Living Things

by Yujin Zone

One man from Saga has revived seven girls as zombies to 'save' his prefecture by making them idols. But when danger comes knocking as supernatural manifestations of one's psyche, seven men with similar powers are revived too as the fledgling idols' bodyguards, leading them to a bizarre adventure like no other. (Also crosses over with Pocket Mirror, an RPG Maker game)

48. Absolute Xero SAGA Part 5

Welcome back, my readers! This is the 48th chapter of Living Things! Strap in everyone because things are gonna get worse for our poor zombies! Hope you're ready to see me take the "horror" part of the "horror comedy" and drives it as far as I could since, spoiler alert, they will almost lose. Almost.

---

"C'mon Johnny! Run faster! Run! RUUUUN!"

"I'm running as fast as I can, Gyro!"

"Work those leg muscles, come one! I better hope they recovered after you regained those months ago!"

"Stop worrying! I have ten years to get used on walking utilized the Spin immediately after my legs were working again! I haven't any problems moving around since then!"

"Oh, that's… that's great to hear!"

Approximately a hundred meters away saw these two cowboys running fast as much as they can away from Xero, and by proxy, their friends who most likely followed after them. With the possibility of their terrifying enemy pursuing them in return, they didn't think of stopping lest they got within his crosshairs, so they need to cover many distance as possible in order to perform the second step of Johnny's 'plan'. Of which Gyro came to understand during the running.

"I must say, Johnny…" Gyro spoke up again in an amused tone. "Never thought there would come a day we enacted your 「secret technique」. Don't get me wrong, I first thought it's an absurd idea that all the 'technique' amounted to is 「running」 for our lives, but after I saw it in action when we're more or less at Xero's mercy, I think there's some merit behind it. Sorry for doubting you before." He chuckled.

Johnny gives him a side-eye and a raised eyebrow. "So now you believe me. You thought it was a joke like you're prone to making even if I stressed to you that it should be useful…"

"Hey, how should I know you were serious when you told it to me, huh!? And how do ya expect I would react!?" Gyro defended, giving him an incredulous stare.

Johnny has no reply, silently agreeing with a shrug. Well, either way you slice it, it's a totally bonkers move. Not that I don't regret coming up with it.

The two look behind and see none of their friends are behind them. Nonetheless, they know for sure they'll catch up because a choice exists between being at Xero's mercy and following the "secret technique" as declared by Johnny. Obviously, they picked the second choice.

"We should slow down. We must let the others catch up." Johnny told Gyro as he starts running at a normal pace.

"Whew! Okay, okay. I'm doing it. I'm gonna slow down," Gyro did just that so the two jockeys are jogging at a light pace. "Good thing I didn't brought out Valkyrie. Who knows how far we went if we escaped on our horses? And also… as part of your 「secret technique」… You think we're gonna do it, Johnny?"

The blonde man looked at Spin Cowboy before curtly nodding. "Yeah, we will. It better work 「this time」."

"Oh it will. We'll have to catch Xero by surprise. Somehow." As Gyro said this, he glanced around at the road they're treading on, noticing the background changed into the dilapidated streets of a wrecked city again, the dimming stars above and cracks appearing at the seams on pretty much anything.

Johnny understood the implication behind it and his expression turns a little nervous. "Remember Gyro. 「Lesson 5」."

The long-haired man stared back to him before he nods with a small grin. Seeing the resolute look in Johnny's eyes, one that bore the demeanor of a hermit who may have discovered the true meaning of life… If he hasn't feeling prouder of his student/partner, it is multiplied twice, or better yet, tenfold. He looks behind them again. His grin shifts to a toothed grin.

"Nyo ho ho ho! Look like our friends are catching up! Let's go and wave our hands to them!"

Accompanied by hurried pants and wheezes, the first two who caught up to the duo are Sakura and Ai. The rest of the group aren't far behind the two girls, about eight meters away. Gyro smiled and waved to the two while Johnny gives them a nod.

"*huff* F-Finally… *huff* *huff* we… caught up to you two…!" Ai panted, slowing her running pace down to keep her rapid breathing in slight control.

"Aaaahhhhh…! You really surprised us, Johnny-san…" Sakura let out a long sigh in exasperation to his actual 'secret technique'. Impressively, she's a little winded even after running fast for three minutes straight.

"Hey Sakura! Ai! Good for you two to catch up! Nyo ho!" Gyro greeted with gold-toothed smile. "Feeling liberated after running?"

Ai grumbled, feeling irked of his casual greeting. "I think… I had enough exercise for one night… *pants*"

"We ain't out of the woods yet," reminded Johnny. "Xero and our friends should be chasing after us so until then, keep up the pace."

"…How does keeping the pace… help us, Johnny-san?"

They heard Kakyoin put out between pants, the teenager and the rest finally catching up either out of breath or refreshed for some reason. Johnny and Gyro are naturally relieved and pleased while the rest are bewildered over what they're doing during the tensest part of the protracted fight.

"I don't think running for our lives… hardly constitutes it." Kakyoin added more, looking at Johnny quizzically.

"Have some faith Kakyoin. This is working exactly… as I planned." Johnny insisted, tapping the temple of his head.

"Oh, that's good to hear. Was thinking for a sec you and Gyro may have lost it after you revealed what your 「secret technique」 is." Kakyoin continued in a sarcastic tone.

At the mention of it, Lily chimes in with a question she hopes Johnny better explain. "Kakyoin-san's right! Just what kind of 'technique' was that!?" she air-quoted that word. "Why did you think 「running away」 is somehow the best way to get a leg up against Xero? I just… we don't get it." She exasperatedly shakes her head after failing to make heads or tails out of it.

Johnny puts on a smirk again in spite of the ludicrousness of it all. "I know how it sounds ridiculous on paper, that it's a cowardly move. But as I said, have some faith! My 「plan」 is working exactly… as I planned." He repeated again more confidently.

"And what kind of plan of yours involve running away from the enemy!?" Ai asked the most important question. "Why are we running away when you should be beating up Xero?"

"No! As Mamezuku said earlier before we all ran, not when the odds are heavily stacked against us!" Avdol exclaimed a little suddenly. This startles Sakura, Ai, Lily and Goldia while the rest turn to him in curiosity. "Believe me when I say Johnny made a 「right judgment」 that running away is our 「best」 option for now! I know from experience!" He added in a slightly soft tone after seeing he startled the four girls.

"Experience…?" Sakura parroted.

Kakyoin understands what he said in the last part. "Ah! You're talking about when you ran away from DIO when he showed up in your shop, Avdol?"

"Exactly." Fire Lord confirmed.

"Avdol has a point. This is exactly our 「best」 course of action in hopes of finding something, anything, to take Xero head on once more," readily conceded Mamezuku, having realized the brilliance of Johnny's 'secret technique' while they catch up. "If you're still feeling skeptical, consider this: are you willing to risk yourselves fighting Xero even after the most reliable way to defeat him somehow became 「ineffective」? And when he 「infected」 three of our friends?"

The nine zombies become saddened when reminded of the loss of those three, with Sakura, Junko, Lily and Goldia going teary-eyed. But they didn't argue against Peel Planter because he's right. Charging headlong into the fray after Xero gained a terrifying boost in power is tomfoolery at best, and suicidal at worst. They were caught flatfooted by his advanced use of ichor abilities and no matter what angle they arrive to find his weak spot, there is not an ounce of good strategy to effectively hurt him.

In short, they have no way to land a serious hit on the alpha zombie when they're clearly at a disadvantage.

ゴゴゴゴゴゴゴゴ

"Hate to say it, but Mamezuku-san's right. Johnny-san's 「secret technique」 is the best strategy we can do for now. And I'm saying that without irony." Kakyoin eventually agreed. The last part earn some chuckling or snickering from Saki, Lily, and Gyro.

"Hey, at least I made a good show out of it." Johnny defended.

"That ended with us running for our lives. Which isn't actually not a bad tactic, but still…" Saki remarked.

"Regardless of our thoughts over Johnny's peculiar strategy," began Emi, deciding to start speaking this time as she keeps holding on Avdol's arms. "I would like to say something concerning what I… detected from Xero and his… Hmmm…"

Everyone picked on her seeming hesitancy, prompting Narancia to ask her, "…What's up? Why'd ya stop?"

"…Oh, please do not worry. I was wondering what I should call those who are zombies but infected by the ichor, ironically turning them into ravenous creatures like those depicted in media," she answered. "Calling them that same word is redundant and gross understatement of their converted nature, so I am puzzling over what term they should be referred to."

Avdol perks up because he already knows what term they should be called. "Oh, maybe we should call them… 「ghouls」." He suggested.

"Ghouls?" Lily repeated curiously.

"Yes. Creatures from the Arabic folklore who only dwells at night to consume unwary human prey for their flesh," the Egyptian explained. "However, they're not limited in eating the flesh of a living being; they'll also eat a decayed corpse, which is why they tend to wander near graveyards and is associated with it. Though we don't want to remember it when it's still fresh in our minds, watching Bucciarati biting Tae, then herself chomping Yugiri's hands, reminded me about the folklore of ghouls. As such, that will be the word we call for the ichor-possessed zombies."

The group consider his explanation for a moment. Seeing the similarities between the folklore creature and their infected companions, they agree that the term is a fitting name. Ai thinks so, saying, "You're right. It's a fitting name to call them, including Xero."

"I see there is no argument against it. Very well. 「Ghoul」 is the name we shall call to those possessed by the ichor as an undead," stated Emi. She turns to Avdol and says, "Thank you for suggesting it."

"Oh, think nothing of it." Avdol waved it off.

"Now then, back to I was saying…" Emi gets the discussion back on track. "I detected something from the ghouls, of which I only realized they shared from Xero. …That would be the high amount of 「negative emotions」 implanted in their bodies."

"Negative emotions? Wait, you mean the same one we heard you mumble as you tried seeing straight to his soul? And cried softly because of it?" Gyro reminded.

Emi nods, complimenting him for having a good eye. "Yes. You see… When Bucciarati, Tae and Yugiri transformed into ghouls, I did not show it outwardly back then, but I picked up the 「same」 sensation emanating from them. It almost made me lose my grip on Avdol. Even if their emotions are reduced compared to the extraordinary amount Xero possessed, there is no mistaking that I felt the wild and poisonous emotions ingrained not only to their bodies, but in their 「souls」."

"What can you take from it, Emi-san?" Junko inquired.

Emi looks aside with a pensive look before saying, "I am still ruminating, but perhaps… Xero is making the three ghouls to share some of his negative emotions as some form of control over them. Whereas sorrow and despair dominates Xero's soul, traces of anger and hatred are sensed from those three. This may have likely played the part to their behavior, turning them ravenous."

