Shinobu Kocho's Flesh Bud had been removed, and the method of its removal left many people shocked.
After all, the Bud looked as though it was growing directly inside Shinobu's brain, and the length of its tentacles far exceeded the audience's expectations.
Removing it was like completing a thrilling brain surgery. Fortunately, Jotaro succeeded in the end.
---o---
Light Curtain Commentary—
[Shinobu Kocho]: Finally, I don't have to be the villain anymore. Thank goodness no major tragedy occurred in the end, otherwise… I would never have forgiven myself in this lifetime.
In the Demon Slayer world, Shinobu Kocho finally breathed a sigh of relief, her heart filled with gratitude for the yet-unmet Jotaro Kujo. He hadn't just saved her life; on a larger scale, Jotaro was the savior of the entire Butterfly Mansion, and even the Demon Slayer Corps.
[Super Loli-bot]: Don't celebrate too early. Although you've survived, DIO has no intention of letting the Demon Slayer Corps off the hook.
[Tanjiro Kamado]: DIO… he is a demon a thousand times more evil than Muzan Kibutsuji! I will definitely cut off his head!
[Madara Uchiha]: Cut off his head? Heh. Do you think you're Jotaro Kujo? With the caliber of the Demon Slayer Corps, even if you multiplied your combat strength several times over, you would still be no match for him.
[Wind Hashira Sanemi Shinazugawa]: Bastard, are you looking down on us?!
[Madara Uchiha]: ...Where did this child come from? Can't you even admit the facts right in front of you? Or perhaps… you are confident you can defeat a DIO who can stop time?
In the Pure Land of the Naruto world, Madara Uchiha spoke with utter boredom. Compared to the previous world, the power level of the Demon Slayer world was pitifully low. Just two super-powered individuals were enough to turn that world upside down…
---o---
On the Light Curtain—
Inside the Butterfly Mansion, the collapsed Jotaro had been successfully moved to a sickbed with the help of Kanao and the three little girls.
The poison and injuries in Jotaro's body, while not overly severe, were certainly not something that could be healed easily.
However… relying on the special constitution of the Joestar family, combined with his own robust physique, he quickly regained consciousness.
An unfamiliar ceiling… Waking from his dream, Jotaro stared at the unfamiliar ceiling of the Butterfly Mansion and sat up.
"...Yare yare daze." To be put in this state by a woman… if Polnareff and the others found out, they'd definitely laugh at him.
Jotaro thought to himself… a few drops of sweat trickled down his forehead, though it was unclear if it was from the heat or from nervousness.
"Was it… a dream?" After a long silence, Jotaro Kujo muttered to himself. There was a trace of fear in the man's voice—just a sliver, but it was an expression that should not have appeared on his face.
That's right, a dream… Jotaro had a very long dream. In it, he faced his fated enemy, DIO.
And this DIO possessed an unparalleled, terrifying power. In the face of that power, Star Platinum was horrifyingly weak.
He had brainwashed all of humanity, controlled the entire world, and even rewritten reality itself. The feeble Star Platinum was powerless to struggle against that force.
"Damn it. I haven't even met DIO yet, and I'm already feeling fear towards him?"
As if venting his frustration, Jotaro ripped out the IV-like tube in his arm and sat up straight. He had made up his mind… to prevent the scene from his dream from becoming reality, he needed to constantly train Star Platinum's combat power!
Although Star Platinum was strong, it was still not enough to face DIO. For the sake of his mother and for this world, he had to defeat DIO. This battle of destiny was one he must win!
"..."
At some point, Kanao Tsuyuri had appeared outside the door. Seeing the scene before her, the girl remained silent, her eyes wide. It seemed she wanted to say something, but when the words reached her lips, she didn't know what to say.
Although Kanao looked cute, in Jotaro's eyes, she seemed a bit dazed. He straightened his collar and frowned. "Woman, is there a tailor nearby?"
