〖JJBA - EN〗- Last Judgement

Chapter 32: The clock is ticking.

Cairo, Egypt. January 16th, 1989.

"Polnareff... It's been a long time.

- I finally found you, Dio."

Dio began to clap slowly, a carnivorous smile on his lips.

"Congratulations, Polnareff. You were able to avenge your sister and you survived your journey from the Far East.

- Heh, if you want to give me something to celebrate for the occasion, I wouldn't mind taking your life away from you.

Dio laughed. At the same time, (Y/N) emerged from the shadows, just behind Polnareff. She glared at the vampire who was proudly standing at the top of the stairs. His aura was most morbid, like an intoxicating and delicate poison. Dio's golden eyes widened in pleasure as he looked at the young woman.

"(Y/N) Zeppeli, I finally have the honor to meet you! I must admit, you are even more charming than anything I could have imagined.

- ... go to hell.

- Oh but please, I'll give you a chance. Join me. If you go down two steps, I will accept you back into my ranks. But if you'd rather die, just climb the stairs.

- ... when I met you, fear and the evil aura that emanates from you forced me to bow down to you", Polnareff explained. "That day, I started to live like a nobody of the worst kind. Obeying your orders is even more terrifying than death... But now, all I feel is the desire to fight you. Because there is even more terrifying than you, and Vanilla Ice understood it very well."

Polnareff fixed his blue eyes on the young woman at his side. She didn't immediately understand.

"There is even more terrifying than you, and she fights alongside me."

(Y/N) finally exchanged a look with her lifelong friend, and a smile lit up her face for a moment. Dio slowly licked his lips, intoxicated with temptation and defiance.

"Hold on... Really? Well, please. Go up the stairs."

Without hesitation, they climbed a few steps. However, they found themselves further down the stairs.

"Well? You're choosing to join me?"

They looked at their feet at the same time and tried to move forward again. But by a stratagem that (Y/N) could not understand, they always returned to their starting point. Dio chuckled.

"You seem quite agitated... Doesn't this agitation mean that you are frightened? Maybe you are so terrified that your body decides to come down on its own.

- Bullshit!" Polnareff exclaimed in a trembling voice. "I climbed a step, I'm sure I did!"

Polnareff tried to start running, but he was dragged back down the stairs. (Y/N) squinted. It had to be the work of a Stand, but how did he do it? Amused, Dio settled on a throne at the top of the stairs and began to spout nonsense that the young woman didn't even listen to. She was far too busy looking for a solution. But Polnareff seemed too confused not to absorb everything the vampire was saying to him. In truth, he was afraid that he had submitted unconsciously.

"Why not give up on the Joestars and serve me until the end of time? I'm inv-

- Because I will never submit to anyone", the young woman cut him off, a look of defiance in her (E/C) eyes.

"Oh (Y/N), (Y/N), (Y/N)... If only it were true. But you're trapped, aren't you? Passione has got their hands on you, and you can no longer escape them."

Her heart skipped a beat at the mention of the mafia. She gulped, her eyebrows furrowed. Dio continued.

"You know I can get you out of this, sweetheart... You can still be part of a family. But you have to join m-.