The first rupture wasn't physical. It was conceptual.
Leo was seated in the Joestar mansion's study.
His father's desk.
To his left: a cup of cold tea.
To his right: the book where, originally, Dio would have found the notes about the Stone Mask.
And in front of him, the system:
[Archive.exe System]
[Notification: Local universe stabilized. JoJo Narrative Line Part 1… closed.]
[Condition for opening next file: complete.]
"There's nothing left here worth absorbing," he whispered.
He opened the system menu with a thought.
His Stand materialized behind him, more present than ever. It wasn't a mere reflection anymore—The Archive Over Void cast its own shadow, as if it were one step closer to independence.
The interface reconfigured.
A new button appeared, with a soft but resolute hum.
[ADVANCED FUNCTIONS UNLOCKED]
➤ [Interfile Travel / Interdimensional Access]
➤ [Suggested Destination: "Archive Universe #002 – Battle Tendency"]
➤ [Available Narrative Objective: Kars, the Perfect Man.]
Leo placed his fingers on the edge of the desk.
"Kars… immortal, ruthless, genetically absolute."
He remembered every detail.
The way Joseph tricked him.
The scene of him drifting in space.
A victory without death.
A story without real punishment.
"That won't happen again."
Warning: This journey involves temporarily losing connection to the current universe. All altered elements will be sealed in a closed timeline.
"I accept."
The system's voice faltered for a moment. For the first time, it didn't sound omniscient—but… expectant.
Transfer initiated. Please maintain control of your internal narrative structure. Conceptual fragmentation may result in loss of identity.
"I'm not a concept. I'm the author."
And then… the world unraveled.
First came the sound.
The ambient music ceased, as if the universe had inhaled… and refused to exhale.
Then the light. Not darkness, but the complete absence of form.
Lastly, his body.
No pain. No warmth. Only the sensation of being read by something greater than himself.
Do you wish to continue as Leo Escalante?
Or would you prefer to adopt another name for this new narrative?
"Leo is dead," he whispered.
"I am Jonathan Joestar… the one who survives his own story."
Confirmed. Commencing travel…
The impact was subtle, but profound.
He opened his eyes and was no longer in England.
He was in a stylized Rome, with low buildings, a violet sky, and flags fluttering in the plazas.
The streets buzzed with people. The language was Italian, but the system translated instantly.
[Active File: JoJo Universe Part 2 – Battle Tendency]
[Current State: Pre-Kars stage. Caesar and Joseph in training.]
He felt lighter, as if this universe didn't yet bear the narrative weight he had installed in the last one.
He looked at his hands. Same body. But something different…
The energy of this world was more alive. Hamon.
He felt it thrumming beneath his nails like electricity waiting to burst.
[Compatibility detected: Hamon-Vampiric Mutation in balance. Stand stabilized.]
And his Stand appeared without being called.
Not as a guardian, but as a feather hovering before an invisible scroll.
"What do we do now?" Leo asked, without looking back.
And the system responded without sound, directly into his mind:
This universe has yet to be written by you. The villains have not yet been claimed. Your next line… is blank.
Leo took a deep breath.
"Then start with this:"
He put on his coat, descended into the streets, and walked among the humans who still believed they lived within a heroic tale.
"Find Caesar Zeppeli. And then… Kars."