As Joseph surveyed his surroundings, disoriented in the unfamiliar and chaotic world, he noticed something peculiar—his appearance began to shift. His once dark skin, blue hair, and silver eyes flickered like a kaleidoscope, morphing through various complexions and features. First, he transformed into an albino form, with pale pinkish-white skin, hair like faint yellow or ivory silk, and multicolored eyes that glimmered in shades of blue, gray, and translucent pink.

Then his skin transitioned again, becoming a fair, pale complexion, less stark than his albino state. His hair cycled rapidly through hues of white, blonde, brown, red, and black, while his eyes followed suit, shifting from vibrant blues to pale greens, rich browns, and jet blacks. Finally, the changes stopped as abruptly as they had begun, and he returned to his original form—dark skin, glowing blue hair, and radiant silver eyes that still flickered faintly, betraying his state of mind. His hair and eyes, ever luminous, remained capable of glowing or altering their shade to mirror his mental and physical state. Despite the strangeness of his transformation, his familiar dimples and faintly sharp fangs were present when he smiled, though his expression now was far from cheerful.

“What the hell?” he muttered, his voice low and tinged with confusion. Before he could delve deeper into his thoughts, the sound of terrified screams shattered his focus. The cries of victims echoed through the air, rising above the snarls and roars of monstrous creatures. Joseph instinctively turned towards the noise, only to feel a sudden, ominous presence.

A group of monsters, their eyes burning with fury and kill intent, had detected him and now charged with unrelenting speed. Bracing himself, Joseph frantically hit the side of his XPT suit, damaged and unreliable though it was, urging it to deliver the power he needed. Sparks flickered across the suit’s surface before it finally responded. Taking the opportunity, Joseph pressed his palms together, and as the energy coursed through him, the suit’s mechanisms morphed his hands into a massive cannon. With precise timing, he unleashed a devastating blast of raw energy. The beam tore through the charging monsters, reducing them to smoldering remains, their charred bodies collapsing in a mess of ash and gore.

As the suit fizzled and went into a forced recharge mode, Joseph turned his attention back to the screams. Following the noise, he arrived at a scene of utter carnage. Monsters rampaged through the area, terrorizing both humans and demi-humans alike. At the far end of the battlefield, a group of warriors—a blend of Knights, Hunters, and Knight Hunters equipped with advanced tech and blazing auras—valiantly fought back against the horde. Their movements were precise and fierce, but the chaos overwhelmed even their combined might.

Joseph’s heart raced as he scanned the area, his mind desperate to find a way to tip the scales. The battle was chaotic, his senses flooded by the clash of steel, the roar of beasts, and the agonized cries of the injured. It was then, at the highest peak of the surrounding mountains, that his eyes locked onto the source of the madness.

A massive, grotesque creature loomed there—a monster of terrifying proportions whose roar shook the very ground. Its voice carried a sinister power, commanding and summoning more creatures to join the fray. The monster boss stood as the central force behind the chaos, and Joseph knew, in that moment, that it was the key.

"So that's the one in charge," Joseph muttered to himself, his silver eyes narrowing as he watched the towering monster boss bellow from the peak of the mountain. The warriors below struggled to ascend, their attacks barely grazing the creature. He scanned the battlefield for any advantage and spotted something unusual—a high-tech spear, crackling with unstable energy, lying discarded amidst the chaos.

"Who the hell leaves a weapon like this lying around in a place like this?" Joseph muttered as he crouched to pick it up, his fingers brushing against its sparking surface. The weapon hummed in his grasp, its power surging, almost as though it recognized his intent. He shifted his position, aligning the spear with the monster boss, ready to hurl it with precision.

But just as he prepared to act, a heart-wrenching scream caught his attention. His gaze darted to the side where a grotesque monster loomed over a trembling demi-human woman. The beast savored her terror, its claws slowly reaching out to claim her.

"Damn it," Joseph muttered, recalculating his plan in an instant. He noted the trajectory of the spear and realized that, with the right angle, he could take out both the monster boss and the predator threatening the woman. A smirk spread across his face as he completed the calculations in his mind.

