Two minutes have passed after Sakura, Kakyoin and Narancia listened to Junko's issue about how the Showa Idol doesn't like interacting with fans up close due to sticking with what she learned being an idol when she was alive in the late 70s and early 80s.
Four of them left the beach soon when the rain starts pouring down from the clouded evening sky above. With the exception of Sakura, the three zombies' makeup are already washed off, exposing their red eyes, green skin, scars, stitched up wounds and bandages. From the looks of it, no one except the group are around walking in the sidewalk they are in illuminated by the streetlight that displays their zombie forms. Good thing too because they would have to keep themselves hidden if they ever see someone. Stand or no Stand, they would make haste to an alley if they ever see any human roaming on the streets.
Despite that, the group is in a good mood. Not because there is a low chance someone could see them as zombies, but the three of them may have found a solution to Junko's predicament that may benefit her and Franchouchou. Whether Narancia suggested it without thinking or not, it is thanks to him that Kakyoin can form a compromise he believes Junko may like, therefore preventing her from quitting Franchouchou out of worry that she will hold the group back thanks to her view on being an idol that is outdated in the eyes of contemporary idols. Right now, the four has to go back home first and tell Kotaro what's troubling Junko and their suggestion that complements her and Franchouchou. Hopefully, he listens to their words and agree with them if he wants Franchouchou to succeed.
And bring attention to Saga in the process.
Holding the brim of a hat down given by Junko, Sakura's eyes and large scar are covered, as if she does not want anyone to see her creepy face to any humans even though no one would be up and walking. She can't see what's in front of her expectedly but it's not a problem for her as she is walking in the same brisk speed as the three, occasionally glancing them to make sure she doesn't go too far and get lost. This time though, she lifts the brim up and see where they are now and how close they are to their home.
"Huh?"
Sakura stops when she sees a masked man dressed in a hooded poncho drop to the ground illuminated by a streetlight. She's not the only one as Junko, Narancia and Kakyoin stop too when they see him make an appearance via falling.
The masked man stands up straight after crouching to cushion his fall. Holding an umbrella, the strange man's eyes are directed to the four behind the mask. Realizing he might see their appearances, Kakyoin beckons the three to turn around and keep their backs facing the man. With their backs turned, they walk faster as they hope he didn't see what they look like...
They are under a light when the same man suddenly appeared in the streetlight next to it.
Junko's light blue eyes gawk at the masked man in surprised, looking back and forth as she wonders how did he appear there without them noticing. "Eh? What? How did he...?"
She doesn't have time to think about it when Kakyoin again beckons to turn around, this time quickly enough that the masked man hopefully has less time to see their appearances.
But when he did, the man is now standing before them as soon as they turned around.
Surprised expressions are expected but Narancia gets annoyed at the man apparently stalking them.
"The hell, man? What's your problem? Can't you see we want to be left alone?" Narancia told him, ignoring that he might expose himself. Sakura, Junko and Kakyoin would have pulled him back and make a run for it but what happened next serves to alert them that a trek back to the mansion is going to be held off for now.
"I'm sorry for what I'm about to do. It's ｢the master｣'s order..."
"What?"
スカァッ
"AAAAAAAAAAHHH!"
Even though he instinctively back away, he didn't evade enough as Narancia's right cheek gets sliced clean by a sharp object similar to a knife, drawing up blood from the wound. The pain prompted the screaming teen to clutch his face as he falls backward to Sakura and Junko, who hold on to him before looking at the man in shock.
"HIEROPHANT GREEN!"
At the same time, Kakyoin summoned his Stand as soon as he realizes they are facing an enemy Stand. Without hesitation, Hierophant Green fired emeralds at the enemy, who swiftly dodge all the emeralds. Seeing this, Kakyoin conjures tentacles from Hierophant Green's chest to entangle the enemy through the ground and in the air, making sure he has nowhere to escape from his Stand.
ガバァァー
However, the enemy anticipated this and responded by jumping up. This does not deter Kakyoin as he simply redirected the tentacles above. This time, he will not escape from Hierophant Green's grip! What he thought as he believes he can end the fight early before it gets dragged on.
チク チク チクッ!
Kakyoin feels a prickly pain from his body as the tentacles are getting stabbed repeatedly from...raindrops?
W-What? This feeling... Raindrops are piercing Hierophant Green's tentacles? He thought in disbelief.
Despite not in great pain, Kakyoin doesn't like the sensation of getting pricked by something sharp similar to needles so he retracts the tentacles. At the same time, Hierophant Green charges another Emerald Splash as its user glares the enemy seemingly floating in the air amidst the rain. "If the tentacles didn't get you, my emeralds surely will! Take this, Emerald...SPLASH!"
ドッバアーッ!
As the emeralds are about to hit the masked enemy, he has this to say in an apologetic tone.
"I'm sorry."
ビシィ!
One emerald is deflected by something, directing it to the other emeralds.
ガン ガン ガン ガン ガン
Kakyoin's eyes couldn't believe what he is seeing as all emeralds are ricocheting off each other. Not only that, raindrops around it remain still in mid-air and deflects the emeralds more, much to his, Sakura and Junko's surprise.
What the? Why are the emeralds bouncing off from raindrops? Despite being so small, they are all durable enough to not be washed off by the emeralds. And earlier, the raindrops pierced the tentacles like it was nothing! Just what's the deal with the rain? Why are they acting like that around the enemy?
…
Acting...around the...enemy...? No way...! Don't tell me... The enemy's Stand ability is...!
Kakyoin didn't finish what he had discovered when the emeralds are deflected towards the four.
ドッバアーッ!
"Oh crap!"
Kakyoin exclaimed before Hierophant Green fires a third stream of emeralds to divert the rogue emeralds to his side. Unfortunately, not all of them are diverted as some of them reach Sakura and Junko, who didn't have time to dodge them and got hit.
"Aaagghh!" Junko shouted as she is hit in her shoulder, torso and left knee. Sakura turns to her in concern when she heard her shout of pain. "Junko-chan!"
Diverting her eyes off from the emeralds is a mistake because one emerald hits her temple, detaching her head cleanly from her body in the process. "Ageehh!?"
Despite being the only one who isn't turned human and remained a zombie, a hit to her temple is enough to disorient Sakura, reflected by her headless body trying to stand up but cannot as the red-haired girl try to shake off the feeling of turmoil whirling in her head. "Uggggghhhhhh... I feel sick..."
"Sakura! Junko!" Kakyoin turns around when he heard them get hit by the emeralds. A look of worry and regret appear on his face when he sees in his attempt to stop the enemy Stand, it led the two girls to get harmed by him unintentionally. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to-"
"No, don't apologize Kakyoin-san..." Junko stops him, giving him a reassuring smile despite the pain as she does not hold it against him. "I know you didn't mean to hurt us."
"But still, Hierophant Green fired the emeralds. I cannot help but feel responsible for almost injuring you two, especially you Junko because you turned into human again along with Narancia and I while Sakura remains zombie for some reason." He replied guiltily. Turning to Sakura, whose headless body grabs the still disorientated head, he is thankful Sakura remained a zombie, meaning an emerald hitting her head isn't fatal for her. Regardless, he feels guilty over hurting her inadvertently.
"How dare you..."
BGM: aereo da caccia (Golden Wind [Overture] OST)
Everyone exluding the masked man heard Narancia say after staying quiet to the point they almost forgot him. The former member of Passione, who isn't injured by the emeralds at all miraculously enough, crouches up while clutching his slashed cheek with his head down, all the while uttering "How dare you..." in seething anger that seems to be directed at Kakyoin. At least that's what he thinks so.
"Narancia...?" He calls his name, believing he is going to attack him for hurting Junko and Sakura. "H-Hey, listen. I didn't mean-"
"DROP DEAD!"
ドォォォン
A miniature airplane flies out of Narancia, taking flight in the air as its user kneels on the ground with a steely gaze together with the airplane flying above his head.
Sakura, Junko and Kakyoin watch as the airplane, which is based on a monoplane fighter aircraft constructed in tractor configuration that has its propeller located in the front painted in red, wings in an Inverted Gull Wing configuration, plane's wheels retracted under its fuselage, twin tail vertical stabilizer, two machine guns under the wings and a single bomb under the fuselage and, if one looks close, has facial features including eyes and a wide mouth that are segmented fly pass Kakyoin (much to his relief because he is not his target) towards the enemy, who is going to attack Kakyoin when his back is turned but sees the airplane charging towards him. In response, he stabilizes multiple raindrops and tries to get away from the berserk Stand User, intending to slice the airplane's wings and propeller off before attacking the user directly.
ドゴォォォォォォ
"Bugyaa-!?"
Unfortunately, the enemy underestimate the airplane's capabilities as not even the stabilized raindrops are enough to hinder it from its flight path. And so, he perceives the spinning sharp propellers cutting his torso quickly and painfully as he is carried up in the air along with the airplane.
Bearing a piercing glare directed at the enemy, Narancia has this to say in a loud voice. "You're gonna pay for injuring my friends! If you thought you can slice my left cheek open and get away with it, think twice! I'm gonna fill your body with LEAD!"
Narancia's next action is unleashed before Sakura's (who is still a head being held by Junko), Junko's and Kakyoin's eyes as they witness his fiery will.
ドガガガガガ
"VOLA VOLA VOLA VOLA VOLA VOLA VOLA VOLA VOLA VOLA VOLA VOLA...! VOLAAAAAAAAA!"
After staying true to his word as the machine guns ruthlessly shot the bleeding enemy after the propellers slice his clothes and torso open, ｢Aerosmith｣ finishes its assault by dropping a bomb on the enemy as the airplane flies away.
"VOLARE...VIA!"
ドカァァァン!
Suffice to say, such a barbarous and intense attack amazes the three zombies as the charred enemy flops to the ground, bleeding and defeated.
"...Woah. Who would have thought Narancia has a Stand like that?" Kakyoin commented after going silent to comprehend the Stand as Narancia stands up and spreads his arms horizontally. Sakura and Junko wonder why he spread his arms like that only to see Aerosmith makes a landing on his arms, disappearing as dust kicks up to the opposite side. Narancia then kneels on one knee, satisfied the enemy is killed.
"There. That bastardo won't be messing with us anymore." Narancia said. "Also, we eliminated another enemy Stand so that's a plus in my book."
"Well, I am glad all of us are fine and weren't injured greatly." Sakura lets out a sigh of relief as she replied. "But I can't help but feel his death is brutal. Is it necessary to ram him with a propeller and shoot him repeatedly before dropping a bomb, Narancia-kun?"
Plane Kid stands up as Junko puts her head and hat back, saying, "Considering what he had done to my face and to you three, I'd say he deserves it."
"Still, shooting him and dropping a bomb is so...creul." Junko seems to be against his action but that's not to say the enemy deserves it. "And does your Stand have to manifest as an airplane? This is after Kakyoin-san told you about how I died..."
Narancia eyes widen in surprise as he says, "Uhhhh, well... It's...what my Stand...looks like?" He tries to justify the appearance of his Stand, even though he starts to feel bad about giving Junko PTSD from the sight of an airplane. Junko sees where he is getting at so she said, "Do not worry. I can take the sight of your airplane Stand with minimal issue. You don't have to think about not summoning it for my sake."
"Really? Geez, you don't have to say that. I may not let Aerosmith out if it gives you bad memories Junko." He responds with a concerned look.
