Bearticguy7: Oooh, fun!

Jpx0999: Yeah...I suppose that would be something everyone would expect. It would be pretty on the nose if DIO was the final villain, EVERYONE would see it coming...yeah...

Monster King: Glad to hear it!

Kasumi Kenshiro: You'll find out now!

BryanTF2: He certainly needs it. As of right now, I have no real therapy arc planned, but I'll definitely consider it.

Mr. Sand Is Comic: Oh yes, absolutely. However, The Forest isn't a specific country, but a separate reality, so anything goes.

Euphoria: Soon. Also, now you have that image in my head.

Blue Dragon Fist: Could be, the Russian Sleep Experiment is INSANELY dark, and it would probably traumatized my cast more than they already have been, but yeah.

Also, yeah...fate can be broken, we've seen it in both series...and I believe in the power of the human spirit.


*Johnny's notes:

Kyoka and I recently had a bit of a fight.

Nothing serious of course, but we had a bit of a spat over who was in a worse situation. I argued that her situation was the worst, and she insisted that the whole Kars fiasco trumped what she went through.

In the end, we both agreed that everything was fucked, and we were lucky to have made it out alive.

It's true...because unbeknownst to my group, Gyro and Hawks were confronting the source. Everything was going to shit because of that goddamn page...no...The Operator.

The Forest is the antithesis to Valentine's Love Train, A pocket dimension designed to be a trap/infection for the world, rather than a protective barrier, and The Operator was the Necronomicon's true power, it's magnum opus. Just as the Saint's Corpse brought blessings to those who possessed it or it's parts...

The Necronomicon, and The Operator, brought some sort of calamity. All of the horrible things happening all at once was the work of this calamity.

We later learned that the Necromancer, despite being a childish dickwad...had intentionally nerfed himself. If he hadn't ripped out that page, he could've just unleashed the Operator on us, and we'd be it's slaves, simple as that.

The real question was why? Why wouldn't the Necromancer try to crush us with the Necronomicon's true power?

Simple...someone was taking advantage of him, manipulating him from the very moment he found that damn book. Using just the right words to convince a vulnerable and malevolent soul to do his bidding.

The Necromancer was still a bitch, who had his own motivations...but someone twisted his dark dreams to their advantage.

All in an effort to unleash a curse upon Japan, so that he could swoop in and seize control.

The orchestrator behind all of this.


Gunga Mountains/ The Forest- Day 4:

*Japan is recovering from the massacre.

*Izuku has discovered that his arms, while suffering from complications, are still quite functional. He sustained nerve damage, and his fingers will be twitchy for the rest of his life, but it won't interfere with his hero career.

*Katsuki has a form of exercise-induced breathing problems, but since his lung only suffered a minor burn, and his ribs and flesh took a majority of the hit, it only slows him down. He has received implants to replace the ribs that were destroyed, courtesy of the Speedwagon Foundation.

*Josuke later emerged along with Kyoka, and healed what he could. Turns out, he accompanied Jotaro to The Barge.

-Just to reiterate, I've decided that [Crazy Diamond] can't heal scars. I haven't seen Josuke do it in canon, so he isn't going to do it here.

*Jotaro has gone off in search of Ochako, suffering from exhaustion. He has been to all three areas of crisis...and is running on fumes.

*Quirkless, Mutants, and the Unfortunate have started rallying to Santana's cause. The Jaguar has started popping up in Mustafu...and the Hero Public Safety Commission has grown concerned.


Ochako opened her eyes, wincing at the pain in her leg.

She had slept in the tree all night...having used her grappling wires to tie herself down so she wouldn't fall off.

Dark clouds still covered the sun, meaning the Rake was still active.

It...has to sleep eventually right? It's nocturnal, sure...but it has to get tired...

Ochako floated off of the tree, and began limping down the path. Her leg still stung, but she had successfully stopped the bleeding, so that was a plus.

She dug around in the brush, and picked a mushroom, examining it. It looked like an Enoki mushroom, the kind Johnny said would be edible. However, she wasn't sure, and she didn't want to take the risk.

JoJo would know...he's good at this...I have to find him first, I have to make sure he's okay.

Or at least alive.

Ochako sat in the middle of the path, sighing as she contemplated cooking and eating the mushroom. If it was posionous, or worse, hallucination inducing...it could spell her end.

A small rabbit made it's way onto the path, sniffing around, and Ochako's stomach grumbled.

She had the gun...she needed food...

*sniff*

The rabbit nibbled on some grass...so innocent...it was minding it's own business.

Ochako shakily brought the gun out.

Am I...really going to do this?

It's so cute...

She needed food, it was simply the law of the land. It wasn't personal or anything...she just needed to eat. Last night was exhausting, and she needed energy.

Then...just as she was about to pull the trigger...

She saw herself in the rabbit's place.

Her own hand had morphed into the long-fingered claws of the Rake, and she was pointing the gun at herself. Ochako's eyes widened, and then began to tear up as her hand went back to normal, as did the rabbit.

A hunter and it's prey...that's no different than what the Rake and I are now. If I pull this trigger...even if it is just a rabbit...I'd be no different from it.

I'm just a human to it, after all.

Ochako slumped against a tree, sighing

I'm not a hunter...

I know there's a difference. The Rake is hunting me to be cruel, and I just want food. Of course there's a difference, and...I probably should shoot it if I want to stay alive but...

Ending a life for my own selfishness?

No...I won't do that. If I were feeding someone else it might be different...but I won't stoop that low.


*A statement from Kyoka, who had stolen Johnny's notes to draw something stupid, but ended up writing something:

Ochako has never been selfish.

