"Hello, Diana," said Felix with cold resolve, staring directly at Joseph. The rest of the team exchanged confused glances, uncertain why Felix would address Joseph by that name. "It's good to finally see you again," he added, his voice icy and deliberate.

  Joseph's team tensed, sensing the confrontation ahead. Mai, Mari, and Yuki could feel Felix's aura—it was overwhelming, far surpassing their own. Despite this, Joseph's calm telepathic voice echoed in their minds. "Stay focused. Engage cautiously. Felix isn’t who he used to be."

  Yoshinori remained unconscious nearby, while the artifact rested untouched in the center of the ruined altar. The team’s gazes shifted between Felix and the artifact, the tension rising with every passing second.

  Felix smirked, aware of Joseph's attempts to stall him. "You don't have to do this, Felix!" Joseph said, trying to buy time. "That artifact can save a world. Whatever your grudge is with Diana, we can settle it later. Let us finish this mission first."

  But Felix wasn’t fooled. He tilted his head slightly, his expression unyielding. "Do you think I’m blind to your tactics, Joseph? You’re as predictable as ever."

  Joseph's voice carried through the team's thought communication once more. "Stick to the plan. I’ll create an opening. Yuki, grab the artifact. Mai, Mari—cover him."

  However, before they could act, Felix’s voice joined their minds, startling everyone. "Did you think I wouldn’t notice? Your thoughts are as loud as your actions." His smirk widened. "Go ahead. Improvise. It won’t matter."

  Realizing the futility of planning, Joseph made the first move. Activating his XPT tech, he suited up in an instant and launched himself at Felix with blinding speed, intending to distract him. In response, Felix extended a hand, effortlessly halting Joseph’s momentum. The force of their clash sent shockwaves through the ruined church.

  Taking the opening, Mai and Mari charged forward, their weapons glowing with aura energy. They leapt into the air, aiming to strike Felix, while Yuki dashed toward the artifact. But Felix was faster. With a single motion, he froze Mai and Mari midair using a skip stop, deactivating their auras completely. Yuki, inches away from the artifact, was stopped in his tracks as Felix unleashed an invisible barrier around him.

  "Is this the best you can do?" Felix mocked as he tightened his grip on Joseph, who struggled to break free.

  With a surge of willpower, Joseph activated an emergency override in his XPT suit, shattering Felix’s hold and landing a powerful blow that sent Felix staggering back. "You can fight this, Felix!" Joseph shouted, his voice laced with desperation. "Whatever has corrupted you, it’s not too late to fight back!"

  Felix’s eyes glinted with malice. "Fight back? Why would I? Diana abandoned us, left us to rot. Now, I’ll make her pay—for everything."

  Joseph barely had time to react as Felix retaliated, unleashing a shockwave that sent him flying. But despite the pain, Joseph forced himself to his feet.

  Felix laughed, his voice echoing through their thoughts. "You don’t understand, Joseph. You’re not just fighting me. You’re fighting the inevitable."

  The ruined church trembled as Felix's power surged, his aura growing darker and more oppressive. The artifact began to glow ominously, reacting to his energy.

  Joseph steadied himself, determination burning in his eyes. "If this is what it takes to save the world, then so be it."

  After an intense exchange of blows, Felix, growing bored of the fight, effortlessly tossed Joseph aside against the shattered remains of a pillar. Joseph, resilient as ever, recovered swiftly and launched himself at Felix once more, determined to stop him from claiming the artifact. As the struggle intensified, their hands simultaneously gripped the glowing artifact, its energy pulsating between them.

  Through thought communication, Joseph tried once again to reach Felix. "If you wanted to end this fight and take the artifact, you could have done so the moment you appeared. You're sending me a message, aren't you? But why? What are you trying to show me, Felix?"

  Felix's expression remained unreadable, his grip on the artifact firm. Despite his overwhelming power, he hadn’t delivered a final blow. Joseph realized that Felix wasn’t fully under the monster’s control—there was still a part of him resisting. A fighter like Felix wouldn’t succumb so easily to domination, no matter the source of the power. This wasn’t just a battle—it was a signal, a clue that could save them all.

  At last, Joseph understood. Reluctantly, he released the artifact, letting Felix claim it. In that moment, Felix vanished, taking the artifact with him. Joseph’s team, battered and dazed, began to recover. Yuki rushed to Yoshinori, who was just regaining his strength, as the others regrouped around Joseph.

