---
The Briefing
Back at the inn, JoJo returned to find Emilia and Puck waiting anxiously. Emilia's silver hair glimmered in the dim candlelight as she glanced up, relief softening her worried expression.
"JoJo, you're back! Did you find anything?" Emilia asked, her voice laced with concern.
JoJo nodded, taking a seat across from her. He folded his arms, his face grave. "Yeah, it's worse than I thought. The Witch's Cult isn't just a rumor—they're everywhere. I tracked a group of them gathering in a courtyard, talking about some twisted mission."
Puck's ears twitched, and he frowned. "The Witch's Cult doesn't act randomly. If they're here, it's because they have a target in mind… and that target is likely you, Emilia-tan."
Emilia's face paled, her hands trembling slightly. "But… why? I've never done anything to them."
JoJo leaned forward, his expression hardening. "They're not interested in reason, Emilia. They worship the Witch of Envy, and they see you as some kind of threat—or worse, a representation of her. But don't worry, I'm not letting those lunatics anywhere near you."
Emilia's gaze softened as she looked at JoJo. "Thank you, JoJo. I know you've only just arrived in this world, but… I feel like I can trust you."
JoJo gave her a reassuring smile. "I'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe. But we'll need a plan if we're going to take these cultists down."
Puck floated over, his face unusually serious. "The Witch's Cult isn't like anything you've faced, JoJo. Their members are fanatics, and their leaders are powerful. Even with your Stand, going up against them will be risky."
JoJo chuckled, a glint of excitement in his eyes. "Risky? Sounds like my kind of fight."
---
A Dangerous Plan
The three of them discussed their options, formulating a strategy to confront the cult. JoJo insisted on taking the fight to them, using the knowledge he'd gathered to launch a surprise attack. But Emilia, ever compassionate, hesitated.
"There must be a way to avoid unnecessary violence," she said, her voice soft but resolute. "I don't want anyone to get hurt if we can avoid it."
JoJo looked at her, understanding her desire for peace but knowing the reality they faced. "Emilia, these people are beyond reasoning. They've made up their minds, and they won't stop until they get what they want."
Puck chimed in. "JoJo's right, Emilia-tan. The Witch's Cult is ruthless. If we don't strike first, they'll only get bolder. But JoJo, you'll need help. Even you can't take on an entire cult alone."
JoJo smirked, rolling up his sleeves. "Let them come. I've dealt with worse odds before."
As they finalized their plan, JoJo insisted on going in first, scouting the cult's hideout. Puck would act as a lookout, while Emilia would remain in a safe location nearby, ready to assist if necessary.
---
Entering the Hideout
That night, JoJo set out alone, his Stand Hermit Purple coiling around him like a shadow. He moved through the city, heading toward the courtyard where he'd seen the cultists earlier. The streets were quiet, the silence almost oppressive as he approached his destination.
The courtyard was tucked away behind a series of rundown buildings, the perfect hideout for the cultists. JoJo's eyes narrowed as he saw strange symbols etched into the stone walls, twisted shapes and spirals that seemed to pulse with a dark energy. He clenched his fists, feeling Hermit Purple's vines tense in response.
He moved silently, slipping through the shadows until he found himself at the entrance to a hidden chamber beneath the courtyard. Two cultists, cloaked in black with masks covering their faces, stood guard. Their expressions were blank, fanatical devotion clear in their unblinking eyes.
JoJo grinned. "Looks like they sent out the welcoming committee."
With a swift motion, he extended Hermit Purple, the vines wrapping around one guard's neck before pulling him forward with surprising force. The cultist didn't even have a chance to scream as he was thrown to the ground, knocked out cold.
The second guard turned, startled, but JoJo was faster. He lunged forward, his fist crashing into the man's mask with a satisfying crunch. The guard crumpled, unconscious.
JoJo glanced around, making sure no one else had noticed. He stepped over the bodies and entered the chamber, his eyes adjusting to the dimly lit interior. The air was thick with a strange, unsettling smell, like incense mixed with decay. The walls were lined with more of the twisted symbols, each one radiating an eerie energy.
