Chapter 22: The Crimson Tyrant's Final Stand!
"This is it. The moment I have long been waiting for." Tsuchiya remarks, looking over the map with determination. "Finally, we take the fight to Ichiro and Shido. We've already got the shipyard mapped out, and where the key locations are to strike. Even now, the Resistance is moving in to prepare for the assault. They only need us to join them."
"And with the generals defeated, we now have control over the city. Ichiro's forces will be confined to the dock where his battleship is currently moored." Yoshida points out, tapping the map. "However, it will not be an easy fight. Judging by the map, we will have to fight through small alleyways and tight streets to reach his ship."
"And that's not considering the possibility of Shido's airship." Hifumi adds, folding her arms. "Unless we find a way to bring it down, he will be able to attack us with impunity from the air."
"What about using the guns on Ichiro's ship?" Ann offers. "They should be able to bring him down."
"It could work. But we have to assume Shido would know about that and keep himself out of range of Ichiro's ship." Toshiro replies, folding his arms. "Either way, Ichiro comes first. As for how we will begin our attack—" A loud roar echoes outside the hideout as the entire shop shakes from a shockwave. Throwing those who were standing down to the floor while those sitting down were almost thrown from their seats. One of the signs hanging above the bar falls down, landing on Yusuke's head and knocking him off his chair before another roar and shockwave hit the hideout.
"What's going on!?" Sumire shouts as everyone rushes outside. Finding a giant smoking crater a few meters away from the shop. All around them, pillars of fire sprout from the ground as artillery shells rain down from the sky like metallic rain. While from behind, the sound of giant guns firing echoed around them.
"Ichiro is bombarding the city!" Tsuchiya yells, turning around to everyone. "We need to move now! If we don't, the entire city will be reduced to rubble!"
"What about the plan!?" King asks just as another shell lands a few blocks away from the hideout. Hat people rush out from the ruins, helping those who have been thrown around by the blasts.
"There's no time! Yuki-san, Toshiro, stay with us!" Joker shouts as the team follows Tsuchiya towards the shipyard, Yuki and Toshiro following after them. All around them, members of the Phantom Resistance move about, doing whatever they can to help those trapped in the rubble or charging towards the docks. Eventually, the Thieves arrive at the shipyard, finding it surrounded by Ichiro's forces.
Troops who were currently engaged with the Phantom Resistance left the entire shipyard embroiled in a free-for-all firefight. Even the small calibre canons and machine guns of Ichiro's ship were firing on the Resistance while the main guns continued to fire into the city.
"Well, we're here. But what now? If we get close, those guns will tear us apart." Erina asks, watching as a group of Resistance members hunker down as machine gun fire riddles the ground around them.
"Even a shape such as this will have a blind spot. The only question is where such a spot would be." Shadow comments, glancing over every aspect of the ship. Before Teach taps her on the shoulder, pointing to a section of the docks.
"How about those warehouses? They look close enough." Shadow follows Teach's gaze, seeing a row of storage buildings in a row along the starboard side of Ichiro's ship. Granted, Ichiro's forces were dug in around that area. Complete with a few tanks as well. But the distance between them and the ship gave them cover from the heavy weapons of the ship.
"That could work. What do you guys think?" Shadow asks, turning back to the others. The Thieves all exchange glances, weighing the options in their heads before the guns of Ichiro's ship fire again.
"It will do. We can't stand around here any longer. We NEED to get on board and disable those guns." Queen decides, standing tall before rushing over to an alleyway. The rest of the Thieves chase after her, Tsuchiya giving the Resistance members a determined look before rushing after them.
Several of Ichiro's troops patrolled the alleys, waiting to ambush the Phantom Resistance, only to be ambushed themselves by the Thieves. Eliminating threats that the Resistance never knew about. Finally, they reach the warehouses leading to the ship.
Inside, they find empty rooms, once filled with supplies, long since cleaned out. But surprisingly and worryingly, they don't encounter any of Ichiro's forces. Either they were confident that no one would enter via the warehouses, or the Thieves were walking into a trap.
Worried that it could be the latter, Mona races forward to scout out the area. Rushing past windows to look outside. To his surprise, Ichiro's forces were only concentrating on the Phantom Resistance, but for a good reason. They were losing the port. Despite being close to his battleship, Ichiro's troops were being pushed back deeper into the docks. But while it was a good sign on the surface, it also left a worrying possibility.
Ichiro could easily have his ship leave the dock, head out to open waters and continue his bombardment. Leaving Shido to bomb them from above without hitting him. With this realisation, Mona rushes back to the rest of the team, urging them to press on as they reach the open doors of the warehouse. And behind the back of Ichiro's line, with a boarding ramp leading right onto the deck of the ship right in front of them.
