Yuuki's back was soaked with sweat before he even noticed.
The Magic Knights were known throughout the Clover Kingdom as the embodiment of power itself—each member, even those who barely appeared in the background, was a genius among geniuses.
To face an opponent of that level now… it was far too soon.
Yuuki's eyes locked on Revchi Salik, not daring to blink.
The gap between them was too wide. There was no chance of winning.
He never intended to defeat Revchi in the first place—he was only buying time.
He was waiting for Asta!
"Yuuki, you… you used Sister Lily's spell…?"
Asta had finally regained his senses. His bloodstained face turned toward Yuuki in disbelief.
"This isn't the time to be shocked! If you don't pull yourself together, we're all going to die here today!"
Cold sweat dripped down Yuuki's forehead, but his gaze didn't waver from Revchi for even an instant. His voice was sharp and unflinching.
He was telling the truth.
If Asta didn't awaken his Anti-Magic, then even if Yuno somehow survived, both Yuuki and Asta were as good as dead.
Revchi might want to sell Yuno's four-leaf grimoire, which meant he couldn't kill its owner—but that didn't apply to them.
Damn it…
So this was the butterfly effect.
Because Yuuki had intervened, events had already begun to shift.
Originally, he had no intention of ever crossing paths with Revchi. According to how the story should've gone, Asta should've already awakened by now.
But here he was—beaten half to death, still showing no sign of his power.
Yuuki had no choice but to act, dragging Asta out of danger himself.
Maybe his appearance had changed Asta's mindset.
Perhaps seeing both him and Yuno receive grimoires had made Asta's own despair run even deeper than in the original timeline…
"But…"
Asta faltered, his brown eyes dimming with helplessness.
No matter how hard he tried—there were still things he couldn't do.
"Where's that fighting spirit, Asta? Giving up this fast—that's not like you at all!"
Yuuki's voice was firm, cutting through the despair.
"Oh? Are those your final words before you die? How touching."
Revchi tilted his head slightly, a cruel smile twisting across his scarred face.
Then he raised a hand, pointing lazily at the two of them.
"Goodbye."
Whoosh!
Chains shot through the air with a sharp metallic shriek, streaking toward them faster than lightning.
"Water Creation Magic — Holy Fist of Love…!"
Yuuki's pupils constricted as he instinctively tried to cast a spell—
Too fast!
There was no time.
Thump!
A single heartbeat thundered in his ears. Then, a strange, invisible pressure washed over him—an overwhelming force that made his breath catch in his throat.
The incoming chains suddenly shattered less than half a meter away from him, disintegrating into fragments of light.
It's happening…!
Yuuki's eyes widened. He turned sharply to his side—
And there he saw it.
Asta was standing.
Black lightning flickered faintly around his body, dark mana pulsing from his core.
A pure-black grimoire floated before him, its cover glowing ominously.
Whirrrr—!
Its pages flipped rapidly, and from within it, a massive, rust-covered broadsword rose into the air before slamming into the ground before Asta.
The sight made Revchi's eyes bulge with disbelief.
Not only had his attack vanished inexplicably—but how could a boy with no mana possibly possess a grimoire?!
It defied every law of magic Revchi knew.
"Water Creation Magic — Holy Fist of Love Assault!"
Yuuki's voice rang out again.
A swirling torrent of water formed above his palm, condensing swiftly into a one-meter-wide water fist before surging toward Revchi.
Revchi was stunned—but Yuuki wasn't.
If they were to win, it had to be in one decisive strike, before Revchi could grasp the nature of Asta's power.
The water fist roared toward Revchi, forcing him to snap out of his shock.
"You damn brats! Just because you've got a grimoire, you think you can beat me?! You're too arrogant! DIE!!"
Revchi bellowed, his chains flaring to life once more.
Whip! Whip! Whip!
Dozens of chains burst from behind him, spreading like a storm of iron toward Yuuki and Asta.
The first of Yuuki's water fists shattered instantly upon contact, exploding into a wave of mist that filled the alley.
Perfect.
The haze obscured everything—Revchi's line of sight included.
"Now, Asta!!"
Yuuki's shout cut through the steam.
That was his plan all along—to create an opening for Asta.
"Even without magic… I'll still become the Wizard King!!"
Asta roared, gripping the massive black sword with both hands.
In that instant, years of physical training finally paid off.
He swung the enormous weapon with ease—its size nearly equal to his own height—and charged straight into the storm of chains.
Every chain that touched the sword's edge vanished on contact, dissolving like illusions under the weight of his Anti-Magic.
Revchi, his view still obscured, felt the sudden disappearance of his magic. Panic flickered across his face.
"What—what's happening?!"
He instinctively took a step back, confusion twisting his features.
Slash!
Before he could react, the black broadsword struck.
The impact sent Revchi flying like a cannonball, crashing into the alley wall with a thunderous BOOM!
Dust and debris scattered as his body slammed halfway into the stone, eyes rolling back as he fell unconscious.
Under normal circumstances, an attack like that wouldn't be enough to defeat a Magic Knight—but stripped of his magic defenses, Revchi was no stronger than any ordinary man.
And Asta's raw power was anything but ordinary.
The chains binding Yuno shattered instantly, and he fell to the ground, gasping for air.
Yuuki exhaled deeply, his tense body trembling from exhaustion.
As the adrenaline faded, a wave of weakness nearly sent him collapsing to his knees.
Catching himself, he forced his body upright and began walking toward Asta.
He could feel how little mana he had left—almost nothing remained.
That gamble had been far too close. He never wanted to rely on someone else to save his life like that again.
"I figured if I couldn't use magic, I should at least train my body. Didn't think these muscles would actually come in handy."
Asta stood where Revchi had been moments ago, swinging his black sword with exhilaration.
Yuuki gave him a faint, weary smile before stooping near the alley's edge.
There, lying on the ground, was Revchi's fallen Chain Grimoire.
Yuuki picked it up, pressing it against his own. His lips curved into a small, knowing grin.
"Replication."
(End of Chapter)
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