Chapter 222. The Almighty [Hermit Purple]

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  "Everyone lives to overe insecurity and fear, seeking a peaind for themselves."

  "Whether it's achieving fame, ruling over others, or amassing vast wealth... all of these are to gain a peaind."

  "Marriage, friendships—these too are for peaind. Saying you want to help others or that you seek love and peace... those are just excuses to feel at ease."

  "You could say that the pursuit of peaind is humanity's ultimate goal in life!"

  DIO's words were calm and deliberate.

  In trast, Polnareff panted heavily, as if trying to feel something beyond fear.

  "So tell me, why is loyalty to me so uling for you, Polnareff?"

  "Haa... haa..."

  Polnareff's response was nothing but his quiing breaths.

  Because...

  "All you have to do is submit to me, and you will feel a peace like never before."

  DIO, aware of the terror in Polnareff's heart, tinued with a soft chuckle, "Taking this death-defying stance against me... doesn't that only heighten your ay?"

  "Haa... haa..."

  Hearing this "truth" from DIO, Polnareff felt as if even his survival instincts were betraying him, urging him to submit to DIO.

  Even his will seemed to waver, questioning if DIO’s words were really incorrect. Was his resolve to face death only deepening his unease?

  This was a stark trast from the Polnareff of moments before!

  And all because of this enter with DIO!?

  "You are a skilled Stand user; it would be a pity to kill you. Why not forsake the Joestar group and pledge eternal loyalty to me?"

  "Let me bestow upon you eversting peaind."

  DIO watched Polnareff, his struggle with a gaze as lofty as a god looking down on an ant he could crush at any moment.

  DIO's words were undeniably seductive, almost philosophical, leaving no room for rebuttal.

  It wasn’t just Polnareff.

  Even Sora felt the same way.

  Though, unlike Polnareff, Sora's response was somewhat different—

  Instead of fear or terror, Sora felt...

  "...This is just too cool!"

  As if he was entirely detached from the tense se in “Stardust Crusaders”, Sora decred excitedly, "I've decided! This line makes it into our top ten phrases we want to say the most!"

  "Bro, GOOD JOB!" Shiro chimed in, equally impressed.

  "Just like my sister! Our taste is exactly the same!"

  Sora and Shiro gave each other thumbs-ups.

  It was as if they were experieng the strange appeal of terms like "Schr?dinger's cat" and "Pavlov's dog"—phrases that, while difficult to grasp, had an air of mystery and sophistication.

  DIO's philosophy on peace felt the same.

  For Sora and Shiro, DIO's words hit home perfectly.

  And just as DIO said, people do indeed live in pursuit of peaind.

  If they hadn’t known DIO’s Stand power...

  They might have lost the ce to resist, just as Polnareff did in “Stardust Crusaders”.

  But the fact was, Sora and Shiro already knew DIO's Stand ability!

  Like having the exam answers beforehand, they felt at ease and even eager.

  DIO's Sta was already exposed.

  After uanding that DIO merely maniputed the stairs to work like aor, sending Polnareff automatically to the bottom, Sora and Shiro were fident that Polnareff, Jotaro, and the rest would ultimately prevail!

  Though DIO hadn't yet said that iie, "There are no invincible Stands, only the weakest [Hermit Purple]."

  But as viewers, they weren’t blind.

  They knew [Hermit Purple]'s ability to gather intel, even acquiring knowledge its user didn’t sciously seek. Yet they also aowledged one fact: [Hermit Purple] had almost no bat power.

  It could be said that in bat, it ractically useless!

  Even Joseph, when using [Hermit Purple], relied on its intel-gathering ability and Hamon ductivity to fight.

  So here was DIO—armed with a Stand two geions outdated and ohat was all but useless in bat. Against Jotaro and pany, battle-hardeand users, and Joseph, a veteran vampire hunter, how did he expect to survive?

  As for the possibility that they could be mistaken about DIO's powers...

  Impossible!

  DIO's drawn-out speech roof he was merely p.

  If DIO’s Stand wasn't just moving the stairs, then why couldn't Polnareff get up them?

  Surely, DIO wouldn’t be using his Stand t Polnareff down each time he climbed? He could’ve killed Polnareff several times over by now if that were the case!

  So...

  "Avdol, Iggy, grant me ce once more!"

  Praying to his departed rades and reminding himself that he was here thanks to them, Polnareff gradually summoned his ce.

  Although it was limited...

  It was enough. Even if he were to die, he would expose DIO’s true Stand ability before that!

  With this resolve, Polnareff charged at DIO, choosing to leap over the stairs with [Silver Chariot] rather than climb them!

  And DIO, whose ability to trol the stairs was now useless, could only...

  "...?"

  "Wait... who are you!?"

  Because, to Sora's utter shock, a golden figure emerged from DIO's body!?

  Where was [Hermit Purple]?

  Where was that almighty [Hermit Purple]?

  Kurato6180