Bonds Forged in Battle

As Asta and the others took a moment to catch their breath after the intense battle, Zoro's sharp voice broke the silence, directing his attention to Yuno. "Listen, kid," Zoro said firmly, "I want you to catch the things they drop."

Yuno blinked in confusion, his brow furrowing. "Huh? What things? And who's going to drop them?" he asked, trying to understand Zoro's vague instructions.

Zoro just smirked, his expression unreadable as he turned away. "Just follow me," he said, the hint of a challenge in his voice. Then, with a subtle shift of his stance, he bent his knees and leaped skyward, muttering, "Sky Walk." In an instant, he seemed to step onto the very air, propelling himself with explosive force as a loud boom echoed through the area, sending a powerful gust of wind across the clearing and making Asta and the others stagger in surprise.

"Whaaa—whoa!" Asta's eyes lit up with excitement, practically sparkling as he stared up at Zoro in awe. "That's so cool!" he shouted, his fists clenched with enthusiasm. Zoro's movement was so quick and fluid, it looked like he was gliding through the air at breakneck speed, a trail of wind and dust swirling in his wake. To Asta, it was as if Zoro had become a shooting star, rocketing across the sky.

Yuno, equally stunned, barely managed to snap out of his shock in time. He launched himself into the air, wings of wind magic unfolding behind him as he hurried to keep up. His gaze was fixed on Zoro's rapidly disappearing figure, determination sparking in his eyes. "Unbelievable…" he murmured under his breath. He had seen Zoro's strength before, but this was on another level. The speed, the agility—Zoro was moving like a force of nature.

Noelle, watching from below, was wide-eyed with astonishment. "But… I thought the Vice-Captain has no magic," she said, her voice laced with disbelief. "How can he fly?"

Klaus, standing beside her, nodded, understanding her surprise. "It's a technique he developed himself," he explained, his voice filled with a mix of admiration and apprehension. "It relies solely on his physical prowess. He doesn't use magic at all. And that's what makes him so terrifying—he has no mana, but there's practically nothing he can't do." Klaus's gaze followed Zoro's figure disappearing into the distance, a sense of respect deepening in his eyes. "It's said that even the Diamond Kingdom fears him… with good reason."

.....

Beside him, another mage, Mars, was lying on the floor of the carriage, his body visibly damaged. Despite the horrific wound Zoro had dealt him earlier, flames wrapped around his injured torso, magically binding his body to stop the bleeding. Lotus sneered lightly at him, flicking a casual glance his way. "Good thing you didn't die back there. Would've been a real shame to leave you behind after all that trouble." He smirked, watching as Mars nodded weakly in response, his gaze fixed on the treasures as the carriage began to ascend.

Just as the Diamond Kingdom group relaxed, preparing to leave the dungeon behind, a sudden, deafening boom shattered the air around them, accompanied by a violent gust of wind. Lotus and the others whirled around, squinting into the distance, only to see a dark figure hurtling toward them at a speed that defied belief. Zoro was rocketing through the air, his gaze locked onto them with an intense, predatory focus.

"What the—!?" Lotus's voice quivered as he took in the sight. His confident demeanor evaporated, replaced by sheer terror. "Why… why is that demon chasing us now? I thought we were in the clear!" His heart pounded wildly in his chest as he looked at Mars, his voice shaking. "Are you awake, Mars? Get ready… we might need every ounce of strength we have to hold him off!"

But Mars was different this time. Instead of the eager fighter Lotus had known, he stared back with an impassive, almost detached expression. Sensing Zoro's approach, he wordlessly leaped off the carriage, disappearing into the forest below with no hesitation.

Lotus cursed, feeling dread pool in his stomach. Mars abandoning ship wasn't a good sign. Zoro was drawing closer by the second, his figure growing larger, the fierce wind from his approach buffeting the carriage.

"Damn it!" Lotus clenched his fists, realizing Zoro's sights were locked onto him. The treasures, the carriage—none of it mattered now. He was the target, and Zoro wouldn't stop until he reached him.

