Poison Fights Poison

A moment ago.

Li Qing proposed an unexpected idea:

"The secret to immunity to fungi may very well be related to soil!"

My grandfather once said...

He recalled his grandfather, a farmer who had spent most of his life farming:

"When I was farming in the countryside, I walked barefoot in the mud every day and never got athlete's foot in most of my life."

"But once things got better and we moved to the city, we couldn't get our feet dirty anymore, and then all sorts of problems like athlete's foot and onychomycosis started to appear."

Athlete's foot is also a type of fungus.

"I think there's very likely something in the soil that can inhibit fungal growth!"

Li Qing, as if grasping at a lifeline, said with immense excitement:

"That guy developed immunity to fungi because he spends all his time in the mud!"

"There's such a saying?"

Upon hearing about this folk remedy of "treating athlete's foot with mud," Bucciarati and the others all expressed their incomprehension.

The traditional methods that farmers painstakingly develop in the fields are things that these "greenhouse flowers" born in developed countries could never know.

But

Upon hearing Li Qing's words, the academically gifted young man, Fugo, suddenly realized something:

"Soil inhibits fungi?"

"Wait, I understand!"

His eyes lit up, and he said excitedly:

"The reason why soil can cure athlete's foot is not because there is any special medicine in the soil that inhibits the growth of fungi."

"On the contrary, athlete's foot can be cured by soil because soil contains a wider variety of fungi and bacteria with stronger vitality!"

"That's right."

"This is what's called an 'antagonistic' effect!"

A moment of silence.

Narancia: "???"

Mista: "Huh?"

Bucciarati, Giorno, Abbacchio exchanged bewildered glances. "Speak like a human."

Li Qing, however, came to his senses.

This is because of the superiority of the Chinese language in expressing word meaning.

The term "antagonism" is a long, academic term in Italy, making it difficult for those without specialized knowledge to understand its meaning.

However, after this word was translated into Chinese and entered Li Qing's mind, it became the simple word "antagonism":

"Jie" refers to coercion and oppression; "kang" refers to resistance and defense.

"I see!"

Li Qing quickly understood what Fugo was trying to say:

"Survival of the fittest."

"Human skin is only a small area with limited resources and nutrition. Only the most competitive types of fungi can survive to the end and occupy this territory!"

"The fungus that defeated the fungus was another kind of fungus!"

"That's right."

Fugo, suppressing his excitement, explained carefully:

"The term 'antagonism' refers to the antagonistic interaction between microbial colonies."

"Anyone who knows biology knows that when one type of fungus grows, it will encroach on the living space of other fungi."

"The soil contains a wide variety of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes, algae, and countless others."

"Soil can cure athlete's foot because when a person's feet touch the soil, more soil-borne bacteria can invade the skin, thus completely eradicating the athlete's foot fungus that is the 'native' of the skin."

As he spoke, Fugo gave an example that was very politically incorrect in their culture:

"Just like when white people landed on the American continent!"

Then he explained in detail:

"Survival of the fittest; organisms will evolve in a directional manner according to their growth environment."

"Therefore, although those parasites that specialize in attacking humans can resist the human immune system, they cannot resist their 'fellows' in nature."

"While microorganisms in nature can defeat those 'greenhouse flowers,' they cannot resist the powerful immune system of the human body!"

"I see!"

Giorno, a middle school student who has always been extremely interested in biology, has also caught up with Li Qing and Fugo's pace:

"I've seen it in documentaries before. Some fungi even secrete secondary metabolites, usually various antibiotics, in order to compete for living space."

"The so-called penicillin is a weapon of war specially created by some fungi in the Penicillium genus to kill their competitors!"

"Everything has its counter."

"As long as we make good use of the characteristics of fungi, we humans will ultimately benefit."

At this point, everyone except Narancia, who still looked puzzled, understood the method for curing the fungus.

So, how do we use this method?

Everyone turned their expectant gaze toward Giorno.

The ability to create life is simply too powerful.

Compared to animals and plants, microorganisms such as fungi and bacteria are merely "inferior life forms" that are extremely low in level.

