Metallica

Since the day before yesterday, Li Qing has become a well-known "little star" within the organization.

Just as everyone in the world knows that Jotaro can stop time, now everyone in the organization knows that Li Qing has a Stand ability that combines "location marking and high-speed movement".

So when they saw the fluorescent markings flashing on the swallow, they immediately knew something was wrong.

The appearance of this mark means that Li Qing could arrive at any moment.

This swallow was not some "little angel" sent from heaven, but a death bird that was meant to drive them to their doom.

Fortunately, Risotto reacted quickly enough to notice the anomaly the moment the swallow flew into the carriage.

Melone's actions were timely; after being alerted, he quickly caught the swallow.

Damn it!

Melone felt a chill run down his spine, and he shuddered as if he had been electrocuted.

Then, with the fastest speed and the greatest strength he had ever used, as if throwing a grenade about to explode, he crumpled the swallow with the locator mark into a ball and threw it out of the car.

A swallow was swept up by a gale with a mournful cry and was thrown far away by the car in an instant.

The carriage seemed to have returned to safety; at least, they were temporarily out of danger of being hit head-on by Li Qing's Echoes Act.

But Risotto and Melone were not reassured by this:

"That mark belongs to Li Qing, and that swallow is probably being controlled by that kid named Giorno. They've all caught up with us!"

"Our whereabouts must have been exposed. But why? Do they have some hidden tracking methods?"

"Melone said in a panic."

This is indeed a problem with their intelligence work.

Their intelligence came from information gathered by the Passion Organization during Diavolo's reign, but this intelligence, collected from the enemy's perspective, was not detailed and might even have led to some subjective misunderstandings.

The above only vaguely records that the Gold Experience's abilities are "creating life" and "controlling animals and plants," and the content is very limited.

So until now, Melone and Risotto have no idea how their whereabouts were completely exposed to the enemy in such a short time.

But this issue seems to be no longer important.

Because shortly after throwing the swallow away, Melone was horrified to see in the rearview mirror—

Behind them, on the highway bridge that should have been used exclusively by cars, a bald man was running freely on his legs.

His speed was astonishing; at the very least, it was a speed that no human could achieve on foot.

Despite moving at such incredible speed, like a cheetah, the man's expression remained unchanged, and his steps were perfectly steady.

He was like a tireless machine, every leap and every swing of his arm was so precise and powerful.

In this situation, Melone was horrified to discover

His four-wheeled car was gradually being overtaken by that bald man with two fleshy legs.

"It's Li Qing!"

Melone said with a livid face:

"How is he so fast?!"

Although intelligence reports vaguely mentioned that Li Qing's physical abilities far exceeded those of ordinary people, Melone never imagined that "far exceeded those of ordinary people" meant "superman".

Being able to run at the speed of a car on two legs is a level that many stunt doubles cannot achieve.

"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!"

Melone unleashed a string of curses, venting his inner turmoil, fear, and grief:

"Can't we even save our own lives?"

With a roar, he decisively slammed on the gas pedal.

The engine roared furiously as the car sped across the wide sea-crossing bridge.

But that's all meaningless now.

Although Li Qing's speed was indeed insufficient when facing Melone's speed, which could result in his license being revoked, he was still quite fast.

But he had already followed the swallow and run close enough to the car while the enemy was completely unaware.

"Now you're trying to speed things up and get rid of me?"

"It's too late!"

A loud shout came from far behind the car.

Then, Risotto, turning to observe the enemy, immediately saw this scene:

As Li Qing sprinted at full speed, he moved close to the bridge railing and bent down to pull a steel pillar out of it.

These sturdy steel sections, tightly welded together and designed to withstand car impacts, were ripped off in such a massive chunk with a single, forceful pull.

Then, Li Qing gripped the steel pillar tightly.

He used his keen senses to pinpoint the car's location, then quickly raised his arm to gather strength while running, and finally hurled the steel pillar with a standard javelin throwing motion.

The steel pillar hurtled through the air, and Risotto's expression changed accordingly:

"Slow down!"

He shouted, and Melone instinctively slammed on the brakes.

Then, almost simultaneously, the flying steel pillar pierced the car tires like a spear.

The car, which had lost a rear wheel instantly, began to skid rapidly at high speed and hurtled uncontrollably toward the edge of the bridge.

Ultimately, the car crashed into the guardrail and narrowly escaped getting stuck on the side of the bridge.

Fortunately, Risotto reminded them in time.

If they hadn't taken timely measures to slow down, they would most likely have already plunged off the bridge and into the sea along with the out-of-control car.

"Boss Risotto, are you alright?"

