Thirty-six A-rank Character Cards...
Fourteen S-rank Character Cards...
A close relative...
Two Arrows...
One Beetle Arrow...
Stand: Heaven's Stairway
A special time and location...
Extremely similar to Dio's method of ascending to Heaven, yet completely different, this was Takatsuki's unique method of ascending to Heaven.
"Then aren't the conditions basically met!? Can we go back now and complete it immediately?"
Looking at the conditions Ai provided, Takatsuki immediately reacted.
As for character cards, he could draw them on the spot right now. Even with the worst luck, seven thousand crystals would be enough.
As for the Arrows, the most troublesome Beetle Arrow was already in his hand. As long as he could return to the Jojo world, getting two Arrows from Jotaro, or rather, from SPW, wouldn't be difficult.
Not to mention their friendship, even if Takatsuki wanted to forcibly take two Arrows, no one could stop him.
If his main body went, even the invincible battle god of the Joestar family would not be his match.
"No, Daddy, 'close relative' isn't just about the relationship; there must be a blood connection."
"Bloodline?"
Takatsuki was stunned for a moment, immediately thinking of his father in another world. Although his relationship with him wasn't good, and he hadn't seen him for many years, thinking about it now, he still felt a bit nostalgic.
"Oh, Daddy, what are you thinking about? Of course, I was talking about myself."
Seeing Takatsuki's silence, Ai immediately spoke up.
"Uh, does the system count too?"
Although Ai was his daughter in the dream, and ethically speaking, he had created her, Ai didn't have an actual physical body; if anything, she merely possessed consciousness.
"So, Daddy, you have to help me be born. If I'm not born, you naturally won't be able to meet the conditions for ascending to Heaven."
Well, well, so that's what she was waiting for.
"Then what do you want me to do?"
Takatsuki remembered that it seemed quite troublesome for Ai to be born, as mentioned before, but she hadn't explained it clearly.
"Of course, it's to give birth to me..."
"..."
Giving birth was naturally not something one person could accomplish, nor was it a trivial matter.
However, it was truly rare for his own daughter to urge him to give birth to her quickly.
No, it was simply unheard of!
After a perfunctory reply to Ai, he stood up from his "throne."
"Ai-chan, can I go see other places in Throne of Heroes?"
Ai's voice was a bit unhappy: "Daddy is changing the subject again."
"You can, but Throne of Heroes isn't complete yet, so everyone else is still asleep. To enter someone else's space, you need their permission."
Takatsuki's current Throne of Heroes was different from Type-Moon's; it wasn't a record existing on the Boundary Record Belt outside the world, but genuinely existing souls, so naturally, they also had their own unique spaces.
"Is there anything else needed?"
When he asked this question, Takatsuki had actually already thought of the answer.
Or rather, the answer to this question had already existed for a long time.
Fame...
This concept, which originally didn't belong to this world, was brought to it by Takatsuki.
"It's not just about perfecting Throne of Heroes; even supernatural power is power, and Throne of Heroes is no exception. Its energy cannot come from nothing. Even I draw power from the original fate trajectories of each world to form crystals to support its operation."
Ai explained, "Just like the faith and votive power mentioned in the novels you've read, Daddy, Throne of Heroes's support also relies on Fame. Fame comes from human recognition; the more people believe, the more people worship, the stronger Throne of Heroes's power becomes. Sooner or later, it will be able to support enough energy for Heroic Spirits to move freely in this world."
Although she said that, it was actually very difficult to achieve.
Even if Takatsuki used the Holy Grail and spiritual summoning magic to summon Servants in this world, it would require a huge price, although this price had already been reduced to mere energy expenditure by these preparations.
However, it should be noted that what was summoned were not Heroic Spirits, but Servants.
Even if they were not records but actual souls, what was summoned was still not their true bodies, but, like in Type-Moon, a part of their records. Their true souls remained dormant in Throne of Heroes, unable to awaken.
"But if they're just souls, why do they have clothes?"
