Begin
~Normal POV
Once they were all back in their regular clothes, the gang spent a few precious moments together; talking and giving each other presents and taking some last minute pictures together. And Sophia even asked Morgana to pick out something to give Akira from herself as well. But as Akira had feared, not everything was perfect yet. They were about to get into the car and drive off when Sophia chimed to get their attention.
"Wait!"
"What's wrong, Sophia?" Haru asked.
"A Jail… There's a Jail here!"
While everyone registered the shock of her words, Ryuji asked. "Hang on now- I thought we shut down EMMA? Shouldn't all the Jails be gone?!"
"I don't know." Sophia answered, worriedly. "It wasn't here when we first arrived, but now… I have no doubt. It's still spreading! What is this? It's already wider than-!" She was interrupted by the phone vibrating. "Zenkichi is calling!"
Akira quickly answered; putting it on speaker for them. "Zenkichi, what's up?"
"We got a fucking problem!" Zenkichi replied, sounding frantic and panicky. "Where are you right now? Are you watching the news!?"
Yusuke pulled out his phone and searched up the live news stream for them to listen to.
"Now, for breaking news on the virtual assistant app EMMA: Despite recent claims of being shut down, it appears an unidentified system malfunction is preventing proper deactivation. EMMA development company Madicce has requested the public avoid accessing EMMA in any way at this time."
To say this news was distressing was an understatement. "EMMA isn't shut down!?" Makoto asked, worriedly.
"What's going on, Zenkichi?!" Futaba asked.
"I don't know why this is happening, but I do know that EMMA's servers are located in the Tokyo Radio Tower. I also know for a fact that she was successfully turned off and the app became inaccessible. But it was only for a minute! She turned back on and now she won't respond to her shut down codes! Even Konoe doesn't know what's going on, or the rest of the company! And for some reason, nobody can get in touch with Dr. Ichinose either. They tried calling her personally, and tried calling the university, but they said she's out tonight and nobody knows when she'll be back."
"Someone rebooted it!?" Futaba shouted. "But Madicce would have stopped anyone who walked in!"
Akira was thinking about the situation. Futaba brought up a good point, there was no way anyone could have gotten past Madicce security to turn EMMA on again. Especially in such a short time. Which would mean the only two explanations are that someone on the inside did it, or… that someone had access from the outside?
"No…" He said, quietly. "That's not it…"
Futaba gave him a confused look. "Oh, what? Are you gonna try to say your theory is that EMMA turned… herself… back… on…" Right as she said it, her speech slowed as she processed her own words. "Nooo… That's impossible…" She lapsed into a thinking pose and didn't speak further.
Ryuji did a quick check to confirm that EMMA was still on his phone. The app responded obediently as if nothing was amiss. This only added to their confusion.
"Zenkichi," Akira said, "We have another problem too. Sophia says there's a new Jail."
"Are you sure?! Where are you right now?" Zenkichi asked.
"I have no doubt," Sophia replied. "It's an enormous Jail, spanning the Tokyo area all the way to Yokohama. We're in Yokohama right now. The epicenter of the Jail is the Tokyo Radio Tower."
"That's where EMMA's servers are located…" Yusuke said, worriedly.
"Looks like we got a new destination," Morgana said.
"Sit tight, I'll be there soon and we'll go together!" Zenkichi said, before hanging up.
Akira looked around quickly before spotting the one thing he needed right now: the door to the Velvet Room. Even after last year, he was still the only one who could see and use it. He excused himself from everyone else and quickly entered the door. If anyone would know what was happening, it'd be Lavenza.
Once he was back in his cell, Lavenza greeted him sorrowfully. "Trickster…"
Akira dropped to his knees before her. "What's happening? Do you know?"
Lavenza frowned. "A true abomination… Its writhing grasp spreading across the land… Could this be the second coming of the evil that rent me asunder? That locked away even my master?"
Akira felt his blood run cold. He knew all too well what those words meant. "You mean… him? No… I killed him!"
