Seventy soul fragments, like coins thrown into a pachinko machine, made a crisp, melodious clattering sound.
Numbers flickered and vanished, transforming into dazzling points of starlight cast into the gacha screen.
'Not enough!'
"I stake my soul."
A strand of golden light drifted out from Ryosuke's soul.
Once again cast into the gacha screen.
Ten-pull completed.
'Draw!'
The night sky burst with sudden brilliance, ten stars fell, streaking across the heavens like arcs of dazzling light.
Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!
Accompanied by four crisp chimes in succession, four stars appeared.
The starlight condensed into a purple vine.
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[Stand name: Hermit Purple]
[Four-star]
[Owner: Joseph Joestar]
[Ability: Spirit Photography; by breaking a camera or other medium, can see distant scenes, transmit Ripple and electricity, and can also be used as vines to move.]
[Current Level: Level 1]
[Note: "Your Stand is the most useless one—Dio."]
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"Four stars?"
Ryosuke froze for a moment.
'Wasn't it said that a ten-pull guarantees at least an epic Stand? Also, what does that note about "most useless" mean?'
Suddenly, the crisp chimes rang out again.
But this time… It was the epic sound!
The starlight flashed, revealing a towering, muscular humanoid Stand, its body blue-purple, long hair flowing.
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[Stand name: Star Platinum]
[Epic]
[Owner: Jotaro Kujo]
[Ability: A close-range power type Stand with immense strength, extreme speed, and ultra-high precision.]
[Current Level: Level 1]
[Note 1: Time-stop ability not yet unlocked]
[Note 2: Invincible]
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'Double Stand in a single ten-pull! What kind of luck is this?'
'No, it cannot be called mere luck. It was also, in some unseen way, recognition from the Stands.'
Ryosuke had countless reasons to hide, to run away.
After all, stepping forward meant risking his life, staking his soul as the wager.
But only one reason drove Ryosuke to step forward, the courage to face injustice head-on.
The two Stands before his eyes responded to his courage.
Ryosuke didn't know who these two murderers were, nor what kind of power was behind them that made no one from the nearby village come to help.
Ryosuke only knew one thing.
As a mentally mature adult, lacking strength was one thing, but when he had the ability to choose, he could not stand by and watch these two beasts lay hands on a child.
When poor, care for oneself; when capable, aid the world.
Of course, at this very moment, he didn't think that far.
Ryosuke just wanted to smash these two beasts.
He took a deep breath. When he opened his eyes again, there was not a trace of fear.
He clenched his fists, adopting a boxer's stance.
"Come on! Trash!"
Branded a disgrace of the Uchiha clan, Itachi's eyes flickered with fleeting complexity. He hadn't expected the one standing before him now would be Ryosuke.
Was this fate mocking him?
The excess emotion vanished in an instant as Uchiha Itachi raised his blade and charged forward.
He didn't waste chakra on ninjutsu, didn't even activate his Sharingan.
The masked man beside him was too mysterious and too dangerous. Itachi needed to conserve strength to guard against him.
Most importantly, Itachi believed dealing with Ryosuke required none of that.
He swung his blade instead of casually throwing a kunai, out of respect for Ryosuke's courage to stand despite certain death.
Itachi's step was ghostlike, blade slicing air with a sharp hiss.
He stared coldly at Ryosuke, "I take back my contempt for you. You are a man worthy of respect."
"Unfortunately, for the sake of Konoha, for the peace of the world… please die."
The blade arced upward from below, about to cleave Ryosuke in two.
Obito yawned, bored.
Young Sasuke, who had witnessed too much death this night, squeezed his eyes shut tightly.
Just then, "ORA!!!"
With a thunderous roar came the dull, meaty thud of a fist striking flesh.
Sasuke's eyes snapped open.
"Huh?"
Obito frowned slightly, his gaze shifting through the mask.
The death-bringing blade froze midair.
Barely an inch from Ryosuke, yet as if hitting an invisible barrier, it could not advance.
Blood sprayed like tiny rubies under the silver moonlight. The source of that blood…
Obito's pupils contracted sharply. 'Itachi is injured?!'
Just now, Star Platinum's fist smashed into Uchiha Itachi's face, collapsing his high nose bridge and spraying blood.
And this… was only the beginning!
