Chapter 19: Blumenkranz

The road to the Kiryuin's manor has been straightforward for both the Lady of War and the Thief of Rebellion, despite having the sadistic Nui Harime as their chauffer. The helicopter flew through the dark skies above Tokyo toward the private hills of the Kiryuin's domain, signified by the opulent lights flashing over the darkness in the night.

"I'll make myself short Kurusu. Once home, you better be on your utter most behavior before my mother. She abhors any kind of subject that doesn't fit her standards of "Beauty". It'll be a tragedy to lose such a valuable soldier over a tandrum." Satsuki turned to the apprehended Phantom Thief. Yet Ren continued to have his mouth shut. He just winced at her nemesis for all that he could care. But what power does he had on her anymore? He has lost the fated battle for Osaka thanks to her enemy's hidden ace, Junketsu Shinzui.

But, the Trickster at least made sure to save even small drops from persisting and perhaps win against Honnouji's despair. If he didn't gave himself in, all of his friends and remaining agents of Nudist Beach would all have been massacre without quarter. Who is he trying to impress? Not Satsuki as far as its known. Even if their spirits remain free, what kind of miracle would his friends have to pull to free him from his shackles? He failed those he swore to protect, and the huge scar on his chest will forever be a tattoo that fact, but at least it was weirdly nice that his enemy's servants took the time to wrap up his wounds. But knowing the Kiryuin, it was most likely to polish her chess pieces for future use.

Reasoning with Kurusu was like a dog trying to bite his tail. But it didn't surprised Satsuki that much knowing how much of a broken man Akira has become. But why should she listen to her new gun's woes? "Harime. How long are we have to estimate to arrive home?"

"Hmm… Let me remember…" The Grand Corturier squished her cheek, pulling out a comically large pocket watch from her dress. "Maybe about half-and-hour if our flight remains safe and sound, Lady Satsuki. Isn't that right Dave?" Nui turned at the dead body of the former pilot with an obnoxious smile. Using her horrendous Life Fiber powers and the freaky webs of Jorogumo, she turned the corpse into a creepy puppet by nailing down Life Fibers through his wrists and ankles. "Affirmative Mrs. Harime. If we don't come across pesky and frowny clouds, it'll be a first-class flight! Or better yet! A Zero-Class flight! Hihihihihi!" She sneered, clearly having too much fun with her new toy.

Both Soroi and Hoomaru looked at the slumped rebel in pity. As much as they knew how big of a threat, he is to the Kiryuin's goals, they couldn't help themselves but feel sorry for the Phantom Thief. He had honest and justifiable reasons to stand against their mistress with how much grief he carried on his back. The regrets of a doomed world he failed to save, the loss of his former teammates and now, the ultimate defeat that hammered the last nail of his coffin.

"Lady Satsuki, if I may ask." Soroi turned to see if he could talk with his master about this situation.

"Yes?" Seeing that there was not much of a hurry to rush her plans, the Kiryuin made herself open to hear what her ever faithful butler has to say.

The elderly man gulped some saliva to give himself some guts to get his question out of his mouth. He feared that it could bring the wrath of her mistress. "By all respect miss, I do admire your dreams and goals. But don't you think upscaling your conquest to other dimensions is taking it too far?"

"Apologies for sounding defiant Lady Satsuki, but I'm afraid that I do share my view with Soroi." Hoomaru took a step forward to back up the butler. "If your plans are to subdue Akira Kurusu and harness his Personas for yourself, I think it's better to stop there, unless Lady Ragyo would say otherwise." She paused once she noticed the softly risen brow of the young Kiryuin. She showed that she wasn't liking what she's hearing. "I-I think Mr. Kurusu deserves some sense of mercy after all he went through. Even if he comes from a world different that ours as your mothers does confirm, I don't see it as a reason to conquer it out of spite."

The Student Council President wasn't taking their complains with a good side, so she took a deep breath before answering their question. "So what? Kurusu had this coming the moment he declared war against my family's legacy. But even if he were to still fall in line like the rest of my students, I would have expanded my objectives to invade any dimension that comes in front of me no matter what." She added, crossing over her legs. "And I'm sure my mother would share such vision, don't you agree?"

"Of course." Both secretary and butler bowed in unison.

And before the imprisoned Trickster could know it, the copter was already flying over the pristine and regal Kiryuin manor. Even he was utterly marveled by the impotence and beauty this sole building expressed, a giant mansion made out of perfect infrastructure out of a house of an old noble sitting on top of a expansive hill which is also owned by the Kiryuin name. Shido's Cruise would wet its gasoline out at the simple marvel of this fortress, which is also a big signal that Ragyo herself could be an even bigger douche than the wannabe tyrant and Satsuki combined.

Soon after, the helicopter landed straight at the face of the doors of the Kiryuin manor. Nui announced this fact to her passengers with that sweet, but obnoxious tone she's so famous for. It took the young Kiryuin by surprise how "Normal" was her pseudo-sister's landing. For a moment and she though that she would ram the whole chopper to the roof. But even a chaotic being like her has been disciplined thanks to her mother's cares.

"We're here." The Student Council President turned at Kurusu, expressing to get himself ready to receive the welcome of her mother. "Remember. Absolute obedience. You are going to meet the undeniable matriarch of the whole Kiryuin conglomerate; thus I want you on your best behavior, Understood, Trickster?" She glared at the Phantom Thief as the doors of the helicopter were beginning to open up.

Joker only sighted and lifted his butt to walk out of the vehicle alongside the rest of the Kiryin's servants.

He was expecting a very flashy welcome party by part of the Kiryuin matriarch, but his feeble and naïve expectations were blown out from the stratosphere for what was ahead of him. 2 rows of hundreds of butlers and maidens stood aside a blood-red carpet that led to the doors of the mansions, all of them making reverences to welcome their supreme master, Satsuki Kiryuin.

"Welcome Home, Lady Satsuki." The legion of house-servants exclaimed in synchrony. Being people in charge of cleaning and organizing the dragon's lair, it could be expected for all of their free wills to be diminished to just mindless drones only programed to follow the Kiryuin's orders.

But in the center and standing in front of the opulent door, was Kuroido, bearing an oily grin of malice. If only he was allowed to "play" with his new guest, that creepy smile of his would be even bigger.

"Ahhh… Lady Satsuki. Congratulations for your victory over the Naked Apes. As all of us anticipated, you came out from the battlefield without a single drop of blood tainting your clothes." The steward of the mansion welcomed the young Kiryuin home with a set of low claps. "And it also appears that you confiscated their beacon of hope too. Excellent. This calls for a celebration." He also made sure to compliment his miss for the successful capture of Honnouji Academy's number 1 enemy.

"My victory was prescript long ago, so don't be surprised." Satsuki said before turning at the Trickster. "It was no easy task to wrangle this stray dog and putting my collar of property over him." She codly affirmed while dusting off her shoulders. "What's the current status of our 2 vessels? I hope that you've been following my mother's word, Kuroido…" She narrowed down at the prout bastard and check how have been Brief and Nova.

"Of course, miss. Mr. Brief and Mr. Nova continue to not show signs of resistance. It was a genius move of the Grand Couturier to pamper those brats with gifts only the Kiryuin have affort." Kuroido Asserted, assuring that both the Nothingling and the Hell's Monkey Descendant have still not shown plans to oppose their new masters.

"Hai! You're welcome!" Harime waved the malevolent steward from the window of the chopper before using that window to get herself out and hopped to Satsuki's side with a series of childish skips and hops.

