Dio's heart raced as he sprinted back towards the filming set, his mind consumed by a mix of relief and lingering concern. He arrived to find Aqua and Kana safely in the care of the filming crew, their tear-streaked faces a testament to the ordeal they had endured. The crew members turned to Dio, their eyes widening at the sight of him, bloodied and bearing a metal pipe piercing through his shoulders.
"Where were you?" one of them asked, his voice laced with confusion. "And who's that kid? And why... why is there a metal pipe sticking out of your shoulder?"
Ignoring their barrage of questions, Dio caught his breath and scanned the area. His eyes narrowed with determination as he asked, "Where's Ai? Has she returned?"
A crew member, slightly taken aback by Dio's urgency, hesitated before responding. "Ai... she went with one of our crew members to search for you. They haven't returned yet."
Dread washed over Dio like a chilling wave. His instincts screamed at him that something was terribly wrong. Without a moment's hesitation, he turned on his heels and sprinted off again, disregarding the crew's bewildered calls.
As he raced through the surrounding area, Dio's mind raced with a mixture of fear and fury. He could only imagine the danger that awaited Ai in the clutches of the kidnapper masquerading as a crew member. His steps grew heavier, his determination fueling his every move.
In the distance, a white van came into view, and Dio's eyes narrowed. He noticed the unmistakable purple hair that Ai Hoshino was very proud of, and his entire body grew cold. He gritted his teeth and pushed his body to its limits, his pursuit becoming a symphony of pounding footfalls and ragged breaths.
With each passing second, the van grew closer to disappearing beyond his reach. Dio's muscles burned with exertion, but he refused to yield. He had come too far, fought too hard to let Ai slip through his fingers now.
Driven by a relentless resolve, Dio lunged forward, kicking away the driver of a motorcycle that was on the same road as they were in and ramped up the speed.
The air inside the van grew heavy with tension as the kidnappers realized Dio was relentless in his pursuit. One of them, his voice tinged with panic, shouted, "Tsk, we've got the crazy bodyguard on our tail!"
Ai, her heart pounding in her chest, mustered all her strength to sit upright. Her eyes widened in a mix of shock and relief as she made eye contact with Dio, who was wreaking havoc on his path to save her, committing several tragic felonies without hesitation.
"Get him off our tail! Shoot him if you have to!" The driver barked his orders, instilling a sense of dread within Ai. She mustered a desperate kick towards one of the kidnappers, but her actions were swiftly punished as a sharp slap across her face silenced her.
The kidnappers, their hearts filled with a twisted sense of amusement, grinned as they brandished their guns, protruding from the van's windows. Bullets rained down on Dio, their intentions clear.
Dio cursed as the motorcycle he rode absorbed most of the bullets, causing it to lose control and crash, triggering an explosion that sent shockwaves through the road. The kidnappers rejoiced, believing they had put an end to Dio's pursuit.
However, their jubilation was short-lived. From the smoke and flames emerged Dio, his battered body defying all odds, determined to reclaim what was rightfully his.
"YOU IMPUDENT WORMS, DARE TO TAKE AWAY WHAT'S MINE!?" Dio's voice reverberated with a mix of fury and desperation, his declaration echoing through the surrounding chaos.
As Ai heard his words, her cheeks flushed with a mixture of fluster and admiration. She gazed out of the car window, unable to tear her eyes away from the horrifying state Dio was in. His body was a canvas of wounds, blood dripping relentlessly, and the metal pipe lodged in his shoulder served as a testament to his indomitable will.
What frightened Ai even more was Dio's intermittent fading, as if he existed both within and outside the realms of reality. Each time he reappeared, he drew closer and closer, causing alarm among the kidnappers who futilely tried to gun him down.
In a desperate plea to his Stand, "THE WORLD," Dio summoned its power once again, halting time to propel himself forward, inch by inch. With a surge of adrenaline, he launched himself onto the rear of the van, his fingers clawing at its smooth surface.
"The bastard is crazy! Shake him off!" one of the kidnappers yelled, his voice filled with panic and disbelief.
Inside the van, Ai's eyes widened with a mix of anxiety and awe as she witnessed Dio clinging to their only chance of escape. Gratitude and concern swelled within her, knowing the immense risks he had taken and continued to take on her behalf.
Dio's grip tightened as he pulled himself up, his face etched with a raw and unwavering determination. He refused to allow anyone to snatch away the woman he cared for, not after all they had been through.
With the van hurtling down the road, Dio's gaze locked with Ai's through the small window. In that fleeting moment, a silent understanding passed between them—a bond forged through the crucible of adversity and their shared yearning for freedom.
Summoning his remaining strength, Dio shattered the small window with a determined blow and forcefully opened the door. Utilizing the power of his Stand, he pushed aside the startled kidnappers, forcing them to the very back of the van, and swiftly seized Ai in his arms.
"See you all in hell," Dio gasped, his voice laden with exhaustion and fury. He drew Ai closer to his blood-stained chest, sealing the
door behind them as his Stand, with a series of powerful punches, sent the van careening out of control, hurtling off the road and plunging into the depths of a nearby cliff.
As the van disappeared into the abyss, Dio and Ai clung to each other, finding solace in each other's arms.
"Are you... okay?" Ai asked in a hushed tone, fully knowing he wasn't but she couldn't think of anything else to say.
"Just...fine." Dio huffed as his consciousness faded back into the abyss once more.