[ The lethality of it startles Maruki for a moment, but just that– only for a moment.

He knew, didn't he? He had to have known. It's part and parcel of being a persona user, he knows that now, and Akira has more experience with that than he does by far. The leader of the band of Phantom Thieves traipsing into the cognitive world – very real, he learned from Akira – and doing battle against cognitions and shadows and distortions – very real, he learned from Akechi – must be someone who can act swiftly, brutally.

Six months ago, it would have shocked Maruki to his core. Now–

He only grimaces as the Skeksis screams. Two more of the lesser tentacles rise up around its prone body struggling grimly to cling to life and wrap around its face. It's not a violent gesture, but a merciful one. Its eyes close beneath one, beaked mouth beneath the other, a quicker and quieter death granted more for Akira's sake than its own.

Maruki waits until it goes silent, still. Limp.

Then the tentacles retract, and with a wave of his left hand Azathoth dissipates all at once, settling heavily back down at the base of his skull.

He steps closer, offers a hand to Akira to help him up. ]

It isn't fair to put all the responsibility on you, either. We're allies.

[ As soon as it leaves his mouth, he realizes how presumptuous it sounds and winces a little. ]

Or, well... Now you know that we can be, if that's what you want.