Chapter 5: Shibuya's Jail of Lust, part 2.

It was surprising to find how much time actually passed in real life when the Thieves returned from the Jail. From the morning when they started to being just before lunch now. Even so, using the time to their advantage and grabbing a quick bite to eat at a nearby store, the Thieves take a moment to rest up before diving back into the Jail once more. And with a few quick purchases on Sophia's shop, got some new weapons for Kawakami, Sojiro and Isara. Even if Isara and Sophia had to equip them while in the Metaverse itself. Using the checkpoint to their advantage, arrive back in the alley near the keep. Leading them directly to Shibuya Station.

"The entrance is around here." Joker tells the team as they duck behind a bus, watching as a cop and drone move past them on patrol. "Just up the stairs and to the left."

"We'll need to take care of those shadows first." Crow points out at the patrolling cop. Mona glances at the cop before looking at the top of the bus before getting an idea. Leaping onto the bus, Mona dives towards the cop, landing square on its face and rips the mask right off. Revealing a giant silky surrounded by two smaller ones.

"Let's get 'em! Ziodyne!" Skull shouts, blasting away at the Silky's and managing to shock two of them, yet the giant one once again had a shield protecting it like the others. "Again!?"

"Seems to be a running gimmick here!" Oracle shouts as more shadows appear around them. "And we have trouble!"

"All right! Ain't havin' none of that!" Skull suddenly shouts as William appears behind him. Dropping down to a running start, Skull sprints forward before jumping into the air just as William fires a missile. Said missile screams around Skull before he smacks it with his mace, sending it right into the ground and detonating into a mini mushroom cloud with a storm of lightning bolts raining down from above. Wiping out the cop shadows and damaging the two smaller Silky's while damaging the giant ones shield even more. "How do you like that!?"

In response, the Giant Silky counters with a Mabufudyne, forcing the Thieves back as Panther and Teach counter with Agidyne spells. Damaging the shield even more before it finally shatters like glass. Leaving it open to an All-Out attack, dragging the two normal Silky's into the beatdown before leaping away from a giant explosion. Wiping out the remaining foes.

"Nice job, guys! There's another Checkpoint nearby, so lets activate it and keep on moving!" Oracle calls out, already rushing up the stairs to activate the Checkpoint while the rest of the Thieves follow Joker under the stairs. Finding the same exit, they used to leave the sewers waiting for them just as Oracle rejoined them.

"Here we go again… best hold your noses. The stench down here was bad." Outlaw warns the group as they head back underground. And are met by the stench of sewage water.

"Urgh… This place reeks…" Teach remarks, waving a hand in front of her nose."

"But it's also our only way forward." Oracle reminds, bringing up her map. "This tunnel leads all the way to Maruku City. The only problem is getting past this wooden barricade."

"And even if we get past it, how do we get past the sewer water"? Panther asks, throwing a hand out to said water. "Because I am not swimming through that."

"Me neither." The rest of the girls reply as one, their voices reverberating throughout the tunnel halls. Not that anyone could blame them. It WAS sewage water, after all. Who would go swimming in that?

"Well, unless you want to be turned into a turtle or a crocodile, then let's take the grate." Edelweiss chimes up, standing next to a vent grate before ripping it off. "Looks like this leads to the other side."

"Better than swimming from crap." Joker remarks, glancing at the Thieves. "Ladies first."

"Always the gentleman." Teach remarks as she goes first, followed by the rest of the girls as Queen goes last. Followed by Joker and the boys, with Mona bringing up the end. With them coming out on the other end onto a large platform, with convenient scaffolding and piping along the wall.

"Well, that is convenient." Boss remarks as Joker takes the lead. "You would think they would try and block off all ways of moving forward."

"You would think so, yet they never learn." Fox comments, following after Joker.

"This is fun!" Sophie calls, leaping over the pipes with childlike glee. "So this is what it's like to be a Thief!"

"Don't do anything dangerous, Sophie." Queen calls out as she and Joker keep an eye on her, leaping over pipes and boardwalks. It was subtle but noticeable. "You don't want to fall and hurt yourself."

"Okay!" Sophie calls back, stopping for a second before moving forward again. This time with a bit more caution in her movement.

"So…has anyone noticed how Joker and Queen are acting around Sophie?" Spring asks the others as they follow after them. Edelweiss took the easy route and flew around them on her thrusters temporarily.

