It was Yoshi’s human aunt, the seventy-seventh sister of the late Naomi Kazuhiro. Known for her commanding presence and fiery disposition, her arrival was met with both awe and trepidation. She had come to inspect the kingdom and evaluate whether Yoshi was truly fit to rule after hearing of her sister and brother-in-law’s tragic demise.
Though younger than Yoshi and his twin, her sharp tongue, unyielding demeanor, and reputation made her a figure of fear and respect. Even Yoshi, known for his calm and composed leadership, was visibly unsettled by her presence, a rare sight that left Joseph both amused and empathetic.
Her inspection of the kingdom was rigorous, her criticisms blunt, and her clashes with Lyra legendary. The two often argued fiercely over matters of governance and principle, with Joseph frequently stepping in to mediate. Despite her initial doubts, Yoshi’s competence, Lyra’s steadfast loyalty, and Joseph’s diplomacy eventually won her over.
Before departing, she issued a light warning: “I’ll be back if I hear of any missteps.” Though her departure was a relief, the memory of her visit lingered, her words a reminder of the high expectations placed on Yoshi’s shoulders.
A week later, amidst the kingdom’s bustling activities, a commotion erupted outside the castle. Yoshi, along with several high council members, stepped out to address the matter. What awaited them was a sight none had anticipated.
Before the castle stood a diverse assembly of women, ladies, and youths of various species, many accompanied by children, warriors, council members, or rulers. Some women carried the glow of pregnancy, while others cradled infants or guided teenagers through the crowd. The gathering's remarkable variety—from elegant elves and steadfast humans to beastkin and other exotic races—was a vivid testament to the kingdom's wide reach.
The women all had one thing in common: they had come to see the king about a shared grievance. They accused one man of being responsible for their pregnancies—Joseph.
"Joseph!" Yoshi exclaimed in utter confusion, his voice barely cutting through the unified cries of the women who had gathered, all calling out Joseph's name. He struggled to make sense of the situation, his thoughts racing as he tried to comprehend how Joseph could have impregnated so many women from so many regions. After all, their visits to these lands had been brief—rarely long enough to form such connections.
Reports began flooding in from the women. Many revealed that it had happened during Joseph's adventure. What baffled them all was that several of these pregnancies defied the natural laws of their species, many of which were believed incapable of interbreeding with humans.
"Fetch Joseph," Yoshi instructed a nearby guard, his tone exasperated. The guard hurried off, returning moments later with Joseph, who had been with his family. As Joseph approached, his jaw dropped at the sight before him—dozens of women of different races, many with children by their sides, all undeniably his. The truth was clear, written in their features and confirmed by the women’s accounts.
Yoshi let out a heavy sigh as he recalled the details he’d been told about Yukio’s pregnancy and delivery—events that now bore an uncanny resemblance to the stories these women shared. The realization struck him like a thunderclap: Joseph had fathered over fifty children.
“Oh, Joseph!” Yoshi muttered, rubbing his temples. “What have you gotten yourself into this time?”
Among the gathering stood Himari, Chiyori, and a few warriors from the various regions, who had escorted the group to Fujimori. Himari leaned over to Chiyori and whispered, “I told Joseph this would backfire on him someday.”
Chiyori raised his hands in mock surrender, a teasing grin spreading across his face. “Hey, I had no part in this!” he replied, only to be lightly jabbed in the shoulder by Himari, who couldn’t help but grin back.
The leaders of the various regions who had accompanied them now turned to King Yoshi, their expressions a mixture of reverence and urgency. Together, they reasoned with him, seeking a solution to this unprecedented predicament.
Joseph, caught completely off guard, found himself at the center of a scandal unlike any other. His reputation as a hero and adventurer had apparently extended far beyond his battles and quests. The accusations ranged from heartfelt pleas for accountability to outright demands for answers.
Yoshi, struggling to maintain composure, called for an emergency private meeting to address the situation. Joseph, flustered and overwhelmed, vehemently denied any intentional wrongdoing but admitted that his travels often brought him into contact with people in need of protection or aid.
The high council debated the matter, with Lyra providing a sharp voice of reason. “Joseph, if even half of these claims are true, you owe these women and their children an explanation—and a plan to take responsibility.”
As the meeting continued, Joseph resolved to take immediate action. He addressed the gathered crowd, offering his sincere apologies for any harm caused and pledging to investigate each claim individually. He promised support for the children and their mothers, ensuring that no one would be left abandoned.
