DISCLAIMER: I do not own JoJo's bizarre adventure or Rising of the shield hero
Jouta Kujo felt time around him stop.
"Really, DIO, that's just overkill."
Jouta used this time to make it further up the mountain, passing Senshi.
*Tick Tick Tick*
Time resumed and Senshi saw Jouta suddenly ahead of her.
"Can you move in DIO's world?"
"Um...yes."
Senshi became hyper again and sped up even faster.
"You're so cool!"
She passed him again, Jouta sighed, seeing how determined she was to surpass him no matter what.
"She's DIO's kid alright."
As they climbed higher and higher, they noticed the sky become darker and darker. A storm brewing on the mountain's top; strong winds hit the two with cold ice and hot flames, truly chaotic winds.
"Senshi! You still there!"
Jouta called out to confirm her safety.
"Why do you sound so worried, this is perfect!"
"How so!?"
"Now it will be harder to climb! And the harder something is, the greater the reward for overcoming it!"
Jouta was happy to hear such an optimistic view on hardship, but was set off by rocks hitting his head.
"Ow!"
Jouta looked up, trying his best to spot Senshi through the dark winds. He instead spotted the form of a boulder about to hit him, falling fast enough to burn up like a meteor. Jouta quickly created an emerald shield that saved him from the impact. Believing that the Waves had upgraded to throwing celestial bodies at earth, he pushed [Charmy Green]'s stretching abilities to the limit and slingshot himself to the top, closing his eyes from the pressure and wind.
"Hooo..."
Jouta breathed, Hamon surrounded his body to protect him from being torn to shreds by the wind.
"Who what?"
Senshi asked as Jouta reached the top, surprising the young man.
"No, I was just breathing. How did you get up here so fast?"
"I just...did."
"Okay, but didn't you see that meteor!?"
"Meteor? Oh, that was just me, sorry."
Jouta deadpanned, he almost died...because she climbed too hard.
"Anyway, let's do what we came here for."
Senshi nodded and 'powered up', her muscle mass and height increasing.
"I'm ready!"
"You can power up?"
Jouta asked worryingly, his voice trembling.
"Yeah, but its more like I'm using more of my max power."
Senshi began flexing her muscles and stretching, her clothes tightly clinging to her bigger body.
"How do you even do that?"
"I'm part vampire, so muscle control like this is basic."
Jouta was about to ask more, until...
*BOOM!*
An explosion went off near Riyute, it was a huge blue flare. The two on the mountain knew exactly what it meant, they had discussed it before the Wave.
"We need to hurry up, the more time we waste, the more trouble Raphtalia is in."
"Big sister!"
Senshi and Jouta looked up at the sky, it was loud and distracting, but soon there was something distinct.
"What is that?"
"Sounds like...bees."
A swarm of inter-dimensional bees appeared, one flying at Jouta with its stinger pointed forward.
"URYA!"
The full form of [Charmy Green] appeared, punching off the bee's stinger. [Charmy Green] picked it up and used it as a javelin, killing three bees with one throw.
"Good shot! Let me try!"
Senshi caught a bee and ripped it in half and took the half that had the stinger, throwing it, she hit two bees that exploded on impact.
"Whoops! They just squashed!"
"You'll get it."
The Joestar and daughter of DIO fought off the swarm with great efficiency, making Raphtalia's job down below easier.
"This is easy!"
Senshi complained, hoping for stronger enemies to come.
"Don't count your chickens before they hatch! The Waves are unpredictable."
"Yeah, you're right! This is a warm up!"
Senshi became more enthusiastic and started killing the bees more gruesomely.
"If that's how she is happy, I don't wanna see when she's mad."
Jouta was grateful to have all the crazy people on the good side.
"URYA URYA URYA URYA URYA URYA!"
His stand shed through the bees like wet toilet paper. But Jouta could feel something off, it was as if after each bee, the next one was stronger and more advanced in fighting style. And the adaptations countered him specifically, like they were learning from him.
"Hey, Senshi!"
"Yeah!"
"Let's tag team these bugs!"
"As long as its fun, let's do it!"
"Great!"
Senshi ran over to Jouta while the bees fighting her chased after her. Jouta calmly walked in her direction, his stand punching through any bees trying to hit him. When the two met, Jouta ducked and Senshi jumped over him. This switcheroo confused the bees.
"Gotcha."
[Charmy Green] turned into a web of tendrils that trapped the bees.
"Let's gooo!"
Senshi launched herself at the emerald tendrils, bouncing off of them rapidly, colliding with the bees trapped within.
*SPLAT! SPLAT! SPLAT!*
She blew through them gaining speed as she cleared a hundred of them. She became so fast, her body ingulfed itself in flames from sheer air pressure, the ice cold winds unable to do anything.
"Now!"
She shouted, her wide grin challenging Cheshire. Suddenly, [Charmy Green] became a single tendril that grabbed Senshi's ankle and spun her around briefly before releasing her in the main cloud of bees, thousands of meters high above sea level.
