Shitty Breakfast

House Silva Underground Training Facility

From the upper podium, Acier sat with baby Noelle perched on her lap, her hand raised in an enthusiastic cheer. "You can do it, honey! You too, Mereoleona!"

"Baboo!" Noelle clapped her tiny hands, her excitement palpable as if she were rallying her father's spirit.

"Kick his ass, Mereoleona!"

Acier's head snapped to the left, her sharp gaze landing on her sister, Aurelia, who sat beside her with Mimosa in her lap. Aurelia, utterly unfazed by the glare, grinned and kept "motivating" her niece.

Amara didn't say a word, but her enthusiastic nod conveyed loud agreement with her younger daughter's sentiment.

Florian shifted uncomfortably next to Aurelia, clearly caught between familial loyalty and decorum. He settled for a cautious cheer. "Brother, Mereoleona, have a good fight."

On the far end, Kirsch struck his usual elegant pose, pointing dramatically toward the arena below. "Ensure this battle is a dazzling beautiful display of skill, befitting royalty as illustrious as ourselves."

Ignatius, standing beside his wife Amber, leaned in and whispered, "Shouldn't we stop this?" Despite his long-standing issues with Sebastian, he wasn't so petty as to want his daughter to crush him publicly. Lately, Sebastian had seemed... different. Less infuriating. Maybe even tolerable. Ignatius would hate to see this newfound peace shattered by a one-sided beatdown.

Amber gave him a flat look, then gestured down to the arena with a slight nod. "Are you going to stop her? Because I sure can't."

Ignatius stiffened, then quickly shook his head. Absolutely not. Mereoleona was someone used to spending 300 days of year training in Strong Magic Regions. To be called back home less than a week after leaving for them, one could imagine her mood had been less than ecstatic. If he wanted her to stay longer, atleast long enough so they could possibly settle this whole marriage and heir debacle, she needed this outlet.

Let's just hope you put up a good enough fight, Ignatius thought, casting a scrutinizing gaze down at Sebastian. Your mana's grown stronger, but let's see how your magic holds up.

Fuegoleon, arms crossed, narrowed his eyes as he focused on his sister below. Show me how far you've come, Sister.

Little Leopold, draped over Fuegoleon's shoulder, grinned ear to ear. "Big Sis!"

To Acier's right, the Silva family had their own dynamic unfolding.

Nebra stood on her bench, cupping her hands around her mouth. "Good luck, Dad! You've got this!"

Beside her, Dorothy stood silently, a snot bubble inflating and deflating as she dozed off while standing. If her dreams could talk, they'd probably echo Nebra's cheer.

Solid glanced nervously at his sisters, then tugged on Nozel's sleeve. "Is this okay, Brother? Father's not a fighter."

Nozel looked down, placing a reassuring hand on Solid's head. "It's fine, Solid. Father wouldn't agree to something like this if he weren't confident."

Solid nodded, somewhat placated, while Nozel returned his gaze to the arena. His face remained stoic, but inside, he was far less composed. If Father does lose... He suppressed a shudder at the memory of his last "training session" here. It won't be a total humiliation. At least not all courtesy of Mereoleona.

Meanwhile, down in the arena, Sebastian had swapped his usual attire for a loose, traditional Silva training outfit. He stood across from Mereoleona, who grinned like a predator eyeing its next meal. Her grimoire floated beside her, flames dancing eagerly at her fingertips as she cracked her knuckles against her palm.

Sebastian stared at her blankly. Maybe I should've said no.

Roughly 30 Minutes Ago:

Breakfast was, by all accounts, going smoothly. No one brought up thorny topics like politics, nor did they ask any overly personal questions. The table was enveloped in a quiet, almost meditative atmosphere.

Conversation flowed gently—updates on life, sharing future aspirations, and the like. It might have even been called serene, if not for Kirsch.

"Exquisite! Absolutely divine!" he exclaimed, praising every bite like he'd discovered the secret to immortality in his plate.

Sebastian watched Kirsch with a mix of pity and amusement. Poor man. If this is what you call a delicacy, your world must be so small. He sighed inwardly. But I can't blame you. Until Charmy's found, no one here will ever truly understand the meaning of good food.

Being a transmigrator, Sebastian's palate was forever tethered to the culinary marvels of his previous life. In the modern world, he could summon flavors from every corner of the globe with just a few taps on his phone. Here, in this medieval-esque era, the options were... limited.

Imagine if Kirsch tried modern cuisine—pizza, fried chicken, teriyaki, samosas, ramen. Would he still be raving about smoked cod and porridge? Sebastian mused.

Still, the food wasn't bad. It lacked the vibrancy and complexity of modern dishes, but it was palatable. Besides, the company more than made up for any shortcomings in taste.

Once Ignatius had eaten his fill, he set down his utensils, dabbed his mouth with a napkin, and addressed the table. His voice, though calm, carried weight, instantly commanding attention.

