Disclaimer:

I do not own Persona or My Hero Academia


"You really overdid it with that business the other day, Kuin." An older man's voice said through Kuin's earpiece. "Yes, the Trigger you've been entrusted with is yours to distribute at your discretion… but it's a precious commodity. It's not something to dole out so indiscriminately."

"Oh, who cares? You're getting your data, yeah? What's the problem?"

"It's a matter of efficiency." The voice said before sighing. "A person's physical abilities are heavily influenced by their strength of character… and Quirks are no exception. A strong spirit is indispensable if one wishes to wield an uncommonly powerful Quirk."

"Like with heroes?"

"Villains too. The resources we seek… are the types who harbour explosive potential within. Ones who can pull the trigger on their own strength of will."

"Urgh, annoying! I mean those types are usually a pain…"


"Congratulations! That's right, you've been chosen Mr. Pain in the Ass!" Kuin said with a clap.

In front of her stood a man with dark unruly hair that hid parts of his blood shot eyes and scraggly patches of facial hair that illustrated his homeless status. His emaciated body was on display as the jacket clothing his chest was too worn and ripped where the button would normally be.

"You… grrr ahh" The man growled with narrowed eyes, his hand reaching up to scratch at his neck.

"Oh? Looks like you're no stranger to drugs! I see I made the right choice!" Kuin said with a crinkled smile.

"Don't grrr make fun of me you little-"

"Right!" Kuin interrupted him, pulling out a suitcase and revealing several syringes. "Let's convert all that hate you've got stored up into power, shall we? Please, go and run wild over this society of ours."

Without hesitation, the man grabbed several syringes and stabbed them into his neck. A second later, his body gave a sudden convulse.

"Oho? All at once? You're quite the tough cookie, ain'tcha?"

"Stop grrr ahhh -ing around… GRAHHHH!" The arm that plunged the needles into his neck bulged and grew into a sweltering red hue before crystalizing into a hard jagged rocky exterior and slamming into the space Kuin occupied.

"Oooh. Scary~!" The man's eye's widened before looking up, spotting the girl sitting with her legs crossed on the railing of a balcony.

"You…"

"… do your best now."

The sound of buzzing could faintly be heard from where the man stood like a low rumbling.

"Go fight that battle. That battle against whatever it is only you can see!" Kuin yelled with manic grin, the buzzing rising to a crescendo not dissimilar to the roaring cheers in a sport's stadium. "Or whatever."


"What's got you in a good mood?" Akira asked as he and Koichi were strolling through the street in their hero costumes.

So far, they had cleaned 3 streets, helped 2 old ladies with their groceries, gave directions to 1 person, and helped a group of kindergarteners cross the street safely. While doing hero work would normally put a smile on Koichi's face, the hooded teen had been in an even more chipper mood since before they had met up. Akira finally couldn't help but ask.

"I got scouted by a hero this morning!" Koichi said, rubbing his upper lip with his index finger in a boastful yet embarrassed manner.

"Oh? Anyone I know?"

"Maybe? He's pretty famous. Ingenium of Team Idaten. He's called the Turbo Hero for his speed. Plus, he helped me out with my Quirk a bit." Koichi dropped to all fours before zooming side to side, using his Quirk to accelerate in the opposite direction to stop his momentum and crashing. "Pretty neat huh? It had always been an issue for years, but now, heh not anymore!"

"That's awesome! Finally getting recognised for all your hard work huh?"

"Right, right?!" Koichi cheered with a laugh; one Akira couldn't help but reciprocate. "Well, it was more for my Quirk's potential rather than anything I've done but still." He raised his gloved hands, the ones given to him by Knuckle Duster to help with his movement.

"You know, something he said stuck with me. He told me that people usually think the same thing during crises: "Someone help me quick." In response, he became someone who zooms into danger, helping people who are all scared and nervous and giving them peace of mind." Koichi then clenched his hands into fists before looking at Akira with admiration tinkling in his eyes.

"Man, that's just real cool right? I want to be someone like that."

"Oho? Thinking of hanging up the ol' All Might hoodie and trading it in for some Ingenium merch?"

"Woah, no way. This is the latest officially licensed All Might merch, cost quite a lot of yen y'know. I can't just not rep it. Besides, just wearing it fills me with courage and what not."

