It was already past midnight when Wizard King did the main announcement.
After the announcement, the crowd started to disperse as it was near the closing time of the festival.
The Wizard King asked Asta and Yuno to follow them as he started to leave with the captains.
Everyone left except for Julian and Mereleona.
"It's been a while Miss Lioness~"
Mana pressure burst out of Mereleona but Julian unleashed his own mana pressure perfectly countering her mana pressure.
The Black Bulls looked at the short clash and left the area as soon as possible.
A lion's claw made of flame formed behind her and rushed towards Julian's head but it was sliced apart from the middle before it reached him.
"You have gotten stronger…..this time you seem more like a man unlike the brat I saw you last time," Mereleona said showing her fangs.
"Things happened...so I had to get stronger " Julian replied.
"In an hour, I will be taking some people with me to the hot springs in the Grand Magic zone, show me how strong you got Julian"
"Sure…you will be in for a surprise "
**********
On top of the tallest building of the capital Secre and Annie could be seen sitting.
"So what is what happened…..
It's painful to hear that Uncle Vetto and Aunt Fana becoming like that.
I hope God Michael purifies their soul of all the corruption" Annie said joining her hands.
"Will you participate in the Royal Knights exam ?" Annie asked Secre.
"I am not interested, I have some preparations to make
What about you ?" Secre asked.
"I….I am thinking about participating.
I will be joining a force to kill my own kind which sounds so wrong but I can't forgive what they are doing.
I know what happened with us was wrong but I don't wish to walk on the path of revenge since I know humans were not at fault" Annie replied.
"Right….although I know Julian is stronger than my master, I still have to make preparations to kill the Devil once and for all. " Secre said.
*********
On an empty dark road, Julian walked towards the bar where the Captains were drinking but he suddenly stopped and held the Sword of Wind that was trying to slice his head.
"Sigh! Did you lose your mind Yuno?
Want me to give you a beating like the childhood days to put you straight?" Julian said loudly.
"Tsk! I don't understand…."Yono walked towards Julian as orbs of glowing mana floated around him.
"Ever since you were chosen by the wind spirit, you have been avoiding me Yuno.
Isn't it time for you to explain this sudden sense of jealousy and anger ?" Julian asked turning towards Yuno.
"I know you are a Ragnvindr but still….your power doesn't make sense" the wind spirit Silph appeared beside Yuno and said.
"We started from the same place and were both chosen by the Four Leaf Clover Grimoire.
I did everything you told me will make me strong….
Every day I train till I bleed... fueling my determination toward my dream of becoming the Wizard King.
But Why ?..... Why are you so strong Julian ni-san...Why do you have mana pressure when your only goal in life is to become strong?
Despite us both being commoners why does everyone respect you but remind me every day that despite my strength I am still a commoner" Yuno asked.
Julian walked towards Yuno as both Yuno and the Wind Spirit felt their bodies getting paralyzed.
Instead of doing any harm, Julian enveloped Yuno in a hug.
"If must have been hard all these months…. trying to live your life in an unfamiliar environment and in a squad made of arrogant nobles and royals.
In these times, only Silph was there with you to listen to you….
I was there with Asta because he is in my squad but sorry I couldn't be with you.
I may have been successful as a Magic knight but I failed as a brother.
Once I went through the same phase as you when I was ten years old.
I hated how some things were so unfair salutations were but there is one thing I always had in my mind.
As of now, I can't do anything. If I wish to change anything and protect the people I love, I must become strong.
This was the answer I found.
As long as a dream gives meaning to life, no dream is big or small.
You and I are different Yuno, you must understand that. "
Julian placed his hand on Yuno's head.
"I know you have the potential the unlock mana pressure….you just need to find the power that defines YOU.
I have information about how you train Yuno…..
Just training everything wouldn't make you stronger, you need to create a specific battle style and develop it, and only then you can progress. "
The more Julian talked the more peaceful Yuno felt.
"You wish to become strong right? I shall make you strong "
******************
The sky was dark but the ground was illuminated due to the presence of the volcanic rocks where a group of Magic knights stood profusely sweating but eyes gleaming with excitement.
