Clover Kingdom's Champion
"So, let me see if I got this right." Magna said looking at Kali as she stood in front of them, wearing her Black Bulls robe, with the Blue Rose robe, sewn to it from underneath, making it look a little nicer with a blue trim. "Captain Yami had you spend the day with the Blue Roses the other day, all so he could have Finral take him as close to Hage as he's been, so he could officially adopt you as his daughter?"
"Sounds pretty far fetched to me." Vanessa said.
"But it's the truth." Kali sighed. "Apparently, he found me when I was six months old, and took care of me for a few weeks, before the village he lived in, was raided by bandits, and I was taken by them. So, after my… injury from Heath a few days ago, and how it left me, he decided he'd try and cheer me up, by making it official, and making me part of his family."
"So, now what?" Magna asked.
"Well, now I'm Kali Sukehiro, and a member of the Black Bulls." Kali stated. "But for now, I think we should wait for the Captain to get back from being summoned by the Wizard King." She said, looking around the main room of the base.
The main room where everyone hung out, was kinda crowded, as everyone was busy doing their own thing. As usual Asta was doing one armed push ups, while Magna was sitting on his back to try and give him a challenge, arguing with Luck, about not wanting to spar with him, while Noelle was crouched down next to Asta's head, looking at the anti-bird sitting in his hair like it was a nest.
"Magna could you please not sit on my brother's back when he's doing push ups?" Kali questioned.
"C'mon, it's fun sitting on his back when he's doing push up. It's like I'm on one of those up and down rides at a park." Magna said.
"A seesaw?" Vanessa asked.
"Yeah that, plus Asta asked me to sit on his back to put a little more weight into his workout." Magna said. "Now shut up and help us name this stupid bird on his head."
"Why not just call him lunch?" Kali joked opening a bottle of wine Vanessa gave her.
"That is not funny." Noelle said, pointing at Kali as she laughed. "His name is Sylvantus Schnauzer."
"Yeah no." Kali said. "Pets need to have simple names, not ones that make them sound like Nobles or Royals. I had a pet wolf once, and I called him Wolfy."
"When was this?" Asta asked.
"About a year or two, after I met you and Yuno." Kali exclaimed. "He died when someone hunted him, when I went out looking for food. So I had him skinned and kept his pelt as a blanket for sleeping at night, that way I feel like he's still there with me."
"Ah, back when you were first on the run from the Purple Orcas." Asta exclaimed. "Hey wait, don't go becoming a booze head like Vanessa."
"That's surprising. You weren't always at the church?" Noelle asked, while the others argued about what name the bird should have.
"Nope. Didn't even have a name a couple years before that either. I was alone for most of my life. But I did get meet a woman who took care of me and trained me for a couple months. She didn't give me a name, kept calling me Cub. Wonder where she is, right now?"
"Cub? What like a bear cub?" Magna asked.
"More like a lion cub." Kali said.
"Oh, what was this woman like?" Vanessa asked.
"Well, she was pretty wild. She lives out in nature like I used to. I got separated from her during a snow storm once, and I haven't seen her since. But I'm pretty sure she's still out there somewhere. She's a Fire Mage, and she's quite strong to. Taught me the basics of hand to hand combat, and over the years I've just been refining it to my own style, since we haven't met at all since we were separated."
"Wow, sounds like she took to mothering you. How exciting." Vanessa smiled.
"I guess." Kali chuckled, before taking a swig of the wine. "All right, how about you all stop arguing about what name to give the bird?"
"How about we name him Nero?" Luck suggested as the bird sprung up his wing. "He seems to like it."
"Short, simple, doesn't sound like a Noble or Royals title. I like it to." Kali smiled.
"Really? So does that mean you'll fight me?"
"Not a chance you Battle Crazed Lunatic." Kali exclaimed.
"Aw, no fair you tease."
"Look, I enjoy a good battle as much as the next guy, but even I don't go around picking fights like it's normal." Kali said. "Oh and Gauche…"
"What is it?" The sister complex lover questioned.
"I did a little digging and investigating into a certain Noble Family with Captain Charlotte the other day, and you should be getting a package pretty soon, I'd say within the next week or so." Kali exclaimed.
"What could you possibly have that could be of any interest to me?" Gauche inquired. "I'm not wanting to be indebted to you."
"Just shut up. I didn't do it so you'd be indebted to me, I did it because I looked into your background, and saw you've had it rougher than most Nobles. So I thought I'd help you and your sister a bit." Kali sighed finishing off the bottle.
"Wow, you can really hold your liquor." Vanessa said, sounding impressed.
"Yeah, not a lot of good it'll do me though." Kali sighed. "This stuff isn't very strong, so there isn't that much has an effect on me from the low alcohol content." Kali explained before a portal opened.
