Persona BLEACHED 4: Chapter 40

Chapter 40: Beyond Hope
January 9, 2032
Deep within the Metaverse, there stood a towering structure. Within, millions of stasis pods were lined in seemingly endless walls. It was here that Kaya oversaw dozens of her azure-hued attendants ensuring that all of the citizens sleeping within were stable.
In a secure section of the structure was the Velvet Room: a blue-colored space where Kaya and her assistants could observe humanity from. Befitting her previous life, it closely resembled a therapist's quarters.
Here, Hana sat on the sofa, staying close to Uri and Shizuka, who were both asleep on the couch. Her shamisen, the one she'd carried and maintained since her teenage years, was perched against her seat. To break up the tense silence, she would play a soothing lullaby for them every so often. It was a comforting act for her; she'd done much the same for Uri's father and Shizuka's mother when they were young. Even in this most powerless of situations, she thought she could at least give her grandchildren something nice to listen to as they slept.
In an adjacent room, Rose sat, eyes glued to multiple television screens. She could see her friends and pupils fighting with everything they had against these monstrous opponents.
Her eyes were especially drawn to the one screen showing a mechanical, coffin-like device. That machine was keeping Rin, the one she adored and sworn to be with for her entire life, contained. Rose didn't know how she was faring in there. Her belief in her spouse was absolute, yet the thought that this could be something she couldn't escape from was consistently present.
A memory of the two of them sitting near Hana's cabin, enjoying the pleasant mountain air and a freshly brewed cup of tea, played out in her mind. How she yearned for a moment like that right now.
Yet here she was, away from her beloved and all those that had come to support them over the years. Completely and utterly powerless. The restraint on her wrist made certain of that.
She thought back to the moment that had gotten her--everyone--into this predicament. In her attempt at helping Max to move on from his mistakes, she had opened the door for those from the other world to step into theirs. These murderous raiders would never have come anywhere near Tokyo if that single act hadn't been taken.
And unlike Max, she was in no position to rectify this mistake. She was prepared to beg her mother to remove the inhibitor. As much as she had come to rather enjoy a life without her powers, this situation was different. If nothing else, she wanted to free the one she loved from her prison of iron.
But there was also her responsibility to Shizuka. She'd promised Rin that she would watch over their daughter. And if the worst were to happen, someone would have to still be there for the little one.
All these racing thoughts were too much to handle at once. She stepped out of the room, away from the awful sights in front of her. Going back into the main office, she stopped by the couch. Hana had started playing her shamisen again, but stopped when she noticed Rose.
"Is everything alright?"
Rose sighed. "Don't pay me any mind. I just...I need to be with Shizuka right now."
"Of course. And if my playing starts to grate on you, just say the word."
"That won't be necessary. I love your songs, Hana. It might be the one thing keeping me from becoming a basket case. Please keep going."
"Certainly, dear. That's what I'm here for."
Hana resumed her playing, as Rose sat on the couch, picking Shizuka up and holding her tight.
If waiting was all she could do, then at least she would be doing it surrounded not by horror, but hope.
---
Southern Naruki.
"Almost there...just a little longer..." Barbara was on her knees, holding her hands over Shūjo and Hiyoko, wounded on the ground. A stream of seawater followed her hand movements.
A barrier of light kept them closed off from the ongoing battle. On the other side of it, Kibō slid back, his armor and shield cracked to where his helmet had been completely dislodged.
Across from him, Zhenlong cracked his neck. "Heh. I can appreciate a proper duel far more than having a grown man swing at me with his hands. Or 'hand', rather."
He seemed to sense something. "Hm. So, the tiny siblings in suits met their fate, did they?"
"...!" Kibō reacted. "You don't seem all that concerned about it."
"Men whose lifestyles revolve around meetings and underhanded deals are ill-suited for the front lines. Their deaths were as predictable as the sunrise. But they provided us with resources and a suitable distraction."
"If you're that dismissive of people on your own side, I can see how you don't have a kingdom anymore."
"My kingdom has died because its people turned their backs to it. They will receive their payment in due time. For now, you will do nicely in terms of amusement. Do you realize how many knights I've laid waste to over the centuries? 'Brave' men of 'honor' thinking they can achieve glory by slaying the 'evil' dragon? It has been some time since one of them stained my sword."
"And it'll be even longer after this." Kibō charged at the large man, leaping and bringing down his sword at him. Zhenlong blocked it with his own massive blade.
"Brave, if nothing else." Chinese characters spelling out his name appeared on the sword in red, as more energy sparked. Before Kibō could jump away, Zhenlong swung the sword, sending him crashing into the barrier. He fell motionless onto the ground as the barrier crumbled away.
Barbara frantically tried to accelerate her healing. Zhenlong approached. He picked Kibō off of the ground by his head, then flung him away and into the water.
"KEEB!" Barbara panicked.
The dragon lord towered over her. "Hrm. My court was once filled with maidens that looked a lot like you. They would sing and dance for me at my leisure." He put the sword close to her throat. "I might let you live if you do the same."
"I'll *never* sing for someone like you."
Zhenlong shrugged. "Fine. Scream for me, then."
