bopdog111: Well Yusaku unlocked two Social Links.
Ulrich362: True, one with Naoki and the other with Ai.
bopdog111: And they also received a key word on a new Palace Ruler.
Ulrich362: True, Akira Zaizen... the head of security at SOL Technologies and the older brother of Yusaku's classmate Skye.
bopdog111: Axis said that he works much more efficient then the Meteverse Navigator. Can that be true?
Ulrich362: Only one way to find out. Enjoy the chapter.
Disclaimers: We don't own anything but OCs.
(Cue Theme: Beneath the Mask)
The Thieves, and everyone were walking together where Axis was guiding them on the app before Yusaku, and Akira noticed the door to the Velvet Room nearby.
Noticing the door Yusaku turned to Akira who nodded as they walked inside together.
(Cue Theme: Aria of the Soul)
"Welcome back."
Igor was there with them with Mortiz, and Lavenza. Oh, and there was someone else a brown haired man wearing a white doctor's coat with black rimmed glasses.
Akira's eyes widened. "Dr. Maruki?"
"Akira, it's been a while." the man, Dr. Maruki, greeted to him with a kind smile before turning to Yusaku, "So this must be the new Wild Card right?"
"Sorry, who are you?" Yusaku asked him confused.
"This is Dr. Maruki, a Persona-user like yourselves though his power is different." Lavenza answered.
"It was, and is called Actualization I can rewrite reality to a greater or lesser extent. I once nearly altered all of reality before Akira and the Phantom Thieves helped me realize it wasn't the right way to do things." Dr. Maruki explained. "Though, I'm here because I thought I could help you out with everything going on."
"How will you do that?" Ai asked from Yusaku's Duel Disk which he raised his hand for Maruki to see who was talking.
"Well, I'll have to stay here because my power is much weaker than it was before, but I should be able to use my Persona to alter reality and say... give human bodies to Morgana and your friend Sophia." Dr. Maruki smiled. "It wouldn't be permanent and I might have to check on them every so often but I'm sure they'd be happy to get the chance to help you out."
"The Velvet Room exists between dream and reality, mind and matter." Moritz noted. " In theory altering reality should be more feasible in this location though as Dr. Maruki stated it is still much less drastic than his previous actions and so they would need to visit roughly every 24-48 hours in order to stay in their human forms."
"You'll be giving Mona, and Sophie human forms so they'll join us?" Akira asked Dr. Maruki hearing that. "And I'm guessing that means you can't join us in the Metaverse?"
"Unfortunately no I can't, and neither can Wolf for obvious reasons though I can at least help you in that small way." Dr. Maruki smiled. "You'll have to bring them here first though."
"Along with that with his approval he, and Wolf wants to gift you with something." Igor said as cards materialized for Akira to take which when he does sees Dr. Maruki's Personas, and some supports of them with Zenkichi's own Persona with him.
Akira's eyes widened seeing them before he nodded. "Thank you."
"I'll be right back with Mona, and Sophie." Yusaku stands up walking out. After a few minutes he came back in with Mona, and Sophie with him walking in.
Mona nodded to Dr. Maruki. "Dr. Maruki, good to see you again after this long. You been doing good?"
Akira's eyes widened seeing them before he nodded. "Thank you."
"Well that's what we want to inform you. Be back next time with Morgana, and Sophia." Lavenza informed them.
"We will be, and thank you." Akira smiled as they exited the Velvet Room.
(Cue Theme: Beneath the Mask)
"Did Lady Lavenza have something important to say?" Morgana asked them having seen them just stare into space for a few moments.
"Dr. Maruki was there this time." Akira answered before explaining, "He said he can use his Powers of Actualization to give you, and Sophia human forms."
"Really?" Morgana asked shocked.
"That would definitely help." Yusuke smiled.
"Well, maybe after we look into Akira Zaizen we can meet up with Ichinose and let her know what's going on. I for one can't wait to see Sophia again." Futaba smiled.
"And apparently Wolf, and Dr. Maruki have given there Personas to Joker for him to use." Yusaku added over to them.