"Okay, listen up, guys." Yami said, walking through the portal with Finral. "I just got back from Magic Knight HQ."
"What did they want you to schlep up to the castle for?" Vanessa asked.
"Well, sir? Is it a mission?" Luck asked, punching the air.
"Kinda." Yami said. "Pay attention everyone, here's what's goin' on. I was called in, because they've discovered a new dungeon."
"Are you serious?" Kali asked, jumping up and getting right in front of him. "I haven't gone Dungeon Diving in ages. They are like the ultimate training ground with all the traps and defenses set up."
"Whoa, easy there." Yami said.
"Uh, what's a dungeon?" Asta asked.
"What, you don't know what a dungeon is?" Magna asked.
"Asta, remember that old structure that sunk into the ground a few years back, that I would always go running into and later I'd be coming back out all scrapped and bruised?" Kali asked. "That was a dungeon."
"But what are they exactly?" Asta questioned.
"Dungeons are basically like giant tombs from way back in ancient times of civilizations lost or destroyed, for either Royals or Nobles. They're stored with pretty valuable stuff. Treasure like jewelry, gold, even valuable ancient magical artifacts that could very well have the power to change civilizations as we know it." Kali explained.
"Or they could just do something stupid, like swap two people's minds or something." Yami exclaimed. "That was not a pleasant three months in Sisgoleon's body."
"Wow. So cool."
"You ain't switching bodies with me Asta." Kali exclaimed.
"So, a new dungeon showed up, and then Captain Yami was called to the castle. I'm guessing the Black Bulls are being sent to explore it." Noelle guessed.
"That's right, and it's in a dicey location. Popped up near our border with an enemy country." Yami explained.
"Let me guess, the Diamond Kingdom?" Kali asked.
"You got it." Yami said. "This mission has to be carried out swiftly and thoroughly. We wanna keep those Diamond guys' paws off the good stuff. Who knows what could happen. In the past, people have found items in dungeons that could change civilization itself. Some explorers have even come out of them able to use the most powerful magic."
"Oh-oh send me, please send me, Captain Yami, sir! Maybe I'll be able to learn how to use the most powerful magic." Asta said, raising his hand.
"Yeah? How ya gonna do that without any magic?" Yami questioned.
"He's got you there little brother. You don't stand a chance to learn that without any magic power." Kali chuckled.
"It could work. I won't know until I try." Asta exclaimed.
"Magic power or not, you are goin' on this mission, kid." Yami said. "Wasn't my call this time, so don't look at me. The Wizard King asked for you."
"Wha-?" Asta questioned.
"You to Kali. Both you and Asta were personally requested by the Wizard King to go on this mission." Captain Yami said. "He seems to have found an interest in both your abilities."
"WHAT?" Asta shouted. "The Wizard King? There's no way."
"Hey, that's awesome Asta. Good for you. So what's the deal? You got an in with the Wizard King or somethin'?" Magna questioned.
"No, not at all." Asta said. "The Wizard King, actually chose me. I don't know why, but… Oh wow. Wizard King, sir. I've got this. Count on me. I will devote myself to this mission, body and soul."
"I was picked by him to, but why? I mean, he only ate at the Silver Dragon a couple times, and man he left the biggest tips I'd ever gotten, but I doubt that's what would make him choose me for this mission." Kali said.
"Well that's two chosen. Noelle, you should go, too." Yami exclaimed.
"Uh-."
"It's all about gettin' experience, isn't it?" Yami asked. "What would you say Kali?"
"Well, as her trainer, I'd say she's come a long way in being able to control her magic. An' with her new wand she got at the market when she went shopping with Asta and Vanessa the other day, I'd say it's given her more of an edge. So I'd say she'd be able to handle this mission no problem, so long as nothing crazy happens." Kali smiled.
"Great. Noelle, you heard your teacher, you're going Princess." Yami smiled. "An' last but not least, is Luck."
"Hmm?"
"I want you to take the lead on this one. The newbies are all yours."
"Really me?" Luck asked.
"Sure. You're gonna lose your edge if you're always here, holding down the fort." Yami explained.
"Thank you sir."
"An' listen, Luck. The rookies are your responsibility, so look after 'em." Yami exclaimed.
"Yeah, don't worry."
"Luck, just a word of warning." Kali said. "Should you abandon us at any time to go fight a strong foe, I will break your arms and both your legs."
"Uh, Captain Yami, should she be talking to a superior member like that?" Magna asked.
"It's fine. I give her permission to punish Luck how she sees fit if he does disobey my orders." Yami said as Finral opened a portal. "Be careful out there."
"Do your best you three. Go give 'em hell." Magna exclaimed.
"Yes sir."
"I suppose we can do that." Noelle said.
