P H A N T O M B L O O D

"Go on, go on. Go bravely on, into the blackest night."

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Dread filled you after you left the tunnel. Windknights Lot was, as it turned out, a cute little mining town with rows of house and wheat fields all drenched in sunlight.

The fading light of the setting sun that is.

You'd been in a fairly alright mood before you left the tunnel, despite how furious Zeppeli had been at you for drinking the wine before he could explain the whole not spilling it while you fought the zombie thing.

You weren't allowed to fight the zombie after that. Luckily though, you were still allowed to fight Dio! Woo! Just kidding, you're basically already dead.

Zeppeli had explained all sorts of weird vampiric abilities to you, all of the incredible and terrifying supernatural advantages Dio had over you. But it's okay since you'd have the biggest advantage, the sun!

Well not anymore.

You'd never get to see the light of day again! Or worse, you might never see Erina again! Maybe Dio would even go kill her after spitting on all your graves like daddy dearest.

Ha, daddy.

Speaking of Jojo, boy were you glad to have him here! Not only did he defeat the Simon murdering, knife machine zombie but he also looked super hot while doing it!

Maybe dying in the dark wouldn't be so bad if Mr pretty blue eyes, massive muscles, light of your life was here.

Ah just looking at him as he walks beside you in the final sunset of your short life brings you so much joy. Though he actually looks rather sad.

"What's wrong, dearest?" You ask, walking in front of Jojo so that he has to stop moving and focus on you.

"Don't worry about me at a time like this, (N/N). We must be in our right minds to defeat Dio," Jojo replies grimly, a familiar determination flickering through his unwavering eyes. So blue.

"Pft, I always worry about you. Been second nature since 81'. Now seriously, what's the matter? Is it your dad again? We're going to avenge him," You move your hands to cradle his big, kissable face. Cradling the warm skin between your fingers, "We'll be okay."

"Promise?" Jojo asks softly, leaning into the touch. So that's what he was worried about.

"Uh-huh, come morning we'll both leave this cavity and go home to Erina. No matter what, yeah? We'll make it home to her. We'll make it," You lower one hand to hold his and intertwine your fingers, "Pinky promise."

Jojo leans his forehead against yours and you both stay still for a moment, for a little eternity, before he sighs and pulls away. You want to hold him in your arms forever. You can't.

Surveying the town once more he says, "Famers seeing to the harvest. Thus far all is well. However, Dio lurks in the shadows waiting to strike."

"Ow!" A high pitched voice yells out from behind the two of you and you both whirl around.

"What happened?" Jojo asks while you rush to the honeysuckle blonde on the floor and overdramatically cradle the man who's a good few years older than you.

"Robbie no! Don't go into the light! Stay with me, you cockney bastard!"

"Ur well... Speedwagon has been begging me to share in your power," Zeppeli lifts his finger guiltily, "I meant to help him create just a little bit of Hamon as I did that first day with you. It seems I was too rough. Did my finger slip?"

The brunette says something in Italian that you don't understand. However, what you do understand is the 'my dear Speedwagon' he finishes his sentence with. No way was he gonna gaslight Robbie into forgiving him with flattery after nearly fingering him to death!

That doesn't sound right... Oh well.

"Robbie darling, I'll protect you from that nasty Italian man and his strange, cruel Italian words," Before you can insult the Zeppeli (or his nation) further a small figure swings down outta nowhere and nicks a bag off your group before landing on the other side of the golden-coloured lake.

Did you just get robbed by a child? Yo, thank goodness Dio's gonna kill you so you don't have to live with the embarrassment.

"Our culprit is a lad it would seem," Jojo says playfully.

"His crime was well planned. I salute the boy's ingenuity," Zeppeli says respectfully.

"How come you two are heaping praise on that little imp? He's making off with every pound and loaf we have to our names! Oi, bring it back!" Speedwagon yells only for the both of them to remain unbothered. Well, you sniffle slightly but that's hardly the response he's trying to rally.

"My homemade bread... Gone like crumbs on the breeze," You sigh, falling to your knees and clutching your heart.