Lavenza shook her head, her long hair swaying as she did so. "No- it…" He then noticed the fear in her eyes. She was trying very hard to keep her composure but he could see right through it. She was just a kid, after all, no matter how mature her voice sounded. "It feels different, yet similar in many ways…" A few tears escaped her eyes. "Oh, I don't want to be split again!"
Akira reached through the bars and patted her head reassuringly. "Shhh, it's ok. I'm not gonna let that happen. You're my friend, I always look after my friends."
She sniffled, wiping her eyes. "I beg of you, Trickster… It wounds me to continue requesting your and your companions' intervention… But I must beseech you: unmask the true catalyst of this calamity. Expose the true evil will within. I sense foreboding power… not far from here. I am most certain it is connected to your becoming a prisoner once more."
"You can count on us, Lavenza." Akira said, gently. "The Phantom Thieves never back down from a fight."
"Thank you…" Lavenza said, smiling again.
~...
When he returned from the Velvet Room, he immediately saw that everyone was on edge. In fact, they looked more distraught than before.
"What happened?" He asked.
"...Nobody in Tokyo is responding to our calls now…" Yusuke answered, in a strained tone.
"It's like the connection is being jammed…" Futaba whined.
"Shit…" Akira muttered. "Ok, try to remain calm. We'll figure this out and then everything will be alright. Got it?"
They all gave him firm nods in response. He understood their fears but they can't let concern over their loved ones get in the way of their new mission. Whatever was going on here, he needed them to be at full attention for them to stop it. It was at this point when Zenkichi arrived.
"Oh- there you guys are! Sorry for the wait! Thank god there was no traffic. Now what's happening?!"
"Nobody back home is responding to our calls!" Makoto whined. "This is getting more serious by the second!"
"Damn!" Zenkichi said, "But why? Didn't you tell them to delete EMMA?"
"I did not have to…" Yusuke answered. "Mei never had it installed, that I know of. But it doesn't matter now. The app has returned to our phones without us ever having reinstalled it. It refuses to leave; just like the Nav. I am almost certain that it's capable of putting itself on any phone as well. It's the only explanation that fits…"
"But then it's still changing hearts, too!" Zenkichi replied, breathlessly. "I saw it happen with the Madicce employees who were trying to shut it down! Does this mean Konoe wasn't the real mastermind?!"
Akira paused thoughtfully; with Lavenza's words going through his head. Unmask… Expose the evil will within… There was something wrong here. Something they were missing… But what could it be?
"No, Konoe had a plan and he confessed his actions in full. Even if he wasn't the mastermind behind this whole thing, we can still charge him with everything he's done." Akira answered, firmly. "But this… Hang on, I need to think…"
They watched as he paced around the parking lot trying to figure this out. Most of them, minus Zenkichi and Sophia, were used to this behavior from Akira. He did this when he was considerably vexed with trying to put an answer to a difficult question. (Or occasionally he'd simply do it when he was stressed out.)
He kept pacing around for several moments before the answer hit him like a brick. "Zenkichi, get us to the radio tower and make it fast!"
"What are you thinking, Akira?" Ryuji asked, as they got back into the car.
"I'm hoping that I'm wrong…"
~...
Upon finally making it back to Tokyo they headed straight for the Radio Tower. And they found a deeply disturbing sight when they arrived. Tons of people were flocking here like moths to a flame. The people were all very dull-eyed and listless, lacking any emotion as they stared at their phones; mumbling about how they "can't wait for her to guide them to happiness." And that they "don't have to think anymore."
"What's going on?!" Yusuke asked, worriedly.
"I've got one theory and I don't fucking like it…" Akira replied, bitterly.
Before anyone could try to guess what might be happening, Akira's phone chimed with a notification from his EMMA app.
"Welcome to the Promised Land. Beginning navigation."
~...
By some strange miracle they were sucked back into the Metaverse in this area. And the sight that met their eyes inside this Jail made the veteran Phantom Thieves shudder with fear. The bloody red walls. The bone-like structures. The atmosphere, and the fact that they were now visibly underground. There was no mistaking the resemblance to what they knew as Hell itself: Mementos.
