Chapter 6: Awaken, City of Hope! Part 3 (Deadly Life)

Remaining Citizens: 7?!

Ai Mizuno (Zombie Land Saga): Ultimate (Zombie) Idol

Ryuji Sakamoto (Persona 5): Ultimate Track Star

Emma (The Promised Neverland): Ultimate Moral Compass

Gold (Pokémon Adventures/Pokémon Special): Ultimate Hatcher

Miles Morales (Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse): Ultimate Successor

Yu Ishigami (Kaguya-sama: Love Is War): Ultimate Pessimist

Killua Zoldyck (Hunter X Hunter): Ultimate Assassin

Ai's POV

Tsumugi continues to type away on her large computer, as I stare at the security camera footage. I see Gold and his Pokémon are looking a bit winded as the waves of Monokuma units keep coming. I desperately wish to get out of here and rejoin him and the others, but I don't want to see Shirogane laugh at me struggling.

"He's not going to make it, if that's what you're thinking." Tsumugi told me, her glasses lit up by the screen.

"You're so sure about that, aside from me you've seen our stories played out, right? Overconfidence could be the key to your downfall when you're literally surrounded by heroes. None of my friends will go down easily." I bite back.

Tsumugi just went "Hmph!" before turning back to her screen.

I take a look at poor Pibu, grimacing every time electricity is sucked away from him. She's beyond awful.

"What kind of execution requires this much power?" I asked her angrily.

"Curious? Well, here's a small preview, cornflake head." Is she referring to my flowers?

She pressed one button and on the platform I was stuck to lit up. A circular panel creates some kind of blurry hologram, just how does she have this kind of technology? When the hologram image becomes clearer however…

"J-Junko?!" I exclaimed in surprise.

An image of my friend and fellow idol Junko Konno was staring blankly into space as I observed her from my position.

"Huh, it's a strange coincidence that she has the same first name as MY idol, but do you like it? An exact holographic replica, programmed with dance moves that complement your execution well!" She boasts and pushes her glasses up.

"Tch, you're really trying to make me upset, aren't you? You've failed to make me feel any kind of despair since the end of the last trial, now I'm just getting more motivated to take you down." I furrowed my eyebrows, staring daggers into her.

Tsumugi pokes the Junko hologram, "I guess I'm just trying to get a laugh out of seeing you struggle. I'm just going to show you the rest of your crew, just so we don't have any JunAi moments. Hate that ship so mu—WHAT THE HELL?!"

Tsumugi looks to her computer and sees Gold making a face at one of the remaining cameras that are still functioning. That idiot, he really shouldn't be messing around at a time like this. Tsumugi sighs before activating the other holograms around me, I was standing in the center. Fitting, considering the position I was with my first idol group.

Tae Yamada, Yugiri, Lily Hoshikawa, Saki Nikaido, and Sakura Minamoto. I wish I could be glad to see their faces again, but in this situation I just miss them even more. Poor Pibu has tears in his eyes, the spiky hair he shares with Gold droops down.

"I promise I'll get you out of here, Pibu. We just have to believe in the others, I'm sure they have a plan right now to help us." I give a reassuring smile to the electric mouse.

Please have a plan, everyone, I can't stand seeing him punished like this.

I believe in you all.

Third-Person POV

"KILLUA!" Emma squeezed the boy tight as the others just stood around, just baffled.

"E-Emma, please let go." He lets out as he struggles to get air.

"Oh! Sorry! But how and why are you alive? You were stabbed by Trunks and killed, weren't you?" Emma releases him and Killua is able to breathe again.

"Yeah man, glad to see you, but you don't walk away from being stabbed like that dude. I was lucky." Ryuji told him as he pointed to where his knife wound was.

"Ack, long story short, he wasn't the one who killed me." Killua stated as he regained his composure.

"HUH?!" They all reacted at once.

"C-Come again? Trunks didn't kill you, then who did?" Miles asked, a little shook at the moment.

"Me." Killua answers.

"EHHHH?!" His friends let out loudly.

