Chapter 12:For The Glory
Alma still wasn't herself, even after Tamamo spoke with her.
To say the Queen of the Kitsune was worried was an understatement, any attempt to get to the bottom of this had resulted in her fellow Knight deflecting the conversation elsewhere.
Speaking of Alma, she'd just left for Grand Noah to prepare for the Queen's Cup. If she had to guess, she wanted to prove to herself that pleasure triumphed true martial combat.
Granberia was in a frenzy, obsessing over her latest challengers and going on about finally having opponents with true potential.
All because of that Luka and Giorno Giovanna… what troublesome humans Alice decided to travel with. Especially that blonde, he'd certainly affected her young twin-tailed trainee too.
She needed a break from this, maybe she would go back home to Yamatai for a bit and relax.
"I must say… Neither the Antlion Girl nor that Sandworm were very challenging." Giorno wiped the sleeves of his shirt.
"Hah… Yeah, but I guess it was good you were here." Luka caught breath and shook his pants, removing the dirt inside.
Just as they caught their breath, another mud doll ran by their position.
"Hey, Wait up!" Luka ran after the doll, with his ally following after him.
They came face to face with a green-eyed girl of diminutive size, clutching the same doll they had just seen.
"Gnome, I presume?" Giorno inferred, receiving only a silent nod from her.
"Um… I'm here because I want to borrow your power." Luka stated, nervous and polite as he was with Sylph.
Speaking of the Spirit of the Wind, she had suddenly materialized and excitedly joined her long-lost friend.
"Yay! Gnomey!" She exclaimed, buzzing around the other spirit.
"Oh, right. They are all friends, given her non-stop reminiscing." Giorno remembered, hopeful that this would make any negotiations easier for them.
"You should come with these humans so we can play together!" Sylph pleaded.
"…" Gnome didn't respond at all, instead taking a look at both men.
"I see… That's true, you just met them. Giorno does look a little weird, but he's pretty nice if you get to know him." Sylph agreed, somehow having a one-sided conversation.
"Err…What is she saying?" Luka inquired, not comprehending how Sylph could understand her silence.
"She wants to lend you her power, but she needs you to show her your abilities first." Sylph explained as her old friend nodded.
"We have no other choice…" The blonde declared, taking hold of his pilfered sword.
"I'll show you my power!" Luka proclaimed, bringing out his Angel Halo.
Mud dolls crawled straight from the ground, summoned by their foe in preparation for their battle.
"Thunder Thrust!" Luka called out, stepping forth and piercing Gnome's small body with a precise stab.
The early blow hit true and managed to catch the spirit off guard.
In an instant, the mud dolls swarmed Luka and attempted to grab ahold of him.
Giorno called his stand out, mentally ordering it to defend his ally.
A golden blur rushed forward and pelted her creations with an intense barrage of punches, outright destroying a few of them before Gnome could react.
"Muda Muda Muda!" The stand roared, smashing whatever it came across to pieces in a fit of fury.
"…!" Gnome's eyes widened, shocked at the sudden appearance of an unknown presence.
The golden entity easily swatted away the remaining mud dolls, preventing them from attacking Luka.
The shota took that opportunity to land a strike on Gnome, delivering a critical hit in her state of confusion and surprise.
Giorno supported his continued assault by slicing one of the mud dolls' heads off with a Demon Decapitation of his own while covering their flanks with his stand.
The combined arms and coordination overwhelmed the small army of dolls. Despite her raw power and magical might, she had no answer for their strategy of diverting her attention in two.
Gnome was forced to protect her body from the continued slashing from Luka and neglected her forces who only offered basic retaliation from the strange golden spirit and blonde male attacking them.
"Let's do it! Death Sword Chaos Star" Luka yelled, slashing at Gnome and her surroundings multiple times in quick succession.
The blows knocked the wind out of the spirit and pushed her back just as the last of her dolls had their head crushed by the golden being following that strangely dressed blonde boy.
Backed against the wall, Gnome closed her eyes and concentrated her magic.
"What?! Her power is growing!" Giorno commented, bringing his stand in front of him in preparation for the attack to come.
"What's going on?" Luka questioned, taking a step back in concern.
'This isn't good! I'll help you with my wind!' Sylph declared, summoning a small tornado around both of her contractors.
Gnome called forth her greatest attack, creating an earthquake and sending a massive wall of sand towards her attackers.
The small tornados protected both heroes from the brunt of the attack, the same could not be said for Gnome. She found herself directly in the epicenter of her own magic, enveloped in the tidal wave of sand and thrown off her feet.
"Ah? She took that attack full on?" Luka asked, searching for any sign of their opponent.
Giorno immediately found her hat sticking out from a small mound of dirt and utilized his stand to dig her out near instantly.
"Are you alright?" The purple-haired hero asked as the unseen force held her unconscious body in its arms.
The Spirit of Earth's eyes opened and stared into Gold Experience's face. She nodded and held two hands towards both Luka and Giorno.
"Do you want to shake our hands?" Luka inquired.
The silent spirit shook her hand in response, urging them to take it.
The pair took hold of her small, gloved hands before a bright flash covered the area.
"I feel… stronger?" Giorno thought aloud.
"Yay! Gnomey's with me now!" Sylph celebrated, dancing in the air right next to her friend.
"You guys are really friends?" Luka incredulously asked, not understanding how this friendship could even be possible.
"Yep! We're best friends!" Sylph confirmed, right before getting punched in the side of her abdomen. "Hya!"
Gold Experience stood stock still next to the duo of spirits, as Sylph bickered with her long-lost friend.
"Oooh! This is Goldie! You just saw, but he punches things too! He's almost like the spirit of life!" She bragged, introducing them to each other.
Both of them remained silent, resulting in Gnome taking a liking to the humanoid golden figure.
"Shall we just head East of here? Undine is the closest." Giorno suggested.
"Noah is still fairly underdeveloped, so they should have some unique regional foods. I can't wait. Hahaha!" Alice laughed as she reappeared.
"Hopefully we can get out of this ridiculous heat." Luka sighed as they walked off towards the edge of the desert.
In a wonderful change of pace, the barren desert had been replaced with beautiful greenery and animal life.
"Hmm, it seems there are quite a few unique specialties to be found there. The Coliseum in the castle is quite famous too. Well, not that I care about what goes on the Coliseum floor. But the food stands are supposed to be riveting." Alice happily commented as she read her traveler's guide.
"…Coliseum?" Giorno muttered, finding it humorous that he would find himself visiting one yet again.
'…' Gnome was ever silent as she rode on Gold Experience's shoulder. True to her promises earlier, Sylph had been speaking up a storm.
"And then he set himself on fire! Isn't that crazy? Our latest contractors are super special…" Sylph explained.
"It isn't that strange, I'm just more open to taking risks due to my abilities." Giorno elaborated.
"Salamander would probably like your guts. But she's way tougher than us, she's a real fighter." Sylph bragged.
"I wish you weren't so prone to mutilating your own body." Luka sighed but couldn't offer any other argument against it. It would be pretty hypocritical of him to comment on Giorno's lack of self-preservation given his own self-sacrificial tendencies.