"I wonder how many ladies I can pick up, while you four are exploring the dungeon." Finral said.
"Oh by the way Finral." Kali said. "I spoke with a few girls I made friends with, while working at my tavern. You owe all three of them about two years, worth of child support."
"What? You're kidding right?" Finral questioned, as he began to panic.
"Maybe I am, maybe I ain't. Who knows? Just some food for thought on your lecherous habits." Kali smirked, as Yami laughed.
The instant she was through the portal, with the others, it closed behind her and she was standing on a hill near a tree.
"So, where are we?" Asta asked.
"We're near the border between the Clover and Diamond Kingdoms. I doubt Finral would have been able to get us closer." Kali exclaimed.
"She's right. Finral can only take us to places he's already been." Luck exclaimed. "But given the location, it looks like he took us somewhere close. To the border at least."
"This area is pretty close to the border. Let's get going." Kali said.
"How do you know this area is close to the border?" Asta questioned.
"See that tree over there?" Kali asked pointing to the tree. It had some damage to it, but bark had managed to grow over it, but the difference was still quite noticeable. The damage looked like a punch from a fist made of stone. "My first bounty I ever caught was from someone heading for the Diamond Kingdom. He was a traitor to the Clover Kingdom, and was gonna sell some pretty dangerous magic items to the Diamond Kingdom, and I caught him at that tree. I managed to pin him to the tree, before restraining and bringing him to the bounty office. I got to keep a necklace as a reward."
"Really? But didn't that necklace belong to the capital?" Noelle asked.
"Well yeah, but before it was stolen, the artifact researchers found it was useless. So along with the bounty reward, I got to keep it." Kali smiled, moving her hair, and showing the choker around her neck with a ruby pendant, shaped like a tiger's head with a skull in its mouth on it, with a gold trimming around the gems edges and its features. "I took the pendent and put it on a strip of leather, turning it into a choker, and sold the gold chain for a pretty yule."
"Oh, so that's where you got that thing." Asta exclaimed. "I was always curious about where that came from."
"Yeah, it's pretty neat." Kali smiled. "Though Sister Lily and Father Orsi didn't like me wearing it a lot. They thought I started wearing it as the start of becoming some sort of juvenile."
"C'mon, you can't be mad at them for that. They're just concerned and looking out for you." Asta stated. "You're part of the church family."
"Yeah. I love those two to death, but they can sometimes be overbearing." Kali sighed. "But family is family. They'll worry about you, even if they're wrong about it. That's why I'd still stop by when I wasn't bounty hunting, and cook everyone dinner."
"Wow, so you started living on your own when you were just a child?" Noelle questioned.
"Technically, I've always been living on my own because I was being chase by the Purple Orcas. I just stopped at the church in Hage every now and then to check in and make sure everyone was okay." Kali said. "I'll be seventeen in a couple weeks."
"So then you're not just a few months older than Asta, you're almost a full year older." Noelle stated.
"Actually, just six months. Give or take about a week or so." Kali stated. "Oh and Asta, Nero's still on your head."
"Gah. Who asked you to tag along?" Asta questioned the bird.
"Hey, guys." Luck called out as he scouted ahead. "We're getting pretty close. I can see the entrance to the Dungeons."
"Great." Kali called out as the three of them ran to catch up with him.
After traveling down the path for a bit, the quartet of Magic Knights, found themselves standing in front of a stone doorway, leading straight into the temple.
"Whoa, it's so dark and spooky in here." Noelle said, clinging to Asta's shoulder.
"Could you maybe stop clinging like that?" Asta questioned, holding up a lantern. "I can barely walk over here."
"Excuse me? I do not cling." Noelle said.
"You're clinging." Kali said, with a teasing smile. "So, when's the wedding you two?"
"W-w-what?" Noelle questioned, her face going red as he jumped back away from Asta. "Asta and I are not like that."
"Yeah, and besides you know I only have eyes for Sister Lily." Asta exclaimed.
"Newsflash little bro." Kali said, getting up in Asta's face. "You're never going to marry Sister Lily. She's married to her faith, and there ain't no divorcing that."
"Aw, come on." Asta exclaimed. "You're the only one who believed I could make it into the Magic Knights, but you're just like everyone else when it comes to my feelings for Sister Lily."
"I'm just speaking the truth." Kali sighed. "She's a woman of the cloth. So you're never gonna be able to put a ring on it."
"C'mon Short-stack, don't be like that towards my feelings for Sister Lily." Asta said, causing Kali to perk up her face blushing red.
"I told you… NEVER CALL ME THAT STUPID NICKNAME." Kali said, punching Asta in the face, causing him to drop the lantern, thus making it go dark.
"Short-stack? But you've got like, a full head and a half on him in height." Noelle said, as Kali turned away.
