Chapter 28
Yami's face darkened. He could feel it—these few rookies were growing far too comfortable, too bold. Laziness was one thing, but disregarding him as the group leader?
"...Tch."
Finral and Gauche both sweat slightly at Yami's darkening expression. The air got heavier around him. He wasn't exactly terrifying... until he was.
****
"Also," Yami added with a meaningful tone, "besides your squad, the Wizard King has sent other Magic Knights—new recruits from the Golden Dawn. Be careful. We can't let the Diamond Kingdom seize the prize… and don't get outdone by those fancy Golden Dawn rookies either."
"Didn't expect to meet Yuno so soon…" Asta muttered, his eyes lighting up with a mix of surprise and anticipation.
"You brat!" Magna leaned in with a scowl. "Since when did you get chummy with the Wizard King?"
Asta chuckled nervously. A brief image of that mysterious old woman from the black market passed through his mind—was she connected? Unless the Wizard King had foresight magic, she was still the most suspicious link.
"What're you spacing out for, Asta? Finral already opened the portal!" Noelle nudged him gently.
"If you don't hurry, I'll leave you behind!" Finral called out, his brow twitching.
"You sure get around, Finral," Asta said as he and Noelle stepped through his spatial magic.
They arrived on a sunlit hillside filled with chirping birds and blooming flowers.
"I've teleported to nearly every beautiful spot in the Clover Kingdom," Finral said proudly. "This place has the best sunset. Perfect for a romantic date." He shot Asta a suggestive look before dispelling the portal.
"Idiot," Noelle muttered, rolling her eyes at the typical man-to-man exchange.
"Let's move," Luck grinned, walking ahead. While his personality could be erratic, when it came to detecting enemies, his lightning magic was incredibly useful—so long as he wasn't already distracted by the thrill of a fight.
"Are we the first ones here?" Noelle asked, stepping onto the soft dirt and taking in the scenery.
"Finral's not the only one with spatial magic. Others might already be here," Luck replied, scanning the area.
"Is that… the dungeon?" Asta asked, leaping over a fallen log as the towering stone structures of an ancient ruin came into view.
"Incredible…" Noelle gasped, her pink eyes wide. It was her first time seeing ruins from the Old Magic Era.
"Let's go in!" Luck's voice brimmed with excitement. Whether it was hostile mages or trap magic, he was itching for a challenge.
The trio entered the dungeon, the cold corridor casting eerie shadows along the walls. Noelle instinctively drew closer to Asta.
"It's too dark…"
Noelle kept glancing behind her, unsettled by the creeping darkness.
"If you're scared, you can always hold onto me," Asta teased.
"Who's scared?! I'm just... annoyed by how long this tunnel is!" she retorted, face flushed.
"Wait, is this it?" Luck squinted ahead and spotted a glowing stone embedded in the wall.
"What's that?" Noelle asked.
"It's the dungeon's light switch!" Luck cheerfully pressed it, and the corridors lit up. Suddenly, the grandeur of the dungeon unfolded before them—massive stone walkways twisted in midair like an impossible maze.
"Did ancient mages warp space to build this place?" Luck marveled. "Unreal…"
"There's so much mana in the air…" Noelle said, awe in her voice.
"Noelle, watch your step—left side!" Asta warned, pointing at a trap-etched tile near her.
"Is that trap magic?" she asked, noticing the fine engraving.
"Looks like it."
But before either could avoid it, Luck, already jittery with excitement, stepped right onto it.
Boom!
The stone glowed, and a large rock jutted out. Asta reacted instantly, activating his anti-magic. With a swift pull, his Demon-Slayer Sword cleaved through the trap magic.
"Woohoo! Awesome!" Luck cheered, not remotely worried about the near miss.
"Are you serious?! You were supposed to protect us!" Noelle yelled.
And then—boom!—he triggered another trap, this time unleashing fire magic.
"I give up," Asta groaned, grabbing Noelle's hand. "Let's go before he kills us both."
"Wait! I'm the guide, you'll get lost without me!" Luck called, skipping ahead.
"Then lead already!" Asta shouted, sighing. "Should've brought Magna... at least he has common sense."
"Alright, alright—serious mode now!" Luck closed his eyes and spread his lightning magic through the air. As he searched for the dungeon's deepest point, he suddenly stopped.
"There's someone else here!"
He opened his eyes, excitement blazing.
"Lightning Creation Magic: Thunder God's Boots!"
"What are you—!?"
"Sorry, gotta check something out. You guys go on ahead!" Luck yelled as he bolted toward the unknown mana source.
"He just abandoned us…?" Noelle blinked.
"You'll get used to it," Asta muttered. "Some people just disappear."
****
"But… now it's just the two of us," Noelle whispered, trailing behind Asta.
"Hm? You say something?" Asta turned.
"N-Nothing! Let's keep moving!" she stammered and hurried after him—only to step directly onto a hidden trap tile.
Snap!
Green vines burst from the floor and walls, wrapping around Noelle's limbs and hoisting her midair in a very… compromising pose.
"Wh-What kind of position is this?!" Asta blinked rapidly, stunned.
"Stop staring and help me!!" Noelle shouted, cheeks red.
"Right! Got it!"
With a yell, Asta swung the Demon-Slayer Sword and freed her. But before the vines fully collapsed, a huge plant beast emerged—a dungeon guardian shaped like a carnivorous flower, dripping with venom.
Snap! Vines launched at Asta like spears.
He closed his eyes. Second Gate… Open!
Chakra surged through his body, pushing his strength and speed to their limits.
"Get back!"
Asta flashed past the vines and struck the core of the monster. The anti-magic blade sliced the creature in two, ending the trap.
"He's so… cool…" Noelle whispered, eyes wide. She hadn't imagined Asta could look that intense. His golden eyes had shone like stars in that moment.
"If only I could use magic like that…" Asta said with a small sigh.
But then—rustle.
"Someone's coming," Asta said sharply.
Noelle raised her wand, her grimoire open and glowing.
On a floating magic ark not far from them, Klaus adjusted his glasses.
"They've managed to survive. We can proceed with the operation."
"I think we should at least greet them," Mimosa said warmly. "Anyone Yuno's willing to turn the ark around for must be important."
Without hesitation, Yuno descended to meet them.
"Yuno!" Asta grinned. "It's been a while!"
Yuno landed, cloak fluttering, golden light radiating from him like a true noble.
"Asta."