Akira raised his hands in mock surrender, "Gotcha, gotcha." And he did. He gave a small smirk as he looked down at his outfit. It was the same with him and his clothes of rebellion. Akira Kurusu of the real world was one thing, but Joker in the Metaverse, was another. In those clothes, Akira felt like he could do anything. Like he had the strength to change even fate.

His smirk faded.

'But that's not true.' If it was, then the Phantom Thieves wouldn't have died. He could've protected them… could've saved them…

Akira shook his head. These thoughts… those dreams… he has to stop thinking about them… but would that mean forgetting about his friends?

"You okay Joker?" Koichi asked concerned. "Jealous you don't have any cool merch like this?"

A smile etched itself onto his face. His friend came in just in time to pull him out of spiralling thoughts.

'Thanks Koichi…'

He wouldn't drop the matter, just set it aside for another time. Was he running away from the issue? Maybe, but for now he should just be happy for the friend in front of him.

"Ha, you wish." Akira said nudging Koichi's shoulder with his fist. The burdening thoughts weighing down on him eased slightly with their playful banter.

'I feel like my bond with Koichi is growing deeper…'

Akira heard the faint rattling of chains as the Justice card appeared once again with only 8 chains remaining as one shattered, allowing another one of his slumbering Personas to awaken.

"Oh yeah, you and Master have been pretty interested in those videos La Brava recorded of Pop. Find anything related to those Trigger incidents?"

Akira sighed, ruffling his hair. "No, nothing. We captured the moments when those people were injected with the drug but nothing pointing to who's behind it. I didn't have too high a hope on finding anything substantial but it's still annoying."

Just as promised, he searched through La Brava's recordings with Knuckle Duster in hopes of finding any hint of the person behind the Trigger incidents but with the method being long distance from bees, they didn't have any luck.

"Damn, well we didn't expect to find anything from the first meet and greet anyways. We'll just have to try again."

Before Akira could respond however, the two could hear screams off in the distance. They didn't even have to say anything before they charged forward toward the source of the screams, Koichi on all fours and speeding off ahead of Akira.

"I'm the man who charges headlong into danger, The Crawler!" Koichi announced as he skidded onto the scene first. What greeted him was a brute, the size of a tractor and adorned in jagged rock-like skin, causing havoc in the middle of the street. The villain swung his arms like sledgehammers, shattering and crumbling pavement, as well as anything else in his path. The attacks caused chunks of debris to fly everywhere, almost hitting cowering bystanders.

Wanting to put his training to use, Koichi used his Quirk to speed forward, pivot on one leg, and deliver a spin kick to the villain's head to knock him back or at least cause him to stumble and stop his rampage. Things didn't go according to plan as his kick didn't make the villain budge a single inch. He didn't even seem to feel any discomfort from the attack; in fact, the only person to feel the attack was Koichi as he hopped back and cradled his throbbing foot.

"Note to self, kicking a walking boulder probably wasn't too smart…" Koichi muttered with a groan.

With a twitch, the villain's neck snapped towards Koichi. "Crrrrrrrawlllaaahhh!" Like a bull enraged, the rock-like brute charged and bulldozed his way towards Koichi.

"Woah there, I know you must be going through a hard time, but can't we just talk this out?" Koichi yelled as he swerved out of the way.

"… Crawler, no. That was bad… and you thought my magnet pun was bad." Akira said with a sweat drop as he finally managed to catch up. Before Koichi could justify his pun, the villain smashed the ground at their feet, causing the two to jump back.

"His skin is really tough Joker. My kick didn't do anything."

'Hmm, guess that eliminates gun and physical attacks.' Akira thought before a thought occurred.

"If he's too tough to attack, then let's let him do the work for us. Draw his attention and continue to circle around him. Try to get him to follow your movements."

"Got it." Koichi said before enacting Akira's plan. Picking up a small rock that splintered off from the scattered debris nearby, Koichi hurled it as hard as he could at the villain's face, making sure his attention was trained fully on himself. "Catch me if you can!"

The villain roared at the taunt and slammed his fist at Koichi, only to be met with pavement as the hooded vigilante used his Quirk to accelerate away and around the villain, cornering him in his pathway.

With his attention on Koichi, Akira tore off his mask and his first Justice persona burst forth into existence from a pillar of azure flames. She fluttered down gracefully beside Akira upon white feathered wings, a contrast to her lewd adornment of chains and bindings.