"But still… If that were to happen, I'd be all famous… Hehehe." He dreamily laughed, imagining himself fighting in a grand battle on the Coliseum floor.
"I never took you to be one searching for glory. Can't say I see things the same way. It wouldn't be good to be famous in my case." The Hidden Stand user commented. Secrecy was the name of the game if you wished to stay alive.
"Oh, it wouldn't be a bad thing to be famous. Can you imagine it? Having everyone know you by name…" Luka daydreamed, his eyes half-lidded from the happy fantasy.
The sound of hooves hitting dirt interrupted their silly moment, alerting them to potential danger.
"Hooves? Alice, hurry up! Switch back to your human appearance before they come!" The shota pleaded.
"That is not a normal horse, it's a monster." Giorno corrected.
"It's one of those insatiable breeding types too. How troublesome…" Alice sighed, before disappearing.
The meaning of that statement was not lost on Giorno, as their interloper came into contact with them.
With the bottom half of a horse and the top half of a human woman, it was undoubtedly a centaur. A centaur with a plainly obvious blush on her face, squirming around uncomfortably.
"Humans… I-I have a request." The Centaur Girl started, her words coming out ragged.
"You're in heat. And the answer is no. Go away." Giorno answered, having already understood her intentions.
"But it's mating season… P-please, use that thing of yours to calm me down! My pus-" The Centaur continued to plead.
"I said no. Do not make me repeat myself a third time." The blonde warned, tensing his body in case she tried something.
"I can't do that! That's banned by Ilias!" Luka protested, blushing due to her sheer vulgarity about the situation.
"You can use your bodies to pound my throbbing pu-" She proclaimed before Giorno finally had enough of this farce.
"Enough! If you refuse to listen to reason, we'll have to put you down ourselves." He declared, as Luka drew his sword.
"Look at her… It's like she's gone insane." Luka noted, observing her glazed-over eyes and constant moaning.
"Similar to how horses act when they're in heat. Restless and agitated. Do monsters truly inherit such traits from the animal species they're based on?" Giorno theorized. "Regardless, don't get behind this one. Her kicks could prove to be even worse than a normal horse. It's best to attack from the front or side."
"Then it's time! Gnome, lend us your power!" Both allies summoned the power of the very Earth, feeling a rush of strength and vitality course through their bodies.
"I don't care what you want! You're going to mate with me!" The Centaur charged at them backward.
Her charge was stopped dead in its tracks by Luka, displaying incredible strength despite his small size.
"So, this is the power of Gnome… Impressive." Giorno threw a punch to the Centaur Girl's side, pushing her back a great distance. "Our physical prowess is beyond that of a human now."
"Kuh… So thin, but so strong!" The Centaur Girl winced, holding her side.
"Gold Experience!" Giorno called out, summoning his strength-enhanced stand.
"Muda!" The golden humanoid cried out, swiping the legs of the Centaur.
The monster fell on her side, unable to fight back as Luka rushed her down with a flurry of attacks.
The fight wasn't so challenging to the pair of humans at all, given that Gold Experience refused to let her get back up.
"What is this?!" The Centaur Girl whined before being sealed into the form of a small horse.
"With strength like that, I could get out of any hold. And if I used that to attack…" Luka pondered.
"But that's too much for you at the moment. You'd probably just hurt yourselves." Alice commented, appearing before them again. "Besides that, isn't it already sunset? Let's camp here tonight. Go make me something, you two!"
"…Didn't you just eat?" Luka deadpanned.
"Your protests never cease. Very well! I shall make dinner tonight!" Alice huffed.
"You can cook? Then why have you been forcing us to treat you this whole time?" Giorno asked, not liking her expression.
"Oh? Did you think I was incompetent? Then prepare to be amazed!" Alice smugly laughed to herself.
"Are you ok, Alice?" Luka asked in concern as the Monster Lord began throwing random items into a pot.
"Of course. Just who do you think I am?" Alice scoffed, continuing to throw vegetables in the mix.
"You haven't washed any of those… Or cut them." Giorno commented.
"Shhh! Go away until it's done!" Alice pushed them away from the cooking area.
"Hmph. Tremble before my unrivaled skill! I shall cook you with infernal flames!" Alice proclaimed before summoning a rush of flames that enveloped the pot and surroundings in a flash.
Once her show of skill was complete, not even the pot remained. Her stunt had destroyed the entire kitchen and scorched the nature irrevocably.
Alice's confidence soon shifted to meekness, then eventually to embarrassment once no one had spoken up.
"Well… we still have some bread. A few tomatoes and other vegetable provisions as well." Giorno looked through their remaining stocks.
"What could we possibly make with that?!" Alice whined, disturbed by the thought of going hungry.
Sometime later…
Alice happily munched on a piece of toasted bread, covered in a delicious vegetable mixture.
"Mmm… What did you call this?" She asked, eating a slice in its entirety.
"Bruschetta. A simple dish to create. You could add cheese if you want, but then at that point, it's close to having a pizza." Giorno explained.
"Better than having to rely on our dried meat… And stop looking so confident. You really can't cook after all?" Luka dryly looked at the Lamia.
"It was unavoidable, I was never taught cooking skills. All I studied was how to be a good Monster Lord, not how to be a good homemaker…" Alice claimed, stuffing her mouth.
"Studied how to be a good Monster Lord? Who taught you?" Luka asked.
"Tamamo. She was put in charge of my education by the previous Monster Lord." Alice hesitantly answered.
"Eh? You're younger than Tamamo? Actually, just how old are you anyway? Since you're the Monster Lord… about 300 years old?" Luka guessed.
"…" Giorno kept his mouth shut, ignoring Sylph giggling inside of his mind.
"You fool! I'll be 22 this year!" Alice shouted indignantly, blushing out of embarrassment.
"Tamamo was around when your mother reigned. Just how old is she? If anything, I could believe her being over 300 years old." Giorno pivoted the conversation away.
"I don't know, actually. She's certainly the oldest of the Four Heavenly Knights. I've heard she was in charge of my mother's education. There are rumors she was even in charge of the Fifth Monster Lord's training." She replied.
"...That's enough of that topic. It's time to start tonight's combat training. You need to be able to really use Sylph and Gnome's power as soon as possible." Alice declared.
"Alright, I'll do my best!" Luka said resolutely.
"Very well, Gold Experience." Giorno stood up.
"Whew..." Luka sighed, as he took a rest from his training.
"As usual, you're horrible at using Sylph's power. All you have to do is infuse yourself with the wind and move as if you were a gale." Alice instructed him.
"Ev... Even if you say it that easily..." Luka grimaced.
"It's only been a few hours, we can't just learn to do that." Giorno took a breath, wiping some sweat off his brow.
"Also, you may have already noticed it. But you can't use Sylph and Gnome's power at the same time yet. As soon as you summon one, you lose all grasp of the other. Another shortcoming. Except for Gold Experience… weird." Alice continued.
"I see... I'll take care not to mix them up then. Once I get Undine and Salamander, it will get even more confusing... Choosing from all four of them..." Luka trailed off thoughtfully.
"If you improve yourself, you should be able to summon all of their power at the same time. Moving like the wind, with the strength of the earth, your heart calm and flowing like water, with your attacks holding the blazing power of fire. But that's getting ahead of yourself for now." Alice explained.
