Narrator: The Clover Kingdom... In this place where the be all end all is magic, there is one boy who can't use it. His name is Asta. His strength, desire, guts and overwhelming determination to best his childhood friends and rivals helped him become a Magic Knight. And though his situation is practically unheard of, there are a few within the Clover Kingdom that share his plight in having tiny amounts of mana but can barely use any spells at all. These people make up a very small minority, forced to live their lives in the shadows.

We see a man walking with a cane before he cruelly falls down, the cause more than likely from exhaustion but he doesn't waver, picking up his walking aid and marching forward.

But like everyone else, they do their best to survive until the next day's approach.

Marie Adlai finds herself waking up in a place.... that wasn't her usual sleeping arrangements at the church back in Nean. Instead of a window with the sun beaming down on the ten year old kid, she was subjected to the borderline view of jars with various dead creatures in them.... her focus was heavy, eyes droopy but her hearing was sharpened as the unmistakable sound of footsteps were engrained into her tiny ears...

Marie: Where.. where am I? What am I doing here, who are you people? WAIT, I remember!

Secre: I see you're finally awake, kid.

She turns to find a frowning but almost worried Secre Swallowtail, also known as Nero to the Black Bulls who like Marie is chained up.

Marie: It's you. You're friends with Asta, Tyrus and my brother, Gauche!

Secre: Yes. My name is Nero. Our magic has been sealed so we have no means of escaping so we're their prisoners. And I borrowed a tracking device from Asta but they figured out that a signal was being traced from it and wound up taking it too.

Marie: Miss Nero, who kidnapped us? Do you know who these people are?

Secre: I wish I could say. The only thing this girl and I have in common is our attachment to the Black Bulls and we were accused of working with the devil. If I had to wager, they're probably planning to use us as a means of leverage somehow....

Upstairs, Kabwe Carillon, ex-Magic Parliament Guard under Damnatio Kira and co-founder of the Devil Banisher puts his mask on, smirking as he knew time was running short on Marie and Secre's lives.

Kabwe: This is all for the sake of justice.

Alongside him were his two main co-conspirators and founders, Dazu Tayak and Bow Nocde.

Dazu: Yes, truly, Master Kabwe. It's our responsibility to rid this Kingdom of the influence of devil's evil servants and rebuild what they decimated. It shall be done, by any and all means necessary.

A vile smirk paints across the devastated widow's face.... she was going to avenge her deceased loved one's deaths even should it come at the cost of her own life. But she was going to make sure she would take Marie, Secre and... Asta the magic-less Black Bull with her to the grave if she anything to say about it!

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The time is 11:35 in the morning in the Common Realm town of Lehart which is situated near the ocean but even closer to the Kingdom's borders walls. The cheering had been non-stop and had only intensified with each passing second and minute. The reason? Two simaulteanous public executions, of Black Bull Secre Swallowtail better known her to the squad as Nero and Black Bull Gauche Adlai's younger sister Marie were set to occur within thirty minutes at the hands of the rogue faction known as the Devil Banishers based on the belief Secre and Marie had been in league with the now deceased devil Zagred after the Eye of the Midnight Sun totaled parts of the Clover Kingdom.... but these dual public murders were set to also have another purpose... luring out the devil possessed Black Bull known as Asta. Unbeknownst to the Banishers, many Magic Knights have infiltrated the town. At one part of the town, you had the superstar trio of Black Bulls in Asta, Tyrus Hail and Noelle Silva all disguised as commoners of Lehart their gears completely hidden underneath their get ups as they hid in the shadows.

Tyrus: No sign of Marie or Nero.

Noelle: Yes.... and there's so many people. You can barely make them out from up here.

Woman: OUR KINGDOM DESERVES JUSTICE FOR EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE SUFFERED! AND THE DEVIL BANISHERS ARE GOING TO MAKE SURE WE GET IT ALL BACK IN BLOOD! KILL THOSE TRAITORS NOW!

