Chapter 83: Peasant Trap

As Lars walked back to his team, all of them were watching him with worried eyes and grim expressions. Cara's normally ever smirking face was set into a worried mask, Cade had his arms crossed and was watching Lars carefully, and Zoe's sharp gray eyes suddenly melted with a hint of worry.

"S'there something on my face?" Lars asked, stopping suddenly. He surveyed the mind energy emanating from the three.

Worry. But even a mute man could have told you that.

"That was a crazy crashout, man," Cade said, resting his hands behind his back. "We're here for ya, y'know."

"There's nothing that you must be concerned about," Lars said. "The only way you can help me is to win."

With that, the mind mage walked away, leaving his teammates to continue their hushed conversation.

Lars walked away from his squadmates, their concerned gazes boring into his back like needles. He could still feel the raw tension from his argument with Frida, like an aftershock rumbling in his chest. His teammates meant well, he knew that. But their sympathy—while appreciated—felt like a reminder of how fragile his composure had been.

"The only way you can help me is to win," he had said. And he meant it. If they wanted to help him, they needed to prove that they were as unshakable as their celestials intended them to be.

As he strode through the arena grounds, his thoughts spiraled inward. He could feel the subtle, curious glances of other Magic Knights, some murmuring to each other about the heated exchange between the siblings. Some were awed, others wary. He was a Mertens, after all. And like it or not, that name came with a legacy—one he was determined to define on his own terms.

His mind buzzed, both with the whispers of the Knights and the storm within himself. Why does she hate me so much? he wondered. He tried to focus on the memories of their argument, replaying her cutting words and his own barbed retorts.

"You don't deserve the Mertens name."

That line stung the most. Not because he believed it, but because Frida had the audacity to weaponize their shared pain against him. Their father's betrayal had left scars on them both, but Frida chose to bury hers under layers of pride and venom, while Lars had chosen to confront his demons.

As he walked past a group of Knights in different squad uniforms, they quieted, staring at him with a mix of respect and unease. It didn't matter. Their judgment didn't matter. Nothing matters except winning.

Crush her, his voice hissed in his mind, startling him with its intensity. Break her. Whatever it takes—maim her, kill her if you have to. Show her who you are.

For a moment, Lars flinched, stopping in his tracks. He recognized the voice as his own anger manifesting, but there was something deeper to it, darker. A shadow lingering at the edges of his mindscape.

And then, another voice—this one more familiar—echoed in his head. Iskra.

"I've been doing surveillance of your mindscape," Iskra said, her voice calm yet charged with an unsettling curiosity. "There's another presence. Something bound to your soul, lurking deep in the recesses of your mind. It's vast, almost infinite. I can't see its true form yet, but I'll keep searching."

Lars barely reacted, his lips tightening into a thin line. Let it lurk. Let her look. He didn't care. Whatever was bound to him could wait. His focus was razor-sharp now, and nothing—not even the strange workings of his own mind—would distract him from his goal.

"Lars!"

A familiar voice broke through his thoughts. He turned just as Lucia reached him, her red hair swaying as she ran up and hugged him from behind. Her arms wrapped around his waist, and for a moment, the tension in his body loosened.

"Hey, you," she said, her voice light yet comforting. "I saw that clash with your sister. You good?"

Lars allowed himself a small smile, though his eyes remained stormy. "I'll be fine. More importantly, you've got your match coming up, don't you?"

Lucia nodded, resting her chin on his shoulder. "I do. But don't try to change the subject, Lars."

He turned slightly, just enough to meet her gaze. "I'm not worried about you, Lucia. You'll crush them. You're unstoppable."

Her grin widened at his confidence in her. "Damn right I will. But don't think for a second that I'm letting you off the hook. You've got a lot on your mind. I can feel it."

He chuckled softly, a rare sound from him these days. "There's one thing I need from you when the exam is over," he said, lowering his voice to a whisper.

Lucia tilted her head, curious. "Oh? What's that?"

Lars leaned in and murmured something into her ear, too quiet for anyone else to hear. Whatever it was, it made Lucia laugh softly before knocking him lightly on the head. "You're impossible, you know that?"

