"Is that so? Well then, I just have to pick up where Ghiaccio left off and eliminate you all, including this woman..."
The last thing Junko ever wanted to see when she was unwillingly pulled into a Stand battle was for her to witness six of her companions who stayed behind in the mansion facing the enemy who had a tight grip on her neck that she could not move no matter how hard she tried pulling his arm off her. She has no idea where Blackmore is carrying her after he took her hostage, jumping from raindrop to raindrop while getting chased by Aerosmith and its user. If she was feeling frightened due to how high they were and Blackmore possibly killing her anytime soon, then she would be even more frightened looking at her companions who are all out for some reason.
Predictably, seeing another opponent take Junko hostage as lightning flashed took them all back into an alert state, with Lily shouting, "Junko-chan?!"
"A-Ah... Everyone..." Junko squeaked, whether through fear or Blackmore's arm on her neck disrupting her voice.
As the six still-vulnerable zombies stared at her and their next enemy in shock, Gyro squinted his eyes at him, wondering why he looked so familiar. Then, it hit him as he recognized his mask and hood.
"Johnny! That man... Isn't he the man who were chasing Lucy Steel back during the race in our world?" He pointed to Blackmore's mask, remembering he was wearing one during their short fight against him.
Displeased to see one of the many assassins who attempted to take their lives seemingly revived back, Johnny gritted his teeth, replying, "Tsk! No doubt he is! And the way I'm seeing this, we are not done yet, as we are up for a second fight against a new enemy."
Noticing their gazes filled with recognition of the enemy and listening to their conversation, Mamezuku asks, "You two know that guy?"
"Yeah. Johnny and I only met him for a short time, but we couldn't forget his appearance and his attempt on our lives during the race towards Kansas City," Gyro unbuttons one holster containing his one steel ball. "If he is here, then it likely means he has already activated his ability."
"His ability? What is his ability then?" Yugiri inquired, shielding Lily from the enemy for her protection.
Gyro was about to answer her when someone rushed past him. Upon seeing who passed them just now causes him and Johnny to let out a choke of surprise, as the latter exclaims, "Hey Tae! Get back here! It's dangerous to engage him in a close-up fight!"
"Eh? Why did you say that?" Lily asks, wondering what's got him so worked up. Running footsteps are heard in front of them, separate from Tae's own. "M-Mamezuku-san?"
"He better not think on attacking the enemy directly too!" Johnny hoped. "If he hadn't realized it yet, he and Tae would get attacked by ｢raindrops｣!"
"Raindrops...?" Yugiri repeated, feeling dreadful because it is raining.
"RAAAAAAAAAAGGGGHHHHHH!" Any form of rational thought in the unawakened brain of hers faded away as Tae went berserk when she saw her favorite literal chew toy taken hostage by the hooded, evil man. Running in four legs, Tae jumped in the air with her mouth open, shooting him an angry glare as she prepared to bite his arm that had a grip on Junko. Blackmore turned to her with a disinterested look, while Junko had a horrified one, knowing what would happen next.
"Tae-chan! Don't-!"
"Doggy Style!"
To her relief, a hand gripped Tae's right shoulder, stopping her from charging forward. Thus, he managed to prevent Tae from almost getting her face and head pierced by stationary raindrops caused by Blackmore.
As the zombie plopped onto the ground with a splash, Junko had a double take when she noticed Mamezuku's arm seemed to have been severed, with strips of rope spiraling out from its stump. Following the rope led her to see Mamezuku standing in the rain with his right forearm seemingly missing at first glance. It didn't take long for her to realize it must be his Stand ability, especially made prevalent by Doggy Style manifesting behind him, on top of his body being coated in a light blue aura.
"Hm..." Blackmore remained calm despite failing to inflict any damage on the feral zombie. The zombie attempted to stand up only for another arm to grab its head and force it back down onto the ground.
"Mmmphf!"
"Don't move. Any slight movement and the floating raindrops will penetrate your body, starting with your head," Mamezuku warned her, a displeased expression on his face even though he managed to prevent Tae from carelessly damaging herself. "Sigh... Good thing I made it in time. Who would have thought raindrops could become such a deadly weapon by stabilizing them to the point they become hard as ice? If I hadn't acted quickly and found a safe space between the stabilized drops, then Tae would have gotten sliced and even killed by the enemy."
Emphasizing his statement, Peel Planter eyes the many floating raindrops surrounding his body by a mere inch. It seems as though Blackmore has already halted many of the raindrops running towards him. It would seem that Blackmore was able to stop them from doing any significant damage to him, such as causing harm or drowning him, thanks to Mamezuku's quick thinking and analytical mind kicking in.
Seeing Blackmore seemingly distracted by Mamezuku and Tae, Johnny and Gyro move in to attack their former opponent from a distance. Aiming one finger from his damaged hand, Johnny decides to use it to suck his hand into the hole and properly aim his nail bullets at Blackmore's head, meaning he doesn't have to move close in order to deal significant damage. "Alright! This is our chance! Come on Gyro! Let's help them!"
"Right behind you, Johnny!" Feeling his steel ball charged up with enough Spin energy, Gyro opts to repeat the same strategy he used in defeating Blackmore. Even with the ability to stop raindrops and let them float in mid-air, they are still watery raindrops, meaning any friction made will cause them to evaporate back into vapor and the thrown steel ball will continue its momentum due to the Spin.
Preparing his right arm to propel the steel ball, Gyro believes he and Johnny will end this fight before it can drag on any further and cause any more damage from the rain. "Here goes! OOOO-"
スヴァッ
"Raaah!"
"Nnngh-!"
Unfortunately, Johnny and Gyro didn't get to land an attack when their wrists were sliced by something sharp. Blood gushed out from their wounds as the pain made its way to their arms.
"Ooouugghhh!" W-What the hell!?" Johnny cursed, seeing his hand has a bloody hole on his palm. The pain is enough to stop him from clenching it into a fist. He has to use his other hand to cover his palm and prevent blood from flowing out.
"Johnny-han!?" Yugiri called out in concern. "What on earth happened to your hand?"
"H-Hell if I know!" He exclaimed as he wondered who pierced his palm before he could attack. "Something stabbed my hand, that's for sure!"
"Then... what attacked us?" Gyro questioned, gripping his wrist to stem the blood flow. "It couldn't be the raindrops, right? The enemy is far from us, so how did...?"
Amidst the confusion, a watery tendril manifests behind Yugiri and Lily. With their backs turned including Johnny and Gyro, the tendril is free to stab the two in their vital spots, preferably their head. Their bodyguards would be none the wiser when it moves in for the kill. Not delaying this any longer, the water tendril jumps up high aided by the rain, reaching to their heads for a swift kill without them knowing...
At least, it would happen if it weren't for a miniature plane appearing just in time to block the tendril's path to their heads.
"AEROSMITH!"
ドガガガガガ
Bullets ripped the tendril apart, who couldn't move away in time due to the element of surprise. The four hear bullets being fired and the propeller spinning behind them, prompting them to turn around and watch as Aerosmith finished ripping Catch the Rainbow's secondary ability.
Wary of the airplane's appearance, Yugiri and Lily went behind Johnny and Gyro as the latter asked, "What is that flying object? Another enemy Stand?"
"Oh come on! We are going to face a third enemy Stand?!" Johnny lets out in exasperation. He's definitely not looking forward to juggling two enemy Stands while they are pretty much unable to attack.
While they were thinking this, they were facing off against an airplane stand. Blackmore resisted grunting in pain as his left hand was wounded due to his water tendril being decimated by bullets. The wounded hand happened to be on the arm holding Junko hostage. Noticing his wounded hand, as well as hearing the sound of rapid fire coming from behind them, her eyes lit up in hope because Johnny, Gyro, and Mamezuku would no longer be fighting against Blackmore alone.
Her assumption is proven correct when Narancia's voice cuts through the splashing rain as Aerosmith flies above everyone with a single target in mind.
"I finally found you! Time for you to get shot with bullets and release Junko!"
"Hmph. So he made it. He's quite a stubborn fool," Blackmore stated in displeasure. "Well then, I'll just have to keep myself away from his Stand and bring a swift end to this girl."
Fear strikes her heart again. Seems like Blackmore is determined to keep himself alive as long as possible. But then, a thought came to her.
