Chapter 39. The Soul of Zeppeli

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Chapter 39. The Soul of Zeppeli

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"You let others bully you again, didn't you?" The girl said with a hint of frustration in her serious expression. "Why do you always put up with it without fighting back?"

In Christian-dominated Europe, turning the other cheek when struck was a traditional virtue written in the Bible. However, believing in such a notion would be foolish.

For the Anglo-Saxon barbarians, pillaging and plundering were ingrained in their DNA. They could even interpret Christian gratitude as a reason to kill those who helped them, so they could seize the land of the natives.

Under such circumstances, the doctrine was merely a tool to deceive outsiders. No one truly believed or followed it.

"Tomorrow... tomorrow, I will fight back," her brother said timidly, merely out of fear.

"When exactly is 'tomorrow'?" the girl demanded.

"Just... tomorrow..."

"What are you most afraid of, Poco?" she asked, watching him stammer without a proper answer. Suddenly, she slapped his face. "Are you most afraid of pain? If you continue like this, you'll never accomplish anything!"

"...!?"

"Don't you think that's even more terrifying?" she continued, ignoring Poco's near-tearful expression.

"Humph, ah, ah, ah..."

...

Just as viewers often unconsciously identify with characters in a story, in the previous episode of "Phantom Blood," Sora found himself resonating not with JOJO or Zeppeli, or even the antagonist DIO, but with Poco, the weak-willed boy hypnotized by DIO.

The reason? It was an unspoken connection between a recluse and another recluse. Even though Poco's time did not have concepts like NEETs or otakus, his fear of the outside world, disdain for glorified youth, and the solitary hero's mentality were familiar to Sora.

He almost saw himself in Poco.

Of course, unlike Poco, Sora felt he wasn't so cowardly as to not fight back when bullied.

Therefore, seeing Poco, initially weak and scared, gather courage to help JOJO and Zeppeli, inspired by his fear of his family being killed by DIO's monsters, was a significant moment for Sora.

Poco's determination to unlock the iron gate despite his injuries resonated deeply with him. It made Sora feel like he, too, could face his fears... though maybe not leave his room just yet.

Naturally, Sora didn't want Zeppeli, who preached and embodied the "Human hymn is a hymn of courage," to meet a swift demise.

However...

"In an ancient, corpse-stenched chamber, a child opens the door. To free a young lion shackled in chains and lead him toward the future, you will burn your wound and soon meet a brutal death."

"..."

How familiar.

As if the prophecy he tried to forget came back to him upon entering the hall of the Two-Headed Dragon Prison, where JOJO and Tarkus stood chained and facing each other. The walls, stained dark red by years of bloodshed, painted a grim picture.

Zeppeli felt as if he could see his impending death, right here. His instinct made him stop before JOJO and Tarkus. Should he run?

If this was his destined death, did it mean that overcoming it would spare him?

If JOJO's sacrifice wasn't in vain, could he break his fate and avenge JOJO, perhaps even defeat DIO?

"Uncle Zeppeli?"

"...!?"

"Be careful, Uncle!!"

Speedwagon, unaware of the prophecy but seeing Zeppeli's cold sweat, urged him. Speedwagon felt helpless, unable to aid like JOJO or Zeppeli with their unique skills. He couldn't even do what Poco did, sneaking through the vent to open the door.

All he could do was cheer them on from behind, hoping to alleviate Zeppeli's tension even a little.

"..."

Zeppeli, snapped out of his thoughts by Speedwagon's emotional outburst, cleared his mind of distractions.

With a deep breath, his resolve returned. After all, he had prepared for this fate since he first learned of the prophecy.

The human hymn is a hymn of courage. Ripple breathing, born of courage, should never be disrupted by fear. This was what he taught JOJO. How could he, the teacher, forget it now?

"I'm going, JOJO!!"

If this was his destiny, then to free the young lion from chains and lead him to the future, he had no regrets.

This was he, Will A. Zeppeli, and the burning soul within him!