0713MM: Hey guys! I welcome you to the 24th chapter of The Silver Valkyrie! I do not own Black Clover, nor its characters, nor the OCs that are used in this chapter. The OCs and their Spells respectively are owned by Warmachine375. Chapter start!^^
Chapter 24
"Anti-Magic: Black Slash!" Asta declared as he did multiple slashes with the Demon-Dweller Sword. Each slash heading towards Vetto at high speed. Vetto leaped into the air to avoid them, but then he took notice of Asta slashing multiple times into the air. Vetto managed to avoid all but one. The one that did hit him and made fall to the ground and slide back several feet. He grinned darkly.
"Heh! Not bad brat!" Vetto commented. "You managed to deal more damage to me than those other pitiful fools ever could to me!"
"Then I'll be sure to defeat you!" Asta vowed. "For not only the sake of my squad, but for the Amber Phoenix, and those that live here at the Seabed Temple!"
"Ha! An empty promise that is!" Vetto scoffed deeply before his dark grin returned. "Now, fall into despair!"
"As if!" Asta remarked as he swung the Demon-Dweller Sword at incredible speed, which formed multiple black slashes from the blade and they traveled outwards and towards Vetto. Vetto of course evaded the slashes, which slashed the walls behind Vetto; thus causing them to crack.
"I don't know or how some filthy runt like you got a hold of the Master's grimoire and swords, but you will give them back! After I kill you, that is!"
"Like I'd let that happen!" Kiato leapt into the fight and slashed at Vetto with his small blades, but Vetto blocked the attacks easily.
"You think working together with this brat will change anything?" Vetto mocked both Kiato and Asta. "Honestly, you humans are so predictable and pathetic! It makes looking at you lot a pain in the ass!"
"Yeah?" Asta replied coolly as he pointed the Demon-Dweller Sword at Vetto, as well as the Demon-Slayer Sword, which he held in his other arm. "Then I'll make sure to kick your butt for the guys that fought against you and lost!"
"Heh heh heh heh! Brave, but foolish, brat!" Vetto retorted as his mana created a magical aura on his arms and legs. "I'll be sure to get Master Licht's swords and his grimoire back from your filthy hands!"
"Just try it!" Asta shot back. "Hey, Kiato! Help me out please!"
"Right of course!" Kiato replied. Soon thereafter, both him and Asta charged at Vetto, releasing there own battle cries. Vetto just grinned as he evaded a/parried each of there attacks.
"Huff…..Huff… This guy is strong." Kiato breathed.
"Yeah." Asta nodded. "But that doesn't mean he's unbeatable!" Asta crossed his arms, which by extension, crossed his 2 swords. "Time to mix things up! Anti-Magic: Black Whirlwind!" Asta slashed with both the Demon-Slayer and Demon-Dweller Swords towards Vetto to make an X shaped Anti-Magic slash. Vetto leapt out of the way as the X slash of Anti-Magic crashed into the pillar behind Vetto.
"Haha! Not bad brat!" Vetto mocked as he picked up a large chunk of rock. "However! While you are strong, both with those swords and with your overall physical strength which allows you to even hold them, you're still weak to long ranged attacks!" He threw the large chunk of rock at Asta, who managed to cut through it with the help of Kiato's 2 blades. Asta unleashed more Black Slashes and another Black Whirlwind or 2 before leaping backwards from Vetto as he appeared before him and Kiato.
Tch…! Asta thought.
"There are other things about you that makes you weaker than me, brat!" Vetto continued. "You can't cast a single spell! While use with mana can cast all the spells we desire! So long as our mana reserves aren't depleted. But considering I have an immense amount of it, you can't keep dodging and blocking my spells forever! The body has its limits!"
"Get to the point already!" Asta growled as he blocked Vetto's Bear Claw slashes/strikes towards the duo. While Asta managed to evade. One of them hit Kiato and launched him into the wall.
"Ugh…..!" Kiato groaned.
"Kiato!" Kahono cried out as she and Noelle rushed to Kiato.
"You okay?" Noelle asked Kiato out of concern. Kiato groaned, then looked up at Kahono and Noelle; nodding.
"Yeah… I should be fine." Kiato replied softly. He tried to get up, only to groan in response. "Ugh…!"
"Rest now, brother." Kahono told him as she looked back up at Asta facing Vetto. "I believe that Asta's Anti-Magic is a key to defeating him." Noelle nodded in agreement.
