The Equestrian Anti-Magic Knight
Chapter 80: Dungeon Crawlers!_!
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Asta stood in his room staring into the night sky. Secre looked at him with unwavering eyes as usual. The black grimoire floats up and opens. From its pages comes the Demon Dweller sword in its magic form. Asta summons the blade from the book to his hand then holds it up above his head to look into his reflection.
"Tomorrow we'll get the order to go exploring a Dungeon Secre," he tells the little anti-bird. "That is where this world's Demon Dweller sword is sealed away. In some sort of side room to the main holding room. It would be a great asset to had to my power..."
He turns to look at the little bird.
The bird just blinks.
"But I'm not that's sword's true wielder," He sighs. "But I do know who is. After I retrieve it I'll have to deliver it. I'm not looking forward to this next quest...." He tightens his grip on the sword. "Hopefully the sparring sessions with Luck will have done the trick in helping change his mentality. I think I'll have one first thing tomorrow with him just to reinforce the lesson.
"He returns the sword into the grimoire and placed it on the desk.
"Time for sleep right now," he yawns laying down on his bed and quickly falls asleep.
The next day...
Vanessa was awoken from her boozed induced slumber by loud booms that rattled the very rafter in the house.
"Aaaaaa...." She groans. "It's too early for this crap.... who the hell is making all that noise? It's so bad I can't even ignore it like usual."
"Yea that would be our resident battle freak and our resident oddball," Finral says nonchalantly as he flips through his newspaper. Dust and debris fill from the house and he simply opened up portals sending them elsewhere.
The was another loud boom that shook the windows.
"Man, they're really going at today," Carmy remarks with a mouth full of food before swallowing. "I don't think they've ever faced off with each other this hard before."
"TWENTY ON ASTA!" Magna shouts from outside.
"FOOLS BET, THIRTY ON LUCK!" Yami laughs after that.
"Are they really bitting on who's going to win?" Vanessa rubs her head. "Oh my pore migraine..."
"Your own fault for drinking so much," Finral shrugs. "And this is Yami and Magna, so you tell me," Vanessa sighs with a nod.
Gauche was working on a statue of his little sister with a bit of blood running down from his nose, "Oh my dear Marie... I do so wish I could be with you," more rattling, "This fighting is nearly distracting from finishing my latest sculpture... How bothersome..."
Gordon murmurs something about how he to wished he could deepen his bond of friendship with everyone through sparring and battle, though he went unnoticed again. He was used to it but found solace in the fact that Asta actually conversed with him. The boy had no problem understanding exactly what the older man said nearly one-hundred percent of the time and was constantly pushing him to speak up more.
Outside...
"HAHAHA!" Laughed Luck. "THIS IS SO MUCH FUN!" I big creepy smile on his face the whole time, 'No one ever wanted to spar with me except and they couldn't keep up except for the captain. But Asta, he's ready to every time I ask! I can't help but get into with him!"
Asta brought his leg down hard sending Luck whirling into other ground sending out a shockwave.
"You're getting better at thinking straight when fighting Luck," Asat says but Luck suddenly bursts from the dust cloud with and electric claw but Asta counters and throws the berserker over his shoulder.
Yami and Magna were both cheering from the sidelines.
"Hey Yami, don't you think it's a bit odd for Asta too much Luck?" Magna asks.
"Yea, Normally I would agree with you there," Yami crosses his arms. "But given how strong our little newbie is without magic it really throws it out the window."
"I know he's strong but still..." Magna looks at the two enjoying their fight, "He's fighting bare-handed and without magic1
Yami points as the two collide, "He has an auto-defense."
"Auto-defense?" Magna raised an eyebrow. "What the hell is that?!"
"It's something that normally martial arts train rigorously to get," Yami let a cigarette. "And even then, they rarely ever achieve. It's a skill where the body naturally defends itself and turns as hard as steel. He clearly knows he has it but he can't whip it out whenever he wants. That usually takes a lot longer to learn."
"But if it takes years then how can he do it?" Magna scratched his head.
"Cause he trained every day ya idiot," Yami berates. "Probably went through hell for days at a time just to even get it up there."
As he finished an owl comes through a portal and drops a letter off for him before flying right back into the portal.
"Let's see here..." Yami remarks as he opens the letter and reads t. "AHAHAHAHAHA!" He slaps his knee. "This is great! Just what they need!" He stands up, "As soon as they're done bring them into the house," He waved the letter.
"This is gonna be great! AHAHAHAHA!" He laughs while walking over as another explosion of dust erupts behind him.
Inside...
Noelle walks down the stairs into the main area when more shaking causes her to miss-step, slipping and falling on her butt.
"Owwww..." she says standing up and rubbing her sore behind. "What's with all the rattling around here? It's way more than usual."
Secre then flew down and landed on her shoulder.
"Oh hello there," She looks at the bird, 'So cute!' "Aren't you usually with Asta though?"
The bird points at the window where Asta and Luck collide on the other side, wide grins on their faces.
"Really? This early in the morning?" Noelle deadpans. "I mean I know he trains this early in the morning but fighting? Really?"
"Hey sometimes a good scrap is the best way to wake up in the morning," Yami counters as he walks in. "It helps the blood get flowing..."