Without even talking, the Thieves rush forward towards the ramp. Teach and Noir launch explosives at the tanks along the line while the others pepper the troopers and expose shielders in the back with rounds and magic. Sending a ripple along the line and disorienting the survivors, leaving them wide open to the Resistance to launch their attack. But as the Thieves rush onto the deck, the entire ship shudders as it begins to move. The boarding ramp tore off its foundations as it began to move from the dock towards open waters.
"This is unexpected." Sensei remarks with a frown as the team glances around the deck. "Our job has now become harder to complete."
"Either way, our targets haven't changed." Joker comments, turning around. "We'll split into two teams. One group goes for the gun controls, while the rest aim for Ichiro."
"In that case, let me be on the team going for Ichiro." Toshiro asks, fixing his tie. "I have a few words I want to say to my 'brother'."
"As do I." Yuki adds, giving the disappointed mother look. "It's time I told him how disappointed in him I am." Joker nods at the two of them, glancing around as the teams take form in his mind before making his decision.
"Okay. The Original Thieves, Spring, Outlaw and Shadow will be with us. Along with Erina and Tsuchiya. We'll head for Ichiro while everyone else heads for the gun controls. Isara might be able to control them. Have you found out where they are, Oracle?"
"Yep!" Oracle chirps back, opening up a schematic of the ship. "The control for the guns is halfway up the central tower. While Ichiro's command room is right at the top." Before she could say anything else, a squad of troops ran around the corner, aiming at the Thieves before they were blasted away by Sensei and Mona with a dual Garula.
"In that case, let's move out!" Joker shouts, rushing forward with his team while Athena's team follows a different path. All around them, Anti-Social forces attempt to stop them, throwing up makeshift barricades in the confining corridors of the ship. Only for it to work against them as the low ceiling prevented the brutes from leaping up and slamming down on the Thieves. However it did make the shielders even more annoying than ever because of the corridors.
The two teams met up at several points, especially as they climbed the stairs up the command tower before Athena's team split off towards the gun controls. Every second passing, leaving them farther from the shore.
"All right! We should be coming up to the control room now!" Isara comments, leading the team forward. Turning one more corner, Athena's team find themselves on the other end of a steel door. A command terminal was embedded into the wall next to the door, asking for a passcode to open it. Not that they were going to bother to try and guess it without Oracle with them.
"Crow, King. Open the door up." Gecko tells the two as he cracks his hands. Crow and King glance at each other, then the beam weapons they had on them before grinning in realisation. Before anyone could ask, the two slam their weapons into the steel door. The beam weapons easily pierce through as they both work to create a large hole for the team to enter. Sure, the element of surprise is gone, but they could work around that.
The moment the two of them were done cutting a hole, Gecko and Guernica walked forward to take their place. Before the two of them launch a double kick at the door and, with the power of cognition, send it flying forward into the room. And landing right into a brute waiting to jump them on the other side.
The few troopers and drummers inside were taken aback by the sudden attack, just as Athena, Medic, Fortune and Devil rushed inside. Firing at them before they had a chance to recover. Boss follows after them, blasting a trooper with light before following up with curse magic on a drummer. Before long, the room was cleared out as the guns fell under their control.
"That was close! It looked like they were about to fire on the city." Violet comments, looking at the controls for one of the guns. Pointed right at the docks.
"Without the main guns threatening the city, Shido will have to come down himself." Sensei remarks, folding his arms. "When he does, we'll use these very same guns against him and bring him down."
"Let's hope that he gets taken out without us fighting him then." Devil remarks while Fortune checks her cards. Seeing the Reversed Hierophant, Justice and Temperance in her hands. However, before she could even speak, a new voice rang out from behind.
"Well, now. What have we here? More foolish children?" The voice echoes into them, startling them for a moment as they turn around to the source. But for three of them, it was a voice they didn't want to hear ever again.
"JERRI!" Crow, Violet and Guernica shout in anger as the pink cockatoo reveals herself. Perching on top of the door leading into the room.
"Long time no see, Guernica. How have you been, my dear?" Jerri asks with a disarming smile. "Awakened to a Persona, have you? My, what a disappointment. Have you forgotten all about how I helped you in The Streets?" Guernica growls at her, grabbing her gun and aiming right at Jerri alongside Crow and Violet.
"What are YOU doing here, you bastard!? Are you behind what's going on here?! Like what you did to me when you tried to make me your puppet?!" Guernica asks in anger, her gaze narrow and focused. While those around them were slightly confused at Guernica, Violet and Crow's reactions, Jerri gives off an obnoxious laugh.
"As if you could ever understand, you silly child. I am not the one behind this glorious escapade this time. This is the work of my master!" She throws out both wings with a sinister smile. "I must admit. I was ever so concerned when he brought all of you here. Until I saw how shackled all of you were. How helpless you were to Marie! If not for Erina and that flag of hers, all of you would have been removed from my Lord's plan. Once and for all!"