"You gutted yourself?! What the hell?! How could you even do that?! Monokuma saw Trunks holding your body, right?" Ryuji says, confused.

"True, but you all didn't see what really happened." Killua walks over to Trunks's pod, looking at him intensely.

Emma then gasped, "The cameras, and the smokescreen! When you two fought you created a cloud of smoke, and your attacks also damaged the security cameras!"

"There was no way to see anything, so you and Trunks could do your thing… but really, dying? Why did you decide to do that?" Ishigami spoke up as he figured it out as well.

"To have the mastermind break their own rules. Only the killer can be executed, and Trunks 'revealed' himself to be them, except he wasn't. With the killing game now ruined, the mastermind will be thrown into panic mode and we could easily take down this city along with them." Killua finishes explaining.

Ishigami still looked at him with an exasperated look, "So… how are you both alive and not crazy despair brainwashed like them?"

Ishigami lightly kicks Misato who mumbles, "Sasahara… you beautiful idiot…"

"Don't do that, you'll wake her up. And I'll answer your question in two parts, number one I got a little shock in the brain when we were trapped in here." Killua looks to him before turning back to Trunks.

"Back when we were trapped inside this school? Wait, when you pressed that button from that capsule machine..." Emma stands next to him.

"The shock I got from it gave me a glimpse of how I got to this city." Killua reveals.

"Hold on a minute, so you remember everything now?!" Ryuji looks at him in shock.

"Not really, don't know who or what knocked me out to drag me from my world. Though, I can also say that this room was where we were kept before ending up in the Hope-tel. There's exactly 16 pods in here for all of us, keeping us in stasis before the killing game begins."

Miles then spoke up, "But how did you find this room anyways? In a city that's bigger than the size of Manhattan as well..."

Killua nods, "I had a sneaking suspicion since there was a camera and machine guns surrounding this classroom, making it obvious that there was something in here. So yeah, I found all those weapons as well as a hidden trap door to this room. You all found it too, right? The hidden switch along the walls, pretty obvious where it was."

"Yeah, of course we did…" Ryuji hides his new mace behind his back.

"When I got down here, I changed the settings on my pod to prevent me from catching the Despair. Also made it seem like the transfer was already complete on my pod. By the way, you're all too lucky that the mastermind didn't set Trunks loose, instant death on your part."

"Most likely yes… ack…" Ishigami clutched his injured shoulder.

"Here you go, just try not to do much with that shoulder for a while." Emma ripped off a bit of her sleeve and tied it around his shoulder.

"Th-Thanks…"

"No problem! So Killua, after finding this room you told Trunks about it and formulated a plan?" Emma smiles at Ishigami before looking at Killua.

Killua puts a hand on Trunks's pod, "Yup. I also asked him about changing his pod settings as well, but he thought the mastermind would have caught on. Really glad I didn't have to fight him twice though."

"Same here… so what now?" Emma stares at Trunks in his unconscious state.

"Put these four back in their pods, we're gonna cancel the transfer sequence later. Ryuji, smash up everything but the pods and main computer with that mace you have. You too, Miles. It'll interrupt the brainwashing and the mastermind's control link so they could wake them up again." Killua commands.

Ryuji sheepishly takes out his weapon,"How did you know abou— Whatever, let's do this!"

Miles and Ryuji get to work as each piece of technology was destroyed, Killua and Emma helped the injured Ishigami put Marty, Misato, Alice, and Shantae back in their pods.

"Why can't we just fully cancel the sequence now? The brainwashing has to be interrupted with all that machinery destroyed and we need all the help we can get." Ishigami asked as he lifted up Marty's leg with one arm.

"Oh yeah, and there's also Bernie, Espio, and… Aoba. They only died recently, so—"

"It'll take a while before the despair goes away for the ones already corrupted, so they're no good. As for the three who just died, they still need to heal, whatever they went through in death still affects them even if they aren't in despair yet. Also, do you really want to bring back Aoba?" Killua lowered his eyebrows as he looked at the Ultimate Manipulator's pod, he's still a little burnt.

