Mimosa: S-So Blue, do you have any plans?

Blue: Not really, but I imagine I'm going to have to encounter a certain lioness

Mimosa: Lioness? Wait, you mean Captain Mereoleona?

Blue: [Nods] She would track me down at some point, and I'm not fond of the last time she did that

Mimosa: W-What did she do?

Blue:.....Something.....violent

Velvet: So she jumped you, fair enough.

Mimosa nods her head to show she understands, then she allows me to pass through. Asta and Yuno follow me down the stairs, and when we reached the bottom, we witness the whole Crimsom Lion Squad, including Leopold, on their knees.

They were putting on brave faces, but I could see that they were fearful of what was in front of them, and I don't blame them at all.

It was their new captain, Mereoleona Fuegoleon. As you can tell, she is the older sister of Fuegoleon and Leopold, and she was even more fierce than them.

I would describe her as a straight up menace because that is what she is, she is also powerful, one of the strongest in the Kingdom.

Velvet: Is she stronger than you?

Blue: A fight between ourselves would be a grand spectacle, because we don't have limits. However, I believe she is stronger than me

Velvet: E-Even with the Azure Nightmare Transformation?!

Blue: Now that will give her a fight, but I'm not too sure on what the outcome would be.

Mereoleona: Leo! What is this?! 5th place! That is where the Crimson Lions placed and I'm highly disappointed!

Leo: B-But sist-!

Mereoleona: [Punches Him To The Ground] No excuses!

Asta: AHH! She is scary!

Yuno: So this is the new Captain

Blue: Yes, and you don't want to talk back to her

Yuno: Yet you would, right?

Blue: Of course

Velvet: Well, time to leave!

Asta and Yuno were about to leave but were stopped in place, we looked to see that giant flaming paws were clamped on their heads. One tried to grab my head, but my shadows intervened and were holding it back, but it wouldn't last long so both elements stopped.

We look behind to see that Mereoleona was the one who caught us.

Mereoleona: If it isn't the star recruits, why the hell are you two here? Is it because you are interested in going to the Grand Magic Zone?

Blue: Grand Magic Zone? You're planning to go towards one?

Mereoleona: Of course, and don't think I'm forgetting you. Fuegoleon sends me letters, and he mentions how there's been an increase in power and activity from you

Blue: Fuegoleon mentioned me?

Mereoleona: He likes to keep me updated, I am his older sister after all

Asta: Wait you're Captain Fuegoleon and Leo's older sister?! So does that make you Sisgoleon?!

Mereoleona: Who are you calling Sisgoleon?!

Asta: N-No one!

Blue: He wouldn't be wrong now, would he?

Velvet: Blue!

Mereoleona: Shut it you! Since the three of you are here, then that means you will be joining my squad in gruesome training that will surely leave you in pieces!

Asta: W-Wait what?!

She proceeds to drag the three of us outside and I don't resist because it is pointless, we end up at a bar and watch Mereoleona break the door down to reveal the other captains drinking.

She doesn't even speak, instead she grabs Yami and then Charlotte using the same flaming paws.

Yami: Huh? What are you doing Sisgoleon?

Mereoleona: You two are coming with me because both of you did not show up with the rest of the captains!

Noelle: There you are Blue and Asta-! Huh?

Mereoleona: You're coming as well!

Noelle: W-Where are we going?!

Blue: Somewhere.....interesting

Velvet: This Mereoleona certainly is....interesting.

Mereoleona begins to drag us all away, and we reach the Grand Magic Zone known as the Ultime-Volcano Mountain Trail where the Crimson Lions were waiting. She drops us all onto the ground and gets all of our attention.

Asta: W-Why are we here?

Mereoleona: You and the other star recruits want to be apart of the Royal Knights correct?

Asta: Uhh yes?

Mereoleona: Well this will be perfect for your preparation! Are there any objections?

Sol: Nope

Asta: No!

Yuno: No, this will be good for me

Blue: What if I don't want to be apart of the Royal Knights?

Mereoleona: Bullshit! The Royal Knights need someone like you!

