[53] Power

"JOJO, do you feel that something is off here?"

DIO took a step back, looking at the mansion in front of him. He had a bad feeling – as if there was something horrifying inside these rooms.

This was something he had never felt before, never experienced before!

He couldn't understand it at all – what was this presence? This profound feeling seemed like it could devour his entire being.

"Hmm... be careful, DIO. I feel it too. Something doesn't seem right here," JOJO observed the room in front of them.

The room was a typical British-style structure, but for some reason, all the windows were completely sealed shut. There was no sign of any living presence around, making it feel like a haunted house.

"The sun is about to set, JOJO. Since we know Officer Jerry was here yesterday, can't we come back tomorrow morning?"

"No," JOJO refused. "If Officer Jerry was here, there might be some clues. Hmm? Could it be?"

At this moment, JOJO suddenly had a troubling thought –

Could it be... that the culprit also saw Officer Jerry and silenced him?

"DIO! Wait here; I'm going in to check—"

"No, let's go together," DIO smiled and said, "I wouldn't feel comfortable just letting you go in alone."

Although DIO said this, in his heart, he was thinking differently: 'Damn you, JOJO! How dare you underestimate me? A murderer? Perfect! If there really is a murderer inside, then let him die in there. That way, I can rightfully inherit the Joestar family's estate, and no one will be able to stop me!'

At the same time, JOJO in his heart wondered: 'Could I have been wrong about DIO? Maybe DIO acted that way initially because he was suddenly in a strange environment and afraid of his surroundings. Maybe he acted strong from the start because he was worried I'd bully him. But is he actually a good person?'

With these thoughts, JOJO felt a bit relieved and said with a smile, "Ah, let's go together, DIO! As long as we're together, we can handle any situation!"

This had been evident in their school life. Whenever he and DIO worked together, they could win no matter what!

"Alright, maybe there's nothing to worry about. Officer Jerry might just be really tired and went to bed early. Well then, let's go inside," DIO said with a smile. However, deep inside, he kept cursing: 'Die in there, JOJO, die in there!'

As for himself—

DIO had confidence in himself. Even if there were murderers inside, he believed he could escape! No, not just escape, but defeat the other party!

His plan was to make JOJO appear as if he perished with the murderer – that was his plan. But there was one condition.

That condition was that there really was a murderer inside this room!

DIO was waiting for his chance, waiting for the opportunity to gain control of the Joestar family's inheritance.

"Boom, boom—"

They knocked on the door, but there was no response.

JOJO and DIO exchanged a glance. Even though they could be considered enemies, they strangely had perfect synergy.

DIO took a step back on his own.

"Ha!" JOJO shouted loudly and, in one swift motion, forced the locked door open!

"Impressive, JOJO. You truly live up to your reputation. Your explosive strength is as strong as ever," DIO commented as he took a step forward but then halted.

(MENACING)

"What... What's going on? This chill..." DIO's body leaned backward, his arms shielding himself: "It's so cold! A bone-chilling cold that pierces into my marrow. How can it suddenly become this cold in this season? What's happening? Is there really a murderer inside? It might be best to leave this place now—"

Thunk—

JOJO had already entered. He walked into the room filled with the frigid atmosphere.

In the next moment, DIO clenched his teeth, watching JOJO who had already entered. He tightened his fists: 'Damn you, JOJO! If I back out now, it means I'm inferior to this guy, inferior to this scum!!'

"It's so dark—there's no light at all... Hmm? What's this?"

DIO bit his lip and followed JOJO inside. Suddenly, he felt like he had touched something. Bending down and looking at what was illuminated by the last rays of sunlight coming in from the doorway, he suddenly froze: "The Stone Mask! It's the Stone Mask!"

"What? The Stone Mask?"

JOJO was taken aback and hurried over. "You're right, it's the Stone Mask... But why is the Stone Mask here?"

"Humph, do we even need to say? Officer Jerry must have taken it. Well, now that we have the Stone Mask, let's leave," DIO said to JOJO. He felt extremely uncomfortable all over in this place, as if he were being watched by something.

"No, maybe that's true, but... something is wrong here," JOJO said, looking around the room. "This place is very wrong. The atmosphere and the fact that Officer Jerry hasn't responded until now—we went to the police station and he should have returned by now, but there's been no sound. Even the loud noise I made when I broke the door open got no response! Something's definitely wrong here. We can't just leave him behind. DIO! We have to rescue Officer Jerry!"

"J... JOJO, you...!" DIO looked around and said, "Since you want to die, I won't accompany you. The atmosphere here is clearly off. You've sensed the danger, yet you recklessly entered. That's not what a smart person should do. I'm leaving this place, JOJO!"

"That's what you say, but DIO, didn't you enter too?"

'Damn you, JOJO, for daring to mock me! No... calm down... I need to stay calm,' DIO knew his weakness very well: he was prone to anger. He had decided to change that five years ago, to hide his inner self, but today, he was inexplicably unable to remain calm in this eerie atmosphere.

Boom boom—

Clattering—

Rain began to pour from the sky outside, dark clouds obscuring the last remnants of the sun, with lightning flashing across the sky.

"It's raining, JOJO. I really don't want to stay here any longer. I'm going back," DIO said, turning away toward the door.

Boom boom—

"This... What is this?"

Suddenly, DIO's face changed—

At some point, someone was standing at the doorway! Lightning illuminated the figure, revealing it to be none other than the person they had been searching for—Jerry Copperdale!

"You want to leave? That's not going to happen, hehe, not at all. Come on, DIO, JOJO. Let's use you to test out the power I just obtained!"

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