"JOJO! What's wrong?!"
Hearing Joseph's pained screams, Lisa Lisa rushed out of the room.
Her panic was obvious, but Joseph was in no state to notice her.
What was this?!
Clutching his head, Joseph felt like his skull was about to split open.
Countless scenes flashed through his mind.
Caesar's death. Avdol's death. Iggy's death. Kakyoin's death. Polnareff's death.
And then—Jotaro's and Jolyne's deaths.
These deaths had become Joseph's nightmare in old age. In the dead of night, guilt and grief would creep into his heart and bite at him.
He was not a man who dwelled in the past, but watching his companions and children die one after another was a burden even someone like him could never truly let go of.
He had known about Josuke for years, but had avoided meeting him.
He didn't want that child dragged into the world of Stand users.
But in the end, Josuke awakened his Stand anyway.
These regrets exploded all at once in old Joseph's final moments—then were forcefully pushed onto young Joseph.
"Aaaaaaaaahhh!"
Joseph collapsed to his knees, screaming, and slammed his head into the snowy ground—
And fell silent.
"JOJO!"
Half-crouching beside Joseph, Lisa Lisa anxiously used Ripple to examine his body.
But no matter how she checked, she could only conclude that Joseph was fine.
If anything, the surging Ripple inside him didn't look like there was anything wrong at all.
If she didn't know Joseph wouldn't joke around at a time like this, Lisa Lisa might have suspected he was pulling yet another prank.
"I'm fine, Lisa Lisa-sensei."
With a somewhat heavy tone, Joseph slowly stood up from the ground.
She wasn't sure if it was her imagination, but Lisa Lisa felt a faint air of twilight around him.
As if his life had already reached its end.
His eyes were no longer mischievous, but held a calmness born from many years of experience.
"I really am a handful."
Patting his head in mild frustration, that twilight-like aura around him faded slightly.
Dumping so much at once… well, that's just like me, isn't it?
"Lisa Lisa-sensei, whatever you want to say can wait until later. Let's find Caesar first."
Shaking his head hard, Joseph spoke urgently, already striding forward with none of the steadiness he'd shown moments ago.
"Was that just my imagination?"
Following behind him, Lisa Lisa couldn't help wondering if her senses had played a trick on her.
Joseph had changed somewhat, but not to the extent of being elderly.
In truth, Joseph was still his young self.
Old Joseph had burned away his remaining life and sent his memories to his younger self through Hermit Purple.
This did not mean old Joseph returned to the past.
It simply meant young Joseph now possessed old Joseph's memories.
For young Joseph, it was as if he had watched a movie where he himself was the protagonist.
---
At this time, inside the manor where Caesar was fighting—
"Take a good look around you!"
Caesar, whose forehead had been scraped open, pointed upward.
Looking up, countless high-speed spinning bubble cutters were suspended in the air.
"The bubble cutters I sent out earlier have now become bubble lenses."
"The hole you punched through the wall is like the camera shutter letting light in."
Feeling certain of victory, Caesar began explaining his tactics to Wamuu.
Blasted by intense beams of light, Wamuu struggled to extend tubes from his body, attempting to defend himself with a wind barrier.
"As if I'd let you!"
Having long seen through his intentions, Caesar leapt forward, planning to land the finishing strike.
But in that instant, Wamuu found Caesar's opening.
Only a split moment, the tiniest blind spot.
But his body blocked the sunlight.
Wind gathered again at Wamuu's wrist, battle intent burning fiercely in his eyes.
"Divine Sandstorm!"
"Hermit Purple!"
Two shouts rang out at the same time. Caesar, who should have been tossed around like a ragdoll in the storm, was instead yanked backward by some invisible force.
The Divine Sandstorm slammed into empty air.
"What?!"
"Oh my, that was dangerous, Caesar-chan~"
Even as he hit the ground, Caesar still hadn't processed what happened.
His thoughts were stuck in the moment Wamuu counterattacked.
Just when he thought he was about to be swept in, something like a rope looped around his waist and pulled him away from danger.
Joseph's familiar playful tone came from behind him.
Turning around, he saw Joseph grinning, breathing lightly.
But Joseph was nowhere near as relaxed as he looked.
"JOJO, you—"
"This isn't the time to chat."
Cutting Caesar off, Joseph stared sharply at Wamuu.
Although the opponent was a respectable warrior, Joseph had no intention of holding back.
On the contrary, he would go all out against such an enemy.
The battle was about to begin.
---
Meanwhile, at a research branch in Chiba Prefecture, special task force members were rushing around.
Just moments ago, they detected abnormal spatial fluctuations.
Based on past experience, this was the precursor to the arrival of an otherworldly visitor.
For an unknown visitor—unknown attitude, unknown race, unknown threat level—the Humanity Protection Agency had no reason to treat it kindly.
As if the situation weren't troublesome enough, the location of the fluctuation contained a special containment item.
To prevent accidents, all research bases in Chiba began mobilizing.
Idle investigators were recalled, including Rojin.
"So this is the place?"
Following the task force to a cordoned-off street, Rojin frowned.
He had changed into the squad's special-issue combat uniform.
"Yeah. Be ready."
The leader of Chiba Base No. 4's Nine-Tailed Fox Squad answered as he checked his equipment.
He had checked it before the operation, but such tasks never felt excessive no matter how many times they were done.
They were not facing ordinary monsters or beasts.
They were facing containment items that normal people could not comprehend.
"Stand by once we reach the designated location. Maintain communication."
After speaking into the mic on his shoulder, the squad leader fell silent again.
Rojin also said nothing.
This wasn't the place for jokes.
The atmosphere grew heavier by the moment.
No one spoke. No one moved.
Everyone stood at their positions like silent statues.