"He's as much of a victim as the others, even if he's done unforgivable things. If… no when he's completely fine, I'll be sure to give him his just desserts." Emma clutches her fists as she glances at Bernadetta's floating lifeless body.

"Hm, I'll hold you to it then. Alright, you guys done?" Killua asks Miles and Ryuji.

"Terminado!" Miles exclaims in Spanish.

"What he said, now what?" Ryuji puts his mace over his shoulder.

"We head for the city's power source. If we shut that down, the walls will come down. Since the mastermind thinks I'm dead it'll be easier, but… you all didn't answer my question earlier. Where's Ai and Gold?"

"Oh, you see…" Ishigami took the time to explain what happened.

Killua was exasperated, "Let me get this straight, Ai is captured by the mastermind who happens to be some cosplayer woman and is going to be executed…"

"Yup." Ryuji states.

"Gold is out there distracting a crowd of Monokumas since you all decided to break the killing game rules…"

"Uh-huh." Miles nodded.

"And when we get out of here there will be even more Monokumas running around the city, making it even more difficult to reach the power plant?" Killua finishes.

"Correct… okay I see the problem." Ishigami realizes.

"Oh, do ya?! Ugh, they're probably outside the school right now, waiting for us. Plus we don't even know where the power source could be…" Killua shakes his head.

An idea pops up in Miles's head, "Hold on, the Times Square area could be where it is! The electric billboards look like they use a lot of power so…"

"Oh yeah, plus you and Killua have electric powers! You can short circuit the power source together, while the rest of us go save Ai!" Emma hits the palm of her hand with her fist.

"Interesting, although there's one problem. The Monokuma horde, Gold can't hold them off forever, so he'll need some backup. Miles and I can't do it while we're going for the power source, so it's gotta be something big… huh? Ryuji, what are you looking at?" Killua spots Ryuji in a dark corner of the room.

"Oh nothing… just something I plan on using to clear the way." He answers with a shark-tooth like grin spreading across his face.

It was a large robot, clearly meant to be a part of the armory, yet its size would have taken up too much room.

"Do you know how to control that thing?" Ishigami observed the machine up and down.

"Of course I do! All thanks to this." Ryuji pulls out a black skull mask, which came with his outfit and weapons in the room before.

"Hey, are you sure about this? There's gonna be a lot of Monokumas outside, you think this will be enough? Gold is out there too, and if you get hurt like before…" Emma looked to him with concern.

"Trust me, Emma. This isn't the first time I've done something crazy like this so my friends can get by. I'm gonna do what I can to take down Shirogane." Ryuji reassures her.

"If you're that confident, everyone go suit up. We leave in a few minutes, so grab what we can and we'll meet back up here once both teams are done. Grab some earpieces so we can contact each other. Ready?" Killua puts his hand in between the five of them.

"It's time to ask what's up, danger?" Miles exclaims as he puts his hand on top.

Emma puts her hand in next, "Come on, we've got some promises to keep.", she turns to Ishigami and gives a look of encouragement.

"No going back now I guess." He gives a soft smile and a nod before putting his hand in.

"Heh, now or never, right? Ryuji finally puts his hand on top.

"Let's go!" Everyone raises their fists in the air triumphantly before heading to the armory.

Emma stops for a moment to look at everyone else still in their pods, before regaining her composure by slapping both of her cheeks.

"We'll be back for them once this is all over." Killua appears beside her.

"I know, but will we be able to reverse the effects?" Emma says, remembering the looks on the faces of the four who attacked them.

"Not completely sure on that, but you gotta rely on one thing if you don't know how things will turn out." Killua puts his hand on her shoulder.

"Hope." Emma responds and Killua nods in agreement.

Monokumas gather by the door of the school, Guard Monokumas are in the front with their riot shields.

BOOM!

An explosion knocks down the doors to the school, and they are hurled towards the robot bear crowd. Multiple normal Monokuma units run into the school, but are immediately turned into scrap.

THWIP! THWIP!

Out swings the second Spider-Man of Earth-1610, Miles Morales, donning the Advanced Tech Suit from Earth-1048.

"Adios!" He shouts out.