She initially became a hero for money, yes...but it was with the sole purpose of helping her parents. After reading what Johnny wrote about her, I can tell he agrees.

Hell, I think he even admires her.

(You do realize I'm reading this, right? -Johnny)

(*poorly made drawing of Tusk* -Kyoka)

I picked Ochako to help me on the Pluck Mission because I needed someone who could keep the team together. A motivator, someone with a good heart to keep us grounded.

I think she's the best of us in that regard.

Many people assume that emotions don't matter, and that choosing people for their capacity to empathize and understand isn't a good choice. Choosing someone for their heart isn't practical, it isn't efficient.

Well...they're wrong.

I tell people how it is, and I'm sorry if I come across as blunt...but to choose people based on their abilities, and their abilities alone...is fucking stupid.

Sure, her Quirk is powerful, and useful! However, it's the person behind the Quirk that matters. If someone only looks at the logistics of things, their abilities...but not what their personality brings to the table, then they aren't really looking.

Sure AFO had a good run...but in the end, all he could see were Quirks and pawns...and that is why Santana, someone who understands the importance of the heart, kicked his ass in and ended the "Demon King's" reign for good.

Santana is my enemy...but he's one that demands respect.

An enemy that has a heart is far deadlier than an enemy without one...because they have more to lose. They are motivated by something far greater than ambition...

Everyone is obsessed with power scaling, everyone always says stuff like, "Can he beat Goku though?"

Bleh.

(Did you really write "bleh?"-Johnny)

(*another poorly made drawing of Tusk, this time with a speech bubble saying: "Coffee makes me poop! CHUMIMIN!"*)

(Stop drawing my Stand in my notebook! How do you keep finding this?!)

Never, "Why would they fight?"

Power isn't everything, but heart is. Take it from someone who always thought her Quirk was weak and useless, my journey, and my heart...made me realize that the opposite was true.

Which is why we need someone like Ochako. Hearing about the things she had to go through in those woods...it only proves my point.


Johnny's Notes:

She also drew a dick. She named it Mr. Squiggly. I need to hide this thing better so she doesn't get her grubby hands on it.

She is so lucky I love her.


Hawks felt a vibration in his feathers, and paused, glancing behind them.

"Someone is following us..."

"The Operator?" Gyro asked softly, his green eyes shifting around the woods.

"No...I couldn't sense the Operator's footsteps like I could these..."

*clink, clink, clink...*

Gyro blinked, he recognized the sound.

"Boot spurs..."

"Huh!"

Gyro presented his boot to Hawks, revealing a set of spurs around his ankle.

"They're for horseriding...but...who would wear boot spurs out here?"

*clink...clink...clink...*

Hawks turned around, and his eyes widened. A pair of luminous green eyes were staring at them from the woods. The No.2 hero brandished a feather, pointing it at the eyes...which narrowed.

"You're just as quick as your reputation suggests, Hawks." A western accent came from the figure. "I'm quite impressed."

"Wait a fuckin...TOMBSTONE?!" Gyro exclaimed.

The vigilante emerged from the woods, twirling a revolver. His head was wrapped up in black bandages, as usual, but his grey hair was now exposed in a ponytail. He seemed to be better off than the last time they saw him.

"Been awhile Zeppeli...didn't expect you to be travelin' with Bird Brain here. As soon as I saw that the No.2 hero wasn't involved in stopping the massacre in Mustafu, I got suspicious of where he'd be..."

"Wait...massacre?" Gyro stepped forward. "What the hell do you mean?!"

"People fucking died. The villains had a big war...and Santana won it. All For One, Shigaraki...both defeated. Then this big bad motherfucker named Kars decided to wreck the place...I didn't see the outcome 'cause I went after you Chicken Wing...the last thing I saw was that the villain was dealt with, and Endeavor is on death's door."

Gyro's eyes were as wide as dinner plates.

"Kars? With a K?"

"Yes?"

"...oh...oh..."

Gyro put a hand on a tree to steady himself, huffing in disbelief.

"You know him Gyro?" Hawks asked.

"He's...an unkillable god. The Ultimate Lifeform, once the leader of the Pillar Men. My great uncle Caesar Zeppeli sacrificed his life trying to defeat Kars and his allies...in the end...Mr. Joestar managed to send him to space...but Santana brought him back down a while ago...we thought he wasn't capable of thought, he'd been up there for so long..."

Tombstone hummed, still twirling the revolver. "Well, from what I've heard...he was killing a lot of innocent people, and Santana was trying to stop him. He must have succeeded, because before I lost service, I saw an article about the aftermath."

"Okay...we can't exactly leave the Forest right now...not until the Necronomicon page is destroyed...so...why did you really seek me out?" Hawks asked, narrowing his eyes. "You don't exactly have the friendliest reputation."

"Ah! Right! I'm threatening you!"

*click!*

"GAH!" Hawks found the revolver pointed directly at his face, but reacted quickly, multiple feathers surrounding Tombstone on all sides. "WHAT'S THE BIG IDEA?!"

"Aww come on, surely you must have seen this coming, Keigo." Tombstone taunted.

Hawks' eyes widened in horror.

He...knows...my real name...

How?

HOW DOES HE KNOW?!

"Yeah...I know who you really are Feather Brain. Zeppeli...he can't be trusted. He...is a HPSC stooge." Tombstone revealed, gesturing with his other hand. "The fact that he's in here with ya...did you ever think it was to earn your trust?"

Gyro was standing to the side, looking between the two men.

"What?"

"Gyro...I swear...I'm on your side..." Hawks assured the young hero student.

