Persona 5: Shots Through the Heart

Shot 17: Flightless Crow

Election Day is only one week away. However, the Phantom Thieves show little concern towards the success of this operation. They've done more than enough training and everyone's hearts are united. No matter how powerful their enemy is, they will overcome it together.

xxx

It's their last infiltration before they secure a route to Shido's Treasure. Having claimed the last letter of introduction they need to get into the main assembly hall, the thieves make a mad dash to get out of the engine room. As they sprint towards the stairs, Joker's recent state of uneasiness refuses to leave him.

xxx

It was during Akira and Ann's most recent date. Akira was planning on the two of them just hanging out in his room with Morgana, but it got boring after about an hour and a half. So, they decided to hang out at the Sakura household and let Futaba in on the fun after getting the okay from Sojiro.

Everyone was in the living room watching TV, with the girls clinging very close to Akira.

"Y'know, if I didn't know any better," Mona said. "I'd say you were trying start a harem, Akira."

"Hell no!" Akira exclaimed. "I'd never do that to Annie! And God knows she would find out about it and choke me to death with her whip."

"It's true. I really would," Ann confirmed. Mona shoots a narrowed eyed look at Ann.

"Yet, you're completely okay with him letting Futaba cling to him like that." Ann smiled and nodded.

"Yeah! He's her super cool big brother, after all!"

"And that makes Ann my sexy big sister!" Futaba bellowed with a grin. Akira chuckled at Mona as he sighs.

"Is the little black kitty jealous?"

"Shut up!"

As everyone was talking, the sound of an airing tabloid show caught their attention. And the topic of interest didn't interest them at all.

"They're talking about Akechi again," Mona growled.

"Talking? More like worshiping," Ann said.

"Seriously. How many times are they gonna rerun the same stupid show?" Futaba barked. The host lets Akechi say his piece at his request.

"The Phantom Thieves may have laid low since then… but they must not be excused! I don't care if they come after me! For the victims of their evil deeds, and for their families…!" Akechi jumps from his seat in passion.

"I will capture the remaining Phantom Thieves, no matter what!" Everyone in the audience applauds, believing that he will carry out his mission, while the four thieves watching growl.

"Seems pretty confident, doesn't he?" Mona asks. Akira narrows his eyes.

"Just like all the others… it'll be his downfall." Someone's phone rings.

Hey, who is that?! If you don't turn off your phone, the Phantom Thieves might change your heart!

"What kind of sick joke is that?!" Ann shouted, sitting up in her seat in outrage.

See?! Even Akechi-kun's face stiffened up!

"Ah, sorry about that…" Akechi said with his celebrity smile. "It's not a problem. But please make sure you turn it off when you go to the movies!" As Futaba booed the traitor's joke, Akira suddenly grabbed the remote and hit the rewind button right before the host's phone joke. Mona and the girls noticed him lean in and squint his eyes.

"Akira? What's up?" Mona asked.

"Shh!" He paid close attention to the screen as the scene plays again, then pressed pause and stared at Akechi in thought. Judging by the bothered look on his face, something obviously caught his interest after the host's phone comment.

Ann shook him by his shoulder.

"Hey, something on your mind?" Akira shook his head and started flipping through channels.

"Yeah, but… it'll be fine. Don't worry about it."

xxx

Joker knew there was something to worry about from what he saw on that show, but not too much. He had already made sure his team was ready for it, even though he didn't tell them what it is.

As the group approaches the stairs, everyone notices Joker suddenly stop in his tracks.

"Joker, whatcha stoppin' for?" Skull asks. "C'mon, let's go." Joker just stands there, eyes closed and head lowered. Queen approaches her leader.

"Joker?" The leader opens his eyes and looks up at the ceiling with a serious look.

"If you really think you can get the drop on me after I already saw through you once," he calls out. "You're not really that smart. Ever since we met, I could sense you comin' from a mile away. You can't hide from me." He turns around and glares into the darkness.

"So how about you man up and face me?! Get your ass down here, Crow!" The group, shocked by Joker's words, look where he's looking. They see a familiar silhouette jump from a steel grated walkway, land on the ground with grace, then walks out of the shadows, revealing itself to be Akechi in his princely Phantom Thief outfit.

"... Long time no see," he says coldly to Joker. Everyone's eyes, aside from Joker's, widen at the sight of their former comrade.

"You!" Skull exclaims.

"What's he doing here?" Oracle asks rhetorically. Akechi puts a hand on his hip.

"I received a call from Shido the other day," he explains. "He asked me to take care of any of his backers that seemed suspicious. He mentioned snuffing out the seeds of anxiety before his inauguration as prime minister." He closes his eyed and strokes his chin in thought.

"It felt off, seeing how he had never mentioned such things like anxiety before... Then it hit me. He's dabbled in cognitive psience before. He knows how it works and is aware that he himself has a Palace, so it's only natural that if someone with the power to traverse the Metaverse started purging into his heart, he'd subconsciously feel threatened... And there's only one party besides myself with such power." Akechi brings his attention back to Joker.

"I was surprised the Phantom Thieves remained active after the crippling loss of their leader... and it surprised me more when I realized that it was possible that they never suffered that loss to begin with." Oracle pulls out her phone and waves it at him.

"We're not just some cattle like you say we are," she says. "Even if Joker did die, it'd take more than that to make us give up." Akechi grunts, remembering the strange app he found on his phone a few days ago and how she had snatched his phone before they went into Sae's Palace, which was the perfect time for her to plant it.

"Still, I'm impressed you managed to deceive me," he admits to Joker. "It seems I had underestimated your abilities." Joker crosses his arms and closes his eyes as he shifts his stance.

"I did more than just that," he says. "Based on your reaction to that host's phone comment on that talk show… I knew you'd figured out that I was alive, or at least was on the path to doing so. You remembered how Nijima-san showed you my phone when you saw her come out of the interrogation room and the sensation you felt after seeing it, didn't you? Plus, Shido's call tipped you off. Once you figured out it was the same feeling you get when you enter the Metaverse, the rest was history." Panther recalls Akira's face when he was watching the show that day, then the quick rest he had the team take after obtaining the last letter. He knew Akechi had figured it out, so he made sure everyone was at full strength after every battle to make sure they were ready for an ambush.

Joker glares at Akechi with a smirk on his face.

"But you couldn't inform the police without Shido knowing that you failed and causing a panic, now could you?" he says. "So you decided to finish the job yourself. I knew you were coming. I just made sure we were ready when you did." Akechi slowly claps his hands, applauding Joker's solid deductions.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you could take my place as the Detective Prince," he says. "I didn't even teach you anything, like I had originally promised... You truly are interesting. Quiet, yet wielding the skills and determination to take action… Under different circumstances, we could have been great rivals… or perhaps even friends."

Rivals. Friends. Those words filled the the falsely labeled criminal's heart with contradiction. This guy is working for the man who ruined his future, he's killed and injured thousands of people, and even tried to kill him.

Yet, Joker still looks back on his time with him with warm feelings. Even after all he's done, he just couldn't bring himself to completely hate him.

"Don't try to convince me your superior," Joker sighs. "We are rivals on opposite sides of this world's law… As for us being friends…?" He shuts his eyes, shakes his head, and glares at Akechi again.

"Y'know what? Let's just drop it. That won't stop me from doing what I have to do." Akechi laughs with a sinister grin.

"Ahahaha! How wonderful! You don't allow yourself to be chained down by human relationships or past selves… If anything, they just push you forward like the wind beneath a bird's wing..." He looks down at his hand and frowns with discontent.

"And so your heart is always "free"... The exact opposite of mine… To be honest, I'm quite envious…" There is large amount of regret in his voice and on his face as he closes his eyes with a meek smile.

"... I wonder why we couldn't have met a few years sooner, Akira." Joker recalls what Akechi said before when he gave him the replica wood mask for his birthday. His Joker mask reminds him of a bird that flies through the sky without being chained down. Afterwards, he had a sorrowful smile on his face. He quickly comes to the conclusion that, for whatever reason, Akechi doesn't see himself the same way. And that thought is enough to replace his anger with pity.

"It definitely… would've been something," he says with a sad smile of his own. Being the empathetic woman she is, Panther looks at Akechi with same eyes of pity as her boyfriend.

"Akechi…" Akechi goes back to glaring at the leader with piercing murderous intent.

"But it's no use speaking in hypotheticals," he retorts. "That didn't happen in reality." Joker puts aside his pity and returns the glare back at him.

"... Guess not." Queen steps forward.

"Akechi, why are you cooperating with someone like Shido?!" she asks. "Don't you see what his Palace looks like?! His true nature is-" Akechi shakes his head.

"Cooperating? What're you talking about?" he asks. "I don't care for Shido, or this country." He grits his teeth in quiet anger.

