In the Dark tunnels leading to the light, the boy wrapped in chains with ripped black clothing weakly limped over to a ladder thad lead to the light above.
"Come on… move, body. Don't give up on me…." he said. "Why...do I feel so much...what...was it I did down there?" he pondered as he climbed.
In the climbing of the rungs that seemed like it took forever to climb, the boy finally reached the top. He sprawled out onto the pavement and looked up at the sun.
(Cue- Beautiful Lie)
They boy looked straight up at the sky, but it wasn't what he expected. He could see metal beams and glass panes surrounding a half dome.
"Strange...I thought...the area above was clear, a large field. It seems a lot has changed since the last time I was out...just wish I remember when that time was." he said.
He was about to continue walking before realizing the chains on his body. "Ah...that's right. I better hide these. I don't want to put anyone off." he said before seeing a storage shed. "Hmmm."
He soon walked out of it wearing a cloak over his body and obscuring his chains. "Good. Now...to figure out where the hell I am." he said heading for the main building.
He walked inside the building, and found it overgrown with vegetation.
"Hello? Nurse? Janitor? Anyone? This is a school, isn't it? If anyone is in here, say something!" the boy said.
That's when the strangest words appeared in the hallways….
Rise and Shine, Ursine~!
(Shift-Rise and Shine, Ursine!)
Out of nowhere, five little colored stuffed bears appeared, each one having some sort of unique design.
"Huh? What's this guy doin ere?" the yellow bear with tiger stripes and glasses said.
Monosuke
"How the hell should i know?! The student roster said 16 of em, i don't know this guy!" the blue bear with spiked shoulder pads and a guitar said.
Monokid
"I-WONDER-HOW-FATHER-WILL-TAKE-IT-IF-WE-BRING-THIS-17TH-PERSON?" asked a green robotic bear.
Monodam
"I don't think Papa was expecting a 17th student…. All 16 of them are in the Gym, right?" A pink bear with a swimsuit on said.
Monophanie
"True. This person is probably some fanboy who snuck in under our surveillance." said a red bear with a scarf and throwing stars.
Monotaro
"Okay, just...what are you?" he asked.
"We're the Monokubs!" the five of them said posing.
"And I'm suppose to know what that's to mean? Nevermind, I don't care about you guys." he said moving past them.
"Hey, hold on a sec! No fans allowed in here!" Monosuke said.
"I'm not a fan. Actually, do you guys have any idea where I am? I'm not sure what this place is other than a school." the boy asked.
"He wandered in here and he doesn't even remember? He's more forgetful than I am!" Monotaro said.
"Wait...you said 16 students right? So there are real people here?" he asked.
"Of course there are. Papa's probably initiating them into the Academy right now." Monophanie said.
"Academy?" the boy asked.
"In case you're wonderin kid, this place you happened to have entered the Ultimate Academy for Gifted Juveniles." Monosuke said.
"So it's some fancy prep school? Don't care. Take me to the students. I need to speak with real people and not teddy bear knock offs." he said.
"Did you have to be so harsh?" all five of them said.
"I'm going. Bye." he said walking away from them again.
"Oh boy… dad's not gonna like this…" Monotaro said.
"You think? 16 was supposed to be all we got, but now this guy is here? This makes no sense." Monosuke said.
"NEVERMIND-HIM! ADDING-AN-UNEXPECTED-VARIABLE-WILL-MAKE-THE-GAME-MORE-EXCITING!" Monodam said.
"Hey, Monodam's right! No one's gonna expect him to walk into the Gym! Frikin Genius!" Monokid said.
"Though before father arrives...we better make sure no one else got in." Monotaro said.
"He's right. If we get two more...or ten more...or...BRLRLRLRLR!" Monophanie said before vomiting.
"Aaaaah! Monophanie, gross!" Monotaro said.
"S-Sorry! I got nervous." Monophanie said.
"Well, we'd better get to it." Monosuke said.
"Yeah! Leave the newbie to meet the others and pop!" Monokid said.
So Long! Bear Well!
And with that one phrase, the five kubs disappeared to check the dome.
