Invincible. This was invincibility in its truest sense.
Kars had become completely and utterly invincible. There was no longer any being in this world that could kill him.
By overcoming his weakness to the sun, Kars had thoroughly transcended all life, becoming a perfect being. After all, every single method of combat against demons, vampires, and Pillar Men had relied on the sun.
Hamon was the power of the sun. The Sun Breathing was related to the sun. The Demon Slayer Corps' Nichirin Blades were forged from ore that had absorbed sunlight.
Without the sun as a weakness, even the weakest demon would become an incredibly difficult enemy to kill, let alone a being as powerful as Kars.
Of course, the power of the Ultimate Lifeform was not merely immunity to the sun. If that were all, it would be a discredit to the title.
As is widely known, a human fetus, in just ten months within the mother's womb, completes the metamorphic process that took life on Earth nine hundred million years to achieve. This entire series of changes comes from the memory stored within our genetic code.
After becoming the Ultimate Lifeform, the cells within Kars's body also contained the genetic information recording the entire evolutionary process of life. Not only that, but his bones could be broken down at a cellular level, allowing any part of his body to transform into any living creature. The Ultimate Lifeform Kars now possessed all the abilities of every living thing on Earth.
Furthermore, Kars could function for a year without food or drink. He required no sleep, nor did he need to procreate. The lower a creature is on the evolutionary ladder, the higher its mortality rate, and thus the more offspring it produces. A completely evolved being has no need for descendants or companions. After all, there is only room for one at the pinnacle.
---o---
Light Curtain Barrage—
Upon learning the true nature of the so-called Ultimate Lifeform, the audience was completely stunned. If the light curtain's explanation was not an exaggeration, then this Kars was truly immortal.
Whether it was Hamon, Stands, Breathing Styles, or Nichirin Blades, none of them would have any effect on him.
The Dignified Master of the Scarlet Devil Mansion: "An Ultimate Lifeform that has conquered the sun... a completely invincible being. Dammit... Just conquering the sun is something no vampire has ever been able to do."
In the Scarlet Devil Mansion of Gensokyo, Remilia Scarlet stared unblinkingly at the Ultimate Lifeform on the screen. When she saw Kars turn his back to the sun, she was truly shocked.
To evolve from a creature of darkness that feared the sun to a higher plane of existence... just this one feat was something very few beings in the entire multiverse could accomplish.
Yukino Yukinoshita: "This is impossible... I can't think of any way for JoJo and the others to defeat Kars."
In the Service Club room, Yukino Yukinoshita racked her brain but could come up with no solution to defeat such a creature. If Kars were to appear in their world, it would be a catastrophe of catastrophes.
The Overseer of Schicksal: "The Ultimate Lifeform, reigning over all living things. In other words... from a biological perspective, Kars is now completely invincible. To defeat him, one must transcend the biological."
As one of the rarest intellects in the multiverse, Otto had pinpointed the only way to defeat the Ultimate Lifeform in a single sentence. But even so... transcending biology was by no means as simple as it sounded. At least, with the power level of the Demon Slayer world and the strength of the two JoJos, defeating Kars was virtually impossible.
---o---
On-screen—
Kars bathed in the sunlight, his expression one of unprecedented euphoria. The ideal he had pursued for tens of thousands of years had finally become a reality!
Feeling the immense power surging within his body, Kars couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"Heh heh ha ha ha... The so-called Ultimate Being possesses the abilities of all creatures. It is the sum of all life."
"And... it's so beautiful. Look at this brilliant light. It's more beautiful than anything I have ever seen. I have finally... I have finally conquered the sun!! Heh heh ha ha ha!!!"
Kars laughed without restraint, celebrating his rebirth. Under the sunlight, his body, as beautiful as an ancient Greek sculpture, radiated a divine quality. The Kars of now was like a god walking the earth.
As the Ultimate Lifeform, he stood above all living things, naturally making him no different from a deity.
"No... that... that thing is invincible now. It has no weaknesses. I'm afraid our Breathing Styles and Nichirin Blades won't work either."
"Immortal and ageless... an undying body. No one can defeat him. We humans can only become his food and march toward our doom."
The ordinary Demon Slayers were now completely terrified, on the verge of a total breakdown.
The fighting spirit in their eyes had vanished the moment Kars stood in the sunlight, replaced only by the fear and despair of soon becoming prey.
There was no way out. A demon that had overcome its weakness to the sun could not be defeated. Kars had become the Ultimate Lifeform. He could no longer be beaten.
"Hey... Gramps... Joseph. Do you have any way to beat this guy?"
Even someone as formidable as Kujo Jotaro was now covered in a cold sweat, his eyes locked on Kars. Star Platinum clenched its fists, as if that was the only way to give Jotaro some sense of security.
Although the Kars before him was not a Stand user, the aura he emitted had already told Jotaro that Kars's physical strength alone surpassed that of most Stands. This was the reason for Jotaro's unending cold sweat.
"Ah... if I had to say, there is one more way. Yes... there is only one way," Joseph said grimly, his tone carrying an unprecedented seriousness.
"Mr. Joestar?"
"Gramps..."
Joseph's words captured the attention of both the Demon Slayer Corps and Kujo Jotaro. Could it be that Joseph really had a way to defeat the now-invincible Ultimate Lifeform?
Kujo Jotaro couldn't afford to think about it too much now; he could only place his hopes in Joseph.
After all... this Ultimate Lifeform called Kars was supposed to be his grandfather's defeated foe. Although he didn't know what method the old man had originally used to beat Kars, if he had a plan, then Jotaro would trust him without reservation!
Jotaro resolved himself to assist Joseph in defeating Kars in the coming battle. Joseph simply swept his gaze over the surrounding people with an incredibly determined look, then fixed his eyes back on Kars.