"If I would like to ask, is there anything Aerosmith can do Narancia?" Kakyoin starts asking about Aerosmith, curious to see what an object-based Stand do to help its user. "I can tell it's a Long-Range type Stand appearing as fighter plane that shoots bullets and drop bombs but I believe there is more to your Stand, right?"
Narancia nods his head as he says with a smile, "Yup! Aside from two machine guns and bomb that has infinite ammunition, Aerosmith has a radar that lets me detect carbon dioxide in my vicinity. With the radar, I can tell where the target is if I inspect the carbon dioxide intently or adjust the settings depending on the situation."
"A radar?" Sakura repeated.
"This radar."
Narancia pointed to a mechanical radar appearing on his right eye, which has a propeller and a screen showing three detected carbon dioxides as three circular blips. It's in the center, meaning the radar detects him, Kakyoin and Junko. The three huddled behind Narancia and see what the radar looks like. "Pretty neat, right?"
"Wow. I think this radar must be useful to you and your team, Narancia-kun." Sakura complimented.
"Well, it's not entirely perfect because there are times the radar may not work as intended in a given setting but for the most part, my enemies won't hide themselves from me no matter how hard they try as long as their carbon dioxide is detected." He admitted with a cheeky smile.
Staring at the screen, Junko notices a faint blip below the three blips in the center. "Narancia-san, what is that blip below the center? Is it still carbon dioxide?"
"Huh? That's weird." Unaware someone is rising up from a bloody puddle soaked with rain, Narancia realizes something about the faint blip, stating, "The three blips in the center are us except Sakura, who remained a zombie and the smaller blip is below, or in other words, behind us."
"If we can take your words in consideration Narancia-san, it means that the faint blip belongs...to the enemy...?"
Rapid footsteps and splashing water are heard after Junko inferred Narancia's words. Turning around, the four see a red puddle getting washed off in the rain. No signs of the enemy are seen in their vicinity. This clues the four the fight is not over like they thought.
"Aw what?! The enemy is still alive and kicking?" Narancia expressed his disbelief. He had shot the enemy repeatedly and take the brunt of the explosion from the bomb. No one could survive that unless they have a Stand! And even with a Stand, a normal human wouldn't take the attack and survive as they would be blown in smithereens if the bullets didn't finish them off.
"That's just great..." Kakyoin cursed under his great. "Come on! We can't let the enemy get away! Narancia, make sure the radar is still on!"
"No need to tell me Kakyoin!" Narancia sprinted forward in pursuit of the enemy, with Kakyoin following soon.
"Y-Y-You two! Wait! Don't leave us here!" Sakura shouted to the two as she and Junko breaks into a run, unaware that the path the enemy is escaping into is the same path they are taking back to the mansion.
Bucciarati cannot believe what is happening this early in the night.
The search for Ai was supposed to be simple. Just find her and go back home, simple as that. While they did take shelter from the rain and hear Ai's cause of death and how she intends to continue being an idol out of fear of being "part of history" stemming from her untimely death, the search has no problems despite the deviations above. And besides, they are concerned for Ai and seeing her cower in fear over the sound of thunder led them to hear part of her past.
But the enemy Stand appeared and this went from a simple search to an upcoming Stand battle.
Staring the humanoid Stand made out of clouds, whose red eyes observes its targets and possibly planning an attack, Bucciarati knows from this point he's going to kill the enemy Stand before it has a chance to roam around and cause havoc in Saga or kill Saki and Ai. As much he does not look forward to fighting the Stand, he must do it not only as one of Franchouchou's bodyguards, but also one of Saga's invisible and strange protectors dedicated to eliminating enemy Stands before they do any harm to the prefecture.
As Avdol stands next to him, Sticky Fingers appear by Bucciarati's side with its unseen eyes glaring the enemy. Eyeing the humanoid Stand, Saki looks amazed over the Stand adorned with zippers, appropriate for a man having zippers as his motif. This is the first time she is seeing his Stand action after hearing it from Bucciarati himself. Judging from her face, she appears to be satisfied.
Guess Sakura isn't making up about non-Stand Users like her and me suddenly able to see Stands due to an unknown phenomenon when they are forced in a fight... She thought.
"Wooooaaahhhh..." Saki says. "Your Stand looks amazing! Guess Shades calling you Zipper Man isn't unfounded at all. Makes me excited to see it pummel the baddie to pieces!"
"I appreciate the complement miss Saki but shouldn't you and Ai be running?" He reminded. "Me and Avdol are gonna take care the enemy while you two prioritize your safety and retreat to the mansion. I can't have any of the girls like you two be harmed under our watch."
As much Saki would like to stay and watch the fight, she decides retreating is the best choice. It's frustrating she cannot attack the Stand because she's not a Stand User but at this point, there's nothing she can do except let the two guardians engage the enemy. "*sighs* Fiiiiine. Just don't dare die from the enemy you two or else, I'm gonna kill you."
"But they would have died already." Ai pointed out what she said means.
With Avdol and Bucciarati blocking the enemy's view, Saki and Ai run to the exit. But when they are almost out of the playground...
ブォォォォォーッ
"Ahhh!"
"Uwaaahhh!"
Like the first time, a strong wind suddenly bursts from nowhere, sending Saki and Ai away from the exit. The wind dies after they landed roughly from the force. "Ow! The hell is this!?"
"It happened the second time..." Ai stated looking at where the wind came from. "It's like we are not allowed to leave here." She guesses.
Having watched them try to escape only to be forced back, Bucciarati finds it odd a gust of wind would blast out of nowhere the second time the two make their leave. Seeing they are in their human forms while he and Avdol remain as zombies and taking account of the cloudy Stand, he wonders if the enemy Stand is deliberately causing wind to blow forth and prevent them from moving out. Also, its appearance makes him believe the enemy Stand's ability is to manipulate weather. It's not hard to imagine it, really. The cloudy body and wispy small clouds surrounding it producing a micro-climate of rain, wind and lightning serves to give him a glimpse of its ability and what it is capable of. With all of this in mind, Buccciarati can't help but find it appropriate that a weather-based Stand appear during heavy rain bordering on becoming a storm brimming with bursts of wind and lightning.
Back to his main concern over Saki and Ai being in their vulnerable forms, Bucciarati sees that as long as the Stand is present, they wouldn't be able to exit the playground. Deciding to prioritize their safety over killing the Stand here and now, he commands Sticky Fingers to punch the ground with its fists, creating a zipper that opens instantly. "ARI!"
"Bucciarati?" Avdol turns to him when Sticky Fingers punches the ground, wondering what he is planning by putting a zipper on the ground.
ゴォォーッ
In that moment the two Stand Users have their attention directed somewhere, Weather Report makes its move by flying towards the two idols with its hands outstretched. As it moved fast, they didn't have time to react and could only watch the enemy about to grab any of them and end their lives.
"Nonononono!" Ai panics as she closes her eyes and shield her face with her arms, seeing she's about to be killed by a second enemy Stand she ever saw.
Well, almost killed.
"｢MAGICIAN'S RED｣!"
After hearing the name being called out, Ai opens her eyes and see the phoenix-human hybrid's claws grabbing Weather Report's wrist from behind as it tries to stop the enemy from attempting to kill them with any kind of weather it can control. Avdol is standing behind the enemy, visibly struggling from his Stand halting the enemy from advancing further.
Though Stands are typically intangible, I'm risking myself having Magician's Red appear during the rain. Avdol thought. I'm not sure if the enemy may try to do something on my Stand through its weather control. As it is raining, it's possible it may try to douse Magician's Red and damage me greatly. But for their safety, I'm willing to take that risk!"
With the enemy's attempt hindered, Bucciarati thanks Avdol for his quick thinking despite the risk he is taking before he commands Sticky Fingers to grab the enemy and throw it near him. Magician's Red disappear as the zipper Stand pummel Weather Report with a series of rapid barrages. "ARI ARI ARI ARI ARI ARI ARI ARI ARI ARI ARI ARI!"
Despite the enemy's soft, pliable body absorbing the punches, it got disorientated from Sticky Fingers attack and as such, when it threw its last punch to its torso, Weather Report is flung away out of the playground and smashes on a nearby streetlight. It didn't make a dent but the enemy is spaced out from the attack.
Taking advantage of the enemy being disoerinted, Bucciarati orders the three to enter the opening of a zipper so the enemy wouldn't see them make an exit and serves as an alternative to simply walking out of the playground. Without stopping to ask about how it works or if they are still going to defeat the enemy, they jump into the tear-shaped hole. Bucciarati enter the hole last before the zipper disappears as soon as it closed.
In the streets far from the playground, a zipper appears in the middle of the street. It zips open, letting the four out after Bucciarati lead the three through underground, zipping open through soil or concrete. After checking if no one's around, they get out of the hole before the zipper closes and disappears.
"Finally... We're out of the playground..." Saki expresses her relief over not staying there any longer. "It would've been nice if we got out sooner than later, but I'm glad we're out of that place."
"Me too. If only the wind wouldn't blow suddenly when we try to leave..." Ai agrees with a sigh, ever wary of the enemy Stand and the next thunder.
"I believe the enemy would not want you two to leave because it has its eyes on you two." Avdol explains the reason based on his observation of the Stand. "From what I can tell, it's possible it caused wind to push you two back thanks to its ability to manipulate weather phenomenon. Its appearance doesn't give much further imagination if you can guess from its surface and what its ability is."
"Manipulate weather?" Ai repeated.
"That's what Avdol and I guessed but it's possible controlling weather is its ability." Bucciarati supported the fortune teller's words.
"So, like..." Saki scratches her cheek with one finger as she wonders what kind of weather they are talking here. "If it's weather ya talk about, does that mean that for any weather phenomena there are, the Stand can freely cause it to overwhelm us?"
"That's the gist of it."
"..."
"...I think you two got an overpowered Stand to defeat. The ability to control the weather under its thumb means it can cause rain, snow, strong winds, sunny skies and even lightning."
"Lightning... It can do that...?" muttered Ai, making her realize just how powerful the enemy is and how the two could get killed before they know it if the enemy Stand manifest lightning from the clouds.
ドゴォーン!
"AAAHHHH!"
"Goddammit. Shouldn't have said that." Saki regrets saying lightning near Ai, who clutches her head down from fear when a thunder roared. Crouching down, she puts her shoulder to calm her down. She and Ai must retreat back to the mansion's ground soon before any of them gets killed by the enemy but for now, Ai must be calmed down. Saki would not have her friend go in another PTSD from the sound of thunder.
At this point, a wind is getting picked up, directing the rain sideward. Bucciarati, after Ai is calmed down and stands up, tells them, "Alright. Do not stall no more. Go back to the mansion and stay there. Oh, and if possible, ask Johnny, Gyro and Rai for assistance in dealing with the weather Stand. Avdol cannot use Magician's Red because of the rain, leaving me the only one capable of engaging it."
"I apologize. I want to help but I'm not risking myself the second time having Magician's Red out in the rain." He expresses regret over his inability to assist.
"Do not be sorry Avdol. I understand why you can't fight. If you are worried about your well-being, you may back down from this fight." Bruno reassures the Egyptian with a smile. Avdol looks at him, seeing he is considerate to his handicap and prioritizing his safety over his own. While he wants to argue, he decides to follow the best decision as he turns to Saki and Ai."
"You're too kind Bucciarati. But if I cannot assist you in combat, I must accompany Saki and Ai on the trek to the mansion. That way, I have lent my aid to you and the girls in any way possible."
"Well, don't just stand there, Fire Lord. Be our escort!" Saki told him as she stands by Ai's side with the intent of not leaving her as long as they are out in the pouring rain.
