Chapter 17: Academy of Apathy.
July 19th, 2016
"Well, that worked way too well." Oracles remarks, stepping outside her house. If it wasn't for her Thief outfit telling her she was in the Metaverse, the deep orange sky above her surely would have. It was quite strange, being in her outfit before being near the Palace but who was she going to complain? "Okay, time to scope out the Palace a bit." She summons Prometheus, beaming up to it before flying over to where Shujin Academy was. Only to find just how large Kobayakawa's Palace was.
What was originally the small school enclosed on all sides now stood a sprawling military base, segmented into six different areas, while in the centre was a large academy that looked to be a supersized Shujin. Complete with a giant silver plaque of the school's emblem.
"Dang… This looks like an academy, training camp and military base all in one. It even has an airfield!" Oracle shakes her head as her screens show the different areas. Other than the four she had listed, she could also find a housing complex and motor pool. Then, there was the entrance leading into the Palace. The area itself was protected by a high chain-link fence wall with barbed wire running along the top, while trenches ran along both sides. Watch towers stood like towering obelisks, searchlights beaming down to the ground as they scanned the outer perimeter. As for the main entrance leading up straight to the central complex, it was guarded by what Oracle could make out as machine gun bunkers, heavily dug in with sandbags covering the outside while security beams blocked the road. Two giant flashlights illuminate the area, removing all shadows.
"This is going to be a hard one to crack… There's no way we are getting through the front door. Maybe we can come in from the air? You can carry more than me, right Prometheus?" She spies the airfield, noting the outlines of plains lining the runways and hangers.
That I can. However, I fear we may not be able to use that option. Before Oracle could ask why, a blast of flak exploded on her right, quickly followed by more bursts of flak as Oracle retreated back down to the ground. Dismissing Prometheus, she takes a moment to breathe before looking back over the Palace, finding out what was attacking her.
"He even has flack guns? Great…" Oracle pouts as she continues looking around the base before throwing her arms up in frustration. "Damn it. Can't do anything by myself. I need the others." She turns around, ready to head back to Leblanc, before taking one last look at the place. "This is going to be a pain…"
Chatroom: Return of the Phantoms!
Oracle: I cracked the code! We have a way into the Palace!
Skull: Hell yeah! Nice work, Oracle!
Panther: That is a load off our minds. Let's get to work now!
Oracle: That may be an issue…
Queen: What's wrong, Oracle?
Oracle: I already had a look inside the Palace. It's a giant military base mixed with an academy. Getting through the front door is a big old no, and coming from the air won't work either due to the flak guns.
Skull: Flack gun?
Outlaw: Guns designed to shoot down aircraft. Meaning that Oracle would be targeted.
Oracle: Yep. Almost got blasted out of the sky when I got too close. He even has watchtowers with security lights as well. Getting inside is not going to be easy.
Joker: Regardless, we have to get inside. Let's meet up later and try and find a way in. If we can even find a single safe room, we will be good.
Noir: I just had a feeling. Kobayakawa is focusing on us, right? What if we encounter cognitions of ourselves?
Spring: Noir's right… Just like what Kamoshida did for me and Panther, Kobayakawa could also do the same for us. I don't even want to think about what it is…
Fox: Either way, we shall find out tomorrow. That being said, this is completely new territory for us all. I fear we will not be passing through in a single day.
Shadow: All we can do is see for ourselves.
Joker: That we can. But no matter what, we will overcome this. Mission Start.
July 20th, 2016
"I know you already told us that it was a base, Oracle. Hell, even the name in the app was a dead giveaway. But for real! Just how large is this place?!" Skull asks, throwing a hand out at the place before them.
"Pretty large. Not as bad as it looks. It's about the same size as Okumura's, just spread out, but I think we can figure out where the Treasure is." Oracle brings up a screen, zooming in on the central building. "Right in there." The team look at the building, seeing the straight road leading up to it.
"It can't be that simple. Can it?" Shadow questions. It really did seem to be way too simple. Just a straight road with the occasional offshoot leading to other parts of the base? There had to be more than that.
"We won't know until we get down there. But the question is, how do we get past the checkpoint?" Queen asks. Everyone turns their gaze to the entrance, seeing the Shadows dressed as marines standing guard on watch. If this was any other palace, they would have entered via a vent or open window. Yet, all around, they could see nothing but wire fences and trenches. Not even a back door.
"We won't find out until we get down there. Lets jump into one of the trenches, see if we can find another way in." Joker flips down to the ground, quickly followed by the others before rushing across the open area. Dodging one of the roaming searchlights, he ducks into the trench as the others quickly join him in the muddy trench.
Along with a useful find.
"I suppose we should have expected there would be doors in the trenches." Fox bemuses as the team looks at a door embedded in the trench wall. Joker opens it slowly to find it does indeed lead to the other side. Slipping through, the team dive into a row of hedges lining the road towards the central building.
Using the foliage, they manage to slip their way to the central building, finding it to be designed with a Victorian Venetian Renaissance façade three stories high, built in a traditional H shape. A grand double staircase leads up to three doors on the first floor, while smaller doors line the ground level. Above the doors and on the front wall that splits the stairs in two were giant emblems of Shujin academy, while a giant statue of Kobayakawa, holding a sword triumphantly into the air, stands just in front of the stairs, with a raised platform just before it. A safe room could be seen located at the base of the wall, located between the two flights of stairs.
"Jeez… And I thought Kamoshida had a big ego with his 'church'. Kobayakawa has it even worse." Skull groans as the team climbs the stairs. "Speaking off, where is that walking egg anyway?"
"Probably somewhere in this building." Joker replies, calmly leading from the front. Although his posture was tense. Rightfully so, since they had yet to encounter any of the Shadows or any cognitions.
"I'm getting a faint reading from the top of the building. I'm guessing that his Treasure is right at the top." Oracle chimes in, screens floating before her. "I'm also getting a faint Will Seed reading as well, but only one."
"Which means the other two are located in the areas around the base." Queen deduces before glancing at the giant doors. Narrowing her eyes, she sees that the two on the sides held no keyholes, while the centre one had slots for six keys. All of them are empty. "Of course, it wouldn't be easy…"
"What's wrong, Queen?" Mona asks before seeing the empty keyholes. "Oh joy… Hunting for keys…" The rest of the team's reactions were just as unenthusiastic, but just as they began to wonder where the keys were, voices from below grabbed their attention.
"And the students are behaving as they should? I hope they are, for your sake, Colonel. Need I remind you that your squad is due for a promotion soon?"
Sinking to their knees, the team sneak over to the railing and look down below. Down at the base of the statue, surrounded by seven soldiers, was Shadow Kobayakawa. Dressed in a navy admiral uniform, complete with decorative ribbons, medals and a sash with a sword at his waist, he was staring at the seven people around him.
Seven very familiar-looking people, along with a cat, all wearing combat harnesses with different weapons attached.
"Of course, General Kobayakawa. Your orders have been issued and are being taken on with no issue." Cognitive Makoto replies, standing next to a Cognitive Ren with a Cognitive Morgana on his shoulders. Shadow Kobayakawa smiles, folding his arms together.
"Good, good. Not that I care much…"
"General, sir!" A shadow soldier runs up to them before saluting. "There have been reports of a disturbance at one of the trench tunnels!"
"And why are we only just hearing about this now, student? Have you all been slacking as usual?" Cognitive Ren asks as he and Cognitive Makoto walk up to the shadow. Cognitive Morgana hisses at the Shadow as it backs away slowly.
"I-It was only just found out, Lieutenant Colonel Ren! Whoever entered covered their tracks well and—" A swift punch from both Cognitive Ren and Makoto ended the shadow as it turned to dust.
"No excuses." She says before the two turn back to Shadow Kobayakawa, wearing an irritated look on his face.
