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Chapter Text

This is a work of fiction

All of the characters, ideologies, and phenomenons are doubtlessly unrelated to those in real life...

Only those who agree with the statement above will be given the right to participate in the game…

….

...I see…

The world these days is unable to maintain its ideal form anymore. It is full of distortions and it will certainly collide…

People who are eager to reform the world and resist their fates…are sometimes called "tricksters"...

Thou, trickster…now it's time for you to step forward and face the abyss of the distortions...

~Hey… Hey...HEY!~

...

~Akira...~

...

~KIRA, Wake up!~

Slowly rising, the person in question opened his eyes slightly. The first thing he sees is a boy, not older than him, floating… yes floating beside him, with a look of concern on his face. The boy consisted of a Dark violet jacket and black shorts with matching loafers, with the more prominent features being the double irises in his eyes, the silver hair, and the long thin tail waving around his back. For some reason the boy couldn't find why… he felt something calming despite the situation he was in... like he knew he could trust the floating boy. Scanning his surroundings, the Raven haired Male finds himself within a small, dullen box of a room, the only thing indicating it as such being a small table, a chair, and a door that seems to be mocking the two with it's mere existence...

~You okay man? They fucked you up pretty badly?~ the floating being asked. ~Akira… you've got to stay with me here. I'll help you get through this, Do you remember me?~

Akira, that boy mentioned, slowly nodded, ignoring the sting of pain dancing along his battered and bruised body. "A... Arata?"

~Okay... Okay good, you're not too far gone... I'm trying to flush out this drug they shot in ya, but it'll take some time...~

~Now, you might not remember this… or anything for that matter… 'cause they drugged you. So you'll probably have a hard time recalling anything. Thankfully, it seems to be temporary~

"H-Hello?"

The Raven haired boy, now named Akira, thought. the floating male, now named Arata, perked up at the mental ping of their voice.

~Kira? Ok, so at least this still works...~

"W-What happened?"

~...Weeeelllll...~

(Minor Flashback)

*Joker What the Hell Are you Doing!?* a static like voice echoed out, ringing within the ear of the man in question...

~Go Ninja Go Ninja Go-!~

Both Akira and Arata, spun and danced, weaving to and fro against various obstacles, debris... and shadowy builds of Masked bodyguards. stomping upon their heads akin to stepping stools, the two tangoed and swung around, unleashing a hail of bullets and magic around them, causing an uproar of chaos in their wake.

~it started out great... don't know how, but we found out more on out last "job" from our new friends...~

"Why do we always catch you two doing the Weirdest damned things!? We left you alone for 5 MINUTES!" A red haired woman in black, shouts out, swerving aside from a strike from a jaguar monster

~Baby Please, it's not what you think!~ The masked floater shouts out, shooting out a blast of darkness at a group of enemies.

"Fight Now, Bitch Later!" The Male named "Joker", shouts out, swinging over and swerves out of a sword swipe, delivering a devastating roundhouse to the Surprised Snake man creature.

~Everything went to plan... until it didn't...~

"Freeze! Put your hands where I can see them!" numerous Brigades shout out, aiming their guns at the two, the two caught in question, both looked at each other, shrug in unison, and point at each other.

"I Plead The 5th!"

~and that's how we ended up here...~

Nodding again, the boy looked at the door, which started to open.

~oh, Remember… only  you  can hear and see me right now, so don't bring attention to me. That'll make things harder to get you out. If you need to talk, then think it out!~

A final nod was his answer as a silver haired woman entered the room with what seems to be a binder. Arata scowled at the sight of the familiar woman as she sat down.

"Akira Amamiya-Kurusu... So… it was you All along." the woman started, "To think that you were the leaders of the Phantom Thieves… no matter."

"..."

"I'm only here because you've helped both me and my sister in the past… and I… may have taken things too far before... I have yet to do so, but I'd like to start by... apologizing for my behavior before. I know this is hard for you… but…"

~this bitch again… stay wary of this lady, Kira. she's part of the reason you're here...~ Arata whispers.

"...Nevermind. Do you remember who I am?" a rather hesitant shake of his head made her sigh in slight frustration. "What the hell did they do to you... I am Sae Nijima, your prosecutor, Do you remember that name?"

A slow nod ushered her to continue. "Now look, I care for you, okay?"

~could've fooled me…~

"I can help you out with this, but I need your cooperation. As long as you tell me everything, completely honest with no lies or tricks this time, then I'll do what I can to lighten your sentence for you."

~Heh, that's more of an Ultimatum than a proposal.~

"Look, I managed to weasel my way through the channels to get to you first, and the most I have on this is 4 hours to get the answers I need, so we'll have to keep things quick. Start from when this all began… What exactly happened-"

"...You wouldn't understand." Akira finally answered, turning away from the investigator.

"Then make me understand. I want to help you."

~bullshit.~

"And to do that, I need your cooperation."

A few seconds of silence echoed through the room, until Akira finally sighed as he nodded.

~Alright Kira, let's start the plan. It started on April~

"...It all started on…"

You're a slave

a "destined slave" whose future is already sealed

this is an extremely unreasonable game…and you have almost no chance to win…

however, if you can hear my voice, then there's still some hope left…

…please. Win this game…and save the world.

The key to reversing your fate is the bonds from your memory…

the revived truth you grasped with your friends…

everything began half a year ago…the day when this game started…

please, recall your memories…for the future of the world…and for yourself

months ago…

April 9th

*Thank you for using this line today. We will soon arrive at Shibuya, Shibuya. This is the last stop. Please transfer at this station if you would like to use the subway lines*

The moving train in which Akira Amamiya-Kurusu, a 16 year old Raven haired male, boarded in slowed to a halt as the passengers inside flowed out of the machine's the constant stuttering whispers from the pedestrians around him, He fished out his phone, looking at the time on the device.

~Hey, Kira, where are we again?~ a voice in his head asked. ~we were supposed to head to this "LeBlanc" place right?~

"Yeah. I know, we're close by it Arata." the boy answered not even looking at the pale floating boy to his side.

~alrighty then, lets-~ Arata chants out, slowing to a stop as he turns to see Akira looking at his phone

"Hey, what's this app?" Akira asked.

~huh?~ the newly christened Arata mumbled, looking at the phone in the male's hand. A weird and unsettling looking app in the image of an eye took up most of the screen. ~i don't like the looks of this… but it feels oddly familiar.~

"Familiar? Why does a creepy looking app give off a familiar feeling ..to… um.."

~what?~ Akira looks around the area and was starting to get worried as everything seemed to slow to a stop around him.

"What's going on?"

~how should I know?~

"You're the expert on this kind… of…" he trailed off, looking in front of him, which prompted Arata to do the same. Right in front of the two, was an exact replica of Akira, gazing with a sinister grin on his face as he suddenly bursts into azure flames.

Blinking a few times, Akira looked around to find that everything was in motion again and nothing seemed to catch on fire around him. "...weird. I may be more tired than I-"

~HOLY CRAP!~

"Huh!?" slightly jumping at the floating partner's yelp, he turned to him slightly. A panicked look etched on his face.

~your stats! Where'd they go!?~

"My stats? What happened to them?" he whispered.

~IT'S ALL GONE! All of our hard work and Progress, Gone!~

"What!?" He shouts, gaining some unwanted attention in the process. "... let's get to Leblanc's first, this is starting to get tiring…and embarrassing."

~yeah. You'd need some rest if I get trapped in your hallucination of all things.~

"Let me see my stats."

~sure thing.~ a soft ping like noise rung in his ears as a black and red screen appeared in front of them.

Akira R. Amamiya-Kurusu

Lv. 1

Hp: 210

Sp:200

Guts (Rnk 1): 0/10

Kind (Rnk 1): 0/10

Prof (Rnk 1): 0/10

Chrm (Rnk 1): 0/10

Intl (Rnk 1): 0/10

"...FUCK!" he shouts as he sprints to the given directions he was told to go.

After an eventful Interaction between Both Akira and Arata meeting their ward in question, a local barista named Sojiro Sakura, alongside the narrow slip that nearly got them kicked out completely, the two now spend their time cleaning up the pig-sty he was given as a room. After most of their work cleaning the walking areas and work desk, they fully managed to fit their luggage within a nearly broken bookcase.

Sighing, Arata takes out a black box from the remaining luggage and opens it for the room to see, revealing a small framed picture of six individuals; both He and Akira were at the forefront, both sides flanked by two more pairs, one with a little brunette and a silver haired teenager in gothic Lolita attire, and a young male with Red hair, hanging off the shoulder of a much taller blonde female in a red jacket and shorts.

~You think they're alright?~ Arata asks aloud, hanging the photo on the now clean desk near the corner.

"They should be... at the very least we know for a fact that they're safe and sound..." Akira Said, moving a few objects back onto the newly cleaned shef-

*BANG*

~SHIT! My bad!~

A sudden crash echoes through the room, startling Akira into dropping a book in his hands. Blinked rapidly, he clutches his mouth in his hands, backing away from the direction of the sudden noise, seeing brief instances of before... the screaming, the deafening sound of a gunshot, the dark red Ichor that drizzled down their hands... the face of regret and surprise immobilized on the man's face as he looks at-

~Hey, HEY! None of that! Kira, Breathe...~

what? but... why, that man was on top of him, how exactly could he breathe when all he could see, smell and taste were... red... red... RED-

~AKIRA. Look at me... count to 10 for me, alright!?~

"ten?" Akira thought... what an odd request.. but that... that he can do... maybe the man on him will get up at Ten...

One...
Two...
Three...
Four...
Fi-Oh the weight is gone... but the man's still there... wait... how is that- No, No... where was he?
Six...
Seven...
Eight- Oh, the Screams are back... isn't that just lovely, they're trying to make him lose count... jokes on them, disembodied screams- No wait, he recognized those screams... he's getting off track again...
Nine...
Ten. See, that was easy- Who the hell is that Pink man?

"H...y...d!"

Oh god, it's another old guy yelling at him... as if there wasn't enough of that going around...

"Kid... et...p...ase!"

"Speak up old man, I already got it drilled into me that it's My fault that he-..." Akira thought, nearly falling back into the spiral of madness

"Akira!" a loud voice broke him out of his train of thought, jumping at the closeness of said voice Akira blinks once more, no longer at the store he was in... no longer a Junes... No longer in his hometown... and staring at the worried (Arata) and Concerned (Sojiro) looks that now filled his vision...

"Kid, Are you back? c'mon, breathe with me here..." Sojiro orders, placing his hands on Akira's shoulders. "Breathe in... Breathe out..." doing as instructed the corners of his vision lighten up, no longer trapping him in a darkened frame of view with each inhale and exhale.

"h-Huh?" Akira muttered out, looking around the small attic space once again.

"Alright, good, you're back... gave me one hell of a scare there..." Sojiro sighed.

~You alright, Kira, you had another panic attack on me...~

"Yeah... Yeah, I-I think I'm good..." "S-Sorry about that..."

"Look, I didn't know much of the details about your... predicament.. but I'm starting to believe that there more to it than just you being a "delinquent prick that too it too far"... How long has... this, been going on for..." Sojiro asked, cupping his chin. "... and how frequent?"

"...half a year... and not too much... just the occasional slip up."

~This is the first panic attack since the last 4 months... and we just GOT here too... i don't like the feeling of this...~

"Kid, I've seen enough of that shit to know that it's a lot more than just "Occasional" with these sorts of things. But that does... change some things with this arrangement..." Sojiro sighs, pulling out his phone and typing on it. "Here, put this number in your phone; if another one of these "slip-ups" happen, you try to call me, but ONLY if there's no other choice, Got it? I'm no damn shrink."

"Um... Okay..." Akira nods, putting in the digits within his contacts as the elder gave him a look.

"Don't give me that tone, Here I though I was gonna keep a leash on some ungrateful brat, not someone who has been through some form of trauma... it begs the question though..." Sojiro said, putting his phone away not long after and plopping a few things on the desk. "What the hell happened that got you to now... don't answer that."

turning to leave, Sojiro looks around the newly cleaned room and smirked, nodding at the boy's handiwork. "Not a bad job on the room though, Kid. everything up here's free game to you; keep it, or throw it out if you want, I don't care... and... try not to cause too many problems while you're here, okay?"

Getting signed up into a Highschool called Shujin Academy was NOT as intense as the two though it would be the next day. After being introduced to the teachers and Principal, mentally preparing multiple egg jokes at the head administrator in the process, and finally, finally freaking out with Arata over the stat reset on the ride back home, both Akira and Arata called it a night and softly slammed his tired body on the makeshift bed in his little paradise. Both sighs as Akira took out his phone, making a face when he opens it to find that mysterious Eye app once more... deleting it once again, the two slowly closed their eyes, and embraced the temporary darkness of slumber...

Opening his eyes, Akira immediate first instinct was to jump up and scream... or deck the nearest living thing within range... unfortunately, there was only one other person for that, as his fist connects to Arata's jaw, sending the now floating boy spiraling into the air as if he were in space. the spectral roommate's cry of pain was drowned out as Akira freaks out at the rather familiar looking place he found himself in.

"Oh god... OH GOD NO!"

~Kira, calm down, we're not in juvie!~ Arata shouts, taking the male's attention from his initial freak-out.

"W-what?" he whimpered weakly.

~this just  looks  like a prison.~

"Then why are my clothes like this!" he asks, gesturing to the iconic Black and white shirt and trousers he wore, shackles and chains dangled and chimed with each movement. "And why aren't you wearing this!?"

~because I'm awesome, and they won't work on me. we've been ove-... We're not alone…~ Arata said abruptly, snarling at the space behind Akira as what appears to be several glowing hands orbit around him

Looking at the only open area in front of his… cell… stood a pristine mahogany desk in the dead center of the Blue tinted room, an odd, demonic looking man with a rather perturbingly long nose sat in front of it with his unsettling Cheshire grin.

"Welcome, trickster and friend, to the velvet room." the goblin man greets in a deep, deceptively smooth voice.

~holy shit, that's his voice!?~ Arata barked, the hands disappearing at his surprise.

"W-where am I!? Who are you!?"

"I am Igor, resident of this place. And these two are my assistants." with a snap of his fingers, two more people entered the teen's view. The two look on at the rather adorable sight: twin girls, no older than 10, wearing a warden themed ensemble with eye patches covering one side of their eye each. The only difference they could see were the hairstyles of the two, the one on the right had twin buns, while the other had hers in a braid. "To your right is Caroline, to your left, Justine."

"You'd have better got it memorized, Inmates!" the girl on the right, Caroline, hissed.

"Our job is to aid you on your quest." the girl on the left, Justine, continued in a monotonous voice.

~Aww… you two are just so cute! I just wanna pinch your little heads off!~ Arata cooed, proceeding to lightly pinch the two...

*BONK*

~AGH!~ before Caroline smack him over the head with a baton she pulled out of nowhere.

"Take us seriously!" The Assaulter in question screamed out, waving her weapon as menacingly as a 5 year old holding a gun in a random direction with their hand on the trigger.

~well someone's not getting a cookie…~

"time is short, so I shall be brief. With your current progression, you are surely headed towards ruin."

"Ruin? What do you mean?" Akira says, shoving Arata back before his hair could get yanked by the petite terror growling at him.

"Your path will lead to disaster by the end, as well as the world. However, you possess the potential of changing such a fate. The only way out of this ruin is through a process called rehabilitation." Igor mentions, pulling out what appears to be a small booklet and a quill pen.

"What? what would even have to happen to cause all that to happen in the future?"

~rehab? Oh god, it is juvie all over again…~

"To avoid such a fate, you must sign this contract." at the snap of his fingers, Justine handed the males the booklet, retrieving it from her master's desk before returning to the cage, alongside the pen to sign with. "That contract states that you must take full responsibility for your actions whilst your rehabilitation is in progress. Breaking this rule will end your rehabilitation and you must redo the procedure entirely, something you cannot afford to do with such a limited time... All I need for you to do is to sign to confirm your resolve."

~you're not gonna take our souls, are you birdman?~

"B-Birdman!?" the stoic voice of Justine repeats, a slight crack evident by the sudden name.

"How dare you!" Caroline barked, smacking the cage in which both teens were in.

Chuckling at the events unfolding, Igor shook his head. "Nothing of the sort, young one. you could say the exact opposite, but who really knows?"

"... I'm guessing I don't really have a choice in the matter, do I? Apparently that's everybody's favorite catchphrase recently..." Looking over the contract, Akira signed his name on the parchment, handing over the pen to Arata once he was finished.

~oh, fine. I'll sign it. You think I should go as Jolly Roger, Dumpcumpster or Scatman Johnny?~ he cheered, getting a smack in the back of the head from Akira and gaping and gasping faces from the two petite wardens acting as carp.

"You are not doing that!"

~alright, alright! Hmm… I got it! Dante... From devil may cr-!~

"Are you serious right now!?" Akira hissed, smacking Arata in the back. "Stop it, I'm trying my best not to laugh here.."

~Yeah, you're right, that sound's overrated. Alright then, Aratakaja Beldirever… there.~

Another snap of his fingers teleported the contract to Igor himself, his unsettling smile never fading in the least. "The night is waning, so I shall let you rest Trickster. We will meet again soon, Wildcard." Igor stated, before the world went black once more.

Now in a black void, the only two people left were Arata and Akira, the former seemed to be deep in thought.

"Arata? What's wrong?" Akira asked.

~oh nothing just...something's… off.~

"Off?"

~I've been to that place before, and I know Igor, we've seen him before but...something's definitely wrong…~

"...like?" Akira asked, while he DID technically see him beforehand, once or twice a long time ago, it wasn't like he remembered everything down to the T... hell he didn't even speak once during the times Akira did spot him...

~for one, unless the Birdman's balls finally dropped, I don't remember him having a voice that deep. That Can't be a Coincidence or a first time thing...~ Arata stated, orbiting around the teen in the black void of nothing. ~And those two lolis we've met earlier… they feel… the best term for this would be incomplete… damaged... broken...~

"Hmm… well, you said that you were in the velvet room before right? Do you know what that means? if I'm in there as well i mean..."

~Igor and his attendants….. contracts... Wildca- Oh my god.~

"What?"

~What are the odds that you got this after him again?~

"What? What is it?"

~... okay look, remember that name Beaky said at the end there; Wild Card? Does that ring a bell?~

"hmm..." Akira though back for any instance of such, noticing that he managed to hear that used as a term in one way or another... "Yeah... Wasn't Narukami called that by Ms. Margaret or something?"

~Igor had other attendants before Loli one and two back then, I mainly heard about it from them, but yeah, Looks like we might be hearing that term a LOT more than before this time around… now that you mention it… Where WERE Marg, Liz and Theo?~

"The trio? I though they found jobs in Inaba?"

~the other attendants… we've only seen them IN Inaba so far, but we know that they go to somewhere called the velvet room when they have to... but why weren't they there this time?…~

"Well, let's not worry about that for now."

~right.~

Monday, April 11

Rainy

Shujin Academy

morning

Walking in the morning sprinkle, Akira strolled down the streets of the bustling city, Arata lazily floating behind him. After a brief discussion over a curry breakfast from Sojiro, The two set out for their first day of school. during the cramped half hour it took from the train station, the two made their way down the street, engaging in a brief talk with this Blonde girl named Ann along the way, only for a car to drive on up, revealing some creep beckoning the now named Ann to said car and they drove off, taking her to school, the two sighed at the morning they're having, not noticing the blonde male slinking his way up behind them.

"Hey newbie!" the male shouts, startling both males at the close proximity of the voice. Turning around, they became face to face with a male not much older than them with blonde, spiky hair and what appears to be the exact same uniform Akira was wearing. "Aw man, I was too late Dammit!"

"Oh hello…" Akira yelps out, looking at he blond watch the Car drive off in the distance

"Screw that pervy teacher…"

~pervy? So when he asked you for a ride, was he coming onto us or something-~ Arata stopped when he heard a soft ping near his ears.

"SOOO... was that like your girlfriend or something?"

"Eh!?" The Hedgehog delinquent sneered, turning towards the spectacled Student. "So what about you, huh? Come to rat me out to that Shitlord?"

"I literally just got here." Akira retorted, stepping back from the sudden space that was breached by the yelling blonde. "I don't even know you, let alone rat you out for… something?"

"... foreal? You serious?"

"Uh… yeah?"

"You don't know that guy? Suguru Kamoshida?"

"Was he the creepy guy in the car?"

"... oh god, you really don't know… wait… right, the transfer!" the blonde boy cheered up. "You're heading to Shujin academy right? I know a shortcut from here." another ping from somewhere, but Arata kept looking around for it.

~what the…~

"The Name's Ryuji by the way. Ryuji Sakamoto." the newly named Ryuji greeted.

"OH, um... Akira Amamiya-Kurusu. I go by either Akira, Kiren or Ren."

"Alright. Nice to meet ya Akira. come on, I'll show you the way." Ryuji stated, walking ahead with the partners in tow. As time went on, Ryuji informed both of them about the ongoing rumors going on in the school, which lead to Ryuji ranting on about Kamoshida again. Various pings went off once more, but for the life of Arata, he couldn't pick up where they were coming from... until Akira bumps into the side of a building on a turn, nudging his phone just a bit outwards, revealing a hint of red on the screen.

~huh?~ Arata whispers, floating closer to the pocket. ~what's goin on here? it kinda feels like-~

"That Bastard really pisses me the eff off." Ryuji growls, kicking aside a trashcan, nudging it slightly to the side.

~eff? You're cursing like a sailor and you say eff?~ Arata snickers, the thought momentarily forgotten.

"Just who the hell does he think he is, some king of a castle or something? That'd be a really shitty castle if that's the case."

A third ping sounded off, but this time a voice followed suit, leading Arata to Akira's phone as it softly vibrated.

*Destination found, beginning navigation*

A wave of dizziness flowed to the two males, Arata not being affected, but they merely shrugged it off and continued forward.

~So that's what it was doing... wait.. what did it mean by Beginning navigation?~

"...uh…"

"What the hell!?" Ryuji proclaimed.

~huh…~ Arata uttered.

After a few minutes of walking through alleyways, the three eventually made it to their destination. The problem however, was that instead of the school they were supposed to see, in its place stood a castle, a rather weird looking one at that.

~well ain't this just a kerfuckle?~ Arata complained, floating besides Akira once more.

"Hey, watch yo- Wh-what the hell!?" Ryuji said, jumping at the sight of Arata floating beside him.

~...what's Ryuji jumping around for now?~

"Who are you? Why are you floating and how do you know my name!?" Ryuji replied, his disbelief stacking on top of his panic.

~huh? Yo Kira, who's he talking to?~

"I'm talking about you!" he answers, pointing to Arata who suddenly gets a look of surprise on his face.

~What do you mean m-~ Arata stops... blinks... then slowly points at himself ~you...can see me?~

"Hell yeah I can see you! Were you stalking us or something!?"

"Calm down Ryuji, he's a friend of mine." Akira answered this time, attempting to calm him down. "His name is Arata, he's… a special friend you see. Only I can interact with him…"

~until now that is… Hey Kira, look at your phone...~

"Huh, why?" he asked, fishing out his phone as instructed, looking like he got bitch slapped. Akira looked on at the red and Black eye flashing on the entirety of the screen.

~that app again...… I think I figured out how we got here.~

"Hey Kira… Arata… I think I got it too." Ryuji said, showing the same thing on his phone.

"What?"

"HALT!" a new voice bellowed, startling all three of them, turning around, they say a few knights with what looked like poorly made masks covering their faces instead of helmets.

"Who the hell are these guys?" Ryuji questioned. Looking back, Akira and Arata were back to back as the three were surrounded by six to eight of the knights

~...Aw shit.~

"Arata?" Akira said suddenly, pointing at the guards... "mind channeling a few blasts?"

~On it!~ Arata nods, glowing a dark purple as Akira's hands flowed with the same energy

"By orders of the king, I command you to Surrend-AAAGH!" One of the guards suddenly yelps in pain, several of them being shot point blank by a black beam of darkness. the remaining ones, yells outward charging the three.

"Eldritch Blast!" Akira shouts, channeling more and more black beams as the knights kept up their pursuit.

~what is it with people and locking us up in cages!?~ Arata groaned. The three were now in some sort of prison cell.

"Whoa man! Is this for real!?" Ryuji yelled out, full blown panic in his voice. "Let us out man!"

~Kira's stats are reset, I don't know about you, and I don't think I can last long if they send millions of them at me by myself…~

"Stats?"

~don't worry about it.~

"No way man! First you're mumbling shit about Stats, before that you were shooting shadow beams everywhere-" he points to Akira, "Then you two Weren't at all surprised about being here, What's going on!?"

"Silence peasants!" a new yet familiar voice yelled back, a new person appearing before them… which lead to Akira and Ryuji looking in horror and disgust while Arata screamed and attempted to claw his face at the sight. In front of them was the very same man who tried to get Akira into the car with him, the same man Ryuji hated, the very Kamoshida… wearing nothing but cape and a pink speedo.

~My eyes! I'M BLIND!~ Arata screamed hysterically, clawing roughly at his eye at the hideous sight

"K-Kamoshida!?"

"gross ." Akira stated, closing his eyes as he looks away.

"I don't have to take that from plebeian shits like you!"

~They're BLEEDING!~

"Just what the hell's going on!?" Ryuji screamed out, kicking the bars of the cell they were in.

"I'll tell you what's going on! You're going to be executed!"

"What!?"

"Huh!?"

~Oh Why does my eyes forsake me so!~

"Alright, shut that bitch up, it's starting to annoy me! then start with the blonde one." Kamoshida ordered, several knights opening the cage as they piled in.

~the fuck you call me- WHOA!~ He shouts before getting dog-piled by a few Knights... before, promptly exploding as Akira shoots out a wave of blue energy.

~Did you guys seriously try to DOGPILE me!?~

More knights flowed into the room, to which Arata continues to shoot them with multiple beams of various colors, some burning, some freezing, others warping and hitting the ground from suddenly being places in the air, and other random effects. Unfortunately, several knights managed to tank through the onslaught and it wasn't long before they managed to successfully dogpile him completely. Ryuji tried punching one in the face, but ends up clutching his hand in pain as a few knights held Ryuji by the throat and arms as others restrained Akira, propping both onto the wall.

~CRAP!~ Arata shouts out, muffled from within the pile.

"Now be sure to kill him slowly." Kamoshida chuckled. "I love to watch him writhe in agony before they die!"

"No!" Akira shouts, managing to break free and readies another black beam, but was held back again as the spell fires, hitting Kamoshida in the leg as the gold eyed man howls in pain.

"Dammit, that hurts like HELL!, After you're done with the blonde brat, I call dibs on the four eyed twink there!"

~Get the fuck off me!~ Arata roared before several more joined the pile. Akira watched in horror as one of the knights raised one of their swords near Ryuji's throat. All of a sudden, everything seemed to slow down to a halt again, this time it dimmed into a darker realm, the world around him silencing and dimming until it was almost pitch black. A rather soothing voice echoed through his mind.

This is truly and unjust game…

Your chances of winning are almost none…

But, if you can hear my voice…

There may yet be a possibility for you…

A rather elegant looking butterfly fluttered around him in a mystical trance, landing upon his face. Then a darker, deeper voice echoed in his mind.

~indeed, this is an unjust game, isn't it? No matter how hard you try, you're always forced to submit.~

~Thine heart burns with a righteous fury, but under the influence of the world snuffed to embers.~

~Tell me...~

~Are thou going to let this stand?~

"N-NO... I'm not-"

~Are thou going to give up?~

"N-NO... NO! Hell NO!" Akira shouts, repeating this over and over with more emotion in each verse. "I'm Not going to stand for this! I'm Not letting it end Here... Not now!... NOT EVER!"

~That's All I needed to hear!~

~an admirable resolve indeed...~

~Well then, Vow to me your True resolve!~

The voice cackles and echoes within his mind, a sudden pang of pain courses through his body, pulsing through his veins as a familiar twang of power fills him to the brim with energy... black wisps dance around his form, slapping and slicing through his bound state, dissipating the knights in front of him... then more began swirling through him; the licks of flame, the formation of ice crystals, the sparks of lightning, the howls of wind, the flash of light and the pulse of two separate forces orbit through and around him, levitating his form as a pure white mask begins forming on his screaming face.

~I am Thou... Thou art I...~

~Thou who art willing to perform such sacrilegious acts for thine own justice, call upon my name and unleash thy rage!~

~Show the strength of thy will to ascertain all on thine own, though thou be chained to hell itself!~

~Now Go forth, and unleash Thy True Name!~

"PERSONA!" Akira roared, the white mask bursts into flames on his face, the rainbow inferno enveloping him until it revealed a black and white mask adorning his face. The sudden burst of power seemed to send him back to the real world, however, as the guards holding Ryuji staggered back, freeing him and shocking Kamoshida.

"What the hell!?" the speedo wearing weirdo whimpered in surprise, looking in fear at the mask wearing male.

Feeling his face and discovering the mask, Akira began to tear the attachment off his face, his face bleeding heavily as ripping flesh was heard. Finally ripping the thing off, the male was engulfed in azure flames once again, this time cackling as the blaze took over him. The cackling got deeper and more sinister as the flames enlarged, revealing what scared both Ryuji and Kamoshida.

The being looked like a cross between a butler and a demon, with a blood red tuxedo like body and Black top-hat, along with the demonic looking claws, obsidian colored chains and black wings, the scariest feature was its face as it held eyes that screamed death and carnage as it gazed on the other occupants in the room.

The flames died down after the demon thing's reveal, revealing Akira grinning maniacally, his own changes visible as well. Instead of the student uniform he wore before he now wore a black suit with leather armor, a black tailcoat and crimson gloves completing the look.

~Hell Yeah!~ Arata yelled from the pile he was under. ~Hey Kira, a little help please.~

~Attack! Destroy them all! Let thy rage to your heart's content!~ the demonic entity roared.

"Ravage them All to the abyss, Arsene!" Akira shouts, swinging one of the many chains at the guards. The now dubbed Arsene cackled as he shot out black and red beams of energy towards the group, not only taking out most of the guards, but freeing Arata as well.

~alright, now it's my turn!~ Arata roared. ~this is for dogpiling on me, you shits!~ shooting out his hands, beams of dark blue energy blasted forth, freezing and dissipating all but one guard and Kamoshida, who was to paralyzed with fear at the sight before him to do anything.

Looking at the last guard, both nodded before Akira points at the remaining one.

"Eldritch Blast."

Seven black beams shot outward, hitting it square in the chest as it dissipates from the sudden onslaught. Looking at the scene before them, Arata grabbed Ryuji and Akira and bolted out the cell, closing and locking Kamoshida in, who just regained his bearings afterwards.

"What the hell! Get me out of here." the king yelled.

~let's go before more of those guys arrive, I do not want to get in another dogpile anytime soon.~

"Right." Akira nodded, sighing as Arsene disappeared, his white mask with black accents reforming on his face.

"Hang on, I have SEVERAL questions!" Ryuji yelled

"Later Ryuji!"

"Hey wait!" and with that, the three ran ahead, leaving king speedo-man behind.

After several minutes explaining Arata's power, as well as wondering about the power Akira's acquired and helping a talking cat thing named Morgana, the group of four (yes, Morgana joined) were running around the area. well , it'd be that simple if Ryuji and Morgana would stop bitching at each other every two seconds.

"HALT!" a group of guards said in front of them. Arata and Akira automatically stood in front of the group, surprisingly, Morgana did also.

"Arsene!" Akira shouted, summoning the demonic butler being once again, which surprised Morgana completely.

"You have a Persona too!?" the cat being exclaimed. "Then that makes things easier!"

"Right. Arata, I need a boost!"

~got it. Haste! Charge!~ Arata shouts, a red clock and wand looking runes orbited around Akira foe a few seconds before disappearing.

"Eiga!" He shouts, Arsene, both shooting several oversized beams of darkness at the enemy, killing most of the things in one shot.

"Not bad! Very impressive!" Morgana said, noticing another guard sneaking up on them. "But let me show you how a pro handles it! Zorro!" he shouts, a flash of light and a new entity emerged behind the cat. This time, it looked more like a Spanish fencer with a small lower body. Zorro then proceeded to swing his rapier at the target, blasts of wind knocking down the shadow and dazing the thing, which led to Morgana pulling out a scimitar that's as big as he was and cutting the being in half, killing it as well.

~not bad ninja kitty~

"I'm not a cat!"

~could've fooled me, cat.~ Arsene replied.

~please don't insult my user like that.~ the new person of the group, Zorro, continued.

"Oh god, they can talk! How can they talk!?" Ryuji shouts out. "WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING!?"

"Alright, the exit's in this room right here!" Morgana stated.

"Don't Ignore me, Dammit!"

Opening the door, The Cat like being reveals to the group… a standard looking room.

"What the Hell?!" Ryuji shouts in disbelief. "What gives cat were you lying to us this whole time?"

"Wow, those clichés about blondes being dumb really ARE true."

"What was that!?"

"Look around you idiot! Use that monkey brain of yours for a second." looking smug at the blonde, who's currently contemplating strangling the Bobble headed Bandit in front of him.

"The air vent?" Akira asked, pointing to the large opening to the side.

"At least someone's got smarts. Yeah, that's your exit."

"Oh… sweet. Sorry bout that cat." Ryuji sighed, looking up at the vent in question, and relaxing a bit, his previous thought forgotten.

"I'm not a cat!"

"If you insist you're not one, then what are you?" Akira asks, opening the vent to exit.

"I'm a Human, an honest to god human!" Morgana answered, puffing out his chest at the proclamation.

"Bullshit."

"You wanna go you damn monkey!"

"Who're you calling a monkey you shitty fleabag!"

~this is gonna be a thing isn't it…~

"NO IT'S NOT!" Both of them yelled in unison. "Shut up! stop copying me! No you!"

~Goddammit.~

After another short argument, and Morgana explaining a bit on whatever the fuck is wrong with this place, the two (three), reentered the real world, only for the fiasco to not stop there.

After getting in trouble on account of being late for hours, an excuse thrown around or two, and surviving the day of rumors and spiteful teachers, Akira and Arata return to Leblanc's to turn in for the night. The warning/scolding from Sojiro didn't help much though.

That night, the two drifted off into slumber again, and once again, they wake up in a different place entirely, but this time was drastically different. Unlike the prison cell they were expecting, they encountered a simple room of a deep blue, various cerulean curtains obscure whatever lies past the room, and a soft aria echoes throughout the expanse. two other people sitting on one of the few pieces of furniture in the place.

Akira had a look of confusion at the new setting. This wasn't the same person he met before, but this presence was somewhat more calming and comfortable. Looking at Arata, he was surprised when the boy beside him had a look of excitement, relief, and awe at the individuals sitting before them.

"Greetings Trickster and Beldireaver, I am pleased to finally meet you." the first person, a man in a black shirt and tie, a white blazer and pants and black dress shoes, greeted. "We have much to discuss."

~that we do...~ Arata answered, a cheeky grin adorned on his face. ~nice to see ya again….. Philemon."

Chapter Text

~you have no Idea how long I've been wanting to see you Phil~ Arata sighed

"Same to you, Reaper. Though I do believe you have questions of your own…" Philemon agreed, beckoning the two to empty seats in front of him.

~Yeah I've got questions! First off, where the hell were you man!~ Arata shouted out, taking one for himself and hanging loosely on it by his tail. ~I got sealed away by whatever the hell THAT thing was back then, and I couldn't find you at all before and after...~

"Arata." Akira spoke, taking another empty chair and sitting on it.

~then I find out that Igor's balls dropped or something-~

"ARATA.."

~and NOW everything feels… wrong… the velvet room felt... disgusting... and that's not how we felt it before... We've been to it before, and it's not supposed to FEEL like we SHOULDN'T be in there! what the heck happened!?~

"Arata please!" Akira chided, but turned to a chuckling Philemon.

"It is alright Trickster. As for your questions. I'm afraid the answers you seek are… rather unfortunate..."

~... Please... Elaborate...~

"Before we discuss such events, allow me to bring in another guest." with a soft clap, a gust of wind flowed throughout the room, an old looking butterfly, wings torn and a damaged body, fluttered weakly along the wind, onto Philemon's hand. Surprisingly, a rather familiar voice echoed through the room seconds afterwards.

"I humbly beg for forgiveness Master Philemon." the voice chimed wearily. "My assistant and I have failed at our task, and she was taken hostage as I was sealed away."

~wait… I know that voice!~ Arata exclaimed in disbelief. ~Igor!?~

"Greetings Beldireaver, and to you as well Trickster... I apologize for my rather unbecoming form."

~Igor what the hell happened to you!?~

"From what I have gathered," Philemon continued, "the very same being, to which I labeled as Demiurge, who sealed you away was also responsible for Igor's current form."

"What!?" Akira Shouts out, nearly spilling out of his chair.

~WHAT!?~

"This Demiurge, a false god of order, has taken things too far out of line, he opted to play a game in which he has bent the rules to his favor. Even with the current power you possess, He will surely win in the end." Philemon looks between the two teens in front of him. "I'm afraid even your foreign magic will have... difficulty in doing much... outside of your strongest forms of it."

"...crap."

"However…" Philemon continued, "This act has reach the interest of beings far superior to even Igor and I. This Demiurge, a twisted being created by the warped desires of order and peace, strives on fulfilling what it was made for, at the cost of both morality and freedom. this has angered even those in direct power, such as Nyx, Zeus and even Lucifer."

~oh no… Nyx is in on this?~

"I'm afraid so, Reaper." Igor replied. "And while she sides with us, it is truly as terrifying as it sounds. And she isn't the only one troubled by this predicament..."

"Psst, Arata? Who's Nyx?" Akira whispered in the boy's ear.

"Right Behind you."

Both teenagers jump up at the sudden voice from right behind them, turning with frightening speed, both come face to face with a beautiful yet deadly sight. A rather tall, voluptuous Silver haired woman grins back at the, her dress, slender and tight, pitch black like a clear night sky, with twinkles of dots scattered round her form. laying upon her shoulders lay a long polearm, one end holding a skeletal upper half with what appears to be a crescent moon protruding from the back of the skull of the top half, forming an intimidatingly beautiful scythe, lounges on a recliner like throne, cross-legged and a clear goblet of wine in one hand.

"..." the teenagers gulped, already picturing an all powerful deity glaring holes into his soul.

~NYX! It's been SO long since I've seen you, I see you've decided a change in wardrobe. What a Beautiful choice in clothing by the way, really fitting for you-~

"Calm yourself, Godling, we are allies, and I hold no quarrel with you... though the compliments ARE appreciated."

~Noted~

"To digress back to the subject at hand." Philemon continued, gaining everyone's attention once more. "I have decided to offer up my services once more since my power has been fully restored just recently."

~...how did-~ Arata asked, only to stop as Philemon raised a hand.

"Demiurge, Aratakaja. He wanted no obstacles in his progress, and I was obviously one of the biggest, despite my position. Fortunately, he underestimated my power, so my only repercussion was a portion of my power being sealed away."

"This being goes by the name of Yaldabaoth, and he has already set the key players into motion in this game of his." Igor said. "He has created two powerful champions, one to serve his goal, and one who opposes, and has given them each the power of the Wild Card."

"Wait… so I'm…" Akira didn't even have to finish before Philemon nodded grimly.

"I'm afraid so, Trickster; Your are the champion who was chosen to oppose the Demiurge. He has even attempted to handicap you before the game even began... I assume you are painfully aware of the atrocity you suffered through, correct?"

"Atrocity? Wha…" he stopped, sporting a grim look on his face. "oh, my probation…"

"Indeed. The Demiurge has staged the whole event, from Masayoshi Shido to the trial, hoping it would gravely affect you negatively."

~so that Yabadaba dingus pulled that stunt on purpose, just so he could get an easy win!?~ Arata growled, slowly growing in size as his features grew more Reptilian in appearance. shaking his head, he calms himself before reverting to normal

"Correct." Philemon confirmed. "However, this may be used to our advantage."

~how so old man?~

"Really?"

"Simple..." Nyx Chimed in, sipping on her wine glass. "We Bite Back."

