Asta's excitement knew no bounds as he stood in front of the Black Bulls' headquarters. The building was chaotic—part manor, part fortress, and entirely rundown. Smoke wafted from a window, and faint sounds of shouting and crashing could be heard even from outside.
"This… is my new home?" Asta muttered, a mix of awe and apprehension on his face.
Yami Sukehiro stood beside him, towering and intimidating as ever. He lit a cigarette and smirked. "Yeah, kid. You're in for a ride. Don't cry if it's not what you expected."
Asta clenched his fists and grinned. "I won't cry! This is my first step to becoming the Wizard King!"
Yami raised an eyebrow, amused by Asta's determination. Without another word, he kicked the massive front doors open, revealing the chaos inside.
The interior was just as wild as the exterior. **Luck Voltia**, a lightning mage with a manic grin, was in the middle of a sparring match with **Magna Swing**, who hurled flaming projectiles back at him. Nearby, a drunk **Gordon Agrippa** mumbled incoherently, while **Vanessa Enoteca**, with her vibrant pink hair, lounged lazily with a wine glass in hand.
At the far end of the room, **Noelle Silva**, a noble with a proud and haughty demeanor, sat with her arms crossed, glaring at the chaos around her.
"Hey, idiots!" Yami's voice boomed across the room, silencing everyone in an instant. "Meet the new recruit. Try not to scare him off."
All eyes turned to Asta, who puffed out his chest and waved enthusiastically. "Nice to meet you all! I'm Asta, and I'm going to be the Wizard King!"
The room erupted in laughter.
"Wizard King?" Magna scoffed. "With no magic? Good luck, kid!"
Luck tilted his head, his grin growing wider. "Ooh, he looks like fun. Can I fight him, Captain?"
"Not yet," Yami said, taking a seat on a worn-out chair. "We'll see if he survives first. Magna, take care of the initiation."
Magna grinned wickedly and cracked his knuckles. "Oh, I've got just the thing."
Magna led Asta to a courtyard behind the headquarters. The other Black Bulls followed, eager to watch the spectacle. In the center of the yard was a ring of scorched earth, evidence of countless battles fought there.
"Here's how it works, newbie," Magna said, summoning a flaming bat. "You stand there, and I'll hurl fireballs at you. If you can block them or survive, you're officially one of us."
Asta's grin didn't waver. "Bring it on!"
The first fireball came fast, but Asta was faster. Drawing his massive anti-magic sword, he swung with all his might, cutting through the flame and dispersing it into sparks.
The Black Bulls murmured in surprise.
"Not bad," Magna said, throwing a second and third fireball. Asta dodged one and deflected the other with ease, his sheer physical strength on full display.
"Impressive," Luck said, his grin never fading. "This is getting interesting!"
But Magna wasn't done. With a roar, he summoned a massive fireball, one that radiated heat so intense it scorched the ground beneath it. "Let's see how you handle this!"
Asta stood his ground, gripping his sword tightly. As the fireball hurtled toward him, he swung with all his might, slicing the attack in two. The flames fizzled out, leaving the courtyard silent.
The Black Bulls erupted in cheers.
"That's our new recruit!" Magna laughed, slapping Asta on the back. "You've got guts, kid!"
"Welcome to the Black Bulls!" Vanessa said, raising her wine glass in a toast.
Even Noelle, who had been watching quietly, seemed slightly impressed, though she quickly hid it behind a scoff. "Hmph. He's still a peasant with no magic."
Later that night, Asta sat in the common room, surrounded by his new comrades. They laughed, drank, and shared stories, the chaotic energy of the Black Bulls now feeling like home.
As the noise died down, Yami approached Asta, his expression unusually serious.
"Kid," he said, lighting another cigarette, "you've got potential, but this life isn't easy. We're Magic Knights, which means we'll face danger every day. You sure you're ready for this?"
Asta looked up at him, his green eyes blazing with determination. "I've been ready my whole life, Captain. I'll work harder than anyone, and I'll never give up—no matter what."
Yami chuckled. "Good answer. Welcome to the Black Bulls, Asta."
As Asta went to bed that night, he couldn't stop smiling. He had finally taken the first step toward his dream. No matter how hard the road ahead would be, he was determined to prove that even someone without magic could rise to the top.