He's in Marvel, working behind the scenes.

Having witnessed firsthand the extent of the other party's malice and knowing just how powerful they were, Gokudera Hayato still couldn't believe it even after learning the truth from Chrome.

As the saying goes...

The people who know you best are not yourself, but your rivals and friends.

Hayato Gokudera was neither Rokudo Mukuro's friend nor his rival. However, he remained wary of this man who acted without restraint and whose thoughts were unfathomable, and thus kept a close eye on him, understanding him quite well.

Rokudo Mukuro didn't actually die like that, though it was pretty much the same.

Isn't this guy human himself?

Watching Dio's head fly back onto his neck, tentacles sprouting from the severed end, and the wound stitched up like surgical sutures, Rokudo Mukuro's eyes narrowed slightly as he realized he had made a grave mistake.

Because Dio has been using his Stand ability all along, he has subconsciously ignored his true self.

It seems this is the end for me!

With his throat pierced and a large amount of blood drained, his strength rapidly diminished. Even if Dio stopped at this moment, this body would never return.

With this in mind, Rokudo Mukuro transmitted Dio's information to Chrome through a mental link.

"Too bad, you would have won if you had stabbed me in the head."

Dio looked smug and said arrogantly, "But you chose beheading. Although that would be the most accurate choice for a normal person, it wouldn't work for me, because I am the chosen one."

"The Mandate of Heaven?"

Rokudo Mukuro couldn't help but sneer. Although his body had become as ugly as a withered tree due to blood loss, and his consciousness was so blurred that he was about to completely sink into oblivion, his expression and laughter were extremely comical.

But it still sounded harsh to Dior.

Because he understood what the other person meant.

"Are you so eager to die?"

Dio snorted coldly, his veins suddenly contracted, sucking out the last drop of blood, before tossing the corpse away.

However, as the corpse flew out, the blood-red eyes still shone with contempt, and the number in the eyes jumped from six to two.

Hungry Ghost Realm, activate!

Dior froze, his gaze fading.

It was late at night, and the bright moon hung high in the sky.

The cool moonlight shone down, filling this dirty, dilapidated, and impoverished town, which was so poor that it didn't even have lights, with brightness.

"Is this the place where I was born?"

Looking at the familiar surroundings, Dio's expression shifted before finally settling down. "Is this an illusion? Even in death, they won't let me have some peace!"

Although Dio didn't understand what Rokudo Mukuro's final expression of contempt and the changing numbers in his eyes meant, he knew that the other party wouldn't do anything meaningless at this time.

The changes in his current environment must be that guy's doing.

"Hallucination?"

A familiar voice came from behind.

Dio was startled and turned around abruptly to see that familiar figure standing on the dirty and dilapidated street.

"Rokudo Mukuro!"

Dior's pupils contracted slightly.

"Hmph hmph hmph"

Rokudo Mukuro smiled slightly and said, "This is not an illusion, but your consciousness space. We are all spiritual beings."

"Consciousness space?"

Dio looked puzzled, then realized: this guy could control others by possessing them, and he had been possessed.

But this guy is cunning, why would he be so kind as to tell me all this?

"Don't be surprised."

Seemingly sensing Dio's doubts, Rokudo Mukuro smiled and said, "This is your consciousness space. Even if I don't tell you, you will find out soon enough."

Furthermore, my body is already dead.

My only option is to take over your body.

In other words, only one of us can survive.

"Thank you for clarifying things."

Dio couldn't help but sneer, "But you actually entered the consciousness space of a Stand user and tried to take over his body. That's incredibly stupid."

Spirit is a spiritual energy entity.

In other words, each Stand user possesses extremely strong mental power.

"Is that energy entity called a substitute?"

Hearing Dio's explanation, Rokudo Mukuro chuckled softly, "Then let's see if it's the Stand user or the illusionist's mental power that's stronger!"

"Hmph, like an ant trying to shake a tree, try and destroy it!"

The Stand World emerged from Dio's body, unleashing its power of time, before converging.

The world instantly turned gray.

Time stood still, and all things fell into silence.

"Humph!"

