Chapter IV: Phantom Thieves vs. The Revenant


Shinjuku Gyoen (新宿御苑)/Shinjuku, Tokyo (新宿区, 東京)/6:30 PM (JST)

Upon arriving at the park, the Phantom Thieves scoured for the anomaly that William alluded to. As soon as they started looking, they were being pulled by the same force pulling in Sion, Hifumi, and the three gamblers.

"Hey, what's happening?!" Haru cried out.

"I can't move!" Yusuke yelled out.

The Thieves were transported into the exact pocket dimension. Much like what happened with Sion, Hifumi, and the gamblers, no civilians noticed their disappearance.

As they opened their eyes, not only were they inside the pocket dimension but donned their Metaverse attires again.

"Wow, that was weird!" Oracle blinked, looking over her Phantom Thief attire and adjusting her goggles.

"But how is this possible?" Fox pondered. "We didn't willingly invoke our Metaverse forms."

"Not just that, we have company." Joker alerted his teammates as they faced Hifumi, Sion, Yumeko, Ryōta, and Mary.

Of Hifumi's group, shock overcame Hifumi as she faced the Phantom Thieves, but most of all she recognized Joker the moment he and his friends entered the pocket dimension. That brief moment she saw Ren transform into Joker.

Taken aback by her presence, Joker yelped. "Hifumi?!"

"Amamiya Ren?! So, it is you!" Hifumi cried out.

"Wait, you know one of the Phantom Thieves, Hifumi?!" Yumeko gasped.

"I can't believe the Phantom Thieves are here!" Ryōta cried out.

"So, what else about you do we not know about?" Mary asked Hifumi.

Sion intensely glared at the Phantom Thieves, sensing an urge of danger. "You're the Phantom Thieves? No, it can't be."

"Wait, the Togo Hifumi from my high school?!" Fox yelled out, identifying the famous Shogi player.

Recognizing his voice and mannerisms, Hifumi turned toward Fox. "Is that you, Kitagawa Yusuke?!"

"I remember meeting Hifumi before, but that's not the point here," Queen remarked, facing Sion with a fierce gaze. "I take it that he's the anomaly we've been looking for."

In response to Queen's baseless accusation, Sion intently faced the Phantom Thieves. "And how do I know you're not as you say you are?!"

"You have some nerve to say that!" Queen gritted, taking offense to the Revenant's retort.

"Wait, what if this is just a misunderstanding, Queen?" Noir wondered. "Look, Hifumi and those other three are unharmed."

"He also seems to be speaking clear English," Mona comprehended Sion's language.

"Thankfully Nekomata granted us the secondary ability to translate anything we couldn't understand before," Fox stated. "That certainly saves us the issue of language barriers."

"And not to mention I'm here. I'm bilingual and can understand everything he says!" Panther exclaimed.

"And who the heck are these three?" Skull turned toward the three gamblers.

Just then, Nekomata materialized in front of the Thieves. "Ah yes, so my ability to allow you to translate and understand other languages works well. That's good. And for your information, those three just happen to possess Guardian Spirits." With his eyes canning the gamblers, he first identified Nine Tails right next to Yumeko. "Young lady, is that the Nine Tails next to you?"

"Why yes, but how did you know?" Yumeko asked.

Facing Nekomata, Mary furrowed her brows. "That's because he's one of the revered spirits. Well, since you know we have Guardian Spirits." She showed off Janomecho and Enku. "Go on, Ryōta. Show him yours."

"If you say so," Ryōta complied as Genbu and Kato materialized next to him.

Seeing the Guardian Spirits, the Phantom Thieves were taken aback.

"They summoned them like Personas!" Noir cried out.

"Amazing, these are some of the Guardian Spirits! The Nine Tails as well! Yodo-gimi was said to have inherited that Guardian Spirit." Fox admired the spirits' mystic presences. He veered over to Mary. "And that's Janomecho, once wielded by Sanada Yukimura."

