"That is a lot of cameras..." Sphinx muttered as she enters the large room behind Fox.

"Let's look for a way around security," Queen said. "I can see something on the lower level from here."

The Phantom Thieves wandered around in search of a way to get down to the lower level. After a few minutes, they found a path leading downward in an adjacent room and hopped down to the lower level. They fought against a Shadow before searching for another way to the large room. When they did, they came across what Queen spotted earlier.

Skull stared wide-eyed at the heavy metal door. "Is this some kinda vault?"

Queen analyzed the map and noticed something. "According to the map, there's a great deal more beyond here."

"Then this is not a vault but a partition of sorts." Fox notices the two mechanical consoles on each side of the door. "The terminals there must be how you open it."

Panther examined the terminals and saw what they were missing into order to open the door. "B-But both of them have keyholes."

"And we don't have any keys," Sphinx stated. She kneeled down, grabbing one of the feathers off the floor. "We should keep looking. I've this strange feeling that we're very close to the next fragment."

"What about that area above here?" Panther asked. "There was a barred off doorway I saw when we first explored the room."

"But the cameras are still operational. We should look for a way to deactivate them before doing anything else," Mona said.

Joker focused his gaze on the opposite stairwell. "Let's head upstairs. We might find what we're looking for."

Following their leader, the Phantom Thieves search for their next objective. They found themselves back in the hallway but on the opposite side of the security gate. In one of the rooms, they discovered a small vent connected to the adjacent room. They crawled through and found what they've been looking for. Joker destroyed the two camera controls in hopes that would solve the security problem.

Exiting the room, they returned to the room with the large metal door. Seeing all security measures were deactivated, they no longer had to worry about triggering anything. The group made their way over to the blocked doorway and remained hidden when hearing voices. Joker pressed his back against the wall next to the doorway and listened to the two Shadows chat.

"Hey, did you hear? It sounds like those intruders are wreaking havoc in here," one Shadow said.

"What's wrong? Are you nervous?" The other Shadow asked. "Don't be. We have the keys they need, so things should be okay as long as we protect them."

Sphinx smirked. "Well, well, well. Our search for those keys is over."

"Wait," Skull spoke up, meeting the girl's gaze. "You think they're talkin' about those two keys?!"

"It's highly likely those are the way by which the partition opens," Fox said.

"What're we gonna do then? Beat 'em up and take the keys?"

"Didn't you see those two? They're obviously not ordinary Shadows. Anyone who's been entrusted with a key that important would have to be extremely strong," Mona answered.

"And there's two of them," Panther added. "It would be tough dealing with both. Plus they could sound the alarm."

Joker glanced around at his companions. "Any suggestions on how to get those keys?"

"Why don't we split them up and beat them individually?" Queen proposed.

"And how can we do that?" Fox inquired.

"Do you remember that monitoring room upstairs? The room we acquired our map from. There was some communication equipment there as well. We can use that to lure one away."

"That's a great idea," Joker replied.

Panther smiled. "I agree. It sounds safer than fighting them at the same time!"

"Okay, let's leave this part to our intellectual!" Mona grinned.

Queen glanced over at Sphinx. "Well, I'm not the only intellect here, but thank you! First up, we need to head to the monitoring room."

"Let's head straight there," Joker said.

Without wasting another second, the Phantom Thieves returned to the second floor of the bank. They arrived back in the monitoring room where Queen put on a performance over the loudspeaker to lure one of the Shadows from the basement to their location. Hearing their plan was a success, the group hid from sight and waited for the Shadow.

The door to the security room opened and the Shadow cladded in a golden suit sauntered in. It looked around in confusion when seeing no one. "Hm? There's no one here."

"Not exactly," Skull grinned.

Joker emerged from hiding and appeared behind the Shadow. It turned around with a gasp. "Y-You're...! This was a trap?! You bastards!"

"And you're the moron who fell for it," Sphinx snickered.

With a growl, the Shadow transformed and attacked. The others joined their leader and face off against the powerful enemy. Using their personas, melee weapons, and guns, the single powerful Shadow vanished and left behind a single key. Sphinx picked it up and handed it to Panther. Mona cheered joyfully at their victory before leaving the room and heading back to the security room in order to claim the second key.

The Phantom Thieves arrived back at the security room and were relieved to see the other Shadow was still there. They could hear it growing impatient as it waited for its partner to return. Wishing no longer to hide, the group made their presence known and approached the enemy. The Shadow, after putting two and two together, transformed and attacked. In mere minutes, the Shadow was defeated. This time, Skull was the one to pick up the key.

A faint smile appeared on Fox's face. "Perfect, we've now obtained both keys!"

Queen went to express her own joy but stopped when something on the wall caught her eye. "Oh, one second!" She sauntered over and stood in front of what had her attention. "Doesn't this map have a little more information than ours?"

