Hey everyone! I hope you all had a good holiday! I did, and I can't be happier. I've managed to finish this right on time before the year ended. Helps that I planned this chapter months ago. I hope you all enjoy this. And have a Happy New Year!
Ch. 39
Hungry For Heaven
JANUARY 16TH, 1989
15:58
CAIRO, EGYPT
It all began a century ago, when Dio was adopted into the Joestar family. He and Jonathan were raised as brothers. Joaquín didn't know the details of their shared childhood, but from what he understood, they ended up locked in endless battle. It all came to a head when the two met their end out in the Atlantic, where the two would rest beneath the waves forever.
That was supposed to be the end of it, but the grudge he began had lasting effects, cursing the Joestars through time. George Joestar II was killed by one of his undead followers. Joseph suffered against the beings who first created vampires. And now, after having been revived from his watery grave over four years ago, Holly fell ill due to his Stand's influence. Her sons, father and the others spent fifty days hunting Dio down to end the curse he laid upon them all.
All the pain they endured, the trials they faces, everything… It all came to head the moment they stepped into the mansion. And now, Joaquín stood face-to-face with Dio within the stairwell. In this moment, he felt the injustice he had inflicted upon his entire family. He felt the grief he brought to the world just by being alive. All of it made him burn with anger for him. He was ready to pay him back for everything he did.
Dio, smiling from his perch, applauded them. "Congratulations to you both on a job well done," he said sincerely. "Not only have you traveled all across the Far East to my manor in… almost one piece, but you have also managed to avenge the lives of your fallen family members... I must offer you, also, my deepest condolences… While it is true that their killers were not under my servitude at the time of their deaths, as you are both aware, I still feel responsible for them…"
"Cut the bullshit," Joaquín spat, letting his hatred be known in his voice. "You don't feel bad at all for their deaths. Or maybe you do, only because you didn't have a chance to kill them yourselves."
"Believe me… Had I known of their existence, I would not have struck them down… Even I, Dio, know better than to provoke a sleeping lion… I have done it once before, and have since regretted my actions…"
He scoffed at the notion. "You actually felt regret..?
"As a mortal, yes..."
"Well, let me tell you something you'll soon come to regret... Walking this Earth again and endangering both humanity and my family..!" He then pointed directly at him, his eyes blazing straight into Dio. "You're no longer welcome in this world, Dio! As God as my witness, I'll cast you to the depths of Hell, never to be revived again!"
In response, the vampire let out a mirthless chuckle. "You speak as if I had elaborated a plan to revive myself from the Atlantic... Let me ask you something, Joaquín... How do you think I resurfaced into this new world, a century after my defeat..? Had I planned my defeat aboard that ship..? Perhaps tasked a long-forgotten, undead servant to spread the news in hopes to gain followers to revive me..? No. None of these... My defeat was completely unplanned…
"Your ancestor simply followed his instincts to make sure I would forever rest at the bottom of the ocean with him... How the rumor of my casket spread through the surface, I do not know... What I do know is that stories and legends can end up skewed with the passage of time... Perhaps the tale of a pitiful monster slumbering in the Atlantic was later twisted into the prospect of forgotten treasure waiting for someone to find it...
"The men who found it were no followers of mine... They knew not of Dio, nor of the events that transpired that led to his 'demise'... Instead, they dredged my coffin from the sea out of greed… They were hungry for what they believed rested inside, for they believed, as any other human, that it could bring them power… For it is power that humanity sees as this worlds one true justice..."
His words filled them with disgust. They knew not all of humanity was good, but to call their greed justice was simply wrong. Who was he to know justice, this man who had done nothing by spread misery and death for years?
"Justice," asked Jean Pierre fiercely. "Justice?! Don't say that word like you know what it means, bastard! You might think we're nothing but greedy rats, but you're wrong! Your way of thinking is judgmental and misinformed! You want to know what justice is? Humanity, guided under similar beliefs, uniting as one to move forward and achieve a common goal. It's my friends and I together, to hunt you down and end your reign of fear once and for all! That is justice!"
"You are correct," he calmly agreed. "But ask again, what goals are these..? What drives them..? What truly brings humanity together..? Greed. Greed and power. Take a look throughout history… Not only through recent history, but in the past... Before even I, Dio, was born... What drove Alexander the Great to conquer nations, to the unjust death of Jesus of Nazareth, to the development and advancement of the first societies?
"Greed; the desire for more than they currently had... And faith; the teachings of twisted bias passed down by men unto their successors... That is what leads the blindness that is humanity to advance in this modern world, and continue advancing… The reason they engage in mindless war and conquer one another's countries... The reason that, no matter you think you may be achieving in my defeat, they cannot be saved…"
"... You're right too," Joaquín agreed as well. He knew that his words, twisted as they were, held some truth in them. "Not all of humanity is good, I won't lie about that. But within that rough, there are diamonds that shine bright and pure. Those people don't need power, greed or faith to lead them. Rather, they believe it's through the united strength of their respect and compassion for everything, and for their own innate power and determination, that they can truly be led into the future.
"That's why I fight. Not just for my family, but also for them. So that even through their own corruption, they can have a ray of hope in the future. One that you will have no part of, Dio!"