"I see, well the more power we have the better." Makoto admitted.
"Well shall we continue on towards Zaizen's Palace?" Ryuji asked them.
With agreement Yusaku continued forward with the GPS that Axis gave him to take him to there destination. Soon Axis beeped to them, "Okay we arrived at the area where he sees the location as something!"
They looked over seeing a two story normal house was there that looks a bit luxurious.
"This must be his house." Ann realized.
"Correct the Zaizen Residence the location keyword towards his Palace." Axis confirmed from this at Akira's Duel Disk. "The last step is the distortion he views his home as."
"Except none of us know anything about him so how are we supposed to know what he views his house as?" Ryuji frowned.
"That's true, normally we had at least a small hint as to what the distortion was." Yusuke agreed.
"Not to worry instead of spamming random words all you got to do is press a letter onto the Keyword selection of the distortion, and you will know if you get a hit if a option with the letter you select is available." Axis explained over to them with a smile.
"Hit a... you mean like this?" Akira asked hitting the L key.
"No options available." Axis voiced automatically. He then responded over, "Yeah like that. Just keep pressing different keys until an option reveals itself."
"No L... um, how about S?" Ryuji suggested as Akira hit the key.
"No options available." Axis responded.
"Try H." Ann voiced over.
"No options available."
"R?" Futaba asked.
"No options available."
"C?" Yusuke brought up.
"No options available."
"M?" Haru asked hopefully.
"Option available!" Axis voiced over excited.
"So there's an... wait, why are we doing it like this we should have started with vowels." Makoto frowned. "I?"
"Why?" Ai asked her confused.
"Every word has a vowel in it and there are only five of them which cuts our search down significantly." Makoto answered.
"Oh yeah, that is a good idea." Ann nodded.
"Well there is an I in this result but not at the beginning." Axis voiced over to Makoto.
"Ugh Mansion?" Futaba guessed.
"There is only one option." Akechi sighed at this, "Basically from this we press in keys until we get a hit, and it shows the name of the distortion."
"Obviously, that's what we've been doing Akechi." Ryuji pointed out. "Um... N?"
"Not what he's talking about pea-brain." Morgana pointed out himself. "The name of the distortion is available as the option."
"Well, what does it say then?" Ryuji asked in annoyance.
"Marix." Axis responded at that.
"Matrix?" Haru read seeing the word.
"Yes Matrix. A Matrix in this case a computer based server where Data, and Codes lay in wait to be used in computers, or phones, while they can be used for defenses of firewalls, or offense with cyber attacks." Axis explained what a Matrix is.
"So Akira Zaizen, thinks his own house, is a Matrix?" Futaba asked hearing that.
"That is correct." Axis confirmed at that before saying, "But even if we know the Keywords entering the Palace will be different then what you all are used too. To enter his Palace, you need to log into Link VRAINS first."
"Wait, but only Yusaku and Akira can log in right now." Ann pointed out.
"Didn't you all logged in for Yusaku's Palace?" Axis asked confused.
"Not all of us. Morgana can't log in yet and neither can Sophia." Futaba pointed out.
"So Yusaku, and Akira aren't the only ones to log in." Ai concluded at that.
"Can we just see what this Palace is like before I decide to try and kill you all again?" Akechi asked clearly frustrated with them.
"You all need to log into Link VRAINS as normal, and then we will go from there." Axis explained over to them. "Like I said you all entering a Palace will be a little different, and to enter one is to log into the VRAINS first."
"Right." Ryuji grinned. "Into the VRAINS!"
At that he entered Link VRAINS as Ann caught his fallen form laying him against the wall.
In Link VRAINS...
Skull appeared at a sector which shows a large forest as Axis appeared on his Duel Disk, "Next say the Keywords of the Palace at the sector your in, and the Palace should appear."
"Akira Zaizen, The Zaizen house, Matrix." Skull mentioned.
"Keywords confirmed. Summoning Palace." Axis voiced over as Skull suddenly feels an Earthquake happening like how Yusaku's own Palace happened.
"Whoa… man what now?" he frowned.