"Are you? Are you really? I'm on his side, and frankly I think you could be following orders right now. Gyro, the Hero Public Safety Commission will do anything to ensure society stays exactly as it is...they're bureaucrats. Keigo Takami here, otherwise known as Hawks, is a one of their child soldiers, bred to do their bidding!"

Hawks lowered his head, sighing.

"He's not lying Gyro...but neither am I."

Tombstone took a deep breath.

"Explain then. Explain why you'd go against the HPSC for these kids."

Hawks raised his hands, and all of his feathers went back where they belonged. He simply looked the vigilante in the eye.

"My father was a villain, a murderer. I wanted to be something better...and I was inspired by Endeavor. His 'never give up' attitude comforted me even in the darkest of times...and the HPSC gave me the opportunity to become a hero like him..."

"Endeavor ain't exactly the best role model...although I can cut you some slack since most people have no idea."

"...I have only found out recently that Endeavor may be...far from the man I thought he was. I'm certainly no saint, but by the time I realized what they had turned me into...I was stuck. Even so...I have idolized...the idea of Endeavor. To fight for the greater good in spite of the odds...I have never lost it."

"You believe the Musketeers are that greater good?"

"...yes. They have the hearts of true heroes...if we start putting true heroes into the system, we can from out the bad ones and force change. I genuinely believe that the next generation can fix the flaws of ours."

Tombstone narrowed his eyes for a moment...

Then put his gun away.

"You ain't lying...good. I just wanted to make sure."

Gyro was on information overload.

Not only had Kars returned while they were in the Forest...but the No.2 hero, the man who had vowed to support them, was actually a child soldier...for the heroes. It was honestly fucked up...

Hawks wants to support us because we defy the system that shackled him.

Hawks lowered his hands, and gave Gyro a guilty look. It was at that moment Gyro saw who he was really working with.

Keigo Takami, not Hawks. Hawks was simply a mask for the exploited child beneath.

"Please don't tell Tokoyami...I couldn't bear to look that kid in the eye if he ever found out."

Gyro sighed.

"Buon Dolore...you do know you're talking to a guy that helped kill the President of the United States, right? Your secret is safe."

Hawks gave him an appreciative nod, and turned to Tombstone.

"How did you find all that out anyway?"

"I broke into their headquarters to threaten the President once...I saw a list of operatives, and you and your real name were on there. I've been meaning to confront you...but you're the No.2 hero...your death would only discourage people."

Tombstone tipped his hat, and turned his head.

"There appears to be something here..."

Drink With the Living Dead emerged, it's skeletal face plagued with worry.

"Hey Jack...you feel it right? This...presence..."

Gyro's eyes widened.

"The Operator...it knows we're here..."


Gyro's Notes:

Tombstone was a surprise.

Hadn't seen him since Nabu Island, but it appears as though he cleaned himself up a bit. He was always covered in blood and dirt and grime...but he was much neater this time around.

Apparently, he took his conversation with Kyoka to heart.

He would've shot someone like Hawks without hesitation before, but he actually took the time to evaluate Hawks' motives...although...it still involved a gun. He should really start treating those like weapons rather than items to gesture with...

Still, the information he brought was concerning to say the least. Kars, Hawks' status as a child soldier for the government, and top that all off with the knowledge that I was supposed to die during the Steel Ball Run.

I was...kinda freaked out.

I didn't show it of course, I needed to be strong, especially in the environment we were in. I still tried to crack jokes and stuff...and I tried my best to not let it bother me.

Luckily...Tombstone was the reason we managed to turn the tide on that faceless bitch.


Jotaro grunted as he staggered through the woods, Star Platinum dutifully guarding him. The elder Kujo was angry, and was on the verge of losing his cool entirely.

All of this is bullshit! Uraraka was separated from the fucking group, that naked bastard hurt my son, and I haven't even gotten to Gyro and Hawks yet!

I'm so fucking done with all of this...I just want to rest...

Jotaro knew he couldn't rest though. He had battled his way from Shigaraki to The Barge, and he would punch straight through the Rake too.

Hurting my students was reason enough for a thrashing...but you hurt my boy too. That's grounds for THRICE the thrashing! When I see that ugly bastard, I'm not holding back! Star Platinum is gonna give it everything it's got!

"Ow..."

Star Platinum's enhanced hearing picked up the sound of a female voice groaning in pain. Jotaro grunted and began hobbling in that direction, picking up the pace.

"*gasp!*"

The girl fell silent.

"Uraraka!"

Jotaro called out his student's name. It was risky, especially if the Rake was nearby, but necessary. He stumbled into a small clearing, wiping the sweat from his face.

"Uraraka, it's Dr. Kujo. You can come out!"

A rustle in the trees, and a head of brown hair popped out from a branch. Ochako's rather large brown eyes made contact with his, and they began to well with tears of joy.

"Dr. Kujo! It's really you!"

"It is...are you hurt?"

Ochako nodded, and floated down from the tree. Jotaro winced upon seeing her leg, and beckoned her closer so he could examine it. Kneeling down, he gently took Ochako's leg and rested it on his knee.

"Did you cauterize it?"

"...yeah..."

"You're missing part of your toe Uraraka..."

"I had to shoot it off...the Rake had me by the leg..."

Ochako sniffled, and hung her head. Wiping her eyes, she took her foot off of her teacher's knee and sat next to him. It had been quite the ordeal for the poor girl...

"I'm sorry Uraraka...it must have been scary, facing that thing alone."

"I found out it's weakness."

Jotaroturned to look at his student, who had a steely glare on her face. Ochako was terrified, but that didn't stop her. Of course it didn't...

"Really?"

"Yeah...JoJo said to analyze situations carefully, so I did, and I managed to find out it was weak to sudden flashes of light. It is used to the dark, and...Dr. Kujo...can you feel JoJo right now?"

