"Phew. Made it in time."

  Tarkus turned toward the door. A girl stood there—Eastern features, silver hair, wine-red eyes. Cute face. Heart-fluttering.

  As a zombie, Tarkus recovered quickly. Laughed. "Hahaha! Nice meal! After I finish these two, I'll gift you to Lord DIO!"

  The silver-haired girl walked in. No fear.

  "Young lady! It's dangerous! Get out!"

  Speedwagon shouted.

  She waved him off. "Relax. Just a little zombie."

  She looked up at Jonathan hanging from the beam. "Hey, big guy! Your neck's not broken, right?"

  Jonathan gasped. "No... but... run..."

  Even in danger, he warned her to flee.

  "Run? I came here to save you. Good thing I'm on time. Otherwise, you'd be done for. Especially you, old man—that thick chain'll cut you in half. I hear waist-severing doesn't kill instantly. But it hurts like hell before you die."

  Zeppeli stared at Perilla. Why does this small girl feel... vast as the ocean?

  Tarkus snarled. This brat's ignoring me!

  "Damn girl! How dare you—"

  Perilla floated. Rose into the air. Reached Jonathan. Tapped the iron collar with one finger.

  CRACK.

  The collar shattered. Jonathan fell. The chain binding Zeppeli loosened.

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  Tarkus's eyes widened. "Impossible! How—"

  A voice behind him. "Hm? What's impossible?"

  He spun. Threw a punch. His mountain-sized fist—amplified by zombie strength—hurtled toward her.

  She stopped it. One finger.

  "What?!"

  He threw a flurry. Raindrops of punches. She blocked each one. With one finger. Yawned with her other hand.

  Tarkus's rage turned to fear. He backed away. Tried to flee.

  Perilla shook her head. "Bullies who prey on the weak. Disappear."

  She raised her hand. Fired an energy blast.

  BOOM.

  Tarkus vaporized.

  Silence.

  Jonathan and Zeppeli couldn't speak. She erased him with one move. And that energy ball—like magic.

  "Mr. Zeppeli, is that Ripple? Released from thin air?!"

  "I don't know. I've never seen Ripple like that."

  Zeppeli trained in Tibet for years. His master taught him Ripple required a medium. Direct projection? Unthinkable.

  "Ripple? Mm, technically, this is Ki. Ripple's a special type of Ki."

  "Ki? So that's Ki..."

  Zeppeli had heard of it. A concept from China. Legends said immortals cultivated spiritual energy. But even his master never saw one. Dismissed it as myth.

  Jonathan stepped forward. "Thank you, miss."

  "No need. That was nothing."

  Zeppeli spoke. "Excuse me, young lady—are you a Xian?"

  He used the Chinese word.

  Speedwagon and Jonathan blinked. "Mr. Zeppeli, what's a 'Xian'?"

  "Xian—immortals. Gods from Chinese mythology. Mortals who cultivated spiritual energy and ascended."

  Perilla knew he misunderstood. But the conclusion was correct. She was divine.

  "Yeah. I'm a Xian."

  "So that's why you're so strong! And you can fly..."

  Zeppeli had heard legends. Immortals moved mountains. Filled seas.

  "Xian-sama, can you help us—"

  "Defeat DIO, right?"

  Perilla cut in. Zeppeli nodded. She can foresee the future!

  But Perilla waved her hand. "I hate DIO. Want him dead. But I won't fight him."

  "Why not? Can't you beat him?"

  Jonathan asked.

  Perilla's eye twitched. "What? Even if DIO wore the Stone Mask with the Red Stone of Aja and became the Ultimate Lifeform, I'd erase him. No trace left. But I won't. Because you—especially you, Jonathan—must defeat him. I want him to realize abandoning his humanity for vampire power was a joke."

  "I see..."

  Jonathan scratched his head.

  "But with your current strength, you barely survived DIO's elite minion. You're nowhere near ready."

  Zeppeli spoke. "I've contacted my martial brothers. They'll arrive soon. Together, we'll defeat DIO."

  Perilla shook her finger. "No, no. Numbers don't matter. Mobs are mobs. To beat DIO, you two must get stronger. Train with me."

  ~~~~??~~~~~~~~??~~~~

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