6 / 8 / 2016

Niijima gives a curious look as she shifts a lock of hair behind her ear, "The method of transportation still eludes me."

"What do you mean?" asks Takamaki."I mean...it's a smartphone navigation app. Aren't there any dangers associated with it?"

"Like what?" Yoshizawa asks her.

"We don't know where it came from. It showed up on my phone without any input from me. That said...being a navigation app, couldn't someone easily access our history on the server?"

Yoshizawa and Takamaki look like their stomachs have dropped. Maruki's eyes widen and he turns to me. I put a hand over my head and wonder how the hell to word myself next.

"Wait, why are you looking at me like that...?" Niijima tilts her head curiously, a dawning horror in her eyes, "Has no one thought of this before?"

"Well, I dunno shit about this app thing, but Kazuya does," cat turns to me. "He's the first I've seen use it."

Everyone turns to me. Maruki in particular looks like he's anxious to see how I'll do this.

"It's supernatural in nature. It immediately enters your phone once you're brought into a cognitive world. Like how I brought you into Kaneshiro's Palace; like how I brought Takamaki into Kamoshida's Palace. Kinda arbitrary. It's to the point where if you throw your phone away and get a new one, the app'll just magically reappear. I don't know exactly how it came into being, but it wasn't made by any ordinary means. Doubtful we'll have to worry about servers and the like."

Niijima frowns, "Well, it's true that an app that allows you to enter another world isn't exactly commonplace...still. It's not exactly a comforting thought. What should we do now?"

I do a once-over. Station's packed with people, but none of them are within close enough distance to get caught in the app along with us. At least as far as I can tell. On the walkway overlooking the rest of the plaza, we are ignored, just as we ought to be.

"This'll take longer than Kamoshida's Palace, just so you know," Cat says. "You bypassed securing a route to the Treasure then. This time, we'll actually have to forge that path for ourselves. Little in the way of shortcuts. Enemies everywhere. Every time you turn a corner expect to make a bloodbath on the other side. There can be no room for cowardice or compromise. Anyone not dressed in a weird costume needs to be taken out."

I face them all, Niijima in particular, "We can go right now, if you're all ready."

"Ready," says Takamaki.

Yoshizawa exhales, "Me, too."

I turn to Maruki, who just nods, "I'll do my best to help you all."

And Niijima. "Let's go."

I nod.

Beginning Navigation.

"Wait, what!?"

We're in the fucking lobby of the bank.

And it isn't even a second before a fly dressed in a black vest and wielding a baton screams like it's just witnessed us murder a baby.

"SATANAEL!"

The fly explodes right before our eyes and an alarm blares out right then and there. The longer we stay here the sooner they'll all come, accompanied by him of fucking course, so we gotta make our way outta here.

"Oh, no," mutters Maruki.

Though the room is bereft of pigs and their corpses and the bloodstains I'd left previously, there're more than enough guards here to let me know it'll be shitty for us to try and gunning everyone again like I'd done previously. The other flies in the lobby jerk their heads to us in a motion so sudden I'm surprised they haven't snapped their necks.

"Cat. What do we do?"

"I-I can sense a Safe Room nearby! We'll have to run there and wait out the alarm! Follow me!"

"Sukukaja!"

Satanael disperses as we all follow the cat into a T-shaped hallway opposite the one where Kaneshiro's goons had directed us towards. The path forward is empty, a distorted set of double doors at the very end, and we hear the horrible static cry out from behind us as the flies encroach. What had been about a handful in the middle of the lobby have grown into dozens, and I'm about to blast them all away again but I realize that they're so fucking slow-

Not slow enough to not catch up to us if we're sloppy. But we're not fucking sloppy, we're terrified and enraged and wanting to end this fucker's life like nothing on Earth.

At least, that's me.

We break into the Safe Room and we're all of us rather exhausted and scared already, the alarm's horrible roar continuing to blare even through here. I slam the doors right shut and we all just take a few breaths to relax a moment. Yoshizawa looks like she's gotten sick herself, so she doesn't say much at all. Maruki huddles into a corner with her quietly, a hand on her back as he tries to calm her down.

Room is wide enough for six people. Storage closet, with boxes and buckets and shelves containing boxes and buckets. Dried blood and shit on the walls, a single flourescent lightbulb hovering above.

A good portion of my wants to collapse under my own weight by the time we all throw ourselves inside. Like a jackhammer goes my chest, a headache sealing away any coherent thought for about a minute and a half. Every three seconds I see Kana somewhere and every four I feel her hairs wrapping around my arms. Do not pass out do not get a panic attack do not fucking lose it here and now or else everyone will look at you like you need a fucking hug—

"A-are you sure this room will hold them off!?" Niijima cries out.

"Positive," says the cat. "It's a Safe Room."

"Safe Room?" For an instant, a crowd of people is transposed over the room, huddled into masses at Shibuya Station. "What's going on...?"

"Cognition's low here. Blind spots, even in his subconscious trappings. Long as we're in rooms like this, we might as well not even exist to the Shadows at large."

She turns inquisitive instantly, "Will that change as soon as we exit the room?"

"Perhaps. If an enemy sees us. Right now, the best we can do is wait until the alarm ends. Kaneshiro can just spawn in more soldiers outta the blue, so if we make too much of a ruckus he can just send in cavalry after cavalry."

"Why're we inside the bank already!?" cries Takamaki. "How did we-!?"