His hand got wounded thanks to Narancia's timely arrival. I assume the enemy has his water tendril out to strike everyone before they realize it was there, but Aerosmith shoots it before it can do anything. I guess that is why this hand got wounded, which has something to do with Stands getting attacked that is reflected back to its user. The enemy is hurt, even though he tried hiding it...
If I have to make it to the end of the fight alive, then perhaps I must take action so Narancia can attack the enemy without me on the way!
Aerosmith came into their views, flying between them and Mamezuku, who eyes the Stand with interest and knowledge it belongs to Narancia after hearing his voice. Said person enters the scene giving Blackmore a glare for not only taking Junko hostage, but also, involving his new friends, both Stand Users and not, in their fight. He has no idea why they are outside when they should be staying inside the mansion, but after taking a glance at Johnny and Gyro, he believes they have a fight against that enemy Stand.
But he has no time to think about that as Junko's life is on the line at the hands of the hooded masked enemy.
"Narancia-han!" Yugiri regards him with a look, equal parts worried and relieved to see him.
"Thank goodness you arrived, Narancia. We could really use some help in dealing with this enemy," Gyro smiled at him, hoping he could turn the tide of battle in their favor. "As you can see, me and Johnny are pretty much sitting ducks because our hands got injured so much they're unable to be used for our abilities. Well, I do have one healthy hand, but it's busy stopping blood from flowing out of my wrist."
Narancia remained silent as he walked past them, and Mamezuku, who was still stuck due to the floating raindrops. He stopped next to him, wisely staying behind so he did not get injured from getting pierced by the raindrops while walking through them.
Miffed that he passed them by without bothering to reply, Gyro says, "Hey! It's rude to ignore someone who wants to talk with you. You could have just said even a short sentence!"
"Shush Gyro. Narancia is focused on the enemy." Johnny scolded him.
Aerosmith's propeller hovers dangerously close to Blackmore's face, threatening to slice his mask and face apart if he tries anything against Junko, who has a look of conviction instead of fear like he expected given her personality. As for Tae, she eventually relents to lying on the ground after repeated attempts to get up that Mamezuku's detached arms did not allow. She opts to watch Blackmore's and Junko's feet since her head is forced down by Peel Planter.
Pointing one finger and glaring daggers at Blackmore, Narancia warns, "You better release Junko right now, or else Aerosmith will slice your face apart with its propellers."
"...If you really want to set her free, then you should think of her well-being first before you go and attack me," Blackmore taunted, pointing out what would happen if Aerosmith didn't get him. "You wouldn't want her to get riddled with your bullets. If you attack me now while I have her, it could spell disaster not only to me, but to her as well, right?"
"Grr!" Narancia growled, wanting to just blow this asshole to kingdom come if Junko isn't in the way.
"Well, in any case..." Blackmore moves his mask above his head, revealing his face to him and everyone. As he has been wearing his mask the whole time, it's hard to gauge his expression even if his tone and body gestures are enough for one to read what he is feeling. Now, they are able to see what he's exactly feeling, which they guess that it's anything but pleasant for them. "I have to kill this girl before I move on to killing the rest of you. Do not worry though. I'll make her death as quick and painless as possible, and I will apply it to all of you as well."
"No! Please spare Junko-san!" Lily protested with a horrified expression, not wanting to see her fellow friends die at the hands of a killer.
"Bastard... If you dare take her life...!" Johnny gritted his teeth in anger, cursing himself as he tried aiming his other hand despite the stinging pain.
As if understanding what Blackmore is saying, Tae lets out a growl as she then tries to stand up and attack Blackmore before he kills Junko. "Tae, please! You will get pierced by the rain if you try standing up!" Mamezuku urged her to stay put even though he wants to put an end to the enemy for daring to kill someone he is okay with through strangling him if not for the raindrops.
Manifesting a sharp blade from melded raindrops, Blackmore raises his hand as he says, "All of you will repent for your collective sins! Have time to repent... in another world where you living corpses belong to!" He then swings his hand to plunge the watery knife to Junko, thus ending her undead life and bringing her back to the afterlife...
"Junko-chaaaan!" Lily cries out, tears flowing out from her eyes as she realizes she's about to die.
Instead of screaming in fear that her second life is about to be forfeit, Junko, in an uncharacteristic deep tone, has this to say to Blackmore.
"...I'm very sorry for what I will about to do next. But, you leave me no choice!"
ガブゥッ
"AAAAGGGHHH!"
Blackmore screamed in pain when Junko made an unprecedented move of ｢biting｣ his wounded hand hard enough that he lets go of the water blade as pain occupies his mind for a moment. Feeling the grip on her neck loosen, Junko then elbows his stomach as she lets go of his hand, leading her to run free away from him, pulling Tae off the ground and rushing past Narancia, who is left surprised at her bold move.
"Narancia! Do it!"
"Gotcha! Aerosmith!"
Seizing the window of opportunity, Aerosmith flies toward Blackmore, who managed to recover enough for him to realize too late Aerosmith is about to crash into him, propeller first.
ドゴォォォォォォ
"Bugyaa-!?"
Blackmore lets out, feeling his torso and abdomen getting sliced by the propellers painfully as he is carried up in the air, away from the mansion's gate as Aerosmith swerves in a U-turn up high above everyone.
Bearing a piercing glare directed at the enemy, Narancia has this to say in a loud voice. "You're gonna pay for injuring and attempting to kill my friends! If you thought you could survive this because you can blend with the rain and plug holes in your wounds, think twice! You are already sliced apart by the propellers, and next, I'm gonna fill your body with LEAD!"
Narancia's next action is unleashed before everyone's eyes as they witness his fiery will through the sound of machine guns riddling Blackmore with holes.
ドガガガガガ
"VOLA VOLA VOLA VOLA VOLA VOLA VOLA VOLA VOLA VOLA VOLA VOLA...! VOLAAAAAAAAA!"
"VOLARE VIIIIIAAAAAAA!"
"GYAAAAAHHHHH!"
Blackmore's apparent dying scream reverberated in everyone's ears as he fell on the ground with a splash. Since it is dark, they are unable or barely see blood flowing out from his wounds mixing with the rain and puddle.
Staring at his still form, being cautious if he's gonna stand up after taking the full brunt of Aerosmith's attack, seeing he hasn't made any move for about five seconds lets them breath out a sigh of relief. "So... The fight is over." Yugiri said.
"It is over. There's no way he survived getting ripped apart by bullets," Johnny assures her and everyone, holding his wounded hand with a grimace. "For all I know, he was already half-dead by the time he got here."
"Uh huh. That's exactly what happened when we fought him," Gyro reaffirmed Johnny's statement, kneeling before him to inspect his wound while ignoring his own. "Just one steel ball to his face and he's gone. From what I can remember, he was riddled with bullets before he confronted us, right Johnny?"
"Yeah. I think so."
"A-Ah! T-Tae-chan! Please don't bite my head!"
Everyone turns to Junko trying to pry the feral zombie off her head. Tae either doesn't mind her trying pry her off or ignores her protest as she continues chewing her head lightly. She turns her pleading eyes to Narancia and Mamezuku and asks, "Y-You two. Please, get Tae-chan off me!"
"Right! Hey Tae! Can't you see she's uncomfortable of you biting you! I wish you stop doing that and-"
"Actually, leave Tae be, Narancia," Mamezuku suddenly told him, extending his now-whole left arm to block his way. He and Junko looked at him like he just told them a rather controversial opinion.
"What are you saying!? I have a feeling the last thing Junko wanted is having Tae biting her!" He tried to protest, only for Mamezuku to quickly give him and Junko a good reason. "I believe that's the first thing Tae ever wanted to give Junko. She might have been concerned for her when she saw her locked in the enemy's arms, causing her to charge ahead without thought. My guess is Tae wanted to comfort Junko through the only thing she knows how: chewing her lightly."
Predictably, Narancia and Junko, including the four, look at him with incredulous looks. While they do find his reasoning to be absurd, seeing Tae hugging her and lightly chewing her head in an oddly affectionate way seems to dispel any thought of pulling Tae off Junko. In fact, now that they are looking at her with the knowledge that she is likely concerned for her, it appears she is not being rough on her and Junko herself isn't really feeling uncomfortable at all.
"I... I think you are right, Mamezuku-san," Junko conceded. "Maybe... Maybe this is what I needed after getting caught by the enemy. Some sense of normalcy. Well, as normal as our zombie lives can be."