"It's a stupid nickname he gave me when we were little." Kali said, lighting a fire in the palm of her hand.
"Yeah, and until a year ago, she stayed the same height, which was a bit shorter than me. But when she turned sixteen, she started growing like a weed. Her magic power increased to." Asta said, picking himself up with a groan of pain. "Strange thing is. She gets stronger every time she receives damage. It doesn't show until she's fully recovered, but it's some sort of weird, and unknown empowering magic that the tower keeping in Hage says she subconsciously uses. I doubt even the Wizard King has heard of such magic."
"Whoa that's amazing. But… how short were you a year ago?" Noelle asked.
"There's a little boy at the orphanage, his name is Nash. He's about three-feet-ten inches. Kali was about two and a half feet tall." Asta exclaimed.
"Shut up, or I swear, I will bury you alive in this dungeon." Kali exclaimed, her face extremely red. "None of what either of you heard leaves this location, understood?"
"Sure, I suppose I could keep a secret." Noelle said.
"Huh? Sorry, I wasn't listening. What were you talking about?" Luck asked, a smile on his face.
'Is he dense or just messing with me?' Kali questioned, before noticing a bright light, coming from the edges of a brick in the wall. "Hey, I think I found the entrance to the rest of the dungeon."
Pressing her hand into it, Kali sent the brick to the other side of the wall, temporarily blinding herself and the others, at the sudden increase in light, without enough time to let their eyes properly adjust, as the rest of the wall's section crumbled.
"Man that's bright." Luck said as his eyes adjusted, before they widened, along with his smile. "Oh look guys, it's so cool."
The dungeon room was a mishmash of different tunnels and waterways. The gravity was wonky as there were waterfalls going in reverse, and there were even steps that were upside down with some wacky tiny creatures walking on them just fine.
"Wow, can you feel the mana in this room? It's incredible. The pressure of it is so strong." Luck smiled.
"I know that look." Kali said, grabbing him from the back of the robe before he could run off. "Don't got thinking you can just start any of the traps as a game. You'd be putting our lives in danger, and I will not have it."
"Aw, you're no fun." Luck said, his smile still on his face.
"All right. Asta, get your sword ready, I'm gonna set off a few traps, and I want you to disarm them with your Anti-Magic sword." Kali exclaimed.
"Got it." Asta said, readying his blade.
"Lightning Enhancement Magic: Lightning Dragon Thunder Clap." Kali called out, as she went running along the cavern floors, setting off multiple traps, before Asta came in and removed them with his blade. "All right, I think you three can handle things from here."
"What do you mean?" Noelle asked.
"Well, our main objective is to prevent the Diamond Kingdom from getting their hands on the treasure. I'm sensing some powerful mages in the Dungeon, most of which are unfamiliar, there are three signatures that I'm familiar with, but they're still a ways off from this room. So, to secure the treasure room, I'm gonna go on ahead." Kali explained.
"That does seem like a smart idea." Luck exclaimed. "Get going already."
'You're just wanting me gone, so you can run off and find the Diamond Mages.' Kali thought. "All right, I'm off. When we meet up, let me know if Luck ran off on you or not."
"Got it." Asta said.
"I'll be sure to tell you." Noelle exclaimed.
"See ya." Kali smiled, before she took to the air, and began flying fast through the corridors, eventually making her way from the cavern, to the treasure room. "Huh, the door must be made of magic or something. There's probably some very dangerous creature inside. Either that or there's a crazy powerful magic item inside it."
Kali stood in front of the doorway, finding no possible means for opening it.
'Seems like Asta's Anti-Magic Sword, is gonna be the only key to opening this door.' Kali thought as she sat on the ground, and looked through her Grimoire out of sheer boredom, studying it intently. "I still don't understand how I was able to copy Seihi's magic like I did. I've got his most powerful spell right here in my pages, and I have no clue on how I was able to obtain it." She said.
Thinking over the events of the battle in Saussy Village, Kali remembered one detail she'd practically forgotten.
"My gauntlets." Kali said. "I was wearing them when I was holding Seihi as he died. Could they be why I was able to copy Seihi's magic?"
"Kali."
The unknown Saiyan looked up to see Yuno, Klaus, and Mimosa coming in on a steel chariot, with a rather laughable design, coming down to the floor.
"Yuno, Mimosa, Klaus." Kali smiled. "So, you three were sent to the dungeon as well?"
"Yes, we also ran into two of your squad mates on the way here." Klaus explained.
"Let me guess, Noelle and Asta?" Kali asked.
"Yes. It would appear that the fourth member of your party ran away in an act of cowardice." Klaus exclaimed.
"Nah, knowing Luck, he probably went off to fight someone strong as soon as I wasn't within range to kick his ass." Kali said, raising one of her hands in a, meh, motion.