Carrying on his words, Avdol moves near the two to escort them back to the mansion...
ゴォォォォォォー!
...Just as Saki and Ai are pulled away from Avdol's proximity via a strong gust.
"WHOOAAA!"
"WAAAAAAHH!"
They fly with the wind for a while until two white hands take a hold on their necks.
"Gaack-!"
"Kyaa-!"
Bucciarati and Avdol stare wide-eyed at Weather Report holding Saki's and Ai's neck after finding them in the area. The wind slows down as they encircle the Stand, having caused them to intensify when it sees its targets.
"What!? The enemy found us quick? How?" Avdol stated in disbelief.
"No time for questions! Quickly, STICKY FINGERS!" Bucciarati sprints into the enemy with his Stand prepared to attack and rescue them. To accommodate the distance, Sticky Fingers detached its right arm and launched it in the direction of its head. Bucciarati intends to just smash its head to pieces so the enemy wouldn't have another chance of eliminating Saki and Ai.
However, when the arm is inches away from hitting its head, Weather Report dodge the fist by splitting its head in two. The arm moves past the enemy before hitting a wall and creating a zipper. The arm zips back to the Stand pass Weather Report's separated head, who then puts it back wholly once Sticky Fingers' attempt is done. Bucciarati sees all of this to his surprise, having not expected the enemy would respond by splitting its head, similar to what he did during the train trip towards Florence. What's more, seeing it do that makes him wonder if he and Avdol can kill the enemy made of shifting clouds that can change in many forms or take advantage of the matter it's made of.
Still! I have a feeling its head is its weakness. If I can strike it, the enemy will fall! A determined Bruno thought while gritting his teeth. He must not fail Kotaro if he wants Saki and Ai safe! He is near the enemy, meaning he only has to hit the Stand and grab the two out of its hands before it has a chance to kill them.
At least that's what supposed to happen.
What happen instead is Weather Report repeating the move earlier, this time directed against Bucciarati. When the former capo feel himself getting pushed, he realizes too late the strong wind force him back and away without ever making a move. "Aaaaahhhhh!"
"Bucciarati-san!" Ai shouted.
ガシャンッ
"Ugh!" Avdol blurted out when Zipper Man crashed into him. He was running behind Bucciarati when the capo was blown away. The two are carried by the strong wind for one second before they land on the pavement.
"Oi, get up you two! Give this Stand a beating of its lifetime!" Saki called to them. As they get up, the former biker hears a rumbling thunder above her. Straining her head up, she sees lightning crawling under the clouds. Curiously, lightning doesn't travel away from the circular position as it increases in intensity and noise. Tracing the position, she sees that the crawling lightning is directly above...
!
"CRAP! Bruno! Avdol! Look out above you!"
"Saki? What are you-"
"Ai! Close your eyes and ears! You will not like what may happen next!"
"Huh?"
Before any of them respond to her desperate remarks...
ドゴォォォォーン!
A bolt of lightning struck the two Stand Users, illuminating the surroundings with its crackling flash
ガリ ガリ ガリ ガリ ガリ ガリ
While the enemy simply watch the lightning electrocute and fry the two zombies with impunity, Saki could only watch as her two friends struck by lightning. As for Ai, she instinctively closed her eyes and ear when a flash and roar erupted from where Bruno and Avdol are lying.
L-Lightning strike...? There's no way those two could survive that! Ai thought in disbelief while trying not to remember her death. She already has enough with thunder and lightning for one night.
Damn it! I didn't get to them in time! If only I'm not so helpless being held by an enemy Stand...! Saki tries to wrestle of the enemy's grip, clawing her hands on the wispy hands holding her and Ai's neck. To her frustration, her hands pass through the clouds but the grip remain on her neck. Ugh, if only the enemy is not made of clouds also...!
Many seconds later, the lightning subsided and Weather Report floats forward with the two girls in tow to inspect its handiwork.
ゴゴゴゴゴゴゴゴゴゴゴゴゴゴゴゴ
There is smoke emanating from the spot the lightning landed and the burning smell doesn't affect it as it doesn't have a nose or it is covered by a mask. Wanting to see the result faster, Weather Report blows a gust of wind and wards off the black smoke before seeing its victims burnt into crisp...
...
...
...
"What...is this?"
!?
"...What?" Closing her eyes out of fear over seeing their injuries, Ai mutters that word when she takes a peek on them only to be surprised of what she is seeing.
"Huh!?" Saki is surprised when she saw what the lightning did to Avdol and Bucciarati.
Even Weather Report is shocked upon seeing what the lightning strike it called upon did to the Stand Users, evidenced by its red eyes widening in surprise. Are they... Are they seeing this?
"Our bodies... It's glowing and... I can feel a flow of energy coursing through me." It's what Avdol said. He and Bucciarati's body are glowing and covered in light blue aura.
Instead of two charred bodies, the two not only got unharmed but also, they feel a surge of energy coursing through their body. This... This is not what they thought would happen. Did the lightning affect their zombie bodies beneficially instead of electrocuting them until they are crisp? That's... That's impossible!
As for Weather Report, it wondered why his master didn't made the two Stand Users human too? Did he underestimate what will happen or he expected Weather to focus on terminating Saki and Ai first and Avdol and Bruno second?
...No matter.
Remembering the two girls in its grip, Weather Report proceeds to surround their mouths with thick clouds coming from its hand.
"Huh!? The hell!?" Saki exclaimed before clouds completely covered her mouth.
"W-What is the Stand doing?!" Ai inquired in fear. Her words got unheard as the clouds muffled her voice.
Few seconds later, their screams and obscenities can be heard muffled as they attempt to scratch the clouds off their heads. Why? Because they are getting ｢suffocated｣.
"B-Bucciarati-san, Avdol-san, h-help...!" Ai pleaded.
"Crap, crap, crap, crap!" Saki swore in her desperation to swat the cloud away off and let her breath, which is getting harder now.
Not forgetting the two Stand Users, who seem to be distracted by their sudden new forms, Weather Report moves in for an attack by controlling the rain to slice them to pieces. Even if they will defend themselves with their Stands, the rain would make short work of them, and because they are considered part of their users, they would be killed too.
At this point, there is no way the four would escape from its weather effects!
"MAGICIAN'S RED! PURPLE BIND!"
!?
A fiery rope suddenly wraps around the enemy's neck tightly courtesy of Avdol, causing it to drop Saki and Ai as he tries to pry the rope off by dousing it with rain only for another rope to wrap its wrist and ankles. Weather Report wouldn't put them off anyway because the ropes are not only made out of fire, but it has lightning flowing alongside the flames, twisting and spinning around in one cohesive purple rope that combines fire and lightning. The tied-up enemy is carried up in the air, away from the four.
With the enemy losing its grip on them, the clouds surrounding their mouths vaporize, letting them breathe again after almost getting suffocated from the lack of oxygen.
"...Oh my God. Thought I was a goner." Saki exclaims in relief, inhaling and exhaling many times as she can to replenish her lost oxygen.
"Same here. The enemy almost suffocated us." Ai sighs, breathing as much as she can.
After they are done taking in oxygen, the two look up and sees Bucciarati and Avdol looking confident with their bodies glowing. Somehow, it adds to the poses they are making as their respective Stands appear next to their users. And just like them, Sticky Fingers and Magician's Red are glowing in blue aura too.
Staring in awe of their forms, Saki asks, "Holy shit... How did you two got that glow up?"
"And how are you two unharmed from the lightning strike?" Ai inquired. "Did... Did your zombie bodies...｢absorbed｣ the lightning without harm done to you two?"
"Actually, I've been thinking about it." Avdol replied, seeing a logic behind Ai's statement. "When the lightning strike us, we...weren't unharmed at all. Instead, I feel...rejuvenated from lightning."
"That's the closest I can describe the feeling when lightning got us." Bucciarati likes his words. "While I want to know more about this surprising enhancement to our zombie bodies, Avdol and I need to... take care of our weather Stand." Turning to the restrained enemy Stand with contempt, he says, "You two should rest behind us. You were almost killed by the enemy after all."
"Yeah... I admit, it's scary." Saki confesses. Even a hardened biker like her isn't gonna stay fearless for long once she sees her death coming close to her.
"Well, fear not Saki. Watch as our Stands teach the enemy a lesson. I hope you find satisfaction in seeing its tables got turned in its attempt to eliminate us." Magician's Red augments its fiery legs with lightning, prepared to dish out kicks against Weather Report. She and Ai likes the sound of that as they move behind the two, hoping to see the enemy get killed by them. Even if there are some moral compunctions regarding the thought of killing, for once, they don't care that someone will die at their hands.
Right now, one enemy shall face the wrath of a fiery phoenix and zipper-themed humanoid enhanced by lightning.
"SKRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
Cold air permeated in the mansion's living room as the enemy Stand finished roaring.
Ruby-colored eyes glanced over the six zombies, four of which became human the moment this large, skeletal Stand with parts taking after pterosaur and falcon only with six limbs and multiple legs on its lower body break out from an ice. Its beak lets out puffs of cold breath in anticipation of killing its "prey" through freezing them solid or attacking them with shards of ice. Whatever method it would use, all six will be eliminated as per its master's command and stop Saga from getting recognized.
At the same time, the two Stand Users sitting on the couch stare at the enemy with surprised yet tensed eyes, knowing at this point they are going to dispose this enemy Stand that suddenly appeared in the mansion. Accordingly, Johnny and Gyro get off the couch and prepare their weapons, the latter unbuttoning the holsters storing the steel balls and charging them and the former pointing one finger directed at the enemy and supported by his second hand. "Great. Just what we need. A Stand looking to kill us." Johnny bitingly remarked.
"Well, if it's looking to bring all of us back to our graves, I'm not interested," Gyro, while taking the situation seriously, doesn't dare to not make a casual statement to light the intense mood occurring right now. "That bird-looking creature will regret trying to slaughter us."
Pulling Tae away from the Stand, who is struggling within his grip to attack the perceived intruder or eat the bird-like Stand and see what it tastes like, Rai quickly puts the zombie near the door together with Yugiri and Lily, who is pretty scared from the enemy's appearance and the possibility she would die so young again. Not that she doesn't mind being young but still.
"Raauuggh! Arrrhhh! Uaaaaggghhhh!" Grunts come out from Tae's mouth, who is held by Yugiri when Rai hands the eager zombie to her under the knowledge she will keep her away from the enemy. "Tae-han, please stop struggling! You must not engage the enemy Stand because you do not have one!" She tried telling her but doesn't seem to listen.
"Tae-chan, please!" Despite understandably freaked out by her behavior these past few months, Lily consider Tae as part of the group and as such, pleads with the older zombie with Yugiri. "You do not want to die a second time, right?"
Folding his arms, Rai decides to intervene. "Tae-san, be quiet."
"Err?" She lets out as she stops grunting.
"Good. Now, listen to what these two have to say and stay behind us," He stands next to Johnny, putting him between the plant appraiser and Gyro as he continues issuing command to Tae. "This enemy is not something you must take on. You three are under our protection like Tatsumi-san said. I may still get used being together with everyone but I'll see to it Franchouchou and Saga is protected from hostile Stands."
"Do... Do you think you three... can trounce that scary-looking Stand?" Lily asked, hiding behind Yugiri.
