Goro Akechi.
He was alive. By some miracle, he was alive. All of the team removed their masks, as if to get a better look. Even Oracle did, and Joker was sure she was trying to scan him to see if he was the real deal yet fell compelled to check with her own eyes by lifting her goggles.
It was him.
He was in his usual outfit of a tan peacoat with black buttons, striped black and white tie, black pants, black gloves and black loafers. However, his appearance was disheveled and unkempt, looking haunted. The most notable part were his eyes… how he stared into the void, even though only Joker saw it.
Silence reigned over the Velvet Room as they saw their supposedly fallen comrade there in a defeated heap.
"Akechi?" Joker asked quietly.
There was naught a sound, but a faint whisper.
"Akechi?" he asked louder.
"Don't…"
Joker removed his mask and before he could repeat himself, Akechi lunged at the bars. The team took a step back in response… at the maelstrom of emotions in his eye.
"Don't come here! I deserve to be here! This… all of this is my fault!" Akechi shouted out. His voice sounded hoarse, as if little life remained there. His hands grasped the bars tightly, yet shaking. Silence returned to the room outside of the faint noise that the team realized was the heaving breathing and whimpering of Akechi.
"We were in your room, like your letter told us… I put it together. That it was some sort of other you that did the crime. We even saw it had a different Persona. We can try and help you," Ren began explaining to Akechi.
"Don't you get it… that was me… that thing… that monster… it's me," Akechi countered before the two looked at the other.
"You saved my life at the police. You saved us regarding Shido. We want to help you not just because of that, but because you too were hurt by this," Ren explained.
"Me… it's like I told you, Joker… all of this is my fault. I know that now," Akechi replied, looking down. The other team didn't want to say anything, knowing the only one who could possibly reach out to him would be Joker himself.
"How… Tell us everything," Ren responded, causing Akechi to stop shaking. His shoulders sagged yet his grip tightened.
"Very well…" Akechi responded before he closed his eyes, recalling everything. How, so close to death and in that sinking darkness, he remembered it all.
"This world is rotten. You are filled with rage at its corruption… its tainted shadow. A rotten structure built by man in their endless hypocrisy… do you wish to lash out? To tear it all down? I see the darkness in you…" the voice had said in the darkness of his nightmare.
Goro Akechi was scared. Boyhood visions of heroism and justice remained in his heart, even if it was weighed down by the anger and hatred at Japanese society. The society that deemed him lesser because of his birth… the society that did not punish an ignoble man… the society who's dogma broke his mother and led her to taking her own life…
His rage and hatred brewed in his heart, threatening to drown out the remains of innocence and goodness that were in his heart. Goro Akechi was at an impasse…
And then he felt it… the power.
Some wild and infinite power placed upon him, granted by an otherworldly force...
He felt some grand power be thrust upon him… something within him was awakening… all he had to do was embrace it. His hatred… his anger… and use it all to tear down society in retribution. To burn it all down and let fate sort it out in its judgment…
Yet… there was something there… a brief moment of hesitation.
He wanted to be a hero… this… this isn't what a hero does.
And then he felt a hot sickening feeling in his chest. As the anger and rage began screaming for release, he began fighting back against it. For a brief moment, he saw his face in the dark and he decided… he didn't want this.
He felt it trying to break it out, but he refused.
And then Goro Akechi felt his head as if split.
The two sides of him came at odds… in another time, he would've surrendered to the rage. Yet, in a moment of hesitation, he refused. He struggled with the rage and when it couldn't take him, it exploded.
Goro Akechi screamed himself awake from a nightmare, having a massive headache… within the Sea of Souls… something new and terrible had been born. Rejected from darkness and spite was another self. However, it was not a Shadow.
No, it was something far more solid.
This thing was given life by the power of an outside force, no longer shackled by Goro Akechi… yet he is Goro Akechi… and he will have his vengeance. And as the Black Masked formed over the second Akechi, a red flame burst, with a white and black figure with hooved feet and looks of malice came out, clutching a red blade of spite.
