UNKILLABLE IN ISEKAI

As Joseph turned to the next portrait, he noticed three women with similar complexions, resembling those Yoshi had described. Unlike the previous pair, only two of them still served in distinct kingdoms, while the third had ventured down her own path, as Yoshi explained.

Yoshi smiled as he glanced at the portrait Joseph was pointing to. "That is my cousin, Aris," he explained. "Her appearance might make it seem like she's blind, but that’s far from the truth. Aris was born with an unusual power, one that goes beyond typical tribrid abilities. Her whiteness isn’t just a physical trait—it’s a manifestation of her connection to the Light of Creation."

Joseph's curiosity deepened. "The Light of Creation?"

Yoshi nodded. "Yes, the Light of Creation is a force that predates most known powers. It’s one of the primal energies used when our ancestors first shaped the universe. Aris has a unique bond with it, which makes her extraordinarily powerful, but it also isolates her. Her body, hair, and eyes reflect that connection to the Light, which gives her both creation and destruction capabilities on an unimaginable scale."

"Wow, so she’s like a walking embodiment of creation itself?" asked Joseph.

"Exactly," Yoshi replied. "But with great power comes great cost. Aris has chosen a life of solitude because her presence can sometimes disrupt the natural flow of reality around her. Her mere existence alters things in ways most beings can’t understand, which is why she doesn’t live here in the kingdom."

Joseph looked back at the portrait, fascinated. "That must be tough, carrying that kind of burden."

"It is," Yoshi agreed. "But Aris is one of the wisest among us. She has chosen to live in a far-off dimension where she can meditate and keep the balance without inadvertently affecting others. However, if the kingdom or the realms are ever in grave danger, she could be summoned. Her power is an asset, but we only call upon her in the most extreme situations, as her intervention could reshape reality."

Joseph felt a chill run down his spine. "That’s... intense."

Yoshi chuckled softly. "It is. But that’s why we tread carefully with our abilities, Joseph. The balance is fragile. Even though we could use our powers to change things at will, we recognize the responsibility that comes with them."

Joseph nodded, absorbing the gravity of Yoshi’s words. "I see why your family is revered as gods. You’re all like guardians, not just of your kingdom but of reality itself."

"That’s one way to look at it," Yoshi said with a gentle smile. "We try to maintain the equilibrium, and sometimes that means not using our powers even when we want to. It’s about understanding the greater good."

Joseph looked back at Aris’s portrait, still captivated by her striking appearance. "I’d love to meet her one day. To see what someone connected to the Light of Creation is like."

"Perhaps, one day, if the time is right," Yoshi said. "But trust me, meeting Aris would be unlike anything you’ve experienced before."

"And that one," Yoshi pointed to another portrait, "is Aiko Kento, a huntress from Akakawa, the Red River Kingdom. She’s literally an angel, and her aura level surpasses both Yoshito and me. She's not just a huntress with a god-level outerversal aura, but also a supreme huntress, ranked Tier 3+++."

Joseph’s eyes widened in amazement. "Wow! She’s incredibly powerful."

Yoshi smiled, continuing, "Aiko Kento is one of the most powerful hunters in existence, transcending mortality and effortlessly confronting god-like entities. Her aura spans across multiple realities, influencing them simply by being present. In the Akakawa Kingdom, she’s a legend. Stories of her prowess are woven into myths and tales, and her name has become synonymous with power. Her abilities are so vast that she can shape entire universes and manipulate the very fabric of existence itself."

"As an angelic being, Aiko Kento has lived for nearly a millennium, constantly sharpening her skills and gathering knowledge from across dimensions. She’s quiet, enigmatic, often appearing unexpectedly to turn the tide of battle when hope seems lost. Despite her overwhelming power, she remains humble, preferring her actions to speak for her rather than seeking recognition. She rarely involves herself in mortal affairs, but when she does, it’s with a force that leaves everyone in awe," Yoshi explained.

Joseph shook his head in astonishment. "Wow. So many powerful relatives… It’s like being surrounded by gods."

Yoshi chuckles softly at Joseph's amazement. "It does feel like that sometimes, but we all carry the same burden—knowing when to act, and when to hold back."

"Yes, our family tree is filled with extraordinary individuals," he said, his eyes reflecting pride and humility. "Aiko is a force to be reckoned with, but like the rest of us, she knows the value of restraint. Her presence in Akakawa has been essential to keeping the peace, and while her aura might surpass mine and Yoshito’s, she has a deep understanding of balance and responsibility."

