Yoshi grabbed two swords, tossing one to Joseph across the training ground. Joseph caught it mid-air with ease, his eyes sharp and focused. Yoshi’s smile widened as Joseph began to move, the sword a natural extension of his arm. With fluid grace, Joseph executed intricate techniques, the blade slicing through the air with precision. Each swing reflected the light, highlighting his impressive finesse as he seamlessly transitioned between strikes, his mastery evident in every movement.

"It seems you're quite good with a sword," Yoshi remarked, clearly impressed.

"Yeah! You could say that," Joseph replied with a boastful grin. "All thanks to the skills I've acquired from my variants, even though my powers are sealed at the moment." He paused before continuing with pride, "Some of my variants were samurai, ninjas, expert swordsmen, swordsmiths, marksmen, craftsmen, and masters in their own right. They could single-handedly conquer nations with just their sword skills. Some could cut through concrete with ease, and others wielded magical swords that could rival even the mightiest foes. I've learned from all of them."

Yoshi, intrigued, asked, "And what about you, Joseph?" As he spoke, he swiftly launched an attack, hoping to catch Joseph off guard.

But Joseph reacted just as quickly, their swords clashing with a resounding impact that sent a gust of wind through the training grounds. The onlookers gasped in amazement as the two warriors locked eyes, their blades held firm against each other.

"What about the real you?" Yoshi pressed, his tone serious. "What can you do without the aid of your variants' skills?"

Joseph's expression softened for a moment. "I haven't really thought about that much," he admitted, stepping back from their clash. "Before I became who I am today, I was... well, I had many professions. Back in my world, I was just an average man with an average job. I was successful in all my endeavors—professor, doctor, scientist. I wanted to make the world a better place."

Yoshi listened intently as Joseph continued. "But everything changed when I discovered a glowing orb that fell from the sky like a meteor. It was beyond anything I could comprehend. Soon after, the world began to fade... and so did humanity. That’s when I realized I wasn’t just immortal—I was unkillable. I was the only one left, the last human to outlive the entire existence of my universe."

Yoshi’s expression softened, sensing the weight of Joseph’s words. "That must have been hard," he said, his voice filled with sympathy.

But before the moment could linger, Joseph suddenly swung his sword again, catching Yoshi by surprise. Yoshi countered quickly, and their blades met once more with an even fiercer clash, sending sparks flying.

"My world wasn’t like others," Joseph continued between sword clashes. "There were no gods, no monsters, no superheroes. It was just... nature taking its course. But when the multiverse revealed itself to me, I saw possibilities far greater than I ever imagined."

Their battle intensified, each clash of swords igniting bursts of flame around them, but Joseph's voice carried above it all. "Meeting my variants gave me a purpose I’m still trying to understand. Being fused with infinite versions of myself—versions that the multiverse deemed a cosmic threat—I now carry all of their experiences. Some were reincarnated as swords, shields... even slimes. I've been in worlds with negators, strange powers, and ancient artifacts. Each of my variants had their own story, their own journey."

Joseph grinned as their swords locked again, neither one backing down. "There was even a time when I helped defeat a god in a reality where reincarnation trapped people in endless cycles. I fought alongside beings like Undead, who had two personalities, and his partner Fuuko Izumo, known as Unluck. Together, we faced impossible odds and took down the god who controlled that universe."

"Villains and heroes alike shared the same goal—to kill God, shatter the cycle of reincarnation, and escape the curse of forgetfulness. The Ark was the only thing that preserved memories of past lives," Joseph said.

Yoshi's eyes flickered with interest, listening to the sheer depth of Joseph’s experiences.

"We all had abilities to negate," Joseph continued, a hint of pride in his voice. "Unmoveable, unseen, unbreakable, unstoppable... And then there was me: Unkillable. Damn! A lot of 'uns,' but I can't list them all. Some called me Unkill. In that world, we were united by a single purpose—to break free from the endless loop and carve out our own destinies."

With a final clash of their swords, both fighters took a step back, breathing heavily but with a shared sense of respect.

Yoshi nodded slowly, impressed not just by Joseph's combat skills but by the enormity of his story. "It sounds like you've lived countless lifetimes, fought countless battles, and faced impossible odds. No wonder you’ve become the person you are."

Joseph sheathed his sword with a smirk. "You could say that. But the real adventure is still ahead of me. I’m just getting started."

As their training reached its peak, Joseph was caught off guard by Yoshi’s swift final move. Just as their swords clashed for the last time, locking their fierce gazes, Yoshi's sword spun sharply in the opposite direction. In an instant, Yoshi teleported behind Joseph, expertly taking control of the situation. With a slight jab, Yoshi unbalanced Joseph, sending him stumbling toward the ground. But before Joseph could hit the floor, Yoshi caught him effortlessly, his sword now emitting a charged aura pointed directly at Joseph's face, a playful smile on Yoshi's lips.