The reports had come in… that of more murders… out of curiosity, Akechi began looking into them. And he realized he could follow the trail… some instinct telling him where to go. It was as if he could follow a trail subconsciously despite it being his first time.
Case after case he was solving… he was making a difference in the world. He was doing good in the world. Yet, he couldn't help but admit there was catharsis. Catharsis in making criminals suffer… Even with harder cases not having to do with shutdowns or breakdowns, his experience and cultivated intelligence was enough to help him figure it out.
He was the second coming of the Detective Prince…
And then came that day… that day when a teacher broke down and confessed his sins…
And when he first heard of them…
The Phantom Thieves of Hearts…
Investigating the Thieves was more troublesome than he thought. He was unable to figure out how they were performing their marvelous feats… And then he got his lead. Through a most unusual manner… there was a strange app installed on his smartphone.
When he went to check in, reality seemed to melt… and he ended up in another world… one of the mind…
Over time, he learned this was called the Metaverse, and this was how the Thieves did their work. However, as he went in to get evidence of them appearing and disappearing… he felt it. The migraine returned.
He dropped his camera as he clutched his head. Something terrible was happening… All while reality was starting to bleed.
Then, for one brief moment, reality stood still. He saw something… someone there.
A gaunt hooded figure with a black mask… was he hallucinating?
Then, came the sounds of gunshots, ringing close to his ears. Was he gonna die here? Die before finding out what was going on?
No… No! He needed to find the truth.
He was not gonna die here.
And then, something suppressed finally erupted. His migraine grew worse for a moment, but then he forced through it, managing to become clear-headed… he saw a uniform on him and a triumphant bow wielder behind him…
Robin Hood
His Persona…
He would join the Phantom Thieves and seek out the truth, with this new power. How exciting!
He awoke in the cell. Was he dead? Was this his punishment?
"Your part in the game is over" a voice called out. It was familiar… it was one that haunted his nightmares over two years ago. "I did not expect you to resist as you did. But you possessed the adequate capabilities nonetheless," the voice added.
"Who are you?" Akechi called out, feeling too tired.
"I am but the one who granted you the Wild Card years ago. The one who bestowed the power to you… you know, don't you? That the Black-Masked Murderer was you. You were chosen to bring destruction. That other self is still you… born from the hate and anger in your heart. I did not expect for you to reject it so strongly that the division would be born. Of course, with the Wild Card, your other personality was able to manifest the Persona needed for the job." he said, chuckling maliciously as his words sank into Akechi's mind…
That monster… that murderer… all of it, was born from him…He… he was the villain?
"Take comfort in that the ruin you desired will be coming after all and the society you sought to punish will receive judgment," the voice added, leaving Akechi to his thoughts.
Goro Akechi was slumped over. Remembering everything that had happened took the little strength he had left out of him. That other personality… it was born from him, and with it, that vile and wild Persona. It was why he could solve the cases so easily of the shutdowns and breakdowns. How he had the app longer than he first viewed it. The source of the migraines.
The team remained in quiet, looking at one another, Futaba and Haru especially. It didn't take long for them to realize that the ominous voice who unlocked Akechi's power was the same malicious entity behind the Grail, the thing that called itself a god. There was also the growing sense of horror that came with the realization that it used Akechi much in the same way it tried using Ren.
Was he truly the same man who committed all that suffering? Early on, it was easy to say so, but it become unclearer over time, as his actions caught them offguard. And it inspired to dig deeper. To seek the truth. And what they found was something they never expected. Two minds in one body. One was born from hate and anger, but with its own accord. Its own will, granted by a higher power of malicious intent. All for a sickening purpose.
They were unsure, but they suspected, it would not be a clear answer.
"So you see… this… all of this is my doing," Akechi finished. "Dude… that thing wasn't you. Like, not entirely. I mean, if that thing that calls itself a God was able to do that, who says it didn't mess up anything else in you?" Skull proposed, breaking the silence.
"I… appreciate the support, but that entity wouldn't have been drawn to me if it was that simple," Akech noted. "There are a lot of angry and bitter people out there, and some already hardened criminals. Why not target them?" Panther wondered. "I suppose that if this entity was able to manipulate both of them, it must've influenced the masses. After all, no other politician had the same level of delusional grandeur, political connections and past like Shido did," Fox added, carefully choosing his words.
