47 Skull (2/2)

”What's wrong, Sakamoto? Not feeling so well? GOOD!”

A glint of madness shimmered in Kamoshida's eyes as he arrogantly added, ”I always hated you and the track team…”

Ryuji's face became distorted, not from pain but from anger as Kamoshida started ranting on about all the things he did to make sure the track and field team would disappeared.

Once Kamoshida finished speaking, Ryuji had veins puffing up around his body as he boiled in anger and hatred. Even Morgana was shaking in anger as he learned how Ryuji lost his ability to run thanks to Kamoshida breaking his leg in the name of 'self-defence'.

Don't even speak about how Akira and Axel were fairing at the moment. It took everything they had to hold themselves back from rushing at Kamoshida.

Kamoshida seemed to derive pleasure from the anger of everyone as his face became flushed as his face adopted an expression of pure ecstasy. His mouth curved into a demonic smirk as said, ”Before I kill you, I might as well torture you.”

With a wave of his hand, the shadows dropped their defence and dashed towards Axel and his friends. They only managed to destroy a couple before they found themselves pinned to the ground.

Morgana and Akira were being malicious stomped on as they attempted to stand up and fight. Axel, on the other hand, was surrounded as every shadow that tried to get close was met with his fist in their face.

Axel stared over at Ryuji as he noticed something odd. Tears endlessly poured out of his eyes as confusion and sorrow painted his face.

Turning towards Akira, Axel hoped he could help awaken Ryuji's persona but the shadows didn't give him even a second of free time.

Left with no other choice, Axel decided to try and help Ryuji. He dashed towards the shadows and jumped. Using it's face as a platform, Axel put as much strength as he could into his legs and launched himself towards Ryuji.

Sadly, he didn't get close enough to free him from Kamoshida's grasp but this was far enough.

Taking in a deep breath, Axel turned towards Ryuji and roared, ”RYUJI!!! ARE YOU JUST GONNA LET THAT SCUMBAG DICTATE YOUR LIFE!!! MAN UP AND RESIST!!! FIGHT UNTIL YOU CAN'T FIGHT ANYMORE!!!”

Axel's roar echoed through the room, causing everyone, shadow or not, to cover their ears to shield them from the sound.

Clearly enraged by Axel's speech, Kamoshida smirked maliciously as he glared at Ryuji and said, ”This is why you will always be trash. Because you hang around with MORE TRASH!!!”

Like pouring oil into a fire, Ryuji's eyes burned with anger as he pointed at Kamoshida, stared him dead in the eyes and yelled, ”Stop lookin down on me with that stupid smile on your face!”

Suddenly, Ryuji collapsed to the floor while clutching his head. Axel showed a small smile as he noticed the changes happening to Ryuji, or more specifically, his bright yellow eyes.

”You made me wait quite a while. You seek power, correct? Then let us form a pact.” Said a rough and roguish voice.

Flames started to manifest around the struggling Ryuji as the roguish voice continued, ”Since your name has been disgraced already, why not hoist the flag and wreak havoc...? The ”other you” who exists within desires it thus... I am thou, thou art I... There is no turning back... The skull of rebellion is your flag henceforth!”

Once the voice finished speaking, Ryuji slowly stood up from the ground. Then, without the slightest hesitation, Ryuji kept his bloodshot eyes locked onto Kamoshida as he tore the black skull mask from his face.

A pillar of blue flames exploded upwards, accompanied by Ryuji's roars of pain. Kamoshida absent-mindedly gazed at Ryuji, then turned towards Akira. His gaze didn't linger on the two for too long as he maliciously ordered, ”Kill them all!”

Before the shadows could even move, bolts of lightning flew out from the vortex of fire and struck them. The shadows collapsed to the floor before shattering into bits of light.

Ryuji slowly walked out from the fire vortex, his clothing completely different from when they entered the palace as he wore a black jacket, matching pants with knee pads, a red ascot, combat boots, a pair of yellow gloves, and a skull mask.

A confident smirk on his face, Ryuji ignored the surprised looks he was getting as he said, ”Right on... Wassup, Persona... This effin' rocks! Now that I got this power, it's time for payback... Yo, I'm ready... Bring it! Blast him away... Captain Kidd!”

The tornado of flames burst apart, revealing a skeleton pirate standing on a miniature ship. The flames inside it's eye-socket burn brightly as bolts of lightning flew around its body.