Blue:.....They probably do

Mereoleona: Noelle! I want you improve yourself because I know who your mother was and I want you to be like her!

Noelle: M-My mother?

Mereoleona: Correct! But we will talk later about that...oh and you also can't decline or I will come for you!

Noelle: R-Right!

Asta: I-Is she just threatening us?

Mereoleona: I don't know? Am I?

Velvet:.....How many interactions have you had with her?

Blue: Not much

Mereoleona: Well decide now! Leave and become worthless or stay and improve!

Blue: Oh so that's why you brought us here, you want us to improve right?

Mereoleona: [Grabs Blue's Head] Oh you think you're smart aren't you?

Blue: Not really, I just think the right way

Mereoleona: Wrong!

She then proceeds to dash me at a rock with some power in her throw, of course I was fine but that was completely unnecessary.

Velvet: That's an understatement! She chucked you hard!

Everyone: 0_0

Charlotte: O-Oh dear

Sol: That....wasn't necessary

Asta: B-Blue!

Noelle: A-Are you okay?!

Yuno: He's fine

Yami: AHAHAHAHAHA! Kid she sent you flying!

Mereoleona: Do not give me that crap! I've seen what you're capable of! Your magic is a damn nuiscene to anyone you face!

I get out of the rocky wall and make my way back to the others, with Asta and Noelle making sure I was alright.

Blue: I'm fine

Asta: A-Are you sure?!

Noelle: She hurled you at a rock!

Blue:.....I'm fine

Mereoleona: Enough Talk! This is what you will do! You will go through this Magic Zone and reach a summit! There is a Hot Spring waiting for you and that is what your reward will be! You will be using Mana Skin to get through the harsh conditions, that being the heat of the Magic Zone!

Everyone seemed to be in doubt but then Captain Yami and Charlotte acted first, they already knew how to use Mana Skin and we could see a coloured outline around them.

Everyone proceeds to try the same thing with some people struggling but some were really good at it like Yuno. Asta.....couldn't because he had no magic. I've never learnt this ability, but that's because there was no need for it.

Velvet: What are you going to do? Walk through the heat?

Blue: Of course

Velvet: Wait what? I was joking! Don't do that!

Blue: Don't worry, it doesn't effect me because I'm not alive.

It was just me, Asta and Mereoleona left, and my team member was trying hard to use mana skin, but he couldn't do it. Meanwhile, I was just standing there and Mereoleona seemed to be waiting for Asta.

Mereoleona: Are you two going to give up?

Asta: I-I won't give up!

Blue: I don't need to do it

Mereoleona: And why do you think that?

Blue: If you're lucky, I might tell you later on

Mereoleona: Oh, you think you're some sort of comedian?

Blue: No-

Mereoleona: Which means you want to fight me, right?!

Blue: I'm going to go now

Mereoleona: Hey! Get back here!

Blue: No.

Velvet: D-Don't test her!

Blue: I will be fine, I've done this before

I walk away from the Flaming Lioness, who decided to not pursue me, instead she turns her attention to Asta. She was giving him a talk about how he needs to get through problems in other ways.

And she isn't wrong, because I do the same with my magic, and that's why I'm powerful.

Mereoleona: And what are you still doing here?

Blue: I was just listening to your talk

Mereoleona: You don't need to, you're able to do exactly what I'm teaching him

Blue: I know, I just wanted to hear it. I'll be going now

Mereoleona: How the hell are you going to walk through the heat?

Blue: I'll manage, what about you Asta?

Asta: Don't worry I will be fine!

Blue: Okay, I'll meet you at the end

I walk away and advance towards these Hot Springs, normal people would use Mana Skin to protect themselves from the severe heat.

But I never learnt Mana Skin, there was no need for it because of my Shadows. And now that I know what I am, I can just walk through the heat, I could feel it, but it wasn't life threatening to me.

It was all just a nuisance.

Velvet: H-How are you doing this?

Blue: I'm dead, so it shouldn't do anything to me

Velvet: T-That doesn't make sense!

