As expected of you.
A faint, almost imperceptible smile appeared at the corner of Yuno's lips.
Ever since Yuuki hadn't been chosen by a Magic Knight squad, Yuno had worried that the setback might leave him discouraged. But now, Yuuki's strength had already surpassed his own.
Yuno felt no jealousy—only genuine happiness.
Of course, mixed within that was an even stronger determination not to lose to Yuuki.
When they were children, Yuno had always been able to develop countless clever techniques using mana alone. Everyone in the village called him a genius—but to Yuno, Yuuki was the real prodigy.
"Mana Skin, huh…"
"That really is it."
"If you use that technique, you can block external mana interference."
"…But in an environment this extreme, it's not something you can master overnight."
The members of the Crimson Lion Kings were drenched in sweat, speaking weakly as they discussed the situation.
So this is why Lord Yuuki brought us here…
Mariella thought silently, her own face slick with sweat as she glanced around.
"Neige," Mariella said quietly, turning her head.
"Do as Lord Yuuki instructed—spread your mana over your body to resist the heat."
In a volcanic environment like this, ice mages were at a severe disadvantage. But precisely because of that, the training effect would be even greater.
"Got it."
Neige wiped the sweat from his forehead, closed his eyes, and immediately began circulating his mana.
Seeing how quickly Neige entered the proper state, Mariella couldn't help but feel impressed. His talent really was exceptional.
Suppressing her thoughts, she followed suit, forcing her ice-attributed mana outward to cover her body despite the oppressive heat.
Watching the two of them begin training Mana Skin, Yuuki's eyes flickered with satisfaction.
Good.
A cool breeze suddenly rose within the scorching environment.
Yuno was now wrapped in a faint cyan glow of mana. Smiling, he looked toward Yuuki and Asta.
"I'll go on ahead," he said.
"And Asta—make sure you reach the hot spring before I pass out from soaking too long."
The sharp-tongued remark made Asta's eyebrow twitch violently.
Before Asta could retort, Yuno had already lifted into the air, flying toward the summit.
Spurred on by the top rookie's movement, the Crimson Lion Kings roared and charged after him, unwilling to fall behind.
In an instant—
Only Yuuki, Mereoleona, Asta, Noelle, Mariella, and Neige remained at the edge of the region.
"Damn it…"
Noelle bent over with her hands on her knees, gasping heavily. She was never good at mana control to begin with—this environment made it even worse.
Suddenly, she felt the surrounding temperature drop slightly.
Startled, she looked to the side.
Mariella and Neige were now both enveloped in a layer of icy-blue light, their Mana Skin stabilizing at almost the same time.
"We'll go on ahead, Lord Yuuki."
The two bowed briefly. At Yuuki's nod, they burst forward as well.
"So amazing…" Noelle murmured softly.
She knew that both Mariella and Neige were ice mages. In this environment, controlling mana was even harder for them than it was for her water magic.
"There's no need to be so tense," Yuuki said calmly from behind her.
"Your mana control has already improved a lot. This situation is well within what you can handle."
"I know that!" Noelle snapped back instinctively.
Her gaze met Yuuki's, and in the intense heat, her already flushed cheeks grew even redder. She quickly turned her head away with a huff.
Seeing her usual tsundere reaction, Yuuki chuckled softly.
Mereoleona glanced at the two of them, slightly surprised. She hadn't expected them to know each other—and clearly not just casually, either.
Thud.
Mereoleona stepped directly in front of Noelle, her shadow falling over her. Noelle instinctively shrank back.
"What are you spacing out for?" Mereoleona demanded coldly.
"N-Nothing!" Noelle stiffened, answering nervously.
"Do you have the resolve to reach the summit?"
She leaned closer, her voice rising.
"I asked if you have the resolve to reach the summit!"
Noelle froze for a moment—then her eyes hardened.
"I do!"
"Then get up there!"
Mereoleona pressed her fist against Noelle's forehead.
On the other side—
Yuuki walked over to Asta, who stood frozen in place, staring blankly at the erupting volcanoes and flowing magma ahead.
Even with his thick nerves, Asta could tell that brute strength and sheer willpower alone wouldn't get him to the summit.
"Don't worry about Mana Skin," Yuuki said, patting Asta's shoulder lightly.
"Find your own way."
"Remember what I told you during the festival—use ki to guide the power hidden inside your body."
Asta snapped back to his senses.
Right—he'd nearly fallen into a dead end. He didn't even have mana. How could Mana Skin ever work for him?
"Thanks, Yuuki!" Asta said, scratching his head, his spirit reignited.
Yuuki straightened—and met Mereoleona's gaze.
"You," she said, eyes blazing.
"Do you have the resolve to reach the summit?"
She had asked Noelle the same question.
But when it came to Yuuki, the meaning behind those words was entirely different.
"Of course," Yuuki replied with a faint smile, his tone unwavering.
