The air grew heavy. Yami's hand squeezed my neck with too much force. His dark eyes pierced through me, searching for something, but I just felt myself fading.
"I warned you…" Yami murmured, pressing just a little harder. "I don't like people who show up out of nowhere and do suspicious things."
I tried to speak, but the words stuck in my throat. I looked him in the eyes, silently pleading to be allowed to explain.
The edge of the Dimensional Rift remained open behind me, slicing reality itself.
My system blinked red before my eyes: [Error: Transport Blocked]
The others watched in shock.
"Captain, stop!" Asta stepped forward, trembling. "He's not an enemy—he helped us!"
Yami didn't even look at him; his gaze remained locked on me."Vouch for someone who doesn't even know where they came from?" Yami growled, his dark aura crackling around him.
Noelle let out a strangled scream. "He's going to kill him!"
Suddenly, he released my neck, and I hit the ground hard."If he's not an enemy… then let him prove it."
The Black Bulls' captain drew his katana slowly, the air around him distorting with pure mana. "Get up, boy. Or die right here."
I tried to get up, raising my hands in surrender. "Captain… wait, I don't have offensive magic. I don't want to fight," I said, trembling and sweating.
Yami stared at me without blinking. "I don't care. If you're not an enemy, then prove it with actions. Move now, brat."
Without time for more words, he slashed at me. I dove to the ground instinctively, feeling the wind from his blade slice past my head.
The impact kicked up dust and small stones from the ground. I got up as quickly as I could. "Damn… he really wants to kill me," I thought, watching the captain.
My only option was to run. I sprinted to the side, dodging his katana, feeling cuts along my shoulders and arms. "Don't stop! Keep moving!" I yelled at myself, weaving and trying to put distance between us.
Once I gained some space, I raised my hands again, breathing heavily, a sharp pain in my side. "Captain… my magic… is music… I can't… attack directly… I can only… support or defend… that's it."
Yami paused for a moment, then raised his katana again.
Luck, stepping forward with determination, positioned himself between us. "Captain! If he's going to fight with his magic, I'll cover him. It's my time to fight the captain."
My hands still shook, but I felt a slight relief—I wasn't facing Yami alone.
"Alright… brat," he said in his deep voice. "Show me what you're made of… but don't disappoint me."
Luck nodded firmly and shouted to the sky, "OUHHHH!!! I won't let you down, Captain."His smile widened, and turning to me, he asked, "So, what song will help me beat the Captain?"His eyes seemed to sparkle with electricity (though maybe it really was electricity).
I began speaking to myself, but I couldn't find another song for him. I sighed… "I wanted to save this one for Laxus…"
I looked at Luck and shouted, "This song is for the electric mage, who will soon surpass his limits!"
Thunderstruck – AC/DC
"Perfect!" Luck yelled, raising his arms as arcs of electricity crackled in the air. "Now, Captain!"
I grabbed my guitar, took a deep breath, and focused on the melody, moving my fingers to start the music.
🎵"Ah-ah, ah-ah-ah… Ah-ah, ah-ah-ah… Ah-ah, ah-ah-ah…"🎵
🎵"Ah-ah, ah-ah-ah… Thunder!"🎵 As soon as I said the word, Luck convulsed and a lightning bolt struck from the sky, no clouds in sight.
I closed my eyes, repeated the sequence two more times, and began the lyrics:🎵"Thunder, ah-ah, ah-ah-ah… Thunder, ah-ah, ah-ah-ah…"I opened my eyes and shouted the final: "THUNDER."🎵
Luck looked recharged, laughing like a maniac.
🎵"I was caught in the middle of a railroad track (Thunder)I looked 'round and I knew there was no turnin' back (Thunder)"🎵
Luck could no longer contain himself. Kicking the ground, he appeared beside the Captain, launching a powerful kick to his head. Yami barely moved a few inches, easily dodging.
🎵"My mind raced and I thought, 'What could I do?' (Thunder)And I knew there was no help, no help from you (Thunder)"🎵
In mid-air, after the kick, Luck spun and delivered another to Yami's shoulder, but he blocked it with his sword. Using the impact as leverage, Luck dropped to the ground and swept the Captain's feet, but Yami lifted the targeted leg unfazed.
🎵"Sound of the drums beatin' in my heartThe thunder of guns, yeah, tore me apart"🎵
Yami watched calmly, but with every attack avoided, the tension of his aura grew. Luck attacked frantically—with hands, kicks, and lightning. Yami took a half step back, lifted his sword overhead, and Luck jumped back, sweating.
🎵"You've been…"🎵 Luck shivered and instinctively raised his hands. 🎵"Thunderstruck."🎵A bolt struck him, charging his hands with extra electricity. With that energy, his movements became faster; Luck's attacks were no longer dodged, only blocked by Yami.
…But not a single hit connected.
My throat was dry, but I continued the music. 🎵"Went down the highway, broke the limit, we hit the town"🎵
The lyrics resonated over Luck, and with a yell, "Uohhhh!!!", he sped up again, making his attacks thunder against the Captain's arms and sword.
I smiled, straining my voice, 🎵"Broke all the rules, played all the fools… Yeah, yeah, they, they, they blew our minds."🎵
Luck launched the accumulated electricity, hitting the Captain directly, illuminating the area. But Yami swung his sword downward, channeling all the energy into the ground. "Not enough," he muttered, the pressure of his aura intensifying.
I gritted my teeth, striking the guitar strings harder; my magic hadn't fully recovered.🎵"You've been Thunderstruck, Thunderstruck… Yeah, yeah, yeah, thunderstruck… Ooh, thunderstruck… Yeah!"🎵
With each word, a lightning bolt struck Luck. He compressed the magic and, decisively, hurled a ball of energy at Yami, who met it with a sword strike that began emitting dark energy.
The clash lasted barely two seconds, but it felt much longer. In the end, the Captain broke the energy effortlessly. Exhaustion consumed me, and I had to leave the song unfinished.
Luck tried to keep attacking, but without the musical boost, Yami grabbed him by the head and threw him inside the guild hall.
Yami approached me. "You survived my warning… and now what? Do you think that changes anything?"
I smiled, weary. "Captain Yami, what if I joined the Black Bulls? I assure you, the energy that appeared in me is not harmful."
Yami growled. "What is that energy…?" His voice lowered, filled with distrust. "It feels… dangerous…" He whispered almost to himself, "The ki… it felt dirty."
I tried to speak, but my throat closed. A seal briefly glowed, reminding me I couldn't reveal anything. I sighed, resigned.
"Captain… I can't explain it now. I only know it's not harmful, and it doesn't affect the Order or the kingdom," I said in a barely audible voice. "This thing will take me… but if all goes well… I'll return."
Yami narrowed his eyes, silent for a few seconds. He ran a hand through his hair in irritation and muttered disdainfully, "Whatever… just don't be a nuisance. I'm going to the bathroom. Don't look for me." Yami ceased emitting his energy, and the Dimensional Rift faded.
Asta and Noelle approached happily, but my body began to vanish slowly.
[Initiating Transport]
I waved at them and closed my eyes again, but before disappearing, I heard Klaus shout from the back:"WAIT! The treasure!"
I almost laughed, keeping quiet ("Huh? What treasure~?", I don't know what you're talking about).