A disclaimer: The views in this story do not match those of the author, and furthermore, he apparently doesn't own Code Geass or Danganronpa.
A/N: A quick mention, I changed the last chapter a bit to swap out Sato for Sonia instead. Part of the reason I did that was that initially, I was planning for Lelouch to attend Class 77, but after some discussion, he will attend the 78th Class instead. Of course, I need to make some room for Lelouch later on when that time comes. I'll explain more at the end of the chapter.
You don't need to go back and re-read the whole chapter, but I wanted to mention the change.
Although I know Seiko, Ruruka, and her boyfriend are one year ahead of Class 77, I decided to make them the same year because there is much I can work with them on.
2/13/18: edited and cleaned up
"Dialog from a flashback and the person reading something in their mind."
Thoughts (unless used to emphasize a word in a sentence)
Chapter 7
Gorefest Conclusion
The next morning Junko Enoshima had taken special care to be up by seven a.m., and she went as far as bringing an energy drink with her after having a hearty breakfast. Tsumugi who had covered for her during the night had high hopes for today, having observed the scene of what had happened before Junko had retired for the night in an excellent mood. She knew what had happened last night, and she was pleased with the outcome, but now she was eager to see everyone else discover what had transpired the night before.
This time the Blackened might actually get away with it.
This time, however, someone else was asked to join Junko for today's events as Monaca rolled into the control room before parking herself and by extension her wheelchair by Junko to observe upcoming events.
"So Big Sis Junko is today the day?" Monaca said with a bright smile that seemed reasonable for any happy child, but for Monaca Towa, it was a bad omen.
"Just watch and see, because I doubt it won't take long for everyone to find it."
Junko assumed control of Monokuma just in time for the morning announcement.
*Ding dong, bing bong*
"Good morning everyone, nighttime is officially over, and it is now 7 a.m.!" Monokuma announced as the automatic announcement began playing. "It is time to rise and shine. Get ready to greet another beautiful day!"
Everyone began to slowly stir, but among those who left their rooms first, Haiji and Yuuma passed by one another in the hallway heading for the cafeteria before finding a grisly sight no one could've expected. Lying on the ground just outside the Black King's room laid Kewell. Judging from how his body lay and the injury it was clear the cause of death was his throat being slashed open coupled with the pool of blood around his neck, but his back had what appeared to be two bullet holes.
Yuuma screamed as Haiji walked over to the body, but he noticed that the door leading into the Black King's room was open. It wasn't opened all the way, which was why it appeared closed at first glance, but enough for Haiji to push the door open the rest of the way where another bloody murder scene awaited him even if he didn't see it immediately. The room was dark save for an electric lamp sitting on the dresser by the door, so when the lights didn't turn on Haiji used the small electric lamp to explore the room. In the corner of the room, sitting in a chair with a black blanket covering his body except for his neck, feet and arms were a corpse. The corpse of the Black King, wearing a make-shift metal helmet over his head, with a single gunshot wound to the heart while on the ground near the chair laid Kusakabe in a pool of blood.
On the ground near Kusakabe's hand was a revolver.
"WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED IN HERE!?"
Bradley arrived on the scene hearing Yuuma's scream before seeing the three dead corpses. He looked genuinely surprised, but he remained silent and then finally Lelouch also entered the room where he was apparently shocked by this.
"Three dead bodies!"
"Perhaps one of them killed the other during the initial conflict." Bradley offered, but before anyone could say anything that familiar chime was played.
Monokuma's face appeared on the nearest monitor announcing.
"A body has been discovered! After a period of time, those who remain will gather for a trial to determine who did it!"
A few moments later Monokuma himself appeared, but this time he was drawing a small white golf cart down the hall, but attached to the back was a little self-serve table carrying toast, donuts, muffins and cereal bars with dispensers containing water, juice, and milk with cups available. He parked near the Black King's room before disembarking his vehicle.
"Holy cow, this turned into one heck of a bloodbath. Three deaths in one night, but let me say two things before we get this show on the road." Monokuma said before, everyone got the notification that their devices had the Monokuma files for the victims updated to their devices. "First, since none of you had breakfast, I brought breakfast to you, so you guys get a little time extension to get some food in your stomachs since you can't investigate while on an empty stomach."
Yuuma went for the breakfast selection on the back of the golf cart before Monokuma proceeded to mention the second item of discussion.
"And this time there are two murders in this case; one killed two victims and the other killed one so no one exceeded their limit."
"Two killers, so one of them is dead?" Haiji asked.
"Maybe, but I am not telling you," Monokuma answered followed by its signature sadistic laugh. "Normal rules apply, but as mentioned in the rules you have to discover the identity of both killers. If you fail to find both of them, then you'll vote for the one who gets to live while the other dies. Fail to find one, but catch the other will still result in all of you, but the blackened who wasn't caught getting executed."
"Finding both of them results in both killers getting executed and we get to live?" Lelouch asked prompting a nod from the two-tone bear.
"That's right, so eat something, and then get to work."
Lelouch began reading through the Monokuma Files while some were already getting a bite to either to satisfy their hunger for what laid ahead for them. He started reading through each file one at a time as each one made it easy to move onto the next victim.
"Reginald Plum, also known as the Black King. Estimated time of death was around 10:30 p.m., fatal injury a gunshot wound to the heart. No lethal poisons were detected in his system, nor had any other injuries that were detected." Lelouch thought before reading the next one. "Kewell Soresi, estimated time of death was around 10:30 p.m., the fatal injury was a slit throat. Additional injuries were two gunshot wounds to the back, but they happened after the victim's death."
Lelouch moved to the last victim.
"Josui Kusakabe estimated death was shortly after 10:30 p.m. with a gunshot wound to the head. There were no traces of any lethal poisons nor were any other injuries detected."
The former prince was already inspecting the room around him trying to re-imagine how things must've played out. Judging from the Monokuma files both the Black King and Kewell were killed around the same time, but Kusakabe was last. From these facts, it was easy to determine that Kusakabe was killed when he tried to get the gun the Black King held, which also meant that the Black King was likely murdered first.
