Chapter 18: The Generals Final Stand.
July 23rd, 2016
Kobayakawa had been riding high for the past several days. How could he not, with the transfer student and his delinquent friends about to be sent off to Shido. Not that he knew what the man had in store but who was he to care? He already had one person training to be his second assassin. What harm was there in giving him seven more?
Then again, he did fail to mention 'who' he was sending to Shido, but would it really matter? He would find out their names when he got them. It certainly would be a surprise for the SIU Director to learn that his star prosecutor's little sister is among them, though.
Not that he cared, as he sauntered into his office. All he had to do was wait and—what was this? He pauses, seeing a card left on his desk that was most definitely not there this morning. A card painted in red and black. With a very familiar emblem blazed on the front. One that sent a cold sweat down his spine.
"No. Nonononononono." Kobayakawa mumbles, shakingly making his way over to the card. He picks it up, eyes widening as he holds a very real Phantom Thief Calling Card in his hands. He flips it over, sweat building on his brow as he reads the message written on its back. One that sent shockwaves to his core.
Sir Kobayakawa, Principal of Shujin Academy and unapologetic sinner of Apathy. Your general ignorance of the stability of your charges and blatant disregard for their mental health are clear to us. Your affiliation with Kamoshida, Madarame and Kaneshiro has not gone unnoticed by us. As well as your intent to send innocent students into the hands of a murderer paints your hands crimson. Henceforth, we have resolved to steal your distorted desires and save the students of Shujin Academy.
You will confess your inactions to all. We will steal your distorted desires without fail.
From, the Phantom Thieves of heart.
Kobayakawa stared speechless at the Card, sweat dripping down his spine as his world turned black. In his place, his Shadow self stood glaring out the window in his office as his Palace goes into high alert.
"I won't allow this. I cannot!" He storms out of the office, followed closely by his cognition, before entering into a secret room. While the cognitions waited outside, Kobayakawa sat in a large chair before a screen as it came to life. The figures who appeared were shrouded in shadows, while their outlines could only be seen.
One looked to be an old man with a black hood, while the other was a large man of impressive build, wearing a metal hat with spikes erupting from the top. Both of whom glowed with yellow eyes. "Sirs, I bring tiring news."
"Why are you telling us and not our real selves then?" The one on the left asks, unamused. The one on the right folds his arms, remaining silent as a figure appears behind him. Wearing a black mask with red lenses over his eyes.
"Because my real self is standing like a petrified statue!" Shadow Kobayakawa shouts back. "The Phantom Thieves are coming for my Treasure!" That caused the three figures to pause, the man with the spiked helmet humming to himself in a deep voice.
"I see. So your other self has just received the Thieves Calling Card?" The man on the left questions Shadow Kobayakawa. "I suppose we should expect you to have a change of heart then."
"Don't write me off so easily, SIU Director!" Shadow Kobayakawa shouts. The man on the left leans forward, revealing his face as that of the SIU Director. Wearing an executioner's robe and mask. "I won't fall so easily as the others did!"
"Tough talk from a walking egg. Do be sure you don't become scrambled. Otherwise, I'll be having myself an omelette today…" The man in the Black Mask replies, his face hidden in shadows. The man next to him shoots a glare, shutting him up before turning back to speak.
"Have the Thieves found out about our ability to communicate between Palaces?" He asks.
"No, sir. The message only talked about the Apathy I showed the students. They must have missed this room. Thankfully."
"Good. I have put a lot of funds into Wakaba Isshiki's work. I would rather the Thieves remained ignorant about it. And my plans for my Palace." The man suddenly turns completely. "Although, I suppose I 'could' send some help to you. Do you think so, Black Mask?" He turns to look at the rouge Persona user, his face hidden by the mask.
"It would be a nice change of pace. Putting that idiot through hell is starting to get boring." The man replies before looking back at Shadow Kobayakawa. "Sit tight, walking egg. I'll be there soon." He turns away before activating his phone and vanishing from the screen. Leaving the three Shadows alone.
"These Thieves are getting powerful. Have you figured out how to merge out Palace's yet?" The Shadow SIU Director asks to the spiked hat. He seemingly glances between the two before spinning around, a cape billowing out behind him.
"You will find out soon." And with that, he ends the call with the Shadow Director ending his shortly after, leaving Shadow Kobayakawa alone.
"It's up to me to stop them. Lord Shido placed his trust in me, and I will see it repaid!"
While in the real world, watching Kobayakawa standing still as a statue, a mischievous black and white cat smirks in amusement before vanishing into the foliage.
"What's taking Morgana so long?" Ryuji asks, kicking a can. "Kobayakawa has surely seen the card by now."
"Well, he was in a meeting with the other faculty when we last checked. Honestly, I'm just surprised no one saw us going into his office to plant the card." Makoto replies, pushing some hair back. It was a risky move to plant the card when school was nearly over. Originally, Makoto would just hand it over, saying that she had found it hidden on the bulletin board. But after finding that Kobayakawa was stuck in a board meeting, they changed plans.
Now, it was after school, and the meeting should have come to an end. Just as they were beginning to get nervous, a small jingle echoes from above as Morgana finally joins them.