"As I have said before, I wish to aid you on your quest. The power of the Wild Card is a very unpredictable power, something the demiurge must have not known. The Wild Cards primarily challenges and changes fate, not serve it. You particularly have an extraordinary amount of potential. And with a trusted friend like Aratakaja at your side, this game can be won, even with the odds against you."

"The Demiurge has cheated already, so by all means, we shall cheat as well." Igor spoke, fluttering onto the desktop. With a snap of Philemon's fingers, a black key with a Blue Diamond attached to a Blue chain appeared beside the butterfly. "This key will give you access to this place, for it will aid you on your quest immensely. they may have taken my assistant, but they Haven't taken our other original residents."

"I take it you remember them from your previous encounters?" Philemon says, one of the curtains open as he says this, revealing a middle aged man painting various portraits and pictures and a beautiful songstress singing the calming music throughout the room. both nods at Akira and Arata in Acknowledgement.

"Alright. Thanks!" Akira thanked, nodding gratefully to them all as the key disappeared.

"I have also prepared a guide to aid you but…"

~but what?~ Arata continued. ~Sound's like something bad happened...~

"Yaldabaoth attacked. I was able to send my creation out of the Velvet room before the battle, but I do not know if he survived. If he did, then he will most likely be affected by the sudden event."

"What's the guide's name?" Akira asked.

"I have named him Morgana-" Igor stated, in which both boys coughed and sputtered in shock at the news. "And judging from your reactions, you might have already met him."

"Unfortunately…" as if on cue, a soft ringing of bells echoed throughout the room. Philemon sighed. "We will have to continue this discussion on a later date. The key will already be in your room when you awaken, and be sure to listen to Morgana's proposal. It may even be beneficial to you."

"Next time we meet, boys, I will tell you what I shall be doing to aid you." Nyx announced. "Be sure to prepare for that."

"Till we meet again,." Igor finished, as the two males faded away into the void.

Tuesday, April 12th

Cloudy

Leblanc's

Early morning

Waking up well rested, Akira, looked around the room he was in, a black key dangling on the chain by the deck it was hanging on in front of his bed. "So… this is gonna be a crazy journey huh Arata?"

~Yep! This'll certainly be… fun to say the least.~

~I agree.~ Arsene joined in, startling the two at the presence of the gentleman thief sitting loosely in the air of the room.

"Um… Arsene? How are you-" Akira trailed off, pointing around the room as they sit up at the question.

~you have this… soul pact as you call it… between the two of you to thank. Your power is exponentially immense with the powers of your Foreign blood and the combined powers of a god beside you, made a powerful area where you may channel your power with ease...~

~oh yeah…~

~I am honored to share my power to both my chosen and the god of potential. I shall aid you whenever i can.~

"Right…" Akira said, grabbing the key. After a long awkward silence of Akira getting dressed, the two teens headed for school after reassuring Sojiro about making it there on time. After a few minutes making sure to keep the phone off until they make it to school, this time they made it on time with Ryuji being not too far behind them.

"Oh god… I made it." he wheezed, ready to topple over. "I think I'm gonna throw up."

~not on us please.~

"Nah… just give me a- WHOA!" Ryuji yelped, looking at the floating boy beside Akira. "You were actually real!?"

~Of course I… wait….~

"You can see him now?" Akira asked for him, to which Ryuji nodded slowly.

~well this is… unexpected..~ Arata muttered ~usually you need to have a high enough Mystic Presence to detect magic signatures...~

"Uh… "

~Thoughts for later.. ANYWAYS!~ Arata said, pointing at Ryuji's face. ~please don't yell at me, people will think you've gone insane or something.~

"Let's change the subject." Akira announced, getting sighs from the two other people. "At least now we won't get in trouble for being late."

"Cool." Ryuji sighed in relief. "I was actually wanting to talk to you about that other place… that cat thing called it a palace right?"

"Yeah…"

"I was wondering if we could go back there."

~and WHY would you want to go back there of all places?~

"Well hear me out." Ryuji started. "Remember those prisoners we saw on the way to the exit?"

"Yeah.." Akira agreed, both teens nodding.

"Well, I recognized some of them as volleyball team members."

~they're fake though…remember?~ Arata said. ~Morgana said they're just copies the old man thinks about...~

"Right, but that's what king Kamoshita thinks of them right?"

~nice nickname, but go on.~

"If that's how he thinks of and treats them, like slaves and such, then there could be a chance that we can interrogate some truth out of them."

~AAAAAAAnd You lost me…~

"Agh, look, just… I'll explain more at lunch okay!"

"Alright see you Ryuji." Akira nodded, Arata waved as the blonde nodded back, advancing towards the school. Just as they were about to go themselves, an auburn haired girl approached them seconds after Ryuji departed.

"So, you must be the new transfer student." the girl announced, gaining their attention.

~who's this chick?~

"Yes I am. I'm Akira, miss…." Akira said, looking up and down at the newcomer.

"I'm Makoto, Makoto Nijima. It's a pleasure to finally meet you in person." the girl, now named Makoto, greeted.

"Likewise…"

~ask her why she's here.~ Arata whispered

"...Is there something you need me for?" Akira asked warily.

"I've seen you hanging around with Sakamoto lately…"

"...And?"

"I wanted to see if you were alright with talking to someone like... him."

~and what does THAT mean exactly?~ Arata questioned, narrowing his eyes at her.

"Sakamoto is known to the school as a delinquent, and with your track record and rumors floating about…"

~OH, So it's NOT about our wellbeing; It's about Assumptions!~

"I came here to warn you about hanging out with people like him. He's a bad influence, something that won't help you out in the long run, if you're trying to make it past the year.."

~Ryuji's a nice guy, You-~

"Arata, Hush, I got this." Akira thought, looking her dead in the eyes with slightly narrowed ones. "I appreciate your concern, but Ryuji is a nice friend to have. A shame that people label him as such."

"W-Wha!? B-But." Makoto stammered, taken aback by the sudden tone Akira spoke in.

"At least he actually cared enough to not treat me as a criminal at a first glance, unlike you, Ms. Nijima. Not everything is as it seems, but I guess that doesn't matter to anyone except by those who were similarly kicked down."

"N-Now hold on-"

"Now If you'll excuse me, I have classes I need to get to in order to "try and make it past the year" as you've put it." Akira finished, walking away from the befuddled girl.

Tuesday, April 12th

Cloudy

Shujin Academy

After school

After lots and lots of boring lectures, throwing chalk back at the teacher who threw it at him, and lunch with Ryuji, school has finally, Finally ended for the day, and the group of three males were walking away from the building, swerving to an alleyway when nobody was looking.

"Alright, let's see if we can get some evidence!" Ryuji whooped.

~you still haven't told us your master plan, ya dingus.~ Arata mumbled out, tapping along the Blonde's mop of hair

"Speaking of plans…" Akira said, looking at the key in his pocket seconds later. "I believe I have a separate one in mind..."

"Oh, Right. Okay, so Here's the plan; we go in, we talk to the prisoners he tortured, record the abuse that dickbag's been putting them through, and use that to get him arrested."

~as much as I like the basis behind that, there are many holes in that plan of yours.~

"And why is that!?"

~well for one, your phone's won't work there~ Arata answered, pointing at the pocket holding the object of interest. ~I've tried with Kira's and only that eye app thing works.~

"Aw man."

~and not only that, but we're the only ones with a way to defend ourselves…~

"Then we'll make it a stealth mission." Akira chimes in, gaining both of their attention.

~huh?~

"What?" Ryuji said, having a look akin to a puppy being told not to eat random cardboard.

"We go with Ryuji's plan for now, but we make sure that we stay out of sight the whole time." Akira explained "that way, we won't have to fight the whole time, and Ryuji won't be in too much danger." Akira explained.

"...dude that's perfect!" Ryuji shouts

~eh, I'll go along with it…~ Arata shrugged, an ide forming in his mind. ~but I need you to help me with something when this is over Ryuji. I think I might have a solution to that...~

"Besides, we need to speak with Morgana anyway…" Akira said, thinking over to Arata, "What do you mean by that?"

~what fo- oooh, Right. and don't worry, if it works, then It'll save a lot of time... and will answer a long overdue question of mine...~

"Well then, What are we waiting for then?" Ryuji proclaims, activating the red app on his phone.

*beginning Navigation.*

The same wave of dizziness flowed through the two students and godling, the world warping and distorting into a familiar castle from before.

"So it really was the school this whole time." Ryuji whistled. "Good to know- whoa man, what happened to your clothes!?"

"Huh?" Looking down at himself, Akira stared in disbelief when he saw that he was in the same fashionable outfit from before.

~hey it suits you doesn't it?~

"Why are you three here again!?" the familiar voice of Morgana startled the three, turning downwards to meet the feline fighter. "The shadows are acting up and I had a feeling to come here, and look who I found!"

"We're here because we have many questions to ask you, Morgana." Akira stated. "There's obviously a connection between the school and this place. We want to confirm that first."

"That's easy; this place is the school. The ruler of this Palace believes he owns this place, so the Metaverse warped accordingly."

"Metaverse?" Ryuji chimed in confusion. "Da hell is that?"

"That's what this whole world is." Morgana gestured to everywhere around him. "A reality of everyone's desires. Those with severely distorted desires can form these Special domains called palaces."

~So even distorted beings like these can make these... Domains?~ Arata thought to himself.

"Hey Cat, I have a plan that I wanna go over with you!" Ryuji wasted no time recovering to announce his plan, meanwhile Akira looked at the two bickering, deep in thought as he drags Arata to the side.

~so, how are we gonna tell them about Phil and the others?~

"I was thinking about taking Ryuji and Morgana to them…" Akira shrugged

~that might work, but… Well, we won't know how they'll react until we try... I guess~

"Hey, Frizzy hair!" said cat in question yelled back, popping Akira out of his trance. "I've got a proposal I'd like for you to consider."

"What is it?"

"I'll help you guys out," Morgana points to the three of them, then to himself. "-and in exchange, you three will help me out with something I've been working on."

~and why us?~ Arata asked, folding his arms and floating besides the black clad rogue.

"You have a persona, don't you?" Morgana Asked, pointing directly at Akira. "And you have access to magic… I think? somehow..."

~that's...true...~

"Very well, I'll only accept to hear you out first. I want to know more about what I'll be doing before fully accepting your deal."

"Fair enough."

"Awesome! Let's get to it then!" Ryuji whooped, Morgana leading them into the building.

A few rooms in and they already had to hide since there seemed to be more guards than before patrolling the interior. Evading them was simple and killing the few who did find them was easier, the hard part was the current set of guards blocking their route. Before the shadows, as Morgana kept calling them and correcting both Akira and Arata on, saw the group, the team ran into a random room.

"Agh, so close yet so far…" Morgana growled. "Well, at least we found a safe room when we did."

"Safe...room?" Ryuji repeated.

"A place where the palace ruler has little influence in. this room has a lack of distortion, so his control of this room is weak.." just then, the room seemed to warp for a few seconds, revealing the room to be a vacant classroom.

"Huh… figures it'd be a classroom. That bastard can't do much here." Ryuji sneers, kicking a random desk to the side.

"My concern is how do we get those guards to move?" Morgana questioned.

"My concern is all over the damn place. I've still got questions to ask."

~then why did you wait this long to ask?~

"I wanted to ask in a safe place." Ryuji answered sheepishly. "So cat-"

"I'm NOT-" Morgana yips.

"What's the deal with his clothes? And could you explain a bit more on this… palace thing?" Ryuji finished, ignoring Morgana's growl of protest.

"Well I can answer both; simply put, this world is the reason why his clothes are like this, and I thought I explained it to you last time!?"

"You're not making sense again cat."

"I'm not a cat!" Morgana Yells out, claws bared and ready to pounce on the soon to be yellow pin cushion.

"Alright alright, just... continue."

"Anything distorts according to how the ruler pleases within their palace. To combat these distortions, one must have a strong will of rebellion. His suit's proof of that; a manifestation of his will."

"I don't think I got all of it…" Ryuji sighed, stepping to the side and unknowingly dodging an annoyed Cat burglar who latched onto the wall instead.

~basically, this world's Kamoshida's true desires, the world he made is shaped to how he wants it to be, and Kira's suit is like a big Piss off to the ruler of this place… did I get that right?~ Arata said, attempting to simplify the slab of info Morgana barfed onto Ryuji's head.

"More or less…" Morgana shrugged, "and it's more like armor in a sense. It protects you from the ruler's distortions."

"Hmm… I think I get it now. Kinda…."

"So moving back to the task at hand… maybe we can make them move without fighting them." Akira suggested.

~like what, scaring them?~

"scare... Hey, I've got it!" Ryuji smirked, digging into his bag.

~got what? A gu-~ Arata stopped dumbfounded as the blonde student pulled out what looked like a handgun. ~what the FU-~

"Don't worry, it only makes sounds, but it looks real as hell." Ryuji explained. "We might be able to use this to make a distract-"

"Wait… you're a genius!" Morgana said, smacking his lips seconds afterwards. "Ugh, that sounds weird… why did I say that?"

~care to explain?~

"Later on. Let's go see if they left yet." Morgana said, peeking out the door before opening it and gesturing them to follow.

After following a single shadow down a hidden pathway, the four now hid behind a corner near the corridor, a big door labeled "Training Hall" was at the end of the hallway.

~okay, so what now?~ Arata asks. ~the Demon and his buddy are right there, do we kill it or…~

"Take out the toy first." Morgana answered. "We'll use that, and they're CALLED Shadows."

"Huh? Why?" Ryuji asked, taking out the handgun model from earlier.

"Hand it over to Frizzy hair here."

"I have a name you know…" Akira chimed in. taking the gun.

"Now let's go!" Morgana shouts, ambushing the surprised shadows.

"Wait WHAT!?" Ryuji shouts out, running out as well.

~the cat's crazy!~ Arata shouts, rushing in behind the feline with Akira and Ryuji close by.

"What the!" the guards shout, as they morphed into a fairy and a humanoid flower.

"You have the gun, right?" Morgana asked, taking out his scimitar. He continued when Akira nodded. "Then use it! Point it at a shadow and fire!"

Heeding the cat's instructions, Akira pointed it at the pixie, and was thoroughly surprised when an actual bullet fired off, knocking it down.

"Careful with your ammo. You only have a limited amount, so use it wise- uuuuuh...are you okay." Morgana said, looking back to find Akira staring blankly ahead, his hand on the gun shaking in increasing instability...

*PAP PAP*

~KIRA NOW IS NOT THE TIME FOR THAT!~ Arata shouts out, slapping both cheeks of the shaking rogue, which seemed to do the trick as he blinks rapidly, the sudden pain bringing him back to reality

"Wha-!? Oh! Right... Arsene! Cleave!" Akira agreed, pulling off his mask as Arsene appears before him and strikes the downed fairy, killing it.

"Uhm... All right, I'll show you my weapon too!" Morgana shouts, pulling out a slingshot and striking the flower shadow multiple times. The flower thing responded by flailing at the cat, but Ryuji came it and bashed it in the face with a thrown barrel, knocking it down.

~I got it.~ Arata said, chopping it with his hand and killing it off as well.

"Thanks for the assist Ryuji." Akira said giving a thumbs up at the Barrel wielding boy.

"No problem" Ryuji cheered, returning the thumbs up, "I'm more hyped about the gun! Did that toy just shoot real freakin' bullets!?"

"This is the cognitive world." Morgana answered, "as long as they see it as real, then it works like its real. It helps that it's realistic-looking."

~so we can bring toys here, and they'll work like the real thing if we believe in it?~

"Pretty much." Morgana nodded, putting away his slingshot as he looked over at the slowly recovering Ravenette "Though, what the heck would cause Frizzy ha- Akira to freeze up like that..." he thought.

"That's effin' awesome!"

"Anyways, we should divvy up our roles in battle from here on out. We need to converse our energy, so we'll need some form of coordination in our moves. I'll provide intel, Fri-"

~Akira.~ Arata corrected.

"-Akira, you should call the shots in battle."

"Alright. Let's move on." Akira announces, the group advancing forward ignoring the wierd look the cat burglar was giving him.

"Alright, I think it's time I taught you guys something called an all out attack." Morgana says, gaining the three others attention. after a few more encounters with the Demons ("SHADOWS!" Morgana Shouts back), they managed to make it over to the last obstacle in their path, another small platoon of Guards.

"A what?" Akira asked.

~what are you up to now?~

"Just listen. See those guards? Let's fight them." he said, pointing to the lone guard in the corridor they entered. A few minutes, later, they ambushed the shadow, revealing more fairies, plant creatures and a Horse like creature.

"Listen, there's a flow to battle, and we can use that to our advantage." Morgana explains. "First, knock down all the enemies, that's a must in doing this."

"Hey, Kira, try using the gun again." Ryuji suggested, "i think it'll work like last time."

"I'd... rather not... not unless really necessary." Akira said, his hand twitching with each word.

"Dude, What? what's wrong, you don't like guns or anyt-"

~Hey Morgana, we just need to trip 'em right!?~ Arata shouts out, driving attention to himself, and away from the silently thankful fidgeting mess. ~I got something!~ Swinging back his hands, Arata glowed a pale grey, before colliding both of his palms in a wide birthed Clap-

*BOOOOOOOM*

And unleashed a Giant burst of sound from his hands, pointing not at the shadows... but at the ground beneath them, most of the fairies and Mandrakes fell from either the force of the boom or the very sound that rings in their ears. the last fairy who seemed to be still up looks at the sprawled mess that was their group as they look back to the group of humans and friends, and slowly lowered down to the floor of its own volition with their hands up.

~Would that work?~

"Uuuuuh... Yeah! Now surround it and attack all at once!" Morgana said, with the other three running into position, flanking the shadow group from all sides. A flurry of slices, gunshots, and strikes danced along the area, striking the mass of shadows in every direction before shredding them in a flashy finishing move.

"Okay, what was that flashy crap!" Ryuji yells.

"I told you, it's an All-out attack." Morgana answered, walking forward. "Knock them all down, and we can take them all out in one go."

"Yeah… that was over quick."

"Let's keep moving." Akira stated, following the short companion. With the other two joining them and ignoring the sideways glances he got from the other members.

"Uhm... about earlier... I didn't get an answer to my- Wait..." Ryuji said, stopping midsentence as he picks up on something "I think I hear something behind this door." Ryuji shouts, running closed to the door to the training hall.

~then open it then.~

Opening the door, the four fighters, were shocked beyond disbelief at the immediate sight they're seeing. Countless people were being beaten into submission on volleyball nets with their hands tied to the poles, others were running for their lives from a spiked roller desperately reaching for various water bottles that were just out of reach, a few were hung by their ankles and were bludgeoned by softballs shot out like cannonballs straight into their upside down bodies, and more. The most notable trait from all that they saw was that the victims all wore the same tattered uniform, which barely covered their bruises at all.

"...What-" Akira said.

"-The-" Ryuji continued.

~FUCK!?~ Arata finished.

"What the hell is happening here!?" Ryuji shouts, pounding and slamming his fists against the walls and openings of their perch. "Dammit! This is Bullshit!"

"Calm down, Monkey boy." Morgana hissed back, clawing and pulling on the blonde's leg as he tried to pull Ryuji back. "They aren't real, you know this, and how many times do i have to tell you to keep your voice down!?"

"I know but... This is beyond messed up! Come on, Guys!" Ryuji said, staring intently and studying some of the victims faces.

"...what are you doing?" Akira asked, walking up to find him having an impromptu staring contest with one of the chained cognitions

"Since our phones won't work, then we'll study the victims by Heart here." Ryuji answered, moving over to the next windo over to study the running track torture device. "then, we talk to the real ones in reality when we get back." Ryuji explained. "These people are on the volleyball team, so we could get them to talk if we know who to go after."

"... huh, so there is a brain in there after all." Morgana snickered lightly, nearly dodging a kick to the skull by the angered pineapple man.

"Just shut up and help me study them! Hey Kira, I'll need you to write down some names for me!"

~With what Pen!?~

After a few more minutes of memorizing some potential victims to interrogate, the four decided to leave the palace. After dodging most of the guards and fighting a few more, discovering a hidden passage and finding an odd red colored object akin to 3 fused skulls, They almost managed to make it out too, until they were ambushed near the entrance, being surrounded by all sides by numerous guards.

"What the hell!?" Ryuji shouts, dodging a sword swinging in front of him.

~oh god not again.~ Arata shouts, rolling away from another attempted dog-pile.

"We're surrounded!" Morgana shouts, counting around 20 shadows.

"You knaves again!?" Shadow Kamoshida scoffed, walking up to the four with a golden knight behind him. "To think you'd make the same mistake again, how hopeless can you be!?"

"Piss off, you bastard!" Ryuji shouts back. "I've studied all the victims you're abusing, and together, we'll send your sorry ass to jail!"

"Huh, so it's true when they say, "barking dogs don't bite!" Hah!" the speedo weirdo insulted. "How far has the star of the track team has fallen."

"The hell are you gettin' at!?" Ryuji yelled, kicking one of the guards in the leg and grabbing onto the sword that it dropped, swinging it wildly at the shadow creatures.

"I'm talking about the "track traitor" who acted in violence and fucked up the whole teams' dreams. I can only imagine the pain of the others you dragged down from your … selfish act."

"Violence?" Akira asked, looking at Ryuji, dodging another swing as he grasped the helmet of the guards the metal warping to a distorted mess as lightning courses through the shadow's body.

~what's this floozie talkin' about Sakamoto?~

"You've never told them about your play in it? Shame on you." the man grinned maniacally. "He betrayed his whole team and crushed their hopes, and acts as if it never happened."

"BULLSHIT!" Ryuji screamed, slicing off one of the shadows legs, it dissipating seconds after. he then points at Speedo wearing Warlord "You were the one who did that! and When I actually stood up for myself, you went and CRIPPLED me for MONTHS!"

"Alas, I don't have time for you worms. Go, kill them all. Don't sully my castle with trash." Kamoshida ordered. The guards morphing into various creatures and advanced towards the four.

"We're surrounded!" Morgana shouts out, Summoning Zorro to push back against the now formed Horse riding knights, unfortunately, Zorro dissipated shortly after, one of the horses trampling the poor feline Fighter into the group and pinning him in place.

"Ryuji, get out of here!" Akira shouts, blocking a horned horse's attack. and stepping back. before he could get trampled, Arata steps in front of him, hands outstretched. a dome like barrier formed instantaneously, blocking multiple sword slashes and lance stabs, however the barrier begins forming cracks as the group of knights continue to wail at the dome.

"WHAT!? But-" Ryuji shouts, rolling out of the way of a charging spearman and stabbing a horse of another riding knight.

~not the time, Sakamoto! Move your ass!~ Arata shouted, the sides of his torso rippling as 2 more arms and hands sprout out underneath his normal arms shooting several eldritch blasts at the onslaught of shadows.

"I'm NOT leaving you guys!"

"GO!" they all yelled back, holding out as long as they can. Ryuji stepped back a few times when he saw several of the horses trekked towards him. "no...NO. It can't end like this!" he thought. "I can't let you die here... I Won't let you Die here!"

"What a worthless piece of garbage, getting emotional, so quickly." shadow Kamoshida droned on. "How dare you raise your hand at me. Don't you remember my kindness when I coached your team?"

"That wasn't kindness, you just abused us, just like the volleyball team!"

"It was just an eyesore, just like that worthless coach. Only I'm the one who gets results around here. Had he not opposed me at all, then i would have settled with only breaking the star runner's leg."

"...what?" Ryuji whispered, his eyes wide at the blatant confession.

"Do I need to break your other leg too? All you have to do is ask."

"Dammit… I'm gonna lose everything again...? Not only can I not run anymore, but the track team's gone to because of this asshole…!"

"So that's why he hates Kamoshida…" Morgana whispered, wheezing at the severe weight on top of him.

"Enough. I'll kill these three first, then you're next!"

~Ryuji!~ Arata yelled back pushing Akira back from the shadows as the barrier fully collapses, only to get ran over by several horse shadows.

"Don't let him win!" Akira finished, also getting trampled soon after slaying a few more shadows.

"Win... WIN... Your right." Ryuji announced, slowly staggering up from the floor. "Everything I had was taken from me… by him… I'll never get'em back..." He steps forward, a sudden jolt of sparks echoes from that very stomp as he stalks forward. "But I won't lose anything else! I won't lose the closest thing I have to friends from the likes of you!"

"Still trying to act tough, huh!?"

"All this time… it was you who staged everything… you ruined my Career... My life... EVERYTHING on PURPOSE!" Ryuji shouts, walking forward to the shadow ruler, his footsteps booming louder and louder, like the booming thunderclaps of a brewing storm. Sparks of electricity, now begin going up his legs and into his arms, dancing around his form the more he gets closer.

"Someone shut this twerp up!"

"Stop Goddamn smirking at me you piece of SHIT!" he Roared, his voice Echoes outward like the mighty bellow of a Thunderstorm... or the wrath of a God of thunder

~you made me wait quite a while...~

~you seek power, correct?~

~Then let us form a pact...~

~since your name's been disgraced already, why not hoist the flag and wreak havoc?~

~The "other you" who exists within desires it so…~

a new voice, deep and smooth, entered his mind, forcing Ryuji to double over in pain, Screaming in Agony as full on lightning begins jetting outwards in all directions, some hitting the shadows pinning down the other members of the group, freeing them. Ryuji, however, hears nothing... nothing but the booms of thunder, the crashes of Lightning... and a deep gravely Voice, echoing throughout the chaotic storm within...

~I am thou… thou art I…~

~there's no turning back…~

~the skull of rebellion is your flag henceforth!~

~Now Speak my name to the Heavens, and Proclaim your Liberty!~

With a final howl of absolute rage, the blonde male bursts into azure flames, a metallic skull mask forming on his face. Reaching up and pulling with all his might, Ripping his mask off, he screamed an almighty roar, and the flames burst forth, turning into lightning of various colors, knocking and shocking everyone back and even killing some of the lesser shadows.

When the flames and electricity died down, Ryuji stood triumphantly, his attire changed drastically. Instead of his earlier uniform, in its stead was a biker like garb with silver bone shaped plates, red scarf, and yellow gloves. The being behind him was just as intimidating, taking on the appearance of a skeletal pirate riding a flying ship. the sparks and bolts of lightning surging between the two in a swirling spiral, as if they were within the eye of a mighty storm.

"W-w-what the hell!?" Shadow Kamoshida stuttered, taken aback.

"Aw hell yeah, Sup Captain!?" Ryuji laughed, his eyes now tinted gold as his pupils shrank, his wicked gaze staring down Kamoshida like a predator that cornered his prey. "This effin' rocks! Now that I've got this power it's payback time!"

"Silence you knaves!" the golden knight shouts, morphing into a gigantic red knight on horseback.

"Rip their worlds asunder Captain Kidd!" Ryuji shouts, the pirate persona laughed as it shoots out of the cannon on its arm, crashing straight into the Red knight. as he is left skidding back. Powerful bolts of lightning then blasted out from the cannon, slaying most of the horse and horse riding shadows and stunning the red knight.

"Again! Blast them away! Zio!" Ryuji shouts. his arm reaching back and gipping tightly, a bolt of lightning solidifying into what appears to be a metallic baseball bat as he slammed it down, cracking the skull of a wayward shadow and making it dissipate.

"Arsene, follow up with Eiha!" Akira shouts out, whispering something to himself, and dashing up to the red knight, stabbing his knife into a slit in its back as dark energy erupts from the knife, causing the red knight to stagger forward in pain as Arsene knocks him off his horse with a beam of dark energy.

"Zorro! Garu!" Morgana shouts out, jumping up and clinging onto Zorro's blade, the Spaniard persona thrusting his rapier forward and rocketing the cat burglar in a burst of wind, akin to a bullet from a gun. now up close to the stunned shadow, he spirals upwards, sending numerous cuts and slashes along his armor.

~I got Ya back!~ Arata stomps the ground, a small glyph like circle appearing underneath the horseman, only to expand as spectral chains hold the red Knight in place, the shadow struggling futilely as it thrashed wildly at the binding chains. "I got them still!, Finish it, Blondey!~

"TAKE... THIIIIS!" Ryuji yelled, his form bursting with lightning as he propels himself forward, reaching the Red knight immediately before swinging with all his might with a ferocious War Cry, his Bat connecting with the shadow's head... and knocking it off completely in a burst of sparks. the headless red knight spasms and twitches a few more times.. before it falls to its knees, dissipating its form entirely.

"H-how the hell!?" Kamoshida stammered whimpering lightly at the sudden shift in the paradigm before composing himself... with varying levels of results.

"You're next Kamoshita! I ain't forgiving you at all, no matter how much you beg!" Ryuji shouts out, pointing his metal Bat at the main Boss Shadow.

"I told you shits that this is MY castle. Whatever i say goes. Seems like you still don't understand." as if on cue, a familiar blonde haired girl in a cat bikini walked up to the speedo wearing shadow, alongside another female a bunny bikini who flanked the other side of the Speedo wearing Shadow, startling the other four.

~hey, isn't that the blonde girl from the other day?~ Arata said, looking confused at the two sudden newcomers.

"Wh- T-Takamaki!?" Ryuji shouts in disbelief. "S-Suzui!?"

"Wow! What a Meow-velous looking hottie!" Morgana purred, drool leaking from his mouth.

~Priorities Cat! Now's not the time for a Pussy Boner!~

"Why the hell is she here!?" Ryuji yelled, all the anger fading at the absurd gestures of affection the cognitive cuties are giving the Shadowy sleazebag.

"... something's off here.." Akira added in. "We need to leave, NOW..."

"I don't have to answer to plebs like you. Guards!" the shadow king yelled, several more troops flooded the room.

~time to go!~

"Right. Let's get out while we still can!" Morgana added.

"But-"

"NOW monkey boy!"

As the four escape, the shadow king laughed at their retreating figures the cackling muffled their wheezes of exhaustion as they made their way out the Castle of Lust.

Now outside the palace, the four stopped running and took a much needed breather.

"What the hell!?" aaand there goes the peace while it lasted. "What happened to my clothes!?" Ryuji shouts out, just now noticing the change in attire from earlier.

"It suits you." Akira compliments.

"Looks like they don't know our escape route… that's good to know." Morgana interrupted, looking over at the three other occupants. "So.. about that favor…"

~remember Kira, Phil said we should at least hear him out…~ Arata whispers to the ravenette. the Boy nodding to both sides.

"Simply put; I need your cooperation to steal something."

"Steal?" both Akira and Ryuji asked.

"Deep within the palace is a thing called a treasure. That treasure's the one thing that's keeping this place intact; it's the source of the palace ruler's distorted desires. I need you guys to help me steal it."

"...and what do we get outta this?" Ryuji questioned. "There HAS to be a damn reason for us to go further into that death trap..."

"Would forcing Kamoshida to confess his crimes be good enough?"

"WHAT!?"

"Keep it down monkey!" Morgana hissed jumping up and pushing his paws on the skull wearing delinquent's mouth. "That Treasure holds this palace AND Kamoshida's desires in place. Without it, Kamoshida is forced to grow a conscience, and all of the guilt from his misdeeds will come crashing down on him, forcing him to confess."

~I don't wanna be a dick about this… but I sense a "but" in here somewhere…~

"Well…"

"Well what?" Akira goaded, kneeling at the cat creature as his eyebrows raised at the drawl he gave out...

"This process is extremely delicate. People needs desires to live, the desire to eat, sleep, breath…"

~Get to the point, Morgana...~

"If done wrong, then there's a chance it might kill him…."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! KILL!?" Ryuji interrupted. "I'm all down for making that dickbag suffer, but Killing…"

~and what's wrong with that?~ the familiar voice of Captain Kidd echoed through his mind, the pirate materializing behind Ryuji immediately after. ~after all he's put you through, killing him is a mercy at LEAST.~

~if it's murder that you're concerned about, then I'll volunteer.~ Arsene joined in, materializing behind Akira. ~I'll chain him up, carve out his insides and feed the entrails to animals as he watches.~

~Ooh, I'll join in to, I'll shock the bastard til he's well done. last thing we need is some food poisoning. even the little critter don't deserve THAT from such a wretched pile of Kraken Shit~

"Guys, can you maybe NOT talk about murder right now!?" Ryuji butted in, a look of disgust on his face from how casual the two spirits were discussing HOW TO MURDER A PERSON IN FRONT OF HIM. "You're freakin me the Hell out with that!"

"...Morgana." Akira stated, gaining everyone's attention. "I'll give you my answer in a bit, but first, I want to take you guys somewhere."

"Where to?" both said, gaining the attention of everyone, Spirits included

Smirking, he pulled out the key he had earlier, silently thanking the gods that he still had it. "Oh, just A nice little place called... The Velvet Room."

Chapter Text

"Greetings, Trickster and friends. I see you've brought guests with you this time." Philemon greeted.

~hey Phil. Hey Igor.~

"Pleasure's all mine. I'd like to introduce you to Ryuji and Morgana." Akira greeted back, gesturing to both Persona users.

"Dude… who're these guys?" Ryuji questioned, looking around the room. "And why is everything... blue?"

"And why doe that butterfly feel… familiar…?" Morgana added, advancing forward to the damaged butterfly on the desk.

"Ah, Morgana… I am glad to see you safe and sound, though I fear you may not remember who I am." Igor lamented solemnly "I wish to speak to you personally, if I may…" he weakly fluttered to another area of the room, with Morgana following behind.

"While Igor talks with your guide, I have much to tell you upon this visit." Philemon continued, snapping his fingers and a book appearing on the desk in front of him. "The first of what I shall be discussing with you will be an ability called Social Links. This is how we will combat the Demiurge."

"...demi...urge?" Ryuji repeats, looking between the masked man and the two other people he does know in this room. "what's he talkin' about?"

"Ah… it appears that Chariot has yet to know about your… predicament."

~yeah, sorry about that Phil. We've just brought them here.~

"It is fine. I shall provide an abridged explanation then. The Demiurge, a false god by the name of Yaldabaoth, has created a game of sorts, rigged to his favor. And Trickster here is needed to win for the sake of humanity, or else, everyone will suffer for it."

~...wow, I didn't know you can be blunt…~ Arata said, a deadpanned look on his face with the cliché anime sweatdrop and everything.

"Wait...So Akira's being used in a game with a god who's cheating to win?" Ryuji clarified.

~And you managed to Catch on quickly too! Nice!~

"SHUT-"

"Not used, forced. Sadly, Trickster has no say in the matter, which is why Igor and I shall aid him in this game, as well as various others, such as Beldirever."

"Who?"

~sup.~

"Ah..." Ryuji said simply, nodding at that.

"In fact, I was about to discuss the method we'll use to defeat the demiurge, and you're a key component to it, Chariot." opening the book, Philemon settled on a page with a picture of Ryuji Posing in a Tarot card, on the bottom has a picture of a chariot, alongside with a Roman numeral and name pertaining to said image. "Your bond just needs a slight nudge left to form what we call a Confidant, or Social Link if you will."

~these bonds will empower both you and Kira, along with anyone else who makes one, strengthening both you and the persona accordingly.~

"Correct. The stronger the bonds Trickster makes, the stronger you become."

"That's... actually pretty useful." Akira smirked, but then frowns. "But... isn't that, like... taking advantage of people?"

"You are not the first to ask such a thing, and I shall say that no, that is NOT the case as you may think." Philemon explained, chuckling at the wildcard's train of thought. "While yes, the more connections you make with likeminded individuals will make you stronger in turn. by the end of the day, it all settles back to the genuine bond you share with them. only genuine connections you make will strengthen your heart. So no; you aren't taking advantage of them. think of these more as a boon gifted to you from said friendship."

"Hang on… Trickster? Confidants? Why the hell is he callin' you guys that?" Ryuji butted in... "And why am I Chariot!?"

~like Phil said, give your bond a nudge, and it'll be explained. And that's what he always called us that.~

"Right… well, I may not be the smartest guy here… but think I get the gist of it..." Ryuji said, scratching his head as he points at Akira. "I know damn well i ain't just gonna sit back and let you get toyed around like this. Nobody deserves that, period... I should know."

"Ryuji…" Akira trailed off.

"Hell, you helped me out back there, I'd at least gotta pay you back for that, and besides… you're the closest I've ever had to… a friend before in a long ass while…"

~aww… Sakamoto's a softy.~

"C-Cut it out man, d-don't make this weird!" he yells out, but then smiles warmly. "A friend… well, I can't say no to that, and hey, if anything else, I don't mind helping ya out even if this shit didn't Happen, so Count me in!" just then, a warm feeling overtook the two as a soft feminine voice echoed in their ears.

I am Thou, Thou art I…

Thou hast acquired a new  vow …

It shall become the  wings  of rebellion

that  breaketh  thy chains of captivity…

With the birth of the Chariot Arcana,

I have obtained the winds of  blessing  that

Shall lead to  freedom  and a new power…

The very page with Ryuji and the Chariot cards, glowed white before dissolving completely, now gaining text and pictures. Looking at the page, Akira found that it explains Ryuji in general, as well as a bio and an odd chariot shaped rune on the back page.

"And here is the first Confidant of your journey." Philemon commented. "The Chariot stands for victory, conquest, and courage. Beldirever, I do believe this is where you come in."

"Huh?"

~yeah, yeah, I know. Come here Ryuji.~ Arata answered, grabbing Ryuji's hand and placing one of his on his chest.

~I am Thou… Thou Art I…

I grant thou the  key  of thy soul…

Thine unlocked  potential  shall bring forth a new power…

I grant thou the reigns of the  Chariot ,

to which thou shall  lead  others to victory…

A gold veil of light shone around Ryuji's body, sparks of electricity danced across his hands as it tensed and clenched around his muscles, hardening and strengthening them to their limit, yet not causing any pain. When the light faded, Ryuji blinks several times as he looks down at the electricity coursing through him.

"WHOA! What the hell happened to me!?" Ryuji exclaimed excitedly. "This feels freakin' amazing!"

~I have unlocked a portion of your true potential. congrats, kid, you now have access to something called Rage. I'll have to train you how to use it though.~

"HUH!? You mean I can cast magic and do that crazy shit myself?"

~specifically lightning magic, and you're more of a physical fighter..., but pretty much. You have Kira to thank for that.~

"Awesome! I'll be able to help out twice as much now!"

"Are you done shouting your lungs out?" Morgana said, rejoining the group with Igor beside him.

"yeah... So… Igor told you?" Akira asked.

"...yeah."

"And you're okay with it?"

"Of course I am!" Morgana answered. "I may not be a human, or cat, but at least I know who I am now. That's all I've ever wanted. And if it means saving the world, then I'll do what I can to help!"

"And I'll readily accept it. Welcome to the team..." the same warm feeling washed over both Akira and Morgana, the same feminine voice called once more.

I am Thou, Thou art I…

Thou hast  acquired  a new vow…

It shall  become  the wings of rebellion

that  breaketh  thy chains of captivity…

With the  birth  of the Magician Arcana,

I have  obtained  the winds of blessing that

Shall lead to freedom and a  new  power

A light appeared on another page of the book on the desk, showing Morgana's picture, some text, and a magician shaped rune on the same spot on the back.

~alright, two for one. Come here cat.~ Arata said, picking up the guide in his hands.

~I am Thou… Thou art I…

I grant  thou  the key of thy soul…

Thine unlocked potential shall bring forth a new  power …

I grant thou the wand of the  Magician ,

to which thou shall  harness  the power to unity…~

A green light flowed through Morgana as bursts of wind blew around him. When the light faded, Arata let go of the cat creature, who was somehow floating in the air before gliding down to the floor.

~there. Two confidants in one day…man, you'll be strong in no time if this keeps up.~

"Indeed. Now, I do believe some clarification of Morgana's proposal should be addressed." Igor said.

"Morgana has already told you about the Palace having a "treasure" so to speak, yes?" Philemon asked, gaining nods as an answer. "You've hesitated because of some notion that it might lead to death, but this is merely false detail. Think of this Treasure as a splinter to a person's skin. It causes "pain"-twisted desires in this case- to manifest and as long as it is there, it holds this pain for the person."