The forest started breaking apart showing Skull as the tress vanished from the sector as something rose up from the ground while he watches in shock.
When it finished what he's starting at is a large blue box like puzzle with a entranceway with the blocks having numerous codes, and displays of data all around it along with several walls of fire around the area as if defending it.
"Oh you've gotta be kidding me." Skull frowned logging out.
Back outside...
Ryuji slowly rose up which Ai notices, and asked him, "So what does the quote on quote Palace look like?"
"Like the inside of some kind of huge computer, I think Futaba will have to lead the charge this time." Ryuji admitted.
"Zaizen is the Security Manager of SOL Technologies so it's no surprise it would be cryptic like that." Yusaku admitted over to them before turning to Akira, "So Akira should we head in?"
"Yeah, I think so. Futaba we'll provide assistance but like Ryuji said you'll have to lead the way this time." Akira mentioned. "We're counting on you."
Futaba nodded as they entered the Palace after heading to there apartment to safely log in entering the sector, and summoning the Palace.
(Cue Palace Theme: Secret Base)
"Whoa this looks really complicated." Panther admitted in shock seeing the place.
"Yeah, like I said we need Oracle to get through this place." Skull agreed.
They walked in only for a message to butt in in front of them from the entranceway.
"WARNING UNKNOWN VIRUS DETECTED.
We are unable to authorized your request for entry. Please contact administrative."
"So we're considered a virus, interesting." Crow smirked.
"No problem." Oracle grinned summoning her keyboard typing in codes to remove the message.
After a minute the message vanished allowing them entry.
"Great job Oracle." Joker grinned. "Alright, let's see what's waiting for us in there."
With that all the Thieves walked in.
Entering they looked around seeing that inside are codes of 0s, and 1s, or different letters on glass screens around assorting themselves while blue boxes that have numbers on there sides floating around the area with small messages popping up every now and then either displaying an error, or a new update.
"This is a little over my head." Panther admitted.
Fox pushed away a block when it floated too close to his face. "What kind of man sees his home as a computer server?"
"Not to mention the firewalls outside. You don't think that this place is protecting something?" Queen asked them getting a small idea.
"You mean Skye don't you, it's definitely a possibility but then the errors might mean he can't completely protect her from something." Playmaker frowned.
"Well she did look a bit sad at the Duel Club, and we heard her mention that he wants her back home soon as possible from you all making an appearance in Link VRAINS." Ai voiced over to them before lamenting, "But he thinks we're gonna hurt her?"
"I doubt it, unless he's hiding something and assumes we'd use her to get to him." Oracle mentioned. "I think he might just be overly protective of her."
"Kinda sounds like your sister." Noir admitted over to Queen.
"It wasn't quite the same thing, but I get what you mean." Queen nodded. "We just need to keep moving and find out the truth for ourselves."
They nodded walking forward continuing on while avoiding cameras, and cases of Shadows while they fill Playmaker, and Ai of what they usually do in places like these.
They continued on before Ai notices something called, "Ah! Ai see something!"
Playmaker frowned at the pun. "What is it?"
To there surprise what was there a holographic video of Blue Angel herself dueling against a fellow VRAINS Duelist which was odd since they didn't think the number 2 Charisma Duelist be connected towards the Zaizens.
"Blue Angel?" Joker asked seeing her.
"She was the number 2 big shot duelist, yeah? What is she doing in this guy's Palace?" Skull asked confused at this.
Playmaker soon held a serious look. "I knew it."
"Playmaker?" Skull asked.
"Knew what?" Fox inquired.
"I knew why she was familiar. When me, and Joker met her at Link VRAINS, I had a sneaking suspicion who she was in real life, and this here proves it." Playmaker turned over before he revealed, "Blue Angel... Is Skye Zaizen's VRAINS Identity."
This shocked the Phantom Thieves as Skull asked shocked, "For real!?"
"That's amazing." Violet whispered in awe.
"But she looks so different compared to her real life self." Ai admitted staring at the hologram that unlike Skye from the school, Blue Angel seems to be smiling, and dazzling the audiences. "At the school she appeared withdrawn, and sad. A complete opposite to what Blue Angel is about."
