Back to Luck
"Now then, shall we fight?"
"Oh, dear...
More importantly, don't we not have to fight? Let's compete without violence here! Let's do that! Let's do that! Well then, goodbye~"
"No!"
Even after being refused, Luck immediately threw a kick.
"You're fast~"
Lotus deftly avoided Luck's lightning-fast kick with smoke magic and his own physical ability.
He dodged it? Smoke?
"Wow, scary, scary~ Well, I understand why you Clover citizens are angry. Your country has been invaded little by little, so it's only natural.
I'm sorry that we from the Diamond Kingdom have caused you trouble. But our country is struggling from a lack of resources too. We have no choice if we want to live, right? Living really is painful~ You see, this old man has three daughters."
"I see!!"
Crackle! Boom!
Luck's lightning-charged kick left a scratch across Lotus's face.
"Whatever~ As long as I get to fight someone strong, I'm satisfied."
"Ha... It seems I've been targeted by a ridiculous one. This old man could cry..."
"Hah!!"
"You're full of spirit."
"Stop dodging and fight me.
Huh?!"
"Whoops!"
Despite Luck's continuing barrage, Lotus did nothing but flee.
"Come on, come on!"
"Ah, that's right! Black Rain! I fought your captain once before. He was full of spirit too."
"What? You know our captain?"
"How could I forget, when he left me such a huge scar?"
Lotus spoke as he showed them the diagonal scar across his chest, as though something had slashed him there.
"I ran away with piss running down my pants! He was scary, very scary. What an unusual fighting style. He was the only younger man I've ever failed to beat."
"Now I have even more reason to fight...
Uh... whoops..."
"Oh? What's wrong, what's wrong?"
Luck suddenly staggered.
"It's... nothing."
"You've gotten slow~"
By now, Luck's attacks had become slow enough for an ordinary person to follow with their eyes.
"Urgh...!"
"Go slowly now,
down into the very depths of the abyss."
What is this, magic? But I've countered magic that looked like that before...
"Actually, this entire space is covered by my Mana.
Smoke so faint that it's invisible to the eye. In other words,
[Smoke Weakening Magic: Captive's Affection].
That's what it's called."
My body won't listen to me... Magic that lowers physical ability...?
Since when...?
"I thought someone like you would simply dodge any visible attack magic.
So I squeezed out tiny amounts of Mana, pushed to the absolute limit, so gradually that you wouldn't notice.
While you were fighting my subordinates, that is.
They did not fall in vain. They became sacrifices so that I could use this magic.
You see... isn't it important?
Teamwork, that is...
What you need are dependable companions, right? Sorry, but just lie down there and slowly stretch out~"
Crackle-crackle-crackle!!
Lightning Mana far stronger than before began to surge from Luck's body.
"It's been a while... since things got fun."
"Ah."
"More... more!!! Let's go!!"
"I don't want to break a young sprout~"
Luck unleashed a fierce barrage, faster and more powerful than before.
But Lotus was a veteran who had roamed battlefields for many years. He easily sidestepped every attack.
"Dangerous~ Your senses and speed have both sharpened."
"I'll keep winning!"
Luck unleashed a lightning-charged slash, and Lotus saw it coming and dodged.
"Sorry, but this old man can't afford to lose either."
Crackle!
The instant Luck leaped up to launch his next attack—
"[Mist Creation Magic: Tenfold Cross Bind]!"
The tangible mist he created easily restrained Luck's body.
"Haa... This uses a considerable amount of Mana, so I didn't want to use it~
This old man's getting tired. I can't go hopping around anymore, young man.
I wonder if our young man is doing well over there~
That boy is terribly hard to communicate with~
Is this what they call a generation gap?"
In the midst of battle, Lotus had come face-to-face with the wall known as the generation gap between himself and his comrade.
Meanwhile, on the Golden Dawn's side...
Click, click, click...
"[Plant Recovery Magic: Sleepwalking Flower Basket].
I'm sorry... To think that I, a healing mage, was the first to fall..."
Mimosa was in such a state that it was doubtful whether she could even participate in the battle.
"Don't concern yourself with pointless things.
Focus on healing yourself for now."
That emblem... Is he a mage from the invading Diamond Kingdom?
"You! Attacking someone from behind—do you call that something a warrior would do?!"
"I don't understand what you mean."
"What did you say?"
"Whoever they are, they are no more than the same stones lying by the roadside."
Boom-boom-boom!!
Without even opening his Grimoire, Mars caused ore to erupt from the ground with overwhelming Mana and a density far beyond what he had used when stabbing Mimosa.
Boom-boom-boom-boom-boom!!
Mars had targeted Mimosa, but Klaus skillfully dealt with the attack and blocked it.
"Support me, Yuno!"
"Yes!"
"We'll show this Diamond heretic the power of Clover's Golden Dawn!"
Meanwhile, Asta, Noelle, and I were making our way toward the dungeon's center.
This Mana...?
"All right! This path is easy to travel!"
"Is there really a treasure chamber ahead?"
Noelle suddenly stopped walking.
"What's wrong?"
"That Mana... Luck must be fighting."
"Really?"
"Does that mean enemies have infiltrated the dungeon?"
"I'm almost certain. The concentration of Mana is incredibly dense... It must be Diamond Kingdom mages."
"Then we have to go help!"
"Still... shouldn't we leave the fighting to Luck?
If enemies really have infiltrated, their objective will be the treasure chamber...
It might be better to hurry there.
The Golden Dawn has already passed us..."
