During their long journey to the city of Takamatsu, they often sought shelter among other refugees in camps they encountered along the way. They would offer their services to aid the camp before continuing their journey the next day. When no camps or travelers were nearby, they would set up their own camp, sometimes using these moments to rest or take a break. Occasionally, they encountered rampaging monsters, which they would defeat whether camping alone or with other refugees. If the creatures were edible, they would turn them into delicacies and share the meal with other travelers.

Yoshi and Lyra also dedicated time to helping Joseph hone his abilities. One evening, after sixteen days of arduous travel, they decided to camp in an open field where tall grass swayed with the gentle flow of the wind. Under the fading light of dusk, it was Yoshi's turn to train Joseph.

Standing opposite each other in the clearing, Yoshi spoke with a calm but firm tone. "Your meditation skills have improved greatly, and I believe it's time to take things to the next level. However, we'll stick strictly to the plan."

"Got it! Step by step it is!" Joseph replied with an eager grin, rubbing his palms together. "Alright! I'm ready. Break my seal, Yoshi," he added, spreading his arms wide open.

With a burst of super speed, Yoshi closed the gap between them. His sharp gaze locked onto the three vertical markings on Joseph's forehead. Yoshi reached out, his index finger hovering over the first mark. Carefully, he reduced the topmost vertical line to half its original form, akin to lowering a volume slider.

As soon as Yoshi made the adjustment, an immense wave of mystical energy erupted around them, reverberating like an invisible force. Yoshi quickly pulled his hand back, his expression tense.

"That was... something else," Yoshi thought, steadying himself as he felt the aftershocks of the energy. "It nearly drained my aura completely."

He glanced at Joseph, who now appeared invigorated by the partial release of the seal. Yoshi's mind raced. The seal looks deceptively simple on the surface, but it's unbelievably complex and dangerous. Whoever placed this on him must be a being of unimaginable power—far beyond my abilities and perhaps even greater than those whose auras span outerversal or higher realms.

Yoshi's resolve hardened as he stared at Joseph, silently vowing to see his training through, no matter the cost.

However, Yoshi soon noticed his aura gradually replenishing, a reassuring sensation that brought him some relief.

"That’ll do for now," Yoshi muttered to himself. "I’ll need to be cautious if I’m going to do this more often."

"So, is it done? Because I don’t feel a thing," Joseph asked, his eyes still closed.

"Uh!" Yoshi gasped lightly, then smiled at Joseph. "Yeah, it’s done. You can open your eyes now."

Joseph opened his eyes, looking expectantly at Yoshi, who began explaining. "I’ve only partially broken the first seal, which means you’ll have access to half of its power for now. Once you’ve had a taste of what it can do, I’ll have to reseal it."

"Really? Oh, come on, Yoshi! Can’t you just leave it as it is?" Joseph pleaded.

"No can do," Yoshi replied firmly.

"Alright, if you say so," Joseph conceded with a shrug.

"So, how do you feel?" Yoshi asked, crossing his arms as he observed him.

"I don’t really know. I don’t feel any different," Joseph admitted, frowning slightly.

"Which marking did you break?" Joseph asked, tilting his head.

"The first one," Yoshi replied.

"Ah, the first seal! It’s always the one people go for first," Joseph teased with a smirk. "Classic move."

As they stood in the open field, Joseph suddenly noticed Lyra’s presence nearby. She was observing them from a short distance.

"Hi, Lyra!" Joseph called out, waving with a grin. Lyra rolled her eyes with a slight smile, crossing her arms as she continued to watch. "Have you come to observe us?"

Yoshi stepped back, giving Joseph some space. "Alright, Joseph, it’s time for you to figure out what this first seal has unlocked."

Joseph nodded and began experimenting. First, he jumped, hoping to fly, but barely left the ground. Then he tried running, thinking he had gained super speed, but his pace was no faster than a regular jog.

Yoshi and Lyra exchanged amused glances as Joseph’s attempts to discover his ability continued. Finally, Joseph spotted a few rocks scattered on the ground. Picking one up, he clenched it in his fist. At first, it resisted his efforts, and he furrowed his brow in concentration. But then, he took a deep breath, exhaling slowly, and relaxed his grip. The moment he eased his focus, the rock crumbled into grains of sand in his hand.

