"Beg your pardon, I forgot to knock."
The Palace Guard slowly turned to face Ren, who was dangling upside down from the vent in the ceiling.
It never saw it coming.
Ren smashed the mask with the hilt of his dagger while Ryuji slid in from behind, smashing it's knees with his lead pipe.
Once it was on the ground, Ren ripped the mask off the Shadow's face, causing the guard to disintegrate and dematerialize from the abuse.
The two dashed to the other end of the hall, where a door awaited them.
Pressing up around the door, the two teens drew their firearms, Ren with his silenced Smith and Wesson, and Ryuji with his far less stealthy shotgun.
"Ready?". Ren asked.
"Let's do this, Ren." The fake blonde confirmed
They burst into the safe room, guns aimed, checking for any threats. Upon discovering none, they lowered them.
"Clear!". Ryuji called.
"Come with me Lady Ann!". Morgana leapt out from behind a corner. "I'll lead th-".
"Comin'!" Ann quickly darted past Morgana, knocking him down. She was all too eager to leave the not a cat in the dust.
"Oww." A groan came from the feline.
"So.. are we safe here?". Ann asked Ryuji.
"Yep, got a whole table, chairs, and everything in there. Ren's got everything set up already." Ryuji replied.
As Ann entered the safe room, the palace façade began to fade, with it being replaced by the familiar walls of Sujin academy. A sort of weird, twisted fusion lined the doorway where the two worlds met.
"Huh…". Ann glanced around.
"Ah! Hi, Ann." A voice came from the front.
Ann turned to see Ren hunched over a table, his mask removed and placed on it. Four chairs surrounded the table, with a small black case among an assortment of items on top.
"Please, sit down." Ren told her, pulling out one of the chairs. He then moved to the opposite chair and sat down himself. "We'll talk when everyone else gets here."
Ann sat down, and waited patiently as Ryuji and Morgana shuffled in.
"Okay, is everyone settled in?". Ren asked, to which Ryuji and Morgana confirmed.
"Good… So, Ann, ask away." Ren spoke.
"...Yes… So does anyone mind telling me," Ann began. "WHERE THE FUCK ARE WE?".
"...How do I put this…." Ren scratched his chin.
"No no, it's okay I got this." Ryuji butted in. "Ahem, Welcome, Ann, to the METAVERSE!".
"The METAVERSE is a…a...". Ryuji was struggling to continue
"-Tangible manifestation of one's cognition!" Morgana chipped in.
"Basically, how you perceive the world, just brought into a more physical sense." Ren explained in a simpler term.
"...Let me guess, Kamoshida thinks he's a king, the school is his castle, and we're all his slaves or worse." Ann said with an unamused look. She was beginning to catch on.
"...Yep, that's about it. Spot on," Ren smirked.
"...Okay, so, how does that app phone thingy even bring us here?". Ann asked.
"The metaverse is.. Kind of like a parallel reality, and the phones act like a gateway." Morgana replied. "But, if you get to my level, you don't even need them."
"...Does anyone else have palaces, or is it just the sick bastard?". Ann continued.
"Most normal people don't have palaces, or anything like this, it's just pieces of human scum such as Kamoshida." Ren spoke.
"Now, this gives us a way to fight back. The version of Kamoshida that rules here, is a…. demented cognitive version… Anything you do here, will have no effect on the real world bar some exceptions."
"Also, there's no laws here. We can do almost whatever the hell we want." Ryuji beamed.
"What do you mean by exceptions?". Ann was puzzled.
"...It's complicated, but in short, we can get Kamoshida to confess his crimes. Morgana knows it better." Ren spoke. "Ah, by the way, have you two introduced each other yet?".
"Yes, he told me when you two were kicking ass." Ann glanced back at Morgana, who Ann swore had hearts for pupils when he looked at her.
