JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Horizons

Kurokawa City - 10:00 PM

The moment Cetz and Minh disappeared, the weight of the encounter settled over the group like a thick fog. The bar seemed normal again-too normal. The patrons were back, murmuring quietly over drinks. The bartender continued wiping down glasses as if nothing had happened.

But the four of them knew better.

Akira's pulse was still racing. He clenched his fists. That illusion... it was unlike anything he had encountered before. It wasn't just a trick of the mind-it had felt real. And worse, Minh's ability had shown them something tangible, something impossible.

The Stand Arrow.

He exchanged glances with the others. Hiroshi looked tense, gripping the handle of his blade. Kenji sat stone-faced, arms crossed. Daisuke adjusted his sunglasses, his usual smirk absent.

"They know where it is," Hiroshi muttered.

Akira nodded. "And now, so do we."

Kenji's voice was low, firm. "Then we don't waste time. We go now."

Daisuke exhaled sharply. "Damn right." He rolled his shoulders, already itching for action.

Akira grabbed the map off the table. The cathedral Minh had revealed-it wasn't just some random location. It had been marked before, but dismissed as a dead lead.

They had overlooked it.

But now, there was no doubt.

"Let's move."

The Streets of Kurokawa - 10:20 PM

The city was still alive with lights and movement, but the group moved with purpose, weaving through alleys and side streets. The cathedral lay on the outskirts of town, past an abandoned district where time had left its mark.

As they ran, Akira's mind replayed every second of the encounter with Minh and Cetz. He gritted his teeth. What were their Stands' full abilities? Minh had used that hourglass-what did it actually do? And Cetz... his illusions were unlike any he had seen.

Hiroshi jogged beside him, his expression unreadable. "You're thinking too much."

Akira sighed. "And you're thinking too little."

"We'll figure out their abilities when we fight them again," Hiroshi said. "Worry about getting there first."

Daisuke smirked. "Damn, for once I agree with sword boy."

Kenji didn't speak, but his heavy footsteps signaled his agreement.

Their pace quickened.

Abandoned District - 10:45 PM

The change in atmosphere was immediate. Gone were the bright neon lights and the hum of city life. In their place were decaying buildings, shattered windows, and rusted streetlamps barely flickering.

The cathedral loomed in the distance. Its once-proud spires were cracked, its stained glass windows shattered. The massive wooden doors stood slightly ajar, revealing nothing but darkness beyond.

Akira slowed his pace, scanning the area.

"No sign of them," he murmured.

Hiroshi stepped forward, resting a hand on his katana. "Then they either haven't arrived yet..."

"Or they're already inside," Kenji finished.

Daisuke grinned. "Then let's say hello."

They moved cautiously, stepping through the massive entrance. The scent of dust and decay filled the air. Moonlight streamed through broken windows, casting long shadows across the ruined pews and debris-covered floor.

And then-

CLINK.

A faint metallic sound echoed through the hall.

Akira's eyes snapped toward the altar. There, partially buried beneath rubble, a glint of metal-

The Stand Arrow.

His breath caught.

They had found it.

But before anyone could move-

The doors slammed shut.

A soft click echoed through the cathedral, followed by slow, deliberate footsteps.

From the upper balcony, a figure emerged.

A man in a sleek black suit, his long silver hair tied back, eyes glinting like polished steel. A predator's gaze.

Shinobu Kuroda.

"Impressive," he mused, his voice smooth, almost amused. "You made it here faster than expected."

Hiroshi's grip on his blade tightened. "Who the hell are you?"

Shinobu smiled, stepping forward, his polished shoes clicking against the wooden floor.

"I should be asking you the same thing," he said. "After all, I was expecting Minh and Cetz." He glanced down at the arrow. "Yet here you are, running like desperate rats toward a prize you don't even understand."

Kenji cracked his knuckles. "You work for them?"

Shinobu chuckled. "Work for them? No. Minh and I simply have... an arrangement." His eyes flicked to the hourglass in his hand-identical to Minh's, but with golden sand.

Akira's stomach twisted.

Two hourglasses. Two abilities.

Shinobu smirked. "Now then-"

He flicked the hourglass over.

And the walls of the cathedral began to move.

To Be Continued...