"Mmm, another sheep lost and led astray… what is thy command, Nephalem?"

"Let's shed some light on his crimes. Angel, Dazzler!"

"By your will~."

By Akira's command, Angel spread out her arms and flourished with a snap of her fingers, causing a shower of bright coloured sparks and lights to ensnare the villain vision with its luminescence. The villain blinked wildly as it felt like the world around him began to spin. The combined efforts of Koichi making the villain rapidly spin and Dazzler worked as the villain's knees buckled and he began to sway and fall face first.

"YES! We did it Joker!" Koichi cheered with a jump.

"Don't let your guard down ye- DODGE!" Akira warned as the villain, who clutched at his head with one hand, growled between gritted teeth and used his other hand to sweep the air around him. Koichi made to dodge the attack but stumbled and fell to the floor as his foot was caught in one of the many holes the villain made while trying to hit him.

"Crap!" Koichi cried out. He was going to be hit. Koichi shut his eyes and cradled his face. He waited. But no attack came. Opening his eyes, Koichi was met with someone garbed in black and dark maroon clothing wielding a katana that was currently holding back a stony fist.

Still dizzy, the villain staggered back a step as he balked at the strength of the new person. In a blink of an eye, the newcomer used that moment of hesitancy to slash at the villain, causing multiple shallow scars to appear on his rocky forearms.

"Hmph, hard aren't you." The newcomer said as he pulled out several knives, holding them between his fingers in preparation to throw them. He didn't get to use them however as the villain, now afraid, scampered off, barrelling past bystanders and into the enveloping shadows of a far-off alley with an unsteady sway. Outnumbered and dizzying confusion didn't look promising, even to a villain whose mental capabilities were hindered by the drugs.

Akira stepped forward ready to summon another persona to prevent the villain from escaping but was stopped by an outstretched hand.

"Don't worry, I'll go after him." The katana wielding person said. Now that he was in front of Akira, he noticed that the sharp looking mask that adorned the newcomer's face bore a hole to allow only one eye to peer through. It gave the man an aura of mystery and intimidation.

Akira was going to disagree. How could he not? Part of him wanted to chase after the villain, to make sure he was captured and didn't cause any more harm anymore but had to resign when the sounds of police sirens echoed closer, the flashes of red and blue growing more apparent.

"Joker, we better get out of here." Koichi said, tugging at his coat.

'Damn it…' Akira thought with frustration. It was him and Koichi who were fighting the villain. The police would be coming after them for using their Quirks in public. The masked man however was only present for a minute, maybe less. They wouldn't know him or his presence here. With a sigh, Akira turned to leave. He would have to leave the villain to the masked man.

Before the two could escape, Akira quickly turned back to the masked man. "Thanks for the help back there. The name's Joker. May I have the name of my buddy's saviour?"

"I'm Stendhal. Just another meddler… like you two." He said, sheathing his sword back onto his back before leaping up to the top of a nearby building and leaping after their adversary.

"Wow… he was pretty cool wasn't he Joker?"

"Yeah, he was pretty cool." Akira said with a smirk before he and Koichi sped off out of sight.


The rocky villain huffed with exhaustion as he ran out into a more well-lit part of the shadowy alley, trash cans clattering to side as he charged past.

'Who the hell were those guys?' He thought, smacking his head as the effects of the drugs and Dazzler waned and wore off just enough for him to think coherently. 'Especially that bastard with the sword. He easily stopped my fist, damn it!'

A clinking sound met his ears as a knife struck his shoulder before bouncing off his rocky exterior.

'They caught up already?!' The villain snapped his head behind him, sweat nervously staining his face before recoiling backwards in pain as another knife stabbed into his eyes.

He roared in pain, his hands rushing up to stop the blood from seeping out his eye only to fail as it erupted forth past his fingers like a volcano would. The pain didn't end there as he stumbled and fell onto the ground as two more knives sunk into his back.

'Wha-? B-but how?!'

"I knew your eyes wouldn't be hardened… and that the fear and pain would rattle your focus, just enough for you to leave you unable to maintain your hardening across the rest of your body." Stendhal said as he stalked forward like a predator would cornered prey, his dark-hued clothes somewhat masking his presence and making his figure barely visible amongst the darkness of the shadowy alley the villain had just come from.