The rest of the Black Bulls who are also in disguise, join their trio of squad-mates in the shadows, making sure they weren't seen as they witnessed the mob growing with minutes seemingly turning into hours.

Man: GET ON WITH IT!

Man: WE WANT TO SEE BLOOD! KILL THE DEVIL'S SERVANTS!

Woman: Haha! I can't wait for the show, it serves these two right!

Yami: This is insane.... all these people coming out for blood to spill.

Gauche: They're all going to die for disrespecting my angel!

Tyrus: Keep it fucking down, Gauche! You don't think we all want to save Marie, let alone Nero? But we can't do that if you won't let cooler heads prevail and go down wreaking havoc. You'll just make the Devil Banishers execute her that much quicker!

Zora: They sure are amped up about wanting a couple of girls to die.

Grey: This is so terrifying! I couldn't be in Nero or Marie's shoes, I know they must be scared out of their m-m-minds!

Asta: Hang in there, you guys, we're coming to get you, soon enough!

PING! PING! PING! PING!

Yami: All right, everyone listen up, we got a message from Julius, so eyes locked in and shut the fuck up.

On the other end, the adolescent-fied 28th Wizard King Julius Novachrono and his aide Marx Francois keep in communication with the Magic Knight Captains in Yami, Charlotte Roselei, Fuegoleon Vermillion, Nozel Silva, Jack the Ripper as well as the Magic Parliament Chairman, Damnatio Kira.

Julius: All right Black Bulls, it appears all squads are in position. We're just waiting on the Devil Banishers to show up with Marie and Nero. Their executions are scheduled for high noon, so we have roughly 20 minutes until they fully arrive. We don't know the strength in numbers they have. But from what I've heard, I'm sure they're going to use a wide range of spell and various drugs. So do be careful everyone. Though this mission may prove difficult, I trust you'll do everything to recover the captives in the Devil Banishers custody. Right now, the Crimson Lion Kings and Silver Eagles will assist with the rescue efforts while making sure none of the civilians in the crowd are caught in the crossfire. Next the Blue Rose Knights and Green Praying Mantises are to patrol the square at all times. And finally, given their closeness to the situation, it's only appropiate that the Black Bulls take the lead on this mission and rescue the hostages.

Selene, Charlotte, Sol and Borja in addition Jack and some of his Green Praying Mantises in Willie are seen together behind a crowd of people.

Yami: Sounds good to me. But someone who has no stake in this mission whatsoever decided to tag along. Maybe he's got a guilty conscience considering three of his subordinates could be behind this mess. It'll be a bad ass mess if he decides to act on his own.

Julius: This rescue is top priority. Can we trust you'll go along with our operation unabated, Chairman Kira?

Damnatio raises the device to his mouth and confirms his alliance.

Damnatio: Yes, that is my intention, Sir. I do not plan on overstepping my boundaries here. I just wish to confirm something first and that is whether Kabwe, Siona and Onoby are truly responsible in forming this group. The Devil Banishers. Moreover if Asta uses the devil's power in front of such a concentrated crowd this large in numbers, then more than likely more anger and confusion will be created. So I have to ask-

Yami: Of course he's not going to use it. Do you honestly believe we'd that insane or stupid?

Tyrus: You can trust Asta, Chairman Damnatio. Asta wouldn't hurt innocent people, no matter how misguided they are currently.

Yami: All right, squad. Everyone except the kid and Gauche, keep your eyes peeled on the square like we discussed previously. Break off into pairs if you need to. These girls are two of our own, so don't get any ideas of fucking around with their lives on the line!

Black Bulls: Right!

Julius: Good luck everyone. And do be careful.

Their communication channels faze out.

Marx: The other squads are watching over the Noble Realm right now, Your Majesty. As per your request.

Julius: Right, thank you. We have to make sure that the executions could be a possible ruse to potentially distract while causing trouble elsewhere.

