Chapter 44: The Path to Move Forward

Disclaimer:

Hi guys, I'm back. Some issues had come up irl so had to tend to those! Here I continue the 'five-day' week plan, but you'll get chapters today and tomorrow instead :P

"Compound Spirit Magic: Dimension Blitz!" Captain Fuegoleon and Captain Yami shouted in unison as their combined attack completely wiped out Ichoes, the Sound Magic devil. As the attack was simmering away, there was one more foe in the vicinity that was eyeing up the situation from above on a suspended platform.

"Hm, I see that Ichoes was no use to the Lord in the end… and I can sense that Esprit failed in his mission too. This is bad for now I will have to deal with their mess". A voice thought to itself as it travelled down to the area where Yami and the others were.

"Sleep… and suffer in your thoughts". The voice whispered.

"Let's get Asta and Luck and regrou-!" The enemy's words travelled across the area and met the captains' ears and they immediately dropped to the floor. They became unconscious as they fell into a deep sleep and they wriggled and struggled in pain.

"Well they should be dead soon… It's unfortunate I can't do anything physically, but my magic helps to counter that weakness of mine". The enemy then looked towards the other two Magic Knights, hoping to see them still down and out, but much to their surprise, they had started to get up after having been affected by Esprit's magic. As the Sound Magic devil died, its influence on the two young Knights went away too.

"My head is spinning…" Luck spoke in an upbeat, yet confused way, trying to massage his head and re-familiarising himself with the area.

"I think I'm going to be sick…" Asta responded, doing the same.

They briefly looked towards each other but then immediately turned their heads to the sight in front of them. The two Black Bulls saw leftovers of a white body in front of them and it looked like it had been cut and burned to pieces.

"This ki… this was Captain Yami's Dimension Slash, and Captain Fuegoleon's attack. Where are they-". Asta thought but stopped himself as he found out the answer to his question. He saw the two men laying on the floor a bit further away from them, wriggling around and breathing heavily as if they were in pain.

Asta and Luck both tried to rush over but were struck by an attack that came from elsewhere. The two tilted their heads to the left and saw the culprit floating in the near distance.

The enemy didn't look like a traditional 'enemy' would look like. It was simply a black, floating spectre with two dark-black horns protruding out of its head. It had no body at all, it was only a face that was levitating in the air. No wings, no tail, no arms, just a floating spectral head with a mouth.

"You don't have a body but you're attacking?" Asta spoke weakly as he felt the effects of the enemy's magic influencing him. It also started to effect Luck as he slowly stumbled to the ground.

"Of course, you think I'm not able to hurt you, but that's wrong. My Psychosis Magic is the ultimate weapon for a being like me. My name is Maindis… take pleasure for me using this spell on your weak and feeble minds…". Maindis floated backwards and watched the duo of Asta and Luck struggle to keep their minds clear and they sunk into darkness.

However, this was different from what Fuegoleon and Yami were going through. While the captains were simply unconscious and in pain, Asta and Luck were very much conscious, but they were acting completely differently. All of a sudden, the two Black Bulls took out their grimoires and started to fight each other.

Maindis was enjoying the scene play out in front of him and he started to laugh and snicker. "Before I developed by Psychosis Magic, I was a devil like any other. I was constantly picking fights, getting beaten, and just vulgar, but as I developed this powerful magic, I became… free and more mature. The price to pay for such a magic was that my body deteriorated with just my soul remaining, but my magical capabilities were stronger than anyone else that were previously on my level. Whilst I cannot fight physically, my mental strength is like non other! So, I apologise for acting so immature… but this is just hilarious!" The Psychosis devil laughed.

Fuegoleon and Yami were to the side, but the younger Magic Knights were battling against each other. They were clearly awake, but their eyes were completely black. They were devoid of any colour or life as they went up against each other.

