I'd like to ask that people hold off their questions concerning my story from now on. They'll all be answered in time. There are some of Araki's old ideas that I intend to act on, but not all of them. With that said, enjoy the penultimate confrontation, and all that I have changed about it.

Inside an inner chamber of the mansion, Wamuu was healing himself through meditation. "They've gotten far stronger than I thought they might," Kars noted, "At this rate, only obtaining the Red Stone of Aja can protect us from annihilation." "I was noting it down below," Wamuu said, "That if you had faced Caesar and Applejack, you most likely would have died." Kars closed his eyes. "Yes... I believe you are right. I thank you for being the one to test their skills. But that still leaves the progress Jojo made. As well as those other two. I recognized them as Hamon masters, likely the ones who trained Caesar and Jojo."

"They obviously trained them well," Wamuu noted, "I never thought Master Esidisi could be defeated." Kars nodded sadly. "He did all he could to send the stone to us, and it still got intercepted by circumstances none of us could have predicted. How unfortunate that we would awaken in a time when humanity is on the verge of war with itself. Though I cannot say we are any better. Esidisi and myself slew countless members of our own kind when they tried to execute me out of fear of my experiments."

Before their conversation could continue, they felt the presence of Hamon elsewhere in the mansion. "Sounds like they found Wired Beck," Wamuu noted, "I hope they don't waste too much energy dispatching him." Kars chuckled. "He's likely been killed before you even got finished with that sentence. Such a foolish creature. I'm not sorry for his passing. He represented the worst in humanity. Not to mention he was naive, not willing to understand the true nature of his powers and relying only on superstitious legends." He headed into the shadows. "They'll be here soon. Finish your recovery."

Wamuu nodded and completed the task of closing up his remaining wounds. Just then, the Joestar group opened the door to the chamber. "Long time no see, Wamuu," Joseph said with a grin. "I've been waiting," Wamuu said, "You've definitely gotten stronger. That's good. Thanks to you defeating Master Esidisi, and my own fight against your two friends, I think I have a good understanding of your level of skill." "Be careful," Lisa Lisa said, "There's two sets of footprints in the room... And about a hundred breaths."

"Then you would be the one who trained Jojo," Wamuu noted, "Such a clear-headed and insightful woman. I can easily see how you turned Jojo and Caesar into true warriors in so short a time. You were even able to pick up on all the discreet breaths within the shadows." He focused an air flow into the nearby fire, revealing a hundred vampires standing like an army on the ceiling, Kars at the other end of the room sitting in a recliner. Kars smirked. "The one known as Jojo is for Wamuu to fight," he said to the army, "Kill the others."

"Hold on," Lisa Lisa said, "If you kill us, then you lose the stone forever." Kars raised an eyebrow and halted his forces. "How do you mean?" "Did you really think we brought it with us?," Lisa Lisa asked, "We still have one ally on the outside, with orders to blow up the stone using an explosive if we're not out within a certain time frame." Kars considered his options. There was no guarantee this ally of their's was nearby, and Lisa Lisa didn't indicate how much time he had to look. It could be a bluff, but he couldn't risk gambling on that. "Very well... Name your terms."

"After Jojo is finished with his fight with Wamuu," Lisa Lisa said, "You and I will have a one-on-one fight. The winner will get the stone." Wamuu chuckled. "Even if she's somehow bluffing, Master, I don't think we have the luxury of turning her down at this point." Kars smiled. "Yes, I suppose you're right. Very well then, your terms are accepted. Wamuu, since you and Jojo will be the first to fight, I leave it to you to select the time and place." Wamuu nodded. "As for the time, there's a full moon tonight, perfect lighting for a battle outdoors."

"No wasting time then," Joseph noted, "I like that idea. And the location?" "Fifteen kilometers from here, at the foot of Piz Bernina," Wamuu replied, "There is an antique stone circle called the Skeleton Hell Stone. In ancient times, it was constructed for the purpose of astrology, but later became an arena where numerous warriors battled for their fates. Winners received a glorious fate, while losers received a gruesome one. Master, if I may offer one final condition."

Kars looked interested. "Neither Jojo nor I have reason to kill each other, only fight," Wamuu explained, "So I request that the winner be given to right to decide whether the loser lives or dies." Kars nodded. "If that is your wish. It makes no difference to me, since it is only my fight with the woman that matters to our goals. However, I will add an additional stipulation. The Red Stone of Aja will be brought to the sight at midnight, without the bomb. And the two older Hamon masters will be our hostages until it arrives." "What do you want to do, Lisa Lisa?," Messina asked. "We don't have the luxury of refusing," Lisa Lisa admitted, "Jojo, Caesar, Applejack. You know where the stone is. Go retrieve it and bring it as instructed. We'll be waiting."

