I do not own Black Clover or any of its characters.
Selection Test: Part 1
"The tension in the air here is so thick you could almost cut it with a knife," Mimosa muttered to Klaus. "It'd be best if everyone relaxed and just went with the flow." She laughed softly, almost giggling.
"I doubt that'll happen," Dane said, walking over to join them.
"Dane!" Mimosa smiled. "I didn't realize you were here yet!"
"Just arrived," Dane said. "It was hard to roll out of bed this morning. I'm so sore."
Mimosa's face turned scarlet. "Oh...uh...that's too bad."
"Not like that," Dane snorted. "Yami's been training me personally since the announcement. Man's a slave-driver."
"Oh," Mimosa nodded, the color receding from her cheeks slightly. "That sounds rough."
"Seriously," Dane sighed. "Still, it was useful training, so I'm grateful."
"Hey!" Asta greeted them from behind, smiling and raising a hand. "Look, it's Klaus and Mimosa. Long time no see, guys."
"Oh!" Mimosa yelped, blushing. "Hello there, Asta! What a surprise!"
Dane smirked, shaking his head. She was so painfully obvious, but Asta remained oblivious to her obvious crush as ever.
"I should warn you, I've been training," Klaus smiled. "I'm stronger now, so it won't be easy to beat me."
"I'm not concerned," Dane smirked.
"That's awesome!" Asta grinned, then cheered. "Now I'm pumped!"
"Um, let's try our hardest today!" Mimosa said, trying to be as excited as Asta. "May the best knights win!"
"I will," Dane assured her.
"Heck yeah!" Asta cheered, leaning close to Mimosa, who recoiled, blushing scarlet, only for Asta to stop. "Hey, hold on a second. Your face is all red. You feeling okay?"
"Oh, yes, I'm totally fine!" Mimosa squeaked. "Thank you so much for asking though!"
"Asta, you're making her uncomfortable," Dane finally took pity on Mimosa. "Get out of her face."
"Oh, sorry," Asta said, backing up.
"Well, it looks like you're as loud as ever today," Yuno greeted Asta from behind.
"Hi Sylph," Dane smiled.
Sylph sighed. "Hello, Dane."
"That hot spring trip sure was a lot of fun, wasn't it?" Asta asked Yuno.
"Uh-huh," Yuno said flatly.
"Did you say hot spring?" Mimosa asked. "I don't remember you mentioning anything like that."
"I mighta lost the race to the top of the volcano, but I'm not losing anything today, got that?" Asta challenged Yuno.
"I hope you did some mental training, for when you fail," Yuno smirked, leaning down to get in Asta's face. "Wouldn't want you to cry."
"I won't!" Asta snapped.
"Wait, you still haven't told me about the hot spring, Yuno," Mimosa spoke up.
"We got kidnapped by Mereoleona and dragged to the Yultim Volcano," Dane explained to her. "After the sun sets, the Volcano's summit turns into a hot spring. It was nice. Except for Yami throwing me over the partition onto the girls' side. I could have done without that bit."
"Yeah, that sounds like Yami," Mimosa admitted. "Were they mad?"
"Nah, they understood it wasn't my fault," Dane said. "Plus I stayed underwater until they had all covered up, so I think that helped."
"Asta, Yuno!" Leopold laughed, walking over. "You can't forget about me!"
"Leo!" Asta cheered.
"Watch me!" Leopold grinned. "I'm gonna ace this Royal Knights exam!"
"No, I am!" Asta argued.
"You wish," Yuno said flatly.
"You wanna fight about it!?" Leopold shouted.
"Hey, Mimosa," Dane said. "You wanna come over sometime? We have the best cook in the kingdom, tons of alcohol if you drink, and we never lack for entertainment." he grinned. "Plus you'll be able to hang out with Asta."
Mimosa blushed and only managed a squeak. Dane chuckled, looking around, then raised an eyebrow as he stared at Finral. His hair was all combed to the right, and the ends of it were dyed green.
"What the hell is going on with Finral's hair?" Dane asked.
"He thought it would look good," Vanessa said, looping her arms around his shoulders from behind. "Said he needed a confidence boost."