Before any of them respond or assure her, Horus lets out another scream after having enough of waiting. "SKRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" The three focus on the enemy as three icicles form in the air above it. With a short cry, the icicles fire at its targets. While the three remain calm including Tae and Yugiri (or at least maintain it to mask her fear of the enemy), the same couldn't be said for the child actress. "Y-Y-You three, look out!"
As if motivated by the kid's cry, black flames appear in Johnny's eyes, which is the sign of ｢Dark Determination｣ manifesting in his being. If that's how you attack us...
"｢TUSK｣!"
"CHUMIMI~IN!"
Just as the shards are inches away from hitting them, four bullets are shot that instantly shattered them when they made contact. Then, three more bullets are fired against the enemy, who didn't have time to avoid them, so it got hit in its thin torso and beak. "GUUUUAAAAAAAAA!" Horus lets out a pained cry as it thrashed around in pain.
"ORA!"
Its bout of pain is extended when a steel ball hurled by Gyro makes contact with its legs. The spinning ball and energy imbued in it causes untold amount of pain as Horus screams once more, opening its beak. Seizing the chance to deal major damage, the Zeppeli exclaimed, "Another shoooooot!" before throwing another ball to the enemy's beak.
However, the shot missed its mark because Horus disappear through the ice it's mounted on. The second steel ball only hit the wall before it and the first one returns to Gyro's hands, who didn't hide his surprise of the enemy fleeing. "Hey, the enemy! Where did it go!?"
"It fled. Didn't you see that, Gyro-han?" Yugiri points out the obvious to the cowboy appearing incensed he didn't deal more damage to the enemy.
"I know it did." Gyro sighed after putting the steel balls back. "But I should have killed it here and then. It's gonna be troublesome if the enemy is recuperating from the wounds it got."
"If that were to happen," replied Rai. "I would not have revealed my Stand to you all. Not that I don't mind but..."
"Chumimi~in."
Tusk lets out its distinctive cry that is perceived by Lily, Yugiri and Rai as cute, especially coming from a serious and stern user.
Turning to the Stand floating besides Johnny, everyone except Gyro and Tae stare with stunned eyes when they see the little corporeal Stand belonging to Johnny, who for all intents and purposes look like a cute axolotl with sad, beady eyes, a direct contrast to its user. Colored entirely in pink, Tusk has a head slightly bigger than its body bearing two long, mammalian ears, small black eyes under a troubled brow, a large star on its forehead from which in the center links a string to the tip of a cone-shaped nose and eight wavering vestiges arise, two on the top, four from its sides and two more at its chin. Two inarticulate arms and one leg resembling a tail complete the axolotl look it approximately resembles, while four tendrils with heart-shaped ends hang from the base of the trunk near its leg or tail. Stars are marked on its head, arms and posterior, similar to its user's clothes and hands.
The three looked at Tusk for a while, having not expected Johnny would have a Stand that looks adorable. The little Stand seem to notice their staring so it floats up to them, emitting the same cry to them. "Chumimi~in..."
"Awww, it looks so cute!" Forgetting the danger she was thrusted into, Lily tries to hug the little creature with one hand, only she can't because it's corporeal, much to her disappointment.
"My, my, I did not expect Johnny-han's Stand to be this adorable." Yugiri shows her palm for Tusk to sit on (or it seems to look). "Chumimi~in..."
She giggles from its action, stating, "And it has a pleasant voice." Johnny hides his blushing face over them liking Tusk's cute appearance, which is actually ACT1, clearly feeling embarrassed from their words to Gyro's amusement.
"If I would like to ask, Johnny-san," Rai diverts the topic to Johnny's ability as he wants to know more about Tusk. "I noticed you pointing your finger like a gunman before you fired what seems to be spinning nails at the ice shards. Could it be your ability is to ｢shoot nails like bullets｣?"
Being thankful he diverts their attention away from Tusk and to its ability, who vanish back to its user, Johnny nods, saying, "That's right. Tusk lets me shoot nails as bullets by spinning them so fast that it grants them cutting power that can slice rocks and limbs. I even managed to carve a tree into human within seconds just by using my spinning nails for close offense. And that's just ｢ACT1｣."
"ACT1?" Yugiri repeated, curious to know about Tusk.
"Arrr...?" Tae, for her part, tilted her head.
"He means Tusk has ｢other forms｣ that allows Johnny to use his nails in more interesting ways," Gyro explains what he means. "Or in other words, his Stand can be evolved to achieve new abilities that isn't only shooting nails."
"Stands can be enhanced to become more stronger?" Lily summed up in amazement.
"Yup! If I'm honest, some of Tusk's other abilities surpass even with all the knowledge of the Spin, which helped aided the advancement of two other ACTS. Or is it three?"
"It's three. Up to ｢ACT 4｣ is how I reached Tusk's potential. And getting myself to walk again." Johnny added.
"Ah, that means the fifth and final lesson is a success!"
"Yeah, and it ended in your death..."
"Whoops, sorry Johnny. Didn't want to dig up bad memories."
"It's alright. At least I got what I wanted in the end of the race."
"BARK! BARK!"
Everyone heard a bark behind the door. They have just realized their pet zombie dog, Romero, is in the mansion and it could have been harmed by the enemy Stand too. "Ah! Romero! We completely forgot about him!" Lily exclaimed.
"BARK! BARK!"
Curious of the zombie dog, Yugiri looks at the door's window to see Romero jumping up from the floor in an attempt to see them and vice versa. She then opens the door...
...of which Tae, possibly understanding Romero's barks, runs out of the room in all fours and follows Romero, who immediately run when he sees her come out down the stairs.
"T-Tae-han! Romero!" Yugiri called out in surprise.
"Oh great. Why did she have to run when the enemy is out there?" Johnny looks at the door with a bewildered look. Seeing where this is going, Gyro picks up Johnny bridal style, surprising the paraplegic. "W-Whoa hey, Gyro! Warn me first before you pick me up!"
"Sorry, but no time for small talk! Let's go after Tae! Come on everyone!"
Having no choice but to give chase, the group run down the stairs to catch up with Tae and Romero...
...Except Rai, who has his sight focused on a lone fireplace of the living room. Recalling Horus' ice powers, he believes he may need fire to deal heavy damage to the enemy. Perhaps I could use the fire I will make on me? Knowing the risk, Rai walks to the fireplace, apologizing to himself for not going with them as he has an idea in his mind. A strip of rope is seen dangling from his right hand as he goes to work creating fire.
Arriving in the hallway where a genkan is, the group stop running when they see Tae and Romero snarling and growling at Horus, who is blocking the door by itself. Like back in the room, everyone except Tae felt chills in their bones due to low temperature emanating from their opponent.
Enduring the cold possibly lower than she ever felt, Yugiri clutches Lily in her arms to prevent her from getting frostbite. Lily returns the gesture instantly, especially when she starts shivering from the freezing wind blowing to their direction. "S-S-S-So c-c-cold..." She muttered distressingly.
"D-Do not w-worry, Lily-h-han," Yugiri tries to comfort her by stroking her hair, staying behind Johnny and Gyro, who are enduring the cold with gritting teeth and half-closed eyes. "I-I'm here t-to give y-you warmth."
"RAAAAAAAAAA!" Tae and Romero screamed in anger before, with wide open mouth showing their sharp teeth, jump to the enemy Stand. Johnny and Gyro try to stop them with the latter saying, "No! Tae, Romero! Don't-!"
Too late. As soon as they are within Horus' reach, its claws grab the two with no effort. The two struggle to free themselves form its grip but Horus makes sure they will have not that chance by freezing them from the cold air and frigid claws. Their faces has a look of surprise as if reacting to them being frozen solid.
!
The four zombies stare at the zombies encased in ice thanks to Horus, brought forth by their one-tracked mind of simply charging and tackling the skeletal Stand. Then, Lily screams in panic. "TAE-CHAN! ROMERO!"
"Goddammit!" Johnny cursed to himself, either from being unable to stop them, not taking action or bracing the cold air until he is ready.
"SCRAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWW!" Horus raises the two frozen zombies up with a roar, intent on throwing them to the floor hard and fast to shatter them to pieces. The four sees what it's about to do so Johnny and Gyro attack the Stand, believing it left itself open for the nails and steel balls to inflict damage before it can do the same to Tae and Romero.
However, Horus knew they will attempt that when it raised its claws.
In a swift motion, Horus blocks their attack through Tae's frozen body, getting the brunt of Johnny's and Gyro's attack. Their eyes widen in surprise and shock when they see their attacks possibly harming Tae. If she is not frozen and turned human, she would scream in pain.
"Oh shit! Tae!" Gyro exclaimed with a panicked face.
"The enemy shielded itself by using Tae!" Yugiri exclaimed, having guessed the enemy raising the frozen zombies in the air as a feint to gauge the two Stand Users to attack to stop it from shattering them. "I did not expect the enemy would lure Johnny-han and Gyro-han to attack and have Tae receive the brunt of their attacks! The enemy Stand is smarter than it looks if it can make a ruse like that!"
Despite fearing he may have harmed Tae, Johnny got his bearings and point his other finger before stating to Yugiri, "Well thanks for giving out the obvious and some details to us but now's not the time for that! The Stand could be planning its next move as we speak!"
As if the universe is acting on Johnny's sarcastic statement, Horus, with a devilish smile on its beak, proceeds to generate strong cold winds against the four, creating snow and lowering the temperature even more. Naturally, the four are shivering from the cold even more, with Johnny and Gyro holding on to the walls to stop from getting flung by the strong wind and Yugiri hugging on Lily tightly as the temperature goes even lower.
"Nggggnnghhh...! T-This cold...! I-It's g-g-getting unbearable...!" Johnny stuttered, closing his eyes from the wind. This proves to be a mistake because his eyes are frozen shut from the moisture on his eyes. "H-Huh!? M-My eyes! It's... It's f-frozen shut!"
"C-Crap! Me too...!" Gyro left out the part about his hands and elbow being glued to the frozen wall, which puts him in a disadvantage because he can't use his steel balls to attack, not that it sounds any better if only his eyes are frozen shut.
"Oh dear... I-I seem to be s-stuck..." Yugiri revealed, trying to move away from the wall she is leaning with her back on. "I c-cannot move out of t-the w-wall...! And i-it feels p-p-painful...!"
"Yugirin, d-don't!" Lily pleaded, not wanting to see her possibly injured or worse. "Y-Your s-skin has glued to the wall! I-If you force yourself to pull out, p-part of your s-s-skin are teared off from you!"
"Ah! I-I see." Yugiri stops pulling herself when Lily realizes what will happen if she did it.
"Oh great. I c-can't pull out from t-the wall u-u-unless I want my s-skin to r-remain s-sticking on it," Gyro sees how great their disadvantage is as the freezing wind and snow continues blowing to their faces. "N-Now what?"
"GUUUUUUUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
Horus lets out a screech once more after successfully putting the four zombies in their places where they can do no harm to it. Shutting off the wind while maintaining the cold temperature estimated to be -100°C, Horus puts the two frozen preys on the floor before generating big icicles in its claws with its red eyes having the full intent of shattering them to pieces. With no one else to stop it, Horus has that same smile on its beak before bringing the icicles down.
Witnessing the attack, Lily could only yell out their names as she believes she's about to see them killed before her eyes. "TAE-CHAAAAN! ROMEROOOOO!" She was so worried that she didn't perceive someone making a mad dash to the enemy about to kill two zombies target.
ドズッ
"CAAAA-!?"
