Yoshi placed a comforting hand on the lord’s shoulder. “We will find who did this, my lord. You have my word. But first, we must ensure your safety.”
The city lord shook his head, his voice barely a whisper. “What safety? My family… my people… they’re gone. I am nothing without them.”
Joseph stepped forward, his voice firm but empathetic. “You may feel that way now, but your survival matters. You can honor their memory by helping us prevent this from happening to anyone else.”
The lord remained silent, his grief consuming him.
The group gathered outside, their expressions heavy. “Whatever did this isn’t human,” Lyra said, her voice resolute. “We need to be prepared for anything.”
Yoshi nodded. “First, we secure the city lord and ensure his safety. Then, we investigate. Whatever evil caused this destruction must be stopped.”
Joseph looked back at the city, his usual bravado replaced with quiet determination. “They’ll pay for this. Every last one of them.”
With renewed resolve, the group prepared to uncover the truth behind the massacre of Iwakuni, aware that the horrors they had witnessed might only be the beginning.
***
While Yoshi and his companions huddled in discussion, mapping out strategies and trying to make sense of the carnage, the faint sound of footsteps echoed through the desolate city hall. They turned to see the city lord approaching, his expression hardened, though the faint traces of grief still lingered in his weary eyes.
The lord stopped a few feet from the group, his gaze sweeping over them. “I owe you the truth,” he began, his voice steady despite the pain it carried.
The companions listened intently as he recounted the harrowing events.
“A demoness,” he said, his tone bitter and laced with fear. “She led an army of demons—hordes of creatures I’ve never seen before. They descended upon Iwakuni with one purpose: to claim the Relic of Death.”
The city lord continued. “Knowing what was at stake, I used the relic. Its power is devastating, capable of annihilating even the strongest of foes. I knew the cost—I knew I would pay dearly for wielding it—but I had no choice.”
His voice wavered as he spoke, the memory of the moment etched deeply in his soul. “The relic obliterated scores of demons. The streets ran black with their blood. But then… she came.”
"She wasn’t like the others," he said, his fists tightening. "She commanded unfathomable strength, immeasurable speed, and magic that rivaled the legends of the arch-demons—or perhaps something even greater. She moved with such speed that tracking her was impossible, vanishing and reappearing as if she were a phantom. Her very presence distorted the air, bending reality as though the world itself trembled in her wake."
The group stood in silence, the weight of his words pressing down on them.
“She toyed with me,” the city lord admitted bitterly. “Even with the relic in my grasp, I couldn’t land a single strike. She flaunted her power, shaping the ground, distorting the very fabric of the world around us. She claimed her abilities could not only alter the planet but the multiverse itself.”
Joseph muttered under his breath, “If she’s boasting about powers like that, she’s no ordinary demon.”
The city lord looked away, his voice heavy with shame. “In the end, she spared me. She could have killed me easily, but she didn’t. She said I was to live to deliver a message.”
The group leaned in, their curiosity and apprehension piqued.
“She said she knows you would come, eventually,” the lord said, his eyes locking onto Yoshi, Lyra, and Joseph. “She posed a challenge—to you, my prince, to the Royal Witch, and to the one they call the Savior. She said the dead could still be saved with the relic and demanded that you three prove your worth to her.”
“What kind of maniac leaves a warning message by slaughtering an entire city?” Joseph snapped, his fists trembling with rage. “If it’s a fight she wants, she’ll get it.”
The city lord raised a hand, cautioning Joseph. “Beware,” he said gravely. “Using the Relic of Death comes at a price. It’s a secret known only to the people of Iwakuni.”
“What happens when someone makes contact with it?” Joseph asked, his voice quieter now, tinged with curiosity.
The city lord hesitated, but Yoshi spoke first. “You face the Trials of Death.”
Joseph turned to him, his brow furrowed. “Trials?”
Lyra added, her voice solemn, “A trial with death itself. If you pass, you gain the relic’s power. If you fail… you perish beyond redemption.”
The city lord nodded. “No one is exempt from the trials—unless they exceed the very concept of death itself. Many have tried; few have succeeded.”
Joseph’s eyes widened as the gravity of the situation sank in. “So, if I touch this thing and fail…”
“It will kill you,” Lyra said bluntly.
Joseph let out a low whistle. “Well, that’s… intense.”
The city lord provided them with the demoness’s location—a barren, cursed land far from Iwakuni, a place whispered about in old tales of dread.
“Thank you for the warning,” Joseph said after a long pause, though his tone betrayed a flicker of doubt.
Yoshi placed a hand on his shoulder. “This isn’t a decision to be taken lightly. We’ll face this together.”
The group stood in silent agreement, the weight of their next steps looming over them. They knew that whatever lay ahead would test not only their strength and resolve but their very souls.
Yoshi turned to the lone traveler, a man and citizen of Iwakuni who had been journeying with them, and instructed him to stay behind with the city lord. He also directed his comrades to remain and protect the city lord, assist the traveler, and watch over the fallen. With these preparations in place, Yoshi, Lyra, and Joseph readied themselves to confront the demoness.