"Oracle, Noir, are you okay?" Queen shifted to ask the two. "I do not forgive your cruelty… but I cannot fault you entirely. After all, all of this was beyond any of us could've imagined. Under more mundane circumstances, none of this would've happened, including the violence," Noir surmised. "I had a palace too… another self. But mine tried to help me… yours… yours was basically different. It wasn't even a Shadow, but a split personality. I mean, I don't know a lot about that stuff or whether you really do have dissociative personality disorder or something different. I mean, cognitive psience is different than normal psychology," Oracle ranted a little, trying to process the mess of emotions.
"You didn't give up."
Everyone's attention turned to Ren as he looked at Akechi, an unreadable look on his face. "When it came for you… you saw it was wrong and fought against it. You didn't embrace it. Robin Hood is a sign of that… of you wanting to do the right thing," Ren explained to him.
Akechi paused, surprised. "Even still, I have done too many terrible things and none of them I can take back," he said, his eyes trailing on Oracle and Noir.
"That doesn't mean you should give up now. It's like you said… you to reach the truth. Don't give up now," Ren told him.
Akechi took a step back before looking at his hands. "I spent days in that cell, thinking on what I did wrong, on my anger. That I deserved this and that I thought people deserved this as well. But… I do not want to give up. I will not give up. I devoted myself to rising above the stigma of society placed on me as a bastard child. On against sickening human beings. And I won't give up now. I will continue my rebellion then," Akechi said before blue fire lit him up.
He was back in the splendorous white outfit as before, red mask on him.
"Joker… everyone. Thank you. For this… and everything," Crow said quietly though offering a faint smile. The others shown some varying levels of encouragement. However, there was still plenty of awkward tension remaining and questions going forward.
"Let's go. We have some people who can explain everything to us," Joker said as he slipped his mask on and they led back over to the center room.
"Now indeed, everyone is here," Igor commented, looking over the Phantom Thieves. "I am Igor, Master of the Velvet Room," he introduced to Crow. "And I am Lavenza, an attendant of the room," she said. "They were the ones who made me, to help stop all this," Morgana told Crow before they all faced Lavenza.
"The entity that claims it is a god is a malevolent will that wishes to force mankind into eternal servitude. It hopes to do so by claiming peace in the name of security," Lavenza explains. Crow stood up straighter. "So, this being exploited the fear in Japanese society by promising security in exchange for servitude?" Crow asked, his mind beginning to race. He felt at peace here. The Velvet Room's calming atmosphere seemed to ease his migraines.
"Well, I guess that sorta makes sense. It's the Treasure of Mementos and it was getting power from peoeple," Skull noted, getting a few surprised looks. "It got all that power because people were scared and wanted someone to follow and this thing acted the role?" Noir asked. "Correct. However, my master here believes in humanity and that someone would rise to save humanity. The false entity laughed and sought to prove humanity's powerlessness. So a game was made. One where two individuals with great potential pit up against one another. One who be chosen to try and destroy the world and the other to save the world from that," she explained.
The team's eyes widened as they realized what was being said. "And I was one of them, correct?" Crow asked, preparing for what was coming.
"Yes. The malevolent entity chose you to incite the masses' distortion, which is why it gifted you the Wild Card, to be able to use a Persona to cause psychotic breakdowns and mental shutdowns, causing the events to transpire," Lavenza explained. Crow's stance became rigid. Just hearing that he was used in such a way filled him with disgust.
"What's the Wild Card?" Panther asked. "It is a rare and wondrous ability, manifesting itself or being granted to certain individuals. It is why the Trickster can utilize multiple Personas and switch between them in battle. It is the symbolization of unlimited potential, born out of the power of bonds," Lavenza explained.
"So, you can use multiple Personas because of the power of the bonds. No wonder he has it then," Skull noted with a smile to his best friend, who smiled back. "Indeed, and in turn, helps those around him," Lavenza added. "So, why did this entity give it to me then?" Crow asked, wondering why he would have it.