"You said something like that before, too... But it still sounds suspicious. Who did you hear that from? It doesn't sound like something you would come up with." Luka questioned.
"What? I know you're a fool, but I can't believe you said something that stupid. A wannabe Hero doesn't even know the oral tradition handed down by that human Hero Heinrich?" Alice mocked.
"Ehh!? R... Really? Why do you know that quote then, Alice?" Luka asked in awed disbelief.
"Rather, why don't you know the quote, oh aspiring Hero? Heinrich mastered those abilities and used them to take down the Monster Lord. She was called 'Black Alice' and was the feared 8th Monster Lord. Do you still think that quote is suspicious?" Alice smugly asked.
"I... I see. In that case, that changes things! Alright, it's time to practice with renewed effort! Until I move like the earth and calm like the... Fire? Wait, how did it go again?" Luka dumbly said.
"Hmm, why wasn't that quote made widely known? Shouldn't beating a Monster Lord grant you legendary status?" The blonde questioned.
"…" Sylph and Gnome were uncharacteristically silent once he asked about that, adopting a look of forlorn sadness.
Thus, their training only continued into the night.
"Ilias, please watch over me. Please let your wisdom and judgment show me a way to let monsters and humans live together peacefully." Luka prayed once they were about to sleep.
"...Contradicting yourself as usual. You ask for protection, then immediately ask her something that goes against what she stands for." Alice dryly commented.
"No, that's not what I was..." Luka weakly protested.
"Your belief system is full of contradictions." Alice started.
"You want to follow Ilias, who wants to purge monsters. But then you want monsters and humans to live together peacefully. You rebelled against your father's way of life, who wanted to take down the Monster Lord. But then your mother made it so that you could choose no path but one of a Hero. Your values and beliefs are pulling you in every direction at once. You understand that, don't you?" Alice continued.
Luka offered no reply.
"You trained all those years just to keep your mind off all that, didn't you? You're going to have a breakdown eventually. You're going to have to decide and solve those contradictions. Even I don't really know what's going on inside you." Alice concluded.
"...I see... I'll figure it out on the journey. There's still a lot in this world I don't know about." Luka finally said, after thinking hard for a while.
"Don't be so hard on him, he's free to believe what he wants. Even if it is strangely contradictory." Giorno spoke out.
"I... I'm not going to quit mid-way! I'll make it all the way and beat the four Heavenly Knights!" Luka proclaimed resolutely.
"Hehe, well, try your best. As I said at the start of the journey, Luka... I want to see if all that you say is your true self or not." Alice said, smiling at his continued resistance.
"If you don't want me to laugh at you, make your fantasy world of sugar and rainbows come true." She mocked.
"Yes... I'll show it to you, Alice!" Luka declared, as they finally went to bed.
"Waaa..." the Alraune lamented, as she turned into a small flower.
"Whew... I really think I've gotten a lot better recently." Luka said in satisfaction.
"What are you saying, you idiot? Are you really satisfied with that level of skill?" Alice reproached.
"Th... That's not what I was saying... Oi oi, Gnome, don't pick on Sylph too much." Luka trailed off, as Gnome slapped Sylph around again.
"I don't feel particularly skilled, we just relied on Sylph for that battle. That group of frogs earlier ran off once Gold Experience started pummelling them." Giorno huffed, withdrawing his stand.
Along the last stretch to the city, they came across a blonde nun.
"Oh, you three are quite young for travelers. Would you like to pray with me for safety on your travels?" the sister offered.
"Yes, I would love to." Luka easily agreed.
"Hold on… Stay away from her. What are you?" Giorno questioned as he held Luka away from her.
"Oh? I see... You saw through it huh? Well, in that case..." The sister said, as her lower half turned into a snake.
"Whoa!" Luka said, his hand instinctively going to his sword.
"...Please wait. I mean no harm to humans." Sister Lamia declared.
"Eh...? So... Sorry..." Luka sheepishly apologized for his own hasty reaction.
"But why are you disguised as a sister?" Luka asked the Lamia.
"It is no mere disguise. My body and soul are faithful to Goddess Ilias." the sister proudly declared.
"But why would a monster...?" Giorno trailed off in confusion.
"Yes, it's true Ilias hates monsters... But even though I am a monster, I want to teach others about her kindness. Though they are few, there are monsters who think as I do." The sister explained.
"I see... I had no idea..." Luka admitted.
"I was on my way to the south to do more missionary work for other monsters. But since I'll be heading to the south, I thought it wise to disguise myself as a human." The Lamia continued.
"You would indeed want to disguise yourself if you're heading south... Wait, 'since you're heading to the south'? Do you not need to disguise here in the north?" Luka inquired.
"It sounds like this is your first time here, travelers. The Noah region is home to many villages and towns, where humans and monsters live together. Of course, there is still some bias and prejudice... But people generally get along." the Lamia elaborated.
"I... I see... I heard the rumors, but I wasn't sure if they were true or not." Luka said in awe.
"Well then, young miss over there. You are a snake-type monster too, yes? You have no need for a disguise here." The Lamia told Alice.
"Hmph. I see." Alice neutrally acknowledged.
"Now, if you'll excuse me, I must be going. It was a pleasure meeting you two, and may Ilias bless your travels." The sister concluded.
"Thank you. I hope the best for you too." Luka thanked her sincerely.
"I don't want Ilias' blessing, you idiot." Alice harshly murmured.
The Lamia soon departed on her journey of spreading Ilias' teachings.
Giorno still couldn't comprehend why a monster would ever worship Ilias. More power to her, he supposed.
'What a confusing monster…' He thought to himself.
'Better than being attacked, at least.' Sylph commented.
After days of travel, they finally entered their destination.
"Uwa..." Luka said in wonder, overlooking a city of true unity.
"...To think they're this familiar with each other. I had heard the stories, but I had no idea it went this far." Alice commented, looking around as well.
"It's amazing… The sight of humans and monsters living together." Luka said in awe.
"...How does it feel, Luka? You're in the presence of your dream world, no? Or... Does it feel anti-climactic to see it already exists?" Alice asked in a curious tone.
"No, it isn't anti-climactic at all. My dream isn't fulfilled until this is a view you would see in every town, city, and village in the world." Luka declared.
"It's quite the sight, given our previous experiences with monsters. I do wonder, what made this all possible?" Giorno commented, inquisitively thinking to himself.
"Let's take a walk around and gather information while we look for a place to stay." Luka proposed before he and Alice began exploring the town.
Giorno spent his time preparing for the colder environment they would likely encounter in Yamatai, which he had a feeling they would have to visit.
Just a slight feeling, given how eager Luka was to stick his nose in other people's problems.
"…A cape?" Giorno felt the fabric of the red cloth, admiring the quality of it.
"Oh… Yeah, some short boy was here earlier and looked at it. Instead, he bought his girlfriend a ribbon." The monster clerk of the store answered.
"I'll take it… Do you have any good-quality gloves or boots? I'd like to hide this mark." The blonde asked, showing her the tattoo he received from Sphinx.
"Hehe… Hiding from a dragon who likes you? How cute…" The tarantula girl laughed, pointing him in the direction of what he was looking for.