Star Platinum's range was only two meters.
If Itachi had attacked from afar with ninjutsu, Ryosuke could do nothing.
But his opponent had stepped into Star Platinum's range, Ryosuke could never waste such an opening.
Ryosuke shoved one hand into his pocket. All the death he had witnessed condensed into rage, focused on his forefinger.
He pointed at the stunned executioner before him.
"ORA! ORA! ORA!"
Star Platinum grabbed the blade with one hand, clenched a fist with the other, and its massive fists pounded Uchiha Itachi's head again and again.
Each punch harder than the last.
Each punch heavier than the last.
By the third punch, you could hear his skull cracking.
Obito snapped back to his senses.
'Too fast! Too fierce!'
From the moment Itachi swung to the moment his head was about to burst, not even a fraction of a second passed. More terrifying was, what jutsu was this?
'No hand seals. No talismans. Could it be a Kekkei Genkai?'
'What bloodline limit… no, he's from the Uchiha clan—Sharingan?'
'But…'
Obito could find no tomoe, no Mangekyo in Ryosuke's eyes.
In an instant, countless thoughts flashed through Obito's mind, but his battle-honed instincts moved his body first. He flickered to Itachi's side, reaching for his shoulder.
Itachi's strength was vital for Obito's plans.
He had to warp him into Kamui space.
Ryosuke's ability was too bizarre; Obito didn't want to risk direct contact.
Just as his hand was about to grab Itachi...
Star Platinum released the blade, its two fingers aligned and extended like a spear, stabbing toward Obito.
Obito couldn't see Star Platinum, but instinct screamed danger, and he phased out.
He dodged the strike, but his hand to save Itachi passed harmlessly through.
While intangible, Obito couldn't take people or objects with him, such was the limitation of his power.
Intel is always key in shinobi warfare.
At Itachi and Obito's level, even in a two-on-one, with their ninjutsu, skill, and experience, they could crush Ryosuke.
But that single moment of initiative… Purely an opening kill effect.
No matter how strong ninjutsu, no matter how refined taijutsu, the human body is fragile.
And this was only level 1 Star Platinum. Even so, its punching force rivaled a semi-truck barreling down a highway.
'Uchiha Itachi? I thought you were just a speed bump! Talk to my insurance!'
Star Platinum hurled Itachi upward, clenched its right fist, and Ryosuke drew a deep breath.
"So… strong…"
From the corner, Sasuke stared blankly at his brother, flung into the air.
Unreal. Like a dream.
Itachi slaughtering the clan was a dream.
Ryosuke killing Itachi, also a dream.
But Sasuke knew, it was real.
"ORA!"
The roar thundered.
Fist wind howled like a storm, carrying irresistible force as it slammed toward Itachi's face.
"Susan…oo."
A dark-red barrier bloomed, encasing Itachi.
At death's door, his primal will to live brought clarity.
Obito exhaled in relief.
'It's Susanoo, he's safe.'
Crack!
Star Platinum's fist crashed down on the barrier with a faint snap.
Hairline fractures spread.
Ryosuke stepped forward, closing the gap, speaking calmly, "Collateralize my remaining soul. Convert all to resources. Upgrade Star Platinum."
"Star Platinum upgraded to… Level 2."
"Soul collateral balance: 0. Please acquire 500 soul fragments within 24 hours, or your soul will vanish completely."
Even after wagering his entire soul, Ryosuke's eyes glowed more brilliantly with golden light.
Star Platinum's punch stirred gusts, whipping his hair aloft.
Moonlight hid behind clouds; the world sank into darkness, Ryosuke's golden eyes, shining like a god descending, silently fixing on Uchiha Itachi.
Ryosuke raised a finger at the airborne Itachi and gave the order, "Blow him apart."
Level 2 Star Platinum, strength and speed fully elevated.
"ORA ORA ORA!"
In an instant, countless punches.
Itachi's newly summoned Susanoo, now like a boiled egg peeled bare, spiderwebbed with cracks, until the final blow.
Bang!
Susanoo split wide.
Star Platinum's arm thrust in, seizing Uchiha Itachi's throat.
His neck was slender.
After all, Itachi was only 13 then.
But... a demon has no age.
Ryosuke hesitated not for a second.
Star Platinum's grip tightened violently.
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