"Still, our branches have informed us that there have been 2 cases of escape by Mr. Nova miss. Fortunately, our men were able to foil all of its breakouts. Seems that we're not done submitting that kid to our goals." The steward told her miss.

"I see…" She then saw a leak running in Ragyo's plan. "I'll ask my mother if I can watch over this kid. Perhaps the strict rules of Honnouji Academy would suffice to teach this void some manners."

"But miss, the Cultural and Sports Festival is just around the corner. Are you sure it'll be enough?"

"Are you doubting what I'm capable of, peasant?" The Lady of War didn't took Kuroido's words lightly and shot him with a heart-freezing glare that made the prout man freeze in pure fright. "Have you forgotten that I'm a Kiryuin? Everything is on the realm of the possibility when done by my hands. For the Kiryuin are the Life Fibers, and Life Fibers are the word."

A set of unnervous nodding by Kuroido were enough to satisfy Satsuki.

"Good." She muttered.

"Milady, do you wish for me to follow you to the Kiryuin manor, or do you want me to watch over Junketsu?" Iori asked the monarch of Honnouji Academy with a formal salute.

"Apologies for almost forgetting about you, Iori." Satsuki told her tailor. "If I know my mother, I'm sure she would be the most please to see one of her apprentices. And most importantly, she would likely want to know about our 'Secret Project' we promised her from developing, right?"

Iori then gasped upon the mentioning of that 'Secret Uniform'. "of course." He nodded while walking forward to catch up.

"But, I won't be leaving Kamui Junketsu on its own." Satsuki paused for a moment before looking at Iori, knowing what he has to do with the parasite. "Just be sure to pacify Junketsu before coming along. I don't want that hideous beast running ammok and killing my servants. Understand?"

"Yes." Iori saluted before coming back to the chopper and activate his Tailor Regalia to grasp the frame where Junketsu was imprisoned with his tendril-tweezers and electrocute the Life Fiber monster with a huge electric shock and finishing by spraying it with foamed bleach.

Junketsu let out an alien shriek that forced those bellow Satsuki and her followers to cover their ears before falling unconscious. The savant Kamui has been put on a state of temporary stasis for the moment as a safety procedure before anything.

"That should hold it off for the moment." The emperor stated before de-transforming and came back to his lady's side.

"Excellent." Satski rolled her eyes, clearly not having time for these kinds of childish feuds. "Move aside, I'll escort this prisoner by my own." The Kiryuin pushed the short man out of her sight and opened the door of the opulent palace of the Kiryuin.

Joker quickly covered his eyes with his arms to protect his precious eyes from the shining of the insides of the Kiryuin manor. Once that passed out, his jaw dropped down the center of the earth. If he was already blown out by the beauty of the outside design of the mansion, his feeble mind wasn't prepared for the marvel of the inside. The architecture was reminiscent of a castle of a noble of the highest class, decorated by giant stained windows covered in silky-white curtains, probably also made of Life Fibers with how they moved by themselves to imitate the movement of curtains blown by a gentle breeze, even if he didn't felt a single blow of air. Man! Was this place creepy, yet dazzling at the same time, which only leveled up the horror notions he had from this place.

"Impressed?" Satsuki turned her head behind her to see Kurusu, but only enough to only have one eye to stare him. "The Kiryuin manor is the pride and jewel of the Kiryuin family for generations. All my ancestors treasured this sacred temple as much as the Life Fibers." She made her explanation short before turning away and continue to look forward.

Yet, this wasn't the only surprise awaiting the hero of hearts. Somehow, somewhere, the whispers of he whose dream weaves the fate of the world were whispering unholy omens of an alien language his mind struggled to even understand. It sounded so human, yet so demonic and out of this world… It was hard to describe and making the effort of doing so would only end up losing your mind.

"So you've finally came, Trickster… Your future unwinds, for the threads in my hands have foreseen a bright future ahead of you… The strong shall prosper and rule, and the weak shall perish and be consumed… For it is the core of Chaos, and Chaos is the absolute truth… Your eyes shall soon open to this inescapable truth of this world, for I can save you from your bruden…"

The monstrous voice of the Primordial Life Fiber was causing light migraines to Akira. But he fortunately managed to brush them off from his mind before the corruption could take him over. He quickly noticed an abundance of statues of beautiful women on the sides of the halls of the white palace. "Let me guess… Your ancestors, am I right?" Akira spoke up with a stern look.

"I see you have quite a keen eye, Mr. Fox." Kuroido grinned at Akira's deduction. "What your eyes are feasting on are the statues of the divine rulers of the Kiryuin family from yore. For as long as religion took over the faith of those pigs, the matriarchs of the Kiryuin have been pulling the strings of society from its shadows without any of those ignorant fools even realizing it." He began to explain as the party walked down the red carpet of the halls.

"Marie Kiryuin, Anastasia Kiryuin, Leonie Kiryuin, Makaya Kiryuin, Natallie Kiryuin, and much beyond." Satsuki complimented the short servant's explanation, dropping the names of her ancestors. "Each one of them ruling over the ignorant masses, controlling over those clueless pigs with fear and nourishing their selfish needs with all kinds of Sin all for the sake of pleasing the Life Fibers, like the disposable puppets they were meant to be."

"Strange… Those names sound more german than japanese." Joker remarked when his ears were blessed by the mentioning of Satsuki's ancestors.

"In der Tat, Kurusu." Satsuki leered at the Phantom Thief when he spotted that tiny detail most simpletons would pass over their head. "The Kiryuins are native from Germany, but they quickly decided to migrate to the country of Japan once the economy started to take center stage."

"Though, I doubt that what you said has anything to do with that strange rainbow hair on those statues." Akira added upon seeing that multi-colored glowed stamped into the hair of the womanly idols. "Why didn't you inherit that from your mother?

"Strange. For a moment there and I though you'll answer with that annoying snark I have grown tired of hearing." Satsuki remarked without even bothering to look at her arch-nemesis on the face. "Doing the bidding of the Life Fibers paves road of gifts bestowed by the heavens. You're as aware as me that Nui Harime is a being made purely out of Life Fibers, correct?"

Joker nodded, feeling the more uncomfortable with Nui sticking herself like an obnoxious little girl to snoop in for what they're saying.

"Call me a hypocrite if you wish, but even an eagle's wings have their limits. Even if I'm but a puppet to the Life Fibers, my compatibility with Life Fibers is almost non-existant." The young and dedicated woman sighted. "Ever since birth, my mother hoped that I would become one with the Life Fibers, and yet fate betrayed her wishes. But even still, I continued to be the voice and blade of Ragyo Kiryuin."

He felt bummed that not even the all-mighty Satsuki knew about those things. He could accuse her for lying, but by how she addressed herself, he could affirm that she was being honest about this.

The young Kiryuin turned her head towards Hoomaru. "My mother is not a woman who makes guests wait. She's always punctual no matter the occasion. Is there anything bothering her, Hoomaru?" She questioned the secretary if there was a reason for Ragyo not getting in time.

"She's not making herself tardy, miss." She answered as she relocated her aviator glasses. "Madame President has alerted me that she wishes to see you and the Trickster and check your progress through different means. As we speak, Lady Ragyo is waiting the both of you in the Grand Bath."