"Sorrow… Is that why you shed tears when you were examining his soul?" Johnny guessed.

Emi closes her eyes briefly before she continues, "Possibly. Goldia, Hartzler, Lynn and I are 「immune」 to being controlled by the ichor except being injured, but in that one moment as Gyro said, I was driven to tears. The intense sorrow, hatred and anger contained in his 「tainted soul」… it must be what fuels his, or at least Xero's, drive to destroy Saga. Maybe… his negative emotions could be influencing the 「ichor」… Like it is being fed…"

This is not what they expected Emi would discuss and learn from it. They are freaked out over the apt term and description Avdol proposed for the ichor-infected zombies, and they are more terrified yet intrigued over the probability of the enemy's negative emotions brewed for many years into its boiling point that is sustaining the… elite ghoul. Believing it could be important, they keep it in mind.

"In any case, we must decide our next action. As of now, Xero might be possibly chasing us as we speak and it would not be long before he found us. As such, enacting a second strategy is a must. One I hope you are already thinking of, right Johnny?"

Nail Jockey and Spin Cowboy turn to Emi for a second, then to their friends, and lastly, at each other. A thought is shared between them and they christened it with a smile and nod. "We're in luck, guys. Johnny and I already made up our mind on what we shall do next. We're just waiting to see if Xero is hot on our tail."

"Grrrrrrrrrrr…"

As if on cue, the group heard three growls coming from behind. They look back to see, much to their fright and dismay, Xero's group making a mad dash towards them. They leave behind a blood trail behind because so much ichor gushes out not only from Xero's sprouted appendages, but worrying and disturbingly, the ghouls' eyes or mouth.

"GWAGGGGGGGGGH!" Bucciarati, Yugiri and Tae screamed inhumanly, gnashing their teeth and thrashing their outstretched hands around in hopes of capturing their prey.

"T-There they are! Now that they've found us, I don't think we can't shake them off easily!" Lily announced fearfully. Saki pulls her face forward whilst telling her not to look.

"J-Johnny-san, Gyro-san! Your 「second plan」! Please tell us!" Sakura pleaded.

"Sorry, but there is no time! We'll just let most of you figure it once we set it in motion!" Gyro told them. He sprinted ahead of the group alongside Johnny and says, "You ready Johnny?"

Johnny steels his face, his eyes becoming hyper focused and following after him. "Ready! SLOW DANCER!"

"VALKYRIE!"

Rearing their front hooves up majestically after they were summoned, the horses neighed loudly with Johnny and Gyro sitting on the saddles determinedly.

バァーン

Then with a slap of harnesses, the jockey duo zoomed ahead riding on their horses. It didn't take long before they become two mere dots in the horizon, though the eight zombies hardly paid attention to it. Just seeing them brought out their horses is enough to realize what their second plan is, compared to the clueless Sakura, Goldia and Emi.

"Ah, hey! They're gonna do 「it」 again!" Narancia exclaimed.

"'It'?" Sakura repeated curiously.

"Their 「ultimate moves」, harnessed by the 「Super Spin」," replied Mamezuku, a glint of understanding in his eyes. "They failed to land their target before, but hopefully this time, they'll succeed."

The boys and girls watch Slow Dancer and Valkyrie gallop far, far away until they disappear in the horizon. Then Ai gets concerned as she turns back to the pursuing ghouls. "So, what now? With Johnny-san and Gyro-san in the midst of attaining their super attacks, are we gonna keep running?" She asked.

"Do we have a choice? Of course we keep running!" Saki lightly chided Ai for asking a stupid question.

"And attack at the same time!" Avdol added as Magician's Red materializes. Hierophant Green, Aerosmith and Doggy Style soon followed. "We must do everything in our power to intercept them and avoid getting all of us turning into ghouls!"

The girls immediately didn't like his idea, horrified at the though. Lily exclaims, "A-Are you saying you're going to hurt them!?"

"At this moment, they are 「ghouls」. Violent undead creatures out for our flesh. If we don't want to become like them, six of us must do what we can to stop them, even if it means treating them as our 「enemies」," calmly stated Mamezuku. "I know you don't like us hurting them, but there's no other choice if there is hope of ensuring the success of Johnny and Gyro's attack and preventing us being infected."

Peel Planter's stern warning sinks into their heads. The emotional members like Sakura, Junko, Goldia, and even Narancia have immediately disliked the thought of hurting their friends but the rest understood grimly. Despite the silent opposition between two groups, none of them complain, or at least didn't have the time to when the three ghouls let out a shriek before they hasten their movements, becoming faster than Xero who is seemingly satisfied to just hang back and let them do the grunt work.

The group all look back and become scared or dreadful on seeing Tae, Bucciarati and Yugiri either prepare their blood-soaked sharp nails or open their drooling mouths to make subtle biting motions.

"UAAAAAAAAAAARGH!"

"Hasten your steps everyone! I believe they are steadily getting faster!" Emi warned.

"At their rate, they'll catch up for sure!" Saki noted.

"N-Not to worry! I have 「Dream of Mirrors」 to carry us! Just give me a second to prepare one!" Goldia announced before raising her pocket mirror to her mouth and begins whispering a chant.

"We gladly appreciate your assistance Goldia-chan! Now, as for the rest of us…" Many tendrils and emeralds were fired in the ghouls' direction right before Kakyoin declares, "It's time to get to work."

BGM: High Tension (Stone Ocean OST)

ドバァァー

Hierophant Green's first attack instantly kick starts the group's desperate struggle for survival. The tendrils and emeralds are fired at a fast rate than normal, but the three rabid ghouls swiftly evade them with almost precise precision. They were dodging so fast that they only received minor cuts on their cheeks, arms or side of their torsos, much to the onlookers' disbelief.

"They… They're so fast! It feels like I'm having a hard time keeping track of them!" Kakyoin uttered. He clenches his teeth before he doubles down on the rate of emeralds and tendrils being fired. Gah! I shouldn't be discouraged! I must continue until I somehow overwhelm them!

"I think you need my help!" Narancia chimed in from behind as Aerosmith swoops past Kakyoin until it's hovering beside Hierophant Green. "If assailing them with so many projectiles could work, I'll add to the equation with a rain of bullets! HAVE AT THEM AEROSMITH!"

ドガガガガ

Aerosmith joining the fray amounting to increased speed rate of projectiles being shot puts some pressure on the pursuing ghouls, comprehending they must contend with dodging rapid bullets. They are still able to swerve around most projectiles swiftly meaning they only still receive minor wounds, but that's not to say they're beginning to feel inconvenienced if their groaning are any indication. This is noticed by the group.

"Oi, I think they're startin' to trip up!" Saki brought it in attention. "Keep it up, you two! They'll gonna trip anytime soon at the rate you two are firing!"

"Can you make that 「three」? Because Magician's Red shall bring in more heat on them!" Even in this tense situation, Avdol can't resist making a pun, as Magician's Red spewed out dozens of small flame ankhs moving in a moderate pace. It didn't take long before the three ghouls begin dodging the ankhs too, and combined with the differing speed of the three separate projectiles and sheer number, they're now begin to feel so overwhelmed that they are slowing down.

Junko has a concerned look on her, remembering Xero enduring the fire without major issue, only gotten burnt wounds that were healed. Going by this, it should apply to the ghouls too which are proven true when watching Tae and Bucciarati got struck by fire, receiving burnt marks that are slowly being healed. Their clothes aren't spared however, rendering them torn apart with burnt marks on the edges and exposing their skin, albeit not to an indecent extents.

"Avdol-san, please go easy on them. Your flames seem very effective," she voiced her concern, trying not to wince on seeing her friends get hurt even if it's necessary. "A-And make it quick, for I fear… they'll be 「immune」 at any moment."

"…Yes, I'm aware. But just because they'll become immune 「doesn't mean」 they can't be hurt," replied Fire Lord. "You all saw Xero screaming in pain when I Magician's Red struck him, right? He unexpectedly survived sure, but he did get hurt. Because of this, I knew I have to double down on inflicting or at least scaring them with Magician's Red's fire to effectively interfere them."

Everyone fortunately understood what he said. Emi hums in approval before she says, "An astute observation. The ichor's weakness shall always be fire, so hopefully, we will not take too long attacking before the 「immunity」 comes into effect."

"If you keep the flames up, perhaps we will have the chance to survive!" Goldia sincerely hoped.

"Well, guess I must lead Aerosmith around and overwhelm them with bullets fired from every direction 'til they give in! Let's turn up the pressure!" Narancia exclaimed, smiling in anticipation. Li'l Bomber would've stay true to his word however, if three pairs of blood lasers didn't pierced through his right arm, cheek, waist and legs from behind.

However, Xero, whom the group saw chose to stay back and let his the ghouls do all the work, suddenly declared in a booming voice. "PAY ATTENTION!"

ドッズゥ ドズゥ ドッズゥ ドッズゥ ドッズ!

"AGAHHH!?"

Narancia let out in shock when he was stabbed six times by three pairs of rapid jet blood fluids, forcing him to fall forward. This is all seen by the group, similarly shocked as their eyes trained on the fallen zombie.

! !

By the time he was lying face down, they ran a few meters away from him, at which point they stopped to comprehend what they have saw.

Blood leaks out from Narancia's wounds as he twitched on the clear road, the same blood the group saw being fired not by Xero, but by Bruno, Yugiri and Tae. One can see their eyes healing back to normal after it opened briefly to allow a fluid of ichor to be shot out. In their adrenaline-filled mind, they realized the three ghouls have inherited one of Xero's long-ranged ability and used it to bridge the wide gap.

"NARANCIAAAAAAAA!" Kakyoin and Avdol called out.

"Aghhhh… It… It hurts…" Narancia muttered uncomfortably. Attempting to endure the pain and incoming lightheadedness, he tries to push himself up only for Tae and Bucciarati to stop him. Elated to have caught their prey, they begin tearing his back apart and feast on his flesh, injecting a lot of ichor to him, eliciting a loud cry from the downed Stand User. "UAAAAAAA AAARRRRRGGGGHHHHHH!"

"NOOOO! NARANCIAAAAAA!" Junko screamed hysterically. Sakura and Goldia have their mouths covered by their hands while Ai, Avdol, Kakyoin, Lily and Emi blanched in horror over seeing Narancia ravaged by Bruno and Tae. And Mamezuku…

"LOOK OUT!"

His warning came out in time before he throws a Spin-infused punch on the snarling Yugiri's stomach. The energy and force of his punch sends her back away. With the task accomplished, Mamezuku retracts his stretched arm back to his person and declared to the onlookers, "Stop gawking, all of you! Let's keep moving!"

"W-W-Wait! What about-"

"Narancia is 「infected」! It won't be long before he becomes a ghoul! We can't save him so there's no choice but to leave him! Now come on!"

