The group arrived just as the clandestine auction was about to commence. Hidden by a powerful spell, Yoshi and his companions observed from the shadows. The gathering was a chaotic mix of monsters, supernaturals, rogue dealers, and renegades—each eager to outbid the other for the coveted Treasure of Abundance.
As the bids escalated, tension filled the air. Yoshi's warriors remained vigilant, swiftly neutralizing any creatures or individuals who sensed their hidden presence. Shigeno’s team operated with precision, ensuring the group remained undetected as the bidding reached its climax.
The winner of the auction was finally declared—Ryujin, a cunning and malevolent figure infamous for his ambition and ruthlessness. The room quieted as he stepped forward to claim the treasure. However, Ryujin’s sharp instincts quickly alerted him to the presence of Yoshi and his group. With a smug expression, he raised his hand, casting a spell that forcefully broke their magical concealment.
“Ryujin!” Yoshi growled, his voice cold and his eyes hardened.
“Ah, Prince Yoshi of Fujimori,” Ryujin greeted mockingly, his voice calm but laced with menace. “How nice of you to grace us with your presence.” His gaze shifted to Joseph, his tone dripping with condescension. “And the so-called savior of the world. What a pity—you had the potential to rise above these weaklings, to claim power beyond comprehension. But instead, you chose the path of mediocrity.”
Joseph clenched his fists, his eyes blazing. “We’ll stop you, Ryujin, no matter what!”
Ryujin chuckled darkly. “Such confidence. But you’re here for the Treasure of Abundance, aren’t you? For that pathetic city, Takamatsu. They don’t deserve it, nor do the neighboring regions of the Wisteria Forest Kingdom. Why waste such power on the feeble?”
He gestured around the room, his voice rising in a tone of disdain. “The Kazuhiro family, once gods who ruled the cosmos, have reduced themselves to mere royalty—guardians of nations instead of rulers of the universe. Their time has long passed.”
Ryujin's gaze darkened, a malicious smile curling his lips. “You’re surrounded,” he declared ominously.
Yoshi and his group tensed, realizing the truth. Dozens of Ryujin’s loyalists began closing in, their eyes gleaming with malice. Ryujin, unbothered by the impending conflict, made a daring proclamation to the gathering.
“Whoever brings me the prince’s head will stand at my right hand on the day of conquest!”
The room erupted into chaos as Yoshi’s enemies prepared to attack. With a burst of fury, Yoshi hurled his sword at Ryujin with lethal precision. Ryujin, however, anticipated the move, sidestepping effortlessly.
“Too slow, prince,” he taunted as he opened a swirling portal behind him. Stepping into it with the Treasure of Abundance in hand, Ryujin vanished, leaving his underlings to deal with Yoshi and his companions.
The portal’s closing echoed through the chamber as Yoshi tightened his grip on his remaining weapon. His cold determination only deepened.
“We take them down,” Yoshi commanded.
Joseph smirked, cracking his knuckles. “Let’s make this quick. We’ve got a treasure to retrieve.”
The warriors readied their weapons, and the battle erupted in a clash of blades, magic, and sheer willpower.
The battle raged fiercely, each clash of swords and burst of magic shaking the ground beneath them. A monstrous creature leaped from above, aiming to crush Yoshi. In a split second, he summoned his sword mid-air, slicing the beast cleanly in half before catching the blade as it landed perfectly in his grip. With a determined glare, Yoshi surged forward, cutting through foes with fluid precision.
Shigeno harnessed his magical prowess, his spells weaving destruction as he fought valiantly alongside his warriors. However, the tide began to shift as more monsters were summoned by a renegade spellcaster hidden in the chaos. The growing horde threatened to overwhelm them.
“Enough of this!” Yoshi declared, activating his time-stop ability. The battlefield froze in an eerie stillness. With time-lapse magic, he accelerated his movements, cutting down the frozen monsters and supernatural foes in a single, devastating swing. The air cracked with energy as time resumed, the foes vanishing in an instant.
Shigeno seized the moment, rushing to incapacitate the renegade summoner responsible for the monstrous reinforcements. Victory seemed within reach—until a deafening explosion ripped through the air. A thick, suffocating fog blanketed the battlefield.
Yoshi prepared to counter the attack with his magic, but before he could act, cold metal Rada’Han collars and bracelets snapped onto their necks and wrists. The enchanted restraints sapped their powers, rendering them vulnerable.
In the fog, shadowy figures darted with terrifying speed, one by one incapacitating the group. Despite their resistance, the figures overwhelmed them. Yoshi felt a sharp blow to his temple, and the world around him faded to black.
When Yoshi regained consciousness, he found himself lying amidst his companions, the battlefield eerily clean of the earlier chaos. The corpses of their enemies were gone, and there was no sign of their captors. Only the faint dragging marks in the dirt remained, leading to a grim realization—Joseph was missing.
