Guest: I appreciate the thought and effort you put into your review, and I don't want this response to be too long, so I'll try to respond to an idea one chapter at a time.
Incorporating characters outside of JJBA and MHA…is probably not going to happen. I've included references, and villains copying the characters…but someone like Boruto or Batman probably isn't going to show up outside of references.
Adding too many universes into one crossover makes worldbuilding pretty difficult. The Cartoonist can bring drawings of the characters to life, but that means that they are fictional characters in the context of this world. Johnny and Izuku had a whole argument about Batman in a previous chapter, which means that he only exists in their world as he does in reality…a comic book character.
Even though I've included several characters like Popeye or Optimus Prime, it's really only been for references and jokes, and they do not actually exist in this world. This is a Jojo and My Hero crossover, and I'd like to firmly keep it contained within those two universes.
However…that doesn't mean I can't create new OC characters inspired by others. The Doctor was inspired by both SCP 049, and Professor Moriarty from Sherlock Holmes for example.
That being said, I really appreciate your ideas! I'll try and get to the other ones the best I can.
Other (?) Guest: The manga was taking a pretty dark turn around the time of a certain "death", which combined with the fact that I was still watching MHA YouTube at the time (I don't anymore, for good reason), I was extremely worried that MHA was going to go for a shitty cobbled together "Everyone dies" ending, because of what those YouTubers were "theorizing."
Of course, now I know that they aren't the people to go to in order to understand the series. MHA is a positive story, and while it certainly has dark moments, you know that at the end a happy ending is the only route the story can take in order to stay true to itself.
Kasumi Kenshiro: I'm glad you've been enjoying it as long as you have!
BreadConnessuir: Yep! Let's just say…there will be many things that are the same in my version of Jojolion…but there will also be some major differences. Like Norisuke's Stand, for example.
Monster King: Thanks!
Bearticguy7: Yeah, I have to rearrange my schedule, but I'm seeing this story through to the end.
DJH: Thank you! I truly wouldn't be here without you.
"Easy, Shouta."
Aizawa seethed as Joseph applied peroxide to a recently stitched up wound, but kept his composure. The yeti, despite being their captor, had provided them with medical equipmentThe eldest Joestar had a bandage wrapped around his head from his brief spat with the yeti, and he was quite embarrassed by how quickly he lost…
Fighting Winter Wonderland after Poseidon was bound to be too much for them though. Adding Hermes to the mix, the situation was pretty dire.
"I'd say we did pretty well, considering the odds." Rohan commented. "We're lucky we were defeated by someone who didn't want us dead."
"Still…what do we do now?" Toshinori asked, staring at the booby trapped mouth of the cave. "Getting around the yeti will be tough, since he has home court advantage."
Aizawa slipped his sweatshirt and scarf back on, and hummed in thought. In this situation, there really was little they could do. His scuffle with Poseidon was a painful reminder of his limitations, of how against Stands, he was essentially Quirkless.
Yet, it did little to effect his confidence. He knew his weaknesses, and accepted them a long time ago. It was simply a bad matchup, nothing more to it. The reason he was here was solely to provide some relief for his students, he didn't need any soul searching.
"If the meteorite has a guardian that capable…maybe we should just leave him alone." Class 1A's scruffy homeroom teacher suggested. "We came here to keep it out of the wrong hands, and he seems to be doing a better job of that."
Toshinori shook his head. "No. Even though he is strong…he's not getting younger. He's determined to fight them all on his own, but he can't do that forever."
"Sound like anyone we know?"
The former Symbol of Peace remained silent. Aizawa knew it was a little cruel, but Toshinori had to see the hypocrisy of that statement. He was guilty of that very same thing, taking on All For One by himself was the precise reason he got his injury.
"Well, you're right about that." Joseph threw on his fedora over his head bandage. "If he continues this one-man war of his, he's basically committing suicide…and all Pantheon has to do is outlast him. So…"
He turned around and faced the group.
"Do we throw in the towel, or do we keep going despite the odds? Cause it's safe to say they've gotten worse."
"We need to keep going." Toshinori said, his sunken eyes meeting Joseph's. There was a small moment between the two, and the former number one hero saw a little more than just understanding in Joseph's eyes.
He knew. Of course he did, this was Joseph Joestar after all. He knew exactly what Toshinori was up to…likely from the moment he became involved. The question was…why wasn't he stopping him?
The group watched as Joseph strolled over to the entrance, muttered to himself, and then made his way towards the yeti's freezer.
"Mr. Joestar?"
"Shouta, you know a bit of Hamon, right?"
"I only studied it a bit to help heal my eyes when they were glued shut." Aizawa responded. "You're the expert here."
"Answer a question for me, will you?"
"What?"
"If I used Life Magnetism to pry those icicles away from the door, would you consider that a natural phenomenon?"
"I mean…yes, I would say that it is."
Joseph pulled out a frozen slab of deer meat, and began charging it with Hamon. "I remember when Caesar Zeppeli magnetized icicles to save me from a nasty fall…he made a rope. If this beef pulls the icicles away…"
"...then it wouldn't count towards you breaking it!" Toshinori realized. "Mr. Joestar, you're brilliant!"
"I know." Joseph held the slab of frozen meat to the icicles, watching as Hamon spread across them. "Nature is the culprit here, just as it would be if we used fire."
"If it works…" Rohan said.
*crack!*
Everyone held their breath for a moment as the first icicle came off and attached itself to the meat…and collectively sighed in relief once Joseph gave them a thumbs up.
"Alright boys, grab what you can before Furball shows up! We're back on the move!"
"I propose we initiate the Daedalus Protocol."
Pantheon's inner council murmured amongst themselves as Fumei Damashi spoke his mind. The Daedalus Protocol was an emergency backup plan in case Pantheon ran afoul of the law, but the Joestar group was far from an official search party…if anything it was a failed black ops mission.
"Is…that necessary?" The God of Wine asked.
"Our second-in-command was brutalized to the point of potentially losing an arm, and Hashimoto is MIA. That's two of our best, retired." Fumei shifted his weight on his brass throne. "That Stranger already warned us not to underestimate them…and Shouta Aizawa IS a registered pro hero, despite his appearance. Who's to say he can't call up some Tibetan heroes to crack down on us? Besides…we need to actually test the procedure to be sure it works, do we not?"
Camille stood up, silencing the room. Pantheon's leader was furious, even bloodthirsty…and everyone knew why. She "valued" Calypso, and it was no secret that she'd sacrifice the rest of them in a heartbeat for her. The Sea Goddess' injuries clearly put her in a bad mood…although it wasn't clear who her anger was being directed towards.
