So cool!!!
Joseph, on screen, crossed his hands behind his head and stood up perfectly straight. Although the pose was strange, it was filled with a bizarre sense of beauty.
It created an urge to imitate it.
It seemed that anyone who transmigrated into the world of Demon Slayer would unconsciously strike these kinds of strange poses.
Even if some poses didn't fit the scene, their aesthetic and artistic nature was undoubtedly a visual treat for the audience outside the light curtain.
---o---
[Light Curtain Commentary]
[Madara Uchiha: "A victory without a shred of doubt. The counter-effect of Hamon is too powerful, far surpassing the damage a Stand can inflict on a demon."]
[Conan Edogawa: "Demons fear the sun, and Hamon directly unleashes the power of the sun. Though both are breathing techniques, the Hamon Breathing Style is far stronger than those of the Demon Slayer Corps."]
[Shinobu Kocho (Insect Hashira): "The Hamon Breathing Style... If this unique breathing technique could be spread throughout the Demon Slayer Corps, then Muzan Kibutsuji would be nothing!"]
[Lisa Lisa: "A nice thought, but difficult to achieve. The talent requirement for Hamon is extremely high. A genius like Joseph, born with Hamon, is incredibly rare. An ordinary person could spend their entire life trying and never learn it."]
[Yukino Yukinoshita: "A talent requirement? That makes sense. If Hamon could be learned by just anyone, it would have likely spread throughout the world already, and Jotaro wouldn't be unable to use it."]
[Utaha Kasumigaoka: "Is that so? I personally think that with Jotaro Kujo's talent, even if it can't compare to Joseph's, learning Hamon shouldn't be too difficult."]
---o---
[On Screen]
The sibling duo of Upper Rank Six had reached their limit.
Once Gyutaro was also struck by Hamon, the result was sealed. His regenerative ability was no match for the power of Joseph's Hamon.
"So that's how it is," Gyutaro murmured. Having received Joseph's denial, he should have guessed. Jotaro Kujo was currently with the Demon Slayer Corps; there was no way he would appear in Yoshiwara.
The wind blew past as Gyutaro's body gradually melted away. He had been defeated too quickly, so fast that he hadn't even used his Blood Demon Art before falling to the man before him.
But perhaps because he was on the verge of death, Gyutaro felt little resentment. The gap in their strength was simply too vast. Even in a head-on battle, he and Daki would have been no match for Joseph.
Daki...? No, that's not even a name. That's not my sister's real name. It was given to her by that bastard Muzan Kibutsuji.
His sister's real name was Ume. She had long white hair and was very beautiful, possessing a beauty that could outshine an oiran even as a child.
As Gyutaro muttered to himself, the screen's image traveled back in time, to before he and Daki became demons.
"Is this... a death flashback?"
The audience was surprised. Gyutaro's screen time had been short, and his power wasn't overwhelming; he was at the bottom of the Upper Ranks.
And as man-eating demons, Gyutaro and Daki were both destined for hell regardless. But now, the light curtain was giving them a flashback, something usually reserved for important characters?
With the mood of spectators watching drama unfold, the audience gradually learned of the lives of Gyutaro and Daki...
It turned out that when Daki was human, her name was Ume. She was born in the lowest class of the Yoshiwara district, dependent on her older brother, Gyutaro.
Ume's birth gave the once-inferiority-ridden Gyutaro a reason to exist. The two siblings relied on each other to survive in this cruel world.
Thanks to Ume's beauty, the siblings gradually climbed from the bottom and found a foothold in Yoshiwara.
However, their good fortune was short-lived. Everyone knew what kind of place Yoshiwara was—a place built to satisfy the desires of men from the upper echelons of society.
When Ume was thirteen, unwilling to sacrifice her body like most of the women in Yoshiwara, she blinded a samurai in one eye. For this, she was burned alive by that same samurai, suffering grave injuries.
