Disclaimer: Black Clover is owned by Yūki Tabata, Studio Pierrot, and Shonen Jump.
Saga 18: Bad Company Part 2
Dungeon Depths, Forsaken Realm, Clover Kingdom (Afternoon)
"You're all lifesavers, you know that?" The red-haired man states in an earnest tone while squeezing his boxers dry.
Meanwhile, Noelle, the who retrieved the boxers (reluctantly), was currently brushing her hands against a brick wall in desperation.
"Never mind that." Finral sighed out. "How did you lose your clothes in the first place?"
"Dunno. It kept happening since I was born." The man grumbled out as he was putting back on his boxers. "My clothes are either snagged off by stray branches or they just fall off on their own. And no, belts do not help at all."
"Hey." Yuno points toward the green trenchcoat floating down by the canal next to them.
"Hey! That's my coat over there!" The red-haired man points toward the floating coat.
And out from the drain behind the coat came out a pair of blue pants, a pair of brown leather boots, a loose white shirt, and a bramble of brown leather belts containing an auburn-colored grimoire and a sheathed Estoc floats down ext to Yuno.
"... And everything else that's mine it over there." The red-haired man pointed out.
"... You want us to go get it for you?" Jericho asked.
"No... I-It's fine." The man then comes out from his rock only in his boxers. "You all did enough."
10 Minutes Later...
"Sorry for the wait." The man then comes out, now fully-clothed. "Forgot to introduce myself, the name's Fanzell Kruger, and I'm an adventurer."
"Yuno." The youth speaks out.
"Jericho Platnia. Pleasure to meet you." The muscular youth spoke to the red-haired man.
"I'm Finral Roulacase." The fair-faced youth spoke out.
"I'm Noelle Silva, and you should watch how you present yourself in front of a lady." She grumbled.
"The name's Luck Voltia!" The short youth spoke out excitedly. "I see a grimoire and a sword on you! Tell me, are you any strong?"
"Eh. I'm tough enough to get by in life." Fanzell replies. "Never mind that, what the hell are you kids doing in a place like this?"
"We're not kids, Mr. Kruger." Finral pointed out. "We're Clover Kingdom's Magic Knights."
"That so?" Fanzell replies. "Well, if you're here for a reason, then you folks better get going." He then points his thumb towards the opening towards his right. "I managed to run into a giant double-door through there, but I kinda stepped on a loose tile, fell into a stream, and here I am."
"... That sounds stupid." Noelle points out.
"Make of it what you will, kids." Fanzell states. "Now off you go."
The red-haired man then heads off into one of the entrances.
Wizard King's Ovation Hall, Noble Realm, Clover Kingdom (Afternoon)
At Magic Knight's Headquarters, a slew of Nobles and Royalty alike have gathered for an emergency briefing regarding the dungeon.
Sitting at the throne in the ovation hall was the current Wizard King, Julius Novachrono.
"What do you mean that there are Diamond Kingdom mages running around the dungeon?" One Nobleman spoke out.
"I mean that the scouting party that I've sent out this morning saw what you've questioned." Julius replied. "There were two guarding the entrances, but both turned out to be some kind of magic dummies."
"Will the Magic Knights be well?" A Noblewoman spoke out in a worried tone. "My daughter Corrin is assigned to explore such horrid place after all."
"Fret not." The Nobleman next to her stated. "She's a Golden Dawn, isn't she?"
"Well if the Golden Dawn is there, then surely the mission will go well..."
"But I've heard rumors of the Diamond Kingdom developing a secret Super-Soldier project to bolster their ranks..."
"Fear not." Julius stated toward the gathered Nobles and Royalty. "I've sent the Golden Dawn and the Black Bulls to the dungeon, so should the rumors of Diamond Kingdom mages being in the dungeon prove true, then it'll all be well."
"Wait, the Black Bulls?" One Nobleman spoke out. "Surely you jest!"
"The worst squad being paired up with the Kingdom's best..."
"I could already see it going horribly wrong..."
"But I've heard rumors that a four-leaf and an ex-Royalty being part of the Black Bulls..."
"You're telling me that those ruffians actually stand a chance in there?"
"I would jest, but the facts state otherwise, I'm afraid..."
"If the Black Bulls actually come out alive, then I'll consider the whole world to have gone mad..."
Julius grumbles in slight frustration. These Nobles and Royalty being more concerned about their rank and reputation over the bigger picture of sending children to a possible deathtrap.
But his faith in those prodigies did not waver in the slightest. If anything, he's testing them, especially that four-leaf in the Black Bulls.
