The coliseum built atop the Royal Mausoleum had never been this alive. Its white-stone terraces gleamed under the midday sun, and the air trembled with anticipation. The Magic Knights Entrance Exam was always an important day, but this year was different — this year, it was monumental.
The lower stands were filled to overflowing with commoners, packed shoulder to shoulder, their eyes wide with excitement. Children waved tiny Clover flags while merchants shouted from behind food stalls, trying to sell roasted nuts and chilled drinks to anyone willing to pay. It wasn't every day they got to witness the rise of new magic knights — and possibly see the Wizard King himself.
Higher up, the tone shifted. The middle balconies of the grand arena were lined with nobles, draped in velvet and jewels, speaking in careful tones that carried both interest and disdain. To them, this was more than a test for recruits — it was a political showcase. Every young noble on the field represented a house's influence, and every spell cast was a chance to prove superiority.
But even among them, today's true interest wasn't the exam itself. It was what would follow at sunset.
"After the exams, the duels for the Princess's hand will begin, won't they?"
"Yes — four houses challenging one man… the King's chosen candidate. Ridiculous."
"He's the one with the four-leaf clover grimoire, right?"
"And multiple elements, they say — even light magic. I thought that was exclusive to the royal line."
"At least he's a noble. If he were a commoner, there would've been a revolt."
A few chuckled softly behind their fans. Others scowled. The name Nova Ashbourne had spread like wildfire through the kingdom — admired by some, resented by many, feared by a few.
At the highest tier of the arena sat the royal box, reserved for the ruling elite.
The King, seated proudly beneath a canopy of gold, reclined in his ornate chair, watching the proceedings with a mixture of boredom and self-importance. Beside him sat Princess Seraphina Kira, serene and composed, her expression unreadable. Her eyes flicked occasionally toward the contestants assembling below, but her mind seemed elsewhere.
And beside her — relaxed, curious, and wholly entertained — sat Wizard King Julius Novachrono, leaning forward like a man watching his favorite story unfold. His golden eyes sparkled with quiet amusement as he glanced down at the field.
"This year's batch seems promising," Julius mused softly, his voice carrying an easy warmth.
The King snorted lightly. "Promising or not, they should hurry. The real spectacle comes tonight."
The Wizard King smiled faintly, eyes still on the arena. "Perhaps. But I wouldn't dismiss them just yet. After all… i just heard that a second four leaf Clover grimoire holder have appeared."
Down below, the candidates began to gather — among them Asta and Yuno, standing side by side, both oblivious to the crowd of nobles whispering above.
As the exam was about to begin, every corner of the kingdom — from the poorest merchant to the most powerful noble — seemed to hold its breath.
Today, the Magic Knights Entrance Exam would decide the fate of new recruits.
And by nightfall, the duels for the Princess's hand would decide the future of the royal line itself.
The Clover Kingdom had never felt this alive.
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A sharp trumpet fanfare echoed through the arena, cutting through the hum of the crowd. The murmur of thousands fell into silence as the voice of the royal announcer boomed across the coliseum.
"All rise for the Magic Knight Captains of the Clover Kingdom!"
The moment the words left his mouth, the air above the arena shimmered with mana. One by one, portals of light and shadow opened, releasing waves of pressure so heavy that even seasoned mages in the audience felt their hearts pound faster.
Twelve distinct figures appeared across the elevated platforms above the arena floor — each radiating an aura that separated them completely from the hopefuls below.
"That's the Crimson Lion King's Captain, Fuegoleon Vermillion!"
"And beside him — the Silver Eagle's Captain, Nozel Silva!"
"Look! The Coral Peacock's Captain, Dorothy Unsworth!"
"And the Blue Rose's Captain, Charlotte Roselei!"
Cheers rose from the lower stands, while whispers fluttered through the noble sections. The air thrummed with reverence and tension.
The captains each stood tall — their presence alone enough to make the younger mages on the field tremble. Fuegoleon's fiery aura burned steady and disciplined. Nozel's mana gleamed like polished steel.
Charlotte's blue energy rippled around her like a quiet storm. Even the ever-relaxed Rill of the Aqua Deer stood with his usual bright grin, brush in hand and eyes sparkling with creative mischief.
