With a swift, precise motion, Joseph and Hirotsugu broke free from their intense sword clash, each standing at opposite ends, their expressions fierce. Hirotsugu, unaware of the slight cut on his left arm, felt a surge of confusion wash over him. How had a mere human managed to land a blow after such an intense struggle? He could hardly believe it. “Impossible! He’s not supposed to be able to do that,” he thought, frustration brewing within him. “I mustn’t let my guard down. He’s hiding something.”

Joseph’s gaze swept across the battlefield, landing on the lifeless bodies of his fallen comrades, slaughtered mercilessly. A wave of rage surged through him as he processed the betrayal he had witnessed. It stunned him to see how quickly those who had once fought alongside Himari turned against their own for the sake of survival. He turned his head slightly towards Himari, who was visibly injured, her voice barely a whisper.

“Himari,” Joseph called, his heart tightening at the sight of her pain. “What happened?”

“Joseph…” she replied softly, her voice strained. He could hear the depth of her suffering, igniting a fire in his gut. With a firm grip on his sword, he pointed it directly at Hirotsugu. “You did this?”

Hirotsugu laughed, a sardonic sound that echoed in the oppressive silence. “Why not? They were weak, expendable. All for the promise of power.” His eyes gleamed with malice as he continued, “Betraying your comrades to make them kill each other—what’s it to you? Survival of the fittest, my friend.”

“You have no right to question me,” Hirotsugu spat. “I thought you’d be dead already, but it seems your luck has held out. For now.”

“Why don’t you just give up and die?” Hirotsugu taunted, his voice cold and mocking.

“This time, your luck comes to an end!” With a fierce yell, Hirotsugu raised his hand and commanded the monsters lurking in the shadows to attack Joseph.

In that moment, Joseph felt the weight of the world pressing down on him. He had seen the depths of betrayal, felt the pain of loss, and now, as the monsters charged toward him, he realized that he stood not just for himself but for all those who had fallen.

With a resolute determination igniting his spirit, he tightened his grip around his sword, ready to fight against the tide of darkness closing in on him. “I won’t let you win, Hirotsugu!” he shouted, his voice ringing out with defiance as he braced himself for the battle ahead.

As the monstrous horde charged furiously toward Joseph, he stood calmly, drawing in a deep breath to suppress the rage burning within him. His calmness contrasted sharply with the chaos surrounding him. Turning to Himari with a confident grin, he reassured her, “You don’t mind if I take care of this for you, right?”

Himari, still recovering from her injuries, was taken aback by Joseph’s composure. It was as if he had become someone entirely different—his focus, demeanor, and even his energy had shifted. From her corner, she watched in awe, unsure of what would happen next.

Joseph’s blue hair began to transform into a vibrant pink, and his eyes followed suit. With the monsters closing in, he tightened his grip around his sword, poised for the incoming onslaught. His left hand moved swiftly, his two middle fingers lightly tapping his palm, activating the Xentrocurnia prime tech orb embedded within him. His eyes flashed, their pink hue glowing like a digital pulse. Suddenly, a mysterious song—**SawanoHiroyukinZkXAI DARK ARIA SLVE6**—echoed around the battlefield. The haunting music reverberated through the air, confusing the monsters as they struggled to locate its source.

Joseph smiled as the music roared around him, and with a determined whisper, he said to himself, "Now it’s time I put this to good use."

In a blur of movement, the power of the Xentrocurnia orb surged through him. Before the first monster could land its mid-air crushing blow, Joseph effortlessly dodged the attack, his body moving with supernatural speed. In one fluid motion, he swung his sword and pierced the side of the monster's neck. With a swift twist, the beast's head was severed, and it fell to the ground with a heavy thud, rolling away.

Two more monsters lunged at him in a vicious assault. Without hesitation, Joseph countered, dodging their attacks with uncanny agility. He swiftly dismembered the arm of one beast, then turned to the second, his blade slicing cleanly through its midsection. Its stomach was torn open, intestines spilling out in a grotesque display of gore. With lightning speed, Joseph returned his attention to the first monster, driving his sword through its chest with pinpoint accuracy. The force of his blow caused the monster's heart to explode from its chest, leaving both creatures dead at his feet, their bodies collapsing in unison.

