Back-to-Back Five-Stars

System, activate.

Ten pulls... twenty... thirty... forty...

Lin Qing remained unmoved.

He had 299 pulls in total. There was no way he wouldn't get a five-star.

No, it wasn't just about the odds. There was also...

Faith.

Lin Qing's intuition told him—

It would happen.

Five glittering golden stars would eventually descend.

Fifty pulls. Nothing.

Sixty pulls...

Lin Qing's vision suddenly went black. Ten stars fell from the countless stars in the heavens, one of them shining especially bright.

Here it comes!

Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding.

A five-star!

The light slowly faded, and Lin Qing saw what it was.

Not a Stand.

It was a five-star item.

Item: Saint's Crown of Thorns

Description: From JoJo Part 7, Steel Ball Run. The Crown of Thorns worn by the Saint during his lifetime, stained with the blood of the Saint's head and the light of his soul.

Effect: Those with selfish desires cannot possess it. When worn, the Crown of Thorns cannot be destroyed or hidden. It will forever remain in the sight of humanity. Wearing it may create incomprehensible miracles and guide one's fate, but may also bring corresponding trials.

"Does this count as a relic of the Saint?"

Lin Qing remembered that there were nine parts to the Saint's Corpse in Steel Ball Run: the left arm, right arm, both eyes, heart, spine, both ears, both legs, torso, and head.

Once all the Saint's Corpse parts were gathered, the Corpse would bless its owner and the surrounding region.

But... the Crown of Thorns?

The Saint's likeness in Steel Ball Run did show him wearing a Crown of Thorns, but could this really count as part of his corpse?

Lin Qing's gaze fell on the words "stained with the blood of the Saint's head and the light of his soul."

Perhaps that was what gave it power comparable to a part of the Saint's Corpse.

The ability to guide fate and create miracles made it a five-star item beyond question.

If that ability weren't so unpredictable and random, it might even be considered a six-star item.

Lin Qing thought for a moment, then placed the Crown of Thorns on Sasuke's head.

Lin Qing didn't believe in fate.

But he hoped a miracle would come.

The Crown of Thorns cut Sasuke's skin, and a trickle of blood ran down. The next instant, however, it was as if someone had pressed rewind. The blood flowed backward, the wound healed, and the Cursed Seal spreading from his neck across his body receded with it.

Jiraiya couldn't believe his eyes.

How was that possible?

It made no sense!

He was an expert in Senjutsu and Natural Energy, but Jiraiya hadn't sensed any use of Natural Energy. This was something far more crude and unreasonable...

A reversal. A rewind.

Sasuke's body, on the verge of collapse under the torment of the Cursed Seal, chakra, and Ripple, reverted to a state that was neither alive nor dead.

"Unbelievable..."

Jiraiya looked at Lin Qing, who had casually pulled out the Crown of Thorns. "It's a divine miracle."

Lin Qing corrected him. "It's a miracle."

"What's the difference?"

Lin Qing shook his head without explaining.

The Saint's miracle had arrived. Now all that remained was to see where fate would lead him.

He drew again.

Seventy... eighty... ninety...

This time, the wait was especially long.

It wasn't until his one-hundred-and-eightieth pull that the stars fell again.

Lin Qing didn't look at the light. He closed his eyes and listened.

Ding, ding, ding, ding.

Four chimes.

He abruptly opened his eyes. The starlight gathered into a card bearing a rainbow.

Stand Name: Catch the Rainbow

Four-star.

Owner: Blackmore

Ability: A Stand that can only be used when it rains. It can fix raindrops in place when they touch the user's body. Rain has no effect on the Stand User himself.

Current Level: Level 1

Note: "When the storm stops, that will be the day I die—you'll be the same, won't you, Lin Qing?"

A five-star Crown of Thorns at sixty pulls, followed by a four-star Catch the Rainbow after another 120. Was this fate's guidance? Or...

Was he just unlucky?

Lin Qing took a deep breath and pushed the thought aside.

Keep going.

He put in another ten-pull.

Before it had even finished, Lin Qing instinctively went to press the button again. But just then, the sky darkened once more.

Again?

Back-to-back five-stars?!

The JOJO System, a scam with no pity system that would get sued into bankruptcy in the real world, had finally shown a little mercy.

