Chapter 21: Quickly Use the Invincible [Hermit Purple] to Think of a Way
"If we don't hurry, Mr. Joestar, your record for plane crashes is about to be refreshed for the second time."
"..."
Had Shirou Emiya just accidentally let slip something very serious?
Two crash records?
Refreshed?
"..."
What kind of niche terminology was this?
Not only did Jotaro Kujo close his mouth before he could speak, but even Avdol looked at Joseph with a face full of astonishment. Including this time, Joseph would have three plane crash records—how exactly had he survived so many aviation disasters?
"Actually, I'm not that incredible," Joseph said, scratching his cheek sheepishly.
"Besides, even I have only ever flown propeller planes. A jet like this—especially one where even the elevator controls are gone—I actually don't know how to make it land safely.
Instead of worrying about that, I think finding parachutes to bail out would be a better idea."
At this point, Joseph pointed his thumb at himself with pride: "Don't worry, everyone! When it comes to the experience of parachuting from an out-of-control plane, I am definitely well-equipped!"
All right.
This was clearly not a joke. Seeing Joseph's proud expression, devoid of even a shred of self-awareness, Jotaro silently made a firm resolution in his heart.
From now on, he would never, ever board a plane with Joseph again!
"Regrettably, Mr. Joestar, while I know parachuting is a very good method, do you think the enemy would give us that chance?"
Shirou shook his head. "I'm afraid that by the time we entered the cockpit, Kakyoin had already used [Hierophant Green] to destroy all the parachutes outside."
As soon as Shirou finished speaking, Avdol silently went to the storage area for the parachutes. Finding nothing but shredded rags inside, he returned to the cockpit dejectedly with these "corpses" in hand.
"And who said we don't have elevator controls?"
Just as Joseph and the others' expressions were becoming increasingly grim, Shirou suddenly changed his tone. "I just checked. It's likely because Kakyoin was heavily injured.
His final strike only destroyed the surface-level instruments and buttons; it didn't reach the electronic components encased within the aluminum and titanium alloy shell of the console."
In fact, for flight safety reasons, the metal casing of a cockpit console is designed with high strength, high corrosion resistance, and high impact resistance.
But such facts probably didn't seem relevant to their current situation.
Perhaps sensing their skepticism, Shirou continued after explaining the state of the console: "Operating the elevators and all the other complex equipment buttons... put simply, it's about sending commands to the electronic components inside the console via a pre-set machine language.
In other words, as long as we can successfully transmit our commands through another method, whether or not we have physical elevator controls and buttons won't make much difference for flying."
And so, as if echoing his words—
—Trace on!
Purple thorns constructed of magical energy instantly erupted from Shirou's hands, probing deep into the interior of the flight console and entwining themselves around the electronic components.
He transmitted his intent and his command for the private jet to maintain flight directly into the system. The plane leveled out and began to fly steadily once more.
It actually... really worked!?
Before Joseph and the others could marvel at the fact that [Hermit Purple] could be developed with such diverse skills, the jet—which had just corrected its flight path—flew for only a moment before it began to wobble and tilt again.
This sudden sensation immediately brought a certain possibility to the minds of Joseph and his group, who had just finished a battle with DIO's Stand users.
They hurriedly protected Shirou—who was currently "spirit-writing" commands into the electronic components—behind them and asked anxiously, "Is it an enemy?"
"Is there a third enemy Stand user hidden on this plane?!"
"No, it's not an enemy."
Before Joseph could figure out how to flush out a hidden foe, Shirou spoke up awkwardly: "[Hermit Purple's] precision is Rank D.
Plus, I truly don't know how to fly a large jet like this. The only command I can transmit and 'spirit-write' to the electronic components is 'Fly'.
As for how the electronic components fly after receiving that command... well, let's just say the fact that it isn't flying upside down or doing barrel rolls right now is actually quite impressive."
Shirou's intent was likely to ease the tension.
However, in reality, once Joseph and the others heard his words—and saw that the private jet really did look like it was about to demonstrate a barrel roll for them—their faces turned pale.
Even Jotaro shouted, "Old man! Hurry up and use your Stand to spirit-write a route to the nearest airport... No!
Since the plane's controls can be managed via spirit-writing, the communication equipment destroyed earlier should also be operable by force!
Quickly use your [Hermit Purple] to contact the nearest airport! Tell them our plane has had an accident and we have to make an emergency landing in the nearby waters!"
Yes, between the choices of continuing to fly to Egypt in a jet that might suffer who-knows-what other accidents, or landing at a nearby airport to switch to a new plane, Jotaro chose neither.
He chose an immediate emergency landing!
It wasn't that he didn't trust Shirou.
It was that he didn't trust Joseph—who had crashed twice in a row—and Joseph's Stand, [Hermit Purple]!
Given Shirou's current "piloting" and the fact that he was using a projection of Joseph's Stand... Jotaro, spooked by this stack of debuffs, just wanted to get off this plane immediately!