Chapter XI: Attack of Lady Maria and the Palace Rulers
Distorted Osaka
On the eastern side near the Arc of Triomphe, Fox, Oracle, Tennyo, Yakumo, and Presto confronted Shadow Madarame.
Upon seeing Fox in plain sight, Shadow Madarame's lips curled with a snarl. "Yusuke, you'll pay with your life for calling me a plagiarist. For betraying me, I'll take Sayuri from you!"
Fox angrily rebuked. "As far as I'm concerned, you're not Madarame, but a vile creature with his face! I've since reconciled with that man and Sayuri is now publicly on display!"
"Silence, you foolish boy! I care not for that stupid painting! I will end you and your colleagues here!" Shadow Madarame took out three scrolls, which he unwrapped and smoke came pouring out. Out of this smoke, two white Fox Spirits and a Nue, a chimeric monster with a monkey's face, a tiger's body, and a snake's tail, materialized in front of Shadow Madarame.
"These things should be pieces of cake, but don't let your guards down!" Oracle advised, summoning Al Azif. After getting inside Al Azif, she used her Persona to boost her team's defenses and power stats. "All set and ready to go! Take them down, guys!"
With that, Fox took out his katana. Tennyo readied her ko-naginata and charged lightning energy through her weapon. Yakumo whipped out his Oni Bane two-handed sword for battle. Presto summoned Kato and utilized his Guardian Spirit's fire element to imbue his tonfas.
One of the white Fox Spirits shot straight at Presto first, attempting to take out the supposed weakest member of the team. However, Fox intercepted the Fox Spirit with his katana.
"Thanks, Yusuke!" Presto called out to him.
"Over here!" Tennyo ran at the Fox Spirit, swinging and missing it with her ko-naginata. However, this allowed Fox to step in and stab the Fox Spirit.
"Foul beast, you dishonor the name of a fox by being controlled by that creature in human skin!" Fox gritted as he shoved his katana through the white Fox Spirit. He sliced upward and killed it instantaneously as it dissolved into black smoke.
Yakumo rushed the second Fox Spirit, which flew around and expelled black beams.
Yakumo cursed while blocking the evil spirit's beams with his sword. However, a few beams struck him head-on. "Let's see you handle the might of Atlas!" As he invoked his Blood Code, Yakumo activated Resilient Focus, increasing his intent to kill the Fox Spirit. He then rushed forward, increasing his running speed. He lunged forward and attacked with his Tormenting Blast.
As the Fox Spirit narrowly evaded Yakumo's consecutive attacks, the red-haired Revenant unleashed Flashing Fang and obliterated the evil spirit.
Tennyo declared. "Now be gone, Yokai!" Swinging her Kunitokotachi at the Nue, the creature quickly dodged at the last second and attacked her. Relying on her newfound Revenant-like reflexes, Tennyo dodged the Nue's lightning attacks. Casting a lightning blast from her weapon, she stunned the Nue with her Divine Thorn.
"Here I go!" Presto announced, striking the Nue with his fire-imbued tonfas. After immobilizing it with his Living Weapon ability, Tennyo summoned two Shogi pieces around the Nue and trapped the Yokai.
"Begone!" Tennyo cried out, shoving her Kunitokotachi through the Nue. When she sliced upward, she quickly bisected and killed it in bloody fashion, leaving its bloodied corpse to dissolve.
After the last Fox Spirit dissolved, Shadow Madarame hastily summoned his four portraits: the eyes, the mouth, and the nose.
"Do you not remember this masterpiece of mine, Yusuke? Let's see if your Persona can topple this!" Shadow Madarame boasted over his artistic work.
"I've come very far since the last we've fought, creature. My Persona shall bring down this mediocrity!" Fox declared as he summoned forth his Third-Tier Persona: Gorokichi.
Gorokichi brandished its sword and attacked Shadow Madarame's left eye first. The left Painter's Eye tried for a Tarukaja, but Gorokichi took out the left eye with Giant Slice. Invoking his Two-Handed Sword Mastery, Yakumo charged and slashed off the left Painter's Eye. The Painter's Nose fired Thunderclap to neutralize Yakumo and then used Maelstrom to knock back Fox.
"Yusuke! Yakumo!" Tennyo cried out as she and Presto stared in horror at Shadow Madarame, who callously laughed over his enemies' anguish. "I can see why Yusuke lost respect for you!"
"Hang on, Inari! Help's on the way!" Oracle called to Fox. "You, too, Yakumo!" She boosted their energies back up to fight again.
"Thanks, Futaba," Fox said, feeling recovered after accepting Oracle's healing boost. "All right, Gorokichi, we're still in this fight!"
Yakumo stood while lifting his greatsword. "Let us commence with the battle." He cast Foulblood Barrier, providing his team protection from Shadow Madarame's attacks.
"Attack the nose, Gorokichi!" Fox beckoned his Persona.
Heeding his summoner's command, Gorokichi took out the Painter's Nose with a Vicious Strike. Yakumo charged and went for the Painter's Mouth. The Mouth went for a Bite, but Tennyo countered and summoned a Shogi piece, stopping the Mouth with her Shogi Shield. Swinging his greatsword, Yakumo slashed the Painter's Mouth in two.
With the portraits taken out, Shadow Madarame was exposed.
"You think that's all I have to show?!" Shadow Madarame snarled as he hastily summoned four duplicates of himself. Each of them was color-coded based on the elements: Ersatz Fury (red- fire), Ersatz Sorrow (blue - ice), Ersatz Joy (yellow - lightning), and Ersatz Mirth (green - wind).
"So, it's just like last time. You're not even trying to be original, imposter," Fox growled, recalling his and the Thieves' previous battle against Shadow Madarame.
"Don't you dare mock my magnificent art! Take them down!" Shadow Madarame beckoned his colored duplicates to attack them.
As Ersatz Sorrow cast an ice spell, Tennyo and Yakumo were sealed in ice, rendering them unable to fight. However, Fox and Presto managed to bypass Ersatz Sorrow's ice; the latter's ice element nullified its effects and Presto's Living Weapon melted the ice with fire. As Presto attacked Ersatz Sorrow, he struck and dazed him with his fire tonfas. After burning Madarame Blue's face, Fox unleashed quick consecutive slashes, slicing apart Ersatz Sorrow as it exploded into shards of ice.
Ersatz Fury unleashed fiery blasts at Fox and Presto. As they dodged, Fox redirected the flames toward the ice bounding Tennyo and Yakumo. As the ice melted, they became free. Tennyo quickly rushed over to Ersatz Fury and slashed him in two with her Kunitokotachi. Then, Gorokichi, by Fox's command, finished it off with Bufudyne.
Ersatz Mirth summoned a powerful wind, knocking away the four combatants. Yakumo managed to hold his ground and readied his Oni Bane, which he used to throw at Ersatz Mirth. Preparing to deflect it with a wind attack, Ersatz Mirth prepared to stop it. Yakumo used this as an opportunity to get around the wind elemental user's vantage point. Yakumo swerved around to Ersatz Mirth's left side and snatched up his Oni Bane. Temporarily adding a shockwave behind his striking blow, Yakumo unleashed Impact Wave and destroyed the wind user.
Charging with electricity, Ersatz Joy bombarded the area with raging bolts. The group evaded the lightning user's devastating bolts. Tennyo blocked a lightning bolt with her ko-naginata. When she tossed her Divine Thorn, Ersatz Joy countered with a lightning bolt and repelled her attack. Tennyo quickly dodged her own bolt. Seizing this chance, Fox attacked the lightning user with Korokichi.
During this exchange, Presto summoned Genbu and utilized the turtle's Ki, producing water through his tonfas. While Fox kept Shadow Madarame's lightning duplicate occupied, Presto rushed to attack, but Ersatz Joy tossed a lightning bolt at him. Watching his life flash before his eyes, Presto prepared for the worst. Then, a Shogi piece materialized in front of Presto and forged a barrier, nullifying the lightning user's attack.
"Go for it!" Tennyo called out, casting her Shogi Shield once again.
With that, Presto used Genbu's Ki to throw water at Ersatz Joy, dowsing the lightning user. As water and electricity mixed, the lightning user's body became discharged by his electrical blasts. Seizing this opportunity, Fox commanded Gorokichi to finish it. Gorokichi quickly finished with Deadly Fury.
With his duplicates gone, Shadow Madarame found himself with his powers greatly diminished.
"You've been left wide open, 'sensei'," Fox sardonically remarked.
