A Disintegrating Grimoire

"Damn it, this is getting out of hand! Brother and the others vanished without a trace, and now more enemies have appeared!" Leopold exclaimed, his eyes fixed on the mysterious figures donning robes.

"We have to hold on, even if the others are not here; we have to protect the Kingdom even if we lose our lives!" Asta shouted with a determined look on his face. Although he was tired already, now is not the time to give up.

"HAHAHA! Just as I'd expect from my rival, fear doesn't seem to touch you! Well, I won't be outdone! I'm prepared to fight until the very end!" Leopold grinned, embracing the challenge with unwavering determination.

"Wait, both of you! Don't be reckless!" Noelle shouted urgently. She realized that they were outnumbered and that everyone was already injured. Engaging in a fight to the death would only lead to their demise, and she couldn't be certain when the captains and the others would return. What they needed now was to stall for time until help arrived.

Asta and Leopold appeared to be fully focused on confronting the enemies, seemingly oblivious to Noelle's warning. However, before any further action could be taken, a sudden gust of wind swept through the area, catching everyone's attention. Turning to their left, they were astonished to see the captains and the others who were previously transported to another location finally returning. The unexpected arrival of their allies brought a wave of relief and hope, reinvigorating their spirits.

With an icy tone, Nozel declared "Don't for a moment believe that you can destroy our Kingdom so effortlessly."

"As long as we're alive, we will protect the lives of the people inside the Clover Kingdom!" Fuegoleon said.

As the magic knights confronted the enemies, a girl donning a robe appeared, exuding an unusual cheerfulness. Unfazed by the tension in the air, she addressed the knights with an almost playful tone, "Oh, the magic knights are here! Perfect timing! The present we prepared for you all is just finished!"

Her words held a hint of mischief, leaving the knights perplexed and wary of her intentions. The situation grew even more enigmatic as they braced themselves for whatever surprise or challenge she had in store for them.

"Silence. You won't escape from this place," Nozel retorted sharply, his grimoire flipping pages rapidly as he prepared for the impending confrontation.

Mercury Magic: Silver Rain

A shower of multiple droplets of mercury descended upon the mages wearing robes, launched by Nozel's spell. However, the girl merely smiled playfully and appeared unfazed by the attack from the magic knight captain.

With that, the girl opened her grimoire and cast a spell.

Gel magic: Sticky Salamander!

From her grimoire emerged a peculiar sight—a purple salamander formed entirely from a gel-like substance. The girl deftly wielded a massive syringe, injecting a mysterious liquid into the sticky salamander. Empowered by the dark magic tool, the salamander took on a protective role and swiftly thwarted the attack launched by Nozel, blocking his assault with impressive efficacy. The unexpected and unorthodox defense left the magic knights astonished.

"She completely blocked Captain Nozel's attack!" Alecdora said, slightly surprised.

"The time's up! We're leaving now! Oh, but before that, I want a souvenir!" The girl announced with a carefree tone, as a stretch of gel extended from her grimoire and snatched Asta.

"W-What?! Let go of me!" Asta struggled and attempted to fight back, but he found himself completely restrained by the gel, unable to break free from its powerful grip. His efforts to escape proved futile as the gel held him firmly in place, leaving him at the girl's mercy.

"Where are you taking Asta?!" Noelle shouted in concern, unleashing a barrage of water bullets at the girl. However, the sticky salamander effortlessly blocked Noelle's attack, thwarting her attempts to rescue Asta.

"None of your business~" the girl responded playfully, dismissing Noelle's question. "But before we go, let us show you our present!" Her words carried an air of mischief and anticipation, leaving the magic knights uncertain about what she had in store for them.

As the black portal materialized in the air, two lifeless bodies fell to the floor with a heavy thud. The magic knights' eyes widened in shock and horror as they beheld the devastating sight before them. Asher lay covered in blood, with four light swords impaling his body and slowly fading. His eyes were still opened, but they were already lifeless, meaning he had already lost consciousness.

Beside Asher, Hisako lay unconscious, clutching his lifeless form. A tear stain marked her cheek.