Sparing a remorseful glance at Narancia, the group pushed their reluctance aside and resumes running. Junko, Kakyoin, Avdol and Saki could only shed tears or grit their teeth over losing Narancia, and that they don't have all the time to mourn them like they are dead. They need to keep moving away if they must avoid the terrible fate that befell four of their friends.

The two ghouls continue feast on Narancia's unmoving body until Xero stops them. "You two, enough. Give him space.

Immediately, Tae and Bruno stopped feasting or clawing Narancia and slouched back. His torn apart body laid still for a moment, until an echoing groan escaped from his lips. "Urrrrrgh." Gradually, the now-ghoulified Narancia rises up on his shaky feet, his vacant stare and gaping mouth present on his bloodied face. Xero smiles over acquiring an addition to his group.

Good. I have four ghouls now. And this is only just a start…

Now accompanied by four ghouls, Xero opens a rift linking to where the escaping group are currently in. Arriving to their current location, his eyes immediately fell on their potential prey. It didn't take long for his presence be made known by them so they picked up the speed again.

This time they're zooming past the dense trees and vegetation like they're in a forest. Like it happened before, Xero hangs back and lets Narancia, Tae, Bruno and Yugiri do the work, expecting their speed to eventually catch one or two of them.

Hmm, should I attack them with my own hands? …No, I'll let my four ghouls have their fun while assisting them. They'll get the job done. Xero thought menacingly, casting his eyes on the continuing carnage.

Seeing the pursuing rabid ghouls had found them unsurprisingly earn a shriek from Sakura, Ai, Junko and Goldia, and a look of scorn, aggravation, and worry from Kakyoin, Avdol, Mamezuku, Saki and Emi. "Dammit! They found us fast!" Saki remarked, taking the lead for the girls who are running in front of their bodyguards except for Emi, still huddled up weakly in Avdol's arms and muttering an apology in being unable to help them in this dire time of need.

"We can see that…" Kakyoin replied in slight irritation, born from stress of their predicament. Hierophant Green lashes out its tendrils again whilst firing fast emeralds against the pursuing ghouls. "Avdol!" He called out.

"Yes Kakyoin!"

Without saying more, Avdol commanded Magician's Red to execute the same tactic as before. As such, the road behind the group is pelted with lots of erupting fire or loud explosions occurring close to the ghouls to intercept their path. It yielded partial effect as the ghouls got staggered on their feet when an emerald, tendril, or fire almost hit them, but they aren't stopping. The two wished that happened, but they're seemingly content in impeding them if it means having a short window of attaining some distance apart.

As the two keep up the assault, the girls and Mamezuku, having decided to accompany them due to having no long-ranged attacks at the moment, converse with Goldia to learn if her Dream of Mirrors is ready to be activated.

"Goldia-chan, are you done preparing your little Stand? What's taking you so long?" Mamezuku questioned.

The brunette remained silent as she appears to be whispering to her pocket mirror still, alongside having her eyes closed. Then she opens them and looks up with a determined expression. "I'm done! I'm about to create one now!"

Her response sounds like good news for Saki, exclaiming, "Great! Now, do it! Call out your Stand!"

Acting in response, Goldia's pocket mirror glowed, then a ray of light shot out from it, draining the glow out of the object. The same ray stopped twenty-five meters away before it expands, forming into a tall-sized floating mirror once the light disperses away. Everyone sans Kakyoin and Avdol stare at the floating mirror that materialized farther than they expected. They are gonna use it as a portal so why did Goldia put the created mirror far?

"Goldia-chan, it would be convenient if you put it close to us," Ai brings up this issue, turning to the stern brunette. "We will go through it and let it take us somewhere. So why…?"

"I understand your concern, but first… we must step aside so we wouldn't block 「their」 path." Goldia gave out this odd request. Everyone are regarding her now with curiosity or incredulity, wondering what she's saying.

"… And we do that because why…?" Saki wanted to question, only to be shushed by Goldia, whose next statement came out like she's almost shouting.

"Please step aside! 「They」 are gonna 「pop out」 from the mirror!"

Immediately after Goldia's warning, as a mad cackle or giggle rings in the cold air, fifteen girls come out from the mirror that are about six meters away since they've been running the whole time. These maidens rush past the spellbound audience, including Kakyoin and Avdol, who were caught by surprise when they ran pass by.

"Huh!? What in the world…?" Avdol let out.

"What's going on? Who are those…?" Kakyoin started questioning until he registers their mad laughter in his mind for a moment, then turns back to see those girls' features. His eyes go wide as he remembers something Goldia said when he was in her dreamscape. "Wait, are those… 「Lisette clones」?" He said it out loud, enough that everyone heard him.

"Clones?" Sakura parroted.

"…of Lisette? …Ah!" Emi gasped upon guessing what her daughter's intentions. One that is spelled out clear for the group when they heard multiple stabbings and four ghouls shrieking in agony.

"GYAAAAGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH! ! ! !"

In spite of common sense dictating they must continue running, the group stopped to gape at the sight of fifteen Lisette clones holding the four ghouls back through either tackling Bucciarati and Tae down or using their scissors to stab or slice on their vital parts, causing the ghouls to fall back in pain. They then proceed to keep them down by stabbing their hands and feet with surprising strength coming from slender-bodied girls. The clones did all this with a crazy expression that, alongside their unnerving giggling that doesn't seem to stop, serve to make them scary.

The group watch as the clones continue holding the ghouls down, almost rendering them immobile. The four put up some resistance and attempted to lash out at them, only to be met with a scissor to their face. Aside Kakyoin and Emi, the zombies just realized the clones look like Lisette. "Are those… Lisette? Or, no… Lisette s restraining them?" Junko nervously asked.

"It's already obvious to us but, did the real Lisette created those clones by herself, Goldia?" Saki inquired, conflicted on whether she should be glad the clones are halting the ghouls' advancement or be wary of the same clones. She blinked twice when a thought occurred on her, prompting her to turn to the mirror where the clones emerged from. "Wait a minute… Did you create that mirror for the purpose of…?"

The same mirror shatters and vanishes, then a second mirror pops out from Goldia's pocket mirror, who then stands beside it and exclaims. "I would like to answer your, but this is hardly the time! Please, all of you! Go through the mirror quick! It will take us somewhere hopefully far from Xero and his ghouls!"

Everyone aside Emi and maybe Kakyoin sorely wanted answers, but being reminded of what they are here for means they should put their lives and sanity first. Mamezuku thus says, "You all heard her! Get in the mirror now!"

Following Mamezuku's command, the group scurry towards the mirror, forming an erratic line. The first persons in the line, Avdol and Emi, would have enter through if Kakyoin didn't bring up something that snaps their attention back to the temporarily subdued ghouls. "Hold on, where is Xero? I don't see him trailing behind our infected friends. As much I don't want to think it, he should be killing those clones right about now."

"Ya seriously questioning that right now!?" Saki chastised him, her voice sounding on edge. "Who cares where he is!? What matters is-"

ザクゥー

"…Urgh!?"

Something cold piercing a flesh interrupts the leader of Franchouchou. The others gawk at her in horror and shock, instinctively backing away thanks to Xero suddenly popping out of nowhere to give Saki a greeting. In the form of his ichor-coated arm shaped into a sharp blade stabbing her from the back. The tip punctured through her chest so quickly the blonde woman went quiet, if only to fathom the solid blade stabbing her and her body being filled with rigid cold blood.

"N-No… Saki… not you too…" Ai whispered in barely-contained aghast. Twisting the knife, figuratively and literally, is Xero's wide grin very much directed to the onlookers.

"A-Ack…! …G…G-Go."

"Eh?"

The zombies jerked up in surprise when Saki coughed, spitting out blood that are filling her throat so much a trail of it spills out from the corner of her mouth. After coughing thrice, Saki, mustering the last bit of her strength, shouts out loud, "I said GOOOOO! Go through the mirror now or else I… I-I… I'LL KILL YOU!"

Goldia, Kakyoin and Mamezuku, the former two fighting back tears, pulled the distraught zombies to the mirror quick, snapping them out of their stupor before Sakura, Ai, Junko, and Lily all screamed in distress over losing Saki from Xero's surprise attack. They wanted to fight back but knowing well he will come after them next, they willing let themselves be pulled to the mirror. In the span of five seconds, the group is gone out of their sights and the mirror soon vanishes.

His twisted smile still on his face, Xero swiftly raise the blade up, slashing Saki's part of her left chest and shoulder Saki.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAGH! !" The blonde screamed in agony before and falling to the ground face first as excess blood spilled out from her deep wound.

Dispelling the blade off his arm, Xero waited for the now-infected Saki to slowly rise up, arms hanging limply and uttering moans as she faces the de facto leader with blank, widened eyes. Her wound is immediately patched up but only halfway, so her left arm is slightly loose or hanging out. Any little movements cause more ichor to spill out, staining her attire.

"Uaaaargh…"

Xero's smile widened more, being glad he infected another zombie. Afterwards, he turns around in order to address the Lisette clones holding the other four ghouls down. "Your ghoulmates… Help them and eliminate those maidens."

Saki instantly charged to the Lisette clones close by and proceeded to stab them repeatedly with tendrils sprouted out of her wound. The clones fought back, employing the numbers as advantage to push back Saki. They raise their scissors up to stab her hands, but Tae, Bucciarati, Narancia and Yugiri, now freed from their dainty hands, quickly slaughter the clones apart, either through shooting blood lasers, slashing them apart with an arm blade or claws or, more grossly, puking out a huge stream of poisonous blood.

"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH…!"

What's left of the clones lie dead or covered in blood, then like how a mirror born from Dream of Mirrors vanishes, they shatter into pieces and disappear, leaving no trace behind.

With the clones gone, they teleported through a rift to the group's current location, which is again an endless corridor filled with plenty of stairs inside a building. This time though, Xero decides surprising them by appearing right in front of them shall be the way to go, and judging from the group's reaction, it morbidly worked.

"Hello there." Xero greeted, straddling on between two borders of the rift with two hands and a left foot holding the edge.

The girls sans Emi screamed at his sudden appearance and were caught off-guard. The boys didn't hesitate to grab their hands and start pulling as fast as they can, with Hierophant Green and Magician's Red throwing plenty of fire and emeralds against Xero. He merely swatted the emeralds without much effort and doused the fire with water erupting from the ground. Still, the distraction seemingly worked as through the steam, he saw the group running in the opposite direction. Xero is unconcerned as his grin widens again.

"Run while you can. Just remember… There's no escaping from the Castle of Glass, and ourselves."

He created another rift after he gets off the rift he's leaning on and let his ghouls emerge out from it. They go through that rift and once again, they caught the escaping group by surprise again.