Lin Qing stared in the direction the stars were falling from. Five consecutive chimes rang out, announcing the value of this pull. The light flashed, revealing a humanoid Stand.

Stand Name: Whitesnake

Five-star.

Owner: Enrico Pucci

Ability 1: DISC Extraction:

There are two kinds of DISCs: "Memory" and "Stand/Ninjutsu." Whitesnake can knock the "heart" out of an enemy and extract a DISC.

By looking at the surface of a DISC, one can view its owner's memories. Inserting a "Stand/Ninjutsu" DISC into someone else's body lets them use the corresponding ability.

Those who lose their "Memory" DISC can still use ninjutsu, but will forget everything about themselves.

Those who lose their "Stand/Ninjutsu" DISC will fall into a coma-like state of suspended animation.

Whitesnake can also write a command on a DISC to create a "Command" DISC. Once inserted into a target's body, it forces them to carry out the command.

Ability 2: Dissolve the Mind: Creates illusions by making a white acidic fluid come into contact with an enemy, putting them into a dream without their knowledge. They won't wake up unless they realize they're dreaming.

Ability 3: Evolution: Given the right opportunity, it can evolve into "C-Moon."

Current Level: Level 1

Note: "Looks like you're a step too late after all."

Lin Qing met the Whitesnake's gaze.

It was mostly grayish-white, slender and tall, with a black mask that seemed to embody some profound philosophy. Stripes marked with "GΔCT" ran across its skin.

It stood with one hand on its hip, its head tilted slightly to the side, looking impatient.

"So it's Whitesnake."

Lin Qing frowned slightly.

To save Sasuke, the Stands he'd wanted most were Crazy Diamond or Gold Experience. Their healing abilities would definitely have solved the trouble caused by the Cursed Seal.

But...

Whitesnake might work too.

Orochimaru had gone after Itachi Uchiha, Lin Qing, and Sasuke in succession. The pattern suggested that Orochimaru had been gradually lowering his expectations.

He coveted the Uchiha body and Sharingan. So even after Itachi Uchiha and Lin Qing had defeated him, Orochimaru—though in danger—still hadn't given up. He'd set his sights on Sasuke and left him with the Cursed Seal.

Lin Qing suspected the thing probably had abilities like tracking and remote control.

It was like clicking on a Trojan and getting your computer hacked, leaving you locked out. To undo the seal, they'd need to find Orochimaru, the one who'd placed it.

But Orochimaru was far too good at escaping.

Half his skills were devoted to staying alive and getting away. Catching him and bringing him all the way back to treat Sasuke would be next to impossible.

And there was no guarantee Orochimaru wouldn't leave a backdoor during the treatment.

Thinking it over, Whitesnake was a perfect fit.

Thanks to the system's adaptive nature, Whitesnake, which could originally only take Stands, had gained the ability to take ninjutsu as well.

As long as they found Orochimaru and took his DISC, they could treat Sasuke without the slightest risk.

What's more, Orochimaru was one of the Sannin. He knew countless ninjutsu and forbidden techniques, and possessed secrets from every nation. Most importantly, he was an expert in human-body modification.

Whether Lin Qing used that knowledge to teach ninjutsu to Xiaotao, Amber, and the others, learn about powerful fighters in the various nations and choose targets to hunt, or study how his own body had changed after absorbing Natural Energy, it would all be extremely useful.

But...

Lin Qing glanced at the Crown of Thorns on Sasuke's head, then at Whitesnake. Complicated emotions flickered in his eyes. "The longest shortcut is to take the long way around?"

He still had 110 pulls, but Lin Qing didn't want to use them.

There was no chance of another early five-star. Most likely, he'd get nothing at all.

Hermit Purple, which could track a target regardless of distance.

Aero Smith, which could lock onto targets within a one-kilometer radius.

Star Platinum, which could overwhelm opponents head-on.

And finally, Whitesnake, which could extract DISCs.

He had all the pieces he needed.

"Then let's go."

Lin Qing hoisted Sasuke onto his back.

Just then, Jiraiya, who had been silent with his brow furrowed, spoke up. "Give Sasuke to me. I'll take him to Mount Myoboku and ask the Great Toad Sage to help."