Polnareff looked up at him with a smile. In his eyes, I could see determination and fight. Polnareff wasn't planning to lose. I stood beside Polnareff and looked up at Dio, ready to attack him at any time.

   " You finally come out, Dio. "

Dio laughed at Polnareff's statement and clapped his hands. A smile was on his face and in his eyes, I could see amusement. 

   " A job well done, Polnareff. You managed to avenge your sister, but what's most impressive is that you also found the time to track me down, and bring my bride right to me. "

   " Ha, I'll gladly kill you to celebrate. But I think we should start with this first. "

Polnareff reached over and grabbed one of the curtains that hung on the wall. He spit some of the blood that was in his mouth on the delicate cloth. Dio only laughed at the action.

   " I'll give you a chance to rethink. Descend now and not only will you live, you'll be given the chance to serve me again. Or you could choose to rise forth. However, you would be ascending to your doom. Y/n, my love, you don't have a choice but to ascend. "

   " When the two of us first met fear consumed me like a curse. It gave your evil the ability to manipulate me like a puppet. That fear was the beginning of a futile existence with no end in sight. It was a fate worse than death. A wretched life void of any desire, other than doing your bidding. But that fear has been eradicated. Leaving only the burning will to fight. I've spent forty-five days traveling with Mr. Joestar and the others. And in honor of those who have died on that journey, I'll never fear you again."

Polnareff took the curtain once more, and spit more blood onto it. He released the curtain and grabbed my hand, tightly. Dio's, eyes flickered to the action. I held Polnareff's hand back, giving him reassurance that I was with him.

   " Y/n has been with me every step of the way and helped me when I didn't ask. She has become someone of importance to me, and I will not allow you to take her. You might have shared a love once, but you're evil to the core, and I will not allow you to taint her or stop her from doing the right thing. You say she has no choice but to ascend, but she has every choice in the world. Her life is much more than a protector and I will make sure she is alive long enough to see that. "

Dio didn't respond to Polnareff's statement. He stood at the top of the stairs looking down at us. The smile was still on his face, and his eyes still flashed amusement. 

   " My aren't we confident? Climb these stairs and put that bravado to the test. "

Polnareff's eyes and mine connected for a moment, and I nodded at him. We took a step forward, but when I stepped forward I felt my hand being tugged behind me. Instead of taking a step forward, it looked like Polnareff took a step back.

   " Polnareff? " I questioned. 

   " Quite the interesting decision, Polnareff. You've backed down after all. Is that your clever way of telling me you want your former life back? "

I took another step forward, but my hand left Polnareff's. I looked back at Polnareff to see him at the bottom of the stairs.

   " What the hell!? "

   " Polnareff, why are you backing down? " I asked.

   " I'm not! I went up the stairs! I'm sure. . .what happened? "

   " Problem? You seem to be shaken, Polnareff. But why is that? Could the winds of fear extinguish your burn of resolve? Perhaps the only steps you took were in your mind and in actuality fear over took your conscience. Wrestling control from your brain causing you to descend down the stairs. "

   " No way! I'm positive I just walked up those stairs. "

   " If that's true, how come my love was able to walk up, and you descend? "

Polnareff looked up at me, and I shook my head not knowing what to tell him. I had no idea, what happened. I was sure Polnareff was beside me walking up the stairs but when I turn around he's on the bottom stair.

   " You're thinking so hard, love, why not just ascend the stairs and come back to me. Your conscience, like Polnareff's, is drawn towards me and your soul wishes to be close to mine. "

   " No! That's not it! I'm not going up those stairs to stand beside you. I'll ascend with Polnareff by my side so we can kick your ass together. "

   " How, vulgar. I'm hurt from your words, my love. "

   " There's more coming, just wait you lemon head. Polanreff try running. "

Polnareff ran up the stairs, but he appeared back at the first step. Polnareff ran again, but he went back to the first step in the blink of an eye.

   ' His, stand. . .'

   ' It's The World! ' Polnareff thought finishing yours.