"So, the Phantom Thieves are here. Just as my other self thought they would." He turns to the other Cognitions with anger. "Find these Thieves and deal with them! They cannot be allowed to find the keys! Inform the Zone Captains! Mobilise the students if you must! Just bring me their heads!"
The seven cognitions of Ren, Makoto, Haru, Ann, Ryuji, Mishima and Shiho sault him before rushing off towards one of the areas, Morgana leaping off Ren's shoulders to run alongside him. While Shadow Kobayakawa grumbles and returns up one set of stairs while the Thieves sneak down the other set.
"I knew they would return for me. No matter. If they ever get to my Treasure, I will deal with them myself." He stumbles for a moment, dropping a sheet of paper before entering the building, the giant doors slamming shut as he leaves. Like quiet mice, the Thieves regroup before the door, taking in what they had just seen.
"The hell was that? Us being obedient lap dogs for Kobayakawa? What the hell!?" Skull was noticeably upset, but who could blame him?
"So, that's how he sees us. Underlings to Queen. No offence, of course." Panther says quickly to a fuming Queen, with an equally fuming Joker right next to her.
"None taken, Panther." She says, tightly gripping her arms.
"Even here, I get treated like an ordinary cat! I am going to claw his eyes out when I see him!" Morgana was understandably upset at seeing his Cognitive self. Even if he was wearing a pretty cool harness with a gun on top.
"Look, Kobayakawa dropped a map of the area." Shadow informs them, holding the map in her hands. The team gather around, looking at the plans as they hum to each other.
"If what Kobayakawa said is true, then we need to visit each area and find the keys needed to open the door. And if previous experience has taught us anything, these 'Captains' will be the ones holding them." Fox bemuses as Oracle updates her information, pulling up a wide-screen view of the area. She highlights each zone in a different colour before pointing out each one.
"Okay, so the place is built like a Trivial Pursuit game piece, so I've highlighted each area to a colour from the game. Southwest in blue is a Medical Wing, surprisingly. West of us in green is the Training Yard while above it in brown is the Motor pool."
"Motor pool? Don't tell me we'll have to fight against vehicle Shadows?" Outlaw asks, worried at the thought of fighting a literal tank.
"Doesn't look like it, but it never hurts to be safe." Oracle replies before looking back to the map. "Next to the Motor pool and directly northeast of us in red is the Airbase, while under that in yellow is the barracks. But it's the last area in pink that has me worried. It's listed as an R&D zone."
"R&D? What does that mean?" Spring asks, confused at the term.
"It means Research and Development. I would know since Okumura Foods has its own R&D as well." Noir replies.
"This is going to be a pain. Where do we even start?" Skulls asks out loud. Joker looks over the map, seeing how the outer areas are all connected in one giant circle while the Medical Wing and R&D are the only two areas that are connected to the main road. It was only a matter of going East or West first.
"We'll start with the Medical Wing first, then work our way clockwise." Joker informs, trailing out a path with his finger. "If we can grab at least two keys each day, we should be okay. Even if it takes us six days at most, we should be able to send the card with time to spare."
"In that case, let's get started. The sooner we can get through this, the sooner we can be safe." Following Queen's words, the team broke from the central building and vanished into the foliage.
Just as a group of Shadows walk past with a miniature tank. Glowing with a blood-red aura.
For a place called the Medical Wing, it looked more like a field hospital rather than a proper building. Medical tents stretched in uniform rows, some closed and others open, while Shadows patrolled the area. The style of which reminded Joker of the SWAT Shadows from Shido's Palace, except in a desert-style BDU. The watchtowers placed through the area proved to be a hassle, forcing the team to duck through the tents to avoid the glowing spotlights.
"This place feels more like a prison than an academy. Why does he need so many watchtowers?" Spring asks, watching the glowing circle of light pass them by. They could see the shimmering of a door leading to a Safe Room in one of the nearby tents, giving them some room to breathe.
"Dunno, but it makes things a pain in the ass." Skull replies, leaning on one of the wooden beams inside the tent. Before someone could reply, a Shadow Marine enters the tent, bringing its gun up the moment it sees the Thieves.
"Hands up!" It shouts before Joker fires his grapple hook at the Shadow's mask.
"Show us your true form!" He shouts before ripping it off with the hook. The Shadow Marine contorts, bones snapping before exploding into a pool of darkness before taking on the form of a free Persona.
One the team had not encountered before.
"What is that?" Noir asks as the new Persona settles before them. A floating purple head with flowing black hair, his face etched in agony as his eyes gaze at the party in anger. Oracle was already busy looking it up before she finally locked it down.
"Got it! Masakado of the Tower Arcana! Level 24! Resists Fire, Ice, Elect and Psio while nullifying Bless and Curse! Watch out! It knows Myriad Arrows!"
No sooner had she warned them did the Masakado attack with the said move, bringing down a rain of arrows from the sky. While some managed to dodge the attack, with Outlaw tanking it due to his resistance, Joker and Mona were unfortunately hit by the move. And after the past Palaces not being anything in the way of threats, apart from the savage shadows, the attack from the Masakado actually managed to hurt.
"Dream Needle!" Joker shouts in retaliation, the strikes thankfully sending the Masakado to sleep as Shadow throws her Kunai at its face, sending it to the floor in a daze. On the ground, the team quickly surrounded it as Joker absorbed the Masakado into his roster.
"I don't remember ever seeing a Persona like that. What the hell?" Panther asks as the area returns to normal.
"This is our first time entering a Palace we never saw, so it would make sense we would encounter foes we've never seen before." Queen replies, placing a finger on her chin. "I wonder what other new Persona we will encounter…"
"Aside from that, I am more concerned about who these 'Captains' are." Fox admits while folding his arms.
"Oracle. Are we anywhere close to the centre?" Shadow asks. Oracle brings up her map, looking over the area they were in before nodding her head.
"We're close. Just a few more lines of tents, and we'll be there." She reveals, closing her map.
"Then let's keep moving." Joker informs before leading the team out of the tent. Moving through a row of bushes, they circle around a watchtower overlooking the centre area where a large medical tenet, easily twice the size of the others, dominates the area.
"Okay, the first key should be in there. Let's head in and—"
"I don't care WHAT it is you want. General Kobayakawa's orders are absolute!" Ryuji's voice rings out as all turn to Skull, who shrugs his shoulders before they all turn to the large tent. They see the Cognitive Ryuji storm outside, with a fury on his face, before spinning back on his heels. "Now get out there and find those Thieves! You can worry about the students AFTER they are caught! Medical Officer Kawakami!"
The Thieves silently gasp as a Cognitive Kawakami walks out from the medical tent. Dressed like a traditional nurse, complete with a medical bag slung around her shoulder.
"Understood, Lieutenant Sakamoto." Cognitive Kawakami replies as Ryuji storms off. Kawakami sighs as she absentmindedly pulls out a key from her bag. "Seriously, why choose me? Isn't there someone else who can do a better job? Whatever, so long as they stay away from my students, I don't care."
The Thieves watch as Kawakami stands around, idly looking at the tents surrounding them.
"This is what he thinks of Kawakami-sensei? Wait, are all of his 'Captains' the teachers?" Panther asks quietly.
"It's possible… Honestly, I'm surprised that Kobayakawa even has Cognitions of everyone. I just thought he'd have one of Queen." Mona says before glancing at her apologetically. "No offence, of course."
"And as I said before, Mona, none taken." Queen replies. "Even so, she has one of the keys we need. Do you think we can take it from her without fighting her?" She looks at Joker, who purses his lips.
"We could try, but don't be surprised if we have to fight." The team nods before slowly standing up, walking into the open area and approach Kawakami. She notices them immediately before going defensive.
"Who are you, and what are you doing here?!" She asks, alarmed before her eyes widen in realisation. "Wait, are YOU the Thieves I've been warned about!?"