After breaking the Rada’Han restraints with their swords, Yoshi focused his aura, scanning for any lingering clues. He traced the faint energy trail and spotted signs of a struggle, confirming that Joseph had been abducted.
“We must find him,” Yoshi declared, his voice resolute. The group nodded in agreement, their determination unwavering.
Shigeno stepped forward, placing a firm hand on Yoshi’s shoulder. “We will do everything in our power to bring him back. He’s one of us.”
Yoshi clenched his fists, guilt gnawing at him. He recalled Joseph’s earlier words about his abilities, feeling a pang of remorse for not protecting him better. “Joseph... just hold on. I swear, we’ll save you.”
"Who knows what terrible things they might be doing to him?" Yoshi thought, as he struggled to steady his breath.
***
Elsewhere, Joseph awoke in an entirely different scenario. Unlike the hostile renegades from before, his new captors treated him like royalty—or rather, like a god. Their hideout was a grand sanctuary hidden deep within the wilderness, and their demeanor was reverent.
Stolen novel; please report.
Joseph, bewildered but intrigued, observed the mesmerizing aura of these renegades. They spoke in hushed, respectful tones, offering him food, drink, and every possible comfort.
“Who knew what amazing things I would have missed out on if I hadn’t been captured by you guys?” Joseph said with a chuckle, clearly enjoying the attention.
One of the renegades, their leader, stepped forward and bowed deeply. “We are honored by your presence, my Lord. Please forgive our earlier actions. We could not risk revealing ourselves in front of Prince Yoshi. He would not have understood our true motives.”
"Okay. Am listening", said Joseph.
Joseph raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “And what exactly are your motives?”
The leader smiled, his tone reverent. “To serve and aid the savior of our world. You, my Lord, are the key to restoring balance and fulfilling the prophecy. We are merely your humble servants, awaiting your guidance.”
Joseph leaned back, a sly grin on his face. “Well then, let’s see what this prophecy of yours is all about.”
Joseph sat upright, now fully attentive as the leader of Order 616 stepped out of the shadows, his presence exuding authority. The group seemed composed, yet their passion and resolve were evident in their words.
"Order 616, huh? Sounds pretty dramatic," Joseph remarked, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "You're not secretly from the Marvel 616 universe, are you?"
"Smart move, author, incorporating Order 616 into the story after watching that fan-made YouTube video created by AI," Joseph muttered to himself with a smirk.
The group exchanged curious glances before one of them chuckled softly. “No, my Lord. Our name signifies unity and restoration in the face of chaos.”
Joseph, still skeptical, leaned forward. "And you’re sure you’re not just another Ryujin knockoff cult? Because I’ve seen enough of those to last a lifetime. His goons in Fujimori Wisteria Forest Kingdom were all about their selfish little games.”
The leader's expression darkened. “We are nothing like Ryujin's faction. In fact, our existence was compromised because of him. Ryujin was once one of us—a true founder of the renegades. But his greed for power, his obsession with domination, and his hatred for the monarchs turned him into what he is now.”
Joseph furrowed his brows. “So, you were friends turned enemies? Sounds familiar. But why did you grab me like that if you’re supposed to be the good guys?”
The leader raised his hands in a calming gesture. “Our actions were necessary, my Lord. Capturing you aggressively ensured no one suspected our true motives. We needed to create fear and confusion among Ryujin's spies and the lesser renegade factions. News of your capture will spread, and Ryujin will be forced to show his hand. He believes no one can oppose him, but we will prove him wrong.”
Another member of the order stepped forward, continuing the explanation. “We’ve planted eyes and ears in every neighboring region, much like Ryujin. But unlike him, our goal is to prevent chaos, not sow it. We aim to restore balance and undo the damage he’s caused. Ryujin despises the monarchs, particularly Prince Yoshito and Prince Yoshi, because they represent what he can never have: true loyalty and respect.”
Joseph crossed his arms. “Okay, I get that Ryujin’s a power-hungry maniac. But if he’s so powerful and has spies and minions everywhere, why hasn’t he collected all the relics and treasures by now?”
The leader smirked, as if anticipating the question. “Because not everyone answers to Ryujin. Some monsters, supernaturals, and even his planted spies have their own agendas. Their loyalty to Ryujin is conditional, and many are biding their time to betray him. This slows his progress, though it doesn’t stop his ultimate goal—to make Prince Yoshi’s efforts futile in uniting the regions. Once Ryujin has collected all relics and treasures, he plans to turn against the monarchs and bring the entire kingdom to its knees.”
Joseph sighed, rubbing his temples. “So basically, it’s a race against time. If Yoshi doesn’t secure these treasures, Ryujin will wipe out the monarchs and probably go full dictator mode on the universe.”