"Promise me," Lars said, his expression serious now.

She sighed, but her smile lingered. "Alright, alright. I promise."

As she pulled away, Lars watched her leave, a flicker of warmth piercing through the cold resolve in his chest. For a moment, the weight of his argument with Frida and the pressure of the tournament faded.

But then it returned, sharper than before. His mind, ever active, raced with inspiration. The clash with Frida had lit a fire in him, and Lucia's presence had stoked it.

"I think I see it now," Lars said.

…

As he turned his focus back to the unfolding battles, the air suddenly shifted. A surge of mana rippled through the arena, emanating from the center where Julius Novachrono stood with his team of mages. They were reshaping the battlefield, twisting its terrain with intricate magical patterns that seemed to pulse with life. Lars wasn't the only one to notice. Asta, always brimming with curiosity and energy, watched the display with wide eyes, practically bouncing on his heels. By contrast, "Xerx Lugner," the rogue with the perpetual smirk, looked visibly irked by the changes. Lars couldn't help but smirk himself at the subtle crack in the man's composure. Guess even the great Xerx has his limits.

Team C made their way toward the battlefield, their arrival heralded by Kirsch Vermillion's booming voice. "No matter how the terrain changes, my beauty remains untarnished. Unlike the fates of you unsightly creatures, who are doomed to mediocrity."

Asta whipped around, his fiery personality igniting at the insult. "Beauty doesn't mean a damn thing! What matters is heart and hard work!"

Mimosa Vermillion stepped forward, her normally gentle demeanor sharpening just enough to lend weight to her words. "Kirsch, it's unkind—and frankly unwise—to underestimate others based on appearances. You of all people should know that."

Magna Swing burst into laughter, clapping Asta on the back with enough force to make the smaller boy stumble. "Hell yeah, kid! But let's see if that big heart of yours can keep up when I leave you eating dust."

Vivianne Voss, who had been standing quietly near Kirsch, tilted her head as her sharp, analytical gaze locked onto Xerx. Her lips pursed, and her eyes narrowed in concentration, as if trying to unravel the enigma before her. Xerx, however, was quicker. He caught her staring and flashed her a toothy grin that sent a chill down her spine. Vivianne quickly looked away, her face flushing slightly—not with embarrassment, but with the lingering unease of having drawn the attention of someone so unnervingly sharp.

Meanwhile, Xerx seemed preoccupied, his eyes darting between the shifting battlefield and his team. His irritation was palpable, a crack in his usual veneer of cocky indifference. Lars could almost hear the gears turning in the rogue's head, and it didn't take long for Asta to pick up on it as well.

"Hey!" Asta pointed a finger at Xerx, his expression a mix of accusation and curiosity. "You're mad because you already had traps set up, aren't you?"

Xerx didn't immediately answer. Instead, he let a slow, sardonic grin spread across his face. "Sharp for a runt," he drawled. "Yeah, I had traps set up. Scouted the location ahead of time and prepped the field yesterday."

Mimosa's eyes widened in disbelief. "How could you possibly get that kind of information ahead of time? That's... suspicious."

"Suspicious?" Xerx's smirk widened, and he gave an exaggerated shrug. "It's called strategy, princess. Information gathering is a cornerstone of war. The rules don't say I can't, so I did. Simple as that."

"That's not fair!" Asta exclaimed, clenching his fists. "How are we supposed to work as a team when you're pulling stunts like that?"

Xerx's grin turned razor-sharp. "Fair? Life's not fair, kid. If you think it is, you're in the wrong damn line of work. But hey, if you're so worried about it, why don't you try sensing where I've set them?"

Asta scowled, his frustration bubbling over. "Fine! But if we lose because of your dumb traps, I'll never forgive you!"

Mimosa crossed her arms, her gaze narrowing with suspicion. "Who are you, really? No ordinary rogue could pull something like this off."

Xerx didn't answer immediately, letting the question hang in the air. His smirk remained, but his eyes gleamed with something unreadable—something almost dangerous. "Just a guy who knows how to get things done," he said finally, his tone dismissive as he turned away.