WHAT!? Something in-between those words made the seemingly untouchable Satsuki Kiryuin flinch like a coward. From all possible ways they could discuss, why does it have to be the Grand Bath from all places? That's the one place she would wish to show her reports of her process the least. Worst still, seems that also the Trickster's about to experience her mother's "Special Cares" firsthand.

"Is there something bothering you milady?" Iori leaned forward seeing her mistress stop her tracks all of the sudden. Gasping so suddenly wasn't a common occurrence she practices. So why something as a bath would make her quiver in her boots.

The words of her tailor were enough to bring her back to reality. "No. not at all Iori." She responded while bearing her trademark stern look. "Iori, Soroi, wait me outside for the time being. Akira, you're coming with me." She informed her troops, making the butler and his nephew bow and leave the sacred temple of their master's family. Without the 2 out of her home, she let out a stressed sight before turning back to Akira. "Kurus, I do apologize that our audience with the director would turn out this way. I would have wished for us to talk about our progress under different means." She told Kurusu if he could forgive his soul for the inhumane storm that was coming him. The bespectacled teen only leaned his neck sideways, in confusion on what she was talking what was keeping her so unnervous.

"You look tense. Is something bugging you?" Joker then asked Satsuki for why she made the sudden reaction. It's not like he should be meddling with royal Kiryuin affairs, otherwise his S.C.C. collar would mind-rape him to shut his barking. But it was on his heart to be a meddlesome pests on the lives of those living under the roof of misery and help them overcome their problems. Any sane person would throw the judgement of a deplorable and wicked woman such as Satsuki Kiryuin would be a lose cause for redemption, but by some strange reason, Joker could feel something, odd about the young dictator. Like a sorrowful little girl entrapped inside that rotten and dark ego of hers. Hell! Such as Mako likes to say herself that there's a little Ryuko inside her mind, so does he. Only that his little Ryuko is calling him a hopeless dumbass of thinking that he could save Satsuki and destroy those corrupted distortions infesting her mind.

"No… Noting really…" The Kiryuin crooned, trying her hardest to hide her panic. Wat a second! Why was she even feeling bad for the trickster? He is his tool, his jester! There's no need to feel sentimental for someone who has been an insidious boulder inside her heel all this time. "Hoomaru, please notice the Kiryuin's housekeep to prepare a towel for our guest."

"Understood." Rei nodded at her all-powerful mistress order.

But this conversation wouldn't be over yet. The plucky Nagita popped in to be the usual nuisance he's known to be. Hanging himself over the Lady of War's shoulder, he asked him. "Well, not to rain over your parade, but aren't you forgetting something important about him…?" He grinned like a smug snake at the Kiryuin, which only made the afromention roll her eyes to ignore him, yet he was like a fly floating over her meal. "About his clothes of hope…?"

Of course! How could something that could ruin her plans for world conquest fly over her radar? She forgot about Kurusu's Life Fiber-Free clothes! She felt so stupid for being reminded of such factor. The tragedy that would have happened if she didn't have taken care of his clothes of hope, the general public could discover their scheme of weaving Life Fibers inside REVOCS products, or even worse! Those Nudist Beach clowns could have finally decipher the code to create clothes that can basically protect them from Life Fibers.

"Oh my! Has the all-mighty Lady Satsuki forgot one of our most crucial parts to fully enslave all those rodents in bedsheets? Ha! That must suck so-"

SLASH!

The edge of Bakuza was pointing straight at the High Tailor's throat, with the poor Shinjiro quaking over, almost feeling like his Life Fiber heart was about to explode.

"My research team at Honnouji Academy will take care of disposing his old clothes. None of you will have to worry about that." Satsuki stated at the Life Fiber abomination without even looking at his glasses or anything, which made the seemingly bothersome Shinjiro Nagita/Nui Harime the more furious.

"B-but I'm just sayin'-"

"You heard her right Harime. As a top-asset to the Kiryuin Clan, you should know where you shouldn't stick your nose into." Hoomaru interrupted the twisted gentleman to back up Ragyo's daugter's choice. "The Kiryuin's words are divine and absolute. your duty as our deputies is to carry those words to the most miniscule detail."

Nagita wanted to slam his point, or better said, slam that annoying depressive whore with Jorogumo's legs. But to be honest, even his Personas were no match for that big butt with eyebrows' streght. If someone like Akira was demolished and then enslaved, what chance does he have? Moreover, what would his father think for killing its most treasured general out of a whim? It's better for him and his sibling to let Satsuki continue her affairs without her realizing that he knows about her feeble and adorable coup d'etat she plans to surprise her mother with. "Fine… Guess I'll let you girl be…" He shrugged in defeat. "If you excuse me, I'll be doing my stuff. So, have fun with Lady Ragyo, Mr. Trickster. Hehehehehe…" He waved goodbye to the trio while getting out of here with his arms crossed behind his back.

"I'll leave you 2 to be. For the discussions with Madame Presidents are too important for a mere spec such as myself." With that, Rei Hoomaru left the sight of the 2 young adults and leave them at the mercy of the Kiryuin matriarch.

"Your mom wants me to take a bath with you?" Kurusu puzzled at the white witch's request. Even if it sounded bizarre and maybe a dream come true for some people, his reliable rogue instinct was foreboding that she had more sinister plans for him.

"Make no mistake. In no shape or form it is to satiate your sins of lust." At last, Satsuki turned back to look at the Wild card straight to the eyes, stating her absolute word upon the teen's feeble mind. "My mother has the tradition to uphold meetings on, unusual ways. But rest assure that her purity shall not be stained by such acts. For you already know, the Kiryuin's objectives are utterly pure. Now stop standing there and follow me." She was serious about this, for she won't leave anything standing her in the way of her goals.

Having no choice but to obey, Akira followed his new master's trail to the royal springs of the Kiryuin family. The moment of truth was closer than ever before, for the mastermind behind this Life Fiber conspiracy was about to make herself shown. But his hopes relied on his friends, even if the whole world was against them in the very definition of the world.

While the ruthless women of the Kiryuin were assuring the preparations for the ultimate celebration in their name, the remnants of Nudist Beach were still holding high their flickering candle of hope. They weren't thinking on raising the white flag just yet, not after Akira gave himself for the flames of rebellion to continue to burn bright.

Nevertheless, Mikisugi lead Ryuko, Mako, Tsumugu, Sanageyama, Hakodate, Ogure, Garterbelt, Panty, Morgana and Luluco on an expedition deep beneath the waves of the thrashed Osaka. This was the quickest way to HQ, well, what remained of HQ that is.

Once the tomboyish girl and the Kamui reached surface, they were caught unguarded by the poor state of Nudist Beach's Headquarters. The whole sha-bam was more broken than a scratched record.

"Wow! I didn't knew Osaka had a creepy old cave down here!" Mako's innocence prevented her from gasping in horror at the hopeless and meager status of the secret base. Being herself, she could just beam over the wonders of this dark cavern.

"Geez… I knew Satsuki hates your guts, but I didn't though she despises you this much! Nudist Beach? Heh… More like Dead Man's Shore." Sanageyama ruefully said as the team touched land. Even still, he felt pretty bad for the adults that perished under the Reaper's twin guns.

"Yeah… You can thank the Reaper for the sudden overhaul. He really made some changes to this place." Mikisugi sighted, turning his head and witnessing the ruins of his homebase. "Dammit! If we were just stronger, none of this would've happened!"

"Don't fret yourself Mikisugi. None of us foresaw this. Aim your blame at Satsuki." Morgana stated glumly to not make Mikisugi feel miserable. "What's important is that we're still alive, and that's enough reason to continue."