"Sorry about the wait. Had to make sure no one spotted or followed me." He says, leaping onto Ren's shoulder. "But I can say that Kobayakawa has read it. And is completely petrified of us."
"I would say I'm sorry for him. But I'm not." Ann replies with a smirk. "He's had it coming for too long."
"Then, let's not waste any time." Ren pulls his phone out with a smirk and activates the Nav. "It's Showtime." Around them, the scenery changes as the sky turns a deep orange. But while the sound of Kamoshida's terrified heartbeat echoes around them, the sound itself is drowned out by the sounds of battle echoing nearby.
"There's a fight happening already?" Shadow asks confused. "But we should be the only ones here…"
"Oh crap…" Oracle mutters, a screen hovering before her. "Quick travel to the Safe Room near the Treasure is not working. And I'm picking up the reading of another Persona user. And there's only one that I can think of."
"Black Mask." Joker replies with a frown. With a flourish, Joker activates his grappling hook and grapples to the top of the building. The team quickly followed after him before finding a disturbing sight. The front entrance, which was heavily guarded, had been completely demolished while countless Shadow marines and Arcane Turrets swarmed into the main road leading to the central academy. While a lone figure dressed in black swung two serrated blades with wild abandon.
"Crap! He's after Kobayakawa's Shadow!" Skull shouts, glancing at the distance. "We got to hurry, Joker!"
"Right. Let's take the side entrance we used to enter the first time. Hopefully, the Shadow Marines and Arcane Turrets can keep Black Mask busy." Flipping down to the ground, the team heads for the trench and enters through the hidden door before rushing to the centre while using the remaining foliage as cover.
Black Mask was having the time of his life. His Persona sung with glee with every Shadow he struck down. Every time he summoned his other self, an Arcane Turret fell to his power. A bloodthirsty grin stained his face as he relished in the battle.
Sure, he was ordered to 'protect' Kobayakawa's Shadow, but he was just soooooo bored that he couldn't help himself but attack these Shadows. But even fighting these was but a temporary solution. Not until he could face him again. The one person he saw as his rival.
A flash of movement at the corner of his eye alerted him to figures moving through the foliage. Or what remained of it anyway. Figures wearing masks and colourful outfits. He could feel the power radiating off them, a power he had not seen or felt since meeting his current benefactor.
So, those are the 'Phantom Thieves'? A group of wannabe Persona users? What fun! His grin seemed to get even larger as he slammed both blades into an Arcane Turret just as two more show up. A pity I won't get to face them today. But there's always next time.
Right, my other self?
The situation inside the Central Building was, compared to the outside, eerily quiet. No Shadows patrolled the halls, and even the sound of combat was dimmed by the thick walls of the building. But even so, the Thieves continued to climb to the top, sneaking through the dark weary of ambushes.
Soon, they reached the top, finding the entrance to Kobayakawa's office open. His Shadow stared proudly out the window while the Cognitions of Makoto, Ren, Haru, Ann, Ryuji, Mishima, Shiho and Morgana stood at attention behind him. While floating above Kobayakawa's desk was his treasure. A golden globe of the world.
"The Marines are engaging the intruder at the front gate, sir. It would seem the Phantom Thieves are but a lone man." Cognitive Makoto reports while the Thieves sneak into the room.
"A lone man, you say?" Kobayakawa replies, unconvinced. "Are you entirely sure that he IS a Phantom Thief? I am sure they travel in a group after that live recording stunt of theirs."
"He is wearing a mask, sir. And attacked the Shadows guarding the entrance the moment he arrived." Cognitive Ren replies. Shadow Kobayakawa hums nervously.
"This can't be it. It's too easy, too simple… And where is that support I was promised?"
"Perhaps it's because you're attacking the wrong intruder, egghead!" Skull shouts as the team reveals themselves, catching both Kobayakawa and the Cognitions off guard.
"What!? How did—? I thought you were keeping an ear out for intruders?!" Kobayakawa shouts, enraged at the cognitions who remain silent.
"Maybe if you spent some time outside rather than hiding here, you would have figured it out." Outlaw remarks. Kobayakawa sneers at him as the Cognitions form a wall.
"Why should I bother with what's happening outside? Only I matter." The team internally sigh as he begins his speech, just like all the others. "The school only got to where it was, thanks to me, and me alone! The students are but sheep. Blank canvases to be moulded into whatever society needs them to be! Individuality and personality are meaningless."
"Do you truly care so little about the value of life?" Fox asks anger lacing his words.
"The only life I care about is mine." Kobayakawa scoffs. "I didn't care what that fool Kamoshida did, only what his standing brought to MY Academy. And yet you came in and exposed him to all! And if that wasn't enough, I had people telling me to care for the student's mental health. Who even cares about that!"
"How did someone like you ever become a principal?" Shadow shakes her head in disgust.
"Simple. Shido. He gave me the position, confidant that I could guide these worthless sheep into wolves fit for him! And as soon as I get rid of that delinquent transfer student and his gaggle of friends, I can be one step closer to my goals."
"By what? Sending them off to Shido and turning them into assassins for your Mental Shutdowns?" Mona snaps back. Shadow Kobayakawa visibly recoils at Mona's words, eyes wide.
