A/n: You will notice some changes in this chapter and hopefully that won't bother anyone. It took 15 chapters, but I can finally introduce Mikono's Persona! Hope you all enjoy this next chapter! Love you all!!!
~✨Celestial✨~
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Joker led the way through the familiar ventilation shaft they'd escaped through during their first visit. "Looks like they don't know 'bout this way in yet," Skull commented as he jumped up and climbed through after Akira.

"Either that or they do know and they're setting up an ambush as we speak," Mikky stated, climbing into the ventilation shaft with Mona behind her.

"D-Don't joke 'bout that kinda stuff..."

"It's not a joke," the cat responded. "Mikky's only thinking logically which is what you could do every now and then, Skull."

"Shuddup!" The boy hissed. "I can think logically, too!"

They dropped down into the familiar room, surveying their surroundings and noticing no guards occupied the room. They all sighed in relief when realizing the enemy didn't know their location.

Without wasting a second, they exited the room and immediately heard cheering. "Praise be to King Kamoshida! Death to the intruders!"

The group walked to the end of the hallway and hid behind the doorframe. Peeking out, they saw a large group of guards gathered in the central hall with Kamoshida standing on the balcony above. His golden eyes scanned over his minions as he spoke. "Those intruders the other day were quite entertaining. However, I can't allow that trash to ransack my castle! Strengthen the security! Kill them on sight and make sure to bring back my princess! I'll reward whoever brings me their heads and rescues her!"

"Is it possible to throw up simply by listening to someone?" Mikky whispered with a disgusted expression.

"I don't know," Joker answered honestly.

"Because I think I just threw up a little in my mouth..."

"Gross..." Skull mumbled.

"Praise be to King Kamoshida!" The guards chanted, raising their swords and shields in the air.

"Hey, Mona," the fake blonde called out to the feline. "Can't we just beat the crap outta him and call it a day?"

"Look at all those soldiers, idiot!" Mona hissed under its breath. "It'd be suicide. And I'm sure you don't want a repeat of last time. Besides, don't you want him to confess his sins? There's no point in beating him up. We need to steal his materialized desires... The treasure."

"Fiiiine," Skull sighed dramatically. "So, where is it?"

"It has to be somewhere in the depths of this castle. Let's infiltrate further in while he's out here!"

"In that case, we only have one set of doors to choose from," Mikky stated, turning around and gesturing to the double doors down the hallway.

"Let's go," Joker said, taking the lead. He stood in front of the double doors and placed his hands on them.

When Mikky heard the familiar sound of armor clanking emitting from the other side, she tried to stop him. "W-Wait, Joker!" Her warning came too late. He pushed open the doors and his eyes widened under his mask as he spotted the guard patrolling the room.

Before the enemy turned around, Mikky acted swiftly and grabbed the back of his coat. She yanked him out of the doorway just as the adversary turned and faced the door. He fell to the ground beside her when she released him. He blinked a few times before looking at her. "Thanks," Joker whispered, pushing his upper body off the floor.

"You're welcome," Mikky whispered back. "Sorry for being rough."

"It's okay," Joker smiled for a split second before it was replaced with a serious expression. He placed a hand on her shoulder as he stood up. "Stay here. We'll deal with the Shadow."

She nodded, remaining exactly where she was as Joker, Skull, and Mona rushed into the room the moment the guard turned its back to the doorway. Peering around the corner, she watched the trio fight against the assailant. She gripped the side of the doorframe, her nails penetrating the thin layer of paint and leaving small crescent indentations in the wood. Even after witnessing her friends fight in numerous of battles, her worries never ceased to surface when they encountered enemies. Drowning out the noises of the fight, Mikky wondered how she could be helpful to her companions without them worrying about her. She stared down at the tiles and delved into deep thought.

