UNKILLABLE IN ISEKAI

As the kingdom's scholars and mages continued to study the Unkillable, they began to unravel the mysteries of his past. They discovered ancient texts that spoke of a being with similar powers, a being who had been thought to be a myth.

"The being's name is Joseph Benjamin Carmen," said one of the scholars, "but he is also known as Unkillable, a warrior from a realm beyond our own."

Yoshi Kazuhiro's eyes widened in surprise. "A warrior, you say? What kind of warrior?"

The scholar hesitated before answering. "A warrior with the power to destroy and create worlds."

Yoshito Kazuhiro's expression turned grave. "We must be cautious. If he is indeed capable of such destruction, we cannot trust him."

Lyra, however, felt a sense of wonder. "Imagine the possibilities," she said. "With his power, we could defeat our enemies and bring peace to the kingdom."

But as they continued to study the Unkillable, they realized that his powers were not the only thing that made him mysterious. His intentions, his motivations, and his very existence were all shrouded in mystery.

And so, the kingdom's scholars and mages continued to unravel the enigma that was Joseph Benjamin Carmen, the Unkillable.

***

Nine months later, Joseph finally awoke, his consciousness and sanity slowly returning. He found himself in a strange world, confined to a special chamber with no memory of how he got there. A mysterious collar encircled his neck, refusing to budge when he tried to remove it. As he examined himself, Joseph realized he had transformed into a handsome teenager, around eighteen years old, with dark skin, silver eyes, and blue hair that could change colors and glow, indicating his physical and mental state.

Lovely dimples adorned his face, and an average fang appeared when he smiled. His physique was perfectly structured, with a strikingly remarkable and spotless body appearance. Confused and disoriented, Joseph questioned his surroundings, "What is this?" He stood up, screaming for help, "Hey! Anyone! This is a big mistake! I'm not supposed to be here! What is this place? Is there anyone to answer me? I need help!" His cries were met with silence until a knight burst in, slamming the door and ordering Joseph to quiet down. When Joseph continued to shout, the guard activated the collar, stunning him with electricity to calm him down.

Shortly after, Yoshito, Yoshi, and Lyra entered, and the knight guards showed immediate respect, bowing their heads in greeting. Joseph felt a sense of relief at their presence. Yoshi warmly welcomed him, "Welcome back to the land of the living, Joseph," with a lovely smile that left Joseph slightly stunned.

"Who are you people?" Joseph asked, curiosity getting the better of him.

"We should be asking you that," Yoshito replied, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"Joseph Benjamin Carmen, or should I call you Unkillable?" Yoshito continued, his voice firm.

Joseph's eyes locked onto Yoshito, realizing they knew his true identity. "Since you know who I am, you should know this cell can't hold me captive," Joseph said, grasping the bars and attempting to pull them apart with his strength. However, they didn't budge, and the group watched his futile effort.

"Wow, these bars are tougher than I expected, or is it this collar preventing me from harnessing my powers?" Joseph asked, eyeing the collar suspiciously.

"The Rada'Han collar nullifies all abilities," Yoshito explained, "but in your case, it's to ensure it suppresses your powers, despite the markings on your forehead. We took extreme measures after witnessing firsthand what you're capable of."

Joseph's eyes widened as the pieces fell into place. "Rada'Han, markings on my forehead," he whispered, a fragmented memory resurfacing. "It can't be... What kind of universe is this? Is this a Bimeathest universe, with gods and devils, or the Legend of the Seeker universe? I know that's the only franchise that uses Rada'Han!" he exclaimed, his voice laced with confusion and alarm.

"That mark must be from the ultra realm, a restraint on my personality's madness," Joseph continued, his eyes wide with shock, his words trailing off into incoherence. Yoshito, Yoshi, and Lyra exchanged perplexed glances, struggling to make sense of Joseph's frantic utterances.

"What are you talking about? And what is this 'ultra realm' you speak of?" Yoshito asked, his curiosity piqued as he caught Joseph's attention.