"That's right. Now I have no choice but to use my trump card. This is a trump card that can only be used in the most desperate of situations!"
"A trump card?" So it was true. Joseph still had a hidden ace up his sleeve. At this moment, everyone, including the audience outside the light curtain, watched with bated breath, waiting for Joseph's spectacular comeback.
"Everyone, listen up! Don't stop until you're out of breath!" Joseph's tone was grave as he gave instructions. Though they didn't know what he was planning, seeing the usually flippant Joseph with such an expression made everyone's heart leap into their throats as they awaited his next words.
A smile appeared on Joseph's face. He then activated Hermit Purple, which shot toward the Red Stone on the ground with the speed of lightning.
With the pull of Hamon, and with Kars offering no resistance, the Red Stone landed easily in his hand.
The next moment, just as everyone was bracing for a fight, Joseph spun around, turned his back to Kars, and shouted his classic line: "Nigerundayo~~"
Pumping his legs, Joseph took off like a hundred-meter sprinter, his form like that of a track and field athlete as he ran in the opposite direction of Kars, leaving a crowd of utterly dumbfounded people in his wake!
"Mr.... Mr. Joestar!!!"
The shouts of the Demon Slayer Corps members echoed behind him, but Joseph showed no signs of stopping. Instead, his legs moved faster and faster, as if he were running for his life.
"Hahaha, what a pathetic sight. But it no longer matters what happens to a Hamon warrior. Still, I must settle things with you."
As he spoke, eagle-like feathers sprouted from Kars's arms, and his hands transformed into talons as he soared into the sky.
"This is for Wamuu and Esidisi, and also to celebrate my, Kars's, new birth!"
"JoJo, I will kill you right now, no matter what!!"
The next moment, the eagle spread its wings and shot toward Joseph like an arrow.
His feathers rained down like projectiles, striking at Joseph on the ground below.
Joseph was not to be outdone, dodging attack after attack with nimble footwork. But as time passed, the distance between him and Kars grew shorter and shorter.
After all, flying was much faster than running. What's more, Kars had perfectly inherited the flight speed of an eagle, and had even surpassed it.
"Just as I thought. This guy hates me because his two friends died. So his real target is only me."
"He's chasing me now because he has to kill me. He has to kill me with his own hands. That will be the opening ceremony for his new life."
While dodging the feather-arrows, Joseph's mind raced. Every time he ran, it was not out of fear or despair, but to seek an opportunity in a desperate situation.
This time was no different. As long as Joseph was alive, Kars's target would always be him alone. This meant that the Demon Slayers and Kujo Jotaro, who remained behind, would be safe.
Where there's a will, there's a way. Although Kars was practically invincible now, Joseph still believed he could be defeated.
"The Ultimate Lifeform possesses the traits of all living things. In other words, no living thing can defeat him?"
"Then something that isn't a living thing should do the trick!"
With this idea in mind, Joseph's Hermit Purple reappeared. Under his control, it acted like Spider-Man's webs or an Omni-Directional Mobility Gear, swinging Joseph's body through the air.
"Come on, Kars! Chase me! I, Joseph Joestar, will never die at your hands!"
He changed direction. Thankfully, it wasn't far. With Hermit Purple's stamina, he should be able to make it there!
Joseph's gaze was fixed on a mountain range in the distance. That mountain was... Japan's iconic and symbolic peak—Mount Fuji!
"Hmph. Good thing that even though I skipped class, my grades weren't bad. Mount Fuji is Japan's largest active volcano. The magma inside is extremely active. No living creature, no matter what it is, can survive in there! Not even the Ultimate Lifeform!"
Magma was the most powerful energy on Earth. To kill Kars with magma—this was Joseph's plan!
---o---
Could the Ultimate Lifeform be killed by magma?
Seeing this, the audience, while marveling at Joseph's brilliant reaction time and resolve, also felt a sense of worry for his plan.
Detective Conan: "Theoretically, this plan has a high chance of success. No currently known organism can survive in magma."
That may be so, but Conan didn't hold out much hope. It wasn't about the plan itself, but about how Joseph intended to get Kars into the magma.
Kars wasn't an idiot. With the intense heat of the magma, there was no way he would risk getting close.
Utaha Kasumigaoka: "Is Joseph going to fight Kars alone? That's way too dangerous! Where's Kujo Jotaro? Hurry up and do something with your invincible Star Platinum!"
Yukino Yukinoshita: "It's useless. Setting aside the fact that Star Platinum can't even reach Kars in the sky, even if it could, it wouldn't be able to break through his defenses."
Noriaki Kakyoin: "Mr. Joestar, you fought against such a terrifying opponent when you were young? And without a Stand, no less."
In the Stardust Crusaders timeline, Noriaki Kakyoin's respect for Joseph deepened. The power gap was simply too immense. If it were him, he would have likely become a meal for Kars by now.
"But... Mr. Joestar, if Kars is so terrifying, how did you manage to defeat him with only Hamon and no Stand?"
Looking questioningly at Joseph, who was tinkering with a car nearby, Kakyoin's eyes were filled with curiosity. He really wanted to know how Joseph had saved the world back then.
"Well, about that..." Rubbing his nose, the elderly Joseph suddenly looked a bit awkward. Thinking back, he didn't really know how he had beaten Kars either.
All he could say was that he didn't know what happened. Kars was just... defeated, sent into space, never to return.
"Ahem! Kakyoin, you just need to keep watching. The situation now is quite different from what happened back then, but if it's me, Kars is destined to lose!"
--
Author's PS:
I have an idea for Volume 4. Tentatively, it will be Guinaifen and FGO 1.6, the Divine Realm of the Round Table.