Luck had been nagging El since day one and with no mission to pursue, there was no reason to delay it any longer.
Yami stepped forward. "Rules are simple. No killing. No crippling. Don't run where we can't see you. One minute. If no one's down, it's a draw."
El glanced at the card floating before him and nodded.
⚔️ [Mission Interface]
Mission: Bully the Senior
Rank: B
Objective: Defeat Luck Voltia within 60 seconds
Reward: B-Rank Treasure or B-Rank Ability Card
"Start."
"Lightning Creation Magic: Thunder God Gloves and Boots."
Luck surged forward wrapping around his limbs. His hands stretched into crackling claws, aimed straight for El's face and suddenly space twisted.
The next second Luck found himself a few centimeters from Captain Yami instead as El had sent him toward captain Yami using 'Boogie woogie'.
Yami's eyes widened for half a beat before his fist moved on instinct. The punch caught Luck square in the face, sending him flying across the arena.
"What're you doing, punk?" Yami snapped, smoke trailing from his mouth. "Keep the fight to yourselves."
Luck crashed, rolled, and stood again. The left side of his face was already swelling, but his grin only widened as the lightning around him intensified.
"Ohhh… that's a fun trick."
El lowered into a stance. "Did I wake the beast?"
Luck vanished in a flash.
Again, the world twisted.
He reappeared where El had stood moments earlier. Beneath his boots lay a small spherical object, green runes blinking rapidly—then turning red.
A dull explosion followed. Smoke burst upward.
"It's not a good habit to pick up what doesn't belong to you." El said calmly and disappeared.
Luck was thrown from the smoke, a heavy punch meeting his face midair. He skidded across the ground, coughing as red-tinged fumes spilled from his mouth.
The bomb wasn't lethal, it was worse.
A compressed mana charge mixed with powdered Dreamleaf pollen, Grimroot extract, and Silverbind moss—herbs used in interrogation chambers. One dulled the senses inducing sleep, one disrupted mana flow, and the last interfered with spell control.
Luck's vision swam. His limbs felt heavy.
"I… have to win…" he muttered.
"I have to…"
His knees buckled. His thoughts scattered.
For a brief moment, clarity returned—and he screamed, releasing electricity inward. Lightning surged through his own body, electrocuting flesh and nerves alike.
Smoke poured from him, but he forced half-consciousness back.
"Thirty seconds remaining…"
"Lightning Creation Magic: Lightning Battle Fiend."
Lightning wrapped tighter around Luck's body, constantly electrocuting him—pain sharpening his senses, speed spiking unnaturally. He took one step no spherical bombs around this time but another explosion detonated beneath him, throwing him sideways.
El watched from a distance. "Did I forget to tell," he said lightly. "The entire ground's rigged."
Luck didn't hear him.
Lightning orbs tore through the air but El vanished with Instant Transmission, reappearing behind Luck and driving a punch into his back. Luck flew, electricity scorching El's knuckles on contact.
El raised his hand and a magic circle formed high above.
Mana Method: Dark Nova.
A column of dense mana slammed down, pinning Luck to the ground. The spell ate through his lightning armor, draining stamina second by second. The ground burned, cracking under the pressure.
Ten seconds passed.
A hand emerged from the crater, trembling but stubborn.
"Eight seconds."
El's jaw tightened. He reached into his grimoire and pulled out a white card.
"That's enough."
Yami's voice cut through the arena.
"Don't push it, Luck," Yami said, eyes sharp. "He may be a newbie here—but he's no amateur."
Luck exhaled slowly. The lightning faded.
El stepped to the edge of the crater and extended a hand.
"Good fight."
Luck grabbed it, hauling himself up despite the tremor in his limbs. "Yeah… next time, fight by yourself, okay?"
They didn't know.
The traps, the terrain, the spacing—El had laid it all out the night before. Had it been discovered, he would have been disqualified.
Everyone had expected a flashy, overwhelming battle, but El wasn't reckless enough to waste a one-time, high-grade card on something this trivial.
Reward Acquired:
[Ability Card]
Rank: B
Usage: 1 Free Activation
Subsequent Cost: 500 Xeni Coins per use
Name: Pikachu
Ability: Thunderbolt
Effect:
Releases a lightning bolt of 100 million volt at the designated target. There is a 1-in-1000 chance the strike escalates into a lethal discharge, draining 80% of the target's mana and life force.
Limitations: 50% chance the attack successfully connects.
Condition to Copy Permanently:
Defeat the strongest lightning-attribute user on your planet using only a single ability without receiving a single hit in return.
'Pretty tough conditions for a mere B-rank ability' but nothing he couldn't clear. 'The strongest Lightning Magic user ha… that would be Gaja, without a doubt.'
After the match ended, everyone dispersed, returning to their own routines. El did the same.
The Black Bulls didn't receive many missions, and the following week passed quietly. El, Asta, Noelle, and Luck spent most of their days sparring, while El used whatever free time he had to dig into information related to the devil. Unfortunately, the investigation yielded nothing of value.