"The Black King must've used this rope to open the door from a distance and shot at the first person standing outside," Haiji said discovering a long rope that was tied to the doorknob that reached all the way to the chair the Black King had been seated in.
"Yeah, and the helmet he wore was intended to protect him from any potential headshots believing if he struck first he wouldn't have to worry about a counterattack. Even if they got off a shot, because these men both had military training, would've aimed for the head." Lelouch said in agreement with Haiji, but at the same time figuring out the chain of events that happened. "Someone, likely the Black King, must've summoned Kewell and Kusakabe to his room along with the killer before a fight broke out. Using that as an opportunity the Black King opened his door safely from this spot here hoping to shoot whoever survived the initial scuffle knowing he was at risk of breaking the rules if he killed more than two people."
"This plan seemed extremely risky because if one person survived, it would've been a huge problem for him," Haiji commented before Bradley joined the discussion.
"But what if the killers had killed each other?"
"That is a possibility, but it seems Monokuma wants us to determine regardless if the killer is still alive to find out who killed who. None of the rules mention the blackened has to be alive for a trial to take place right?" Lelouch pointed out logically which no one saw a reason to argue against.
Haiji who had one hand on his chin as he carefully contemplating something before speaking, "Someone must've had a second gun, because how did the Black King get killed?"
"That is a possibility since trying to rush the Black King would've resulted in their death since he would've had time to shoot whoever came at him." The former prince said in agreement. "Not to mention I am sure Monokuma probably provided a second gun as a gift for one of us for the sake of game balancing."
"You are correct!" Monokuma exclaimed happily. "Yep, I gave out two guns as gifts, one of you got one, and the other got the second gun. One was a standard handgun while the second gun was a classic revolver."
"Naturally, you won't tell us who got which gun right?" Bradley inquired.
"Nope, you guys got to figure that part out, otherwise why would I hide which weapon you each got?"
Even though it came from Monokuma, it was a logical point.
"Well, it is possible; the owner of their respective gun is dead. If the Black King fired off the first shots, then the revolver is his." Lelouch said, which was oblivious given where the Black King positioned himself.
"So that leaves Kewell or maybe Kusakabe as the only suspects unless there was someone else involved," Haiji commented.
"I am certain there was a third person because if a slash to the throat killed Kewell, then someone used his body as a shield. So who was shooting at him" Lelouch asked with a look of suspicion as he replayed a mental image of the events that happened last night? "Kusakabe was the last one to die according to the Monokuma file, so someone killed him before he could use the Black King's gun."
"That is a good question, but whoever it was got away unscathed," Yuuma noted seeing no one amongst their group showed any signs of oblivious injury.
"If there was a third person involved in the scuffle between these two," Bradley noted who seemed doubtful.
As the investigation began, Junko was observing them through Monokuma.
Junko was grinning maliciously as she watched everyone investigate the latest murders, which by her own admission was bloodier than she could've anticipated. Still, it didn't damper her eagerness for what she was certain would be the final trial. It was merely a question if both killers wouldn't be caught resulting in a deadly showdown where those doomed to die would decide their fate.
Or would one get caught and the other gets away with it?
"You very excited big sis?" Monaca commented, noticing the big smile Junko had.
"Oh, I am, and this trial will decide so much for what comes next."
"What do you mean?" The green haired girl asked while tilting her head to one side.
"Even though the players didn't offer much despair, I still accomplished a couple things like exposing Gao Hài along with his affair with Lady Stadtfeld."
"Yes, but didn't that set off a civil war in the Chinese Federation?"
Junko was genuinely surprised when she heard about the civil war that had broken out between those loyal to the Empress, despite being reduced to a figurehead, and those loyal to the High Eunuchs. She had known there were growing tensions between the two sides that had been growing in recent years, but she wasn't expecting a civil war to erupt which meant to Junko that relations between the two parties must've been much more strained that she believed.
The fact it happened barely twelve hours after word got out was a clear indication.
"I didn't think things between the two groups were that BAD in jolly old China, but holy shit all-out civil war barely twenty-four hours after Gao Hài died." Junko mused with a smile. "I guess Britannia doesn't have much to worry about, but they are occupied by their war with EU to take advantage of it."
"The EU is the only place where Ultimate Despair doesn't have a foothold. At least not yet."
"That's right... not yet," Junko said darkly. "Thanks to Mukuro's insider information about the state of the EU and the treatment of refugees from Japan I see a lot of potential opportunities."
"All you need are people to establish that foothold right?"
"Exactly!"
An hour had passed since the bodies had been found, but beyond the guns, they saw each member of the group had a note meant for the other in Kewell and Kusakabe's respective pockets. The letters were addressed to the other instructing them to meet outside the Black King's room at 10:30 p.m. where they would deal with their mutual problem.
Lelouch and Haiji explored their rooms, although they didn't find any additional evidence they did find proof that each note was written in their living quarters before it was given to the other. Suspiciously they found the notepad in the Black King's room missing.
With little time remaining the two began conducting a final search of the Black King's room. Checking the furniture near the door, Haiji found a tape recorder taped under the dresser by the door. Besides the chair, where the Black King sat dead was a glass of wine sat on the small table and a bottle of red wine.
Haiji rewound the tape before playing it where he heard the sound of the door opening. What he heard beyond the first noises brought a smile to both Haiji and Lelouch who overheard it.
Deciding to check the dresser more thoroughly the two found one of the drawers filled with light bulbs.
This was an intriguing find, but it explained why most of the room was dark with only the lamp as the only source of light.
"I think we got this mystery solved," Lelouch commented proudly.
Just in time too, as a familiar chime echoed through the room.
"Ok, I think I gave you guys more than enough time to investigate and have a quick breakfast," Monokuma said after appearing on the monitor. "So why don't all of you hustle down to the elevator and let us begin the next trial so hop to it people."
Both feeling confident about the evidence they found Lelouch and Haiji rendezvous with Bradley and Yuuma at the elevator.
Everyone boarded the elevator in silence, and the ride down to the courtroom was just as quiet save for the sounds the lift made during its descent. Upon entering the courtroom at the bottom, the group saw that the room underwent another renovation. This time the room had a more dungeon-like appearance from medieval times complete with tapestries fashioned after Monokuma's color scheme. The torches on the walls were obliviously fake with electric bulbs fashioned to look like flames with a metal chandelier hanging above them.
