Steel (Poke)Ball Run

Chapter 32 – VS HUNGER

It was peculiar to think their end goal - Humilau City - was a short trip west and they were headed south. Maria's voice boomed through the air as the sun grew warmer, overlooking the gorgeous vista countless mounts and Trainers were dashing through. It was of pleasant hills and gnolls; luscious green grass and a lakeside town that was had a cresting of a thick forest was in the nearby distance.

'In exciting news, I am now able to reveal surprising news! I have received confirmation that Diego "Dio" Brando has been the one to claim the second Badge! We are now downhill on the south side of Opelucid City, and of the Third Stage! Roshan Town is the marker for the end of the Third Stage as it's the final threshold before the daunting Entralink Forest which will serve as home to the Fourth Stage! The goal is but five kilometres away!'

There was a scattering of Trainers through the open fields. Most were concentrated at the back but there was rare few at the front, leading the herd in desperation to cross the line first.

'Here, we can bear witness to a strange phenomenon as he draw in closer to the goal. It's as though our competitors are human magnets!' Maria described. 'Although they ran five hundred and ten kilometres with an estimated race time of seven days minimum, as the sun rises, all of the talented racers gather together! For some reason, their scattered distances shrink! This will be another close one! It will inevitably be another heated battle!'

There was a lull in commentary wherein only thundering hooves could be heard. There was a breeze present though, clouds in the sky. All of it seemed peripheral to the race though. Beneath the near silence, the Trainers were able to travel two kilometres before Maria's voice started up again; her Noibat swooping around, transmitting it.

'Opelucid City and surrounding mountains are truly in behind us all now! The distance has shrunk to a remaining three kilometres until the goal now. Let's take a look at our Trainers!

'In the front of the crowd, we have Pocoloco from Nuvema Town! Followed by the barefoot runner, Sandman! From Johto, we have Dot Han and Gaucho from Alola! Baba Yaga from the far west of Kalos! And with some space behind them all, is Gyro Zeppeli! Then, Johnny Joestar who is currently ranking in third and the sole other holder of a coveted Badge! And Kalos' Diego Brando!

'Hm? What's this? Diego Brando is acting bizarre out here on the field! Dio is ranked first at the end of the Second Stage at one hundred and fifty points, and like I mentioned earlier, he also has a nifty-keen Fossil Badge to his name! After Dio Brando is Sandman with one-hundred-and-forty points, ten points behind Dio! At such a score, that would make Sandman Dio's biggest rival! If he can only beat Sandman, then Diego Brando can secure a very safe lead!'

Diego had a confident look upon his face which had become slightly distorted. He bore a strange marking beneath his left eye; the iris of which had no longer matched the blue of his right eye. Rather than a pair of blue eyes, he now sported a beige-brown iris ringed with lettering - an appearance not unlike Gyro's newly acquired heterochromia, actually.

'It seems that Dio is unconcerned with Sandman who is far ahead!' Marian commentated. 'It seems he's thinking that so long as he can beat Gyro Zeppeli then he has all but won this stage!'

Having heard his name, Gyro's ears pricked up. He cautiously turned his head and shot a glance at Diego. But then he turned his attention back to Johnny so he could make his own comments about the unfolding events in this segment of the race and how they had been affected by their battle with Diego the other night.

There had been an unexpected development from the absorption of the Dragon Stone in Gyro's body and it could be assumed the same development had taken place for Diego. This made him a threat for all the usual reasons but some new ones as well.

'Dio, on that mountain…' Gyro murmured. 'I think he's come to understand the power of the Dragon Stones. Do you think he'll start something here?'

Johnny was quick to reply with a resolute answer: 'No. There's no way he would risk disqualification at this point in the race. Not with the goal right in front of us and all the witnesses. He's planning to beat this stage - beat you, Gyro - without any breaking of rules.'

Even with their conversation, they continued to move forward. The mounts raced forward. The pound of hooves was deafening and inescapable. With another checkpoint so close, it was hard to believe they were still so far from finishing the race not just here but as a whole. It was going to get even harder from here on out as the mediocre were being culled by exhaustion and lack of conviction, even.

'To him, moving past you is just as good as moving past Sandman which would lead him to victory!' Johnny explained. 'It's his fighting intuition!'

He threw another glance Diego's way. His tics were showing. He was breathing deep and grinning an eerie grin from ear to ear. He seemed to emanate a vile eagerness. He seemed to reverberate with how he held onto his rens and kept his legs in their stirrups. His mind seemed sharper than usual: the most key component to his body language which seemed strangely amplified.