"Damn idiots." the boy said before entering the gym and seeing it empty. "And they were wrong about the gym being full." he said marching out in anger before he charged into a room with a piano on it. He saw inside was a young blond hair girl in a sweater looking around the room that was filled with sheet music, cassettes and a large piano. "Oh….I apologize. I didn't think anyone was inside."
"Thanks for saying that. Who are you?" the girl asked.
"Linc. Just Linc." he said. "And you?"
"My name is Kaede Akamatsu. I'm the Ultimate Pianist." she said.
Kaede Akamatsu
Ultimate Pianist
"Ultimate Pianist? Thats a thing?" Linc asked.
"Huh? Why do you say that?" Kaede asked.
"Well, it's just… as i can remember, no one talent can be so good that you can be ultimate at it. How good are you on that Piano?" Linc asked.
"Very good. I've been in competitions since I was a kid." Kaede said. "Sometimes I'm called a Piano Freak because of how I like playing piano."
"Piano freak? Why? There's nothing wrong with piano." Linc said.
"Well, I guess you're right." Kaede said.
"So what is this place?" Linc asked.
"My research lab. All 16 of us has one. We're each in our labs until it's time to gather." Kaede said.
"I see. Guess those bears were wrong." Linc said.
"Bears? Oh… So you met the Monokubs already." Kaede said.
"Annoying little robots is more like it. I don't really care for them much." Linc said.
"Well… I guess so." Kaede said.
"So these others...I just need to check their labs for them?" Linc asked.
"I guess so." Kaede said.
Linc left the room as he started his search. Next he entered a room where inside was a large stage and several costumes. Standing in there was a girl with long blue hair and glasses.
"What is this? Disguises of some sort?" Linc asked.
"Not disguises. Costumes! They're for cosplaying." she said.
"Cosplaying? Never heard of it." Linc said.
"Then you have no idea the joy you are missing. I'm Tsumugi Shirogane...the Ultimate Cosplayer." she said.
Tsumugi Shirogane
Ultimate Cosplayer
"Nice to meet you, Tsumugi. Im Linc. that's all i know. So, what is this cosplay stuff? It sounds fun." Linc said.
"To get the basics down, cosplay is the art of wearing costumes and outfits based on characters from popular media." Tsumugi said.
"I see. I'll keep it in mind than. I don't care much for costumes." Linc said. "But it looks like you'd be able to pull it off. Y'know… cuz you're so plain looking."
"Oh, I'm not really into wearing my own costumes. And I have a rule. I only cosplay fictional characters." she said. "If I even try real ones, I get cospox."
"Cospox…? Sounds like something I shouldn't get too deep in." Linc said. "I think I'll go."
He soon left as the next room he entered was a mess with fallen objects and a large table with 1 seats and sitting in one of them was a young man with a striped shirt and green hair.
"Oh. Hey there." he said.
"Hey." Linc said. "Are you another one of these...prodigies?"
"Yes, but unlike them, I don't remember my talent. My name is Rantaro Amami." he said.
Rantaro Amami
Ultimate ?
"So you don't remember you talent? Funny, I don't really seem to remember much of anything. All I can remember was waking up below the school. And my name." Linc said.
"Below the school? Hmm… That really is unusual." Rantaro said.
"But I think you're the most suspicious. How can you be a prodigy if you don't know what you're good at?" Linc asked.
"To be fair...everyone here forgot how they even got here." Rantaro said.
"All of them?" Linc thought to himself. "Strange. That doesn't seem normal." he said leaving.
The next lab he entered was filled with different props like top hats, death traps and potions. And inside was a girl with short red hair and a witch's hat.
"So...judging from this...you're a stage illusionist correct?" he asked.
"It's not illusions...it's magic." she said.
"Magic?" Linc asked.
"Prepare to be amazed, fall to your knees. I am Himiko Yumeno, the Ultimate Mage." she said nonchalantly. There was silence. "Uh...but officially, I'm the Ultimate Magician."
Himiko Yumeno
Ultimate Magician
"Oh, you're a magician. That makes sense. There's all kinds of stuff a magician has here. Escape tricks, smoke bombs, top hats, the works. I know this is all fake because magic… in my opinion, doesn't really exist." Linc said.