He drew his sword back, but was stopped from bringing it down by an unseen force. "Tch...again with this trick, woman?"
Hiyoko had gotten up, eyes flaring again. "Would you have me stand around and allow you to act in such a crass, barbaric manner?"
"You heard the lady." Shūjo had gotten up, and lunged towards Zhenlong. "Someone ought to teach you some manners."
Surrounding his mechanical hand with a veil of flames, he delivered a hard punch to the dragon lord's chest, forcing him back.
Shūjo flexed his hand. "Works like a charm. Not even a scratch. I'll have to thank that spunky engineer girl for this later."
"Barbara, love, leave this to us. Your knight is in need of your aid." Hiyoko advised.
"Yeah, okay!" Barbara rushed to where Kibō had been flung.
Zhenlong, for his part, was still standing, completely shaking off the smoke emanating from where he'd been struck. His only response was a grin.
---
Shinjuku.
"*gasp**gasp**gasp*"
Tabby ran as fast as her legs would allow, jumping over cars. Her foot cracked the windshield of one. "Sorry, sorry..." she uttered before continuing to run.
From above, a set of light arrows was flung her way. As they forcefully landed, she leapt out of danger, taking the moment to duck into an alley.
"Tabitha, Tabitha, wherefore art thou, Tabitha?" Noir approached, still in possession of Ibuki's body.
"(This is so awful...I can't keep running, but I don't want to hurt her by accident.)" Tabby thought.
"Ah, I do grow tired of this cat and mouse chase...ah, hold! A discovery within her mind...a momentary distraction."
"(What is he talking about?)"
Noir turned on the communicator. "Oh, Maxie! There's a bunch of jokers here being *so* annoying, could you be a lamb and help me deal with them?"
"...!"
"Oh, you're such a sweetheart! I'm over by the market in Shinjuku. See you in a few~." Noir hung up. "Bleh, the sugar-infested diatribes of a woman in love. Enough to make me wretch..."
"(No! I have to warn him before he walks into a trap!") Tabby turned her own communicator on. "Max, it's Tabby!" she whispered.
Max, meanwhile, was flying through the skyline. "Tabby, what's wrong? If it's what's going on in Shinjuku, I already heard from Ibuki--"
"That wasn't her!"
"What?"
"She's been possessed by this Shakespearean clown with pointy ears after she got his blood on her, he's trying to lure you in!"
Max recalled his earlier encounter with Noir in the other world's Tokyo. "Dammit...sorry, Tabby, but I can't just stay away. Not if Ibuki's in danger."
"In that case, please hurry before--"
Tabby looked over to see an arrow pointed at her head.
"A word in thine ear, Ms. Tabitha?"
The feed shut off.
"Damn...!" Max continued on.
A moment later, he landed in Shinjuku. "Alright, you thespian freakshow, you got me where you wanted me. Come out."
"Ahahahahaha."
Max turned to see Noir holding Tabby at arrowpoint. "O, the allure of thine concubine was far too sweet to ignore, was it not, dear Maxwell?"
Max charged his palm. "Let her go, and get the hell out of my girlfriend."
"Oh, what are you gonna do, shoot me?" Noir responded with Ibuki's tones. "Haven't you hurt this girl enough?"
Max hesitated. "I won't pretend that I haven't. But that doesn't mean I'm gonna just let you use her like a puppet. And I know she isn't, either."
"What are you blathering about?"
"Ibuki. I know you're fighting like crazy in there. That's all you've ever done. And I know that letting another man use you isn't something you'd ever take. Take it from the last idiot to try it. You're stronger than this clown. Kick his ass out!"
"Wasting your breath, Romeo. No amount of willpower can override my--"
Ibuki's arms moved the bow away from Tabby. With one hand, she pointed it at her own head.
"Wench...! What are--?!" Noir griped.
"Nobody messes with my head! NOBODY! Now get the fuck out before I blast you to hell!" Ibuki demanded.
"You're mad! You'd end your own life by doing that!"
"I don't take kindly to being used like a toy. I'd rather die than let that ever happen again. I'm giving you to the count of three. One..."
"Ibuki, stop! You don't have to--" Max protested.
"I love you, Maxie. In spite of everything else. But I'm nobody's puppet. Two..."
"Stop, STOP!" Noir leapt out from her.
Ibuki wobbled as her bow dissipated. "Ngh..."
"Are you alright?!" Tabby got up.
"Oh, just peachy. I'm gonna be talking Shakespeare in my sleep now."
"Ibuki, I know I asked you to fight back, but not to where you'd get yourself killed! You're too important to too many people to die like that." Max responded.
"Got the job done, didn't it?" Ibuki drew out her bow. "Now let's axe this prick."
Noir was on his hands and knees. "Heh...hehehehehehehe...oh, you think it's that easy, do you?"
"Why's he talking normally now?" Max questioned.
"It comes and it goes." Tabby answered.
"Stage play's over, Link. Good luck trying another of your stupid possession tricks." Ibuki said.
"Oh, ignorant wench. I have *so* much more than overshadowing. Would I really be among Lord Johnathan's elite if I would be utterly powerless in a situation like this?" Noir boasted.
