"Come again?", Ryuji yelled out on his phone. He was sat at a fancy Italian restaurant, on a group call with the rest of the Phantom Thieves. His loud speaking drew some ire from various patrons.

"You're not gonna see this spiritual stuff, or Stands as they're called.", Ren explained.

"Not without a special Arrow. But that's later down the line. To start, look for a Koichi Hirose. Giorno said he's the only one he can think of outside of Italy that has a Stand. He'd be a good place to start."

Ann said, "Hopefully he knows something about that arrow."

Ryuji said out loud, "Koichi Hirose, huh?"

Ryuji noticed a small boy with white hair looking his direction.

Ryuji said, "Koichi?"

Koichi looked behind him before looking in Ryuji's direction, a puzzled look on his face.

Ryuji said, "I...think I found him."

Futaba could be heard on Ann's end, "What? Where are you?"

Ryuji said, "This fancy Italian spot called Tratoria something."

Makoto sighed as she said, "Ryuji how are you gonna pay for that? We didn't come with any money!"

Ryuji said, "I didn't order anything yet, it's fine!"

Futaba said, "I read about that place. You don't order anything, dummy. They bring it to you. You gotta get out of there before they make something and you have to pay."

Ryuji sighed and said, "Alright I'm going. I'll hang out outside until he comes out, just head my way."

Haru said, "I don't think I'm very far. I will be there shortly."

Italy Subway System, Abandoned tunnel

In a dark tunnel beneath Rome, Omnigul waited with a daughter and her grandson.

Her daughter was a witch named Kinox. One of her three remaining daughters, Kinox maintained a cold stoicism and calm, especially around her mother. She wore no headdress, keeping her outfit simple with a single dress draped from her shoulders to below her feet.

Kinox's son, a Knight Ulg'Urin stood next to her. Lead by example, he maintained her calm and steely focus. He wore no helmet, and his armor was slim.

Both stood shorter than Omnigul, standing to the size of a normal human.

Omnigul said, "I feel a shift here. Awakenings. Something is wrong. Ulg'Urin. Kinox. You must discover what has changed. Discover what draws this spiritual power forth."

Kinox said, "Mother we will not fail you."

Omnigul said, "See that you don't. But more importantly see that you return alive."

Kinox and Ulg'Urin each formed their own black orbs and vanished.

Omnigul sat down, and thought back to her meeting with Oryx, shortly after her and Crota's defeat on Midgard.

Flasback

Oryx's Dreadnaught

Omnigul, an unconscious Sasha in tow, was making her way to the bridge of Oryx's ship. Hive made way for her, bowing down, as she closed in on that location. She found Oryx, gazing out into the stars, highly visible from the open viewing gallery in his bridge. He had a massive sword, which was pointed downwards and pressed to the ground. He rested both his hands on the handle like a cane, the sword coming up to his waste. He didn't turn to her as she dropped Sasha at his feet.

He simply said, "Why are you here?"

Omnigul said, "A gift, my lord. Crota has experienced some...difficulties with the world you ordered him to claim. This girl is an offering, with the request that we be granted more time."

Oryx raised his hand, lifting Sasha off the ground, lifting her towards his face, still not turning to Omnigul.

Oryx examined her, thoroughly unimpressed.

Oryx said, "What is her worth?"

Omnigul swallowed and said, "She is, clever. And agile. She landed a..."

Oryx said, "A single strike on your back is of little concern to me. She has no power that's worth wasting my own."

Oryx held his hand to the suspended Sasha, a small white orb charging inside of it.

Omnigul said, "I know about Amphibia!"

The orb dissipated, and Oryx finally glanced in Omnigul's direction, coaxing an answer to a question he didn't ask.

Omnigul said, "She is friends with Anne Boonchuy. My potions made her suggestible. The secrets spilled. Your secrets anyway."

Oryx dropped Sasha to the ground turning to Omnigul, and stomping towards her, the sword dissipating.

Slowly, with venom dripping off every word he said, "You...are...out...of...line."

Omnigul backed up, saying, "Forgive my...impuden..."

Omnigul began to choke, slowly pulled off the ground. Her feet left the ground as she came face to face with Oryx. She was gasping for air, and had just enough to stay conscious and hear Oryx.

Oryx said, "I do not tolerate failure. And I tolerate disrespect even less. What I choose to divulge to you is my business and mine alone. Your business is to do what I order. You were ordered to claim that planet with my son. You will claim it. That is all. Do you understand?"

