As the intense battle raged on, Hirotsugu managed to land a devastating blow to Joseph's armor with his hex blade, striking him from behind. The impact seemed fatal, suspending Joseph midair as Hirotsugu’s sinister laughter echoed through the dungeon. Himari, watching from her protected spot, gasped, believing Joseph had been killed.

"So, now, Joseph! Do you see the difference in our power?" Hirotsugu mocked. "My hex blade drains the life force from anything it touches, no matter how powerful they are. And once you're dead, I'll finish off Himari. Too bad you won’t be there to save her."

But to Hirotsugu's utter disbelief, Joseph's armor began to glow as it analyzed and absorbed the hex blade, fusing it seamlessly with his suit. Even as Hirotsugu twisted the blade, trying to withdraw it, he found himself unable to pull it out. Joseph stood unharmed, his armor adapting to the hex blade’s energy. With a swift motion, Joseph’s suit generated spikes from the absorbed hex energy, driving them into Hirotsugu. The spikes left deep, bloody gashes as Hirotsugu barely retreated, panting heavily, his aura now flickering as his life force drained.

Joseph’s armor shimmered as it evolved, transforming into a new form—*Akiridion-5 Hex*, pulsing with an otherworldly energy. The transformation left Himari in awe, her eyes wide as she watched Joseph’s new power manifest before her.

Hirotsugu, now injured and reeling, staggered back in disbelief. "What… what is this power? What have you become?"

Joseph’s eyes glowed with determination. "**Now, do you see the difference in our power levels?**" he asked coldly, as Hirotsugu struggled to keep his distance, the monstrous aura around him fading. "**This isn’t the first time I’ve encountered a weapon like your hex blade.**" Joseph's voice was calm but edged with finality. "**There was a poisoned cursed dagger from the Fujimori Wisteria Forest Kingdom—used by renegades who sought to take my powers. They thought I was the prophesied savior. Some even tried to rescue me.**"

The mention of the prophecy sent a jolt of recognition through Hirotsugu. His eyes widened as fear overtook him. "**No… it can’t be. You’re not the savior we were warned about,**" Hirotsugu stammered, his voice shaking as he floated back in terror. "**It can’t be. You’re just a man. We expected something… more powerful. Someone worthy of fear.**"

Joseph’s expression remained resolute. "**Savior or not, it doesn’t matter.**" His voice carried a finality that chilled Hirotsugu. "**I’m ending this now.**"

Before Hirotsugu could react, Joseph’s arm morphed into a razor-sharp steel blade. In one swift motion, Joseph sliced through Hirotsugu, cutting him cleanly in half. Blood sprayed through the air as Hirotsugu's body fell to the ground in a gruesome display, torn apart in the blink of an eye. His monstrous form, once powerful, now lay motionless in a pool of blood.

In that fleeting instant, the song Joseph had been playing in sync with during his fierce battle reached its final note.

As Hirotsugu’s body hit the floor, the dungeon began to collapse, the walls crumbling and the ceiling caving in. Joseph, thinking quickly, dashed through the debris, scooping Himari into his arms as they flew out of the collapsing dungeon just in time. Behind them, the entire structure fell into ruins, a pile of rubble marking the end of Hirotsugu’s reign of terror.

Landing safely outside, Joseph gently set Himari down before reverting to his human form. Both were panting, their breaths heavy from the intense battle. The monstrous threat that once loomed over them was no more, and the once-imposing dungeon lay in ruins, reduced to nothing but rubble. Himari gazed at Joseph, still awestruck by his incredible strength and the unwavering compassion he had shown, even when confronting the darkest of foes.

After the battle ended, a silence fell between Joseph and Himari. The weight of everything that had happened lingered in the air, and Himari had something troubling her. Finally, she spoke, her voice soft but laced with curiosity and uncertainty.

"Joseph… are you really the savior Hirotsugu spoke about? Was everything you said to him true?"