"All of this is to make Masayoshi Shido… my father… acknowledge me… then exact revenge on him." Everyone's eyes pop with shock at this new information, Joker's especially.

"WHAT?!" he shouts.

"Shido is your father?!" Fox asks.

"Remember what I told you before?" Akechi asks. "How my mother got involved with some good-for-nothing man? How he cast her aside the moment he found out she was pregnant?" He hangs his head.

"That makes me his bastard child… My entire existence was nothing but a scandal… My mother's life turned into a down spiral after she had me… and in the end, she took her own life… not caring that I was left behind… I was a cursed child for her too…"

"That's horrible," Panther says.

Of all the rotten bastards it could have been, Joker thinks.

"I resented him for it," Akechi continues. "For leaving us both to rot. But he was already in a high-ranking official by the time I found out who he was. A child like me could do nothing…" The traitor slowly cracks a crazed grin as he buried his face in his hands.

"But… that's when it happened… Hehehe!" He looks up at the ceiling and spreads his arms out wide.

"That's when I learned about the cognitive world!" he cackles with boundless insanity. "Someone, be it a god or a demon, gave me a chance! ... I couldn't contain my laughter! AHAHAHAHAHA!" Everyone glares at him.

"You son of a…!" Skull barks.

"I don't know if a demon gave you your powers!" Joker shouts. "But they sure as hell turned you into one if you're going around using them to play with people's lives and get ahead!" Akechi turns his loopside grin to his foes.

"Who cares? My targets were doing the same damn thing in this eat or be eaten world. All I did was remove their evil from society. Now tell me: How is that any different from what the Phantom Thieves are doing?" Joker stomps his foot.

"Don't you start!" he barks. "Like hell is it the same!"

"That's right!" Panther says. "Unlike you, we're not murderers!" Akechi glares at them and waves his hand.

"So what?!" he barks. "It's not like it even matters anymore! Not when I've reached my goal after all this time!" He shoots his hand into the air, glaring at the mental image of his father towering above him.

"Masayoshi Shido is finally within my grasp! Once he reaches the apex of his power and acknowledges me, I'm going to whisper in his ear!" He brings his maniac gaze back to the rebels as his warped smile returns.

"I will tell him the truth of who I really am! And that's when I, an utter disgrace to the world, will rule over him! I will prevail!"

"Some "Ace Detective of Justice" you are!" Joker shouts. "You're seriously gonna help him sink this country just to get your revenge?!"

"I don't see why not! This damn country... no, this entire godforsaken world! It robbed me everything! Everything I ever loved! If it turns to ash in hellfire... well, that just makes us even...!"

"What a warped thought…" Fox says. "It's almost pitiable."

And the worst part, Joker thinks. Is that I can kinda relate.

Akechi stomps his foot and points at them.

"In a few weeks, my plan would have come to fruition!" he shouts with animosity. "But no… You just had to interfere!" He shakes his head and presses his left hand on his face as he grins wickedly.

"I can still take it back, though!" he snickers. "I just need to kill you all, right here and now! Shido won't doubt me at all once I bring all of your feeble heads to him on a blood stained silver platter! And then his will be my trophy!" Mona crosses his arms.

"Hmph! We won't get killed for something like that!" he declares. "You talk big, but you're nothing but a little kid throwing a temper tantrum!"

"Don't lecture me, you furry piece of shit!" Akechi turns to Joker with a serious look.

"I know what he's done to you, Akira," he says. "Robbing you of a bright future for such a ridiculous reason rightfully warrants you to the desire to rain retribution down upon him. Unfortunately for you, my reason eclipses yours with no effort at all." He pulls out his laser saber and points the blade of light at him.

"I'm going to personally throw Masayoshi Shido into a living hell. So Joker… rest easy and die."

Joker thought for a moment about what he would say to Akechi. "I don't care; I won't let either of you get away!" "Revenge isn't everything; I have a country to protect!" "I've already come this far; I won't back down now!" He wanted to say all of those things, but he ultimately knew that it's all pointless now.

He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath.

"Akechi?" He glares at his rival, quickly pulls out his knife, and points the blade at him with a determined glare.

"Whaddya say… we end this?" The traitorous Crow slowly nods.

"I agree... There is no need to speak any longer... It's about time you and I ended our little Chess game." Skull busts out his iron pipe and points it at Akechi.

"You sure sound confident," he says. "But don't go pressin' your luck. Or did you forget? We already know all your tricks from back when you worked with us." Akechi grins and laughs maniacally again.

"Joker... how can you be so successful with such an idiot as your partner?" he asks. The insulted Skull stomps his foot.

"Huh?! Quit your bluffin!"

"Skull, it makes sense," Joker says. "Akechi's cunning. He thinks ahead. Showing us all of his skills when there's a possibility of a confrontation? He would never put himself in such a huge disadvantage like that."

"If he really is behind the mental shutdowns," Queen says. "Then he's most likely only shown us fraction of his strength." Akechi chuckles as he raises his hand into the air.

"I'll be happy to teach you all about my true power," he says. "… While you die. You can take that knowledge with you to the grave." With the snap of his fingers, two powerful Shadows, one ferocious Cerberus and one composed Cu Chulainn, emerge in front of him and the Phantom Thieves ready their weapons, Oracle summoning Prometheus and flying to a safe distance.

Akechi chuckles as he walks beside the Cerberus, running his hand through its white mane.

"You know… the mental shutdowns aren't the only incidents people are talking about," he says. "There are also the breakdowns which cause people to turn psychotic, creating accidents and scandals." He starts petting the beast's head.

"Those cannot be explained unless the true culprit has the power to make people's hearts psychotic." He turns his evil eye to his foes.

"Ahahahahahaha! That's right! It's my power! One that you don't have!"

"He's gonna try something!" Oracle exclaims. Akechi places his hand on his red mask.

"Allow me to show you! PER-SO-NA!" A large figure shrouded in darkness emerges from Akechi with blade in hand.

"CALL! OF! CHAOS!" With a mighty roar, the monster forces its power onto the Cerberus and Cu Chulainn, turning them black and making them tremble with rage.

"What was that?!" Oracle asks. "That wasn't Robin Hood… Could it have been a different Persona?!"

Different Persona. Those two words set off a number of warning bells in Joker's head. He's seen a Persona Evolution happen to almost everyone in the group. If Akechi has been using that Persona to make people go psychotic all this time, then what he just saw couldn't have been born from an Evolution. Which leaves one conclusion.

He's… just like me? A Wild Card Persona User?!

Akechi leaps backwards into the darkness.

"Even the feeblest existence can obtain tremendous power once the chains on its heart are broken," he explains. "You'd better not underestimate these two." From inside Prometheus, Oracle's eyes widen at the dark enemy's power levels.

"What did Akechi do?! The enemies are way stronger now!" The Shadows roar to power up before heeding their master's command.

"Cerberus, Cu Chulainn… KILL THEM!" The duo charge at the Phantom Thieves with murderous intent.

"Everyone, scatter!" Joker shouts. The team jump dodges out of the way, but the Cerberus quickly changes course and pounces on top of Joker. Joker forces his forearms on its neck to pushes it away as it swats its claws at him and roars in his face. He dry heaves at the foul stench coming from its mouth.

"Bleck! Ugh, Jesus Christ!" he shouts. "Did your breath get worse too?! Roar, Byakko!" Joker summons the mythical white tiger, Byakko, to blast the Cerberus off him with Bufudyne. He gets back to his feet and is shocked to see the monster lion just shook off his attack.

"What the hell?! Ice is its weakness! That should've knocked it down!"

"Akechi's power must've blocked it out!" Oracle says.

"Joker!" Joker sees everyone else struggling against the Cu Chulainn Shadow, who is swinging its lance chaotically. The Cerberus blocks his path before he can dash towards them, angering him.

"Piss off! Mother Harlot!" The fearsome beast rider emerges and freezes the Cerberus to death with Diamond Dust, then smashes it apart. Joker shakes off the strain that summoning the overpowered Persona takes on his mind as he sprints to help his team.

Skull, Fox, and Noir are blocking the Shadow's lance attacks trying to defend Panther as she charges up her next attack. Skull, seeing his chance, parries the next thrust attack and slams his pipe on the side of the Shadow's head.

"Go, Seiten Taisei!" His Persona emerges from him to body check the Shadow to the ground. When Skull, Mona, Fox, Queen, and Noir try to do an All-Out Attack however, it quickly recovers and uses Vorpal Blade to blast them all away. It sets its sight on Panther and charges towards her.

Crap, I'm not done yet!

"Yoshitsune, Hassou Tobi!" Joker's Persona hits the Shadow with a furious sword attack that knocks the Shadow to the ground. Panther finally completes her charge.

