"Now, keep your word. The treasure of knowledge—hand it over. We beat you fair and square," Joseph demanded, his voice firm.

The monster circled them, its movements slow but deliberate, as it loomed over them. Its face twisted in deceit, an unsettling grin curling across its features, clearly unwilling to fulfill its end of the bargain.

"Impressive," the monster sneered. "You dare defy the first rule of the trial."

A dark energy began to crackle in the air, and Joseph could feel the temperature drop as the monster's eyes flashed with lightning.

Hina stood poised, her eyes narrowing as she read the monster's body language. She could sense it—he was preparing for another battle. But Joseph, his eyes burning with determination, refused to back down.

"You agreed to it, didn't you?" Joseph shot back, his tone defiant, his hair and eyes flickering with an array of colors as his energy flared. He challenged the monster’s authority, unwavering.

"You dare question me in my domain?" The monster roared, his voice booming with rage. The ground beneath them trembled violently as if the world itself was about to tear apart. Rocks spiked from the earth, crashing to the ground. The walls surrounding them cracked and splintered under the pressure.

The monster grew even taller, his wings unfurling wide, casting a shadow that seemed to swallow them whole. With a terrifying screech, he lunged at them, his massive claws aiming to strike.

But before he could reach them, there was a sudden flash of light—a blur of speed so intense, Joseph and Hina barely registered the movement. In an instant, a sword materialized out of nowhere, slicing through the monster’s massive neck with one clean strike. The head fell to the ground, its lifeless eyes still crackling with the fading remnants of electricity.

The sword didn’t stop there. In a series of swift, almost impossibly precise movements, it cleaved through the rest of the monster’s body, cutting it into pieces as it dropped to the ground, motionless.

Joseph and Hina stared, stunned. Neither of them had seen the sword come or go, and neither of them knew who—or what—was responsible for its deadly precision.

The once-feared monster, now reduced to a lifeless heap, its eyes dim and colorless, seemed to have powered down, as though all of its might had been drained in an instant.

Hina broke the silence first, her voice cautious. "That was... weird."

Joseph, still processing the scene, approached the remains of the monster and kicked its headless body with a hint of uncertainty. But Hina quickly warned him, her eyes scanning the area.

"Be careful," she said, her voice low. "It might come back."

Joseph paused, his senses alert. The tension in the air remained thick. Something wasn’t right—he could feel it.

"Oh, he's definitely dead," Joseph muttered to Hina, kicking the monster's lifeless form one last time for good measure. He then moved to retrieve the treasure of knowledge from the monster's head, his fingers brushing the smooth surface of the prize.

Just as he grasped the treasure, the sound of approaching footsteps caught their attention. They turned in unison, surprised but pleased to see Yoshi and his group, who had clearly navigated the labyrinth and cleared the dungeon's obstacles.

Yoshi’s group stopped short, eyes wide as they took in the bloody aftermath. The carnage surrounding them—the splintered rocks, the scattered body parts, and the remains of the once-mighty monster—was enough to leave even the bravest of them momentarily stunned.

Joseph and Hina quickly briefed them on what had transpired, the battle, the monster, and the unexpected appearance of the mysterious sword. When Yoshi’s gaze fell on Joseph, his face lit up with a visible sense of relief. The worry was evident in his eyes as he checked to make sure Joseph was unharmed.

"Good to see you're still in one piece," Yoshi said, a small grin tugging at his lips. He then handed over a small blue energy core to Joseph. "I meant to give you this earlier, but it slipped my mind. I was really worried you might’ve gotten hurt."

Joseph’s eyes brightened as he took the energy core, and without hesitation, he embraced Yoshi warmly. "Thanks, man." He then let the core absorb into his body, feeling the familiar surge of energy flood him.

"Oh, it feels good to have XPT back!" Joseph grinned, though his tone was slightly bemused. "But it's only at 2% power level right now. Better than nothing, though."

He glanced at Yoshi with a raised brow. "So, was that you who killed the monster?"

Yoshi nodded, a casual smile on his face. "Yeah, that was me. But how’d I know you guys would be here?"

Joseph raised an eyebrow, curious. "Yeah, how?"

Yoshi scratched the back of his head. "It was a bit tricky. Most of the labyrinth messed with our auras and abilities, so we couldn’t track anything. But your core... it seemed to lead the way. Once we got past that level that tampered with our powers, my aura came back. I sensed you were in trouble and sent my sword ahead to handle it. Didn't want you getting caught off guard."

"Aww, so thoughtful of you," Joseph said, his grin widening.

"The monster was tough, but it’s done now," Joseph said, holding up the treasure of knowledge and offering it to Yoshi. "And we've got the treasure."

Yoshi took the treasure, inspecting it with a nod. "Good. That’s one mission down."

He then turned to Hina and handed it over to her. "You can take it from here."

Joseph glanced at the group, his expression serious but filled with purpose. "So, what now?"

"Now we head back to the city," Hina replied. "Our mission here is complete."

With that, the group turned and began the long trek out of the dungeon, their footsteps echoing through the hollow corridors. As they ascended back to the surface, the weight of their victory settled in—a hard-fought battle, the treasure of knowledge secured, and the mission accomplished. Now, it was time to return to the city and face whatever awaited them next.

***

The group returned to the city with the treasure of knowledge, finding everything as they had left it. Their success was evident as citizens gathered to cheer their arrival. Making their way to the grand City Hall, Hina Rika presented the treasure to the city lord and council members, who marveled at the relic before them.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

As the council took in the artifact's return, Hina, Joseph, and Yoshi recounted their journey, detailing their trials and the encounter with the monster that had guarded the treasure.