The man's smile didn't falter throughout the argument on ideals. In fact, he looked almost interested in him, something he did not feel comfortable with in the slightest. "You certainly are an interesting individual… Noble, proud, and compassionate... Despite their faults, you still fight for the sake of humanity... I can't help but feel admiration for you… And if he were still alive, then certainly Jonathan too would have shared my sentiments…"
Hearing his ancestor's name coming from the man who stole his body made his blood boil hotter than anything else he had said so far. "… How dare you say his name… After all you've done to him… You've even disgraced him by stealing his body! Of all the people who don't have the right to utter his name, you are the most undeserving of them all!"
"I speak only the truth… He would have been proud to see you, his descendant, here to bring honor back to the Joestar name…"
Even Jean Pierre found his praise fake and meaningless. And he vocalized it with a scoff. "He couldn't ask for a better reward than that." He grabbed the nearby drapes and wiped his bloody mouth on it. For a moment, Dio's smile faltered. "So why don't you submit to your fate, Dio, at the hands of those who wish to end your life the most?!"
He chuckled and smiled wider. "Fine… I'll reward you, alright. But rather than my life, I want to offer you a second chance. An opportunity to rejoin my ranks, Polnareff… Joaquín… I extend this unto you as well…. All you both would have to do is descend from where you stand, and I will know that you pledge your allegiance to me. However, should you chose to refuse my offer, if you wish to foolishly throw your lives away, then… by all means… ascend to your doom."
Joaquín didn't speak, but his answer was clear in his eyes. You must be out of your mind, he thought silently. My whole lineage has suffered because of you. I'd rather take my chances with death. As would anyone else you offer this to. As for his friend, who had stood quiet for a moment, he finally spoke up. His words came out quiet and measured, as if he had prepared a powerful speech.
"You know, Dio," he began. "When we first met, I was vulnerable… I had lost my sister… I had lost my home to corruption... I was desperately searching for answers I knew were impossible to find… You knew this… And that was how you manipulated me… You offered me help, salvation from the pain dwelling within the depths of my heart… You instilled within me an unbreakable fear of your incredible evil… And I had foolishly succumbed to you…
It was in that moment when my life had hit its lowest point… I became a dog with his tail tucked between his legs... There was nothing worth living for in that period besides the inhuman desire to be used by you... It was a fate worse than death! I wanted to die… Or rather, I already did… And it wasn't until I met Monsieur Joestar and his group that I was reborn…" He took a moment to blow his nose on the curtain, further insulting Dio.
"It's thanks to them that I am no longer gripped by fear, but by the will to fight at their side… It has taken these past forty-five days, the endless fights, and the loss of my friends, to dispel all the fear in my heart…"
"Jean Pierre," Joaquín whispered, feeling pride in his friend. He really had come a long way. When he met him, he came a cross as a man who, while proud, often thought more between his legs. His mind was only ever set on revenge, and nothing else. But he had proven that he could grow beyond all that and become the very man who stood before him, one he was proud to fight alongside.
"And now that I no longer fear you… I swear to you, Dio, that we will end you once and for all!"
A deafening silence followed him, his chilling presence and murderous lust filling the stairwell. Despite the insane pressure he felt from the vampire, Joaquín wasn't scared at all. That same fear he instilled on everyone else that crossed him would never grip his heart. Dio had no power over him or Jean Pierre in this moment, and he knew it.
Yet it didn't bother him at all. Dio kept his smile and licked his lips, as if anticipating his next bloody meal. "If this is your final say on the matter," he whispered, carrying down to them like a freezing gust of wind, "then… face your doom.
They didn't need an invitation. The two took a step up onto the landing, but soon found themselves three steps down the stairs. Their foe looked amused"Oh? Can this be?" Dio teased and chuckled. "It seems that you both have descended... Perhaps this means you wish to join me..?"
Looking at the stairs, Joaquín found that he was right. What the..? That's… But we climbed! I know we did! That's impossible! They tried climbing again, but as soon as they stepped onto the landing, they were back down. "But… No," muttered the dumbfounded Frenchman. "It can't be! The stairs… we… I was certain-
"Why, Polnareff," Dio continued to taunt, "you're trembling… Is this not a sign of your fear..?"
"Of course not!" Jean Pierre may have sounded confident, but the nervous beads of sweat on his forehead betrayed him.
"Perhaps in your mind, you thought you should climb... But your heart, still filled with a small, doubtful shred of fear, made your body unconsciously move away from me…"
"Shut up," shouted Joaquín. "Neither of us are afraid of you, Dio!" They tried once more to climb the stair, and yet they still failed to reach him. It just didn't make sense. This wasn't any illusion anymore, now were they moving on their own. This has to be... This has to be Dio's Stand at work… The World… It's got to! But how the hell did he do it?!
As he thought this, he noticed Dio had procured a chair from out of nowhere, taking a seat and clutching his hands pensively. "Gentlemen… May I take a moment to ask you something..? Have you ever sat down and contemplated what humans live for..? Lady Enya and I discussed this when she was alive... When I asked her this, do you know what she had told me..? She said, 'Humanity lives in order to overcome their shortcomings, their anxiety and fear, and achieve peace of mind.'
