Author's Note: Hope you all enjoyed the last chapter and thank you to all those who reviewed.

"…" Character P.O.V.

'…' Character thought.

"…" Spells.

"…" Animal P.O.V.

'…' Animal thought.

[…] Over-voice.

Now then on with the new chapter.

Chapter 30: A New Rival

[Castle Town Kikka, Head Chef Kitchen]

A loud squeal was heard from the tower where the Head Chef's kitchen was located as Charmy was munching down on his entrée.

"Munchy, munchy, munchy, munchy, munchy…" Charmy says taking bites and savoring the flavor of the food. "Munchy, munchy, munchy, munchy…" She says taking another bit. "Munchy, munchy, munchy, munchy…" She says taking yet another bite. "So good!" She squeals.

"The way you eat is fantastic, you shrimp!" Head Chef cheers watching Charmy eat his dish. "All right! Eat, eat, and eat some more!" He shouts.

"'kay…" Charmy simply says.

'The country's in danger! What the heck are these two doing?' The two assistants wonder.

"If it's not enough, I'll make as much as you want!" Head Chef shouts.

"'kay…" Charmy says but then the wall behind them is destroyed as something had crashed into it. "La?" She asks licking the food off her cheeks.

As the dust settle it is revealed that Catherine was the one who crashed through the wall only now her appearance had changed greatly. Her appearance alters into the look of an elderly woman. She also loses most of her muscle tone, with wrinkles prominently covering her face as if she were extremely malnourished. Her hair also turns gray.

"A witch?" Head Chef asks. "We're being attacked!" He yells.

"That's why we told you we should run!" Assistant 1 shouts.

"Sir, hurry!" Assistant 2 yells.

"Come on, shrimp, we gotta go!" Head Chef shouts running over to his assistant chefs.

Catherine regains her composure as she takes close look at her hand and realizes she's lost her young.

'I need…mana. I need to steal some!' Catherine thought as she looks up to see the chefs gesturing for Charmy to follow them while she was still sitting at the table and notices something about her. 'She's overflowing with mana…it's glistening on her skin!' She thought notices how shiny Charmy's forehead was. 'I need to steal it!' She thought getting up off the ground. "Give it to me!" She shouts making her way to Charmy. "Give it to me!" She repeats with a yell.

"Give it to you? You can't mean…" Charmy begins to ask and looks to her tower of food. "My food?!" She asks in shock. "N-No!" She shouts waving her arms around to protect her food.

"Give it to me!" Catherine yells releasing her Ash Magic attempting to steal Charmy's mana.

"No!" Charmy shouts standing protectively in front of her food.

[Castle Town Kikka, Outside over the building rooftops]

Yuno and Sylph were making their way towards where they launched Catherine at a fast pace.

'This mana…that woman must still be alive.' Yuno thought but then suddenly drops a little in the air due to his low mana. 'I'm reaching my limit.' He thought but then notices the mana coming from tower was getting bigger. 'What is this overflowing magic?' He wonders.

[Castle Town Kikka, Head Chef Kitchen]

"Give it to me!" Catherine yells releasing the remaining mana she had left.

"La…" Charmy says as she watches the Ash Magic get closer to her but she calms down. "I told you…" She begins to say as Catherine halts her magic for a moment. "I told you no." Charmy says as her grimoire opens and flips through its pages to a certain one.

Suddenly a giant sheep of considerable size with a pair of horns and limbs without hoofs appears behind Charmy with her food on its head. Catherine is shocked by the amount of mana Charmy has and then notices her Ash Magic was being sucked up by the sheep.

"I-Impossible!" Catherine shouts hovering in the air.

"Cotton Creation Magic: Sleeping Sheep Strike." Charmy says as the sheep punches its fist forward and strikes Catherine, sending her right through another wall.

"Th-That's amazing!" Assistant 2 says in shock.

"How'd you like that?!" Head Chef asks his assistants. "The food that I cooked with all my soul powered up the shrimp's magic!" He shouts.

"Seriously?! We'll follow you forever, sir!" Assistant 2 shouts.

