The final battles had ended, and the testing field was filled with expectant silence. The sun began to set, painting the sky with shades of orange and purple as the candidates gathered at the center of the arena. Lincon, arms crossed and eyes sharp, observed every detail. He knew this moment would define the next steps of his journey.
The examiners called all standout candidates to the front. Among them were Yuno, Asta, and, of course, Lincon. The murmuring crowd fell silent as the nine Magic Knight captains stood, ready to make their choices.
Yuno was the first to be called. Lincon watched with interest as the golden-haired youth confidently walked to the center of the arena. There was no doubt in his posture. Yuno had excelled in every test, from mana control to combat.
When the examiner announced his name, something impressive happened: all nine captains raised their hands, signaling their interest in recruiting him. Lincon couldn't help but let a slight smile form on his lips. Exactly like in the original... he thought.
Yuno, without hesitation, chose the Golden Dawn Squad. It was expected. The squad with the highest reputation, composed of elite mages. Yuno was determined to walk the hardest path in his pursuit of the Wizard King title.
Right after Yuno, it was Asta's turn. In the original, this was the moment when everyone ignored him. But Lincon knew things would be different now. Asta had shown much more of his capabilities during their fight—raw strength, adaptable tactics, and an unshakable will.
When Asta's name echoed across the field, Yami Sukehiro, as expected, raised his hand. However, two other hands quickly followed: Jack the Ripper of the Green Mantis Squad and Fuegoleon Vermillion of the Crimson Lion Squad.
The surrounding candidates began whispering. Having three captains interested in a boy without mana was unprecedented. Asta's eyes widened, clearly surprised, but his smile quickly returned.
— "Heh, you caught my attention, shorty!" — Jack said with a sharp grin. — "Someone with that brute strength would fit right into my squad."
Fuegoleon, however, was more serious:
— "Strength without purpose is wasteful. In the Crimson Lion, you'd learn to channel that strength into something greater."
Yami, ever blunt, cut through the offers with his usual directness:
— "If you want a place where you'll truly surpass your limits, come to the Black Bulls. We don't care about formalities."
After a brief moment of hesitation, Asta stayed true to his original fate and chose the Black Bulls. Lincon smiled, satisfied to see that some things, even with his presence, remained unchanged.
Finally, it was Lincon's turn. The examiner called his name with a tone of expectation, and Lincon walked to the center of the field. He could feel the weight of countless eyes on him, but his expression remained calm.
As soon as his name was announced, the scene he never expected to witness unfolded before his eyes: all nine captains raised their hands.
A collective gasp echoed across the field. The candidates exchanged incredulous glances. It was an exact repetition of what had happened with Yuno, but now Lincon stood at the center of attention.
— "Not bad..." — Yami muttered, glancing at Fuegoleon. — "Two promising sprouts in the same exam. This year really got interesting."
Lincon didn't hesitate. His heart had already decided long before the exam even began. He raised his hand and pointed toward Fuegoleon Vermillion.
— "I choose the Crimson Lion Squad."
The murmurs grew louder. Many had expected him to choose the Golden Dawn, like Yuno, or the Black Bulls, like Asta. But Lincon had his own reasons—reasons rooted in his past life.
"In the future, Mereoleona will take command, even if only temporarily. And she was always the character I admired most while watching Black Clover. Training under the Vermillion banner brings me closer to that destiny." — Lincon thought, a faint smile on his lips.
Fuegoleon nodded, clearly pleased with the choice.
— "A wise decision. In the Crimson Lion, you won't find easy rest. We forge strength in the fires of battle."
After the ceremony, Lincon was led to the Crimson Lion Squad's base. The headquarters was an imposing stone structure adorned with scarlet banners and the emblem of the flaming lion. Upon entering, Lincon felt the air vibrate with the intense energy that defined the squad.
— "Welcome home, rookie." — said Leopold Vermillion, Fuegoleon's younger brother, approaching with an excited smile. — "If you want to grow, you've come to the right place!"
Lincon immediately recognized some of the notable squad members. Randall Luftair, the vice-captain, watched him with an analytical gaze. Rubel, with his relaxed demeanor, gave a casual nod. Ben Benfunk, ever energetic, was already approaching with questions about the fight against Asta.
— "So, you were one of the guys who faced that mana-less maniac? Bet it was one hell of a brawl!" — Ben said, laughing.