The Pla… Platinum Vacuum Cleaner?
Star Platinum's move of directly inhaling all the poison into its own body thoroughly shocked the audience outside the screen.
Mainly, they had never imagined that the purely power-type Stand, Star Platinum, could be used in such a way.
So this is how you Stand users operate, huh? They had originally thought Star Platinum lacked a special ability like DIO's time stop, but now they realized… it seemed Star Platinum had simply not yet fully developed its own abilities.
That lung capacity was certainly not something an ordinary Stand could possess. Besides, if Jotaro couldn't resist the poison, could Star Platinum…?
---o---
Light Curtain Commentary—
[Josuke Higashikata]: I knew it! Mr. Jotaro's Star Platinum is invincible! How could mere poison possibly harm Mr. Jotaro?
[Koichi Hirose]: As expected of Mr. Jotaro! He easily accomplishes things we could never do. He's so admirable!
[Father Pucci]: DIO was right. The Joestar family has a talent for creating miracles. They must never be underestimated.
[Shinobu Kocho]:Phew. I almost made an even bigger mistake. Please, defeat the me in that video quickly! Don't hesitate, Jotaro, hurry up and defeat that version of me!
[Jonathan Joestar]: Miss Shinobu, please rest assured. Although Jotaro may look like a delinquent, his eyes still shine with a Golden Spirit. He will definitely save you. I believe… our Joestar family, generation after generation, are all true gentlemen!
---o---
On the Light Curtain—
The dust settled. Jotaro was panting heavily as he faced Shinobu. As for Kanao… she had long since collapsed from the double blow of the poison and the mental shock.
"Shinobu Kocho… right? Your poison mist has been broken by my Stand. The one who will pass judgment on you is my Stand!"
With those words, Jotaro took a step forward!
That single small step was enough to make beads of cold sweat run down Shinobu's face. She had not forgotten DIO's words.
Once she entered Star Platinum's range, not even Lord DIO himself could save her.
Knowing this full well, Shinobu shot backward like a startled cat, instantly creating a large distance between herself and Jotaro once more.
Her wary posture was like that of a watchdog staring down a thief about to break into its master's house.
"Yare yare. Am I really that scary to you? It's a pain, but to be honest, I'm actually quite popular with the girls at school."
Adjusting the brim of his hat, Jotaro feigned a relaxed demeanor. Although the poison he had inhaled was still in his system, causing his body to feel numb, he had to act as if it had no effect on him at all.
Since Shinobu was unwilling to step into Star Platinum's range no matter what, Jotaro naturally wouldn't try to force her.
He knew that while Star Platinum was only a close-range power-type Stand, it possessed something that other Stands lacked.
That was… its terrifying A-rank in precision. With that level of precision, he didn't need to get close to deal with a non-Stand user like Shinobu.
"If that's all you've got, then obediently accept your judgment!" Jotaro said, his face impassive.
But behind him, his Stand had already drawn the sword from the waist of the collapsed Kanao.
At this moment, Shinobu's attention was completely focused on Jotaro. Coupled with the fact that she was not a Stand user and couldn't see the Stand, she naturally failed to notice Star Platinum's actions.
I can't kill this woman directly. I have to hit her neck with the sword's pommel, control the force, and knock her out. That will be enough to win.
With this thought, the A-rank precision Star Platinum prepared to throw.
However, just at that moment, the scene before them suddenly made Star Platinum halt its actions.
"What… is this." Jotaro clenched his fist, staring at the scene before him. "You bastard, Shinobu!"
As he spoke, Star Platinum quietly retracted the sword it was about to throw.
Before Shinobu now stood three small girls, along with a young woman who was completely unconscious.
To prevent any trouble, the three girls had been drugged and were now disoriented, but the tear stains and fear on their faces were still faintly visible.
"Jotaro Kujo! Lord DIO's fated enemy! If you dare take one more step, or make any other move, I will kill these three girls without a moment's hesitation!"
Leaving these women alive had been the right move. Shinobu spoke with an incredibly leisurely expression. "Afraid to make a move? Jotaro, if you don't dare, then kill yourself right now! Use a sword, or your Stand, and cut off your own head for me!"
"You're one move short, Jotaro," Shinobu said, pointing a finger at him. "This is all your fault, Jotaro!"
"This is your responsibility! It's all because of you! If you had just obediently inhaled the poison from the start and let me kill you, nothing would have happened to these people."
Despicable! Shameless! Disgusting!
The audience watching this scene on the light curtain began cursing the Shinobu in the video. Although they knew she was being controlled, they didn't care right now. All they knew was that the current Shinobu was a despicable and shameless villain!
---o---
Light Curtain Commentary—
[Shokuhou Misaki]: How utterly despicable. It seems I misunderstood Jotaro at first. Compared to this Shinobu, he's a saint!
[Misaka Mikoto]: I can't take it anymore! Using children as human shields? That's unforgivable! I really want to hit her with a Railgun!!!
In the world of A Certain Magical Index, within Academy City, the two Level 5 espers of Tokiwadai reached a rare consensus, speaking out in indignation.
[Shinobu Kocho]: It's alright, don't mind me. Please, don't hold back. Right now, I can't stop myself from wanting to go in there and kill myself either.
Using the three little girls to threaten Jotaro… Shinobu was currently filled with rage, yet she was powerless. She could only place her hopes in the Jotaro on the screen.
[Saber]: That Shinobu's actions in the video have completely deviated from the spirit of chivalry! It is absolutely unforgivable!