"Thank you so much!" Assistant 1 shouts as he and Assistant 2 clasp their hands and bow to the Head Chef.

"Glad ya liked it!" Head Chef says smugly.

"None shall ever lay a finger on my food." Charmy says with her arms crossed.

"And don't you ever come back!" Head Chef yells sprinkling spice from the hole Charmy's cotton sheep created.

In the street below citizens were gathered around two hooded mages at they casted restraining magic on Catherine's defeated form.

"Am I pretty?" Catherine asks weakly before passing out causing the mana she stole to be released from her body.

[Northwestern District]

The citizens, who's mana Catherine had stolen, were all resting on the ground due to their new old age.

"Eliza…" The young man turned old begins to say grasping the old woman's hands. "I'll love you no matter how you look." He says.

"I love you, too." The woman says hugging her love.

Suddenly the Ash Magic strikes the area they are in causing it to be released and returns all the citizens back to normal.

"Eliza!" The man cries with tears in his eyes.

"My love!" The woman cries as well as they hug again.

[Castle Town Kikka, Head Chef Kitchen]

Back in the Head Chef's kitchen, Charmy wipes her forehead as she releases her magic causing the food on the cotton sheep's head to fall towards the hole in the wall Catherine crashed through.

"La!" Charmy yells with a look of dread on her face. "La! My food! My noms!" She screams running to save her food, but it was too late as she watches her food disappear over the edge.

A second later something amazing happens; her food was floating on wind as it rises back up to reveal Yuno and Sylph are the ones who saved it.

'A kid?' Yuno asks in his mind as he lands in front of her. 'That tremendous magical power I felt earlier…was from her?' He wonders as he stares at a blurry vision of Charmy as his vision begins to return to him. 'A Black Bull robe…so it was her.' He thought.

"M-My noms?" Charmy cries holding out her arms towards the food Yuno had saved.

"Noms?" Yuno asks and looks to the entrée he saved. "Oh, here." He says moving his Wind Magic towards Charmy as she grabs the dish. "I'm not sure what's going on, but…" He begins to say.

"Thank y-" Charmy begins to say but then gets at the savor of her food. "La!" She shouts is shock by his appearance. 'My meal-saving prince has arrived!' She thought blushing heavily. "Th-Thank you…" She says stuttering as her blush spreads across her whole face.

"Sure…" Yuno says with a blank look on his face.

"U-Um…n-name…" Charmy tries to say with a short rib in her mouth.

"Short rib?" Yuno asks.

"Oh, yeah. They're delicious! Try some!" Charmy shouts offering some of her food to him. "No, I mean…wh-what is your name?" She asks. "Um, I mean, I like meat, too, but…" She begins to say shifting uncomfortably.

'As you'd expect…' Yuno began to think looking over at Sylph who was staring at Charmy.

"But what I was wondering about is your name…" Charmy says not knowing Yuno was paying attention to her.

'That spell wears out my body and uses a ton of mana…' Yuno thought as his body began swaying and falls forward. 'I need to learn how to use it better.' He thought.

"Look out!" Charmy yells tossing the entrée into the air as her grimoire flips through its pages and creates a cotton cushion underneath her that Yuno lands on but also with his arm draped across her. "La…la!" She stutters with a blush on her face. "Got it!" She says catching the entrée before it could fall on top of her and Yuno. "La la la…well, I guess I might as well eat…" She says after realizing Yuno had fallen asleep. "Munchy, munchy, munchy…" She says as Sylph watches on in confusion.

[Noble Realm, Royal Castle King's Quarters]

"It's rather noisy out there." Augustus says resting his head in the lap of the black-haired woman in his bedchamber. "Could you shut them up?" He asks. "It's time for my royal nap." He says.

"I'll look into it." Marx says as he leaves the room while the red-haired woman fans the sleeping king. 'He should be back any moment now.' He thought.

[Castle Town Kikka, Head Chef Kitchen]

"You're the best shrimp ever!" Head Chef says as his two assistants nod in agreement. "Come see me whenever you're hungry. I'll let you eat all you want." He says.

