"Come, Goemon!" Yusuke bellowed, calling forth his Persona to launch a barrage of sharp icicles to attack Shiki-Ouji. The monster stumbles backward a few steps, but he still manages to remain on his feet. To the young painter's surprise, the icicles weren't lethal enough to pierce through the paperman's body. "No effect...?"
The large paperman slowly fixated his attention on the kitsune-masked thief, reaching out to swat him as if he was a mere insect. Swiftly, Yusuke scrambled to avoid being crushed like a fly.
"Carmen!" Ann hurriedly leaps in to rescue him by summoning her cat-masked, femme fatale Persona. Explosions of fire strike the monster, forcing him to unleash a cry of agony, but it wasn't enough to burn through his paper-like body.
Yusuke stares at this huge ghastly creature before him, stupefied by his immunity to fire and ice. Any normal sheet of paper would've gone up in smoke or the icicles would've torn it to shreds. Except this thing is not normal paper.
"Let's go, Captain!" Ryuji cried, calling forth his pirate Persona to not allow his enemy the opportunity to strike first. It appeared to do some damage as the bolt of lightning was enough to knock the tall white shadow off his feet.
Unfortunately, Shiki-Ouji gets back up and cackles like a mad lunatic. "This will hurt!" he taunted. He spreads his arms out wide and his head lifts upward to spin around nonstop. A glowing ball of hellish light emerges from his hands and moves directly toward Akiko, who is taken aback by the surprise attack.
Yusuke watches in horror, instinct taking over as he rushes forward. "Joker!" he screamed, determined to take the blow for her. He doesn't care if it kills him. What's important is his muse needs to be rescued. One second, he's thrown his body against hers, summoning enough strength to shove her aside. And the next, he feels an indescribable pain crawling through his veins and flesh. He can't move, nor think. The agony is far worse than awakening to his Persona.
"Heal him!" Akiko's voice sounds faint in his ears when barking orders.
All of a sudden, Yusuke feels a warm aura of magic engulf his figure. His pain disappears as if it was never there. He later learns it was Ann who cured his wounds. Whatever sorcery Ann has done to heal him, he was extremely grateful for her aide.
"Blow him away, Zorro!" Morgana's swashbuckling Persona creates a heavy gust of wind with his sword to keep the shadow from making another attempt on Yusuke's life. The twister's impact sends Shiki-Ouji flying back against the window of the control room, thankfully not damaging the glass. The monster succumbs to the pain and collapses.
"FINISH HIM!" The snarl in Akiko's tone sounds more ferocious than a jaguar.
Without hesitation, Yusuke follows her command and so do the others. Everybody took advantage of the shadow's pain and unleashed a barrage of attacks, all flying through the air and giving Shiki-Ouji no chance of standing up. Akiko delivered the final blow, her dagger drawn. With the cry of a tigress, she drives her blade directly into Shiki-Ouji's face. He howls in agony like a wounded animal. That was lethally harsh, yes. But Yusuke feels no sympathy for the shadow after the damage that had been done to him. The two enemies crumple to the floor, whilst the triumphant Akiko leaves the scene unscathed and the Bringer of Misfortune dissolves into black nothingness like he had never been there to begin with.
"Phew, that guy was tough..." Ryuji sighed with relief, lowering his mask a bit to wipe beads of sweat off his forehead. "I guess that's just par for the course in a Palace."
"It really was a totally different level from the other enemies though..." Ann agreed.
Yusuke wanted to say something when he noticed Akiko approaching him, the expression concealed behind her mask made it difficult to tell what she's feeling. But the dread and fear are clearly evident in those gentle gray orbs.
"Are you okay, Fox?" His black-haired beauty asked. "You got hit pretty badly."
"I'm all right." Yusuke makes an effort to calm his leader's concern, his smile bright and jovial. "What matters now is that you're safe. I don't know what I'd do if something happened to you." The vulpine-masked artist failed to realize what he just admitted, ignoring Akiko's eyes widening and a light pink dusting caressed her cheeks. "Now then, shall we be off?"
After a brief moment of silence, Akiko manages to stutter, "Uh, yeah... l-let's get going."