"Tell me, Yami..." Julius thought while the gathered crowd now begins to debate among themselves. "Is that boy worthy enough to claim to be my successor? I wait for your answers upon his safe return..."
Dungeon's Depths, Forsaken Realm, Clover Kingdom (Afternoon)
"We're here." Klaus states as his chariot lands in front of the stone gates.
Beyond the stone gates towering over the Golden Dawn was the treasure room, where relics of the past were stored, with a certain few containing enough magic power to allegedly change the whole continent.
The Golden Dawn's mission is to secure those relics so that it'll be never misused by the hands of evil.
"Does your magic tell you anything?" Klaus asked Corrin.
"My [Magnet Magic: Telepathic Detector] is picking up on a lot of things made of metal beyond that door." Corrin groaned out as she nursed her head. "Now can I turn it off before my grey matter explodes!? This spell is starting to make my head hurt!"
"You may."
Corrin turns off her spell, letting out a sigh of relief afterwards. "... Now how the fuck do we get in?" She pointed towards the gate.
"It's made of stone so the answer is obvious." Klaus then opens his grimoire. "We simply smash through the gates! [Steel Creation Magic: Hellion's Battering Ram]!" A giant pillar of iron covered in spikes appears before Klaus.
With a roar, Klaus swings his arms forward, sending the floating ram towards the stone gates.
The ram simply bounces off of the stone gates.
"Oh and I forgot mention." Corrin spoke out. "The stone gates are over 12 feet thick. Not mentioning the fact that the masonry is also reinforced with a crapload of defensive magic."
"WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME SOONER!?" Klaus yelled out in frustration as his ram dissipates.
"You didn't ask." The chestnut-haired girl dryly replied.
Klaus's temper explodes as he then scratches his hair with both of his hands.
"Now, now, everyone!" Mimosa then claps her hands, bringing the two back together and away from the fighting. "We're not here to fight here, so instead, what we should do instead is find other ways in the room beyond that gate?"
"Hmph!" Klaus lets out a haughty huff as he adjusts his glasses. "You heard her, Corr-"
"That includes you, Commander Klaus." Mimosa pointed out bluntly.
"I knew that." The bespectacled man curtly replied.
"Of course you do-GET DOWN!"
Corrin then tackles Mimosa out of the way, dodging a crescent-bladed sword made of diamond.
In front of the three Golden Dawn was a lone male figure in a form-fitting white garbs with a V-window exposing his chiseled cleavage, around the garb's collar was a row of black ruffles, and on both his chest and forehead were a white gem embedded into it, complemented by his pair of empty eyes that gave him a appearance of a bloodless killer automation.
"Who are you!?" Klaus barked out at the tin-man-like figure.
"Acquiring target..." The figure spoke out in a monotone voice. "Three targets confirmed to be of Clover Kingdom's Golden Dawn. New objective confirmed."
A haphazardly-stitched up grimoire with two different covers appears before him.
"Eliminate all non-allied lifeforms in this general vicinity." His grimoire then opens its pages. "[Crystal Creation Magic: Harpe]."
Numerous crescent-bladed swords then swarm towards the Golden Dawn Knights.
"NOT ON MY WATCH!" Klaus then opens his grimoire. "[Steel Creation Magic: Steel Castle's Armored Wall]!"
A steel rampart appears before the Knights, blocking the swords with its hulls.
Several of them bounce off, but a handful of them U-turn towards the wall's rear.
"DAMMIT!" Corrin then opens her grimoire. "[Magnet Magic: Material Manipulation]!"
Her hand then touches the steel rampart, picks it up with ease, and swings the whole rampart to block out the remaining blades.
"FOUR-EYES!" Corrin roars out as she then chucks the whole rampart towards the emotionless assailant. "NOW!"
"RIGHT!" Klaus then opens his grimoire, ready to deliver his counterattack. "[Steel Magic: Blazing Spiral Lance]!"
A gigantic steel drill fires out towards the figure with intent to kill.
"Futile." The figure then opens his grimoire once more. "[Crystal Magic: Nemean Armor]."
A set of armor made of diamonds covers the rouge. Upon equipping the set of armor, the mage effortlessly stops the drill dead with his fingers, and the flying barricade is swatted away like a fly.
"Well shit." Corrin cursed. "So much for a easy run..."
"Everyone!" Klaus spoke in a stern tone. "Maintain formation and ready to attack back at will! Mimosa!"
"Yes!?" The girl replied.
"Get ready to heal us at a moment's notice and whatever you do, don't get caught up by any of his attacks, understood!?"
"Y-Yes sir!" Mimosa then opens her grimoire. "[Plant Creation Magic: Fairy's Healing Flower]!"