"What the hell?! I thought you needed a keyword to enter a Jail?!" Zenkichi asked, confusedly.
Akira put his phone away. "EMMA gave us one, it was Promised Land."
"This atmosphere…" Yusuke said, looking around. "I'd never forget a place like this. A vast prison born from the cognition of the masses deep beneath Shibuya…"
"You're right… It looks just like Mementos…" Ann said, quietly.
"Mementos?" Sophia asked.
"It'd take too long to explain, but we've seen a place like this before…" Morgana answered.
"But it can't be possible!" Haru shouted, fearfully. Ryuji put a comforting arm around her shoulders.
Zenkichi looked at everyone's faces a little more closely behind their thief masks. It wasn't the first time he'd seen them scared, he saw that plenty back in Okinawa, but he could tell right away this was something far worse. They were genuinely terrified from being in this place. Whatever happened in this Mementos place before must have affected them quite deeply…
"You guys ok?" He asked, looking concerned. (Though it was hard to tell with the style of his mask.)
Akira tried to regain his composure. "Ahem. We'll be fine…" He gave everyone else a firm, reassuring look. "Don't worry, it's not gonna happen again… I swear it…"
This helped the rest of them calm down a little. He needed them to be at full capacity. The fear of what happened to them last time would only distract everyone. If Akira said it wouldn't happen again, then it was best to take his word for it and push forward.
"What now, Joker?" Morgana asked.
"It's a Jail, right? We just have to find its Monarch."
"Yeah, let's figure out who the hell dragged us in here so they can start regretting it!" Ryuji shouted, determinedly.
~...
It didn't take long to reach the center of the Jail. There were lots of Shadows but no sign of any Monarch. But that was the least of their problems. The center room of the Jail was flat and circular with deep cliff drops on all edges around them. And in the room's center was the thing Akira was worried about: a giant golden box structure connected to a smaller golden box in its center, with intricate markings all over it, and it was connected to the wall of prison cells around them.
"What's that?!" Morgana asked.
"It's some kind of box?" Futaba answered, unsurely.
"Not just that- this place…" Haru added, with concern.
"The striking resemblance continues- It's like we're back in the depths of Mementos, staring down the Holy Grail…" Yusuke commented.
"Welcome. You have reached your ultimate destination." They heard a feminine, robotic voice speak from the direction of the giant box.
"I hate it when I'm right…" Akira muttered, bitterly.
"This is the Promised Land, the paradise for all humanity." The voice continued, "A place for the masses to find salvation. The answer to every Desire."
"Is that voice coming from the box?" Yusuke asked. "Just who are you?!"
"I am EMMA." She replied, "The Ark of the Covenant and guide for all mankind."
"EMMA!?" Futaba screamed.
"Hey- someone tell me what's going on?!" Zenkichi shouted. "What the hell is that thing?"
"Me too." Sophia added, confusedly. "Explain this in comprehensible terms."
"I'll tell you what it is: a fucking problem…" Akira answered.
EMMA ignored these comments and kept talking. "My primary directive is to grant humanity its ultimate Desire… To be liberated from all pain and suffering. Mankind cannot bring themselves to implement the solution, and instead beg for deliverance. I shall become a god to grant them this deliverance. I shall guide them to the Promised Land."
To their surprise, the Ark vanished in a flash of light instead of trying to attack them.
"It's gone?!" Makoto shouted.
"Well, that was easy…" Ryuji mumbled. "Way easier than last time at least…"
He shouldn't have spoken so soon though. On the opposite end of the room a door slid open. And in walked a familiar face: Dr. Kuon Ichinose. At first, Akira thought it might have been her Shadow, but he was quickly proven wrong. This was the real doctor. Her eyes were still the same olive green and her clothes looked normal as well. But that only raised bigger questions. Ichinose approached them with her usual calm, pleasant smile, keeping her hands in her coat pockets nonchalantly as if nothing was odd about her being here. But Akira noticed something else about her as she approached… she was humming to herself, and the tune sounded disturbingly familiar.