"And if the protocol fails, Damashi?"
"Then I guess we have a crisis on our hands, don't we? That means this is a crisis worthy of our heaviest hitters, right?"
"It already IS." Camille responded. "Calypso's Poseidon is usually enough! She shouldn't have lost…"
"Yes, but she faced three out of four men, and then the ape. She was outnumbered, and the Daedalus Protocol will fix that." The God of the Underworld joined in, clasping his hands together. "They're three men with moderate power and a Quirkless retiree…while Joestar is known to be intelligent…he's the weakest member of his bloodline. Divide them…and we can conquer."
Camille began pacing, trying to decide what to do…and then she turned towards Fumei with a firm look.
"You have my permission then…but tread carefully Damashi."
'Was…that a warning…or a threat?' Fumei wondered as he gave her a nod. 'Camille isn't stupid…does she know that we're plotting against her? Did she use Zeus to figure it out?'
Something didn't feel right, but with the meteorite so close to being within their grasp…he didn't have time to reconsider his approach. All he could do was prepare for the inevitable.
Sampson grabbed a rifle from his weapons rack, and stopped once he saw one of Artemis' bows.
She was still out there, hunting these people…and while he trusted her to take care of herself, he couldn't help but worry. Despite his cursed nature, he loved the kid…truly. Training her to survive was one of the few things that was allowing him to hang on to his humanity.
It was back in his first days of doing security detail for Pantheon when he had found her. Cowering in a closet as All For One slaughtered her parents…he had actually been there to shake down her parents, who owed Camille money, himself…but the "Demon King" beat him to it. Something made him save her that day…and he wasn't exactly sure what it was. Maybe it was a subconscious desire to do some good for a change, or maybe it was because he saw himself in the girl…
Either way, when Artemis was about to be snatched by All For One…his body just moved on it's own.
'It was reckless, stupid…if All For One had been exposed to Ares, everyone and everything around us would have been slaughtered. It's strange though…I'd do it again in a heartbeat.'
With Fumei's coup d'etat around the corner, things were going to get messy, and Artemis would follow him wherever he went. All of Camille's loyalists would be coming for her too…and he knew damn well that any attempts to push her away or to get her to abandon him would not work. She knew him far too well for that…he could only hope Fumei's plan went off without a hitch.
"Ready?"
Sampson turned to see Fumei leaning in the doorway, a sympathetic look on his face. The God of War sighed and slung his rifle behind his back. "No, are you?"
"No. After this…there's no going back. This has to work, for everyone's sake."
"How many have we got?"
"I've recruited Reed."
Sampson smirked. "Him, I'm not surprised. That asshole would turn on anybody to make a buck…well, what would you expect from the God of Wealth?"
"-and the Underworld. It was no accident he was on my side for activating the Daedalus Protocol, he's an essential part of it." Fumei then bit his lip. "I think Camille knows."
"Of course she does. That woman may be a poor decision maker, but she ain't a fool. I just pray we can pull this off before she decides to do something about it."
"That depends on whether or not the Fates can pull through for us." Fumei said, pulling out a map of the mountain. "We succeeded in spooking the yeti, Artemis reported that he locked the Joestar group away…and they've recently escaped to pursue him."
"She's…already in on this? I haven't told her yet." Sampson said, his eyebrows raised.
"She figured it out. I'm afraid your student was ahead of you on this one."
Sampson closed his eyes, and despite his worry, he couldn't help but smile.
"That girl…"
"Bright young woman. Reminds me of…" The God of Fire shook his head. "Never mind, the plan is all set…I just need to figure out where to stuff All Might. I wouldn't want to waste resources on the guy…"
"Why do you hate All Might?" Sampson watched Fumei tense up, but continued regardless. "Listen, it may be a sore subject, but you clearly don't like the guy very much. If we're gonna pull this off, I want to know that you're focused."
It was odd to see resentment on Damashi's boyish features, but it was unmistakable. The God of Fire put a finger to his chin and began muttering to himself, clearly deliberating on what he was willing to share.
"He's a fraud."
"A fraud? All Might?" Sampson almost laughed. "Maybe he is now, but he truly was just as much a hero as I am a war criminal. How on Earth is that man a fraud?"
"...he stole something from me. Something I can never, ever get back…and it put people I care about in danger. That's not something a hero does." Fumei replied with a look of disgust. "He could smile for the public all he wants…but how he is now? That's what he's always been on the inside…a pathetic, shriveled up narcissist."
"Jesus…you really are bitter."
The two entered Fumei's forge, where a giant horned set of armor was waiting for them. Fumei brushed mining tools off of his workbench, and rubbed his hands together.
"Bitter is an understatement."
The God of Fire took a deep breath…and spewed fire straight into the armor. The armor began to glow red from heat, and strangely…the fire didn't spread. It stayed in exactly one spot, until Fumei approached with a hammer.
*CLANG!*
With every swing of the hammer, he beat the fire as if it were a physical object, straight into the armor…until it's fingers twitched. With a start, the armor sat up on it's own, having somehow been bestowed life by the fire.
"I loathe that man with every fiber of my being."
*CLANG!*
"Seeing him smiling away on TV, like an oblivious idiot!"
*CLANG!*
"Robbing me BLIND!"
*CLANG!*
"With that DAMNED SMILE!"
Fumei sighed and put his hammer down. He was getting too heated, pun intended, and it was shameful of him to do so. His hatred for All Might couldn't get in the way of his mission, no matter how horribly the so-called hero had already jeapordized it. "Sorry...I just..."
"Don't be." Sampson held up a hand. "To hate is to be human, it's how we use it that matters. Trust me...I'd know. Right now...maybe we need that hate you've got locked up in there more than ever."
"You think hatred is not something to be afraid of?"
"It's served me well so far." The God of War took a large metal pole from Fumei's workbench. "Don't get me wrong, surrendering to it is dangerous, but spite can be a powerful motivator. It's been a driving force in war for centuries."
"...what are you suggesting, Sampson?"
"Kill All Might, yourself. Send whatever this thing is after him instead of the ape. You might just find yourself some clarity." Sampson patted the blacksmith on the shoulder.
Fumei glanced Sampson over, and turned towards his creation. "I don't know. I…"
"What's holding you back, Damashi?"
"...I guess it's just sentiment. Fine, if that will bring us close to the meteorite..." Fumei pulled out the picture of his family, silently apologizing for the pain he would inflict upon them with this act. "...maybe I could afford to stick it to that bastard, but THIS is overkill. It's meant to give you backup for the yeti."