Blue: It does when I can't feel anything

I continue to traverse the Grand Magic Zone for another two minutes with my shadows, advancing past the other Magic Knights. I knew I was near the end because I found Yami, Charlotte and Mereoleona waiting.

I land near Yami and Yuno arrives just after me.

Yami: Huh? Oh kid you made it, congrats I guess.

Blue: You didn't think I would?

Yami: Nah, you're one of the first ones I believed would make it

Velvet: I was about to say

Charlotte: Well done Blue, I'm proud of you

Blue: Thank you

Charlotte: Y-You....actually thanked me?

Blue: I'm getting better at thanking people whenever they say nice things about me, even if they're all lies.

Charlotte: Don't say that, there are no lies. You're amazing Blue, and I believe you are a true Magic Knight

Yami: Ehh, he still scares the innocent people

Blue: You do the same

Yami: Hey, I'm a Captain so I'm valid.

Yuno: Well done, now all we need to do is wait for Asta

Blue: I thought he would've caught up by now, is he taking his time?

Mereoleona: [Smirks] He will be coming

Velvet:.....I don't like that smirk

I wasn't confused at all with Mereoleona's smirk, because myself and Yuno look up in the air to see Asta flying in. He was also in his new transformation that he used during our fight against Ladros.

Suddenly Mereoleona leaps in the air and when she did, Asta took a detour towards her. I didn't know why but it looked as if it was...almost instantaneous.

Blue: I understand what's happening

Yuno: You do?

Blue: Asta's Anti Magic, it erases magic spells, and his form is based on Anti Magic.

Yuno: Then that means-

Blue: Captain Mereoleona is a target that Asta is homing onto, a target he doesn't want to be locked onto

Asta: A-Ah! Sisgoleon?!

Mereoleona: HA!

She proceeds to slam her fist into him, striking him to the ground.

Velvet: I think I'm scared of her

After a few minutes, everyone else that came here arrived so they were awarded by Mereoleona with the hot springs. When she found out it was all together, Sol immediately used her earth magic to create a wall between the Hot Springs.

Sol: No man is allowed to stare at Charlotte's amazing body! Or any of the girls whatsoever!

Velvet: I like her, very respectable, but she needs to respect you more

Blue: I think she does

Velvet: A little bit, but she still thinks that she is above you

Charlotte: Thank you Sol. I'm slightly disappointed, I wouldn't mind Blue being on our side because I know he is a very respectable boy, I also don't think he would look at a woman like that at all

The girls go on their side while the boys take off their clothes and enter our side. I was the only one that didn't join in because I didn't take my clothes off.

Yami: Hey kid, what are you waiting for?

Blue:....I don't think I should do this

Asta: Why not?

Blue: This isn't what I would do

Velvet: Oh come on, do it! You're not fat

Blue: It isn't that.

Yuno: We won't judge you for your face

Blue:......Fine

I took off my mask, which I haven't done in a while, the same outlines were present on my face. I took off my eye bandage and placed it neatly on the side, then I took off my clothes but left my shorts on.

I don't like the fact that I would be completely naked.

When we enter the water, I noticed that Asta, Yuno, Yami and Leo were staring at me. Confused, I looked behind to see if anyone is behind me, but there was no one

Blue: What are you looking at?

Leopold: B-Blue....your body

Blue: What about it?

Asta: Y-You're covered in scars!

Yuno: There are so many.

Velvet:.....He did it, didn't he?

Yami: What the hell happened to you?

Blue: I....prefer not to speak about it

Asta: T-That's fine man, but holy hell, there really is a lot

Yuno: We will stop talking about it now

Leopold: Y-Yeah, let's just enjoy ourselves here

Everyone moves on from my scars and begins to talk about the Royal Knights Exam that would take place in a few days. I was relaxing for once and splashed my face with the water, it helped with the marks on my face by making them more faint.

Then all of a sudden, Yami had an idea from into his head, and he started to motivate the other guys to climb over the wall to....peak on the girls?

But why? Why would he do that?

This managed to convince Leopold and the Crimson Lions squad to follow his lead and climb over.