Something began to move on his forehead--or rather, inside of it. A pair of sharp horns burst through, radiating dark energy. "Oh, how wrong you are!"
The trio heard a thud. Something had landed on a car behind them. It leapt up, swiping at the air, and launched a torrent of water at the three.
"Out of the way!" Max ordered, as everyone dodged.
The figure landed in front of Noir, who put his elbow on their shoulder. Though their body possessed glowing purple cracks all over, and their eyes housed a vacant expression, there was no mistaking who this trident-wielding adversary was.
"Alright, Calypso~! Let's kill them all~!" Noir hummed.
---
Just outside of Akihabara.
Ezekiel stood with his back against a building, bouncing the tip of his sword off of the ground in a rhythmic manner. "I should commend your friends for lasting this long. At the very least, Zhenlong would have killed someone by now."
Kenneth and Sahir were both panting, having already incurred wounds. "Are we supposed to be flattered?" the former asked.
"What is this dude's deal? We haven't laid a finger on him!" the latter questioned.
"Don't sound so disappointed. Most men haven't." Ezekiel stepped away from the building. "Given your age, I shouldn't have expected your swordsmanship to be anywhere near that of my brother. And yet, I am still wholly unsatisfied. I was expecting more given the sheer lack of our soldiers around this place. At the very least, we will need to redouble their training..."
"Way to admit your band of doggies sucks at fighting." Sahir responded.
"He does bring up something I've been wondering about..." Kenneth pondered. "I would have expected hordes of enemies to come marching out of Akihabara, and yet we've had nary a boot hitting the ground."
"Yeah, that's been bugging me, too. Not that I'm gonna complain much about just having this joker to deal with. ...!" Sahir seemed to notice something.
"What's the ma--hm?"
"Have you both begun to lose your focus? Because I won't be one to offer any sympathy--" Ezekiel began.
He was interrupted by something hitting the ground behind him. "...?! What was...?"
More objects began to hit the ground, hard. Ezekiel looked to see that they were all Wolfpack foot soldiers, some of them transformed into their lupine forms. All had suffered deep cuts.
"What in all the realms?" Ezekiel questioned.
"Hey, buddy, I know this is gonna sound stupid, but..." Sahir began.
"I did not do that." Kenneth replied. He looked up. "Wait...look, up there!"
Sahir's eyes widened. "That's...!"
Ezekiel's eyes darted upward.
On top of the building he'd just been standing against, a single figure loomed. Her eyes glowed red, her long hair flowing and not tied back like usual. Her sword and clothes were all stained with blood.
"Ah...there you are. Wearing your true face, I see." Ezekiel said.
Sakuya stared directly at him. "Do me a favor, Ezekiel Southgate." She brandished her sword. "Die quickly."
---
Naruki's market district.
The invading hordes had already made their way through. Windows were shattered, structures heavily damaged. A street known for its friendly and welcoming atmosphere was now violated, and deserted of any life.
Deserted, save for one person.
This was not her Naruki. She was not the Ringo Kubo whose family was such a familiar presence in this part of town. But seeing it in its ruined state brought back many a painful memory as she slowly walked down the street.
She stopped. To her side was a market, its windows broken like so many others. Next to it, similarly damaged, was a flower shop.
Both stores had the name 'Kubo' scrawled on their signs.
"What cute little shops..." she said.
She looked down at the broken glass. Staring back at her was the mask of a demon.
The words she'd heard moments before echoed. She had been standing in the streets, and behind her was Max.
"It looks familiar, doesn't it?" he'd asked.
"....."
"You've seen this before. You've lived it. Think of all the people who've had their livelihoods altered because of this. Imagine if we hadn't gotten them out in time. What would they be seeing? Wolves ravaging their home. Led by a demon."
"You watch what you're saying..."
"Wake up, Rin! These are the bastards who took everything from you, and now you're helping them repeat what they've done! Hate and anger made you this way, and it's clouding your judgment. I've lived through that kind of vengeful stupor, and it only caused more misery and suffering. Think of your family, your friends, everyone you loved! Think about the last time you saw them! What would they think if they saw you fighting with the same monsters that destroyed them?"
The memory of Namiko, her best friend, pushing her out of the way of a wolfman's bite, went through her head.
"I..." Her sword arm trembled. "I'm not...I'm not a monster. I'm not a demon. I...they failed us. Your precious Defense Force left us to die! You expect me to trust them when they couldn't show up in time to save anyone?!"
"I'm not asking you to trust them. I'm asking you to trust *me*. I can't speak for the dead, but I know this can't be what they wanted for you. And I know what it's like to be enslaved by hate. But I have people who helped me work through that anger. They helped me to see that a life lived for the sake of revenge is no life at all. Let me be the same for you. And help me to protect my home."
He got a message on his communicator. "...I have to go. Please, think of what I said. This doesn't have to end in more heartache. Don't let your sword be a driving force for another tragedy."
In the present, she was still looking at the glass. "My sword..."
She thought back to a few nights before that awful Halloween. The Oni garb that was now her constant disguise was hanging in her parents' house. "Eh, what do you think? Spooky, right?" her brother, Togemaru, asked.
"Positively horrific. I'm sure the patients with heart conditions are gonna get a kick out of it." she replied.