Takatsuki stood outside a Heroic Spirit Seat, observing the scene inside. Just like his own space, the appearance here was also the most reassuring place in the owner's heart. Although he couldn't enter, Takatsuki could still see a slightly cozy little home depicted in that space, and a beautiful white-haired woman was lying on the bed, sleeping soundly.
"Daddy, I'll tell Mommy what you just said."
"Don't!"
He was hiding in Throne of Heroes, peeking at his mother-in-law, and saying such things. If Durandal found out, wouldn't she beat him to death on the spot?
He couldn't be killed anyway.
"The appearance and environment of Heroic Spirits originate from the most comfortable and reassuring environment and form in their hearts. Unless someone feels most at ease naked, the situation you mentioned, Daddy, wouldn't occur."
So that's how it is...
Takatsuki looked at Cecilia, dressed in a white dress, within that space.
No wonder the clothes on her body weren't the combat uniform she wore when she died. It seemed that in Cecilia's heart, her home and this casual attire were what made her feel most at ease.
To quote someone who had already passed away.
That is, people live to pursue peace of mind.
This still applied even after death.
However, this made him think of his own space.
So, what truly made him feel most at ease wasn't St. Freya Academy, nor everything he had experienced, but nothingness?
It was truly...
...nothing to laugh about.
"Daddy, what's wrong?"
Seeing Takatsuki in a daze, Ai's voice sounded again.
"No, nothing. I was just thinking if Mei and the others would scold me when I go back this time."
After all, he had left without a word, and he hadn't expected to be gone for so long, as it was due to being ambushed.
"Mommy will definitely scold you, but Daddy, you can also use this opportunity to put in more effort."
"..."
Put in more effort for what?
Takatsuki didn't even need to ask, because he had already guessed; he had experienced it once before.
This little one still thought it wasn't enough and was just waiting for him to be punished.
But what was coming would always come.
"Send me back."
Takatsuki said, closing his eyes. Everything had been resolved, and Takatsuki was mentally prepared to face the storm.
But when he opened his eyes again, what he saw was not his familiar bedroom, nor even the scene at St. Freya Academy.
The overcast sky emitted a reddish glow as if scorched by flames.
Although not a single ray of sunlight could be seen, the entire world was bathed in a crimson glow, appearing as if fiercely burning under a mad fire.
The surrounding ruins and a knife-like cold wind blew across Takatsuki's face.
"Whoosh..."
In this world, even the air was filled with a killing aura.
Takatsuki couldn't imagine how both scorching heat and biting cold could exist simultaneously.
No... it wasn't scorching heat...
Takatsuki quickly realized that with his Demon Flame, he couldn't feel scorching heat from such a low temperature, yet the burning sensation on his skin was a real feedback.
"Radiation..."
"Where is this?"
Takatsuki understood now. This burning sensation wasn't due to heat, but because invisible and intangible radiation was affecting his skin.
Radiation was difficult for the human body to detect, but the radiation around him was now directly affecting his body, which meant the environment had become extremely harsh.
"I'm sorry, Daddy, the teleportation coordinates seem to have gone wrong."
Ai's somewhat flustered voice sounded.
"Wrong? You didn't send me to some apocalyptic world, did you?"
This environment was too harsh.
However, Takatsuki wasn't worried. This skin-burning radiation couldn't affect his body. Not to mention his Demon Flame that could purify everything, the Horse Talisman alone could expel these negative effects from his body.
"No, this is still a world under the Imaginary Tree, but it's not the Original World where Mommy and the others are. It seems to be because you left a record here from a previous visit, Daddy."
A world I've been to?
How did I not know I had been to such a miserable world?
The figure of Heaven's Stairway instantly appeared, and D4C's ability activated.
Takatsuki instantly understood what world this was; it really was a world he had visited before.
It was a place similar to a parallel world that he had arrived at when he first activated D4C's ability.
It was just that Kiana and the others here had lost in a crucial battle, Otto had become a true false god, and after that, Herrschers appeared frequently, but humanity at that time no longer had the ability to resist.
The Herrschers and Valkyries on the human side could only barely survive with a few batches of human survivors.
But at that time, it was just monsters everywhere.
And now this radiation...
Humans couldn't possibly survive here.
Had it been nuked?