Mona hopped up and snatched the map off the wall. He examined it with a smile. "Ah, right you are! Well done, Queen!"

"Maybe it can tell us what the bank is like further down," Panther said.

Skull peered down at the map in the feline's grasp. "How's it look? You see where the treasure is?"

"Well, the most suspicious area would be the deepest part." Mona pointed to one area on the map. "Look here. There's an elevator that leads down. The treasure must be past there."

"This map seems to indicate that the area beyond the partition is rather large as well," Fox observed after gazing at the map.

"I'm sure security will keep getting more intense from here onward too. We need to be careful." He folded up the map and handed it to Joker.

"Now that we have both keys, let's open that door," Sphinx said.

They left the room and headed downstairs. Skull and Panther inserted the keys into the terminals and opened the metal door.

"This took some time, but we managed to force it open," Fox stated.

"Great teamwork, everyone," Joker complimented.

"Yes, I agree," Queen chimed in. "The cooperation of our whole team is what helped us through this particular ordeal."

"To be honest, I'm surprised of how in sync all of us are," Sphinx said.

"We are kickin' some serious ass!" Skull cheered.

"Let's keep it up," Joker stated.

Entering the laundering office, the Phantom Thieves walked across the bridge that had yen scattered along the sides. Among them, Sphinx spotted Egyptian pounds and white feathers. Curious, she walked over to the railing and peered down at the pile of cash at the bottom. Her eyes narrowed as a voice called out her name. She took a few steps back and turned to the others. "Did you all hear that?"

"Hear what?" Queen asked.

"Someone called my name..."

"Uh, you feelin' okay? I didn't hear nothin'," Skull said.

Returning to the railing, Sphinx eyes the money at the bottom. "I think... I think I need to go down there."

"You think it was the fragment calling out to you?" Joker questioned.

She nodded. "Yeah. I'm pretty certain it was seeing all the Egyptian pounds and feathers." Without thinking, she sat on the railing and threw her legs over the other side.

"Hold the phone!" Skull shouted. "You really think we'll let you jump from here?!"

"It's money, not nails."

"But still! You're crazy!"

"I'll be fine." She focused her gaze on Joker. "Don't wait up for me. You all still need to find the treasure. I'll catch up with you as soon as possible."

"Understood," he replied. "Be careful."

She offered him a smile. "I will."

Sphinx pushes herself off the railing and fell into the pit of money and feathers. Her body passed through the bills, her surroundings turning black. When the blackness began to fade, she saw puffy white clouds and a blue sky. She felt her stomach drop when feeling herself plummeting through the air. Wind whipped through her hair as she spun herself around and saw a body of water underneath her. Preparing herself, she waited for her body to plunge into the water below.

Seconds felt like hours. The moment her body plunged into the water, every muscle ached. Fighting through the pain, she swam to the surface. Gasping for air, she looked around for land and swam towards it the moment she spotted the shoreline.

Dragging her body out of the tepid water, Sphinx wrung our her outfit and hair as she looked around. The sand was reddish yellow and reminded her of Egypt. She marched forward through the desert for a short while until her eyes caught sight of a large structure in the distance. "No way. Is that...?" Running through the sand proved to be difficult, but she didn't stop. When the structure was more visible, her eyes gleamed with excitement. "It is a temple!"

Ten minutes later, Sphinx arrived at the entrance of the temple. She examined the hieroglyphics and statues decorating the entrance. "It's an ancient temple. I've never seen one so intact before."

Sphinx sauntered into the temple, immediately taking notice of the beautiful murals painted on the wall. She wished she had a camera with her in order to take pictures. Her parents would love to see such vivid, ancient imagery. Moving to the next room, she saw a pond framed with white marble in the middle of a garden. Lily pads floated on the surface of the calm water. She couldn't believe so much beauty lies within the temple.

Next, Sphinx came across a large room filled with scrolls. Among the scrolls, she saw what she thought was people until one of them turned around. They had the head of a falcon. Her eyes widen in shock as the falcon-headed man strolled past her as if she didn't exist with a scroll in his hand. She watched him walk away before muttering, "What is going on here?"

Ah, there you are.

Sphinx jumped in fright as she spun on her heels to face the owner of the voice. She blinked rapidly when seeing an all-too-familiar god standing a few feet away. It was a humanoid falcon with white feathers cladded in traditional ancient Egyptian attire and golden armor. "Horus...?"

The falcon lowered his head.

That I am. I have been searching for you quite a while, child. I am joyous you made it here safely.

"If you consider falling fron the sky and landing in the ocean safe, then...yes." Sphinx clasped her hands behind her back. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Horus."

And I, you. We've much to discuss. Follow me.