"JoJo taught me this one!"
Actually, he joked about her doing it, but it would seem Senshi perceives anything as a challenge. Once she reached the core of the main swarm, she strengthened her body, stuck out one leg at a perfect straight angle, and spun while on fire.
"Flaming Hurricane Kick!"
She spun a number of a thousand times, the flames on her body dispersing and burning the bees that were lucky enough not to get sucked in by the strong winds she generated. Senshi's body cooled down before falling back to the earth, the sky almost completely clear of bees. [Charmy Green] formed a flexible mat underneath her, saving her from an unpleasant landing.
"THAT WAS AWESOME!"
"RIGHT!"
Senshi and Jouta jumped up and down like preschoolers.
"That proves it. They had no way of working together because they were countering very different fighters."
"You wanna just keep working together."
"Mm...nah, only if we have to. I can tell these guys are getting stronger!"
Senshi skipped and performed basic exercises in preparation for the next swarm to come. Jouta respected her decision and he too wanted to test his abilities. He withdrew [Charmy Green] and practiced his breathing through meditation.
*CRACKLE!*
Lightning signaled the tear in space expanding for more intruders. This time, demonic mountain goats, demonic mountain lions, demonic eagles, and even bulkier Chimeras appeared, accompanied by, you guessed it, bees. Jouta stood up from meditation and Senshi finished her one thousand push-ups in an instant, punching the ground to get up.
"Incoming."
"They'll be leaving soon."
Senshi leapt, meeting them mid-air and brawling them. Jouta sat back and waited for them to reach the ground. When they did, he was surprised to see Senshi struggle greatly, her body clawed and bitten by the fearsome creatures.
"HAMON OVERDRIVE!"
Jouta kicked two mountain lions off of her and helped her up. Senshi was bleeding from deep gashes.
"These guys are tough."
"Let me handle them, you heal up."
"Okay."
Jouta was shocked she did not protest, but relieved as well.
"At least she knows her liー"
"Done."
"Huh!?"
Senshi walked to his side, her body appearing as flawless as polished marble.
"Part vampire, remember."
"Hmph. Don't get cocky."
"They're the cocky ones."
The beasts were drooling and breathing uncontrollably, hungry for more flesh. Senshi's aura changed and shifted, becoming more fierce and dark.
"Vampire Senshi!"
She shouted at the top of her lungs, making it known that she was transforming. She unstrapped her overalls and let them hang on her hips, and took off her sandals. Her body became bigger, now rivaling Jouta, her muscles too, specifically her calves, biceps and back. She was built for power and speed over precision and defense.
"So this is what it means to be part vampire. She can choose when to use the dark flow of life energy. That means she's strong in her human form, because she had her potential unlocked at birth. But there is still something else."
"I'll return all those bites and scratches you gave me and more!"
Senshi threatened the beasts, placing one hand on her hip while bent over slightly with one arm dangling. Jouta felt pumped by her positive energy. Usually, he trained casually as a fun past-time, the only times he was passionate was when he fought with negative emotions. But Senshi, she fought with passion behind every move.
"Maybe it's because of my mom teaching me to behave, or my dad forcing me to fight him. I always viewed fighting as a necessity in bad situations or a way to grow my stand's power. But now, I feel like fighting just for the sport of it!"
Jouta took off his coat and rolled up his sleeves, his body crackling with redish orange energy.
"SCARLET PHOENIX OVERDRIVE!"
DIO held Naofumi and was about to leave the area until he spotted a girl running with tears streaming down her face.
"Little one! What are you doing out here!"
DIO called to her and she stopped, sensing his authority. She turned to him, unsure how to respond. DIO noticed the armor she was wearing and that she was clearly battle torn.
"Are you a knight?"
The girl stood still, too intimidated to move.
"Do you know who I am?"
DIO asked more softly this time, the girl looked closely, trying to identify him, she quickly did and immediately gasped in terror.
"DIO!"
He smiled, happy to see that he was engraved in the minds of everyone in Melromarc.
"Do you know who I am carrying?"
She trembled in fear, but did not wish to anger the man, so she examined the man he was carrying, and noticed the small shield on his arm.
"The...shield hero?"
"Say it with certainty!"
"T-the shield h-hero!"
"Indeed, he was heavily wounded in battle, and I wish to help him. You see, he and I were slaying these beasts here to ensure they would not terrorize this mine, and the people in the nearby town."
"Riyute?"
"Yes, very knowledgeable for your age. I take it you are of noble heritage."
He put together after a few seconds, she was stunned.
"Y-yes."
"Then why is a warrior noble standing around while monsters run rampant? Where are your allies? Are you not part of a group?"
DIO looked down upon her with judgement.
"I was with the bow hero, but..."
"But he kicked you out, and from the looks of it, quite harshly. Why?"