"Holy moly!" Joseph exclaimed, staring at his hand in awe. "I’ve got super strength! Although, it’s a bit tricky... I must’ve been rusty. But hey, that’s over now!"

Yoshi and Lyra smiled as Joseph continued marveling at his newfound power, excitement lighting up his face.

Joseph’s enthusiasm was infectious as he called out to Yoshi and Lyra.

"Hey guys! Watch this," he shouted, his voice booming across the field as he picked up another rock.

Yoshi raised an eyebrow and turned to Lyra. "He does realize we’re not far from him, right? Why the shouting?"

Lyra smirked but said nothing as they both watched Joseph toss the rock into the air, catch it, and then hurl it with all his might. The rock tore through the atmosphere with an ear-shattering series of sonic booms, leaving a visible trail behind. Yoshi and Lyra followed its trajectory, their enhanced vision tracking it as it drifted into space, eventually vaporizing near the sun.

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"Not bad," Yoshi remarked, glancing at Lyra.

Before Lyra could respond, Joseph’s excited voice rang out again.

"Hey guys! Did you see where it went? I don’t have super vision or anything! I hope I didn’t throw it too far," Joseph exclaimed, grinning ear to ear.

His excitement only grew as he decided to show off more of his burgeoning power. Testing his strength further, he sprinted across the open field, each step propelling him faster than the last. Then, with a powerful leap, he launched himself high into the air, soaring across the field.

The exhilaration was written all over his face as he leaped again and again, each jump higher and farther than the previous one. The wind rushed past him, whipping through his hair, the cool breeze amplifying the experience.

"Wow! So this is what the Hulk feels like when he takes off!" Joseph quipped with a teasing grin. "Like a little girl experiencing her first period—unexpected but amazing!"

Both Yoshi and Lyra watched him with growing amusement as he leaped higher and higher. But their smiles turned to concern when Joseph prepared for an enormous jump.

"He's not seriously thinking of..." Lyra began, but before she could finish, Joseph launched himself skyward with enough force to almost breach Earth’s atmosphere.

Yoshi and Lyra exchanged stunned glances.

"He's not slowing down, Yoshi," Lyra said, her voice tinged with worry.

Yoshi frowned. "What are you doing now, Joseph?" he muttered under his breath.

Lyra immediately began casting a spell to slow his descent, but Joseph’s momentum was too great. Her initial spell barely affected him. Thinking quickly, she conjured a magical pentagram that stretched from the ground to midair, designed to cushion and redirect his fall. But as Joseph descended like a meteor, the sheer force of his impact shattered each barrier as if they were made of glass.

With a deafening crash, Joseph landed in the open field, creating a massive crater and sending debris and smoke flying in all directions. Yoshi waved his hand, effortlessly clearing the smoke with his magic.

As the dust settled, they saw Joseph kneeling in a classic superhero landing pose, the ground beneath him fractured and crumbling.

Joseph stood slowly, brushing himself off, a wide grin plastered on his face.

"That was so awesome!" he exclaimed, turning to Yoshi and Lyra. "Hope you saw all that—especially the superhero landing. That was incredible, right?"

Yoshi crossed his arms, his expression a mix of exasperation and amusement, while Lyra shook her head with a reluctant smile.

"You’ve got a flair for the dramatic, Joseph," Yoshi said dryly.

"But I have to admit," Lyra added, "that was... impressive."

"Thanks! I think I’m starting to like this whole super-strength thing," Joseph said, still grinning.

Before Joseph could propose another daring stunt, Yoshi, with a flick of his wrist, resealed the mark from a distance. When Joseph tried leaping into the air again, he immediately noticed his strength had been sealed away.

Joseph shot Yoshi a grumpy look.

"Really?" he asked, exasperated.

Yoshi remained calm. "Your display was impressive, Joseph, but also reckless. We were genuinely concerned when it looked like you'd lost control during your fall."

Joseph crossed his arms, his face softening slightly. "Lost control? That was all part of the show," he said with a mischievous grin. "Though, I’m guessing you guys tried to slow me down, huh?"

Lyra sighed. "I did cast a spell to help, yes."

Joseph’s grin widened. "Aww! That’s so sweet of you, Lyra. But I totally had it under control. Next time, maybe check with me before stepping in? Communication’s key, you know."

Lyra rolled her eyes, while Yoshi shook his head.