"Yes, he took our money but think of how he might be able to help," Jojo responds calmly, trying to pacify Speedwagon like the blonde's an idiot. Which he might be. It's not for you to judge.

"Agreed. A guide who knows the lay of the land would not be unwelcome," Zeppeli reaches down and touches the golden lake, coating the glistening surface in Hamon ripples and... Walking across it? Skipping and laughing like a total dork as if he's not performing the same miracles as the crucified figure of a major world religion.

Zeppeli = Jesus confirmed?

"What the? He's walking on it!" Speedwagon exclaims, only to have Jojo jump up onto the surface of the lake as well.

Your boyfriend = Jesus confirmed?

"Jojo, your shoes are getting wet! Try to bolster your Hamon for the sake of your wardrobe!" Zeppeli lectures.

Once they'd both reached the other side of the lake Jojo punches the rock the thief was scaling.

"Ah, that was a nice diminuendo! That overdrive passed through the rock as smooth as silk!" Your mentor compliments. Well, maybe not your mentor after the whole tunnel thing where you failed his test by drinking his booze.

"Do you think I struck the right spot, Baron?" Jojo asks casually.

"No... But a couple of paces to the left should do it. Two pounds says I'm right," Zeppeli responds.

"What two pounds? We just got robbed remember?" You ask, looking up at the rock and putting down the blonde you'd carried like a baby over the lake, "Though, three quid says you're wrong."

You grin in victory as the spot of rock right in front of the boy's face lights up with Hamon and he falls backwards with a cry of, "Why'd it shock me!"

"Molto bene," The baron says, as the little boy looks around confused from Jojo's snug, snug arms.

"Hm, what happened? Who are you? Why are you holding me?" He asks in one of the cutest little voices you've ever heard.

"Lad are you alright? The fall shouldn't have hurt you that badly. Did I use too much Hamon?" Jojo inquires in concern.

You poke at the boy's freckly face slightly only for the Hamon you channel to find nothing out of the ordinary, "He's not hurt at all. What happened?"

"I'd guess that we were supposed to give chase when he took our bag. Look around," The Italian man says and you realise that he's probably right. Not only has the sun gone down but you're on a small island covered in gravestones.

"Huh, this is-" Jojo starts.

"A graveyard!" Speedwagon finishes.

Oh and like magic, lecherous fingers from the hollow ground wrap around all your ankles.

So creepy.

"It's no accident that we now find ourselves held by these restless cadavers, my friends. Our young thief, he was hypnotised and made to lure us here." Zeppeli announces and you sigh.

Of course, this tiny shithole island is your burial ground.

"There Jojo, it's him!" Speedwagon points at a tall rock in the distance and all you Hamon users gasp.

At the top of the rock is the one and only Dio, posing menacingly in front of the moon, "The sun is gone. You will not live to see it rise once more."

What a delight he is.

"Dio!" Jojo glares up at the blonde only for his attention to be taken away by the sudden appearance of zombies bursting from the ground.

"Ah, why are they crawling out?!" The little boy panics so you kick away the zombies as reassuringly as someone can.

"I... I've been trying to steal my spine leading up to this little tête-à-tête but it's like the grim reapers breathing down me neck. I'm all a sweat. How am I meant to find my courage if that monsters staring right at us, huh?" Speedwagon says, "Sir Joestar loved him and all he got for his troubles was death. Listen you, you're gonna pay for it!"

You blink slightly. You loved Dio as well. But here you are to kill him- not to die yourself. You had sworn your loyalty to the Joestars years ago now and this attractive vampire asshole wasn't going to hurt any more of the noble family. Especially not now that you're courting the shit outta Jojo.

You have pinky promises to keep! This is real shit.

"I didn't know you could speak french Robbie! If you're scared, you can hold my hand and I'll protect you," You say trying to comfort the scarred street thug only to be rudely interrupted by some zombies attacking you both.

"This is Dio Brando, he and his minions have no power to attack us while we stand in the daylight. But here, in a field of darkness and carrion, he thinks us easy prey. Ripe for the taking at any moment" Zeppeli informs the small boy, "A creature of such guile must not have the mask! Somehow we will purge the world of this evil!"