As the carnage unfolded, Himari watched in awe and disbelief. Joseph’s skill, speed, and ruthlessness were far beyond anything she had ever seen. His transformation, along with the strange, otherworldly music, gave him an aura of invincibility as he stood among the slain monsters, his sword dripping with blood.

The battle had just begun, and Joseph’s presence now commanded the battlefield.

Joseph's display of sheer power and merciless efficiency sent waves of shock and terror through the battlefield. Even Hirotsugu, who had fought alongside monstrous and supernatural forces for ages, felt an unsettling fear creeping into his chest. His allies, equally horrified, were reluctant to follow his orders as they saw the brutal carnage unfold before them—monsters and supernaturals alike, beings of formidable aura levels, had been effortlessly slaughtered by a single man. Joseph didn’t break a sweat, and his demeanor remained calm, with a hint of something far more menacing beneath the surface.

Himari, who watched from her safe corner, was equally stunned. Joseph’s fighting style was unlike anything she had ever seen—each movement precise, each strike lethal, as if he had mastered the battlefield itself. What truly left her in awe was the unprecedented aura surrounding him. It wasn’t just power—it was something darker, almost otherworldly, and she couldn’t help but marvel at the transformation unfolding before her eyes.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Hirotsugu tried to hide his fear, but he could feel the pulse of panic in his veins. He thought to himself, *How is this possible? How can a mere human so easily slaughter those monsters and supernaturals? Some of them were supposed to be on par with me in terms of aura level, and yet... he killed them like they were nothing.*

His mind raced, trying to make sense of Joseph’s abilities. *He must be a false ranker,* Hirotsugu reasoned, *but even they have limits. If I’m going to keep up with him, I’ll need to level up my aura.*

Despite his doubts, Hirotsugu wasn’t ready to back down. Out of desperation, he transformed his remaining allies into horrifying, mindless creatures, forcing them to attack Joseph with reckless abandon. But even in their grotesque forms, they stood no chance. Joseph met them head-on with simultaneous counterattacks, cutting through their numbers with surgical precision. Heads flew, limbs were torn apart, and their grotesque forms were rendered into piles of gore and viscera.

The battlefield had turned into a scene of unspeakable carnage—spilled guts, severed heads, and shattered bones littered the ground. Blood soaked the earth, and the metallic stench of death filled the air. Joseph’s sword dripped with the blood of his enemies, the crimson droplets falling in silence as he finally turned his gaze toward Hirotsugu.

In that moment, Hirotsugu felt the weight of Joseph’s killing intent. This man, who moments ago had seemed calm and collected, now stood as an unstoppable force, his eyes burning with determination. The realization sank in—there was no stopping him.

Joseph, his voice cold and devoid of emotion, locked his gaze on Hirotsugu and said, "It's your turn now."

Joseph could see the terror gripping Hirotsugu, though the man tried his best to mask it. Hirotsugu’s thoughts were practically laid bare as Joseph studied him. He had slaughtered the monsters and supernatural creatures as if they were mere insects, and Hirotsugu couldn’t understand how this was possible. But even in his fear, Hirotsugu refused to surrender.

"**Surrender now, or die,**" Joseph warned, his sword unwavering as he pointed it directly at Hirotsugu.

The Xentrocurnia prime tech orb inside Joseph pulsed with a warning, sensing that Hirotsugu was about to make a desperate, dangerous move. Joseph knew he needed to act quickly. But just as he was about to strike, Himari’s calm, pleading voice broke through his resolve.

She limped toward Hirotsugu, still injured but filled with compassion. “There’s still a chance, Hirotsugu,” she said softly. “You don’t have to keep fighting. This path doesn’t have to end in destruction. You can choose redemption.”

For a moment, there was silence. Then Hirotsugu’s face twisted into a wide, maniacal grin, followed by unsettling laughter. Joseph and Himari were both stunned by the sudden shift.

