SailorStar9: After getting Chapter 17 out, this is Chapter 18 of this fic. (Sighs) Guys and girls, is it too hard for you to leave a review, instead of just putting this fic up on your favorited list and story alerts?

Disclaimers: I own nothing, except for the plot bunny and my OC.

Chapter 18: Whoever's Strongest Wins


"So, you're the advanced guard for the Golden Dawn?" Broccos snorted. "Not bad for a little brat."

"Goodness." Ragus tsked. "Such a wretched form for a Shining General. How unsightly. I can't bear to watch. I'll lend you a hand."

"No one asked for your help." Broccos retorted. "He's mine."

"It appears the people have great faith in him." Ragus ignored Broccos' protests. "In that case, let's see if you can protect yourself as well as your people."

"Arrows..." Yuno frowned as Ragus readied his spell. "Bell."

"Leave it to me." Sylph chirped.

"Wind Magic: Gale White Bow." Yuno countered the lightning arrows with his own elemental arrows.

"Impossible." Ragus was taken aback, Yuno's additional wind arrows shattering his shield. "He easily deflected my fastest lightning-coated arrows and even broke through my barrier?"

"'See if you can actually protect them'?" Yuno echoed. "That's my line. Let's see if you can protect yourself and your comrades."

"How dare he make me look like a fool?" Ragus snarled. "He's mine. Stay out of my way, Broccos."

"He's mine." Broccos fired back. "You stay out of my way."


Elsewhere...

"That looks like a tough spell to deal with." Langris stepped in, after Yagos trapped a Purple Orcas mage in his 'Mucus Nail' spell and used his offensive Spatial Magic to carve through Yagos' Mucus spell, along with the walls behind them. "Though, I mean, it's pretty much useless against me. Yikes." he winced, noticing the structural damage. "The one thing about this spell is that it sort of destroys anything."


On a roof...

William was slowly growing roots. "The time is at hand." he declared, having collected enough mana. "The great tree shall now bloom. World Tree Magic: Great Tree Mistilteinn." he grew a massive tree in the middle of Kiten. "All for the Clover Kingdom's prosperity. Good grief. Apparently, there was an incredible amount of magic in that battlefield. I suspect this cleaned up most of it, though."


With Yuno...

"Our army has basically been wiped out?" Broccos was stunned. "Curse you!" he shot up to take revenge.

With Yami heading off to find William, Asta, Charmy and Finral were left with the evacuation.

"Someone's going head-to-head with one of the Diamond guys in the air." Finral noticed the aerial battle above them.

"Yuno." Asta instantly recognized one of the combatants.

"You shall fall before my beautiful magic." Ragus growled, beaten back by Yuno's obviously superior mana control.

"Beauty doesn't matter in battle." Yuno retorted, ending the fight with a wind spear through Ragus' body. "Whoever's the strongest wins. That's all there is to it. I thought I saw a familiar speck." he teased, landing in front of Asta. "What are you doing here, Asta? Not to mention you're all torn up, scrambling about and soaked in sweat. Talk about ugly. The fact that you're so beat up means you got stronger again, didn't you?" he concluded. "I'm not losing to you, Asta."

"Looks who's talking." Asta grinned. "You got crazy strong, too, you jerk. I'm not gonna lose either, Yuno."


With William...

"I finally found you." the now oversized Broccos towered over William. "You must be the captain of the Golden Dawn. I had completely underestimated you. Who knew you'd have such tremendous magic?"

"You've got impressive magic yourself." William replied. "There's no reason to perish in vain. Take your comrades and leave this land."

"Diamond soldiers never retreat." Broccos growled. "Red Ochre Creation Magic: Bright Armor Heavy Artillery."

William countered by firing a 'Mistilteinn Seed' into Broccos' outstretched fist.

Broccos was about to crush William in his fist when he found himself trapped within a tree that spouted from his body.

"World Tree Magic: Mistilteinn Seed." William named his spell. "You should be honored. Your magic has nourished the Clover Kingdom.

Just then, using the 'Hermit's Thick Smoke' as cover, Lotus positioned himself to attack William.

Yami intervened, cutting through the smoke fog. "Looks like you owe me one, Vangeance." he told his best friend.

"You saved me, Yami." William acknowledged.

Left with no choice, Lotus manifested the 'Bustling Lazy Vehicle' and retreated with the still trapped Broccos and the remnants of their army.

"Now that we're alone in a spot with such a great view, why don't we have a little chat, Vangeance?" Yami went back to the matter at hand. "I'm someone who believes in his gut instinct. Vangeance, could you take off your mask?"


SailorStar9: Now that's done, read and review.