The Black Bulls 2

But just as they were enjoying themselves out of nowhere, a portal opened up with a faint shimmer, and the familiar, hesitant face of Finral poked through. His eyes went wide with shock as he took in the scene before him. Dorothy, the dreamy and elusive captain of the Coral Peacocks, was sitting there, entirely relaxed and laughing softly with Zoro—Zoro, the Black Bull's taciturn, tough-as-nails vice-captain, known for his notorious sense of direction and even worse sense of social graces. Finral's jaw dropped slightly, not sure what surprised him more: Dorothy's unexpectedly animated demeanor, or the sight of Zoro enjoying someone's company without immediately wandering off. This unusual pairing left Finral momentarily speechless.

Caught up in the moment, Finral thought, Since when does Zoro san sit down with anyone except for captain yami? And here I am, opening portals again, like a servant on call for their whims. But hey, better not complain—respect and all, right? It's definitely respect, not fear of that man's insane strength, he reassured himself, though the sweat running down his temple betrayed his nerves.

Zoro, sensing the presence behind him, turned his head with a faint smirk. "Oh, Finral, you're here. Good timing," he said, seemingly oblivious to Finral's surprise at the entire scene. Turning to Asta, he motioned with a slight nod, "Hey, kid, let's go. Our ride's here." His tone was gruff as ever, with that same commanding presence that often came across as careless or blunt. He paid no mind to Finral's obvious discomfort, nor did he bother to hide his directness.

Asta grinned, eager to get moving, but Finral felt a surge of exasperation. There was a vein practically pulsing on his forehead. These so-called "monsters" in his squad were incredible fighters, and while he respected their strength, he wished they'd think twice about treating him like a portal-making tool. Of course, Finral couldn't dare say this out loud, not when he respected them—Yes, it's respect, he thought, hastily, not terror of Zoro's sword skills or Captain Yami's ability to casually crack bones. He nodded firmly to himself, his face a forced of irritation.

"Fine, let's go then," Finral muttered under his breath, casting a quick glance at Dorothy, who waved to Zoro with a smile.

"Bye-bye, Rorochi," Dorothy sang out cheerfully, a playful note in her voice. Despite her typical absent-minded nature, she seemed genuinely pleased to have spent time with him. 

Zoro grunted, his usual nonchalant response as he picked up Asta, once again lifting him like a sack of potatoes. Finral, in the meantime, watched them disappear into his portal and followed them.

....

As Finral's portal shimmered closed behind them, Asta eagerly looked around, his eyes wide with anticipation. He'd heard tales of the Black Bulls—a group known for their strength, but also their eccentricities. Like any new recruit, he imagined the base to be something grandiose, a towering fortress or a castle like the other Magic Knight headquarters he'd glimpsed in passing.

Instead, he found himself standing in front of what looked like an oversized, worn-down shack with a half-broken wall at the front. Several members were haphazardly trying to repair the shattered stone and wood, patching up what looked like yet another recent round of damage. The structure was crooked and rugged, and there were scorch marks and various signs of destruction everywhere. The place had character, certainly, but not the kind Asta had expected. It was more chaotic than majestic, a mix of patchwork repairs and a strange, endearing charm that only made him even more curious.

Before Asta could process it all, Zoro unceremoniously dropped him to the ground. With a loud thud, Asta fell on his rear, his initial awe quickly replaced by a sense of disorientation.

"Yo! I'm back, and I brought a new member!" Zoro announced with his usual rough voice.

"Ahh, Zoro-san, you're back!" Magna said with excitement, eager to see their vice captain again.

"Vice Captain, let's have a drinking match!" Vanessa challenged, already thinking of ways to have fun with Zoro.

"Vice Captain, let's fight!" Luck couldn't contain his excitement, lightning crackling around his body as he launched himself at Zoro with a swift kick. However, Zoro didn't even spare him a glance as he effortlessly caught Luck's leg and tossed him toward a half-destroyed wall. Luck crashed into it, creating more damage.

