Joseph blinked in surprise, his teasing demeanor momentarily replaced by awe. Her determined gaze and the commanding way she held herself made her captivating. Her figure was mesmerizing, and it was as if he was seeing her for the first time.

Joseph had never truly noticed how striking Lyra was, her beauty and poise concealed by her often intimidating demeanor. Now, in this moment, with her confidence on full display, he realized just how effortlessly alluring she had always been.

For the first time, he truly noticed Lyra’s beauty—the sharp intensity of her eyes, the soft blush coloring her cheeks, and the elegant curves of her figure. Her confidence only accentuating her appeal. His gaze inadvertently drifted, glancing down at the faint curve of her partially exposed neckline, unintentionally drawn to the gentle sway of her chest as she breathed. Her movements were unguarded, the rise and fall of her chest in perfect rhythm with her heartbeat. The curve of her neckline was partially exposed, hinting at more than he'd ever allowed himself to notice before. It was as if the chaos around them had faded, leaving only her presence to consume his thoughts.

His thoughts wandering to how he had never appreciated her presence fully.

“Do you prefer being on top?” he teased, a crooked smile tugging at his lips, but his voice betrayed the flustered thoughts racing in his head.

Before he could enjoy his moment of banter, Lyra, noticing his lingering gaze, frowned and slapped him hard across the cheek, snapping him out of his thoughts. “You’re such a pervert!” she scolded, her voice cutting through his thoughts.

“Okay, okay, I deserved that,” Joseph admitted sheepishly.

Without missing a beat, she turned her attention to the enemies midair, her voice ringing out in a commanding tone as she summoned the magic she had copied from Joseph’s Xentrocurnia Prime tech.

“Avavago!”

Thick, tendril-like appendages erupted from the ground, their movements swift and deadly as they ensnared their airborne foes. With a sickening crack, the enemies were dragged downward, their bodies mangled and bloodied before lying lifeless on the battlefield.

Lyra stood, brushing herself off and adjusting her gear, her composure as unshakable as ever.

Joseph sat up, dramatically rubbing his stinging cheek after the slap, a grin spreading across his face as he processed what he had just witnessed. “Ha! I knew it!” he exclaimed, pointing an accusing finger at Lyra. “You were totally impressed by my Bayonetta transformation! That’s why you copied my spell!”

Lyra, ignoring his antics. “Get a hold of yourself, Joseph. Stay focused.”

“Hey, don’t just shrug me off!” Joseph called after her, scrambling to his feet. “I see what you’re doing! You’re trying to avoid admitting it!”

Without acknowledging his outburst, Lyra rejoined the battle, her focus sharp. Joseph huffed and rolled his eyes before following her back into the fray, muttering under his breath. “She’ll admit it one day. I just know it.”

Their banter, though lighthearted, fueled their resolve. Together, they advanced toward Shinobu, prepared to face him and the treasure of probability head-on. The battle was far from over, but their determination burned brighter than ever.

As Joseph and Lyra continued their relentless assault on Shinobu, Yoshi soon joined the fray, having vanquished the monsters he had been battling. The air grew heavy with tension, the anticipation almost suffocating. Though the fight was far from over, it was clear that Shinobu would not fall easily. With a mocking grin, he finally spoke, his voice laced with a sinister weight that seemed to echo through the battlefield.

"Ryujin's plan is already in motion," he began, his tone dripping with malice. "Once he gathers all the relics and treasures, he will reshape this world in his image. But first, he will eliminate the royal family of Kazuhiro–the king and queen are the only true obstacles to his conquest. Once they are destroyed, nothing will stand in our way."

Yoshi’s face turned red with rage. The very thought of Ryujin’s twisted ambitions ignited a fiery determination in his chest. "You monster!" he shouted, his voice heavy with fury.

Without a second thought, Yoshi charged forward, gathering every ounce of energy into a lethal strike aimed straight at Shinobu. But in the blink of an eye, the treasure of probability glowed with an unnatural brilliance in Shinobu's grasp.