"We're not here to cause trouble. We only want the key that you have." Joker says calmly, hoping to de-escalate the situation. Kawakami looks at the key in her hand before glancing back at the Thieves, eyes narrowing.
"How do I know that's all you want!? What about the students?! What do you plan to do to them!? General Kobayakawa doesn't care for them! Neither do any of the Zone Captains or the Nijima Squad! Only me!" A black mist forms around Kawakami as the Thieves get ready for a fight. "And I will not let you harm any of them!" The mist vanishes as Kawakami changes form into a hulking female brute with an injection syringe for a right arm, with Ren instinctively wincing at the sight. Memories of the interrogation room came to him while Queen put a calming hand on his shoulder. Two Shadow Marines form around her, dissolving into more Masakados.
"Heads up guys!" Mona yells as Medical Officer Kawakami stabs her syringe into the ground, sending a shockwave towards the Thieves. The blast knocks some to the ground while others jump to avoid it, as Kawakami fires a blast from the needle into Skull. The almighty attack injured him greatly.
"Oracle! What are we dealing with!?" Shadow asks, dodging a swipe from a Masakado as Oracle gets to work scanning the foes.
"The Masakados are the same as last time, but Kawakami is tough! Level 29! She's immune to Psio and Nuke while resisting Physical and Fire. But Guns are her weakness!"
"Arsène! Snap!"
"Drifter! Use Double Shot!"
The two gun attacks slam into Medical Officer Kawakami, sending her to the floor, while Queen and Mona blast the Masakados with Garula and Frelia. While not destroying the Masakados, they were weakened enough to the point that Spring and Shadow could finish them off with their weapons.
Unfortunately, Kawakami manages to get back on her feet and heals herself with an injection shot with her left hand.
"Oh, come! She can heal herself!?" Skull shouts, dismayed, as two more Masakados appear. "AND reinforcements!? That's unfair!"
"Hecate! Dormina!" Panther shouts, sending one of the Masakados to sleep, only for Kawakami to fire another injection shot to it, waking it up. "Crap! She can heal stasis ailments!"
"Then try this! Memory Blow Seiten Taisei!" Skull shouts, sending his other self straight at Kawakami. The attack lands, sending her stumbling back as she tries to heal herself. Unfortunately, she was stuck with Forgetfulness. Joker and Panther jump at the chance, sending the Masakado to sleep as Fox and Noir send them to the ground with their blades. Leaving Shadow alone to fire a single shot from her sniper rifle at Kawakami, sending her to the ground.
Leaving them all open to an All-Out attack.
"I knew… I should have quit…when I had the chance…" Cognitive Kawakami groans as she vanishes into mist, leaving behind the first key. Which Mona quickly grabs.
"Alright, that's the first key down." He says as the team quickly melt back into the shadows, just as a spotlight zooms over the area. "So the next stop is the 'Training Yard', right?"
"That's right. It's not that far away, but I wonder who is in charge of it." Oracle questions as the team starts moving towards the yard.
"I think it's that hard-assed Ushimaru. He seems like the kind to thrive in a place like that." Skull suggests. "But still, I hate that we had to fight Kawakami. Even if she was a cognition, I still felt bad. You know?"
"We do, Skull. And believe me, I hate it as much as you." Joker replies as the team vanishes into the tents. Just as Cognitive Ryuji arrives and yells out in frustration at Kawakami's defeat.
If the Medical Wing was simplistic in design, the Training Yard was spartan in its construction. Everywhere one looked, there were obstacle courses, zip lines, barbwire, pitfalls, and even moving vehicles. All of them were used to train the Marine Shadows in the Palace. With blatant disregard for their safety, some of the obstacle courses have fatal traps, killing several of the Shadows.
It did not help that it was also mixed with a live-fire field, where bullets zipped across the ground, slamming into targets pinned against the wall. Just like in the Medical Wing, watchtowers dot the area, which the Thieves began to believe was the defining feature of this Palace.
Until they were ambushed by a miniature tank. It was flat, reaching only to about their waists, but proved to be a nuisance when it cast both Heat Riser and Charge on itself before firing a Myriad Arrows at the entire team. All in a single turn.
Almost wiping them all out with a single salvo before Queen and Joker counter-attacked with their Show Time attack, thankfully destroying it before it had a chance to attack again.
"What the hell was that!? That wasn't a free Persona!" Mona yowls as the team melds into the shadows around a watch tower, watching as another miniature tank rolls past them, turret scanning.
"No… It's like the robo-workers in Okumura's Palace." Oracle says, bringing her screen up. "Apparently, they are called Arcane Turrets, and they are at Level 30. Immune to both Physical and Gun, but weak to Elect. Looks like what they can do depends on how many shells they load, with three being the max."
"So we got unlucky in our first fight. That won't happen again." Noir promises before glancing at an approaching Marine. "We have company, Joker." Joker sees the approaching foe before leaping from the shadows and grabbing the Marine's mask. With a flourish, he rips it off as the Shadow reveals its true form.
A man with a decorative shade covering his head while wielding a spear in his left hand. Sitting on what looked to be a giant flying peacock. "Okay, who is this Oracle?" Spring asks as the team gets into position, their new foe dazed by Joker's sudden unveiling of them.
"Kartikeya. Chariot Arcana. Level 24. Weak to Fire and Curse, resists Gun and block Elect. Has Mazionga and Auto-Mataru."
"Then let's dance! Hecate! Agliao!" Panther commands her other self, sending the dazed Kartikeya to the ground, and just like with the Masakado, it was absorbed into Joker's mask. While power courses through their veins as they feel themselves getting stronger. "Anyone seen the Captain for this area?"
"Not yet, but we should be nearing the central field soon. Just need to pass the live-fire field." Oracle points out, where two Arcane Turrets and three Shadow Marines were firing on targets that look almost like the Phantom Thieves.
With the team sweat dropping at the sight.
"Perhaps we should find a way around?" Fox suggests. The team eagerly agree as they take the long way around the field, ambushing an Arcane Turret accompanied by two Masakado and a Kartikeya. It wasn't long before they reached the centre, once again identified by a giant tent holding a command centre. A giant scaling wall with ropes stood nearby with Shadows scaling up it.
It didn't take long for a person to emerge from it, this time being the Cognition of Ann.
"Apparently, Kawakami has already been defeated and her key stolen. I trust you won't have any issues dealing with the intruders. Will you, Drill Instructor Ushimaru?" At her words, Ushimaru appears from the tent. He is wearing a black jacket with matching slacks, with two silver decorative lines running down the chest and around the sleeves of his arms. With a patch of Shujin Academy over his right breast while an eyepatch covered his left eye. Black with silver detail.
"Trust me, Second Lieutenant Ann. If they ever come near me, they will wish they didn't." He brings out a baton before slamming it against his open palm. Cognitive Ann nods before walking off the field, accompanied by two Marine Shadows. "Hmph, delinquents. All of them. I'll see them straightened out."
"Why don't you say that to our face?" Skull asks as he and the other Thieves reveal themselves, catching Ushimaru by surprise.
"Where did—!? How did you get past the watchtowers!?"
"Your towers aren't very good at spotting us when we're right under them." Outlaw taunts as Ushimaru growls in annoyance.
"Fine then…" He mutters before being engulfed in mist. "Then let's begin your training! Maggots!" The mist vanishes, replacing him as the same hulking humanoid that Kawakami turned into, but instead with a megaphone in one hand and a whip in the other. While wearing belts filled with chalk. "Fight all you want! I've got all day for you!" He stashes the megaphone before grabbing several pieces of chalk and throwing them at the Thieves.
In real life, the chalk would have simply bounced off their heads while leaving a mark. But these ones were sharpened like stakes, digging into the ground before exploding into white mist, blinding the Thieves as Ushimaru called two Masakados to his side.
