Joseph clenched his fists, clearly frustrated but unable to argue. "Alright, fine. But how do we even approach them without drawing attention?"

"We’ll have to think of a way," Yoshi replied. "Our priority is understanding their motives for being here. Why would two gods descend upon the city of Tsu for the relic of will? Whatever their reason, it could affect everything."

Lyra nodded. "And we’ll have to do it quickly. The longer we wait, the more unpredictable this situation becomes."

"Too late!" Joseph exclaimed, drawing the rest of the group's attention. He pointed skyward, his hand trembling slightly as their gazes followed. Hovering midair were several angels, their wings beating rhythmically as sunlight danced off their divine forms. Each angel was armed, their weapons glimmering with celestial power. Some carried flaming swords radiating all manner of colors, others bore ice swords, cosmic blades, dark swords, or bows and arrows imbued with both holy and unholy energies. Axes, spears, and daggers of exquisite craftsmanship completed the formidable display.

"I think Joel's doppelganger and his brethren have spotted us," Joseph muttered, his voice tense.

One of the angels, more radiant than the rest, stepped forward. "Hello. Peace be unto mortals and immortals," the angel intoned, their voice calm yet commanding.

Before the group could respond, the angels descended and escorted them to the heart of the city. There, Yoshi and his companions were brought before the two gods seated on their thrones. Their heavenly attire, now pristine and white once more, contrasted starkly with the gruesome battlefield around them. They sat comfortably, enjoying a lavish feast provided by the fearful citizens of Tsu, who served them with trembling hands and lowered eyes.

As the gods’ gazes fell upon Yoshi and his companions, their expressions shifted, a flicker of recognition crossing their faces. It was clear they not only understood why the group had come but also knew precisely who Yoshi and Lyra were.

"Oh, what an unexpected delight," the goddess said, her voice dripping with amusement. "Prince Yoshi Kazuhiro, son of Yusuke and Naomi Kazuhiro, and twin brother to Prince Yoshito Kazuhiro."

The goddesses' piercing gaze then settled on Lyra. "And here we have the formidable daughter of the Demon Supreme, Aryl. Or do you prefer Lyra these days?" she added with a sly smile.

Lyra’s jaw tightened, but she said nothing.

The god leaned forward, his tone sharp. "An honor it is to be graced by such esteemed company, though I must say, snooping around doesn’t seem befitting of your stature."

Yoshi took a step forward, ignoring the implied insult. "Why are you here?" he asked bluntly.

The god chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "Straight to the point, are we?"

Yoshi’s voice hardened. "You’re defying the order of the Divine Realm."

At that, the goddess’s demeanor shifted. Her calm amusement gave way to fury as her eyes sparked with lightning. The skies darkened, and thunder rumbled ominously. Winds howled around them, stirring the blood-soaked battlefield into chaos.

"Who are you to lecture us about the Divine Realm?" the goddess roared, her voice echoing like a storm over a thousand seas. The sheer force of her words seemed to shake the very heavens.

The tension was palpable. While Yoshi and Lyra remained unshaken, their companions were visibly unnerved. Joseph, though clearly frightened, took a step forward, forcing himself to speak.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Let’s all calm down," he said, raising his hands in a placating gesture. "It’s nothing personal. We’re just here for some... diplomacy, that’s all."

The gods turned their attention to him, the winds suddenly calming. The goddess studied Joseph intently, her gaze narrowing as if recalling something.

"Ah, the prophesied savior of the world," she said at last, her tone laced with curiosity.

Joseph blinked, his face flushing. "Oh, me? Please, it’s nothing. I’m not even there yet," he replied, awkwardly waving off the compliment.

The goddess arched an eyebrow. "You’d better not be a trouble to my kingdom in the future," she warned.

"Noted," Joseph said quickly, forcing a smile before growing serious. "Now, about why you’re here. All we want to know is your purpose."

The gods exchanged a glance before the goddess leaned back in her chair. "We were summoned by the prayers of the citizens of Tsu," she said simply, her voice calm once more. "They begged for our divine protection, and we answered."

As she spoke, her husband nodded, his expression unreadable. The group stood in silence, the weight of their presence pressing heavily upon them.

Joseph stepped forward, signaling Yoshi and Lyra to hold back. With a nod, they silently agreed to let him handle the discussion.

"With all due respect," Joseph began, his voice calm yet firm, "don’t you think it’s high time you returned to where you came from?"

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The gods exchanged amused glances before bursting into laughter.

"Oh, mortals never cease to amaze me with their fragile minds," the goddess said, shaking her head. "The people of Tsu are honored by our presence. They have nothing to fear—"

"With your protection here, no weapon fashioned against them shall prosper," Joseph interjected, finishing her sentence with a knowing grin.

The goddess tilted her head slightly, impressed. "Hmmm... quite sharp for a mortal like you," she mused. "Where did you say you came from again?"

Joseph smirked. "Call me an outworlder, otherworlder, alien, or even an outcast—whichever suits your fancy. I’m not from this world," he said. "And trust me, I’ve encountered gods like you in every size, shape, and form imaginable."

His expression grew more serious as he gestured toward the city. "But look around you. The people of Tsu are scared to death by your presence."

The god leaned forward, his tone unwavering. "The ways of men are deceitful and wicked. None can truly know their hearts except us. We are here to save them—from themselves."

Joseph met his gaze unflinchingly. "People have the right to choose. To make mistakes. To learn from them—or let those mistakes consume them. Your intentions may be noble, but to the people of Tsu, your presence feels less like salvation and more like tyranny."