"This was pleasant. We should do this more often."

The room stilled for a moment as everyone processed his words. They had to admit—it was nice. Before anyone could respond, another voice cut through the quiet.

"You're always welcome to join us for lunch and dinner," Sebastian said casually, his tone calm as he chewed a piece of smoked cod. "We live right across from each other. It's hardly an inconvenience."

All eyes snapped to him in stunned silence.

Acier broke into a warm smile, nodding in agreement. "Sebastian's right. We're family, after all. There's no reason this shouldn't become a regular thing. Whenever you're free, come over to House Silva. We'd love to have you."

Ignatius exchanged a quick glance with Amber, who returned the smile and nodded. "That sounds wonderful. But it wouldn't feel right to always have you play host. Let's alternate—one day at your house, the next at ours."

"What a beautiful arrangement! I wholeheartedly approve!" Kirsch declared, thrusting his fork toward the ceiling in triumph.

Everyone sweatdropped as cherry blossoms swirled faintly around him, the air filling with their cloying fragrance. No one even asked where they came from. They knew better.

Aurelia, sitting beside him, exhaled slowly, resisting the urge to smack her son. "What is it, Kirsch?" she asked, her tone carrying the weight of long-suffering patience.

"The beautiful me has a beautiful question!"

Kirsch pointed his fork down the table toward Dorothy, his usual smug composure briefly cracking as genuine confusion slipped into his voice. "What is she doing?"

Hmm? All the Vermillions, along with Amara, followed his gaze and froze. Dorothy sat in her chair, a snot bubble lazily inflating and deflating as she snoozed. To everyone's bafflement, she appeared to be... sleep-eating?

Sebastian cleared his throat awkwardly, drawing their attention. "Dorothy's magic blurs the lines between reality and dreams, so she tends to fall asleep pretty often."

"She's still somewhat aware of her surroundings and can manage basic tasks." He hesitated. At least, I think so.

The guests stared at him, mouths slightly agape. What kind of magic is that?

Sebastian wasn't paying them much mind, his gaze fixed on Dorothy in thoughtful silence. Her so-called narcolepsy had been acting up less since she'd started living with the Silvas. Is it because she has more bonds tethering her to reality now?

In canon, both Dorothy and her elf reincarnation were known to fall asleep for days, even years at a time. Yet since joining their family, her episodes had rarely lasted more than an hour or two. By the end of the Elf Saga, Dorothy was far more active, driven by rising stakes and newfound responsibilities.

Maybe it's because she finally has people who keep her engaged—family who make reality worth staying awake for. If her life is interesting and fulfilling, she won't have any reason to retreat into her dreams.

Sebastian allowed himself a small, hopeful smile. Maybe in a few months, she'll stop falling asleep altogether. It'd be for the best—this might seem quirky, even cute, but it's not healthy. His eyes flicked to Nozel, who was watching Dorothy with quiet fondness. What if she dozes off during their engagement ceremony? Is she going to sleep-dance the Pavane in front of the entire aristocracy? The mental image was both hilarious and horrifying.

The Vermillions could only nod absently, clearly still processing, as they cleaned their plates and prepared to take their leave. Before they could, however, Mereoleona slammed her hands on the table, causing the plates to jump.

"Not a bad meal," she declared, standing and stretching dramatically. Then, with a feral grin, she pointed at Acier. "Let's go work it off with a spar."

Silence fell over the room as everyone froze, staring at Mereoleona in disbelief.

Everyone except Acier, who shrugged nonchalantly. "Sure—"

"Mother!" Nozel, Nebra, and Solid shouted in unison, cutting her off. Their incredulous stares practically screamed, Are you serious?!

"What?" Acier blinked, genuinely puzzled.

The three siblings gaped, momentarily speechless. What do you mean, 'what'? You're in no condition to spar!

Reading their thoughts, Acier chuckled and flexed her arms. "Relax. Didn't I say I'm 85% healed? I can use magic just fine now."

Sebastian's brow twitched as he gave her a strained smile. "Even if you were fully recovered, exerting yourself like this could set you back."

Acier smiled confidently and waved him off. "That's for normal people. Besides, training is a form of recovery too."

Mereoleona crossed her arms, her grin widening. "You heard her. She's been cooped up too long—it's time to put some muscle back on."

Before anyone could protest, she added, "Relax, it's just a spar."

Everyone shot her a strained smile. Like hell we believe that!

They all knew the truth: Mereoleona Vermillion didn't spar. She fought like her life depended on it, refusing to hold back even an ounce of her power. Pulling punches was, in her eyes, the ultimate disrespect—especially toward people she cared for, like Fuegoleon, or those she idolized, like Acier.

Catching their thoughts, Mereoleona snorted. "What kind of she-beast do you think I am? I can restrain myself."

Sebastian's dark smile deepened. "Maybe we'd believe you if you weren't drooling."