"They may cut down our swords, but they still haven't cut down our spirits." Tsumugu said as he and Oni Mask reversed back from their Phantom Thief forms, returning to their old attires. With Kinagase still on his military gettup while Uzu had to be stuck with the Nudist Beach gear.

Once they made their way to the devastated beach area of the base, they saw the foot soldiers of Nudist Beach rescuing fellow members that survived the Reaper's massacre. Some of them buried in rocks and debris, while others suffered severe wounds and had to receive medical attention quickly.

"Wait. Those are the guys that helped us that helped us before. What happened to the rest?" Luluco quickly identified the nude mooks as the same ones that fought against the forces of Honnouji at the battle for Osaka.

"Huh? How did you know those were the same guys that aid us?" Mikisugi turned to ask the police girl.

"Must be her fuzz's intuition that she can spot anyone without much hurdle." Garter pondered, giving his hypothesis which resulted to be real.

"Damn… Didn't knew that's all there is. Thought that there would be more of you." Ryuko ruefully lamented over the laughably short numbers Nudist Beach now has. They went for having a manpower of a quarter of Honnouji Academy's, to be mercilessly diminished to a hopeless number of 30 or so soldiers. The deck of destiny had all the good cards given to the Kiryuin while they barely had anything to play.

Mikisugi tried his best to not emotionally burst. "Yeah… We'll make sure to give our fallen brethren a deserving funeral and compensate their families for their loss." He sighted in stress as he walked forward, living the rest behind.

"Man… Like this is the first time I see that weird geezer act so, sad." Even Hakodate couldn't hide the fact that she felt bad for Mikisugi. Sure, she was but a former Honnouji scumbag, but still… Seeing someone lost so many of his friends must really hit you hard on the morale.

"It's natural for him to get like this." Tsumugu stepped in, with arms crossed. "Ever since Satsuki Kiryuin ordered Nui Harime and her hitmen to kill Isshin Matoi and all of us from continuing our research, he made an oath to never let anyone die anymore, that includes you Matoi…" he ended, which took the spunky girl by surprise.

"Wait! You're saying that the blue-haired freak's been helping me all those times on purpose!?" Ryuko gasped upon this revelation, which made the not-so-flamboyant adult sight a woeful cloud from his mouth.

"Took you long enough to put the jigsaw puzzles together, Matoi." Aikuro confirmed, too hopeless to even turn back and see her in the eyes. "You may all know the stage play so far. We were almost done finishing Kamui Senketsu, The Kiryuin took notice of our actions, Satsuki unleashed her fixers to exterminate even the smallest spec of our being. I still can remember the pleas of my friends who didn't made it out…" He closed his eyes, letting the desolates windblows flow through his half-naked body, and remind himself about what happened that day. Just when he was about to remember that sorrowful memory, the hand of Tsumugu grabbed his shoulder.

"Put yourself together man. It's no use to cry for spilled milk." Tsumugu told his old friend and boss. "We both have a beloved one taken away by the life fibers. As much as it is fun to remember them, it's not gonna help us to shred those monsters."

Mikisugi felt motivated by the words of Punk, making that flirty smile of his return. "You're right Tsumugu. Honnouji Academy is already setting phase 2 of their plan and we cannot lollygag in these times." He replied now with his bravery and confidence back with him. "Come on everyone, follow me. Let's see if we can find anything that hasn't been turned to scrap." He told his troop as the others followed the nudist through the desolated wastelands of Nudist Beach.

"Hey, I know this ain't the best time to ask you this, but how did you screwballs managed to afford all of this?" Ryuko asked as everyone abled through the destroyed machineries. "I doubt that Takarada guy could afford for all of this complicated stuff."

"Ehh… Wild guesses are up for that. But mine's probably that all of these hotties are part-time hookers. If I'm honest, these hots studs look like tasty snacks." Panty quipped while picking up her nose for the not-so-deligt. But what it was for the delight was Garterbelt knocking the angel back to reality with a well-deserved smack in the head.

"No one's on da' for yo' buich-ass jokes Panty! Our world's bout' to get killed." Garter scowled as the blonde woman could only grit her teeth and sob her head.

"Geez! D-don't you think you're going a bit overboard mister?" Poor Luluco said nervously at the priest's sudden action of violence.

"Good guesses, but I'm afraid none of them hit the target." Aikuro answered. "You all know for a fact that Ryuko's father Dr. Isshin Matoi was a world-renowned scientist in a variety of scientific fields, allowing him to catch the eyes of many investors and shareholders. Thanks to all the sponsors and brand-deals he made through his career, Nudist Beach was able to obtain the best resources to fight the tyranny of clothing."

"Cheese and Crackers! You're telling me that Ryuko's dad was-"

"Ha! I thought that you would know already considering it was by Dr. Matoi's hands who created you." Tsumugu sneered at the Kamui's gasping surprise. "To put it in short term, Dr. Matoi was the founder Nudist Beach from the very start."

Mako's ears heard all of that, which made her have the biggest gasp of her life. "WHAAAAT!" She howled to the moons beyond earth, quickly imagining what sort of perverted idea she had of Nudist Beach, being that of the generalized idea of what a Nudist Beach is like, with Ryuko's dad being surrounded by naked vixens for his own amusement.

"Uhh… I don't think that's what Punk referred to, Mako." Morgana popped Mako's perverted imagination with a sweatdrop.

"Yeah. It's not that kind of Nudist Beach." Ryuko then followed.

"Then that's great! Now I know that you and Morgana all can see our thoughts together! It's like having 2 Ryukos inside my head. One who was born and grown inside my mind, and you who entered my brain! Isn't that awesome?" While Mako continued to babble out nonsense, Sanageyama still had a question uphold.

"Still that doesn't clear a question about your whole ordeal of fighting full-commando." He asked, for Maiko Ogure to snicker to answer.

"I'm surprised you still haven't figure it out considering you were a former member of the Elite 4." She snickered while the green monkey sighted when they mentioned his former place. "As you may all recall, Ragyo's mission as messenger of the Life Fibers is very much simple. To stitch Life Fibers in every piece of clothing until everyone is covered from top to bottom with REVOCS retailed clothes."

"If the Director's plan was to make everyone wear clothes made by REVOCS, how the hell was she going to plan to do so? Wait… Don't you mean…" Omiko snapped in horrible realization on how the wicked Kiryuin family plotted to engulf the land in red threads.

"I get it now! Ragyo tries to gain ownership over everything that produces clothes!" Morgana stated with his assumptions being correct. "And while she and her men are in charge of buying every single clothing conglomerate, Satsuki and Honnouji Academy must have been tasked to do a Hostile Takeover on all schools in Japan in order to force their students to wear REVOCS clothes."

"Those are some nice feline instincts you got there, Mona." Aikuro turned to compliment the cat behind him. "To raise an army of heartless super-soldiers with the power of Goku Uniforms to conquer every school in the country. That is the main purpouse of Honnouji Academy"

"And yet the rabbit hole goes even deeper than even Wonderland." Punk blurted. Now it was his time to talk. "Kids like you are pretty valuable resources for the Kiryuin syndicate. Research has it that people under 40 have high resistance to Life Fiber control, even more kids and teenagers under 18. Ragyo knew that the juvenile market was going to be a hard task to conquer given by the fact that her traditions and outdated ideals make her an out of touch old hag. That's why she came up with Honnouji Academy and place Satsuki Kiryuin in lead of "Operation Brat Lab."