"Therefore, Taking away this "splinter"- the treasure- will alleviate said pain with little to no repercussions to the person." Nyx finishes.

"Holy Shit!…" Ryuji jumps at the sudden voice, turning back to a chuckling Nyx smirking at his reaction. "uuuhm... how long has she been there?"

~So you're basically saying that it won't kill the guy, correct?~

"Don't ignore me!"

"Correct. As long as the shadow ruler of said twisted desires stays alive, then the real variant will not suffer the fate of death."

"ugh... Well then, sign me up!" Ryuji proclaimed. "If it won't kill him, then we can make him pay without hesitation."

"I agree. This was practically half the reason why I've brought you here anyways." Akira agreed.

"I am glad to see your resolve… though I have grave news…" Philemon groaned in annoyance at that last part.

~...what?~

"He wishes to see you again."

"..." Akira blinks, staring blankly into space as he let the words settle in his mind, practically vibrating in place as the implications of the sentence sinks in.

"You needn't worry about us, Trickster, or anything within this realm. I have taken upon myself to shroud this dimension from view. He cannot see, hear or even know about what happens in this room."

"Though as a precaution." Igor warned. "Do try to keep this a secret, the last thing we need is for the Demiurge to find out about this place."

~oh trust me, we don't wanna sell you guys out for the world… literally.~

"I am glad to hear it, Beldirever." Philemon assured the group. "Another thing I wish to tell you are the facilities i wish to grant you."

"Unfortunately, He has taken access to most of the normal means to aid you with, but we have out own variations of the means to aid you, as well as a special thing that Nyx herself has decided to give you; the ability to synchronize."

"To What?" Akira said, blinking as he's brought back to reality...

"You will have to come back with other spirits before we can allow you access to these, however."

"That's fine. Well, if there's nothing else to talk about, then we'll see you guys soon." Akira nods, the two humans, the floating spirit and the Cat like Guide grouping together as they made their way to leave."

"One more thing, Boy." Nyx announced, tossing a black object at Akira, who catches it immediately with ease. "Keep that on you, you'll need that soon for how I plan on aiding you, and don't lose it."

"Y-y-yes Ma'am!" Akira nodded fearfully.

"Farewell, and good luck."

*you have returned to the real world. Welcome back.*

Warping back to reality the group of four, walked down the streets of Shibuya, new information weighing on their minds.

"...aw crap, I forgot to ask those guys about the app.." Ryuji moaned.

"Don't worry, we can go back anytime." Akira replied, pocketing the velvet room key and the black object, to which he felt out as a ring of some sort.

"Anyways, you three must be tired." Morgana stated, with the three nodding in confirmation. "Let's rest up first and plan things out tomorrow."

~oh, that reminds me! Hey Ryuji.~

"Yeah, what?" Ryuji mumbled, tilting to the side a bit instead of turning his head to the floating boy.

~I'll need small blank sheets of paper, as big as playing cards, and i need lots of them if possible.~

"...Any reason why?"

~You gave me an idea back then, and before you awakened. Just a precautionary measure. Think you can do it?~

"...Sure. I've got shit tons of copy paper at my place. Will that do?"

~perfect, bring 'em to me tomorrow and I can get to work.~

"Cool, Oh, I almost forgot." Taking out his phone, Ryuji typed a few things on it before showing it to Akira. "Here's my number, and chat I.D. We can text each other if we're separated and stuff."

Nodding at the rather clever idea, Akira registered Ryuji into his contacts, and added him into his chat.

"Welp, I'mma get home early, see ya guys." Ryuji waved off, departing from the group. "Hit me up, and we'll have some Ramen later!"

~later!~ "bye!"

Meanwhile… near the school, two girls are seen chatting nearby. One of them, a raven haired girl with a ponytail, and the other, a familiar blonde with pigtails. Unbeknownst to the two, a blue haired male was close by as well, listening in to their conversation.

"... to be honest with you, Ann…" the black haired girl lamented, "I...I haven't been sleeping well. Whenever I close my eyes, I keep thinking of... too many things…"

"Shiho…" the now dubbed Ann, whispered solemnly.

" Shiho..." the blue haired male repeated to himself, the same amount of sadness present with a hint of anger as well.

"I know nationals are a bit of a ways away, but I can't help but think… should someone like me really be on the starting lineup?"

"Of course you do. Just have confidence in yourself!" Ann reassured, patting the ravenette's back. "You worked harder than anyone else in the girl's volleyball team. That's got you recognized, so don't sell yourself short."

"Yeah… volleyball's all I have after all.."

"A shame, that you're shackled just like me…" the bluenette male whispered to himself, clenching his fists.

"More importantly, are you okay? That injury seemed pretty serious…"

"N-no, it's normal… especially when a meet's coming up."

"A meet? I though they usually do it in May?"

"Yeah… it was announced at the last second… something about more pep-rallies and publicity…"

"... I...I should probably get this over with…" the male whispered, before walking up to the two girls. "Sorry to interrupt, Suzui… Mr. Kamoshida told me to get you…"

"Huh?" she squeaked quietly, "what does he want?"

"He didn't say…" he answered, looking away from the girls with a downtrodden look.

Looking back to Ann for a brief moment… Shiho shuddered. "Ann, I…"

"... it'll be fine. I bet it's about the starting lineup or something like that."

"If only it were that simple…" the blue haired male growled lowly.

"Mishima?" Ann asked, looking slightly at the Blunette. "did you say something?"

"Nothing, just coughing."

"...y-yeah, maybe you're r-right…" she stammered, getting up from their seat. "Well, I'd better go."

"Good luck!" Ann said. "And… hang in there, Shiho…I'm rooting for you!"

Walking away from the blonde haired girl, Shiho, and the newly named Mishima parted ways.

"If only that were true…" Mishima hissed lowly in rage lightly stomping as he left the scene as well.

Later on in the evening, traveling back to Leblanc's went relatively peaceful, but it was short lived when Akira entered the door.

"Hmm? Oh you're back." Sojiro deadpanned, reading a magazine on the counter. "I take it you actually went to school today?"

"Of course." was his answer, curling in on himself at the older caretaker's gaze...

"Well good. Just to be clear, you're out of here if you so much as cause trouble."

~we know old man.~

"I understand." Akira whispered. Sojiro gave him a look at the timidness of the teen in front of him. for a brief moment, Akira sees... something twitch from the adult's features, a small crack in his otherwise cold visage, before blinking and nodding.

"Geez... no kid should be this skittish... what the hell happened to make him like this... it's starting to look a bit like-" Sojiro shakes his head, getting rid of his cigarette he was halfway through and sighing at the timid teen."Glad to hear that. Now don't mind me." Sojiro said, looking back to the paper. At this moment, Akira's phone vibrated, making him pull it out to reveal a text message from Ryuji.

Ryu: Hey, decided to message ya. Can you see this?

Looking for a bit, he shrugged and typed away.

RenRen: Yep.

Ryu: dude, your name's Renren!?

RenRen: bring it up in school, and you'll regret it.

Ryu: A'ight, it's cool. Anyways I'll be counting on you to help in the interrogating tomorrow. ok?

RenRen: no problem.

Ryuji: oh, and tell Arata that I've got some of those slips of paper done.

~cool. I can already picture them now…~

RenRen: will do.

Putting away his phone, the two headed up towards the room… and unzipped the bag that had Morgana inside.

"My god... this place if filthy." the cat shaped being said, stretching along the mattress. "You two actually live in this place?"

~eh, it's the best we've got, and we didn't really have much use for the whole room.~

"Still, wouldn't it be cool to at least clean all of it?" Morgana sighed, looking around. " There's still multiple trash bags around here-"

"WHAT'S GOING ON UP THERE!?" Sojiro yelled, climbing the stairs himself and seeing Morgana, who curled up at the sight of the miffed Barista. "Huh… so that's what it was! I knew I heard Meowing!"

"W-Wait, Mr. Sakura, Please let me keep him." Akira begged, stepping in front of Morgana. "he didn't have a place to stay."

"... no place to stay huh…" Sojiro said, deep in though for a few moments as he looks between the teen and the supposed stray before sighing. "Alright, fine. I guess it'll help you behave if you take care of a pet… just keep it away from downstairs. And he's entirely your responsibility. If it raises trouble, then it's gone."

"Thank you, sir." Akira sighed as the barista walked back downstairs.

After a quick reappearance of Sojiro giving the two curry, Arata and Morgana discussing a bit and a quick dinner, Akira fell into a deep slumber, anticipating the dreams waiting for them.

Waking up in a familiar cell, Akira and Arata were faces with "Igor", Caroline and Justine once again.

"Welcome back, Trickster and friend." "Igor" greets. "I thought about resuming our previous conversation tonight, that is why I summoned you here."

"Good to know.."

"What are your thoughts? Have you become accustomed to this place?"

"Something like that…" Akira agreed, shrugging within his barred chamber. "I could do without the prison theme though…"

~same here.. I'd prefer something more cozy, like a limo or an elevator or something.~

"Pipe down inmates!" Caroline snarled.

~Make me Carol.~

"C-Carol!?"

~yeah, Carol, and Justy. you two have nicknames now, so deal with it.~

"Why you-"

"Enough, Caroline." Justine droned. "he's just trying to get a reaction out of you."

"Glad to hear it. It seems you have nerves of steel." He chuckled. "Your rehabilitation determines if ruin can be stopped, yet such a feat cannot be done alone."

"I agree." Akira nods... hesitantly.

"Today, you have entered a partnership with not one, but two people, who have awoken a similar power to your own, haven't you?"

"A partnership?" Akira asked, acting like this is the first time he's heard of this. thankfully, it seemed to have worked, as the long nosed man continued.

"Involving yourself with others is a vital foundation for your recovery. You've done well. That said, I am not advising the formation of superficial relationships. It must not be by frivolity, but a ring of those who would, by morals or faith, lend you their strength. Proof of such a bond will form what is called a Social Link, and the partners who will aid you are called Confidants." Igor states. "The expansion of said ring will, in turn, help you mature as well."

Justine then turned towards the two. "Personas are the strength of heart. The stronger the bonds that surround you, the more power your personas will gain."

"There are countless people in the city with access to talents a Shrimpy wuss like you doesn't." Caroling chimed in, also turning to the two. "You better rack that Brain of your and get them on your side. We'll change that into power."

"Alright…" Akira answered.

~fine..~

"Indeed. You should prepare to use even myself, lest your ambitions will never come to fruition." "Igor" chuckles. "If we are in agreement, then we have a deal."

A familiar feeling envelopes Akira as the female voice echoes once more however, this time it is a lot more faint to the point where they barely hear it..

I am Thou, Thou art I…

Thou hast acquired a new vow…

It shall become the wings of rebellion

that breaketh thy chains of captivity…

With the birth of the Fool Arcana,

I have obtained the winds of blessing that

Shall lead to freedom and a new power

"Well… you will understand in due time… Continue devoting yourself to your rehabilitation."

"Time's up. Get lost, Inmate!" Caroline shouts, as the world faded to black once more.

Wednesday, April 13th

Cloudy

Shujin Academy

Early Morning

"Hey, Arata." Akira asks, lugging around a bag with Morgana hidden inside.

~what.~

"How're my stats?"

~still small mostly, but here ya go…~

Akira R. Amamiya-Kurusu

Lv. 6

Current Class: Foreigner Pact Warlock/Soulknife Rogue

Hp: 324

Sp:270

Guts (Rnk 2): 6/10

Kind (Rnk 2): 1/10

Prof (Rnk 3): 1/10

Chrm (Rnk 2): 4/10

Intl (Rnk 1): 8/10

"Huh, not bad for a restarting spread. We'll get back up to our former glory soon." Akira whistled, "but I have to ask… what happened to you two last night? You look terrible." true to his claim, neither cat or spirit looked like they had any sleep at all. Before they could defend themselves however...

"Hey, Guys!" Ryuji yelled at the, running up the the group.

"Hey Ryuji."

~sup.~

"Hey man. Ready for the plan today?" Ryuji said, cracking his knuckles in anticipation for the next journey...

"Yep." Akira nods. "Though, I'm still hung up by one thing Philemon said... how do I get more "spirits" with me.. do I form pacts with them... like familiars?" he thinks to himself.

~got my slips of paper?~

"Yup, Right here." Ryuji pulled out several stacks of card sized paper, bound to small rubber bands.

~aw yeah! These'll do nicely~

"Say, what're these for anyway?" He asked, handing them to Akira, who absentmindedly pockets them.

~just in cast we somehow get in more people without persona, or when we're running low on energy, then they'll be used for defense instead. I'll show you later.~

"Let's just get through the day…" Akira announces. "Before we give people more reasons to gawk at us like were animals in a zoo."

"Right."

...

...

...

After several lectures, and having half of them cancelled for the sudden volleyball rally, both Akira and Ryuji looked on as the teachers and students played the treacherous sport, Arata floating close behind them.

~alright, so I've been thinking…~

"And?" Ryuji asked, tilting to the side as a softball nearly beans him in the head.

~I have another idea... and it MIGHT get some flak off of you guys in the process.~

"Oh this oughta be good…"

~how about we cover our tracks while we take the treasure?~

"...I'm sorry?"

~hear me out… people are gonna find it suspicious that he'll just randomly confess for no reason, and worst case scenario, the lemmings here will most likely blame you two.~ Arata gestures to the two humans of the group, getting sighs from both as a confirmation, ~So… we record real evidence, gain testimonies from the victims, and more of his misdeeds, and use that as a red herring. That way, when we DO steal that treasure thingies, people will believe that Kamoshita confessed from stress and guilt, instead of seemingly out of nowhere.~

"that's... actually a good idea." Akira nods, seeing ways as how this could benefit them in the long run. at least if this doesn't workout, the staggering evidence will at the very least be a form of "Safety net" for when they still might be able to get out of any consequences even if the stolen treasure doesn't fully work.

"So, to recap, let's get the interrogations first, that way, we'll have the testimonies ready-" as Ryuji says this, Mishima gets bludgeoned in the face with a Softball, calling the match as the now bleeding teen lies sprawled on the floor. "...and we just got out first target."

"We'll take him to the nurse's Office." Akira shouts, both he and Ryuji rushed in and carried the down blunette out the gymnasium, ignoring the whispers from the other people.

Once they were alone, the three made it to the infirmary, and patched the damaged boy up. Since they were alone now, Ryuji started the conversation.

"So… Mishima, right?"

"Y-yeah?" the boy in question stammered, shaking akin to a lamb on the verge of being pounced upon by a pack of dogs.

"Calm down, we just wanna ask some questions."

"About Kamoshida, I'd bet…"

"..."

"Look, you're wasting your time." Mishima utters out, gaining his bearings as he tries to stand up. "Even if I answered your questions, nobody will listen to you anyways…"

~hey guys… this kid looks familiar…~ Arata mumbles.

"All we're asking is if the Abuse rumors were true…"

"And if they were? Who'll you go to, huh!?" Mishima said, a bit louder than his usual tone from before.

~uuh... guys?~

"We'll bring the police, duh!" Ryuji shouted back, the two riling each other up with each yelled statement.

"Sakamoto, the police won't care either, if they did, then he'd be long gone by now."

~blue hair.. Short frame… maybe…~

"It's just a yes or no question." Akira said, attempting to calm the two bickering bellowers from their screaming match.

"And I'm telling you, You're wasting your TIME!" Mishima growled in anger, making the two step back slightly. Seeing their shocked expression, he became timid once more. "O-O- oh, sorry, I'm j-just… n-not in the mood."

~feral temper… I'm 80% sure…~

"Look, just drop it, okay." and with that, Mishima leaves, just as the two looked back, the bell rang, signifying the rally to be over.

"Well shit."

After spending an hour cleaning the gym for skipping the event, Akira and Arata hung out by a few machines conversing lightly with Morgana.

"What did you mean earlier when you said Mishima looked familiar?" Morgana asked.

~well I'm glad SOMEONE listened...~ Arata mumbled in annoyance. ~Akira was asleep for this back then, but I watched this show on TV that was essentially a broadcasted MMA tournament.~ Arata answered. ~there was this one kid with the nickname "Little Demon", barely double digits, he was an MMA prodigy, going toe to toe with both Rookie and veteran fighters alike. He even won the tournament too… but.~

"But what?"

~apparently there was this big Robbing incident after the tournament. When the cops arrived, the criminals were mauled half to death, crawling away from a crying, bleeding child hugging his mother. Nobody heard of Little Demon since…~

"Where are you going with this?"

~he's short, had blue hair, and had a short fuse… things that Mishima showed earlier.~

"So you think Mishima's this supposed "Little Demon" that you speak of?" Morgana asked skeptically. "sure, he's got a teeny bit of muscle on him at a first glance, but that's a bit of a stretch, isn't it?"

~I am 80% sure on that.~

"Why 80?" Akira asked, tilting to the side as Arata rested his head on his shoulder.

~Aside from not seeing him fight, Little Demon also had this bandage on his nose, something Mishima lacked.~

"Well, back to the evidence thing… Akira, there's something we need to tell you.."

"we'll look into that later." Akira interrupted, spotting Ann walking up to him. "We've got company…"

"Hey… Can I talk to you for a second?" Ann asked. "It'll be quick, promise."

"...fine."

"Anyway, what's with you? with that whole lateness lie and all… there's that weird rumor about you too…" Ann started, getting up close to Akira as he slowly backs up... into a corner... crap.

"What do you want with him?" the familiar voice of Ryuji stated, startling the girl.

~oh thank god.~

"Right back at you. You're not even in our class." Ann rebutted.

"We just happened to get to know each other, so what?" Ryuji retorted, earning a sigh of frustration from the fellow blonde.

"I'll cut to the chase… what do you plan on doing to Kamoshida?"

"H-huh!?" Ryuji stammered a bit before recomposing himself. " Oh, I see.. I getcha… You're all buddy-buddy with Kamoshita, after all."

"What?" Both Akira and Morgana mumbled in unison

~What?~ Arata deadpanned.

"This has nothing to do with you, Sakamoto!"

"If you'd found out half the stuff he's been doing behind your back, you'd dump his ass in a second."

"Behind my back? What's that supposed to mean?"

Looking at Akira and Arata, Ryuji shook his head in frustration. "...you wouldn't get it." he sighed, ending the arguement there.

"Anyways... people are already talking about you two…" Ann said, looking between the two humans. "I don't know what you're trying to do, but Nobody will help you. I'm just warning you, just in case." she finished, walking away.

"We know damn well nobody'll help, that's why we're doing it ourselves." he whispered, pounding a vending machine near him. "Why does she have to be so aggressive sometimes!?"

"You know her?" Akira asked, stepping out of the impromptu corner he backed into.

"Yeah… we were in middle school together, along with her best friend, Shiho. Since coming here, we barely talked much though. Anyways, what'd I miss?"

~I have a hunch that Mishima's the long lost "Little Demon" from way back when.~ Arata brought up, Ryuji perking up at that,

"Hold up… Little Demon? As in the Kid MMA Master Little Demon? Foreal!?"

~I'm only mostly sure… If I can see the boy fight, then I'll be able to confirm or deny it.~

"Back to the matter at hand. Since interrogation is out, I have another proposal." Morgana suggests. "If you give me one of your phones, then Arata and I can sneak in and record Kamoshida's "Special training" classes."

"That's perfect… but won't people freak out with a cat and a flying phone?"

~don't worry Ryu, anything smaller than I am turns invisible too, if I want it to. Watch.~ Arata said, grabbing Akira's glasses and putting them on himself. ~look at the reflection.~

Looking at the reflection, Ryuji smirked when he say that, true to his claim, Akira's glasses was nowhere to be seen.

"Awesome! let's see if we can scrounge up any more evidence left before calling it a day."

~Morgana and I actually did this earlier, but we didn't have a phone on us…~

"Was that why you two looked like shit?" Akira asked, looking between the two non humans of the group.

"Yeah… but it was well worth it." Morgana growled lowly.

"...what happened?"

"We wanted to see if we could find anything from Kamoshida's office himself, but.."

"But?"

~we saw him… attempting to force himself on a girl.~

"WHAT!?" both Akira and Ryuji shouts.

~from the looks of it, she was a girl with a black ponytail wearing the volleyball uniform. Thankfully, we stopped him in time to save her.~

"Black ponytail… volleyball unif- OH, Shiho Suzui!"

"Huh?"

~what you on about now Ryuji?~

"The girl you guys saved." Ryuji clarified. "That must've been Ann's friend that I mentioned."

~aw shit, that means he might be doing more than just abusing the team.~

"We just gotta look more into this later on."

After finishing up their "punishment" for the day, the group now were walking out of the school. However, Arata and Morgana picked up a rather unusual sound in the distance.

"Hey did you guys hear that?" Morgana asked, gaining the other's attention.

~I think it sounded like a gunshot…~

Hearing the noise again, the four looked around.

"It sounds like it's coming from the gym…" Ryuji commented.

"Let's check it out." Akira said, leading to the four investigating the sound echoing through the area. As the sound got louder and louder, the four managed to pinpoint the noise coming from the gym.

"Sweet, I called it." Ryuji said, slowly reaching for the handle.

~why are you going TOWARDS the noise!?~

Opening up the door slightly, the four took a peek at what was going on, and the sight before them was astonishing. There stood Mishima, still having a few visible bruises, punching and kicking a punching bag with a crudely drawn Kamoshida face in repeated haste. Each hit impacted the bag like bangs from a gunshot, and with a final punch, Mishima knocked the whole bag off it's holder, sending it flying a few feet away from him as he pants and huffs at the downed sack of sand.

"Holy shit…" Ryuji mumbled.

~welp, now, I'm convinced. That's Little Demon alright.~

"HELL YEAH!"

"WHO'S THERE!?" Said boy in question yelled, hostility leaked out in a murderous intent.

"Oh shit…" after a few seconds, the door was fully opened, revealing the four eavesdroppers, and shocking the blunette.

"W-what? What are you doing here!?"

"That's a thing we should be asking you." Akira retorted.

"Yeah, and what the hell was that all about!" Ryuji added, gesturing to the now prone bag. "you practically murdered the damn thing, like it owed you money or somethin'!"

"Oh… you saw that…" Mishima whispers, looking away, "it's nothing, just a stress reliever, that's all."

"First off, A stress reliever doesn't required you to pull a 50 hit combo like that." Ryuji snorted, once again pointing to the bag.

"74- s-shut up!" Mishima stammered embarrassingly.

"Second, what the hell kind of "stress" makes you want to maul the punching bag apart!?"

"Just pent-up frustration."

"From…?"

"none of your business." Mishima hissed, clenching his fists.

"Fine, fine, no need to go all demon on u-" as Ryuji said this, he stopped when Mishima seemed to flinch hard at that sentence. "H-Hey, are you alright?"

"Yeah… yeah, I'm fine, just a bruise is all…"

"Which one?"

"What?"

"Which bruise? The ones from fighting, or the many from Kamoshita's abuse?"

"...so that's what this is all about, huh?" Mishima narrows his eyes at the group, only to raise an eyebrow at their head shakes.

"Not really," Akira clarified, "We thought we heard gunshots, and went to investigate, turns out we heard you and your "stress relief" instead."

"...you're wasting your time. Nobody will help you."

"We know, that's why we're doing it ourselves."

"No, I mean, NOBODY; everyone knows, but they all keep quiet."

"...what!?" both teens and cat exclaimed.

~WHAT!?~ Arata roared out, his voice echoing just a smidgen at the outrageous statement

"The teachers, the students, their parents… they don't say anything because of the results." Mishima said, clicking his tongue. "Otherwise that shit would've been reported on day 1..."

"So just because it benefits the adults, nobody will stand up to that prick's torture!?" Ryuji growled, unknowingly sparking a few bolts of electricity.

"It is how it is. Now if you'll excuse me…" Mishima said, picking up the punching bag with one arm, further surprising the four. "I have practice to go to…" and with that, he walked off.

"Goddammit. Everyone knows and not a damn person's doing anything about it!"

"Calm down Ryuji, this is good." Akira said, gaining incredulous looks from the blonde.

"What Da Hell do ya mean by THAT!?"

"This just means that it'll be all the more bittersweet when we bring him to justice ourselves."

"...oh yeah, you're right."

~alright, you two head back for now, Kira, gimme your phone.~ handing over the phone to the god, Akira unzipped his back completely, releasing Morgana. ~Morgana and I will follow Mishima. Let's go get some evidence.~

"Right. Akira, let's go see if there are any more people we might talk to." and with that, the team split up, the two students leaving the school, and the spirit and cat followed the blunette.

After an hour or two later, Akira finally managed to get to Leblanc's. After another bust on the interrogating, he sighed heavily, as Morgana and Arata came up to him and the three entered.

After a welcome back from Sojiro, the three decided to turn in for the night.

His phone vibrating, Akira took it out as the three read the latest chat from Ryuji.

Ryu: this doesn't make any damn sense.

Ryu: the principal, the teachers, even the parent know about the abuse.

Ryu: why ain't anyone speaking up!?

RenRen: they're all either scared or adore Kamoshida

Ryu: that can't be the only reason why though…

Ryu: most likely because that asshole made the volleyball team famous, right?

Ryu: even so, that doesn't mean he can do what he wants!

Ryu: he's torturing the students, and they could only endure in silence.

Ryu: and that follower of his doesn't give a shit…

RenRen: follower?

Ryu: Ann Takamaki, the girl we talked to earlier, remember? You should remember her, dude. She's in your class.

Ryu: ugh! This is bullshit!

Ryu: I can't let it end like this. I'll try to find someone who'll be able to talk during break tomorrow. I ain't give up!

Putting away his phone, Akira nodded before turning to the other two in the roo-

~so, have you acquired evidence to dethrone the false king?~ make that three-

~indeed we have amigo.~...four, make that four in the room.

"Yep, we got half an hour's worth of evidence from that one session alone." Morgana answered.

~torture's more or less the same. And we got full proof.~

"A few more of these, and he'll be arrested for sure."

"Perfect, Now, let's go to bed. We'll cover more ground tomorrow."

~indeed.~

~very well.~

~night man.~

"goodnight."

Thursday, April 14th

Cloudy

Shujin Academy

Morning

As classes were going on, Akira's phone vibrated in his pocket, gaining Akira's Morgana's and Arata's attention. Looking up to the teacher, he took out his phone when the teacher wasn't looking.

Ryu: so, I was thinking…

Ryu: maybe we can get something out of Takamaki?

RenRen: since she's supposedly with Kamoshida?

Ryu: something' like that. She's the closest we've got to him, and I can already tell that she'd wanna kick his ass just as much as we do. Plus, she knows about the volleyball team; Shiho's with them.

RenRen: alright, I'll see what I can do.

Ryu: I'll talk with an associate of mine to see of she knows anything too.

RenRen: ... you have a girlfriend?

Ryu: Eff off, man, I just help her out from time to time.

Ryu: anyways, gotta go, Imma bomb this class if I don't pay attention.

Putting his phone away, Akira looked ahead, thinking on how to get Ann to talk.

~We can probably just corner her like she did us and ask.~

"But that's be suspicious at least…" Akira whispered.

~true… let's wait 'till free period to talk to her…~

A few classes later, after failing to get Takamaki's attention, the team had opted to talk to her after school. Now that the school day's over, the group of four walked over to find both Ann and Shiho talking to each other.

"...maybe we should wait 'till they're finished first." Ryuji suggested. Nodding at this, the group of four waited on as the two talked.

"Shouldn't you be practicing right now? What's wrong?" Ann asked.

"...uh-huh…" Shiho answered quietly.

"That bruise above your eye… that's from practice too?"

"...y-yeah.."

"Are you sure you're not pushing yourself too hard?"

"I'm ok, this is pretty much the only thing I can do right…"

Ann's phone vibrated in her pocket, causing the onlookers to silently panic for a brief moment.

"Shouldn't you take that?" Shiho asked, looking over at the phone to her friends' side.

"It's probably from my job… I think…" Ann waved off... "Probably for another update on my next shooting, is all.."

"I...I should get going…"

"Shiho… are you sure you're fine?" Ann asked, holding the bruised girl's hand.

"Uh-huh…" was her answer as the raven haired girl stood up and walked off.

"Shiho, Wai- augh I'm such a dumbass..." Sighing, the group nodded before walking into the scene, pretending that they heard nothing.

"Hey, An-" was what Ryuji started saying, but was promptly ignored as the girl walked off as well. "Crap. we missed our chance."

~split up. Kira and I'll go find Shiho, you and Morgana go with blondie!~

"Right. Catch ya later you two."

"Right."

Traversing through the school after hours was surprisingly hard, but at least they managed to find the girl they were looking for.

"Hey, Suzui, right?" Akira asked the girl, startling her a bit before she whipped around at talk.

"Y-yeah, who's asking?"

"Calm down, I just want to talk. I'm Akira."

"... what is it?" Shiho asked, looking around herself and seemingly put something together. "...oh, I'm in the way, aren't I? Sorry-"

"No, I'm sorry too. I wasn't really paying much attention… hey are you alright?" Akira asked, holding the door for Suzui to go through going through it himself afterwards.

"Huh..? um… well… this might not be any of my business, but don't let the rumors get to you, ok?" Shiho said.

~there were rumors?~

"They don't bother me, I know they're false." Akira said, nodding at the fellow revenette's words.

"It's just… I've helped with a similar case before… my best friend is often misunderstood too, just because she's pretty… oh, sorry, I shouldn't drag on like that."

~jeez, I'm starting to think she's on the verge of suicidal… I'm getting depressed just hearing her tone of voice...~

"A-anyway, I have practice… I'll see you around…" she finished, walking away from the two.

~Kira…~ Arata said suddenly, hand outstretched.

"Yeah?"

~phone time… I have a bad feeling about this…~

"Here." he hands the phone over to the floating teen, the small object phasing out of view upon contact.

~Alright, see you later, hopefully, I can get something good.~

A few minutes, later, Akira reunited with Ryuji and Morgana, both of which were exhausted and not pleased at all.

"Dammit. What the hell…" Ryuji mumbled out, kicking another vending machine.

"So close, yet so far... " Morgana sighed.

"what happened?" Akira asked, taking a seat on a nearby bench.

"We lost her in a crowd." Morgana groaned out from his perch.

"What's worst is that everyone else I went to was talking the same shit Mishima said earlier." Ryuji continued. "My friend didn't know much either."

"Who is this friend of yours anyway?"

"Hmm… Oh, her name's Haru." Ryuji answered, leaning against an open space on the wall. "I usually hang out with her by the roof, it just so happened that she goes up there to nurture her plants. I tend to help her out whenever I'm bored."

"Ooh, you'll have to introduce me to her sometime."

"Sure thing, but she couldn't help either; she doesn't really focus on sports here, so she didn't know much about anything at all."

"A shame…" Morgana mumbled. "But, at least we have someone to talk to, despite her lack of knowledge on this case, who'll at least talk to us."

"Crap!" Ryuji cursed, slamming his hand on the nearby vending machine releasing sparks unintentionally and short circuiting the machine for a brief moment. "Kamoshida probably forced them into silence or something. At this rate, we'll have to go to him directly…"

"Funny you should mention that…"

"Huh? why?"

"Remember the Palace?" Morgana reminded... it clicking in the blonde's mind a few seconds later.

"...OH, yeah, I almost forgot about that." Ryuji beamed.

"We'll need to find a secure route to the treasure first, wherever that is, and then we can initiate step two when we do find it."

"Let's discuss this at a safer place." Akira said, getting up from his spot and stretching a bit. "... After we get Arata back."

"Where to?" Akira's answer was a smirk from the blonde.

"So, Why are we on the roof again?" Morgana asks, jumping out of Akira's bag to stretch himself.

"Don't worry, barely anyone comes up here." Ryuji reassured, closing the door as he made sure they weren't followed.

"What about this Haru girl?"

"Nah, she's usually gone home at this hour. We're fine." Ryuji waved off. "So, what do we do about that Palace?"

"If we steal the treasure, then it'll erase the palace, which will essentially force the owner to have a change of heart." Morgana explained. "And without their warped wants, the crimes committed remain."

"And as long as we don't kill the shadow ruler, then it'll be fine to take it." Akira finished.

"precisely."

"Hey, I just noticed a minute ago, but where's Arata?" Ryuji said, looking around for the absent member of the team.

"He went to record more of those "special lessons" from the volleyball team." Akira answered, nearly spitting at the end of his sentence.

"Well, our lucks runnin' dry lookin' for witnesses… let's head on over to the other side and see if we can make progress."

"Right. We'll wait for Arata, then we'll leave." the three nodded at this, and left, none of them noticing the peach haired girl hiding to the side beside them.

"... Palace? " the girl whispered, looking at the the retreating figures.

After waiting a short while, Akira, Ryuji and Morgana decided to reschedule their venture to the Palace for tomorrow, since Arata came by late, with little worse for wear.

~the bastard was being extra thorough with the torture today, and this time, he tried molesting multiple girls.~ he said. ~had to take up more time stopping him.~

Nodding at the answer, the group decided to call it a day, with Akira, Morgana, and Arata were heading back to Leblanc's….. Until they caught sight of Ann arguing with someone on the phone in the distance. Sneaking up to listen to her, the three hid as she continued to talk.

"I keep telling you, I'm not feeling up to it… will you give it a rest already!?" she yelled over the phone. "... wait, what!? That's not what you promised! And you call yourself a damn teacher!?…HELL NO... This has NOTHING to do with Shiho!... FUCK!" taking away her phone Ann was on the verge of breaking down at any moment. At this, Akira walked up to her, ignoring the protests from Morgana.

"Hey… are you alright?" He asked, startling the girl in front of him.

"Wha- were you listening?" Ann yelped back, glaring at the ravenette for the lack of privacy.

"Kind of hard not to when you were screaming in the phone."

"Haven't you heard of privacy-" Ann stopped, going over the scenario once more, then calmed a bit. "...wait. no, I was out of line. Sorry about that." she answered. "... how much did you hear exactly?"

"You were arguing with somebody…something about Shiho?"

"Shiho… it's nothing at all… nothing."

~nothing she say- HEY!~ Arata shouts as Ann suddenly runs off. ~after her!~

A few minutes of chasing later, Akira and friends finally caught up to the panting, worn out girl.

"Stop following me!" she wheezed. "Leave me alone!"

"Calm down, I just want to help."

"Why… w-why do you keep worrying about me?" she choked, breaking down into full blown crying.

"C'mon. Let's go somewhere safe to talk…" Akira said, holding out his hand for the blonde, who graciously took it

"What's with you… I can't tell anymore.."

...

...

...

After a few more exchanged words, we now see the new group of four sitting around at a residential café, alone in the corner to continue their complex conundrum.

"I don't have anything to talk about with you." she said. "It was… just an argument…"

"With Kamoshida, I presume?" Akira finished for her, her tense flinch answering the question before her lips could form words.

~wow, way to be blunt there Kira.~

"She seems to be stressed out with stuff. I might as well help out…" he thought back.

"You've heard the rumors, right?"

"...about you and Kamoshida being a thing?"

"...yeah.. Everyone says we're getting it on, but… that's so not true…"

"I hand a hunch that it wasn't…"

"That was him on the other line...I avoided him for as long as I can…"

~okay...this is getting a bit sad.~

"He told me to meet him after this… you know what that means…"

~...damn.~

"And... A-And... If I turn him down again, then he said, he'll take my friend off the team entirely…"

~Oh that self-centered fucktard!~

"I'm... sorry to hear that…" Akira said, sipping onto his drink at what was revealed to him...

"I've been telling myself that this is all for Shiho's sake…" Ann sobbed, tears running down her face. "But I can't take it anymore...I've had enough of this… I hate him! But Shiho's my best friend… she's all I have at this sorry excuse of a school!... please… tell me… what should I do?"

"..."

~say something man! Anything!~

"I'm sorry… I shouldn't have asked." she sniffed. "It's not your prob-"

"What about Ryuji?" Akira said, seeming getting a look of confusion as an answer this time, he continued.

"Huh?" she mumbled.

"Ryuji said that the both of you went to middle school together… why not let him be your friend?" Akira clarified. "And what about me? I'll be your friend too if you want me to."

"...Akira…"

"And as for Shiho, you just have to be there for her."

"R-really?"

"Yeah." he nodded. "it may not seem like much, but in times like these, letting them know that you're there can even make the bleakest times bearable."

"... you're so weird… usually everyone just ignores me. Are you really a bad person as the rumor says? You don't seem like that type of person…"

"Hey, I'm bad to the bone!" He quipped with a smirk, causing the girl to chuckle.

"Yeah, okay sure… I kinda had a feeling they were just exaggerations… you seemed lonely- like you didn't belong anywhere…"

"...eh, I got my connections, remember Ryuji?"

"We're the same in that regard… maybe that's why it was easy for me to talk to you…"

"Really…"

"Is there really no way for me to help Shiho? I wish he'd just forget everything… if only he'd just change his mind…"

~oh, sweetheart, you couldn't be anymore closer to the truth.~

"As if something like that would ever happen."

"...it could happen..."

"I wasn't asking for a serious response." she smiled. "But… I do feel a bit better now… thanks."

"No problem. Just remember to be there for Shiho. That'd be more than enough."

"Right… just don't tell anyone what I told you, okay?"

~heh, you wish.~

"I'll try to persuade Kamoshida somehow… see ya, and… thanks again." she finishes, heading out of the café, and leaving the three alone.

"well, now there's more on the table than just abuse and sexual assault." Morgana said from his bag.

~yeah, Now we can add blackmail and privilege abuse to the list.~

"Let's head back to Leblanc's. We'll talk it over with Ryuji tomorrow."

"Right." ~right.~

And with that, the three left as well, unknowingly missing the familiar blue haired male a few tables away.

Chapter Text

Friday, April 15th

Rainy

Shujin Academy

Afternoon

After several more boring classes, Arata's suggestion to explore the school grounds while he was in class, and nearly getting hit by a chalk stick (thank god he still had those reflexes from back then) Akira and his merry entourage of two walked down the hallway to their last period class. noticing familiar whispers coming from around the corner, Arata floated ahead to the source, finding both Mishima and Shiho talking to each other.

~yo Kira. I need both Morgana and your phone.~ Arata stated, getting confused reactions from the two.

"...why?" Akira asked, pulling out said device in question.

~I have a bad feeling… and I might need backup just in case. I saw Mishima and Shiho talking earlier.~

"And that's bad...why?"

~what are they mostly connected to?~

"... fine, here." Akira relented, giving Arata his phone and releasing Morgana when the coast was clear.

~cool, and just in time too. They stopped walking. Come on Morgana.~ floating away from Akira, both cat and godling advanced towards the two volleyball players. Hiding easily, both eavesdropped at the current conversation going on between the two teenagers.

"Suzui…" Mishima whispered, gaining her attention as he made his way to the retreating girl.

"Hmm?" Shiho looks up turning to the blunette with a well hidden grimace, a feeling of dread itching its way up her spine. "Is there something else you wish to speak to me about, Mishima?"

"Y-Yeah... I almost forgot..." Mishima stammered. "Damnit, why did I STOP her!?" he thought to himself. "...Are you leaving?"

"...what is it?" Shiho asked, trying to push down the growing instinct to run.

"...Mr. Kamoshida's asking for you…" "SHUT THE HELL UP! WHY ARE YOU SAYING THAT!?" "he's in the PE faculty office…"

Shooting a look of surprise, Shiho shook lightly with a suddenly skyrocketing sense of unease. "What did he say?"

"...I... i don't know..." "Lies!" "it just came out of nowhere..." "You know DAMN well what it could be!" Mishima answered, looking downtrodden, "well… I have to go…" "DON'T LEAVE!" and with those parting words, Mishima sped off, leaving the girl, cat and spirit into thought.

"..." the bruised ravenette whimpered at the impending doom she would soon face. contemplating on just leaving now, she shook her head and walked forwards. "This is for Ann..." she repeated under her breath, slow but steadily walking to the cursed room.