"Next question," Ann switched topics, "What's with the getup? I know all don't wear this normally"
"...You know how this entire place is just Kamoshida's sick mind brought to reality?" Ren prefaced. "Well, this outfit is the result of my persona, the physical manifestation of my own personality."
"You know people say you have two wolves inside you and all that crap?". Ryuji added. "Well, now you can bring that second wolf out, or something like that, I dunno…".
"Also, personas just make you stronger in general." Ren continued. " I have like knives, grappling hooks..".
"And his neutral special, a gun." Morgana spoke.
"...O-okay." Ann responded to their answers. "So.. uh.. How do I get one of these? Ooh, is it a deal with the devil? Do I have to sell my soul? I know you two've been here for some time. Is there like a set time?".
"Uhh…We'll be honest, We don't know." Ren replied to Ann's dismay. "It just kinda happened to us, although we were in situations of distress then. So, we brought you here to see if you'd also get one as well as kicking Kamoshida."
"...Umm, well, if I'm gonna be in "distress", do I at least get a weapon of some kind?". Ann pressed.
"Actually, yes you do!". Ren announced, cracking open the gun case. "Say hello to Smith and Wesson."
"Okay, so we're all on the same page with the codenames now, right?". Morgana asked.
"Yep." Ryuji and Ren responded.
"... I'm getting a new one once I get my persona." An unamused 'Empress' (Ann) spoke.
"...But that title befits you, my lady." Morgana pouted.
"... Whatever, let's get on with it." Princess racked the slide of her new firearm.
The group advanced down the hall, and peeked around the corner, where they would ambush their next victim.
Ren aimed his silenced handgun.
PEOW
PEOW
Both shots landed on the Shadow's knees, causing the entire being to buckle.
Its comrade spun around to face the intruders.
" INTRUDER!". It beckoned, before a third shot from Ann struck the neck area.
Although it was silenced and seemed to be injured, the Shadow lunged for the group, only for Ryuji to to greet it with his pipe.
The beleaguered shadow stumbled back, under fire from a slingshot before Ren sent an electrical attack, finishing it off.
"Shocking, positively shocking." Ren commented on the downed opponent. He then approached the non-electrified shadow.
"Dude, did you really have to?". Ryuji objected.
"Come on, Let him have his fun." Morgana protested.
"...Is it safe now? It won't get back up right?". Ann aimed her weapon apprehensively.
"...Relax, we're good." Ren affirmed.
"Show us your true form." He ripped the Shadow's mask off, revealing a dazed jack-o'-lantern.
"... Alright, if you want to live, ya better start emptying your pockets." Ren threatened, pointing his gun. "Gimme all your money."
"...O-okay! Okay! Jeez!". The downed demon agreed.
"... Really?...They have cash!?". Ann was horribly confused.
"...Yep, pays well too." Ryuji answered.
Kaplan watched through the sniper scope as the pixie was absorbed by Ren's mask.
"Hmmh, Haven't seen that one before," The spy mumbled. "There's certainly something up with that kid."
Down below, from where he was on the higher levels, the group moved forwards to another area, making it a necessity for the spy to reposition to keep them in view.
Slinging the rifle on his back, the spy drew what appeared to be a pair of pens, but a quick flick of the wrist revealed them to be balisongs.
He stowed away in the dark, creeping along.
A Palace Guard came into view, unknowingly walking towards its doom. The spy flicked his knife up, and jumped the Shadow from behind.
With a clean stab, the blade plunged right into the back of the neck.
In a single swift move, the Shadow was no more, dematerializing in an instant.
"Still got it." Kaplan muttered with a smirk, twirling the knife.
The spy stood back upright, moving ahead until he regained sight of the group below.
Looking over the railing, Kaplan anchored the sniper rifle on top, and sighted them.
". ...I think it's time ." The spy decided as he flipped the earpiece on.
" SSShhh."
Ren put a finger to his lips, signaling for silence.
The entire party was huddled behind cover, in the form of corners and furniture.