Marx: Yes. We should do everything in our possible power to put a stop to the Devil Banishers plans. If they succeed in their ambitions, then they'll without throw the Kingdom into even greater distress than it already is in.

Julius forloningly stares at his potted pink rose plant touching the vibrant pink petals one by one.

Julius: Yes. It's up to the Magic Knights.

Mimosa: We haven't seen anything unusual yet. I hope their rescue mission goes smoothly.

Mimosa, Klaus and Yuno had all been using various means of transport to get back to the Clover Kingdom as Klaus loudly talks to them with the air whipping around them.

Klaus: Yes, with Captain Vangeance away protecting the borders, we cannot really contribute much to that part of His Majesty's plan. But that's no excuse to not be on high alert!

Mimosa and Yuno: Right!

Bell better known as her proper name as the Wind Spirit Sylph, expressed her disdain to her contracted master and his squad-mates.

Bell: Ah phooey! Why do we have to patrol?! You're the best fighter out of all them, Yuno! You should be smack dab right in the middle of all the action!

Yuno: Because the two kidnapped victims are directly affected by the Black Bulls, if we showed up out of nowhere, then the suspects alarms would've been put on high alert. Besides the plan's already been made, what's done is done.

He zooms past her, not even acknowledging a majority of his latent power and abilities. Meanwhile Vanessa, Gordon, Grey and the rest of the Bulls sans Asta and Gauche stood amongst the sea of people as a random woman shouted with only some three minutes remaining.

Woman: It's almost time! BRING OUT THE DEVIL'S SERVANTS! THE PURVEYORS OF JUSTICE WILL SOON ARRIVE TO GRANT US OUR REVENGE!

Man: Right! Damn the Magic Knights and Magic Parliament! The Devil Banishers are the only ones who know what is truly best for the Clover Kingdom!

Woman: I AGREE!

Man: THEY'RE THE ONES WHO CAN UPHOLD THE LAW!

Finral: And I bet some of those guys are lurking around in the crowd somewhere in this very moment!

Noelle: How are we going to find them?

Tyrus: Finding these bastards is like trying to find a couple of needles in a giant haystack, you wouldn't know until you get pricked by them!

Zora: Good God, these moronic ass people have lost it! Makes me wonder if they all been drugged like the kid was.

Vanessa surveys the crowd and begins to leave but she is quickly followed by two individuals hot on the ever attractive witches' trail.

Gauche: Goddamnit! I should be down there! Look Captain, I can't stand being up being a useless ass sibling. Not when I know Marie is minutes away from losing her life along with my squad-mate!

Asta: OOH, can I come with you!?

Yami smashes both of their heads with his fists, shutting them up after they gain a few bumps.

Yami: Pipe the fuck down, both of you! You'll get us caught. If you go waltzing in there, either one of you, then you'll give the Banishers all the ammunition they need to off your sister and Nero on the spot like Tyrus said! Give your squad and the other captains the benefit of the fucking doubt!

Asta: Okay, but we can't just stay here and do nothing.

Yami: You're our ace in the hole, kid. We need to wait for our moment, not a second sooner or later.

Asta bites his tongue, acknowledging his Captain's orders.

Asta: Understood.

Nozel: Still no sign of the Banishers yet, Yami. Truly mystifying.

Fuegoleon: It's noon right now, wherever could this insidious group be?

Suddenly Lehart's giant town clock ticks at noon, as the town bell rings throughout the land.

Tyrus: It's showtime, no Devil Banishers still. You don't think they're playing everyone for saps, do you?

Sol: I gotta say, I'm not seeing anyone in the crowd who looks overly suspicious.

Selene: Yeah... it's as if they were expecting the Magic Knights to possibly show up today and played chicken with everyone.

Charlotte: Still stay on guard, ladies.

Selene: Right, Captain Charlotte!

Jack: Keh-Keh! What a bunch of fucking morons, they didn't even arrive on time to their own event!