"But the real root of your terror and agony is… that you have no conviction. Power wielded without conviction amounts to a crime… and when that crime shapes the man underneath… that is what we call a villain."

The villain could finally make out his pursuer as he stepped into the light. His mask stared forward at the villain, piercing through his very being and into his soul with naught but cold judgement.

The hiss of metal rung through the quiet alley as Stendhal withdrew his sword from his sheath. "The power of my blade… will eradicate the crime that is your very existence."

Before the villain could even utter out a breath of air, Stendhal's sword swung down; along his face, past the rising hand that tried to stop his retribution, down his torso, and out past his thigh.

"This… is your judgement."

Stendhal stood still for a second before returning his sword to it sheath as the body fell with a squelch, causing a shower of blood to encase both him and the ground in a crimson afterglow.

Unbeknownst to him, above the alley and atop of the adjacent building sat a curious observer. A cacophonous roar of appeased bees buzzed in the girl's ear as she crossed her leg over the other and rested her head against her palm with a grin. "Incredible!"


"Well? How is it?" Akira brought the teacup down from his lips, his eyes closed as he savoured the taste of tea in his mouth.

"It's surprising smooth. I wasn't expecting that for tea. It's pretty good." He looked at the box of tea that sat atop the counter and the regalness of its appearance. "Suppose it is that expensive for a reason."

"Right? Oh, I knew you would see the beauty of Harrod's unique flavour. The unique blend of herbs perfectly complement each other and- " Momo began to ramble with a certain bubbliness that usually only appeared when she spoke of tea. It was pretty adorable.

"Oh, apologies. I rambled on quite a bit, haven't I?"

"No, no, go all out." Akira tried to reassure her. "I don't mind, really. It's real interesting stuff." It was true. Being surrounded by Momo and Gentle had made the glasses wearing teen more familiar and as a result, interested in all things tea. Hell, it was the same way his love for coffee started. Besides, he needed some "slice of life" to counter his failure to beat that rocky villain and those thoughts about his friends.

But those weren't the only reasons he wanted her to keep going. Over the weeks they've known each other, Akira had slowly managed to get her to come out of her sheltered shell. Like Yoshimura had said back then, with her focus on her studies, she was lonely and a bit socially awkward. By hanging out with her and encouraging her interests, he had managed to get her to slowly become more confident in their conversations and interactions.

Speaking of… "How's Boss been?" Akira asked amidst a lull in their conversations.

"Oh, Yoshimura-san's been good." Momo said with a beaming smile before it settled for a soft smile as she cupped her hands around her tea.

"He was supposed to just rest and relax but I guess he couldn't handle having so much time on his hands, and he decided to go around supervising and giving tips to the other attendants. He even occasionally comes by to see if he can help with my training, although there's not much he could do considering what my Quirk is."

"Training?"

"Yes, it's what I'm doing right now in fact. Although it may be a stretch to call it training." She replied with a laugh, gesturing to a couple of books and sheets on the table. "I'm studying various complex formulas and molecular structures for my Quirk, Creation. It basically allows me to create anything non-living as long as I have an intrinsic understanding of the subject down to the atom. It's the bare minimum I need to do in order to attend U.A. after all."

"U.A. huh? I didn't realise you were aspiring to be a Pro Hero."

"Of course, I've been blessed with such a utilitarian Quirk. It's my responsibility to use it for the benefit of others." Akira quirked a brow. That sounded rehearsed, practiced, like she's heard that phrase a lot.

"Is… is that something adults have been saying since you got your Quirk? Something your parents told you?" The unasked question, on whether being a Pro Hero was something Momo truly wanted for herself or if it was something forced onto her by others, lingered in the air. The raven-haired girl's silent answer said plenty.

Momo's gaze fell.

'He's… not too far off the mark.' She thought.

She, like almost every other child on the world, admired Pro Heroes. What child wouldn't? However, when her Quirk manifested, her mother began to only see her Quirk rather than the persona behind it. Her mother made her study all the time, to the point where it started to consume her life until studying and training her Quirk was all she did.

While she probably would have chosen to be a Pro Hero naturally, her mother essentially eliminated any possibility for other routes she could take and paved a caged path to heroics. It was suffocating.

If she never got Creation… would her mother have allowed her to be a Pro Hero? Is Creation the only reason she can be a hero? The only thing that gave her life worth or purpose?

