Chapter 113 Stand Evolution Theory: The Stairway to Requiem
The air in the underground secret room was so thick it felt like it could drip water, mixed with the pungent scents of ozone, blood, and disinfectant, wildly stimulating the nerve endings of everyone present.
Nagato was barefoot, stepping on the hard, cold granite floor.
Without the assistance of Chakra and having discarded that damned wheelchair, the rough sensation from the soles of his feet surged through his nerves straight to the top of his head. It was a long-lost sense of reality, the feeling of "standing on solid ground."
"How does it feel?"
Yahiko leaned casually against the operating table, a half-smile on his face.
Nagato stopped in his tracks and took a greedy, deep breath, as if trying to expand his lungs to their limit. He slowly clenched his fists, feeling the power surging and roaring within his body, and a smile finally appeared at the corners of his mouth.
"It feels like... being born again."
Nagato's voice was low, yet it carried a weight that could crush mountains: "Now, I can finally Stand tall and see the scenery outside."
"Very good."
Yahiko nodded, then shifted his tone, his gaze cutting toward the other side of the operating table with the precision of a scalpel.
There, Orochimaru was staring intently at the unconscious Pakura. His golden vertical pupils had narrowed into slits, flickering with the undisguised, cold light of a predator.
Due to the forced loading of an S-rank Stand, Pakura was now like a doll with an overdrawn Soul, slumped motionless on the table. The pink phantom of Crazy Diamond had also dissipated.
"Haven't seen enough yet?"
Yahiko's voice wasn't loud, but it caused the air temperature to drop instantly: "Orochimaru, return the item to its owner."
Orochimaru's back stiffened slightly.
He slowly turned his head, and Whitesnake emerged behind him. The Stand, wearing an executioner's mask, hung its hands low, seemingly waiting for a command, or perhaps—hesitating.
To give, or not to give?
Orochimaru's Adam's apple bobbed. The rules contained within that pink DISC were too alluring. It was a miracle that could "restore" everything, a power to reverse Karma. If he activated Whitesnake now, he could extract Yahiko's memories or directly seize the Rinnegan... The secret room was deathly silent, save for the hum of the exhaust fan.
Orochimaru's fingers slowly tightened on the edge of the operating table. Greed grew like wild grass, frantically testing the limits of his rationality.
However, the moment his killing intent surfaced, a bone-chilling coldness locked onto him without warning.
Yahiko remained leaning there, not even summoning that terrifying red-and-white Stand. He just watched Orochimaru quietly, his eyes showing no anger, only a playful look that seemed to see through the future.
It was as if he were saying: If you want to die, you can try it.
It was the characteristic composure of a hunter watching a beast fall into a trap.
Reason was like ice water poured over his head, instantly extinguishing the flames of greed.
"Hehe... borrowed things should naturally be returned to their rightful owner."
Orochimaru let out a raspy chuckle, his sinister expression switching to his trademark submissiveness within a second. He controlled Whitesnake, and its slime-covered palm reached into Pakura's forehead once more.
With a wet, squelching sound, the DISC—radiating brilliant light and covered in precise geometric patterns—was completely extracted.
Holding the S-rank DISC with both hands, Orochimaru walked toward Nagato with steps like a pilgrim and bowed deeply: "This is your power, truly awe-inspiring."
Nagato raised his hand, and the moment his fingertips touched the DISC, a resonance of shared Bloodline echoed from the depths of his Soul.
Snap!
Without hesitation, he slapped the DISC back into his forehead.
The pink glow faded, and the True God returned to his place.
Red hair danced wildly, the purple light of the Rinnegan was piercing, and Crazy Diamond behind him was more solid and towering than ever before.
A healthy Immortal Body, the legendary Immortal Eyes, plus a Stand that could repair all things.
That "incomplete deity" who could only sit in a wheelchair had completely become a flawless Hexagon Warrior.
"This is the prestige the Akatsuki should have." Yahiko clapped his hands, the crisp sound breaking the oppressive silence.
He stood up straight and pointed at the unconscious Pakura: "Konan, take her down. Though she was used as a vessel, she has made a great contribution this time."
"Let her rest well." Yahiko glanced at Pakura, his tone carrying a hint of appreciation. "When she wakes up, tell her I will give her a chance to evolve."
"Understood." Konan nodded, paper fluttering as it gently lifted Pakura and carried her out of the secret room.
Having handled the "assets," Yahiko turned around and pulled the miraculous Golden Arrow from his robes.
He tossed it casually in his hand, the golden tip tracing blurred arcs of light under the lamps.
Orochimaru's gaze was instantly glued to it.
Even without Crazy Diamond, this key... was the gateway to the truth!
"Orochimaru."
"Here." Orochimaru responded instinctively, his voice somewhat dry.
"Catch."
Without any warning, Yahiko flicked his wrist and threw the Golden Arrow—symbolizing the organization's highest secret—as if he were throwing away trash!
Without any warning, Yahiko flicked his wrist and threw the Golden Arrow—symbolizing the organization's highest secret—as if he were throwing away trash!
Orochimaru's pupils dilated in shock, and his body reacted instinctively. His long tongue shot out like lightning, firmly catching the arrow, and then he gripped it with both hands, looking at Yahiko in bewilderment.
"This... for me?"
Even Nagato frowned slightly. This item had extremely high strategic value; giving it to an outsider who was full of rebellious thoughts?
Yahiko walked up to Orochimaru with his hands in his pockets, looking down at him: "I don't care about the process, only the results. I want you to build a laboratory and research this thing thoroughly for me."
"Re... research?" Orochimaru felt his brain was a bit overloaded. Wasn't this a divine object that bestowed supernatural abilities?
"What do you think is attached to this? A curse? Divine Power?"
Yahiko leaned close to Orochimaru's ear and, in a voice only the two could hear, dropped a bombshell enough to shatter Orochimaru's worldview:
"What's attached to this is an ancient virus from an extraterrestrial meteorite."
"Vi... rus?" Orochimaru's vertical pupils shrank to pinpoints.
"Exactly. An extremely aggressive biological screening mechanism." Yahiko's voice sounded like a demon tempting Faust. "Most people's immune Systems can't resist it, so they collapse into a puddle of pus. But the very few who survive achieve a leap in their level of existence—that is the 'Stand'."
Boom!
A bolt of lightning cleared the fog in Orochimaru's mind.
So this wasn't some ethereal miracle.
It was biology! It was evolution! It was an unknown field of science!
The awe Orochimaru originally felt for the "mysterious power" vanished instantly, replaced by the frenzy and hunger of a scientist seeing a top-tier research topic.
Since it was a virus, it could be isolated, cultured, and even... mutated!
"Yahiko-kun... no, Leader." Orochimaru licked his lips, his voice trembling with excitement. "You mean..."
"Find its direction of mutation."
Yahiko held up a finger and wagged it: "The current virus is only at an Elementary stage. If you can crack its source code and make the virus evolve again, where do you think life will go?"
Yahiko's eyes were deep as he slowly spoke a few words: "For example... immortality?"
"Or perhaps... reaching that endpoint called 'Requiem,' allowing life to completely transcend the shackles of time?"