"How—how did you find that out!?" Shadow Kobayakawa narrows his eyes on the Thieves, anger building behind his eyes. "Who are you all!?" Joker smirks before trading a glance with the others before he, Queen, Skull, Panther, Noir, Outlaw and Spring take their masks off. Leaving Kobayakawa gapping at who they really were. "Y—y-y-you!? You are the Phantom Thieves?!"
"Surprised?" Skulls says with a shark grin.
"Bet you wished you never told us what you planned, huh?" Panther says with a grin of her own. Kobayakawa glances between each of them, dumbfounded that the Thieves had always been right under his noes the entire time. But what really hurt him was…
"How could you side with them, Nijima!? Don't you care about your future!? The letter of recommendation!?"
"As if I give a care about your 'recommendation'." Queen replies calmly. "I decide my own path. Not one decided by me from you or Shido!"
"It's time to face the music, Kobayakawa." Spring says, glaring right at Kobayakawa. "It's because of you that Kamoshida almost ruined our lives. All for your own ego. You could say that we formed in the first place because of you." She smirks at him as they put their masks back on, weapons appearing in their hands.
"We're taking your heart, Kobayakawa. And taking our futures back along with it!" Joker shouts, pointing his dagger right at the walking egg. Shadow Kobayakawa sneers at Joker before holding his arm up and drawing his Treasure into his hand.
"I won't let you! Deal with them!" He shouts to his cognitions before rushing over to an emergency escape. The Thieves move to stop him but are cut off by the cognitions, blocking them from the escape hatch.
"Out of the way!" Skull shouts, only for Cognitive Ryuji to scoff at him.
"Sorry, but you aren't getting past us!" He shouts back, brining out a mace from behind him, copying Skull's stance. The other cognitions follow him, each pulling out their own weapons mirroring their real counterparts. Even Cognitive Morgana held a falchion in his mouth.
"We don't have time for this!" Panther moans in annoyance. Joker and Queen glance at each other, a silent conversation before nodding in agreement.
"Fox. You, Shadow and Oracle go after Kobayakawa. We will deal with our Cognitions." Joker informs the three, receiving shocked glances.
"Is that wise?" Fox asks.
"But won't you need me to find their weaknesses?"
"We don't have time. Black Mask is out there. And if he's here, then Kobayakawa is in danger." Queen glances at the three, giving them a smile. "We trust you to slow him down. We'll catch up once we've dealt with them."
Fox, Shadow and Oracle glance at the others, concern etched on their faces. Fox and Noir glance at each other, Noir giving him a confident smile that eases his worries.
"Very well. We shall do what we can." Fox replies before rushing to the side.
"Kick their butts!" Oracle shouts, following Fox.
"Stay safe." Shadow tells them as she chases after them. The Cognitions move to intercept but are themselves blocked off by Joker and the others.
"Your fight is with us!" Mona shouts before leaping towards Cognitive Ren. As he expected, Cognitive Morgana leaps up to attack as the others engage themselves. Fists collide between C-Makoto and Queen, while steel sparks between Joker and C-Ren. Whips smack against each other while spears twirl and spin.
Skull manages to hit C-Ryuji in the chest with his mace, knocking him back. Only to run for cover when C-Ryuji whips out a shotgun and starts blasting. "Think you're hot with that!? Well try this! Zionga!" Skull shouts, sending a bolt of lightning right at C-Ryuji. Only to groan when the shock heals him instead. "Aw, come on!"
"Garula! Mona shouts, sending a blast of wing over to C-Ryuji. Only for C-Morgana to take the hit. "Damn it!" C-Morgana glares at Mona as the gun on his harness activates and fires at Mona, forcing him into cover. "This isn't working! We need a new plan!"
"Kinda wish we had Oracle with us." Spring comments, firing an arrow at C-Shiho. The arrow bounces off her as C-Shiho charges at Spring with her spear, forcing her back. "Then we would know what they are weak against."
"Dormina!" Joker cries, trying to send C-Ren to sleep only for the spell to miss, much to his annoyance. The others are right. Fighting against ourselves is not working. It's like looking in a mirror. He dives out of the way, dodging C-Ren firing his pistol at him. He sees Queen trading blows with her cognitive double, each strike perfectly mirrored.
A glance at Panther showed the same problem on her end. Even as she used Agliao to try and force C-Ann into a disadvantageous position, she managed to counter each whip strike like Panther would.
"Hey, Joker. Want to switch?" Outlaw asks, sliding up next to him. Joker raises an eyebrow at him as C-Mihsima and C-Ren stalk around them, weapons out. The idea bounces around Joker's head as he eyes his double before smirking in realisation.
That's actually a very good idea. "Then he's all yours." Joker replies, jumping over him as Outlaw spins to face C-Ren. The cognition had clearly not been expecting it from the shocked expression on its face as its knife collided with one of Outlaw's swords. With said move, activating Outlaw's counter instead of knocking him down. Forcing C-Ren to back away as Outlaw summons Drifter to his side.
"Memory Blow!" He cries, linking both of his swords together at the pommel to form a twin sabre. He leaps through the air, spinning the blades around before landing a solid hit on the stunned C-Ren. He tries to fir his gun but looks at it with a questioning look. "Forgot how they work? Too bad! Triple Down!" Outlaw shouts, sending the gun attack right at C-Ren.