After a couple minutes passed, Joker knocked the Shadow down and began negotiating with it. In the end, it was absorbed into his mask and now a part of him. Mona and Skull express their astonishment when the Shadow was drawn into the boy's mask after the negotiations ended. When the two calmed down, Joker called out to Mikky. Realizing she wasn't listening, he walked over to her and called her by her code name once more. "Mikky?"

The girl blinked profusely as she left the deepest part of her mind. "Oh..." She looked around and noticed the enemy was gone. "Sorry, I wasn't paying attention. You three took care of the Shadow rather quick."

"You were spacin' out again, huh?" Skull asked.

"Maybe..."

"C'mon, you three. Let's keep going," Mona said.

Before they could head through another pair of double doors, a guard entered the room and jabbed its sword at them. "Halt! Intruders! Hand over the princess!"

"Crap!" Skull grabbed Mikky and pushed her behind him and the others. "They noticed us!"

The guard revealed its true form and immediately charged at the group. Joker summoned the Shadow that was absorbed into his mask only a few moments ago and commanded it to attack. Mona was astonished as Skull delivered the killing blow.

Mikky tuned out their conversation when she heard the sound of rattling chains in the distance. Wondering where it was coming from, she walked over to the double doors and pushed them open. Entering another hallway, she glanced to her left and spotted a large, ornate door. Unlike the other doors, this one was painted black with blue accents. Above the door, she saw a sign that read "Black Dove". Unable to vanquish her curiosity, she approached the door and admired the design. She traced the blue carvings with her fingers, wondering what could be on the other side.

"H-Hey!" Someone shouted, grabbing Mikky's attention. She turned away from the door and saw Joker, Skull, and Mona rushing down the hallway toward her. The blonde was the one who shouted at her. "Don't go wanderin' off!"

"I heard something," Mikky responded, turning back to face the door. "I think it came from the other side of this door."

"We should check every room," Mona stated. "The treasure might be through this door."

"And what if it's not?" Skull remarks.

"Then we keep searching."

"Let's see what's through this door," Joker said.

Mikky placed her hands on the door and used all her strength to open it. The hinges creaked eerily as the sound of rattling chains echoed from deeper within. Stepping through the door, she walked toward the noise as her other companions followed closely behind. Their heels clacked against the tile below as they walked up a long stairwell. What lied at the top flabbergasted them.

In the center of the large room was a birdcage. Through the black bars, they could see a bed with blue sheets. Pillows were scattered across the floor inside the cage. A figure lied on the bed, weakly yanking on the chains around their wrists and ankles.

Joker, Skull, and Mona froze when they recognized who was chained to the bed. Mikky felt as if she was in a trance and continued to walk toward the cage. Once standing directly in front of the bars, she stared down at the person trapped inside the cage. "So... This is how Kamoshida sees me..."

Kamoshida's cognition of Mikky was chained to the bed, her long sable locks fanned across the blue sheets. She was scantily cladded in a set of black babydoll lingerie with tears overflowing from her dull cerulean eyes. She feebly continued to yank at the chains regardless of how pointless she knew it was to struggle.

Grasping the bars, Mikky fell to her knees and hung her head, unable to look at her own imprisoned self. She could hear the others yelling as they struggled, but she was clueless as to what was transpiring behind her.

Joker, Skull, and Mona fought against the guards restraining them, but they couldn't break free. They tried screaming out for Mikky, but she didn't budge an inch after hearing their desperate cries. Blades rested at their throats, preventing them from struggling any further.

Kamoshida chuckled as he walked toward Mikky. "Don't worry, dear Tsutsui. I had fun breaking you once, and I'll have even more fun breaking you again." He kneeled down behind her, scooping up a handful of her inky locks. He lifted her hair toward his nose and inhaled her scent. "What a tantalizing smell... I can't wait for the fun to begin."

Joker gripped his dagger and tried to attack the guard restraining him. The blade was immediately knocked out of his grasp when another guard spotted the weapon. A grunt of pain escaped his throat when the same guard punched him in the gut. He hunched over, the blade resting as his throat now closer than before. His slightly blurry vision focused on Mikky, whose body was shaking.