He then showed Kanao the rip in his pants from his fall, as if presenting his battle damage.
Kanao stared blankly at Jotaro's torn pants. After a long moment, she managed to say with some effort, "There is, but… they don't have the same material as your pants."
For Kanao, speaking such a long sentence was a huge step forward. If it weren't for the fact that Jotaro had saved her and everyone in the Butterfly Mansion, she wouldn't have answered like that.
"Yare yare, give me a break. Your sister really hits hard. A pity about my 20,000-yen pants."
With those words, Jotaro got out of bed and began walking out of the room. Since he had decided to develop Star Platinum's potential, he couldn't just lie around.
Now that he was alone, he had to be more cautious than ever. DIO was not someone who could be dealt with easily.
"Um…" Feeling a tug from behind, Jotaro turned his head to see Kanao holding the corner of his school uniform jacket.
"Your injuries, and the poison…" Before Kanao could finish, Jotaro brushed her hand away and said, "It's just a scratch, nothing to worry about. You should worry more about that sister of yours."
"She was being controlled by DIO when she attacked you. She's fine now. But Star Platinum shook her a bit hard earlier. Go check if that woman's head is okay…"
He spoke in a cold tone, but Kanao could still detect the concern for Shinobu in his voice. Although he seemed difficult to get along with, he was a person who was cold on the outside but kind on the inside.
---o---
Light Curtain Commentary—
[Eriri Spencer Sawamura]: My, what an awkward personality. He seems so cold and ruthless, but he's actually a good person who shows kindness even to strangers. I guess I can see why he's so popular with girls.
[Yukino Yukinoshita]: I wonder who he learned that awkward personality from. But… that outfit Jotaro Kujo is wearing… is that a school uniform?
[Hachiman Hikigaya]: I don't think you, with your awkward personality, have any right to talk. Besides, instead of worrying about his uniform, you should be more concerned about his dream. You don't actually think it was just a dream, do you?
[Sosuke Aizen]: Brainwashing humanity, rewriting reality, and even controlling the world… based on the abilities DIO has shown so far, he is completely incapable of this. Was there some kind of fortuitous encounter, or can Stands evolve continuously, like the Hogyoku?
[Otto Apocalypse]: Rewriting reality? Now that is a formidable ability. Things are starting to get interesting. I wonder if we might have the chance to witness this power on screen?
---o---
On the Light Curtain—The scene shifted.
The camera now focused on DIO in Asakusa.
Although the surroundings were as dark as before, the environment around DIO had changed slightly.
Seated on his throne, DIO looked expressionlessly at the man kneeling on the steps below him.
His tone was unexpectedly calm and detached. "So that's how it is. The so-called Demon King, Muzan Kibutsuji, was born from a mere accident."
This was incredible. He, DIO, had become a vampire through the Stone Mask, but Muzan Kibutsuji had become one because of a doctor?
And the most crucial part was that the fool had killed that doctor. Otherwise, he would have long since become the ultimate lifeform, unafraid of the sun. He wouldn't have needed to spend all these years searching for a Blue Spider Lily that might not even exist.
According to the explanation from the man below, Muzan Kibutsuji originated from the distant Heian period.
He was born a stillborn baby. Although he managed to claw his way back from the brink of death through his sheer will to live, he was diagnosed with an incurable disease and told he would not live past the age of twenty. He spent his days bedridden.
A kind doctor developed a medicine for him to prolong his life. However, a side effect of the medicine made Muzan believe his condition had worsened, and in a fit of rage, he killed the doctor.
Only after the doctor's death did Muzan discover that not only had his body recovered, but he had also gained an immortal and much stronger physique. However, he also began to crave human flesh and blood.
Although this was not a problem for the newly empowered Muzan, the fact that he would die if exposed to sunlight became his most fatal weakness. The inability to walk under the sun for the rest of his life filled Muzan with immense humiliation and rage.
