I’d Advise You Not to Do That

Under cover of night, Jonathan suggested they go out and enjoy the evening breeze.

Erina was a little shy, but she still nodded and agreed to his request. The two left the hospital together and wandered aimlessly through the deserted streets nearby, enjoying a rare moment of peace without interruption.

However, it was not long before—

Jonathan suddenly noticed a strange person by the roadside.

He was a man in a white suit and top hat, with two neat little mustaches on his face. He simply leaned by the roadside, silently staring at Jonathan.

"What’s wrong, JoJo?"

Erina noticed Jonathan’s expression as well.

It was worth mentioning that Erina now possessed the body of a demigod. Whether it was strength, perception, or anything else, she surpassed Jonathan by far, so she had actually noticed that strange fellow too.

She quietly clenched her little fists and asked Jonathan in a low voice, "Is that man an enemy?"

If Jonathan nodded, Erina would rush forward and fight at once.

After all, she now…

Was completely different from the little girl she had been years ago.

After realizing that studying medicine could not save the Joestar family, Erina had resolutely begun training in martial arts. Fortunately, her father was a doctor and fairly wealthy. Through his connections, he hired many renowned instructors for her. Erina was now a true warrior.

"I’m not sure whether he’s an enemy either."

Jonathan himself looked somewhat confused as he scratched his head. "I don’t know him, but he seems to have been staring at me."

"Then…"

Before Erina could say anything else, the strange man suddenly spoke first. "Jonathan Joestar, and the lady beside you, Erina Pendleton."

"Who are you?"

Seeing that the other man could call out their names, Jonathan immediately became wary.

"I never expected you to survive after resisting the power of the Stone Mask." As the mustached man in the white suit spoke, he suddenly charged forward like lightning. His little finger shot toward the point between Jonathan’s chest and abdomen, while he let out a strange cry. "Bang!"

"So fast!"

Jonathan’s pupils contracted, and he instinctively tried to raise his hand to defend himself.

However, Erina beside him was even faster. The mustached man’s attack had only traveled halfway when a fair little hand suddenly snapped shut around his wrist with a smack.

"W-What?!"

The mustached man clearly had not expected this. He subconsciously turned to look at Erina.

"What… are you trying to do to my JoJo?"

Erina was obviously angry. Her once innocent, pure face gradually turned cold, and an astonishing aura of power began pouring from her body. It was almost tangible, like blazing energy, making her golden hair flutter despite the lack of wind.

Just looking at her made one feel the majestic pressure of a ruler, so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.

"This…"

The mustached man was utterly dumbfounded.

Almost instinctively, he tried to force himself free of her grip. Yet that soft, fair little hand was now tightening like an iron vise, squeezing until even his bones creaked.

"It seems you really are an enemy."

Erina stared at him with blazing eyes, then beckoned behind her. "Since you’re an enemy, then…"

Following her movement, a streak of silver light cut through the night sky like a meteor or lightning bolt. It descended straight into her hand from nowhere, transforming into a magnificent Broadsword that gleamed brilliantly. Erina immediately raised it, ready to bring it down.

"W-Wait!"

At this sight, the mustached man finally could not endure it any longer. He hurriedly said, "I am Baron Zeppeli! A Ripple User who came to investigate the truth behind the Stone Mask! I am not your enemy!"

"The Stone Mask?"

Hearing the mustached man—or rather, Baron Zeppeli—say this, Jonathan froze for a moment before grabbing Erina. "Wait, Erina. He really does not seem to be an enemy."

"But he just attacked you."

Erina stared unblinkingly at Baron Zeppeli, her expression serious and cautious. "The gentlemen who taught me combat skills used to say that mercy toward an enemy is cruelty toward yourself. Some people realize during battle that they cannot win through force, so they try to scheme in other ways, talk their way out of it…"

Before Erina could finish, a voice suddenly rang out.

"Is the person you’re looking for named Joseph Joestar?"

Everyone turned toward the voice and saw Fang Mo walking toward them, still talking as he went. "Your great-grandson, the man who historically split Ripple Overdrive into two skills. If he can win, he uses Ripple; if he can’t, he runs…"

"Teacher Steve?"

Jonathan was stunned to see Fang Mo approaching. "Didn’t you go to rest?"

"I had been resting, but then I suddenly saw JourneyMap… I mean, I suddenly sensed the presence of a Ripple User, so I came over out of curiosity."

"A Ripple User?"

Erina gave Baron Zeppeli a curious look. "What does that mean?"

"Let him go, Erina. He’s a good man." Fang Mo gave Erina an instruction. "As everyone knows, the Zeppeli family is full of loyal martyrs…"

"Mr. Steve knows him?"

Hearing this, Erina obediently released her grip.