   " I'm curious, Polnareff. Have you ever wondered what the human soul desires most? Piece of mind, subconsciously all humans wish to overcome their fears."

Dio walked away from the top of the stairs and walked to the railing at the corner of the stairs. There was a throne-like chair waiting for him there. He took a seat and continued his explanation.

   " They seek fame, money, and dominance of others. All to obtain a sense of everlasting security. What a farce. They create bonds as a means of self-preservation. They say they wish to help others, purely for the sake of love and justice. But it's only to settle their feeble minds. Humanities' greatest desire is to latch on to serenity. So, why? Why refuse to serve me? What greater serenity is there? Return to me and all I speak of will be yours. You don't want to challenge me. There's just no point in running into a meaningless death. You deserve much more. "

I looked back at Polnareff and I could hear his breathing become uneven. He was shaking a little bit, and sweat was starting to fall down his face.

   ' He thinks, that he's unconsciously slipping back into Dio's submission. Really It's a trick. Dio is using his stand and his smooth words to trick Pol to go back to him. '

   " You're wrong Dio! " I shouted. 

Dio's eyes went from Polnareff to me. His gold eyes stayed on me and I could feel Polnareff's stare from behind me. The courage in my chest grew and the voice in my throat spoke out against him.

   " It wouldn't be a meaningless death. It would be the start of the end. We could create a path for others to follow and to help humanity. It's true that humanity is selfish, but not entirely. There are those who wish to save others, for the purity of love, because they believe in a better world. It might look hopeless but there's always hope if there's always one person who will stand up for what is right. Avdol and Iggy both died, but their deaths are not what you call meaningless. They helped pave the path for us to help humanity, to stand against those who wish to ruin and destroy the innocent. To defy people like you, who want to kill humans and bring the world under your foot. "

I turned my head towards Polnareff and I looked into his eyes.

   " Polnareff, don't let his smooth words, convince you what you are doing is unconscious! It's the power of his stand. I don't know how his stand works but you are not backing down unconsciously. I know you, and your will to fight is strong. Don't let him make you think you're nothing less. You're loyal for what is right. Don't forget why Avdol and Iggy sacrificed themselves for you and me! "

   " Hmmm, how encouraging, my dear. You always did have a way of seeing through me. " Dio spoke.

I looked back up at Dio, and our eyes connected. I felt my adrenaline kick, but when I blinked I was moved forward a bit.

   " What? But I didn't even move. "

   " But you did. You claim my words are sly and they can convince anyone to do what I wish. But you are a special case, my dear. "

I blinked and I was up another set of stairs. I didn't even move my legs.

   " I don't remember moving. "

   " You see, you know deep within yourself that you couldn't defeat me. We've spent too much time together and to put all our love aside would internally hurt you, so you moved upward to get closer to me. "

   " No! I left everything I had for you behind! I will not let you hurt the innocent and taint Jonathan's body! "

   " Oh, but you see. "

   " I. "

   " Already. "

   " Have. "

With every word, I appeared closer and closer to him. When I was close enough for him to reach out to me, I raised my foot towards his outstretched palm.

   " Hamon kick! "

My foot connected with his and a hole appeared in the middle of his palm. Dio brought his hand back to look at the hole, but it started healing. Dio only continued to smirk at me.

   " How, amusing that parlor trick of yours is."

   " Cut the bullshit, Dio! " Polnareff yelled. 

I looked back to see Pol jump up the small flight of stairs and land on the first platform. I jumped over Dio and landed behind him with Gold Spirit at my side. 

   " Y/n's right! I'll gladly die, if it's to uncover your stand's abilities! "

   " And I'm never going back to you! "

Silver Chariot lunged his rapier forward to attack and Gold Spirit sent her sword forward, to attack him from the back.

   ' He's cornered. '

   " How disappointing. "

Dio, still smiled as he stood from the throne. I saw something golden start to form beside him, and I processed that it was his stand. His stand floated beside him and had a golden glow that surrounded his figure.

   " Prepare to meet your end Polnareff!" 

