...
Ah...
Not letting Hoederer follow... turned out... to be the right call...
...Tch.
Turns out... they decorate the streets of Chernobog...
...with birch trees...
...Haha.
It looks... just like that old place... with all the shadows weaving together like ripples.
Everything is now jumping in his head like a flash of lightning.
From a strange dream, then waking up from a somewhat like an ice coffin, his eyes were met with the scene of innocent people being massacred and the devastated city.
First, Reunion.
Why would they have to kill him?
Why would they have to raze this whole city with meteorites, risking their lives to kill him?
And Rhodes Island.
Why would they have to sacrifice their lives to save him, even though he didn't know who they were?
After all, how great was their trust in him to let him lead a team like this?
Those are the questions that Dr. Gyro has been haunted by throughout this smoky journey.
By the way, is 'Gyro' his real name?
He does not know.
But if people call him by that name, maybe he should go along with it. But that's not even what he should be paying attention to.
"Damn it! Even though we've already made it to the exit...!"
Dobermann cursed under her breath, while she repeatedly turned on the communication device in her hand.
"Do you think we let you walk away from Chernobog? Why don't you think someone should splash cold water on their faces to wake them up?"
The mysterious Sarkaz asked back sarcastically as if she were laughing at them in their situation.
At this moment, the communication device in Dobermann's hand started working.
"Our communications have been restored, and I've contacted O.P.D. They'll be joining us shortly! But, this blasted..."
She kept trying to switch to the frequency of the recon team, as the remaining Defenders stood there, holding on to their defensive line, shielding her from the hail of bullets to buy some time.
But, the sound that the communication device made was all about was beeps and hums, making things slowly get worse.
*BOOM*
A loud explosion resounded, blowing away the sturdy Defenders in just a moment.
"This damn thing...! I still can't get in touch with the recon team!"
Dobermann cursed under his breath before the Reunion soldiers swarmed in and surrounded them.
"Everyone, halt!"
Dr. Gyro reached out his hand to signal, causing the entire E0 team to stop. The rain of bullets also subsided because of that.
"Wow, let's see who it is. A zombie coming back from the dead, interesting."
She laughed, before moving in front of them. However, before she could approach them, Amiya immediately rushed in front of Gyro, maintaining her usual vigilance.
"... Who exactly are you?"
Amiya asked back in doubt, still being as careful as possible about her actions.
"I don't expect you to know who I am..."
She said, before pointing back at the person standing behind Amiya.
"But I know the person next to you."
As soon as she finished her sentence, all the other Reunion soldiers immediately readied their weapons, even without her orders.
"Is Reunion... going to continue fighting us?"
However, the female commander immediately reached out her hand to stop them.
"Hey, come on, don't be like that."
She stopped them before they could advance.
"I have no love for that she-dragon, Talulah. I'm not even cut out for this goaltending business. It's a pain to have to rush over here after a long day of work"
She grumbled and sighed, before once again placing her hands on her hips and moving in front of Amiya.
"So for the sake of future cooperation, why don't we exchange some pleasantries first?"
She put her hand forward, 'trying' to introduce herself most naturally.
"You can call me W, and I've waited a long time to see the guy next to you."
W said with an affectionate and friendly voice that pointed in Gyro's direction, before being brushed off by him.
"Stop the acting, you lunatic."
There was no trace of begging in his voice even if he wanted to, even though he knew he should get down on his knees and beg for his life.
"Still as hot-tempered as ever. I thought the walk in the cold hell has cooled your soul a bit?"
She casually shrugged her shoulders, then lowered her head and looked back at Amiya.
"I have a few little questions I'd like to ask Gyro. Would you be so kind as to give us some... alone time?"
However, before receiving an answer from Amiya, the Radiant Knight immediately stopped her.
"You're wasting your breath."
Nearl held out her shield, preventing W from taking a single step closer to Gyro.
"Don't be so hasty. I have some information you might be interested in."
Her words made everyone pause for a moment, before she continued.
"Actually, we just met some rather slick fellows... Quite skilled, and dressed just like you guys. Though their camouflage might have been enough to fool Ursus, I saw right through their little trick~"
"Oh, is that so?"
"That's right- Huh?"
*BOOM*
Suddenly, a beam of energy shot through her control hand, before anyone noticed anything.
"Assemble!"
Gyro immediately summoned the entire team, before this surprise attack. Even if it was aimed at W, he needed to be on guard against this suddenness.
"Eh...? This is just getting more and more interesting."
From a distance, a tall figure approached them, holding a strange gemstone pendant that was glowing with a strange light. However, his condition was not much different from theirs, with his breathing ragged, as his body and feet were covered with wounds, and even the bandaged wounds were open.
