Prologue - Those who defy Heaven

Somewhere, a phone ring.

- Yes?

- It's me. Sorry for calling you like this.

A sigh came from the other side, followed by a short silence.

- I wasn't expecting to hear from you so soon, Mr. Jotaro.

- The circumstances have changed. Some new facts came up, and now I need to travel to America as soon as possible. Jolyne's life is on the line this time.

- Jolyne's life? But, why?

- She was sent to prison, arrested in some accident. But there's more to this than what it seems. She was framed, by someone whom I believe to be a follower of Dio.

- Dio...?

- Yes. Even after all this time, it seems there are still people in this world who carry on with his will. Although I can't say for sure who this person is, I know that they're expecting me to show up.

- So, a trap was set for you, and even knowing that you will walk right onto it? That can be a really stupid move, Mr. Jotaro.

- Nevertheless, I'm not walking in the dark on this. The guy's name is Johngalli A, and he was a Stand User who worked under Dio for some time. I couldn't find what his ability is, so I'll need to take a closer look. With luck, I'll be able to take him down before anything else happens, so I can take Jolyne out there in safety. In any case, how is everything going?

- I've been putting some trustworthy people to look around and ask some questions. I can say for sure that the Arrow wasn't been seen, but the number of Stand Users is increasing for some reason. Either is something that is capable of awakening Stands, or someone orchestrated this from the beginning.

- The Speedwagon Foundation is currently researching the Arrows we retrieved, but we're not getting any closer to understanding their power, where it comes from or how it works. If anything pops up, please tell me as soon as possible.

- You have my word.

- Also, while I'm going to America, I also asked him to stay aware if anything happens. He already has your private number, so there is a chance that you might receive a call from him as well. Ever since what happened with the old man, he kind of decided to stay more involved with all this.

- Understood. For now, you should just focus on helping Jolyne. We will take care of the rest.

- Thank you, Giorno. I'm counting on you.

Cape Canaveral
2012

The clouds were moving faster in the dark sky, almost like if it was some kind of special effect from a movie. The sound of the air currents was completely different from anything that anyone ever heard and had this ferocity that could almost be considered hostile. And atop of a building in Kennedy Space Center, the group of five persons was inside a star-shaped string barrier, looking horrified to the man standing in front of them. Even with all of their efforts, Father Pucci was still able to fully evolve his Stand C-Moon into Made in Heaven, just as planned from the beginning. The priest, now with that supreme power, was ready to follow Dio's path to Heaven. He raised his hands, with the humanoid stallion figure of his Stand right at his side.

- Time will keep accelerating. Next time, I'll make sure to kill you first, Anasui.

Jotaro, wounded by the priest's last attack, was saved by Anasui's quick thinking, on hiding his Diver Down inside him. Even his Time Stop was no match for the priest's super speed.

- I didn't receive this ability to dispose of you or to gain more power. No, it was a much bigger reason, a divine providence, that I will gladly use to guide all of the human kind towards the true happiness. - the priest words were sounding like if they came from all directions. Jolyne helped her father to stand up but noticed that he really was badly damaged.

"It's no use. If we could get him in range, I'm pretty sure that Stone Free and Star Platinum together could definitely beat him down. But as soon as he gets close, we'll be pretty much dead already. Even dad's Time Stop couldn't reach him."

The priest pointed to the group.

- The reason for my actions, the reason for your disposal...

The clouds started to go even faster. Made in Heaven was accelerating time even more, and they all could sense it.

- It's just a sacrifice for the greater good of humankind!

It was all in a matter of milliseconds. The priest was already in front of them, when Anasui fell on the ground, with a big wound on his chest. The blow wasn't an instant kill, but the damage was enough to make him bleed to death in a couple minutes.

- STAR PLATINUM: THE WORLD!

One second passed.

Jotaro couldn't see inside the time stop the moment when the priest attacked Anasui, only what happened after. Pucci was just close enough for him to reach and hit him hard.

