"Pardon the intrusion, Rohan-sensei."
"Hehe... thanks for having us."
Koichi Hirose and Okuyasu Nijimura announced their arrival at Rohan's house, lugging several heavy bags packed with essentials.
"You're finally here?"
"I've cleared out the guest rooms on the second floor. Feel free to pick whichever one you prefer."
Rohan walked out from the kitchen, gesturing toward the staircase with a flick of his wrist.
"All right!"
"I honestly didn't expect things to end up like this..."
While Okuyasu was practically vibrating with excitement, Koichi let out a soft sigh, his expression reflecting the weight of their current situation.
"We don't have many other options. I couldn't simply let you return to your homes alone. If an enemy Servant decides to strike, the rest of us would never be able to reach you in time to provide support."
"Josuke at least has a Servant to watch over him."
"But without a contract of your own, you would be virtually helpless against a direct assault."
"Even without utilizing her temporal manipulation, Assassin has the training of a lethal operative. She could neutralize both of you before you even realized your Stands were required."
Rohan looked at Koichi, ignoring Okuyasu who had already dashed up the stairs to claim the largest room.
"Master... I'm almost flattered by your high assessment of my abilities."
"Isn't it simply the truth? You were raised within the hierarchy of a specialized organization."
"You... found out?"
"I took a short nap earlier and saw a glimpse of your life in a dream. As a mangaka, I found the setting to be incredibly fertile ground for inspiration. Perhaps once this war concluded, I'll draw a series based on your experiences."
"Contractors... I'll name the protagonist 'Hei' and cast you as the primary heroine. How does that sound?"
"I suppose I could be interested in such a project..."
Koichi's eyes lit up at the mention of the story.
"What are you two talking about?"
"Just a discussion regarding Assassin's history. It seems that when a Master sleeps, they occasionally witness the memories of their Servant."
"It's a truly fascinating phenomenon."
Rohan explained his findings with a wave of his hand. He possessed a significant amount of patience and tolerance for Koichi, often sharing information with him that he would never dream of telling Josuke.
In contrast, any interaction with Josuke usually resulted in an immediate, abrasive "Clash" of personalities.
"So does that mean Josuke would see Sakuya's past in his dreams as well?"
"I can't say for certain..."
"But knowing that blockhead, even if he did see it, it likely wouldn't change his behavior in the slightest."
"That's true. Josuke isn't the type to dwell on such things."
The two of them continued their conversation as they climbed the stairs.
"By the way, Amber... what is your wish for the Dragon Ball?"
Koichi looked at the youthful Assassin, his voice filled with genuine curiosity.
"Hmm..."
"I suppose... to change the fundamental opposition of our world."
Amber replied in a soft, melodic voice, her thoughts drifting back to the extreme polarities of her own existence.
The conflict between normal humans and Contractors had reached a level where compromise seemed impossible.
She had been struggling for a long time to prevent the eventual erasure of her kind.
The primary reason she had answered the call of the Grail in this iteration was for the opportunity to have her wish granted.
But she hadn't anticipated such a "Bizarre" conflict.
The sheer number of participants with time-based abilities was staggering, and each of them was a veteran combatant.
It had limited Amber's ability to influence the battlefield through her own temporal manipulation.
Fortunately, her Master possessed a wide network of powerful allies, allowing them to maintain a level of security that didn't rely solely on her own strength.
"Eh... I don't really understand, but it sounds like a very deep and difficult goal."
"I guess people everywhere have their own burdens to carry."
Koichi rested a hand on his chin, his expression one of polite confusion.
Rohan checked his wristwatch.
17:32 PM.
Since the temporal recoil, Morioh had been submerged in an eerie, unsettling "Silence."
There had been no combat reports, no reports of unusual phenomena, and no sightings of the enemy.
'This level of tranquility is... unnerving.'
Rohan couldn't help but feel a sense of impending dread. All they could do now was steel themselves for whatever was coming next.
***
"Hoho..."
"So, they aren't rushing into a confrontation?"