Yoshi’s attack went wide. He missed his mark completely, and his strike instead found Lyra standing beside him. The blast hit her directly, and in a heart-wrenching moment, Lyra collapsed to the ground, lifeless.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Shinobu's laughter echoed through the battlefield as he watched Yoshi kneel beside Lyra’s fallen form. "You have killed one of your own," he sneered. "And now, it's time for me to end you both."

Shinobu raised the treasure, his aura flaring with tremendous energy, the air crackling with the promise of his final strike. He was ready to deliver a killing blow to Yoshi and Joseph, but just as he was about to, something unexpected happened.

Lyra's seemingly lifeless body suddenly stirred, her astral form rising and leaving her physical shell. In an instant, a violent battle ensued as her spirit possessed Shinobu. His face contorted with confusion and panic as he fought against the invading force of Lyra's essence. The sheer power of her spirit overwhelmed him, driving him to his knees as her presence consumed his body. His hand, which had been clutching the treasure with unwavering determination, faltered and released it. The sight left Joseph bewildered, watching as Shinobu struggled against the invisible force tearing at his very being.

Joseph, his heart racing, saw the treasure fall to the ground. He grabbed it quickly, feeling its power pulse in his hands. Without hesitation, he raised it high into the air. The tides of battle shifted dramatically, as their allies, still battling the horde of monsters, found themselves suddenly on the offensive. With their focus now on Shinobu, the monsters began to fall one by one. The victory was within reach.

Shinobu, still possessed by Lyra’s spirit, remained on his knees in utter defeat. The treasure of probability had been ripped from his grasp, and his once-imposing form now trembled under the crushing weight of her possession. Then, to everyone’s astonishment—except for Yoshi—the spirit of Lyra withdrew from Shinobu’s body, drifting gracefully back into her own.

Lyra’s previously lifeless form suddenly surged with energy as she was revived. Her wounds vanished in an instant, and the vibrant light returned to her eyes. Rising from the ground with a fluid grace that defied all logic, she stood renewed and unshaken.

"It’s over, Shinobu!" Joseph shouted as he and Yoshi surrounded the defeated foe. The treasure of probability still in Joseph’s hands, he pointed it toward the fallen man. "Confess now, and maybe your life will be spared."

Shinobu’s lips curled into a twisted grin as he lifted his head. His eyes glinted with madness as he laughed maniacally. "You think you have the treasure now, don't you? You're all fools."

Before anyone could react, the treasure in Joseph’s hands disappeared in an instant, vanishing as if it had never existed. Shinobu’s smug smile grew wider. "Ryujin cast a spell on the treasure," he taunted. "A timer is set. It will return to its rightful owner, no matter where it is."

Joseph’s eyes widened in disbelief as Shinobu’s words echoed in his mind. But it was too late. As Shinobu continued, his hands reached up, snapping his own neck in a final, defiant act. "My soul belongs to Ryujin," he chanted, his voice hollow.

Shinobu fell to the ground, lifeless. The treasure of probability had been lost once again.

Yoshi stood in silence, his expression filled with rage and sorrow as he stared at the body of his fallen comrade, Lyra. But the battle was not yet over. With the monsters now defeated, and their mission having ended in failure, Yoshi and his comrades had no choice but to return to the Ehime-Ken prefecture.

The journey back was somber, filled with the weight of their loss. Upon their return, they reported everything that had transpired to the prefectural lord.

The lord, though saddened by the loss of the treasure, expressed his gratitude. "Though the treasure is no longer with us," he said, his voice heavy with appreciation, "you have restored peace to our land. The threat of Ryujin’s plans is over, and for that, we are eternally grateful."

Yoshi and his companions exchanged weary but grateful glances. They had been through so much, but their mission had been completed.

The journey, however, was far from finished. With the treasure of probability lost, they knew the road ahead would be filled with even greater challenges. But they had no time to mourn their losses. They had a new goal in mind—the island of Iriomote, where the relic of creation awaited.

As they left Ehime-Ken, joined by the remaining two travelers, their spirits were resolute. The world was still in jeopardy, but they were prepared for whatever came next. Their journey would continue, and with it, the hope that they could still prevent Ryujin's twisted vision from coming to fruition. The island of Iriomote was waiting, and the relic of creation would be their next challenge.