Chapter 108: The Apex Predator of the Food Chain

Chapter 108: The Apex Predator of the Food Chain

Stroheim's eyes widened as he watched Chang Wei's hand pierce into his chest.

"What?"

Stroheim struggled.

"My body… my body won't move!"

Chang Wei was attempting to transform Stroheim into a Pillar Man. Theoretically, once he absorbed a lifeform, he could instantly become that lifeform and assimilate it, as long as the target wasn't something too troublesome.

Thus, Stroheim was turned into a Pillar Man.

"Ahhhhh! What's happening?! My body… it's out of control!!!"

Stroheim felt a surge of power filling his body, yet he couldn't control it.

"How interesting. Hahaha! Stroheim, aren't you devoted to your beloved will and your beloved nation? In that case, I'll leave the task of destroying your nation to you. Bring me back all their genetic essence and souls."

Chang Wei never considered himself a good person—he had wiped out multiple worlds already—but he didn't see himself as an evil person either. He simply acted according to his own desires. And Stroheim? He was just another plaything. By turning him into a Pillar Man and making him hunt down his own comrades while fully conscious, Chang Wei found amusement in the irony.

"Nantato!!!"

Stroheim broke into a cold sweat upon hearing Chang Wei's words. Destroy his own country? Impossible!

"I've already turned you into a Pillar Man and enhanced your survival abilities. Even exposure to ultraviolet rays or sunlight won't render you immobile. Your consciousness is still yours, but your actions will follow my will."

At that moment, Chang Wei's smile appeared nothing short of demonic in the eyes of the two present.

So it was true—he wasn't just a Pillar Man. He was a predator of Pillar Men, a being who could create them!

Stroheim soon realized that his body was already moving. Step by step, he ascended the staircase with unwavering determination.

No! No! This can't be happening!!!

Inside, Stroheim fought desperately, convinced that his willpower could break free from the control.

But reality was cruel. Even in terms of consciousness and spirit, Chang Wei utterly crushed him.

As for how Stroheim would identify his targets? That was simple. Chang Wei had linked Stroheim's subconscious and memories to his body's instincts. The intelligent cells within him would automatically recognize enemies and objectives based on his memories.

And Stroheim was a major, someone independently responsible for military research on the Pillar Men. His memories surely contained the identities of many key figures within his nation.

"Stroheim!"

Speedwagon watched in horror as Stroheim left without even looking back, leaving behind only himself, a room full of corpses, and Chang Wei.

"So terrifying… This is too terrifying, JoJo!"

Speedwagon trembled. He was just an ordinary old man, lacking the "golden spirit" of the Joestar lineage.

"Don't worry. I have no ill intentions toward you. You're the leader of the SPW Foundation, aren't you?"

Chang Wei smiled at Speedwagon.

"…What do you want?"

Speedwagon wasn't stupid. Hearing Chang Wei specifically mention his identity, he immediately realized that the man needed him for something.

"I want you to send people to a certain place… to find arrows."

Chang Wei stated.

"Arrows?"

Speedwagon was baffled. Arrows? What kind of arrows?

Had he misheard?

Chang Wei assured him that he had not.

The year was 1938. In the original timeline, Diavolo excavated the arrows in Egypt in 1986.

Which meant that, right now, those Stand arrows were still lying dormant somewhere in Egypt.

The six arrows seen in the story were merely the ones that had been dug up. There was no telling how many more might exist. However, Chang Wei didn't intend to devour the entire country of Egypt…

Even though, realistically, he absolutely could.

"If you manage to find them, I can grant you the body of a Pillar Man. You would be able to live for a very, very long time and even regain your youth."

Chang Wei offered.

"…I refuse."

Speedwagon hesitated for a moment before firmly declining.

For a brief instant, he had been tempted. But he quickly suppressed that thought.

"My offer stands indefinitely. You can always change your mind when you're on the verge of death."

Chang Wei didn't mind. He smiled.

Speedwagon swallowed hard. The temptation was a brutal test of his resolve.

"Who… exactly are you?"

He tried to probe for information, hoping to use the SPW Foundation's resources to uncover Chang Wei's identity.

"Me? I'm no mere human. I am the apex predator of this planet's food chain, the natural enemy of all life. The vampires you fear? The Pillar Men? They are nothing more than my food."

Chang Wei saw through Speedwagon's thoughts and answered accordingly.

"The apex predator of the food chain… the natural enemy of all life?"

Speedwagon was deeply shaken. Given the existence of terrifying beings like the Pillar Men and vampires, he didn't doubt Chang Wei's words—he only became even more afraid.

Soon after, Chang Wei took Speedwagon with him, leaving Mexico and returning to America.

At the same time, Joseph Joestar had been planning to find Speedwagon, only to discover that he had safely returned. This made Joseph very happy.

"JoJo, I'm sending you somewhere else!"

However, Speedwagon was drenched in cold sweat. He hastily found an excuse to send Joseph away.

Otherwise, with Joseph Joestar's knack for getting into trouble, Speedwagon genuinely feared he would end up dead at Chang Wei's hands.

Joseph was reluctant, but Speedwagon would rather have him causing trouble elsewhere than staying at home. Joseph, sensing his grandfather's nervousness, said nothing and left—only to sneak back midway.

"Grandpa was acting way too nervous. Something's definitely up."

Despite his carefree and unreliable demeanor, Joseph Joestar had sharp instincts.

From inside the building, Chang Wei's gaze pierced through the walls, landing on the spying Joseph.

Joseph Joestar, huh? If he was here, then that meant Jotaro Kujo would no longer inherit any Pillar Man blood…

(There's a theory that Jotaro has traces of Pillar Man blood since he's Joseph's grandson and Suzie Q, Joseph's wife, was briefly possessed by the Pillar Man Esidisi. Technically, that could have given Jotaro a tiny bit of their genetic influence.)

"Yabai!!!"

Joseph's eyes widened in horror the moment he saw Chang Wei.

That monster! The one who had killed the vampire Straizo!

What was he doing here?!

Was this why Grandpa had been so desperate to get him away? Had he been targeted by this creature?!

Damn it! He had to make that monster pay and rescue Grandpa!

"You sure have a lot of inner monologues."

Chang Wei chuckled. Just then, Speedwagon returned.

"Mr. Chang Wei, I've made the arrangements."

Speedwagon informed him.

He had dispatched an entire team of ten thousand people to search every inch of Egypt.

After all, Chang Wei had only provided a general location—somewhere among Egypt's ruins.

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