This time, it lasted far longer than before.
Only when the sun dipped below the horizon and darkness swallowed the sky did Yuuki finally call a halt to the ore puppets' assault.
"Tch… damn, that hurts."
Rubbing his cheeks with both hands, Yuuki wore a helpless expression as he dropped heavily to the ground. His injuries were even worse than before—dark bruises ringed his eyes now, proof of several clean punches he hadn't managed to dodge.
"Fire Recovery Magic—Phoenix Feather Robe."
Crimson flames surged forth, enveloping Yuuki's entire body as his wounds rapidly healed.
"…Still not enough."
Yuuki shook his head.
By all logic, this was merely a matter of technique. It shouldn't have been this difficult—certainly not to the point where he couldn't even grasp the basics.
In the anime, Asta had comprehended ki after nothing more than a few words from Yami. Even if Yuuki lacked Asta's beastlike instincts, there was no reason he should be completely clueless.
Could Yami's method be wrong?
The thought crossed his mind—only to be immediately dismissed.
Unless Yami had no further interest in obtaining information about the Eye of the Midnight Sun, he would never do something so shortsighted.
Besides, whether in the anime or in Yuuki's own experience, Yami clearly didn't treat this technique as anything particularly precious.
For a moment, Yuuki found himself utterly without direction.
Looking up at the darkened sky, he snapped his fingers, lighting a small flame. He then opened his subspace and poured out a large pile of ingredients.
"Cotton Magic—Sheep Chef."
Soft cotton masses appeared in midair, swiftly shaping themselves into sheep-like chefs. Without needing any instructions, they immediately began preparing meals with practiced efficiency.
Ever since mastering this spell, Yuuki had made a habit of stocking his subspace with ingredients. With magic like this, hunger was never an issue—no matter where he was—and the dishes could even restore magical power.
Before long, a rich aroma filled the air.
One by one, the sheep chefs carried over plates of freshly prepared food and set them before Yuuki.
"Support magic like this really is convenient," Yuuki muttered, picking up a plate and taking a bite.
The taste—and texture—were excellent.
…Wait.
Yuuki suddenly froze mid-bite, his eyes lighting up.
Yami wasn't the type to hoard his knowledge. A combat-oriented technique like ki would be perfect for fighters like Luck or Magna.
So why had Yami taught it only to Asta—and not to them?
Or rather… what was the fundamental difference between Asta and the other Black Bulls?
"…Magic."
That was it.
Asta had no magic power.
Yuuki waved his hand, dismissing the cotton magic and storing the remaining food back into his subspace. He stood up in one swift motion, excitement written across his face.
Asta could learn ki precisely because he lacked magic power. And Yami, who hailed from the Land of the Sun, came from a place that also lacked magic—relying instead on a unique energy known as yoryoku.
This didn't mean that ki and magic were incompatible.
Rather, to learn ki, one first had to completely discard magic.
"…Then how do I do that?"
Yuuki murmured softly before his gaze sharpened.
"Chain Magic—Mana-Binding Iron Lock Formation!"
Clatter—clatter!
Several black chains materialized in midair, slithering like serpents as they wrapped around Yuuki's arms, legs, and torso. They bound him securely without hindering his movement.
In an instant—
Yuuki felt as though his entire body were boiling.
His vast magical power was suddenly cut off, as if completely isolated from him, sealed so thoroughly that he couldn't draw on even the slightest trace.
This was his first time truly experiencing the power of Mana-Binding Iron Lock Formation.
"What a fascinating spell," Yuuki mused. "Once a mage is bound, no matter how strong their magic is, they can't use it at all. In that sense, it really is an alternative kind of power."
"And from this alone, it's clear that human magic and devil magic differ not just in quantity—but in quality as well."
The enhancement magic had once granted him was gone entirely.
After testing his limbs, Yuuki glanced at the chains still wrapped around his body, a curious smile forming.
"My magic is sealed… yet the chains haven't disappeared. Interesting."
He could clearly sense that his magic was unusable—yet the chain magic itself remained active, sustained independently in a completely separate state.
"Without magic, the ore puppets can't move… unless I store magic inside them in advance."
Yuuki glanced at the stiff, motionless puppets around him. With a tug, he pulled the chains free, and his surging magic power immediately returned.
Now that he had a solution, there was no reason to waste time.
He infused every ore puppet with magic beforehand. That way, even after sealing his own magic, they would still be able to attack him.
Soon enough—
Yuuki sealed his magic once more. The moment his control was severed, the ore puppets charged him all at once.
"Come on!"
Yuuki drew in a deep breath, his gaze resolute.
Boom! Boom!
Heavy impacts echoed across the clearing, followed by an unending barrage of dull collisions.
Time slowly passed.
The night gradually receded, and a crimson sun rose in the eastern sky, scattering the darkness.
On the ground below, forty-eight of the original fifty ore puppets lay shattered into pieces. Only two remained, still locked in fierce combat with Yuuki.
At this moment—
Yuuki had his eyes closed.
Whoosh!
A stone fist grazed past his ear. In that instant, Yuuki seized the arm with both hands, twisted his waist, and used the momentum of his rotation to hurl the puppet bodily—
Smashing it straight into the other one charging toward him.
BOOM!
The thunderous impact rang out. After an entire night of combat, the two puppets could no longer endure the force. They shattered spectacularly, fragments of ore scattering in every direction.
Even then—
Yuuki, eyes still closed, retreated swiftly, evading the debris. Not a single fragment touched him.
Opening his eyes, Yuuki looked up at the brightening sky and smiled.
"Compared to Asta, it took me a whole night… but I finally did it."
Lowering his gaze to his bloodied, battered body, he tore away the chains, restored himself with magic, and then vanished in a flash of spatial magic—returning to the castle.
He found an empty room and promptly collapsed into sleep.
With Mariella watching over the tavern, there was nothing for him to worry about.
Over the following days, Yuuki continued to familiarize himself with—and refine—the use of ki.
(End of Chapter)
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