He was murmuring to himself. Diego spoke in a husky voice fed off of rasping, hoarse breaths to a rhythm only understood by himself.

'This distance... The breaths of their mounts… Their pulse rates… Their perspiration… Their strides… It is all within my calculations.'

The secret of the Dragon Stones, when absorbed into the eye, were able to enhance kinetic vision. Being drastically different men, Gyro and Diego were now utilising this ability in rather branched manners. With his vision having grown stronger, Gyro could see the vibrations of all which had significantly brightened his perception of the world. He could use the Spin in new ways and enhance his old methods. He was now able to draw forth even more hidden potential in his Pokemon through the new ability he had acquired.

Diego applied his newly found enhanced kinetic vision in a different manner. Gyro was a man of actions. Diego was a man of observations, to put it concisely. He used this newfound ability to sharpen his already well honed and eerily accurate visions of eccentricities and patterns no one else can detect. Through it, he could now steal the data of their mounts and their partner Pokemon with inhuman efficiency and he could alter his actions accordingly.

'Let me explain the lay of the land!' Marian announced. 'Now, right before the goal, we have the Lake Roshan with a circumference of three thousand and nine hundred kilometres. If the racers choose to go right, they will be taking a route that is waterside. It's flat but fairly length in that it is two thousand and three hundred metres to the finishing line! Choosing left means a seven hundred metres shorter route but seventeen hundred metres of it will be on the cliffs with many ups and downs!

'Which will they choose? How will it affect the muscles of their mount Pokemon which have been travelling through this mountainous area for five days now? This is a new experience for everyone, even their Pokemon! Their choices will become a gamble!'

Johnny huffed. He could already feel disastrous plans emanate from Gyro's head as he considered the options.

'We have to right, Gyro! Don't you dare say left!' he shouted, testy. 'Think of Val and Dancer: the key to victory will be how much rest we can give our mounts!'

Gyro was silent. Stony-faced too. Johnny couldn't read him when he was that guarded.

'As expected of Sandman, he has headed left! Oh, and Pocoloco has followed! He's taking his chances with the cliffs!'

The herd was beginning to split. People were making their choices and fast. Johnny's agitation began to flare because as far as he could tell, Gyro was still undecided even though the wise option would be to go right.

'The ones going right are Dot Han followed by Baba Yaga and Gaucho, who have switched places!'

Johnny saw as people were beginning to go in opposite directions but then he watched as Gyro did the unfathomable. Leave it to someone as strange as Gyro to find a unique solution in a two-way solution. He charged forward, recklessly, into the water and Johnny couldn't have been more shocked.

Gyro rode a Mudsdale, for goodness' sake!

Nevertheless, he charged into the water with a determined grimace across his face. His faithful partner Pokemon obeyed his orders even though it was detrimental. Johnny watched, now uncertain of his own course of action only to have his cluttered thoughts superseded by the actions of Diego.

Diego followed Gyro into the lake.

Johnny desperately wanted to admonish that but at least Sawsbuck has a resistance over water rather than a weakness to it. Both of them were insane.

Marian's voice rang out over the sloshing water as their mounts beat through the lapping waves.

'What a surprise!' Marian cooed, even she was shocked by the lunacy of the turn of events, it would appear - or maybe she was just putting on airs like the show woman she was. 'Diego Brando follows Gyro Zeppeli into the lake!'

Johnny's heart hammered in his chest. Now half the countryside knew and if he didn't make a choice, he'd be left in everyone's dust. He wanted to go right. He knew he had to go right. But he also knew he would have to follow Gyro even if it meant going into the lake. A consolidation, he found in this grim and time sensitive situation, was that at least his Zebstrika had a water resistance.

'But it may not the be wisest choice!'

Damn right, Marian, Johnny agreed in his thoughts.

'The water resistance will wear out the mounts like nothing else; not to mention type detriments!' Marian commentated. 'And yet, genius racer Dio has chosen that route! The distance is much shorter at four hundred and fifty metres; it may just be the fastest route!'

Diego seemed to surge along at the same pace as Sandman who was hopping along the cliffs with his entourage in tow. It gave some credibility to Marian's theory but whether or not it was going to be worth it with how exhaustion comes into play, was still up in the air.

'This race has just gotten a heck of a lot more interesting!' Marian added. 'A real battle in front of the goal!'