"Yay!" Charmy cheers as one of her cotton sheep holds her food while the other one spoon feeds her.

[Northern District]

Asta and Alfred were facing off against each other as Alfred gave off electric sparks before firing lightning at Asta but he just stood there unfazed by the lightning. Asta swallows the lightning and uses it to charge his next attack.

"Lightning Dragon's Iron Fist!" Asta shouts as his right fist was engulfed in lightning and leaps towards the floating corpse but at the last second Alfred avoids his attack. "Damn it!" He growls as he is struck by more lightning but because of his immunity to lightning, it doesn't affect him. 'Alright then let's try this.' He thought as his grimoire flips through its pages. "Lightning Dragon's…" He begins to say as he positions his left hand in a way that resembles a gun, charging magical energy that creates a sphere of constantly spiraling lightning into a single, focal point, in front of his finger. "Bullets!" He yells firing multiple spheres at the speed of lightning but somehow Alfred manages to dodge each and every one of them. "Son of a…" He growls panting slightly, even though his wounds had stopped bleeding thanks to Noelle, the blood he's already lost was starting to get to him as he grabs his Anti-Magic swords.

"Too bad, you stupid brat! Your Lost Magic and special Anti-Magic blades don't mean anything if they can't hit their target!" The mystery mage shouts pointing to Alfred.

'He's right. That thing has the advantage being in the air plus it's mobility.' Asta thought dodging lightning strikes and deflecting them his Anti-Magic broadsword.

"Mister…" The little girl says observing Asta's battle with Nero still on top of her head.

"This isn't good. Asta maybe immune to lightning but because of his blood loose he can't land a hit and none of his other elements are good match-ups." Nero says noticing Asta's struggle.

"This is your chance!" Noelle shouts after destroying the last of the incoming corpses. "Run!" She yells to the girl.

"O-Okay." The little girl says rushing over to the royal. "Please help him." She says staring back at the battle.

"I know. Don't worry, he's…very important to me and I would never leave his side." Noelle say staring at her partner with admiration that the little girl notices.

"Okay!" The little girl says before fleeing the battlefield with Nero.

"Lightning Dragon's…" Asta begins to say as he raises his hands and forms lightning between them. "Heavenward Halberd!" He shouts forming a very large trident out of the lightning and hurls it at Alfred but because of his reduced speed the floating corpse dodges what would have been a fatal attack. "Stop moving around!" He yells in frustration.

"Are you stupid?" The mystery mage asks. "Who the heck would stand there just because someone told them to?" He asks as he watches Asta take more lightning strikes that reenergize him. 'Alfred may have been a bad match up. This battle could go on forever.' He grits his teeth in frustration.

'Asta needs an advantage like he had against that Diamond Mage from the dungeon…' Noelle thought.

[Flashback]

"Roger that. You did amazingly, Noelle. So, leave the rest to me!" Asta shouts.

"Move. I'm getting rid of them! The weak can never defeat the strong!" Mars yells as he sends more harpes at Asta.

"Not gonna happen! Who said the weak couldn't?! As long as they stay together, stay with the ones they care about then they're never weak!" Asta yells as he swings his sword and to his and everyone's surprise a stream of water appears slashing through the harpes to pieces.

[End Flashback]

'Back then my magical powers combined with Asta's sword. But we have no idea how to reactivate that sword's ability not to mention would it even be able to hit that corpse in the air?' Noelle wonders.

"Black Bulls girl!" Leo shouts snapping Noelle out of her thoughts. "I, Leopold Vermillion, shall assist you. I shall not let my rival continue this stalemate against the enemy any longer!" He shouts.

"Right." Noelle agrees readying her magic as a puddle of water appeared in front of them and began to take form.

From the puddle appeared a large, fat figure and is completely covered in a patchwork of baggy clothes. The hood over its head has three eye-shaped brooches, and a leather strap passes over his left shoulder and connects to one around its waist. Its hands are bound in dark bandages and its feet are replaced by peg legs.

"You two can deal with him, No.3 – David!" The mystery mage says.