"Felt him, and saw him. He's alive Uraraka...so is Mirko, although they are currently trying to build a bonfire to draw you in with smoke signals..."

"Well, you know the way back, right?"

"Of course-"

*SNAP!*

Star Platinum turned around, clenching it's fists. The time-stopping Stand narrowed it's eyes as they began dialating.

"Uraraka...what exactly has been happening while you were alone?"

"The Rake wanted to play Hide and Seek...he's it." Ochako replied, her heart filling with dread as a figure emerged from the bushes. "It's found us...don't look into it's eyes Dr. Kujo! That's what got JoJo!"

"Noted...stay behind me Uraraka!" Jotaro commanded.

The Rake stood up to it's full height, and tilted it's head to the side.

"You have a similar presence to...the boy..."

"That was my son." Jotaro said with a growl, staring at the Rake's chest.

*CRACKLE!*

All three turned to find the woods were moving. The ground shifted and cracked as monstrous trees burst forth from the soil, the branches resembling claws. Everything around the three shook as though the Earth itself was...

Oh no...this isn't good. The Forest is expanding!


Mirko suddenly grabbed Johnny by the remains of his shirt, and forced him into a hug. Ignoring Johnny's muffled protests from her chest, she dove out of the window and outside the cabin, just as a massive root destroyed the place they were taking shelter.

"HOLY SHIT! I'M SO GLAD I SENSED THAT!"

"*muffled* Mirko, get my face out of your tits, now."

"Huh? Oh, my bad."

Johnny, embarrassed, turned his head away. Looking out, it seemed as though the woods were only growing, the terrain slowly becoming somewhere else entirely.

"This...this is bad. This is really bad."

"Do you know what's happening JoJo?" Mirko asked, A bead of sweat traveling down her forehead.

"Some kind of forced terraforming...this feels like the work of a reality-warping Stand...this just went from a 'bad' situation to a 'We're probably fucked' one."

"The Gunga Mountains are becoming something else...and this something else is spreading like a disease." Mirko guessed, gritting her teeth. "We've been wasting our time with The Rake, we should've been trying to prevent this shit!"

"This could spread towards civilization, towards Mustafu. This just became a D4C-Level Threat."

"That universe-hopping Stand you said the former President had?! It's that bad?!"

"Reality warping Stands are the most dangerous kind! Anything that fucks with space and time is the biggest threat anyone could face! God...if only I had my fucking horse!"

Mirko thought long and hard, her brain racking possible solutions to the problem.

"First thing's first...you mentioned your father tracked you down using a blood connection?"

"Yes."

"Can you track him back?"

Johnny narrowed his eyes for a bit, and turned to the pro hero. "He's North from here, I can show you the way."

"Great! Maybe with that Time Stop...we can get an edge over whatever the fuck this is! Mission's changed JoJo, find and kick the shit out of whatever is doing this! Unless you have a different idea?"

"For once Mirko, we agree."

Mirko presented her back to the wounded Joestar, grinning. "Hop on! I can get us there real fast!"

"You better not drop me."

"Come on, don't you trust me yet?"

Mirko shot him a grin, a genuine one.

"You were upset earlier because I wasn't taking you seriously...you just wanted to show me your best, right? Well, now's your chance...let's do this, together."

Johnny remembered Tusk's pep talk, and smirked.

"Fine. You take the lead."


*Gyro's notes:

So uh...we...made things worse.

We found the page...it was right there, but out in the open? It just screamed "TRAP!" So we didn't move, we just watched it. The page was just sitting there, stapled to a tree.

We should've went for it.

The Operator wasn't there yet, it was trying to catch up to us, we had the opportunity to destroy it, but we let it slip through our fingers. We waited for it to show up, and it did...

It took the page, and the woods started shifting, expanding. The pocket dimension that was seeping into our world had just increased it's rate of growth.

We had all dismissed the Necromancer as a clown by the time that crisis was over...and we were right...but...he turned out to be a very crafty one. The page was his final "fuck you" to the world, The Forest, his magnum opus.

If he couldn't unite the world through domination, he would unite in annihilation.

The Operator is that desire. A single unifying force, just as Funny Valentine initially wanted. Except it only unified people as it's puppets, controlling people and their fates with it's silent malevolent hand...it's only desire was to consume and control the world.

If left unchecked...it could even rival Made in Heaven in it's ability to warp and twist reality as it sees fit.

We had, and I mean had to defeat it.

Just as Enrico Pucci wanted to force his and DIO's idea of Heaven on the world, the Necromancer and the Operator wanted to force their version of Hell.

If only we knew it was all connected...


A swarm of Tainted emerged from the woods, howling, as Gyro and Hawks ran for their lives. Tombstone was trying to keep them at bay with his guns, but for every one he picked off, two took their place.

The Operator, holding the Necronomicon page, simply observed their retreat, before starting to pursue.

That's crazy! The Operator looks like it's walking, but its actually running! What's the deal with that?! How can it look like it's talking a leisurely walk, but is actually sprinting at us?!

Unless...

It actually IS walking...and the Forest is pushing it forwards! It doesn't need to run, the very ground is aiding it!

Gyro gritted his teeth as he ran, leaping over what appeared to be a large mushroom. The Forest was actively trying to block their path, thorn bushes popping up in their way. He hurled a steel ball into the thicket, clearing the way.

*CRACKLE!*

The ground opened up, and suddenly everything began to rise.

The entire piece of land they were on was rising into the sky, red energy, similar to that of Thriller, was surrounding it.

Pieces of the terrain were rising, and all the heroes could do was stare in shock.

