Collapse, but Stand users

"Father, I'm back."

"Hmm, what's wrong? Did you have a fight with Eden? Why didn't you come back together?"

"No, I had some things to take care of, so I sent Eden back first."

"Hehe, you should go and comfort her, she seems a little unhappy."

"Yes, father."

DIO walked up to Eden's room and knocked on the door.

"Open the door, Eden."

After a while, the door opened, and DIO frowned and said, "What are you doing? Why are you taking so long?"

Eden didn't say anything, but suddenly stepped forward and hugged DIO.

Feeling the girl's soft body, DIO felt no emotion.

But he still placed his hand on Eden's head and patted it, saying softly, "What's wrong, Eden?"

Eden lifted his head from DIO's chest and looked at him.

"If I tell you, how can my brother not be angry?"

DIO nodded.

“Speak, Eden, and I certainly won’t be angry.”

"...Actually, I didn't leave first. I secretly followed behind my brother to see what he was doing."

Eden lowered his head and buried it in DIO's chest, saying in a muffled voice, "I saw my brother kiss... kiss Alicia."

"So?" DIO asked with a half-smile.

When DIO asked him a question, Eden remained silent.

Then, DIO held Eden's head in his hands and made her look at him.

“Eden, first of all, your brother’s favorite person is definitely you, and that will never change.”

"Secondly, I did that just to teach Alicia a little lesson, because she was trying to sow discord between us."

"Eden certainly won't leave me because of Alicia's words, right?"

"Of course not! I love my brother the most too."

"Hehe, good boy."

"Does Eden still want to be friends with Alicia?"

"Is...is it okay? Won't brother be angry?"

“I told you, I won’t be angry with you, Eden.”

"However, I need you to do this."

"..."

"Is there a reward after I finish?" DIO smiled when he saw Eden's gaze fall on his lips as he asked this.

"It depends on your performance."

......

In the days that followed, Alicia became even more wary of you because of your behavior.

Eden's indifference towards her caused her some heartache.

"Eden, why are you ignoring me? Is it because I spoke ill of your brother?"

Eden opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but when he saw that familiar figure, he said nothing.

Seeing the resentment and helplessness in Eden's eyes, Alicia turned around and found you standing in the shadows watching them.

Seemingly understanding something, Alicia said to Eden, "Wait, Eden, I will rescue you from him!"

A glimmer of hope appeared in Eden's eyes, but it gradually faded, and he shook his head.

Seeing this, Alicia felt another pang of heartache.

Hearing footsteps behind her, Alicia turned around and looked at DIO walking towards the two of them.

"What are you planning to do now?" Alicia took two steps back and asked warily.

"Nothing much, I just came to find 'my' Eden." DIO emphasized the word "my" and then waved to Eden.

"Come here, Eden."

Eden obediently walked to DIO's side, and then DIO pinched Eden's chin and said, "This is your reward."

After the kiss, DIO pulled Eden away.

As DIO passed by Alicia, he said to her mockingly, "See, you can't do anything."

Upon hearing this, Alicia stared wide-eyed at DIO.

DIO raised an eyebrow as he sensed the familiar Honkai energy and moved his body closer to Eden.

......

“A good performance, Eden.”

Eden blushed and lowered his head, seemingly still reeling from the kiss.

After a long pause, she asked, "Brother, can this really help me become friends with Ellie again?"

"Of course, you can just treat her the same way you used to."

"Really? Thank you, brother."

"You're welcome."

'She should thank us.'

Alicia is convinced that you have some leverage over Eden, so she has no choice but to obey your orders.

"If you don't want Eden to suffer, why don't you take her place?" you said.

Alicia thought that by getting close to you she could remove the leverage you had over Eden, so she endured the humiliation and agreed to your request.

Unfortunately, she was destined to fail because the leverage she had never possessed was never there in the first place.

However, the occasional fleeting glimpse of Honkai energy serves as a reminder to maintain a proper balance.

"But habits are terrible, Alicia."

"Once you get used to all of this, you won't be able to live without me."

......

[At 16, on a rainy night, George rushed home carrying a suitcase.]

After he opened the box, you saw what was inside.

"It's finally here, the Stone Mask."

But just to be on the safe side, DIO stole the Stone Mask and then, at dawn, pressed it onto the face of a homeless man.

After his blood was smeared on the Stone Golem's face, several sharp spikes protruded from the face and pierced the homeless man's head.

Seeing the homeless man successfully transform into a vampire and then turn to ashes under the sun, DIO picked up the Stone Mask and nodded in satisfaction.