Souls In Hiding

A.I. Gone Corrupt

"Everyone get into position and wait for Maki's signal." Shuichi whispered, motioning for the group to split up and take their positions. Everyone scattered amongst the forest's edge, blending into the flora. Using his speed, Shuichi raced towards the wall and flattened himself against it to hide from the guards. At the last minute, Shuichi and Kokichi announced a slight change to the 'original' plan, and they, along with Tsumugi, would create a distraction. If the same people as last time make another distraction, it would be too suspicious, Shuichi used as an excuse to his friends.

A glowing purple orb appeared from the tree Kokichi hid behind, chasing Tsumugi who shifted into the appearance of a random Mors townswoman. Running towards the gate, Tsumugi screamed and cried out, flailing her arms in the air in panic. "Help! A phantom's trying to kill me!"

Immediately, the only two guards patrolling the entrance readied their swords towards Kokichi as Tsumugi ran behind them. "We'll protect you, Ma'am." Tsumugi backed away from them, not able to be too close in order for their plan to work. Both guards held their ground, knowing it would be futile to charge a phantom with unknown powers. Sneaking behind the two metal humans, Shuichi ripped off their helmets and grabbed their hair, slamming their heads together with so much force that their skulls shattered into small fragments.

Kokichi floated behind a corner before poking his humanoid head out from the wall, no longer in orb form. "You know, you can be kinda scary sometimes Shuichi." Tsumugi nodded in agreement, flicking the blood splatter off her shoulder whilst running back towards the forest to continue the next part of their plan.

Under the pitch-black sky and lantern-lit town windows, Kokichi and Shuichi raced towards the nearest stairwell leading to the top of the wall. The boys burst onto the wall to see Maki standing above Ryoma's tied up body with a sword digging into his throat.

"Good job Maki," Shuichi praised the assassin as they approached the tied up boy.

"What's the idea here? You can't just threaten to kill me for no reason." Ryoma argued, feigning ignorance in the situation.

"Oh just shut up. We know you're the traitor, you were too slack towards the end there!" Kokichi rolled his eyes, giggling to himself. Shuichi hoisted Ryoma over his shoulder and made his way towards the stairwell, leading the small crowd further up the stairs to the watchtower's peak. Ryoma kicked and squirmed, attempting to break free of the ropes, but all acts were futile against the strength contained in the vampire's vessel.

Once they reached their destination, Shuichi threw Ryoma to the stone ground. "Well Ryoma, I'll admit you had us fooled at the start. Next time though, watch out for any creepy stalkers following you at night.~" Kokichi shot a smug grin towards Shuichi whilst he taunted the traitor. Grinning at the traitor, Kokichi was the last thing he saw as Maki kicked Ryoma off the edge of the tower. Peeking over the edge, the three watched as Ryoma's body exploded into chunks of flesh and bone, the grass soaked with his blood.

That looked... painful to say the least. I'm sure there was a better way. No, he betrayed us and murdered Kaede. He deserved nothing better. Shuichi justified the actions he ordered as the three ran towards the castle, finding no guards in their way. Kokichi and Maki split off from their leader, finding a secret entrance that Maki remembered from her knight days. Bursting through the throne room, Shuichi faced a lone King Monokuma, no guards protecting him.

"Ah, Shuichi. I guess you caught me, what a shame." Monokuma's grin rivalled the exaggerated pout spreading across his face.

"I know about your plans Monokuma. How you want to kill all of us to keep our powers for yourself." Shuichi shouted, trying his hardest not to enter a hysterical rage as Kaede flashed before his eyes.

"You will address me as your king! I'd be concerned for you if you didn't know. I thought I made it pretty obvious. Enough of this talking." King Monokuma clicked his fingers, bringing the room to life as a countless number of knights charged in the room, aiming their weapons at Shuichi. 

Unable to hold his smirk, the vampire's chuckle bounced around the room. "Two can play at that game." Shuichi clapped his hands twice, his own reinforcements immediately rushing in and taking down as many guards as they could. 

Swords clashed as knights fought the criminal clan. Flames spread amongst the room from the lantern Kirumi held close to her. Birds and insects swarmed and ripped apart multiple knights at Angie's command. Everyone used their powers to their advantage to murder the entire room's worth of metal-clad humans in a swift manner. "Impressive." Monokuma slowly clapped, his surprised yet cheerful expression tortured Shuichi. "Although did you really think I'd put my entire army on the line at once?" Clicking his fingers again, another swarm of guards rushed the room with a loyal rage.

For the second time, a small battle commenced before the king. Miu turned knights against each other, Gonta transformed into his wolf form and tore through the knights with ease. One by one the knights fell. Himiko's instant healing potion's working well. Shuichi watched his friends, none of which were suffering any injuries despite the odds stacked against them. I wonder if Ryoma tampered with the last batch during our first assault?

Shuichi tore open the neck of the lone, remaining guard, his assembly panting and glaring at Monokuma with bloodlust. "Like I'd ever let the likes of you defeat me! I haven't lost yet!" Maki didn't grant the king any chance to monologue, having him flat on his back by the end of his sentence. She pushed her sword into Monokuma's neck, causing a small indent in his leather skin.

Kaito stepped forward, placing a singular potted patch of grass on the ground. Rantaro joined him and grew the plant into long, twisting ropes. As more blades of grass twisted around each other, the rope grew stronger and stronger. Using the new ropes, Rantaro tied the king's limbs together, not sparing him any breathing room.

"You might've noticed a familiar friend of yours isn't here. We knew Ryoma was your spy, and we took care of him by feeding him, and as a result, you, the wrong information." Shuichi heard a few mumbling voices from the remaining friends behind him but ignored them to continue his speech. Walking up towards the peasant, Shuichi kicked him with all his might. "That's for your hatred towards your own kind." He kicked him a second time, "and that's for kidnapping and hurting Kokichi." The vampire whispered the last part, his relationship with the phantom thief remaining secret for now. Kaede's revenge will come to you in a second.

Backing away from the body of the injured king, Shuichi nodded at Kiibo to fulfil his part of the plan. "I hope you're glad you taught me all there is to know about robots Father. You thought I'd need to know your weak spot to protect you in the future? This is a gift for you, from the bottom of my heart." Kiibo's normal, upbeat attitude had entirely dissipated by now, replaced with pure rage as he grabbed Maki's sword and used all his might to thrust it into Monokuma's left eye which turned red as he fell limp. 

Kiibo ripped the sword out of his father's eye and lopped off his head, exposing sparking wires and circuits. Everyone stared in horror as they watched their previously humanoid king's true robot form be revealed. Shuichi and Kokichi forced Kiibo to keep this fact secret, instead, they had a false story that Monokuma created Kiiibo in order to keep the traitor on their toes.

Shuichi let out the breath he didn't know he'd been holding, staring out the window at the starry sky. It's over... Kaede, are you proud?