Joseph then turned to Yoshi and Lyra, his face tense with determination. “Can’t we use our auras to bring back the dead?” he asked. His voice trembled with desperation, his gaze lingering on the lifeless forms scattered around them.
Yoshi and Lyra exchanged a somber glance before Yoshi spoke, his tone heavy with regret. “The relic of death is the only thing capable of undoing this. Even with all our combined powers, we cannot resurrect a single soul.”
Joseph's heart sank as he looked back at the fallen. “If only I had my XPT,” he muttered under his breath, the words laced with a faint glimmer of hope. “Maybe... just maybe it could bring them back.”
"Yoshi placed a hand on Joseph's shoulder, grounding him in the reality of their mission. Lyra stepped closer, and together, the three of them focused their energies. With a flash, Yoshi teleported them all to confront the demoness."
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They arrived in a desolate landscape of horror—a barren wasteland where death itself seemed to reign. The demoness had unleashed the full power of the relic of death, reducing monsters and supernaturals of all ranks to lifeless husks. Piles of shattered skulls, broken bones, and torn flesh formed a grotesque throne upon which she sat, her dark aura swirling like a tempest, suffocating the land in an oppressive storm of malevolence.
She sensed their presence immediately. Rising from her macabre throne, she turned to face them, her voice a chilling echo across the corrupted terrain. “Welcome to my domain,” she hissed, fastening the relic of death to her chest. The relic fused with her flesh, pulsating like a malignant heart. Her eyes, blacker than the void of space, radiated malice deeper than any earthly shadow.
The air thickened with dread, charged with dark energy. Black lightning crackled across the sky, each strike illuminating the horrors of the landscape in brief, ghastly flashes. The demoness’s voice rang out again, hoarse and venomous.
“Once, this place was home to the demi-humans,” she sneered, gesturing to the desolation around her. “Now, it’s nothing more than a graveyard of forgotten memories.”
Joseph took a step forward, his voice resolute. “Why are you doing this?” he demanded, his question cutting through the oppressive silence.
The demoness let out a bitter laugh, her malice palpable. “Isn’t it obvious? You three are the key to my ascension as a demon supreme!” Her lips curled into a wicked smile as she began to recount her tale.
“Once, I was exalted and revered,” she said, her tone dripping with disdain. “But I was betrayed—cast down by jealous, backstabbing deities who couldn’t tolerate my rise to greatness. They stripped me of everything and hurled me into the abyss, thinking they’d broken me.” Her voice grew colder, sharper. “They were wrong. Even in my weakened state, I clawed my way back. I endured. And now, with the relic of death, I will ascend far beyond their petty, pathetic reach.”
Joseph narrowed his eyes. “So, you’re a rebel against the deities?”
The demoness’s expression twisted in fury. “No!” she spat. “I wasn’t a rebel. I was a visionary. My only crime was daring to aim higher than the rest. Their envy was their undoing.”
As her words echoed through the wasteland, the ground quaked beneath them.
“I was once among the ruling rankers of the Demon Supreme Council,” the demoness snarled, her voice trembling with rage as she spat on the ground. “But now, I’ve been reduced to a mere archdemon. That humiliation ends today. With your auras, I’ll reclaim my former glory and exact vengeance on those who betrayed me. Yoshi and Lyra—you both are the keys to my ascension.”
She turned her gaze to Lyra, her grin widening maliciously. “And with your father’s Trident, Lyra, I shall become the most powerful Demon Supreme there ever was.”
Joseph, unable to hold back his irritation, interjected, “Hey! What about me?” His tone carried a mix of mock indignation and jealousy.
The demoness turned to him with a look of disdain. “You?” she sneered. “You’re nothing but an annoyance. Your demise is inevitable and meaningless. Killing you will be a mere pleasure—to watch you fail in your so-called quest as the prophesied savior.”
Joseph smirked faintly and shook his head. “Fair enough. At least I’m not completely ignored.”
The demoness raised an eyebrow at his response before continuing with unwavering confidence. “Unlike most monsters and supernaturals, I am a demoness of my word. If you can defeat me in combat, you may claim the relic—if you’re worthy enough to prove yourselves without holding back.” She smirked and added, “Or perhaps you’d prefer to turn and flee... or better yet, join my cause. Rule by my side as my champions, and together, we could reshape this world.”
“Hell no!” Joseph snapped, stepping forward with clenched fists. “Not after everything you’ve done. This ends here and now.”
The demoness chuckled darkly, her eyes glinting with sinister amusement. “Very well. But heed my warning, Yoshi and Lyra—if you wish to survive, you must cast off your limiters. Restrain yourselves, and it will be your demise. I won’t hold back, and neither should you.”
Yoshi and Lyra exchanged exchanged determined glances, their auras flaring as they prepared for the battle ahead.
"Let's begin," the demoness declared, towering over them with a menacing smirk, her dark aura crackling with power as if mocking their defiance.