"That's actually more common than you might think." Crow pointed out. "The idea that her persona, quite the fitting term for us all things considered, in Link Vrains would be drastically different from her real self. If she's withdrawn due to her brother's overprotective nature than appearing as an outgoing idol of sorts when online in Link VRAINS would be a way to live an entire different life."
"Come on we better keep moving." Queen said over to them, "If we stand around some guards might find us."
They nodded heading off towards another section. Just then as they entered an area something was there which looks like a cybernetic android only it has yellow eyes upon hearing the door opened he turned over, and widen his eyes, "Huh!? Where did you come from!? Intruders!"
(Battle Theme: Take Over)
At that the android transformed into two monsters one of a demonized hound with purple eyes around it's body, and the second which was a multi-sided fiend with the same eyes.
"Oracle, any weaknesses?" Joker asked quickly as they got into position for a fight.
"Ai-yi-yi!" Ai cried startled while Playmaker looked surprised himself what just happened.
Soon now realizing something Playmaker asked Panther, "So these are the Shadows you all fight in the Metaverse?"
"That's right, but I've never seen Shadows like these before." she answered.
"No time for chatting here they come!" Skull called as the hound charged forward slashing down it's claw which they dodged avoiding them while Playmaker stepped back to get some distance.
"Gorokichi, Bufudyne!" Fox called pulling his mask as Gorokichi fired ice blasts which the Hound jumped to avoid dodging before it jumped up to avoid a strike from Noir's axe.
The multi-sided fiend called forth, "Tetrakarn!"
A shield build up around the hound just as Skull charged to attack with his club which he notices a physical shield appeared around it.
"Oracle, weaknesses?" Queen asked again.
"I'm looking!" Oracle told her checking in.
Skull quickly spin to avoid striking the Tetrakarn shield jumping off just as Violet jumped up calling, "Dance, Ella! Kougaon!" Ella appeared firing light blasts which the Hound absorbed which made Violet growled, "Seriously it absorbs Bless Attacks?"
She jumped away from this just as Oracle called, "Okay got it! The multi-sided freak is strong against anything but Wind, and the big guy is weak to physicals! That thing placed Tetrakarn on there to avoid getting it's weaknesses hit!"
"Great, well this is going to hurt." Skull frowned smacking the hound only to grunt as there blow was reflected. "Fox, before it gets another shield,"
"Right!" Fox nodded charging in brandishing his katana, "I'll cut you down!"
He slashed down the hound which made it collapsed at the ground before he added up summoning Gorokichi, "Alright Gorokichi! Follow this up with Vorpal Blade!"
Gorokichi made several slash attacks striking the hound, and the multi-sided Shadow which dealt little towards the second but the hound collapsed more before it stood back up.
Playmaker stared on as Ai asked him, "Why aren't you joining them?"
"I don't have a mask like they do, and I don't have a weapon to use." Playmaker explained to them, "I'd just be dead weight."
"Still can't you think of doing something?"
Playmaker gives thought to that pulling out his Decode Talker card staring at it. That was when he feels something, and widen his eyes seeing a vision of Decode Talker giving him a slight nod.
(New Battle Theme: Reach Out to The Truth)
Playmaker now looking determined ran over passed Fox, and Skull.
"Hey, be careful!" Skull cried.
Playmaker stood in front of the two Shadows with the Hound approaching him just as Playmaker raised the card, "Come, Decode Talker! Giant Slice!"
SLASH!
Decode Talker appeared slashing down the Hound pushing it back colliding to the wall collapsing already weakened struggling to get back up. Playmaker looked amazed, "Whoa... did I just do that?"
"You did." Joker nodded before tearing off his mask. "Change, Norn Garudyne!"
One of Joker's Personas appeared before firing a wind blast striking the multi-sided field collapsing it down weakened.
(HOLD-UP!)
Playmaker blinked seeing the Thieves quickly drew there firearms aiming at the two collapsed Shadows.
"What are you doing? Guns won't work on those things right?" he questioned.