There was a loud crash outside and several.
"HAHA! My win!" Asta proudly laughs.
"YEYAH!" Magna yells, "Captain Yami OWES ME BIG MONEEYYYYYY!"
"Tsh, damn it..." Yami scowls.
"Oh, man...." Luck pouts. "I lost... Oh well.. wanna go again?"
"Later smiley Magee," Magna counters. "Captain wants to see you two inside."
"I guess I better get started on my training," Noelle starts to walk away when Yami suddenly grabs her by the head.
"You stay," Yami demands and holds up the letter he got earlier. "You and the brawlers have a mission sent directly from the Wizard King Himself."
"Sweet. A mission," Asta says as he and the others walk in. "Any details other than that Captain?"
"Just that you three won't be the only group he's sending in," Yami says as smoke comes out of his mouth. "You'll be competing with a group from the Golden Dawn and the Blue Rose Knights."
Finral grabs the note, "Hmmm, I can get you guys pretty close to the dungeon you're supposed to explore that way you can conserve your magic, but you're still gonna have to fly a good ways to get there."'
"Alright, then no time like the present!" Asta pumps himself up along with Luck, "I hope there's a big powerful dungeon boss!"
"Why me..." Noelle wines while Secre pats the back of her neck before flying over to Asta's shoulder.
Outside the Dungeon...
Asta sets Noelle on the ground having carried her as he used his sword to travel to conserve his mana. Luck used his lightning creation magic to make a pair of armor boots and ran after them on his own physical power. The group was there in under ten minutes and as the letter said, they weren't the only ones there.
Yuno, Klaus, and Mimosa were there along with Twilight, Sol, and another, rounder, member of the Blue Rose Knights who wore blue eyeshadow, a lot of red lips, and had her hair pulled back in several buns.
What caught Asta's eye was Twilight and her attire.
(This exact look but with more of a human with lavenderish white porcelain skin-tone and no horn)
Asta had a small drop of blood run down from his nose. Noelle noticed him looking at her but said nothing and seethed in jealousy but then examined her own self and then looked back at Twilight and eyed her form up and down. Her head fill flat as she put her hands on her breasts under her Bull's Rober.
"Wow she's pretty," Luck says as he pops up, "You know her?"
"Uh wha?!" Asta was pulled back into reality.
"You might want to wipe your nose and stop gawking before they come over here," Noelle scoffs, "And best get any and all ideas out of that thick head of yours Asta. They're with the Blue Rose Knights. They're very well known for their bitterness toward all men, even their own members who they use as maids and go-getters."
"I gotta agree with Noelle there," Luck laughs as Asta hastily wipes his nose on his glove. "If she's with those ladies she's way out of reach."
"Relax," Asta played it off. "Me, Yuno, and Twilight all grew up together in Hage."
"Wait you all grew up together?" Noelle quickly asks a bit flustered. "Wait, if you three all grew up together in the same village then that would make her the other..."
"Yep," Asta crosses his arms with a confident smirk, "She the final four-leaf grimoire holder in our little triad of commoners,"
'Though her grimoire is really a six-leaf clover and not four. She placed an illusion spell and lock on it to make it look like a four-leaf grimoire.', "He thinks as he flatly looks off to the side.
"NOELLE!" Mimosa yells as she rushes over. "I didn't know they were sending you!" she remarks as she hugs the silver-haired lass.
"Oh hey, Mimosa it's good to see you too," Neolloe awkwardly chuckles. "It's been a while hasn't it?"
"Sure has!" Mimosa happily giggles.
"Hey, Yuno what's up?" Asta smirks, holding up his fist.
"Not much," Yuno smirks as he returns the fist bump. "Did you get your project done?"
"Hell yea," Asta grins confidently as he crosses his arms. "Yo Klaus, good to see you!" He holds up his hand.
Noelle is taken aback by the very informal greeting her comrade just gave to a member of the esteemed Lunettes family, his eyes hidden behind the glare of sunlight on his glasses. She was then even more thoroughly shocked when said mand simply returned the gesture with his own extended hand and the duo shook with a well-affirmed grip.
"It's to see you again Asta," Klaus confidently smiles. "It appears we have the chance to work together again, but this time officially sanctioned."
"Yep," Asta smiles as he releases the man's hand.
Mimosa then shrinks back, hiding behind Noelle with a bit of pink in her cheeks.
"How do you two know each other?" Noelle abruptly interrupts the bromance.
"Oh ah...." Mimosa speaks up. "We all ran into Asta about a week or so ago when we were on a mission out. There was a bit of a hassle with a noble and Asta was in the same area and took out the noble's hired goons on his own."
"Wait you met him too?!" Noelle says with a hint of jealousy and worry.
"Oh yes, we all had dinner at the church where Asta's and Yuno grew up," Mimosa happily smiles causing Noello to s=freese slightly.
"While I can't say it wasn't an unpleasant time I'm still would rather not do it again," Klaus coughs into his hand.
"He was stuck in the bathroom for three days after eating pot potatoes," Yuno smirks.
"Yea if you're not used to them they can be a bit of a gulley washer for your guts," came a new voice that Yuno and Asta knew all too well.
"Twilight!" the boys say as they are both wrapped in a warm hug of arms and boobs.