And then came the darker presence — Yami Sukehiro, captain of the Black Bulls, walking in with his usual slouch, cigarette in mouth, aura heavy and untamed. Some nobles frowned in visible distaste.
"Ugh, that barbarian again."
"Black Bulls… what a disgrace to the Magic Knights' name."
"Who let a foreigner like him lead a squad?"
Their whispers only earned an amused snort from Yami, who cracked his neck and muttered, "Tch. Same pampered brats as always."
Moments later, the final ripple of mana appeared. A tall man in a long, white-and-gold robe, his face hidden behind a mask resembling a tree's bark, rose gently into the air — William Vangeance, captain of the Golden Dawn. His calm yet overwhelming mana spread across the entire coliseum, like sunlight breaking through a dense forest.
"That's Captain Vangeance!"
"They say his magic rivals even the Wizard King's!"
"The Golden Dawn — the pride of Clover Kingdom!"
The crowd erupted in applause. Even many nobles leaned forward, their disdain melting into awe at the sheer spectacle.
William landed gracefully at the center of the high platform, his voice steady but resonant as he addressed both the candidates and the audience.
"Welcome, citizens of the Clover Kingdom," he began, his tone gentle yet commanding. "Today marks a historic day. For the first time in our kingdom's history, the Magic Knights Entrance Exam will be held open to the public."
William continued, his voice carrying clearly to every corner of the arena. "His Majesty the King and the Wizard King himself have permitted this event to be observed by all. Let this day stand as a symbol — that strength, courage, and resolve can come from any corner of our kingdom."
He turned, bowing his head slightly toward the highest balcony.
"We are honored by the presence of His Majesty, King Augustus Kira Clover XIII, and the Wizard King, Julius Novachrono."
The crowd erupted into thunderous applause. The King lifted his hand in a lazy wave, basking in the attention, while Julius simply smiled, eyes bright with curiosity and joy.
As the cheers settled, William raised his right hand slowly, and in response, a grimoire appeared beside him — a magnificent tome bound in deep emerald leather, its pages edged with gold. It floated at his side, its cover glowing faintly with the sigil of a sprawling tree — the mark of World Tree Magic.
The air itself seemed to pause. Then his calm, melodic voice resonated through the arena.
"World Tree Magic: Magic Tree Descent."
At once, mana surged outward from him like a wave. The sky shimmered, and green light poured down like rays through a canopy. The ground trembled softly as roots of luminous energy burst upward, weaving together in intricate spirals.
Before the astonished crowd, a massive tree of pure magic erupted from the center of the arena — its trunk carved from mana itself, its branches spreading far and wide like a living monument. The sight drew gasps and awe-struck murmurs from every direction.
"A World Tree… made of magic?"
"Incredible… I can feel its mana from here!"
"So this is the Golden Dawn's Captain… what control!"
The roots extended outward gracefully, and from each branch, dozens of slender shoots broke away — shaping themselves into glowing, mana-infused brooms, each radiating faint light as they floated gently in the air.
High in the noble balconies, quiet murmurs filled the silence left by awe.
Even the commoners in the lower seats could feel the hum of the tree's life force. Children pressed against the railings, eyes wide, while seasoned mages gawked at the stability of the spell — not a single wisp of mana was wasted.
The tree's roots continued to glow faintly beneath the marble floor, anchoring the colossal spell in place, as the brooms drifted downward in perfect synchronization, stopping just above the assembled candidates.
William's voice carried once more — calm, clear, and filled with quiet pride.
"Each of you, please take one broom," he said, lowering his hand as the glow around his grimoire dimmed. "Your first task is simple — show us your control by taking flight."
He closed his grimoire, letting it dissolve into faint motes of light beside him.
The arena, moments ago roaring with chatter, now buzzed with excitement as hundreds of candidates reached forward — some trembling, others grinning with confidence.
From the royal box above, Julius leaned forward slightly, amusement flickering in his eyes. "Magnificent as always, William," he murmured.
Beside him, the King gave an approving hum, clearly pleased with the spectacle. The nobles applauded politely, though many looked like they were trying not to show how impressed they truly were.
Below, the massive tree shimmered in the sunlight — a living testament to William Vangeance's skill, elegance, and power.
The Magic Knights Entrance Exam had officially begun.
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CHAPTER:- [129 - NOVA VS THE BEAST] IS AVAILABLE ON MY P@TREON