"I can handle the yeti on my own."
"Sam-"
"I fought him to a stalemate last time. We both have abilities that can incapacitate the other, it all depends on who strikes first. Either he's a raving lunatic, or I'm a popsicle…it could go either way." Sampson responded, and he tossed the pole back towards Fumei, who caught it. "I'm willing to take that risk…remember, I came here to die. However…YOU should get him out of the way, so you can truly LIVE."
"...fine, I won't rob that choice from you, but our plan depends on your success. If you want to fight the yeti on your own terms, you'll need something to increase your odds."
Fumei pulled out a set of blades connected to chains, and Sampson's eyes widened.
"Are…those?"
Hephaestus:
An enigmatic ability…it is unknown whether this is a Quirk or a Stand, as it seems to blur the lines a little bit. Not to mention that Fumei intentionally muddles the situation further, by referring to it as one or the other.
As one cannot possess both, it really is a confusing situation.
Hephaestus allows Fumei to shape fire as if it were metal, which means he can "craft" things with it. Strangely, he breathes fire whenever he uses it, it is unknown whether the fire he breathes is a Stand…as something like that typically comes from Quirks.
Yet the ability to essentially warp the laws of physics by forging items with something intangible is something that would apply to Stands. Even stranger, the fire almost seems alive, as weapons and armor created by Hephaestus seem bound to Fumei's will.
Whatever Hephaestus is, Fumei is incredibly secretive about it's true nature…and his own.
Artemis took a deep breath, preparing her assault.
Fumei had contacted the Fates, and they instructed her to attack at a specific time and place…precisely 6:30 AM. She was waiting in an old Sherpa settlement, having already set traps to lead her targets into Daedalus.
Of course…she knew better than to trust the enigma that was Pantheon's secret weapon. A Colony Stand that seemingly had an ability surrounding Fate…When the Chips Are Down and it's user had an agenda of their own, and she could only hope Fumei and Sampson were being careful. Any ability that affects probability was bad news.
However, for now…their goals aligned. Initiate the Daedalus Protocol in order to entrap the yeti and the Joestar Group while the meteorite was being moved, so they could snatch it from both the heroes AND Camille. If they could pull off this heist…then the meteorite could be theirs.
'Now that I think about it…everyone has a hidden agenda for being here, even Damashi. The only person I can really trust is Sam.'
"Hermit Purple said it was here."
Artemis' breath caught in her throat once she heard Joseph Joestar's voice. She could NOT afford a single mistake with that man around, her last encounter with him was proof of that.
"Are you sure your Stand was tracking the meteorite? I thought it was supposed to be near the summit?" Kishibe asked.
"The yeti is moving it right now, he told Yagi that to his face." Joestar responded. "He might be trying to hide it in plain sight, closer to civilization. That way Pantheon can't comb for it without infringing on the citizen's rights."
'Of course…that clever hairy bastard! If he had succeeded with that, Camille would've been constricted by red tape! If Fumei hadn't acted…'
"So…is he just…carrying it around?" All Might asked.
"I've been thinking, I only have the Spirit Photo of it to work off of…and for all we know, this may be a close up. This thing could either be huge, or the size of a pebble." The de-aged man continued. "Most meteorites burn up upon entering our atmosphere, it's extremely rare to find one that's anywhere close to it's original size. It could even fit in someone's pocket."
Artemis drew her bow, and glanced down at her watch. It was 6: 27, she still had three minutes before When the Chips Are Down had recommended to launch the attack…
*BOOM!*
Inches from her hiding spot, the yeti smashed up from the ground, having camouflaged himself in the snow. Artemis stifled a gasp as Pantheon's deadliest enemy let out a low growl, standing up to his full height.
"You…how did you escape Winter Wonderland's cage?"
"Uh…magic?"
The yeti snorted, and hefted his club over his shoulder. "Then I see I'm going to have to make sure you're in no condition to escape this time. Pity…I didn't really want to hurt you, but you've already come far too close for comfort."
'2 minutes.'
"WAIT! Before you thrash us…there's something you should know." Joseph said, and he reached into his pocket. "You dropped the meteorite on your way here."
"No I didn't. What the hell are you talking about?"
"Yeah, I found it on the ground just over there."
"Do you really think I'm going to fall for that?" The yeti deadpanned. "Do you really think I'd be so careless as to drop an item like that?"
'You idiot! You just told Joestar you have it on you!' Artemis mentally facepalmed. 'Even now, that cunning geezer is playing you for a fool. Er…former geezer? Whatever, that's information I can use too.'
"If it's so important, wouldn't it be stupid not to check if you did?"
"I. Didn't. Drop it."
"..."
"..."
"Are you sure?"
"YES!" The yeti snapped. "Stop it! You don't have the meteorite, I'm certain of it!"
"How, pray tell, is it that you are so certain that you have it and I don't?"
"Because it's IN-" The yeti paused for a second, and composed himself. "It's somewhere secure. It's not in an easily accessible location."
"...don't you have it on you?"
"I never said that."
"You implied it."
"No I didn't."
"Nuh uh! You did, we all saw you!" Joseph pointed a finger in the yeti's face. "You were worried for a second there!"
"No, I wasn't."
"You were!"
"Was not!"
'Two old men…arguing like five year olds.' Artemis shook her head. 'Wisdom comes with age my ass.'
"You think you're soooo smart, don't you?" The yeti sneered. "You really think this is the first time humans have tried to trick me? It didn't work then, and it won't work now. Whatever this little game is, it's only delaying the inevitable."
"Nuh uh!"
"Uh hu…SHUT UP!"
Toshinori placed a hand on Joseph's shoulder. "Er…maybe we should try a different approach, Mr. Joestar. He doesn't look beyond reason…"
"I don't know, not-All Might. I'm getting pretty fucking close." The ape responded, snorting out frost. "I went easy on you last time, and I gave you more than a fair chance to back off. Yet here you are, after escaping what should have been an impossible situation, to try and go for that cursed rock again!"
"Wait…you…think the meteorite is cursed? You're not just hoarding it for yourself?" Joseph asked.
"YES. I am intimately familiar with the danger that thing can cause. The only reason I'm not throwing it away is so that nobody else has to suffer because of it!"
"We want the same thing!" Joseph said, putting his hands up. He needed to change the subject, and quickly, so it was best to try and diffuse the situation. "Listen…my friends and I have dealt with the damage that the meteorites can do too, we've seen the harm it can cause firsthand. We have resources though, and a means to destroy it."
