“You know,” Joseph said between strikes, “for someone with all this power, you sure talk a big game. Let’s see if you can back it up!”

The demon roared, his duplicates swarming Joseph from all sides. Yet, Joseph fought on, undeterred. His speed, power, and determination kept him in the fight, even as the odds seemed insurmountable.

Yoshi and Ririka, seeing Joseph’s unwavering resolve, doubled their efforts against the duplicates, their teamwork and strategy holding the line.

The battle raged on, and Joseph took a series of devastating blows from the demon’s seemingly endless duplicates. One particularly massive clone seized him by the face, slamming him hard into the ground. The demon clone dragged him across the jagged terrain, crashing through debris and sending shockwaves through the battlefield. With a final toss, Joseph was hurled into the air, only to be struck mid-flight by a titanic punch that sent him spiraling across the cavern.

Joseph hit the ground hard, groaning in pain as dust and rubble rained down around him. Before he could recover, the duplicates swarmed him, piling on with crushing force. Their combined weight was overwhelming, pinning him down.

For a moment, it seemed the fight was over.

But deep beneath the suffocating pile, something stirred. A faint glow emanated from Joseph’s battered body, growing brighter with every second.

With a deafening roar, Joseph unleashed a surge of raw energy, blowing the duplicates away in all directions. The cavern shook as his power erupted, illuminating the dark battlefield with a blinding golden light.

As the dust cleared, Joseph stood tall, transformed. His once-blue hair now gleamed gold, radiating brilliance, while his silver eyes burned an intense, glowing blue. His entire body shimmered with a golden aura, the energy swirling around him like a tempest.

The demon leader froze, his confidence wavering for the first time. “What… what are you?”

Joseph smirked, his voice calm yet laced with authority. “I am the hope of the universe. I am the answer to all living things that cry out for peace. I am the protector of the innocent. I am the light in the darkness. I am truth. Ally to good, nightmare to you!”

For a moment, the demon could only stare in awe, perceiving the immense aura that now emanated from Joseph.

But Joseph, ever the joker, couldn’t resist ruining the moment. With a playful grin, he added, “Okay, fine, I totally stole that from Dragon Ball. But hey, it works, doesn’t it?”

The demon’s awe twisted into rage. “You mock me even now? No matter what you are, I’ll not let you ruin my plans!”

In a fit of fury, the demon absorbed all his duplicates, his body glowing with a dark, malevolent energy. The ground trembled as the treasure’s power erupted from him, sending shockwaves across the landscape.

The energy didn’t stop there—it expanded outward, engulfing the entire Fujimori Wisteria Forest Kingdom and its regions. The once-clear skies turned black, thunder roaring and lightning crackling as the treasure’s unholy power surged.

Across the land, every decayed and deceased being—human, monster, and supernatural alike—rose from the dead. Their lifeless eyes burned with malice as they answered the demon’s call, spreading terror throughout the kingdom.

From his vantage point, Yoshi observed the chaos unfolding. His voice, steady but urgent, echoed in Joseph’s mind. “Joseph, you have to end him. Now. Before it’s too late.”

Joseph gritted his teeth, realizing the gravity of the situation. “Damn it! Yoshi’s right. I got carried away. Now he’s raised an army of the dead, and the entire land of Fujimori is at stake. I have to finish this!”

The demon, now towering with power, glared at Joseph, his voice booming with rage. “You’ve mocked me for the last time! You will die knowing that I am the last thing you’ll ever see!”

Joseph took a deep breath, his golden aura flaring as he steadied himself. “Alright,” he muttered to himself, “enough theatrics. Time to finish this.”

As the demon charged, his power distorting the very air around him, Joseph matched his pace, their energies colliding in a symphony of light and darkness.

The two forces clashed in the center of the battlefield, their strikes creating shockwaves that shattered the ground and lit up the darkened skies. Each blow was more powerful than the last, their battle reaching a crescendo that would determine the fate of the Fujimori Wisteria Forest Kingdom—and possibly the world.

As Joseph battled the demon, the Fujimori Wisteria Forest Kingdom and its regions faced a dire crisis. The undead army summoned by the demon wreaked havoc, relentless in their attacks. The brave warriors and defenders in every region fought desperately to protect civilians, but the undead would not stay down, rising again and again. Chaos spread as the skies darkened with the shadow of death.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

After an intense, grueling battle, Joseph finally gained the upper hand against the demon. Utilizing a series of swift and calculated martial arts techniques—taekwondo strikes, kung fu precision, Brazilian jiu-jitsu grapples, and a devastating bicycle kick—he managed to destabilize the towering foe.

The demon staggered, roaring in frustration as Joseph flipped backward with style, narrowly evading a retaliatory strike. Sliding gracefully beneath another attack, Joseph spread his legs wide for stability and delivered a devastating punch directly to the demon’s groin. The impact shattered the demon’s pelvic bones, forcing a pained roar that echoed across the battlefield.

The demon’s agony intensified as the Treasure of Resurrection, which he had absorbed, was forcefully expelled from his body. Blood poured from his mouth as the treasure burst free, glowing ominously in the air. Joseph caught it with perfect timing and, without missing a beat, followed up with a brutal uppercut that fractured the demon’s jaw and skull. He then spun gracefully into a roundhouse kick, sending the demon sprawling across the battlefield, teeth scattering on the ground.

