rey infinito - Peru Arc
rey infinito - Peru Arc (無限の王 ペルー編, Mugen no Ō Perū-hen, lit. Infinity King - Peru Arc) is the second arc of rey infinito, a light novel written by Junjo Shindo. It was published in the Winter 2022 issue of JOJO magazine on December 19, 2022 with 8 chapters.[1]
It continues from the Guatemala arc, with the first chapter of the Peru arc being the fourth chapter overall.
Summary
Chapter 4
The 1970s is described by some historians as the end of the age of myths. Throughout history, there were people who attempted to become gods. One of them sunk to the bottom of the sea whereas the other was banished to space. Although there are thousands of holy scriptures, more people started becoming aware of the gods being silent. Kings of countries took this as an opportunity to do whatever they wanted. They acted as tyrants, destroyed civilizations, changed laws, and took land for themselves. Events such as these play out all over the world, even in the present.
There was a man who returned to his homeland of Peru when the 70s began. He was born into a family that became rich off of the oil and mining industries. His father died when he was 17, but he enlisted in the military instead of inheriting his father's lands or mines since he was the third-eldest son. He was assigned to the Agrupamiento del Norte's 33rd infantry brigade and fought in the Ecuadorian border conflict. He suffered from illnesses such as malaria and typhoid fever while witnessing his countrymen and several people shot to death. He was eventually discharged after a ceasefire was declared, and later traveled to places such as Brazil and Mexico. He worked several jobs while traveling, being a day laborer, bouncer, pimp, human smuggler, tour guide, and geological survey assistant. The man always saw himself and others as empty husks. However, he felt like he could hear a mysterious howling within him that sounded like a scream. When he turned 50, he discovered the true nature of his "alma gritando".
One day in 1974, the man heads to Santa Rosa. While laying half-naked on a bed, he has a visitor who introduces himself to his boss as Dos Santos. Santos tells his boss that he should return home soon. However, his boss tells Santos to relax and have some drinks. Consequently, they end up staying in the house for three more days while drinking. It is revealed that the house belongs to Santos, who tells his boss to put some clothes on. The boss asks Santos what the essence of war and murder is, before explaining that they are asymmetrical because they never have equal actions and results. He believes that narcissism, fanaticism, and stubbornness are essential to bringing out one's "alma gritando". Santos tells his boss that there are people waiting for him in their cells, so he finally decides that they should leave. The boss tells Santos to grab the Bow and Arrow. Santos had been avoiding looking to the left of the bed the whole time, where the dead bodies of his pregnant older sister and her husband were laying. He hesitantly pulls the Arrow out, trying to stop himself from shaking. Santos's boss was invited to their home. However, he had forced the man to put his head to his wife's stomach to listen to their child's breathing and kicking. He then shot the man's head with the Arrow, piercing all the way through his wife's stomach, killing their baby as well. He waited for a while but was disappointed that none of them awakened any powers. Santos and his boss then head to the living room, with the corpses of Santos's parents laying on the ground. Santos had cut ties with his family but he still feels confusion, grief, and guilt upon seeing them dead. His boss reveals that he wanted to see whether one's bloodline or environment influences the power that they awaken, since Santos has a unique one. However, since none of his family members had the potential, he believes it depends on the individual.
The man had shot over a hundred people with the Arrow but less than 20% awakened their powers. Instead of wasting his time, he created a set of rules to abide by when choosing his targets. As soon as they leave Santos's home, a horde of Santa Rosa policemen surrounds them with pointed guns and armored cars. The boss assumes that Santos set him up but Santos denies the accusation. He orders Santos to defeat all of the policemen with his "fantasma". Santos obliges, revealing that his boss's name is Alhorn. As Santos unleashes his power, an aura pulsates behind him and the ground shakes.[2]
Chapter 5
Octavio recalls his past. When he was a young child, his father's head was blown off in trench warfare. A few years later, before Octavio could even count his age using all of his fingers, he lost his mother and brother in a car accident. Octavio was in the back seat, but survived. Since he had no relatives that could take care of him, he was placed in an orphanage. Octavio fell into a depression, often having tantrums or sleeping nonstop. One day, the nun in charge of the orphanage took him to the chapel and comforted him, letting him know that it is normal to feel sadness, but eventually he'll be able to store those feelings away deep inside him. One night, Octavio couldn't fall asleep and sneaked out. He tried playing with a soccer ball he found made out of balled-up cloth and strings, but it was boring playing alone. The nun had told him to make friends, but he felt out of place at the orphanage, and the other kids wouldn't approach him. Suddenly, Octavio sees another young boy, smaller than him, standing on the hill with him in the darkness. The other boy, Joaquín, approached Octavio, but didn't say a word. Octavio felt that he could understand what the boy wanted to say, so he allowed Joaquín to be the goalie. Octavio later learned that Joaquín was mute and would be joining the same orphanage as him. For Octavio, all of his distant memories appeared in monochrome, except for Joaquín, who appeared in color ever since their first meeting. Octavio and Joaquín were always together since then.
The duo are now working as salvage dealers in San Juan de Lurigancho, Peru, as a cover job for their investigation. However, Octavio hates it and wishes he never left home. He complains about the heat, flies, gossiping housewives, and having to walk in gravel-filled shoes. On the contrary, Joaquín enjoys it, thinking he's made for work like this. They sold a variety of items ranging from pencils and notebooks to stylish sunglasses and unique trinkets. Their sales were modest, and whatever money they earned, Octavio often spent on food and drinks. He would give away their change to beggars, since their primary motive wasn't to earn money but to gather information from the locals so they could locate the man hiding here.