Lucia, however, wasn't about to let him off the hook so easily. She quickened her pace to catch up with Xerx, grabbing his sleeve to stop him. "Xerx, wait."

He glanced over his shoulder, one brow arched. "What now, princess?"

Lucia's green eyes were sharp, her usual lightheartedness replaced by a rare seriousness. "Those magical arrays you've been using... they're just like mine."

For the briefest of moments, Xerx's smirk faltered. It was a small crack in his armor, but it was enough for someone as perceptive as Lucia to notice. "Small world," he said casually, though his tone lacked its usual confidence.

Lucia stepped closer, lowering her voice. "Do you know someone named Zora?"

The name hit Xerx like a bolt of lightning. His entire body tensed, and for a moment, his carefully constructed facade seemed to teeter on the edge of collapse. But he quickly recovered, his smirk snapping back into place like a shield. "Never heard of 'em," he said, his voice clipped as he brushed past her.

Lucia watched him go, her expression thoughtful but tinged with suspicion. Something about his reaction didn't sit right with her.

Meanwhile, Kirsch was rallying his team with his usual flair for the dramatic. "Team C! Our mission is clear. We must obliterate the unbeautiful vermin of Team B so we can advance to the finals. Only then will Lars Mertens earn the privilege of facing me—a reward that is exactly what his refined self deserves."

Sol Marron rolled her eyes, exasperation written all over her face. "Geez, Kirsch, could you be any more full of yourself? Let's just win and get it over with."

Magna cracked his knuckles, his grin sharp and eager. "Don't worry, Sol. I've got this."

Vivianne, still rattled by Xerx's unsettling grin, muttered under her breath, "This is going to be... interesting."

…

"Team B vs Team C - begin!" the capital mage said, bringing his hand down.

"Card Magic: Tarot Deck," Lucia whispered, the shimmering ring of cards appearing around her. She drew The Magician and The World, suspending the cards in the air and starting to draw an array.

"Sorry to slow you guys down," Lucia said, "but this is going to take time and focus, so I need you to-"

She was cut off by a rushing wave of cherry blossoms that completely enveloped the battlefield. The caster? Obviously the one and only Kirsch Vermillion.

"Go forth, my magic, and light this radiant area with your beauty!" Kirsch said, extending his hand vainly. His three subordinates immediately moved out, Vivianne taking to the skies.

"They're not moving!" Vivianne said. "Exactly like you said."

On Team B's side, Xerx and Mimosa stood looking at the sea of cherry blossoms that Kirsch had created. Mimosa's hands glowed with magic as she worked diligently to find an opportunity, and Xerx just stood cleaning out his ears.

"I can't seem to find an opening," Mimosa said worriedly. "That brother of mine's covered the whole field."

"We'll just let them walk into my traps, then," Xerx replied lazily, waving a hand.

"Like hell I'm waiting around here like a sitting duck!" Asta yelled, pulling out the Demon Slayer Sword.

"Brute forcing your way through might be a good idea," Lucia murmured, pouring a high amount of mana into the empty array she had created. "After all, you can erase magic."

"Wait, won't he-" Xerx started, but he was shot a pointed look by Lucia, which made him scowl and not say anything.

Asta took up a fighting stance, and began to spin rapidly through the cherry blossom covered field, dispelling some of the magic. Several black slashes flew throughout the field, cutting through the clones that Kirsch had made and the traps that Xerx had placed, dispelling them.

Several black slashes flew across the battlefield, tearing through the cherry blossoms and dispelling both Kirsch's clones and Xerx's traps. The abrupt dismantling of their tactics left both mages visibly shocked.

Kirsch gasped, clutching his chest dramatically. "My beautiful cherry blossoms... sullied by such barbarism!"

Xerx groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "You idiot! Do you even think before you swing that oversized butter knife?!"

Amid the chaos, Lucia smirked, her gaze fixed on Asta. This Black Bull... maybe he's not so bad after all.

As the Anti Magic dissipated from around him, Mimosa clasped her hands together. "Asta, that was amazing! You really turned the tide."

Asta grinned, brushing off her compliment. "Aw, thanks, Mimosa!"

Xerx, on the other hand, was far less amused. "Amazing? He wiped out everything, including my traps! You know, the ones meant to HELP us win?"