The Earth is breaking apart...how powerful is this thing?! I...understand now! The Operator has only been using the Necronomicon page in small doses, in order to avoid drawing suspicion to the spread of the Forest...

Since it was found out, The Operator is no longer holding back!

Another floating island rose in front of them, and they were met with something that shocked them even more:

Jotaro Kujo and Ochako Uraraka squaring off with The Rake on the other side.

"Dr. Kujo?!" Gyro yelled. "The hell is he doing here?! Where's Johnny and Mirko?! In fact...how the hell are they even here at all?!"

"The Forest pulled them in! I'm not sure how Dr. Kujo got here either...but I hope the other two are alright!" Hawks responded, grimacing as the Operator coldly approached them. "I need to fly again..."

"Hawks!"

"I'm afraid our feathered friend is right! At this rate, that glowing bastard will catch us for sure!" Tombstone yelled, and Drink With the Living Dead tapped him on the shoulder. "What is it?"

"May I suggest a different approach?"

"Which is?"

"We challenge it."

The three men turned to look at the skeletal Stand, which had it's trademark grin. Tombstone crossed his arms, narrowing his eyes.

"It's a Stand."

"We can challenge it's user, and it's user alone yes...THE PAGE."

Tombstone's eyes widened, and he nodded his head in confirmation. He turned to the other two, and his eyes flared up as he spoke.

"Well, turns out you two are quite lucky I decided to follow you. Living Dead is right, I could destroy the page...but I need you two to cover me!"

Hawks huffed, scratching the back of his head. "Looks like it's the only chance we've got...still got that machine gun Gyro?"

Gyro reached under his tattered cape and pulled out Rudol Von Stroheim's gun.

"Yup."

"Then let's fight this thing."

Tombstone's boot spurs clicked as he approached the Operator, and the Stand simply stopped, tilting it's head to the side in confusion. A lone gunman stood before the Force of Nature, his luminous green eyes flaring with murderous intent.

There was silence between both parties...

The Operator then took a step forward, and Tombstone began to feel sick to his stomach. However, with the grace of a deer springing through the grassy terrain of a prairie, he drew his gun. It was strangely beautiful, how the ancient vigilante handled his weapon, it was like watching an artist paint.

"So...you're the big guy around here, huh?"

Silence.

"Strong and silent type then...you should know, that in my many years of life...I have worked tirelessly to become something for people to fear...and so have you. The difference is who we're tryin' to scare..."

The Operator simply stared at him with a sightless gaze, it's lack of a face, plus it's lack of movement, making it impossible to read how it was feeling.

"However...recently, someone gave me insight on how I've been living my life. I've been given immortality thanks to a lifetime of tragedy...but that doesn't mean I have to lose hope. There's good people in this world, people that you want to snuff out...so...Operator...for the sake of all mankind, and for the hope for a brighter future...I CHALLENGE YOU TO A DUEL!"

The Operator, of course, remained silent.

Then...it simply started walking past him.

Tombstone gave out a hoarse laugh, expecting this outcome. "You don't care at all, do you? Well...unfortunately...I have a trump card. Activate Else Draws Upon My Hand!"

The Operator turned, only to find that Tombstone was gone. It tilted it's head to the side, confused by the vigilante's sudden disappearance.

Then, it realized something.

Digging it's hand into the inside of it's suit jacket, it grabbed nothing but air. The Operator suddenly looked frantic, grabbing around it's jacket in an attempt to grab at whatever it was looking for...

Then, for the first time...it finally spoke.

"No."

That was all it said, just a simple "no", but that was enough for the other two to get it. That single word was spoken in monotone, but with an air of desperation. The Operator slowly clenched it's fists, and began shaking with rage.

The entire sky was turning blood red.


Stand Name: [The Operator]

Stand Master: The Necronomicon (formerly) The Necronomicon page (current)

Stats:

-:-

Power: E

-The Operator is not physically stronger than the average human, but it doesn't need to be.

Speed: B

Precision: B

Range: A (as long as it's in The Forest) E (when not in The Forest)

Durability: S

Potential: E

Stand Ability: CORRUPTION:

The Operator can corrupt and control anything it touches, spreading it's pocket dimension, The Forest, like a cancer. When it makes contact with it's user, the Operator's corruption spreads faster.

It has complete control over everything that happens to the Forest's terrain and weather, as well as the people who have succumbed to it's influence. It's goal is to spread it's pocket dimension across the entire planet, and eventually the universe.

It was released in the Ruined Universe by Dark Valentine, and succeeded in it's goal, turning it's universe into a wasteland. The only main hero from our cast that survived the Operator's apocalyptic onslaught was the Ruined Universe's version of Kyoka Jiro, now being referred to as Patch.

The Operator from the Ruined Universe was destroyed when Funny Valentine destroyed both Necronomicons, but this one lives on thanks to the Necromancer's machinations...

Which...in of itself...is part of someone else's plan.


"ORA!"

Star Platinum threw a punch, and the Rake dashed to the side, swiping at Jotaro's midsection. The Joestar threw himself back, his face dripping with sweat.

Even tired, suffering from exhaustion, and wounded from previous battles, Jotaro kept his combat prowess.

He was running on empty, and this cryptid proved to be surprisingly fast.

Ochako used her flare gun, firing a flare at the Rake once more. The creature screamed and clutched at it's face, but immediately jumped back before Star Platinum could crush it's skull.

It's fast...and deceptively smart...it memorized Uraraka's fighting strategy from before, and calculated a defense. This thing...

"Dr. Kujo! Why aren't you stopping time?!" Ochako yelled, floating above her teacher.

"I can't do it consecutively! It takes energy...something I'm a little low on right now!" Jotaro yelled back, dodging a swipe by the blinded Rake. "Force it into a corner, then I can make it count!"

