— — — — — — —
Regular Arrow.
Soul Arrow.
Requiem Arrow.
What do these three arrows really mean?
Ordinary people wouldn't have a clue.
But any otaku with some knowledge knows that these arrows hail from the world of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure (Game). Their significance is beyond question—they can awaken Stand abilities in ordinary people.
The Regular Arrow can awaken a random Stand in an ordinary person, but it usually won't be that strong. If someone who already has a Stand is pierced by this Arrow, it might lead to the development of new abilities.
The Soul Arrow, on the other hand, brings forth a Stand that reflects the user's soul and desires, molding it into the most fitting form for them.
And finally—the Requiem Arrow. This one takes things to a whole new level. When a Stand is pierced by the Requiem Arrow, it evolves into a Requiem Stand, often gaining incredible, reality-altering abilities.
As Joey played with the three arrows in his hands, a sly grin formed on his face. "When I think about it, these three arrows are perfect for me. Stand abilities really are the most suited for my needs."
"Heh…"
Joey couldn't help but chuckle.
Stand abilities!
To put it bluntly, they're strange and diverse, with endless possibilities.
There are Stands that can manipulate time, alter cause and effect, store objects, and more.
In summary—Stand abilities are incredibly unique. The strongest Stands can even reset the universe.
What's more—A Stand's abilities can evolve as the user's mental strength and other attributes grow.
At its core—A Stand's power is limitless as long as the user is strong enough.
The essence of a Stand is a manifestation of the life energy within its user—a projection of their spirit.
It exists and doesn't exist, like a spiritual companion hovering behind them.
Understanding it this way? You're pretty much spot on.
For someone like Joey, who loves to control everything, Stand abilities couldn't be a better fit.
"Hmm…"
Staring at the three arrows, Joey pondered everything he knew about Stands and murmured, "But there's something odd about this. The Joestar clan member I made a deal with—was he really a JoJo?"
Every member of the Joestar family is called JoJo. Joey had no idea who he had dealt with and even if he really was one.
The reason was simple.
Dio?!!!
That guy took over a Joestar's body, so technically, he could also be considered a Joestar family leader.
"Forget it."
Shaking his head, Joey dismissed the thought. "It doesn't matter to me. What's important now is awakening my Stand."
Joey stared at the three arrows again, falling into silence.
In theory—He definitely had the potential to awaken a Stand.
But—What if he failed?
Fear? Anxiety?
It wasn't unusual to feel this way. It's just human nature.
Even though Joey had grown over the past 14 years into a capable leader, he was still human.
He liked beauty, power, and wealth.
And he also feared death.
That wasn't strange at all. It was human nature.
"Haah…" Joey exhaled deeply, letting out the tension inside him. He muttered, "I just need to calm myself down. No matter what, I can't give in to fear. The Soul Arrow will awaken the Stand most suited to me. I need to overcome my fear of death and stay composed."
Joey carefully stored the three arrows.
For now—He needed to steady his mind.
First is the Soul Arrow then the Regular Arrow, and finally the Requiem Arrow. Still, it wasn't the right time to use them yet.
"Hmm…"
Massaging his temples, Joey decided to rest.
Next, he would focus on calming his spirit and regaining his peace of mind.
— — —
The Next Day
On her way to Joey's room, Brûlée felt something was off.
Her big brother was never one to slack off. If anything, he was the opposite—a diligent and serious man.
He was always either studying or strategizing for the future. Every day, without fail, Brûlée could see her brother's warm smile.
But today, he was nowhere to be seen.
That was strange.
If Joey planned to take a break, he would've ensured everything was taken care of first.
Knock, knock!
Standing at his door, Brûlée knocked gently and asked, "Big brother, are you okay? Are you feeling unwell?"
From inside, Joey's calm voice replied, "Brûlée, I'm fine. I just need some time to settle my thoughts. Stick to the usual plans for now, and don't disturb me—not even for meals. Afternoon tea is canceled."
"What?"
Brûlée froze in shock.
Afternoon tea? Canceled?
In the Charlotte family, afternoon tea was sacred, a tradition they would never skip. Their obsession with desserts was practically a religion.
Yet Joey was canceling it?
How could she not be stunned?
Still, Joey had spoken. Brûlée left obediently, though she was filled with confusion.
As Brûlée exited the cabin, Opera approached her, frowning. "Brûlée, where's big brother?"
Brûlée, still dazed, looked up. "Opera?"
Opera's brow furrowed further. "Is Big Brother okay?"
Brûlée hesitated, nodded, then shook her head before explaining everything that had just happened.
For a moment, Opera was silent, lost in thought. This was strange, even for their big brother.
What was going on?