"Y-Asta!" Noelle gaped, interrupting herself as she watched Asta get lifted up by Vetto after said muscular man managed to catch up to Asta and lift him into the air by Asta's scruff on the neck.
"And lastly brat, you don't know when to call it quits!" Vetto growled. "You honestly think that you can keep going in fighting me, but I can sense that your body is getting exhausted! Just surrender and hand over the grimoire and swords!" Asta gnashed his teeth to ease the pain from Vetto's strong grip.
"I won't….surrender….!" Asta snapped back, albeit it was in a soft tone to save his breath. Vetto heard this and scoffed before grinning maliciously.
"Oh please! You're no threat to me now, brat!" Vetto mocked. "I'll give you the honor of being killed personally by my superior physical strength!" He slammed into the ground face first, causing the teenage ash-blonde boy to groan in pain as blood seeped onto the watery rock surface of the cave. Before Asta could get up, Vetto slammed his right foot on Asta's back.
"Kuh….!" Asta coughed up blood as he felt himself being turned over so he was looking up at Vetto. Vetto just sneered as he knelt down and lifted Asta up by the scruff of his shirt.
"Time to pound you into oblivion!" Vetto vowed before punching Asta in the face. This time, breaking Asta's nose; causing blood to gush out of Asta's nostrils.
"You can….kill me if you want…." Asta spoke towards Vetto, his voice now sounding funny due to his nose being now broken. "But…...it won't stop me….. Nor my resolution…. To become…...the Wizard King….!"
"Impudent whelp!" Vetto snarled. "That's it! I've had enough of your self righteous bullshit! Time to die!" He moved his curled fingers to Asta's neck; thus now gripping it. "I'll make this nice and qui-!"
"Don't you dare Vetto!"
"Hmm?" Vetto wondered aloud before turning his attention to who spoke towards him. It was the youngest child of Captain Acier Silva, Noelle SIlva, that had raised her voice to him. At first, Vetto held a look of surprise, but quickly reverted back to a dark smile.
"Or what girl?" Vetto sneered. "You gonna kill me or something? Last I checked, you just stood there the entire time while I continued to beat the hell out of this mouse and Temple Mage!" Noelle clenched her hands into fists at Vetto's words.
"You…..!" Noelle growled, a light and blue magical aura surrounded Noelle. "I…...will not let you harm Asta! Nor anyone else here!" Noelle's grimoire then glowed a bright blue as it turned a few pages; thus and inscription of a new spell appeared. Noelle looked down upon it and smiled lightly.
A new spell…! It's just like Mother's…! Noelle thought in surprise as a suit of armor around her body. The suit is made of solid water and includes a breastplate, faulds, spaulders, vambraces, chausses, and a tiara. Wing-like ornaments cover their ears and two large wing-like ornaments hang off the lower back. In her right hand is a lance made of spiraling solid water. Vetto gaped in surprise as he dropped Asta.
"Where did all this power come from…..?!" Vetto breathed, still in utter shock.
"Whoa…!" Captain Fana breathed in awe.
"Amazing…!" Mars agreed, equally in awe like Fana. Acier, though remained silent, had a smile on her lips nonetheless.
Well done Noelle dear. Acier thought. You will surpass Nozel, and eventually me, soon enough.
"I shouldn't need to say this again, but I will anyway!" Noelle told Vetto. "I won't let you kill anyone here! You hear me?!"
"So strong…! Who is this girl? And what is that light aura mixing with her blue magical aura?" Vetto wondered aloud.
"Who I am and my lineage is doesn't matter right now!" Noelle retorted. "What does matter is protecting everyone that's a part of the Clover Kingdom! Even at the expense of our own lives! That's what it means to be a true Magic Knight!" Noelle's Water Magic aura surrounded her completely before she became a light blue light and danced around the area.
"Not this again….!" Vetto growled as he tried to pinpoint Noelle's location. "Regardless, you can't hide from me for-!" Before he could finish, Noelle reappeared right in front of him and thrusted her watery lance into Vetto's chest. Vetto, to his surprise, coughed up blood from Noelle's attack, causing the youngest Silva child to grin.
"Looks like you're not so invincible after all!" Noelle remarked.
"Kuh…..! Damn you….humans…..!" Vetto snarled as Noelle flew backwards to avoid Vetto's punch aimed for her face. "I will not allow you to win!" Before he could strike, or find Noelle, she reappeared out the blinding blue light and pierced his back, once again causing him to cough up blood. Noelle continued this process until Vetto was a bloody mess. Noelle breathed heavily as she reappeared, a distance away from Vetto.