"Move it, maggots! I want to see you sweat!" He shouts into the megaphone, buffing the Masakados as they unleash Myriad Arrows on the Thieves. "Sloppy!"
"Damn! This guy is just as a pain as the real Ushimaru! Zionga!" Skull snarls, sending a blast of lightning at him, which surprisingly manages to knock him down. "Wait, that worked?"
"That it did, Skull! Ushimaru is the same level as Kawakami, and is weak to Elect. But he's immune to both Physical and Gun while resisting Psio and Nuke!"
"Then let's deal with the Masakado! Magaru!" Mona cries, blasting the two heads with a fearsome wind, which also blows away the mist of chalk, clearing up their vision. With Noir firing a grenade at the two heads, finishing them off just as Ushimaru got back to his feet.
"Weak! All of you!" He attacks with his whip, hitting Spring in the chest before bringing it around and smacking Fox in the back. "I'll fix up those attitudes of yours!"
"So cry us a river! Kartikeya! Mazionga!" Summoning his newly acquired Persona, Joker sends a blast of lightning at Ushimaru, sending him to his knees, before succumbing to the team's All-Out attack.
"Blasted…delinquents…" He grumbles before crumbling to dust. Leaving the second key behind. And a very beaten-up team of Thieves.
"Joker…I think that's as much we can do today… Ushimaru did a number on us…" Spring says between breaths. Joker was also breathing heavily, so he quickly agreed to call it for the day. But not before something caught the attention of Mona.
"Hey! I think there's a Will Seed nearby!" He points out to a nearby bunker, half buried in the ground, with the door covered in military tape. Deciding to grab it before heading back for the day, the team quickly make their way over to it, with Joker easily cutting the tape to ribbons and opening the door.
Where the red Will Seed of Apathy awaited for them.
"One down, two to go. And we already know where one of the Seeds is." Shadow comments as Joker picks the Seed up.
Why bother with the students? They are a liability.
I will do anything to see Shido come to power.
Kamoshida got too cocky. I won't make the same mistake.
Oh, dear Nijima. What an excellent pawn you make.
"I knew it was coming, and it still managed to piss me off." Joker mumbles as the team leaves. Noting the angry auras coming from Queen and Joker. The sooner they left, the better it would be for everyone.
July 21st, 2016
For once, trying to tend to her garden was not helping Haru take her mind off things. How can it, when their impending ship off to Shido loomed over them. Thankfully, it looked as though he was keeping it to himself, but it didn't stop the rumours from spreading over Shujin. Some were even, correctly, guessing it was them being sent on this 'Special Training Course'.
They are counting their lucky stars that they haven't been visited by the bald fascist yet.
Don't think like that, Haru! We still have time.
I know, Astarte. But I'm reminded of when my father tried to sell me off. But unlike with him, I at least knew it was going to happen.
She could hear her other self sigh in acceptance. They were one and the same, after all, the same worries and reassurances. It was then that Haru's phone vibrated. Picking it up, she was surprised to see Yusuke was phoning her. She quickly answers it, bringing it to her ear.
"Yusuke! How are you doing?"
"I am doing quite fine, Haru. But in truth I am more worried for you. How are things at Shujin?" Haru sighs as she leans into a nearby chair.
"Not well. While Kobayakawa has not said anything about who is going, the rumours are already spreading that it is us. We're just glad Shido has not turned up yet."
"I see. That is quite troubling. But I may have something that can help you block out the rumours for a while. A new move we can employ in battle."
"Yusuke, dear, are you sure it's wise to talk about it over the phone? Are you even alone?"
"You need not worry about that, Haru. Hifumi is keeping watch for me outside." That small reassurance was enough for Haru. As for the phone call itself, she was already sure Futaba was keeping it secure. They would have to tell Ren later so the star could react before trying it in the Palace, though.
"Alright. Tell me what it is…"
The team returned to the Palace the moment school had ended. Using a Safe Room in the Training Yard, the team quickly headed over to the third area of the Palace. The Motor pool.
With lines and lines of armoured vehicles, jeeps, and even tanks intertwined with giant workshops doing repairs or building new vehicles. Along with the standard watchtowers overlooking the area, long stands of chain-linked fences blocked off large portions of the motor pool, while an alarming increase in Arcane Turrets prowled the lanes in groups of three.
The Thieves were thankful that the same foliage they had been using to hide in extended all the way to the workshops. While most of the workshops were standing alone, the team could see a trio of buildings joined together at the centre of the Motor pool.
And if the other two areas were anything to go by, the Captain of this area would be in there.
"How many tanks has that been now?" Outlaw asks as another tank patrol rumbles past the hedge line. "I've stopped counting when I hit fifty."
"I stopped counting at sixty." Panther replies, rubbing her head. She glances up at the towering workshop, noting a gangway wrapping around the side of the building with a door leading inside. "Joker. Up high." She nudges him with her elbow. He looks up, seeing the gangway before firing his grapple shot at it. Quickly followed by the others before they sneak inside.
"Holy shit…" Skull whispers as the team gazes at a giant of a tank. Twin barrels connected to a large hulking body with four treads. While also being flat and streamlined. The turret had yet to be attached to the main body, but it was clear that it was in the final stages of completion.
"That is a large tank. But why does Kobayakawa even need it?" Spring asks as the team makes their way across the walkways, gazing down at the Shadows working on the tank, dressed in engineering uniforms.
"It must represent something in his mind. But what?" Fox replies with his own question. But before anyone could answer, they were spotted by an Engineer Shadow.
"Who are you?! This is a restricted zone!" It shouts, bringing out its wrench to attack. It swipes at Shadow, who nimbly dodges backwards before leaping onto the Engineers' shoulders and ripping its mask off. The shadow melts apart, revealing its true form as a floating white dog with a red kanji symbol on its forehead. Wearing w white and red striped scarf holding two bells, while eight different colour orbs spin around its feet. Each one holds a different kanji.
"It's a Yatsufusa! Oh wow, Charity Arcana! That's new! Level 25, and it knows Agliao, Masukukaja and Fire Boost. Crap, it absorbs fire, blocks bless and resists wind! No weaknesses!"
"But does it block sleep? Drifter! Dream Needle!" Outlaw's quick attack managed to send the Yatsufusa to sleep before Queen smacked it to the ground in a daze, letting Joker absorb the new Persona into his mask.
Slinking back into the shadows, the team moved through the catwalks, glancing down at the Engineers below them, fixing up more Arcane Turrets before stopping just outside an office. Noting the locked door, the Thieves leap up to the roof, finding a glass skylight looking into the office where Cognitive Haru was standing opposite a Cognitive Hiruta.
Clothed in a grim-ridden work suit, with a belt filled with tools around his waist, goggles on his head and a wrench in his hand.
"Kawakami and Ushimaru have been taken down, and you expect me to deal with the intruders? I'm an engineer! Not a fighter!"
"That is no excuse, Lead Mechanic. You have your orders, and the General expects you to carry them out. Am I understood?" Cognitive Haru, even though she spoke with a gentle voice, carried as much a threatening vibe as the real Noir. Enough that she managed to send shivers down her spine as Hiruta's legs visibly shook.
"C-Completely, Captain Haru." He replies, watching as Cognitive Haru leaves him alone. He turns around, leaning on his desk as the Thieves slowly enter the office. Hiruta turns to look at them, seemingly resigned to his fate. "So, this is it for me."
"It does not need to end in violence. Simply hand over the key, and we shall leave you be." Fox tells him, but Hiruta shakes his head.
"Even if you did, I'm dead either way. Whether from your hands or Captain Haru's." Noir frowns while looking at the ground as Hiruta is enveloped in smoke. "So, if I am going to die…I'd rather go down fighting!" From the smoke, Hiruta bursts forth as a giant version of an Arcane Turret.