"At first, most scholars and mages debated that you were from one of the other kingdoms. Your advanced technology, even in its prototype form, astonished many. This led some to believe you hailed from either Akakawa, the Red River Kingdom, or the Shinsei Empire, rather than from another world entirely," Yoshi explained. "The debate about your origin still continues among the High Council."

Yoshito leaned in slightly. "So tell us—are you truly him? The savior the prophecy foretells? Are you Joseph Benjamin Carmen, the Unkillable? Or just another imposter? Many have claimed to be the savior before."

"Are you he?" Lyra's voice was calm, her expression expectant as though waiting for the truth to unfold.

Joseph held their gaze, unwavering. "Yes, I am he," he said, confidence resonating in his voice. But beneath the surface, a flicker of playful sarcasm danced in his eyes. Their stunned silence only fueled his next words. "I am the isekai Messiah," he added, half-serious, half-teasing. "In fact, you could call me the 'isekai Jesus,' but personally, I prefer 'isekai God.'" He paused, then grinned. "After all, I’ve been the Akatsuki god for quite a while now."

His playful tone shattered the seriousness of the moment. Yoshito's expression twisted in disgust, while Yoshi and Lyra exchanged bewildered looks at his awkward attempt at humor. Joseph quickly realized his misstep as they turned to leave.

"If you think this is some joke, then we’ll see you in another hundred years. We have more pressing matters than indulging your shenanigans," Yoshito snapped as he made his way to the door.

"Wait!" Joseph's voice halted them. "I’m sorry. We got off on the wrong foot." His tone softened, more sincere. "Please, allow me to clarify myself."

Yoshito paused, exchanging a glance with Yoshi, who nodded. They turned back, giving him one more chance to explain.

Joseph sighed, his voice steady as he began. "The truth is, I don’t know if I’m the savior you're waiting for. My arrival in this dimension may have been the result of an encounter with an entity that threw me into this reality. What I do know is that I’m not just one person—I'm the result of the fusion of my variants across different realities. That’s where the madness comes from—the chaos in my mind."

He pointed to the markings on his forehead. "These markings are to suppress my powers—powers that could easily spiral out of control. My variants and I have experienced everything there is to know about existence. Every possibility. Every reality. But this world… this world feels different. Maybe this is the final 'isekai' I’ll ever encounter. Perhaps I was sent here to understand something greater, to redeem myself."

Joseph’s tone grew more somber. "I may not be the savior you’ve longed for, but I believe my presence here has a purpose. A purpose that might help me realize my true destiny—whatever that may be."

He hesitated for a moment before continuing. "You're right to keep my powers in check. Even I’m not safe from myself. Despite the seal on my forehead, I can still hear the voices inside my head—the good, the bad, and the ugly—all trying to break free, to take over."

He exhaled deeply, his gaze distant. "Sometimes it feels like I’m living in a world of fiction, like we’re all part of some grand construct. Whether real or not, we’re all affected by the choices we make and the opportunities that come our way."

Joseph’s eyes met theirs again, resolute. "But if there’s any way I can help defend your land, I’m willing to. You have my word."

Hearing Joseph’s explanation, they could sense his honesty and vulnerability this time. Yoshi, moved by Joseph's story, shed tears and was ready to give him a chance. However, Yoshito quickly intervened, stopping Yoshi from releasing him.

"While he might be telling the truth about his origin," Yoshito said, "we still need to fully understand who he is. Joseph must prove that he can be trusted—as an ally, not a threat."

"For now, we'll be watching you closely," Yoshito continued. "You'll remain in this special chamber, designed to contain your immense power, and the Rada'Han around your neck will ensure that. Once the kingdom's scholars and mages confirm what you truly are, we can reconsider your probation."

As they turned to leave, a sudden, embarrassingly loud grumbling sound erupted from Joseph's stomach, making everyone pause. Joseph's face flushed with sheepishness as he grinned. "Uh, any chance I could get some food? Apparently, I've been out of commission for God knows how long!"

