---o---
Light Curtain Barrage
As the battle unfolded, the audience outside the light curtain came to a realization: Kyogai had come here to die.
It wasn't that the audience looked down on him, but the difference in power was plain to see. No matter how powerful Kyogai became, encountering Hamon meant certain death.
It was just unexpected that Kyogai would be so bold as to walk directly into the enemy's main camp in the midst of a war.
Aizen Sosuke: "I see. So his ability has evolved? No wonder he appeared so brazenly at the Demon Slayer Corps' headquarters. Is it because he has become strong enough to ignore ordinary swordsmen?"
To go from needing his own room as a medium to being able to attack without a house... there must have been some kind of chemical reaction between DIO's blood and the Blood Demon Arts of this world.
Detective Conan: "Blood Demon Arts and Breathing Styles, these are the truly supernatural elements of the Demon Slayer world. However, they are likely only effective against humans. Stand users like Joseph are, theoretically, no longer what you would call normal people."
Otto Apocalypse: "Hmm, fascinating, but not entirely inexplicable. More than the Blood Demon Arts, I am interested in understanding the creature known as a vampire. Although creatures called vampires exist in certain world bubbles, they are in essence merely products of the Honkai, with nothing particularly special about them."
Vampire Theresa (Crescent Hymn): "...Are there differences between vampires, too?"
The Mistress of the Scarlet Devil Mansion: "Isn't the answer obvious? Vampires drink blood, they don't eat people. A vampire like DIO is a true rarity."
Although Gensokyo was full of youkai—flower fairies, spirits of the dead, things that sounded terrifying—they were actually good people. The same went for vampires. None were as wicked as DIO.
---o---
Light Curtain
The battle between Kyogai and Joseph continued. The commotion from their fight was immense, yet it didn't attract the attention of anyone else at the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters. It was as if they were the only two people there.
If it were only for a short time, Joseph could understand it. But a situation like this was far too strange.
"It's you, isn't it? What have you done? Why is it so quiet here now?"
Joseph's tone was heavy. With Kyogai's strength, it was impossible for him to have killed everyone at the headquarters. While the ordinary swordsmen were no match for him, his grandson, Jotaro Kujo, was still outside.
Jotaro's power needed no further elaboration. As the war god of the Joestar family, the power of Star Platinum was more than enough to beat Kyogai to a pulp.
And given Jotaro's personality, while he wouldn't attack an ordinary human, he would show no mercy to a demon like Kyogai, especially one of DIO's minions.
Faced with Joseph's confusion, Kyogai simply curled his lips into a wicked smile and said slowly, "As I said, I did not come to the Demon Slayer Corps just to die."
That's right. This too was an effect of his evolved Blood Demon Art. The reason Kyogai could stand by DIO's side wasn't just his loyalty; his formidable power was a crucial part of it.
The spinning room was merely one manifestation of his ability. To describe it with another word, his ability... was space!
Like Nakime, the essence of his ability was the manipulation of space. It was only because his talent had hit a ceiling that he hadn't developed something akin to Nakime's Infinity Castle.
However, thanks to DIO's blood, Kyogai's ability had evolved once more.
Spatial abilities are inherently difficult to deal with—a fact that holds true across the multiverse. Under normal circumstances, it is extremely difficult to win against a spatial-type enemy.
But Joseph was clearly not a normal person. Even with only one arm, Joseph was still the man who had exiled a god. And he was not an old man yet.
"May I ask a question? A very simple question for you."
Raising the index finger of his right hand, Joseph looked at Kyogai sideways. He was still young and vigorous. Though his left sleeve was empty, he exuded an air of high spirits.
His 6'5" frame made even the massive demon before him seem less intimidating.
"Why? Why did you become DIO's subordinate? Don't you know? Don't you know that DIO sent you here to die this time?"
His words were filled with a thick confidence, as if victory was already his.
Kyogai frowned and was about to speak, but Joseph was a step faster. "Hey, demon. Your next line is: 'Arrogant brat, you will never understand Lord DIO's greatness.'"
"Arrogant brat, how could you possibly understand Lord DIO's greatness...?"
He took the bait. The moment he subconsciously spoke the words in his heart, Kyogai had already fallen into Joseph's trap. Though he realized it, it was already too late.
In that instant, Kyogai wanted to flee, but it was too late. In his moment of stunned distraction, Hermit Purple, carrying Hamon, had already wrapped around his body. The intense power of the Hamon seared Kyogai's body, as if it were burning his very soul.
"Ugh—ah!" A low, pained cry escaped Kyogai's mouth. The pain that Hamon inflicted upon creatures like vampires was unimaginable, but Kyogai withstood the agony with his formidable willpower.
A full minute passed before Joseph released Kyogai's body. He looked down on him from above. Clearly... Joseph had intentionally spared his life.
Walking up to Kyogai, Joseph sighed. "How dangerous. Dealing with an enemy like you can be quite troublesome sometimes. But apparently... you still can't block out others' opinions of DIO."
"I guess blindly loyal people are a bit easier to deal with after all. Don't worry, I held back. Otherwise, with Hamon, you would have already melted."
With those words, Joseph squatted down, keeping a very close distance to Kyogai, seemingly unafraid of a final, desperate counterattack.
"Come on... tell me. What is DIO's purpose? As far as I know, the Red Stone's evolutionary effect is useless for DIO."
"Theoretically, the power contained within the Red Stone is something a vampire cannot withstand. That's why only a Pillar Man can wear the Stone Mask embedded with the Red Stone to evolve into the Ultimate Lifeform."
"So, for DIO, the Red Stone is of no use. At best, it's just a pretty rock."