"How did they acquire these spirits?" Mona wondered as Nekomata answered his and the Thieves' concern.

"It must have something to do with that source that restored your Metaverse powers, Phantom Thieves. These three likely inherited these Guardian Spirits due to the sinister energy's presence," Nekomata explained.

Readying to attack, Sion stood his ground from the approaching Joker.

"Look, why don't we talk and sort this out? We don't need to fight," Joker cautiously walked up to the wary Revenant.

"Back off!" Sion resisted, hardening his gaze and gritting his teeth. In response to Joker's advance, the Revenant's eyes glowed red. "I said back off now!" He shouted as the Queenslayer Blade materialized in his right hand. His course of action alarmed the Phantom Thieves, prompting them to prepare for battle.

"Sion, stop this!" Hifumi pleaded, grabbing a hold of his right arm.

"Please stay back, Hifumi! I'm the one they want!" The Revenant beckoned her away, standing between her and the Thieves. With his eyes on the Phantom Thieves, the Revenant pointed his single-edged sword at them. "This is your last warning!"

"Hey, let's not fight, you guys," Ryōta pleaded to Sion and the Thieves.

Mary pulled Ryōta back. "I don't think they're listening, especially not Sion." She eyed the Revenant very so closely.

"Yes, c'mon let's all try and get along?" Yumeko suggested.

On the other hand, Nekomata viewed the situation differently. "I doubt anything you say will stop them. That young man is resonating with anomalous energy. It's perhaps the source William, myself, and the others referred to."

"Then, he's the one Igor hinted at," Joker said, quickly drawing out his Paradise Lost Dagger. "One way or another, we're going to make you talk." Dropping into a battle stance, the other Thieves followed suit and conjured their choice weapons.

With his eyes glowing red, Sion merely scoffed. "I have nothing to say!" With that, the Revenant's facial mask reformed and red electrical bolts coursed through his body.

"Please don't!" Hifumi pleaded, but Nekomata cut her off.

"I sense you have a power similar to that young man. Why don't you call upon it to stop him?" Nekomata asked the Shogi player, who veered away looking ashamed.

"Because I don't wish to fight Ren and his friends. They're not our enemy."

"Well, you better convince him, because he's raring to beat them down if you don't do something!" Mary called out.

Before Hifumi could intervene, it was too late.

Dashing ahead with his intent to protect himself and Hifumi, Sion swung his Queenslayer Blade at the Phantom Thieves. Swinging his sword with reckless abandon, he watched the Thieves split up, but Joker remained standing in front of him. Sion's eyes widened, seeing Joker's dagger holding back his sword.

"You shouldn't have done that," warned Joker as blue flames erupted from his mask, and from these flames Joker conjured a Persona. "Cait Sith!" A purple cat, invoking the appearance of Puss in Boots, with a red hat, cape, boots appears with a sword in hand. Sending Cait Sith into battle, the Persona stopped Sion's sword strike.

With Joker's Cait Sith occupying Sion, the Thieves prepared to attack the Revenant on their own. Suddenly to their surprise, and Joker's, Sion swiftly bisected Cait Sith with his sword. Quickly dispatching of the Persona, Sion veered his sights on the Thieves.

He ran head-on with Joker, only for Skull, Panther, and Mona to cut him off. Throwing her whip at him, Panther tried to ensnare him, but the Revenant battered the whip away with his sword. Springing high into the air, Skull fell down and slammed his mace over Sion's sword. While guarding himself against Skull's direct attack, Mona lunged at the Revenant with his scimitar. Nearly stabbing Sion, Mona's attack missed as Sion sidestepped him. As Skull dropped down and went for another mace attack, Sion swiftly kicked him off his feet.

"Damn, he's fast! Watch yourselves!" Mona exclaimed.