"Wow, isn't this the last survivor of them? I'm quite curious, what charm do you hold over them... so that they'd give their lives so enthusiastically and unremorsefully for you like this guy?"
W's words immediately made Amiya and the others realize something.
"What... are you saying?"
Even though Amiya had heard the other person's words, she still couldn't believe it and scratched her ears.
"Shut your damn mouth up."
That sentence escaped from the other boy's mouth, interrupting their thoughts.
"I serve no one... I came here... to collect your blood, you bitch!"
He roared in anger, pointing in W's direction with his bloody arm.
"Now, boy, you have nothing to do with them, so the fact that they're all dead, does it affect you?"
"...What did you... just say?"
This time, Amiya's four ears could hear W's words.
"You heard me. None of them... will be returning to you."
Amiya fell into a silence, but that didn't even enter W's line of sight.
"Hey, you... Are you really... worth sacrificing their lives over?"
*WHACK*
In a split second, a fist instantly hit her face, knocking her to the ground.
"Before that guy answers your question, answer mine first!"
He grabbed W by the collar and lifted her up, with his hateful gaze locked on her pupils.
"Do you think you are fucking worthy to take their lives?!"
His arms shaking from his wound tried to hold her. But it wasn't long before they collapsed, releasing W from his grasp.
He fell to his knees, trying to catch his breaths for life.
"...What a stupid question."
W said casually, before standing up and looking down at him.
"You... Oh my, what a nostalgic feeling!"
She burst out laughing, before kneeling to look at his scowling face.
"Joseph Joestar, right?"
She raised her hand to his chin, raised it to her eye level, and flashed a strange smile.
"You're interesting, maybe we'll see each other a few more times, so hold your breath."
She retracted her hand and stood up, before looking back in their direction.
"Amiya, right?"
W smirked, as if she had found something he needed.
"I've already gotten what I came for. You can all go now. Shoo.."
W waved her hand, as if sending them away, causing them to begin to feel confused, even among her allies.
"W...?"
A Reunion soldier asked her back in both doubt and confusion, but in response, only a troubled look came from W.
"...What, do you lot want to stay here and die? That's perfectly fine by me. You're all free to do as you please."
W shrugged her shoulders and replied casually and then looked back at them in exhaustion. The soldier paused for a moment, before turning back to his team.
"We're falling back. Let them go. Talulah's orders."
They started to leave. One by one, the white figures began to disappear behind the smoke curtain, leaving only W standing there.
"Forget it. Things get boring when they get dragged out too long. I hate being bored, that's all there is to it."
W replied back to them, then turned away, and waved back at them
"However, I do look forward to seeing you again, Amiya.
As well as... that person. Next time, I'll hear the truth from you, Gyro."
*COLLAPSED*
When W finished her sentence and left, the young man named Joseph Joestar collapsed on the ground from exhaustion and lost too much blood, even before the battle had continued, just like the rest of the E0 team.
"What... Why... is she doing this?"
Amiya said in a daze, unconsciously, when this retreat came strangely when in previous times, the Reunion soldiers even attacked them despite the Catastrophe. But now...
"Amiya...?"
Nearl patted the girl's shoulder and asked softly.
"...I'm fine."
Even though she said it was fine, her lips couldn't even show a smile. Wait, how could they even show a smile at this situation?
"If it's fine, then get ready to go."
Gyro sighed wearily, before looking back at the rubble in front of him. But really, he wanted to fall to his knees in front of the terrible devastation and casualties they had suffered.
But in the end, he still a strangely normal…
It's like, he's been through it dozens of times already.
"Urk... Aauugh..."
Gyro could hear crying from the nearby Medic girl. But he didn't care, because he didn't know why she cried.
"...Don't cry..."
Amiya's soft voice comforted Medic somewhat, helping her mood somewhat.
"At least... for now. Someone once said to me... Tears... should be saved until the war is over. Now... is not the time."
Every word, Gyro heard it clearly, as if this damn protective suit didn't exist. He looked up at the sunset sky, unconsciously thinking about something.
"Now is... not the time?"
*BEEP*
Joseph opened his eyes. Meeting his eyes, the ceiling was painted as white as light.
"What is this...?"
He slowly rose to his feet, letting out a small groan with pain running through his body.
"Wow... After all, what did I hit that hurt so bad?"
He looked back at his body, and he realized-
"OH MY GOD! WHAT IS THIS?!"
-that his body is wrapped in bandages, like a mummy.
That's right, almost his whole body is now a bandage to stop the bleeding.
"What is this? I remember-"
A series of memories began to flood into his head as suddenly as the waves of the sea, causing him to stop his actions in the middle.
"Oh..."
His hands clenched into fists, before he lowered his body onto the hospital bed.
"Next you will say: Wake up yet?"