'Fuck…' Johnny murmured.

He was hesitating atop the back of his Zebstrika but his will to move was indomitable so he followed through with the stupidity. He caved at the peer pressure. Or, perhaps, it was the taunt. Gyro wasn't doing anything in particular but that was more than enough to convey the sort of haughtiness he possessed.

'It's bait…' Johnny recognised the scenario. 'Don't come to me if you're scared, that's it, isn't it Gyro? Dammit, Gyro...'

Johnny cursed Gyro's name as he unabashedly followed into the water. He hoped that there better be some sort of lesson in this lunacy. Something that inches him closer not only to this goal, but his overarching one.

His Zebstrika struggled in the water. However, for Johnny, it continued on. It battled through the waves which were placid but hard to navigate regardless.

Johnny yelled out to Gyro as his Zebstrika managed to catch up with the lumbering, struggling Mudsdale just ahead of them. It was madness.

'This is nuts, Gyro!' Johnny shouted. 'It's like your Mudsdale is carrying another Mudsdale on top of it, out here! The water resistance requires muscles that aren't normally used, not to mention the type disadvantage: you're only weakening Valkyrie by going out this way!'

Through gritted teeth, a frustrated reply from Gyro came: 'That's why I'm slowing to a minimum - and you should too. This way, there won't be too much stress on their limbs! Besides, this is just the speed I need to get ahead of the rest going around the lake! I'm sure that's what Dio's thinking too!'

Gyro lifted his head and the heterochromia he now possessed seemed to become more prominent. He scanned his surroundings and he could see it all and more. A confident but not arrogant expression crossed his face as he come to understand the movements in his surroundings; however minute.

'I'm going to get points in this stage. No matter what. Or else victory will evade me - us - further. I came to win this race; my fatherland is waiting!'

As he spoke, a sort of serenity came over him. It even came over Johnny. It was peculiar but utterly inaccurate. It conveyed a self-assurance that Johnny believed Gyro was not entitled to.

'Gyro, c'mon, it's not too late to head back. Let's go back and race from the right!' Johnny called out.

Gyro unflinchingly continued onwards. Johnny sighed. He hoped that Gyro could still listen because this was something that needed to be heard by him quite dearly.

'I don't want to say this but this my prediction.' he began.

He saw Gyro's ears prick up at this. His expression shifted by a slight tweak and Johnny could tell this was not something Gyro wanted to hear because it contradicted his beliefs. It merely made Johnny all the more certain that he ought to speak his mind on the matter.

'You can't defeat Dio!' he declared. 'You won't get first place in this stage.'

Gyro turned his head. His eyes locked with Johnny's. Anger had moulded over his handsome features. He scared Johnny a little but Johnny remained firm in his experience and predictions.

'This isn't about the ability of the Dragon Stones you and Dio are in possession of. It's not about your weak points. That's not what I'm talking about.' Johnny glared. 'It's well, how do you say…? You should have been able to win the first two stages. Based on technique and drive. You could have won.'

Gyro was losing interest in Johnny's rambling. They were wasting time. The impatience was flaring in his eyes.

'What is it? Just say it. Hey, Johnny Joestar, if you're going to come up and talk to me, say it clearly.' Gyro roused.

Johnny took a breath and raised his head. He became certain of his clarity. He easily found his words and they seemed to darken him.

'You will lose to Dio. I am being clear. I can tell. You can't beat Sandman either. I can tell from experience. You thinking that your losses in the first two stages as being accidents or whims of fate is incorrect. There is something else. Something else has caused your defeats. You've learned from inheritance. From your parents, from your country.'

Flashes of memories stirred in Gyro's mind from Johnny's words. He came face to face with misty images of his father and of Marco. They were like ghosts but rather than haunting him, they were guiding him.

'You're running this race with technique and energy… I understand that you're in a cornered situation where you have to save that boy from certain death and there are, likely, larger political motives riding upon your shoulders too if the assassins we've met are any indicator. But, those are all things you've inherited from your family and your country's legacy. You are one who has continually inherited!'

Gyro glared at Johnny. He wasn't wrong. It was just a bitter truth to hear and not one Gyro fully understood. Where was the sin in inheritance? In legacy?

Johnny glanced at Diego. He was still riding out slowly in the water. His Sawsbuck's head bobbed above the azure water.