"Yes sir!"

Ochako fired another flare, and took out Mountain Tim's revolver. She only had about three bullets left in the chamber, so she had to make these shots count.

That's when something emerged from the woods, snarling.

A wendigo was approaching them, smaller than the one Gyro and Hawks fought, but deadly just the same. Jotaro's eyes widened as the beast began running towards them on all fours, the air growing colder as it bared it's fangs.

"GOOD FUCKING GRIEF, REALLY?!"

"LUNA RUSH!"

The Wendigo was hit right in the face with a pair of rabbit feet, and Mirko gave it a feral grin as she unleashed a flurry of kicks into it's head, sending blood everywhere. "I'M BACK RAKEY!"

The Rake snarled as it recognized Mirko, remembering it's grudge.

"ORA!"

Star Platinum punched it while it was distracted, and Mirko came barreling over, grabbing the creature by the shoulders and flinging it over her head. The Rake crashed against the ground, making more guttural noises as it backed away.

Ochako grinned upon seeing the feral No.5 hero, grateful to see that she was still able to fight. Mirko turned back to Ochako and grinned, only to spot her injured leg.

"Oh...that FUCKER!"


"As if the massacre the other day wasn't enough, paranormal occurrences are happening at the Gunga Mountains. Several chunks of land have started floating in the sky, and dark clouds eerily similar to the ones over the junkyard during the mysterious serial killings hang over the area.

...this just in, trees are growing at an alarming rate, threatening to grow over the residential district nearby. Inhuman screams are also being reported, and any heroes available are heading to the area to evacuate the area."

A hand placed itself on the TV sceen, and it slowly formed into a fist.

"Kyoka...they'll be okay..."

"They better be...I didn't suffer my way through that boat just for them to die when I got back." Kyoka retorted, most of her body covered in shadow. Momo reached out to comfort her best friend, putting a hand on her shoulder, and Kyoka's hand fell on top of it.

"I'm scared too...but everything hinges on their victory."

"I know...I made a vow on that boat, and I intend to keep it. He will NOT win."

"You're right Kyoka, he won't." Jolyne replied from the corner. "My dad and my brother will pull through...I know it. Gyro and Uraraka will also pull through...I have full faith in them."

"I do too, my faith in them all is unshakeable." Kyoka turned to face Jolyne and Momo, the worry on her face unmistakable as she stepped into the light. She reached up to twirl a jack out of habit, but stopped herself.

"Still getting used to the new look?" Jolyne asked with a smirk.

"Shut up."


Tombstone looked at the page on the floor of the saloon, humming.

"Yeah...you ain't the only one who can take people places. All this trouble...for something I could wipe my ass with."

"We have it in a duel now Jack, if we shoot it, it's done for!"

The page was just sitting on the floor, harmless. An evil aura could be felt from it though...one that Tombstone wanted to snuff out.

Without thinking twice, he pulled the trigger.

*BANG!*

The bullet missed, at point blank, and bounced off the wooden floor, shattering an old alcohol bottle. Tombstone cried out as several shards buried themselves in his chest, but since the page didn't fire the gun in front of it, it didn't kill him.

"What in the-?" The vigilante wheezed out, glancing at his bleeding chest. "How?"

"Jack!"

Living Dead coughed up blood as it pointed towards the page, which was now glowing red. "It's...glowing...I think I understand what's happening!"

"Well, spit it out!"

"A bunch of bad things happened at once, right? Kars, that boat? THIS? The page is CAUSING IT! It's some sort of bad luck charm! A...CALAMITY of sorts..."

"In other words...if I try to shoot it...it'll just end up backfiring..." Tombstone said with a grimace. "Fucking hell..."

"I don't know what's going on...but it seems like it's tapping into some kind of ANCIENT POWER..."

Tombstone thought long and hard, and then preformed a trick shot off the wall.

The bullet caused splinters to embed themselves in his gun arm.

"GAH!"

"JACK!"


The Operator took a swipe at Gyro, but he threw a Tainted in front of him. The creature screamed as it mutated even more, horrible sounds coming from it's throat.

The enraged Stand bashed the Tainted aside and pursued the third Zeppeli with renewed ferocity. Hawks used his feathers to attack it's head, but The Operator simply shrugged off the blow.

Gyro had an intense expression on his face as he suddenly rushed towards it, before sidestepping the Operator's hand in a fakeout. The Operator was getting frustrated, and angrily punched the ground, sending roots everywhere.

Not what I'm looking for, I need to piss it off even more. Gyro thought to himself, gritting his teeth as he used a steel ball to brain a Tainted. Come on, get mad, hit me!

Thinking fast, Gyro decided to use his signature weapon:

His smile.

Gyro's golden 10 million watt grin was flashed in the Operator's direction, and he began to taunt it.

"You know, if you didn't have that winning touch, you'd lose in seconds."

The Operator twitched. Was this pest seriously questioning it's power?

"In fact, I dare say you couldn't beat me without that winning touch even if you tried. Some all powerful manipulator you are, we swiped the page right from under your nose! Oh wait, you don't have a nose!"

The Operator took another swipe at him, it's red static pulsating in anger. It angrily pursued him, further enraged by his taunts.

"What? Did someone play 'Got Your Nose' with you a few centuries ago, and they took your whole face and never gave it back? Aww, poor baby!"

Gyro's vision was starting to turn red, and he felt something dripping from his eyes. Blood was running down his face and the sickness in his stomach was getting worse. The Operator's mere presence was making him sick.

"Of course you have to cheat! *cough!* You're nothing but a coward protecting meaningless piece of paper! Come on asshole, hit me with something worthwile!"

