Before we get started, I must warn you first and foremost, that something… horrible will happen to three zombies, which will be depicted in a gory way. Well not to a great extent, but prevalent nevertheless. Hope you prepare yourself for what Xero will do to those three zombies. And yes, he's alive.
With all that said, let's get to reading.
A gigantic cloud of dust settled on this particular area of the Castle of Glass after the moon struck it, causing a big explosion that left behind a crater in its wake. Bits and pieces of the "moon" as big as a human adult's body and possibly weighing tons are strewn inside or outside it, the latter which are numerous. As a consequence, this single area looked absolutely wrecked because multiple cracks appeared across the once-pristine floor, some of which appear to be on the verge of shattering and creating a big, jagged hole. Reflecting the battered landscape, the dark sky, while still plentifully starry, is less bright contributing to the dim lighting below. Even the stars themselves are twinkling frequently and few of which are giving out.
No one is within the crater, including the apparent owner of the Castle of Glass aside the moon pieces. A conspicuous and messy puddle of stained blood on one though indicates where the perpetrator was standing on. Since there is blood and, if one looked closely, small seared flesh, he must've been obliterated from the impact and resulting explosion. That said, it's only one splatter of blood. Combine this with the pervading silence laid here, it appears not one survivor come out unscathed from the colossal impact of the moon
That assumption is proven wrong however when embers of blue fire pop up after the air becomes visibly wavy, as if reacting to the heat. These flames continue flickering until it became frequent and numerous, taking on silhouettes of a group of people.
"Bring Me… to… Life."
A soft and weary voice uttered those words, then reacting to her command, the flames expanded before dispersing. The invisible silhouettes of nine zombie humans and two undead animals become visible, showing they have flocked close with each other to the point of embracing.
Feeling herself being hugged from all directions, Sakura slowly opens her eyes and blinked, taking a long time to realize she somehow survived the moon impact. Noticing she's hugging Goldia while they are huddled up in the center thanks to Rianima covering them, Hartzler and Lynn, all of whom are bracing themselves from impact that already happened, Sakura raises her head up to regard her companions for a moment before she says, "H-Huh…? We're… alive?"
Sakura's simple words are enough to rouse the others out of their bracing selves. They arrive to the same conclusion she did, and before long, the huddled up group separates. They take a while to gather their bearings though since they are contending with the fact that 1.) They're alive, and 2.) They came out no worse for wear except maybe their mental well-being.
Those facts are beating down on their heads as some of them check themselves if they can clench their hands or see they are actually standing. And yet it took them a minute before a collective sighs of relief puff out.
"We survived. That's… That's good," said Gyro in a flat tone. "For a second, I thought we are all… goners. I-I mean… Can someone pinch me? Wanna make sure I ain't dreaming."
"Is seeing all of us standing not enough? That is all the confirmation we need that we're alive." Narancia remarked, double checking himself everything on his person before dusting his arms off of any dirt.
"He's right. We're somehow alive… Wait, where's mother?" Goldia whips her head around in search of her dear mother. An exhausting sigh caught her ears from behind, making her turn around and see Emi with her arms outstretched, panting heavily and, as redundant it may sound since she's pale-skinned, looked paler. "M-Mother?" Goldia called out, becoming worried.
"…Good… All of you… were not… harmed…" Emi managed to say between pants, mustering a tiny grin. She felt her arms go limp and fell, then shortly after, her body too as well. Thankfully, Avdol caught her in his arms.
"A-Agh…" Emi breathed out, feeling paralyzed.
"Emi-san? EMI-SAN!" Kakyoin is by her side immediately with Goldia, Hartzler and Lynn.
"Mother! Mother, what's wrong!?" Goldia exclaimed, crouching to her height. Hartzler stands up on his hind legs to knead his paws on her skirt, visibly concerned while Lynn conveyed a lot of hoots while flapping her wings. "Hoohooohoooo! Hoooo! Hooohooo!"
"Nnnngh… Please calm down. I… I merely pushed myself too far. I must have… lost most, if not all, my 「energy」." Emi muttered out, continuing panting.
"When you turned us 「invisible」 in order to prevent the moon from killing us?" Sakura surmised, to which Emi nodded. "I see. So that's why we were turned invisible."
"Not only for making you all invisible, but 「healing」 my grievous wounds done by Xero." She raised a shaky finger to point the left side of her body so they see no sign of injuries sustained on it. Crimson blood are still stained on white parts of her clothes though, presumably because she already used so much of Bring Me to Life to remove the big stain after. Emi groaned again and wheezed with a hand over her chest.
With those facts in mind, the zombies are worried for Emi's well-being after she pushed herself too much until she became exhausted. They are wondering what they should do, as Narancia says, "So what now? No offense but you don't look so good. I think we must treat you immediately before you may lost consciousness."
"Narancia-han's right. It's a bad idea for you to walk around whilst you're experiencing a heavy amount of fatigue. You must seek help immediately." Yugiri agreed, letting go of a quivering Lily after she calmed her scared confidant down.
Rianima, Sakura, Goldia and even Emi perked up when hearing someone who they shouldn't be hearing normally. They turn to the courtesan quickly and look bewildered and surprised upon seeing Saki, Ai, Junko, and Tae, all of whom are gathering their bearings after experiencing a near-death experience. They didn't notice their shocked staring for a moment as Saki groaned because she felt she was thrown to the ground harshly while Ai takes deep breaths to calm herself. Junko simply lets out a sigh of relief while Tae has her eyes up, looking bewildered.
Sakura does a double take before she realizes her groupmates are out. Getting off Kakyoin, who didn't register until now he continues hugging her, she exclaims, "What? Ai-chan? Tae-chan? Why are you six outside? Shouldn't you be safe inside Goldia-chan's, err… 「mindscape」?"
Her question snaps the six girls' attention as they're only realizing they are somewhere where they shouldn't be. "Eh? Wait, Sakura-san's right. I… didn't remember voluntarily going out of her mind." Junko wondered before she remembers the one who granted them safety away from the fight and turns to the person in question. "Goldia-chan, why are we outside? Did you throw us out for a reason?"
Everyone's attention falls on Goldia after Junko asked. The brunette herself flinches in surprise, her eyes wide, then becomes embarrassed. From the way her expression looks, some of them believe she already knows why. "Ahh! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to get you six out!" She quickly started.
"Easy Goldia-chan. We are not angry at you. Just… tell us why these girls are not inside your mind, but not after we got out of this crater." Kakyoin gently told her.
Mamezuku nodded, immediately walking away to do as he said. "Kakyoin's right. Come on, let's not linger here longer than we need to."
The group soon climbed out of the crater after a minute. Standing near the edge, they took a gander for a moment and see how wide and deep the impact crater is. It made them shudder to think how powerful the moon impact did, so it doubles their disbelief that they survived thanks to Emi. After they are done studying it, they moved away until they safely reached twenty-five meters. The crater's rim didn't disappear in the horizon due to the size.
"Alright. We're got out safely from the crater. Now, Goldia. About why the girls are out of your mindscape suddenly…" Kakyoin reminded.