"Wake up yet?"
*GASPED*
"Heh, I'm a smart guy."
He responds to the other in confidence, causing the other to grumble and look at him.
"Tch. It's already hard to wear all this protective gear. Now it's time to work with this brat."
He said, before spreading out a folding chair beside Joseph's hospital bed. Looking back, why did he have to wear that outfit when he met Joseph?
"Hey, what's wrong with you? Does my body contain some deadly poison?"
Joseph asked sarcastically, then raised his bandaged hands. The other person seemed rather annoyed, but, he still chose to sigh, before pulling out a file in front of him.
"Read this and choose your decision."
He said, then set the pad down by Joseph's bedside.
"What is this?"
Joseph looked over the file for a moment, letting his eyes scan the words written on the paper. Joseph looked over and over at this blank pad, scratching his head in confusion over these sheets of important information.
"Generally speaking, Joseph Joestar."
He sat down in the folding chair, looking back at Joseph with a tired look.
"People call me Gyro. If you want, you can call me by some other name."
He said, before handing Joseph a pen.
"But most of all, it looks like Rhodes Island has a job offer for you as well."
He replied back, before leaning back. His hand was placed behind his head like a pillow, waiting for a rejection-
"I agree."
His eyes suddenly widened in surprise, turning the young man over in surprise.
No hesitation and no time to think. Not in what Gyro had thought.
That's 3 no already.
"How come you...?"
Faced with this expression of Gyro, Joseph only smiled lightly, before picking up the ballpoint pen prepared by the 'Doctor'.
"...Hmm, how can I say it?"
He raised his head and began to sign the contract in his hand.
"...I made a promise to someone in your Rhodes Island."
Joseph replied, friendly, with a hint of sadness in it.
"What kind of guy is he? In our run out of that city, I felt like I saw something strangely familiar. But, with my own eyes.. ."
The scene of the sun slowly rising behind the mountains, signaling a new dawn was rising.
"...I've seen the trust he has placed in me, even though he and I don't even know each other."
Joseph slowly signed the contract, flashy, with his back now filled with the light of dawn.
"And I, will continue to use it to see the truth of this world!"
*pose*
Suddenly, Joseph posed with a confident and cool pose, handing the signed paper to Gyro.
"Just call me JoJo, or Joseph Joestar if you like!"
He said confidently-
"OW!"
-before collapsing back onto the hospital bed groaning in pain.
"Damn, I forgot. Not moving too much when injured is the most basic thing, right?"
Joseph said, scratching the back of his head a little and smiling slightly, dropping the pad on the hospital bed.
"Hmm? What is this?"
It seemed that Joseph's eyes were on something in the paper that had turned into a mess. And so is Gyro, but he's trying to stop-
"A withered leafless tree... an uncolored sky... and a pink-haired girl?"
Joseph looked at the picture painted on him with admiration, but then it turned to wonder.
"Hey, buddy, are you having a crush on someone?"
He put on a jokingly smirk, and put his arm around his shoulder, making Gyro just bury his face in his hand, not knowing what words to reply.
"Come on, just say it. I've got some girl experience, too."
Gyro sighed, before looking back in Joseph's direction.
"I don't have any memories to hold on to this thing?"
"Huh?"
Gyro could feel that the other's jaw was about to fall out. Well, it wasn't something unexpected.
"You heard that clear and sound. I can't remember anything, not even my name, making me feel that it was given by case. Also, my body is so weak that I have to wear these goddamn protective gear."
Gyro groaned as he raised his head to the white ceiling. Joseph also seemed to have realized something, and he also seemed to be feeling a little guilty.
"Is that so... Forgive me for being a bit rude just now."
Responding to Joseph now is dead silence, making him a bit startled.
"Hey, where are you looking at, man?"
Joseph patted Gyro's shoulder to get attention. Suddenly, just a few seconds later, the doctor's body fell off the folding chair, surprising Joseph.
"Are you kidding me? We just talked for a bit..."
Joseph got up from the hospital bed and walked over to where Gyro was lying face down on the ground. He shook the other, still thinking of all kinds of responses like 'Ha! You've been tricked!', but in response, there was an eerie silence from Gyro.
'Damn it, this guy isn't pretending at all.'
That was what Joseph was thinking right now, as he checked the other man again. Gyro's eyes are closed, and his breathing is still normal, proving that he is still alive.
The idea of using Hamon as an electrocardiogram popped into his head, but it probably won't. He was injured so badly that he had to put a bandage on his whole body, maybe he could still breathe. But he needed to channel a large amount of Hamon energy to wake him up, but that also meant his wound would continue to bleed.
"Oh wait, this is an infirmary, isn't it?"
*AHEM*
"DOCTOR! I NEED A DOCTOR! IS THERE ANY DOCTOR HERE?!"