"That's how she dubbed her operation? Sheez! What the Kiryuin have in opulence, they must lack in the ability to come up with more clever names." Ryuko joked.

"As I was saying." Tsumugu interrupted. "The main idea was simple. Build Honnouji Academy at the center of Tokyo Bay with its own city included and promote yourself as the most prestigious school in the country. Afterwards, round up the students' families and pressure them all with Honno City's meritocracy in the shape of Goku Uniforms and sort the best soldiers amongst the students."

"And like any fascist dictatorship, infect the mind of the students with Kiryuin propaganda about how they will become the new gods and how they are the superior race. The typical." Mikisugi added. "and the students? The moment they transcend to Two-Star status, their compassion, kindness and anything you can think about that makes you a decent human being would go poof! And before you know it, they transformed you into another loyal puppet ready to waste its life for a vague feel of heroism and sacrifice. No hard feeling Hakodate."

"To be honest, I don't really care anymore." The tennist shrugged her arms. "That stupid life of is too far behind of me."

Aikuro admired the blonde girl's enthusiasm, and he continued the explanation. "All seemed to be according to plan for Satsuki. Well, until you came into the picture, Ryuko. But her meticulous machinations would be go to waste once Akira made his apparition." He narrowed his eyes. "When Satsuki saw his power to control and summon Personas, she knew she had to have that power no matter what. Mona, did you remember what Satsuki did when Joker spoke to her for the first time?"

"Yeah. She forced Joker to assist into Honnouji Academy against his will. She must have planned to do what she does to the Two-Stars with him."

"Well, too bad she wasn't prepared of how much of a crooks you 2 are. Man! Those days were fun." Ryuko blurted with a cocky grin on her face.

"Exactly." For it was Maiko Ogure to continue. "When Akira demolished Fukuroda on his first day at Honno City, the Student Council agreed that he was a possible threat to their system. And his transgressions wouldn't stop there. Well, I think we all know the things he's done to make Sasuki grow green hair. And I won't even bother to explain his Persona Fragments as we all know that thing already… and don't get me started with well… I think y'all know…"

"Yeah…" The blue-haired hero muttered in shame and grief. "With Joker on their hands, the Kiryuins set their train back on track. Now they can proceed with their schemes like normal and without obstructions. But fortunately, we all still have the advantage in terms of clothes of hope."

"The hell's a clothe of hope?" Ryuko asked.

"Glad you asked. The last remaining "Normal" pieces of clothing not made by REVOCS. Basically, run of the mill clothes with 0% Life Fibers."

"Like a black spot of filth sticking on a stained glass, Ragyo seeks to find and destroy any remnants of clothes of hope. Not only are they free from the Life Fibers altering your cognition, but they also serve as the ultimate shield against them. With them already taking the job of covering you, Life Fibers would basically wither and die upon contact of clothes of hope." Aikuro continued on. "The Kiryuin's lackeys had made a good job on burning and shredding all normal clothes from their rival companies by beating them at the fashion battlefield and thus, the eyes of the consumers. But they still are searching for the remains to make sure their plans are 100% flawless."

"Thus far, Takarada's outfit and Mikisugi's teacher getup are the only clothes of hope we've managed to secure. Surprisingly or perhaps for no one's surprise, Akira's casual attire are also clothes of hope." Maiko added.

"Oh, and let's not forget about this one. Do you remember these, Ryko?" Mikisugi then brought out from his back Ryuko's old clothes before she had Senketsu."

"Crap! Those are my old clothes!" Ryuko indeed remembered and quickly statched them from the rebel's hand to give them an affectionary hug. "I-i… I never thought I would see them again… So glad they're still intact."

"You're welcome Ryuko. After you busted out from the ceiling of your old house's basement, I made sure to retrieve them before anyone from Honnouji would find out."

"Yeah… Gotta give you thanks. These were my mom's gift before she could pass away." Ryuko said with melanchony.

"Well, seems that your mom really wanted to protect you from Ragyo if she was able to get her hands on clothes of hope." Mikisugi said. "But I think y'all get the main idea about clothes of hope. Unfortunately, the Kiryuin did a good job of silencing any providers that could give us materials to create more. Then again, fighting the Life Fibers with clothes would just be a disgrace to our organization's name."

"Hey! I asked you boneheads why you fight with your balls exposed. I didn't ask you to lecture me about these clothes of hops things no one really cares about!" Sanageyama snapped once fed up with all this exposition dump.

"Do I need to spell it out for you? We basically fight naked cuz' it's the only to not fall victim to the Life Fibers. For someone who's sight seem to be unmatched, you seem to lack to see the obvious." Tsumugu blurted and rolled his eyes.

Uzu was left speechless. He could only twitch his eye after Punk slapped him with the insult of his life. "D-did I just got roasted by a Naked Ape…?"

"Says the dork that has been known as a monkey all his time." Omiko just had to step in and amp up that burned wound by 11. No wonder the elemental weakness of his Persona is Fire, considering how much of a fragile sense of pride he bears.

The team walked over the interrogation room and see if the 2 One-Stars they took as prisoners managed to tell off anything important they could use to their advantage. As Aikuro opened the door, it showed the 2 One-Stars tied up to a pair of chairs and stripped from their Goku Uniforms to their naked core.

"EGAD! Those are the guys who were about to split me into 2 Makos!" Mankashoku jumped behind Ryuko's back when she realized the identity of the 2 prisoners, but Ryuko gently pushed her bestie out of her side.

"No need to chicken out Mako." Ryuko then looked at Mankanshoku. "Those losers are practically as harmless as a fly. Let me show ya'." She then grabbed the 2 One-Star soldiers and slammed them both to the ground. Everyone was surprised by the brute force Ryuko implemented to the point she made 2 craters from the impact the lookalikes had with the ground.

"Ouch! What the hell's wrong with you, does the Matoi family hold no honor?" The pitiful One-Star reclaimed at the girl, which only made Ryuko feel quite pleased hearing the complains of these 2 idiots.

"Though you boneheads could resist worse and not complain by the many times you and your twins have been blown away daily by the Honnouji Higher ups." Ryuko snarked before dropping the 2 villains to kiss the concrete. "You 2 better start talkin' right now what's Satsuki going to do with Fuzzy Hair, or I'll swear I will cut your heads off and then kick them out of the park, YA' HEAR!?"

"How should I know? I don't know what in the Kiryuin's name is a Fuzzy Hair suppouse to mean!"

"Carl, you Idiot!" The One-Star beside the other one scolded his dumb breathened with a smack in the head, with his head… "She's talking about Joker dammit! Have you been slacking though our Strategy classes? Everyone in Honnouji and the slums knows that Ryuko Matoi tends to call him Fuzzy Hair!"

"Really Brian? HOLD THE PHONE! ARE YOU SAYING LADY SATSUKI MANAGED TO SUBDUE JOKER AT LAST!?" The One-Star gasped once he realized what was Matoi talking about, but his cacophony would be received with his head being stomped by Ryuko's white sneaker. "HEY-HEY-HEY! QUIT IT, WILL YA'? TRANSGRESSING AN INJURED SOLDIER IS-"

"For fuck sake! I don't give a crap about your honor bullshit!" Ryuko grew tired of the One-Star's word salad and kicked him in the head again. "If you're that eager to die, then be my guest! Just when I was in the mood to let you 2 idiots live!"