"I didn't think you'd be here," Dane said, turning his head to kiss her.
"I'm just here to cheer you on, and Charmy's going to meet us there, since we were told where the tests would be taking place," Vanessa smiled. "Drink?" She lifted the wine bottle she was holding to his lips, and he smiled, taking a drink before she did the same.
"You're gonna do great," Dane smiled.
"Well, I still haven't figured out how to actually use my new spell, so I doubt I'll do that well," Vanessa sighed, kissing him again before taking her arms back. "Hello Mimosa."
"Hello...um..." Mimosa frowned.
"Vanessa," Vanessa smiled. "I don't think we've been properly introduced."
"I don't think so, no," Mimosa smiled, all three ignoring Asta joining Magna and Luck in making fun of Finral's hair. "So you're...Dane's girlfriend?"
"One of three," Vanessa smiled. "This manwhore's also dating Charmy and Raya."
"Oh, I like Raya," Mimosa smiled, then turned scarlet. "Wait, he's WHAT!?"
Dane shrugged. "It's complicated."
"You have...three girlfriends?" Mimosa squeaked. "I...I had no idea you were...um...I mean...there's nothing wrong with...I mean...if that's...what you like...there's...I mean..."
"It's fine," Vanessa smiled. "We're all okay with it. We all love him, and we're fine with sharing him as long as we can all be with him."
"I see," Mimosa nodded, seeming to calm slightly. "I definitely wasn't expecting Dane of all people to have three girlfriends."
"Yeah, it's a little surprising to me, too," Dane nodded. "Actually, it kind of started from me and Vanessa just passing the time, and then she sort of brought the other two into it herself."
"Really?" Mimosa asked.
"Yep," Vanessa grinned. "I felt like it might calm him down a bit and give him a better way to vent than beating people up. It's worked out pretty well so far."
"Well, that's good, I guess," Mimosa smiled.
Finally, Julius and Marx walked out onto the upper level of the arena and everyone fell silent, turning toward them.
"I'm glad you were all able to attend," Julius greeted them, everyone forming the Clover Kingdom's salute. "Without further ado, I'd like to commence with the Royal Knights Selection Test."
"Let me explain the test in detail," the King said, walking up behind Julius. "After all, the Royal Knights will be my warriors, will they not?"
"Suddenly, I don't want to be a Royal Knight," Dane said dryly.
"That's fine," Vanessa smiled. "We can probably find a secluded spot to vent."
Mimosa squeaked and turned scarlet, but said nothing.
"No, this event is a competition of teams," the King announced. "And it shall be called the 'Magic Crystal Destruction Battle Tournament!'"
An image of a white crystal appeared in front of the King.
"Teams, huh?" Vanessa grinned. "Mimosa, wanna team up with us?"
"Oh, um...wouldn't the teams have to be from the same Squad?" Mimosa asked.
"That depends on the rules," Dane said. "Which he has neglected to tell us."
"The rules are very simple!" the King called out over the murmurs and discussion of the assembled Wizards. "Whichever team is successful in destroying the opposing team's crystal, while simultaneously protecting their own crystal from being crushed, will be considered victorious!"
"Sounds simple enough," Dane nodded.
"If both crystals remain intact at the end of the thirty minute time limit, then the team whose crystal has taken the least amount of damage will be the winner! Er, the reason we chose this method was because it...um...well..."
"Useless," Dane sighed near-silently.
"That is...I know it was something good," The King finished, trying to sound important.
Julius cleared his throat. "When facing the Eye of the Midnight Sun, it's imperative that members of the different Knight Squads are able to cooperate. We feel a team contest is the best way to judge your ability to work with others as well as your strategic proficiency. There's much more to being a Royal Knight than brute strength."
"Just what I would have said!" the King agreed.
"Worthless pile of shit," Dane grumbled, then shook his head as he felt a familiar tingle in his mind and along his spine, realizing his hands were clenched into fists. "Shit. Not now."
"Impulses?" Vanessa asked.
Dane nodded subtly, looking back up at the King as his impulses produced an image of a stone spike impaling him. Dane's eyes shifted to Julius, who locked eyes with him, and his impulses quieted slightly, seeming to recognize Julius's superior power.