Skull, ignoring the sword aimed at his jugular, tried to kick and punch his way out of the guard's grip. "If you think I'm gonna let you touch her, you've got another thing comin', asshole! Come over here so I can beat your ass!"

Mona groaned as the guard restraining him held him by the scruff of his neck. "Hey, let me go!" It swung its arms and legs wildly in an attempt to escape.

"What a rowdy bunch," Kamoshida growled, releasing Mikky's hair and returning to his full height as he faced the three. "Take them to the dungeon. I'll claim their heads myself after I'm done with my princess." He turned back around just in time to be punched in the face. His body flew back, skidding across the tile a little ways before coming to a halt in front of the guard captain. Dazed, he stared wide-eyed at the girl who just punched him. A trickle of blood dripped from his nose as he glared at her.

Mikky's entire body shook as she lowered her fist. Her head snapped up, revealing the rage that was consuming her entire being. "You want fun? I'll give you fun. I'll gladly break every bone in your body for all the people you've targeted! Get back on your feet, you bastard! I'm kicking your ass myself!"

You've kept me waiting far too long, my child.

Suddenly, a crushing pain surged through Mikky's entire body accompanied by an unfamiliar voice. She stumbled backwards, clutching the sides of her head as a bloodcurdling scream escaped her throat.

This revolting creature believes he can tame you, but you are a force not to be reckon with. All those who are unworthy shall tremble and be trampled to dust.

Mikky tugged at her hair, shaking her head side to side as her back collided with the bird cage.

I am thou, thou art I...

A powerful gust of wind surged outward from Mikky's body as she continued to scream.

Together, we shall wage war and leave only ruin in our wake. Release thy seal and let us conquer all who shall oppose us!

The pain subsides, allowing Mikky a chance to regain her breath. A mask appears on her face which caused her to gasp in shock.

Her fingers trailed across the edges until she gripped the two ears and ripped the mask off her face. She could feel the excruciating pain, but her anger nullified most of it. With a vexed wail, her entire body was engulfed in a vortex of blue flames. Her cries echoed as the guards were forced to release Joker, Skull, and Mona due to the powerful blast surging outward from the vortex.

The three collapsed to the ground, watching in awe as the vortex subsided, revealing Mikky in her new attire and her Persona towering over her.

(A/n: Sekhmet is also known as the "Lady of Slaughter" hence the chapter's name.)

She glared fiercely at Kamoshida as he recovered with help from his guards. The being behind her held out its hands, two khopeshes materializing in its grasp. They vanished with a flash before reappearing in the girl's own hands. She gripped the handles tightly, her eyes never leaving Kamoshida as her Persona spoke to her.

Let us shed the blood of the guilty, my child.

"With pleasure," Mikky grinned. She pointed one of the khopeshes at Kamoshida and commanded her Persona. "Make him pay, Sekhmet!"

Sekhmet releases a deafening roar, wielding her own golden khopesh. She swung it through the air, creating a vortex of bright flames. It headed straight for Kamoshida, but he was quickly pulled aside by the guard captain and escorted out of the room. The remaining Shadows, who forgot about the others, surrounded Mikky once the vortex evaporated. They transformed and attacked as a group.

The girl was prepared, feeling a strength she never had before awakening. She waited for the Shadows until they were just close enough before attacking. Swinging both her khopeshes, she leapt forward and sliced through a single enemy. She sidestepped just in time to dodge an adversary's hooves and annihilated it with a single blow from her sickled-swords. Only two Shadows remained out of four.

Mikky leapt onto the back of one of the Shadows before impaling one of her blades through its skull. She leapt off its back as its body disintegrated. She turned toward the last enemy, noticing its fear immediately from seeing its shaky legs. Her furious gaze bore into its own frightened eyes and waited to see what it would do.