"In other words, reassurance... It sounded so simple coming from her… And yet, I knew she was right… Everything humans do in their lives is simply to reach this very goal… Attaining fame and fortune, lording over others, bonds through holy matrimony and friendship, servitude, battling for love and peace… All of this… a means to one end… I believe this to be man's ultimate goal, achieving peace of mind…
"With that said, why do you both so foolishly throw your lives away..? Do you feel insecurity at the prospect of serving me..? By pledging fealty to me, you both can achieve this easier than anyone else… Surely even you, Joaquín, feel some worry in your spirit about challenging me, knowing fully well that you would only be resigning yourself to your death…"
He was wrong. He felt no such worry or fear. He felt no insecurity. Putting his life on the line was dangerous, but he didn't care. He would rather die than to ever serve this menace.
"You are both excellent Stand users," he continued. "I know this… It would be a shame to kill you both… Please consider this offer… Join me… Abandon your group… Stand at my side… and I shall grant you both a peace of mind that is… eternal… Under my servitude, your wildest fantasies can come true. I can grant you all the riches this world has to offer. Share with you the secrets of the cosmos… I can even revive those who you have lost… Your family… Your friends… All of them…
"Swear to me… Swear to your god… Swear to Dio…"
Joaquín had only one answer to his request: "Never."
"I beg your pardon," he asked, but he heard him alright.
"I SAID NEVER! I am a Trejo and a Joestar! I would never submit to a madman whose ideals and words are as twisted and empty as his soul! You're not a god, but a devil who's walked on this earth for far too long! Mankind ill needs a monster such as you!"
"You've talked for too long, Dio," growled Jean Pierre, whose nerves steeled again. "We settle this here and now! So bring out your Stand! You may have killed me once, but until we see your Stand, you will never have a second chance at killing me again!" Their Stands burst out from within them, ready to strike down the vampire.
With his offer denied, Dio made a grunt of dissatisfaction. "Such foolish drivel," he muttered. "I suppose it can't be helped… Very well… If you wish to believe that, then so be it." He slowly rose from his seat. Rising with him was a muscular spirit, purely gold with a triangular, Egyptian-like crown over its menacing eyes. Over his chest were pale, straps like a diver's vest. On the back his matching gauntlets were what looked like ancient clocks.
He had finally shown his Stand.
"So this is The World," exclaimed Jean Pierre.
"Bring it on, Dio," shouted Joaquín, as they finally threw their Stands at their foe.
The vampire laughed and cried out,"Muda, muda, muda, muda, muda, muda, muda, muda, MUDA!"
Before they reached him, the wall behind them crumbled. The two turned to see sunlight filtering in and four figures standing before it, pointing directly at them like heroes. Despite the tense situation, Joaquín couldn't have been happier to see these people again.
"Guys! Della! You're alive!"
Joseph tipped back his fedora and smirked. "Nothing to worry about, boys," he said, before his smile melted upon seeing who they were facing. Turning back, they saw Dio slip back into the shadows, unable to stand the sunlight.
"W-Was that him," asked Della, eyes widen in shock. "Was it…"
"Yes," muttered Joseph. "Just now… that was Dio..! Come on!"
But as they all tried giving chase up the stairs, Joaquín stopped them and exclaimed, "Guys, wait! Just… wait a second… Before we go after him, we have to tell you what just happened. Dio brought it out. The World."
"He what?!"
"It's… hard to explain what happened, though… It's beyond anything we could understand, but I'll try to explain it the best I could… Jean Pierre and I… we tried climbing up the stairs… But each time we hit the landing, we found ourselves back down a few steps…" They all looked rather confused. "I know it doesn't make sense. Hell, I'm still confused. All I know is that it's not hypnosis or some insane speed… What we experienced was something worse…"
But what was it? It was a question that had been on everyone's mind from the very moment they began their journey. And after experiencing it, they were no closer to a concrete answer. What exactly was The World capable of? What did he just put him and Jean Pierre through? Nothing that would make sense sounded right. No illusions or anything like that. But it was something powerful. Something that made Dio's minions tremble in fear at the mere mention of it…
Joutarou, quiet as ever, looked around the area finally asked he question his older brother had been dreading. "Hey, niisan… Where's Avdol and Iggy..?"
They turned to the two. He could tell in their eyes that they weren't prepared for the answer he had for them. They weren't prepared for the pain it would bring them. Especially Della, who loved Iggy just as much as he did. But they had to know.
"They couldn't make it," Joaquín said solemnly. "They gave their lives for us."
Everyone stood in silence. Della's eyes filled up with tears. Noriaki bowed his head in Joutarou couldn't even look at them right now. But the one who looked the most hurt was Joseph, who was closest to the fortuneteller and the only other person Iggy was close with. "I see," he whispered, clearly holding his own tears back.
"Joestar-san," Noriaki spoke up, sounding just as sad as the others. "The sun is setting. If we don't hurry…"
Della swallowed and wiped her eyes. "H-he's right. We can mourn later. Dio's weak to the sunlight. We have to get him now." She went back to the hole in the wall and took with her a burlap sack, tossing it into the shade. Something inside yelped. "Come on out, Nimrod. We're short on time and need answers." A tiny man nervously peeked out, pale as death with straggly black hair, a tiger-print cap and a blue jumpsuit. "Can you tell us what's on the next floor?"
He gulped and answered pitifully, "T-The tower… There's just one room at the top, a-and Lord Dio sleeps there during the day…"
"Any other staircase leading to it?"
"N-No, miss… T-this is the only one…"
"Alright. Now lead the way."