"Princess!?". A Palace guard called out. "His Majesty is looking for you!".
" What do we do?". Ann mouthed from the back.
Ren concentrated, looking ahead. He racked his brain for ideas. The entire area was swarming with the Palace guards, and there seemed no way out.
Too many open spaces, too many sightlines to be spotted from… If only..
KRSHKskk
The earpiece buzzed to life, scaring Ren half to death, but he managed to stay silent.
" Hey kid, it's me." Kaplan's voice came through. " I see you're pinned, I can help. You see the dot?",
A red dot soon appeared on the wall beside Ren, upon closer inspection, he realized it was a laser dot.
Ren scanned for the source, looking above, on the highest levels, was a white tuxedoed sniper.
The red dot soon moved away, and danced right onto the head of one of the palace guards, completely oblivious to the coming doom.
The shadow disappeared behind a corner, with the dot and soon,
Bang!
A thumping, falling sound could be heard from around the corner.
The earpiece crackled to life again.
" You're clear kid ."
Ren tapped his earpiece.
"T-thanks." He whispered.
" Any time, any day kid."
Ren turned back to the rest of his team.
" We're good!". He signaled as the party regrouped.
"... How'd you get rid of that guy?". Ann asked as they pressed onwards.
"...Called in a friend." Ren dismissed playfully, tapping his mask with a smirk.
Morgana gave Ren a different look, signifying that the cat knew what was really going on.
After clearing the hallway, they reached the palace atrium from the second floor, which was cloaked with a glamorous, but fake decor.
"Is it me or do I feel there's more of em' than last time." Ryuji spoke as they ran through the palace halls.
"They must've tightened security." Morgana surmised. "We got in and got out twice already, and I doubt they're amused."
The party peered over the railing. The floor they were on terminated with staircases to below, where the Shadows were, meaning they had to go down if they wanted to get to the other side.
Morgana's ears perked up.
"...I can feel it!" The not a cat exclaimed. "The treasure's right across from us!".
"...That's great… but what about the swarm below?". Ann objected, gesturing towards the atrium floor below which was crawling with shadows.
"...This is a palace..". Ren began. "You wanna see if there's vents?".
"...Hostiles have just left the opening, you're clear to exit, kid." Kaplan called in through the earpiece.
The ventilation grate popped out as the frazzled hair of Ren emerged on the other side of the atrium.
The spy had kept track of all the Shadow's movements and positions from his location in the rafters, acting as overwatch from above.
He looked as Ren bolted his grappling hook to the roof of the vent before attaching the other end on his belt.
And then Ren leapt. The teen rapidly fell from the third floor, to the ground floor.
Just before Ren impacted, the grappling line pulled taut, suspending the teen mere inches from the ground, causing the teen to yelp slightly.
"Easy there, kid." Kaplan called through the earpiece. "You alright?".
" I'm okay, I'm okay, might need new pants though." Ren groaned.
Ren unhooked himself, stood up, and bolted the other end into the ground, and then grabbed his gun and stood guard.
The rest of the group slid down as Ren and Kaplan secured the area.
"...Morgana says Kamoshida and his treasure's behind the door ." Ren called, gesturing towards the large and ornate walls the group landed beside. " We're going in."
"Alright, I'll be there in a moment." The spy packed his rifle up, preparing to move on. "Go ahead."
And with that, Ren signaled the rest of the group and began picking the lock.
The door flew open with a woosh.
"Shh, down!". Morgana beckoned for everyone to take cover, to which everyone obeyed.
"...Is that!?". Ann gasped in bewilderment.
"Yep, that's him." Ren deadpanned.
The party looked down from the level of the palace they were on.
Standing on top of a grand staircase, with a massive audience of Shadows, was King Kamoshida in all his glory.
"Those intruders the other day were very entertaining." Kamoshida began, "But what sort of King am I if they're allowed to roam my palace freely?".