"Destroy…it?" The yeti blinked, and narrowed his good eye. "You…want to destroy it?"
"There was another one, many centuries ago. It was carved into arrows, and those arrows have caused havoc to this day." Joseph explained. "While we have preserved some of them for research, we'd like to keep the risk contained to just those arrows. That's why we're here."
The yeti stared at him for a second, and Artemis could make out a faint glimmer of hope in the beast's eye.
'You know…all I've ever heard of this thing was how savage it was…but…it looks like he's…just as human as one of us. He wants to be free of the meteorite just as much as we want it, but he's far too paranoid to just give it to us.'
It didn't matter, she had 30 seconds left to attack.
*sniff*
The yeti sniffed the air for a moment, and then his gaze turned murderous. The one-eyed beast proceeded to whip his head around to look directly at her hiding spot.
'...oh no…'
20 seconds.
The yeti was a beast, just like her. He knew when a potential predator was lurking, even in his old age, his senses would not fail him. Even a trained hunter like her could not stay undetected for long…
'I wore animal pelts to cover my scent…but since I've been staying in one place for too long, he's been clued in! He's undoubtedly heard of me. Damn it! 15 seconds!'
Even worse, she distracted him from Joestar and the others. If he diverged on her location, they would be too far from each other for the plan to work.
'I have to attack now! I know it's too early, but if I don't…
No. Remember what Sam taught you…don't lose your nerve. The situation may look dire, but you have to keep your head on straight. The attack HAS to happen at 6:30, so just let him approach…he might only be suspicious.'
*BAM!*
Winter Wonderland's fist crashed into the old tent she was hiding in, smashing some hiking equipment.
'NOPE! HE KNOWS!'
At that moment, she let an arrow fly just as the yeti poked his head through, landing a shot square in the middle of the yeti's eyepatch.
It was 6:29, at 59 seconds.
The yeti snarled, and icicles emerged in the tent, coming out of the fabric. The eyepatch was made of thick animal hide, and she didn't put enough force into the shot to pierce through. She had attacked one second too early…
"WOAH!"
A cry rang out just as the yeti was about to strike her down, and the ape turned around to find a black vortex forming behind him, sucking in Joseph first, then Aizawa, Rohan, and Toshinori. The yeti gasped in horror once he realized what was happening, and he turned to Artemis in a rage.
"YOU! YOU SLIMY-"
"Nuh uh, Furball!" A familiar voice called out as a silver hand grabbed the yeti by the arm. "You're in the hands of Fate now."
"Well done Artie! We knew we could count on you…even if you were a bit too trigger happy." A passive/aggressive voice added, as another arm put the yeti in a chokehold.
"The Daedalus Protocol is active. Let's see how you all fare…When the Chips are Down!" The third hand wrapped around the yeti's waist, and together, the three entities began pulling the ape into the void, all while he thrashed in an effort to escape.
"YOU CAN'T DO THIS!" The yeti managed to scream out, and Winter Wonderland attempted to unleash an icicle attack, to no avail.
"Silly monkey, we already know your attack can only travel on one surface at a time. I'm afraid there's no surface for you to unleash it!"
"I'll…find…your user! This will not be the end of me!" The yeti choked out. "YOU HEAR ME?! I'LL FIND YOU!"
With that, the ape was sucked into the void…and the mountain air was quiet once more.
"Welcome to the Labyrinth!"
Toshinori was woken by the sound of an automated voice echoing through the caves, and he was struck by how...familiar it seemed. However, he didn't have time to doddle.
"You see, we aren't just located on Mount Everest, Pantheon is ALL over the Himalayas. You're on a completely different mountain than the rest of your crew, Dhaulagiri to be precise. Right smack dab in the center of it all. We have essentially turned the whole mountain range into our personal maze. "
He knew he was somewhere different, obviously. His environment was completely new…in fact, he almost seemed to be in some sort of Greek/Roman inspired arena, similar to the Colosseum, but small and confined. However, being on a different mountain altogether…that meant he was miles away from his team, and the meteorite.
"You've certainly gone through a lot of trouble to isolate me."
"You're the weakest link...and truth be told...I've been itching to give you a piece of my mind for quite some time."
Toshinori smirked. "Someone I've put away, perhaps?"
"No. Worse." The familiar voice adopted a dark tone. "Much, much worse...which is why you're in the center. You do know Greek Myths, right? Do you remember what was in the center of the Labyrinth?"
Toshinori bit his lip as something in the dark began glowing. A set of sentient armor, with a helmet styled to resemble a bull, emerged. Greek spirals adorned it's arms and forehead, and it sported two sets of horns. Every crevice of the gold painted armor was spewing fire, and the mechanical head reared it's head.
The former Symbol of Peace was now staring down an actual Minotaur.
The minotaur armor snorted out flames, and raised a battleaxe.
'Wait...the blade on that axe...is it MADE of fire?! How is that even possible?!'
It didn't matter now, because the mythical beast was charging straight at him.
Toshinori threw himself to the side as the sentient armor swung the axe perilously close to his head, burning a few hairs, and scrambled to his feet to face the oncoming threat. The Minotaur roared, spewing fire, and charged him once more.
'Focus on finding a way out of here, Toshinori. You know you can't take that thing head on, and you can't dodge forever. Damn it...if only I had my old strength, this thing would already be scrap metal!'
The metal beast stopped charging, and began circling him. It certainly did a good job of emulating the myth, it could switch between the calculating nature of man, and the savage nature of beast on a dime. The Minotaur began snapping it's metal jaws together, egging Toshinori on.
"What's the matter, All Might? Can't just punch your way out of this one?" The voice taunted him.
*FWOOSH!*
The Minotaur suddenly hurled the axe, and Toshinori cried out as it came straight towards his head.
The Traitor groaned when his phone buzzed, already knowing who was texting him.
It was how he got "assignments" from The Stranger, likely because he had gotten his number from All For One's file on him. He had been hoping that his tormentor would have been satisfied with the assassination attempt on Dr. Kujo, at least for a while…but apparently not.
'Can't he just leave me alone?! All For One is gone, it's OVER! It should be over…'
Of course, The Stranger was using an encrypted username. The Traitor didn't really see a point in that, he already knew who was under the mask…but if their texts were being traced it was probably a safety measure.
-:-
Ko10: We need to talk.
The Traitor sighed, and texted back. Luckily, his name and data was encrypted as well.
-:-
Y^g : What do you want?