Joseph's scream echoed throughout the infirmary, like an alarm to wake everyone in it.
"Oh my god, at least just pressing the red button at the head of the bed is fine, how can I still sleep if you scream like that...?
A languid, weary voice came from afar, followed by the tired groans of many, probably awakened by Joseph's shout.
Well, how should I describe her? She has a rather small build, just a little above Joseph's elbow, with white hair that is almost thigh-length, with a mini skirt and a white blouse, and in her hands. It's a staff with a... packet of blood? But why is it only half like this now?
"No need to worry, just sleep comfortably, my job is only related to these two."
The girl responded to those groans, causing the surrounding laments to gradually become smaller and disappear.
"Now then, let me see."
She crouched down and began to take off her helmet, revealing a somewhat pale face of Gyro.
"The pulse is fine. But, *sigh* Haven't they told you not to get out of bed yet?"
She said, then looked back in Joseph's direction.
"You're a newb, aren't you? I thought Dobermann was the one who came to do things like this? Speaking of which..."
From behind, another person approached Joseph. She wears a long-sleeved crop top, with a signed contract from the beginning, and a pair of Doberman's ears.
"Get up, rookie. It's time to enlist."
She said, before taking Joseph's hand and roughly pulling him to his feet.
"Ow! Ow! Fuck! Are you trying to beat me to a pulp?!"
Joseph groaned in annoyance at this sudden action.
"Don't hesitate any longer. I won't wait another hour."
She said, before leaving with Joseph's signed contract.
"God, how can you be so strict? Is it true that she hits people like this every day?"
"No. Time- No, your fists will help you get to know her. And now help me carry this man, he's not exactly a lightweight."
She put Gyro's shoulder back on Joseph's, which was a bit confusing, but he accepted it anyway.
"Wait, you haven't even said your name since you came here, so...?"
"Warfarin. Or, you can call me Mr. Blood, although no one calls me by that pseudonym anymore."
She chuckled at the last part, but the other person seemed to just roll his eyes.
"Okay, then I'll go."
Joseph took Gyro's shoulder and left-
"By the way, your blood tastes sooo sweet as well."
-the infirmary.
'Just my imagination. That's right, just my imagination. Just because she has a pale skin and a half-empty packet of blood doesn't mean she's a vampire.'
Joseph left his infirmary, not daring to look back, nor make any excuses to stay in bed. The 'gulp' still rang softly in his ears, but hey, let's not pay attention to these details.
"Now then... where is this zombie guy's room?"
"Go straight and then turn left, 369 is his room."
"Ah, thanks. Wait a minute."
Beside Joseph was a little girl with strange parts, wearing a jacket and a short skirt. But the most notable are the rabbit ears that stand straight up on her head.
No matter how you look at it, it looks like...
A pair of donkey ears.
"Pfft- Ah, I mean, thanks. But what's your name?"
asked Joseph again, almost laughing at these strange ears. But it seemed that Amiya hadn't noticed that yet, so she still showed a friendly smile.
"My name is Amiya, nice to meet you. Ah, is that..."
She paused for a moment, before sighing.
"Um, Mr. Joestar, do you need my help?"
She asked hesitantly, but Joseph didn't seem to care much.
"Here, it's yours. Bring this body back to his room for me."
*WHOOSH*
In a moment, the Joestar boy had immediately run away from the scene, leaving Amiya a little dazed and confused.
.
.
"Shit, now I've cut them off, what should I do now?"
Joseph asked, before leaning back against a nearby wall.
"What the hell is wrong with them? Am I the one to act as a servant?"
"Ahem."
A fake cough blew directly into Joseph's ear, startling him.
"What the-?"
"Here's your uniform. It's the largest size."
Dobermann said and handed him a set of clothes.
"That's the largest size, are you kidding me? At this size, give it to some brat..."
Somehow, she disappeared from Joseph's sight before he could say anything.
"Amiya, were you the one who gave him the papers?"
Dr. Kal'tsit asked, looking down at his desk, where papers were still strewn about, showing no sign of being tidied up.
"...Yes, Ms. Kal'tsit."
Amiya lowered her face, not daring to raise her face to face her. Kal'tsit was still looking at the sprawling research papers, but she still didn't show any signs of anger.
"I don't blame you if you want him to recover his memories as quickly as possible."
She sighed.
"But, everything takes its time. If you hurry, you will stumble on the path you choose."
"...Yes. Allow me to leave."
Amiya said politely, before turning and leaving, leaving Kal'tsit sitting alone at his desk.
"Who am I kidding? I'm the one in a hurry here."
She reconstructed the collapsed photo frame, revealing a more or less faded commemorative photo.
That should be enough for the enlist.