"My Psychosis Magic is just brilliant. It shows the target a different reality that they hate. Perhaps, in their eyes, they see an enemy that is about to kill their beloved captains. Maybe they see a loved one being attacked by the one in front of them. But inside their minds, they're being toyed with or are trapped! They're bodies see one thing and act on instinct, but they're minds are completely elsewhere… So, much joy!"

Asta turned into his Black Form, though it was hardly the one he had been using recently. It was the first variant he that he could use, the one he started with back at the Witches Forest. He only had one wing, one horn, one fang and one red eye, as well as half of his body being covered in Anti-Magic. Compare this one with the one he uses now with two wings, multiple fangs, two red eyes and a lot more Anti-Magic, shows how incomplete this form was.

This was because maintaining the Black Form required intense concentration from Asta, it was usually through a link between Liebe and himself, as well as utilising ki, but since Asta is not in full control, he cannot access the form he's been using.

Luck was different too; he only had his Holy Lightning Boots and arm guards.

"How dare you try to attack Noelle like that when she's injured!" Asta shouted towards Luck, who looked like someone else in his eyes.

"I'm the one trying to protect my mother! You're the one attacking!" Luck licked his lips and charged forwards.

The two met back and forth and exchanged quick punches, kicks, slashes, and whatnot. They were doing anything possible to prevent the other from getting close to Captain Yami, who they had mistook for their loved ones.

"This is interesting…! There is also no way I lose since my Psychosis Magic is unbeatable" the devil laughed as he watched on, seeing the two teammates fight.

During this battle…

"Brat… wake up, now!" Liebe shouted as Asta was laying down unconscious. Due to the intense shouting from the Anti-Magic Devil however, he eventually woke up.

"L-Liebe?" Asta looked around and only saw the familiar devil by his side. Other than that, all he saw was completed and utter darkness. The two managed to get up from the ground and looked around for an exit or any sort of escape from this shadowy domain but it was futile.

"Hey, Liebe. Just what was that attack?" Asta wondered, starting to get worried about what was happening with his body outside.

"It's some sort of magic that influences your mentality, I'd have to say... We need to escape soon since Luck and the Captains were also hit with it". Liebe responded, also worried about the situation.

"Just what is it with me ending up in weird and dark places?" Asta put his hands to his head. "The first two times I spoke with you were in some weird world. It was like I was in a dream…!" Asta perked his head up as he spoke those final words.

"What is it, brat? Try to focus on finding an exit".

Asta paused and conversed with his devil about something that was just brought to his mind. "Dream… Liebe! I've heard Captain Dorothy uses Dream Magic, and I get the feeling as if my outside mind is in a state of sleep which is why we're here… right?" Asta tried to explain.

"Uh… right?" Liebe replied, confused by what Asta was trying to imply.

"Well… they're both magic, so using with using Anti-Magic we can get out of this place and retake control!" The mage shouted towards Liebe.

Liebe was shocked but also kind of impressed with how Asta was using his head in this tough situation. "Do you realise what you're saying, brat? That sleepy captain's magic is insane and vast, and you think we can break out of this place, which is similar to her Dream Magic?"

"Yep!"

Liebe deadpanned.

"I have an idea, but its very risky… Remember when we used that Anti-Magic sphere against Vanica and Megicula? What if we do that but expand it further?" Asta pointed his finger up to the sky.

"Good plan… but what if you lose control like you always seem to do?"

Asta pouted as he felt Liebe teasing him. "I don't think that will be a problem. Here look". The ashen-haired mage pulled out his grimoire and showed him a new page that had formed recently. "I was looking through the grimoire and saw that a new page was written, but I can't understand it. Can you? I'm sure it's something to help".

Liebe then looked at the page and, just as Asta said, he could read and understand what was written. The Anti-Magic Devil scanned the page and a look of surprise became etched onto his face. He then smiled and looked towards the mage who had stars in his eyes.