Running steadfast while Sion had his back turned, Fox shoved his katana through the Revenant. Sensing the Thief's sneak attack a mile away, Sion seized Fox's katana and instinctively activated a Blood Veil. The Thieves, Nekomata, and the gamblers watched in horror as Sion's right arm transformed into a dark armored demonic-looking limb equipped with sharp claws.

"Fox, look out!" Queen yelled as the claw reached for Fox. Roaring fiercely against her foe, Queen's Sabazois knuckles connected with Sion's Ogre-Type Blood Veil, knocking the Blood Veil back with force.

Recoiling his Blood Veil, a look of shock spread across Sion's face. With his guard down, Noir fired a round of bullets at the Revenant's direction. Sion's Blood Veil quickly intercepted Noir's bullets.

Scanning Sion from a distance, Oracle warned. "I'm not getting a single reading on this guy. He's definitely not from our world! Be careful, guys!"

"You can deflect bullets. Let's see if you can take them from all directions?" Joker drew out his Tyrant Pistol. "Ready fire!" Following his command, a barrage of bullets sailed out of the Thieves' guns and headed for Sion.

Seemingly caught in an omnidirectional barrage of bullets, Sion's demonic hand vanished. Then, the long metal tail reformed from the back of his coat. Swinging the metal tail around, Sion's Stinger-Type Blood Veil casually batted away the Thieves' bullets. No bullet hit Sion.

Skull's mouth dropped at this bullet-stopping feat. "Holy shit, what the hell is this guy?!"

Panther was aghast. "So, he can make weapons out of thin air?!"

Sion growled. "I warned you not to fight me. You've brought this on yourselves, Phantom Thieves!"

Queen scowled. "We only came to investigate and ask questions. You're the one who attacked us first!"

"Everyone, please stop!" Hifumi called out.

"What now, Joker? Our bullets aren't going to get through that ultimate defense of his," Mona asked.

"We'll use our Personas, everyone!" Joker announced.

With that, the Thieves summoned their strongest Personas. Blue pillars of flames materialized in front of the Thieves, each conjuring their respective Persona. Raoul emerged first beside Joker. The other Personas: William, Diego, Celestine, Gorokichi, Agnes, Al Azif, and Lucy appeared.

The other onlookers were astonished by the Thieves' Personas. Hifumi almost couldn't believe she was right in the thick of seeing the Thieves up close.

"I see now. These are the Personas that Igor mentioned to me," Nekomata mused. "They are much like Guardian Spirits to some degree."

Despite the seemingly overwhelming odds against him, the Revenant stood his ground. He dashed forward, swinging his Queenslayer Blade at Joker and Raoul. Skull's Persona, William, hastily swept across, knocking Sion away. Conjuring Matarukaja, Skull buffed up his whole party's attack powers.

"Here we go!" Joker yelled, making a fast beeline for Sion and slashing him with his dagger. However, Sion blocked Joker's dagger with his sword.

"You aren't going to beat me with that!" Sion shouted in Joker's face. Just then, he heard the loud bang from a grenade launcher. Quickly turning to the far right, Noir's One-Shot Kill knocked the Queenslayer Blade from his hand.

Noir's Persona, Lucy, unveiled her dress, revealing guns firing projectiles at the bewildered Revenant. Evading the barrage blasts, Sion sensed a shot being fired from the far left, evading Mona's slingshot. However, Mona's Persona, Diego, sliced his rapier around, unleashing Garudyne. As he evaded Diego's wind attack, Joker swiftly came behind the Revenant and slashed his back.

Gnashing his teeth, Sion growled through his masked mouthguard. A devious grin crossed Joker's face.

"Didn't see me coming that time," the Trickster snickered.

"I'm just getting started!" Sion chuckled, invoking one of his Gifts through his Blood Code: Queenslayer. First, his second weapon, Hanemukuro, appeared in Sion's right hand, which he used to slash Joker with.

Backing off, Joker was met with a barrage of strikes from Sion. With his Circulating Pulse Gift, the Revenant knocked the Phantom Thief away.