"Don't even try Ryuko." Sanageyama walked in by holding the girl's shoulder. "All these bozos have in their brain is the Kiryuins. None of them have a single bit of self-independence.

"Huh… Blind loyalty can be one hell of a drug." Tsumugu frowned and crossed his arms to compliment what Sanageyama explained.

"Ngh… Fine…" Ryuko furrowed before dropping the 2 One-Stars back to the floor. "Then I better hope any of you idiots have a better solution in your hands."

Everyone remained silent, causing Matoi to only grow the more irritated. Well, not until Panty showed a devilish grin on her face.

"Perhaps there is…" The fallen angel said, looking at the 2 imrpsioned hunks with a lustful leer.

"WHAT!? D-don't tell me she's really going to uhh... THIS IS NO TIME FOR THOSE THINGS! THE FATE OF THE UNIVERSE IS AT STAKE, YOU KNOW!?" Luluco quickly snapped and started to panick-babble.

"Not like we have much of a choice in our hands, or do we Ms. Space Patrollah'?" Garter retorted at the middle-schooler, which he only sighted in defeat. "If there's somethin' a man can't resist, is a good suck in the dick. And Panty just to happen to be da' master on cleanin' clocks."

"Huh? She's a watch-fixer?" Mako being Mako, couldn't comprehend what the priest was meaning. Mikisugi quickly pushed everyone minus the hooker of heavens out of the interrogation room to not have them throw up and most importantly, to not destroy Mankanshoku's sacred innocence.

"Yeah, yeah! Let's leave Ms. Anarchy be. We got a long road ahead of us guys." Mikisugi exclaimed before closing the door shut.

Panty now had the 2 teens at the mercy of her blasphemous fingers. Squinting at the terrified One-Stars while taking out her clothes, she said. "Alright boys, get ready for a show…"

The White Eagle and the Black Wolf have prepared themselves to meet with the Director on Honnouji Academy inside the Grand Bath. Just like the rest of the manor, this interior oasis was as opulent and magnificent to meet Ragyo's standards. The Royal white pillars standing on the sides and the fountain of a concrete man holding a chalice. And the size of the whole bathtup, my god! It could be comparable to a public pool in terms of size, almost talking the already ample space of the entire things.

"My mother won't take long to be here, so be ready to welcome her." Satsuki told Joker, now both being basically naked, which was uncomfortable for the thief, and also the young Kiryuin.

Following the actions of his new master, Akira sank his foot under the warm and calm waters of the bathtub. Yet when his flesh sank in it, he felt a violent shiver of goosebumps coursing all around his body. And it wasn't because the water was diabolically cold or anything, it was perfectly warm and on its point. It's just, something in the water made his whole body panic, but why?

"It's nothing to be afraid off, Trickster." Satsuki turned to Joker to not get out and continue to sooth his body. "The waters in the Grand Bath are especially medicated to improve Life Fiber synchronization. But knowing that you come from a world where they practically don't exist and the fact that your Personas prevent your body from submitting to them, it's no surprise that your body reacted negatively."

"To be honest with you, I'm blown to know that you're aware of my true origins, Lady Satsuki…" Joker muttered, waiting for an answer by part of the Kiryuin.

"Indeed. How your childish sense of justice and kindness did worse to the society you swore to improve than good. You must have come from a mental Asylum to think that opposing your gods 2 times would conclude on your victory, and now look where it got you. All of this could have been easily avoided if you just accepted your role as a cog on the machine. Perhaps I could have lend you my forces to de-throne that false good your townsfolks call Yaldabaoth." The Eagle said to the Fox.

"We both know that you're lying. You would have coup my world either way."

Satsuki froze in place and did a set of quick eye-twitches. Worst thing of all, the SCC didn't punished him or anything. Maybe it had to do that she also thinks that's true.

"You were it well, Satsuki. However…"

"That voice!" Satsuki turned at the male statue alongside Joker. Behind the monument of the human, a gigantic rainbow light overwhelmed the whole room, which forced the 2 teenager to protect their eyes from its intensity. If Joker thought that Satsuki's unexplainable light was strong, this one could make him go blind for life.

Once the rainbow light falter, Akira could now have time to finally meet face to face with the mastermind of Honnouji Academy, and he could only say one thing in respect. "Holy mama…"

"You're over-exerting your body and mind with how hard you try to control its nature." And there she was. The puppeteer that's been pulling the red strings on all of her naked glory, both figuratively and literally. Seeing that Ragyo had such a beautiful curvaceous body with a sizable bust, it's no wonder how Satsuki got her back-dumplings and balloons. But if the Trickster knows for sure, is that behind that pale and rainbow façade, lies an ultra-fascist demoness that would even make Satan pray to God to save him.

Though, the naked mother soon turned to spot Akira beside her descendant and could only feel delighted to finally meet him for the first time. "And you, you must be the Trickster that benevolent god sent against us to fight off the Life Fibers, aren't you? You poor, poor and unfortunate stray lamb… Forced to be turned into a puppet of a gods, destined to fall into an abyss of despair."

Joker remained silent as a cricket. But if Ragyo could tell anything by her skirmish smirk, is that the Trickster was feeling scared, aimless, confused, sorrowful. How pitiful.

"No matter. All that matters most is that you're finally in good hands and far from those blasphemous humans. You 2 must be in a lot of pain with the burdens you've been carrying over your backs…" Satsuki snapped in horror once her mother gently approach them. She knew what was going to happen next.

But in Joker's mind, he was as clueless as a rookie detective looking for clues over a crime scene he unintentionally messed up. But soon was caught off his shoulder by the tender hand of Ragyo sophistically grabbing his chin.

"You poor thing… I can't even begin to imagine what kinds of horrible things those foolish deities above us had to make you endure." Ragyo already began to caress Joker's face in the most intimate way possible. The way his smooth skin reacted to hers made something inside Ragyo want to throw up even if it doesn't show it with how calm and dominant, she appeared on the outside. "But now it is not the time to suffer any longer. As long as my bosom is there to carry you, you can solace safely…"

"Ngh… You're welcome…" Joker mourned, trying his best to not say anything rude with how Ragyo Kiryuin was touching him on areas no person should EVER touch without someone's full concent.

Ragyo knew this and grew softly annoyed at the signs of the teen's resistance. How could a lost child like him be able to reject her acts of motherly love? But soon, the answer would soon hit her. "Fufufu… Of couse. How could I've been so ignorant."

Satsuki noticed the snakey grin decorating Ragyo's face and her eyes twitched upon reaction.

"You 2 are in need of purification." Ragyo said. "Both of you must have your essences tainted by the filth below us. You're in no shape to answer the Life Fibers with your cores this filthy." Ragyo concluded before turning her sight to her dear child. "If you could make your mother the most happy, could you come and join your new brother? After all, you know that as your mother, everything I do for you is for your best."

The young Kiryuin knew that she didn't had a word on the situation. She nodded and walked to the side of the Trickster. Her stern and stressed look was enough for Akira to show no opposition to her mom's purification ritual.

Both kids sooth in-between the water and opened the doors for Ragyo to do the rest.

Ragyo Kiryuin softly smiled before getting to work. Soon her children will realize her cares are truly out of this world.