"Its good to see you guys!" Twilight laughs.
"Air..." they both wheeze out.
"Sorry..." she quickly releases them as Noelle pouts with a sour look as she looks in another direction while Mimosa nervously fidgets in place. "Anyways, it's good to see you both. I haven't seen too much of either of you except in passing. What ave you been up to?"
"Training, missions, general stuff," Asta shrugs. "You know."
"Pretty much the same," Yuno nods.
"Let me introduce you guys to my comrades from the Blue Rose, "Twilight motion the other. "This is Sol," She points to the tall lady.
"Great. Nothing but men to get in our way," She scoffed.
"You get used to that," Twilight bitterly smirks with a twinge before moving on to the round woman. "And this is-"
"Puli Angel," She introduces herself. "And don't let Sol's attitude towards men fool you. Not all of Blue Rose is that way. She's just her and the Captain is just that way too, but doesn't see the need to show as much animosity. Tell me, how do you two know our rising star Twilight?"
"We grew up together," the boys say in unison.
"That makes sense," Puli nods.
"And what do you mean rising star?" Noelle asks.
"Finally someone speaks up worth listening to," Sol smirks, "And it means just what it sounds like. Twi here is on the path to be the next captain of the Blue Rose Knight, Second only to me and Char!"
"Of course, she is," Asta smiles while Twilight's face turns red from embarrassment. "She's always shown promise with magic. Even when we were kids she was able to use Sister Lily's Hammer of Love water spell."
"Yea I bit she used it on the both of you to keep you in line," Solsnidely comments.
"Actually, Asta and Yuno were the only ones I could never hit with my spell," Twilight replies, shooting down Sol causing the tall amazon to fall back. "Yuno's wind magic and Asta's overwhelming physical strength and combat training simply made the both of them too fast."
"Hi, I'm Luck!" Luck happily jumps in front of Twilight. "I can tell you're really strong! Wanna fight?"
"Ah, so you're the lightning magic senor type prodigy I've heard about," Twilight remarks with twinkles in her eyes as she grasps his hands. "I'd love to fight and study you some time!"
Luck just stares at Twilight in awe, sensing her immense magical power from his direct contact with her.
"There she goes again," Puli chuckles.
"Every new magic she in counters," Sol sighs as she rubs the back of her head.
Asta laughs aloud while Yuno lets out a single chuckle.
"Urf," Klaus clears his throat while drawing everyone's attention. "Well, I do believe it's time to go dungeon exploring. And front the looks of things we may not be the only ones in there..." He points to the busted inward doors.
"Looks like we can have some fun then," Asta smirks as he cracks his knuckles.
"I'm down for a good fight," Luck smiles as the duo rush in.
"Wait we need to stick together!" Noelle calls out as she chases after them.
"Ah..." Klaus just looks with a raised finger.
"Best not to ask Klaus," Yuno sighs with a smirk. "I think it's better if we do split up actually."
"At the very least we should split up in our individual Knight units," Twilight adds. "That way we can explore the dungeon but also still be in groups. I wouldn't worry too much about them though," She giggles as she turns and walks towards the dungeon's opening, "After all, Asta has more than enough skill to know what's inner here," she says to herself.
"Shall we then?" Mimosa smiles.
"Let's," Klaus lets out a strained sigh as his group follows.
Inside the Dungeon...
Asta and Luck ran on while Noelle tried her best to keep up with her much more athletic compatriots.
"I think that's far enough," Asta says with an abrupt halt.
"Awe no more race?" Luck pouts.
"You and I both know your more interested in the other intruders here,"Asta says as he notes the sinister grin growing on Luck's face. "Your senior officer so you give the orders, or would you rather run-off and fight?"
"Definitely the second one!" Luck proclaimed as he darted off in a separate corridor.
As sighs as Noelle managed to finally catch up, "What.... happened.. to sticking... together?" she wheezed.
"He was reaching his limit," Asta rubs the back of his head with a sigh. "The taste of battle is to great to resist for this senpai."
"That's the second time I've heard you say that," Noelle says with her hands on her knees. "It is a phrase or something?"
"What senpai?" Asta raised an eyebrow as takes a water canteen out from his black grimoire and handed it to Noelle who graciously accepted while nodding. "It's just a phrase from my homeland that translates to senior member. Its mainly used in the case of someone with a higher rank or seniority in a school."
"Makes sense I guess," Noelle says as she drinks, "Thanks. And how di you pull that out of your grimoire and what are we going to do now?"
"My black grimoire is more like a storage place I found out," Asta placed the canteen back in the book. "As for what we do... We keep moving. Give me a second. "He walks over to the wall and closed his eyes before he slammed his palm into in it hard enough to cause an echo to ring out but soft enough to not damage the structure. "Senpai is on a direct course for one of them. The other knights are branching out into other areas." He points, "If we keep heading this way and take a few turns we should hit the main treasure room where another individual it at."
"How do you know all that?" Noelle looks at Asta creeped out slightly.
"It's a form of echolocation," Asta chuckles, "It's part of blind martial arts training and hunting cave dwellers and borrowing quarry. It has its uses like this instance for recon but if I really want to use it with proficiency I have to close my eyes constantly, which I can but I'd much rather see."