"I have. But I can't blame them." Shadow comments, leaping past and doing a flip in mid-air as she lands on another pipe. Boss shakes his head in amusement as he follows after them, staying silent as he watches them grow. Eventually, the team reached the end of the tunnel, along with another corridor leading forward with another Checkpoint. Something they were all grateful for as they pressed on. Found another sealed-off room, but with a ladder leading up and out of the sewers.

"I bet that is our way into Maruku City!" Mona calls out, pointing at the manhole above them. But before they could move forward, a large squad of cops and drones appeared before them. Several of them holding riot shields, blocking the path forward. "Oh crap!"

"Who the hell are you!?" One of them shouts, pointing its baton at them.

"We've been busted!" Oracle shouts as Edelweiss runs forward.

"Missile Storm!" She shouts, unleashing a swarm of missiles from her pods onto the cops, breaking up their defensive line. In response, Jack-o-Lanterns appear amongst their ranks, casting Agidyne against the Thieves as they scatter about.

"Bufudyne!" Fox calls, sending a wave of ice at the Jack-O-Lanterns and managing to ensnare quite a few within. One of the cops managed to get close to Boss, smacking him in the back and sending him to his knees, promoting Joker to blast the offending foe with a Megidolaon before rushing up to Boss's side.

"You alright?" He asks, switching to Cybele and casting Mediarahan.

"I'm fine…" Boss replies, standing up. "Hoo boy… that hit like a truck. "He remarks, swinging his book around and knocking a Jack-o-Lantern towards Crow, who slices it in two.

"It's because your weak to physical." Oracle tells him as the fighting dies down. "It makes sense in a way since you're a caster."

"Just my luck…" Boss remarks before Outlaw pats him on the arm.

"I know the feeling." He tells him before following the rest of the Thieves as they climb the ladder. Reaching the surface, they find themselves behind the outer wall and next to the inner wall. Complete bypassing the defences.

"All right. We're in." Panther remarks with a grin.

"A good defence is only as strong as those who guard it. Once your opponent is past your walls, it is all over." Shadow comments with a grin. "All that is left is storming the centre."

"I will give Alice… whatever she wants…"

"Did you guys say something?" Violet asks, looking at the others. They shake their heads as they move forward. "Huh, I thought I heard something…"

"Maybe it was just the wind." Sophie comments as the team reaches the entrance to the centre. Only to be met by an eerie sight.

"What the!? What is going on here!?" Skull asks as the team finds, to their shock, rows and rows of cages lining the inner walls of the keep. Surrounding the stone tower at the centre. Cages glowing a deep, foreboding red, holding countless personal shadows.

"These cages… They remind me of the ones from the Prison of Sloth." Crow comments with worry as they listen to the nonsensical ramblings coming from the cages.

"Are all of these people the ones who had their desires stolen?" Queen asks with shock, seeing the number before them.

"Look! It's the TV hosts!" Mona points out to one cage, which was indeed holding the two hosts from before.

"And it's those guys from when we first arrived!" Outlaw also points out to another cage.

"So, we've discovered where they are being held." Fox summarises, folding his arms.

"We have to rescue them!" Spring shouts, eager to start busting some cages open.

"No. If this is anything like the Prison of Sloth, freeing them now won't do anything." Crow counters, shaking his head. "We need to defeat Alice herself. That way, their Desires will return to them and free them."

"How could someone do this to other people?" Violet asks, holding a clenched hand over her chest. Panther remained silent, looking over every cage with shock in her eyes.

"She tried to turn me into one of these people as well… Just like what Kamoshida tried to do to me…" She mumbles to herself. "Alice…why are you doing this?"

"Where did you come from!?" A cop suddenly shouts, leaping from the tower and landing in front of the Thieves.

"We've been busted! Again!" Oracle shouts in annoyance as more cops and Jack-o-Lanterns appear around them. "And is there anything else apart from the Jacks?!"

"Fight now! Ask questions later!" Joker shouts, diving into the fray as he switches Persona again. "Alice! Die for me!" Summoning the ruler of the Death Arcana to his side, Joker watches as persona Alice wipes out a good portion of the cops and several Jack-o-Lanterns. Fox leaps onto one of the floating candies around them, slicing the ropes, holding it to the balloons and letting it fall to the ground. Exploding and taking out more cops.