Mereoleona froze, quickly wiping her mouth. Instead of looking sheepish, she merely clicked her tongue in annoyance.

It wasn't hard to understand Mereoleona's excitement. She hadn't sparred with Acier in nearly two years—first due to Acier's nine-month pregnancy with Noelle, followed by her brief recovery, and then being cursed into bedrest by Vanica.

The undefeated lioness had been itching to face the one opponent she could never defeat, despite having an elemental advantage. Even with Acier not at full strength, Mereoleona wasn't entirely confident she could win.

Acier usually holds back on me, but in her current state, she'll have no choice but to fight seriously, Mereoleona thought, subtly licking her lips in anticipation.

Sebastian's growing annoyance snapped like a whip. "Whatever daydreams you're having, snap out of them—it's not happening."

"Huh?!" Mereoleona's brow shot up, her annoyance flaring. "What gives you the right to decide that for her?!"

Maybe because I'm her husband! Sebastian bit his tongue and instead gestured toward the rest of the table. "It's not just me. It's us."

Mereoleona froze as she met the collective disapproving stares of Nozel, Nebra, Solid, Amara, Aurelia, Florian, Kirsch, and even a sleep-eating Dorothy. The babies, Noelle and Mimosa, glared at her with adorably stern frowns, chubby fingers pointed in accusation.

Acier pouted.

Kirsch sighed dramatically, pointing his fork at Mereoleona. "Cousin, even with your barbaric tendencies, I could appreciate your wild beauty, but this shameless challenge—"

Before he could finish, a flaming construct sprang from Mereoleona's back, grabbing him by the head and lifting him off his chair.

Kirsch broke out in a cold sweat as Mereoleona's expression screamed Shut. Up. He hastily nodded, and she dropped him unceremoniously back into his seat.

Aurelia watched this exchange, rubbing her chin in thought. Maybe I should make Mereoleona Kirsch's babysitter. Or better yet, send him along on her next journey for some "training."

Kirsch shivered involuntarily, sensing a dark future ahead.

Before Mereoleona could double down on her demand, a familiar presence loomed behind her. She turned to find her mother, Amber, smiling with her eyes closed—a smile that wasn't really a smile.

"Mereoleona…" Amber said sweetly, gripping her daughter's arm with surprising strength. Her serene tone dripped with venom. "Are you seriously suggesting this right now?"

Ignatius and Fuegoleon nodded along, wearing identical expressions of exasperation and defeat.

Meanwhile, Leopold remained blissfully unaware, happily munching on a handful of nuts. Who knew what went on in a toddler's mind?

"Of course I'm serious!" Mereoleona snorted. "You lot dragged me back here for nothing and keep trying to stop me from leaving!" She jabbed a finger at her mother's chest, then shot her father a dirty look. "If I really wanted to go, you couldn't stop me. I'm just showing some bare minimum filial respect."

Ignatius and Amber's smiles twitched. So you know it's the bare minimum? That's not something to brag about!

Mereoleona continued, undeterred. "Why do I go out to train in the first place? Because no one here can push me past my limits except Acier! If you won't let me fight her, I'll head straight back to the Yultim Volcanoes!"

"Why not fight your brother or father?" Amber countered, turning to give Ignatius and Fuegoleon a pointed smile. You will, won't you?

The two men nodded heavily under her silent command.

Mereoleona scoffed, pointing at Fuegoleon. "First of all, this stiff only gets interesting when he's motivated."

Before Fuegoleon could object, she jabbed her finger at Ignatius. "And this stiff is never interesting."

Ignatius stiffened as Mereoleona crossed her arms. "Besides, I spend all my time in the volcanoes fighting flame-attribute creatures. I need variety to keep things fresh!"

Amber fought the urge to spank her daughter, instead mulling over a desperate plan. Conrad owes us plenty of favors… Maybe we could ask the Wizard King himself to spar with her.

As ridiculous as it sounded to use the revered Wizard King as a punching bag for their daughter, Amber was about to suggest it when Mereoleona's face suddenly lit up.

She turned around with newfound enthusiasm, cutting off whatever scheme Amber had been about to propose.

Mereoleona's signature feral grin returned as she strode forward, pointing a challenging finger at Sebastian. "Fine then, you fight me."

Her eyes gleamed with excitement. You're a water mage, my elemental weakness. This is going to be fun. She licked her lips, her pulse quickening at the thought.

The room plunged into silence as everyone turned from Mereoleona to Sebastian, who was casually picking his ear. He gave her a dumbfounded look, as if he had misheard.

Sebastian eventually straightened up, placing his hands on his lap with a strained smile. "Now, why would I do that?"

Mereoleona's grin widened. "Why not? You said you were grateful to me, right? Then prove it with action instead of empty words—"

"Not that grateful." Sebastian held up a hand to cut her off, his tone light but firm. "Besides, didn't you claim you did practically nothing? Asking for compensation is pretty shameless."