"Mmmpphhfff..." Tae's muffled sound came out from her mouth as she continues chewing her.
"Hmm, I guess we sort of needed this," Lily admitted. "We were attacked by some guy with a Stand that can freeze anything it touches. I did not expect another enemy will go and attack us when we thought we can rest."
"Huh? You were attacked by a separate enemy Stand?" Narancia asks her, not expecting to hear they were engaged in a separate fight.
"Correct," Yugiri lets out a sigh. "Our opponent gave Johnny-han, Gyro-han and Mamezuku-han a bit of trouble due to its freezing ability. Thankfully, they managed to find his weakness and use it against the enemy to kill him off. As to who our opponent is, he might be Italian and his Stand's name is White Album."
"An Italian enemy? And his Stand is White Album? Hm, I wonder..." Narancia has a contemplative look, possibly recognizing who Yugiri is talking about.
"Say Narancia, I have to ask," Junko speaks up after managing to get Tae off her, albeit gently, that the zombie surprisingly complied once she sees her okay. "Where is Kakyoin-san and Sakura-chan? Did you... left them behind when you pursued our enemy?"
Realizing Junko is right, Narancia lets out a chuckle and a sheepish smile, feeling everyone's eyes drilling on him after they realize Sakura and Kakyoin are not present with him. "Errr, weeeeellll... I guess I did... left them behind...?"
"Left behind who, Narancia?"
As if getting nervous thanks to Junko's question is not enough, then hearing Bucciarati's stern voice would. Turning around, Narancia tries to keep up a calm front as he regards Bucciarati with a nervous smile. "Ah, Bucciarati! You finally arrived! We were, err... w-wondering why you and Avdol are... taking so... long...?"
Any thought of relief that Avdol, Bucciarati and Saki came back after they found Ai is dispelled when they see the two Stand Users' battered states. Their clothes are ragged and torn apart, with Bucciarati not wearing his shirt and Avdol missing his red robe. Bucciarati's body, in particular, seems to cause Yugiri and Junko to blush upon seeing his well-toned upper body, but they quickly brush it off as they want to know what got them so debilitated.
As for Number Two and Three, they didn't paid heed to their concerned looks, as Saki says, "Hm? Why's everyone outside at this hour?"
"...Shouldn't you all have stayed inside and waited for us?" Ai pointed out.
"Yeah, about that..." Gyro rubs his head before he reveals why they are outside instead of waiting for them inside. "We were attacked by an enemy Stand that appeared in the mansion, which we lead him out so we can properly fight him."
"An enemy Stand?" Avdol repeated. "All of you were attacked and fought off an enemy Stand?"
Recognizing this is a serious matter, Narancia nodded, stating, "That's right. Johnny, Gyro, Mamezuku, Yugiri, Lily and Tae got attacked by White Album, while Junko and I dealt with a hooded guy Johnny and Gyro apparently knows, using his Stand called Catch the Rainbow."
Surprised to hear each group were attacked by two enemy Stands, Bucciarati tells everyone they have fought against an enemy Stand too, which takes the form of a tornado that relentlessly pursued the four. Mimicking his reaction, the uninformed group did not contain their surprise when they heard a separate Stand battle occurred.
"So all of us were engaged in three Stand fights where two enemies are disposed by us and Johnny, while Narancia has to deal with Blackmore who pounced on Johnny's group after they defeated their opponent, before he managed to kill him," Bucciarati sums up what they have been doing during the search for Ai and Junko. "To think our main enemy would be so bold enough to sic three powerful enemy Stands on all of us, even not letting Johnny's group some rest before they deal with another opponent... It appears after this is over, Rianima will have to contend with powerful and dangerous enemy Stands."
"If I may, Bucciarati-san," Mamezuku speaks up to offer him words of advice. "If Avdol stayed with us instead of going with you and Saki, he would have defeated White Album thanks to his Magician's Red being an ideal counter to his ice ability. And if Narancia stayed with you, I believe Aerosmith can deal with the tornado Stand through dropping a bomb as it was sucked in. The wind is fast enough to give it cutting power, so the moment the bomb is near it, the explosion will surely severely hurt it."
"I see... You are wondering that if we have someone who can counter the enemy's ability, then it would make our fights a lot easier," He gives a rundown on what he wants to tell him. "I understand your opinion as we learn something from our fights, but just to be clear, we were all caught off-guard or ambushed by our opponents and have to take damage before we can land a serious hit on them."
"Do not worry Bucciarati-san. I do not mean to discourage and admonish you and everyone," Mamezuku added so they do not have a wrong idea of his intention. "What I'm saying and hoping is that we must strategize first so we do not get caught off-guard by future opponents."
"Okay. Thank you for offering me advice," He smiled at him in appreciation, which he returned with a nod. "Now then, back to what I was about to ask you Narancia..."
"Alright, alright, look. I didn't want to leave Sakura and Kakyoin behind," Narancia starts speaking once he sees everyone will interpret him leaving the two behind in a wrong way. "With Junko being taken hostage and not wanting to lose sight of him, I have no choice but to give chase. It's just so happens that bastardo really took a long way in an attempt to make me lose sight of him before I found him near our homes."
"I believe you do not need us to explain how the fight went." Saki said.
"Uh huh. All it matters is that Junko broke free from the enemy, by biting his hand before leaving me to freely shoot him down with bullets before dropping a bomb on him. If she hadn't made that move, Blackmore would have killed her before I can act. With him gone, I believe this is a perfect time for us to return being our zombie selves."
"Well, about that..." Lily sounds unsure about becoming zombie again. "Why is it taking so long? It should have happened a minute ago!"
Her statement makes them realize that they still remain human even though the fight is over. Johnny, Gyro, Bucciarati, Avdol and Narancia still have their injuries dripping with blood, so why it hasn't been healed?
ゴゴゴゴゴゴゴゴ
"...This is... This is not right..." Junko stammered, feeling nervous all of a sudden.
"We defeated our last enemy, right? We all saw Narancia shred and shot Blackmore without stop and is lying on the pool of his own blood over..." Gyro turns to where Blackmore's body lay...
...only to find just a puddle with hints of blood in it.
"...there?" He finished the sentence in a confusing tone when he sees nothing.
!?
Predictably, the absence of Blackmore's body put everyone on high alert, as they assumed he had somehow survived Narancia's attack and was likely up for another round of fighting.
What the hell!? Where is the enemy?! Don't tell me he is still alive and kicking!?" Narancia frantically exclaimed, summoning Aerosmith again and a radar to detect the enemy's presence.
"This is bad! Every girls but Sakura are accounted for!" Bucciarati stated, motioning Franchouchou to huddle up together with him, Avdol and Mamezuku. "It's hard to imagine that the enemy recovered despite its fatal injuries, but if we are not getting turned back into zombies, it means the fight is still far from over!"
"So then, where is the enemy? Where did he go?" Lily asked, looking left and right for any signs of the enemy.
A cut appeared on her cheek, making her notice as it drips a small trinket of blood. Eh? My cheek has a cut? How did I get this?
"Ow!"
"Ai!?"
The kid turns to Ai grimacing in pain because her left foot got wounded when something pierced it, causing her to drop on the ground. Everyone who are with her kneeled before her in concern, with Yugiri and Bucciarati inspecting her wound. "Ai-han, how did you get this wound? You were standing all the time, so why did it got wounded?"
"I... I don't know," Ai replied. "I felt something wet drop on my foot and before I know it, pain traveled through my body as I dropped down."
Something wet? Gyro thought of Ai's choice of words. Her foot was struck by water before it got wounded? Why does that thought sound familiar...
...Crap! I have to warn them before it's too late!
Unfortunately, Gyro didn't get the chance to warn them because a heavy raindrops fell upon the group, showering them all with many cuts and wounds on their skin and clothes.
"AAAAAGGGGGGHHHHH!" Everyone let out a cry as they feel their bodies cut open wounds, both big and small, as the heavy rain and burning pain forces them to drop on the ground. The one who are not struck by slicing rain is Narancia, who have watched them wounded from many cuts in horror. On his radar, he sees a small blip in the center, directly above him, leading him to look up in anger as Aerosmith flies toward the enemy.
"Found you, cazzo! Aerosmith!"
