The journey to the Yamaguchi-Ken prefecture was long and arduous, stretching across forty-five days. As the group traversed vast landscapes of forests, rivers, and mountain ranges, Joseph’s enthusiasm remained unwavering. His recounting of his victory over the demi gorgon filled the quiet moments of the trek with vivid imagery.

He spoke animatedly about the demi gorgon’s final, desperate threat to Obihiro town.

"Can you imagine? The demi gorgon vowed to teleport the entire town to the sun, to burn alive in the infernal blaze, or to the moon, to suffocate and die in the cold void. Or perhaps to a desolate wasteland, where survival wouldn’t last a second. But, well—that’s all behind us now. He's gone for good," Joseph concluded with a grin.

As he recalled the fight, his tone softened, and his grin faded slightly.

“Yoshi, Lyra,” he called to them, catching their attention. “There’s something I saw during my battle—something about the kingdom I think you’d want to know.”

Joseph described the advancements he had witnessed: drones with enhanced surveillance capabilities patrolling the skies, android guards standing vigil alongside knights and hunters, construction sites bustling with activity, and newly built railway stations and power grids that powered the kingdom's development.

Yoshi nodded thoughtfully. “It seems Scholar Xiao Xiao’s vision for the kingdom is truly taking shape.”

“Her intellect is both undeniable and invaluable,” Lyra added.

Joseph chuckled. “You’re right. She’s remarkable. My guess? The XPT I shared with her played a significant role in all this. She studied and explored its capabilities in ways I couldn’t even imagine.”

“Xiao Xiao’s connection with the Xentrocurnia prime tech orb is impressive, surpassing even my understanding of the XPT. In my absence, she’s accomplished so much. If she keeps strengthening her bond with the XPT, who knows how far she could push its limits—even beyond being a prototype.”

Joseph’s voice softened as he smiled, his thoughts drifting. “I can’t wait to return to the kingdom. I want to see Yukio, the landscapes, and everything Xiao Xiao’s done. I miss it all.”

Yoshi placed a reassuring hand on Joseph’s shoulder. “Soon, Joseph. Once this journey is complete, all will be resolved, and you’ll see your wishes fulfilled.”

With renewed determination, the group pressed on toward Yamaguchi-Ken, their goal drawing nearer with every step. The unknown challenges ahead loomed large, but their camaraderie and shared purpose gave them strength.

Arriving at the Yamaguchi-Ken prefecture, Yoshi and his companions were met with the sights and sounds of reconstruction. The prefecture, still recovering from a devastating attack, showed signs of resilience as its people worked tirelessly to rebuild their walls and homes. Among the travelers was a citizen of Yamaguchi-Ken who had joined their journey. Overwhelmed at the sight of her ravaged homeland, she quickly led Yoshi and the group to meet with the prefectural lord.

This woman, a council member of the prefecture, had volunteered to seek aid from Fujimori Kingdom. She hoped she hadn’t arrived too late. Without delay, the prefectural lord explained the dire situation, which revolved around the stolen Treasure of Dimension, a treasure of immense power taken by a demon lord and his minions during their invasion.

Joseph furrowed his brow at the mention of the treasure.

“Why in the hell would a demon lord need the Treasure of Dimension? I mean, they’re powerful enough already. Why go through all this trouble?”

Before the prefectural lord could answer, a figure stepped forward to address the group. He introduced himself as Satsuki Tachibana, a Knight-Hunter Captain of rank A (Tier 7). A half-pixie, half-giant hybrid, Satsuki specialized in combating planetary-level threats. His reputation as a protector of entire worlds preceded him, and his calm yet commanding presence immediately drew the group’s attention.

Satsuki explained the demon lord’s motive, recounting the sinister plans that had been revealed to him during a previous encounter.

“The demon lord aims to use the Treasure of Dimension to solidify his position among the demon hierarchy. His goal is to traverse dimensions, forming alliances with lesser demon lords while conquering and enslaving those who oppose him. By absorbing their ranks and powers, he seeks to rise to the status of an archdemon. But he won’t stop there. Once an archdemon, he’ll continue this process, challenging and defeating others until he becomes a god. He won’t rest until he attains the highest possible rank.”

Satsuki paused, his voice lowering. “What he intends to do if he achieves this ultimate power remains unknown. He made no mention of plans beyond his ascent.”

Joseph scoffed, crossing his arms. “So, for once, there’s a demon lord who’s more obsessed with ranking and power than taking over the world. That’s a first. But let’s be real—he could still ruin lives and trigger an all-out war in the process.”

The prefectural lord nodded gravely. “Precisely. The demon lord’s ambitions, if left unchecked, could plunge not only our world but countless others into chaos. This is why we sought aid from warriors such as yourselves.”

