The taped glass bottle clinked softly in Josuke's hands as the two walked down Morioh's dim, deserted streets. Inside, Aqua Necklace sloshed around in impotent rage. Josuke grinned, victory bright on his face.
"That was perfect," Josuke said, spinning the bottle in his fingers. "Without you, this guy would've drowned me."
Ken smiled faintly. "Glad it worked out."On the surface, he looked calm but inside, his thoughts were razor sharp.That's a Stand in there. Angelo's Stand. I want to take it.
The System chimed in his mind, cold and methodical:
[Target Detected: Angelo Katagiri Stand: Aqua - Necklace.]
[Plunder Option Available.]
Requirement: Physical contact for 30 seconds.]
Status: Target incapacitated. Recommended: Proceed.]
Ken's lips curled inward. Perfect timing.
They reached the corner where Angelo lay slumped against a pipe, eyes barely open, body weak. Josuke crouched beside him to check his pulse.
"Still breathing," Josuke muttered. "I'll call the cops. You keep an eye on him."
Ken crouched down beside Angelo, his tone even. "No problem."
Josuke moved away, pulling out his phone.Ken placed his fingers against Angelo's wrist. To anyone watching, it looked like he was checking for a pulse. In reality, the System flickered with a new screen:
[Initiating Plunder: 30… 29… 28…]
Ken kept his breathing steady, his heart pounding against his ribs. Angelo twitched faintly, but Ken applied slight pressure, masking it as stabilization.
[5… 4… 3… 2… 1…][Plunder Complete.]
Then another window materialized:
[Choose Assimilation Mode:]
1. Retain Full Stand: Aqua Necklace (All Stand functions preserved).
2. Extract Ability Only: Aqua Manipulation (User can control water as an innate skill; Stand form discarded).]
Ken froze for half a second, considering.
Option 2 offered subtlety. Aqua manipulation as a natural ability meant he'd stay under the radar, no Stand, no risk of exposure. It was stealth incarnate.
But Option 1? A real Stand. The ability to evolve. To fight other Stands directly. To be a true predator in this world and the next.
His decision was instant.Stealth is good. But now, scalable power? That's better.
Ken smirked. Option 1.
[Assimilation Confirmed.][New Stand Acquired: Aqua Necklace.]
The sensation was immediate, liquid coldness snaking through his veins, like water becoming part of his blood. A faint presence loomed at his back, invisible yet tangible, hungry for use.
Josuke returned, shoving his phone into his pocket. "Cops will handle him. Let's go."
Ken straightened casually. "Yeah. He'll be fine until they come."
Later that night, Ken sat beneath the flickering glow of a lone streetlamp, Death Note balanced on his knee. His pen glided over the page in elegant strokes:
Katagiri, Angelo – dies in his sleep of cardiac arrest.
The System chimed softly in his head:
[Confirmed Kill: Named Individual Eliminated.]Reward: +1,000 Points.]
Ken's current balance flashed:
[Points: 26,500.]
He closed the notebook with a faint grin. Not bad. One Stand acquired. And the best part? There's no limit. Every Stand I take adds to my arsenal. Infinite growth.
Aqua Necklace pulsed faintly in his mind, like a lurking predator, ready to drown his enemies at a thought. Ken chuckled under his breath.This is just the beginning. Next target: Josuke Higashikata. Once his trust is mine, Crazy Diamond joins the collection.
The night wind rustled, carrying with it the weight of what was coming.
End of Chapter 8