Two seconds passed.

ORA!

It was only when Star Platinum rushed towards the priest that Jotaro noticed. At his side, Jolyne was looking in Anasui's direction, without being able to see what happened to him. But, just behind her, he could see a lot of blurred silver shadows, towards her direction.

"Knives... he threw them before attacking us! That bastard, it's the same trick, just like Dio..."

Three seconds passed.

Star Platinum punched the knives the fastest way he could, and then he turned back to where the Pucci was.

Four seconds passed.

- The weakness is also in the blood.

Jotaro went static. Pucci was right behind, between him and Jolyne.

"He moved! Even though the time was stopped, he moved.

- And your daughter is your weakness, Jotaro Kujo. You were too late. Now, it's time for Heaven.

He still tried to hit the priest, even knowing that he would probably be dead before landing the attack. Star Platinum's hands reached for him, but Made in Heaven was just with the advantage. A fraction of a smile was on Pucci's face when he went for the kill.

But nothing happened.

From his point of view, everything was standing still. Jotaro's Star Platinum right in front of him.

- What? What is happening?

- Nothing is happening, Father Pucci. – a voice came, from behind him.

The priest's eyes went wide, as he slowly turned his head. For one moment, a shiver ran through Pucci's body by seeing him standing there.

- Dio...!?

But something was wrong.

"It can't be him. Dio is dead, his body was destroyed by the hands of Jotaro Kujo, in the Egypt, 1989. Then, how can this be?"

In the next moment, the figure of Dio was no longer there, but a tall man using a long black coat, with the same golden hair. More than anything, the same powerful, strong eyes he possessed. He started to walk in his direction.

- You... you are Haruno Shiobana, aren't you? What are you doing here?

- Giovanna. My name is Giorno Giovanna. I'm Dio Brando's son, and I am here to stop this madness of yours.

- What nonsense is this? - the priest couldn't understand. That was nothing like Jotaro's Time Stop. In a matter of fact, it was almost like if time itself wasn't there. It was just nothing.

MUDA!

The first blow came directly to his face. Giorno's Stand was right at his side, looking at him. The pain was completely mixed with the confusion.

- Your Stand... what is this? How can you even dare to face my Made in Heaven? - Pucci fell on the floor, a big stain of blood on the right side of his face. Giorno looked at him, without showing any reaction. If anything, his eyes were only showing that everything would be over soon. - You were supposed to be at my side. You were supposed to follow Dio's truth, just like me! WHY ARE YOU TRYING TO STAND IN MY WAY?

Pucci summoned his Stand to deal an extremely fast blow to Giorno's face. But his attack didn't hit him. To the priest, it felt like it was a straight punch into a wall. Giorno's Stand was simply by his side, waiting for the next command.

- This is Requiem.

The priest couldn't believe that there was something that could match his extreme speed. But that was just another challenge that he would need to overcome, just like the many others he had been through these last years. All he needed was to get close enough to finish Giorno off in one single attack.

- I don't care what your Stand is. YOU ARE NO MATCH FOR MADE IN HEAVEN!

MUDAMUDAMUDAMUDAMUDA!

Gold Experience Requiem's attack rush was enough to block the priest attack and to knock him away, far from the others. Father Pucci fell to the floor once more, but this time, he couldn't even try to get up. That attack probably broke some of his ribs and organs, and any movement attempt would definitely hurt him even more.

Giorno turned to Jotaro, who was still phased inside time and healed his wound on the neck, from the priest's first attack. After that, he walked away and deactivated his Stand effect.
Jotaro blinked, without knowing what just happened. Star Platinum just punched the air in front of him.

And so, five seconds have passed. His Time Stop was over, and everyone could move again.

- Anasui! - Jolyne and Hermes ran to help him, who had just been damaged by the priest attack. Jotaro, however, noticed Father Pucci bleeding on the floor, and looked in the other direction, where Giorno was standing. It took him a couple moments until he finally understood what just happened.

