The ship rocked gently as it cut through the waves on the way to Baron Island, where the Blue Star ranger events were about to begin. Inside the vessel, Josuke stood by the window, staring out at the horizon. He couldn't help but feel a tinge of anxiety. The event was important, but he was more focused on the pressure to not hold the team back. He was determined to prove his strength, not just as a ranger but as someone who could fight at the level required by the team. He turned away from the window, walking over to his gear in the corner of the room. His Fullbringer sword gleamed ominously, waiting for its wielder. With a deep breath, he summoned the blade, feeling the familiar surge of power ripple through him. His fingers wrapped around the hilt, and a sense of calm washed over him. But that peace was fleeting.
"I can't rely on demon powers too much," Josuke muttered under his breath, his grip tightening. He knew that relying on his devil form was tempting, but that would defeat the purpose of his training. He wanted to grow stronger on his own, without the overwhelming influence of his more powerful form. His goal was to be able to fight alongside the team, to be a dependable member, not a liability.
Determined, he left his room and walked down the dimly lit hallways of the ship, his footsteps soft against the polished floor. The ship was mostly quiet at this hour, with most of the others likely preparing for the upcoming event or taking their rest. As Josuke neared the training room, the sound of metal clashing filled the air. He paused, recognizing the rhythmic pounding of blades and the soft grunt of exertion. As he entered, Josuke saw Arthur standing in the center of the room, sweat glistening on his skin. His sword, still gleaming despite the wear of training, was raised in a defensive position as he sparred with a training dummy. The room itself was expansive, enough space for two strong fighters to maneuver. A rack of various weapons stood off to the side, and a few training dummies were scattered around the room, their sturdy frames battered from previous encounters. Arthur, noticing Josuke's presence, paused mid-strike. His eyes narrowed, and his lips twisted into a smirk. "What do you want, clown?" he asked, his voice cold but not entirely unwelcoming.
Josuke grinned, stepping forward with confidence. "I ran into you here, and it's a good thing I did. I want to have a sparring session with you." Arthur tilted his head slightly, seemingly unfazed by Josuke's challenge. "Hmm. Why not ask Kyle or Maya to train you?" Josuke's grin faltered for a moment. He scratched the back of his head, clearly uncomfortable. "Normally, I would. But Kyle told me to train with you that he can be Bothered in his trip. And Maya's been locked up in her room because Ace can't seem to stop flirting with her. She's had enough for the day." Arthur raised an eyebrow, the faintest trace of amusement flashing across his face. "What about Hinata or Lily? Can't you spar with them?" Josuke shook his head. "Neither of them has the physical strength to keep up with me," he said, his tone nonchalant, though his mind was focused on the upcoming fight. "Hinata's more of a long-range fighter and a healer class ranger, while Lily…" He paused and looked toward the corner of the room where Lily's console typically sat in her room. "Lily would rather play games on her console than train." Arthur's eyes glinted with a mixture of disbelief and amusement. "That's some sexist thinking you've got there," he said, crossing his arms. "You're saying they can't keep up with you?" Josuke's expression softened slightly, but he stood his ground. "I don't mean it like that. I just know what their strengths are. They're not built for this kind of combat, Arthur." He adjusted his stance, trying to make his point clear. "And I don't want to rely on my devil form too much either. I need to learn how to fight and use my power solely without it." Arthur sighed deeply, his shoulders relaxing. After a moment of silence, he glanced at Josuke with a more serious expression. "Alright, fine. If you're ready, pick up your weapon and let's begin. But remember this: I'm a knight, and you're a devil. Don't let this match get to your head. We're not friends."
Josuke's grin returned as he unsheathed his sword, his eyes blazing with excitement. He had been itching for a real challenge, and Arthur was certainly that. The two locked eyes, the tension in the air thickening. With a swift motion, Josuke swung his sword forward, the blade cutting through the air with a sharp whistle. Arthur reacted almost immediately, raising his own sword to meet Josuke's with a resounding clash. The force sent vibrations through the room, causing the training dummies to wobble slightly. Josuke pushed forward, using his strength to press Arthur back, but the knight was quick, dodging to the side with a fluid grace that Josuke couldn't quite match. "Not bad," Arthur commented, his voice calm despite the intensity of the sparring. He launched forward, slashing his blade downward in a series of rapid strikes. Josuke parried them with precision, his own sword moving with a swift, practiced motion.
The battle was fierce. Josuke found himself pushed to his limits, his muscles straining as he fought to keep up with Arthur's relentless attacks. The knight's form was perfect, his movements measured and tactical, each strike calculated. Josuke, on the other hand, relied more on his raw strength and speed, but he was quickly realizing that wasn't enough. "You've got strength," Arthur remarked, spinning his sword to block a particularly vicious strike. "But you don't have the finesse of a knight." Josuke gritted his teeth and pushed harder, his blade striking with more force, aiming to catch Arthur off guard. But the knight's footwork was flawless. He danced around Josuke, his body light on his feet, while Josuke's heavier stance left him vulnerable to swift counterattacks. They fought like this for hours, the clash of swords reverberating through the room. Neither of them gave an inch. Their weapons were coated with the sweat of their exertion, and their bodies were pushed to the brink. Arthur's knightly discipline contrasted sharply with Josuke's raw, untamed energy, and it created a dynamic, explosive fight that was as much about strategy as it was about brute force. Arthur's sword flashed in the dim light as he executed a flawless series of strikes, one after the other, forcing Josuke to backpedal. But Josuke wasn't going to give up. His fullbring sword crackled with energy, and he took a deep breath, refocusing his efforts. He could feel his mana reserves depleting, but he refused to stop. With a final burst of strength, Josuke launched himself at Arthur, his sword blazing forward with everything he had. The two swords collided with an earth-shaking clash, the shockwave rattling the walls around them. For a moment, there was silence. Then, they both collapsed to the ground, exhausted but not defeated. They lay on their backs, staring up at the ceiling, breathing heavily.
Arthur exhaled deeply, finally breaking the silence. "Not bad, Josuke. But you still have a lot to learn."
Josuke let out a tired laugh. "I'll take that as a compliment."