"Nyeeh...Magic does exist." Himiko said.
"Huh? how can you be so sure?" Linc asked.
"Cuz im a Mage. The Magician thing is really a cover up for my magic. There's a group called the Magic Castle also known as the Hall of Magicians where all lovers of magic gather. I was the youngest person ever to win the Magician of the Year award." Himiko said.
"That said… aren't you a little young for this schtick? All these escape tricks seem kinda dangerous…" Linc said.
"It's no schtick...It's magic!" Himiko said.
"Okay… I'm just gonna go. But I'm betting you can't pull off one of these tricks, just saying that now." Linc said exiting the room.
"Nyeeh… I'm gonna prove him wrong, and he's gonna owe me a lot." Himiko said before Linc left.
"Starting to think this was a mistake." he said before entering the next lab where inside was a dojo of sorts filled with training dummies and inside was a girl in a school uniform and hairbow.
"Halt right there!" she said.
"On what grounds?" Linc asked.
"Of being a degenerate male!" she said.
"Degenerate… I don't care why you call me that. We've never met." he said before she went at him. "Chain." he said as one of the chains tied to his finger rose out of his sleeve and blocked the hit. "That style...it's Aikido right? So you must be?"
"I am Tenko Chabashira! The Ultimate Aikido Master!" she said.
Tenko Chabashira
Ultimate Aikido Master
"And I've never seen any Degenerate Male counter my Neo-Aikido, not ever!" she said.
"Neo-Aikido? Never heard of it." Linc said as the chain retracted. "All I did was defend myself."
"Your chains are...bizarre." Tenko said.
"They are just...my tools for my work." Linc said. "Wait...why did I say that?"
Linc soon left after that.
He then entered what seemed to be a laboratory filled with tools and machines and inside was a girl in pink with goggles and a strange pack.
"Uh…hey there. Is this your…?" Linc asked blushing before the girl cut in.
"Hey! where ya lookin, dumbass?!" She asked.
"Nothing important." Linc sai. "Just a bunch of junk."
"Bunch of junk? These inventions are going to change the world, you idiot! I'm the gorgeous girl genius who will go down in history. I'm the one and only legendary Ultimate Inventor herself, Miu Iruma!" she said.
Miu Iruma
Ultimate Inventor
"O-Kay…" Linc said. "Well you've certainly got the looks alright."
"Damn straight! Don't be shy, little boy. You can…" she said before Linc uppercutted her. "What the hell?"
"Not interested." Linc said leaving.
"H-he hit me…" Miu said before donning a face of pleasure. "Kyaaa!"
This place is getting more and more bizarre." Linc said before entering a room with lots of high end equipment where inside a person in funny looking clothing was being chased by a small boy in white.
"Come on, just let me feel your arm!" the boy said.
"Please, just keep a respectable distance." the other boy said.
"Come on! Come on! I've always wanted to be friends with a real life robot!" the boy said.
"A robot? So are you like those Monokubs?" Linc asked.
"Oh, I am no ordinary robot and don't compare me to them. I am K1-B0, the Ultimate Robot. But please, address me as Keebo." he said.
K1-B0
Ultimate Robot
"Heeeey, no fair. How come you got to introduce yourself in such a cool way? I should do it too." the boy said.
"Uh...go ahead." Linc said.
"I am Kokichi Oma, the Ultimate Supreme Leader." the boy said.
Kokichi Oma
Ultimate Supreme Leader
"A robot and a Supreme Leader… I have to say this is a weird combination. Well, I'd like to get to know you two better anyway. So uh...Keebo. Why are you here?" Linc asked.
"I may be a robot, but I have a mind like a human brain due to the AI used to create me. I'm a student like everyone else." Keebo said.
"That's pretty cool. And Kokichi, right? What's up with this Supreme Leader thing?" Linc asked.
"Oh, nothing too special. I'm just the leader of an evil secret organization. That's all." Kokichi said.
"Say WHAT?! You're a villain?!" Linc asked.
"Nee-heehee. I figured that would be the right reaction. It's pretty great too. Got about 10'000 members." Kokichi said.
