0713MM: Hey guys! I welcome you to the 28th chapter of The Silver Valkyrie! I do not own Black Clover, nor its characters. I do own the OCs that I use in this chapter. Chapter start!^^
Chapter 28
Yuno and Mimosa awoke in one of the many rooms of the Spade Kingdom Castle. Both Golden Dawn members groaned as they tried to gain there bearings.
"Is this…..the Spade Kingdom?" Mimosa asked groggily. Yuno slowly opened his eyes and looked around.
"Ugh…!" Yuno groaned. "If we are, I dunno this room. No scratch that. I know nothing about the Spade Kingdom Castle layout period."
"Well then that's good. Because I need you 2 awake." Yuno and Mimosa gaped, then looked to the door of the room. A woman with black hair that goes a bit below her mid-back. She wears earrings, as well as the crown that was originally Queen Loyce's on her head. She has 2 scars going from her forehead on both sides of her face down in straight lines. She wears the Spade Royal Family clothing.
"You're…!" Yuno breathed. "Eva Zogratis…..!" Eva gave Yuno a light smile before replying.
"Yes, I am." Eva confirmed. "And I require you for a very special ritual."
"Ritual?" Yuno repeated before his amber eyes widened. "You mean…..!" Eva's smile widened, glad to know Yuno knew what she was talking about.
"That's right. You're going to do a Devil Ritual here in Spade." Eva told Yuno.
"E-Ehhh?!" Mimosa gaped. "You can't do that! Why do it though?!" Eva groaned, remembering that Vanica had brought the vermillion-haired girl with her too. Evan regained her composure and turned to face the bound Mimosa.
"Because child, it is Yuno's Fate." Eva replied. "However, while you are not required, I will be bringing Yuno, along with you, down to the basement of the castle. But first…." Eva turned back to face Yuno and took the pendant around his neck.
"Hey!" Yuno snapped. "That's mine! Give it back!"
"Oh I will." Eva replied. "After the ritual is done. Now come on." She waved her right hand and undid the binds on Yuno and Mimosa. "Since you 2 are in unfamiliar territory, the chances of you running are slim. But in case you even think about running…" She grins maliciously. "I'll make your stay worse then before. Understand?" Mimosa and Yuno nodded, both too afraid to say anything. Well, moreso Mimosa showing her fear on the outside, while Yuno held it in.
It didn't take too long for Eva to lead Yuno and Mimosa down to the basement of the Spade Castle. Mimosa shivered upon noticing glyphs on the walls that appeared to be Demonic Language. Mimosa naturally clung to Yuno out of fear.
"This place creeps me out, Yuno…" Mimosa whispered to her squad mate.
"Yeah, I know." Yuno replied back in agreement. Eva gestured to Mimosa, then at her daughter, who was also present.
"You girl, will go with my daughter for a bit." Eva told Mimosa. Mimosa nodded out of fear, while Vanica grinned, leading Mimosa to another part of the basement. After they were out of sight/earshot, Eva turned her attention back to Yuno. "As for you boy, step into the central point of the pentagram in the room."
"Give me back my pendant first." Yuno retorted. Eva waved her free hand over the pendant, then handed it back to Yuno.
"Here you go." Eva told him. "Now, step into the center." Yuno aimed to refuse, but he then felt his body move on its own.
What's going on? Yuno thought. My body isn't listening to me? Eva grinned in satisfaction as Yuno stepped into the center. Upon him doing so however, he instantly felt a cold presence. He shivered as he turned slightly so he could see what was making him feel this way. His blood ran cold at the sight. Standing next to him was a Devil. Said Devil had bat-like wings, and spike-like horns, as well as black and white hair that sticks up and red eyes.
"Y-You're…!" Yuno breathed, his face turning pale. The Devil turned to face Yuno, and a dark smile appeared on her face.
"Hello Spade Prince." The Devil replied. "The name's Rem." Yuno's face was still pale, and he was frozen in fear that he didn't even feel Rem prick his finger with one of her right hand's claw-like nails. By the time Yuno snapped back to reality, the drop of blood hit the ground; thus activating the ritual Eva told Yuno about. In the background, Eva smiled wickedly, while her 2 sons, Dante and Zenon, frowned deeply as the silhouette of a Devil appeared before Yuno just as Rem stepped out of the circle.
