Joseph materialized in Nagoya Planet City, a sprawling metropolis on the vibrant Honshu Island of Akakawa. Known as the technological capital of the kingdom, Nagoya stood at the crossroads of advanced robotics, cutting-edge engineering, and ancient alchemy. Its shimmering towers of glass and metal reached for the skies, while intricate magical ley lines pulsed beneath its streets, powering the marvels that sustained the city’s prosperity.

But today, the city's usual hum of activity had been replaced by chaos.

Before Joseph's eyes, chaos erupted as warriors clashed against a massive robot possessed by an evil spirit. The streets, typically bustling with life, lay eerily silent, as if the city itself held its breath. Civilians sought refuge in shelters, though a few dared to peek from cracks in doors and windows, their curiosity overriding their fear. The sounds of battle—clashing steel, crackling energy, and shouts of determination—shattered the otherwise graveyard-like quiet.

The warriors fought valiantly, their weapons a fusion of high-tech craftsmanship and magical aura, striking against the towering machine. Nearby, a group of mages channeled spells, attempting to trap or exorcise the malevolent spirit within the robot. Their efforts, however, barely held the line as they tried to prevent the destruction from spreading into the city’s heart.

Joseph stood at the edge of the conflict, quietly observing. His keen eyes caught the aura of the evil spirit, a malevolent force whose power spanned continents. In comparison, the warriors and mages arrayed against it seemed woefully underpowered. Among them, only their leader, Yuki Yuuta—a resolute elf sentinel knight—possessed an aura strong enough to span an entire country. The others, though skilled, could hardly measure up.

Joseph, however, couldn’t discern the exact levels of their strength. Normally, his XPT—a device once fused with him—would have allowed him to gauge aura levels with precision. But without it, he could only rely on instinct and experience.

As the battle raged on, Joseph sighed, his gaze sweeping over the scene. His attention fell on a fist-sized rock lying amidst the debris. He bent down, picked it up, and tossed it lightly in his hand.

"Another rogue monster," he muttered to himself, the weight of familiarity settling on his shoulders. Holding the rock tightly, he studied the massive robot as it prepared to unleash a devastating blast from its cannon, aiming directly at the struggling warriors and mages.

With a sharp exhale, Joseph steadied his aim, his focus narrowing on the machine. Just as the robot’s cannon began to glow ominously, signaling its final attack, Joseph hurled the rock with casual precision.

Unbeknownst to him, a dormant energy—remnants of the XPT once bound to his essence—surged through his body and into the rock. The ordinary stone became a weapon infused with immense power, its trajectory now carrying an unexpected force.

In an instant, the rock Joseph had hurled found its mark, lodging itself firmly in the massive robot’s cannon. The warriors braced for their end, convinced the impending blast would annihilate them. But instead, the machine faltered. Its cannon stuttered, struggling to unleash the devastating energy stored within.

Moments later, the rock—fused with dormant XPT energy—reacted violently to the robot’s unstable power. A powerful detonation erupted from within the cannon, obliterating the colossal machine in a spectacular explosion. Shards of metal rained down like a meteor shower, leaving the warriors stunned. They stared in awe at the smoldering wreckage, exchanging bewildered glances as they tried to piece together what had just happened.

Amid the chaos, the weakened evil spirit attempted to flee its ruined host, but the mages seized their chance. Combining their magic, they vanquished the malevolent entity, its final wail dissipating into the ether.

As the dust settled, civilians cautiously emerged from their hiding places, their initial hesitance giving way to cheers. They applauded the warriors for their bravery but also murmured among themselves about the mysterious stranger whose intervention had turned the tide. Some pointed toward Joseph, who stood silently observing the aftermath.

Among the warriors, a few inspected the shattered remains of the robot, their eyes narrowing on its cannon. One of them, a female warrior with keen perception, noticed Joseph walking away. She quickly informed her leader, Yuki Yuuta, of the stranger’s involvement, citing the murmurs of the crowd.

“Wait,” Yuki called, his voice carrying authority.