A small flower was placed on each of the Golden Dawn members's heads. "This should provide passive healing!" Mimosa pointed out.
"Good work!" Klaus then turns to the other. "Corrin!"
"Don't have to tell me twice." She then opens her grimoire. "Just provide me plenty of ammo and I'll kick that pale bastard's ass before you can, understood?"
Klaus then readies to attack the rouge mage. "FOR THE CLOVER KINGDOM! FOR THE GOLDEN DAWN! WE SHALL PREVAIL!"
Elsewhere, the five Black Bulls were trekking the dungeon for the treasure room.
"Hey." Luck spoke out. "Just who do think that man was?"
"Dunno." Jericho spoke out from the front, lighting the way. "Why? Is he on your mind?"
"In a way, yeah." Luck replied with a slightly nervous smile. "I read his mana, and let me tell you, he's strong. And I mean strong enough to completely waste all of us in an instant."
"Either way." Finral cut in. "He ain't hostile, so why worry?"
"Strong as he is, I wanna fight him." Luck smiled.
"Of course..." Noelle rolled her eyes.
The Black Bulls continued onward as usual.
"Wait." Jericho stops walking.
"What is it?" Yuno asked.
The rest of the Black Bulls stop.
"I sense something." Jericho stated. "Something dangerous."
"Is it another damn monster!?" Noelle whispered out. "I've just had it up to here ever since we ran into that oversized garden weed!"
"Worse." Jericho gulped. "Mages."
Beyond the entrance, there were a group of hooded mages and a single man with messy black hair, mustache, and goatee overseeing the group.
"Alright folks!" The man with the goatee claps his hands, bringing the other mages to his attention. "We're wasting time here so let's move onto the next room!"
The mages then turn toward the one of the exits.
"So?" Noelle whispered, "What do we do now?"
"We tail them." Jericho whispered. "It's risky, but it's our only-"
Without heeding a single word, Luck jumps out of the corner and pounces down upon one of the cloaked mages. The other cloaked mages try to intervene, but Luck simply swats all of them away towards the walls of the room.
"Man, these guys are a bunch pussies." Luck commented as he picks one up by his head.
"Or plan B, try not to let Luck get himself killed from his own recklessness." Jericho grumbled out as he then follows after the crazed youth.
The other Black Bulls come out of the corner, with Yuno dragging Finral out by his collar.
"Well what do we have here..." The man with the goatee grumbled out while stroking his goatee. "I thought we were the only ones here, but I guess a large architecture suddenly popping out of the ground is hard to ignore, now is it?" He then turns to Luck with a disappointed expression on his face. "Also, young man. Language, or its the swear jar for you, mister." The man then takes out a jar filled with a small amount of yuls before putting it away.
"Hey. You look strong." Luck turned towards the man sitting above him. "In fact, I think I'll have more fun kicking your rear compared to these guys. What do you say? Wanna go for a round?"
"State name and business, or else we'll be forced to comply with force." Jericho declared as he and the other Black Bulls opened their grimoires.
"Good grief, I know kids nowadays are more spirited then us adults, but like this?" The man then hops down from his stone column and onto the same level of where the Black Bulls were. "The name's Lotus Whomalt, also known as 'Hell Lotus', and judging from your robes, I guess you know a man named Yami Sukehiro?"
"You two have met once?" Yuno asked.
The man then opens his shirt, revealing a huge scar gashed across his chest. "Almost died from that guy's sword. Good thing I ran back to the medical lines before I bled out." Lotus then closes his shirt. "So aside from that, can you just forget that you've ever saw us and let us be on our way?"
"Only if you leave this dungeon and never come back." Noelle pointed her Aquila towards Lotus.
"As much as I'd love to, I can't leave this place empty-handed." The man sighed out. "Look squirt, I've got a wife and three little girls to feed back home, and if I leave my men here to die in a place like this, well that'll be bad for me in general, so can I just take my men and go somewhere els-"
"LESS TALK! MORE FIGHT!" Luck then jumps towards him. "[Lightning Creation Magic: Thunder God's Boots]!"
A flying kick of lightning was soaring towards Lotus from the behind.
"Good grief, kids are so impatient nowadays..." Lotus then opens his own grimoire. "But it's during times like these..."
Tendrils of smoke bind Luck's arms and legs.
"... The adults have to be held responsible for disciplining the unruly." The man declared in an exasperated tone. "[Smoke Creation Magic: Binding Cross Prison]."
"Luck!" Finral cried out.
"Now now." Lotus cut in. "I ain't here to kill anyone, let alone, children, so I'll repeat what said previously; let me and my men go about our own way, and I promise that no one has to die under my watch. Sound good?"
