Asta looked blankly at the large wall of grimoires, but was deflated as none had floated down to him. He was sure he would get one! Yuno got one, so did everyone else! So why then did he not get one?

"Uh sir? Where is my grimoire?" The room grew silent as he realized they may have found out he couldn't use his magic yet. The master of the tower looked at him.

"Come again next year." He aid, and then everyone just started to laugh.

"Really? No grimoire? He must have no magic!"

"Wow, he really is useless."

"I guess we don't have to worry about him!"

"He's below even the peasants! What a joke!"

Asta looked around, feeling pretty bad about himself. But no, he said he could come next year and he knows he will get a grimoire. He can still become the wizard king next year! He turned to Yuno, his rival.

"Don't worry Yuno! Next year Ill be ready to compete with you! I'll beat you to become the wizard king!" He promoted, the crowd roaring even louder as a result. Yuno looked at him with a blank expression and walked towards him. Asta was hoping for some words of encouragement but instead he got the cold shoulder. He felt something break in him, was it his will? No, it was a feeling of despair. The hope was fading fast, but his determination knew he was capable of magic and he could come next year. People were already exiting, still laughing and pointing at him. After all, since Yuno said he was going to be the Wizard King, why couldn't he? He had to keep that promise to help out that crummy church and Sister Lily! He mainly wanted to do it for Sister Lily to be honest.

He made his way out, and decided that he still needed to train until he got his grimiore! He had new motivation now that Yuno got a grimoire and a 4 leaf one no less. He had to catch up to him, he already was leagues ahead of him! He started to run to the large skull that was on the other side of his village. That was where he was going to train, so he started his training by full sprinting there. He had to improve his endurance and speed if he had to dodge attacks when he gets into the magic knights. He stopped when he heard something unusual.

Wind, fire and metal? He knew that the wind was from Yuno, no doubt about it. He has heard it enough to recognize it from a mile away. But the other two? Was there a fight going on? He turned and saw a little light coming over from where the ceremonial tower was. There was defiantly a fight going on. And Yuno was involved somehow. His legs moved before he reached a conclusion on what to do. He was running as fast as he could towards the location where he saw the light. The place was coming quickly, as he ran through a bunch of trees near the place.

"YUNO!" He yelled as he leapt. He glanced over from his side and saw his rival chained up (along with 2 others) by another man. They looked at him like he was a talking bear (Asta still tried to prove they could exist) as he face planted into the other wall, since he lost to much altitude to make it to the top of the wall. He slid down until he hit the grassy ground. He shook it off and stood. He was face to face with a man with a red cloak, lots of scar tissue on his face and a book in his hands. A yellowish and greenish book that had 4 leafs on it.

"You have Yuno's grimoire. Give it back." He growled. The man crackled.

"Like I would give up a FOUR leaf clover grimoire. Do you know how much this will fetch me?" Asta grip intensified.

"But that grimoire will only work with Yuno. It's magical abilities are useless to you!" He shouted. He saw the man recoil from the sheer intensity of his voice, but that was normal unless you got used to it, but by then you start getting hearing problems.

"You don't think I know how Grimoires work? I know they only work for their original owner but four leaf clovers are as rare as they come! I could make a fortune on this one grimoire!" He shouted as portal opened up behind him, allowing chains with sharp edged heads to come out, like slithering snakes. Asta gulped. He may have trained with Yuno, but Yuno used Wind magic, he never came across someone who used this type of magic.

"That still doesn't make it right!" Asta charged as the chains went after him. He barely dodged them and the spell caster dodged him when he went to punch him. Asta skidded a few feet behind him and turned for a second attack. He ran close, the spell caster hadn't even turned around. 'Yes! I can get a hit in!' He smiled as he launched his fist.

Only for him to be caught by chains before his punch could get him. The chains pulled him back and slammed him against the wall. The spell caster crackled maniacally.

"Please, as if a peasant like you could get a hit in. I'm a ex magic knight! Now why would you even want to defend him!? You don't even have a grimoire!" He yelled. Asta felt so dumb and angry. This man, was a ex magic knight? Protector of the clover kingdom!?

"He's my rival! I have to be able to beat you to become the wizard king!" He struggled against the chains, attempting to break them. All they did was tighten. He didn't like that the restraining magic people can learn. He much would rather have free movement in a fight, heck all the time. He much rather be able to move all the time. The mage crackled again, but this was more in a joking matter.

"The wizard king!? Is that a joke!? No way someone from the boonies can be someone like that!" The chains near him rushed at Asta and hit him. His body racked in pain. He started to bleed from his head and arms. The chains that kept him on the wall disappeared. His body was limp as his head hung down. How could he lose? If he couldn't take out this guy, then he had no chance of becoming the wizard King.

"And another fact, my chains can sense magical prowess. Your friend may have large mana, but you on the other hand, have none... Your incapable of preforming magic." The man put his foot on Asta's shoulder and pushed his heel in it, but Asta didn't notice. Those words hurt more than any attack. It seemed as all hope just disappeared. He realized no person, no matter how strong, no matter how fast and durable, could become the wizard king without magic. The energy in his arms and body left him, and was replaced with despair. After all this time, all that training just all for nothing.

"Hey Asta!" That voice, it was Yuno's. What would Yuno want with him? He can't compete with Yuno now. Yuno was guaranteed to surpass him, no he already has. Yuno has amazing magic, and good control over it.