'She has no idea how right she is.' Sylph giggled.
'…' Gnome felt some confusion, unaware of the context of the joke.
'I'll tell you all about it, don't worry Gnomey!' Sylph excitedly declared, much to Giorno's embarrassment.
With his new winter preparations purchased and equipped, he left the clothing store.
'Wow, you're really making that look work. Trying to attract some ladies?' Sylph teased.
"I certainly hope Undine and Salamander won't be anything like this." Giorno shook his head, heading to their designated inn Luka had told him about before they split.
His life sense told him some interesting information when he reached the entrance. He clearly felt Luka and Alice having an intimate moment…
'They're totally gonna end up together… I can just feel it.' Sylph commented, also feeling the disturbance in the wind.
"I don't disagree. But I don't want to be anywhere near this." Giorno said, turning his back on the unofficial couple's location.
'Let's hit the town! Right Gnome?!' Sylph declared before getting hit.
As he spent his evening having a bit of fun at a local tavern, he couldn't help but overhear the general excitement over tomorrow's coliseum fighting.
"I kinda hope that guy joins in tomorrow…" A woman whispered to her friend, motioning towards him.
"Yeah… he's really hot. I'd love to see him in action." Her friend glanced over not so subtly towards the silent blonde.
'I never thought women would be this interested in watching gladiator fights.' Giorno thought, suspicious as to this fighting tournament.
He reunited with his allies the following morning, who kept quiet about the last night.
"Hey, Alice. You said you wanted to see the food stands at the Coliseum, right?" Luka suddenly asked out of nowhere.
"I wouldn't be opposed to it, yes." Alice answered neutrally, her tail wagging not unlike that of a dog.
"I don't know, that place is rather suspicious. It's almost like there's an inside joke we're not aware of in this place." Giorno voiced his concerns as they moved towards the large construction.
"It should be fine…" Luka assured, as a horde of mostly women entered the oval structure in front of them.
"I don't understand why so many women find this entertaining. We're missing something here." Giorno felt nervous upon them finding their seats.
"The tickets are surprisingly expensive." Luka said, sitting down beside Alice.
"I heard some of the entrants complain about their entry fees, why would that be the case for them? It's not exactly common for a tournament to have a paywall for their competitors." Giorno noted, as more and more women filled out the seats.
'Any theories?' Sylph asked.
'Not really… But to pay such a price must mean the reward for winning is worth it. As far as I can tell, you don't receive any substantial monetary reward. Just fame.' Giorno responded.
'What if they're not trying to win?' Sylph questioned, unaware of just how true that was.
"This isn't quite the image I was expecting for a Coliseum..." Luka added, alluding to the almost fully female audience.
"Mmm... Delicious. It's full of calories, and it feels like my power is doubling!" Alice said happily, snacking on something from the stands.
"Oi, oi... You're already eating?" Luka asked in disbelief, as a woman with blonde hair and purple eyes looked over at the loud Alice with annoyance.
"I... I'm sorry..." Luka apologised to her on Alice's behalf, as the fighters entered the arena.
"The audience isn't that interested in this fight. Doesn't make much sense." Giorno observed, sensing some disappointment from the women around them.
"Of course they wouldn't…" The woman at their side commented, in a voice of disappointment and slight anguish.
He turned to look at her, meeting her inquisitive gaze. Why would this woman be so bitter over that observation?
'Minotaur and a Centaur… who do you have winning, Gnome?' Sylph asked, receiving only a slap from her friend.
"Ahh... Who's going to win!?" Luka pondered in excitement.
"The Centaur has speed and is looking to wear down her opponent. As far as the average person can see, the Minotaur is on the back foot." Giorno noted.
"Right, the Minotaur can't keep up with her speed at all… Wait." Luka stopped himself as he observed the one-sided fight on the Coliseum floor. "Is she luring her in?"
"Yes… You noticed. She's guarding herself from any serious damage and inviting a chance." Alice approved of his observation, humming in agreement.
"Inviting a chance? I don't quite see how that's a possibility." The woman sitting at their side questioned.
"The Centaur's strategy only works if her opponent wastes their time trying a pointless counterattack. Instead, she's biding her time and waiting for an opportunity to end the battle decisively. Speed can only take you so far." Giorno explained.
"She only needs one hit. Then it's over." Luka continued for him.
"Just one mistake and her confidence will lead to her defeat." Alice concluded.
"I can't see this being less than a win for the Centaur…" The woman trailed off, watching the fight with renewed interest.
Down below, the Centaur kept up her constant war of attrition.
In her domination of speed, she carelessly ventured far too close to her target. Her error resulted in getting her hit right over the head with a battle axe and knocking her to the ground.
In a matter of seconds, the fight had been declared in favor of the Minotaur. Just like the trio had predicted.
"It's exactly as you three said… You must be skilled fighters if you could see through that fight." The woman said, looking intently at both Luka and Giorno.
'She wants something from us…' Giorno thought, picking up on her subtle expression.
'Hey Look! It's a man and a monster this time.' Sylph pointed out in his head.
True to her word, a man and some sort of Dullahan met each other on the field some reason, the crowd of women began cheering excitedly.
"He's really going to fight her? He looks pretty excited…" Luka commented, leaning in to get a better point of view.
The man dropped his weapon nearly instantly, lifting his arms in surrender with a wide smile on his face.
"Huh?! Why did he…" Luka gaped, in for the shock of his life.
All around them, women in the crowd began cheering even louder. Their chants eventually became vulgar phrases, with one in particular being the most popular.
"Rape! Rape! Rape!"
"No… Do the monsters partake in defeated men?" Giorno realized, truly understanding everything now that all the pieces had been put together.
"No wonder the fighters pay good money to participate… They get to have their fun with monsters. And the monsters pay good money to have a meal in front of a live audience. At the very least, an effective strategy to gain revenue." Giorno covered his eyes with his hand.
"So, you finally see… I don't wish to stay here and watch anymore. I'd like to speak with you if you don't mind." The woman stood up and ventured off, having an expression of shame as she left.
"Okay…" Luka agreed, shell-shocked at the complete shift in the atmosphere.
"I have no desire to stay after this." Giorno also followed suit, keeping his eyes away from what was happening below.
The moment they walked straight into a royal palace, Giorno had a very good idea of whose eye they had caught.
"Um… Won't we get into trouble if we walk in here?" Luka nervously muttered as guards scrutinized the trio.
"I don't think that will be an issue, your Highness?" The blonde motioned towards the woman leading them.
"You're very perceptive. Just what I want." She nodded, as guards began making way for them.
"Welcome back, your majesty!" A guard declared, opening up the main door to the audience hall for them to pass through.
"Uh… Is this for real?" Luka nervously swallowed the lump in his throat.
"Your friend is correct; I am the tenth Queen of Grand Noah." She introduced, excusing herself to a nearby room for a moment.
"Can't be many royalty we haven't met yet. Please don't steal from this one, Giorno." Alice teased, sticking her tongue out in a mocking gesture.
When she returned, the Queen was now in her royal garments and ready to give the heroes who captured her attention an interesting proposal.