---o---
On the Light Curtain—
"Still want to struggle? How pathetic, Jotaro." Shinobu looked at Jotaro, whose face had completely darkened at her words, and spoke calmly, "Well then, make your choice, Jotaro. Will you sacrifice yourself to save these three children, or will you abandon these lives to get closer to me!"
Hearing this, Jotaro calmed his emotions and shifted his gaze to Shinobu, speaking as if to himself, "I, Jotaro Kujo, have always been labeled a delinquent by others."
"When I fight, I hit especially hard. There are still people in the hospital who haven't been discharged."
"A worthless, pretentious teacher I taught a lesson to still hasn't been able to return to school."
"When a restaurant's food isn't worth the price, I don't pay. Things like that are common."
The familiar litany was recited once more by Jotaro Kujo. This man, initially labeled a delinquent by the audience, was now radiating the light of the Golden Spirit.
"BUT!" His tone shifted sharply. "Even a guy like me can recognize sickening evil when I see it!"
"Evil is when you use the weak for your own gain and crush them underfoot!"
"Especially when it comes to women and children!"
As his voice fell, Jotaro Kujo stared intently at Shinobu and pointed at her, his voice filled with indignation. "What you're doing is exactly that!"
"Being controlled by DIO, you've lost all human decency and shame! To do such a thing to your own friends, even to your own little sister…" He paused for a moment, then raised his hand and adjusted the brim of his hat, before declaring as if passing judgment:
"Therefore, I will be the one to pull you back before you can make another mistake!"
They were fired up! Jotaro's words ignited the hearts of the audience. This was more hype than Boruto! This speech perfectly encapsulated Jotaro's charisma.
Now… not a single person in the audience would call Jotaro a punk again. A surging fighting spirit boiled in the heart of every viewer.
And at the same time, the story on the light curtain continued!
Hearing Jotaro's words, Shinobu showed no reaction other than a look of disdain. "Evil? No, you're wrong. Evil is the loser. Justice is the winner. That is an immutable truth!"
Scoffing at Jotaro's words, Shinobu continued, "The process doesn't matter, only the result. As long as I am the one who wins in the end, that's all that matters. I am justice!"
"Since you're unwilling to die, I'll start by killing her!" As Shinobu's voice fell, she raised her Nichirin Blade high, about to bring it down on the wide-eyed girl without hesitation.
But in that instant, Star Platinum, which had been behind Jotaro, with incredible speed and at a perfect angle—
The blade from Kanao's waist flew from its scabbard, striking Shinobu's raised Nichirin Blade. The immense force sent her sword flying, clattering to the ground nearby!
"What? That's impossible!" Shinobu gasped, her face a mask of disbelief.
But Jotaro's attack wasn't over. While Shinobu's attention was drawn to her dislodged sword, Star Platinum shielded Jotaro with one hand and powerfully pushed off the ground with its feet.
In the next moment, Jotaro launched himself into the air and kicked Shinobu, sending her flying to a position far away from the children.
Pulling the three little girls behind him, Jotaro Kujo pointed a single finger at Shinobu and declared in a deep voice, "The winner has been decided. The loser… is you!"
As his voice fell, Star Platinum surged forward. Because Shinobu was being controlled, Jotaro didn't strike a heavy blow; he just needed to put her to sleep for a while.
Star Platinum grabbed Shinobu's head and began to shake it violently. "ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA… ORA!!"
With a final roar, Star Platinum formed a knife-hand and chopped down hard on the back of Shinobu's neck. Then, it tossed her aside.
Before her disbelieving eyes, Shinobu, whose brain felt like it had been rattled loose, finally collapsed to the ground, completely unconscious.
"Cough, cough—" Jotaro coughed twice. He wasn't in good shape either. He had relied on a surge of anger, combined with Shinobu's diverted attention, to have Star Platinum launch him forward.
The poison in Jotaro's body had not actually been eliminated. To completely cure it, he would need the help of the very woman lying before him.
Forcing his body to move, Jotaro walked over to the unconscious Shinobu, relying on sheer willpower.
He skillfully brushed aside the hair on her forehead. And there, a slightly disgusting, fleshy flower came into view.
This spider-like piece of flesh was the proof of DIO's control over Shinobu!
The Flesh Bud. Like an army serving a dictator, or cultists serving their leader, it was this that continuously controlled Shinobu's body and mind, even influencing her values and temperament to such a great extent.
Normally, this kind of Flesh Bud could not be removed. The brain is an extremely sensitive area, and DIO's Flesh Bud was a living entity. Even with surgery, removing it would be incredibly difficult.
But… Jotaro was different. Star Platinum's precision was greater than that of the most well-equipped, advanced operating room. It could clearly see a mosquito from four kilometers away.
Commanding his Stand, Jotaro reached for the Flesh Bud without hesitation. Almost instantly, the previously motionless Bud sprouted a tentacle and pierced Jotaro's arm.
At a visible speed, it began to snake its way toward Jotaro's brain.
Ignoring the tentacle completely, Jotaro focused on the task at hand.
Just as the tentacle was about to invade his body, Star Platinum, with its unparalleled and powerful precision, cleanly extracted the Flesh Bud from Shinobu's head.
It then pulled out the part of the Bud that had penetrated its own body. Throughout the entire process, Jotaro remained calm, his hand not even trembling once.
After being exposed to the sunlight, the Flesh Bud quickly turned to dust and vanished. Jotaro, finally succumbing to the paralysis from the poison, collapsed heavily to the ground.