Ko10: Don't worry, I'm not asking you to do anything. I want to talk about our next move.
Y^g : Aren't you the master planner here? Why do you need my help?
Ko10: Cause I can't do this alone. That's actually what I wanted to talk about…you and me. I know what I've done to you, by pulling you back into this. I robbed you of choice…and while it's far too late to turn back, that's not the way I'd like to do things.
-:-
That was new.
The Stranger acknowledged the situation he had put him in, and even disagreed with it. He didn't even really think that the masked villain had a conscience, so either he was wrong, or this was a manipulation tactic.
-:-
Y^g : What do you mean?
Ko10: Things are different now. I know what it's like, to have someone force you into a box, and yet I did the same to you. So, for what it's worth, I want to discuss how we can protect you from those classmates of yours.
Y^g : You could just let me go.
Ko10: I could, and if this conversation happened much earlier in the year, I should. However…your classmates know that someone is working with the villains. I told Midoriya that straight to his face, and they've likely been suspicious of that for a while now. Even if I "let you go", they'll still be hunting you, and when they find you…well, I'm sure you get the picture.
-:-
The Traitor grimaced.
The Stranger was right, because his classmates surrounding One For All were on a whole different level from the others. He knew that at the very least, people like Johnny Kujo and Katsuki Bakugo were involved. Jiro was definitely a member too, her growth skyrocketed to the point where she was now one of the heavy hitters of the class.
Johnny was the one he was most afraid of though…because he knew the Joestar wouldn't hesitate to break every bone in his body. He had seen how he left enemy Stand Users that dared to cross him and his friends. Considering he had not only been involved in the USJ and the Training Camp incident, but he had also helped The Stranger with an assassination attempt on his father…he was quite certain that Johnny would straight up kill him.
Now that they were sure there was a traitor, he needed to protect both himself and his family at all costs.
-:-
Y^g : What do you suggest then?
Ko10: What I've been doing, in case you haven't noticed, is stirring the pot. You see…Hero Society is reaching a boiling point, where both hero and villain will have to choose a side. There will be chaos, and destruction on a level we've never seen before. I'm simply stoking the flames of the inevitable war, because I believe it needs to happen.
My advice is for you to do the same thing. Cause confusion, divert suspicion onto other classmates. Don't try it with one of their group though, they won't fall for it. Make it into a big mystery, so that why you can stall for time until I can make a move. That way, you won't be harming your friends unless you have to, right?
Y^g : I think I can do that.
…
"Ugh…"
Aizawa sat up and spat out water. He had fallen right into the middle of some pool…without the others.
'They found a way to isolate us during the fall?'
It was almost as if they were warped-
Aizawa put a hand to his head. 'No, it can't be Shirak- Kurogiri. There's no reason for him to be involved with this…or anything now that both All For One and Shigaraki are both gone. It has to be some other warping ability…'
However, the Nomu that was once his best friend had recently gone missing…and Aizawa had been agonizingly investigating the disappearance ever since, hence why Jotaro was filling in more often.
"Owwwwwwww…"
Joseph sat up right next to him, grunting in pain. He had landed in a shallower part of the water, and judging from the Joestar's reaction…he had bruised his tailbone.
'Okay…at least he's here. That evens the odds a little-'
"GRAAAAAAAAAAAGH! FUCK IT ALL!"
*BOOM!*
Both men jumped as an angry and wet yeti flew out of the water, screaming at the top of his lungs. The ape pounded on his chest in frustration, and began stomping around in the water, curses pouring out of his mouth just as rapidly as the water he was splashing around.
Joseph's eyes went wide, even he was taken aback by the foul things coming out of the cryptid's mouth.
'Is…this guy really fit to be a guardian?' Both men thought as they shared a glance.
"-and then SIDEWAYS!" The yeti finished his rant, and then whirled around to point at them. "This is YOUR fault!"
"Ours?!" Joseph stood up and marched right over to point a finger in the yeti's face. "You started it!"
"NO! You did! They activated their damn contingency plan because of you!" The yeti responded with a snarl. "They never did that before because they were only dealing with ME! You fucked everything up!"
"How were we supposed to know they had some sort of teleporting thingy?!"
"Can you two stop yelling at each other and focus on the situation at hand?" Aizawa cut the both of them off, getting in between the two. "It's clear we're all on the same side, so why don't you both act your age?"
"Hmph!" Both of them turned the other way and pouted.
"You seem to know what's going on, care to enlighten us?" Aizawa asked the yeti.
"...the Stand's name is When the Chips are Down. I've heard them talk about using it on me before." The ape begrudgingly responded. "It is a Stand that thrives off of probability."
'I've heard of these types…no wonder this is their contingency plan…this isn't looking good.' Aizawa thought to himself. "It warps based on probability?"
"It warps you to the nearest location, based on where you are most likely to die. Whatever this place is…it may as well be our graves."
The yeti sat down, and crossed his arms. Now, it was understandable why he had gotten so pissed earlier. When the Chips are Down was a Stand that hands out death sentences, they had been placed in a scenario where the odds were bound to be against them no matter what they did.
Joseph scratched his beard, and closed his eyes.
"That means that Rohan and Yagi are in danger somewhere else."
"All Might is screwed." The yeti confirmed. "The artist has a fighting chance with that Stand of his-"
"The hell he is. Yagi is stronger than he looks." Joseph cut the yeti off, glaring at him. "I have faith that he can overcome whatever obstacle is in his way."
"The whole reason that man is here is because he physically can't, you idiot." The ape shot back. "You must know that he didn't come here to destroy it like you did."
"Of course I knew."
"Why are you just letting him tag along then? His hubris is going to be the death of him."
Joseph turned around and gave the yeti a look. "Hubris? No…no, hubris has nothing to do with it. Yagi is selfless…TOO selfless, so selfless that it loops right back around into a noble form of selfishness."
The yeti raised a bushy eyebrow. "He's…selflessly selfish?"
"More like selfishly selfless."
"How the fuck does that even work?"
Aizawa huffed and crossed his arms. "He doesn't care about himself, at all. I'm pretty sure All Might sees himself as worthless…especially without his Quirk. The thing is…he doesn't realize that his life has value…that people care far too much for him to put himself at risk like this."
"That's why we know he isn't doing this for personal gain…" Joseph sighed and pulled his hat down. "He's doing it to protect his student…since he's no longer physically capable of doing that."
"..." The yeti sat in silence, mulling over what he had just been told. Curiously, he picked up his cane/club, and ran a hand over the carvings. He suddenly looked much older, as if he had aged right then and there. With his immense stature and power, it was easy to miss that the yeti was an old man…but now it had never been clearer. "...is that so?"
