Two days had passed since Asta joined the Black Bulls, and he, Noelle, and Magna had just returned from their first mission. The mission itself was relatively simple: clearing out a group of bandits causing trouble near a village. Magna was there primarily to guide them, but it served as a solid starting point for Asta and Noelle. Both had gained something valuable from the experience—Asta sharpened his instincts, and Noelle managed to control her magic a little better. By the time they returned, there was a noticeable closeness between Asta and Noelle, a camaraderie that hadn't been there before.
Despite this, Zoro wasn't too interested in the details of the mission; he already knew what had happened. Instead, he waited for Asta outside at the back of the base, seated on a large boulder with his usual bottle of alcohol in hand and the anti-magic bird perched atop his head. His expression was stoic as he observed Asta, who was doing push-ups with another large boulder balanced on his back. Sweat poured down Asta's face, and his arms were trembling from exertion, but his will remained unbroken.
After about twenty minutes of watching, Zoro finally stood up and approached Asta, saying, "Alright, that's enough for the warm-up. Stand up, kid." Asta, muscles straining, pushed himself to his feet, eagerly awaiting the next part of his training.
Zoro looked him over and continued, "Now, let's start with the real practice. I can't teach you my swordsmanship style—it's something each swordsman finds for themselves. But I can help you strengthen your body and teach you skills that will come in handy in life-or-death situations."
"Yes, Sir! Thank you, Sir!" Asta replied with enthusiasm.
Zoro nodded, then asked, "First of all, summon your sword. I want to take a look." Asta reached for his grimoire, and with a faint glow, his massive anti-magic sword appeared. He handed it over, and Zoro weighed it in his hands, examining it. "It's heavy. You must be pretty strong to wield this, kid. But don't get cocky," he added as he saw Asta smile proudly. "So, this sword cuts magic, huh? Interesting." Zoro tossed it back to him, his own curiosity piqued. "For now, you'll be swinging that sword a thousand times—don't stop until your arms give out."
With a grin of determination, Asta took his stance. "Yes, Sir! I'll do it!" And so he began, his enthusiasm carrying him through the first few hundred swings. But as the minutes dragged on, the weight of the sword started to wear him down. Soon, every swing felt like a mountain on his shoulders, and his muscles ached with every motion. After what felt like ages, his body finally gave out, and he collapsed, panting and drenched in sweat.
Zoro walked over, observing him. "Not bad for your first try. Don't get discouraged." Seeing Asta's curiosity, he added, "Want to see the effect of this training?" Without waiting for an answer, Zoro picked up Asta's sword and, with an effortless flick of his wrist, unleashed a powerful swing that cleaved a nearby tree in half. Asta watched in awe, realizing the sheer power Zoro possessed. Inspired by what he'd seen, Asta was ready to keep going, but Zoro stopped him. "Enough for today. You just got back from a mission. Rest is also part of training."
Back inside the Black Bulls' base, Vanessa and Noelle were waiting for them. Vanessa waved, calling out, "Hey, Asta! I heard you got some money from your first mission. Why don't you join us for some shopping in the castle town?"
Asta's eyes lit up with excitement. "Yes! I'd love to go!"
As Zoro passed by, Vanessa turned to him. "Hey, Vice-Captain, want to come with us?"
Without looking back, Zoro shrugged. "I don't do shopping. I'm going to feed the pets." He walked toward a secluded part of the base.
"Wait… we have pets?" Asta asked, surprised.
Vanessa laughed, though she shivered slightly at the thought. "Yes, Yami's pets. But they're not exactly… cute. Only Zoro and Yami are brave enough to handle them."
A look of curiosity crossed Asta's face, but Vanessa shook her head. "Let's just say they're… an acquired taste." She turned to Noelle and Asta with a smile. "Alright, let's go shopping!"
.....
The next morning, Zoro lay stretched out on top of one of Yami's peculiar pets. The beast was massive and intimidating, a mixture of mystical creature and wild animal. Its dark fur was bristly, with jagged claws and gleaming yellow eyes that seemed to glow in the shadows. Despite its fearsome appearance, it was oddly calm around Zoro, lying there like an oversized watchdog. Yami's collection of pets ranged from such beasts to strange, almost mythical creatures with auras that hinted at ancient, untamed magic. Only Yami and Zoro seemed able to handle them without getting mauled.
"Hey, Zoro, I've got something to discuss with you," Yami said, striding up to him with his usual nonchalant expression.
Zoro, half-awake, cracked open one eye and gave Yami an annoyed look for disturbing his rest. "What is it?" he muttered, clearly irritated at being woken up from a comfortable nap.
"A new dungeon has been discovered," Yami began, his tone casual but carrying a weight that meant it was important. "This one's located right near the border of a hostile country."
"So? What's that got to do with me?" Zoro replied, scratching his head in confusion as he sat up. He figured any dungeon mission could easily go to Asta or another Black Bull member.