"Dance, Hecate!" She summons her Persona, who completely incinerates the Shadow in a blazing hot pillar of fire. Joker, shaking off his fatigue again, rushes over to her.

"You alright?" he asks.

"Just peachy," she says. Everyone hears Akechi's evil laugh echo from the darkness.

"Well done," he calls out.

"The power to turn hearts psychotic," Oracle says. "He used it on actual people?! This guy's out of his mind!" Joker feels his rival's presence circling around him like a shark as he and Panther look around back-to-back with Joker readying his knife in his left hand and his pistol in his right and Panther readying her SMG.

"Of course I knew you wouldn't be defeated by them," Akechi admits. "You have deceived me and escaped death after all." Joker, feeling a sharp sting of murderous intent, pulls Panther towards him to get her out of harm's way and intercept Akechi's surprise attack, blocking his laser bullet with his live ammo bullet, then parrying his slash attack with his own. The two Wild Cards glare into each other's eyes, both mirroring each other with the red glow of sin, as the sparks from their pistol/laser saber power struggle fly.

"I wouldn't give up my chance to massacre you with my own two hands!" Akechi hisses.

"Then cut the sneak attack bullshit... and BRING IT ON!"

(Author's Note: Fast forwarding to the end of this phase.)

"Arsene!"

"Robin Hood!"

Arsene's Eigaon Curse Ray collides with Robin Hood's Kougaon Bless Ray in an intense power struggle as their respective masters stand behind them, fueling them their willpower. Both Wild Cards grit their teeth as they stand their ground as they push each other. Joker hears Akechi's evil laugh as they clash.

"Ahahaha… So… neither of us had shown our true strengths, huh?!" Akechi's sin red glare intensifies as Robin Hood's power slowly rises with the white glow of his golden bow.

"Don't underestimate me!" Joker grunts as the Kougaon ray starts overtaking his attack to the point of near defeat. He closes his eyes, takes a deep breath, and, ready to stop toying with his rival, smirks as he lets out all of his power.

"Hmph!... Right!... Back!... At ya!" Arsene's black wings spread out and glow crimson red as his Eigaon overtakes Robin Hood in an instant, stunning him and Akechi. Joker makes his Persona ascend into the air by pointing up, then swings his arm down to demand the finishing blow.

"Go! One-Shot Kill!" Arsene plummets down to finish off Robin Hood with his signature dive kick, the explosion blowing Akechi backwards and sending him tumbling on the ground.

The team gathers around Joker as he catches his breath.

"You okay, man?!" Skull asks him. Joker nods.

"Still kicking like hell!" Everyone stares at Akechi as he struggles to a knee.

"Damn it…!" he curses.

"So he's able to turn people psychotic," Mona says. "I thought it was some special thing like the Nav, but it seems to be his own Persona's power."

"I can't believe that the ability to control and drive others mad was born from within his heart," Queen says. Akechi stumbles forward on all fours as he tries to stand.

"I'll kill you...!" he hisses. "You're all gonna die…!"

"Will you please stop?!" Panther shouts. "You're fighting the wrong people! We both hate the same guy! Why do we have to go against each other?!"

"Killing us won't make you happy," Queen says. Akechi shakes his head.

"But… I…!"

"This ain't about what Shido says!" Skull shouts. "You're your own person! Ya gotta know that!" Akechi slams his fists on the ground.

"Dammit…!" Oracle looks down.

"You know… sometimes I think about that fake Medjed you guys made up… It was the worse trap, but if not far that, I wouldn't even be here…" She shakes her head.

"U-Uh, basically, it doesn't matter where you start over!" Mona frowns at Akechi in pity.

"And… you don't really hate Akira, do you?" he asks. "That smile before we fought… Isn't that how you really feel?" Akechi grits his teeth as Joker frowns.

"Hey… I still have that mask you made for me," Joker says. "It's crazy. You've taken and ruined so many lives, even tried to take mine… but no matter how many times I tried… I just couldn't throw it away…" Memories of their time together wash through his mind. The time when the detective's smile came without any malicious intent behind it. The thought allows a sad smile to sneak onto Joker's face.

"Each time I look at it, I think "Why would he make this for me if he really hated me?" It doesn't make any sense… unless you don't really hate me deep down… Unless you really did see me as your friend." Akechi growls loudly.

"Follow your true feelings!" Mona shouts. "Even if you think people hate or don't want you around, that's-" Akechi starts slamming his fists on the ground in a fit, then forces himself to stand.

"SHUT UP, SHUT UP, SHUT UP!" he roars. "TEAMMATES?! FRIENDS?! TO HELL WITH THAT!" He glares at his rival with all the animosity in his body.

"Akira...! How...?!" he shouts at him. "How is it you...?! Why am I inferior to you…?! I was extremely particular about my life, my grades, my public image, so someone would want me around!" He beats his fist against his chest.

"I am an ace detective! A celebrity!" Noir begins to look at him with pity too.

"Akechi-kun…" He covers his face and hunches over, stills seething with rage.

"But you… you're just some worthless, good-for-nothing, criminal trash living in an attic! So how?! How does a piece of shit like you have things I don't?!" He starts stomping his feet and pulling at his hair.

"HOW CAN SUCH A WORTHLESS PIECE OF TRASH BE MORE SPECIAL THAN ME?!" Joker points at Akechi with a glare.

"Why don't you ask your heart, dumb ass?" he suggests. "Considering that you've ignored your own damn feelings for so long, I'm sure it's got plenty to say!" Akechi snickers a little before barking again.

"DON'T GIVE ME THAT CLICHE BULLSHIT!" When he stomps his foot, a blast of crimson red energy reveals something on his face that shocks the Phantom Thieves.

"What was that?!" Queen asks.

"A black mask?" Fox points out.

There couldn't be a more certain confirmation than what they just saw. Madarame's Shadow mentioned a Black Masked Persona user after his defeat, then Kaneshiro gave them their first clue about him and how he's been wreaking havoc in the Metaverse. Now they've seen the black mask, it all comes together.

"So… it really was you…" Joker says. Akechi cracks as wicked smile and puts a hand on his face.

"Ahahahaha… Oh, this is great," he snickers. "I'm surprised… This is actually a first for me… I might even have to try my hardest against you…" Akechi turns his smile to the group.

"You know… I just had a fun little idea. I wonder how far I can go with this." Prepared for worst, Joker grips his pistol.

"Fun?" Akechi excitedly nods.

"You wanted to see my powers, didn't you?!" he asks. "Fine! I'll show them to you!" The Metaverse criminal trembles as he laughs maniacally and rubs his face.

"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I've never felt like this before! … You're right! I don't give a damn about Shido's acknowledgement! All I care about now... is killing all of you…!" With all manner of venom and fury, he roars at the Phantom Thieves.

"TO PROVE I'M BETTER THAN YOUUU!" With that roar, a crimson red circle of fire emerges from beneath him with a massive force that pushes everyone back.

"Whoa! His power level just went off the charts!" Oracle gasps. Akechi's crazed grin grows as his glares at the team with insane, bloodshot sin red eyes.

"Here!" he gasps. "If that's what you want...! Then I'll show you…! Who I really am…! … COME… LOKIIII!" Akechi starts bending over backwards as a pillar of fire erupts behind him. And from came a dreadful Persona: A jagged humanoid, mono-chromatically striped body with long dreadlocks, claws, and horse hooves sitting on the hilt of a massive sword.

"Again! It's that Persona!" Fox says. Joker is more concerned about Akechi said its name is.

Loki? As in the trickster god of Asgard?

Akechi roars as red and black ooze starts to creep up and cover his body and materialize into his true cognitive form: A striped black and purple suit with metal boots and claws, several black belts strapped to his arms and legs, and an enclosed knight helmet.

"What's going on?" Noir asks. Akechi starts flailing his arms around in sheer insanity.

"Don't make me laugh!" he screams in a guttural voice. "Justice?! Righteous?! Keep that shit to yourselves! You and your teammates piss me off!"

"He can use two separate powers?!" Mona shouts. "Then everything, even his appearance, was a fake!" Loki takes the sword from under him and raises it skyward as black chains surround Akechi.

"You're going down! I'll destroy you! … GO DOWN WITH ME!" Loki swings his blade down, breaking the chains and causing another flame pillar to engulf Akechi.

"No way!" Panther gasps.

"That bastard!" Skull barks. "He made himself go psychotic!" Joker starts calling out to him with worry.

"Akechi! Hey, snap out of it! Akechi!" Loki turns into a black mask metal and finds its rightful place on Akechi's face as the flames die down and his psychotic laughter echoes through the area. After what looks like a damaged right red flame angel wing sprouts on his back, he stomps his foot, creating a crater in the floor, and glares at everyone with sadistic murderous intent.

"NOW! Let's see you drop dead, one at a time, in front of your precious friends!" With enhanced speed and strength, he dashes towards Joker, grabs his neck with both hands, and jumps high into the air.