"LIKE I SAID, STOP DESTROYING THE BASE! A MAN CAN'T EVEN TAKE A DUMP IN PEACE HERE!" Yami's angry voice echoed through the room as he kicked the door of the bathroom, breaking it in the process. The other members couldn't help but silently complain, 'Like you're one to talk, Yami.'

Zoro, unfazed by the chaos, decided to shift the topic. "That aside," he said, "this is Asta, our other new member. Hey, kid, introduce yourself." Asta, still overwhelmed by the commotion, was startled when Zoro called on him. He quickly pulled himself together, straightening up and speaking loudly with enthusiasm.

"I'm Asta from Hage Village! It's great to meet ya!!!" he said, his voice rising with excitement.

"Try to get along with them," Yami said to Asta, gesturing to the rest of the group. "We've got other members, but the rest are out on missions, on breaks, or slacking off."

"I will! I'll set records for getting along!" Asta said, full of energy.

"Hage? You mean that teensy place way out in the sticks?" Vanessa asked, raising an eyebrow as she stepped closer to Asta.

"You're from the boonies and still got into the Magic Knights? You must've worked really hard, kid," Vanessa continued, getting so close to Asta that it made him a bit shy. "How about I reward you with a special treat?"

"I would've loved that, but my heart's already set on my goddess, the nun from my village!" Asta replied, holding his head like he was making a tough decision.

"So you're a new Black Bull member, huh? A wussy runt from the back end of nowhere?" Magna asked, trying to make a scary face, though it came off more teasing than menacing.

"I don't know how you sucked up to Zoro-san, but if you want to wear our robe, you've gotta earn some respect—form me, Zoro-san, and Captain Yami's top underling, man among men, Magna Swing!" Magna boasted.

But Asta, still brimming with excitement, couldn't wait to wear the Black Bull's robe. "Gimme it, please!" he said, practically bouncing with anticipation.

"I see, so you want it that badly, huh? In that case, since you joined the Black Bulls, come get baptized," Magna said, grinning mischievously.

"HUH?!" Asta was shocked, his eyes still full of stars at the thought of wearing the robe.

The scene moved to an open clearing in front of the base. Magna and Asta stood facing each other, ready for the challenge. The rest of the Black Bulls members, including Zoro, were lounging nearby on a couch, watching the show unfold with curious expressions.

"I'm about to launch attack magic at you. Block it or avoid it however you want," Magna said, a sly grin on his face.

"Do that and you're a Black Bull, free and clear. I'll give you this robe," Magna added, holding up the Black Bulls robe as a prize.

Asta, still excited, thought to himself, "No matter what magic he throws at me, my sword will be able to cut through it." He responded eagerly, "Yes, sir!"

"Here I come!" Magna declared. Both their grimoires floated in front of them. Magna's grimoire glowed with a red light as Asta's grimoire summoned a sword handle. Asta pulled out his sword, ready to face whatever Magna threw at him.

"There's something unique about that sword… it's like it has its own will," Zoro observed, leaning forward and carefully examining Asta's sword. His eyes then shifted to his own sword, Enma, which was buzzing lightly as if sensing a rival.

Yami watched the exchange carefully, sensing something eerie emanating from Asta's sword, but he couldn't quite pinpoint what it was. It was subtle, yet it felt different from anything he had encountered before.

Magna, eager to test Asta's abilities, summoned a fireball into his hands. "Flame Magic: Exploding Fireball!" he shouted, hurling the fiery projectile straight toward Asta.

As Asta saw the attack coming, his mind raced. He had relied on his well-trained muscles, kinetic vision, and explosive power to cut through magic in the past, but this time was different. This fireball moved too fast for him to react in time. I can't stop this, he thought. For a brief moment, his brain shut down as he faced his limits, but his body didn't give up. Through years of rigorous training, his reflexes kicked in, and in a split second, he managed to tilt his massive sword to deflect Magna's attack with the flat side of the blade. The fireball was redirected, sending it back toward its caster.

Zoro, who had been watching intently, grinned widely. This kid… if trained properly, he'd be a force to be reckoned with, he thought to himself, impressed by Asta's quick thinking and reflexes.