  "Joseph, what happened? Where’s the artifact?" Mari asked, her voice trembling with concern.

  Joseph’s gaze was firm, his determination unwavering. "I know where we need to go next," he replied. Without hesitation, he activated his XPT tech, enveloping the team in a blinding flash of light. When the brilliance faded, they stood face-to-face with the monster in his own realm—Felix and the monster's minions surrounding them.

  The monster’s rage was palpable as he spotted the intruders. His glowing eyes narrowed, his deep voice rumbling through the twisted dimension. "How did you come here?!" he bellowed before turning to Felix, suspicion creeping into his tone. "Are you betraying me, Felix?"

  The monster’s doubts, though unspoken, lingered in the air. Despite his fury, he ordered Felix and the minions to eliminate Joseph’s team. "Destroy them. I’ll deal with the artifact myself," the monster growled, clutching the artifact in his grotesque hand and beginning the fusion process to reshape reality.

  Both sides charged, and chaos erupted. Joseph’s team engaged the monster’s minions in an all-out battle, while Joseph and Felix faced off in a clash of wills and power. The monster, watching from a distance, shifted his focus back to the artifact, ignoring the raging fight.

  As Felix and Joseph traded devastating blows, Joseph’s voice rang out over the chaos. "I know what you’re doing, Felix! I understand now. Let me help you break free—let me help you speak to Diana!"

  Felix didn’t falter, his expression unyielding. "This isn’t about Diana anymore," he said coldly, tossing Joseph aside like a ragdoll once more. Joseph recovered, circling Felix with cautious steps, their gazes locked.

  "So this is how it ends?" Joseph asked, his voice heavy with frustration. "You won’t even give me a chance?"

  Felix drew his weapon from his inventory, his voice calm yet resolute. "It was always meant to end this way. Don’t hold back, Joseph. I won’t."

  Joseph suited up in his sleek armor, activating a playlist from his XPT system. As "To Ashes and Blood" by Woodkid began to play, the rhythm and tension mirrored the intensity of the battle. Every beat seemed to resonate with the ferocity of their clash. Felix unleashed an arcane pulse rifle, firing rapid bursts of destructive energy, while Joseph countered with a massive cannon, each blast shaking the battlefield.

  As the battle reached its climax, seamlessly flowing with the song, Joseph made his move. He infused the artifact with a surge of XPT energy, stabilizing its chaotic aura. A brilliant light enveloped Felix, engulfing him in radiance. The monster, sensing the shift in power, realized too late that Felix had deceived him all along.

  "You betrayed me?!" the monster roared, turning toward Felix. But before he could act, a devastating blast from Joseph’s cannon sent the monster hurtling across the realm, crashing into the jagged landscape.

  Felix, now free of the monster’s influence, stood in the radiant glow of the artifact, his eyes clear for the first time in ages. Joseph approached him cautiously, his team regrouping in the background. Together, they turned to face the weakened yet enraged monster, knowing the final battle was far from over.

  Felix absorbed the artifact, the radiant energy enveloping him, his essence merging with it until he was whole again. Behind him, Joseph's team stood triumphant, having defeated the monster's minions. The battlefield quieted, but the tension remained thick as the monster slowly rose to his feet. His eyes burned with fury as he demanded, "How could you possibly defeat me? The artifact you gave me was powerless—just a decoy!"

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  Joseph stepped forward, his voice calm yet unwavering. “You’re right—it is just an ordinary artifact now. That’s because Felix isn’t one to be controlled, not even by his own creation.”

  "You were doomed the moment you tried to control Felix," he said.

  The monster froze, his confidence faltering. Joseph continued, “The artifact only obeys Felix. It always has. Even when you had it in your possession, it was never truly yours. Felix’s will is inseparable from the artifact’s power; it carries a piece of his very essence. If he wished it, he could erase you from existence with a single thought.”

  The monster’s eyes widened, and Joseph pressed on. “Your failure began the moment you claimed the artifact. No matter the power you’ve stolen from others, you were never in control. Felix wasn’t here to fight you—he came seeking a truth from one of my variants.”

  As Joseph spoke, Mari interrupted, her brow furrowed. “Then why did you and Felix have to fight in the first place? Was this just part of some elaborate plan?”

  Joseph chuckled lightly. “For fun, mostly. Felix has always wanted to spar with a variant of Diana.”

