Chapter 2: The Storm of Hope
The air was thick with tension as Asta faced his squadmates, his body larger and more imposing, his grin sharper than ever. Magna, Luck, Gauche, and Finral exchanged glances, determination hardening their resolve. They knew they couldn't hold back anymore,not if they wanted a chance to win.
"Looks like you're finally taking this seriously," Asta said, his voice deep and steady. Hoffnung gleamed on his back. "Good. I wouldn't want this to end too quickly."
Magna stepped forward, his fiery bat spinning in his hand. "Luck, Gauche, cover me! Finral, keep the portals ready. We're taking him down!"
Luck didn't need any encouragement, his Thunder God's Boots sparking as he darted forward. "Try to keep up, Magna," he called back, his laughter echoing through the battlefield.
Gauche activated Double Reflect Refrain, summoning a network of mirrors around Asta that reflected beams of light in chaotic, unpredictable patterns. The rays crisscrossed the field, forcing Asta to move, sidestepping and swatting away the attacks that got too close.
"Impressive," Asta admitted, his movements fluid despite his growing size. "But you're going to have to do better than light shows."
Before he could counterattack, Magna charged in from the side, his bat blazing with fiery intensity. "Take this! Fire Creation Magic: Grand Slam!"
With a swing that split the air, Magna launched a massive fireball, the heat of which scorched the ground beneath it. Asta raised Hoffnung, the blade shimmering with hope, and swung it upward. The fireball split cleanly in two, the pieces exploding harmlessly on either side of him.
"You're strong, Magna," Asta said, his tone almost approving. "But strength alone won't beat me."
From above, Luck descended, his fists crackling with electricity. He unleashed a flurry of strikes, each blow amplified by Thunder God's Gloves. Asta blocked with Hoffnung, the blade absorbing the energy and reflecting it back in a blinding flash. Luck was forced to retreat, his grin unwavering despite the setback.
"Nice trick," Luck said, shaking his hands to dispel the static. "But I've got more where that came from!"
Asta's grin widened. "Show me, then!"
---
Asta leaped backward, creating distance between himself and the four mages. As he landed, a golden bow materialized in his hands, its design intricate and regal. The energy surrounding it shimmered like sunlight breaking through storm clouds.
"What the hell is that?" Magna muttered, shielding his eyes from the brilliance.
"Holy bow," Asta replied casually. He pulled back the string, an arrow of golden light forming in his grasp. "And these are Heilig Pfeil. You might want to move."
He released the arrow, and it shot forward with the speed of a comet, the sheer force of its release creating a shockwave. Gauche reacted instantly, summoning Full Reflection to redirect the attack. The arrow struck the mirror and bounced back toward Asta. The resulting explosion rocked the battlefield, sending debris flying in every direction.
"Good reflexes," Asta said, already nocking another arrow. "Let's see if you can keep it up."
He fired again, this time aiming for Luck, who zigzagged across the field with blinding speed. The arrow exploded just behind him, the force pushing him forward into Asta's reach.
"Gotcha!" Asta swung Hoffnung in a wide arc, but Luck ducked beneath the blade, delivering an electrified uppercut to Asta's jaw. The blow landed solidly, but Asta barely flinched, his grin unfaltering.
"You've got guts, Luck," Asta said, grabbing the lightning mage by the arm. With a single motion, he hurled Luck toward Magna and Gauche, who barely dodged in time.
"Finral!" Magna shouted.
"On it!" Finral opened a portal beneath Luck, redirecting his trajectory so he landed safely behind them. "You owe me one," Finral added, wiping sweat from his brow.
"Thanks, Finral!" Luck called back, already on his feet.
---
The four mages regrouped, their grimoires glowing brighter than ever. Magna took a deep breath, his bat igniting with a fiery intensity that matched his determination. "Alright, no more messing around. Let's take him down together!"
Gauche activated Mirror's Brigade, summoning clones of Luck and Magna from the mirrors embedded in his eye. The clones charged forward alongside the originals, their attacks mirroring the real mages with deadly precision.
Asta laughed, the sound booming across the battlefield. "That's more like it!"
The clones struck first, their attacks forcing Asta to block and parry with Hoffnung. Meanwhile, the real Magna and Luck flanked him, coordinating their strikes to exploit his blind spots.
"Finral, keep those portals coming!" Magna shouted as he swung his bat, each strike creating waves of heat that distorted the air.
"Got it!" Finral replied, his spatial magic creating openings for surprise attacks.
Despite their combined efforts, Asta's power continued to grow. His strikes with Hoffnung became faster and stronger, his movements more precise. Even Gauche's Double Reflect Refrain couldn't keep him pinned down for long.
"This guy's insane!" Magna yelled, sweat dripping down his face.
"Insane?" Asta repeated, his grin feral. "You haven't seen anything yet!"
He raised his holy bow, firing a barrage of Heilig Pfeil in rapid succession. The arrows rained down like meteors, forcing the four mages to scatter. Each impact created craters in the ground, the explosions shaking the hideout to its foundations.
---
Asta's body grew once more, his frame towering over his opponents. His voice echoed with newfound power. "You've pushed me this far. Now it's my turn to push back!"
With a mighty swing of Hoffnung, Asta unleashed a wave of golden energy that swept across the battlefield. The force of the attack sent Magna, Luck, Gauche, and Finral sprawling, their grimoires flickering as they struggled to recover.
Despite their exhaustion, the four mages stood once more, their determination unwavering.
"One last push," Magna said, gripping his bat tightly. "We're not giving up!"
"Neither am I," Asta replied, his voice filled with admiration. "Let's finish this!"