Unable to built up any courage to face the bloodthirsty girl, the Shadow dashed for the stairwell in a desperate attempt to escape. It didn't even make it down the first step before Sekhmet reappeared behind Mikky and hurled a fireball at it, killing it within mere seconds. The lioness vanished, the mask returning to the girl's face.

Mikky hooked her khopeshes to the back of the golden belt wrapped around her hips with an exhausted sigh. The second she took a single step forward, her body collapsed to the floor.

"Wh-What power!" Mona cheered as Joker and Skull rushed over to Mikky.

Joker fell to his knees beside her as Skull stood and peered worriedly down at her. "H-Hey, Mikky, you still with us?" The blonde questioned.

"No..." Mikky exhaled. "I'm dead..."

Joker smirked in amusement, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and helping her sit up. He readjusted their position and supported her body against his own, her head now resting against his shoulder. "I guess you're not injured if you're able to make a joke," he chortled.

"Dude, you kicked ass!" Skull chanted, eyes gleaming under his mask. "You took down all those Shadows and not a single one was able to touch you!"

"It truly was spectacular!" Mona walked over with a skip in its step. "I've never seen such strength!"

"I'm so glad you three enjoyed the show," Mikky groaned.

Mona then started drooling again as it recalled the girl's fighting abilities. Skull also joined in while Joker kept his attention on her. His eyes raked across her body, taking in and admiring the sight of her new outfit and how amazing she looked in it. "I must say, I'm a fan of the new outfit."

"New outfit?" Mikky lifted her head from Joker's shoulder and peered down. She gasped when she saw what she was wearing.

Mikky began to blush as she weakly pulled away from Joker and tugged at the hem of her new outfit. "I-I've never worn something so short or revealing before!" When she couldn't pull it down any further, she whined and stared down at the mid-thigh boots she was wearing. She noticed the golden lining and how the entire outer sole of the boots were plated with gold.

Examine her appearance further, Mikky discovered the golden gloves on her hands. The only fingers exposed were her ring fingers and her pinkies. Moving up her arm, she saw the two golden bracelets with small, intricate carvings in the metal encasing her wrists. What surprised her was the bracelet on her left wrist wasn't irritating her injury. She then lifted her hands and felt the mask attached to her face. A pout accompanied her red cheeks as she hung her head, embarrassed at her appearance. "I look ridiculous..."

Joker smiled at her. "I think you look amazing. It really does suit you."

Her cheeks turned an even deeper crimson. "Th-Thank you, Joker."

Once Mona and Skull were finished gushing over the fight, they turned back to their teammates. The feline leapt toward Mikky, landing in her lap. "Now that you're officially a Persona user, we can give you a proper code name! What would you like it to be, Mikky?"

"I've no idea," she confesses. "Any idea, guys? I'm open to suggestions."

"Let's see..." Mona hummed, delving deep into thought as it tried to think of a good code name.

"Uh..." Skull mumbled. "What 'bout... No, that wouldn't be a good one..."

"How about "Sphinx"?" Joker proposed.

Mikky's eyes radiated in excitement. "It's perfect!"

"Then it's settled!" Mona cheered. "Your code name with be Sphinx."

"Gotta admit-it fits. Y'know, with the whole Egyptian thing goin' on with your outfit," Skull comments. "And the fact that you were born in Egypt, too."

"Maybe I'll randomly ask riddles," Mikky grinned. She looked around at the confused faces of her companions and her grin fell. "You three seriously don't know what the Sphinx's duty was?"

"Shit... Is that a legit question?" Skull asked. "Because I don't have the answer."

Mikky groaned and rolled her eyes. "In Greek mythology, the duty of the Sphinx was to guard the entrance of the city of Thebes. She would ask travelers riddles if they desired to enter the city. If they answered wrong, she would kill them and devour their remains." Once again, she glanced around at her companions. She saw their faces light up with realization when they remembered the myth and she sighed in disbelief. "You three are gonna be my downfall someday..."