"You've been watching us all this time?!" Violet asks with narrow eyes, aiming her gun at Jerri with an iron grip.
"I can see why you hate her…" Athena comments to Guernica.
"You already know what happens when you cross us, Jerri. Are you prepared to face us a second time?" Crow asks, narrowing his eyes at the pink parrot.
"Why should I waste my time with all of you?" Jerri asks, pulling a wing over her beak. "None of you will survive this day anyway. You have done nothing but prolong the inevitable. No matter what you do, death is inevitable. Your only source of salvation is to surrender to my Lord!"
"That is not what the Cards show us." Fortune suddenly speaks up, drawing Jerri's attention. She holds up the three cards she has drawn, none of them Death. "No matter what you say, we will always overcome all."
"More artistic rubbish." Jerri dismisses with a shake of her head, infuriating Guernica, while Fortune narrows her eyes at Jerri. "What good does reading children's cards do anyway? Don't tell me you believe that the Arcana reveals all, do you? If that is the case, you are no better than Nyx." She takes flight, looking down on them with indifference. "But I tire of this chit-for-chat. Come to me, dearies!" At that point, three brutes, six troopers and two drummers appear in the room. Blocking them off from escaping the control room. "Your journey ends here!"
"Children cards? That's how you see them?" Fortune asks with a bubbling anger behind her voice. "I don't know who Nyx is, nor do I care. For you to insult my Tarot Cards is a step too far. Yes, there are those who don't believe in them. Who claim that what we do is all an act. But I believe in my Cards. I have seen them give hope to people who could find none! Give them a new look on life when all seemed loss! And even here, they have helped not only me but all of us throughout our Journey here! And if you think I am going to just stand here and let you insult my life… Then get ready to feel the wrath of a Fortune Teller, Old Hag!"
My, how long have I waited?
Fortune gasps, clutching her head with one hand as she stumbles forward as a cold, sharp pain pierces her skull. The team glance at her while Jerri looks on in shock, ordering her dearies to stop her, only for the Thieves to form a wall. Blocking them off.
For a long time, you have helped guide those who have lost their way.
Giving them fortune from the Cards.
But what about yourself?
Will you continue to deny your own reading?
"If you had asked me last year, I would have continued to do so." Fortune replies, glancing upwards as her eyes glow yellow. The voice in her head chuckles gently as the pain begins to subside.
Then let us form our contract.
I am thou… thou art I.
Let our readings bring positive messages to those around us.
And that men's lives are not bound by anyone's fate but their own!
In a flash of blue, a mask forms over Fortune's face. Made of lapis lazuli lace string with azure blue circle plates on top, framing her eyes with ease. And with a single tug, Fortune rips it off and allows the azure flames to take her with the flames passing away shortly after, revealing her new attire.
A silver necklace around her neck reaches towards a lapis lazuli sash that wraps around her chest with silver decals around the top. A small part of fabric races down from the left, wrapping around to the right side of her waist while turning to a lighter shade of blue. Silver chains wrap around her stomach, while a small half belt of circular disks similar to her mask rests on her left hip. Four lengths of light blue cloth flow down from her short azure shorts with silver decals. Her left arm was covered in the same light blue fabric, held in place by a silver clasp above her elbow. Black shoes exposing her toes race up past her ankles up to her knees, while silver claps race around her thighs. Her headdress remained unchanged while a pair of chakrams appeared in her hands. While her rifle remained on her back.
Behind her standing with pride, was a woman who's skin was made of water. Golden wings spread out from behind, while a white dress flows to her feet. A slit was in one side, exposing one of her legs while an upturn crescent moon framed her wings. Her arms were encased in a velvet blue silk, with one hand holding onto a horn filled with fruit, while the other lay rested atop a wooden wheel. Golden chest arm covered her chest, while a golden helm with white wings framed her face.
All the while, Fortune looked up with a rebellious smirk across her face.
"Not you too! Just how many of you rats are there in the world!" Jerri shouts in alarm as Fortune spins the two chakrams in her hands. Feeling the weight for them.
"More than you will ever know. No that we will ever tell you. Let's show them the path, Tyche! Kougaon!" At her command, Tyche sends a spear of light directly at Jerri. Forcing the parrot to duck out of the way before vanishing into a glowing portal.
"Damn that bird! She got away!" Guernica growls, before turning her attention to the approaching foes. "Think I'll take my anger out on them! Flash Bomb!" With a flash of light, Guernica blinds the approaching foes, dazing them and allowing the others to fire back at them. Fortune throws her chakrams forward, watching as they return to her hands before switching to her rifle. Only for a new threat to make its presence known outside, as a dark shadow falls over them. Turning around, Gecko, Medic and Teach gasp in shock as what could be called a flying aircraft carrier approached them. One of the guns on the underside taking aim at them.