The rest of the group watched in shock as Asta managed to pull off such a clever move, especially considering how dangerous the situation had been. Yami's mind was also focused on the boy's blade, but he kept his thoughts to himself.

Asta himself was still reeling from the close call. I had no idea… I mean, geez, I almost died. That was close, he thought, terrified by how narrowly he had avoided being hit by his own reflection of Magna's attack. He glanced at Magna, who was covered in dust, and then saw the fireball's impact had left him a bit disheveled.

Magna dusted himself off, shaking his head in disbelief. "You little runt, I was this close to getting offed by my own magic! You…!" Magna said, half-exasperated and half-amused.

"Completely rocked," Magna added with a grin, his face disheveled but clearly impressed by Asta's quick thinking.

The others were equally stunned, and they couldn't help but praise Asta for his unexpected skill. They all recognized that Asta had potential, even if he wasn't fully aware of it yet.

"Alright, for your second baptism, let's try to kill each other!" Luck said excitedly, charging at Asta, his lightning crackling around him.

But before he could close the distance, Zoro grabbed Luck by the head and lifted him off the ground with ease. "Why not, I'll kill you first, brat," Zoro said, a grin on his face as he held Luck up.

Magna, still catching his breath from the earlier excitement, walked over to Asta and handed him the Black Bulls' robe. "Here, this is yours, Asta."

"You're now a member of the Black Bulls Magic Knights!" Magna declared.

Everyone erupted in excitement, cheering for Asta as the newest member of their dysfunctional team. Asta, still a bit overwhelmed by everything, stood there, realizing the full weight of the situation: he had officially joined the Black Bulls.

"Well, as for the new members joining, why don't we have a big party? BRING BOOZE!" Zoro yelled, his priorities clear as ever. For him, nothing was more important than booze and swordsmanship, and everything else was secondary.

"AYE AYE, CAPTAIN!" Vanessa shouted with a playful salute, waving her wand. In response, five massive barrels of alcohol floated over to them, and the celebration began. Zoro and Vanessa started drinking immediately, acting like two old men who didn't care for anything or anyone else, lost in their own world of alcohol.

Magna took Asta aside to show him around the base while the rest of the group settled into their own fun. Charmy, as always, was in the kitchen, making food for everyone. The Black Bulls base felt like a home for the first time, despite its chaotic and unorganized atmosphere.

As Magna and Asta made their way through the Black Bulls base, they suddenly crossed paths with Noelle Silva, a fellow new member. Magna, with a grin on his face, gestured toward Asta. "Hey, Asta, meet your comrade. She's the other new member."

Asta blinked in surprise, looking at the girl standing before him. She had a royal aura around her, and her icy expression made it clear that she carried herself with confidence. "I'm Asta from Hage! Let's compete with each other and do our best!" Asta said enthusiastically, holding out his hand for a friendly shake.

However, Noelle didn't even acknowledge his gesture. With a swift swat, she knocked Asta's hand away. "Don't address me so casually," she snapped, her voice dripping with arrogance.

Asta recoiled, taken aback by her coldness, but Noelle was just getting started. "Little insect, with your paltry magic, I'm Noelle Silva, a member of this country's royal family," she introduced herself haughtily, as if her noble blood made her superior to anyone in the room.

"Say whatttt?" Asta exclaimed, his eyes wide in shock. He had never expected a fellow Magic Knight to boast so proudly about their heritage. But what truly got to him was her dismissive tone, calling him a "little insect." He clenched his fists in frustration and responded, "As knights, we're all on the same level. Royalty has nothing to do with it!"

Magna, ever the enthusiast, joined in, shouting from the back, "That's right, Asta! You tell her!"

Noelle, clearly unimpressed, turned her back on them as she began walking away. With a smirk, she tossed over her shoulder, "It has everything to do with that. You peasants should understand that," before disappearing down the hall, her haughty attitude on full display.