"Heh!" Mereoleona chuckled darkly, sneering. "I can feel your mana's much stronger than the last time we met. Still gonna act like a coward and claim you're scared of me?"

Unfazed, Sebastian shrugged with a wry smile. "Of course I will—" He suddenly paused, frowning slightly as a thought crossed his mind. Wait… am I still afraid of her?

He pondered for a moment. I did beat an Eight Shining General without breaking a sweat. Sure, it was the weakest one, and sure, it was a sneak attack… but a win is a win, right? He scratched his chin, unsure.

Sebastian's current strength was in an awkward place. His raw power, speed, and mana were leagues behind the kingdom's top-tier combatants. However, my current abilities do give me some tricky advantages. And this Mereoleona is only 19, still 17 years away from her prime. Right?

He glanced at Mereoleona, who stood there, her grin growing wider with every second of his hesitation. Even if I'm wrong…

Sebastian's thoughts turned darker. Vanica and Megicula could attack any day now. If I want to protect Acier and our family, I need to get stronger—and fast. Mereoleona might be crazy, but that's exactly what makes her the perfect sparring partner. She doesn't hold back. If I want to unlock the potential my predecessor neglected, I need to embrace the beating she'll give me.

With a reluctant sigh, Sebastian opened his mouth.

Back to the Present:

And that's how he found himself standing in the training arena, face-to-face with the Undefeated Lioness herself.

Sebastian cast a forced smile at his family in the stands, his gaze lingering on Noelle before shifting to Mimosa and Leopold, who stared back innocently. Is it really okay for children to watch this? His brows furrowed. This fight could get bloody and brutal.

A quick glance at the unbothered expressions around him made him shrug. Maybe this is just normal here.

He gave a subtle nod to Alfred, who stood poised in the stands. The butler bowed and tapped the railing, triggering a cascade of archaic sigils and runic symbols that spread out, forming a multi-layered magical barrier around the audience.

Alfred raised his arm. "Let the test match between Lady Mereoleona of House Vermillion and Lord Sebastian Silva of House Silva… begin!" His voice was calm but firm, the emphasis on match a futile attempt to remind Mereoleona to show restraint.

She, of course, did no such thing.

Sebastian's eyes narrowed as the ambient mana in the arena surged toward Mereoleona's right arm, turning it a fiery crimson. With a fierce punch, she sent a blazing beam of fire roaring through the air, the force of the attack cracking the sound barrier.

Sebastian's mind raced. Mana Zone? Already? She's 19!

A horrifying realization struck him. No wonder Rill wasn't the youngest Magic Knight Captain because of sheer skill. It's because monsters like her didn't want the title!

He barely managed to sidestep, the beam narrowly missing him. But he wasn't out of danger. The beam swerved mid-air, controlled by Mana Zone, and arced back toward him like a homing missile.

No use dodging. He made a split-second decision. Reinforcing his legs with magic, he launched himself straight at Mereoleona.

Her feral grin widened. "That's the spirit!" Mereoleona mirrored his charge, her excitement palpable. She welcomed the clash, unafraid of taking hits—her volcanic training rendered her nearly immune to heat and flames. But it was more than that. A predator never backs down.

Sebastian found himself flanked by fire. The flaming beam closed in from behind, and the lioness hurtled toward him head-on.

"Mana Zone: Calidus Brachium!" Mereoleona's arm pulsed with power as she prepared a devastating punch.

Sebastian's grimoire flipped rapidly. "Water Creation Magic: Gauntlet of Pontus!" [1]

An aquamarine, reptilian gauntlet enveloped his right hand, and he threw a punch to meet hers. Mereoleona's grin was fixed, eager for the impact. But just as their fists were about to collide, Sebastian's body began to glow bright blue.

Then, to everyone's shock, he liquefied, transforming into a thousand droplets of water that scattered in every direction.

Gotcha.

Mereoleona's fist slammed into her own redirected beam of fire.

"BOOM!"

The explosion rocked the arena, filling it with smoke and flames.

"What kind of spell is that?!" Aurelia and Amara gawked as droplets of water converged above, reforming into Sebastian's figure near the ceiling.

Nozel stiffened, his stomach churning. Not that spell again…

Sebastian, fully reformed and hovering in the air, didn't waste a second. His grimoire flipped once more, readying his next move. No time to let her recover.

Sebastian's grimoire flipped again. "Water Creation Magic: Bow of Apollo!"

A shimmering bow and arrow of water materialized in his hands. From his near-upside-down position, he wasted no time, pulling back the string and releasing the arrow toward a shadowy silhouette in the smoke below.

The water arrow whirled through the air with deadly precision, its speed rivaling his infamous water jet. But speed was meaningless against Mereoleona.

From the depths of the smoke, another blazing fire beam erupted, evaporating the arrow on contact and continuing its deadly charge toward Sebastian.

She's faster than I thought.

