After summoning Nebra and ordering her to investigate which nobles played a hand in hiring the assassins. Without saying much, Grim went to a mountainous reigion far from the Clover Kingdom to focus on his training.
Now standing in a cave that he had carved out in the side of one of the mountains, he looked out at the horizon and let his thoughts wonder.
'In order to reach stage 0 in my current state, I'll first need to improve my [Hyper Focus] and stabilize my enhanced mana skills. If I'm lucky and able to utilize my [Hyper Focus] properly, I could potentially use it to shorten the time needed to master my mana skills and solidify my existing foundation.'
Gazing at the distant mountains, Grim couldn't help but marvel at the floating rocks swirling through the air.
'Looks like I was right to choose a Grand Magic Zone for training. The closer I am to its centre the harder it is to control my mana. If I can make use of my time here to its fullest extent, then who knows how strong I'll be by the time I leave.'
'Fuck! I can't wait to start! Too bad I need to head back to pick up some supplies first.'
---
[Clover Kingdom a couple of days later]
"I have to get stronger! At this rate Yuno and Grim will always be one step ahead of me!"
Sitting outside the Black Bulls base, Asta who had long since returned from the Heart Kingdom with the others was focused on completing his own exclusive training. Performing an unknown amount of muscle exercises, he was currently doing 8003 sit ups with the goal of reaching 10,000.
---
[Unknown Dungeon]
Luck who had also returned from scouting out the Diamond Kingdom with Magna and Vanessa in tow couldn't forget that scene from before.
Of the black haired man with the symbol of Spade on his jacket...
"Stronger, Stronger, Stronger! I have to get even STRONGER!!"
With that singular thought driving him, he went to as many dungeons as possible in order to get stronger and trigger another manic mana state similar to the one he and Magna had back when they were looking for ways to treat Asta's arms.
---
[Black Bulls HQ]
"So that's the servant of the devils, Asta of the Black Bulls. He looks just as devilish in person as he does in the newspapers."
Hidden away in a shrub of bushes, a small group of people wearing white robes and devil themed masks stared at the exercising Asta with malice in their eyes.
The one who had spoke suddenly turned to look at another member of their group who clearly a female.
"The next part relies on you Bow."
Nodding her head, the woman walked forward slightly and intentionally stumbled out catching both Asta's and Secre's attention.
'Huh? Who's that?'
Seeing the stumbling woman, Asta's righteous heart forced him to halt his training so that he could go and check up on her.
"Hey!" He yelled and ran over. "Are you okay?"
Watching all this happen from a branch on the tree, Secre who was in her bird form couldn't help but sigh and curse Grim in her head.
'Why did you leave me here?'
Flying down and turning into her human form, she too went to check out the situation.
Struggling to move, the woman in white robes raised her hand up as if begging for help.
"P-Please take this." She struggled to say pushing a vial filled with blue liquid in their faces. Using her thumb, she suddenly popped the cork off the vial causing the liquid to turn bright red and explode into a pink coloured gas when it came into contact with the air.
*Cough* *Cough* *Cough*
Caught off guard by the sudden intrusion of unknown gas invading their lungs, the two began to cough aggressively while more and more white robed people began to walk out of the surrounding bushes.
"Impressive." The man leading the group complimented. "I didn't think your potion would be this effective."
"Thank you." The woman who played decoy replied and rejoined the others.
Nodding his head, the leader stared at the two.
"Oh?" He raised an eyebrow upon seeing the black haired girl with two horns on her head.
"It seems that luck is on our side today." He smiled. "Not only do we get the devil possessed boy, but even the girl who's used forbidden magic is by his side."
Hearing that, the others also focused their attention on Secre's head.
"So this is Nero." A black haired woman whispered.
"T-Those horns! She a devil!"
"Get her!"
"Kill her!"
"Destroy her!"
All sorts of opinions began circulating throughout the group before the leader put his fingers to his lips and shushed them.
"Don't let your hatred cloud your judgement."
"These sinners will die. But not before they've played their part."
Remembering their purpose for coming here, the rest of the group reined in their emotions and proceeded to continue with the plan.
Seeing that everyone had more or less settled down. The leader of the group nodded with satisfaction.
"Good. Now capture them."
Seeing the approaching figures and fighting the weight of her heavy eyelids, Secre looked at the collapsed Asta.
'Damn it.'
But just as they were about to capture the two, a sudden voice from above caused them to stop.
"I go away for a couple of days and all of a sudden you've become weak enough to get taken out by a group of nobodies? It'd be sad if it wasn't so funny."
Hearing the voice, the leader of the group suddenly froze.
This voice... It can't be... We were told that he had left the kingdom!
Feeling his back suddenly covered in a layer of cold sweat, he could tell that the rest of his compatriots were experiencing the same thing. Despite the masks covering their faces, it couldn't hide their trembling legs.
'Its over... Its all over.'
'Not him... Oh god anyone but him!'
Descending down from the sky like a god, a shiver ran down the spines of everyone present as he walked past with sparing them a single glance.
Having read the profiles of everyone in the Black Bulls in preparation for this mission and remembering his actions during the Royal Knight exams. Meeting Grim here was the last thing that they wanted.
Not only did he possess the power to use multiple magic attributes, but the amount of brutality highlighted in the reports was enough to deter them from attacking the base directly. In fact, it was only when they heard that he had left the kingdom for a couple of days that they had decided that now would be the best time to attack.
But who would have guessed that he would appear right as they achieved their objective.
Fate was a funny thing.
Knowing that it was pretty much the end for him. The leader of the masked men drew out his grimoire and-
*THUD*
Ended up losing his head.