He briefly regretted not asking Grand Zuno about the whereabouts of the demon in the clover kingdom, but didn't dwell on it for long.
Noelle showed steady improvement. Her water cannons now struck her targets cleanly, tearing through dozens of trees in the surrounding area. Her control, once her biggest weakness, was becoming increasingly refined.
Luck, on the other hand, still had more than a few screws loose, but there was no denying the perfection of his mana control, reserves and techniques. What he lacked was raw firepower—large-scale destructive spells. That was the domain of lightning specialists like Gaja.
Because of that, El had already found the fifth member who would accompany him to the Heart Kingdom, alongside Yuno, Asta, Mimosa, and Noelle.
Luck.
El introduced him to the Heart Kingdom's rune formation method, and to his surprise, Luck picked it up almost immediately. The talent was obviously worth nurturing—assuming it could be controlled.
Seeing Luck's rapid progress, Magna showed interest as well. As expected, he struggled. His mana reserves were too low, and controlling mana at that level simply wasn't something he was suited for.
Asta's progress was the slowest among them all.
The Anti-Magic outburst he had displayed in the underworld seemed to be the result of long-term accumulation combined with an emotional eruption from his devil.
Now, when he tried to use the same power, the output was pitiful. He could barely maintain his Half Devil form for ten seconds, and even then, he struggled to defend against Luck.
They decided to put his devils training on hold and focus on improving his physical condition instead.
With Charmy's infinite food glitch and El's intense training regimen, Asta's physical strength improved rapidly. That alone pushed his Devil form limit from ten seconds to nearly thirty.
Asta attempted to communicate with his devil multiple times, it ended in failure, but there was no rush.
Training against Anti-Magic proved beneficial for El as well. It made his own shortcomings obvious, pushing him to further improve his physique. For his age, his body was more than adequate—but compared to Asta, it still fell short.
It was another uneventful day when Captain Yami suddenly called them together, he had received a mission directly from the Wizard King.
A dungeon had been discovered on the outskirts of the Clover Kingdom, dangerously close to the Diamond Kingdom's border. No one needed to spell out what that meant.
Dungeons held unimaginable wealth—ancient scrolls, artifacts, and mysteries whose value couldn't be measured in gold. Endless possibilities lay within them.
And that was exactly why the word dungeon always made El's blood stir.
The Wizard King had specifically requested that El and Asta be included in the dungeon exploration. Captain Yami added Noelle as the final member, forming a three-person team.
They arrived before what looked like the remains of a long-collapsed structure. The building itself was unremarkable, but the mana leaking into the surroundings told a different story. This was unquestionably a dungeon.
The anti-bird Captain Yami had encountered back in the Forsaken Realm was already there, circling the area as if inspecting them. The moment it noticed Asta, it swooped down and perched itself on his head.
Noelle and Asta argued over it for a while, but in the end, the bird refused to move and stayed put.
The creature was definitely suspicious—but now wasn't the time to examine its origin.
From the outside, it was impossible to tell who the original owner of the dungeon had been. With no reason to delay, the squad entered, carefully navigating through the darkness.
The stones embedded in El's and Noelle's rings glowed faintly, illuminating their path and making traversal easier despite the maze-like corridors filled with Darkness.
After pushing aside a concealed mechanism, the passage opened into a massive hall. The sight made even Noelle pause.
"An architectural marvel," El said. "Natural structures reinforced with refined mana, layered with maze formations and traps. This is definitely the work of an Elven mage."
"Elven mage?" Noelle asked.
"Yes. The extinct race that lived five hundred years ago. This dungeon is the legacy of one of them. I've conquered similar ones before."
That much was true. El had cleared many dungeons across the Heart and Spade Kingdoms—retreating only from the few that were beyond him. Most of his B-rank ability cards had come from those expedition rewards.
Still, this dungeon felt different.
"There are traps embedded in the floor," El warned but Asta stepped forward anyway.
The tiles beneath him collapsed, revealing a spike-filled pit. Before Asta could fall, El used Instant Transmission and pulled him back onto solid ground.
"We could skip everything and teleport straight to the core," El said. "But since this is your first dungeon… want to experience it properly?"
Both of them nodded without hesitation.
El taught them how to identify traps. Noelle caught on quickly, while Asta mostly followed her directions.
"What are you doing, Dorkasta?! I had that monster!" Noelle snapped after Asta rushed ahead and cut down the plant-like monster.
"I was just helping," Asta replied.
With sword and wand, they cleared most of the first floor's traps and guardians. At the far end of the floor, the wall dissolved, revealing a treasure chest overflowing with gold and magic scrolls—the reward everyone sought and the very reason adventurers entered dungeons in the first place.
"But be warned," El said calmly. "Not every treasure chest is a reward. Some are filled with traps, and there's no way to distinguish them before opening. That uncertainty is the most thrilling part of any dungeon."
"But why do these mages create dungeons?" Asta asked.
