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Chapter 162. Virtuous Pope
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"He looks like a brute, but died so easily."
"Well, isn't that how most of life ends anyway? Abrupt and unfinished."
The new episode of "Stardust Crusaders" begins.
Carrying on from the previous episode's events, Hol Horse laughs as he speaks to the grief-stricken Polnareff and his comrades: "Many people die before they even have the chance to say goodbye, don't they?"
"Heh, doesn't it seem like I've transcended worldly concerns?"
Hol Horse's smile only deepens as he says this.
This ignites Polnareff's fury even more.
And for the audience watching "Stardust Crusaders" at this moment, eager to see Hol Horse get punched so hard he cries.
They almost couldn't control themselves!
How could Hol Horse have the nerve to say such things?!
Why did Avdol die?
Why are Polnareff and the others so furious?
It's all because of Hol Horse himself!
He personally killed Avdol and, along with J. Geil, set up this whole trap!
Now, after causing all of this, Hol Horse has the audacity to "comfort" Polnareff, and the audience who is also listening to his words...
Not to mention Polnareff.
If only the audience could enter the fully immersive script world.
Hol Horse should be worried about whether his substitute bullet reserves are enough, or if his small, cute substitute revolver can manage 3600 rounds per minute.
But, this was all part of Hol Horse's plan.
"Polnareff! He's provoking you, don't fall for it again!"
Kakyoin, equally angry but still rational—perhaps because he knew something—shouts anxiously to Polnareff: "Avdol told you not to fight alone, but you ignored him!"
"Even if it means perishing with the enemy, you're bent on revenge! That's what Avdol feared, which is why he chased after you..."
And then, what happened next...
This was the very reason Hol Horse acted so brazenly.
In a battle between Stand users, the most important thing to maintain is composure.
Only a calm mind can decipher the true abilities of an enemy Stand, hidden behind layers of deception, and discover the path to victory!
After all, reckless actions...
Could very well lead to being tricked by the enemy, leaving fatal openings for them to exploit!
Hol Horse knew this.
Kakyoin knew this.
And Polnareff knew this too.
But still...
"Avdol was brutally killed from behind, my sister was murdered with no chance to defend herself... And you're asking me to swallow my pride and run away with my tail between my legs?!"
Indeed, this was the reason why, back when "Stardust Crusaders" was being filmed, Polnareff, the actor, felt frustrated and finally agreed to Pucci's request to participate in the production.
Before, he couldn't let go of his grudge.
Now, even more so.
In this state, not only was it impossible for him to stick to the script, but he might also drag Kakyoin down with him.
After realizing this, Pucci gave up trying to help.
Thinking, "As long as Cujoh Jolyne funds it, we'll keep filming as is."
Perhaps the "chosen" actors, like Polnareff and the others, would find their own way to resolve the situation?
But Polnareff had no idea about Pucci's decision to give up on intervention.
Thus, when Polnareff re-entered the script world, it was with the intent to vent his anger. Though he subconsciously knew it was wrong to do so...
When Hol Horse and J. Geil mocked and insulted Avdol's and his sister's deaths, he undoubtedly lost control again!
In the countless shards of glass sliced to pieces by the furious strikes of [Silver Chariot]'s sword!
In the countless reflections from those shards, which multiplied the number of mirrors hiding [Hanged Man], trapping Polnareff completely!
In Hol Horse's anticipation, as he reloaded his [Emperor] and prepared to recreate Avdol's fate for Polnareff, without hesitation, he fired!
"—Emerald Splash!!"
Thus began the symphony of this "Virtuous Pope"!
"What... what is this...?!"
"It's actually attacking..."
"Polnareff!!?"
In the shocked cries of Hol Horse and J. Geil, bullets, blades, and even the shards of glass—all of them missed their target.
Everything was repelled by the overwhelming force of the unleashed destructive energy.
And in the process, Polnareff's body was hurled out of their Stand attack range!
…
"Wow, so cool!!"
In another house in Morioh.
Due to the skyrocketing popularity of his serialized manga, his fame had grown so much that he could no longer roam freely for research as he had before. Thus, Kishibe Rohan had moved back to Morioh from Tokyo.
Wearing his full-dive helmet, he couldn't help but exclaim in disbelief.
"JoJo's Bizarre Adventure" was something he'd encountered back when he was in Tokyo.
At first, he was drawn in by the strange yet aesthetically pleasing JoJo poses.
Thinking he could incorporate these poses, and the muscular lines they highlighted, into his manga, he naturally bought the complete BD set.
While studying it, he wasn't captivated by the JoJo poses or the costume designs, but rather by the compelling story!
Having been converted in this way, he had also heard the buzz about "Stardust Crusaders" recently trending online.
However, unlike others, though he was moved by Jonathan and the others' golden spirit, which shone even in the face of despair, and thought it was an interesting concept...
As a creator in pursuit of "realism", he couldn't help but acknowledge that people with the "golden spirit" like Jonathan are incredibly rare in this world.
In fact, the most surprising thing is that every protagonist in "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure", and even its supporting characters, possess this golden spirit!
So, when he learned about Polnareff's story, from the start, he didn't believe Polnareff could successfully avenge his sister and Avdol.
And the story progressed just as he predicted.
Polnareff, consumed by anger, fell into a trap again.
As Rohan wondered, "Who will save him this time?"
Or, "Will Polnareff meet his end here?"
He witnessed it...
The "Emerald Splash" that pierced through despair!
At the same time, his hands instinctively opened the drawing software in his full-dive helmet, swiftly capturing that moment!
"Feels a bit naughty to say it, but I think I'm "excited"!"
Rohan, his mind brimming with inspiration, smiled mischievously at Kakyoin: "This is pure joy. I'd love to peel back their brains and see their story!"