Watching Cream hurtle toward Jean Pierre Polnareff...
Jotaro suddenly understood.
Vanilla Ice's target had never actually been Avdol.
It had been Don Quixote and Jean Pierre Polnareff, who had forced DIO and Diavolo to stay hidden.
The core of their Stardust Crusaders team was undoubtedly Don Quixote.
He stood at the pinnacle of power, their most vital asset. Without him, they would have no way to resist their opponents.
Yet at this moment, Don Quixote's power seemed useless against this situation, perfectly countered by the enemy.
Only now did Jotaro realize it.
To capture the bandits, first capture their king. Naturally, Diavolo, DIO, and the others understood that principle.
Their earlier use of Avdol as bait had most likely been intended to lure Jean Pierre Polnareff into the trap.
Or they had wanted to provoke them with that talk of inescapable fate, making them lose their composure and fumble their moves.
The highest art of war was to attack the enemy's plans-to wage war on the mind.
Almost everyone present realized this at the same instant, and their expressions darkened.
Especially Kakyoin's.
He had already reached Avdol's side. It was too late to turn back and save Jean Pierre Polnareff.
Although Jean Pierre Polnareff was right beside Avdol, Kakyoin had no way to change his method of attack.
And as luck would have it, he couldn't land directly on Avdol, since that would crush him to death. The side he had chosen was opposite the one Jean Pierre Polnareff stood on.
"Damn it, are we really going to fall here?"
Josuke Higashikata's eyes widened.
"Hahahaha! Insignificant humans, grovel at my feet!"
DIO's voice rang out from the giant screen.
Jean Pierre Polnareff paid no attention to what DIO was saying. Beads of cold sweat had already formed at his temples.