(DISCONTINUED) Night Raid's Joker (Akame ga Kill x Persona 5)

Chapter 8

Chapter 8: Savior

"Shit shit shit....Where is she?!"

Once I got far enough from the patrols, I made a break for it, searching for Mine. She ran in the forest, most likely towards Night Raid's headquarters, but I can't trust that information. Mine was in really bad shape when I got here, so she may have wandered off in her pain-filled haze.

I have to find her, quickly!

. . .

Before Akira had left to find Sheele and Mine, he first had to pay a visit to the Velvet Rom. He needed to figure out how to get to them before rescuing the assassins. Lubbock told him who their target was, but Akira has no idea who that is. He couldn't go out Phantom Thieving earlier, as Najenda would get suspicious of spontaneous change of hearts occurring at the same time he appeared. He had decided not to pursue targets, but that would work against him now. Without a target, who was probably already dead, Akira would have no hint on where to go.

So, Akira activated the Meta-Nav, appearing outside of Mementos, and quickly threw open the door to the Velvet Room, running past Lavenza and leaving Morgana in the dust.

"IGOR!!!" Akira cried, breathing heavily while sweat dripped down his face. He was still thinking rationally, but his body was responding to the overwhelming instinct to find Sheele.

"It appears that a time of crisis is at hand." Igor mused, still grinning. "A soul who you have bonded with is in imminent danger, and you have the power to save them."

"If I do, then tell me where to go! I can't find Sheele if I don't know where she is!" Akira snapped, clenching his fist. Damn it! If only Futaba was here! She could use her Persona to search for her!

"Don't be impatient!" Lavenza warned, clutching the "Le Grimoire" in her hands.

"Is there anything we can do to find them?" Morgana asked.

Taking the time to calm down, the two visitors and assistant of the Velvet Room watched as Igor closed his eyes, drumming his fingers on his desk.

"I sense...A great distortion in the Metaverse." Igor murmured, his eyes narrowing, his smile unfading.

"Distortion...? Is it Yaldabaoth?" Akira asked, hoping that wasn't the case. He needed to get to Sheele, and a corrupt God would only get in the way.

"No, it stems from one person. The level of the distortion..." Igor muttered, Morgana's eyes widening.

"Is it a Palace?!" Morgana asked. Igor nodded.

"Perhaps the distortion could be used as a beacon. I sense the distortion growing and in turmoil, meaning the distorted soul in reality is locked in combat." Igor suggested. Thanking him for the information, Akira prepared to grab Morgana, who was in his bipedal form, and run for Mementos, where he could potentially locate the distortion and Sheele along with it, but Lavenza stopped him, grabbing his sleeve.

"My Trickster," Lavenza began, "I sense great danger if you rush in unprepared. Your new power will assist you well, but you will first need something."

"My Teigu?" Akira asked, remembering the interchangeable Teigu that he uses, letting Akira use his Personas in reality. He still hasn't tested it, for fear of being discovered.

"Yes. For your safety, I shall give you a gift. A power that you still hold after all this time."

Lavenza opened up "Le Grimoire," as a card floated out of it, glowing and enveloped in blue flames. Burned in the card's image was the tarot design of the Tower, slowly floating to Akira. It suddenly turned into a mask, As Akira grabbed it, slamming it over his eyes. The flames were absorbed into his heart and soul, as a smirk crossed his face. He recognized this Persona anywhere. It provided a lot of help with his Wild Card ability.

Thanking Lavenza and Igor, Akira ran into the prison of Mementos, his outfit changing into his Metaverse garb, Morgana leading him.

"I sense the distortion some distance away! Keep moving!" Morgana commanded.

Suddenly, a Shadow appeared from a murky puddle of blood and distortion, blocking the way. It was one of the stronger ones, being cloaked in a rag as black as night, and bony hands that rattled as they twitched often. The white skull mask of the Reaper Shadow glared at the Metaverse divers, the two only glaring back.

"Guoooooohh..." The Reaper Shadow moaned, not as intimidating as the actual The Reaper the Phantom Thieves have encountered in Mementos back in Japan. The rattling of its long, skeletal fingers echoed in the hallway, adding to the sound of Akira's shoes pounding on the floor.

"Get the hell..." Suddenly, Akira pushed off the floor, rocketing forwards with the gleam of his dagger in his hands. In the path of Akira's rage, the Shadow could not react as Akira's knife was wedged in its neck.

"OUT OF MY WAY!!!" With the crunching of bone and wet sound of a blade ripping through flesh, Akira decapitated the Shadow, using his momentum from flying through the air to slice off the Shadow's neck. The sound of the Shadow dissolving into red and black distortion fluid echoed in the halls as Akira continued to run, decimating anything that got in his way.

"To the right!"

SLICE!!!

"Left!"

BLAM!!!

"Straight ahead!"

"VANISH!!!"

CRUNCH!!!

"The distortion is getting closer! Keep going, Joker!!!"

"EIGAON!!!"

"AHAHAHAHAHA!!! TURN YOUR HATRED INTO POWER, AND RAVAGE YOUR ENEMIES!!!"

SHANK!!!

Shadow after Shadow, cell after cell, turn after turn, Akira laid waste to anything in front of him, the sounds of dissolving Shadows echoing in the giant prison of Mementos.

"Up ahead!!! Up ahead!!! In that cell!!!"

"ARSENE!!! ZIONGA!!!"

ZAP!!!

"We're here!!!" Morgana cried. Quickly, Akira jumped in the cell, taking out his phone and opening the Meta-Nav, transferring outside of the Metaverse. Akira's surroundings distorted, waves of chaotic distortion changing the cell's appearance from a dank, grimy cell to a giant, lush forest. Akira, confused on why he was way out here, turned his head when Morgana, now a cat, poked his cheek and pointed to the left.

"Sounds of fighting..." Akira murmured, crouching down and silently darting from shadow to shadow, ducking behind every cover as he quickly advanced towards the conflict.

Eventually, Akira was hiding in the branch of the tree he emerged from while protecting Sheele, cloaked by the shadows of the tree's leaves cast by the night. When he finally arrived, he was horrified by the vibe he got from the assassin's opponent. He could almost feel her hatred and distorted desires, and he was sure that this girl had a Palace, without a doubt! The giant dog with muscular arms, black fur, and stubby legs crushed Mine's arms, an audible snap and scream of pain sending waves of anger through Akira. Mine may annoy him at times, but he would never wish pain like that on her! Just pranks and harmless jabs, not murder!

About to step in, Sheele came to her rescue, relieving Akira. She was alright! Mine would be damaged, but they can get back to base! Maybe he was a bit hasty, coming here. No, what he was doing was right. Danger or not, he can't ignore the feeling he was getting, but at least he could breathe a little easy, seeing the assassins in a position to retreat. If they're smart, they can run!

BANG!!!

Akira's blood ran cold, hearing the gunshot and seeing the spurt of blood fro Sheele's chest. Morgana meowed in shock, only watching. Akira saw the auburn haired girl's demented grin with a gun poking out of her mouth. That bitch...She's gonna kill them!

Like for Sheele, the world slowed down, Akira witnessing the dog's mouth closing around Sheele's torso, horror written all over his face. This world...

IS DISGUSTING.

"SHEELEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!"

"Come forth..."

"SETH!!!"