The transfer student Zenith, the knocked-out transfer student Kakyoin, and the 195-centimeter-tall Jotaro—the three of them reached a consensus and prepared to head straight home from a spot just a few hundred meters away from the school.
Zenith skipped class on his very first day as a transfer student, but no one would say a word about it. After all, the condition for his transfer was funding the construction of a new teaching building and gymnasium for the school.
Zenith finally laid eyes on Jotaro's luxurious home, or rather, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it a traditional Japanese estate.
"It has a bit of the style of the gardens back in my hometown."
Zenith commented, feeling a twinge of jealousy. Having lived in a literal matchbox house in the Overworld for two whole years, asking a non-builder player like him to construct a good-looking house was simply asking too much.
It would be fine once he went back. He planned to take plenty of photos here and replicate them to build his own super mansion upon his return.
After wandering around the estate for quite a while, they arrived at the tearoom. The moment he stepped inside, Zenith felt an immense pressure.
The two people conversing in the tearoom were Joseph Joestar, whose Stand was Hermit Purple, and Muhammad Avdol, whose Stand was Magician's Red.
Joseph was 195 centimeters tall, and Avdol was 188 centimeters.
"Old man, your illegitimate son should be about five years old by now, right? You really are going strong in your old age!"
The tearoom instantly fell dead silent. Jotaro casually tossed Kakyoin onto the floor, his gaze sharp. "Old man, what illegitimate son?"
Joseph Joestar, Jotaro's maternal grandfather, was also the previous generation's JoJo, known as the second JoJo. At the ripe old age of sixty-three, he had successfully created an uncle for Jotaro—the fourth generation JoJo, Josuke Higashikata.
Normally, Joseph wouldn't learn of Josuke Higashikata's existence until over a decade later. However, embracing the mindset of someone who loved watching the world burn, Zenith pointed it out right then and there.
Although it was a rather underhanded thing to do, Josuke was innocent. For a five-year-old child to grow up without a father's love, raised solely by a single mother, was entirely Joseph's fault.
"Can't remember? I'll give you a hint: Morioh Town."
"Oh—no!! Tomoko!"
Joseph finally remembered. He never expected that particular fling to leave him with a child.
However, the old man never shirked his responsibilities. After a brief explanation, he decided that once the Dio incident was resolved, he would bring them over.
"Alright, my friends, there is a much more pressing matter to deal with right now."
Avdol, who hadn't been able to get a word in edgewise, finally found an opportunity to speak, pointing at Kakyoin lying on the floor.
Yes, Dio. That was the issue everyone should be far more concerned about at the moment.
Joseph brushed aside Kakyoin's bangs, revealing a spider-like fleshy tumor clearly visible on his forehead.
This was a flesh bud created by Dio using his own cells. Its slender roots dug deep into the brain, manipulating the victim's consciousness.
For an ordinary person in this situation, there would be no point in even trying to save them. Even if one attempted surgery to extract the flesh bud, it would easily cause fatal brain damage.
Furthermore, Dio's flesh bud was sentient. It would extend its tentacles to actively attack anyone who tried to destroy it!
"It won't be long before the flesh bud devours his brain, turning this boy into a corpse," Avdol stated grimly, but Jotaro disagreed.
"My Stand has extremely high precision. It can even catch a bullet. I'll be the one to extract the flesh bud!"
Zenith watched from the sidelines as Jotaro went to work. This terrifying man remained completely unfazed, showing not a hint of panic even as the flesh bud's tentacles drilled into his own body and inched toward his brain.
What an iron will, Zenith couldn't help but nod in approval. No wonder Jotaro's Stand was so incredibly powerful.
If Jotaro could maintain his current state and willpower, he could definitely steamroll the bosses in the later parts of the series. Unfortunately, his sharp edges would eventually be worn down by the long passage of time and the bonds of family.
His daughter became his weakness, so when she was in danger, his instinct to protect her led to his sacrifice on the battlefield.
'But now, everything is going to be different!'
Zenith was going to change this bullshit plot. The invincible Star Platinum had to remain invincible forever. How could a real man ever lose to time?
With a sharp shout from Joseph, "Hamon Overdrive!!", the golden solar energy burned Dio's flesh bud to ashes, and Kakyoin completely regained his free will.
"Why would you risk your life to save me?"
Kakyoin asked the burning question in his soul, but Jotaro merely replied with a cool, "Who knows."
Zenith had already seen through it all. Although Jotaro was very violent, he possessed a true Golden Spirit. He was a gentle and righteous guy who just wasn't good at expressing himself.
Kakyoin needed to recover, so he ended up staying directly at Jotaro's house. Meanwhile, Zenith knew that the main plot was about to trigger, and Lord Dio's life was about to enter its fifty-day countdown.
Sure enough, the very next day, Jotaro's mother and Joseph's daughter, Holly, collapsed.
She had also awakened a Stand, but her overly gentle personality left her unable to control this power, causing it to harm her instead. To save Holly's life, they had to eliminate the curse that forced her Stand to awaken—they had to kill Dio.
The Stardust Crusaders were formed, and the plan for the expedition to defeat Dio was set. But before that, Zenith still had something to say.
Under everyone's puzzled gazes, he suddenly stepped forward and made a declaration.
"My name is Zenith, and I possess a Stand named The World. It can create and construct anything I thoroughly understand. For example."
Zenith pulled out an Enchanted Golden Apple.
"This is the Golden Apple from Greek mythology. Aside from being a flawless work of art, it also contains an incredibly powerful life energy."
In the Minecraft Overworld, an Enchanted Golden Apple could provide the powerful effects of Fire Resistance, Resistance, Absorption IV, and Regeneration II, but this was reality.
Forged from 152 tons of gold, a single apple, and fused with magic, the Enchanted Golden Apple possessed an extremely high level of power and status. If an ordinary person ate it, not only would they gain tyrannical physical prowess, but they would also obtain a prolonged lifespan.
The Enchanted Golden Apple emitted an aroma that no living creature could resist. As the golden juice, shimmering with a faint purple glow, flowed down her throat and into her stomach, the previously dying Holly instantly perked up.
"My body feels like it's recovered."
Not only had she recovered, but Holly discovered that she could even control the fern-like plants emerging from her body—or rather, the Stand that Jotaro and the others had mentioned.
Dio, the journey to Egypt, and her own condition—Holly was actually well aware of all of it. She had just pretended to know nothing so they wouldn't worry about her.
Gentle and delicate, playful and cute, yet carrying an underlying strength—perhaps Jotaro had inherited many of these traits from his mother.
Jotaro and Joseph exchanged a glance. The main quest objective had been completed right before they even set off. So, were they still going to Egypt?
Of course they were going. Holly declared that she wanted to join in on such a fun adventure too.
Zenith raised both hands in agreement. "Mrs. Holly, do you want to give your Stand a name? What is your Stand's ability?"
The verdant thorny vines were dotted with magenta berries, presenting quite a picture of fragile beauty.
Seeing Holly's hesitation, Zenith decided to make the call for her. "How about calling it Lapis Lazuli Thorns?"
It didn't sound very good, and Holly didn't particularly like it, but facing Zenith who had just saved her life, she gladly accepted it anyway.