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Chapter 139. JOJO! I, DIO, Have Returned from Hell!
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—1983, Northwest Coast of Africa, Canary Islands—
Perhaps it was out of guilt, perhaps out of curiosity, or maybe just because they wanted to know what kind of story "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Part 3" would bring now that the secrets and origins of the Stone Mask had already been revealed in "Battle Tendency."
With a mindset of "since we're already here" and knowing that Part 3 was about to start soon, the viewers, realizing it wouldn't take much more of their time, clicked on the story titled "Stardust Crusaders."
And then, they saw this location: an enigmatic clue.
The northwest coast of Africa? The ocean? What does this mean? Is the enemy this time from the sea? Wouldn't that be completely annihilated by Ripple?
After all, according to the Ripple training, water may make it difficult for Ripple users to breathe, but water also conducts Ripple far better than any living thing!
There's practically no dodging; once in water and Ripple is released, you have no way out!
Surrounded on all sides by water that conducts Ripple effectively, where can you escape to?
This is why, despite Ripple's weaknesses being so obvious and DIO immediately recognizing underwater as a major disadvantage for Ripple users, not many thought to take the battle underwater to suppress Ripple.
Even DIO, after trying it once with Bruford, never used this method again to limit Jonathan and the other Ripple warriors.
It's because, while it might restrain Ripple warriors, it was even more dangerous for those afraid of Ripple.
Unless the one fighting isn't a vampire, a Pillar Man, or another creature unaffected by Ripple, one should never fight Ripple users underwater.
So, what does this clue mean?
Could it be that the enemy in Part 3 isn't afraid of sunlight or Ripple anymore, or maybe has become an ultimate being like Kars?
That would certainly eliminate concerns about Ripple users underwater.
But that would make the villain invincible.
Just moments ago, these viewers watched Joseph barely manage to send the ultimate being Kars into space, relying on timing, circumstances, and a bit of luck. They wouldn't easily accept a plot where a new JoJo could defeat such a being.
Joseph won his first fight against a vampire because Ripple naturally counters vampires, and unlike DIO, who uses any dirty trick, Straizo had more honor.
Moreover, Straizo didn't innovate much on vampire powers; he merely copied what DIO had already developed.
This allowed Joseph, who had prior knowledge, to counter and defeat him.
But an ultimate being...
Josuke Higashikata doesn't think a new JoJo could surpass Joseph in Ripple mastery and achieve such a victory.
Especially when...
"Why is it taking Joseph so long to show up?"
Hearing his mother complain beside him, Josuke secretly rolled his eyes.
Though his mother might be a special case, those who just finished "Battle Tendency" don't believe a new JoJo could easily surpass Joseph, the legendary Ripple warrior!
Unless "Stardust Crusaders" abandons Ripple entirely... but that's impossible.
As Josuke thought this, the sailors on screen finally dredged up something—a large treasure chest that had been sleeping at the bottom of the sea for a hundred years!
But the shape of this chest...
"Uh, this looks familiar..."
Josuke muttered, "I feel like I've seen this coffin-like shape somewhere before... wait, a coffin!?"
Realizing this, Josuke took another look and indeed found that the treasure chest looked more like a coffin than the usual square treasure boxes seen in games.
But what could a coffin and the sea a hundred years ago mean?
Even though his mother didn't drag him to watch "Phantom Blood" due to Joseph not appearing in it, and even though he wasn't interested enough to watch it on his own, he still saw the final episode where an elderly Joseph headed to Japan.
So, Josuke had a vague impression of it.
If Josuke, who hadn't paid much attention to "Phantom Blood," had a vague impression, then for those who watched it from the beginning, seeing this familiar coffin and the unmistakable "DIO" engraved on it, what would they feel?
"Holy crap!"
"Holy crap, holy crap, holy crap!!"
"Could it be?! The final boss of Part 3 is KO NO DIO DA!!?"
Shock! Excitement! Thrill!!
As the coffin was finally pulled up by the sailors, the chat was already exploding with the overwhelming emotions of the audience.
"JOJO! I, DIO, have returned from hell!!"
"Of course, it's DIO! He effortlessly accomplishes what no other villain could! Truly admirable and truly enviable!!"
"He never stopped thinking, even while trapped in a coffin for a hundred years, huh? (Sarcasm)"