"From now on, there is a kill on sight policy. You will be rewarded if you bring me their heads!".
"YES SIR!". The shadows cried.
"Excellent!" Kamoshida beamed. "I shall be retiring to my lounge."
The King then exited stage left, to presumably, as he said, his lounge. Two Shadows guarded the door.
"...That is one disgusting motherfucker." Ann winced, after seeing what Kamoshida was wearing.
Morgana's ears twitched.
"...The treasure left the room. It must be on Kamoshida!".
"Great, now how do we get past these guys!?". Ryuji gestured to the dispersing audience.
"...Well, it seems we've got our work cut out for us." Ren remarked, pulling out his knife. "Okay, so, we keep this silent, this means no shotguns Ryuji. We take the path of least resistance, only take out the Shadows we need to."
" And I can help you find that path." A familiar voice came from the earpiece.
Ren burst in, gun drawn, planting two shots into the shadow's knees at close range.
PEOW
PEOW
PEOW
A third silenced round from Ann put it down for good.
It had been an incredibly stressing hour of taking down scores of Shadows in succession. Ren doubted it could be done without the spy.
" Alright, you're almost done, just the two of em' by the door." Kaplan called to Ren.
"...I don't see any good way to sneak on em'". Ren grimaced.
The lounge door was effectively in a corner. To the left was the wall, to the right was the railing of the staircase.
" I could shoot em, but this rifle makes a lot of noise." The spy offered. " But there is one way…"
After hearing the spy's suggestion, Ren was a bit flabbergasted.
"...This is insane…" Ren grumbled.
" Is it really insane compared to what you've been through?".
"...It's alright, I can do this..". Ren breathed. "Skull, I've got a plan." Ren turned to the fake blonde.
"...I'm beginning to have regrets." Ryuji told Ren as the two dangled precariously on the outer edge of the staircase, beyond the railing.
If they lost their grip, they would plunge several floors below.
"...Hey, you're a former athlete. You're better at this kinda thing.`` Ren retorted. "We do this quick, we're fine."
After shuffling across with their hands, they finally got into position.
"On three, we leap up and jump 'em okay,'" Ren began. "One.. two…".
"THREE!".
The two teens burst up like coiled springs, surprising the Shadows as they seemingly appeared from nowhere.
"INTRU-".
WHAP!
A punch silenced the Shadow's alert.
In the background, Morgana and Ann stormed over, quietly as they could.
An intense melee began, pipe and knife against sword and spear.
The spear was useless at this distance, and Ren got the better of his shadow relatively easily, but nonetheless, Ren was nearly choked several times by his opponent.
But poor Ryuji got the short end of the stick, literally, his pipe parrying blows of the sword.
"Yo! Need a little help here!". Ryuji grunted.
"Coming!". Ren seethed, jamming the blade into the Shadow's mask.
"Show me your true form you f-fucker!". Ren pried the mask off, before jumping to aid his friend.
Ryuji was slowly being overwhelmed. The breaking point came when the blade grazed his thigh.
The fake blonde was slammed against the wall as it happened.
BANG!
The gunshot caused everyone to freeze.
Ryuji turned a ghastly white.
His shotgun went off.
"INTRUDERS! INTRUDERS!," A cry came.
"INTRUDER ALERT! THIEVES IN BASE!" A voice came from above.
Ren's mind raced quickly. It must've been the school PA system.
"A THIEF IS IN THE BASE!?". A Shadow exclaimed.
PING!
Morgana lowered his slingshot.
"WE NEED TO GO! NOW!".
" KID! WE"VE STIRRED THE HORNET"S NEST!".
Ryuji moved to pull the door.
Locked.
He then tried pushing, for the same result. In desperation, the fake blonde drew his shotgun and blasted the lock.
No effect.
"...Oh god.." Ann froze.
"KILL THEM ALL!". Dozens of Shadows cried.
A veritable tidal wave of guards materialized, destined for the group.
