"The watch post near the training hall has ceased reporting! Chances of intruder activity is extremely high! All personnel, increase security measures!"
Akira silently groaned. So much for sneaking out.
He readied his dagger next to Morgana, who also readied its scimitar as they waited for opposition. Ryuji cursed, completely weaponless at this point. "Dammit!"
They snuck their way back to the entrance way, only fighting one Shadow in the process. Opening up the door, they ran up the winding staircase. "The exit's this way! Let's hurry!" Morgana urged, quickening their pace.
As they ran out into the foyer, they were suddenly stopped by the appearance of Kamoshida and a contingent of soldiers.
Kamoshida, clad in a giant gold crown, a white fur trimmed red cape decorated with hearts, and a neon green speedo, frowned at them. "You knaves again?" He sneered, his voice featuring the dual tone that was becoming familiar in this world. "To think you'd make the same mistake again. You're hopeless!"
Ryuji stepped forward. "The school aint your castle!" He exclaimed boldly. "I've memorized their faces real good. You're goin' down!"
Kamoshida smirked evilly. "It seems it's true when they say "barking dogs seldom bite." How far the star runner of the track team has fallen."
He glared. "The hell are you gettin' at?!"
The evil king started chuckling. "I speak of the "Track Traitor" who acted in violence, ending his teammates' dreams." He purred. "Oh, I can only imagine the pain of the others who were dragged under with your...selfish act."
Flinching, Ryuji took a step back. "Tch..!" He grunted, frustrated that his guilt ridden memories were being brought up. Of course this piece of shit would mention that.
Akira glared at the Palace ruler. "Violence?" He asked his companion. It must've been due to the unfair treatment. Ryuji was a brash guy, he'd seen it plenty of times today, but he'd never pull a fist on someone unless they deserved it.
Kamoshida tsk'ed. "What a surprise. So you're accompanying him without knowing anything at all?" He questioned smugly. "He betrayed his teammates and crushed their hopes, yet he still carries on as carefree as ever."
"That's not true!" Ryuji argued, anger lighting his eyes.
"You've come a long way with this fool and are now going to end up dead...How unlucky of you." Kamoshida said mockingly before gesturing to the soldiers behind him. "Go. Kill them all. Don't sully my castle with garbage."
The shadows stepped forward in their suits of metal, before transforming into their real forms as Demon Horses, their hooves clacking on the marble floor. They slowly circled them in.
Ryuji narrowed his eyes in frustration, taking a step back. "Goddammit." He spat, clenching his fists. He had nothing to fight with. Like always, he had to rely on others to help him. If only he had a Persona too.
Morgana and Akira moved to shield him. "Ryuji, move!" The feline commanded, readying its weapon.
Akira dove straight in, slicing his opponent before back flipping out of an incoming attack. He stumbled back though, when he saw his attack had done little to no damage on the enemy. Another shadow sneaked up behind him and knocked him down with its horns.
He gritted his teeth, struggling to get up. Move, dammit! He yelled at his body.
"Agh!" Morgana yelped, landing in front of him in a painful heap. Kamoshida then stomped on its back, holding it in place. "Rgh...you piece of-"
Leaning on his elbows, Akira tried to get up when a soldier came up and stepped on his back, holding him down. "Ugh!" He grunted out, his face now pressed against the lush carpeting. What could he do?!
Ryuji sat where he stood, hopeless, his companions being beaten so easily in front of him. He stared in defeat. Even with two Persona users, they couldn't beat him...
"I bet you simply came here on a whim and ended up like this, am I right?" Kamoshida sneered at the ex-track member.
"No..." Ryuji whispered, not having the strength to deny harder.
He shook his head in amusement. "What a worthless piece of trash, getting emotional so quickly." Kamoshida smirked. "How dare you raise your hand at me. Though it was only temporary, have you forgotten my kindness in supervising the track team?"
With a twisted expression on his face, Ryuji beat the floor with his fist, the carpet absorbing the blow without a sound. "Wasn't no practice- it was physical abuse!" He gritted his teeth. "You just didn't like our team!"
Kamoshida sneered. "It was only an eyesore! The only one who needs to achieve results is me!" He declared, holding a fist up. "That coach who got fired was hopeless too. Had he not opposed me with a sound argument, I would've settled it with only breaking his star's leg." He gloated, smirking down at the punk who looked at him in shock.
Up above on one of the chandeliers, Airi looked on in disgust. 'I can't believe that's what Kamoshida is wearing in his heart. Ugh...' She cringed. Hearing him talk about what he did to the track team made her grimace, fueling her determination to help her friends.
She looked sadly down at Ryuji, who was standing there, stunned in silence. 'So that's what happened...' She thought morosely. She had wondered what had exactly gone down with the track team, but had been too distracted by her own problems. Now that she knew what had happened though, maybe she could do something about it...
Snapping out of her thoughts, she stood up from her crouched position. Furrowing her brows, she readied her scythe to intervene.
Kamoshida laughed. "Do you need me to deal with your other leg too? The school will call it self-defense anyway!"
Ryuji clenched his eyes. "Dammit...Am I going to lose again?" He whispered to himself. 'Not only can I not run anymore...the track team is gone too 'cause of this asshole!' He berated himself angrily. 'He broke my leg just so he could get the position! He..!'
Morgana looked at the punk sadly. "So that's why..." It murmured.
Shifting his foot on the feline's back, Kamoshida gestured to a soldier. "Once I've dealt with these two, you're next." He stated, looking directly at Ryuji. His expression twisted, madness seeping into his eyes as he laughed in triumph.
