Chapter 41: Organised Offensive
Disclaimer:
Hey guys, i'm back with a week-long update! This will be first part of that and i hope you enjoy :) Also, after this week, i'll be rarely updating my two fan fics due to my uni starting up again... :( I haven't forgotten about this though! Anyways, hope you enjoy.
Our Magic Knights that were trapped in the Underworld had been training to the best of their abilities. Asta, Nero, and Yami were the ones that had the most pressure on them as they were the keys to escaping the hellish world.
Unknown to the Knights though, they were being watched this whole time. Not just by any enemy, but by ones who had a specific grudge against them.
"You've had your eye on them for a month now and you have made no move to attack and kill them. Why is that?" A man was sat on a throne and he questioned the motives of the person who was standing beside him.
"Hmph. 'He' has been using his minions to erase the presence of their mana to gather intel and information about the… guests, you could say". The other man retorted back. He was standing to the side and spoke in a cold manner, his eyes looking downwards, and arms crossed together.
"Yes, I understand why… but don't you think we should make our move already? They killed our sister and our plans of taking over the Clover Kingdom have been dealt a blow". The shady man at the throne spoke again, but this time with a distasteful tone to his voice.
These two eerie figures were in a cold and dark room, where the only presence of light was from the outside. There was a throne in the middle of the room, but it was unlike any other throne room that you may think of. It was completely broken and ruined, the ceiling, floors, and walls all crumbling apart into pieces. Very old and darkened stains of blood were imprinted around as if some sort of massacre had taken place long ago.
"I guess you're right… I'll use the devil's Spatial Magic to pay the visitors a… welcome". The man with a scar coming down on his left eye spoke and walked away from the throne room.
As the man left the sight of the other, he also spoke his plan. "Well… that means that I'll have a crack at the group of people who escaped the Capital". He laughed, and the room darkened with the flames being put out.
One month had passed since Liebe revealed a part of his past to his host, Asta. In just a short while, the two had formed a closer bond with each other and the Anti-Magic Devil didn't even mind being referred to as 'Asta's friend' or his 'mate' anymore. Though he did try to shrug it off due to the embarrassment he felt.
The two walked outside of their makeshift house and were met with a crowd of people talking amongst each other in a big group and it seemed like they had thought of something to do.
"There you are brat. Just the person we were looking for". The Black Bulls Captain grinned as he looked towards the ashen-haired mage.
"Hey Captain, what's up?" He responded.
"Team battle. Me and you against Luck and Fuegoleon. Let's go". He ordered simply, as if this reveal wasn't a big shock to Asta who had just woken up a few minutes ago.
"Huh… HUH?! All of a sudden? That's… that's great! I've always wanted to go against Captain Fuegoleon!" The young mage perked up and smiled.
Suddenly, as if a jolt of lightning flashed by, Luck appeared and charged for Asta and laughed. "Hey, Asta! Don't forget about wanting to fight me either! I can't wait to almost kill you!" He smiled cheerfully.
Asta and Yami deadpanned but they knew it was just in Luck's nature to act as he was.
The three Black Bulls members walked to an open area where it was just the three of them and another person waiting at its centre.
Surrounded by flames and fire as if it was a familiar and homely environment to the man in the middle, it didn't seem like he was fazed at all with the hot surroundings. The man was none other than the Captain of the Crimson Lion Kings himself, Fuegoleon Vermillion.
As the three approached the towering man, he turned and smiled to them. "Hello there! Ready for our practice session?" He roared with the Flame Spirit forming just behind him.
"Look, we know you have that flaming dragon of yours, you don't need to show off…". Yami spoke in a bored state as he took out another of his cigarettes to smoke. He walked over to Salamander and held the cigarette's tip to its tail so it would light up and used that to start smoking.
"Captain Y-Yami! You're not supposed to use the Flame Spirit as something to smoke with!" Asta screamed flailing his hands about. Yami slowly turned his head towards the magicless mage and stared deep into his eyes.
"Who are you to tell me what to do?" He furrowed his eyebrows downwards and made an angered expression.
"Sorry". Is all Asta could manage to say.
A few minutes passed and the group of four split into pairs and stood at opposite sides of the open space, facing each other. Asta and Yami vs Luck and Fuegoleon was about to begin.
To the side of the two teams was a group of people watching the battle unfold. It consisted of many Magic Knights as well as the normal Clover citizens who had wanted to watch the captains in battle.
In the middle of the group were a handful of mages who were watching, but also quite frustrated with themselves.
"Tsk. I get saved by that Black Bull and then I'm told I don't have a chance to break past that Underworld portal. Just how useless can I get…". The man in the Golden Dawn robe spoke in an annoyed fashion.
"Well it's not like I was of any use either, Langris. This is so frustrating…". Nebra responded back as she kicked a small rock out of the way, showing her frustration.