"Well regardless, I believe you would be an incredible hero… and not just because of your Quirk. You're amazing Momo. You have this kindness that allows you to connect with others. Take it from me, Kindness has helped me open doors to situations and conversations that would later help people overcome their fears and concerns." Akira said holding the space above his heart before he began tapping his temple.

"Not only that but you're smart, incredibly so. Your wealth of Knowledge is an incredible tool. You have the skills to analyse situations and construct solutions to a variety of problems… and in the hero business, that's really important."

Momo didn't say anything, just staring down at her empty teacup before slowly drawing her head up to look at Akira. "…ank you." Her voice was soft, just barely above a whisper but Akira understood her intent.

"Hey, I'm just saying it as I see it. Just know that you're more than your Quirk."

"Right, I'll be sure to remember that!"

'I feel like my bond with Momo is growing deeper…'

Akira heard the faint rattling of chains as the Magician card appeared once again with only 8 chains remaining as one shattered.

"If you ever need help with training your quirk or anything, just let me know." Akira said with a smile before stroking his chin in thought. "In fact… since you mentioned becoming a Pro Hero, I might have something that could be of use to you. Would you be able to make some thick parchment, plant balm, tin clasps, and cork bark?"

Momo quirked her brow in confusion. How would, what anyone would normally consider scrap, be useful as a hero? Well, she trusted Akira, so she would trust his process as well.

In a glimmer of bright pink and blue lights, the assortment of scrap manifested into reality in her palms.

"Perfect!" Akira said picking up the pieces and inspecting them. "I don't exactly know the molecular structure of what I'm making but hopefully you'll pick up on things with practice."

With that said, Akira began tinkering and crafting the tools he had grown familiar with… tools that his previous Magician had taught to him.

Not long after, an assortment of gadgets and items were left remaining on the table. With a smirk, Akira led Momo out back and began demonstrating their uses.

"These four here are a part of the Element Set. It's not too powerful but it's useful in situations which require elemental attacks." Akira explained firing off flames from the Molotov Cocktail, a chilling and ice inducing breeze from the Freeze Spray, electricity from the Stun Gun, and a gust of air from the Air Cannon."

"Wha- How…" Momo began bewildered. "How did those bits of scraps manage to combine to make those?! A working stun gun and Molotov cocktail… I didn't even provide all the necessary materials needed to make those. And how does the Freeze Spray and Air Cannon even work?!" It didn't make sense. Momo was a logical processor and this… this didn't hold a shred of logic.

Akira chuckled and levelled her with his infamous smirk. "What can I say, I'm great at what I do. What you see is the culmination of a master craftsman. Though to be honest I don't really understand the inner workings myself, but hey, I'm not gonna question it."

Momo could only nod slowly, her head beginning to hurt. "R-right. What about that last one you made? What does that do?" She said pointing at the last item he had, a small black sphere that sat snugly in his palm.

"This, unlike the Elemental Set, doesn't do any damage but rather is used when you're in a tight spot. This here is a Vanish Ball." Before Momo could ask what a Vanish Ball was, Akira had slammed the ball onto the ground, obscuring him and the area around him in a thick and opaque cloud of smoke.

The raven-haired girl coughed; her eyes shut as she tried to fan the smoke out of her face. It hadn't even been 5 seconds before the smoke began to recede when she noticed Akira was gone.

"As you can see, the Vanish Ball creates a thick smoke that allows you to escape almost any fight you're in." Momo spun to find the owner of the voice sitting atop the Café behind her. "It'll probably take you a while to master this art but with enough practice, it'll become an invaluable tool."

A tool that can allow you to escape from most situations and several logic breaking tools that can inflict elemental damage. This was…

"… Amazing." Momo muttered wide eyed.

"I have a few more useful things that would be useful for you, but I'll teach you those once you've mastered making and using these ones first." Akira said as he leapt down and landed beside her.

"Thank you, Akira. My list of gratitudes for you just continues to grow, I don't know how I'll ever pay you back…"

"It's fine, I didn't say or do anything expecting a reward. We're friends, right? Friends help each other."