"Okay, I'll explain to the best of my ability…" Goldia looked remorseful for a moment before looking up and glancing at every expecting zombies, noticing Bucciarati has his back turned on them for some reason. She didn't pay heed to him as she proceeds to explain. "As I said, I didn't mean to get you six girls out of my mindscape. Not voluntarily at least," she continues, averting her eyes out of shame. "My 「panic」over watching the moon coming close to squash us flat led me to lose concentration of myself, so my mind may have pushed you six out. Since you are considered 「foreign elements」 visiting my mindscape where my sisters reside, I think that made it easier for me to expel you without meaning to. Again, I'm sorry for getting you six out." She bowed to show her remorsefulness.
Rianima and Franchouchou look at each other to see if they understood Goldia's explanation. They look back to her and Saki says, "Oh, I think I get it. Just a mistake on your part. Well, don't beat yourself up Goldia. As you said, you didn't mean to expel us out of your mind because you panicked. We understand, right guys?" Murmurs of agreement spout out, some of them nodding. Smiling, Franchouchou's leader says more, "Ya hear them? We ain't blaming you just because you panicked. Do you understand, Goldia?"
Relieved they didn't took it too hard, Goldia nods with a hum and a grin. "I do. Thank you all for your understanding!"
"Hey, one question I want to ask Goldia-chan… Are your sisters okay? Safe within your mind?" Ai inquired, curious and a little worried for the four girls and one doll.
Goldia looked at her for one second before she flinched. Then she speaks in a tone a little higher than her normal voice. "Oh! Don't worry about us! If Goldia's fine, then so do we! Thank you for your concern, Miss Ai!"
The zombie boys and girls regard Goldia weirdly due to her sudden high-pitched voice, until Kakyoin realized who's actually speaking through Goldia. He chimes in to confirm. "Wait. Was that Fleta-chan speaking through Goldia-chan?"
"Huh? Fleta? The youngest girl among them?" Junko blinked. Everyone stares back at "Fleta" just in time to notice Goldia flinched again. Then her childlike expression shifted… back to normal, though what "she" said next doesn't sound like her still.
"Yup! It was Fleta who spoke after she 「borrowed」 Goldia's body! And this time, I'm the one who's talking to you!"
Eyebrows are raised as they wonder who is speaking until Kakyoin recognizes again whose voice belonged to. "…Enjel-chan? That's you… right?"
"Enjel" beamed at the tall teenager, directing him a smile. "Correct! Good for you in guessing how my voice sounds like! Oh, Harpae is going to speak next. Please excuse us for a moment." Goldia flinched for the third time after Enjel is done fronting. A tranquil expression settles in as well "Goldia's" eyes becoming cloudy. "Hello. Forgive us girls for speaking all of a sudden. We wanted to respond to Ai's question, so we are 「fronting」 Goldia's mind briefly. It's a unique trait she have given we are her 「alters」."
Even for those who are still getting used to talking to someone with DID came to understand what Harpae is saying, albeit a little bit. Kakyoin, Johnny, Mamezuku and Ai suspected earlier that the four are watching through Goldia's eyes and probably make a comment only the brunette can hear unless they fronted her mind. Seeing Fleta, Enjel and now Harpae talking through her body pretty much confirms it.
"Wow, what an interesting trait you girls living rent-free inside her mind have! Bet it made for a strange but fun time, huh?" Saki commented cheekily.
"「Strange」 is the right word…" Lisette is the one who said once she fronted last. They immediately can tell it's her because her eyes became unfocused and half-lidded. For those who didn't, her shrill voice will. "Well, that's all of us. Hope you're satisfied hearing us talk through Goldia, so I'm letting her return."
She left soon after. Goldia's gaze went unfocused for a moment before they widen as her own consciousness returned. She felt a little disoriented, blinking twice to steady her mind she sensed have been taken over by her sisters for a short time.
Eyeing her closely, Kakyoin asks, "Goldia-chan? Are you there now?"
"…Oh. Yes, it's me Kakyoin," she confirmed with a nod, rubbing her temple. "I take it my sisters took over my body when I was out? Just so you know, I 「can't remember」 what my sisters did after fronting me."
"Yeah, it's as you said."
"Okay, that's good then."
Wit the whole idea of Goldia's alters overtaking her body coming to pass, the group decides next their next course of action. First things first, Franchouchou shouldn't be out here. They know the fight isn't finished yet, so leading the seven girls to safety shall take priority. And hopefully this time, Sakura will join the other six after she was denied because of Xero intercepting.
Pushed by this worry, Avdol turned to Goldia and requests, "If you have calmed down Goldia, can we trouble you again by putting the girls back inside your 「mindscape」? With them safely tucked away out of Xero's reach」, we have two things less to worry."
"Wait, please include Emi-san. She really needs to rest so she can regain her energy back." Kakyoin added, casting a concerned look to his childhood friend.
"I can… still fight." Emi claimed, attempting to rise up on her feet. Unfortunately, her body is paralyzed due to the lack of energy, so she couldn't even move an entire arm.
"Not with the condition you're in," affirmed Mamezuku. "Let us handle things here from now on after you've done so much to help us. We have Magician's red to compensate.
"But still! I digress!" She tried to protest.
Ignoring her mother's pleading, Goldia replies, "Alright. Please wait, give me a second to prepare one mirror portal."
Checking if the Dream of Mirrors is still in her left hand, the brunette starts speaking a mantra to the pocket mirror. Just when she's about to do it, her eyes notice something from Franchouchou and Rianima. Hmm? That's odd… Where's the tall man in a white suit? The one who is the leader of Kakyoin's group? I think his name is… Bruno? She thought of bringing it to attention to her companions…
"Uuuurrrgh… Groaaaauuuuugh…"
…but a loud groan heard from behind seems enough to garner their attention. Alerted, Franchouchou and Rianima turn around to see who is groaning.
ドドドドドドドド
With his backs still turned on them, Bruno Bucciarati is walking away from the group in an opposite direction. Aside this bizarre action, they notice his posture is slouched and his gait is less than a walk, but more like almost limping with the way his feet slides roughly across the ground. He also appears to be clutching his neck for those with sharp eyes.
The group is puzzled on why Bucciarati is walking away towards the sizable crater. And… are they hearing him gargling on top of his groaning?
"Bucciarati? Hey, Bucciarati," ever concerned for his beloved leader, Narancia called out as he approaches him. "Where are you-"
"Don't. Don't get… near m-me. Urrrrgh."
Narancia blinked from Bruno's sterner command that sounded like he's begging them in spite of it. Zipper Man didn't stop moving, noticeably speeding up his gait though only a little. Before Narancia can reply, he has more to say. "Please… get away from me. I don't… I don't know what's happening but… but… A-Aurgh!"
His weird gargling suddenly erupting didn't sit well with Narancia and the others. He only made their worry increase and their curiosity getting the better of them, so they begin approaching Bucciarati with Narancia. However, they are stopped by both Emi and Goldia.
"Stop! Stop approaching Bruno!"