"What's going on?! What are you going to do to me?!" Mimosa demanded as Vanica bound Mimosa to a chair in the same way she bound Yuno before heading back to the Spade Kingdom with Yuno (and Mimosa) in tow. Vanica ignored Mimosa's desperate pleas for a few moments. Eventually, Vanica turned to face Mimosa. Mimosa cried out upon seeing the right side of Vanica's face was black. The eyepatch over her right eye is now gone. In its place was a red eye that became a slit. At the sight, Mimosa felt her blood run cold.
Wh-What is this cold mana I'm feeling?! Mimosa thought, terrified.
"I have an experiment to perform." A voice spoke through Vanica's mouth.
"E-Ehhh?!" Mimosa gaped while looking around. "Who said that?!"
"Oh! That was my Devil partner, Megicula." Vanica replied, smiling wickedly. "Now stay still. She has something she wants to do." Vanica's words only made Mimosa struggle more.
"I don't know what you and your Devil have in mind for me, but please let me go!" Mimosa pleaded. Vanica cocked her head to the side, then back to its original position. Her smile wasn't faltering from her lips.
"I will let you go… After Megicula gets her fun." Vanica replied. "Oh Megicula! Have your fun!~"
"Excellent!" Megicula spoke through Vanica's mouth, her voice filled with joy. "Curse Warding Magic:...!" The Megicula cast was in Devil Language. Whatever the spell Megicula cast on Mimosa made Mimosa's body flash, and her to scream in agony. As if someone was drawing with a knife on her stomach.
"AAAAAAAAAAAHHH!" Mimosa screamed.
"I wonder what the curse will be on this one? Perhaps extra limbs? Oooh! Or maybe some type of transformation! Either way, I cannot wait to see the results!" Megicula spoke gleefully. Eventually, the flashing stopped and Mimosa lowered her head. Vanica raised an eyebrow and poked Mimosa in the forehead, getting a groan as a response.
"Okay good. She's alive." Vanica grinned.
"Mimosa?!" Yuno called out. "MIMOSA?!"
"I would be paying attention to what's in front of you, boy." Eva told Yuno, outright ignoring what was going on with Mimosa. Yuno turned back around to face the Devil looming above him. Due to it being a silhouette, Yuno could make out the 2 pairs of wings on each side, as well as 2 pairs of horns sprouting out its head. Other then that, Yuno couldn't make out any more.
"Say hello to the Time Magic Devil Ruler of the Underworld, Astaroth." Eva grinned. "Since Vanica couldn't get a contract with him, I figured I might as well taint the only child of Royal House Grinberryall with Devil Mana and Devil Magic!" Yuno felt himself shivering at the presence of such a Devil.
"The only reason I declined Vanica Zogratis's contract was because of your intentions, human witch." Astaroth replied bluntly. "I only contract with those that have good intentions. And will only use my powers for good."
"Humph. Then that just shows how weak of a Devil Ruler you are." Eva retorted nonchalantly. At this point, Dante and Zenon stepped forward.
"Mother, stop the ritual!" Dante demanded. "If you allow this to happen, then our plan will be in ruins!"
"Not just that, but-" Zenon began before being cut off by his Mother.
"I am well aware of the risks." Eva interjected. "However…" She turned back to face Yuno, then Astaroth. "Even if Yuno allows this to happen, he'll be treated like an outcast to the entire Clover Kingdom. He has no grimoire either, so his chances of continuing to be a Magic Knight in the Clover Kingdom will also decrease. Besides…" She laughed darkly before continuing. "The Grinberryall Legacy is now tarnished! Tainted by Devil Magic! Good intentions or not, a Devil is still a Devil! On top of that, Yuno wants to become stronger so he can beat his rival! Isn't that right, Yuno?!~" Yuno remained silent at Eva's words.
"Still!" Zenon protested. "This entire plan of yours could backfire on us in the long run."
"Nonsense Zenon." Eva retorted in a reassuring tone. "In fact, should this plan of mine backfire, I will let you kill the boy." At that, Zenon's concerned facial expression vanished, and was replaced by a sadistic one.
"Then by all means." Zenon grinned maliciously. "I'll relish the moment I kill the Grinberryall kid. I want him to be at his strongest after all. That is what your mindset is when it comes to our enemies, right Mother?"
"Correct Zenon!~" Eva smiled.
"Nnngh…!" Dante grunted. "This is…...unacceptable!"
"...It seems Lucifero got angry enough to be able to speak through Dante." Eva deadpanned. "Oh well. It's not like-"
"Gravity Magic: Presence of the Demon King!" Dante/Lucifero roared. The entire castle began to shake violently from the gravity pressure.