"All-out Attack!" Oracle declared.
Fox, Tennyo, Yakumo, and Presto went for the decisive blow to Shadow Madarame. Like ninjas, they unleashed lightning fast strikes all over Shadow Madarame, who failed to keep up. As they finished their attack, Shadow Madarame doubled over in pain and cursed under his breath.
"Damn you… brats… this isn't over…"
Fox pointed his katana toward Shadow Madarame. "It's over, you creature. Like I told you, the real Madarame and I have reconciled. He has agreed to let me display for all to see Sayuri. You are but a disgusting remnant from Madarame's previous transgressions. Cease anymore attempts to attack us and fade away."
After a few deep pants, Shadow Madarame conceded. "Well done… you've far surpassed me as an artist, Yusuke…" He dropped to a knee and dissolved into black dust.
Sheathing his katana, Fox frowned and turned away.
"Yusuke, are you going to be ok?" Tennyo approached her former fellow schoolmate.
"Futaba, we're ready to relocate and find the others," Fox declared.
Oracle chimed in through Al Azif. "Sure, no problem! Now let's see who's closest near us."
"Come, you three. Let's see if Sion and the others need our help," Fox addressed Tennyo, Yakumo, and Presto.
"You're right, Yusuke. I am worried about Sion," Tennyo said. "I hope he's doing ok along with the others."
"Guys, I've found the closest group to us. It's Joker's!" Oracle announced.
"If he's there, then Sion is, too. Please, Futaba. Send me to where Joker's party is!" Tennyo requested to go where Sion is currently located.
On the southern side outside London's Big Ben, Tamamo, Noir, and Louis faced Shadow Kaneshiro, who was seen piloting his Piggytron. Suddenly, a portal opened up, releasing a 10-foot long dark gray-furred Yokai weasel equipped with long sickles under its elbows.
"Heheh! Cut those beyotches to size, Kamaitachi!" Shadow Kaneshiro beckoned the Yokai weasel as it answered with a screech and glowing red eyes.
As Kamaitachi flung itself toward the group, it rolled around with its spinning sickles, attempting to cut the group down to size.
"Move!" Louis called out as he, Noir, and Tamamo dodged the spinning weasel Yokai.
As Kamaitachi landed and prepared for a tail swing, Noir attacked it with Psiodyne. After getting immobilized by Noir's psychic attack, Louis invoked his Fire Storm gift through his Prometheus Blood Code. The weasel became staggered by Louis's fiery projectiles. Then, Yamamo summoned her Nine-Tails, which launched fiery blasts that neutralized the Yokai weasel.
"Aww, what's wrong? Feeling dizzy?" Tamamo taunted the Yokai weasel.
Kamaitachi quickly recovered and swung its tail, sending a small cyclone at the group. The trio dodged and retaliated with an All-out Attack. After taking out the Yokai weasel, the trio attentively faced Shadow Kaneshiro.
"Time for yo asses to get steamrolled over by my Piggytron!" Shadow Kaneshiro roared, declaring the heroes' impending execution. He activated Piggytron and sent it rolling forward like a giant boulder.
Tamamo, Noir, and Louis quickly evaded Piggytron. Piggytron aimed and fired its Ocular Vulcan at the trio. Louis stepped in front of Noir and took a full shot from Piggytron.
"Shit yeah! Bull's eye! Ahahah!" Shadow Kaneshiro laughed.
"Louis!" Noir called out as she tended to him. "Please, are you going to be ok?!"
"I'll… manage… I can heal fast…" Louis smiled while favoring his chest where Piggytron shot him.
"Hey, you giant talking porkchop! Over here!" Tamamo goaded Shadow Kaneshiro's mechanized piggy bank. "Why don't ya get a piece of me?!" Her eyes glowed red like a demon's. "So you're Kaneshiro?! Why don't we have some fun gambling with our lives?!"
Shadow Kaneshiro balked at Tamamo's psychotic demeanor. "...the fuck is wrong with yeh?!"
"Let's see which of our beasts is better? Your piggy wiggy or my Nine-Tailed foxy!" The Compulsive Gambler shouted, raising both hands into the air as her Nine-Tails spirit reappeared.
"Feh, I'm supposed to be scared of that shit?! Ok, now Imma roll yeh asses over! Go forth Piggytron!" Shadow Kaneshiro commanded.
Grinning fiendishly, Tamamo openly invited Piggytron to come toward her.
As Noir helped Louis up, they watched in despair as Tamamo and the Nine-Tails didn't budge from their spot.
"Yumeko! Move out of the way!" Noir cried out to her.
"We've got to get in there!" Louis said as he summoned a sword. He swung it hard and unleashed Flame Weapon. With his gift, he sent a fiery wave, which formed a wall of flames that stopped Piggytron.
"What the shit?!" Shadow Kaneshiro grimaced as the wall of flames pushed Piggytron back.
Noir summoned her Third-Tier Persona: Lucy. Lucy fired One-shot Kill and blasted Piggytron. In retaliation, Piggytron unleashed its Missile Party on the group. Tamamo's Nine-Tails rushed Piggytron head-on and swung down its mighty tails. Tamamo's Nine-Tails and Louis combined their flamed attacks, unleashing a powerful wave of flames that repelled Piggytron.
Noir eyed Shadow Kaneshiro standing atop Piggytron and recalled the other Thieves' accounts of how they beat him.
"Yes, I know what to do," Noir realized as she beckoned Lucy to attack Shadow Kaneshiro.
"Oh shit!" Shadow Kaneshiro blanched as Noir figured out his Piggytron's flaw. He prepared to jump off, but Tamamo conjured flames from her Nine-Tails and prevented Shadow Kaneshiro from escaping.
Tamamo cackled sadistically, her face contorting with twisted pleasure. Her red eyes gleamed with a sheer thrill at Shadow Kaneshiro's predicament.
"Aww, what's wrong piggy wiggy? Afraid of becoming a roast pig?! Or, maybe bacon?!" The Compulsive Gambler squeed with amusement. She swung the tails from her back, sending fiery blasts at Shadow Kenshiro. "Now squeal! SQUEAL, PIGGY WIGGY!"
"YOU CRAZY BITCH!" Shadow Kaneshiro squealed like the pig Tamamo wanted to hear.
"AHAHAHAH! THAT'S RIGHT! SQUEAL FOR ME!" Tamamo maniacally laughed, seemingly enjoying Shadow Kaneshiro's panicked state.
As Lucy slammed into Piggytron, the force knocked Shadow Kaneshiro off his mechanized pig tank. Then, the group unleashed an All-out Attack and quickly dismantled the Piggytron. As Shadow Kaneshiro rose, he came face to face with Yumeko, who stood over him with a crazed look, scaring the wits out of the flyman.
"You've gambled with the wrong player, flyboy," Tamamo knelt. Her red eyes stared into Shadow Kaneshiro's frightened eyeballs.
Shadow Kaneshiro quickly backed off as Tamamo prepared to blast him with flames. Shadow Kaneshiro turned to run away, but Tamamo's Nine-Tails fired blasts and obliterated him.
"Game over, piggy," Tamamo giggled with delight. She turned around, giving a cat-like face that creeped out Noir and Louis. "Well, we're done here! Let's look for the others!"
Noir chuckled nervously. "Yes, let's go and find them, won't we?"
Louis nodded. "Yeah, let's do that." He turned to Noir, who blushed at him. "Hmm?"
"So, let's get going, yes?" Noir suggested as she, Tamamo, and Louis left to find their friends.
On the northern side outside of the Taj Mahal, Panther, Skull, Mona, Mia, and Brave confronted Shadow Kamoshida. Behind their foe are two spear-wielding Enki and a Hino-enma, a humanoid female Yokai with umbrella-like bat wings and tengu-geta on her feet.
Panther and Skull teamed up against the Enki duo. Mona and Mia went against the Hino-enma, as the vampiric Yokai gave off a very sinister and sensual aura.
"Take 'em down, guys!" Mona declared.
"Right!" Mia manifested her Stinger-Type Blood Veil. Dodging the Hino-enma's attack, Mia flung her metal tail and stabbed the female Yokai's neck.
"Whoa, nice! Keep her neutralized, Mia!" Panther encouraged her while ensnaring the Hino-enma with her whip and setting it ablaze. Panther then unleashed Agilao and burned up the Yokai.
