The Three from a Faraway Land (story arc)

The Three from a Faraway Land (遥かな国からの3人) is the ninth story arc in Phantom Blood.

Summary
With Jonathan still taking the death of Zeppeli hard while reaching Windknight's Lot, he, Speedwagon, and Poco encounter Mr. Adams, one of the villagers who at first reacts friendly towards them. But after passing Adams, they realize he became a zombie and Jonathan easily defeats him. Another figure then appears, confirming the villagers has been mostly turned into zombies before attacking Jonathan. It was after Jonathan countered his "Thunder Split Attack" with a head-butt that figure, introducing him as Dire, explains that he is not a zombie, explains was merely testing Jonathan. Dire adds that he also a friend of Zeppeli, giving Jonathan a letter from Zeppeli as two other figures appear: Straizo and Zeppeli's mentor Tonpetty. Once introductions were made, Tonpetty learns that his prophecy of Zeppeli's death had come to pass. When the group arrives to Poco's house, the boy learned from his upset father that his sister is missing.

It turned out that Dio is holding Poco's sister at his castle, temping her into consider to become a member of his undead legion of her free will. But the girl slaps Dio, telling him that he is a monster despite resembling a man. Dio proceeds to leave the "mademoiselle" while giving his Zombie Doobie permission to do whatever he wants to her. Poco's sister is saved at the last second by Jonathan, who uses his Ripple to have Doobie be destroyed by his own snakes. Afterwards, Jonathan leaves to find Dio. When Dio sees Jonathan entering his chamber, he orders his zombies to stand away as he hoped that Tarkus and Bruford would give Jonathan a merciful death. But Jonathan's insistence convinces Dio that he needs to deal with his rival himself, Jonathan admitting his hatred towards Dio and intends to put an end to him.

But Jonathan is stopped by Dire, who explains the wishes to fight Dio to avenge his friend Zeppeli. Despite Jonathan's attempt to warn Dire of Dio's flash freezing technique, the Ripple user uses his signature attack forced Dio's arms apart to leave himself defenseless against another attack. But Dio flash-freezes Dire's entire body from the neck down, completely shattering the Ripple user as his head lands on the rosebed. Dire's head survives long enough and launch a Ripple-infused rose at Dio, impaling the vampire in his right eye while his gaze was towards Jonathan.

Chapters

 * 036. The Three from a Faraway Land (1)
 * 037. The Three from a Faraway Land (2)
 * 038. The Three from a Faraway Land (3)

Volumes

 * 04. Chamber of the Two-Headed Dragon
 * 05. The Final Ripple!

Anime Episodes

 * 07. Successor
 * 08. Bloody Battle! JoJo & Dio