Catching on to Emi's near-frantic tone, Franchouchou and Rianima looks back to the two and noticing their aghast faces directed at Bucciarati, who has tripped and is now crouched on the ground, seemingly wheezing with one hand still clutched on his neck.
"Emi-san? What are you…?" Lily wanted to ask.
"Stay where you are, all of you! Whatever you do, donot go near Bruno!" Emi added insistently as she starts moving supported by Goldia.
The zombies grow more confused and worried, not liking Emi delaying them and the tone of her voice. "…Why do you say that, Emi-han? Is there something wrong with Bucciarati-han that required your expertise?" Yugiri inquired.
"Probably through 「Bring Me to Life」?" Junko added.
"Yes, but no time for me to explain! Just let me… Wait, there is someone missing among your group. Who is…?" Emi stopped for a moment to assess who's missing, until she sees someone near Bucciarati. She gasped as she shouts, "Aaaah! Miss Tae!"
Goldia and Emi were about to pass them by when they became panicked upon seeing Tae Yamada is near Bucciarati. All this time, she hasn't stopped approaching Bruno because she was following what her caretakers are doing. Since she didn't saw them stop, she continued moving until she was close. Inversely, all of them didn't realizing Tae wasn't with them the whole time until Emi called it to attention.
The group whirled around and see Tae crouching to Bucciarati's height and putting a hand on his left shoulder. This curious act would have elicit an amused or curious response from any zombies if weren't for Emi pulling away from Goldia and trying to hurriedly approach him, only to trip without taking one step. A pained grunt escaped from her lips as Goldia, Kakyoin, Hartzler and Lynn got beside her.
"Mother! Stop! Don't be so hard on yourself! You're still very weak!" Goldia chastised lightly, hands on her back.
"Do not concern yourself about me! You must… pull Tae away from Bruno! Hartzler! Lynn! I beg you two!" Emi reminded in the same frantic tone before turning to the two animals. Something about her tone doesn't sit right with Kakyoin. She seems to be concerned for Bucciarati and Tae, the latter mostly.
Because of this, Kakyoin sought to asks Emi. "But why must we pull Tae-san back to us? For all we know, she's concerned for what appears to be a fellow zombie in distress."
Goldia and Emi try to clarify briefly, but another groan is heard from Bucciarati. A groan that's in an eerily low tone and reverberated by itself. This prompted Hartzler and Lynn to move, activating their Stands to stop Tae and Bucciarati. But they barely took three steps forward when an unseen force suddenly propelled the two to two separate rifts. They hardly saw what's inside the rifts, but one could tell it isn't connected to any area within the Castle of Glass because they saw real trees. Their respective yowls didn't even finish when they passed through the rifts before it closes immediately.
"HUAAAAAA-!"
"YEEEEEOOOOOWWWWR-!"
Everyone gawks at the sudden banishment of the two animals before they look at Bucciarati next, who is now standing up, slouching still. Prompted by this, Tae rises up and grabs his shoulders to turn him around so he's facing her. The face he's showing to the curious Tae is vacant initially, but that soon turns into a lascivious glare pointedly directed at the shorter zombie woman.
"Mmmm? Bacchtteeee?" Tae calls out his name gibberishly, her red eyes staring at his glaring orbs. Something about his glaring is setting off alarm bells within her feral mind. She… is not liking it, she concluded.
"Grrrr…"
Tae backs away, spooked by Bucciarati's quiet growl. Her expression is one of surprise superseding her subtle concerned face as she studies the oddly-acting leader of Rianima, whom she recognizes to be her protectors or benefactors aside from the shaded producer. Even though she hadn't thought much of them other than the shortest protector who is at odds with her regarding her affection to a vaguely familiar Showa Idol, she looks up to them the same way she looks up to Sakura. So to see their leader acting like this… Tae concludes something must be done to snap him out of it.
Wanting to help, Tae raises one hand to touch Bucciarati's cheek… but he roughly grabbed her arm and pulled her close. Before she can express her confusion, an intense feeling erupted from her left shoulder. One that she's vaguely familiar with.
ガチィ!
"Urgh-? Haaagh?"
Five seconds are all it took before Tae registered the intense feeling and reacted accordingly: screaming in pain.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRGH!"
! !?
Everyone watched in horror as Bucciarati chomped Tae's left shoulder ferociously. He's digging his teeth deep in the shoulder with each nibble, drawing out bits of flesh and blood that don't belong to Tae hopefully. His face is not one of the stern but well-meaning leader of Rianima they know, but someone who has gone mad. Even worse, the scream Tae let out sounded so… human. Like a child subjected to a lot of pain for the first time. Soon, all of them deployed in action.
"UAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH! ! ! ! !" Tae screamed out, her expression frozen in horror and her mouth filled with blood making her gargle inadvertently.
"BUCCIARATI-SAN!? WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YOU DOING!?" That was Kakyoin asking in shock, pulling him by his arm together with Narancia, Avdol and Gyro holding his other arm or shoulders. At the same time, Saki, Junko, and Yugiri attempt to both pry Bucciarati's mouth off Tae's shoulder and pull Number Zero away.
"Get off Tae! Oi, I said GET YOUR TEETH OFF OF HER!" Saki opted to punch Bucciarati, which did manage to push him off the crying Tae. Once the four guys pull the abruptly feral Bruno away, the three girls carefully lay Tae down, who is next whimpering with a pitiful look. Combine this with blood staining her chomped-off shoulder, it made them wince and regard Tae with pity. More so if they paid attention to a bone sticking out.
"Oh my god… W-What… What on earth happened…?" Junko muttered, blanching on how deep Tae's shoulder wound is. She feared if she looked closely, she might see the exposed flesh and bone, which she obviously didn't like and so chose to avert her eyes.
"Hell if I know. Zipper Man just suddenly…" Saki didn't finish out of disbelief on what they saw. She turn to the four guys trying to hold Bucciarati down. To her increasing confusion and horror, he's convulsing erratically, making biting motions and vicious growling, all of which are decidedly not something he would do. There is blood inside his gnashing mouth while his eyes look bloodshot, giving him a manic look that amplifies their disbelief on what's happening to him.
Yugiri clasps both Tae's hands in her own, looking at the still whimpering zombie with a calming expression. She struggled to think on what she must say at first, but she eventually states these words. "Tae-han, please don't worry. You'll be fine, because we have Emi-han to heal you. Please endure the pain a little longer."
Before she can say more, she feels a hand shaking her shoulder, so she turns to see it's Goldia, who still has the same frantic look on her face. This is supported by what she says next. "Come on! You three, stand up! You must 「get away」from Miss Tae, quick!"
Saki, Junko and Yugiri look on in more confusion, much to Goldia's increasing fear. "Huuuh? Why would we do that? Can't ya see she needs immediate medical attention?"
"Forget that for a moment! Just please…! Stand up and get away from-!"