"Now everyone to your seats because I am very eager to begin," Monokuma announced from his usual place upon his throne. "Just like before you'll debate and determine whodunit. If you vote correctly the guilty party will be punished, but if not, then everyone else but the blackened."
"But there could be more than one killer this time?" Yuuma asked nervously.
"Who knows," Monokuma replied with a shrug, "but it's time to get going, so start with the murder weapons."
"We know two guns were involved," Lelouch began joining the debate. "The guns were a revolver and a standard military-issued handgun."
"The Black King had the revolver, and he used that to fire outside his room when he opened the door using a rope he tied to the handle," Haiji explained.
Lelouch held up a light bulb he was carrying, "we found one of these in a dresser drawer filled with light bulbs, which we believe came from the light fixtures around his room."
"I see, so the Black King wanted to darken the room so aiming at him would be more difficult," Bradley noted with a contemplating expression on his face.
Haiji nodded his head in agreement, "yes and that was why he wore a helmet to shield his head from headshots. It would've been their first target."
"We know Kewell and Kusakabe had sent notes to one another asking to meet in front of the Black King's room," Lelouch said as he was reviewing the notes the found side by side. "I think they knew the Black King was planning something, although I don't know how but those two became aware of it."
"Well, his notepad was gone so he might've been trying to meet with someone himself, but somehow they caught wind of it," Haiji said adding to the debate. "Someone got rid of it no doubt."
"So the Black King died first, but we don't know who killed him," Bradley asked calmly. "There couldn't have been someone because that person would've exceeded their two victim limit."
"You are correct about that, but Kewell was the one who shot the Black King before he was killed. Then his killer used his gun to kill Kusakabe before he could shoot him."
"His throat was slashed open so whoever fought with Kewell was the one who killed him," Yuuma said believing as Lelouch and Haiji did that someone else was involved.
"Otherwise, it should've been the same killer which their bracelet should've killed them," Haiji noted as everyone was convinced someone else had shown up and a fight broke out.
"Kewell likely shot the Black King since he was the immediate threat, but doing so gave whoever killed him a chance to draw a bladed weapon they used," Lelouch said recounting the events that led to Kewell's demise. "As dark as the room was he must've seen the reflective shine of that helmet thanks to the lamp by the door, so he aimed for the heart instead."
"Realizing he was wearing something to protect his head and likely his neck, he aimed for the chest," Bradley said in agreement. "The fool didn't consider having similar protection for his torso."
"He was probably hoping whoever had shown up would've killed one of the three thus allowing the killer to stay within the two kill per player rule," Haiji noted, which was accurate given the information and evidence presented.
"We can be certain then Kewell murdered the Black King, so we need to find out who killed Kewell and Kusakabe," Lelouch said before all eyes fell on Bradley.
"I had nothing to do with this."
"This says otherwise," Haiji said with a satisfied smirk on his face as he brought out the tape recorder.
Pushing the play button the tape began playing, although there was nothing at first the sound of a door opening came first before the dialog between three men were heard. Two of the men were Kewell and Kusakabe, but the third voice clearly belonged to Luciano Bradley.
"Did you two think I wouldn't find out about your role in my abduction?" Luciano Bradley said to the two men while the door had been opened behind them.
At that moment the first shot was fired, likely from the Black King, but Kewell must've brought out his own gun and shot the Black King as the sound of the gun falling to the floor was heard.
"GET THE GUN!" Kewell yelled prompting Kusakabe to run for the weapon while a violent struggle broke out between Bradley and Kewell. It didn't last long as Kewell's throat was slashed open at this point, thanks to the concealed blade he had on him.
With Kewell's gun in hand Bradley aimed and shot Kusakabe just as he picked up the gun.
"Stupid Eleven."
The sound of Bradley walking into the room was heard, followed by him taking the notepad from the desk, judging from the sounds he was making, and then he conducted a quick search of the room checking the drawers before leaving the room once he was sure there would be no evidence to implicate him.
Haiji switched off the recorder with a pleased smirk on his face.
"I think we have nothing further to discuss."
"Upupupu," Monokuma laughed as everyone looked confident, Bradley, on the other hand, was in shock because had been caught, but he was trying to grasp how he missed the tape recorder. Obvious to Bradley's shock Monokuma spoke, "that seemed a bit too easy, but if you guys are ready it's time for the nerve-racking voting time. It is time to choose our two killers. Pull the lever when you are ready to cast your vote."
Everyone, except Bradley, cast their votes and the results came in.
When Bradley was voted the killer of Kewell and Kusakabe, they got the usual positive result confirming they were correct, but when the results came in for who killed the Black King, the following words were displayed.
INCORRECT!
In that instant everyone, but one was trapped in a cage that was dropped from the ceiling.
"B-but how did we get it wrong?" Yuuma began as she was utterly shocked as was Haiji.
Monokuma was beside himself with joyous laughter.
"Congratulations we finally have a winner. A blackened has gotten away with it." Monokuma exclaimed as colorful confetti was dropped from the ceiling around the room. "Such a complex plan too, as befitting of our winner who has a very cunning and devious mind."
"HOW, Haiji shouted, "how did we get it wrong!?"
"Allow me to explain," Monokuma said before pointing to the monitors on the wall, "this murder was very carefully planned out. It was thanks to the clever use of tape recorders to collect Intel on the rest of you leading the Blackened to choose the Black King as his target."
An animated clip played of a gray humanoid shaped person playing the killer sitting in a chair within their room in deep thought.
"A very critical key to the killer's plan was the discovery of secret passages linking all of the rooms together used by yours truly sometimes to move around quickly." The two-tone bear explained before a slid away hatch on the lower part of the wall opened revealing a passageway out of the room located in the corner of the room. "I tried to hint at their existence to you guys early on during the game, but only the killer realized it."
The animated clip showed the killer sneaking around the passageway which opens into a small hallway while above the entrance leading into each room was a panel that could be used to observe the living quarters of the player ahead before entering. Then below a power socket could be flipped open to provide a secret listening hole, which was intentionally offered to be of use to the players.
