"Wizard King, this isn't good…"
"Something unusual has happened!"
The blue mushroom-haired secretary nodded quickly.
"Then let them handle this mission," Julius said calmly, his eyes fixed on the map of the Clover Kingdom spread before him.
"Yes, sir."
Wizard King Julius Novachrono looked down over the vast kingdom, his expression thoughtful—no one could guess what was going through his mind.
At the Black Bulls Headquarters
"Wine!"
"Toritaro!"
"I'll name him after my sister's favorite character!"
Everyone in the Black Bulls' hideout crowded around, arguing over what to name the bird perched on Asta's head.
"Just call him Little Black!" Luck suggested, grinning.
Noelle muttered shyly to the anti-magic bird, "What about you, Nero?"
The bird spread its wings proudly, as if in agreement.
A flash of white light burst from the center of the room, and Captain Yami stepped out from a spatial portal created by Finral.
"Welcome back!"
The squad cheered in unison.
"A new mission's come in," Yami said, scratching his ear. "Adam, Asta—the Wizard King himself requested you two for this one."
"What?!"
Asta's eyes sparkled as tears welled up. "Your Majesty the Wizard King! I'll complete the mission no matter what!"
"Wow! You two must be something special if the Wizard King knows you!" Magna said, half impressed, half jealous.
Vanessa tilted her head. "Wait… Adam, how do you know the Wizard King?"
"I don't!" Adam replied flatly. He had absolutely no memory of ever meeting him.
Then a thought crossed his mind. The Wizard King has transformation magic… Could it be…
Ladin is the Wizard King?!
Adam froze. The idea was absurd—but he still considered it for a second.
…Nah. The Wizard King couldn't possibly have that sleazy merchant's personality.
Yami turned toward Noelle. "You're going too."
"Eh?!" Noelle blinked in surprise.
"Luck, you're the leader," Yami continued. "Keep them alive."
"Yeah!" Luck shouted, practically vibrating with excitement.
"Captain," Adam asked, "where are we going that needs this team setup?"
"The Dungeon," Yami replied simply.
"The… Dungeon?" Asta repeated, confused.
"You don't even know that?!" Magna shouted, grabbing Asta by the shoulders and shaking him violently.
"Stop shaking me, Senior!" Asta cried.
"It's a type of magical maze," Adam guessed.
"Pretty much," Vanessa explained. "A place that hides countless treasures—but filled with deadly traps and dangerous beasts. You'll need both luck and strength to survive."
Adam's eyes lit up. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go already!"
Adventure. Treasure. Gold.
The dream of every man!
"I'll send you off," Finral said, opening a glowing white spatial gate.
Before anyone could blink, Adam leapt straight in.
"Bon voyage!" Finral called.
Asta and the others followed right after him.
Vanessa frowned. "Are they going to be okay?"
"Relax," Yami said lazily. "Luck's with them. And…"
"And what?"
Yami stopped mid-sentence. He didn't bother explaining further—but deep down, he knew Adam had some secret up his sleeve.
After all, the guy had come home last night grinning like a lunatic. Creepy as hell.
Outskirts of the Dungeon
"I'll drop you guys off here. Good luck!" Finral waved before vanishing back through his portal.
"Charge, Black Bulls!"
Adam and Luck shouted together, rushing forward like kids at a candy shop.
"Hey, wait for us!" Asta and Noelle ran after them.
"This isn't what I imagined!" Adam said as they arrived before a massive underground cave.
"Slow down! Wait for me!" Noelle called out, panting.
"Let's go!" Luck dove straight in without hesitation.
"Asta, follow him!" Adam said, jumping after.
Noelle hesitated, clutching Adam's cloak tightly. "Who told you to run so fast?! I haven't recovered my strength yet!"
Adam smirked. "Excuses, excuses."
They landed inside a vast stone chamber.
Luck pushed open a loose brick, revealing a hidden passage.
"This must be the real entrance," he said, his eyes gleaming.
The air shimmered—the space itself distorted with magic. The water flowed upward, twisting unnaturally.
"Spatial distortion," Luck muttered.
Even Adam and Asta could feel the pressure, while Noelle's unstable mana flared uncomfortably.
"Hey, I just remembered something—I'll go on ahead!" Luck announced, coating his legs in crackling lightning before vanishing in a blur.
"I'm so drunk… that's supposed to be my line!" Adam grumbled.
He sighed. With Luck gone, he'd have to make sure the other two didn't get themselves killed.
"Noelle, hold out your hand."
"Uh… okay?" she said uncertainly, extending it toward him.
Adam's golden grimoire flipped open to the fifth page. "Holy Fire Dragon, lend your strength to this poor girl!"
A dragon-shaped emblem glowed onto Noelle's palm as the page in Adam's book turned gray.
Having mastered the powers of the Dragon, Pig, and Chicken talismans, Adam had discovered a new ability: he could lend one beast's power to another person for a single day.
During that time, he would lose access to that animal's ability until it returned automatically.
Noelle stared at the mark on her hand. "Adam… what is this?"
"So cool!" Asta yelled. "Adam, give me one too!"
"Not a chance," Adam said, pushing Asta's face away in disgust. "You're drooling again."
"When you're in danger," Adam told Noelle, "say 'Dragon Blast.' It'll activate and protect you."
"Wait—where are you going?!" Noelle asked, panicked.
"Treasure hunting, of course! Woohoo!"
Adam rocketed into the air, winds of energy flaring behind him.
"Adam!"
Asta turned to Noelle. "Don't worry, I'll protect you—and I'll find the treasure before he does!"
"Ugh… Idiot, you better mean that," Noelle grumbled, though she clutched her palm, comforted by the warmth of the dragon mark.
Deep Inside the Maze
Adam floated above a vast underground lake. The jade pendant on his chest pulsed red, pointing directly downward.
"So, it's here."
Ever since entering the palace, the pendant had been glowing brighter—like it was guiding him somewhere.
"Alright then… Electric Eyes!"
Lightning surged across his irises, piercing the water's surface with vision-enhanced magic.
A massive water monster lunged upward.
"Bang!"
A lightning bolt shot from Adam's gaze, piercing the creature's skull clean through. Its huge body sank lifelessly to the bottom.
"Poor guy," Adam said with a grin. "Wrong place, wrong time."
Beneath the monster's body, something shimmered.
"Treasure, baby—I'm coming!"
He dove down, lightning flashing around him as he rushed toward the bottom of the lake.
Elsewhere, Luck was already in the middle of an insane brawl with one of the Diamond Kingdom's squad captains—laughing like a maniac.
The black smoke around him didn't slow him down; it only made him wilder.
Meanwhile, on Asta's side… things were about to get even worse.