"All of you, behind me now." Alucard's tone left no room for negotiations as Yuno and Klaus formed up behind him. "Identify yourself." He stared down the boy he already knew was Mars as several spells formed around him.
"The weak are useless, yet you shield them. Why?" Mars asked instead as a massive crystal sword formed above him. 'Not a dedicated spell, I should have done more research.' Alucard noted as the sword descended, and he launched his prepared spells.
They did very little, only slowing the blade down as it got closer. Yuno was finally able to break it apart, only for several more swords to lash out. Though smaller, these swords were more agile, as Yuno and Klaus worked together to keep them at bay.
Seeing this as a great opportunity for them to realize how much room they had to grow, Alucard stepped back and positioned himself behind Mimosa just in case, as Yuno and Klaus took the fight to Mars. "Why aren't you helping them?" Mimosa asked him, "They need to work together. This will help Yuno get stronger and force Klaus to realize his prejudices are unnecessary."
Though she didn't completely agree with that, Mimosa stood back and kept calling out when things got in their blind spots as Yuno and Klaus tried to get closer. "How weak. You deserve nothing but death!" Mars then created dozens of crystal clones of himself as Alucard expanded his senses.
'That must be Noelle and Asta getting closer. I don't know who that is they're with, but it seems they were able to beat back the other mages sent by the Diamond Kingdom, at least for now. He could vaguely sense something, or someone, in the dungeon moving around as Yuno and Klaus started struggling more.
By now, Yuno and Klaus were getting tired as they'd exhausted almost all of their mana, and still hadn't gotten any closer to defeating Mars. "This is the end for you, vermin. Die." Another massive sword manifested as Yuno tried his best to hold it back, as Klaus had his hands full with the Mars clones.
A crystal spike almost stabbed Mimosa, but she was able to move in time as she moved into a better position. "I think it's time to help them!" Mimosa was worried for her squadmates now as Alucard tracked something moving fast, "No need, help has arrived."
As the sword descends, Yuno is unable to break it in time as Asta cleaves it in two. "Yuno! How'd you end up like this!" Agitated by the interruption, Mars launches more crystal spells and clones, but Asta destroys them all with his Anti-Magic sword.
"Wha-?! How is he able to do that?" Klaus was so shocked he didn't see the clone sneaking up on him, as Luck slammed into it, smashing it to pieces. 'How shameful that a member of the Black Bulls was able to save me!' Klaus lamented as Noelle went around Asta and Mars.
"Noelle! Where have you all been?" Mimosa asked as Noelle told her how they'd encountered one of the Eight Shining Generals of the Diamond Kingdom, while Alucard kept his gaze fixed on Asta.
'Idiot boy, my foot. This isn't the Asta that is supposed to be here; this one is more likely a reincarnator.' If before he was full of doubts because of how unusually quiet the boy was, his suspicion was reinforced by how deftly Asta was able to handle his sword, something that came much later in canon.
He watched as Asta expertly sliced through large crystal weapons, while reflecting the smaller chunks with the flat of his blade. 'This will be interesting. I'm not sure Julius is completely aware of what this boy represents. What fun!'
"Tell me about him." Alucard interrupted Noelle as Asta and Yuno worked together to mow down crystal clones and get closer to Mars. "He's a noisy peasant. He doesn't have any mana, but has pushed his body way past what a normal mage would have. I think Captain Yami is more muscular, but Asta isn't far behind."
'Interesting.' "Tell me, how does he fight? What weaknesses does he have?" Though confused, Noelle answered and explained as Mimosa glanced at him. 'I guess Alucard senses it as well, good.' She then cast a healing spell as Klaus and Luck jumped into the fray, taking more pressure off the boys.
Finally, Yuno, Klaus, and Luck were able to destroy enough crystal clones that Asta was able to get a clear shot at Mars, as he brought his sword down heavily. Mars was able to briefly fight in close quarters, but Asta prevailed as Alucard cast a restraining spell.
"Not bad, now let's enter this vault." Alucard gave them a once-over to make sure none of their injuries were life-threatening, as Asta marched straight up to the vault door and sliced it open. 'He already knew it was made of mana. What else does he know?' Alucard wondered as they entered the treasure room.
Despite not particularly caring for such things, Alucard was surprised to see the literal mountain of gold before them. Sprinkled inside were hundreds of other precious gems and jewels, as well as magical artifacts.
'Well, I won't say no to free gold!' Alucard then opened his space room and started moving tons of gold inside as the others spread out and explored. As he did so, Alucard also kept an eye on Asta and Yuno.
Yuno was already staring at the scroll that would give him the Wind Spirit, and Asta was slowly edging closer to the wall that must have been where the next sword resided. 'So he does know where it is. I wonder how far along his world was. This just gets better and better!'
"My love? Are you ok?" Mimosa asked softly as she walked over, as Alucard glanced down at her. "Since when did you start calling me that? Is something wrong?" She smiled as he felt her mana brush against his own.
'Something's wrong, did she feel his gaze as well?' He wondered as he eyed the now destroyed wall where Asta and Noelle had disappeared into. He lowered himself slightly, so that only Mimosa could hear his next words.
