Chapter 16

The golden armor stood before the white oak doors at the top of the stairs, its red eyes glowing behind its face plate. The intruders were scouring the entire castle and have been reported on multiple levels. They somehow got past King Kamoshida's traps and even those puzzles. How these thieves ever got past the random gate opener room the armor would never know. As one of the top guards of the palace, it wasn't going to just let them through without a fight.

A black streak zoomed in front of it. The armor threw its sword out, but the streak evaded it. The blur flung over and landed on the armor's shoulders. A red glove seized its mask and tore it off. With an explosion the shadow roared out of its shell. Something of a templar knight came out. It had red wings propelling it up. An Archangle.

Joker landed on his hand. Then he flipped over his back to his feet with a knife in hand. The other Phantom Thieves landed behind him with their weapons at the ready. The archangel raised its arm and orange light entered its body.

"Watch out! It's charging!" Mona shouted.

The thieves immediately raised their weapons to block. The angel's sword swung. All members of the party were thrown off their feet. They smashed into the ground. Dull pain rushing up their muscles. Skull leapt back to his feet and pointed his finger at the hovering creature. Lightning obeyed his gesture. With a flash the angle flinched back.

Panther slipped to the side. Her whip twirled and lashed out at the creature. Flames erupted around her. Fire Quickly swallowed the angel. The angel swung its sword through the blaze. The blade grazed the girl as she flipped over the blade and onto her back. Mona flew into the sky as his persona came to life to stab the angle in the eye.

Joker zipped behind it and summoned his newest persona, Berith. A knight wielding a trident-like spear while mounted. The new persona rammed it's blade into the angel's back. The angel fell to the floor. Then it twirled its sword and jabbed Berith in the side. Joker felt a razor pain in his ribs. Berith retreated. The archangel spun around and smashed Berith away causing Joker to be flung to the floor.

Skull dropped from above and smashed the shadow over the head. It's helmet now over its eyes. Panther and Mona flew up and smashed into its chest. The angel crashed into the ground. The two retreated in anticipation. Then the shadow vanished into black mist.

Skull sagged down, huffing and puffing, onto his hands and knees. "That persona didn' really help much. Man, why'd it have ta be a pain in the ass to us?"

Joker wiped the dust off his shoulders, ignoring the blazing pain in his chest. He actually agreed with the blond boy, Berith caught their eye when their guns had no effect. The bullets would only just bounce off it's iron armor while it laughed at their attempts. Then it just shruged off Panther's flames with hardly a singe on its shell. It was only when Joker used Saki Mitama's ice attack did the shadow fall. As it was already down, and they surrounded it the teen figured he might as well try and win it over. Surprisingly, it accepted.

Mona's eyes wondered over the large white doors before darting over to the smaller pair to the side. "That's a safe room. We should be able to take a breather in there."

"Thank god." Panther fell to her knees. "My feet are killing me!"

Joker waved them away. "Go ahead. I'll check the next room then give a report." He reached out and pushed. The doors remained steadfast. He rammed his shoulders against the frame before staggering back. Now his shoulder hurt, great. "Locked."

"Wait, locked?" Skull stopped and stared up at it. "Where's this?"

Mona nodded, "The Treasure is most likely ahead… We're almost there."

"Isn't there another way we can get in? Try looking around Joker!" Panther turned to him.

Joker rubbed his nose irritably. In his blind haste to get through this cursed place, he used his observation skills he got from Yu's memories. This got him more attention from the others than he'd have liked. They had no clue the switches were disguised as wall mounts and the iron bars blocking their path were more of a puzzle-maze than gates. It wasn't until everyone was singing his praise that he realized what he did. He just couldn't hide anything, could he?

He looked around the walls and then up above. "There's a ledge." He pointed. They all looked up to see what looked like some sort of window on some second story of some kind.

Skull scratched his head. "So, how're we gettin' up there?"

With a single bound, Mona stood on top of the statue directly under it. "We climb here."

The three teens just stared at him deadpan. The cat paused and looked between them, uncertainty draining away his once steadfast confidence. "What?"

"Dude. I don't wanna touch it." Skull deadpanned.

Mona looked closer at the silhouette he was using as a platform. It was basically a limbless and headless mannequin but wearing rather erotic, skintight lingerie of some kind. The most unfortunate part is the lowest part they could grab, and where he was standing, was the feminine statue's skimpy rear bent out toward the teens as if the figure was teasing them like a stripper.

Flustered, the cat waved his arms. "Come on! You can't lose heart like this! There's no controlling what's in someone's Palace! We can only use what we see."

"What I see is what I'm tired of hearin' someone complain I stare at!"

"Hey! I don't feel comfortable in this ridiculous outfit! I feel like some skimpy hoe!"

"Then why're you assumin' I'd look!?"