"Wait, Luck? As in the Cheery Berserker?" Klaus asked.
"Yeah, didn't know that was his battle title, but he's here." Kali stated. "Next time I see him though, I'm gonna break both his legs and arms, just like I promised."
"What about you? Why'd you leave the group?" Yuno asked.
"Oh, the team and I agreed it'd be best to send someone ahead just to secure the treasure room, before the…" Kali stopped and stared in horror, before she jumped at Mimosa, pushing her out of the way, and jumping back in the opposite direction, as a sharp diamond protruded from the ground, piercing the air where both girls once stood.
Looking up, from where the attack originated from, they saw a Diamond Mage, in white and black robes, and white gems embedded in his head and chest, was making his way towards the group, with his Grimoire open, and by his side in the air, before he sent another attack at the group.
At the same time Klaus put up a steel barrier, as Yuno and Kali prepared themselves for a fight.
"Steel Creation Magic: Spiral Lance." Klaus called out as he sent an attack at the intruding force.
"Wait Klaus, don't he's too strong." Kali called out.
Kali was proven right, when the Diamond Mage, blocked the attack with a wall of stones. Even with the attack that came towards him, the Diamond Mage didn't stop his advancement on the people who were blocking his path.
"Yuno, don't fight him alone his power far surpasses both of our own."
"Right." Yuno said, preparing his Grimoire. "Don't worry about me, I'll be fine in this fight."
'But I am worried. Yuno is up against a Diamond Mage. One that I can sense, is like me. He has more than one magical attribute.' Kali thought.
Kali reached her hands into the pages of her Grimoire and pulled them out, wearing her gauntlets.
"You ready Yuno?"
"Ready Kali."
As Kali charged at the Diamond Mage, Yuno prepared an attack spell that was currently his strongest.
'Lightning Enhancement Magic: Lightning Dragon Thunder Clap.' Kali mentally chanted as she charged towards the Diamond mage faster than Yuno, Klaus, or Mimosa could track, with sparks of violet electricity dancing around her.
Raising his arm, the Diamond mage blocked each of the strikes Kali tried hitting him with, resulting in her only hitting the Crystal barriers with her armored claws.
"Damn it. I'm not even laying a scratch on this guy." Kali growled, before jumping out of the way, allowing Yuno's attack to strike.
Unfortunately that attack wasn't gonna do it either, as the Diamond mage just put up a barrier, the bladed wind feathers didn't even begin to put a scratch on. The barrier moved from the ground, revealing it was a giant sword made of shining gemstones.
"It's futile. You have no chance of winning against a superior opponent. You are merely pebbles destined to fall by the wayside." The Mage said, before raising his hand. "Crystal Creation Magic: Great Sword of the Kings."
Kali rushed towards the Diamond mage and pushed herself to move faster, to go beyond her limits. Moving faster than she's ever felt herself move before, Kali managed to find, and exploit an opening in the Diamond mage's defense, before he could close it, and got up in his face.
"Flame Enhancement Magic: Flaming Claws of the Lioness." Kali shouted, swiping down on the mage's shoulder. The attack made contact, but Kali's eyes widened when she saw she didn't hit flesh and blood, but instead she hit a suit of armor made of Crystals. 'Now or never to test out my theory.' She thought.
With the flame magic dying down, Kali shot up her free hand, grabbing the Diamond Mage's fist that he threw at her, and with a bit of divided focus, the gauntlet in contact with his Crystal armor, let off a pearly white glow for a brief second, before Kali was forced to jump back, as he made another blade of Crystals and used it to swing at her.
Back flipping away from the mage, Kali skid to a halt when she felt she'd gained enough distance between them.
"Kali, what was that you just did?" Yuno asked.
"I have a theory about these gauntlets of mine." Kali said, as she stood up tall. "If I'm right, then I've just turned the tide of this battle in our favor."
"Do you need me to buy you any time?" Yuno asked.
"Yeah, maybe like a minute. Do what you can." Kali said, taking a meditative sitting position.
"I'll do what I can." Yuno said.
"I'll help. If you're being honest, then it should make the Magic Knights of the Clover Kingdom, Victorious this day." Klaus said, coming up to Yuno's side.
"Thanks." Kali smiled.
"Alright Yuno, let's give her the time she needs." Klaus stated.
"Right."
"Mimosa, try to see if you can't help boost her efforts with your magic." Klaus called to their teammate.
"On it." Mimosa said, kneeling down behind Kali and holding her hands out to Kali's back.
"Yuno, I'll handle defense. You take care of offense." Klaus said.
"Will do." Yuno affirmed.
While the battle was raging on around her, Kali entered her mindscape, a determined look on her face.
