Reigning Him In (1)

Asta POV:

"That's enough!" I shouted, descending on Demon Slayer. Below me, Leviathan raged on, his fury unrelenting, as frustration and disappointment welled up inside me. I had just shattered his trident with Dweller, but he showed no signs of stopping.

I took in his appearance—his raw, monstrous anger—and although I couldn't sense any mana from him, the sheer pressure he emitted told me everything I needed to know. This wasn't some ordinary foe; he had surpassed the power of even the King of Devils in his half-manifested form. But regardless of how terrifyingly strong he was, I knew this was a fight I couldn't win without True Devil Union. The thought made me hesitate, though. That form... it's not something I ever wanted to use against a comrade, and being Noelle's familiar, I had thought of Leviathan as one. But his actions today made me question everything.

Why had Elefseria, that old man, assigned us this near-impossible quest? No one had been able to complete it in almost a century. Did he have some personal grudge against the dragon gods? Maybe. After all, they slaughtered his guildmates, his friends, and his family. But above all it was because of the existential threat they posed—not just to Guiltina, but to all of Earthland. Their senseless destruction left nothing but death and devastation in their wake.

In exchange for a way back home, Elefseria tasked us with sealing the dragons—not releasing another murderous beast into the world! My gaze wandered to the Erminans, who were watching in despair. Their god was bleeding out, fading fast, and many of their loved ones shared the same fate after the chaos caused by not just Ignia and Mercphobia's battle, but Leviathan's rampage as well.

I gripped my sword tighter, veins bulging at my temples, and leveled it at him. "Aren't you the Sea God?! The protector of all life beneath the ocean? The embodiment of order in the seas? You were furious when you learned Mercphobia shared your title, and you sought to destroy him for it. But is that what being a god is really about?! If you claim to be the Sea God of all seas, in all worlds, then aren't you responsible for protecting the people here too? Not beating them down when they're already suffering! Answer me, Leviathan!"

For a moment, his rage subsided. The purple glow in his eyes dimmed, and he glanced around at the weeping, kneeling Erminans, their faces etched with despair as they begged for mercy. I could feel it in his Ki—regret, shame. But as quickly as it came, it vanished. His eyes flared once more with sinister intent, locking back onto the dying Mercphobia.

"He... must... die!! Why... are... you... stopping... me?!! My... quest... to... go... home..."

Why? Why?! Because I could feel Mercphobia's Ki too—the overwhelming pain and sorrow in his heart as he ravaged his own city. He wasn't doing this willingly. He was being controlled. I know because I've been there. I remember when Vanessa's mother almost made me kill Noelle. She succeeded, actually. Vanessa only managed to change fate in time. Neither of them ever brought it up, thinking I didn't remember, but I do. I've relived that nightmare for months, waking up in cold sweats. Being a helpless passenger in your own body, watching as your own hands destroy something precious to you... Mercphobia is living that same nightmare right now.

I'm not oblivious or as clueless about love as people think I am. How could I be, when I've been aware of my feelings for Sister Lily for years? Though those feelings have faded since I became a Magic Knight and realized how wrong it was to try and force my affections on someone who didn't feel the same. But I'm not blind to Noelle's feelings either. The way she looks at me now, it reminds me of how I used to look at Sister Lily. But how could I ever return those feelings after what I did to her? How could Noelle still love me after I cut her in two? To be loved so unconditionally and irrationally makes me... uncomfortable.

I shook those thoughts away. There was something far more important right in front of me. Elefseria told us to seal the dragon gods, not slaughter them like wild animals. And from what I could sense in Mercphobia's Ki, I understood why. Sure, a fully-powered Mercphobia is dangerous. And one who can't control his strength is even worse. But does that alone justify killing him? This is someone who has tried to coexist with humans, who has defended them for nearly two decades!

No! We'll find another way. There has to be a way to seal him. If Nero can do it in our world, there's no reason we can't find a solution here. Why do I protect him? Because I pity him. Because I respect someone who has fought against their destructive instincts to change. Because looking the other way while you kill him would make me less of a person, less of a Magic Knight, less of a Black Bull!

But most importantly... "How can I ever become Wizard King if I let you get away with this, Leviathan?!"

His mana flared, pushing me back, but I steadied myself midair. He wasn't pleased with my answer.

"Don't make me do this! This is your last chance! Stand down!"

"Raaah!!" His enraged roar told me everything I needed to know. Words were no longer going to settle this.

Fine then. Don't blame me for what comes next.

"Yuno!" I called out to my brother, catching his attention. He didn't need any further explanation. In a matter of seconds, thousands of shimmering stars of varying colors appeared across the city, protecting the remaining Erminans in starlit barriers, just as he had done to safeguard the people of the Spade Kingdom from Lucifero's presence.

"I can't help with the fight," Yuno said, "but at least now you can go all out without holding back."

"Thanks, bro!" I shot him a grin. Seriously, he's amazing. I turned my attention inward, connecting to the other brother at my side—Liebe.

"You ready?" I asked him mentally.

"Let's do this, Asta!" I could feel his anticipation radiating through our bond.

This fight was about to get serious.

Asta and Liebe POV: 

"Unite!" we roared in perfect unison, as our souls and minds melded together. At that moment, we were no longer two separate entities but one. Our transformation took hold as Anti-Magic surged around us. Our body became a blackened form, lined with red markings and veins that converged into a glowing five-pointed star at the center of our chest. Our crimson eyes sharpened, taking on a pointed star shape, while black streaks ran under them, spreading across our face like war paint. Twin bull horns sprouted from the sides of our head, while a second, leaner pair emerged on top. Behind us, pitch-black wings unfurled, and a long tail with a spade-like tip whipped through the air. Around us, several black orbs pulsing with Anti-Magic hovered ominously.

