Time Skip 15 Years Later
"Number 165."
The proctor's voice echoed through the arena, and a boy with silver-gray hair and a small frame stepped forward, his nerves apparent.
He glanced up at the nine captains seated on a high platform and a kind yet towering figure seated in center, the wizard king.
'I can't let Yuno get ahead of me again. I don't care which squad I end up in. Please just make me an offer.'
'I think my performance in the third round was decent but I totally sucked in the first two rounds. Please, anybody make me an offer.' He thought to himself as he walked in the center of the arena.
Despite his unique potential, the power of Anti-Magic—none of the captains raised their hands to recruit him. The boy's face hardened with frustration.
High above the arena, on a distant rooftop overlooking the exam grounds, a cloaked figure observed the scene.
'Isn't he the same boy we saw training under the demon skull?' El pondered, his thoughts open for the little dryad visage on his shoulder to read.
'Yes, but this is not the demon I saw in my prophecy?' The dryad replied.
'You and your half Baked prophecies, has anything gone like you have ever predicted?' El asked annoyingly.
'Hey you can't blame me, my prophecies are 100% accurate, you are the one trying to go against fate and do you think it is easy to change the set future?' She retorted but instead of replying to her El looked in the arena again.
'By the way, do you really intend to live in this shitty country for the next 6 months? You know you can find that demon faster by searching on your own from the clues I have provided you?' Said dryad not liking the Clover kingdom one bit and El shared the same sentiments.
'I have my own goals so go back to your cozy tree in elysia and wait for the good news.' El said, waving his hand as the dryad's projection disappeared, returning back to the Sanctuary.
The demon before him wasn't the one El had been sent to hunt. Still, he couldn't deny his fascination. This Anti-Magic, a completely unique form of Magic, was unlike anything he had encountered before.
I'd like to see what it can really do.
His attention sharpened just as the situation below grew tense.
"Not yet… I'm not finished." the boy muttered, clearly nervous, refusing to leave the stage despite the shouts from those behind him, urging him to get out of the way.
A voice cut through the tension. "Not surprising. No matter how skilled you are, if your powers are suspicious, no one will want to take you on."
From among the seated captains, a large man with the build of an ogre stood, releasing his Aura. The atmosphere shifted, making even the most seasoned participants sweat.
The boy, who couldn't sense or use mana, could still feel the invisible pressure of the mighty captain of the Black Bulls.
Most people would've fled by now, but not this brat. He stood firm. And after a little motivational declaration by the boy, It seemed he passed the silence test of the Black Bulls captain.
Despite his rough appearance, the man didn't seem so bad, certainly a lot warmer than the other captains, who only knew how to put up a cold front.
After that, nothing particularly remarkable happened. Among the hundreds of participants, only two boys from the countryside stood out to El.
One for his vast mana reserves and control, and the other for his possession of a rare and powerful arcane magic Anti-Magic.
Soon the wizard king stood from his chair clapping and thanking everyone present for participating and began his speech which kept going for a few minutes and soon began the main act.
***
The Wizard King addressed the crowd with a thoughtful smile.
"I know all of you must be wondering why I decided to attend the Magic Knights Selection Exam," he said. "To be honest, I'm wondering why I didn't do it sooner. I've lost so many opportunities over the years to witness such unique magic."
"Khuu… khu…"
William nudged him gently, reminding him to stay on topic. Realizing he had drifted, the Wizard King cleared his throat and resumed, this time in a serious tone.
"Most of you are aware of our current geopolitical situation. The Diamond Kingdom continues to attack us whenever it finds an opportunity. More recently, we have received news that they have entered into an alliance with the Spade Kingdom—a nation already infested with demons, greatly increasing its overall strength."
He paused, allowing the weight of his words to sink in among the young Magic Knights, as well as the nobles and civilians present.
"What… the Spade Kingdom? The one said to be the strongest of all four kingdoms?"
"Shut up, you idiot. Don't let the captains hear you."
"Why worry? Our Wizard King is said to be the strongest in the history of the Clover Kingdom. As long as he's here, we have nothing to fear."
A myriad of voices rose from the crowd—some filled with fear, others with determination to grow stronger and protect the kingdom.
For some time now, the Wizard King had carried an uneasy feeling. Something significant was approaching—something that the Clover Kingdom's strength alone might not be enough to face. Because of that, he had decided to accelerate his plans earlier than expected.
"Recently, I took the initiative to contact the neutral Heart Kingdom in hopes of forming an alliance," he continued. "Contrary to my expectations, they agreed and accepted my proposal."
He briefly recalled his visit to the Heart Kingdom—meeting unique magic casters and witnessing the overwhelming might of the Water Spirit herself. He had wanted to stay longer, but his duties had not allowed it.
That visit had clarified his vision of a Clover Kingdom where people could abandon the pretense of status and live peacefully together.
"We have reached an agreement to share our cultures and exchange Magic Knights, supporting one another when needed and strengthening the bond between our nations."
He paused once more.
"In addition, the Heart Kingdom has opened its trade routes and shown interest in welcoming merchants and tourists from our kingdom, officially setting aside its neutral stance."