As Zoro closed in on the smoke carriage, his grin widened, his eyes gleaming with the thrill of battle. With a swift, fluid motion, he reached to his waist, unsheathing two swords, each blade glinting ominously under the sun. Holding the swords firmly in each hand, his stance exuded a dangerous calm. His arms became encased in a dark, polished luster, Armament Haki coursing through them, while vibrant red streaks of lightning began dancing along the blades, crackling with an intense, electric energy.

"Two-Sword Style... Oni Giri!" he declared, his voice carrying a chilling excitement that sent shivers down the spines of those who managed to hear it. His arms crossed, positioning the swords in an X in front of his chest. The energy around him pulsed, a dark aura swirling as his Haki surged even further, making his swords glow with a deadly red and green aura.

In a single, powerful motion, he swung both blades outward, unleashing a massive, X-shaped slash that roared through the air. The force of the attack was like a gale, the very atmosphere splitting open, creating a shockwave that rattled the ground below. The green and red energy streaked forward, blazing a destructive path towards the carriage and the Diamond Kingdom mages. The sharp, cutting energy screamed through the air as it approached, unstoppable and precise.

The enemy mages barely had a moment to register what was coming. Before they could react, the X-shaped slash hit them with ruthless efficiency, slicing through their bodies like they were paper. One by one, they fell, shredded by the raw force of Zoro's attack, their screams cut short. The smoke carriage stood no chance either, the vehicle dissolving into wisps of vapor as Zoro's attack cleaved through it, disintegrating its structure and scattering fragments in every direction.

Lotus, who had been at the front, could only stare in horror, paralyzed, as the devastating slash closed in on him. In those final moments, his vision blurred, and everything around him faded into darkness as the attack tore through him. The carriage, the mages, and Lotus himself were all obliterated, left as nothing more than memories on the wind.

With the carriage destroyed, its contents began to rain down toward the ground in a sparkling cascade. Gold coins, ancient artifacts, jewels, and treasures spilled from the remnants, shining as they caught the sunlight. But before they could scatter too far, a swift current of wind enveloped the treasure, swirling it all together in a controlled spiral.

Yuno hovered below, his hands outstretched, controlling his wind magic with precision. The gusts of wind swirled around the falling treasure, gently guiding each piece toward him, catching the gold coins, relics, and gemstones in a vortex of air. The treasures floated around him in a dazzling display, perfectly contained by his wind as he gathered everything Zoro's attack had dislodged.

Each coin glimmered, and each gem sparkled as Yuno pulled them close, his expression calm but focused, ensuring nothing was left behind. With steady control, he organized the treasure into a collected mass, ready to transport it back to the others.

....

As the adrenaline finally wore off, Asta's whole body throbbed with pain, every cut, bruise, and strained muscle making itself known. "Ow, ow, ow!" he groaned, clutching his side as he attempted to straighten up. His body felt like one massive ache, but his determination and stubborn spirit wouldn't let him show weakness, even though each movement made him wince.

Noelle approached him with her usual haughty expression, though her eyes betrayed a hint of relief. She crossed her arms and tilted her chin up, doing her best to keep her voice even. "It's good to see you're still in one piece, dorksta," she said, almost dismissively, but Asta could sense the underlying concern in her tone. She had watched him fight recklessly, throw himself into danger for the sake of his friends, and even though she'd never admit it aloud, she'd been worried. Her pride masked a deeper worry, but her words carried a warmth she couldn't hide.

Asta grinned up at her, determination shining through the pain. "Like I'd actually die before becoming the Wizard King!" he declared, struggling to sit up, his body screaming in protest but his spirit unyielding. His voice held a fierce resolve, as if he was declaring it not just to Noelle, but to the entire world. Every bruise and cut was a testament to his willpower, and he wasn't going to back down, not now, not ever.