~I knew my bad feeling was going somewhere…~ Arata whispered from his corner, floating out to the open with Morgana on his shoulders. ~it's not going away either… Mishima looks ready to puke his guts out... or have a breakdown...probably both.~

"We should follow her." Morgana whispered. Nodding together, they waited a few seconds before following the scared girl. After a few moments of trailing, the three were near the office in question, and with a heavy sigh and a deep breath, Shiho went inside.

~so, this is the faculty office?~ Arata whistled. ~It's a lot smaller than I thought.~

"Seems like it." Morgana nodded, jumping off of Arata and bounded near the door.

~and you got the same feeling too?~

"Yeah…" Morgana nodded grimly "This can't be anything good..."

~good. I'm not the only one then-~ just then, a sudden scream echoed behind the door in front of them before promptly going silent with a small muffled sound.

*FWAP*

"AAAH!" another muffled scream as well as the sound of something hitting the wall caused both non humans to jump, scurrying over to the door.

~was that...!?~ Arata shouts out. ~Did that guy Just-~

"Quick, open the door!" Morgana hissed, jumping up onto the door and opening it.

~get the camera!~ tapping a few buttons on the phone and opening the camcorder app, Arata pushed open the ajar door to see the rather horrifying scene before them.

There on the wall right near the door, much to their immediate fury and worry, was a crying Shiho, hands clutching her face with blood dripping down her palms, with Kamoshida huddled over her, striking her repeatedly while he attempted to pull some of her clothes off.

~hit record, HIT RECORD!~ Arata whispered to Morgana, glowing a dark gold as he slid through the door

"but- "

~I've got this, just get footage before I do!~ Arata said, floating up to Kamoshida's back before rubbing his hands. ~Shocking Grasp!~ sparks jolted around his palms as he gave the back of the teacher's neck a hearty clap!

*SLAP!*

"AGH!" said teacher winced in sudden pain, unintentionally backhanding the girl out of his hands and onto the floor in the process.

~SHIT! Morgana, switch out!~ Arata shouts, flying to the cat and snatching up the camera, recording as the cat predates towards the teacher, who soon recovered and resumed his undressing as he snatched Shiho up off the ground.

"Your friend has denied me for the last time, so you're gonna help me calm down RIGHT NOW!." Kamoshida growled, tearing off a sleeve from the cowering girl's arm.

"..." the beaten girl whimpered as she pulled her arm away harshly, only to get another slap in the face.

"RIGHT!? You've got nothing left to do except obey, that's the only thing you're good for anyways."

"...no, it's no-" Shiho yelled back, shoving back the looming coach as she attempted to gain ground-

*SLAP!*

"AAGh!" the very words she were about to say fell flat as another slap shut her mouth nigh instantly, sending her back to the floor, but now near the opened door in the process

"Quiet bitch!" he shouts, another slap for emphasis silenced the girl. "I call the shots here so you better-AAAAAAGGH!" His tirade was cut short as Morgana pounced, clawing the back of his head in a flurry of scratches, bites, and kicks in many directions.

"A-a cat!?" She yelps, just then Arata hovered over the girl, his echoed whispers in her ear startling her even further.

~go... now. Meet up with the ones known as Ryuji and Akira.~

"W-wha-"

~hurry, child! You have no time to waste on this chance, RUN!~

Blindly heeding the Arata's voice, Shiho staggered and scrambled up from her prone predicament, running out the room whilst crying all the way.

"The hell did this cat come from!?" Kamoshida screamed, succeeding in throwing the cat off of him near the door. Satisfied with their intervention, both Arata and Morgana fled the scene, a scratched and bleeding Kamoshida yelling in rage behind them. "DAMMIT!"

Reuniting with Akira and Ryuji, Arata and Morgana gave back the phone with grim and enraged looks on their faces.

"Whoa… what happened?" Ryuji asked, unsettled at the flowing murderous intent from the two. "you two look ready to commit homicide..."

~If we don't get the hell out of here and calm ourselves, that's EXACTLY what's going to happen...~ Arata growled, his voice echoed and slightly deeper, pulses of magic flowing through each syllable, like a chanted aria to a ritual.

"That monster… he called Shiho to the faculty office." Morgana started, his body still shaking from the adrenaline through his system.

~That Dick physically beat her! AND he was trying to rape her too!~

"WHAT!?" both students exclaimed.

~we've got it recorded, and we got her out, but she's bleeding from the face and a few cuts and wounds opened up from his beatdown! Kira, ya gotta get to her NOW!~

"That Bastard!" Ryuji yelled, slamming his fist on a nearby vending machine. a sizeable dent formed from the impact, but none of the current occupants notice such destruction.

"And that's not all..." Morgana continued. "He was going on about how she denied him for the last time… I think this was because of Lady Ann refusing to meet up with him yesterday." Akira's eyes widen at this, his hands clenched to the point where droplets of red begins forming, only to disappear moments later as a silver light flashed around his fists.

"Dammit, He's gonna pay for this!" before they could talk some more, some people screamed out, startling the four man band out of their fury.

"EEEEK! Someone's on the roof!" a person yelled.

~... She didn't...~

"Two people!" another screamed out, a chorus of voices flooded behind them.

"She did..." Morgana repeated.

"I think they're gonna jump!" a third followed suit. The group of four looked at each other before sprinting (and flying) as fast as they could to the rooftop

A few minutes of running people over, clotheslining a few of them along the way, and Ryuji practically kicking down the door to the rooftop, all four ran out to the opening, Startling the three close by. Looking ahead, the group of four wheezed as they looked to Haru and Mishima desperately trying to pull back a damaged and sobbing Shiho, who is trying her damnedest to lean forwards over the side.

~I TOLD HER TO GO TO YOU GUYS!~ Arata screeched, pulling his hair in panic. ~IS SHE REALLY THAT SUICIDAL!?~

"Shiho! Haru! Mishima!" Ryuji shouts, gaining their attention was all he needed to cover the distance . "What Da ever-loving SHIT going on here!?"

"Help us pull her back! Please!" Haru pleaded, desperately pulling on the broken girl's torn sleeved shoulder. "She almost ran off the building when I saw her."

"It's no use… why won't you let me go!?" Shiho wailed back through her sobs, struggling wildly as the two held firm, "I'm not worth it, I'm not worth ANYTHING! so just let me go!"

"Never! If anyone's not worth anything, it's me!" Mishima shouts back, holding onto her other shoulder like a lifeline. "I shouldn't have told you to go to him! I could've lied or something! If I had just done something sooner… anything, then this wouldn't be happening, so PLEASE!" he yanks her back even more, nearly tipping the three way tug of war backwards to the roof.

"Crap! Come on Kira!" Ryuji ordered, running to the group and grabbing ahold of Shiho by her torso, pulling her back with Akira following suit gripping a wayward leg before it could kick him.

"Shiho, this isn't the way to go!" Akira yelled pulling with all his might at the squirming girl in his grasp. "What about Ann!? How would she react if her best friend was dead!?"

"I'm doing this FOR Ann!" she screamed back. "Without me, she could live on with a happy life without a waste of space like me weighing her down!"

~That bullshit makes no sense and you know it woman!~ Arata yelled, casting a glyph circle with a slowly ticking clock in front of Shiho, her struggles becoming slower and weak as the four humans start to slowly but surely drag her away from the edge.

"But think about this; will she really be happy!?" Ryuji continued. "Knowing that she let her best friend die, not being able to do anything!? She'd blame the whole damn thing on herself!"

"...what?" Shiho blinked through her tears, hiccupping at what Sakamoto's words.

"she's doing whatever she can do for your sake, Dammit!" Ryuji yelled back, grabbing her by the shoulders once they made sure she would be too far to make a run for the roof ledge. "Don't throw that all away! Don't throw HER away!"

"I...I…" Shiho stuttered, stopping her struggling completely as she broke down sobbing. "..I-I don't know what to do anymore..."

"Come on. Let's go see Ann, together." Akira reassured, patting and rubbing her back as the four huddled around her. "I'm sure that she'd be crying her soul out hoping you were okay..." Looking around, he spotted the familiar black tuft of Morgana dashing around the lot, seemingly distracting the masses, if the growing group of adults and student council members chasing behind him were of any indication.

"...O-Okay..." not stopping her weeping anytime soon, the extended group successfully lead her from the edge of the roof, walking back towards the building and going down to the bottom floors.

"Haru, do you know who Ann Takamaki is?" Ryuji asked.

"Yes, I've heard of her…" Haru nods, making their way downstairs. "She's the one with the yellow hair, like your, right?"

"Yeah, that's the one. If you could, go find her and tell her to help Shiho get home."

"Right. Come along Suzui…" Haru held her hands as the two girls left the boys alone.

"Now talk." Ryuji demanded, not even turning around to meet the blunette's gaze.

"Wh-wha-"

"TALK DAMMIT!" Ryuji screamed, a sudden shock pulsed from his body as he slammed his fist into the wall,cracking it slightly, but only Mishima seemed to flinch from the jolt. "Why the hell were you all up there!? Why was SHE up there!? And what was that bullshit you spouted out about being worthless earlier!?"

"B-Because I could've done something for her to prevent all this!" Mishima retorted. "I could've just said that she left already, or that she was helping another teacher, ANYTHING, but I didn't! i-I... I let her j-just... I sent her to the damn slaughter..."

"Shiho almost killed herself! Why haven't you tried anything before then!?"

"You wouldn't understand!"

"DON'T GIVE US THAT BULLSHIT!" Ryuji roared, stepping closer to Mishima, until they were face to face with each other, his eyes, glowing gold for a brief moment. "Help us understand! Why were you up there!? We know this is because of Kamoshida! What, did you come up there to take her back to him!?"

"NO!" Mishima Shouts suddenly, his despair giving way to rage at Ryuji's words, as he clenched his fists "Don't you DARE even think of me doing that!"

"Then why!? Why didn't you say anything earlier!? Do you just let people trample all over you without fuss!?"

"That's none of your business!"

"It IS if it's making people suffer!" Ryuji yelled, gripping Mishima by his shirt. "If you don't stop acting like a little bitch, then everybody will keep treating you like one, JUST LIKE THAT PERVERTED BASTARD!"

"WELL I'D RATHER BE A COWARD INSTEAD OF BEING BRANDED AS A MURDERER!" Mishima snapped, shocking the four near him, his voice hitched in pure rage as he continued, not bothering to hide his stutters. "You h-have NO idea what it's like to be feared, EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. and I'm not talking a-about fake fear from shitty rumors!"

"Wha-" Ryuji said, letting go of Mishima's shirt at Mishima's sudden outburst. Too caught up in his anger, Mishima reaches up and grabs the blonde's shirt, reversing the roles from a few seconds prior

"SHUT UP! You couldn't possibly understand the pain of being alone, Ostracized from everyone else, knowing that it was your fault!" Akira wheezed at this, hand clutching his chest at Mishima's statement with wide yet blank eyes. "Don't even bother trying!"

~Oh no.. Akira, stay with me here... not now!~ Arata shouts, shaking Akira and hugging him tightly. ~Dammit, why now!?~

"Wait... what the hell do you mean by that-" Ryuji stammered, gripping Mishima's death grip with his own.

"Ever since that day… I was outcasted; feared by everyone because I crippled...almost killed someone... People would run in terror whenever I so much as look in their direction… I've fought for those people… SAVED them even, but I was treated like… like…"

"A demon... a freak... a Monster?" Akira whispered, the blunette flinching as he caught the ravenette's words before nodding.

"Do you have any idea what it's like, being alone with so few people to go to!? My family had to move away just to stop that nightmare! Just because I tried HELPING someone!"

"Y-Yes… Yes I do..." Akira whispers, thinking back to that damned night, the screams, the men shouting and waving their guns... the pool of RED on his…

~CALM!~ Arata hissed under his breath, a wave of soothing chimes echoed within Akira's mind immediately after.

shaking his head, Akira took a deep breath. "Not the time to be thinking about that…" he thought, "Worry now, breakdown later..."

"And guess what… NOBODY knew of the "Little Demon" of Kyoto here, only weak Yuuki Mishima; the guy with no backbone. Everyone thought I was a wimpy coward, not a berserk monster who'll kill them if they look at him funny, and I'd rather be that than feared as a would be murderer…" Mishima continued. "This was a chance to restart everything; this was my second chance to live on, past be damned! And NOW history's trying to repeat itself! Someone's life was in danger… a-and I... I-I just s-stood there….." tears flowed down his face with each word spoken. "I-I can't do it again...I wanted to h-help... b-but... It'd ruin everything again... I don't want to s-suffer alone because of it again…"

"..."

"...damn… I-I had no idea…" Ryuji said, calming himself as Mishima's grip loosened, the blunette sliding down the wall as he hugged his knees sobbing.

~...so, wait…~ Arata started. ~the story I told implied that Little Demon mauled the criminals… Mishima said that he saved people… everyone now feared that he'll do the same to them because of that incident... and this somehow caused him to develop some form of monophobia?~

"I think so..?" Akira answered mentally, confused as well whilst pushing down the feeling of Deja vu from where he stood.

~and because of this phobia, and to get away from being labeled as a monster, he doesn't want to try anything like before, lest the whole "fearing him" thing will repeat itself?~

"To be fair, what would you do if someone who can kill you in a hundred different ways was coming towards you…" Akira thought back. "I know ALL too well what that's like..."

~touché..~ Arata mumbled. ~man, this realm sucks ass, you don't get nearly this much backlash in the other side...~

"...look, sorry about yellin' at ya, I got riled up in the heat of the moment." Ryuji sighed kneeling down to Mishima. "Just… thanks… for not letting her fall off and all that…"

"..."

"Just... Why don't you head home…" Ryuji continued, pulling him up. "we won't tell anyone anything that happened here."

"...what? really?" Mishima hiccupped, looking at the blonde incredulously.

"Yeah… think of it as our apology for eggin' you on like this."

~you were the one eggin' him on, boy.~

"...thanks… I appreciate it….and sorry, for not helping much…"

"No problem, c'mon guys." as the group of three walked past the blunette, Mishima turned to them.

"W-wait…" he stammered. "Before you leave… it's true… the abuse, the sexual assault, everything… i-i'll testify if possible… just…"

"Don't worry, Mishima." Akira said. "We'll take him down, for everyone's sake."

As the group walked off, Mishima whimpered one last apology towards Akira before leaving as well.

A few minutes later after school ended early, Shiho, a livid Ann, and an awkwardly supporting Haru was walking out the school building, both girls holding close to the bruised girl's arms. Just when they reached the stairs, Mishima appears outside. "Wait!" he shouts, gaining the girls attention. "Let me help… it's the least I could do…"

"Mishima…" Shiho mumbled quietly, remembering the tearful gaze of his, the gentle yet tight grip he had as he tried to pull her back replayed in her mind. "...okay…"

"C'mon Yuuki." Ann ordered. "Let's get you home Shiho…"

"To think that Mr. Kamoshida would do such a thing…" Haru mumbled to herself.

"I'm sorry… I should've done something sooner… anything would've been better than… Shiho?" Mishima stated, stopping when he sees Shiho's attention was elsewhere.

"It's the cat." Shiho stated, pointing in front of her.

"Huh?" the other three echoed in unison.

"Cat?" Ann added. "what cat?"

"The cat... that helped me escape… it's running with… Sakamoto? Akira's with him too…" Shiho said, a voice in the back of her mind reminded of the mysterious whisper from before.

~Go to the ones known as Ryuji and Akira...~ the voice echoed over and over in her head.

"What?" True to her claim, the four students saw both Ryuji and Akira running from the school and stepping into a nearby alleyway, a black cat with a yellow collar close behind them.

"W-Where are they going?" Shiho asked.

"I don't know… we should- Sh-Shiho!?" Ann stammered, startled as the Raven haired girl struggled free from her grip and followed suit. "W-wait!" Ann shouts, following the fleeing female, with Haru and Mishima close behind.

Hiding behind the corner of the alleyway, the four Shujin students looked on stealthily at the two males and the cat talking to each other.

"That bastard's gone too far this time!" Ryuji snarled, his fist pummeling the wall of the building they were next to. "The sooner we can steal his shit, the better!"

"Stealing…" Haru whispered, gazing at them as Akira pulled out his phone.

"Suguru Kamoshida." Akira started, a ping seconds later startles the four eavesdroppers. "Shujin Academy…" another ping. "Perverted castle." a third ping rang off.

*Destination found, beginning navigation.*

A familiar wave of dizziness washed over the group, as well as the onlookers, as the world distorted entirely in a swirl of black and red. Seconds later, the whole group were now standing at the castle's entrance.

"Alright! Let's go steal that prick's treasure-" Ryuji yelled, but before he could take a single step-

"AAAAH!"

"o-Oh my!"

"What the hell!?"

"W-Where are we!?"

"Oh Shit!" Ryuji yelped in surprised, the four changed males looked back, their surprise increased tenfold when they caught sight of Ann, Haru, Mishima and Shiho in a small heap of limbs, looking around the place in shock.

"W-What are you guys doing here!?" Ryuji yelled. Startling the four stragglers further as the eavesdropping party scrambled to their feet.

"T-that voice… Sakamoto!?" Ann shouts. "And you... Akira!?"

~what am I, Chopped liver!?~ Arata sounded out, causing the four to turn to the voice... and promptly shriek at the sight of Arata floating in place.

"What is this place!?" Mishima said. "WHERE ARE WE!?"

"Why are you four here!?"

"How should we know!?" Ann yelled back. "What's going on? Isn't this the school!? Where are we, Ryuji!?"

"A really dangerous place, now you have to leave!"

"WHAT!?" the four chorused, each voicing various complaints about that decision.

"How da hell did you all follow us in here anyway!?" Ryuji yelled back, causing the four newcomers to stop in thought.

"Hmm… perhaps your app is responsible." Morgana suggested. causing the persona users and spirit to look back to the cat being.

"What do you mean?"

"If multiple people can enter with the person who uses it, then it could be possible to pull others close by with them…" Morgana theorized. "why do I know more about this that you dolts!?"

"Foreal!?"

"Wait… is THIS related to Kamoshida!?" Mishima questioned, gesturing over to the scenery before them.

"Anyways, you gotta leave, like right now!" Ryuji said, pointing to the four newcomers, "It's too dangerous for you all to be running about in there!"

~hang on a second…OH That's right! I knew I placed them somewhere…~ Arata mumbled, rummaging through his pockets.

"Will you listen to what Arata has to say first?" Morgana hissed, "And KEEP IT DOWN, The shadows will find us if we make a scene!"

"Oh god!, a Talking Monster cat!?" Ann shrieked, just now noticing Morgana for the first time.

"M-Monster?!"

"Augh looks like we gotta force them. Hey Kira, help me get them to safety! " Ryuji sighed, getting a nod for an answer as the two dragged Mishima and Ann out the way they came, Shiho following suit.

"W-Wait, Sakamoto! come back!" Shiho shouts out, the five of them exiting the realm of the shadows

~there they are! Hey guys-~ Arata shouts, taking out a bundle of paper slips from his pockets, but only Haru and Morgana was there ~crap. They left didn't they?~ he sighed, floating over to the last unfamiliar person. ~you're Haru right?~

"Y-yes?" she squeaked taking a step back by reflex.

~here. take these.~ He said, handing a stack to her. Just as she took them, Ryuji and Akira came back.

"Alright, now we just gotta get Haru back and-" Ryuji said, nearly tripping as he bumped into Arata.

~Don't worry, Ryuji. I've got it covered.~ Arata said, causing the blonde to look on in confusion.

"Huh? What're you on about?"

"You do?" Akira asked as well.

~remember the paper slips I asked for? I used them to make these.~ Arata explained, showing them several card sized paper sheets with various drawings and symbols. ~they're called Spell cards… well slips in this case. They can be given to people so they can use the spell or skill listed in each sheet. They're one use only though, so we need to use them wisely.~

"So that's what you meant by insurance…" Akira said, taking a look at a few of them. noticing a few that stuck out, he raised his eyebrow at the spectral companion. "do you think they can actually work here?"

~yeah… I had a feeling something like this would happen, so I made these for the non persona users to defend themselves. Plus, we can use these if we run low on energy. At least it's worth a shot.~

"That's awesome!" Ryuji cheered... before stopping as he looked back to the entrance. "Wait… then did that mean…"

~yeah, you didn't really have to send them back at all.~

"Oh…well I feel like a dumbass.."

"You are a dumbass." Morgana deadpanned.

"SHUT!"

"The cat thing is talking…" Haru mumbled, even more confused than before.

"should we go back for them then-" Ryuji said, but Arata shakes his head.

~too late! We're on a tight schedule! And we have a treasure to steal!~

"We'll explain the situation to them later, right now, the shadows have noticed us, and we need to secure the route!" Morgana interrupted. "We're counting on you Joker!"

"Palace…" the sole female muttered under her breath, practically vibrating in place.

"What the hell? Joker?"

"A code-name. What idiot would use their real name in a heist!?" Morgana argued, palming his bulbous head. "I'm not down for that! And besides, there's no telling what kind of effect yelling our real names will have an effect on the palace… this is just a precaution."

~before we do that, though… maybe we should explain it to Haru…~ Arata interrupted, pointing at the fidgeting girl in question. ~before she fries her own brain-~

"Huh?"

*Thud*

as if on cue, the female of the group fainted, her mind cluttered with too much information to process.

~... too late.~

"... crap."

After a few minutes of entering from the air vent from earlier, finding a good hiding spot, and explaining everything to Haru after she regained consciousness, the group of five continued their conversation.

"As I've said before, we'll use code-names from now on whenever we're in a palace." Morgana stated

"So… why Joker?" Ryuji questioned.

"Simple; he's our trump card in terms of fighting strength."

"... not bad. I like it." Akira, now named Joker, nodded giving a thumbs up in confirmation.

~wasn't there some old rumor or some shit with that name, though?~

"eh, that was an old rumor." Akira thought back, shrugging. "and besides, if there really IS a supposed "Joker Curse" then I'm counting on you to get me out of it before it does anything..."

"It's settled then." Morgana nodded.

~if we're going by code-names, then I'll use my nickname. I'll be addressed as... Draco.~

"I thought your nickname was Sergeant Fuck-." Akira joked.

"Language!" Ryuji mumbled.

~That was then, this is now. That was more out of spite for that one prick back home and I'm using Draco as my codename, deal with it.~

"Aw man… there goes that idea." the blonde male moaned. "I was gonna call you something like Wiz, or Ace or something..."

"Well, next is Ryuji… let's see… "thug" could work." Morgana snarked cheekily.

"You wanna go, Cat!? I'll choose it my own damn self!" he yelled back "When it comes to me… it's gotta be this mask… so, I'll be "Skull". Yeah...That'll work."

~what about Haru?~

"... if I may…" Haru chimed in. "what about "Noir"? Will that work?"

~any particular reason why?~

"I don't know… it just feels right, plus, you're doing this for justice right?"

"Of course. Someone has to stop that man."

"And you're doing this stealing treasure business, correct?" they all nod. "Then you're bringing in a darker sense of justice… like some sort of..."

"Phantom thief?" Morgana finished.

"Yes… phantom thieves…" Haru repeated, a small grin forming on her face. "I rather like that."

"Well, I can't argue much with that, I like it."

"And as for your, code-name… "Mona". It's short and easy to remember." Ryuji added in.

"Mona… eh, that'll do nicely. So we're Joker, Reaper, Mona, Skull and Noir when we're in a Palace."

~cool, now lets-~ Arata stopped, hearing many noises from outside the room they're in. ~SHHH!~

Shifting towards the entrance, the group of five saw Kamoshida yelling at a platoon of guards a little ways away from them.

"You mean to tell me that you idiots can't catch a few morons in costumes!?" the shadow yelled.

~pot callin' the kettle black, Speedo-man.~

"I can't let trash like that run around my castle! Find them, dead or alive! I don't care how!"

"YES, LORD KAMOSHIDA!" the squadron shouted in unison, marching ahead to a different hallway.

"We should stick to hiding from here on out. It looks like he's updated the security quite a bit."

"Still say we should beat him up and call it a day…"

~Later Sakamoto, later.~

"He's right, Monkey brains."

"Hey!"

"Our focus is to find the treasure first. We'll deal with the shadow ruler later."

"Ugh… fine, where is the damn thing anyway?"

"It should be in the very depths of the whole Palace. Let's go while he's out here."

As the three bickered onward, Joker and Noir opens a nearby door, only for Noir to squeal for a second before Joker pulled her to the side, alarming the other three.

~Hey Joker, what are you doing over there?~

"There's a shadow in there." Joker answered, taking his hand off of Noir's face.

"A shadow you say?... is it alone?"

"Y-yeah…" Noir nodded, causing the cat creature to smirk.

"I may have an idea for that; let's ambush it first."

~on it.~ Arata peeked into the room the lone shadow was in, creeping towards it when it's back was turned, and lunged at the guard, ripping off the mask it bore to reveal it as yet another fairy.

"Remember the Hold-ups and All-out attacks I told you about before?" three nods was his answer. "I'll teach you their practical use now. There's another use for hold ups besides killing them all at once. Shadows are born from people's hearts, so they can naturally talk too. In other words, you can communicate with them, Got it?"

~I think i see where you're going with this…~

"First knock it down."

"Right." Joker pulled out his Handgun, pulling the trigger and downing the fairy like before. Now the four experienced thieves flanked it from all sides, with Noir, awkwardly joining in at one side.

"If you talk to them when they're cornered, then they might bribe you with money or items to stay alive. It's a lot more useful for getting loot compared to just offing them. Try it out, Joker."

"What!? You guys are the intruders that King Kamoshida was talking about!" the downed fairy hissed. "What are you going to do with me, huh!?"

"I want money." Joker ordered.

"Oh? You'll let me live if I give you some cash!?"

"Eh, that'll work for now, but your smooth talking could use some work." Mona deadpanned. "Be it money or items, just cough it up and we won't end you."

"B-but this happened so fast… I don't have anything on me…"

"...such a shame…" he raised the gun at the frightened mythical shadow.

"W-w-wait I normally do though! Just let me go get some right quick-" a gunshot inches from her face silenced her.

"Whoa! Joker, hang on!" Mona yelped, jumping himself at the sudden action

"That one was a warning shot. The next one won't miss."

~aim for the eyes!~

"W-wait! Can't we work something out? I'll do anything, just please let me go!"

"...anything?"

"Yeah, anything, just name it!"

"Then answer me this; why are you serving King Kamoshida?"

"Huh?"

~if you can "huh", you can hear, now talk!~

"I-I don't know exactly… All I remember is this sweet smell and whispers of luxury… everything else is fuzzy."

"whispers... sweet smell? doesn't that mean you were lured in?"

"...i was?... I WAS!" the beguiling girl shouts, rising up. "It's coming back to me now! I'm not a servant of that perverted freak! I'm an existence drifting in the sea of humanity's souls… my real name… is Pixie! Thank you so much for helping me remember!"

~no… problem?~

"I know! I'll help you guys out however I can!" Pixie finished, glowing in a white light before changing into a white mask. Said mask then floated towards Joker and phased into the mask he was wearing.

"W-What was that just now!?" Mona asked, "what happened!?"

"H-how should we know!?" Skull yelled back. "The enemy just got sucked into Joker's mask!"

"Halt Intrude- OW!" a few guards said, but was promptly staggered...

*CRASH!*

...by Noir throwing a random chair at it.

"No time to worry about that now!" the five prepared themselves as the guards morphed into another set of two horned horses.

"someone do something!" Mona shouts out, rolling out of the way of stampeding hooves

~If I may interject.~ Arsene chimed in, materializing near his user. ~I do believe our new guest would like to have a spin this time.~

"Guest?" Joker asked, suddenly the voice of the Pixie from earlier echoed through his mind.

"Yeah, these guys are weak to lightning. I can take 'em on for ya!" Pixie said.

"Alright, let's see if this works… Change, Pixie!" Arsene disappeared back into Joker's mask as the new Pixie materialized in his stead, further shocking the group in awe. "Zio!" a fast bolt of Lightning shot out from her hands as one of the Bicorns was electrocuted, slouching down in pain.

"I-is that the shadow from earlier!? Wait… did you take in the shadow's appearance and powers as a persona!?"

"Guys, Use Lightning attacks, they're weak to it!"

"Lightning… lightning.. Oh, here we go!" Noir exclaims, shuffling her deck of slips in hand before settling on one. "chain lightning?" she shouts, the card fizzling out as several beams of electricity surged forth, killing both horse shadows in one shot.

"Hot Damn that's powerful!" Skull shouts out, slamming the door close before more shadows storm in on them.

"It sure is… wait, wasn't that the same pixie from before?" Noir yelped.

"… does that mean that Joker can carry multiple Personas!?" Mona asked.

"...I guess?" Joker shrugged, the fairy shadow faded back into the rogue's mask. walking up to the door, joker snapped his fingers as a glyph appeared on the door. "There, this should hold for now."

~that's some grade-A Pokemon shit right there!~

"... Pokey… Mohn?" Mona questioned. "What's a Pokerman?"

~you don't know Po- oooh right… nevermind it then.~

"Well if you say so…"

"This is good though… usually it's only one persona per person, since they only have one heart." Mona explained. "But with this ability, we'll have a huge advantage in battle."

"Hell Yeah! If that's the case, then let's hold up all that we can!" Skull exclaimed, several hands clapping his mouth shut seconds after. "Sorry... got excited."

"C'mon, let's keep going." Joker announced as the group kept forward.

Meanwhile, a few minutes earlier, not too long after the previous group went inside, the empty lot distorted again, revealing Ann, Shiho and Mishima once more.

"W-whoa!" Shiho yipped, nearly stumbling onto the ground. "d-did it really work?"

"I… think you did it Takamaki…" Mishima answered, helping her back to her feet. "what even is that app…?"

"Whoa, this is that place from earlier…" Ann said, looking up at the grandiose building in front of them... only to start panicking seconds later. "h-hey, wait a minute! where'd they go!?"

"They probably already went on ahead…"

"Without us!?"

"C-calm down." Mishima pleaded, trying (read FAILING) to calm the blonde down.

"I know for a fact that THIS-" she gestures to the aforementioned castle. "-is somehow related to that bastard of a teacher! How dare they leave me out of something like this!"

"Ann please, you know they were just trying to keep us safe…" Shiho replied, holding onto Ann's hand in a calming tone. this seemed to calm Ann down somewhat... until the sound of the front gate rising alerts the trio.

"Princess?" a new voice spoke, making the three students jump at the sight of a few guards rushing out the gate.

"Huh!?"

"G-Guards!?"

"Princess! The Beast and head mistress is also with her!" the guards yelled, rushing towards the three.

"Aaaaaah!" both girls screamed, Mishima instinctively moved in front of them as the guards surrounded the three.

Back to the Main group, the five thieves spent nearly half an hour exploring the Palace, with Joker gaining a Mandrake, A Bicorn and a Pyro Jack in addition to collecting various loot from chests and breaking objects. A bit of a ways ahead from their last location, the five were now resting up at a newly discovered Safe room.

"Why the heck are there more shadows than before!?" Skull moaned. "This is starting to get exhausting…"

~at least we're grinding a lot of Exp. out of this~

"E...Xp?" Noir asked, confusion overtook her once more.

"Like a videogame?" Skull added.

"What'd a Videa-gain?" Mona asked, spurring another shouting match between Cat and Boy in the background.

~Hey Joker, wanna see your Stats?~

"Sure thing, maybe we can see their stats as well…"

~No prob.~ a ping later, five black boxes appear around Joker, causing the others to gape in awe, including the two bickering boys as they look on at the sudden appearance of screens in front of the Ravenette.

"Joker"

Lv. 12

Class: Warlock/Rogue/Paladin

Hp: 402

Sp: 320

"Skull"

Lv.12

Class: ? (Chariot)

Hp: 419

Sp: 299

"Mona"

Lv. 12

Class: ? (Magician)

Hp: 385

Sp: 388

"Draco"

Lv. ?

Class: - (Redacted)

Hp:?

Sp: ?

"Noir"

Lv. N/A

Class: ? (?)

Hp: N/A

Sp: N/A

~huh… that's weird… I can't get Noir's stats for some reason…~

"Okay, hold up… skill slips, unlocking potential, Stats!? Just… what the hell even ARE you anyways?" Skull questioned, pointing at Draco, then at Mona . "It's obvious you're not human, and you're even more mysterious than the cat!"

"I'm NOT a cat!"

~well...~

"It's fine, Draco. You can tell them."

~but it's embarrassing…~ Draco moaned, a light tint of pink flushed on his face. ~hmm... how to explain... Simply put, I'm a godling; a higher being made from human cognition and beliefs.~

"A-a god!?" Noir gasped, the others not in the know also having a similar reaction.

"If that's the case then why the hell are you with us!?" Skull shouted back, gesturing even more so at the floating spirit. "You could've done everything in a snap with you "God powers" or something!"

~first off, I'm the godling of Potential; I'm supposed to manage the limits and full potential of the souls of the living, NOT throwing around my power to make things easier. And Second… mgh mgh…~ Draco said, mumbling the last part inaudibly.

"What was that? Sorry, I couldn't hear…"

~I don't have my full power yet!~ Draco whined with a huff. ~There, ya happy?~

"W-why not!?"

Sighing, the god among them floated lazily, bumping his head amongst the walls of the safe room. ~due to some crazy shit in the past, the "Elder" gods implemented an age rule for the younger ones; we have to reach 1000 years old in order to receive out full power.~

"Wait…" Mona intervened. "Aren't you breaking the rules then? Aren't higher beings like yourself not supposed to directly-"

~imma stop you right there with a flat no.~ Draco paused, curling back over to meet their gaze. ~a major loophole to that age rule is that younger gods-like me- are not fully registered as a full on god in the high heavens. this means that Until we reach 1000, we can do whatever we want. I even went to some of the older gods because of this.~

"What did they say?"

~"we know of this little loophole you speak of, and we approve. Young ones like you should appreciate your freedom before bearing responsibility. Now be a good boy and play with your toys for now." was more or less their exact words.~

The silence that followed was more deafening than a parade of startled banshees. coughing into his shoulder, Joker clapped his hands to gain the floor once more.

"Let's change the subject before we look too deep into this." Joker said, the rest nodding at his proposal.

"Anyways, the reason there are more shadows is because Draco and I Might have provoked him earlier…"

~yeah, our bad… but hey, it was worth it.~

"Still, he seems to be awfully on guard…" Noir said, peeking out for a second before closing the door once more.

"So… how exactly are we gonna steal this treasure thing? Do we just take it and run?" Skull shrugged. "Cause I might need a sec to warm p before I have to make a mad dash..."

"Don't be hasty, first we need to secure an infiltration route." Mona sighed, shaking his head at the group.

"Ah, I see, a safe path to and from the treasure." Noir clarified.

"Oh… cool, so any idea where that might be?"

"To be honest though, I think we'll need a little more manpower for this…" three sets of eyes look back over to Draco, who looks like he got ousted for causing a sandal.

~why are you lookin' at me like that? I don't know!~

"Oh that's bull… you're a god and you can't do something like that? Don't you have some sort of Clare- toy-vent thing to see where it is?"

~Clairvoyance and no i don't. Not ALL gods are the same, especially us modern ones.~

Before they could argue further, the group silenced themselves as several voices sounded off on the other side of the room.

"Still, why was the princess in such an odd place? With the Lapdog and Mistress too?" one guard asked.

"Princess?" Skull whispered.

"I could've sworn we were pursuing the readings of an intruder…" another guard echoed.

"It doesn't matter now. We must take them back to King Kamoshida!" a third shouts, the sounds of footsteps echoed down the hallway, leaving the rest to ponder this.

"What were they talking about?"

~and why do I have a bad feeling about this….~

"I'll look into it. Just stay here." Mona proposed, sneaking out the room and leaving the four to themselves. It wasn't even a full minute when Mona rushed back in, panic on his face.

"This is bad!" he shouts.

"That was fast!" Noir yipped, nearly jumping off the desk she was sitting on.

"Your friends… Lady Ann, Shiho and Mishima…"

"Spill cat! What about them!?"

"...they were taken by shadows!"

Chapter Text

"WHAT!?" The four other thieves yelled. Mona rubbing his ears at the cacophonous burst of noise.

"They've been taken by guards, they've just past us!"

"B-But how!?" Skull shouts. "We took them home earlier!"

"Maybe… maybe they have the same app we used to get here. You got it when you first arrived." Joker answered, suddenly the humans turned pale at such an implication.

"It could be possible…"

"Oh no… don't tell me they got here on their own!" Skull shouted out, actually breaking a table with his slammed fist. blinking in surprise after the sudden burst of strength, his shock turned back to anger in a pin drop. "Dammit! We let them out for safety and they just came back in by themselves!"

"... an app…" Noir mumbled to herself, looking down to where her own device rested. "Maybe that means that I have it as well… questions for later." she thought

"Regardless, this just now changed into a rescue mission! Let's go save them!"

~Lead the way Mona!~

Running out the door, the group of five ventured deep within the palace, following the guards that held one of the newly captured intruders. Aside from looting a bit more on the side, killing off a few shadows who got in the way, and having to backtrack a bit, they finally arrived at a door with two muffled screams echoing inside. Slaying the last set of guards after they threw in the third intruder, the group of five opened the doors… only to catch the sight of many naked girls lying around the whole room.

"W-What the hell!?" Skull shouts, nearly stepping on a cognition of one of the nearby schoolgirls, who whined at him stepping over her. "Is this what he thinks of the girl's volleyball team!?"

"How indecent!" Noir added, looking away with a heavy blush on her face.

"Guys, Focus!" Mona hissed. "They're right there!" true to his claim, there in the room with them, was a prone Mishima, Ann and Shiho tied to x-shaped stands and shadow Kamoshida snarling at the newcomers, with shadows of the three students fawning over him.

"Why the hell do you twerps keep coming BACK!?" the ruler yelled in rage.

~I don't know, why the hell do you wear a pink mankini you prick!?~

"Please get us down!" Shiho pleaded in terror. "I… I don't want to… to…"

"Just what's all this about!? I'll call the cops on you if you don't let us go right now!" Ann shouts out, trying in vain to break out of her restraints.

"I've been disrupted from my private time with my princess and mistress, and what do I find; a set of wannabe doppelgangers!"

~yeah, Our bad~ Draco sighed sarcastically. ~Those three are with us, and we'll be taking them back now, if you don't mind. Just… shut up and give them back.~

"Just where do you get off, talkin' like that to ME of all people!?"

~I don't know, you tell me!~

"Enough of your quips, Draco! We have some hostages to save!" Mona shouts back, pulling out his scimitar just as everyone else arms themselves. With a snap of his fingers, a sudden pulse of energy reverberated across the room, releasing Mishima from the shackles he was bound to as Joker ran in and took out the nearest guard in a surprise roundhouse.

"Dammit, I was aiming for all three! Mishima! Are you okay!?" Joker yelled out, helping the blunette up from the floor.

"I-I'm fine, Akira…" he whispered.

"It's Joker in this place…" he whispered back, pointing his finger at the guards near the bound girls and shooting out black rays at the armored enemies.

"And why are you helping him up? He's a traitorous dog just like the rest of you!"

~running around this shit-show wouldn't be called a traitorous thing speedo-man.~

"You don't even know what I'm talking about and you still have the balls to speak to me this way!?" shadow Kamoshida snarked. "You should be aiming your weapons at him; HE was the one who ruined your chances of living peacefully."

"What…?" Joker said, looking down to a now trembling Mishima, who slowly turns away from his gaze.

"...It's true…" Mishima mumbled, looking away with unyielding guilt. "... I did it…I-I leaked your files to the whole school…."

"WHAT!?" Skull shouted out, caving a Berith's head in with his bat.

~Jesus, Mishima, what the shit!?~

"I-I had to…" the blunette continued, pointing a shaky finger over to the Tyrannical teacher. "He threatened to go after my mother if I refused…"

"He threatened…"

~your mom…~

"For THAT!?" Skull yelled. "Now I'm really gonna kick your ass!" he jumped up, gripping a bicorn's face with his hand, and with the grappled beast howling in pain, skull roared out, electrocuting the shadow with a powerful surge of lightning. still fueled by the burst of anger, he drags the spasming horse and throws it at the wide-eyed Shadow Ruler, who narrowly avoids the flying beast... at the expense of a few more knights behind him taking the damage instead.