Behind the two was the Black Bulls Poison mage who was looking at the two people in front of him voice their problems and he wanted to help. "My two friends are sad about the situation, but there must be something I can do to help. They are from different squads but the time we spent has made our bond stronger" he whispered.
The man walked forward and spoke to the royal and the noble. "Hello my friends. I heard what you two said and I also feel the same way about the situation. Why don't we… train together?" After he raised the suggestion he stepped backwards slightly as if he was a bit afraid of Langris and Nebra.
The two looked at each other and then back at the Black Bull. "Huh? Why would we want to train with a Bl-". Langris stopped as he remembered what Asta had said to him a few weeks ago just after they had been saved by him.
"I'm sure he's forgiven you, but it'll take time for me and a few others to do…"
"Tsk. F-fine, I suppose training with someone who utilises poison and curses wouldn't be too bad". The brown-haired mage scratched the back of his neck and moved towards Gordon who was smiling brightly.
"My f-friend wants to join me!" He thought.
As the Spatial and the Poison mages joined together, it was only Nebra left.
"Ah! Why not, I have to show my siblings I've powered up once we return… especially that brat Noelle". She also walked forwards and the three dispersed elsewhere to train.
Back at the battleground…
"Demon-Slayer!" Asta summoned his broadsword and used it to repel Luck's lightning attacks that were being fired at him in the form of electric balls.
"Oh, I didn't know you learned a trick like that Asta! Guess I'll have to show you what's up my sleeve as your senior". He chuckled and he charged at the ashen-haired boy. "Lightning Creation Magic: Holy Armaments of Zeus!"
Suddenly, the Cheery Berserker was being surrounded by bright blue electricity that hardened on to parts of his body. The magic solidified and covered his body making him shine bright in a suit of armour. His head was encased in a sparking helmet that had an open area that showed his face and so he could talk out of it. Other than that, his whole head was covered in the armoured helmet. In addition to that, his whole body was covered in the armour and it was almost identical to the one he wore when he was possessed by an elf, though now, he had made it his own. His Creation Magic was finished off by his Holy Lightning boots but also a dark blue cape that had attached itself to the back of his armour, making him look like some gladiator.
"Haha! You're not the only one whose powered up, Asta". He charged once again at the boy in front of him.
"Woah, his Ki is so hard to track. He- he's too quick… but I guess it's time, Liebe!" Asta concentrated and within seconds turned into his Black Form which allowed him to increase the rate he tracked Ki at. This was because his Ki detection abilities actually worked really well when coupled together with his Black Form. Anti-Magic naturally homes in on mana and with Ki as an addition to that, he can also use it to detect the little movements his opponent can make within a battle.
The two were clashing non-stop. As Luck went in to punch or kick, Asta would repel and attack with his Demon-Slayer sword as well as his Demon-Dweller sword.
"Black Slash!" Asta surged his Anti-Magic through the Demon-Dweller and fired it at the Cheery Berserker who tried to get away from it. However, due to the nature of the attack, the slashes were homing in on Luck.
"This is bad… but if I do this…". Luck licked his lips and used his speed and agility to worm his way in and out of the Black Slashes range. They were getting closer and closer to the blonde Knight, but just as they were about to hit him, Luck flew towards Asta once again. His plan was to get the Black Slashes as close to him as possible and then quickly move out of the way so that Asta's own attack would hit him.
Luck pulled it off. He moved out of the way and the Slashes hit Asta head on…
Or so he thought. "You seem to have forgotten about your Captain, you weirdo. Dark Magic: Black Hole!" Yami jumped in and used his Black Hole attack to nullify and reduce the Black Slashes to nothingness in the attack's void.
"Captain Yami!" Asta shouted with stars in his eyes as he admired the muscular man.
"Dark Magic: Dark Cloaked Lightless Slash!" The Captain, without hesitating, fired a slash of darkness at the Lightning mage who was about to be hit, if not for a certain someone.
"Flame Magic: Sol Linea!" A bright blue beam of hot and concentrated flames hit the Dark Magic head on, and the two attacks cancelled each other out in a big explosion. "Don't think I'm going to take a back seat either… Luck, was it? Let's show them our power!" The man with the flaming arm roared.
On a platform just above another area of the Underworld, stood three dark and shadowy figures. They were eyeing up the people on the ground and all around and chuckled to themselves.
"So, are these the people the Lord told us to get rid of?"
"Seems so… they won't be a problem, will they?"
"What are we waiting for? Let's have a bit of fun!"
The three dispersed in different directions.
In a different area to Asta and the others, stood three mages facing off against another set of three. It was Gordon, Langris, and Nebra on one side and Klaus, Sekke, and Sol on the other side facing them.