It wasn't easy to just press a button on the computer when they needed a passcode to get in, but after overhearing an intriguing conversation between two other guards, the Phantom Thieves decided to backtrack to an ugly, golden statue of Madarame standing in the lounge where they had previously passed during the beginning of their heist.
On the engraving base beneath the statue, it read, "Here we praise our most holy lord Ichiryusai Madarame, the one ray of hope in this depraved world. He stands alone as his two adept hands paint into the future. None shall ever match his existence."
Madarame probably had it made because he wants people to worship him like the god he pretends to be. It sickens Yusuke enough to feel the desire of unsheathing his katana and cut that tacky statue done to pieces. That could land him and his team in a world of trouble, so he restrained himself.
Fortunately, Yusuke deduces the code after re-reading the quote. 'One' ray of hope stands 'alone' with 'two adept hands.' 'None' shall match him. That means the passcode has to be 1120. He was so glad that he was correct, because they were able to get into the computer to shut down the lasers and raise the gates, granting them access to a new area.
They found a safe room where, according to Morgana, the cognition is weak, which means part of the atelier that isn't importance to Madarame. Yusuke was still new to this cognition sorcery and looked bewildered by what he just saw. Nonetheless, the group took advantage of this room to rest, sit or stretch safely and drink some beverages they had brought with them.
Yusuke took advantage of the peace and quiet, taking a moment to watch Akiko remove her mask and lean back on the couch to relax. It's so strange and so heartwarming how this amazing girl is fighting a battle to stop his foster father from pressing charges and ruining the lives of countless people. He hardly knows her, and yet he risked his life to save hers. Akiko has already captivated him in a way no girl has ever done before. She's a Phantom Thief, one who fights for justice because she believes in doing the right thing. And she cares deeply for those who are suffering at the hands of injustice, willing to put herself in danger to rescue them.
Akiko is so amazing.
So inspiring.
So invigorating.
And so... so...
"Aaahh!" Ryuji's loud groaning shatters the young painter's thoughts. "I can't hold it any longer! I gotta find a bathroom! Where is it? WHERE IS IT!?" He looks around frantically, gripping his lower front and starts performing the most ridiculous dance Yusuke has ever seen.
"What the...?" Ann's head whips up, startled by the blonde male's cries. "Are you gonna pee your pants?" To her dismay, Ryuji hurries toward one of the fake plants left growing in the room and, with his back facing the group, unzips his pants. "W-Wait! You're actually going here!?"
"Where else am I supposed to go? There's no bathroom here!"
Yusuke and Akiko share incredulous frowns, disgusted.
"Skull, you idiot!" Morgana chastises the skull-masked thief, trying to prevent him from urinating in a room with two girls nearby. "I'm not letting you pee in the safe room!" His tiny paws grasp the irritated blonde's arms. "And if you want to use the bathroom, you could just use one of them outside the safe room!"
Ryuji paused, his brown eyes behind the mask grew wider. "Why didn't you say so earlier, you stupid cat!" He threw himself at the door, first making doubly sure that no shadows are close by, and springs for the men's room in a flash.
"You know what? I think I'll go too." Ann stood up and simply strolled past them to exit the room.
Akiko's gaze focuses on the small cat, gesturing to the door. "Why don't you go with them, Mona? You might want to go before we resume our mission." There is something strange in her behavior, almost as if she wants the cat out of the room.
Morgana looked over at her and then to give a confused Yusuke a suspicious frown. "Are you sure? I mean, you'll be in here alone with him and-"
"I'll be fine, Mona! We'll wait our turns until you and the others get back."
Shrugging, the miniature tri-colored cat scampers out of the room.
It was quieter than ever in the safe room now that it was just the two of them. Alone in a dark, modern office of a gaudy museum owned by a manipulative, plagiarizing, abusive art teacher whom Yusuke once looked up to as a father figure. The confirmation of his Sensei's cruelty and his peers' suffering was enough proof to see in this hellish exhibition. How selfish he was to have been blind for so long.
"How are you holding up, Fox?" Akiko's question didn't startle him much, but her presence was a reminder that he's not alone. She patted the couch, silently motioning for him to join her.
Yusuke swiftly drops himself on the couch beside her. "I'm fine," he tried to ease her concern to no avail.
