Gyalzen POV

I watched in horror as Kakyoin was abruptly blown back, a gaping hole in his chest!

He was launched through the air before coming into contact with a nearby water tower! Joseph called out "KAKYOIN!" 

There were no words for what had just happened, one moment it seems he'd formulated the perfect defence, making such a network with Hierophants tendrils. Yet he'd abruptly been knocked back out of nowhere. 

Said tendrils began to melt away, I wanted to rush over and help. But I knew it was too late, the wound was fatal, Kakyoin made no indication of moving at all. My attention shifted though as I turned to see DIO stood near Joseph, saying "Joseph... You're next. For Jonathan's body to become completely mine. I must drink the blood of a Joestar."

Now that, I knew I had to interfere with, still not knowing the true nature of DIO's Stand. I couldn't let Joseph fight him alone. I'd trusted Kakyoin's strategy and look where that got him.

Joseph snapped "You won't get away this time, I'll take that body back for Granny Erina!" DIO asked "Erina? That country bumpkin?"

While he seemed distracted talking, I used this chance sneaking across the rooftops to get closer. Maybe, just maybe I could get the drop on him.

Of course, that went out of the window almost straight away. DIO was perceptive, he didn't even look at me but I heard him saying. "I haven't forgotten about you monk. If you don't mind, wait your turn, I shall see to you once my business with Joseph is concluded." I scowled in anger, about to attack, when something happened.

Kakyoin fired one last Emerald Splash. Not at DIO though, the projectile flew through the air and collided with a nearby clock tower.

This action caught the attention of all three of us. DIO stated "A final pathetic attack. Behold a 'hero' in the throes of death." I however knew different, as did Joseph from the look on his face.

I barely knew Kakyoin, but if he was travelling with Joseph, he wouldn't be the sort of person to give in. There had to be something, perhaps a hidden meaning to attacking the clock tower.

My attention shifted to Kakyoin just to see him close his eyes one more time. Just like Avdol and Iggy, he had fallen in battle against DIO. Joseph cried out "KAKYOIN!" And in all honesty, it brought back memories to Caesar's death all those years ago.

We weren't distracted for long, both of us turned to DIO calling out "Hermit Purple!" and "Page of Cups!" Joseph's purple vines wrapped around DIO's body while my Stand attempted to launch a gust of Hamon-infused steam towards DIO's head.

DIO effortlessly escaped though, breaking free from the vines and dodging the gust of steam as he remarked "You senile fools! You two have the weakest Stands of all!" As soon as he said this, Joseph went on the retreat with me close behind.

DIO roared "You can't escape!" And pursued after us, it was just like before, swinging around to escape DIO. As we did, Joseph asked "Gyalzen, why did Kakyoin destroy the clock? Was he trying to tell us something?"

I replied "Perhaps, but what? Do you think he discovered the nature of DIO's Stand?" Joseph said "He attacked the clock, he destroyed the hands. He stopped the..." At this, he stopped. Both of us understood what had just happened.

TIME! DIO's Stand had the ability to STOP TIME!

It all made sense, the antics with the coffin, how his Stand seemingly ambushed us from nowhere on the road and lastly, how it effortlessly escaped Kakyoin's trap! He'd managed to stop time before any of us can react!

In attacking the clock, Kakyoin had given us one final dying message. For that I was extremely grateful to him. Now it was down to us to use this information to emerge victorious. But how? We knew what his Stand did now, but had no idea how it worked!

Turning back to face DIO, we saw him vanish which made us come to a stop on a rooftop. It was clear he'd used his ability to stop time again. None of us had died though. Where had he gone.

That's when we noticed him behind us, he went in to attack before abruptly stopping. This prompted Joseph to ask "Aren't you going to hit me DIO?" I summoned my Stand but didn't attack. I just needed enough steam. I did however, coat myself in a veil of steam which I conducted Hamon into.

DIO looked at us, saying "So, you're both running Hamon through your body to protect yourselves. You Joseph, have wrapped yourself with Hamon infused Hermit Purple. And you, Gyalzen was it? Have coated yourself in a veil of steam, also infused with Hamon. Very resourceful. Truly a pair of geriatric genius'."

Looking at me specifically, he said "I honestly didn't expect another Hamon user to arise. I assume by your age that you're an old friend of Joseph's who got roped in to his family dilemma."

I nodded, trying to stall him as steam continued to be generated from my Stand's presence. "Yes, and you're DIO. I've heard stories about you but it's good to finally put a face to the name." 

Joseph pulled a bit of his shirt aside to reveal Hermit Purple indeed wrapped around his torso. He explained "You figured out I was using Hamon and made sure not to touch me. But we've figured one thing out about your Stand."

He paused for a moment, revealing "DIO, you can stop time, but only for a short while! Only for about three or four seconds. If you could stop time longer, you would have already killed us back at your mansion and you wouldn't have had to come after us."