Joseph paused mid-step but didn’t turn. Behind him, Yuki approached with two of his comrades, their boots crunching against the debris-strewn ground.

“I’m Yuki Yuuta, Sentinel Knight of this region,” the elf said, his voice steady yet tinged with pride. His tall frame and sharp, angular features marked him as a warrior of high standing, his armor glinting faintly in the post-battle sunlight. “And you are?”

“Joseph,” he replied simply, finally turning to face them.

Yuki inclined his head slightly, a gesture of acknowledgment. “I must thank you for your... timely assistance. Your intervention saved many lives.”

“It seemed like you had your hands full,” Joseph said, his tone neutral.

Yuki’s pride flickered in his expression, but he pressed on. “What brings you to Nagoya Planet City? You’re clearly not from here.”

“I’m a traveler,” Joseph explained, “an adventurer passing through. My journey will eventually take me to Akakawa, in the Red River Kingdom. I’m seeking aid to reach the next regional planet.”

Yuki crossed his arms, studying Joseph with a mix of curiosity and caution. “I’m in charge of the warriors here, but the governance of Nagoya falls to our mayor. If you wish to meet her, you’ll need to wait. She’s... quite busy.”

Joseph nodded politely. “I appreciate the information. For now, I’d like a place to rest.”

Yuki gestured toward a nearby hotel, its modest exterior visible beyond the ruins of the battle. “There’s an inn close by. You’ll find it comfortable enough.”

“Thank you,” Joseph said, preparing to leave.

But before he could, Yuki added, his voice deliberately casual yet carrying an undercurrent of envy, “For the record, I didn’t need help. I’ve led my warriors to victory countless times before. This... was just an unusual situation.”

Joseph smirked faintly but said nothing, leaving Yuki and his comrades behind as he walked toward the hotel.

Among those who inspected the shattered remains of the massive robot, one of Yuki's comrades approached him with an urgent report. The warrior’s expression was a mixture of awe and disbelief as he relayed his findings.

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“Sir,” he began hesitantly, “I examined the remains, and... it’s astonishing. That robot wasn’t just powerful—it was possessed by an evil spirit with a continental-level aura. Honestly, I doubt we could have defeated it without outside help.”

“Additionally, we discovered rock fragments lodged in its cannon. These fragments seemed to carry their own energy, but the energy faded after a while,” he added. “It was their impact that ultimately caused the robot’s destruction.”

Another warrior, overhearing this, chimed in with wide-eyed amazement. “No way! That’s impossible! If not for... for Joseph, we’d all be dead.”

Yuki’s jaw tightened, his composure cracking under the weight of his pride. He turned on his comrade, his voice sharp with anger. “Are you telling me that a common-sized rock—tossed by some nobody traveler—did what we couldn’t? That he gave us the advantage?”

The warrior stammered, shifting uncomfortably under Yuki’s glare. “It—it seems so, sir. The energy infused in that rock—whether intentional or not—reacted with the robot’s blast and...”

Yuki cut him off with a frustrated growl, his rage barely contained. “Don’t be ridiculous. There’s nothing above me—no monster, no supernatural, no aura level too high for me to handle.”

But even as Yuki lashed out, the murmurs of the civilians continued to filter through the air, their praise for Joseph overshadowing the warriors’ efforts. The growing admiration for the stranger was a knife in Yuki’s pride, twisting deeper with every passing second.

His fists clenched at his sides as he turned back to his comrades. “We’ll keep an eye on this traveler, Joseph,” he said, his tone low and venomous. “Find out who he really is. Whether his intentions are good or not, he needs to learn who runs this city.”

His comrades nodded in unison, eager to affirm their loyalty. “It’s you, boss. Always you and no one else.”

Yet, beneath his outward bravado, Yuki couldn’t shake an unsettling thought. Who the hell was Joseph? How had he managed such a feat with so little effort?

“Only high-rankers and above could pull something like that off,” Yuki muttered to himself, watching Joseph disappear into the hotel. “Is he one of them... or a fraud pretending to be more than he is?”