“Thank you for the briefing, Satsuki,” the lord added, his tone filled with gratitude.

The prefectural lord briefed Yoshi and his team on the last known location of the demon lord, revealed by Satsuki and his scouting warriors. The demon lord had been seen amassing an army of monsters and supernaturals, preparing for his conquest.

“Very well then,” Yoshi said in his calm, reassuring tone. “We will stop this demon lord and reclaim the Treasure of Dimension for your land.”

With that resolve, the group began their preparations. Lyra opted to remain behind to fortify Yamaguchi-Ken’s defenses with the remaining warriors, ensuring the town’s safety in case of a counterattack. Meanwhile, Yoshi, Joseph, Satsuki, and a select group of skilled warriors readied themselves for the perilous mission ahead.

Upon reaching the demon lord’s location, Yoshi and his comrades took a strategic position, observing from the shadows. Before them stood an enormous army of monsters and supernaturals of varying rankings, gathered in allegiance to the demon lord. At the center of it all, the demon lord addressed his followers, laying out his grand designs.

Hovering above him, swirling portals in vibrant, shifting colors represented doorways to countless dimensions. As Joseph watched in awe, creatures of all shapes and sizes leapt and flew into these portals, preparing to invade and conquer other realms.

Yoshi, ever tactical, gave the signal. Hidden archers fired charged magical arrows into the fray. The skies darkened as arrows rained down, striking their targets with devastating precision. Monsters and supernaturals were killed mid-leap into the portals, while others fell instantly, their grotesque forms crumpling into lifeless heaps.

The assault caught the enemy off guard, sending the gathering into chaos. However, the demon lord remained composed. With a flick of his hand, he stopped an arrow mid-flight, incinerating it with a wave of hellfire magic. His eyes burned with fury as he issued a command to his forces.

“Attack them! Leave none alive!”

The demon lord, realizing that the people of Yamaguchi-Ken Prefecture had received aid from an external source, unleashed a new wave of monsters and supernaturals to lay waste to the land.

As the horde surged toward Yoshi and his comrades, the demon lord turned his attention back to the Treasure of Dimension. With it, he opened more portals, summoning reinforcements from across dimensions.

Despite their bravery and skill, Yoshi and his comrades found themselves overwhelmed. The sheer number of enemies multiplied as new creatures poured through the portals, their grotesque forms and malevolent auras making the battlefield even more treacherous.

Surrounded on all sides, Joseph gritted his teeth, energy crackling around him as he prepared for a desperate stand. Yoshi remained calm, his blade glinting with a faint magical aura as he faced the oncoming wave. Satsuki, towering over his foes, unleashed devastating attacks, his hybrid strength and agility cutting through the ranks.

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The demon lord watched from a vantage point, his hardened gaze fixed on the group. He spoke, his voice reverberating with malice.

“You have made a grave mistake coming here to disrupt my work. Now, you shall die knowing your efforts to reclaim the Treasure of Dimension are futile.”

In the thick of the battle, Joseph called out to Satsuki, his voice cutting through the chaos.

"Hey! Satsuki-kun!" Joseph shouted. "Do your thing! Blast these assholes with your fairy magic or whatever you've got!"

Satsuki, still towering over his foes, rolled his eyes but smirked slightly. He charged up his aura, his pixie magic exploding in a blinding light that cut through scores of monsters and supernaturals, slicing them in half with surgical precision.

"Hell yeah!" Joseph cheered, his enthusiasm unfazed as he continued to fight his own enemies with ferocity.

The ground shook as a massive monster charged toward them, roaring with fury. Yoshi stepped forward, his sword glowing with an intense light. With a single powerful strike, he unleashed an energy wave that cleaved the towering creature in two, its body collapsing in a thunderous crash.

Before Yoshi could celebrate, another colossal monster emerged, its steps reverberating across the battlefield. Satsuki, recognizing the threat, let out a low growl. His body began to grow, his half-giant physiology coming into full display as he matched the monster’s size.

"I’ve got this one!" Satsuki bellowed, his voice booming as he engaged the creature in a brutal hand-to-hand clash, shaking the ground with every blow.

Amid the chaos, Yoshi and his comrades continued to fend off the onslaught of monsters and supernaturals pouring through the portals. The demon lord observed from his vantage point, his expression unbothered as he summoned more reinforcements.

“We have to take that treasure from him!” Satsuki roared from his giant form, grappling with the towering beast. “It’s the only way we can stop his minions from multiplying!”

Joseph, fighting shoulder-to-shoulder with Yoshi, exchanged a quick glance with his comrade.

“I’m going to face the demon lord,” Joseph said, determination blazing in his eyes. “Yoshi, care to give me a boost? And maybe reawaken my XPT with your aura or magic?”