"Here I go!" Mia shouted, wrapping her scorpion-like tail around the Hino-enma's neck and snapping it. She then pointed her Brodiaea bayonet, also doubling as a rifle, and blasted the Hino-enma's face with it. She fired a few more shots into the Hino-enma's neck, delivering the killing blow.
"Nice work!" Panther cheered her.
"Thanks. You're pretty good, too, Panther!" Mia replied, slingshotting the first Enki, Mona cast Garula, neutralizing the Yokai monkey. After wearing it down with wind magic, Skull used Charge to boost his physical stats. Skull clobbered the first Enki until it collapsed. The second Enki came charging at them, but Brave quickly interjected and summoned Janomecho.
"Grant me your wind power, Janomecho!" Brave then imbued her spear with magic Ki. With a swing from her spear, she unleashed a powerful cyclone, coupled with piercing air currents, that ripped through the second Enki and obliterated into pieces.
"Thanks for the save, Mary! Alright, ready?!" Mona rallied Skull on.
Skull then clobbered the first Enki until it collapsed as lightning ripped its body apart and exploded. The two Phantom Thieves and the Spiritual Gambler then rejoined Panther and Mia.
Mona boasted. "Heh, isn't it almost scary how good I am?!"
Brave sighed. "Yeah, yeah, I took a giant monkey down by myself I'll have you know."
Suddenly, Shadow Kamoshida stepped forward to confront the three Phantom Thieves, the Spiritual Gambler, and the Revenant.
"I'd give my congratulations for taking out my servants, but they were fodder. Now, you face a real challenge!" Shadow Kamoshida boasted, maintaining his perverse grin as he turned his sights on Panther and Skull. "Oh yeah, I'm gonna make short work of you two especially."
Skull scoffed. "Why don't ya bite me, asshole?!"
Panther scowled. "After I'm done here with you, I hope to never see your face!"
Mona warned. "Be careful, just because we're stronger than he is doesn't mean he hasn't found a new trick or two up his sleeve."
"Don't worry. That's why we're here!" Brave declared.
"Right, he doesn't know how we fight," Mia said, referring to herself and Brave.
Shadow Kamoshida cackled. "Let's see if you remember this!" He quickly transformed into his giant and grotesque Asmodeus form.
"Ugh, I remember blocking this disgusting form out of my mind!" Panther squicked at Shadow Kamoshida's disgusting giant form.
"Get ready! He's coming at us!" Mona called out.
Shadow Kamoshida launched his first attack: Volleyball Assault. The five heroes evaded Shadow Kamoshida's attack.
"Feel the pain of Artemis!" Mia invoked her Blood Code, performing her Freezing Roar at the former Palace ruler. Shadow Kamoshida countered her freezing ice projectile with Golden Knife, knocking away and injuring Mia with one might slash.
"Lady Mia!" Mona fearfully cried out.
"No!" Brave shouted as she struck Shadow Kamoshida with a wind attack, slightly disorienting him. However, this only agitated him as his frame expanded into a giant's size. "Oh shit, this isn't good!"
In response to Shadow Kamoshida going giant, Panther, Skull, and Mona summoned their Third-Tier Personas: Celestine, William, and Diego.
"Heal her, Celestine!" Panther beckoned her Persona to use Dia to instantly heal Mia.
"Thanks!" Mia said.
"Take this, asshole!" Skull yelled out as William executed Lunge and blasted Shadow Kamoshida with Ziodyne.
"Here is my resolve!" Mona yelled as Diego used Garudyne to critically damage Shadow Kamoshida.
"Damn you! Now, I'm gonna lick y'all to death!" Shadow Kamoshida shot out his big tongue, which Mia then intercepted and blasted with her Fusillade Rondo. She fired and blasted his tongue with a barrage of homing bullets.
"Eat that!" Mia retorted, her eyes glowing red. Then, she ripped out his tongue with her metal tail.
Shadow Kamoshida wailed loudly in pain as blood squirted out from his torn tongue. Some blood managed to splatter the ground.
"Ugh, gross!" Panther squicked.
As Shadow Kamoshida dropped his guard, Brave jumped over and stabbed the back of his neck with her spear. Feeling the spear piercing through his neck spine and blood being spilled, he collapsed with Brave ripping the spear out of him.
"Not so big now, are you?!" Brave rebuked at the fallen monster.
"Quick before he recovers! All-out Attack!" Mona shouted.
The five quickly dealt punishing blows to Shadow Kamoshida with their All-out Attack. While doing so, Mona knocked off the 'King's' crown. Shadow Kamoshida then collapsed and shrank down to normal.
"There's so many ways I want to pay you back for all you've done, but you're not worth it," Panther rightfully disparaged the Shadow.
"Yep, remember this ass whoopin' we gave you," Skull scoffed.
"Later, freak," Brave waved him off.
Shadow Kamoshida lowered his head and conceded in defeat. His body quickly dissolved into black dust.
"We need to get moving, guys. Who knows if the others are still caught up in their battles with the remaining Shadows," Mona said.
"If anyone has every right to worry, it's me. Who knows what mess Yumeko's gotten herself into," Brave remarked.
"And I'm worried about Joker and the others," Panther added.
"Well, shall we go then?" Mona smiled at the group.
"Lead the way, Mona," Mia nodded.
On the western side and inside the Roman Colosseum, Joker, Sion, Queen, Crow, Sumire, Jack, and Eva faced Shadow Shido.
"Heheh. Why don't we make this fight more compelling inside this gladiator's arena?" Shadow Shido raised a hand, opening a portal. The portal quickly grew, expanding outward until it was twenty times Shadow Shido's size.
The group dreadfully watched as a large six-legged Yokai monstrosity with a spider's body and a bull's head emerged free from its containment. Adorning its head is a pair of golden Amrita horns. The 10-foot tall, 15-foot length behemoth scanned its potential prey items with its four large red eyes. Upon sighting its opponents, the horned beast let out a fierce bellow, sending a shockwave that shuddered the vicinity.
"Great, just what we need," Crow scoffed.
"Don't worry. Jack and Eva, won't you two take care of it?" Sion insisted on his fellow Revenants.
Sighing, Jack sardonically replied. "You're way too generous, Sion." He quickly summoned two massive hound's heads, identical to Sion's Hound-Type Blood Veil.
"The Gyuki is hungry for humans. Too bad for you, you're its first meal in ages!" Shadow Shido cackled. "But you won't just be fighting him. You have me to worry about, too!"
With that, Shadow Shido quickly transformed into his initial Samael form. The general uniformed man beckoned his opponents, who ended up being Joker, Sion, Queen, Crow, and Violet. Jack and Eva headed off the gigantic Gyuki.
Letting out another fierce bellow, Gyuki sprawled with its six legs toward Jack and Eva. Making quick evasive moves, the Revenant couple started wearing down on the massive Yokai's large appendaged legs. Jack's hound heads fiercely ripped away a chunk of its left back leg.
"I'm not about to let you down, Sion!" Jack declared, invoking his Blood Code: Heimdall. As he accessed his Charge Accelerator gift, he zipped around and dodged Gyuki's legs. At the same time, he used his newfound speed to cut through the other legs. When Gyuki tried crushing him with one of its legs, Jack accessed Night Fog Veil, a gift granting him camouflage as a blood mist shrouded him from Gyuki's sights.
"Don't forget about me, you monster!" Eva called out, invoking her Blood Code: Harmonia. She accessed Gift Prowess to increase her and Jack's faster speeds. For Jack, his dodging and fighting speeds doubled than before. Conjuring blades of sand, Eva used her Volatile Storm, sending out sand blades that pierced into Gyuki's exposed rear.
As Jack and Eva wore down Gyuki, Joker and the others were fighting off Shadow Shido.
Having summoned his Ongyo-Ki, Joker sent his dark brown-armored, masked oni warrior to attack with its double-sided scythe. Shadow Shido fought back against Joker's Persona and effortlessly knocked it away.
Queen and Sion both rushed Shadow Shido. Shadow Shido threw a powerful punch at them. As they evaded Shadow Shido, Queen landed a flurry of punches all over Shadow Shido. She then kicked him back. Sion jumped over and landed behind Shadow Shido. Quickly brandishing his Queenslayer blade, he swung to slice him in two. Shadow Shido caught the Revenant's blade with his bare hands and pushed him back. Shadow Shido tried punching them again, but Queen and Sion sprang back evading his reach.
As they faced off against Shadow Shido, Queen and Sion briefly exchanged rebuttals.
Sion sardonically teased. "What's wrong? Feeling tuckered out, 'Queen' Badass?"