"The killer even knew early on who had killed Gao Hài, thanks to this trick. It was right after that the killer set his plan into motion by sneaking into the Black King's room while he was taking a shower." Monokuma explained as the animated clip showed those events. "He knew from the information he gathered that after five he takes a shower and then has a glass of wine afterward."
The next clip showed the killer opening the wine bottle and then slipping a small bit of powder into the wine before shaking the resealed bottle to mix it.
"He then slipped a strong sleeping drug into the wine to knock him out for at least five hours." The bear explained as a clip played of a dressed Black King, who came out of the shower before sitting in his chair to drink his wine not realizing what had been added to it. "Once he was out cold the killer went to work."
The killer was shown writing a letter on the Black King's desk.
"Now he needed to lure those he planned to use." Monokuma explained before the killer slips the note meant for Bradley under his door. "Thanks to knowing where and when everyone is the killer broke into Kewell and Kusakabe's rooms to compose the other's letter that way during the investigation everyone would be convinced the notes came from their rooms. Of course, this part of the plan was perilous because if he were caught, his plan would be ruined."
An animated montage of the killer began playing with everyone watching the killer removing the light bulbs around the room, fashioning the helmet using tools they brought and prepared beforehand from the workshop upstairs and then setting up the lamp and the rope that would be used to open the door.
"Once everyone had their notes the killer finished their preparations, including a special metal plate with a slab of beef and a small plastic bag full of tomato sauce." Monokuma explained as the killer finished their work. "It was a good thing he didn't have to move any furniture otherwise his plan might've gone belly up."
The animated show the killer looking at the time to see it was 10:30 p.m., which was when the Black King was beginning to stir as the sleeping drug wore off. However, before he could fully come to the killer used the revolver and shot him in the heart.
"Once Black King was dead, he placed the chest-plate; he made and placed both the blanket and the helmet on." Monokuma explained before the killer switched on the tape recorder under dresser they had hidden there during their preparations, but they hid another one in a more obvious place, by the lamp, to act as a decoy. "He got back into the secret passageway after making sure the rope he was using appeared to be held by the Black King before opening the door while the secret passageway was hidden behind the chair and the darkness in that corner of the room."
The animated clip showed what happened next as the killer opened the door using the rope before firing a shot at them from behind the chair while holding the gun from where it would appear to be fired from the Black King.
"After Kewell shot him the killer dropped the gun and retreated into the passageway. The fighting that was going on made it easier to mask the closing of the passageway, but they are very quiet when you close them."
The rest of the animated clip played out according to the recording where everyone but Bradley was killed. Then he took the notepad from the Black King's desk and the tape recorder that sat by the lamp. The last thing he did was put two fingers to the Black King's neck to check for a pulse to ensure he was dead. After that, he left the room.
"Once, Bradley believed he was safe he left to return to his room. Once he was gone the killer emerged from the passageway to shut off the hidden tape recorder before destroying any evidence that could've implicated him." Monokuma explained before the killer used gloves and a trash bag converted into a makeshift apron. Then, as a precaution, the killer closed the door before locking it.
The video showed the killer removing the chest plate which successfully caught Kewell's bullet, thanks to the metal and piece of wood that made it up, before replacing the black blanket with a new one that had a hole over the heart to imitate a bullet hole. The killer pressed down on the corpse to soak it with blood. Then the killer disposed of the wine by pouring it into the bathroom sink as a precaution and replaced it all including the wine in the glass with fresh red wine with a new bottle.
"Once he had everything bagged and in the passageway, the killer turned the tape recorder back on after opening the door just slightly before silently leaving without making a noise."
The animated show presented the killer smiling sinisterly.
"All that was left was to dispose of it all in the incinerator." Monokuma explained. "Once everything was done the killer just had to wait until morning since the trash room is off limits at night."
"So who was the Black King's real killer?" Yuuma asked.
Monokuma laughed before pointing at the killer in question, "the one who isn't in a cage."
Haiji, Yuuma, and Bradley all looked and found that Lelouch wasn't in a cage.
"That's right Mr. Lamperouge was the one who killed the Black King." Monokuma cheered.
"The high school student did it!" Bradley said genuinely shocked as his expression clearly indicated.
"Yes," Lelouch began as his voice became as cold as death with a smile that was far too sinister for someone as young as he should possess. "I had planned this murder ever since Monokuma hinted to me the existence of the hidden passages, which was easy for me since I blocked off my door, so I had to wonder how he got inside when the only entrance should've been blocked off. The rest of you assumed he came in through the front door."
"Yup, yup," Monokuma said confirming Lelouch's revelation to the group, "all he needed were the right tools and a target to set it all up. Then he lured the others into a trap that was engineered up to cover up his own murder while pinning the blame on someone else. The notes were another factor he used after he showed all of you that trick during the first trial to better cement his alibi and placing full blame for the Black King's death on Kewell!"
"Why didn't the sleeping drug he used showed up in the Monokuma file?" Haiji demanded as his face was one of pure rage.
"Because the drug had worked its way through his system by the time he died, especially since he was waking up when Lelouch shot him." The two-tone bear answered before explaining further. "He asked me about the possibility yesterday in his room as he wanted to know if any drugs in the victim's system are recorded by the bracelets at the time of death. I told him yes, so that was why he put him to sleep as early as he did so when the time came to kill him Lelouch could not only have it match the time of death he needs it at. By that point, the drug had worked its way through his system since it was only meant to work for five hours."
"Then that plate he hid on the body to catch Kewell's bullet. It was to mimic the way Lelouch killed him because another bullet wound would've been suspicious." Bradley realizing just how complicated and planned out it was, although it was hazardous as the chance of it going wrong was high.
But it all worked out successfully.
"Anyway, now that I answered your questions it's time for the losers to get their just rewards. It's PUNISHMENT TIME!" Monokuma exclaimed before the pedestal was raised before him upon which he struck it with his hammer. A sprite version of Lelouch was standing off to the left of the screen looking triumphant while the 2D sprite of Monokuma grabbed sprite versions of Haiji, Yuuma, and Bradley before dragging them away to the right.