Those words immediately brightened the mood of both the commoners and nobles present.
Commoners were delighted, as such events opened new opportunities to improve their lives, while nobles—intent on exploiting the rich country, sought to monopolize its resources within the Clover Kingdom.
"In that regard," the Wizard King continued, "I would like to introduce you to El, the Crown Prince and the strongest Magic Guardian of the Heart Kingdom. Think of him as someone comparable to a Magic Knight Captain of our Clover Kingdom."
As soon as the Wizard King finished speaking, a figure blinked into existence beside him as if teleporting.
It was a tall boy, no older than Fifteen, with jet-black hair and dark eyes. There was nothing particularly noteworthy about his appearance except for the Jet Black Katana sheathed at his waist emitting the dark aura.
He wore no royal robes befitting his status as a prince, yet the aura he carried—and the way he held himself—spoke otherwise.
'I told him not to introduce me as a crown prince.' El thought. 'But it seems he kept his word to the queen and ignored mine.'
El held the title of crown prince only because his sworn sister, Lolopechka, had been afflicted by a curse from a Spade Kingdom demon. As her condition worsened, she had been left with no choice but to name him Crown Prince—something unprecedented in the history of the Heart Kingdom.
"Strongest in the Heart Kingdom? He's just a kid. Hehehe. Did our Wizard King get scammed or what?" Jack, captain of the Green Praying Mantises, commented.
El chose not to react. Arguing with someone like Jack would accomplish nothing but waste time.
Fortunately, he didn't have to, other captains glared at Jack, which was enough to shut him up.
"Good evening, citizens of the Clover Kingdom," El spoke calmly. "I am El, envoy of the Heart Kingdom."
"The Wizard King has already briefed you on my purpose for coming here, so I won't take much of your time. I will simply announce the message entrusted to me by my sister, the Queen of the Heart Kingdom."
His directness drew the attention of participants and captains alike.
"Apart from Trade and Tourism, we will also share our Military Assets with each other. I will reside in the Clover Kingdom as a Magic Knight for the next six months. After that, I will select the most promising young talents among you to accompany me to the Heart Kingdom under the same six-month apprentice program."
"Will everyone have an equal chance of being selected?" one participant asked.
"Yes," El replied. "Commoners and nobles alike. What matters in the upcoming selection is strength and talent, not lineage."
His words were clearly unwelcome among the nobles.
"What's so special about that? Our Clover Kingdom is stronger than the Heart Kingdom anyway. It would just be a waste of time." one noble scoffed from the crowd.
"That might not be corre—" the Wizard King began, but El raised his hand toward the cloudy evening sky.
A massive black magic circle appeared above the training grounds, spinning wildly as it gathered mana from the surroundings like a beast starved for centuries.
Mana Method: Dark Nova
A beam of black energy erupted from the magic circle, moving so fast that many couldn't even track it. In an instant, it tore through the clouds and blasted an tremendous explosion in the sky visible to the entire clover kingdom.
This spell was not El's signature magic, but rather the result of his proficient use of runes—collecting, condensing, and releasing atmospheric mana.
He had anticipated that someone would doubt his capabilities. That was why he had drawn the magic circle the previous night, a process that took him fifteen minutes but required only a minimal amount of mana to activate, creating a perfect spectacle.
(AN: Some of you might be wondering why the MC drew the Dark Nova magic circle the night before. That's because… he's a fraud and wanted to show off.)
Though lethal enough to obliterate the arena, several figures present here were capable of negating it if necessary.
"What was that magic?" someone in the crowd whispered.
"He used only a fraction of his mana to cast a spell capable of destroying the entire arena," Charlotte, captain of the Blue Rose Knights, observed.
"Did you notice?" Yami added. "That freak hasn't even used his grimoire yet."
Whether it was praise or insult, even El couldn't tell.
He allowed the murmurs among the crowd and captains to continue for a few moments before speaking again.
"There are many mana training methods like this in the Heart Kingdom—techniques that harness the power of nature itself. Though we were once a closed-off nation, we do not lack heritage or resources when compared to the Clover Kingdom."
The crowd fell silent as the Wizard King nodded, smiling in approval.
"Now that the introductions have been concluded and the necessary messages delivered," the Wizard King said, turning to the captains, "we shall proceed to the next matter at hand."
"Who among you would like to recruit Prince El into your squad?" the Wizard King asked.
Captain William Vangeance of the Golden Dawn stepped forward with grace and, in a traditional Clover Kingdom gesture, saluted the Wizard King before speaking.
"I can assure you that all of us, though previously unaware, wholeheartedly support your idea of forming an alliance with the Heart Kingdom," he said.
"It would be our pleasure to have Mr. El join one of our squads as a Magic Knight. However, it would be best to first witness what he is capable of, so we may determine which squad suits him best."
"I agree with William's suggestion," Captain Fuegoleon added.
The Wizard King then turned his gaze toward El, his eyes sparkling with excitement at the prospect of seeing his abilities firsthand.
"I have no problem with demonstrating my skills," El replied calmly. "Which captain will I be sparring with?"
Strange expressions appeared on everyone's faces.
