The Attack on the Capital 3

The battle had seemed to be winding down, with each Magic Knight having dispatched the zombies surrounding them. Their relief was short-lived, however, as the very ground beneath their feet suddenly began to warp and ripple. In an instant, it transformed into something unnatural—a dark, swirling void that yawned open, its pull inescapable. The blackness stretched out like a hungry vortex, tendrils of shadow latching onto the ground and sucking everything toward its center. Each knight struggled, feeling the force pull them downward, their boots skidding across the broken cobblestones as they tried to brace themselves.

One by one, each knight was pulled down, disappearing into the darkness with a faint shimmer of spatial magic in the air. The world around them blurred, and in a split second, the familiar sights and sounds of the capital vanished.

They emerged somewhere entirely different. As they reappeared, each knight stumbled slightly, disoriented by the sudden shift in surroundings. They found themselves standing in an endless, barren wasteland, the sky overhead a dull, oppressive gray. The air was thick and heavy, devoid of the bustling life they'd just left behind. The landscape was bleak and desolate, with jagged, rocky outcroppings scattered across the dusty ground, as far as the eye could see. There was no trace of the capital in sight, only an endless expanse of hostile, uninhabited land stretching toward the horizon.

Charlotte clenched her fists, her jaw set in frustration. "I knew the enemy had a skilled spatial magic user, but I never dreamed they'd be this good," she muttered, her tone laced with irritation. She felt the bite of her own helplessness at being so far removed from the fight, unable to return to the capital in time to defend it. Her brow furrowed as she scanned the wasteland, already thinking of strategies to counter this setback, but the emptiness of the landscape offered little promise.

Nozel narrowed his eyes as he assessed their situation, his mind racing through the possibilities. "We can't afford to waste time," he said resolutely. "Whoever did this is stalling us, and if they're able to displace us this far, they'll have the capital defenseless. We need to find a way back, quickly."

....

As the Magic Knights vanished from the capital, an eerie, melodious laughter rang out across the square, sending chills down the spines of the remaining citizens. Hovering in the air was a striking woman with wild, curly hair and a mocking smile, clad in a sleek, full-length black dress that rippled like liquid shadows. Her large, pointed witch hat cast a dark silhouette against the smoky skies, adding to her ominous presence. Sitting effortlessly on a broomstick, she circled above the heads of the terrified crowd, relishing their helplessness.

"What? Who… who is that?" one of the citizens stammered, staring up in horror as he clutched his family close, his wide eyes filled with fear and disbelief. Around him, whispers of panic began to spread as more people took notice of the witch's sinister smile.

The witch cackled, her eyes glinting with cruel delight. "Now then," she mused, her voice dripping with malevolence, "while I've got the chance, why don't I help myself to some nice, young mana?" With a wave of her hand, the air grew heavy, and shimmering wisps of mana began to flow from the bodies of the helpless citizens, drawn toward her like moths to a flame. Faces around the square paled as the crowd felt their life force draining, their strength waning under the witch's spell.

But before she could drain her victims dry, a powerful gust of wind tore through the square, forming a massive tornado that struck her with force. The witch barely managed to steady herself, her hat tipping dangerously as she rose back up, amusement dancing in her eyes as she gazed down at her unexpected challenger.

"Oh, my, my, my! Someone actually managed to escape that little trap?" Her gaze settled on Yuno, who stood below her with a fierce expression, his grimoire glowing as it hovered before him. She took him in, a wicked smile stretching across her face. "Oh, talk about gorgeous! You're just my type! Want to come do something fun with me?"

Yuno's cold, steely gaze cut through her flirtatious facade. "Get away from those people, old lady," he replied, his tone laced with icy disdain. The witch's smile froze, her eyes narrowing as a dangerous aura began to radiate from her.

"Who… are you calling old?" she snarled, her face contorting in fury. With a vicious flick of her wrist, she summoned several orbs of ash that materialized in mid-air around her. Each orb crackled ominously as they floated, vibrating with cursed energy. She smirked, eyes flashing with manic delight. "These are my curse bullets! Each one carries a unique curse, and you won't know what you're hit with until it's too late!"

Cackling, she hurled the curse bullets toward Yuno in rapid succession. He dodged nimbly, his movements swift and precise, but some of the orbs managed to graze him. As they connected, Yuno felt the effects immediately. His vision began to blur, his limbs grew numb, and his hearing faded, leaving only a faint ringing in his ears. The world around him became murky, and the figure of the witch blurred in his sight.

'So… this is her power,' he thought, his body fighting against the effects. Struggling to stay on his feet, Yuno clenched his fists, refusing to give in. The darkness in his vision grew, but as he concentrated, something remarkable happened—he could sense the flow of mana, like faint streams of light within the shadows.