"Nah this is something we do when we make them drop to the ground." Skull answered with a grin. "We can negotiate them for anything we want be it money, allow them to run with there lives, or finish them off. Of course sometimes Joker gets a new Persona from them."
"But we don't have any intention of that. ALL-OUT ATTACK!" Joker called as they all jumped back.
They all jumped while pictures flashed, and they struck the two all over before Joker landed in front of pulled down his gloves maliciously while the two Shadows were destroyed behind him.
"Brutal." Playmaker frowned.
"That's what we do here. It's a battle of life or death in the work of Phantom Thieves." Fox admitted over with a shrug. "But the only Shadow we can't kill is the one that rules over the Palace."
"Why's that?" Ai asked confused at that.
"If we kill Zaizen's Shadow then he will suffer a mental shutdown. Think of it as his whole body shuts down as a Shadow is someone's suppressed inner thoughts, and with those thoughts dead, the host will become brain dead." Crow explained over to them.
Playmaker visibly flinched from that. "That... doesn't sound good."
"Which is why we don't kill his shadow but we will fight it if we have to in order to get his Treasure." Panther explained.
"But what about those Shadows you all just destroyed? Should we worry about them?" Ai brings up a good question.
"No, unlike Akira's Shadow the ones inside the Palace are just parts of everyone's collective unconscious and we're not actually killing them." Joker answered. "They return to the collective unconscious when they're destroyed and might show up again later."
"So the main Shadow who is the one in charge is the one that needs to be left alive." Playmaker nods getting it. "Alright is there anything else to worry about?"
"Well otherside from Shadows there are cognitions inside the Palace. There not Shadows they are just who Zaizen views people as in his Palace." Queen added to that. "They are considered illusions to the real people he view them as, and destroying them also does nothing to the real person."
Playmaker nodded to this just as Axis beeped from Joker's Duel Disk. "I hate to interrupt but I sense something in the next room."
"Be on guard everyone, we have no idea what's waiting for us in there." Queen mentioned.
They nodded continuing there trek forward entering the next room. There they see a large portrait was against the wall of a hallway.
"Huh, a picture?" Skull asked as they walked over to it.
It was a young man in his mid 20s that has dark blue hair with a tuff of teal hair at the front. He has the Shadow yellow eyes, and wearing a suit of mechanical armor as a power suit while having shield gauntlets.
AKIRA ZAIZEN
Praise Be Protector of Skye Zaizen doing everything in his power to defend his sister from the outside world!
"Well, that answers that. So this is what his Shadow looks like." Crow noted.
"It's kind of... creepy when you think about it. I mean, 'Praise be Protector of Skye Zaizen' and "defend his sister from the outside world'?" Skull admitted.
"This still doesn't answer why he is taking such steps like this." Fox cupped his chin in thought.
Just then everyone heard what sounded like a crash from the left of the hallway.
"What was that?" Ai asked.
"Only one way to find out." Crow told him as they ran in the direction of the crash.
They see from a window a simulation happen with several suited men, and woman, the cognitions of Zaizen's co-workers were typing in computers around a simulation.
"Begin the simulation again." was the voice of Hayami, Akira's Cognition, of her directed towards everyone.
At that a simulation played where a car was traveling before it collided with another car while a date shows itself dating 10 years before today. A car crash 10 years into the past?
"That, what's going on?" Panther questioned.
"An accident?" Queen frowned. "Did something happen to him or Skye?"
Axis beeped up explaining. "This seems to be the date to Zaizen's father, and Skye's mother's anniversary of there marriage."
"A car crash on their parents wedding anniversary? I can't imagine how that would have impacted what should be a joyous day." Fox frowned.
"Yeah, I feel ya." Skull frowned in agreement.
"Come on there should be something at the other side." Crow directed to them.
They nodded walking together to the otherside of the wall. This time it shows of what looks like photos on display where it shows of Akira getting paid for illegal hacking, reading a younger Skye a book with the cover shaped as Blue Angel, then him placing work above all else with Skye walking away looking down while holding the book, and the last one shows Akira refusing something from Skye while she has tears in her eyes while holding some money as if she had asked if she can head to somewhere fun which he refuses to allow her to do.