Omnigul, still choking and gagging, nodded. She was dropped to Oryx's feet, bowing to him. Oryx returned to his original position, summoning his sword to rest on once again, watching the stars as he simply said, "Now leave my ship. And don't ever return unless I will it."

Omnigul left in silence, her throat and chest still sore from Oryx's magic. Others would shudder at such threat, but her resolve was stronger than ever. If Crota found strength in Midgard, they would overthrow Oryx, bastard king that he was, and claim his throne. The hardest part would be turning Crota to her side.

Helheim

Crota was lost in the dark green icy wastes of Helheim, trudging through the endless blizzards and cold. It didn't affect him, but it frustrated him all the same. All around him were specters. Humans who looked like they were missing solidity. He wafted through them as if they were air. But one caught his eye. It wasn't human. It was smaller, maybe half the size. With dirty scruffy hair and an even scruffier beard. He wore golden armor and leather, but his skin was filthy, and caked in oil and dirt. Crota marched up to him, curious about the first solid living individual he'd seen. The non-human looked up at Crota and grimly said, "Can't say I've seen something like you around here before..."

Crota turned his head and said, "I could say the same thing about you. You're the first one I could actually touch with my blade."

The non-human said, "What are you supposed to be?"

Crota said, "I am a Hive warrior. And what are you supposed to be?"

"A dwarf."

Crota thought back to the conversations he overheard while spying on Kratos looking over Anne and Luz. And put the pieces together.

"Sindri."

"You want a medal?"

Crota said, "I want to know why a no doubt highly skilled dwarf craftsmen wastes his talent."

Sindri sighed and said, "My brother...I...I lost him recently."

Crota turned his head again, slowly marching to sit down next to the forlorn dwarf.

Sindri continued, "It's funny. I know for absolute fact he won't be here, but I'm still here. Watching. Thinking something will click and he'll be here strolling off to his new life."

Crota said, "How are you so certain he won't be here?"

Sindri said, "Because of me..."

Crota eyed Sindri, his face beckoning Sindri for more. Sindri said, "This isn't his first time dying. The first time it happened, I tried to save his soul pieces, but I didn't get them all. So he lived half dead without even knowing it for years. Then he died again, and that was it. If you die without your completed soul you don't get an afterlife. You just... cease to exist."

Crota said, "...I understand. We Hive do not have a traditional afterlife. Only the strongest among us persevere after death. My daughter, and her daughters were not the strongest among us. I would move the planets just to hear her voice one last time..."

Sindri was silent hearing Crota's plight. He said, "So what brings you here?"

Crota said, "My father has sent me here on a difficult mission, and for his approval, I accepted."

Sindri said, "Do you like doing what you do?"

Crota said, "I enjoy it. But the deaths of those under makes it hard to carry on. But I do anyway, despite the annoyances. I must admit, your friends are quite clever."

Sindri turned and said, "Friends?"

Crota said, "Sending me here where I can't escape even with my magic. But I'm happy I ran into you, dwarf. You'll be able to help me get back."

Faster than Sindri could react, Crota grabbed him by the neck and lifted him up. Crota then said, "And when I return, I will claim and conquer your world for my father. And if you wish for me to spare you, and later friends and whatever supposed family you have left, you are going to help me every step of the way."

Italy

Giorno had finished awakening the Persona Stands amongst Ren, Makoto, and Yusuke. Giorno was explaining how Stands work.

Giorno said, "So I don't know how your Personas work, but now that they've been awakened as Stands I think it would be wise to give you the rundown."

Ren explained, "When we summon them, their power becomes our own. Their magic."

Giorno said, "That's more or less the gist of it, but your Stands aren't just a conduit. They're an extension and a reflection of you, for better and worse."

Yusuke raised an eyebrow as he said, "Worse?"

Giorno said, "Long story short, every injury your Stand takes is reflected back at you. It breaks a finger, your finger is broken, and vice versa. So treat it as if it's you in the fray. You can train with my stand Gold Experience until this Omnigul makes her move."

"Yeah about that."

A soft spoken male voice drew their attention. It belonged to a man close to Mista's age, with orange well combed hair and wearing a spotted suit. With him was Mista and with them was a girl, closer to Giorno's young age, with pink hair and a crop top, with a patterned skirt that hung from her waist to below her knees splitting at the top left thigh, as well as a pair of high heel boots.