"Ryuji!" Morgana struggled underneath the foot.
"Stand up for yourself!" Akira yelled, still pinned underneath a suit of armor. The ex-runner was their only hope. "You're just gonna let him get away with this?!"
"...You're right." Ryuji whispered, getting up from his position on the floor. "Everything that was important to me was taken by him...I'll never get 'em back..!"
Ignoring the delinquent's words, Kamoshida straightened. "Stay there and watch." He smirked. "Look on as these hopeless scum die for nothing because they sided with trash like you."
Standing up, Ryuji matched his steely gaze with acid yellow ones. "No...That's what you are." He declared. "All you think about is using people...You're the real scumbag, Kamoshida!" Shakily, he took a couple of steps forward.
Unsettled, the ruler yelled out, "What are you doing? Silence him!"
Stopping, Ryuji pointed his finger at the distorted king, glaring hatefully at the reason why his dreams were stolen from him. "Stop lookin' down on me with that stupid smile on your face!"
'You made me wait quite a while.'
Eyes widening, Ryuji gripped his scalp as immense pain tore at him. Shaking from side to side, he trembled, trying to contain the pressure in his head. Something was pulsing, the beats coming faster. He couldn't tell if it was inside or outside of his body.
'You seek power, correct? Then let us form a pact.'
He choked, saliva spitting from his mouth. Now on all fours, he violently convulsed on the carpet. Even though his eyes were wide open, he couldn't see, couldn't hear, couldn't feel anything except for the soul wrenching pain.
'Since your name has been disgraced already, why not hoist the flag and wreak havoc?'
He gritted his teeth, his blunt nails digging into his scalp.
'The "other you" who exists within desires it thus…'
Trembling now, he panted. What was breathing, what was thinking, whatwasbeing.
'I AM THOU...THOU ART I…'
Ryuji screamed, feeling like his head was being split open.
'There is no turning back...The skull of rebellion is your flag henceforth!'
With one final screech, he stilled. Silence reigned as everyone stared at him with bated breath.
Snapping his head up, a metal mask in the shape of a skull, appeared in a flash of blue fire, covering the whole upper half of his face. Gripping the sides as he shakily stood up, he pulled with all his might.
"ARRGHHHH!" He screamed, the mask coming off in a burst of blood.
Airi was worried. She didn't know whether or not Ryuji was going to discover his Persona, especially in this hopeless situation, but, with great reluctance, she decided to wait it out even though Morgana and Akira were being threatened at sword point. It was difficult to stand back and watch, but she knew first hand that a person needed to confront themselves to take off that mask.
Seeing Ryuji begin to convulse on the ground though, she perked up. 'Yes! It's happening!' Bending her knees, she was ready at any moment to jump down and intervene.
She was excited. With four Persona users, they could easily storm the castle. Then they could take his Heart.
In a blazing stream of blue fire, Ryuji's power erupted, blowing away the guards and Kamoshida.
Seeing as they were now unpinned, Morgana and Akira quickly got up, readying their weapons while looking on at the power in awe.
The initial burst died down, revealing Ryuji who was now covered head to toe in a new outfit, complimenting the skull on his face. His black leather jacket fit snug around his torso, the metal spines on his back giving him extra protection from sneak attacks. Black belts crisscrossed over his black pants, elbow and knee pads at his joints. His steel toed boots stomped onto the carpet, the force leaving a lasting print. Clenching his yellow gloved hands, he grinned viciously.
A being floated behind him, using an old ship with a war head face painted on as a skateboard. With two swords crossed on its chest, a golden canon grafted on its right hand, and an eyepatch, the pirate cackled, its teeth making a clacking sound. Its blue admiral coat hugged its skeletal frame, enhancing its ribs and hip bones. Its black and red cape billowed behind it, the flames fanning the damaged fabric. Adjusting its admiral hat, Captain Kidd aimed the cannon toward the enemies.
Lifting his head, Ryuji gave an animalistic grin, eyes red from his awakened power.
Kamoshida shielded his face from the fierce winds. "Ugh, this one as well?!"
The newly awakened Persona user looked down at his hands, admiring his new abilities. "Right on...wassup, Persona." He grinned gleefully. "Now that I've got this power...it's time for some payback." Cracking his knuckles, he stared down at Kamoshida. "Yo, I'm ready…"
"BRING IT!" All three Persona users got into position, ready to fight again. The guards stepped forward, transforming into Demon Horses and one Bereth, a suit of armor sitting atop of a horse.
Ryuji called out, "Captain Kidd!" His Persona appearing behind him in a sea of blue flame. "Let's light em up!" He said, calling down a lightning strike at his opponent.
Akira went and took out one of the minions with a stroke of his blade.
Morgana followed up with a strike, dealing more damage to the Berith. They quickly took down the enemies, leaving the foyer empty aside from them and the Palace ruler.
Holding himself up on his knees, Ryuji panted. "How 'bout that?!" He yelled, snarling at Kamoshida.
Morgana gazed at him in awe. "Woah...so Ryuji had potential too.." It murmured.
Slashing his hand out, the pirate gestured at the corrupted gym teacher. "Even if you apologize now...I ain't forgiving you!"
Kamoshida looked at him in amusement as he took a few steps forward, his heart decorated cape fluttering. "I told you, this is my castle. It seems you still don't understand…" Snapping his fingers, more soldiers appeared, and a lieutenant at that.
Just then, a woman calmly walked up to Kamoshida, turning to look at the enemies.
"Wha-" Ryuji sputtered. "Takamaki?!"