"Alright. I'm not stupid like Asta. I know there's more than just these gauntlets within the Grimoire." Kali called out, before the space around her became red, and a big black silhouette formed in front of her, with Kali's size just barely matching the size of the bridge of its nose.
"Welcome little one. You sought me out. You know I was sealed within the Grimoire. How fascinating." The devil said.
"Cut the crap will you?" Kali said. "I know you're not the same voice who brought the Grimoire to me, and of course I knew there was something, a devil, sealed within my Grimoire. Within the fifth leaf of a five leaf clover, lies a devil."
"So you pieced it together from that old nursery rhyme huh? Well good for you, but what are you needing of me little Saiyan?" The devil asked.
"What did you call me?"
"Oh dear, it seems you truly don't know. That's a shame, but let me guess. You're here to acquire the armor you just copied from the Diamond mage, Mars, aren't you?"
"So I was right. The gauntlets really do copy peoples magic." Kali said. "But how do you know his name?"
"I read his mind, when the gauntlets made physical contact with him. Poor kid has been traumatized beyond comprehension. But the gauntlets only copy a magical attribute when the person it's copied from, is still alive. When someone is on the brink of death, like old man Seihi, the gauntlets will take the magic attribute completely, and will first manifest, the last spell the caster previously used before their demise."
"Well, where's the armor?" Kali questioned.
"All you need to call upon the Nemean Diamond Armor, is your own will." The devil smiled. "Now, be gone."
The Devil flicked Kali away, and she woke up with a gasp, shocking Mimosa.
"Kali, are you alright?" Mimosa questioned.
"Yeah, I think so. An' I think I know how to beat this guy." Kali said, getting up to her feet, the bladed gauntlets returning to her Grimoire. "MARS."
The battle between Mars, Yuno, and Klaus, was stopped as Kali called out his name.
"Your battle is with me, right here, right now." Kali declared, stepping forward as a magical energy began encasing the exposed parts of her body.
Removing her Magic Knights Robe, Kali dropped it to the ground, but before Mimosa could catch it, Kali's Grimoire came flying around, and it vanished between the pages.
With the robe removed, Klaus, Yuno, and even Mars with his unchanging stoic expression, were stunned silent, when they saw Kali's upper arms, forearms, hips, and shins, become covered in what looked like, red diamond. It was essentially, a blood red, sleeker, smoother, less bulky, more upgraded version of the Nemean Armor, Mars was currently wearing.
"Come on. Let's see what you've got." Kali said, as a circlet with cheek guards formed on her face.
Putting her Grimoire away, Kali went marching towards Mars, before she broke into an all out sprint. Yuno and Klaus jumped back, and Mars put up his Crystal barrier, but Kali burst right through, and shattered the blade when she rammed into it with her shoulder.
(Cue Music… I won't back down: Blake Shelton & Dia Frampton)
"You'll have to do better than that." Kali declared, throwing a punch at Mars.
Mars brought his forearms up to block the blow, but was thrown back across the large room of the treasure hall, with Kali's fist impacted, and shattered his gauntlets. Slamming against the wall, Mars was instantly back in the fight as he sent himself towards Kali, a blade of crystals ready to slice Kali in half.
Unfortunately, Kali didn't move, and only braced her right arm as she held it up, right before Mars swung the blade, and it shattered on impact. Through the shards of his shattered blade, Mars saw Kali grinning with confidence, before she disappeared in a flash of blue lightning, and reappeared to his left.
Without time to act, Mars was defenseless against Kali's attack. With fists covered in flames, Kali slammed both of them on Mars's back, sending him down to the ground.
"You know I was kinda skeptical about this armor at first." Kali said, landing on the ground a bit of a ways from Mars as the Golden Dawn trio just looked at her in awe. "I didn't know if it was what corrupted your mind, and didn't want the same to happen to me, but I was willing to risk it, because I'm fighting for more than just myself. I'm fighting for my friends, my family, my Kingdom." She declared, walking towards Mars, and circling around to stand in front of him.
"You... SHUT UP." Mars shouted sending a wave of crystal spikes at Kali.
Kali quickly moved to the side, and slammed her foot down on the line of crystals, shattering it, and let out a breath, with steam coming out of her mouth.
"What's the matter? Frustrated, because I'm stronger than you?" Kali questioned. "It's unbecoming of a warrior to be so petty."
"You, are not stronger than me." Mars declared, getting up to his feet. "You are nothing but a pebble on my path to greatness. I will prove that, right here and now."
Mars glared at Kali before bringing his magic together, and creating a giant sword, bigger than any of the previous blades he made with his magic. Bringing it down on Kali, Mars's intent on killing her was clear, as he had an enraged look in his eyes.
"Now DIE." Mars shouted.
Kali reached her arm out, and as the giant blade came falling towards her, the Saiyan girl's Grimoire came out and flipped its pages, to the spell Kali wanted.