Barely reacting in time, Sebastian manipulated his liquid form to shift slightly mid-air. The beam grazed his cheek, searing his skin and leaving a deep, bloody burn.

The attack rocketed past him, striking the barrier-protected ceiling. Mereoleona hadn't used Mana Zone to guide this shot, and the sheer force of the impact shattered the barrier, punching through the ceiling with an earth-shaking explosion.

"AAAAH!"

Terrified screams echoed through the estate as the blast startled servants and onlookers outside. Fortunately, Sebastian had foreseen the chaos and ordered Jeeves to clear the vicinity. Hopefully, no one's hurt…

But he couldn't dwell on it. The smoke beneath him dispersed, revealing nothing but scorched ground. His pupils dilated.

Mereoleona appeared before him in an instant, standing mid-air as if on an invisible platform. Her wild hair was slightly frizzed, her clothes dusted with ash, but her body? Untouched. Her eyes burned with ecstasy, her grin feral.

With her fist engulfed in fiery mana, she aimed a devastating punch at Sebastian's face, intending to flatten it.

Sebastian's body liquefied again, slipping away from her strike like water through a sieve. He reformed moments later behind her, his right leg encased in the same aquatic armor as his gauntlet. He twisted his body, aiming a powerful roundhouse kick directly at her spine.

Got you.

Or so he thought.

Without even turning around, Mereoleona tracked his mana. She reached back, catching his leg mid-swing with both hands.

She arched backward at an almost impossible angle, her upside-down face grinning savagely. "Caught you!"

Sebastian tried to liquefy again, to slide out of her iron grip. But Mereoleona was faster. Her hands ignited, flames surging and wrapping around his leg.

"AAGH!!"

Sebastian's scream tore through the arena. Pain unlike anything he'd ever experienced coursed through him. His water body boiled, the searing heat burning him alive.

It hurts! It hurts! It hurts! His mind raced in agony. You psycho! You absolute maniac!

He flailed, desperate to escape, but Mereoleona's grip only tightened as her flames burned brighter. She cackled with exhilaration, her warrior spirit on cloud nine, from ecstasy. 

"Dad!"

"Father!"

Nebra and Solid's voices rang out, their screams thick with fear. They turned to Nozel, desperation in their eyes. Solid clutched his older brother's leg. "Brother, shouldn't we stop this?!" His voice quivered. Could this even be called a spar anymore?

Nozel's jaw clenched as he looked toward his mother—and froze.

Dorothy, suddenly wide awake, stood between Acier and Aurelia. Her hands, glowing with a soft purple hue, rested on the heads of Noelle and Mimosa, forcing the babies into a peaceful slumber. Blissfully unaware of the chaos unfolding.

Acier's eyes remained locked on her husband's burning figure, her expression unreadable, her thoughts a mystery, as her gaze darkened.

Around them, the room was filled with faces twisted in horror. Aurelia, Amara, Florian, and Kirsch looked like they'd just seen a nightmare made real.

Amber clutched Leopold tightly, shielding his eyes from the gruesome spectacle.

Fuegoleon and Ignatius stepped forward, grimoires at the ready. Fuegoleon's brow furrowed with grim determination as Ignatius growled, "Pennyworth, drop the barrier."

Alfred, steadfast at the railing, shook his head. "I will not, Master's orders, were to not interfere in the fight no matter what."

"Drop the barrier, Alfred!" Nozel barked, fury blazing in his eyes.

The butler trembled but remained firm. "Please, young master. Have faith in the master. He wishes to see this fight through."

Nozel's mana spiked, mercury daggers materializing around him as his veins throbbed with rage. "I said drop the fucking barrier, now!"

"Nozel!"

Acier's voice cracked like a whip through the chaos, silencing everyone. All eyes turned to her as her usually gentle face twisted in anger. "He will do no such thing! The fight will continue!"

"Sister?!"

"Acier?!"

Nozel's face turned crimson with fury. For the first time in his life, he raised his voice against his mother, the woman he revered above all. "Are you out of your fucking mind?! What in the actual hell is wrong with you?!"

"Look at your father's grimoire!" Acier's sharp command cut through his rage like a blade.

The room collectively froze before turning their gaze back to Sebastian.

Despite the hellish scene before them—his burning, screaming form—the grimoire hovering at his side was perfectly intact.

Nozel's eyes widened as he processed what this meant. When a grimoire user dies, their grimoire vanishes. If they're on the brink of death, the grimoire begins to flake away, signaling the end. But Sebastian's? It stood unscathed, whole.

Acier bit her lip, blood trickling down her chin. "Until his grimoire starts to dematerialize, we will honor his wishes and let the fight continue." Her voice was steady, commanding.

She glanced at Alfred. "Have our servants skilled in recovery magic on standby!"

Alfred bowed deeply, immediately pulling out a magical transponder. "Yes, my lady!" He moved with haste, relaying her orders without hesitation.