Whoever this Nimrod was clambered out, avoiding the light and leading them up the stairs. Before them was another stairwell with spiral steps ascending once more. As they climbed, Joaquín couldn't help but ask, "Nimrod? Kind of a silly insult, isn't it?"
"It's not an insult," Della said. "It's his name."
"Nimrod's his name?"
"It's from the Bible," added Joseph quietly.
Joaquín was flabbergasted. "Nimrod's a Biblical name?!"
They said nothing else as the impish man finally brought them to a lone chamber. It was silent and dark, its only window boarded up. Paintings and an ornamental fireplace lined the walls. In the center of the room, lit by two weak candles, was a massive coffin. There was only one man who could be in there. Not taking any chances, Joutaoru used Star Platinum to break the window open, sunlight blasting in. Nimrod shrieked and scrambled away from it.
"Be careful, everyone," Joseph warned. "He might not necessarily be in that coffin…
Jean Pierre looked around and muttered, "Maybe… Maybe he's lurking around somewhere…"
"We're not taking any chances at all," said Joaquín, approaching the coffin with the others. It looked as ancient as the vampire who slept within, emblazoned with a golden D. "This time… This time there's no escape. Whatever he has in store for us, we can all take him on."
"I can't believe we came this far," said Della quietly. She didn't look scared being this close to Dio. "We've all gone through so much to get here… And now… we can all end it…
"This is the first time we'll get to see him," said Joseph. "Me… I've known this man since I was born… Same with you boys." He looked up at his grandchildren, who seemed to understand him completely. "Not as an old friend… But as an opponent we would have to defeat from birth…. We, with the Joestar blood, knew we would meet this man one day."
The eldest of the two nodded. "Whenever I had dreamt of him, I always felt that this man and I had some connection. That somehow, he had something to do with my own destiny. In a way, I was right… I was destined to confront him. All of us were… And…" He looked around at them all and smiled. "I'm glad that… I can face this with everyone… My friends, my brother, my grandfather… and my love…"
"Della was right. These past fifty days, everything we've gone through, is coming to an end. And we can do it without regrets. Without fear. But with our own courage and desire for justice…" He smiled at them all, who smiled back. Even his brother cracked a grin. "Together."
"Together," repeated Joseph. "Very well. Joutarou, take the left. Polnareff, the right. Kakyouin and I will take the front. Joaquín, Della, from behind. We'll attack if he comes out." As everyone got into position, he turned to the imp and barked. Nimrod! You're going to open the lid."
The whimpering Nimrod slowly approached his master's coffin, grovelling for his life. "L-Lord Dio..! Forgive me… But I didn't betray you… I only brought them here because I believe in your power..! I'm as certain as piss being blown by a strong wind against someone's pants..! Please understand..! You have nothing worried about being cornered by these rats..! I brought them so that you may defeat them all..!"
"Just hurry up and open it," shouted an impatient Joseph."
"Lord Dio," Nimrod giggled. "Kill these rats..! Lord Dio..!" He giddily and slowly pulled the lid off. At any moment, if he was in there, their foe would end up springing out of there. They were all ready for it. But when the lid was off just enough for them to see inside, the vampire did not come out. In fact, he wasn't even there. Another vampire rested within, cut up into little pieces and just as shocked as the others.
"Huh..? Me..?"
It was Nimrod.
"I-I'm in here," he gargled, his head severed from his jaw. "But why me..? I was just opening the lid.
"What the hell," shouted Joseph, everyone backing away from the coffin now. "Why is he in there?!"
"We didn't look away from the coffin," said Della shakily. "So how..?"
"I-It's not super speed," muttered Jean Pierre, turning to Joaquín worriedly. "I's not hypnosis either! It's the same thing that happened to us!"
"The World," asked Noriaki.
"Bastard," growled Joutarou. "Things are getting interesting now…"
It had happened again. Dio had unleashed the power of his Stand, The World. And this time, the others had witnessed it. Not even they could explain what had happened. But one thing was for sure. "It didn't look like he got in himself. Nimrod was put in. He just disappeared and was in there when he opened it… And nobody saw it happen, right..?"
"N-No," answered Jean Pierre. "We all kept a close eye on him and then…
"It's like Polnareff said," Noriaki added. "This isn't some super speed trick…"
"Jojo," whispered Della. "What're we gonna do..?"
But he shook his head, uncertain now more than ever. "I.. I don't know," he answered. "This is insane… Just what is it..? It looked like a short-range Stand, but… It's power… I just don't know… We just saw him her come up here... How could he have…" He stopped and then looked all around, a horrible thought coming to mind. Wait a minute… Dio wasn't in there… And there's really nowhere in this room he could hide… So where is he..?
"It's wrong," said Joutarou, thinking the same as his brother.. "Something's wrong." Just as he said this, they all felt it. A wave of cold bloodlust growing within the room. And it was heading straight for them.
"RUN FOR IT," yelled Joseph, and they all ran straight to the window. But Jean Pierre stood still, ready to face the oncoming threat. "WHAT'RE YOU DOING, POLNAREFF?!" He then ensnared him in Hermit Purple's vines and dragged him, everyone bursting right out of the tower window. They all pulled out their Stands and grabbed onto the side of the mansion wall, climbing back up onto a landing right beneath where they escaped.