"Calculated. When the variables are unknown, no one wants to make the first move."
"But by doing so, you've handed me a magnificent opportunity."
Hiding within a nondescript residence, DIO had also noted the preternatural quiet of the afternoon.
"A few more hours will be enough."
"I will transform this Morioh into a paradise for my spawn!"
Standing at the top of the stairs, looking down at the shadowed figures within the house, DIO whispered his dark intentions.
"Once the conditions are met, I'll seek out that specific individual..."
"If I can achieve evolution, it will be the ultimate proof that I have transcended the limits of Fate and reached a higher plane of existence."
A cruel, predatory smile touched his lips.
"Jotaro seems to be hunting me with a singular focus, but as long as I maintain my spiritual manifestation, he won't be able to track my presence."
"However, if the opportunity presents itself, it would be much better to simply remove him from the board entirely."
"Hmm... perhaps I can use a 'Third Party' to do the heavy lifting for me."
"Hehehe..."
***
"The scent on the bracelet ends exactly here."
"Dammit!"
"Jotaro-san, if we keep chasing ghosts like this, we're never going to catch him!"
Jotaro Kujo, Josuke Higashikata, and Yuuya Fungami stood in a small alleyway. Jotaro's eyes were fixed on a discarded corpse hidden within a patch of tall weeds.
"His blood has been completely drained. There's nothing left to save."
"That's... that's disgusting."
Josuke and Yuuya knelt beside the body, their faces pale with revulsion.
"DORA RARA RARA RARA!!!"
Without hesitation, Josuke called forth his Stand and began to strike the desiccated remains.
The withered skin slowly regained its luster, and the sunken features were restored to their original, healthy proportions.
But despite the restoration of the physical form, the man remained lifeless.
"This is as far as my power goes."
Faced with a casualty of the conflict, Josuke could only ensure that the man's remains were returned to their natural state before they were discovered.
"Wait... isn't this the owner of the jewelry shop near the arcade?"
Yuuya recognized the face and let out a gasp of surprise.
"It looks like he was attacked while he was out running errands..."
Listening to his companions, Jotaro's mind was occupied by a much darker possibility.
A simple feeding might not be the worst-case scenario.
'The old man mentioned it before... 'Vampire Spawn.''
'If that monster begins to replicate, the situation will spiral out of control in a heartbeat.'
He frowned as he considered the strategic implications.
While common spawn might not pose a threat to a Stand user, they were perfect for spreading chaos and "Terror" among the populace.
And if they were used to disrupt the lives of the people of Morioh, the group would be forced to divert their attention away from the primary threats.
Even worse... DIO could use "Flesh Buds" to control other participants. Just as he had done to Kakyoin and the others years ago.
Jotaro felt a surge of cold, premonitory dread.
Regardless of the cost, they had to flush DIO out.
They had to find him before his next move plunged the town into an irreversible nightmare.
***
"Oh ho... this is delicious!"
Having finally found a moment of respite, Kid Goku was busy demolishing a massive meal. While his physical body didn't strictly require food in this state, he still savored the sensory experience of a good feast.
"Uh... maybe you should slow down. I feel like you're going to use up all your energy just digesting that."
Subaru Natsuki looked at the boy and then at Miyu, offering a word of caution.
"?"
Miyu tilted her head, unable to comprehend the logic.
Was there a problem with a boy eating when he was hungry?
Unaware of the tactical implications of a Saiyan's appetite, she simply watched him with a expression of mild amusement.
Homura Akemi sat in the courtyard, her eyes fixed on the horizon where the sun was slowly sinking behind the mountains.
The sky was beginning to bruise with the coming night.
She wondered if this evening would be as quiet as the day had been.
Or if it was merely the silence before the world shattered again.
[Translated and Rewritten by Shika_Kagura]
do tell me your opinion, which option do you guys like?
A. upload 1 chapter everyday.
B. upload 7 chapter at once, once a week.
poll will be closed a week from now. (show me ur presence)