Silky's start appearing alongside another wave of cops as the Thieves let loose with all their might. Panther and Queen coat their weapons in fire and nuke energy while Skull and Outlaw charge up before sending their foes flying. Only for another wave to show up, this time including Bicrons and Pixies in their mix.

"This is the last wave, guys! Hold out for a bit longer!" Oracle cries from inside Al Azif before dodging an Agidyne from a rouge Jack-o-Lantern. "Hey! Watch it!"

"Agnes!" Queen shouts, summoning her persona before taking a seat. Revving the throttle, Queen pops a wheel as she drives into the hoard of foes, spinning Agnes around before driving away. Not before she leaps off her persona and into the air, charging nuke energy in her fist as she glares at the ground. "FIST OF JUSTICE!" She screams, throwing a punch towards the ground and igniting an explosion in the middle of the cops. Engulfing them all in the blast while leaving several stragglers along the outside.

"Nice one, Queen!" Spring shouts, letting an arrow fly into one of the remaining Pixies as the fight draws to a close. "That's the last of them."

"All right, guys. Time to climb that tower!" Oracle cries out, jumping into Al Azif as Edelweiss flies to the top. "Lift those knees up!"

"And you're not joining us? How rude." Outlaw comments as the Thieves rush up the tower while Oracle floats up in Al Azif. As for Edelweiss, the thrusters on her back, although temporary, gave her more than enough thrust to make the leap in a single bound. The moment the Thieves reached the top, the orb of light held inside floated down to greet them. Before it suddenly turned into a pop dress at their feet.

"This is what was powering the searchlights?" Violet asks as Panther picks it up.

"A dress? It is rather cute, but why a dress in particular?" Noir asks, looking over the blue and white striped dress.

"I wonder…was this the dress that Alice wore that got her into design in the first place?" Panther asks before her eyes widen in realisation. "No, wait, I've seen this before. It's a dress from Alice's line-up. I saw it in a fashion magazine."

"But, how does a dress power those searchlights? Howzat work?" Skull asks, rubbing the back of his head.

"Well, this IS the cognitive world after all. What looks to be a simple dress has power here. Remember the Palaces and Kingdoms?" Queen remarks, hand on hip. "But it is strange that a dress of all things is here."

"Maybe it's her own power source?" Joker suggests. "It's not a treasure, but at the same time, it's valuable enough to be locked away in a keep like this. And it acts as a power source for Alice's castle. Maybe it's a representation of her power?"

"That sounds like a logical conclusion. One could say that her brand is what allowed Alice to reach her current position. The height of her power, so to speak. Or a symbol of her dominance." Crow agrees. "But we won't know until we return to her castle. Speaking off, how does it look, Oracle?"

"Well, I have good news and bad news." Oracle replies her screen before her. "Good news, one of the searchlights and its guns are off. But the bad news is that the other two have their own separate power sources."

"Meaning we have two more keeps to find." Queen surmises with a groan. "This is going to be a long day. Where are they located Oracle?"

"Well, the first one is to the east of here. Real World location would be around… Miyamae Park." Oracle replies, closing her screen.

"I suppose we better start looking then. Would it also be in a tower keep like this as well?" Noir asks as the team descends.

"If they are, we should identify them as separate places from the central core. How about 'Incarceration Zone'?" Fox suggests, earning a groan from the others.

"That's too long. Why not just call them Prison Keeps?" Sophie suggests, pointing at the walls. "The walls are lined with cells, and it is a keep."

"It's on the nose, but it works." Mona comments, leaping onto Joker's shoulders. "All right, guys, keep an eye out for any more Prison Keeps. But for now, it's back underground."

"Or perhaps not." Teach suddenly speaks up, pointing down the cobbled road. "Looks like the gate is open."

"Is I because we took the core?" Noir asks as they all see the open door. "Either way, I'm glad we won't have to go back underground again."

"Same." Violet agrees, rubbing her arm. "Let's keep moving to the next Keep!" With unanimous agreement, the Thieves make their way back through the bright alleyways of the Jail, finding themselves back in Shibuya before heading east of the castle. Moving under the bypass where their entry point was. It didn't take long for them to find the Prison Keep in Miyamae Park, with the giant stone walls and bridge being the obvious giveaway in the sea of presents and card-decorated houses. Only to find the same problem waiting for them.

"Well, the front door is locked. Again." Panther remarks as the team hides behind a giant present. "Should we look for a back entrance?"