"Don't get too carried away!" Roared Queen as she dashed over and unloaded a flurry of punches and kicks at Sion. Keeping up with the rapid footed Queen, Sion countered all of her blows with his single-edged blade. "Surrender now!"

"I won't!" Sion resisted, countering and matching Queen blow for blow. During the heated exchange, the Revenant removed his mask, baring his vampiric fangs, briefly scaring Queen.

Just then, Queen's Persona, Agnes, smashed head-on with Sion and knocked him far back. Before Queen went for her next attack, Panther's whip struck Sion's back. Unleashing Agidyne, she and Celestine bombarded Sion with flames. The Revenant used another one of his Gifts, Frenzied Fire, and nullified Panther's attack.

Summoning his metal tail again, Sion swung it toward Panther's direction. Celestine cut off Sion's attack. Queen dashed over and punched Sion's metal tail, nearly breaking it into two.

Skull then shocked Sion with Ziodyne. With Gorokichi's help, Fox's Brave Blade stunned the Revenant, hitting him with a devastating sword slash.

Suddenly, as the metal tail vanished, another Blood Veil took its place: the Hound-Type Blood Veil. Coming out from the Revenant's back are two wolf-like canine heads. The menacing hound heads growled and attacked Skull & Fox. William and Gorokichi defended them from Sion's Hound-Type Blood Veil.

"Hang on!" Queen added, restored the Thieves' health with Mediaharan. With that, the party regrouped while the Revenant planned his next attack.

Through the course of the battle, the Revenant became impressed with the Thieves' effective teamwork. Their tactics reminded him of his and his Revenant colleagues' style of attack, minus the use of Personas.

"Man, he's taking most of all we got!" Skull exclaimed, impressed with Sion's sheer tenacity.

"We've got to wear him down, guys. We still need him to talk to us," Mona firmly stated.

"Right, and we will," Joker nodded, conjuring another Persona with Raoul. "Lucifer!" The aforementioned Persona materialized, taking the form of a large sea green-skinned, long-horned humanoid demon with six 15-feet wide wings, three on each side of its body, and with long, shaggy yellow hair. Its yellow eyes scanned over Sion. With a scowl, Lucifer's face contorted with fury.

Diving toward Sion, the Revenant rolled away. Quickly picking up his Queenslayer Blade, Sion brandished his two swords to take on their Personas.

"I don't know what monster that is, but I'll slay it like I would any lost!" The Revenant jumped up, swinging his swords at Lucifer.

Evading Sion's attacks, the Lucifer Persona repelled Sion.

With its Morning Star attack, the demonic Persona swiftly brought Sion down. As Joker dashed over to strike Sion, the Revenant quickly jumped up and slashed him with his swords. Drawing from Raoul's passive power, Joker blasted Sion with Blazing Hell, sending him flying back and all the while losing his swords.

After being felled by Joker's devastating attack, the Revenant used his healing Gift, Cleansing Light, to restore some of his health. As Joker went for a dagger strike, Sion planted a hand to the ground, summoning ivy spikes from the ground. Almost getting skewered by the spikes, Joker hopped several times backward.

"Sheesh," breathed Joker, staring intensely at the spikes that could've turned him into a pincushion.

"I'll clear the way!" Panther declared, unleashing Maragidyne to burn away the ivy spikes. Throwing her whip forward, she ensnared and jerked Sion forward.

Struggling to break loose, Sion briefly struggled. Before getting the chance to invoke a Blood Veil, he heard the stomping of feet and turned. The next thing he felt was a powerful force colliding with the left side of his face. He noted Queen with her fist firmly planted in his face.

"Now, Noir!" Queen called in for assistance. Queen then blasted Sion with Atomic Flare. Noir followed through and blasted him with Psiodyne. However, while invoking his Ogre-Type Blood Veil, Sion broke loose from his restraints and knocked away the two Thieves.

