Chapter 18: The Noble Hierophant
The ability of [Magician's Red] is to control fire and heat. Consequently, it can generate high temperatures at will and produce flames for combat.
However, controlling and creating fire is by no means the limit of its power.
If it were, Avdol wouldn't have been able to develop the "Life Detector"—a skill that senses Stand energy—based on the Stand's inherent characteristics. Rather, as the description implies, controlling fire is merely the most basic application. Its true essence is the manipulation of thermal energy.
In many instances, even when the Stand blasts a crater into the earth large enough to fit two people—with an instantaneous temperature calculated by AI to exceed 20,000°C—Avdol can ensure that the pit retains zero residual heat. There are no blinding flashes, no air fuel explosions, and no splattering of combustibles—none of the collateral effects typical of high-heat combustion.
Since Avdol can control thermal energy to cool objects, could he, like [White Album], create ice by lowering the temperature?
Think of it like an arc igniter: if you replace the surrounding air with flowing helium, the heat of the ignited flame is carried away by the gas. In the process of cooling that helium, the object being "burned" by the flame actually freezes. Following this principle, [Magician's Red]—which can actively control heat without needing helium as a medium—can use its "flames" to absorb thermal energy, causing the ambient temperature to plummet.
This is— —Zero Point Breakthrough: Revised!
Shirou Emiya had genuinely considered using that name. However, since this was the world of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, he ultimately settled on [Magician's Red: White Album], a name more fitting for the local style.
"With this, both the safety of the hostage and the neutralization of the enemy Stand users are complete."
Walking ahead down the frozen corridor, Shirou glanced at [Tower of Gray], which had been frozen into a block and fallen from the air. Ignoring it, he shrugged toward Jotaro and the others. "The only issue is that because the pilot was too close to the enemy Stand users, he's likely frozen as well.
Though Avdol and I intentionally tried to focus the freezing on the enemy Stands—using the shared damage to distinguish friend from foe—the pilot's proximity means he inevitably got caught in the crossfire. Once Avdol and I thaw him out, Mr. Joestar, please contact the SPW Foundation so he can be rushed to a hospital for a check-up once we land in Egypt."
As for why they didn't land immediately? Beyond the fact that the frostbite wasn't life-threatening and would soon be alleviated, there was the matter of the ambush itself. Having
been targeted despite their precautions, Jotaro and the others now truly realized how convenient it was for Stand users that ordinary people couldn't see them.
If they landed now, could they prevent more of DIO's assassins from slipping in? Rather than risking a cycle of casualties that would delay their arrival, it was better to reach Egypt at top speed to minimize further risk. The choice wasn't complicated.
In fact, Jotaro's reaction was even simpler. He used [Star Platinum] to smash the cockpit door open to rescue the frozen pilot.
However...
"...No, wait! The headcount is wrong! The person is wrong!!"
Shirou, following Jotaro into the cockpit, was hit first by the scent of blood. He squinted as if something was off, then his eyes widened. He shouted at the fastest speed he could muster: "Kakyoin! The user of [Hierophant Green] isn't here! He wasn't frozen!"
The user of [Tower of Gray] was a balding old man. Due to the difference between 2D and reality—and the lack of "Araki lines" in real life—Shirou hadn't described the physical appearances of DIO's subordinates, only their Stands.
He had recognized Jotaro in the cell not by his face, but by the iconic school uniform with the massive gold chain. If Jotaro had changed clothes, Shirou might not have identified him so quickly.
Thus, when there were only two people frozen in the cockpit—the balding old man Gray Fly and a black-haired man—others might have guessed they simply didn't have a hostage. But for Shirou, it was easy to see that the man with Gray Fly was absolutely not the pink-haired Noriaki Kakyoin!
Kakyoin had somehow escaped the control of [Magician's Red: White Album] ahead of time!?
"Exposed so quickly?"
A voice came from behind them. Though the speaker wore a pilot's uniform used for infiltration instead of the familiar green student attire, the pink hair and the presence of [Hierophant Green] proved his identity.
"[Tower of Gray] was right; you are a sharp one. But no matter how sharp you are, it's useless now!"
Kakyoin was covered in blood. Escaping the ice clearly hadn't been easy. Yet, the injury didn't dampen his shout: "You are all destined to fall into hell along with this plane from 10,000 meters up!
Take this, Joestar! This is my final [Emerald Splash]!!"