'Somehow'? Goodness, that makes you feel a little under-equipped. Maybe you were, bringing an umbrella and the zombie's trophy knife to a fight with an immortal, people-eating blonde bombshell but it's gonna be fine in the end, right?

The vampire towering over your group makes a weird motion with his finger and a barrage of zombies charge out of the ground. Totally a scene you'll be seeing in nightmares, huh? That's a thing to look forward to.

"Even mouldering knights obey him!" Zeppeli yells as you all have to jump back and avoid the undead fighters.

"What do they call you lad?" Jojo asks the small boy. The colours of the rocky scenery change to an array of pinks and purples.

"Er, Poco." The boy responds timidly and you blink, is that Spanish?

"Well Poco, hang on tight. It's time for us to go!" Jojo declares and you gape.

"You're not actually bringing him into the fight-" You begin only to be interrupted by the baron running in.

"(Y/N), Jojo this way!" Zeppeli continues running and you and Jojo follow.

"Lead on!" Jojo yells and you both watch as Zeppeli Hamon slaps a zombie, sending it back into other zombies like melting dominoes.

Jojo zoom punches another zombie much to the awe of Poco and you just continue using Hamon to kick the occasional zombie's head off.

Your teacher jumps below the vampire's massive pile of rocks and glares up at him, changing the colours of the world to normal, "Dio!"

The evil blonde looks at him sceptically... Oh right, this is their first meeting. Kinda awkward actually.

"Jojo and Speedwagon have told me much! To the mask that allows you to act out your evil heart, I say only this," Zeppeli's glare intensifies, "This time I break you!"

With a way with words like that, it's no wonder he's married. Apparently. You're not sure if he was joking about that or not.

"Hey, bambino!" The Italian man snaps his fingers, "It's easy to be cocky when you're up there out of harm's way! Come and fight!"

"You dare to address me as such, insect? I, the pinnacle of creation? To mere humans, I am like unto a god! So why would I cavort down in the filth with you?" Dio responds furiously, eyes gleaming red as he sends a blast of something dark and dangerous down towards you all.

You block it by opening your umbrella but the force of whatever it was makes your arms shake. Though it's always good to see Dio being his usual humble self.

"He almost knocked me off my feet with a blast of pure hate!" The Zeppeli yells, answering the unasked question of what it was Dio had thrown at you, "Already this Dio has the soul of a tyrant!"

Dio raises an arm into the air, using the other to lift his... odd shirt, revealing a nasty gash on his abs, "All of the scars from my battle with Jojo have healed, all save this one. Come charlatan, relinquish your blood that I may erase this imperfection!"

Now with it being Victorian times and all, it's very rare for you to see some abs and normally you'd like to savour this sort of real but sadly Dio had to ruin it by speaking about eating your friends.

"Tell me, to undo your injuries, how many innocent lives did you consume?" Zeppeli asks, lowering the brim of his hat. From behind the Italian man, you and Jojo nervously glance at each other.

"I don't know," Dio points at his sharpened fangs, "How many loaves of bread have you eaten in your lifetime?"

A fucking lot that's for sure.

You and Zeppeli both gasp whereas Jojo angrily cries out, "Dio!"

It's been a habit he'd had since you were all twelve, yelling Dio's name whenever something went wrong. You always found it endearing.

Jojo goes to attack Dio but Zeppeli stops him, baffling the bluenette, "What are you doing?"

Zeppeli stands his ground, not allowing his student to risk attacking Dio, "I will take him."

The agile Italian uses his Hamon to jump over the tops of rocks and graves and climbs up to Dio.

"Your doom is nigh, Dio!" Zeppeli prepares to Hamon jab the blonde only for his attack to sputter out against Dio's palm. You, Jojo and Poco all gasp.

Shit, there goes Hamon being a super good vampire killing technique. Couldn't even hurt a high five.

"Solar Hamon pierce the night! Sunlight yellow overdrive!" The Italian yells like he's casting an incantation, managing to stay suspended in the air.

Familiar yellow sparks shoot up the vampire's arm and Jojo exclaims in relief, "He did it! His Hamon is moving its way up Dio's arm!"