"As you saw, our once proud Coliseum has turned into something awful. The only ones to win are monsters. Every so often there's a human contestant, but it always ends the same way. Since I took the throne fifteen years ago, there has been no human victor yet. I don't discriminate against monsters… But that fact is rather depressing." The Queen sighed, embarrassed to have to admit that.
"I get it, it is pretty sad…" Luka agreed, trying to wipe his mind of what he saw earlier.
"These days, they even take the men right on the spot. You see it, right? The women don't care about fighting, they just like seeing females dominate men. The men just enter to have their urges satisfied by monsters too. Our Coliseum is now just a den of debauchery." The Queen lamented.
"Which is why you brought us here, then. What do you want from us?" Giorno got straight to the point, having a good feeling that he wouldn't like her proposal.
"Yes… I can't change what the populace wants. But just once in my life, I'd like to see a human win. Which is why, for this year's Queen Cup… I want you two to join." She requested, looking hopeful that they would accept.
"…" Giorno remained unconvinced, why put himself at risk for the whims of a Queen?
"The Queen's Cup is held every 4 years. For this one in particular, the prize will be a Green Orb. Passed down from my royal family in celebration of my 15 years on the throne." She added, trying to sweeten the deal.
"Green orb?" The blonde perked up.
They already had possession of the orbs from the bandits, Kraken and Sphinx. And supposedly one needed all six to summon the Holy Wings, whatever it was…
Even Alice had mentioned it in passing, solidifying just how powerful it could be.
In the end, he was still iffy on the idea of trying to win. But as long as the competition didn't deviate from the usual monster in the region, then there was a very good chance he or Luka could win outright.
He nodded at Luka, who had already decided long ago on his answer.
"We'll do it!" He declared resolutely at the Queen.
"Either of us alone has a decent chance, it's entirely possible we can win… hopefully." Giorno stated.
"Yeah! We have the spirits on our side! You even have Gold Experience to boot!" Luka added, pumping himself up.
"Spirits… Gold Experience?" The Queen asked, looking confused.
"Oh… We contracted with the spirits of wind and earth. And my friend has a ghost that haunts him. We're a bit bizarre in that way…Hehe." Luka laughed.
"…A ghost?" The Queen looked curiously at the blonde male.
"Long story." He simply said, annoyed that Luka was giving away secrets in his state of excitement.
"In any case, you'll make wonderful additions to my chosen human competitors." She clasped her hands, smiling at them.
"Wonderful additions? How many others have you talked to?" Alice asked.
"That isn't important… Please do prepare for our tournament, it starts one week from now. Enjoy my fair city!" The Queen ushered them out quite hastily, reluctant to state how many others she'd given this exact speech to.
In all honesty, Luka had let the prospect of fighting in the tournament blind him to a few potential dangers.
Namely, fighting without Giorno's support. Even though he'd fought by his lonesome before, it was still nice to have backup. Especially backup that would do anything to keep him safe.
Secondly, was the fact that they could meet each other as opponents. The thought of that was almost appealing in a strange way.
But the third was the discovery of a major threat to their chances of winning. Giorno had gone and done some recon on a few of the usual entrants in the Coliseum, finding out about Kyuba.
The reigning favorite of the crowd, and undefeated in battle thus far.
"I haven't heard much about who or what kind of monster she is, so we're all out of luck on that front. From those who've encountered her, they change into men addicted to the thrill of being humiliated in that place. Safe to say if we lose to her, it's all over for us." Giorno explained after their latest training session.
"Jeez, to think the Queen didn't warn us about a monster like this." Luka sighed, thinking their options through. "Do you think we can actually win?"
"With this Kyuba? Possibly... But I believe you stand a better chance than I do." Giorno stated matter of factly.
"No way… You're a better strategist than I am." Luka disagreed.
"No, you're the better swordsman. And you have a greater grasp of using Sylph and Gnome. It would be more prudent to hedge our bet on you. Needless to say, if we encounter each other, I will surrender to conserve your energy for a real fight." The blonde insisted.
"Oh…I guess so." Luka nodded; a tiny bit disappointed but understanding of his logic. All that mattered was winning this fight for the Queen, after all.
"It makes sense. I can't believe how lucky you two have been getting with these orbs though. This will be the fourth one if you succeed? Absurdly lucky…" Alice scoffed as she returned with plenty of food on her person.
"Oi… You should stop spending so much money. We'll be broke at this rate." Luka scolded, to no effect.
They spent the rest of their time training, motivated by the threat of a humiliating defeat and the promise of a sacred artifact.
Some days later…
Alma kept in her private room at the Coliseum, pacing up and down in a deep train of thought. The reigning champion hadn't been herself for some time now.
She'd been battling so many swirling emotions within herself for weeks, the anguish of losing her mother without ever resolving her issues. The lingering shame of her last encounter made her sudden disappearance all the more tragic.
Only for that same mother to fall in love with a human and choose to give it all up…
She'd liked to have embraced her.
Maybe even apologize for being such a failure of a daughter.
But that wishful thinking meant nothing now, mere moments before the tournament began.
"Miss Kyuba? Your first fight's about to start." A guard knocked on her door.
Alma turned around, installing a fake smile on her otherwise flawless face.
She needed this, at least to convince herself that she was normal.
If only for a little bit.
"I'll be right there~"
Later that day…
Luka had to admit that fighting surrounded by an audience was a daunting task, especially one that hoped for him to be violated for their entertainment.
From the other side of the arena, his opponent strode forward.
An armored yet voluptuous woman approached him, holding a detached head at her side.
A Dullahan, a monster Giorno reported on during his scouting of the opposition. The aspiring hero shuddered upon remembering his constant lecturing on the foes they could potentially come across.
But in truth, he appreciated the intelligence even if it was technically against the rules of the tournament.
'I mean, they only said you're not allowed to watch the other competitors fight. They didn't say you couldn't gather information before it ever started.' Sylph voiced out from inside his mind.
"I can't afford to lose… Not here." Luka deftly reminded himself, ignoring the lewd jeers from the women of the crowd. He found himself taking quick glances at where Alice sat, happily munching on some snacks she bought… probably with money she took from him.
'That girl…' He sighed, before putting all his attention on the monster in front of him.
A little later...
"Mister Giovanna? You're up next…" One of the officials called out from behind the blonde.
"I'm ready… As much as I'll ever be." Giorno stood up and proceeded to the entrance to the arena.
He looked up towards some iron bars, stopping for a moment and thinking back to his past. The surge of negative emotions did not go unnoticed by the two guests in his own body.
'Is something wrong? You're really staring at those metal bars.' Sylph asked in concern.
'…' Gnome didn't say a word, yet even he could feel the worry she had for him.
'It's fine. I'm just thinking of an old friend.' The blonde assured as he finally made his way out into the battlefield.
As he expected of this place, the audience consisted of almost entirely women. All of them went into a frenzy upon seeing him enter as a combatant.
"It's him! That pretty one from the tavern the other night!"
"I can't wait to see this!"
"First that cute kid and now this?! This year really is the best!"
"Kyuba too!"
Giorno steeled himself, doing his best to ignore the other more unsavory comments. No 16-year-old needed to hear that…
But at least it seemed Luka made it through his round, given that he heard no gushing about his defeat.