*CRACK!*

A massive branch erupted from the ground and struck Gyro in the chest, sending him upwards. Hawks, who was desperately trying to fend of the sea of Tainted, looked up in horror as he watched the Italian fly upwards with a splash of blood flying from his chest.

"GYRO!"

At first, it really seemed as though it was over. Gyro was flying towards the edge of the floating island, and it looked like the hit knocked him out...

That is, until he grinned, blood dribbling from his mouth.

"I...was WAITING FOR THAT!"

The Operator took a step back, as golden energy started swirling around the Italian, forming the shape of a rectangle with a spiral inside of it.

"I used the same technique Johnny did during our battle with Funny Valentine! I was only goading you into hitting me at just the right angle! Now...my body has been forced to emulate the Golden Rectangle, thanks to the force of the blow!"

Yes...when we fought Valentine...Johnny used my steel ball to force his horse to kick him into the air, allowing him to emulate the Golden Rectangle as I am now! This time...

There's no Love Train to disrupt the throw!

Gyro pulled his arm back, coughing up blood as he did so, and hurled the steel ball. It began glowing with a golden light, and Ball Breaker emerged raising it's fist.

The Operator reached out, ready to catch the steel ball and corrupt it like it did the other one, but it phased through it's hand.

The steel ball made contact with the Operator's face, and Ball Breaker began pummeling it.

"ORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORA!"


*A/N: I completely forgot that Gyro uses 'ORA' too in Steel Ball Run. So...why not?


Mirko grunted as she was thrown against a tree, and began wrestling with the Rake, a furious expression on her bloodied face.

"How DARE YOU HURT HER! YOU WRINKLY PIECE OF SHIIIIT!"

Ochako was trying to aim her final flare into the fight, trying to get a good shot in, when a hand was place on her shoulder. "Easy Uraraka...Mirko's got this."

"J...JoJo!"

Johnny limped to her side, and smiled at her. "You did great Uraraka, making it this far...I'm glad you're alive."

"You too." Ochako said with a tearful grin, and hugged him. Johnny was admittedly caught of guard by the gesture, but quickly realized that she must've been terrified for him. The last time they saw each other was when he was floating face first down a stream after all.

Reaching up, he patted his classmate on the back, and separated from her.

"How's your leg?"

"It really hurts."

"Don't worry...we can get it patched up if my uncle is nearby."

The Rake sidestepped Mirko and slashed her back. The No.5 hero screamed as she flipped away, and Star Platinum suddenly crashed into the monster.

"STAR PLATINUM: THE WORLD!"

Time was suddenly forced to a halt, and Johnny blinked. Limping over to his father, he watched as Jotaro began trying to beat the shit out the cryptid once and for all.

"ORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORA... Ora...ora...uugggh..."

Star Platinum sagged in exhaustion, the Stand's proud features drooping. Johnny's heart skipped a beat upon seeing the damage done to the Rake.

It won't be enough! Dad pushed himself too hard, he's gonna pass out!

Jotaro staggered as Star Platinum attempted to punch, but fell backwards, landing on his ass. Johnny limped through the Time Stop, his eyes set on his father.

No...4 seconds...I'm not going to make it in time! FUCK THAT!

Johnny stopped taking it easy, and a loud *SNAP* was heard as he put pressure on his leg. However, the Dark Determination flared in his eyes as he ignored the pain, screaming at the top of his lungs.

"DON'T TOUCH MY DAD!"

The Time Stop ended, and the Rake took all of Star Platinum's punches at once, but it only staggered back a few steps. The Rake looked at the exhausted Jotaro with a grin, and brought it's hand up to tear off his face...

"ORA!"

*SCLORCH!*

Jotaro blinked as blood splashed against his face.

The Rake's blood.

Johnny had stepped between the beast and his father, and had used Tusk to punch straight through the Rake's chest. The Rake coughed up blood as it angled it's head down to look at it's chest...and then it looked at Johnny with a look of shock.

"You know...I think I finally understand why they call you the Rake." Johnny said, looking his dying enemy in the eye. This time, he wasn't struck by fear...but he could see it in the Rake's eyes this time around.

"You're a tool."

Tusk pulled it's fist out of the Rake's chest, and chucked the monster aside. The Rake's body fell clean off the floating island, disappearing in the clouds below.

With a grunt, Johnny sat beside his father, and Jotaro managed to put his arm around his son's shoulders, pulling him in close.


The Operator stumbled back as Ball Breaker halted it's beatdown, and slowly lifted it's head.

It was completely fine, of course it was. No pathetic Spin power could hope to defeat it, or even damage it. It was born of the Necronomicon's power, it was above all Stands! Gyro had failed.

The Italian crashed to the ground, spitting up blood.

The Operator was overjoyed, to think it had actually started to think Gyro could prove to be a threat to it. Looking back, it was almost laughable!

Tombstone would fail too. The bird would be grounded, and the Operator would be free to consume the world without hiderance. It's victory was inevitable! No one could stop it!

Now...all that was left to do was touch Gyro. It took a step forward, reaching it's arm to put an end to this pitiful resistance...

Only to find it's hand had suddenly become transparent.

Curious, the Operator flexed it's fingers...before realizing that something was terribly wrong.

"I see you're finally figuring it out!"

Gyro was standing, blood dribbling from his chest, and yet his face had a grin that could only belong to that of a victor.

"I bet you're confused. You're probably thinking: 'What is happening to me? Aren't I invincible?' Well TOUGH SHIT BUDDY! I'm afraid you aren't as invincible as you thought!"

The Operator attempted to take a step towards him, but it's leg had vanished.