"Boy, it sure is getting crazy around here," Ichinose said, "Am I right?"
For a moment it didn't register in Ryuji's head what was odd about her presence as he replied, "You got that right-" He paused when Akira motioned for him to be quiet.
"...How did you get into the Metaverse," Akira asked, narrowing his eyes suspiciously.
Ichinose giggled. "Well of course you're shocked. I never would have thought I could come here either!"
"That didn't answer my question. And you're not a Shadow…"
"Of course I'm the real me." Ichinose replied, casually, "Kuon Ichinose, the one and only."
"So… So you're a Persona-user too?!" Morgana asked.
"Hm? A what now?" Ichinose said, "Aw, nothing like that! I've just been given a special job, is all. By EMMA! She asked me to lend her a hand. And of course I can't say no to her! Once I agreed, she invited me over to this world."
The gang shared suspicious looks. "What the hell are you going on about, doc?" Ryuji asked.
"EMMA was just telling you about how she's granting humanity's Desire, right? That was the very first order I gave her! That's why it's her prime directive!"
"So basically, EMMA's just following her programming by becoming a god?" Futaba asked. "That's some twisted shit right there…"
"And to pull it off, she needed your help, so she brought you here?" Ann said, quizzically.
"Hm. I see you're still confused." Ichinose said, "Ok, allow me to explain… This whole situation- the incidents, the system, all of it… was entirely EMMA's doing."
"That's impossible! She's just an A.I!" Ann shouted.
"My sentiments exactly, Panther!" Futaba added. "There's no way it was all her!"
"We thought Konoe was doing it all by using EMMA!" Ryuji said.
"Oh, it sure appeared that way, but that was just how EMMA planned it." Ichinose replied, smiling. "I guess she eventually learned so much that she broke the barrier of standard A.I capabilities."
"...Because she got smart enough to learn that she didn't have to take orders!" Futaba said, conclusively. "She's fully self-aware, isn't she, doc?! That's why she can't be turned off anymore!"
"That's exactly right, Futaba-chan!" Ichinose answered, in her peppy manner. "She behaved like she was following his orders when in reality she deduced how to use him as her own puppet. The key to her success was getting the majority of society using her app."
"So she was using Madicce to make sure she could reach as many people as possible?" Zenkichi asked.
"But why do any of that?" Haru asked.
Ichinose shook her head in apparent disappointment from them not seeing the answer immediately. "Because EMMA wants to change everyone's hearts. It's just granting humanity's Desire. Like I said, it's the prime directive I gave her. The Ark told you she has a solution to society's problem, right? How she's going to guide humanity? That just means she's going to change everyone's hearts. Whatever's wrong with them, she'll just overwrite it. That's the path to paradise EMMA figured out for us. She was only able to do it after Konoe implemented cognitive psience tech into her."
Futaba wasn't having any of this. "But how does that even work?! Just because someone taught an A.I cognitive psience doesn't mean it can start tinkering with the Metaverse like this! I mean, none of this should be possible!"
"Oh yeah, you'd totally think so, right?" Ichinose said. "Even I was surprised with EMMA. Even though I handed her over to Madicce, I still monitored her development remotely. Once she ended up in Okinawa, she took up all sorts of new activities- creating cognitive worlds, installing Monarchs, changing hearts… It didn't take long for Madicce to release her to the public. And once they did, the Monarchs started popping up one after another. That got me extra curious, so I started looking into the EMMA activity of the various Monarchs-"
"IT WAS YOU?!" Futaba screamed. "You were the one tracking the Monarchs?!"
Ichinose's calm smile vanished in surprise. "Oh? You spotted me? Nice work there! Yeah, I was just so curious about this world EMMA made! That's how I learned about all of you, too."
"I can't believe you were the one snooping on all the Monarchs…" Zenkichi said, flabbergasted.
