As the battle raged on with the horde of monsters surrounding Yoshi, Lyra, and their comrades, Joseph remained calm and observant. He quickly pieced together the puzzle—the barrier Masanori had created was dampening their auras and disabling their unique abilities. Realizing this, Joseph’s mind raced with a plan to reverse the situation.

While the others were locked in combat with the relentless creatures, Joseph saw a brief opening. He knew the only way to undo the barrier was to get Masanori's attention. Without hesitation, he began taunting the hovering Masanori, using words meant to anger and provoke him. His voice rang through the air, deliberately chosen to irritate the powerful foe above.

“Is this all you’ve got? Hiding behind your magic and that relic? You don’t even have the courage to fight like a true warrior!" Joseph’s words were a direct challenge, designed to stoke the flames of Masanori’s rage.

Yoshi, Lyra, and the others could hardly believe what they were seeing. The last thing they expected was for Joseph to openly provoke Masanori, knowing full well the consequences. They exchanged worried glances, thinking Joseph was seeking a death wish by drawing the attention of such a powerful enemy.

But Joseph’s plan was unfolding precisely as he intended. Masanori's eyes burned with fury, and without a moment’s hesitation, he began charging up an intense magical blast. A crackling energy filled the air, swirling around Masanori as he aimed the blast directly at Joseph, his anger fueling the power of the attack.

Joseph, unflinching, stood confidently in place, seemingly resigned to his fate. His stance was unwavering as he faced the incoming storm of magic. Yoshi and Lyra’s eyes widened in shock as they saw Joseph willingly stand in the path of destruction. They tried to move, to rush to his aid, but the swarm of monsters and their own battles kept them at bay. They could only watch as Joseph faced down Masanori’s wrath.

The blast was unlike anything they had ever seen. It hit Joseph head-on like a bolt of lightning, a searing force that seemed to tear apart everything in its path. The explosion was catastrophic, leveling the surroundings, obliterating the portal, and sending shockwaves through the entire city. Even the monsters, once fierce and unrelenting, were tossed aside by the blast’s devastating power.

The ground shook violently as the blast left a massive crater, smoke and debris clouding the area. Yoshi, Lyra, and their comrades were thrown off their feet by the shockwave. Some of the monsters caught in the blast were instantly vanquished, their lifeless bodies scattered across the ruined cityscape. The destruction was complete, and for a moment, it seemed like everything had come to an end.

But as the smoke began to clear, a shocking sight emerged. Yoshi and Lyra, bruised and battered, struggled to rise from the ground. They looked around, their eyes scanning the wreckage for any sign of Joseph. He was nowhere to be found.

Masanori hovered above them, a manic laugh escaping his lips. His voice echoed through the ruined city, mocking Joseph’s audacity.

“How pathetic! How pitiful!” Masanori sneered. “That human dared to challenge me with his annoying words. His aura level was so weak that I can’t even begin to fathom how I used a mere fraction of my power to utterly decimate him!” He laughed again, the sound filled with cruel amusement.

But as the smoke cleared further, Yoshi and Lyra's eyes fell upon something unexpected. Amidst the wreckage, a faint energy pulse flickered. It was faint but unmistakable—a surge of aura that could only belong to one person.

Joseph.

Against all odds, he had survived. The blast, though it had seemingly destroyed everything in its wake, had inadvertently triggered something within Joseph—a hidden well of power that had been dormant until now. His XPT, the mysterious energy he had been secretly cultivating, had been pushed to its limit. The blast had acted as a catalyst, awakening his full potential.

Unbeknownst to Masanori, Joseph had survived the blast. He turned to Yoshi and Lyra, his voice icy and filled with bitter disdain. "You were fools to challenge me. I offered diplomacy, but you chose violence. Now, you've brought destruction upon the very city I hold dear, the one I've fought so hard to protect. It's a shame to watch it crumble, all because of our own hands."

"Aryl! You of all people should understand," Masanori said, his voice edged with a haunting familiarity. At that moment, Lyra's eyes widened as the pieces clicked into place. There were only a handful of people who knew her by her true demon name—Aryl. The revelation hit her like a tidal wave: Masanori was possessed.

Yoshi could see the flames of fury igniting in Lyra's eyes as she straightened, preparing for the confrontation despite her powers being stripped away.