"Rrrrrgh…"
Another growl is heard, stopping Goldia's desperate words. She turns to the one who growled and became pale, stifling out a gasp. Yugiri noticed the change in her expression, so she was about to ask what is the matter when she felt two hands holding her right arm in a strong grip. She next turned to see who's holding her…
ムシャァァ
…only for her eyes to widen when Tae, who have stopped whimpering, sunk her blood-soaked teeth deep in Yugiri's right arm. If that's not enough, she begins munching intensely with an angered face.
"AAAAAARGH!?"
Reactions from Saki, Junko and especially Goldia came forth. "AAAAAAAH! NOOOOOOO!" Goldia screamed, making a move to pull Yugiri off of the biting Tae.
"TAE!? WHAT THE HELL!?" Saki grabbed her head and starts prying her teeth off. She grunted since the sudden fierce zombie is putting much resistance, requiring her to put more strength in her hands, and even resorted to punching her. "GET YOUR MOUTH OFF OF SIS!"
"TAE-SAN!? TAE-SAN, STOP! THIS… THIS IS NOT HOW YOU USUALLY BITE ANY OF US!" Junko helped Saki, shouting. This terrifying scene continues until Yugiri, remembering a quirk they have as zombies, detached her entire right arm, freeing herself from Tae's biting grip. Seeing this, Saki immediately punches Number Zero away before she and Junko followed Goldia pulling the courtesan back to others. As soon as they're near, Lily and Sakura stand by her side.
"Yugirin! YUGIRIIIIN!" Lily cried out in worry for her close friend, pulling her sleeves with tears in her eyes.
"Yugiri-san! Are you… Are you alright!? W-What did… Tae-san did to you!? W-Why did she 「bite」 your arm!?" Sakura asked almost hysterically.
"What has gotten into her?! That goes for Bucciarati-san too!" Ai exclaimed, evidently freaking out. She watched Goldia and Emi imploring Kakyoin, Avdol, Narancia and Gyro to get away from Bucciarati, who's being held steel thanks to Hierophant Green, immediately. Initially they resisted, but after increasing pleas, they relented and reluctantly move away. Kakyoin is allowed to keep Bucciarati and Tae tied up together though, the latter especially when she spits out Yugiri's wounded and stained arm to the ground and tried to charge at the group when she got tied up.
Judging by Yugiri's hurt expression, it appears she felt Tae's teeth drilling in her right arm the whole time, so she heaved out a sigh of relief once she's stopped.
ゴゴゴゴゴゴゴゴ
"RAUGH! AAAGGGRRRAGH! GREEEEUUUUH! MHAUUUGH!" Both Bruno and Tae wailed vehemently, thrashing their heads and necks around and making chomping motions still. Naturally, this didn't sit right with the group as they watch them in horror, wondering what has gotten into them. One person might have the answer, so they glance to that person to wring it out of them.
"Emi, care to explain what's happening to Bucciarati and Tae?" Johnny questioned with crossed arms, scrutinizing her. The others follow his staring though mostly to plead her to respond.
Becoming aware of their prodding eyes, Emi decides to explain after sighing. "Bucciarati and Tae… They… They become 「infected」."
"In…fected?" Narancia breathed out.
"Infected by the 「ichor」. Similar to what 「Ira」, and later 「Xero」, did to Shino," added more Emi. The mention of his name contributed to their swelling discomfort and anxiousness, as Mamezuku and Ai glanced to Number Zero and Zipper Man. "Unlike what happened to Shino however when he was a living human, it appears getting infected by the ichor as an undead have caused Bucciarati and Tae to become 「primal」, reducing them back possibly to their instinctive selves after they were resurrected from the dead by your manager. You can say they are now acting like the impulsive undead they are, except 「more dangerous」."
The zombies aren't liking the more they learn what became of the two, but Emi specifically telling them that they became more dangerous raises eyebrows. "…How are they more dangerous?" Lily queried.
"You already saw the red 「blood」from those two, right? On their 「teeth」?" Goldia continued from where Emi left off. "The moment you got infected, the ichor will quickly fill your entire body with its red, tainted fluid until it reached your brain. Once it did, it will shut it down, killing its host so that it can 「puppeteer」the recently deceased. With your dead body filled entirely with ichor, you became nothing more than an 「infectious zombie」, having no other goals except to spread the infection to any living beings it can find, whether they are humans, animals, or even plants."
"Plants, too?" Ai repeated skeptically.
"Generally all 「living things」. Plants may not have sentience like us, but that does not exempt them from being classified as important organisms vital for the continued existence of life. As such, an ichor must not be in the same place abundant with plant life or else it will kill them at short notice and spread rapidly to 「any」signs of life and consume them. All of this accounts to Ira's will, whom I am vehemently opposed to. With all that said, seeing Xero infecting an undead so potently when it is usually done to a living target… is not a common sight."
Sakura glanced to her in morbid curiosity when hearing the last part. "Really?"
"Yes. Verily, this is the 「first time」 in my long career of exorcising tainted souls that a non-malicious zombie got infected." Emi clarified. "I have long suspected such notion after I began my arduous struggle against Ira, but seeing it occur right before our eyes is nothing short of terrifying. That even a zombie who has no malicious intentions are not safe from the ichor's corruptive influence."
Franchouchou and Rianima could feel their tiny hairs raising up as they took in more of what the ichor is capable of. They learned the basic description of the ichor and witnessed it in action firsthand so they got the idea of how scary and perilous it is. But listening more info of it and how it relates against the existence of life made them realize point-blank how really threatening and vicious the ichor is after witnessing next Bucciarati and Tae getting infected, reducing them to their instinctual command twisted by the tainted blood.
"…J-Just to be clear Emi," started Avdol after taking a deep breath to calm his nerves down. "「Fire」is still the best weapon to dispose the ichor and those who were infected, right!?"
"…Yes. It is still the ichor's 「best weakness」," she maintained her answer in spite of her conflicting thoughts. "Regardless of how deep the infection went, fire is still the very effective way of killing them, and I am the only person who can safely return someone's minds back to normal, of which I also dispose the ichor from the inside once Bring Me to Life possessed their bodies.
And also the first time someone who was healed by me got infected anyway. It should be impossible since I removed 「all」traces of the ichor in Bucciarati's body. So how? 「How」did it somehow manifest?
"For now however…" Emi starts wobbling before she crouches down, bringing a hand to rub her head. "I must wait until… my strength returned. My Stand energy has just restored only halfway through, so pray forgive me, for it will take me more minutes until I am ready."
Silence soon followed after Emi is done talking, though it didn't last long when Yugiri speaks up to address a concerning matter. "Hold on. Earlier, Tae-han bit my right arm. I happened to take it off from my right shoulder to free myself from her tight grip. Am I… safe, Emi-han?"
Remembering the horrid sight, Emi and everyone turn to Yugiri's right arm lying still the entire time two meters away, particular to the big bite mark right next to a hand containing splotches of blood. Blinking twice, Sakura turns to Yugiri, then back to her right arm. She becomes hopeful, saying, "I think Yugiri-san's right. Without your bitten right arm, you aren't infected, so you should be safe!"