"Hey, at least you're finally being honest about something," Asta teased, sheathing his sword. "How about we actually work together, huh?"

Xerx crossed his arms. "Work together? With you? After you obliterated my strategy?"

Asta shrugged. "Then come up with another plan. You're supposed to be the brains, right?"

The remark earned Asta a glare, but after a long pause, Xerx sighed. "Fine. I guess there's no point arguing with an idiot who doesn't know how to shut up."

"That's the spirit!" Asta laughed, holding out a fist.

Ignoring the gesture, Xerx muttered, "Just so we're clear, I don't care about teamwork. I'll use you as a pawn to achieve my own goals."

Asta nodded, unbothered. "As long as we win together, that's good enough for me. So, what's the plan?"

Reluctantly, Xerx explained his magic and current capabilities, crafting a strategy that relied on Asta's power and Mimosa's support.

At Team C's location, Vivianne landed gracefully, her wings dissipating into sparkling feathers. "Kirsch, I've observed the battlefield. That Black Bull boy cut straight through your magic with his Anti Magic sword."

Kirsch's eye twitched. "Do you think I don't know that already? Such vulgarity... such filth. Commoners lack any appreciation for beauty."

Vivianne sighed. "With respect, sir, underestimating commoners is a mistake. Many of them are strong. Even your own squad has plenty of powerful commoners."

Kirsch looked genuinely appalled. "I will not be tainted by such thoughts! The only reason they remain is because Captain Dorothy has... peculiar tastes."

As Kirsch stewed in his disdain, Magna smirked. "Man, you really don't get it, do you? Commoners like Asta don't just talk big—they deliver. Better start taking this seriously."

Scoffing, Kirsch turned toward the battlefield. "Fine. Vivianne, you're with me. Sol and Magna, guard the crystal. I'll deal with this nuisance myself."

Back on the battlefield, Kirsch unleashed his Dance of 100 Million Cherry Blossoms, flooding the area with dazzling pink petals. Yet as the petals swirled, he couldn't sense Asta anywhere.

"Where is that wretched commoner?" Kirsch muttered, scanning the field.

Suddenly, Asta burst forth, his sword swinging. Kirsch's eyes widened as he hastily launched his spell.

"Cherry Blossom Magic: Crimson Requiem!"

The petals slipped through Asta's defenses, forcing him to retreat into a nearby cave.

"Foolish move," Kirsch sneered, approaching the cave. "Do you think you can hide from me?"

Vivianne called after him, "Wait! It could be a trap!"

"Nonsense. I will never take advice from a commoner," Kirsch declared, stepping inside.

Moments later, a loud crash echoed as Kirsch fell into a pit. Flailing in confusion, he shouted, "What is the meaning of this?!"

Xerx's voice rang out from above. "You fell into a trap. A non-magic one, genius. No mana to sense."

Kirsch glared up at him, attempting to fly out—only to be greeted by Asta, sword in hand.

"Sorry, Captain Kirsch," Asta grinned, leaping down. "Time to take you out!"

Kirsch tried to launch a spell, but it was effortlessly dispelled by Asta's blade. With one swift strike, Asta knocked Kirsch unconscious.

As Vivianne sensed Kirsch's mana fade, she sighed. "He should've listened," she muttered. "I'm going to go find that card girl."

…

Mimosa faced Sol, her grimoire glowing as her Magic Cannon Flower pulsed with energy. "You won't get past me!" Mimosa declared, releasing a brilliant beam of mana that struck Sol's earthen golem squarely in its massive arm, shattering it into chunks of dirt and debris.

Sol stumbled slightly but quickly regained her balance. "Not bad, flower girl," she said, smirking as her remaining golem arm rose defensively. "But you'll have to do better than that if you want to stop me."

Mimosa frowned, her golden locks swaying as she prepared another spell. However, Sol slammed her remaining golem arm into the ground with a mighty roar. "Earth Magic: Dirt Clod Seal!"

The ground beneath Mimosa erupted as jagged, compressed chunks of earth spiraled around her like shackles, binding her arms and legs. She struggled against the restraints, but Sol's magic held firm.