"We're his patrons now," I groan. "Okay. He's cut the middle man out, it seems."

"What!?"

"In the time between me getting a bottle smashed over my head and now, he's decided that we count as his customers. You, and me, and Niijima, and Yoshizawa, and Sakamoto, and Maruki, and perhaps a good number of your family members and friends. He's internalized the fact that we're his customers now. We're not just allowed entry into his Palace. We're a part of the bank by default. Whatever mental filter he'd used to block us out before is gone, now."

"S-so then...," Takamaki shifts a hand through one of her twintails, "oh my God. Even our families, then..."

"Wait," Niijima scratches her head, "how did Morgana enter along with us, then?"

Cat looks at itself, at its paws, and shrugs. "I'm special, I guess. I can enter Palaces without the app, after all."

"Are you sure you're human?" I ask it.

"Hundred and ten percent. Now! Y'all okay?"

"What was that...?" Niijima breathes. "I felt like the whole world went...slower..."

"That's Maruki for ya. That said," cat turns to him, "you alright there?"

He nods, turning to us, voice mildly strained, "Fine, but...a little...winded, all things considered."

"Winded? Already?" cat stares at him, narrows his big fat eyes for like a second. "Hmm, I see. Your exhaustion. It won't last very long."

"What do you mean?" I ask it.

"Kaja and Unda spells work wonders, but he only had enough in the tank for one of you. He spread out the spell to all of you. It's still effective but not as effective as it would be on a single target."

"He can't do more than one?"

"No. Not right now, anyway."

I grab the cat right then and shake him to and fro, "And you said he could kick my Persona's ass!?"

"HEY! Doesn't matter how much damage you could take if you're fast enough to dodge it! Likewise, it doesn't matter how much damage you dish out if you miss all the time! That's why Maruki's Persona will help us kick this guy's ass! Never underestimate buffs and debuffs or you'll die like a dumbass when everyone around you is dead and they hit you so hard you'll wish you died instantaneously-!"

"Alright alright, I get the point," I drop it.

Niijima, Takamaki, Yoshizawa, and Maruki looks at it strangely. It breathes, "Sorry. Got a little carried away."

"Could you explain to me what the strategy is for this mission?" Niijima turns to me.

"Secure a route to the Treasure. Get out. Trigger a reaction out of him in the real world. Get back in and steal the Treasure."

Niijima eyes me, surprised, "That's all we have to work with?"

"Remember, we only got in the fucking bank two days ago. From here on its unknown territory."

Incredulously she cries, "Was this the same strategy you had, when you pulled the heists on Kamoshida and Kobayakawa's Palaces? Is there no other baseline information about Palaces that could make the whole search easier on us?"

"In general, Palaces and their structures differ from person to person. There really is no way to determine how easy it is to find a route to the Treasure unless you make that route yourself...or bypass it, like we did with Kamoshida."

Yoshizawa growls, "Like you did."

"Like I did. Unfortunately I can't drag Kaneshiro into his own Palace, nor can my Persona just steamroll through the place easily like I did in Kobayakawa's Palace. So we'll have to sneak our fucking way around like rats, this time around. All things considered, it helps if we have a grasp on exactly what flavor of crazy this guy is."

"So it really is just trial and error until we make the right path forward, then?" asks Maruki.

"If there even is a path forward. Considering how fucking picky this guy is about patrons, I wouldn't put it past him to have put some kind of mental blockade surrounding the Treasure."

"Wait. Both of you," Maruki says suddenly.

"What?"

"Why don't you try telling me about Kaneshiro? I might be able to provide a little more insight into how his mind works."

I tilt my head, "Would second-hand information help you that much?"

"Getting as firm a grasp on this person's cognition will undoubtedly help us in the long run more than it could hurt us. It might even help us manage our way through whatever blockades might still remain in this Palace."

Cat turns to us, "Can't hurt to give it a try."

Niijima and I look at each other. She goes first, "I came to know about Kaneshiro after a student from Shujin found herself indebted to him. He's ruthless; he only targets teenagers who can't fight back or return the debts they owe, and he's bold enough to continue exploiting these children even when one of his employees had been caught red-handed distributing drugs."

"But he's also got an ego," I tell him. "He doesn't like it when people have the audacity to cross him or confront him. His Shadow had told us it isn't a matter of money that he does what he does. He has a...hunger. He says he has to make a message out of people who get in his way. Eat them before they eat him. Survive longer than the guy who wants to put barbed wire up your ass."

Maruki closes his eyes. "That's all you know, then?"

"Yes."

"Narcissistic personality disorder seems the obvious diagnosis, but what makes me curious is the hunger aspect. From what you're telling me, he words his motives for his cruelty as being out of necessity. He has to be this way. He thinks this so strongly that it manifests itself in his subconscious. There has to be a reason why."

"What reason could he possibly have?" asks Yoshizawa. "Perhaps he's just...screwed-up in the head. So screwed up he views people this way; as customers to be used and abused."

"He'd indicate he does what he does because he wants to. Because it pleases him, which I'm sure on some level, he does. But he says he has to do it. I'm not as familiar with this person as you both are, but if I'm to hazard a guess, something happened to him which encourages him to keep on feeding his hunger. As if it's the only thing keeping him alive. He's not hungry for money, the money's a stepping stone. He's hungry for control, for power, he wants people to fear him. As if he'd been starved of control or power or respect for all his life, beforehand."