DIO simply folded his arms, looking unimpressed as he spoke "So, you understand the World's ability? Kudos, both of you." Joseph spoke "It was Kakyoin who figured it out. Kakyoin didn't die in vain!"

DIO's smirk grew "And so what? So what if you know my ability? What can your pathetic Hamon do?!" At this, I'd had enough. Everything had lead up to this point. I scowled and spoke "You're about to find out."

I knew my Hamon veil wasn't protecting my Stand, but I was too focussed on having my Stand lash out with a palm-thrust. DIO spoke "Very well, if you want to be the first to die. So be it, old man."

The World appeared in front of him, raising an arm to defend from the attack. I followed up with a round-house kick which was also blocked. The World managed to catch my leg which caused DIO to ridicule "I can touch your Stand, seems your veil only protects damage to you. What were you thinking?"

I smirked "You'll see." I had my Stand break from the World's grip only for it to respond by sending both fists into my chest.

The damage on my Stand reflected on me, making me double over in pain as I coughed up a bit of blood. At this DIO brought up "Your attacks are weak, it seems your Stand isn't designed for fighting. What did you stand to gain from facing me alone?"

At this, Joseph finally intervened, he lashed out, swiping with Hermit Purple infused with Hamon. DIO barely managed to dodge, in doing so, we saw a smirk now appear across his face as he said. 

"Well, look at this. Not only do I get to exterminate Jonathan's grandson, but I also get to remove another Hamon user. It may have given me problems one hundred years ago and killed my brother, but against the power of The World. I've humoured you both up to now. But now I intend to end this."

It was now that I revealed my plan. "Oh really? Look around." It was now he noticed the steam that had filled the air. Not as much as I'd have hoped, but enough to put my plan into motion. 

I explained "I only had to stall you, keep you distracted enough to not stop time. All the while my Stand has given off an aura of steam which now surrounds us. In my long years, I've learned Hamon conducts through steam quite well."

I began walking towards DIO as he asked "So, you wanted to build up enough steam to send one powerful burst of Hamon through it." I nodded as I walked "Exactly, and I know just how to do it."

Jumping into the air, I extended my legs out in a slow kick. Joseph recognized what I was doing as I heard him mutter "Is that...?" DIO just raised an eyebrow before effortlessly catching both of my feet.

This was what I wanted.

My legs spread into a split "With the surge of this attack, combined with the surrounding steam. Even The World won't survive! Behold my THUNDER CROSS SPLIT ATTACK! Joseph, NOW!" Joseph summoned Hermit Purple and lashed out as well from behind, we had him surrounded.

What I didn't expect was for DIO to start LAUGHING before he announced "THE WORLD!"

In an instant, he was gone, before I could regain myself. A fist, struck my head! I would have died, had some left over Hamon-infused steam from my earlier veil not cushioned the blow. Even so, it hit me with enough force that I knew I wouldn't be able to fight back.

I collapsed to the ground, blood seeping from the newly-made wound. The last thing I heard DIO say was a mocking statement.

"You know, one hundred years ago a monk like yourself performed that very same trick on me. Seeing it again brought a wave of nostalgia. But, I was able to defeat it then, and with the power of The World, you were fighting a losing battle."

Leaning down, he spoke "I could have stopped time at any point. I just wanted to humour you. Farewell, Hamon user."

With that, all went black. I'd failed, it was up to the others now...

Joseph POV

"GYALZEN!"

I called out in shock as DIO reached down, picking my friend up and saying "One down." He proceeded to attempt to throw him off the building's roof. I barely managed to intervene, calling out "HERMIT PURPLE!"

My Stand was able to catch him and pull him back up. In doing so, I managed to check for a pulse. The dread I felt disappeared when I got a faint detection of one. Gyalzen wasn't dead, just unconscious. 

For a moment, I flashed back to Caesar's death. Had Gyalzen also died, I don't know what I'd have done. I glared at DIO as he stood over me. Turning to me, he said "Now that your friend is out of the way. I can finally have my drink."

I felt enraged as I yelled "HERMIT PURPLE AND HAMON!" I send out a cascade of vines to which DIO laughed. "Enough! I've had enough of you Hamon users now. I don't even need to touch your Hamon to attack you!"

The World proceeded to punch this ground, shards of rock pelted my body and sent me off the roof! I nearly fell to my death right then and there, however I managed to use Hermit Purple once more to break my fall.

I got back up to my hands and knees, looking back up to the roof. I muttered "Gyalzen..." He'd barely lasted a minute or two, and that was because DIO was humouring him. His display against Kakyoin made it clear what he could do if he was serious.

How could we combat such terrifying power!

Author's Note: And that's it for this chapter, Gyalzen's last fight now. He's not dead but he is incapacitated, he won't appear again until the epilogue chapter now. The reason this fight was kind of short is because DIO was literally toying with Gyalzen to see what he could do since he'd never seen his Stand before now. I really hope you enjoyed the chapter and as always, thank you for reading.