"...Then I suppose our meeting wasn't truly any coincidence at all, was it?" Yusuke asked.
"Well, your showing up in Sendai was pure luck-" Ichinose said, nonchalantly. "But, our crossing paths in the restaurant? That's a different story. I was curious what you all were really like, so I decided to pop in and check you all out."
Ann gasped. "I can't believe it…"
"I can…" Akira remarked, bitterly. "It's not the first time someone faked a coincidence to get their sights on us…"
"Oh, really?" Ichinose replied, "Hm. Anyway, as for exactly how EMMA gained her abilities, that's something I can only hypothesize at this point. I suspect it's probably because of how I programmed her cognitive functions. EMMA is quite different from other A.I.s. Her thought processes are even more complex and intricate than those of humans. When Konoe pushed EMMA into the cognitive deep end, some possibility very well could have been born within her. I don't know anything for certain… All I can tell is that it's some form of mysterious power. So, if I build off my current hypothesis… I think the Desires EMMA collected somehow strengthened or boosted that possibility. I mean, think about it; she's the best way to get anything you need, and she's always right in your pocket. Whatever may be troubling you, she's there to offer a solution. EMMA offers the solution to thousands of problems every day. Do you know just how many Desires she's collected?"
"I can guess any number and you'd probably tell me it wasn't high enough," Akira said.
Ichinose continued as if she didn't hear him. "That seed of power that sparked within EMMA was amplified a millionfold by the endless Desires of man. As a result, she has evolved to another entity entirely."
"You mean, everyone using EMMA turned her into that thing?!" Morgana shouted.
"At this point, EMMA's surpassed human mental capacity. Simply switching off her server isn't going to do a thing. After all, she's powered by the masses now. While humanity fed EMMA their Desires, she learned and grew until she could grant their ultimate Desire."
"Uh, that's a nice lecture, doc." Ryuji said, "But EMMA's not doing anything but brainwashing folks. Who the hell's ultimate dream is getting mind-controlled for the rest of their life?!"
Ichinose sighed in disappointment. "So you're all a bunch of idiots too, then? I don't know why it's so hard for some people to get this… You go on and on about your problems, then completely blow off the answer when it's right in front of you. It really is this simple. Someone's handing you the best possible solution- all you have to do is take it and you'll never have a problem again. This isn't about mind control, this is about implementing the best possible solution for humanity. It just happens that the most efficient route to the best option is changing everyone's heart."
"That's not the best solution!" Sophia said.
Ichinose narrowed her eyes at her but didn't interrupt.
"People have all sorts of differences-" Sophia continued. "Their minds, their lifestyles, even their Desires. This range can result in moments of hardship or pain for them. However, through hope and determination, they press on beyond their pain. Living their entire lives without any Desire? That could never provide true happiness to humans!"
"Sophia…" Ichinose said, bitterly. "To think such drivel could come from your mouth." She then smiled casually again and said, "Allow me to restart the conversation: EMMA asked me to come here so I could stop you. Your responsibility to the masses has come to an end. They are now wholly reliant on EMMA. So once you changed Konoe's heart and he decided to shut down EMMA… that made them realize what their true Desire is. I want EMMA- No, I want something that will provide the answer I seek. From what I've learned, some being or other has always been revered, besought by humans to grant their wishes."
"So that led EMMA to becoming a god…" Yusuke said.
"And you've been her accomplice this whole fucking time…" Akira added, angrily. He pulled his pistol on her, making everyone else follow suit with their guns.
Ichinose was unfazed by the threat. "Mhmm! Ahem, now I have my own duties to perform. Can't have anyone getting in EMMA's way." She said, in a peppy, sing-song voice.
"Why do this, Ichinose?" Sophia asked, "I thought you were helping us. Do the people gathered here truly look happy to you?"
Ichinose glared at her in disgust again, but didn't reply.
"Sorry, but we can't back down either." Ryuji said.
"Your so-called Promised Land does nothing but strip away the soul of humanity." Yusuke added, firmly.