Congratulations
Lelouch has gotten away with it!
Everyone else gets punished!
Yuuma Utsugi was the first to be punished as everyone else was dragged off to their own executions. She was tied to a set of train tracks by thick rope, but one arm was free as she was allowed to hold a dull knife. Monokuma sat on a hill dressed in an old fashion train conductor's outfit working a small control device commonly used by those who owned train sets to turn on and off their collectible toy trains.
Only for Monokuma, his trains were full size, and each of them was hauling a full cargo behind them. There were two locomotives, both of them old steam locomotives controlled by remote.
Execution: Silver Screen Finale
The execution was being viewed as a movie from the silent film era complete with silvery footage and music being played from a piano that sounded strangely cheerful at the start. It naturally had title cards to substitute for sound.
Within an enclosed track the trains began speeding around a course with fake cardboard cutouts of trees and people lining the landscape. Yuuma started struggling to cut her bonds, but the knife was horribly too dull to make a useful cutting tool. It didn't help her situation that her ropes were too thick to cut through quickly.
A title card displaying Yuuma's screaming in text upon the title card before cutting to Monokuma who made a gesture of one pumping their arm up and down before a title card of.
Choo, choo!
Monokuma had the two trains pick up speed, but when Yuuma feared she would be killed, she noticed a track change lever with a target on it. Yuuma took aim with the knife and hurled it at the target hitting it right in the bulls-eye, but her joy was short lived as she realized to her horror that the tracks were changed now that both trains would collide with the other while she would be hit by them when they did.
Realizing her folly, Yuuma began screaming before shouting that was displayed as a title card.
"I can't die here I must make my daughter shine forever!"
She continued to struggle desperately against her bonds until at last the two trains crashed head-on into each other with Yuuma caught in the middle. She was killed instantly, and the movie ended with Monokuma now dressed up as one of those old villains from those black and white westerns complete with the thin mustache, a black top hat, and a cape.
Upupupu!
*Fin*
Execution: Adorable Hunters
The next execution featuring Haiji Towa had him running down a hallway trying to escape from mechanical robots in the guise of little girls armed with swords. Unknown to many, but few knew that Haiji Towa was a Lolicon. Now he was on the run from those he would've felt an attraction for even though they were apparently robotic. The hallway itself was painted bright pink with a young child feel to the room, but no matter how much Haiji ran his pursuers were closing the gap.
Up ahead there was a fork in the road where signs were pointing to the left and the right; the sign on the left point to "Survive" and the sign on the right pointed to "Death." Suspecting a trick Haiji chose death and ran down the hallway, but when he turned a corner, he saw another group of mechanical little girls waiting for him.
This time they were armed with rifles.
It seemed he was cornered as the group chasing him caught up blocking any escape route, but a trap door opened below his feet sending him tumbling down a chute until he was dropped into a large pool of water. It appeared to be some kind of underground lake as it seemed more natural than man-made, but following Haiji into the water was bloody fish parts and meat. By the time Haiji realized what was about to happen it was too late. He was attacked and torn apart by sharks that had been living in the water in a violent feeding frenzy.
Execution: Circus Performance of the Vampire
The Knight of Ten landed in the middle of a circus tent where Monokuma, dressed as a ringmaster wearing a red suit and a black top hat, was waiting. Reacting faster than the eye could track Monokuma began throwing knives at the Vampire of Britannia just as a round wooden board with a bulls-eye painted on it erupted from the ground behind Bradley. Hitting with precision and strength no human could possess, even despite Bradley's efforts to evade and escape the knives, Monokuma struck Bradley's hands and legs with his throwing knives, the large and red handled throwing knives Bradley preferred to use. The blades were long enough to go clear through a human limb sticking him to the wooden slab behind him.
Monokuma stabbed two more knives into the Knight of the Round's shoulders to ensure he was pinned into place.
At that moment the circus tent fell around them to reveal a tropical beach scene before the board a struggling Bradley was titled vertically as the world's biggest UV lamp mounted on top of a modified tank to support the weight of the giant lamp rolled into position. The UV lamp was positioned so it would shine down on the Vampire of Britannia while Monokuma changed out of his outfit and prepared to sunbath behind the lamp going as far to wear a pair of sunglasses.
As the lamp prepared to turn on Bradley managed to get one hand free despite being in agonizing pain, but before he could free himself or disable the UV lamp, it switched on.
Luciano Bradley could only scream as he was burned alive by the artificial sun-like lamp as it had an intensity that was far too lethal for any living creature to endure. By the time it was over Luciano Bradley was reduced to a hideously burned out husk as the superheating of the knives he had been struck with had only worsened the pain he endured.
Lelouch felt no remorse for condemning them to their deaths, especially for Bradley and Yuuma, but he also knew Haiji would've backstabbed since he had heard about the Towa Family from Suzaku. Even though they were honorable as a business, but the family itself was anything but what the company presented itself. As a child, Suzaku had never trusted the Towa Family, which stemmed from their treatment of the youngest child of the family.
The fact the family head had mistresses, which the daughter in question had been born from one of them, didn't exactly help Lelouch's impression of the Towa Family.
"EXTREME!" Monokuma happily exclaimed once the executions were done. "Well done Lelouch I got to hand it to you out of everyone here I wasn't expecting you to win."
"I suppose you plan on killing me now right?"
"Nah," The bear replied as a click could be heard, "you won the game, so a deal is a deal. You get to live."
Lelouch turned his head and saw that the bracelet he had been wearing suddenly detached itself from his wrist before falling to the ground.
"I see," Lelouch said with a sense of relief, "but then you'll tell me who sold me out to you?"
"Of course I am a bear of my word. I'll include an audio recording of the meeting between the person in question and my representative who he bought the info from, but the name of the person in question was Elena Ashford. She sold you up the creek without a paddle!"
The former prince had suspected her, but now he had proof that Milly's own mother had sold him out and risked being exposed with his sister's secret being found out had he died. Even though she likely had no idea who she had been dealing with Lelouch knew she was a problem that had to be dealt with. He kept a straight face, but under that neutral expression, Lelouch was furious.
