Training (time-skip)

After sorting out his business related stuff, Asta left with his grandpa and Dorothy to train. They left for the Deus forest with nothing except a few clothes and weapons. And so started his hardcore training. Leonard didn't show any mercy at all, he'd throw Asta in between magic beasts everyday until he got used to combat without using his mana too much and only weapons. This went on for two months as Asta had been to train his body and swordsmanship quite well.

After that, Asta started training his affinity related magic. It started off with thr basic spells for each fire and wind element. He had to spar with his grandpa using his spells first to get used to magic combat. Asta had realized at this time that his grandpa was a very good combat mage, because his tips very useful. Then he was throw in between magic beasts again but this time he was supposed to only use basic spells like a fireball, firewhip, windblade and whirlpool. As Asta got used to using his spells without much wastage, he started combining fire and wind to unleash a devastating spell that when controlled could move according to his wish. He named it flamethrower, he wasn't that best when it came to naming stuff.

Asta had noticed that even though magic was widely used and people were very strong in this world, the spells by themselves were quite primitive, like fire was mostly attributed to combustion and distraction but not how it could be made by friction using wind as well, as long the material is combustible, or when there is a fuel, both of which can be attributed to mana. The mana inside the body and the natural mana can used to cause friction and it'd make the fire more destructive and the spell was casted much faster.

His grandpa was impressed and asked him how he did it because his spell was casted almost immediately at 0.5 seconds as opposed to a second when others used it. When Asta explained it to him, his grandpa told him to keep it a secret for now and only teach it to those he trusted.

This training went on for another 6 months, since mastering the spells was much harder because he had more mana than normal because of which he had a lot of wastage, so his grandpa told him to master it before trying to move on. His spells were stronger than normal not only because his mana density was higher , but he brought out the potential of both elements since he knew fire was a great attack magic while wind was the perfect support magic.

After 8 months of training, they finally moved on to the next stage of magic combat, Imbuing elements into weapons. Even though this was less destructive than using mana directly, if used to precisely with good control it can be more dangerous. Everytime a vital point is breached and the weapon is imbued with an element it might cause trouble within the opponent's body, but Leonard told Asta that for it be effective he had to atleast reach 6-stars, and whoever crosses that threshold are usually adept at this skill. This was exceptionally hard as it was much more difficult to control elements to imbue them since it drained his mana and it destroyed his weapons so he stuck to only the wind attribute as it was much suited.

At end the of the 12 month training, Asta was no longer the inexperienced boy, but a peak 1-star magic combat mage. His stats had improved quite a lot as well, except for his Mind which he had no idea how to raise.

Status -

Name - Astarot levathian

Race - human

Age - 9 years

Title - 1- star mage/swordsman

Stats :-

STR - 28

VIT - 26

DEX - 21

MIND - 14

PER - 22

MANA - 29

Traits :-

Passive Mana absorption - ????? (unlocked after the trials)

Zephyr Eyes (locked) - unlocked when MIND crosses 15

?????? (locked) - conditions unknown

Affinity :-

Fire - II

Wind - II

Space - I

Body - I

Inventory :- 10 slots - Sword, dagger×2

All his stats increased except for mind, it had only increased by one point. Especially his perception due to all his fights against the beasts and his dexterity due to using a sword and daggers. He would be thrown down a cliff and asked to climb it back up or he'd be thrown into a lake full of beasts where his movements were restricted.

Although it was really painful and he had a lot of scars on his body, he didn't mind it. After he was growing stronger and now he was confident about himself.

Today was the day where it'd be one year since the training started and his grandpa had left him free and he decided to explore the forest a bit, although he was here for a year, other than the makeshift cave that they rested in and nearby river, he hadn't really taken time to rest and explore.

As he was going around and noting the beasts around and learning their habitats, his senses immediately screamed and he dodged an incoming dagger and immediately got into a combat stance. He then noticed few people wearing masks and black clothes with red stripes. He was on high alert since he couldn't sense them completely. This was probably his first life and death battle because the other party was clearly hostile.