And while Outlaw dealt with C-Ren, Joker was busy dashing in towards C-Mishima. Who was quickly backing away and grabbing the rifle on his back. "Evil Smile!" A dark aura flies from Joker, slamming into C-Mishima, who freezes in place as his eyes go wide with fear. "Got you. Megido!" The Almighty magic slams into C-Mishima, sending him flying back as Joker continues with his assault.
Queen spots Joker attacking C-Mishima and, instantly catching on, jumps back towards Noir. "How about we switch dance partners?" She offers. Noir glances at her before smirking in reply as the two rush past each other. Catching their Cognitions off guard. "Flash Bomb!" An orb of light manifests in front of C-Haru before exploding right before her eyes. Blinded, the cognition wildly swings her axe around as Queen ducks under a rogue swing and begins to pummel down C-Haru before kicking her away. "Frelia!" She launches the atomic spell at her, destroying part of the room along with it as C-Haru launches herself back at Queen.
While Noir took out her grenade launcher and fired a missile at C-Makoto. The cognition falls to the floor, ducking under the missile, but as she stands up, she finds herself dodging an axe swing from the floofy-haired thief.
"Tentarafoo!" Noir shouts, confusing the C-Makoto before quickly switching spells. "Psio!" With a thrust of her mind, she sends C-Makoto flying into the wall. Snapping her out of confusion as she leaps back at her, fist held back for a punch. Noir holds her axe up, blocking and absorbing the punch as she bends backwards. Letting C-Makoto fly over her.
"Swift Strike!" Skull shouts, sending swift barrages at C-Ryuji and C-Morgana. While the cat managed to dodge, C-Ryuji was struck by the attack. Staggering him as he readied his shotgun, Morgana leaps in front of him.
"Lucky Punch!" With a swift strike from the boxing glove, C-Ryuji was nocked to the ground in a daze while C-Morgana continued to run around Skull. Jumping and slicing at him whenever he got the chance.
"Zionga!" Skull shouts, catching the cat in a blast of lightning that paralyses its movements. Allowing Skull to rush in with an Assault Drive as Mona blasts away C-Ryuji with a Garula. While the two cognitions recovered, Skull and Mona took a moment to speak. "Think we're takin' our anger of each other out on these?"
"Subconsciously, maybe." Moana agrees before the two dive back into the fight.
"Panther! Switch!" Spring's voice echoes from behind as the two girls swap in mid-air. "Kouga!" She sends several spears of light right and C-Ann, forcing her to dodge before taking her bow out and firing an arrow at her leg. Hitting her right in the knee. "No more adventuring for you." She quips, firing another arrow.
"Dormina!" Panther's spell slammed into C-Shiho, sending her to sleep as Panther took out her whip. Fire trailing down it as she whips it into C-Shiho, even if a small part of her felt guilty. As C-Shiho woke up, she jumped away from the whip and pulled out her own bow while Panther was already pulling her mask off. "Agliao!" Fire erupted around C-Shiho, forcing her back as all the Cognitions of the Thieves were gathered near the window.
Wounded but still in the fight.
"Give up." Joker tells the cognitions, even if they wouldn't listen. "We have you beaten."
"It's not over yet…" C-Makoto replies, falling back into her battle stance, followed by the rest of the Cognitions. But just as Joker and the others readied themselves for round two, the window was suddenly engulfed in an explosion. The Cognitions, standing right next to the window, were engulfed in flames as the explosion rocked the room. Sending books and other items lining the shelves not damaged from the battle flying to the floor. Even the desk was consumed by the blast as Joker and the others were knocked back by the shockwave.
When they looked up, the entire back wall and window were gone, along with their Cognitions.
"What was that?!" Mona shouts as the team rushes to the hole. Staring outside, their jaws fell open wide at the carnage happening outside.
"What the hell did we miss!?"
Earlier
"How can he run so fast!" Oracle shouts as the trio rush down a metallic corridor. Ahead of them was Kobayakawa, somehow staying ahead of them. "Seriously! It's like Eggman in the OG Sonic games!"
"What I am more concerned about is where he is running 'to'." Shadow comments as they turn around a second corner.
"So am I. And yet we have little choice." Fox replies before noting the darkening corridor. "It would seem our chase is about to near its end." He comments as the trio suddenly find themselves in a very expansive room. The small amount of light emanating from the tunnel only illuminated a small part of the floor, with Kobayakawa hunched over, panting hard as he laid his hand on a wall of metal. "The chase is over, Kobayakawa. Surrender, you have nowhere left to run."
Kobayakawa turns to them, a scow still plastered on his face. Before it breaks into a wide grin. "You fools…I wasn't running away to hide…" He holds up his treasure, grinning widely. "I was running for my secret weapon!" All of a sudden, light flares to life, blinding the trio as a gargantuan shape appears out of the darkness. The trio stare up at it, mouths wide while Kobayakawa climbs up a series of ladders up onto the gargantuan machine. Before Oracle finally broke the silence.
"IS THAT A FREAKING RATTE!?"
Oracle's reaction was understandable, seeing a mythical war machine before them. Even more so one that had never been built. And yet here, Kobayakawa had envisioned one as his 'secret weapon'. Clearly, he was more suited to being a history teacher than a principal, at least with the proud smirk he had on his face as he entered the giant turret of the steel behemoth as the room began to vibrate.