"**Redemption?**" Hirotsugu spat. "Do you really think I would throw away everything I’ve worked for, now that I’m so close to fulfilling my destiny? Pathetic!" His voice grew louder, filled with rage. "**Now, I’ll show you my true power!**"

The ground beneath them trembled as Hirotsugu began to charge his aura, the air around him thickening with raw energy. The force of his aura erupted in a shockwave that sent Joseph and Himari flying back. Joseph managed to catch her mid-air, shielding her from the worst of the blast, but the pressure was intense. He dug his heels into the ground, holding firm while protecting her as Hirotsugu’s power surged to unimaginable levels.

Hirotsugu’s aura shot from a mere D-tier country-level to a massive B-rank Lunar level. His body twisted and warped, transforming into a grotesque, monstrous figure. His form grew muscular, crackling with violent power and lightning. Two enormous horns jutted from his skull, and his eyes glowed with a malevolent light. A long, sharp tail lashed behind him, capable of slicing through anything in its path. His sword had transformed into a wicked hex blade, gleaming with dark energy, ready to drain the life force from anything it touched.

Now a mid-high-level lunar threat, Hirotsugu’s aura radiated across the battlefield. His speed and agility had increased tenfold, making him a terrifying combatant. Without hesitation, he launched himself at Joseph, moving at blinding speed.

Joseph, who was still protecting Himari, almost didn’t react in time. But the Xentrocurnia prime tech orb inside him detected the incoming attack, alerting Joseph in the nick of time. He countered Hirotsugu’s surprise assault, using the orb’s power to block the attack with incredible precision. The clash sent Hirotsugu spiraling into the air, momentarily stunned.

Hirotsugu landed a short distance away, his eyes blazing with rage. "You… you won’t win this time, Joseph," he snarled.

Joseph, his resolve stronger than ever, stood firm with Himari still under his protection. He glared at the monstrous Hirotsugu, knowing that the real battle had just begun.

Himari watched with a mix of awe and sadness as Joseph carefully placed her in a secure spot, the Xentrocurnia prime tech orb forming a protective forcefield around her. He activated its healing system, tending to her wounds while ensuring her safety. She felt a surge of pity for Hirotsugu, knowing he had gone too far down the dark path, leaving little hope for redemption.

With Himari safely shielded, Joseph turned his attention to the battle. His tech hummed with energy as he activated his battle suit, its design similar to the advanced armor from Akiridion-5. The suit gleamed with energy-based systems, mecha enhancements, and core energy weapons, a powerful fusion of technology and strategy. Fully armored, Joseph ascended into the air, ready to confront the monstrous Hirotsugu.

Mid-air, their eyes locked as Hirotsugu marveled at Joseph’s transformation. "**What is this form of yours? What is this power that you wield?**" Hirotsugu asked, clearly taken aback.

Joseph's eyes narrowed beneath his helmet. "**A power and form that will defeat you,**" he replied.

Hirotsugu’s mocking laughter filled the dungeon. "**Then show it to me!**"

At those words, both warriors charged at immense speed, the sheer force of their collision shaking the dungeon’s very foundations. The ground quaked as rubbles began to fall from the ceiling, yet neither combatant backed down. Their forearms locked in a titanic struggle, fierce gazes fixed on each other. The impact of their power crackled through the air, sending shockwaves through the crumbling dungeon.

Hirotsugu sneered as he pushed against Joseph’s strength. "**My power is greater than yours! My aura and magic are stronger! This is my ultimate form!**"

Joseph’s voice remained steady as he pushed back. "**I beg to differ. You’d be surprised how science can be just as powerful as magic.**"

With that, they broke free from their locked clash, only to dive back into an intense and brutal battle. The dungeon became a whirlwind of energy, as Joseph and Hirotsugu exchanged powerful blows, dodging and striking with ferocity. The walls cracked, and debris flew around them as the two warriors moved faster than the eye could follow, fighting with unmatched intensity.

Despite Hirotsugu’s monstrous strength, Joseph’s battle suit gave him the edge in agility, energy-based attacks, and precision. They fought back and forth, the clash of their abilities echoing in the dungeon as the battle continued to rage on.

Himari, watching from her safe spot, couldn’t help but feel the weight of the battle. This fight wasn’t just about strength or magic. It was about something deeper—about fate, redemption, and the consequences of one’s choices. She could only hope Joseph would emerge victorious.