"I have to admit," Sol said, dusting herself off, "you've got some impressive firepower, as expected from a royal. But me? I'm not really into hurting women. So, you just stay right there and be a good little flower while I handle the rest of your team."

Mimosa glared at her captor, her grimoire trembling as she tried to muster enough mana to break free. "You underestimate me," she muttered, but Sol was already walking away, her attention elsewhere.

"Now, where's Magna? Hope he's giving the other team a hard time," she muttered.

…

Xerx leaned against the rough stone wall, arms crossed, his trademark smirk firmly in place as he stared at the unconscious Kirsch Vermillion lying at the bottom of the pitfall. He let out an exasperated sigh. "For someone who struts around like he's the pinnacle of nobility, he sure fights like an amateur. Over-relying on his magic like that—it's just pathetic."

Asta, crouched by the edge of the pit, checked Kirsch's pulse with genuine concern. "Man, Xerx, you really don't hold back, do you? He's already out cold, and you're still roasting him."

Xerx rolled his eyes, flicking dirt from under his fingernails. "Why should I care? If you rely on one trick, you deserve to fall on your face. That's life."

Asta frowned but chose not to argue. Instead, he let out a low whistle as he glanced at the intricacy of the pitfall. "Still… that was one heck of a trap. I don't even know how you managed to pull this off. Gotta say, Xerx, you've got a sharp head for strategy!"

Xerx's smug demeanor faltered for the briefest moment, caught off guard by the unexpected compliment. He quickly recovered, waving Asta off with mock irritation. "What's with you? Still acting chipper after all that digging. Are you even human?"

"Just doing my part!" Asta said with a grin, slapping his knee. "Digging holes is nothing compared to the strength I've trained for. But man, now I've gotta think of how to keep the crystal safe."

Xerx smirked. "Don't bother. I've already set up more traps around the entrance. He's not getting out of here without stumbling into one of them."

Asta rubbed the back of his head nervously. "Uh, doesn't that seem a bit... extreme? He's already down for the count. Isn't burying him alive kinda overkill?"

Xerx's eyes glinted mischievously. "And what if he wakes up, huh? That pompous twit has enough mana to blast us to the moon if he gets serious. Better safe than sorry."

Before Asta could respond, a burst of heat and light flooded the cavern entrance.

"Finally!" a loud, gravelly voice echoed through the chamber. Magna Swing slid to a stop, his Base Run Gamble spell leaving scorched tracks in the ground. His fiery aura crackled as he tossed his baseball in the air, catching it with an eager grin.

"About time I got a real shot at you, Asta!" Magna declared, his confidence radiating like the flames that surrounded him.

Asta stood, his hand tightening around his sword's hilt. "Magna! So you're finally here!"

"Damn right I am," Magna shot back. He smirked, winding up for his next pitch. "You've been causing all kinds of trouble, and I've been itching to show you what I've been working on. Consider this payback for that 'baptism ritual' back at the Black Bulls!"

He threw the fireball, a swirling mass of heat and mana that shot straight at Asta like a comet. Asta readied himself, gripping the Demon Slayer Sword tightly as he swung it with all his strength. The fireball vanished—only to reappear inches from the crystal.

"What the—?!" Asta's eyes widened as the flame struck true, sending a shockwave through the cavern.

Magna laughed, his voice full of triumph. "That's my Extreme Killing Vanishing Fireball! Pretty sick, huh? Teleports right past your defenses and hits the target before you even know it!"

Asta gritted his teeth, turning back to Magna with renewed determination. "Alright, so you've got tricks. Fine! But I'm not going down without a fight!"

Xerx, observing the exchange, clicked his tongue in irritation. "Hey, musclehead," he called out, glaring at Asta. "I've got an idea, but it's gonna take me about five minutes to set it up. Think you can hold him off until then?"

Asta grinned, slamming his sword into the ground. "Five minutes? No problem! I'll keep him busy as long as you need."

Magna cracked his knuckles, his grin widening. "You think you can last that long against me? Bring it on, shrimp!"