His coming foe was someone he'd identified as a major issue, a dreaded Cerberus-type monster. One that was under the employ of the Queen herself.
"Multi-headed… Sharp Claws… Raw power and speed." He muttered as the monster smirked.
"You're certainly a prize… Quite a handsome one we've caught. One eager to show off his goods too." One of her heads complimented, looking down at his exposed chest.
"I have no intention of surrendering to you. I am here to win." The male made clear, drawing his gaudy blade.
"Oh? You're going to make us work for our meal? We don't mind…" Her heads all grinned, as she prepared herself.
No one really took him seriously, just looking at him was enough to know he was all talk and no fight.
At least, that was the position of everyone else besides the Queen.
"Gnome… I need you for this fight." Giorno whispered, feeling his body grow stronger. 'Thank you…'
"Don't even bother trying to fight!" Cerberus shouted, attempting to throw him to the ground.
She pulled him into a grapple, which he surprisingly resisted despite her best efforts to pin him.
"W-what are you…?" She gruffly asked in irritation.
"I am not here to humiliate myself! It's useless!" Giorno shouted before an unseen power rammed a fist into the rightmost head.
The resounding shockwave pushed Cerberus back into a state of confusion and pain.
Her surroundings blurred together, leaving her state of mind a mess. Each and every sensation of her body felt like it was being overstimulated.
The mass of colors in the crowd.
The cheers and screams from the audience.
Her own pain wanted to make her scream in agony.
Her body refused to react as her opponent began to attack her again.
Giorno stepped forward, suddenly gaining an incredible burst of speed and piercing her chest with the glistening blade.
Even though the attack barely drew blood and created a small wound, she felt like she'd been stabbed through the chest entirely.
Thankfully the feeling had stopped after what felt like an eternity, giving her a chance to reassess the fight.
Something that many in the crowd were also starting to do.
"How is a man competing against a monster?"
"She looked like she got punched… But by what?"
"This is just like that short guy before."
Caesar prided herself on her strength and ability. She couldn't afford to waste time in this fight anymore.
Lest she find herself defeated at the hands of this human.
She needed to defeat him now, even if that meant roughing him up. Pleasure attacks would only lead to more chances of getting hurt again.
She flexed her hands, popping out her sharp claws and baring her ravenous-bladed teeth for a true battle.
"We made a mistake underestimating you…" She admitted, before leaping forward at blistering speeds.
"Nani?" Giorno attempted to block her strike but was much too close to her initial barrage of slashes and cuts.
Even worse for him, Gnome's power had faded due to a lack of concentration.
"Take this!" Caesar yelled, contorting her body to deliver a kick straight into his abdomen.
His body crashed several meters away, straight into the coliseum wall, before plopping down into the dirt with a thud.
'Giorno?! Giorno, are you okay?!' Sylph practically screamed.
'…!' Gnome's sense of urgency could be felt even if she didn't express it.
"Ugh… What a pointless mistake." Giorno huffed, coughing up some blood onto the dirt.
"Stay down… As long as we don't kill you, anything goes in here." Caesar warned as she cautiously approached him.
"I refuse!" Giorno stood back up, despite the obvious feeling that something was broken within his chest.
"Gold Experience! Gnome!"
Grabbing a fistful of knives, he utilized both his stand and Gnome to throw them toward his foe with almost deadly intent.
The force of his throws threw up dust and debris, sending up reverberations throughout the Coliseum.
Caesar sliced one of the knives clean in two with her claws, before dodging the next wave of well-aimed blades.
The projectiles that missed careened toward the audience, creating mass panic.
"Get out of the way!"
"That guy's crazy!"
"Hey! You psycho! The people!" Caesar shouted, turning her back on Giorno.
Only for those same knives to turn into doves and fly clear into the skies above.
"What?! How did you-" She yelled, realizing her blunder much too late.
In those mere moments, he had closed the distance between them with frightening speed and was about to strike her with that sword.
"You! Using those people as bait!" Caesar roared, blocking the sword strike with her heavily clawed hands.
"They were never in any danger to begin with… The Queen chose you as one of her personal guards! I know the Queen would never choose a heartless monster for a personal guard!" Giorno huffed, struggling against her strength.
"Aargh!" Caesar let him strike her, before pulling him into a grapple using his own momentum. The blonde man in her grip struggled hopelessly, pulling on her hair and pushing hopelessly against her faces.
The moment she had a firm hold on his arm; she broke out into a sadistic grin. In an instant, she broke the arm in her firm grasp, before slamming him into the dirt.
"It's over! You've lost!" She planted herself over him, making sure he couldn't use his other arm to try anything. "It's our win!"
Her other arm was about to go for his pants, aiming to punish him for being such a devastatingly cruel and effective fighter.
"You've already lost... Caesar." He defiantly commented, before her own teeth turned into a swarm of thorned vines.
Caesar panicked, clutching at her throat as her airways were blocked by the mass of sharp plant life.
Her hair followed suit, turning into an array of branches that wrapped over all three sets of her eyes.
"Mmmgh!" Caesar struggled against the oppressive plants, only managing to injure herself even more by slashing at them.
"Muda! Muda! Muda! Muda!" Gold Experience seized its chance to barrage her with a flurry of strikes to her abdomen, specifically her lungs. The continued frenzy against her forced her off Giorno, who ensured he kept his distance as she struggled against both the pain and rapidly ensuing suffocation.
"What the hell…"
"Is he going to kill her?!"
"By Ilias… This isn't what I expected."
The crowd quickly turned negative, some even completely hostile as Caesar collapsed on the ground, blood leaking from her mouths.
Just like that, her face and hair returned to normal. Leaving nothing but a deafening silence in the wake of his victory.
'Giorno… I… I don't know what to say.' Sylph muttered, gobsmacked at the brutality showcased.
"It was me or her… I cannot afford to falter. Losing here would be useless." Giorno argued, before making his way to his fallen foe.
Scanning over her with his life sense, he could tell that she was only knocked out. The lack of oxygen was her downfall, in the end.
"Good… She's fine then. Battered, bleeding, and bruised, but fine." He calmly left the scene, uncaring of the impact his actions had on the spectators.
The horns signaling his victory followed soon after, announced by the criers.
Alice didn't exactly know how to describe that fight.
Scratch that, she did…
It was nothing short of brutal, a battle between two combatants through and through.
And Giorno had seemingly edged out on top, if only barely.
Still, the fate of that Hellhound was not a pleasant one. But true to his promise to Luka, he refrained from killing her.
In some ways, Giorno Giovanna was a nightmarish foe. His eagerness to escalate the situation was unheard of for a human. He truly was the type to sacrifice everything for an assured victory.
But did he not care for his reputation in any way? The crowd didn't look to appreciate his victory, nor the means to get it.
The Queen had started to regret her actions somewhat, her own personal guard had been taken for immediate medical care after her surprise loss.
But at the same time, the blonde man she recruited had proven his words the other day. He made it a show of pure combat, just like she wanted.
Unfortunately, the audience was rather split after his match. Those who came to root for the underdog that snatched victory in the face of defeat. And those who spoke against his reckless and dangerous stunts.