Back in the air, Sebastian's mind began to slip into murky fragments. If… don't… escape… could… seriously… die…

He had only survived this long by sheer willpower and tactical use of his water body. By concentrating it around his vital organs—his heart, brain, nerves, and kidneys—he managed to shield them from the worst of the burns. But the rest of him? His skin flaked away like ash, and the unrelenting heat slowed his thoughts to a crawl.

Trembling, Sebastian raised his right arm, pointing a charred index finger toward where he guessed Mereoleona's forehead was. He was blind now, relying entirely on mana sensing and spatial awareness.

A single droplet of water coalesced at his fingertip, then shot forward like a high-pressure bullet.

Mereoleona's instincts screamed. Her pupils dilated as her battle-honed reflexes kicked in. That tiny droplet wasn't just water—it was lethal, and it could end her if it hit. She immediately released Sebastian, twisting midair to evade the shot.

The water bullet narrowly missed, but not without leaving its mark—a thin, crimson line appeared along the side of her head.

"Bam!"

Sebastian crashed to the platform below, his charred body leaving a deep indent in the ground. The impact sent smoke and rubble scattering, gradually revealing his heaving, broken figure.

Mereoleona began walking through the air, arms crossed, her eyes fixed on him. She waited, her gaze sharp, to see if he would rise again.

"Ack… ack… ack…" His hoarse, cracked lips coughed weakly. But his grimoire, floating beside him, began to glow as its pages flipped.

A sphere of water formed around him, enveloping him completely—a cocoon of healing magic.

Blessed Bath of Heavenly Healing.

Unlike when he cast this spell on others, keeping them dry while they healed, Sebastian's body dissolved into the cocoon, merging with it entirely.

"Oh?" Mereoleona raised a brow, intrigued. She could feel his once-fading mana flare back to life, burning brighter with each passing second.

Interesting.

A wicked grin spread across her face as she clenched her fists, mana coalescing around her arms once more. Without hesitation, she wound up another devastating punch.

"But your enemy isn't going to give you a chance to recover, Sebastian!"

She launched a blazing beam of fire directly at the water cocoon, a laser of pure destruction.

Before it could connect, a massive sphere of water appeared in the air, revolving rapidly. The beam curved mid-flight, drawn into the sphere as if by an invisible force.

The water sphere shuddered, bubbles of heat shooting out as the fire's intensity threatened to evaporate it. Steam hissed and geysers of scalding vapor erupted, destabilizing its once-perfect shape.

Below, the cocoon rippled and shimmered before reforming into Sebastian's body.

He stood, battered but restored. His scorched and tattered clothes barely clung to him, and his pale skin was dusted with ash. Yet his body was healed—burns faded to mere blemishes, his once-charred form almost entirely restored.

The spectators collectively exhaled in relief, tension easing as they sank back into their seats.

The Blessed Bath of Heavenly Healing was a spell of incredible power. It allowed concentrated water mana to permeate the body, drastically accelerating its natural recovery rate. Through Sebastian's unique water body, he could take this even further, fusing entirely with the healing magic to recover from near-death in moments.

Sebastian dusted himself off, his silver hair still slightly singed. He glanced up at Mereoleona, whose grin only widened.

She cracked her knuckles, fire sparking in her eyes. "Ready for round two?"

Sebastian's response was simple: he snapped his fingers.

The water sphere around him detonated in a sudden burst of hot steam, filling the arena in an instant. But steam was still water—and water was his to control.

The dense fog enveloped the entire room, shrouding everything in a thick, scalding mist. Mereoleona squinted, catching only a glimpse of Sebastian before he was fully obscured. He raised a hand, pointing directly at her.

"It's my turn."

Mereoleona grinned, excitement flashing in her eyes. She was ready to dive straight through the steam when her smile faltered—Sebastian's mana signature vanished.

Or so it seemed.

Mereoleona frowned, focusing her mana sense. It wasn't that Sebastian had disappeared. No, her mana sense was acting up, as if the entire room had become one giant Sebastian.

Her eyes narrowed. He's merged with the steam.

Sebastian had dissolved his form, spreading his essence throughout the vapor. Now, he was everywhere and nowhere all at once.

From her elevated position, Mereoleona growled, her fiery aura surging. "Fine, then. If you're going to hide, I'll just blow this entire place to bits—"

She spun around suddenly, instincts flaring, as Sebastian lunged at her from behind. In his grasp was a weapon shaped like a dagger—no, more like a military-grade combat knife.

He slashed at her throat with lethal precision, but before the blade could connect, a flaming paw erupted from Mereoleona's back, gripping his arm mid-swing.

"Nice try," she said with a beastly smirk, winding up her flaming left fist.

"Mana Zone: Calidus Brachium!"

The punch connected, engulfing Sebastian in a fiery inferno. His body seemed to evaporate instantly, reduced to nothing but mist.