"Good job Mother!" Zenon deadpanned. "You just pissed off one of the three Rulers of the Underworld! Technically 2 if you count Astaroth!"
"Time Binding Magic: Chronodevil Stasis!" Astaroth roared. Demonic versions of Julius Novachrono's own Time Binding Magic: Chronostasis appeared and bound Eva, Zenon, and Dante; thus stopping the Gravity Magic spell. The only ones not caught in the spell were Rem and Yuno.
"Whaaaa….?" Yuno gaped, stunned by the spell.
"My Magic is weak right now. It'll only last long enough for you to make a decision." Astaroth told Yuno. "And by that, I mean you have about 1 minute to decide."
"I…" Yuno clenched his hands into fists. "I'm surprised that Sylph, or as I call her, Bell, stayed with me, despite my mana being tainted by darkness and despair. I let my emotions take hold when Vanica revealed what befell of my real family. That was wrong of me." He clenched his hands so tight that his nails began to dig into his palms; thus causing them to bleed and blood droplets hitting the ground. "But…" He looked up at the silhouette of Astaroth. "What Eva said… About me wanting to become stronger so I can defeat my rival is true. But there's more to it then that."
"Oh?" Astaroth wondered aloud. "Is there good intentions behind this rivalry?"
"Yes." Yuno replied utmost immediately. Astaroth leaned forward a bit, showing that he was interested and listening. "Our rivalry is about becoming the Wizard King of the Clover Kingdom." He unclenched his hands. "My, and my rival Asta's goal to become the Wizard King of the Clover Kingdom, is to change the Clover Kingdom for the better. To help everyone within the Clover Kingdom." He paused, then added. "I may be a Spade Kingdom citizen, but I have no life to remember here. I do have a life in Clover." Astaroth took in the information that Yuno told him with his little story.
"I see, I see…" Astaroth mused, rubbing his chin with a clawed hand. "That in my eyes is a good intention. A very good intention. As such, the condition for the contract can be made. Now, all that's left is for your right hand to touch mine." Just as Yuno's right hand touched Astaroth's right clawed hand, the time on Astaroth's spell wore out; thus Eva, Dante, and Zenon were free.
"Ugh…! The hell?" Dante rubbed the back of his head.
"Hahahaha!" Eva laughed as the contract between Yuno and Astaroth was made. "At last! The 3rd and final Devil Ruler has a human host!" Off to the side, Rem observed with great interest.
Yes… Yes he does….. Rem thought before walking away.
"This is fantastic!" Eva grinned. "Have fun getting used to using Devil Power, Spade Prince!" Yuno ignored Eva's laughter and words as he strided past Eva, Dante, and Zenon. Unknown to Yuno, Zenon was watching Yuno very closely, his blue eyes narrowed into slits.
Just you wait, Spade Prince. Zenon thought. Enjoy the false hope my Mother gave you. Because I'll get my chance to kill you soon enough.
It didn't take long for Yuno to make his way to Mimosa's location within the Spade Castle. He opened the door to the room, Mimosa waiting for him.
"Oh thank goodness!" Mimosa smiled. "I'm happy that you're o-Yuno?" She took notice of the black clock marking around his left eye.
"...I'm fine." Yuno replied nonchalantly. "Let's get out of here and meet back up with Klaus and Letoile. Assuming they're not dead." Mimosa could only nod as Yuno led her and himself out of the castle. Unbeknownst to the 2 Golden Dawn members, Vanica watched the duo leave the castle from her room. The right half of her face became blackened and her right eye also became a slit once again. After a few seconds, Vanica spoke up.
"So Megicula, what curse did you put on that vermillion-haired girl?" Vanica asked her Devil. Megicula just chuckled darkly in reply.
"Oh Vanica, you'll soon see the results." Megicula replied. "But I can assure you that it's not death." Vanica just chuckled in response to Megicula's words.
Yuno and Mimosa flew back in the direction that Vanica had taken them. Due to the harshness of the weather, as well as the strength between the 2 Grand Magic Zones, Yuno and Mimosa's hair became frozen mats on top of their heads. Their clothes were torn/shredded in some places.
"Where are they?" Yuno wondered aloud as he looked around on the ground.
"My Magic Flower Guide Post is working on that now." Mimosa retorted. "Hmm… Aha! There they are! They just got out of a cave! Looks like they got the magic stone!"