Yami smirked. "The Wizard King specifically asked for Asta to explore it. I'm thinking of sending Asta, Noelle, and Luck. But, well, Luck's not exactly the best when it comes to keeping an eye on others…especially rookies."
Zoro raised an eyebrow, starting to piece together Yami's angle. "So you want me to babysit them?"
Yami shrugged, giving Zoro a lazy grin. "There's a chance the enemy nation might get involved. It could be dangerous, and if you're there, I can at least be confident they won't all come back in bandages."
Zoro sighed, clearly not thrilled about playing babysitter, but he could sense Yami's underlying concern. He knew Yami was as protective of the Black Bulls as he was, even if they both pretended not to care as much. "Fine," he grumbled, stifling a yawn. "I'll go."
....
a few hours later
As Asta and Noelle continued down the dimly lit corridors of the dungeon, their voices echoed back and forth as they argued over the name for the Anti-Magic bird, who flitted between them, occasionally chirping as if giving its own opinion.
"It's gonna be Toritaro!" Asta insisted, puffing out his chest with a big grin, convinced it was the perfect name.
"No, Silvantuus Schnauzer," Noelle countered haughtily, crossing her arms with a slight smirk. She felt her name was far more regal and fitting for the bird. "A name with sophistication would suit it better."
"Toritaro!" Asta retorted, determination shining in his eyes.
"Silvantuus Schnauzer!" Noelle fired back, growing increasingly frustrated as the argument dragged on. They both leaned forward, nearly bumping heads as they stubbornly held their ground.
Caught in the middle of their bickering, the bird flapped its wings, hopping from one shoulder to the other, chirping as if trying to calm them down.
"Asta! Noelle!" Zoro's voice cut through the noise as he walked several steps ahead, unfazed by the argument and focusing on navigating the dungeon. Asta, determined to get Zoro's support, called out.
"Hey, Vice-Captain! Isn't Toritaro a way better name?" he asked, his eyes wide with hope, looking up at Zoro, who had stopped and turned with a contemplative expression.
After a brief pause, Zoro answered, "Hmm…why not keep it 'Chopper'?" He seemed to consider this suggestion seriously, as if it was a reasonable compromise.
There was a beat of silence as Asta, Noelle, and even the Anti-Magic bird all turned to Zoro with matching deadpan expressions, stunned by his random suggestion. They exchanged glances and shook their heads before resuming their argument.
"Toritaro!" Asta continued, undeterred.
"No, Silvantuus Schnauzer!" Noelle shot back.
Their bickering echoed louder as they walked deeper into the dungeon, Zoro now fully ignoring them. Then, breaking through the noise, Luck's voice chimed in.
"Hey! I have an idea—why not call it 'Nero'? It means 'black,'" he suggested, a mischievous grin on his face.
"Huh?!" Both Asta and Noelle stopped mid-bicker, their eyes wide with surprise. It was such a simple name, but something about it seemed to fit.
"Nero…" Asta murmured, glancing at the bird, who tilted its head as if pondering the name. Noelle looked a bit reluctant at first, but she couldn't deny that it suited the bird's dark feathers.
Finally, they shared a look and nodded in agreement. "Alright, Nero it is," they both said.
After what felt like ages navigating the narrow, winding tunnel, the group finally stepped out into a vast open chamber that took their breath away. The room was colossal, with towering stone walls and an eerie, echoing silence. Dozens of tunnels branched off in every direction, creating a seemingly endless maze. Luminous crystals embedded in the stone cast a dim glow over the area, while patches of glowing moss clung to the damp, rough-hewn walls, casting ghostly shadows.
"Whoooah! What's up with this place?" Asta's voice bounced off the stone walls, his wide-eyed awe showing just how new and overwhelming the sight was for him.
"It's like… the space here has been warped by magic," Luck said, his eyes darting around in excitement. "The mana floating up here is way stronger than what's outside," he added, sounding as if he'd stumbled upon the most incredible treasure.
"I've never seen a place full of mana before!" Noelle added, looking around with a mix of fascination and unease as the dense mana flowed around them like a living thing.
Meanwhile, Zoro, standing slightly apart, observed their surroundings calmly. His Observation Haki had already picked up on numerous presences scattered throughout the dungeon, moving stealthily along different pathways. He sensed enemies lurking, but none seemed to be an immediate threat—yet.
Asta, on the other hand, looked completely lost. "What are you guys talking about?" he asked, scratching his head in genuine confusion.
Noelle turned to him, eyes wide with shock. "Wait, are you telling me you can't feel all this mana?" She studied his face for a moment, then sighed. "Don't tell me… You don't even know what mana is?"
"Geez, I know what mana is!" Asta replied, his voice a mix of frustration and embarrassment.
Then, in true Asta fashion, he dropped to his knees, dramatically groveling with tears streaming down his face. "It's what royals like you have by the truckload! The source of magic… and I don't have any at all!"