Wait, so why is the attractive vampire smirking?

"Consider this an eclipse," Dio says smugly, ice spreading from his undead arm to the Italian's.

"Your hand... It's freezing me!" The baron's arm turns a blue colour and all the veins seem to burst, sending icicles of blood spraying. The Italian screams in pain, you cover Poco's eyes.

"It's simple really. For Hamon to work, blood must flow through this arm with which you hit me. I've frozen the very blood in your veins, rendering your attack powerless!" The vampire continues smirking and the Italian continues raining ice blood, "I have mastery over my body in ways you can't even begin to dream. You see, I just vapourised the moisture in my left arm. The force of it pulled in all heat in the immediate area, freezing your arm in the process."

Your eyes widen. That's a very good way to stop Hamon, isn't it? What are you even meant to do to combat that? Aim for his eyes because he'll go blind if he tries to freeze them? Fat chance of that working. Try and trick him into freezing his dick off? As if.

What are you meant to do without a decent plan? The answer is to die. Sadly there's no way someone's dying on your watch. Except for Dio that is.

The vampire begins aiming his fist at the stuck Hamon master, and oh would you look at that, now was probably a good time to act.

More specifically, it's time for Jojo to act.

"Time for the coup de grâce! This punch is going to shatter your arm and your skull like a windowpane!" The vampire lunges forward only for the attack to be blocked by Jojo's hand.

"Think again! I'm ending your reign of terror here and now!" The blue-haired man yells. Golly, that's your man. Wow. Ah, wait, shit, he's taken Poco up there with him.

You stay on the ground, concocting a decent enough plan to help your companions.

"You're blood! I can feel the evil coursing through it!" Jojo continues to exclaim as all four of them remain frozen in the position of the blocked attack. Well somewhat literally frozen actually.

"Stop it. You're going to set me all a-tremble," The vampire responds in a kinda weird suggestive way, "Masterful block by the by. For now, your mentor lives, I didn't think you had it in you."

"Jojo!" The Zeppeli yells and the two Hamon users nod at each other.

"That said if you keep cutting in like this, I'm liable to lose my temper," Dio says and like props to his voice actor honestly. His voice is so very nice.

"Jojo/Baron now!" The two human men say in sync and charge their arms up with Hamon.

"It's useless!" The blonde yells furiously as the little bolts of Hamon fade away. Was that a wry you heard?

Though something about their actions gives you an idea to rescue your friends from the sticky situation.

"As you can see by freezing my arm that puny attack had nowhere to go! If you think Hamon will save you, you are sorely mistaken!" Dio yells and you watch as he prepares to freeze Jojo's arm as well.

That's when you act, punching the rock Dio's standing on and sending Hamon up buzzing up through it quickly.

The vampire jumps up to avoid the Sendo and sends your friends flying with his arms. Good, they're safe enough on the ground. Though you doubt your own safety when the vampire lands back on the tall rock and smirk-glares down at you, "Trying to hurt me (Y/N)? How quaint. I was wondering what you were doing scurrying about down there. Though I can't say I'm against seeing you below me."

You blink slightly, not really sure how to respond, "Is this about what happened two days ago? You were drunk!"

Before the vampire can respond the exchange is interrupted by Jojo loudly yelling, "What do we do? Hamon's the only weapon in our arsenal! How do we stand against him?"

You quickly jump back over to the group and Dio poses on top of his rockpile villainously again, "So anaemic, this parlour trick of yours. You should save your breath!"

The ground begins shaking from below and you defensively stand in front of the injured Zeppeli and human heater Speedwagon.

"Huh is it an Earthquake?" Speedwagon panics, clinging onto the Italian and you.

"You're going to need that air for all the screaming I have in store for you!" The vampire yells and raises a hand high in the air.

If we're being honest here, this isn't the first time Dio has said something like this to you. Though the circumstances have changed a lot.

"Bruford! Tarkus! Arise and fight at my command! Let their cries of anger resound so that all may know my glory!"

The ground below Jojo begins to rise above the rest of the ground. Revealing two figures underneath the massive rock.

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Whoa, this is long! And late haha, sorry about that. Hope you enjoyed <3