"Is Shido going to sink us!?" Teach shouts in alarm, not realising a trooper was rushing towards her before it was grappled by Gecko.
"Isara! Can you link up with the guns!?" Gecko asks, punching the troopers before shooting it in the head. At this point it was their only chance of escaping with their lives intact.
"Maybe. If someone helps me onto the controls." Isara replies. King instantly picks her up, placing Isara onto the controls before turning around and blasting a brute with Zionga. Due to a request she made earlier, Isara now had a small claw she could use to hack into electrical controls. Making her effectively a second hacker when not in combat. But as the team worked on defeating the goons Jerri had summoned, they couldn't help but wonder.
How were Joker and the others doing?
Ichiro's troops did their best to stop Joker's team, using the long corridors and stairs to their advantage. The only problem was that the Thieves managed to bypass them via connecting rooms or the ventilation. While Toshiro complained about having to take such cumbersome routs, the Thieves paid it no mind.
It was not the first time thay had to travers via these ways after all.
But before long, the team found themselves outside the door leading to Ichiro's command room. With Ichiro himself waiting at the far end, surrounded by guards. He turns around to look at them, frowning in disappointment as the Thieves enter the room.
"So. You are the infamous Phantom Thieves? Lord Shido has told me quite a bit about you, rats." He tells them, folding his arms. "I had hoped you would have died in my bombardment, but it would seem the information given to me was faulty. I was sure I had targeted the location of your hideout in the first volley."
"Sorry, but you missed by a wide margin. Brother." Tsuchiya growls, aiming her gun at Ichiro only to see a force field activate. Protecting him from any attacks.
"Always quick to act. You never stop to think, Tsuchiya. Always using your emotions. It's no wonder father gave up on you when you became a diplomat." Ichiro dismisses, turning his head to Yuki. "Mother. We meet again."
"Ichiro. How could you allow yourself to become this?" Yuki asks with clear disappointment in her voice. "How could you allow yourself to become the pawn of a tyrant? Can't you see what he is doing to innocent civilians?"
"Why should I care for the lives of those beyond our borders?" Ichiro replies coldly. "Once, we were an Empire. Our reach stretching over the Pacific Ocean. We had all the islands within our grasp. All of east Asia would fall to our flag. But what were we reduced to? A country with only a 'defence force' to call an army? How pathetic. Enemies claw at our doors, and yet our 'allies' do nothing but watch. To guarantee our own safety and independence, the Empire of the Rising Sun MUST rise once more!"
"How delusional." Yuki says sorrowfully. "To let yourself become this monster. You are not the son I remember."
"And you are the mother I had long forgotten." Ichiro remarks back in an uncaring voice before glancing to Toshiro. "And you, Toshiro. What makes you think you can move beyond father's gaze. Do you really believe you can foil him? You are as naïve as always. No matter what you will do, I control the military. I can bring this pathetic government down anytime I want, and reinstates Shido as the true leader. All you need to do is accept your place as his puppet."
"And I refuse to do that!" Toshiro shouts back with a narrow stare. "I always knew you harboured militaristic ideas, but to hear you proclaim a return to our imperialistic past is a step to far! I already resolved myself to bring down both my father and Marie. And now, I will gladly include you in that list as well!"
Ichiro growls in response as a black and red aura surrounds him. A sight that the Thieves easily remember all too well as Ichiro changes form. While around them, cover appears as two mini guns activate on podiums next to Ichiro's position as troopers and brutes appear within the room. A few Rocketeer's manifest as well on raised platforms while the aura around Ichiro vanishes. Revealing his true form.
A circular armed shield with spikes easily the size of his body was attached to his left arm with cables, while a giant plasma based railgun replaced his entire right arm. A visor covers his face as futuristic armour coves the rest of his body while two blue spikes appear on his back. Catching blue energy and pumps it into him.
"Today, I will finish what should have been long stopped. The death of the Phantom Thieves!" Ichiro shouts, firing a blast of light towards them only to miss and slam into the doors behind. The Thieves instantly break for cover, Toshiro dragging Yuki over to a secluded spot as the team return fire.
To their annoyance however, their rounds harmless bounced of the shield surrounding Ichiro. Not even magic managed to pierce it while Ichiro could easily fire back with impunity. The same could not be said for the troops outside the barrier as the Thieves struck them down one at a time. But while they could easily take care of the threats outside, they continued to reappear in an endless stream.
"What the hell!? Why can't these freaks just stop comin'!?" Skull shouts, blasting another brute with Zionga before Mona blasts it awa with a Garula. Before both of them ran from cover as a missile slams into where they just were.
"Focus on the Rocketeers! They keep taking out our cover!" Erina calls out, summoning a Great Partisan on one of them and making it forgetful. Right before Outlaw lands a round right between it eyes. But before they could change targets, a new Rocketeer spawns where its comrade had just fallen.
