For Asta and Yuno, who aspired to become Wizard King, this festival was more than a celebration—it was a rare chance to establish genuine prestige in the eyes of ordinary people.
Yuuki himself had no interest in becoming Wizard King.
But that title had been the dream Asta and Yuno had chased since childhood—and Yuuki would support them.
Just as they had always trusted him.
"I originally didn't plan to bother with these clownish tricks," Yuuki said calmly.
"But since they don't understand one simple truth, then I'll remind them."
"Royalty and nobility may stand above others—but this world ultimately answers to strength."
"Before absolute power, all conspiracies and schemes are nothing more than dust, crushed outright."
A trace of dominance entered Yuuki's voice as his gaze swept across the Magic Knight captains on the platform, finally settling on Asta and Yuno, who stood at the front, clearly anxious.
At the same time—
Yuuki raised his arm and made a clenched-fist gesture toward them.
Because the semi-transparent mana barrier still surrounded him, everyone could clearly see the motion.
The instant his arm lifted, the captains' expressions tightened.
At the edge of the plaza, Yami Sukehiro leapt onto a table, staring at Yuuki with a grim look.
"Now of all times… don't do something stupid," he muttered.
Under countless gazes, Yuuki simply raised his arm into the air.
No spell followed.
No mana surged.
Nothing happened.
Just as confusion spread—
On the front of the platform, Yuno, who had been anxiously watching Yuuki, suddenly froze. Then his eyes lit up in realization.
That gesture—
It was the signal they used back in Hage Village, when a chaotic free-for-all was about to begin.
"…Bell."
Yuno's expression returned to its usual cool composure, though a faint smile curved his lips.
"Hm?" The wind spirit Sylph tilted her head.
"Go all out," Yuno said firmly.
"Heehee—now that sounds fun," Sylph giggled, understanding instantly.
In the next moment—
A terrifying surge of pressure erupted from Yuno's body!
A visible whirlwind formed around him as his mana roared and boiled, expanding outward like an invisible tide.
Under this overwhelming presence, the chaotic crowd below fell silent in an instant, stunned eyes turning toward the platform where Yuno now radiated terrifying power.
Even the captains looked on with renewed attention.
Though Yuno hadn't yet reached their level, with Sylph's support, he clearly possessed the potential to stand among them.
So strong…
The same thought rose simultaneously in countless minds.
Was this really the power of a peasant?
Yuno paid no attention to the crowd. Instead, he turned to Asta.
"Do you remember our training back in the village?"
Asta froze.
Yuno said nothing more.
Wind mana gathered densely in his palm, magnified further by Sylph's power.
Even before the spell fully formed, a heart-clenching pressure spread from him.
Whoosh!
A longbow formed entirely of wind took shape in Yuno's hands.
In the next instant—
A razor-sharp wind arrow condensed, countless compressed currents merging into a single white shaft.
A piercing shriek split the air.
Wind Creation Magic — Spirit of Zephyr: White Bow!
BOOM!
The arrow was released—straight at Asta!
Asta reacted instantly.
Lowering his stance, he drew the Demon-Destroyer Sword from his grimoire. At such close range, he caught the arrow the instant it appeared—
And swung the flat of the blade like a baseball bat.
"Yuuki! We won't lose to you!"
Asta shouted.
THOOM!
A heavy reverberation exploded outward.
The wind arrow rebounded violently off the sword's surface, redirecting straight toward Yuuki below!
The air screamed as it was torn apart by the arrow's passage.
Even before reaching its target, the spirit-infused wind distorted the entire plaza's airflow.
Though everyone knew the attack wasn't aimed at them—
Many civilians turned pale, legs shaking. Some collapsed outright.
As the wind arrow closed in—
Yuuki's thoughts stirred.
The silver mana barrier surrounding him vanished instantly, revealing his figure fully.
Before everyone's eyes—
Yuuki simply lowered his raised arm… and caught the arrow with his bare hand.
No spell.
No technique.
Just a single, effortless motion.
BZZZT—BZZZT—
The arrow trembled violently in his grip, raging with compressed wind and rotational force—but it couldn't advance even a fraction further.
The escaping wind pressure blasted outward, knocking down everyone within the outermost ring around Yuuki.
Then—
The entire plaza fell silent.
Every single person stared at Yuuki in disbelief.
The mere leakage of that spell could knock people off their feet.
And yet—
He had caught it.
Bare-handed.
Was this really the same person they'd just been throwing food and stones at?
CRACK!
Yuuki clenched his fist.
The wind arrow shattered instantly, dispersing into a fading whirlwind.
"It's a lot stronger than when you were kids," Yuuki said lightly, smiling up at Yuno and Asta.
Yuno's eye twitched, his gaze burning.
So this is the gap…
He had always known Yuuki was stronger—but only now did he truly understand how vast the difference was.
Asta clenched his fists, eyes blazing as he stared down at Yuuki.
Behind them, the captains all narrowed their eyes.
That spirit-enhanced attack—none of them could have neutralized it so casually.
Mereoleona Vermillion, meanwhile, looked positively thrilled.
Yuuki looked up at Asta and Yuno.
"Do you really want to become Wizard King?"
They froze—then answered in unison without hesitation.
"Of course, Yuuki!"
"And before we do—"
They exchanged a glance and spoke firmly together.
"We'll defeat you first!"
For a moment—
Yuuki was reminded of that evening long ago, the night before they received their grimoires, walking back to the church and talking together.
He laughed openly.
Turning his gaze toward the still-shocked crowd, Yuuki spoke loudly.
"Did you hear that, you rats hiding in the gutters?"
"This is resolve!"
"Cowards who won't even show their faces—no matter how noble your status, you're still nothing but insects crawling in the dark!"
His laughter rang out.
Then he turned back to Asta and Yuno—
And unleashed his power.
A surge far more terrifying than Yuno's exploded outward.
Silver mana erupted skyward like a pillar of light, piercing the heavens!
Yet unlike Yuno's mana, this overwhelming force was completely restrained, bound tightly to Yuuki's body.
Unparalleled magic power.
Terrifying control.
In that moment—
Everyone truly understood who Yuuki was.
(End of Chapter)
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Bonus Chapter at 2800 Powerstones.