Devil Banisher: Hey there... witch.

Vanessa: How did you?!

Male Devil Banisher: If you have any intent in seeing your friends survive, then you'll do as we say from here on out, do you understand?

Vanessa makes a move for her grimoire.... but she stops herself almost actively trying to resist from the high threats towards Secre and Marie's lives.

Devil Banisher: One wrong move and we WILL kill the hostages oh so quickly and painfully. And we'll do it before they even have a chance to get out in front of the crowd.

Devil Banisher: Start walking towards the exit. And do it slowly and convincingly.

Vanessa: I knew I wouldn't sense their mana. They're actively hiding it. But I didn't expect to approach me like this, out in the open. It's all right though....

She looks towards Noelle and Tyrus who don't seemingly acknowledge the plight of her situation.

Vanessa: If anything, I'm sure the group can handle this now that I've been busted. Understood, you two have a nice day.

Vanessa walks away, Yami disappointed that one of his top subordinates had been busted but now it was officially confirmed. The Devil Banishers were within the crowd.

Yami: And there they are, they make their presence known.

At the pedestal in front of the bloodstained scribbling stood the Devil Banishers with their handcuffed prisoners.

Kabwe: Greetings everyone and all who are enemies of the devil! The time has come strike.... IN THE NAME OF RIGHTEOUSNESS!

Stepping through their leaders' Transparency Magic emerged the main trio of the masked Bow, Dazu, Kabwe along with other central figureheads in Onoby, Siona and many others who wanted revenge against Asta's devil powers.

Kabwe: WE ARE THE DEVIL BANISHERS! THOSE WHO WISH FOR THE DEVIL'S DEMISE!

Roars of approval rained down on the Devil Banishers as the Black Bulls, Magic Knight Captains and the few captains subordinates brought along all finally witness the moment at hand.

Tyrus: Captain Yami... Noelle and I have got the Banishers, Marie and Nero in our view.

Yami: Copy that, kid. You and the others stick the shadows and don't get caught like Vanessa.

Gauche: MARIE!

Yami: What the fuck did I tell you?! Settle down, you moron!

Nozel: Now I fully understand how they were able to conceal their mana so rigidly, everyone take a look at their wrists.

The three main leaders are what coiled metal serpents around their respective wrists which alerts Fuegoleon.

Fuegoleon: However it only appears there are three of the Devil Banishers who are wearing them....

Kabwe: THE EVIDENCE OF THIS WOMAN'S GUILT IS OH SO OBVIOUS! SHE WEARS HORNS ON THE TOP OF HER HEAD! SHEER PROOF THAT SHE WORK ALONGSIDE THE DEVIL AND HAS HAD PRIOR EXPERIENCE IN THE USAGE OF FORBIDDEN MAGIC!

Man: DISGUSTING WHORE!

Man: SHE IS EVIL INCARNATE!

Kabwe wasn't finished in smearing the two girls' names however.

Kabwe: BUT I'M NOT FINISHED! THE CHILD WHO SITS NEXT TO HER, THE SISTER TO A MAGIC KNIGHT WHO IS A FORMER CRIMINAL IS ALSO CUT FROM THE SAME CLOTH OF BEING THE DEVIL'S SERVANT! WE HAVE UNDENIABLE PROOF THAT THESE TWO HAVE DESTROYED COUNTLESS LIVES!

Man: That's what I don't get though.... how could anyone accuse such an innocent and adorable face like that?

Man: NAY FUCK THAT, KILL BOTH OF THEM! MY GRANDMOTHER DIED BECAUSE OF THEIR HEINOUS ACTIONS, OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!

Woman: They should've been put to death a long time ago! WHY NOW?!

Damnatio had heard everything and that voice was everything he needed to confirm, the man behind the rogue faction hellbent on exacting their brand of justice was none other led by than his own ex-Parliament Guard Kabwe Carillon. But he wondered, could Siona and Onoby, two of his most trusted guards also be a part of these heinous proceedings?