"You've really got quite the adventure behind you and the skills of a true swordsman, Joseph," Yoshi said with a grin. "I could use someone like you on an adventure. So, what do you say?"

Joseph, smiling up at Yoshi, replied with a teasing tone, "I’d say you cheated!"

Yoshi laughed as he helped Joseph back to his feet. "And yeah, I’m in—whenever you're ready," Joseph added.

"Good! We leave in two days," Yoshi said, still smiling. As the two stood facing each other, catching their breath, Joseph asked if Yoshi could show him his chamber. Yoshi was taken aback for a moment but nodded with a smile.

They made their way to Yoshi’s quarters, and as Joseph stepped inside, he was immediately taken by the grandeur of the room. Large and spacious, it was elegantly refined, with beautiful furnishings and intricate décor. The walls were adorned with a few paintings and sculptures that depicted Yoshi, while an attractive chandelier illuminated the space. The windows were wide and inviting, letting in the perfect amount of light. The floor was carefully tiled, adding to the sophisticated ambiance. Yoshi even had a dedicated workspace and a mini library, which he proudly showed Joseph.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"Wow! You’re truly living the royal life, Prince Yoshi," Joseph said, teasing him slightly.

"Oh, stop it," Yoshi chuckled. "It’s really not that much, and please, just call me Yoshi."

As they shared a light moment, Yoshi informed Joseph that he would be staying in a well-furnished guest chamber. With a playful grin, Yoshi then teased, "Or perhaps you’d prefer to return to the room you were in before?"

"Hell no!" Joseph laughed. "Though it wasn’t all that bad, I think I’d prefer something a bit more... comfortable," he added, smiling.

Yoshi laughed along with him. "Sounds good. You’ll love the new one," he assured him. But just then, Joseph made an unexpected suggestion.

"Actually," Joseph said, pausing for a moment, "I was thinking... maybe I could move in with you?"

Yoshi's heart skipped a beat, and his cheeks flushed a light shade of pink. He quickly turned away, trying to hide his reaction, facing the window to gather his thoughts. His mind raced, imagining the possibility of them sharing a room, of being more than just roommates. The idea of sleeping together, of being close—was this really happening? Yoshi wondered if Joseph had noticed the subtle hints he had been giving. Was this his way of reciprocating?

Yoshi was lost in his thoughts when Joseph’s voice brought him back to reality. "Hey, if you're not comfortable with it, that's totally fine," Joseph said lightly. "I can take the private room, no worries."

Composing himself quickly, Yoshi turned back to Joseph with a smile, the blush fading. "No, it’s fine," Yoshi said, now more collected. "I’d be glad to have you as my roommate."

With that, the tension melted, and they shared a light laugh, both relieved and excited for what lay ahead.

Joseph then informed Yoshi that he wanted to take a stroll around the kingdom to familiarize himself more with the surroundings. Yoshi agreed, though as Joseph was leaving, he couldn’t help but notice out of the corner of his eye Yoshi jumping with excitement at the idea of them sharing a room. Joseph smiled to himself as he closed the door behind him.

During his stroll, Joseph found himself near the scholars' and mages' workspace. Intrigued, he stepped into the unsupervised and eerily quiet room, his gaze sweeping over the scattered tools and artifacts. His attention immediately fixed on one object: his own Xentrocurnia Prime Tech Orb, resting carelessly on one of the tables. Stunned that it had been left unattended, Joseph approached and, without hesitation, activated it. With practiced ease, he issued a few swift commands. The orb responded instantly, splitting into two. Calmly, Joseph watched as each half regenerated into complete orbs, a predictable function of the device—nothing more than the expected result of his mastery over it.

He placed one back on the table and took the other, pressing it against his chest. The orb quickly morphed into the shape of an arc reactor and absorbed itself into his body. As he turned to leave, he was startled to find Xiao Xiao standing behind him.

"Whoa! I didn’t see you there!" Joseph exclaimed, trying to mask his surprise.

"Sorry if I startled you," Xiao Xiao said with a warm smile.

"It’s alright, miss," Joseph replied, composing himself. "Quite a workspace you have here."

"It’s not much," she said modestly. "This is where scholars and mages collaborate to find solutions that improve the kingdom."

Xiao Xiao then noticed the Xentrocurnia Prime Tech Orb on the table, unaware of what Joseph had just done with it. Picking it up, she examined the orb, her eyes widening with fascination. "I’ve never seen anything like this," she said in awe. "This prototype even surpasses some of the most advanced tech I’ve encountered."