Back at the hotel, the trio went to Lisa Lisa's room to find the stone. "So, Caesar," Joseph said, "How would you feel if I said I felt like sparing Wamuu should I win?" Caesar considered it. "I don't think I'd have any objections. Ultimately Kars is the one responsible for my father's death. And Wamuu is clearly honorable. The only question is... Would we be forced to kill him after his master's death?" "Let's burn that bridge when we cross it," Joseph said, "First we need to get the stone."

He opened Lisa Lisa's suitcase and found the stone on top of all the clothes. "There's the stone... And no bomb. I had a feeling she was bluffing. Kars may not have been fooled either but he still accepted giving us a chance to beat him." He grinned. "Maybe I should take the opportunity to bring her a change of panties. Ow!" Applejack and Caesar had hit him in the back of the head. "I appreciate why you're joking at a time like this," Caesar clarified, "But that was just in poor taste."

"Sorry," Joseph muttered. He then noticed that he had knocked over a picture frame when he was stuck. Curious, he picked it up, and his eyes bugged out of his head. "Why does Lisa Lisa have a picture of my grandparents?" Sure enough, the photo was of Erina and Jonathan as they currently looked. "Nevermind that," Applejack said, "Look at the other picture. Isn't that Straizo holding a baby?" Sure enough, the other picture depicted Straizo as they had recently seen him, along with a much younger Erina, Speedwagon, Jonathan, and Twilight.

"This was dated May 22 of 1889," Caesar noted. "That's when my grandparents got back from their honeymoon," Joseph explained, "Aunt Twilight and Uncle Speedwagon had joined them for one last photo to remember all the good times." "So this is what your family looked like when they were younger," Applejack said, "But who's the baby Straizo is holding?" "I don't know," Joseph admitted, "I mean, at first one might think it was my father, but he hadn't been born until a few months after this picture was taken, and besides that baby is clearly a girl."

Applejack rubbed her chin. "Y'know, I didn't know when this was a good time bring this up... But back at Air Supplena Island, I often saw Lisa Lisa talking with Jonathan and Twilight. They seemed to be friendly, and Jonathan and Twilight clearly acted like they knew Lisa Lisa." "There's something about Lisa Lisa that connects her to my family's history," Joseph noted, "But what could it be...?" He thought about it before a crazy idea came to him. He slapped his hands against his face as he called out, "DOUBLE SHOCK!"

Skeleton Heel Stone was a stone circle that in many ways resembled the more famous Stonehenge. It was here that Wamuu and Kars stood on a nearby cliff, their army of vampires behind them. In the middle of the arena stood Lisa Lisa and Messina, awaiting the arrival of their students. Just before midnight, Joseph, Caesar, and Applejack arrived, Joseph holding the Red Stone. He lit a match before Kars' eyes and held it to the stone, causing a beam of light to emit from the stone.

Kars nodded in satisfaction. "Good, you've kept your word, so we'll keep ours." As they prepared the arena, Joseph handed Lisa Lisa the frame. "I got a good look at it," he said, "You're the baby in this picture, aren't you?" Lisa Lisa sighed. "Yes, I am. My birth parents were on the same ship as your grandparents when they had their honeymoon. But my parents were killed in secret by Dio, and as a result I was raised by Straizo, who also taught me Hamon."

"That's crazy, though," Applejack said, "That would make you fifty years old. I get that Hamon slows down aging, but still..." "I'm more surprised that it was Straizo who raised you," Joseph admitted. Lisa Lisa grimaced. "Yes... I heard about how you were forced to kill him when he went mad from his fear of aging. It... Leaves me conflicted." "You mean the fact that your own son killed your adopted father," Joseph said, making Lisa Lisa gasp. "I pieced it together," Joseph admitted, "Along with the information that you were friendly with Granddad and Aunt Twilight."

Lisa Lisa smiled. "Yes, it's true. You are my son, Jojo. Being raised by Straizo I grew up alongside your father and fell in love with him. I'm not surprised Jonathan and Twilight recognized me, and it made me feel so nostalgic that I just had to talk with them again." Caesar blinked in surprise. "So Jojo is the son of my Hamon teacher? I'm starting to understand where the 'double shock' came from." Just then a rumbling sound could be heard. "It looks like it's time," Wamuu noted.