"Fucking heartbreaking," I groan as I shake my aching head.

Niijima cuts in, "So you figure this's probably a result of projection?"

"I figure he has a deep-seated desire to get as far away as possible from being deprived of anything that gives him power over others. So much so he's willing to recklessly push himself and his business forward in order to not only maintain it, but keep it growing. He's desperate, but he's not willing to feel that desperation. I'm afraid that's all I can determine, right now."

Cat says, "That actually might help us, when the time comes to trigger a reaction out of him in the real world. It remains to be seen how that knowledge can help us now, though."

Niijima shuffles some hair behind her ear (again), pursing her lips, "Maybe there is a way we can make it easier on ourselves..."

"What're you thinking?" I ask her.

"When you and I were brought in here the first time, they gave you a brochure which contained a map of the place, right?"

I pat myself all over, "I don't have it on me anymore. Must've despawned when we exited the Palace the first time."

"If this place is a bank...wouldn't there be a security room?" she asks. "If so, then perhaps we'll be able to find a map of the place there. If not, we'll be able to look through security cameras to be able to determine a rough path forward. If Kaneshiro believes that the entirety of the station is his bank, then he'd have, or at least want to have, a strong grasp on where exactly everything is. If he's so desperate for control, then we can assume that much."

I put a hand to my chin. "That's actually not a bad idea."

"If it does exist," Maruki mutters. "What if he has such a strong understanding of Shibuya already that he doesn't even need a security room?"

"You think that's possible?" asks Yoshizawa.

"He's done this for many years now," he says. "Worst-case scenario: he believes himself to have such a powerful hold over the station and the people inside, that his understanding of Shibuya manifests itself in the bank as a whole. In this case, he wouldn't need cameras to watch over anything inside the bank. Despite his guards."

"He operates in a very hands-off fashion," Niijima tells her. "Because he has to. He can't risk showing himself too much. His whole operation relies on secrecy. He has his people looking for potential customers for him, informing him of anything in Shibuya he could use to his advantage. He depends on them for his understanding of the station itself. I believe that it's more likely he has some kind of cognitive security room than if he doesn't."

"What do you think?" Takamaki asks me.

Never thought I'd say this so soon, but, "Niijima's theory feels the likelier of the two, but we're still in a bind. If there is a security room, we'll still actually need to find our way there. There's no telling if there even is one on this floor, or if it's on the floors below us. If we do find it, we'll encounter resistance along the way, most likely bring attention to ourselves. But running around all over the place isn't the safest option either."

Cat says, "I say we work our way through the Palace one Safe Room at a time. Sneak past people as much as we can. Beat Shadows in secluded areas and make sure to not draw attention to ourselves. If we find a security room we see what we can do from there."

"I don't like having to sneak around all over the place...," Niijima sighs. "But we'll have to make do with what we've got."

I breathe. "We should wait till the alarm stops, before heading out."

"How long do you think it'll take before it stops?" asks Takamaki.

"Might be hours, honestly," I sigh.

"Hours!?"

"Considering how I killed hundreds of his men beforehand, I wouldn't put it past Kaneshiro."

"Dammit."

"Oh yeah!" Cat whirls around to face us all. "I need to give you guys codenames!"

Niijima winces, "Do you have to?"

"Totally! What kinda thieves their real names during a heist? Sides, there's no telling what effect yelling out your real names'll have on the Palace Ruler."

I narrow my eyes at it, "Tell us now, after three fucking Palaces."

"In fairness things were super hectic in the past few heists, gimme a break."

"At this point, Kaneshiro's Shadow already knows all our names."

"True true, but, another reason people use codenames in the first place is because it helps make things easier when ordering people around. Especially when the codenames have less syllables than your actual names. And in the end...," It folds its arms, "you gotta have at least a little fun when it comes to this stuff."

Oh my God.

"Very well, then," Niijima sighs, "what should our codenames be?"

Cat whips out a paw and points directly to me, "Joker."

Everyone turns to me. Takamaki's the first to ask, "Why Joker?"

"Because he's our trump card when it comes to fighting strength! Besides, it fits. He has a habit of laughing like a maniac."

Yoshizawa actually pfffts at that.

"I do not."

"Yes, you do," Takamaki sighs, playing with one of her tails. "Sometimes, it's a little unnerving."

"It's not that bad, is it?" Everyone except Maruki shares this odd, scolding kind of look. "Fine. Joker. Whatever."

This is embarrassing.

"Next!" He points to Takamaki, "Pigtails!"

"No."

"Well, I've got nothing, then," Cat shrugs.

"What do you want to be called?" asks Niijima.

Takamaki looks a little annoyed, but ponders for a bit. "I'd like it to be something associated with this mask..."

Her outfit's a crude skintight leather suit that leaves a little space open in her chest; her mask, on the other hand, is a lot more regal. Colombina mask, stark red with silver accents along the edges. It belongs to royalty in a ballroom. But fuck, calling her Noblewoman anytime we'll need her to do something will be tiresome, and I'm not calling her Majesty, because fuck that. Needs something that flows a little more easily.

"Lady," I mutter.

"What?" she asks me.

"Dunno. Lady kinda suits you, I think."

"Lady...," she touches at her mask, smiling a little. "I actually like the sound of that. Okay. I'm all in."