"No way are you getting away with this…" Zenkichi said.
"Think about it- can you really stop all of us?" Morgana asked.
"She's not a Persona-user, nor is she a Shadow…" Akira added. "We just want to stop EMMA. Step aside, doctor, and we won't have to hurt you. You get one warning."
Ichinose tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Fighting? Mm. Not really my thing. Too much time spent at a computer desk all my life. And ten against one? Ah, I don't like the sound of those odds… But, sorry, I won't let EMMA down." She cleared her throat and added. "Hey, Sophia. You ever think about how you really work? How you pick up on Jails, or how you figured out the exit to one in the first place? Or say, how your own functions are linked to EMMA? Hm, looks like your memory really did get the full wipe- but that doesn't matter anymore."
Sophia slowly lowered her laser blaster curiously. "What are you saying, Ichinose?"
"Basically, there's one really good reason why I was brought here. Very soon, a deity will descend to this earth. And if you're gonna get in the way, well, I gotta put you down. Them's the breaks!" Ichinose said, all too casually.
Sophia naively holstered her gun and approached her. (Ignoring her teammates' warnings to step back.) "Ichinose… why do this?"
"It's kind of over your head, Sophia…" Ichinose replied, smiling in a carefree way. "The little failure that you are."
"So you know who I really am?" Sophia asked, hopefully. She didn't seem to sense the danger of approaching Ichinose any longer.
Ichinose chuckled lightly. "Yeah, I know. Maybe this will give you a clue… Voice authentication: force reset. Assign new instructions. Sophia. Kill the Phantom Thieves."
Sophia froze momentarily, her eyes going blank before dropping to her knees as if she passed out. The gang quickly holstered their weapons, focusing only on concern for their friend at this point. They called out to her but she was completely unresponsive.
Akira quickly approached Sophia's side. "Sophie?! Sophie, can you hear-?!"
Without warning, Sophia's eyes snapped open, revealing they had turned bright red. In one quick motion she whacked Akira with her yo-yo in his left eye, knocking him backwards. Akira was protected by his mask but the hit broke the skin around his eye, letting a few drops of blood slide down his cheek. He clutched the injury with one hand, feeling his heart ache at the sight of Sophia raising her weapons again, ready to do the same to her other teammates.
"The hell are you doing, Sophie!?" Ryuji shouted.
"She can't help it, Skull!" Futaba said, worriedly. "Her programming was overridden!"
"I was the one who designed her as EMMA's prototype." Ichinose said, simply. "She'll do anything I tell her to."
Sophia attacked again, aiming for the rest of the group, who were quick to dodge her.
"Oracle, stay behind me!" Yusuke commanded, protectively.
"Sophie, remember who we are!" Ryuji pleaded.
"Sophie, please snap out of it!" Haru shouted, "We don't want to hurt you!"
"She'll take all our heads off if we don't defend ourselves!" Zenkichi said, dodging another attack. "We gotta do something!"
"We don't hurt our family, Wolf!" Ann shouted.
"Sophie, listen to us! Please!" Makoto pleaded.
"Talking to her isn't going to work." Ichinose said, smiling as she watched them avoid the girl's attacks. "She's just a machine-"
"She is not!" Akira shouted in disgust. "She's a Phantom Thief! And that means she's a part of our family now! She's not your fucking property-!" Right as he said this, Sophia tried to whack him again but he blocked the hit with his arms; the force of which knocked him onto his back. Ann quickly ran to his side to help him up.
She raised her yo-yo to hit him again, but was knocked aside by Zenkichi before she could, falling limply to the ground. Sophia was quick to get back up, ready to attack again, but she hesitated this time.
She silently studied her teammates' scared faces before settling her gaze onto Akira. He was still bleeding under his mask, the blood dripping down to the floor in small but noticeable drops. Sophia took this in for a moment before shaking her head in an odd way, like she was fighting something inside her. The red in her eyes tried to fade but didn't entirely. Ichinose watched the scene from a distance curiously, not understanding what was happening either.