It was only then that they realised they were on a giant container lift, bringing them up to the surface.
"How do we even attack such a foe!?" Fox yells out. While it was not as big as Yaldabaoth, it was still an intimidating sight. Oracle was quickly bringing up a scan of the beast but could only frown with worry.
"This isn't good. It's level 40 and blocks everything apart from Almighty! We can target the outer weapons along the hull, but even then, they resist magic!" While Oracle and Fox began to wonder how they could take this down, Shadow's mind wandered to the countless vehicles they saw in the Motor pool and Airbase. Sure, on their own, they could not damage the beast, but with support…
"Oracle. Do you think you could hijack the vehicles scattered all over the place?" Oracle looks at her, before bringing up her screens.
"I think so. But I can only control half of them. Why?"
"If Kobayakawa want's a war…" She smirks as she turns back to the Ratte. "Then we shall give him one." Oracle's eyes widened behind her mask before giggling evilly as she got to work. Fox looked between the two, confused, just as the roof above them slowly opened up.
"Just what are you planning?" He asks, shielding his eyes from the light outside. The two girls look at him, smirking as the lift comes to a stop. Revealing them to be right between the Motor pool and the Airbase.
"Watch and see, Inari." Oracle replies before pressing a button on her screen. Just as one of the turrets on top of the Ratte turns to aim at them. A hint of blue from the top of the giant turret showed where the command room of the machine was. And where Shadow Kobayakawa was watching them from.
"Farewell, Phantom Thieves! I would say it was a pleasure meeting you, but then I would be lying. Gahahahaha!" Kobayakawa gloats as the turret begins to glow with almighty power. But before they could fire, a missile slammed into the side of the Ratte. Disrupting its aim and firing harmlessly behind the trio. "What was that!? Major Maruki, what is going on!?"
"I—I don't know." Maruki's voice echoes from the speakers just as a jet flies over the Ratte. "But it would seem half of our air force is targeting us!"
"What! I gave no order to—!"
"General Kobayakawa! Tanks are approaching from the Motor pool! Their firing on us! The students are turning on us!" Kasumi's voice suddenly joins them as beams of almighty magic slam into the hull of the Ratte. Oracle smirks proudly at her work as half of the vehicles from the Motor pool and Airbase joins the fight on the Thieves' side. Thanks to Oracle's hacking.
"I can SEE that, Sergent Major Yoshizawa! Now hurry up and call those still loyal to us! Deploy the Arcane Turrets to attack the Thieves!" At his command, the back of the Ratte opens as four Arcane Turrets roll out from the back. Charging towards the trio, while the Ratte concentrates its attention on the rouge vehicles. Even as the ones still loyal to him begin to join the fight. But compared to those that had turned on him, it was a pitiful number.
"When you said you would give him a war, you were not in jest!" Fox shouts, sending a Bufula towards one of the Arcane Turrets, freezing it in place before dodging a blast of fire from a second one.
"The opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.' And Kobayakawa has given us quite the opportunity." Shadow replies with a smirk, casting Mapsi on the two Arcane Turrets before her. "But even with all this, I fear it will not be enough." Her point was made when the Ratte fired the cannon in its main body. A stream of almighty energy slams into the Central building directly where his office is. And for a moment, the trio thought that their friends were incinerated. Only to see eight figures jump from the smoking hole and rush across the raging battlefield.
Their hearts soared when they realised who was rushing towards them before focusing their attention on the four Arcane Turrets still attacking them.
"Tentarafoo!" Shadow shouts, sowing confusion among the four Arcane Turrets. While Fox knew his rifle would do nothing to the Arcane Turrets, he instead pulled out a Vacuum Cutter he had on him for artistic purposes. How he could carry around such a thing in the Metaverse still confounded him, but it would be useful here. Knowing he could get a new one later, he throws it into the air as the Metaverse works its magic. Transforming it into a weak Magaru spell, hitting all four Arcane Turrets.
But while the damage was negligible, it did what it needed to do. Daze all four of them, leading to Shadow and Fox unleashing an All-Out Attack on the four Turrets. With Oracle dropping a bomb at the end to help take them out.
Just as Joker and the others run up to them, dodging the ongoing chaos around them.
"What the hell is going on!? It's like a warzone out here!" Skull shouts as the entire team ducks into a ditch as a remote controlled Phantom Tank squares off with a Kobayakawa Tank. "And what the hell is that giant thing in the centre!?"
"It was Shadow's idea! Said we could level the playing field if I hacked the vehicles to give us a helping hand! And since all these vehicles are the 'Students' he was actually referring to, it was easy to get them to betray him! As for that giant machine, it's Kobayakawa's Secret Weapon! A supersized tank from World War 2! The Ratte!" Oracle replies as the team ducks under fire, rushing for a nearby maintenance bay.
"Well, while I admit we need help in taking that down, I worry it's made out job even harder to get near him. Kobayakawa is inside that tank, right?" Queen asks as the team takes a breather. The roar of combat still echoes outside.
"Yeah. And the only thing that can damage it is Almighty attacks." Oracle replies, shooting Joker a glance. "And only Joker can use those attacks."