Joseph scratched the back of his head nervously. "It's really not a big deal," he said, downplaying its significance. But he couldn’t resist showing her a quick demonstration of the orb’s capabilities, manipulating its energy to perform a few tricks that left Xiao Xiao amazed and inspired.

Before he left, Xiao Xiao invited him to return to the workspace anytime. "You’re always welcome here," she said with a smile.

Joseph nodded slightly in response before making his way out, his thoughts lingering on the encounter as he continued his stroll through the kingdom.

As Joseph continued his stroll, he unexpectedly ran into the maiden who often brought him food to his chamber. A rush of excitement coursed through him, but his heart raced even faster as memories of his previous lustful imaginings about her lingered in his mind. They exchanged warm greetings, and Joseph learned her name was Yukio.

"Thank you for saving my life," Yukio said, her eyes sparkling with gratitude. As she mentioned that she was retiring from her shift, she invited him to her place. The suggestion sent a thrill through him; he was both excited and a bit frightened, but he reminded himself to remain composed and let the evening unfold naturally.

Later that evening, after Yukio finished her duties, she crossed paths with Joseph, and they walked home together. She lived alone in a cozy apartment where they enjoyed a lovely dinner, sharing stories and getting to know each other better.

Their conversation flowed effortlessly for hours as they discovered their similar passions and tastes. A bond began to form between them, and when their hands accidentally brushed, they locked eyes, sending a jolt through Joseph’s heart. The Xentrocurnia Prime Tech Orb inside him picked up on his desire and transmitted a voice only he could hear, urging him to kiss Yukio. Just as he was about to lean in, his nervousness got the better of him, and Yukio noticed.

Seeing the shift in Joseph’s expression, Yukio's brow furrowed slightly. Feeling the tension rise, Joseph hastily excused himself. "Oh my! Look at the time! It’s getting late, and Prince Yoshi will be worried sick," he said, his voice shaky as he jumped to his feet.

He thanked her for her hospitality and hurriedly left, leaving Yukio stunned by his sudden departure. Once outside her apartment, Joseph leaned back against the door in silence, letting out a deep breath.

"Phew! That was close," he muttered to himself. "I hope I didn’t hurt her feelings. Maybe I should go back and apologize for my strange behavior. I wonder how she felt about it."

As he contemplated his actions, the voice of the Xentrocurnia Prime Tech Orb chimed in. "It would be best to address this tomorrow. Based on my analysis, her reaction indicates you made her uncomfortable. However, it’s clear that you both have a connection."

"Since when did you become a love therapist?" Joseph shot back internally through their neural link, shaking his head. "If that’s the case, I hope tomorrow yields a better outcome."

When Joseph arrived at Yoshi’s room, he found Yoshi peacefully asleep in bed. Quietly, he joined him, settling in with a sense of calm and anticipation for what tomorrow might bring.

As Joseph finally settled into bed, thoughts of Yukio continued to swirl in his mind. His heart still pounded from the close encounter earlier that evening. The warmth of their shared conversation, the connection they had formed, and the near moment of intimacy lingered. But now, he could only replay the scene over and over, second-guessing himself.

The Xentrocurnia orb’s earlier advice about them being compatible echoed in his mind. **Was it right?** he wondered. **Had he really made Yukio uncomfortable?** He silently hoped tomorrow would bring clarity and a chance to mend any awkwardness between them.

***

Across the kingdom, far from the peaceful slumber that had overtaken Yoshi, the rebel forces stirred. In the shadows of their newfound fortress, Ryujin reviewed the message delivered by his spy with meticulous care. His pale, calculating eyes scanned the mystical glyphs on the scroll, absorbing every detail about the kingdom’s vulnerabilities, the power dynamics within the royal family, and the movements of their strongest warriors.

Ryujin’s mind was sharp and his objectives clear: sow chaos within the kingdom, weaken its defenses, and prepare for an attack that would shake the very foundation of their rule. He turned to the rebel guards standing at attention before him, their dark armor gleaming under the dim light of the fortress.

"Notify all our forces," Ryujin commanded in a low, chilling voice. "The time to strike draws near. The kingdom's rulers may be powerful, but they are not invincible. We will use their pride and reliance on their aura against them."

The guards nodded in silent understanding, their loyalty to Ryujin unwavering. They began to send coded messages to their stationed comrades, spreading the word that the rebellion was about to make its move.

With each passing moment, the tension between the kingdom and its enemies grew. While Joseph navigated the complexities of his budding connection with Yukio, forces beyond his comprehension were already at work, setting the stage for a confrontation that could reshape the kingdom’s fate.