After a satisfying dinner, the team made their way to the hot springs, a well-earned moment of relaxation after a long, stressful day. The peaceful atmosphere of the steam rising from the water and the sound of gentle splashes set the perfect scene for everyone to unwind. The hot springs were divided into male and female sides, and naturally, the boys and girls split up as they entered. Maya, Lily, and Hinata went to the female side while Kyle, Josuke, Arthur, Ace, and Silver ventured to the male side.
As the team settled in, Josuke and Ace were laughing. "Hey, you think Silver might electrify the water here?" Josuke joked, winking at Ace. Ace chuckled, shaking his head. "Only if he's trying to fry us all alive!" Josuke laughed along, but when Silver joined them, he looked slightly confused. "I don't get it. Why would I electrify water?" he asked, tilting his head.
Josuke couldn't help but laugh more at Silver's naivety. "It's just a joke, Silver. Don't overthink it."
Meanwhile, over in the female side, Lily was playfully teasing Hinata. "These are what Josuke likes in you these fun bags!" Lily said with a mischievous grin, poking fun at Hinata's chest . Hinata quickly placed a hand over her chest, her face flushing bright red. "Lily, stop!" she stammered, trying to cover herself up. But Lily only giggled and kept poking fun. "Come on, Iemme give the a little Squeeze. I see why Josuke can't keep his eyes off you, you know!" she continued, laughing.
Maya, meanwhile, sat in the warm water, a contented smile on her face. The warmth of the springs seemed to melt away all the tension in her muscles. She closed her eyes and let the steam envelop her, the peaceful surroundings providing her a brief respite from the chaos of their adventures.
Back on the male side, the mood was less lighthearted. Josuke sat on the edge of the pool, his mind elsewhere as he stared at the water, his thoughts troubled. He couldn't shake the memory of his brutal fight with Hans. No matter how hard he tried, no matter how many times he transformed into his devil form, it seemed like Hans was always a step ahead. Josuke clenched his fists in frustration. "I'm still no good," he muttered under his breath. "Even when I transform, I barely match that Zen guy. And Hans… he just outclassed me."
Arthur, who was sitting nearby, overheard and frowned. "Just how powerful is Hans? If this clown," he thought, referring to Josuke's devil form, "with his 50x boost, was nothing but a joke to Hans, then I wouldn't even be able to hold a candle to him." He gritted his teeth, feeling frustrated at his own lack of progress.
The thoughts of being unable to keep up with the overwhelming strength of their enemies lingered in the air, but Arthur wasn't the only one feeling it. Ace, who had been listening from the sidelines, chimed in. "We're not alone, though. We've got Kyle and Maya with us," he said. His tone was calm, trying to lighten the mood. "We've always got them to back us up."
Josuke and Arthur exchanged a look. "That's the problem," they replied, Josuke voice heavy. "It feels like we've become too dependent on them . We can't keep relying on them every time things get tough. We need to get stronger."
Arthur nodded in agreement. "Yeah… we need to stand on our own."
Josuke exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples. "I need a new type of attack. My current ones aren't cutting it anymore." His frustration was evident, and he looked down at the water, his reflection staring back at him.
Kyle, who had been silent until now, glanced at Josuke, sensing the inner turmoil. "If it's a new attack you need, I can help with that," he said, offering a solution. "Of course, you'll need some training to improve your mana and battle strength first."
Josuke raised an eyebrow. "What attack are you talking about?" he asked, curious.
Kyle smiled slightly, as if he had been waiting for this moment. "It's called the Void Impact Strike," he explained, his voice steady. "You must have learned about it back at the academy."
Josuke froze, his eyes widening. "Wait a minute. I never went to the academy, remember?" He chuckled awkwardly, feeling a little embarrassed.
Arthur, who had been listening intently, nodded. "Well, this attack isn't something that's easy to master, but I can explain it. For the Void Impact Strike, you need to concentrate your mana into a single point on your body."
Josuke listened closely as Kyle continued, "Think of mana like crude oil—raw and unrefined. For this technique, you have to unrefine your mana and let it flow with faults. Concentrate that energy into a single point on your body and strike with total focus. This will disrupt your opponent's mana flow, making it difficult for them to cast spells or use abilities."
Josuke's eyes narrowed. "Why must I concentrate the mana into one part of my body? And isn't that the same as anti-mana?"
Arthur shook his head. "It's different. If you don't concentrate it into one spot, your body will reject the foreign energy, and it will stop. Anti-mana negates mana entirely, but this just disrupts the flow. It makes it harder for your opponent to use their abilities, but it doesn't negate their mana."
Kyle gave a small nod of approval. "Exactly. You're on the right track, Josuke. When we get back to Elaris tomorrow, I'll help you train further. But for now, let's finish relaxing and let the hot springs work their magic."
The mood lightened a little as the group continued their conversation. Josuke's mind was no longer consumed by his frustration, though the desire to grow stronger still burned within him. It wasn't just about keeping up with others; it was about becoming someone his teammates could rely on. He couldn't afford to be weak anymore.
As the conversation continued, Silver, still not understanding the humor of the earlier jokes, walked over to the group with his usual blank expression. "Is something funny?" he asked, looking slightly puzzled. The team exchanged amused glances before they all burst out laughing once again, Silver just standing there, confused but amused by their antics.
The night wore on, and the team's bond grew stronger with each passing moment. As they all sat in the warm waters, Josuke couldn't help but feel a flicker of hope. He had a long way to go, but with the support of his friends and the new techniques they were learning, he was determined to push forward. This wasn't just about fighting strong enemies—it was about fighting for himself, for his team, and for a future where they could all stand together.