"Hiiiiii! Not again!" Lily shouted, her heart beating like crazy.

"T-Turn around! We have to turn around and-!" Ai started reminding, very desperate to not stand under their haunting gazes and become infected…

But alas, Bucciarati and Yugiri made sure that last part comes true after they respectively threw a sharp, thin projectile out of their throat or arm onto Ai's head and Lily's beating heart.

"Urgh-!?"

"Aahhhh!"

It was an instant KO for the short-haired girl as she fell to the ground limply, while poor Lily staggered backwards before stopping, then she raise a shaky arm to the small in her chest where her heart emerged from, now popped like it was made of balloon.

Naturally horrified, the group turned to the whimpering kid. "AI-CHAN! L-L-LILY-CHAN!" Junko shrieked.

"No… Anyone but Lily!" An aghast Avdol similarly shouted, aghast.

"A-Argh… Lily… Lily is… in so much… p-pain…" She whimpered as excruciating agony immediately circulated throughout her small body. Such pain would've forced her to sprawl out on the floor, but her body became paralyzed, so she's left standing firm with her cute face contorted in anguish as she begins twitching before she loses her sense of self. "P-P-Please… help me… H-Help Lily… I'm scared… I-I'm s-s-scared of… o- of… Uaaaaahhhh…" She last reached out her hand to her companions just as her gaze turned blank and her features relaxed, completing her unwanted transformation.

"NOOOOO! AI-CHAN!, LILY-CHAN!" Sakura exclaimed over another loss of her idol and the poor kid.

"Gahhh! Xero worked fast…!" Kakyoin let out, finding himself unable to maintain his cool over another loss which happened not even a full minute passed. The now-ghoulified kid and teenager rise up steadily as blood pooled out of their chest and head wound respectively, looking at face the increasingly unnerved zombies with the same gaping mouth and eyes the others exhibited.

"Uuurrrrrrgh…" The two moaned as they begin walking forward to get their claws or blood on their dead flesh. Naturally, they are appalled and saddened, more so for Sakura since she just saw her favorite idol shot before her eyes and a scared little girl forced to spent whimpering in pain before becoming… for a lack of better words, dead.

Xero, Bucciarati, Tae, Yugiri, Narancia and Saki soon came out from the rifts to join with the newly-ghoulified Ai and Lily in charging forth to the upset and furious zombies.

"HIEROPHANT GREEN!"

"MAGICIAN'S RED!"

"DOGGY STYLE!"

A wild mish-mash of emeralds, fire and whip lashings halted the infected group, forcing them to back away and be on defensive after receiving plenty of wounds. The three had no intention of targeting the others because they instead gave everything they got on Xero in retaliation for the further loss of their friends. While Mamezuku maintains a cool expression in contrast to the other two's angered states, his furrowed glare shooting daggers to him is not fake.

"A futile attempt!"

"TAMA TAMA TAMA TAMA TAMA TAMA TAMA TAMA!"

Xero responded with a barrage of punches and punctures, the former having made possible through his fusion with Linkin Park earlier. He never thought it would be very effective when he applied the same ability to his blood appendages, so in his twisted elation, he increases the speed and slowly inches himself forward to land two hits on the three. Concurrently, the ghouls quickly moved around the trio to go after the girls as ordered by Xero, but they are stopped by a stampede of Lisette clones emerging from three mirrors created by Goldia. This same stampede soon distracted Xero from further attacking the three boys and was forced to deal with them, allowing the Stand Users to stop attacking and quickly regroup.

As the sound of slaughter fills their ears, Goldia creates a fourth mirror and urges them, "Quick! Into the mirror!"

With a heavy heart over having to abandon their infected friends once more, the remaining members vanished into the mirror as it then shattered. Few seconds after, the combined shrieks of Lisette clones as they're being killed stops, leaving the victors standing among the pile of shattering corpses.

"Goldia… She's getting on my nerves…" Xero growled. Guessing she'll continue throwing anything with Dream of Mirrors, he decides to make the brunette his next target, after he claimed most if not all fourteen zombies. They would tear apart the vile woman and her daughters soon after…

Becoming a routine at this point, Xero swiftly found the group, via teleporting this time. He figured opening a rift is getting old so he wanted something new.

However, they only just appeared for about two seconds when they are met with homing fire ankhs. And they home in quick too, giving Saki, Narancia and Yugiri no time to react in their braindead states before they're engulfed in a fiery explosion.

"UAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGH!"

A simple barrier of water coating all the ghouls (after dousing the aforementioned three ghouls) is enough to ward off the ankhs. Despite this though, every dousing generates a lot of steam, indicating how scalding hot the ankhs are if feeling the intense summer-like heat isn't registering to their heads.

"Avdol too… He must be eliminated next." Xero muttered in irritation. He should've dealt the fortune teller first before he has the ichor infect the rest. Unwilling to obscure themselves in the thickening steam, Xero teleports to where his opponents are currently in and lay out a nasty surprise…

Meanwhile, after coming out from a fifth or sixth mirror into another area, which is again the endless expanse of the still ocean, the dwindling group make haste through the featureless hallways. Out of desire to not get caught barefooted again, Goldia had led her companions farther and farther away from Xero to spare what's left of the dwindling group. Avdol and Mamezuku also employed several Life Detectors or the Spin to sense the incoming presence of Xero's flunkies. And though she's still weakened, Emi helped out after regaining a fraction of her power through sensing their tainted souls.

Even with all these precautions, Sakura and Junko are very afraid that all of them couldn't be protected anyway and it won't be long before one tiny misstep will led one of them to fall under Xero's. These two girls are crying a lot of tears, more so than Goldia's, over witnessing their groupmates fall and under the not-unfounded fear that one of them could be next. It's not a matter of if, but when.

"…How long… *hic* H-How long… do we keep running… until we're… *sob* safe? Just… how long…?" Junko stammered in her question, lowering her head as she whimpered.

The reply from Kakyoin isn't a bit optimistic. "I don't know… All we can frustratingly do is to try to survive as long as we can. Avdol, Mamezuku-san and I…" He releases a sharp intake of breath, feeling his chest becoming heavy from being scared. "…will try our best to protect what's left of us. Please try to keep your chin up Junko. Somehow, we will get through this…"

"Do you have to say that when it is clear to me that we're practically doomed…?" Sakura rebutted him. Her pessimism is gearing up in her head again from all the stress and inevitable fate that awaits them. She sobbed for a moment before continuing, "I just knew… I knew my 「misfortune」 did rub off to you guys all because I'm stuck with you in this otherworldly place. I mean, why I am not-"

"Enough Sakura. Don't talk yourself down again," interrupted Mamezuku. "What I'll say may come off as somewhat uncharacteristic of me but… Keep your faith firm and steady as long we still have a 「chance」 to turn things around."

"What chance?! Are you seeing how far we're faring!? And, and…! It seems like you four don't have anything to counter against Xero!" She reminded irritatingly.

"…You're forgetting two, Sakura. The ones who left earlier to prep up their 「ultimate technique」?"

Sakura is about to run her mouth off again, but upon registering Rai's other reply and observing who are in attendance, she jerks up when she remembers who he's referring to. The same thought is echoed among others, realizing they had almost forgotten due to all the pressure.

"Mr. Johnny and Gyro!" Goldia said the names of those who were absent.

"Ah, right! The two equestrians!" Emi similarly exclaimed. "Last we saw, they took off somewhere while on horseback, and they have yet to return. Hmm, I already know what their soul feels like so I could have sensed where they are, but sadly, my miniscule energy meant I can only pick up the ghouls' presence."

Everyone grimaced, though didn't complain because he's the one who they should look out the most for in hopes of avoiding getting surprised. "That's too bad. For all we know, they might have come back to our previous location only to find none of us there since Xero forced us to keep moving." Kakyoin said, biting his lip.

"Maybe they can find us if they follow along Xero's trail," suggested Avdol. "He and our friends left so much blood behind, so Johnny and Gyro can trace where they're going. Unless Xero manipulated the Castle of Glass to throw them off their trail, which is more likely, they should have moderate or little issue finding us."

"Yes… Yeah, that's a good observation," mumbled Rai as a thought came to his head. Something that's been bugging him ever since Xero is chasing them. "Wait, now that you said it… I realized something. Xero might have saw Gyro and Johnny took off riding on Valkyrie and Slow Dancer, and since Shino knew how the Super Spin works, it's possible Xero borrowed that knowledge so he should know how powerful their 「ultimate techniques」 are. And yet…"

"And yet…?" Junko repeated, her eyes turned to him along with the other four.

"…Xero decided to chase 「us」 rather than 「them」…" He revealed. "If he knows the Super Spin is dangerous to him, why did he prioritize going 「after us」? Shouldn't he 「gone after Johnny and Gyro」 because they have the 「potential」 to defeat him?"

Before they can ruminate on the apparent flaw behind Xero's pursuit on them, all the flames on Magician's Red's Life Detector starts sparking and Emi hitches a gasp as she perks up in alarm, all of noticed by Sakura, Junko, Kakyoin, Mamezuku and Goldia. They catch on what these could meant.

As Goldia begins commanding Dream of Mirrors, Junko, her fear returning, asks the two frantically, "So!? Where are Xero and his ghouls gonna appear from?!"

Unfortunately, the answer comes when Junko trips and falls to the ground when her ankles got caught on something. Everyone saw her trip so they stop and are about to go help her back on her feet…

"AAAAHHHH! ! !"

!?

…but instinctively stopped in shock and horror as Tae, Saki and Lily chomped onto her legs, injecting a lot of ichor in Junko's veins. Ai, Narancia, Bucciarati and Yugiri soon emerged out from two or three more rifts appearing on the ground, which is how the aforementioned three ghouls laid a sneak attack on the Showa Idol. They then join in clawing and devouring the poor, defenseless girl as she looks on with teary, widened eyes.

"NononononoNONO NONO! H-HEEEELP-!" Junko screamed her pleas of help out in vain before she's completely smothered, her petrified face being the last expression they saw from her.

"WAAAAAAAAH! JUNKOOOOO!" Sakura screamed, horrified over yet another loss of her groupmates at the same time she realized she's the last member of Franchouchou who hasn't turned into ghouls yet. This fact didn't sit so well with her as more tears flowed out. She would have kneeled on the ground in disbelief were it not for Kakyoin pulling her away from the ghouls.

"Come on! W-We mustn't stop moving!" Despite trying to stay focused, Kakyoin's shaky voice barely hid the grief he's feeling and anger over Xero's dirty tricks resulting in another loss of their friends. Sakura didn't protested, averting her eyes before letting her near-numbed state be pulled along. If she or the others looked back, they would saw the seven ghouls step back to allow the newly-infected Junko, her clothes nearly ripped apart and hair frazzled whilst covered in a lot of blood both new and stained, stood up moaning and letting out trails of blood from her mouth and eyes similar to hew brethren.