ドガガガガ
Aerosmith didn't get that far up high to reach Blackmore when he is next in getting pelted by the rain.
"GYAAAHHHH!" Narancia screamed in pain before he crouched on the ground, catching himself when he involuntarily fell.
Feeling his body filled with many wounds dripping with blood, Narancia forced his head up as he turns to his companions, who are all trying to push themselves up despite the pain or remained on the ground trying to resist the pain coursing through their bodies. Lily, Junko, Ai and Johnny are the ones in the latter category while the rest are in the former.
Before anyone can say anything, they heard a chilling voice above them, filled with venom being spat upon them because they haven't been slayed by his hands. "I guess I have dragged this one-sided fight long enough. It's time for all of you to die, with the rain being the last weather you will ever see in your pathetic lives!"
Rumbling thunder is heard before the rain increases in number, hitting their bodies hard. Realizing what will happen next, everyone tried standing up but their wounds made it hard for them to steady their body, with Saki, Yugiri, Avdol, Bucciarati and Mamezuku almost making it before their body gave in.
"T-This... This is bad! We have to take cover f-from... the rain!" Ai warned, holding her right shoulder that is bleeding profusely.
"G-Goddammit! Come on... Moooooove!" Saki gritted her teeth as she forced herself to get up despite her knees being wounded.
"Ma... Magician's Red...!" Avdol called out his Stand, intending to create a fire shield that is hot enough to evaporate the rain. He fears however that it might not be enough because the rain is pouring heavily.
Not willing to let Blackmore get his way, Narancia aimed Aerosmith to him again, only be met with a stabbing wound in his abdomen, causing him to cry out in pain.
"Narancia!" Bucciarati called out in concern, recognizing he's deeply hurt. Sticky Fingers come out to retrieve him when everyone heard Blackmore's shout.
"Now, time to repent for your sins! In this world and in another world!"
Looking down upon them as he stands on stabilized raindrops high above them, Blackmore extends his arm as he commands the rain to give it cutting power. Since they are made powerless by his sneak attack, he is sure they will be dead in no time.
"HIEROPHANT GREEN!"
! !
Blackmore hears a certain man call out his Stand's name and before his eyes, multiple green and white tendrils slithered out from the humanoid Stand's chest below him quickly. The tendrils proceed to latch on anything as long as it has something to grab on, before all tendrils grab one end of each rope or the rope itself to create a cover that prevented any rain from entering. This process repeated for every space and tendril until eventually, a dome-shaped barrier covered all of his targets.
"...So he tried protecting his friends by creating a barrier to cover the rain. Hmph, how touching... and foolish." Raising his hand, Blackmore made the rain sharper above and around him, before exclaiming, "Let's see if your barrier can hold up against the rain..."
The rain fell against the barrier and Blackmore could only just stand and watch as the barrier was torn apart, killing the occupants inside...
ドバァァッ
!?
"What?!"
Emeralds shot out from the barrier's exposed green skin to deflect the rain and give the barrier extra protection. Blackmore was certainly not expecting him to come up with this strategy. But he composed himself before declaring, "So you thought the barrier would just shoot out emeralds in vain hope of keeping the rain off of it?! Let's see if it can produce enough emeralds against a thousand raindrops! Catch the Rainbow!"
Blackmore never let up the barrage of rain targeting the barrier, and so, raindrops and emeralds continue to slice and deflect each other, with the barrier only has a minor damage from stray raindrops whole Blackmore dodges or deflects stray emeralds hurled in his way.
Inside the barrier...
"Everyone, are you all right? I apologize for taking so long to arrive!"
Kakyoin tried not to wince at the sight of his friends' wounded states inflicted by Blackmore. He never thought the enemy would get so far in manipulating the rain to slash their bodies by giving them a shower. If he had taken so long to get here, then they would all be dead
"Oh dear... I didn't expect he would hurt you all so badly."
Sakura has a sympathetic look on all of them, wanting to avert her eyes off of them so she does not see the blood flow from their many wounds. She can tell they are barely enduring the pain, with Bucciarati, Gyro, Saki, and Yugiri nursing or comforting everyone to slightly ease their pain. She never declined a chance to ease anyone's pain; she looked after Junko and Ai, both of whom were happy for her attempt to comfort them.
Instead of answering Kakyoin, everyone aside from Junko turned to Sakura in surprise, confusion and wonder because she's the only one who didn't turn human. Some of them, like Gyro, Ai, Lily and Saki, seem to envy her because she is lucky to only feel pain but not get fatally injured at all.
"Uh Sakura, why did you remain as a zombie? I expected ya to become defenseless as a normal human." Saki asked her.
"Well, I wish I had an answer for it, but I'm as stumped as you are," Sakura sighed. "I don't know why I was excluded while all of you became humans, but I believe finding that out will be difficult considering we are in the middle of a fight here."
"Tsk! Yeah... Dealin' with an enemy Stand? Sure, I can handle surviving or escaping from it. But having to confront a second one? No thanks! I have enough Stands for one night!"
"...Second enemy Stand?" Sakura repeated.
"Are you saying Bucciarati's and Johnny's group got ambushed by separate enemy Stands?" Kakyoin guessed.
"That's right, Kakyoin," Avdol nodded, bearing a large bleeding wound on his chest as well as small ones in his hands, face and legs. "Bucciarati and I faced and defeated a tornado Stand. It gave us a chase before we killed it."
"And I have to deal with an angry Italian man with a suit that can freeze anything it touches!" Johnny told him, holding a large wound on the side of his abdomen. He is lucky to not get stabbed on the main body part, otherwise he would be in agonizing pain. "We have just defeated him when Blackmore appeared to take his spot and forced us into a fight against him!"
"I see. I never expected three fights are occurring all at once," Kakyoin lets out a sigh. "Me and Narancia should have killed off our opponent and not let all of you share our struggle against him. And because of that, it caused you all to get seriously injured."
"Your concern is touching, but don't blame yourself, Kakyoin. What mattered most of all is we have to stop the enemy," Bucciarati assures him, standing up slowly with the intent of seeing this through to the end. "I can see you are now struggling to keep the barrier stable as it is continuously getting attacked by Blackmore's raindrops and you yourself are getting small wounds on your hands."
He's not wrong, as Kakyoin looks at his hands, which are getting slowly riddled with cuts. It is not painful for him, but it will be uncomfortable if this continues. "I have used Hierophant Green to create a barrier of tendrils that can shoot emeralds against the rain. It is a desperate move to cover and protect all of you from the enemy's attacks, but we have to act now before the rain becomes too much for my Stand."
"That's right! We have to defeat the enemy before Kakyoin is overwhelmed!" Sakura said. She knows she's not gonna enjoy not getting soaked from the rain as long as the barrier is up. At this moment, they are rendered sitting ducks under the enemy's might.
"There is one problem though," Gyro speaks up, forced to sit on the ground because his feet got wounded. "As long as there is rain for Blackmore, any attack we did to him will be nothing because he will just heal itself back up and continue. When Johnny and I defeated him back when we were in the race, the storm has let up, therefore Blackmore stays dead for good."
"Oh? You two encountered him before?" Kakyoin inquired. A nod from Johnny confirms it.
"So the rain will nourish him again and again regardless of the damage we inflict on him? Dammit..." Narancia punches the ground in frustration, which only aggravate the wound on his hand, not that he cared. "It doesn't seem like the rain will stop anytime soon, continuing for the whole night, so my best bet is that we have to find a way to prevent the rain from falling on the enemy. Probably a cover placed on top of him could work."
A cover... Wait, that's it!
"Narancia! Thank you for proposing a strategy to us!" Kakyoin thanked him. "I think we do have a way to put Blackmore in the corner!"
"Huh? Really?" Narancia turned to him with a surprised look, certainly not expecting his idea would be accepted.
"Hmm... The rain does not fall upon us because of the barrier..." Yugiri noted, having received many large cuts on her arms and legs because she protected Lily earlier. "Ah! I believe Kakyoin-han's timely arrival is what we needed!"
"Urrrrgghhhh...?" Tae groans in a confused tone, ignoring her bleeding hands and back.
"A-Are you sure the plan will work?" Junko asked, feeling tears threatening to spill from her eyes because of the stinging pain on her waist and ankle.