"Don't forget that you get a shit load of money for all of your trouble too. Ten million to be exact, so I hope you'll put that money to use."
"Answer me one question? You want only despair, but what is the end goal? Is that really all you want especially if you do succeed at your goal?" Lelouch asked with a serious expression.
"All I want is despair," Monokuma explained to Lelouch before adding, "And since there is no reason for it, there is no argument against it. There is just no understanding it. No argument, no understanding, so what better definition for Ultimate Despair is there?"
I see, so no reason drives Monokuma, which is probably more troubling and makes him more dangerously unpredictable.
"Now you got to answer my question. What is your goal?"
"My goal?" Lelouch said before a smile appeared on his lips. "I doubt you'll understand my reasons for it, but I intend to destroy Britannia!"
"You take on a superpower that controls one-third of the entire world." Monokuma exclaimed in shock, although his control Junko knew this, "I can't tell if you are crazy or something else."
"It does sound impossible doesn't it, but when you are confronted with an evil, you cannot defeat through just means you have to ask yourself a simple question. Do you stain your hands with evil to destroy evil? Or do you remain steadfastly just and righteous even if it means surrendering to evil?"
Monokuma was silent for a moment before he burst out laughing.
"I like you kid. I look forward to seeing if you'll do just that now that you are loaded."
A moment later a masked member of Ultimate Despair approached Lelouch from behind before stabbing into his neck an injector that quickly knocked the former prince out with a tranquilizer.
Watching from Monokuma's control room as the two masked members of Ultimate Despair hauled away Lelouch to be delivered back at Ashford Academy along with the money he won. Monaca was pleased that her older-half brother was dead because that left her with complete control of the Towa Group and her seat with the Six Houses of Kyoto was secured. Junko Enoshima, on the other hand, was downright ecstatic that Lelouch had won her Killing Game, although some things didn't go according to plan Junko was nevertheless satisfied with the result.
Junko was partially happy enough to begin jumping up and down; although she was sure Lelouch wasn't going to survive, he defied all expectations once again. Her cheeks took on a bright shade of red while she clasped her hands together.
"Just wonderful! The despair of losing your mother and being cast out and abandoned in a foreign land has clearly done wonders for you!" Junko exclaimed happily.
"Who would've thought the skinny boy would've won your game," Monaca commented, but it didn't dampen her happy state of mind since Haiji died using the execution she designed for him and asked Junko to put him through it.
"He might be skinny and frail, but it hides a very devious and cunning mind," Junko commented. "I wonder what's going to happen next to him?"
"You think he is going to start his plan to destroy Britannia?"
"Probably, but he'll need to do something about Milly's mother first," Junko replied as she thought what she would do if she were Lelouch. She knew he would deal with Elena first before doing anything else, but all of that money he had now was another issue. Lelouch couldn't walk into a bank and just deposit it all withdrawing some unwanted attention.
"Anything you need me to do big sis?"
"Get the gang together and tell them to start training," Junko said with a sparkle in her eye. "Now that their parents are dead, they should have more free time."
Monaca's eyes sparkled knowing what Junko meant.
"I'll tell them right away."
Around the same time across the ocean in the Britannian Homeland, a man of towering stature was seated upon his throne watching a broadcast, he was expecting to see. It jammed out all television broadcast for this rouge transmission to dominate the airwaves. He sat motionless while his bodyguard who stood nearby in stoic silence.
Monokuma appeared on the screen with an announcement.
"Great News everyone the First Area 11 Killing Game is officially over. That's right we got ourselves a winner!" The two-tone bear exclaimed. "That's right, but it wasn't the Knight of Ten who won. Too bad so sad, but I guess he wasn't much of a Homicidal Genius since his status as a Knight of the Round protected him."
Monokuma began replaying the execution of the Knight of Ten for all of Britannia to see.
"He did kill Lieutenant Colonel Kusakabe of the JLF and Kewell Soresi of the Purist Faction, which shouldn't come as a surprise since Mr. Soresi was secretly plotting to have the Knight of Ten killed. To do so, he sought out help from the JLF and guess who…that's right Kusakabe, but sad for them my inside man with the JLF heard about the meeting and told me about it." Monokuma explained before the grasps of an audience in shock could be heard.
Photos of Kewell meeting with members of the JLF in an old warehouse with Kusakabe heading the meeting were shown.
"Of course I doubt any decent resistance fighter would miss out on a chance to take out a Knight of the Round. Just think about how bad ass you could be by telling everyone you killed a Knight of the Round," Monokuma said as he began flexing his muscles. "Too bad Bradley killed both of them when they tried to murder him with Kewell planning to take the fall during the trial because his goal was to see Luciano Bradley dead by any means. Why do you ask, because it was for the sake of his little sister, Marika?"
A photo of the young Marika Soresi was shown wearing a cadet uniform, she had a certain resemblance to her brother, but her hair was short, and she had the same eyes with some freckles on her face too making her look rather cute.
"Kewell got word that the Knight of Ten was looking for some young female cadets to fill the ranks of his personal squad. Now normally serving as part of the personal squad of a Knight of the Round is usually a sweet gig to land, but for those with the Knight of Ten not so much." Monokuma explained before showing a few photos of the members of Luciano Bradley's personal squadron dubbed the Valkyrie Squadron. All of the members were beautiful women with some being teenagers barely out of high school, but they wore very revealing outfits of purple and gold trim. "The skimpy outfits are really tacky I know, but that isn't the only problem. You see the Knight of Ten tends to get very personal with members of his own squad, but if he either gets bored of them or you don't do as he wants. Those people tend to end up dead serving as a meat shield."
Monokuma began laughing as he showed footage of Kewell fighting the Knight of Ten before being murdered by him.
"Sibling love isn't it wonderful?" Monokuma said using a tissue to wipe away a tear, even though he had none to wipe away, before tossing aside. "There are things you are willing to do for that sibling of yours including cold-blooded murder and betraying your own country!"
Next Monokuma showed the executions of Haiji Towa and Yuuma Utsugi.