Queen smirked as she dryly replied. "Hey, you're not looking so hot, vamp boy. Don't act high and mighty around me."
He playfully quipped. "Yes, ma'am."
After Crow and Violet attacked him head-on, Shadow Shido brushed them away with his Tyrant's Wave. Both Crow and Violet landed side by side, ready and willing to defeat Shadow Shido.
"Are you still able to go, Violet?" Crow asked her.
"Yes, of course! I'm not going to let senpai down!" gallantly cried out Violet.
Shadow Shido gave a composed chuckle, eyeing Joker first. "How appropriate we face each other again, Amamiya Ren." He veered to each party member. "But you four are way over your heads if you think you can beat me."
Queen fiercely retorted. "You love hearing yourself talk, don't you?"
"Well, what are you waiting for? Come at me again if you can!" Shadow Shido beckoned them to attack. "Perhaps you first, newcomer!" He quickly shifted his focus toward Sion and clenched his right hand. He charged at him with his Tyrant's Fist.
"Sion, look out!" Joker called out as he hastily sent his Ongyo-Ki to stop Shadow Shido.
Seeing Ongyo-Ki heading toward him, Shadow Shido turned his Tyrant's Fist on Joker's Persona and blasted it into bits. Seizing advantage of this distraction, Sion lunged forward, connecting with a double slash with his Queenslayer and Hanemukuro. The double blade slashes at Shadow Shido. Shadow Shido snarled and went for a Tyrant's Fist, but Crow sent his Hereward Persona to attack Shadow Shido with Megidola. Shadow Shido punched Crow's Persona and knocked it away.
As Shadow Shido turned, Sion blasted him with Frenzied Fire, which shattered his armor. As Shadow Shido went for a Tyrant's Fist, Sion dodged and unleashed a barrage of strikes with his words. Shadow Shido crossed both arms, absorbing the impact strikes from taking Sion's slashes. As he jumped far back, Shadow Shido quickly ripped up chunks of concrete from the ground and jumped up, throwing the heaps of debris at Sion. Sion zipped away avoiding getting crushed by the debris. He picked up more debris he ripped off from the ground and tossed it at Sion. Using his Circulating Pulse, Sion slashed the debris apart with a barrage of strikes. jumped up to catch and fired a blast that obliterated the giant ball of debris.
Shadow Shido grinned evilly. "I commend you, boy!" He addressed Sion, who held his ground against him. "You're able to hold your own against me, but…" He focused hard as a bright aura engulfed him, changing him into his True Samael form.
As Shadow Shido prepared to attack, a white ray of light slammed into the earth. Everyone paused and turned toward the light as it pierced through Gyuki's head, shattering both of its horns. Tennyo was seen ripping her ko-naginata out of the giant Yokai's head, wiping its blood off the blade. She jumped off, allowing Jack and Eva to finish the Yokai.
"Hifumi!" Joker yelled.
Sion turned toward the Shogi player. "How did you get here and find us?"
"You can thank Futaba," Hifumi replied. "I'm thankful you're ok, Sion."
Shadow Shido scoffed, scanning each party member. "Hmph, another challenger steps forward? Not that it matters." He eyed Sion, Joker, and Tennyo. "I wonder what will happen when a dinosaur, a hydra, and a moth fights a lion like myself."
"You've talked enough," Joker scoffed, summoning Ultimate Persona: Satanael.
Tennyo readied her Kunitokotachi for another boss fight unlike the Yokai and Lost fodder she's already slain. Queen summoned her Third-Tier Persona: Agnes. Crow readied Hereward. Violet summoned her Persona: Ella. After finishing off Gyuki, Jack and Eva joined up with Joker's party.
"It's time we put an end to this farce of a battle!" Shadow Shido roared and unleashed Maragidyne, forcing the group to spread out from the flames. He quickly whipped around to his right and fired a Maziodyne at Queen, who rode away on Agnes. "Hold still!" He spun around and fired Mabufudyne, sending ice blasts at Crow, who ended up getting caught in the ice. "Heh, one down." He turned and unleashed Magarudyne, utilizing a powerful wind attack that knocked Queen and Agnes back. He swiftly rushed toward Queen and went for a Tyrant's Fist.
Just then, Sion ran up behind and blasted Shadow Shido back with Frenzied Fire. Shadow Shido turned around and repelled Sion back with Deathbound.
"Sion!" Tennyo cried out, shooting Divine Thorn toward Shadow Shido.
Dodging Tennyo's lightning attack, Shadow Shido lobbed Mabufudyne ice blasts at Tennyo, who gracefully evaded every attack coming her way. Tennyo jumped over a fiery blast cast by True Samael. Swinging down her ko-naginata weapon, Tennyo unleashed another Divine Thorn, inflicting some damage to Shadow Shido. However, True Samael quickly snatched Tennyo's ko-naginata and tugged her forward.
"HIFUMI!" Joker and Sion yelled out together.
As Joker sent Satanael to save Tennyo, Sion already beat the Phantom Thief leader to the punch. Transforming his hand into a demon's claw, the Revenant hit Shadow Shido with his Ogre-Type Blood Veil, forcing him to release Tennyo. In retaliation, Shadow Shido seized Sion's arm.
"There's absolutely no way I'll lose to a freak like you!" Shadow Shido gnashed his teeth hard.
Making the save, Tennyo raised her ko-naginata and summoned Shogi constructs. The pieces formed a circle around Shadow Shido and closed him in. Shadow Shido turned around, shooting an incensed glare toward Tennyo. Not one to be deterred by the enemy's gaze, Tennyo activated her Shogi Shield's secondary ability. The pieces fired and converged lightning bolts, which perpetually zapped him.
As the pieces vanished, Shadow Shido stumbled around looking worse for wear. Queen drove Agnes toward Shadow Shido and blasted him with Mafreila. Following Queen's attack, Violet's Ella struck his vital points with her Sword Dance. Swinging his sword, Jack swiftly struck Shadow Shido with his Severing Abyss. Amassing sand to create a makeshift blade, Eva's Sand Edge knocked Shadow Shido back.
Following Joker's command, Satanael fired Riot Gun, taking out a huge chunk of Shadow Shido's health. Shadow Shido stumbled back disoriented from their attacks.
Jack and Eva quickly shattered Crow's ice imprisonment and released him
"I think we got him, Hifumi," Sion said.
"That's good," Tennyo nodded.
"No!" Bellowed Shadow Shido, who quickly rose with a brand new dark red radiating over him. Having gained a second wind, the large Shadow's body bulked up mores. More disgusting-looking veins formed over sections of his body, including his forehead, facial areas, and arms. A twisted grin adorned his face, curving outward to form a maniacal grin. "I'M NOT FINISHED WITH YOU FOOLS YET!" He unleashed a stronger Tyrant Wave from his aura, knocking away his opposition, but Joker and Crow held their ground.
"Damn it! He's still able to go after all that?!" Jack exclaimed.
"Joker!" Tennyo, Sion, and Queen called out.
"Senpai!" Violet worryingly cried out.
As they exchanged looks, Joker and Crow nodded. They intently faced Shadow Shido charging toward them. As he wildly swung his Tyrant Fists at them, they dodged. He picked up concrete and tossed it at them. Satanael and Hereward quickly destroyed the debris, saving Joker and Crow.
"Ready to end this, Joker?"
"Let's do it!"
Suddenly, Shadow Shido noticed his surroundings altering, changing from the Colosseum's background to the scene ripped straight out of a Batman comic. The atmosphere became a grim, gritty rooftop scene with rain downpouring. Bewildered with the scenery change, Shadow Shido heard unhinged cackling behind him.
"Hey, dad. Behind you."
As Shadow Shido turned, he saw Crow doubling over laughing.
"Even though you're not the man I call father, I want you to look me in the eye and tell me you've disowned me."
Shadow Shido merely scoffed. "As far as I'm concerned, your worth to Shido expired when you failed him. The minute you failed to eliminate the Phantom Thieves, the man disowned you as his son. And since then, your reputation fell out of grace with the masses, Akechi Goro. Why is that? BECAUSE YOU ARE WEAK! YOU'RE A LIABILITY TO THOSE AROUND YOU! YOUR WORTH MEANS NOTHING TO ANYONE! YOUR SO-CALLED ALLIES ABHOR YOU FOR BETRAYING THEIR TRUST! YOU ARE NOTHING BUT AN INSECT!"