"There has to be one farther in. But stay alert. No doubt security is up after taking that dress." Queen warns. The Thieves nod as they silently rush forward across the street. But no sooner do they pass under the bridge than they are blocked off by another horde of cops. And this time, Mokoi's were among their number alongside the Jack-o-Lanterns.

"We've got trouble!" Boss shouts, blasting forward with a Kougaon as the Thieves dive into the fight. As she parries a baton strike from a cop, Spring notices a skateboard holder filled with board waiting to be used. Smirking to herself, Spring leaps onto the holder, takes one of the skateboards out and dives into the fray. The wind around her acts as a shield as she barrels through the foes, dragging several along with her before leaping off the board and shooting them forward. Landing on her hands and feet like a cat.

"Looking cool, Spring!" Mona praises, blasting away several Mokoi with a Garudyne. Just as another wave arrives with Pixies in the mix.

"Psiodyne!" Noir shouts, blasting the new foes with psi energy before swinging her axe around her like a tornado. Shadow follows up, leaving onto her before jumping onto a nearby lamppost. Grabbing on and spinning around, kicking up a whirlwind and sending several cops flying into the walls around them. During the fight, Joker unleashed another joint attack with Raoul, blasting away their foes with a blast of curse energy before landing on his feet. Just as the last of the cops vanish away.

"We really need to come up with a name for those attacks." Oracle suddenly comments as the team moves on. "They aren't Showtime attacks or those special moves we used in the Kingdom. But I don't know what else to call them. And no, we are not calling them Muso attacks, Outlaw." A groan from Outlaw was heard as Spring pats him on the back.

"Why not Voltage, then?" Skull suggests. "When I did that attack, I felt energy coursing through me like a current. And no, that's not just because my Persona is elect-based."

"I guess that can work…" Oracle remarks before glancing around the area. "And it looks like we reached a dead end." Around them were buildings and two roads leading out from a crosswalk. Ut both roads lead to dead ends while the buildings around them had no see able features to shadow jump.

"We might not have anything to shadow step too." Joker replies, taking his grapple out. "But we are not out of options yet." With finesse, he fires his grapple line at a gap on one of the roofs, dragging himself up and onto a rooftop garden. With an access leading right into the back of the Prison Keep behind a fenced-off garden. Not long after, the rest of the Thieves grapple up to join him before they press on, ambushing a lone squad of Mokoi before pressing on, activating another Checkpoint along the way. Until they reached another problem.

"Aww, another locked door?" Panther asks in dismay, seeing the green ray shield blocking their way forward. "And after we came all this way."

"Don't despair just yet, Panther. I think I can hack this." Oracle chimes in, walking over to a control station next to the door. "If I hack into this terminal, I should be able to bring the shield down." Immediately she starts typing on it, lines of code surrounding her as she worked her magic. But as she did so, a large squad of cops appeared behind them. All eyes were glued to Oracle as she hacked away. "Uh oh!"

"Protect Oracle! Don't let any of them get close to her!" Joker shouts, switching to Artemis and blasting away with a Megidolaon at the charging cops. More and more cops spawn, mixed with free Persona, as they attempt to charge towards Oracle as she continues to hack away at the terminal. Seeing the raw numbers before them, Crow and Outlaw hop onto nearby skateboard dispensers and barrel through the charging lines. Scattering them up and giving the Thieves a moment to breathe as Skull unleashed another Voltage attack.

"Almost there! Just a little longer!" Oracle calls out, not seeing how close one of the cops got to her before it was struck down by Edelweiss.

"Let's clean this up, Diego!" Mona suddenly shouts, shifting from his normal form into bus form. Surprising Boss, Teach and Sophie as Diego generates a typhoon of wind behind him. Sending him barrelling forward and smashing right through the opposing foes. Sending them flying into the air as Joker, Crow, Queen, and Violet shoot them out of the sky. Just before Mona, enveloped in a green aura, explodes in a blast of wind. Sending more flying as he reverts back to normal. Just as a loud ding from Oracle echoes around the area.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, your hack is now complete! Been a pleasure!" And like magic, the green barrier blocking their way is gone. Leaving the path open to the centre of the keep. Although there was something else to discuss first.

"Did my eyes deceive me, or did Mona turn into a van?" Boss asks, looking at the cat with wide eyes.

"No, they didn't…I saw it happen as well.." Teach remarks, shaking her head.

"Mona can turn into a van?" Sophie asks, tilting her head in confusion.