"Urrrrgh…"

BGM: la battaglia finale (Golden Wind OST: Finale)

With yet another ghoul added, they turned their sights to the retreating group before giving chase once more. Worryingly, it didn't take long for these hungry ghouls to catch up to them. The group quickly noticed them approaching them, much to their agitation. Despite their slouched posture and sluggish gait, they are deceptively fast. It's to the point they're slowly but surely inching their way close.

"G-G-Guys…!" Sakura, still teary-eyed, began warning them, only to close her mouth when a horde of Lisette clones and, after Goldia obtained permission from Egliette and Fleta, soldiers equipped with muskets charge to the opposite direction towards the ghouls after emerging from another mirror. Kakyoin and Avdol simply continued shooting their long-ranged attacks. To their mild shock, the ghouls were too swift in their movements that they evade every emeralds, flames and scissors attacking them. Heck, some of them faced the fire head on, unaffected and suffering no worse for wear aside their torn clothes.

Uh oh! It isn't good they are becoming 「immune」! Avdol worriedly thought, shared by the others.

Still, even if the ghouls are either dodging or enduring the onslaught, the soldiers and Lisette clones are pushing them back, forcing them to slow down which the group immediately noticed. One would think this gave them some chance to ran as fast as they could to get away, but all of a sudden, the army screamed for a sec before dying and shattering into shards when the ghouls, disgustingly, vomited volumes of blood, creating a grotesque fountain of crimson ichor falling into the dark waters and slightly turning parts of it red.

"Eeek! I shouldn't have seen them puke!" Goldia expressed her disgust. Her sisters shared her thoughts as well, sensing Fleta, Enjel and Lisette blanching.

"Good god… I think they're mutilating themselves just to attack with so much blood…!" Mamezuku speculated, even feeling nauseated. Kakyoin, Avdol and Emi remained silent but expressed the same feeling nonetheless.

"UAAAAAARGH!" The ghouls continuing charging through the cascading emeralds and fire until they're close to the group. Believing they are within acceptable range to launch the blood beams, they did just that. Only taking a look to their eyes as they're starting to shoot out high pressure blood allowed them to foresee their attack, which Avdol, in a last ditch move, is keen on stopping them.

Guess I must go all out like I've never done before… "Everyone, stop!"

The group stop running when they heard him. Smiling, he carefully puts a confused Emi down besides Goldia before he turns around to meet the charging ghouls' eyes with grim determination.

"Avdol?" Kakyoin called out.

"Avdol-san! What are you…?" Mamezuku similarly said.

Ignoring his teammates, Avdol sucked a big breath, before opening his eyes swiftly and shouts, "CROSS FIREEEEEEEEEE…! ERUPTIOOOOOOOOOOON!"

BGM: Scorching Flames (Stardust Crusaders OST [Destination])

ボォォォォォーン

The ghouls are just a few meters away when a massive wall of sweltering fire manifested right in front of Magician's Red, who has its arms raised up high as it lets out a mighty cry. This literal firewall is actually the bottom part of a gigantic ankh possibly reaching up by a hundred feet. So big this part is that its width is so wide that it could take one a long while to reach just one side to get around it. Whether the ghouls might haven't thought ahead or the ichor is inhibiting their logical side, the wall of fire managed to repel them back as indicated by their painful shrieks after they were grazed. *

Hearing them probably flinching away didn't make Avdol satisfied, but it didn't stop a smile springing onto his face. Deploying a defensive firewall is a risky and rare move because he has to go near them to compensate Magician's Red's short range and seeing it seemingly working against the danger of the ghouls gaining immunity might be worth it.

"…I'm sorry for hurting you all more with my flames. I wish this didn't have come to this. It's all for self-defense but still…" He muttered remorsefully and winced a bit, sensing they are trying to go through the firewall only to recoil again and again, aggravating the burns they received. The water underneath the firewall is being boiled at a highest temperature, creating a steam around it.

Behind Fire Lord, Kakyoin, Mamezuku, Goldia and Emi (being able to stand up now albeit wobbly and slouching) gaze in awe at the enormous wall of fire dividing them from the blood-thirsty ghouls. The wall's rippling surface may remind them of what the Sun looks like through a special telescope, and coupled that with the intense heat wave emanating from it to the point everyone, including Avdol, are sweating so much droplets are visible on their cheeks.

"Whoa… He created a colossal ankh made of fire…" Kakyoin breathed out Kakyoin. "So he was holding back. Is this the true extent of Magician's Red?"

"…I'd say he is. I'm sweating due to the unbearable heat the ankh is exuding, which probably says a lot of his power and experience." Mamezuku remarked, seemingly impressed.

"I suppose he did not earn the moniker 「Fire Lord」 for nothing." Emi agreed. Goldia nodded beside her, too numb from all the awe she had watched.

Carefully stepping backwards, Avdol kept his eyes peeled on the firewall as Magician's Red returned to him. He's planning to let the wall linger for a while to give them much time to move far away or an acceptable distance. They have to try. "Alright! This should keep them back for now!" He announced, glancing his eyes behind. "Everyone, as soon as I turn around, we must make a break for it! Goldia, your Dream of Mirrors please…!"

Hearing him clear, Goldia whispered to her pocket mirror, creating a fresh mirror beside. Kakyoin thus exclaims, "It's here! Come on, Avdol!"

Fire Lord nods, spinning on his feet and begins walking to them.

ドズッ

"Nnnnngh!?"

BGM Stops

However, a sharp pain erupted behind him. Grinding his teeth, Avdol turn his head back to see an appendage's tip has sunk deep to his back. "Wh-What…? An 「ichor」? B-But, the fire! It should've-" He traced the appendage until he sees it passed through the firewall. Without getting damaged.

His eyes go wide, his chest filled with dread at the thought of the ghouls' immunity to fire coming true. Agh! I must…do somethi-

ザク ザク ザク ザク ザクゥー

"YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH! !"

He couldn't finish his thought after fifteen more tendrils punctured his body like pincushion, penetrating through both his shoulders, waist, chest, leg, elbow, hands and neck. The grip these tendrils possess is holding onto his body securely, meaning he found himself only able to move even slightly. Then he felt himself being tugged, and a discomforting sensation covered his body entirely…

Kakyoin, after snapping out of his stunned stupor over watching him getting attacked, shoots out Hierophant Green's tendrils fast, shouting, "Avdol, NOOO!"

Unfortunately, he's not fast to save the doomed fortune teller before he was lifted off his feet and hauled through the firewall. The sound of tearing flesh and pumping blood and lastly, Avdol's agonized scream transitioning into a gargled shriek are all heard by the terrified group. Symbolizing this, the massive flame ankh vanishes, letting them see the ghouls back away from a lone body lying in the center. The appendages sprouted out of their backs go back in their bodies as they glance their prey now within their sights again. They tread forward, this time accompanied by their newest member, who didn't wait long before he gets up and follow next in the same drooping posture.

"Ourrrrrrrrrrgh…"

Another round of scream came out from Sakura and Goldia after taking a gander to Avdol's bloodied and frayed body while Kakyoin, Mamezuku and Emi look on disbelief. They noticed some appendages still embed to his body, all coming from Junko's arm, Bucciarati's chest, Saki's mouth, Lily's chest. It doesn't seem like it's gonna retract soon. Either way the sight disgusts them.

"Oh no… they are starting to become 「immune」 like Xero…" Emi reminded in disbelief.

"S-So the worst-case scenario is coming true?! Things are not so looking great!" Sakura gulped, glancing to the mirror beside a nervous Goldia. She quickly reminded the remaining zombies before she breaks into a sprint towards the mirror. Or she would have if Xero didn't shatter it after appearing abruptly.

"AAAHHHHHH! IT'S XERO!" She reeled back in shock, alerting the other four.

! !

In an instant, Cherry Boy and Peel Planter sent out many tendrils and wires to the smirking ghoul leader to restrain him, but he up and vanished just as they're about to touch him. He reappeared some meters away and the two redirects the ropes onto him, with Mamezuku having to move close to compensate his short range. He teleported again however. Then for the third time, and the fourth. And the fifth.

On the eighth time, Kakyoin and Mamezuku are becoming irritated as Xero keeps evading them whilst never letting up his wicked sneer so as to mock them. "Argh! Stay still, would you!?" Kakyoin growled.

"Keep calm Kakyoin! Don't let him get to you and make you lose your cool!" Despite Mamezuku's warning, his clenched teeth and furrowed brows indicate he's losing his composure due to stress and desperation. Apparently influenced by this, he made a leap onto Xero using his legs as literal springs in hopes of catching him quickly. But alas, the elite ghoul is faster than him who simply has to swerve his body on his feet and let him pass. The man rolls across to stop his momentum before he puts his hand to stabilize. He raised his head up a second later to see Xero charging at him like lightning, his left arm molded into a curved blade…

Shoot!

Mamezuku couldn't get away in time before he felt a burning pain in his abdomen. A screamed next followed, droplets of blood coming out of his mouth. "UAAAAAAGH!"

A hand instinctively covering his deep stomach wound, Peel Planter crashed onto the ground, lying with an anguished look. Blood soon formed beneath him, albeit in small amount, as Xero grinned, standing over his prone body with the dripping curved blade by his side.

Seeing his friend becoming a ghoul soon with wide eyes, Kakyoin loses whatever composure he has left before firing out emeralds and tendrils as much as possible to make Xero pay. "Raaaaaaaagh! HIEROPHANT GREEEEEEN!"

"Hmph!"

Inheriting Linkin Park's speed, Xero sliced the tendrils up while deflecting the emeralds by punching rapidly, then he teleported to Kakyoin's position to pummel him for five seconds.

"TAMA TAMA TAMA TAMA TAMA TAMA TAMA TAMA TAMA TAMA TAMA! TAMA NAAAA!"

"UGYAAAAAGH!"

Cherry Boy screamed in agony after a hard final punch sends him flying into Sakura, Emi and Goldia with a hard punch. They yelped as they got pushed to the ground. In just a span of fifteen seconds, all the opposing players are lying in a heap or by their lonesome, with one of them in the process of being turned into ghoul.

ドドドドドドドド

"A-Argh… Aahhhh… Nnnngh…" Only letting out pained grunts, Mamezuku attempts to lay off the infection by unravelling his torso so that each strips will force the ichor to travel slower. When he's done, his entire torso and the hind parts of his limbs are unraveled into a pile of thin strips. It will not work well in the end, but that won't mean he's not gonna "die" without defying Xero. Said enemy saw him resisting the infection as long as he possible can, but he only snorted in response.

