Seventy soul fragments clattered like coins into a pachinko machine, a crisp, satisfying cascade.
The digits flickered, vanishing into twinkling stars that poured into the draw screen.
Not enough!
"Pledge my soul."
A thread of golden light drifted from Ryuji's essence.
It surged into the interface.
[Ten-pull secured.]
Draw!
The night sky's stars erupted in brilliance. Ten meteors streaked down, carving radiant arcs across the heavens.
Ding, ding, ding, ding.
Four chimes rang out as four stars materialized.
Their glow coalesced into a coil of purple vines.
[Stand Name: Hermit Purple.]
[Four-Star.]
[Owner: Joseph Joestar.]
[Ability: Spirit photography—shatter a camera or medium to view distant scenes. Conducts Ripple energy and electricity; can extend as vines for mobility.]
[Current Level: 1.]
[Note: "Old man's Stand is the most useless—DIO."]
"Four-Star?"
Ryuji blinked, stunned.
Wasn't it a guaranteed five-star on the first ten-pull?
And what's with the "most useless" jab in the notes?
Suddenly, the chimes resumed.
This time... five rings!
A star's radiance flashed, summoning a towering, muscular humanoid—blue-purple skin, flowing hair, built like a fortress.
[Stand Name: Star Platinum.]
[Five-Star.]
[Owner: Jotaro Kujo.]
[Ability: Close-range power type with superhuman strength, blinding speed, and pinpoint precision.]
[Current Level: 1.]
[Note 1: Time stop ability not yet unlocked.]
[Note 2: Invincible.]
A double Stand pull on his debut ten-roll!
What insane luck.
No—not just luck. A cosmic nod, an affirmation from the Stands themselves.
Ryuji had a million reasons to hide, to run.
Stepping out meant risking his life, betting his soul on a long shot.
But one reason pulled him forward—
The guts to face injustice head-on.
These two Stands answered that call.
Ryuji didn't know these killers' identities or what shadowy pull kept the village from intervening.
He knew one thing: As a grown man with his wits about him, he couldn't stand by while these monsters targeted a kid—not when he had a choice.
Save yourself when you're weak; save the world when you're strong.
Right now, though? No grand philosophy.
Ryuji just wanted to smash these bastards.
He drew a deep breath. When his eyes reopened, fear was gone.
Fists clenched, he dropped into a boxer's stance.
"Come on! Trash!"
Labeled "trash" by the Uchiha clan's biggest failure? A flicker of complexity crossed Itachi Uchiha's eyes. He hadn't expected Ryuji to be the one standing here.
Fate's mockery?
The emotion vanished. Itachi advanced, blade in hand.
No chakra wasted on ninjutsu, no Sharingan activated.
The masked man beside him was too enigmatic, too dangerous—Itachi needed reserves to watch his back.
More crucially, he figured Ryuji didn't warrant the effort.
He drew his sword not for kunai flings, but out of respect for Ryuji's suicidal stand.
Itachi blurred forward like a specter, steel whistling through the air.
He fixed Ryuji with a cold stare:
"I retract my underestimation. You're a man worthy of respect."
"Unfortunately, for Konoha... for peace... please die."
The blade arced upward, poised to bisect Ryuji.
Obito yawned, bored.
Young Sasuke, numb from tonight's horrors, squeezed his eyes shut.
Then—
"ORA!!!"
A thunderous roar, followed by the thud of fist on flesh!
Sasuke's eyes snapped open.
"Hm?"
Obito frowned, peering through his mask.
The lethal swing halted mid-air.
Inches from Ryuji, it hit an invisible wall, frozen.
Blood sprayed, glittering like ruby shards under the moonlight. The source...
Obito's pupil contracted.
Itachi was hurt?!
Star Platinum's opening punch had caved Itachi's nose, blood gushing.
And that...
Was just the start.
Star Platinum's range: two meters.
If Itachi hung back with ninjutsu, Ryuji was toast.
But stepping into range? Ryuji wouldn't waste it.
One hand in his pocket, Ryuji channeled the massacre's rage into a pointing finger at the dazed executioner.
"ORA! ORA! ORA!"
Star Platinum seized the blade with one hand. The other balled into a fist the size of a cauldron, hammering Itachi's skull.
Each punch fiercer!
Heavier!
By the third, bone cracked audibly.
Obito snapped to.
Too fast!
Too vicious!
From swing to near-skull-shatter: fractions of a second. Terrifyingly, no tell—what ninjutsu was this?
No seals.
No incantations.
Bloodline limit?
But he's Uchiha—Sharingan?
Yet...
Obito saw no tomoe, no Mangekyo in Ryuji's eyes.
Thoughts raced; battle instinct kicked in. He flickered to Itachi's side, grabbing for his shoulder.
Itachi's power was key to Obito's plans.
He'd warp him to Kamui space.
Ryuji's ability was too weird—Obito avoided direct contact.
As his hand neared...
"Star Finger!"
Star Platinum released the sword, fingers spear-like, thrusting at Obito.
Obito couldn't see the Stand but sensed danger, phasing intangible.
He evaded the strike,
But his rescue grasp phased through Itachi's shoulder.
In intangibility, Obito couldn't pull others in—ability's flaw.
Intel: the ninja's edge.
One-on-one or two-on-one, Itachi and Obito's arsenal, skills, experience—they'd crush Ryuji.
But that first-move gap.
Pure first-sight kill.
No matter the jutsu's might or taijutsu's finesse.
Flesh is fragile.
Level 1 Star Platinum, unupgraded, hit like a highway semi-truck.
Itachi Uchiha?
More like a speed bump!
Star Platinum hurled Itachi skyward, right fist cocked, drawing breath.
"T-Too strong..."
Sasuke stared from the corner, agape at his airborne brother.
Unreal.
Like a dream.
Itachi slaughtering the clan: dream.
Ryuji about to kill him: dream.
But Sasuke knew—it was real.
"ORA!"
The bellow echoed.
Fist wind whipped up a gale, unstoppable force barreling toward Itachi's face.
Hit? Instant death!
"Susanoo..."
A crimson barrier encircled Itachi.
On death's brink, survival instinct jolted him awake.
Obito exhaled in relief.
Susanoo. Saved.
Crack.
Star Platinum's punch landed, a faint snap.
Hairline fractures spiderwebbed.
Ryuji stepped closer, calm:
"Pledge my remaining soul. Convert all to resources—upgrade Star Platinum."
[Star Platinum upgraded to... Level 2.]
[Soul pledge at 0. Acquire 500 fragments in 24 hours, or soul vanishes permanently.]
His soul fully staked, yet Ryuji's eyes blazed brighter with golden fire.
Star Platinum's swings stirred winds, tousling his hair.
Moonlight hid behind clouds, plunging the world dark—save Ryuji's golden-glowing eyes, divine in the void, fixed on Itachi.
He raised a finger, commanding:
"End him."
Level 2 Star Platinum: strength, speed—elevated across the board.
"ORA ORA ORA!"
In a blink, countless strikes.
Itachi's fresh Susanoo cracked, fractures webbing until the final blow—
Bang!
A breach shattered open.
Star Platinum's arm thrust through, seizing Itachi's throat.
Slim neck.
After all, Itachi was just 13.
But...
Demons know no age.
Ryuji didn't hesitate.
Star Platinum squeezed—hard.