In an instant, the demoness appeared before them, her sudden movement nearly catching them off guard. With a mere wave of her hand, followed by a powerful gust of dark energy, she sent Yoshi, Lyra, and Joseph flying like ragdolls. However, the trio were far from defenseless. Yoshi and Lyra quickly conjured their magic to stabilize themselves mid-air, while Joseph used his immense strength to anchor himself, crossing his arms to shield his face as he skidded backward. His feet dug deep into the piles of bones and shattered skulls, grinding to a halt as he braced against the impact.
Barely had they regained their footing when the demoness struck again, vanishing and reappearing with blinding speed. Her relentless teleportation allowed her to strike simultaneously at all three, her movements precise and her defenses unwavering.
Yoshi, Lyra, and Joseph fought valiantly, their combined efforts creating a dazzling display of skill and power. But the demoness proved to be a formidable adversary. She was not only a physical match but a tactical one, adept at countering their abilities. Even Yoshi and Lyra’s “Ultimate Time Stop,” a technique capable of freezing an opponent permanently in time, was rendered ineffective as she absorbed the magic and converted it into dark energy to empower herself further.
The battlefield erupted with explosions of energy, flashes of magical light, and bursts of aura so intense that the very ground beneath them trembled. Each strike sent shockwaves through the desolate landscape, yet the demoness stood her ground, unfazed by their most devastating attacks. She withstood atomic disintegration, reformed from matter manipulation, and regenerated instantly from injuries that should have been fatal.
Despite their teamwork, relentless tactics, and lethal assaults, the demoness countered each move with precision, turning the fight into a brutal stalemate. At blinding speeds, the clash of power continued, each blow echoing across the desolate, corpse-strewn battlefield. She was a force of nature, relentless and nearly invincible, her dark aura pulsating as if mocking their every effort.
The confrontation with the demoness began to escalate as the tension between Yoshi, Lyra, Joseph, and their menacing adversary reached a boiling point. The three stood firm, their auras glowing faintly, contrasting with the oppressive darkness of the desolate landscape.
The demoness’s throne of corpses loomed ominously, its grotesque artistry a testament to her cruelty and power. The atmosphere around them was suffocating, the air vibrating with malice and charged with dark energy. Her voice, cold and piercing, echoed again, filled with venom.
“Your arrival marks the beginning of my ultimate ascension,” the demoness declared. “Do you understand the privilege you’ve been given? To stand before the one who will soon dominate the very fabric of existence?”
Joseph tightened his fists, his anger barely contained. “You talk too much,” he snapped. “Whatever grudge you have against the world doesn’t justify this massacre.”
The demoness smirked, her sharp, blackened teeth gleaming. “Spare me your morality. I’ve surpassed such trivial notions long ago. The relic has made me more than just a demoness—I am a harbinger of death, destruction, and rebirth.
Yoshi, ever calm and analytical, stepped forward. “The Relic of Death is a dangerous tool. It doesn’t empower; it consumes. You think you control it, but it’s the relic controlling you.”
The demoness threw back her head and laughed, the sound grating and unnatural. “Foolish prince! The relic and I are one now. It obeys my will. My desires fuel its power, and together, we are unstoppable!”
As if to demonstrate, she raised her hand. The air twisted violently, forming a vortex of black lightning and pulsating energy that surged toward them. Yoshi, Lyra, and Joseph dodged in unison, the blast obliterating the ground where they had stood, leaving a smoldering crater.
While they regrouped, Joseph couldn’t hold back his question. “If you’ve become so powerful, why go through all this? Why challenge us instead of using the relic to destroy us outright?”
The demoness glared at him, her expression shifting from amusement to fury. “Do you think I’m some mindless beast? This isn’t just about power. It’s about vindication, about showing those celestial cowards who betrayed me that I am more than their equal—I am their end.”
Her voice dropped to a chilling whisper. “You three represent the forces that once stood in my way. A prince bound by duty, a witch trapped by prophecy, and a savior clinging to fragile hope. By breaking you, I shatter the chains of my past.”
Lyra spoke for the first time, her voice sharp and cutting. “Your hatred blinds you. Power like this doesn’t bring salvation—it only destroys. If you’ve fallen so far as to slaughter innocents for revenge, then you’re already lost.”
The demoness sneered, her darkened eyes narrowing. “And yet here you are, standing before me. Do you think you can lecture me on morality and consequence? Save your speeches, witch. Prove your worth or perish like the rest.”
Dark lightning surged around her as she levitated above her throne, her aura growing stronger and more chaotic. The ground trembled, and the corpses that formed her throne began to writhe, as if animated by her malevolent energy.
“This is your final chance,” she hissed, her voice laced with venom. “Stand and fight as if your very lives depend on it, or watch everything you swore to protect turn to ash. Or run—run, and let history remember you as the cowards who dared to defy the supreme!”
Yoshi stepped forward, his hand resting on the hilt of his blade. His voice was calm but resolute. “We didn’t come here to flee. Whatever power you’ve stolen, it won’t save you from the consequences of your actions.”
Lyra and Joseph moved into position, their combined auras flaring as they prepared for the inevitable clash.
The demoness grinned wickedly. “Then come, champions. Show me the strength of your resolve, and I’ll show you the depths of my wrath.”
As the first strike was about to fall, the desolate landscape seemed to hold its breath, the battle between life and death about to begin.