Horus lets out a noise equivalent to a human's yelp when a sharp object stabs its forehead head. It didn't have time to react when someone grabs the skeletal Stand from behind before two bundles of rope wrapped around its beak and neck before the one on its neck tightens, strangling it. If Horus' beak weren't forcefully closed, it would scream in pain, especially when it felt the ｢fire｣ binding its body, including its six claws and legs binded another two bundle of ropes. Unable to bear the singing pain, Horus thrashed around, letting out muffled screams and struggling within the ｢fire rope｣ tying its body up.
"Skkkkrrrrr...! Crrrrrrr...! Gggggguuuuuuaaaaaaa!"
In its struggle to get the flaming rope out, the temperature returns to normal as the enemy Stand's effort is busy getting someone off of it. In the process, every zombie stuck on the walls or frozen are freed from the cold's embrace, with Johnny and Gyro's eyes getting unfrozen, Yugiri and Lily not stuck on the wall anymore and Tae and Romero getting out from the ice block they found themselves in minutes ago. In contrast to them, the two weren't affected by the cold at all, only they are confused over what happened or where the enemy is.
Blinking his eyes twice, Gyro shakes off the cold before checking on the three. "Hey, you three alright?"
Checking if his eyes are not frozen shut, Johnny nodded, stating, "Y-Yeah. I'm okay."
"Um, what just happened? Why did the cold disappeared?" Yugiri, relieved she is not subjected to frigid cold anymore and sees Lily is alright, asks any of them. She expects them to give her an answer so she almost jumps out of her feet when she hears someone else who is not with them the whole time answer her.
"It's because I have the Stand restrained."
Everyone, including Tae and Romero, turn to Rai Mamezuku, the aloof and composed zombie who used to be a plant appraiser for a fruit company, tightening the ropes around Horus so that it doesn't has a chance to free itself from the rope he himself conjured. Before anyone say something regarding Rai's actions, the enemy Stand, having taken enough damage from the fire and ropes, decides to retreat, vanishing in the ice without a screech. Rai, in turn, fell to the floor, the flames engulfing his body extinguished from the lingering cold. With the enemy falling back to lick its wounds and likely forming another strategy to kill them, the four would have searched the enemy and finish it off before it can continue its rampage. Their attention, however, falls on Rai forming its arms and legs back from their ｢unraveled ropes｣ before he himself stands up.
Ignoring their curious gazes for a moment, Rai looks at the spot where the enemy vanished, intent on stopping the ice-based Stand from further onslaught. Turning to the door, he believes the enemy went outside in the rain, as if wanting to take advantage of the weather to increase its ice and freezing powers. He knew it's risky but if Saga were to be spared from any enemy Stands, he and his peers have to kill the Stand before it has the chance.
"Um, Mamezuku-san?"
Guessing they are about to ask them about what he did and what his Stand is, Rai turns to his fellow zombies before responding, "Let me guess. You're curious of what I did, right?" Lily nodded.
"How did you bypass the enemy's freezing winds? And also, where were you when we are almost frozen by the Stand? I have noticed you weren't with us the whole time when Tae and Romero got frozen thanks to their reckless charge." Johnny questioned.
"Hnnngh?" Tae turns to him when she heard her name mentioned by him.
Clenching his left hand after he assembled it back from being a single thread of rope, Rai answers, "I was about to follow you all when my eyes happen on a fireplace. At that point, I need to know how we can deal the ice Stand if your attacks are not enough to kill it."
"Uh huh. What have you got from the fireplace then?" Gyro urges him to tell more after picking up a steel ball on the floor left by the Stand.
"If we want to damage the enemy seriously, we need to attack it using it's one ｢elemental weakness｣."
"Elemental weakness?" Baffled by his words at first, Yugiri realizes where he is going at. "Ah! I believe fire is its weakness, right?" Rai nodded. "That's correct. To that end, I decided my next course of action: igniting the hearth using a lighter that was found on it before ｢igniting my whole body on fire｣."
Everyone heard that last part and their reaction over his willingness to lit himself on fire, even if he's a zombie, is filled with astonished shouts and expressions over his perceived extreme action.
"You...set yourself on fire?!" Lily shouted
"What!? Are you crazy? You could get yourself burned!" Johnny expressed his disbelief over his willingness to burn himself.
"Even being a zombie doesn't exempt you from getting burned to ash." Gyro pointed out, believing Rai is insane pulling a stunt like that.
"Did the fire scorch your body? From what I can see, you are charred a little, impressively enough." Yugiri remained composed while sharing everyone else's reaction as she voiced her concern over the state of his zombie body.
Aside from his jumpsuit and hat bearing scorched marks or singed fabric along with a burning smell, Rai is surprisingly alright, something he bring it up with a hint of awe on his face. "I admit. I expected myself to be burned more caused by my action. But so far, only my clothes are torched, not my skin or my hair. At least my hair braid is okay..." He said the last part quietly with a relieved sigh.
"I see. Glad to see you look okay." She smiled.
"And one more thing Mamezuku-san," Lily starts asking again. "I can tell you used your Stand to entangle the Stand by yourself. Seeing your arms and legs wrangled up in ropes when you're on the floor, do they have to do with your Stand's ability?"
Rai nodded again as, with hands on pocket and one heel raised, a Stand with a heart-shaped torso, whisk-like arms, six short wires connecting to a gray concave part, a mame kanji written on its shoulders within a circle and an elongated face bearing six small narrowed eyes and beanpod-shaped protrusions from the sides of its head appear looming behind Rai. "Yes. My Stand's ability allows me to, in a loose term, "peel" my body and unravel it to what I refer to as a ｢wire rope｣ or ｢thin strings｣ that I can manipulate in any way I can under a rope's limits, like retrieving something by elongating a string from a finger, using them to cut and slice if I send them fast enough, maybe flail them around, or even completely unravel myself, becoming a wrangle of ropes aside from my eyes and teeth. The range is only a few meters and they are relatively weak unless I put force into the strings."
"A Stand that gives you the ability to use yourself as a rope from any part of body... Your Stand sounds unconventional Rai." Gyro surmised. "And it has similarities to Kakyoin's Hierophant Green when it comes to manipulating strings or tentacles in his case."
"I noticed it the first time he showed his Stand to us and explained its abilities. If there is a chance, Kakyoin and I could work our abilities together to a great effect."
"That sounds interesting," Yugiri likes the idea of two rope-based Stand Users working together. "Mamezuku-san, what is your Stand called?" Facing her, Rai announces the name without thought of the consequence.
"｢Doggy Style｣."
...
...
...
"...Uh, come again?" asks Lily, wondering if she misheard.
"My Stand's name is ｢Doggy Style｣."
...
...
It didn't take long for them to realize that Rai is not kidding with that name judging by his humorless exterior.
"No way... Did you...s-seriously...named your...S-S-Stand...after a sex position!?" Gyro tries to contain his laughter over such an absurd name for a Stand.
"Well, I am aware my Stand's name may be mistaken as a sex position, but I assure you there is nothing relating to that," Rai honestly knew this was going to happen, so he replies immediately to Gyro's statement in an attempt to avert a misinformation stemming from his...interesting name.
パンッ
That didn't stop Yugiri from slapping Rai under the thought he is corrupting Lily's innocent mind by having his name came from a sex position. "Mamezuku-han! Do not say that in front of Lily-han! You may give her images harmful to a kid!"
"Uh, Yugiri, I-I assure you... I do not intend on tainting her mind," Feeling the force of Yugiri's slap for the first time and seeing how Sakura felt when she got slapped by Yugiri a month or two ago, Rai tries his best to salvage the situation, including the stoic expression he always showed to everyone and Kotaro. "It's my Stand's name, yes, but as I said, I didn't name that after a sex position."
"PLEASE DON'T SAY THAT! LILY MUST NOT THINK OF THAT!" Lily shouted with her ears covered, glaring daggers at Rai who is slapped again by Yugiri.
Shaking his head from what he is hearing, Johnny only has to wonder what gives Rai an idea to name his Stand Doggy Style. Even if he claimed he didn't name it after a sex position, it still sounds like it came from it so regardless of his intentions, he can tell anyone could mistake the name for anything but sex. Good thing my Stand isn't name anything weird... He thought to himself in relief.
"BARK! BARK!"
"ARR! ARR!"
Romero and Tae's barks got everyone's attention on them, both of which are trying to open the door with Tae banging it with her hands. Being near them, Rai holds the feral zombie's wrists and pulls her up from the floor while Lily carries Romero in her hands. Setting aside her issue about Rai's Stand name for a moment, Yugiri wonders what got them so worked up, asking, "What got the two shouting up again?"
Recalling how the two sprinted to the first floor after possibly sensing the enemy Stand near the genkan, Johnny offers this answer to everyone. "Maybe they sensed the enemy Stand is outside. I don't how the two can practically perceive the enemy but I have a feeling they likely know where the enemy is."
"It's raining out there though." Gyro reminded them about the weather. "If what the enemy can achieve about ice are any indication, who knows what it can do about the rain. Barring with the amount of moisture caused by the rain, the enemy might take advantage of its ice power to its full potential."
"My thoughts exactly," Rai concurs, rubbing his cheek that was slapped twice. Turning to Yugiri, Lily, Tae and Romero, he decides to take their safety in consideration before Johnny, Gyro and he go outside to finally finish off the skeletal Stand. "You three, stay inside. There's no guarantee three of us could protect you as we are focused on killing the enemy. If I put this in percentage, your safety if you go outside is lower than six percent."
"Six percent? Do you have to really go lower than, say, twenty percent?" Lily objects to the way he makes his percentage of their protection.
"If it's anything but an enemy Stand, I would have not gone lower," responds Rai. "I know it's harsh but that's what my calculation tells me."
"Then what's our percent of killing the enemy then?" Gyro asked.
"Thirty-six if we can deal with it quickly enough."
"Well let's not stall for more. Come on Gyro! You know what to do with me!"
"Gotcha Johnny!"
"Be careful you three!" Yugiri told them with a worried look, hoping they can dispose the Stand without any casualties.
"I can't promise you but we'll try."
As they are about to go outside, a gun shooting is heard outside followed by an explosion. Startled by a foreign sound, everyone run outside to see who is shooting a gun and causing an explosion. The girls and Romero ignored Rai's suggestion of staying behind as their curiosity got to them but the three Stand Users didn't have time to admonish them as they pass the gates of the mansion and see what it is.
Catch the Rainbow
Destructive Power: C
Speed: C
Range: B
Durability: B
Precision: D
Developmental Potential: D
Barely escaping another barrage of gunfire from perforating him, Blackmore, user of Catch the Rainbow displayed as a hockey mask with four stripes of color similar to rainbow, dances across suspended raindrops before landing away from Kakyoin's group through more suspended raindrops. He then avoids Hierophant Green's tentacles by jumping from raindrops to raindrops before extending his hand to his side to stop other raindrops to deflect the emeralds up in the air. The sound of propeller zooming from behind prompts Blackmore to drop down but not before sending raindrops all forming a sharp curved liquid from behind toward Aerosmith. The plane swerves the attack instead of charging through as its user fear its propeller and wings might get sliced clean.
Landing roughly on the ground, Blackmore pants out of exhaustion behind the mask as he eyes Kakyoin, Narancia and their Stands next to them. Under the streetlight, he can see their piercing glares and the two idols peeking from behind, fearful of what the enemy can do. To think he would go on full defensive caused by Narancia's retaliation that left him sliced and shot, something that would kill him for sure if weren't for the raindrops helping him fill and completely heal his wounds, helped by the act his body is made out of water as mandated by the one who brought him here. Even then, their surprising chemistry together as Long-Ranged Stand Users puts Blackmore to keep dodging their attacks as he tries to run away from them, ending up in front the mansion. When they realize where he is going, Narancia and Kakyoin become aggressive in their attacks and Blackmore protected himself through raindrops and eluding using his liquid body. Despite the difficulty, he managed to reach the mansion these zombies are living in along with their manager.
