Chapter 203. Is There a Possibility...
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After hearing Vanilla Ice's explanation, and after personally witnessing how the [Cream] made people disappear like magic, they still desperately questioned Vanilla Ice, unwilling to believe the reality in front of them.
Polnareff, who shouted and demanded to know where Vanilla Ice had hidden Avdol, was just like the others.
The audience, who had been cheering for the "Stardust Crusaders" storyline, rejoicing over Jotaro and his team's victory against Darby, still had smiles on their faces. The corners of their mouths hadn't even fully lowered when...
Then—!
Then!!
In the blink of an eye, Avdol, who had journeyed all the way to Egypt, about to send DIO, the century-old man, back to his grave, suddenly vanished from the world forever! He disappeared without even leaving behind a body, swallowed by a dark void leading who knows where!!
How could they accept this?
How could they possibly accept this!?
So, no one knew exactly when it started, but the entire screen showing "Stardust Crusaders" was instantly flooded with a barrage of comments!
An eruption of enraged outbursts, breaking past any defensive walls, exploded across the forum!
Of course, if you were to ask this group of viewers whether they were prepared for Avdol's sacrifice from the start, they would honestly tell you that they had prepared for it long ago—not just Avdol, but all of the members of the Egyptian Crusaders, including Jotaro as JOJO and Joseph as the previous JOJO.
After all, in this aspect, Green Dolphin Studios had been particularly heartless, blatantly hinting at it in the opening (OP) itself.
The death scenes, paired with the lyrics, were right there in the OP.
Because of this foreshadowing, the viewers knew that Avdol's death scene would likely occur on a staircase alongside Polnareff and Iggy, though it was unclear what enemy they would face. Some speculated that the Stand user controlling the staircase might be the reason for their demise.
So even when Jotaro's team was separated by the traps in DIO's mansion—Jotaro, Joseph, and Kakyoin in one group, while Avdol, Polnareff, and Iggy formed another "death group"—they still held out hope.
After all, they weren't even on a staircase.
Plus, the Stand user most likely associated with stairs, [Tenore Sax], had already been neutralized, thanks to Iggy's keen nose and Avdol's [Magician's Red] controlling the temperature to detect breathing and air currents. Avdol's skills in perceiving objects through heat, like infrared sensors, made the illusions of [Tenore Sax] easily overcome.
After [Tenore Sax], which could only fool visual perception, was beaten and its Stand ability nullified, viewers were reassured. Their fears hadn't materialized yet.
Maybe the ability to control stairs was DIO's...
But just when the viewers were all starting to feel a sense of relief, "Stardust Crusaders" hit them with a sneak attack—
Avdol... was dead.
The very man who had said, "Even if we encounter danger, even if someone is about to die, don't try to save them. Everyone must prioritize their own safety to avoid a group wipeout." Avdol, who made this pact with his own mouth, was the first to break it.
Sensing the attack from the Stand [Cream], Avdol didn't hesitate to push Polnareff and Iggy out of the way, taking the hit himself.
"This… this isn't what we agreed on at all!"
One viewer's comment burst out, expressing either frustration at Avdol breaking his own promise or anger at the show's misleading OP. Regardless, one thing was clear—anyone reading that comment could feel the anguish, even through a screen.
Because they all felt the same way.
"You said 'put your safety first'... but you should've put your own safety first!"
"Green Dolphin Studio, is tragedy the only thing you know how to write!?"
"Who knows where Pucci the writer lives? I've had enough! "Phantom Blood" was like this, "Battle Tendency" was like this, and now "Stardust Crusaders" too!"
"Pucci better start sleeping with his eyes open!"
"..."
Almost immediately after "Stardust Crusaders" ended, the waves of complaints filled the comment section and spread across forums, drowning out all other discussions.
Naturally, Sora and Shiro weren't exempt from this. They began sifting through the chat logs of the group Pucci had created to recruit "chosen actors," trying to find any information on Pucci's whereabouts to expose his hideout.
But there was nothing.
Clearly anticipating something like this would happen, Pucci had never casually revealed his location. He didn't even take photos near his home, ensuring that no one could trace him back to his address.
After all, when Japanese fans talk about sending death threats in the form of knife deliveries, they're not joking...
"Damn it! How could Pucci be so meticulous with his security!?"
Looking at their group chat, Sora noticed that not only were they searching for Pucci's information, but even some female members of the group had started to flirt with him in an attempt to coax out details. Yet Pucci maintained his "upright" demeanor, resisting their advances.
Seeing the selfies some of these girls were sending, Sora couldn't help but feel envious.
He was still a virgin who had never had intimate contact with anyone besides his mother and sister, and here was Pucci, getting attention from women throwing themselves at him.
How could the gap between people be this big!?
Though, when Sora remembered that Pucci's accomplishments were earned at the cost of his life, it didn't feel like a consolation… No, it still hurt!
Unable to bear it any longer, Sora posted on the forum: "Is there a possibility—just a possibility!—that Avdol isn't actually dead?"
"..."
"...!?"