"Lirien!" Lyra called, her voice steady, invoking the demon's true name that now controlled Masanori.

"It took you long enough to figure it out," the possessed Masanori taunted, a sinister smile curling his lips. "This was always meant to be our battle, yet you allowed this pathetic tribrid prince to fight your war." He sneered with disgust, his voice dripping with venom.

Before he could continue his tirade, a sudden voice boomed from nowhere, followed by a surprise attack that struck Masanori with shocking force, knocking him off balance.

"Hey! Keep Yoshi's name out of your fucking mouth!" Joseph roared, delivering a brutal punch to Masanori's face from midair. The impact sent the demon crashing to the ground, creating a crater with the force of the blow.

Joseph landed gracefully, his XPT fully charged. "No one talks to Yoshi that way except me," he declared, his words leaving both Yoshi and Lyra momentarily stunned.

Yoshi’s heart skipped a beat. He realized Joseph had known exactly what he was doing—he had willingly sacrificed himself, not to die, but to unlock the power needed to turn the tide of the battle.

"Since when have you ever talked to me like that?" Yoshi asked, his brow furrowing in confusion.

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Joseph stared at him for a moment, then offered a shy grin. "Probably in my imagination," he replied, his usual playful tone returning.

With renewed determination, Yoshi and Lyra exchanged a look. They understood now what Joseph’s plan had been, and they would not let his efforts go in vain. The tide of the battle was about to shift once more, and they would fight, not just for their lives, but for Joseph’s sacrifice as well.

The possessed Masanori slowly rose, dazed but unharmed. His eyes, once filled with arrogance, were now full of disbelief. "How is this possible? You were supposed to be dead! That attack should have killed you—no demon lord could survive such a blast."

Joseph stood tall, exuding confidence. "Well, here's the thing: I'm the impossible."

A flicker of realization crossed Masanori's face as Joseph continued, "Looks like you're not in control of your own body anymore. My XPT informed me that when it was low on power, you tampered with it—impressive, but now it's fully charged, thanks to your little blast. And now, I can return the favor."

Joseph's stance hardened, a smirk playing at the edges of his lips. "Time to show you just how powerful I truly am."

Masanori, or rather the demon possessing him, seethed with rage. His eyes, once a deep shade of calculated calm, now burned with a fiery fury that reflected the true nature of the demon controlling his body. His mouth twisted into a snarl as he struggled to regain his composure, still reeling from Joseph's unexpected assault.

"You should have stayed dead!" Lirien—the demon inside Masanori—growled through his gritted teeth, his hands trembling with anger. "I will not be humiliated by this weakling, this mere human!" But even as he raged, he could feel the heavy presence of Joseph's amplified energy—the XPT coursing through him like an unstoppable force, rendering his own powers meaningless in comparison.

Joseph, his chest heaving with controlled breaths, smiled confidently at Masanori's confusion. "You’re right about one thing," he said, stepping forward with a determined air, "That attack was meant to kill me. But here’s the thing: I don’t go down that easily. And what you just unleashed? Well, let’s just say it gave me what I needed to survive and power up."

Yoshi and Lyra, still stunned by Joseph’s sudden transformation, exchanged wary glances. They had witnessed firsthand the destruction Masanori’s blast had caused, and yet Joseph had not only survived but seemed to have thrived from it. But there was no time to marvel at the miracle. They were in the midst of a fight, and their adversary—Masanori, or rather Lirien—was far from finished.

"You think you can challenge me?" Lirien scoffed, his voice now a guttural growl. "You, a pathetic human with no regard for your life, would dare to take me on? The power of a demon lord like myself can never be matched by the likes of you."

Joseph’s eyes burned with resolve as he stepped into a more aggressive stance, his aura now fully charged and vibrant. "We’ll see about that," he said, his voice steady, yet carrying a hint of a challenge that Masanori could not ignore. "I’ve got the power now, and it's more than enough to show you just how wrong you are."

Lyra, still processing the situation, locked eyes with Joseph, a sense of admiration and surprise washing over her. She knew Joseph had the heart of a warrior, but now, with his XPT at full capacity, he was a completely different being—more powerful, more focused. She didn’t need to say anything; she could tell that Joseph was ready to do whatever it took to stop Lirien and save the city.