Sphinx followed Horus to the deepest part of the temple. It was a room with an intricately decorated throne and golden statues lining the walls. A red and golden woven rug trailed from the entrance of the room to the throne. There were even plush pillows scattered around the throne. The smell of burning incense calmed her nerves as she sat down on one of the plush pillows beside the throne. She watched as Horus took a seat in the lavish throne, wondering what he had to talk about. Deciding to shatter the silence, she spoke up. "I already know the answer, but I just want to ask: Could you explain to me what happened to me when I was little?"

Horus, without moving his mouth, sighed.

I am unaware of what transpired that day. As Anubis stated, you awoken the rebellious soul within your heart at a tender age. However, the connection was severed before a contract could be established. That is all I can tell you, child.

"Is there anyone that can help me remember what happened?"

Only once when your heart is restored will such memories be restored. You will need to find the remaining two fragments. However, there is a catch.

"Oh, no... Not a catch..."

I'm afraid so, child. Once all fragments are assembled, you must find out where each piece fits in order to mend the fractures.

Sphinx was more confused than ever. "And how will I do that?"

Trust in your friends. They will help you reconstruct your heart.

"It can't be that easy, can it?"

T'will be difficult. However, focus on the path you tread and you will see the fruits of your labor soon. You shall awaken the true rebel within you.

Sphinx looked away. "I trust most of them, except for Makoto. I must confess, she fits in and works well with everyone. She is earning my trust slowly but surely. I am grateful for her help so far."

Trust must be earned. Do not fret for there is time. Keep sight of those who are closest to your heart and protect them. With my power, you will be able to do just that and much more.

The inky-haired girl climbed to her feet and stood directly in front of the god. "I'd love nothing more than to protect those I hold dearly. Please, Horus, grant me your power."

The falcon stood up with his spear in one hand.

You need not ask, child. We are one and the same. Returning to your heart is what I desire. Shall we forge our contract?

She nodded. "Yes."

Very well.

Horus outstretched his wings and tapped the bottom of his spear against the floor.

I am thou, thou art I...

He outstretched his hand towards Sphinx. She didn't hesitate to place her hand in his.

From the sky, we shall descend from the heavens and stand by those we cherish. They shall be granted divine protection and no nefarious soul shall be able to taint your pure heart!

Suddenly, Sphinx was blinded by a bright light and everything turned white. She closed her eyes and only opened them when the brightness faded. Opening her eyes, she saw she was back at the entrance of the laundering office. When feeling a warm sensation in her chest, she smiled. "Glad you're with me, Horus."

Moving forward, Sphinx searches for her companions. When she couldn't find any Shadows prowling the office, she knew she was on the right track. Exceeding caution due to the cameras, she timed her movements to avoid being detected.

She eventually came across an elevator and rode it down. Stepping off, she could hear the sound of fighting in the distance and ran as fast as she could. She entered a room and from the top floor, she saw her friends fighting against three Shadows. She also spotted Kaneshiro slipping into the elevator to escape while the fight proceeded. She dashed down the stairwells and came to a halt when seeing Fox and Panther fall to the floor.

Sphinx summoned Horus for the first time, showcasing her new persona.

"Divine Pulse!" She bellowed.

The god swung his spear, creating an intricately designed hex that radiated a light green underneath the Phantom Thieves. Everyone was healed and ready to continue the fight.

Fox slowly pushed himself off the floor. "I feel...rejuvenated."

"M-Me too!" Panther cheered.

"I feel like I just woke up from the best nap in the world," Skull grinned.

Sphinx joined the fray, smiling at her companions as Horus stood behind her with his wings outstretched. "Sorry I'm late."

"Another badass persona," Skull smirked.

"That spell..." Queen glanced over at the sable-haired girl. "Was that you, Sphinx?"

She nodded. "Yeah. Horus' specialty is healing incantations. Leave the healing to me. You guys focus on offense."

"These clowns're goin' down!" Skull proclaimed, swinging his spiked bat around as he went in for an attack. "Eat this!"

Joker, Mona, and Panther used their personas' abilities to attack the Shadows and exploit their weaknesses. Fox used his gun while Queen and Skull used their melee weapons whenever they saw an opening. Sphinx remained on support for the remainder of the battle, providing healing and placing barriers around her teammates whenever the Shadows tried to attack them. She wasn't able to stop all their attacks because she had yet to have full control over her new persona.

When the Shadows were no longer, everyone let out a huff of exhaustion. Even with Horus' healing, their bodies were still feeling the tug of weariness from how long they'd been traversing the Palace and the many Shadows they've fought against since arriving.

Sphinx presses a hand against her head with a tiresome groan as Horus vanishes. "I really need a nap..."

"You are looking a little pale," Queen said with a worried tone.

"Dude, what happened to you?" Skull inquired.

"Well, I dove into the money and wound up falling into the ocean. I swam to shore and managed to locate an ancient temple in the middle of the desert. Turns out, it was Horus' temple. We had a little chat and then I wound up back in the laundering office," she answered.

