Overtime Killer Move

A giant peregrine falcon circled high above. Its eyes shifted, taking on the shape of an owl's, and it began searching for a target.

The night suddenly brightened like daylight.

"There seems to be something in the clouds."

Kars's heart stirred. He adjusted his posture and shot forward at high speed. The instant his wings made contact, they transformed into steel.

"Roar!!!"

The Cloud Dragon cried out in pain and opened its mouth to spew ice crystals, trying to freeze the falcon, but it couldn't come close to matching its speed.

In the jungle, Dawn sensed the Cloud Dragon's anger and immediately climbed a tree to look up at the sky.

A dark shape raced across the black sky. By the faint moonlight, Dawn saw a gigantic birdlike creature.

"Wait, a bird that size couldn't move this fast. Is it a Stand attack?"

Mista approached cautiously. He'd meant to talk with Dawn, but saw him staring at the sky, his face grave.

"What's wrong?"

Mista asked.

Dawn didn't look at him. Instead, he called out to everyone, "Stay alert. Something's wrong with that thing in the sky."

At his words, Dio and the others immediately took cover. Mista drew his hand cannon and fired three shots at the sky.

Sex Pistols flew alongside the bullets and quickly spotted the falcon's strange behavior.

"Take this!"

The three high-explosive bullets changed course in midair and burrowed precisely into the falcon, triggering a violent explosion.

"Got it."

Mista holstered his gun and was about to speak to Dawn when Dawn suddenly leaped from the tree and tackled him to the ground.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!!!

Three metal feathers shot over and plunged into the ground, their tips still quivering violently.

The giant falcon beat its wings as it landed, then swiftly changed into a human form.

Pale golden skin, wild curls, and a figure with nearly perfect proportions.

"Kars!!!"

Joestar ground his teeth. The being responsible for nearly wiping out human civilization was standing right in front of him.

"Oh, Joestar. Have you chosen to become my food just to stay alive?"

Kars showed no killing intent toward the group. He walked toward them, scrutinizing each face.

"Dio, Trish, Mista, Hewitt, and... who are you?"

Kars raised his forearm. A bone blade sprang out, and his gaze turned icy.

"Dawn."

Diavolo's subdued voice sounded in his mind.

"Be careful. This man feels like mountains and the earth, yet also like the world itself. If we can avoid a confrontation..."

Before Diavolo could finish, Joestar had already charged. Purple Hermit, thick as a python, lashed out to strangle Kars.

Kars didn't move. His figure flickered, and Purple Hermit froze in midair, its body suddenly covered in countless fine cuts.

"Don't be rash, Joestar!"

Dio took a step forward, then abruptly stopped. The night breeze swept past, and Joestar's body crumbled into dust and scattered.

"Foolish monkey, daring to challenge a god."

Kars released his aura. The presence of a creature at the very top of nature's food chain bore down on them, filling everyone with dread.

"Diavolo, go test him."

Dawn quietly gave the order. Diavolo was deeply unwilling, but for the sake of his life, he decided to test Kars anyway.

"King Crimson."

Time Erasure activated without a hitch. Diavolo breathed a sigh of relief. He'd wondered how strong this enemy could be, but it seemed he'd been wrong.

King Crimson approached Kars and raised a fist, ready to end Time Erasure.

Suddenly, Kars's eyes twitched and turned toward King Crimson.

The corner of his mouth curled into a sinister smile. Sharp teeth filled his mouth as he broke into a horrifying grin.

"What?!"

Diavolo was drenched in sweat. He was so shocked that he forgot to attack.

In the blink of an eye, King Crimson seemed to sense danger and leaped back, narrowly dodging a lethal blow.

Time Erasure was still in effect.

"This ability doesn't work on me. I am... the incarnation of the Earth's will."

Kars spread his arms, embracing nature.

"Everything born on this planet is mine to take as I please. If you insist on calling it a Stand..."

Kars looked at Diavolo.

"I call it Gaia Consciousness."

Time Erasure ended.