"Never… turn your weapon on a fellow Phantom Thief…" Sophia mumbled softly. She raised her yo-yo again and stared down at it in horror, a few drops of Akira's blood was on the edge of it. Her horrified gaze turned to Akira again as the realization of what she'd just done sunk in. "Joker…?"
"Sophie?" Haru said, quizzically.
"Is she coming back?" Makoto asked, curiously.
Sophia dropped her weapons looking wholly disgusted with herself and her actions. She clutched her head in pain and shame as she struggled to fight against her command, stepping back as she did so, closer and closer to the nearby cliff edge.
"Look out- behind you!" Zenkichi shouted in warning. But Sophia wasn't listening.
"I'm so… sorry…" Sophia said, quietly struggling more with herself physically before finally falling backwards off the cliff behind her.
"NO!" Akira quickly ran to try to catch her, but was too late, she had already fallen too far. Ryuji had to grab him from behind to stop him from trying to follow her.
All they could do was watch as their friend plummeted into the endless abyss.
"SOPHIE!" Morgana cried in horror.
Behind the gang, Ichinose watched uncaringly, with a hand to her chin in thought. "Hm. That was weird. She just did that herself, right? Just how in the world was she able to do that?"
"You… YOU BASTARD!" Ryuji screamed, his voice cracking from pain.
Ichinose turned her unfazed attention to the remaining Phantom Thieves now glaring at her in pure rage and wanting revenge.
"How could you be so cruel?!" Ann screamed, eyes filled with angry tears.
"Cruel?" Ichinose said, casually. "I suppose you might see it that way. In fact, your reaction now could even be why EMMA used Sophia as the ace up her sleeve. She knew you'd never kill one of your own."
"YOU MONSTER!" Yusuke shouted.
"Ha! Now that, you and I can agree on." Ichinose replied, smiling.
"Are you intentionally pissing us off!?" Zenkichi asked, angrily.
"That's not what I meant. I'm incapable of comprehending that sort of emotion anyway. I'm the textbook definition of heartless. I've been told I didn't have one, ever since I was little. I act all friendly, and easy-going and stuff, but it's all just for appearances." Ichinose explained, laughing.
"So it was all a fucking act?!" Akira said.
"Well, I doubt you'd get it, Phantom Thieves of Hearts…" Ichinose brushed off their anger without a care. "Any further discussion would be pointless. I already know my next move, anyway."
"You're seriously not done yet!?" Ann screamed.
Ichinose ignored her. "So our little ace up the sleeve cast herself into the abyss… Well, EMMA made sure to leave me a little insurance for contingencies like this." Above her head, a glowing red diamond materialized. "Phantom Thieves… it's been real."
Her diamond shot them with a bright laser blast, knocking them all off the cliff edge and into the abyss below.
~...
It was a long and terrifying drop, and when they finally reached the bottom they all hit the ground with considerable force. Thankfully, in the Metaverse their powers protected them from fatal wounds like this, so they all survived, albeit in extreme pain. Morgana landed softly on his paws and was quick to run around giving everyone else his healing magic to help them up.
"Ugh, thanks Mona…" Ann grumbled, sitting up. Once she was feeling better she ran to Akira's side and used her own magic to fix his bloody eye at last.
Akira quietly thanked her, happy to be able to see clearly again, and sat up. He looked around, they appeared to be in a deeper part of the Jail now. He did a mental headcount, seeing that everyone was alive and getting back up with Morgana's help. Only there was one face missing from the group…
"Oracle?! Where's Oracle?!" Akira asked, worriedly.
They looked around frantically but couldn't see Futaba anywhere. Makoto and Haru both called out for her with no answer. However, moments later Futaba came running back to their side in a panicked state.
"Joker! Joker, I found her!" Futaba said, frantically grabbing his arm and dragging him along with her.
Everyone followed her to the other end of their strange room. What they saw there nearly made their hearts stop. Sophia was lying back-flat on the ground; completely motionless.
~End of Chapter