"It is a desperate move, but it's the only choice we have to stop Blackmore from using the rain to attack," Kakyoin admitted, determination steeling his eyes in anticipation of finally defeating Blackmore. "If I may, we have to discuss how the plan will go. Is that okay with you, Bucciarati-san?"
Zipper Man nodded in approval, as well as the rest of Rianima. "Very well. We will tell you what the other's Stands are and how they work. Now, what is your strategy?"
Outside the barrier...
Despite seeing the barrier is gradually using less tendrils to replace the sliced ones in place, Blackmore is getting impatient of his attempt to cut open the barrier. The emeralds really did their job of deflecting most of the raindrops as extra protection. At this point, he is getting nowhere even if he increased the frequency of the rainfall and cutting strength.
Just when he thought of employing direct measures to slice open the barrier, he starts noticing the emeralds slowly, but surely, stop shooting because there are few emeralds being shot out.
"...So you have finally given up on using your Stand to protect your comrades," Blackmore sneered at Kakyoin, not caring if he's able to hear him or not. "Well then... Catch the Rainbow! Tore this barrier apart at last!"
The sound of tendrils getting sliced is like music to his ears as the barrier finally receded until there are no more tendrils to be found. Believing his targets are now exposed, Blackmore commands the rain to stab, pierce and puncture their bodies without mercy...
...At least, he would until he noticed no presence to be seen below him.
"What?" Lifting his mask up to see if he's imagining it, Blackmore can see no one is present on the spot where the barrier was erected. Since they are trapped there, escape is impossible for them. That is, unless a certain ability is used in an attempt to trick him that they simply vanished, when in reality, they are ｢hiding beneath the ground｣.
Bucciarati must be getting desperate to protect the girls and his group. Perhaps I must wait for them to come out. I'll just have to reinforce the rain to keep its slicing power which will pierce their heads the moment they come out. Now then, I'll just go down and wait close to the ground...
Stepping down stationary raindrops like he's stepping down the stairs, Blackmore's feet are a few meters above the ground as six raindrops hold his feet together. For some reason, he's not planning on stepping his feet on the pavement and choosing to hover above it like he's standing in thin air. He'll just have to wait for his targets to get impatient and come out from their hiding spots, hoping they will meet the rain piercing their heads before they can react.
However, Blackmore has a change of plan. He did think that Bucciarati used Sticky Fingers to create a zipper opening for everyone to hide themselves in. That's a feasible scenario he can think of to explain why they are not all present when the barrier broke down. Or perhaps, that is what they like for him to think so he would not notice someone using their Stands to immobilize him until it's too late.
"...Try ensnaring my body with your Stand or else you will see what will happen to you."
Blackmore didn't turn around when he spoke to Kakyoin, who has Hierophant Green brought out to capture him using the unraveled tendrils. The user stops his Stand's motion when he hears him speak up.
"...If you are thinking I am a coward for escaping from you after I have the Showa Idol and made it here, then I'm not," He continues speaking. "I have to take Ghiaccio's place when he's defeated by one group and continued where he left off. It is luck that the group that defeated Doobie Wah!, the tornado Stand, appeared before I showered them with multiple cuts and wounds. Perhaps you like it happen to you as well?" He then turns around, showing his glaring eyes that did not hide his utter contempt for him and his comrades.
"As if I would agree to that," Kakyoin refused, returning his glare with his own. "While part of me is frustrated I didn't get to capture you first, I shouldn't let it get to my head because of what will happen to you next." He smirks at the end.
"What?"
"RED BIND!"
"DOGGY STYLE!"
!?
Both of his hands and wrists got ensnared and gripped respectively by a flaming rope that is hot enough to evaporate the rain and unraveled wire rope that covered most of his forearm. Feeling they got him, Avdol and Mamezuku come out from a zipper opening that have just appeared on the ground, their respective Stands hovering behind them.
"Yes! We got him!" Avdol exclaimed in delight.
Undeterred, Blackmore is about to cut the ropes apart with the rain but Kakyoin, knowing what he will do next, proceeds to cover his entire body with Hierophant Green's tendrils and restrain his movement.
"Grr...! Nnnnnnggghhhhh!" Blackmore struggles within their grip, angry and distressed by the many ropes wrapping his body. To think he fell into their trap that is a part of a ruse to direct his thoughts to what he believes to be their escape plan. If ensnaring him is not enough, then Kakyoin conjuring another barrier that covers everyone including him will further put him in a disadvantage, because he realizes Kakyoin's intention of applying cover to them: it's to prevent the rain from falling on them.
I see... That's an impressive strategy they made...! I already heard that they have the potential of working together as a competent Stand group, but this just proves it!
With Blackmore trapped, the rest of the group came out from a large zipper and saw he was immobilized. Bucciarati, Narancia, Johnny and Gyro quickly surround him, summoning their Stands close to him in case he tries retaliating.
Seeing the enemy that has caused nothing but trouble for them, Saki hollered in amusement, exclaiming, "Haha! You guys managed to get that prick!"
"It's all thanks to Kakyoin-san that they got the enemy where they wanted him be!" Lily shares her enthusiasm for seeing the enemy at a disadvantage.
"It's too early for us to celebrate," Ai told them, cautious of what the enemy is planning even if he's trapped. "We must stay cautious until the enemy is absolutely dead."
"Yeah! I have a feeling this plan is not foolproof and may fall apart in an unexpected way!" Sakura agreed with Ai.
"Hey, at least be glad our bodyguards worked together to catch him." Saki remarked.
"I know, I know. But still! I can't help but feel worried!" Sakura stated.
ドドドドドドドド
As rain continues pouring against the Tentacle Barrier, the assembled zombies look at their opponent, the elusive Blackmore, calmly staring all of them down despite being at a disadvantage. Without uttering any words, they didn't dare avert their eyes under the possibility they might miss their next move. When it seems like this silence will be broken by anyone speaking up, Blackmore decides to indulge in his curiosity over the fourteen zombies' efforts to continue living in spite of having no place in society as undead. "Tell me mister Bruno. Are you fine being a zombie, in a world where such creatures have no place in it and are usually seen as monsters?"
"What?" Bucciarati lets out, not expecting he would choose this moment to ask him. "You're asking me a question?'
"Is it weird for even an enemy like me to ask one?" He remarked. "I just wanted to indulge my own curiosity over your desire to keep living as a zombie. Well? Are you gonna answer me or not?"
"Don't listen to him! Just kill him and get this over with!" Johnny told Bruno as he continued pointing his finger to Blackmore, with Tusk ACT3 behind him.
While Bucciarati wanted to defeat him, seeing Blackmore asking him makes him realize that this is his chance to get information about Blackmore's superior. While Rianima did a great job in defeating enemy Stands across Saga, they haven't gotten any lick of clues about their main enemy that has been supplying Saga with enemy Stands. It doesn't help that the past enemies don't have the capacity to speak or have limited speech, so they have no way of talking with them.
Now that they have someone who can act and speak normally, Bucciarati decides to seize this chance of getting info.
"If I answer your question, may I ask you too?"
"Bucciarati!?"
Everyone turned to him incredulously when he decided to hear their enemy out. For all they know, Blackmore could be taking advantage of having a conversation to break out of the ropes and continue his attack.
Narancia turned to him with an agitated look and exclaimed, "What are you saying, Bucciarati!? This bastardo is making you waste our time in finally killing him! Don't say anything to him, please!"
"I know that all of you are concerned that I'm taking a risk in having a talk with Blackmore," Bucciarati remains calm and collected as Sticky Fingers reaches out its hand to insert a zipper on Blackmore's throat. "But the way I see this, this is our only chance to get info about the man behind the attempts on our lives and Saga. Tatsumi only know about the enemy Stands we are up against but not the one who is issuing command on them to kill us. This may take long, but I'm hoping the results outweigh the risk we are in."
While they still have reservations, everyone sees his reasoning solid. It is true they haven't learned anything about the man who wants to destroy Saga. This chance will not come in the future, so they have to seize it as long as Rianima got everything under control.
Blackmore repeated the question when he sees Bucciarati willing to talk with him. "I'll ask you again, mister Bruno. What's it like being revived as a zombie, in a world where you are all seen as monsters?"
