---
Incoming Chaos
"Renji, report!" Akira barked into his earpiece as he, Hiroshi, and Mei sprinted through the streets.
Static crackled, then—
"Daisuke and Koji are pinned down at Central Station! Multiple enemy Stand users—unknown abilities! I'm engaging, but we need backup NOW!"
The urgency in Renji's voice sent a chill down Akira's spine.
Central Station was one of the busiest transit hubs in the city. If the Phantom Syndicate was attacking there, it wasn't just to kill Daisuke and Koji.
They were making a statement.
"Damn it," Hiroshi cursed. "No way this is a coincidence. Void was just keeping us busy."
Akira's mind raced.
Tactical assessment:
Enemy goal? Likely targeting the civilians to force them into a disadvantage.
Allies? Daisuke (speed), Koji (defense), and Renji (probability manipulation).
Unknown enemies? Likely multiple high-level Stand users.
They couldn't just charge in blindly.
They needed a plan—
BOOM!
A massive explosion erupted in the distance.
The sky lit up in crimson flames.
Hiroshi's eyes narrowed. "That's—"
"Hellfire Waltz."
Ayaka Fujiwara had arrived.
---
A Battlefield of Fire and Smoke
The moment they reached the station plaza, the heat was unbearable.
Flames consumed the platform, engulfing entire train cars.
Civilians screamed, scattering in terror.
In the chaos, Akira spotted Daisuke zigzagging through the fire, avoiding incoming attacks.
Koji stood like an iron fortress, shielding a group of civilians with his barrier Stand, Iron Will.
And in the center of the destruction—
Ayaka Fujiwara stood atop a derailed train, flames dancing around her like a conductor leading a deadly symphony.
Her smirk was cold. Amused.
"Took you long enough."
She raised her hand—
And the flames spiraled upward, forming a burning wall that blocked all exits.
They were trapped.
---
The Stand-Off
Renji skidded to their side, breathing hard. His suit was torn, and blood trickled from his forehead.
"Not just her," he panted. "There's another one."
Akira frowned. "Who?"
Then—
A low chuckle.
From the shadows of a collapsed station pillar, a man emerged.
Tall. Slender.
Dressed in a black overcoat, his silver hair slicked back.
And in his hand—
Thin, shimmering wires.
Daisuke's face twisted in recognition.
"…Reika Hoshino."
The Marionette Master.
Stand: Strings of Fate.
---
A Two-Front Battle Begins
Akira cursed under his breath.
Ayaka and Reika—both high-level Syndicate members.
One controlled fire. The other controlled people.
Hiroshi grinned, gripping his katana. "This is gonna be fun."
Akira wasn't so sure.
Ayaka's flames could overwhelm them in seconds.
And Reika's puppeteering ability was a nightmare—if she latched onto them, she could control their movements like marionettes.
They were outnumbered.
Outmatched.
But giving up wasn't an option.
Akira exhaled, tightening his gloves.
"Alright."
"We take them down."
And the battle for Central Station erupted into chaos.
---