Despite his injuries, the demon struggled to his feet, enraged but visibly weakened. He soon realized the treasure was no longer in his possession.

“What have you done?” the demon bellowed, his voice trembling with fury.

Joseph held up the treasure for the demon to see. “Saved countless lives from your evil plans,” he declared before channeling its power to undo the undead plague.

Across the kingdom, the undead army crumbled into lifeless heaps, their unholy connection severed. The defenders in every region watched in relief as the crisis ended.

As Joseph turned his attention back to the demon, the latter prepared one final trick, his energy flaring. Before he could act, Ririka appeared behind him and, with a single, precise stroke of his blade, beheaded the demon.

Joseph, startled, turned to Ririka with a mix of frustration and disbelief. “I had him!” he protested.

“You were stalling,” Ririka replied coldly, sheathing his weapon. “Your reckless actions almost got us all killed.”

Joseph glared at Ririka but then smirked. “Tell me about it!” he quipped, giving Ririka a knowing look. The tension simmered as Ririka clenched his fist, clearly tempted to retaliate.

Yoshi quickly intervened, defusing the situation with a calm but firm reminder to Joseph about his recklessness. Joseph sighed, brushing off the lecture. “Alright, fine. I get it. But we saved the day, didn’t we?”

***

The group returned triumphantly to the city of Nagano, where they were greeted by cheering citizens. Lady Nagano and her council personally thanked them, expressing their gratitude for retrieving the treasure and ending the undead scourge.

When Lady Nagano inquired about the undead attack, Yoshi hesitated, glancing at Joseph, who avoided eye contact and whistled awkwardly. Sensing the tension, Ririka stepped forward and diplomatically attributed the attack to the demon’s final desperate act, sparing Joseph from direct blame.

“Thank you for your selfless act, Joseph,” Lady Nagano said warmly, addressing him directly. “And thank you, Yoshi, and all your companions. With the Treasure of Resurrection now safe, our city can finally find peace.”

Lady Nagano invited the group to stay and enjoy a feast in their honor. “Consider this a small token of our appreciation for your bravery and sacrifice,” she said, bowing to Yoshi.

As the group dispersed to rest and explore the city, Joseph approached Ririka to apologize for his earlier behavior. Ririka, after a moment of silence, accepted the apology, and the two began to bond. Ririka and other warriors gave Joseph a tour of the city, showing him its vibrant streets and historic landmarks.

Meanwhile, Lyra and Yoshi walked together, discussing Joseph’s antics. Lyra advised Yoshi to ensure Joseph took future missions more seriously, especially when lives were at stake. Yoshi acknowledged her wisdom, assuring her that Joseph would learn in time.

***

That evening, Nagano hosted a grand harvest festival, celebrating the retrieval of the treasure and the defeat of the demon. Citizens gathered to dance, drink, and share in the joy of their survival. The city’s streets were filled with music and laughter, a stark contrast to the chaos of the day.

Though the warriors remained on guard, they couldn’t help but join the festivities. As the celebration carried on until dawn, the people of Nagano, along with their heroic saviors, embraced the hard-earned peace, hopeful for a brighter future.

The morning sun cast a warm glow over Nagano as Yoshi and his companions prepared to leave. Lady Nagano, the council members, and several warriors gathered to bid them farewell. “Your bravery has brought us peace,” Lady Nagano said with a bow. “May your journey be safe, and may you bring hope to those still in need.”

With promises to return one day, the group departed, their mission far from over.

***

The journey to the City of Iwakuni stretched across thirty grueling days. The group encountered natural hazards, wild beasts, and occasional remnants of undead forces. Each challenge tested their resolve and camaraderie, but they pressed on, determined to reach the neighboring city.

As they approached Iwakuni, an eerie silence hung over the landscape. Gone were the bustling sounds of city life. Instead, a cold, unnatural stillness greeted them.

Upon entering the city gates, the group was met with a scene of unthinkable carnage. The streets were littered with lifeless corpses, their forms twisted in horrifying ways. Citizens, warriors, even animals—all slaughtered with such brutality it turned the stomachs of even the most hardened warriors. Blood painted the cobblestones, and the air was thick with the stench of death and decay.

Joseph knelt beside one of the fallen, his face grim. “What in the name of Heylel happened here?” he murmured, inspecting the deep, jagged wounds on the bodies.

Lyra covered her mouth, her voice trembling as she muttered, “This wasn’t just an attack. This… this was a massacre.”

The group fanned out, searching desperately for any sign of survivors. But the city seemed devoid of life until Joseph froze, his sharp ears catching a faint sound—a weak, broken weeping.

“I hear something,” Joseph said, gesturing for the group to follow.

The sound led them to the remains of the city hall, its walls cracked and scorched as if from some great explosion. Inside, they found the City Lord, slumped on the ground, his body trembling with sorrow.

Before him lay the lifeless forms of his wife and two young daughters, their delicate features marred by the violence they had suffered. The lord clutched his youngest daughter’s hand, his tears falling freely onto the bloodstained floor.

Yoshi approached cautiously, his voice soft yet steady. “My lord, we are here to help. Can you tell us what happened?”

The city lord raised his tear-streaked face, his eyes hollow with grief. “They came… without warning,” he choked out. “Monsters—beasts—no, demons. They tore through the city like a storm. We stood no chance.”

The group exchanged grim looks. Joseph’s fists clenched tightly, and Lyra whispered to herself, “In Heylel’s name, what could have done this?”