"Huff…..Huff… No matter how times I strike him, he's just healing up. Too quickly for my strikes to deal him any everlasting damage." Noelle noted.
There is a way that you can damage him severely enough to force him to use his Third Eye. A voice spoke in Noelle's head.
"Ehh?" Noelle spoke aloud, but received no answer whoever spoke to her in her head. After a few seconds, Noelle's grimoire glowed a white aura and turned several pages to the right before stopping. 2 different spells appeared. One on the left page and another on the right page. Special text appeared on both pages, with a picture showing what each spell is. Noelle looked down at her grimoire and gaped. "These are….new spells….?!"
"It matters not if you have new spells or not!" Vetto snarled. "In the end, you'll fall into despair before death overtakes you and everyone you love!"
"You can most certainly try!" Noelle retorted. "But I won't let you! Not now, not ever!" Noelle raised her free hand up, a glowing white light began to appear on it. "This battle ends now!"
"Give me your best shot, little mouse!" Vetto mocked, a magical aura surrounding his body to form Beast Magic: Rhinoceros Armor. "I'm ready!"
"Here I go!" Noelle declared, the white light on her free hand that then fired a white beam of light directly towards Vetto. " Purge Magic: Arrow of Salvation!"
"Wh-What….?!" Vetto gaped before the arrow of white light pierced right through his Rhinoceros Armor spell and also through his midsection; thus he screamed in agonizing pain. "AAAAAARGH!" Blood spewed out of his wound in his midsection, as well as him coughing up more blood. He then fell to his knees.
What the hell?! What was that spell just now?! Vetto thought. Noelle breathed slowly after launching such a spell.
"How did you like that?" Noelle questioned. Vetto gasped for air before looking down at his midsection. Blood spewing out of his wound and mouth.
"Y-You…..!" Vetto growled lowly. "I….will…..kill you….! All of you humans will die….!" Vetto then unleashed an animalistic, yet demonic, cry of agony. The skin on his forehead opened up to reveal his Third Eye. "Heh heh heh….. Hahahaha! I give you a thousand thank yous for summoning, human!"
"His Third Eye has been revealed…!" Noelle noted before tsking, getting into a battle ready position.
"Indeed." Vetto replied as his midsection regenerated fully. "I'm not sure how much longer you can fight. In which case, I shall test it!" A red circle with multiple other circles going inside of it appeared in front of Vetto after he raised his right arm up. "Now fall into despair! Mythical Beast Magic: Manticore Flare!" A manticore lion head appeared from the circle(s) and fired a powerful magic blast towards Noelle. Noelle swiped her free hand's arm from left to right as the white light from before began to transform into a sword.
Purge Creation Magic: Divine Sword! Noelle thought as she raised the pure white sword and began to block the purple energy blast. She even raised up her arm holding her solidified water lance to add in extra defenses.
"Tch….!" Noelle grunted as she continued to hold off Vetto's attack spell. Suddenly, Noelle felt cracks in her solidified water armor. "No…..! The force of Vetto's attack is causing my armor to crack…! If I don't defeat him now, then…..!" She clenched her teeth as she felt her solidified water lance even begin to crumble away. However, her Purge Creation Magic: Divine Sword, remained intact.
So, it seems that this type of magic is immune to his demonic version of Beast Magic. Noelle thought. And it also seems that Asta was able to hurt him too thanks to Liebe's Anti-Magic. In that case…
"I won't surrender!" Noelle declared as she took a step towards Vetto, only for her knees to buckle under the pressure of Vetto's immense power in his spell.
"Bwahahaha! You're a foolish little girl if you think some fancy sword like that will defeat me!" Vetto mocked. "Now, accept your Fate! Fall into despair!"
"Never!" Noelle retorted before unleashing a battle cry as she slowly got up and began to continue towards Vetto. "I….will never surrender!"
"Your water armor says otherwise!" Vetto sneered as Noelle's Valkyrie Armor continued to crack as Noelle continued towards Vetto. The center pieces of the water armor had now fallen off; thus revealing Noelle's Silver Eagles squad robe, in addition to her shirt. Soon thereafter, more of her water armor began to fall off to reveal her regular attire again. Even her solidified water lance had disappeared as well, forcing her to hold her Purge Creation Magic: Divine Sword with both of her hands. Not that she minded too much. Though with just the white sword as her way of blocking Vetto's attack, it became apparent that she needed her Valkyrie Armor in order to have a solid defense and offense. Vetto took notice of Noelle faltering, and he sneered.