"You've got it," Yoshi replied. He placed a glowing hand on Joseph’s chest, transferring a surge of energy that awakened Joseph’s dormant XPT powers. With a flick of his hand, Yoshi used his telekinesis to thrust Joseph high into the air, propelling him toward the demon lord.

As Joseph soared toward his target, a flying monster intercepted him mid-flight. Snarling in frustration, Joseph channeled the power of his XPT, unleashing an explosive energy attack that obliterated the creature in an instant. Without missing a beat, he resumed his charge toward the demon lord, his fists crackling with energy.

Just as Joseph closed the gap, the demon lord, calm and composed, opened a swirling portal. Before Joseph could land a single blow, the portal swallowed him, depositing him on the opposite end of the battlefield.

Disoriented but undeterred, Joseph quickly assessed his surroundings. Believing he had been sent to another dimension, he refocused his energy and launched himself back toward the demon lord. This time, he unleashed a surprise energy blast upon reaching his foe.

As the smoke cleared, Joseph’s eyes widened in shock. The demon lord stood unharmed, encased in a shimmering magical barrier.

Before Joseph could react, the demon lord harnessed the Treasure of Dimension's power, teleporting at blinding speeds. He struck Joseph from every angle, his attacks relentless and calculated, leaving Joseph struggling to regain his footing.

Frustrated and determined, Joseph let out a roar, summoning his XPT power to its peak. He unleashed a devastating blast of energy, forcing the demon lord to retreat momentarily. The two locked eyes, their auras crackling with intensity as they prepared to engage in a fierce one-on-one battle.

Meanwhile at Yamaguchi-Ken Prefecture

While Joseph and the demon lord battled across dimensions, the people of Yamaguchi-Ken Prefecture faced their own peril. A relentless wave of monsters and supernaturals descended upon the land, seeking to breach the magical barrier protecting them.

Lyra, standing at the heart of the prefecture, unleashed a dazzling display of power. Her magic annihilated the first wave of attackers with ease, reducing them to ash before reinforcing the barrier surrounding the entire region. Yet, the assault did not cease.

More creatures arrived, clawing and striking at the barrier in a desperate attempt to break through. Lyra, though strained by the continuous pressure, remained resolute. Her eyes glowed with determination as she channeled her energy to maintain the shield and plan her countermeasures against the escalating threat.

Back on the battlefield, Joseph and the demon lord were locked in a fierce fight. The demon lord, intent on ridding himself of Joseph, opened a series of portals to other dimensions, hoping to trap his adversary permanently.

Joseph’s XPT abilities, however, repeatedly saved him. Each time the demon lord attempted to banish him, Joseph materialized back into their original dimension, his body glowing with the residual energy of his XPT.

But as the battle wore on, Joseph felt the strain. His XPT warned him of the dwindling reserves of energy, leaving him increasingly vulnerable. In a final attempt, the demon lord hurled Joseph into another portal, laughing triumphantly as the gateway closed behind him.

Yet, just before the portal could seal completely, Joseph summoned the last vestiges of his XPT power. A brilliant blue energy hand shot out from the collapsing portal, grabbing the demon lord and dragging him inside. The gateway closed with a resounding crack, leaving both combatants to face their fates in the unknown.

Their battle raged as they traversed dimensions, each more treacherous than the last.

They first emerged in the sixteenth layer of the Dark Dimension, a chaotic realm of utter darkness. The environment was suffocating, filled with shadowy tendrils and whispers that sought to consume any being, mortal or immortal, who dared to enter.

Here, the demon lord absorbed a portion of the Dark Dimension’s essence, his form growing more fearsome and his powers amplified. Joseph fought valiantly, his XPT abilities barely keeping him alive in the oppressive environment.

From the darkness, the Treasure of Dimension transported them to the Sixth Dimension of Light, a realm so vast and radiant that it dwarfed multiverses and omniverses combined. The blinding purity of this place was every demon's nightmare, as its light could either destroy or purify them into holy guardians.

The demon lord faltered, his dark essence struggling against the overwhelming light. Joseph, though weary, felt rejuvenated by the dimension’s purifying energy. He used the opportunity to strike back with renewed vigor.

Their battle continued into the chaotic expanse of the Fifth Layer of Chaos Dimension. The volatile environment shifted unpredictably, with storms of energy and matter swirling around them. Here, neither had an advantage, as chaos itself seemed determined to consume both combatants.

They were dragged through the fiery pits of Purgatory and Hell, where demonic forces tried to intervene. Joseph’s XPT power flared once more, allowing him to fend off the infernal onslaught while continuing his duel with the demon lord.

Their journey brought them to the Sixth Heaven of Chaos, a surreal and distorted realm where reality bent and twisted. Time seemed to flow backward and forward simultaneously, testing both combatants' resolve and endurance.