"Sounds familiar, I presume?" Joseph guessed.
"...maybe." The yeti admitted, and sighed. "Look. I'm the meteorite's guardian, and it's not by choice…and…maybe I can relate to you more than I thought, but at the same time…I can't give it to you, no matter how good your intentions are."
"Well…if you were to work with us…and then we could help you destroy it yourself…would that be a good alternative?" Joseph asked. "I have a feeling you could use allies right now…since…we did kinda screw things up for you and all…you could say we owe you a debt."
The yeti was still examining the cane, clearly still deciding on whether or not he should trust them, and then he met their eyes. "Your friend, All Might. What about him?"
"...he'll…come later."
"Fine. I can work with that." The yeti stood up. "If you truly wish to destroy that infernal rock, I'll join your little party…but I want you to swear to me that you won't allow All Might to use it. It is to be destroyed, and nothing else…got it?"
Joseph and Aizawa looked at each other. They knew they were throwing Toshinori under the bus…but to be fair…neither of them had any intention of letting him get ahold of it in the first place. There was another reason Joseph was letting the retired hero tag along, although Toshinori had yet to realize it.
"Shake on it?" Joseph asked, offering his hand.
The yeti glanced down at Joseph's hand, and took it in a VERY firm handshake.
"Fine then."
"I'm…Joseph…" The eldest Joestar grunted out through a forced smile…trying to play it cool as his hand was being crushed.
"Bonk."
Aizawa raised an eyebrow. "Bonk?"
Bonk let go of Joseph's hand. "Got a problem with it?"
"...nope, not at all."
"Good. Now…where the hell are we?"
"Well, the architecture here suggests it's Tibetan." Joseph looked around. They were in a courtyard, surrounded by buildings with tall peaks. Curiously, tightropes connected the peaks of the buildings, and scattered around them were what appeared to be…
"Ten points, Mr. Joestar." Aizawa muttered.
"No…these…are robes. These robes were worn by the Hamon Tribe." Joseph realized. "Straizo wore these, and this appears to be modeled after a Buddhist temple. We're currently standing in Tonpetty's temple."
*WHAM!*
Toshinori had barely managed to duck in time, but even so, he could feel the blistering heat coming off of the attack. If he was a second slower, he'd either be decapitated or horrifically burned.
'I'm screwed! How can I even compete with this thing?!'
The Minotaur snorted out flames, and began kicking it's foot back. Just as a real bull would do…it was getting ready to charge.
*WOOSH!*
Next thing Toshinori knew, a flaming bull was inches away from obliterating him. The heat from the flames licked his face as he was caught off guard by the speed at which the beast had already closed the distance between them. Luckily…he was used to such high speed attacks, having dealt with All For One back in the "Demon Lord's" prime.
*BOOM!*
Toshinori managed to fall to the side, just as the Minotaur slammed into the wall. However, his jacket had been set ablaze, and there was now a gash on his arm from one of the Minotaur's horns. He quickly tore the jacket off and rolled to the side to put out the rest, and hissed under his breath.
'BAD! VERY BAD! That thing is way too fast, the only thing that saved me there was instinct! My only option is to find a way out!'
The Minotaur ripped the axe out of the wall, and turned to face him. It then swung the axe again, and Toshinori attempted to duck…only for the Minotaur to force the butt of the weapon into his stomach.
"Oof!"
He was lifted clean off of his feet, and hurled a few meters to the side, landing roughly on the tiled floor. Spitting up blood, he tried his hardest to catch his breath, shaken by the force of the blow.
'I can't keep going like this…one hit and I'm already dry heaving on the floor. I can't afford to die here though, I need to get that meteorite for Young Midoriya! How though…?'
He didn't have time to think any more on the subject though, because the Minotaur was about to bring the axe down to lop his head clean off, medieval style. He quickly rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the hit…
…and that's when the Minotaur turned into Nana Shimura.
"All For One will hit fast, Toshi, and there may come a time when you're forced to be on the defensive. Watch his body, let him underestimate you, like he does with everyone…predict his moves. Do that…and I'm sure you'll win!"
Toshinori grunted as he propped himself up, recalling his master's advice. It was true, All For One was extremely fast and powerful, but his ego made him predictable. It was a fatal flaw that ultimately led to all three of his defeats. He thought Toshinori would die just like all the other OFA users he hunted down, and got his skull obliterated. All For One taunted him on his fading powers during their rematch, Toshinori outsmarted him. Finally, by assuming he could manipulate a Pillar Man, All For One finally met his end at the hands of someone who didn't even have One For All.
'Whoever put me in here underestimates me too, for good reason. I'm not All Might anymore…I'm a disabled old man. This Minotaur is much stronger and faster…but it seems to be more machine than anything…and machines have programming, and predictability.'
Someone underestimating him…was actually an advantage. He just had to use it.
His thoughts turned to Izuku, remembering what All For One had exclaimed during their final battle:
"Someone has been influencing you!"
Yes, someone has.
Toshinori looked at the Minotaur, and grimaced once he saw it was preparing to charge again…but this time he paid close attention.
The flames were bursting from it's back, which was likely how it was going to propel itself forward. Strangely, the Minotaur's body was losing a bit of it's glow, almost as if…
'It's cooling down! There are vents on it's back to release the excess heat, and that's how it propels itself forward so fast! Just like any other machine, it can overheat…meaning if I can damage those vents enough to close them, I may have a small window of opportunity to defeat this thing!'
So, this time, he preemptively dodged once he saw the glow of the armor fade completely, and activated Momo's Piston Fist.
*CRUNCH!*
The Minotaur staggered forward as one of it's vents was smashed. It turned it's head 180 degrees, and assessed the damage. It then twirled the axe, and leapt forward to bury it into Toshinori's skull, but this time…he didn't move.
*BAM!*
Toshinori evaded, and used the Piston Fist to punch a vent near the bottom of the weapon.
'It would only make sense that this axe would have to cool off too, it's metal. Heat transfers through metal extremely fast, which is why spatulas have rubber handles. If I remove the vent on the weapon, the heat should transfer to the Minotaur's hand…'
The Minotaur looked down in surprise as it's metal hand began to heat up, both due to it's own heat and the heat from the axe, and the Piston Fist suddenly slammed into the hand, causing cracks and fissures to travel up the flaming beast's arm.
Toshinori smiled as the Minotaur stumbled back. "If I can't overpower you…I'll let you do the work for me."