"Heheheh, that's all I need to hear. One day, I'll meet the old man myself and see what he tells me. As far as you're concerned, Shadow…" As he gripped his head, Crow's eye flashes red. "GET OUT OF MY WAY!" He yelled out with ferocity. With a killer's intent, Crow rushed Shadow Shido.
Firing his grappling hook into the air, Joker swung across and followed Crow. As Shadow Shido went for another Tyrant Wave, a metal tail pierced his left side. With a glance, he saw Sion tearing away his Stinger-Type Blood Veil from him. Before he could retaliate, Joker dove on him and slashed him with his Paradise Lost Dagger.
"Now, Crow!" Joker called out, stepping away as Crow unleashed a flurry of flesh tearing slashes with his sword.
"YOU LITTLE SHIT! I'LL SHOW YOU WHO'S A FUCKING LIABILITY! TAKE THIS! AND THIS! HAHAHAH!' Crow, sporting an unhinged expression to match his psychotic edge, continuously slashed him with multiple strikes. Blood splattered from every skin piercing blow. After dealing one critical slash across Shadow Shido's body, he cooled off and let Joker deal the finishing blow.
With his Tyrant Pistol, Joker aimed and shot the back of Shadow Shido's neck.
As a result, Shadow Shido's body started breaking down and shrinking, his muscular mass diminishing before everyone's eyes. He heavily wheezed hard as his adversaries crowded near him.
"Akechi might have issues with his father, but I've settled my differences with Shido," Joker informed Shadow Shido. "He was tried in court after I testified."
"Well done, Amamiya Ren. Consider this victory, however small… yours…" Shadow Shido chortled darkly. "But remember… the entity with the power akin to Yaldabaoth awaits you out there…"
Joker demanded. "Who is he?"
Queen frowned. "Or, what is it?"
"You'll find out in due time, Phantom Thieves… enjoy this victory of yours…" Shadow Shido smirked. "All I can say is his viewpoints are similar to my own… perhaps you'll learn a thing or two from him better than from me."
Crow muttered. "What?"
"Farewell, Crow. I hope you're satisfied… if you are still out there, maybe it's time to meet the man who disowned you as his son…" Shadow Shido gave parting words for Crow. "Remember, Phantom Thieves… he's watching…"
After leaving his last vague message, Shadow Shido's body dissolved into black dust. The last of the four Shadows ceased completely, leaving Joker and his cohorts to speculate over Shadow Shido's warning about another enemy waiting for them in their reality. Violet treated Joker with Diarahan. Tennyo conjured three Shogi constructs, which she sent into mid-air to surround Sion. Using her Shogi Restoration, Tennyo restored Sion's full health and used it to heal Queen next.
"No need to heal us two," Jack declined Tennyo's aid for himself and Eva. "We can self heal, and we have gifts to heal ourselves."
"Make sure you heal yourself, Hifumi," Sion suggested.
"I'll manage, but thank you for the concern, Sion." Changing the subject, Tennyo wondered. "Who was he referring to? Someone we've yet to meet?"
Sion frowned. "What if it's the source we've been looking for? It has to be him!"
Queen deduced. "He even described him as someone like Yaldabaoth, but it can't be him? Who else could have a power like that monster?"
Just then, they heard the sounds of Mina and Kyosuke's heated battle with Maria and the Greater Lost outside. They quickly rushed out of the Colosseum and faced the Alamo's direction.
"We'll think about what Shido said later. There's still Maria left to deal with," Joker said.
After defeating the Palace Rulers, the party members reconvened. Nekomata decided two groups should go into the Alamo to help Mina and Kyosuke against Maria and the two Greater Lost. It was decided Mia, Crow, Skull, Panther, Mona, Fox, Oracle, Yakumo, Jack, and Eva would be one group. Joker amassed Sion, Tennyo, Queen, Noir, Louis, Tamamo, Brave, and Presto in his party.
The two large parties took different routes inside the Alamo.
Near the Alamo's outskirts, Mina and Kyosuke proactively occupied Maria and the Great Lost, keeping them from finding the Thieves and their compatriots. Swinging her katana, Mina imbued water Ki through her blade and slashed through the air, sending a surge of water, which Maria evaded. Maria quickly headed off Mina, engaging the Amazonian in a sword duel. As Kyosuke tried to intervene, Blade Bearer and Cannoneer cut him off.
With quick and consecutive slashes, Maria brought Mina down to a knee.
"Surely this isn't the best William's successor has?" Maria pointed her rapier's blade to Mina's face.
"Not a chance!" Mina roared defiantly, making a quick dash for Maria's legs and slashing at them. As Maria jumped up, she went for another attack.
Then, Joker intervened and stopped Maria's rapier with his dagger. Taken by surprise from the Phantom Thief's swift counter, Maria sprang back and watched Joker's colleagues arrive on the scene.
"Hey, thanks for the save, kid, but I had her," Mina playfully smirked at Joker.
Joker replied with slight sarcasm. "Yeah, right."
Standing up straight and facing her opposition, Maria chortled. "If you're all here, then you defeated the four Palace Rulers. Congratulations. However, your streak of good luck ends here. By my sword!" She readied her rapier.
Mona warned his group. "Don't let your guard's down, everyone."
Just then, Nekomata reappeared. "Yes, good advice, young kitten. You all may have her outnumbered, but she's single handedly defeated groups of people by herself."
"Then, she's about to learn we ain't pushovers!" Skull boasted.
Oracle summoned Al Azif and entered her Persona again. "Ok, defenses up for everyone!" Oracle announced, powering her team's defenses.
"We'll take over from here," Joker insisted, taking over for Mina. Sion, Tennyo, Violet, Louis, Tamamo, Brave, and Presto joined Joker and Mina against Maria. "Ready, everyone?!"
"Hold it! There's no way I'm stepping down! This is my fight, too!" Mina declined Joker's request. "If we gotta beat her together, then let it be so!"
"Joker, we'll help deal with the Lost!" Mona called out, leading Panther, Skull, Fox, Queen, Noir, Crow, Mia, Yakumo, Jack, and Eva toward Kyosuke's skirmish with the Greater Lost.
Making a quick dash forward at Joker and Mina first, Maria went for a forward thrust with her rapier. The duo narrowly dodged. Maria picked out her first target and attacked Joker with straight thrusts, but Joker countered with his dagger.
While getting into a deadlock with Joker, Maria meticulously scanned Mina and the Spiritual Gamblers. "Yes, I know you wield Guardian Spirits. It will be a pleasure to decisively defeat you and your spirits with my Amrita power." She and Joker continued their duel until Violet ran forward to drive Maria back with her rapier.
"Get away from senpai!" Violet fiercely threatened Maria.
"Thanks," Joker nodded to the red-haired Phantom Thief.
"My pleasure, Ren-senpai!"
Maria quickly rushed into a duel with Joker and Violet. The others waited to step in, but Mina beckoned the Spiritual Gamblers to access their Ki to conjure their Living Weapon abilities. Based on Mina's assessment, the Living Weapons may be enough to slow Maria down, which could give a chance for victory.
"Hey, get back here!" Skull called out after the Blade Bearer, but Greater Lost swung her sword at the Phantom Thief. "Shit!" Narrowly rolling away from the Lost's reach, Skull escaped near death.
"Ryuji!" Oracle called out from within Al Azif.
"Joker and the others should be able to handle Maria! Let's focus our resources against these things!" Mona stated.
"Right, and you have those with Lost slaying expertise here!" Mia stated. "Yakumo, Jack, Eva, let's tear these two apart!"
"Get ready because here it comes for an attack!" Fox alarmed them.
Blade Bearer charged at Mona, Skull, Fox, Crow, Mia, and Yakumo first. As the Lost swung down her sword, Oracle reacted in time, boosting her friends' defenses and speed. Mona's group quickly evaded the Blade Bearer's attack. Mona summoned Diego and sent his Persona to sword duel Blade Bearer. Mercurius landed a Lucky Punch and knocked Blade Bearer back. The sword-wielder retaliated with a three-hit combo with her sword, stabbing Diego until the third blow, which the Persona dodged.
Skull, Fox, Noir, and Crow then summoned their Third-Tier Personas. Skull sent William to hit Blade Bearer with a Swift Strike. Crow's Hereward attacked Blade Bearer, but the sword-wielding Lost forged her Frontal Ice Wall, guarding her against William's bolt. Guided by Fox's command, Gorokichi unleashed a Vicious Strike on the Blade Bearer. On Noir's behalf, Lucy shot Blade Bearer with a Triple Down.