"This will definitely help, but we need to do some sort of contract. In the page it says you can now use more of my power without putting strain on your body… think of it like what Yuno does in Spirit Dive. He uses all of that fairy's power that he can at that moment to transform. You only use a bit of mine, here and there". Liebe looked back at Asta and saw that his head was steaming from confusion. "Urgh… to put it simply, all you're doing is putting your body to the utmost limit and getting a tiny bit of additional power from it. With this… new contract, you can use my power at 100% without fail". Liebe also wondered about something else, "how and when did you get this new page in the grimoire?"

"It happened a few weeks ago, back when we had our… talk" he responded. "Anyways…" Asta started jumping up and down and the stars had reformed in his eyes. "So, what is this contract? What do we do?"

"It says both parties have to have the same goal in mind… Huh? That's it?! We already have the same goal… to leave the Underworld!" Liebe shouted, confused as to why this new form wasn't already unlocked considering both Asta and he had the same goals in mind.

"Hmm, that is true. We both want to get back… but…"

"But what?"

"Well, isn't your goal to wipe out all the devils? You told me you hate all of them and want them to die… but that's not what I want at all. Sure, the ones we're up against are evil, but you've shown me that not all devils are evil. I don't want to wipe them out, but you-" Asta was cut off by an angered Liebe.

"Don't you… dare try to change my mind about what I want to do. Don't… you… dare".

"I understand why you hate them; I do. Though there has to be some good ones, like you, right?"

"No there isn't".

"There has to be. If you don't see that then we might now get out of here… please, Liebe-!"

Asta was interrupted by Liebe charging at him. "Stop! Stop it right now! I'm gonna make you see things my way! There's no good devils…!" As Liebe attacked his host, various different images were flying throughout his mind. There were images of his youth, of him being attacked by three high-ranked devils and him being thrown outside of the underworld. There was also an image of a young and injured Liebe being spoken to by an older woman. She had ashen hair and bright green eyes. There were tears that fell from Liebe's eyes. "You're nothing like her!" He screamed.

Back in the open area, Asta and Luck's bodies were slowly being damaged by each other. As a Lightning Magic attack hit Asta, he fired back with an Anti-Magic attack. This kept up and there were notable injuries on their bodies. To the right were Yami and Fuegoleon laying still, completely unconscious and the little uncomfortable facial movements they made showed they were in pain at whatever the reality was that they were seeing in their sleep. To the left was Maindis, floating as he had done for the entire time, enjoying the scenes play out.

With a heavy voice, Asta shouted "Black… Divider". He used the Demon-Slayer sword and tried to attack Luck where he stood. However, as he moved, the Demon-Slayer sword lost its shape and reverted back to its base form. It was due to Asta not having full control and just using his delusions guide him.

"Hehe… That'll teach you to mess with my mother! Lightning Magic: Thunder-bolt… Destruct-!" As what happened with Asta, Luck also managed for summon a spell, but it fell just short of fully making it hit Asta. Again, just like Asta, Luck was also in his own head…

"Where am I?" Luck spoke to himself as he looked around at his surroundings. In Asta's case, he was in a dark domain with no exit and with only Liebe by his side. With Luck however, this was different.

The Lightning mage looked around and saw that he was in his old house where he used to live with his mother. It was a small, but nice house with a few paintings here and there. Due to his commoner status, the house was fairly kept and was nice enough for people to live in. Though the only person he ever lived was with…

"Mother?" Luck turned around and saw the dining table. It had warm food ready and a chair was empty for Luck to sit in. Right next to the chair though, was his mother smiling towards her son.

"Hello Luck. Why don't you come and join me for some dinner? I made your favourite!" She smiled whole-heartedly towards the blonde-haired mage.

Luck didn't know what to say, he was so sure that she was dead but here she was, smiling towards him. The Cheery Berserker then let out a whimper as a flood of memories came rushing to him. They were of the times when he was a little child with his mother. He would play, hug, cry, just like any other child but his mother was always there. The one recurring memory that kept popping up was of her smile.

"I wanted to see you smile again for so long… If I stay like this, will I be able to be with you forever?" Luck cried as he asked his mother.