Parliament Guard: Lord Damnatio, if that barrier explodes, it's not only going to do a lot of damage to the city of Lehart but a large contingent of people could wind up seriously harmed!

Damnatio: Damn you, Kabwe! I understand you seek justice for your late nephew, but this... this is the wrong way to go about it. How can you expect the innocent to pay the price of your selfish ambition?!

Yami: That magic... since it's Barrier Magic, one of Scale-Boy's lackeys is definitely one of the Devil Banishers as well.

Kabwe: BUT WE MUSTN'T FORGET THE TRUE CRIMINAL OF THIS ALL! THERE IS ONE BOY WHO WAS POSSESSED BY THE DEVIL HIMSELF, AND WE HATE HIM EVEN MORE THAN WE COULD THESE TWO GIRLS! THAT TRAITOR'S NAME.... IS ASTA!

Tyrus: Fuck.... I wasn't actually thinking he was going to leak his goddamn name to the world. This man is a lunatic.

Noelle: How far are the Devil Banishers willing to go on this maniacal crusade?!

Kabwe: EVERY DROP OF INNOCENT HUMAN BLOOD SPILLED BY THE EYE OF THE MIDNIGHT SUN IS PURELY ON HIS HANDS! NO ONE ELSE BUT ASTA'S! WE KNOW THAT YOU ARE HERE AMONGST US, ASTA! COME OUT SO THAT WE MAY SPILL YOUR BLOOD AND AVENGE THE MANY OF FALLEN THAT WE CANNOT BRING BACK! WE WANT NOTHING MORE THAN TO SEE YOU DEAD AT OUR FEET, YOU FOOL!

Magna: It's just like Captain Yami, Noe-Noe and Little Rex said-

Noelle: Even if Asta were to take the blame for all of that, they still wouldn't stop this!

Tyrus: What's to stop these fools from launching a full-scale revolution against the Kingdom? If they found the Wizard King has been reduced to his adolescent state, that would only fuel these clowns more!

Kabwe: HOWEVER, IF YOU COME FORWARD IMMEDIATELY! THEN WE WILL SPARE THESE TWO GIRLS LIVES AT THE BEHEST THAT YOU DIE IMMEDIATELY AS PENANCE FOR ALL THE LIVES LOST IN THE PREVIOUS ATTACKS AND DESTRUCTION! ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS PLEAD GUILTY! YOUR TWO COMPANIONS WILL WALK FREE WITHOUT A SCRATCH!

At that point, Asta was ready to jump into the fray, damn if his life was on the line.

Asta: Nero! Marie! DAMN IT!

Kabwe: OH ASTA, WHY HAVEN'T YOU RESPONDED?! IT SEEMS AS IF YOU WANT YOUR SQUAD-MATE AND THIS HELPLESS LITTLE GIRL TO DIE! IT MUST MEAN YOU TRULY VALUE YOUR LIFE OVER THEIRS! BUT TO US THE DEVIL BANISHERS THE ORDER IN WHICH WE KILL YOU DOES NOT MAKE A DIFFERENCE AT ALL! OUR OFFER STILL STANDS! PRESENT YOURSELF, AND THEY WALK AWAY UNHARMED!

Woman: OF COURSE HE WOULD!

Man: THAT'S WHAT DEVILS DO, THEY'RE INHERENTLY SELFISH!

Noelle: Asta would never abandon his friends!

Tyrus: God fucking damn, it's killing me we can't spring into action just yet! Nero, Marie, please forgive us, we hate dangling your lives like prizes like we're doing right now!

Kabwe then motions for a dagger that a masked Dazu hands him as he levels it towards Secre's throats, a snarl both anger and fear induced mixed into her face while tears ran down Marie's face.

Kabwe: Very well.... We have our answer from the Devil-Possessed boy known as Asta.

He dances it along the ancient being's throat before taunting her.