"He said I was plotting against him."
She recalled the painful memory.
"And you were not. He must have felt threatened that a meek girl like you could surpass him. What a weak child."
"He isn't weak, he just misunderstood!"
"So now you speak with confidence."
Rishia calmed herself and backed down.
"What's your name?"
"Rishia...Ivyred."
"Why look up to weak men?" DIO summoned his stand, imposing the power of his soul upon her, "When I exist."
She felt his incredible power, too weak to fully see [The World], but instead of trembling, she felt an odd joy.
"True power comes when one possesses an equally strong motive. So tell me yours?"
"For the bow hero to love me."
"Why do you need love from a pathetic hero. It seems to me, that you do not believe in yourself, so you need others to feel special. Useless."
Rishia was astonished by this man's confidence and resolve, clearly he was greater than the bow hero. DIO then dissipated his stand to allow the girl to function properly.
"I ask again: what do you want?"
Rishia could not resist, she had to follow this man, she had to get that amazing aura, it was intoxicating.
"I want you to show me! How to stand on my own!"
Raphtalia felt happy when she saw a ring of flame form in the sky above the mountains.
"Now we can focus more on ground level monsters."
"Come back safe, little sister."
"Raphtalia."
"AH!"
Raphtalia jumped and looked to the person who called her.
"Stay focused, you allowed me to sneak up on you."
DIO told the general, with an injured Naofumi in his arms and a green-haired woman with him.
"Naofumi!"
She hurried to him, checking out his wounds.
"What happened?"
"Long story. Let us tend to him first."
"Why haven't you healed him yet!?"
"His body is rejecting me, the Hamon in his body is fighting me like a disease, I need him to deactivate it."
"That's not good, we need to wake him up!"
Raphtalia started slapping the young man with a passion.
Naofumi's mind
"What are you saying?"
"We must kill all those whー"
"Ow!...Ow!...Ow!"
"Ow!...Ow!...Ow!"
The two minds within Naofumi's body felt the slaps' sting.
"Naofumi!"
He heard a female voice call to him. It was Raphtalia! Hearing her voice soothed him, their connection still present from the last time. Their bond coming from their realization of their potential for good. His latent rage became buried in his mind once more.
"I shall see you again soon, boy!"
Naofumi awoke, but Raphtalia continued to slap him in the face.
"I'm awake! I'm awake!"
Raphtalia did not stop, her concern for him overpowering her senses.
"I think he is awake."
DIO told the determined demi-human, using all his strength to contain his laughter.
"Oh...sorry."
Raphtalia scratched the back of her head, feeling quite embarrassed. She then heard Naofumi's faint groans.
"Naofumi, are you alright!?"
"I have holes in my body."
Naofumi spoke weakly, his eyes half-lidded and hazy.
"Not a problem for my abilities, all I need is your cooperation."
"Sure, just heal me please."
DIO injected his dark energy into Naofumi's body. The Hamon within him subsiding, allowing DIO to repair the shield hero's body. The holes slowly began to close, the process putting Naofumi in a world of pain.
"Grrr!"
He clenched his teeth, trying not to scream, squirming and kicking in DIO's arms.
"Calm yourself! If you weren't a Hamon user this would go much smoother."
DIO then called over a soldier to take Naofumi somewhere safe.
"Get better soon!"
Raphtalia shouted in Naofumi's face, him groaning in response.
"You will kill him, before his wounds do."
Raphtalia bashfully smiled. DIO then looked to the young woman beside him.
"Young lady, Rishia Ivyred was it?"
She gathered up the courage to speak to the man whose shadow encompassed her entire body.
"Yes."
"Would you say you are talented with knives?"
"I suppose..."
"So no."
"Wait! I mean yes!"
"Good, after this, could you train me?"
Rishia was surprised someone as powerful as the mythical DIO would ask her to teach him, it flattered her.
"I think I could..."
"Never mind."
"I mean yes, I can!"
"Good."
DIO turned to Raphtalia.
"This is Rishia Ivyred, a previous member of the bow hero's party. She wishes to remove her dependence on others."
Raphtalia smiled seeing the girl's fear once she saw her, Raphtalia did tower over her as well.
"I am Raphtalia. We can help you. And by the time you reach your potential, I assure you, others will be dependent on you."
Upon hearing these words, Rishia felt the strong, comforting, stern, kind, and understanding aura of Raphtalia touch her soul. For the first time, Rishia was speaking with a true hero!
*BOOM!*
DIO, Rishia, and Raphtalia were all shocked to see a large explosion north-east of Riyute.
"I-it can't be!"
Rishia was taken aback, smart enough to understand the implications of the explosion.
"No wonder they weren't attacking as violently."
Raphtalia grit her teeth, her anger too much to contain.
"They decided to go for the weaker prey."
DIO spoke calmly, having expected this to happen.
"The Castle Town is being invaded, and only we can stop it!"