'I think I might just see my dream come true after all… Luka and Giorno, eh? You've defeated my own guards. I have high hopes for you two.'
What followed was nothing short of complete domination by three particular candidates.
Kyuba
Luka Hein
Giorno Giovanna
Each one of them dispatched their foes with frightening efficiency, whether it be through magic, swordsmanship, or last-minute gambles.
The horn signaling the end of the first semi-final rung out through the Coliseum.
'I truly hope Luka made it this far…' Giorno almost prayed for that possibility.
He'd fought some troublesome monsters to get this far. Even the odd human who wished to lose to them.
His thoughts were interrupted when Alice walked through the door, with a grim expression on her face.
Bad news…
"Is…Luka fine?" He asked, concerned over the safety of his comrade.
"He's fine, he won his fight against that Minotaur from last week." Alice explained.
"The Minotaur…? Then that means…" He understood why she'd come now then.
"You can't win against Kyuba. Forfeit now before it's too late." The Monster Lord warned-no, almost pleaded.
"No." Giorno refused.
"Are you an idiot? I thought you were the smart one! I'm saying this with complete confidence, neither you nor that other idiot can win." She insisted, getting up in his face.
"And what should I do? Give up and let Luka do this alone? Abandon my ally for my continued safety?!" Giorno argued back, never faltering.
"You can't be serious… Give up and we can get Luka out together!" Alice reiterated.
"You realize just how foolish you sound, no?" Giorno heard the characteristic knock on the door. One which signaled that he was up for the battle which decided it all.
"Giorno… No." She reached out, keeping a death grip on his shoulder.
"You know neither of us will ever give up. That's just the way things are." He looked over his shoulder.
"But…" Alice tried to argue back, unable to find anything that would convince him.
"Even if I know I'll lose, I can't justify leaving Luka in an impossible situation. There are times you have to show courage, no matter what." He stated, before brushing her hand off and leaving.
Once she was alone, Alice took a few moments to collect herself. She couldn't believe that the most logical human she'd ever met would reject her pleas.
If even he refused, what did that say for Luka?
They couldn't win… It was impossible.
"…You're both too stubborn for your own good."
Once again, Giorno stood in the arena. This time, he was filled with nothing but anxiety and dread for the fight to come.
Just who was this Kyuba to inspire such a reaction from Alice?
His answer came seconds later, in the form of a very familiar face.
"You!" Giorno's heartbeat accelerated tenfold upon laying eyes on the succubus.
"Y-you?!" Alma similarly reacted, replaying the events of that night over and over again.
'Do you know her? Looks like you two have some history.' Sylph pointed out the obvious, receiving a punch from Gnome for her efforts. 'Hyah!'
"Kyuba? I don't understand the secrecy, Heavenly Knight." Giorno said, drawing his blade.
"I'm… not plotting anything. I j-just love grappling and…" Alma trailed off, unable to keep eye contact with him.
"And what? What could you possibly have to do in this place?" Giorno suspiciously interrogated.
"Techniques and skills collide… Body parts mingle and get entangled. It's just fantastic." She said in an unconvincing tone.
"What's wrong with you? You're nothing like back on that boat." He questioned, put off by the conflicting emotions within her eyes.
"Nothing's wrong… Let's just forget that Heavenly Knight stuff. We're just two strangers who met in the Coliseum." She tried to steer the conversation away from anything sensitive.
"…Are you ashamed? I recognize that look in your eyes. I know it all too well." Giorno dropped his guard, keeping a tight grip on his blade despite his observation.
"I…no. Let's just get on with this tournament thing." Alma insisted, leaning towards him to expose her ample bosom.
"Alice said something the other day. She'd never seen you throw a punch before. Have you never actually fought a human before?" He ignored her attempts to entice him completely, focusing only on her face.
"…Stop. Just stop. I don't need this right now." She surged forward and tried to tackle him.
Only for him to leap into the air with a burst of power from his legs and land a safe distance away.
"Tch… You're suffering. And I think I know why. You believe you're nothing but scum, don't you?" Giorno summoned Sylph, creating a small tornado around himself for protection.
"…You're forcing it. Just like you're forcing the wind right now. You shouldn't use its power like that." She said in a fake teasing tone, blowing apart the small tornado with a much more controlled application of her own.
Giorno staggered, taken aback by her level of skill. All he could do in response was summon another tornado around him.
"The wind is very whimsical you know? You can't just force it to be a tool. You need to be with it for the ride." She drawled, swatting away his summoned gale with her tail.
'You're hiding how you feel… Just like me.'
"…I don't think any less of you, you know? Not that I have the best opinion of you to begin with. I prefer you being violent." Giorno declared, eager to get a reaction out of her.
"Stop lying… A succubus has no place doing that. Especially the Queen of her race." Alma finally faltered, losing the mask she'd been wearing.
"You and I both know that title means nothing…The Queen of the Succubi is a useless position in the grand scheme of things." Giorno argued, stunning the crowd into silence.
"…Ha. You don't even know how right you are." Alma managed a small smile at that comment.
"Then why does that stop you from being who you really are? I do know what succubi are so supposed to be. Shackled to the predetermined norms is not one of them." He pointed out, making use of her advice against her. "You're forcing yourself to be this way."
"…I'm not forcing anything. This is how things are meant to be. I can't be a failure to my people." Alma rejected, conflicted by his sincerity and the raging emotions within.
"Do other people's opinions on you really affect you that much? Succubi are meant to embody freedom. Yet you reject even your own feelings. If anything, that makes you a failure of a succubus." He chastised, unknowingly repeating a traumatic phrase.
'You're forcing it. Just like you're forcing the wind right now. You shouldn't use its power like that.'
'The wind is very whimsical you know? You can't just force it to be a tool. You need to be with it for the ride.'
'Maybe I've been going at this the wrong way then. Using Gold Experience is similar to operating a car, it requires my utmost attention and critical thought.'
Summoning Sylph one last time, he allowed it to run free and engulf him.
The experience was the opposite of handling his stand which was just what he needed.
'Explains why I didn't understand how to use you…'
That was when it all clicked, he could feel his body become one with the wind itself.
"…" Alma went silent as he became one with the wind, rather than brute forcing it.
"I know I can't change your mind with one conversation. Perhaps this was useless of me after all. Your demons are your own to battle." He concluded, thinking back to Fugo and his struggle.
But now, with this newfound power he could fight her on his own terms.
Or at least, that was the plan.
"I forfeit." Alma declared, ceasing all resistance.
Giorno didn't even have a chance to say anything else before she bolted into the sky.
'This just gets weirder and weirder… What did you do to her?' Sylph questioned.
'I don't even know.' Giorno sighed, heading back to his private quarters in the Coliseum.
In the end, he withdrew from the tournament as well. Seeing no point in meeting Luka on the battlefield.
"Since taking the throne, I have never experienced such happiness... To think a warrior appeared who was able to win!" The Queen of Grand Noah spoke in a moved tone.
"Thank you." Luka said automatically, despite his inner turmoil.
"Now, for the presentation of the prize. Our royal treasure, the Green Orb... Please accept it." The Queen requested as a servant offered Luka the green jewel sitting on a velvet cushion.
"Ah... Yes..." Luka acquiesced, taking the gem and putting it in his bag silently.