"S-Skull! No killing remember!" Noir said, narrowly swerving past a charging Pixie and Cait Sith.

"First, he broke my leg and ruined the track team on purpose, then he abuses and molests the volleyball teams, and now he's going after people's Loved ones!? Aw HELL NO!" Skull roared, raising his metal bat, which has since then gained a steady build up of charge.

"What's the point anyways? He just sat there and obeyed like the little bitch that he was, just like little Shiho here."

"W-wha?"

"I bet you just followed around because that's the only thing you're good for; following others."

~Piss off, ya nutjob! Leave her out of this!~ Draco shouts out, stomping the ground as multiple entering shadows fell down a now freshly formed hole in the ground.

"A wannabe bitch, a worthless waste of space and a wimpy coward; the trifecta of unbearable!"

"Alright, that's enough! Zorro! Garu!"

~right away!~ the Spaniard outlaw echoed, materializing and swinging his blade, but was intercepted by a few of the guards.

"Kill them!" Shadow Kamoshida ordered. "But keep the girls alive; I might give them some reason to keep living before their execution."

"N-No!"

"P-Please help!"

~Fuuuuuuuu-~ Draco yelled back, flying away as a group of guards attempted to dogpiled him again. This time however, he got himself out… ~Nice try you- Bagh!~... only to get knocked over yonder to the far side of the room be a much larger Knight in Crimson armor!

"Draco!" Joker Shouts out, clashing with two more Beriths.

"Crap, Not again!"

"O-oh my…" and once more, the group of thieves were surrounded by shadows.

"no...No…" Mishima stuttered, looking on at the scene before him, tears leaking from his eyes as he seemingly struggled in place. "I… have to help… but… but…"

"~familiar, isn't it?~"

a calm, smooth voice echoed within his ears, ringing within his mind and drowning out the outside voices around him.

"~ standing here, gazing into the eyes of those you care for taken hostage in a dangerous scenario… it's just like her way back then…~"

"N-No.. NO Not again...!"

"~You want to help, but your fear of the past haunts you into silence… but that is merely a fabrication. You want to help them, do you not? Then throw away this fearful charade.~"

Meanwhile, Shiho looked onwards at the very same scenario.

"No… is this… how I die? Being worthless to the end? I couldn't help anyone… I couldn-"

"she's doing whatever she can do for your sake! Don't throw that all away! Don't throw HER away!" Ryuji's words from before echoed through her mind.

"No... I-I can't let it end like this... Ann, I don't want to throw her away." Shiho whispered, her fists clenched as those words echoed through her brain on repeat. "Not now.. Or ever again.…"

"~then Don't~"

a feminine voice entered her mind, drowning the message in an instant with their serene echoes...

"~ don't call it quits just yet, there are still things you've yet to achieve on your own… you say you have no meaning? Then grab fate by the reigns and make up your own!~"

While this was going on, Ann looked at the approaching knights, swords raised, in fear.

"Is this.. How we're going to die? My punishment for… what happened to Shiho…? " she whispered. "Shiho… I'm so sorry…"

"Ann! Mishima! Shiho! Don't give in!" Joker shouts, back-stepping from a guard swinging his blade.

"Huh?" all three look up from their positions, watching the group fighting off the small horde of enemies bit by bit.

~this asshole's just making you feel bad! You guys can do this!~

"Don't let this Dickbag get you down… we can do this… Together!" Skull shouts, blasting some of them back with Zio.

"... you're right." all three students answered simultaneously.

"Letting this piece of shit toy with me… what was I thinking…!?" Mishima shouts out, standing up to his full height as he glared down the cognitive Kamoshida

"Letting others walk all over me… that's isn't the way to go..." Ann said, her eyes flashing gold for a brief moment as with a sudden burst of strength, she managed to break one of her restraints.

"Letting people say I'm worthless… I-I'm not worthless..." Shiho, whispered to herself, a white glow slowly grew from her form as a wispy aura swirls around her.

"Quit your bitchin'! slaves should behave an-"

"SHUT YOUR DAMN MOUTH!" all three shouts together, shocking the king into silence as he unconsciously takes steps back..

"I've had enough of this…"

"I'm not worthless… and I won't take it from anyone anymore!"

"I'm done with this… No more wussing out!"

"~right answer. But of course it was; I know you better than anyone else. Now why don't you have your brawns join your brains like they're Always meant to be?~"

"~splendid! This is only the first step, now come forth, your new journey shall be legendary!~"

"~My… it's taken far too long…~"

a third voice said, echoing through Ann's mind, all three writhed in pain at the voices in their heads.

"~tell me… who's going to protect her if you don't?... forgiving him was never an option...such is the scream of the other you that dwells within…~"

"~I am thou, thouartI~"

"~Take up thy soul and pierce the world to victory, cry out thy name in pride and glory~"

"~Succumb to thy fury and help the helpless… just like you did all those years ago…~"

"~we can finally forge a contract… and end this man's reign once and for all…~"

"I hear you… Carmen." Ann whispered, the area around her heating up to staggering degree as the metal behind her begins to melt behind her, wisps of smoke danced from her body as she steps forward. "You're right… no more holding back!"

"Right… no more… I won't forgive you… I will NEVER FORGIVE YOU!" Mishima roared, unyielding rage poured out the male in a flaring wave of energy as he turned to face the shadow Ruler.

"I will prove I am useful… or go down trying… and Nobody is going to stop me!" Shiho screamed with a burning resolve and a flashfrom her white aura, a burst of blue flames surged through the three, making the two girls free themselves completely as three masks formed on their faces. A red cat like mask for Ann, a band like mask for Shiho, and a demon looking mask for Mishima.

"~there you go… nothing can be resolved by restraining yourself. Understand, then I'll gladly lend you my strength!~"

"~ very good. Now, Take up thy weapon and strike the wicked, for the glory of thy life!~"

"~Another spectacular answer. Now go! Raise thy fists and paint the world RED!~"

"RRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGH!" All three screamed, ripping off their masks with blood flying everywhere, soon all three burst into azure flames, forming a triad of infernal light.

"WHAT THE HELL!?" Skull shouts, ignoring the sudden hit he just took from a Silky's Bufu.

~OH SHIT!~

"Not Again!" Kamoshida whimpered.

The light faded down with astonishing results; three more entities were now seen within the room. One had the appearance of a femme fatale dancer, dressed in a luxurious red gown with two humanoid puppets with heart shaped heads chained together near her. The second, a female knight with various knives, plates and an odd looking curved spear in her hands. The last of the three appeared to be a teenage male with glasses wearing a cross between a wizard's garb and a strategist uniform, various floating hand like contraptions orbited around the male.

That wasn't the only change, however, all three students stood triumphantly, each wearing different sets of clothing entirely. Ann's was changed into a vermillion skin tight leather suit with a cat like tail, Mishima took on the appearance of a monk fighter's gi with a demonic looking set of features such as horns and pointed tail, and Shiho's change of clothing looked to be a cross between a kunoichi garb and a knight's armor, with most of it ninja-esque with added knight greaves, pads, and breastplate.

"Arise, I call upon thee Joan of Arc; strike him down!" Shiho commanded, the knight being bowed in response. A light shone on her hand seconds later, revealing an odd looking crossbow in her grasp, to which she unloaded a torrent of arrows onto her cognitive self.

"Kamoshida! When I'm done with you, you'll regret EVER crossing this Demon!" Mishima growled, his fist glowed a dark purple as he stalked towards the terrified shadow, with a single thrust of his arm, the purple arm pierced clean through the cognitive Mishima, the fake disappearing as the real one tossed him aside like a used rag.

"Alright, let's take them all down Carmen!" Ann shouts, the femme fatale nodding in agreement. "You've taken everything from us… you tried to destroy us… now it's your turn!" with a flick of her wrist, a burst of flame erupted from her hand as a whip manifested within her grasp. with a mighty swing, Ann struck true with her weapon, cutting her shadow self clean in twain.

"Joan! Rapid Fire! Save our friends!"

"Artemis! Fury Fist!"

"Agi Carmen!

Waves of light beams, energy fists, and fireballs flew everywhere in the room, killing off most of the shadows, and leaving behind only the shadow king, his Crimson knight and a few stragglers.

"I'll put an end to your reign… I'll rob you of everything!" Ann shouts out, each step she took lit the floor she stood on aflame.

"How dare you… enough of your insolence!" the Crimson knight and straggling guards morphed into A large ogre-ish like Demon sitting on a toilet, the remaining two stragglers formed an elven lady in a dress of silk, and a Small, cackling red hat wearing Gremlin holding a sickle.

"Huh… uuwaahahha!" Kamoshida yelped in fright, running out the room and leaving the pooping demon to the eight fighters.

"How dare you deny king Kamoshida's love, you selfish lass!? Pay for your insolence with your lives!" the toilet demon bellowed.

"That Dirtbag just sees women as sexual outlets!" Ann retorted. "Don't make me laugh with this "love" bullshit!"

"Come closer and I can show you some Tough Love, you scumbag!" Mishima growled, clenching his fists readily.

"Let's defeat these monsters, Joan!" Shiho exclaimed, aiming the crossbow within her hands, and pulling the trigger, letting loose a shortened arrow bolt directly towards the toilet demon, only for it to be deflected by the Gremlin with it's weapon of choice

"Yeah! Let's give 'em Hell!"

~mind if we joined!?~ Draco announces, the earlier five joining the group now that distractions were out of the way…

"Y'all ain't got no where to run!" Skull yelled out, "There's 8 of Us, and only 3 of you!"

"Don't Disrespect us, BOY." the elven lady speaks, her hands forming various winds around her. "Know your place and return to your hole like the Trash you Are!"

"Only if you go first!" Joker retorted, his eyes glowing a blinding silver as in his hand forms a cross shaped glyph, a larger circle of similar appearance forming underneath the fae woman.

"W-What!?"

~Get 'em!~ Draco shouts out, channeling out spell after spell betwixt his fingers.

"On it!" Both Ann and Mona shout out, each taking out their respective weapons and lashing out at the demonic creatures before them, the whip bouncing harmlessly off the Goblin's Sickle, but Mona's scimitar ringing true and cleaving one of the creature's legs off.

"Now! All out attack!" Mona said as he, Joker, Skull and Reaper lunged at the demon, damaging him every which way, in the middle of this, Mishima joined in, followed by Noir, Ann and Shiho. Soon everyone was dealing massive damage to the demons which was, this time, able to finish off the shadows.

"I-impossible…" the demon bellowed, struggling to get back up before dissolving into black ashes as it breathed its last breath.

"H-hey! Where'd that perverted freak run off to!?" Ann shouts, looking around the room for the scantily clad conqueror.

~the lil' Bitch ran out on us when we were fighting the Lackeys!~

"Hurry, Afte-" Mishima barely got out before slumping down to one knee. "W-what's happening!?"

"O-Oh no…" Shiho mumbled, nearly collapsing herself. "I-I can't move m legs!"

"What's going on!?" Ann shouted, the last to drop of the three newly awakened.

"You've probably used up all your energy for the awakening to your persona and fighting the shadow…" Mona answered, trying (Read: failing) to help the three up to their feet.

"More importantly!" Skull intervened. "Why'd you come here!? We took you guys out for your own safety!"

"Hey, is that how you speak to a lady!?" Mona shouts back, once again causing the two to initiate another squabble.

"..by the way… what is that thing? Is it alive…? How can it talk?" Shiho asked, making Mona pause at that ...only to get back to yelling at Skull about a bobble heads.

"Calm down. I have some friends who'll explain everything. We just need to get to a door." Joker announced, pulling out the velvet room key and walking to the door from earlier.

~everything's fine now, so don't worry.~

"How are we supposed to calm down!?" Ann screamed out, finally making it to her feet. "What the hell happened to us, who are you? and WHY IS THERE A TALKING CAT!?"

"... is now a good time to go over our new outfits?" Shiho asks, Pausing Takamaki's rant and causing the three to look down at themselves in shock and curiosity.

"Why am I dressed like this!? When did I-"

~you're just now noticing the clothes change!?~

"Ugh, what's with this!?"

"I said calm down." Joker said, walking back to the group. "I've opened our gateway. Let's take this conversation to a more… fitting place."

Just as they were about to head out of the now destroyed room, a sudden twinge surged up Joker's spine... which didn't go unnoticed by Draco and Mona.

~Hey man, you good?~

"Something... Something doesn't feel right..." Joker said, looking around the room. his ocular sweep landed on what appeared to be a painting of the Shadow Ruler... a low, almost invisible red light hummed and flickered softly from the piece. Making his way to the painting, whispers and echoes were heard in the black clad leaders head as he inspects the painting. gripping the hung portrait and hoisting it from its mounted place, the human, spirit and Cat creature look on in surprise as the painting revealed a hidden opening.

peeking out from the opening, the three heard the whispers echo louder than before, looking up, Draco nudged the other two as he points upward, revealing a ledge with the same red light, now at a stronger intensity without the wall covering it.

"Huh?... What's going on there?" Mona Asks, climbing up to Joker's shoulders "It looks like it's on a higher level then here..."

"I don't know..."

"Hey guys! what's going on over there!?" Skull shouts out, the trio looking back to the rest of the group, with Skull and Noir helping Shiho, Ann and Mishima up near the door. "Somethin' weird going on?"

~Nah guys, just a little thing we found. give us a minute.~

"Well how are we gonna get up there, we still need to get the others out of here." Mona asked.

~Don't worry about that, I got it.~ Draco announced. ~Hey guys, we'll be right back!~ Grabbing Joker and Mona, Draco pull the two out the pathway, lifting the two up to the ledge. after a bit of effort, and nearly dropping Mona halfway through, the trio make it to the top of the platform, finding a small corridor with a door at the end. the red light practically pulsing out the closed door as various caution tape and vines wrapped around the door in front of them.

"... What... What is that?" Joker Asked, walking up to the barricaded door with the other two in store.

"I don't know... But I feel something familiar about it..." Mona answered, pulling on the tape himself. "A bit concerning that it's barricaded seems like these tapings and vines are enchanted."

~don't worry, I got this.~ Draco said, grabbing several wrappings from the door. a silver light met his rainbow colored one as he pulled inward, ripping through the enchanted barriers as if it were the normal equivalent of the objects. ~See, there we go.~

Opening the now unbound door, the three shudder as the whispers and echoes ring out as disembodied voices, all shouting out over each other as the three look over to what was inside; a vine tree stump like pedestal stuck out ominously in the center of the chamber within. Held within the pedestal itself is a singular glowing skull like object, the very item itself being the source point of the Red glow and the voices reverberating from the room.

"I-Is that...!?" Mona spoke out, taking a few cautionary steps towards the jewel. "It IS!"

~It's what? a giant piece of rock candy?~

"It's a Will Seed!" Mona clarified, pointing to the pedestal. "It's a separated form of their distorted desires! kinda like a mini-treasure! it serves as a sort of extra foundation for the palace!"

"Really?" Joker asked, looking at the pulsing red crystal. "then if we take it then the foundation will crumble..."

"Something like that, I can at least guarantee that it'll make this place weaker..."

~-and us stronger.~ Draco finished for the guide, getting a nod as confirmation. stepping up to the ominously glowing gemstone, Joker slowly reaches over... and picks it up. A sudden jolt of energy dances up his arm, various screams ringing within his brain as the jewel dims with a final distorted hum. ~Shit What WAS that!?~ the spirit mumbled, shivering at the sight of the sinful seed. ~Even I felt that , and I wasn't the one touching it.~

"Well, whatever it is, we'll worry about it later." Joker addressed. "let's go before we're ambushed again." With two nods, the trio left the room, hushed whispers tickling the back of the black clad rogue's mind with each step away from the cursed chamber.

"Welcome back Trickster and friends." Philemon greeted. "Once again, you have graced us with more comrades. I see that most of them have awakened to their power."

~Yeah, it was kind of unexpected, but not entirely unwanted.~

"I see… and I presume you want me to address the situation to your newfound comrades?"

"Would you mind?" Akira inquired, gesturing towards the newcomers. "They do deserve to at least know what they went through to an extent."

"Not at all, Trickster, anything that aids your quest will take top priority, whether it's explanation or execution... Now, If you mind, go speak with Igor and Nyx; they are over there with a present we've made for you. I shall inform your new guest on your predicament."

Nodding, Akira, Arata and Ryuji, who stepped away from both Philemon and Morgana's assisted explanation, walked over to the far side of the room, locating the butterfly next to a separate table with about four chairs next to it, the previous woman in black smiling back at them.

"Greetings, Trickster, and to you as well Chariot."

~Hey Igor.~ Arata greeted. ~Phil mentioned something about a present you two made, then told us to come to ya.~.

"Indeed we have. I present to you; the Armatas Ring." The old butterfly scooted off to the side, revealing a single black ring with a blue stone on the top. "Apologies, this is the only one we've managed to make so far. It will be the very thing that grants you access to one of our new facilities for you; the power of synchronization."

"Oh, Yeah… you said that we needed more spirits to have access to the facilities…" Akira added. "did that have to do with my Wild Card ability?"

"Indeed Trickster. The powers of the Wild Card are numerous, but a common ability of this power is the capture and usage of spirits. They take take the form of Personas for you to use. I assume you already have a few?"

"Yeah we do!" Ryuji cheered lightly. Akira nodded and opened his palm, then focused as several masks appeared out of his hand.

"As expected of the Trickster. Let's see… a Pixie, a Bicorn, a Pyro Jack, and a Mandrake, not a bad starting collection." Nyx chuckled, toying with a few of the masks between her fingers. "Though knowing you, I'd expected some unorthodox additions..."

~well, we encountered an elf mage and a Redcap, but they died before we could get them.~

"You mentioned other facilities including this synchronization thing, could you tell us more about it?" Akira asked.

"Of course; our three facilities are relatively new, so even we aren't able to fully utilize it's maximum usage at the moment, but they will still be useful nonetheless. Synchronization, the first facility, will center around this ring. As long as you wear it, then you will be able to synchronize with a persona, granting the user with even more power. I shall explain more when the time is right." Igor informs. "The next facility, Dismantling, is a bit unfortunate, but necessary. It requires you to take a persona and break it down, granting you items, ingredients and even some miscellaneous additions as well. However, you will lose the Persona forever."

"Wow, For real?" Ryuji whistled out. "Man that sucks... wouldn't that, like eff up you mind or somethin'?"

"So long as it's not used excessively or misused, then it's fine."

"Yes, it is a bit like one of our older facilities, however this is one of two ways you can gain ingredients, which is used for the third facility; Assimilation."

"Assimilation…?" Ryuji repeated.

"Correct, by using special items, Ingredients we call them, you can enhance and upgrade a Persona, weapon, armor, and even certain abilities manually. There are two types of ingredients, normal ingredients for enhancing and catalysts for upgrading, and two ways to obtain them, by dismantling or finding them in the world."

"...um… "

~One lets you combine with your persona, the second breaks it down into items and stuff, and the third uses some items to make them stronger.~

"Ah… right." the blonde nodded along. "That make's a bit more sense... I think."

"Hmm… what do you lot think?" Akira asked the floating masks.

"I'm ready for anything!" "Jack wants to help master!" "as unfortunate as it is, I shall do what I must if it's to aid you." "Uhn… Uhn.." the four additional persona answered.

"Alright. I'll use these facilities, but only on those who volunteers for it; I'm not going to do it if they don't want to." Akira continued.

"As expected of the champion of humanity. Well then, I shall begin the operation."

~wait, you can do that?~

"I may have my power sealed away, but that does not mean i am truly powerless." Igor answered. "Let us begin…"

After a few minutes of going over the procedure, dismantling Pyro jack and Mandrake, and enhancing Arsene, who gained two rare abilities called Drain Bless and Deathtika, (Igor mentioned something about specific ingredients for specific persona can bring forth never before seen power.) the three persona users reunited with the other four after Philemon finished speaking to them. With a few more minutes of adding their input and plan to the mix, everyone's conversation now turned to a new topic.

"Hey… are you guys alright?" Akira asked.

"Y-yeah… it's a lot to take in." Ann answered.

"Demiurge… Wild Card… Confidants? I can't keep up with this info." Mishima groaned, Shiho nodding in agreement.

"I agree with that, but still, you're being used in a rigged gamble… and the whole world's at stake. I can't just let that stand now that I know of this." Haru continued.

~Yeah, and as Phil probably already mentioned, we can literally weaponize friendship to beat him.~

"I know that too, it's just…" Ann replied.

"Just what?" Ryuji egged on.

"E-everything's happening so fast… I don't know if I can readily accept you as a friend THAT quickly."

"Wha-" before he could say anything else, he yipped in pain as he yanked the flying, clawing cat off of his face. "OW, What da hell, Morgana!"

"Can it, you moron! she said not THAT quickly." Morgana hissed. "Let them talk!"

"Why you little..."

~Then you just need a little time to get to know him first, right?~

"Pretty much… Arata right?" Ann nodded. "I know this may sound selfish… and wrong given the situation, but.."

~Hey, hey, you don't have to force a relationship to happen. Besides, that won't work anyway; the bond needs to be genuine.~

"Thanks, I know this isn't the right time, with your life and the world at stake, but I'll still help whenever I can."

"Same here." Shiho added. "You lot saved me from making a big mistake… I wish to thank you by helping you in this game your in."

"I agree. I… I may have ruined your chances at Shujin, but I promise. I'll do whatever it takes to atone for what I did." Mishima stated. All of a sudden, a warm feeling washed over the group, and Akira heard the same voice from before…

I am  thou , thou art I…

Thou has acquired  new  vows…

they shall  become  the wings of rebellion,

That  breaketh  thy chains of captivity…

With the  births  of the Lovers, Moon, and Knight arcana,

I have obtained the winds of  blessing  that

shall lead to freedom and  new  power

~Aaaaand we don't have to worry about that anymore anyways.~

"And you know this… how?" Mishima said, helping to separate the two bickering boys behind them.

~Soul Pact with Kira here. We practically share each other's souls. Comes with some risks, but it's worth it of you find the right person.~

"That reminds me… I've still got some questions." Ryuji proclaimed, looking at the male. "Just how long have you and Kira been together?"

~around like 5... yeah, 5 years.~

"How?"

~...well… maybe another time I'll go over the full story, but long story short, he saved my live twice, he almost died in an accident, and I repaid my debt to him by forging a Soul pact and saving him. We've been friends since.~

"...wow.. I… damn." Ann muttered. "i don't know what to say to that..."

"Yeah, we don't really talk about it much."

"You said that the bond has to be genuine…" Mishima asked. "How could you tell when it's formed?"

"Well… I get this warm feeling inside me, then I hear a lady's voice…" Akira stated, gaining the attention of two of the main residents.

"A voice…" Igor whispered.

"It tells me that I've birthed something called an Arcana, then I feel stronger a few moments afterwards. It happened with Ryuji and Morgana."

~I'm able to hear it too, because of the soul pact, and with the bonds forged, I can see your souls a lot more clearly, just enough for my to unlock some of your potential.~

"That's… useful…"

Maybe you should return to your world." Philemon intervened. " you all must be exhausted after the events of today. We shall continue this in the next time that we meet."

"Yeah…"

~See ya guys.~ Arata waved off, the group of eight leaving the room.

"So, now that we're back…" Ryuji started, an eerily sweet tone in his voice.

~Oh god, what are you thinking about Now!?~

"We've made QUITE the number of discoveries today, don't you think." Ryuji continued in the same sweet voice, which turned more monotoned as he went on. "and I do believe that we ALL agree on the next course of... actions...right?" the way he spoke out that last wordwith such barely contained, venom was overwhelming by the other seven, so thick with malicious intent that if words could hurt, that single phrase alone would cause a full on massacre.

"L-Look Ryuji, I-i know that we've disrespected your intentions, and we've had some problems on the way, but… Ryuji?" Ann stuttered, but looked in confusion as Ryuji turn and walked off. "Did...did he just ignore me?"

"...I-I think he did... he's not stopping at all..." Shiho mumbled, furrowing her eyebrows at the fleeting male.

"... wait…. OH CRAP!" Mishima yelled in panic, which prompted the Blonde to full on sprint in the direction he was going at the shout.

~What? What's going on!?~

"That's the direction of the PE faculty room!" Mishima shouts, running after the Blonde. A few seconds of realization cause the rest of them to follow suit. "RYUJI WAIT!"

"Dammit Ryuji!"

~Oh goddammit, why now!?~

"Ryuji, don't do something stupid!"

"Ryuji… RYUJI!?"

"Sakamoto, Please think about this!"

"KAMOSHIDA!" Ryuji roared, practically kicking open the door, the rest of the group joined shortly after.

"What do you want now, kid; I'm busy!" said man in question droned back, barely looking to the source of his disturbance.

"You bastard! Don't play it off like it never happened! We know what you tried to do with Shiho! AND for what you did to Mishima!"

"That is enough!" Kamoshida snapped, facing the group. Arata and Morgana suppressed a snicker at the teacher's half bandaged face. "I don't have to take some half assed bitching about my coaching to some failed reject and his posse."

"What you did… wasn't coaching… it was torture…" Mishima whispered.

"What did you say, boy?"

"You ordered me to call Suzui here…You tortured us… all of us.. On purpose!"

"You didn't stop there either…" Shiho chimed in behind the males. "You...you tried to..to…"

"What do you got to say for yourself!?" Ann shouted out, standing before Shiho as if to hide her from his gaze. "She almost died, and we ALL know it's your own damn fault!"

"You're going on and on about things you have no proof of." Kamoshida sneered, waving of their claims, unbothered by the malice rolling off of Ryuji alone.

~Sakamoto, don't you FUCKIN' dare say shit about our recordings.~

"But." Morgana protested.

~shush! He doesn't know that we recorded stuff yet! Let's keep it that way.~

"You're simply just making stuff up because you're jealous that you aren't on the team, right?"

"Like hell I'd ever want to be in anything with you in it!"

"That's not what this is about and you know it!" Mishima growled, his rage seeping into his voice.

"Even if that's true- hypothetically speaking- what are you gonna do about it? A delinquent, a criminal, a wuss, and three ladies who should've minded their own business."

"Say that to my face you Asshole!" Ann yelled, Haru and Shiho holding her back.

"Shiho almost died because of you!" Haru added.

"You.. goddamn…!"

"This again?" Kamoshida sighed. "Do I have to act in "self-defense" once more, Sakamoto?"

"Self defe- you broke Ryuji's leg on purpose!"

"Shut the hell up, you son of a bitch!" Ryuji yelled, readying a fist. Before he threw a punch, however, Akira grabbed it in the nick of time. "What the- Why're you stoppin' me!?"

"Ryuji. DON'T" Akira answered simply. "it's what he wants you to do! Don't let him get to you like before; it's not worth it."

"Oh? You're stopping him? What a surprise." the teacher gloated. "There's no need to hold back. C'mon, sock one right here!, just don't be surprised when I hit back!... ohhh, right, you can't. Of course you can't!"

~Keep talking Speedoman! I'll plug up your Yapper right now!~

"Everyone present right now… will be expelled. I'm reporting all of you at the next board meeting."

This declaration promptly surprised all eight members immensely.

"Wha-!?"

"You can't do that!"

"Who'd seriously consider what scum like you say? You're just as responsible as these idiots are Mishima. A shame that three beauties will suffer the same fate as you clowns. Enjoy your last few weeks here while you can!" Kamoshida shouts out elated at the reactions he got. "Make peace with whatever crap you guys had going for here, before you pack it up and leave."

"W-wha!?"

"Don't act innocent; you were the one who leaked his criminal records, didn't you?"

"YOU threatened to go after my FAMILY if I didn't do as you said!"

"I don't have time for this, I've got expulsion papers to prep! Your futures are mine to take. Now get out of my sight!"

"You're not getting away with this, Asshole!" Ryuji roared, everyone practically dragging the blonde out the room.

After spending the rest of the day calming down Ryuji (and to a lesser extent Mishima), exchanging numbers and Text I.D.s, and pawning off all the stolen loot they've acquired, Akira, Arata and Morgana finally made it to LeBlanc's. However, there was a rather interesting addition to the usually empty café. Sitting in one of the booths of the coffee shop was a woman in a punk-rock style outfit, chatting it up with Sojiro.

"Thanks again for the coffee, Sojiro. This really made my day." the woman thanked, the barista in question nodding before noticing the three.

"Ah, you're back early…" the old man stated. "Hopefully with no issues?"

"Nah... well, kinda..."

"Kinda?" Sojiro Repeated, his tone low and narrowed eyes locked onto his own.. "Elaborate."

"Well, me and my friends did stop another student from attempting suicide, but aside from that, I've been a saint, I swear."

"Stopping a Sui- KID."

"I'm sorry, I couldn't NOT help, I've dealt with enough Suicides back at home, and It was a friend's friend that was going to drop, I had to..."

"Hey Soji, mind introducing me to the kid?"

"Ah right...Kid, this is Tae Takemi, she runs a clinic near here. Tae, this is Akira, I'm his ward for the year." he sighed. "Why don't you head on upstairs? I'll clean up down here kid." Sojiro said, his eyes definitely sending the message 'We're not done talking about this' laid loud and clear to the spectacled ravenette.

"Nice to meet you kid." Tae greeted.

"Likewise." Akira replied, nodding.

~My god, this is awkward…~

"Well, like Soji here said, I run a clinic near here. that being said, don't come running to me for no reason." Tae got up and headed out the door. "Thanks Soji, same time next week?"

"Sure." he answered. "Come back again." and with that, the Barista and the trio were left alone. "Alright kid, shows over, Now-" Looking over to the teen, the elder nearly did a double take at what he saw. for a brief moment, he saw in the teens eyes... grief.. despair... guilt... sorrow... things that shouldn't be seen on a teenager EVER, before a few blinks hid all those away, masking them all with an almost eerie sense of tiredness.. "That look... that's supposed to be on war vets or... NO... don't think like that... What the fuck happened for the kid to have THAT look... Kids shouldn't have the looks of...of..." he thought, sighing heavily as he set down the last glass on the counter. "-go on and head upstairs, you look tired."

"Got it…"

Nodding one more time before making it to the stairs, they barely made it to the bed before his phone vibrated. Taking it out, the three joined in the recent chat.

Ryu: Hey guys, sorry about earlier…

Yuuki: I'm sorry for nearly starting a fight with you.

Floof: the important thing is, everyone's calm now.

Ann: but that leaves the entirely new problem; our expulsion.

Yuuki: don't worry about that.

RenRen: ...why?

Yuuki: I've hacked into one of the admin computers at the school… barely…

Yuuki: I've managed to find out the date for the next meeting.

Yuuki: we have until May 2nd before our expulsion, so if we're doing your palace idea, then we should get it done before the month's over.

Shiho: well that's certainly… something to work off of…

Ryu: plus, it'll get us enough time for at least one more vid for our scapegoat.

Floof: scapegoat?

Yuuki: what are you on about now Sakamoto?

RenRen: We plan on stealing the treasure to make him confess,

RenRen: and to make sure we hid our traces of using the metaverse,

RenRen: we gather records of his misdeeds to use as a red herring

Ryu: that way, people will think he confessed out of guilt instead of us making him.

Ann: … that's actually a good idea.

Yuuki: how far along are you guys?

Ryu: well we got two recordings of volleyball practice…

Shiho: and a recording of that… event… from before I presume?

Ryu:...

Shiho: it's alright, Ryuji. I've connected the dots. Morgana and Arata were the ones who saved me, but I figured they came by for a different reason.

Ryu: sorry about that…

Shiho: it's fine, as long as that monster gets his just desserts.

"Tell them that we should find a hideout to have our meetings in." Morgana suggested. "We'll need someplace private to discuss our next order of business…"

RenRen: Morgana suggests we find a hideout.

Floof: ...what about the roof?

Ryu: oh yeah… that'll probably do.

Ann: why?

Floof: Ryuji and I are usually the only ones up there at all.

Yuuki: that could work. Alright, let's meet there tomorrow.

After taking away his phone, then three decided to head to bed.

Saturday, April 16th

Cloudy

Shujin Academy

Afternoon

"Just where are those two!?" Ann growled impatiently. Six of the eight thieves were hanging around on the roof, as planned, but surprisingly, Ryuji and Akira were nowhere to be seen.

~Akira told me to meet up with you guys.~ Arata shrugged. ~something about losing his log journal.~

"Log journal?" Mishima repeated, kicking a stray can to the side. "Why does he need a log journal?"

~he's supposed to write down everything he did for the year in a diary. Part of his probation. He made a second journal for the metaverse journey because of something about stress, but we've encoded it with a basic cypher...~

"Well, that explains Akira, but what about Ryuji?"

Meanwhile, a minute after Ryuji and the others initially left classes, Sadayo Kawakami, the teacher he was in class with for the day, noticed a light vibration in one of the desks. Curiosity flooding through her, the teacher walked over to the table, only to find a simple phone, still on, vibrating inside.

"That Sakamoto…" She rolled her eyes, just before she was about to turn the phone off, however, a particularly curious text on the device caught her eye. "Take down the king? What?"

Looking around the room, she gazed back into the device in her hands. "I really shouldn't be doing any of this…" she whispered, but for some reason, she couldn't look away from the oddly out of place text in front of her. Looking around once more to confirm she was alone, she went back to her desk, and sighed lightly. "Well, maybe just a little bit.. oh god, I'm so fired if people found out..." she pressed the text, which opened up a set of messages with some attachments as well.

(Posted on Jan. 13th)

Ryu: hey man, you guys got anything yet?

RenRen: yep, Morgana and Arata got 5 minutes worth, plus a few pics.

RenRen sent volleycannon (jpeg),torture (jpeg) , and agonysession (mp4)

Ryu: that two faced bastard!

Kawakami nearly dropped the phone at the sight of the pictures. Volleyball members getting brutally bludgeoned by softballs and struck by poles and nets took up the screen. For the sake of her stomach, she scrolled past the video link, not liking the sense of dread from it, and continued reading.

Ryu: we'll be able to get that Kamoshita the justice he deserves with this.

RenRen: we'll keep trying to get evidence, you can work on finding those who'll testify.

Ryu: will do, gotta go.

(posted on Jan. 14th)

Ryu: any update?

RenRen: we got another vid, and some pics of him molesting the girl team.

Ryu: what!?

RenRen sent moreofthis (jpeg), painful (mp4), and perversion (jpeg)

Ryu: that prick's pickin' on both teams… but I never thought he'd try this!

RenRen: calm down, we'll get him, just don't blow our cover.

Ryu: I know, I know.

Kawakami was even more disgusted at the new set of images, especially the one where Kamoshida was seen sticking his hand in the female member's pants and shirts. Once again, she skipped over the video.

Ryu: just a few more, and we'll sent that asshole to jail like he deserves.

(posted yesterday)

RenRen: Ryuji?

RenRen: Ryuji we've got bad news.

Ryu: what?

Ryu: dude what happened?

RenRen: remember Suzui, that friend you mentioned?

Ryu: ...yeah, why?

Ryu: … Kira? Arata? Morgana?

Ryu: you're scarin' me…

RenRen sent hewillsuffer (mp4)

RenRen: Arata said they'll explain, just meet us near the vending machines.

opting to sate her curiosity one last time, she pressed the last video.. And instantly regretted it. 2 whole minutes of Kamoshida beating and sex assaulting Shiho was the only thing she saw, and the rather hilarious ending of a cat clawing his face ended the shocking post. This time, she almost lost control of herself, but she swallowed back the bile in her throat as she closed out the chat and turned off the phone. Placing it on the desk ,the teacher stared blankly at the room, a million thoughts echoed through her mind.

Just as she began pondering the new information, she heard a rapid set of knocks from the door to her side, a familiar tuft of blonde visible at the window. Panicking for a few seconds, she composed herself.

"Come in!" she shouts, Ryuji opening the door as he looks at the teacher apologetically.

"Sorry, Teach, I think I left my-"

"You left your phone?" she finished for him, gesturing the device neatly on the edge of the desk.

"Oh thank god!" he shouts, pocketing the phone, and thanking the teacher. "Sorry again." he turned to leave.

"Wait… I have a question.." Kawakami hastily answered, silently cursing herself all the while. "What… do you think of the teachers here?"

"Eh?"

"Like, which teacher's your favorite and which one's the worst?"

"That's easy; that shitty gym teacher Kamoshida's the worst… and… if I had to guess… I'd choose you as the best teacher, I guess… well, the one I tolerate the most at least."

"O-oh…"

"W-Well, gotta go, thanks for finding my phone, bye!" Ryuji yelled quickly, running down the hall, and leaving a stunned Kawakami to herself...

Makoto Nijima was a lot of things, and she felt like understanding was one of her more prominent traits…

That was before she read the clusterfuck of chaos within this handwritten book she found.

At first, she found the book on the floor in the middle of the hallway, halfway opened and nobody near the object. Curiosity getting the best of her, she took up the book, headed back to the student council office, and decided to read the small book to pass the time. Now she wished she hadn't.

Gods…

Metaverse…

Palaces…

Shadows…

Persona…

From what few words and phrases within each page in the book she read added 20 more questions to her ever growing list, and none of it was answered when she got to the supposed end of it. and to make matters worse, EVERYTHING in the book is a jumbled hodgepodge of different languages, from Kanji and Hiragana, to Mandarin and English, there were even some words in Latin. and every page of this book had each sentence butchered and stitched together with different spellings and words from these languages, not to mention the few words that made NO sense at all. "Thank god for all those extra language lessons..." she sighed, mainly because it kinda stopped at one point, which surprisingly made her a bit angry and frustrated. In any other case, she would've passed it off as a partially made fiction… but the surprising amount of detail and familiar names she did managed to translate proved otherwise. This little amount information somehow… somehow managed to convince her that it's real, but she wasn't exactly sure if it was, and it frustrated her to no end. She was about ready to chuck it out a window before she bumped into someone…

Who just so happened to be Ryuji.

"Gah! What where you're goin- oh, Ms. Prez…" Ryuji growled, but mumbled when he looked at the person.

"Ah, Sakamoto… my apologies."

"Nah, I'm sorry, I wasn't lookin' where I was going."

"Hmm, well I guess we're both in the wrong then." she stated, her mind practically begging her to ask him. "Actually, I wanted to speak to you about something…"

"Really? I know I'm kinda bombing a few classes, but I'm still-"

"No, no it's not your grades… its something a bit more… personal." Makoto clarified, looking around the hallway. "I just want to know one thing."

"Oh, uh, sure thing… but can this be quick? I've got some friends that I'm supposed to meet up with…"

"Of course. Now…" leaning in, Makoto asked in a serious tone. "I found this journal near Kurusu's locker and I wanted to give it back, but… what I've read in there was astounding. I wasn't able to understand all of it, but I just wanted to see if everything in it was true or not since quite a bit of it featured you in it, along with this Arata and Morgana. So. what is this all about? Does all of this stuff about Palaces and Persona exists?" she then handed the book over to the blonde. For a strictly brief moment, Makoto saw a small but noticeable twinge of fear and panic on the male's face, but he managed to compose himself as quickly as it started.

"What? Persona? wha-OH, that." Ryuji started, surprisingly not a single stutter in his voice. "Now I remember, Akira wanted to make a game about gentleman thieves. I suggested he made a story first beforehand, and to use real life people as placeholders for when we make characters for it."

"A...game?" Makoto repeated... "This book, so heavily written, is a Game script?"

"Yeah, I even suggested to use our names in it for now. Arata and Morgana are just names of his friends from his hometown."

"I see…" Makoto trailed off, she knows damn well that Ryuji was lying his ass off, but she said nothing about it.