…

Lucia braced herself as Vivianne's Ion Hurricane slammed into her hastily drawn barrier emanating from the tower card. The powerful wind magic shredded the air around her, sending sparks of mana flying in every direction.

"You're wasting your time, Lucia," Vivianne taunted, her voice carrying an icy edge. "Whatever you're trying to pull off with that fancy array, it won't matter if you can't survive my next attack."

Lucia smirked, sweat dripping down her brow as she focused on her array. The mana it was gathering swirled violently, nearing completion. "You're pretty strong," she admitted, her voice calm despite the pressure. "But you're also a little impatient."

Vivianne frowned, her keen eyes narrowing. "What's that supposed to—"

Before she could finish, a sudden flash of light erupted from the array, and two of Lucia's cards hovered in the air: The Magician and The World. They began to spin, merging into a single new card radiating with golden light.

"Behold!" Lucia declared triumphantly. "The Abundance!"

Vivianne raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Cute. What's it do?"

Lucia's confidence wavered. "What's it do? It's only one of the most powerful spells in my arsenal!"

Vivianne shrugged, summoning another Ion Hurricane. "Don't care. Let's see if it's worth the hype."

Lucia growled, taking offense. "For such a small fucking girl, you're a mouthy bitch!"

"Ohhh, I'll show you mouthy!" Vivianne replied, locking in. Vivianne's expression hardened as she raised her hands, summoning a devastating tempest. The air around her crackled with power.

"Tempest Magic: Cyclonic Cataclysm!" she screamed, sending a huge whirlwind crackling with electricity and overwhelming power at her.

Lucia braced herself, her smirk unwavering as The Abundance card glowed in her hand. The whirlwind hurtled toward her, tearing through the battlefield—but as it collided with the card's aura, the spell dissolved into shimmering particles of mana, absorbed entirely.

Vivianne's eyes widened in shock. "What the hell?! That was one of my best spells!"

Not ready to back down, she rapidly fired off a series of smaller yet powerful wind magic attacks, from razor-sharp gusts to concentrated air bullets. Each attack was effortlessly absorbed by The Abundance, which began glowing brighter and brighter with an overwhelming golden hue.

Lucia raised the card triumphantly, ready to strike back. "Ready to see why this is called The Abundance?" she teased, her voice dripping with confidence.

Vivianne's panic was clear. "Oh, hell no. Nope. Not doing this shit!"

Lucia faltered, lowering her arm slightly. "What's wrong? Scared?"

Vivianne huffed, floating back a few feet. "Scared? No. Smart? Yes. You just absorbed my most powerful spells like they were snacks. Whatever you're about to do, I'm not sticking around to be the idiot who finds out!"

Without another word, Vivianne turned and shot off like a rocket, flying back toward Kirsch's location at top speed.

Lucia watched her go, the glow of The Abundance still radiating in her hand. She sighed, her triumphant grin softening. "Coward. Guess I'll save this for someone who's worth it."

…

While unconscious, Kirsch drifted into a memory from his childhood, one he had never been able to forget. He had witnessed a young, starving boy steal food from a noble estate. The child's hands trembled as he clutched a loaf of bread, and his face was a mix of terror and desperation. Kirsch's immediate reaction was disdain, calling it a display of ugliness unbecoming of their world. When he recounted the incident to Mimosa later, he had sneered, "Such filth has no place among the noble. Beauty must always triumph." Yet deep down, even as a boy, he had felt a pang of discomfort, an unshakable sense that his words didn't align with the emotions stirring within him.

A sharp slap across his cheek jolted him from the memory. His eyes fluttered open to see Vivianne standing over him, her hand still raised and her stormy wind magic crackling faintly in the air. She crossed her arms, smirking with a mix of annoyance and amusement.

"Finally awake, Sleeping Beauty?" Vivianne said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Where's all that flair and gusto you had during your last match? Or is this it?"

Kirsch blinked, groggy but quickly recovering his usual composure. He scowled. "You dare strike my face? A commoner of all people?"

Vivianne rolled her eyes but didn't back down. "You're welcome, by the way. But listen up—I'm not here to play nice. I've got a family depending on me, and if I make it into the Royal Knights, that means a better life for them. So I fight with everything I've got. What about you? Do you have anything worth fighting for that doesn't involve stroking your oversized ego?"