"That quickly, huh?" Yuno chuckled lightly. "Well that's good."
"Mimosa! Yuno!" The duo looked down to see Klaus calling up to them. So Yuno took his and Mimosa's Wind Magic ride down to the ground.
"Oh thank god you 2 are alright!" Klaus spoke in a very relieved tone.
"Us? What about you 2?" Yuno asked. "I feared the worst when I couldn't sense your mana."
"Mimosa left a seed of her Plant Magic behind, which made another one of her Princess Healing Robe spells." Letoile explained. "We also got the magic stone here too. Had to do some tests by the dragons that were guarding the cave to get it. Hard, but worth it in the end."
"More importantly," Klaus began as he adjusted his glasses. "where the hell were you 2?" Yuno and Mimosa looked at each other, then back at Klaus and Letoile.
"...Don't worry about it, sir." Yuno retorted bluntly. "Let's just go back." This time, Klaus and Letoile looked at each other before turning back to Yuno and Mimosa.
"Alright." Letoile replied before realizing something. "Wait...what do we tell the Captain?"
"Well umm…" Klaus coughed. "I dunno."
"We just tell him that we got separated and ultimately failed the mission." Yuno bluntly remarked. Klaus sighed loudly, adjusting his glasses again before turning on his heel and reforming his steel chariot.
"Get in." The other 3 obeyed without question. Once Klaus got in, the 4 took off and headed back to the Clover Kingdom.
Within the Spade Castle's throne room, Eva sat upon the one and only throne, observing the events occurring in the Spade Kingdom via several monitors. Some of the monitors showed Dark Disciples of the Zogratis's training. Suddenly, she felt a connection between her and her Devil activate.
"I know the real reason behind why you had Vanica tell Yuno about his real family. I also know the real reason behind why you wanted him to form a contract with Astaroth." Eva's Devil partner spoke in her mind. "It's because of those negative emotions like anger, hatred, and despair, as well as the now negative mana flowing inside the teenage boy's body, he'll be consumed by them. Isn't that right, Eva?" Eva chuckled darkly in response.
"Yes. I am well aware of how Devils are created." Eva replied. "With the Spade Prince contracted with a Supreme Devil like Astaroth, Yuno will have so much negative mana flowing through him that it'll manipulate him to do negative things. Such as killing innocents due to an angry outburst." She laughed again. "In addition to that, Astaroth will soon learn that his powers are not being used for good and will abandon Yuno. And heh heh heh… It's not just a mere abandonment. Oh no….. Should Astaroth, a Supreme Devil, leave his host like that, Yuno will have no anchor for all that negative mana. It'll explode! And because of such a negative explosion of mana, he himself will be transformed into a Devil!" The Devil Eva was contracted with also chuckled darkly.
"Ah yes….. An experiment. No wonder me and Megicula get along with you so well, Eva." The Devil replied. "And even if that doesn't happen, your son Zenon is training himself up to defeat and kill Yuno. Truly fantastic."
"Haha! That's not even the best part!" Eva grinned maliciously. "You see, I researched what becomes of the souls that make contracts with Devils. Should the contractor, like Yuno, die, his soul will be given to Lucifigus. The Advisor of the 3 Rulers of the Underworld. In other words, Yuno can be revived as a slave to the Devils!"
"Yes….you're right." Eva's Devil laughed darkly. "I approve of your ingenious plan, Eva."
"Isn't that right my dear advisor?" Eva turned her attention to the silhouette of a woman next to her. Despite the silhouette of the woman, said woman with green eyes and medium length ash blonde hair with a single strand protruding upwards from her head. A white shirt with sleeves that reached just past the elbows. Over this there was an open, dark-colored vest and two belts. One belt held a grimoire pouch on the left side, while the other held a smaller pouch on the right hip. Dark-colored pants that stopped at midcalf and a pair of light-colored shoes could barely be seen in the silhouette. Instead of a response through words, the woman silhouette just nodded; thus Eva smiled darkly out of approval before turning her attention back to the monitors before her.
0713MM: And Chapter 28 is done! I apologize for the short chapter compared to the last chapter. But this is just a buildup/foreshadowing for what is to come in the near (or far) future for this fanfic. Now, onto a review response!
Response to Frostlash's review for Chapter 27: Thank you for the review and thank you for the OC! I would PM you what I plan to add to her backstory, but I can't. So if I bring her in, and you see any changes to her bio when I introduce her, I apologize in advance for making changes without your permission.