"Get ready guys! Hiruta is level 30 and resists physical, gun and wind and blocks everything else! He's weak to ice, though, so go nuts, Inari!"
"Very well. Come, Kamu Susano-o! Bufula!" Fox's attack lands home, stunning Hiruta as the team unleash an All-Out attack on him. Unfortunately, it was not enough to finish him as he summons two more Arcane Turrets to his side, before loading three cartages into his barrel.
Followed by the Arcane Turrets load one cartridge each before firing a Torrent Shot at Noir and Spring while Hiruta buffs himself with Mind Charge before casting Marakunda on the thieves, before finally attacking them with a powered-up Maziodyne.
While the attack hardly flinched Joker or Skull, and Fox and Noir managed to dodge the strike, the rest of the team was not so lucky. Poor Mona was knocked out cold by the strike, giving his weakness to electricity.
But as the team worked to heal up from the attack, Hiruta was already loading another three cartridges into his gun, along with the two Arcane Turrets.
"Fox! It's time!" Noir shouts as she rushes forward. Fox nods his head before joining her side, the star in Joker's pocket glowing as the two leap into the air.
"It's Showtime!"
The red curtains fall before retracting back, revealing Fox standing alone in a forest, picture framing with his fingers. "Such stunning beauty." He whispers, revealing it was Noir he was framing as the sunlight gently fell on her through the trees. Before she brings up her axe and swings it into Hiruta, leaping around him while humming a cheerful song.
Before she leaps onto a tree branch and fires her grenade at Hiruta. "Do pardon me." She says sweetly as the grenade explodes, startling any nearby birds. All the while, Fox drops his hands and rushes forward, quickly drawing his blade as he dashes through the smoke before silently sheathing it as Noir jumps to his side.
Just as the trees all fall down onto Hiruta, crushing him under the wood.
"Was that extreme lumberjacking? Either way, Hiruta is down! All that's left is the Arcane Turrets!"
"I've got this! Mazio!" Skull shouts, blasting the tanks with lightning and sending them into a daze. With the team back on their feet, they unleash their anger on the tanks, ending the fight as Hiruta slowly disappears.
"Man, these Captains seem more afraid of our Cognitive selves than of us." Outlaw points out while Mona nabs the third key.
"I will admit that hearing myself speak did send a shiver down my spine. Do people really see me like that?" Noir asks honestly. The team look at each other before glancing back to Noir.
"Only when you do it to Shadows." Joker replies before leaving the room, closely followed by the team. Noir looks on before shrugging her shoulders and follows after them.
"I feel they are reasonable reactions, though…"
Leaving the Motor pool and heading east, the Thieves soon arrived at the Airbase. But also into a large problem. So far, they and been managing to sneak around by using the hedges and trees that lay scattered around to hide from the searchlights of the Watchtowers. And so far, it had worked.
But there were none at the Airbase.
"How do we get around now? There's no cover for us." Spring asks, looking at the open ground with worry. Searchlights beam onto the tarmac, moving giant yellow circles that searched hungrily for them.
The only other things that lay before them were rows of fighter jets leading up to several hanger bays. At the centre was a large central command tower looking out over the runways. At least no jets were taking off or landing at the moment.
"Maybe we could try crawling under the jets?" Panther suggests.
"It could work, but if we are spotted, we would be at an immediate disadvantage." Queen warns.
"What about Mona's Van mode?" Shadow asks, with all eyes turning to the cat in question. Mona folds his arms, thinking as he looks over the area.
"It could work…But again I could easily be spotted by the normal Shadows instead." The team sigh in annoyance as they look back out again. The problem they continued to find was that it was just too much open ground with little to no cover. And all it would take was getting spotted by a single searchlight to put the entire area on high alert.
Just as they were about to bite the bullet and sprint across the tarmac, Oracle's foot hit something on the ground. Looking, she finds, to her surprise and delight, a grate leading to a ventilation shaft.
"Guys. We can use this." She tells the other, removing the grate and slipping inside. The rest of the team followed after her, finding themselves in what looked to be an underground sewer. Landing on a metal walkway while below them was a coursing river of putrid water. Oracle brings up her map before cackling to herself in glee. "Well, look at that. This sewer connects all the way to the central tower and the Barracks."
"Meaning we can avoid the Watchtowers and Arcane Turrets above." Joker finishes with a smirk before covering his nose. "Although, I think we could do without the smell."
"It's either that or trying to outrun searchlights." Queen replies, covering her nose as well. The rest of the team, while slightly disgruntled about having to trek through a sewer, voiced their agreement before making their way along the gangways. A lone Marine Shadow patrolled the area, not noticing the Thieves before Outlaw had jumped onto its shoulders, ripping its mask off and jumping back away.
The shadow bursts apart into a white cloud that seemingly expands before an orange man wearing a white toga emerges from the clouds. A light shines from his bald head as he sits on the clouds like a throne. Inside Prometheus, Oracle quickly did a scan before blinking her eyes at what she found.
"Huh. It's a Hachiman of the Charity Arcana." That was a surprise for Joker. Sure, some of the Persona he originaly had where now belonged to the Councillor or Faith Arcana, but this was the second time they encountered one from the Charity Arcana. And in the same Palace as well "Level 26. Has Makarakarn, Matarukaja and Mazionga. Weak to Curse but blocks Ice and Elect."
As through to prove its point, the Hachiman casts Makarakarn on itself, protecting it from any magical attack before attacking with a Mazionga. But compared to the one from Hiruta, it was more of a tickle as Noir breaks the barrier with a Psio before Joker nocks it down with Eiga, quickly absorbing the Hachiman into his mask.
"That's the second time we've seen a Charity Persona." Mona pipes up, drawing Spring's attention.
"Is it because of me?" Spring asks, curious. At her question, Joker couldn't help but wonder if that was true. He also wondered if that also applied to Maruki and Kasumi, but for now shelved the thought and focused on the Palace.
Moving on, the team continued through the sewer, noting the block-off branching paths leading to other areas of the Academy before arriving at a ladder heading up. Seeing nowhere else to go, the team climbed up the ladder, arriving at what looked to be the ground floor of the Command Tower. Complete with an elevator leading up to the top.
Just as Joker is about to exit the ladder, the elevator opens up, prompting Joker to duck back under. Just as the Cognition of Shiho and Mishima exit the lift.
"Three of the Captains down, and no sign of the Thieves. Maybe they have given up." Mishima remarks with a bored expression. Only for Shiho to slap his arm with an annoyed look.
"Keep quiet! If the General hears you saying that, then we are both dead!" Mishima grunts in annoyance as they make for the door.
"Whatever. It's only because we're Warrant Officers. Besides, how can they get here without running into a Searchlight? There's no cover for them to use. And even if they do get here, I'm sure the Air Marshal will deal with them." Shiho grunts in agreement as the two leave the building.
Just as Joker and the others enter via the ladder.
"Can I just say I hate our Cognitive selves?" Outlaw remarks as they approach the lift. "Everyone is being indifferent to everything."
"You're not the only one." Panther replies with a frown. "And why is everyone being so damn formal? Like, I get it, its an Academy, but referring to everyone by their ranks all the time?"
"It's how Kobayakawa views the school should be. No freedom, only obedience." Joker remarks as the lift opens up. After every one, surprisingly, fits inside, they head up to the top floor to face off against this 'Air Marshal'. Arriving at the top floor, they were surprised to see how spacious it was, giving a full 360* view of the Academy. While staring out the window, dressed in a grey suit and black gloves, was the 'Air Marshal'. History Teacher Mr. Inui.
"Back already? Did you forget to tell me something?" He asks, completely uninterested as he turns around. Before his eyes widen at seeing the Thieves before him. "You!? How did you get here!?"