"...If I am completely honest," Bucciarati began. "Living as a zombie is...certainly interesting. Even three months later, I cannot get over the idea of Tatsumi reviving us from the dead to, in his own words, save Saga through idol singing and becoming protectors of them and Saga. If I choose to decline the role of bodyguard, I would have returned to Italy with Narancia to continue my previous life as a gangster. In fact, Ai and Junko planned to leave Saga behind after they had woken up despite not thinking about the public's reaction to walking corpses and honestly, I can't blame them for doing it." The two idols avert their eyes when they heard him bring up the incident.
"But! Just because I was forced back to the living as an undead doesn't mean I won't waste my second chance to make a difference in a world full of lies and conflict," Bucciarati glares to Blackmore with eyes full of ｢resolve｣ as he continues his speech about being a zombie pushed to the spotlight after his awakening. "We may have to seclude ourselves from the public as we follow signor Tatsumi's preposterous goal but if your master has every intention to kill us, especially Franchouchou, they should be ready for us because when we find them, our retaliation will be swift and without mercy. In spite of many questions I have regarding his intentions, I believe Tatsumi and his unknown acquaintance wants us to get used living as a zombie if they chose us to be revived. In given time, you will know for sure that us being zombies will not hinder us from continuing living, and whatever you think of us doesn't matter in our eyes. At the end of the day, we will take on anything we may face! Even against odds!"
His impassioned speech alone has done a great job rousing everyone up. Whether it's his charisma or the content of his speech, the zombies believe that they can take anything that is thrown at them as long as they accept their undead life and make the best of it. They may be from different eras or reality and have different professions and quirks, but they are not detriments for their desire to ｢live｣.
As long as they are together, they can do anything they have their heart set on, no matter how impossible it seems.
After Bucciarati is done, Blackmore appears to like his long answer. Though his expressionless face makes it hard if he did like it or not, but his next statement may have confirmed it. "I see. An interesting response. I believe you will all strive to keep on living in spite of your own disadvantages."
"That sums up what I said to you." Bucciarati said.
"Hmph. Well then... In exchange, I'm willing to inform you all about the man who brought me here in Saga..."
Everyone lets out murmurs of surprise that Blackmore chooses to keep his word. If he wasn't their enemy, then they would have liked him a little.
"Who is this man who had caused us no end of trouble? What is his motivation?" Bucciarati questioned, having Sticky Fingers at standby.
"Well, I find his reasoning to be confusing and contradictory to his actions, but..." Blackmore lets out a sigh as he gives him an answer. "His sole motivation as to why he is doing all of this to endanger your lives is to make you all survive every fight and strengthen your ties as a group."
Mimicking his hesitant answer, everyone is puzzled and skeptical of the presumed motive of his unknown superior. His answer is not what they expected at all.
"Adding to what I said," Blackmore continues. "The person in charge has nothing to gain if all of you, even just one, died. In fact, all enemy Stands summoned by master made it explicit to target you thirteen, and only thirteen zombies, not everyone else including your manager."
That... doesn't make sense. If their master wants them alive, why is it fixated on killing them in the first place?
"Thirteen?" Sakura finds it odd Blackmore said that number when he said enemy Stands clearly targeted them. "So everyone here must be attacked by enemy Stands... except me?"
"I believe you owe us an answer," Kakyoin told him. "Why is Sakura the only one here who hasn't turned into human? Is there a reason why, or was it a mistake on your employer?"
"No. It's not a mistake the girl is excluded. It was ｢intended from the start｣."
"From the start?"
"When Black Sabbath attacked her, the two girls and Gyro."
! !
"W-W-What? I was meant not to be targeted at all from the moment I encountered my very first enemy Stand!?" Sakura exclaimed, disbelief in her voice.
"Indeed," Blackmore confirmed. "You were not meant to be turned into human to make you easy pickings for enemy Stands. However, master must have made a mistake when he sent Black Sabbath on you four, turning you into human like them. Predictably, he is not at all pleased, and as such, he made it absolutely clear that you will not be targeted next time, meaning you will remain as a zombie while your friends become vulnerable as a human."
As much as they are surprised Sakura is excluded in getting killed, one of them has a problem with the idea of Sakura being spared.
"Hey! Why does your "master" choose to spare Sakura?" Saki shouted to him. "Does he have something for or against her? And if she is being spared, why not us? Or better yet, have your master stop trying to kill us and leave us alone!"
"I'm sorry miss Saki, but master will not sway from his decision to besiege you all with Stands at his disposal," He denies her request. "And as to why Sakura is the only one... I have some assumptions, but overall, I do not know why."
"And these assumptions are...?" Saki implored him to continue.
"It could be because he is feeling generous to Sakura, so he decides to spare her. Perhaps he sees her as an ordinary girl who got roped into the whole zombie business, considering she was a nobody even in death. Or... He is being patient and choose to kill you last after he sees all of your friends drop dead, leaving you to stand among the corpses of your zombie friends as you cry over their dead bodies before he delivers the final blow to you. A form of cruel mercy, I might add."
"Hiiiii! That's... That's so sadistic!" Sakura exclaimed in fright, a sentiment shared by everyone.
"Well if it makes you feel better, the third assumption is not true. Only the first two are possible reasons why master wants you to be spared," Blackmore placated her. "I believe that as much as he wants to kill all of you, he doesn't want to get his hands dirty and decides to send out enemy Stands and let them do the work for him. I suppose he wants to be nice to you."
"That doesn't make his actions any better!" Sakura remarked in anger. Really, she thought he was a coward if he wanted to let his underlings do all the work.
"To be fair, my master is nowhere to be found in Saga. He is an elusive character if he doesn't want to show his face in public, even to us," He reveals the possible status of the person in charge. "All I can tell is that it had his eyes on you for a long time because of the concept of zombies striving to live after dying enticing him."
"Anyway, that is all I can say to you. Some of you may find my answers unsatisfactory, but that is all I got considering how vague my employer was," Blackmore finished answering their questions. He moves his body within the ropes as he says, "This has been fun. Such a shame it's going to be all over soon. I'm sorry we won't be seeing each other again..."
"Yeah! We surely won't miss your face and your scary mask for sure!" Lily sneered at him, believing Rianima will make short work of Blackmore.
"...Actually, I meant all of you. Not me."
"...What?" Mamezuku lets out, trying to interpret his response.
"You thought I would be willing to die entangled like this? And the rain not pouring inside the barrier? Sorry to disappoint you all but... ｢rain is not the only one that fuels Catch the Rainbow｣."
Screaming and shouting erupted as chaos unfolded upon Franchouchou and Rianima when water tendrils attacked everyone. This includes Avdol, Mamezuku, Bucciarati and Kakyoin as they received another wound on their legs and arms. Because they got injured, they lost their grip on him.
Now free from their grasps, Blackmore avoids a punch from Sticky Fingers before sending a water tendril to strike its hands, sending Bucciarati away. He quickly scans his surroundings, noticing Junko, Gyro, Saki, Narancia, Yugiri and Tae lying or kneeling on the ground, Sakura's body trying to find her head that got sliced off for the fourth time which Lily is trying to help her, Kakyoin, Bucciarati and Mamezuku nursing their wounds and Johnny and Avdol occupied with disposing the water tendrils using Magician's Red and Tusk ACT4. That leaves the confused Ai exposed with no one else near them.
Choosing her to be killed first, Blackmore uses his fluid body to move quickly toward Ai, and before she realized it, she found herself forced on the ground as Blackmore holds her neck down.
"AHH!" She screamed, panic and fear seeping into her eyes.
"Oh no! Blackmore has Ai-chan in his grip!" Sakura bellowed when Lily lifted her head high enough to see the short-haired girl pinned on the ground.
! !
Everyone turned to them in panic, some of them cursing for getting distracted thanks to Blackmore's surprise attack that prevented them from watching Blackmore.
"Hey! Get your hands off her! NOW!" Narancia shouted before sending Aerosmith to ram against him.
A knife made out of water is pointed to Ai's neck, causing her to let out a gasp as Blackmore, standing up with Ai in his tight grip, warns, "Move closer and see this girl's neck cut open if you want to see her blood spilled out!"
"Ah! Crap, crap, crap! Aerosmith, move away!" Narancia panicked as he managed to swerve Aerosmith back to him in a U-turn before it continued hovering above him.