If it had been nuked, and if it wasn't done by humans themselves, then it might have been the Herrscher of Corruption.
If the Herrscher of Corruption had already appeared, then the next step would be the End.
However, this civilization had already been destroyed. The arrival of the End would only activate its authority to rewind time and start a new cycle.
"Let's go. It seems this world is beyond saving."
As Takatsuki made his judgment and prepared to activate his ability to leave this world, he noticed a fierce battle occurring about eighty kilometers away from him.
"Are there still people alive?"
Let's go see...
Although he had no hope for this world, perhaps he could gain something?
Takatsuki moved his foot, and his speed instantly exploded.
Because this world was already so broken, Takatsuki didn't care about avoiding or preventing harm to others, choosing instead to sprint in a straight line.
Along the way, neither the ruins nor the piled-up wreckage of mechs could stop Takatsuki for even a moment.
"Roar!!!"
As Takatsuki sprinted, the surrounding Honkai Beasts were also drawn to him. Even while continuously sprinting, Takatsuki felt a huge tremor from beneath his feet.
"Is that... Parvati?"
Looking at the gigantic Honkai Beast rolling towards him like a massive wheel, countless ice cones continuously fell around it.
Even an S-rank Valkyrie wouldn't choose to directly withstand such an attack, yet Takatsuki showed no hesitation, charging straight towards the rolling Parvati.
Both sides were sprinting rapidly, and in just one second, they collided fiercely.
Like a nail piercing a balloon, with just a single contact, Parvati's wail echoed throughout the city.
Takatsuki, his entire body enveloped in Armament Haki and Supreme King Haki, didn't even assume an attack posture due to Parvati's presence.
After such a long time, his strength had reached a realm that his former self couldn't have imagined.
"The weakness is too obvious."
Without looking at Parvati, who he had directly crashed through from behind, Takatsuki was able to determine its weakness simply by relying on the method of observing 'qi' from Hōrai. Moreover, its inherent strength and power were inferior to his own, so this outcome was only natural.
After sprinting for tens of kilometers, Takatsuki finally saw the person he wanted to meet.
Although he had rushed very quickly, the battle here ended even faster.
Looking at the figure in pure white armor lying on the ground, Takatsuki knew who had just fought here.
"This is?"
Takatsuki walked towards Flamescion, only to find five gems on her sword.
Different from the four-core greatsword of the Herrscher of Flamescion in the original work, not only was the number of gems on this sword incorrect, but the gems themselves even emitted dazzling brilliance.
The gems of the Flamescion Greatsword were formed by borrowing the power of other Herrscher gems during the fight against the Herrscher of Domination, but that was only a temporary loan. After the borrowed power was returned, although the gems were still there, they had become dim and colorless. Only the gems symbolizing the power of the Herrscher of Flame and the Herrscher of the Void still emitted light.
And now there was an extra purple gem...
"Who!"
Perhaps because his nerves were taut, Takatsuki's mere approach startled Flamescion awake.
Looking at her exhausted expression and her eyes, which were once as blue as the sky but now bloodshot, Takatsuki could imagine what the girl had gone through.
"It's me, Takatsuki."
The girl's eyes widened, and it seemed to take a long time for her to find the owner of that name in her memories.
"Takatsuki! How are you here?"
"That's what I should be asking. I just got lost between World Bubbles, and then… what happened?"
Takatsuki's words seemed to stimulate Flamescion in front of him, or perhaps it was because she saw a familiar face; the tears that she had been holding back instantly burst forth.
"Everyone… is dead…"
This civilization is finished.
Takatsuki knew this when he came last time, but he didn't expect it to happen so quickly.
However, on one hand, he had no power at the time, and on the other, it wasn't his world, so he didn't pay too much attention, only offering a little help.
But he didn't expect it to be so fast…
Through Flamescion's tearful explanation, Takatsuki learned what had happened here and why the sword had five dazzling gems.
These… are the last wishes of those people.
"Kiana, I have a way to save your world, but the cost is that you might have to give everything. Are you willing?"
"I… have nothing left to lose."
Yes…
The person in front of him had nothing left to lose, neither family nor future…