"Yeah. I can." Mona remarks with pride. "Anyway, that was a nasty surprise we had back there."

"Guess they didn't like me hacking into their systems. Thanks for that. That really freaked me out there." Oracle things, rubbing the back of her head. "Never had that happen before."

"Something to be ready for in case we encounter more of those doors then." Joker remarks, glancing inside the Keep. "Stay sharp. We might be in for another fight."

"This should help then. Salvation." Boss intones, healing the party and curing their exhaustion.

"Thanks, Boss. That helps a lot." Shadow comments as the team presses inside. Where, to the shock of no one, a guard was waiting for them. A large bruiser type, wielding a giant axe in both hands.

"What!? How did you get inside?! Where are the guards!?"

"Taken care of." Crow replies, aiming his gun at the guard.

"Damnit! In Her Majesty's name, you will go no farther!" The guard ruptures into black ooze, transforming itself into an Archangel. "I will end your sorry lives here and now!"

"Watch out! This one is tough!" Oracle shouts as the Archangel unleashes a vicious uppercut swing with its sword, separating the Thieves up before swinging its show horizontally. Aiming for their necks, only to miss by centimetres. "He is strong but weak to elect and curse! Don't hold back, guys!"

"Alice! Eiagon!"

"William! Ziodyne!"

"Hereward! Eiagon!"

"Merlin! Eiagon!"

The three blasts of curse magic intertwine with Skull's lightning, coursing through the Archangel and forcing it to its knees. Shattering the shield that protected it and leaving it open to an All-Out Attack.

"Filthy rats!" The archangel shouts, blasting back with a Makougaon, landing several hits on the Thieves. "I will purge your sickness from this place!"

"So you say!" Teach shouts, landing on the Archangel's back and stabbing both of her daggers into its neck. "But you're a bit too slow to catch us!" She leaps back, just missing the sword swing as she brings out her RPG. Letting a missile fly just as Noir launches a grenade at the Archangel. Both explosives detonated at once, sending the Archangel flying back yet failing to kill it. "Tough bastard, isn't he?"

"You dare insult me!?" It shouts, blasting out a Mapsiodyne towards the Thieves. Forcing them back once more. Giving it enough space to charge in and slam its sword into the ground, unleashing a Varja Blast on the Thieves, scattering them around the Jail. Just as some Silky's and Pixies appear to join its side.

"Oh, come on! Reinforcements?!" Skull shouts in anger, dogging a Garudyne from one of the Pixies. Joker grits his teeth as he glances around, seeing how much of a struggle they are in. Until a familiar glow emanates from his pocket. Along with a familiar bond forming between him and Mona. Something that put a smile back on his face.

"Mona! It's time!" He shouts, jumping to his side. Mona turns to look at him before noticing the glow in Joker's pocket, along with a familiar sensation.

"Oh? That time again? Well then, let's not waste any time!"

"It's Showtime!"

Leaping into the air, the familiar sight of red curtains falls on the battlefield, changing the area to that of a shady alleyway with a 60s-era coloured setting and style. Leaving the Archangel, two Pixies and a Silky in the alley by themselves.

"Bet you can't get me!" Mona's voice echoes from one of the alleyways as a slingshot ball slams into one of the Pixies. The Archangel turns to look at the alleyway, only for another ball to hit him in the back. As Mona dashes from alleyway to alleyway, firing his slingshot in rapid succession.

"Too slow!" He shouts, unrelenting in his assault as Joker watches from up high. Fixing his glove before spinning his Tyrant Pistol EX in his right hand.

"Got you where I want you!" Mona shouts, dashing out from the darkness, slashing at the Archangel's wings and sending it falling onto the Silky.

"Show's over!" Joker shouts, leaping from the building and firing his grapple shot at the neighbouring building. Diving it as he fires his gun, carolling the Pixies towards the Archangel before kicking them all with a powerful kick. Sending them flying into the wall and killing all but the Archangel. With the area returning back to normal not long after.

"Nice one, guys! But the Archangel is still up!" Oracle warns as the Archangel struggles back to its feet.

"Then let me take care of it." Teach remarks as her mask vanishes before she is suddenly riding on Chiron. "Forward!" She calls as Chiron dashes forward, drawing arrows and firing them from his bow before quickly drawing his sword and slicing at the Archangel. Teach leaps from his back, aiming her RPG at the Archangel as fire engulfs the warhead. "School over!" She shouts, firing and engulfing the Archangel in a giant explosion. Finally ending it as it vanishes into darkness.

