Inside the city, everything seemed peaceful at first glance. The usual activities of daily life were ongoing—merchants peddling their wares, children playing in the streets, and townsfolk going about their business. However, Lyra’s sharp senses detected something off. While outwardly calm, there was a palpable tension among the citizens, a quiet fear hidden behind their polite smiles and averted gazes as they watched the group of travelers enter. The weight of their eyes on her and her companions felt like a silent judgment.
Lyra exchanged a telepathic glance with Yoshi, who nodded in agreement. Despite the appearance of normalcy, something was amiss. The citizens’ fear was not born of any outward violence, but a deeper, more subtle anxiety that gnawed at the edges of the city.
The group of monsters led them through the city, navigating its winding streets, until they reached a grand hall—an imposing structure that stood at the heart of the city. The monstrous leader stepped forward, announcing their arrival in a deep, guttural voice.
“Master! Just as you requested, the intruders are here,” the leader proclaimed, stepping aside and taking up a position as a silent guardian.
A moment of stillness hung in the air before a voice rang out from the shadows—a voice that was unexpectedly feminine but carried a cold, commanding edge. “Very good.”
The figure that emerged from the darkness was not a female as they had assumed. To their surprise, it was a man—a figure whose voice betrayed his true nature. His eyes, sharp and calculating, locked onto Lyra’s with an intensity that seemed almost too familiar. His gaze was steady, as if he recognized her as well. But as his eyes met hers, a memory—fragmented and fleeting—began to resurface in Lyra’s mind. An unsettling presence lingered around the man, a dark energy that filled the room with an oppressive weight.
Yoshi, too, felt the disturbance, his instincts warning him of something wrong.
One of the travelers, a citizen of Yokosuka, gasped and stepped forward, recognition flashing across his face. “Masanori Renjiro! What is this madness? You, the master of these monsters? How could you betray your city like this?” he shouted, his voice filled with disbelief and anguish.
Joseph turned to him, his brow furrowing. “You know this guy?”
The traveler nodded, his face twisted with confusion and sorrow. “Yes! Masanori Renjiro was a knight hunter, one of the finest defenders of Yokosuka. He was a rank F (Tier 12), one of the lowest level Armiger knight hunters, but he fought with the heart of a lion. He led others like him in countless battles to protect the city, even in the toughest times. But after the attack on the city... we couldn’t believe he would side with the enemy.”
The traveler’s voice quivered with pain, and his gaze never left Masanori. He seemed torn between the man he once knew and the one who now stood before them, cold and unyielding.
Joseph glanced between the traveler and Masanori, a sense of unease creeping over him. Masanori’s silence was unnerving, and his gaze—unchanged—remained fixed on them. There was no hint of remorse in his eyes, only a quiet, menacing calm.
Meanwhile, Joseph’s XPT energy, still recharging, seemed to pulse slightly—a small flicker of power rising within him. It wasn’t enough for a full transformation, but it was enough to trigger a scan of Masanori, something deep within his core. As Joseph's abilities hummed to life, he could feel the energy probing, seeking out any anomalies. But for now, the scan revealed only the faintest traces of something dark—something far more sinister than what appeared on the surface.
The air seemed to thicken with tension as they all stood, waiting for Masanori’s response.
As Joseph focused his vision on Masanori, hoping to complete the scan, an unexpected error hit instantly. A glitch in the system drained the last bit of power from the XPT, sending it straight back into recharging mode. His attempt to uncover Masanori's secrets had failed. Joseph gritted his teeth in frustration, but his shock came not only from the failure of his scan but from Masanori’s immediate reaction.
Masanori’s gaze locked onto Joseph, and with a subtle yet potent warning, his eyes narrowed—sharply enough to stun Joseph into silence. A wave of dread washed over him as he realized that Masanori knew exactly what had happened.
"Darn it! He knew what I was doing," Joseph thought to himself, eyes widening. "This isn't Masanori anymore. There’s no way a lowest-level knight hunter could possess this kind of potential unless he’s using some kind of relic."