"I used Ball Breaker's version of the Infinite Rotation! It's quite similar to Johnny's, with one exception: his rotation goes outwards, and mine goes inwards." Gyro mockingly explained, gesturing with his fingers."His Infinite Rotation pursues the opponent relentlessly, but mine makes it so I don't have to! You see, it anchors itself."

Gyro clapped his hands together, still grinning.

"My ability won't chase you, it will finish you before it has to! You see, the rotation my ability produces accelerates, and rotates inwards, instead of pulling you apart, your cells begin to age from the stress placed on your body...until you implode on yourself!"

The Operator began crawling towards him.

"I bet you're thinking: 'Why does this affect me though?!' Well you idiot, in case you forgot, you're a Stand! You may be far too durable for my tastes, but whatever hits you also HITS YOUR USER!"

The seemingly invincible Stand froze.

"I never intended on attacking you directly, I was attacking the page, and Tombstone just happened to steal it away in a pocket dimension of his own!"


Tombstone had tried everything to try and damage the page, and was bleeding profusely. He had just about run out of tricks...

When the page began rotting. It was forcibly aging, becoming scrunched up into a ball...

"Well I'll be...it's spinning...don't know what you did out there Zeppeli, but I can't say I ain't impressed!"

Tombstone twirled his revolver and aimed it at the page.

"Go back to hell where you belong, you fucking envelope."

*BANG!*


The Operator's fingers almost touched Gyro's face, they were only about a centimeter away...when it cracked.

The puppet master of the Forest proceeded to shatter like glass, and the islands began floating down towards the Earth.

In fact...they were just in the middle of the Gunga Mountains...The Forest, it's inhabitants, and everything surrounding it was gone.

It was over.


Ochako rushed down the ladder into Exodus, tripping and falling onto the floor.

"Uraraka!" Izuku yelled.

"I'm okay! Deku, Bakugo! You guys were...*huff*...I had to make sure you were okay!"

"We're fine Pink Cheeks. Just a few complications." Katsuki assured her in his own Katsuki way. "Don't make such a big deal out of it."

"You fought KARS!"

Izuku gave her a sad smile as he took off his glove, revealing a reddened, heavily scarred hand. "I paid the price for going berserk after Kars hurt Kacchan...so this is a reminder of that. If I had kept a cool head...I'd be better off."

"I still won." Katsuki said, staring at the ceiling. "Winning isn't always about the fight, and saving Deku was the only thing I was trying to do. Doesn't matter if I got scarred...I won."

Ochako looked between the two of them, and sighed.

"I guess we weren't exactly in the friendliest situation either."

"Wait...if you're here...JOJO IS BACK! KACCHAN, HIDE!"

"SHITFUCK!"


Johnny stretched as he walked through the gates of UA, finally happy to be out of the damn woods. Josuke had been part of the evacuation process for the Gunga Mountains, so he had patched them all up with Crazy Diamond.

Although his uncle seemed a bit...hesitant around him, as though he knew something...

It didn't matter though. Mirko had offered the Musketeers her full support going forward, and Johnny was no longer opposed to it. Perhaps...there could be more to their little group than just being friends...

Perhaps it meant something.

He had a lot on his mind, from the events that occurred in and out of the woods, and of course...whatever Kyoka had to tell him.

Jotaro was at home, resting as he should. The man had worked himself to the bone to ensure the Musketeers' survival...as if he couldn't admire his father enough...

"JoJo..."

A familiar voice came from behind him, and next thing he knew...a 5 foot tall projectile slammed into him, hugging him tight. Johnny, after recovering his breath, laughed and hugged Kyoka back. There was just silence...two lovers reunited after two very stressful adventures apart.

"I'm glad you're okay...I saw that shit on the news, and..."

"Well, I almost bit the dust this time...we all did."

"Heh...I have to agree there...I wasn't in very good shape either."

Kyoka lifted her head and planted a kiss on his cheek, wrapping her arms around his neck. Johnny simply held her, placing a hand on the back of her head.

"So...you had something you wanted to tell me?"

Kyoka nodded, and separated from the hug. As soon as Johnny got a good look at her, he realized that there was something wrong.

"Kyoka, where the fuck are your-"

"My jacks?" A seemingly jackless Kyoka said with a small smile. "Don't freak out, okay? It isn't as bad as you think."

"I need context."

"You'll get it. Just not here...I already had a run in with Tokage, and personally, since she's already suspicious about it, and we are currently on the verge of making out...I think we should take this to Exodus."

"...okay...but...this really threw me for a loop, I can't really think straight..."

"I'll make you coffee since you haven't had it in a while."

"You immediately have my full attention."

"Ha! Ah...you...have a problem."


Gyro's Notes:

I never told Kyoka how she changed my fate.

How could I? The girl...bless her heart, is a worrier. She tends to overthink, and can get anxious about things...so...finding out I was originally supposed to die would freak her out.

However...I am forever grateful to her, even if she'll never realize it.

Knowing now that I was supposed to die...it made me realize that my fate was truly in my hands this time around. That this dear friend of mine had given me the greatest gift...

The gift of a second chance.

DIO and Enrico Pucci believed that Fate was like Gravity...and...they weren't wrong. Johnny and I were pulled together by more than just circumstance. However...we can defy gravity with a power that transcends space and time:

Love.

I know...sounds like something out of a fucking Hallmark movie...but I'm right and you know it!

My battle with the Operator was important...because that was the moment I realized that by living through the Steel Ball Run, by beating my fate...I had much more of a life worth fighting for. The Joestars, Johnny, Momo, Kyoka...

I fight for them now...and I'll live for them.

I got a second chance...so I'm not gonna waste it!