"…Yes. You're right. Good thing I thought of removing it quickly. Guess we must let it lie there for the time being until your energy is restored." Yugiri expressed her relief with a grin… which is wiped off not even past four seconds because she felt an uncomfortable sensation. Wait, my right arm… My right arm is writhing by itself? And I can feel it? But, how-
She next jolted as a warm sensation manifested in her right shoulder. She looks down and musters a gasp to the sight of crimson veins sticking to her stump.
"Ahh! W-What in the…?"
Writhing as the veins moved fast to pull Yugiri's right arm back to its original place to prove Sakura and Yugiri's hopeful assumptions wrong, Number Five jerked again once her right arm is attached back, eliciting a yelp out of her mouth. And just like how fast the veins moved, the ichor inside gets to work and she felt it all. The blood flowing in her arm, the strange sensation increasing, and her sense of self starting to diminish.
"Nngh! A-Aagh! AUUUUUUUUUGH! ! ! !" She let out a scream, throwing out her head up in anguish. Acting desperately, she holds her right arm with her left hand and attempt to pull it out. Unfortunately, the veins had a strong grip so she can't detach it so easily. Realizing this, she next clutched her head when she sensed her primal instincts taking hold.
Everyone stood back in shock and paled as they are seeing the conversion process occurring so fast none of them reacted equally fast. "YUGIRIIII!" Pretty much all of them, especially Lily and Johnny, screamed as Gyro and Saki reached out to the infected right arm and pull it out, but the courtesan gestured them to stop.
"Don't! It's… too late… for me!"
She then begins convulsing and gargling in agony as blood can be seen spewing out of her mouth and eyes, horrifying the others more.
"Hurry…! Get away… from me! I don't… want to… i-i-infect all of… yyyyyyYOUUUUAAAARRRRGH!" Yugiri's pleading words soon changed into a blood-curdling scream, signifying the completion of her infection.
"NOOOO! YUGIRIIIIIIIN!" Lily did not take losing her beloved mother-like figure well as she began crying and led away by Johnny, who's gritting his teeth and very much pissed off.
"FUCKING HELL! Not even removing your infected external body parts work!?" He exclaimed in disbelief.
Concerned for their safety, everyone is forced to get away from the now-infected Yugiri, who would have chased after them if Kakyoin didn't include her to Tae and Bucciarati under Hierophant's control.
"Dammit! That makes it three!" He growled, dismayed to have lost another friend.
"Yugirin! YUGIRIN!" Lily bawled, holding out her hand with eyes full of streaming tears. Others shared her reaction, with the five girls on the verge of crying or wailing for the loss of one member of Franchouchou and the rest gritting their teeth in frustration and dismay, or looking on in horror.
"Dammit… DAMMIT ALL TO HELL!" Saki swore angrily, being on the latter category. "Can't believe this is happening!? Just… where in the hell is Xero!? He's the one who infected sis, Tae and Bucci! He has a lot to answer for once we got our hands on him!"
As if on cue, a familiar groan is heard. "Hrrrrmmm…"
! !
Everyone goes still before involuntarily huddling up close immediately and turning to where they heard him groan. Soon after, Hierophant Green's tendrils are sliced up by an invisible force, freeing the captive infected zombies and forcing Kakyoin to return Hierophant back, pain filling his hands and wrists.
"Urgh!"
Watching the restraints no longer holding the three back, the girls would've panicked at the thought of them sprinting to the group with hands stretched out so they can feast on their bodies. But it didn't happen, (un)fortunately because the being responsible for infecting Tae, Yugiri and Bucciarati materialized between them, accompanied by the same wince-inducing sound. Whether they expected it or not, Xero's vicious smile and glowering glare are the first sights they see once again.
ドーン
Appearing for what felt like an eternity after he was gone, here stands Xero regarding the non-infected group not with irritation or snarl, but with a sadistic grin. That grin tells very much what he's thinking as he's flanked by three of his newly-infected zombies. He could try laughing to mock the loss of their teammates, but he felt his wicked grin is enough to spell out his thoughts.
Almost as alerted the group are on his emergence, they took a gander to his new ghastly look. Nearly most on his person stayed the same including his attire, the only change being its color with his overcoat and trousers red and inner clothing dark red bordering on black, while the hole on his chest is still displayed, his beating heart and all. As stated however, Xero had undergone a ghastly change serving to add more to the visceral outlook he has donned earlier, with small wounds plastered all over his face, neck and hands, his eyes are more bloodshot and shed more tears of blood, and his attire has took on a slimy texture. In fact, they believe it's his blood, and this is supported by multiple lines or branches of veins tracing all over his torso, arms, legs, and head, bulging through his body. Disturbingly, his clothes even stick so close to him that it could've been his skin, with his upper collar looking like it's peeling out of his neck.
One last thing to note about Xero is that he's recovering, given there are missing bits of his body and clothes slowly being healed. He also appeared to have been seared, probably from Emi and Avdol's combined fire or the moon impact. The latter most especially. Oh, he donned a dark red lipstick too.
Though the group certainly didn't expect Xero to be wearing a new look emphasizing how visceral and freaky he became, they get over it gradually as Rianima steps forward to glare at their still-surviving enemy.
ドドドドドドドド
"So the cagacazzo showed up, eh? Good. I'm been itching to put more lead to his body as payback from infecting Bucciarati!" Narancia growled with clenched teeth, glaring angrily. He stretched his pointing hand forward and shouts next, "YOU'RE NOT GETTING AWAY WITH POISONING OUR FRIENDS! YOU ARE DONE!" He really wants to do like he said, but he noticed Magician's Red hovering beside Avdol, who's similarly giving Xero a dirty glare. Since fire is the ichor's greatest weakness… "AVDOL!"
"I know! MAGICIAN'S REEEED!" Avdol commanded.
"KRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
ドガーン！
"GRAAAAAAAH!"
An intense explosion engulfing Xero alongside his scream is what happened next, after Avdol carefully shot a Cross Fire Hurricane without hitting the three. No one, not even the demure Junko and Goldia, complained since all of them wanted him to finally lay dead and pay him back for converting three of their friends. They watched him stumble backwards, feeling the dancing fire making short work of his body without mercy. It looked like he's about to fall backwards with only a whimper before his log-awaited death…
But ten seconds passed without it happening. Instead, he managed to steady his posture until he's standing straight up. Impossibly so, he takes three steps forward so he's in front of the three infected zombies without issue, letting out a drawled-out grunt again and unbothered by the hot flames.
The group couldn't believe their eyes when seeing Xero somehow shrugging off Magician's Red's fire capable of melting steel beams quickly. In response, Avdol increases the flame's intensity and temperature until he's visibly straining with sweat on his face, but aside slowing Xero's movements and probably putting him in more pain when he groaned, it didn't stop him.
"What… What trickery is this? How come my 「fire」isn't putting Xero down!?" Avdol exclaimed. "Emi! You said before fire is the ichor's weakness! So please tell us why it isn't stopping him!"
Emi tried to come up with a satisfactory answer, her mouth stammering. However, she's unable to answer the question eventually. Everyone immediately noticed her closing her mouth shut, realizing even she's stumped.
