The air between them crackled with energy as fists collided—gold meeting crimson, Solar Titanium striking Imperial Crimson with lightning-fast punches while Imperial Crimson retaliated with bone-shattering force. Each blow sent tremors through the cobblestones, shards of stone and wood flying into the night air. Josiah's heart pounded; he had trained for years, yet the raw destructive power of Imperial Crimson tested him in ways no previous opponent had.
Diavolo's grin was cold, calculating. "You've grown fast, Solar Titanium. But speed alone won't save you."
With a blur, Imperial Crimson unleashed its Red Aura Crush, fists wreathed in molten crimson energy. Each strike hit with explosive impact, designed to break through Solar Titanium's defenses. Josiah barely managed to block, Hamon flowing through Solar Titanium to absorb some of the force. Yet the Stand's blows were relentless, forcing him to retreat step by step.
Josiah's mind raced. Time-Break Impact—it wasn't stopping time, but each of Diavolo's attacks carried an uncanny speed and deceptive timing that made even Solar Titanium hesitate. Anticipation and instinct were his only tools. He ducked under a sweeping punch, rolled along the cobblestones, and struck back with a midair Hamon-charged uppercut, catching Imperial Crimson slightly off-guard. The red Stand staggered, the aura flickering for just a fraction of a second.
"Not bad," Diavolo murmured, eyes narrowing. Imperial Crimson lunged again, fists a blur of relentless momentum. Josiah countered, using Solar Titanium to deflect each strike, Hamon bursts amplifying the power behind every punch. He realized he couldn't match Imperial Crimson blow for blow. The Stand relied on raw strength and crushing pressure, each impact capable of disorienting him. He needed creativity.
Solar Titanium moved with him, anticipating his intentions. Josiah feinted, drawing Imperial Crimson forward, then shifted to a series of angled strikes. He combined rapid punches with explosive leaps, sending a barrage of Hamon-imbued attacks at varying heights. Imperial Crimson blocked most, but one precise punch struck Diavolo's shoulder, forcing him to shift stance.
The clash intensified. Solar Titanium spun, delivering rapid flurries in rapid succession, while Imperial Crimson's Crimson Barrage slammed the ground, sending tremors through the square. Windows shattered, shutters were torn free, and dust rose like a fog around them.
Josiah gritted his teeth, muscles burning. He felt Solar Titanium synchronize more deeply with him, intuition and reflex blending seamlessly with Hamon. He launched a calculated combination: a low sweep, midair spin, and Hamon-charged punch, all aimed at exploiting the subtle gaps in Imperial Crimson's momentum-based attacks.
Imperial Crimson blocked most of the blows, but one strike grazed the jaw. Diavolo's eyes widened slightly, realizing Josiah could adapt mid-fight, countering the overwhelming force with precision and strategy rather than raw speed alone.
The square shook under the clash of golden and crimson light. Sweat and blood streaked Josiah's face. Breathing heavily, he knew this was only the beginning. Their Stands' abilities—Solar Titanium's speed and precision against Imperial Crimson's crushing momentum and Red Aura Crush—were pushing both fighters to the absolute limit.
Diavolo stepped back, a faint smirk on his lips. "Interesting," he said, "but I haven't even begun to show you Imperial Crimson's full potential."
Josiah's fists clenched. Solar Titanium pulsed in response, golden light flaring. The battle wasn't over. The true test of blood and legacy had only just begun, and the night of Windgrave would remember the clash of gold and crimson long after the fight ended.