But Mereoleona didn't celebrate. Her smirk vanished as a sudden, sharp crack resounded from her back.

"Gah!"

Pain surged through her spine as she stiffly turned her head, sweat dripping down her temple. Behind her stood Sebastian, entirely unharmed, both legs encased in reptilian water-armor boots. He'd just delivered a flying kick to her back.

"A clone?" she muttered through gritted teeth, her grin slowly returning.

Sebastian gave a curt nod. Mereoleona barely had time to register the confirmation before the impact sent her hurtling toward the ground like a meteor, crashing face-first into the arena. The force of her impact left a massive crater, reducing much of the platform to rubble.

Sebastian hovered above, standing on a floating platform of water. His eyes remained sharp, carefully observing the dust cloud below. He'd purposefully avoided her spine, not wanting to risk paralysis, even in a world where recovery magic could heal such injuries. Some risks simply weren't worth taking.

Sure enough, Mereoleona emerged moments later, battered but unbroken. Blood dripped from various scrapes, and her clothes were singed, but she looked more exhilarated than ever.

"That was a good one!" she laughed, wiping blood and saliva from her mouth. "How'd you trick me?"

Mereoleona wasn't new to fighting against clones. She'd faced countless opponents who used similar techniques, many of which were sophisticated enough to fool the average fighter. But her mana sense was unparalleled. Usually, she could distinguish between a clone and the real thing with ease.

This time, however, she hadn't noticed the difference until the clone was destroyed. Its mana, scent, and even physical presence were identical to Sebastian's real body.

Sebastian met her curious gaze with a deadpan stare, his brow furrowed. "Why would I tell you?"

Mereoleona burst into laughter, but Sebastian remained stoic. To him, revealing this trump card—even to an ally—was a dangerous gamble.

Unlike typical clone spells that constructed artificial replicas, Sebastian's technique was far more unique and personal. He didn't just create a copy; he shed a piece of himself. A single droplet of water, infused with his mana and essence, was enough to form a near-perfect clone.

However, the method wasn't without risk. Sebastian suspected that each clone contained a fragment of his soul. While this wasn't inherently dangerous in the world of Black Clover, where mana and soul are intrinsically linked, meaning the soul can recover and heal like the body, it still posed a significant vulnerability.

If someone like Megicula, an expert in curses, or Lucius, the world's foremost authority on souls, discovered this weakness, they could exploit it to target his main body. Even those who merely approached mastery over the soul—like Mereoleona in her future growth—might pose a threat.

Sebastian had no intention of sharing this secret, especially not with someone as adaptive and relentless as Mereoleona.

Mereoleona shrugged nonchalantly, rolling her shoulders as flames danced at her fingertips. She cracked her knuckles and grinned. "Whatever that was, you've earned your victory. Now let's finish this with round three—"

"No."

Sebastian's calm yet firm interruption froze her mid-sentence.

Mereoleona's grin faded, her brows furrowing in displeasure. "No? Things were just getting good! Don't tell me you're quitting now!"

"I never said that," Sebastian replied coolly, standing on his elevated platform of water.

"Then what are you saying?!" Her earlier good mood was rapidly souring, irritated by his vagueness.

Sebastian snorted, crossing his arms. "After what you did to me in round one, you think I'd call this a victory? Round two isn't over yet—and there won't be a round three, because I'm ending this here."

For a moment, silence hung in the air before Mereoleona's fiery laughter erupted, booming across the arena. "Ha ha ha ha! That's the spirit, you sick freak! Let's go all out and finish this now!"

Mereoleona bent her knees, digging her heels into the ground. Flames erupted around her as she gathered her strength, then shot into the air like a blazing rocket, aiming straight for Sebastian.

Sebastian remained unfazed. As his grimoire flipped to its final filled page, he pointed downward.

Water Magic: Whirlpool!

A massive swirling vortex of water materialized on the arena floor, flooding the area and dragging the remaining rubble into its churning depths. But that wasn't all—it wasn't just physical debris being pulled in.

Mereoleona, mid-flight, suddenly felt an invisible force yanking her downward toward the vortex. Her eyes narrowed as she quickly assessed the situation.

It's like that sphere—it locks onto mana!

Realizing this, she activated Mana Zone, condensing the ambient mana into an invisible platform beneath her feet. She balanced midair, creating a controlled space where she should have been able to stabilize herself.

Keyword: should.

Despite her efforts, she continued to descend, albeit more slowly. Mereoleona's sharp mind quickly pieced it together—the vortex was absorbing even the mana from her territory.

Before she could expand her zone further, Sebastian's voice rang out, drawing everyone's attention.

"This spell can be cast on any surface."

Panting slightly from the strain of his magic, Sebastian raised his hand and pointed skyward. Gasps echoed as the spectators followed his gaze. The ceiling above them shimmered like a reflective lake before transforming into an identical swirling whirlpool.

Mereoleona's pupils contracted.