Joseph nodded, still processing the sheer scope of the power Yoshi’s family possessed. "It’s fascinating how someone with such immense abilities can stay humble. A lot of people would let that kind of power get to their heads."

Yoshi smiled. "That’s what makes Aiko special. She could reshape entire realms if she chose to, but she doesn’t. She only intervenes when absolutely necessary, which is why the legends around her have grown. The people of Akakawa look to her as a guardian, but she prefers the solitude of the hunt, finding peace in nature and her pursuit of balance."

"She sounds like a true legend," said Joseph, still in awe. "And it seems like that’s a common theme in your family—having all this power, yet knowing when and how to use it."

"Exactly," Yoshi replied. "Power without wisdom can lead to chaos, and we’ve all learned the importance of control. Our abilities might make us god-like, but we strive to use them with care, for the sake of those we protect and the balance of the realms."

Joseph looked back at the portrait of Aiko, admiring her calm yet powerful presence captured in the artwork. "I’d love to see her in action one day. It must be incredible to witness."

Yoshi nodded thoughtfully. "Perhaps, one day, you will. But be warned, when Aiko enters the battlefield, the entire fabric of reality shifts. It’s not just a battle—it’s a cosmic event."

Joseph couldn’t help but grin at the thought. "I can’t wait to see what happens next."

"And then there's Chika Suzuki," Yoshi said with a chuckle, continuing his explanation to Joseph. "Chika is the last of my female relatives, as one might say."

Yoshi’s expression grew more serious as he described her. "Chika Suzuki is a transcendent hunter-knight of legendary status. Her power and aura are beyond ordinary existence, enabling her to influence multiple realities and dimensions. Ranked Tier 3+++, she’s a supreme celestial divine knight-huntress, wielding immense power capable of warping reality and even affecting the cosmos. Just her presence can alter the very fabric of the universe, marking her as a force of nature among the most powerful entities in the empire."

Joseph listened, clearly captivated, as Yoshi continued. "Chika hails from an ancient and storied lineage that blends human, divine, demonic, and monstrous traits, resulting in one of the most powerful bloodlines known. Her ancestors, including a notable forefather who wed a tribrid, laid the foundation for the creation of the quabrid species. Though she's lived for 10,000 years, Chika retains the vitality and appearance of youth, reflecting her near-immortal nature."

Yoshi's eyes gleamed as he spoke. "Throughout her millennia of existence, Chika has fought in countless epic battles, amassing knowledge and skill that few can rival. Her personal life, however, remains a mystery—there are no records of marriage or heirs. She, along with other top officials, commands the knights and hunters across the four lands. Chika oversees combat operations, manages supernatural realms, and is an expert at integrating both magic and technology. Rarely seen by the public, she undertakes missions that transcend even her world, becoming a legend in both the eyes of her allies and her enemies."

Yoshi smirked. "It was through our ancestors, specifically Chika’s lineage, that quabrids were born. Her ancestors paved the way for knight-hunters, and from them came other merged species as well."

Joseph grinned teasingly. "Pretty sick. I’m kind of envying your family tree here."

Yoshi laughed lightly, enjoying the moment. "It certainly has its perks… and its responsibilities."

"Aside from your fallen brothers, are there any male relatives on a higher scale of power?" Joseph asked, his curiosity piqued.

Yoshi gave a slight nod, a small smile forming. "In fact, there's one very much like Suzuki, but quite different."

He continued, "Naoya Hiroto stands as one of the highest-ranked individuals in the Katsuragi Empire, also known as the Victory Empire. His rank as a Celestial Divine Knight places him in the realm of legends, with power so immense he can challenge gods and cosmic entities alike. His abilities include manipulating fundamental forces across multiple realities, and his equipment is forged from divine cosmic materials. Just his presence alone can alter the fabric of reality."

Joseph's eyes widened as Yoshi spoke, and he listened intently.

"Naoya is a rare quabrid, a product of divine and demonic heritage. His parents, both hybrids of immense power and significance, passed on their extraordinary abilities to him. With a background rich in combat experience and mystical knowledge, Naoya has earned his legendary status through countless victories. Despite his vast age, he appears youthful and vigorous, with a strategic mind that has led other top hunters and knights in battles against existential threats."