"Friends… Yeah, we're friends!" Momo said with happiest smile Akira had ever seen on her face. "Oh, I know. If you ever need anything and it's within my power, let me know." Then a thought occurred to her.
"A-although this is all in moderation m-mind you, I-I can't just create too much of something or anything too expensive. The economy, the circulation of money, why it would… that's right! Y-yeah, as a member of the fine citizenry, I, we must make sure it's all running smoothly, yes!"

Akira couldn't help but laugh. 'How round about.'

"Sure, I'll be sure to only ask you for some small inexpensive things." Akira said with a smirk. "If it's okay with you, how about a supply of those scrap materials I told you about, and if you have any spare tools leftover from practicing, I wouldn't mind buying them off you." It was a similar deal he had with Kawakami where he would pay her to make Infiltration Tools.

"It's a deal!"


Akira sat on top of a tall building in his rebellion outfit, his legs dangling over the edge. He decided to do a final patrol for the day to test out some of the tools Momo made on a live villain, but everything seemed pretty quiet. The raven-haired teen stared out across the city scape, taking in the sight. The city was alive, a kaleidoscope of shimmering lights from buildings to streetlamps to cars set the place aglow.

Even from his perch above, he could hear the faint whirring of cars and the echoed mutterings of pedestrians bounce across the buildings and synthesise into an incoherent noise. Akira never really took in the sights of the city from above before. The closest was in Kaneshiro's palace but the tainted and dreary outlook of Shibuya didn't even come close to this.

Honestly, the sight before him was pretty.

"I see you've found this place as well." A voice said to Akira's left, surprising the teen. Turning to the owner, Akira spotted Stendhal leaning against the edge of the building's billboard sign, his arms crossed as his masked visage stared out into the vast cityscape.

"This is one of my go-to spots to come to. The view almost captures the entire city. It's a good place to spot trouble."

"You're right about that." Akira replied. "Oh, did you manage to get that hardening villain by the way?"

Stendhal nodded his head with a hum.

The raven-haired teen let out a silent breath of relief. The masked vigilante didn't seem to be lying so Akira was relieved that the situation was handled despite him and Koichi having to retreat.

The two stayed atop the building in comfortable silence, with Akira enjoying the night's calm and Stendhal thumbing and twirling a knife in his hands. The masked vigilante's eyes trailed away from the cityscape toward the teen.

"What made you take this route? What drives you?"

Akira shrugged. "I'm just under the belief that helping or saving someone is never wrong. The world is filled with twisted people who hurt and take advantage of those weaker and more vulnerable than them."

The raven-haired teen lifted his hand outstretched to the cityscape in front of him. "With these powers, I'll always lend a hand to those in need, to help save or assist those oppressed by those twisted people. Even if the whole world disagrees, I'll follow this belief." It was the promise he made to himself. A promise he made to the Phantom Thieves. To his world. To Gentle and La Brava. And now, to this world.

Stendhal didn't immediately respond, but unbeknownst to Akira, a wild grin hid itself beneath the older vigilante's mask.

'Incredible! This conviction! He is what a true hero should be!' Stendhal thought. This conviction to protect, to save, to help radiated off the teen like rays of a sun. In his mind, Joker elevated himself on a platform closer to All Might, but he reigned his enthusiasm in.

'No. Words are empty. It's actions that speak true conviction. I'll watch him more…'

"You show incredible justice Joker. I'm eager to witness more of your endeavours." The city lights seem to recede into shadow as the world slowed and greyed.

A red card faded into existence depicting an angel descending a bank of clouds from above, trumpeting a tune to a woman, man and skeleton below. Beneath it were the words, "Le Jugement".

I am thou, thou art I

Thou hast awoken an old vow.

To you the Champion of Change and Rebellion,

You have freed us from the chains of captivity within yourself.

With the freedom of the Judgement Arcana,

You have reobtained the winds of blessings that

Shall once again lead to rebellious change.

Answer your Inner-Calling and bring forth

Judgement and Absolution.

Use us, Wildcard

Once Akira absorbed the card into himself, the guttural growl resounded as a colossal blue demon hovered up on leathery wings.

The Judeo-Christian prince of darkness, the serpent that tested man's piety, one of the strongest demons of the Fallen race, and the Ultimate Persona of the Judgement arcana. This was Satan.

It's every growl sounded like a thousand screams, victims deemed irredeemable imprisoned and tortured within its endlessly vast soul confessing their sins and begging for release. His soul their purgatory.