"And the problem ins only Arsène knows the weakest one." Joker shakes his head before glancing around the empty area. Until his eyes fall on an abandoned machine. "Hey, isn't that what we saw the Shadow Engineers working on a few days ago?" The team follow his gaze as they stare at the forgotten tank.
While it was nowhere as large as the monster outside, it still appeared to be around 12 meters in length, While its height was around 3 meters, spouting a turret holding two guns and two missile pods.
"It is… Wonder why it's here." Noir comments as the team approach it. Getting round to the front, they saw it was around 6 meters in width.
"No idea, but I think we can use this…" Oracle comments as everyone turns to her. "All the vehicles here attack with Almighty spells. And the Ratte is weak to that only. If we use this, we can knock out the weapons onboard and board it."
"Assuming it can work. Who will even drive it?" Spring asks. It was only a few seconds of silence before everyone turned to look at Joker. He glances around, seeing everyone look at him before he heaves a sigh.
"Fine. I'll drive." He acquests. Without wasting time, the team climbed inside the tanks as Joker took the controls. Queen sits next to him, taking over as range finder while Oracle takes a navigation station. Outlaw sat at the controls operating the missiles, while Fox sat at the controls for the main guns. Everyone else took the remaining passenger seats as Joker activated the tank.
A deep rumble echoes through the machine as Oracle does some quick hacking to change the outward appearance of the tank into black and red. While its operation lights remain blue.
"Alright! Now it needs a name!" Oracle cries as everyone looks at her. "What? Even if it's a one time use, it feels stupid not calling it something."
"Then what about Scorpion?" Skull suggest.
"I was thinking about Mammoth." Outlaw admits.
"Won't Rex be more fitting?" Spring asks, surprising Panther. "Hey, I have other hobbies."
"Wouldn't Shagohod be more fitting in that case?" Queen replies. While everyone debated on what to call the vehicle, Oracle just shook her head and looked at Joker.
"What about you, Joker? Do you have one?" Joker looks at her with a grin, settling his hands on the controls before looking forward.
"I have one." He replies, gathering all attention. "Edelweiss, move out!" He shouts, slamming his foot on the accelerator as the tank lumbers forward into the light.
"Not to complain, but I would think Yamato would be a better name." Fox comments with a tilt of his head.
"That's more for a battleship, Fox…" Shadow replies with a sigh as they roll into the battlefield. The Ratte had not moved from its spot as it and what little remained on Kobayakawa's side were struggling to hold off those that had been reprogrammed by Oracle.
"It's Showtime!" Joker shouts as he drives them into the fray. Just as Fox fires the main guns at the cannon located on the sloping chest armour of the Ratte.
Leaning on the roof of the damaged Central Building, Black Mask could only watch in glee at the carnage and chaos before him. Seeing the handiwork of the Thieves turning the place against Kobayakawa was a sight to behold.
Not surprising, considering how the apathy he had shown had the inverse effect of lowering his control on his own palace. An ironic irony.
But at the same time, Black Mask couldn't help but be annoyed. With all the chaos happening, he could not sneak in and kill Kobayakawa. Even if he waited fro the fighting to stop, Kobayakawa would have his heart changed before he could reach him.
"Oh well…" He sighs, turning around and walking away. "It was a nice distraction while it lasted. Besides…" He turns back, watching as a black and red tank rolls onto the battlefield and fires on the Ratte. "There's always another Palace." He grins bloodthirstily before leaping off the roof.
And he was already shuddering with anticipation at their next meeting.
"This can not be happening. No, no, no, no, NO!" Kobayakawa was panicking as he watched the chaos around him. He just could not understand how he had lost control over his own Palace. It should have been simple! Wait for the Thieves to arrive, and have them face the Nijima Squad until the Ratte is revealed. Then activate all the 'Students' in the Motor pool and Airbase to bomb the Thieves into submission. So how… "How did they turn half of my forces against me!"
A loud explosion from outside rocked the interior, with Kobayakawa falling off his commander chair. "What's wrong now!?" He shouts down to Cognitive Maruki and Cognitive Kasumi.
"The frontal cannon has been destroyed!" C-Maruki calls up, fixing his askew glasses before another explosion rocks the tank. "And now we've lost the right tread gun!"
"Where are those shots coming from!?" Kobayakawa shouts, getting back in his chair. His treasure floated next to him, exposed and vulnerable.
"New contact, on our right!" C-Kasumi reports as a screen comes down in front of Kobayakawa. His jaw drops as he sees the black and red tank rolling towards them, with the Phantom Thieves emblem proudly displayed on the turret.
"How did they steal our newest model?!" Now Kobayakawa was really starting to panic. "Have all remaining guns focus on that tank! We cannot let them get any closer!" The two cognitions shout in confirmation as the turrets on the back of the Ratte turn to intercept. Well, the ones that could get a clear shot at the Edelweiss anyway.
As for inside the Edelweiss, the Thieves were having a field day.
"That's showing him!" Panther cries as the tank moves to the left, with Fox carefully aiming at the guns on the back.
"Aim for the ones at the rear! Those are more dangerous to us!" Oracle calls out. Fox nods as he readjusts his aim before pulling the trigger. The guns fire with deafening sound as the Almighty shells rocket towards one of the big guns on the back. The turret was already spinning around to get a better aim at them as the shell slammed right into the side.
