Stand: Beyond Imagination: If

[The trade begins!]

In a pitch-black, unknown space, a towering humanoid scale lowered its head slightly and looked at Dawn.

[Offer your price]

[Take your wish]

[This is a trade no one can overturn]

Dawn still hadn't recovered from the agony of having his heart pierced. He touched his chest, a trace of anger still lingering on his face.

"Diavolo, you sneaky bastard."

With that, he looked up at the Scales of Awakening and signaled that it could begin.

[As you command]

The Scales of Awakening gave an elegant bow and held out its hands before itself.

The trade officially began. All the respect vanished from the Scales of Awakening's eyes. Its bent back straightened as it calmly looked down at Dawn.

At that moment, it became the embodiment of the rules, with nothing in its eyes but the trade.

[Transmigrator's Essence]

[Value—Rare Treasure]

[A Corner of the Future]

[Value—Rare Treasure]

[Beyond Imagination: Dragon Tamer]

[Value—Extraordinary]

[Beyond Imagination: Wasting Time]

[Value—All Show, No Substance]

[Beyond Imagination: Scales of Awakening]

[Value—Flawless Jade with a Minor Blemish]

Dawn carefully examined the items he could trade and realized that most of his Stand, Beyond Imagination, consisted of its derivatives.

When he saw the last item, Dawn's mouth twitched, and his exasperation nearly spilled out.

Why had it put itself up for trade too?

And what did A Corner of the Future mean?

Before Dawn could ask, the Scales of Awakening's ethereal voice continued.

[Stand: King Crimson]

[Value—Extraordinary]

[Fortune's Favor]

[Value—A Fleeting Glimpse]

[Past Life]

[Value—Imperfect]

Dawn's eyes widened slightly. After a moment's thought, he quickly understood.

When he died, he and Diavolo had shared one body with two souls. The Scales of Awakening had clearly failed to distinguish between them.

Whether out of special consideration for its master or for some other reason, it had put both of their abilities into the trade.

"I want to know how losing A Corner of the Future or Transmigrator's Essence would affect me."

Dawn pointed to the two items as he asked.

The Scales of Awakening didn't answer at once. Instead, it lowered its head and met Dawn's gaze.

"Tell me."

Dawn gave the order firmly. The Scales of Awakening trembled slightly, but in the end, it chose to yield.

[A Corner of the Future: If you choose this item for the trade, you will exchange the future for the present. The price will have to be paid at a certain point.]

[Transmigrator's Essence: If you choose this item for the trade, you will lose your ability to resist the threads of fate and be completely controlled by destiny.]

Dawn rubbed his chin. He had to keep Transmigrator's Essence. It was essential to whether he could resist fate in the future.

Without it, he would be swept away completely by the tide of destiny, with not the slightest power to fight back.

His body was gravely injured. If he couldn't obtain the power to defy fate, he'd die as soon as he returned.

That meant he needed a high-value item to trade through the Scales of Awakening for extraordinary power, enough to break free from his certain death.

By that logic, A Corner of the Future was the best choice.

But before that, Dawn planned to take care of Diavolo.

"I choose to trade Diavolo's past life."

Dawn smiled faintly. That would strip Diavolo of his position as the boss of the Passione Organization.

Once Diavolo was finally killed, Giorno would have a much easier time purging the drugs and taking control of the organization.

The Scales of Awakening's left hand dipped slightly as it quietly held up Diavolo's past life, waiting for Dawn to continue.

Dawn spoke again. "Trade A Corner of the Future."

The next moment, a weight as immense as a mountain crashed down on the Scales of Awakening's left hand.

BOOM!!!

A deafening crash rang out. The pitch-black space shook violently as the Scales of Awakening slammed onto the ground, its left hand sinking deep into the void.

Terrifying cracks spread from its forearm across its entire body. It looked as if it might shatter at any moment.

Its entire left hand was crushed beneath the terrible weight. Though it couldn't move, joy shone in its eyes as they quivered wildly.

[Your wish]

Dawn crouched in front of the Scales of Awakening, patted its scale-shaped head, and said, "I want the power to change everything—the power to break free from fate."

The Scales of Awakening didn't resist Dawn's touch. After a long pause, it spoke slowly.

[Break Free from Fate]

[Impossible]

[Change Everything]

[Possible]

[Contract...]

"Wait."

Dawn raised a hand to cover the Scales of Awakening's mouth. "Add two more ability slots."

The Scales of Awakening didn't move. Seemingly pleased, it stuck out its tongue and licked Dawn's palm, then answered quickly.

[At most, I can add one.]

"Deal!"

As if afraid Dawn might try anything else, the Scales of Awakening immediately shouted.

[Contract sealed!]

The pitch-black space vanished inch by inch, swallowed by the void. Countless crimson characters began to flash above Dawn's head, each one different.

Every character was crimson-grade, a sign that any one of them held immense power capable of reshaping the world.

The price was paid, and the terrible weight disappeared. At last, the Scales of Awakening could stand. It got up and gracefully bowed to Dawn.

After all this was done, the Scales of Awakening saw the crimson characters reflected above Dawn's head. Its eyes narrowed slightly, and a hint of greed showed deep in its pupils.

At the Scales of Awakening's signal, Dawn timed it just right and snapped his fingers.

Snap!

The crimson characters froze in place, radiating a scarlet glow as they hovered quietly above Dawn's head, waiting to be examined.

[Stand: Beyond Imagination: If]

Dawn studied it curiously. Soon, an explanation of the ability flowed into his mind, filling him with excitement.

[When this ability is activated, it searches for or creates possible hypothetical universes, then selects one and sends the host into it.

As long as the host exists, that universe exists. Once the host leaves, the universe falls into oblivion.

Items and abilities the host obtains in a hypothetical universe can be brought back to reality through a lottery. All other abilities are added to the pool of Stand: Beyond Imagination.]

The Scales of Awakening's effects vanished. When Dawn opened his eyes again, he immediately felt the weakness and exhaustion in his body.

The sensation of his soul drifting free from his body made him realize that if he didn't act quickly, this body really would die.

[Stand: Beyond Imagination: If]

Activate!

With a thought, Dawn activated the ability.

BOOM!!!

An explosion rang out in his soul. In his daze, Dawn seemed to glimpse countless possible outcomes of events.

All kinds of points of light whirled rapidly around Dawn, quickly forming a cocoon of light two meters tall. It then slowly contracted until it vanished completely.

Fate could no longer find any trace of Dawn or Diavolo.

[Selecting a hypothetical universe...]

[Selection complete!]

[Revere Nature: Kars]

[Entering...]

[3...2...1]

[Entry successful!]