You call this a projection?

In the memories of Shirou Emiya’s past life, the Stands in the latter parts of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure were clearly more powerful than those in the early stages.

After all, from a creative perspective, during Part 3, Araki-sensei had only just decided to transition to the Stand power system. As for how this new system should be constructed, it was still in an exploratory phase.

This explains why most ”Tarot Card” Stands were simple ”blank slates” without complex abilities, whereas the ”Nine Egyptian Glory God” Stands mostly possessed distinct, specialized powers.

However, this didn’t mean Part 3 Stands were weaker than their successors.

On the contrary, because the rules of Stands were not yet fully refined, alongside ”blind” Stands like [Silver Chariot]—which lacked a special ability and sometimes felt like a burden to its user—there appeared some Stands that were absurdly powerful.

[Osiris], belonging to the Nine Egyptian Glory Gods, was undoubtedly a prime representative. It possessed the cheating-like ability to extract another person’s soul from a distance through a gamble with a close relative, without needing the victim’s consent.

With such an unfair ability existing, it was no wonder that Diavolo in Part 5 was so hell-bent on killing his own daughter.

Conversely, it was precisely because [Osiris’s] power was so unreasonable that Shirou Emiya could use it to defeat D’Arby. That’s right—using D’Arby’s own Stand to take down D’Arby!

”Uh, Mr. Prophet? What did you just say?”

As if he had heard something impossible, D’Arby’s expression turned hideously grim as he stammered, ”I thought I heard you say... you want to use Lord DIO’s soul as a stake?!”

”Yes, you heard correctly.” Shirou Emiya took the written endorsement from Joseph and placed it on the gambling table. ”I am adding DIO’s soul as a stake.”

”I know that!” D’Arby slammed the table as he stood up, shouting.

Was that really the question he wanted to ask? Facing Shirou Emiya, who continued to play dumb, D’Arby was forced to speak plainly: ”What I’m asking is—this bet isn’t valid! You have no right to use Lord DIO’s soul...”

But before D’Arby could finish, Shirou cut off his shouting. In a calm tone that stood in stark contrast to D’Arby’s rage, he said, ”Yes, D’Arby, you’re right. Based on my relationship with him, I certainly have no right to use DIO’s soul as a stake.”

”Whew... As long as you understand. Then...” Hearing Shirou finally admit this, D’Arby let out a sigh of relief and reached out to take the paper. It wasn’t that he was simply annoyed by Shirou’s attempt to ”get something for nothing”; it was that he was terrified he might suddenly ”commit suicide” by taking eight bullets to the back later that night.

As mentioned before, this location—the one Joseph’s [Hermit Purple] had photographed—was itself a trap laid by DIO for Shirou’s group. It wasn’t just J. Geil hiding somewhere to lure them in, nor just D’Arby, who might have turned them into soul chips if they didn’t know his ability. There were many others lurking nearby, even unknown to D’Arby, ready to ambush them at any moment.

If they heard that he and Shirou were betting on DIO’s soul... D’Arby didn’t know if Shirou would be okay, but he knew for a fact that if he accepted the stake as valid, those loyal Stand users watching would absolutely kill him, the instigator, immediately.

Having nearly stepped into the jaws of death, D’Arby didn’t dare leave that endorsement on the table. But before his hand could reach it, Shirou’s palm clamped down on the paper first.

”However!”

”...?”

”I may not have the right, but that doesn’t mean Mr. Joestar doesn’t.” Shirou continued with a smile, saying words that made D’Arby’s skin crawl: ”September 22, 1984, 11:15 PM.

D’Arby, do you remember what you were doing at that time?”

”Wh-what... you-you-you!?” Transitioning from bewilderment to horror took only an instant. The moment D’Arby realized what Shirou was implying, his expression changed completely. He stopped trying to snatch the paper; instead, his anger vanished, replaced by pure shock as he stared at Shirou.

”California, USA. In that place, D’Arby, you gambled against an American named Stephen Moore. And that man’s soul—including the souls of his father and wife—weren’t they won by you in exactly this manner?”

Shirou recited a plot fragment from his past life memories regarding D’Arby’s past. ”Why do you think now that DIO—who still has Joestar blood flowing through him—cannot be designated as a stake by Mr. Joestar? Or is it that you simply don’t dare to accept this additional bet?”

Shirou said indifferently, ”It’s fine, D’Arby. Even if you don’t accept the added stake, it’s no problem. As the price for me replacing Polnareff, I will bet my soul and DIO’s soul against the information you hold regarding J. Geil’s location. I’m a very generous person.”

He threw D’Arby’s own words back at him. D’Arby found himself unable to argue, because his [Osiris] truly was capable of such a feat. At least for now, DIO had not yet fully fused with Jonathan’s body. Whether it was his status as the Joestars’ former adopted son or the blood

relation between his current body and the Joestar line, he was intimately connected to Joseph and the others—falling squarely within the range of

”If there are no further issues, it’s time for you to make your move for Rock-Paper-Scissors, D’Arby.”

Following his pre-announced move, Shirou Emiya extended his hand in the gesture for [Paper].

[

Osiris’s

]

ability!

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