The Speedwagon Foundation had a rigorous training process for its investigators, which included medical examinations and training in self-defense, espionage, and other skills. Octavio and Joaquín were exceptions to this process due to their unique contributions but were still expected to continue their education and training on the go. Joaquín was particularly diligent, immersing himself in the Foundation's teachings, history, and mission. He even memorized the teachings of the Foundation's founder, Robert E. O. Speedwagon, and the history of Elizabeth "Lisa Lisa" Joestar's family. Both wore the Foundation's uniforms, giving them the appearance of secret agents. Octavio, on the other hand, struggled with the academic aspect and often voiced his complaints. An empty house in Lima was transformed into a research base for the investigators. J.D. Hernández emphasizes the importance of desk work and urges Octavio to emulate Joaquín's dedication. Octavio is more interested in learning the Ripple power that Lisa Lisa used. J.D. explains that it isn't just a simple trick but a profound martial art technique. Joaquín, having studied the history, elaborates that the Ripple is an ancient technique passed down from hermits in the East. It harnesses life energy through controlled breathing and circulation, allowing practitioners to transform that energy into powerful physical "Overdrive" attacks through grueling training. Nonetheless, Octavio feels that they should learn it since they are fighting users with powers while they're unarmed. He notes how Lisa Lisa uses it all the time in her daily life, such as how he saw her use it to cook a raw egg yolk in seconds with just her finger. Just then, Lisa Lisa arrives at the base to begin the briefing.
Welmer Domingo, a member of the research division of the Speedwagon Foundation, was leading a section of the investigation. Dressed in a white coat with a metal badge bearing his name, Domingo had a composed demeanor and looked like someone who could grace the cover of Forbes magazine. He reported that the Foundation was analyzing the two superpowered individuals they had encountered in Guatemala. Experts from various fields were involved in the investigation, trying to understand the phenomena surrounding these individuals. Octavio found it hard to concentrate on the report. Domingo highlights that these superpowered individuals saw unique visions when activating their powers. J.D. shares an interview with one of the individuals, Fabio Ubuh, who described seeing a shadowy figure resembling an insectoid nobleman whenever he activated his power. Lisa Lisa questions the authenticity of these visions, suggesting they might be hallucinations or results of certain syndromes. She shifts the discussion to Izahela Mena-Mena, who claimed she could summon a magical chalk. Like Fabio, she too saw a vision that others couldn't perceive. The Arrow was identified as the catalyst for drawing out these abilities.
Aki Marcela de la Vega, a knowledgeable Japanese Peruvian archaeologist, then presents a photograph of Fernando Alhorn, their main person of interest. The photo, taken about eight years prior, shows a man with distinctive tattoos covering his body. Aki describes Alhorn as a highly intelligent individual with a criminal background, involved in smuggling, robbery, and kidnapping. Rumors suggested he was supporting radical leftists and had come into possession of the Bow and Arrow, which he is now using to shoot people at random, possibly to build a paramilitary organization. Lisa Lisa describes Alhorn as a hollow, frivolous individual. Despite his seemingly shallow demeanor, she senses a deep malevolence in him, likening him to a hellish entity. Aki Marcela expresses uncertainty about Alhorn's true intentions and raises concerns about whether he had used the Arrow on himself. She plays a recorded interrogation of Alhorn, where he describes a shadowy figure or "fantasma" that he believed emanated from within him. This figure, which he likened to a doppelganger, seemed to be an extension of his senses. Alhorn's cryptic words suggested he was aware of the Arrow's effects and might be experimenting on live subjects. His chilling demeanor and manipulative speech indicated a deeply sinister nature.
Lisa Lisa revealed that two special investigators, working closely under her, had been in proximity to Alhorn. However, the two ceased communication with the Foundation, raising concerns about their safety. Lisa Lisa believed that Alhorn's actions were a direct threat to her, as the investigators were also responsible for her security. The sudden silence from Octavio and Joaquin, who were proud members of the team, indicated a potential emergency or danger. Aki Marcella confirmed their fears, stating that the duo had ventured into perilous areas and had gone radio silent, leading many to fear the worst. The situation was grim, with the possibility that they might have gotten too close to Alhorn and faced dire consequences.
The investigation team grows increasingly anxious as days passed without any news of the special investigators' whereabouts. Lisa Lisa remains steadfast in her belief that the duo is still alive. She questions Aki Marcela about their last known location, which is identified as a "barriada" - a term used locally to describe a rundown, lawless area. The two investigators believed that Alhorn was operating from one of these barriadas, which were notorious for criminal activities and were heavily guarded. Lisa Lisa reveals that the two were not just ordinary investigators; they were trained Ripple users. Lisa Lisa had personally trained them to carry on the legacy of the Ripple, ensuring its survival even if she were to be incapacitated. She emphasizes the importance of these two individuals to the Speedwagon Foundation and the future, urging the team to prioritize finding them and ensuring their safety.[3]
Chapter 6
This section requires expansion.
Chapter 7
This section requires expansion.
Chapter 8
This section requires expansion.
Chapter 9
This section requires expansion.
Chapter 10
This section requires expansion.
Chapter 11
This section requires expansion.
Appearances
Expand/Collapse All
Gallery
Ultra Jump December 2022 Ad
Lisa Lisa on the cover of the second arc
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Vish (November 16, 2022), "JOJO Magazine: Golden Wind Novel, rey infinito Part II, and Manga Techniques Sequel Announced", JoJo's Bizarre Encyclopedia.
- ↑ rey infinito Chapter 4
- ↑ rey infinito Chapter 5