"Later!", Killua joins him using his Speed of Lightning Nen technique.

The Monokumas look up at him, confused as to why he's alive. The two of them cross the many skyscrapers with ease without touching the ground. Destroyer Monokumas, the only units with jetpacks, immediately give chase.

On the ground however, the bears deal with lightning blasts being fired from inside the school. Mechanical whirring could be heard as Emma and Ishigami step out into the light, alongside the Phantom Thief Skull aka Ryuji.

Insert Song: Persona 5 Strikers - Last Surprise

"Blast 'em away, Captain Kidd!" Ryuji shouts out a command.

The robot they found in the lab was a robotic replica of Ryuji's Persona, Captain Kidd. A large skeleton pirate atop a small ship. It lets loose Mazionga from its cannons, a large scale electric move that shocks every enemy on the field.

"I'd thank Shirogane for knowing her stuff, though I'd prefer to thank her by sending her flying! Yahoo!" Ryuji swings a steel bat and hits a Monokuma for a home run.

Emma hands a small pistol to Ishigami and begins to pump some bear bots full of lead.

"Uh… I've never even touched a gun before." He tells her.

Emma switches things up by using a bow instead, a silver bow straight from Bernie's arsenal too!

Emma turns to him as she prepares to fire an arrow, "Well there's a first time for everything."

Ishigami cocks the pistol and accidentally pulls the trigger by accident, "Uwa!"

"Ack!" Emma lets out as a Beast Monokuma leaps into the air to claw into her from above.

The bullet from Ishigami's gun bounces off of Captain Kidd and ricochets into its metal skull.

"Nice save, thanks!" Emma gives Ishigami a thumbs up, which he shakily reciprocates.

Emma then turns on her earpiece, "This is Emma, we're getting through the crowd, but there's no sign of Gold and no clear idea on where to find Ai."

Miles swings through the city with Killua right behind him, "It's Miles, we're almost to our destination. Just gotta take down a couple bogeys, I think these gadgets I got and some Venom strikes will do the job well."

"On your mark…" Killua has his target set on the Destroyer Monokuma to his right.

"Get set…" Miles sees four of them flying below him.

"Go!" Both of them shout as they take on the flying machines.

Miles webs one of them to a side of a building, before shooting a gravity well down below to ground two more of them. Killua kicks down the Monokuma, knocking it into the remaining one near Miles before the two of them shock them with a Venom strike and lightning palm.

"Nice job, Morales." Killua grins as he gives him a high five.

"You too! We're almost there, just gotta—"

"It's nearly time, citizens of Monocity!"

Miles and Killua turn to see Tsumugi on an electronic billboard, well on every electronic billboard. The broadcasts reach a nearby tv store that Emma, Ryuji, and Ishigami are next to.

"Tsumugi…" Emma scowls.

"Shirogane…" Ryuji grits his teeth.

"Ultimate Cosplayer, do we have your name and title memorized by now?" Ishigami stares at the screen with disdain.

"Live at the Shikiba Diamond Garden, Franchouchou performs for the last time! As Number 3 of the group shall sing her final song for us all!"

"'Shikiba Diamond', is that like Madison Square Garden?" Ishigami tilted his head.

"A-Ai!" Emma sees her friend chained up in her idol getup on stage.

"Entry is free for all citizens, but you better hurry or else you'll have to catch the concert on pay-per-view! Experiencing it firsthand in the crowd is a lot better, where you can shake your glowy idol sticks to the rhythm!"

"Where the hell even is it?!" Ryuji knocks away a Monokuma as it tries to approach them.

"In Midtown above Pekoyama station, you must take the subway to make it there. Try your best to find a good train, puhuhu~."

All that's left on the screen is an advertisement for the concert. Emma takes a deep breath in before shooting another Monokuma.

"Come on, let's go save an idol."

Hello? Anyone there? Well, hope you all enjoyed this chapter. And get ready for an exciting live performance from idol group Franchouchou! Well… 1/7ths of Franchouchou, but people love virtual idols so that's why we have holograms. Hm…holo….live...