"And these guys ended up getting executed when our winner fooled them into thinking Kewell killed this fellow Reginald Plum otherwise known throughout Area 11 as the Black King." Monokuma explained before showing him dead in a chair with a gunshot wound to the chest. "Our winner was smart, devious and very sneaky, but as per the rules since the winner won the game his or her identity stays secret, and that winner is now really rich too. I am sure no one will miss Mr. Towa a Lolicon who was kinda a jackass and Mrs. Utsugi, the worse mother of the year for prostituting her own daughter to further her career. Hell, she went as far as prostituting herself alongside her as a mother and daughter set."
Monokuma spun around to look at the camera.
"Well good night Area 11 and know that in good time I'll be doing another Killing Game, but this one will be available for everyone to watch. However, know that it's going to be better than this one was."
After his signature laugh, the broadcast ended leaving Charles zi Britannia, the 98th Emperor of the Holy Britannian Empire along with his bodyguard the Knight of One Bismarck Waldstein.
Bismarck, almost befitting of his title the strongest knight of the empire, was a tall man standing at least nearly seven feet tall wearing an all-white uniform and cloak to match. He had his left eye sewn shut, and he had a groomed beard with medium length dark hair.
"Have Cornelia hurry with the establishment of Area 18, but if she can't be quick enough. I want you to go to the front and help further the establishment of Area 18 as quickly as possible," Charles ordered coldly, although the death of the Knight of Ten didn't bother him, Clovis's repeated failures as Viceroy caused him more trouble than it was worth.
Even though Charles was in his sixties, he was still considered quite handsome for his advanced age, which was no surprise given how many of his children looked, but he also possessed a well-built muscular frame that only enhanced his presence as Emperor of one of the mightiest nations on Earth. He wore his purple robes, and cape helped his image while his long white hair was styled into Renaissance-style curls and piercing violet eyes provided an air of intimidation.
"I'll speak to her immediately, but shall I go to Area 11 to relieve Clovis until Cornelia arrives?"
"No," Charles answered, "sending you would be a waste. Clovis will remain as Viceroy for now, but any further missteps and I will send you if only to execute him for his gross incompetence. He is a complete embarrassment to the Royal Family." Charles replied to his one-eyed bodyguard who merely bowed his head in compliance.
However, Charles's lips curved into a smile, unlike you Lelouch…you have at least proven to be more worthy of calling yourself my son than Clovis.
Lelouch didn't know how long he was out, but when he awoke, he recognized the movement Lelouch was feeling around him that he was inside some kind of vehicle, like a van, as it was driving down the road. Even though Lelouch tried to play possum one of the Ultimate Despair members in the large vehicle noticed he was awake, but Lelouch couldn't see anything since he had a black cloth bag over his head with holes to ensure he could breathe through it.
They said nothing to him, and Lelouch kept quiet believing it was for the best.
The van eventually came to a stop with the side door being opened up before Lelouch was brought to his feet and helped out of the large vehicle rather forcefully. He was standing up outside the van before one of the people who had been in the van with him placed a large suitcase on the ground next to him before pulling the bag off his head.
After the door was slammed shut the black van drove away.
Lelouch glared at the van before dusting himself off. After that, he picked up the suitcase and walked into Ashford Academy, but he had to admit it was surprisingly considerate to drop him off at one of the side entrances.
The sun was beginning to set, so not too many students should be out and about. Regardless Lelouch knew it would be best if he could get to his room as soon as possible and the fewer people who saw him with the suitcase he was hauling around, the better.
In a hidden location somewhere in the underground tunnels of Kyoto where Monaca Towa, soon to assume her father's seat among the leaders of Kyoto House, led her friends the self-proclaimed Warriors of Hope through one of the hidden factors the Towa Group had established. Masaru, Kotoko, Jataro, and Nagisa followed Monaca into a hanger where four Knightmare Frames stood next one another side by side.
Using a remote Monaca turned on the lights revealing four Knightmare Frames created using heavily modified RPI-209 Gloucester units; although the Gloucester units were remodeled Sutherlands designed more for close combats possessing high-performance capabilities. Nagisa who was familiar with Knightmare Frames recognized the base unit Monaca had used to create four different customized machines.
"How did you get your hands on Gloucester Units?" Nagisa asked because most resistance groups could at best only get their hands on old Glasgow units, which became the basis for the Burai unit used mostly by the JLF, so the fact Monaca got her hands on some Gloucesters to modify as she pleased spoke well of the growing influence Ultimate Despair was gaining.
In response to his question, Monaca turned around smiling brightly, "Oh don't sweat the little details, but the important fact is these machines will test some of the weapons I am working on for your custom machines. They will give me all of the combat data I need to build and tailor each of your machines according to your piloting and combat style."
"Oh sweet, I didn't really get all of that, but we use these enough, and you can make us better machines right?" Masaru asked with a big smile.
"Pretty much and big sis Junko wants us to learn how to pilot these machines for what she is planning later, so if a chance for real combat comes along, we're going there," Monaca replied before smiling warmly to inspire her friends.
"But, won't these machines be kinda hard to use?" Jataro asked.
"Not with a special neural interface installed into each machine," The green haired girl revealed with a matter of fact tone, "they are a classified new technology one of big sis's friends managed to get for us. Thanks to his help and my magic I was able to create a working model to make using these machines much easier. You still have to work the control sticks, but everything else is based on thought so the machine should respond much faster compared to normal to give you guys an edge against older and more seasoned pilots."
The neural interface was a new technology being developed jointly with some of Britannian researchers from a research division overseen by the Viceroy and the Ultimate Neurologist working on it as a black project. Even through Monaca created a working prototype with Yasuke helping her it wasn't close to the prototype the Britannian research division in Area 11 was working on. Monaca wasn't too worried since for that version to operate the pilot would need some cybernetic implants, which was another reason why her version of the interface was inferior, but it would still be enough to help her friends fight on par with seasoned pilots after some simulation training.
"Oh, I love the pink color scheme my machine has!" Kotoko exclaimed happily.
From left to right the customized Gloucester was painted with a white and gold trimmed color scheme. Its head was modified to appear similar to that of a heroic knight, but its hands had been replaced with a pair of razor-sharp drills with thick metal shields on the forearms to provide defense against close range weapons. It had an anti-personal machine gun mounted on the chest and a pair of hip-mounted grenade launchers on rotating turret-style design.
