"Accept divine punishment!"
Licht seemed to have released a hidden seal—his already terrifying magic power surged even higher, filling the entire cave like it was about to swallow everything whole.
"Yami, we're not late—wait, what the hell?" Jack exclaimed as a flash of white light illuminated the cavern.
The long-awaited reinforcements had arrived right at the climax of the battle.
Captain Nozel Silva of the Silver Eagles, Captain Charlotte Roselei of the Blue Rose Knights, and Captain Jack the Ripper of the Green Mantis—a luxurious lineup of Magic Knight elites.
"What's the situation?" Nozel asked grimly.
"Men… they're really unreliable," Charlotte said coldly.
Yami scratched his ear lazily and shrugged. "Maybe the kid got pissed off by those bastards and accidentally went past his limit."
Damn it, that was supposed to be me surpassing my limits!
Yami kept a straight face and pointed toward Adam. Nozel and the others turned their eyes—and froze.
Adam was brawling against three enemies at once, and he wasn't losing ground. In fact, his brutal fighting style made it impossible for Vetto and Rhya to even get near him.
"You don't want Fana to get hurt, do you?"
The power of the Bull within Adam's body was rapidly fading. He clearly couldn't hold on for much longer, but his tactics were downright vicious.
He had grabbed Fana and used her as a living shield—slapping her ass every time she resisted.
"You shameless bastard!" Rhya shouted, face red with fury. "Do you have no honor at all!?"
"Bug! Let Fana go and fight us fairly!" Vetto's face twisted with rage, practically glowing green as he shouted.
"No way."
Slap!
Fana's normally calm face contorted in pain. There was no blush, only pure hatred burning in her eyes.
"Yami, you've got a hell of an eye for talent," Jack cackled, licking the blade of his arm-scythe. "This kid's a damn genius!"
"Disgusting," Charlotte muttered, turning away in disgust.
Yami looked slightly embarrassed but still defended Adam, "Hey, it's a dirty tactic, sure—but effective's effective."
Nozel's face darkened. Thinking back to Adam's cocky behavior at the royal banquet—and Noelle's suspiciously soft spot for him—he suddenly wanted to erase this guy on the spot.
"Captain Yami, now's not the time to bicker!" Asta shouted. "Licht's beam is coming!"
"Dark Magic: Black Blade!"
"Briar Magic: Thorn Prison!"
"Mercury Magic: Silver Lance!"
"Slash Magic: Sickle Edge!"
Nozel and the others attacked together, but every spell they launched was absorbed by Licht's beam. The light column only grew stronger, expanding to engulf the entire cave.
"Finral, how's it going!?" Yami barked.
"Almost there!" Finral gritted his teeth. He wanted nothing more than to recover his magic faster—this was way above his pay grade.
"Oh no… that anti-magic brat must've broken the seal on Licht," Rhya muttered. His tone was grim. "That seal wasn't supposed to be lifted yet—it was meant for the Day of Hope…"
"Kid!" Rhya yelled toward Adam. "Let Fana go! Help us stop Licht, or we're all dead!"
Adam hesitated. He didn't want to release her. Honestly, he was starting to like having this pink-haired maid under control and do somthi... Ahem.
But… if he didn't let go, the Bull's power in his body would run dry, and Licht would destroy them all.
"…Fine."
The moment Adam loosened his grip, the Salamander hidden beneath Fana's cloak burst free, its eyes blazing with fury.
"Salamander's—"
"Fana! Think about the bigger picture!" Rhya cut her off sharply. "We'll deal with that bastard later!"
Adam sighed. "So that's where you were hiding. I thought your grimoire took it back already."
He cursed himself for not being more ruthless earlier. No wonder this pink-haired little rabbit is so damn feisty—and… soft.
Fana glared daggers at him, then turned away, rushing toward Licht alongside Vetto and Rhya.
"Licht, you can't hold out like this!" Vetto shouted.
"Trinity Seal Magic!"
The three positioned themselves in a triangle, channeling their combined magic toward Licht. The air trembled, forming a magnetic field so intense it bent light itself.
"Amazing…" Finral gasped.
The overwhelming mana condensed around Licht, forming a massive lotus of light. Rhya picked up the fallen Rhya clone and shot Adam a cold, venomous look.
"Next time, it'll be your death."
A black spatial tunnel opened beneath their feet, and in an instant, the Three Eyes disappeared.
"I'll kill you next time, human!" Fana screamed, her hateful gaze lingering on Adam until the portal closed.
"Heh. Can't let them go empty-handed…"
Before the magic vanished completely, Adam fired a Dragon Blast right into the fading portal.
"Bug! I'll eat you alive!" Vetto's roar echoed faintly before vanishing into the void.
"Victory?" Asta asked hesitantly.
"If they retreated, then yeah—we won," Yami said with a confident smirk.
"Yeah! We did it!" Asta shouted, grinning from ear to ear.
The battle was over. The cave roof was blown open, revealing a patch of clear blue sky through the smoke. The light of victory shone down on the battered Magic Knights.
"Ahh… I'm so damn tired."
Adam collapsed onto the ground, completely drained. His limbs felt like jelly.
I'm hollowed out…
"Stay away from Noelle."
The blissful moment shattered as Nozel's cold voice pierced the silence. His glare loomed over Adam's exhausted face.
"I should be saying that to you," Adam shot back with a smirk.
That single look of disdain made Nozel's temper explode. He raised his foot threateningly, but Yami's voice stopped him.
"Isn't it beneath your dignity to fight with a rookie, pigtails?"
"Foreigner, I've tolerated your mouth long enough!"
"Hehehe, now, now, let's calm—" Jack started, grinning slyly.
"Shut up!" Yami and Nozel snapped in unison.
"Bastards! You looking for a fight!?"
Jack's grin vanished instantly, replaced by rage. "Fine then! I'll grant you your wish!"
Charlotte sighed, watching the chaos unfold. "Men. Hopeless."
Adam turned his head toward her and blinked. "Oh… wow."
Charlotte stiffened. "What are you staring at, you little pervert!?"
She'd seen it herself—this shameless brat literally slapped a girl's butt during battle. Hooligan through and through.
Bang!
Asta, who had been standing with sheer willpower, finally collapsed face-first, snoring loudly.
Later… Nairn City, Rebecca's Home
"Adam, where the hell were you!? Don't tell me you spent the night at some girl's house!"
Adam lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling while Noelle's angry voice filled the room. Her tone grew softer with every word, and a faint blush crept onto her cheeks.
"I'm just a squad member, you know…" he mumbled.
"Noelle, I'm tired…"
He wrapped an arm around her and drifted off before she could react. His mind and body finally gave out.
Noelle froze in his embrace, her face burning red. Steam practically rose from her hair.
I'm actually… lying with Adam… Ahhh!
Smack!
Her hand slapped his cheek out of pure panic.
Adam didn't even stir—he just slept deeper.