"What's going on, he was so kind before but then he started ignoring her and not letting her do anything." Skull frowned.
"And, where are their parents?" Noir asked.
Oracle notices an elevator, and said, "Maybe we can get our answers if we go lower."
"Hopefully." Joker frowned as they got in the elevator.
Oracle typed in keys as the elevator closed, and lowered down to one floor before it opened, and they walked in looking around the large room.
The room was designed as the same control room where Akira was when the Knights of Hanoi launched there attack on Link VRAINS recently where employees are typing in on there computers, and a desk that has no-one occupying it at the moment where holographic videos play out.
Oracle walked over sitting down on the desk typing onto the computer on the desk, "Let me see what I can find."
"Right." Joker nodded. "We should also look for a safe rom while we're here."
They nodded looking around the room. Eventually Panther finds one, and informs the Thieves just as Oracle gasped, "Wait what!?"
"What is it Oracle?" Queen asked her.
"I found a news report." Oracle answered over to them, "It said that both Zaizen, and Skye's parents had been killed in that same crash we seen a while ago. And from there they both lost there home, and possessions from being sold."
"That... that's horrible." Violet whispered in horror.
"And it appeared that Zaizen had to do a lot of illegal hacking to make ends meet for Skye's sake, and even became a Bounty Hunter working with two comrades a Ghost Gal, and a The Shepherd." Oracle kept reading ahead. "But overtime after he had been promoted to Security Manager he started focusing more on work, and ultimately decided that to keep her truly safe is to keep her in the house until he deems it safe for her to go."
"His heart's in the right place but he took things way too far." Skull frowned. "He needs to let his sister out into the world."
"Wait but what about Blue Angel?" Ai asked.
"Well Blue Angel her other self was actually made for Zaizen to see she's capable of handing things out there but he feels she isn't mature enough. And also believes that since he's the Security Manager, and his sister goes into the VRAINS often as Blue Angel, he can keep a closer eye on her, and step in if anything happens... There is also an incident where a guy tried to hit on her in the VRAINS, and Zaizen straight up banned him for a week." Oracle explained over to them.
Playmaker frowned. "Then, we need to change his heart so he realizes Skye can take care of herself?"
"That's what this is starting to sound like." Noir shrugged over before she looked down, "And... at least make sure we can succeed in a case like this."
All the other Thieves realized that from Zaizen's case, it is reminding Noir of her father who was once a kind man but changed into a cold-hearted man from his work into Okumura Foods, and his death from them failing to keep his Shadow alive still affects her.
"It'll work out Noir." Queen reassured her softly.
Oracle soon frowned standing up, "That's all I can get. I think there might still be more info in a different computer. We should look further down."
"Agreed." Joker nodded only to pause. "What about a map?"
"No luck." Oracle answered with a shake of her head. "A map wasn't present."
"We'll find one eventually, let's keep going." Skull mentioned.
They nodded walking out of the room, and further down while battling Shadows. Eventually they reached another elevator, and Skull pressed the button only for a voice to ring out, "ERROR. PLEASE PLACE HAND ON ID SCANNER."
Skull looked to see below the button was a pad to place his hand in. Skull put his hand on the scanner. The hand was scanned before the same voice said, "ID NOT RECOGNIZED."
"This is just like my father's palace, I doubt any of us would be recognized." Noir frowned.
"Oracle can you try hacking into it?" Playmaker asked her.
"I can try, give me a second." she replied.
She summons her keyboard typing in to hack the scanner but suddenly a message popped in front of her.
"WARNING! UNKNOWN VIRUS DETECTED!
We are unable to authorized your request due to firewalls. Please wait for administration."
Seeing that Joker frowned. "We need to retreat for now."
"Wha-Why?" Ai asked shocked hearing that. "Can't she hack it?"
"Well I could, but it'll take time and we'll just end up getting the attention of the Shadow in the Palace before I'm done. We should head back and come up with a different strategy." Oracle admitted.
With that they quickly exited the Matrix Palace.