Velvet: WHAT?! Is he insane?!

Blue: What is he doing?

Velvet: Something absolutely vile! Don't follow him, Blue! He will change you into something bad!

Blue: Wasn't going to anyways

We watched as the ones who wanted to climb the wall were thwarted by Sol, who threatened to punish them severely if they try it again. After a few minutes of more relaxing, I decided to get out so I could have some time to myself.

Asta: Blue are you not going to stay longer?

Blue: I'll be on the side

Asta: Are you sure?

Blue: I need to think to myself for a moment

Asta: Okay! Uhh...think well!

I got up and put my clothes back on, hiding my scars again, then I put my eye bandage back on, I decided to hold onto my mask for now, before travelling up from the Hot Springs.

Velvet: Are you sure you don't want to relax more? You do deserve it

Blue. I know Velvet but I need time to think to myself, there are many things invading my mind.

Velvet: Like what?

Blue: The Royal Knights Exam, the Midnight Sun's base being discovered, Licht's true plan. I'm trying to map out a path that would take us to victory

Velvet: And I'm assuming that you're going to be in the heat of it all?

Blue: Of course, I do not like to brag, but I am one of the strongest Magic Knights in the kingdom. I have to be focused.

Velvet: Okay but please be careful, I don't want to see you hurt

Blue: Why does it matter? I'm dead already

Velvet: Yes I know but-!

Mereoleona: So you're still the same masked kid I know, separating yourself from the others. But I can see that you have finally started to take the mask off

Blue: Oh right, you've never seen me like this

Mereoleona: Of course, you would always deny me everytime I asked to see it. So tell me, what's with the eye patch?

Blue:.....It's a long story

Mereoleona: Don't try it, we have time

Blue: I don't want to explain it

Mereoleona: Painful memories?

Blue: Yes....

Mereoleona:.....[Sighs] Fine, I won't bother you on it.

Mereoleona walks up to me and cups my face with her hand, squeezing it every second.

Mereoleona: But what I want to know, is why your face is so soft and not much of a fear factor?!

Blue: I'm a child

Mereoleona: You're almost a young adult!

Blue:......

Mereoleona: [Lets Go] You've always been so damn strange, but that's what always drove me to fight you

Blue: We've only had one fight

Mereoleona: Because you kept on avoiding me after the last one

Blue: There is no point for us to fight

Mereoleona: It is if we want to get stronger!

Blue: There are other ways to get stronger, as you explained before.

Mereoleona:.....You're right, I did just explain it to that shrimp. Haha, you're an interesting kid, it's a good thing you're with us, you will be a great asset.

Blue: I honestly think you can take on the Midnight Sun yourself, well maybe not Licht because he is still hiding something

Mereoleona: Don't think that I'm not, I've been gone a while, and I can say the Sans about you, because you've clearly got some secrets

Blue: You're right, I have grown exceptionally in power. But I've also discovered things about myself, then I never knew before. But you can't tell anyone because only a select few know, and I would like to keep that way for now

Mereoleona: Fine, but what are you trying to tell me?

Blue: I'm......not alive....I'm a walking, takkimg corpse

Mereoleona:......You're not joking, are you?

Blue: I wouldn't when it comes to this

Mereoleona: Haha, I would call someone mad for telling me that, but since it is you telling me this....I have to believe it.

Blue:.....I'll talk to you later then

Mereoleona: Yeah, same, you don't need to tell me your past at the moment. Just make sure you're ready for the Exam, because I want to see what you're capable of

Blue: Okay.

Mereoleona walks back to the Hot Springs and I stand still for a moment, before turning around to watch the flames and lava of my surroundings.

_______________________

Alright lads, and ladies if there are any, this is the point where the story will be on hold until further notice.

At best, this story will come back in March.

I just got to focus on other things, including my new career as a Solo Game Designer.

The Star Festival and Hot Springs Arc is now Complete!

And the next Arc will be the Royal Knights Exam!

I have never finished this arc on the other two Black Clover Stories, so bare with me.