"Well, thanks for finding it for him, prez I'll be sure to give it back to him!" Ryuji yelled, stuffing the book in his blazer and continuing his race down the corridor. Once again alone in the hallway, Makoto sighed in anew mixture of feelings. She knows that Ryuji made that lie to cover it up, but unless she had proof of what they're trying to do with it, she couldn't be fully satisfied. Also this could be potentially dangerous to other people, and that was something she wasn't going to let go; her pride as the Student body president wouldn't allow that, period. So with nothing else to do, Makoto followed after the Blonde, unknowing of the confused look from a door down, also pondering over what was said, as she makes her way down the other end of the hall.

Chapter Text

"I can't believe you left your phone!" Ann shouted at the fellow blonde as he sat down with the group. Said blonde, instead of replying, simply glared at the two other males at the side.

"I can't believe you lost your Journal." Ryuji grumbled audibly. "What the hell man!? We almost got busted by ms. Prez!"

"Sorry, I didn't know I dropped it…" Akira said defensively. "It must've fell from my backpack when I was making my way over here!"

"You're lucky I fixed that shit before she started Grillin' me for answers, Here." Ryuji sighed, tossing the book at the bespectacled male. "If Ms. Prez asks, then it's a story for a videogame you're making."

"Hmm… not a bad idea Monkey-Brain." Morgana sniped, nearly dodging away from a wayward swipe from the offended party.

"Eff off with the monkey crap, catboy."

"Stop calling me a cat!"

"YOU Stop callin' me a damn monkey!"

"NEVER!"

"FOCUS YOU TWO!" Mishima yelled, silencing the two from the usual shouting match. "Now then, we have more or less 2-3 weeks left before we get expelled, so what do we know about the castle so far?"

"I… may have a small theory." Haru chimed in, gaining everyone's attention. "If this school is how Kamoshida sees as his castle and vice versa, then wouldn't it be somewhat logical that it shares the same layout? Or if not, then something similar?" everyone paused at those words, attempting to recall the terrain they've traveled thus far... some connecting the dots with what she said.

"That's actually not that bad of a theory…" Ann surmised. "That would explain why most of the safe rooms so far were class rooms..."

"We'll check over there the next time we get a chance to." Akira announced, rising from his seat as Arata floated over to him with Morgana in tow.

"Wait, we're not going this time?" Shiho asked, the others turning towards Akira, getting a few head shakes in return.

"No, we need supplies." Morgana clarified. "Who knows what's going to happen in the palace. It's better if we prepared beforehand instead of going in guns blazing."

~Trust me, Going in balls deep without the right equipment is a fastpass to a TPK.~ Arata chimed in. ~the more we have, the better.~

"We'll need more healing items and at the very least backup equipment in case our normal stuff breaks." Akira added, putting his journal in his bag. "We don't want you guys getting assaulted because your tools were destroyed."

~That reminds me, we need Codenames for you three.~ Arata said, looking at the new thieves. ~we can't just shout your names in there, especially since you three and Ryuji are the closest to him.~

"Oh, Right." Ryuji snapped his fingers. "Let's see…how abou-"

"If you say something inappropriate, Sakamoto, then I will slap the shit out of you." Ann warned.

"I was going to call you something CAT related, like Tiger or Panther or some shit!"

"Panther?"

"Yeah, because of your mask and outfit reminds me of one." Ryuji explained. "Is that not workin' for ya?"

~Ryuji's got a point.~

"Hmm... yeah..." musing over the thought for a minute, a resolute nod from the fellow blonde confirmed her approval. "Panther's Fine with me; I like the sound of that!"

"Well then what about me?" Shiho asked, getting silence for a few seconds before Arata answered.

~what about Shinobi? You kinda looked like a ninja with extra armor back there.~

"Shinobi… I like that.. Alright, I'll take it." Shiho nodded back, a warm smile adorned on her face.

~and for Mishima-~

"No need. I've already picked my name." said blunette answered, cutting off the spirit mid sentence.

"You did?" Akira replied.

"Yep. when we're in the palace, you can call me..." Mishima paused a bit, taking a calming deep breath before finishing his sentence." Akuma."

~Akuma… nice, it fits you… surprisingly.~

"Well with that out of the way." Ryuji clapped heads turning to him. "Let's get back to supplies. I think we should split up for buying stuff, some of us gets healing stuff, while the others get equipment."

"Wow, Ryuji, you're on fire with these ideas today." Akira complimented.

"Thanks!" the blonde grinned at the praise. "Anyways, there's 8 of us, so we'll split up into 2 groups. Akira, Arata, Morgana and I'll secure some gear. You four can buy provisions and healing items!"

"Healing… items?" Haru asked.

"Basically buy some generic medicine and first aid stuff." Morgana clarified. "They work a lot differently in the metaverse."

"Ah, I see."

~Just in case... Kira, I got an idea for a little project or two that we can work on as well...~ Arata added, getting a slight nod as confirmation.

"Well then, let's break for now. I'm beat." Ryuji yawned, "we'll start our gear hunt tomorrow, but First, Let's Get somethin' to eat! I'm just realizing that I'm a lot more hungry than I first thought."

With a chorus of agreement from the other members of the group, they all called their first meeting and went down from the roof, none of them noticing a certain Auburn haired Hider eavesdropping on the octet as she hastily hid herself from the posse.

"Videogame my ass. Just what are you lot up too…" Makoto mused with a frown. "I have to look more into this... but how?"

Sunday April 17th

Cloudy

Takemi Clinic

Evening

As the doors open, the lone occupant of the empty waiting room barely looked up from her clipboard with the roll of her eyes.

"Hello, sir and/or madam, how can I help you this... even..." looking up fully, the bluenette's words died at her throat at the sight of a familiar, albeit bleeding teenager in front of her. "Oh... Oh god..."

"Hello? I would like some bandages and some painkillers please?" the sheer Gall this bleeding teen had just said with a hand to his bleeding side nearly made her snort if it was any other scenario. As if this was some sort of daily occurrence to the man in front of her, he didn't even looked pained at all, just-

"Why the hell is he ANNOYED at the prospect of bleeding out!?" Tae thought, nearly falling off her chair as she made her way to the other room. "Check room, NOW. I don't care if you wanted to be in and out, you're getting that wound treated!" she shouts back, slamming the door from her office to the aforementioned medical room, the spectacled teen entering seconds later, taking residence on the bed, not bothered by the trail of red he drizzled on the way.

"Alright, kid. What the absolute hell happened that caused THIS-" Tae gestured to the bleeding torso, "-to happen, exactly?"

"Well..."

(flashback, a few minutes prior...)

"We need to figure out how exactly we can get our hands on some strong healing items, and I'm not talking about normal Band-Aids and cold medicine." Morgana addressed, he, Akira and Arata making their way down the way through the subway to Leblanc's. "any ideas?"

"I think I saw a small clinic while I was looking for Mr. Sakura's place..." Akira mentioned, making his way out to the streets. "don't know how to get in without an emergency though..."

"We could always... stretch the truth a bit to get what we need." Morgana mumbled, only for Arata to pipe up, picking up the cat creature.

~Don't worry, gang, I have a great way around that.~

"you do?" both retorted to the godling, getting a nod from said spiritual being.

~Morgana, think you can find anything interesting here that we can find or get? I got this.~

"um... alright, If you're sure this might work..."

~ Dude, I've got his back if shit hits the fan, and this chucklefuck can't lie for himself to save himself.~ ignoring the indignant squawk of his other self, Arata continued, ~If its for the sake of another, then he can be downright borderline manipulative to his wrongdoers, but he'll either fuck up the lie or give a bullshit response.~

"No I don't!" the ravenette shouted back.

~Interpretive Conga Rave. Ring any bells?~

"No comment."

"Well, if you guys truly have a way to do so..." Morgana hopped out of the spirit's grasp. "Then I'll leave it to you two. I'll see if I can find something useful around here!"

As the cat scampered off, the teen merely walked over to an unoccupied street near the direction of the clinic, making sure nobody can see the two at all. once the coast is clear, the ravenette sighed, not even looking back to his bonded spirit before bracing himself.

"Try not to hit anything vital this time, last time I was out for days."

~don't give me that! this shit is Your idea!~ Arata answered, rearing up with his hands glowing a piercing white light.

(flashback end)

"I sort of... got stabbed saving someone from a thug on the way here..." Akira spoke up, repeating what the spirit rehearsed with him seconds prior.

"Half of this side is practically sashimi at this point, what the hell did you get stabbed with!?" the doctor said back, inspecting the rather gruesome lacerations lining up his side. "and HOW exactly are you still conscious after this? Most would be bleeding out, dead, or at best knocked out from blood loss by now."

"...I heal quickly?"

After another minute shouting, threats and nearly dodging several medical tools lobbed at his head, as well as reassuring that he'll be truthful to the doctor once he saw her contemplate putting him in a coma herself, Akira pulled out a small vial of red liquid, and a glistening red and green herb, showing both to the doctor.

"I have a friend, actually. They're a herbalist, you see, and they actually created a rather potent healing herb, they use as a minor cure all for wounds and stuff, as well as a few more plants for other things." he stated, gazing at the doctor staring at the items with intrigued interest. "The problem is that aside from not being able to grow much per harvest, they've been trying to find someone who could improve or make official medicine with it to no avail. they send me some they can spare as well as their little potions as both payment for helping them out and helping them finding a competent medic for the task."

"And you're saying that this is what's keeping you awake?" Tae said swirling the vial in her fingers.

"Well, I haven't really taken both needed to heal me mainly, I figured I find a doctor just in case..." Akira replied, taking the vial from the doctor and downing its contents.

"W-wait a second! Don't just drink something like...that..." for the second time that day, words died in her throat as her intrigue and worry melted away to shock, seeing the wound actively stop bleeding all over the bed and even seeing some of the minor cuts mending and healing over, leaving behind naught but small scars, the only real indicators of the previous wound were two large cuts on his side, now partially wrapped up in bandage. "Wait WHAT?"

"See? it works for their little potions. but its only good for minor wounds at the moment. Which brings me to the other reason why I'm here."

"Other? you mean you got stabbed on purpose-"

"No. no. THAT wasn't planned, I was gonna come to you to begin with, this was a minor setback."

"Kid, these wounds should've killed you by now."

"Minor. Setback. The point is... my colleague and I need help from a medical professional to develop better medicine from these herbs they grow, and, well, this was the first place I could think of..."

"And you couldn't go to an actual hospital with this because?" Tae retorted, nearly patching up what was left of the previous wound.

"They'd either hunt them down for the stuff, take full credit and leave them with none at BEST-" he took note of the hidden wince at that part. "or take it for granted. WORSE case scenario is they don't take it seriously and mess things up."

a long silence permeated the room, the two staying silent after what was just said, the patching finished and painkillers administered. sighing at the silence, the ravenette stood and prepared to leave.

"Well, thanks for at least-"

"How much?" Takemi's voice rang out, stopping him mid sentence.

"How... much?" he repeated in confusion, stopping mid-door pull.

"Your... friend... wanted someone to make medicine from their plants right? how much for some?"

smirking, Akira turned around, hand on the door now forgotten for the moment. "Well, how are you going to make sure it works? and what will I get out of it?" smiling past the slight twitch from the doctor, he continued. "I know this is for my friend, but I need some for my relatives and other friends, and I can't afford medicine for them at the moment. and I refuse to purchase faulty medicine."

"Well, if you want to make sure about the effectiveness of the medicine... you could assist in the testing? I've always needed a willing Guinea pig for my own creations. I can make the official meds from these as well as get some much needed results, and..." she paused at that, thinking for a moment before continuing, "I'll sell you some of my own medicine, much better than the bargain bin crap you can find in a drugstore or pharmacy."

"Jackpot." Akira mentally cheered, smothering his smirk from devious to just a small simpler variant. "well then, I guess I got a call or two to make then, they'll be ecstatic at the news."

"Perfect, pleasure working with you in the future." Tae nodded, extending out a handshake to seal the deal. as the two shook hands, a familiar voice rang out in his mind.

I am thou, thou art I...

thou has acquired a new vow...

it shall be the wings of rebellion,

that breaketh thy chains of captivity...

with the birth of the Death arcana,

i have obtained the winds of blessing that

shall lead to freedom and new power...

"I'll get to work on studying this little leaf for now, I'll expect more by the end of the month, don't stiff me or you'll live to regret it." Tae warned, getting a nod from the chuckling teen as an affirmative. Good, bow don't do anything else stupid that'll reopen those wounds, and you should be fine."

"Thanks Doc!"

Arriving at Leblanc's once more, Sojiro greeted the group with the same routine. before they make it up to the stairs, Sojiro piped up with a small cough.

"Hey, kid." the elder Barista started, "Just to let you know, the school called." slightly reveling in the frozen look of panic across the teenager's face, he sighed as he continued. "Don't worry, it's nothing you did; they just came to inform me that something came up with the school, and as such, there's no school tomorrow."

"R-Really?" Akira asked out, still shaking off a bit of the panic from his voice.

"Yup, you got a free day tomorrow. Of course, you know not to let that get to your head, right?" Sojiro added, grinning at the nod he got as a confirmation. "Good, now come over here, I wanna chat with you real quick."

fear giving way to curiosity, the ravenette complied, plopping his bag to the seat beside him as Sojiro began cleaning up the desk. Turning to the teen, the Barista takes a cursory glance before deciding to break the Ice.

"So, how's school been so far?" he started. "Y'know, aside from that little... tidbit... you brought up earlier?"

"W-well, it's been alright so far... unfortunately I figured out why the rumor mill's been extra brutal from day one."

"Oh?"

"yep... apparently someone leaked my records through the school-" a sudden slam makes the teen jump as Sojiro hits the table with a freshly wiped glass with a bit too much force.

"they did WHAT!?" Sojiro yelled out, nearly cracking the glass within his grasp. "I'm pretty sure that's not allowed at all-"

"-It's alright though!" Akira continues hastily, frantically waving his hands at the steadily fuming elder. "It was mostly just a slip up... I think. B-BUT that just means that I have to work harder to prove them wrong!"

"KID. that shit's not SUPPOSED to happen. what the hell were they thinking!?"

"like I said, it could've been-"

"Don't defend them, Kurusu! THEY'RE the ones in the wrong, not you!" Sojiro stated, shutting the teen up. "Do you know who did it?" Sojiro pressed on, sighing heavily after a minute of Akira fully clamming up after his outburst. "Okay, Okay... sorry for yelling. look, this shouldn't have happened to you, at all. That's a full on breach of privacy, there. If anything, you're liable to Sue them."

"I-I..." Akira stammered, avoiding the gaze of his guardian. "I'm fine, really... it's over and done with, so..."

A snort stopped their whispered mumbling as the teen looked over to the elder. "Alright, I'll... take your word for it, but I'm not letting it slide next time. if something like this happens again, you let me know immediately. I'll handle it."

"H-handle it?"

"well... I'll nark on them to the feds about it first, and if that doesn't work," Sojiro shrugged, raising an eyebrow as the teen whispered something to the side "Then I've got some connections, and at least one or two favors I can pull for it."

"...okay." huffing out a tired sigh, Sojiro beckoned the teen over to the other side of the counter, causing a look of confusion to stretch across Kurusu's face.

"Well, that wasn't the main reason why I wanted to talk, but I pressed on the wrong button there, My bad." Sojiro said, setting aside two mugs for the both of them. "How's about I teach ya how to make the perfect cup of Coffee? I'll need an extra pair of hands, and you need something to take your mind off of things every now and again, so how about we knock two birds with one stone?" He smirked, pointing at the teen's chest. "Plus, the ladies love a guy who can cook. do a good enough job and I'll drop some pointers on how to woo them, Deal?"

a few seconds lingered as the teen processed what the old man said, causing a light groan from the teen when he caught up. "oh, c'mon, Mr. Sakura. I'm not that oblivious..." standing up and making his way over, he did nod to the elder Barista, a glint of curiosity in his eyes. "but Sure, I'm down to learn if you'll have me." as the words left his mouth, the world seemed to slow as another chant from the familiar feminine voice echoed through his ears.

I am Thou, Thou art I...

Thou hast Acquired a new vow...

It shall become the wings of rebellion

that breaketh thy chains of captivity...

With the birth of the Hierophant Arcana,

I have obtained the winds of blessing that

Shal lead to freedom and a new power

"That's either Boss or Mr. Sojiro to you kid." The elder retorted, turning to the cabinet of beans behind him. "You're my pupil now, so might as well act like it. Now then, let's start with something basic."

After hanging out with Sojiro and learning the basics of working the counter and brewing stand, with a few minutes of practice later, the group of three arrived to their room and set off into sleep.

...

...

...

Waking up once more to the sounds of chains, Both Arata and Akira found themselves in the same prison like velvet room. The three residents stared at the two.

"We meet again, Trickster and friend." "Igor" greeted.

~so we did, hunchback.~

"Quiet you!" Caroline snarled.

"You may be wondering why I have summoned you here, correct? I have noticed that you have acquired a massive addition to your team. So allow me to congratulate you first and foremost." Igor spoke out "It seems you have remembered my words. You truly make it worth rehabilitating you."

"What do you mean- oh." Akira deadpanned. "you mean Ann, Shiho and Mishima..."

~We still have questions, by the way.~ Arata continued. ~I know we haven't been able to hold much of a conversation before, but now we can actually try before we black out again!~

"I am not attempting to withhold information from you." He chuckled. "The essence of the rehabilitation that you must complete will be explained in due time. Once you discover more allies who share your aesthetics and discover your place in reality… only then will I explain it all."

"And from the looks of it, you two may get that explanation sooner than you think." Caroline chimed in.

"We were quite surprised when it happened as well." Justine added. "It is pretty rare to experience multiple awakenings at once."

"It's kinda strange though… one of them didn't awaken yet."

"... that must be Haru…" Akira whispered, his spiritual other half nodding in unison.

~seems like it, she's the only one without a persona…~ Arata whispered back.

"Indeed, I would suggest that you aid in her awakening, lest she becomes more of a liability than an ally." "Igor" addresses. "It would be a shame if one of your confidants met their demise so soon."

~we'll get right on that.~ Arata answered, holding back a growl at the implications that were subtly infused in such a sentence.

"Please see to it that you do. Now girls, bring out the equipment. It is time we introduce them to the aid we are providing." nodding at the command, the two tiny wardens left the room somehow, confusing the two inmates. That confusion grew with a slight hint of fear when they came back with two guillotines and a chainsaw.

~Oh Sweet Zorvha- What the FUCK is that!?~

"Uuh…" Akira stammered. "Is this the part where we get the death sentence or something?"

"You need not worry Trickster, this is purely for our method of the privilege I'm giving to you; the power of fusion." the hunchback clarified. "Due to your power of the wild card, you are able to wield more than one persona. That power holds infinite possibilities, we will assist you in nurturing that potential. Caroline will lead the charge for this facility for you. Caroline?"

"Yes sir." she saluted, turning to the two. "Alright listen up inmates, because I'm NOT repeating myself."

~fine, fine. What's all this for Carol?~

"Stop calling me- you know what, Forget it!" she shook her head frustratingly. "Fusion is pretty simple in execution; you take two persona and we'll merge them into a new one. Justine and I'll go over the basic rundown on the fused one before the fusion, so you won't be completely blind to what you'll get."

"Be aware though that the process is not guaranteed to work successfully. There is a chance that you may get a completely different one by accident." Justine added.

~oh great, so not even you guys know what we'll get completely…~

"Those odds are very rare, however, so you need not worry for the time being."

"Well that's reassuring... I guess." Akira mumbled out, still staring at the two guillotines.

"Let's do this already. You do have more persona, don't you?" Caroline said, looking expectantly. Opening up his hand, Akira focused on his palm as two white masks appeared above it, orbiting around each other.

"Will these do?" Akira asked, handing the two persona over to the wardens.

"Yeah, this'll work. Let's see… a pixie and a bicorn, huh?"

"This will grant you the persona Shiisaa." Justine walked over to the two inmates and showed them her clipboard, a flash of light later, and a picture of the persona in question, along with various information on it, appeared on the front page. "Hmm… this could work nicely… but."

"What's the problem!? You have the requirements, so what's stopping you?" Caroline shouts.

~we're a little put off by the instruments of death you're standing next to.~

"Are you two okay with this?" Akira asks.

"Of course we a-" a round of shushing and a finger from Arata's tail on her lips stopped the petite warden mid sentence.

~not you two; Pixie and Bicorn.~

"What? Of course they are!" Caroline Droned on, batting away the tail, with a look that screams 'are you THAT stupid?' to the both of them.

"I just want to make sure. I want their consent before I go through with this."

"Of course master. I told you I'd help out, and I'm gonna help no matter what." the voice of pixie echoed into his mind, followed by Bicorn's voice as well. "As I have said before, I'll do whatever it takes for master."

~looks like they agree.~

"See!? Now stop polyfoxing and bring them over here already!"

Taking both masks, Justine reunites with her twin as they prepared the fusion process.

~I can't watch…~ Arata covered his eyes, but then peeks out of one of them.

*SSHHHHHKK!*

The sound of metal sliding down and flaying flesh echoed throughout the room, but what shocked to two prisoners were the flash of lights, strong winds blowing through their cell, and a new voice echoing through Akira's mind.

"Me Shiisaa. You have mask... You and me... Don't worry, be happy!" the new voice yipped happily.

"Alright that's how it goes." Caroline shouts. "Simple and fast, so don't bother hesitating."

"A stronger persona has been born from the body and blood of the old, which shall become your new strength." "Igor" added in. "Gather personas and bring them here. Gather them, execute them, and continue to give birth to stronger personas. Developing these powers of your will play an integral role in your stand against ruin."

"So that your rehabilitation goes well, we have a variety of rituals to choose from regarding execution." Justine continued, Caroline followed soon after.

"And depending on your efforts our master might consider further development of new rituals for you to use. Go on and cry for joy inmates"

~yeah, we get it kid.~

"Who're you calling a KID!?" Caroline hissed ferally, somewhat triggered by the short jab.

~I'm callin'  you  a kid, Ya Blue midget!~

"WHAT DID YOU CALL ME, YOU PALE FACED PRICK!?"

~language, child! You deserve a time out  little  missy!~

"Oh you are DEAD YOU MOTHERFU-"

"CAROLINE!" "ARATA!" Both Akira and Justine shouted out, silencing the two bickering beings.

"Hmm, it seems that this might be more entertaining than I thought." "Igor" chuckled lightly at the events unfolding. "That being said, I have a gift that I have prepared a gift for you. I hope that you shall accept it." A black orb of light appeared in front of Akira and phased into his body, a feeling of unnerving strength coursed through his soul. "With this, You now have the ability to see things that are normally invisible to the common eye; a third eye, if you will. That is all I wish to speak to you about for now, there is one more thing I wish to say, but you'll find that out very soon."

"I don't like the sound of that…"

~I'm pretty sure that's an understatement…~

Both sighed as the world around them faded into darkness, the last they saw were three mischievous smirks.

Monday, April 18th

Cloudy

Shujin Academy

Mid-day

After spending the entirety of the morning eating over at a nearby ramen shop, getting model guns and weapons from a hidden shop on central street, some light armor and accessories, and reuniting with the others who got loads of their supplies, the group of eight survived through the seemingly endless traversal for the whole first half of their day. Now that school was cancelled, the group of eight stood by the entrance of the school, hiding to the side of the building. A few moments later, they were now back at the front of the palace.

"Alright, let's get to work!" Skull shouts, pumping his fist in the air, only to get dragged back by a hand on his shoulder.

~wait a minute!~ Draco said, grabbing Skull by the collar. ~aren't you forgetting something?~

"Huh… OH right!" Skull spins around, unzipping a duffle bag and handing over a tommy gun to Panther, much to her surprised squeak. "Here ya go."

"Wha!? D-Don't just pull something like that out of nowhere!"

~Nobody make a joke about that.~ Arata mumbled amused.

"We got these for surprisingly cheap." Joker added, handing Akuma a set of Tonfa and a set of throwing knives, Noir a battle axe and a grenade launcher, and Shinobi a spear and a small crossbow.

~now that you all are sufficiently armed… NOW we can get to work.~

"Just to be safe, we'll break off into two teams." Mona joined in. "it'll be a nightmare to manage eight people at once, so we'll split up into a vanguard and rearguard."

"So we're splitting up?" Panther asked getting a negative shake from the cat creature.

"Not entirely; four of us will lead the charge in exploration, while the others will follow behind a good distance away, picking up and finding anything the front missed the first time."

"Hmm… sounds good, So the question is; Who's going where?" Akuma nodded, a few minutes of deciding later, Joker, Skull, Mona and Draco decided to lead the vanguard since they knew more about the place than the others, whereas the ladies and Mishima, as the rearguard leader, sticks to the backrow.

"Alright, let's head on out." Joker said, the group now entering the palace ahead.

(Some time later...)

2 hours and 45 minutes in and the Group was more or less ready to burn the whole place to the ground. After going around solving random puzzles, obtaining more persona and loot, and fighting off a room full of Armored knights before managing to drag over to the nearest safe room, the group of 8 practically slumped over the table of the mini haven.

"Please tell me that we've made SOME sort of dent to this place!? Panther groaned out, stretching outwardly from the various cricks that locked her up.

"looking at the map we found from... that place." Shinobi shuddered, unable to even form words from what they saw. "We're most of the way there, we're near a large tower that should have where the treasure should be."

"Anyone else keeping track of what we got?" Skull moaned out. "I didn't think it'd be THIS much of a Grindfest."

~Med Stuff's still plentiful, especially with all the crap we got from shadows.~ Draco stated, sorting out some of the loot and medicinal stock they have. ~Plus, Kira's got a Cait sith and Silky, so if we're low on healing, we can swap over to that.~

"... I may have an idea. everyone get comfortable..." Joker announced, stretching a bit before whispering something in tongues, much to the odd looks of the others in the room.

"... you aren't gonna turn us into toads, are you?" Akuma drolled out, stretching himself over a nearby seat, with the others following suit.

"Please don't. I wouldn't be able to help as a frog..." Noir added, shuddering at the idea.

"Nope... but if it works, then I may have a solution for this..." Joker spoke, clapping his hands as a glyph formed in front of him. various cat like bubbles filled the room as a soothing scent filled their noses, lulling them into a more relaxed state.

"W-What The!?" The actual cat-like creature yelped out, brushing by one of the Neko orbs and popping on upon contact. "What is this? it feels... feels..." Mona barely got out, curling into himself as more bubbles brushed against him, purring contently as he drifted off, barely holding himself up.

"Bubbles? what the... hell..." Skull mumbled out, dropping not long after with light snoring. soon after he dropped, the remaining members fell one by one to light slumber, leaving just Joker and Draco as the only ones left awake.

~Huh... is this Catnap?~ the Godling looked over to the leader, smirking as he got a nod back. ~Ah, that makes sense. I got Lookout duty, so you go ahead and rest up.~ sharing a thumbs up, Joker strides over to a vacant chair and leaned back, sighing in whimsical bliss as he too joined his comrades.

"I hate this Place. SO! DAMN! MUCH!" Panther growled out every last syllable, the cracking of her whip reverberated with the impacts landing on the numerous Incubi and Redcaps stalking forwards, held at bay only be her flame touched weapon.

"Well, at least you're not Skull." Akuma shrugged over his shoulder, ignoring the glare the fire clad female gave him in favor of pointing over to the fellow blonde... literally being dragged by each arm by a group of Succubi and angels, each side pulling a side like a biblical game of tug-of-war.

"Somebody HELP! I can't feel my arms anymore!" Said Party member Shouts out, both sides tugging more and more intensively.

"I'm more worried about Aki- mean Joker..." Noir added, pointing over to the teen kicking a Berith off his horse before proceeding to run over said downed knight with the very steed it was on seconds prior. "when we found that room with that blue skull shaped gem, he's been kind of... off."

"How off?" Panther asked, ducking as her french dressed friend launched a bomb overhead and blowing up a charging Humanoid avian known as Harpy.

"You noticed too?" Shinobi asked, piercing out at a straggling elf mage, twirling the spear as the back mist faded from her attack. "Ever since that happened, he's been giving us... looks." she paused a bit, side-stepping a swipe from a redcap before punting it to the horde of succubi whilst shooting at the angels, freeing Skull. "At first he was looking with a twinge of... hunger? lust? something, I couldn't quite tell. but just as quickly, he shakes it off saying it's a minor headache or something..."

"I think he's trying to hold back something, but what, I don't know..." Noir continued, parrying an Archangel's Cleave attack and slapping a Skill Slip on its back, the angelic knight blowing up in a burst of force at her one worded command. "I tried asking beforehand, but he just brushes it off to fatigue catching up with him. something about spells and slots?"

"Well, Honestly, I don't blame him." Akuma said, snapping the neck of another elven enemy and brushing off the back mist it dissipated into. "If that weird spell thing he did in the last safe room was of any indication, I'd be hard pressed to think he's pushing himself to help us push through this place-"

A loud, inhumane Roar stopped the four rearguard members as Joker jumps back, a large hand gripping the golden knight that he finished off as a tear in the distortion began opening, revealing a large bullhead staring at the black clad rogue with animosity.

~HEY, THAT'S OUR KILL, YOU BULL-FACED FUCK!~ Draco roared back, whipping his tail at the beast clambering out the tear and scarring the face as it yanked out a large battleaxe. ~UM! GUYS, That's NOT A SHADOW!~

"WHAT!?" Skull shouted back, shooting the remaining angels and succubi trying to go for a round two of their pulling game. "What da shit do you mean that's not a shadow!? Also LANGUAGE!"

"Wait, How is that possible!? I don't sense it being a mere cognition either!" Mona shouts out, slashing away the redcap that's been throwing its sickle at him for the past few minutes on a sconce near the ceiling.

~Minotaur incoming! You remember how to drop this thing!?~ Draco shouts back, side by side with Joker as the two stare down the half Bovine Berserker roaring point blank in their face.

"You guys finish the rest of the stragglers! we'll handle the Big Guy here!" Joker shouts out, drawing his dagger and pistol in each hand, unintimidated by the towering titan before him.

looking to each other, the four rearguard members all gave a simultaneous nod in agreement, putting aside the conversation for later. their savior's in danger right this second, and they'd be hard pressed to ignore the chance to repay the favor.

"Okay, this is the last place we didn't check. Let's go on inside." Skull shouts, Mona climbing to his face and pulling his hair back to get him away from the door.

"Not through the front door, Monkeyboy! We need a different way in." the cat creature chastises the pirate themed thief.

"What about that opening above?" Noir suggested, pointing to the statue at the side, an opening on top of the platform.

"See, that's how a phantom thief thinks!"

"Yeah yeah, no need to rub it in cat." Skull complained, growling as the cat claws his ear. As the group climbed up the place, they found a hidden platform for them to stand on, looking down at the main hallway, they sighed in relief when they saw most of the hall littered with guards, the Shadow king yelling at them.

"Oh man, we sure dodged a bullet there." Skull whispered, "Can't believe I'm sayin' this to the cat of all things, but… thanks for stoppin' me."

"No problem, just try not to jump into stuff without thinking first, as impossible as that is for you." Mona quipped.

"Ya see… this is why I don't like complimenting ya." the blonde bruiser groaned out, shuffling ahead.

"We're almost there." Joker interrupted, pointing at the door behind the king. "That must be where it is."

~well let's get going then.~ Draco chimed in, the group sneaking past the army of guards and the bickering King. silently opening the door without alerting them, the group slinked inside, gobsmacked at the sight before them.

Gold, treasure, jewels, the whole room they were in was filled with the sea of valuables, and in the very middle was a weird glowing blob, floating in place at the very core of the room.

"Holy Crap!" Akuma shouts, awestruck by the amount of rare items around him. "we'd be set for life if I sell even a pocketful of this stuff!"

"It's amazing..." Shinobi added, kicking aside a gemstone the size of a kickball, a light scowl forming on her face seconds after that statement. "Yet oddly disgusting at the same time, I hope I'm not the only one to think we shouldn't take this stuff?" numerous vocal affirmatives was her answer.

"It's KamoSHITa's crap, remember!?" Skull argued. "Of course it's disgusting to look at. Pfft, I bet that some of it's fake anyways."

~I'm more curious about the blobby thing here than anything.~ Draco addressed, pointing at the obvious out of place object of the room. ~Hey, Mona? You know anything about this?~

"Ah HAH! This is it!" Said cat thief grinned cheekily. "This is what we've came for."

~a floating blob of nothing?~

"Wha- no! this IS the treasure we seek! now we can initiate phase 2."

"Phase 2?" everyone questioned in sync.

"Right now, we can't steal it since it's technically not here. Desires have no physical form by nature, but if we convince the person that their desire's are in fact a treasure, then we can make it so that we can steal it."

~right… and how do we do that exactly?~

"We warn him." Mona answered simply. "Once they're conscious that their desires might be stolen, the treasure will manifest and show itself in response. We'll tell them, "We're going to steal your heart." or something like that."

"Oooh, like a calling card?" Noir added in, Mona nodding eagerly.

"Precisely!"

"Aw hell yeah! That's totally what a phantom thief would do!" Skull whooped. "That shit'll cause it to be physical?"

"Once we do that, the treasure will appear for certain!"

"Then our infiltration route is secure!" Shinobi announced. "Let's head back and plan our next course of action for now."

"Right." the other members spoke out, turning back to head for the last safe room.

"Just be prepared for anything." Mona Piped up. "Once we send the calling card, there's no going back."

"..."

~You good, dude?~ Draco addressed, causing the others to turn back to the two stragglers. ~was slaying the minotaur filling you with nostalgia or did it... trigger something?~

"No, no... it's fine. just..." Joker reassured, clutching his head as he looks towards the floor. "I feel something... below us... something calling to me."

~hmm... you wanna check it out?~

"I would if I could, but we shouldn't make the others go through more of this crap than necessary." Joker sighed. "Plus, if a Minotaur somehow got through to this place, then anything can be brought here." Reminiscing back to an hour prior, the very memory of such a massive beatdown wasn't a pleasant sensation. Aside from Skull nearly dying in the fight, and Noir getting a bit too eager to hack away at the beast, actually being the one to slay it by slamming down it's own Battleaxe onto it's skull (frightening the group as she lifted up and slammed down a weapon nearly twice her size in the process).

"Hey man, if you wanna check things out, we can do it on the way back. let's get it now before we topple this place." Skull answered, walking up and patting Joker's back. looking over to the rest of the group giving their confirmation was reassuring to the teen, walking over to the rest of the party.

"Sorry about this-" Joker said, only to be stopped by Noir handing him one of the Snuff souls they procured earlier.

"It's quite aright. we're a Team, after all, we go together!" the french thief replied. "Now then, where to?"

"Below... near that painting at the foyer." Joker spoke out, taking a minute to sense the calling. "let's go then gang!"

After reaching down to the secret area they have found earlier, they managed to find a secondary elevator similar to the one they rode up to the treasure before, leading them to a waterfall laden chamber. a third resonating chamber blocked by a barrier greeted them on the other side. a rather... repugnant sight filled their vision as the gold knight guarding the door saw them, transforming... into a bulbous green slime of a certain phallic resemblance.

"...no." Joker deadpanned, whispering words in tongues as he stepped forward, pointing his palm to the approaching slimewad, shouting out three words brimming with power. "Cone of Cold." A torrent of dark blue slush and frost erupted from his palm, nearly knocking him over the edge if not for the aid of Skull and Noir holding him up. once the blast of blizzard ended, the rest of the group save for a certain floating spirit stared out in awe at the sight that now took place; the entire waterfall, the moat like body of water below them, and the slime beast in front of them was frozen entirely, forming a somewhat picturesque frozen scene that would've been mesmerizing without the wailing green shadow-turned ice sculpture in the way... that was just pushed off the side by Draco.

~OKAY!~ he clapped, gaining their attention. ~The big bad no-no monster's gone, So let's check behind Door number three now!~

Walking forward and breaking said barrier. the group found the last of the Will seeds, a vibrant green jewel of crystallized lust held within. before they could grab the last one, the three gemstones floated above joker, swirling in a blinding light before colliding together, the light fading to find the three gems fused together into a cluster of a clear colored crystal. upon touching said cluster of collective crystal corruption, Joker lurched forwards in pain, alerting the rest of the group.

"Whoa, Whoa! you alright man!?" Skull shouted back, reaching out, only for Joker to lightly shove him back, crawling away from the group. "Dude, what the-"

"G-Get the... Girls.. Out of here!... HURRY!" Joker growled out, black electricity coursing through his body as he held down his arm that attempted to reach out for Panther.

"W-What!? Panther shouted back, taken aback by the sudden swirl of emotions she can see on the teens face; unbridled lust, fear, concern, and determined resistance danced across the black clack male's face as he actively tried to push himself deeper into the room. Eyes widening at the scene before him, Draco, grabbed the group and led them outside the chamber, slamming the doors shut as Akira nearly lunged at them.

~lets... let's give him a minute...~ Draco spoke out, casting a glyph onto the door to seal it shut once more. ~maybe an hour even..~

"W-What happened, why are you locking him up?" Shinobi asked, pointing to the door. "is Akira going to be alright?!" with a sheepish chuckle and a side glance away from the group, Arata nodded.

~Oh yeah, he'll be fine. I just realized what was going on...~ he announced. ~he just needs some... ALONE time right now... get it out of his system.~

"Get it out of hi-EW!" Panther repeated, groaning in disgust upon realizing what he meant. "Seriously, Right here in the Palace!?"

~to be fair, we've been picking up the will seeds ourselves, that felt like literal lust in a rock whenever we touched them. collecting all three must've temporarily overwhelmed him with lust at that moment.~ Stopping a second before slightly raising his voice to continue as the sounds of rhythmic thumping echoed through the door. ~It's actively draining as we speak, so give it a bit and he'll be fine!~

"... I-Is he?" Noir stammered, now hearing the thumping as well, the rest of the group following suit.

~Yes.~

"OH WHAT THE HELL, MAN!?" Skull yelled out in embarrassment, Akuma turning away with a heavy tint of red on his face.

~Oh don't blow a gasket, it's more or less just Masturbation with extra steps and you know it!~

(one hour later...)

After finishing up with his little predicament, and another 30 minutes of heckling from the group, the party rose back from the elevator to the picturesque portrait that led out to the foyer, each of them shaking off what little tint of red from their faces they had left (Embarrassment from Joker and from laughing too hard from everyone else)

~Well then, Now that we're done with explaining the semantics on fucking your Tulpa-~ Draco stated, ignoring the punch to the face from a now crimson faced and growling Joker. ~Before we leave, Joker and I have ONE last thing we should do, right?~

"Huh?" Joker paused, looking over with confusion before realizing the spirit's words, "OH! Right! I nearly forgot." fiddling out a separate bag and handing Draco one for himself, the two made their way over to the portrait, the human phantom thief uttering out another phrase in tongues as the spirit phased through the portrait. "We came up with a last second idea..."

"Uhh... what are you two..." Mona spoke, words dying in his throat as Joker began to walk up the wall as he pulls out- "Is... Is that paint?"

"What the Hell?" Skull said, now seeing what they were doing, holding back snickers as the two then proceeded to scribble all over the picture, drawing obscene wordings and poorly drawn doodles all over the portraits "Oh my god, That's Hilarious! hey hang on, Lemme help!"

Seeing Skull and soon after, Panther and surprisingly Noir walk over to ask for their own instruments of defacement, Mona groaned in disappointment as the group of unruly brats began to tag the two sided set piece with grueling graffiti, Joker and Draco helping them reach the places they couldn't reach. "ARE YOU GUYS SERIOUS!?"

"There there, Mona-chan... let them have their fun." Shinobi patted the tiny guide's back. "We're almost finished with this place anyways, better now than never, right?"

"..." Akuma merely stares at the work the defacers were doing with a frustrated sigh, catching the two beside him.

"What?" both asked him simultaneously.

"I'm just sad our tech doesn't work here." Akuma huffed. "This would've made a good screenshot."

Back in the real world, the group decided to hang out in a local café nearby after their success in finding a route. Noticing Haru sitting a bit of a ways away from the group, Arata floated over to the girl.

~Hey, Haru, You alright?~ He asked, noting the wayward look of his friend.

"Hmm? Oh, I'm fine." Haru answered, waving off his question as she took another bite of her parfait.