"Starting with YOU! DIIIIIEEEEE!" Akechi uses his power to launch the both of them into a wall with Joker's back absorbing all of the impact, knocking the wind of him.

"ACK! UGH!"

"You're the trash of society!" Everyone summons their Personas to try and help their leader, but Akechi summons Loki to keep them at bay. Joker tries to struggle free as Akechi tightens his grip on his neck, both the choke hold and his malicious aura preventing him from getting his air back.

"I'll kiiill you…! Destroooy you…! Crush yooou…!" Akechi uses his right hand to draw his serrated sword and prepares to stab him with it.

"Teammates are nothing but TRASH!" Joker stops trying break free with his hands and summons Odin to use Wild Thunder and blast Akechi away. Akechi is sent flying to the other end of the room while Panther rushes to Joker's aid.

"Are you alright?!" He coughs and gasps while rubbing his throat, trying to get his wind back.

Akechi starts charging at him like a wild animal. Skull and Fox intercept him with their Personas, but Akechi and Loki easily deflect all of their attacks. When Skull uses Megaton Raid and Fox uses Deadly Fury, Akechi throws up a Tetrakarn barrier to reflect both attacks back at them, blasting them back.

"Ha! The hell was that?!"

Next to intercept him was Mona and Noir. Akechi and Loki use their blades to deflect Astarte's Gun skills. Akechi throws up a Makarakarn barrier to reflect Noir and Mona's Psychic and Wind attacks towards each other, uses Negative Pile on the former, and hits the latter with Brave Blade. He stomps on the ground and roars as Loki sets off a Megidolaon blast.

"Go to Hell!" The blast sends them both flying as Akechi continues to charge at Joker. Queen stands in his way, ready to intercept him with Anat by her side.

Queen puts her aikido skills to very good use by blocking Akechi's attacks by using her own melee attacks and their Personas mirror the fight as their users go at it, each of their attacks sending sparks flying around. Queen has Anat use Flash Bomb to stun him, then unleashes a fury of brutal techniques, roundhouse kicking him, grabbing him and kneeing him in the stomach, pulling him head down to do more damage with her uppercut punch, and finally flipping him over her shoulder.

Queen calls Anat to her side and she prepares an attack.

"Anat, Atomic-" Akechi's red eyes suddenly flash.

"INCINERATE!" Akechi gets the drops on her by having Loki use Maragion at point blank range. The blast makes Queen flinch, covering her eyes. Akechi roars as a black aura shrouds him, increasing his power tenfold, and punches her hard in her gut, knocking the wind out of her. He smiles as he hurls her into the air and points at her.

"REND HER, LOKI!" Loki traps her in a vicious Deathbound attack, swatting her around in the air, then sends in crashing into the ground with Brave Blade. Akechi stomps and pushes down on her chest, making her shout in pain. He pulls the serrated edge of his sword to her neck.

"You're just… pieces of shit… who lick each other's wounds…! Anything goes…" He reels his arm back, ready to slash her.

"If you say you're teammates!" Right when he's about finish her, a leather whip wraps around his wrist and two chains squeeze around his waist.

"WHAT?!" The two demon dog heads attached to the chains lift him into the air. Akechi glares Panther, who's having Hecate restrain him in the air.

"Yooou bitch!"

"Trumpeter, Debilitate!" Joker's Persona flies above Akechi, blows his horn, and starts sapping him of his strength.

"Blast him, Hecate!" Hecate's dogs blast Akechi with Maragidyne at point blank range. He cries out in pain as he tries to break free.

"Norn, Garudyne!" The blast of wind feeds the flames, making them hotter. As he thrashes around, Akechi fights through the pain and has Loki perform Deathbound. Joker and Panther jump back to safety, making Hecate release the lit up Akechi. He drops to the ground and roars as he sends out a Maeiha Shockwave, influenced by the flames on his body. Panther was so busy dodging with her leader that she didn't notice the Negative Pile attack that would send her crashing into the wall.

"Panther!" Joker wanted to rush straight over to her, but Akechi proceeded with his relentless assault.

"Worry about yourself, criminal trash!" Joker, unable to do much in the vicious barrage, goes on the defensive, switching to Ongyo-ki, parrying Akechi's wild sword swings with his gun and knife, and blocking against his magic.

"See, that's the difference... between you and me, Akira! The pedestal society put me on rose... because I chose to only look out... for myself! I grew, persevered, and succeeded... all by myself!" Akira tries to stand his ground as Akechi forces him into a one-sided power struggle.

"But you spend so much of your time... worrying about others... that you just sink straight down... to the bottom of the heap! That's why you're in… this mess in the first place... and why everyone just sees you... as the scum of the earth! And your friends?! They just hold you back! That's why I'll always be everyone's hero... and you'll always be the villain!" Joker suddenly overtakes Akechi with a sneaky right cross counter, then summons Zaou-Gongen, who uses God's Hand.

"Like I'm supposed to care!" The vicious strike sends Akechi rolling on the floor. He quickly gets to his feet and growls at his rival. He then glares at everyone else trying to get back up, angered by memories of Akira living happily with his friends and his beloved.

"The only reason you think that way… is because you have things you shouldn't! Strength and freedom to carve out your own path... someone who loves and acknowledges you, no matter what... You're trash that has everything... and deserves NONE OF IT! So I'll do the public a favor…!" He grins as he and Loki charge at Joker's weakened comrades.

"And take them away from you!"

"No!" Joker hastily sends his Persona to defend Skull and Mona from the co-op blade attacks with its body, which causes pain that he feels in his mind. Akechi grabs Loki's arm as it flies up straight to Prometheus.

"Oh?! Not them first?! Then how about... this pest?!" Oracle shrieks as Loki tries to slash her, but Zaou-Gongen gets in the way again and is split in half, causing Joker more pain. Loki throws Akechi straight at Panther and he readies his blade.

"I know! How about HER?!" Joker's rage ignites and he roars as he summons Ardha to God's Hand Akechi into a wall. He switches to Surt to set him on fire with Inferno.

"DON'T FUCK WITH ME!" He charges at Akechi and starts pummeling him with rage fueled strength. He throws him into the air and has Thor slam him away with his hammer. Joker glares at Akechi as he rolls on the ground.

"I've just about had it with you!" Joker shouts. "Quit trying to force your sick way of thinking on me! It's all bullshit!" Akechi growls at Joker before charging at him again. This time, Joker easily blocks and counters all of his attacks.

"Why the hell would I want be praised in a society that lets the strong prey on the weak?! Why would I want to be the "hero" of a world where people can't bother to reach out and help each other when someone's in need?!" Joker summons Ishtar and hits Akechi with Maziodyne, which paralyzes him, then follows up with Yoshitsune using his Hassou Tobi sword attack.

"No matter what people thought of me, no matter how much people rejected me, I never stopped being the person I already am! You were right about one thing, though! I chose my own path to walk, my own way to live, and my own justice to believe in! I'd rather be hated for being what I am than be loved from being what I'm not, so I chose to hang onto the freedom to just keep being me!" Akechi pushes himself up and glares at Joker as he continues to talk.

"But you chose to throw away that freedom! You changed yourself into someone everyone wanted you to be and ignored your own heart just so you could get your revenge! That's why you're so jealous of me, isn't it?! You're just pissed cuz I didn't have to change myself for anyone to get what I have when you did! And nothing that you have is anything that you truly want!" Akechi sends Loki after him, but Zoro shows up to block the attack, then Astarte hits it with Psiodyne. Akechi turns to see Mona and Noir standing tall.

"Well said, Joker!" Mona says.

"Just as Mona-chan said, you're just a child throwing a tantrum!" Akechi tries to send Loki after them, but Kamu Susano-O and Anat blast him with magic. Akechi glares at Fox and Queen.

"You foolishly place blame on the entire world for your misfortune," Fox says. "So the concept of human bonds is lost on you. You fail to see that even a world as tainted with evil as ours, there will always be people there to accept you for who you truly are."

"Human beings need each other in order to survive!" Queen exclaims. "There are some things in life that are impossible to accomplish by yourself! If you choose to deny any bonds with people, then of course nothing is going to be easy for you!" Akechi growls and points his silenced pistol at her.

"You're! Just! TRASH! What the hell do YOU know?!" A shotgun blast knocks the pistol out of his hand. He favors his injured hand and glares at Skull, who is leveling his shotgun at him.

"Way more than you do!" Skull shouts. "You go on and on about being an ace detective and a celebrity, but that don't mean shit if your doin' it just to please everyone! Quit barking at Joker cuz he's free and you're not! You brought that on yourself, dumb ass!"