"There are many reasons," El replied. "Some sages want to pass on their knowledge to a worthy successor. Some evil mages want to kill adventurers even after death. Others simply want to protect their wealth forever. You only learn the truth once you reach the core."
Noelle touched her ring to the treasure chest. Sensing the distinct mana signal and the inorganic material, the ring absorbed everything, leaving the room completely empty.
"Wow… I wish I could use a ring like that," Asta said dejectedly, retreating from the treasure room.
El sensed other presences deeper within the dungeon—foreign mana signatures moving through different sections—but he didn't react. Elven dungeons often took days to fully conquer.
For now, he let his comrades enjoy themselves.
There would be time for the real fight later.
"The first rule of dungeon conquering," El said calmly, cutting through Asta and Noelle's bickering, "is to always be aware of your surroundings. Look up. We're not alone."
Both of them stiffened and followed his gaze.
"Yuno!" Asta called out brightly but Yuno didn't respond.
"We should move," said the four-eyed Man beside him, irritation clear as he adjusted his glasses. "This isn't a place for casual conversation."
Before he could continue, Mimosa leapt down from the upper platform, floating gently with the help of her enchanted robe El had given him.
"Hello, El. How have you been?" she asked, ignoring her team leader entirely.
"I'm doing well," El replied easily.
"I'm glad to hear that." she replied lovingly.
"Hello, Cousin Noelle," Mimosa added. "I heard the Black Bulls are… a bit wild. How are you managing?"
Noelle straightened. "Those are just rumors. They all are very caring—if you take the time to understand them."
Mimosa hesitated, then smiled looking at El. The awkwardness passed quickly.
"I'm more worried about you, our slow-witted Mimosa," Noelle continued without realizing how recently she'd stood in the same position. "Are you doing alright in the Golden Dawn?"
"Mimosa," Klaus snapped as he appeared beside her, carried by Yuno's wind magic. "Are you ignoring your squad leader's command?"
"I—sorry, Mr. Klaus," Mimosa said quickly.
El's gaze lingered on Klaus for a moment longer than necessary.
"Hey, Asta," Yuno said, finally speaking. "You've bulked up."
"Yeah," Asta replied with a grin. "Everyone in the Black Bulls takes care of me. How's the Golden Dawn?"
For a brief moment, Yuno's smile faltered. The distance he felt from other members because of his ordinary origin.
Still, he straightened. "What do you think? It's the best Magic Knight squad in the Clover Kingdom."
Klaus watched him from the corner of his eye.
'Don't get ahead of yourself,' he thought. 'A commoner is still a commoner. The captain's favor won't change that.'
"You look tense, Mr. Klaus," El said casually, stepping closer. "It's just a dungeon. We're not going to a war."
Klaus frowned, meeting El's gaze. They were nearly the same height.
"I expected insubordination from rookies," Klaus said coldly, "but not this level of carelessness from a royal like you, Prince El."
"I presume you're aware," Klaus said stiffly, "that this dungeon lies close to the Diamond Kingdom's border. According to our reports, they've already dispatched a unit."
"I know," El replied evenly. "They've infiltrated the dungeon and are ahead of us—but they're nowhere near conquering it."
Klaus's expression tightened.
"Mimosa."
She reacted instantly.
"Plant Creation Magic: Magic Flower Guidepost."
A three-dimensional mana construct bloomed into existence, mapping the dungeon's structure in glowing layers. Several clusters of light pulsed within—mages moving steadily toward the core.
Asta and Noelle stared, momentarily speechless.
"Impressive," El said, studying it. "But not entirely accurate."
Everyone turned toward him.
"There's a lone mage here," El continued, pointing to an empty corridor. "Advancing straight to the core. His mana's hidden perfectly—but his ki and killing intent are everywhere. The other units visible on the guidepost are decoys."
Klaus clenched his jaw. "If that's true, then he's dangerously close. We should advance immediately."
"This dungeon has only one exit," El said calmly. "We'll run into them regardless. And this is their first dungeon." He glanced at Asta and Noelle. "They should learn how to explore it properly."
The suggestion sounded reckless—very Black Bulls like.
"How can you be so casual?" Klaus snapped. "This concerns the kingdom's future. Then again—you're not even from the Clover Kingdom, are you?"
El met his gaze without blinking.
"That's true. But the reason I'm calm is simple." His voice didn't rise. "I can wipe out the Diamond mages and claim this dungeon whenever I choose."
The pressure in the air shifted.
Klaus took a step back, then turned sharply. "Yuno. We proceed independently."
A wind chariot formed beneath Yuno's feet. With Mimosa beside him, he took off without another word.
"El," Noelle said firmly, "you don't need to hold back for us. We can handle ourselves."
"I agree," Asta added.
El didn't respond. He was already walking deeper into the dungeon, stepping onto the stairs leading to the second floor, leaving their voices behind contemplating when the mission was going to arrive.
***
Author Note: Another Clumsy chapter of 2.6K words, please donate power stones and leave a review it would be very helpful...
Next Chapter : The Rookies Progress & Treasures