(Cue Theme: Beneath the Mask)
"We've returned." Axis voiced over to them. "Sorry I couldn't be any assistance in this matter."
"You were actually a huge help." Joker mentioned. "We've run into problems like this before and we'll figure out a way past that elevator."
"Well actually I do know a way to get through it." Axis mentioned before admitting over. "But I'm wasn't sure if it's really a good idea so I didn't mention it."
"What do you mean?" Skull asked.
"Well from the way I seen the Palace's scanner it looked as though only people like Zaizen or higher ups can get it to work." Axis explained before then saying, "So, if Zaizen holds Skye in high regard then that would mean that... she can also pass the scanner without problem."
"It wouldn't exactly be easy to convince her to help us though." Crow frowned.
Playmaker however paused. "Maybe, I might be able to talk to her a bit in the dueling club I joined."
"Your gonna talk with her about it?" Fox asked him surprised.
"We don't have another choice, and maybe this could be her chance to have her be free." Playmaker answered over to them. "To prove she can handle herself, she has to stand up against her brother's true nature."
"It'll take time, but we'll leave that to you." Joker nodded as they all logged out.
A few hours later...
Akira Zaizen himself sat in his home typing in from his laptop working before he hears footsteps, and looked over curiously, "Hm?"
He sees it was Skye who walked over holding an envelope.
"Skye." he nodded before turning back to his laptop continuing to work, "Is there something you need?"
"There's an upcoming Duel tournament, but..." she started only to frown. "Actually, it's nothing. Good night."
"Duel Tournament?" Akira turned over to her hearing that as she turned over, "Hold it." She paused turning over, "Is that what that envelope your holding for is about? Let me see it." He held his hand out.
Skye frowned handing it to him despite knowing there was no way he'd let her compete, it was a miracle she could go to Link VRAINS as Blue Angel in the first place.
Akira viewed the envelope. "A Duel Tournament in... Hawaii?" He looked surprised at this. "I knew you were a sensation in Link VRAINS, Skye but I don't ever think your talents would be enough to reach Hawaii."
"I was surprised too." Skye admitted.
"Well this is certainly quite a surprise to me Skye." Akira admitted over to her, "This does show that your indeed spreading your wings further then I thought."
"I guess so." she nodded.
"While this is indeed a surprise, I believe you remember what we talked about. Your best suited to stay here where you can be safe. Unless I deem it safe for you, your place is to stay for me to protect."
Skye watches in shock as Akira moved placing the envelope in the shredder shredding it apart as he turned back to work on his laptop. Her eyes widened at that before just looking down and heading to her room as she put a headset on. "Into the VRAINS!"
Her headset glowed as she went a transformation into a portal.
Her hair turned into blue with braids, and her school uniform transformed into a white sleeveless suit, and skirt with angel wings ultimately transforming into Blue Angel. She arrived on a roof before smiling as she jumped on a Duel Board to race through Link VRAINS.
Meanwhile...
The Phantom Thieves had met up at Cafe Nom after calling Ichinose and asking if they could talk with her about something.
"Sophia can now be a human?" Kuon asked surprised.
"Yes, Dr. Maruki can give her a human form." Akira nodded.
Zenkichi chuckled from this. "Well guess we're all gathering up for this next operation."
"Well, it's Sophia's choice if she wants to join us or not." Haru pointed out.
"Sophia what do you think?" Kuon turned over to the AI in her phone.
"I would love to help Joker and the others." she smiled.
"That sounds like a yes to me." Morgana smiled.
Ichinose nodded as she took Joker's phone before Sophia was transferred into it.
"It's been a while Akira, I'll do my best to help you again." Sophia smiled.
Just then Cal called over to them, "Uh hey guys, a Knight of Hanoi is in the VRAINS right now!"
"What?" Ryuji questioned in shock turning to the screen.
It was like what Cal said, a Knight of Hanoi was present at the top of one of the buildings as if waiting. Yusaku frowned at this, "Looks like I should go in, and see what he's up too."
"Hold on, leave this one to me." Ryuji mentioned. "You need to head to the Velvet Room with Akira, Morgana, and Sophia anyway right?"