In that cruel society, Ume's body was burned to a crisp. By the time Gyutaro arrived, he found his sister on the verge of death.
In extreme anguish, Gyutaro carried Ume's 'corpse' everywhere, seeking help, but in her state, not even a miracle doctor could have saved her.
In his moment of despair, he encountered the then-Upper Rank Six, Douma. At Douma's suggestion, both siblings became demons, setting off on a path of no return.
So they had a past like that?
The audience, expecting drama, was hit with tragedy instead. For a moment, no one knew what to say.
True, Upper Rank Six was cruel and merciless, and they were even eating a human when Joseph found them. But as the saying goes, even hateful people have their pitiable side.
The past of Gyutaro and Daki was tragic. If they hadn't met Douma, they would have died on the street, their bodies discarded like trash in some forgotten corner.
Perhaps there were no demons in the world to begin with. More terrifying than demons was the human heart. It was the cruel society of Yoshiwara that had forced two demons into existence.
Drip, drip.
Time passed silently. The camera returned to Joseph.
He quietly watched the dissipating Upper Ranks, his deep eyes filled with endless sighs.
"Two people, toyed with by fate. I hope they can properly atone for their mistakes in hell."
Although he didn't know as much about their past as the audience did, Joseph could roughly guess the tragedy of their lives.
Hermit Purple's spirit photography could not only find the location of the Upper Ranks but also read a person's thoughts.
Of course, that power was not yet mature. It required the target to have completely lost their ability to fight and needed a medium like a television or a camera to work.
But Joseph could still faintly sense Gyutaro's feelings and thoughts.
A life for a life. The very existence of demons was antithetical to humanity. Moreover, Gyutaro and his sister had committed countless evils, and many lives had been lost at their hands.
Joseph would sigh at their deaths, but he would feel no regret or pity.
This was the punishment they deserved. Even if it wasn't him, someone else would have killed them eventually.
---o---
Outside the light curtain, Joseph's thoughts were made known to all.
A warrior with an unwavering will. He was nothing like someone inflated by power, nor did he seem immature.
Joseph Joestar. This man possessed a firm Golden Spirit from beginning to end.
While many in the audience felt sad and sorry for Upper Rank Six's past, even feeling enough pity to want to redeem Gyutaro and Daki completely...
Joseph simply expressed a sigh for their past, with no regret for his actions and no pity for the demons.
[Light Curtain Commentary]
[Conan Edogawa: "Joseph's image as a warrior has been instantly solidified. No matter what, a crime is a crime. Even if there are compelling reasons, those who deserve punishment must be punished!"]
[Yukino Yukinoshita: "A tragic past. If Daki and Gyutaro had met the Demon Slayer Corps back then, would the outcome have been different?"]
[Kurumi Tokisaki: "The outcome? What if they had met the Demon Slayer Corps? Besides becoming a demon, was there any other way for Daki to survive?"]
[Yoriichi Tsugikuni: "Is the human heart crueler than demons... what a simple yet profound truth."]
Sighing from the underworld, Yoriichi Tsugikuni's eyes held a bottomless sorrow, which then transformed into powerlessness.
What good was being a genius? To say nothing of the fact that he failed to kill Muzan Kibutsuji before he died, what if he had succeeded?
People like Gyutaro and Daki would still exist in the world, never to fade away...
---o---
[On Screen]
The enemy had been vanquished. It was time for Joseph to leave.
First, he would inform the three kunoichi of the situation and let them handle the aftermath. Then, he would go find that guy named Jotaro Kujo.
This was Joseph's current plan. His intuition told him that this Jotaro Kujo was no ordinary person. Perhaps he would know the reason for his transmigration and the origin of Hermit Purple.
Thump-thump-thump—
A strange sound came from the ceiling, causing Joseph to instinctively shift his gaze upward.
"CRASH!!"
The next moment, a loud noise erupted. The ceiling was suddenly destroyed by an external force, and wood fragments rained down on the tatami mat like hail.