"You're in no position to make demands..." Noelle suddenly trails off right before she slumps onto her knees.
Everyone else then suddenly begins to struggle to keep themselves on their feet.
Then Lotus lets out a sigh as he strokes his goatee. "Sorry, but you left me with no other choice but to trigger my trap."
"... Trap?" Yuno coughed out.
"[Smoke Weakening Magic: Garden of Plundering Smoke]." The bearded mage declared. "Don't worry, it won't kill you, so all I need are a few minutes for me and my men to get out of way, and once after we're gone, take a few minutes of a breather before you go exploring again, okay?"
"... Yuno!" Jericho coughed out. "Your... magic..."
"Right!" In desperation, Yuno opens his grimoire. "[Wind Creation Magic: Air Bubble-Ventilator]!"
A sphere of wind surrounds Yuno's head, freeing him from suffocation of the knockout gas. As the air around Yuno's head clears up, the youth slowly staggers back up to his feet.
"Well shoot." Lotus spoke out. "I'm not the kind of person who would fight, let alone, throw a punch, so I'll have to call it exit stage left." He chuckled. "... You wouldn't mind if I just take my men back before something bad happens, would you?"
"You're not going anywhere." Yuno stated menacingly. "Now tell me, what's your business here!?"
"Exactly what I said, kiddo." Lotus answered. "For me, either my family eats or they starve for another day."
"Then why don't you ask the Clover Kingdom for help?" Yuno asked. "If you did, then surely you-"
"Kid. I like you and all, but I kinda have to point out one little problem with your statement." Lotus then grabs his grimoire and shows it towards the youth.
On the center was a diamond.
"You don't mean..."
"Defected, by the way." Lotus sighs out. "Me and a few like-minded others made a run for it after things went bad back home, met up with a guy that bailed out early who lived here for the past few years, and now, we kinda have to live off the land as nomads." The man then strokes his goatee. "Oh, and before you say anything, no, turning to this kingdom for help isn't an option. Soon as we reveal ourselves to the public eye, let's just say that I won't go into detail on how it's going to get much worse then it is for me and my family."
"That doesn't mean that you shouldn't resort to cutthroat measures!" Yuno shouted back. "If you'd just leave now, then you won't have to put yourselves into the line of fire!"
"I know." The man responded in a solemn tone. "But for the Clover Kingdom's eyes, we've already crossed that line as soon as we've breached the borders without permit."
Lotus then opens his grimoire. "So do me a favor and leave me and my men alone. Or, I'm going to have to do something that I'll regret for the rest of my life."
Yuno stays his ground.
Lotus then lets out a sigh. "Welp, worth a shot. But on the bright side, at least I can now make a run for it."
"Wait, what?"
"[Smoke Creation Magic: Hustling Lazy Car]." A cart made of smoke carrying five cloaked mages appear before the man. "Gotta go, kiddo. And next time we meet, I'm just going to make a run for it." Lotus then jumps onto the cart before it speeds off.
The smoke around the room fades, allowing Yuno to take off his helmet.
"Everyone!" Yuno cries out as he runs towards the downed Noelle. He checks for her pulse.
"Good, she's still alive." Yuno sighed in relief.
Yuno's grimoire then flutters its pages on its own, responding to his feeling of relief and concern.
A new spell has awakened within Yuno's grimoire.
"[Wind Recovery Magic: Breath of Life]!"
A gust of refreshing wind blows gently throughout the room. The wind blows into everyone's bodies, clearing their lungs of monoxide and other foulness crammed within.
With a wheeze and a cough, all the Black Bulls that fainted were back up.
"*cough* Yuno..." Jericho heaved out. "What the hell just happened?"
Luck then looks around the room. "Aw dammit! That old fart got away! And just when it was about get good..." He pouted.
"... Never again, I'm near anything that smells like a used fireplace." Noelle moaned out.
"Easy for you to say!" Finral groaned out. "Now I smell just like Captain Yami! How am I supposed to flirt with other girls around town when look like I walked through a smoking room!?"
Black Bull's Base, Common Realm, Clover Kingdom (Afternoon)
In one of the bathroom stalls, a sneeze was heard.
"... I'm blaming Finral for this crap." Yami thought as he re-lit his cigarette.
Dungeon's Depths, Forsaken Realm, Clover Kingdom (Afternoon)
After the Black Bulls got back on their feet, the five made their way through the one of the entrances. While Jericho lit the way as usual, Yuno fills everyone in on what he's learned about the group that they've encountered.