"SHUT UUUUP!" Akechi tries to blast everyone with Maragion, but Hecate's guard dogs inhale all of the flames. Panther hits Akechi with a hail of bullets to stun him, then has her Persona fire a powered up Agidyne at him. He guards against the attack, barely managing to keep himself standing, and before he knew it, all of the Phantom Thieves are standing around him in a circle glaring him with pity in their eyes. Akechi holds his head in his hands, feeling the pity pierce him like a knife, and Loki's form becomes unstable as it kneels on the ground.

"Why are you… looking at me like that…?! I've... I've succeeded until now… all by myself…!" His eyes grow hazy from all kinds of fatigue and the glow of his sin red eyes, along with his psychotic nature, begins to ebb away as he drops to the ground.

"I-I don't need… teammates… I don't…!" He looks forward and his vision is focused only on Joker. Everything else is a blur. Joker takes a few steps forward before speaking.

"... That's not what your heart says."

Those words reignite Akechi's rage to make one last desperate move, the red glow of his eyes flickering. He and his Persona rise up one more time and a black aura erupts from them as they raise their blades.

"Your fault… This is… all your fault…! DAMN YOU, AKIRAAA!" A blast of wind blows Joker's frizzy black hair and trench coat back as Loki's blade extends and turns into a purple and black energy blade. Joker signals the team to let him handle it, closes his eyes, sighs, then sends Arsene charging towards the two. Akechi reels his arm back, as does Loki, and they both swing with all their might.

"Brave Blade!"

"LAEVATEINN!" Loki's blade collides with Arsene's Brave Blade attack in a power struggle. While Akechi puts everything he's got into his attack, which seems to be pushing Arsene back, Joker is actually hold back his power enough to stay in the game. Finally seeing Akechi's strength fade, Joker commands Arsene to slash Loki's blade in two, much to the murderer's shock.

"... No… No no…!" Joker's eyes turn blood red as he points upwards to make Arsene do a backwards somersault, then swings his hand straight down.

"... Checkmate." Arsene performs a diving kick to rend through Loki with One-Shot Kill and Akechi cries out as the attack sends him flying across the room, breaking his mask and ending the battle.

The Phantom Thieves rush over to their leader as the strain from using his overpowered Personas hits him with a piercing headache, making him drop to his knees.

"Joker, are you alright?!" Mona asks with worry. Joker takes a moment to catch his breath and rubs his right temple to ease his headache.

"... Ugh… ugh… ugh… Y-Yeah… I-I just… need to rest…" Oracle sighs as she stares at her big bro, annoyed by how he's still using Personas beyond his limit despite her warning.

He's still too reckless with those…

Everyone stares at Akechi, whose psychotic state has vanished completely, as he slowly gets to a knee.

"You ready to call it quits?" Skull asks him. Fully aware that he has no strength left to fight, Akechi slowly nods.

"... I know…" he sighs. "I've had enough…" He stares at Joker, seeing him being surrounded by the people he calls his friends, and shakes his head.

"You're so lucky… Lucky to have teammates who acknowledge you… People who will stand by you to the bitter end... And when Shido confesses his crimes… you'll all be heroes…" He weakly smiles and chuckles.

"As for me… people will find out my past deductions about the psychotic breakdown cases were just charade… My fame and trust will vanish…" What he just said catches Joker's attention.

"Charade?" Mona crosses his arms, having put two and two together.

"I see…" he says. "So that's how really became famous. You were turning you targets psychotic, then solving the cases yourself. And you did that by joining up with Shido." Akechi chuckles in confirmation and closed his eyes.

"In the end… I couldn't be special…" Everyone looks at him with pity and Skull shakes his head.

"Dude, you're more than special." Akechi looks at Skull with surprised eyes.

"It pains me to admit," Queen says. "But you're wit and strength far exceeds ours… We only defeated you by teaming up. Honestly, I was… envious of your natural ability. It was frustrating to see how much my sister trusted you."

"I have no intention of forgiving you for what you did to my father," Noir says. "But… I sympathize with you. I wholeheartedly understand wanting to get back at the adults that took from you."

"But when you gained the power to fulfill that desire," Fox says. "You only used it for your own self-benefit." Oracle puts her hand on Joker's shoulder.

"If you can wield multiple Personas, you probably have the same talents as Joker," she assumes. "But because you went through life alone, the power you awakened to was fueled by lies and hatred. Still, you thought that was enough, right...? That part, I totally get."

"You excelled at everything over us," Fox says. "Yet that was the one thing you lacked."

"And without it..." Joker says. "You became no different than the people you hate so much... No different from the man who wrecked your life before it even started..."

Akechi continues to stare at everyone as their words are etched into his heart. The power and knowledge he gained during his quest for revenge wasn't a lie. And people held him in high regards for it. But it wasn't enough for him.

When he looks at the falsely labeled criminal, he sees someone who's content with his life, even though he is shunned by society. Unlike himself, that person had a true connection with people. Friends, a "family", and even a life partner.

In short, the thing he was trying to take away from him just now, the thing his called trash, was the thing he wanted all along. A true bond with others.

Skull winds up his arm and looks to the group.

"Alright! Let's head back and get that calling card ready!" He turns back to Akechi.

"We're gonna take Shido down," Skull says. "What're you gonna do?"

"It'd be a problem if kept getting in our way," Panther says nonchalantly. "Wanna come along and help us settle things?" The offer shocks Akechi even more.

"Are you idiots?" he asks. "You should get rid of me… if you don't want me getting in your way…" Joker, having recovered from his fatigue, gets to his feet and puts his hands in his pockets.

"C'mon. You know damn well that the Phantom Thieves aren't murderers," he says. "Besides… out of everyone else here… I want you to come the most." Akechi stares at Akira as he takes off his mask, looks down, and recalls all of his memories with him.

"Y'know… ever since you and I met, I've felt this strange connection with you. You were our enemy and your open opposition towards us was annoying, but for some reason, I just couldn't bring myself to hate you. Before I knew it, I looked forward to running into you at the subway in Shibuya or seeing you sipping down the house blend at Leblanc. Playing chess, talking, even helping you with your cases. It was all really fun for me. I felt like you and me got along so well. Even when I figured out who you really were, that strange connection never faded. It actually… felt like it grew stronger." Akira looks at Akechi with a serious look.

"And after our fight, I've figured out why. I felt a bond with you cuz… you and me aren't so different. All this time, I've seen you as a mirrored version me on the opposite side of the law. Now, I look at you... and see someone I could've turned into if I didn't have friends... I look at you... and I see myself if I let my anger take control of me. In fact… I had a taste of that on my way here. Once I figured out who he was, I only thought about my hate for Shido. I didn't care about my friends at all." He shakes his head and put his hand over his heart.

"That's not the right way to go. My hatred for Shido is still there… but now I know I have friends to help me deal with it... You may have cast away the freedom to follow your heart... but it's never too late for you to change and get it back." He steps forward.

"Shido ruined your past and took away my future. Both of us have the right to make him pay... And after we're done, if the public shuns you and won't give you a place to belong… just know that you'll always have that with me." The heart of gold leader offers his hand to Akechi with a warm smile on his face.

"Whaddya say… Crow?" Akechi, shocked by his generous offer, hangs his head and laughs.

"... You truly are beyond my comprehension…" Akira smirks at him.

"Someone really precious to me told me the same thing. And just like them... trust me. You don't have to." Panther smiles, remembering the day he talked to her about Kamoshida.

What? I really don't get you.

You don't have to.

That open friendly nature is what draws so many people to him. And it's ultimately what helped him steal her heart.

Suddenly, everyone hears the clicking sound of footsteps approaching them. Joker quickly whips out his gun and points it at the source.

"Who's there?! ... Wait, huh?!" Strangely enough, the one approaching them was another "Akechi".

"Akechi…?" Skull says in surprise.

"Another one?" Fox says. "Wait, is he…?"

"That's… Shido's cognitive version of Akechi!" Mona says. The Cognitive Akechi chuckles, pulls a silenced pistol out of his pocket, points it at the real Akechi, then looks at the Phantom Thieves with lifeless, melancholic eyes.

"I'll deal with the rest of you later," it says in a cold tone. The real Akechi glares at his cognitive replica as he turns his attention to him.

"Captain Shido's orders…" it says. "He has no need for losers." It shrugs.

"Well… this just moves the plan up a little. He was going to get rid of you after the election anyway."

"What...?!" Akechi growls.

"Did you truly believe you'd be spared after all the murders you undertook? ... Don't tell me… Were you actually feeling good about having someone rely on you for once? Oh! By the way, the captain says it's time you receive retribution for causing the mental shutdowns." Skull glares at the cognition.

"What the hell, man?!" he barks. "That bastard's the one who put him up to it." Akechi struggle to his feet and chuckles.