As everyone caught their breath, Joseph retracted his Stand and spoke. "I felt it… That tremendous bloodthirsty aura… It's like someone thrust a an icicle up my ass… Were we still there now… He would have killed us one by one…"
"This is the first time I've seen a Stand type like that," said Noriaki, adjusting his shades. "I didn't see it, but it felt far more terrible than any other Stand we've met before! It's like recognizing am oncoming bulldozer just by the sound of its engine alone!"
Why did they run? They all could have taken on Dio easily. But Joaquín knew why they had to. We know absolutely nothing about his Stand, he thought. It's dangerous going against a Stand we know nothing about. We're no closer to understanding it than we were before… They're right… Had we stood behind and tried to blindly fight him, we wouldn't be alive… There's got to be a way to find out…
And they needed to do it fast. Out in the distance, the last rays of sunlight were setting in the west. The orange sky was slowly fading to deep dark blue. "We're running out of time," he said, wishing more than anything for the opposite. "Once that sun completely sets, we'll be at that cabrón's mercy…"
"What're you trying to say," asked Jean Pierre harshly. "That we wait for tomorrow's sunrise..? I'm not going to retreat until then! I'm telling you right now, Joaquín, I'm not going to run away anymore!"
"I know you're not." He went to the fallen Frenchman and helped him stand. "And I'm not going to either. We can't wait for tomorrow. By then, we'll have already failed to save my mom. I won't stand for that. None of us will. But we need to change our plans. Taking him head on won't work. It'll be like mountain climbing without knowing the route, and getting lost trying to find the top. We'd be fucked in no time."
"Niisan," asked Joutarou calmly. "What do you suggest?"
"Well, Dio's going to take advantage of the night to pick us off before sunrise. During that time, we need to find a chance to expose his Stand's true ability… I know it's nuts, but I suggest we split into two groups again."
"Again," asked Della, more worried than the others. "But… if we do that-"
"If we do that," he interrupted angrily, "then we'll have a better chance to figure out his ability! One group can let Dio chase them while the other will be chases him. I know that sounds risky, but it's our best bet right now! Running away isn't an option anymore! Not after what happened! Mohamed and Iggy gave their lives so we can keep up the fight, not to run!"
She approached him and rested her hand on his arm. Immediately, his nerves calmed. It was always thanks to her that he could relax, even in the tensest moments. "Joaquín Trejo," she whispered. It felt odd for her calling him by his full name. "I understand. We all do. I don't want to run either. I want to see this through to the end, too. And I'll take whatever risk needs to be taken. Its what our friends would have wanted."
She then turned to Joseph, his face a mix of hesitation and worry. "Mr. Joestar, I'm with Joaquín on this. I can't think of a better plan. We can't hide and wait for the sun to finish him. We gotta do it ourselves, while trying to figure out how to beat his Stand."
The old man sighed and shook his head."Your method of thinking is a dangerous one," he pointed out solemnly. But then he looked back up at his grandson and smirked. "But if you didn't, then I couldn't exactly call you a Joestar, can I? I'm in.
"As am I," said Noriaki. Joutarou nodded in agreement.
"And I'll fight too," announced Jean Pierre. "I won't rest until I have his head!"
"Okay then," said Joaquín, hie eyes blazing once more. "Well… Here's how I see things. The first person Dio would be going after would be Abuelito. It's safe to say that h should be the one being chased. Noriaki, I want you with him as backup. Do what you can to find out his powers. The rest of you, go after Dio. Don't get too close unless you have to. If anything, Della, use All My Love and fire some bubbles at him"
"Wait, what about you," she asked.
"I'm staying behind and sneaking back in." They all gave looked as if he lost his mind. "I know, I know. But… I figured that if I looked in there, I might be able to find something on Dio. A hint, anything about The World's power. It's worth a shot. A man like him is bound to make a mistake somewhere… Look, don't worry about me, guys. I have hamon and Preciosa with me. Draw Dio out to the city. I'll join everyone later.
"Jojo… Please be careful."
He smiled and gently kissed her for a moment. "You too. Everyone. Now let's split. It's time."
~+JO*JO+~
"... They… escaped…
"Was that any surprise? Your Stand is an extremely powerful one. On top of that, you exude the foulest of evil wherever you go. They were smart not to stay and fight.
"Indeed… But that doesn't matter now… Night has fallen… The Joestars may have escaped my mansion, but they will never escape Dio… Tonight, I will finally end my feud with them once and for all… The way to heaven is clear… With them eliminated, I can finally set my plans in motion. I will achieve heaven… And they… will have no part in it…
"..."
"I will take my leave…
"... Lennox… Take my diary with you… Keep it safe… I shall return…
"... And if you don't?"
"... Has death ever stopped me..? Whether I, Dio, die or not, my plans will continue… The world will continue to feel my presence… Worry not for me, Lennox… In the end, I have always come out victorious… Always…
"... There's no changing your mind, is there..?"
"... Heh… Forgive me… But you of all people should know that I've come too far to go back on it all… I was, after all, born in darkness…It's who I've always been… Nothing can ever change that… Not even your holy heart…"
"... A pity… I had hoped you would have by now…"
"We've taken different paths in life… I'm sorry mine did not follow what you had hoped for me…"
"..."