Cat groans, "Urgh, don't be a simp," before pointing to Yoshizawa, "You! You're gonna be called—"

"Call me Mist."

"Already on the uptake! Nice."

"You were about to call me Thighs, weren't you."

"No, I'm a gentleman. I was gonna call you Ponytail."

"Mist. Please, God, Mist."

Takamaki asks her, "Doesn't Kasumi translate out to Mist?"

"Yeah," she sighs. "Not exactly too concerned about names."

"And you, rookie!" it points to Niijima. "You're gonna be... hmm."

"Wh-what...?"

"Shoulder Pads?"

"You're terrible at this," she tells it.

"Well this is a bit sudden, gimme a sec!" it mutters, scanning her black leather outfit before meeting that cold and commanding look the mask gives her eyes. "Dominatrix!"

If they hadn't brought up my habit of laughing fits earlier, I'd have keeled over and heaved out my fucking lungs, like Takamaki's close to doing. Niijima's expression is more than enough for me, as it stands. "I refuse to be called that!"

Yoshizawa tilts her head, "What about, Rider?"

"Sounds too much like a smuggler."

"What about Prez?" asks Maruki.

"I'd rather not. I deal with people calling me Prez all the time in school. It's annoying."

"Queen."

Everyone turns to me.

I blink, rubbing the back of my head, "Thought it'd fit."

Maruki just smirks at me a little.

"I like it," smiles Yoshizawa.

"Interesting name for our team leader," smiles the cat, turning to Niijima. "What do you think?"

She turns to me, still looking a little antsy, but in the end turns back to everyone and says while nodding,"I actually like the sound of Queen. It has a nice ring to it. Alright, then. I like it. Let's go with that."

Why does she look so embarrassed to say that?

"You're Bishop," cat turns to Maruki.

"Bishop?"

"That big metal plate over your head, plus the robes on your shoulders. Bishop."

He blinks. "O-okay. I'm alright with that."

"Glad to hear it. And you're the leader!" it points to me.

Niijima and I both sound like we're being strangled as we say simultaneously, "What?"

"His Persona's stronger than everyone else's combined. He's the first and last line of defense."

"We're trying to keep this guy alive, this time around," I tell the cat. "And you want me to lead the charge?"

"You're the strongest out of us. I don't hold a candle to you. I can't lead you guys, I got myself stuck in Kamoshida's Palace the day I entered. I'm just good at explaining shit about the Vortex World whenever it comes up. Maruki's a pretty good candidate, but he's squeamish. You, on the other hand, got us Kamoshida's Treasure in two days and were able to get your principal's all by yourself. Who else could lead?"

I turn immediately towards Niijima. Of course, she's surprised.

"What?" Niijima asks.

"Are you serious?" Takamaki cries.

"I would ask Maruki to lead, but he has no offensive capabilities." I turn to him, "No offense, but..."

"None taken," he raises his hands up, "I'm not a fighter. I doubt I'd be a useful tactician, anyway."

"Why her?" Takamaki cuts in. "After everything she's done, you wanna have her lead us!?"

"Listen—"

"No, you listen! Because of her, you had a bottle smashed over your head. She blackmailed us, blackmailed you, put us all in the sights of a psychotic gangster and his cronies, and because she wanted to be useful Ryuji got hit by a goddamn car. What the hell makes you think, after all that, that she's someone worth following or even being listened to!?"

Takamaki's words are harsh, but true. Niijima's agonized expression makes clear she's not going to try defending herself any longer.

I'm surprised, though I've no reason to be, when she tells me, "Perhaps it would be best if you led the team. You've more experience with all this than I do. And...I doubt I'd be able to live up to your expectations."

"I say this without any shred of exaggeration. If I were to lead this team, I would kill every single last one of you. This is a certainty. I would lead you to your deaths, not because I want you dead, but because no matter how powerful my Persona is, or how experienced I am. The fact of the matter is... I'm not in control of most of my faculties."

Of course, Maruki's concerned. "Kazuya."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Niijima asks me.

"You remember what I told you? Sometimes I remember things, sometimes I don't?"

Her eyes widen. "Wait, so...you...?"

"In the heat of everything, when I really really get into it, I feel like I'm looking at myself from somewhere else, watching everything happen. I'm not... in control of myself, then. At least, not entirely. I don't know what I'd do if I ever fully gave in and lost myself. Especially now—" I cough a little, wheezing a little of my soul out.

"Hikawa-san—"

"—if there's anyone here who shouldn't lead you all, I'm your biggest candidate," I hiss out, making a few harsh noises as I clear my throat.

"And you's rather have her lead us?" Takamaki growls. "Her recklessness got us into this mess in the first place!"

"But it also got us a way inside the Palace, senpai!" Yoshizawa asserts.

"You trust her, Kazuya?" asks Maruki. "I-I mean...Joker."

"I do. If anything, she's shown that when she really puts her mind to it, she's capable of a whole host of shit."

Niijima cuts back in. "So you want me to...?"

"If you're willing," I exhale. "If not, I'll take it."

Makoto Niijima is irritatingly stubborn, dangerously strong-willed, desperate for validation, and hopelessly stuck in some misguided sense of self-righteousness. She got herself and us involved in this mess. Not just because her acquaintance had been victimized by Kaneshiro. Not because of some personal grudge against the man. But because she saw people in need, and wanted to help them.

I do not believe that there ever is such a thing as a good person. But if there is, then I'd say Makoto Niijima comes pretty close. For better, and for worse.

