This Thing Is Far More Useful Than the Stone Mask

"Are they all vampires?"

After hearing Zeppeli’s explanation, Jonathan also showed a shocked expression. "Dio… is he creating companions?"

"They look like ordinary townsfolk."

Speedwagon began explaining as well. "Look at them—they’re still wearing the clothes they usually wore for farm work. But now they’ve become inhuman vampires. It seems Dio is even crazier than we thought. He used the Stone Mask to create more vampires. If even one of these vampires escaped…"

"The consequences would be unimaginable."

As Zeppeli said this, his expression grew increasingly grave.

"Mr. Steve."

After thinking for a moment, Erina turned to Fang Mo and asked, "Could you turn these vampires back into ordinary people as well? They should all be innocent townsfolk, and if we turn them back, perhaps we could get more information…"

"Sorry, vampires are different from Zombie Humans. They can no longer be turned back into humans."

Fang Mo shook his head. These vampires looked like nothing but generic cannon fodder at a glance. Of course he did not want to waste his resources on them.

Besides, the Weakness Potion plus Golden Apple truly only worked on Zombies. Fang Mo had not lied about that.

"Is that so?"

After hearing Fang Mo’s explanation, Erina sighed pityingly. "Then there’s nothing we can do…"

While the two were speaking, Zeppeli tried interrogating the vampires. Yet no matter how he pressed them, even when he threatened them with the Ripple, the vampires did not reveal a single piece of valuable information.

They clearly possessed intelligence and thoughts.

They even trembled in fear when faced with threats.

Yet even so, they did not betray Dio. Until the very end, they said nothing useful, then unwillingly turned into clouds of ash beneath the Ripple.

"It seems Dio must be planning something."

After dealing with the vampires, Zeppeli spoke in a low voice. "The longer we delay, the more dangerous it becomes. There is no time. We must move."

"That’s what I think too."

Jonathan nodded, his face filled with sorrow. "This town… may have completely become Dio’s sacrifice. Before more tragedies are born, I have to stop that bastard."

With no time to waste, the group quickly set out again.

After dealing with the Zombie Humans in the graveyard, it was as if all attacks and hostility had vanished. They followed the river forward and soon arrived in town.

But the moment they entered, they immediately noticed something was wrong.

Not a single house in the town had a light on. After the sun set, the entire town had plunged into darkness in an instant. Not a sound came from this dead place. The silence was enough to send chills down one’s spine.

"Just as I thought… the people of the town have all disappeared…"

Seeing this, Jonathan could not help clenching his fists. "Dio, what the hell did he do!?"

After realizing the tragedy that had befallen the entire town, no one felt like speaking anymore. The mood in the group became noticeably heavy. Apart from Fang Mo, who remained as calm as ever, everyone else unconsciously clenched their fists.

After the group walked onward for some time.

A series of footsteps suddenly came from ahead.

They looked up and saw two men walking straight toward them. One was tall and burly, while the other was lean and well-proportioned, with long black hair.

"More enemies?"

Jonathan immediately assumed a fighting stance.

But before he could gather Ripple energy, Zeppeli suddenly pressed a hand on his shoulder. "JoJo, no need to be nervous. They are not enemies."

"Huh?"

Jonathan froze slightly.

"Danya, Straizo, it has been a long time."

Zeppeli took a step forward and greeted the two with a smile.

"Oh, Zeppeli."

When the burly man saw Zeppeli, his originally cold and stern expression suddenly softened into a hearty smile. "It has been many years. I didn’t expect you to be the same as ever."

"You’re not doing too badly yourself, Danya."

Zeppeli smiled as well. "You came at just the right time."

"Indeed."

Straizo spoke from the side. "The moment we received your letter asking for help, we rushed over. We originally wanted Master Doppio to come out of retirement with us, but he did not come. He only said that he entrusted everything to us. Fate is on our side this time."

"Is that so?"

Zeppeli let out a sigh of relief after hearing that. "Since Mr. Doppio said so… I can rest a little easier."

"That fellow called Dio you mentioned in your letter should be over there, right?" Straizo raised a hand and pointed toward the castle in the distance. "I can sense astonishing evil, as well as extraordinarily vigorous life force. It seems just as you said in your letter—the one wearing the Stone Mask is an evil and cunning man."

"We have already searched this town."

Danya spoke in a deep voice as well. "There are no survivors here. Everyone met with misfortune."

"Damn it…"

Hearing this, Jonathan gritted his teeth in self-reproach. If only he had been able to stop Dio back then, so many tragedies would not have happened now.

"JoJo, don’t think so much about it now."

Zeppeli noticed Jonathan’s expression and turned to comfort him. "Vampires feed on human blood. Perhaps some humans are still imprisoned in the castle as food. Do not let anger cloud your eyes. Remember, courage is humanity’s greatest weapon."

"Yeah, yeah."

Fang Mo patted Jonathan’s shoulder after hearing this, encouraging him. "The best way to eliminate fear is to face it. Keep it up, Oligai!"

In any case, with new reinforcements joining them, the group’s morale rose considerably.

Since there were no enemies lying in ambush in town, they moved quickly. In barely more than ten minutes, they arrived before the gates of the ancient castle.

It was a typical medieval castle. Due to years of neglect, it was covered in plants such as roses. Beneath the moonlight, the castle was filled with a strange, dark Gothic atmosphere. For a moment, it felt as though they had arrived at Demon Castle.

Of course, this castle did not occupy much land.

It could not possibly be compared to Demon Castle.

"Next comes a hard battle. Everyone, stay on your guard." Before the castle gates, Zeppeli cautioned the group. "Dio is a highly scheming man. He may already have traps prepared for us to walk into."

"Don’t worry, Zeppeli."

Danya smiled and reassured him. "We are all Ripple Warriors. As long as we work together, even a powerful vampire will not be a problem."

With that, he directly pushed open the castle gates.

Yet in the very next second, an expression of utter disbelief appeared on his face, and cold sweat instantly soaked his back.

In the center of the castle’s main hall.

More than a hundred pitch-black gun barrels were aimed directly at the entrance.