While the four Personas held off the Invading Executioner, Mia and Yakumo went in. They took turns slashing and shooting her. Following some bayonet shots, Mia shoved her metallic stinger through Blade Bearer's right leg, taking her down to one knee. Yakumo's Hound-Type Blood Veil manifested tore into the Greater Lost's body. Striking back with her sword, Blade Bearer desperately fended off the Personas and the two Revenants. Blade Bearer unleashed her Ice Pillars, warding off the Persona. The Greater Lost then cast Fire Spear, forcing Mia and Yakumo to dodge. Lucy cast Tetrakarn, which protected Noir from the Greater Lost's physical attack.
"This is gonna be a problem," Mona said. "Go! All-out Attack!"
The Phantom Thieves swiftly attacked Blade Bearer.
Elsewhere, Queen, Panther, Jack, and Eva aided Kyosuke against the Cannoneer. Summoning Celestine, Panther inflicted Cannoneer with Tarunda, neutralizing the Greater Lost. Queen crashed Agnes into Cannoneer, blowing the Lost away with Vajra Blast. This enabled Jack and Eva to ferociously strike the Cannoneer.
"Hey, can you still go?!" Panther called to Kyosuke, who picked himself up.
Holding up his ōdachi, Kyosuke then released a fiery vermillion aura, which enveloped him. "I can now. Thanks to you, now I can go all-out!" The man bellowed loudly, his human cries deepened into a beastly roar.
"What the hell?!" Panther gasped as she witnessed Kyosuke transforming before her eyes.
It wasn't long when the other Phantom Thieves, the Spiritual Gamblers, and the Revenants witnessed Kyosuke changing.
"Yo, what's happening to him, Panther?!" Skull called out from the distance.
Suddenly, Kyosuke's Guardian Spirit, Makami's presence shrouded the man in an orange veil of Ki. Everyone witnessed the man grow into a 7'5 foot tall demonic humanoid with red flesh skin. Two tusk-like teeth poked out of the sides of his lips. Orange steam-like energy leaked from his center chest where an Amrita source glowed and pulsated with light. His eyes burned bright blue. Tufts of black fur covered his head, wrists, and forearms. His hand turned black and nails morphed into sharp black claws. Protruding from the crown of the demonic man's head is a pair of long, curved Amrita horns and a pair of smaller horns.
Letting out a loud bellow, Kyosuke raised a giant fist and punched Cannoneer back. After dazing the Lost, the Shiftling lunged and pummeled it with devastating body blows. Each vicious blow dealt with critical damage.
Bewildered by the man's demonic transformation, the shock from the Thieves, Revenants, and Gamblers couldn't be more overstated.
"WHAT THE HELL?!" Skull exclaimed.
"He looks like one of the Yokai!" Panther cried out.
The Revenants' eyes glowed red in response to Kyosuke's transformation.
"Do you mind telling us what this is?" Joker asked Mina.
"Did he just turn into a Lost?!" Louis shouted in question.
"No, he didn't," answered Mina. "He didn't turn into one of the creatures we're fighting."
"Is this due to the Amrita's effects?" Brave asked Mina.
"Indeed, this is the first time any of you are seeing a Yokai Shift," the muscle woman revealed.
"A Yokai Shift?" Sion overheard.
Mina entailed them. "When a wielder becomes possessed by a Guardian Spirit and attune them with Soul Cores of Yokai spirits, they invoke these Yokai Shifts."
As Cannoneer stood up looking disoriented, Kyosuke rushed the Lost and punched him so hard he nearly broke it in two. Bringing down his fists, Kyosuke clubbed Cannoneer down, smashing its head into the ground. After a loud bellow, Kyosuke stomped Cannoneer's head.
"Alright, he's got him!" Presto cheered on.
"No, the longer he stays in this form, the more dangerous he'll become!" Mina called out. Before she could save her friend, Maria cut her off from the pass.
"No, we haven't finished our duel, Saoirse wielder!" Maria swung her Amrita-imbued rapier at Mina, who countered with her water-imbued katana.
As Joker's group continued aiding Mina against Maria, the other groups were finishing up the Greater Lost skirmishes.
As the Cannoneer rose to fight again, Kyosuke charged, but Queen and Skull beat him to the Lost. After dodging Cannoneer's Flamethrower, Queen knocked it back with Flash Bomb.
"Here it comes!" Queen yelled out.
"Ready whenever you are!" Skull added.
Suddenly, Cannoneer's surroundings altered to an old American western setting complete with a sunset in the backdrop. Cannoneer faced the other way where Queen and Skull stood. Skull has his mace on his shoulder. Queen stood cross-armed.
"It's time to get a little crazy!" Skull said, getting an elbow to his side from Queen.
"Stay focused!"
As they rushed Cannoneer, Queen struck the Greater Lost with a flying kick. Skull jumped high in the air and smashed his mace over Cannoneer's head, then smashed it in the face.
"Go for it!" yelled Skull.
Performing a hand seal, Queen then rapidly unloaded a barrage of Hokuto no Ken punches all over the Lost, hitting the creature with precise body strikes. At the same time, Queen yelled out. "Atatatata!" Finally, while sliding passed the Lost, she delivered a final punch.
Skull handed Queen a grape soda. "Thanks, ma'am!"
As Queen crushed the soda, Cannoneer exploded in gory fashion behind their backs. Having expended enough of his power against Cannoneer, Kyosuke then powered down out of Yokai Shift state.
"Are you ok?" Panther asked Kyosuke, who was coming to his senses.
"I am now. Thank you," he replied.
Just then, Blade Bearer conjured ice and threw a Charged Frost Spear, causing the group to move away. Upon seeing Blade Bearer's ice, Jack came up with an idea.
"That Lost with the ice is weak to fire!" Jack informed them, pointing out Blade Bearer's elemental weakness.
"Is that so? In that case…!" Summoning Celestine, Panther burned Blade Bearer with Maragidyne. Enveloped by Panther's flames, Blade Bearer was at her mercy. "I've got her neutralized!"
"Now, finish it!" Yakumo called out.
"Let's take this one, Mona!" Noir called out.
Suddenly, two spotlights beamed down on Noir and Mona, who immediately used the battlefield as their performance stage.
"Mona-chan, we're on!" Noir announced as they bounced into the air. When Mona hopped high into the air, he somersaulted as smoke exploded over him, granting him the ability to turn into black cat van again.
As the van landed, the headlights, shaped like Mona's eyes, cast beams toward Blade Bearer. Noir gracefully landed on the roof of the van. Mona headed straight for the Greater Lost.
With a rocket launcher in hand, Noir locked and targeted the Lost. "You've been bad!" With that, she fired four consecutive missiles, three blasting the ground around the Lost and the fourth blew her up into bloody pieces. The Greater Lost's gory remains splattered on the ground as she and Cannoneer dissolved into red mist.
As Noir stepped out of the Mona van, the cat returned to normal and fell into Noir's arms.
"Did we get her?" Mona asked.
"We sure did! Thanks to Panther's fire, too!" Noir nodded.
"Bonafide Monafide!" Oracle cheered on.
"Yep, that'll do," Mona nodded. "Now, let's regroup with Joker and the others!"
"Hold on," Yakumo said as he and the Revenants confronted Kyosuke. "We're sure you're still with us?"
"Are you in control of that monster you've become?" Mia asked him.
Nodding, Kyosuke reassured them. "Yes, my Yokai Shift form is always the last resort. I hoped not to utilize it, but that creature pushed my limits."
Jack intently glared into Kyosuke with his blue eyes. "Good, let's keep it that way. As long as you keep it under control."
"Hey, we better catch up with Joker, Sion, and the others!" Queen beckoned the Revenants and Kyosuke toward the Maria skirmish.
"You heard her. Louis and Sion will likely need us," Eva suggested.
"Let's go then," said Yakumo.
The Spaniard was able to fight off Joker's group with her Amrita powers and unmatched rapier skills. When Joker and Violet double teamed Maria, they sword dueled her. Maria quickly disarmed Joker's dagger and kicked him away. Violet briefly dueled Maria, but the Spaniard proved too adept for the Phantom Thief and parried her attacks.
After repelling Violet with her Amrita-powered rapier, Maria turned and faced two of Joker's newly summoned Personas.
Mother Harlot, a large red seven-headed dragon, each with a crown atop their heads, and a skull-masked woman doubling as an eighth head.
