Provocation

Times are constantly progressing, but some classics never fade.

Li Qing, of course, wouldn't be like Giorno, an "uninformed ancient person," who would become interested simply by seeing a thick, bulky television with unclear picture quality.

However, the classic programs playing on the television could attract his attention.

Then

Upon hearing the familiar music that seemed to have traveled from his childhood memories, Li Qing immediately lost control of himself.

The strange thought of "wanting to watch TV" naturally arose in his mind, and then this thought continued to expand and grow in his brain, causing him to take off his armor.

"Digitization Mode, deactivated!"

In order to watch TV, Li Qing actually voluntarily deactivated her digital identity.

What's truly terrifying is that his mind wasn't completely under control.

Throughout this entire process, Li Qing felt extremely heavy-hearted, even burdened by a deep sense of guilt:

"Stop!"

"No. Absolutely not!"

At this moment, he felt as if he had returned to the eve of his middle school entrance exam, the college entrance exam, and the final exams in college—

Even their mental activities are exactly the same as before:

"Stop, Li Qing!"

"How can you waste time on such trivial things at such a crucial moment?"

"Go to bed early/read/review/exercise/fight!"

The situations and backgrounds may differ, but the outcome of these internal struggles is always the same:

Just one look.

"We're doomed!"

Abbacchio and Narancia, watching from a distance, looked ashen-faced.

"Li Qing has also been infected!"

Amidst their despairing gazes, Li Qing, the only one with any hope of defeating his opponent, was also utterly succumbed to the enemy's Stand ability.

He stood intently in front of the old television watching Tiga Ultraman, a blissful smile on his face that seemed untouched by anything else.

That's all.

Two were watching TV, and one was reading a newspaper; all of Li Qing's available combat forces had fallen into Fernando's control.

Fernando himself doesn't seem to be in good condition either.

He had just been nearly smashed in half by Li Qing, his skin torn and bleeding profusely, and his arm, which had been subjected to excessive force, was twisted and deformed in a bizarre way.

Even so, Fernando still showed no signs of defeat.

He was like an addict who had taken an overdose of stimulants and could not feel pain, his face glowing with an abnormal redness, and his bloodshot eyes filled with madness.

"It's a success! It's finally a success!"

"Hahaha"

"Li Qing has been captured!"

"Orlanto, can you set me free now?"

Fernando was talking to himself so erratically that it looked like he was talking to thin air.

In this bizarre conversation where no one else could be found, Fernando was surprisingly engrossed in the conversation:

"What?"

"It's not over yet!"

"You... you actually want me to use Li Qing as bait to lure the boss out?"

"Orlanto, you're a madman!"

He gritted his teeth and cursed at the air:

"If you want to die, why don't you just go die yourself? Why do you have to drag me into this?"

"."

After a heated exchange, Fernando suddenly clutched his head in agony.

"Damn it! I... I understand!"

"Stop bothering me, I'm calling my boss right now!"

By this point, his forehead was covered in cold sweat.

Sweat dripped down his back with his heavy breathing, quickly soaking most of his suit and shirt.

Fernando, panting heavily, used his only intact hand to fumble for his phone, trembling as he tried to call Diavolo.

However, at this moment

Abbacchio's slightest attempt to move his body quietly woke him up.

"Oh?"

Fernando's mind cleared up considerably immediately.

He immediately picked up the knife from the ground and held it to Li Qing's neck:

"I almost forgot that there are still a few 'students' who have never received an education."

"How"

Fernando scanned with his wary gaze the Abbacchio who was trying to make a move, the Narancia was struggling to stand up but was still trembling, the Fugo who was slumped on the ground in silence, and Mista had been completely asleep under the old willow tree by the roadside from the beginning.

"Hehe."

"You bunch of defeated soldiers, are you really going to face the test of 'Time Flies'?"

"."

Abbacchio's face looked very grim.

His own Stand ability is not very effective in combat, and he hasn't figured out any way to counter the enemy's Stand ability yet.

Although it's a little embarrassing to admit, the truth is that the moment Li Qing was hit, Abbacchio had already given up all hope for the fight.

"Very good."

Looking at Abbacchio, who stood frozen in place like a wooden statue, Fernando smiled with satisfaction.

"I will let you go as long as you stop getting in my way."

"But."

"They can't do it."

Fernando first pointed to Li Qing, then to Giorno and Bucciarati:

"They have all walked into my 'classroom'."

"The garbage that wastes time in my 'classroom' should be thoroughly disposed of; this is my life motto as a teacher!"

"Ha ha ha ha."

"No, no!"

With his weak and feeble body, Narancia cried out loudly with great difficulty:

"Please, at least let Bucciarati go."

"No!"

Fernando grinned maliciously and ignored Narancia's pleas:

"I said, this is my principle as a teacher!"

I don't need your help.

Tears welled in his eyes, and Narancia became even more humble.

While sacrificing his dignity to plead for his best friend, he desperately tried to regulate his breathing and concentrate his mind, hoping to summon Aerosmith to save his companion.

However, he still failed.

Perhaps because the virus was too virulent, Narancia now completely exhausted.

He could feel his blood burning abnormally hot. The excessive body temperature severely affected his brain's function, making it impossible for him to concentrate on summoning his Stand no matter how hard he tried.

"Enough!"

Fernando ultimately showed no mercy:

"Playing the victim in front of me won't work."

"Students who waste time deserve to die, and that will never change!"

He arrogantly declared that he would kill all the hostages, and pressed the blade closer to Li Qing's neck.

Abbacchio and his companions wanted to stop him but dared not, and of course, they were powerless to do so.

And just then...

"Hehe."

A cold laugh filled with disdain suddenly broke the tense atmosphere.

The one who let out that laughter was none other than Fugo, who had been limp and collapsed to the ground from the very beginning and hadn't uttered a sound the entire time.

"Teacher?"

"He's clearly a madman!"

He grinned mockingly, blatantly humiliating Fernando:

"And you say your students are wasting time."

"Isn't it simply because your lectures are too boring that the students can't concentrate?"

"What did you say?!"

Upon hearing this, Fernando instantly lost his temper.

Fugo's words and actions at this moment were strikingly similar to those "trash" students who refused to listen attentively in class and instead mocked the teacher:

"Was what I said boring?"

"You said it, didn't you?!"

"Asshole."

Fernando's eyes almost spit fire:

"Trash, you trash student."

"You come up with such a lame excuse because you don't want to study. Teacher, you will never forgive me!"

"Hehe."

Fugo gave another cold laugh.

He completely ignored the burning killing intent emanating from Fernando and continued his reckless provocation:

"Stop playing house, Fernando."

"Bad is bad, boring is boring. No matter how crazy you go, you can't change the fact that your teaching level is poor!"

"Besides."

Fugo curled his lip in disdain:

"I'm not some trash student."

"I was born into a first-class aristocratic family in Naples and received the best aristocratic education from a young age. I skipped a grade to enter junior high school at the age of eight, completed the entire high school curriculum by self-study at the age of ten, and was Italy the best university in Italy at the age of thirteen because of my excellent grades."

"How dare you, a third-rate teacher from a shoddy school, give me your lesson?"

"Asshole!!"

"Saying something like that is just asking for death!"

Fernando roared to the sky in uncontrollable rage.

"Yes!"

"My comrades are about to die at the hands of you, you madman. Why would I be afraid of death?"

Fugo met Fernando's frenzied, predatory gaze without flinching:

"If you're capable..."

"You killed me too!"