While not destroyed, it was jammed as its rotation mechanism was damaged by the shells. Outlaw followed up on Fox, launching a barrage of missiles from the bods as they slammed into the upper deck of the Ratte. Destroying the unprotected guns while denting the surface plating.
"Unless we find a weak spot we can take advantage of, we'll be here for hours." Queen comments as she notes the damage to the hull. While it had taken quite a beating from the Almighty shells and missiles, it was still holding on strong.
"Well Oracle? Spotted anything?" Mona asks, sitting on Noir's lap. Oracle was busy diving into her screen, looking over the massive Ratte before them, until she noticed something about the massive turret on top. While it was definitely heavily armoured like the rest of Kobayakawa's Ratte, there was a small flaw in its design. The rotation ring was exposed.
"Found a spot! The rotation ring! Get a shell into that, and it should cripple it!"
"But won't that cause it to explode?" Noir asks, concerned that it would kill Shadow Kobayakawa.
"The guy's a coward. If he's anything like his real self, he'll have a way to escape." Skull comments, folding his arms. "What you say, Joker? Shall we take the shot?" Joker seemingly contemplates the idea, sharing a glance with Queen before the two nod at each other.
"I'd say it's worth it." He replies, turning around to look at Fox. "Go ahead, Fox."
"Very well." Fox replies, aiming the guns at the rotational ring. "This is the final curtain!" With a press of the trigger, the twin barrels fire their final volley. The Almighty shells slammed into the rotational ring as sparks instantly began to fly.
Inside the Ratte, warning lights blare as systems begin to fail, sparks falling all around. Shadow Kobayakawa, knowing what was to come, instantly hits a button on his chair that propels both him and the chair out of the Ratte. Leaving C-Maruki and C-Kasumi behind as the Ratte finally explodes.
As he flew through the air, watching his 'Secret weapon' explode, he realised that he had lost. A realisation hammered home when he and his Treasure landed right in front of the Edelweiss, with the Phantom Thieves waiting outside for him.
"Ready to call it quits?" Skull asks, with the Thieves surrounding Kobayakawa. He glances around, seeing no exit left open to him as he sighs in resignation.
"Fine…I surrender. You've beaten me…" He says, letting go of his Treasure as Joker snatches it with his grapple shot. "Do what you want with me."
"We're not going to kill you if that's what you want. We are not Black Mask." Queen remarks, glaring at him. "Speaking off, did you know that he was here attacking your Palace?" Shadow Kobayakawa looks at her with shock in his eyes.
"He—he was!?" Realisation in his eyes as he stares numbly at the ground. "So…I was to be cast aside regardless…I'm a fool… All that time, I thought I was in control. I was nothing but an exposable pawn, waiting for the moment my usefulness was at an end… I have no one to help me now. My wilful negligence of the students will come back to bite me, and the teachers will no doubt stand against me… There is nothing I can do now but pay for my crimes…"
"You can still change things. Repent for your sins, and remove us from this 'Special training' you want to send us on." Joker tells him, glaring into his eyes. Shadow Kobayakawa looks at him before slowly nodding his head.
"I have no room to argue…I've lost… But still, how can a group of high school students even hope to defeat Shido. You should now how powerful he is!" He says, even as his body begins to vanish. The Thieves all smirk at each other, before glancing back at him as Joker leans in to whisper to him.
"We did it once. We can do so again." Kobayakawa's eyes widen at Joker's remark before silently closing his eyes as he looks to the ground. He was well and truly beaten as his body vanished into light, returning to his other self.
All around the Thieves, Kobayakawa's Palace begins to fall apart with the vehicles all either falling out of the sky or exploding on the ground. Not bothering to run back to the entrance, Joker activates the Nav to take them back to reality.
Not realising that the Edelweiss was coming along with them.
The destination has been deleted. Thank you for your cooperation.
The group were all smiles as they took a moment to breath. Surprisingly, they found themselves on the roof of Shujin Academy. School hours had long since ended, so there was no one in the building to see them manifest out of thin air.
"Feels good to have that past us." Ryuji comments, stretching his back.
"I'll say. I was losing sleep over that." Ann replies, starching her arms as well. Before having a moment of realisation. "Oh yeah! What's Kobayakawa's treasure? We've never seen his before." All turn to Ren who was holding said treasure, before finding that he was holding a model kit. A model kit for a 1/72 scale model of the Ratte.
"His treasure, it's similar to my dad's in a way." Haru comments. She turns to Shiho, Mishima and Hifumi to explain. "My father's treasure was that of a model he wanted as a child. They are very rare now these days, even considered to be collector items."
"Erm, not to cut in or anything, but that's not all that came with us…" Futaba says, grabbing everyone's attention. As they all silently gasped at the model in Futaba's hands. The very same tank they used in the fight with Kobayakawa. Down to the colouring and emblems.
"How did that happen? The only things that were ever taken out with us were trinkets picked up from Joker's Third Eye, drops from Shadows and loot from treasure chests. So how…?" Morgana asks, completely stumped at the model in Futaba's hands.
"Perhaps it's because we used it?" Hifumi said, although she wasn't confident in her answer.
"I wonder if we can use it in Mementos or other Palaces…" Makoto ponders.
