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Chapter 40. Challengers of Fate
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Even as Zeppeli quered his inner fears and advanced boldly, the audieg "Phantom Blood" still had no idea what they were about to witness.
This trast was stark pared to Zeppeli's mi withiory. After all, isn't it usually the protagonist who breaks through seemingly unavoidable fates? Especially since...
"This colr won't budge," JOJO thought, as he strained against the iron colr around his neck, veins bulging with effort.
Tarkus's movements, he mused, "Tarkus hasn't revealed how he'll use this killing ground... and that's the most uling part."
Clearly, JOJO wasn't quietly resigning himself to being a hostage. When DIO faced the Ripple breathing teique, he developed the Vapor Freeze Teique. Simirly, when JOJO fought Bruford uer, he utilized hidden air pockets within the uer caves to breathe and reversed the situation using the river, an excellent ductor of Ripple.
These ued battles showcased that the audience's perception of strength in "Phantom Blood" had shifted beyond simple parisons of power.
Therefore, although JOJO appeared bound araihe viewers knew better than to uimate him. If they did, it would be Tarkus, not JOJO, who would face misfortune, just like Bruford before him.
Hence, even as JOJO kept a vigint eye on Tarkus, ready for any special tactics he might employ, and Zeppeli began to outmahe rger Tarkus with agility, Jolyne Cujoh couldn't help but question Pucci, "Hey, Pucci, did you secretly ge the script?"
On the day of the seventh episode's broadcast, Jolyne's attention was even more intehan during the premiere of "Phantom Blood." The growing popurity of the shht with it numerous offers from advertisers and industry peers eager to leverage this success. Despite these entig offers, she remained resolute in her refusal to promise the show's iy.
"It's crucial not to let external influences affect your creativity!" Jolyne insisted. "Pucci, your inal script is what I genuinely wao film—a work full of siy, not something altered just to please the audience."
"We haven't ged anything," Akiyuki Shinbo replied on Pucci's behalf. "While we initially sidered such alterations, your reminder helped us rediscover our true selves amidst the external praise."
"Just like Zeppeli at this moment," Shinbo tinued.
Ihey had been reminded and awakened. Although his words carried some exaggeration, Shinbo, inspired by Jolyne's unwavering belief, inteo assist in realizing her vision.
This mi shift allowed him to feel something unique while re-filming Zeppeli's death se, a sensation that only the current team could experience. Uanding Zeppeli's determination in the face of his doomed fate was something the crew now deeply resonated with.
If they succumbed to the false glory bestowed upon them by external accim, how could they grasp Zeppeli's mi? Only by fronting this metaphorical cliff, like Zeppeli, could they dis whether they were merely misguided youths or fledgling eagles ready to rise from the ashes.
This realization, Shinbo believed, was what Jolyeo vey. Why else would she choose this critical moment to address it?
"I've seen through everything," Shinbo decred. "After your persistent reminders, President Cujoh, how could we not uand?"
"…?"
Jolyne: What are you talking about?!
"And this is the special style I prepared for this episode!" Shinbo procimed.
…
Meanwhile, the story tinued without interruption.
"Take this, Tarkus!" Zeppeli shouted as he rose and leaped. Not only did he dodge Tarkus's lunge, but he also used the wall's momentum and gravity's acceleration to spin his body, enhang his kick. "Ripple Overdrive!!" he yelled, fident in his strike.
Tarkus, who prided himself on his invincible body capable of crushing any Ripple user upon tact, was about to face a formidable attack. The powerful kick, infused with Ripple energy, aimed to destroy Tarkus's undead cells upon impact.
However...
A moment of vulnerability appeared...
Zeppeli's powerful kick left him temporarily without his earlier agility, a fw that Tarkus quickly exploited.
"From above, huh?"
"No, Mr. Zeppeli! The is ing from below!!" JOJO warned urgently.
But it was too te.
Utilizing the Two-Headed Dragon Hall's uerrain and tools, Tarkus had set his trap. He wouldn't give them time to react.
"Simultaneous attack from above and below!"
"This is my ultimate teique—Hell Heaven Snake Kill!!"
With s entwining Zeppeli's body and tightening around JOJO's neck, Tarkus forcefully pulled the s, suspending them both from the ceiling, f a deadly ale them.
He triumphantly decred, "Watch as I strangle you both to death!!"
The se froze, and the s went bck...