"Let's kill two birds with one stone," he whispered to himself, adjusting his aim.

With a swift motion, he hurled the high-tech spear. The weapon glowed brighter as it sliced through the air, locking onto its first target. It struck the monster stalking the woman with brutal precision, tearing a massive hole through its chest. The beast exploded upon impact, showering the stunned woman with gore. She caught a fleeting glimpse of Joseph, her savior, before the spear shot skyward with even greater velocity.

The spear blazed a fiery trail through the darkened skies, heading straight for the monster boss. As if summoned by fate, a bolt of lightning struck the weapon mid-flight, amplifying its force and lethality. The spear pierced the monster boss’s forehead, releasing a deafening thunderclap as it detonated on impact. The resulting explosion shattered the creature into fragments, sending shockwaves rippling through the battlefield. The blast cleared the darkened skies, bathing the area in sunlight and signaling the end of the chaos.

With the death of their leader, the remaining monsters scattered in fear, retreating into the shadows. The warriors below erupted into cheers, celebrating their unexpected victory.

Joseph exhaled, his body relaxing as the tension dissipated. Just as he turned to leave, ready to continue navigating this strange world, a voice called out to him.

"Wait!"

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He turned to see the demi-human girl he had saved rushing toward him. No, she wasn’t quite a woman yet—more of a young lady, perhaps a teenager on the cusp of maturity. She came to a sudden halt a few steps away and bowed deeply, her movements filled with a mixture of gratitude and deference.

"Thank you for saving me and my people," she said, her voice trembling with gratitude. "What is your name, kind stranger?"

"Joseph," he replied, his tone cautious but polite.

She straightened and smiled warmly. "Master Joseph, truly, words alone cannot express our gratitude. I am Awaji, named after the Island of Awaji and daughter of its king. Please, allow me to offer you shelter and a place to rest as a token of our thanks."

Joseph blinked, her words catching him off guard. "Sorry, you said what now?" he asked, stunned.

Awaji's smile widened as she gestured around them. "This is the planet Island of Awaji. Every neighboring region under the Akakawa, Red River Kingdom exists as its own planet. Our worlds are bound by this celestial kingdom."

Joseph’s mind reeled, struggling to process her explanation. "Are you telling me that every region here is its own planet?"

Awaji nodded, confirming his suspicions. Overwhelmed by the revelation, Joseph felt his vision blur before his legs gave way. He fainted, collapsing into unconsciousness.

"Master Joseph!" Awaji cried out in alarm, rushing to his side. She knelt beside him, her voice rising as she called for help, her gratitude replaced by concern for the man who had saved her life.

***

“This is our last goodbye,” Yukio said quietly, her voice steady yet echoing with pain. Her eyes betrayed the emotions she struggled to suppress. “Our last kiss... forever.”

Yukio's words lingered in his mind, a haunting melody of pain and finality.

"Forever... Forever... Ever..." Those words reverberated in his dream, lingering like an echo in an empty chamber. Joseph suddenly jolted awake, his body damp with a light sheen of sweat. His breathing was uneven as he fought to calm himself, shaken by the haunting memory of his breakup with Yukio.

He sat up slowly, absorbing the grand chamber's luxurious details: intricate carvings on the walls, silk drapes swaying gently with the breeze, and the faint scent of lavender in the air.

Blinking away the haze, Joseph surveyed his surroundings. To his surprise, he found himself in an opulent and luxurious chamber, a stark contrast to the turmoil of his dream. Rising slowly, he moved to the window, his heart pounding. Looking out, he sought to ground himself—to discern if he was still dreaming. But the sight before him erased any doubt: three crimson suns hung in the sky, casting an eerie glow over the alien landscape, while three moons hovered like ghostly sentinels, their pale light offering little warmth.

The strange celestial arrangement filled him with a mix of awe and disquiet.

“This is no dream,” he muttered, running two fingers over his temple as if to will away the remnants of his nightmare. His mind drifted back to the miscalculation that had stranded him here. His destination had been the Red River Kingdom in Akakawa, yet fate had brought him to this strange planet instead.