Asta POV -

Although that attack was very sneaky, I felt that little killing intent he let off when he threw it. Staying among beasts in the forest definitely helped. But i wonder who they are, are they assassins? But nobody knows about my training and that too my exact position. If not, who are they? why are they in this forest? and why are they attacking and why do they have masks?

My brain was working on overdrive because I could sense all of them had 2-star auras. This will be a difficult fight. I was brought out of my thoughts as one of the 5 men immediately rushed towards me with a sword, the others were just watching, they're underestimating me, good!

I pulled out my sword and start exchanging blows with him, he had a peculiar swordsmanship, and his blade is more like a sabre. Seriously who are they? He wasn't using mana, just pure swordsmanship, I purposefully left some gaps and openings while dodging and counterattacking every now and then. He was good, but not great, I could've finished him but I didn't want the others to think that I'm strong.

I got some cuts on my cheeks and arms and chest but nothing too deep. I could see him getting frustrated and I heard the leader yell "What are doing alec, stop playing around" and he immediately started using his mana, his attacks got fiercer, I started using my mana too. I was using him for training and experience. Just as I was about to strike his vital point, I heard a chant "fireball" and I immediately jumped back.

I looked over and saw another guy had started using his spells, he started preparing an another one, I couldn't give him time and I used mana on my legs and immediately appeared in front of the mage, I could see his eyes widening as he didn't expect me to target him and before anyone could react, I thrust my sword into his throat and dodged another spell that came from my left side, it was the leader, he was furious on losing a mage

"Fuck, attack him together, there's no way he's leaving here alive"

Two other swordsmen and the first one started attacking me with mana enchanced swordsmanship and the leader was spamming fireballs and earth spikes. It was getting really hard as they good coordination, one was attacking, and when I tried to counterattack another parried ny sword and the one last one would would try to hit my vital points. I could feel their killing intent oozing out as they were getting frustrated. As I was starting to get used to their attacks, I felt a huge mana spike, I heard a shout "Firewave"

All of us dodged but I was still hit by the spell and my clothes were battered and I was bleeding near my arms even though I used a strong mana wave from my sword slash.

huff huff hufff

All of us were panting loudly as we had been fighting for 20 minutes. Although I wasn't tired, I was acting to make them let their guard down. Sparring with that old man and then being thrown in the middle of beasts was much tougher than this. I still haven't used my spells because I want to do it at once, because spells are more effective when fighting against a mage or on the battlefield.

The three swordsmen attack again, this time I showed an opening purposefully and all three of them got close, I quickly parried two of their attacks to one side while I let the third one get close and just as he thought he'd strike my heart, I used wind attribute on my dagger and pierced through his skull. Before the other two could react, and while the leader was trying to restore some of his mana, I used flamethrower and it was too quick for them to dodge and they were burnt under thr destructive spell and since the wind attribute was mixed into it, I guided it towards the leader as well. He dodged but still got affected by it and I already started sprinting at him with mana enhanced legs and sent another slash with wind attribute and mana towards him before he could finish another spell. He stopped casting and dodged and I used this to get close to chopped his head off.

'Although that slash was weak and wouldn't have hurt him too much, it was enough to stop him from concentrating'

*phew

I slouched down to catch a breath as it quite a difficult fight as it was different from beasts and this was good experience. I wanted to check their bodies but before I could, I felt another huge mana spike and immediately started falling back as I heard "Firewave" but this time it was bigger and had more intensity. I had already picked up a mask from the first mage and was trying it on, so it was still on, it was mask made of mana-conducting material so it was a nice item to have. As I jumped up on a tree, I observed another man, but this time with a half mask and I could see was quite young, maybe 12 years old. He was strong, I could feel it, an intermediate 2-star mage.

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A/N -

Thank you DaoistlfMxmd for the power stones, I'm grateful!