"Sword Creation Magic: Sword of the Gods." Kali chanted as she pulled the blade from her Grimoire and sliced through the blade that was coming down on her, destroying the weapon, and leaving Mars's eyes wide with shock.
Piercing the ground with the blade, Kali lunged at Mars, swinging her knee into him, only for the attack to be blocked, by Mars enhancing the armor on his ribs, and deflecting the attack, before he grabbed her leg, and spun around, bringing her with him, and throwing Kali to the ground.
"I will prove I'm stronger than you." Mars declared, falling towards Kali.
Kali got up and flipped back, evading the knees that would have crushed her ribs and lungs, and as the dust cleared, she went running towards Mars, grabbing her sword from where she left it, and was on him instantly, her sword raised to strike.
"Say goodnight." Kali called out, before slashing diagonally downward on Mars with the sharp blade.
(End Song…)
The pain of the gash Kali had left in his chest, caused Mars to fall unconscious as it had hit like a meteor, colliding with the pain her other attacks had caused, and thus reaching his tolerance for pain.
Kali sighed as Mars fell to the ground, his eyes rolled into the back of his head. Letting out another breath, Kali fell to one knees as the armor around her dissipated, revealing massive bruises covering large areas on her arms, legs, and torso.
"Kali, are you okay?" Yuno asked.
"Does it look, like I'm okay?" Kali questioned. "I'll be fine. The trade off from the enhanced strength from my Blood Diamond Nemean Armor, is my body getting injured. I can't handle its full strength yet so I got injured when I went over my limit. Some of my bones might be fractured, or even broken. But that's what I signed up for, when I created my own Blood Diamond Nemean Armor."
"I see. Mimosa, please do what you can to heal her." Klaus said.
"Right." Mimosa said, coming to Kali's side.
"Kali."
The Saiyan girl turns to look with the Golden Dawn to see Asta, Noelle, and Luck, rushing towards them.
"Oh did we miss the fun?" Luck questioned as they caught up with the group, and saw Mars lying unconscious on the floor.
"Luck." Kali said getting to her feet.
"Hmm?"
WHACK_POW_BAM_CRACK…
"I told you what would happen, if you abandoned the team for your own personal fun." Kali stated, clenching a fist as Luck lay in pain on the ground, his face covered in lumps, with his arms and legs bent the wrong way.
"I'm sorry… for nothing…" Luck said, smiling.
"He's hopeless." Kali sighed, before groaning. "An' I'm just as bad because of these injuries."
"Kali hold still, I have enough magic to heal you both." Mimosa said.
"No need. Go heal Luck, I'll take care of my own injuries." Kali said, as a watery blue light began to emit from her hand, as she placed it on her right upper arm, and the discoloration of the bruising began to subside. "Asta, the door behind us is made of pure magic. You think you can cut it open with your sword?"
"You bet I can." Asta smirked, before he went running towards the door, pulling his anti-magic sword from his Grimoire.
Slicing through the door, Asta made an opening for them, big enough to get a nobleman's long distance chariot through.
"Alright you did it." Kali smiled, getting up.
"Are you okay to move?" Noelle asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Kali said as they went to the opening inside the door. "Now, where's my robe?"
"It uh… it fell through the pages of your Grimoire and, went inside it, I think." Mimosa explained.
"Wait, hold on, I can store things in my Grimoire?" Kali questioned, before she smiled.
"What are you thinking?" Yuno asked.
Kali didn't answer verbally, instead she went running into the treasure hall, way ahead of the others, with only Asta to see what she was doing.
"Wait, Kali what are you doing? Hey stop it. No that's not good. Stop doing that right now." Asta called out.
The others, minus Luck as he was still in pain, but his limbs weren't broken anymore, went rushing into the treasure hall, and their jaws just dropped when they saw it had all but been cleared out of its treasure, with the last of it being grabbed by Kali, with Asta futilely trying to stop her as she dropped it into the pages of her Grimoire, and the book closed.
"What the hell happened here?" Klaus asked.
"Kali just came in here, using her magic to gather up all the treasure, and somehow dropping it into her Grimoire." Asta exclaimed.
"Oh relax Asta, this way we don't risk losing anything to the Diamond Mages who came here with Mars, and we don't risk leaving any treasure behind when the Dungeon inevitably sinks back into the terra." Kali explained flipping a gold coin, over and over again, while putting her Grimoire away. "It's a Win-Win for the Clover Kingdom."
"I guess your logic makes sense." Klaus said as Yuno went looking around, finding a few of the larger items hadn't been put in Kali's Grimoire, including a scroll with a wind emblem on it.