"10000 strong? Could this be…" Linc began.
"Who knows? Because I'm a liar after all." Kokichi said.
"Don't take anything you say seriously. Got it." Linc said. "Well I'm gonna check out the rest of the labs."
"Really? You haven't even told us your talent." Keebo said.
"I don't know what mine is. All I know is my name." Linc said. "Though I don't care much for the talent thing."
He soon left the room as he entered a lab which was a large tennis court with pitching and hitting machines. In the corner was a short boy.
"So...looking for the exit?" he asked.
"Yes." Linc said.
"Well if you came to ask me, you're going to the wrong person. Still, this place is pretty nice compared to prison." he said.
"Deep voice….wait you were in prison?" Linc asked.
"Yes. Ryoma Hoshi...the man known as the Ultimate Tennis Pro no longer exists. I am his empty shell." he said.
Ryoma Hoshi
Ultimate Tennis Pro
"A shell? So then why are you choosing to be in this lab if the man isn't around?" Linc asked.
"You sure ask a lot of questions…" Ryoma said.
"So… what were you in jail for?" Linc asked.
"I used my talent...to kill." Ryoma said.
"Seriously? How could tennis kill anyone?" Linc asked.
"An iron ball shot through the head of a mafia boss." Ryoma said.
"So it was a Mafia… but wasn't that good for the society?" Linc asked.
"Murder is still murder. I'm done talking with you." Ryoma said turning his back on Linc.
"Crazy…" Linc said going into the next room. It was filled with various weapons as inside was a girl with black hair and a red school uniform.
"Hello, I'm Linc. What do they call you?" Linc introduced.
"Maki Harukawa….Ultimate Child Caregiver." she said.
Maki Harukawa
Ultimate Child Caregiver
"Uh… Do you really need this many weapons for it, though?" Linc asked.
"No one else is even suppose to be in my lab. Get out." she said.
"She's giving off a malicious aura. I should go." Linc thought as he quickly ran out. "Okay… on to the next one."
Linc soon found a door labeled exit as he approached.
"Don't bother. Those exit doors do not work." a voice said as a man in a green uniform and a zipper thing covering his mouth.
"I see. Well, thank you uh…" Linc said.
"Allow me to make myself clear. I am Korekiyo Shinguchi. I am called the Ultimate Anthropologist." he said.
Korekiyo Shinguchi
Ultimate Anthropologist
"Anthropology...so you study folklore right? Culture?" Linc asked.
"Correct. You seem to know a lot about it." Kiyo said.
"I'm familiar with some things." Linc said. "So I guess I shouldn't bother with the exits."
Linc left him after before entering a room with an outer space theme as inside was a man with a goatee and a jacket on his shoulders.
"Oh hey! You're the new guy, right?" He asked.
"Yeah, But… how do you know me already?" Linc asked.
"Hey, we're all new here, aren't we? Anyway, seeing as how you don't know much...I'll tell you who I am. I'm Kaito Momota, Luminary of the Stars! Even kids look up to the Ultimate Astronaut." he said.
Kaito Momota
Ultimate Astronaut
"Oh, so you've been to Space then?" Linc asked.
"Nah. Still in training." Kaito said. "But I'm definitely going there one day!" Kaito said.
"Its good to have dreams… but I don't know anything about me. My name's all I know." Linc said.
"Relax there, buddy. It'll all come back to ya eventually." Kaito said.
"How can you be so sure I'll regain any of my memories?" Linc asked.
"I'm sure it will happen." Kaito said. "Trust me."
"All right." Linc said leaving. "I know one thing about me...I've never actually seen worlds outside mine before." he muttered to himself.
Linc still felt a bond to Kaito that he didn't know of just yet. Regardless, he proceeded to the next lab. Inside was a fancy looking table setting with a set table and a clean room. Inside was a woman with silver hair and dressed as a maid.
"Welcome." she said.
"Uh… thanks. Is this someone else's lab?" he asked.
"No, it is mine. I shall introduce myself. I am Kirumi Tojo, the Ultimate Maid. Please let me know if you require my service." she said.