"Ah, it's mostly gonna be for the kids. You and Miko are gonna stop by the office to help out first, right?"
"Assuming we manage to finish our costumes in time, maybe. Hey, you know what would make yours a lot cooler..."
Rin glanced at the black katana on display in their living room. "What, that old thing? Dad would kill me if he knew I'd taken it out. A plastic one from the corner store ought to do the trick. Less likely to hurt someone with that. What's he always say about it? 'It should never be used for the sake of hurting others.'"
"Well, what else is something sharp gonna be used for?"
"Well, take a surgeon's knife, for example. You're cutting someone so you can ultimately help them get better. I don't know how that'd work with a sword, but I guess...protecting somebody instead of trying to hurt?"
"You always say the cheesiest things."
"Welp, long as it can lighten the mood. Hopefully we never have to find a reason to take that thing out. I mean, that's what the Defense Force is for, right? Be a dark day if we ever had to take up arms ourselves."
He had always been so good at keeping things light, even when it came to darker subjects. But it was his words about the sword that stuck with her. So much so that, when she'd returned to her house just a few days later after everything had been ruined, she came back for the sword. It was the one thing she had taken from her home before leaving it for good.
With her memory ending, she fell to her knees. She took off her mask. "So stupid...how could I be so stupid? I thought I was protecting your memory with this...when all I've been doing is destroying. How could I be so wrong?"
She got up. She looked forward, and saw the shadowed outlines of four people, though she couldn't make out their faces.
"No...I don't deserve to look at you. Not now. Not with how stupid I've been. I can't forget how help never came...but the ones that took you, I can't forgive."
She gripped her sword so tightly that her hands shook.
"Hey, what's she doing?" A group of Wolfpack thugs arrived.
"That Oni girl's being weird..."
"The Boss wanted to get rid of her after this, yeah? Ain't got nothing better to do, so how about we take care of that?"
As the gang moved in behind her, she lowered her sword.
"Mom...Dad...Togie...Miko...I'm not gonna fail you again. This sword should only be used for protecting. So now...I..."
The grunts, many of them transformed, loomed over her. "Hey, little demon girl. You finally cracked like an egg?"
"Fine by us. We're feelin' hungry." another grunt snarled.
"...a demon, huh." Rin uttered.
"Huh?"
"Yeah...I am a demon. A walking, talking demon who became one to kill them. Your boss saw right through me, and that's why you're here, right?"
Energy flared around her sword. "Too bad for you. *I'm* not the prey. GRAAAAH!" She slashed at the gang, and an explosion ensued.
The sound could be heard all the way out in Minato, where Carrie and Shinji were located, just outside the base of Tokyo Tower. 
"Guh...it's been nothing but explosion after explosion. Long as they keep it far away from here, we're good." Shinji muttered.
Carrie looked around the corner to see the large guard presence outside the entrance to FootTown, the four-story building located at the base of the tower. "I count twenty...that we can see."
"How do we get past them? You gonna use that weird ghosty power you all have?"
"My Persona isn't suited to direct combat. And even with my own extensive combat training, twenty empowered guards may be too much to fend off on my own."
"So are we gonna just sit here and wait for them to get bored and move on?"
"I have another idea. Bear with me. I haven't used this trick in a while..."
A moment later, a bright purple light manifested before the guards. "The hell?!"
Appearing before them was a purple, crystalline replica of Carrie. "Hello, boys. And welcome to beautiful, iconic Tokyo Tower."
"The hell is this?"
"One of those holographic tour guides, I guess?
"Oh, I suppose everyone has gone for the day. I would be most pleased to show you the layout..." The construct stretched out her legs. "...of much more than the tower, if you know what I mean."
"Oohohoho, they build their tour guides naughty here, do they?"
"Japan, bro, it's always Japan."
"I am part of a special adults-only entertainment package. I grant tours and approximately 374 other unique forms of entertainment. I am yours to do with as you see fit." She winked.
"Hooo, baby, now we're talking! Sign me and twenty of my closest pals up, sister!"
"Wonderful. There is one thing I must disclose before we get started." The construct approached the lead guard in an enticing manner. "I have a bug in my programming that has made me quite adept at satisfying one thing in particular. Extremely so, in fact."
"Yeah? What'd that be--"
The guard's eyes suddenly bulged. He began to wheeze. The construct had kneed him in his lower extremities. She forged one of her hands into a rounded shape, punching him so hard that he went flying.
"Humiliation fetishes."
Shinji watched from behind the corner as the construct doled out swift, brutal punishment, wincing at the sight of it. "Y'know, it's easy to forget sometimes that you were personally trained by Israeli commandos."
Carrie's eyes glowed purple. "The more people forget, the better. It means I don't have to resort to things like this."
A cut appeared on her shoulder. "Yikes! What the--" Shinji reacted, as two more wounds appeared on her back.
"The one downside to this trick. Damage to my other self is reflected onto me."
"How are you so casual about that?! Doesn't it hurt?!"
"My teachers' first lessons weren't about how to fight. They also taught me how to ignore pain. Wounds like this are nothing. Strength as..."
The construct delivered a hard uppercut to a wolfman's jaw, knocking him away.