That is why, if one of us has to lead this team, and be responsible for the lives of everyone here, I would count on her in a heartbeat. Despite everything she's done, I trust her more than I could ever trust myself, in that respect.

"I trust her," Yoshizawa says.

"Yoshizawa—"

She interrupts Takamaki, "You're not an innocent in all this, either, Takamaki-senpai."

"Excuse me?"

"You hated being the object of rumors about Kamoshida. But you heard gossip about how Niijima knew about what he'd done and you instantly assumed she'd turned a blind eye or helped cover it up. You could have been there for Suzui-senpai, you could've worked to get the two of you away from him but you didn't. You didn't even raise an arm against him, until it was too late."

Takamaki looks furious, but then she sees Yoshizawa's knees trembling, and she pulls herself back.

"You didn't have a choice, then. Neither did she. And the ones responsible are now dead or might as well be. I'm willing to put my faith in Niijima-senpai because I'm willing to fight for someone who cares about helping innocent people," and she glares at me when she says, "more than getting rid of guilty ones."

Maruki's in the background of all this, looking all awkward and shit. But he's the one to break the ensuing silence after Yoshizawa's spiel: "Why don't you both lead?"

Niijima and I turn to him, saying simultaneously, "What?"

"I-it's just a thought I had...I think you two would work well together."

Cat smiles, "Not a bad idea, newbie. Joker is exceptionally powerful, but has little self-control. Queen's abilities can make up for his weaknesses and temper whatever hate-boner he's got building up inside. Judging from my little spying runs around their school, I'd say they're both preeetty smart. Joker bypassed Kamoshida's Palace in a matter of days when it should've taken weeks, while Queen was able to drag this selfish and sadistic asshole under her heel because she knew exactly how his mind worked."

I fold my arms and narrow my eyes at it, "I'm not selfish. I'm self-centered."

"What's the difference?" asks Niijima.

"There's a big difference!" cries Maruki.

"As it stands," the cat cuts back in, "individually, the both of you can fail pretty hard. But together, you can make up for what the other person lacks. I think a joint leadership would actually do this team some good."

I turn to Niijima, as she does to me. The hesitation's still there. But she's put on a much grimmer, severe sort of expression; it suits her, far more than the uncertainty, self-pity, and anxiety that painted her face in days past. She purses her lips, her eyes lighting up again as she lends me her hand. "I'm willing if you are."

I raise a brow at her, letting the barest hint of a grin edge across the left side of my mouth, as I take her hand.

"Alright then!" says the cat. "It's settled! Queen and Joker shall lead this merry band of Phantom Thieves!"

"Wait, if all of us have codenames, what should we call you, then?" Niijima asks the cat.

"I don't know my real name, anyway. Don't remember. Morgana's the name I came up with, for myself."

"R-right..."

Suddenly, the alarm begins fading in volume. All of us fall silent as we hear the last few noises ring across the bank. Once it goes silent we wait for one minute, then two, then let the emptiness stretch out to five. Then the world shakes as rumbling noises push past the door, a stampede unto itself. By the time the stampede ends we develop something close to confidence. Niijima turns to all of us, nodding before she places a hand upon the door, pushing it slightly ajar.

Just enough for it not to make a sound, enough for her and me to see through.

A thousand humming noises, all of which pierce our ears and fill the whole world. We see what seems to be dozens to hundreds of fly-men, packing the whole of the lobby. Some hovering above, others buzzing all around each other, a black miasma. Huddled all together. Through the monstrous masses we see him, dressed in his golden robes. His eyes blazing, the rage and the hunger shining through violently, ecstatically. He is kneeling down, examining the corpse of the fly I'd slain, placing a hand upon its exposed insides.

The insectoid creature whose body I'd rendered into pieces retains human organs, despite itself; something we see clearly as Kaneshiro downs its intestines, its lungs, its heart in a matter of gulps. He does not chew, it appears his throat and gullet expands simply to accept whatever he inserts into his mouth. It's a quick process, mere seconds for every single bone and organ and muscle fiber to slip down his esophagus, but it is far too clean for its own good. When he is finished he licks up even the floor, such that not a single droplet of blood remains.

He says "Disappear," and that alone sends the flies into a frenzy, and the stampede begins again as Niijima practically slams shut the door once more.

The stampede lasts only a minute. After we tell everyone what we saw, we all agree to wait it out for ten more.

When we find it in ourselves to finally exit the room, we're surprised to find that no alarms blare whatsoever. No flies pervade the place, nor do any pig-men. Niijima and I take the first steps outward, the others following behind us, and in the center of the lobby lies a familiar-looking creature.

The Cat tells us it's hostile, but it's something you'd know just from looking at it; friendly is the last word I'd use to describe it. Slowly we make our approach. Can't afford to expend energy now, not when a single shot from Satanael makes me this fucking angry and tired. Every single attack counts.

It turns its head slowly, but the motion is so bizarrely slick that its as though a record player lies at the base of its neck. The creature is absurdly, morbidly obese, to the point where its torso is virtually a hillock comprised of folds upon folds of flesh. Multiple nipples and breast-like features dot its pallid mounds, its arms and legs being spindly little things that flop around like ribbons in the wind.

About the only thing that even resembles a person is its face. A face that I, Niijima, and the other Shujin students recognize all too well as that of our principal.