~you sure? You could always tell us.~

"I know… it's just…" trailing off, she handed over a few skill slips to the godling, confusion grew on the boy's face. "I used most of them up again…"

~if that's what's bothering you, then I could always make more-~

"No, no, it's not that. It's…" Haru paused, looking aside and mumbling to herself.

~it's…..~

"Am I really providing for the team?" she repeated, loud enough that only he could hear. "With the limited amount of slips you give me, it's only a matter of time before…"

~hey, hey now! don't go beating yourself up from that.~ Arata cuts off, not liking the route she was going with that statement. ~you're still a vital part of this team, just like the rest of us.~

"But for how much longer!?" she whispered loudly, almost hissing, to the godling. "I'm not like you all, I-I don't have much to protect myself, let alone everyone else… Ryuji almost died because I ran out and had to get more…"

~...~ Saying nothing, the Silver haired spirit listened on as the teen rambled on about her doubts. taking a deep sigh after laying out her thoughts, she stared sadly at her dessert.

"If I'm just going to be a burden when I run out of usefulness, then I-" stopping mid sentence as Arata grabs her hand with his own.

~come with me.~ he announced, rising.

"W-wha?" Haru yelped, nearly toppling what was left of her parfait as she rose as well.

~hey, Kira. I'm taking Haru out for a tiny bit.~ he shouts at the group, the raven haired leader nodded. ~come on.~ He said simply, floating out the door with a confused (and slightly worried) Haru behind him. Once outside, Arata gestured for her to sit near one of the outer tables. Sitting down, Haru gazed expectantly, like an anxious child anticipating some sort of punishment.

~So, you think you're useless because we have powers and you don't?~

"What!? No, it's not exactly what I-"

~but you're not completely denying it either.~ Arata cut in, stopping her defense before she could finish. ~it's alright. I'm gonna fix that. Now, close your eyes.~

"what? how are you-"

~Please? just for a quick bit, alright?~ staring at the spirit, she sighed as she nodded and closing her eyes, unknowing of what's going on. Arata then placed his hand on her chest as he held one of hers on his chest.

~I am thou, Thou art I...

I grant thou the  key  to thy soul…

Thy  potential  shall bring forth a new power…

I grant though the tiara of the  Empress …

To which thou shall  create  a new prosperous future…~

A pink light shone around her body as several objects, and even Haru herself, began to rise from the ground. Opening her eyes from such a sensation, her very irises glowed an eerie pink as several items orbited around the two. When the light faded, Haru looked up at the godling with a weirdly new feeling deep within herself.

"W-what just happened!?" she yells, looking around her.

~I have awakened a piece of your full potential; you now have power over psionics.~ Answered the godling, the light he was glowing from dimming down.

"Psionics?"

~you know… like telepathy, psychic energy, levitation. All that jazz. you're now able to control mind shenanigans.~

"Really?!" Haru asked, a twinge of hope flickering in her eyes at what she heard.

~yep, now you're one of us. Speaking of which, I'm gonna have to borrow you, Ryuji and Morgana this weekend…~

"... wow.." staring down at her hands, which still held a slight glow of pink to them. "T-This power... With this... maybe, I can look into..." she thought, nearly jumping as a whispered giggle echoed throughout her mind in response.

~all you have to do is ask, and we'll help. That's what friends do.~ Arata reassured her. ~Meet me on Saturday and I'll work with you on how to do things with your mind.~

"Friends… I… thank you. I know this might sound whiny... or manipulative. but from the bottom of my heart, I am grateful. For this power… for everything you and Akira did…"

~whoa there, I didn't save your life, I just improved it.~

"With this gift you gave me, you might as well have… so thank you… I'll make sure I won't be a burden anymore." she smiled at him, to which he smile back. A familiar feeling grew within himself and Arata heard a feminine voice.

I am thou,  thou  art I…

Thou has acquired a new  vow …

It shall be the wings of  rebellion ,

That  breaketh  thy chain of captivity…

With the birth of the  Empress  arcana,

I have obtained the winds of  blessing  that

Shall  lead  to freedom and new power…

"And... Thank you. for listening to me, even though i mainly just rambled about my insecurity..."

"Hey Arata, we're just about ready to head out!" Akira shouts, the group joining the two outside.

~Okay cool.~ Arata shouts back. ~And No problem, Haru, just let either of us know, and we'll come running! Just remember, you, Ryuji and Morgana. Meet me at the school roof on Saturday.~

"Okay…" Haru nodded, the group went their separate ways afterwards.

After making back to Leblanc's and following the same routine, Akira checked his phone for the new message that pinged him a few seconds prior.

Ryu: you guys home yet? I'm pooped.

Ryu: it hit me like a goddamn ton of bricks when I sat down…

Yuuki: same here. Mom thought I was in a fight when she saw me collapse in the living room.

Floof: are you alright?

Yuuki: yeah, I'm fine. Told her that I overworked myself.

Ann: well, we did do a whole bunch in the palace…

Shiho: it's no surprise that we're exhausted. I just never expected it to be this much…

Ann: glad we've found that treasure though…

Ryu: so, just to be clear, Kamoshita'll turn a new leaf if we steal the rainbow fart cloud?

Floof: rainbow fart cloud?

Yuuki: it's up to you when we send the card, Akira.

Ann: call us over to the hideout when you're ready.

RenRen: got it. Nice work everyone.

Yuuki: OH, one more thing I found out.

Floof, Ryu, and Ann: what?

Yuuki: there's gonna be a new student coming tomorrow, I think her name's Kasumi… something…

Shiho: oh no…

Ryu: shit, if this newcomer's a girl then that means Kamoshita's gonna have a NEW target if we don't hurry...

RenRen: we'll find out more on her, you guys just get ready for tomorrow.

Putting up his phone, the three now got ready for bed.

Tuesday, April 19th

Rainy

Shujin Academy

Noon

Akira, Arata and Morgana all have noticed something mainly off about today. first off, the godling noticed that they were being tailed by Makoto practically everywhere since they got to the building. The only time they managed to lose her was when they went to the restrooms. Second, when they got to the homeroom, Kawakami looked at them with this odd look of pity, worry and… admiration? They were stumped as to why she gave them that look in the first place, well, Morgana and Arata were talking about it in the corner of the room since Kawakami couldn't really see them.

"Alright students, listen up. We have a new student coming today." Kawakami announced, gaining everyone's attention and whispers began flooding the room. "Now I want you all be welcoming to our new addition; She may be in the same class as you all, but she's a year younger than you all, so don't overwhelm her. You may come in now." she said, the door sliding open seconds later. The newcomer was a sight to behold. A red haired female, whose hair was tied in a ponytail, walked up to the board and wrote her name on it, then turned and introduced herself.

"Hello everyone. I'm Kasumi Yoshizawa. I hope we can get along." the girl, now named Kasumi, stated. Even more whispers echoed around the room.

"Alright, alright. Settle down." Kawakami shouted, calming the growing rumor-storm. "You can take a seat next to… Kurusu's… desk." she then sweat-dropped at the fact that the ONLY other empty seat in the entire class was side by side with Akira's. This did nothing but start more rumors.

~Oh for fuck's sake, this is getting ridiculous.~ Arata groans, floating next to Akira. ~we get it, you lemmings hate our guts, get over yourselves.~

Walking over to the empty desk, Kasumi sat down and class continued as normal… well, as normal as you can get with the new girl slightly staring at the air a few times. Several classed later, Akira, Arata and Morgana was about to make it over to the rooftop, when Kasumi walked up to them.

"Hey, Kurusu-Senpai?" she asked, stopping the teen in his tracks. "May I have a moment of your time?"

"Uhh… sure?" Akira replied, curious at the new girl's sudden question. Following her to a higher floor, the two ended up stopping at the library.

~oh, that reminds me, hey kira, mind getting some books on wind, electricity and hypnotism?~

"Why do you need that?" Morgana whispered at the godling.

~you'll know why later on.~

"Okay, here we are." Kasumi stated, taking out a black book from the shelf and reading it.

"Uumm." Akira looked on in confusion, which grew when Kasumi gave him a bottle of water.

"It's not really holy water, but it might work." Kasumi announced, before taking out a piece of paper and copied symbols from the black book she was reading.

"What are yo-" was all Akira said before she slapped the slip of scribbles on his chest. Nothing happened.

~what is happening right now?~ Arata spoke out, a sudden pulse made shivers go up his spine, however. curiously, the paper merely faded into particles seconds after, eliciting a lightly panicked reaction from the redhead.

"I-it didn't work!?" she yipped, distraught that her two attempts failed so far. "Why is it still there.."

"Just what are you talking about?" Akira spoke back, eyebrow raised at her actions.

"You can see it too, right?" was her answer, pointing at Arata.

"See?" Akira asked, none of the three realizing who she was pointing at.

~it?~

"The ghost floating beside you… you can see it too, right?"

~ghost? What ghost?~ Arata questioned, looking over to Akira. ~Kira, did you summon ghosts behind my back?~

"I-It knows your name!?" She yelps, looking around and finding nobody staring back at them before flipping through her black book once more. "Oh... maybe This charm might work better..."

"What are you talking about-" Akira stopped abruptly, slowly turning to Arata as he slowly pointed to him. "You mean Arata?"

~hmm?~

"You... you named the ghost!?" She shrieked lightly. "That's not good, it might be too far deep... It'll probably take a full on Exorcism!"

~... WHAT!? I'm Not a Gho-oooooh crap.~ Arata yelled back, stopping as the implications finally registered in his mind.

Looking at her with wide eyes, Akira stood there stunned as Kasumi took his silence as a yes.

"So you can see the ghost! Oh thank god I wasn't going crazy."

~Hey, I resent that!~

"Okay, That makes this a bit easier... I may not know what kind he is, but I should be able to-"

"He's not a ghost." was all the male said to stop her in her tracks.

"W-What? I- It's not?" she replied back. " Impossible, How is it NOT a ghost? Just who and/or what is it then?"

~First off, I'm a boy. Second, I'm Arata, A-RA-TA.~

"And third, he's a godling." Akira added in, further confusing the girl in front of him.

"A… godling?" she repeated, flipping through her book back and forth, frantically searching for the term. "... I... I don't have any information on that type of Yokai."

~YOKAI!? what does that have to do with- Oooooh.~ Arata groaned out, nudging his bound brother. ~Fucking Onmyoji.~

"an Onmyoji? here? in the modern day?" he thought back, looking in amusement as the red head silently goes through a panic attack by herself.

~well, at least one in training, by the looks of things... but why's one here? the last one's back on the other side, right?~

"A Godling's a young god-" a sudden ping vibrated the phone in his pocket, cutting off his explanation. "Crap. I'll talk to you later about that. It was nice meeting you Yoshizawa."

~Don't Narc on us, you hear me!? You should know not to anger spirits!~ the two then fled the library quietly, leaving a stunned Kasumi pondering the current events. Unbeknownst to the three, a third person overheard everything.

"Arata… godling… what's going on…" Makoto whispered as she followed Akira out the library. soon after, waiting as the trio made their way to the roof. Opening the door, the three people reunited with the rest of the group.

"Took ya long enough. Where were you man?" Ryuji asked first.

"Sorry, we just had a… surprising visit with the new girl." Akira spoke back, taking up a vacant spot left for him.

~she thought I was a ghost…~ Arata grumbled to himself.

"We get it." Morgana groaned at the godling from the bag he was in.

"Wait, what happened?" Shiho asked, looking up from her book.

"Apparently, Kasumi, the new girl in our class, can see Arata… somehow…" Akira clarified, resulting in shocked and concerned looks from the others. "Arata believes she's an Onmyoji."

~That slip she slapped on you had a mix of Arcane and Divine energy. with a specific signature only found by those wielders.~ Arata clarified. ~She's definitely one, otherwise literally nothing would've happened.~

"Shit, that's bad. What if someone finds out because she snitched on him?" Ryuji asked.

"Don't worry, I'll focus on that later. Right now, Kamoshida takes priority." Akira answered with a sigh.

"Right! So, who's gonna send the calling card?" Morgana asked. "All that's left is to make it and send it. Then comes the hard part."

"Couldn't we have just sent one beforehand?" Ryuji asked, the cat shaking his head in response.

"It's not that simple. A treasure won't stay materialized for long, once the impressions gone, then the treasure will disappear for good." Morgana explained to the group. "I think it'll last around a day at most."

"That's going to be a tough spot, considering we have all this free time on our hands…" Shiho added.

"So we send it out in the morning, then at the end of the day, we carry out the plan… does that work?" Ann suggested.

"Correct, the effect won't last that long. Are any of you worried?" Morgana quipped, looking at Ryuji in particular.

"What'cha starin' at cat?"

"Stop it with the cat name, monkey!"

"Stop with the monkey crap, cat!"

"Not this again." Mishima said, bonking both of them on the head.

"We'll pull this off, no matter what!" Ann shouts, a firm resolve in her voice that echoed onto the other as well.

"So, who's gonna write it?" Morgana asked, nurturing the slight bump on his head.

"Ooh, Ooh, let me make it!" Ryuji exclaimed excitedly. "I've got just the thing to say for him!"

"Why?" slightly deflating as Ann, Shiho and Morgana asked simultaneously almost instantly.

"Why?... why wouldn't it be me!?"

"This is important. Are you sure you can handle the pressure?" Ann continued.

~Hey, have at least some faith in Ryuji.~

"Yeah, He may be a bit hot headed at times, but he knows what he's doing when he is focused." Haru defended as well.

"I must agree on Ann on this one." Morgana said.

~that's only because you have a cat boner for- AGH~ that was all Arata said before Morgana pounced on his head.

"I really wanna get him good! Lemme write it… c'mon, please?"

"...I'm counting on you Ryuji." Akira sighed, making the blonde male whoop with glee as the others looked to the leader in confusion.

"Really?" Ann asked.

"Yes, really, Ryuji's suffered just as much as we have, and this will act as some form of closure for him, as well as you three. if you want, you guys can help him."

"Hell yeah!" You can count on me!"

"You better not make it so that we'll get caught." Mishima added in, crossing his arms.

"I know, I know!"

"Alright then, tomorrow it is! You better not slack off on this, Monkey." Morgana warned.

"I'm in too good a mood to kick your cat ass off the roof for that, but yeah, I'll make this good!"

~Call Kira when you're done with it. Morgana and I'll post it up before school starts.~

"Cool."

"Alright, meeting adjourned." Akira said, closing the short meeting, none of them noticed the door slightly ajar, with a new face peeking through, that suddenly closed.

"Hey, Sakamoto?" Kawakami asked, gaining Ryuji's attention as the day closes out. "I wanted to speak with you for a minute."

"Huh… Oh sure thing, Ms. K. what's up?"

"I was wondering If you were interested in a proposition I'm willing to make."

"Hmm… depends, what type of proposition?"

"Extra credit for miscellaneous assignments."

"... huh?"

"Allow me to explain… you see, I've noticed that your grades, while still barely passable, are gradually increasing while you're with Akira, Ann and their friends…" Kawakami explained. "At first I thought you were gonna be a bad influence and turn them into delinquents, but it looks like the opposite is happening instead."

"Uh-huh…"

"I kinda felt bad for thinking that way, That's NO way for a teacher to act like that, excuse or no... So, I wanted to help you increase your grades even further, as a sort of half apology/half assignment."

"Hmm… to be honest, you didn't really have to go that far for an apology, Teach." Ryuji shrugged, not noticing the light wince from his elder. "I'm more than used to being on the short end of the stick, that sh- stuff's no skin off my back."

"But I want to help you out. If not for the apology, then will you do it for your education?" Thinking on it a bit more, Ryuji seemed contemplative of the idea, before once again shrugging, this time with a grin

"...Eh, Eff it, why not? it'll at least be worth it to rub it in everyone's face for a bit. What's the assignment, Ms. K?"

"Splendid! I want you to make an essay or detailed list on what you're strengths and weakness are. Like what are you good in and what do you lack. It should at least be one full page long, but you can add more if you like." she said, handing him a paper clip bounded sheet. "Once you're done with this, we can figure out what you need work on and I can get you some stuff to make them simpler to understand."

"Wow, Really!? thanks Ms. K!"

"No problem, Sakamoto, and sorry again… for being ignorant this whole time…"

"Nah, don't worry about it, I forgive you. At least you apologized for it." Ryuji answered, one more exchange of commentary and the two went their separate ways, Ryuji then looked at the sheet handed to him. "Now what do I add on here?"

Wednesday, April 20th

Cloudy

Shujin Academy

Morning

As soon as everyone came by this morning, they were confronted by a rather large crowd of students murmuring and whispering to each other. Looking at the red cards strewn about, Ann read it aloud for the group to hear.

"Suguru Kamoshida, the Impotent Lord of Lust. You torment those below you with an iron fist like a Maniacal Tyrant, defiling the innocent and forcing those you are obligated to guide to Suffer under your Egotistical Tirades. For such Acts on those who could never fight back, Consider your sins as proof, your Arrogance as your Seal of your fate, and your Desires forfeit as we steal the treasure you hold within. Signed, the Phantom thieves of hearts…" she read aloud.

"...What." Mishima started.

"The…" Shiho, continued.

~yeah, Morgana and I were just as impressed and confused.~ Arata spoke up, floating to the group with said cat beside him.

"Hey guys, over here." Ryuji shouts, gaining the group's attention.

"Alright, spill it Sakamoto, what exactly was that?" Ann said walking up the the blonde male.

"What? Did I do badly?"

~nope! quite the opposite in fact.~ Arata cheered, patting the blond on his back ~I knew you could do it man.~

"It's just… I wasn't expecting something like THAT coming from you of all people…" Mishima admitted, taking off one of the calling cards. "I'd expected half of it to be swears and bad grammar."

"Well, I had a bit of help…"

"Spill, Ryuji." Ann glared, immediately onto her fellow blonde's wayward glance.

"Truth be told..."

~oh god, what did you do?~

"Nothin' I swear! I don't know how, when or why but…"

"But what?" Akira prodded on.

"Well, I sorta finished it by myself, and it was... Fine, at first..." Ryuji stated. "but then Captain Kidd piped up and told me it was crap!"

~Kidd told you?~

"Yep, Well after bitching at each other for I thing a few minutes, I dared him to come up with something better, and..."

"and? did something happen, Ryuji?" Haru continued.

"Apparently, Our Persona can possess us... I think."

"They can WHAT!?" the three girls and Mishima yelled in unison.

~hmm... if they're similar to what Kira and I are like, then that isn't too much of a stretch, I suppose.~

"Okay, THAT'S a discussion for later, but yeah, he took control of my arms and well... you see the results."

"Let's focus on that later, about that calling card…" Akira said, diverting the conversation. "Even though you had help from Kidd, it's still impressive."

"Yeah, I didn't want to screw everyone over, so I had to restrain myself a bit." Ryuji nodded along, "Didn't really know I had it in me, to be honest, but I knew that it would've worked out in the end." he then turns to Morgana. "would this shit work for that mind fart thing now?"

"I'm surprised you even know what half of those words are monkey."

"Not today cat, this is serious!"

"But, yeah, this is more than enough for our objective. remember, we have until nightfall to claim the treasure, so we Have to reach the home stretch the second school ends!"

"Ok, enough razzin' on Ryuji." Mishima finished, shushing the group as he gestured forward. "The target just arrived."

"WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS!?" on cue, Kamoshida stomped over to the pinned board and ripped one of the calling cards off, causing the crowd to scatter. "WAS IT YOU!? OR MAYBE YOU!"

~Geez, shout louder why don't you…~

"A predictable response." Morgana quipped quietly.

Looking at the group, who did a rather impressive job of acting like they just got here, the PE teacher stomped over to the group. Not noticing the godling slinking behind Mishima for a flashdrive in his pocket, Arata zipped past the group, leaving the furious man to Akira and friends.

"It was you lot, wasn't it?!" the teacher growled out, pointing a finger at Ryuji, who batted it away in disgust.

"What're you talking about, Old man?" Ryuji answered convincingly.

"We literally just got here and you're already blaming us for something we just found out about, Mr. Kamoshida?" Haru followed up, looking affronted. "That's not very courteous of you, Sir. we just made it to the front hall."

"So you're playing dumb, huh? Is THAT it!?" ignoring the peach haired student, Kamoshida continued, this time pointing at Akira.

"The only dumb one is the person assuming stuff for no reason." Mishima mumbled out.

"Grr… Forget it! it's not a problem. You'll all be expelled anyway." a sound of static filled the thieves ears as the world faded to black suddenly, Shadow Kamoshida taking the real one's place, which surprised the whole group.

"Come… steal it if you can!" Shadow Kamoshida hissed ferally.

The world returned to normal as Kamoshida stormed off. Just then, Arata reunited with the group, flash drive in hand.

~I'm back.~

"Where were you?" Haru asked. "we were being verbally harassed and you just disappeared on us?"

~5… 4...3...2..~ he counted down, just then, sounds of pings filled the area as many phone sounds went off. Taking out their phones, Akira and Ryuji smirked at the message with a video link.

"Is this…" Mishima trailed off. "HOLY CRAP!"

~Oooh yeah. Our red-herring's up and everyone in the school's got the message.~

"Cool! Just like we planned!" Ryuji exclaimed, "Now let's get this shit over with and get Going! that prick's got it a long time coming!" getting affirmative responses from the group.

Looking to the side from her notes and assignments that were half graded, Kawakami nearly slid out the seat she was in at the sight before her. Before she could finish preparing for her homeroom class, she noticed something poking out from one of the desks. Walking over to the desk itself, she looked over, only to find a stack of papers with various words and symbols bound by a rubber band inside. plucking the stack and taking out one of the slips, she inspected the contents.

"What the hell?" Kawakami spoke out. "What the hell is a Terazi? is it some form of car- OH GOD!" words ended mid sentence as a large crystal formed from the slip of paper itself, nearly making her drop the stack as she fumbled over to catch the newly formed jewel.

"Wha? what just happened?" Kawakami spoke out, gazing into the gemstone in her palms, a small headache beginning to form the longer she stared into it. "W-what's happening!?" she spoke, dropping the jewel on the desk, yet the headache persisted. In a flash, sudden images formed within her mind, herself being in a lot of them alongside several other, leading to the last of the images being that of a lone silver haired male staring at her eyes with his bespectacled heterochromatic pair. the male utters a multitude of phrases, yet she could hear almost none of them.

All... except for the last phrase

"SoOn, We WiLl, Be OnE AgAiN, My PaRtNeR..."

Hours later, the school was officially out, and the group of eight met outside the schoolyard, making sure that nobody saw them.

"Everyone Ready for this!?" Akira shouted out, bringing out his phone for the app.

"Let's go! We're running out of time! Right!" Ryuji replied, pumping the group up as they make their way to jump through.

Once through, the group began making their way to the nearest safe room... only for Joker and Draco to nearly be tackled by both the tiny wardens... much to everyone else's confusion.

"Hey man, you ain't getting cold feet on us here, right?" Skull yelped out, seeing both of them nearly stop in place.

~Yeah, we're fine, you go on ahead to the last SR, kira and I need to have a one on one chat right quick!~ Draco yelled back.

"You sure you'll be fine?" Panther added.

"You go on, guys. it'll only take a minute." Joker answered, giving a thumbs up to the group as they make their way to their objective. "now then..." he continued, looking down to Caroline and Justine.

~What the fuck, you two!? we were just about to start the last stretch and you two try to bowl us over!?~

"Shut it Inmate! You need to get inside, NOW!" Caroline shouted back.

"Our Master has something to tell you, inmates. it is indeed quite urgent!" Justine added, opening the jail door for the two.

~Oh for FUCK sake!~

"Alright, alright, just... don't try that again please, especially in front of out team."

~Isn't there a quicker way for him to give us a memo or something? no? yes? HEY don't ignore me dammit!~ Draco shouts out, floating inside when the other three stepped through the azure door.

Once through and in their familiarly trapped clothing, the two stared down the Faux master of the inner realm they resided in, scowls of light (Akira), and heavy (Arata) evident of their faces.

~Is there a Reason WHY you decided now of all times to stage a visit, old man!?~ Arata hissed out, voice ringing with a steadily loudening echo ~This Better Be important...~

"Indeed it is, tricksters. I shall not take up too much of your time with this, however, this matter is of utmost importance." "Igor" answered back, his grin never faltering as he stated such, however, the next words were spoken with a frown... something so uncharacteristically wrong, that it drained most of the anger from both trapped tricksters. "It seems, that a rather... Unorthodox... anomaly has formed. this anomaly roams the Metaverse, and from what I have sensed, it is near where you and your allies are."

"Anomaly?" Akira said, gripping the cage. "What kind of anomaly?"

"That, I do not know. however, due to this phenomena being outside our usual jurisdiction, certain... exceptions... can and are being made. as such, a deterrent shall accompany you from afar."

"What!?"

~WHAT!?~

"You needn't worry, they will not interfere with your endeavors, however, should this Anomaly make its way towards you, I would recommend against engagement immediately."

"We'll handle the deterrent and the Anomaly, inmates!" Caroline shouted back.

"You needn't worry about your goals being impeded, for we are only after that which doesn't belong." Justine continued.

"We wish you good luck, tricksters. we shall meet again."

In a Blinding flash of blue, both Akira and Arata, now back to the Palace in their Thieves gear. looking to each other, both nodded and went forwards, one thing on their mind from that whole debacle; "~We'll talk later~"

Backtracking through the castle, whilst thanking whoever or whatever managed to teleport them between saferooms, the group of eight all managed to make it to the treasure room.

"Alright, All tat's left is to go in and steal the treasure. If things get too hairy, then climb up here and alert us."

"Got it." the group nodded and slinked into the shadows.

~alright everyone, let's go!~ rounding the corner, the group was surprised that the throne room ahead was wide open, with seemingly nobody in sight.

"Red flag, Red flags everywhere!" Akuma shouts.

"The hell? Nobody's here!" Skull added.

"Let's just get what we came for and get out of here!" Mona answered, the thieves entering the treasure room behind the throne, only to gawk at the human sized crown that took the cloud blob's place.

"THIS is the treasure!?" Panther shouts. "It's Huge!"

~nobody make a joke about that.~

"There! The treasure revealed itself, now let's take it and get out of here." Mona proclaimed.

"We have to CARRY this thing?" Noir retorted.

"Ahh… this shine brings tears to my eyes…"

~eh… Mona? You ok there?~

"I-Is he purring?" Shinobi wondered at the practically vibrating cat creature in front of them.

"T-Treasure…"

~Mona?~

"Uh, the cat's acting awfully excited…" Skull says, said cat in question jumped up and grasped the giant crown, his purring louder than before.

"Meeeeooooow!" Mona meowed in his own little world as he glomped the treasure he was on. "Mrrrrow!"

~the damn crown's not catnip cat!~

"You're way too excited for this thing, Mona." Joker quipped, peeling the cat off the treasure and snapping him out of his trance.

"Alright, that's enough, stupid cat.." Skull added in.

"Nghh… huh? Oh umm..." Looking away embarrassed, Mons squeaked and stepped back a bit. "Um.. forgive me for doing such an insolent act in front of ladies…"

"You were completely out of character too, what just happened?" Panther asked.

"I couldn't stop it either… to think I'd be drawn to human desires so much…" Mona mumbled out, "A-anyways, you guys have to carry it."

~wait, why us!?~ Draco shouts out, face to face with the furball. ~Why don't you pitch it too then, Huh?~

"I'm too short to do it!"

~That's no excuse!~

"Let's just take it and go." Akuma said, lifting part of the crown with ease.

The others following suit, Joker, Skull, Akuma and reaper all carried the crown out the room.

"Go, go, Let's Go, Kamoshida!" a mysteriously familiar voice echoed behind them.

~the fuck was that?~ suddenly, something knocked the whole crown off the male's hands as it rolled over to none other than Shadow Kamoshida himself. ~Oh dear god no, it's Speedoman!~

"Kamoshita!" Skull yelled.

"I won't let you all take this, This proves that I am the king of this castle- it's the core of this world!" the shadow king sneered.

~Look, we took that thing fair and square, so it is now OURS. Just… shut up and give it back.~

"That Rat bastard… that's how he sees me isn't it?!" Panther yelled out, leering in disgust at his shadowy side piece.

"Yo, Pervert. You were waitin' to ambush us1?" Skull Yelled.

"I just made it easier to find you lot. I'll dispose of you myself. Right here, right now." Shadow Kamoshida answered.

"That's our line, you sexually harassing bastard!" Shinobi Shouts out in rage.

"What a selfish misunderstanding."

~how's this a misunderstanding!?~

"Everyone else kept it a secret, not me." he went on. "Adults who want to share in my accomplishments, students with the drive to become winners. They willingly protect me, so that we all profit from it."

"That's Bullcrap and you know it, Kamoshida!" Akuma growled out.

"There are too many imbeciles who don't understand that!, including you all."

"Yeah, well if the intellectuals are anything like you, then I'd rather not understand it. We don't need your tacky ass to live our lives!" Skull roared.

"Silence peasants! there's no wrong in using MY gifts for MY gain! I'm a cut above all others!"

"Above, you mean beneath!" Panther retorted. "You're a goddamn demon obsessed with your sick desires!"

Chuckling at this, Kamoshida slowly began to rise up from the floor, a dark aura forming around him. "That's right. I'm not like you…" He said, his voice distorting in a more demonic form. "I am a demon, who Rules this world!" He roared, morphing into a horrific monstrosity before them.

"Ah crap." Joker said, the demon thing whiplashed them all with its tongue, throwing them all back. Slowly rising up, he looked on as the demon cackles maniacally as it crawled towards the thieves.

(Ost: Battle Hymn of the Soul start)

"Hello." the sudden voice of Igor echoed in his mind before everything went white. Opening his eyes once more, he was face to face with Philemon and the grey butterfly on the desk in front of him.

"Greetings trickster… it seems that you are in quite the predicament." Philemon addressed.

"Yeah… we were just about to fight it actually." Akira replied.

"Well then, allow us to aid as well. Remember the Inhibitor Ring I gave you?" Nyx answered as Joker nodded. "Put it on, and repeat what I say."

Back to the rest of the group! Joker shot up suddenly, alerting the rest of the inhabitants, and raised his fist with the Inhibitor ring equipped and shouts.

"Reaper! Arsene! Synchronize!" all of a sudden, Reaper glowed a sheen of rainbow light as he was rapidly being sucked into the ring, Arsene, who materialized at the call of his name, followed suit, and both swirled into the piece of jewelry as a flash of black and red engulfed Joker.

Chapter Text

The light of red and black dispersed, revealing Joker in a completely different visage wreathed in azure and crimson flame. What was once his former black tailcoat was now a deep scarlet with black flames designed on the garb, a pitch black top hat and cane manifested along with him, completing the overall changes with two cuff like bangles with jet black chains linked to his wrists, the same shade as the two feathery Bat wings sprouting from his back.

Everyone, to say the least, was astounded by the sudden transition.

"...W-What the hell!?" Skull yelled, rising up from his spot first.

"J-Joker?" Mona stammered out, nearly flinching as the gaze of the new form turned his way.

"~Yes?~" said thief answered back, a Chorus of three echoing out his mouth in complete sync.

"Hot damn!" Skull shouts shaking off what little shock he had left, "That looks awesome!"

"It DoEsN't MaTtEr WhAt FoRm YoU TaKe KiD!" the demonic Enemy exclaimed. "YoU'rE NeVeR LeAvInG hErE AlIvE!"

"~We'll See about that.~" the upgraded Joker retorted, looking at the cat creature beside him. "~Mona, I'll distract him, you steal the crown from his head.~" whispering out to the cat and deciding to ignore how his own voice reverberates off akin to ghoulish whispers, he looks back to the rest of the group rising from their startled states. "~Everyone else, cover me!~"

"Right!"

The group scattered, dodging the various attacks from the Altered Enemy Entity in front of them. Each Swing of its knife was countered or parried, the barrage of volleyballs evaded and retaliated by a hail of their own ammunition. Whenever the Corrupted Kamoshida did try to lunge forward with a bite or a kick, it was met with either a face full of boot or a strike of one of their weapons. One or twice a few hits did land on the party members, but each time they managed to heal the damage away... which gave it the idea to heal itself as well, much to their annoyed yelling.

"hmm... " Joker hummed in thought "How can we get to the crown of… whatever the hell this thing is?"

~Answer: Suguru "Asmodeus" Kamoshida. Weakness Earth and Water, Hp: 3500.~ Arata's voice echoed through Joker's mind, unnervingly in an uncharacteristically robotic tone. ~Recommendation: damage health supply and Offensive sources.~ the chalice and several chained underlings now glowed a white light, signifying the transformed thief of where to attack.

"~Alright, Let's try this…~" gripping his chained knife, Joker rushed towards the golden chalice in front of Kamoshida and swung a wide arc towards the Cup, leaving a large gash on the container and directing the demon's attention to him.

"HeY! QuIt ThAt! ThIs ThInG iS wOrTh MoRe MoNeY tHaN tEn Of YoUr LiVeS!"

"~Stab the cup!~" Joker shouts, Shooting several bullets at the chained underlings beside the Shadow king. "~Make sure it doesn't heal anymore!~"

"Oh Shit, Right!" Skull shouts, rising up and casting lightning attacks to the underlings as well, dispersing a few of them.

"I'm on it!" Akuma shouts, running towards the Chalice and strikes it with a powerful Roundhouse, leaving a large visible dent on the side as he sidesteps away from the narrowly avoided knife stab.

"I sAiD qUiT iT!"

"AGI!"

"Snap!"

"Magna!"

A triad of earth, fire and sharp piercing light blasted forth from the three females and struck the chalice, blowing the damaged trinket to pieces.

"No!" the Shadow king roared, desperately trying to scoop up what little remained it could. "ThIs WaS fRoM wHeN I WoN tHe NaTiOnAl! HoW DARE YoU lItTlE FuCkErS bReAk WhAt'S mInE!"

"Nobody cares!" Akuma shouts, punching off a separate underling. Soon, all the underlings were freed and killed, leaving Kamoshida to the group's mercy as they flanked him from all sides.

"We got you now, Dickbag!" Skull yelled, aiming his shotgun at the tyrant.

"YoU tHiNk YoU cAn GeT aWaY wItH dOiNg ShIt LiKe ThIs!? Do YoU rEaLiZe WhO I Am!? ...I aM KAMOSHIDA! DoN't YoU gEt It!?"

"Yes, we know." Shinobi answered, shooting her crossbow at the glass he was holding, breaking it. "We just don't care."

"WhA!? HOW DARE YOU! FuCk It! I'M gOnNa KiLl AlL oF yOu! BaCkUp, GeT oUt HeRe NOW!"

The demonic shadow roared as it stood up on its short legs and flailed around wildly, causing the thieves to retreat slightly to avoid damage.

"~Mona.~" Joker whispered, gaining the cat's attention. "~Where are you? We need this done fast…~"

"Almost there, just keep at him.." Mona nodded, hiding on the chandelier above the Shadow.

"Oh WHAT THE FUCK!?" a vulgar scream drags Joker's attention back to the rest of the group... only to nearly double take at the sight of Panther, Shinobi and Akuma fighting their cognitive clones... which were all wearing skimpy animal-esque bikinis and ears.

"Language!" Skull yelled back, smacking away more and more knife swings with his nailed bat as Noir kept shooting and tossing spell cards at the raging tyrant.

"Okay so what'd be a good distraction for this…" Joker thought. not jumping at the sudden robotic voice answering his query once more.

~recommendation: blind, cripple or divert the shadow's attention from allies.~

"...ookay, anything else?"

~suggestion addition: Kill the shad-~

"~Yeah, not happening. Everyone. Keep his attention scattered!~"

Nodding at the new plan, the entire group focused on just that. Joker dives in, joining Skull with attacks and parrying the demon's flailing, Panther, Akuma and Shinobi rained down ammunition, first on their doppelgangers, then to Kamoshida as they sufficiently mowed down their fakes, and Noir holding her own as her eyes began glowing, slowly gripping the air in her hands as her whole body began glowing-

"Ow... OW WhAt ThE FuCk Is THIS!?" Shadow Kamoshida yelled out, struggling wildly as a thin pink aura coats his form. "I CaN't MoVe!"

Running up to the distracted shadow, Joker reared his knife and swung….

*Ssshiiink*

...right into and through the tyrant's left eye.

"AaAaAaAaHhHhHhHhHh!"

"Ooh damn!" Skull wheezed, cringing as the blade slid through the demon's retina like butter.

"SHIT, is that gonna leave a mark!?" Joker panicked internally.

~Answer: negative. this Aggressive form will dissipate upon defeat, leaving the shadow relatively unharmed when subdued.~ The voice replied. ~Warning: 30 seconds until separation.~

"~WHAT!?~" Joker yelled that last part aloud, yanking back his chained blade as he did so.

"YoU DaMn No GoOd, ShItTy- HeY wAiT a MiNuTe…" the shadow king hissed, looking around the room. "Is ThErE oNe LeSs Of YoU?"

"Uuuuh…" the remaining thieves looked around in mock confusion at the shadow's words.

"I kNeW iT! ThE dAmN cAt'S MiSsInG! WhErE'd It Go!?"

"Right Here!" Mona Shouts, diving from his perch and rams into the crown on its head, knocking said headpiece off and rolling to the other side of the room.

"NOOOOO! MY... MY PRECIOUS...!" The king bellows.

"~This ends here Kamo-~" The words stopped abruptly as the three way entity Erupted in a black and red light. Everyone looked onward as the Phantom Thief split into three, revealing Arsene, a winded Draco and a slightly dazed normal Joker from the light.

"W-what happened!?" Joker spoke up, shaking off his initial daze.

"That would be the cost of the inhibitor ring, Trickster." Philemon's voice hummed through his mind. "It shall grant you new strength, but only for a total of five minutes, when the time is up, then the transformation ends."

"... crap."

~Whine about it later, man, finish the speedodemon!~ Draco shouts out as he launched towards the downed shadow. Everyone soon followed suit, clashing every which way in a tidal wave of magic, weapons and gunshots. with one last shot from Skull, the risque demonic teacher crumples into itself, reaching out for the group one last time in vain.

"D-DAMN IIIIT!" The shadow cried out as it bows down defeated, exploding in a big black explosion, revealing the humanoid shadow variant within, slumped to the ground.

"Perfect! Now to claim our prize!" Mona cheered, the group nearing the crown… before the shadow suddenly lunges, grabbing the crown and scampering off to a nearby balcony.

"C-crap!" the shadow whimpered, looking back at the group.

"You're at the end of your rope kamoshida." Akuma announced, walking forward. "Hand over the crown."

"N-No way, I've earned this crown!" the shadow desperately screams at them. "Those damn hyenas in the Press wanted EVERYTHING from me. I'm a victim too, Y'know! What's wrong with wanting a little compensation for that!?"

~Compensation? COMPENSATION!? Bitch, you almost raped a girl for no reason, and you call that COMPENSATION!?~ Draco yelled back, helping a slightly staggering Joker over to the group.

"If you're that desperate for that stupid crown, then why don't you jump?" Shinobi said, taking slow but purposeful steps forward as the shadow steps back closer to the edge "right now you're seeing the same view I did. But this time, there won't be anyone to save you."

"What will you do?" Panther continued. "Will you jump, or would you rather die here? The choice is yours." Carmen and Joan nodded to each other, with the fire persona charging fireballs and the light persona rearing her spear-bow at the scared king.

~remember girls. No killing. Otherwise he's fair game.~ Draco shouts, grinning ferally.

"Wait, wait, wait! I beg of you! Please Forgive m-" Kamoshida was promptly silenced when an arrow whizzed passed his face, barely missing by a margin.

"Silence!" Shinobi hissed. "This little game of yours has gone on long enough!"

"I bet everyone told you the same thing." Panther added. "But you took EVERYTHING FROM THEM!" Carmen threw her fireballs near the horrified shadow, making it flinch in fear.