"Simple. We walked." Skull snarks, taking a step forward. "You have two options. Either give us the key peacefully, or we beat it out of you." The Thieves form up around him, weapons ready as Inui snarls at them.
"Idiotic fools! Do you think I would give up so easily?" A black mist swallows him as the room enlarges for battle. "I am the Air Marshal! And I will not surrender so easily!" The mist evaporates, revealing Inui as a mechanized Garuda. With helicopter blades in both wings and machine guns where the legs would be. "You won't leave this tower alive!"
In an instant, he opens fire with the guns underneath, forcing the Thieves to ever dodge or hide as bullets zip through the area. The beak of the Garuda opens up, firing a missile at one of the spots of cover, destroying it but revealing no one was behind it.
"He's destroying our cover!" Shadow shouts, leaping to another safe spot as another missile collides which her former hiding spot. "We have to stop him!"
"Bad news guys! Inui is level 30 and has no weaknesses! And he's immune to wind and elect!" Oracle shouts before having Prometheus dodge a missile. "HEY! WATCH IT!"
"Like I care!" Inui shouts, readying another missile before Outlaw shoots it right as readied to fire. The missile explodes, damaging the head of the Garuda as it falls to the ground, opening itself up to an All-Out attack.
Recovering from the assault, it hovers back into the air before firing once again with its guns. Forcing the Thieves back into cover.
"We've got to stop those guns!" Fox shouts as a bullet zips past his head. Noir looks to Shadow as the two silently nod to each other before glancing back to the Mecha-Garuda.
"Astarte! Psio!"
"Kunoichi! Psio!"
The two Psionic attacks landed on the Garuda, but it was not damaging it that was the aim. Instead, they took control of the guns and aimed them at the rotor blades in the wings. The guns tear the blades to shreds, forcing the Garuda to the ground in defeat.
"Blasted…Thieves…" Inui groans as he fades away, leaving behind the fourth Key. Spring picks it up but wobbles a bit as she stands. The exhaustion from the fight with Hiruta was getting to her.
"That's enough for today." Joker announces as the team heads back to the lift. "There's a Safe Room on the ground floor. We head back and finish the place tomorrow."
July 22nd, 2016
It had taken a while, but Ann had gotten used to all the stares she was getting after Kamoshida. But now, she had to put up with them once again. All because of Kobayakawa. How she wanted to punch that walking egg in the face! Maybe when they face him in his Palace.
"Ann, do you have a moment?" Shiho asks suddenly, snapping her out of her thoughts.
"Sure Shiho. What's up?" She asks, following her into the library. It was lunch, so no one was really here. Makoto probably would be if she wasn't busy with the Student Council anyway.
"I've been thinking about those moves you've been doing with the star. I think we should try and make our own." Shiho says, sitting down in one of the empty seats. Ann sits across from her.
"Honestly, I've been wanting to come up with one for a while. Better late than never, right?" Ann replies before leaning on the table. "So, what do you have in mind?" Shiho smirks back, leaning on the table as well as she begins telling Ann her idea.
"Well, it starts off like this…"
When the team returned to the Palace, they found the security becoming tighter. Apparently, after taking down four of the Captains, Shadow Kobayakawa had gotten anxious. Evident by the increased number of Arcane Turrets patrolling the grounds. Not that it mattered to the Thieves, as they used the sewer system to reach the Barracks.
But when they appeared in the main hall, they found it more in line with a university dormitory rather than a military housing complex. Or maybe they both looked the same. Either way, the tight corridors and countless rooms were more than a calming presence for the Thieves, finding themselves once again in familiar territory.
Despite the increase number of patrols by the Shadow Marines. Not that it stopped the Thieves from ambushing them whenever they could. So far, they have encountered the same Personae from the last four zones.
Until they ambushed the six Marines on the first floor. Bursting from the mist with red skin and a flowing white cape, a tall man with golden breastplate over a white toga stood before them. Holding a winged sabre in his right while a golden Spartan helm hid his face. Glowing gold eyes glared from the helm while brown curled hair flowed from underneath.
"Did we run into Spartacus!?" Skull shouts as the new Persona unleashes a powerful slash, forcing the Thieves back.
"Close, but not quite! It's an Ares! Tower Persona at Level 26! Has Gale Slash and Counter, so watch out! Blocks light but weak to Curse! Get him Joker!"
"Arsène! Eiga!" Joker unleashes a blast of curse towards the Ares, only for him to dodge at the last second. It retaliates with a Gale Slash, forcing Joker back while Fox attempts to distract it with a slash of his Katana. Only for the Ares to counter and injure him. Before he could attack, Joker lands a hit with Arsène, forcing the God of War to his feet before absorbing him into his mask.
"You know, it's fitting that the God of War was here, in a Military Academy." Shadow quips, earning some amused looks from the others as they continue to climb the barracks, only pausing when they find a door holding the second Will Seed on the third floor.
"Huh, that was an easy find." Outlaw remarks as Joker grabs the Seed with Kobayakawa's words echoing right after.
Why should I bother worrying about the student's futures? None of them have control anyway.
Mental health? Maruki is just a waste of time. Along with that Yoshizawa…
Madarame was a fool. How arrogant was he in thinking he could not be touched?
Everything was better before that Transfer Student arrived. Why did we even accept Amamiya in the first place?
"Guys. When we get to fighting Kobayakawa, do me a favour and hold me back?" Joker asks, holding back his anger.
"Only if you promise to do the same for us." Skull remarks, himself feeling equal fury. If it wasn't clear how Kobayakawa truly felt about the students, it was now. Pushing all thoughts on how to scramble the walking egg on hold, the team continued up to the highest floor, passing by more rooms and ambushing more Marine Shadows.
All the while, the team could feel themselves getting stronger. A given since the Shadows, they were now facing foes near to their level. But when they reached the top floor, they fled into the shadows as Cognitive Ren and Morgana walked down the hall. Accompanied by a Cognition of Miss Chouno.
She was wearing a black jacket with red trim that looked to be the same as Kobayakawa while having white fur around her shoulders. A hat lay on her head while a cape reached down to the floor behind her. She was also wearing thigh-high boots with black leggings with shorts while a sword hung at her hip.
"I trust you understand what needs to be done, Lieutenant General Chouno?" Ren asks with a frown. "We have already lost four of the Captains, even with the heightened security. You should understand what will happen if you fail, right?"
"Completely, Lieutenant Colonel Ren." Chouno replies with a sneer. "But bear in mind I only take orders from the general himself. Be thankful that your orders come from him, or I would have you charged with insubordination."
"You and all the others would love that, wouldn't you?" Ren replies with his own sneer as Morgana hisses at Chouno before walking towards the stairs. Completely missing the Thieves who hide in the Shadows. Chouno huffs at Ren before entering a large command room by herself.
Leaving the thieves alone as they enter the hall.
"That's how he sees me? An angry delinquent who narrowly avoids punishment?" Joker asks hypocritically. "How does it not surprise me?"
"Seriously! Everyone here acts completely indifferent to each other! No a single mote of care at all!" Oracle exclaims with her arms in the air.
"Let us retrieve the final keys and be done with this place." Fox says before walking to the door, flanked by Noir. The two of them slowly open the door, finding Chouno alone in a command room. With a quick nod to the others, the team burst into the room, surrounding Chouno, who didn't even flinch at their coming.
"So, you arrived. Just as I expected." She calmly replies, turning around to face the Thieves. "I admit, there are more of you than I expected. But it makes no difference."
"We would give you a choice, but we already know how this is going to end." Queen calmly replies, already in a battler pose.
"Indeed, we do. But do not mistake me for the others you have beaten…" The black mist surrounds her as she flashes a slasher smile. "There is a reason why I am the Lieutenant General!"