"I see…" he says. "I was wondering how he'd protect himself if I used my power to tear through his Palace. Especially after I let the Phantom Thieves do all the work and open the way for me. Turns out you're how. So he's making a puppet kill me… Sounds like something he'd do." The Cognition smiles gently.

"That's right," it says. "I'll do anything. But look at yourself… You're the true puppet." Akechi glares at his fake again as its smile turns demonic.

"You wanted to be acknowledged, didn't you?" It scoffs. "To be loved? What a foolish dream... You've been nothing but a puppet from the very beginning." Everyone joins Akechi in glaring at the creature.

"You little…!" Skull growls.

"So this… is how Shido thinks of Goro Akechi?" Queen asks, her voice sounding like she's on the verge of tears. "It's… It's too… horrible…!" Akira's blood boils at the mere thought of Shido's way of thinking.

"Turning a teenager into a psychotic murderer to handle his dirty business!" he growls. "Then throwing him away like trash when he's done to get rid of the evidence! His own flesh and blood that he abandoned, on top of that…!" He glares at the cognition with the intensity of a thousand suns.

"That goddamn son of a BITCH!"

"It's not too late!" Noir shouts. "We can change his heart together! Even if he's your father… No, because he's your father!" The Cognitive Akechi glares at the Phantom Thieves.

"What's all this nagging about?" it hisses. "Want me to take care of you first?" A group of Shadows emerges behind the real Akechi.

"No… He's not alone!" Panther shouts. "He has Shadows too!" The creature directs the Phantom Thieves to Akechi with its pistol.

"You know what? I'll let someone volunteer to take his place," it says. "Who knows? You might delay his death." Skull stomps his foot in anger.

"Damn you!" The creature smiles again.

"You guys are all about doing things for others, aren't you?" it asks. "Oh, that's just the same as me. I'm going to take all the blame for our captain… I'll die for him too." Akira growls at it as it kicks the silenced pistol that Skull shot out of Akechi's hand over to him and gestures him towards the Phantom Thieves.

"Here. I'll give you one last chance…" it says. "Shoot them. In fact… why don't you finish your old task and kill the leader first?" Akechi stares at his puppet clone, then at Akira. He hangs his head and laughs.

"... I was such a fool." He slowly picks up the pistol and levels it at Akira. Akira stares at him for a bit, then calmly and slowly raises his hands, not wanting to provoke the creature into pulling the trigger on his misguided friend. He takes a deep breath before speaking.

"... Akechi… If you really want to shoot me..." he says. "I won't stop you..."

"Joker!" When Panther tries to step forward, the cognition glares at her.

"One more step and they're both dog food!" it hisses. The growls of the Shadow Hounds stop Panther in her tracks.

"It's alright, Panther," Akira says. "Believe or not, this is actually a good thing... He has a little freedom now..." Akira continues to stare at Akechi.

"That's right... You have a choice... Keep following Shido... or come with us... No matter what happens here, just be content that it's your choice... You are who you choose to be... So go ahead... Choose." With that, Akira shuts his eyes.

After what seemed like an eternity of hearing his rival's words in his head, Akechi moves his finger into shooting position, much to the creature's content.

"Yes… That's the you our captain wishes to see…" it chuckles. Akechi sighs, then laughs out loud.

"... Don't misunderstand… You're the one who's going to disappear!" With a snap of his arm, Akechi points the gun at the creature and shoots him in the stomach, much to the shock of the Phantom Thieves.

"I might not have much time left to do so...!" Akechi shouts. "But I'll savor one last taste in my mouth!" As the creature holds its stomach in pain, Akechi proceeds to aim his gun at Akira.

"... The taste... of FREEDOM!" Akira feels the bullet zoom right past his ear and everyone looks back to see it hit a red emergency button, making the engine room alarms go off.

"The watertight bulkhead door has closed. All personnel within the partition wall, evacuate at once."

Everyone turns back to Akechi just in time to see the mentioned wall rise up from the ground, cutting him off from them and leaving him with the group of Shadows.

"Whoa! What is this?!" Oracle shouts. Akira and Skull rush to the door and start banging on the iron wall.

"Akechi!" Skull calls out.

"No! What the hell are you doing?!" Everyone hears Akechi's voice from the other side of the wall.

"Hurry up… and go!"

"You fool!" Fox shouts. "Are you trying to get yourself killed?!"

"Ha ha. The real fools… are you guys. You should have just abandoned me here a long time ago... You would have all perished… if you had tried to face these things with me weighing you down..." Akechi starts coughing harshly, hacking up blood. It seems that Cognitive Akechi pulled the trigger when the bullet pierced him and hit the real one.

Queen runs to the door.

"Akechi-kun!" Akira desperately bangs at the door.

"Hey, hang in there!" he shouts. "We'll come get you! Just hang on!"

On the other side, Akechi puts his back against the wall, covers the bullet wound on his stomach, and shuts his eyes, a tear rolling down his face because he knows he's reached the end of the line.

But before that...

"H-Hey… Akira… Let's make a deal… OK? Y-You won't say no… will you?" He hears Akira continue to bang at the door.

"Are you fucking kidding me?! Why now, of all times?!"

"BECAUSE YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN DO THIS!" Akechi recalls all of his memories fighting alongside Akira as he stops banging at the wall.

"W-What you all said…? It's not true at all… You're the one person I could never beat… It's because you excelled at everything… even the things that really count… That strong heart of yours never wavers… and you know the world enough to able be to persevere…" Akechi coughs up blood again before continuing.

"He wronged… both of us… We both… had reasons… to claim the right to face him… And you've won that right… fair and square… N-No… Actually… it was yours from the very beginning… I-I lost it when I willingly became his puppet…"

"Akechi…" Akechi stares at the ceiling, the light in his eyes slowly beginning to die out.

"So… in exchange… for me giving up my life… to save you… grant my final wish…" Akechi takes a deep breath to cry out his final request.

"Change Shido's heart… in my stead…! End his crimes…! ...PLEASE!" Akira can hear the sound of Akechi's sniffs as he puts his hands on the wall, slowly accepting the fact that there's nothing he can do in the time he has left.

"I-I… I promise…" Akechi pushes himself off the wall with one last smile and chuckles.

"I-It truly… is a shame too… I think... I was… just about… to take your hand…" Those words make Akira desperate again and starts banging at the wall.

"AKECHI!" Akechi slowly mirrors his cognitive clone by pointing his pistol at it.

"You bastard…!" It hisses.

"So… my final opponent is a puppet version of myself… Not bad…" Feeling his final moment come, he takes a deep breath and makes his final statement.

"... Keep flying… Akira…"

Noir marches up to the wall and Panther desperately turns to Mona.

"Akechi-kun!"

"Isn't there some way we can get this open, Mona?!" Akira rushes to summon a Persona strong enough to break down the door.

"Please! Arse-"

*BANG* *BANG*

The two awful sounds of gunfire stop Akira's heart. A lot of thoughts race through his mind. Maybe two bullets were fired from the Akechi's gun. It could be possible that Akechi dodged a bullet from the cognition and countered.

But no. All of those hopes were dashed by the sound of something falling back and sliding down on the wall. Oracle's sorrowful words drove it home.

"Akechi's signal is… gone… I'm only getting… the weak ones…" Panther gasps and covers her mouth in horror as small tears form in her eyes.

"... No…"

Akira feels his his heart start to crack as the ponders over what just happened. Goro Akechi, the black mask Metaverse criminal, but still his close friend, has just been murdered, with him completely powerless to stop it. For the first time in his life, he has failed to save someone. And that someone was what he considered a close friend.

All he could do is drop to his knees, slam his fist on the steel ground under him, and roar in agony.

"GRAAAAAAH! GOD-DAMMIIIIIIT!"

xxx

After the tragedy that transpired, the team heads back to the front of the ship to open the way to the Main Assembly Hall where the Treasure is and decide to pack it in for the day and get the calling card ready.

As everyone is leaving the room, Queen notices that they're one member short.

"Wait, where's Joker?" Everyone looks around and sees Akira unmasked and sitting in one of the many audience chairs in the hall, staring at his mask. Obviously, he's still hurting about what happened to Akechi. Panther, Oracle, and Mona look at each other, nod, and turn to the others.

"We'll talk to him," Panther says. "You guys go on without us." Skull, Fox, Queen, and Noir agree to let them handle it and head for the elevator and they go to him.

Akira stares mournfully at his mask as he thinks about his fallen friend. He said he was going to take his hand. He must have been ready to atone. Did he really have to die? Was there really no other way? All of those thoughts mix around in his head as his cat friend, sister, and lover approach him.

"... H-He… He did a lot of horrible things," he mumbles. "But… he was still, in one way or another, my friend…" He shuts his eyes and grips his mask.

"And I couldn't save him… For the first time ever… I couldn't save someone... A close friend, on top of that… That's a horrible feeling…" Futaba takes her goggles off, sits beside him, and places her hand on his shoulder.