Lyra's response caught him off guard, her voice laced with a hint of amusement. "Nine months, Joseph. You weren't asleep, you were unconscious for nine months."

"What? Nine months?" he shouted, startled. "I was out that long?" He calmed down, then added with a grin, "Well, since I’m starving, how about some chimichangas? Or pizza? Burgers? You know, something delicious?"

Lyra scoffed. "For someone who just woke up, you’ve got a lot of nerve making requests. You'll get what we serve."

She paused, then added, "The chef or the maids will bring your meal to your chamber shortly."

"More like a prison… or a dungeon," Joseph muttered under his breath with a tsk. Lyra raised an eyebrow slightly at his remark but said nothing as she and Yoshito, followed by Yoshi, left the room.

Later, within the palace, Yoshito, Yoshi, and Lyra briefed King Yusuke and Queen Naomi on Joseph's situation. They shared their findings, but admitted uncertainty about his true purpose.

King Yusuke and Queen Naomi exchanged a thoughtful glance before issuing their orders. "Keep a close eye on Joseph. He may prove to be a valuable asset against the forces of darkness, especially with the supreme council's upcoming request for aid."

King Yusuke turned to his sons. "Yoshito, Yoshi, your mother and I will represent our kingdom at the council meeting. We'll need you both to protect our kingdom in our absence. Lyra will serve as your liaison."

Queen Naomi's expression turned solemn. "Times have changed since the last millennium. Monsters and supernaturals have grown stronger, forcing every land to defend its kingdom. Once, our four lands lived in harmony, but that's no longer the case."

She paused, her eyes locked on Joseph's potential. "If this outsider, Joseph Benjamin Carmen, is indeed the prophesied savior, he may hold the key to ending this war. But if not... only time will tell."

King Yusuke's voice took on a sense of urgency. "Other cities, villages, and towns need protection. Savage monsters roam freely, dungeons are infested, and portals appear and vanish at will. We cannot ignore this threat."

Queen Naomi nodded. "Take knights, hunters, and knight hunters to investigate, defend, and eliminate this threat. If Joseph is willing to aid your journey, bring him along under your supervision."

Yoshito, Yoshi, and Lyra responded in unison. "Yes, Your Majesty."

Meanwhile, in Joseph's chamber, as he emerged from the lavatory, he savored the aroma of freshly delivered food, his gaze met the captivating maid, and a warm smile instantly spread across his face at the sound of her soft, melodious greeting. Her elegance, smile and charm momentarily stunned him.

"Welcome, sir," she said softly, setting the tray down with a gentle clink.

Joseph's eyes sparkled with amusement as he dried his hands on a nearby towel. "I hope I didn't keep you waiting, my sweet Chocolate Croissant."

He playfully used the nickname, and the maiden's cheeks flushed slightly at the playful remark, responding to his flirtation, and Joseph's smile widened, intrigued by her charming reaction.

"Ah, perfect timing. I was worried I'd have to devour my sweet nectar cold."

He approached the tray, his gaze meeting the maiden's. "You're a lifesaver – or at least, a breakfast-saver."

The guards cleared their throats, cautioning, "Be careful around him, lass. He's... unpredictable."

Joseph rolled his eyes good-naturedly. "Oh, come now. I'm harmless." He turned to the maiden, his voice taking on a playful tone. "Unless, of course, beauty is my weakness."

He flashed a disarming smile, and the maiden's cheeks flushed.

"Your food, sir," she stammered, avoiding eye contact.

As she turned to leave, Joseph called out, "Thank you, lovely. You brighten up this dull room."

Their eyes met, and Joseph's wink sparked a radiant smile from the maiden. She hastily departed, leaving Joseph chuckling.

One guard gruffly reminded, "No getting too comfortable, Joseph. You're still under observation."

Joseph's grin lingered, intrigued by the maiden's charm.