Sebastian, sweat dripping down his face, allowed himself a slight smirk. "The ceiling is also a surface."

The dual whirlpools created a perfect trap. Mereoleona, caught in midair, was pulled simultaneously upward and downward. She froze, suspended between the opposing forces like a magnet caught between two equally powerful poles.

Her Mana Zone was completely stripped away, its energy evenly siphoned into both whirlpools. For the first time in a long while, she found herself unable to move.

She tried to summon her internal mana reserves, but as soon as she gathered a significant amount, it was immediately sucked away. Even the ambient mana in the environment, usually hers to command, was beyond her reach.

Mereoleona gritted her teeth, her body trembling as she fought against the gravitational pull of the spell. But there was no denying it—she was immobilized, utterly at Sebastian's mercy.

Sebastian wouldn't take any risks. He extended two fingers toward Mereoleona, his grimoire flipping back a few pages.

"Water Restraining Magic: Aqua Binding," he whispered.

From thin air, shimmering ropes of water materialized, coiling tightly around Mereoleona. She felt her connection to her mana weaken drastically, and for the first time, a sinking feeling crept into her chest.

Sebastian began descending toward her, each step forming on a platform of water as though he were walking down an invisible staircase.

He coughed weakly, hacking a bit before offering her a wry smile. "Naturally, I and my spells are exempt from this magic."

As if to emphasize the point, he moved effortlessly between the whirlpools. The bindings remained intact, unaffected by the vortexes' mana-draining pull. Mereoleona's eyes blazed with defiance, and she strained against the ropes, but they held firm.

Sebastian stopped just in front of her. Mereoleona, rather than panicking, let out a fierce grin. "If you think this is enough to make me admit defeat, you're wrong. It won't be your victory until you knock me out!"

"Oh, I know," Sebastian said, nodding indifferently. Then his expression shifted into a smug, almost petty smirk. "Even if you did quit, I wouldn't accept it. You nearly turned me into charcoal a few minutes ago—probably gave my kids nightmares. I'm not letting you off this easy."

Sebastian's right arm began to glow as the Gauntlet of Pontus manifested around it once more. His grin twisted into something almost deranged as he screamed in her face:

"Clench your eyes!"

Instinctively, Mereoleona blinked and squeezed her eyes shut. It wasn't until Sebastian's fist smashed into her jaw that her eyes snapped open in fury.

"It's clench your jaw, you sick bastard—ack!"

A couple of bloody teeth flew from her mouth as the force of the punch sent her crashing downward. The whirlpools vanished, and she hit the ground with a thunderous impact, shattering the stone floor and exposing the dirt and sand beneath the training facility.

Sebastian descended slowly, landing softly on a patch of rubble-free ground. The moment his feet touched down, his legs buckled, and he fell to his knees. His grimoire clattered to the side, and the mana that had been fueling him all this time finally gave out.

Breathing heavily, Sebastian chuckled weakly. "Ha ha… I actually beat her…" But his moment of triumph was short-lived.

A familiar, monstrous presence rose once again. Mereoleona shot up from the rubble, landing right in front of him.

Her body was a mess—blood streamed from gashes on her forehead, her clothes were shredded, and bruises and scars covered her from head to toe. She spat out more bloody teeth, but her grin was wider and more ecstatic than ever.

"Incredible! Incredible!" she bellowed, her eyes gleaming with wild excitement. "I changed my mind—I'm not leaving! From now on, we're doing this every damn day! You're my rival too, you sick bastard!"

Sebastian opened his mouth, ready to tell her she was insane, that he would never go through this madness again. But before he could get a word out, Mereoleona's pupils faded to white. Her body wobbled, then collapsed backward, unconscious.

Sebastian stared at her for a moment, utterly spent. Why did I invite the damn Vermillions to breakfast? He groaned internally, regretting more than anything that he had offered them a standing invitation to meals.

With a final exhale, Sebastian tipped backward, ready to embrace the cold, hard ground. But instead of stone, his head landed on something warm and soft.

Confused, he blinked and looked up.

A familiar figure with silver hair and lavender eyes hovered above him, her face a mix of pride and worry. Tears glistened at the corners of her eyes as she cupped his face gently.

Sebastian's breath hitched. Acier…

At that moment, he felt all the tension drain from his body. Well… this isn't the worst way to pass out.

Sebastian closed his eyes, letting the warmth of his wife's lap and her quiet presence lull him into unconsciousness.

Author's Notes:

[1] Pontus is an ancient and primordial god of the sea, from the pre-Olympus era. 

[2] Apollo is the Greek god of the sun, music, and prophecy. Also in some myths connected to archery like the Greek goddess and his sister Artemis. He also has various connections to water bodies in some myths, particularly in the matter of healing and protecting. 

[3] Probably the last main story chapter for a while. Going on hiatus till Dec 10th, for finals. You might get an additional alternative story chapter as well till that goes on hiatus as well.