"Emi-san? Don't tell us…" Lily trailed off, her little body quivering more than ever before.
"I… I did not imagine this… It should be 「impossible」…" Emi muttered, purple eyes frozen on Xero. She sees the fire is slowly dissipating and much to her disbelief, any wounds he got is healing by itself.
That confirms their worst fears. Widened eyes return back to Xero approaching the group in a snail's pace. "Hrrrrmmm…"
"Uaaarrrrrgh…"
Seemingly responding to his groan, Tae, Bucciarati and Yugiri stops mindlessly staring or moving around and begin sauntering beside their superior all with the same slouched posture and blank staring directed at the stunned group. Their gait is slow and unfocused and they stretched out an arm or two, their gaping mouths spilling out trickles of blood staining their teeth. One shouldn't need to guess their intention is, something they don't want to be in the end of.
Not wanting to imagine the most likely outcome happening to them, Rianima attacks Xero with all they got: pelting him with a point-blank Emerald Splash, burning him again, a machine gun to his face, and three Spin attacks from Nail Jockey, Spin Cowboy and Peel Planter. All of these staggered Xero and injured him, yet he recovers still without his injuries holding him down. Undeterred, Rianima tried a different approach like Hierophant Green and Doggy Style strangling him or Aerosmith charging straight to his torso but Xero swatted their second attacks with appendages, with Mamezuku barely just avoiding them. Gyro tried again, but it resulted in Xero destroying the thrown steel ball, much to his consternation.
Realizing anything they do is not putting him down at all, the non-infected zombies aren't liking the odds stacked against them. Xero's grin spread as he sprouted five blood appendages out, probably to increase the range in slicing them easily. Rianima could counter those, but they must contend with three of their infected friends who will without doubt attack them. They know it is necessary to attack them so they don't get infected, but the mere thought of hurting their companions doesn't sit right with all of them, even the pragmatic Mamezuku or Johnny. Lily had bawled over Yugiri being infected and Narancia appeared to be reluctant to raise a finger against Bruno, so having to necessarily attack them is something they don't like.
"S-So, what now? What's our next move? S-Some of you must be thinking of something, right? Right?" Ai whispered in an edgy tone, barely clinging to hope that they have a way out of this predicament that's preferable to hurting the three.
"Well… We must back away. Slowly! So they don't come after us running!" Gyro grimly advised. Everyone do as he says, all the while keeping their eyes peeled to the opposite side and never leaving them out of their sights under the fear they may act accordingly when they try. So far, it's working after ten seconds passed. Despite this though, they guessed it'll only work for as long as Xero wants and as such, they must come up with something else next soon.
Sakura is the one who is thinking what they should do next, her head filled with this same old but relevant question: What should we do? What should we do? What should we do? What should we do?! What should we DOOOO?!
A thought eventually came to her thanks to that mantra however, prompting her to turn to one person she hopes can count on based on experience. "Emi-san!"
Hearing her name being called, the woman glances to Sakura. "Yes?"
"Um… Your 「Bring Me to Life」…! How long it takes until your strength returns!?" Sakura reminded.
Emi glances somewhere for three seconds before she answers with this. "I still need more minutes to recuperate. You see, I require a fifteen minute or so to regain my energy if I am not sleeping, which is another way for me to restore my energy fast. Right now, my presence is needed here so I can provide assistance we may need sooner or later once Xero makes his move. Witnessing him 「endure」fire had taken us by surprise because, as I said, it did not happen before and should be impossible. Nevertheless, I believe… 「one thing」 must be done if we can ever hope of efficiently inflicting damage to Xero."
That last sentence caught their attention. "You mean, in other words, if we do that 「one thing」, Xero will be made 「vulnerable」!?" Kakyoin hoped.
Emi nods. "It is possible. Just please… give me more time to ruminate on how shall I do it, and for my 「Bring Me to Life」to restore most of its 「energy」."
With her words echoing in their heads, the zombies start feeling a little bit hopeful. Influenced by her words, Avdol says, "Hmm, too bad you used up all your Stand energy to protect us from getting squashed flat by the moon. It would've made this situation easier if only a little."
"Indeed. I would have not feel exhausted as I am now if Xero did not throw a… moon down… on… us…"
Everyone instantly noticed Emi trailing off at the end and then going quiet. They are about to ask when she gasps and mutters, "No. It cannot be. Has Xero… 「planned」 to 「deprive」 me of almost「all」 my energy?
If they haven't turn away from Xero, they will notice her eyes widening and, somewhat impossibly given she's pale-skinned, her face paling. Looks like she has thought something worrying.
"Mother? What's wrong? Why did you go silent?" Goldia looked up, tugging her sleeve. Emi didn't respond up until five seconds.
"…Xero throwing the moon on us. Could it be…? It is not merely a show of Linkin Park's power, but rather, forcing me to 「use up all」 my energy to the point I am 「unable」 to effectively fight him?"
Everyone is puzzled over the content of her mumbling. Saki wants to really know, so she prods her. "To the point of what exactly, Emi? What got ya so hushed all of a sudden?"
"Because I could not muster up my Stand after Xero forced me!" She shouted a little surprisingly. Sensing their confounding bewilderment, she quickly try to explain it. "It is possible Xero must have wanted me to use up almost all my 「Stand energy」to turn you all invisible and insusceptible to getting killed by the moon impact, right after I gave decent amount of energy to Rianima. I had not got the chance to say this before, but imbuing you seven with 「Bring Me to Life」actually drained some of my energy. About halfway remained once I done the deed, and turning just one person invisible when used in a battle costs me a lot of energy. As such, the high energy requirement is the reason why I am currently weak as you are seeing me now."
Everyone listened intently, their confusion still not leaving them. That is, until Mamezuku remember the events leading up to them slowly moving away from Xero's group and arrived at the same thought Emi just realized. "Wait, you're not telling us that Xero causing the moon to fall, as well as surviving getting incinerated alive, is all 「part」 of his plan to…!"
Emi grimly nodded. "Yes. It is entirely possible me becoming exhausted after nearly using up all my Stand energy is exactly what he wanted. So I would not be able to free Tae, Bucciarati and Yugiri from his control as long as I regaining my energy."
"In addition, Xero must have banished Lynn and Hartzler because they have the 「ability」 to halt them. With them gone, our chances are almost slim-to-nothing." Kakyoin bit his mouth, internally noting the potency of Comfortably Numb and Eye of the Tiger. The one time they really needed them, they just have to be banished.
Now the rest realize what Emi is saying and joins her and Mamezuku in becoming shocked. They already witnessed the cunningness Xero exhibited, possibly even before he completely possessed Shino, but learning that his seemingly arbitrary action of pulling the moon down to create an impact was actually planned to diminish the chances of the group making a counterattack. This stretches their belief of Xero possessing so much deceit, sharpness and intuition that he owns the majority of advantage. Trapping the heroes in the Castle of Glass is apparently not enough, being able to figure out what he must do to remove every single leverage the heroes have and maintaining them being cornered is a step too far.