Later, Opera gathered everyone together.
After hearing what Brûlée had to say, Custard and Angel started clamoring to see Joey.
"No way!" Brûlée immediately refused. "Big brother clearly said not to disturb him—not even for afternoon tea. He must be dealing with something important. What if we interrupt him?"
"That's…"
Everyone hesitated.
Despite their concern, Joey's orders were absolute. Disobeying him? They'd rather die.
Just then, Akanegakubo Momo emerged, her expression curious. "The head canceled afternoon tea?"
It was clear she had overheard the conversation.
As the head chef, Momo rarely prepared desserts outside of afternoon tea.
After all—Who could eat sweets all day?
The crew turned to Opera for guidance. As Joey's second-in-command right now as Katakuri and others weren't here with them on the ship, he was now the one calling the shots.
Feeling the weight of their gazes, Opera was momentarily flustered but quickly regained his composure.
After a moment's thought, Opera declared, "Stick to the course! We're heading to the West Blue as planned. Big Brother's orders are absolute. Even if we don't understand, we trust him completely."
At that, everyone fell silent.
Then, one by one, they nodded firmly.
Yes.
They didn't need to question him. They just needed to trust him.
Momo, watching quietly, murmured, "The loyalty of the Charlotte family is remarkable. Joey, just what kind of person are you?"
This wasn't about contracts or obligations.
It was about Joey's unique charisma—A power that bound his family to him, no matter how outrageous or reckless his decisions seemed.
Shaking her head, Momo decided to stop overthinking it. There were desserts to prepare.
After all—In the Charlotte family, afternoon tea was no trivial matter.
— — —
"Phew…" Joey sat in his room, exhaling deeply. He spoke calmly to himself, "Alright. Time to let my mind settle completely—like meditating."
Gradually, Joey emptied his thoughts, letting his mind and spirit become completely tranquil.
...
....
.....
Five days passed in a flash.
During this time, Joey didn't eat or drink. His mental focus sharpened to its absolute peak.
Fear of death?
That no longer meant anything to Joey.
He had transcended any fear of dying.
His spirit was honed to perfection.
Suddenly—Joey's eyes snapped open. His amber gaze, once warm and gentle, now shone with piercing sharpness.
At that moment, Joey seemed like a blade—razor-sharp and unyielding.
But soon, the sharpness in his eyes vanished, replaced by an overwhelming sense of authority.
This wasn't ordinary charisma.
It was the commanding presence of a ruler.
The kind of pressure that only someone who holds ultimate power can exude.
In those five days of fasting and meditation, Joey had pushed himself to his very limits. His voice, hoarse but steady, murmured, "I've reached my limit. My spirit, my energy—they're all at their peak. But this… this isn't the end."
Joey wasn't done.
He was building something.
The aura of dominance radiating from him grew even stronger. This wasn't Conqueror's Haki.
It was pure, unadulterated authority—the aura of one who commands empires.
When an emperor is enraged, thousands fall. How many could even stand under such pressure?
This was the true oppressive power of a ruler.
And now, Joey was cultivating that aura to its absolute peak.
Suddenly, his terrifying presence peaked.
His eyes flashed with determination as he drew the soul Arrow.
Thwack!
Without hesitation, Joey pierced his own heart.
Even in what looked like a suicidal act, Joey didn't waver for a moment. There was no fear in his eyes, only resolve.
The arrow drove straight through his heart.
From beginning to end, his expression didn't change. That oppressive aura remained unbroken.
Drip.
Blood trickled down from the wound, pooling on the floor.
For a moment, it seemed like Joey had reached the brink of death.
But then—A silver light burst forth from his body.
It proved one thing: Joey's spirit was strong enough. He had the talent to pull this off.
Joey's Stand awakened.
The wound in his heart began to heal, and his strength gradually returned.
As he recovered, his body and mind steadied.
"Phew…" Joey let out a long exhale, suppressing all his oppressive energy. Once again, he became the gentle, caring older brother.
Placing a hand over his chest, he felt his heartbeat. With a soft smile, he murmured, "It worked."
Those three words carried a quiet satisfaction. Joey stretched his arms, stood up slowly, and—For a moment, he swayed.
It wasn't surprising.
After five days of mental strain, letting go suddenly left him a little lightheaded.
Even with Joey's strength, this kind of focused effort wasn't something he could harness effortlessly.
At that moment—A silver figure appeared behind him. She gently supported Joey before he could collapse.
Joey turned to look at the Stand that had manifested behind him, momentarily stunned.
Staring at his Stand, Joey murmured, "Is it because I'm not from JoJo's world? My Stand seems… unique."
[Stand Name: Silver Greatsword.]
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