"What's the matter, filthy royal?" Vetto mocked. "Can't keep up with my spell's power?"
"Tch…..!" Noelle grunted.
This power is too much for me to handle! Noelle thought frantically before a purple explosion overtook her, signifying that her Purge Creation Magic: Divine Sword, had fallen as well.
Within the location that Acier, Gifso, Captain Fana, and Mars were in, they all watched in horror; fearing the worst.
"Oh my word…!" Gifso breathed.
"N-No….!" Captain Fana whispered tearfully.
"Tch…!" Mars growled. "That bastard…!" Acier, on the other hand, was shaking with utmost fear. She opened her mouth, then closed it, then opened it again.
"NOELLE!" Acier screamed, filled with utmost worry for her child.
"Acier, look!" Captain Fana spoke after recomposing herself from the initial shock of fearing Noelle had met her end. Acier's eyes still teary suddenly widened after the smoke cleared to reveal Asta defending Noelle from Vetto's attack.
"Asta….!" Acier whispered. "Thank your for protecting my daughter…..!"
Back at the cave area where the fight against Vetto was taking place, the smoke from the explosion from Vetto's attack began to dissipate. Vetto chuckled darkly and lowered his right arm.
"Heh heh heh…. That little mouse should be-Hmm?" He watched as the smoke fully cleared away; thus revealing a bloodied and battered Asta defending Noelle with his Demon-Dweller Sword.
"Huff…...Huff…...Huff…" Asta breathed. Noelle's facial expression went from shocked to worried and teary eyed.
"Asta….! You saved me!" Noelle gaped before moving slowly and gave Asta a hug from behind and whispered into his ear. "Thank you Asta…. I love you….." Asta glanced at Noelle and nodded, then mouthed to her "I love you too." before returning his attention back to Vetto just as Noelle released Asta from her hug. Vetto took notice of the short, chuckling darkly. Asta narrowed his eyes before they reverted back to normal size. Blood trickled down from his wounds in his earlier fight against Vetto.
"We're not done yet….!" Asta spoke out. "We're not going to give up! You hear me?!"
"Heh heh heh. So I see." Vetto noted. "But it won't matter in the end. You'll soon feel despair take hold of you. Soon or later. Speaking of which….." His lips form a dark grin at Asta's words as he spread his arms outwards. "The real despair starts now! As does the real fight! Bwahahahahaha!"
"Tch….!" Asta grunted.
Over with the downed Friede on the side, she began to get up slowly. She was a bit wobbly at first, but managed to get up.
"Ugh…. What happened?" Friede muttered to herself, rubbing her head. "The last thing I remember was that I was fighting Vetto, and then...Oh…" She glanced over to her left and right, seeing Alice, Valeria, and Lily all down. She lifted her hands up to her face, as if suddenly remembering what happened. "That's right. I had gone crazy after watching Alice, Valeria, and Lily get hurt by that monster." She looked towards where Vetto was standing, Asta in front of Noelle. "So Asta got back into the fight, eh?" She glanced over and saw that her scythe was not too far away from her. She strided over to it and picked it up, twirled it a few times, then pointed it in Vetto's direction. "Then I suppose I better get back into the fight too. Giving up now isn't an option, after all."
"Heh heh heh. Back for more Anti-Magic brat?" Vetto grinned as he mocked Asta. "I see you can stand, but why bother? What good will that do you now that I'm using my full power?"
"If I just gave up now, then who would protect the people from guys like you?" Asta questioned. "Who would protect the people I care about the most?"
"Asta…" Noelle whispered.
"And most importantly, who'd protect those I love?" Asta continued as he pointed the Demon-Dweller Sword at Vetto. "If I won't do it, who will?"
"Heh heh heh! Hahaha!" Vetto laughed as a dark magical aura surrounded him. "I know not who healed you enough so you can stand up again to fight, but no matter! I'll make sure you stay down for good! Oh, and your little girlfriend you're protecting will also go down with you!" A demonic magical aura appeared aroundVetto's body that looked like an Old World porcupine. "Now die, humans! Mythical Beast Magic: Hystricidae Artillery!" Several large and far more deadly porcupine quills fired off of Vetto's body and towards the 2. Asta tched, then he launched several slashes a/orbs fired out of the Demon-Dweller Sword and toward Vetto's Mythical Beast Magic spell.