Everyone would be busy ruminating all of these over and over if the infected zombies' moaning snaps them out. They momentarily notice their eyes haven't averted away from Xero's group the whole time, before an irate Narancia thinks this is the good time to question Xero over his motives.
"You! Did you really planned Emi to drain all her energy so we wouldn't get turned into an unrecognizable paste on the ground!? Huh!?" Motivated by a mounting disbelief, Narancia harshly asked Xero, pointing a finger accusingly.
"Hrrrrmmm…" Xero groaned instead of replying.
"I'm asking ya a question! ANSWER ME! Did you really thought ahead of exhausting Emi so she wouldn't free three of our friends, huh!?"
Xero stayed silent, continuing striding with the same frightening grin. Yugiri, Tae and Bucciarati also continued casting them with a blank glare and moaning creepily. His lack of answer is getting on Narancia's nerves really quick on top of freaking him out more than he wants. But then, Xero opens his mouth to answer, much to their surprise. And frustration because it's vague.
"…Who knows?"
That taunting reply which doesn't answer Narancia's question meaningfully only irritated him. He starts threatening him. "You bastardo… Give us a definite answer or else-!"
"Narancia! Forget it! I don't think Xero will answer anytime soon," Kakyoin stopped him. "I believe he won't confirm nor deny it when he's solely focused on approaching us until we're within his 「range」to be 「infected」."
Narancia wanted to retort but he internally notes he has a point. Snarling, he gives up. "Tsk, you're right… As long they try to catch us, there's no way he clears up or confirms what Emi realized."
The pale woman herself furrowed her brows, sensing next her companions being trapped between a hard and rock place. They must get away from Xero's ichorized faction fast, but they're worried if they turn tail and just run, that's enough for Xero to act accordingly and start the inevitable intense chasing game. In fact, that should be their next action because that's the other viable way aside walking backwards at snail's pace. Though either method they chose, one outcome will occur: Xero pursuing all of them.
It feels like this is the only way to survive until Emi is reenergized. Even then, Xero still has the major advantage, and one wrong move can doom any of them.
"T-There must be… There must be some way!" Sakura blabbered fearfully, trying to find some hope in their predicament that can help them. "Isn't there anything we can do while Emi-san is still recuperating!? Anything to hold off Xero and our… infected friends?!"
Unbeknownst to them though, one man has thought up of a trump card. He's been silent the entire time but now, it's time for him to reveal it.
Well shit. This fight went into a worse direction than we expected.
Johnny had already known earlier when stepping into the ring that the battle against Xero wouldn't be a cake walk. The stakes have never been so high before, in that the entire world will be in danger if they lost against him. He may have thought the same when he and Gyro marched straight toward Valentine to rescue Lucy Steel and stop his plans, helped that in some ways, Valentine's and Xero's (Shino's?) motivations seem the same, in that they only wanted the best of their worlds and they are compelled to commit morally wrong acts just to get what they want.
In terms of who stands above the moral high ground however, Johnny can confidently say Shino stands above Valentine. He may understood Valentine but he wouldn't see him as a good guy. Besides, he managed to defeat him and stop hid plans even though Gyro died and he didn't account for fighting against alternate Diego. Going by that, he's sure his group may have finally won once Xero is doused in smoldering flames. Oh how wrong they were.
And now, here stands Xero, remaining strong and durable or more, flanked by Yugiri, Tae, and Bucciarati on both sides, groaning and drooling with blood as they study their stunned and scared prey. Sooner or later, the infected side will take action to subjugate the rest and eliminate Sakura, Emi, and presumably Goldia and her two pets.
If Johnny is cautiously optimistic, he would say they have a slim chance to win. But judging everyone's fearful or anxious looks, they don't share his thoughts. How could they when the risks become so high one will believe one of them won't come out of this fight unscathed, or worse… alive.
In spite of his pragmatism though, Johnny sincerely hopes they have the chance to overturn this! It's a slim chance, yes, but if there a chance, then they must take it. No questions asked. And fortunately for him, he has one thought in mind right as he gets on his feet, confidence filling his body when no one else couldn't muster it.
"T-There must be… There must be some way!" He heard Sakura say, which he wouldn't blame her for being so scared out of her wits. "Isn't there anything we can do while Emi-san is still recuperating!? Anything to hold off Xero and our… infected friends?!"
Right on time, Johnny thought. A thought came into his head about the only thing they must do, so he's gonna dispel Sakura's fears, as well as the others', soon.
"…I have a plan."
Johnny's bold declaration attracted attention not only from Franchouchou, Rianima, Goldia and Emi, but also from Xero and his infected cronies, surprisingly. They were eight meters away so they heard him. In fact, they stopped advancing briefly to discern what Nail Jockey is saying.
"What… What did you say, Johnny-san?" Ai asked, her tensed self forgotten in favor of curiosity and confusion.
"You said you have… a 「plan」?" Mamezuku repeated to make sure they heard him right. Johnny nods to him.
"That's right. You all heard me," he added, taking a moment to glare at Xero before continuing, "Have some faith, guys! I have a 「trick」 up my sleeve!"
In spite of knowing they are being watched, the non-infected zombies become a tad too curious over Johnny's so-called plan. Even Xero cannot help but join along, to the point he temporarily halt whatever attack he's gonna do to indulge himself on learning what his plan is. "Plan? I wonder… What is your plan, Johnny Joestar?" He urged him to reveal it.
Johnny is surprised Xero expressed curiosity to his plan. Since he opened his mouth, they thought of asking him if he deliberately invoked Emi to use up her Bring Me to Life, but they stopped after noticing how close he is and being in a hurry to survive. He didn't complain since this gives him ample time to set off his plan. He smirks, glancing to Xero before he answers, "If you must know, it's an all-or-nothing 「gambit」! My 「secret technique」!"
Murmurs erupted as they wonder what Johnny meant about his 'secret technique' and what makes it so useful and, well, secret. However, Gyro jerked with a shocked look and turns to him almost instantly, exclaiming, "Wait, Johnny! You… can't be serious, right!? When you say 'my secret technique, you're not referring to that 「desperate move」 that we're gonna use very soon, aren't you!?"
"…And, hold on Johnny! This 「secret technique」of yours. Will it involve us…?" Avdol chimed in, a look of disbelief on his face.
"You know something about it, Avdol?" Johnny questioned.
"I do. Mr. Joestar, Joseph that is, told me in a whim. Said it will be useful when you're backed in a corner," replied Fire Lord. "And I'm embarrassed to admit it but… It did saved me one time."
"…Oh, guess this Joseph has the same 「technique」as I have. Well, glad you caught on quick Avdol." He then turned to Gyro and replied solemnly, "…And yes Gyro. It's the same one I talked to you about a month ago. Aaaand like I've discussed it to you, I'm revealing it to everyone right here, right now!"
The zombies are not sure how to respond about his claim of 'secret technique', but since Johnny sounds so confident, maybe they can place their trust in him, hoping he still have what it takes to overturn their disadvantage. Now, they're dying or eager to know. "Well don't keep us waiting in the dark! Tell us please! What is your 「secret technique」!?" Goldia pleaded, becoming on edge after glancing at Xero's group. Soon the rest rose up, becoming hopeful Johnny knows they might still have a fighting chance.