"Queen, Noir!" Mona cried out.

"Now you've made it personal, asshole!" Skull roared, running over and madly swinging his mace at the Revenant.

Sion dodged each unfocused swing. Batting away a mace swing, Sion quickly grabbed Skull and planted him face-first to the ground. Coming to Skull's rescue, Fox fought off Sion with his katana. Shooting off Bufudyne, Fox froze Sion's path.

Getting to her feet, Queen's face contorted with anger. Gnashing her teeth, she made a beeline for Sion. She and Fox double teamed on Sion.

"Don't think you've beaten me easily!" Queen fiercely cried out, delivering consecutive jabs and body shots to Sion as if he were a punching bag. Sion gritted and doubled over some of her blows.

While Fox and Queen fought off the Revenant, Joker summoned another Persona. "Black Frost!" He summoned a black snowman-like blob creature with impish red eyes and a devious grin with two sharp fangs. It has on a purple two-pronged hat, a neck ruffle, and pointed shoes.

Entering the fray, the Black Frost Persona blasted Sion with Diamond Dust, After being inflicted freezing damage, the Revenant summoned his two hound heads. The heads delivered powerful bites, crushing the ice attack.

Drawing more power from Raoul, Joker quickly made a mad dash for Sion. Unleashing untold damage with Eigaon, he and Raoul crushed the hound heads. Then, readying his dagger, he slashed Sion multiple times before kicking him down. Throwing his dagger at Sion, Joker stabbed him in his right shoulder. Then, after ripping out his dagger, he kicked the Revenant into the air.

After slashing him, Joker slipped away and let Mona slingshot Sion's head. This dazed Sion enough to send him falling.

"Now, Oracle!" Queen ordered.

"You got it!" Oracle then used Al Azif's abilities to temporarily paralyze Sion, holding him in place.

"Hey! Wh-What is this?!" Sion struggled to break loose to no avail. He couldn't even summon his Blood Veil or Gifts to bail him out.

"Alright, team! We have him where we want! All-Out Attack!" Mona declared.

With that, the Phantom Thieves, except Oracle, congregated and rushed head on with Sion, unleashing a lightning fast beatdown.

"Beat him up!" Oracle cheered loudly.

From Sion's perspective, the lasting images he saw was a bright crimson background with black silhouettes zipping all over the place like fast moving ninjas. Then, Sion reopened his eyes, finding himself attacked omnidirectionally by the Thieves. Despite the severe beatdown, Sion endured every second of damage the Phantom Thieves dished out.

The end came when Sion's face contorted. His eyes saw Queen punching him down to the ground.

"Sion!" Hifumi cried out as she dashed over to him. The gamblers, too, followed her, but Sion with one arm beckoned them off, especially Hifumi. She then watched the Phantom Thieves point their guns to Sion.

"Surrender now." Joker coldly warned, his finger almost gripping the trigger.

"Ren, don't!" Hifumi pleaded to him.

"Okay, that's enough!" Nekomata interjected, quickly appearing in front of the Phantom Thieves. As the Thieves backed off, the wise Yokai eased the tension between them and Sion's affairs. "There's no need to drag this nonsensical battle. Having assessed the battle, I see this man bears no ill will, but he fights to protect this woman and the three Guardian Spirit wielders."

"Maybe so, but he attacked us first," Mona frowned.

"It will be better if we put aside our differences and focus on finding the true source."

"So, this guy isn't the anomalous source that unleashed those monsters?" Noir asked.

Skull groaned. "Great, why didn't you tell us sooner?"

"Hey, good news! The strange energy that pulled us here is fading!" Oracle announced as the pocket dimension containing them dissipating like fog smoke.

As the pocket dimension vanished, the Phantom Thieves and Sion's civilian clothing returned. The Personas are gone, too.

"Whoa, we're back!" Ryuji scanned the familiar park grounds.