"'Cause you would, Ryuji!"

Joker looked back at Mona. "Being a cute feline must give you amnesty."

The scout of the group choked on his tongue. "I-I don't know what you're insinuating! I'm a perfect gentlemen!"

Panther growled, "Fine! You're all a bunch of perverts!"

"No, Lady Ann." Mona fell to his knees.

Joker stared dumbly at her, pointing at himself. "Why am I being lumped with them?"

"Because you're a boy!"

"That seems hardly fair."

"I'm sorry, who called me 'sexy cat' earlier!?"

"… I retract my previous statement, m'lady."

"Can we just move on already?" Mona interject dejectedly.

After a few minutes to calm down (and gain the courage), the group clambered over the statue and jumped through the open window onto the second floor. The railings immediately off to their right wrapped around to the back where large doubledoors stood and passed on to the other side to create an entire room with a high ceiling. Joker peered over the railing to the large room down below. Skull on the other hand stood up stretching his back. "Man, my everythin's gonna hurt for weeks."

"Get down, you idiot!" Mona head butted the blond's legs.

Skull glared down at him, but froze upon looking over the edge and dove down with a yelp, "Oh shit, it's Kamoshida!"

Panther knelt next to him. "And a ton of soldiers." She added.

Below them looked to be a throne room. Large pillars under the second floor to hold it up, a small set of stairs lead up to a throne and behind the throne was a large staircase leading up to the said second floor. Shadow Kamoshida stood in front of the throne scowling out at a group of armors bowing before him. "How have you not captured the intruders yet!?"

"I apologize, my liege!" One of the armors plead, bowing its head.

Scoffing, Mona shook his head. "I bet he'd never imagine we're in the same room as him. Come on, let's keep moving." The cat waved his paw over toward the center stairs.

Joker followed the incline up till his eyes locked onto the large, golden carved doors in the back. "Jackpot." The tiredness in his fellow partners instantly vanished upon hearing him.

Staying low to be covered by the railings, they crept along and reached the doors. Joker pushed them open and ushered everyone inside. Once the last member snuck in, he slowly shut the door behind them. They rushed through the secondary hall and pushed past the thick oak doors at the end. They all stopped as light pierced their eyes, staggering them. Through the gleam they realized there was no floor beneath their feet. Gold coins littered every centimeter of the large room. The uneven footing like piles of rocks in the mountainside with frequent rockslides. Every step would nearly twist their ankle as it echoed with crunching clicks or clattering shuffles.

Skull recovered from choking on his tongue to mutter, "Whoa, what is this place?! Holy Shit! That Treasure thing's gotta be in here!"

Every shining piece was a sight to behold, but it wasn't center stage. Right in front of the large window were several large sacks filled with coins and a trophy cup on its side. Above all that was a strange shifting light that reminded Joker of fog. The team slowly strolled over to the mass in awe.

"Hey, what is this? It's… floating in the air." Panther tilted her head to the side.

Mona hopped up on the overturned trophy, eyes shut with satisfaction while his hands planted to his hips in triumph. "Hehe… That's the Treasure. We finally found it!"

"Kamoshida loves his fog." Joker nodded.

Mona mumbled incoherently, shaking his head at the teen. "No, that haze is nothing more than Kamoshida's unconscious thoughts of his desires. Nothing more than air itself, it just exists. We'll need to make it materialize before we can steal it."

"Whaddya mean?" Skull leaned against the trophy, staring up at their non-cat member.

"Desires have no physical form by nature. Hence, we'll first need to make the real person aware that their desires are in fact a Treasure. Once they're conscious that their desires might be stolen, the Treasure will finally show itself."

Panther massaged her head. "But how do we do that?"

"We warn them. Tell them, 'we're going to steal your heart.'"

Skull's excitement shone through with his laughter, "So we're gonna send a calling card!? That's totally what a phantom thief would do!"

"Once we do that, the Treasure will appear for certain!... I think!"

"That again?" Skull sighed, "Either way, sounds like it's worth givin' it a shot!"

"Our infiltration route is secure. All that's left now is to pump out a calling card in reality, then come back to take the Treasure!"

Joker pressed his hand against the back of his neck, rotating his head side to side. "Looks like we're good to go."

"That's the spirit… but uh…" Mona turned to look at the rest. "I think… we should take a break."

"Huh, why?" Joker looked to the others.

They just stared at him in shock. The former track star shook his head. "Dude, are you a train or sumthin'? You never stop."

"My legs are killing me." Panther plopped down onto a sack, nursing her legs.

Joker blinked. Now that he thought about it, they looked extremely worn out.

Mona grimaced, "They're not use to this like us."

Blood flushed into Joker's face, his hand back to his neck and massaging the guilt from there. "S-sorry. Take five- or ten. Maybe fifteen if we need."