"I-I a-accept defeat… here, Take it…" the king kneeled down and tossed the crown to Joker, who caught it and passed it to Reaper. "Just... Make it quick... Go ahead and finish me off… my real self will go down too…"

~now where's the fun in t- huh?~ Draco stopped mid sentence when Shinobi and panther walked forward, a thin but noticeable trail of Malice steamed off of them. ~hey girls… remember… don't kill him.~

"..."

~girls?~

"..."

~girls!? Don't do it.~

Steeling themselves, Panther and Shinobi snapped their fingers, causing Carmen and Joan to fire their attacks at the downed king.

"ANN!" "SHIHO!" Skull and Akuma shout out, forgetting the codenames entirely at the shocking turn of events.

The king closed his eyes and awaited for his death… only to linger for a hit that never came. Looking back up, he found a giant scorch mark and an arrow of light pierces inches away from him, with both girls looking down on him.

"If his mind shuts down.. Then he can't admit his crimes." Panther said, her eyes laced with fury.

"We're not going to be like this scumbag." Shinobi added, looking away from him.

~oh thank god.~

"That almost scared me a little…" Skull sighed.

"You're too kind, Lady Ann, Lady Shiho…" Mona nodded.

"Go back to your real self… and repent." Joker said, getting a slow nod from the dethroned demon as it slowly faded away.

All of a sudden, the palace started shaking violently as the group looked on in panic.

"Hey guys. The palace won't hold up much longer." Mona said, causing everyone to look at him.

~we should probably RUN!~ Draco screamed, making everyone beeline for the exit as the world crumbled apart, nobody noticing the trail of black flame licking the tailcoat of a panicking Joker and Draco as they left.

"You almost Died Monkey boy!" Morgana Yelled out, lunging over a ducking Ryuji.

"Stop it with the damn Monkey, ya Freakin' Cat!" Ryuji yelled back, batting away the clawed missile's next lunge.

"Stop giving us headaches and heart attacks!" Ann yelled back.

"Well stop wit- huh? Hey! Look at the nav!" Ryuji stopped mid sentence, pulling out his phone, the others followed suit.

"When did this get on my phone?" Haru asked, pressing onto the app, only to hear a negative beep.

*the destination has been deleted.*

"So… does that mean we can't go there anymore?" Mishima asked, causing the other's to shrug.

"Forget that! What about the treasure!?" Morgana shouted, causing a whole new wave of panic… right before Ann silently pulled out a medal from her pocket.

"What the…" Ryuji deadpanned.

"We almost died for an Olympic medal? Where's the crown!?" Ann shouts again.

"That medal IS the crown." Morgana clarified. "To Kamoshida, that medal is worth the same as that crown we saw in the palace."

"Well, it's nice to know that I've almost died for a block of metal." Mishima sighed.

"I bet that perv kept clingin' to his past glory and couldn't let it go…" Ryuji said.

"Then… this means that his heart has changed, right?" Ann asked nervously

"...probably." Morgana shrugged back.

"Our expulsion is on the line here!" Shiho shouts out.

"Um... Everyone?" Haru stammered out, looking around, but was promptly ignored

"Hey, this is the first successful example for me too! I only have the knowledge, not the experience!" Morgana rebutted.

"Everyone!?" Haru said again, this time with a raised voice, but once again was ignored.

"However, there's no doubt that this affected Kamoshida's personality quite a bit."

"Ugh… let's just turn in for tonight." Shiho said, getting affirmative replies to her suggestion.

"I feel antsy though… ain't there a way to check now?"

"EVERYONE!" Haru full on shouts this time, gaining their attention as she looks back with a slightly aghast expression.

"W-Where are Akira and Arata!?" and with those five words, the group of 6 descended into chaos once more.

"What the Hell Is Happening!?" Akira shouts out, Rolling out of the way of a shredding burst of wind. Looking at his surroundings during his sprint, a wave of panic courses through his veins at the sight. Seconds prior Both he and Arata were right behind his fellow friends as the crumbling castle collapsed around them. Only for the next second, as if everything changed in the blink of an eye, shifted entirely, now a barren wasteland with an everlasting Sunset in the sky filled every inch of the surroundings, his friends no where in sight. "Where ARE we!?"

~How should I know!?~ Arata yelled back. ~We were with the others SECONDS ago!~

...Five from the realms between and beyond...

Rolling and flipping away from another burst of wind, both turn behind them to find... two bodies... two Enormous bodies with what the duo assumed to be plucked feathers from their winged bodies, both forms lifeless to the two who were too shocked to move... until they narrowly dodged from another wayward swipe.

...Awakened in the cusp of disaster... Mastering death, Unraveling the veil of lies and Wielding the world... even the gods will fall to their unity...

"What?" Akira spoke, only to duck down at the last second, his instincts screaming at him to do so. a solid blur swipes overhead, clipping a few hairs off his head as he strafes away from the previous spot, now fully gazing upon the figure holding said blur. "Who's There!?"

...The Duality of Light and Dark... The Empress of the hidden truth... The Son of the True Fiend...

...The triad's Bond, unshackled from its cage... and the Child of the Repented Sin...

"Hola,... you need not be afraid..." the lone figure spoke out, a hollow ringing voice echoing out from its skeletal maw, turning towards the two with a flourish of his cape. "Tonight, the trials have once more been awakened."

...These five shall end the wretched game from all sides, and bring forth a new era from this dark chapter...

"Trial? What trial!?" Akira shouts back, drawing his blade as he reaches for his face, the domino mask thankfully still present. "We never agreed to any trial!"

~Yeah, And you don't greet people by stabbing them!~

"You shall understand in time, young challengers... but I shall grant you this, before our dance." the figure continued with a boney grin, pointing its sabre at the two of them. "This World is doomed to fall, and you stand at the precipice between its Salvation... and its Damnation! We have awakened to test your resolve in such! and I Shall be your first partner in this Waltz of Death!" With a twirl of its skeletal form, the green clad challenger struck a stance as red energy spirals out from their form, readying its sabre and cloak for what is to come.

"I, Matador! shall be the first to Judge your worth to save this ruined World, Child of Dark and Light!"

"Arata" Akira asked, getting a head shake from the godling partner behind him.

~Afraid I can't, Something's blocking our ways out... most likely Angel slayer over here...~ Arata addressed. ~Looks like we got no choice but to do what we do best...~

"We'll figure that out later..." Akira sighed, shaking his head from what he was told. With a snap of his fingers, black shadows licked his blade as his form grew with mystic symbols and runes, his eyes glowing an eerie Crimson. "Well, Fine! If there's no other way, then Let's Dance!"

A sot ringing of the door's bell was the only real indicator that someone entered his coffee shop before a loud crash nearly made Sojiro drop the plate he was cleaning. Instincts nearly forcing the old man to throw the held object at the source of the noise. making his way over to the noise's origin with kitchen knife in hand, The old barista rounded the corner...

And nearly had a heart attack at the sight of his newest ward, lightly bleeding with cuts and stab wounds, wheezing slightly at his now prone form.

"KID!" Nearly dropping the knife on his own feet, the elder practically sprinted over to the downed teenager and hurriedly, albeit carefully, lifting him up. "Jesus Christ, kid, what happened to you THIS time!?"

"Got jumped... Lost them at crossing... patched up before here..." a weak mumbled response was his only reply as the elder of the two moved the younger to the room in the attic. Ignoring the detail of the now neatly tidied room, as well as the more eccentric looking crap hanging on what he thought was the old shelf. Sojiro softly place the lightly bleeding teen on the bed, pointing to the open end.

"You sit right there and DON'T move!" he grounds out, turning to stomp down the stairs. the soft, almost silent whisper stopped him as he made it to the end of the room, stilling his anger to a stop at the two words.

"I'm Sorry..."

taking a look behind his shoulder before making his way downstairs, Sojiro's heart cracked at the look of surprise from the teenage boy in front of him when he came back minutes later, a first aid kit and bowl of soup in hand. The look of shock staying on the lad's face as he was being patched up did little to mend that crack

"Look kid... You're not in trouble for something like that."

"I'm not?" spilled out from the boy's mouth before Sojiro could get another word out.

"No... no you're not, just-... Stay in bed alright? it should heal up with some sleep. then we're Getting Tae to look at you immediately, got it?" a sow nod was his only response, as the teen ate the soup provided. once finished, Sojiro took the bowl and made his way down, once more. one more look at the teen's now befuddled look pushed back a repeating question back to the forefront of his mind.

"What the hell, happened to you, Kid?" he whispered out, not noticing the small, crumpled ebony scales and feathers trailing from the ravenette.

Bond Up!

Hierophant 2

Monday, 25th

Partially cloudy

Shibuya district

Mid-day

~kira.~

"Yes?"

~what the hell am I seeing here?~

"...I don't know myself."

Five days after the palace disappeared, and nearly getting dogpiled by the rest of the party from their impromptu kidnapping, the group awaited for any update on their expulsion. Opting to Lie low for the time being until news came to them, the group went their separate ways for now. Then there's Mishima, who More or less adopted his timid form once more, but with a calmed demeanor, and mainly focused on his idea for a little "project" as he puts it. This left the rest of the group with practically nothing to do, and with seven days left before the day of the expulsion, the group were in a state of disarray. So, as a way to cope with the suspense, Akira and Arata went out shopping, and they made it to a mall before they stopped in their tracks at the sight they're seeing.

There, right in front of them were a set of massage chairs, sofas and other furniture next to a sign saying "try before you buy." but that was not what they were shocked about.

Not about the somewhat cheap pricings either…

"Uuuhh…"

The two little girls practically vibrating on their own activated massage chairs on the other hand…..

~Carol… Justy… what uh..… whatcha doing here?~

"Living Inmate. Living." the bun haired tiny warden said, sinking into the cushion of the vibrating chair.

"No… like what are you two doing HERE?" Akira clarified. "In the real world?"

"We're on our break." the second braided warden answered.

~How did you… nevermind, WHY are you here?~

"Like we said, inmates! It's our day off!" Caroline shouts back. "We both know you aren't deaf, so stop acting like it!"

"You two are the only ones we know of in this place." Justine added. "So naturally, we arrived nearby to seek you out."

"Kira?" a familiar set of voices shouts out.

~oh dear lord no.~

Walking up to the group of four were Ryuji, Mishima and Haru, each one having done their own shopping by the looks of their occupied hands.

"What's going on here? you're still on danger watch from that stunt you were dragged into." Mishima asked, looking at the two wardens. "And who are these two?"

"Oh, looks like the inmate's friends have arrived." Caroline Snarked.

"Inmates?"

"Don't worry about it. Guys these two are Caroline and Justine." Akira introduced.

~Carol, Justy, these are-~

"We know who they are, inmates." Caroline yelled back. "And don't think we forgot about that nonsense from a few days ago either!"

"Okay, seriously dude, what's with the inmate nickname." Ryuji groaned out. "I get it if they're playing pretend and shit, but if you were babysittin' then we would've understood."

'BABYSIT-MMPH" Caroline yelled back, only to get pushed back into the chair by Justine's Backhand.

~we'll tell you later. The big question is WHY they're here!~

"And we'll repeat: we're on break. And we want you to be our guides here." Justine said. Both wardens leaving the chairs and stood next to Akira.

"... I don't have a choice in the matter, do I?" Akira sighed.

"Aw, see, you're learning." Caroline snarked.

~and that's it.~

"Damn… so these two were once a girl that this Demiurge split apart?" Ryuji whispered, looking on as Akira was practically their shopping mule… at his expense.

~yep, though I'm more confused on how they're here… their powers are halved. And I doubt they can leave on their own for too long.~

"Well, what's with this "inmates" thing they keep calling you two?" Mishima asked.

~...well, you know kira's false criminal record?~

"Yeah?"

~that. That's all you need to know.~

"But that leaves another question." Haru stated. "Just what is the velvet room? Aside from the one Philemon and Igor are in, you said that the Demiurge kicked them out. What does that room look like?"

Three gazes fell upon the godling as they awaited an answer.

~um…Well it's blue, first off.. Um… it's circular… cobbled floor, blue furniture…~

"We're back." Akira's voice mumbled, his entire face muffled by a stack boxes of pastries and goods.

~oh thank god.~

"What the hell's all that!?" Ryuji yelped at the sheer amount of boxes the male carried. "Not even Ann could eat all this sugary crap!"

"Cookies, cakes, brownies… they really like sweets for some reason." Akira answered.

"No, the sweets are for me, inmate!" Caroline shouts, taking out a cookie from one of the boxes. "The spicy stuff's for Justine."

~wait… justy's into spicy food?~ Arata asked, looking at the braided girl finishing a box of hot wings, somehow without causing a mess on her face and hands.

~HOW!?~

"Anyways, have you guys heard back from Ann and Shiho yet?"

"Nah man, I've been focusing on some extra credit." Ryuji shrugged negatively. "Plus whatever shit Morgana's been up to with them."

"I'm afraid I haven't either, sorry." Haru added. "I've had to deal with a new union meeting with a partner company..."

"What?"

"Nothing important." she instantly replied with a smile. "I'm more interested in what to do now that I HAVE free time."

~what about you Mishima?~

"Actually, I think Kawakami sensei wanted to talk to you. We met together while I finished my special project and told me."

~really!? Cool, maybe there's good news after all.~

"What's this so called project anyway?" Akira asked, his answer being the blunette showing him his phone, with an intricate website with a crimson logo flashing on it.

"I call it the Phansite. It's still a work in progress though." Mishima explained. "We should be able to hear responses and stuff on what we did with it. I was hoping we could use this as further evidence just in case."

"Why would we need that? I thought their red herring was enough evidence already" Haru asked.

"It's fo-"

*bzzzzzt!*

"Huh?" taking out his phone, Akira looked down to see that it was Kawakami on the other end.

"Huh, guess she didn't like waiting." Mishima shrugged.

"Hey guys, give me a bit, I have to take this."

~go on, I gotta talk to these two anyway~ Arata said, gesturing to Ryuji and Haru.

"Alright… wait, what about these two?" Akira gestured to the twin wardens

"I'll take care of them for the time being." Mishima answered, getting looks from everyone. "What? I know how to take care of children, and they look the part, so no one will notice who or what they truly are."

"Hmm… true, we do look rather too youthful." Caroline sighed. "Alright, fine. We'll go with the blue one, but only until the inmate is done with his call."

~cool.~ Arata nodded. Nodding to him, Akira, Mishima and the twins all left off to another area of the shopping district.

~so, have you two been practicing like I asked on Saturday?~ Arata asked out of the blue, the two humans nodded, thinking back to the event several days prior.

(Flashback time)

Saturday, 23rd

Sunny

Shujin Rooftops

Mid-day

~thanks for coming up here you three.~ Arata said, looking out over the rooftop. Behind him were Haru and Ryuji, Morgana hanging beside them in Ryuji's bag. Floating towards them, Arata chuckled and pulled out some books from his jacket.

"So… what's this all about?" Ryuji said out of the blue, confused at why he had to be there.

~Remember when I awakened your potenti- wait.~ Arata stopped, looking at Ryuji's new "Aesthetic". ~what the hell happened to you?~

True to his claim, Ryuji had a major change as opposed to his normal appearance, the most prominent one being his hair, which were now sporting pitch black streaks instead of the pale blonde they were accustomed to.

"Eh… you guys wouldn't believe me…" Ryuji chuckled nervously, looking off to the side.

~try me.~

"... I sneezed. Like, really hard and… long story short, there was a reason why there was a power outage near my neighborhood."

~you… sneezed a blackout?~

"...yes?" Ryuji asked.

~huh, to think you'd make one that strong already…~

"HUH!? You believe me?" Ryuji shouts out, startled.

~yeah, it's kind of the reason why I called you here.~

"That didn't answer his question either." Morgana added. "Why?"

"Well, apparently the sneeze fried off most of the hair dye I used… and I was out of stock at home."

~well I like it. It gives off a nice danger vibe.~

"You said, this is the reason why you called us here, correct?" Haru intervened, getting the group back on track.

~yep, you three are going to train yourselves how to utilize your new powers.~ Arata exclaimed. ~Ryuji with his lightning power, you with your psychokinesis, and Morgana with his wind magic. Thankfully these books gave me some good starting ideas for training you. Now, each of you separate.~ doing what the godling instructed, the three went off to a different area of the roof. Arata chose to go you Ryuji first due to him being the closest.

~okay, Ryuji, I want you to do some simple motions. Once you're comfortable with doing them, then close your eyes.~ Arata began to swing his arms fluidly and slowly in long swoops, Ryuji following close behind. After a few minutes, the back and blonde male closed his eyes, not stopping his repetitions.

~good. Now electricity flows, just like water, it's a lot easier to flow with it and guide it than against it. Don't force the electricity, let it carry you. Just focus on guiding it, like a chariot.~ Arata said, floating beside the boy. ~now, take a deep breath and tell me what you see.~

Breathing in, then out, Ryuji relaxed slightly, tiny sparks danced across his body as he did so.

"I-I see… a yellow ball."

~yes, good. Anything else? What is it doing?~

"It's swinging… like my arms are doing…"

~that's perfect, keep it up.~

"Should I go faster?"

~no, not yet, take another deep breath and think about all things lightning and electric.~

Heeding the godling's advice, Ryuji did as instructed, the yellow orb growing bigger and more radiant with each motion.

~yes, YES! Now, on the count of three, you swing to the sky, with all your force if you need to.~

"Okay…" Ryuji nodded.

~one…~ Ryuji swung. ~two…~ another swing… ~THREE!~ with one final swing, Ryuji opened his eyes and swung overhead, a giant arc of electricity surged out his hand and into the air, curving and twirling like a corkscrew before dissipating altogether. Heaving slightly, Ryuji crashed onto the rooftop.

~not bad for your first time, kid. Think you can do that again?~

"... just… give me a minute." Ryuji gasped.

~Alright, you rest up and try again. Morgana you're next!~

Floating on over to the cat, Arata pulled out a book from behind him. ~okay so for you, it's a bit simple; just think of the sky, the breeze you feel when the wind flows around you, as if you were weightless.~

"Um…"

~Hmm… just close your eyes, calm your mind and… well when you and Zorro casts wind magic, try to imitate that feeling.~

"Ah, that i can do." closing his eyes, Morgana focused deep within himself as he stilled his breath. Seconds later, he began to float in place soft winds picking up and swirling around the cat.

~huh, that was faster than Ryuji..~

"Not bad, Cat!" said Ryuji commented from the background.

In a sudden spin, Morgana twisted upwards, a short spiral of wind swirled outwards, rocketing him into the air before he floated down to his original spot. "How's that?"

~not bad, I feel like i won't need to teach you lot much if this keeps up.~ Arata nodded. ~now for Haru.~ floating to his final companion, Arata tossed the earlier book aside and pulled out a different one entirely.

~okay, so for you Haru, this might sound a bit confusing…~

"Not to worry." Haru reassured. "I'm sure that we can find a way."

~so… close your eyes, clear your mind, and take a deep breath.~

Following the instructions, Haru closed her eyes and cleared her mind, a thin veil of pink appeared around her.

~okay.. Now-~ before Arata managed to finish, Haru did what not even he managed to prepare for at that moment… and sneezed.

"Aa… ACHOO!"

*BOOOOM!*

...and nearly everything around them either exploded or was flung out of sight.

As the four regained their bearings, Arata looked around at what was now a clean, empty rooftop… and several roofless buildings around the school.

~eeeh, let's call it a break for now, just repeat what we just did. From now on when you have the time… excluding the ..sneezing part.~

(Flashback end)

"I think the authorities are still trying to figure that out." Haru said.

~of course they are, you sneezed roofs off of buildings.~

"It was only one sneeze." She mumbled to herself, blushing at the memory.

~anyways, we'll work on your powers more next weekend, I'll talk you guys through cantrips and low tier magic.~

"I'm back." Akira said, walking back to the group. "Good news; Kamoshida called Kawakami and personally apologized to her, and look what she had with her." pulling out his phone, Akira showed the group a picture on it of Kawakami holding a stack of papers.

"Are those-!?" Ryuji yelled, excitement and relief leaking out of his tone.

"Yep. we don't have to worry about expulsion."

"Good." Haru said. "Now that that's over, we just have to wait until his confession. That way we'll know for sure we had a successful job."

"Are the inmates done yet!?" Caroline shouts, the three remaining people joining in on the group.

"Yeah, I'm done Carol." Akira smirked, causing said warden to blush and stammer.

"Not you too!"

"Well what would you want us to call you?"

~Well, there's Aquamarine, Lapis Lazuli, violet, blue jay…~ Arata started

"S-stop that!" she stutters, going through various shades of red with each nickname.

"What about beautiful carnation?... carnations are blue right?" Ryuji pitched in, making the petite warden stammer even harder.

"Yes, there are blue carnations." Haru answered, "there are also Irises, periwinkle…"

"Sapphires?" Mishima added.

~yes yes! There we go!~

"STOP IT THIS INSTANT!" Caroline shouts her face going a new shade of red "WE'RE GOING BACK INMATES!"

"Aw come on, Carol, Justy." Akira said.

"NO! We-re leaving Right now!"

"Till we meet again inmates." Justine shouts, her twin practically dragging her away.

"...well that was something." Ryuji deadpanned.

~you do know that I'm gonna start teasing them on this from now on, right?~

"I'd be shocked if you didn't." Akira chuckled.

Bond Up!

Chariot 2, Moon 2, Empress 2

Chapter Text

Party's Stats (Post Kamoshida Palace)

Akira Kurusu-Amamiya "Joker"

(Wildcard) Lv. 20

Hp: 310

Sp: 290

Weapons: Dragon Fang EX (Dagger), M1911 (Pistol)

Preset 1 of 6: Wonder Fighter (16th lv. Soul Link Warlock/4th lv. Inquisitive Rogue)

Persona: (Active) Arsene

Weak to Ice and Bless, Resists Nuke and Curse

Pinch Anchor: Allows use of Ambush-only skills after Baton Pass

Skills: Eiga

Maeiha

Dream Needle

Black Dracostrike

Dormina

Evil Smile

Adverse Resolve

Curse Boost

Spells:

Cantrips: Eldritch Blast, Mage Hand, Booming Blade, Message (M.I.), Vicious Mockery (M.I.), Minor Illusion, Prestidigitation

Pact Magic (5th level): Silvery Barbs (M.I), Cone of Cold, Dispel Magic, Hold Person, Charm Monster, Conjure Woodland Beings, Sickening Radiance, Summon Aberration, Hellish Rebuke, Unseen Servant, Misty Step, Shadow Blade, Counterspell, Dispel Magic, Summon Fey, Dimension Door, Hold Monster

Arcanum: Soul Cage, Demiplane, Forcecage, Blade of Disaster

Invocations: Agonizing Blast, Eyes of the Runekeeper, Improved Pact weapon, Thirsting Blade, Gatling Blast* (Halves damage, but doubles the amount of shots fired)

Feats: Chef, Magic Initiate (bard), War caster, Inspiring Leader, Actor, Alert, Dual Wielder

Ryuji Sakamoto "Skull"

(Chariot) Lv. 19

Hp: 380

Sp: 200

Weapons: Knife Bat (Club), SG12 (Shotgun)

Preset: Tenacious Guardian (2nd level Barbarian, 3rd level Oath of Glory Paladin)

Persona: Captain Kidd

Weak to Wind, Blocks Elec and Resists Fire and Water

Raging Temper: May increase allies' physical attacks by 40%.

Skills: Zio

Mazio

Assault Drive

Memory Blow

Tarukaja

Sledgehammer

Shibaboo

Elec Boost

Spells:

Cantrips: Spare the Dying, Resistance

1st level: Bless, Healing Word, Cure Wounds, Guiding Bolt, Heroism, Shield of Faith, Thunderous Smite, Warding Bond

Feats: Tough, Resilient, Charger, Sentinel, Focused Rage* (Allows casting whist raging, but with penalties)

Morgana "Mona"

(Magician) Lv. 19

Hp: 230

Sp: 310

Weapons: Khopesh (Blade), Slingshot (Fling)

Preset: Storm Rider (3rd level Phantom Rogue, 2nd level Storm Sorcery Sorcerer)

Persona: Zorro

Weak to elec, Blocks Wind, resists Water and Curse

Proud Presence: Increases effect of allies' healing skills.

Skills: Garu

Magaru

Patra

Dia

Media

Pulinpa

Lucky Punch

Evade Elec

Spells:

Cantrips: Booming Blade, Sword Burst, Mage hand

1st level: Chaos Bolt, Thunderwave, Charm Person, Comprehend Languages, Magic Missile, featherfall

2nd level: Shatter, Invisibility, Enlarge/Reduce, Alter Self

Feats: Skulker, Healer, Mobile, Keen Mind, Escape Artist

Ann Takamaki "Panther"

(Lovers) Lv. 19

Hp: 280

Sp: 330

Weapon: Passiontongue (Whip), MX9 (SMG)

Preset: Femme Fatale (3rd level Battle Master Fighter, 2nd level Rogue)

Persona: Carmen

Weak to Water and Ice, Blocks fire, resists Elec

Mastery of Magic: May decrease SP cost of allies' magic skills.

Skills: Agi

Maragi

Marin Karin

Agilao

Dormina

Fire break

Dekaja

Charm Boost

Spells:

Cantrips: Firebolt

Feats: Prodigy, Spell Sniper, Athlete, Grappler, Witty

Shiho Suzui "Shinobi"

(Sword) Lv. 19

Hp: 190

Sp: 310

Weapons: Naginata (polearm), Hummdinger (Bow/Crossbow)

Preset: Nimble Knight (3rd level Scout Rogue, 2nd level Paladin)

Persona: Jeanne D'Arc

Weak to Gun and Nuke, Blocks Bless and Drains Psy

Protector: Halves all damage taken to self when an ally is under 20% hp, but draws enemy attacks to self

Skills: Snap

White Dracostrike (Deals medium Physical based Bless damage)

Endure

Hama

Kouga

Dream needle

Amrita Drop

Rakukaja

Spells:

1st level: Shield of faith, Command, Cure wounds, Compelled Duel, Bless

Feats: Acrobat, Actor, Athlete, Polearm master, Observant

Yuki Mishima "Akuma"

(Moon) Lv. 19

Hp: 430

Sp: 100

Weapons: Knuckleduster (Gauntlets), Kunai (Throwables)

Preset: Brawling Brain (4th level Open Hand Monk, 1st level Fighter)

Persona: Artemis Fowl

Weak to Psy and Water, Resists Physical and Earth and Blocks Curse

Revenger: Damage dealt is doubled when an ally is knocked out in battle

Skills: Bash

Memory Blow

Geo Dracostrike (Medium physical based Earth damage)

Magna

Counter

Terrazi

Earth Boost

Adverse Resolve

Spells:

Cantrips: Eldritch Blast, Mage hand

1st level: Arms of Hadar

Feats: Fighting initiate (Defense), Magic Initiate (Warlock), Tough, Tactician, Keen Mind

Haru Okumura "Noir"

(Empress) Lv. 19

Hp: 223

Sp: 286

Weapons: Halberd (Axe), Pipe lobber (Grenade Launcher)

Preset: Beautiful Nightmare (4th level Aberrant Mind Sorcerer, 1st level Bard)

Persona: ?

Weak to: n/a

Ability: n/a

Skills: n/a

Spells:

Cantrips: Vicious Mockery, Mage hand (Innate), Mind Sliver, Shocking Grasp, Light

1st level: Chaos Bolt, Healing Word, Charm Person, Detect magic, Cause Fear, Command, Disguise Self, Identify

2nd level: Blur, Enhance Ability, Hold Person, Mirror Image, Mind Spike, Vortex Warp

Feats: Telepathic, Telekinetic, Actor, War Caster, Lucky

Chapter Text

Morgana's problem

On a simple night after the awakening of Ann, Shiho and Mishima, Akira, Arata, and Morgana finally arrived back in their makeshift room for the night. The three were thoroughly winded, they merely plopped down onto the mattress in front of them, practically ignoring the three personas phasing into existence within the room. opting to skip the pillow talk tonight. the bespectacled tee. just kicks off his shoes, drops his jacket, and plops onto the bed, slowly letting the lull of sleep carry him to dreamland...

"Mrooow!"

Only to jolt up from his relaxed state as the infernal cat of his practically pounced onto his stomach. Jolting up in fright, Morgana unintentionally fell off the boy and huddled in a corner, notably avoiding the loud drawn-out meowing echoing out the window.

"MOOOW!"

"Meow! MEEOOOEW!"

"MEW! MEW NYA!"

"Oh god, they found me!" Morgana moaned disdainfully, giving the window a look as if it personally insulted his mother.

"Are those… cat noises?" Akira asked, annoyed by the amount of loud noises ringing in his ears. As the teen tried in vain to shut out the literal catcalls outside, Arata floats over to the window, looking out into the moonlit alleyway.

~... Where the hell did all these cats come from!?~ Arata yelled. Truth be told, around 20 cats of various colors and sizes looked up at the window, all making a chorus of noise.

"DON'T TELL THEM I'M HERE!"

~what the hell are you even-~

"Morgana…" Akira asked, interrupting the godling. "Can you understand them?"

"Yeah…." the cat mumbled.

~what are they saying anyways!?~

"..." looking out the window, Morgana visibly flinched when he heard the voices yelling at him, much louder and more intensely...

"DARLING!"

"We know you're up there, my black stud!"

"I want your BABIES!"

"I want them MORE!"

"These bitches don't deserve you my luscious Onyx! Come hither and I shall provide you the love of a queen!"

"forget these whores, I'm the only one you need!"

"I cannot control this carnal desire to pin you down, line you up and FU-"

"... You don't wanna know…" was all Morgana said.

Haru's Hypnosis

Deep down inside Haru's mind, she feels a tiny twinge of guilt for what is happening in front of her… but that's suppressed by the severe relief of it all.

To be fair, Sugimura did try to have his way with her... even if she went a little overboard.

picking up her phone and dialing a specific number she holds it out as she stared at the almost zombified Nakamura in front of her, glossy eyes unblinking in a perpetual daze.

*click*

"Haru?" a voice picks up from the other end of the phone, nearly causing the heiress to toss the phone away.

"Oh thank goodness! Akira, I apologize for bothering you, but I may or may not need your assistance... or Arata's." Haru rambled out. "most likely both!"

"Haru, it's 10pm. what the hell happened that warranted calling me this late?"

"I-I think I just broke a man... with my other powers!"

"... mind putting us on video?"

To most girls, this would be a bit embarrassing, but seeing one's supposed "Fiancé" dead-eyed and stock still like a zombie tends to throw that logic out the window.

the phone buzzed and showed a frazzled Akira, a yawning Morgana in the back with a floating pillow hovering behind the teen can be shown. turning te phone to the lulled man in front of her.

"Hmm... Well, it doesn't look like anything too dangerous... or harmful." Akira yawned back.

"Well, what happened?" Haru asked back, phone still in front of the dazed Sugimura. "He's not moving, and I'm not entirely sure he's even breathing."

"Calm down, it's fine." Akira spoke back, nodding in time to the flittering pillow beside him. "Arata says it's most likely either Charm Person or Dominate Person. Give him a command and see."

Looking back to the vacant eyed man in front of her, Haru thought for a second before pointing at him.

"W-Well, um... Ah! S-Sugimura, prepare me a drink, and then draw me a bath!" she said, immediately after she said this, the suited up Fiancé turned tail and headed over to the nearby counter, preparing a glass for said orders. The sound of running water filled her ears seconds later. This left Haru thinking a bit more, remembering the bit of research she did earlier, Suddenly clicking into place.

"OH, this is hypnosis!" Haru realizes.

"Yep, that seems like it; That guy's Fine." Akira knocked the pillow off the air as he bats the pillow at the space next to him. "So long as you don't hurt him, it'll last for a bit before he wakes up."

"O-Ok. just asking, of course, but... How do I turn it off again? Something about a keyword…" she racked her brain for the information she studied about.

"Either tell them flat out to go back to normal, hit him, or utter a phrase with the intent to drop the spell's effect." Akira finished. "Anything else, you need help with?"

"O-Oh no, I should be fine. Thank you for this!"

"No problem. Night, Haru." and with a click, the line is disconnected, leaving her to her devices.

Seeing Sugimura, not only quiet, but actively doing what she wanted instead of his usual snobbish inserting, she thought about what happened a few minutes prior. Seeing as how the words nearly formed in her tongue, she takes one last look at the charmed man before her.

On one hand, she should feel guilty; she's essentially forcing this man to do these things right now, possibly without his conscious consent or knowing.

On the other hand…

"Well… Arata did say I should practice more…" Haru shrugged, resigning to the nearby couch as her fiancé brought her the requested drink. "And besides, I can snap them out of it later…" she said gleefully.

Rockin' Ryuji

"Ryuji?" a short, slender ravenette said aloud, bearing similar resemblance to the blonde boy. "Ryuji, come down, I have dinner ready!"

"Coming, mom!" she heard Ryuji shout from his room. Seconds later, his footsteps echoed with the loud thuds and thumps of a large case lugging behind him.

"Oh, what's that?" she asked. setting the case on a nearby table, he unlocks the container, revealing a covered object wrapped in a thin cloth.

"This old thing? I figured I'd get back into some old hobbies to pass time, so I dug this out- GAAGH!"

"Oh, my baby boy's rekindling some old flames from the past! How delightful!"

"Mom! I can't breathe!", Ryuji gasped, struggling from the sudden glomp (death grip)

"Oh, sorry!"

"No problem, I'm just worried that I'm too rusty…" Ryuji says, pulling away the fabric, revealing the stringed instrument held within, a black guitar with blue lightning streaks drawn on the sides, glistening as if untouched since its first opening. Guitar in hand and absentmindedly Strumming a few cords a bit, Ryuji let loose on the instrument, a rather energetic tune rang out through the house as he played what he could on his guitar.

After several minutes of tuneless fiddling, a slow-rising strum began from his playing. the edges of a song forming in his mind and replicating to the fingers as they try to emanate each cord played mentally onto the metallic musical tool, feeling out the riding speed of the strings and harmonic hum of the instrument within his grasp, the well inside of him sparks upwards and outwards, slowly harmonizing with the increasing tempo. after a solid minute of such improvised playing, he slowed the pace to a complete stop, setting the guitar back in its case.

"Oh, Ryuji, that was beautiful!" His mother cried happily, hugging her son once more.

"Heh, yeah thanks, Mom. guess I kinda worried for nothing." Ryuji laughed as the two of them headed to the kitchen to eat.

Ryuji looked back at his guitar, which had a label on the side of it. Before looking forward, his mother noticed the label reading "Electric Guitar" magnetically attaching itself to Ryuji's open palm as they walked.

Personal Problems pt. 1

(WARNING M scene ahead!)

Halfway through the first palace, or rather the "Slut-Hub", as dubbed by Arata, Akira has gathered quite a few personas during his advancement through the school-turned-castle. After about an hour and a half, exclusively to trying and later succeeding, in obtaining all the persona he could feasibly acquire, he ended up with the following…

Pyro-Jack, Silky, Cait Sith, Pixie, Cirrunup, Succubus, and even a rare Alraune he obtained from Fusing a Berith with a Mandrake somehow

While most of them were happy to be used in the frontlines, in the end, most were used to boost Arsene and a few other personae. This left him with a relatively short team of Arsene, Alraune, Pixie, and Succubus.

Things got… intense to say the least when Alraune joined… long story short, the whole group spent half the time during the exploration trying to keep the lady from hanging both Akira and Arata in vines. After a while, he finally got Alraune to calm down after they started spitting spore clouds at the group. Dealing with the Plant nymph left them wary of the persona…

But that's not the current problem Akira's facing at this moment… he's fine with the newest addition and the others are getting along nicely as well… no the problem isn't with them… technically.

The huge throbbing sensation and the embarrassingly high tent pitch on his bed, however…

~ I'm not rubbing it out, Akira.~

"Arata!" the Ravenette hissed.

~You do it! I ain't wanking that thing out! Not after last time!~

"We're technically the same person! Why don't you rub one out yourself to relieve mine!?"

~because that's not how it works!~ Arata retorts back ~Besides, it's not me causing it, and for some reason, it ain't you either!~

"T-Then who's doing this!?" Akira whispered back "I can't go to sleep with something like this keeping me up!"

~that would be… me master…~

Looking to the side, Akira jumped slightly at the sight of Alraune face to face.

~This is normal, Master. My powers are just adapting to your body… in fact, it should be done by now. ~

~then why is Kira still having a hard-on right now?~

~it would seem that some of my power lingers... No doubt because of the Pheromones I graciously handed out to you all earlier.~ Alraune chuckled, slinking up onto the bedside alongside the teen. ~No matter, I shall fix this immediately.~

"Wait, wha-!?"

Akira squirmed lightly when he felt his pants and underwear slowly retreating away from his waist, revealing a sight that surprised the Nature spirit; a staggering 11" phallus instrument throbbing in front of her, cheekily hidden within a tent of the teen's blanket.

"U-Uh, Alraune, I don't know if this is something you should- H-HEY!?"

A sudden wave of pleasure rose from Akira as he jolted up from his bed, nudging the covers off to reveal an arousing sight; Alraune right in between his legs, sucking hungrily at all 11 inches of the throbbing member on his person. Sucking, gagging, and slurping noises filled his ears as the Spirit went to town on him.

"W-wait! Alrau-AAhh!" Akira moaned out. "C-Clam down a second! M-Morgana might come in any s-second, just w-Wai- mmgh..."

For several minutes, Akira experienced extreme bliss from the way his persona went to town on him, jerking upwards as he pushed back the eager plant woman between his legs. Squirming at her touch, he tries to pull away from the spiritual nymph, only to be pulled back into place as her oral assault on his crotch increases the more he struggles.

"A-Arata! Do something!"

~I'm on Cat watch, Man! And it seems like you have it under control, at the moment anyways.~ the godling points to the boy's ravenously ravaged crotch. ~calm down and let her finish.~

"Y-You know I c-can't do that!" when he felt his climax coming.

"Oh god! Alraune, S-stop! I'm going to-!" Akira screamed as he felt his hot, virile essence pump out his member, filling up the persona's maw to the brim with his seed. After a full minute, He finally slumped down onto the bed he was on, breathing heavily.

~um… Kira? You, okay?~

"..."

~Kira?~

"..."

~It appears I may have gone a bit… overboard with the sucking…~

~eh, he'll be fine. Looks like he's calmed down too.~

~hmm… then I shall take my leave. Oh and by the way…~

Looking at the plant spirit, Arata looked on in confusion.

~It seems that there are several females interested in the young master. Please see to it that he pleases all of them.~

Meanwhile...

Coughing rang through the dark, murky tunnelway, illuminated by the glow of vibrant red that swirls with the inky blackness of the corridor. the limp thuds of hobbled hops rang through the distorted chamber and sang in unison with the labored, pained pants of a slumping figure in Black and grey. the dinged and harmed figure slinked over the corner as they huffed and puffed from their spot, sneaking a glance from the direction he ran from. wincing from the visible trail of red splotches that led to his damaged form. the black-clad character turned back-

"Ghhk!"

*Thump*

-Only to be held by the neck and dragged up to eye height by another person, golden eyes stared down the harmed, feral glint of the choking one's gaze as they cracked their knuckles.

"H-How" the Black clad individual thought indignantly. "How did they get here before me!? and HOW strong ARE they!?" Forced to stare down the golden-eyed figure, the coughing caught crook managed to get a better look at his assaulter... only to cough roughly as a sudden sucker punch to the gut knocked what little air was left in him.

Dropping the wheezing man back to the ground. the golden-eyed individual knelt to the prone person their voice echoing in a slight chorus behind them.

"You Really shouldn't have shot at me like that," they spoke out, reaching to his side and dropping a small bullet shell at the black-clad assailant. "Lucky for you, I have better objectives I need to prioritize, so I will say this one last time."

like the strike of a viper, the glowing, azure digits of the golden-eyed one's hand gripped the helmet of the broken-bodied man's head and ripped, revealing a bruised, wide-eyed face of a Brunette man staring back in shock at their strength. reaching out with his other hand, the brunette was propped up to be face to face with them, with hair flowing upwards in a glowing, cerulean shine.

"Where the hell am I, how do I leave this place, and Where's My squad?"