The Stone Mask (story arc)
The Stone Mask (石仮面, Ishi Kamen) is the third story arc in Phantom Blood.
Summary
After leaving his father George Joestar I in the care of trustworthy physicians, Jonathan leaves for London to analyze Dio's poison in hopes there is an antidote to it. The moment Jonathan leaves, Dio breaks into hisadopted brother's study to steal the Stone Mask and decides to arrange an "accident" for Jonathan involving what the mask he presumes to be a form of torture device. But when Dio learns that Jonathan's search brought him to the treacherous rookery of Ogre Street, he expect some mugger to murder Jonathan in his stead.
While walking along the maze-like Ogre Street, Jonathan is set upon by a trio of muggers with their leader giving his friend Tattoo the honor to gut their victim. Determined by his cause, Jonathan risks injury by grabbing the blade of Tattoo's knife while taking him and the Chinese man out. Jonathan then easily knocks down the third mugger with a kick. Impressed by Jonathan's show of resolve and mercy, the mugger stops a whole band of thugs from attacking the gentleman. When Jonathan explains his reason for coming to Ogre Street, amused by his naivety and nobility, the mugger introduces himself Robert E. O. Speedwagon and offers to take him to the apothecarist he is looking for.
Meanwhile, anxious if Jonathan had been killed or had foiled his plans, Dio is wandering the streets while hating himself for drinking like his father had. Dio eventually bumps into two vagrants who taunt him for being out so late at night. When one of the drunkards mentions Dio's mother, he smashes his wine bottle into the drunkard's face. The fight degenerates. Dio takes one of the vagrants' knife and slit the first vagrant's throat, then uses the Stone Mask on the second as a test. The mask activates, and Dio perceive a bright light bursting forth from the Stone Mask as its prongs pierce the man's skull. Before Dio leaves, the vagrant assaults Dio, revealing a set of monstruously long canines. The inhuman monster overpowers Dio with his superhuman strength before grabbing Dio by the neck when he attempts to escape into the river. Feeling the life being drained out of him, Dio nearly dies and is saved at the last moment by the dawn, the sunlight mysteriously disintegrating the monster.
Dio arrives home only to find Jonathan waiting for him, who tells him that he's already cured his father and alerted the authorities. When Dio feigns remorse, Speedwagon arrives to warn his friend not to believe anything Dio says. Speedwagon then pulls from behind a curtain Dio's apothecarist Wang Chan, followed by a saddened George and a group of constables who are to take Dio in for attempted murder. When George leaves, not wanting to watch his adoptive son getting arrested, he is troubled when Wang Chan mentions to have read Dio's fortune that he has the devil's luck this night.
As Jonathan proceeds to place the cuffs on him at his request, with nothing left to lose, Dio explains that as a human, there is a limit to what he can do. As Jonathan expresses confusion, Dio reveals the knife and Stone Mask on his person as he attempts to stab Jonathan with the former. But George shields Jonathan. As George expires in Jonathan's arms, Dio adorns the mask and splatter blood over it, commencing his transformation. The constables then all shoot at Dio, sending him crashing though a window.
Appearances
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Chapters
- 008. The Stone Mask (1)
- 009. The Stone Mask (2)
- 010. The Stone Mask (3)
- 011. The Stone Mask (4)
Volumes
- 01. Dio the Invader
- 02. The Thirst for Blood!
Anime Episodes
- 02. A Letter from the Past
- 03. Youth with Dio