"You saved us both," she whispered, still overwhelmed by the battle.

Joseph simply nodded, his eyes still focused on the horizon, ready for whatever lay ahead. The battle was over, but the journey was far from complete.

Joseph looked at her for a moment, his expression thoughtful. "I don’t know," he replied honestly. "I’m still finding my place here in this world. I’ve been through many battles and challenges, but… I don’t know if I’m the one they’ve been waiting for."

Himari nodded, accepting his answer. There was something genuine in Joseph’s words that made her realize he, too, was on his own journey of discovery.

Not long after, Joseph reached for the Xentrocurnia prime tech orb within him, channeling its advanced technology to craft a new sword. As the sword materialized, it gleamed with an otherworldly light—a fusion of his technology and the hex blade that Hirotsugu had used. He handed the sword to Himari, her eyes widening in surprise.

"This is your sword," Joseph said with a grin. "The one you gave me, but now it’s something more. I upgraded it with my tech, and now it’s a hex blade."

Himari was stunned as she took the sword, feeling the power radiating from it. Joseph continued to explain its features: "You can summon it at will, communicate with it, and only you can lift it. In the hands of your enemies, it’s useless—futile if they try to turn it against you. And, it can steal an enemy’s aura and disintegrate anyone who touches it without your permission."

"Unless they have good intentions, it won’t harm those who attempt to use it without your permission. Plus, it's now capable of killing higher monsters and supernaturals, so it's a win-win for you, Himari," he said.

Joseph smiled as he added, "It’s a smart hex blade now."

Himari, speechless for a moment, felt a surge of gratitude. She looked at Joseph, realizing how much thought and care he had put into crafting this gift for her. "Thank you," she said, her voice filled with appreciation.

Joseph nodded, satisfied that she liked the blade. With their mission complete, they turned to head back to the rendezvous point, where Yoshi and the others awaited their report. As they walked away, knowing that even though their battle was over, many more challenges lay ahead for both of them.

For now, though, they had earned a moment of peace.

***

As Joseph and Himari arrived at the rendezvous point, they were greeted by a horrific sight: bodies of slaughtered monsters, supernaturals, and fallen comrades scattered across the field. The scene was terrifying, blood-streaked and filled with the stench of death. Himari’s eyes widened in shock, her heart pounding as she took in the carnage.

"It’s begun," Joseph whispered under his breath, his voice tense but calm. Without wasting a moment, they rushed toward Hakadote City.

As they approached the city, it was clear the situation had escalated. The once-thriving city was under simultaneous attack—from within and outside its borders. The city's defensive magic, a shimmering barrier cast by Lyra, held firm at the edges, preventing more monstrous creatures from entering. Lyra stood at the frontlines, her hands glowing with magic as she simultaneously battled swarms of creatures, shielding civilians with protective spells while blasting away attacking monsters.

However, one particularly massive and brutal creature was relentlessly trying to break through Lyra’s magical barrier. Every time the creature slammed into it with its overwhelming force, the barrier shattered like glass, only to instantly reform. The spell, an "Infinite Loop Protection Barrier," repaired itself from each blow, but the creature was persistent and dangerously close to breaking through for good.

Inside the city, Yoshi and his comrades were fighting a desperate battle against the monsters that had breached before the barrier was raised. They were fighting to protect the city's lord and the terrified citizens, battling the creatures in fierce hand-to-hand combat. Outside the walls, Chiyori and his team fought to push back the horde threatening to overwhelm the city’s defenses.

Joseph and Himari exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with shared determination. They didn’t need to speak—both knew what had to be done.

"Guess I'll kick off our arrival with a bang," Joseph said, his lips curling into a mischievous grin. He gently tapped the arc reactor on his chest, activating his device. Without transforming fully into his battle suit, he extended his hands forward, fingers intertwining as his palms began to glow with power.