Melone slapped open the inflated airbag in front of him and staggered out of the car.

"I'm fine."

Risotto also got out of the car in time.

Although he was fortunate enough not to be injured in the car accident, his tone was anything but relaxed:

"It's alright for now."

Looking at Li Qing who was rapidly chasing after him from behind, Risotto said "I'm fine" with great difficulty.

He could almost foresee the brutal battle that was about to unfold.

Melone, already deeply frustrated by reality, was even less able to accept such a despairing situation:

"The car has broken down, and Li Qing is right behind it."

"What do we do? Boss Risotto, how do we escape?!"

Despite facing a formidable enemy, Melone showed absolutely no will to fight.

This wasn't because he was terrified, but because he knew that this battle was truly unwinnable.

First of all, the Baby Face that Melone had painstakingly cultivated had been instantly killed by the "mysterious expert," and he now had no "children" to use.

With time so pressing and the enemy right in front of him, he couldn't possibly create another one on the spot.

In other words, Melone is now basically the same as an ordinary person without a Stand ability.

And Risotto, he

"We have no choice but to fight."

Risotto, however, didn't think as much as Melone did.

His tone subtly regained that reassuring calmness:

"It seems that only Li Qing is chasing after us for the time being."

"If we fight with all our might, there might still be hope."

"But."

Melone blurted out his worries in a panic:

"Boss Risotto, your Metallica are probably no match for Li Qing!"

Risotto's Stand is called "Metallica," which can manipulate iron sand, iron filings, and even trace amounts of iron in the human body using magnetic force.

This ability would be extremely powerful when used to assassinate ordinary humans.

Once inside the range of Metallica, Risotto can unleash a nightmare of "a long knife through flesh" on his enemies with just a thought.

Who in the world can defend against a knife emerging from inside their body, and who can withstand the fatal damage of blades growing from their internal organs?

No one can do it.

Unfortunately, Li Qing is not human at all.

Based on intelligence, this guy doesn't even have the concept of being "injured".

His body is similar to that of a virtual character in an arcade phone; as long as his health isn't depleted, his body will always remain intact.

Even if you stab a knife into his forehead, his movements will not be affected in the slightest.

In this way, the most powerful assassination ability of Metallica is essentially rendered useless.

"You can't beat him!"

For the first time, Melone questioned his captain's abilities.

But such questioning was not out of malice, but rather stemmed from a heartfelt concern:

"Alright then, Boss Risotto."

"Let me hold off Li Qing, you should run away now!"

"You can't stop it."

Risotto said very calmly:

"Melone, you can't buy any time right now."

"I'm afraid I won't be able to walk more than ten meters before Li Qing comes chasing me again, waving his Riot Games stained with your blood."

"I"

Melone was taken aback.

He immediately blurted out in a panic:

"Then, boss, hurry up and use your Metallica abilities to become invisible!"

"Even if I can only buy you a moment's time, you can use that moment to hide and escape!"

"."

Risotto glanced at Melone in silence:

"Li Qing is blind."

"Who am I hiding for?"

Upon hearing this, Melone's face grew even paler.

He suddenly realized that Li Qing's restraint towards Risotto was almost all-encompassing:

This blind man doesn't need sight at all; Risotto's ability to hide, which he relies on for self-defense, is meaningless in front of him.

"Stop talking, Melone."

"It's all too late."

Risotto sighed deeply.

Although talking doesn't take much time in this world, Li Qing is so fast and the distance between them is so close, even a short time would be enough for him to catch up.

Before they could even make a move to run away, Li Qing had already stood menacingly in front of them.

"Boss Risotto"

Melone swallowed hard, his voice low and somber, like that of a terminally ill patient who knew he was about to die.

Don't worry!

Risotto's voice remained calm and steady.

With unknown thoughts in mind, he earnestly told his subordinates, "Don't worry."

"We lost this time. I led everyone down a path of no return."

"So, Melone, at least..."

"At the very least, I will let you live."

Risotto stepped forward without flinching, his gaze unusually firm.

The sea breeze was whistling, and the water vapor was crisp and cold.

PS: Substitute Panel

Stand name: "Metallica"

Ontology - Risotto Nero

Destructive power: C

Speed: C

Range: C (capability range 10m)

Endurance: A

Precision of movement: C

Growth potential: C

A tiny Stand hidden within the main body, its ability is to control nearby iron with magnetic force.

It can expel iron from the body of people, animals, or plants that enter the range of the Stand in various forms (blades, needles, scissors, etc.), while causing physical damage from sharp iron objects and anemia due to iron deficiency.

It can coat its body with fine iron powder, creating various colors that allow it to blend into its environment, making it suitable for assassination work.