Chapter 244. Pucci, My Superman!
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"'Do you remember this road'… Hey, hey, hey! This isn't some kind of joke!"
Snapping out of the excitement.
Previously, amidst the flurry of "ORA ORA ORA" barrage comments that continuously swept across "Stardust Crusaders", Sora realized—who knew he could make such expressive faces?
At this moment, he wasn't feeling the excitement of thinking, "A smiling Shiro is so cute."
Nor the thrill of seeing DIO finally brought to justice.
Instead, just like Jotaro in "Stardust Crusaders", who appeared startled and seemed to confirm something with disbelief, he felt the same unsettling suspicion.
Because this road is…
"Yes, that's right. This is the escape route I chose to drain Joseph Joestar's blood!"
The injuries caused by [Star Platinum]'s barrage?
The gaping wound from a head-pulverizing punch?
… All of that seemed to have disappeared from DIO's body.
What replaced them was DIO's smug smile.
And the shriveled corpse of Joseph, reduced to a dried husk…
"You bastard… DIO!!"
Jotaro's furious roar echoed.
"Stardust Crusaders"—or rather, "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure"—flashed its iconic "To Be Continued" message on the screen.
...
Yet, the audience remained silent.
No one complained about "Stardust Crusaders" being too short as they usually would.
Twenty-something minutes, barely thirty—how could such a runtime ever satisfy them?
Nor did anyone mockingly tease, "Short and sweet, huh?" to provoke Green Dolphin Studio and Pucci into making the episodes longer.
Instead, the room fell into a solemn silence.
Just as they believed Jotaro's [Star Platinum], symbolizing the Star tarot card, embodied hope—
Just as they believed that with this Stand, Jotaro could undoubtedly defeat DIO, even against [The World]'s time-stopping power, and deliver hope to the audience—
He had responded to that hope.
He had turned the tide, bringing the possibility of victory!
But now… what was this?
Was DIO defeated?
Yes, he was.
The cheers and applause from when DIO fell, the flood of "ORA ORA ORA" comments filling the "Stardust Crusaders" screen like a traffic jam on a holiday highway, still lingered.
Those endless "ORA ORA" comments—still plastering the screen even now—proclaimed loudly: DIO was indeed defeated by Jotaro.
And it was a crushing, overwhelming victory.
But why had it turned out like this?!
At this moment, everyone watching "Stardust Crusaders" was left speechless.
…
As the latest episode ended, the full-dive space plunged into an eerie silence.
The neighboring DC Universe's classic villain Joker once said: "All it takes is one bad day to turn the sanest man alive into a lunatic."
For the audience, what could qualify as the worst day?
This. Right now.
"Pucci, you %#@&*!…"
"Jotaro cursed the wrong person. How could DIO even count as a bastard? If DIO counts, then what does that make Pucci?! That guy is more revolting than vomit in a sewer!"
"Why couldn't it have just ended there? Jotaro defeated DIO, and we all get a happy ending… But no! Pucci had to turn around and tell us DIO isn't actually dead?!"
"Damn it! I can't take this anymore! What, is DIO your dad or something? Or do Joseph and the Joestar family have some grudge against you?!"
"Ha. Here's a joke: The series we're watching is called "Stardust Crusaders". The full title is "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders"… So, where's JoJo (Joseph Joestar)?"
"Killed by DIO!??"
"Let's just rename it "DIO's Bizarre Adventure: Savior of Villains"!??"
...
Unacceptable.
Or rather, how could anyone possibly accept this?!
Audiences were no strangers to plots where seemingly invincible foes are suddenly defeated against all odds.
This was the quintessential deus ex machina.
Not long ago, Jotaro himself had used one—evolving [Star Platinum] into [Star Printer] to copy [The World]'s time-stopping ability.
Though it was supported by foreshadowing, and the episode became increasingly thrilling because of it, this deus ex machina was welcomed with open arms by the audience.
It was akin to the miraculous resurrection of Tiga Ultraman through the children's light, transforming him into invincible Glitter Tiga.
Audiences loved such miraculous twists—they couldn't get enough of them!
But they had never heard of a villain getting a deus ex machina!
Could you imagine if Glitter Tiga defeated Gatanothor, only for Gatanothor to absorb the darkness and negativity of adults to resurrect as Dark Gatanothor and overpower Glitter Tiga again?
Sure, kids eventually grow up into adults.
And childhood dreams and pure hearts inevitably succumb to the monster called "society," becoming obsessed with wealth and power.
But who would dare write that?!
No one who values ratings, viewership, or their project's return on investment would ever write such a thing!
Except Pucci.
Pucci dared.
He gave DIO a deus ex machina—draining Joseph's blood to harmonize with Jonathan's body and further strengthen [The World].
"Pucci, my Superman!"
Unlike the numerous insults hurled at Pucci, Cujoh Jolyne felt only relief.
Ah, praise you, my the hidden dragon Pucci!
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