"How did we get roped into this situation?" Klaus straightened his glasses as some sweat dropped from his head. He wasn't in the mood to go against his Vice-Captain and a royal but couldn't do anything about it.
"Fuhha! What, why did you agree to this you giant woman?!" Sekke shouted towards the Blue Rose Knight in front of him.
"We need to get stronger… to see Sis again, I need to work harder! You two also want to get, back don't you?" She clenched her right fist and pumped it into the air as a sign of determination.
On the other side, a different sort of conversation was taking place. They were ready to fight, but there was a slight problem.
"Who the hell do you think you are to order the Vice-Captain of the Golden Dawn around like that?" Langris spoke in an annoyed manner.
"I'm pretty sure a royal like me is first in importance compared to a Vice-Captain… who got possessed by an elf btw…". Nebra giggled slyly, further annoying the Spatial mage.
As the two were arguing, Sol suddenly appeared in front of them and started to attack. "Earth Magic: Mud Wall Partition!" The lady wearing the Blue Rose robe caused the ground to form into a huge barrier that separated Langris from the other two mages.
"Okay, nice! We have a plan, and this was the first step… to separate Vice-Captain Langris" Klaus nodded as he also charged in from behind with his grimoire next to him.
Langris, now away from his two teammates became annoyed as they couldn't even discuss a plan beforehand. Just as the noble took a step backwards, his arms became restrained by shackles that chained themselves to the ground.
"Bronze Binding Magic: Chain Link! Fuhha". Sekke, contrary to his scared personality, actually agreed to fight and restrain the opposition. "That plan from the Giant Woman is actually working, fuhha!" Sweat fell from his head as he locked eyes with an angered Langris.
"This is bad…". Nebra gulped and spoke to Gordon who was also worried.
"No time to get worried guys… Steel Magic: Blazing Spiral Lance!" Klaus, the blue-haired mage, fired a long spiralling lance towards the two mages in front who were trying to come up with a plan to fight back.
"Yes! This is it, how easy-
Suddenly, as if a bomb had exploded, something fell from the sky and crushed the ground beneath. The ground was split into different pieces from the impact of the strange thing that had charged at them. It had completely interrupted the battle between the six mages. The Earth Partition that Sol had put up had completely broken apart.
As the dust and debris settled back and cleared away, there was a singular figure standing before them. It had a dark and purple body with four wings on its back: two black and two purple. The two white horns it had protruded from its forehead and one at the top of its head. The face looked like it had stitches all over just holding it together and also had a bruised purple colour to it with black lines going through its red and glowing eyes. It had white-tipped claws and a long black tail that rested on the floor.
The figure in the centre spoke with a mature and serious voice, sounding if it was angered in some sort of way. "You three don't seem so tough… I guess the Lord didn't check you properly". It shrugged.
"A- A Devil! Again… why?!" Nebra screamed as she regrouped with Langris and Gordon who were all shaken.
"What do you mean us 'three'? There's six of us and we're going to make sure you die". Langris spoke confidently, but one look at his demeanour would show that he was only putting it on for show as he gulped and shook his fists.
"I see you need to look closely at what is in front of you…". The devil moved forwards and as it did, the view became clearer. There were two people being held on to by the devil's white claws, by the neck. It was Klaus and Sol.
"Hand them over right now!" Langris shouted, his grimoire ready for battle.
"Hmph. Well, if you insist… Here. You. Go!" The devil pulled his two arms back and proceeded to launch the two at the three mages opposite him. Klaus and Sol went flying through the air and crashed into a wall they were aimed for. The two had the wall imprinted with their bodies and they fell to the floor in a heap of blood.
"Tsk! Hey, you! Bring any recovery mage you have… Mimosa or that bird girl, now!" Langris ordered some onlookers who had come to spectate on the battle with Klaus, Sekke, and Sol. They left straight away.
Nebra cursed and shouted, "who the hell are you?!"
"I don't see a need to tell you, but since you'll be dead in a few minutes I guess I can let you know… the name's Esprit…". As the devil finished giving it's name out, it disappeared completely.
The three of Gordon, Langris, and Nebra were looking all around for the enemy.
"Hehehe… Ghost Magic…" a voice whispered.
NOTES:
Hey, as I said sorry for the wait! Here's the first chapter of the weekly updates and I hope you enjoy.
I realised that our heroes are in the Underworld and they hadn't encountered any… devils (derp face) so I figured it was time for them to show :P
Don't worry, this isn't a random inclusion. I've thought about where I want to take this story, and this is only the first part of the next phase
We saw a battle between Asta and Luck which will be expanded upon, slightly in the coming chapters, but this is more about fighting the devils.
Who's ready for some Gordon action next chapter?
P.S – I realised in a previous chapter I actually added Gordon in the group of people that weren't transported to the Underworld… that was a mistake from my part. He was always supposed to be here so sorry about that!