Ch. 18
As the white beams shot forth into the sky, the orbs that emitted began to blaze with an intense heat that was felt by all who were nearby. Everyone had varying levels of shock, with exception to DIO, his younger self, and their Holy Spirit (Toga), grinning widely at this look of dread which had wrapped around many in the city.
After a final blaze the white spheres finally cracked and dissipated, revealing the three figures who were trapped inside. The first immediately noticeable change was that all three of their clothing was now a bright white instead of the blue and black they once had. While Endeavor's hair was now a golden yellow, Dabi's was white. And Shoto kept the blend of two colors in his hair: yellow on his left (fire) side, and white on his right (ice) side. It was also that Endeavor's flames also began to emit a shade of yellow, as if it were coming from some spatial star.
Endeavor began to slowly walk towards DIO, his gaze keeping straight at he who was once his opponent. He did not bother to bat an eye at his allies, simply walking and looking straight ahead.
Once the distance was closed, the two of them just stood there, not doing anything. Except for DIO, whose grin remained plastered on his face. What happened next was, to say the least, unexpected. Endeavor was winding up his hand, as if preparing another punch, before sending it into the ground, resulting in him kneeling in front of DIO.
"What are your orders, O Noble One?" Endeavor asked in a monotone voice.
There was a great sense of shock felt by all who viewed this "surrender" of a Hero to the will of a Villain.
"Ahahahahhahahaha!" DIO began to laugh, seeing the dismay conveyed within the Heroes' faces, "Now you see what true Enlightenment is!" He tapped Endeavor's shoulder and then began to hover and move in the air. Endeavor seemingly followed, being able to fly without the use of his flames. They both ascended to the altitude of where their fight a few seconds earlier took place, but no punches were thrown; only a false sense of peace.
From any point in the city one could see DIO in front of the blood red moon, looking down on the chaos the Zombies left. Meanwhile, Endeavor rose above him and the moon, his yellow flames burning brightly. The helicopter crew once again focused on what was currently happening. At that moment, DIO's fists collided with each other right in front of him, before moving away from each other, extending his arms and opening his palms.
"LUNA SACRA!"
At that moment, the moon slowly began to lose its red and brown color, cleansing itself and returning to its usual white color. Except this time, it gleamed brighter in the night, temporarily blinding all who looked at it...with exception to Shoto, Endeavor, and Dabi, who did not bat an eye away.
It seems that, the reporter in the helicopter tried to speak despite the sudden increase in brightness, the Villain has somehow made the Moon much brighter than it normally is! And Endeavor is not attacking, but rather standing still! And then, the brightness slowly began to decrease, and immediately, there was one drastic change. DIO did not have the same yellow clothing and short hair. His skin was a pure shade of white, his hair much longer and more combed, and repeatedly his name was spelled out on bracelets and whatnot. He had taken on the form first used to greet Jotaro and the other Joestars before this bizarre story began.
"In nomine Patris, Filii, et Spiritus Sancti," this new DIO spoke, "Ego DIO, Divus Nobilis, salvamentum humanitati adferre missus sum! Hac nocte, Maximus Initus incipiam, et novum tempus creabo!"
(Translation: "In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit...I, DIO, the Noble One, have been sent to bring salvation to humanity! On this night, I will bring forth a new era!")
At that moment, DIO slowly revealed in his hands four small, white marbles, and tossed them in the air. After reaching the same altitude as Endeavor had, they burst open and revealed the items, or rather Heroes, inside. To his left, the Pro Hero Snatch, and to his right, there seemed to be Manual and a familiar face with yellow eyes, and some stamps in his hand…
"Now go forth!" DIO continued, "Leaders of the Enlightenment! Bring salvation to this cesspool of despots and sinners alike!" With exception to Endeavor, the rest of the Enlightened Heroes flew quickly to different parts of the city, whilst DIO slowly floated downwards.
"Looks like we found Manual," Bakugo yelled out.
