A sudden shout snapped me awake.
"I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU THINK OF ME, BUT YOU ARE MY FRIEND!"
That sounded like a classic Natsu shout... but something about the voice didn't sit right.
Thick smoke billowed up around me, choking the air and blurring my vision.
"Wait… where the hell am I? This is not Fairy Tail"
Somewhere nearby, a voice rang out calmly: "There's no escape now"
I couldn't see anything. The smoke was too thick.
Then another voice, louder and much more obnoxious, shouted: "It doesn't matter who we're up against, the Black Bulls will win!"
Black Bulls? So that's where I was... Still no clue… My head was starting to throb.
"Oh no... is this poison gas?" I muttered under my breath and held it in, trying not to inhale.
I could hear sparks of static energy nearby. And someone (the loud one) growling in frustration, apparently unable to hit his mark in the smoke.
Alright. Time to step in. I couldn't let this keep going.
I swung my guitar into place, stopped myself of taking a breath, and let my fingers move instinctively.
"Wind – Naruto."
The first chord rang out, that familiar sound (for me at least) echoing through the fog.
Magic poured from the strings, flowing into the smoke-filled chaos. I had hoped for a gust of wind to blow the smoke away... But it didn't.
Instead, something else happened.
The music didn't clear the fog, but it helped them, their wild energy, his frustration… began to ease. The melody calmed them.
.............
Noelle's POV
"I can't use my magic… what if I mess up again?"
I bit my lip in frustration. Asta and Luck were fighting with everything they had, and I… I was just standing there.
Then something strange happened.
A melody started playing, gentle, emotional. It flowed towards me, towards us and I felt calm.
"What... is that?"
My nerves began to settle. Suddenly, I felt my magic moving on its own. Water formed at the tip of my wand, not wildly like before, this time, it moved at my command.
I could see the shape I wanted it to take. It was so clear, it felt natural.
This is it. My chance. "GRAND WATER DRAGON ROAR!"
I stepped forward, raised my wand, and released everything I had.
....................
The enemy mage dodged just in time, barely evading Noelle's roaring torrent.
"Tch, too slow!" Luck's voice cut through the smoke, followed by a blur of movement. His lightning-charged kick slammed into the mage's side, crackling energy bursting on impact, but it wasn't enough to bring him down.
"Still standing?" Luck grinned wickedly.
But before the mage could recover or Luck continue his attack, Asta was already there. No magic. No mana signature. No warning.
He came out of nowhere, swinging his massive sword with both hands. The blade caught the mage square in the chest, launching him backward, straight into the heart of Noelle's waiting water dragon.
The beast's jaws snapped shut around him, and the crash of water echoed through the battlefield.
"Awesome, so this is teamwork!" Luck laughed, sparks still dancing around him.
The enemy mage coughed, staggering out of the churning water. His eyes darted around, he was looking for an escape.
Before he could take a step, Asta was already charging. He pushed his body to the limit. With a roar, he swung the massive sword again. The blade connected with a solid thud, sending him crashing into the ground.
The smoke thinned, revealing the enemy mage sprawled on the ground, unconscious.
"Alright, he's toast. Let's bolt!" Luck grinned, sparks dancing across his skin.
He closed his eyes for a split second, letting arcs of lightning race along the walls and floor.
"There!" He pointed, a wild grin splitting his face. "Treasure room's this way!"
That's when they noticed the figure with the guitar. Asta tensed, ready to attack, but Noelle stepped past him, her gaze steady.
"And who might you be?" she asked.
...................
I lifted my head, my fingers brushing the guitar strings and letting out a single, clear note.
"Name's Tempo," I said casually, as if we weren't standing in the middle of a battlefield. "And I think you're about to need my help."
Suddenly, it clicked, I finally knew where I was. Black Clover. And this was probably one of the early fights. Why did they keep pushing me into situations I couldn't fully remember?
Asta blinked, thrown off by my calm tone. "Help? With what...?"
I glanced at Luck and smiled. "Treasure room then?"
Luck grinned back. "The strongest guy's someone else. Come on, let's run."
I tried to keep up, but they were too fast. "Damn," I muttered, falling behind.
Luck doubled back and grabbed me. I paled. "Wait..."
Without hesitation, he cast magic on his feet, boosting his speed. I could only shout as he pulled me along. "Ahhhhhh....."
In no time, we reached the treasure room.
Yuno was fighting with another mage, but Asta leapt up and joined the fight.
He shouted, voice full of pride, "YUNO IS MY RIVAL!"
Yeah... he had that Naruto energy, always chasing after Sasuke.