Mereoleona narrowed her eyes.
The next instant—
The two of them shot into the sky almost simultaneously, racing straight toward the summit.
"Yuuki… Yuno…"
"I won't lose either!"
Asta took a deep breath, murmuring to himself.
Yuuki's figure became a streak of silver light, like a meteor tearing through the air.
Beneath him, Mereoleona transformed into a mass of crimson flames, bounding across molten rock and shattered stone.
Though one flew and the other ran—
Mereoleona was actually slightly faster.
Volcanic eruptions and flying magma fragments were effortlessly blasted aside as they passed.
The violent mana waves of silver and crimson left the Crimson Lion Kings far behind, staring in stunned silence.
"So that's Yuuki… the one from Asta's village…"
"To be able to keep pace with Captain Mereoleona—no wonder the rumors were true."
Leopold Vermillion muttered in disbelief.
Before he could recover—
Two ice-blue figures shot past him.
Mariella and Neige.
"Move it!" Leopold roared, snapping back to reality.
"We're the Crimson Lion Kings! We can't lose to them!"
"Yes!"
"Yes!"
"ROAR!"
Provoked by the sight of Mariella and Neige overtaking them, the squad roared and pushed forward with renewed vigor.
Losing to someone who could fight a captain was one thing.
But losing to his subordinates? That was unacceptable.
At the summit of Ultime Volcano—
Yami and Charlotte had already arrived.
Charlotte stood by the cliff, the haze of alcohol long gone. Her blue eyes were clear as golden hair fluttered in the intense heat.
"As expected of Captain Mereoleona," she said, watching the approaching silver and crimson streaks.
"She's clearly faster than Yuuki."
"Tch. Racing that kid head-on… that violent lioness really is reckless," Yami muttered, cigarette in his mouth.
After a brief silence, Charlotte spoke again.
"That boy—Yuuki—is dangerous."
"Oh?" Yami replied lazily.
"Even you think so?"
"I was drunk at the festival, not unconscious," Charlotte said calmly.
"And besides—this is a woman's intuition."
"Intuition, huh…"
Yami exhaled smoke.
"Doesn't matter. With the Wizard King around—and that violent lioness—he won't get far even if he tries something. And we captains aren't exactly decoration."
"Once the Eye of the Midnight Sun is dealt with, everything will become clear."
Charlotte said nothing more.
"…They're here."
Boom!
A crimson flash—Mereoleona landed first at the summit.
Yuuki followed close behind.
"That's all you've got?" Mereoleona said, arms crossed, displeasure evident.
"Doesn't match the mana you showed earlier."
"Impressive as always," Yuuki replied evenly.
"Flying in this environment takes some getting used to."
He turned toward Yami and Charlotte and gave a polite nod.
"Captain Yami. Captain Charlotte."
"No need for the formalities, kid," Yami laughed.
Charlotte studied the two who had just arrived—neither their mana nor their breathing showed the slightest disturbance. She nodded faintly.
Mereoleona glanced at the Salamander perched on Yuuki's shoulder, then ignored the others and stared down at the climbers below.
Her expression darkened.
The fiery Mana Skin wrapping her body began to churn violently—clearly displeased with the pace of her squad.
Yuuki, Yami, and Charlotte all wisely fell silent.
From the summit, Yuuki could clearly see everything below.
Everyone assumed Yuno would arrive next—
But suddenly—
A streak of black lightning surged up from the edge of the region.
"He's finally got it… Asta," Yuuki murmured, eyes gleaming.
Mereoleona, Yami, and Charlotte all turned their attention to Asta's condition.
Yuno was flying at full speed, but the constant eruptions and falling boulders interfered with his movement.
Thanks to Yuuki's earlier guidance, Yuno had quickly grasped Mana Skin.
Still, in this extreme environment, his control wasn't yet perfect.
"AAAAAH!"
Asta's roar echoed from behind.
Yuno froze.
Turning around, he saw Asta wrapped in swirling black anti-magic, closing the distance at terrifying speed.
"Tch—if Yuuki already passed me, there's no way I'm letting you pass too, Asta!"
Yuno unleashed even more wind magic, accelerating further.
For a moment—
The two raced neck and neck, charging toward the summit.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
The air screamed as they passed, the scorching heat churning violently.
Under the gaze of those at the summit—
Asta and Yuno reached the top at the exact same time.
But—
Asta didn't stop.
Still shouting, still screaming, he shot past the summit—his Demon-Slayer Sword wrapped in anti-magic, aimed straight at Mereoleona.
Yami's eyebrow twitched.
"Should we stop him?" Charlotte asked softly.
"No need," Yami replied with interest.
"He can't control that anti-magic yet. This is the perfect lesson."
"Aaaah! Someone please stop me!" Asta screamed.
"I can't control it!"
"Stop?" Mereoleona sneered, eyes blazing.
"You've got to be kidding."
(End of Chapter)
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