"So that guy was from the Diamond Kingdom!?" The Black Bulls cried out in front of Yuno.
"Defected, by the way." Yuno added.
"So in a way, he's counted as an illegal immigrant, along with his whole family." Noelle stated bluntly.
"Can't blame him for it though..." Finral stated. "I've heard a shitload of rumors that the Diamond Kingdom is about to go to shit due to their resources dropping at an all-time low, and to top it all off, the whole Kingdom is ruled by a tyrant."
"Worse." Jericho mentioned. "The Clover Kingdom has only recently established a lift on the immigration ban on the Witch's Forest by the Northeast border and the Seabed Temple by the Eastern coastal border. There have been talks floating around of opening the borders to the Heart Kingdom, but as for the remaining Diamond and Spade Kingdom, they're not as fortunate."
"So that aside." Luck interrupts. "That guy actually fought Captain Yami and lived to tell the tale!?" The youth's smile then grows even more wider.
"Next time I see him, I'm gonna kick his ass all the way to next Tuesday." The bloodthirsty youth chuckled.
The Black Bulls remain silent on the youth's slightly disturbing remark.
"... Anyway!" Noelle cut in. "That doesn't mean that we'll abort the mission, right everyone!?"
"You've been doing a lot better lately, Noelle." Yuno smiled.
"W-Well, of course I've been!" She pouted. "As Royalty, it's in my blood to restore and maintain my dignity!"
In actuality:
"Ahh! The four-leaf peasant actually complimented me! I'm so embarrassed yet so happy! What is this feeling!?"
"Wait." Jericho signals everyone behind him to stop. "I hear something."
Numerous sounds of clashing steel and explosions of gravel and magic echo from the light at the end of the tunnel.
In the line, Luck begins to grow antsy.
His fingers begin to tap his thighs sporadically.
His eyes begins to twitch violently.
And right as the Black Bulls approach the light closer and closer, Luck speeds ahead of everyone else, with the intent to murder scorching in this crazed eyes.
"LUCK, NO!" Jericho tries to reach out towards Luck.
"GET OUT OF MY WAY, COCKBLOCKER!" Luck yells out as he shoots out from the exit above the Golden Dawn Knights and the [Crystal Magic] user.
"WHAT THE HELL!?" Klaus yells out upon seeing the berserk youth flying out of the exits above their heads.
Keyword being "above". As in about 15m upwards.
Not that it really mattered.
Because upon sensing/seeing the [Crystal Magic] user, Luck then bolts towards him headfirst.
"[Lightning Magic: Sharpshooting Shocker]!" Luck then transforms into lightning that strikes down towards this rough mage.
The mage catches Luck by his foot and tosses him aside like a rag doll. The youth simply bounces off of the wall and springs back towards the crystalline mage.
"Hey! You look pretty strong!" Luck beamed out while he was hurling himself towards the mage. "I bet you'll last a lot longer then that plant monster that I fought a while bac-"
The [Crystal Magic] user simply backhands the youth away with his fist.
"LUCK!" Jericho's voice cried out from the exit.
His arms then encase themselves with [Stardust Knuckles] as he wall-drags himself down towards Luck.
Next to Jericho was was Luck, who currently like he just went through 10 rounds with Captain Yami, with all of his matches ending in a complete stomp.
He literally looked like he'd been ran over by a carriage carrying anvils.
Jericho checks for his pulse by touching Luck's neck.
"Still alive." He mumbled as the other Black Bulls came down. "Yuno, can heal up Luck?"
"I'll try." Yuno then dashes towards Luck with his grimoire open.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU BLACK BULLS DOING HERE!?" Klaus roars out towards them.
"Additional targets confirmed..." The automation droned while turning his gaze toward the Black Bulls. "Proceeding towards elimination."
The [Harpe] blades swarms towards the Black Bulls.
"LOOK OUT-"
The crystalline blades shatter upon being parried by Jericho's platinum fists.
"Yuno, continue healing, and once Luck wakes up, feel free to join, got it?"
"Got it." Yuno then casts [Wind Recovery Magic: Breath of Life] onto Luck.
"Finral, cover me on incoming projectiles and send them towards the previous rooms."
"I-I'll do my best!" Finral stuttered while screaming in terror internally.
"And Noelle." Jericho speaks to the silver-haired girl.
"Yes!?" The girl yipped.
"Try not to let anyone here die, especially Luck."
The girl gulps under the mounting pressure as she activates [Naga's Refuge] around Yuno and Luck.
"Now then..." Jericho then raises his fists towards the rouge mage. "Bring it."
The [Crystal Magic] user then opens his grimoire. "[Crystal Creation Magic: Talos Puppet Cluster]."