"You have some of the weirdest abilities," Noelle raised an eyebrow. "But if you grow up in a land without magic I guess you'd have to develop your senses and other skill in order to survive."
Asta gets in front of her and bends down, "Come on," he looks over his shoulder slightly. "I'll carry you on my back for a while. You're still tired after that run and still recovering. I'd rather have you fighting at full strength pulse we can beat the others if I do all the leg work. I'm faster after all."
Noelle just stood there and fidgeted slight as she looked off to the side.
Asta sighs and readied to stand up, "I'm not going to force you if you don't want-"
Noelle wrapped her arms around Asta's neck, "You better not get handsy or any other smart ideas mister!"
"Hai," Asta chuckles as wraps his arms around her legs and easily lifts her up. "Hold on!" He smirks.
"Oh no..." Noelle remarks as he immediately regretted what she's done as Asta bound forward with a single step.
She was taken aback by the force Asta used to cover such distances on his sword before but this was somehow different from when he held her in his arms. No, this time she could truly admire his strength. She also took note of his back and how broad it was. Her face began to heat up slightly from such thoughts. She then notice he actually had what looked like scars just below his shirt collar.
'He's worked so hard for this strength...' She thought, 'Strength that we royals don't have... the strength that comes from surviving and not just living...'
They soon came into a large open area filled with floating blocks and water pouring from openings in the walls.
Asta stops on a block and lets Noelle down.
"Looks like Luck is having a bit of a hard time all by his lonesome," Asta kneels down looking over the edge.
Noelle peers over and sees Luck punching randomly as he was surrounded on all sides by a large cloud of black smoke. She immediately felt the magic power.
"Looks like it's the Diamond Kingdom's Hell Lotus and company," Asta explained.
"Do you think you can force him out of the clouds from here or do you need to get closer in order to use that new spell yours?"
Noelle looks over, "I think I'll need to be closer. It's not a real spell after all so I have no definite control over its accuracy." She scouts out the area and points to a block, "If you can get me over there it should close the gap enough."
"Alright," Asat says as he swiftly picks her up bridal style startling the girl. "No screaming, Insect breathing," he says as he controls his blood flow and dashes across the blocks. "You unload from here," he says as he puts her down.
"Right," Noelle nods as Asta vanishes into a blur. Running over to the side Noelle pulls out her wand and concentrates, "Takes this Sea Dragon's Tears!" She shouts as she starts to fire water balls randomly into the smoke cloud.
Asta in the meantime darts around the blocks, "Never thought I'd use this power Ed," he remarks as he claps his hands together and with a brief flash of blue electricity and prepares to slam into a black form above, "Destruction Palm!" He yells as he slammed his hand into the block.
The structure immediately was covered in a spark of electricity and procured to break apart. Asta then threw his other hand forward and the debris scattered like buckshot out of a shotgun. Several people cried out in pain as they were pelted with the make-shift stone cannonballs.
Asta saw Luck was bound in smoke bindings. A man with black hair came out of the smoke with a sword made of smoke coming from behind him.
Summoning his grimoires Asta shot down and pulled out his newest weapons from his Black grimoire and crossed them in an X and caught the man's sword with his own.
(Gentle Darkness)
(Light of Destruction)
Asta glares at the man who summons another smoke sword and the two start to exchange a flurry of blows in an extravagant dance of blades. Luck stares in awe at his junior's tenacity in the fight. He wasn't fighting to enjoy himself no, he was fighting to save his colleague.
The man smirks, "Have to say kid your really good," he says as he locked blade with Asta. "Your talents are wasted in on this guy though. All he cares about is fighting!"
"So what if he likes to fight!" Asta counters as he forced the man back whit slashes of light and dark magic shocking the assailant. "He still cries!" He charged and led with a swipe from his black sword. "He still cares! He's my comrade and most of all his m y fellow knight and Friend!" Asta sent a slash of light forcing the man to retreat into the smoke.
"Asta to the right!" Luck class out.
Asta quickly dropped his katanas and spun around pulling out his demon slayer. With a hard thud, hud dug the blade into his opponent's side sending him flying.
In the next moment, he was gone falling as in a wagon made of smoke with his mages piled inside it.
"Thanks for that," Asta says as he uses his Demon Dweller sword to cut Luck's binding and absorb the smoke spell into the blade.
"Ah it was no big deal," Luck played off the thanks. "If it hadn't been for you two I would've been done for. It sucks that he got away though."
"Can someone please get me down from here!" Noelle cries as the block she was on floats away. The boys look at each other and just laugh before Asat jumps after the girl.
At the same time elsewhere in the Dungeon...
Chains shot out and quickly wrapped themselves tightly around a pair of mages in white robes. The chains then slammed the mages into the floor then the ceiling and finally each other. The chains released the pair and retracted to their user, Twilight Sparkle.
"She really is something else isn't she Sol?" Puli chuckles as she and Sol follow behind Twilight. "I can see why she was even able to give the captain such a hard time."
"Yea," Sol proudly nods. "Even I have to admit Twi her own woman. Char even said if Twi really wanted to she could beat her if it was in an all-out one-on-one fight. Not only is she powerful and super smart but Twi's arsenal of spells is something else. She can also combine those spells into unique ones that only she can use."