"You were torn between your desires, were you not? One of heroism and one of destruction. It hoped to tempt you to destruction, but your moment of resistance caused the Wild Card's power to activate. Rather than have your two selves clash and tear each other, it separated, hence the birth of the Persona called Loki, the one with the ability to cause psychotic breakdowns. At the same time, the Persona called Robin Hood was your natural Persona, the one represented your lingering goodness," Lavenza explained.
While Crow was trying to digest was it all meant, Lavenza continued. "But the game was but a ruse. A way for the entity to eliminate two individuals who could've posed a threat to his plans to subjugate humanity. It's why it helped train the Trickster, only to try and him up for a fall," she added.
"It was a ruse," Joker added, attention briefly turning to him. "It may have been born from peoples' desires, but it was distorted and with its own agenda. It claims to know what people want, but that's only because it shapes people like that," he notes, realizing that the "game" was rigged from the getgo.
"So all of us were being used by this malevolent entity them?" Fox noted in anger. "Well, it did hold a negative view on people, I guess it never thought it could be defeated," Queen observed. "Yeah. Looking back, it seemed to almost panic when we began assaulting it after cutting the tethers. The reason it didn't go down was because it had two years of it feeding on people, like a bunch of extra HP," Oracle deduced from it.
"It is fitting. After all, society often fails to acknowledge growing problems until it becomes too late to ignore and by that point, it has become very difficult to handle and treat," Crow explained, his voice a little heavier and a distant look in his eye. Joker looked, wondering what Crow was thinking.
"When Mementos began merging with reality, the danger you all felt was the entity attempting to manipulate the cognition of the masses into forgetting you, thus trying to erase you from existence. However, your preemptive strike weakened it and having cut it off from feeding off the masses, it is forced to act more slowly and weakly," Lavenza explained the final aspects, giving them a bit of time to plan.
"If we have time, I would like to propose something," Crow interrupted, stepping forward and going to Lavenza, whispering something to her though it appeared Igor was still able to still hear, realizing what was it that was Crow's
Igor just chuckled, a mysterious twinkle in his eye. "I do believe there is a way, but I would propose everyone step back please," Lavenza said. Joker led everyone but Crow away, leaving the Velvet Room's circle spacious. "Normally, I would be using something less crude, but given the shape of the Velvet Room, I will need to try and improvise," Lavenza said before taking out a familiar chainsaw. However, Joker then noted that it was going in reverse.
"Wait, what are you-?" Crow asked before Lavenza brought the chainsaw to his chest. "Don't! We need to trust her," Joker said, extending his arms to keep the others from interfering. Even Oracle and Haru had expressions of surprise and horror. But that was nothing compared to what followed.
The blue flames enveloped Akechi and then a black and red substance began melting off of him. "Almost… have it," Lavenza screamed against the demonic howl of the procedure before something exploded off of Akechi.
"Is… is that…" Oracle mouthed, her screens lit up as something took the shape out of the black and red mass. It looked like a phantom, albeit solid. It glowed an ominous red and the faint image of the Persona known as Loki. The massive sigil of the Velvet Room in the center glowed a bright blue before a wall of azure flames burst around them, trapping the two of them with the cramped ring.
"This is not your fight! I must handle this alone!" Crow shouted to the rest of the Thieves, taking out his rapier and reading his blaster.
"I have done as you have suggested, Goro Akechi," Lavenza told him, standing next to Igor, both observing this impromptu duel.
Crow lunged, his blade of light clashing against the serrated saber of the Black Mask. "I will not be held down any longer, not used by anyone," he shouted back, the Black Mask manifestation echoed it back in a raging distortion.
Sparks emitted from the blade before they leapt from the other, grasping their masks.
"PERSONA!"
Twin explosions of fire and light, albeit of opposing colors, filled the room.
On one side, a black and white haunted figure appeared, painful to look at and wielding a redhot saber. And on the other, a gallant figure with a golden bow. Blasts of light and dark clashed against the other and created an explosion. Through the smoke, the sound of blades clashing and laser blasts meeting silenced bullets was heard. The smoke was cleared with a might shockwave as Loki swung his sword, Robin Hood blocking it with his bow.