"Don’t worry, guys. I’ve got this," Joseph added cheerfully. "We should do this more often. I can’t wait to test out my other abilities!"

"Not today," Lyra said firmly. "We have a journey to prepare for."

"Right," Joseph agreed with a nod.

"I’ll inform the others," Lyra said as she turned to leave.

Arrival in Takamatsu

Five days later, Yoshi, Joseph, Lyra, and their companions arrived in the city of Takamatsu, accompanied by a traveler who called the city home. However, what greeted them was far from the flourishing city they had expected.

The streets, once bustling with life, were eerily quiet. Buildings were crumbling, resources scarce, and desperation palpable in the air. Starvation had driven people to feast on decayed animals, and the sick lay dying in the streets. Crops and livestock were failing at an alarming rate, and the water sources were either polluted or drying up entirely.

As they walked through the desolate streets, their hearts grew heavy with pity for the citizens. The traveler who had accompanied them was visibly shaken, his face filled with sorrow as he saw his city’s plight.

Few people even noticed their arrival, their faces etched with despair. The left side of the street was lined with sick and dying citizens, while the right mirrored the same grim reality.

Joseph paused, his gaze falling on a group of starving children attempting to catch rats using a makeshift trap. The sight made his stomach churn, and a deep sadness washed over him.

Without looking away, he murmured to himself, "Without the Treasure of Abundance, this city will completely collapse. Who—or what—could have done this to them?"

Yoshi, overhearing, placed a hand on Joseph’s shoulder.

"We’ll find out," he said solemnly. "And we’ll do what we can to help."

Lyra, who had been walking ahead, turned to face them. "We need answers first. Let’s find someone who can tell us what’s happened here."

The group nodded in agreement and continued forward, their resolve firm despite the hopelessness surrounding them.

As Yoshi and his companions marched forward, they were halted by a group of warriors. At the forefront stood their leader, a commanding figure clad in ornate armor. He stepped forward and bowed respectfully to Yoshi.

"I am Shigeno Fujinaka, leader of the esteemed warriors," he introduced himself. "We’ve been expecting you, Prince Yoshi. Please, follow me. We will take you to our city lady."

With Shigeno leading the way, the group made their way to the council hall. The sight upon entering was grim. The city’s lady, once a symbol of strength and wisdom, sat slumped on her throne, visibly weak and pale. Several of the council members appeared similarly unwell. Warriors stationed around the hall were also suffering, some coughing violently, others sneezing uncontrollably. A few collapsed on duty, immediately attended to by their comrades, only to be replaced by others.

Shigeno presented Yoshi and his companions to the council. The city lady attempted to speak, her voice faint and strained. "Our city... attacked by monsters... our treasure..." she began but was interrupted by a fit of coughing. Shigeno, ever watchful, stepped forward to continue her account.

"After the monster attacks, which were widespread and simultaneous, we discovered that they were merely a diversion," Shigeno explained. "The real target was the Treasure of Abundance. With it stolen, our city has been plunged into ruin. Famine, disease, and death now plague us."

Shigeno paused, his expression dark. "We tried to track the treasure, but it eludes us, always moving. It appears to be changing hands, offered to bidders willing to pay the highest price."

Joseph frowned. "But why would anyone bid for the Treasure of Abundance instead of just keeping it? And what use would monsters and supernaturals have for it? It’s not like it holds the same value as other powerful relics or treasures."

"That remains a mystery," Shigeno admitted. "What we do know is that the treasure continues to move. We’ve learned the location of the next bidding event."

"And where is that?" Yoshi asked.

Shigeno revealed the location, a place deep in the wilderness, known for hosting clandestine dealings among rogues, mercenaries, and other unsavory figures.

"Then we must leave immediately," Yoshi declared.

Shigeno nodded, quickly issuing orders to a handful of warriors to join the mission while instructing others to remain and defend the city. Turning to the city lady, he bowed slightly before departing.

Yoshi then looked at Lyra, his expression understanding. "You should stay here," he said gently. "The city needs your magic. Help the citizens in any way you can until we return."

Lyra nodded, determined to do her part. "I’ll do what I can," she promised.

With that, Yoshi, Joseph, Shigeno, and the selected warriors set out on their mission to intercept the Treasure of Abundance before it fell into the wrong hands. The urgency of their task drove them forward, their resolve unshaken despite the challenges ahead.