Though the situation was far from resolved, Joseph’s willingness to take responsibility earned him a measure of respect from the crowd. Yoshi, still stunned by the events, privately vowed to assist his friend in navigating the challenges ahead, ensuring that the kingdom’s reputation and Joseph’s honor remained intact.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the castle, Yukio sat quietly, nursing her child when a sudden knock interrupted her thoughts. She opened the door to find her friends, their faces a mix of concern and urgency. They hesitated briefly before launching into whispers about Joseph's infidelity. At first, Yukio dismissed their words as nonsense, brushing them off with a forced laugh. But their insistence—and the seriousness in their eyes—finally convinced her to see for herself.
The moment Yukio arrived at the scene, her world came crashing down. Before her stood a crowd of women, children, and council members, all bearing witness to Joseph's betrayal. Her heart clenched as the truth became undeniable. Joseph had cheated on her. His gaze met hers, and the guilt in his eyes told her everything she needed to know. Without a word, she turned and stormed off, her movements stiff with suppressed emotion.
“Yukio, wait!” Joseph called, chasing after her. His voice was soft, pleading, but it did little to soothe the storm raging inside her.
When he caught up to her, she was already in tears, her heartbreak etched into every line of her face. “Yukio, please,” he began, his voice trembling as he searched for the right words. But no matter what he said, it felt woefully inadequate. “I take full responsibility for my actions,” he admitted, his head bowed in shame. “You have every right to be angry with me.”
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Yukio wiped her tears, her voice breaking as she asked, “Then why didn’t you tell me? Why didn’t you come clean before it got to this point?”
Joseph hesitated, his guilt tightening like a vice. “I wanted to tell you,” he confessed. “I tried, but... I was afraid of losing you. I didn’t want to hurt you.”
Her laughter was bitter, filled with pain. “And you thought lying wouldn’t hurt me?” Without waiting for an answer, she pulled off her wedding ring, the symbol of their union, and threw it at him. “We’re done, Joseph. This marriage is over.”
Joseph stood frozen, the weight of her words crashing over him. He could do nothing but watch as Yukio walked away, her friends rallying around her with glares of contempt directed at him. Their expressions—anger, disappointment, disgust—only deepened his shame. For the first time in his life, he found himself truly speechless.
Among the crowd, Lyra observed the unfolding drama in silence. Though she felt a pang of pity for Joseph, she chose not to intervene, keeping her thoughts to herself.
As the day's events came to a conclusion, King Yoshi addressed the gathered women and children. “You have my word,” he declared solemnly, “the kingdom will take care of you and your children.” Yet, even as he spoke, Yoshi couldn’t help but contemplate the monumental challenges ahead. The children, blessed—or cursed—with unique abilities, would need guidance far beyond what the kingdom could provide.
It was then that three ethereal figures appeared before the crowd, their astral forms radiating calm and harmony. They were Yoshi’s relatives: Alara, Seraphina, and Aris. Alara stepped forward, her voice resonant and warm. “We will take responsibility for these children and their mothers,” she vowed. “In our realms, they will be nurtured and trained to hone their abilities.”
King Yoshi bowed his head in gratitude as Alara and Seraphina vanished with the women and children, leaving only Aris behind. Later that evening, Aris sought out Yukio, who sat alone in her chamber, her tears silent but unyielding. Aris approached with understanding, offering to ease the burden of raising her child.
Yukio, though hesitant, eventually agreed. “You’re always welcome to visit,” Aris assured her. “Simply call my name, and I will bring you to us.” With that, she vanished, taking Yukio’s child, Josephina, with her.
As the warriors and council members departed to their respective regions, King Yoshi summoned Joseph for a private discussion. Though Yoshi tried to speak earnestly, it was clear Joseph’s mind was elsewhere. Sensing his turmoil, Yoshi shifted his tone, speaking not as a king, but as a friend.
“I heard about Yukio,” Yoshi said gently. “I know this is difficult.”
Joseph’s voice was hollow as he replied, “It’s my fault. All of it. I never thought my stupidity would catch up to me like this.”
Yoshi placed a hand on his shoulder. “Mistakes can be corrected, but trust... trust is harder to rebuild.”
After a moment of silence, Yoshi’s expression grew stern. “Joseph, there will have to be consequences for this. Infidelity cannot be ignored, especially at this scale.”
Joseph’s eyes widened in panic. “Please, Yoshi,” he pleaded. “Don’t include this in your report. I’ll do anything.”
After a long pause, Yoshi relented with a deceptive calm. “Fine. I won’t include it.” Relieved, Joseph bowed deeply before leaving.
Moments later, Lyra entered, her sharp gaze meeting Yoshi’s. “You’re going to include it, aren’t you?” she asked knowingly.
Yoshi sighed, leaning back in his chair. “Of course,” he replied firmly. “The next kingdom deserves to know the full truth.”