"Na... NANI!!" The sudden development made Joseph exclaim in shock and caused the audience's eyes to widen.
An iconic and mesmerizing BGM began to play. A figure descended from the sky, landing in front of Joseph.
Ayayaya~ The audience, who had a deep impression of this BGM, quickly guessed the newcomer's identity—a Pillar Man!
This was their theme. When Kars and the others broke free from their stone pillars, it was this music that accompanied them.
The dust settled, revealing the ruined room and a brown-skinned, muscular man. The Pillar Man known as Esidisi!
"I sensed it. The aura of Hamon. There was a battle here, just now?" Esidisi said with a blank expression, touching his shoulder.
Then, he shifted his gaze to Upper Rank Six, who were on the verge of death from the Hamon.
He took two steps toward Gyutaro and Daki, crouched down, and quietly observed their dissipating bodies.
Then, he poked one finger from each hand into Daki's and Gyutaro's bodies. The next moment, their remaining flesh shriveled up at a visible rate, becoming like two incomplete human skins lying on the floor.
"!!!" Joseph was in a state of utter shock. "That man... did he absorb Gyutaro and Daki?"
With this thought, Joseph vigilantly watched Esidisi, Hermit Purple wrapped around his wrist.
This person knew about Hamon. From the looks of it, he had come here after sensing its power. He was clearly here for him.
"Oh? So you are that powerful Hamon warrior? I didn't expect you to be so young. Among the Hamon clan two thousand years ago, those with this level of Hamon were all wizened old men, only able to survive by using Hamon to slow their aging."
First, he expressed his approval of Joseph. Then, Esidisi's tone instantly turned cold.
"Dangerous. Far too dangerous. A Hamon warrior like you, if left alive, will certainly interfere with Kars's plan. Therefore, since I, Esidisi, have found you, I absolutely cannot let you leave here alive!"
No pre-battle taunts, no lengthy introductions. Despite never having met Joseph before, Esidisi immediately declared war.
The reason was simple. Joseph possessed powerful Hamon, which would be an obstacle for Kars. That reason alone was enough for Esidisi to kill him.
What... what is he talking about? Who is Kars? What is his plan? The Hamon clan from two thousand years ago? Hamon exists in this world too?
Joseph was completely bewildered, not understanding a word Esidisi was saying. But one thing he did understand: the man before him was definitely not human, and he was a creature that stood against humanity!
"Hey, you arrogant ugly freak! Your name is Esidisi, right? I don't care what species you are, you're the first one to declare war on me, Joseph Joestar, like this!"
Taking a defensive stance, Joseph tried to probe Esidisi's identity, but his opponent seemed to have no intention of chatting.
"Joseph Joestar? JOJO, is it? Since we know each other's names, let's just get straight to the fight. I absolutely cannot let a dangerous guy like you get near Lord Kars!"
Esidisi clenched his fist and, with lightning speed, rushed toward Joseph, bringing his fist down hard.
Seeing this, Joseph raised his arms. Hermit Purple, wrapped around his wrists, shot toward Esidisi like Spider-Man's webbing.
"Hermit Purple, and the power of Hamon! Watch closely! This move is called: Hermit Purple Overdrive!!"
As his voice fell, golden arcs of Hamon instantly crackled across Hermit Purple's thorns, flying toward Esidisi's fist.
"Hm?"
Esidisi's pupils constricted. Just before making contact with Hermit Purple, he instantly retracted his fist, did two backflips, and landed again.
"I see. So those purple thorns can conduct Hamon with 100% efficiency?"
How dangerous. If he were to be careless and get entangled by those Hamon-infused purple thorns, even he, Esidisi, would have no choice but to await his death.
To think such a powerful Hamon warrior existed in this world. At all costs, he absolutely could not let him get near Kars. He had to kill him!
Even if he had to sacrifice himself here, he would drag Joseph down to the underworld with him. This was his, Esidisi's, resolve—