Chapter 17. Super Strength + Super Speed + Freezing Breath + Heat Vision =?
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Indeed.
Relying solely on human abilities, there are far too many unpredictable variables. Both Dio and Jonathan have fallen victim to this reality.
"What do you mean? What are you talking about?!"
Look at Jonathan, who was once so confident, now reduced to a pitiful state, clueless about what is about to happen. This is the weakness of humanity.
Initially, Dio had his doubts about using the Stone Mask. Otherwise, he would have found a safe place to use it immediately upon discovering its effects, rather than waiting until this critical moment, where attempting to use the mask could easily be thwarted by Jonathan and the others. This risky behavior was unlike Dio.
He was afraid. The rare thought of becoming non-human had emerged in Dio's mind.
But it was this very fear that allowed him to see clearly through the veil of useless cowardice and morality, which only served to restrict and bind his actions.
That's right!
"I will stop being human! JOJO!!"
This was Dio's truest thought now, the only thought left in his subconscious after countless failures as an actor. The conditions for using the vampire template were too strict. Without months or years of targeted practice, his subconscious could not control this template seamlessly.
Compared to DIO in "Phantom Blood," Dio, without any deceased parents or being pushed to the brink by Jonathan, was too content. He could never don the Stone Mask with the same abandon as DIO.
In other words...
— "In reverse, if I abandon everything, won't it work?!"
— "Family, love, friendship... if it can bring victory and place me at the pinnacle of the world, what does it matter if I discard them all?"
— "No! Victory, then domination!"
— "Victory, then domination! My life has only this one goal. Everything else is merely nourishment for my growth!"
At the moment he resolved this, or rather, realized that failing to do so might get him dismissed by Green Dolphin Studio, his ambition to debut as a fully immersive actor and make a fortune faced its potential end before it even began.
He completed the vampire template test. His subconscious, nearly overlapping with DIO's, controlled his body in the script world to pull out the Stone Mask!
"I must surpass humanity!!"
"A Stone Mask? How do you have...!?"
Jonathan, entirely fixated on the Stone Mask Dio had pulled out, failed to notice that Dio's other hand, once bandaged, was now free, along with the hidden dagger.
"Watch out!"
"Shoot him dead, now!"
Isn't it too late to realize now?
Ignoring Speedwagon and the shouting policemen, Dio used Jonathan's tall body to shield himself from potential bullets. This positioning prevented the police from stopping him before he attacked Jonathan.
From start to finish, you've been playing into my hands, Jonathan!
"JOJO, with your blood, let the Joestar lineage's sacrifice elevate me to the pinnacle of life!!"
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"It's happening."
Outside the script world, even Pucci couldn't help but focus intently on the screen. They weren't worried about George Joestar not reaching Jonathan in time to shield him from Dio's lethal strike. In reality, George Joestar was Jonathan's father, a true gentleman, unlike Dario Brando.
With hints planted in the script, like the Asian man selling poison to Dio mentioning his distinctive features, George Joestar would inevitably keep an eye on Dio and use his body to protect Jonathan at the critical moment.
The real issue was...
"Though the audition was successful, performing live is different."
"Just like how people behave more reservedly with strangers than with familiar faces, solo training success doesn't guarantee mastering the vampire role template in a fully immersive shoot..."
Shinbo Akiyuki expressed their shared concern.
"Honestly, I still don't understand why you set such a high difficulty for the vampire template, Pucci."
"Because this template is perfect for Dio. Other vampire templates wouldn't capture the essence," Pucci replied.
After all, a vampire without super strength, super speed, cellular control for vapor freezing, and heat vision is no vampire at all. If not for needing to wait until Part 3 for the Stand concept and not wanting to overpower Part 1, Pucci would have added time-stop abilities.
"Just relax and watch, Minamizawa."
Seeing the scene where Dio's supposed-to-be-shot body vanished, Pucci regained his composure and smiled, "Dio's compatibility with this vampire template will surprise you!"
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"WRYYYYYY——————!!"
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