Giorno can create towering trees with a wave of his hand, so there's no reason why he can't create these microorganisms.

"I'll give it a try."

He solemnly accepted everyone's expectations, and the Gold Experience immediately appeared before him:

"Wood big wood big wood big wood big!"

"How is this possible?!"

On the vast lawn, Secco's incredulous cries echoed:

"Why are you all alright?!"

"Because of knowledge."

"Knowledge is power."

Here are the answers people gave.

Giorno certainly lacked experience in creating microorganisms.

But microorganisms don't need to be created by him; they are already active in the soil and air, living in every corner of this earth.

Giorno merely attempted to force a citrus tree to grow, causing it to bear a large number of citrus fruits, and accelerated its growth process with excessive vitality.

Soon

Microorganisms are attracted by the rich nutrients on the citrus fruit, and due to the excessive vitality injected by the Gold Experience, they multiply rapidly, causing the citrus fruit to rot and decay.

Thus, greenish-white colonies composed mainly of Penicillium were born.

Giorno infused Gold Experience with life force and transplanted these Penicillium molds, which looked remarkably similar to the killer fungus, onto Li Qing and the others.

Soon, a terrifying green and white downy hair appeared on their bodies.

Although they looked terrifying, these green and white fungal blocks were a strong shield protecting the lives of Li Qing and the others.

While excessive exposure to Penicillium can also lead to illnesses like pneumonia, it is a hundred times milder than the deadly fungus released by Jokulrat.

That's all.

The transplanted fungus and the human body have achieved a mutually beneficial symbiotic relationship.

They firmly occupied their territory, driving away the deadly fungi that would devour human flesh.

This is very likely the reason why Secco be immune to fungi.

According to Li Qing and others' speculation, because Secco's Stand ability often involves swimming in the mud, the bacteria on his body have already undergone a fundamental replacement.

These microbial species, invisible to the naked eye, have achieved a benign symbiotic relationship with him. Instead of making him sick, they provide him with an almost permanent "shield" of immunity against deadly fungi.

"These killer fungi."

"They're completely useless to us now!"

Li Qing stared coldly at Secco, his eyes filled with barely suppressed anger:

"Tell me, how do you plan to die?"

"Aaaaaah!"

Secco let out a panicked scream.

His instinct was to liquefy the ground and escape into the thick rock and soil.

However, it had no effect whatsoever.

Several zippers on Secco's body had been unzipped by Steel Chain Fingers, and now he was like a tattered rag doll, unable to move at all.

As he attempted to use his ability to penetrate the ground, the Steel Chain Fingers casually created a zipper in the earth, shoving aside the soil like digging up a potato, and violently yanked Secco's head out:

"Ali Ali Ali Ali Ali!"

Another burst of blue fist shadows.

The zipper around Secco's neck was completely unzipped, and his head and body were separated.

Bucciarati grabbed Secco's head with one hand, staring directly into his fear-filled pupils with eyes burning with rage:

"I have killed people, and a lot of them."

"But only you and your unseen companion can arouse such a strong desire to kill in me."

Because I know.

"Human trash like you, so filthy and despicable, have no right to remain in this beautiful world!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Bucciarati, like a basketball player serving, casually tossed Secco's severed head high into the air.

"Don't want!!"

Secco let out a piercing wail.

But no one will sympathize, and no one will stop it.

Soon, the Steel Chain Fingers were the first to catch the "ball":

"Ali Ali Ali Ali Ali!"

"Ali Ali Ali Ali Ali!"

Endless blue fist shadows pounded on Secco's head like a storm.

His skull shattered into pieces in the relentless force of the punches, and his facial features and cheeks were twisted and deformed as a result.

Then, the "ball" flew out.

Giorno received the ball, and he also had Gold Experience:

"Wood big wood big wood big wood big!"

"Wood big wood big wood big wood big!"

Secco's head was bathed in this golden storm, almost crushed into mud by the overwhelming force of the fist.

Final.

Li Qing opened his horse stance, gathered his energy, and tensed his muscles to gather all his strength.

"I'll hit you!!"

A strange roar, overflowing with rage, rang out.

Secco's head then exploded into a puddle of mud in mid-air.