When the mist clears, not much has changed about Chouno physically. Instead she has acquired four metal bows of ships that float around her, all connected to a backpack on her back designed like the midship of a battleship. Each holding the guns of a battleship while in her hand she holds a spear with the flag of Shujin proudly displayed on it. "You will fall before me under the might of my guns!" The moment she said that, she thrusts her left arm forward, causing all eight barrels to fire at the thieves.
The explosive rounds miss the Thieves, but it is clear that they were warning shots as Chouno summons Ares and a Hachiman to her side.
"Oracle, what are we dealing with now?" Spring shouts, ducking under the shells fired by Chouno before blocking a sword strike from the Ares with her spear.
"Nothing new with the trash mobs, but Chouno is strong! Level 34 and resistant to nearly everything! She even blocks gun and fire!"
"For the glory of Shujin!" Chouno cries, buffing the Ares and Hachiman with a Heat Riser before using Charge on herself.
"Lucky Punch!" Mona shouts, summoning Mercurius and landing the cartoonish boxing glove on Chouno. Luckily, the punch landed a crit, nocking Chouno to the ground and preventing her from launching another barrage.
"Maeiga!" Joker shouts, summoning pillars of darkness on the two mobs, sending them to the ground and letting the Thieves unleash an All Out attack. But while the buffed-up mobs were taken care of, Chouno still stood tall before firing her main guns again.
"Anat! Frelia!" Queen shouts, sending an orb of nuclear energy towards Chouno. But while it did negligible damage, one of her turrets malfunctioned and dropped to the floor.
"Brat! You will pay for that!" She summons another Ares before backing off, activating her backpack while grabbing the damaged turret.
"She's trying to repair the damaged turret! Don't let her!"
"Drifter! Triple Down!" Outlaw shouts, sending a barrage against the Ares as it stumbles under the assault. Shiho glances at Chouno, noting how she was almost finished repairing the turret. Realizing they were almost out of time, she turned to Panther.
"Panther! Let's try that out!" Panther tilts her head at Shiho before a wicked grin forms on her face. Just as the star with Joker begins to glow once again.
"It's Show Time!"
Just like always, red curtains fall before revealing a changed scene. Chouno and the Ares are sitting at a table in a karaoke bar just as a light shines down on Panther and Shiho standing on the stage, with a single mic between them.
They look into the audience, winking at them before they both start to sing Last Surprise. Around them notes begin to form while Chouno and the Ares become captured by their singing. Just as the last note is formed, both girls turn to the audience, grinning devilishly at them.
"You never see it comiiiing~!"
As they hit the high note, the notes around them fly right into Chouno and the Ares, exploding into a cacophony of fireworks. Panther and Spring smile at their handy work before each giving themselves a high five as the area returns to normal.
"Nice duet, girls! And that's both of them down for the count!" Oracle praises while Fox picks up the last key while she descends from Prometheus. "Now all that's left is the R&D."
"Yeah. And after seeing the other five 'Captains', I think we know who the last one is." Joker speaks as they look out the window to the nearby R&D building. "Mis. Usami."
While they could have used the sewer system to sneak into the R&D building, it was decided, for the sanity of their senses, they would use the hedge lines and trees to enter. What made it easier was the scarcity of Watch Towers dotting the area. Even if there were still some Arcane Turrets prowling the roads.
Approaching it, they could see it was actually two buildings that stretched upwards, with a connecting bridge spanning between the two halves. Communication dishes hung on both towers and pointed to the sky while five Shadow Marines guarded the entrance alongside an Arcane Turret.
"So going in through the front is a no. Anyone see any other openings?" Mona asks, hanging from a tree branch. The rest of the team stood behind bushes and hedges, glancing for any opening they could use.
"I see an open window on the second floor on the left building." Shadow points out. True to her word, a window was indeed left open, inviting the Thieves to enter. But at the same time, it could be a trap.
"I'll go in first. If it's clear, I'll send a signal." Joker tells them before rushing for the other side. Diving into the hedge line, Joker fires his grapple shot at the window and enters unseen. Looking around, he finds himself in what looked to be a computer room, noting that it was empty. Turning around, Joker gives a thumbs-up outside before venturing deeper into the room. All the computers were turned off, not that he was looking for information anyway.
One by one, the rest of the Thieves join Joker as they spread out around the room. Just as a female Shadow Scientist enters as Skull enters last.
"Who are you?" It asks, surprised by Skull's entry, before Fox leaps onto its shoulders and rips its mask off. What came from said shadow was a topless woman emerging from a black flower, with vines wrapping around her chest and arms while long, red flowing hair covered her eyes. It glances around, seeing the team ready to attack it before it throws its hands in the air. "Please wait! I don't mean you any harm!"
"Is that so?" Joker replies gun pointed at the new foe while Oracle gets to work scanning it. The new Persona nods its head quickly.
"Yes! Very much so!" She glances around, looking at the Thieves as the realisation hits her. "Oh! You are the intruders that the Professor was warned about. Oh, don't get the wrong idea. I hate the Professor! Always using us for whatever experiment she has next. She doesn't even show remorse for us! Looking down at us from her connecting bridge!"
The Thieves glance at each other as the free Persona continues to rant on about the 'Captain' of the area before glancing back to Joker.
"You're going to fight her, yes? In that case, let me come too!" Before Joker could object, the free Persona transformed into a mask and fused with Joker's. Leaving him bewildered at the entire exchange.
"Okay…what was that?" Panther asks as the team gathers around while Oracle glances at her screens.
"Well, it was another Charity Persona. Alraune. And she really did mean she could do no harm… Level 27 yet only knows Mediarama, Energy Shower and Diarama." Oracle informs with a shrug of her shoulders. "Pure healing."
"Hmmm, think I've found my temporary healer until I can get Cybele back…" Joker mumbles to himself before shaking his head. "If what Alraune said, then the Professor is in charge of this zone."
"She said that she's on the connecting bridge, right? Then we've got a long climb ahead of us. Unless we find a lift, that is." Queen points out as the Thieves silently sneak into the corridors. Finding an interior of pure white, while blue lines and light broke up the blinding light. Numerous boxes line the hall, giving plenty of hiding space from the patrolling shadows as the team makes their way to the nearest lift.
Thankfully, they found one not too far from where they entered and, as soon as they reached the top, found a safe room next to the lift. With their way back to the main building secure, the team head for the connecting bridge. Finding that the central part was a giant sphere, holding a single raised platform while screens floated around. Displaying countless information and notes.
At the centre, wearing a white lab coat with light blue details over a light blue jumpsuit and shoes, stood the Cognition of Miss Usami.
"Get ready, everyone. The moment we enter, we will no doubt have to fight Usami." Joker tells the team before opening the door. As the team enter the room, Usami turns to look at them with an intrigued expression.
"Ah… so you are the intruders that have got the General all flustered. I wondered when you arrived here. I take it you want this?" She holds up a key, showing it to the Thieves before putting it back in her pocket. "Unfortunately for you, I have no intention of giving it to you."
"That figures…" Outlaw mumbles as the mist surrounds Usami. Oracle already working on scanning her even as she transforms into her new form. A half-human and machine hybrid with a shield for a left arm and a giant cannon for a right, while her legs are fused with the platform she was on. "Now then. Let the experiments commence!" She aims her right arm, firing a lance of light at the Thieves and causing them to scatter.
"Oracle!" Fox cries, sending a blast of ice at Usami, only to groan as he sees her absorb the attack.
"It's not good guys! She absorbs everything!"
"WHAT!? Then how do we beat her!?" Skull shouts before ducking under a blast of light.
"Give me a minute!" Oracle shouts back, flicking through screen after screen while the Thieves dance around Usami. Damn it! Why does nothing work on her! Everything has a weakness! Nothing is completely immune! She glances at one screen before noting a line of energy flowing from Usami to a power generator located on one side of the room. Blinking her eyes, she sees a second line heading to an identical one on the other side. Both of which went straight into her. So THAT'S how it is!