"Are you sure? You've been very quiet ever since we got here, especially after you-"
"I already told you! I'M FINE!" Yusuke couldn't believe he came close to losing his temper with her. Not again. Akiko has every right to be concerned, because he threw himself in danger to save her life. Glad he is to be alive, but mentally scolded himself for raising his voice at her. "I'm sorry..." he mumbled. "If I was struggling, you would be the first to know."
"Okay..." Something else lingers in Akiko's mind, that kind of something she wished to discuss with him. Probably the main reason why she wanted Morgana to leave.
"Is there anything else you wish to say?" Yusuke implores, his tone softened.
Akiko shifts closer to him until their shoulders touched. "I wanted to thank you for saving my life. No one's ever done anything this nice for me in a while." Without thinking about it, she shifts her red gloved hand to find Yusuke's blue one and holds it.
A faint, affectionate smile appears behind Yusuke's kitsune mask. "You speak as if this isn't the first time I've saved you. Remember that barbarian from the subway?"
"I remember, but this here is different. You just put your life on the line for me. And for a minute there, I was afraid I'd have lost you. I mean, you're still new to this and I wouldn't want to push you too hard and-"
"Fear not, Akiko. In all honesty, I've never been better."
The ravenette's posture relaxes shortly after, until her stomach growled. It appears Akiko hasn't eaten yet, not since lunch time perhaps.
Looking back, the food she had cooked for him in that boxed lunch was incredibly delicious. She had made it for him so he wouldn't starve, and now it's his turn to repay her kindness. His gloved hand reaches for his attire's zipper and slowly pulls it down. The zipper is usually left at his midchest, only this time he kept right on going.
"Hey, what are you-" Akiko's face glows a little pink, trying to stop him for whatever reason.
Ignoring her, Yusuke finally stopped by the sash tied around his waist and searched through his suit's interior pockets for what he needs: jagariko. It's always been his favorite snack, often hiding a secret stash in his room back in the real world where Madarame can't find them. "Want to share?" he offered.
After recovering from the shock, Akiko accepts his kind gesture. "T-Thank you..." she sighed, pressing a hand to her chest. "For a minute there, I thought you were going to remove your suit and tempt me to make out with you again."
"Again?" Yusuke's face glows bright red. The memory of their passionate embrace in the nude replays like a hologram in his memory. "My apologizes, it wasn't my intention to seduce you." He pulls the zipper back up, concealing his bare skin.
They wasted no time in devouring an entire cup of potato-flavored sticks and drinking two bottles of green tea that Akiko had brought with her. By the time they finished, the rest of the group had returned. Yusuke and Akiko took their turns to use the men's and women's restrooms. Once they were feeling refreshed and a little more energized, it's time to get back to work.
Next up was a large room full of more ginormous paintings that they had to jump inside and explore their surroundings, except there's a difference to them. Yusuke was quick to figure out that two of the frames were blank. Passing through one hidden route leads to the formation of another which took them to the formerly empty paintings after Akiko pushed a button to activate the paintings.
They quickly ventured from the interior of one painting to the next, all while ignoring the evil shogun's distorted voice lamenting his distaste about art, and Yusuke grows angrier the longer they carry on. The gentle gaze of Akiko, his leader and friend, keeps silently encouraging him to save his rage for when the time comes and not let it hold him back.
They make it to a ledge much higher than the previous one, moving deeper into the depths of this vain museum. Bursting into the next room had left the Phantom Thieves utterly speechless. Yusuke thought that he had witnessed everything there was to see about the Metaverse, but to think such a tacky, gaudy and bizarre room such as this could truly be conjured up by his mentor. "What in heaven...?" he pinched himself to make sure he's not dreaming.
Their journey had taken them to an M.C. Escher staircase in nothing but the usual sickening color of gold, bright lights, and littered with portraits of more unhappy victims and copies of Sayuri. Just looking at this twisted labyrinth is enough to give someone a headache.
"Shit... What the hell is up with this place!?" Ryuji's jaw dropped, unable to believe what he's seeing.
"There's so much gold! It's hurting my eyes!" Ann squinted and averted her eyes to find something other than the view before her more interesting.