"MOVE!". Morgana dashed over with a lockpick, rapidly getting to work.
"OPEN FIRE!". Ren ordered, causing Ann, Ryuji, Ren to draw firearms.
BANG!
BANG!
BANG!
However, before they could shoot, rapid gunshots already came from above.
The Shadows closest were cut down by the spy's expert marksmanship, with bullets going through one guard and striking the next.
But the shots from above were soon drowned out by the much closer sounds of gunfire from the group.
Things were going to hell. Seconds turned into hours as the group unleashed lead as Morgana frantically worked on picking the lock. The gunfire devolved into a steady rhythm.
"WE'RE GETTING OVERRUN!" Ryuji screamed.
All the while the attackers screamed for their deaths.
"DIE!"
"FOR THE KING!".
"RELEASE THE PRINCESS!".
Wait.
That last one.
Ren had an idea.
He hastily jammed a fresh magazine into his gun,
And aimed it Ann.
"COME ANY CLOSER AND THE PRINCESS GETS IT!". Ren yelled over the chaos, grabbing Ann with his free arm as if he was taking a hostage.
This caused an immediate slowdown from the Shadows, and a stunned silence from Ryuji and Ann.
"BACK OFF OR I"LL DO IT!" Ren jammed the barrel of his weapon tighter at Ann.
A brief silence followed.
"...Yes! Do as he says! I want to live!". Ann quickly ad libbed as she realized what was happening.
"YOU WON'T GET AWAY WITH THIS!". A Shadow threatened as they backed off.
A tense quiet was cast over as Morgana kept at the lock.
A click came from the door.
"IT'S OPEN!". Morgana announced.
"YOU TWO GO FIRST!". Ren told Morgana and Ryuji.
"Y-yes!". Ryuji replied, breaking from his shock.
"What now!?". Ann demanded.
"Walk back with me. Slowly." Ren answered.
The two slowly backed up, through the door.
And then slammed it shut.
Ren released Ann as the group dragged furniture to bar the door as pounding could be heard from the other side.
Which was soon silenced. Ren could surmise who silenced them from the gunshots on his earpiece.
"...Oh… Oh my god.." Ann panted.
"That was too close." Morgana remarked.
"...H-hey guys, what the fuck is this place?" A distraught Ryuji asked.
The group turned around.
Kamoshida's lounge was… disturbing to say the least. It was a velvety room with rugs and beds, and adorned with pictures of the man in heroic poses, as well as a disturbing amount of distorted, poorly dressed teenage girls, not unlike those on the sports teams simply lounging around.
There was also a collection of… compromising pictures of Kamoshida's victims.
A disturbed silence came over as the group took in the sight, which was soon broken by an all too familiar voice.
"Well, well, well. What do we have here?".
It was the king himself.
By his side were two guards..
And Ann.
"...So, you mistook her for my Ann." The King turned to his guards with a disappointed look.
"WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS!?". Ann drew her gun and aimed at the skimpy version of her by Kamoshida's side.
"..Oh, it's merely my… precious Ann Takamaki..". The perverted King drawled, looking at the girl lustily. "Come here."
Kamoshida proceeded to kiss the other Ann on the lips, although everyone could tell it was forced.
"...My prize…" He explained. "For a while, I had to settle for the half rate Shiho.."
"What." Ann reacted.
"Ah, don't tell me you already forgot about her?". Kamoshida smirked.
"You shut your fucking mouth." Ann grew enraged.
"You caused her to jump, after al-".
BANG
Something awoke inside Ann as she squeezed the trigger.
So, I took some liberties with the combat system in game to fit more in line with faster paced spy films, books , etc.
I took some inspiration from Goldeneye and its N64 game when writing this.
Obviously, having Ann in the know and part of the team earlier will have an impact.
I will Finish the fight with Kamoshida and Ann's persona next chapter, before more spy stuff and then ending Kamoshida.
It's been fun,
-Josephi