"...diamonds. There. That should do it."
Carrie and Shinji stepped out and over to the entrance, where the guards were all laying, battered and beaten. "The coast is clear. Thank you for that." Carrie said. The construct nodded, and dissipated.
"So...what was with all the naughty talk?"
"I thought that profane types like them would lower their guard for a more...sensual approach. I've been reading this book on flirting--"
Muffled voices could be heard. "Hey, did you hear that?"
"Look, over there! In front of the tower!"
"Shit...! We gotta get in there, now!" Shinji reacted.
The pair ran into the building as more Wolfpack thugs started to converge.
"Block the door block the door block the door!" Shinji panicked.
The pair spotted a statue of two pink figures with pointy heads, one with blue overalls and a band-aid on its head, the other in red overalls--Noppon, the mascots of the tower. They pushed the statue in front of the door, blockading it.
"Older Brother, Younger Brother, please forgive my transgressions!" Shinji bowed.
As the enemy army closed in, a wave of dark energy cut between them and the tower entrance, halting them. As the smoke cleared out, a single figure was visible, and cut away the rest of the energy. Earth-013's Rin, sword pointed at the encroaching Wolfpack.
"Oh great, now what?!" Shinji questioned.
"That girl...could that be...?" Carrie looked on.
"Hey, it's demon girl! What, you want a piece of the action? Sorry, but we called dibs!" one wolfman said.
"Don't worry. I've got different prey in mind. Hyaaah!" Rin lunged at the stunned group.
Carrie was just as surprised.
"Don't just stand there!" Rin looked back, a wolfman's jaws clamped down on her sword. "I never thought I'd say this, but get the Defense Force here right now! I'll hold them off as long as I can!"
Carrie nodded. "Thank you!" She turned around.
"Thank me after you get those jerks here. Hyaah!"
Inside, Shinji and Carrie approached the elevators. "Alright. The main energy reading's coming from the Special Observatory. If we take the elevator up to the Main Observatory, we can take another one up to..." Shinji pressed one of the buttons on the wall, but nothing happened. "What the..."
"What's wrong?"
"Ugh...power's been completely cut. All the electricity in the tower's being funneled into the force field generator. Our only way up there would be to take the stairs. Guess we'd better start...walking...Carrie."
Shinji looked over Carrie's shoulder. A wolfman had made his way out from the hall, and was staring right at them.
"Sensei...the stairway is right behind you. On my mark...run!"
The pair bolted for the stairs, as the wolfman gave chase.
Outside, Rin was fighting off the horde of wolfmen. Slashing at several, one bit down on her arm. "Agh!" 
She was tossed away, her sword falling away from her. She moved to grab it, but was met with a headbutt to her side by another wolfman. She flew and hit the door to the tower, slumping against it.
She looked up to see the wild-eyed wolves, slowly closing in on her.
"Heh...three years later, and it's gonna end the same way. Would've liked to live in a world without you monsters in it...guess it's not...meant to be..."
Her eyes closed, and she awaited what was coming as a wolfman bared his fangs at her.
Then...
...she opened them. The wolf's face was still...as the sharp end of a hook sword jutted out of his head. On top of him, holding another such sword, was Mimi. "Hey. You gonna just sit there and take that? I wouldn't like to be dog food."
"Huh...? Who are...?"
The crack of a bat echoed out. As a group of wolves turned to the source of the noise, a ball of energy struck them, scattering them. At that moment, a large, black-and-green serpent rose up, and swatted away another group of wolves with its tail. The snake transformed, back into Lin, as Tsutsugo approached. "Yuck. Are we gonna get rabies fighting these things?" Lin asked.
"That's why you get your shots, Viper." Tsutsugo said, chewing his gum.
Numerous black onis wielding spears appeared, pointing their weapons at the surrounding wolves, driving them back. Jin hopped down from atop the entrance building. "I'd say we made it in time."
Rin blinked, confused. 
"Hey there. You look like you've got a little problem." Tenko arrived, and knelt down in front of Rin. "You're the 'other' Rin Kubo, aren't you? I can tell. That cool red hair is too distinct."
"Who are you?" Rin asked.
"My name's Tenko. Our Rin is my best friend. She's someone very special to me and to a lot of us."
"You should go help her. She's in trouble, right? Don't waste your time trying to help me..."
"We're gonna go bail her out soon. But we've known her long enough to know she'd want us to help you out first. You don't just turn your back to someone in trouble." Jin replied.
"If you knew the things I've done, you wouldn't be helping me..."
"Sweetheart, you're looking at three ex-baddies here." Tsutsugo pointed out.
"And whether I like to admit it or not, Kubo's the reason why we're out here and not behind bars." Mimi added.
"Gotta love a bleeding heart. I used to be a thief. Now I donate to local animal charities." Lin deadpanned.
"Ignoring their...unique way of putting it, as long as you're fighting with us now, it's okay. Doing something wrong in the past doesn't mean you're gonna be wrong forever. As long as you learn from it. Maybe it's Bestie Mode or Mommy Mode talking, but I'm gonna believe that you're not really a bad guy. Kids are gonna make mistakes. It's up to the adults around them to make sure those mistakes don't keep happening. So stand up and keep fighting, and after all this you can start fixing what's broken. Okay?" Tenko dictated.