The Minotaur angrily snorted, and much to Toshinori's horror…it began releasing flames from the cracks.
'It's adapting! This thing is smarter than I thought!'
*FWOOSH!*
Toshinori grunted as he barely managed to protect his face with the Piston Fist, as the Minotaur sent a ball of fire straight at him. The fire exploded upon coming into contact with the weapon, sending Toshinori back onto the ground.
'Cracking the armor…is basically just giving it another vent. The more I damage this thing, the deadlier it gets!'
"Playing with fire, All Might…literally." The voice from the speakers taunted.
"I forgot you were there." Toshinori wheezed out. Upon seeing smoke, he looked down to see that the Piston Fist was damaged, one of it's fingers had been broken clean off, and the piston that both extended the fist, and provided the force behind the punch, had splintered. He had been too reliant on his weapon, much to his dismay.
'Weapons break. That's why a Quirkless man like me can't just use support items…at any moment, a tool can fail you. This must have been an older model…Yaoyorozu already used these to battle Kendo!
They barely withstood Kendo's fists…and now they're on their last legs. I only have a few more uses left before I'm as helpless as a newborn.'
Momo could always create new Piston Fists…but this was the only weapon, the only defense he had for the entire journey. Chasing the meteorite was a spur of the moment decision, so he was woefully unprepared.
"Shit."
The Minotaur roared, a loud metallic shriek that pierced Toshinori's ears, and began firing up it's vent again.
"SHIT!"
Toshinori dove out of the way as the bull slammed into the wall behind him, coughing out blood in his panic. He scrambled to his feet, and wiped his mouth.
'Young Midoriya would find some way to turn this situation around…either through something clever, or sheer bull-headedness…pun intended. That boy throws caution to the wind whenever…'
Toshinori could already hear people calling him stupid for what he was about to do…but thinking of Izuku's stubborn recklessness had given him an idea. The result would determine whether it was stupid or brilliant.
As the metallic bull pulled itself free from the wall, and it took a step back in surprise…
…because Toshinori was charging right at it.
"Tom Petty has a temple?" Bonk asked.
"Not the singer. Tonpetty, a Tibetan monk and one of the most powerful Hamon users to ever live." Joseph explained. "It's a special breathing technique that can destroy the undead…I've been able to use it since I was a child."
"I heard about him, when I sat in for one of Jotaro's Paranormal Studies classes." Aizawa remarked. "He trained Baron Zeppeli, right?"
"Gyro's ancestor, who trained my grandfather." Joseph confirmed. "This place is history…yet it's been lost for decades. Speedwagon theorized it was because Straizo had killed off everyone inside when he went mad…and…it looks like he was right."
"Why are we likely to die here?" The pro hero wondered aloud, examining the rooftops for any signs of an enemy. "In some abandoned temple?"
"Because it's currently OCCUPIED!" A new voice suddenly cut in, and the three turned their heads up to find a man standing on one of the ropes, clad in a business suit. On the suit, they could make out a symbol that almost resembled a two-pronged fork, with a dot in the middle. The man's platinum blond hair waved in the wind as he effortlessly bounced up and down on said rope, like an experienced acrobat.
"Reed." Bonk growled out.
"You know this guy?" Joseph asked.
"He's Pantheon's Treasurer…the God of the Underworld." The ape replied, sneering. "Also the lowest piece of scum I've ever had the misfortune of laying my eye on."
"Excuse me! I'll introduce myself, thank you very much!" The God of the Underworld stated, slightly annoyed by Bonk's description. "I am Gregory S. Reed, Pantheon's Finance extraordinaire, and the orchestrator of your demise. As you can clearly see, we are currently excavating this temple in search of valuable goods, like any archaeology firm would…and murdering a triage of FUCKS who could cost us a fortune."
"Gregory Reed…" Aizawa wrinkled his nose. " . What an original name."
"Do you know what makes the world go round, Eraserhead?" Reed turned his attention to the pro hero, smirking. "Profit. Humans have been engaging in commerce since the Stone Age, trading things from fur, to gold…all the way to paper. We, as a species, have an instinctual urge to place value on things…everything has a price tag. I simply embrace those natural urges of ours…and well, Darwin said it best, don't you think?"
"I don't understand how he'll kill us though." Bonk completely ignored the monologue, muttering to the others. "His Stand isn't offensive in the slightest…"
"You!" Reed turned his attention to Bonk. "-are correct! I have no way of harming you…directly. You see, Hades is a Stand that enchances my eyes, and it allows me to see value. That's why I already know you have the meteorite ON YOU!"
A Stand's head, and only the head manifested itself beside him. It's eyes were narrowed slits, with purple pupils constantly analyzing the three of them. The same symbol from Reed's jacket was printed on the Stand's crowned head…
Just from looking at it, Joseph felt uneasy. While Reed was putting on the act of a corporate asshole, his Stand was already showing him a different, darker side to Pantheon's Treasurer. It almost seemed to be reading-
"You want to die, don't you Joestar?"
Joseph froze.
"W-what?"
"Hades spots value…and that includes valuable information. You poor soul…going to outlive your own daughter, aren't you? Even your grandson at this point…how lamentable. I'd want to end it all too, in your situation."
Joseph stared at Reed, in shock, before smirking. "Nice try, but I can do better! Judging by your position on that rope, I'd say you're going to make a break for it. You're just trying to poke the bear and flee, aren't you?"
"Deflection isn't a good look for you, Joestar. Then again…you've been doing that for a long time now, haven't you?"
"I think you're all talk." Joseph responded, sweating underneath his hat. "That Stand of yours is probably just as much of a dud as your personality."
"...imagine. Going all the way to Egypt, losing some close friends on the way, in order to save your precious daughter's life…just to watch her die anyway."
"..."
Aizawa looked at Joseph, watching the Joestar's smirk fading…and he realized that Reed was right on the money. All this time, beneath his smile and bravado…Joseph Joestar was suffering in silence. It hit him hard…
Joseph had pulled yet another one of his classic bluffs…and EVERYONE fell for it. He wasn't fine at all.
"You only managed to keep your head because of your other daughter, and that boy…what's his name? Johnny?" Reed continued, as Hades almost looked like it was grinning with cruel satisfaction. "Does he really need you anymore? Does Shizuka? She seems to be doing just fine for a 14 year old, and Johnny? He's got a whole support group now, doesn't he?"
Joseph's smile was completely gone now.