Demon Dweller returned to our grimoire, while Demon Slasher, now larger and darker, replaced it in our right hand. Its formerly rusted-grey surface had been consumed by blackness.

"Raah!" Leviathan bellowed, gathering vast amounts of mana within his gaping maw, preparing to unleash another Sea Dragon's Roar. Now that Mercphobia no longer contested him for the Sea's authority, the spell formed and fired much quicker than before.

We watched the attack calmly as it took shape—a titanic Sea Dragon made of water, mirroring Leviathan's own form, barreled toward us. Without hesitation, we moved into position, just like how Magna winds up to strike his fireballs, and swung Demon Slayer. The sword expanded, growing to an enormous size until it fully dwarfed the oncoming spell. The moment they made contact, the spell ricocheted off Demon Slayer, as if hitting a mirror, and shot back toward Leviathan with even greater force.

For a beast as massive and slow as Leviathan, dodging was out of the question. His own spell collided with him head-on, sending his gigantic form crashing into the sea. After a brief silence, he resurfaced, his roar shaking the air around us, his eyes still glowing with that dark purple fury. He bore only superficial bruises, which the sea's waters swiftly healed, erasing any signs of damage.

But we hadn't expected that attack to hurt him—not really. If Leviathan, the so-called Sea God, could be brought low by water, he wouldn't be worthy of his title. Our goal had been to drive him away from Ermina. Yuno's barriers would protect the people, but it was better to push the fight out of the city just to be safe.

Now it was time to see if Anti-Magic could go beyond the rules of this world and truly harm a dragon.

"Slasher!" we called out, sending Demon Slayer back to our grimoire and summoning Demon Slasher in its place. The katana materialized in our hand, its blade gleaming with the promise of destruction. Our form shifted, becoming leaner, and the red markings on our body narrowed.

We raised the katana just like Captain Yami does when he prepares to unleash his Dimension Slash, mirroring his stance as Leviathan rushed toward us with terrifying speed. Swinging the blade downward, we shouted, "Infinity Slash: Equinox!"

A pitch-black slash tore through the air, racing across the ocean, splitting the sea in its wake as it traveled miles in the blink of an eye. The attack passed through Leviathan, and for a moment, he seemed confused, almost as if nothing had happened. But then the blood came. A deep, crimson gash split his body, a perfect vertical line running from head to tail.

"Rah!" he howled in agony, sinking deep into the ocean to heal his grievous wound. After a minute, he resurfaced, even angrier than before, though now his rage was tinged with fear. We could feel it in his Ki—he was rattled. The blood was gone, but the wound left a permanent scar, one he would carry for the rest of his life.

With a guttural roar, Leviathan summoned tidal waves, whirlpools, and water weapons around him—spears, swords, and tridents, all formed from the sea itself. But we could tell that his energy was waning. Healing from the slash had drained him, and his presence grew fainter by the second. Yet he still poured every last drop of mana into this final attack.

If he waited even a minute longer, we would lose our form. My five-minute limit was running out. But Leviathan wouldn't back down—how could he? He was the Sea God. He wouldn't, couldn't, retreat after being so humiliated in his own domain. His courage was commendable, but his arrogance would cost him dearly.

"Destroyer!" we yelled, sending Demon Slasher back to our grimoire and summoning our final sword. It was a unique blade, with a wide edge and a circular guard connecting the blade to the handle. At the top, a white three-leaf clover symbol gleamed faintly.

"Causality Break!" we shouted, pointing Demon Destroyer at the forming spell. Before Leviathan's massive attack could fully manifest, dark blue and purple tendrils erupted from our sword, engulfing the spell in their grasp. In an instant, the attack was undone—its cause and effect erased, as if it had never existed in the first place.

The final blow had been struck.

Asta POV

Just then, the Devil Union dissolved, and we separated, returning to our individual forms. Our power drained from our bodies, leaving us momentarily weakened. But it didn't matter—Leviathan was just as helpless. He had expended every last drop of mana with nothing to show for it, his massive form sluggish and vulnerable.

I took a moment to catch my breath, then looked up at the sky. Noelle was soaring through the air, her Valkyrie form gleaming brilliantly against the backdrop of the battle-scarred horizon. Her blue armor shone with an ethereal glow, and the water around her responded to her command, swirling in majestic arcs as she zeroed in on her familiar, Leviathan.

"Now it's up to you, Noelle!" I called out, my voice filled with confidence as I tried to get her attention.

She glanced back at me briefly, her eyes blazing with determination. "Yeah, just leave it to me!" she shouted back. Her words sent a rush of relief through me, and I couldn't help but smile, knowing she was more than capable of finishing this fight.

Liebe, now back in his chibi form, floated lazily onto my shoulder. He was clearly tired from the battle but still alert, his tiny arms crossed as he settled in to watch Noelle take over. "She's got this," he muttered, his voice laced with both pride and exhaustion.

"Yeah," I agreed, feeling a wave of admiration for her. We'd fought hard, but now the final blow was in Noelle's hands. The battle wasn't over yet, but seeing her charge at Leviathan, strong and unwavering, gave me hope.

She could handle this. I knew it with every fiber of my being. As a sign of my trust in her, I didn't even bother watching the rest of the fight. There was no need. Noelle was more than capable of taking it from here. Without a second glance, I turned away, confident in her strength and resolve.

My focus shifted as I made my way toward where Mercphobia lay, battered and broken. Though I had no magic to heal him, I knew enough about first aid to make a difference. Maybe, just maybe, there was still something I could do to help.