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As the chains dispersed, a dark greatsword fell from the grimoire, which glowed with a blood-red light, its blade deeply embedded in the ground not far from Asta.
Asta froze for a moment, then, as if by instinct, grabbed the hilt of the sword.
The floating grimoire's light faded, revealing a dark cover with a central pattern that was neither a three-leaf clover, similar to Bai En's grimoire, nor a four-leaf clover that brought luck... but a five-leaf clover!
An unknown legend says that the three-leaf clovers on the Clover Kingdom's grimoires represent "honesty, hope, and love," the four-leaf clover represents "luck," and the fifth leaf represents — a devil!
The overflowing black and red Anti-Magic power distorted the refracting light, creating an interplay of light and shadow. A huge black figure emerged from behind Asta, projected onto the wall, with a pure black body and wings, and a grotesque face that twisted into a strange smile, as if celebrating its freedom and new birth!
The chains controlling Yuno vanished, and the four-leaf grimoire, tightly held by Rebuchi, seemed to sense something, emitting a faint cyan light and flying out of his control.
Bai En, using the momentum of his turn, continuously spun the Zan Yan in his hand. The flowing water stretched and gathered, and the spray on the blade roared like a water dragon.
"Water Breathing, Tenth Form, Constant Flux."
The sword qi was sharp.
But just as the blade of Zan Yan was about to touch Rebuchi, the uncontrolled Anti-Magic power, black and red light flickering and jumping, spread through the air, affecting friend and foe alike.
The 'Release' attached to Zan Yan's slash—those extremely thin, roughly half-meter-long, transparent spider silks that clung to the blade and floated like flowing water in the wind—began to dissipate.
The accumulated, roaring water dragon dispersed; even Zan Yan, directly constructed from magic, began to vanish like glass shards from the blade's tip, carried away by the wind.
Bai En was stunned.
With a 'thump' as he pushed off the ground, Asta's leg muscles bulged with veins. Relying on a body honed by years of training, he burst forth with immense power, instantly surpassing Bai En, who stood frozen, and swung his dark greatsword in a diagonal slash!
"Bang!"
Rebuchi was sent flying by the greatsword, the immense impact creating a whistling wind. He was embedded straight into the wall next to the grimoire tower, blood splattering with shattered stones. He no longer moved.
"You..."
"You actually stole my kill?!" Bai En pointed at Asta, who was holding the dark greatsword, somewhat exasperated.
But Asta seemed not to understand. He rubbed his head and asked like an idiot, "Steal a kill? What's that?"
"It means I was clearly about to defeat the enemy, and you, who had nothing, delivered the final blow and completely stole my credit!"
"Huh? What's the big deal? It doesn't seem like a major issue, does it?"
Asta waved his hand, saying carelessly, "Didn't we both defeat the enemy? Besides, Bai En, you stopped, and the bad guy was about to escape, so I rushed in."
"And wasn't that because of your Anti-Magic? My slashes and even my sword were nullified!" Bai En was furious.
"Anti-Magic?"
"Hmm?" Bai En hummed softly, "What is it?"
"So my magic is that powerful? It can even nullify your magic, Bai En?" Asta excitedly raised the greatsword in his hand, examining it carefully. The dark iron sword had nothing special about it, yet he carefully, as if it were a treasure, began to wipe its blade.
Bai En calmly watched Asta holding the greatsword, the words he wanted to say stopping at his lips.
This guy's life really hasn't been easy. For 15 years, due to his lack of magic, he couldn't use spells. Besides the discriminatory glances and mocking words, his childhood friend, Yuno, was a magic genius with extremely high magical power. To overcome all this and maintain a positive attitude until now... it's truly a bit remarkable... His positive mindset is something I'll probably have to learn for a lifetime.
A strong wind suddenly blew through the air; even flowing white wisps of wind were visible—it was Wind Magic!
Bai En turned to look. Beside the floating four-leaf grimoire, cyan magic power surged wildly. The untamed wind obediently followed Yuno's command, coiling around and enveloping him, suddenly forming an upward-spiraling storm.
The immense magical power made Bai En murmur inwardly, 'This level of magic is indeed not on the same scale as mine; it's at least one major realm beyond me.'
Recalling the battle with Rebuchi just now, constructing the kitchen utensil 'Zan Yan' almost used up a tenth of his magic. Several consecutive sword forms were imbued with 'Release,' plus the use of enhancement magic—Mana Skin... Even with the technique of converting natural magic from the air into his own magic during battle, the remaining magic in his body was not much.