Seeing the masked man standing up straight while holding the umbrella with all his wounds patched up riles Narancia up over his inability to kill him sooner and failing to prevent the enemy from discovering the mansion. "Argh! This guy is so persistent! If only it wasn't raining heavily this night!" He growled, having guessed what the enemy's ability is from his observation. Kakyoin already figured out the ability first and imparted it to the three when they chase after Blackmore earlier but at that point, seeing the masked enemy dancingly jump from raindrops to raindrops even when it's dark leads him to that conclusion.
Eyeing Blackmore nervously as she tries to watch his every move, Sakura says, "Well, even if we want the rain to stop, we have to worry of his uncanny speed thanks to his liquid body. Who knows what may happen to us if we let our guards down..."
Remembering his almost fatal encounter with a water-based Stand when he and the group made it to Egypt which almost blinded him and caused two scars lining his eyes, Kakyoin agree with Sakura, stating, "You know, I'm not sure if having no rain is better than fighting an enemy with a body made of water. I can't plant a trap or attack him directly thanks to him cutting Hierophant Green's tentacles. Guess I know what Jotaro and the others are into when they fight a water-based Stand."
Being in a standstill, the group and Blackmore could only stare each other down, letting the rain and thunder break the silence that may occupy the space between them. Hierophant Green and Aerosmith float or fly beside their users, awaiting their command while Blackmore creates a barrier made of raindrops surrounding him, closing his umbrella in preparation of another attempt to slice their throats off. Few seconds later, the three makes their move to land a killing blow, but a distraction for Kakyoin and Narancia came in the form of comment by an Italian cowboy.
"Oh! You guys came back." Gyro greets them with a smile over seeing them and Junko return.
"Gyro-san?" Junko turns to the group who remained in the mansion, who are looking at her when they see she is found and returned.
As the zombies look at each other, Blackmore takes advantage of the distraction by throwing three rain blades. Kakyoin sees them coming quickly, prompting him to shout. "Everyone! Get down!"
Before they can react, Kakyoin and Hierophant Green pushes everyone to the ground, getting their clothes wet and makeup washed off while almost missing the blades. The transformed zombies are safe from almost getting sliced by the rain...
"Urraaaagghh!"
"Agaack!"
...except Sakura and Tae, who didn't see the blades coming or avoid them fast enough.
"Sakura!" Kakyoin and Junko cried out in shock.
"Tae-chan!" Lily holds out one hand, watching their heads and bodies fall on the ground.
"...What?" Wondering why Sakura and Tae's head are removed, Gyro, Johnny and Rai look to their sides to see Blackmore holding an umbrella he used as a swing, illuminated by a streetlight. It didn't take long for them to realize Kakyoin and Narancia are engaged in a Stand fight and Junko become human along with the two. Johnny and Gyro have decency to look shamed and shocked someone else is having a fight for their lives, especially when they recognize their enemy.
"Gyro. That mask and hooded poncho..." Johnny pointed to Blackmore with a look of enmity and surprise.
Clicking his tongue in discontent, Gyro remarks, "Of all the enemies, why does he have to be here?"
"You two know that man?" asks Rai.
"Yeah. One of the president's assassins back in our time, probably," Johnny nodded. "Haven't known his name but he's a pain in the ass thanks to his ability to use raindrops for attack. He ambushed us when me and Gyro were racing to Kansas, targeting us as well because of the corpse."
"Corpse?"
"It's a long story Rai," Gyro dismissed, briefly glancing to his side and see Yugiri and Kakyoin assembling Sakura's and Tae's head back, expressing relief those two weren't turned into humans and were unharmed. Everyone then looks at Blackmore holding an open umbrella with a right hand staring blankly at them behind the mask, before a gust of wind suddenly blows behind them, leading them to hold their ground (and Sakura and Junko holding their skirts down) as Weather Report fly pass them. The cloudy Stand, now missing a left eyesand its body looking like it's about to dissipate any second along with projecting little sparks caused by a vicious beating or its control over weather, floats next to Blackmore, who guesses the Stand messed up badly if it looks seriously injured.
Looking to the added enemy Stand, Sakura sees they have to face up with two enemy Stands determined to kill her and her fellow idols. "No way. We have two enemy Stands now!?" She exclaimed, resuming hiding behind Kakyoin.
As if fate's dark sense of humor is responding to her, tower of ice emerged on Blackmore's other side, growing bigger until it fully shatters, revealing Horus bearing rope burns and a wound on its forehead. Ruby eyes glower to the zombies who it was targeting, who similarly glare back at it in return. Tae and Romero have to be held back again by Rai and Yugiri to prevent them from getting frozen again. As for Kakyoin's group, the three stares at Sakura covering her mouth with her hands, looking embarrassed her words led a ｢third｣ Stand to appear. "I-I didn't intend to jinx us..." What her pitiful defense to everyone present.
Footsteps and puddles splashing are heard from behind as Bucciarati and Avdol, still glowing with electricity, moves to the front together with the five Stand-using protectors of Franchouchou after chasing against Weather Report when it slipped past them during their beatdown. The former gangster eyes the three enemy Stands standing next to each other, especially the masked man wearing a hooded poncho who he believes to be the one possibly leading the two Stands. The fact that it's the closest thing to being a human makes him believe he has to be the head of the attempted assassination against Franchouchou.
I see. Avdol and I are not the only ones fighting a Stand. Bucciarati thought while keeping his eyes peeled on them. Whoever their overseer is, he really wants any of us dead as we defend the girls and Saga from his horde of Stands. Regardless, as long as everyone is here, Franchouchou and Saga will not be eradicated before our eyes.
"Bucciarati, what's up with your and Avdol's body?" Narancia's question brings him out of his thoughts as he and everyone look in awe and curiosity of their glowing bodies, which illuminates the darkened surroundings and falling rain.
"They got that glow up thanks to that weather Stand." Saki chimes in to answer, walking next to Ai and seeing they must be the last two zombies to return. "It commanded a massive lightning to shock and torch Bruno and Avdol, thinking it will happen. Instead, their zombie bodies ｢absorbed｣ the lightning, causing them to glow like a motorbike's headlights and ｢enhancing｣ their Stands with added electricity and strength to give their attacks an extra oomph!" She emphasizes the last word with a punch to her palm while giving a toothed grin directed to Bucciarati and Avdol.
"Really? They were struck by lightning?" Kakyoin questioned, amazed they achieved the power up through a lightning strike. The same can be said from everyone else aside from Tae.
"Just ask them! Or better yet, get your zombie bodies a glow up! Unless you are human and become endangered of dying" Because Rai did not turn human, she believes he may absorb the electricity and achieve the same results. She has seen Sticky Fingers and Magician's Red utilized lightning in their attacks so she expects to see what Rai's as-of-yet unknown Stand to full effect.
Rai is interested of having his zombie body achieve the same result as Bucciarati and Avdol "A glow up huh. Interesting..."
Before they can banter more, Blackmore speaks up to break up his silence. "I'm afraid I can't let you do that, for all of you standing before us are sending you all to your graves." His words got their attention, reminding them of the fight that will continue where the three left off.
ドドドドドドドドドドドドドドドド
As rain continues pouring from the clouded night sky, the assembled zombies look at their three opponents standing two meters apart, slowly coming to realize that each three groups were engaged in a fight concurrently, with Kakyoin's group having trouble killing the elusive Blackmore, Bucciarati's group trying to fend off Weather Report and Gyro's group having enough cold for one night thanks to Horus. Without uttering any words as the standoff grows intense, they didn't dare avert their eyes under the possibility they might miss their next move. When it seems this standoff will break off, Blackmore decides to indulge in his curiosity over the fourteen zombies' efforts to continue living in spite of having no place in society as undead. "Tell me mister Bruno. Are you fine being a zombie, in a world where such creatures have no place in it and usually seen as monsters?"
"You know my name?" Bruno inquired, staring at the supposed leader.
"Oh of course I do," He nodded. "Master have known about you all ever since Kotaro starts bringing attention to Saga through the girl participating as idols. It isn't surprising he knows what you are doing to dispose Stands under his command to cleanse our presence off the face of Saga."
His statement only serves to make Bucciarati determined to not only kill them but also to gain information about their mysterious ｢master｣ and their motivations to ｢threaten Saga｣. Since he is polite for the time being, he has to be careful to not provoke him into attacking and choose his words carefully.
As for the rest, they are worried about the enemy's master apparently having known about them even before they awakened. To what extent the mysterious adversary knew about them is unknown but one thing is sure: they have been keeping an eye on them ever since they found out Kotaro revived them to save Saga.
"If I'm curious, mister...?"
"Blackmore."
"...Blackmore, if you don't mind stalling a little longer, answer me this," With a vigilant eye, Bucciarati starts asking to get him to spill some info about his "master". "What do they have to gain from killing us? Will he be satisfied Saga will not become notable to the rest of Japan if Tatsumi's project fail? And lastly, where is your master?"
Once he finished asking, he waits for his answer while preparing to bring out Sticky Fingers if any of them choose to just attack instead of answering. He is taking a risk gaining info from a polite enemy but he needs to at least try if he can get to the master and stop him from threatening Saga.
To his mild surprise, Blackmore decides to answer his questions. "Well, to be frank, master would like it if all of you, including Franchouchou, survive every Stand fight it sics upon you all. It has nothing to gain if all of you, even just one, died. In fact, all enemy Stands summoned by master made it explicit to target you thirteen, and only thirteen zombies, not everyone else including your manager, mister Tatsumi" His answer is not what they expected. Their master wants all of them to live and survive a Stand fight? And for all the warning about enemy Stands attacking Saga, their targets are only them?
That...doesn't make sense. If their master wants them alive, why is it fixated on killing them in the first place?
"Thirteen?" Kakyoin finds it odd Blackmore said that number when he said enemy Stands clearly picks them out for attempted killing. "You do know there are fourteen zombies in total, right?"
"Ah yes," Blackmore nodded. "Actually, after careful consideration, master choose to spare one zombie out of you after berating itself for almost killing her by Black Sabbath's hand without his consent."
"Huh? Who is that zombie then?" Ai questioned.
"That would be...you, miss ｢Sakura｣."
Shouts full of whats and huhs come out from the surprised group when they heard Sakura's name is uttered. The specified zombie is the most surprised predictably, who tries to string up words out of her stammering mouth. "W-W-What? Me? I'm...I am ｢spared｣ from further attacks...?"
"It is what I said. ｢You｣ are not to be harmed under master's orders." Blackmore heard her and clarified his words to the zombies. As much as they are surprised, one of them has a problem with the idea of Sakura being spared.
"Hey! Why does your "master" choose to spare Sakura?" Saki shouted to him as she moves to the front of the group. "Does he have something for or against her? And if she is being spared, why not us? Or better yet, have your master stop trying to kill us and leave us alone!"
"I'm sorry miss Saki, but master will not sway from his decision to besiege you all with Stands at his disposal," He denies her request. "And as to why Sakura is the only one...I do not have any idea."
"What...do you mean?" Gyro scrutinizes him.
