricked by an endless swarm of insects. Every muscle screamed for release from the sore agony. Yet it did not matter to her. She could not allow it to affect her. She needed to fight.

Needed to so that the others could survive.

The possibility of which was increasing with the addition of more supernatural powers to their ... repertoire. In another time and place, Nao would have scoffed at such occurrences, or at least been overwhelmed by the sheer incredulity of their position. However, their lives were at risk. The monstrous hound, three-headed, disgusting, still loomed over them, threatening to kill them as easily as it did to those innocent, frozen souls. She had nearly died herself. The flames spurting from its maw had nearly taken them earlier. Her focus, then, was entirely on surviving. On fighting.

On protecting everybody.

There was no time to mourn. No time to think. There was only one objective: to neutralise the threat as [i]quickly as possible[/i].

The compass, cold in her hands, spun once more.

The needle hissed as it landed upon the beast once more.

She would not relent her assault.

"[color=a36209]Dikē, Zan once more![/color]"

Her goddess complied, crimson eyes flashing from behind its mask of stars as it fired off another impact wave towards the monster hound, the attack following on the heels of her previous shot. She could feel a drain upon something deep within her. She did not know how long she would be capable of maintaining the barrage, but they needed to defeat the monster.

They needed to.