'Dio is different! He has stolen everything from his skills in both battle and riding to his social status, and even food. Ever since birth, Dio has been a person who has stolen even destiny. Dio is someone who has hungered! You're a successor! I'm not saying which one is bad and which one is good, it's just the difference becomes crucial in desperate moments of the race and of the fight. It's that difference which will steal victory and eat you up.' Johnny explained.

'So what you're saying is... That I'm a spoiled brat, huh Johnny?' Gyro growled. 'Is that it, Johnny? Do you think I'm a coward softened by coddling from my parents or something?'

Johnny glared back. Gyro appeared to have misunderstood or maybe he had understood perfectly and was merely defensive because it cut deeper than Johnny intended. Either way, Johnny was going to maintain himself and this stance on the matter. He looked Gyro in the eye and placed his hands on his hips.

'You can't win unless you hunger.' Johnny stated. 'But not like Dio hungers. You need to hunger in a much more nobler manner.'

Johnny huffed and Gyro still seemed to reel with some sort of disbelief. It was odd; getting back talked by Johnny when usually it was the other way. Johnny may be a novice to the Spin but it was clear he considered Gyro a novice to the realm of professional battling and racing. Perhaps their education between each other wasn't as singular as either of them had once thought.

Johnny tugged on his reins and shook his head. 'I'm going back to shore.' he announced as his Zebstrika turned around; splashing at Gyro and his Mudsdale. 'Sorry but I'm taking the route to the right.'

As Johnny retreated, the announcer's voice rang out across the lake from the hot air balloon above. Her eyes seemed trained in on Diego and his movements which had suddenly turned erratic; something Gyro had noticed too in the wake of Johnny's fleeing.

'What's this now? Dio has sped up! Is it to agitate Gyro or is it because everything has been planned out?'

Diego had cut across from Gyro who was slowly sinking into mud; stiffened by his conversation with Johnny. Diego had made good distance ahead of Gyro. His Sawsbuck was gliding through the water, albeit inefficiently but compared to Gyro's Mudsdale it was beautiful in the water.

'It looks like he wants to reach the shore and take head position! He's already one-third of the way there! He's slowly distancing himself from Gyro!' Marian commentated.

Gyro looked around. It was true. He was in Diego's wake and he was resolutely charging on ahead. And in the scanning of his surroundings, Gyro had also noticed that Johnny had made it back up to shore. He was now building sped as he returned to the riders who had chosen to go right also.

Johnny snuck a glance over his shoulders. From what he could tell, Gyro was frozen in the water. He felt something like pity towards Gyro. Without hunger, he cannot win. But he also felt something like hope for Gyro: hope that Gyro could learn from his inheritance and learn to hunger. It would be slow but it would be progress nonetheless. But, as he was now, he was only like to come second or third in the general racing; even in terms of battling and Badge collection, those were his likely placings without deep hunger for the win. Though the race was long and they had just begun but without change, that was the prediction Johnny had for Gyro.

A wistful gaze came over Johnny as he stared out towards Gyro. He knew why he had followed Gyro into the Steel Ball Run. He wanted to see the one of inheritance win a race like this, after all, the Spin - what Johnny wanted to learn from Gyro - was that of inheritance. Not hunger.

Gyro huffed and he made his decision. He decided to continue to charge onwards, through the lake. Marian cooed over the speakers, ecstatic by the development as it was far more daring than retreat.

'And… Amazing, Gyro is going for it!' she yelled. 'He's going to accept Dio's challenge! He's speeding up!'

His Mudsdale hefted its weight through the water. He held on tightly. Together, they ploughed through and attempted to catch up to Diego. Through gritted teeth, Gyro cursed Johnny but that was a misdirection. It was easier to blame him than himself. Gyro had made his decisions though and he would follow through regardless of Johnny's opinion.

That muttering to himself turned to agitation which, in turn, fed into Mudsdale's movements. After all, there was no partner Pokemon more attune to its Trainer than a mount and his Mudsdale was receiving all that frustration. Thus, their movement was hindered. Yes, it was all Johnny's fault though: what he had said and insinuated. Besides, Gyro didn't need to worry. He had a special plan for when they hit land once more; something that not even Diego could overcome. There was no need to get distracted, really.

Diego cast a glance backwards. Through the use of his Dragon Stone, he was able to use his vision to a superhuman extent. It was marvellous. Nothing could escape his notice, not anymore. It did not matter how minute. The previously noted observations of Gyro's Mudsdale could now be scrutinised further and elaborated on now because of these new abilities.

