"Waaahhhhhh!!!"
Accompanied by a piercing scream, a figure flew out faster than he had entered, tracing a perfect parabolic arc through the air.
Bang!
Asta crashed heavily onto the open ground in front of Ryoma.
His limbs twitched, his hair stood on end, wisps of smoke rose from him, and his mouth was full of dirt.
Ryoma expressionlessly watched the freshly baked "charcoal" at his feet, his heart completely unmoved, even feeling a slight urge to laugh.
In Fairy Tail, the destruction caused by Natsu and Gray's fights was routinely more than this. This level of explosion was merely an appetizer.
He calmly lifted his foot and stepped over Asta's "corpse," as if it were just an inconspicuous stone.
Inside the old castle's hall, two shouts of anger echoed.
"Alright, I'm mad now! Are you ready for this, you bastard?!"
"Nope! But let's fight!"
Just then, Asta on the ground suddenly sprang up as if resurrected.
"It's not over yet!"
He shook his still-smoking head, his fighting spirit reignited, and he charged once more towards the already shaky, blast-damaged main door.
"I won't give up in a place like this!"
When he rushed into the hall again, the sight before him utterly stunned him.
The spacious hall of the old castle was in utter disarray. Tables and chairs were overturned, and the walls were covered in charred marks and craters.
A man with sunglasses and a pompadour hairstyle stood on a pillar, a new fireball condensing in his hand.
Opposite him, a short-haired blonde youth floated in mid-air with a grin, surrounded by crackling lightning.
The two completely ignored Asta, who had just been blown away, and also ignored the destroyed door, as they once again fiercely hurled destructive magic at each other.
Boom!!!
With another deafening roar, the clash of magic triggered a new round of explosions, and the violent shockwave tore the few remaining intact pieces of furniture in the hall into shreds.
Is... is this really a Magic Knight Squad's headquarters?
Terrifying!?
Asta was greatly shocked at that moment.
Just as Ryoma was about to step into this chaotic battlefield, a strong smell of alcohol wafted over him.
"Oh my. Is it a cute newbie?"
A voluptuous, pink-haired girl, dressed in very revealing clothes, swayed over, a drunken smile on her face.
"Let me give you a warm welcome hug."
Vanessa spread her arms, ready to pounce on Ryoma.
Ryoma's eyebrow twitched imperceptibly. He didn't want to be hugged by a drunkard and smell of alcohol.
Just as Vanessa's foot was about to land, a small, almost invisible patch of thin ice silently condensed on the ground beneath Ryoma's feet, smooth as a mirror.
"Eh?"
Vanessa felt her foot slip, and she instantly lost her balance.
"Ahh!"
She let out a startled cry, and her entire body fell at a remarkably precise angle towards a long sofa not far away.
Thud.
With a soft muffled sound, Vanessa plunged headfirst into the sofa, the alcohol overwhelming her, and she immediately went still.
One hit KO.
Ryoma didn't even move his feet an inch.
"Too loud!"
"Don't just destroy public property!"
Finally, the exasperated Yami let out an impatient roar.
Terrifying magical pressure erupted from him, and Dark Magic spread outwards like a tangible substance.
He unleashed a fierce punch. He didn't use any magic, only pure physical strength, enveloped by his unfathomable Dark Magic.
Boom!!!
A deafening roar, more terrifying than any previous explosion, resounded.
The thick wall behind Yami, along with a portion of the second-floor structure, was instantly blasted open, leaving a huge hole.
The entire old castle seemed to tremble violently under that single punch.
Magna and Luck, who had been fiercely battling just moments before, instantly froze in place.
The entire hall was deathly silent.
Everyone's gaze was fixed on the huge, still-smoking hole.
Ryoma's lips couldn't help but twitch.
You... are the one who caused the most destruction, aren't you?
The next second, everyone present abruptly stopped their actions, their eyes uniformly turning towards the door, then quickly gathered in front of Yami.
Yami looked at the squad members who had gathered, and with a self-satisfied smile, he said, "Hahahaha! Is that so? You guys like me that much, huh?"
However, before his smile faded, his expression suddenly darkened, and he said coldly, "But it's too loud."
Several squad members knelt in front of Yami in perfect unison.
"We are very sorry, captain!"
Yami irritably picked at his ear, seemingly accustomed to such scenes.
He turned around, his gaze sweeping over everyone, finally landing on Ryoma.
"Let me introduce you, this is this year's newbie, Ryoma."
Then, he looked around, frowning. "Hmm? Where's the other brat?"
"Uh... Captain..." Finral pointed to a corner of the hall. "He seems to be... over there."
Everyone followed his gaze.
They saw a tall person kneeling there motionless. And beneath his feet, something seemed to be pressed.
It was Asta, almost out of breath from being crushed.
"Save me..." Asta groaned, calling for help.
The shockwave from Yami's punch had blown him away, and then he was pinned down by this suddenly appearing tall figure.
"This little guy is the other newbie." Yami pointed at Asta, continuing his introduction with an impatient expression.
"I am Asta from Hage, please take care of me!" Asta immediately followed up, loudly introducing himself.
"Hage? Really? Isn't that a super remote countryside?" Magna, dressed completely like a delinquent, said in surprise.
"Oh? Newbies?"
Luck, with a constant smile on his face, instantly became interested. He flashed in front of Asta and Ryoma, a brilliant smile on his face.
"Let's fight. Fight me. Which of you two is stronger?"
"Hmph, a bunch of vulgar guys."
A man who looked like a pervert was holding a photo of a cute girl, gazing at it with a obsessed expression.
"Listen up, newbies. This is my angel, my sister Marie. If you dare to harbor any impure thoughts about her..."
Gauche's eyes instantly became incredibly dangerous.
"I will kill you."
"Now, now, don't be so serious."
Vanessa had conjured a bottle of wine at some point.
"To welcome the newbies, cheers everyone!"
"Welcome... new... friends..."
The man named Gordon continued to mutter in a voice almost only he could hear.
Ryoma's gaze once again swept over everyone present.
Finral Roulacase, Spatial Magic.
Magna Swing, Fire Magic.
Luck Voltia, Lightning Magic.
Gauche Adlai, Mirror Magic.
Vanessa Enoteca, Thread Magic.
Charmy Pappitson, Cotton Magic and Food Magic.
Grey, Transformation Magic.
Gordon Agrippa, Curse Magic.
And Captain Yami Sukehiro, Dark Magic.
As these squad members, each with their unique style, gave their rather chaotic self-introductions, Ryoma's attention was drawn to something else.
Something inherent in the old castle itself.
In his perception, there was an extremely faint magical source, as if it could extinguish at any moment, yet perfectly integrated with the old castle itself, deep within the building.
That magic had a peculiar characteristic of "absorption" and "storage."
As expected.
Ryoma understood, automatically filling in the key characters who had not yet appeared.
Black Bull's hidden member, Henry Legolant, who possesses "Recombination Magic."
Vice-Captain Nacht Faust, who uses Shadow Magic and is a devil host.
And Zora Ideale, who is skilled in Ash Magic and has a rebellious personality.
As expected of the Black Bulls.
A collection of eccentrics and problem children despised by the world.
Yami added, "Besides these guys, some other members of the squad are out on missions or not present for other reasons. You'll meet them later."
He spoke again, "That's how it is. You guys train them well, and make sure no one dies."
(End of Chapter)
[New FF]
Bleach: Template Gacha System
Mc can use points (gained from system missions or killing Hollows) to spin for anime character templates. He can also get items or weapons from missions.