Dio—although he had yet to reveal his true power in the broadcast, his methods of handling subordinates and the aura he exuded from start to finish thoroughly showcased the terrifying side of his character.
---o---
[Light Curtain Comments]
[Otto Apocalypse: "Excellent management skills. In an incredibly short time, he made an 'enemy' submit willingly. Such charisma and cunning are rare throughout all of history." ]
[Yukino Yukinoshita: "It seems the answer is clear. He is, without a doubt, a villain. I don't understand why the light curtain would feature a villain, but... a person like him is absolutely unworthy of being compared to Elysia." ]
[Old Woman of the Flower Field: "Isn't this kind of pure evil more interesting? Elysia's story, as brilliant as a blooming flower, was certainly wonderful, but... this new protagonist's charisma and power to dominate others is equally captivating." ]
[Destroyer of Worlds: "A villain? No one ever said a villain can't be a protagonist. To the world, I suppose I'm a villain too. I am the Destroyer of Worlds, after all." ]
[An Ordinary Office Worker: "Did he just say... the power of a 'Stand'? I don't know what that is, but I feel like it has a very close connection to me." ]
[Charging Towards the Jeep: "Besides Kaiju, are there other creatures threatening humanity's survival?"]
As Dio's evil deeds unfolded, most viewers, excluding certain righteous defenders of morality, had come to accept that the broadcast was featuring a villain. After all, the Supreme God never said he would only feature good people.
However... as the video gradually revealed the world's setting, some members of the audience realized which world Dio had landed in.
This was especially true for the Demon Slayer Corps in the Demon Slayer world. If at first they could dismiss it as a coincidence, now they were absolutely certain.
Muzan Kibutsuji—the name of the nemesis engraved in the heart of every Demon Slayer. Feared by demons and humans alike, the first Demon King, the one and only for a thousand years.
[Wind Hashira, Sanemi Shinazugawa: "We haven't even dealt with the first Demon King, and now another one shows up? Heh, what did we do to deserve this? Is this some kind of punishment from the heavens?"]
[Stone Hashira, Gyomei Himejima: "Amitabha... Has the Demon Slayer Corps gained another demon to exterminate? And a Demon King on par with Muzan Kibutsuji at that..." ]
[Kagaya Ubuyashiki: "He said 'vampire'... is that different from what Muzan Kibutsuji is?"]
In the Demon Slayer world, Kagaya Ubuyashiki, the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps, sighed. Although the broadcast only showed a possibility, the thought that they might have to face such an existence in the future or in another world filled him with a deep sense of powerlessness.
Unlike Muzan Kibutsuji, this new enemy possessed an ambition far greater than Muzan's, and a charisma far more potent.
As the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps, he could clearly sense the outstanding leadership qualities in Dio, a charisma that far surpassed his own...
---o---
[Light Curtain]
Having successfully acquired his first follower in this other world, Dio smiled, evidently quite satisfied.
Meanwhile, after witnessing this mysterious newcomer tame the demon before her, the hope in the eyes of the mother clutching her daughter turned to despair once more.
She stared at Dio's body with utter terror. She was already dead, but no matter what... no matter what, she had to save her child.
The mother looked up at Dio, her body covered in wounds from the room's rotation, and pleaded in agony, "Lord... Lord Dio, is it? Please, I beg you. I don't care what happens to me, just please, let this child go. I'm begging you."
Dio turned his head to look at the kneeling mother. The benevolent woman, her face smeared with blood, now only wanted to save her daughter.
Shaking his head, Dio spoke as the mother's expression fell into despair, "You are not my food. The one to dispose of you should be my subordinate, Kyogai. I will not force him to spare you."
His simple words served to win over his subordinate while also fully expressing his own cruel and heartless nature.
That mother and daughter had excellent potential and highly nutritious blood. Perhaps Dio had no interest in women, but... turning Kyogai into a vampire had just made him weaker.
Dio was still in a weakened state; he had not yet fully fused with Jonathan's body. If he could consume these two women with their nutrient-rich blood, while he still wouldn't reach his peak condition, it would go a long way in replenishing the energy he had expended creating his new vampire.
Yet, even so, Dio chose not to eat these two "small loaves of bread." Under normal circumstances, he would grant the subordinates he acknowledged due respect and freedom. This was one of the reasons he was so revered by his followers.
"Lord Dio, you have given me a new life. Everything I have belongs to you. If eating these two will help your body recover or become stronger, please, do not hesitate. Your courtesy fills me with dread..."
Seeing Dio's attitude toward him, Kyogai became even more humble. This was a feeling he had never experienced under Muzan Kibutsuji.
That man... no, that foolish creature, only knew how to rule his subordinates through fear. He was completely incomparable to Lord Dio. One could never feel at ease by his side.
Though it had been less than an hour, Kyogai had already undergone a complete transformation. Now, even if Muzan Kibutsuji himself appeared before him, he would attack without hesitation if Lord Dio commanded it.
"Kyogai... Masaka. Do you eat humans for a boring reason like getting stronger or healing yourself?"
"Lo... Lord Dio." Kyogai, who had been immersed in the charm of Dio's villainy, was stunned by this question. Demons ate humans, mostly because they couldn't suppress their desire to do so.
He, on the other hand, had sought out people with rare blood to consume in an attempt to increase his strength and return to the Lower Ranks. Could it be... that this was wrong in Lord Dio's eyes?
"You still don't understand, Kyogai. Now that you have become a creature like myself, you should know your place."