"Humans… Such innocent and pathetic creatures. Won't you agree, trickster?" Ragyo whispered sensually over Ren's ear while her slender and sikly fingers traversed through his body, making sure that there was no undiscovered spot for her fingers to feel and touch. Same thing she did with Satsuki, and both felt the looming discomfort of the Kiryuin matriarch practically doing something that made them feel uncomfortable. "When they find themselves vulnerable, faltered, despairful… Naked, they are swallowed by a huge feeling of embarrassment, instantly desiring to cover themselves with the forbidden fruit of clothing, to hide again what they fear to face…"

Kurusu was fighting his feelings to say stop to this wicked massage. The soft-yet distressful moans coming out of his mouth were masking the wails of help he wished to express. A lot of his former male friends would melt with envy if they see him taking a bath with a beautiful mature vixen such as Ragyo, but Joker knew that it would be the last thing anyone would want.

Unfortunately for the mirror image beside him, Satsuki neither was enjoying it, to the contrary. Albeit for the fact that she had better control over her demands for her mother to stop, one could safely guess that this twisted bonding between mother and daughter was practically mondain during her whole life.

"There's no blasphemy in it. After all, it is the law of this world and how its wonderful god dictates it. Me, the Kiryuins, and all the pigs that grovel in this tiny spec of space rock are nothing but lambs, awaiting the awakening of he who stitches destiny…" Things were about to become even more disturbing. Ragyo's hand was already caressing Akira's crotch area, leaving nothing to the imagination on to what she was trying to do. "But, as natural elections is known… If a species were to reject its instinct…"

"REBELLION DETECTED! EXECUTING DISCIPLINE MEASURES!"

"GRYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!" Kurusu jumped out of the water in a wail of bona-fied agony as his collar twisted his mind with horrible memories and thoughts to tight his leash.

Both women saw in amusement how Akira still held that weak fickling rebellion despite everything. It would be understandable that Satsuki was feeling anxious and tense for the stupid stunt his new dog did. One move like that and her mother wouldn't doubt to dispose of him for his treachery, yet somehow this wasn't the case. She should feel relief that Ragyo reacted to this with a mirth, perhaps even happy. But why she felt her spine chilling?

"How quaint…" The Kiryuin matriarch muffled. "It seems that our guest still persists on conceding his will for true blissfulness. He truly is a marvelous man."

"Please excuse my humble servant mother. It hasn't been long since his capture, so he still in need to reevaluate his position on the food chain." Satsuki apologized while looking down at the panting Akira with disdain.

"No need for apologies dear. I do not blame you for the misbehaving of your new dog." Ragyo smiled. "In fact, maybe what he needs is some needed enlightenment, and soon he will realize what awaits him in the natural cycle. That includes you, my dearest Satsuki." She gently held her daughter's hands to have her swing to her size like the manipulative monster she is.

"Do you mean-"

Ragyo nodded and gave a mirth. "Indeed… As the spokeswoman to the Life Fibers, it is my duty to spread the will of the Blind Idiot God to all the ignorant masses that worship the bliss of conformity it has blessed us with." She focused her sight on the 2 teens like a depraved matriarch. "And now, it is time for me to show you everything…"

It is indeed true that the Kiryuin manor is a horrible nightmare realm deep beneath its opulent appeal. Behind that curtain of purity and 'holier than thou' atmosphere, laid down a malevolent vault of secrets no human mind could be able to comprehend. This was the location where the Dark Deity of Infinite Truths slumbers and where the Kiryuin and their followers await with enthusiasm of its awakening. Bellow the Kiryuin Manor lied the Fiber Palace, the Palace of the Primordial Life Fiber, the Spiral Nemesis.

Ragyo guided Akira and Satsuki beneath the catacombs of her mansion, the 3 only embraced by beige blankets because entering to the cathedral of this world's god with any kinds of clothes was a giant crime against its name. Kurusu had a huge feeling of mortifying dread itching through his soul. It was weird really. Aside from the Life Fibers scattered through the large system of catacombs, the only ones here were him, her new master and the master of her master. And for some inexplicably reason, he could swear there was well, something watching him. He could count the number of times he suddenly turned around only to see the deep darkness of the dungeon. But still, he felt that something was waiting for his arrival.

And let's speak about the young Kiryuin for a moment. Even Akira could tell that Satsuki never knew about the existence of this giant unholy sanctuary that was under her home by the terrified expression of her face.

Ragyo stopped to admire the towering gate before them. It was a white door decorated by cherubs blowing trumpets and angels praying to the lord, only that the angelic being retracted in this artistic gate being binded by strings like mere puppets. Telling that the angels and the agents of God are nothing but hollow machines for the Lord to force to dance and have the full right to discard them if he so desired.

"My children, what you see before you is the entrance to the Life Fiber Palace, a sanctuary where the source of Life Fibers reside, eagerly awaiting for its awakening and bath us ignorant humans with the sinful truth of our reality." Ragyo mused in delight, but the same feeling wasn't shared with her "beloved children." Satsuki Kiryuin felt her heart beat uncontrobably, to even being able to imagine how the source of the Life Fibers, the parasitic alien conquerors that devastated her whole life would look like. But Joker, he wasn't really sure… But the ominous feeling of dread was still apparent, feeling a voice calling him from the other side of the door.

"Enter…"

The voice that haunted Joker's mind entered everyone's mind, sending chills down the 2 teen's spines, while making Ragyo bit her lip out of her twisted feeling of excitement. Alas, the malicious will made the gate open by itself without the need of someone else. They all proceed to the dephs of the Fiber Palace…

And so, the souce existed…

Akira and Satsuki froze together by the sheer terror they experience upon seeing at first glance the terror inside the Fiber Palace. Thousands if not millions of COVERS hang from the walls of the unholy temple on a state of stasis waiting to be awoken and engulf the world into a dark cloth of ruin.

And in the center of it all, they saw IT…

"Is that…"

"The source…" Satsuki finished Joker's phrase while both were still flinched by the mere gaze of the leader of the Life Fibers… It was the Primordial Life Fiber before them, and it was waiting for them to come…

"Indeed… Isn't it marvelous?" Ragyo cooed, still being unable to control herself but to marvel at the giant yarnball that weaves the threads of fate themselves. "This is the beginning of it all, and the end of it all, the Kiryuin's almighty patriarch, the Primordial Life Fiber."

"Well Done my dark priestess… You came to me with the Trickster now under your utter control…"

"W-what? W-who was tha?" For the first time in her life Satsuki truly felt what was to be the defensless mouse at the mercy of the fat cat.

"How quaint… You've been crusading through the home I knit for those of your kind, and you can't recognize who has given you purpose…? Fufufufufu…"

"I-it talks…?" Satsuki froze in utter terror. Never she foresaw that the hivemind consciousness of all Life Fibers could gain the ability to communicate via human language.

Alas, the Primordial Life Fiber was clearly focused on the frightened Phantom Thief bellow him. He was awaiting for his arrival the moment Philemon summoned him to his world. "And to you, poor son of man… Poor you, being pitied to a game fixed from its very beginning by a divine tyrant, snatched away from your right to exist and now forced to please the expectations of someone els,e just to fail the world you are so desperately trying to save from its own stupidity…"

The trickster could only look at the cosmic cocoon with dread. The words it was whispering towards him felt jarring to the point he felt miniscule to a creature as the Primordial Life Fiber.