"Not a moment too soon. Thankfully nobody was around," Makoto paused, noticing the lack of bystanders and crowd at this early evening hour.

"Yes, and look! Not a single scratch to the area," Yusuke pointed at the park's conditions.

While Hifumi tended to Sion, her eyes met Ren's.

Smiling, Hifumi properly addressed him. "So, we meet again, Amamiya Ren."

"It has, Hifumi. But, what are you doing with…" He noticed Hifumi with an arm over Sion.

"My family and I have been housing him. Since the Olympic Games were canceled, Sion wasn't sure where to go, so I asked my family if he could stay for a while."

Makoto interjected. "No disrespect, Hifumi-san, but do you realize he has those dangerous abilities?"

"Yes, I do. I remember you from the Jinbōchō bookstore a few years back."

"Yes, I am Niijima Makoto. It's nice to meet you again."

"Same here." Hifumi smiled back.

"Don't forget me, Hifumi-san." Yusuke stepped in.

"Yes, I do remember you, Kitagawa Yusuke." Hifumi reacquainted herself with her school mate. "You were the artist that strove to follow his dreams."

"Likewise so, Togo Hifumi." Yusuke replied back to her.

"So, doesn't this guy's crazy powers scare you?" Ann asked Hifumi.

"No, because thanks to him I have abilities, too," the Shogi player casually answered.

"Wait, so you can turn your hand into a big demon hand and can shoot scorpion tails from your back?!" Futaba frantically asked her.

"No, nothing like that, but I can conjure a mask like his and I can wield a weapon."

Upon hearing this from Hifumi, the Thieves looked to each other worryingly.

"Don't worry. There are no bad side effects. I'm fine," the Shogi player calmly reassured the Thieves.

Suddenly, Yumeko cleared her throat, garnering the attention of the Thieves.

"So, you guys are really them?! Oh my god, this is incredible!" Yumeko quickly walked up to the Thieves. "Nice to meet you. I'm Hifumi and Sion's new friend, Jabami Yumeko!" She then introduced her two friends. "And these two are…"

Mary scoffed. "No need for you to introduce me. Hi, I'm Saotome Mary."

Ryōta added. "Hello, Phantom Thieves. It's an honor. I'm Suzui Ryōta."

"Wait, that name sounds like Mogami Yumeko back in Shujin Academy!" Ann remembered one of their schoolmates.

Ryuji then added. "Hey, you're right! We took care of her distorted Shadow back in Mementos!"

Ann closely observed Yumeko. "This Yumeko acts strangely familiar to the one from our school."

Just noticing Morgana, Yumeko crouched down. "Aww, it's a black cat!" Crawling over to him, she reached to cuddle him. "There! I've got you!" Lightly holding him, Morgana yelped.

"H-hey, what the hell?! Let me go!"

Quickly taken aback by the cat's yell, Yumeko gasped and almost dropped him. "Did this cat just talk?! I could've sworn you just said something." She then turned to the others, wondering if they heard the same voice. "Well? I'm not going crazy here, right? You heard this cat talk?"

"I'd normally say you're a nut case, but I just saw that cat talk, too!" Mary concurred with the Compulsive Gambler.

"Well, we already have a talking cat with us," Hifumi pointed to Nekomata. "What's so strange about another one?"

"Well, just that this black cat looks just like a normal cat," pointed out Ryōta.

"That cat is the same cat-like being that helped us fight against Sion just now," Ann answered on Morgana's behalf.

"Really?! That weird-looking thing with the slingshot is this cat?!" Yumeko did a double take before looking back at Morgana. The black cat let out an exasperated sigh.

"Yeah, that was me. Will you put me down now?"

"I'm so sorry!" Yumeko complied. After placing Morgana down, the Compulsive Gambler addressed Ann. "By the way, your voice sounds strangely like mine."

"Really? You think so?"

"Hmph, like that really matters. Lady Ann, don't pay her any mind," Morgana scoffed, walking away from Yumeko.