'Gyro's Mudsdale's pulse is currently at one hundred and ninety-eight.' he mused and then relied on his observations from Stage One. 'After breathing twice, it'll take a deep breath and shift its body to the left. Then, it will shake its head'

Then, like clockwork, Gyro's Mudsdale did just that. It huffed and snorted before subtly swinging to the left. It perhaps went on a little further before shaking its neck. It was just as Diego had thought.

Diego lifted his head and stared out to shore. The distance was ever shortening thanks to the hard work of his Sawsbuck. He scanned the distance and thought to himself. He made a prediction.

He believed that neither Gyro nor his mount would know this but he was certain that this would take place within the next few moments. He believed that Gyro's Mudsdale will take its first steps upon land using its left foot first. Then, by anticipating the lengths of Mudsdale's strides, he was certain that by the seventy-fifth stride, it would step on a branch; the very same one that Diego could see from where he was currently but it was a barely noticeable blight on the ground.

About three hundred metres from the goal is about where the branch was but also where Mudsdale would reach full speed once more. If Mudsdale did indeed step on the branch, that would put its pulse rate at about two hundred and thirty-six. At that moment, it would become overwhelmed by fatigue. Though it was a risk for himself, it is a bigger risk for Gyro. For, the moment he was to step on that branch, he would become incapable of overtaking Diego and Diego would secure the lead.

Until then, all Diego has to do, is stay ahead. He only had to stay ahead of the branch.

With each stride, the race grew closer. Those who had gone around the right were nearing the final bend of the lake. Diego was mere metres from the shoreline. Gyro was behind him. It was intense and noisy.

'Dot Han, Baba Yaga, and Gaucho are speeding up!' Marian commentated. 'They're coming in from the right side! Oh! And Sandman had cleared the cliffs! He is also headed straight for the goal!'

Bounding along with his Pokemon in tow in the distance, Sandman made it back to flat ground. As he did, Diego had also made it to dryland also. From the moment, his Sawsbuck put its hoof on the dry land, it was able to propel itself into a heated sprint to claim the lead.

'And it looks like Dio is finally back on land! Dio is in the lead! Five hundred metres remaining!' Marian yelled.

Gyro's Mdsdale's ears flicked. It huffed and snorted. It appeared agitated by the rivalry it had with Sawsbuck and disliked that it had been left behind. Gyro stroked its neck and cooed to it.

'Not yet, Valkyrie.' he told it. 'Don't get excited now, save your energy for later. For the very end.'

'Pocoloco has cleared the cliffs!' Marian added.

Gyro turned his head. Sure enough, to the far left, Pocoloco was bounding in on the back of his Tauros and was careening towards the goal like Sandan and the others. Seeing that was enough to stoke at the embers of Gyro's competitive spirit too but he maintained himself.

'C'mon, Valkyrie, don't run yet. Think of this as a practice race; doesn't count, nothin' matters, we're just relaxing.' he lied.

'Johnny Joestar closes in on Dot Han!' Marian continued with the play-by-play.

Gyro didn't let it get to him. He had keep composure of Mudsdale's sake even if he wanted to see how Johnny was doing. He'd done well to catch up, Gyro would give him that for now.

'Not yet, just a little bit more; rest a little bit more.' he muttered.

He could feel his Mudsdale's body begin to lift as the lake floor underfoot began to rise to meet the shoreline. But then, its body moved abruptly and the water sloshed around them. They had made it. With that, they were sopping wet but more importantly, they were back on land.

'And now Gyro Zeppeli's finally back on land!' Marian yelped, excitedly.

'Left foot…' Diego murmured as he hazarded a glance backwards and he waited for the moment he could see clearly.

And it was true. Mudsdale had used its left leg to begin with. From that, Mudsdale was able to lurch forward and begin to build speed. It was almost immediate but from a large and bulky mount like Mudsdale, something of a slow start was to be expected.

'And he begins to accelerate! Gyro Zeppeli: he's running at a tremendous speed!' Marian yelled.

With the lake behind them now, it was the town ahead of them. It was scattered about, thin and welcoming. There was a banner to signify the race and hundreds of onlookers. The whole town was likely spectating.

Within in a matter of seconds, it seemed, Gyro had caught up to Diego. There was something rabid and fervent about the way he and his Mudsdale raced. Especially in contrast to the calculated cool that both Diego and his mount possessed.

'It's almost as if he's a Zangoose gig after a Seviper: he's right on Diego's trail with a vengeance!' Marian described.