"... Farewell, Lennox… Despite everything… It has been a pleasure to see you again after all this time…"
"... Agreed… Goodbye… Dio Brando…"
~+JO*JO+~
The sky was dark over Cairo. While the stars shined bright in the cloudless heavens, the orange glow of the city below was stronger. It was a beautiful historic city teeming with life and many a story. It might not have been much, but Joaquín came to appreciate how wonderful it looked. He was reminded of New York by how it looked, only far older. Were he not on a dangerous mission, he would gladly step out into the streets and visit every place he could.
But he was. And right now, he was in an alleyway, out off sight from everyone. Earlier, the he and the others had split up and ran to the city. His plan was to wait for Dio to leave the mansion so that he may go back in. While the others would try to force him to reveal his Stand's power, Joaquín was going to search for it on his own. He was certain that the madman had left some kind of hint as to what his power may be.
Just gotta wait for him to leave, he thought, glancing out the alley to the silhouette of the mansion in the distance. Sure enough, he had seen him. A humanoid figure, caped and glaring down into the city, stood upon the roof of the manor's tower. With the moon glowing behind him, he looked almost like a fearsome beast, ready to lay waste to the land below. The shadow of Dio stood there for a moment before jumping off and into the streets of Cairo.
Seeing his chance, he snuck his way back, making sure not to be caught. With its master gone, the building had a somber, somewhat regal feel to it. This mansion more than likely belonged to someone very rich back then. He wondered how it could have been forgotten before the vampire acquired it. But he didn't linger on it, walking straight back into the deep darkness he had escaped.
Being unable to see where he was going, he focused his breathing and surrounded his body in hamon. It's light was bright enough to illuminate the way. But now that he could see, he came upon a tiny snag in his plan. If he were to find where Dio could have left behind something about his Stand, where would he even look? The tower he had ran from? Unlikely There was nothing up there besides a suffering Nimrod. Another room? How many were there here? He didn't know where to look.
But as he mulled over where to begin his search, he saw someone slowly making their way down the stairs leading to the dreaded second floor. It was a woman, pale and wearing a flowing white gown. Her long. blonde hair was neatly brushed, framing her beautiful, youthful face. In her hands were a book and a candle, lighting her in the dark. When she looked up at him, he noticed just how much sadness her soft brown eyes held: way too much.
"I passed by your dog," she said softly, sounding tired and melancholy. She sounded British, just like Dio. But unlike him, she sounded formal and polite rather than condescending and uncaring. "I understand your loss perfectly, Joaquín Trejo. Don't worry. I did not touch him."
"Who.. are you," he asked, his hamon fading. "Are you a Stand user?
"Yes. And a vampire. However, you needn't worry. My Stand and I hold no strength for battle. Likewise, I hold no bloodlust. I am simply a woman Dio used to aid in his plans. But I fear that may all come to an end soon. Now, what brings you back here?"
"I…" He was stunned. A Stand user and an vampire who didn't want to fight or drain his blood? It was very strange. And yet, despite knowing he shouldn't, not even for someone like her, he couldn't help but drop his guard. Her presence, after everything that he had gone through, felt comforting and welcome. He could tell she had a kind heart, even for a vampire. Somehow… it was almost familiar…
Shaking his head, he cleared his thoughts and said, "I… I came back because, well… We're trying to fight Dio… And we know nothing about his powers. My friends and family are going after him to find out. And I'm here to do the same… Unless you know?"
"Funnily enough, close as I was to him, I do not. I wish you luck in your search. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must put this book away in the library."
"Wait, library?" He knew that most fancy homes such as this would have a study of sorts, but it never crossed his mind that this mansion would have one. "Um, may I join you? He's probably left something there, so I'm just gonna go look." He joined her as she walked through a pair of doors and into another art gallery. Unlike the one above, this one was filled with large, extravagant paintings the likes he had never seen before. "Were these all here before?"
"No," she answered dryly. "These were acquisitioned by Dio. All the riches he had amassed were taken from the tombs of Egypt and all across the world. When you're able to influence anyone so easily, you're able to obtain whatever your heart desires. Do you want one?"
He shook his head, disgusted by the man's thievery. "I want to earn my riches than to take them… Anyway, you only answered half my question earlier. Who are you?"
"Lennox. At least, that was the name Dio gave me. I do have a name, but I had hid it from the others for so long that I've grown attached to it. He restored me through vampiric means, despite being deceased for so long. To this day, I never understood why. At first, he said it was to serve as an insult to 'him'… But over time, I believed he wanted a familiar face to talk to, even if he knows I despise him greatly."
Joaquín thought for a moment as to what she said before his eyes lit up in realization. "Wait… You knew him personally?"
"In a way. We lived in the same era. We only ever met twice, once as children, and once as adults. I was convinced, even before he cast away his humanity, that this man was a monster. And all the tales I heard after the fact showed me just how dark his heart was. It's sad, really. I had hoped that after all this time, he would become a noble person… But there's nothing noble about him. All I see is an immutable demon. Dio Brando could never be saved."
"Dio… Brando?"
She nodded. "It was his name, before he returned. He told me after my resurrection that he cast aside his other identities. No longer was he Dio Brando or, more correctly, Dio Joestar. He was simply DIO, all capitals. That man had lost his mind and reason long ago, but he was content with being himself."
"He's a monster…"
"He is." They soon came to another set of doors and went through. Inside was a rather dusty-looking library filled with rows upon rows of books. Several chairs were laid about for whoever wanted to relax and read inside. "I hate him. I hate everything about him. But I couldn't… wouldn't… hurt him. Somehow, without any hypnosis, he had my respect… and I had his… So much so that he trusted me with my own Stand, Goddess Nut."