Kirumi Tojo
Ultimate Maid
"A maid? Not sure how that is a talent...but I will choose not to question it." Linc said before bowing respectfully as he left.
As he headed out into the outside again to look for a way out, he soon saw a muscular looking man in a suit and glasses. He had long green hair, and despite having a suit on, he was still barefoot.
"This guy looks tough. I better be cautious." Linc thought. "Hello."
"Huh? Thank you!" the man said.
"Thank you?" Linc asked.
"Yes. Not many people wish to speak with Gonta due to how Gonta look. But Gonta is gentleman. Thank you for talking to Gonta." he said. "Oh, you need Gonta's name. Uh...Gonta's name is Gonta Gokuhara. Gonta's talent is Ultimate Entomologist." he said.
Gonta Gokuhara
Ultimate Entomologist
"Entomologist...so you study insects." Linc said.
"Yes. Gonta like catching bugs." Gonta said.
"So uh… you said you're a Gentleman?" Linc asked.
"It Gonta's main goal, to become true gentleman! Most greatest way of thanking family that raised Gonta for ten years after becoming lost in forest." Gonta said.
"Ten years? I see. I'm glad to have met you." Linc said.
"Gonta glad to meet you too." Gonta said.
Linc left after that before arriving at a waterfall where he sat to rest. As he did, he soon noticed a tan skinned girl with long white hair near him.
"Hey there. Didn't realize there was someone else here." Linc said.
"Nyahahaha! It is so nice to meet you too." she said. "Atua has definitely been leading you well."
"I'm...not sure how to take that." Linc said.
"I'm Angie Yonaga! I am the Ultimate Artist!" she said.
Angie Yonaga
Ultimate Artist
"An artist? Then I should be honored. I've never met an artist before." Linc said.
"Atua is pleased to hear you praise me." Angie said.
A boy soon approached dressed in black with a cap. "Angie...there you are. We need to report to the...Oh. So you're with that stranger." he said.
"Yes. I'm not sure what this place is. I am Linc." he said.
"I'm Shuichi Saihara. And I guess I'm the Ultimate Detective." he said.
Shuichi Saihara
Ultimate Detective
"I see. That's cool I guess." Linc said. "But it looks like we're headed to the gym."
"We?" Shuichi asked.
"I have nowhere to go right now. So I may as well find out the purpose of this place." Linc said as the three headed to the gym where everyone had gathered.
"So I'm sure as everyone knows so far… we've all met the supposed 17th student of this school." Kirumi said.
"Damn straight I met him. Frickin guy punched me in the face!" Miu said.
"You had that coming, admit it." Linc said plainly.
"Calm down. We're all tired from just waking up in random places. I'm sure they'll tell us what is going on." Kiyo said.
"Are they going to hurt us?" Himiko asked.
"Do not worry, because Atua is watching over us." Angie said.
"Again with the god thing? Not to go against it but…" Kaito said. "Anyway, I bet those bear things are gonna pop out. No worries. I'll kick all their asses."
But then, the ground began to shake as five large weapons appeared before them. "Rise and shine, ursine!" five familiar voices said.
"Machines?" Keebo asked.
"They're Exisals! High grades weapons platforms with a hometown feel!" Monokid said.
"Man, those things look dangerous…" Linc said.
"Oh, you're still here, kid?" Monosuke said.
"Well I can't seem to find a way out, and since you five idiots have me trapped here… I guess I'm the 17th student." Linc said.
"Idiots?! Thats it, I'm shooting this jerk right now!" Monokid said as the Exisal's machine guns aimed at Linc.
"Hold it there, bro! Pops doesn't want anyone shot up!" Monosuke said.
"Well then you're the idiot here, Monosuke! You forgot this kid insulted us!" Monotato said.
"I'm the idiot?! You're the idiot for forgetting things all the time, stupid ninja!" Monokid said. "And I was about to tell them the reason for being here. I'm gonna say it! A-"
"IT'S-A-KILLING-GAME!" Monodam said.
"Ah damn it, Monodam! I'm gonna pound ya into scrap for that." Monokid said.
"Not before I do that to you, jabroni." Monotaro said.