Gyro unhooked a pair of PokeBalls from his holsters then threw off some of his belongings. Gyro now rode wearing only his green undershirt. He tossed one of the PokeBalls in the air and called for one of his Pokemon:

'Go, go, Decibel!' he cried out.

From a flash, his Linoone leapt into action. It scampered out behind him, happily collecting the belongings he had discarded - to the utter confusion of Marian who commentated.

'What's this?' she yelled. 'He's thrown off his jacket and trademark holsters?'

Diego was unfazed by the development. He glanced at Gyro. The three hundred metre mark was approaching. He could count the seconds now.

One step, two steps, then snap!

Mudsdale's hoof broke clean through the branch. For Gyro, it had been unceremonious. Another thing trampled underfoot without consequence. For Diego, it was cause for celebration. After all, it had affirmed his predictions. It meant that Gyro had hit top speed and yet he still remained behind Diego.

'He can't catch up!' Marian yelled upon noticing the unchanging distance between Gyro and Diego.

They were so close and yet, the pace remained unchanging, or so it seemed. Mudsdale was just behind Sawsbuck.

'Valkyrie the Mudsdale can't go any faster! Gyro Zeppeli can't shorten his distance!'

After keeping pace for a few moments, Mudsdale began to falter. It was unable to keep pace with the Sawsbuck. The distance, once small, began to length between them.

'And now he's slowing down with two hundred metres left! Both are feeling the strain from crossing the lake, but Dio is managing to stay ahead! It looks like fatigue is finally gaining on Gyro!' Marian commentated.

Worse yet, with the widening gap, Gyro was becoming vulnerable to attacks from behind. And another racer saw his opportunity to speed past him.

'Pocoloco has just passed Gyro!' yelled Marian.

Now both trainer and mount were becoming agitated. He held tightly onto the PokeBall that did not belong to his trailing Linoone.

'Gyro Zeppeli is falling behind! Dot Han is coming up behind him, and is only half a mount's length away!'

The agitation came to fruition. Gyro breathed in hard and he activated the Spin. He was able to allow his flesh clamp around the steel PokeBall and wring him dry of sweat. It was hard on him as he dried out but it would lighten his weight. After all, the human body was about seventy percent water and he was still sopping wet from his dip in the lake which all added to unnecessary weight. He grinned as he sweated out the excess. This was his secret plan.

'C'mon Valkyrie, show some Guts! We were called spoiled cowards, you're not a coward, are ya, honey? With these steel PokeBalls I've inherited from my homeland, with them on our side, we will win!' he encouraged Valkyrie in a low voice.

'Gyro Zeppeli is… sweating buckets out there?! His sweat is running off of him like rain on a window pane!' Marian yelled, a little bit of disgust tainted her voice.

With the load lightened a little bit, strain on Mudsdale eased. It began to speed up once more.

'Don't count him out just yet: he's coming! With eighty metres left, Gyro who had once fallen behind, is accelerating once more!'

Diego's nose wrinkled and he glanced backwards.

'Gyro finally takes over Dio!' Marian screeched. 'He takes the lead from Dio!'

Diego glared as Gyro passed him. He was drenched in sweat; it dripped off him in sheets. It was disgusting. It was impossible. There shouldn't have been anyway in which he was able to pass Diego. There was no way he should have been able to exceed his limit. The fatigue should have set in by now, and it had!

It was time for Diego to hatch a secret plan of his own. He let go of one rein, as discreetly as he could. He fingers curled back to his wrist and he tugged at the sleeve of his thick jumper. The cuff was curled over and embedded in it, was a small rock that was rough and bumpy. He picked it out of the cuff and he glanced around. He had to make sure the trajectory was right where it would hit Mudsdale but it would not look suspicious.

With a flick, he released the rock from his fingers. It skipped along the ground and jumped up. Diego quickly took back his rein and he didn't feel as though he had caught attention but he was worried regardless as he had broken a rule and it didn't bode overly well with him. The rock grazed Mudsdale's knee and cut it. Blood dripped and the Mudsdale began to wobble as it had been hit.

'Mudsdale is losing balance!' Marian yelped.

The finishing line came ever closer.

'Thirty metres… Ten metres!'

Gyro and Mudsdale were headed for a collision with the ground. Diego raced past confidently, unaffected, but there was a surprise third entrant to the top tier of the racers.