"For someone who fell into the ocean, your clothes are dry," Joker commented.

Sphinx looked down at her attire and touched her hair. She blinked owlishly when realizing she wasn't wet. "Well, would you look at that."

"Hey!" Mona cries out. "Let's get back on track!"

"I agree." Queen looked around the room. "Did anyone see where Kaneshiro went?"

"He snuck onto the elevator during the fight," Sphinx informed her teammates. "Should we follow him?"

"All of us are on the brink of collapsing," Fox sighed. "We best make haste and find another safe room."

The Phantom Thieves boarded the elevator and rode it down. As it carries them to a lower level, Mona glanced out the window. His eyes widen in shock when seeing what was waiting for them. "Hey, look!"

The others turn around and a collective gasp came from the teens. Skull shouted, "Wh-What the hell?! Are these all vaults?! How messed up is this guy?!"

"We're supposed to check all of these for the treasure?!" Panther shrieked.

"Wait a second..." Sphinx spoke up after noticing the room's layout. She locked eyes with Queen. "Is this what I think it is?"

"I was thinking the same thing. Could it be...?" Queen's voice trailed off.

Fox eyed the two girls. "What's the matter?"

"If our prediction is correct, we won't need to check every single one of these small vaults."

"For real?!" Panther gasped.

"That is, I hope. Sphinx and I will explain why once we've confirmed our theory."

The elevator reached its destination and the group stepped off. Mona's fur suddenly stood on end and he hopped up into the air. "This feeling... There's a safe room nearby!"

"Then let's find it and retreat for now," Joker said. "We all need to rest."

The Phantom Thieves located the safe room right next to the elevator. They rested for a short while before making their way back to the entrance of the bank. Leaving the Metaverse, they returned to the real world and went their separate ways.

|| 6/21 Tuesday ||
|| Evening ||

At home, Mikono wandered into the living room with a heavy sigh. She haphazardly tossed her bag on the floor before laying facedown on the sofa. She buried her face into one of the plush pillows and closed her eyes for a few seconds. When she was about to fall asleep, she heard her phone go off. With a groan, she pushed herself off the couch and searched for her school bag. She found it and pulled out her phone, seeing two text messages from two different people. One was from Akira while the other was from Makoto. Deciding to respond to Makoto first, she opened up the IM app and tapped on the girl's name.

Makoto: Is everything okay? You were kind of pale when we left the palace...

Mikono: Just exhausted, that's all.

Mikono: Once I get some rest, I'll be fine. Thanks for checking up on me.

Makoto: I do really wish to earn your trust soon, Mikono.

Mikono: Keep up what you're doing now and you'll earn it.

Mikono: Anyway, do you really think the vault in Kaneshiro's Palace is a combination lock or a cylinder lock?

Makoto: I do, but there's only one way to find out.

Mikono: And if our theory is correct, then that means Kaneshiro's treasure is close. I mean, what else would he use such an elaborate lock for?

Makoto: Exactly.

Makoto: I'll see you tomorrow. Sleep well, Mikono.

Mikono: You too, Makoto.

Ending their conversation, Mikono moved on to Akira's message. A smile appeared on her face when seeing he, too, was concerned about her well-being.

Akira: How're you feeling?

Mikono: Tired beyond belief. I had to flag down a taxi just to make it home...

Mikono: How are you feeling? You were exhausted just like I was.

Akira: I wanted to pass out on the train...

Mikono: I might fall asleep on the couch tonight since I've the place to myself right now.

Akira: Your parents aren't home yet?

Mikono: No. My mom texted me after school that she and Dad would be home late tonight.

Akira: If I had known that earlier, I would've stayed with you.

Mikono: Why?

Mikono: Are you thinking another weirdo like Banri is gonna break in?

Akira: I know he's in jail, but because of him I worry something like that will happen again.

Akira: When you came to Leblanc after he attacked you, I thought my heart was going to stop when I saw you passed out on the floor covered in blood...

Mikono: I'm not gonna lie... I have had nights where I feared Banri will return and finish where he left off. But thanks to therapy, I've been able to push those dark thoughts into the deepest corner of my mind.

Mikono: You don't have to worry, Akira.

Akira: I hope so...

Mikono: Oh! I forgot to tell you!

Mikono: I won't be able to join you all tomorrow. I've work tomorrow right after school.

Akira: That's fine.

Akira: I hadn't planned on heading back to the palace tomorrow anyway.

Akira: Consider it a day off, even though you have to work.

Mikono: You're keeping up with your shifts too, right?

Akira: For sure.

Mikono: My parents are really glad you applied. They come home some nights and talk about how you're an amazing employee.

Mikono: Anyway, I should let you get some sleep. I'll see you at school tomorrow.

Mikono: Good night, Akira.

Akira: You're the one who needs it more.

Akira: Good night, Mikono.