The witch unleashed another volley of cursed orbs, but Yuno stood his ground, keeping his eyes closed and focusing solely on the mana around him. Despite the curses wreaking havoc on his senses, he steadied his breath, determined not to yield. "I'm not done yet," he muttered, his voice filled with grit.

Then, a powerful surge of wind swirled around him, lifting dust and debris into a vortex of energy. Yuno's focus sharpened, and before him, a small figure began to materialize—an ethereal, winged spirit surrounded by whirling currents. The spirit floated close, exuding a fierce yet serene presence, and Yuno felt an overwhelming surge of strength.

With newfound resolve, he extended his hand, and a radiant ball of condensed wind formed around him, crackling with raw power. "Wind Spirit Magic: Sylph's Breath!" he intoned, his voice steady and resolute.

The winds exploded outward in a concentrated blast, the force shredding through the cursed orbs in an instant. The witch shielded her face, her smug expression twisting into one of shock as Yuno's magic cut through her curses effortlessly. The energy around him surged, and Sylph, the wind spirit, circled him protectively, her power intensifying his own as he stood defiantly against the witch's malevolent presence.

....

a few minutes ago

Zoro stood with one sword balanced on his shoulder, the faint glint of his blade cutting through the dim light as he sliced cleanly through another wave of zombies. With each slash, their heads fell, rolling in the dust as he pressed forward, a look of growing boredom crossing his face. "Are you done yet?" he asked, his voice low and unimpressed, the hint of a yawn almost audible in his tone.

The masked man's face twisted in rage at Zoro's indifference, his voice rising in desperation and anger. "Don't underestimate me!" he shouted, his hands moving in a dramatic gesture as he summoned yet another creature, an imposing wraith cloaked in mud and sludge. "Number two, Alfred!" The wraith appeared, a hulking, grotesque figure whose mud-caked feet squelched as he hovered slightly above the ground. The masked man smirked. "Even that so-called 'special power' of yours is useless if you can't touch your opponent. Try reaching him now!" He laughed mockingly as two massive globs of mud shot up, swirling around Alfred as he took to the air, preparing to hurl down on Zoro from above.

But before the fight could escalate further, a surge of flames engulfed the wraith mid-air, reducing it to a smoldering pile of ash. Out of the inferno, a powerful figure stepped forward: Fuegoleon, his cloak billowing behind him as embers flickered around his towering form. "Apologies for interrupting, but we're running out of time," he said, his voice calm yet commanding as he met Zoro's steely gaze. "This is no time for games."

Zoro's eyes narrowed, an irritated scowl forming. "Huh? Hey, Red Rooster, do you want to die for interrupting my fun?" His voice was sharp, and his hand flexed on the hilt of his sword as if considering showing Fuegoleon exactly what he thought of the intrusion.

Just as Zoro was about to speak more, a sudden gust of wind swept over the battlefield, powerful enough to make even Zoro pause and glance toward its source. Vermithra appeared beside him, her energy buzzing excitedly. "Zoro! I can sense another spirit nearby! Let's go find them!" she said, practically bouncing with excitement at the thought of meeting another of her kind.

Zoro gave a half-smile, entertained by Vermithra's enthusiasm. He was bored of this fight anyway—the masked man and his summons had failed to provide any real challenge. Fuegoleon could handle this lightweight, he thought. With a casual shrug, he turned to leave. "Fine, let's go."

"YAAA!" Vermithra cheered, her wings fluttering as she hovered above Zoro. "Let's go!" She grinned wildly as a massive bolt of red lightning crashed down from the sky, engulfing Zoro and Vermithra in a brilliant, searing light. In the next instant, they vanished, leaving nothing but the lingering crackle of energy in the air.

Fuegoleon's eyes widened, momentarily stunned by the display. "Did… did he just vanish into thin air?" he murmured, surprised at the sheer speed of Zoro's departure. But Fuegoleon quickly refocused on the masked man, his gaze hardening as he prepared to end the fight. "I'll finish this swiftly," he thought, his determination unwavering.

At the edge of the battlefield, he spotted Noelle, Asta, and Leopold racing to his side, each of them bracing themselves to join the battle.

.....

The witch lay sprawled at the bottom of a smoking crater, her once confident and smug demeanor reduced to that of pure humiliation. Her dark dress was torn and tattered, her pointed hat slumped to one side, and her previously elegant curls were now disheveled and tangled. She gasped for breath, glancing up with both fear and fury at Yuno, who stood above her, his posture tall and regal. Sylph, the Wind Spirit, hovered beside him, her small frame radiating a powerful, ethereal light, giving Yuno an almost otherworldly aura. His gaze was fixed on the witch with a look of calm, unyielding confidence.

"Do you think you've won, brat?" the witch spat, her voice laced with desperation as she felt her defeat weighing down on her. "If I'm going down, I'm taking you with me!" Her hand trembled as she began gathering the remnants of her mana, her entire body pulsating as she prepared to unleash a self-destructive blast, aiming to bring Yuno down with her in one final act of vengeance.