"Everyone! Usami is not immune! She's got a barrier up that absorbs everything we throw at her! It also powers up her gun as well!"
"Then how do we take it down!?" Mona shouts, dodging a series of rapid-fire blasts from Usami.
"Go for these!" She highlights the two generators. "Take them out, and her barrier falls!"
"Don't hold back! Megido!" Joker shouts, firing a power almighty blast at one of the generators. Followed closely by Queen, Panther, Skull and Mona, while Fox, Noir, Spring, Outlaw and Shadow trike the other one. With her focus split between the two groups, Usami had no time to counter before the two generators were destroyed. With her barrier destroyed, the shield on her left arm sparks before blowing apart while the gun on her right falls off her arm.
Defenceless, she stood no chance as the Thieves unleashed an All-Out Attack on her. "How interesting… my other test subjects never thought to go for the power source… something to keep in mind…" She mumbles as she slowly vanishes, leaving the key behind.
"And with that, we have all we need to enter the main building." Mona declares as they head back to the Safe Room. "You want to call it a day or finish the route now?"
"Let's finish it up. The sooner we can, the sooner we can send the Calling Card." Joker replies, earning a unanimous agreement from the team. With no further discussion, the team made for the Safe Room and teleported back to the central building.
The central building was as imposing as when they first arrived. Climbing up the stairs, they were surprised to see no shadows waiting to stop them. Not letting the opportunity pass them by, they quickly insert the six keys, opening the door and revealing the interior.
A vast open space with two open floors, while a lone large room lay at the very top. Standing in the very centre of the hall was another statue of Kobayakawa, this time standing with open arms. On both sides stood tall grand staircases connecting each level together.
"Mona-chan, do you feel the Treasure nearby?" Noir asks as the group heads to the right staircase. Mona sniffs the air before staring at the top floor and pointing with his hand.
"It's up there!"
"Well, that's easy. But what about the Will Seed?" Spring asks. Mona looks around, giving another sniff before shaking his head.
"Sorry, can't smell it."
"But I've found it." Oracle chimes in with an open screen. "It's on the floor just above us, hidden away in a back room. Pretty well hidden as well."
"Let's grab the Will Seed first, then finish mapping our route to the Treasure. We're almost there, guys." With determined nods, the team race up the stairs, encountering a lone Marine Shadow guarding the hallway leading to the Will Seed.
With a quick flourish of the grappling hook, Joker rips the mask off the Marine, revealing its true form. A woman engulfed in an aura of fire, clothed in black cloth with golden highlights. Fox didn't even need to hear Oracle's analysis as he blasted the fiery persona with a Bufula, sending her to the ground. And like all the others, she is absorbed into Joker's mask.
"Really, Inari?" Oracle asks, unamused, as Fox simply shrugs at her. "Anyway, you will want to know that it was another Charity Persona. Sati. Level 34. Blocks fire while weak to ice, obviously. Know Maragion, Agliao, and Energy Shower."
"Good to know." Shadow replies before spying down the corridor. Waiting for them in front of the Will Seed door was a red Shadow Marine. "Oracle, can you scan that before we engage?" Oracle looks down the hall, seeing the shadow waiting for them before giving a nod. Bringing her screens up, she analyses the Marine before snapping her fingers.
"Bingo. It's a Hecatoncheires, Hanged Man Arcana. Can't find its level, but I can tell you that it's weak to Bless while blocking both Gun and Physical and resisting Curse. Oh boy… It knows Gatling Strike, Rebellion, Swift Strike, Regenerate 2 and Tarukaja."
"Well, that explains why the other Will Seed guards were so strong…" Queen remarks with a frown. We better be careful. Especially you, Outlaw." Outlaw gives out a loud sigh while Spring pats him on the back before the team moves in. The Marine spots them instantly, raising its gun up towards them.
"Hold it. Turn around, and I won't have to teach you kids a lesson." It threatens, but the Thieves were not phased. "Fine then, your funeral." It remarks before splitting apart and forming into Hecatoncheires. "Don't say I didn't warn you!" It begins by casting Rebellion on itself before launching with a Swift Strike.
The Thieves dance around the blows, although Shadow and Fox were unlucky to be hit. However, Fox manages to Counter the strike, sending it back at the Hecatoncheires, regardless of its immunity. "Did you really think that would hurt me?"
"No. But this will! Kouga!" Spring shouts, sending a spear of light right at the Hecatoncheires. Stunned, it falls backwards, lowering its defences as the Thieves unleash an All-Out attack. But it manages to survive, dragging itself up as its Regeneration heals itself while it casts Tarukaja on itself before unleashing a Gatling Strike on the Thieves.
Unlike the Swift Strike, the Hecatoncheires manages to hit each of the Thieves with at least one blow, with Outlaw being knocked to the floor in a daze from the blow. Thinking fast, Joker switches to Alraune, casting a Diarama on Outlaw as Spring sends another spear of light at Hecatoncheires.
With one final All-Out attack, the shadow is defeated and turns to mist.
"Everyone okay?" Queen asks as the team regroups. Some nursing bruised arms or legs.
"I'll live." Outlaw remarks, standing up with help from Spring. "Really hate my weakness to Physical."
"Hey, we're all like that Outlaw." Skull comfort, placing a hand on his shoulder. "It's just something we need to live with." Outlaw gives out a short sigh as Joker grabs the final Will Seed, watching as the three form together, just like all the others.
Kaneshiro was a coward. How could a thug like him ever get Shido's approval?
Nijima's friends will make for excellent pawns
The only one who matters here is me! Everyone else is inconsequential.
Shujin's standing will always be more than the students it houses. Always.
No one said anything as they left the room. They had already exhausted what they could say anyway. Climbing the stairs, they finally reached the top floor, where the lone room waited for them. Stretching out to the back of the building.
Entering inside, they find a room filled with war trophies, medals and self-aggrandising portraits, while at the far back, hovering over a gaudy desk and ed velvet sofa, was the white cloud of Kobayakawa's Treasure.
"Finally! We found it!" Spring shouts as the team gathers around, noting the giant window overlooking the Motor pool and Airbase.
"Now, all that's left is to send the Card. When shall we send it?" Skull asks eagerly.
"Tomorrow." Joker replies, looking out through the window. "The sooner we do this, the better."
"I agree. We've wasted enough time as it is." Queen adds with a nod. "Any objections?" A chorus of no was her answer as the team turned to leave. It was annoying that the only Safe Room they could use was outside, but it was better than nothing. But as they were about to leave, they were ambushed by a Shadow Marine striking Noir in the back.
When the team turned to face it, they were greeted by a man who seemed to be made entirely out of leaves, wearing a scarf made from a rope while ofuda hung from it. Despite not having a mouth, its eyes seemed to hold a glee to them as it casts a spell over the team, causing some of them to forget how to use skills or spells.
"Where did that come from!? It's a Hitokoto-Nushi from the Hermit Arcana! Level 36! It knows Ominous Words, Makajamaon and Auto-Sukukaja! It blocks both Ice and Wind, but its weak to Fire! Get it, Panther!"
"Wut? How do I use Fire magic again?" Panther replies in a stupor. Both she and Joker were the ones to be hit by Makajamaon, leaving them unable to use their fire magic.
"Me Patra!" Spring shouts, summoning her other self to cure Joker and Panther. She smirks as the two snap out of their stupor. "Better?"
"Much better." Panther replies before glaring at the Hitokoto-Nushi. "Payback time! Hecate! Agliao!" With a flash of blue fire, Panther's other self roars to life before engulfing the Hitokoto-Nushi in flames. Nocked to its feet, it awaited its fate before Joker absorbed it into his Mask. With the threat dealt with, the team quickly left the Palace, ignoring any and all distractions along the way.
For they had a Calling Card to send and a walking egg to take down.