"Trish. Fugo.", Giorno addressed, the boy being Fugo and the girl being Trish.

Trish ran up and gave Giorno a hug saying, "Good to see you again, GioGio!"

Fugo said, "What's the situation?"

Giorno gestured to the Phantom Thieves, beckoning them to explain. And they did.

Trish was silent for a moment. But then she said, "So we just gotta beat up Omnigul 'til she runs?"

Ren said, "Her and whoever she sends."

Ulg'Urin appeared in Italy. He stomped through the city, drawing attention and terror and screams.

He yelled out, "Where are your spirit warriors?! Bring them to me! It is the will of Omnigul!"

He slammed the ground, summoning thralls from black orbs that began screeching and spreading through the town.

Morioh

"HUHHHH?", Koichi yelled out, having been surprised by Ryuji's surprise appearance. Ryuji said, "Oh uh. Sorry, didn't mean to spook you there. Are you Koichi Hirose?"

Koichi shook his head and said, "I am. Who's asking?"

Ryuji said, "We heard about you from Giorno Giovanna."

"And who is we?"

Josuke and Okuyasu stepped out of the restaurant.

Ryuji said, "Ok. There's kind of a lot to get through. But to put it shortly, there's someone out there after you guys. I think you're called 'Stand users'."

Koichi said, "How...do you know about Stand users? Do you have one?"

Ryuji said, "Not exactly. But my friends in Italy met your old bud Giorno Giovanna. One of them can see Stands and filled us in."

Josuke said, "Us?"

Ryuji said, "There's four of us here, and who knows how many of these other guys coming. We need an arrow of some kind that can give us Stands."

Josuke cut in stepping between them. "Hold the phone there. I can get you the arrow, but it's dangerous. If you don't have the fighting spirit to control your stand it'll kill you."

Ryuji lowered his gaze and said, "Listen. We've all put up with a lot of shit. Asshole teachers, gangsters, politicians, killing God himself. We've got more than enough of a fighting spirit."

Josuke eyed Ryuji while pulling out his phone. Three taps on the screen, and he was holding it to his ear. He said, "Hey. It's me. We're gonna need a hand. And the arrow."

Looking out the window, Mista noticed the crowds of people running away. He said, "Giorno. I think we've got a problem."

Giorno looked out the window as well and said, "She's made her move. We need to go now."

Fugo said, "Wait. But they haven't gotten a chance to test their Stand power yet!"

Giorno was the first to walk out the room, saying, "They're gonna have to learn on the fly. Come on."

Morgana meowed which the Phantom Thieves heard as, "This is our first real fight in a while. Are you ready?"

Makoto said, "I'm as ready as I can be. Let's show them why they should fear the Phantom Thieves."

Giorno ran out with his crew and the Thieves to the streets, seeing the chaos from the thrall swarms.

Ren said, "Makoto. You're the only one fast enough to cover the whole city. You need to take care of the thralls, and we'll cut through to find Omnigul."

Giorno said, "Mista, you're with Makoto."

Makoto and Mista nodded to each other. Makoto yelled, "Gun it, Johanna!"

Her stand came forth. It was a massive, excessively detailed motorcycle, with a face in the headlights. It rose beneath Makoto's feet as he grasped the handles, locking in on its seat. Mista jumped on the back reaching for Makoto's waist.

Makoto said, "Keep those hands above the waist or I break your shooting finger."

Mista paused and slowly lifted his hands higher to grasp her stomach. Makoto immediately revved the engine and the two sped off.

Giorno said, "Trish, you go with Yusuke and look for anyone caught in the crossfire and get them to safety."

Trish and Yusuke nodded and ran off.

Giorno said, "You, the cat and I will find Omnigul and take her on ourselves. We'll need to take a more secluded route. Any attention will only slow us down."

The three ran to a nearby alley, intending to cut through the back alleys hidden from the thralls to reach what they thought was Omnigul.

Plane flying just off the coast of Morioh

A man in a white coat with a white hat adorned with golden plates was sitting in the passenger lounge. He was on the phone. He calmly said, "We're on the way with the arrow Josuke. Just have a damn good explanation ready when we land."

He hung up, staring out the window to the approaching town. He could only shake his head and let out a single exasperated phrase.

"Good grief..."