"Oracle, what's going on? Is Crow winning?" Queen asked loudly as the two opponents came at the other with everything they got. Oracle began typing on her boards of light, looking at the information in her goggles.
"They're evenly matched by themselves, but that Persona… Loki, he's stronger than Robin Hood. At the rate he's going, Crow may not be able to win," she shouted before another explosion occurred, the Velvet room shook from the opposing blasts of almighty energy.
"Goro Akechi is not against a Shadow, but something far more. However, he has one strength. And it all rests if he understands and grasps it," Lavenza noted cryptically.
"Come on, Crow! You got this!" Skull shouted though his body posture screamed he wanted to dart through the fire. "You can do it!" Panther added in follow up. "Damn it, don't lose!" Oracle couldn't help but cry out.
"Even with the Wild Card, Akechi is not able to draw his full strength. Plus, that Persona, Loki, it's been present for two years so it has the advantage there," Mona noted as another clash of blades happened then, the two glaring at the other.
"I'm gonna burn it down! Burn everything!" A distorted voice, not unlike a Shadow echoed, coming from the Black Mask as it swung the blade. "I survived! All by myself! I don't need teammates!" it continued to scream as Crow did his best to parry, but he was becoming agitated by the screaming of what he tried so hard to ignore.
He did not deny that darkness when he became aware of it. Yet, why could he not counter it?!
With a primal shriek, the Black Mask strike a blow on Akechi before spearing him with the saber. Akechi's cry of pain echoed out.
"Crow! We have to do something!" Noir cried out as the team looked barely unable to contain their concern.
"Joker, we need to-" Fox began saying before realizing Joker already sprinted toward the fire. He initially tried cutting through the flame, but it did nothing. It was a barrier.
"That barrier is keeping us out! It's like something to maintain a one on one match," Oracle noted. Joker grit his teeth before he changed his mask.
The Wild Card… if it was the power of bonds, then this should work…
The fire burned and then would shake from a powerful force...
Akechi felt himself struggling to counter the attacks of his Black Masked counterpart, even with the damage inflicted. He managed to match blow per blow on him. If he could made it all the way this far, by himself, then why couldn't he beat himself?
Blask Mask yelled, Loki charging at him with Laevatein. However, the burning blade did not strike Akechi, but clanged against another burning blade.
A blue angel stood there, dressed in a wine-colored garb and managing to parry the attack back. When Akechi looked up, he saw the familiar black coat.
It was Joker, offering a hand up.
"J-Joker? Why? I said I needed to do this by myself!" Crow asked as he got up, refusing Joker's hand.
"Master, how did he get in?!" Lavena asked, still surprised at how Ren's Persona forced its way through the barrier.
"The power of bonds… of his bond with his fellow Wild Card wielder," Igor responded to her, impressed with the display before him.
"I… appreciate the help, but I won't be able to defeat him if-," Akechi began saying before something cut him off.
Joker's fist hitting his face.
Everyone, even Blask Mask, fell still silent as the sound of Joker's blow echoed through. And then, the silence broke from Ren's words.
"Damn it, Goro! Don't you get it? I'm your friend and I want to help you! You can't keep pushing people away!" Ren shouted at him, concern clear on his face.
Akechi's mind froze. Even in the midst of a duel, Ren defied it all to save him… to help him… what power let him do such a thing?
The Wild Card…
The Wild Card…
Ren called him… his friend. He called him Goro. He turned to the others, equal in concern before turning back to Ren.
All of their accomplishments, all of what they did, it was because they worked together. Fought together. They fought… not just for themselves… but for each other.
And it finally sunk in, to Goro Akechi…
He gripped his laser saber…
And he lunged at Black Mask.
"Are you so weak as to need his help?" Black Mask asked Akechi as he swung his sword, only to counter it.
