Month Five: Asta
Over the past months, Asta's bond with Liebe had deepened, but the devil's urgency had grown sharper with every session.
"Asta," Liebe's voice echoed in the void, calm but weighted with tension. "We're running out of time. The barrier is weakening faster than I thought."
Asta opened his eyes, staring at the devil's crimson gaze. He had grown used to Liebe's commanding presence, but this felt different. "Then we'll stop them," Asta said, his voice steady.
Liebe shook his head. "You're strong, but it's not enough. If the devils come, they'll overwhelm world. You need all of my power—now."
Asta's heart sank. He'd suspected this moment was coming, but hearing it spoken aloud made it all too real. "You mean the ritual," he said, his voice quieter than usual. "The one where we… merge completely?"
"Yeah," Liebe said, stepping closer. His usual sharpness was gone, replaced by a rare patience. "If we do this, I won't be me anymore. My essence, my power—it'll become part of you. I'll live on through you, but this is goodbye for me as… well."
Asta clenched his fists, his eyes locked on Liebe's. "There's gotta be another way."
"There isn't," Liebe said, his voice softening. "I've fought my whole life for revenge, but you… you gave me something I didn't think I could ever have: hope. That's why I'm trusting you with this.
Asta's throat tightened. "Then I'll carry you with me."
Liebe smirked faintly, extending a clawed hand. "Then repeat after me."
The void around them shifted, the swirling black and red energy intensifying as a glowing circle of runes appeared beneath them. Asta's voice was steady as he recited the binding words, sealing their pact. The runes flared with blinding light, and Asta felt a searing pain course through his body.
When it was over, Asta collapsed to his knees, gasping for air. The void was silent. Liebe's voice, once a constant presence, was gone—but his power remained, coursing through Asta like an unrelenting tide. Tears blurred Asta's vision as he clenched his fists.
"I'll exterminate all devils, Liebe," Asta whispered. "I promise."
Month Six: Yuno
The remote valley was silent, save for the howling winds that tore through its jagged cliffs. Yuno stood at the edge of a precipice, his golden grimoire glowing brightly beside him. The sheer intensity of his magic had reshaped the landscape, leaving deep scars across the valley floor.
"Wind Creation Magic: Celestial Barrage," Yuno murmured. Above him, dozens of glowing projectiles formed, each one crackling with energy. He directed them downward with a flick of his wrist, the explosions rippling through the valley like thunder.
But he wasn't satisfied. "Not enough," he muttered, raising his hand to summon a massive cyclone. The vortex roared to life, tearing through obstacles with relentless precision. Yuno floated within the eye of the storm, his movements calm and deliberate.
He layered another spell onto the cyclone, pushing its speed and power to their absolute limits. The storm tore through the cliffs, leaving nothing but rubble in its wake.
When the spell finally dissipated, Yuno descended slowly, landing gracefully on the valley floor. His golden eyes burned with resolve as he gazed at the horizon.
The sun dipped low over the clearing near Hage, casting long shadows across the battle-scarred ground. Asta stood at one edge, his anti-magic sword resting against his shoulder, while Yuno hovered a few feet above the earth, his golden grimoire glowing beside him. The air between them was thick with tension, the weight of six months of grueling training and personal growth settling on their shoulders.
Neither moved for a long moment, their eyes locked in silent understanding. Then, in a burst of motion, they surged toward each other, their powers colliding in a deafening explosion of wind and anti-magic.
Yuno struck first, summoning a flurry of wind blades that whistled through the air. Asta countered with a wide swing of his sword, the anti-magic energy dispersing the projectiles in a single, sweeping motion. The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the clearing, uprooting small trees and scattering debris.
Asta dashed forward, his sword raised for a heavy strike.
Yuno barely flinched, his movements fluid as he twisted away from the attack, summoning a gale that propelled him higher into the air.
From above, Yuno unleashed a barrage of wind spears, each one honing in on Asta with pinpoint accuracy. Asta activated Void Step, disappearing from sight and reappearing behind Yuno in a flash. His sword swung in a heavy arc, but Yuno reacted in time, summoning a wind barrier that absorbed the blow.
The clash sent both of them hurtling backward, each landing gracefully before charging at each other again. Asta's strikes were relentless, each swing of his sword carving through the air with devastating force. Yuno countered with precision, his wind magic weaving intricate patterns that deflected and redirected the attacks.
Glowing orbs of wind magic formed around him, their edges crackling with golden energy. He directed them toward Asta in rapid succession, each projectile exploding on impact. Asta moved with incredible speed, using Void Step to evade the attacks and close the distance between them.
When he was within striking range, Asta unleashed Anti-Magic Flux, a wave of dark energy that surged outward and dispersed the remaining orbs, dashing forward with his sword poised for a devastating blow.
Yuno met the attack head-on, summoning a wind shield that barely held against the sheer force of Asta's strike. The ground beneath them cracked under the pressure, and for a moment, neither gave an inch.
"You're relentless," Yuno said, his voice strained.
"And you're annoying," Asta shot back, pushing harder.
The two broke apart, each breathing heavily but refusing to back down. The clearing around them was in ruins, the ground littered with debris and scorch marks from their clash.
Asta planted his sword in the ground, his grin never faltering. "Alright, Yuno. Time to end this."
"Agreed," Yuno replied, his tone sharp. He raised his hand, summoning a colossal cyclone that roared to life, its winds crackling with lightning. "Let's see if you can handle this."
Asta activated Demon Form, his body cloaked in black markings as anti-magic energy surged around him. "Bring it on!" he shouted, his sword glowing with raw power.
The two charged at each other, their final attacks colliding in a blinding explosion of wind and anti-magic. The force of the impact shook the entire clearing, sending shockwaves rippling outward and flattening everything in their path.
When the dust settled, both Asta and Yuno lay sprawled on the ground, their bodies battered and bruised. Yuno was the first to push himself up, his breath labored but steady. "Looks like I won," he said, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
Asta groaned, forcing himself into a sitting position. "We both went down. It's a draw."
Yuno raised an eyebrow. "I landed the last hit. That makes me the winner."
"Yeah, but you hit the ground right after," Asta argued, pointing an accusatory finger at him. "That's not a win. That's a tie."
They glared at each other for a moment before their expressions softened. Asta broke into a wide grin, and Yuno let out a quiet chuckle.
"You've gotten stronger," Asta admitted, his voice filled with respect.
"Thanks," Yuno replied.
As the sun set over the horizon, the two rivals made their way back to the orphanage. The path was quiet, save for their occasional bickering over who had really won the fight.
As they reached the orphanage, the familiar sounds of children's laughter greeted them, grounding them in the warmth of home.
And The Magic Knight Exams awaited
TO BE CONTINUED...
A/N: jk, next chapter will be a catch up on all of Asta's skills, stats and new skills and stuff like that but after that we're going to get into the magic Knight exam so yea