Yoshi, sensing Joseph’s confusion, replied through their telepathic connection, "That's not Masanori. Whatever this is, it's something else entirely. It’s taken him over."
Joseph blinked in surprise, not realizing Yoshi had sensed his thoughts. "That's another way to explain it," he replied, his mind racing as Yoshi briefed him on Lyra’s suspicions.
Before Joseph could process further, Masanori spoke again, a cryptic smile creeping across his face. His tone was calm and almost patronizing. “Now then, if we’re done with our little shenanigans, shall we proceed and discuss how to resolve this peacefully without violence?” He paused, giving them a moment to react before continuing, his voice growing more authoritative. “Good!” He took their silence as compliance, gesturing for them to sit.
The group, still uneasy, seated themselves at a round table, and Masanori’s chilling presence filled the space as he met their gazes once more. His smile remained, unsettling in its calmness.
“Now then! I know why you've come, and you’re probably wondering how a human like me could have such control over monsters and supernaturals at my disposal,” Masanori began, his voice dripping with intrigue. “Well, you’ve guessed right—the Relic of Enhancement. Of course, I could pull it off by myself, but I prefer not to risk my life when I can harness the power of this relic.”
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The revelation hit them like a cold wave. Masanori’s calm demeanor was unnerving, and his words carried an eerie conviction.
“As you can see, Prince Yoshi and Lyra, the Royal Witch,” Masanori continued, his tone shifting, “there’s no cause for alarm. I’ve only done what’s in the best interest of my people. Unlike the other regions you've encountered, I found a way to tame these mindless creatures with brute force and make them understand who’s in charge.”
His eyes darkened slightly, and his voice softened as he mentioned the city's Lady. “Unfortunately, in the process of all this, the City Lady found herself at a crossroads, and she died at the hands of a powerful demon lord,” he said solemnly, bowing his head for a brief moment as if mourning the loss.
The sudden shift in his tone caught everyone off guard, and the room became tense with the weight of his words.
“However!” Masanori added, his expression lighting up with a glimmer of pride. “That’s when I came into the picture. I vanquished the demon lord with the aid of the Relic of Enhancement—no small task, mind you—and avenged the death of our beloved City Lady.”
A hushed silence filled the room as his words hung in the air. It was clear that Masanori believed he was doing right by his people, but the weight of his actions and the relic’s power were far from reassuring.
Suddenly, the traveler—a citizen of Yokosuka—couldn't hold back any longer. His face twisted in disbelief and grief as he shouted, "What? City Lady Inori is dead?" His voice cracked with emotion, and tears welled in his eyes. His fists clenched, his body shaking in anger and sorrow. "She meant so much to the people of Yokosuka. She governed with wisdom and compassion, even in the hardest times before all this chaos!"
The tension in the room soared. The news of Inori’s death hit the citizens hard. She was a beloved figure, and the grief of losing her was far too much to bear for the people who had looked to her for guidance and hope. The traveler’s anger was palpable, his pain reflecting the collective loss that weighed heavily on the city.
Masanori’s eyes remained cold, but there was no sign of remorse in his expression. He seemed to expect this reaction, even welcoming it. His grip on the relic was unquestionable—he had become the power in this place, and he knew it. But for all his control, it was clear that the path he had taken was one of destruction, and the true cost was only beginning to unfold.
Masanori stood tall, his confidence unshaken as he addressed the group. “I know! What a tragedy, but before she died, Lady Inori left me in charge. With the Relic of Enhancement at my disposal, I decided to bring our enemies captive and act as the new defenders of our esteemed city against other ferocious monsters and supernaturals.” He paused, his gaze sweeping over the group. “So, in conclusion, the city is safe and does not require further assistance from the Fujimori Wisteria Forest Kingdom. Apologies for any inconvenience on your journey, as you proceed with your mission to the next neighboring region requesting aid. Thanks for accompanying this kindhearted citizen of our residence.”
