"Ora!"
After opening the door, a fist the size of a sandbag hammered toward Diego.
Boom!
The blow, aimed at killing Diego, was blocked by Diego with one hand, while The World appeared at the same time, its pale yellow hand grabbing Star Platinum along with it.
Over these past few days, Diego had also figured out the existence of The World—it was a product generated by Diego's spirit, moving according to his will.
Jotaro looked in shock at The World, which should have died together with the vampire Dio, his mind racing with a thousand thoughts.
The World! This guy really is DIO!
Unlike Jotaro, Diego was somewhat puzzled at this moment. Pinching the fist gripping Star Platinum, he asked in confusion, "Do I know you? You want to kill me the moment we meet? The floor in my house is shattered because of that hit of yours!"
The World charged forward, sending Jotaro flying out of the Hori household. Diego walked leisurely toward Jotaro and continued questioning him:
"I recognize you—the youngest oceanography PhD in the world, the genius who disappeared for 50 days and came back as a crash-course doctor. Instead of researching dolphins, you come to attack me—that's not a good choice."
Jotaro pressed down on the brim of his hat, inwardly sighing that he had miscalculated. He was deeply puzzled— wasn't that guy DIO a vampire? How could he now bask in the sunlight? The sneak attack had failed...
In that case, there was only one last tactic left—the traditional Joestar family battle philosophy.
Running away is the best option!
The next second, Diego's fist and The World's fist came from two directions, forming a pincer attack like a cheese sandwich.
"Star Platinum: The World! Time, stop!"
After ten years, Jotaro once again stopped time.
Immediately, Jotaro dodged Diego's attack, turned, and flew toward the street to retreat.
It's been so long... I haven't used the 'time stop' that only lasts 2 seconds in ten years.
Indeed, although Jotaro had undergone special training for time stop before coming here, the combat experience lost over many years couldn't return quickly. Currently, stopping time for 2 seconds was Jotaro's limit.
Hm? DIO isn't chasing after me?
Jotaro glanced back and saw that Diego had been frozen in the stopped time and wasn't moving.
Strange... DIO can't act during time stop?
Time began to flow again.
!! Just now time was stopped? I saw that guy Jotaro escape right under my nose, but I couldn't move.
This guy... can manipulate time. Should I chase him...
With a shift in thought, Diego considered Hori and Sota who were still at home. The other side already knew the location of the house—if he let him escape today, it would leave a hidden danger.
In an instant, Diego's figure burst forth, wielding a sword of light as he flew to kill Jotaro. The World clashed first with Star Platinum in a barrage.
"Muda muda muda muda muda muda!"
"Ora ora ora ora ora ora!"
"So, your evil spirit is being held up by The World. How are you going to protect yourself?" Diego appeared behind Jotaro, the light sword slashing toward Jotaro's head.
"What?? Star Platinum: The World! Time, stop!"
Time stopped flowing once more. Jotaro called back Star Platinum.
Although he didn't know why Dio had lost the ability to act during time stop, this should be enough to finish him off completely.
"Ora!!!"
A powerful, heavy blow aimed at Diego's head, but suddenly, Diego's head tilted slightly, dodging the killing strike.
DIO!! This guy can move during stopped time! I was tricked!
Time resumed flowing.
"Hm hm hm~ Oh my, oh my, it seems I've discovered something incredible. Your Star Platinum and my The World seem to be the same type of evil spirit (Stand)!" Diego sneered.
"What!"
"The World! Time that belongs only to me! 5 seconds!"
Time stopped flowing, and Diego slowly walked in front of Jotaro, landing a blow on both of Jotaro's knees, rendering him unable to move.
"You seem to be able to sense that time has been stopped too, but you can't move—is it because you just stopped time earlier? Your eyes are calm yet full of rage. If killing wasn't a serious crime, I'd have killed you already."
"Time resumes flowing."
Thud!
Jotaro instantly collapsed to the ground. "Ugh..."
My legs can't walk anymore. Looks like this is the end. Watching Diego toy with throwing knives nearby, Jotaro thought so.
Old man, Polnareff, Kakyoin, Iggy, Avdol, and... Jolyne. Sorry...
The more life-threatening the situation, the clearer Jotaro's thoughts became.
Is that guy DIO the kind of criminal who would stop killing because he cares about the law?
The surprise in his eyes when we first met didn't seem feigned... Is he really DIO?
No, that doesn't matter. He's an innate bad seed just like Dio—that executioner's aura can't be faked.
As long as I knock away all the throwing knives, if he wants to kill me, he'll have to come close.
As long as that bastard dares to approach, I'll give him a heavy blow!
"Very good. Now you can calmly chat with me, right?" Diego suddenly spoke from the side, stopping his knife play.
"Hm? What do you mean? I don't remember having anything worth talking about with you!" Jotaro's tone was firm as he glared at "Dio."
Diego ignored Jotaro and continued interrogating on his own:
"I have a few questions for you."
"First, what exactly is this evil spirit?"
"Second, is Star Platinum the name you gave your evil spirit? Why do you shout The World's name when you stop time?"