The Type-H01 Gloucester Drill Offensive TM (Test Model) would be piloted by Masaru Daimon.
Next to it was the second machine, but unlike the first one, the second model intended for Jataro was designed for heavy artillery using explosive ordinance. As such its armor was heavily reinforced, sacrificing speed for increased durability, but its arms had a pair of 22 mm gating guns, one for each, mounted on each forearm. Its back had a couple of rotating heavy missile launchers while its hips carried a three-tube mini-missile launcher while it could still use its hands to toss grenades. It had a dark blue color scheme with some white trim, but its head was more conical unlike most Knightmare Frames giving it the appearance of a priest or holy man.
The Type-P02 Gloucester Heavy Artillery Bomber TM would be used by Jataro Kemuri.
The third machine was pink in color with some red trim, but similar to Masaru's Knightmare Frame Kotoko's machine was built more for massive close quarters combat using a sizeable bladed ax with a buzz saw integrated into the Knightmare Frame's blade to enhance its cutting power. Its head was designed more after a knight's helmet with covered horns and the shoulder armor were replaced with spiked shoulder armor. The pink Knightmare Frame had a pair of swords it could draw from its backpack as reserve weapons, which were similar to the ax possessing a cutting chain built into them. It still had grenades, but it also carried chaff grenades for quick escapes.
The Type-W03 Gloucester Blade Offensive TM will be piloted by Kotoko Utsugi.
The last unit was crafted with a gold and black color scheme, but its weapon of choice was a long range sniper rifle could fire high-speed bullets capable of piercing thick armor plating. It could switch to bullets with explosive rounds for more damage. It wore a tattered brown cloak around its body, but like Kotoko's machine, it did carry its assault rifle with a grenade launcher attached to it as a backup weapon. The helmet was simplified, based on a skull leaving it with red eyes, but it carried a well-assembled sensor and targeting package making the machine perfect for long range combat.
The final unit the Type-S04 Gloucester Sniper TM would be piloted by Nagisa Shingetsu.
"I can't wait to mines out for a spin!" Masaru exclaimed happily as if he was just given a brand new bike.
"Be patient I am sure your chance will come soon," Monaca said to calm her overly eager friend. "But most important of all the more you use them, the more data I can get which will have me to build a much better machine for each of you."
Lelouch had missed his own living quarters upon successfully sneaking into his room, but more so he was glad no one had seen him. He quickly hid the suitcase, but not before he opened it to take out the promised recording Monokuma had left for him confirming that Milly's own mother had sold him out. The former prince was still contemplating how to best deal with her, but even so, he knew he couldn't act recklessly.
One thing at a time, Lelouch thought before taking off his school uniform coat, I need a bath…maybe it will help me feel a little better.
After ensuring the suitcase was well hidden, Lelouch grabbed a change of clothes and went to the bathroom to clean up.
Once he was inside the shoulder the warm water was successful in helping clear his head enabling him to think more clearly.
I'll check some of the bills to make sure none of it is counterfeit, Lelouch said as he had some tools for that purpose as he had been worried about being given fake bills from his underground chess matches victories, so Lelouch had pens and even a light he had bought to use for such purposes. Then I need to figure out how to use the money without drawing attention, and then I must work out a plan to deal with Mrs. Ashford.
Even he wanted to deal with her now Lelouch knew one wrong move could be fatal.
One thing was sure he was going to be very busy over the next few days.
Monokuma Theater:
Monokuma was standing on a stage addressing the reader.
"My friends you know what we need more of in fiction, anti-heroes.!"
The two-tone bear began walking to the other side of the stage before explaining.
"I mean we have had all kinds of lame heroes who seem to be made out of the same mold for the most part where you got them inspired by the power of friendship or makes long cheesy speeches about hope," Monokuma said before shaking its head in disgust. "But anti-heroes, the bad boys or bad girls, now there is some fresh air and some untapped potential. Tough mean and nasty, but while they are not the kind to spread despair they won't make cheesy speeches right. Seriously it's lame."
A/N:
The first killing game has concluded for now, but what will next one hold and what kind of new rules will it use? I am considering a Royal Killing Game (as one of the Killing Game types I am thinking), but having trouble with coming up with a good number of contestants since I am trying to avoid using OCs as much as I can unless I need some to fill in some minor character roles.
For now, though Lelouch has a lot on his plate to deal with, soon he'll be getting his Geass in due time. If you are wondering if this means Shinjuku Ghetto happens next then yes you are right, but at the same time I don't want to do a retelling of Shinjuku, so I am considering a different approach. Either way, Junko will be neck deep in those events, although Mukuro would've been a better choice it would've made things a little too easy.
Not to mention there is some humor potential there among other things.
The Warriors of Hope are getting Knightmare Frames, although they can't match the Lancelot one on one, they will be at least capable of holding their own against most common Knightmare Frame pilots. Not much of a threat now, alone, but give it time and who knows.
Even though some of the executions were shorter than I had imagined, but Haiji's execution was a tough one because I was trying to think of a proper execution for a Lolicon. Yuuma's execution I wanted it to reflect her desire for fame which she forced on her own daughter in horrific ways, which I do not feel any sympathy for Kotoko's mother…she got what she deserved in canon as far as I am concerned.
Bradley's execution I am glad I could make something that not only captured not only his nickname and preferred weapon of throwing knives but I paid homage to how Kallen killed him in R2 at the same time.
And yes Lelouch did discover Monokuma had used a secret passageway to visit him after he blocked off his own door, which he tried to hint at other players about but Lelouch picked up on it. It happened in the early chapters, but I avoided mentioning to hide it.
Now with Lelouch needing to take care of some things, he will soon be attending Hope's Peak Academy as part of Class 78, although I considered having him attend Class 77 they technically don't have a vacancy.
Neither does Class 78, but…*the author looks at* Yasuhiro Hagakure.
"Uh, why are you looking at me."
Nothing just thinking about arranging for a vacancy.
Anyway read and review and I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter despite some flaws, but I hope to improve as the story goes further in.