"The distortion is especially bad here..." Morgana's eyes cast a nervous glance, studying the area with great worry. "It's barely holding up. Plus, it's not even on our map."
However, Yusuke refused to back down from such a challenge. This is a test they must overcome, whatever the costs. "So we must ascertain the truth through our eyes alone," he declared, boldly stepping forward. He looks back, hoping his determination will convince them.
When everyone is hesitant, Akiko swiftly joins him at his side, which is enough to make him smile. "C'mon! We can't give up now!" and with this encouragement, she has helped him convince the others to follow them deeper into the bizarre labyrinth.
Anyone would believe this will take days to figure out the correct path or easily find themselves lost in a maze of staircases. Thankfully, Yusuke knows every painting by heart and can tell the obvious differences if one with a keen eye for detail can tell them apart. He correctly identifies the originals amongst the collection of fake copies.
Akiko allows him to take the lead on this task due to his superb knowledge with the Sayuri. Every time he identifies an original, the portrait transforms into a ball of light and they chase it through the hall where it opens up a path, leading them someplace new to navigate.
At last, they finally make out of that putrid labyrinth and reached the end of their journey.
Yusuke was so relieved to be out of there and silently hoped he would never go through that again. Their destination had taken them to the core of the museum, where Madarame's shadow guarding something of value at the center of the room.
Ushering forward but sticking closer to the walls so not to be seen, the Phantom Thieves peeked round the corner to get a closer look. To Yusuke's surprise, an amorphous glowing ball of blurred light is kept heavily guarded by a box of laser grids. Recalling what he had been informed, that ball of light is the Treasure... it just needs to materliaze first.
"There it is..." Morgana purred with delight.
"Doesn't it look a bit hazy?" Ann questioned, rightly puzzled.
"For the time being. Once we send the card and make Madarame aware it'll be stolen, it'll materialize like 'Yoohoo!'" Despite the miniature cat's silly attempt to phrase it, it doesn't seem to ease the seriousness of this discussion.
"I wonder what form it will take..." Yusuke mused aloud, unable to imagine what type of treasure his greedy mentor values so much.
"Who knows?" Ryuji shrugs, kicking the ground randomly in disgust. "Bet it's something like a self-portrait."
A self portrait of his teacher sounds too straight-forward, however as Yusuke thought more of it, this museum was birthed out of vanity and self-importance by the man he had the gall to call father. "The source of what distorted Madarame's reality this much..." he sighs with a frown on his lips.
He jumps slightly at the feel of someone's hand on his shoulder and turns to see Akiko giving it a little squeeze. "We'll find out once we get it," she assures him, and Yusuke smiles warmly at her.
Now they know where the Treasure is, all they had to do was steal it. Except the route wasn't necessarily secured, according to Morgana. The laser grid surrounding the Treasure and the outer perimeter is swarming with security guards. So, sneaking or forcing themselves in will be a huge problem. They continue their exploration, eventually locating a control room.
Akiko uses a computer to shut off the lasers, but was unable to do so because only Madarame himself can obtain access as a result of maximum security protocol. Then, she opened the grates that had restricted more exploration of the room, which seemed to work in their favor. Next, she turns out the lights, but only for a few seconds before the backup generator restored power.
One thing the Phantom Thieves did learn was that the infrared lasers remained active even when a power outage happens. And the second, their carelessness with the lights had gotten them caught by security, where another fight with a shadow occurs. It was a harsh battle, but the thieves managed to silence their enemy before he could call for backup.
They hightail it out of there before more guards are ordered by their master to investigate. Opening the grates gave the Phantom Thieves some more time to explore the hall. They find a room which Yusuke recognizes as the grid system which controls the mechanisms in the main exhibition hall.
Upon discovering a large hole in their security grid, they performed a little experiment involving a crane with a hook attached to the ceiling. If they could pull this off, using the power outage to their advantage, the Treasure will be in their hands.
Of course, this means the team has to split up the tasks given to them. One person will have to distract the guards, the second person to shut the power off here, the third person to lower the crane, and Morgana will be the one to grab the Treasure. It may be dangerous, but it's the only way to get the job done.
Infiltration route is officially secured.
All that's left is to buy some weapons and medicine tomorrow, so they'll be ready to send the calling card and begin their heist for the weekend.