The fire crackled in the center of the improvised camp.
Lisa Lisa traced lines in the dirt with a stick.
Joseph sharpened the edge of a stone using his Hamon.
Caesar watched the sky.
Leo, silently, listened… and measured.
—Wamuu must be in the eastern chamber of the complex, Lisa Lisa was saying. He still hasn't activated the valve on the ring. Joseph, your time is running out.
—Yeah, yeah, I know. A week, and I've already got less than that, Joseph grumbled, but his hands were shaking.
—And if we find him with Kars? Caesar asked. What's the priority?
—Wamuu, Lisa Lisa said without hesitation. The Red Stone is still with me. Kars can't use it without the mask and the full ritual. We have time.
Leo finally looked up.
—What if we kill him now?
Everyone turned to him.
Lisa Lisa frowned.
—What are you suggesting?
—The logical thing, Leo said, feigning calm. Kars isn't immortal yet. If we find him, we should eliminate him before he becomes one. A bullet for the king before he wears the crown.
Joseph nodded.
—Doesn't sound bad. What do you think, Caesar?
—I'd rather kill them both, but if I have to choose—make it fast. I hate that bastard.
Leo smiled inwardly.
[Group: trust maintained.]
[Emotional camouflage status: 97%.]
Lisa Lisa stared at Leo longer than usual.
Her eyes were suspicious.
But her logic yielded to reason.
—Very well, she said at last. Joseph and Leo will go through the southern passage. Caesar and I, through the west. We'll regroup at the central point.
That night, Leo didn't sleep.
He watched the stars.
He thought about his objective.
—Kars, the supreme of the Pillar Men.
He designed the mask.
Surpassed his species.
And in the original story… became eternal.
Leo didn't intend to allow that.
Not out of fear…
But because he wanted that power for himself.
[File: "Kars" – objective: full absorption. Status: active. Not perfect.]
—Even without the Stone, even without the mask… all I need is to kill him first.
Prevent the chaos, absorb the villain, turn the page.
It was perfect.
Or so he thought.
After the conversation, Leo walked away from the camp at a calm pace.
The plan was laid out.
The group respected him.
Kars didn't have the Red Stone yet.
Everything was under control.
He activated his Stand in silence.
The pages floated with amber light in the dark.
He extended his hand.
—Prepare early absorption, he whispered.
[Target entity confirmed: "Kars"]
[Status: active.]
[Beginning absorption simulation—]
Leo waited. Confident.
He even allowed himself a smile.
But then…
❌ [ERROR. File locked.]
❌ [Pending condition: Perfect form not achieved.]
❌ [Absorption denied.]
The smile vanished.
—...What?
He reactivated the command.
The message persisted.
[Mandatory requirement: Eliminate Kars only after his full evolution.]
Leo stepped back.
A surge of rage welled up in his throat.
He punched the nearest stone wall—once, twice—until blood stained his knuckles.
—You're telling me I have to let him become a damn god?!
And only THEN kill him?!
His breathing grew ragged.
The silence of the mountain surrounded him.
He clenched his teeth.
[System confirmation: only available path.]
Leo closed his eyes.
—Perfect, he spat.
He turned away.
His fingers still bleeding.
—Then I'll make that perfection weigh on him.
And he walked into the darkness, searching for air.
And something that could keep him from destroying the world that same night.