An army of crystal copies of the mage then dogpile upon Jericho.
Jericho then takes in a sharp inhale right as the crystal clones come closer.
Then the mob shatters like glass in less then a second.
The blank-faced mage and Klaus are given a pause.
"Jericho..." Klaus spoke out. "Why didn't you join the Golden Daw-"
"HEY FOUR-EYES! 4 O'CLOCK!"
A stray [Harpe] blade flies towards the hapless knight.
But before the blade can claim its latest victim, the crystal blade shatters before him.
From a distance, Jericho's left hand was stretched out with his thumb flicking out. "Next time, you're on your own."
Meanwhile, the hostile mage then begins to focus his attention towards Jericho.
"Switching priorities." The flying [Harpe] blades then come back towards its original caster. "New objective confirmed: eliminate the [Platinum Magic] user with extreme prejudice." The mage then opens his patchwork grimoire in preparation for his next assault. "[Crystal Creation Magic: Heavy Armored Titan]."
The mage then encases himself into a bigger set of crystalline armor that towers over the other mages. The golem-encased mage then swings a punch towards Jericho.
With a roar, Jericho parries the diamond fist with his own of platinum make.
Both shatter, sending the two back reeling.
"JERICHO!" Yuno yelled out. "I'M DONE HEALING LUCK! I'M GOING IN TO HELP!"
"JUST WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU THINKING, BLACK BULL!?" Klaus yelled out . "YOU DON'T STAND A CHAN-"
"DON'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO! YOU DAMN NOBLE!" Yuno roars out as he charges in with his grimoire open. "[Wind Creation Magic: Wind Blades Shower]!"
Numerous blades of air surround Yuno, and fire out the whole volley towards the remaining [Harpe] blades, shattering them upon contact.
"GOOD WORK YUNO!" Jericho then opens grimoire. "[Platinum Creation Magic: Star Finger]!" His index and middle finger fire out towards the exposed mage's crystal on his chest.
The mage grabs the fingers with his hands, right before it hits the crystal on his chest.
"YUNO!"
Yuno jumps onto Jericho's back as a springboard, gains air as he then casts his next spell.
"[Wind Magic: Turbulence Fang Howling]!"
A violent vortex of cutting wind spirals toward the golem-encased mage.
The diamond armor is then swallowed up into the vortex. Inside the twister, bits and pieces of the crystal break off of the [Heavy Armored Titan] right before it shatters it completely, sending the whole mage flying off from his armor.
The mage is then embedded into a brick wall with his arms spread out like an eagle.
In exhaustion, Yuno falls flat onto his face. But with his remaining strength, he rolls onto his back, reaches out to a bottle strapped onto his belt, rips off the cap with his teeth, and pours a green liquid into his open mouth.
Upon finishing the bottle, Yuno hacks and gags himself awake.
"... Disgusting as usual." Yuno coughed out as he wiped his mouth with his sleeve.
"What's that in your hand?" Noelle asked.
"Moguro leaf juice." He groaned out. "My first time home-brewing it. Tastes way more bitter then the store-bought ones."
"You do know that you need a licence to brew potions, right?" Jericho stated.
Yuno takes out a metal tag with the his name and a guild seal engraved onto it. "Got it approved during our day off. Also, Moguro Leaf Juice don't count as potions."
"Fair enough." Jericho then extends out his hand towards Yuno.
Yuno takes the hand and picks himself up.
"In case if you two are done lollygagging, I suggest we get a move on." Klaus cuts in.
"Oh hey, didn't notice you there." Yuno moaned out.
"I don't have to take this from the likes of you." Klaus then walk towards the downed [Crystal Magic] user. "[Steel Binding Magic: Straitjacket]."
The rouge mage's upper body is then encased in a bell-like casing.
"Ignore him." Corrin then approaches the two. "He's a bit of an ass, but he's a Magic Knight first, a typical Noble second."
"Its not like you're any better, Index!" Klaus replied in an annoyed tone.
"Asshole."
"Bite your tongue!"
"You wanna go asshole!?"
Before the two of them can escalate any higher, Jericho bops the two of them on top of their heads.
"WHAT THE HELL, DIPSHIT!?" The two cried out in unison.
"Sorry." Jericho stated in a menacing tone. "I thought the two were Golden Dawn, not the Purple Orcas."
"WHY YOU-"
Jericho knocks them out with a swift chop to the back of their necks.
"Sorry." Jericho spoke to Mimosa while carrying the two under his arms. "Can you watch them while I go and regroup with my squad?"
"No problem at all!" The girl then opens her grimoire. "[Plant Recovery Magic: Dream-Healing Flower Cradle]."