"Is that Snatch?!" Midoriya spoke right after him "And-"
I don't believe this! The reporter once again continued, It seems that Endeavor and some other Heroes have been put under the control of the Villain! And one of them looks like Sir-
The reporter's words were quickly cut off as Endeavor hurled himself right through the helicopter, incinerating its engine and causing it to explode. From the ground it looked like everyone in it had been killed, causing Midoriya to utter a loud angry "NO!" as well as "ENDEAVOR STOP IT!"
But the calls to cease were not answered, for the look on Endeavor's face showed no hesitation or contempt for his most recent actions. Luckily for those within the helicopter, they were seemingly unscathed as they were lowered onto the sidewalk. Soon after, some red feathers flew right past their faces, and returned to a Hero who was slowly descending downwards. With a tan jacket and black shirt, his gold eyes were bright as the moonlight reflected on yellow visor.
"Looks like I made it just in time!" he spoke nonchalantly, despite the situation which had put everyone on edge.
"Hawks!" Midoriya shouted in slight elation. The two of them made their way over to check on the helicopter riders.
"Couldn't you have arrived any sooner?" Bakugo complained.
"Sorry, I was busy dealing with some of the Zombies that showed up earlier," Hawks said, "Then I heard the commotion, saw the moon change its color, and noticed Endeavor seemed a little off his rocker, so I came to check in on him." He turned his attention to those he just rescued as he spoke, "Now things are gonna get a little heated, so you should probably head inside."
"The Joestar Agency has temporary shelters for you ready," Jonathan told them, "They're right inside as you enter so you should get going!" The reporter and their crew grabbed whatever items they could carry and made their way inside, with Hawks in the back to make sure they made it there safely.
"Oh no you don't!" Dio yelled as he dashed forward to try and stop them as Jonathan guarded their entry, before Bakugo quickly rushed over and let out massive explosions from his hands. He flew back as soon as the explosion was released, but nevertheless took some damage and quickly healed it. As he sank his feet onto the street and the news crew got inside, his eye gave an intense glare which responded to much more angry stares from Jonathan and Bakugo.
"I think it's about time we finish this petty conflict of ours, wouldn't you say so, JoJo?" WIth a snap of his fingers, a golden light began to hover around himself, Toga, Jonathan, and Bakugo.
"What the?!" Bakugo called out, "What is thi-" And within a second, all four of them disappeared.
"Kacchan!" Deku called out to his friend, but to no response.
Meanwhile, DIO finally landed from his flight as a purple portal opened a slight distance away from him. As he turned his back and continued walking, Jotaro tried to land a punch on him from behind, but this proved futile as The World lightly punched his gut before he threw a knife at Jotaro's shoulder, temporarily preventing Jotaro from attacking.
"DIO!" Midoriya yelled, "What did you do to Endeavor?! Where did Bakugo and Jonathan go?!"
DIO did not answer. He kept walking forward. But Midoriya did not deter.
"Answer me!" He uttered out "What are you doing with all these Heroes?! What sort of enlightenment requires them to destroy the futures they protect?"
DIO stopped his movements before turning around, his long golden hair slightly flowing in the wind.
"Oh my, Young Midoriya," DIO simply stated, "You simply just do not get it. This 'enlightenment' you speak of merely sees what is on the surface. You cannot yet see what lies beyond. Do you remember what happened to Snatch?"
"He was murdered by the League," he responded, "and it seems you're in cahoots with them!"
"You're correct on the first part, but your latter assessment is slightly off," DIO continued, "Rather, I subdued them, put them under my control, and have forced them to work for me. As for your friend Bakugo, he was sent back...to a facet of the universe from which I originated...But don't worry, he and Jonathan shall return...as dried-up corpses when my younger self and The Holy Spirit have disposed of them."
Midoriya shot forth with a kick, trying to land a hit on DIO's face, and...it connected! DIO seemed to make no effort in trying to dodge it! But by the time Deku's right leg titled his face, he simply turned it back forward towards his opponent while his leg was still in the air.