"Would you be able to handle him?" Ai asked him.
"I should be able to handle it." Ryuji answered. "Don't worry about it."
"Well if he said he can handle it you should let him do it." Cal said over to Yusaku, "Besides, I'm sure you could use the rest against someone more stronger."
"Are you certain, I'm not needed?"
"Hey, you don't trust me? We been through thick, and thin, and now that your head's cleared up it be time for other people's part against the Hanoi including mine own." Cal smiled over to him.
Yusaku stared at him before he smiled nodding, "Okay."
At that time froze from this.
"I am Thou, Thou Art I...
Thou has acquired a new vow.
It shall become the wings of rebellion
that breaketh the chains of captivity.
With the birth of the Hierophant Persona,
I shall become the key that shall lead
to promise, and truth..."
Cal Kolter/Unnamed: (Hierophant; RANK 1)
Time resumed which Yusaku blinked looking in thought, "Now Hierophant..."
Akira smiled at that. "Come on, we should head to the Velvet Room."
Yusaku nodded following him just as Axis appeared on Ryuji's Duel Disk, "In the meantime, I'll aid you out in case you need it."
"Got it, alright Into the VRAINS!" Ryuji called.
His Duel Disk glowed as he transformed into Skull entering Link VRAINS hopping onto a Duel Board shaped as Captain Kidd's ship. He flew over the city to look for the Knight of Hanoi, and soon spots him on the top of one building. The Knight of Hanoi didn't seem to notice him.
Meanwhile...
(Cue Theme: Aria of the Soul)
"Welcome back."
Igor was there with Moritz, Lavenza, and Dr. Maruki.
"It's been a while Lady Lavenza." Morgana smiled.
"Indeed it has been Morgana." Lavenza smiled to him.
"I am Moritz. It's nice to meet you Sir Morgana." Mortiz bowed to him with a smile.
"It's nice to meet you all too, my name's Sophia." Sophia smiled as Joker showed his phone.
"Well, shall we get started?" Dr. Maruki asked with a smile.
"So how is this gonna work?" Yusaku asked curiously, "Do we just imagine it or something in that degree?"
"Not exactly." Dr. Maruki mentioned as a faint image appeared behind him before the entire room seemed to flash before instead of a cat and a phone there was a young man and a girl with red hair and blue eyes wearing a white sweater.
Yusaku stood up startled as Ai asked, "What the what!?"
"Dr. Maruki's power allows him to alter reality, and due to the Velvet Room existing between dream and reality, between mind and matter despite being weaker than when he fought the Phantom Thieves he's capable of altering the world's cognition of Morgana and Sophia to make them appear human. Or to be more specific, his persona made them humans."
"However as we stated to you before in order for them to remain in those forms they'll have to come back every 24-48 hours." Moritz explained.
They looked over themselves as Akira smiled, "How does it feel you two?"
"It brings back some weird memories, but I don't mind. Plus I can do a lot more like this." Morgana answered.
"It'll be nice to walk around and actually get to try food with you all." Sophia smiled.
"Ooo la-la..." Ai trailed off staring at Sophia mesmerized seeing her.
"Who said that?" she asked looking around.
"Him." Yusaku lift his arm for Sophia to see Ai.
"An eyeball?" she asked seeing it.
"Eyeball?" Ai looked a bit hurt before clearing his throat (if he even has one), "I'm Ai, the Ignis that was with them."
"An Ignis?" Sophia asked hearing that.
"We'll explain when we meet up with the others, but it's a secret that we're not telling anyone who isn't a Phantom Thief." Akira explained.
They all nodded hearing that. With that they left the Velvet Room only to notice Skull on the screen land on the roof with the Knight of Hanoi.
Ulrich362: Well, poor Skye first of all.
bopdog111: So far they all seen how far Akira went to protect Skye.
Ulrich362: True, though it might have gone a bit too far.
bopdog111: And Yusaku build another Social Link.
Ulrich362: True, though something tells me the Hierophant will be one of the strongest. That said see you in the next chapter to see how Skull handles his dueling debut.
bopdog111: Be sure to review!