Rin blinked, but became more at-ease. "Your Rin's lucky to have such a good best friend. If only mine was still here to drill that into me."
Tenko helped her up, and she picked up her sword.
"Alright, so what's this particular party about? Or were you just venting on these fleabags?" Tsutsugo asked.
"Some of your people are inside the tower. They're gonna shut down the barrier and get the Defense Force over here. It was a guy with glasses and a backpack and a girl with purple hair." Rin replied.
"That's gotta be Shinji and Ms. Blackthorne. I never thought he'd step out of his little safehouse." Tenko said.
"I don't like the idea of it just being the two of them. Any volunteers to go help out?" Jin asked.
"Don't everyone raise your hands at once. I'll go bail them out. Have fun with the giant doggos." Lin turned around.
"We know you secretly love us, Viper." Tsutsugo chimed.
Lin simply stuck her middle finger up, as she leapt onto the building, and started ascending the tower.
"Alright, I really don't feel good about fighting dogs, but I'll make an exception this time." Tenko said.
"Yeah, these ain't the belly rub types." Mimi affirmed.
"You good for this, kid? Sure you don't need to fall back?" Jin asked.
"I might not be your Rin, but I'm not gonna run off from this. I said I'll fight, so I'll fight. Just need to give your people time to pull this off." Rin replied.
"Exactly what I'd expect to hear. Now let's punish some bad dogs!" Tenko stated.
"(Just a little more time...I hope those two get that thing shut down. Otherwise...)" Rin thought.
At that time, Shinji was sprinting as fast as he could up the stairs, with Carrie close behind, and the wolfman in hot pursuit.
"That's the one thing about doing anything involving Rin Kubo...it's never boring!" he panted.
"Save the quipping for when we're secure, Sensei! Like right...about..." Carrie halted herself, turned around and, as the wolf lunged at her, delivered a hard punch to the side of his head, sending him flying out of the tower towards the streets below.
"This is why I'm a cat person." she uttered.
The two soon arrived at the Main Observatory, Shinji taking a moment to catch his breath. "How...the hell are...you not tired?"
"Well..."
"Never mind, military training. I forgot you're basically Captain America."
"Are you starting to regret not taking the opportunity to sit this out?"
"My only regret...is never going on a date with a girl...that my mother didn't pick out for me."
"There is such a thing as being *too* personal, Sensei."
"Right, right. Least we don't have too much more to...go."
Before the last set of stairs, a pair of wolves loomed, baring their fangs.
"This is becoming tiresome..." Carrie stepped forward.
"Just hold on a second! You sure you're alright to keep fighting?"
"I don't get tired, Sensei. I'll keep going for as long as it takes. If it's the difference between life and death, I'll offer myself up gladly."
"Throwing away your life isn't a virtue, y'know. It's just gonna make a ton of people sad. Or do you actually want to die?"
"I don't desire death. But I'll accept it when it comes. And if that time is now--"
Before she could move, Lin, in her snake form, lunged from below the platform at one of the wolves, biting down on them while slapping the other away with her tail. After shaking her head around with the wolf still in her jaw, she flung it away and over the side, leaving it to fall with a yelp.
Carrie and Shinji were stunned as Lin turned back to normal. "Bleeeh, I'm gonna be cleaning fur outta my teeth forever now..." she complained, before turning her attention to the others there. "Oh, heya gemstone. Hope you don't mind me lending a fang."
"I won't complain about that. I'll make sure to put in a good word with Kitten next time I see her." Carrie replied.
"Please, like I need brownie points from my kid sister. Just go break that doohickey before more of those fleabags show up."
"On it. Come along, Sensei."
"She...she was just a snake. A giant...snake." Shinji uttered as Carrie pulled him along.
Lin smirked. "Heh. Guess that was convincing."
The pair soon reached the Special Observatory at the tower's apex. At the center was an ominous black device attached to the tower's satellites.
"That should be it. Just gotta shut it down and then the cavalry can storm in." Shinji said. He approached the machine.
"Alright, let me get a good look at its inner workings." Carrie brought up her screen.
Shinji took out his laptop. "Least this thing's got some kinda Wi-Fi compatibility. Here's hoping this doesn't take me too long..."
The sound of snarling and biting could be heard. Wolves began to climb onto the deck.
"Keep going, Sensei." Carrie closed her screen.
"Carrie, come on..."
"This is for the world. If I don't make it, tell Natalia and my family that I love them. And tell Kitten that I'm sorry, that I love her more than anything, and that I know she can still find happiness." She turned to the wolves.
"God dammit, kid..." Shinji returned his focus to the machine.
On the far edge of town, Rin sat silently within her containment. She overheard the sounds of battle, though she was unaware of who it was: Jugo, Tan and Kirumi were fighting the wolves nearby, trying to get to her.
The frustration of inaction was finally settling in. Even while knowing it would do nothing, with a spark of anger, she punched at the iron surrounding her.