"Sheesh…that guy did not want to die…" Edelweiss comments as the team takes a moment to breathe.

"For real… I thought it wouldn't end." Skull admits, cracking his shoulders.

"More importantly, was that your Showtime attack with Mona, Joker?" Violet asks with building excitement. Joker nods his head, pulling out the star from Jose, its radiant blue glow once again filling its form.

"Looks like it." He remarks with a smirk, pocketing it once more. "That's another skill back in our arsenal."

"It will be nice having those Showtimes available again." Noir comments before glancing at Boss, Teach, Sophie and Edelweiss. "And now you can figure out attacks as well."

"Maybe some over time." Boss deflects, shaking his head. "For now, let's get the next item here and take a moment to breathe. That fight drained us."

"No arguments here." Queen agrees, with the team quickly heading up the stairs despite the drain of energy they have. Just like last time, reaching the top they are greeted by another item. Only this time, it wasn't a piece of clothing.

"This core is Alice on a…book?" Sophie asks, watching Spring pick it up and flick through it.

"She made the cover of UN UN? That's a really famous magazine." Noir comments as Panther joins Spring in looking through it.

"It's filled with designs she made. Along with comments about what inspired her behind them." Spring comments, closing the book. "Almost like a symbol of power."

"Inside a widely recognised magazine, a symbol of power. Our theory is being proven at each turn." Fox bemuses, stroking his chin. "What would the final core be, I wonder?"

"Alice would have been famous even if she didn't do any of this… so why?" Panther once again speaks out loud before shaking her head. "Nothing makes sense. This doesn't feel like with Kamoshida or Kaneshiro. There is something we are missing."

"Perhaps we will find out if we continue." Crow tells her, glancing around the Keep. "There is most definitely something we are overlooking. But what?"

"Well, the next Keep is at Bunkamachi. Just to the west from here." Oracle informs the team, pointing west towards the Palace. "Just past the Central Street we all know and love."

"Bunkamachi? That's quite the cultural hotspot." Boss remarks, folding his arms. "Why would she have a Keep there?"`

"Let's head back to reality and take a quick break before we continue. If this keep was anything to go by, the next one will be a hard fight." Joker tells the group before leaping back down to the ground. Finding that the portcullis had not opened up but found a smaller passageway to the right leading back to Shibuya Square.

Taking a quick stop to return to the real world and resting up once more while finding the time to be mid-afternoon, the Thieves return to the Jail and head for Central Street. Finding it to be the same as real life. Even Gecko's shop was where it was supposed to be, which was a surprise considering how out of the way it was.

"By the way, I have heard that Bunkamachi has a well-versed Ballet hall. Have you ever visited it during your Gymnastic trial, Violet?" Fox asks, breaking the comfortable silence around the Thieves.

"Not really. Ballet halls aren't well versed for gymnasts."

"Ballet? Oh, I think I heard about that." Sophie chimes in with two blue arrows acting as her eyes. "It's where wealthy people have others park their own vehicles for them."

"That would be valet, dear…" Noir tells her, patting her head.

"Looks like we have another barrier up ahead." Shadow calls out, sending all eyes up front to the right path next to the theatre.

"And another hacking job for me. You guys got my back?" Oracle asks, walking up to the terminal

"When do we never?" Outlaw questions as the team forms a perimeter around her. Boss is standing next to her due to being less agile than the rest. The moment Oracle began her hack, waves of foes once against appeared before them. Cops, Jack-o-Lanterns and Mokois. All were coming to stop Oracle's hacking. But with the Thieves forming a defensive perimeter around Oracle, the foes couldn't find an opening to get to her. Not helped by Boss peppering them with magic and the occasional Voltage attack from his back. Soon enough, Oracle completed her hacking just as Outlaw struck down the last of the attacking foes. Opening the way up towards Bunkamachi. Along with several surprises in the following alley.

"More Big Bang Burger Restaurants? We latterly just past one." Spring points out, spying on two fast food restaurants in the same alley not far from them.

"Hold on, one of them isn't Big Bang. I think it's Wild Duck." Joker replies, squinting his eyes at one of them. And much to his surprise, it was indeed Wild Duck and not Big Bang nestled in the corner.

"Wasn't Wild Duck Big Bang's main competitor?" Outlaw asks Noir, who nods her head.