With a clap, a holographic cannon formed in front of him, glowing with energy. In one swift motion, Joseph pointed the cannon directly at the massive creature that was continuously hammering Lyra’s spell, trying to shatter it once and for all.

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"Say goodbye," Joseph muttered, a wicked grin on his face.

The cannon fired, unleashing an immense, concentrated blast of energy that shot across the battlefield with terrifying speed. The blast struck the creature dead center, its monstrous form disintegrating in a massive explosion that lit up the sky. The sheer force of the attack vaporized the creature, leaving nothing but ash in its wake.

"Booyah!" Joseph shouted, pumping his fist in the air, clearly enjoying the destructive power of the blast.

The impact was so powerful that it reverberated across the entire battlefield. The loud explosion drew the attention of everyone—friend and foe alike. All eyes turned to Joseph and Himari, standing firm together. The defenders of the city, who had been struggling moments before, now felt a renewed surge of hope. Even Yoshi, who had been locked in combat with one of the creatures, glanced over and smiled, knowing that their reinforcements had arrived in full force.

With the creature obliterated and the battlefield momentarily stunned, Joseph turned to Himari. "Shall we?" he asked, with a smirk.

She nodded, her hand gripping her newly upgraded hex blade. Together, they charged into the fray, ready to turn the tide of battle and save the city from destruction.

As the remaining creatures charged towards Joseph and Himari, their bloodlust evident in their wild eyes, Joseph stood calmly, his hand reaching for the ripcord on his chest. With a swift pull, the arc reactor on his chest whirred to life, and in that same instant, Kenshi Yonezu's "KICK BACK" blasted through the battlefield, echoing around them like an anthem for chaos.

Liquid metal nanotech surged from Joseph's body, wrapping around him in an eerie, fluid motion. The metal solidified quickly, forming an armored suit—a brutal, jagged rip-off of Chainsaw Man’s iconic form. Chainsaws erupted from his arms, whirring to life with a deafening roar. His helmet morphed into a fearsome, chainsaw-powered monstrosity, with a revving chain extending from his forehead like a demonic crown. Jagged, spiked metal teeth lined his mask, giving him the appearance of a mechanical beast ready to tear through anything in his path.

The atmosphere itself seemed to tremble with Joseph’s raw, violent energy. His chainsaw limbs roared as he swung them through the air, slicing effortlessly through the creatures charging at him. Each strike was accompanied by the rhythmic pulse of the music, his movements blending seamlessly with the intense beats of KICK BACK.

The creatures barely had time to react before they were torn apart, their bodies shredded by Joseph’s chainsaw blades. Blood sprayed across the battlefield as his heightened speed and strength allowed him to move like a storm, cutting down enemies in a blur of motion. The aura of the creatures he slaughtered was absorbed into his suit, fueling his nano-regenerative abilities and making him even more deadly with each kill. His cuts healed as quickly as they were made, and his relentless assault only intensified.

Himari, who was fighting her own battle with her hex blade, paused for a brief moment to marvel at Joseph’s transformation. She had seen many powerful forms and magical abilities in her time, but nothing like this—a fusion of raw brutality and advanced technology, a mechanical demon that fought with the precision of a machine but the ferocity of a beast.

Even as she fought off her own attackers, dispatching them with skillful strikes of her blade, she couldn’t help but feel the adrenaline rise from witnessing Joseph’s unique battle style. The music, the violence, the transformation—it all seemed to blend perfectly into a chaotic symphony of destruction.

Joseph, fully immersed in his chainsaw form, was a force of nature on the battlefield. He tore through enemies with reckless abandon, his chainsaw arms cleaving through flesh and bone as though they were nothing. Every swing, every cut, was perfectly timed with the pulse of the music, creating an almost hypnotic display of carnage.

As the last of the creatures fell to the ground, shredded and lifeless, Joseph stood among the wreckage, blood dripping from his chainsaw limbs. His helmet revved one last time, and the music faded into the background as the battlefield grew eerily silent once more.