"Kobayakawa...," mutters Niijima.

The blob sees us, sees us all and his head lurches forward; the neck stretches and creaks groans as his face leans in; his stare is empty, his eyes unable to look at us and always looking through us. A rattling noise emerges from his fat bulbous throat for like a minute and a half, growing so overwhelmingly loud that we're forced to cover our fucking ears, the rattle fades into a scream which fades into words which don't sound like words unless you listen:

T̓͜HE̳̓ L̢̢̅̈́OR̘͍̕͡D͕̚ Õ̹̜͂F̘̙̉͝ A͓̎L̥͚̔́L̓͢ TH̫̥̽͂Ȧ̬̠̍T̡̨̏͠ F̘̲̒͘L̐͟I̭͇͐͞ES̯̰̋̇ H͙̓A̡̽S̺͐̽͜ D̨̻͐͝E̢͞CĹ̳̙͞A͉͛̎ͅR̪̦̒̕E͎̽D̞̿ T͔͇̈͡HḀ̛T͍̲͑̎ T͔̕Ȟ̠̗̀OS͍̋E W̟̄H͈͉̓̍O̩̠̐̄ WO̹͆U̲̾L̘̈́D̩͈̂͋ DA͇͑R̪͕̓́E̼͋ SE̟͎̾̅EK̛̹͚̇ H̨͛̾͟Į̟͛̔S̤͋ T͉̫̈́͠RȄ̬̰̅Ȃ͔S̬̊U͔̳̓̏RE̡̝̽͌ M̼̚U̖̚Š͉̚ͅT C̺̗̄̓O̥̓Ǹ̬SU̯̾MÉ̻,̩̱͒̊ O̬̳͐̐R̜̕ B̹̓E C̡͐Ò̭N̼̉Ş̻͊͝Ṳ͝ME̤͎͂́D̳̍.̧͓̑̄

I smirk. "Bizarre how Kaneshiro's cognition of Kobayakawa shows him as far less of a coward. Were he more accurate, you'd have a thousand guards at your side protecting you."

Ṇ̏̀O͍͆͜ G̛͈ͬƯ̗̓A̟ͫ́R͕͌́D͍̿͜S̷̙ͮ.̣̓͡ Y̫̔͞Ǫ̝̐U̝͑̀ W̵̬ͧO̴̥͌Ǘ̝̀L̲̉͢D̴̗ͩ S̰̈́͝L̘ͬ̀A̝̓͟Ų͈ͣG̢̘͊H͉̚͝T̻̍̕E͓ͥ͘R̜̅͟ T̢̲̓Ĥ͓͢Ȅ̮͡M̭̔͡.̖̂͞ T̡͕ͣĤ̛͙I̯ͮ͢Ș̃͘ I̱͌͞Š̴̙ B̛͔ͬĚ̘͝T̴͉ͩW̴͔̍Eͤ҉̗E̴̫ͤN̼͛͜ Y̵ͩͅO̼̍͢Ų̺̐Ṙ̸̥Š̠͜Ȇ̡̮L̹̂͝F̵̣ͯ A͓̾͝Ņ̱ͨD̸̺̅ Mͮ҉̫Y̷̞ͤS͉ͤ͜E̞͊̀L̬͊͝F̢̣͌.͛҉̜

"Wh-what is this!? Why's your principal here!?" Maruki cries, covering his ears.

"This is what Kaneshiro thinks Kobayakawa is!"

"What!?" cries Niijima.

F̼͆O̭͑Ȏ̦̉͢Ḻ̡̄͌I̻͒S̑͟H C̺͚̏̈́Hİ̲L͚͌̊ͅḐ̼̌̄R͎̬̄̉E̩͊N̢̼̈͑ W͓̲͋͡H͚̓O S͎̯̀͑Ȇ̟̟̅Ȩ̛Ķ̏́͜ DE͚̪͌̔Ǎ͎͕͞T͕́H̨̤́͠;͎͔̒̈ T̂̀H́͒E̿̋ L͋O̐̓̃R̀̓D̄̅͞ Ö́͊̋F̅ A͌L͂͝L T̀͡H̑̂A̓̅T̋̏ F͌LI͗E̍S̎̕ H̦̦̍͠AS D̡̾E̬͆̊͢E̲͆MĚ̪D̺͕̄̄ M̼͝Ȇ͟ E̡̬͌̂X͖͂P̖̽E̲̎NDA̟̒B̺͍̍͠Ĺ͈̖̈́Ẹ̽.̯̒̚͜ Ṯ̝̎͞H̯̘̉̕Ę̹̃́R̜͋Ē̡ C̞̱̋̎Ḁ̠͆͒N̳̉ B̡̩͛͗E̤̫͆͐ NÓ̰͕̈́ S̗̅AL̛̮̱̂VA̮͂T̬̔I͓̳͒̈Ǒ̪N̻̈;̺͞ Ǐ͖͎̕N̟̆ D̪̺͐̌E͚̽F̛̤͗͜Y͚͌IǸ͙G̡͚͑̒ Ĥ̹̼̏Ì̪Ś̻ Ẉ͂I̡̝̾̈Ļ͝L I Ḣ̙̲̿A̫̅VĘ̗̑̓ F͔͠O͍͊RF̛̤̭̄Ẽ̬I͍͝T̜̊̐ͅE͆͢D̻́ M̥̈Y Ĺ̼̜̌I̦̣͒̈́F̙̉E. I̡͌F̡͊ I H̛̟Ā̝̲̐Ḓ̖̽̋ Ņ͕̿͠O̲̙̿͠T̫̬͂̏ RE͚̱͋͋B͉͛E̛̙Ļ̖̌͋LE̫̋̆͟D̫̔ A̖̿G̫̪̒̊A̞̚Į̼́̅NS̺̓T̛̯ H͉̚I̡̾S̡͂ G̼͊L̳̾̉͟O̩͛R̯̉Y͍͓̽̈́ I W̗͛O̤̘̎͠U͇̐L̟̿D HAVE R̦̻̔͐E̯̓M͓͈̏̀À͚Į̄Ṋ̀ED Ẃ̡E͙͇̓̒L̙̖͛̾L͉̋-̛̲Ḟ̯ED͙̎ UŅ̋D̹̞͛̀E̤͘R̪̔ Ḩ͆̐͢I̘̯͛́S̛̝̤͋ E̲͌MPLÓ̤̠͂Y̡͂.̞̐