"I'm still going!"
"It's foolish, but that's Asta for you."
"Are you serious? If the treasure chamber is taken..."
"The Golden Dawn will manage somehow, so let's go help Luck!"
Besides, Luck's Mana, which had been actively moving until just a moment ago, has stagnated in one place. That means he's either restrained or unable to fight.
Going to help him is the most reasonable decision.
The moment we entered the chamber where Luck seemed to be, we saw the restrained Luck and...
"I'll free you now.
[Time Acceleration Magic: Chrono Sileres]!
Go, Asta!"
"Tsaahhh!"
"Well, well, more spirited youngsters have arrived."
"I'm not—
We are comrades!"
Back with the Golden Dawn...
The situation was far from favorable. They were being completely overwhelmed.
"Hup!"
Klaus fired spinning drills of steel.
And Yuno supported that magic as he calmly cleared away the ore.
That guy... How can he launch attacks that powerful without even using his Grimoire? And there's no sign of his Mana decreasing!
At this rate...
"Yuno! While I fight him, go to the treasure chamber first!"
"He's strong. Without support, even you, sir..."
"Enough! Will you hurry up and go?! Ordinarily, I would not want to entrust this to someone of lowborn origins like you! But this is for our country! Fulfill our duty!"
As though he had no choice, Yuno dispelled his magic and ran toward the treasure chamber entrance.
"That's it... you sluggish fool."
But the instant Klaus looked toward Yuno, he left himself open.
Seizing that opportunity, Mars immediately pinned Klaus's legs down with ore.
"Damn it!"
A wave of ore crashed down toward Klaus.
At that moment—
Baaang!!
A powerful gust of wind quelled the wave.
"Why did you come back?! Your mission is what you must prioritize right now!!"
"No...
You're my comrade!"
"Why did you come back, you idiot?! For the Clover Kingdom's sake, you at least need to hurry to the treasure chamber!"
"No. We'll defeat him first, then the three of us will go!"
_____Black Rain_____
"We're your opponents, old man!"
"Well now~ The appearance of comrades certainly puts me in a difficult position~"
"That guy is..."
"Luck?"
"He's my prey..."
Whoosh!!
Luck charged at Lotus once again.
"I'll do it alone. I don't need comrades. With my own power!"
"Wait, what are you saying?!"
"Otherwise, Mother won't acknowledge me."
"Do whatever you want..."
"Wait!"
"Asta, I'm ready. Just say the word."
"All right..."
"This isn't the time to conserve your strength, is it?"
Lotus moved swiftly while releasing mist at the same time.
"[Time Acceleration Magic: Chrono Sileres]!!
Fly, Asta!!"
"Hyaaaahhh!!!
Do whatever you want! I'll do whatever I want too!"
"I'll do it alone...!"
"Like hell I'll leave you alone!"
"Old man, aren't you watching behind you?
[Time Restraint Magic: Chrono Stasis]!"
"Whoops! This old man has eyes in the back of his head, you see~"
"Not yet! I don't care what you think of us! Think whatever you want! I'll think whatever I want!"
"Because I believe in you as a comrade, even when you charge ahead recklessly!!"
"You are my! Our comrade!"
"Fighting together does seem more fun, certainly!"
"Yeah!"
"I'll support you as much as you want, so go wild!!"
"Dangerous~ It seems this old man has no choice but to get serious now.
[Mist Creation Magic: Purgatory of the Great Wasteland]!!"
At that instant, black smoke filled the space around us as though a storm had risen around us.
"You can't run now, youngsters."
"No matter who we face, Black Rain will win!"
"No matter how much I cut, it never ends!
It goes right back to normal!"
"Hyaah!!"
Crackle-crackle!!
Asta's sword, Noelle's water magic, and Luck's slashes were all useless. In this situation, I couldn't stop the entire area with time magic either.
Pshhhhk!!
"Aaaagh! I'm dizzy..."
Asta was struck by smoke launched from somewhere.
"Are attacks coming from every direction? Then we really have no answer..."
"The gas is getting thicker. At this rate, we'll suffocate."
"Ah!"
"What is it, Kadel?"
"What's wrong, Luck, Kadel?"
"I have a plan."
"A plan...?"
"I'll lure him into one spot. Then Noelle can use her water Mana to launch Asta, while you accelerate him with time magic. What do you think?"
"That's incredible for something you came up with on the spot."
"All right! Let's get ready right away!"
Crackle-crackle-crackle!
Luck's lightning bullets tore through the mist again and again.
"[Time Acceleration Magic: Chrono Sileres]!
Noelle! I'm ready!"
"Go!!"
"Woooaaahhh!!"
Bang!!
Asta's sword struck Lotus like a baseball bat hitting a ball. Naturally, it hit his body rather than his head, so nothing was split open.
"That was a good hit! Teamwork really is important!"
And so, after a long, long struggle, we defeated Lotus.
Meanwhile, on the other side...
"[Wind Creation Magic: White Hawk of the Gale], and [Rain of Bladed Winds]!"
With overwhelming talent and effort, Yuno activated multiple spells at once.
Seeing it, Klaus was both amazed and astonished.
Simultaneous spell activation? This Mana...! Th-this boy...
"The Golden Dawn will be the first to enter the treasure chamber!"
Fwoooosh!!
Countless spells rained down on Mars.
However...
Mars countered that barrage of magic with a single spell.
[Ore Creation Magic: Levatain].
With that one spell alone, he easily neutralized the magic of Yuno, wielder of the four-leaf clover.
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