"Third, where did you investigate my information from? From that killing intent-filled blow of yours, it seems you know me, and there's some bad blood between us."
"Fourth, and most crucially, who exactly is the Dio you know? Tell me the truth."
...
"What? This guy... I actually... Dio actually... has two!"
"...I see. This evil spirit is a Stand, and Dio is a vampire. He has the same Stand as me and can also stop time. You mistook me for him."
Regarding the information from Jotaro's mouth that a person can only have one Stand, Diego believed that such a world rule didn't apply to people from another world.
Thus, with abundant mental energy, Diego had autonomously awakened his Stand, The World.
(Cold fact: In Steel Ball Run, the Diego from the parallel world autonomously awakened his Stand as The World.)
And Stands are unique. Since this world already had The World, the vampire Dio's Stand had muddled its way to his side like this.
That high fever the other night was also because of the two Stands—his body still wasn't fully adapted.
Diego stroked his chin in thought, carefully digesting Jotaro's words, and suddenly realized something.
He smiled at Jotaro, his tone suddenly softening as he made a transaction proposal:
"I have a really great idea. Come make a deal with me—I really like you!"
"?!"
"Relax, relax. If this deal goes smoothly, I won't kill you. We might even become great strategic partners."
"...What do you mean?"
"Money... I just want money. Simple enough, right? Behind you is the SPW Foundation and the Joestar family—you hold a pivotal position. Honestly, killing you would be quite troublesome. The world's strongest conglomerate would squeeze my living space to death. Life would be very uncomfortable."
"You mean..."
"Yes, hire me! As your investigation shows, I've been staying at the Hori household this whole time. Though I'm good at mooching off rich women, I still feel awkward with a girl who puts her whole heart on me like this.
I need a house, preferably close to the Hori household—easy for you guys. Then I need a legal identity. Although the glory of winning the SBR Competition can get me special admission to Shuchiin Academy, without a legal identity, everything's inconvenient.
How about it? Aren't you all worried I'll do something outrageous? Then hire me! I'll guarantee Jolyne Cujoh's safety. If I'm guessing right, you already have thoughts of divorce to protect Jolyne and her mother..."
Watching Diego talk eloquently nearby, Jotaro was somewhat shocked by his intelligence-gathering ability.
...He got almost everything right. He is Dio. But he's somewhat different from the DIO we know—at least that DIO would never think of cooperating with a Joestar and would only seize what he wants by force.
"Hey! Just agree to me! Accept this deal!" Seeing no reaction from Jotaro, Diego suddenly acted like a rogue, shamelessly pressing him to accept.
"...You bastard... You're definitely not DIO." Jotaro's mouth twitched, somewhat helpless. "Fine, I accept your deal."
Jotaro extended his hand to Diego, who grasped it.
"Relax, I won't go back on my word." Diego raised his other hand to show he wasn't up to anything.
Nearby, Star Platinum still glared menacingly at Diego, as if it would smash down at the slightest suspicious move.
"Tch, whatever. I've shown my sincerity anyway—otherwise you'd already be dead. So, happy cooperation!"
"...Never thought I'd cooperate with Dio."
"Oh right, let me fix your legs. I don't have time to take you to the hospital."
Diego summoned Scary Monsters, leaving a wound on Jotaro's hand that healed in an instant.
At the same time, Jotaro felt his legs could stand again.
"This is..."
"Hey, don't mind it. Hurry to the hospital—your injuries are pretty serious. I don't know why you're still so energetic."
"One last question: How will you guarantee Jolyne's safety?"
Hearing this, Diego rummaged on himself and took out a ring, handing it to Jotaro.
"Have Jolyne Cujoh hold this ring. If there's danger, I'll know immediately. Want one for yourself?"
Jotaro showed a look of disgust and shook his head to refuse.
Diego shrugged, waving his hands helplessly.
"Fine, too bad. Then go to the hospital yourself. I'll head out first."
In the blink of an eye, Diego vanished, leaving Jotaro alone in the wind, disheveled.
"Yare yare daze, things have gotten kinda troublesome."
Thinking of this quirky Dio, Jotaro couldn't help but feel a headache.
"Not sure if it's good or bad."
...
"Dio, are you okay?"
As soon as Diego returned, Hori immediately came over, worriedly checking him up and down for wounds.
Diego patted Hori's head and comforted her, "It's fine. That guy came to deliver warmth. In a few days I can move out. These days have really been a hassle for you all."
"Eh—? Why?... Sota will... really miss you." Hori looked at Diego in surprise, inwardly cursing Jotaro.
After many days together, Hori had grown accustomed to Diego's presence. With him mentioning it, a sense of loss welled up.
"After all, you can't support me forever, right? What if your parents come back—how would you explain?"
"I... can..." Hori's voice grew smaller, mumbling, "I don't want you to leave..."
"Haha, you mean that? I thought it was something else. When did I say I was leaving? I'll just go back to sleep at night and come back during the day."
Diego laughed heartily, ran back to the living room, picked up Sota, and watched TV, leaving Hori covering her face in embarrassment.