Scanning each Guardian Spirit, Nekomata addressed the gamblers. "Hmm, yes. You three are the chosen new wielders." He turned to Yumeko. "Jabami Yumeko, I presume?"

"Yes, and aren't you a cute kitty," Yumeko smiled to the spirit cat.

"Yes, and I see you've been chosen to wield the Nine Tails. You're Oichi and Lady Chacha's successor. I advise you to wield the Nine Tails well." Nekomata then veered toward Mary. "You, Saotome Mary, now wield Janomecho and Enku. I understand Sanada Yukimura has given his blessings."

Mary replied. "He did."

"Good." Nekomata pivoted toward Ryōta. "And you?"

"Yes?" Ryōta blinked.

"You now possess Kato and Genbu."

"Yes, I do, sir!"

Nekomata gave a hearty laugh. "There's no need to call me 'sir, young man. However, you must know Genbu is a respected deity."

"Of course, Genbu is one of the four guardian beasts."

"Not only is Genbu one of the four fabled guardian beasts and the guardian of the north, but it was the Guardian Spirit of Tenkai, who was at one point Akechi Mitsuhide." Nekomata clarified. "Suzui Ryōta, treat Genbu well and he will grant you great wisdom."

Ryōta bowed. "I will." After raising his head, Ryōta, Yumeko, and Mary watched Nekomata float around them.

"It'll be an honor to work with you, Guardian Spirit successors."

As Hifumi helped Sion to his feet, Ren confronted them and met Sion's gaze.

"That leaves you. Since we're no longer fighting, what's your name?"

"Sion."

Ren narrowed his eyes. "Is that it?"

"Yeah, that's it. Look, I get the impression your cat friend told you I'm not from here," Sion said, cautiously eyeing Nekomata.

"We were told you're from another dimension or something like that," stated Ryuji.

"Did they mention that I'm a Revenant? Or, some kind of vampire?" Sion asked.

Ann blinked. "Wow, you're really a vampire?"

Yusuke folded his arms. "That would explain why your strength is superior."

Makoto frowned. "I could tell the moment I saw your fangs up close."

"It took us a great deal just to subdue you," Morgana commented.

"Are all Revenants this strong?" Haru asked Sion.

"No, just me and my group of friends back home. We weren't created equal," Sion answered.

"And what are those dangerous weapons you used to fight us?" Futaba curiously asked as she checked over Sion's arm. "Those were some badass looking swords and armaments!"

"Please everyone. Sion is tired now," Hifumi beckoned the Thieves off. "You gave him a tough fight."

Ren nodded. "Understandable. We can talk more about this in private. So, Hifumi, you said you and your family are taking care of him."

The Shogi player nodded. "Yes, that's right."

Hearing this from Hifumi, Ren became more at ease. "Then, he's going to become a valuable ally to us." He amicably offered to Sion. "After seeing your power in action, we need someone like you." He then turned toward the gamblers. "And you three would make for great support, too, with your Guardian Spirits."

"Really? We'd be honored to join you!" Yumeko happily accepted Ren's alliance offer.

Mary folded her arms. "I'm not so sure."

Ryōta chuckled. "C'mon, Mary. Let's give it a shot. We're helping the Phantom Thieves."

"Alright then, but as long as we keep Yumeko under check."

However, Sion had reservations about Ren's offer. Having fought the Phantom Thieves, he gained a new degree of respect for them. In his mind, their teamwork reminded him of his and his Revenant friends' effective unity. Although they weren't Revenants like his friends, the Thieves were shown to be as reliable and possess individual strengths. The fact they possess Personas made up for a lack of Blood Veils.

What's more, is Hifumi's relationship with Ren. This helped ease the tensions between him and the Thieves.

"Hey, are you ok? My boyfriend's willing to let things go. And so am I!" Ann kindly encouraged Sion.