   " So, that's your stand, The World. Bring it! "

   " Muda! "

   " Hamon! "

I charged my Hamon and I planned to run at him, while Gold Spirit helped Polnareff. Polnareff and I both knew that sunlight or Hamon would kill him, so he would take the stand and I would take Dio. Before one of us could reach him, the wall behind Polnareff exploded and let the light pool in. I looked at the hole in the wall and saw three figures standing in the light. The World went back to Dio, and Dio could only smirk. I knew he was amused by all of this.

   " It's Mr. Joestar! " Polnareff shouted.

   " There's no need to worry, Polnareff, Y/n. "

I looked at Dio, and he jumped and floated down the hall, he had grabbed my foot to drag me with him, but I grabbed the wall and Gold Spirit floated, beside our connected hand and foot.

   " Y/n! "

   " Give me a second! "

   " Hermit Purple! "

Joseph's stand wrapped around my hand that was holding on to the wall and they were pulling me back to them. Dio's fingers punctured my ankle, and he was draining me of my blood. 

   " Damn you. "

Gold Spirit cut his wrist and he floated off, leaving his hand behind with me. Hermit Purple yanked me back to Joseph and the others. When my ankle met the sunlight, Dio's hand crumbled into dust and burned away. Joseph set me back on the floor and held my shoulders. 

   " Y/n, how are you feeling? Did he hurt you at all? "

   " He just tried to suck me of my blood, so yes I'm fine. "

I looked down at my ankle and I saw two holes in my skin and they were bleeding. I ripped part of the curtain on the wall off and I wrapped my ankle.

   " A happy reunion can wait, that was Dio! After him! " Joseph yelled running up the stairs. 

   " We have to tell you something first! " Polnareff yelled.

The group of three stopped on the stairs and turned back to us. They were all paying attention but there were all eager to get to Dio.

   " You tell them, Pol. We'll take turns."

   " It was only out in the open for a moment or two but we saw him use his stand. Uh, well..."

   " We didn't actually see it, but we could feel it. "

   " Right. It's complicated but here's the long and short of it. We were heading up the stairs to beat the life out of the bastard when suddenly I moved back to where I started. Y/n also moved forward without even making a move. "

   " It sounds crazy, but his stand's power is something that can happen in only a few seconds. What that power is, we're not sure. It was so fast, that it was human and inhumanly impossible. "

   " All I know is that I sensed something utterly terrifying. " Pol said finishing the story.

No one said anything or made a move. I looked at Jotaro when I saw his head move, and he was looking around. Then he looked towards us.

   " Hey, where are Iggy and Avdol? "

I felt my heart skip a beat and it felt like someone plunged a knife into my chest. Even saying their names made my heart ache.

   " They. . .didn't make it. They're dead. Avdol died saving me, and Y/n saved me from death, but Iggy saved her from dying as well." Pol said holding his tears back.

I patted Polnareff's back and all was quiet. The others were taking it hard, but they also knew that we didn't have time to grieve. We had to keep moving.

   " Is that so? " Joseph asked.

   " Yes. . ."

   " We should go, Mr. Joestar. The sun is setting. Let's hurry. " Kakyoin said glancing outside and then back to us.

   " Yeah, you're right. "

Polnareff and I walked up the stairs to join them, and I finally noticed the brown bag Kakyoin was holding. I stood by JoJo, and Kakyoin threw the brown bag to the floor. I felt something soft touch my hand and I looked down to see JoJo holding my hand, gently.

   " I was worried. "

   " I know, but I'm fine. Iggy saved me. "

   " You almost died, I don't call that being okay. "

   " We can talk about it later, for right now, just be glad I'm alive and let's find Dio. What's in the bag? "

   " A loser Vampire, that works for Dio. "

   " Alright, out with it! What's waiting for us upstairs? " Kakyoin asked.

The bag moved, and a man popped his head out of the top. Kakyoin blocked the sun so the little man wouldn't burn.

   " The-The towers! There's also another room at the top! It's where Lord Dio dwell's during the day! "

   " Is there another staircase to the tower? "

   " No, these are the only set of stairs that leads there."