Picking up the scroll, Yuno looked in it, and was confused, but also intrigued by the ancient writing on the parchment. As he was studying them, the words on the parchment began to glow, before they disappeared in a bright flash of light.
"Yuno." Klaus called to him. "Please do not touch whatever artifacts remain."
"Right, sorry." Yuno said, as Klaus took the parchment.
"Whatever was on here, it's useless to us now." Klaus sighed. "Please restrain yourself, and be more careful next time."
"Of course." Yuno said.
"Hmm? I don't see what the big deal about this Wind Spirit Parchment is. The spirit just transferred and bound itself to Yuno's Grimoire." Kali said, taking the parchment.
"Wait, Wind Spirit?" Klaus questioned.
"Well yeah. I recognize the emblem as one that stands for the Wind Spirit Clan. There are others for the Fire Spirits, Water Spirits, Earth Spirits, Lightning Spirits, and Animal Spirit Clans. Each clan has its own emblem, and this is the emblem for the Wind Spirit Clan." Kali explained, tapping the emblem on the back of the parchment with her finger. "I recognize it from my studies. I've been big on Ancients, and Elemental Spirits for as long as I can remember."
"So, why would the Wind Spirit choose me?" Yuno asked.
"Well, it looks like this is a newborn spirit, and sought out the closest source of high magic power it could the instant the scroll was opened, and that was you Yuno." Kali said, before she sniffed the air, and her eyes widened. "GET DOWN." She cried, pushing as many people she could, to the ground, before a large blade came overhead.
"I will reclaim this treasure hall, IN THE NAME OF THE DIAMOND KINGDOM AND PROVE I AM THE STRONGEST." Mars shouted, stomping into the now empty treasure hall, in a giant suit of crystal armor, with flames dancing around his chest.
"No way. Two elements?" Mimosa questioned.
"I thought Kali and Asura were the only ones who could use multiple attributes?"
"Naturally Asta." Kali said. "We're the only two who can naturally do so. Mars is… he's an abomination created by unholy experiments. His Grimoire is one sewn together from parts of a Fire mage's."
"Well it won't matter. He's still going down." Asta cried, pulling his sword from his Grimoire again, and charging at Mars.
"ASTA WAIT." Kali called out.
Running after him, putting her claws back on, Kali reached out to grab Asta by the robe, and pulled him back a ways, before she grabbed one of the crystal arms swung at them, in both her hands.
"Asta, now." Kali said.
"Right." Asta acknowledged before he went running at Mars, and swiped downward with his sword at Mars's crystal arm, and put a large crack in the crystal.
"Away with you, little pebble." Mars shouted, hitting Asta with a backhand from his other arm, and sent him flying into one of the walls.
"ASTA." Kali and Noelle called out.
"You." Mars said, grabbing Kali with his free giant hand. "I am going to enjoy torturing you, until you break, and give the Diamond Kingdom, the treasure that's rightfully ours."
"I'm never going to betray the Clover Kingdom." Kali growled, before the Titan Armor's grip tightened, and she cried out in pain, her Grimoire dropping to the ground.
"Leave her alone." Yuno called out.
"Steel Creation Magic: Spiral Lance." Klaus called out, sending a spinning spear right at Mars, hitting the crack Asta had made with his sword, and shattering the forearm.
"It's futile to resist." Mars said. "I am the most powerful Mage in all the land."
Mars began to laugh, before the sound of echoing booms could be heard, and he twisted around, just seconds before a pair of flying fists came flying right at him, and knocked the massive crystal titan to the ground, building up dust.
As Mars picked himself up, he looked with a murderous glare at who'd came and knocked him away. Standing, or rather floating in the air, with Kali in his arms, was the Vermilion Son, and squad member of the Crimson Lion Kings, Asura, with his own look of intense murderous rage in his eyes.
"A-Asura?" Mimosa questioned.
Kali was barely keeping conscious as she looked up, pain throbbing in her entire body, as Mars had inflicted more harm than she'd have liked, to her body.
"Mimosa, take care of Kali." Asura said, laying Kali on the ground in front of the team.
"Right, but Asura, what are you doing here?" Mimosa questioned.
"I was originally supposed to come with the Golden Dawn to the Dungeon Raid. But I got held up with the clean up after my training with Uncle Fuegoleon." Asura said. "But it looks like I made it here in time."
"He's a mage from the Diamond Kingdom. He's very powerful." Yuno said.
"Powerful huh?" Asura asked, before he smirked, cracking his knuckles. "My kind of fun."
"Asura." Kali groaned as she sat up, thanks to Mimosa's healing magic helping her regain her strength. "Kick his ass for me."
"You got it." Asura smiled. "You're going down, Diamond Bastard."
A/N: Please leave a review. No flames please.
To the Guest Shawn: Yes, killing him off, will help me in advancing the story line of my Fanfic.