"Since you asked nicely…" Johnny patted his right thigh as a gesture before he adds, "All of you must use your 「legs! Get that? If any of you can stand up, prepare your legs! They are 「crucial」 in the success of my plan! And for those who don't, have someone carry you!" He glanced to Emi, who have already taken the memo and is being carried by Avdol bridal-style.
"…And how do our legs factor to it?" Kakyoin queried reluctantly. Johnny looks back to Gyro smiling at him, silently telling him he's ready. Johnny smiles in return before looking back to his curious audience as he chuckles confidently…
"Hmm! Hmhmhmhmhmhmmmm!"
…Then in unison, Johnny and Gyro turned around quick and proceeded to book it, scurrying away from Xero and his infected hosts that, from their perspective, seems like they're moving away from their allies.
"RUN FOR YOUR LIIIIIIIIIIIIIIVES! ! ! ! ! ! !"
The party all watch the escaping western duo in silence… then they all collectively scream upon realizing what Johnny's 'secret technique' actually is.
"WHAAAAAAAAATTTT!?"
Pretty much everyone screamed in disbelief, incredulously staring at the cowboys running with a tail between their legs. Though Mamezuku and Emi didn't shout, even they couldn't hide their surprise. The only ones who didn't are Xero and his cronies.
"AAAAAAAAAHHHH! I KNEW IT! I KNEW WE'LL HAVE TO RUN AWAY!" The shouting Egyptian soon followed, doing the 'secret technique'.
"J-J-JOHNNY-SAN! GYRO-SAN WAIT, WAAAAAIT! WHY ARE YOU TWO RUNNIIIIIIING!?" Sakura is the second zombie to go after the silly duo, unintentionally dashing off at higher-than-average speed.
"What kind of… Are they for REAAAAAL!?" Ai is a little livid because she believes Johnny and Gyro are playing them like a fool under the expectation they have a trick up their sleeves. Despite this, she takes off after them.
"That's… That's his 'secret technique'? Running away?" A nonplussed Junko remarked. "What good will running away do?"
"Stop asking questions please! We must do what Mr. Johnny tell us to do, NOW!" Goldia pulled Junko as she sprints off, much to Number Four's surprise.
"Wait, wait, wait, STOP! Why the hell are we gonna running away? Aren't we suppose to deal with Xero?" Saki brought up the most important question as she sprinted off, profoundly bewildered.
"NO! Not with the disadvantage holding us down!" Mamezuku reminded, already in the midst of running. Before long, every zombie leave the site, trying to catch up to the four who ran first and practically leave them in the dust. Soon, these hapless zombies is now but a mere dot in the horizon.
Apparently in response to the incredulous scene that happened before them, the infected Tae, Yugiri, and Bucciarati stopped groaning to gaze at the horizon. They went still or at least not convulse as much, seemingly trying to process what did they witnessed, probably confused as to why their prey chose to engage in an obvious defensive response after encountering a rabid zombie. A chuckle evolving into full-blown laughter snaps out of their befuddled stupor, so they resume groaning and writhing around.
"…The Joestar Secret Technique," muttered by a smirking Xero after calming down from his laughing fit. "Even if hailing from a parallel reality, Johnny did it anyway. Well that shouldn't be a surprise. He's a Joestar after all. Either way…"
A rainbow aura surrounds Xero as he readjusts his posture, indicating he's going to summon Linkin Park once more. But the Stand never materialized. What happened instead however is four, blood-soaked wings of a dragonfly emerged from his back in one rapid motion, like a knife cutting through flesh easily. Bits of blood spewed out though that is of little concern for him. His white sclera turned black next after blinking once, leaving his red irises intact and lastly, both corners of his mouth extended until it's an inch away from touching his ears, elevating his already unnerving grin to be more terrifying. Drools of blood are that's left to complete Xero's minor transformation so he exhibits their Linkin Park, aura, abilities and all.
No! Stop! STOP IT! DO NOT-! Aaack! P-Please… S-S-Stop… S-Spare me and… a-a-and Sh… S-Shi…n-n-no-
Xero callously ignored the conscious Stand's pitiful cries as he shuts him up. Sensing their consciousness not in his mind/soul, he grins.
"If you all think you can get away from us just by running away and come up with a tactic guaranteed to regain your slim advantage, I'll remind you all again… that as long you're here in Castle of Glass, no one is safe within the dimension WE rule over."
Xero screamed in both excitement and agony that Bruno, Tae and Yugiri copied. They took off leaping at high speeds, restarting their pursuit to both kill and infect the fleeing group with gusto.
To be continued
And finished.
Wow, things went from bad to worse for our ragtag group, huh? First, Bucciarati got turned into a ghoul and bitten Tae, infecting her next. Then she bit Yugiri and though she removed her bitten arm, the transferred ichor reconnected it back, infecting her nonetheless. And Xero appeared after reviving off-screen from getting incinerated by the moon impact, donning a new attire and appearance, and is soon revealed to have become impervious to any attacks. Let's not get with the fact Emi almost lost all her Stand energy because Xero possibly invoked it when he flung the moon onto them, rendering her near-paralyzed, weak, and unable to assist our zombie heroes. Taken all of these together, our heroes are very much cornered with seemingly no way out of this dilemma.
Fortunately, Johnny Joestar had decided to bust out a certain trick when one is in a heavy disadvantage, one that I've been waiting to add for so long! The (in)famous Joestar Family Secret Technique! AKA running away! As the group flee for their (un)lives, it didn't take long for Xero and his infected ghouls to chase after them after he fused with an unwilling Linkin Park so he can command limitless control over Castle of Glass. Suffice to say, the next chapter will be intense as the fight passes the midway point!
Bucciarati, Tae and Yugiri will not be the only zombies who got turned into ghouls, and don't expect them to stand aside and let Xero do all the work. I must warn you in advance our heroes are in for a bad time when Xero got his hands on the remaining zombies, so you better prepare seeing your favorite zombie guys and gals losing against his group and turning into ghouls…
So! Remember when I said in a previous chapter that Sakura will finally summon her Stand when it looks like everything is lost? Well, what I'll tell you is a little bit spoilery but… In the next chapter or the one after, Sakura's Stand will appear at long last! And since she had woken her Stand up, she'll have all the spotlight when she joins the final stretches of the fight and claim their victory from Xero! Once again, what Sakura's Stand is, along the ability and name, shall remain a mystery for now, but I hope you're looking forward to seeing the debut of Sakura's Stand in action after a whole story worth of build up. Maybe then she'll prove that just because she wasn't bestowed with a title by Kotaro doesn't mean she's anything less but a legendary girl.
I hope you're still excited and thrilled of my wacky crossover fanfic ongoing for almost three years! The finish line is in the horizon, so there are only few more chapters to go before the story ends! About eight or seven depending on each chapter's contents. Hope you're looking forward in seeing this fanfic come to a close!