"I am weak. And I'm an idiot! A blind, naive, fool!" Goro punctuated each word with a blow. Joker waited for his opportunity, but he saw the metamorphosis beginning to happen within Goro
"And why? Because I only ever thought of myself," he answered, cutting the Black Masked one off. "You were right about everything. I never denied it. That I got to where I was all by myself… but I was still alone. I did everything I could so people would want me around… except reach out to others," Goro said, causing the Black Mask to flinch.
"I did envy Ren. I envied how he drew others to himself, how was he able to do it when I wasn't? And the truth was… it was because he tried. Even when he had little, he gave his time… his effort… his life, into helping people… because that's how you are, right?" Goro asked rhetorically over to Joker, who stepped back, seeing it was finally sinking in for Goro Akechi.
"Me… I did it for myself, for my pain and mine alone… but no matter what I did, the pain never went away. Not until I met them, the Phantom Thieves. When I met them, joined them, fought alongside them, that was only when I felt relief. Even under pretenses of an arrangement… it was the first real bond I made," Goro noted, defensively blocking the increasingly frenzied swings of his counterpart.
"And what of our vengeance?!" Black Mask shouted before Goro countered it, refusing to surrender, even with his stamina wavering.
"And what of it?! It meant nothing. All our life, we thought mainly of ourselves… no better than our failure of a father. I thought I fought for justice, but the truth was I was lashing out in vengeance. To hurt him for what he did. To hurt everyone for letting it happen. I thought I made peace with that. But now, I realize what was it. Ren was the one fighting for justice… because it wasn't about retribution for individual pain… but assuring that the perpetrator could not harm other people, to bring peace to the victims. Vengeance is selfish… and justice is selfless. And I am tired of being selfish! I refuse to do that anymore," Goro responded, infuriating his other self.
Black Mask screamed. Screamed at the words Goro Akechi was speaking. Loki appeared, saber in hand before lunging at Ren.
Before Ren could defend himself, Goro Akechi took the hit, screaming out loud.
"Why? Why? Why?!" Black Mask just shouted, trying to shove the blade through Akechu to pierce Ren.
"Because… he… he is my friend. My rival. The first person I could really connect with. The one who never gave up on me. I won't make the mistakes of the past anymore. I won't live just for myself anymore," he said, his hands becoming bloody from clutching the blade.
"Crow!" Joker shouted as he prepared to summon his Persona.
"Enough Joker. You did for me than anyone else. All of you did. But this time… I want to return the favor. To be there for you like you were for me! Not out of duty or obligation, but because you are my friend! I swear it!" Crow shouted as he forced Black Mask's blade out of him.
And then, blue light glowed from Crow's mask and Robin Hood began glowing.
Lavenza beamed at the sight of transformation, at Crow finally grasping the true power of the Wild Card:
"I am thou...thou art I…
Thou hast turned a vow into a blood oath.
Thy bond shall become the wings of rebellion
and break the yoke of thy heart.
Thou has awakened to the ultimate secret
of the Justice, granting thee infinite power"
Joker felt it… his bond with Goro grow… the two who were chosen by an ill-fate, bond by circumstance, but now choose to be each other's friend and rival. The two Wild Cards exchanged a look of solidarity and the power that came with it. But it was not just his power… but Goro's too.
Robin Hood grasped chains around him, chains that became visible in the growing blue light. One by one, the team's face changed into awe and some with glee as they realized what was happening. Robin Hood broke the chains and the blue embers exploded. The bow snapped before it transformed into a grand flare of something being tempered, like iron becoming steel.
A new figure stood there.
He was a tall and masculine figure, with flesh as if made of glowing silver, his youthful face filled with audacity yet wisdom. He has a large and flowing green mantle wrapped about him and attached was a large stylized broach made of pure while silver, a stylized "L" carved on it. He wore a tunic of royal satin with green-gold insertion reaching to his knees. He wore stylized armored boots with horseshoes on the shins along with a golden helmet that covered the top half of his face, the eyeholes glowing like miniature suns. Held in his left hand, which had a more pronounced gauntlet was a powerful spear, born from Robin Hood's former bow while the bowsring wrapped around fire to create a mighty sling, attached on a belt on the tunic. On his right hand was a black shield with a metal sun on it. Other weapons, such as a forked javelin and a blade was on his back.
