Under the shocked, mournful, and bewildered gazes of Higashikata Josuke, Nijimura Okuyasu, and Koichi Hirose, Kujo Jotaro, lying amidst the debris, began to undergo an incredible transformation.
There was no pain, no struggle; his expression was unusually calm, even carrying a hint of relief and hope.
A warm and dazzling golden light emanated from within him, making his entire being seem transparent. His clothes ignited with golden flames, and beneath the flames, his body was incinerated little by little.
Beneath the flames, his entire body was completely purified, like a golden man, with the meridians inside him shining and pulsating under the golden light.
The light was initially faint, like the first hint of dawn, but it quickly grew strong and pure, as if his entire being was transforming from within into a humanoid mass of light.
His flesh and bones gradually became energy in this light. The stars in the sky twinkled like countless eyes, or like countless isolated islands on a vast, ethereal ocean, while the bright moon seemed to be the ultimate destination.
The sky, where the dark clouds had dispersed, had surprisingly turned to night. The stars in the sky and the golden light emanating from Jotaro's body reflected each other. Streaks of starlight converged in the sky like flowing water, eventually pouring onto Jotaro.
Under the washing of the river of starlight, Jotaro's physical body continuously changed. The Weather Forecast disc automatically jumped out, rolled a circle on the ground, and then stopped steadily at Koichi's feet.
"Jotaro!"
Josuke couldn't help but take a step forward. He could feel Jotaro's life force weakening little by little, on the verge of dying at any moment, like a tiny spark in a strong wind.
He wanted to use the power of Crazy Diamond to "repair" him, but found himself unable to pinpoint any "damage" that needed repairing. Jotaro was not being injured or perishing; rather, he was undergoing a fundamental sublimation and metamorphosis.
It was like a caterpillar transforming into a butterfly; inside the chrysalis, the caterpillar seems no different from dead, but it is not actually dead.
"Don't come over, Josuke."
Jotaro's voice resonated directly in the three men's minds, calm and firm, "This is my choice, and it is the necessary path to the 'final destination.'
Josuke, I originally intended to look after you like your father, but it seems I can no longer do so. Instead, I need you to see me through this final journey. Josuke, you've grown up; walk this last path on your own."
The golden light grew brighter and brighter, gradually engulfing Jotaro's form completely. The meridians within his body also became increasingly translucent, beginning to climb and stretch upwards against the starlight river, emitting a white light.
The light was not dazzling; instead, it carried a calming warmth. The light began to contract and condense, no longer humanoid, but converging towards Jotaro's chest, turning the meridians into a small white tree.
And Jotaro's physical body, like the soil for the small tree, was absorbed for its nutrients little by little, turning into a pool of black substance, while the small tree grew robustly.
Finally, when the starlight dissipated, above the debris, all the light receded, leaving only that one small white tree, from which hung a golden, round fruit. In Josuke's eyes, the fruit was perfectly aligned with the moon, the two overlapping, like an eye watching him.
This fruit was about the size of a fist, exuding a warm and profound golden luster throughout, with what seemed like stars slowly rotating within it.
It did not possess the strangeness and ominousness of the Green Baby; instead, it radiated a sacred, resolute, and hopeful aura. It also contained life, but without the signs of birth like the Green Baby.
"This is... Jotaro..." Okuyasu murmured, his eyes filled with shock and sorrow.
Koichi also stared blankly at the golden fruit, the struggle on his face seemingly reaching its peak. The Weather Forecast disc had quietly landed in his hand.
Higashikata Josuke looked at the golden fruit, and tears finally streamed down his face.
But he knew this was not the time to wallow in sorrow. Jotaro had condensed his last strength and hope into this fruit, entrusting it to him.
He wiped away his tears, his gaze becoming more resolute than ever. He walked step by step towards the golden fruit, Jotaro's last words echoing in his mind, "Believe in yourself... your inner strength is equally powerful..."
"Jotaro... no, Jotaro..."
Josuke whispered, extending his hand, "Your will, I shall inherit! I will surely complete the final trial!"
He walked step by step towards the golden fruit, but he felt a terrifying heat, a heat that seemed to burn away his life, and this heat acted directly upon his soul.
As if to incinerate everything.
Not only him, but even Koichi Hirose and Nijimura Okuyasu behind him felt an unbearable heat, sweating profusely, their perspiration flowing like rain.
Josuke's expression, however, was calm. He had anticipated this. He recited the fourteen secret phrases he had memorized for an unknown length of time.
"Spiral Labyrinth!"
This symbolized Jotaro's life, a rotation of his struggle against evil.
The scorching aura around him instantly vanished; everything seemed to return to normal, but Koichi Hirose and Okuyasu could still feel the heat and couldn't help but retreat.
Higashikata Josuke continued walking and reciting as if he felt nothing, "White Dolphin."
This represented Jotaro's character of constantly moving forward, bravely like a dolphin, and also symbolized his progress on the path forcefully pushed by destiny, his growth.
"Destiny Road."
"Cactus Tower."
The golden fruit stirred, as if rotating to point at him. Higashikata Josuke felt a surge from his bloodline, and his heart became incredibly excited.
Yet he remained calm and continued to speak.
"White Dolphin."
"Star Pilgrimage."
"White Dolphin."
"Kin."
"Resolve!"
"Inheritance!"
When Higashikata Josuke uttered these words, the golden fruit exploded, revealing a scorching fireball that emitted an incredibly warm golden light, like a faintly pulsating heart.
It was constantly beating!
"Hydrangea!"
"White Dolphin!"
"Justice Point!"
"Golden Spirit..."
When Higashikata Josuke said these words, the golden fireball fiercely rushed towards him!!!
A golden radiance, more dazzling than the sun, suddenly erupted, illuminating the entire corroded ruins as if it were broad daylight!
A warm, vast, yet imbued with Jotaro's unique resilient will, torrent of energy instantly surged into Josuke's body, completely merging with Higashikata Josuke.
This energy did not bring pain; instead, it was like a long-awaited rain, quickly nourishing and repairing his exhausted body and soul.
He felt every cell of his body cheering, resonating and merging with this co-originating yet higher-level energy. His Stand appeared behind him, and endless light emanated from his Stand.
It was as if countless golden light swords were plunged into his Stand, constantly glowing. Crazy Diamond and Star Platinum completely overlapped, transforming under the endless golden light... Sorry, the update is late again, I was arguing with someone on Tieba for a long time.