Kabwe: Oh, you thought I was going to kill you? No. Do it!

A masked Devil Banisher raises a long-sword high above Secre and Marie's heads their faces gleaming in the stainless steel but before he could decapitate them-

Asta: STOP! I'M OVER HERE, DEVIL BANISHERS!

Asta in all his short, hot-blooded glory stands in the parted sea of public executioner-goers as the Devil Banisher with the sword sheathes the sword meant to kill his squad-mate and Marie.

Kabwe: Good, now approach the stage, fool.

Finral looks up to the box where Yami resides as they stay on the same wavelength.

Yami: I don't see Vanessa... hopefully she's taken out those two bozos that caught her red-handed. But there's no time in lamenting in our loss of numbers.

Devil Banisher: You little.... FREAK!

Kabwe: THIS IS HIM, EVERYONE! GET A GOOD LOOK! FOR THIS IS THE ONE VILLAIN THAT DESTROYED OUR KINGDOM!

Woman: YOU MURDERED MY ENTIRE FAMILY! THIS WON'T BRING THEM BACK, BUT SO LONG AS DIE AND ROT IN HELL, I'LL SLEEP HAPPY TONIGHT!

Man: KILL HIM!

Asta: LOOK, I SWEAR TO YOU ALL, WE DON'T WORK WITH THE DEVIL!

Man: SHUT YOUR MOUTH YOU DAMN DEMON!

A wayward stone hits Asta's square in his mouth, surprisingly blood being drawn after the hit, horrifying Marie and Secre.

Secre: ASTA!

Marie: NO!

Noelle makes a move for him but her boyfriend stops her.

Tyrus: I know you're worried about him, but we can't blow our cover. Not yet, Noelle. Let him get a chance.

Asta, breathing heavily continues to walk forward, the blood dripping slowly before Kabwe commands him to stop.

Kabwe: Stay right there, you mistake. We shall be confiscating your grimoire as well. Heheh.... aww, did that ruin your plans, boy? Well, GET A GOOD LOOK AT ALL THE LIVES YOU HAVE RUINED IN YOUR BRUTAL SIEGES AGAINST OUR HOMES! We know that you were planning on intending to use your Anti-magic to cancel out our spells so that could you free our captives while defeating us that much quicker. We also figured taking down our barrier figured to be the first step in that plan.

Asta: Damn it!

Man: COME ON, KILL HIM!

Woman: KILL HIM! KILL THE DEVIL POSSESSED!

Asta: Are you Devil Banishers people of your words? If I take all of the blame, then at the cost of my life will you free Marie and Nero, without going back on your promise? I WANT TO KNOW RIGHT HERE AND NOW!

Kabwe: Well, yes. That IS what I just said what I planned on doing.

Asta: Then step away from them, all of you! And sheathe your swords, and then I'll hand you my grimoire. No tricks and no deception.

Kabwe: Well, certainly. You heard the boy. Sheathe your swords.

The Banishers tending to Secre and Marie step away, swords sheathed in their guards as the masked cult leader looks at Asta.

Kabwe: Now then, I held up my end of the bargain. Hand over your grimoire and your life, Asta.

Asta slowly unlatches the book-holder for this Five-Leaf Grimoire as this would be the last time in his life he would ever wield it.... thinking back on all the good time and battles he had with it he smiles before walking up to Kabwe who smiles deviously before he notices a growing... shadow and the REAL ASTA COMING FROM THE SKY!

Kabwe: NO!

Onoby: I-Impossible! THERE'S TWO ASTA'S!?

Yami: All we really needed was for you fucking morons to look away from your hostages for just a couple seconds!

Yami discards his robe, muscles flexing as Finral, Tyrus, Noelle and the rest of the Black Bulls also tossing their dingy cloaks in the air, springing into action with the Senior Magic Knight calling out-

Tyrus: OH YOU THINK WE LOSING, DEVIL BANISHERS? NO BITCH, Y'ALL LOSING! BLACK BULLS, ROAM TOGETHER, GET NERO AND MARIE! TAKE OUT ANY DEVIL BANISHERS THAT GET IN YOUR WAY!