Cybele, a dark blue-skinned, light blue-striped naked woman with long black horns jutting through the back of its head and long dark hair in a ponytail. The blue demon woman has two swords to fight Maria with.
"Not bad. You children fight well, but I will bring you a quick defeat!" Maria declared, readying her next attack.
"Damn, she's fast! I couldn't even keep up!" Brave cursed.
"Indeed, this is going to be problematic for us! Even my abilities can't match hers!" Tennyo stated.
"Don't give up," Sion rallied everyone together. "If we can drag this out, we can beat her in a battle of attrition."
"Sion's right! Wearing her down is our best strategy!" Louis openly declared.
As she ran at Maria, Mina swung down her katana, sending a water torrent at the Spaniard. Maria casually evaded Mina's Living Weapon. Then, after accessing Enku's ki, Brave imbued fire through her spear. Presto accessed Kato's Ki and covered his tonfas with fire. Once accessing their Living Weapons, the two Spiritual Gamblers attacked Maria with flames. Maria expertly cut through their flames with her Amrita-powered rapier.
"Very impressive, Spirit Guardian wielders," Maria complimented Brave and Presto. She faced Brave with a relentless glare. "I know you're wielding Yukimura's spirit. Yes, I believe it's Janomecho." She rushed Brave, but Tamamo quickly jumped in the way and tackled Maria back. Swinging her rapier at Tamamo, the Nine-Tails emerged and attacked the Spaniard.
Backing off, Maria scoffed. "And you possess Lady Chacha's Spirit Guardian. Yes, I was there with her."
"What? You knew Lady Chacha?" Tamamo was taken aback, but before she could ask for elaboration, Maria knocked her away with an Amrita wave.
After dispatching Tamamo, Louis swiped at her with his Enduring Crimson sword. The Spaniard blocked Louis's sword and kicked him back. She then vertically slashed him with her rapier, knocking him back with an Amrita wave. Sion dove in, catching Louis.
"Thanks, Sion."
"We have to keep going, Louis," Sion said, readying his Hanemukuro and Queenslayer Blade.
Taking out his Tyrant Pistol, Joker fired at Maria, but the Spaniard woman stopped the bullets. She thoroughly cut through every bullet fired her way. Violet once again tried to duel Maria with her rapier. Maria dodged and parried Violet's strikes. Violet then fired shots from her rifle. Once again, Maria dodged and cut through every projectile.
"Great, so she dodges and cuts up bullets! Louis, give me a hand!" Sion yelled as he charged at Maria.
Picking himself up, Louis attacked Maria with his sword. Maria countered with her rapier. Sion rushed toward Maria's left side and double slashed her with his swords. Maria jumped up, narrowly avoiding a critical blow. Maria quickly opened fire from mid-air, forcing the Revenants to evade the rain of Amrita bullets heading their way.
Joker sent Mother Harlot to attack Maria. The Spaniard invoked her Amrita to stop Mother Harlot from attacking her. After nullifying the Persona, Maria swiftly came up behind Joker, driving her rapier through him.
"Joker!" Louis yelled out. He and Sion went to attack Maria again, but she stopped them with her Amrita aura.
"Senpai!" Violet yelled out, heading over to save Joker, who fell down covering the slash wound on his right shoulder.
"Joker!" Panther was heard yelling from afar. She outpaced everyone else and ran over to Joker. "Oh my god! What happened?!"
"She did this to him, Panther!" Violet informed her.
"I'll be ok," Joker waved them off, trying and failing to cover up his wound.
"Like hell you are! You're wounded, Ren!" The red leather garbed Thief shouted with concern.
"I've got enough to summon another Persona," Joker said as he sent Cybele to engage Maria.
Summoning Celestine and Ella, Panther and Violet backed up Joker's Cybele. Maria formed Amrita barriers, protecting herself from the Persona attacks.
"Hold on, Ren," Panther said, using Diarahan to heal Joker.
"Thanks, Ann," Joker sighed with relief, his shoulder wound completely healed up.
Meanwhile, Maria fought off Cybele, Celestine, and Violet. Leaving herself unguarded, Maria was Celestine's Agilao. Ella then struck the Spaniard with Kougaon. Taking damage from Celestine and Violet's attacks, Maria flew back and took some damage from their Personas.
"Finally! About time one of us got a hit on her!" Violet cried out.
"She's getting right up!" Panther warned.
"I'm healed up! I'll take care of her!" Tennyo declared, readying her Kunitokotachi.
Setting her sights on the Spaniard woman, Tamamo evilly grinned as her red eyes flared. "No, it's my turn!" Her evil grin spread across her feral features. Her chuckles became borderline sadistic, sending unsettling vibes toward the others. Brave and Presto sensed Tamamo's demonic aura.
Suddenly, as the Nine-Tails merged with her, Tamamo crouched down on all fours, sprawling her feet apart like a fox. Her face contorted with a devilish grin, exposing her now sharp canine teeth and glowing red eyes. Thick black whisker-like marks formed on her cheeks. Large black nine tails burst out from behind the Compulsive Gambler's posterior. These nine tails engulf Tamamo, triggering a dark transformation.
"Oh my god… Yumeko! No!" Presto called out, but Brave stopped him.
"Don't get near her, Ryōta!" Brave screamed at him, restraining him.
"But, it's Yumeko! We have to…!"
"No, boy. Your friend is right," Mina added. "Your friend's become consumed by the will of the Nine-Tailed Fox!"
Intensely facing down Tamamo, Maria gritted her teeth. "Yes, the very same Nine-Tailed Fox that corrupted Yodogimi, otherwise known as Lady Chacha. I was there to see it happen ages ago." She stood and imbued Amrita through her rapier. "Your friend there has the will of Tamamo-no-Mae!"
Just then, Nekomata materialized next to Brave and Presto. "She is correct about Tamamo-no-Mae's will possessing Miss Yumeko, my friends."
"Who is Tamamo-no-Mae?" Presto asked the spirit cat.
"She is one of the three great Yokai along with Otakemaru and Shuten Doji!" Nekomata informed the two Spiritual Gamblers. Pivoting toward Maria, the spirit cat addressed her. "And I believe you allied with Otakemaru as you were the one responsible for undoing that demon's seal as well as Hide's at Byodo-In. Hide is the one to seal and defeat Otakemaru with the legendary sword known as..."
"Sohayamaru," Mina finished.
"Yes, that's the one, Mina," the spirit cat replied.
With these events fresh on her mind, Maria reminisced about releasing Otakemaru's seal and reawakening Hide. However, her reflections on the past were swiftly ended as Tamamo completed her transformation.
As her nine tails opened up, the dark Yokai energy resonating around Tamamo faded. A large black-furred, red-eyed kitsune appeared in place of the Compulsive Gambler. She has long white hair and red linings across her black nine tails. Her front arms between her head and front legs became lean. Snarling, she bared her sharp canine teeth. Stepping forward, Tamamo, now transformed into the Nine-Tailed Fox, faced down Maria, who remained resolute despite the monstrous fox's presence. The Phantom Thieves, Tennyo, Sion, and Louis were overwhelmed with shock over these developments.
"Oh shit, that's Yumeko?" Sion was flabbergasted.
"She's actually turned into the Nine-Tailed Fox?!" Tennyo cried out.
"She's turned into the very same Nine-Tailed Fox that William and Yukimura fought before during the Siege of Osaka!" Nekomata exclaimed as he turned toward Mina and Brave. "You know what this means to you?"
Brave watched the Nine-Tailed Fox charging toward Maria. "Yeah, my predecessor helped William defeat Lady Chacha when she turned into this thing but has Yumeko completely lost it?!"
"I don't think so, Mary! Look, Yumeko is directing her attack on Maria and not us!" Presto pointed out as the Nine-Tailed Fox swung two of her tails at Maria, who narrowly evaded, but one of the other tails knocked her far back. "It doesn't look like we lost Yumeko!"
Tightly gripping her spear, Brave sighed. "Well, that's good but for how long can she maintain her state of being?"
"I hope you know what you're doing, Yumeko!" Presto called out to her.
"Hey, it's best if we get out of the way!" Panther suggested as everyone moved out of the Nine-Tailed Fox's path.
Turning back around, the Nine-Tailed Fox roared and charged at Maria. The nine-tailed beast swung its tails, lobbing red fiery blasts at Maria. The Spaniard woman dodged and used her Amrita to defend from the fiery shower. The Nine-Tailed Fox's front most tails shot forward and pierced the earth in front of Maria, knocking her back.
