A large blob of slime slowly took shape, eventually forming a tree covered in round, transparent fruits. The dark clouds in the sky had also dispersed, and under the sunlight, the tree shimmered with a golden glow.
There were a total of seven slime spheres on it, each fruit glowing brightly, like a crystal ball.
The seven slime spheres rotated continuously, making creaking sounds, instantly attracting Jotaro's attention.
"Is this that man's Stand from earlier? When?! Wasn't he already dead? How is his Stand still here?!"
Okuyasu's expression instantly turned incredibly shocked, but this was followed by an even fiercer rage. "Alright, since you're still alive, that's good! I'll avenge Josuke and the others right now!"
Watching Okuyasu struggle to his feet from the ground, ignoring his spinal injury, Jotaro supported him and shook his head, his eyes gleaming with wisdom and calmness.
"No, Okuyasu, he's already dead. It's just that this Stand still remains in the world. This is a 'death-rattle' type of Stand. Now, gently pick up Koichi. I'll take Josuke, and we'll slowly retreat from here."
"Their injuries are severe right now, but there's still a chance for treatment. I can still hear their heartbeats."
Listening to Jotaro's words, Okuyasu paused. He had already summoned The Hand, whose two hands were covered in fleshy lumps, intending to directly erase the space in front of him, but Jotaro's words made him hesitant to act.
"But Jotaro, won't it attack us? This is an enemy Stand!"
"Shh, don't speak. Try not to make a sound. Leave quietly now."
Jotaro didn't say much, but instead took two steps back, his footsteps light, like a cat's. Behind him, Star Platinum had already scooped up Higashikata Josuke.
It also reached its hand into Higashikata Josuke's chest, grasping his heart and gently squeezing it, helping it beat more powerfully. Jotaro's gaze also observed the slime fruits that trembled whenever they made a sound.
'Does it rely on sound to find enemies? Where will the next enemy appear from?'
Meanwhile, a bewildered Okuyasu clenched his fists, his gaze darting between Koichi and the slime tree. At the same time, the waves of pain from his back made him involuntarily clutch his lower back.
Just a light touch, and he realized his back had been dented. Although his spine was still intact, he had probably broken several bones. 'That bastard Josuke! You didn't hold back at all!'
'Just you wait until I get a chance; next time, I'll beat you until you're spitting teeth!'
Feeling his severe injuries and the gradually fading anger, he let out a deep, unwilling sigh, finally glaring at the slime tree.
Okuyasu ultimately chose to abandon the attack, instead mimicking Jotaro's steps, walking backward lightly. He also casually picked up Koichi, his gait strange and comical, yet very quiet, without any sound.
But clearly, they wanted to leave peacefully, but the opponent would absolutely not allow it.
From somewhere in the sky, a large bird flew down and directly dropped a radio... and the radio had already started, with a rustling sound emanating from it... Instantly, the slime tree erupted in a commotion, and all seven slime spheres broke free from the tree, like seven ravenous beasts, rushing out.
They slammed themselves onto the ground, flattening themselves like springs compressed to their limit, then in an instant released all their power, transforming into seven sharp swords that directly pierced the radio in the sky.
They completely devoured the radio, leaving not a single hair, tearing it into a pile of fragments, which were absorbed into the seven slime spheres, beginning their digestion and growth.
The entire process took less than 0.5 seconds. Jotaro, during this time, had noticed it and wanted to destroy the radio making the sound, but his arms were too short to reach it.
Okuyasu could reach it and wanted to erase it, but as soon as he reacted, he saw the seven slime spheres directly devour the radio, making him involuntarily gulp.
'This speed, this power... My The Hand doesn't have this kind of speed. If I let them hit me once, I probably wouldn't even have a chance to heal.'
But that single gulp, the sound of swallowing, was inconsequential. However, that gulp caused his steps to falter. He accidentally stepped on a small pebble and stumbled backward... "Huh? I..."
"Star Platinum: The World!"
Jotaro, without a word, immediately froze time. At this moment, the seven slime spheres had already shot towards Okuyasu. Okuyasu was leaning backward, holding Koichi tightly in his arms, about to fall to the ground together.
The seven slime spheres attacked from different angles, barely 10 centimeters from Okuyasu's body. It could be said that if Jotaro had been even a moment later, Okuyasu would have been directly shattered and devoured.
"Phew, it seems there's no other way. I originally wanted to avoid disturbing this Stand and leave quickly, but now it seems I really have to act... Speaking of which, I came here to eliminate Dio's remnants."
Jotaro placed Josuke aside and walked towards the seven spheres in front of him. He carefully examined these slime spheres; they were bulging but elastic, looking like bouncy balls.
He had originally intended to observe here first, gather intelligence on the enemy Stand, and then formulate a plan.
After all, Stand battles are intelligence battles. As long as you know the enemy Stand's information, you've already won half the battle. If the opponent knows your information but you don't know theirs, then you're not far from losing.
Stands do have strengths and weaknesses, but more often, whether a Stand is powerful truly depends on whether it gets the first move and whether it's in the right scenario.
For example, this time Jotaro and the others' defeat, was it because he wasn't stronger than the opponent?
Not necessarily.
Jotaro, who can stop time.
Higashikata Josuke, who possesses Crazy Diamond that can restore anything, and after evolving, has shed past morals, lost its limitations, and can heal himself with a black Crazy Diamond.
Coupled with Nijimura Okuyasu, whose both hands can erase space, and Koichi Hirose, whose Echoes Three has undergone inexplicable changes—what a luxurious lineup.
It was even better than the team that fought Dio, with even greater strength, yet they were still at an absolute disadvantage. This was because the opponent had some general information about them, but they had no information about the opponent at all and were ambushed.
Jotaro looked at the transparent spheres, then at the large number of civilians around who had been turned into charcoal.
"So, this was a trap set for me? As expected, information that came so easily was indeed problematic. But I will definitely win, even if it's for this world."
He thought about the international news of the past few days, the tragic state of Morioh being attacked in various ways, Tomoko Higashikata murdered and abused, his wife, daughter, and parents who could fall into danger at any moment... Jotaro took a deep breath, an unprecedented immense pressure weighing on him, but this made him subtly feel that this was true tempering.
If it were a process without any danger, how could it be called tempering? Only true, immense pressure, even the responsibility of changing the entire world, coupled with powerful enemies and difficult paths, can forge true strength.
He must risk everything, advance by any means necessary, gamble everything he has for a sliver of hope, wager against fate, and triumph amidst countless difficulties.
Only then can he break the shackles of destiny, overcome predetermined fate, and open the path to heaven.
These days in Japan, being suppressed by the government, having loved ones killed by perverted enemies, being wantonly attacked yet unable to do anything against them, even sacrificing precious Arrows to leave.
All these various things gradually faded from his mind. Subtly, a realization arose in Jotaro's heart.
"Ah, this is the feeling from back then, just like when I came to eliminate Dio. And you water balls are really making me angry, just like a bunch of jellyfish!"
Jotaro muttered to himself, at the same time, veins bulged on his body, his muscles gradually tensed, a rush of hot blood surged, and Star Platinum behind him let out a timely roar.
"Ora!"