"Anti-Magic: Black Slash! Plus Anti-Magic: Black Delete!" Asta declared. However, no matter how demonic quills Asta cut through/cancelled out, more of the demonic quills kept coming towards the 2.
"Asta! We have to-!" Noelle began. But before she could continue, nor could Asta reply, several wisps of Mist Magic appeared in front of the 2; thus absorbing the demonic porcupine quills. Soon thereafter, a thick layer of mist surrounded Vetto.
"Mist Creation Magic: Layers of Moisture Barrier!"
"What?" Vetto wondered aloud. "I can't see anything…!" He winced, realizing something else. "And my magic is being zapped away…?! Tch….! Mythical Beast Magic: Griffin Wings!" At his declaration, 2 large wings sprouted from his back and flew up and out of the Mist Magic Spell, then flapped his large wings to dissipate it. After that, he let his wings disappear as he landed back down on the ground on his feet. Once he did, he noticed immediately who had casted that spell. "Ahh…...yet another mouse has come to the prey."
"Nebra!" Asta and Noelle cheered. The older sister to Noelle turned to face the 2 other Silver Eagle squad members, a smile on her lips.
"I must say brat, you're probably the most reckless person I've ever met." Nebra spoke towards Asta before chuckling. "And yet, it is yet again saving my sister's butt. So your recklessness has its perks."
"Nebra." Asta started.
"But also, you're the reason I'm here right now." Nebra added, smiling lightly. "So what do you say we beat Vetto together? We do make a pretty impressive team together." Asta grinned at that.
"Right on Nebra!" Asta agreed with Nebra.
"Heh heh heh… Hahahaha!" Vetto laughed darkly "You think you rats stand a chance against a lion like myself? Fools. All of you." A demonic aura surrounded him. "I'll bury you all in despair soon enough! Now to give it to you!" A demonic circle appears in front of Vetto. "Mythical Beast Magic: Manticore Flare!" The large purple lion head fired out of the demonic circle and towards the 3.
"Tch….! Dammit….! I'm too late…!" Asta grunted. Suddenly, a light blue spatial portal appeared in front of Asta, Nebra, and Noelle; absorbing the attack and firing it back at Vetto from behind. Vetto gaped, then half turned and punched his own spell into the ceiling.
"It appears there was one more mouse on the loose." Vetto grinned as he turned back around to face Asta, Nebra, and Noelle. Courtney behind the 3.
"You guys could use a little help." Courtney spoke.
"Courtney!" Asta and Noelle smiled.
'Hey there you 2." Courtney remarked. She glanced over at the fallen mages, then back at Nebra, Noelle, and Asta. "Noelle, protect and heal those that are wounded from there fights with this guy."
"Got it." Noelle nodded as she ran off to the side and began to heal the fallen mages (minus Friede).
"Alright Asta. You're going to be the main guy attacking here." Nebra explained to the ash-blonde boy.
"Right!" Asta nodded as he gripped the Demon-Dweller Sword with both of his hands.
"While me and Nebra provide support." Courtney added.
"Right!" Asta spoke again.
"Don't forget about me!" Friede, now standing next to Asta, grinned.
"Hoh? The one I defeated who uses Black Flame Magic earlier wishes to continue fighting?" Vetto grinned. "Amusing. But it'll do you no good against me."
"If we work as a team, then we can beat you!" Asta shot back.
"You ready Courtney?" Nebra asked the Silver Eagles Spatial Magic mage. Courtney nodded as she raised her arms up.
"I'm ready." Courtney replied. "Asta? Friede?" You 2 ready?"
"Yeah!" Both Asta and Friede shouted. Vetto just chuckled darkly as his demonic magical aura surrounded him once again.
"Mythical Beast Magic!" Vetto roared. Nebra and Courtney went behind Asta and Friede, preparing their spells.
"LET'S DO THIS!" Asta, Friede, Nebra, and Courtney declared in unison. Soon thereafter, Asta and Friede charged towards Vetto.
0713MM: And here's chapter 24! This took awhile to make unfortunately. Mostly because of not being motivated, in addition to anxiety. But it's here now, yeah?^^
Also, I just realized this, but the Seabed Temple Arc here is becoming longer than I initially thought. But that could be because of how long each chapter is for this arc. I do have some really good plans for after this arc. Hopefully I finish this arc within the next chapter or 2.
...
Or 3. But we shall see!