"I will. If you'll excuse me..." Luka said, before bowing respectfully, and leaving the room.
"Please… stay and celebrate at least? This truly is a momentous occasion. I can't let you all leave without showing you my gratitude. Perhaps a feast would be in order?" The Queen offered.
"I don't know, we should really check in wi-" Luka attempted to decline before Alice covered his mouth.
"Who are we to decline such an offer." She finished for him.
She would not waste the chance Giorno gave them.
Wandering the city while he waited for his allies would take some time, given that the Queen would be pleased that Luka had managed to achieve victory despite the odds.
He was even sure they'd get a celebratory feast for their efforts.
The mostly empty streets that night were calming, a welcome reprieve from the excitement of the day.
With this new level of skill, his life sense went berserk. His effective range skyrocketed beyond what even he thought possible.
He quickly picked up on someone keeping a firm eye on him, on a nearby rooftop.
"So… You finally sensed me? Only took you a few hours~" Alma teased.
"What do you want?" He turned around, looking at the succubus draped in moonlight.
"To talk. Since that's all you were offering in the Coliseum." She dropped down to the pavement beside him.
"Are you talking as a Heavenly Knight or Kyuba?" Giorno questioned.
"Neither, I'm speaking to you as Alma Elma." She explained, holding up her arms in mock surrender.
"I better not regret this." He sighed, leading her to the Inn he was using for the night.
Settling down in front of her made for an awkward situation.
"You really meant what you said back there… didn't you?" She asked
"Obviously. I don't particularly care how monsters act." He replied, taking a sip of his tea.
"Hmph. As long as they don't bother you? I get the feeling you like being left alone." Alma hummed in acknowledgment.
"That's the best option. Unfortunately, few monsters have ever been like that." The blonde in front of her nodded. "But that isn't what we're here to discuss, we're here to speak about this issue of yours."
"Right. You see… I made sure to disassociate myself from violence for most of my life.
"Why? You're quite the gifted fighter from my experience engaging you." Giorno tilted his head, confused at her hesitation.
"My mother was that reason, she… had a lot of expectations for me. She was a powerful succubus in her own right and that meant I had to live up to her legacy." Alma wistfully recalled.
"I see. I have a friend like you. His parents burdened him with ever-increasing expectations. Eventually, push came to shove and…" He made an explosive gesture.
"Till he finally snapped. Bottling up that emotion until someone pokes holes in the pressure cooker." Alma leaned forward. "They didn't react too well. Right? Mother was the same, found out about me practicing my martial arts and disowned me on the spot."
"…Just like that? That doesn't sound healthy." He questioned.
"No… it really wasn't. I begged and pleaded for her to give me one more chance. I guess she had enough one day and never spoke to me again. That was how things went for a few decades." She confessed, pouting at how pathetic that portion of her life was.
"To be ignored by your own mother. I know the feeling; I wasn't exactly a priority on her list. Going out to parties instead of taking care of me was my reality. Living her life was her only concern." Giorno explained, knowing exactly what she felt like.
"It's just unnatural. I can't explain what it felt like to lose that connection. All because of my physical power." Alma added in frustration.
"You internalized that feeling. And you blamed yourself. That only makes sense if your mother…" The blonde surmised, having an educated guess as to what happened.
"If she passed away… It's funny, really. The proud succubus fell in love with a human and gave up her lifespan to be with him to the end." She bitterly laughed, a hint of unresolved anger in her eyes.
"You never got that closure… She disowned you for acting unlike a succubus, only to go ahead and do the same herself." Giorno stated, understanding the picture in its entirety.
"…" Alma sat still, uncharacteristically taking a moment to think through her feelings.
"She was wrong." Giorno began, ready to impart his view of things. "A real parent strives to build up their children. Not hold them back. Instead of accepting you, she threw you away."
The succubus looked to be listening, absorbing what he said.
"Answer me. Whose life are you living?" He reached out and gave her shoulder a tap, lifting her out of her stupor.
Alma looked up, having come up with her answer.
"Mine… It's my life."
Dealing with this trauma was far from over, just like he said earlier. But it was nice to speak to someone who went through similar experiences to her.
"Good… Because you need to stop living up to the ideals of a woman long gone. Looking back on that past won't change things now." He sighed, taking his hand off her shoulder.
"Okay, I get it. You're a real weirdo, GioGio. Bringing me to your room…Staring at me like that. A girl could get the wrong idea~" She teased, winking at him.
"… You're doing better, I see." Giorno leaned back in his seat, not even entertaining her advances.
"Mhm… I'm not out of the woods yet. But it's nice talking to a fellow problem child." She smirked, displaying some playfulness again. "So, you really don't mind me being kinda responsible for getting your tongue bit off?"
"Mostly responsible at minimum… And yes, I'd rather that than be violated." He neutrally stated, very serious about his preferred method of death.
"I prefer keeping the killing to a minimum actually…" Alma pouted, trying to air out the facts.
"…You do? I didn't get that impression on the boat." Giorno raised an eyebrow.
"Hahaha… Of course, you wouldn't. That was when I thought you were a real threat to monsters." She laughed, waving her hand at him.
"And now I'm not?" He crossed his arms.
"No… You don't go out of your way to attack them. You're just an isolationist. All moody, just like Erubetie. Less of a downer though." Alma gossiped.
"She's going to be a pain, isn't she?" He grimaced, already imagining what 'downer' in this case meant.
"Oh, absolutely!" Alma bluntly confirmed.
"Give me a break…"
AN:
Fixed the mistakes on the chapter that have been pointed out. Sorry about that.
Some things change due to Giorno showing up.
This is my first attempt at a proper Jojo-esque fight using Giorno, who ends up being the main focus during the Coliseum arc. I hope I finally got it down right, since I want a lot more moments where Giorno's forced to clutch up and get serious. Luka will end up having the spot light in a certain chapter coming up soon, so don't worry about him getting left out.
I won't go into detail for every fight, but any interesting or pivotal one will be heavily added to. Especially if the fight is really gimmicky or easy. (Sandworm Girl who spends her battle mostly being confused) Rest assured that more fights on their journey will continue without glossing over them.
The Coliseum is kind of messed up looking back on the VN, one of the characters is just a soldier scrambling to find money to enter again just to lose. The women in Grand Noah are something else, finding it entertaining to watch guys get violated is freaky timing.
And finally, Alma gets confronted by Giorno who does not let up on her. No romance, just Giorno seeing through Alma for what she is and relating to her mother abandoning her. A lot of potential here to be honest. Both have behavior they developed as a result of their poor parental situations.
I.e Alma and her physical prowess that had her disowned, Giorno and his ability to read people that his stepfather hated enough to beat him.
Reading into the wind and mastering it, someone has to demonstrate the ability to let go and go with the flow. The opposite of a stand which requires their users focus to operate and whose movement is often solely controlled by their user. (Except for automatic/sentient stands.)
(Or for those capable of protecting their users by default) This comes with the drawback of withdrawing their stand, as they cannot both let the wind flow freely and dedicate their mind to using a stand. (At least for now)
As Keicho said: Using a Stand is like driving a car. No matter how fast the car is, one can only drive as fast as one is capable.