"Perhaps we're looking at the future leader of the next Blue Rose," Puli chuckles. "Though I the name would change to the Lavender Rose Knights"
"Isn't that like two flowers in one?" Sol snickers. "Yea I could call Twi captain."
Twilight stops as the team comes to the floating block area, "Sounds like a battle is going on elsewhere in here," she remarks as she then goes on. "More treasure for use then."
"I'm down with that!" Sol runs after her.
"Seconded," Puli chuckles.
Sometime later...
Yuno breathed heavily as he wiped the blood from his mouth. Mimosa was behind him healing Klaus who was had taken a sword straight through his gut to the other side of his back. Yuno was doing what he could to protect them while Mimosa did what she could to close Klaus's wounds but due to constant interference from the enemies she was having a lot of difficulties.
Though there was only one mage there were several enemies.
"Damn!" Yuno curses as he throws up a wind barrier as crystal cutlasses try and kill him and his party.
"It is pointless to struggle," came an emotionless tone. "It is obvious you will all die here. Do you know why?" The man steps forward.
(Mars)
Yuno glares at him.
"I shall tell you though you already know it," he raises his hand and grimoire floats up. "It is simple I am strong and your a weak there for you must fall to me. Now Crytal Magic: Leviathan..."
A giant crystal sword appeared above Mars's hand.
"Now you shall die," Mars says with no mention and drops his hand swing the massive sword.
Yuno closed his eyes waiting for the impact but it never came. He opens his eye again to see Asta holding the massive sword back with his demon slayer's flat.
"You did good," Asta smirks.
Chains then shoot out of nowhere. They proceed to wrap around the crystal man and smashed them together causing cracks to form through their bodies. Feathers then proceeded to enter the cracks and expand outward, shattering the puppets to piece.
Yuno looked to see Twilight and her group.
"You still can't do anything alone," Twilight smiles as she joins the two boys.
Asta forces the gigantic sword back with one pus and then cuts it in half with the edge of the slayer.
Mars's eyes open slightly, "More weaklings matter not," He starts to cover himself in crystal and grows to a gigantic humanoid form. "For I am strong and will kill you all... Crystal Magic: Heavy Armor Titan."
"I got this one," Sol jumps out and activates her grimoire. "Earth creation Magic! Rampaging Mother Earth!" A massive humanoid form emerged from the floor and Sol jumps on its shoulder.
"Alright, big girl, let's show these boys they're not needed and put that arrogant prick in his place!" Sol points and her golem roars before charging forward and locks hand with Mars's titan. The two proceeded in an all-out slug fist of giants.
"Look out!" Asta rockets out and collides with another giant sword that formed while Sol had been fighting. "CAK!" Asta coughs up blood as he is sent flying through the dungeon.
Twilight watched then gritted her teeth at what happened. Her grimoire pulsed while her skin and hair start to darken and blue mana formed into a mask and spiral horn on her forehead. She through her hands out and countless chains shoot out and wrap around Mars's gigantic titan. She struggles to keep her consciousness in check as Sol laid into Mars.
Meanwhile, Puli angle hand joined Mimosa in healing Klaus. "You're quite skilled Mimosa but you let your emotions get the better of you this time," The rose knight comments as Klaus sits up.
"Easy," Noelle says. "You're out of the woods but you still in no shape o move around a lot," Comments having taken over Yuno shielding with her Sea Dragon's Nest
"Right thank you," Klaus winces in pain, "I didn't expect to see one of the Eight Shing General of the Diamond Kingdom down here."
"We ran into a guy Asta called Hell Lotus," Luck smiles. "He was really strong and was about to have me when Noelle and Asta stepped in to help."
"Sometimes I think my good luck is too much," Yuno comments as Puli and Mimosa work on healing him. "We came straight here and hit the big boss."
"It looks like we're managing now," Klaus adjusts his glasses, "But we won't be able to keep this up for long. Wait where's Asta?"
They all looked away.
Meanwhile, Sol was still barreling into Mars, "Just hang in there a little more Twi! I almost got the bastard!"
"Can't hold on much longer," Twilight strained as she fell to one knee and many of the chains start to snap.
"MOVE!"
Everyone turned to see Asta hold his slayer above his head shining extremely bright in a black and golden aura.
"Move now!" Klaus orders and Yuno act realizing what spell it was. The youth pulls everyone onto a boat off wind and zips towards Asta and off to the side
Twilight drops to her hands slightly relieved about Asta's return, "Sol, we need to move now!" She calls out.
"Then let's move!" Sol says.
"Out of mana..." Twilight huffs.
"We still have feet!" Sol snickers as she throws Twilight over her shoulder like a sack of pot potatoes and runs like hell.
She gets a look at Asta's face and from his right eye flowed dark magic and light magic from his left. On his forehead was a spinning symbol she didn't know.
As soon as they were out of the way Asta unleashed his spell, "Light/Dark Magic: Light of Darkness Spiral Destruction!" A torrent of magic spiraled out and tore into Mars.
Mars's titan struggles to bring up its arms, "I am stronger." he says.
Suddenly Asta shoots down the eye of the storm straight at Mars, "Water breathing! Water Slash!" he says as he switched his sword to anti-magic form and slashes Mars out of the titan and cuts through the massive doors that were behind the general at the same time.