Bai En thought that if he had Yuno's amount of magic, perhaps he wouldn't need to imbue his slashes into the sword, and could perform flying slashes, and the sword threads formed by the slashes wouldn't be as thin as spider silk... 'But wait, the battle is already over, what is that guy gathering magic for?'
'Could it be?'
A bad thought surfaced in Bai En's mind.
Sure enough, the next moment, the surging storm dissipated, and two pure white wind falcons shot out from it, attacking Asta and Bai En at an astonishing speed.
"You!"
"Eh, eh, eh... Yuno, what are you doing?"
Asta swung his dark greatsword from top to bottom, easily deflecting the attack aimed at him, but he couldn't spare a thought for Bai En on the other side.
Bai En stared blankly at the wind falcon rushing towards him, screeching.
Under Asta's agitated Anti-Magic earlier, the condensed 'Zan Yan' had already dissipated, and there wasn't enough time or magic to reconstruct it.
The prerequisite for 'Eight' was 'Release' to adapt and regulate magic power. If 'Release' was simply used against such Wind Magic, after severing it, it might release aggressive hurricanes.
His 'Release' was not like Asta's Anti-Magic, which could nullify magic.
The remaining countermeasure... 'Truly, I don't fear a god-like opponent, only a pig-like teammate; I'm going to be killed!'
"Damn it, Yuno!"
Bai En roared, but his hands didn't stop moving for a moment. His clasped hands flipped up and down, like a special gesture, which maximized the power of his magic without the aid of special kitchen utensils.
A tiny flame flickered in his palm. As his hand moved, a small spark floated upward, directly colliding with the white falcon attacking him.
"Open!"
The spark dispersed with the wind, a tiny flame igniting on each wisp of wind, like blooming fireworks. The flames burned in the air until the Wind Magic was exhausted before slowly dissipating.
"You!"
"I'll chop you up!"
Bai En drew the newly reconstructed Zan Yan from his grimoire and angrily swung his sword at Yuno, "Water Breathing..."
A shimmering azure light flickered faintly on the blade.
Asta threw down his greatsword and hugged Bai En, "Bai En, calm down, calm down. Fighting is bad behavior."
"Huh? Didn't you see that guy just cast magic at both of us? Let go, let me chop him up!"
Suddenly, the Zan Yan in Bai En's hand began to dissipate. Asta looked at the disappearing long sword, then at Bai En, his blinking eyes seeming to say, "It wasn't me this time, I didn't do anything."
"No magic left."
Bai En mumbled, his body no longer struggling. He let Asta hug him; a wise man knows when to retreat. He glanced at Yuno, thinking that he'd settle the score next time.
Yuno slowly walked over. Asta saw his waving motion and immediately released Bai En, picking up his greatsword from the ground, staring intently at Yuno, afraid of being ambushed again.
Noticing the two people who were hostile towards him, Yuno said, "Sorry, I thought the guy who just stole my grimoire hadn't fallen yet."
"Huh?!"
Liar, how could this guy say such a falsehood without batting an eye? He's so thick-skinned.
Those two Wind Magic spells were clearly aimed directly at me and Asta. I think he just didn't get a chance to act and was itching for a fight, wanting to try it out on me and Asta.
Bai En furiously complained about Yuno in his heart. Just wait, you'll get yours next time.
"Asta... you still remember our promise, right?"
"What?"
Yuno took a deep breath, staring at Asta, who had obtained a grimoire, and Bai En, who stood still, pondering something. He said very seriously, "The one who becomes the Wizard King will definitely be me!"
Seeing the outstretched fist, Asta smiled knowingly and gently bumped fists, "No way, I'm the one who will become the Wizard King."
"Then let's compete!"
The sincere gazes of both parties next fell on Bai En, who had not yet moved, seemingly waiting for him.
"I don't want to be the Wizard King or anything. There's too much to do, no free time, and too much responsibility."
...
"If I had to say a dream, I want to be the strongest chef, able to eat lots of delicious food, and see lots of beautiful scenery..."
Bai En extended his fist, and the three lightly bumped fists. This was a promise between young men.
Under the setting sun, perhaps due to the storm Yuno had stirred up earlier, the lingering wind gently blew, and large patches of dandelions floated in the air. White wisps of flowers, under the brilliant orange sea of clouds, formed a silhouette of the three bumping fists.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
"Bai En, the strongest person should be the Wizard King, right?" Asta mumbled, "Indeed, Yuno isn't my only rival."
"Alright, let's see who gets to the church first. I will definitely surpass you two and become the Wizard King!"
On their way home, the long, long shadows of the three running figures were stretched by the lingering glow of the sunset...