"Hell, I think we'll be good friends in no time, man," Ryuji grinned at the Revenant.

"We've never interacted with a vampire before. So, this will produce some interesting discussions," Yusuke said.

"Yeah, I want to know more about your powers and weapons!" Futaba eagerly said.

Haru nodded. "We'd be happy to have you join."

Morgana added. "It's up to you, but the more help we can get, the better."

"What do you think, Mako-chan?" Haru asked the former student council president.

"Yeah, what do you have to say to our new friend?" Ryuji queried.

As Sion and Makoto's gazes met, Makoto frowned and turned her back. Without anyone looking, Makoto let out a disgruntled huff.

"I don't even care. You can let him come with us, but I don't see any reason why he should come," Makoto bluntly answered back. Her off-putting tone surprised the other Thieves. They sensed some kind of hostility between her and Sion.

Ren wondered if Sion's vampire nature might've put Makoto off from accepting him. Perhaps Sion being a vampire from another dimension might be the reason.

"How do we know he won't lose control and drink someone's blood?" Makoto wondered.

Hifumi frowned. "Sion wouldn't do that. Besides, I let him feed on me."

Turning around to face Hifumi, Makoto warned her. "You better stop doing that!"

"I won't!"

Sion growled. "That's enough!" He put himself in front of Hifumi.

"Sion."

"Hifumi willfully let me drink her blood. Initially I advised her not to, but she insisted. So, you'd best back off now!" The Revenant growled, causing Makoto to flinch and step away.

"Ok, that's enough. We must stay on the same page, my friends. It matters not what Sion is. We must find the source behind the Yokai incursion in your world." Nekomata advised the groups.

"That's right. It's what he said," Ren said. "So, Makoto, can you learn to get along with Sion?"

Not taking her eyes off Sion, Makoto gritted her teeth. "Fine."

Ryuji jubilantly laughed, changing the tense mood. "Welcome to the team you five!" He openly welcomed Sion, Hifumi, Yumeko, Mary, and Ryōta into the group.

"Yay!" Yumeko cheered.

"We're truly honored," added Ryōta.

"Should be fun," Mary grinned.

Hifumi pleasantly smiled. "Thank you for allowing us to come. I look forward to it."

"As I discern, the pocket dimension was produced by the same being that wields Amrita," Nekomata announced.

"Yes, I've heard about Amrita in mythological stories as well. Interesting concepts that brought gifted power," Hifumi said about these stones.

"So, that perpetrator wanted us here in one location just to unite? He or she must have planned this from the start," Ren speculated.

"And since I'll be joining you, I can also help and find out if this source is also behind me and the Lost being here," Sion offered.

Ren nodded with a smile. "That's great. We'll need your expertise on these Lost creatures."

"Indeed. Thieves, Revenant, and Guardian Spirit wielders, the location of the source will be far away from Tokyo." Nekomata openly addressed the group.

"And where will that be?" Makoto asked Nekomata.

Nekomata answered. "We will go to Osaka."


Chapter Soundtrack

Sneak & Pursuit Theme - Code Vein - The Phantom Thieves confront Sion.
Code Vein OST - Bellum -Beyond Fear- - The Phantom Thieves vs. Sion.
Code Vein OST - Extremum Belli - The Phantom Thieves vs. Sion.
Code Vein OST - March of the Lost - The start of Sion's alignment with the Phantom Thieves.


A/N: Yes, a short chapter. Surprise.

It's a fight you've been yearning for: the CV Protagonist vs. The Phantom Thieves. Brief as it may be, I made sure Sion didn't get jobbed out. At the same time, I have to keep the Thieves strong.

Thankfully, Hifumi and the Hyakkakou stopped the fight before things went south for Sion. Nekomata meets the new Guardian Spirit wielders and informs the party to go to Osaka where the Thieves have gone before. What could await them there? And just to say it now, it's not the characters from Persona 5 Scramble.

That said, leave a comment and review!