"Of course, my son". She tilted her head in a cute manner.

The Lightning mage then sat next to her and began eating his dinner.

The two spent the night, and the next few minutes, talking about each other, reminiscing the past as well as what they would like to do the next day. However, whenever Luck tried to mention his friends, his mother would wear an angered expression prompting him to drop the subject. One feature of his mother that was slightly eerie was that her eyes were completely black, devoid of any colour.

"Mother… I feel like there's something I need to do urgently, but I can't remember what". Luck scratched his chin in deep thought. He tried to remember about what was happening currently, but every recent memory was a complete blur. This fake reality had seeped into Luck's mind and made it seem it was entirely real.

"No, Mother. I'm sure there was something… something with Asta…" he questioned again to which his Mother aggressively stood up and looked at Luck.

"There is no Asta. All you need is your Mother, right?" She walked up to the Cheery Berserker.

"There is no… Asta". Luck repeated, entranced by her words.

"You only need me".

"I only… need you". Luck repeated again.

"The Black Bulls are not real".

"The Black Bulls… are… n- n-! The Black Bulls… are… real!" Luck snapped out of his confused state. Once the Black Bulls were mentioned in a negative connotation, he snapped out of his dazed state.

"Luck? What are you doing?" His mother spoke, surprised with the way her son was acting. "There's no such thing as the Black Bulls, you only need me!" She shouted.

Luck stepped backwards, stumbling on a piece of furniture. "They… they're my family! You are too! If you were truly my mother, then you would encourage me to find people I can call a family!"

"No, I would never say that!" she swung her right arm and hit the Lightning mage on the cheek.

"Mother was always right! Before she died, she held me tight and said she loved me and told me to see more of the world, with people I could call a family!" Luck stepped back again.

"You're lying Luck. All you need is to calm down and accept this reality…" She swung her fist again and hit the other cheek.

"Mother would have loved to see my friends and family… Magna, Asta, and the others! Just who are you?!" Luck screamed and he walked backwards, back against the wall.

"Who am i? Well… I'm your Mother". She smiled eerily and ominously. She ran towards Luck and stretched her hands out to grab him, but she was met with resistance and something else.

Luck had enveloped his left arm with Lightning and used it to punch a hole through her chest. There was no blood coming out from the wound which proved to Luck that she wasn't real at all. Her eyes cleared up from the black fog that was surrounding them, and she looked to her son.

Luck was crying, he remembered the day his Mother had died many years ago and this act made him emotional. "Moth- no, whoever you are… please, go away!" He then felt a warm and soft hand on his left arm that was through the woman's torso.

"Luck… I-I… I love you…" She spoke as she started to fade away. Her face and eyes were clear, and she looked to her son with a smile. "Go back… to your family and protect them…".

Luck, wiping his tears and the world around him starting to crumble and shatter into pieces, "I will!"

Luck had broken past this fake reality that was presented to him and saw the Underworld once more. To the right was Asta and the two captains, and to the left was Maindis who was floating and looking on.

"Hmm, it looks like Asta's still in trouble, but he'll be fine with whatever he has to do! Meanwhile… I'll do this! Lightning Magic: Electromagnetic Link…". Luck sent out a pulse of electricity all around and they travelled far and wide. The purpose was to let the other Magic Knights know what was happening, and that they should come here for backup. With Luck's amazing mana sensory, he coupled this together with the spell and he was able to link his own sense with others to let them know certain info.

"Come on guys… we need backup!"

NOTES:

Bit of a different chapter than what was presented in the last few! As opposed to a fight with a devil, it was a fight with themselves. Luck had to fight past the uncertain, yet appealing reality he was presented with. Asta has to fight past Liebe in order for victory.

I tried a sort of psychological chapter, where it was focused more on the two Knights' mindsets, let me know how I did :P

Manga readers may get the hint at what I was trying to imply with Asta's 'spell'… :P

Also, again, sorry for delay, things had happened and I had to tend to them!