As he moved deeper into the hideout, he could hear voices echoing through the stone corridors. He followed the sounds, careful to keep to the shadows.
---
Confronting the Cultists
Finally, JoJo entered a large, open chamber. Torches flickered on the walls, casting shadows over a group of cultists gathered around a central altar. Their leader stood at the front, a tall figure in a dark robe, his face hidden beneath a hood.
The leader's voice echoed through the chamber, filled with fervor. "Brothers and sisters! Tonight, we bring ourselves closer to the Witch! Through our devotion, we shall purify this world, casting out those who would defy her will!"
The cultists chanted in unison, their voices rising in a twisted harmony. JoJo's fists clenched as he listened, a cold fury building inside him.
He took a deep breath, then stepped into the light, his voice cutting through the chanting. "Hey! Mind if I join this little gathering?"
The cultists froze, turning to face him. Their eyes filled with rage and confusion as they saw him standing there, calm and confident.
The leader's eyes narrowed beneath his hood. "Who dares intrude upon our sacred ritual?"
JoJo smirked, folding his arms. "Name's Joseph Joestar. But you can call me JoJo. And I'm here to shut this little operation down."
The cultists murmured, but their leader raised a hand, silencing them. "You're a fool, outsider. The Witch's will cannot be denied. You're merely a fly, come to be crushed beneath her power."
JoJo chuckled, his voice laced with defiance. "I've dealt with more powerful people than you and your Witch. But if you're so sure of yourselves, why don't you come over here and prove it?"
With a wave of his hand, the leader ordered the cultists to attack. They rushed at JoJo, weapons drawn, their faces twisted with fanatical determination.
JoJo grinned, feeling the thrill of battle surge through him. "Alright, Hermit Purple—let's show them what we're made of!"
He unleashed his Stand, the purple vines lashing out with incredible speed. The first cultist barely had time to react as Hermit Purple wrapped around his weapon, yanking it from his hands before slamming him to the ground.
Another cultist lunged at him from behind, but JoJo turned, his fist connecting with the man's jaw in a powerful punch that sent him sprawling.
The leader watched, a scowl forming on his face as JoJo dispatched his followers with ease. He raised his hands, chanting in a strange, guttural language. Dark energy began to gather around him, forming a sinister aura that crackled with power.
JoJo's eyes narrowed, sensing the danger. He readied Hermit Purple, the vines coiling protectively around him.
The leader's voice echoed through the chamber, filled with malice. "You may have strength, outsider, but you are no match for the power of the Witch!"
With a flourish, the leader unleashed a blast of dark energy, aimed directly at JoJo. He reacted instantly, using Hermit Purple to shield himself. The vines absorbed the impact, but JoJo could feel the force behind the attack—it was unlike anything he'd encountered before.
As the energy dissipated, JoJo lowered his guard, glaring at the leader. "Not bad. But it'll take more than that to stop me."
The leader snarled, raising his hands for another attack. But before he could strike, JoJo charged forward, Hermit Purple extending in a powerful strike. The vines wrapped around the leader's arms, pinning him in place.
JoJo leaned in, his voice cold. "You messed with the wrong people."
With a final surge of strength, he slammed the leader into the altar, shattering it in a cloud of dust and debris. The cultists who remained cowered, their confidence shattered.
JoJo straightened, looking down at the fallen leader. "Tell your Witch this: if she wants a fight, she'll have to get through me first."
The cultists scrambled to flee, leaving JoJo standing alone in the ruined chamber. He took a deep breath, calming himself, before turning and heading back to the inn.
---
A New Resolve
Back at the inn, Emilia and Puck were waiting anxiously. When JoJo entered, covered in dust but unharmed, Emilia sighed with relief.
"JoJo, you're okay!" she exclaimed, rushing over to him.
He gave her a reassuring smile. "Took care of them. For now, at least. But this cult… they won't give up easily."
Puck floated