Yoshi, for the second time in a long while, saw a glimpse of Joseph’s true potential. His face, usually full of playful sarcasm and self-doubt, now showed a determination that made him a force to be reckoned with.

"Alright, Joseph," Yoshi said, his voice low but filled with respect, "Let's finish this. We’re with you."

Lyra nodded, the fire in her eyes now burning hotter than ever. She was no longer a mere observer—she was part of this battle, ready to fight with everything she had. "Together," she said, clenching her fists.

With a shared understanding, the three of them turned their attention back to Masanori, now fully aware of the fight they had ahead of them.

Hearing this, the possessed Masanori burst into maniacal laughter, as he began to levitate, his immense aura began to radiate from him. Joseph realizing this stunned him by undoing the barrier which instantly gave Yoshi, Lyra and their comrades access to their auras, magic and unique skills.

"What?", the possessed Masanori shot back as he witnessed Joseph undo his spell effortlessly.

Lirien’s twisted smile faltered as he realized that his hold on Masanori was weakening. The demon’s arrogance started to crack, and for the first time, she felt a sense of doubt creeping into her mind.

"Impossible," Lirien hissed. "This power—where did it come from?"

Joseph’s grin was almost infectious as he met Lirien’s furious gaze. "You should know better than anyone, demon," he said, his voice now laced with a dangerous calm, "Never underestimate the impossible."

Before Masanori could recast the spell, Joseph moved swiftly, launching an attack. The first strike, however, was easily evaded by Masanori, but he failed to notice that it was merely a diversion. A swift clone of Joseph materialized and lunged at him, just as the original followed suit, closing the distance in a flash.

Joseph grabbed Masanori mid-flight, pulling him away as they engaged in battle elsewhere. In that brief moment, Masanori snapped his fingers, and with a surge of power, opened multiple portals, unleashing an army of monsters and supernaturals into the city.

With that, Joseph lunged forward, his body moving faster than the eye could track, a blur of energy and power. Lirien reacted instinctively, but Joseph was already there, his amplified speed and strength overwhelming the demon’s defenses. The air crackled with energy as the two clashed in a powerful exchange of blows—Joseph's XPT pushing him beyond his limits, while Lirien’s demonic energy twisted and surged in retaliation.

Meanwhile, Yoshi and Lyra moved in perfect sync, flanking Lirien's minions as they fought to defend the remnants of the city from the oncoming monsters. They also made sure to keep the enemy's attention divided, preventing them from focusing solely on Joseph, who was locked in battle with the possessed Masanori.

The battle was no longer just about strength—it was about strategy, precision, and the will to win. And Joseph, with his newfound power, was the wild card that shifted the balance.

"You’re not in control of this battle anymore," Joseph taunted, landing a devastating blow that sent Masanori—possessed by Lirien—crashing into the debris. "It’s over for you."

As Masanori staggered to his feet, his eyes now wild with fury, the possessed man realized he was losing. His hold on the city, on his enemies, was slipping away. And it was all because of one man—a human—who refused to bow before him.

With a final roar of defiance, Lirien channeled his remaining energy into a massive, explosive surge of dark magic. But Joseph, fully attuned to his XPT and with the support of his allies, was ready.

"Not this time," Joseph declared, charging up one final, devastating blast of his own. As he unleashed it, the explosion tore through the air, a cataclysmic shockwave that consumed everything in its path. However, Lyra swiftly cast a protective spell over the people of Yokosuka, shielding them from the onslaught, while only the monsters were caught in the blast's fury.

The energy clash was cataclysmic, shaking the very foundations of the city. In that moment, Masanori—his will no longer intact—was finally overwhelmed, the demonic presence within him seeming to dissipate into nothingness. Or so they thought.

As the dust settled, and the echo of the battle faded, Yoshi, Lyra, and Joseph stood amidst the wreckage. Masanori, once the pawn of a demon, lay unconscious, his body limp and drained.

"You did it," Yoshi said, his voice tinged with awe and respect.

Joseph, though battered and bruised, simply grinned. "We did it," he replied, glancing at his comrades with a quiet but knowing look.

The battle for Yokosuka was over—but the true cost of their victory was still yet to be fully realized. However, in this moment, Joseph had proven that even the impossible could be conquered.