After hearing all this, DIO didn't know how to describe it. To think he had initially believed Muzan Kibutsuji was someone formidable. This was the Demon King of a thousand years?
He had utterly disgraced himself. It was the same old story: if it had been DIO, the entire world would have been his plaything by now.
"Well, although this Demon King continues to lower my expectations of him, for a sickly weakling to evolve to this stage, there must be another reason," DIO said, rising from his throne.
"I am very curious about that doctor. A pity he has been dead for a thousand years. However… if I could obtain his body, I might be able to study the reason why Muzan Kibutsuji evolved from a sickly man into what he is now."
DIO spoke in a low voice, a look of keen interest in his eyes. Over this period, DIO had gradually come to understand this world more deeply.
Aside from the demons, this was just an ordinary, unremarkable world. There were no Stands with diverse abilities, no vampires, and no Stone Masks.
"The Flesh Bud on that woman's head has been removed. Even without being told, I can guess who did it."
DIO muttered to himself, "Jotaro Kujo. After Jonathan, he is the second man to make me feel threatened. As long as he exists, I can never be at ease."
"Although The World is an absolutely invincible Stand, the Joestar family is an existence that can never be underestimated."
"..." After a moment of silence, DIO continued, "Heaven… Only by surpassing Heaven can I be certain of victory."
It was also a dream. As a vampire, DIO himself did not need rest, and even if he did, he would not dream. But a sudden dream a while ago had disrupted his plans.
In the dream, Jotaro was like a God of War. Even with his invincible Stand, The World, DIO was soundly defeated, turning to ash under the rays of the sun.
Caution was one of DIO's virtues, and he would never abandon it. Until he could take himself to the next level, DIO would absolutely not appear before Jotaro so easily!
"Fujiwara, Kyogai. I command you to abandon all your current tasks. Mobilize the government's army and hunt down the demons led by Muzan Kibutsuji!"
"I want to study the secret of Muzan Kibutsuji's evolution. Moreover… this world does not need two demon kings. As for the Demon Slayer Corps… hmph, a bunch of mortals without Stands or Hamon. Pay them no mind."
"Also, keep a close watch on Jotaro's movements. He must not be given any opportunity to get close to me. Until the mystery of Stand evolution is unveiled, do not concern yourselves with Jotaro."
After a long period of contemplation, DIO issued his orders to his followers. He had a feeling that time stop was not the limit of The World. There was another possibility for its evolution.
"As you command, Lord DIO," Kyogai and Fujiwara exchanged a glance and respectfully replied.
Then, Fujiwara pointed to the magnificently dressed man on the steps below. "Lord DIO, what should be done with this human?"
Neither Kyogai nor Fujiwara, despite having become demons in terms of their life essence, dared to touch the man on the steps unless it was absolutely necessary—unless, of course, DIO ordered it.
After all… this man's identity was too special. Since the Meiji Emperor, Japan's national power had grown immensely. Combined with government propaganda and historical reasons, the title of Emperor held a special place in the hearts of the Japanese people.
Although the Emperor at their feet was currently kneeling before DIO in a comical fashion, Kyogai and Fujiwara, having been influenced by Japanese education their whole lives, still held a sliver of reverence for him when not absolutely necessary.
Even if their reverence for the Emperor was completely incomparable to their reverence for DIO…
"Oh, him…" Unlike his two followers, DIO felt nothing for the Emperor before him. After all, there would never be anyone in the world with a more noble status than himself.
However, killing the Emperor was not in DIO's best interest. He still needed to use this country's reverence for the title. Moreover, the Emperor had laid out all the intelligence regarding Muzan Kibutsuji, which DIO considered a meritorious act.
Killing him would not win over the people. Making him a puppet was sufficient. Besides, their clan was already used to the feeling of being puppets…
---o---
Author's Note:
PS: Ultimate Kars, Heaven DIO, they will all appear later on. It's just a matter of when.