   " In that case lead the way. "

The vampire man got out of the bag and started running up the stairs. We ran after him, and let him lead us. As we ran I felt a presence beside me, and I saw Kakyoin running beside me.

   " Are you alright? "

   " I'm fine, for now. Let's get this over with and kill him. "

   " Polnareff said you saved his life. What did he mean? "

   " We were going against a stand user who was also a vampire, but he didn't know it. He was powerful and strong. Anything his stand ate went into a dark dimension that he had no idea what laid there. That's how Avdol died I'm assuming. Polnareff and I were injured, bad and we couldn't move, and his stand circled the room. Before he could reach Pol I pushed him out of the way, and took his place in front of death, but Iggy saved me. "

   " I see. That bastard. . ."

   " Don't worry, he's dead. Polnareff opened the windows and let the light destroy him. "

Kakyoin nodded and stayed by my side as we ran up the stairs. I could see the top of the stairs, and my adrenaline seemed to run faster. Jotaro and Joseph were the first two to reach the top of the stairs. Kakyoin and I made it after them, and we looked around the room. It was dark and the room had no furniture in the room. There was a coffin in the middle of the room with two candle stands standing at the top of the case. The flames were blue and it laid a blue hue across the room. There was a fireplace, but it looked like it had never been used. Joseph looked at JoJo and nodded. Star Platinum formed beside JoJo and he punched the window that was boarded shut. The wood pieces flew out of the room and the sun entered. The vampire who led us up here screamed at seeing the sunlight.

   " So, that's him. The two of us have never met, but I've known about this monster for longer than I care to remember. " Joseph said.

   ' I'm ready. After everything that's happened between us, it can't stand any longer. I've lost the Dio I once knew and now it's just a monster that's left inside of him. A monster that killed George Joestar, Baron Zeppeli, Dire, and Jonathan Joestar. The man who sent his minions to kill us, and who killed Avdol and Iggy. In memory of them, I will defeat you, Dio. And once this is over, I can finally grieve for those who have fallen and my my respects with your death. It's time. '

   " We'll attack the moment Dio steps out of the coffin. Stay at the ready. We don't know what tricks he has up his sleeves. " Joseph said.

My Hamon was charged and ready, Gold Spirit was ready to leave my side as well. I kept in mind that I had my Endgame to use, but that was the last resort option. We gathered around one side of the coffin and Joseph called out to the small vampire.

   " It's time loser. Open the coffin. "

   " W-W-What ever happens, Lord Dio. . .you have to know I never betrayed you. "

   " You did, by not fighting back. " I told the vampire.

   " Please don't be angry with me! "

   " Enough with the groveling! Open the damn coffin! " Joseph yelled.

The man whispered to the coffin once more before putting his hand on the lid. 

   " Get ready everyone. "

He started sliding the lid off, but when the light hit the inside of the coffin the small vampire that opened it appeared in the coffin with his mouth cut open. I looked up and saw him no longer by the lid.

   ' How did he get in there so fast!? '

   " Why. How did I get in here? " He cried.

   " What the hell!? How did he-My eyes were locked on loser boy the entire time! Did anyone else see him get in the coffin!? " Jotaro yelled.

   " Joseph, this is what Polnareff and I were talking to you about! We moved without seeing ourselves move! We didn't even feel ourselves moving! That means he's outside of it, somewhere! " I yelled grabbing Joseph's shoulder.

   " Get out of here!" He yelled.

I ran towards the window and jumped out of it and started heading towards the ground. The sun's rays felt warm against the cold wind that was blowing.

   " Damn you! " I heard Pol shout.

   " Joseph, Polnareff's still inside! "

Joseph shot his Hermit Purple into the room and grabbed Polnareff. He brought him out into the light.

   " What are you doing!? Come on! "

Gold Spirit formed at my side as we fell and I looked back at Polnareff to see him angry.

   " Hey! Let me go! " 

We were all falling, but we still had time before we hit the ground to figure out what the hell had happened. Everyone had their stands out, prepared to use them.