"Yes. And since the downfall of Shido, they have been managing to make up the ground they lost when my father lost his way." She looks up at the sky, kicking a stray pebble along the ground. "I should visit him again soon." As she looks up, she spies a strange machine with a power switch and orange light. Curious, she grapples up to it and pulls it down, turning it green but not doing anything else. Shrugging her shoulders, she jumps back down to rejoin the others. Not knowing that Edelweiss also found one hidden in an alleyway, just as Violet found another one hidden up high. Both of them activate them, yet find they did nothing.

Seeing the path down below leads nowhere, the Thieves take to the rooftops, sliding across lines between roofs and finding another Checkpoint hidden in a room filled with clocks. Activating it, they continue on to find, to no one's surprise, yet another terminal. Although this one was glowing red before turning blue.

"What was that about?" Mona asks as Oracle looks it over.

"Duno, but it's working, and that's the main thing." She remarks, getting to work on breaking through its coding. No sooner does she start, cops appear around them. Accompanied by Andras, that immediately attacks the Thieves with a blast of Mabufudyne. Forcing them onto the defensive as one of the cops rushes through and hits Oracle in the back, disrupting her concentration before Edelweiss kicks it in the face.

"You'll pay for that!" Edelweiss shouts, glowing blue before shifting forms into her tank mode. Blocking Oracle from the attack as she aims her main guns at the Andras. "Eat this!" With a roar, her main guns open up, engulfing the Andras and sending it flying back before unleashing a swarm of missiles on the cops accompanying it. While Sophie looked on in amazement at Edelweiss's Voltage attack. But even with this reprieve, the moment Edelweiss turned back to normal, reinforcements arrived on the scene. Accompanied by Silky's as they moved towards Oracle.

"You'll go no further!" Sophie shouts, stepping between Oracle and the approaching foes as her Pithos fly around her before taking aim at the approaching foes. "Fire!" As one, all four fire beams of light at the enemy, slashing through and scattering them while leaving contrails in the form of birds. Aweing Sophie as the Thieves rush in to take advantage of this sudden reprieve. Not long after, Oracle completes her hack as the last of the cops vanish into shadows. Retreating, due to failing their mission. With the road clear, the Thieves drop down from the rooftop and continue on, ambushing patrolling guards and unlocking another Checkpoint as they head for the final Prison Keep. Which they soon came across, towering over them like a castle on a hill.

"Well, here we are. Now, how do we get inside this one?" Teach asks Oracle who was already busy scanning the area.

"I'm not seeing anything yet…let's try higher up." She suggests while pointing out an area where a Ferris wheel was located. That towered over the Prison Keep itself.

"I agree. Let's try gaining some elevation. We could always use a bird's eye view." Noir agrees. Seeing little other option, the Thieves begin their climb up the buildings around them, aiming for the Ferris Wheel. About halfway into their climb, they find a good enough vantage point to give them a view of the entire Keep, along with a certain detail from the metal cage.

"It looks like we can use that zipline to get inside. The only problem is that it's too loose to use…" Shadow points out, indicating the steamer connecting to the Ferris Wheel and cage.

"Why don't we give the Wheel a spin? That should tighten it up." Panther suggests. Looking at each other, the Thieves agree with Panther's plan. It wasn't like they had any other option, so they pressed on towards the Ferris Wheel. Activating yet another Checkpoint as they moved on. But the moment they reached the Ferris Wheel, they found a guard waiting for them. Another bruiser type, armed with a sword.

"Who are you!? What are you doing here!?" It shouts, taken aback by the sudden appearance of the Thieves.

"We're only here to inspect your Ferris Wheel. I'm sure you won't mind us taking a look?" Crow asks smugly. Yet the guard refused to pudge, transforming into a giant Mokoi before stomping forward.

"Stay away from the Ferris Wheel, you rats! It's Her Majesty's pride and joy!"

"Sorry, but we need to use it! Let's do this, Outlaw!" Spring shouts as the star in Joker's pocket begins to glow.

"You got it!" Outlaw shouts with a grin, just as more Mokoi and cops spawn around the giant one.

"It's Showtime!"

Once again, the red curtain falls before retreating, showing the giant Mokoi and its posse standing on a volleyball court. Entangled in the net, while Spring stands on one end holding a volleyball. "Batter up!" She shouts before throwing the ball up and jumping after it to deliver a powerful spike at the giant Mokoi. The ball bounces over to the other side, where Outlaw stands, waiting for it before hitting it back into the air and spiking it back at one of the smaller Mokoi.

