The descent into the cavern was fast, brutal—
like falling down the throat of a dead god.
The rock walls were etched with ancient symbols: spirals, stars, crossed bones.
A technology that resembled magic pulsed through the corridors.
Red lights, living lines.
Everything vibrated with a hidden rhythm.
Joseph was sweating.
Caesar was bleeding.
Lisa Lisa said nothing.
And Leo walked among them, never seeming in a rush.
But inside…
[Kars transformation: 93%]
[System on standby. Absorption route: locked until final form.]
They were close.
Seconds away.
They turned the final corner.
And then they saw it.
A natural dome carved from ice and stone.
As tall as a cathedral.
Floating circles like gears above an obsidian altar.
And at the center—
Kars.
Standing.
Surrounded by a suspended explosion of red light.
His body was partially covered in living plates.
His muscles rearranging.
His skin glowing with solar lines.
His eyes… closed.
Joseph froze.
—No…
Caesar gasped.
—We're too late…
Lisa Lisa narrowed her eyes.
—No. It's not finished yet. CUT THE ENERGY!
But no one moved.
The vampire sentries slowly turned their heads.
Leo stepped forward.
And smiled—deep, deep inside.
[Evolutionary state: 97%]
[Hamon seal detected: collapsing.]
The Red Stone spun one last time.
Kars opened his eyes.
And in that instant… the entire temple system burst into absolute red.
The group was thrown back.
The air turned to vapor.
The ice melted at a molecular level.
And Kars… was no longer Kars.
His skin was white as daylight.
His hair floated weightlessly.
His face… perfect.
Not beautiful.
Not terrifying.
Simply… complete.
—What… is this? Joseph whispered.
—It's… the sun, breathing, Caesar said, almost in a trance.
Kars walked above the ground, as if gravity adored him.
—I am the peak.
I am the version without restraint.
Lisa Lisa hurled her Hamon.
A blast that could have destroyed mountains.
Kars absorbed it without flinching.
—A beautiful attempt.
And completely irrelevant.
Joseph shouted:
—What do you want now?!
Kars looked at him.
With pity.
—Nothing.
Because now… I have everything.
Leo, still standing, was barely breathing.
His Stand floated beside him.
The pages began to turn.
A single word appeared on all of them.
"Access granted."
[Entity: Kars (perfect form).]
[Absorption: now available.]
[Condition: direct combat – no external support.]
Leo narrowed his eyes.
And for the first time since arriving in this world…
he smiled genuinely.
—Now, finally…
we can play.