“Precisely,” the leader confirmed. “Which is why we’ve sworn our allegiance to you, my Lord. With your power and influence, we believe we can rally the remaining factions to our cause and stop Ryujin before it’s too late.”
Joseph glanced at them, his mind racing. For the first time, he felt the weight of his role as the so-called savior of their world. “Alright,” he finally said. “I’ll work with you guys. But first, I need to get back to Yoshi. He’s probably tearing the forest apart looking for me.”
“You are free to leave whenever you wish, my Lord,” one of the renegades said with a respectful bow. “But remember, our sanctuary is always open to you.”
Joseph nodded. “Appreciate it. Let’s just hope Ryujin doesn’t get too far ahead of us.”
A portal materialized before Joseph.
“Go and fulfill the destiny that awaits you, my lord. When the time is right, we will fight by your side,” the voice echoed, full of reverence. Joseph nodded, stepping through the shimmering gateway.
Meanwhile, Yoshi and his companions were in the midst of their search for Joseph. As they moved through the wilderness, a sudden glow caught their attention in the distance. The group hastened their pace, their eyes widening as they arrived at the source of the light. There, standing unscathed, was Joseph. His appearance, a stark contrast to the chaos of earlier, filled Yoshi with both relief and a quiet unease. Without thinking, Yoshi rushed forward and embraced Joseph, the weight of his worry melting away in that brief moment. Joseph smiled warmly in return, though there was something more in Yoshi’s eyes—a concern deeper than the surface.
As they journeyed back toward the city of Takamatsu, their hearts heavy with the loss of the Treasure of Abundance, the sight before them was nothing short of miraculous. Shigeno and his warriors were left speechless at the sight of the city, now vibrant and alive. The once-sick citizens were healed, the crops blossomed in full bloom, and the water was clear and pure again. Even the City Lady and the previously ailing council members were restored to health. It was all thanks to Lyra, whose magic had breathed life back into the city.
Inside the council hall, Shigeno spoke of their recent battle, but the true triumph lay not in the lost treasure, but in the miraculous restoration of the city. As the City Lady stepped forward, gratitude in her eyes, she spoke with a deep sincerity.
“Though we may not possess the Treasure of Abundance once more, you have given us something far more valuable: hope. For that, we are truly grateful and forever in your debt,” she said, bowing slightly to Prince Yoshi.
She then offered a token of their thanks—a grand feast, along with a promise of rest in the city for a day. Yoshi accepted, and the weary group was ushered into the celebration.
During the feast, Joseph found himself intrigued by Shigeno Fujinaka and his origins. Shigeno explained his hybrid nature: half human, half demon, a Sentinel Knight-Hunter of rank D Tier 10, tasked with guarding nations from overwhelming threats. His hybrid abilities allowed him to endure hardships that others could not, and it became clear that many of the warriors were similarly enhanced. The City Lady, however, remained fully human.
After the feast, the group retired to their rooms. Yoshi, staying next to Joseph's, lay awake, plagued by thoughts of the day's events. He couldn't shake the feeling that he'd come too close to losing Joseph. His mind raced with a question: Should he give Joseph a portion of his powers to protect him better? He wrestled with the idea for hours before, unable to quiet his mind, he found himself knocking on Joseph's door.
Joseph opened it, a glint of curiosity in his eyes. As Yoshi stepped inside, his gaze fell on Joseph, who was changing into new clothes. Yoshi’s breath caught in his throat as he saw the toned physique of his companion, momentarily distracted. His heart pounded. He hadn’t meant to walk in on Joseph like this, but the sight of him was impossible to ignore. He hadn’t fully closed the door behind him, and now, he was standing there, caught in the moment.
Joseph smirked, noticing Yoshi's lingering gaze. “Yeah, Yoshi? What did you want to talk about?” he asked, his voice light.
Yoshi was still staring, his thoughts drifting, but Joseph quickly leaned forward, flexing his chest playfully to tease him. The gesture snapped Yoshi back to reality, but before he could speak, Joseph closed the space between them. The air grew thick with tension, love, and something deeper, more primal.
Joseph’s breath brushed Yoshi's skin as he leaned in, whispering softly into his ear. Their eyes locked, and the pull between them was undeniable. Without thinking, Yoshi closed the distance and kissed Joseph, their lips meeting with a fire that was as much about desire as it was about something unspoken, something they had both been holding back. Joseph responded with equal intensity, guiding Yoshi’s hands to undress him.
The kiss deepened, and before they knew it, they were both on the bed, tangled in the heat of the moment.
However, their intimate moment came to a screeching halt when the door swung open. Lyra stood frozen in the doorway, her eyes wide with disbelief. Yoshi and Joseph, caught in the act, stared at her in shock, their moment of passion shattered by the abrupt intrusion.