Two baskets made of flowers and vines appear as Jericho tosses the two conked-out Golden Dawn Knights into them.
"... You're okay with this?" Yuno asked Mimosa.
"Believe me if I say that these two are like oil and water." Mimosa spoke with a resigned expression on her face. "Thank God that I'm used to this kind of things happening around me."
"Crimson Lion Kings?" Jericho asks.
The redheaded girl wordlessly nods.
"Forgive me for asking in the first place." Jericho bowed his head.
"No need." Mimosa then goes back to attending the two.
"Yuno! Jericho!" Noelle cried out as she slowly slides down the slope above them. "You almost had me worried for a bit."
"What can I say?" Yuno heaved out. "I took a lot after my brother." He weakly smiled.
"That's no excuse to rush towards a possible early grave, dammit." She pouts out as she opens her grimoire and wand and readies Aquila. "[Water Recovery Magic: Naga's Tear]."
A drop of water lands on Yuno's forehead, refreshing him.
"I feel much better now. Thanks." Yuno grumbles out as he slowly gets back up.
"Hmph! You should be."
In reality:
"Ahhh! Someone complimented me! I'm not useless anymore!"
"Anyway." Finral spoke out. "There's a large stone door in the room that's waiting to be be opened in this room, so shall we get a move on before Luck wakes up!?"
The Black Bulls then dash towards the gates and they begin to inspect it.
"The amount of defensive magic placed on these gates are absurd..." Noelle murmured as she inspects the gates in front of her.
"Whoever's done this really doesn't anyone in there..." Finral scratches his head. "I wonder if can breach into it..." Finral then opens his grimoire. "[Spatial Magic: Backdoor Breach]."
A portal appears on the stone gate's surface. Finral tries to enter through the gate.
Upon entry, he is immediately sent flying out and hits the wall towards the other side of the room.
"... Okay, using magic isn't an option." Jericho stated. He then brushes his hands against the gate with his eyes closed.
"Jericho?" Yuno asks. "What are you doing?"
"I checking for the gate's structure using ki." He replied.
"Now that you mention it." Yuno thought back to that night of initiation when Jericho shattered that boulder without his magic. "What's ki all about?"
"Allow me to explain." Jericho stated. "Ki is a principal that which all physical objects in the world abide to. It's like mana, but at the same time, its not. Where as mana allows us to control the world, ki is the force that controls us, both physically, and spiritually."
"Okay, but what does that have to do with the stone gate?" Yuno asks.
"Remember that time that I shattered that rock during the initiation?" Jericho replied. "Right now, I'm trying to figure out the internal structure of the stone gate, and once I find it, I then need to calculate the right amount of my own ki to insert into it and hopefully, get it right."
"What happens if you get it wrong then?" Yuno then walks toward the gate's sides.
"The bones in arm will shatter like glass to a flying brick from the sheer whiplash." He replied in a blunt tone. "Now that I think about it, how thick is this gate anyway?"
"Oh! I think I remember!" Mimosa shouted out.
"Really!?" Jericho piped out. "Then how thick!?"
"I think... 12 feet?"
The ex-royalty then lets out a frustrated groan as he facepalms. "We're gonna be here for a while-"
A sound of something flying off was heard.
The remaining Magic Knights look up, revealing Luck flying off somewhere.
"DON'T THINK YOU CAN HIDE FROM ME, DIPSHITS!"
A massive cloud of kicked-up dirt explodes behind the rock cover above their heads. Out of the explosion came out two figures.
One was Lotus, and the other was Fanzell.
"M-MR. KRUGER!?" Yuno cried out. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE WITH HIM!?" He pointed towards Jericho.
"Hold on for a second. Need to play catch-up." He then turns to Lotus, whispering something into his ear.
"I'm assuming that you've already met?"
"Guilty as charged. But what do you expect me to do? Kill them and give them a reason to be really mad at me?"
"Point, but how did that kid managed to find us-"
"EYES OVER HERE, YOU OLD FUCKS!" Luck then comes crashing down like lightning that he currently is.
"Okay, first young man, I need you to give me some yuls for your foul language." Lotus then takes out and rattles his swear jar. "Second, how did you know that we were hiding? I could've sworn my [Smoke Magic: Hermit's Thick Smoke] kept both of our mana signatures hidden."
"Really doesn't help much if you smell like Captain Yami."
Back at the Black Bull's base...
Captain Yami sneezes while in the bathroom stall.
"Maybe I'll give Finral twice the beating when he gets back..." He then blows out a puff of smoke.
Back in the Dungeon's Depths...