"Keep resisting all you want… Your Doggy Style will not save you in the end…"

All the ghouls he infected up to this point reappeared beside or behind Xero through Linkin Park, eliciting some surprise from the recovering zombies who are now lying behind them. Goldia, Emi, Sakura and the fazed Kakyoin can't do anything but watch on in despair, aware of what will happen to Mamezuku next.

Rattled by Xero's insult, Mamezuku shakily rises up with one hand supporting him weakly to glare daggers at him. A trickle of blood trickles out of his lips as he opens his mouth.

"Hnnngh…! Does that eventually include… Gyro and… Johnny…? *cough* *cough*" He asked this certain question to know why he's targeting them instead of the two jockeys. "You must have seen them taking off on their horses, and yet… you left them alone. So why…? Why didn't you gone after them in the first place. They have the 「potential」 to… *groan* cripple you with the Super Spin! Did it… escape your mind, huh? Or do you, somehow, deem them 「unimportant」?"

No response came from Xero. He regarded the prone man in that timespan with no hint of worry or apprehension, even in his eyes. That, or he could be good on concealing his feelings that someone intuitive like Rai can't get a read on.

Off their side, the four zombies overheard Mamezuku's question as they get themselves off and get back up, including Kakyoin who endured the harsh pain from the thrashing he received. They have to admit, they're a bit curious on why Xero ignored the two jockeys. Though Kakyoin is the only one who knew what Johnny and Gyro's ultimate move do, Sakura, Goldia and Emi guessed it must be so powerful it required the two to ride on their horses.

パカラ パカラ パカラ パカラ

Just then, a faint galloping sound are heard coming from a distance. The sound gradually draws closer until it can be heard loud and clear. All the assembled party knew who the gallops belong to as they turn to where the gallops are heard, which is on Mamezuku's side.

"Those sounds…!"

BGM: Fight to Antagonize (Stardust Crusaders OST [World])

Sure enough, arriving at the scene is none other than Johnny and Gyro. Riding on Slow Dancer and Valkyrie respectively, they zoomed straight toward Xero and his ghouls once they lock their sights on him. At this point, they're about fifteen meters away and even from this distance, they can discern Mamezuku's wounded form, Xero himself, and their friends' bloodied and injured forms slouching behind their leader.

Their determined faces took a hit upon realizing who they're looking at, nearly forcing them to brake. "What the? Johnny, look! Our friends…! Xero has gotten them…!" Gyro exclaimed, unable to believe what he's seeing with wide eyes.

"…Damn it! They got infected…! Made under Xero's slaves." Johnny muttered out, his aiming finger faltering for a second after staring at Yugiri and Lily. His eyes fall on Mamezuku, noting his untangled torso drenched in blood. Then he glances over to the other four. Good, they haven't got infected…

It isn't long before they cast their glare on Xero harshly, looking forward in making him pay. At this point, they're approaching him fast so Gyro brings out one spinning steel ball and Johnny aims one finger, its tip spinning rapidly. If one watched closely, they'll notice tiny pink and lime green sparks brimming on their respective choices of attacks.

Feeling the Super Spin energy coursing through his body, Johnny announces, "Gyro quick! Throw your steel ball!"

"Okay! Let's give Xero hell for infecting our friends!" Arching his left arm, Gyro purses his lips and shouts, "OOOOOO-"

"TAMAAAAA!"

ボゴォォォッ!

Slow Dancer and Valkyrie let out a distressed whine when Xero dashed towards the equestrian duo and punched their heads. Just as quick he approached them, he returned to his spot leaving behind a trail of glass particles. He put on a sneer as he watched the horses let out a loud whine in response to the intense pain before falling on their sides, sending their riders down.

"Agh!" Johnny grunted

"Whoooooa!" Gyro shouted, accidentally letting go of the steel ball. It rolled towards Xero's group quickly and once it's within their vicinity, Xero stomped the ball into pieces, the strength required creating small cracks under his foot. Spin Cowboy only saw it after gathering his bearings.

"My steel ball!" He reached his hand out in shock.

Pushing himself up, Johnny shakes his head before he looks at his side to see Slow Dancer lying motionlessly, its hooves pointed to him. "Slow Danceeeer!" He gets immediately concerned, crawling besides its head and putting his hands to assess if he's still living. Gyro does the same, moving from Valkyrie's back to check if his stock horse is breathing. Fortunately, its eyes are open halfway and he's breathing, albeit irregularly.

"Okay, good. You're alright. Sorry for getting you hurt, Valkyrie." He apologized, rubbing his face soothingly.

Though relieved their horses barely survived having their heads crushed by fists, Johnny and Gyro proceed to put more daggers on their glare at Xero. Since the two are on the ground, the elite ghoul literally looks down on them. Feeling slighted, they prepare to attack.

BGM Stops

"Still insisting on attacking me? After I knocked down your horses to ensure you won't reenact your most powerful techniques on me? You're annoying me due to your tenacity." Xero growled.

The two winced, silently conceding their enemy's point. Slow Dancer and Valkyrie appeared to be near-unresponsive so it's unlikely they'll stand up anything soon. Slow Dancer's feet are facing me, and so does Valkyrie too… Yes, this could be our chance to use the alternative way to infuse the Spin imbued by our horses to us! Only problem is… Gyro has 「one」 steel ball; not enough to let us activate our moves together… Johnny theorized, frowning in the end when remembering Xero destroying one steel ball. He almost let out a "tsk!" there.

In spite of this drawback, Gyro feigns a mocking smile to Xero's direction, retorting, "…Why, thank you! Makes me glad hearing you say that! Hope we'll continue getting under your skin as Johnny and I fight back with everything we've got!"

That got a chuckle from Xero since he clearly sees who has the upper hand. "You must be blind if the sight of my ghouls," He called them that term, coincidentally. "must haven't registered in your feeble minds yet. Talk up a big game all you want…"

Five sharp-tipped appendages sprout out from Xero's back, followed by nine ghouls (excluding Mamezuku until then) staggering forward with gaping mouths ready to munch on their bodies. "…Those won't save you once the ichor got inside your bodies. We hope you're ready to be inducted to my circle, Johnny Joestar and Gyro Zeppeli…"

The two scowled angrily. Even though the last thing they want is hurting their companions, they know they have no choice but to do it anyway lest they become ghouls themselves. Dammit! If only Gyro and I didn't get lost in some kind of maze, probably thanks to Xero…! We could've prevented most of our friends from turning into ghouls! What Johnny thought as he rose up in attention, aiming his right hand over the shambling ghouls. Gyro gets ready also even if he's entirely against it, gulping quietly. Behind the ghouls' backs, Kakyoin stands up in front of Sakura, Goldia and Emi, planning to intercept Xero and the ghouls. He's still in pain, but that won't stop him.

Just as Xero motioned his appendages and ghouls to attack Nail Jockey and Spin Cowboy, someone stops them by speaking up after coughing.

"「Lesson… Five」."

It's Mamezuku who said those two words. A little surprised, the two jockeys turn to the man maintaining his skewed posture with a hand and elbow still, panting heavily. He raised his eyes up to reveal his dead skin having bulging veins near his eyes and mouth, indicating the ichor flowing in them as he's in the process of becoming ghoul. And yet, through sheer will he appears to resist it if only a little, much to Xero's surprise and consternation.

ゴゴゴゴゴゴゴゴ

" 「The shortest route is the detour. It was the detour that was the shortest path」," he continued running his mouth, looking up to Gyro. "That's what the Zeppeli family's final lesson is all about, right Gyro-sensei?

The long-haired widen his eyes when hearing Rai recite it, and from being referred by that term again. "M-Mamezuku…"

"You taught it to Johnny right before you died, giving him the 「resolve」 to unlock his final evolution of 「Tusk」. And like before, you told it to me too," he doesn't stop, grunting as he moves his legs underneath him so he's barely sitting up. "However, 「Lesson Five」 requires one to ride a horse in order to absorb the Spin the horses produce as they gallop at their natural pace. Since I don't have a horse, obviously I can't do it to reach the fullest extent of my Spin technique. In other words, I've nothing to gain because I don't have the means to follow the specific method carefully."

"Despite that however, you have my- Ghnnnh… Gratitude for helping me unlock my Spin potential," mustering strength, Mamezuku puts his right hand to his chest and bows slightly, seemingly wanting to thank his two Spin teachers during a bad time. Noticeably, he concealed his left hand behind his back which his right hand follows. "I would've never known how to properly use the Spin technique and how truly potent they are without consulting you two. Otherwise I would've stayed none the wiser and always deem it as a mere curiosity I learned when I was little."

"So then, Johnny-sensei. Gyro-sensei," he called out, not paying mind to his bleeding nose and tongue tasting iron, detecting his mind gradually going blank. "You were gonna use the 「Super Spin」, right? That's been your plan when we did your 「secret technique」. You two are hoping your most powerful moves will finally beat Xero once and for all. I was looking forward to seeing you two do it, only to be botched." He closed his eyes, ignoring the blood trickling from the corners before opening them again "…I'm afraid I won't see it with my own eyes as I will- Urargh! Become a ghoul. But for the sake of Saga and our lives…"

Mustering up the last bit of strength after recomposing his torso back to normal, he moves both his arms back to his front after straightening his body. Everyone immediately notice his hands changed into two spheres spinning continuously.

シュル シュル シュル シュル

Johnny, Gyro and Xero now realized Mamezuku's intent. Then Xero noticed Slow Dancer and Valkyrie's legs are facing their riders, causing his breath to hitch.

"NOOO! I won't let you-!"

His appendages stretched toward Mamezuku, his expression being one of fear and anger. Just as quick he did, Mamezuku throws his rotating spheres to Slow Dancer and Valkyrie. " 「DOGGY STYYYYLE」!"

ドズゥゥッ

His face, torso and arms were punctured hard by the appendages, silencing him.

"MAMEZUKUUUUUU!" Sakura, Kakyoin and Goldia screamed to yet-another zombie losing to Xero.

Unfortunately, Xero didn't feel satisfied because he was just a mere second off in stopping Mamezuku. Eyes agape, he glances at Slow Dancer and Valkyrie twitching due to the Spin coursing through their body…

ドガァン！ ！

…causing the appaloosa and stock horse to kick both Johnny and Gyro so hard they are sent flying into the air. Both equestrians grinned.

"Rai Mamezuku… Heh, we really taught you 「right」. You were already past being a novice because you grasped our lessons quick and passed them with flying colors, but you've outdid yourself this time!" Though knowing Peel Planter won't hear him now, that didn't stop Gyro from complimenting his second pupil.

"We won't let this chance slip by!" Johnny aimed his last nail bullet at Xero. "Time to put Xero in his place! 「TUUUSK」!"