Later in the treasure room...
"Man I wish I could've fought him," Look pouts as he looks at the unconscious Mars.
"YOU IDIOT!" Twilight and Noelle both yell at Asta in unison while he nervously snickers as he sits on the floor while Puli and Mimosa heal him. The two females in front berate him for his recklessness while the others heal him from behind.
"Quite alike and lively aren't they?" Puli chuckles.
"Yeaaa....hehehe...." Mimosa awkwardly chuckles.
"There sure is a lot of treasure in here!" Sol looks around. "We'll get a nice hall!"
Yuno see a scroll on a pedestal and move over to it.
"Be careful in here," Klaus warns, "We have no idea who built this dungeon let alone what kind of artifacts are in here."
Picking it up he feels a slight breeze coming from it. He undoes the bind and unfurls it to see a sparkling green script. A gust of wind erupts into his face before dying down. He looks down and is shocked to see the writing is gone.
"Didn't I just say to be careful Yuno!" Klaus scolds the youth.
"Oh ah..." he rolls the scroll up and places it in his scathel. "Sorry, it won't happen again sir," he bows and then continues to explore.
Twilight and Noelle let out sighs and both walked away. Noelle looks at Twilight and eyes her up and down.
"What?" Twilight quickly jabs.
"Oh sorry," Noelle turns away. "I ah... just wanted to know... what exactly is your relationship with Asta?"
"We grew up together," Twilight says. "Well, it's a bit more complicated than it is with Yuno. We've known each other from back when his parents were still alive. They would come to our village two or three times out of the year and live in the forest and do trade with our village. He and I would play together while his parents did business in town or with my parents."
"If you have parents then why are you here?" Noelle asked.
"I don't for the same reason Asta doesn't," Twilight scowled. "They died due to circumstances. My father was part of the town protectors and my mother got sick after he died. We couldn't afford medicine. After she died I ran away and looked for Asta. It wasn't long after his parents died I found him and we survived. We were out at sea and got caught in a storm. I was thrown overbroad and washed up several miles away from where he landed in the wreckage of our raft."
"I'm sorry," Noelle looks away.
"If you want to know more then ask me when I'm in a better mood, or run to Asta," Twilight turns her nose up and walks away. 'She really does have it bad for him... Hmhmhm... I hope Fluttershy lets her in if she comes back with us. 'She looks over to Mimosa, 'She reminds me of Fluttershy but more outspoken. I can see that she has a thing for spells. I think we'll get along nicely.'
"All done," Mimosa smiles.
Asta jumps to his feet, "Yea I feel a lot better. Only a little sore." He turns and looks at Mimosa with a big smile, "Thanks a lot Mimosa," he turns to Pulis, "Ms. Puli!"
"Oh well you know," Mimosa blushes. "It's the least I could do after you saved us."
"Not a problem dear," Puli smiles.
"Now if you'll excuse me ladies," Asta bows. "I need a word with Twilight," he turns and quickly sidesteps avoiding Sol and a face full of boobs. "You need to keep your wits about you lady."
"You better be talking about yourself kid?" Sol glowered at Asta.
"No I'm talking straight to you as you're the one who was walking," Asta retorted with his own stern glare, the one that reminded Sol of the one her captain gave her when she was pissed. "If you would then you would've picked up on the attack during your fight. Now, excuse me," he says as he walks away and towards Twilight.
"Oh hey," Twilight noticed him. "Sorry about being a bitch. Feeling better?"
"No, I kind of deserved it," Asta shrugs it off. He then holds up a piece of Mars crystal swords, "Here," he tossed it to her.
"Thanks," She snickers and analyzes it. "Not much different than Rarity's gemstone magic but this is pure. With this, I should be able to make pure gemstone like the ones from back home now."
"One more for you," Asta says as he pulls out his dweller from his black grimoire. The middle was an eerie black smoke color. "I absorbed a binding spell. You don't have many of them do you."
Twilight puts her hand on the blade and concentrates, "No, and especially not one like this. Thanks. I'll definitely make use of it."
"Well," Asta turns and goes off, "I'm going to explore," he holds the crystal sword up and looks at Twilight, "Got my eyes on some of that gold, but mostly the swords. Be careful Twi."
She nods once and he walks off.
In the dungeon...
"Let's see," Asta says as Secre points with a wing. "Well you know better than I do..." he walks on.
Asta soon came to a blank wall.
He points, "This one?" he knocks it with his knuckle while looking at the bird on his shoulder.
Secre nods.
Asta rubs his hand across the surface of the stone then concentrated. Using his earth being he punched the wall causing it to crumble away in chucks to reveal a spacious room on the other side. Asta looks around and sees many weapons lining the walls and floor of the chamber.
The dark magic knight smiles as he walks over to a very familiar sword and places a hand on its hilt and pulls it from its resting place to hold it up. Looking it over a few times he nods and looks over to Secre who nods in turn.
Asta places the sword inside his black grimoire then keeps looking around, "Ya know it would really be a shame to let all of these fine weapons just sit here and waist away," he remarks as the bird rolls its eyes. "Oh don't give me that. I can sell a lot of these axes and stuff for profit. I know there's a ton of gold out there but as a smith, I can't just let these works of art sit here and rot," he proudly proclaims and then giddily hops around and starts throwing the weapons into his grimoire
At the main entrance...