"Now, then!" Julius spoke up, still smiling but keeping his eyes locked on Dane. "Let us reveal the team roster!"
Dane's eyes rose to the roster as it appeared the same way the projection of the magic crystal had. He scanned the teams, seeing Mimosa was with Asta and someone named Xerx Lugner. Dane himself was with no one whose name he recognized. He sighed heavily, giving Vanessa a quick kiss.
"Don't hurt anyone," Vanessa reminded him.
"I won't," Dane promised. "Raya won't let me."
"Good," Vanessa nodded. "I'll see you once we're done."
Dane nodded, just as a voice cut through the air.
"So sorry I'm late for the party, everybody!"
All eyes turned to the top of the arena, where a man with black pants and what looked like a fuzzy, black, fur capt falling behind his waist, black shoes, messy red hair, and a black garment that included short sleeves on his upper arms, black cloth connecting the sleeves to his neck, then reaching up his neck to what looked like a half-mask over the lower half of his face. He dropped down beside Julius, draping an arm around his shoulders, and Dane raised an eyebrow. The man's mouth was visible through what he could now see were black bandages wrapped around his lower face and neck. His teeth were sharpened into points, and he had metal studs over most of his outfit. His right hand was holding a Purple Orca robe.
"But the Wizard King's a reasonable guy," the newcomer continued, "so I'm sure he can forgive a little tardiness just this once."
"Who the heck is that!?" Asta yelped.
"Who, me?" the man asked. "I'm Xerx Lugner. Pleasure's mine."
"I don't like him," Dane grunted.
"Maybe you'll get to teach him some respect," Vanessa offered.
"I hope not," Dane said. "I'd have to fight Asta, too, and if his power reacts..."
Vanessa nodded seriously but said nothing. Xerx was explaining he had been helping an elderly woman, but as he assured the Wizard King that the woman was fine, Marx snapped at his clear disrespect, firing a blast of Mana at him, only for Xerx to flip out of the way, landing on the floor of the arena.
"That's not a very warm welcome," Xerx commented, still smirking. "What's gotten into you all of a sudden?"
"I'd like to ask you the same question!" Marx snapped, holding his hand out toward Xerx again. "Xerx Lugner, you say? But he's-"
Julius held a hand in front of Marx, stopping him.
"Your Majesty!" Marx protested, but obeyed the unspoken order to stand down and say nothing more.
"Hey, who do you think you are!?" someone demanded.
"How dare you show up late, and with a rotten attitude!?" Someone else demanded.
"The Wizard King is one of few men that Char approves of, so you'd better back off!" Sol snapped.
"Yeah, why are you acting like such a bully!?" Asta demanded.
"Settle down, folks," Julius smiled, raising his hands placatingly. "There's no need to worry."
"Oh, alright," Xerx sighed. "Sounds like you're all pretty fond of this chump, aren't you? Sorry, but I don't really see why he's so great. You guys might be a mindless mob, but," he pulled the Purple Orca rob on, "not me."
"I'll tell you one thing, Xerx," Julius said, his tone seeming to shift just slightly as he spoke the name, "you really changed your whole look on that long expedition." He laughed.
"Please don't laugh, sir," Marx sighed.
"It's nice to meet you, kid," Xerx said, offering his hand to Asta. "Apparently we'll be on the same team. Let's keep things friendly."
"Okay," Asta said, shaking his hand, only to pull his hand away with a black insect with a red and green stripe on it in his palm. "So stinky!"
Dane grimaced as he smelled the stink bug from several feet away.
Xerx laughed. "That's the smelliest insect in Clover Kingdom. They call it a Rainbow Stinkbug."
"They do?" Asta asked. "Must be because it puts out a rainbow of nasty smells!" He held his hand out toward Xerx. "Friendly, huh!? Not the best way of showing it!"
"Obviously I was lying," Xerx said, taking the insect back. "I can't be friends with an annoying, hyperactive, little pipsqueak." he stuck the insect up Asta's nostril. "I mean, I can tell by that vapid look on your face." He stuck another rainbow stinkbug up Asta's other nostril. "You're a complete moron."