ドドドドドドドド
Ai's whimpering at the sight of a knife placed across her neck only adds to the intense stand-off between Blackmore and the zombies. However, this stand-off is firmly on Blackmore's end because he has Ai hostage, who can end her life with just a slicing of her neck. Sakura, Junko, and Lily are close to panicking, Saki, Yugiri and Tae could only glare or growl at him with Saki holding Tae from charging, Avdol, Bucciarati, Johnny and Mamezuku give Blackmore stern and angry looks and Narancia and Gyro gritted their teeth in anger, not liking seeing one of their companions threatened. The only one who is calm despite the intense scene is Kakyoin, who merely stares at him, but not hiding his contempt.
Eyeing everyone's reactions, Blackmore lets a satisfied smirk appear on his face over having turned the advantage on him. "Should have killed me when you have the chance, Bruno Bucciarati. I am glad you chose to talk with me and got all your attention to me. It was a distraction I exactly needed so I can form three water tendrils without all of you noticing it. As you all recovered, I seized the closest target, which lands us in this situation."
"Tsk! I have a nagging feeling you were planning something when you suddenly decided to talk to me," Bucciarati expressed his regret over doing what Blackmore said. "But this is not what I expected. I thought you will be powerless because the barrier shields us all from the rain."
"So that's the reason why you lured me here and have Kakyoin construct a barrier," Blackmore understood their attempt in weakening him. He let out a chuckle, impressed by their strategy, but also disappointed they still haven't learned everything about how Catch the Rainbow can do. "If you thought depriving me of the rain can prevent me from using my ability, think again. As long as there is even a small puddle of rain in my vicinity, I can manipulate them as much as I want. In fact, I believe Avdol should have evaporated all the water so I would be completely useless."
"Hnngh! I haven't thought of doing that!" Avdol lamented.
"Hmph. Now you know, and you will regret that because I have Ai in my grip, waiting for death to take her back to the afterlife..."
"Eek!" Ai shrieked, staring at the knife closely and fearfully.
"No! Please, let Ai-chan go!" Sakura pleaded. She wished she could have done something, anything, to help. But because she has no way of assisting her bodyguards, she could only watch in the sidelines with feelings of dread and panic.
"...Fine! I'll let your friend go... after I drive this knife into her chest!" With all the shouting, screaming and outcry as they try to act once they see he is serious in killing Ai, Blackmore raises his hand as he declares, "Say goodbye to the world you don't rightly belong!"
"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!" Ai could do nothing but scream as she closed her eyes, hoping her companions would save her somehow.
"AI-CHAAAAAN!" Almost everyone screamed in fear and tears, believing they had failed to save Ai in time. They would soon hear the sound of flesh getting punctured, ending Ai's undead life...
...Fortunately, it didn't happen.
Expecting she would get stabbed, Ai slowly opens her eyes when she didn't feel a knife diving into her. Confused, she moves her eyes and sees the knife that is two inches away from touching her chest. She would have freaked out internally if for the fact the knife twitching in Blackmore's grip. Not only that, but she can feel Blackmore's body also twitching. "...Huh?"
She's not the only one who is puzzled by Blackmore stopping from stabbing Ai, as everyone, most of which are in the middle of retaliating against Blackmore like Saki, Tae, Avdol, Bucciarati and Gyro ceasing their movements when they noticed him twitching. As for the man himself, he grunts trying to move his arm that is stuck in that position for some reason. Not even his hands are exempt.
"W-What... What is this...!? My body... I can't... I can't... move!" Blackmore groaned in disbelief, trying everything he could do to even move one finger in his hand or his head. Alas, they remain stuck and unmoving. "And... This feeling... Something is... inside of me! Just... what is going on!"
"｢You were in the process of being punished... by me｣."
They heard Kakyoin speak, who was silent the entire time they are watching Ai captured and almost killed.
"Kakyoin?" Sakura called out, turning to him along with everyone. The man himself is covered in green aura, has a look of determination that glares at Blackmore. This time, the enemy starts fearing the look he is giving him, which is enhanced by his twitching body that makes him appear he's shaking in fear.
"P-Punished...?" He parroted, not realizing this is the beginning of his defeat.
BGM: Noble Pope (Stardust Crusaders [Departure] OST)
Staying composed the whole time, Kakyoin spells out what is going on. "You heard me. I will be the one to give you a punishment you deserve after all the trouble you gave me and my friends. You are probably wondering why you can't move your body, stopping you from stabbing Ai-chan with your knife. That's because Hierophant Green has already got you the moment Avdol, Mamezuku-san, Bucciarati-san and I have ensnared you, right from the very start."
"W-What...? What are you saying?" Blackmore asked. "Your Stand managed to capture me some minutes ago!"
"Oh I don't mean wrapping you up with Hierophant Green's tentacles," He gives him a smirk because of what he's about to say and reveal. "What I am saying is... ｢Hierophant Green has already entered your body｣."
"M-My body!?"
True to what Kakyoin said, Blackmore's mouth forcefully opened to reveal Hierophant Green's face peeking inside. "GWAAAAHHH!? Th-Thish...! It cam't biiii...!" His muffled words came out to indicate his surprise. Everyone is also surprised over what they are seeing.
"What...? Hierophant Green is inside of Blackmore?" Johnny stated. "But how did it get there?"
"...Could it be Hierophant Green entered his body during Bucciarati's talk with Blackmore?" Avdol suggested, knowing how Kakyoin's other ability work the most compared to others. Turning to him, he asks, "Did you guessed he was planning to escape the entire time so you planted your Stand inside of him when we thought he has the upper hand?"
A nod from Kakyoin confirms his hypothesis. "That's right." He turns to the panicking Blackmore and says, "While you were talking with Bucciarati-san, I secretly put Hierophant Green's tentacle inside of you through your ears, making sure it was discreet enough that you wouldn't notice it entering through your head. I have put too many tendrils to wrap your body entirely so you thought I stopped myself after we ensnared you. By the time you broke free and have Ai in your grip, Hierophant Green has already completed entering your body. As such, the reason why you are made unable to stab Ai-chan is because Hierophant Green has taken control of your body. You were so sure you have won that you proceed to gloat victoriously of achieving your objective, not realizing until it's too late that I am one step ahead of you."
"Y-You...! You dare do this to me...!" Blackmore accused him once Hierophant Green retreated, allowing him to speak normally. Unwilling to let him have his way, Blackmore manipulates the surrounding water to instead hurl towards Ai if he can't move his hand. "If I can't move my body, then this will do!"
"AAAHHH! NOOOO!" The poor girl screamed, believing she's about to get skewered.
"Release Ai, now!" Kakyoin quickly commanded. To everyone's surprise, Blackmore complied, throwing Ai away from him just as the tendrils pierce his body.
"UGYAAAAAHHHH!" He howled in pain. Blood flows out from the numerous wounds he inadvertently inflicted on himself thanks to Kakyoin trickery.
"Ai-chan!" Sakura and Junko give her a hug to calm her undead heart, relief washing in their faces shared by the others.
As Blackmore feels the pain coursing through his body but is made unable to kneel down because Hierophant Green is forcing him to stand up, Kakyoin gives him a look of contempt as he says, "Bad move, Blackmore. As I said before, you already gave my friends a bit of trouble in your attempt to kill them. I hope whoever is sending you to us will know that Rianima will eventually find him and stop his reign of terror over Saga once I kill you. His motive may be confusing, but that is not an excuse for endangering my friends. If you thought we have no future for us because we are zombies, then you are wrong. We may not know what the future has in store for us, but we will prevail! Justice will be served to all kinds of evil!"
"Now... ｢Time for your punishment｣... HIEROPHANT GREEN!"
The humanoid Stand quickly exited Blackmore's body, which damaged his insides as blood gushes out from his mouth and the many wounds on his body. Not stopping for a moment, Hierophant Green unravels its lower body to send tendrils across the ground before they extend upwards to skewer his body, carrying him above everyone. Then, Kakyoin finally gives him a coup de grace.
"NOW, DIE! EMERAAAAAAALLLD... SPLAAAAAAASSSHH!"
ドバァァッ
Everyone could only watch as emeralds fired at Blackmore from above, sides, and even below him because of the tendrils implanted across the ground. Good thing they back away at the last second so they wouldn't get hit by the emeralds.
"NGAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGggggghhhhhhhhh...!"
Blackmore's death scream trails off in the end as an explosion of emeralds occur. After a minute, the emeralds stop shooting, and what's left of Blackmore is gone, obliterated by the combination of tendrils ripping his body apart and emeralds striking his body rapidly. All that's left of him is his broken mask lying on the ground, which eventually dissolves into water.