  Mari sighed but relented. “Fair enough,” she muttered.

  Turning to Felix, Joseph kept his promise. “You can communicate with Diana through me,” he said. Felix nodded, and they shut their eyes in unison. The monster stood frozen, overwhelmed by the surreal events unfolding before him, his mind struggling to process the speed of it all.

  Within Joseph’s mind, Felix found himself standing in a luminous white void. The space shifted, transforming into a lush garden where Diana awaited him. Her voice was calm, yet tinged with emotion as she explained everything. Felix listened intently, his heart heavy yet eager for answers.

  "You’ve carried so much doubt, Felix," she said gently. "It’s time for you to let it go."

  Before he could respond, another figure emerged—Damien. Felix froze, stunned. "Damien... How?"

  “I thought you were dead,” Felix whispered.

  Damien smirked. “Death doesn’t apply to me, Felix. I thought you’d figured that out by now.”

  Diana intervened, her tone gentle yet firm. “It’s true. Damien is immune to death, even when we both defeated him. Only an Unkillable being can kill another Unkillable being. But that doesn’t mean we’re invincible. They can be defeated—just not permanently.”

  Felix’s heart, once burdened with doubts and pain, began to lighten as Diana reassured him. “I never betrayed you or your brother,” she said. “I never abandoned either of you.”

  Felix felt the weight of centuries lift from his shoulders. Finally, he understood the truth and felt at peace. As the conversation ended, Felix opened his eyes, his mind clear of the doubts that had plagued him. He turned to Joseph and nodded in gratitude. Joseph smiled faintly. “Now, Felix, it’s time to fix this universe—and restore Kagoshima to its original state.”

  With a wave of his hand, Felix began to weave the fabric of reality back into place, undoing the destruction with an effortless grace. But before the restoration was complete, the monster roared with rage. His aura erupted, shaking the very realm as he lunged forward, seizing Joseph in a flash. The two vanished into the chaos of timelines before anyone could react.

  Between dimensions, Joseph and the monster clashed violently, their struggle transcending time and space. As they spiraled through alternate realities, they fought with unrelenting fury, breaking through the boundaries of existence.

  In one fractured timeline, Joseph found himself momentarily separated from his foe, wandering through strange realities, each more bizarre than the last. In one, Yoshi reigned as a tyrant; in another, Yoshito had turned into a villain. He encountered worlds ruled by monarchs, timelines where Xiao Xiao mastered either the purest science or a fusion of science and magic, and others where Yukio rose as a powerful witch. He glimpsed the enigmatic Order 616, their purpose shrouded in mystery.

  There were versions of Lyra and her sister—some noble and heroic, others twisted and corrupted. He saw timelines where Lyra’s family had never existed, and others where their legacy shaped entire civilizations. In some realities, Lyra’s parents had children who became pivotal figures; in others, their line ended before it began.

  Through it all, despite the chaos and the infinite variations of those he knew, Joseph’s resolve never wavered. The fight was far from over.

  Joseph continued to traverse the chaotic alternate realities, each one revealing a kaleidoscope of possibilities. In some, the monarchs and their royal families were benevolent rulers, tirelessly fighting against evil. In others, they were ordinary people, stripped of their power, yet still influential in their own ways. There were even timelines where the monarch family wielded great strength but were not as dominant as in the current timeline.

  The recurring theme in all these realities was the enigma of the Infinite Tier and the prophecy of the Savior—a figure destined to either save or destroy the multiverse. Despite the variations, the mystery loomed, unchanging, like a shadow over every reality Joseph encountered.

  In several of these timelines, Lyra’s role was starkly different. In some, she and her sister had taken over the underworld following their father’s retirement or death. In others, Lyra never became a witch because her family remained intact, altering the trajectory of their lives. Joseph found himself struggling to convince these versions of Lyra and her sister to aid him, their reactions ranging from confusion to outright hostility. However, in the few timelines that mirrored the original, he managed to break through, his words resonating like faint echoes of a shared truth.

  The battle between Joseph and the monster continued, their struggle spanning countless dimensions and anomalies. Finally, the monster hurled Joseph back into their original reality with a violent toss. Joseph crashed into Fujimori, disoriented but alive, while the monster vanished, leaving him behind.