"Face it, Joestar…you know this as well as I do, that you're just in the way." Reed smiled with cruel satisfaction. "Human life also has value…but like milk, it goes down the older one gets. You've far exceeded your expiration date, I'm afraid."
"Enough of this!" Aizawa cut in, stepping in front of Joseph. He couldn't just watch the man being ridiculed like this. "Aren't you supposed to be killing us right about now?"
Hades' eyes flashed, and Reed condescendingly leaned over.
"Shirakumo, eh?"
"I've already seen your gimmick." Aizawa retorted. "It isn't working on me-"
"I actually know where he is."
"...what?"
Reed pulled up his sleeve to check his watch. He then breathed a sigh of relief, and adjusted himself on the rope. "Good, I was afraid I'd have to fight you. Luckily, Hades has pulled through for me once again."
"Wait! Kurogiri, where is he?!" Aizawa demanded.
"I'm afraid, just like everything else, that information comes with a price. Blood, to be precise. You see…my little spiel about value wasn't just a simple villain monologue, I was telling you exactly what your instrument of destruction would be."
"GET THEM!"
Multiple people, a mob, descended from the rooftops, gunning for the three. Quirks of all shapes and sizes were activated, and hurled their way. Aizawa immediately activated his own, and erased the Quirks of the people in front of them. "An ambush, MOVE!"
"You see, Pantheon is more than just some Stand Users in suits. We have diggers, cleaners…all sorts of common folk working for us! You're threatening their livelihoods!" Reed explained. "Many of them would be on the street without us. That's why I put a bounty on your heads!"
'He was stalling so his cavalry could arrive. This scum is hurling desperate workers at us, innocent people! That's how we're likely to die…' Joseph thought to himself, scowling as he tried to shake off his existential dread. 'This bastard needs to be taken down a peg!'
"FIVE-HUNDRED THOUSAND FOR EACH HEAD YOU BRING ME!" Reed yelled over the crowd, before slinking off. "Look on the bright side, Joestar…at least you have some value left…as a dead man."
Toshinori ignored the heat, and slammed the broken Piston Fist straight into the Minotaur's chest. Since the beast was in the process of heating up for another charge attack, it cracked like an egg.
'Metal expands when it heats up, it loses durability. That's why overheated machines are more likely to break, and why this monstrosity needs those vents. Attacking while it's in the process of heating up was my best chance to do serious damage.'
Unfortunately, it came at great personal risk.
*BOOM!*
The Minotaur's chest exploded, dousing Toshinori in flame. He grunted in pain as the flames burnt his arm, but nonetheless, he punched the beast a second time.
*BOOM!*
The crack in the beast's chest grew wider, and Toshinori continued to push through the flames, focusing on the Minotaur's weak spot, hammering it again and again, all while the Minotaur let out inhuman shrieks in it's attempt to stave off the attack.
Finally, it threw off Toshinori, and stumbled backwards. Momo's Piston Fist fell to the ground in tatters, leaving Toshinori's burnt arm exposed to the elements.
'OW!'
The retired hero grimaced as the Minotaur began dispersing flames, completely engulfed. Fire spewed from it's chest as though it was a bleeding wound, which was exactly was Toshinori was hoping for.
"Hard to control a flame that isn't contained, isn't it?"
The Minotaur began scraping it's foot along the ground, as it decided to utilize the flames into a single, devastating charge…and Toshinori spread his arms wide.
He was grinning, despite being covered in burns and suffering from exhaustion, Toshinori was smiling from ear to ear, just as he used to. The satisfaction of a plan going right was staving off the pain…and for a split second…you could see his eyes.
Big, blue, and shining with life. For that single second…he felt like his old self again.
Then the Minotaur charged, and Toshinori simply stood there in satisfaction…as the beast went completely off course.
"Can't control your direction anymore either."
*BOOM!*
*CRUMBLE!*
The Minotaur slammed headfirst into the wall, and due to the strength of the out-of-control flames, it smashed right through…creating an opportunity for Toshinori to escape.
The retired hero sighed…and his smile faded as the pain began to set in. Grunting, he walked over to the opening, where a barely lit Minotaur was struggling to escape the rubble. He huffed, and noticed that it had discarded the axe in the scuffle…
Toshinori picked up what remained of the flaming axe, and limped out of the hole, a determined look on his face.
"It doesn't matter how many times you burn me…I will not fail that boy."
Rohan couldn't believe his eyes.
Here he was, about to be squashed by a guy with a Cyclops Quirk…when a Speedwagon Foundation helicopter descended from above, and touched down. Agents opened the door…to reveal that nothing was there…
However, Rohan knew better.
'What is she doing here?! How did she find me?!'
A drone, which resembled a fighter jet, emerged soon after…following the footprints in the snow, currently being made by an all too familiar invisible presence.
"Who's there?!" The cyclops snarled.
"Nobody, duh." Came a witty response.
"Nobody?"
"Do you see anybody?"
"...no?"
"Then it's Nobody."
"Okay, fuck you first of all, I know that you're somebody…I just can't see you. Second of all, you better get lost, little girl, or you'll end up just like…HUH?!"
The cyclops could only stare in bewilderment…as Rohan had seemingly vanished into thin air.
"Okay 'Nobody', where's Kishibe?!"
"I thought I was Somebody."
"Well you're calling yourself Nobody, so…SHUT UP! WHERE ARE YOU?!"
"...somewhere."
The cyclops angrily screamed in frustration, and slammed his head into a wall.
"Dude, are you good?"
"NO! NO I'M NOT! Just…quit it, 'Nobody.'"
"If I am nobody, then I shouldn't be doing anything, since I don't exist. So I have nothing to quit."
"FUCK YOU!"
The drone hovered towards the cyclops' eye while he was screaming at "Nobody", and began producing a small gun from it's undercarriage.
"Aerosmith, take this guy out already, he's getting boring."
"WHAT DO YOU-"
*BZZT!*
The drone, Aerosmith 2.0, proceeded to fire a taser directly into the cyclops' eye, and the giant screamed and writhed around on the ground, before going slack.
Rohan looked down to find that he had been rendered visible again, and sighed in relief. Once her turned around, he was met with a very welcome sight.
Shizuka Joestar was standing on top of the downed giant with a massive grin on her face, decked out in winter gear, and her green and yellow scarf. She turned her attention to the mangaka and hopped off, throwing on her sunglasses.
"Hey Rohan! Where's Dad?"
The arena was silent.
Smoke rose from the pile of rubble from Toshinori's improvised exit...
Then, the Minotaur's fist punched through...and began to heat up...
It was time for Round 2.