El was well aware of those looks. He was accustomed to being underestimated because of his age, and teaching lessons the hard way was nothing new to him.
"Hehehe, you are quite peculiar," Jack said with a grin. "Let me go, Wizard King. I'll go easy on him and show him that we captains aren't weak like the Guardians of the Heart Kingdom."
"Don't underestimate him, you freak," Yami countered, taking a puff of his cigar. "I can tell from his ki—he was serious when he proposed fighting captains."
"As much as I would like to see that," the Wizard King said regretfully, "we cannot allow it. Such a display would dishearten the young Magic Knights present here."
"Instead, you may choose any Magic Knight here as your opponent," he continued. "I'm sure your attention has already been drawn to one or two interesting candidates. Though I would prefer you go easy on them."
El nodded, understanding the Wizard King's intent.
Suddenly, hundreds of cards burst forth from El's pocket, assembling into a grimoire before everyone's eyes. Only two cards remained floating in front of him.
Seeing them, a bright smile spread across El's face, while the crowd stared in confusion at his bizarre grimoire.
"If it is up to me," El announced, "I would choose every candidate here as my opponent. I will add one condition—if even one of you manages to touch me, I will grant any wish within my ability."
Gasps echoed through the arena.
"Those who wish to fight me may gather in the center of the arena," El added, turning away.
"That won't be an issue, correct, Wizard King?" he said resolutely. "Anything less would be an insult to my status."
"It can't be helped, I suppose," the Wizard King replied, though his beaming expression betrayed his words.
"Brother, allow me to participate as well!" an energetic voice called out.
From behind captain Fuegoleon stepped a young boy who immediately knelt on one knee, awaiting approval.
"I only brought you here to observe," Fuegoleon said. "But if Prince El here has no objection, I see no problem."
Leopold Vermillion rose with a bright smile and looked toward El.
"I look forward to fighting you," El replied.
"Why don't you come out as well?" El continued, shifting his gaze toward a nervous girl standing in the shadows. "With such vast mana reserves and being the same age as the others, you would make an excellent challenge."
"W-what… me? N-no—"
"Noelle," Captain Nozel Silva said sharply, "Is this the etiquette we taught you? Greet someone properly when called. Act like the noble you are—even if only in name."
A timid girl, the spitting image of Captain Nozel, stepped forward and bowed gracefully.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Prince El of the Heart Kingdom," she said. "I am Noelle Silva, the youngest of the Silva family."
Anyone unfamiliar with the Clover Kingdom might have mistaken her for Nozel's daughter, but El was well informed about the kingdom's affairs from his past months of observation.
"The pleasure is mine," El replied. "Would you care to take part in this upcoming spar?"
"I… do—"
"Wonderful," El said smoothly, cutting her off. "Another candidate has joined today's competition."
"N-not—" Noelle finished weakly, glancing at Nozel's glare and the roaring crowd.
"With you here, we'll definitely defeat him, Miss Noelle!" Leopold shouted as he leapt down onto the stage.
"Hey, isn't that Leopold Vermillion, the younger brother of the Crimson Lions' captain?" someone whispered.
"And look—the youngest Silva sibling is joining too. Our chances of beating that prince just skyrocketed!"
"Who said anything about defeating him?" another voice said eagerly. "We just need to touch him. If I succeed, I can finally say goodbye to this boring life—my magic is perfect for that."
"What is your magic again?" someone asked.
"I'm not telling. Hwa hwa," the first replied.
Within minutes, nearly seventy people had gathered at the center of the arena, including Leopold, Noelle, Asta, and Yuno.
"I've had enough of you looking down on us, Prince of the Heart Kingdom or whatever," an energetic voice shouted from the front. "I'll show you how powerful the Magic Knights of the Clover Kingdom really are."
El did not need to look to know who the speaker was.
"Just don't drop your guard and get eliminated right away," Yuno said calmly from behind, wind beginning to stir around him as Asta pulled his massive sword from his grimoire.
"This is my chance to show all the secret training I've been doing," Asta declared, lifting his sword. "Just don't complain when I defeat him before you."
"Hey, kid," Yami shouted from the stands, "if you lose before that Golden Dawn brat, you're out of the squad. Don't you dare disgrace the Black Bulls in front of him!"
"Black bulls have no reputation to begin with Yami," William replied smoothly, a sly smile appearing on his face as he nodded toward Yuno.
"Very well," the Wizard King said. "You may begin."
The moment his words fell, El vanished from sight, activating his first permanent ability—Instant Transmission.
"Eh? Where did he go?" one of the weaker participants exclaimed.
"Did he run already?" another scoffed.
Confused voices spread across the arena as several participants focused their senses, trying—and failing—to locate him.
"Hey, why are the captains looking up at the sky?" someone asked.
"Hey, Yuno, did you—" Asta spoke, stopping mid-sentence as he noticed Yuno staring upward, his expression tense.
Asta followed his gaze.
"What is that huge thing in the sky?" he asked nervously. "A demon?"
***
Author Note: You might think the MC is too overpowered but please read the next few chapters before judging him. As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts, feel free to rate this chapter out of 10 in the comments.