Chapter 230. This is Impossible to Win~
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Though weak, this was Kakyoin Noriaki's final strike!
It wasn't Kakyoin as a mere scripted character, nor was it an act within the frame of a narrative imposed through full-dive immersion.
This was the real Kakyoin Noriaki, the actor. With all his deepest desires, he roared defiantly against a fate dominated by [The World].
This was the weakest [Emerald Splash], as simply keeping his mind from breaking apart had already drained a vast amount of Kakyoin's energy. If not for the aftereffects of forcing his Stand, squeezing the last vestiges of life energy from his shattered body, he might not have been able to unleash this final [Emerald Splash] at all.
But it was also his strongest [Emerald Splash]!
As the surge of attacks came at him, even DIO stopped his assault, staring in surprise at the blazing green light from Kakyoin's last stand piercing the sky.
"Is this a dying struggle? Using his last bit of strength to try to die more gloriously?" DIO mocked loudly, sneering at Kakyoin's actions. "And hitting in the completely wrong direction."
…
"DIO really is cautious," Sora, who had been prepared, couldn't help but comment as he watched the scene in "Stardust Crusaders". "And, seriously, isn't DIO supposed to be invincible?"
"His Stand ability, intelligence, and even that lion-hunts-rabbit prudence… it's as if they're saying Jotaro and the others need a power even stronger than DIO's to defeat him! But such power..."
Yes, "Stardust Crusaders" was progressing quickly, no doubt due to the suffocating pressure of DIO. As long as Kakyoin and the others held onto their determination to defeat DIO, "Stardust Crusaders" could continue without obstacles.
Thus, after Kakyoin completed his toughest part of the battle, the new episode was soon released to the audience. Those who had been eagerly waiting were thrilled, especially after the last episode had left them itching to understand [The World]'s true Stand ability.
But whether the method would be satisfying for the audience was another question…
Unlike Iggy, who only joined midway and only revealed his charm after the battle with Pet Shop, or Avdol, who appeared early but left the stage for a while, Kakyoin had been with Jotaro and the others from the start. He wasn't just a calm strategist using his Stand's advantages, as the audience had initially thought.
Once Kakyoin delivered his monologue, deciding to burn himself out to light the way for Joseph and the others, Sora could no longer see Kakyoin as just a character.
After all, Sora was much like Kakyoin—lonely, yet finding his own light, his companions. And if the time came, Sora would sacrifice himself for Shiro just the same.
Under these circumstances, Kakyoin's death was different. This was the first time Sora felt something beyond anxiety—a pressing urgency in the death of a beloved character.
In the ultra-realistic full dive, Sora suddenly faced a question he had never considered: If he ever had to choose like Kakyoin, sacrificing himself to create a chance for Shiro to survive, would he do it? Yes, he would. But ideally, he'd eliminate every possibility leading to such a scenario first!
So, unlike other viewers mourning, Sora ignored the sad comments, focusing instead on thinking: what could he do?
But...
"Damn, I have no idea!" Sora's frustration grew. "Why does Pucci love creating unbeatable Stand abilities so much?"
He eventually stopped trying to think of a solution. "Isn't he afraid of writing himself into a corner?"
There seemed to be no hope of victory. DIO's character had no flaws for the viewers to exploit.
When [The World]'s time stop ability was beyond Kakyoin and the others, DIO didn't show off or get careless. He even remained cautious against Joseph and [Hermit Purple], the weakest Stand.
On the contrary, he attempted to mislead Joseph…
Yes!
DIO's mockery about Kakyoin missing his mark was a deliberate ploy to provoke Joseph, luring him into the trap of thinking Kakyoin's [Emerald Splash] was misplaced!
"Is DIO truly a final boss Jotaro and the others can defeat?"
"This is impossible to win~"