Dawn felt his mind reel. Before he could react, a powerful wave of dizziness washed over him again.

"Diavolo?"

Dawn sensed something was wrong. His mind was perfectly clear, but unlike before, no second voice answered.

Diavolo was gone.

"Looking for your companion?"

Kars wiped his bone blade, grinning broadly.

"Too bad. He can't hear you anymore."

Kars's figure suddenly blurred as he charged at Dawn at tremendous speed.

"Demon, die!"

At a time like this, everyone understood that Dawn was Kars's target.

"The World!"

Dio roared. His eyes were bloodshot, and his teeth ground together with a grating sound.

The world came to a standstill. Dio was the sole exception.

"This punch is for my dear friend, Joestar."

Dio stepped forward and threw a punch. Kars's chest spontaneously turned into obsidian, perfectly blocking Dio's furious blow.

Kars's fingers twitched slightly, then the movement spread through his entire body. He examined the stopped world with curiosity.

"A Stand that stops time. Nature's craftsmanship truly is marvelous."

Kars clamped a hand around Dio's neck as fast as lightning and lifted his burly body into the air.

"Thank you for stopping time. Now... I've learned how."

Dio's body gradually merged into Kars, while time remained frozen.

"Ten seconds is enough to kill the demon."

A swarm of poisonous insects burst from Kars's body, flying toward Dawn in a vast cloud.

The poisonous insects attacked, but inexplicably passed right through Dawn, as if the two sides belonged to different worlds.

Kars's gaze sharpened. He stepped forward and slashed with his bone blade.

"Phasing? Hah, your ability is impressive."

Kars smiled slightly.

"Now it's mine."

Time passed, and the time stop ended.

Kars stood there striking a pose, but couldn't get the hang of it. He failed to reach enlightenment.

Kars: ?

Hewitt stood in front of Dawn, looking left and right, but couldn't find any sign of Dio.

"Hewitt, I'll give you a chance to come back—kill Dawn."

Kars gave up posing. He had begun to suspect something.

The demon was probably not a native of this planet.

"That's an appealing offer, but... I must decline."

Hewitt took out his cane, his gaze icy.

"Choosing to attack my father in order to survive would make me an unworthy gentleman."

"Lord Kars, please forgive my betrayal."

Hewitt lunged, thrusting his cane toward Kars's heart.

Whoosh!

The strike landed. Kars looked down at Hewitt and snapped the cane in two. His wound healed instantly, leaving him flawless as before.

The bone blade swept in a semicircle, and Hewitt's head flew into the air as blood gushed out.

A grain of golden sand fell. Hewitt calmly stood back up, reattached his head, and charged Kars again.

The two traded blows, managing to buy a little time.

Dawn suddenly came to his senses. Wasting Time's side effect had lowered his presence, so Kars hadn't noticed him right away.

He quickly surveyed the battlefield, his face darkening.

Diavolo had vanished without a sound.

Joestar had scattered to the wind.

Dio's whereabouts were still unknown.

Dawn quietly stepped behind Mista and checked his watch.

"Just in time."

A mass of text flashed above Dawn's head. He didn't hesitate, raising his hand to snap his fingers.

"Snap!"

A captivating purple glow appeared. Dawn's heart leaped, but when he looked up, he nearly fainted from shock.

[Stand · Beyond Imagination · Overtime Killer Move]

[When this ability is activated, the target must forcibly complete an order within their capabilities. If they miss the deadline, a large number of their most embarrassing moments will be broadcast worldwide.]

Dawn had no words. He steeled himself, abandoned Dragon Tamer, chose Overtime Killer Move, and shouted,

"Kars! I order you to deliver a cup of Apa Cha to Cape Canaveral in Florida!!!"

Kars turned to look at Dawn. His face twisted, anger at the humiliation written all over it.

Yet his body obediently sprouted wings, and he flew unwillingly into the sky at high speed.

Dawn patted Mista on the shoulder.

Mista turned, confused.

"Restart, Mista. Hurry up and restart."