'Muddy Water Magic…' Leo thought with a scuff. 'Mine's a poor match for that.' He thought.

'Asta…' Noelle began to think. 'Even though I removed the curse from him, the blood lost from his wounds are slowing him down.' She thought with a worried look on her face until she was forced to dodge two streams of muddy water launched at her and Leo.

"You're a Dragon Slayer, aren't you?" Leo asks avoiding another stream of muddy water. "Can't you eat the water like Asta ate those lightning attacks?" He asks.

"This water is too polluted and would cause damage to me if I ingested a single drop." Noelle explains.

"You told me earlier, didn't you? To come at you myself?" The mystery mage asks as Asta eats more of Alfred's lightning. "You fool! I'm not going to fight. I'm going to control my corpses and enjoy the show!" He shouts. "I'm going to win just by watching. That's how I fight!" He says. "Unlike a meathead like you, I actually know how to use my brain. Moron!" He shouts tapping the side of his head mockingly. "Moron!" He repeats.

'Damn it…that stupid jerk doesn't even think of people as people…I won't lose to someone like him!' Asta growls as his eyes become slits.

"What's that look for? Guts alone aren't gonna get you out of this, you stupid brat! Alfred!" The mystery mage yells as the corpse begins generating a large amount of lightning for a big attack.

"Asta!" Noelle yells attempting to assist her crush but was stopped by David.

'Damn it! Guess I have no choice…' Asta thought.

"Kill him!" The mystery mage yells while laughing.

Asta impales his Anti-Magic swords into the ground and begins gathering his magic for one of his bigger attacks. Suddenly a stream of fire bursts through the air and strikes Alfred stunning both Asta and the mystery mage as they watch the flames engulf Alfred.

'M-My Alfred…turned into charcoal in an instant…' The mystery mage thought as the corpse was reduced to ashes in front of him.

Footsteps echoed behind Asta as he turns his head to see Fuegoleon calmly walking over to him.

'He's…' The mystery mage began to think.

Asta grits his teeth in frustration as his built up magic drops back to normal knowing that he couldn't defeat the enemy's corpse alone.

'Damn it…I couldn't defeat him on my own.' Asta thought clenching his right hand into a fist. 'I was out of options and as set to use a massive amount of magic to bring that thing down.' He thought and then felt a comforting hand grip his right shoulder.

"I apologize for horning in on your fight." Fuegoleon apologizes shocking Asta. "But I thought it would be a shame to let a man like you die here. Forgive me." He says. "You fought well for a gifted peasant with extraordinary powers." He says.

[Flashback]

"You're funny! Welcome to the Black Bull. Be prepared to have the worst time of your life in the Black Bull and one day prove everyone wrong and become the Wizard King." Yami says to his newest squad member.

[End Flashback]

"I hate to admit this, but it looks like Yami's foresight was better than mine. Plus your encounter with him before the Entrance Exam must have had a powerful effect on you as well. I've been watching your progress since then and I must say I'm impressed." Fuegoleon says as he walks forward to face the mystery mage. "Asta, wasn't it? You mentioned that you were going to become the Wizard King, didn't you?" He asks remembering Asta's declaration back in the banquet hall.

"Huh?! Become the Wizard King?! There's no way a stupid brat like you who's way weaker than me could become that!" The mystery mage shouts not noticing Fuegoleon's smile.

"Then…" Fuegoleon begins to say gaining Asta's attention. "I guess you're my rival, too." He says shocking Asta even further than he already was as he walks forward to face the mystery mage.

"So you're gonna fight me? Finally, someone worth fighting…" The mystery mage begins to say while chuckling. "Captain of the Crimson Lions. Fuegoleon Vermillion!" He shouts.

"Asta, leave the rest to me!" Fuegoleon shouts as his whole body was surrounded by fire.

Author's Note: Hope you all enjoyed this chapter. As you can see, I don't plan on making Asta insanely strong at first but as the story progresses he will be able to fight on par with certain people. Stay tuned for the next chapter where my surprise will be revealed. Be sure to review and tell be what you thought of this chapter.