I grit my teeth, "Well maybe ya shouldn't have fucked around with yakuza in the first place."

ÏN̓ D̎E̍̽̉N͑͑I̓͞Ǎ̕L͊̚ O͒͠F͗͆̋ ȞIS͛͠ ŌW͆̀ǸÉ̽̇R̀̽SH̋I͌̏P̽͝ O̒V͒̓͝Ȅ̂R͛̓̅ MY̋ Ś̕ÓU͗L͗̐ Ĩ̾̚ F̂̌L̎͂͡ED̈́͐ A̾͘N̈́D̒͝͡ SO͐̋̕U̐̕G͌͛͗H̑̽͞T̾̈ R̓E͌F̈͒̒U͆̿G͋E̿̈̓ ÎN̉ T͊̕H̒͝É̒͘ L͌͞AW͛;̌̈ T͗̒ȞȆ͝ Ŝ͡Ṕ̂̓I̛͗ES̓ HE͑̋'̀͡D̂́ Ṕ͐L͗̌A͛̍N̽͐T̽̓E͌͘D T́̕O̓͝ W͊̆A͋T̈͑CH Ḿ͒̉Y͂̄̌ H͑̆OM̚E̊̓S̄͒̅T͆Ȇ̄A̍D͗́͠ B͊͆̄RȌU̽̀GH̛T͆ M̿͒È͠ T̈́͐Ó͐̄ M̌̓Y̎ D̈E͂̎͒ȦT̾Ĥ.͑ AN͒D̎ Y͊͠E̾̆͆T̈́̿ YOU̕͝ S͘ÉE̍̓͑K͐ T̚O D͆͠E͆́F͐Y̾ H̀Ḯ̔̔Ṁ͋̀,̉̄ Ă͐Š͆̕ I͆̌ H̏̉A̒̎̉D̉͞?̀ PR̿E͌̅P̀OS̔̚T͡ÉR͌͂̐O͒Ȗ͊S͆͑̆.̆̿

His spindly little arm grows to a grotesque size, veins and arteries popping out as it extends to the point where it carries more than twenty joints and is long enough to reach from one end of your room to another. His bony, veiny hand reaches into his mouth and rummages around the middle fold out of many in his gut, making squelching and sloshing noises that none of us will ever forget. In a matter of seconds he wrenches out a large roll of paper, covered in blood and fungi.

Ī̆́F̀̄ YO̽̚Ȗ̓ ARÉ̄ S͑́͑Ȏ̓͞ CŌ̚͡Û̔͘Ȓ̛̆AG̓EṎÚ͞S͌̃ A͗̈́̀S̃̉̂ T̎̈́̚O͊͋ T͛̀̽A͗͌K͊E U̎P̽ Ȃ̕RM͋̓͠S A̓GA͑͋̇Ḯ̊NST́̔ H̎IM,̾̀ B̆̕E̓̕C̓̓O͐͒ME͌̍͝ DE̕VÓ͋ÚŘE̓R̒S̈̕͠.͋͗͞ T̀͑̿H̀̕I͠S͛̑̀ M̊Å͊̚P C̅́O͗͂NT̔͠AI̚N̾͒̚Ś E̽̈́V̀E͒̃R͑̽͒Ÿ́́T͐́Ḧ̇I̅́̐N͛G̛͆̂ Ổ̌N̄ T̆H̕I̾S̕ F̑̏L̓O̿̐OR͊͛͛.̋͛ T̀͑̿H̀̕I͠S͛̑̀ M̊Å͊̚P C̅́O͗͂NT̔͠AI̚N̾͒̚Ś E̽̈́V̀E͒̃R͑̽͒Ÿ́́T͐́Ḧ̇I̅́̐N͛G̛͆̂ Ổ̌N̄ T̆H̕I̾S̕ F̑̏L̓O̿̐OR͊͛͛.̋͛ IT ÍȘ THE OǸLY ASPECT ÒF ḤIS ŞOŬL Ī ȈN ALĹ MY UNŴỎRTHǏNESS HAVĒ BEËN ALLOWẼD TO CARRY. ANYṮHǏṄG ŸÖU DO TO ME SHALL ṈOT ĒVEN SCRATCḤ THE ẺDGES OF ṬHẼ PAPER.

Niijima remains steady, but the disgust emerges in the way she hisses and how firmly her hands contort into fists.