Asta stood there, fuming at the encounter. He couldn't believe how quickly she had dismissed him, especially after his bold words. His frustration was clear, but Magna, still grinning, patted him on the back.

"Don't let her get to you, kid. She's a pain, but she'll learn to respect you eventually," Magna said as he continued leading Asta through the base.

.....

As Noelle walked down the corridor, lost in her thoughts, she suddenly heard a voice from behind. "You should get along with everyone here now that you're part of the squad."

Noelle turned to see Zoro standing against the wall, his arms crossed. His presence alone made her scowl. She knew who he was—the vice-captain of the Black Bulls. But so what? Her brother was the captain of the Silver Eagles, a much stronger squad than the Black Bulls. Despite the tension with her brother, Noelle couldn't bring herself to hate her family, though she didn't let that soften her pride.

With her haughty nature taking over, she smirked and retorted, "I don't need advice from a peasant like you."

Zoro chuckled, a deep laugh that resonated in the silent corridor. "Hahaha, you've got guts, kid. Even your brother doesn't dare talk to me like that," he said, his voice filled with amusement. "But watch your mouth. Not everyone is as merciful as I am to let you go. Let me tell you something—there are plenty of people out there who would kill you without a second thought, even if you are royal." His expression darkened, and for a moment, Noelle felt a shift in the air around her. "Remember, girl, you're just a royal in name. You don't have the strength to back it up."

Noelle's blood boiled. She was a royal, and no one—least of all a peasant like Zoro—had the right to speak to her this way. Her eyes narrowed, and her anger surged. "What did you say?" she demanded, her voice icy.

"I think you won't understand unless I teach you a lesson," she sneered, raising her arm to summon a water ball. Her magic swirled in the air, ready to strike.

But before she could complete the spell, the atmosphere shifted. The air became thick with an overwhelming killing intent. Noelle's heart stopped as an image flashed in her mind—she could see herself being sliced into a hundred pieces, as if invisible blades were tearing her apart. The terror was so real it paralyzed her.

Her body went rigid with shock, and she dropped to her knees, tears threatening to spill from her eyes. She could barely breathe as the pressure around her intensified, making her feel as though her very life was in the hands of someone far stronger than her.

Without another word, Zoro stepped back into the shadows of the corridor, his voice cold and distant. "Consider this a lesson, brat."

The oppressive aura lifted, but the fear remained. Noelle stayed on the ground, trembling, her mind swirling with Zoro's words. "You're just a royal in name. You don't have the strength to back it up." Those words repeated in her mind, sinking deeper than she could have ever imagined.

Noelle sat in the corridor, her knees trembling as she reflected on Zoro's words. "I'll get strong and show him," she thought with renewed determination. "Then, I'll make him kneel before me for his disrespect." The fire inside her grew brighter as she realized how much she needed to grow, not just to prove herself to Zoro but to everyone who underestimated her. No more relying on her status as a royal; it was time to cultivate real strength.

Meanwhile, Zoro, having just disappeared from Noelle's presence, reappeared at the base, and Yami, noticing his arrival, scowled.

"You didn't have to scare the girl," Yami remarked, eyeing Zoro with disapproval.

Zoro, however, didn't seem fazed in the slightest. "She needed that," he responded with his usual nonchalance. "These brats need to get strong. There will be many dangers later. They have to face them."

Yami narrowed his eyes, not buying it entirely. "Hah, what dangers? What are you hiding from me moss head? Did you cause some trouble again that's gonna come back and bite us in the ass later?" Yami shot Zoro a pointed look, clearly frustrated by the constant mysteries that surrounded the vice-captain.

Zoro only laughed, his carefree attitude shining through. "Hahaha, don't sweat it, Yami. Let's just drink. Vanessa's already knocked out, and I've got no partner." He casually slung his arm around Yami's shoulder, pulling him along. "Let's go have some fun while we can."

Yami sighed in annoyance but allowed himself to be led away. He knew that with Zoro, it was always best to let things unfold on their own, even if it meant dealing with trouble later. For now, a drink was the best way to forget about the tension from earlier.