   " Okay, what was that feeling back there? The ominous presence it was giving off, was far more powerful than any other stand that our group has encountered before. It was like knowing a bulldozer is coming after you just from the sound of the roaring engine! " Kakyoin yelled through the air.

   " Yeah, I sensed it too. An insane lust to kill us! It felt like someone shoving an icicle up my ass! If we hadn't escaped when we did, whatever that was would have killed us, for sure! " Joseph yelled.

We fell further to the ground, but when we passed by one of the walls, there were small circular objects hanging off the building. We each grabbed one, and when I grabbed one I felt pain between my shoulder and arm from holding on to the circular object after falling a couple of feet. We used the circular objects to climb up that part of the building and stand on the platform. Above us was the tall tower we had just escaped from. Three-fourths of the sky was under the city line, and there was only a small portion of light left.

   " This is bad, the sun's going to be gone in a few moments, damn it." I said agitatedly.

   " Dio will have the advantage in the dark. " Kakyoin said agreeing with me.

   " Hang on, come again!? Please tell me you guys are not planning to run away and hide until dawn! Listen to me Mister Joestar, I'm finishing this. There's no way I'm running up and heading for the hills. " Polnareff said with anger in his tone.

   " I want to get this over as much as you do. But the tide of the battle has turned. While not up close, we faced his stand, The World, while we still don't know what its powers are. We're fighting blind here! Think of it this way, it's like mountain climbing without knowing the route. If we try to fight Dio right now, we'll all die! That fact is as inevitable as burping after drinking a cola! Dio would be a fool to not come racing after us! But he only has until sunrise to finish us! In the meantime, we need to learn the extent of his stand's power and find a way to put him down! If we can just hold out until then-"

   " No way! I'm not going back on my word! Avdol and Iggy died because of my weakness and my ability to act! I have to kill Dio. I'll go to Hell and back to do it. But what I won't do is run away from my obligation! "

Polnareff turned to run, but I grabbed his arm and forced him to look at me. I felt shaky on my feet and my heart was beating extremely fast. I knew it was fear mixing into my grief. I had obligations too, but I was going to be smart about it.

   " Polnareff, listen! "

He didn't try to run, but turned towards me, and held my arms. I knew he felt how shaky I was. 

   " Polnareff, you're not the only one with obligations. I have to kill him too! For everyone that has died, for George, Jonathan, everyone! But please be smart about this! I don't want to lose anyone else! After Iggy and Avdol. . .I can't handle it anymore! My grief and sadness are consuming me, and I can't even spend a second to honor them and wish them happy travels because I've always been thrown into the next generation with a new threat. "

   " Y/n. . ."

   " Just, listen to us. Please, I am begging you. "

Polnareff held your arms and when he looked into your eyes, he saw someone broken. Someone, who welcomed death, because of the weight on her shoulders. A weight that no one should be crushed under. Polnareff nodded his head and walked back to the group with you. Kakyoin put his arms around you in a hug while JoJo stepped up with a plan.

   " Polnareff, Y/n, and I will fight Dio from the back while Kakyoin and the old man will retreat. He'll follow you two and then we will follow him. We'll be fighting him from both angles, at once. "

   " I'm gonna go with Joseph and Kakyoin. He's not going after you guys alone. He's also after me, and I'm willing to bet if he saw me separated from the group he wouldn't think twice before getting me first." I said.

Jotaro stared at me with intensity behind his eyes. I knew he didn't like what I said, but it had to be done.

   " I said I would protect you. I promised to stay by your side. So, your ass is staying with me. "

   " JoJo, I've got Kakyoin and Joseph with me. It'll be fine. He's not only chasing you guys but me. So, if he sees me with Joseph he'll think he has a two-in-one package. His lover and the source of blood he needs. "

   " Y/n-"

   " We'll protect her, Jotaro. " Kakyoin said placing a hand on my shoulder.

Jotaro looked at Kakyoin, and they stared at each other until he finally nodded. We talked about the detail a bit more and agreed on what to do.