"Do you need me to kill him? I'm sure you've noticed by now, as I did during the selection exam." Mimosa froze at how close he was, surprised and pleased that he was willing to kill for her. "No," She whispered back, her breath tickling his ears as a spike of mana flared behind them, "He seems to be interested in Noelle, but she doesn't seem against it."
He didn't listen further as an earthen barrier formed around them, and Mars slammed a giant sword into it.
"Alucard! Mimosa! Yuno, get over here!" Klaus yelled as Asta and Noelle came running out. "What?! Fire magic?" Noelle started before Asta shoved her aside, drawing his massive Demon-Slayer sword as Alucard and Mimosa stayed inside their shell.
"Are you sure? I'd gladly gouge out his eyes and deliver his spine on a silver platter." Mimosa smiled, knowing he meant every word. "That won't be necessary, just be more assertive from now on. That should keep him away." He nodded, and the dome over them exploded.
Blocking the chunks of earth with his crystal armor, Mars rushed forward as more clones formed and pinned down the others. "Yuno, try to deflect as many as you can! We can't let him focus on Mimosa and Alucard!" Klaus ordered as Luck went on a rampage.
Seeing him get closer to her cousin, Noelle cast Sea Dragon's Lair over Mimosa as Alucard's body was wreathed in flames. "Why do you defend these weaklings?!" Mars demanded as he matched Alucard blow for blow. Though his armor could withstand attacks from the others, each hit from Alucard rattled him inside as Asta charged in as well.
Seeing how Asta was charging in silently instead of yelling like he should have been, Alucard only reaffirmed his desire to kill the boy, lest he try anything with Mimosa. He knew all too well how many Transmigrators and Reincarnators used their new lives to live out their most twisted fantasies.
With both Asta and Alucard tearing into his armor, Mars was put on the back foot as he struggled to fight back. It wasn't easy, though, as Alucard was right up in his face, and any spells he managed to cast were destroyed or deflected by Asta, who put his new demon-dweller sword to work.
As Yuno and the others finished off the last couple of clones, Yuno shot towards us as Mars finally lost it, creating a sword almost double the size of his large blades. Though he could easily destroy it, Alucard sat back and let the others try it out.
Seeing him hang back, Mars immediately sent a barrage of spells at Asta, wounding the boy as he struggled to deflect them all. Yuno didn't have it any easier as he tried his best to hold back the massive blade. Klaus and Luck moved to help, but more clones appeared in their way as Mars glared at Alucard.
"Why? Why help these weaklings when you could easily leave this place?" He didn't answer, just making sure nothing happened to Mimosa, as Mars would occasionally throw something at her, only for him to bat it away.
Since he couldn't get to the healer, Mars turned his attention towards Noelle, the one keeping Klaus and Luck from getting surrounded as she occasionally cast attack and barrier spells. "Noelle, look out!" Asta yelled as he dove for her.
Noelle was able to throw up her barrier in time, but a few shards got through and drew blood as Mars turned his attention to her more firmly. Asta tried his best, but he was starting to falter as dozens of crystal spells slammed into him. As his wounds accumulated, he grew slower, and one shard pierced Noelle's barrier.
Alucard watched with interest as Asta roared in fury, while Mimosa moved to help her cousin. 'So he is quite attracted to them, good. He might still live.' As Mimosa healed her cousin, Noelle and Asta locked eyes, as he extended his demon-Dweller sword, absorbing her mana.
Seeing his blade light up with blue magic, Alucard racked his brain to remember where that blade came from, as Mars pressed down the massive blade, keeping Yuno busy even more. Seeing his foster-brother and squadmates injured seemed to push Yuno over the edge as he finally pushed beyond his limits and tore the blade holding him down in two with the Wind Spirit's help.
As the two brothers finished off Mars, Alucard shoveled the rest of the gold into his space before taking Mimosa into his arms in a princess carry. "Alucard? What are you doing?!" She hissed in his ear, "I'm doing what you asked." He said simply as the dungeon started to crumble around them.
Though Asta wanted to take Mars with them, Klaus and Yuno shut him down as Yuno created transport for them as Alucard took Mimosa out of the dungeon. The flight was mostly silent, other than the sound of the dungeon crumbling around them as they finally escaped and sat on the grass waiting for the others.
"I still wish you'd help them more. I know you could have easily defeated him." Mimosa pouted as Alucard shook his head. "They need to grow stronger, and not rely on their betters when things go wrong." She rolled her eyes at his excuse, knowing full well that he was evaluating Asta to most likely kill him.
As the others caught up with them, Alucard noticed Noelle's wounds had reopened on the way as he cast a healing spell, letting the others bask in the glow of the campfire as their wounds healed. Alucard watched impassively as Noelle woke up, realized she was slightly exposed, and punched Asta in the face.
'He keeps glancing at me, I guess he's trying to figure out who I am. Good luck with that, worm.' He thought as Asta tried to work up the courage to go over to Alucard, only for Klaus to go over to him and apologize for his behavior.
As they had their moment, Finral arrived to take the Black Bulls back home, as Alucard opened the portal that would take them back to the Dawn headquarters. Before going through, Alucard stopped and spoke only once to Asta, "I know what you are, somewhat. Keep your eyes to yourself and off her, if you want to keep them in your head."
Asta shivered and nodded before leaving as Alucard returned to his squadmates. 'This is where things get interesting.'