"ASHER!" The collective cry echoed through the air as Noelle, Mimosa, Leopold, and Asta shouted in unison. Horror and anguish filled their eyes as they beheld Asher's bloodied and lifeless form. The sight was heartbreaking, leaving them overcome with grief and disbelief.

Fuegoleon and Nozel stood in stunned silence, their eyes fixed on Asher's lifeless body. Disbelief etched across their faces as they processed the sight before them.

"A-Asher..." Charlotte's heart sank as she witnessed the tragic scene before her.

Clenching her fist, she struggled to contain her emotions, feeling a mix of sorrow and frustration. Her shoulders trembled as she tried to steady herself, attempting to find strength in the midst of turmoil. The weight of the situation was immense, and the toll it took on her was evident in her trembling form. Despite her composure as a captain, the impact of the events left her struggling to process her emotions, seeking inner composure amid the storm of emotions raging within her.

"Bye bye~," the girl said, waving her hand, and a black portal gradually enveloped them, allowing their escape.

Mimosa rushed to Asher's side, casting her healing spell with urgency to mend his wounds and attend to the little girl's injuries. Tears welled up in her eyes, and a wave of self-blame washed over her. She couldn't help but feel guilty for not being able to prevent the tragedy that had befallen Asher and Hisako. Despite her best efforts, she couldn't save them from harm. The weight of the situation bore heavily on Mimosa's heart, leaving her emotionally distraught and grappling with a profound sense of responsibility.

As Mimosa continued her healing, she noticed that Asher's grimoire was beginning to disintegrate. The sight filled her with a sense of urgency and desperation. Realizing the dire implications of the grimoire's decay, she focused all her energy on healing Asher. Her heart clenched as she poured all her magical prowess into the healing spell, desperately trying to stabilize and save Asher's life.

As Mimosa poured her heart and magic into healing Asher, tears streamed down her cheeks, falling onto his face. Her voice quivered with emotion as she pleaded, "No, please don't leave. Please don't leave me."

As Noelle watched helplessly, unable to provide any healing magic for Asher, frustration and despair welled up within her. Clenching her fist in anguish, she tightly closed her eyes, a tear escaping from the corner of her eye. The desire to save Asher, who had been instrumental in changing her life for the better, burned within her heart. She felt a strong urge to repay his kindness, yet her lack of healing abilities left her feeling powerless.

In a moment of desperation, her grimoire began to glow brightly, responding to the intense emotions swirling within her. Flipping through its pages with determination, Noelle's hope was reignited.

Water Healing Magic: Divine Water Blessing!

Noelle stretched out both her hands, and from her open palms, glistening, clear water manifested. Without hesitation, she applied the healing water to Asher's wounds, and a sense of joy washed over her as she saw it taking effect. As she continued her efforts, she noticed with relief that Asher's grimoire had stopped fading and was returning to its usual state.

With tears in her eyes, Mimosa expressed her heartfelt gratitude to Noelle. "Thank you, Noelle. Thank you for saving my little brother!"

Her voice quivered with emotion as she spoke. Mimosa cherished Asher deeply, considering him as more than just a nephew; he was like a little brother to her. The severity of his injuries had initially seemed insurmountable, but Noelle's intervention had brought about a miracle. The overwhelming relief and gratitude in Mimosa's heart were evident as she thanked Noelle for her invaluable act of saving Asher's life, knowing that she couldn't bear the thought of losing him.

As Leopold observed Asher's bloodied and wounded form, frustration and helplessness gnawed at him. Clenching his fists tightly, he gritted his teeth, feeling a surge of anger and regret for not being able to protect his nephew and his rival. The sight of Asher in such a state stirred a deep sense of inadequacy within Leopold, as if he had failed in his duty as a family member. The desire to be stronger and more capable intensified within him, fueling a determination to become a more formidable force so he could prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.

Overwhelmed by a combination of physical and mental exhaustion, Leopold's body finally gave in, and he lost consciousness, collapsing onto the ground. The weight of the intense emotions and the harrowing events had taken a toll on him, leaving him drained and unable to continue standing.