Dio scoffed disdainfully, slowly approaching Rokudo Mukuro, and said, "If you had used this ability to escape, I wouldn't have been able to do anything to you. But you were foolish enough to try and take over my body, Rokudo Mukuro. It was your greed that killed you. Die!"

As soon as the words were spoken, the world suddenly threw a punch.

Just as the fist was about to smash his head, at the critical moment, Rokudo Mukuro moved.

He ducked and dodged World's punch, his trident thrusting out from under World's armpit, aiming for Dio behind him.

The attack was so sudden that Dio was caught off guard and couldn't dodge in time.

Fortunately, due to the Stand world blocking his way, Rokudo Mukuro had limited options for thrusting angles; even at the best angle, he could only pierce the left abdomen.

However, only the left abdomen was pierced.

But Dior had been repeatedly ambushed from the beginning, and now he was being plotted against again.

Coupled with the rage caused by the opponent's actions during the time freeze, Dio was both shocked and furious. His Stand World turned around and threw a punch.

However, since Rokudo Mukuro had already made his plans, how could he not have anticipated Dio's reaction?

He succeeded in his sneak attack, and without pausing, he withdrew his halberd and retreated, causing the world's furious blow to miss its mark.

To prevent Dio from angrily pursuing him, Rokudo Mukuro retreated more than ten meters before stopping, standing in the air and looking at Dio from a distance.

"Why can you move, kid?"

Dior's voice was low, and a shadow fell over his face.

Rokudo Mukuro couldn't help but burst into laughter. "No way, you didn't even think of that?"

Dior's face darkened further.

But he did not answer.

More than the humiliation of being mocked, he wanted to know the secret of how the other party could move while time stood still.

"Really? You really didn't know?"

Rokudo Mukuro looked completely surprised, which made Dio's blood pressure rise to its limit.

Oh, this is a spiritual entity, so there is no blood.

At the same time, the injury to his waist and abdomen will not heal.

Dio noticed the pain in his lower back and realized that the battle between spiritual beings was different from the battle between physical beings. He could no longer rely on his vampire physique to engage in a battle of attrition.

At the same time, he also figured out why Rokudo Mukuro was able to move while time was frozen.

He immediately curled his lips into a sneer of disdain.

"They're just benefiting from my fame, yet they're still putting on airs."

This is Dio's consciousness space, within his body.

Since Dio is unaffected by the time freeze, the same applies to his consciousness space, and therefore Rokudo Mukuro within him will naturally not be affected either.

Rokudo Mukuro had anticipated this, which is why he invaded Rokudo Mukuro's consciousness space before his consciousness dissipated.

"Looks like you're not too stupid."

Rokudo Mukuro appeared relaxed and at ease, seemingly in control of the situation.

This made Dior very unhappy.

Just as he was about to say some polite words, Rokudo Mukuro's expression hardened, and he said seriously, "These little tricks can only go this far. If you want to determine the winner, you still have to rely on real skills."

"I thought you'd just keep talking!"

Dior said dismissively.

However, despite saying that, Dio did not provoke Rokudo Mukuro any further, but instead summoned his Stand World and assumed a fighting stance.

He had already witnessed firsthand the other party's cunning, which was in no way inferior to his own. Coupled with the other party's ever-evolving abilities, continuing to resort to underhanded tricks without knowing their true strength would most likely result in him suffering the consequences.

Therefore, he didn't want to waste his breath on unnecessary nonsense.

"I have six combat abilities, but the one I hate the most is the Human Path!"

Rokudo Mukuro raised his right hand, covering his right eye. An ominous mist, almost black with purple, emanated from it, seeping through his fingers. "Because we live in the Human Realm, the most cruel and ugly world among the Six Realms."

I hate this world, therefore I hate this ability!

If possible, I would rather not initiate it.

Because this human realm possesses the ugliest and most dangerous abilities.

As he spoke, an ominous, purplish-black substance invaded Rokudo Mukuro's body, turning his entire right side purplish-black. Cracks also appeared on his left cheek and collarbone.

At the same time, he exuded a thick, dark aura that seemed to be eroding the surrounding space.

"Hmph, putting on airs!"