"The reasons are elusive like my master is from the rest of Saga." He replies with this vague statement. "All I can tell is that it had his eyes on you for a long time because of the concept of zombies striving to live after dying enticing master. Speaking of which, I believe you haven't answer my question, mister Bruno. Your friends asked me many questions, including you, and yet you chose to ignore mine first?"
BGM: lotta feroce - (Golden Wind [Intermezzo] OST)
"...Well if you are insistent," Bucciarati starts, deciding to respond now. "Living as a zombie is...certainly interesting. Even three months later, I cannot get over the idea of Tatsumi reviving us from the dead to, in his own words, save Saga through idol singing and becoming protectors of them and Saga. If I choose to decline the role of bodyguard, I would have returned to Italy with Narancia to continue my previous life as a gangster. In fact, Ai and Junko planned to leave Saga behind after they have woken up despite not thinking about the public's reaction to walking corpses and honestly, I can't blame them for doing it." The two idols avert their eyes when they heard him bring up the incident.
"But, just because I was forced back to the living as an undead doesn't mean I won't waste my second chance to make a difference in a world full of lies and conflict," Clenching his fist, Bucciarati glares to the three enemy Stands with eyes full of ｢resolve｣ as he continues his speech about being a zombie pushed to the spotlight after his awakening. "We may have to seclude ourselves from the public as we follow signor Tatsumi's preposterous goal but if your master has every intention to kill us, especially Franchouchou, they should be ready for us because when we find them, our retaliation will be swift and without mercy. In spite of many questions I have regarding his intentions, I believe Tatsumi and his unknown acquaintance wants us to get used living as a zombie if they chose us to be revived. In given time, your master will know for sure that us being zombies will not hinder us to continue living, and whatever it thinks of us doesn't matter in our eyes. At the end of the day, we will take on anything we may face! Even against odds!"
His impassioned speech alone has done a great job rousing everyone up. Whether it's his charisma or the content of his speech, the zombies believe that they can take anything that is thrown against them as long as they accept their undead life and make the best of it. They may be from different eras or reality and have different professions and quirks but they are not detriments for their desire to ｢live｣. As long as they are together, they can do anything they have their heart set into, no matter how impossible it seems.
"Then, I guess we must cut our conversation short," Blackmore sounds regretful they will not talk more, but acknowledges what will happen next. After he spoke, Weather Report and Horus generates thick clouds from his dissipating body and icicles while Blackmore decides to go all out by controlling rainwater from puddles and drops as he sees to it all zombies, except for Sakura, are eradicated from the face of the earth. With a sudden change of attitude, Blackmore says, "This is where your second life ends. Make most of what you have before we kill you all."
"Then come at us. Let's see who will live and die!" Sticky Fingers appear besides Bucciarati as he, Avdol and Rai stand in the front while the other four users cover the girls. As Rai weren't turned humans, the two electrified users transfer energy to him. he then attain the same enhancement and aura that strengthens their Stands with Rai emitting sparks in his hands, who peels a short strip from both hands in anticipation of finishing the enemy off. Johnny, Gyro, Narancia abd Kajkoin feel a bit of envy seeing them have a boost in energy and the effect it has on their Stands, wishing they weren't made human.
ゴゴゴゴゴゴゴゴゴゴゴゴゴゴゴゴ
The combatants have their last stare down as they wait for any slightest movement from both parties, be it through eyes narrowing, finger twitching, shifting their legs or their Stands attacking. One thing they are aware of is whoever botches the inevitable clash will be swiftly defeated. Precious time are being wasted as the standoff continues however, so all of them needs to act now so this long fight between fourteen zombies and three dangerous enemy Stands come to an end.
Fifteen seconds have pass before Tae lets out a slight sneeze. "Achoo!"
Then the dam breaks.
"SKRAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWW!" Horus lets out a piercing cry before the icicles are discharged like missiles. Weather Report and Blackmore join in by rushing their crumbling but electrically-charged cloudy body and sending forth swift rainwater to the four charging Stand Users, choosing them first to be killed.
Unfortunately for the three, they have ｢acted first｣. In the space of ten to twenty-five seconds, the three finish them off because of their coordination, skills and the opponent chosen.
Rivaling Horus's roar with its own as fire and lightning emerge from its hands, Magician's Red proves to the ice Stand who is the stronger one when fire and ice are pitted against by shooting three purple Crossfires brimming with lightning around the flaming ankhs. The icicles prove no match to the fire-lightning combination when they make contact and instantly thawed from the blazing temperature. The Stand is not finished yet as it moves for the kill by sending out blazing ropes to tie Horus up. The Stand tries to escape by dropping the temperature and freeze the rope and its surroundings but Avdol made sure it does not have that chance by incinerating the skeletal Stand through Cross Fire Hurricane. He didn't have to coat the attack with lightning as he lets the smoldering ankhs finish the job.
"HELL...2 U!"
"GUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-!" Horus lets out its last, panicked scream before the ankhs collided and explode, incinerating it
ドカァァァンッ!
The fiery explosion is quickly washed off by the rain and when the smoke dissipates, there are no sign of Horus. With one enemy down, Avdol folds his arm with a smirk as Magician's Red returns to its user and his body stops glowing, indicating the energy ran out.
Standing his ground, Bucciarati watches Weather Report coming closer to him as he holds its hands out to grab Sticky Fingers and burn him through the clouds surrounding it, which will send the damage back to its user, thereby killing him without dealing with his zombie body. Despite the enemy generating wind from its feet to get to him first before he can act, Zipper Man braces for the opening the enemy will make. Believing he has signed his death warrant, Weather Report moves in for the kill with his hands being mere inches apart to grabbing Sticky Fingers and ending his life a second time...
ジィィィー
"ARI!"
!?
Weather Report's face is met with a punch from below, specifically from a zipper opening near Bucciarati's feet. Turns out Sticky Fingers created a zipper behind its user to send out another zipper going between Bucciarati's feet just as Weather Report are close enough he might get killed. The Stand didn't see the zipper coming so when it opened, a zipper-extended fist came out to uppercut its chin hard enough to send it up in the air. The two would fall through the opened zipper before Sticky Fingers emerges directly under the stunned enemy and assaults it with rapid barrages of punches, sending electricity coursing through its body without mercy. Not even applying lightning to its body is enough resistance even though it already got hurt from his attack earlier due to its mistake of striking him with lightning.
"ARI ARI ARI ARI ARI ARI ARI ARI ARI ARI ARI ARI ARI ARI ARI ARI ARI!"
Slowly emerging from the zipper, Bucciarati bids the cloudy Stand with an "Arrivederci." as Sticky Fingers deliver a left haymaker to its intact eyes, shattering it and sending the dissolving Stand to be with the wind.
"Doggy Style!"
Rai shouted as peeled strips of rope are send out toward Blackmore after evading sharpened and strengthened rainwater, which is arduous because Blackmore's watery build allows him to go all out with the rain, controlling them with such precision and tenacity he is having a hard time finding an opening through the rainwater without worrying about his body getting sliced, which Blackmore appears to target instead of them probably to easily kill them. At this point, the masked Stand User choose to go all out with Catch the Rainbow and show him the perceived difference between them when it comes to controlling a Stand.
However, Rai did something unexpected that Blackmore has not seen coming. Namely, taking advantage of his zombie body or coiled body through detaching his right arm and throwing it in the air. His eyes are on the arm, which proves to be a mistake when a cone-shaped rope extends from his finger through his mask and forehead, landing a hit and stopping his attack. Not done yet, Rai sprinted close before sending out a second rope from his other hand, this time stabbing and shocking Blackmore several times. To him, it feels like many hornets are stinging him rapidly.
With Blackmore dazed and attempting to heal the many holes he got, Kakyoin, having decided to help assist Rai, gets to work charging an Emerald Splash while Rai retrieves his arm and reattach it back. Then at the same time, tentacles restrained Blackmore, making sure to tighten it to the point of crushing his body, making him scream in pain.
Unable to escape the strings through liquifying his body, Blackmore has the rain cut through them cleanly, eventually freeing him from their attempts of trapping him and face the full barrage of Emerald Splash.
"Thought you are free from us, right?" Kakyoin taunted, not at all bothered Blackmore managed to free himself. "Sorry to say but Hierophant Green has its hold on you the whole time. My Stand is not to be underestimated with when it comes to its coiled body."
What he said is right. Blackmore feels a strange sensation in his feet and looks down to see a network of small tentacles coming from Hierophant Green's legs, all split off to travel through the ground and reach Blackmore. It then proceeds to restrain Blackmore again before he can react. The charge is complete, so Kakyoin delivers a coup de grace to the last enemy Stand by throwing him to Hierophant Green's direction before shouting. "Take this! Emerald...SPLASH!"
ドッバアーッ
Up to ten seconds Blackmore is finally hit by the barrage of emeralds, feeling each emeralds striking his body hard enough to shatter his bone if he has one. Then with one last emerald shattering his mask, Blackmore falls to the puddle of rain in defeat. Rai's blue aura disappears as his body lose the energy surge.
Everyone held their breath for a moment as they watch Blackmore lie in his own puddle of blood and rain, both of which spilled from his wounds. When he hasn't stand up at all, they see the arduous fight is over, much to Sakura's relief. "The fight is over. I'm...I'm glad no one is killed." She sighed, remembering Blackmore's statement about her being spared from his mysterious master attempt of threatening her friends. Even if she wants to believe she will not be killed in the future, she is not relieved at all, finding it unfair the other thirteen will be pursued by other enemy Stands while she sits in the sidelines and watch them struggle. She doesn't want to see her friends get killed the second time, especially Saki and Kakyoin.
"It's a hard fight for sure, but Fire Lord, Bucci and Peel Planter managed to win in the end," Saki puts her elbow around Sakura as she makes her focus on what they achieved out of the fight. "I get you're worried of the enemy Stands out there still roaming Saga in the shadows, but as long as they are here, we will make it through."
"...I guess you are right," She smiled to her friend. "I must be so worried of what their ｢master｣ has in store for us."
"It is natural for you to be worried, Sakura," stated Kakyoin as Avdol, Bucciarati and Rai walk closer. "Don't take it as something you must not think about. Everyone, including me, is having the same thoughts as you."
"Kakyoin's right," Avdol speaks up. "You don't have anything to worry as long we are together."
"Yeah! Don't go worrying your head off! Just talk to us if you need something!" Narancia nodded while pumping his fists enthusiastically.
"Lily agrees with Narancia-san!" Lily raises her hand with a wide smile.
"What they said, Sakura-han." Yugiri stands closer to offer her a nod.
"Arrrrr." Tae shows her support by trying to bite her head, which she tries to stop her.
"Don't forget me!" Saki reminded her she is the one who started this conversation.
"And me!" exclaimed Gyro, not wanting to be left out.
"And me." Rai showed his support with a nod.
Seeing everyone following Kakyoin's act of reassuring her, Sakura shines a smile to them for their support, seeing she shouldn't be so worried if they are here with her. Whether they are zombies, idols, Stand Users (well, soon to be), or bodyguards, she feels a bit relieved and having a weight lifted on her shoulder.
Meanwhile, Junko, remembering she has to patch up with Ai, turns to her and calls her name. "Ai-san."
"Hm? What is it?" The idol turns to her with an indifferent gaze, wondering what she wants to talk about after their altercation this afternoon.
With Bucciarati watching, Junko stares to her eyes as she thinks on what she will say, hoping she doesn't get bitter with her and she listens to what she's going to say. Breathing deeply first, Junko starts speaking. "About our argument earlier..."