Himari, catching her breath, walked over to Joseph, her eyes still wide with amazement. “You never cease to surprise me,” she said, a slight grin on her face.

Joseph, his mechanical teeth retracting as his suit shifted back to normal, gave her a quick smirk. “Just part of the show,” he replied, revving the chainsaw on his arm one last time before it, too, faded back into his nanotech suit.

As Joseph and Himari joined forces with Chiyori and his comrades, the battlefield had grown quieter, with the monsters inside and outside the city's borders vanquished. However, their moment of relief was short-lived as a massive, commanding presence made itself known. A larger, more fearsome monster emerged, radiating a powerful aura that sent a wave of dread through the defenders. It charged toward them, sweeping aside several ranking warriors like mere ragdolls with its brute strength.

The monster then unleashed a torrent of dark magic from the sky, forcing Lyra to focus all her energy on strengthening the magical barrier protecting the city. The sheer intensity of the attack was overwhelming, and even Lyra's formidable barrier began to strain under the force of the monster's magic. Sensing the danger, Yoshi joined his magic with hers, fortifying the barrier as best he could.

The monster's power was not to be underestimated. It opened a large portal in the sky, summoning more creatures to descend upon the city. These new creatures slammed against the barrier with brute force, trying to break through. Despite their combined efforts, a few managed to slip through, wreaking havoc within the city walls.

Outside the barrier, Chiyori, determined to take down the monster, charged at it with everything he had. He unleashed his most powerful skills, but to his dismay, they barely phased the beast. Frustrated but undeterred, Chiyori combined his secret art and techniques into a single devastating attack. The monster, however, seemed unbothered by his efforts and swatted him aside like an insect, sending him crashing into the ground, incapacitated.

Sensing its chance to finish Chiyori off, the monster began charging up a blast of immense dark energy, its aura crackling with power as it aimed directly at the fallen warrior. The blast, immense and destructive, roared toward Chiyori. Himari, realizing what was about to happen, leaped into action, placing herself between Chiyori and the incoming blast. With her hex blade raised, she stood firm, deflecting the blast as best she could. But the sheer intensity of the force was so great that it began to push her backward, her strength wavering under the assault.

Just when it seemed like the blast might overpower her, Joseph intervened. Launching himself into the air, he activated his chainsaw form and used the powerful chainsaws on his arms to tear into the monster's thick skin, forcing it to divert its attention from Himari and Chiyori. The monster roared in pain and fury as Joseph’s chainsaws penetrated its hide, halting its assault on Himari and focusing instead on the new threat.

As Joseph battled the monster with everything he had, Himari quickly tended to Chiyori, who lay unconscious on the ground. She knew she needed to get him to safety before more creatures arrived. As she moved to lift him, a group of monsters charged toward her, intent on stopping her. But her sword, now empowered by Joseph’s upgrades, seemed to act on its own, slashing through the ranks of enemies with deadly precision. It cleared a path for her, allowing Himari to carry Chiyori to safety without slowing down.

Meanwhile, inside the city's barrier, Lyra unleashed a devastating spell. A massive wave of magical energy surged through the air, immobilizing the creatures that had descended upon the city. For a moment, the sky lit up with magical light as the creatures were suspended midair, before exploding in a series of brilliant flashes. The immediate threat within the barrier was neutralized, but Lyra sensed something was off.

Her attention shifted to the larger monster that Joseph was battling outside the barrier. Something about it was different—formidable, even by their standards. After a brief moment of concentration, she realized the source of the monster’s enhanced strength: it had absorbed an ancient relic, a treasure known as the Treasure Power, granting it immense and unparalleled abilities.

Lyra's heart sank as she realized the true challenge ahead. "Joseph," she whispered to herself, knowing that even with his strength, he might need help to defeat such a creature. With newfound determination, she began gathering her remaining magic, preparing for what could be the final stand against this monstrous foe.