"After the seeds of Lanxi Flower are planted, next year, from Jing Hui Cave to Khazad-dûm, there will be a sea of twinkling flowers."
After the banquet and the scattering of flower seeds, the Aqua Deer Squad decided to return to the Clover Kingdom. Vice Captain Thor, due to caring for his father Dulin IV, temporarily postponed his return. When they parted ways, he said some strange things to them.
For example: if they had time next year, they could visit Khazad-dûm to see the flower field he and the Dwarves had jointly planted... Vice Captain Thor's words left the Aqua Deer Squad a bit confused, but they didn't dwell on it. After leaving Jing Hui Cave and mounting their flying brooms, the group broke through the Diamond Kingdom's blockade and re-entered the Clover Kingdom's territory.
Of course, they didn't know that Thor Dulin had already resigned from his position as Vice Captain of the Magic Knights and was about to succeed as King of the Dwarf Kingdom as Dulin V... But that's a story for another time...
While the Aqua Deer Squad was helping the Dwarves eliminate the Demon God, another Magic Knights squad dispatched to collect magic stones—the Black Bulls Squad—also experienced many events.
In the Underwater Temple beneath the seaside town of Luck, they encountered an attack from Midnight Sun. Although they successfully collected the magic stone and eliminated the attacking enemies, all the members, big and small, were seriously injured.
Fortunately, with the help of the Underwater Temple residents and the treatment team, all members were fine, but... Asta's arm was afflicted by an ancient curse magic and could not be healed.
The sky was clear blue, and the Clover Royal Capital, bathed in sunlight, was still as tall and magnificent as ever. Compared to the deep kingdom beneath the underground crystal pillars, it appeared even wider and freer.
Inside the city buildings beneath the capital, wide passageways with bluestone slabs paved the entire ground. Slanting sunlight filtered through carved patterns, leaving patches of shadow.
Asta, with his spiky hair, a bandage around his neck, and his injured hand in a sling, maintained his usual boisterous style, shouting loudly, showing no pain or sadness from the injury to his left hand: "Ah ah ah! Even after a trip to the Underwater Temple, the Royal Capital is still as intimidatingly huge as ever!"
"Shut up!" Yami said coldly, taking a drag from his cigarette.
"Alright~ You've worked hard, Finral. You got to play before we came back."
'Hey, hey, hey! How unfair, are they really treating me as just an errand boy?' The curly-haired young man beside him pondered, '...But taking this opportunity to flirt with girls in the Royal Capital seems pretty good too...'
Finral, deep in thought, then no longer hesitated and immediately waved goodbye: "See you later, Captain!"
Just as Finral ran off like the wind, two people stopped in front of Asta and the others, coming from the opposite direction, as if they had just left the Royal Capital. These two were Rill and Bai En.
After returning to the Clover Kingdom from Khazad-dûm, they rested for two days at their base. Taking advantage of the good weather today, they came to the Royal Capital early to report on the Dwarf Kingdom mission to the Wizard King.
"Oh, oh~ Isn't this Mr. Yami of the Black Bulls Squad? You've come to the Royal Capital too?" Rill skipped forward, chatting familiarly with Yami Sukehiro.
Yami looked at the little guy walking towards him, exhaling a puff of smoke from his mouth: "Ah, is that the puffball Captain of the Aqua Deer Squad? What are you doing here?"
"We just returned from the Dwarf Kingdom. It's completely different from our Clover Kingdom."
"Dwarves? Do such guys really exist?" Yami smoked his cigarette, unconsciously starting to imagine Dwarves with swords, bulging muscles, but only the size of a thumb. It all felt a bit strange.
"Of course, we also received a 'Star' from the Wizard King there." Rill took out the star he had just received from Magic Emperor Julius and dangled it in front of Yami. Under the sunlight, the golden star was a bit dazzling.
"You little rascal, are you here to show off?"
"Eh? No."
"Watch it, or I'll chop you up, puffball!"
Asta, seeing Bai En, excitedly ran over: "Bai En, long time no see."
"Haha~ This time, I defeated a Midnight Sun executive in the Underwater Temple, isn't that amazing? Speaking of which, it's thanks to the breathing technique you taught me. Combined with the 'ki' Captain Yami taught me, I seem to have grasped something incredible..."
Bai En observed Asta, 'The resolution of both hands being cursed has changed... The story has changed.'
'Wait, what did this guy just say? The breathing technique I taught him, combined with the 'ki' Yami taught him, he's grasped something incredible? Could it be...'
"What is it?" Bai En asked tentatively.
"It's a bit hard to explain, let me show you." Saying this, Asta looked at Bai En, and gradually, his eyes became sharp. Although he was still standing in front of him, the feeling he gave off was completely different.
Those black eyes... seemed to even see right through Bai En.
"Oh." Asta exclaimed, "Bai En, your muscle density is so high, and your blood and lungs..."
"This is... the Transparent World?" Bai En murmured subconsciously.
What the hell? He was the first to master the breathing technique, so why did Asta master the Transparent World first in the end?
Damn it!
He was both afraid his brother would suffer and afraid his brother would... Could it be due to combat? Before mastering Anti-Magic power, Asta could only rely on his physical prowess and Anti-Magic swords to fight, which unconsciously made him more reliant on the breathing technique... Since he mastered the Transparent World first by relying on "ki", then the Mark... it's probably only a matter of time.
Speaking of which... the Mark's setting seemed to have a 25-year-old limit, but this statement probably doesn't hold true in Black Clover.
Firstly, Mages have magic power within them, which they can use to strengthen their bodies and improve their adaptability and durability. What is considered the limit of high temperature for ordinary people is not a limit here.
Secondly... take Asta as an example; he's not a normal ordinary person at all. Without the breathing technique, his trained body alone can shatter stone bricks with one kick... Finally, this is a magic world. Even if activating the Mark causes damage to the body, afterwards, the medical conditions provided by magic can completely heal it.
Bai En gritted his teeth and said coldly: "Heh heh, truly impressive."
"No, no~" Asta scratched his head awkwardly, "After all, I'm going to defeat you and Yuno to become the Wizard King. This is the most basic thing, and I'll keep working hard~"
"Alright." Bai En's tone shifted, "However, Asta, compared to you defeating a Midnight Sun executive in the Underwater Temple, I did something incredible."
"What?" Asta asked, puzzled.
"The Demon God, I cleared it~"
"Keep it up! You still have a long way to go." Bai En lightly patted Asta's shoulder, a few triumphant smiles in his eyes.
Sorry, that year, I cut down the Demon God with one sword...
💎 Power Stone Bonus: Every 100 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter
🌟 5-Star Review Bonus: Every 5 (5-Star) Reviews = +2 Extra Chapters
💬 Comment Speed-Up: If any chapter reaches +10 Comments = The Next Chapter Will Be Released Faster!
🔥 Want to Read Ahead? If you want to read advanced chapters, check out my buymeacoffee(.)com/Oyunbozan