"I'm with Haru," she says. "I can't forgive him for taking my mom away from me… but I know how he felt. Shido ruined his life before he was even born. He just wanted to get back at him for it." Mona hops on top of the seat next to Akira.

"He went through his whole life without any connection to people. No one really cared about who he truly was, so he forced himself to change into someone people would love. Deep down under all that anger and madness, he was still a good guy at heart. He proved that with what he did." Akira sadly smiles and nods.

"Hm… Yeah." Ann kneels down to give him a hug and he hugs her back.

At that moment, he thought about what Akechi said. Hating the world around him, wanting it to burn away after robbing him of everything. That was him when he first came to Tokyo. He became a Phantom Thief to submerge the whole world in chaos. But after spending time with Ann and everyone else, he realized that there are people in this world worth saving and fighting for. The only thing that needs to burn away is the distortion society they live in, and from its ashes, a better, more peaceful one will be born. That's what needs to happen, for all those have suffered and fallen, and that's what he's going to do.

After calming down, Akira stands up, takes a deep breath, and stares at the ceiling.

"He told me to fly… That's exactly what I'm gonna do." He turns to the three and smirks at them.

"Guys? It's about time we drop the curtain on Shido! He's long overdue for a hot serving of justice!" Everyone shoots a fist in the air and cheers, pumped for their final battle for Japan.

xxx

It's finally the day before elections. The day the Phantom Thieves send their calling card to the tyrant of pride.

Ann arrives a few hours before the meeting to spend some time with Akira, Morgana, and Futaba. Akira has his eyes closed as he holds Ann's hand in his right and Futaba's in his left tightly, Mona lies down beside them, and they a share a long moment of quiet.

"... So..." Ann sighs deeply. "... T-This is it, huh...? The last big heist of this case..." Akira just nods.

"Nervous?" Mona asks her.

"The whole country's gonna be watching this... How can I not be nervous?"

"Nyaaah, don't say that out loud~!" Futaba exclaims.

"Whoops! Sorry." Sojiro walks up to the attic and shoots his usual smirk at the three.

"Pre-show jitters?" he guesses.

"That should be obvious," Ann giggles.

"There's no point if we don't go all-in," Akira says. "No matter how this ends, it ends tonight." Knowing Sojiro can't help but worry when he says that, Akira gives him a confident smile.

"Don't worry. We don't plan on losing. Everyone's coming home from this." Sojiro walks up to Akira with a serious look on his face.

"Hey, kid..." he says. "Remember when I told you to immediately back out of a fight you can't win?"

"I do." Sojiro runs the back of his neck.

"Well... if I knew this was a fight you can't run from, I never would've said that."

"Heh. Truth is, Madarame and Kaneshiro were actually connected to Shido, so we were already too deep into this after we took care of them. There was already nowhere to run."

"Well, not just that... I don't know what it is, but something is chaining you and Shido together. This won't end until you two face off. And when you do, do me a favor." Sojiro smiles as he pumps up his right arm and makes a fist.

"These old bones won't hold up in a fight, so belt him a good one for me, will you?" Akira laughs out loud.

"Will do!" he says. "One of my beliefs is that in any fight, strength isn't everything. One right move is all it takes to decide a winner." Akira stares at his trusty pistol sitting on his work desk.

"It doesn't how strong he is. All I need is one good shot and he's done." In truth, that's why his signature move is Arsene's One-Shot Kill.

"Well, if need any help getting that one shot in,' Ann says with a smile. "Let me know."

"Me too!" Futaba adds. Mona just meows in agreement. Akira smiles at the three before pulling Ann closer by her waist while patting Futaba's head.

"I wouldn't have it any other way." Sojiro can't help but chuckle at the sight of the four's psuedo familial love.

Who knew this family would get so big in only a year?

"Yo, guys! We're here!"

At the sound of Ryuji's voice, the four take a deep breath and, with Akira's call, march downstairs.

"Showtime."

xxx

Snow is falling on this dark and cloudy night and the entire populace of Japan is going insane. But not because of the excitement for Shido to be elected Prime Minister.

This frenzy was born from utter chaos struck by the Phantom Thieves' greatest calling card that was shown across the country via video broadcast, thanks to Futaba's godly hacking skills, of course.

It starts with the infamous Phantom Thieves logo being shown on every TV in Japan and Joker letting out a loud whistle.

(Author's Note: Life Will Change's "So you know that we're out there." That's the part that's whistled.)

What followed was every member speaking with voice scramblers.

Skull: Yo! What is up, everybody?!

Fox: We are the ones you know as The Phantom Thieves.

Futaba's Alibaba Cat Gif shows up on the screens.

Skull: And all of us are alive and kickin'! But those shitty guys in power? They've been manipulating information to try and hide the truth!

Panther: So before we appropriate our next target, we would like to first borrow your time!

Fox: The recent scandals of public figures, the accident caused psychotic breakdowns and mental shutdowns. These weren't caused by unknown reasons. One man is behind every single instance, simply to satiate his own greed.

Queen: That man was afraid his crimes would be exposed and shifted the blame on us. He even manipulated the police for that.

Skull: We only steal the hearts of criminals, but this asshole tried to dump what HE did on US! That just shows that he doesn't care about those victims at all!

Noir: On top of that, he used the one who carried out his will using powers that rival ours, the Ace Detective of Justice, Goro Akechi, to falsify cases related to these crimes and use his fame as a cover up, allowing him to eliminate any threats while hiding in the shadows. This boy was also the very same assassin that tried, and failed, to kill our leader, who was reported to have committed suicide. In the end, this man used Akechi like a puppet that he just recently threw away.

Fox: The identity of that cowardly man is-

The government hastily cut off the countrywide feed, but back in Futaba's room…

"Ooooh, the police reacted much faster than I thought. Tooooo baaaad~!" With the single push of a button, the shut-in hacker hits all of Japan's radio towers.

"HA! I wiiin~!" The video continues.

Fox: The man behind it all is current cabinet member of all things.

A picture of the target is shown, shocking everyone.

Fox: The Minister of State for Special Missions, Masayoshi Shido!

Oracle: Everything that guy says is a lie! And to prove that…

An image of all of the Phantom Thieves silhouettes is displayed next.

Oracle: Look! As you can see, all of us are alive and kickin'! I'm sure the people investigating us can tell if this is a lie or not. Shido himself will soon confess to all the crimes that he's committed. Please look forward to it, everyone~!

Skull holds out a vandalized picture of Shido, then tosses it aside as he glances at Joker.

Skull: We're not about to sit back and watch some crook wreck this country just cuz of his goddamn ego! … Ain't that right, Leader?

Joker confidently steps out of the shadows with his signature smirk and speaks with nothing hiding his voice. And his declaration makes the public go wild.

Joker: Yes! Before that happens, we will TAKE this country!

xxx

Inside Shido's Palace, which is now on high alert, the Palace ruler's Shadow stands tall in front of the Prime Minister's podium in the Main Assembly Hall, waiting the thorns in his side to come. He recalls the last words Joker shouted before the broadcast ended.

Joker: Sir Masayoshi Shido, grand sinful tyrant drunk with elitism and pride!

You speak of what you will do for the sake of Japan as if they are acts of heroism, but in truth, your vision can only be made material with the callous use of manipulation and human sacrifices! Furthermore, the Japan you seek to create is a country in which strong selfish elitists like you prey on the weak as a daily practice! It is a Japan where you and all of those in power who follow you sail safely on your ship of success while everyone else below you is left to drown in a raging sea of despair!

Such a rotten, despicable country cannot be allowed to exist! Therefore, a decision has been made: We will show you just who you've made an enemy of by making you confess all of your sins with your own mouth! Every. Last. One.

So, heed our words and heed them well!

The group proudly pointed at the screen as if they were speaking directly to him.

PTOH: The Phantom Thieves are coming for you!

Joker: And we WILL take your heart.

The passion behind his words made the Shadow's spine tingle. He sounded so sure they would succeed. But, all the more reason to erase their hope completely.

The Shadow pushes his orange tinted glasses up, highlighting the burning golden eyes all humanoid Shadows have.

... Very well…

He slowly turns to elevator door as it opens, and sure enough, Joker is the first to step out. The intense glares of two arch enemies collide as a sign that they are ready for the battle to end it all.

I will CRUSH them beneath my heel!

Panther, Skull, Mona, Fox, Queen, Oracle, and Noir all rush through the aisles to get to Shido while Joker uses Arsene to ascend into the air in a veil of Curse magic. At the peak of his ascension, his arms and the flaps of his black trench coat spread out with a field of dark mist and black feathers surrounding him like a black bird spreading its wings as he looks down at his foe.