From a few steps away, Yuno, who had been watching with an amused expression, couldn't help but chuckle. "Don't get ahead of yourself, Asta," he said, a slight smirk gracing his face. "I'm the one who's going to be the Wizard King." His voice held a quiet but unwavering confidence, the rivalry between them as strong as ever. Even after all the danger they'd faced, their ambition was undeterred, a shared dream that pushed them both forward. The glint in Yuno's eyes spoke volumes, and Asta's determined gaze met his, an unspoken promise that neither would let the other outshine him.

Just then, Klaus, who had been silently observing, suddenly ran toward them, pulling both Asta and Yuno into a tight hug. His face was a mixture of relief and emotion, his usual arrogance and composed demeanor completely gone. Tears welled up in his eyes, and his voice trembled as he spoke. "I… I wouldn't acknowledge you two because you were peasants," he said, guilt heavy in his tone. "But after seeing what you did today… how you fought to protect everyone… I'm ashamed of myself. You're both incredible magic knights of the Clover Kingdom." The respect and admiration in his voice were genuine, a stark contrast to his usual aloof manner.

"Mr. Four Eyes… it hurts!" Asta choked out, trying to wriggle free from Klaus's iron grip, his eyes wide with discomfort. Klaus's hold was a little too strong, his emotions overtaking his usual self-control.

"Klaus, maybe dial it down," Yuno said, his voice deadpan but his expression amused, barely hiding a small smile. The contrast between Klaus's earnest gratitude and the boys' discomfort made for a scene that was both touching and comical.

The group burst into a relaxed banter, each member expressing their relief in their own way. Noelle tried to hide her small, relieved smile, pretending to focus on fixing her hair. Klaus, finally realizing he'd been holding them too tight, let go with an embarrassed chuckle. Asta teased him about nearly breaking his ribs, while Yuno couldn't resist throwing in a dry remark about Klaus's "enthusiasm."

.....

"Dial it down, kid. You're embarrassing yourself. And why is it that Julius wants to meet me?" Zoro muttered, visibly annoyed as he glanced at Asta. Vermithra, his spirit companion, was napping on his head, her tiny breaths causing his hair to flutter slightly. Asta, however, was oblivious, his eyes wide with excitement as he took in the enormous castle around him, practically shouting his awe into the air.

"Whoooaaa! That's the biggest building I've ever seen!" Asta's voice echoed as he spun in place, staring up at the castle's towering spires, ignoring Zoro's annoyance.

Hours earlier, when Zoro was relaxing with a drink, Yami had approached him with a message: the Wizard King himself wanted to meet Zoro. Along the way, Yami instructed him to bring Asta and Noelle for a mission report. Begrudgingly, Zoro agreed, though he was hardly excited at the prospect of meeting Julius, especially with Asta's over-enthusiastic antics tagging along.

As they made their way toward the castle, they crossed paths with the Golden Dawn trio—Yuno, Klaus, and Mimosa. Klaus greeted them politely, though he still seemed a bit flustered after their recent mission. Yuno gave a nod of acknowledgment, his usual calm contrasting Asta's spirited excitement. Mimosa waved, delighted to see her friends again, and soon the group continued their journey together, Asta and Yuno bickering playfully as they moved closer to the grand castle gates.

Upon reaching the castle, they were greeted by a man with a youthful face, despite his clear maturity. His hair was swept back, a short, well-kept beard framing his face, and a shining star-shaped symbol gleamed on his forehead, marking him unmistakably as the Wizard King, Julius Novachrono. His eyes sparkled with curiosity and warmth, reflecting a mind always in search of knowledge and adventure.

"Hey there!" Julius waved eagerly, a broad smile lighting up his face as he greeted them, brimming with energy. "Come on in, young people! And Zoro-kun!" He chuckled, his hands raised as he welcomed them all with an infectious enthusiasm. It was clear that for Julius, this meeting was more than just formalities—it was a chance to witness the power and potential of his kingdom's rising stars.