His words hung in the air, heavy with reason and sincerity. The gods glanced at each other, their expressions softening as they considered Joseph’s argument.

"Perhaps there’s a way to settle this peacefully," Joseph suggested, his voice steady.

The goddess leaned back, her eyes narrowing in thought before a smirk spread across her face. "Very well, mortal. You have spoken wisely. We will leave the people of Tsu... but only if you prove yourself worthy."

Joseph’s brow furrowed. "Sorry, you said what now?"

The god raised a hand, and with a flick of his wrist, a swirling vortex of darkness appeared. From its depths emerged a massive demon, its grotesque form dripping with malevolence. The creature let out a guttural roar, shaking the ground beneath their feet.

"Defeat this demon," the goddess declared, her voice echoing with divine authority, "and you will have our word. The people of Tsu will no longer live under our rule."

Joseph’s eyes widened as he took a step back, staring at the towering monstrosity. "You’ve gotta be kidding me," he muttered.

The god extended his arm, and with a wave of his hand, an arena materialized around them, its walls glowing with celestial energy.

"Step into the arena and prove your worth," the god commanded.

Joseph glanced nervously at Yoshi and Lyra, uncertainty flickering in his eyes. Should he accept the challenge? His hesitation lingered, but Lyra’s voice rang clear in his mind, her telepathic encouragement urging him forward. Meanwhile, Yoshi offered a silent, reassuring thumbs-up accompanied by an easy, confident smile.

Joseph let out a resigned sigh. "Oh, dang it," he muttered under his breath, steeling himself before stepping into the grand arena—a construct forged by the gods themselves.

Joseph clenched his fists, steeling himself for the challenge ahead. "Alright, big guy," he muttered under his breath. "Let’s see what you’ve got."

"Defeat this monster with the power you possess," the goddess declared as she rose gracefully from her seat. "Begin!" With that, she returned to her throne, her gaze locked on the unfolding battle.

The moment the word "begin" echoed through the arena, the demon creature surged forward with terrifying speed, slamming into Joseph and knocking him off balance. The crowd gasped, and Joseph stumbled but quickly regained his footing. Though caught off guard, he wasn’t entirely helpless—his half-broken seal still granted him enough power to stand a chance against this monstrous foe.

However, this was no ordinary demon. It was invulnerable on the outside but vulnerable within. To make matters worse, it could mimic the abilities of its opponent and unleash an array of magical attacks and items stored in its seemingly infinite, universe-like stomach.

The battle was fierce and relentless. As the demon began mimicking Joseph’s abilities, the fight became a spectacle of mirrored moves. When Joseph took to the skies, so did the demon. When Joseph used his super speed, the creature matched him, creating a blur of motion that dazzled the onlookers. The demon's arsenal of magical blasts and projectiles, disgorged from its grotesque mouth, forced Joseph to stay on constant defense.

The turning point came when the demon, after an intense exchange of attacks, managed to swallow Joseph whole.

Gasps of horror erupted from Yoshi’s companions, with some fainting on the spot. To them, it seemed Joseph was defeated, his fate sealed within the creature's stomach. But Yoshi and Lyra stood firm, their confidence unwavering. They knew this was part of Joseph’s plan.

Inside the demon’s vast stomach—a bizarre, universe-like dimension—Joseph took stock of his surroundings. "A storage demon," he muttered, piecing together its nature. Realizing the creature’s vulnerability from within, he harnessed his abilities to their absolute limit.

Breaking beyond the speed of light, Joseph unleashed a relentless barrage of attacks, each punch and burst of speed disrupting the stability of the dimension. The demon screeched in agony, its outer form writhing uncontrollably. Each strike caused its organs to rupture, with its grotesque body swelling dangerously as Joseph’s overwhelming power threatened to tear it apart.

Desperate, the demon attempted to swallow itself to end the pain, but it was too late. Joseph’s final blow shattered the storage dimension, sending shockwaves through the arena. The demon's body exploded like a cosmic big bang, its remains collapsing into a lifeless heap.

As the smoke cleared, Joseph stood triumphantly over the fallen beast, his form radiant with power. The arena construct, which had miraculously contained the blast, finally cracked and shattered like glass.

The gods, seated above, looked down at Joseph with newfound respect.

"Now then," Joseph said, walking confidently toward them, "keep to your word."

Impressed but unshaken, the goddess gestured for the relic of will to be handed over. "You have proven yourself worthy, mortal," she said, her voice carrying both authority and a hint of begrudging admiration.

Before leaving, the gods turned to Yoshi and his companions, their expressions grave.

"Know this," the goddess said. "Our presence was the only barrier keeping greater evils at bay. By asking us to leave, you must now shoulder that burden yourselves."

She then turned to Yoshi, her tone sharpening. "And, Prince Yoshi, choose your words more carefully in the future. You and your ancestors may wield great power, but my divinity and authority surpass you all."

With that, the gods, their angelic armies, and their radiance vanished in a blinding light. The city was restored to its former glory, and the lifeless adversaries scattered across the ground disappeared, leaving behind only the relic of will.

Joseph handed the relic to Yoshi with a satisfied smirk. "Well, that was something else," he said, his casual tone masking the immense effort he’d just expended.

Before anyone could respond, a voice called out from the distance. Turning, the group saw the city lord approaching, flanked by council members and warriors. They had come to meet Yoshi and his companions, their expressions a mixture of awe and gratitude.