The city lord expressed deep gratitude, commending them for securing the treasure and ridding the region of such a formidable threat. When Yoshi explained the true power and rank of the creature—a mid-high, lunar-level monster of rank B—the council and even Hina’s team were visibly taken aback.

"I believe the treasure of knowledge gave the monster a sense of control," Yoshi explained. "It became convinced it could manipulate and command even more powerful monsters. Joseph and Hina told me that, before its defeat, the monster boasted about its vast knowledge and ability to control others with ease. It was so confident in its mastery of knowledge that it forgot knowledge only serves if applied wisely.”

The city lord nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, I understand. The creature’s overconfidence in the treasure blinded it, making it believe that knowledge alone made it untouchable.”

“Exactly,” Yoshi replied. “Knowledge doesn’t equate to brute strength or invincibility. Ironically, where strength could have saved it, it failed to use wisdom to protect itself.”

The city lord agreed, thanking Yoshi, Hina, Joseph, and the entire team for their efforts. He promised that those who had fallen in the dungeon would be honored and remembered. He then ordered his guards to secure the treasure of knowledge in its new, fortified altar.

With that, the city lord turned to Yoshi and his comrades. Though he knew they had further regions to assist, he requested they stay for a grand feast in their honor before departing the next day.

Yoshi accepted gratefully, and soon the entire city of Shimonoseki gathered for a night of celebration. During the festivities, Hina gave Joseph a grand tour, showing him the city's wonders and hidden charms.

Along the way, other hunters joined Joseph and Hina on their tour, adding to the lively atmosphere. As the group grew, Hina eventually had to excuse herself, explaining to Joseph that she had other pressing matters to attend to. With her departure, Joseph and the remaining hunters continued exploring, stopping at popular spots, sharing stories, and unwinding before returning to the feast, which lasted until the first light of dawn.

At dawn, Yoshi and his companions prepared to leave Shimonoseki. They informed the city lord and council members, who bid them farewell with gratitude and well-wishes. As they set out on their journey, Joseph asked where their next destination would be, but before Yoshi could answer, a fellow traveler from their group—a resident of Yokosuka—spoke up.

“That would be my city, Yokosuka,” said the traveler.

“Right! And what treasure or relic does your city hold?” asked Joseph, then quickly added, “Wait! Don’t tell me. Let me try to remember.” He thought back to the cities they had visited and the relics and treasures they’d recovered, recalling the details.

“Ah! I’ve got it! Your city once held the Relic of Enhancement, didn’t it?” said Joseph.

“That’s correct, Mr. Joseph,” replied the traveler with a nod.

“And this relic boosts the wielder’s existing abilities to their fullest potential,” Joseph added confidently.

“Also correct,” said the traveler, impressed.

“Wow,” Joseph muttered, grinning. “Things just keep getting more intense. I just hope whoever has this relic—whether it’s a monster or a supernatural being—won’t be as tough to face as the ones we’ve already battled. They just seem to get stronger with each treasure or relic they control.”

As they journeyed onward, they knew this was only a stepping stone to greater challenges yet to come. Meanwhile, back in Shimonoseki, where the treasure of knowledge was now secured in its new altar, a chilling scene unfolded. A council member, standing over the slain bodies of the hunters who had guarded the treasure, heard footsteps behind him. Turning, he saw Hina Rika, who had just dispatched an approaching guard attempting to sound the alarm. The guard’s body slumped to the ground, lifeless.

“Were you followed?” the council member asked in a hoarse voice.

“No, my lord,” replied Hina, bowing respectfully.

"Truly, your wisdom, knowledge, and understanding know no bounds, my master,” Hina said, her voice filled with reverence. “The soul transfer and duplication spell fooled everyone, just as you foretold. Everything unfolded perfectly, from the day you gained the treasure of knowledge and fused with its power."

She smiled, a gleam of pride in her eyes. “No one suspects a thing; even the council’s suspicions have been completely laid to rest.”

The council member—revealed now in his true form as the monster believed to have been killed in the dungeon—nodded approvingly. “Your performance in the dungeon was remarkable, my lord. Entirely convincing. It’s a shame those who perished couldn’t see the promise that you are yet to fulfill.”

He looked thoughtful, his gaze distant. “Time is short. Despite all the knowledge I’ve gained from this treasure, I, too, serve a master. Ryujin knows what is best for this world.”

The creature turned to Hina, his expression shifting as he voiced his lingering doubt. “But there is something troubling me. This... Joseph Benjamin Carmen. The information about him was shared with all who answer to Ryujin, the leader of the renegades. Could he really be the prophesied savior?”

Hina paused, choosing her words carefully. “Many have tried, my lord, and all have failed. Not one among them could get past the God Supreme. They fell even before the Demon Supreme, God Emperor and the Demon Emperor. And as for Joseph, if he truly is the savior, then according to the prophecy, he is destined to face the one true boundless god—the Infinite Tier, god of gods. And before he reaches that pinnacle, he would have to face every rank, including the Omni Demon God Emperor Supreme King Overlord, the supreme power above all others.”

The creature's eyes glinted with resolve. “Very well. We will proceed as planned. I will personally deliver the treasure of knowledge to Ryujin. Clean up the mess here and handle the rest.”

He began to fade, his voice echoing as he vanished. “You have been a faithful servant, Hina. When our work is complete, you will be remembered.”

“Yes, my lord,” Hina whispered, her head still bowed, a quiet smile forming on her lips.