"Not good!"
Jodio instinctively moved to stop time and escape with his life, but Tang San was faster. In what seemed like a single flash, he appeared before Jodio and brought the Asura Divine Sword down in a heavy cleave, its boundless divine power and Asura Killing Intent crashing toward him with mountain-splitting force!
King Crimson rushed to protect him, throwing a flurry of punches that barely held off the blow. But a heavy strike slammed into Jodio's back from behind. He coughed up a great mouthful of blood mixed with mucus and stomach acid and nearly collapsed. Tang the God King pressed his advantage, sweeping his sword across and sending Jodio flying!
"Boss Jo! He got knocked away all of a sudden! How is that possible?" Huo Yuhao shouted anxiously as he watched through binoculars from afar.
"How is that possible? I clearly... stopped time."
"You think that experience makes you special? That you're the only one who's been through it?" Jodio said. His gaze settled back into calm as he walked over.
"Ma Hongjun came from a poor family. Both his parents are farmers, and tenant farmers at that. He has several brothers and sisters, and his Martial Soul has a flaw. If it goes untreated for too long, his Soul Power will regress. He might even drop dead." Jodio pointed toward Ma Hongjun, who was watching from a distance with bloodthirsty enthusiasm.
"But Little Ma has never lost heart. Whenever training pushed him to his limit, I'd ask if he could keep going. He'd grit his teeth, take a drink of water, and get back up to train with me. He complained all the time, but he never gave up. Now he's nine years old and level twenty-two. Tell me, what level were you at nine? Nineteen? Eighteen?" Jodio asked Dai Mubai coldly.
"Opportunity! Happiness! The future! Those things belong to people who hold fast to what they believe in! Even if you're a goat surrounded by wolves, a shark cornered by killer whales, a rabbit caught in a trap, or a beautiful girl delivered to a rich man's private chambers! Dai Mubai, what do you believe in?"
"Ora!"
Stone Free slammed down with another heavy punch. This time, Dai Mubai summoned every scrap of resolve he had and caught it with his hand, even at the risk of cracking its bones!
"What?!" Ma Hongjun shouted in surprise.
"Just now... you showed me both your Spirit Skills, didn't you?" Blood and tears mingled in Dai Mubai's eyes. He spoke slowly between ragged breaths, as though the words alone took all the strength he had left.
"Your first Spirit Skill lets you turn into string, and you're strong as hell. Your second seems to create plants. But I've never seen you use it, so it can't be as useful as the first!" Dai Mubai said through gritted teeth.
"And that Knight Spirit Skill of yours—you've kept its ability hidden and never used it, but I figure it's either an attack or something else bizarre. That leaves your third Spirit Skill as the only real danger!" Dai Mubai shouted.
"Come on! Show me your third Spirit Skill!"
Dai Mubai's second Spirit Ring lit up again. He used almost the last of his strength to unleash his Spirit Skill.
"This is my final White Tiger Fierce Light Wave!"
Jodio leaped backward as the light wave gathered. His eyes shone with delight. Far from being angered by Dai Mubai's desperate resistance, he seemed to admire it.
Stone Free withdrew, and blue light appeared around Jodio's fingers again. It spun and flickered like tiny tornadoes, almost as if it were alive. A small pink figure materialized beside him. Compared with Silver Chariot, Stone Free, or Gold Experience, this Stand looked far too small and weak. Yet Dai Mubai felt threatened by it. He knew it was Jodio's third Spirit Skill, and that it would surely defeat him.
"But why? Why does it have to happen again...?"
"How could I possibly... accept losing?"
"If I can win, why would I ever choose to lose?!" Dai Mubai roared.
"Fly! Fly as high as you can!"
The White Tiger Fierce Light Wave roared forward. Jodio raised a hand, aimed almost casually, and said:
"Fang.1 (Tooth.1)."
Pain burst through Dai Mubai's shoulder, stomach, and lower leg. Strangely, it almost felt like a release. He forced himself upright on his other leg, swaying on the brink of collapse but refusing to fall and lose the match. He wanted to see the light wave hit Jodio. Even a glancing blow would do.
Jodio smiled, thoroughly satisfied. That's it. Put someone through training like this, and their potential finally comes out. Now he's someone I can respect.
The light wave grazed Jodio's forearm, leaving it bloody where the skin had been torn. But a wound like that was nowhere near enough to stop him fighting. He summoned Silver Chariot again, approached at an unhurried pace, and thrust its sword forward. The blade stopped a hair's breadth from Dai Mubai's eyes.
"Why didn't you dodge?" Jodio asked with a smile.
"Because... I'm not afraid anymore."
"Great! Hell yeah!" Jodio applauded and gave him a thumbs-up.
"You pass. I'll get you treated now, so get ready to enroll." Jodio crouched down with a smile and looked at the blood on the ground.
Dai Mubai finally collapsed, all his strength gone. At that moment, he wasn't thinking about victory or dignity. He was thinking of Zhu Zhuqing. If Jodio could have heard that thought, he probably would have called him a lovesick fool.
"He's a good kid. Worth teaching. Teacher, take him in." Jodio stretched and spoke to Flender behind him.
"You hit him that hard? Kid, you never know when to hold back. Little Ma! Go get Teacher Shao Xin!" Flender called helplessly to Ma Hongjun.
"What's the problem? I handle the fighting, and Teacher Shao handles the healing. He can patch up any injury," Jodio replied without concern.
"Well, Teacher, I'm off to take care of things in the city. We'll talk tonight." Jodio wiped the blood from his arm. It was only a scrape. It barely affected him, and even the pain hadn't lasted long.
"Go on, then. Come back early tonight," Flender said as he picked up Dai Mubai.
"Of all these kids, you're the one I worry about least. Remember to bring me back some mutton soup tonight."
"You got it, sir~"
Pain came from every part of Dai Mubai's body, so fierce that he nearly cramped up. He struggled to roll over and sit up, then felt around and discovered that all his wounds had vanished. Relief washed over him, followed by a surge of resentment. Why did Jodio have to hit me so hard?
"Oh, junior, you're awake! The operation was a success. You're now—" Oscar leaned in with his pretty face and a mischievous grin.
"Now what? A girl?" Dai Mubai was beginning to understand the students at this school. They all seemed to love making terrible jokes. Jodio didn't seem to do it much, though perhaps Dai Mubai just hadn't heard him yet.
"Boss really does have a way to turn you into a girl. He just keeps saying he's not 'LGBT' or whatever, so he's never done it," Oscar said with a giggle.
"Junior, forget about that. Eat some dinner and get your strength back. Afterward, your senior Oscar will take you to a little social activity." Oscar set a tray on the table and beckoned him over.
← To Be Continued
Currently available information:
Level 30 Stand: Fang.1 (Tooth.1)
User: Jodio Joestar
Spirit Ring: Purple — 1,700-year-old Armored Pangolin
Destructive power: E (body)–B (Nail Bullet); speed: E–B; range: E–C+; stamina: B–E; precision: E–C; developmental potential: A+
Stand ability: Spins the user's fingernails at high speed and fires them like bullets, known as "Nail Bullets." The spinning nails can also cut targets. After a Nail Bullet is fired, the fingernail immediately regrows, so there is no ammunition limit. The Stand can also use rotational friction to move along the ground, dealing greater damage. ```
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