"I know you won't become the Wizard King..." Yuno started. The mage looked amused.

"See? Even your friend believes that you will fail!" The mage yelled, amused.

"Because Ill become the wizard king!" He shouted.

"You the wizard king!? HAHA, a peasant can't earn a title like that! You were here when I told him, no? Or are your ears stuffy!?" The mage mocked.

".. But that doesn't mean you should give up! And do you know why?" Asta faintly opened his eyes to glance at Yuno. He saw that his amulet was gone, no doubt taken by the mage.

(Asta's grip tightened)

"Because your my rival!" Yuno shouted.

(A single spirit shuddered and then smiled)

Those words from Yuno reignited the fire in Asta's soul. The despair he felt was burned up with new emotions.

Determination.

Hope.

And finally, Anger. Asta was angry at this mage. He stole from people, injured them, and crushed their dreams, just for a little extra yul. This man was a magic knight, protector of the people of the clover kingdom. what lead him to turn and go against what the magic knights did in the first place? His hand moved slowly towards the leg that kept him on the wall.

"Him your rival?! Your as delusional as him! You can't.." He glanced at Asta who had grabbed his leg and squeezed. Asta's face felt hot from his blood boiling. He felt his rage boiling inside, begging to help Yuno and teach the guy a lesson.

"Not yet... I'm not done yet.." He said, which made the man fall back. Asta began to stand.

"Sorry you had to see me like that Yuno. What kind of rival would I be if I couldn't be strong? Don't worry..." He began to stand.

(The sky and area was covered in a light blue hue)

"I'LL NOT GIVE UP!" Asta proclaimed. The area around them started to act peculiar. Red orbs of dark energy floated. Red energy sparked. A single red book floated down in front of Asta. The mage's colors in his face disappeared. Yuno smirked.

"There was no way Asta wouldn't be chosen." Asta stared blankly at the book.

"A gri...miore?" The grimoire itself was was dirty, and dark. Asta couldn't even see the clover between the dark cover, the dirt and the red energy that flowed around the magical book. The cover opened and the pages flipped, until it landed on a page of text. The center of the binding darkened with energy and a handle came out. The handle pulled itself out, leaving a black rusty sword wreathed in dark energy before it embud itself into the ground.

(The leaves of a clover are said to contain a virtue. In the first three dwell hope, integrity and love)

"No..No-No! That's impossible! You have no magic! What is with that grimoire?!" The mage dropped Yuno's four leaf grimoire in fear.

(The fourth leaf is given over to good luck)

Asta's hand reached for the handle and he used it to support himself. His body felt as if it was flooded with energy, new found power. He looked at the sweating mage with eyes of vengeance and hate.

(In the fifth leaf is a demon)

"No, get away!" The mage unleashed four fast chains, all towards Asta. Asta's hands shifted and he swung the sword with ease, despite it's large size. The blade cut through the chains like sloppy mud and made them disappear. Asta got into a running stance, and tensed his muscles.

Asta charged with so much force, his starting point was reduced to ruble from his feet. In moments, he was in front of the mage, preparing to swing.

"MY MAGIC IS NEVER GIVING UP! TAKE THIS!" He swung the sword as hard as he could and hit him with the flat of his blade. The mage was sent flying at speeds almost to fast to follow. The mage hit the opposite wall and was knocked out instantly. The force of his impact made imbedded him into the wall. Asta took a few breaths to release the anger he still had left over. He put the sword back into his floating grimoire, surprised to see it just go in without any resistance. The book's energy faded and disappeared completely. The book began to fall, but not before he caught it. He walked over to Yuno's grimoire and amulet. He grabbed them and turned to see Yuno free and smiling. He smiled back and handed him the grimoire and amulet.

"I believe this is yours." He said casually. Yuno reached out and grabbed his girmoire. He took his amulet and hung it around his neck. They turned to the large skull of the demon the first wizard king slayed, which put him into legend. That was what they had to be capable of when one of them becomes the wizard king. To be able to defeat a threat that large and powerful.

"Asta, remember that promise we made that day?" Asta felt a little nostalgia trip as he remembered when he protected Yuno from a mugger when they were children. It was a moment for him w=he would never forget. He felt fuzzy and happy to save someone, especially a person he calls his brother. After getting beat up, Yuno proclaimed that he too, would become the wizard king. That day they promised that they would be rivals until the very end.

"In all honesty, I thought you forgot." He turned to his tall friend. He looked back and they had the same look in their eyes.

A raging inferno of determination. A fire that could never be smothered by anything.

"I could never forget a promise that important." He said with a smile. it wasn't cocky, but one of happiness.

"Alright then! It's settled. Now that we have our grimoires..." Asta held out his fist which Yuno took. "We are now on the road to becoming the wizard king!"

"The magic knights exam is in 6 months. We can use that time to hone in on our grimoires." Asta nodded with a smirk. Asta turned around and walked away.

"Now, why don't we go home and see the brats and Sister Lily! And hopefully get Tatoes!" The two walked back, slightly limping from injuries.

Unknown to them, shadows coming from Asta slowly mended his cuts.


A underrated anime?

yes please.

Yeah, I know this is short compared to what I usually write but this is a intro chapter to a journey of a op Asta. I plan to update this with Sinner of Ylisse (My other story btw) hopefully regularly.

Anyway, see you guys next chapter, "Dark Examinee"

-Zalde