"Masayoshi Shido! The time has come!" He dives down, twirling and flipping in the air with grace, makes a badass landing, glares at Shido, and points his pistol at him.

"Prepare for justice, you bastard of pride!" His group smiles a little with great approval. He's about to face the man who robbed him of a bright future. He deserves such an amazing grand entrance.

Shadow Shido looks down at the rebels from where he stands.

"Where did you lowlifes get that power?" he asks in a cold tone. His tinted glasses glint as he curves his mouth into a cocky smirk.

"Not that it matters. If you have a complaint, I am willing to listen." Joker shoves his left hand in his pocket, keeping his glare on Shido and swinging his gun at his side.

"Good! Cuz we got a whole bunch of 'em for ya!"

"What did you do to Akechi?!" Fox shouts. "He… He was your own son!" Shido slides his hand over his bald head and groans.

"I had a feeling it was something like that. He reminded me too much of that woman. I also have an idea as to why he approached me… He was hoping to trap me, was he not?" Joker grunts with absolute disgust. Shido didn't even know he used his own blood as a puppet, but he still couldn't care less.

"Ha. He was sharp, but in the end he was just a kid. I controlled merely by offering praise. And I intended to dispose of him after I became prime minister." Skull stomps his foot and barks at him.

"What?!"

"I could never keep someone with such intimate knowledge of my past alive." Shido closes his eyes and chuckles.

"Hm hm hm hm. What an "ace" detective. He was standing beside me all this time, yet couldn't see through my plans. His destroying himself saved me quite a bit of effort though."

"How could you?!" Panther yells. Oracle grits her teeth and balls her hands up into trembling fists.

"You stole my mom's research… and took her life!" Noir steps forward and waves her hand.

"Everything you've done has been for your own selfish gains!" she shouts. "You even killed my father! I will never forgive you!" Shido shakes his head and sighs at their ignorance.

"Sacrifices are inevitable in the path of reform," he explains. "I only require that the foolish entrust themselves to their superiors. I shall guide them."

"The hell makes you think you're so much better than anyone else?!" Skull shouts.

"You never would've been able to make it this far without Akechi's help!" Panther follows. Shido straightens his glasses out.

"He only appeared because of the expectations God held for me. Moreover, it was thanks to me that Akechi was able to properly use his power to begin with."

Hilarious, considering how his Wild Card was weakened thanks to your corruption, Joker thinks. Shido smirks at the thieves as he strokes his goatee.

"My way molded society into the form I chose. The "changing of hearts" that you've been doing… was nothing more than provoking the public."

"How selfish!" Fox barks. "You were unable to win by honest means, so you used foul tricks to ascend the political ladder." Queen crosses her arms and glares Shido.

"A cruel person like you has no right to stand leading the citizens of his country," she says coldly. "You're nothing but a criminal who rose above others by climbing a staircase of sin." Shido smiles as he looks to the ceiling.

"The life of a nation as opposed to those of a few sacrifices... There can be no comparison. The ignorant masses only care about their own personal happiness. I am merely granting that for them." He turns his attention back to the group.

"That is the social reform that only I, as the one chosen by God, can enact!" Noir shakes her head in complete disapproval.

"I can't believe you look down on everyone else so harshly." Panther marches forward.

"I'd never accept a leader who makes a teenager murder people!" she shouts. "You say it's for the country, but I bet it's all for yourself! Nobody would wish for something like that!" Shido cocks an eyebrow at her, then walks to his podium, which slowly rises.

"Nobody? Hmph… Then why was I chosen? Why are they surrendering the seat of Prime Minister to me? Everyone denies the value of hard work these days. Instead, they seek to effortlessly gain wealth. That is why I must reestablish the mighty country. One that does not waver… One that others bow to." Mona points at him.

"The only reason the public worships you so much," he hisses. "Is because they don't know that the one filling their glasses is a selfish monster! And that what they're drinking is poisoned human blood!" Skull shakes his head.

"And "mighty", my ass! That's just a crooked country made by a crook!"

"We cannot let you do this!" Fox says. "You are a disgrace to Japan! Hence, we will take your deranged heart!" Shido puts his hands on the podium and leans forward.

"Those who disobey me must be eliminated. However, considering the loss of Akechi… it would be a waste to kill those who are actually capable." Shido's twisted grin returns.

"I will allow to choose between life and death one last time. Devote your power to my social reform. And in exchange, I will give anything you want, be it wealth or status..."

It's when those words flow out of Shadow Shido's mouth that Joker snickers, then openly laughs out loud.

"Ahahahahaha! Wow! Anything we want, eh?!" he says as he scratches his head. "My! You truly are a generous man, Shido-san! That's something I really like in people! Sooo, how 'bout this? Why don't you take that deal…" Joker glares at Shido intensely and blows up at him.

"... AND BLOW IT STRAIGHT UP YOUR FUCKING ASS!" Shido frowns as Joker continues to bark.

"I'd never make a deal with an utter bastard like you! I bet you made the same damn deal with Akechi when you were just gonna off him anyway! And not everyone in this world is as selfish as you say! There are plenty of people out there who live for the sake of helping others! Helping them succeed in their endeavors, pushing them on through ordeals, creating something greater, all of that! Working together is how humanity is able to evolve in the first place!" He puts his hand on his heart as he looks at his teammates, continuing to preach with passion in his soul.

"And we're the proof. We've all grown so much from the people we used to be because we met each other. Every single member of the Phantom Thieves has evolved in their own way. Our hearts grew and gained new power because we draw strength from each other. That's how we've been able to get to where we're standing, even after all the bullshit we went through." Joker glares at Shido again.

"Human bonds are something to be treasured; They're what help us gain true strength of heart. That's the code of honor we stand by. So explain to me why we would ever even think of working for a selfish, elitist asshole like you!" Joker's speech of human bonds lifts the spirit of the Phantom Thieves. All of their hearts united have led them to this moment. That belief is what pushes them forward.

Everyone nods and glares at Shido.

"Ha! There's nothing to explain!" Mona says. "There's no way we'd follow you!"

"No matter how many times you ask," Panther shouts. "Our answers not gonna change!" Joker puts his left hand on his hip.

"And it's already been said," he says. "Fame? Wealth? We didn't come for any of that shit…" He levels his gun at his foe with eyes burning red with resolve.

"We came for you... and your disgusting black heart." Shadow Shido, disappointed by the thieves' answer, sighs and shakes his head.

"It seem the ignorant masses are doomed to remain as such... I thought you were smarter than that. This is unfortunate... I have no choice but to eliminate you all." Shido pushes up his glasses.

"A small leak will sink a great ship. Great nations have fallen to such lenience." He smile as he slowly makes a fist.

"I will not make such incautious mistakes!" The Phantom Thieves hear a loud round of applause and look around to see cognitive men in suits, who came out of nowhere, applauding him. He gestures them to stop and chuckles as his podium rises even more, the roof above opens up, and hatches in the hall start to close. Joker sees a way to chase after Shido and dashes towards the closing hatch doors.

"C'mon!" The thieves follow their leader as he leaps onto the hatch doors to reach the top. The fire within him burns hotter as he thinks of his fallen friend.

Watch me, Akechi… I'm gonna fly… for the both of us…!

The thieves make it to the top just in time for the hatches to close and make the floor beneath them. A strong wind is blowing red and white confetti through the air, the partly cloudy sky is barely lit as if the sun just went down, and everyone can hear the crashing of waves. This must be the very top of the Palace.

A thunderous roar makes everyone turn around and behold a gargantuan golden lion made entirely of human statues. Joker glares at Shadow Shido as he grows to suitable size and slowly mounts the beast and changes form.

"Let me make myself clear. Do not think of me as you did my foolish son who acted so brashly. You will receive no mercy from me. I will crush any who stand in my way." Skull growls at him as he steps forward.

"You little…!"

"Now..." Shido turns around to reveal his new form, donning a black army general uniform with a spiky white helmet, a long red cape, long white gloves, and knee-high white boots, and crosses his arms as he makes a cold demand to the Phantom Thieves.

"DIE… without further delay!"

Joker's body starts to tremble as he glares intently at the tyrant and his golden monstrosity, anxiety overtaking him for the moment he's waited for for so long. He can't help but feel desperate. To protect the people he cares about, he can't mess up now. He wants to win this. He has to win this.

As he is trembling, he feels a bunch of hands being placed on him. He looks around to see his friends gathered around him and smiling at him, as if to give him support. His anxiety disappears and he gives them a determined nod.

Yeah! We've got this!

The Phantom Thieves glare at Shido as Skull gestures him towards his leader and points at him.

"Our leader's gone through shit cuz of you! It's on!" As the golden lion roars and slams it's front paws into the ground, Joker shifts into his battle stance with fire burning in his eyes and his trench coat blowing back in the wind. Just like Skull said…

...

IT'S ON!

Target: Hit