"Oh, that would be awesome." Mishima says with an eager smile.
"Before we do anything, let's head back to Leblanc. I don't know about you, but I'm starving." Spring comments before a loud growl from Yusuke drew all eyes to the starving artist. As he sheepishly looked away.
"I…would not be averse to a plate of curry or two…" The group chuckles at him as they all turn to leave.
"Alright. Extra large curry for everyone when we get back." Ren promises, eliciting a small cheer from the group as they make their way to the back exit.
They more than earned it after that chaos.
Yaldabaoth was impressed they managed to defeat the principle. He had purposely designed that Palace himself to force the Thieves to challenge themselves over the summer break. But it surprised him that they managed to defeat him so quick.
Then again, they certainly were more than motivated to beat him. But now he had to ponder. Should he have them take on the president now? Or wait for a few months? It was certainly a conundrum. On the one hand, it would mean his pawn would grow even stronger. But on the other, he was running out of Palaces to throw at him.
He only had three left, and Shido's Palace would not be open until the end of the year. Only then would he be strong enough to fuse both worlds together.
And so, even as the principal returned to his embrace, he elected to wait this time. Besides, there would be plenty of targets in Mementos for his pawn to target over the break.
All would proceed as he had foreseen. No matter what. And no one would stop him.
Not the Trickster.
Not Igor.
Not any of the old guests of the Velvet Room.
And not even Samael would be able to stop him.
July 25th, 2016
The entire student body was annoyed at the sudden gathering in the gym. It was the second day of summer break, and yet the principal had decreed that everyone, student and teacher alike, were to come to the gym for a mandatory announcement. People were already grumbling that he should have done this the day before the summer break as they all stood around in their casual clothes.
But as all eyes turned to Kobayakawa as he made his appearance, everyone could tell something was off. First off, there were tear stains on his cheeks, along with team marks on his shirt and jacket. The way he moved was not of one in power but of a beaten man. And the way he looked around the gym was that of agony and grief.
"Thank you for coming today…and I am sorry to spring this on you during your summer break…" Kobayakawa begins, his voice shallow and broken. "There are several things I have to announce to you that…can't wait until your return…" He takes a breath as he steadies himself on the platform.
"First…is that I am announcing my retirement effective immediately…" Gasps ring out from the student body as Kobayakawa continues. "This is due to…a number of reasons… My general apathy towards everyone here…be they student or teacher…my decision to force the student council to look into…both the mafia of Shujin and the Phantom Thieves…" Whispers travel between the students as Kobayakawa takes a shaky breath.
"This also leads to my decision…to forcibly remove some of our best and brightest…into a career that is ill-suited for any of them…. Against their wills or consent… And…" He takes another shaky breath as tears threaten to spill from his eyes. "I was the one…who allowed Kamoshida to come to this school…in exchange for a bribe of yen…And that I willingly…ignored all of his actions…"
The anger radiating from the student body made the air thick with tension as Kobayakawa fell to his knees in disgrace.
"I am…unfit to lead a school…no…unfit to even be amongst society… That is why… I will willingly hand myself over to the police…and pay for my sins!" He shouts, prostrating himself on the floor as the student body shouts at him in anger. Some wanted to rush onto the stage and beat the life out of him, only held back by their friends or the teachers.
Even if some of them wanted to do the same.
While at the far back, watching the chaos unfold, the Phantom Thieves and Kawakami watch with knowing smiles.
"The walking foolish egg. How could he allow himself to stumble so." The SIU director grumbles under his breath, looking out at the city. "So much for our plan to frame the Thieves for his death… How are we constantly on the back foot?"
Their attempts to infiltrate the Phanesite had been met with constant failure. Even trying to set up a phoney site with a polling option had ended in failure. The Thieves just seemed to be one step ahead of them each time.
"What is it we are missing?" He mumbles as the door behind him opens. Turning around, he was surprised to see Sae Nijima walking into his office. "Ah, Nijima. A surprise to see you today. How have you been?" Recently, he had been worried that the Thieves had managed to get to her since her behaviour change in April. What had happened to his loyal hound?
"I have been well, thank you, Director." Sae replies, giving a curt bow. "I just came to report the result of my current case." She hands him a folder that he graciously accepts before looking it over. Although, he paused when he saw the verdict passed.
"Not guilty? I was sure that it would be guilty." He comments with a frown, handing her the folder back.
"So did I. But as I went through it, it all felt off to me. As it turned out, it was all a set-up for the person to take the fall. Unfortunately, the real suspect is still at large, but the current one has been cleared of all charges." The SIU Director frowns at her before walking to his desk.
"If I didn't know Nijima, I could swear you're making a career change to being a Defence Lawyer." He comments, sitting at his desk. "We prosecutors are to get a guilty verdict no matter what. Finding the truth does not matter to us, only the result." He leans forward, folding his hands. "You do know this, right?"
The old Nijima would have replied yes without hesitation. But for the current Sae, she did not know. Nor did she want to give her boss the wrong idea. "Yes. I do." She replies calmly. "If you will excuse me, but I need to head home. Good day, sir." She bows to him once more before leaving the room to the SIU Director.
"Something is changing in you, Nijima. And I wonder when you will reveal it."