"COME FORTH! 「BALL BREAKEEEER」!"

BGM: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Steel Ball Run OST: Gyro Zeppeli's Theme Fan Made

Without hesitation, they shoot a projectile and steel ball brimming with overwhelming Spin energy. In testament to how its almighty power, bystanders perceive both projectiles glowing and covered in electricity traveling at insane speed that Xero almost didn't react.

"LINKIN PAAAARK!"

An invisible barrier is created hastily, blocking the Super Spin. Even though Xero blocked it, he knew it's all for naught already, cursing himself on why he didn't dodge. The moment he sees electric sparks passing through the barrier and hear Tusk's shrill cry, he braces himself for a beating he'll be in.

"CHU…! CHU…! CHUMIMIIIIIII~N! ! !"

ガッシィィーン

"ABSOLUTE GOLDEN… SPIN ENERGYYYYYYYYYY! ! ! !"

Tusk ACT4 and Ball Breaker appear as Xero is pushed back from the unrelenting force of the Super Spin, rearing their fists for the one-sided beatdown.

" ORAAAAA!"

Tusk ACT4's left fist collided with his cheek hard, instantly bringing him a lot of agony and giving him a concussion. Ball Breaker zooms pass his face after hitching a ride with Tusk ACT4, stretching out its little body as a result and leaving behind green sparks, causing it to age so fast wrinkles appear on his skin and some of his hair fall off.

ズメシャァ

And unfortunately for Xero, this is just a start. It isn't long before Ball Breaker and Tusk let loose.

"ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA!"

ズドドド ドドン ドゴッ ズドッ

ドボァッ

The long-awaited beatdown was nothing short of merciless, as each and every hit Tusk and Ball Breaker landed releases pink and green sparks all over Xero. Perhaps they thought breaking every bone in his body is not enough, they have to repeatedly imbue him with harmful Spin energy too much.

So in the span of twenty-five seconds, Ball Breaker gradually ages the young-looking zombie, diminishing his endurance to increase the pain tenfold.

" ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA! OOOORAAAAAAAAA! ! ! ! ! !"

ガギャァァァァッ!

Throwing one last strong punch to Xero's aged face with an audible, echoing boom, Tusk and Ball Breaker drills through his body, twisting themselves into nothing momentarily before coming out from his back agonizingly.

ズドォォァーン

"UHGYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRGH! ! ! ! !"

Xero screamed as his incredibly battered and aged body fall to the ground with a splat, causing his crimson ichor to spill everywhere. His mind almost went blank or unresponsive, indicated by his rolled-up eyes and gaping mouth remaining to his face. If his fingers didn't twitch, he would have thought to have died from intense shock.

Catching the returning steel ball and holstering it, Gyro felt an intense pride and satisfaction welling up in his chest from not only getting to use his Stand properly, but for finally putting Xero in his place via a well-deserved beating from him and Johnny. His best pal felt the same as he and Gyro pose together to mark their success in pulling off their ultimate move.

"Aaaaaalright! Score one for us! Nyo ho ho!" Gyro smiled unabashedly, standing with left foot up that his elbows rest on. * *

"The untold powers of the 「Golden Rectangle」… are nothing short of a miracle!" Johnny similarly boasted, kneeling with left arm and a finger raised up high. * * *

Witnessing such an utter and impressive display of a beatdown naturally took the audience's breath away. Sakura, Kakyoin and Avdol's jaws were dropped, figuratively of course, while Emi and Goldia stood there with mouth and eyes wide.

"They… They did it. They managed to beat Xero up with the highest form of the 「Spin」!" Kakyoin exclaimed.

"I… I… I…" Sakura stammered. "I have no words…"

"…Incredible." Goldia let out one word succinctly describing what they've watched, including Harpae, Fleta, Egliette, Lisette and Enjel. They come out of Goldia's mindscape for extra protection when witnessing the dwindling numbers, the latter two even bringing out their scissors and scythe respectively.

Slowly snapping out of her stunned stupor as her eyes fall on the near-unconscious Xero, Emi tried not to wince when seeing bruised and bloodied form. Both of his legs and left arm are bent incorrectly while his right arm appears to be limp, probably because of one bone sticking out of his elbow. It was so savage and brutal she wonders if Xero can even heal, or how does he still stay conscious.

"So with Xero down, maybe I should go over to his body and-"

"No. Don't go near him." Johnny stops Emi, raising his arm to block her. "Tusk ACT 4 isn't finished with Xero yet."

"What do you mean?"

"Let me say that we must wait for the effects of the 「Infinite Rotation」 to happen. Which I think shall happen starting riiiiight… now."

グルゥゥゥン

On Johnny's timely statement, Xero's body began segmenting by itself just as he attempted to push himself up. His eyes widen when realizing what will happen next right before he released a hoarse scream after each segmented pieces spin in alternating patterns.

"KUAAAAH!"

"Huh? What is happening!? Why is he 「spinning」?!" Emi hastily asked.

Johnny nodded. "Yup. My 「Infinite Rotation」 is working as intended. This is the 「effects」 I'm talking about when my most powerful attack 「hit」 Xero, right down through even his very 「soul」."

"His soul? What are you…?"

"My Infinite Rotation did not affect Xero physically only. It dug deep to the very core of his being; his soul, I mean. Because of that, like Valentine, he had 「lost」. He may try to get rid of the Spin out of his body, but no matter what he'll do, the effects will activate again, as many times as I like. And even if he tries to go to another dimension, my 「Infinite Rotation」 will chase after him relentlessly. In short… he's already doomed."

Coupling his explanation and watching Xero suffer under Infinite Rotation really paints the picture of the terrifying might that is Tusk ACT4. It's so potent that Johnny required riding on Slow Dancer and having it run at its natural pace to empower his already powerful Spin techniques. Sakura and Goldia become anxious at the thought of them being under Infinite Rotation while Kakyoin, Gyro and Emi are in awe.

"I see! So this is the end result of your mastery over the art of Spin, huh Johnny?" Gyro remarked, watching the writhing alpha zombie struggling in vain. "Color me impressed. You took the Zeppeli family's Spin to the next level through your own use! I really taught you right! Makes me almost say you've surpassed me. Almost."

"It's all thanks to you. I wouldn't have gained this 「power」 if I haven't met you," smiled Johnny. He next frowns, glaring at the alpha zombie with a hint of satisfaction and contempt. "Now, all we can do is wait. I'm guessing he's gonna use Linkin Park to remove the rotation out of his body. He's in for a rude surprise…"

Emi doesn't like what Johnny implied but she didn't comment. For now, she watches Xero closely for any sign of him using Linkin Park, as well as their infected friends who all stay still somewhat surprisingly. The same thing is done by Kakyoin, Avdol and Goldia after overhearing them.

Thirty seconds have passed and Xero continues suffering from the effects of Infinite Rotation… except not once did he tried to dispel it in that time span. This didn't go unnoticed by Emi, Gyro and Johnny.

"…Hey, is it just me or… is Xero not doing anything to quell the effects of the Spin?" Gyro wondered. "Since my Stand ability lets me age anything faster, I'm betting he only have to use Linkin Park to turn himself young again. Should be easy like flicking a light switch."

Johnny narrowed his eyes. "Yeah, you're right. He should've done so earlier but he's… seemingly 「content」 in suffering the effects instead." He made this realization.

"Pardon?" Emi turned to them.

"It could be just me, but for some reason… I'm sensing Xero 「refuses」 if the effect has continued to this point. Not once we saw him use his ability to dispel it." Biting his lips, Johnny glares at Xero doing the utmost effort to remain calm even with his segmented body poised to spin for eternity until he's gone. "What's the hold up? Why haven't you got out of the Infinite Rotation even temporarily!?" He demanded.

Instead of a reply, Xero simply smirked through the pain. Then a groan is heard. "Aaaarrrrrgh…"

Recognizing who's groaning, the still-sane zombies turn to Mamezuku, now a ghoul, raising a jittery left hand whilst lying on his front. Given he's pushing himself up, it looked like he's about to rise up and attempts to get his cold hands on them before chomping down. However, he suddenly fell down face first and starts convulsing.

ドシャッ

"M…Mamezuku-san?" Sakura called out in confusion when seeing Peel Planter abruptly gave up. Then she, Kakyoin and Goldia saw the previously standing ghouls, who haven't left their position the whole time, also dropping down either on their backs or fronts. It happened just as sudden too.

"W-What… What is happening…?" Goldia rhetorically asked, not liking how the ghouls are shuddering in agony. As if in response, she got her answer… in the form of their bodies segmenting into many spinning pieces, starting from Mamezuku.

!?

Everyone goes silent as they watched the ghouls rotating in an agonizing fashion, indicated by their cries or shrieks. Their shock last for a short time until their minds clicked after realizing what's happening to them.

BGM: Third Bomb (Diamond is Unbreakable OST)

"Wahhhh! What is this!? Wh-Why are they spinning like…! Like… Xero!?" Sakura yelled.

"H-How?!" Kakyoin exclaimed, unable to veer his eyes off any of the anguished ghouls. "Johnny only targeted Xero! By that logic, he should be the only one suffering from Infinite Rotation!" He pointed this out.

Internally freaking out though trying to maintain their levelheadedness, Johnny agrees with his assertion, saying, "That's right! No way in hell did I think of transferring the effects onto them, not even once!"

Everyone would have continue speculating in panic if not for Emi audibly gasping. Becoming alarmed, she exclaims, "Oh no! How could I let it slip my mind!?"

"You know something?! Spill it out if you do!" Gyro pleaded, turning to her.

"The 「ichor」… Since the ichor flowing throughout their bodies originates from Xero, they share little bits of his soul similar to the emotions I discussed earlier…" She began. "Not only have they inherited his abilities, but so too his 「life force」. The same life force the ghouls forcefully attained is subjected to the effects of Infinite Rotation."

?!

The zombies jerked up in shock over Emi's belated explanation. So their trump card to get one over Xero can risk killing their companions after the enemy potentially perished!? This is not what Kakyoin, Johnny and Gyro expected and hoped to see. Though Goldia and her sisters already knew it, they couldn't escape from being so surprised.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH! ! !"

Listening to the ghouls' screaming choirs as they continue suffering from Infinite Rotation propels Johnny and Gyro into action. The latter spins the steel ball to throw it to Slow Dancer so he kicks the former, after moving into the same position again, and let Johnny repeat the same move to dispel the effects by spinning his hands in the opposite direction. Good thing Johnny told me everything there is about his Tusk ACT4! You wouldn't know how it will come in handy 'til the last minute…

"Alright, I'm gonna throw my steel ball to Slow Dancer now!" Gyro announced, doing his damnedest to keep his racing mind cool. "Johnny, be ready! I'll-!"