Near the docks in South Naruki, Zhenlong was bringing his sword down on Shūjo, who held it off with a combination of his own strength and gravity manipulation from Hiyoko. Nearby, having pulled him out from the water, Barbara was in the process of resuscitating Kibō. "Come on, big guy...not like this..."
In Shinjuku, Max and Ibuki were fighting the revived Calypso. Noir, meanwhile, was peering around nonchalantly, looking for Tabby, who was hiding beneath a car.
In Akihabara, Sahir and Kenneth looked on in stunned silence as Sakuya and Ezekiel dueled, quieted by the merciless manner with which the former was now carrying herself.
And in Shibuya, Kat was noticeably having difficulty with Robert's magic. Still shrouded by his hood, Harold watched on in silence.
All of this was unfolding while Shinji tried with great haste to shut down the barrier. With Carrie fending off the Wolfpack for as long as she could, he knew time was the enemy. He split his time between looking at his screen and ensuring that there wasn't an angry wolfman bearing down on him.
"C'mon, c'mon...stupid thing..."
His screen lit up. 
"That's it...haha! Say bye-bye to your barrier, Mr. Wolfman--"
"No. No I don't think I'll be doing that."
Shinji had no time to recognize the voice behind him, as he looked down to see a hand coming through his chest. "Ugh...ugh...what...?"
Johnny had driven his hand straight through him. "Ya gave it your best college try, Poindexter. But if this thing was so important to me, would I really just leave a couple dozen of my boys wandering around and call it a day? Honestly. Y'all must think I'm an idiot."
"SENSEI!" Carrie called out, as several wolves held her down.
"Here's where you all messed up. *I'm* directing this show. *I* make the rules. And *I* decide when and if my pals from the other side get to join the party. And I don't appreciate you people trying to edit my script halfway through production. So just do me a favor and writhe for a bit longer, would ya?" 
"....."
".....heh."
"Hm?" Johnny reacted. 
"Now let me tell you how *you* messed up."
Lin was looking down at Johnny. Despite being in mid-air, she looked to be crouching down.
"What the...where'd you come from?"
"I've been here from the start, genius. If you'd been paying attention a bit longer, you'd have realized it. This was a big risk I took, and you bit into it like a fish." Lin's eyes glowed...and she dispersed, revealing that it was in fact Jin.
The illusion around the tower began to fade. Down at the base, 'Jin' disappeared, being replaced with Lin.
"Wha...hey, where'd that guy go?" Rin asked.
Carrie and a very-much-alive Shinji stepped out from the shadows. "Looks like Mr. Mirai's plan worked." the former said.
"Soon as we showed up, he told us to wait so he'd take care of it." Shinji explained. "I'd like to go back to my basement now, please..."
On the Special Observatory, Johnny was dumbfounded. "Hold up...that was all you?"
"From the minute they stepped foot near the tower. That was as big of an illusion as I've ever cast, and it took a ton out of me." Jin replied.
"Hate to break it to ya, spooky, but I'm the last guy you wanna be tuckered out by."
"Sure about that? Your arm looks pretty occupied at the moment. Or have you not asked yourself what you *actually* just punched through?"
The last of the illusion dispersed before Johnny's eyes, and it became very clear that Jin had not been floating, but sitting.
The Wolfpack leader's arm was now wedged inside the barrier generator.
"Well, Mr. Director? Consider this 'editorial mandate'." Jin smirked.
"YOU SON OF A--"
The device exploded in a massive display that shattered the observation deck's glass floor. The top of the tower was engulfed in flames, as the force of the blast sent Johnny flying into the side of a nearby building.
Jin, meanwhile, had quickly leapt away, catching onto the side of the tower with his chain. He pulled himself up onto the stairs, breathing heavily as he hit solid ground. "The things I do for you people..."
The sound of the explosion rang out throughout the city, as everyone, friend and foe alike, took notice. Their gazes turned to the sky.
The barrier that had been surrounding the city broke apart, and there was nothing more above than the clouds.
What followed was a tense silence, as the fighting ground to a halt. Surprise and disbelief hung in the air.
Inside the Metaverse, Rose looked on through her monitor, hand over her mouth. Kaya stood behind her.
"The barrier...it's gone!" she exclaimed.
"Mother...does this mean..."
Back in Tokyo, Johnny rose up, having been tossed into an office building. He looked outside through the broken window.
"Shit." 
It was all he could muster. All that was left to do was wait for the inevitable.
And then...
A cut through the sky. From that cut, a hole opened.
Everyone looked up, expectantly.
On the other side of the hole, a ship. First one, then multitudes. All of them bearing the emblem of New York's Defense Force.
"Took you long enough, old man." Max uttered with relief.
As ships filed in through the portal in the sky, several other portals began to open throughout the city.
At the head of one such portal, garbed in his green and white armor, was Commander Max. He took a deep breath.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the Planetary Defense Force. I stand before you today humbled by the opportunities that have been afforded to me. Days like today are why I joined the Defense Force and ascended to the rank of commander. To protect the people and snuff out the evil haunting the planet is not just a job. This is why I live and breathe. And now here we are, at the edge of destiny, with the greatest threats our world has ever known assembled in one place. The fate of not just our world, but this one, lies at our fingertips."
