Return

"Watch out!"

Seeing Kars burst out of the egg, Dio's eyes widened. His golden hair whipped wildly as he activated Time Stop.

Kars was astonishingly tenacious. He had found a way to land in this world again.

In such a critical moment, if Dio didn't act now, Dawn might lose his life.

"The World!"

"MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA MUDA!!!"

The World stepped forward and unleashed a barrage of blows. As Time Stop ended, Kars's body burst into sprays of blood.

Dio carried Dawn away from "Kars," a trace of confusion welling up inside him.

Why hadn't he copied Time Stop?

"Dio, calm down."

Dawn stopped Dio from attacking again, looked at "Kars," and asked, "Can you speak?"

The wounds on "Kars's" body healed at incredible speed. His gaze was icy, and his terrifying presence swept over everyone there.

Suddenly, "Kars" leaped up. His arm transformed into a tentacle and seized a small crimson monster that had dropped from the sky.

The little crimson monster let out a horrifying shriek, trying to devour "Kars's" body.

Kars paid it no mind and swallowed it. The atomic structure of his stomach rearranged itself, turning into a substance harder than diamond.

The little crimson monster couldn't devour him faster than Kars could recover.

A moment later, Kars knelt on one knee. His lips parted, and his Adam's apple trembled, but he couldn't make a sound.

Kars seemed to realize what was wrong. His head twisted, sprouting a mass of eyes that carefully studied the way everyone spoke.

The sight made everyone recoil in alarm.

Before long, Kars spoke, trying to form words.

"Uh, uh, uh, uh, uh..."

The others exchanged uncertain looks, secretly on guard. Dawn, meanwhile, gently began to teach him.

"Take it slowly. Pay attention to the resonance in your chest and the vibration of your vocal cords."

"Uh... I... I'm not... K-Kars."

The burly man rose to his feet. His highly developed brain quickly mastered the ability to speak, as naturally as moving his own arm.

"My master."

His speech became fluent, his diction precise, and his devotion as reverent as if he were on a pilgrimage.

When Kars saw Dawn, his gaze turned clear again. Like a puppy longing to be petted, he came close and began rubbing against him.

As always, Dawn stroked his dragon horns.

"To commemorate this formidable foe, from now on, your name will be Kars."

"Unbelievable..."

Mista clutched his chest, his mind in turmoil as he couldn't help backing away again and again.

He couldn't help remembering the scene from the previous cycle, when Kars had cut off Dawn's head. The two of them now were like night and day.

"Mr. Dawn... I must never offend him."

Natural Cave.

Dawn found Dabi and, just as he'd hoped, drew Diavolo's soul out and made it into a soul coin.

Then he visited Rohan Kishibe and successfully rewrote Diavolo's memories of his life.

"Dawn, I've already altered the memories of the other soul in your mind. Kars is dead. What do you plan to do now?"

Rohan Kishibe had shaken off his despondency and looked radiant.

Without Kars, the remaining vampires were nothing to worry about.

Heaven's Door would teach them how to be decent people.

Dawn hesitated, and the settings of the Hypothetical Universe came to mind.

Once the main body left, the Hypothetical Universe would fall into oblivion.

"Rohan, are there any Stone Masks left?"

A bold idea came to Dawn—something unprecedented, something an ordinary person could never accomplish.

Rohan looked a little puzzled, but still had someone fetch a Stone Mask, wanting to see what Dawn intended to do with it.

Previously, to keep Dio from dying of old age, Rohan had arranged for Dabi to steal a Stone Mask. It had come in handy now.

Dawn took a deep breath and picked up the Stone Mask. A mischievous urge suddenly rose within him. The corner of his mouth curled up, and he let out a brazen, sinister laugh.

"Rohan!"

Rohan raised an eyebrow, a bad feeling rising inside him.

"I learned something from my short life: the more a person schemes, the more likely he is to fail because of things beyond his control."

Rohan took half a step back. Sweat began to bead on his forehead as he tried to dissuade Dawn. "Dawn, stop saying things that scare people."

If Dawn, having defeated Kars, decided to rule the world, Rohan really had no way to stop him.

Dawn raised the Stone Mask and calmly put it on, looking like the ultimate mastermind behind it all.

"Rohan, do you understand? Human beings have their limits. I reject my humanity!"

Kars's burly figure appeared. He split open his chest, crushed his heart, and let the blood of the Ultimate Lifeform spill onto the Stone Mask.

The hot blood from his heart was quickly absorbed by the Stone Mask. Its bone spurs sank deep into Dawn's skull, and the transformation began.

"Dio, come quick! Something's wrong with Mr. Dawn!"

Rohan shouted and ran toward the stone house without looking back.

Everyone rushed over just as the Stone Mask fell off.

It landed on the ground, and a crack appeared across it. This transformation seemed to have placed an immense strain on the Stone Mask.

"Dawn, are you all right?"

Dio asked cautiously. There was something strange about the atmosphere around them.

A pressure from a higher ecological level settled over everyone. They knew this kind of pressure well—Kars had exuded it not long ago.

"I'm fine. I only wanted to leave you all a glimmer of hope."

Sharp fangs emerged from Dawn's mouth. His skin was pale, and his eyes were as captivating as a blood-red moon. Every movement he made was calm and composed.

A being born into the world, surpassing vampires, belonging neither to the Pillar Men nor the zombies.

Though not as powerful as the Ultimate Lifeform, he no longer feared sunlight. His thirst for blood was almost nonexistent, and he could alter his body's shape to a limited extent.

His only two shortcomings were that he lacked Kars's immortality, which allowed him to adapt to any environment, and his ability to change shape at will.

In a direct fight, he lacked Kars's strength of several dozen tons, but he was still extraordinary, barely reaching the level of an A-plus.

Dawn's hand slowly twisted, eventually turning into a writhing ball of flesh that fell to the ground.

"If I leave part of my body here, will the Hypothetical Universe still be destroyed?"

Dawn had done his utmost. Now it was time to leave.

After asking for the Stone Mask and the Insect Arrow pendant, Dawn waved goodbye to everyone.

[This Hypothetical Universe is about to end...]

[Main body departing]

[Hypothetical Universe being annihilated...]

[Annihilation failed]

[Main body has not completely departed]

[Calculating rewards...]

In a desolate, silent, unknown place, the many past events of the Hypothetical Universe appeared before Dawn's eyes.

He had wreaked havoc in Night City, encountered Mista, and struck Kars with lightning.

Once everything had settled, three spheres of light tore through space and landed in front of Dawn.

[Hypothetical Insect Arrow Pendant]

[Hypothetical Stone Mask]

[Hypothetical Dragon Tamer · Ultimate Lifeform]

[Hypothetical Universe cooling down...]

[Welcome back]

The desolate, silent world crumbled. Dawn's vision went black, and when he opened his eyes again, the world spun around him.

The real world.

Diavolo took control of his body and glanced at the hole in his chest, consumed by rage.

"Damn bastards! We've been ambushed!"

King Crimson lunged forward, seized Giorno by the wrist, and dragged him in front of Dawn.

"Heal this body, Giorno. If Dawn dies, I won't let you get away with it."

King Crimson's face twisted into a fierce grimace.

Giorno looked at King Crimson in bewilderment. Since the Scales of Awakening had taken Diavolo's memories of his life, Giorno didn't recognize him.

But that didn't stop Giorno from healing Dawn. He knew his friend well.

"Golden Experience!"

Giorno inserted a button and activated his ability. A strong heart reappeared and began beating again.

"Mr. Dawn?"

Giorno called softly.

Dawn opened his eyes and instinctively reached for the Insect Arrow pendant around his neck.

"I got it."