"Wait! Before you do, there's… a 「problem」 here…"

"W-What problem!?"

Johnny flicks his head to the direction of the screaming ghouls, and Gyro follow his gaze to see, in spite of being paralyzed, the ghouls managed to yank themselves until they're looking at the two jockeys. All of them have their eyes set on them, not on Kakyoin, Sakura, Emi and Goldia. These four also notice who they are looking at, puzzled initially until horror dawns on their faces once they realize what will happen after. These same thoughts echoed into Gyro and Johnny's head, causing their faces to become grim and slightly nervous.

"…Well shit. Guess we'll end up joining them in the end, huh? Ahahaha…" Gyro chuckled, not having it in him to lighten the mood despite his words.

"Tch, we will very soon…" Johnny grimly replied. He casts a glare onto Xero, who's halfway between existence and non-existence as his body is also halfway from breaking apart. Even if he's in great pain, his heinous smirk didn't let up, as if he already knew this may happen and is openly mocking the two. This is when a thought occurred to them again that made their eyes go wide.

Was this the 「reason」 why Xero didn't gone after us? When we had the chance to defeat him, he's 「willing」 to force our friends to go down with him! This cunning bastard… Whether he didn't prioritize targeting us or not, he has a 「way out」 of my Infinite Rotation the whole time!"

Knowing he has no choice, Johnny turns to his remaining companions and stares at them. Without words, they learn what he urges them to do.

"Johnny-san…" Sakura can't help but go teary-eyed for the umpteenth time, already knowing what may happen to the two.

Shutting her eyes out of regret, Emi tells Goldia to get them far away from Xero. The Maiden of Pristine Eyes readily did as she's told and raises her pocket mirror up. Unfortunately, a tendril scratches her hand, causing her to let go of her prized possession. "AH!" She yelled out in pain and surprise before seeing what's happening quick and then reaching her uninjured hand out to catch the pocket mirror before it lands. The object did got caught merely an inch away from touching the ground… but it's not Goldia.

"Ah ah ah ah." What Xero told Goldia, mockingly wagging one finger as the appendage pulls the mirror out of their reach and pushes it into Lily's chest, specifically on the hole where her heart was on.

"Her pocket mirror!" Her sisters shout in unison out of worry.

Johnny and Gyro witnessed him snatching the reliable way to get away. By this point though, Gyro had thrown the steel ball onto Slow Dancer, imbuing him with the Spin that is transferred into Johnny after instinctively kicking its owner. With gritted teeth and eyes closed, Johnny shoots a nail bullet spinning in opposite direction to Xero. "Tusk ACT4…" The bullet made contact, and before long, Xero's body stops spinning and breaking apart, and by proxy, every ghouls are spared from the lethal effects of Infinite Rotation.

Freed from the Spin's shackles and immediately making himself young using Linkin Park, Xero briskly rose up so he's standing on one knee. He raised his head to stare his red irises at the two, just as the ghouls get on their feet with eyes drilling onto them too. His existing smirk grows wide and says three simple words: "It's dinner time."

Right before their petrified eyes, the ghouls gnawed, chomped, teared, clawed, and bit onto Johnny and Gyro's bodies from all directions, rapidly injecting their undead bodies with volumes of ichor. The two let out a harrowed scream, doing their best to fight back against the horde from further ripping their bodies apart. It seemed they're willing to go down fighting futilely before ultimate succumbing, which ends up happening after Saki and Mamezuku pushed them down and continued feasting on them. Their screams and grunts continue for few more seconds until they died down.

Concurrently and horrifying, Slow Dancer and Valkyrie are not spared when Xero stabbed them with many blood tendrils. The horses writhed around and whined in agony, the former even attempting to stand up and escape from whatever it is hurting them, but sadly, he gave in without further fight.

"Hrrrrmmmm…" After two excruciating minutes, the ghouls finally stopped and took some steps back under Xero's order. Few seconds of eerie silence later, two groans are heard coming from their group, and within the zombies' sights, they gawk to the unmistakable sight of ghoulified Johnny and Gyro rising on their feet and absolutely looking a lot worse than they appear thanks to the ghouls' savage feasting, having bits or chunks of their flesh and outfit ripped off, and bleeding more than the rest. Heck, their groans sound more disturbing because their necks weren't spared.

"Ouuuuuuurgh…"

"Eyauuuuugh…"

Johnny and Gyro shambled forward so they line up with their fellow groupmates, slouched and unfocused like most of them. Slow Dancer and Valkyrie, their fur and skin looking paler, let out echoey neighs as they strode past the ghouls until they stand right beside their masters. The two jockeys put their feeble hands on their respective horses, apparently trying to soothe their distress by rubbing them weakly.

Naturally, Xero puts on a sadistic smile over infecting almost all members of Franchouchou and Rianima, chuckling at first before evolving into full-blown laughter that didn't fail to send shivers down anyone's spine.

"How wrong I was to think of killing you all. I apologize, members of Franchouchou and Rianima," he apologized, putting a hand on his chest and facing them with a sincere expression. "Becoming a ghoul… It had done wonders, hasn't it?" He chuckled again.

Raising an arm, Xero conjures a small puddle of ichor on his palm and lets it boil, or at least imitate it to form bubbles on the surface. Hierophant Green's tendrils rushed in from behind to ensnare him, but an invisible force striking Kakyoin down prevented it. "With this power and our Stand, Saga Prefecture shall fall and soon, the entire world will follow once we are out of the Castle of Glass. Not even Prosperity can stop us…"

The ghouls continued groaning, uncaring to Xero's declarations. Not that he cared as he becomes pensice next, listening closely to their chorus of shrieks. Amidst it, he could hear Sakura shrieking in fright, urging her remaining companions to flee and ran. On that note, his expression changed to a scowling one as he stops Sakura from running away by putting a wall on her path. The girl yelped in pain when she collided against it.

ドドドドドドドド

"…Now then. Sakura and Kakyoin…"

Just saying their names is enough to rile the last surviving member of their own groups up. That goes too for Emi's family, who are helping Sakura up on her feet when they heard their names being mentioned.

Turning around, Xero's ghastly black and red eyes stare attentively at the very anxious group. Then he starts walking toward them with clear intent written on his pale face. "Come join us. Become part of us. Become one…"

AS… XERO…

BGM: diavolo (Golden Wind OST: Finale)

The twelve human ghouls collectively finished their leader's declaration, like they're speaking in legion. They and the two ghoul horses follow soon follow, their red eyes shooting so much terror, anger, sorrow, hatred, greed, envy, and lust into their very souls. The surviving members become intimidated and afraid, the last vestiges of twinkling stars dying off so everything here is covered deftly in darkness. Uncannily, the ghouls remain illuminated by an unknown source, clashing greatly against the erring dark. Worst part however, is their eyes. Those glowing eyes dotting their silhouetted faces and bodies that remain on the hapless zombies as they begin striding forward at last.

If someone was to describe a nightmare vividly or had pictured what it's like when not sleeping, the sight of fifteen blood-soaked, hunger-driven ghouls shrouded in shadows so that only their crimson eyes, gaping mouth that appeared to have razor sharp teeth, and ichor dripping out of every orifices in their bodies, all of which seem to glow, has unfortunately stuck on into their minds very quick. Amplifying this is Xero's sweet smile, the only one who bothered expressing himself in contrast to their dull-eyed faces. * * * *

Backed into a corner, the terrified zombies stare on in silence. The sheer hopelessness of this predicament and the fact Xero held on to the advantage this whole time had caused them to become frozen. Even if they try to do anything next, they know it will be futile due to his ability. With any little spaces between the ghouls non-existent, there's no way out.

"M… M-M-Mother…? U-Um, your… Bring Me to Life… Is it…?" Goldia asked, inching herself closer to Harpae hugging and comforting Fleta whimpering in her and Egliette's arms. Enjel and Lisette stuck close and brandished their weapons to protect their sisters. Their show of bravery is marred though by their jittering, knowing well they'll only do a scant effort.

"No. My power… it is not full yet. Not even… h-halfway have p-p-passed yet…" Emi dropped this unfortunate reply. She noticed her voice stuttering in the end, then her shaking body and labored breathing. After a whole time maintaining her calm even if the situation escalates badly, she's beginning to give in to her fear and despair. This realization hits her so much two single tears form on her eyes, followed by her voice quivering. "I-I… I am… s-sorry… S-S-So s-sorry…"

Eyes going wide for a moment upon noticing Emi felt utterly defeated, Kakyoin now finds it hard to stare back at Xero and before he knew it, he's averting his shaking eyes off every ghouls. Since there is nothing to divert his eyes on though, he gives up and return staring the ghouls back. Hierophant Green manifests besides him still, indicating he wants to fight still.

"This… This is not happening… T-This is… n-n-not…" He stuttered, really hoping it is true even if his lingering confidence empties.

The three are so terrified of the inevitable ghoul conversion or death under their hands that they didn't acknowledge, or at least have forgotten, Sakura behind, looking shell-shocked as she gawks at the approaching ghouls… So petrified they are that none of them, Sakura included, noticed a faint, pinkish aura around the last surviving Franchouchou member.

And what looked like a rippling silhouette manifesting behind her, colored also in pink with a tinge of red on the top.

To be continued

---

* - Inspired by Avdol dispatching of Justice in the Stardust Crusaders OVA, Episode 8

* * - Gyro's pose is taken after SBR Volume 18 cover

* * * - Johnny's pose is taken after SBR Chapter 56 cover

* * * * - Imagine it like the closing shot of IDW Sonic Issue 25. Specifically the silhouette shot of the Zombots

---

And finished.

Uh oh! Looks like it's the end of the line for our troubled zombies after witnessing their friends got infected and turned into ghouls thanks to Xero! Cornered and out of options as the menacing ghouls slowly approach, one may not be wrong to say that it's only a matter of time before Sakura and Kakyoin become ghouls in the end, and Emi's family slaughtered.

But! What's this? A pinkish aura manifested around Sakura as well as a silhouetted figure behind her! Should go without saying buuuuut… This is very much it! Sakura will finally have her time to shine in the next chapter! She's gonna turn the tide against Xero once she awakens to her Stand at long last! This is been long time coming and I can't be more excited than ever to show you what her Stand is, its name and the ability!

Stay tuned, my loyal readers! The next chapter or two will be the last stretch of the final battle where we'll witness Sakura prove she's as LEGENDARY as her idolmates and bodyguards. Ah, and be sure to check the "Castle of Glass SAGA" chapter because I added a scene at the beginning. What is it, you ask? It shows one of Shino's past as I said in a previous author's notes. They're important, so please give it a read.

Time for me to sign out. Stay safe and healthy out there and have a good day/night!