Ai narrowed her eyes when she thinks she wants to continue their debate. "You still hung up on your ways?"
"Well, yes." Everyone else has their eyes on the two as Junko responds fast enough before Ai gets a wrong idea of her words. "But! Kakyoin-san, Narancia-san and Sakura-san talked to me about my predicament over the contemporary direction the idol industry is taking and may have found something that can benefit an idol from 80s like me."
Now getting curious, Ai asks, "What did they suggested?" Junko is happy to answer for her but before she can, she noticed something rising out from a puddle behind Ai.
ドドドドドドドドドドドドドドドド
It's hard to make the object out in the dark but from what she can see, it looks like...a hand? Yeah, the "object" is a transparent hand rising out from a puddle of rain, who appears to be wearing a sleeve. Said sleeve is similar to Blackmore's, who is currrently lying in his puddle of blood...
Junko's eyes widen when she realizes whose hand it belongs while Ai, wondering why she is staring at something from behind, asks, "Junko? Is...something the matte-"
"AI! LOOK OUT!"
She didn't finish her words when a panicked Junko pushes Ai out of the way just as the hand transform to an amorphous liquid before swiftly moving for the kill.
ボゴォ
Drops of blood came out from Junko's forehead as she is thrown away backwards from the force of the water hitting her head. She flies in an arc and her face carries the look of shock and pain to the group who hadn't anticipated the sneak attack.
As if everything is in slow motion, blood gushes out of Junko's forehead as Ai, Bucciarati and Rai stares at Junko with startled faces, Kakyoin, Sakura, Saki and Avdol holding their hands out with mouths agape, Lily covering her mouth with her eyes wide and Yugiri, Johnny, Gyro, Narancia and even Tae and Romero are stunned upon seeing her blood. All the while, they didn't move, only helplessly watching Junko falls back to the ground with her blood dropping to the puddles around her and painting them red.
Time resumes to normal after Junko landed ungraciously. Her body lays there, sprawled out for all the world to see as blood flows out from her wound to her bangs and forehead, dropping to the puddle below her head and painting them as well. Her eyes and mouth are closed shut and she remains still on the ground, showing no signs she is gonna wake up.
...
...
...
"Hehehehe. G-G-Got... o-one..." Blackmore lets out a smirk over seeing one zombie suffer his last-ditch fatal attack, showing his face to every zombie who heard his words out of his still-clinging body. Then he went limp, dissolving into liquid and staying dead for good.
Realizing Blackmore used his last breath to wound Junko, the group turns back to her, who still showed no signs she is waking up.
...
...
...
"Ju... J-Ju..." Kakyoin stutters, disbelief evident on his face as he lets the sight of Junko's limp body drill into his head.
Then, everyone completely snaps out of shock, with Sakura taking Kakyoin's place to cry out her name once they let it all sink in: ｢Junko is fatally wounded｣.
"JUNKO-CHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!"
To be continued
Stand Analysis:
Aerosmith (User: Narancia Ghirga)
Destructive Power: B
Speed: B
Range: B
Durability: C
Precision: E
Developmental Potential: C
Taking the appearance of a miniature fighter airplane always in flight, Aerosmith is an exceptionally powerful Stand that can fire bullets from two small machine guns or drop a single bomb attached under the plane. Despite their size and poor precision, they are very deadly in that bullets can shoot through human and a single bomb has the power of a grenade. If they are not enough, it has a propeller that can be used as a blade to ram into enemies and slice them up.
Aside from its weaponry, Aerosmith has a carbon dioxide radar Narancia can use to detect an enemy's position through their breathing when they exhale. When it's in use, it appears levitating to his right eye and the radar can be adjusted so the radar can detect other sources like small animals or even insects.
Tusk ACT1 (User: Johnny Joestar)
Destructive Power: E
Speed: E
Range: D
Durability: B
Precision: E
Developmental Potential: A
Tusk ACT1 is, as the name indicates, the first form of Johnny's evolving Stand tied to the Golden Rectangle and/or Spin. Manifesting as a supernatural ability despite having a corporeal form, ACT1 allows Johnny to spin his fingernails and seldomly, toenails, at high speed that has incredible cutting power capable of slicing through rock, cutting limbs off or even carving a tree within seconds but cannot slice through metal as they are fittingly weak for its first form.
Most of the time, Johnny shoots the spinning nails up to ten meters and after shooting them, the nails take a short time to grow back. If he desires, Johnny can put his spinning nails on the ground to rapidly carry Johnny away from his position due to their rotating movement. As a side note, the spinning nails emit a faint sound similar to a flying wasp.
Doggy Style (User: Rai Mamezuku)
Destructive Power: D
Speed: C
Range: C
Durability: B
Precision: C
Developmental Potential: B
Interesting choice of naming aside, Doggy Style appears as a humanoid Stand with only an abstract upper body and a head reminiscent of a dog with a primary ability that allows Rai to peel his own body like an apple, unraveling them as a rope or strings that he can control under a rope's limitations. He can use the rope to retrieve something from above or far from him, send the rope fast enough to give it cutting power or strangle someone with it.
Rai can also completely unravel his entire body until his eyes and teeth are all that's left from the bundle of ropes he become. Most impressively, he takes advantage of unraveling his body by turning one arm into a makeshift crossbow at one point. If peeling his body allows him to do that, it is possible Rai can do so much about Doggy Style as long as he knows what shape or form he can create under a rope's limit.
Weather Report
Destructive Power: A
Speed: B
Range: C
Durability: C
Precision: D
Developmental Potential: C
One of the three enemy Stands during the zombies' fight against them, Weather Report's name is appropriate for a Stand to control weather because it has its hold on the atmosphere itself. Everything that is covered under weather or climate, Weather Report freely utilizes them for offense and defense, making it versatile and capable of close-range combat. It can summon rain or lightning, make gusts of wind strong enough to push anyone or propel itself, form localized atmospheric layers to increase air resistance which can induce atmospheric friction to set anyone on fire and manipulate humidty for partial control over water and clouds. Despite its powerful ability, Weather Report is made weak despite its pliable body that absorbs body hits and isn't keen on going all out during a fight unless it was on the losing end or required by its master.
Horus
Destructive Power: B
Speed: B
Range: D
Durability: C
Precision: E
Developmental Potential: C
One of the three enemy Stands during the zombies' fight against them, Horus takes its name from the Egyptian god of sky, appearing as a skeletal creature with a head of a pterosaur or falcon with multiple limbs, talons, and pair of legs on its lower body. Bound to an ice in one spot, Horus is a powerful Stand having cryokinesis as its ability who can generate shards of ice to shoot against its target. The cold emitted from Horus is frigid enough to cause temperature to drop dramatically. It can also create snow or freeze opponents through strong winds coming from Horus where the temperature is made lower than the vicinity around Horus, up to 100 degrees Celcius, to the point a human may very well die from the cold or get shattered to pieces if they are frozen.
Horus is notable for only speaking in bird-like cries, but despite the limited vocabulary, its emotions is very much know from its screech or ruby-colored eyes.
Catch the Rainbow (User: Blackmore)
Destructive Power: C
Speed: C
Range: B
Durability: B
Precision: D
Developmental Potential: D
One of the three enemy Stands during the zombies' fight against them, Catch the Rainbow takes the form of a mask similar to hockey mask with prominent brow ridge, no nose, five vertically long triangular slits on the area where a mouth would be dotted by five holes above them and three colorful stripes worn by Blackmore. With the mask on, Blackmore can manipulate the rain by stopping the raindrops in their tracks and make them float, becoming solid enough to support Blackmore and deflect projectiles like Emerald Splash. Aside from being able to traverse high in the air from raindrops alone, Blackmore can give the raindrops cutting power, whether through multiple drops or blades formed by Blackmore.
Thanks to its master modifying his body, Blackmore possesses a liquid body that is complemented by the rain, becoming intangible like water to the point it can transport one arm to a puddle away from him, evade fluidly and move at high speeds across the air or distances as long as there is rain around him. While it is still vulnerable as a human, it can heal the wounds by plugging them with raindrops adn stop them bleeding, although he can only take so much damage before his injuries overwhelm him and die.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Did all of you see that ending coming?! Did you expect the shy, fluffy-haired Junko Konno make it through the fight relatively unscathed?! I bet you didn't. *smug smile*
And just so you know, thanks to Blackmore's last-ditch attack, Junko Konno iiiiissssss...
...still alive.
...
What? Thought I would kill off a character that is part of the main cast in the coming chapters like that? Hehehe, of course not. I mean, I do feel bad having to inflict it on poor Junko after she believes she can stay with Franchouchou through a compromise and thinking the fight is over but man, I can't help but feel evil from having to almost kill off Junko. If I want to stay true to the events of first season of ZLS while implementing JoJo elements in the mix, I have to take risk. I'm unsure if you can accept this plot development before the next chapter is added showing Junko is fine, but for now, I hope you can endure the thought of Junko injured fatally before the next chapter is done.
...Still, I do feel like a wicked villain if I choose to off Junko like that, huh? Muhahahahahahaha!
Ahem, now then. I am glad to say the fanfic's first original chapter made for it, one that deviated slightly from the end of ZLS sixth episode, is done! This is something I have been planning to feature in the fanfic for a long time as a consequence of Living Things being an AU from ZLS. One that shows three enemy Stands, Horus, Weather Report and Catch the Rainbow, giving the zombies a fight for their lives as their mysterious master seeks to stop them from saving Saga. However, there is a lot of questions regarding this master who not only knew about them even before the Zombie Land Saga Project officially started, but has decided to spare Sakura from further enemy Stand attacks and is curious of how they are handling themselves being a living dead, in a world where such creatures have no place in and will be persecuted just from being different from humans despite previously being one. It is because of this that, despite wanting to kill them to stop Saga from getting recognized, the master wants them to survive the future fights until they get to them, which likely played in having Avdol, Bucciarati and Rai staying as zombie when most of the group aside from Sakura are turned human. With the hints provided in the chapter and the notes, I leave to your imagination over the mysterious adversary's motive, who are they and why are they curious over them and their undead lives.
Starting from chapter eight, we officially are in the second half of Zombie Land Saga's first season, but for Living Things, we are just about a few chapters away from the second half of the fanfic, if the planned number of chapters is set in stone or unchanged. As to where the first half ends and the second half begins, it's around or before episode 10. Just thought of putting it in here so I can give you all an idea of the story's progress. I'm not gonna reveal the number of chapters though, so this paragraph is all you got from me about Living Things' progress.
By the way, remember in chapter five when I noted that the second cour of Stone Ocean and All-Star Battle R are releasing in Fall this year? Well surprise, surprise, they are releasing in the same day! September 1 or 2. Guess my word about it in the author's note has some merit after all. In any case, I'm very excited to watch and play them! I hope all of you are excited too!
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...Let's hope the third cour isn't spaced out across more months again... Please don't do this, Netflix...
One more thing before I end. I believe this is the perfect time for me to say that the fanfic has officialy reached over 5000 views! I would never imagine the story would be popular enough to reach that number. I am very proud and happy to see it before my eyes. With the fanfic still far from ending yet, I will do my best as I take Franchouchou and their Stand-using bodyguards along in their bid to continue living their second life, even as zombies!
Alright! I think I said enough in the notes. It's time for me to leave and get on with my life and continue writing Living Things. Feel free to review if you have criticism and wish for me to improve my writing. Please keep yourselves safe and have a good day!
I bid you adieu~.