"It is useless! My troops are never ending! Fall to my imperial might!" Ichiro boasts, firing another lance of light as the two mini guns open fire at the Thieves. Joker growls in annoyance as he, Queen and Shadow take cover, glancing around for anything they could use.
"We need to take that barrier down. So long that is up, we can't do anything." Queen comments, glancing at the shield.
"I know. But I'm struggling to see a power source." Shadow comments, ducking behind the cover and reloading her gun.
"I think I figured it out." Oracle suddenly says, sliding up to the trio. "It's those four platforms the Rocketeers are on. They are actually generators supplying power to the mini guns and the shield. We take them out, we expose Ichiro."
"In that case, I know who can do that." Joker comments with a grin, before rushing over to Noir as she uses Psio on an unlucky trooper who got near her. "Noir. Can you bring those pillars down with your grenades?" Noir turns to look at him, before glancing at the four pillars holding up the Rocketeer platforms. With a smirk, she takes her launcher out, and fires at the base of one of the pillars.
The explosion damages the support, sending crack up the pillar before causing it to tumbled forward. Right onto a group of troopers and revealing the electrical inside of the pillar. Sparking and flashing as it looses power. And for a split second, Ichiro's shield flickers while the left minigun suddenly becomes a lot slower. Not only that, but the Rocketeer and the troops taken out by the pillar did not come back.
"You brats!" Ichiro shouts, firing a blast at Joker and Noir, forcing them to move location. "Don't think you'll get away with it twice!"
"Want a bet?" Tsuchiya shouts, throwing a plastic explosive onto another pillar and detonating it. Bringing it down onto a brute and drummer and causing the right mini gun to slow down as well. With more cover created, the Thieves move up to the pillars while Noir moves to get a good angle on the third pillar.
"I won't let you!" Ichiro shouts as the shield on his left arm is suddenly blasted off by small detonations while his gun arm activates small vents along the side. He aims it at the Thieves, before unleashing a storm of smaller light beams like an assault rifle. But while he was focused on Noir and Tsuchiya, he failed to see Fox and Panther sneak up to another pillar.
While they didn't carry anything explosive, they were willing to try something else. Acting on a chance, Fox manages to freeze the pillar with ice magic, before Panther blasts it with fire magic. The two opposing forces combined, erupting into a violent explosion and tearing a good chuck out from the base of the pillar. Sending it crashing down to the floor. Along with the right mini gun turret not only deactivating, but falling from its mount and crashing into the ground.
Caught off guard by the sudden turnaround, Ichiro takes his eyes off Noir for a brief moment. An opening Noir more than needed as she blasts the final pillar with a grenade. Sending it tumbling to the ground and not only destroying the final mini gun, but deactivating Ichiro's shield.
"His barrier is down!" Spring shouts, letting an arrow fly towards and grazing his cheek. Outlaw follows up on her, letting rounds fly and landing a lucky hit on his arm gun. Rendering it inoperable as Ichiro is backed towards the window.
"Show's over Ichiro." Joker tells him as the Thieves quickly surround him. Ichiro glances around, seeing all the weapons levelled at him, before grinning under his visor.
"Fools. What made you think this was over?" He asks, just as a giant flying aircraft carrier descends through the clouds. With giant rotational propellers at either end, keeping it aloft and high calibre guns lined underneath, it began to slowly make its way towards Ichiro's battleship. Without warning, Ichiro dives out of the window, activating a hidden jetpack on his back and flies towards the approaching airship. Laughing to himself, one of the guns on Shido's ship aims at his fallen battleship.
But just as the gun starts to glow, one of the guns on the deck takes aim at one of the airship's engines. Firing a shell directly towards it and landing right in the middle, destroying it in a single blast. With one of its engines lost, Shido's sir begins to lean heavily to the side, the gun aiming at them firing while missing by a wide margin. A cascade effect rips through Shido's ship as fire erupts on the deck and various points along the hull before crashing into the sea.
Amazingly, it doesn't sink despite the damage it had been inflicted with, as it floats towards Ichiro's ship before colliding along the side. Ichiro's battleship lists slightly as the two become joined. From the control room, Joker and the others could see Ichiro standing on the deck of the ship near the central tower, but his condition was unknown due to the distance.
"We have to get down there." Joker tells the team as they leap out the window. While Toshiro and Yuki rush back to the stairs with Tsuchiya and Erina. Using their grapples and sliding along the guns, Joker's team leaps onto the deck of Shido's airship and rushes towards Ichiro. Who was standing amongst the flames with his back turned to them.
"The game's up, Ichiro. You have nowhere to run." Queen tells him as the Thieves move to surround him. Ichiro turns back to look at them, the visor retracting to reveal the scowl on his face.