With Yu's knowledge he already knew what he should do and how to act. Apparently, his body was already in good condition too. Everything set as if prepped for Metaverse travel. He was going at it pretty hard as well. With Yu's experience taking over, he was under the impression the others could keep up like the persona users in Inaba. However, when everyone there first started a run like this it was grueling, even for Yu.

As there was going to be a break there was nothing better to do than wait. Joker sat on the gold pile and gently laid his back down. His hands came up to rest his head upon while he closed his eyes with a contented sigh. A power nap could do wonders.

Then his eyes shot open, the peaceful expression replaced with strained realization. Where was the exit?

\|/

"All right! All that's left now is to send out the calling card and take Kamoshida's heart!" Morgana sat on the school's roof staring up at the three teenagers all huddled around the pile of desks.

Suppressing a yawn, Ren took off his glasses, rubbed his eyes, and then put them back on. It was hard to listen in. To make up for his rather inconsiderate one day rush through the Palace, Ren told everyone they could rest for one day, so they were to meet two days later. Ren didn't feel like taking such liberty, though, it was like his blood coursed with adrenaline every hour. He hardly slept a wink after getting back from the castle so he spent the day helping the doctor with more experimental drugs. Maybe a little obvious, but he was a little out of it right now.

"Couldn't we have just sent one at the beginnin' of all this?" Ryuji cocked his brow.

"It's not that simple." Morgana sighed. "A treasure won't stay materialized forever. Once the impression is gone, the Treasure will disappear."

"The hell? That's like no time at all. Anyways, we can send a callin' card right now, yeah? Let's do it and steal that bastard's heart!"

"The Palace will also go away once you take the Treasure. We may not be able to gather those personas again."

Ren turned his head toward the cat, head swaying dubiously.

"…I guess that's a no."

Sighing, Ren pushed off the wall and leaned on the desks. "It's about time we send that calling card."

Ryuji pumped a fist. "I've been waitin' to hear you say that! Tomorrow's finally the day."

Ann crossed a leg over her knee, leaning back with a hand in thought. "So we send the calling card in the morning… and carry out the plan by the end of the day, right?"

"Correct." Morgana nodded. "The effect won't last that long. Are you worried?"

"Heh. Waited too long."

"Perfect."

"We're going to pull this off, no matter what!"

"So, who's going to write the card?" Morgana looked around.

Before anyone could open their mouths, Ryuji practically leapt into the air. "Leave it to me!"

Ann stared at him. "Why?"

"'Why?' Why wouldn't it be me!?"

"This is important. Are you sure you can handle the pressure?"

With a meow, Morgana stood up. "I must agree."

Ignoring their pointed looks, Ryuji shook a fist in the air. "I really wanna get him good! Lemme write it… C'mon, please?" He looked to Ren.

"All right." Ren pushed in his glasses. "Just be mindful of what you write."

"Yeah, I got this!"

Maybe he should reconsider giving this task to the group's bucking bull. But, Ryuji was most certainly their most outspoken person and thus would most certainly have something to say. Not to mention, letting a direct and tenacious victim confront their oppressor tends to be more effective than a mere stranger. Still though, Ryuji definitely felt like someone who would go on a tangent. That may lead to things biting them in the butt latter on. The anonymous letters Yu got come to mind as an example. They were instrumental in proving someone's innocence of the killings. Despite those letters having one sentence, the innocence of the prime suspect was proven all because of the phrasing of that sentence.

Ann looked equally as unsure. "Hey, are you sure about this? If they find out our identities, all this work will be for nothing."

"I know, I know!" Ryuji waved her down.

Seeing the matter settled, Morgana bobbed his head. "All right, then! Tomorrow it is! You better not slack off on this."

The group disbanded. Ryuji clapped his hands and shuffled them together, chortling at what he was going to 'say.' Ann just watched him from afar, trying her best not to look concerned. Ren watched them both leave with a small smile. As the doors shut behind their retreating forms, he placed his bag down on the desks for the cat to hop in. "You wanna go home?"

Morgana stretched, grunting a little. "Probably for the best. We want some proper rest for our heist tomorrow." He then slid into the small bag.

With a little huff of amusement, Ren picked up the beg and rested it over his shoulder. Heist, it defiantly sounded like they were big time thieves. It oddly didn't feel so awful anymore. He turned to the doors and walked back inside the school. He was certainly ready for some shut eye. He stopped at the doors, his hands resting on the handle. "Well. Did you want that fatty tuna?"

Morgana leapt out of the bag and onto the boy's shoulders. "YES!" Coughing, he slid back into the bag. "I mean, sure. Might as well. Why not?"

"Well, if you insist." Laughing, Ren opened up the doors and headed down the stairs.