Magic Knights like Asta, Yuno, Noelle, Annie, Leopold, and Lucis were there too.
In the front were Yami and Charlotte each holding a box of popcorn.
Far from the group stood Julian and Mereoleona cracking their knuckles.
Initially, everyone was supposed to leave for their bases but Mereleona dragged everyone to the hot springs on top of the Volcanos in the Grand Magic zone.
Most of the Magic knights Mereleona dragged with her were experienced so they knew Techqniues like Mana Skin to survive against harsh environments but for the rookies, it was quite a challenge.
"Why are you staring so intensely Yuno? Feels like your eyes are going to pop out" Asta asked.
"I don't wish to miss a single moment of this battle, " Yuno said.
"Me too!" Leopold said excitedly.
Meanwhile at the back Lucis could be seen holding his forehead.
'Why the hell am I even here ?! I want to go home away from these monsters'
"EVERYONE BE QUIET, IT'S STARTING !!"
A magic knight from the Crimson Lions shouted as Julian and Mereleona disappeared from their places.
An enormous shockwave alongside red and orange mana erupted as two fists clad in Grand Master reinforcement magic and mana pressure collided.
This was just the beginning as Julian and Mereleona completely become invisible due to the speed of their clash, the only thing that can be felt was the shockwave from their clash and the overwhelming pressure.
Captain Charlotte and others were once again shocked to see Julian being able to complete Mereleona in hand-to-hand combat.
Yuno started sweating profusely due to the mana fluctuations since he was very sensitive to mana.
"Can't believe I am seeing a Ragnvindr fight again..... what's more impressive is that woman's power" Sylph whispered in Yuno's ears.
[Mana zone: Dragon's nest ]
An enormous magic circle formed behind Julain as Dragons mage of Lava, water, wind, Lightning, Darkness, and Light shot toward Mereleona trying to devour her.
"Impressive spell but not enough !!" Mereleona shouted as mana fluctuation around her increased.
[Mana zone: Calidus Brachium Barrage ]
Blue flames wrapped around the fists of Mereleona as she punched forward destroying all the dragons set at her.
[Mana zone: Wind Magic: inverse Gravity ]
Julian waved his hands as high wind pressure assaulted Mereleona from above trying to press her down but Mereleona smirked as she kicked the ground.
"Impressive imitating of gravity Julian but I can use it too !!!!"
[Mana zone: reverse flow ]
Blue mana erupted from the ground and rushed upwards countering Julian's spell.
For a moment it felt as if the sky was cracking due to the opposite direction mana clashing against each other.
[Mana zone: Light Sword of conviction] Julian waved his hand as the entire sky got covered in swords of Light as they shot toward Mereleona at once.
[Mana zone: Calidus Brachium Purgatory]
The area around Mereleona seemed to have lost its light for a second before it exploded like a nuclear bomb destroying every light spell.
Every magic knight including Yami and Charlotte was pushed back due to the power behind Mereleona's spell.
"Enough for warm-up….let's take it to the next level !!!" Merleoleona screamed as a cloak of blue flames formed around her.
Everything around her started to melt and turn into raw mana fueling her flames.
'This woman…..she copied the property of my dark flames' Julian thought.
"As you wish miss Lioness, I shall show you my full power " Dragon scales started to cover Julian's body forming armor as two blood-red axes appeared in his hand.
[Mana zone: Garden of Spirits ]
A Phoenix made of red flames, a dragon made of orange flames, a unicorn made of black lightning, an eastern dragon made of water, and finally a werewolf made of wines conjured around Julian each of them having blood-red menacing eyes.
'Dark Phoenix…Salamander…..Kirin…..Leviathan…..Leshy…
How did this human get the blessing of so many spirits !!'
Sylph had a chill run down her spine sensing the power of so many spirits on Julian.
Even her powers were getting drawn to Julian too despite her trying her hardest to contain her mana.
Leopold, Yuno, and Asta had stars in their eyes with fascination while Noelle was trying her hardest not to throw up.
"Let's go miss Lioness, round two!"
*************
Author note:
Are people still reading this story?
Creation is hard, cheer me up!
Like it ? Add to library!