"You rats think you have won, is that it?" He growls, aiming his dysfunctional cannon arm at them. "It's not over until I say it is."
"You really think you can beat us by yourself?" Mona asks while shaking his head. "You couldn't beat us when you had that shield up. What makes you think you can beat us now?"
"You fail to understand who I am." Ichiro replies with a mad grin. "I am the commander of the army! I can call upon anyone to fight, no matter what! I have complete and utter control over everything! Not even Lord Shido can stand against me!"
"Is that a fact?" A mechanical voice asks behind Ichiro who, for the briefest of moments, wore a look of fear. Before he was sliced into two by a twin bladed beam axe. Separating his torso from his legs before his remains were bashed away to the side into a hole filled with flames. In the flames, a large mechanical shape took form, its figure dancing in the flames as a green light from where a person's eyes shined. But for the Thieves, they knew who it was. For any of them recognised that voice, mechanical as it was.
"Shido."
"Nice shot Isara!" King contemplates, as they watched Shido's airship fall from the sky.
"Eh, it was nothing." Isara replies, detaching herself from the controls with Teach picking her up. "But I think I saw Ichiro flying to it."
"Then we better move and catch up to them." Boss replies, before glancing over to Fortune who was busy looking herself over. "So you finally awakened as well."
"I have…" Fortune comments nervously before hugging herself. "But why did I think this was my image of a rebel? I'm showing too much skin."
"That's just how it works." Violet comments, holding her hands behind her back. "At least Panther and I aren't the only ones with exposed skin now." Fortune shakes her head in dismay before swaying a bit before Gecko catches her.
"You okay?" He asks, helping her to stabilise as the team leaves the control room, moving to the stairs.
"Just need a rest is all…" Fortune replies before the sound of hurried footsteps draws their eyes to the stairs as Toshiro, Erina, Tsuchiya, and Erina rush down to join them.
"Toshiro? Where are Joker and the others?" Crow asks, noting the absence of half of their team.
"They went to chase Ichiro. He's on Shido's ship." Toshiro reveals, taking a moment to breathe.
"Then that is where we are going." Athena remarks, before leaping over the stair barrier to the lower floor. The rest of the team follow after her, moving back to the main deck and moving for Shido's ship. Firing their grapples up to the upper deck above them, before finding themselves in what could be called a sea of fire and smoke. The roar of the flames screaming around them and drowning out almost all noise.
"Where are they?" Devil asks, gazing into the smoke.
"Let's try the central tower." Medic suggests, pointing to the towering structure at the centre of the ship. Without any hint of where the others were, it was the best choice to take. So, moving with care, Athena's team moved over the fire-engulfed deck, avoiding any holes they found. It was almost eery how they did not encounter any Anti-Social troops on the deck, possibly waiting for them to enter the ship itself.
Until they could hear the faint sound of combat echoing not far in front of them. Along with the blast of an explosion.
"That must be Joker and the others!" King shouts as the team hurries their speed. Aiming to join the fight. But as they turned a corner of fire, they found the arena where the fighting was taking place. Right next to the central tower, with a wall of metal blocking out a part of the fire, while a giant gash in the deck separated them from the fight.
And on the other side was Joker's team, facing off against a metal beast of crimson red. A giant mechanical suit with large thrusts on the legs and shoulders, with what looked to be a beam cannon located on the waste. A giant shield on the left arm with Shido's emblem emblazoned across it, a large beam rifle in his right hand and two containers on his back holding thrusters. While the head was a mixture of a crimson-red facemask and silver helmet with spikes. And glowing from between the two was a single glowing green eye.
"Pathetic." The suit says, aiming its gun at Joker's team as they hide behind cover before letting off a blast of yellow energy. It slams into their cover, denting it but not piercing through as Joker's team returns fire. Only for the mech to block it effortlessly with its shield. "Is this all you are capable of? I expected more from those who defeated me twice."
"Hold up. THAT'S Shido!?" Guernica asks in shock as the mech turns its mono eye onto them.
"More rats of the Thieves?" Shido questions before focusing on Athena, Crow and Violet. "Ah. I wondered where you three were. And you, Toshiro." Shido's mono eye focuses on Toshiro, the sight of a lone green eye gazing right into him sending a shiver down his legs.
"Joker! Hold on!" Boss shouts as the Thieves ready themselves to grapple over, only for Shido to launch drones from his back and fire right at the gap. Igniting more flames and blocking them off from crossing.
"Do not interfere." Shido commands, turning around to face Joker and the others. "Watch as I put an end to the Phantom Thieves. Once and for all."
"We beat you twice before Shido! Just because you have some sort of mech armour won't stop us!" Joker shouts, tearing his mask off. "Raoul! Eiga!" His other self appears behind him, launching the curse attack right at Shido, who blocks it with his shield.