He pushed Asta to the ground, then turned to Dane as Dane extended his own hand to Xerx, Dane's eyes all but radiating hatred and bloodlust.
"I'm Dane," Dane said in an even voice. "Nice entrance."
"Thanks," Xerx smirked, extending his own hand.
Vanessa caught both of their hands, moving them away from each other, then shoved Xerx away as she turned toward Dane.
"Don't," Vanessa said firmly.
Dane took a long, slow breath, the cold look in his eyes fading before he nodded. "I'm good."
Vanessa nodded. "You sure you'll be okay to compete?"
"If not, I'll bail," Dane promised.
Vanessa nodded, hugging him. "Be careful."
"I will," Dane nodded.
"Alright, I trust you've already identified your teammates," Julius called out.
"I haven't," Dane called.
"Yes, about that," Julius said, seeming almost hesitant. "It seems that...they didn't feel...comfortable working with you, and they...left."
"So, what, I'm competing alone?" Dane asked.
"It's not exactly surprising, is it?" Solid scoffed. "Who would want to be stuck with a worthless peasant who's as likely to murder his own teammates as he is to breathe?"
"We'll figure something out once we're at the testing grounds," Julius promised. "Now that everyone else has their teams, let us advance to the testing grounds. Well, Cob? Will you do the honors, please?"
"Yes of course!" a mage with a simple expression, puffy pink hair, and a white cloak over a blue robe saluted. "Yes of curiosity-course-course!"
Dane groaned, rubbing his eyes and running through mental exercises to try and calm his impulses. "I'm surrounded by imbeciles."
Cob used his spacial magic to form a large, gold-and-glass door, which opened to reveal a portal. "Here we go! Everybody step into the portal!"
Dane led his teammates through the portal, and they arrived at the top of a large building overlooking a ruin at the edge of a forest. Dane nodded to himself. He could work with that. There were cliffs, a river, and plenty of surfaces for Dane to utilize. So long as his teammates could guard the crystal, Dane could handle nearly any team they faced.
"This vast and varied environment will be your battle stage," Julius announced, once everyone was through. "You will be able to use all your skills to your heart's content. Just don't kill or permanently injure anyone. That means you, Dane."
"Understood, sir," Dane nodded. "I'll be careful."
"The matchups for the initial round have been chosen by lottery and organized into the bracketed chart you see here," Julius continued.
Marx formed a projection with the chart, but again, Dane noticed a problem.
To the right of the bracket, his name was written alone and not connected to the bracket. Dane's eyes narrowed dangerously, but Vanessa slipped her hand into his.
"What about Dane, sir?" Vanessa asked.
"I'll get to that," Julius assured them. "Now, winning or losing does not necessarily correlate to being chosen for the Royal Knights, more victories will increase your favorability. This is an ideal chance for you all to put your talents on display. Magic Knights, it's time to start the exam! As I said before, there is to be absolutely no killing. We have mages wielding recovery magic standing by for the injured, so don't hold anything back!"
Asta, Mimosa, and Xerx moved to their magic crystal as their opponents moved to theirs. As they did, however, Julius motioned for Dane to join him, and Dane walked away from the others with him.
"Your impulses are causing an issue already," Julius said more than asked.
"I can keep it contained," Dane said.
"That's not the issue," Julius said. "Yami told me that ever since meeting the Midnight Sun's leaders, your impulses have been most active when one of them is nearby."
"I don't think that's the case this time, sir," Dane said.
"I see," Julius nodded. "I'm not going to allow you to compete, then."
"But-" Dane began, only for Julius to hold up a hand.
"I'm sorry, but it's too much of a liability," Julius said. "Teamwork is essential, but you're too volatile to work well with anyone you deem annoying, and no one is willing to work with you because they fear you. I cannot force anyone to compete."
"What if he had a volunteer team and opponents?" Vanessa asked.
Julius considered. "That would be...acceptable, but we would have to rework the bracket."
"You could have whoever makes it through the finals face him and his volunteer team," Vanessa offered. "He could show off his abilities, and if they made it to the final round, whoever it is would be able to handle him."
Julius considered for a moment, then nodded. "You'll gather your own team members, and they cannot be from the Black Bulls. Once you've found two others who are willing to work with you, we'll move you to the position as the final match."