To the surprise of the five humans, four horses came running into the arena, fangs prevalent in their mouths. "Vampire horses?," Messina asked, "Talk about bizarre." The horses were bigger and more muscular than regular horses, and could be seen carrying two chariots behind them, being driven by two more normal vampires. The horses stopped right in front of Kars and Wamuu as the arena lit up with the fires of several burners and torches.

"This will be our battle, Jojo," Wamuu explained, "A chariot race like the ones you've no doubt read about in the Roman Empire. Normally we'd fight until one of us was dead, knocked from our chariot, or crashed, but given the request I made earlier we'll forgo the first condition." "One thing I want to make sure of first," Joseph said, "How do I know those horses won't be biased towards you?" "The reins are capable of channeling Hamon," Wamuu assured him, "I will be using my brute strength. Both are necessary to control these beasts, as their strength is equal to a hundred and fifty regular horses. That's just under the power of modern automobile engines, but far more wild and difficult to control since they are living beings."

Curious, Joseph grabbed the reigns on one of the horses and channeled his Hamon. Sure enough the beast instantly became tame. "Looks like we have our fight set," he agreed, "All right then." He shed his coat and hat while Wamuu donned his traditional fighting gear. "Looks like they're both ready to take this seriously," Kars noted. He saw the other four select a defensible position to watch the race while also insuring none of the vampires would try to make a quick meal of them.

"There's an overcast for a few minutes," Wamuu said, "So I thought I should offer you some tips as a sign of good sportsmanship. The track is nine-hundred and sixty meters long. These horses are capable of running at speeds of sixty kilometers an hour. For each lap we complete until the fight's end, a weapon will appear that only the first one to complete the lap will have access to. Beyond that, there are no limitations. We are free to use whatever skills we have to either crash each other's chariot, or knock each other off our respective chariots."

"One thing I should mention," Joseph said, "I've though about it, and I've decided that should I win, I'll spare you." "I've also considered whether or not to allow you to live should I win," Wamuu admitted, "I still haven't chosen, so I'll make my choice based on your performance should I win." Joseph smiled. "I'd better give it my all, then." "Present the first weapon!," Kars called out, "The battle will begin when the moon peeks out from the clouds!"

A two-handed warhammer was placed on the pillar at the end of the track behind the two warriors. All around the vampires were chanting Wamuu's name, as if they expected him to win. The moon soon appeared from behind the clouds, signaling the start. But Wamuu got an unexpected surprise when the rubble beneath his wheels gave way. 'Jojo must have rigged the stones before the race while everyone was focused on the sky. Clever move. Now he has the head-start he needs to grab the warhammer before me. I need to catch up quickly if I hope to grab the next weapon.'

Wamuu was able to pull away from the broken rubble and started closing in on Joseph, but not in time to prevent him from grabbing the warhammer. Joseph started coating the hammer in oil to allow it to channel Hamon, then saw Wamuu slowing down. 'I see... He expected me to take an early lead and grab the hammer. His real goal is to use the pillar itself as a weapon.' Quickly he turned around, holding the hammer while charging it. Waiting until Wamuu swung the pillar down, Joseph pulled the reigns to dodge to the side.

The hapless vampire that had been holding onto the pillar was crushed, and the momentum from the swing and the broken pillar caused Wamuu to drop it. "You almost had me there!," Joseph admitted, "But you're right, I did read about chariot races! In this contest, it's not about who's faster, but who's able to use the tools at their disposal better!" He demonstrated by leaping to Wamuu's chariot with the intent on striking him from there. The rules said the first to get knocked from their chariot lost, but it didn't count if a contestant left their chariot willingly.

Realizing this, Wamuu quickly slipped into the body of one of the horses, its undead nature letting it keep running. Joseph made to smash the horse, but Wamuu reached out a hand to grab his leg and crush it. "Real back and forth, this one," Joseph noted as he slipped out of his boot before Wamuu could crush it and jumped back on his own chariot, turning it around to follow Wamuu. "A good maneuver Jojo," Wamuu said as he emerged from the horse's body, "But there's another reason why I chose this tactic."

Joseph grunted. 'Of course. While he had to hold the reins he couldn't use his Holy Sand Storm. But now he's got both hands free.' Wamuu breathed in deep as he thrust his arms out. "Holy Sand Storm!" The attack launched out, seeming to strike Joseph head on. But, to the amazement of the crowd, Joseph managed to pull away from the attack even as he was being hit by it. "What happened!?," Kars asked in shock, "How did he withstand the Holy Sand Storm!?"