Her words hit harder than the slap. For a moment, Kirsch's mind flashed to Lars, his subordinate; someone he felt oddly responsible for. He envisioned their inevitable clash in the finals. It wasn't just about defeating Lars; Kirsch saw it as an opportunity to inspire the younger mage with the beauty of his magic, to help him see past his bitterness and resentment of his sister, and to guide him toward a better path.

He smirked, his confidence returning in full force. "Hmph. Commoner or not, you make a fair point. Very well, I shall rise. Not for you, of course, but for beauty and inspiration! Now, stand back and let me show you what true magic looks like!"

Back in the cavern, Asta was barely keeping up with Magna's relentless onslaught. Each fireball came faster and hit harder, and his Anti-Magic sword was beginning to feel heavy in his hands. Sweat dripped down his face as he focused on deflecting the incoming attacks. Magna, however, seemed to grow more energized with every spell he cast, his smirk widening as he kept the pressure on.

"This is perfect for me!" Magna thought, his mana flaring around him. "I'm not royalty, and I don't have fancy magic, but I'll show everyone what I can do!"

Asta gritted his teeth, his mind racing. "He's not letting up… but I can't lose here. I have to hold out."

Magna's smirk turned into a full grin. "The finals will be me versus Luck, and there's no way I'm losing before then!" he shouted, unleashing another barrage of fireballs.

Just as Asta prepared to deflect another attack, Kirsch suddenly reappeared, his flamboyant presence filling the cavern.

"Oh, great," Asta groaned. "Now I've got to deal with him too?"

Kirsch struck a dramatic pose, his voice oozing with disdain. "Prepare yourself, peasant! You dared to mar my flawless face, and for that, you shall be punished!"

Magna raised an eyebrow, momentarily distracted. "You're still on about that?"

Xerx, who had been silently working on his spell throughout the chaos, finally looked up. "Don't worry about Magna," he said to Asta. "I've got him covered. You deal with the peacock."

Kirsch's cherry blossom magic filled the air, swirling elegantly as he prepared his attack. Asta swung his sword, cutting through the blossoms with ease. Kirsch's jaw tightened in fury.

"How dare you erase my beautiful magic!" he shouted. "Fine, I'll destroy your crystal myself!"

Vivianne interjected, summoning a tempest. "Excuse me? Air superiority is my thing!"

Kirsch flicked his hair dramatically, ignoring her protests. "Do stay out of my airspace, darling."

Before he could strike, Kirsch triggered one of Xerx's traps. A magical circle appeared beneath him, immobilizing him in midair. Asta seized the opportunity, leaping forward and delivering a clean blow that knocked Kirsch unconscious once again.

As Team B began to celebrate their apparent victory, Sol emerged from the shadows, her massive golem charging toward their crystal. The ground shook with each step, and Asta prepared to intercept, but the golem froze just before impact. Vines snaked around its limbs, halting its movement entirely.

"Mimosa?" Asta asked, confused.

Mimosa, her hands glowing with magic, forced the golem to shift, revealing Team C's crystal hidden within its chest.

"It's all you, Asta!" Mimosa yelled, and that was all the get-go that the Black Bull needed.

Asta prepared to strike, but Lucia arrived, her Abundance card glowing brighter than ever. She raised her hand, and with a single motion, unleashed a massive golden blast of magic. The explosion obliterated Team C's crystal in an instant, reducing it to nothing but light blue dust, leveling a portion of the forest and sending Sol flying off her golem.

Lucia landed gracefully, her voice calm but commanding. "You've done enough, Asta. Leave the rest to me."

The dust settled as the officials' announcement rang out across the battlefield. "Team B are the winners of the match!"

A/N: Card Magic is so fun to write. Also I'm finally back in the New Year, and ready to improve my writing! thank you for everyone who's supported me thus far.

Funni lore drop:

Remember how Russell mentions Vanessa in one of my filler chapters? You probably don't, but anyways - it's because he dated Vanessa for a bit before they broke up due to Russell's parents (still very important nobles) not allowing him to date a random witch from the Black Bulls.