  In Fujimori, Joseph sought out King Yoshi, Lyra, and Xiao Xiao, still unsure whether he had returned to the original timeline or yet another alternate reality. As he explained the events of his journey, the three listened with amused smiles. When they chuckled at his confusion, Joseph realized he had indeed returned to his true timeline. Overcome with relief, he embraced them warmly before King Yoshi opened a portal to send him back to Kagoshima Planet.

  Meanwhile, on Kagoshima, the monster arrived, only to find the planet and universe restored to their former glory. His rage boiled over, and he prepared to unleash destruction anew. Takashi and the warriors, along with Joseph’s team, stood ready, charging at him with unrelenting fury. Despite his weakened state, the monster’s power remained formidable, forcing the group to fight with everything they had.

  Temporarily overwhelmed, the monster retreated into the air, gathering his aura for a final, catastrophic attack. As the skies darkened and his energy surged, Felix raised his hand to finish him. But to everyone’s shock, he hesitated and lowered it.

  “Why didn’t you stop him?” Takashi demanded, his voice tinged with frustration.

  Felix merely smiled, his expression calm. “Because his fate is already sealed.”

  The monster, now ablaze with energy, prepared to unleash his attack when a deafening boom resounded through the air. A portal materialized above him, tearing the sky apart as Joseph emerged, hurtling through with explosive force. The impact was cataclysmic, colliding with the monster and obliterating him instantly. Shattered fragments of the beast rained down from the sky like ash, signaling the end of his reign.

  Joseph, still descending, regained control mid-air. He skillfully maneuvered through the wreckage, landing on a slanted pavement and sliding to a halt before Takashi, Felix, and the rest of the team.

  As he approached, he stomped his feet to extinguish the flames trailing him, his armored suit reverting to its original form. He flashed a cocky grin, dusting himself off.

  “JBC the Unkillable,” he declared, his voice dripping with confidence. “Charmed, I’m sure. At your service.”

  His words drew laughter and applause from the gathered warriors, a moment of levity amid the chaos. Felix and Takashi exchanged glances, their earlier confusion melting away as they welcomed Joseph back into the fold.

  “It’s good to have you back, Joseph!” said Takashi, his voice filled with relief and gratitude. “Now that the monster has been defeated and our world restored, we owe it all to you and your team. For that, the people of Planet Kagoshima are forever indebted to you.” He turned to Felix, extending his hand. “And to you as well, Felix, for bringing our world back from the brink.”

  Felix clasped Takashi’s hand firmly. “You would’ve done the same if it were my world.”

  The group made their way to the city hall to deliver their report. The city lord and council members, visibly moved, praised their heroic efforts. Each member of the team received heartfelt thanks and recognition for their bravery and sacrifice.

  After the formalities concluded, Joseph and his team, joined by Felix, began preparing for their next mission. As they stepped outside, Joseph turned to Felix with an amused expression.

  “So, it was you,” Joseph said, his eyes narrowing in playful suspicion. “You’re the one the man sent.”

  Felix responded with a slight nod, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.

  “Holy crap! The man from U.N.C.L.E? Seriously?” Joseph exclaimed, throwing his hands up in disbelief. “I should’ve seen this coming.”

  Yuki, intrigued, tilted his head. “What’s U.N.C.L.E.?” he asked.

  “United Network Command for Law Enforcement,” Felix replied calmly, cutting Joseph off before he could launch into an explanation. His smirk widened. “It’s probably one of his references again.”

  The group burst into laughter, the tension of the past battles melting away in the camaraderie of the moment.

  As the laughter subsided, Felix turned to Joseph, his expression growing serious. “I think it’s time for me to return to my world,” he said. “I’ve found the truth I was seeking, and my mission here is complete.”

  Joseph hesitated, the moment bittersweet. “It’s been an honor, Felix,” he said, extending his hand. “You know... I wouldn’t mind having you around a bit longer.”

  Felix smiled, clasping Joseph’s hand tightly. “Another time, perhaps.”

  In an instant, Felix’s form began to glow with an ethereal light, growing brighter until he vanished entirely, leaving only the faintest shimmer in the air.

  Joseph sighed, his lips curling into a soft smile. “Safe travels, friend.”

  With Felix gone, Joseph and his team entered their vehicles. Engines hummed to life as they activated their portal devices, bright swirling gateways opening before them.

  “To the next regional planet,” Joseph said, his voice steady, determination rekindled.

  One by one, their vehicles disappeared into the portals, leaving Planet Kagoshima to bask in the peace they had fought so hard to restore.