"Weak." Shido replies, firing his gun at them and forcing them back into cover. "You should see the difference between us. You have no power here." Shido tells them in a calm voice, deploying the drones once more as they charge forward.
"Zionga!"
"Agliao!"
Skull and Panther shout, blasting the drones out of the air and sending them to the ground. Shido scoffs in indifference as the armour replaces the two that were lost as he slowly marches forward. Each footstep slammed to the ground with enough force to vibrate the deck.
"One-Shot Kill!" Outlaw shouts, sending the powerful gun attack right at Shido, who blocks it once again. Before raising his gun up just as Shadow fires a round right at it. Piercing through the gun and rendering it inoperable. She allows herself a small smirk as Shido tosses away the useless gun before grabbing a bazooka from his shield.
"Fall." Shido simply says, firing a missile at the Thieves and forcing them to scatter. Queen takes the chance and fires a round at the missile back on the back of the bazooka, detonating the missiles inside and encasing Shido and a cloud so smoke. Only for him to emerge none the worse for the wear, with only black scorch marks on the right side of his armour. "How tedious." He remarks, pulling out a beam axe from the shield, activating the thrusters on his back and charging right at the Thieves.
Skull and Fox meet him head only, only to be bashed away into the wall by Shido's shield. Panther and Shadow try to whip Shido's right arm but are instead thrown into the wall alongside the Skull and Fox, sending them all into a daze. Shido then spies Oracle, trying to scan him from cover not far away. Charging towards her, he raises his axe above him, ready to slice her in two, only to be blocked by Spring, Noir and Outlaw.
"Predictable." Shido comments before bashing all four of them into the wall. Leaving only Joker, Queen and Mona stil standing against him. "This is the end of you, boy. What should have been done from the beginning instead of the probation charge I assumed would have ended your life. I will finish now. No one will stop me from reclaiming my rise to power. Neither gods nor man."
"You know about Yaldabaoth!?" Joker shouts in surprise alongside Queen and Mona.
"Of course. It's not only the memories of my defeats that I have. I know everything behind my rise to power. But I will be no one's pawn! I AM MY OWN GOD, AND NO ONE WILL STOP ME!" He blasts forward, catching the trio off guard and slamming them into the wall alongside the others. Before backing off and charging up his central cannon. "This is the end! Vermin!" He declares, firing directly above them and tearing a gash into the tower's superstructure. Sending flames and metal down onto Joker and the others as they sat there in a daze, to the shock and horror of everyone else.
"NO!" They shout in disbelief as flames consume Joker and the others while Shido looks on. Boss grasps his mouth in horror alongside Athena while the others either stare at the smouldering wreckage with shock or glare at Shido in pure rage. While his face could not be seen, the intense glow from the mono eye showed the glee he was feeling in his triumph against the Thieves.
"And so it ends." He proclaims before turning around and glaring at Athena's team. "And now, it is your turn. To join your fellow Thieves in the fires of hell." He slowly marches towards them, charging the central cannon in his chest as Athena and the others ready themselves for battle.
But right before he was about to fire, powerful blasts of magic ripped through the flames around the command tower, slamming right into Shido's suit and severely damaging his armour. Locking up the joins, damaging his central cannon and knocking his shield off his arm.
"WHO DARES!?" Shido screams, turning his mono eye around to the roaring flames. Athena's team follows his eye to the flames, watching in trepidation until eleven figures appear in the flames. "WHAT!?" Shido screams once more as the figures emerge from the fire. Burnt and scrapped, with half of their masks missing and their clothing severely damaged and scorched. But otherwise, still alive.
Joker and his team march out, eyes locked and glaring directly at Shido.
"Why won't you die!? I thought for sure that would have been the end of you, vermin!" Shido screams as the mono eye glares at the Thieves. All of them returned the glare with interest.
"It takes more than what you have to kill us, Shido." Joker replies coolly, pointing his knife at him. "Only one person ever succeeded in killing us, but that allowed us to change things for the better. And you are nowhere near Yaldabaoth level." Shido growls from the inside of his mech before armour starts to purge itself from the main body. Leaving a human-sized gap to form, with Shido himself stepping out of his suit. Looking as he did when Joker and Crow faced him solo back in his Palace.
"Fine then. Let's settle this here and now, you vermin!" Shido shouts before charging right at the Thieves, who in turn chargeback against him as Oracle stands behind. Shido takes a swing a Joker, who parries with his dagger before stepping to the side as Queen charges forward, landing a punch onto Shido's gut before ducking under an elbow strike. She was followed up but Skull and Noir, who brought their weapons down from overhead onto Shido, who blocked with his bare arms.