A light knock on the door disrupted his thoughts. Pulled him back to the present. Straightening his posture, Joseph cleared his throat. Gathering himself, he granted permission to enter.

“Come in.”

The door opened to reveal the Island King himself, his regal presence filled the room, his golden robes shimmering faintly under the sunlight. Accompanied by his entourage: a group of council members/advisors, armored warriors, and his beautiful teenage daughter—the same demi-human girl Joseph had saved. Her youthful features betraying her true age. Though she appeared to be around nineteen in human years, he knew that demi-human physiology meant she was likely closer to sixty, her youthful appearance belying her true age.

The King stepped forward, his gratitude evident as he thanked Joseph for his selfless act in saving their land. His words were formal yet sincere, carrying the weight of a ruler’s appreciation.

“Joseph of the Unknown Stars, your bravery saved our people from destruction. For this, we owe you a debt of gratitude.”

Joseph gave a respectful nod. “I only did what was right.”

He then extended an invitation to speak with Joseph privately once he was fully recovered. Joseph acknowledged with a light nod, and the King and his party began to depart. Only Awaji, the King's daughter, lingered behind.

“Nonetheless, we are in your debt. When you are rested, I would like to discuss matters of importance with you privately.”

As Joseph remained seated on the bed, Awaji wandered the room with curious eyes, as though it were her first time in the guest quarters, her hands brushing over the carvings and silks, her eyes darting between Joseph and her surroundings. Her curiosity soon spilled into words, bombarding Joseph with questions: “Where did you come from? How did you get here? Are you a lost warrior? Or perhaps an adventurer seeking fortune? What are your desires? Are you the newly assigned warrior from Akakawa to aid us? What is your ranking status?”

“You’re not from here, are you?” she asked, her voice a mix of curiosity and excitement.

Joseph shook his head, unsure how much to reveal. “No.”

“Where are you from? How did you get here? Are you an adventurer? Or perhaps a warrior assigned by Akakawa? What are your desires?” Her questions came rapid-fire, her energy infectious. Then she paused, tilting her head as her eyes studied him intently.

Her enthusiasm was almost endearing, but her final question caught him off guard. “Are you single or married?”

The inquiry struck Joseph like a blow. The question hit him harder than he expected, reopening the wounds he’d been trying to ignore. Memories of Yukio flooded back, and his heart ached with the weight of grief and regret. The image of Yukio—her tear-streaked face, her pained whisper of “forever”—flashed before his eyes. His jaw tightened, and his gaze darkened.

His expression clouded, and Awaji quickly noticed her misstep. Her playful curiosity gave way to gentle concern. She crossed the room and sat beside him on the bed, her movements tentative, her voice soft. “Forgive me if I’ve brought up something painful. That wasn’t my intention.”

Joseph exhaled deeply, his shoulders slumping under the weight of his memories. “It’s... complicated,” he said, his voice heavy with emotion.

Her presence exuded a gentle calm, her words carrying a quiet strength. There was a sincerity in her voice that suggested a deep, personal understanding of pain—an unspoken bond with those who had endured loss.

Awaji nodded thoughtfully, her expression softening with empathy. “Loss leaves its mark on all of us,” she murmured. “But even the heaviest burdens can feel lighter when shared.”

For a moment, silence filled the space between them. When her hand lightly brushed against his, Joseph’s heart raced. Instinctively, he withdrew, his reaction startling her. Yet, as their eyes met, there was no anger or confusion in her gaze—only understanding. Her unspoken words seemed to echo the sentiment: I am here to listen, if and when you are ready to speak. Offering him a small, reassuring smile, Awaji rose and quietly left the room, shutting the door softly behind her.

Alone once more, Joseph let out a heavy sigh. He leaned back against the bed, staring up at the ceiling. His thoughts swirled, an endless storm of regret, grief, and uncertainty. As the fan above turned in slow, hypnotic circles, he closed his eyes, letting the rhythmic hum lull him into a momentary reprieve.

The path ahead was unclear, but one thing was certain—he was no longer the man he had been. This world, this strange and uncharted place, would demand a new version of himself. And he would have to find the strength to meet it.