"What?!" Midoriya called out, in surprise, seeing that the attack did not work, before he felt the back of his left being pushed down. He turned around to find The World providing the move which forced him into a kneeling position on the ground. His teeth were seething after quite a heavy blow.
"Look at that, you've taken the first step for Enlightenment...But I'm sure you're wondering," DIO once again continued, "How could a dead Hero somehow return? And serve me? You'd be surprised to know both Dabi and your friend Shoto are under the same control as Endeavor, so both Heroes and Villains, dead and alive, are under my control." As he walked away, he finished his sentence, "But these labels, these names, these 'reputations' mean in nothing a society with me, DIO, as its leader. I seek to break down the structure of this society and create one where I am its ruler, without question! So cheer up, Izuku, and smile… for a brighter tomorrow!"
DIO continued walking away and as he was about to enter the portal, he heard Midoriya yell while he was dashing forward to deliver a severe punch against DIO, channeling a bit more than 20% of One for All in his fist.
"Midoriya!" Jotaro warned, "Get back right now!"
But the call fell on deaf ears, for Midoriya was so close to unleashing the punch. "I won't let you purge this world, and steal our futures!"
DETROIT SMAA-
Midoriya had not even been able to finish the utterance of his attack before he discovered that The World had punched his abdomen so hard it left a huge, gasping hole in his body, practically ripping out his insides. Midoriya's body fell limp, but retained consciousness, as DIO finally finished his thoughts.
"I already know all this world has to offer. I know everyone's roles, everyone's capabilities, all their Quirks...as well as the nature of One for All."
With the little bit of muscle ability he had left, Deku's eyes narrowed at this realization.
"Although despite my abilities," DIO continued, "I am currently unable to harness its power, even though I have now tried something similar to how I harnessed Compress's Quirk. But it won't be long. So let me put your fears at ease, Young Midoriya. By the time I'm through...everyone in this world will receive enlightenment and reach Heaven, or end up dead putting up meaningless resistance, like yourself." The World shook the limping Midoriya off of its hand and tossed him to the ground, like a broken doll.
"Until we meet again, Jotaro and Deku."
And with that, DIO fully entered into the portal, with it closing behind him. Jotaro, having been able to move without fear of another attack, rushed to Midoriya, who had been slowly bleeding out and who looked like he had seen the face of death. From his white pockets, he pulled out what seemed to be a brooch in the shape of a ladybug. Simply placing it above Midoriya's damaged middle section, Jotaro watched the brooch as it radiated a golden energy before hovering over and entering the hole. It created the organs and parts needed to replace what DIO had destroyed.
Midoriya's body had been restored, and it looked as if nothing ever happened. Midoriya slowly began to regain consciousness, and slowly sat up.
"Jotaro?" He looked dazed for a second.
"Welcome back," Jotaro responded, "You doing alright?"
"Yeah I think so" he looked around for a few seconds before resuming, "I'm guessing DIO got away."
"That he did. And he thought he could get rid of you too. But you pulled through."
"I felt my insides get crushed...so how is it I survived and there are no marks left on my body?"
"You can thank Giorno's ability for that. His brooches store life energy which can replace damaged human parts."
"So DIO knows about All for One?"
"At this point, I wouldn't be surprised. But for now, we need to focus on the problem at hand, which right now is Endeavor."
"DIO said he had him, Shoto, and Dabi from the League under his control. Wait, what about that Corpse Part you have?"
"It'll work," Jotaro said while pulling it out, "But we'll have to defeat Endeavor first."
"Found you," boomed a voice from above. The yellow-flamed Endeavor began his descent downward. As he landed upon the ground the hot flames from his feet melted the asphalt. With every step he took, he left his footprint in the street.
"What did I miss?" Hawks rushed outside, with some of his feathers coagulated in the shape of a blade, which looked like a giant feather.
"You missed the insolence Young Midoriya created in front of The Noble One," Endeavor spoke, "For that, you shall all be punished!"