Joseph’s gaze narrowed, sensing the undercurrents of deception. “You feel composed and confident in all this,” he shot back, his voice laced with suspicion. “Almost too good to be true, as if everything was planned before it was executed.”
Masanori’s smile remained unwavering, but he ignored Joseph’s words completely, as if brushing off the challenge. “Be that as it may,” he said, his voice steady, “the city is perfect, as you can see, even when you approached it.”
The atmosphere in the room grew tense. Masanori stood, gesturing for them to leave. His body language clearly indicated that the discussion was over, and his guards—some of whom had been standing watch—began to tighten their circle around him, prepared to act if things escalated.
Yoshi and Lyra exchanged a brief glance. They stood in unison, ready to leave, but just as they were about to turn, Yoshi’s eyes met Joseph’s. His expression was filled with concern for the people of Yokosuka, a concern Joseph shared, but no words were exchanged. Yoshi understood the unspoken plea in Joseph’s gaze.
They were almost out of the main hall when Yoshi stopped, his composure unwavering. Without turning his back, he addressed Masanori once more, his voice calm but pointed. “You speak of safety and peace, but you’ve already shown us that your power is based on deception and control. What else are you hiding?”
His question was like a thread pulling at the fabric of Masanori’s carefully constructed facade. Masanori’s eyes darkened, and his expression shifted, a flash of anger flickering across his face. The truth was out. His deceitful scheme had been exposed.
Masanori’s grip on the Relic of Enhancement tightened as his gaze locked onto Yoshi with a fierce intensity. The atmosphere in the hall shifted again, charged with palpable tension. The guards surrounding him shifted into position, ready for conflict.
Before Masanori could react, Yoshi moved with lightning speed. He drew his sword, charged with a fierce aura, and aimed it directly at Masanori. With a single fluid motion, Yoshi unleashed a powerful blast that sent Masanori flying through the air. However, Masanori was far from helpless. He regained his balance midair with an unnatural ease, levitating as though the battle had barely fazed him. Clutching the Relic of Enhancement, he steadied himself, an ominous glow surrounding him.
In that instant, the monsters that had been quietly awaiting their orders surged forward, charging toward Yoshi and his companions with deadly intent. The traveler from Yokosuka, along with other citizens, quickly ushered any remaining innocents to safety, trying to protect them from the violence erupting around them.
As the battle raged on, Masanori hovered in midair, his eyes blazing with rage. With a surge of power from the Relic of Enhancement, he amplified his abilities, opening several portals that unleashed more monstrous creatures into the city. The creatures poured out like a tidal wave, threatening to overwhelm the defenders.
However, Yoshi remained unfazed. With a snap of his fingers, he effortlessly vanquished the creatures and sealed the portals, leaving Masanori stunned and speechless. The power of the Relic seemed to falter in the face of Yoshi's sheer mastery.
Masanori, realizing the tables were turning, retaliated fiercely. He gathered his immense magical power, drawing upon the full potential of the Relic of Enhancement. In a desperate attempt to control the situation, he created a massive barrier that neutralized all auras and magical-based abilities within its confines. Yoshi, Lyra, and the others were suddenly powerless. Their abilities were no longer active, leaving them vulnerable in the face of the oncoming horde of monsters.
With their powers temporarily neutralized, the air grew heavy with the weight of impending chaos. Masanori, taking full advantage of this moment, opened yet another portal, unleashing an even greater wave of monsters upon the city. As his creatures flooded the streets, Masanori’s eyes gleamed with cruel satisfaction. His plan was set into motion, and he was prepared to make his move.
Yoshi and Lyra, stripped of their magical abilities, exchanged a brief look. Their situation had grown dire. They would need to find a way to defeat the relentless horde of monsters, break through Masanori’s barriers, and stop him before his control over Yokosuka became irreversible. With time running out, the fate of the city—and the people they had sworn to protect—now rested on their ability to adapt and fight with everything they had.