- You saved us.

- Not yet. - Giorno went to where Anasui was.

- HEY, WHO THE HELL ARE YOU? - Jolyne asked, getting ready to attack.

- It's okay, Jolyne. He is an ally. – Jotaro said. Giorno moved Anasui's body, noticing a large amount of blood he was losing.

- Gold Experience.

There was a small light coming from his body, and a sudden breath of life came out from Anasui's mouth.

It wasn't much, but at least I could recreate the blood vessels and organs that were damaged by the attack. He's still knocked out, but he will survive.

On the other corner, Father Pucci started to crawl on the floor, without being able to fully move his body. All that he could think was that he needed to stay away from the new foe that had just appeared.

- Count the numbers... prime numbers, the loneliest ones... 1, 2, 3, 5...

He was almost reaching the border of the building when someone stepped on his back. He turned his head slowly, just to see a new face over him.

- You aren't planning to escape, right?

The man was almost as tall as Jotaro but definitely younger. The eyes were similar, but his hair was set up in a classic pompadour style from the 80s. He was wearing dark blue clothes and had a Stand right behind him.

Pucci knew that he couldn't take any risks. There was no way to tell what his ability could be, so he had to take a shot and strike swiftly.

- MADE IN...

DORA!

The blow could have been enough to kill him. Pucci felt the pain of feeling his skull crushing in that attack. But in the next second, the pain was gone, almost as if there was no wound anymore. Dazed, he was knocked back on the floor and hit the border wall from the building.

- I don't know what your power is, but I'm smart enough to know it's some big deal to make Giorno use his Requiem. Don't try to play tricks on me, or I will keep breaking your bones and fixing again until you die of agony, you bastard! - He said, now holding the priest by his shirt.

- Josuke! - Giorno and Jotaro came closer, and the priest couldn't think straight anymore. The momentum had completely turned against him, and he couldn't see a way out of that situation.

- It's over. - Jotaro's voice was as calm as ever, even though he was close to death a few moments ago. The priest was looking at him with a certain despair in his eyes, but suddenly, his expression changed completely. A laugh came from Pucci's mouth, followed by his answer.

- There's no such thing as failure, Jotaro Kujo. It's always a matter of wait for the next opportunity. Made in Heaven is the solid proof that plans can change and still work. What you call a failure, I call destiny. Perhaps it wasn't supposed to end like this, but Fate always finds a way. Destiny is a merciless force, and not even you can fight that back.

Pucci looked around, but the only thing that he saw was the trio standing right there, close to him. His body was badly wounded and there would be no chance for him to even activate his Stand before being knocked out. He knew, deep down, that it was endgame.

- You can say your nonsense stuff as much as you want. Dio's Diary is gone, and so are your chances of fulfilling his goals. – Jotaro said. Giorno stepped forward.

- Should I lock him into the Requiem? – the golden Stand was just behind him. And so, there was another laugh.

- Tell me, Jotaro. Do you believe in gravity?

The priest burst into a hysterical laugh, a scene that was almost creepy, considering his entire demeanor up until that moment. The calm and cold Pucci gave room to a man who had just acknowledged his defeat and could only laugh in his last moment.

- Our Father, who art in Heaven…

If he was younger, Jotaro would definitely be able to act in time. Even though Giorno had just cured his wounds, his body and mind were still tired from the stress of that battle. He, who was the most experienced among them, was the only one who noticed in time. Father Pucci, using all of his remaining strength, rammed his head on the border wall, crashing his already damaged skull and exploding his own brain.

- Josuke! – Jotaro shouted. Crazy Diamond appeared and healed the priest head in a matter of seconds, but it was already too late. Perhaps it wasn't for the impact, but for his resolution to end his life in that instant that the deed was possible. If a terrified smile on his face, Enrico Pucci was dead.

[TO BE CONTINUED]