Mars's eyes open and look at the group. "You should've killed me," he says as he gets to his feet and his grimoire activates and flips to a page and he lights on fire, "Flame Recovery Magic: Pheonix Robes..."
Everyone stares in shock.
"He's like Asta," Noelle says in disbelief.
"No, he's a bit different," Luck smiles. "Unlike Asta, whose magics due represent two opposing forces they're still two sides of the same thing. Not only do light and dark oppose each other they also complement each other cause one can't exist without the other in order to maintain some form of balance."
Twilight looks intent at Luck.
"What's the difference between short stacks and this guy then?" Sol adds as she grabs him and lifts him by the collar.
"Fire and earth don't go together or complement each other at all," Luck points out as Sol shakes him. "It might be crystal but it's just a higher form of earth magic. They're not compatible at all!" He chuckles.
"I remember hearing tales from other knights that the Diamond kingdom goes as far as to experiment on youths in order to create more powerful mages for their army. Even going as far as to forcefully implant magic artifacts into the bodies of the subjects in order to amplify their magic," Klaus adjusted his glasses. He gets a better look at Mars, "Yes. I think he is one of these test subjects. Now that I've gotten a better look at him I can see several magic stones that are implanted in his body. It also explains why he's so strong. Even if he is a Shining general. They probably experimented on him first to see if they could create a duel magic wielder but he was deemed a failure as it seems he can only use that one spell. Then he was implanted with the augmentation stones to boost him."
"We've already spent most of our magic in our last fight with this guy," Sol says. "And shorty is in no shape to do that super move again. What do we do?"
"Don't forget he's also spent a great deal of magic too," Twilight adds as she activates her grimoire and summons her Demon Slayer. "Even if he does have magic he's nearly empty like us."
"And all we really need to do is get past him," Noelle points her wand.
"Really? But I wanna fight this time," Luck complains while everyone else glares, "Fine I get it. I don't think it would be very fun anyways..."
"None of you shall survive," Mars again replies, "Crystal Magic: Crystal Armor Titan and Harpe..." Once more crystal blades formed in the air and Mars was incased in his crystal titan form but this time he was covered in flames.
"This isn't good," Klaus glares as he summons his steel spiral lance. "He still has far more mana than all of us combined. I don't know if we can beat him.
Another giant crystal sword formed. Yuno watches on but the world soon freezes in time and turns grey. He looks around wondering what going on then notices a small fairy floating next to him and yawning as if she'd just woke up from a nap.
"Ah?" he looks on as the fairy sends a puff of her breath at the sword and it immediately starts to crumble away. "What?"
Everyone stares and then looks at Yuno, who was just as dumbfounded.
"I hate to ask but where is the shrimp?" Sol asks. "Even if he can't use that super move he would come in handy right now..."
Back in the Armory...
"I never expect to see this here," Asta placed a hand on a suit of armor in front of him.
There was then a loud boom as the room shook.
"Damn it," He cursed. "I got so caught up in the weapons I completely forgot about Mars's recovery spell," he curses as the grimoire floats up and starts to pull the armor in, "I don't have time to collect his!" He cries as he tried to pull the blood away but quickly found he couldn't.
"Fuck," Asta runs over and picks up his Dweller sword. Once the book was done it returned to his side and he pulls the Slayer from the pages again. "You and I are going to have words later," he looks at the book. "I don't have time for this now though, Sun Breathing," he took in a deep breath, "Plus air bending," he starts to float and with one kick rocketed through the air as if he were a jet plane.
The Entrance...
Noelle had let Twilight see her grimoire during the early part of their battle with Mars and the duo had managed to cast a double Sea Dragon’s Nest water barrier around themselves and the others. They had all put up a furious offensive agains t the Shining General with the last of their strength. Though it was all for not as they had bled themselves dry of their mana and were now depending on Noelle and Twilight stave off death as long as they could and from what they save in the hastily conjure double barrier, it wouldn’t be long.
The crystal blades spin like saws trying to cut through Noelle and twilight’s combined barrier. They were both nearly drained of their power.
‘You’re going to die unless you use my power,’ Twilight heard in the back of her mind.
It was a voice she’d only come to hear in the recent months after reconnecting with her grimoire in the tower. It was a voice that promised power and anything she wanted in exchange. It sounded so much like her own but yet so different all at the same time.
Twilight shook her head and refocused her thoughts on the barrier.
‘Be that way my little sparkle but you but you can no loner ignore my voice since coming to this world like you did in the other world. It’s only a matter of time before you’ll come seeking me out, hehehe…’ the voice remarked with a fading snicker.
“You have certain lasted much longer than I thought you would,” Mars calls out. “Admirable and I acknowledge your strenght but I am stronger so therefore you must die,” he says as he creates another gigantic blade but this time the Titian armor grabs a hold of it. “Now die.”