'Goal!' Marian yelled. 'Goal! Johnny Joestar! It's Johnny Joestar!'

Johnny breathed heavily as his Zebstrika slowed. It had been a sudden splurge of energy but he had claimed the lead in a surprise, last second attack. Even Diego was stunned by the turn of events. He had been so focused on Gyro, he hadn't noticed Johnny approach.

The next round of racers came through. There was a half-hearted slowing. After all, the goal had been met. Marian's voice boomed out across them all.

'What a turn of events! The order is Johnny Joestar, Diego Brando, then Gyro Zeppeli! Followed by Pocoloco and running in is Sandman! Dot Han, Baba Yaga, Mack the Knife, and Gaucho who fell behind!

There was a pause and what followed was Marian's voice wrinkled by concern: 'There was an incident right before the goal where Diego Brando stepped on a small rock, which happened to hit Gyro's mount, and during this time, the two racers lost their balance in this incident.'

Diego tried to remain neutral. Gyro fumed. Johnny felt blameless; it was an opportunity, after all.

'It was because of this incident, Johnny Joestar was able to claim the lead. It has been deemed an accident. It was only a chance that Diego Brando stepped on that rock. There is no proof it was intentional. Therefore, Diego Brando will not be disqualified and Gyro Zeppeli will not lose a medical visit as it was an accident.'

Johnny strayed from Gyro's vicinity. He could tell now wasn't a good time. There as a ferocious anger in Gyro's eyes. He didn't want to frustrate Gyro further. He needed some time and space.

Gyro and his mount wandered off to side, uninterested in Johnny anyway. Gyro dismounted and sat by Mudsdale's legs. Mudsdale was still bleeding. It was a deep cut. Gyro didn't want the medical team involved anyway so he called his Linoone to his side who faithfully returned his belongings, now slobbered on though.

His shoulders burned and he felt dry as Route Thirteen from his homeland. He was ragged and breathing deeply. As he fumbled with his supplies for his Mudsdale, his thoughts wandered back to what Johnny had said. He was possibly right.

'A hunger more than Dio, huh?' he mused as he examined the bandages and antiseptic spray he had. 'And maybe even more than you Johnny. You're trying to find all the Dragon Stones, after all. That's what you want more than anything.'

He sighed and his shoulders slackened. His Mudsdale lowered its head and nudged him slightly. The thoughts of Johnny didn't spill out with being shaken.

'You're hungering for it too… You want it no matter what.' Gyro mused as he finally acknowledged his Mudsdale by nudging its head so that it didn't lick its wound.

Mudsdale lifted its head and allowed Gyro to bandage it but he still muttered beneath his breath about Johnny. It was like he was in a daze. Though he were looking at the off-white of a bandage and the brown of Mudsdale's hair, all he could see truly before him was the echo of Johnny's appearance; how he remembered him.

'Maybe I should follow your example, Johnny.' Gyro decided. 'Maybe seriously searching for these Dragon Stones of Unova's might help me grow a little.'

His Linoone grumbled, disliking that Mudsdale was getting most of Gyro's fragmented attention. Upset, it clambered into Gyro's lap. Gyro didn't mind. He paused and scratched behind his Linoone's ear. It cooed and closed its eyes for him; in mockery of sleep. With it content, Gyro could continue to relax after this stressful heat of the Third Stage.

Having been left to his own devices for post-race entertainment, Johnny had decided to wait out for the rolling out of the latest news on the nearby bulletin. So, he could see the updated scores and whatnot but the lull in developments had seemingly softened him. Just before he could get a chance to read it for himself, Marian was already describing the updates over the airwaves.

'At this point, the Fourth Stage had already begun! Johnny Joestar is the one to have conquered the dead heat battle just now, but an hour ago, Hot Pants had already passed through the finish line into first place!' Marian announced.

Shock permeated all the listeners.

'What the…? Already passed the finishing line…?' Gyro murmured, dazed and confused as he looked around for this seemingly illusory Trainer but the name rang a bell.

'Therefore the placements for the third stage are as listed on the chart: Hot Pants receives this stage's bonuses: an extra medical visit, cash incentive, a shaved loss, and, of course, one hundred points!' Marian concluded.

Then, in the distance, Gyro spotted the smug son of a bitch. He was a tall, broad-shouldered Trainer wearing offensively pink clothes and was dressed for the colder months. He rode a Bouffalant.

With that, Gyro decided that another antagonist had entered his, and Johnny's, midst.