But before she could finish, a massive thunderbolt shot down from the heavens, striking her directly and dispersing her gathered mana in an instant. The impact blasted a new, deeper crater around her as she collapsed in a limp heap, knocked unconscious by the sheer force. Standing above her was Zoro, his leg firmly planted on her head as he looked down, a faint smirk of satisfaction on his face.

Yuno raised an eyebrow, surprised to Zoro's arrival especially in this way. "Yo, kid," Zoro said nonchalantly, lifting one hand in a casual greeting as if he'd just arrived to watch a casual match. "Looks like you finally awakened that spell of yours, huh?"

Before Yuno could respond, Vermithra darted past Zoro, her excitement too strong to contain. She flew right up to Sylph, her electric form sparking as she circled around the small wind spirit, her curiosity buzzing in the air. "Hi! Hi! You're a spirit too, right? Oh, I've been wanting to meet another one forever!" Vermithra's voice was bright and energetic, her eyes shining as she looked at Sylph.

Sylph tilted her head, examining Vermithra with a slightly wary but curious look, her small wings fluttering softly. "Yes, I'm Sylph, the Wind Spirit," she replied in a gentle, melodious voice, her tone graceful but with a hint of reserve. "You must be Vermithra… the Spirit of Thunder?" Her voice was filled with wonder, her eyes reflecting the same intrigue Vermithra showed, though she maintained a certain air of elegance.

Vermithra sparkled with excitement, her energy pulsing like live wires around her. "Yup, that's me!" she exclaimed. "I've never met another spirit before! It's so awesome to meet someone else who knows what it's like to have powers and a partner!"

Sylph floated closer, her expression shifting from cautious to slightly intrigued, though she kept a protective position near Yuno, casting a watchful eye on Vermithra. "Hmm," she mused, with a slight smirk. "I guess it's… nice to meet you, too. But don't think you can just zoom in all over my partner! Yuno is… mine." She gave a possessive glance toward him, ensuring her point was clear.

Vermithra's grin widened mischievously. "Ohhh, a bit protective, are we?" She zapped in a circle around Sylph, her energy buzzing with amusement. "I mean, I'm all about my partner, too, but lighten up, would ya? We're both spirits here—no need to get so serious!"

Sylph huffed, floating up to meet Vermithra's eye level, her expression both proud and slightly flustered. "Serious or not, I don't like anyone messing with Yuno. I'm here to protect him, and I don't need any other spirit distracting him."

Vermithra giggled, crossing her arms with a spark of defiance. "Fine, fine. But just so you know, I'm not here to mess with your partner. Zoro's more than enough to handle! I just thought we spirits could… I don't know… have a little fun. Or is that against your 'guardian spirit code'?"

Sylph sighed, glancing at Yuno, who was watching the exchange with a slight, amused smile. "Hmph. I suppose a little fun wouldn't hurt… just keep your sparks to yourself, alright?"

Vermithra laughed again, her electric energy bouncing with enthusiasm. "Deal! But don't be surprised if I outshine you!"

Sylph scoffed, her smirk back. "In your dreams."

Sylph floated closer to Vermithra, her tiny arms crossed and a smug expression on her face. "But I do have one question," she said, casting a disdainful glance at Zoro. "Why did you, a spirit of all beings, choose to bond with a magic-less human? You could've done so much better, you know."

At those words, Zoro's expression darkened instantly, a visible tick forming on his temple. He paused mid-step, his grip tightening slightly on his sword as he processed the insult. Vermithra, seeing the impending storm in his eyes, began sweating bullets. "Uh, Sylph," she whispered, backing away from her fellow spirit in alarm, "I really think you should take that back…"

Even Yuno, usually unfazed, gave a small sigh and took a few cautious steps back. He closed his eyes silently praying for Sylph, fully aware of the danger she had unwittingly invited.

Sylph looked around, confused by everyone's reactions. What were they so afraid of? She couldn't fathom why they were acting like she'd just provoked a monster. But then, before she had a moment to react, a massive hand shot out, closing around her and lifting her up effortlessly. She was pulled eye-to-eye with Zoro, who glared at her with an intensity that could terrify even the strongest mages. Sylph's confidence crumbled instantly, her face paling as she squirmed in his grip.

"Hey, you arrogant pest," Zoro growled, his voice low and dripping with menace. "Do you have a death wish? Because I'll gladly help you fulfill it."

Sylph's eyes went wide with fear, and in a rare display of pure terror, tears began forming at the edges of her eyes. Her once-defiant attitude had vanished entirely, replaced by a desperate need for escape. "SAVE ME, YUNO!" her tiny voice shrieked, echoing across the square.

Vermithra, safely out of the danger zone, couldn't help but laugh softly, muttering, "Guess you had to learn the hard way not to mess with my partner."