At the mention of her Stand, he became curious. Not cautious or ready to strike, but curious. He wanted to see what it was. Lennox did not need to be prompted, for she held out her hands and summoned it. It was a simple globe the size of a basket ball, bright blue and glowing softly. The continents were all white. There were several small brighter dots on them that pulsed, and they were all suspiciously in places Joaquín had been to. Two of them were together in Singapore, he noticed.
"With my Stand," she began, "I am able to send anyone to any location in the world. Of course, this is a one-way ordeal. I can send them, but I cannot retrieve them. Luckily, there is a small workaround to that. Whosoever is transported by me is tagged with a small star on their left perlicue." When she noticed his confused look, she clarified. "The space between your index finger and thumb."
"That's what it's called?"
"Yes. Now, this tag allows me to track the life force of those I sent away. It also serves as a bridge of communication between myself and them. It's how I have been able to report to DIO, or have one sent to him. For example…" She touched one of the glowing spots and speaks clearer. "Rubber Soul, it is Lennox. How are you faring?"
To is amazement he heard the slightly pained voice of one of his past foes. "F-Fine," he groaned. "I have to stay here for another month, but I'm fine…"
"Good. I wish you a safe and swift recovery, then." She then let go and gave Joaquín a warm smile. "Interesting, isn't it?"
"I'm actually impressed," he admitted. "And it explains how they all knew where we were."
"That's all due to DIO's link with the Joestars. And a second Stand."
"A second-" That didn't make sense at all. Mohamed had told them that everyone can have just one Stand. Perhaps a colony-based Stand, but always just one. "How would he-"
Lennox dispelled her Stand and took a seat, setting the candle down. The book stood in her hands. "It belongs to the man whose body he stole, I suppose. In theory, it is exactly like your grandfather's Hermit Purple. It is able to take spiritual photographs. That was how he could figure out where you would be and when."
"I see… Makes sense, I guess…"
"Indeed…" She then gasped softly. "Oh dear, I'm sorry. I distracted you. You said you were looking for the secret to his power?"
He did. And without another word, he began scouring the library, looking through whatever books he could find. He searched for all the ones without titles and flitted through their pages, but he found no answers. Preciosa joined him in the search and used his speed and incredible eyesight to sped up his search. All the worthless books were either put back or tossed carelessly to the floor.
"Nada, nada, nada," he muttered. "I can't find anything… But if he did keep his secret somewhere, it had to be hidden well… Like maybe some written note or something…"
"Well, the only thing I've ever seen DIO write in was this diary," said Lennox, patting the book she was holding.
"He- Wait, diary?!"
"Yes."
He ran up to her and grabbed it from her hands. "Why didn't you say so?! He's gotta have something in here!"
"You never asked." Blunt as that answer was, she was still polite. "He told me to keep it safe. However, if you wish to read it, and if you believe it will help you defeat DIO, you're more than welcome. I won't stop you."
It was an old, brown, leather-bound book, and it was rather light. Just looking at it filled him with a slight tinge of trepidation. This was the diary of the man known as DIO. What could a man who has spent over a century alive (most of it underwater) possibly write down? What secrets had he to tell? There were so many questions, but the only one that mattered was what his Stand was capable of. That is, if he was foolish enough to write about it.
He silently opened the book and began to read. There wasn't much to begin with. DIO led a poor life with a saint of a mother and a drunk lowlife of a father. He loved her but detested her charitable, giving nature. And he loathed but respected his father's greedy, taking nature. Despite living in the slums of England in the 19th century, his mother never stopped giving to others when they themselves were just as impoverished.
Naturally, she became a laughingstock to the public. Even his father thought little of his wife, abusing and belittling her for her goodwill. She had been overworked to death, though her son found little pity. He didn't think she would ever get to heaven.
Which brought up something interesting about this start to the diary. Heaven. It was mentioned multiple times, how DIO needed to be righteous to reach it, how his mother would always mentioned it. Joaquín wondered if he thought, in that twisted dark mind of his, that he would ever go there. But he never will. There was only one place he would end up. He'll make sure he goes there instead.
He turned to the next entry, which read as thus:
There might be a way to reach heaven.
I started thinking as such at some point.
At the very least, I didn't think about it as a young child… And the heaven I speak of may not be the same heaven my mother always referred to. But as I said, I started to think as such at some point.
When I say 'at some point', while I'm vague as to the time it occurred, it is not particularly due to my uncertainty of when it did. Nothing of the sort… Rather, I know quite clearly, with great confidence, when that moment was.
It was when that witch, Lady Enya, presented to me the items simply known as the "Bow and Arrow" that I had attained my Stand, "The World." ... To be precise, it was when my Stand ability "The World" had awoken.
"The ability to control time."
He read no further. The words he had seen left him in complete shock, enough for him to drop the diary. There it was at last. The answer to how non-Stand users attained one of their own. How DIO attained one. What The World's power was. It was all there in black and white. He used this bow and arrow to attain what might be the world's most powerful and dangerous Stand. And it's secret: it had control over time. He knew what that meant.