The next morning, Joseph prepared for his journey, stepping into the unknown. He had decided to embark on his quest for self-discovery, and though his heart still weighed heavy with the remnants of his fractured relationship, he knew it was time to leave. Before heading out, he made one final visit to Yukio. Her heart, still aching from the betrayal, was complicated by the love that lingered—yet that ship had sailed. Joseph stood before her, offering his last apology, his words sincere but heavy with regret. His departure seemed final, as if Yukio had already closed that door.
The cold tension between them was palpable. Yukio’s gaze was distant, as though she had steeled herself against any further pain. She said nothing at first, her silence louder than words. But as Joseph turned to leave, a sudden urgency in her movement stopped him. Her voice, soft yet desperate, broke through the air.
“Joseph,” she whispered, her voice trembling. As he faced her once more, she hurriedly crossed the room and embraced him. It was a frantic, passionate hold, her legs wrapping around his waist as her hands clutched at him, desperate to feel him one last time. In the heat of the moment, she kissed him—fervent and fiery, a kiss that ignited the embers of everything they once had. He returned the kiss, pouring his intensity into it, as though he could mend the broken pieces of their love with every press of his lips.
But when the kiss ended, Yukio slowly pulled away, her expression unreadable. Joseph, breathless and startled, thought for a fleeting moment that she had changed her mind—that she had forgiven him. But Yukio’s words shattered any hope of that.
“This is our last goodbye,” she said quietly, her voice steady, though the pain was evident in her eyes. “Our last kiss... forever.”
Joseph’s heart sank as she wished him well, her tone final and resolute. He nodded silently, his emotions a whirlwind of regret, before he turned and left her room, the weight of their past between them, now closed.
Outside, the others were waiting. King Yoshi, Lyra, and Xiao Xiao were ready to send him off, their expressions a mixture of support and silent understanding. Yoshi opened a portal to the next kingdom—Akakawa Red River Kingdom—where Joseph’s next chapter awaited. They exchanged pleasantries, their words light but meaningful, as though they knew the weight of what Joseph was about to face.
Xiao Xiao stepped forward, handing Joseph the last of the Xentrocurnia prime tech orb, splitting it in two before giving him one half. “Consider it our little secret,” she said with a teasing smile. “You shouldn’t be vulnerable out there before your seal is broken.”
Joseph took the half of the orb, carefully splitting it into two, before fusing one half with his essence, the energy merging seamlessly within him. He kept the other half securely, knowing its power would be vital in the uncertain journey ahead. Xiao Xiao, still holding her own half, smiled knowingly. "This is the last of the XPTs, saved before the destruction of everything else," she explained, her tone heavy with the weight of its significance. "Not that you need it... but you need it."
Her smile softened as they shared a heartfelt embrace, her warmth providing him a sense of comfort in this moment of departure. "Thank you," Xiao Xiao added quietly, grateful for the trust Joseph had placed in her with the XPT. Joseph returned the embrace, his gratitude silent but genuine, knowing that this exchange held more than just the transfer of a powerful artifact—it was a bond that would guide him in the days to come.
King Yoshi and Lyra both gave him a final, heartfelt embrace, their brief words a reminder of their past adventures together. Their warmth gave Joseph a sense of comfort, though he knew that his journey would take him far from them, and from everything he had ever known.
As they all stood by the portal, Yukio watched from her window, her eyes never leaving Joseph. Her gaze met his just as he was about to step through, and for a brief moment, the world seemed to pause. He stared back at her—his last look at the life he was leaving behind. It was a silent exchange, an unspoken understanding of the pain they both felt. Then, with a final breath, Joseph stepped into the portal.
But something went wrong.
As Joseph entered the portal, the worlds around him seemed to warp and twist, crashing between planes and dimensions. The impact was violent, throwing him off course. His XPT suit, still worn in the attempt to stabilize him, malfunctioned under the strain. The energy ran dry, breaking in half—one part lost to the chaos, the other half remaining with him, though it was damaged beyond repair.
“Allah fucking Muhammad! Where the hell am I?” Joseph muttered, disoriented as he rose to his feet. His surroundings were unfamiliar, a far cry from the Akakawa Red River Kingdom he had expected. The sky was unlike any he had ever seen, with three red suns casting an eerie glow over the land, and three moons hung in the heavens, their pale light offering little warmth.
His gaze swept across the alien landscape, the strange sky above him a constant reminder that he had entered an entirely different world. The air felt thick, oppressive, and as he steadied himself, he heard the sound of destruction in the distance. Monsters, large and monstrous, rampaged through the landscape, their roars tearing through the stillness of this foreign world.
Joseph’s heart raced as he surveyed the chaos around him. This was not the peaceful kingdom he had hoped for, but a land ravaged by monsters and turmoil. With no idea where he was or how to navigate this strange realm, Joseph steeled himself for whatever came next, ready to face the unknown challenges that awaited him.