Yoshi paused for a moment, then added, "Though Naoya is incredibly powerful, he remains humble. He believes in the importance of unity and collaboration, knowing that monumental evils can only be defeated through combined effort. He is rarely seen, only summoned for dire situations that threaten the very existence of creation itself. Naoya believes that a great evil will eventually rise, one that will require all of us to stand together."

Yoshi's expression softened as he finished. "His ancestors, along with Suzuki’s, were the first to introduce quabrids across the lands."

Joseph nodded in amazement. "Wow, there’s so much to take in from your family’s history. You sure are proud of your relatives, huh?"

Yoshi responded with a gentle nod. "I am. They’ve shaped the world in more ways than one."

"Wow! In all of my experiences across every possible reality, I've never come across a dimension like yours, Yoshi. This is one sick epic level of isekai I’m in, and not to mention that almost everyone is so hyped!" Joseph exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "Usually, in most isekai stories my variants have encountered, they were either the strongest, fighting against the most powerful forces of evil to liberate that world, or not everyone in that world is extremely powerful like in yours."

He leaned forward, animated. "In other realities or dimensions, we sometimes evolve and improve their civilization, but this dimension of yours is just dope. Almost everyone is OP! If everyone’s overpowered, I wonder how powerful the antagonists must be. Just imagine!"

Yoshi listened intently as Joseph continued, "Wow! The authors really outdid themselves this time. I’m sure they could pull it off with the pacing, climax, cliffhangers, action, comedy, and all that. This is by far going to be the greatest isekai story ever told."

He paused, reflecting on his journey. "ULTRA AI, BIMEATHEST, OMEGA, TETRAMAN—they were incredible stories, but this one... My story is going to be the greatest that anyone could imagine and be inspired by. You just wait and see, dear readers!" Joseph grinned and gave a thumbs up, while Yoshi observed him, trying to understand who Joseph was talking to.

"What are you doing?" Yoshi asked, curiosity etched on his face.

"Oh! That? I'm interacting with the audience. It's kind of a thing I do; it's called fourth wall breaking," Joseph explained, his tone playful.

"But there's no one there?" Yoshi questioned, tilting his head in confusion.

Joseph smiled cryptically. "Don't worry, they're everywhere. If you have what I like to call 'fourth wall senses' or awareness, then you could perceive them and their realms. They exist far beyond ours. They might think they’re just readers, but in reality, the audience is often more like fictional characters than we are. Most of them argue about it, as some tend to believe it. Their world isn’t different from ours, actually, and most of my variants, as well as many fictional characters from various franchises, have been to the real world—mostly because the authors want their work to interact with their world, or it’s just karma’s plan."

Yoshi listened, intrigued by Joseph’s perspective on the nature of their existence. "That’s... fascinating. So, you think we’re all just characters in someone’s story?"

Joseph nodded enthusiastically. "Exactly! And who knows? Maybe someday, we’ll meet our authors and have our own say in how our stories unfold!"

"Now then, about that training ground you wanted to show me. Let's not expose too much of the story for our dear readers; we need to keep them wanting more," Joseph said with a chuckle, his eyes glinting with mischief. "Is this really what I wanted to say in my dialogue, or perhaps this could be the author just writing whatever comes to their mind?"

He burst into laughter, shaking his head. "Silly outcomes... That's just impressively lazy writing!"

Yoshi shook his head in amazement, unable to suppress a smile at Joseph's quirky attitude. "You really have a unique way of looking at things, don’t you?"

"Absolutely! It keeps life interesting," Joseph replied with a grin.

As they walked toward the training grounds, the atmosphere around them seemed charged with excitement. The lush landscape transitioned into an open space marked by training dummies, combat arenas, and shimmering magical barriers that hinted at the power of the realm.

"Here we are!" Yoshi announced, spreading his arms wide to showcase the area. "This is where we hone our skills and prepare for whatever challenges lie ahead."

Joseph’s eyes widened in amazement as he took in the sights. "This is incredible! I can’t wait to see what kind of training you do here. It must be intense if everyone’s as powerful as you say."

Yoshi nodded, "Oh, it can get pretty intense. But that’s how we grow stronger. Now, let’s not keep the audience waiting too long—let's get to training!"

With that, the two stepped into the training grounds, ready to unleash their powers and showcase the true potential of their epic world.