"So. Friends. Family. The time for fear has long since passed us by. Today, here and now, we take back our peace of mind. Today is the day we avenge those who fell at the hands of this unrelenting evil! Today is the day we rise, as one Defense Force, to strike a decisive blow! Today is the day the Wolfpack DIES!"
He materialized his helmet. "All together! CHARGE!"
Behind him, a sea of Defense Force agents sprinted forth. The sight was the same from the other portals.
Out in the sea, Wolfpack thugs in boats looked around in confusion. Before they knew it, a hole was blasted through their ship.
The Lemurians, brandishing high-tech weapons and riding atop giant sea turtles, arrived. "I am more of a learner than a fighter. Today I make an exception." Elpizo said.
By the southern docks, Barbara continued to tend to Kibō, as P.D.F. fighter ships flew by.
"Oh, my. He seems to be in rather dire straights. Let me help."
She looked back to see a familiar face healing Kibō. "Candice...!"
"Hello again, stranger. Hope you don't mind me lending a hand. That's a lovely outfit you have on, by the way."
"Thank you. So much."
"Any time. Fighting might not be our strong suit, so let's focus on keeping everyone upright. Starting with your noble knight."
Close by, Zhenlong looked unamused. "So, the door for our old friends has been opened. Not that it will make any difference."
"How do you figure that when the playing field's been evened out?" Shūjo questioned.
"True. Your forces may equal our own. But that will do little to help you in particular. All I need is one last good swing of my--"
The draconic overlord sensed something. He looked up, then quickly leapt back. At that moment, something struck the ground between him and Shūjo, letting loose a cloud of shadow energy, which Shūjo and Hiyoko shielded themselves from.
Zhenlong gazed into the smoke, and saw a shape forming. A large, dark claymore. "Shadowpiercer. So. You came straight to me, boy."
A figure leapt down from the sky, standing up and taking hold of the sword. Dasuke stared straight at Zhenlong, saying nothing.
"I was hoping we could cross blades again...Xianwu." the overlord said.
In Shinjuku, Noir's ears were perked up, with an elbow on Calypso's shoulder. "Dear me, dear me. How utterly annoying."
"You don't sound too concerned about the cavalry showing up." Ibuki said.
"He can possess anyone with magic. He's banking on them staying far away from him." Max advised.
"How astute, o scarred one!" Noir chimed.
"Nnnngh..." Calypso growled.
"Hmm? Something the matter, dear Calypso?"
"Candiiiiiice...haaaalf...breeeeeed..."
"Ahh, I see. Even death cannot erase thy hatred. Fear not, you'll get your chance at a slaughter once we're done here, got it?"
"God, you can't even keep the Shakespeare act consistent! Just drop it already!" Ibuki griped.
"Ugh, you must be fun at parties. Like it even matters. No one's coming to help you, because they'd become my puppet in seconds. Calypso, deary, can you be a good girl and cut their heads off, please and thank you?"
"Nnngggh..." Calypso charged energy into her trident.
Any further action was curtailed by a pulse of energy striking her, blasting her away and leaving Noir stunned.
"W-what the?! Who the hell...?!"
"The emissary from hell, defender of the innocent!" Encased in her armor, Cindy landed atop a car, striking a pose. "The exceptional, inspirational, adorable, ever-so-glamorous Cindy-O has arrived! Shiver in fear, o wicked one!"
"Cindy...!" Max uttered.
In Akihabara, Ezekiel stood panting, and bleeding. Across from him was a similarly bloodied Sakuya.
"You are a vicious little wench, you know that? I would have it no other way." he said.
"Stop talking and start dying." Sakuya responded emotionlessly.
"If I might cut in?" a male voice requested.
Ezekiel looked to the top of a building. There was Ken, sword in hand. "Hello, brother."
"Kehe...my day only improves." Ezekiel chuckled.
Within the FootTown store, another portal opened. Emerging were the cloaked figures of Emily, Natalie and a host of witches. "It is time. Sisters, contain the brutes where you can. We will handle things here." Emily instructed.
The witches nodded, and teleported away.
"You ready for this, little bird?" Natalie asked.
"There's no time to waste. Preparing the spell will take me a few minutes. I'll be completely incapable of defending myself until then, so I need you to watch over me." Emily replied.
"That's what I'm here for." Natalie sensed something. Her eyes widened. "Emily."
Emily turned around. Standing in complete silence, staring directly at the two women, was Harold.
The Arch-Witch closed her eyes. "It would appear that...fate has other ideas."
In the spot where he first appeared, Commander Max watched on as his troops poured into the city, his arms folded.
"How long were you working on that speech?" Bobbi, standing close by, asked.
"It was just in case they needed the extra push. They all know what this battle means." the Commander replied.
"I need you to not do something reckless. I want to take a swing at him as much as you do. But we need to wait. You need to control your emotions."
"I've never been more in-control."
"You know you can't lie to me. I know you better than anyone. So we go after him together. Got it?"
"Got it. But don't forget one thing. He killed my wife. His ass is *mine*."
Nearby, Anna watched from behind a building. "....."
Johnny looked on from his perch. His menacing grin had given way to an empty stare.
The conflict had shifted. Now, it was war.