The question gnawed at him, fueling his jealousy and suspicion. But one thing was clear—Joseph, the enigmatic traveler, had become a threat to Yuki’s pride and authority. And that was something Yuki couldn’t tolerate.

As Joseph walked into the hotel, the atmosphere was alive with joy and celebration. Music played in the background, and disco lights illuminated the room, casting a vibrant glow over the crowd. The moment he entered, cheers erupted from nearly everyone present. Some shook his hand, others gave him a soft pat on the shoulder, a silent gesture of respect. A few ladies—whether regulars, VIPs, or otherwise—planted a kiss on his cheek, catching him off guard as he made his way straight to the bar.

All eyes followed him as he approached. Joseph ordered a drink—something strong enough to knock him out. The bartender, recognizing him as the hero who had aided the warriors and saved the day, offered him the drink on the house. The cheerful moment was bittersweet for Joseph, though. He couldn’t shake the thoughts that weighed heavily on his mind. His XPT, his only companion for so long, was gone for good. And then there was the haunting thought of his ex, Yukio.

He drank to a stupor, yet no matter how much alcohol he consumed, it didn’t bring the release he sought. He drank until the bar had emptied out, until only he, the bartender, and a cybernetic hybrid woman remained. Everyone else had gone home, leaving behind an echo of laughter and music.

As Joseph finished the last of the drinks available, the bartender gave him a nod of farewell and turned to clean up. Just as Joseph prepared to leave, the cybernetic hybrid woman approached him with a warm, inquisitive smile. She was stunning. Her features were a blend of organic beauty and cybernetic enhancements, sleek metallic upgrades seamlessly woven into her skin. Her presence was both mysterious and magnetic, drawing his gaze.

The soft clicking of mechanical components on the side of her neck resonated, the patterns shifting every thirty seconds. Her eyes, part mechanical, would glow intermittently as she spoke, with her irises and sclerae also changing patterns with each blink. A half-human, half-elf hybrid, she was further augmented by cybernetic enhancements, with the delicate lines of her pointed elf ears partially covered by intricate metallic attachments.

Her fair complexion stood in striking contrast to her tall, commanding presence. Her attire, both revealing and captivating, hinted at her confidence. Her past, shaped by her choices, revealed a complex individual whose allure and presence were both captivating and unguarded. With a history that carried a weight of decisions, she wore her experiences openly, her demeanor both confident and unapologetic.

With a warm smile, she introduced herself as the elf cyborg, her beauty undeniable—a presence that left no question about her striking allure.

Joseph’s gaze lingered on her for a moment, his mind hazy from the alcohol, but something about her stood out. There was an undeniable magnetism in the way she carried herself, a confidence tempered by an aura of mystery. Despite his foggy thoughts, he couldn’t help but be intrigued.

The woman stepped closer, her mechanical limbs barely making a sound as they clicked with each graceful movement. “You’re quite the hero, aren’t you?” she said, her voice smooth, almost melodic. “The way you took down that robot... impressive. Most people can’t even dream of such a feat.”

Joseph gave a half-hearted chuckle, not entirely sure what to make of her compliment. “I’m just a traveler,” he muttered, his words slurred. “I did what I had to do.”

The woman tilted her head, studying him with a look that seemed to pierce through the haze clouding his mind. “I don’t think it’s that simple,” she replied softly, her eyes reflecting a glimmer of something—curiosity, perhaps, or something deeper. “You’re not just a traveler. I can tell you’ve been through more than you let on.”

Joseph shook his head, his eyes unfocused. “Yeah, well... we all have our baggage, don’t we?”

She smiled, her lips curling up in a knowing way. “True, but not everyone carries the weight of the world like you seem to. Mind if I join you?” She gestured to the empty barstool next to him.

Joseph shrugged, too tired and emotionally drained to protest. “Go ahead.”

The woman sat down, her movements fluid, the soft hum of her cybernetic components almost inaudible in the quiet room. She ordered a drink of her own, but her attention never left Joseph.