[center][h3]Nick Waller[/h3]
[hr]
[/center]

Nick clumsily stumbled in surprise as he saw the Shadow be absorbed in Odradek's webs, the hulking monstrosity's momentum being halted almost instantly. What gave him even more surprise was the new figure that appeared, lead pipe in hand, rushing in to help take down his Shadow with a snarky line about Nick's admittedly low-power weapon. Raising an eyebrow, he shrugged as he walked forward, wincing a bit as Lorenzo beat at the giant with his makeshift weapon. "Yeah, I don't think I really get a choice on that one." 

The voice in his head didn't give him any useful hints on that one, though, so Nick figured he'd have to check in with Spindle later, see if she had any advice. For now, he had more pressing matters to deal with. Dropping the P90 from his hand, Nick mentally called upon his warhammer, and definitely did not let out an unmanly sound of alarm when the weapon, heft and all, appeared in his hand as if by magic. Shaking his head, he stalked forward and gave a two-handed swing to the now-kneeling Shadow's face. 

"Fuck you!" He shouted, anger getting the best of him. "I won't become a monster like you! Like [i]her![/i]" Another swing, bloodying the thing's face and causing it to struggle more violently against its bonds. "I'm not like them! I WON'T BECOME THEM!" Smashing his hammer downwards into the thing's skull, Nick seethed, breaths coming in heavily as his mind whirled with long-suppressed guilt and self-hatred. "I'm not...I'm not a monster..." He whispered, looking at the thing in front of him. "And you can't make me one." 

[i]Excellent. Now. Say my name. Reach into yourself and call upon me![/i] Nick's head throbbed for a moment, but his hand went to his chest instead of his head. Something told him that this voice wasn't speaking metaphorically, and in this weird messed up mirror world where people summoned guns and giant monsters and magical powers seemed to exist, what harm could listening to the voice in your head do?

No, don't answer that question. Nick ignored that de-railing train of thought and gritted his teeth, mentally and physically pushing himself as his hand and arm sunk into his chest, coming out after a moment with a clump of tar roughly shaped like a human heart, beating in his hand. "Okay what the fuuuuuuuuuckkk..." Nick whispered, before shaking his head and closing his eyes, crushing the thing in his hand. 

When he did, shadows seemed to burst forth from the heart of tar, only to be washed away a moment later by blue flames, and behind Nick, an immensely tall and imposing figure stood. Only a silhouette, no matter the angle it was viewed from, the androgynous creature's body was obscured by a shadowy, wavering poncho, and a similarly dark sombrero covered its head. In one hand was held a walking stick, appropriately sized for the immense Persona. If one was observant and watched for its eyes, they would find a pair of piercing blue eyes locked solidly onto Nick's Shadow as the boy turned back to the monster. 

"I don't have to become you, become a monster, just to get what I want." He knew it was more complicated than that, but he didn't have to be a doormat. He could fight back without alienating and hurting people. 

"DARK WATCHER!" Nick shouted, pointing at his Shadow. "DESTROY IT!" 

[i]"Very well."[/i] The Persona replied dispassionately, raising its walking stick. The Shadow struggled and writhed in its bindings, but as Dark Watcher strode forward, it seemed to recognize that its time had come, its struggles slowing. Nick turned to Lorenzo, who'd helped wound the thing, and gestured at him to get the hell out of the way if he wasn't already doing so. 

As the Dark Watcher reached Nick's Shadow, it brought down its walking stick with a sickening crack, dark energy seeming to radiate off both of them, as the Shadow dissolved into what looked like tar and ash. In a flash of blue flames like the one that heralded its arrival, the Dark Watcher vanished, and Nick collapsed onto his butt, sucking in great gulps of air. 

"Holy...shit...dude...." He gasped, carefully laying down to his back. "Feels like I...ran a marathon..."