"The World can stop time," he whispered. "My god… It all makes sense… Our encounter with him… We were right… No super speed or hypnosis, no illusions… It was time… He's been using it to fuck with us… And… " As soon as this revelation hit, he was hit with another one. A darker one. "And the others are going after him… They don't know… They're gonna try to find out and end up… Oh god, what have I done?!"
"What exactly did you do," she asked, showing some worry.
"I split everyone up! One group's going after him an the other is luring him! They don't know! They're heading to their deaths! Don't you see?! If DIO stops time without any of us knowing, we'll have no means to counter his attack whether we know his ability or not! There's no way we can beat him!"
Lennox had remained calm during his panic. As he tried wrapping his mind abut what they could do, she rose from her seat and hugged him. It was the kind of hug a mother would give to soothe their child. And it had the slow effect of calming his nerves. The worry was still there, but his panic was gone.
"You need to have a clear head," she whispered. "If you head into battle as you are now, then you will surely fall… But you must have faith, Joaquín. You are a Joestar. No matter who or what they face, they always emerge victorious. Surely you will overcome DIO and his ability. You must believe in your abilities and your own courage."
"I.. I need to," he whispered.
"Of course. Every Joestar I've ever known believed in their courage. And do you know what drove their courage? Love. For their family, friends, beloved… That is what you fight for, right?"
"Yes…"
"So when you face DIO, or anyone, really, believe in them, as they do for you. With that courage, you can take the impossible… His ability to stop time may be this, but you can defeat him… I may not know you, but I believe in you…"
Her words, full of comfort and hope, gave him strength. She was right. It was like he had told DIO earlier, he was a Trejo and a Joestar. They were some of the most courageous men out there. And if anyone could take down that vampire, no matter what he threw at them, it was them. It was him. Fueled by her encouragement, he let go of her and smiled at her. "Thank you, Lennox."
"You're welcome," she aid with a nod. "Now go. Make haste and seek out your friends. Do nothing rash. And defeat DIO once and for all."
"I will." But as he tried to leave, she stopped him with a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"Not yet. I must ask a small favor from you."
"Huh? Uh, can it wait until after-"
"No," she interrupted. "As much as I believe in you all, there's no certainty that you will survive. Which is why I have to ask this now… That glow you had around your body. That was hamon, wasn't it?"
"Yes."
Lennox looked at him thoughtfully for a moment and then sighed. "As I've said, I was reborn thanks to him. But… I had already lived my life. I left knowing that my family's future would be a bright and fruitful one. My time had long since passed. And yet… I was brought back by the man I despised all my life in a world I barely recognize… I do not belong here… With DIO leaving, I have no other purpose being here…"
"So… you want me to use my hamon and send you on your way," he guessed, to which she nodded. For someone like her, a vampire who just wanted to return to the peace that was death, he didn't find it odd at all. It was the least he could do, given how kind and helpful she was. And so, after taking a breath to focus his energy, he tapped her collarbone with his glowing fingers and filled her with the light he could produce.
The effect was unlike what happened with Vanilla Ice. She did not break apart completely as he did, but her body slowly started to crack and glow from the hamon destroying her body. And despite what pain she should be feeling, she was smiling. Perhaps it was the first real smile she made since her revival.
"I remember this," she said gently, her eyes closed and looking to be at peace. "This sensation… I've felt it before… It doesn't hurt… It never did… This energy inside me… Your's is the same as his… Now I can finally return to him… "
Him, he asked in his mind before voiced his curiosity. "Who're you talking about?"
And then she looked back at him. A lone tear of happiness streaked down her cheek. "Your great-great-grandfather… My husband… Jonathan… Joestar…" She places a hand to his cheek, her loving eyes locking with his shocked-filled ones. "You… look just like.. him…"
With those last words, her body finally crumbled into dust. She was able to return to the afterlife happily. And Joaquín, after wiping hie teary eyes, ran out of the library and mansion, finally heading off for the great battle that awaited. While his worry for his friends was still there, his confidence in them and the courage that burned within made his mind clear. He had that woman to thank for that, as well as for helping him discover the secret to DIO's secret.
Good-bye… And thank you… Erina Joestar…
STAND TIME
STAND USER: LENNOX/ERINA JOESTAR (レノックス/エリナ・ジョースター)
STAND: GODDESS NUT (ニュート女神)
POWER: E, SPEED: E, RANGE: A, DURABILITY: A, PRECISION: A, POTENTIAL: C
ABILITIES: Nut's primary ability is transportation. It can teleport a person to any location in the world the user chooses on its globe-like body. However, they cannot be brought back or teleported anywhere else unless they are within it's its line of sight. Those who are transported by it are left with a small, out-of-sight tag that allows the user to monitor their vitals and communicate with them. These tags appear all over the map as dots, showing who is where at any given moment. These dots disappear only when those tagged return to the Stand or die.
Wow... Okay, quite a bit to unpack here. First, the interaction between Joaquin and Dio is an homage to Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. I enjoyed working on this. It felt so fitting. Now, as for the last part of the chapter... At first, I wasn't planning on Lennox being Erina at all. It was meant to be just some other Stand user who had the same kind of ability, but elderly and more focused on fate and destiny. But I felt that wouldn't have much of an impact, and would have dragged this chapter more. So I made her Erina. It feels like something Dio would do, just to spite Jonathan one last time. Anyway, with all that, I'm glad y'all enjoy this story. It's almost over, though. :)