Dane nodded. "Thank you, sir. And you, Vanessa."
"You're welcome," Vanessa smiled as they walked away. "I'm just sorry I can't be on your team."
"It's fine," Dane smiled. "I have an idea who to ask."
"Oh?" Vanessa asked.
"Whoever loses," Dane smirked. "They'll have a second chance to fight."
Vanessa laughed. "That works."
He walked over to watch the battles, Dane lifting Charmy up onto his shoulders, Charmy rewarding him with a cupcake and Vanessa with a beer. The beginning of Asta's team's battle was less than ideal. The other team had a member capable of seeing them from long range using a Magic Item helmet, and while he used a second to communicate with his team members, they used a combination of flame arrows and a large, stone bow to target the crystal from range, the hitting the crystal one after another rapidly. Finally, however, after Xerx had gone to sleep, Mimosa and Asta adapted, Mimosa locating the opponents with her Flower Guidepost while Asta managed to begin blocking the arrows with his smaller sword. Then, the two of them charged, Mimosa bringing their crystal with her. Any time an attack was prepared, Mimosa shouted a warning and Asta blocked it. Then, once they were in sight of their opponents, Mimosa used a new offensive spell, Magic Cannon Flower, which fired a golden mana beam. The opponent who'd formed the bow formed a dome around their crystal. Then, the two formed a massive fireball and a massive ball of stone, taking off in separate directions, Mimosa directing Asta after the one with the ball of stone. However, just as Asta moved to attack, the other two appeared behind Mimosa to blast the crystal she was still holding. And then, a spell seal spread under Asta and a trap activated, covering him in some purple substance, Asta falling completely immobile instantly.
"A Trap Spell?" Dane frowned. "And it's not any of their opponents' element."
"So...someone else spread Trap Magic around?" Vanessa frowned. "Who?"
"I have a guess," Dane said, glancing at Asta's sleeping teammate.
Then, Asta collapsed just as the three attacks struck. A massive stone hand holding a spiked club, a wall of flames, and a crystal blade shaped like a fin all surged inward. And then, at the last moment, three more magic circles appeared, absorbing the spells entirely, then reversed them, all three spells reforming perfectly heading in the opposite direction. As one, all three spells struck.
"Counter Trap Magic," Dane mused. "Impressive. He'll be hard to beat."
"He?" Charmy asked.
"So, it was their teammate, then," Vanessa nodded. "I guess he really wasn't just sleeping after all."
"He was," Dane said. "Trap Spells have to be placed directly. He's trapped the entire area."
As if on cue, Xerx walked over to them, walking onto the Rock Magic user's back as he prepared to destroy the crystal. Dane narrowed his eyes as he detected Ash Magic coming from Xerx. He was right. Asta's trap had been Ash Magic, too. Then, with a wave of his hand, Xerx had smashed the crystal with a blast of focused Mana. Asta's team was declared the winners, and then the arguing started. Asta did not approve of Xerx's attitude or methods. Xerx's trap that saved them had been tied to the one that paralyzed Asta. It had been a coincidence. Nothing more. And besides not helping them, he insulted the mage who'd been protecting the crystal, and then gloated to Asta and Mimosa that the other team had been worthless while calling them pawns and decoys. Then, the next match started.
Sol and Magna one one team, along with Mimosa's older brother Kirsch, who was flamboyant and arrogant and was the vice-captain of the Coral Peacocks, against three people whose names Dane didn't care to know. One of them used Copper Magic to create several canine puppets to attack Magna, and after struggling for a moment, Kirsch gave Magna a bit of advice, and by following it, Magna took down his opponent. The next was a Mud Magic user who captured Sol's massive stone behemoth in a mud trap. However, after Kirsch once again giving advice, Sol also almost immediately defeated her opponent. The third used Water Magic to form a massive fish to attack the crystal, only for Kirsch to use his own magic to form a storm of Cherry Blossoms and clones over the entire battlefield, blocking the incoming attack and blocking the opponent's vision while giving the other two a clear path to their opponents' crystal. A moment later, it was over.
"Not bad," Dane nodded. "He's obnoxious, but he's good. Not surprising given he's the vice-captain of a Squad whose captain is eternally sleeping."