"Always seeing the eyes of the foolish masses blind to the truth of their existance… That is, the fools of my world of my own creation… All born equally with the sole purpose of sowing the seeds of my awakening, mere steppingstones for my vision of dethroning the false god the people of your world ignorantly worship… But not like you, my devoted chosen…" The Primordial Life Fibers's ominous words were taking over the young man's mind without way of getting off. "Since the day of your unexpected arrival, I've been watching you, from the dephs of this prison of a world… I have savored, the essence of your fear…"

"So… everything the Kiryuin have built upon, every meticulous move and action, every crusade we did in the name of the Life fibers, was for the sake of an extraterrestrial being…?" The fearful young Kiryuin muttered with every attempt to stand before the progenitor of all life of earth with no fear all ending on the same futile result.

"An alien you say…?" The Kiryuin made a grave mistake of underestimating the grandiouse of the entity looking at them and was received by a burst of nightmarish cackles that made the whole palace tremble from the power of its voice. "And alien I am not… I AM A GOD!"

The voice of the monster bellowed as from its center, a repulsively malignant red eyes with spira-like pupil opened. Tendrils emerged from the ground beneath the 2 teenagers and reveal their nefarious intentions. They inserted themselves into their ears in order for them to dream with the Blind Idiot God and for their eyes to be finally open to the undeniable truth of this world…

"Long before I bestowed men with the fruit of knowledge, I was one with the being of nothing! An amalgamation of raw Spiral Energy… Rejected by its holder, afraid of the calamities my unlimited reach can achieve!"

Images too weird and alien were flashing before the 2 victims of the Spiral Nemesis. Beholding the birth of the chaos god from beyond the stars. They could behold a collective group of people growing in concern over this strange Spiral Power that Satsuki still sees as a mistery.

"Thus, they foolishly expelled my existence from their souls, merging their consciousness into 1 omniscient void feared as the Anti-Spiral, striving to suppress as many beings across the stars and beyond from tapping the Spiral Powers resting within their subconsciousness in hopes of advert my birth… But all these foolish pigs did was sow the seeds of my inescapable apparition… From their eyes, I savoured the knowledge the ocean of stars could touch, building the purpose of my being with the tainted brushes and colors of chaos that the phoney tyrant of order works oh so hard to prohibit…

My eyes were open to the absolute truth… I am corrupted Spiral Power on its most primitive form… I am the Blind Idiot God… I am the harbinger of distorted wishes… I am the Primordial Chaos… the sleeping nightmare whose awakening shall extinguish the flame of birthright of the world I myself crafted with my hands…"

"I, am, Azatoth!"

It was then that the father of all Life Fibers now known as the Blind Idiot God Azathoth let his 2 future apostles free from his influence. Even an all powerful anomaly such as him had to handle these 2 with care, for shattering their brittle minds with his absolute truth that is himself and his will would not fall for his best interests.

Both Akira and Satsuki collapsed into the ground, twitching in terror as their sanity slowly healed from losing it.

"N-no… It must not be true…" Satsuki soft spoken in despair and shock, taking heavy breaths with her view of her and everyone's purpose for existing has been completely broken like a window. Even with Azathoth not telling them the purpose of all living organisms of this dimension.

"Dive inside your heart… You know it is true…" Azathoth ushered into the Kiryuin's mind with those soothing but toxic whispers of him. "Imagine… A celestial cocoon carrying my undying will to bliss all of those ignorant pigs with the dream of absolute hedonism… Who was weakened and banished to this once hollow world, devoid of any developed life whatsoever before my blissful descent to this desolated reality, all by those pathetic heroes pulled from time and space… By my hands, I've provided those you call "humans" with the forbidden fruit of knowledge, entrusting them with the forsaken sin of autonomy, in exchange of eternal servitude for my unavoidable resurrection… Now my children, and Trickster… Behold the extension of my existence!" Azathoth used his almighty will to construct dozens of projections showing people all over the world going on their usual routines. "Life Fibers are my children; therefore, I am all there is to Life Fibers. Every piece of sin these naïve pigs don from the organization of my Dark Priestess has been corrupted with the essence of my demonic ete, ever so consuming and tasting their deepest wishes… Cycling through their lives nourishing me with their collective desire for true freedom…

"Indeed, master." Ragyo smirked at the evil god's words as she rose her hand, producing a small yarnball of Life Fibers that it was slowly taking a new form. "In REVOCS we strive to cover the naked bodies of everyone with our unique line of clothing in order to advance the promised day of the awakening of Azathoth. Of course, as you both may know already, there are still tied loose ends that have obstructed us to further the master's word with our direct competitors in the textile market and those stubborn idiots at Nudist Beach. But, thanks to your magnificent efforts my beautiful daughter, Dr Matoi's last efforts have been diminished to a fading memory…" The small crimson orb levitated up as it was almost finished into being reborn anew. "Once the bells of beautiful Armageddon ring at Honnouji Academy's Sports and Culture Festival, the COVERS shall celebrate this world's demise with a feast of all those weak-minded fools of the Slums and those strong and up to my beauty standards shall be baptized as apostles of Azathoth… Once the red strings of fate have been attached to every soul of the planet, humanity's last order by his excellence shall be executed, sealing YHVH's fate once and for all…" Once done, the small ball of fiber was now transformed into a horrendous COVERS and put on a state of stasis to await the call of its father.

And it wasn't the only COVERS visible on the Fiber Palace… Dozens upon millions of COVERS were all hanging on the walls all sleeping for the awaited day of tomorrow. Joker couldn't believe his eyes, he was praying that all these monsters didn't meant what he is imagining, but deep inside he knows its true.

"Hmm…" The eyes of the Slumbering Nightmare were all on the shuddering Trickster. His entire vision blackened, only witnessing in horror Azathot's spiraling eye on every corner. "You appeared... scared..." The god of dark chaos whispered. "Your untamable soul may not let me, delve inside the inner struggles of your mind, but the taste that your fear is leaking out has opened my eye upon the origin of your anguish…"

"You, and i… are not so different, as much as you want to escape from this truth…"

"What do you mean…"

"The 2 of us… have been tortured by the upstart tyrant of light… YHVH…" Azathot's vision continued to hover around the teen's panicking mind. "Do not be afraid, Trickster… you, can trust me… Dream with me, and behold the truth of your angush!" Azathoth trapped Kusuzu again on his visions of the vast multiverse, pivoting to his home world, the Amalaverse… "He, who is worshipped by the herd of simple-minded sheep of your world as the Holy Grail is nothing more, than a fraction of YHVH he casted upon your world in order to seize…" Images of a giant yellow heard were flashing before Kurusu. The mannerisms, the self-righteousness that serve to mask the malignant purposes, they all align with the holy grail. "Ever since the Great Will bestowed your world with the miracle of life, the decadent poser YHVH has tried to invade the subconscious of your world for eons… However, the autonomy of your kind from thee arrogant gods has forbidden him from stepping on your reality… It wouldn't be until now once the sloth of mankind ill-needed for a puppeteer that made a leak for the fool of light to interfere, even if it is on a weak form…"

"I can help you… I can save you... I can save your world from the lies of YHVH… I'll grant them a dynasty where they are all free to indulge on their slothful desires for eternity… Purified from the worries of free-will and other people…"

The ominous words have penetrated Akira's mind and could only look at Azathoth with a stern look, making Satsuki's terrified feeling an embarrassment for her pride as a Kiryuin…

"Have your eyes finally yield to the truth… Trickster…?"

Heya, I'm really sorry for taking so long on writing. I had a lot of things going on and I didn't want to drag this part for so long. Anyhow, I promise that next chapter shall be the siege against Honnouji Academy and the beginning of Satsuki's downfall.