With their last opponent for the night gone for good, Kakyoin disassembles the barrier, exposing himself and everyone to the rain again. Not even three seconds have passed before the sound of cracking glass is heard from the thirteen zombies. The ones who witnessed this event happen before remains calm and quell the ones who didn't down, stating that it's a harmless process.
ガシャンッ
Soon, their "skins" shattered, revealing their green, decaying skin as they turned back into zombies. And with that, they know that the long fight has finally ended.
Releasing a sharp intake of breath she never thought she was holding inside her, Sakura falls on the ground on her knees, sighing they survived their encounter with three enemy Stands. "Finally... It's over... I'm glad no one is killed." She expressed her relief. She didn't forget Blackmore's statement about her being spared from his mysterious master.
"We... We barely did," Junko also sighed, relieved no one was hurt or injured. In fact, everyone's injuries and wounds got healed when they turned back into zombies. She thought this must be another effect of the strange phenomenon. "It's all thanks to Rianima that they defeated the three enemy Stands."
"Yeah. If they are not with us when we each encountered the three enemies, we would be dead soon." Ai agreed, rubbing her neck that had a knife planted against it.
"It's a hard fight for sure, but Kakyoin managed to win in the end," Saki puts her arms around Sakura's neck as she tries to make her see the bright side of what they achieved out of the fight. "Sure, it's exhausting getting involved in the fight whether intentionally or not and bou're worried of the enemy Stands out there still roaming Saga in the shadows, but as long as Kakyoin and his comrades are here, I bet we'll survive. Actually no. We will absolutely survive and live to see another day!"
"...Well, I guess you are right Saki-chan," Sakura's mood lifted up in response to Saki's words as she smiled to her friend. "I must be so worried of what the ｢mysterious man｣ has in store for us."
"It is natural for you to be worried, Sakura," stated Kakyoin as Avdol, Bucciarati and Mamezuku walk closer. "Don't take it as something you must not think about. Everyone, including me, is having the same thoughts as you."
"Kakyoin's right," Avdol speaks up. "You don't have anything to worry as long we are together."
"Yeah! Don't go worrying your head off! Just talk to us if you need something!" Narancia nodded while pumping his fists enthusiastically.
"Lily agrees with Narancia-san!" Lily raises her hand with a wide smile.
"What they said, Sakura-han." Yugiri stands closer to offer her a nod.
"Arrrrr." Tae shows her support by trying to bite her head, which she tries to stop her.
"Don't forget me!" Saki reminded her she is the one who started this conversation.
"And me!" exclaimed Gyro, not wanting him and Johnny that he is carrying in his arms to be left out.
"And me." Mamezuku showed his support with a nod.
"Everyone is so enthusiastic and hopeful, huh... Not that I don't like it." Johnny smiled.
"I believe even a little encouragement is needed after we have three close calls against enemy Stands, Johnny," Bucciarati told him. "There will be more fights in the future, but for now, let us cherish this moment."
Seeing everyone following Kakyoin's act of reassuring her, Sakura shines a smile to them for their support, seeing she shouldn't be so worried if they are here with her. Whether they are zombies, idols, Stand Users (well, soon to be), or bodyguards, she feels a bit relieved and having a weight lifted on her shoulder.
Meanwhile, Junko, remembering she has to patch up with Ai, turns to her and calls her name. "Ai-san."
"Hm? What is it?" The idol turns to her with a wary gaze, wondering what she wants to talk about after their altercation this afternoon.
Junko stares into her eyes as she thinks about what she will say, hoping she doesn't get bitter with her and she listens to what she's going to say. Breathing deeply first, Junko starts speaking. "About our argument earlier..."
Ai narrowed her eyes when she thought she wanted to continue their debate. "You still hanging on your ways?"
"Well, yes." Everyone else has their eyes on the two as Junko responds fast enough before Ai gets a wrong idea of her words. "But! Kakyoin-san, Narancia-san and Sakura-san talked to me about my predicament over the contemporary direction the idol industry is taking and may have found something that can benefit an idol from 80s like me."
Now getting curious, Ai asks, "What did they suggest?" Junko is happy to answer her but before she can, she noticed something behind Ai.
ゴゴゴゴゴゴゴゴ
It's almost hard to see in the dark, but there is a miniature cloud floating behind Ai. It increased by three clouds, all of which are pouring miniature rain and crackling with small lightning. At first, Junko is not sure what to make of the miniature clouds hovering there, until it all merged and increased the volume of wispy clouds to form a humanoid being with vertically slitted ruby eyes, wing-like accessories attached to its shoulders and knees and its body pure white like a cirrus cloud.
Junko's eyes widen when she realizes instantly what the cloud humanoid is while Ai, wondering why she is staring at her longer than she needed to, asks, "Junko? Is something the matt-"
"AI, LOOK OUT!"
She didn't finish her words when a panicked Junko pushes Ai out of the way just as the cloudy being rushes toward her, snatching her up with one arm before flying up high where they are out of everyone's reach.
"WAAAAAHHHH! EVERYONE, HEEEEEEEELP!"
!?
Junko's cry for help snaps their attention up in the air and sees her struggling to free herself from the cloud-like ropes tied on her entire body.
"Eh!? J-Junko-chan!?" Sakura shouted in surprise and alarm.
"The hell!? How did ya get up there!?" Saki asked, having thought the fight is over and there should be no more fights after narrowly winning not even a minute ago.
Narrowing his eyes in chagrin and disbelief, Bucciarati could not believe what he is seeing. "I don't believe this... It's a ｢fourth｣ enemy Stand!" He announced.
! !?
A round of surprise, shock and even cursing erupted, with Kakyoin exclaiming, "A fourth!? Isn't three too much for one night!?"
Floating next to the struggling Junko, the cloud-like enemy Stand only gave them an observant look, before it raised its hands and started producing fog that proceeds to cover and obscure the two. It didn't take them long to realize the Stand is about to escape with Junko captured.
"Shit! The enemy's about to disappear! Aerosmith!" Narancia brought out his plane Stand and started firing bullets. Kakyoin, Avdol and Bucciarati soon followed, bringing out their Stands to stop the silent Stand and rescue Junko. Unfortunately, they are not fast enough as the fog fully obscured them, and when the Stands made it to the fog, they just passed through it.
"It can't be! Junko and the enemy Stand, they... They disappeared!" Avdol exclaimed in disbelief.
"What!?" Lily shouted, pulling Tae back as she and the others watched the fog disperse and confirmed Avdol was right. Junko and the cloudy Stand are nowhere to be seen.
They simply... vanished in thin air.
To be continued
Oh no! Junko has been kidnapped! Rianima and Franchouchou were just starting to wind down after going through three fights and an intense finale and the Legendary Showa Idol got kidnapped after pushing Ai out of the fourth enemy Stand's way, letting herself get caught. This is not how you expect this battle arc to end, huh? Well, to those who know how the original version ended, you already knew how it went down.
Thankfully, I eschewed the original plan of putting Junko in a coma, which I absolutely hated it looking back on it, into something more sensible, like a kidnapping. I already intended from the start to put Junko out of the picture for a while because Junko realized that she does not have to force herself to engage in fan interactions and continue being her Showa Idol self. You can thank Kakyoin and Narancia for that, and because of them, the next two chapters adapting episode seven will be like the episode aside from original scenes.
At least the first chapter will depict the events without Junko in it until she reappears near the end. If you wanted to see Junko grow mushrooms on her head, then I'm sorry to snatch it out of your hands, everyone.
Now then, enough rambling. Having rewritten eighteen chapters to fit the new style of Living Things going forward, it's about time for me to finally write a brand new chapter after a year without publishing new chapters from me. Hopefully, I can get the nineteenth and twentieth chapter out soon so that all of you will read the two-part conclusion of the Saga Rock arc.
Everyone, thank you for taking your time to read Living Things and seeing how our zombie girls and guys live their undead lives in Saga Prefecture, hoping you will read this fanfic entirely until I completed it! Oh, and speaking of fanfics, there is a crossover fanfic that I treat it as a side project named A Painting's Shadow. While it's only one chapter for now, please read it and hope you will be enticed by the premise that's been on my head, hopping around like a plot bunny it is until I finally written it down.
And with that, I bid you all adieu~