"Who you calling jabroni, jabroni?" Monokid said.
"Now, now now. It's not right to see my adorable little cubs fighting." a new voice said.
"Is that...Father!" Monotaro said.
"Papa Kuma in the house!" Monokid said.
"Daddy's here!" Monophanie said.
Everyone looked to the podium as jumping out from behind it was a black and white bear. "I am the god of this new world. And I am the headmaster of the Ultimate Academy! I am...Monokuma! Nice to meet ya." he said.
"Death Note, really?" Kaito asked.
"So you're the dad behind these five, huh?" Linc asked.
"Hmm…." Monokuma said. "Oh, kiiiiidsss…. I thought we were supposed to have 16 students this year. Where did he come from?"
"We- we don't know, Pops! He just showed up here like he owns the place or something!" Monosuke said.
"I'm not an idiot who speaks like a show off or an attention hog. I'm only here to escape. Now, explain the killing game you mentioned." Linc said.
"So to the point. Very well. Basically, you have to kill someone and get away with it without being discovered!" Monokuma said.
"After you kill someone, the blackened killer goes against their spotless classmates. If the majority votes for the right person, then only the killer get punishment." Monophanie said.
"And if you pick wrong, everyone except the blackened gets punished." Monosuke said.
"And...what is this punishment?" Ryoma asked.
"To put it simply….it's an execution!" Monokuma said.
"Execution?!" Gonta said.
"Yes. We go for a more permanent solution around here." Monokuma said. "And now that concludes the announcement. You now have free range to kill each other. So...happy murdering!" Monokuma said before he and the cubs left.
"Killing anyone here, this is insane. And now I'm in the middle of it." Linc said. "Guess I have no choice in this matter."
Watching from the Star Speeder were the three hero groups as they saw the scene unfold before them.
"Man…" Nana said.
"So it's true, it's really happening again." Rainbow said. "David, you don't have to watch any of this if you don't have to."
"I know I don't. I just…" David said.
"I'd say we go save them, but a high class show like that has to have some sort of crazy security system made to keep intruders out...permanently." Jexi said.
"But that guy, Linc… he got in without a problem." Sunset said.
"Yes. And I think I figured out why." Tails said. "I took an X-ray of the building and its foundation. There appears to be a large structure that's miles deep underground. Underneath the academy. It was hard to find it at first. The walls appear to have a mineral in them to keep x-rays from working as effectively."
"Well, that explains why Monokuma couldn't find it." Nagito said.
"Still, it's too convenient for him to just wander down there. He must've been kept there for quite some time." Ross said.
"And Monokuma and the Monokubs never bothered to check the structure they were building on top of? Seems like a huge oversight." Petra said.
"True. But that building...it could serve as an entry point. A way to get inside." Jexi said. "We'd just have to tunnel into it."
"But even then, it's too dangerous to send in everyone at once. We'd best send in a small team to avoid suspicion." David said.
"Agreed. Hope, stay out of this one. That producer knows your face so if you show up, he'll know something's up." Jexi said.
"I got it. Its best way to rescue all the students effectively if I don't show up." Hope said. "But if some of them die...I won't be able to take in their spirits."
"I don't think that'll be a problem." Mayumi said. "There's a powerful spiritual presence coming from that Linc guy. From one of the chains hidden under his cloak. In fact, I'm sensing incredible powers from 10 different chains."
"Power huh? Just who is this guy?" Asta asked.
Meanwhile in another location…
"Hey, boss! Come on! Ya gotta watch this show!" Victor said.
"You're still watching Danganronpa?" Diablo asked. "Isn't it getting old? You've seen almost every season. They're all the same. Students going around killing one a…." he said before seeing Linc. "Pause it there!"
"Huh?" Victor asked before Diablo paused the TV as he looked at Linc.
"It...can't be." he said before seeing one of the chains under the cloak. "He...he's alive." Diablo said in disbelief.
"Uh...something wrong? Who is that guy?" Victor said.
"Someone I thought was long dead. I haven't thought about him for about 20 years now. It seems surprising he's suddenly come back? Could this be...some kind of omen?" Diablo asked.