"This is our chance!" Brave summoned Janomecho. By Brave's behest, the Guardian Spirit blew away Maria with a wind attack.
Presto then followed up, striking Maria with his fire-imbued tonfas. Channeling Saoirse's water Ki in her katana, Mina slashed Maria with quick consecutive strikes. Then, she channeled water Ki in her fists and pummeled the Spaniard. After upper cutting Maria, Tennyo struck her down with Divine Thorn.
Then, Sion and Louis took turns slashing Maria with their swords. Conjuring his Frenzied Fire, Sion blasted Maria away from the Alamo.
"Remember the Alamo!" Some bystander yelled out, who slipped away after getting his five seconds of glory.
"Um, ok?" Oracle blinked in confusion. She shrugged. "Eh, who cares."
As soon as Mona's group arrived, they saw Joker and company surround Maria, who stood and proudly held her ground despite being outnumbered.
"Now or never! All-out Attack!" Joker beckoned to Mona, Skull, Fox, Queen, Noir, and Crow. With that, the Phantom Thieves pummeled Maria as the Spaniard saw nothing but red and black with shadowy flashes pummeling her.
Even after hitting her with All-out Attack, Maria stood almost ready to fight back.
"Hey, let me have a piece of the action!" Oracle called out. She pushed a green button. A slot under Al Alzir opened up, dropping a massive green bomb in front of Maria. Falling out of her Persona was Oracle, who plopped 2 meters from the bomb. When the lit fuse stopped, she gave a confused look and huddled over to check. After a few taps, the bomb exploded, blowing away Maria and Oracle.
After launching Maria away, the group huddled together. Much to their dismay, Maria slowly rose determined to die trying to beat her adversaries.
"What the hell?! That shoulda finished her!" Skull exclaimed.
Oracle snorted. "Man, talk about a DLC boss! They're almost always the hardest ones to beat!"
"I will not stop until either one of us is dead!" Maria declared.
"Senpai! I'm ready to pay her back!" Violet called out as she and Joker jumped into the air. "It's our time to shine!"
Suddenly, Maria noticed her surroundings changing from the Alamo setting to the inside of a cathedral. Befuddled by the change in scenery, she failed to notice Violet running up a stairway. The red-haired Phantom Thief turned where Joker came diving in using his grappling hook.
"Shall we?" Violet playfully said as Joker scooped her up and flew across the cathedral's ceiling. As she wove them around several pillars, Joker pointed his pistol and fired at Maria. Having been pushed to exhaustion, Maria was an open target as the bullets pounded her. Joker then tossed Violet into the air.
"She's all yours!" He shouted as Violet somersaulted into the air and dove toward Maria. Then, an image of a girl similar to Sumire appeared in a pink gymnast outfit. Violet's older sister, Yoshizawa Kasumi, held a hand out and grabbed Violet.
"We're on!" With that, Violet and Kasumi performed a duet dance. Then, they finished their dance by slashing up Maria with their rapiers. Completing their dance, Violet announced. "Our grand finale!" After her sister vanished, Violet leaned into Joker's arms. "We did it, senpai!"
"Ahem!" Panther chimed in, causing both to turn around. She looked at them with crossed arms and an annoyed look. "Joker? Violet?"
"Sorry," Joker and Violet both said, pulling away.
"Sorry about that, Panther!" Violet openly apologized.
As the setting returned to the Alamo backdrop, Maria fell to her knee. Before she realized it, she found herself surrounded by the Phantom Thieves pointing their guns at her. The Revenants had their Blood Veils ready to strike her. Tennyo raised her ko-naginata, willing to blast her with Divine Thorn again. The Spiritual Gamblers, sans, Yumeko, have their Spirit Guardians out to fight her. Maria and Kyosuke pointed their blades in the Spaniard's way. Tamamo, who turned back to normal, has her nine tines ignited with flames.
"It's over. Give up," Joker sternly said, preparing to pull the trigger.
Chuckling, Maria raised her hands. "Well done, young heroes. You've won my respect with your tenacity. I concede."
"What?" Sion was taken aback.
"A smart choice," Louis added.
Panther scoffed. "That easily?"
Just then, Nekomata appeared. "Indeed, my friends. You've shown her that even across time, there are warriors who can hold their ground and last in any battle against her." The spirit cat then informed the group. "The fact she's conceded is proof you've earned her respect."
Sheathing her katana, Mina deeply sighed with relief. "I suppose I can accept that."
Tamamo chuckled. "It has to be because I kicked her butt."
Presto sighed. "We all pitched in, Yumeko."
"So, what will you do now?" Sion asked the Spaniard woman.
"Seeing I was beaten, I will be taking my leave," Maria stated as a time stream opened up behind her. "Oh, and you'll all be waking up very soon. Consider this a warm-up for the coming battle against the entity that brought me here and revived your old enemies." After picking her hat, she turned and bowed. "Adiós, my worthy opponents. Should we cross paths again, may our battle be something to be remembered in the history books."
With that, Maria hopped into the time stream and disappeared.
"Woo! Hell yeah! We totally kicked her ass!" Skull called out.
"Great job, guys!" Mona gleefully chimed in.
"She said you'd be waking up soon, Sion," Louis reminded him.
"Which means…" Mia realized, looking sad.
"We'll be gone," Yakumo said.
"Since we're cognitions you created solely to help you, Sion," Jack added.
"I'm sorry this had to be brief," Eva apologetically said.
Shaking his head, Sion deeply smiled. "Heh, yeah. It was good to see you guys, even if you're just the cognitive versions of my friends." Walking up to the Revenants, Sion hugged each of them.
Mia smiled softly. "Just think of us and maybe we'll reappear in your dreams again."
"Take care, man," Yakumo patted Sion's shoulders. "Tell your girlfriend, Hifumi, we said hi."
"Um… yeah, sure I will," Sion said, looking over at Tennyo.
"Hifumi?" Louis addressed Tennyo. "We know Io's essence is in you. Seems she picked you for a good reason. Take care of her power and she will surely guard you with her life."
Tennyo nodded. "I will. Thank you. It was good to meet you all."
"Everyone, this whole place is fading away!" Fox looked around as the distorted Osaka and amalgamated city vanished before their eyes.
The Phantom Thieves, Tennyo, Sion, the Spiritual Gambler, Mina, and Kyosuke started to disappear, a sign that they were waking up from their sleep. Sion watched as his Revenant friends vanished.
"We'll see each other again, my friends," Sion said as Tennyo patted his shoulder.
"We're leaving, Sion. Time for us to wake up," the Shogi player whispered.
"Time for us to find the enemy Shido and Maria warned us about," Joker said as he and Mona were the last ones to wake up.
Chapter Soundtrack
Blooming Villain (Atlus Konishi Remix) - Persona 5: Dancing Star Night - vs. Shadow Madarame, Shadow Kaneshiro, and Shadow Kamoshida.
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance OST - It Has To Be This Way - vs. Shadow Shido.
Code Vein OST - Tears of Passion -Unexpected Feelings- vs. Maria, Blade Bearer, and Cannoneer.
Bloodborne DLC OST - Lady Maria of the Astral Clocktower - vs. Maria.
Memory of the Lost (Happy) - Code Vein - The protagonists about to wake up and Sion saying his farewells to his cognitive friends.
A/N: So, true story, this was originally the second half of Chapter X. However, it ran longer than it needed to be and so I opted to cut this into two parts. I believe I made the right call here.
Needless to say, the Shadow Palace Rulers make a brief comeback only to be thwarted. This time not just by the Thieves, but with the Revenants, the Gamblers, Mina, and Kyosuke pitching in. It's straight forward, although Akechi did take his frustrations out on Shido's Shadow. Yumeko also goes into Nine-Tailed Fox mode, but thankfully she didn't go berserk (and that's honestly a good thing). And plenty of Showtime sequences to show off.
After the selected Greater Lost were dealt with, Maria proved how strong of a DLC boss (as Futaba elaborated) truly is. It took some effort and coordination, but they beat the Spanish ninja. Deeming her foes worthy enough for a rematch, Maria warns them of their enemy and leaves.
This chapter also reveals the names Otakemaru, Shuten Doji, and for a second time Tamamo-no-Mae. Keep these names in mind. They'll be acknowledged again.
Sadly for Sion, it's a farewell to his friends' cognitions. The group then make their leave and return to the real world to confront the real boss of the operation.
That's all I have for this chapter. Leave a comment and review!