"I'm so stupid!"
After Adam finished his breakfast, he began wandering around the Black Bulls' headquarters, hoping to run into a magical beast.
Preferably one connected to the Twelve Zodiac Talismans.
"Where can I find magical beasts near the capital?"
Adam shouted in frustration. The fact that the Black Bulls hadn't given him a mission was driving him crazy.
Could it be that he had to clean the entire castle like Asta just to pass time...?
"No, I have to go back and check."
He flew toward the Black Bulls' base, but as soon as he reached the entrance, he heard loud chatter coming from inside.
"My teleportation magic can only go to places I've already been. I'm really sorry."
Finral spread his hands helplessly.
"There's no other choice then. We'll have to use brooms to fly to Sosshi Village to hunt wild boars," Magna sighed.
"Senior, I don't have any magic power, so I can't fly!" Asta shouted.
"My magic is out of control, so I can't fly either!" Noelle said proudly.
"You two—how is that something to be proud of?!"
Magna grabbed Asta by the collar, shaking him like a ragdoll, looking completely done with life.
"Any missions?"
Adam walked in with a grin. "I'll lead them. Senior, you use the broom!"
"Adam!"
Magna's expression turned awkward. This brat's really bold, huh? I didn't even hold a grudge for that time he knocked me down, and he's acting all high and mighty.
"Senior, don't overthink it. This is my first time trying this too!"
"Ah!"
The corners of Adam's mouth curled into a mischievous grin, sending shivers down Asta and Noelle's spines.
Is this guy really reliable...?
"I named it Crazy Cyclone!"
Magna proudly held up his modified broom.
Asta's eyes sparkled. "That's so cool, senior! I wanna join you!"
Bull head? Or goat head?
And why the sunglasses?!
This broom had clearly been through hell.
"Very... unique," Adam muttered.
"It's hideous," Noelle added bluntly.
"Whatever! Come on, Noelle, let's try this instead!"
Adam pulled out a bright red carpet and laid it flat on the ground.
"What's this now?" Magna and the others stared in confusion.
"Proud Rooster! Grant this the power to fly!"
Adam pointed his hand at the carpet, and a dazzling light erupted. The carpet floated up smoothly.
"What the hell kind of magic is that?" Magna's eyes widened.
"Adam! You've improved a lot. I won't lose to you!" Asta roared.
"Come on up, Noelle."
Adam hopped onto the floating carpet and reached out to pull her up.
"Let's go!"
The four-person team took off toward Sosshi Village.
"That should be enough!"
Adam dropped eight giant wild boars onto the carpet, almost making it collapse from the weight.
"So cruel..." Magna muttered, trembling at the sight.
The little devil's eyes gleamed with excitement. With a wave of his hand, he roasted the boars until they were half-cooked.
"Let's head to Sosshi Village."
Adam's stomach growled—he was almost drooling. The smell was too good. Still, he couldn't help wondering if magical beasts could truly awaken divine power.
Moved by the moment, Magna began talking about his past—from being the village bully to a proud member of the Magic Knights—all thanks to old man Sehi's teachings.
Without the old man, there would be no Magna today.
"Look! What is that?!"
Sosshi Village was blanketed in thick fog. The air was cold and white, visibility almost zero.
"That's not the old man's magic… and it doesn't look like something from the Diamond Kingdom either," Magna muttered.
"Asta! Take out your Demon-Slayer Sword and charge in!"
Adam's tone was sharp as he threw a demon boar aside.
Sure enough, whenever this chaotic combo worked together, things were never simple.
"Me?"
"Your sword can cut through any magic!"
"Uh… can it?"
Asta drew his massive rusty sword and swung it wildly.
"Let's go!"
Following Magna's orders, Asta charged into the fog.
Before joining the Black Bulls, Magna used to come here often.
"What is that?!"
With every swing of Asta's sword, the fog dispersed—revealing the villagers tied up in front of the church, bruised and battered.
"Execution!"
A man with icy blue hair and a long scar across his face waved his hand downward.
Countless ice spears formed above the villagers and shot down.
"Super Dragon Blast!"
"Chain of Fireballs!"
Adam and Magna launched their spells, shattering the ice midair.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The shards melted into mist.
Magna rushed forward. His face twisted when he saw old man Sehi lying motionless on the ground.
"Hey! Old man!" he shouted.
"Who the hell are you?" Asta demanded, glaring at the attackers.
"Lord Sith, the mission didn't mention any Magic Knights coming," said one of the robed followers behind the blue-haired man.
Sith didn't flinch. "The Black Bulls are heretics among the Magic Knights. Not even worth my time."
"—Puck!"
He condensed a massive ice sphere and hurled it straight at Asta.
"I'll split it!"
Asta leapt and cleaved the sphere clean in half with his sword.
Bang!
The shards scattered, and he kept charging.
"Phantom Mist!"
One of Sith's followers raised his hand, summoning a thick white fog.
"Why are you treating everyone like this?!"
Asta slashed through the mist with fury.
"Everyone? These filthy peasants aren't even worth calling people," Sith sneered.
Adam's eyes darkened.
"I've come all this way, and there's still a jackass like you mouthing off?"
He clenched his fists. What a rotten world. No humility left anywhere.
"Shut up. I'll protect the so-called peasants you look down on!" Asta yelled.
"Really? Then let's see you try."
Sith raised his hand again, summoning another storm of ice spears that rained down toward the villagers.
"Damn it! Dragon Blast!"
Adam's roar echoed as he fired a beam of light, while Magna unleashed another wave of fireballs.
But there were too many.
"As a man, I'll never back down!" Magna growled, though his mana was nearly gone.
Adam's energy was fading fast too—the Zodiac power took a heavy toll on his body.
Grrr...
His stomach growled painfully. After using the Dragon Talisman's power for so long, his strength was nearly drained.
"How damn annoying! If only I had the Dog's power, I'd wear this bastard down until he's dust!"
They fought desperately, but the rain of ice never stopped.
"Chain Dragon Blast!"
Adam fired again, but Sith's subordinate blocked it with more mist.
"Figures. The ones defending always have it tougher," Adam muttered bitterly. Still, there were no regrets—he knew what it felt like to be powerless.
"Never retreat!"
Adam, Asta, and Magna roared together.
"I… I should just run away…"
Noelle trembled. Her magic was out of control again. She felt useless—nothing but a burden.
"Big sister…"
A small girl tugged at Noelle's skirt, crying in fear.
Noelle froze—then clenched her fists.
"No! I'm a royal and a member of the Black Bulls! I'll protect them!"
Magic surged from her body, and her grimoire shone brightly.
"Water Magic!"
A huge surge of water burst upward, wrapping around everyone like a dome.
The ice spears shattered harmlessly against the water barrier.
Adam grinned. "Not bad at all, huh?"
"Members of the Black Bulls—let's strike back!"
"Yeah!" the others shouted.