"I am Satan, the judge of all things. I see you have chosen to once again retaliate against your fated ruin… O sinner who knoweth not the true meaning of fear... I shall be thy mask and bear witness to the end."

Akira never liked using Satan. He was too dark, the epitome of evil. Donning his mask always flooded and engorged his thoughts with dark, dark thoughts. He was usually reserved for desperate measures.

How this was the Ultimate Persona born from his and Sae's bonds? He had no idea.

Nevertheless, Akira just stared at the demon, who in turn, twisted toward Stendhal. A snarling smirk adorned its lips as guttural chuckle escape it mouth.

"I look forward to the future." With those last words, Satan faded to the depths of the Sea of Souls.

Stendhal pushed off the billboard to a standing gait. "Until next time, Joker." With that, the masked vigilante dropped down the building, landing on a windowsill, and began leaping off toward the city.

Akira sent him off with a wave, Satan's words still on his mind. "Well, that's not ominous."


Confidants So Far:
Hierophant: Gentle Criminal (Rank 2)
Lovers: La Brava (Rank 1)
Justice: Koichi (Rank 2)
Tower: Knuckle Duster (Rank 2)
Magician: Momo (Rank 2)
Star: Pop Step (Rank 1)
Judgement: Stendhal (Rank 1)


Author's Notes

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays all! Hope you all are having a great day today and have been doing well since last time.

Stendhal has finally been introduced and has managed to bond with Joker in the form of his Judgement Confidant. Figured it would be fitting considering he's all about judgement. Always thought this character was pretty cool (design wise now and later) as well as their philosophy, figured the contrast between his and Joker's Philosophies could be something cool to explore and write about.

Also made Momo Joker's access to Infiltration tools. Kind of combined both Morgana and Kawakami with this one where instead of Morgana teaching Akira, it's him teaching his new Magician now, and then paying her for any extras she would make similar to how he would pay Kawakami to make them for him. I feel like Infiltration Tools are kind of under appreciated, especially late game where you would mainly just use your Personas. Wanted to give them a use in this story and thought it would work, especially for someone like Momo who can create things on a whim. Also like how bizarre some of the tools are and how random bits of scrap could make them lol.

Oh, and I made Koichi get scouted by Ingenium. It happens in the manga briefly which I thought was pretty cool. The guy knew that people fell through the cracks in the system, whether because they didn't manifest their potential or because the system worked against people sometimes. It shows that there are Legalised Pro Heroes who acknowledges non-Pro Heroes/Pro Hero students and are willing to give them a chance to be a Pro Hero. This will sort of be a foreshadow/peak into how Akira will be accepted as a Pro Hero/ into U.A.

Now onto reviews!

Gamelover41592

Thanks again lol. Yeah the roster of people Akira is meeting is steadily growing.

TheBeatles211

Glad you liked it! Yep you're right, the beginnings of the Stendhal arc is here! Yeah Pop Step's confidant rewards will be somewhat like Spotlight and how you would think the Rage skill would work. Joker will essentially become a Tank and aggro targeted enemies. I like your idea about the tea! To be honest, I didn't really think much about the tea so I don't have anything planned for the moment but I'm open to suggestions on what tea and different types of tea could do!

Zepolmoon

Glad you enjoyed the chapter! I have a vague idea on how Aizawa will meet Akira again. You'll see the basis/foreshadow on how/why they'll meet again next chapter!

NewMystery356

Once again, thanks for the support and love you've shown for the story! Regarding Jack o'Lantern's absorb, I might make it so they can only absorb skills and what not equal to or below their level. Would give Joker (and me) more chances to show off more Personas while also not breaking the story so much lol. Having the Number 2 Hero being bodied by such a low level Persona is kind of wild lol. Like I'm pretty sure other than Arsene in Kamoshida's Palace, Jack o'Lantern (in the form of the knights in the cell) is the first Persona you meet in the game. Could you imagine that little guy just tanking Blazing Hell and Titanomachia in real life? Might be a bit too crazy haha. Also, I'm interested in your choice in Chitose Kizuki. I did think of a reporter type confidant when I started this story and thinking about confidants but I'm Curious ;) about your thoughts on her as a Confidant.

With that, I conclude Chapter 8! As usual, hope you enjoyed the chapter and the way everything went and I hope your day merry!

Ciao!