He sings the sword down when suddenly a massive black disc comes in and effortlessly tears through Mars’s swords and puppets. Several black slashes then slam into the titan armor forcing it to stumble backward and drop the massive weapon that was in its grip. Just as it did Noelle and Twilight’s barrier gave out as the two fell flat on their stomachs from exhaustion. As it does it is cut in two pieces but this time it turns into black anti-magic and is absorbed by Asta’s Dweller sword. The black disc comes in and Asta’s catches it revealing it to be the massive Demon Slayer coated in a layer of anti-magic that was thrown and sought out any magic its wielder considered hostile.
“You are strong,” Mars says while he stomps forward. “But why was effort on those weaker than you? They matter not_”
“SHUT THE FUCK UP ASSHOLE!” Asta yells as he seethes with rage. His eyes having become slotted and his teeth sharp once more. “Strength this strength that! Yea yea I get it! You have power on physical strength to back it up but you have no drive or reason to use it. I can see it in your eyes,” he points his dweller at Mars, “A long time ago you had someone in your life that you used your strength for but then they did something that drove a knife in your back!”
Mars’s yes widened.
Asta slowly starts to walk forward, “Or that’s what your chose to believe for your self and the fact that your twist experimenters told yo and then said you have to be the strongest!” He boldly moved on, “I can see it. You loved her with all your heart and you think she betrayed you when she actually did what she did to have you live one!”
“What’s he talking about?” Sol grimaced . “He just need to shut up and beat that guy…”
“You’re wrong,” Krause winced as he stood up. “Asta… is trying to reach him… I can see it…i had a similar notion about the world until recently and… it was that boy that changed me…”
“You don’t know anything!” Mars shouts in anger finally show true emotions while charging forward. “Strength is the only thing you’d can rely on in this world and i am strong because I have it and I am strong because I AM ALONE!!!!!”
“No,” Asta remarks as he eyes glowed while and anti magic covers the right side of his body, “You’re strong for the sake of those you cared for and in turn care for you,” he says in multiple voices as air starts to flow around him and lifted him up of the ground.
Blue marks appeared all over his body and the Yin-Yang symbol glowed bright ly on his forehead. He rockets forward with a tornado coming from his waist. The Dweller returned to the black grimoire as Asta released his grip on it.
“THAT IS WHERE MY TRUE STRENGTH COMES FROM AND I WILL DIE FOR THOSE I CALL MY FRIENDS!” He roars.
Mar’s created another gigantic blade and Asta easily parried it away. He holds the Demon Slayer above his head and anti-turns the sword jet black. The weapon pulsed as if it had a heart beat and several red, yellow, and orange glowing lines start to spread over the blade.
Twilight’s eyes widened as she realized what he was was doing,We have to get out of here! NOW!”
“How we don’t have any mana left?” Noelle says.
“I think i can help,” Yuno says as he creates a boat of wind. “I’ll need help getting out of here though.”
“I really wanna see the fight but leave the directions to me,” Luck cheerfully pouts slightly.
“EVERYONE ON NOW!” Twilight points and everyone does as their told.
Meanwhile Asta’s sword pulsed and every time it did it grew in size until it started to cut into the ceiling. The dungeon started to fall apart as a result. The sword was now massive and burn with heat.
“CONTINENT DIVDER!” Asta roars as he bring the sword and ceiling down on Mars and his crystal titan armor with a single slash of the searing blade.
In a last ditch effort Mars sent several rapidly spinning sword the sliced into Asta.
“ASTA!” Noelle, Twilight, Luck, Mimosa, and Yuno cried about as they saw what happened.
Yuno quickly rushed over and caught the boy. Altogether the cuts weren’t like threatening but he would bleed out in minute if they weren’t treated. Mimosa quickly went to work and used what mana she had left to heal him or at least keep him alive.
A Day later…
“Owww….” Asta groans as he sets up in bed. He turns his head and see twilight snooozing on his left side and then and tries to reach over be finds his can’t. He looks over to the right and see Noelle sleeping on his right. “Ah… okay…” he blinks a few times.
“Mmmm…” Noelle is the first to set up. She looks at Asta, “Good morning Asta…” she says before going to lay her had back down. She then immediately open s her eye, “Asta!” She shouts startling Twilight awake while she hugs him.
“I’m up!” Twilight snorts and then looks at the two
Asta just blushes while Noelle holds his head to her just.
“Urrmm,” Twilight clears her throat causing Noelle to look at her then to Asta then to her then to Ast and then the sliver haired girl’s face turns bright red and throws Asta into the bed.
“Stupid Asta!” She says as she sit down. “You had a lot of people worried, not that I’m one of them….”
“Okay I get it you weren’t worried Noelle,” Asta smirks, “But please be gentle with me I’m very sore.”
“That answers my question,” Twiligth says, “other then sore are you all right?”
“Yea especially since i was able to wake up to to beautiful girls attending me,” Asta continues to smile.
“You’re a miss,” Twilight says and bends over and kiss Asta right on the lips.
Noelle looks over and freeze in place.
Just as this was happening everyone else burst into the room.
“THE HERO GETS THE GIRL,” luck laughs.
“Oh dear,” mimosa stares as he face heats up and she places a hand over her mouth.
“My that was… unexpected,” Klaus says as he adjusts his glasses.
Yuno just shrugs with a blank expression as he’s seen it before.
“Oh my!” Puli smirk with wiggling eyebrow.
Sol was shocked as he jaw hit the floor.
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