It was a new Persona. Goro Akechi's Ultimate Persona.
Lugh, Master of All Arts
"This power… this… this is the power of bonds. Of my bonds!" Crow shouted as the Persona flared up in strength.
"Let's end this now, Lugh!"
Goro Akechi cried out as Lugh lunged and threw beams of light that pierced Loki before Goro went and swung his blade down on the Black Mask.
Black Mask cried out as lunged toward the fire. "I will… always be there… you won't be rid of me!" he growled at Goro Akechi. "You misunderstand. That is precisely the point," Goro said, shocking the Phantom Thives.
"I am me, all of my virtues and vices." Goro said as he walked over to Blask Mask, crumpled and defeated while Lugh towered over Loki.
"You have done well, Goro Akechi. To truly discover the power of bonds," Lavenza told him, genuine pride in her voice while Igor clapped.
The team came over when the ring of fire silenced and fell out.
"So that's your Persona's ultimate form," Skull commented, looking at Lugh levitating. "He's got a lot of power and some strong skills," Oracle claimed, analyzing with legitimate excitement in her voice.
"What shall we do about him? Will he be contained here?" Fox asked while Goro went to ask Joker something. Joker's eyes lit up as he understood what he was wanting to accomplish.
"It would mean you wouldn't have to be worried about him anymore," Panther added before Goro shook his head. "No, that would be running away. Even if he was brought to life by this malicious entity, it was still me. My rage. My sorrow. To run from that would be irresponsible of me," he said. "Even if he was locked here forever, it would not bring back everyone who died or undo the damage. Honestly, I do not know if anything would atone for it," Goro added, his vision briefly trailed toward Oracle and Noir.
"However, I must still try and atone for it… for everything. And the first step, is for to accept my part in all of this," Goro noted before Lugh suddenly slammed his spear through Loki's blade and onto Loki red-hot blade turned blue as it merged with the spear, finishing its transformation. Loki turned into strands of energy and flowed into Lugh. Joker realized it was like when he would sacrifice the power of one Persona into the other.
"So what are we?" Blask Mask as his mask had been gone, leaving Goro to stare at his own face. "An avenger. A bringer of justice. An atoner," Goro answered before Ren cut in.
"A Phantom Thief," Ren added before putting his mask on. They had one final job to do after all.
Goro embraced the Black Masked figure, who dissolved into a smoke, coloring Goro's outfit. The princely white outfit stained with the black before blending to become neither white nor black but slate gray. The gold tassles and buttons became a duller silver while the bright red accents darkened into a rich burgundy.
Lugh glowed and transformed into Goro's mask; the elongated beak now thicker and curvier, the red becoming the color of maroon.
Crow put on his mask before looking at the Thieves. "Apologies for the interruption. But I do believe that our final heist needs to be completed," he told them, all of them nodding agreement.
"Well done, and one final task awaits… take back your world from the false god," Lavenza told them before Igor smiled and chuckled.
"There is nothing to fear. You have proven that you already possess the strength to take down this evil god. I am looking forward to your victory," Igor told them, bidding them good luck as the fully united Phantom Thieves raced to the exit.
Author Notes:
I have been waiting to get this chapter for so long! Hell, the main reason this started was because of my beliefs that Robin Hood would've evolved into Lugh.
Lugh is the Irish God of oaths, justice, the sun, nobility and some other things. He's known as being the master of many skills and crafts. However, he was also a trickster god according to various sources. So a trickster, a bringer of justice and someone very skilled?
That fits Goro Akechi to a T. Plus, he comes from the same sort of region as Robin Hood.
Here would be Lugh's in-game description, courtesy of help from the Mythopedia website . I'll bring his stats next chapter!
Lugh- Ultimate Persona of Goro Akechi
"The Irish god of oaths, Lugh was a master of crafts and a cunning warrior. He served as the god of justice with his judgement being swift and without mercy. He was also a trickster who was willing to lie, cheat, and steal to overcome his opponents."