Lotus then sniffs on his sleeve. "Do I smell that bad, Fanzell?"
"How long has it been since you've bathed?" The red-haired man asked.
"It's only been two days, I swear."
"LESS TALK! MORE FIGHT!" Luck then comes flying towards the two with a lightning-fast kick.
A tendril of smoke grabs Luck by his ankle and tosses him aside. "Excuse you, adults are talking."
"ENOUGH OF THAT!" Yuno yells out. "WHY ARE YOU WITH A DIAMOND KINGDOM MAGE!?"
With a sigh, Fanzell takes out his own grimoire, which reveals itself to bear the crest of the Diamond Kingdom.
Yuno's eyes open in shock. "Then the story of you defecting was lie..."
"No kid." Fanzell replied. "I defected the Diamond Kingdom over a year ago. He and his family, I took them in about a month ago. And before I knew it, me and my finance were running an underground safehouse system for the oncoming Diamond Kingdom refugees."
"Then what about him?" Yuno points towards the downed [Crystal Magic] user. "I took a closer look at his grimoire and it has the same brand as yours. Care to explain, Lotus!?"
"I brought him with me." Lotus admitted. "His name is Mars, and happens to be Fanzell's student before well... he ended up like the way he is."
"I couldn't believe that they would do such a thing..." Fanzell lamented. "That monster Morris hollowed him like an eggshell just for his sick 'experiments'..." He winces in horror for a brief moment. "'Good of the Kingdom', my boot..."
"Wait, so you're saying that he's the rumored secret weapon that the Diamond Kingdom has been developing!?" Jericho yelled out from the distance.
"Wait." Jericho's thought then begins to race. "That stitched-up grimoire... two colors... [Crystal Magic] and... oh fuck."
"YUNO! GET AWAY FROM-"
Klaus's [Straitjacket] explodes off of Mars next to Yuno in a radiant conflagration.
Out came Mars, now cloaked in a robe of fire.
"[Fire Recovery Magic: Phoenix Robe]." The flames on Mars then begin to heal his cuts and wounds at an alarming rate.
"Yeah... about him being the secret weapon..." Lotus commented. "Morris was crazy enough to embed the poor kid with two affinities. I really loathe the guy like everyone else in this room, but credit where credit's due."
Mars then floats next to Lotus.
"He works fast."
Mars then turns toward Lotus. "Master, your orders."
"Pull back and recover." Lotus stated. "Let the grown-ups handle this."
"Affirmative." Mars then heads towards a safe space with his [Phoenix Robe] on him.
"Really wish that he wouldn't refer to us as 'master'..." Fanzell grumbled.
"We'll work on that later." Lotus then opens his grimoire. "I'll provide support-"
"LIKE HELL YOU ARE, OLD FART!" Luck then jumps onto the hapless Lotus.
... Or so he thought, right before Luck gets entrapped into a bundle of smoke once more.
"... On second thought, I'll keep him restrained." Lotus spoke out.
"Works for me." Fanzell then approaches Yuno without a trace of fear.
Yuno readies his grimoire as he is then joined by Noelle, her grimoire and wand at the ready.
"You sure about this?" Yuno asked Noelle.
"I'm not letting you go on your own like this!" Noelle declared. "If you have any objections, then shove it!"
Yuno faintly smiles. "Then don't hold back, you hear me?"
"Hmph. Right back at you."
In front of the two, Fanzell opens his grimoire and draws his sword from his belt. "I'm only going to say this once."
Wind then surrounds the sword, elongated its blade in a sheathe of white wind.
"Move, or someone's going to get seriously hurt." He then points blade towards the two.
Not one budges a single step.
Fanzell sighs out a small breath as the grip on his blade tightens.
"You've asked for it."
To Be Continued...
Author's Notes: I've been pushing my a bit lately.
First, my Gundam IBO AU fic. Finished the first chapter and I'm holding it off until someone reads it.
Although I may be pushing it since that anime has lost its relevance, but I'm holding it out until Urdr-Hunt goes in knee-deep.
But once that ship sails and no one has read it, then I'm cutting it off.
Second, Dungeon Exploration Arc has been really hard to write.
Not that's any less enjoyable to write of course, but I might need a break sometime.
Dunno when, though.
Third, the way that I've wrote Mars.
Unlike the anime's version, Mars here is borderline robotic.
Reason why? Morris.
Make of that what you will.
And finally, Fanzell is now on Lotus's side.
Or is Lotus on Fanzell's side?
You the readers decide!
So, what do you guys think of this multi-parter so far?
Leave a comment or a review, for I'd like to know what my audience is thinking.