Wamuu cried out in pain as his arms started to tear apart, to the point they looked like they might fall off. He looked at his wrists to see they were tied up in his own reins, which were crackling with Hamon. "You said it yourself Wamuu," Joseph explained, "Those reins are capable of channeling Hamon, yours and mine. When I leapt out of my boot I also took the time to grab the reins with my toes, secretly wrapping them around your wrists. I guessed you might use your new position to perform your special move, so I prepared for it just in case."

Wamuu was stunned. He never expected to be struck by Hamon while he was performing his special attack. 'That settles it... If I win, Jojo lives... He's more than proven himself...' "It looks like this race will continue into the next lap," Kars admitted, "I was expecting a quick victory, but Jojo is more clever and tenacious than I thought." He signaled the vampires near the remains of the pillar, who were forced to set up the next weapon, twin crossbows, by having two vampires stand on each others' shoulders.

"Those crossbows each have two shots!," Kars explained, "There's one big and one small! The ammunition is steel balls measuring five-point-eight centimeters in diameter and weighing five-point-five kilograms! They fire out at such velocity even Wamuu would be killed with a direct headshot!" Wamuu was still reeling in shock, but knew he had to get back in the fight. Quickly he regenerated his arms, he then gouged his eyes out. He then allowed his horn to emerge, letting him sense everything around him.

'Wamuu is a true warrior,' Joseph thought, 'He's begun to realize he needs to take this fight seriously, so he's blinded himself to rely only on his ability to feel the wind. I'll need to do the same if I hope to win this.' Joseph had quite the head-start due to Wamuu's shock, letting him get to the weapon first. "So which one will you take?," one of the vampires asked. "Easy answer!," Joseph called out, "I'll go for the one I can actually load!" He turned to the chariot to grab the smaller crossbow, surprising the vampires.

"I thought for sure he'd try for the bigger one," Kars admitted. "Jojo knows how difficult it is to bend a crossbow normally," Caesar pointed out, "And these are modified to fire steel balls instead of iron bolts. With Wamuu's strength it doesn't matter which one he gets. Jojo knows this, so he went for the smaller one to even the odds." Wamuu was right behind Joseph, grabbing the larger crossbow by instinct as he passed the vampires. Joseph loaded his first shot, then waited for Wamuu to make his move.

Easily loading his crossbow, Wamuu felt out the wind before firing. Seeing the incoming ball, Joseph barely managed to steer away from the shot, though the steel ball still struck the side of his chariot, leaving a deep gash. "That was close," Joseph said, "But it felt more like he was trying to gauge the distance between us." He thought quickly, then raced on ahead as fast the horses could go before causing them to leap through the burner in the center. "He's trying to stay symmetrical to Wamuu," Applejack realized, "He must have realized Wamuu can track him through his breathing, like a radar."

"A clever strategy," Kars admitted, "But ultimately naive. Jojo's as good as telegraphed his position." Wamuu suddenly turned around and aimed the crossbow at the stands, shocking the vampires as he fired. The shot instantly rebounded, nailing Joseph in the stomach and causing him to spit up blood. "A direct hit!," Kars said excitedly, "The rebound didn't as much damage as a head-on shot would have, but it still looks like there was internal damage. Still, it's impressive that Jojo is managing to stay on his chariot."

He then realized something, Joseph was now racing right at Wamuu. "My turn!," he called out, firing off his shot, which crackled with Hamon. Wamuu was able to detect the shot and titled his head to dodge, the shot breaking through the nearby wall and causing debris to shoot out. "That was close," Wamuu noted, "I need to pull away before he can load that second shot." But Wamuu never got the chance, as something ripped through his leg and sent him plummeting to the ground faster than he could recover.

As Joseph pulled up alongside him, he quipped, "You're next line is, 'The second ball... But when did he fire it...?'" "The second ball," Wamuu realized, "But when did he fire it...?" He gasped when he learned he had parroted Joseph. "I had actually loaded both balls in a single shot," Joseph explained, "Coated in oil to allow them to channel Hamon. When I fired them off, I knew you'd be able to sense them and dodge. And since they were so close together you could only perceive them as one. Not that it mattered since you'd be dodging anyway."

"Then the debris from the impact," Wamuu realized, "The second ball was hidden in it, ricocheting from the impact." "An attack you might have been able to avoid if you could still see," Joseph noted. Wamuu nodded. "Then it seems... The loss is mine. I can already feel the cold stones beneath my legs." The crowd of vampires fell silent in shock. With that last attack, Wamuu had fallen from his chariot, meaning Joseph was the winner. Kars closed his eyes. Now it was his turn.