"Hurry, Luck! Take away his [Doctor's Outfit]! He'll instantly be jumped by dozens of Uma Musume, and you'll finally get the show you've been craving!"

This wasn't a fair battle at all. Mizuno Sora not only lacked any means to harm [Misfortune Goddess (Beyond)], but even his [Doctor's Outfit]—which kept him hidden—was under the control of Misfortune's ally, Luck.

If Luck simply reclaimed the outfit now, Mizuno would utterly lose this battle.

Everything was merely a cruel game played by two goddesses against a mortal…

…or at least, it should have been.

"Hurry, Luck! What are you waiting for? Strip off his [Doctor's Outfit]!"

Misfortune shouted repeatedly, yet Luck didn't move, just calmly staring back at Misfortune.

[Luck]: OMO

[Misfortune]: ?

[Misfortune]: Luck! Why are you just standing there?!

[Luck]: OMO

[Misfortune]: Luck! Are you betraying me?!

[Luck]: OMO

"Damn it, what is Luck doing?" [Misfortune Goddess (Beyond)] frowned suspiciously, looking at Luck who was frozen beside Mizuno with an "OMO" expression.

Why wasn't Luck responding? Had her immense misfortune energy frightened Luck into paralysis?

"Fine, I'll handle this myself," Misfortune Goddess muttered irritably.

She thought carefully, and soon a wicked idea emerged.

In anime, how did villains typically force the heroes to sacrifice themselves?

"Hehe, Mizuno, look over there!"

Following [Misfortune Goddess (Beyond)]'s gesture, Kiryuin Aoi and Happy Meek—wearing basketball uniforms—hurried toward shelter to escape the rain.

"Even if I can't hit you directly, I can certainly attack innocent people!"

[Misfortune Goddess (Beyond)] threw a punch toward Kiryuin Aoi and Happy Meek.

"This punch contains twenty years' worth of misfortune energy. Anyone struck will immediately fall into a coma, losing their dreams and becoming trapped as living vegetables forever!"

The misfortune punch moved so quickly that even if Mizuno rushed over now, he'd never reach them in time to push them away.

There was only one way to save them:

He had to shield them with his own body, taking the hit himself!

"The knife is falling—will you save them or abandon them? Mizuno, what will you choose?"

But there was no need to ask. From the moment Misfortune attacked innocents, the irrational Mizuno had already stepped forward.

Earlier, when Misfortune Goddess had attacked Hiroshima Baoza, Mizuno couldn't prevent it. But now, irrational Mizuno refused to allow another innocent person to suffer because of him.

"Ugh!" Mizuno stood firmly in front of Kiryuin Aoi, taking the hit in her stead.

"Mizuno-san?" Kiryuin stared in confusion at Mizuno, who suddenly appeared in front of her.

Misfortune energy seeped rapidly into Mizuno's body.

"Yes! I finally hit him!" [Misfortune Goddess (Beyond)] shouted excitedly.

The battle was decided, and she could finally deliver those classic lines!

"You were two steps too slow, Kujo Sora."

"The Joestar bloodline has always drawn strength from pride and courage, continuously overcoming fate…"

"But at the same time, that bloodline is their greatest weakness."

"Kujo Sora, your weakness is innocent bystanders."

After delivering the lines, Misfortune Goddess felt refreshed, as satisfied as wearing new underwear on New Year's morning.

So, which Uma Musume would jump Mizuno now?

Or maybe he'd hit the jackpot and get Tokai Teio herself?

Hehe, how unfortunate that would be. Luck must surely love this twist!

"Hm?" Just as Misfortune expected Mizuno's doom, something unexpected happened.

A faint barrier suddenly appeared around Mizuno, forcing out all the misfortune that had entered his body and neutralizing further attacks.

"Huh? What's this?" Mizuno drunkenly took out a lucky charm from his pocket, embroidered with a little sheep.

It hadn't been there moments ago—who gave it to him?

[Luck]: OMO

"You damn traitor, Luck! You really betrayed me after all!" [Misfortune Goddess (Beyond)] roared furiously.

Misfortune thought Luck had been paralyzed by fear, too frightened by her overwhelming power to remove Mizuno's [Doctor's Outfit].

But it turned out Luck had deliberately protected Mizuno!

"Luck! Did you betray me just for bigger amusement?" Misfortune demanded angrily.

Unexpectedly, Luck shook her head calmly.

"This isn't about amusement."

"This was my trap all along."

"Trap? Could it be—?!" Misfortune instantly realized Luck's plan and flew into a rage.

"Luck, you bitch! I'll destroy you! I'll destroy all of you!"

Countless misfortune fists rained upon Mizuno's barrier, making it tremble violently.

Luck quickly leaned toward irrational Mizuno, pointing urgently to Meisho Doto, unconscious on the ground.

"The barrier won't last long. You must quickly give that lucky charm in your hand to the girl lying over there. Only then can you dispel Misfortune completely."

Luck then raised her fist toward Mizuno encouragingly.

"Please, for me—use your [Luck Punch] on her."

Irrational Mizuno smiled awkwardly but politely nodded in understanding.

"Alright." Mizuno tightly grasped the lucky charm, staggering forward unsteadily toward [Misfortune Goddess (Beyond)].

Seeing Mizuno approaching steadily with the lucky charm, Misfortune Goddess completely panicked, screaming in terror: "Don't come any closer!"

She desperately attacked with misfortune energy, yet couldn't stop Mizuno's determined advance.

Moments later, irrational Mizuno reached her.

"I'm charging a million points of Luck Energy! [Ultimate Luck Punch]!"

Boom!

Mizuno's fist smashed directly into [Misfortune Goddess (Beyond)]'s face.

"Uwaaaaah!!!"

An overwhelming surge of Luck Energy poured into Misfortune Goddess, rapidly neutralizing her misfortune energy, causing her spirit form to disintegrate.

"Yamero!"

"Kono Dio da! Kono Dio da!"

"I'll return for revenge!"

[Misfortune Goddess (Beyond)]'s desperate final words faded as her spirit violently exploded.

Boom!

Mizuno was blown back by the blast, collapsing unconscious onto the ground.

Luck, appearing severely weakened, drifted slowly to Mizuno's side.

"At last… I succeeded…" Luck's spirit flickered weakly, nearing dissolution.

"All my acting… wasn't in vain…"

"Pretending to seek amusement… forming an alliance with Misfortune… tricking her into gathering all the energy from her avatars into one place… and finally, destroying it…"

"For a very long time now, Misfortune won't have enough power to trouble this world again…"

"Thank you… Mizuno-dono…"

"Now, please enjoy the true surprise I've prepared for you…"

Luck's spirit finally broke apart, dissolving into shimmering starlight.

[Doctor's Outfit duration extended by three months.]