Dio shook his head as if sighing at Kyogai's limited perspective. He looked up and explained:
"Indeed, eating humans can accelerate our recovery or increase our power, but to eat them for that purpose is foolish. And those who eat based on primal desire are even more pathetic."
"Pigs eat grass, humans eat pigs, and I eat humans... To prey on humans is to be the true ruler of all creation. To prey on humans is to stand at the apex of the food chain."
Dio expounded on the meaning of eating people. Just as humans needed to eat, it was the same for vampires.
While he did need to eat humans to recover, that was not the goal. It was like how injured humans eat nourishing food; for such food, their value in satiating hunger far exceeds their restorative effects.
"Lo... Lord Dio." Kyogai's eyes filled with worship. Demons don't eat people out of desire, nor to grow stronger or heal. They eat because of the food chain. Was this the man who stood at the top of the food chain? Was this the master he served?
Kyogai closed his eyes, as if to absorb Dio's words. The more he learned about this man, the more he was drawn in by his unique charm, like a poison from which one could not break free.
"Okay, Kyogai. I am pleased. Pleased that you can understand my words." Dio smiled, walking over to the mother who was tightly holding her child. He slowly knelt down and said:
"My subordinate has offered you to me. From what you said earlier, this is what you wished for."
Stroking the girl in the mother's arms, Dio smiled. "You are willing to offer your life to us, but you hope we will not harm your child. Is that correct?"
The mother trembled all over, tears streaming uncontrollably from her eyes. The small child couldn't understand her mother's shaking and just clung to her tightly.
"How moving," Dio said, standing up as if moved. He then pointed at the woman. "Very well. In honor of you being a great mother, I, and Kyogai, will absolutely not lay a hand on this child. I, Dio, swear it."
"However... you've seen Kyogai's current state. He has offered both his body and soul to me. Why don't you do the same? You and your daughter can become our companions. That would be a much happier outcome."
Extending the invitation once more, Dio didn't even give the woman a proper look, busying himself with fiddling with his fingernails.
"Please, spare my child's life," the mother begged bitterly. She was human, how could she choose to become a demon? She only wanted her child to grow up healthy and happy.
"Fine, fine." Dio waved his hand dismissively. He extended a finger and turned the mother into a mindless zombie.
Then, before the little girl's despairing and horrified eyes, her mother, screaming "My child!", devoured the daughter in her arms.
"I did say that neither Kyogai nor I would lay a hand on her. The one who killed your child... was you, her mother."
Fiddling with his fingernails, Dio adopted an air of nonchalance. While they would have been decent nourishment, Dio was a picky vampire.
Sighing, Dio turned to the loyal Kyogai at his side and said, "This is the sorrow of one's own choices. It's a good thing you made the right one."
Kyogai lowered his head, silently acknowledging his master's words.
---o---
Fury... Absolute fury.
If the previous comments had merely confirmed Dio's status as a villain and his villainous actions, then his latest act ignited a deep-seated rage in the audience outside the light curtain.
Demon Slayer World—
[Wind Hashira, Sanemi Shinazugawa: "DIO!!!"]
An enraged roar echoed through the Hashira Meeting. Sanemi's fists were clenched so tightly they drew blood. It was such a similar scene. His own loving mother... after being turned into a demon, had devoured several of her own children.
Seeing such a scene again, he could no longer contain himself, even showing such disrespect before his most esteemed master. But... no one, not even their master, tried to stop him. Instead, their faces were all ashen.
To witness such a scene firsthand... no human could ever accept it.
"Does that monster have no shred of compassion? Why... why would he do something so cruel?" The Insect Hashira, Shinobu Kocho, trembled, her usual gentle demeanor unable to contain the rage in her heart.
"Ah! Cruel and merciless! Is this what a villain is? I will kill Dio! No matter the cost, I will definitely kill Dio!" A powerful, resonant voice rang out. The Flame Hashira, Kyojuro Rengoku, spoke with anger and determination.
Following the Flame Hashira's declaration, all the other Hashira expressed their rage at Dio's actions and their resolve to kill him. Spurred on by the video, they would likely train with reckless abandon from now on.
After all, in the eyes of the Nine Hashira, Dio was likely a Demon King on the same level as Muzan Kibutsuji. Even if he hadn't recovered his full strength, his power was definitely at the level of an Upper Rank.
And to this day, the Demon Slayer Corps had never once defeated an Upper Rank...
---o---
[Light Curtain Comments]
[Robert E. O. Speedwagon: "Of course... of course it's like this! In all my life, I've never seen such scum. It has nothing to do with his upbringing or anything else. That man, Dio, is a bad seed by nature. He is a natural-born villain!"]
[Will Anthonio Zeppeli: "What overwhelming evil! What cruel and merciless methods! He has become a tyrannical emperor. Dio... after stealing the body of his adoptive brother, Jonathan, he has become even stronger and more evil!"]
[Fantasiyland's Public Security Officer: "Wait, adoptive brother? So that rival Jonathan, whose body Dio stole, was his brother?"]
[Otto Apocalypse: "He would even harm a family member he lived with. Dio's evil seems to have no bottom." ]
[Jonathan Joestar: "DIO! I never imagined you would have fallen to such a degree! I will not give you another chance to take my body! I will, I absolutely will, cut you down with my Hamon!"]
[Father Pucci: "Dio, my dearest friend, you are the King of Kings. Whatever you do, I will support you unconditionally. I revere you as I revere God." ]
---o---
Author's Note:
PS: After listening to opinions from the reader group chat, the commentators in the light curtain comments were getting a bit repetitive. I will be adding characters from other works, and some of them will be referred to by well-known titles.