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Chapter 89. The War Begins!
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"Joestar, although we have many differences—"
"Different nationalities!"
"Different races!"
"Different backgrounds!"
"Different ages!"
"Different experiences!"
"Even the countries we come from might be in a state of hostile confrontation or war on some battlefield right now!"
"Just thinking about it makes my blood boil! The scent of war and gunpowder seems to drift through the breeze from Mexico and reach my nose, urging me to continue our battle here with you, an Englishman!"
Stroheim's expression was a grotesque and delighted smile as he said, "If it weren't for this regrettable incident suddenly happening…"
Like a conductor in an orchestra.
Stroheim's fat body, which Santana had inhabited to avoid sunlight, was the closest available body that didn't possess the Ripple like Joseph.
And yet, with that same body, Stroheim was able to perform such agile movements, even after having one of his legs severed by Santana's axe as he attempted to open the lab door to expose Santana to sunlight. How could that be possible?!
However, Stroheim was not the same as the German soldier whose body was possessed by Santana earlier. His will would not allow him to easily succumb to Santana's control!
And most importantly, after realizing his body was occupied by Santana and witnessing the consequences of Santana possessing a body during the previous experiments, Stroheim did not give up resisting and made his way to the plaza outside the laboratory!
That is, to the sunlight without any obstructions!
You want to occupy my body and block out the sun?
Then come on!
If my body is completely assimilated and devoured by yours, then the sun will shine uncontrollably on you!
And if you don't choose to assimilate and devour, then my body will remain mine, and no one can take it or control what I want to do!
Stroheim, in this stance, fought for control of the body with Santana, who wanted to devour him but dared not completely consume him, using his strong will.
Taking a grenade out of his pocket, he laughed wildly at Joseph, "That's right, Joestar! We are enemies! We are mortal foes who must take each other's lives upon meeting, with nothing in common except our gender!"
"But, seeing your battle with Santana, I realized we have a major common point besides being enemies—"
"We both long to defeat monsters!"
The cells of his body were writhing wildly.
It was as if Santana, realizing Stroheim was moving further away from the laboratory, was making use of this opportunity to control Stroheim's body and lead him toward the well in the plaza, resisting in the same manner.
And to the exceptionally delighted Santana, Stroheim responded indifferently, "Be quiet, Santana! My heart, soul, and life have long been entirely mine... Though I wish to say this, you see it too, Joestar."
"You, who also saw that scene earlier, should know my fate, and the nature of Santana, the Pillar Man—"
"A monster!"
"An enemy of humanity!"
"An existence that cannot coexist!"
"So, as a human, what should I and you, Joestar, also a human, do when we see a human about to be occupied by this monster?"
"..."
What to do?
This question was posed by Stroheim while holding a grenade named [Answer] in his hand.
Joseph, realizing something, shouted urgently, "You bastard! Could it be that you want to...!?"
"Indeed, you're quick to understand my intentions."
Stroheim, placing a finger to his lips, smiled and said, "Shh, don't let him hear."
"Then finally, let me tell you one more piece of information, Joestar!"
"Santana is not the only one; we found other Pillar Men like him in the underground of Rome! The war between monsters and humans is about to officially begin, Joestar!"
Click----!!
Pulling the pin from the grenade.
Knowing that Santana, with his high intelligence, would undoubtedly notice this action.
At most, due to his rare disregard for the thoughts of these human pests, Stroheim, who would not be specifically attentive to their small actions, had completed his explanations.
He then unhesitatingly detonated the grenade in his hand.
"Sieg Heil!!"
BOOM----!!!
A violent explosion erupted from Stroheim, along with the fireball of the explosion!
His body was shattered into pieces, mingling with the thick smoke and dust!
Of course, such destruction could not be achieved by just one grenade.
But who said that Stroheim detonated just a grenade?
Just like the fuse mechanism inside a grenade.
This grenade was also a trigger device!
To start the explosion of the ammunition and other grenades Stroheim carried on him!
And this was Stroheim's true hidden trump card against Santana!
After all, Santana, who was hiding inside him, could not possibly be unaware of what he was doing.
His only exploitable weakness was Santana's unfamiliarity with human technology and his underestimation of humanity!
Using a single grenade could not truly damage the Pillar Man's psychological barrier, but it might shatter Santana into pieces...!?
"Santana---!!"
"Get out of the way! Or only death awaits you, JOJO!!"
In the sunlight, unaffected by the explosion,
And having assimilated and devoured Stroheim's flesh, Santana's previous injuries were healed.
Maintaining a semi-petrified state, he resisted the sunlight while charging toward the well, toward Joseph, whose breathing was labored after the intense battle!
"Get out of the way! You were destined to fail from the beginning!!"
"Your next words are—'Have you learned it now, you primitive!'"
Breathing out Ripple in a rush, which was crushed by Santana, Joseph, who was being thrown into the air, suddenly said.
"Have you learned it now, you primitive...!?"
Santana's words paused.
Not only because Joseph hit the mark with his words.
But also because Joseph, slightly turning his body, had successfully lured Santana into the well with Stroheim!
Using the sunlight streaming into the well at noon and the sunlight reflected off the water surface behind him,
Like a sandwich, it tightly enveloped Santana like a ham!
Then, under the dual sunlight and Joseph's relentless assault on the fallen enemy, Santana's petrified body was utterly shattered!