He throws the roll of paper in his mouth, as if it were a ball, before any of us get the gumption to actually reach out at it. Letting out a throaty, deep laugh he reaches into his own stomach folds again, pulling out a crown and a scepter. The crown is rusted but gleams as though it isn't, the scepter is made of nuts and bolts and steel pipes and permanent markers all melted into a mace-like structure.

"Wh-what do you want!?" cries Niijima.

K̷̯̎I̷̥̓L̴̨͊L̴͇̆ A̴̞͐N̸̤͑D̸̡͌ B̶͓͂E̵̒͜ K̸̢̍Ị̸̇L̸̩͗L̶͚̂Ē̴̫D̵̦̋.̵̢͐ S̶̠͐L̴̹̈́A̸̢͒U̷̟̍G̷͈͘H̶̘̃T̷͔͝E̴̢͒R̷̦͆ A̸̹̚N̴̯̊D̵̮͐ F̵͚̒E̷̻̋E̷̡͑D̸̜̊.̸̣̂ N̵̯͘E̷̟̋Ṽ̵̮E̸̫̓Ȓ̴͎ ̷̤͛C̵̮̕O̸̙͊M̸̞͋P̴̦̓R̸̥͝O̷͇̒M̶̠͐Ȋ̸̤S̵̫͘E̸̟̔,̶̪͑ A̵̺͂L̸̝̋W̶̦̏Ǎ̶̤Y̶͓̌S̷̿ͅ ̴̦́Č̷̹Ó̸̖N̴̯̔S̴̲͝Ṵ̴̎M̵̲̊E̴͙͝.̵̤͋ Ị̸̈́F̷͈̑ ̸͙̚Y̶̻͠Ọ̶̌U̴̡̅ ̶͉̾S̴͔̃E̷̯̚E̴̯̔K̶̳̿ ̸̪͗T̶̛͉H̵͔̅Ę̵̆ ̶̱̉Ţ̵́R̸͇͆E̶̲̽À̴̬S̷͙͘U̶̮̐R̴͔͆E̷̠̾,̴͝ͅ Y̷̡̍O̷̱̊U̷̧̕ ̷̬̊M̷̨͂Ů̶͚S̵͎̿T̶̥̕ ̷̻͊Ḭ̶̏N̷̙̆D̴̟̈́Ṳ̷̉L̴̼͂Ḡ̷̻Ê̷̫ ̵̭̎Y̷̨̋O̴͖̒U̸̠͆R̸͘ͅ ̸͉̒M̴͍̆O̴̮̓S̵͕̈́T̸̻̐ ̴̘̓M̵̺͝O̴̯̎N̶̼̓S̵̘̀Ṱ̸́R̶̠̕Ŏ̴̙Ů̴̩S̴͘ͅ ̵̟̆A̸̩͝P̷̣̀P̵̀͜E̸͔̎T̷̼͒Ȋ̴̯Ṯ̶̓Ē̶̡S̶̙͝.̶͚͌

The Manikin's flesh turns a deep shade of blue as its eyes turn red and its mouth gains a thousand more teeth along the walls as I hear a name: Baal Zephon, Baal Zephon, Baal Zephon.

T̋H̽̚E Ã̚R̋M͑̀̓Ì̏E͆͝S̀̾ O͘F͗ T̓H̎E̅ L̏OR̓̚D Ó̍̚F A̍͑̔L͛͋L͗́ T̕͠H͂͠Ả̋͒T̒ F̿́L̔̄͂IÊ̆S̛͊͝ S͠Ḧ́͌A͐L͐L̿ S͛̇T͑̎A͂̉N̊D̀̔ Ä̽̐ĠA̿͞͞INS̑́T̚ Y̌O͋U̒̅ U͆N̅̆T̐I͌͑L̿ T̏H͗E͋ Ẽ̚N̊D̊͐. Ẇ̎H͊̓̓E̎͠T̒̀͞H͊E͑̎͞R̋ A̽̓̕L̅IV̕Ē̒ O̒̌R̕ D̄͠ÉAD̈́,̂̌ W͌E͝ S͗̿̔H̄ǍL̅L̃ R̐̌̍E͆́M̆A͂I͂͞N̍̊͆ I̛͆N S̃E̐͂R̐VI̅C͂́͆E̊͠ T̆͡Ỡ H̅͠IM̈́ Ŭ́N͒̔̂T̒I̋̀L K͌̿Í̆N͊̄̅ĞD̿̀O͋̀M͂͡ C͊̇̍O̾̒͗ḾE͆.

I let myself smile as pain charges across my skull, and I know exactly what I must do as fires rise from my feet. Niijima, Takamaki, Yoshizawa and Maruki watch as I grab at my mask and blood pools down my eyes.

"Come, Hell Biker!"

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Special thanks to the immaculate and horribly underrated mikaelbrigman for helping me write this chapter, gave me some insight on specific scenes and how I ought to do them.

This was easily one of the most frustrating chapters to write, which doesn't seem like it considering it's primarily just the characters talking to each other on what to do next. Reason was me trying to fit the X Factor that is Maruki into a Palace that wasn't even focused on him in the slightest, and figuring out how the characters in all their passive-aggressiveness would even be able to work as far as team dynamics are concerned.

Next chapter's gonna be focused on a ton of fights, AKA my weak point when it comes to this story, lol. Hope y'all stick around.