In response, Fox and Mona charge forward, slicing across his stomach and leaving twin gashes, yet Shido does not flinch. Instead, he forces Noir and Skull back before moving his head to the side to avoid Spring's spear. Only for Outlaw to follow up behind and slash five times around him before jumping back.
Panther and Shadow latch their weapons around his arms, holding him back while Queen lands a kick to his face. Followed up by Joker slashing at his back before leaping away. In a rage, Shido pulls Panther and Shadow towards him, only for the two to let go of their weapons and force him to stumble backwards. Seeing the opening, they took the chance to blast him with spells. But not their own.
"Odin! Ziodyne!"
"Ongyo-Ki! Brain Buster!"
Channelling the persona's imbued into their weapons, Panther and Shadow blast Shido with spells he was not expecting from the two. Caught off guard, he stumbles backwards from the hit as he narrows his gaze at the two. Before charging in and body-slamming them into the floor. Only for Outlaw to call out a spell that he never saw him use.
"Cybele! Mediarahan!" Outlaw's spell instantly gets to work, healing Panther and Shadow as Spring steps up to his side. Eyes locked on the tyrant before them.
"Sandalphon! Kougaon!" From the tip of her spear, a lance of light zooms forward and slams into Shido's chest. Winding him as he stumbles back. Right into Mona, Fox and Noir's range.
"Mother Harlet! Bufudyne!"
"Chi You! Psiodyne!"
"Artemis! Megidolaon!"
While Fox and Noir swapped spells around, Mona's almighty magic mixed in with theirs. Slamming into Shido and engulfing him in a mighty explosion. Yet it was not enough, as the Crimson Tyrant leaps from the blast and slams his fist into the deck. Sending a shock wave out that sent almost everyone to their knees. Yet Oracle was not going to let that happen.
"Anahita! Eternal Prayer!" Shido gasped in shock, seeing the Thieves around him stand once more as a healing wave rushed over them all. Turning around, he glares directly at Oracle, who glares back at him with half her mask missing from the attack. A small golden cog was visible on the part of her mask still left on her face. But as he turned to look, he left himself open from behind.
"Lucifer! Agidyne!"
"Vishnu! Eigaon!"
"Ishtar! Freidyne!"
Skull, Queen and Joker taking advantage of Shido's blind spot, blast him in the back with their powerful spells. Almost sending him to the ground. Yet the Crimson Tyrant refused to fall down.
"Do you think… these attacks will stop me!?" Shido shouts, sending out an aura that makes the flames quiver. The Thieves outside the battle could only watch on as Joker's team wailed into Shido with no sense of preservation. Boss and Athena are wearing looks of concern, others a mix of apprehension or silent determination. As for Guernica, she could only watch on with stars in her eyes at the beatdown the Thieves were delivering to Shido. Each one of them takes a heavy blow, causing more of their outfit to be torn and ripped. Yet they returned the blows to Shido, with countless wounds and bruises lining his crimson torso.
"Blessing of Light!" Spring calls out, healing all of the Thieves from the countless wounds they had received, even the burn marks that scorched their flesh. But Shido had no such luck, panting hard as he glared at the Thieves with a burning hatred.
And it was at that moment that Shido's left leg gave out.
"NOW! SCYTHES OF ENERTAL DARKNESS!"
"WHEEL OF LIFE!"
"INFERNAL HELLFIRE!"
"ATOMIC HOLLOW!"
"ALMIGHTY JUDGMENT!"
"CRYSTAL BLOOM!"
"PSCYO IMPACT!"
"COMING OF SPRING!"
"RAIN OF METAL!"
"SHADOW BLADES!"
Unleashing all of their magic, the Thieves blast into Shido with everything they had. Swarming around him as they held nothing back and encased him in a cocoon of multicoloured magic. While Oracle summons Isara to her side, transforming her into Edelweiss and blasts both Shido and his dysfunctional mech suit. As the smoke cleared, Shido still stood, but it was clear that he was almost finished. But even so, he still stands back up. Channelling everything he had for one final attack.
But the Thieves would not let him have the chance.
"ALL OUT ATTACK!" Joker shouts as the Thieves leap into the air and lash into Shido from every direction. Melee weapons, guns, magic, it did not matter. They would not show a single bit of mercy to the tyrant as they attacked from every angle. As for Oracle, she flew up above them, dropping bombs around him in a star-like pattern before joining Joker and the others as they leapt away from him. With their back turned to Shido, they snap their fingers as one, detonating the bombs and consuming Shido in one final explosion.
Shido screams in pain, but soon, his voice grows quiet before vanishing in its entirety. When the smoke cleared, all that was left was a black scotch mark on the floor. Along with white motes floating into the sky as the dark clouds begin to part away. Letting the gentle sunlight shine down once more as the fires around them begin to die out.
"Checkmate… Shido…" Joker says quietly, glaring at the spot where he once was. Before he and the others collapse to the floor.