You call this a projection?

Time returns to the present.

By utilizing Gray Fly’s series of methods to stimulate the vampire flesh bud, Noriaki Kakyoin—having his physical potential squeezed dry by the parasite—had broken free from the ice.

On the surface, he had successfully escaped. However, for Kakyoin, who was neither a vampire nor a zombie, such a reckless forced extraction of his physical limits undoubtedly came at a horrific price.

Being able to find a blind spot in the room to hide before [Star Platinum] smashed the cockpit door and Shirou’s group entered was already the absolute limit of what Kakyoin’s current body could achieve.

As for attacking...

To be honest, it was one thing for the melon-like [Hierophant Green] to ambush an unwary Shirou. But once Shirou and the others sensed something was wrong, Kakyoin’s remaining strength was nowhere near enough to break through [Star Platinum’s] defense. Not to mention [Star Platinum] was faster than him and had already stepped in front of the group.

Thus, when that final Emerald Splash flew toward them, Jotaro Kujo immediately sensed the anomaly.

Kakyoin’s final strike lacked the resolve of a man trying to drag someone down to the underworld with him in his dying moments. It was weak—unable to even push Jotaro back with recoil. It was as if the ”Emerald Splash” had turned into an ”Emerald Massage,” designed only to graze his body gently.

This was absolutely not normal!

Jotaro, who could sense the resolve in Kakyoin’s eyes and knew exactly what a full-strength Emerald Splash felt like, made his judgment instantly.

Ignoring the emeralds entirely, he lunged straight for Kakyoin’s position! No matter what Kakyoin planned next, as long as he knocked the Stand user unconscious, all of the enemy’s plans would come to naught.

”You’re all sharper than the last...

I finally understand why the great, composed Lord DIO turns so serious at the mention of the Joestar bloodline.

If left alone, even if you aren’t a direct threat to Lord DIO, you would certainly be like the cow dung found everywhere on the streets of India—a nuisance to everything he wishes to do!”

Kakyoin panted, his body trembling. His condition was truly wretched. He had no strength left to resist the [Star Platinum] now closing in on him, nor the heavy ”Ora Ora” barrage that came with it.

Yet, a smile remained on Kakyoin’s face. The moment he realized he had drawn everyone’s attention, he knew he had won!

”But! You will never have another chance to interfere with Lord DIO!”

Crackling! Snap!

Ora! Ora!

The sound of electrical sparks and the sound of [Star Platinum’s] fists pummeling Kakyoin reached everyone’s ears almost simultaneously, one right after the other.

Yes. One right after the other. And at the same time.

Because at the exact moment Kakyoin was sent flying by [Star Platinum] in front of Shirou and the others, [Hierophant Green]—which had unraveled its body unnoticed and extended its long, thin tentacles to the control panel—destroyed the elevator controls, the yoke, and every critical equipment button.

By the time Shirou and the others heard the sound from behind and instinctively turned to look, the private jet had already spiraled completely out of control, plunging toward the earth!

”Kakyoin’s sudden appearance earlier was likely just to bait us into focusing all our attention on him; that’s why he spoke up to stop us.”

Looking at the fallen Kakyoin and then at the mangled wreckage of the control panel, Shirou frowned and stepped forward, placing a hand on the console.

”...No, it’s more accurate to say that after Kakyoin freed himself from the ice using whatever method he used, he had already spent quite a bit of time. By the time he wanted to destroy the console, we had already burst in.

So, when we realized he wasn’t among the frozen and might be hiding, he quickly shifted his thinking to exploit our suspicion, using himself as a distraction to finish the sabotage.”

A classic ”two birds with one stone” play. If Shirou hadn’t found the hidden Kakyoin, Kakyoin could have successfully ambushed them. If he was found, it didn’t matter—once their eyes were on him, he could easily complete the sabotage, killing them in a different way.

”...So this is DIO. Give me a break.”

Jotaro sighed after a long silence. Having finally had a moment to observe the cockpit, he noticed the wound on Gray Fly’s tongue and the frozen blood on the floor. While he didn’t know the exact details, it was clear that Gray Fly had likely sacrificed himself to free Kakyoin from the ice.

Not just Kakyoin, but even Gray Fly was willing to die to bring them down. If every Stand user under DIO they encountered was like this... would they truly win?

”No, Jotaro. Although the resolve this boy showed in his sacrifice is noble, it wasn’t his own will.”

Joseph noticed the shift in Jotaro’s mood. Having once held such resolve himself and seen others do the same, Joseph understood its power deeply. The Pillar Men, who were nearly peerless, and the Ultimate Lifeform, who surpassed all biology, were defeated precisely by this noble human resolve.

Thus, realizing DIO was using such methods to wantonly defile that resolve, Joseph’s expression turned uncharacteristically furious.

He pulled back Kakyoin’s hair with his palm, exposing the vampire flesh bud hidden beneath. ”Look! This is the reason this boy is so loyal to DIO!”

”What...? What is this spider-like tumor!?”

The horror and disgust of the writhing flesh bud made even Jotaro’s face pale.

Before Jotaro could press for more answers, Shirou Emiya, who had completed a deep sensing of the control panel via magic circuits radiating from his hand, breathed a sigh of relief. He cut into their conversation:

”We can save the science lesson for later. Mr. Joestar, we have much more urgent matters at hand.

If we don’t hurry, your record for plane crashes is about to be refreshed for the second time.”