Suddenly, his dramatic display triggered a trap: the ground rumbled as massive rocks jutted up from the floor in front of him, threatening to crush him. Asta's reflexes, however, were sharp. Without missing a beat, he summoned his Anti-Magic sword, slicing cleanly through the rocks, shattering the trap in a flurry of debris.
"This place is dangerous," Noelle muttered, taking a cautious step back, eyeing the rocks warily.
Luck, on the other hand, looked delighted. Grinning mischievously, he sprinted across the chamber, intentionally triggering more traps just to watch Asta scramble to slice through each one. Boulders and spikes shot up as Asta swung his sword wildly, keeping up with the onslaught.
"This is great!" Luck laughed, gleefully running ahead as if it were all a game.
Zoro stood back, leaning against a wall with his arms crossed, watching the chaos unfold with a bored expression. He was here to keep them from getting killed, but he wasn't going to interfere with the minor dangers. It was their mission, after all, and fighting through traps was part of the experience.
As they continued deeper into the dungeon, Luck suddenly fell silent, his gaze shifting as he sensed a powerful presence in one of the nearby tunnels. It was the strongest aura he'd felt here, aside from Zoro's. Normally, he would have bolted toward it, itching for a fight, but this time he glanced at Zoro, waiting for a signal.
Zoro, catching Luck's gaze, gave him a small nod and a smirk. "Have fun, kid," he said casually.
Luck's grin widened, his eyes alight with excitement. "Lightning Creation Magic: Holy Lightning Boots!" In a flash, crackling lightning formed around his feet, creating boots made of pure energy. Without another word, he bolted across the chamber, a trail of lightning following behind him as he disappeared into one of the tunnels, his laughter echoing as he charged toward his new opponent.
Asta and Noelle watched in awe as Luck sped away, leaving them behind with an array of broken traps and the fading sound of his excitement ringing through the air.
"Vice-Captain, where did Luck go?" Noelle asked Zoro, her tone different from its usual haughtiness—more respectful and cautious, recognizing the strength of her team's vice-captain.
Zoro barely glanced back, a calm look on his face. "He went off to have some fun. Don't worry about him. You two just focus on exploring this dungeon."
Just as they started moving again, vines suddenly crept up from the dungeon floor, wrapping tightly around Noelle's legs and arms, pinning her in place. Asta lunged forward, summoning his Anti-Magic sword and slicing at the vines to free her, but more of them shot out, quickly binding him as well. Even his sword was snatched away by the relentless plants, leaving him defenseless.
Out of nowhere, razor-sharp wind blades materialized, slicing cleanly through the vines with precision, freeing Noelle and Asta from their entanglement. Noelle blinked in surprise, staring around in confusion. What was that powerful spell? she thought, her eyes darting to the tunnel from where the attack had come.
Then she saw it—a symbol gleaming on the chest of someone stepping through the shadows of the tunnel: the Golden Dawn insignia.
"Finally, I've paid my debt, Asta," came a familiar voice. Yuno stepped forward, his face calm and composed as always, but there was a hint of amusement in his eyes as he looked at Asta.
Asta's eyes widened, and a bead of sweat rolled down his forehead. "Y-Yuno…"
Now freed, Asta and Noelle turned to face Yuno and the two Golden Dawn knights standing with him, looking ready to take on the dungeon themselves.
One of Yuno's teammates, Klaus Lunettes, adjusted his glasses, his expression stern. "Yuno, why did you waste time saving them? Our mission is to capture the dungeon, meaning we need to reach the treasure hall in the center as quickly as possible. We don't have time to concern ourselves with... outsiders," he said, shooting a pointed glance at Asta and Noelle.
Asta's face scrunched up in irritation. "Hey, Yuno, who's the rude four-eyes over here?"
"That's a senior member," Yuno replied, his tone neutral.
Klaus's expression darkened, and he looked down his nose at Asta. "Excuse me? Four-eyes? I am a noble, and you'll do well to remember that. Don't speak to me as if we're equals, commoner."
"Hah, you nobles are all so annoying," came a new voice. All heads turned to see Zoro walking toward them, an annoyed look on his face as he ruffled his hair, clearly unimpressed by the Golden Dawn trio.
"Zo-Zo-Zoro-sama???" Klaus stammered, his usual arrogance faltering. His face was pale with shock. Mimosa, the third member of Yuno's team, had been talking quietly to Noelle, but she immediately stopped, her eyes widening in fear as she recognized Zoro. She quickly looked down, afraid to make eye contact with him, as if a single wrong word might lead to her untimely end.
Klaus, recovering slightly, managed to compose himself and asked respectfully, "What is someone of your caliber doing here, Vice-Captain Zoro?"
Meanwhile, Yuno, Asta, and Noelle watched the Golden Dawn members, usually so proud and condescending, showing nothing but respect for Zoro, a Black Bull and, even more shockingly, a commoner.
Zoro merely looked at Klaus with a bored expression. "Nothing that concerns you, brat. Stop asking questions and get going." He walked past them without another glance, his presence alone enough to leave the Golden Dawn trio unnerved.