The duo continues this for a few passes before the ball spins directly into the air. Spring and Outlaw both leap into the air at the same time, spinning as they go before arriving at the same level as the volleyball. Before they both spike it at the same time, engulfing it in flames as it shoots towards the ground.

Upon impacting the net, it explodes, consuming the court in a blaze of fire as the two stand on a nearby spectator stand, viewing the carnage.

"Nice one, guys! But that giant Mokoi is still up!" Oracle warns as the Mokoi moves through the flames, scorched and burned but still in the fight. In a fury, it attacks the Party with a Psiodyne, forcing them into two groups while landing a hit on Spring and Outlaw, with it quickly following up by doing a belly flop on the two, sending them flying into the wall in revenge.

"Hey! Two can play at that game!" Crow shouts as Hereward appears behind him. Pulling his bow back and charging up a powerful arrow as Crow aims with his laser gun. "Shoot to kill!" Firing his gun, Hereward unleashes his arrow at the same time, the two shots striking the giant Mokoi in the chest and engulfing it in an Almighty blast. Sending it careening into the wall and leaving a sizable imprint where it landed. Yet even that was not enough to kill it as it leaps into the air with another Assault Drive, landing right in the middle of the Thieves, scattering them about.

"Hmph! I think it's time we taught this one a lesson." Boss remarks as Oracle lands next to him. "Are you with me?" He asks, just as the star in Joker's pocket glows once more.

"Hell yeah, I am!"

"It's Showtime!"

Father and daughter leap into the air just as the red curtains drape over the area. As they part, they reveal a battlefield with ruined trees and fortifications, with Boss standing in the centre with his book floating before him. With the Mokoi staring him down.

"Here's a boost!" Oracle shouts, shooting red energy into Sojiro, who grunts under the impact as his book opens up and falls to the ground. Projecting a mighty halberd that Boss grabs as red electricity courses around him. He looks up at the Mokoi with a devilish grin.

"Come! Show me what you got!" Boss shouts, rushing forward with the halberd in one hand, swiping at the Mokoi before grabbing its face with his off-hand. Dragging it across the field before throwing it into the air and doing a few more swiped before sending it flying into a nearby castle wall. Collapsing it and burying the Mokoi under it just as Oracle floats down beside him. "Can anyone provide me with a DECENT CHALLENGE?!" Boss shouts to the sky as Oracle shakes her head as the scene comes to a close, with the area turning back to normal soon after.

"When did you two come up with a Showtime attack?" Shadow asks as she helps Spring back to her feet, Skull doing the same with Mishima while Mona heals them up.

"Eh, just right now." Oracle admits, shrugging her shoulder before looking at Boss. "Still, that surprised me."

"What can I say. I was a different man in my youth." Boss remarks with a grin as Joker and Crow shake their heads at him. He was having way too much fun.

"I've found the Ferris Wheel controls!" Violet calls up from a booth nearby. "Shall I start it up?!"

"Go for it, Violet!" Panther calls back. With a nod, Violet activates the controls, sending the Ferris Wheel into a spin and tightening up the rope. Making it taught enough for the Thieves to cross over.

"That should do it. Let's head on over." Shadow stepping up the active Ferris Wheel, the Thieves slide down the line and into the Prison Keep. Ambushing the guards at the bottom with a surprise attack that none of them were ready for. With the guards eliminated, the path was clear to the core of the Keep, which was just as different as the others.

"A CD?" Teach asks while Oracle picks up the CD case.

"Oh, I recognise this album." Noir interjects. "Its songs are in a lot of commercials nowadays."

"That's Alice's biggest album. The one that's been at the top of the charts for weeks now…" Panther supplies, looking away with a conflicted look. Skull looks at her, patting her arm in a comforting manner. He knew how much of an effect this was having on her. And it wasn't good.

"Either way, that's all three cores taken care of. Our path to Alice's castle should be clear now." Crow comments, glancing around the place. "Shall we investigate now or hold off for another break?"

"I can keep going." Sophie comments, bobbing on the spot.

"I don't feel drained either. I think we have enough energy for a scouting run." Queen remarks, turning to Joker. "What do you think?"

"Yeah. A quick scouting run sounds good." Joker agrees, turning around to look back at the castle. "The sooner we get in there, the sooner we can finish this. Let's go."