Joseph finished and waited for Kyogai's reply. He hadn't spared him out of some respect for his loyalty, but because he wanted to know DIO's true objective. His intuition told him that DIO's goal was anything but simple, and it was very likely related to the fated conflict between the Joestar family and DIO.
The next moment, however, the unexpected happened. As Joseph was questioning him, Kyogai suddenly launched an attack. His Blood Demon Art activated, and countless blades of air shot out in all directions.
Joseph, long prepared, did a backflip to dodge the wind blades. He was about to use Hamon again when he saw that Kyogai's own head had been sliced off by one of the blades.
"What? You're... committing suicide? Why?" Joseph was shocked. He had expected a desperate last stand, but he had never imagined Kyogai would commit suicide while doing so.
Kyogai, forgoing his body's natural regeneration, simply spoke with his head rolling on the floor. "Joseph... you want to get information about Lord DIO from me, don't you?"
"Your Stand, Hermit Purple, has an uncanny ability. Not only can it perform spirit photography, but it can even read the thoughts from someone's mind."
"And I will absolutely never say anything that is even slightly disadvantageous to that great man."
Feeling his life slipping away, Kyogai's presence grew weaker. Even Joseph's image in his eyes grew blurry. He hadn't been decapitated by a Nichirin Blade. In other words, as long as he had a basic will to live, his demonic instincts would help him recover.
But in this moment, Kyogai abandoned all will to survive, willingly accepting his death.
"Heh... heh." Perhaps sensing his end was near, a smile tugged at the corner of Kyogai's mouth. In his mind, the mysterious and intoxicating smile of DIO appeared.
"You asked me before why I serve Lord DIO. I didn't answer. But now... now I can tell you."
"Joseph Joestar, I am not afraid of death in the slightest. As a writer, my work was never acknowledged by anyone. No one understood me, no one listened to my voice. In their eyes, I was just a useless failure."
"It was the same even after I became a demon. Kibutsuji Muzan never once gave me a second glance. But... even someone like me was acknowledged for the first time by that man."
"That man is too powerful, too unfathomable, too mysterious, too beautiful. He was the first to acknowledge my worth in this world. I have always been waiting for my encounter with him."
"Death is not frightening... but I will never be abandoned or killed by that man. Villains... also need a savior for villains!"
As his presence faded completely, Joseph was left without the information he wanted. But one thing was certain: DIO was a dangerous enemy.
An enemy as dangerous as Kars. The fact that someone was willing to die for him until the very end was a testament to how difficult he would be to deal with...
"A pitch-black will... although we are enemies... I acknowledge you, Kyogai!"
The crimson sun slowly rose above the horizon. As Joseph watched, Kyogai's body dissipated with the wind.
---o---
Light Curtain Barrage
N'Doul: "The savior of villains? Hahaha, that's right... that is the true image of Lord DIO in our hearts!"
Completely unaware that his line had been stolen, N'Doul was just glad that DIO had found a subordinate as loyal as himself in this other world, and he inwardly acknowledged this comrade.
Father Pucci: "The savior of villains. Yes, that is the perfect interpretation of your life, DIO... I revere you as I revere God. Go forth with confidence. Fate has decreed that you will ascend to Heaven, and fate has decreed your victory! I will pray for you here!"
In his church, Father Pucci clasped his hands in prayer, his expression deeply devout.
Detective Conan: "Although I've never met DIO in person, judging by the reactions of his subordinates, his charisma is truly astonishing, enough to make them go through fire and water for him."
Yukino Yukinoshita: "The savior of villains... Does it mean that everyone's beliefs and perspectives are different, so their perceptions differ as well? It sounds like a bit of a sophism, but... for Kyogai, perhaps only DIO could have given him true peace of mind."
In the My Teen Romantic Comedy world, Yukino Yukinoshita took a light sip of her black tea and sighed. After becoming a demon, there was no turning back for Kyogai. Only DIO made him feel true peace of mind, which is why he was so blindly loyal.
---o---
Light Curtain, The Sky Whitens, The Eve of the Final Battle
"Are all of you going? Don't you need to protect Ubuyashiki?"
Looking at the nine fully armed Hashira, Jotaro Kujo was at a loss for words. This was the fated battle of the Joestar family, yet these demon hunters insisted on joining them, under the pretext that not a single evil demon could be allowed to exist in the world.
While feeling a sense of admiration for them, Jotaro was also trying to dissuade them. He had experienced DIO's methods firsthand before coming to this world.
In terms of both strength and intellect, the Demon Slayer Corps was no match for DIO.
"Do not worry. The Demon Slayer Corps has already summoned the former Hashira, now the Cultivators. They are more than enough to protect the Master."
The Stone Hashira's eyes were white and unseeing, but he still faced Jotaro's direction as he spoke.
"When it comes to slaying demons, there's no way the Demon Slayer Corps can be left out!" The usually rebellious and arrogant Wind Hashira, perhaps due to all he had experienced, had gradually changed his opinion of Jotaro and Joseph.
Whether out of guilt towards Jotaro or the need to subjugate demons, he had to go to the front lines to face that demon, thousands of times more terrifying than Muzan—DIO Brando.
Seeing that even the Wind Hashira had spoken, the other Hashira naturally had their own reasons, which could be summed up in one sentence: they had a score to settle with demons, even if DIO wasn't a demon from their world.
Looking at the resolute expressions on everyone's faces, Jotaro knew he couldn't sway their conviction to slay demons.
"In that case, let's move out..."
---o---
Author's note:
PS: Don't worry about the protagonist for the next volume, I've already thought it out. It's definitely got to be Ultraman Zero plus a human host.