Zeppeli hurriedly pulled his hand back. In less than a minute, bruises had already appeared on it. It was easy to imagine just how strong she was.

If she had wanted to, she could probably have crushed his wrist in an instant.

Zeppeli was shocked at the thought. How was this person stronger than a vampire? Just how had she trained?

However, Zeppeli obviously could not figure that out, so he could only first circulate Hamon to treat himself. In the blink of an eye, the marks on his hand began to fade and disappear, leaving Jonathan somewhat astonished.

"Ahem… My apologies. I was rude."

After healing his wrist, Zeppeli lowered his head slightly. "Allow me to introduce myself again. My name is William A. Zeppeli. I am a Ripple User, and I came here because of the Stone Mask."

"You mean that strange stone mask?"

Jonathan asked, "What does Ripple User mean? Are you… also a mage?"

"Ask one question at a time, JoJo."

Zeppeli said, "The Stone Mask I speak of is the mask passed down through your family. That cursed mask can turn humans into complete monsters. If an evil person obtains it, it will become a disaster for the entire world. To prevent that from happening, I have spent half my life tracking its whereabouts… until recently, when I learned it was in your possession."

"I’m sorry, but perhaps it’s already too late."

Jonathan could not help saying, "Dio… has already become that kind of monster. He took the Stone Mask and fled somewhere unknown."

"I know."

Zeppeli nodded. "Perhaps all of this is fate’s arrangement. The two of you are destined for a fateful confrontation. But I must remind you of one thing, JoJo. Courage alone cannot defeat a vampire."

"I will defeat Dio."

Jonathan clenched his fists and declared with conviction, "I don’t just have courage. I also have the magic my teacher taught me. Now… Erina and Danny will fight by my side as well. We can definitely stop him from continuing his evil deeds."

"Magic…"

Hearing this, Zeppeli subconsciously glanced at Fang Mo.

"Why are you looking at me? Trying to exchange a secret phrase?" Fang Mo glanced back at Baron Zeppeli. "Fine then. The anthem of humanity is the anthem of courage."

"The greatness of humanity is the greatness of cour—no."

Zeppeli felt his DNA stir, and he instantly wanted to respond. Yet halfway through, he realized something was wrong and quickly rubbed his forehead. "That is not what I meant. Mage, there is something I would like to ask you. Did you previously keep a dragon?"

"Oh, right."

Hearing Zeppeli say that, Fang Mo remembered. "It seems my kid caused some trouble before, but I already gave her a harsh lesson… After things here are settled, I will personally visit that qigong master and apologize."

"It is nothing. Master Straizo was not angry."

Zeppeli shook his head. "He was actually very pleased. With your involvement, the Pillar Men and vampires will no longer threaten this world. Many people’s fates will be changed as a result. This is a blessing. For that reason, he is willing to offer Aja’s Red Stone to you."

"Is that so?"

Fang Mo nodded. Master Straizo really did have some skill after all. At the very least, he was genuinely accurate when it came to fortune-telling. But could he calculate Fang Mo’s fate too? Perhaps tell him how he could return home?

"Hmm, I should visit him when I have time."

Rubbing his chin, Fang Mo made up his mind before turning to Jonathan. "By the way, JoJo, you should learn how to use Ripple from Teacher Zeppeli here. It should help you."

"Ripple? What is that?"

Jonathan asked in confusion, "Is it another kind of magic, Teacher?"

"…More or less?"

Fang Mo subconsciously scratched his head. To be honest, Ripple Breathing sounded rather scientific, but if one truly examined its principles, it was all fantasy. Calling it magic was not entirely wrong. "Anyway, it fits well with what you’re learning now. Learning it will greatly benefit you. Maybe you can even combine magic and Ripple to create the power of waves. Otherwise, you’re always the weakest person on the team… It makes things difficult for your teacher too."

"Huh? I’m the weakest on the team?"

Jonathan froze upon hearing that. It was one thing for Erina to be stronger than him, but was he really even weaker than Danny? That was far too hurtful.

"Ripple is actually a method of generating power through breathing."

Hearing this, Baron Zeppeli gave Jonathan a brief explanation. "I was not trying to attack you just now. I wanted to strike your diaphragm with my finger so that you would breathe in a special way. It was just that… Miss Erina stopped me."

"I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…"

Erina lowered her head and said.

"It is nothing." Zeppeli waved his hand magnanimously, then shifted his gaze toward the river in the distance and fixed it on a frog. "In any case, let me first show you the charm of Hamon…"

But before he could walk over, a hand suddenly landed on his shoulder.

"Hm?"

Zeppeli turned around in confusion and discovered that the person stopping him was Fang Mo.

"In this world," Fang Mo said faintly, "I’d advise you not to make a move against a ‘frog’…"