Fate Entwined, Part One

The weather in Suotuo City was glorious that day. The sun shone, the breeze was pleasant, flowers bloomed red and grass grew green. What better time to run ahead with a smile? There were mountains to cross, and youth enough to cross them!

Suotuo City lay toward the north of the Balak Kingdom, closer to the Star Dou Great Forest. Its scenery was beautiful, its agriculture well established, and it was one of the kingdom's most important breadbaskets.

You only had to look at the nearby villages to see it. Shrek Academy, where Jodio lived, was in Food-Venerating Village. Then there were Wheat Village, Blessed Barley Village, Cattle Paradise Village, Strong Pig Village, and plenty more. Food was hardly scarce here. In theory, even a famine couldn't take hold in this region.

Speaking of which, Jodio still wanted to complain about something. If he remembered right, when the original story first introduced Balak, its king was called Kundera. But when it introduced the Heaven Dou Empire, hadn't it said the empire's "king" was named Okura? Wasn't he Kundera's cousin?

Wait, was Xue Ye's full name Xue Ye Okura??? Hm. That would make sense. No wonder so few people thought my name, Jodio Joestar, was strange.

"Passage documents need to be checked before you enter the city. If you don't have any, you can get a temporary pass for one silver coin," the guard at Suotuo City's gate told the two children.

"Will a letter of recommendation from our academy do?" The black-haired boy took a neatly folded letter from his clothes and handed it over.

"Mm, looks genuine. Go on in." The guard nodded pleasantly after reading it. The letter from Nording Academy was probably real; it even bore the principal's signature, not the Grandmaster's. And if anything was wrong with it, a quick check would settle the matter.

"Friendly warning: Suotuo City has its own rules. Soul Masters aren't allowed to bully ordinary people here, or at least not start trouble without cause. Also, don't provoke anyone who calls themselves 'Passione' or 'the organization.' You won't like what happens if you do," the guard added.

"Oh, we know already! Brother, come on! I'm hungry!"

"Okay, okay. Whatever you say."

This boy and girl, this shameless couple—no, this loving pair—were Tang San and Xiao Wu!

With five years of study behind him, Tang San had received the Grandmaster's recommendation and was ready to enroll at Shrek Academy. He didn't know what kind of place Shrek was, but the Grandmaster was his teacher. His teacher would never lead him astray, so he would go. There was no need to worry about anything else.

"But..." A thought suddenly struck Tang San as they walked.

"Why are Soul Masters so restricted here? I never heard of rules like that at Nording Academy," Tang San said to Xiao Wu.

"Brother, you focus on the strangest things. Shouldn't you be wondering about that Passione person? What a weird name! They must have terrible taste," Xiao Wu replied with a giggle.

"It is pretty..." Tang San almost agreed on instinct. Whatever else it was, Passione was a strange name. And why call themselves an organization? What kind of odd sect was this?

"Hey! You ignorant woman! Were you just bad-mouthing the organization behind its back? I can tell you're a despicable outsider! You outsiders ought to be ashamed! Ashamed!"

A young man with a face full of JoJo energy stepped out from the roadside and pointed at them as he shouted. His manner immediately irritated both Tang San and Xiao Wu. Who was this guy? What business was their private conversation of his?

Tang San felt a surge of agitation. For some reason, ever since he was six, he had often been seized by impatience and the unpleasant thoughts that came with it. He didn't know why, but he had grown increasingly averse to anything that stirred those feelings in him—like this young man standing before him.

"Huh? Mister, you're not going to fight me over something like that, are you?" Xiao Wu was itching to move. After five years together, she could read the smallest shifts in Tang San's expression and mood. If someone had come looking for trouble, well, she was itching for a scrap herself.

"Listen up! Nothing matters more to a person than their pride. The organization taught us that when someone insults it, we hit back hard—until they can't get up, or we can't!" the young man said through gritted teeth.

"I demand an apology for insulting the organization! You owe me an explanation!" he continued sternly.

"That's it! Get lost!"

Xiao Wu could no longer keep her hands to herself. She rushed forward, sprang nimbly into the air, then planted one hand on the ground and swept her legs around. The blow struck the young man's arm and sent him stumbling three meters back!

He didn't go down? Xiao Wu thought in surprise as she stood.

That strength! The young man was even more shocked. He suddenly realized the two of them might have higher Soul Power Levels than he did. But how was that possible? Geniuses like the boss were few and far between. How could he run into one so easily?

But I can't back down! The boss gave me something to believe in. The boss gave me the courage to face life without fear! For the organization, I have to fight, even if I lose!

"Come forth, my Stand! Phantom Spider!"

A translucent blue-green spider surged out around the young man. Blue-green fuzz appeared on his body, and two elongated spider legs extended from his arms. A single yellow Spirit Ring appeared behind him, making him look downright ferocious! But—

"So you're only a Soul Master? Watch this!"

Xiao Wu released her Martial Soul, the Soft Bone Rabbit, and darted in again. Waist Bow! In an instant, she was before the young man. A high kick broke his defensive stance, followed by a flip, a twist of her waist, and a sweeping kick—all in one fluid motion. She didn't even need to throw him to send him flying!

"Gwaaah!"

The young man crashed heavily into a pile of rubbish. He felt like he couldn't get up again, but faced with an enemy who had trampled on his pride, he chose to stagger to his feet!

Huff... huff... She's so strong, the young man thought, shaken.

"D-don't get cocky yet. I've got three other brothers... Wind, Thunder, and Lightning. When you run into them... heh, they'll have plenty of surprises for you!" Blood ran down the young man's face and from the corner of his mouth as he forced a grin.

"And that's not even counting... our boss. You're finished. The boss will charge in like a child let loose in your figurine collection, like a wild boar in your vegetable patch, like a loudmouth rushing straight into an argument—and blow you away without breaking a sweat!"

Xiao Wu stepped forward and gave him one more clean kick. This time, the young man really could not get up. The blow was heavy enough to break several ribs, by a conservative estimate, and cave in his chest. He collapsed in the road. Clearly, those injuries would take some time to heal.

[Name: Rain / Martial Soul: Phantom Spider]

[Unable to continue]

"That's what you get for talking big!" Xiao Wu declared proudly.

At the sight, pedestrians hurried away, giving the area a wide berth. Nearby shopkeepers hastily lowered their shutters and hung up signs saying they were temporarily closed, as though avoiding a pair of walking disasters.

"Come on, Xiao Wu. Let's find a restaurant and have lunch," Tang San said, taking her hand as they walked. Something felt wrong. What had just happened reminded him of a scene he had not witnessed in a very long time. In his memories, wasn't this how people in the martial world reacted when someone offended a powerful local faction?

Suotuo City doesn't seem safe, Tang San thought.

← To Be Continued

Gao Weis—JoJo! (Coin drops.) (JoJo Part Five transition music.)

Currently available information:

Martial Soul: Phantom Spider (Level 17)

Holder: Rain

Spirit Ring: Yellow

Destructive Power: D; Speed: B; Range: B; Stamina: D; Precision: E; Development Potential: C+

Martial Soul Ability: As its name suggests, it has a clear advantage in speed and is a standard agility-attack Martial Soul. It also has the usual traits of a spider, including venom. Hunting a venomous Spirit Beast could grant it a poison-based spirit skill.

It belongs to one of the weaker types of spider Martial Soul, far inferior to a certain pope's Martial Soul and to most powerful spider Martial Souls, such as the Crypt Demon Spider and Man-Faced Demon Spider. Even so, with enough development, it could become quite capable in a real fight.

(Can you guess which anime character it was based on?)