"Agreed," Vanessa nodded. "He'll be tough to beat." She grinned. "But...if Asta's team manages to beat him..."
"I hate to say it, but you're right," Dane nodded, then groaned as a giant Kirsch appeared over the battlefield.
"In this world, there are but two great crimes," the giant Kirsch declared. "Failing to radiate beauty in every way..."
"-and failing to notice beauty!" the giant Kirsch, Sol, and Magna all said together.
"Wow!" Asta cheered, him and the others having only just returned. "Did you see that!? Your brother was incredible out there! You two are obviously siblings!"
"I wish you wouldn't say that," Mimosa sighed.
"Hey, Mimosa," Dane said, walking over to her. "I got a request for you."
"What is it?" Mimosa asked.
"I have permission to fight whoever wins the final match as my own match, but only if I can find two volunteer partners," Dane explained. "If you guys can't beat your brother, would you like to be my teammate?"
"Sure," Mimosa nodded. "But I plan to crush him."
"And I hope you do," Dane nodded. "He's unbearably annoying. And if you do win, I can get Sol to help me."
"Will she be willing to?" Asta asked, having just finished arguing with Kirsch. "You're kinda scary."
Dane shot him a glare. "Yes, Asta, she will. She just might need a little convincing."
Asta shrugged as the third match began, Dane watching interestedly, hoping to be able to recruit Leopold, though unsure of what team would be able to beat him. That being said, one of his teammates was Finral, which could go either way depending on how he was utilized, and the fat idiot from the Golden Dawns, Hamon, who had been one of the nobles to openly insult Asta and Dane at the Commendation Ceremony. Dane thought very little of him, so some part of him hoped he would drag Leopold down so that Dane could snatch Leopold. Unfortunately, he didn't get his wish, because Finral took the lead, using a style similar to their fight against Vetto, warping Leopold around to allow him to attack or to position him between opponents, then moving him again, allowing their attacks to hit each other. He sent Hamon to secure the opponents' Magic Crystal, then sent Leopold to destroy it. It was a very short battle. Dane sighed, smiling.
"Well done, Finral," Dane smirked. "He's gotten good since Vetto."
"Yes, he has," Vanessa nodded. "He can actually be dependable when he wants to."
Dane nodded. "He'll never be an offensive type, but he doesn't need to be. He's one of the most versatile Support Mages I've ever met."
"Hey, think you could make us chairs?" Vanessa asked.
"Gladly," Dane smiled, forming a chair for himself, Vanessa, and Mimosa, who also happily took a seat.
Vanessa raised an eyebrow at Dane, and he simply smiled and shrugged.
"So, I've been meaning to ask," Mimosa said. "Who's this little girl?" She gestured at Charmy, who was now seated in Dane's lap.
"Oh, sorry," Dane said. "Mimosa, meet Charmy."
"It's so nice to meet..." Mimosa's face began to grow steadily redder and more outraged.
"Oh, right," Dane said. "Charmy, you should probably show her so she doesn't get the wrong idea."
"Hm?" Charmy asked, looking up at him, then at Mimosa. "Oh! Okay!"
She formed a wool bracelet and aged into her adult form. "Nice to meet you. I'm Charmy."
Mimosa blinked in surprise. "How old are you?"
"I'm nineteen," Charmy said. "But I only look my real age when I'm using my magic. Don't get the wrong idea about Dane. We don't do anything inappropriate when I'm not using magic. He's not that kind of person."
Mimosa nodded, smiling. "I'm really not sure if I know what kind of person he is anymore. I'm sorry, Dane. I really had the wrong idea about you. I thought you were kind of scary and mean, but you're actually really kind. I'm still not sure what to think about the multiple girlfriends, but I don't think you're a bad person."
"I appreciate your honesty," Dane smiled, Charmy shrinking back into a toddler. "I'll admit it can be a little hard to control my impulses sometimes, but outside of those, I really try to be a good person."
Mimosa smiled, nodding, and they turned back to the testing grounds as the next battle began, Finral's younger brother and the vice-captain of the Golden Dawn, Langris, being the only person in the match worth noting.
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