Black Bulls: RIGHT!

Yami: Dark Magic: Dark Cloaked, LIGHTLESS SLASH!

He quickly unsheathes his katana, unleashing a hellish Lightless Slash creating a crater impact which takes multiple people including several innocents and only one Devil Banisher just as the duplicate Asta fazes out and turns into the Grey!

Grey: YIKES THAT WAS SUPER EMBARRASSING!

Asta: HAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!

The real Asta comes down on top of the barrier with the Demon Slayer Sword, easily shattering Onoby's barrier just as Bow throws out another sleeping potion, but this time it's ineffective on him.

Asta: YEAH RIGHT! SLEEPING POTIONS WON'T WORK ON ME THIS TIME!

Siona emerges from the dust cloud-

Siona: Paper Magic, Dagger-Folding Early Summer Rain!

Asta: OHHHHHHAAAAAAARAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! NERO! MARIE! GET OUT, NOW'S YOUR CHANCE!

The Banishers turn around and immediately catch Finral in the act of evacuating Secre and Marie out of the hellish combat.

Finral: Oh God!

Siona: NICE TRY!

Finral: MEEP!

Luck: HAHAHA!

He and Magna jump into the air and fire off their chain combo spell which immediately gets absorbed into Onoby's dual barriers. More collisions happened throughout Lehart as people scrambled for cover with the Blue Rose Knights ready to render aid.

Sol: You ready?

Selene: Yeah! Let's go help my brother and the Black Bulls!

Charlotte: On my command!

Jack: Keh-keh! Look alive boys, things are startin' to crank up fully!

Man: RUN AWAY!

More individuals put on masks and jump onto the podium or otherwise spring into action.

Dazu: The others are buying some time for us.

Kabwe: Transparency Magic, Share the Same Fate!

The Banishers, Secre and Marie begin to phase out and this alarms Tyrus as he clashes swords with a Devil Banisher who he promptly knocks out.

Tyrus: SHIT, DEVIL BANISHERS ARE TRYING TO MAKE A RUN FOR IT! SOMEONE STOP THEM!

Asta: CRAP! NERO! MARIE! GET THE HELL BACK HERE, YOU BUNCHA COWARDS!

Yami: Tch! Move it! Get out of here! GET AS FAR AWAY FROM HERE AS YOU CAN! KID WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU!?

He doesn't see it but more Banishers are on the foreigner's tail as they through drugs at him!

Noelle: More drugs?! Water Creation Magic, Sea Dragon's Lair!

Tyrus: Haha! That's my girl!

But his confidence would start to shrink as the barrier would begin vanishing due to the pure malice and toxicity of the drugs.

Noelle: Something's very wrong.... I can't control Sea Dragon's Lair like how I want to!

Charmy: DO SOMETHING! ANYTHING! I DON'T WANNA BE SQUISHED YET!

Finral appears as Gauche begins to interrogate him.

Gauche: What happened, and why the hell do you not have my angel of a sister?!

Finral: Asta went after her, Nero and the Devil Banishers! I'm sorry Gauche, I would've went too but the smoke's affecting my magic as well as my eyesight so I can't go!

Zora: He's not lying... the traps I set up around the square ain't responding either. I'm not sure but there's something fishy going with this batch of drugs these clowns have on them.

Yami: If that's how they're gonna cheat to win, then fine! Then we'll just bully our way towards Nero and Gauche's baby sister!

He charges out of the barrier and nails all of the minions with a Lightless Slash.....

Magna: That's what I'm talking about, Captain Yami! Hell yeah, Sir!

Tyrus: Captain's got the right idea, everyone pick as many off as you can! Try to find Asta if you can!

Just as Tyrus steps and cloaks his fists in ice to clobber more drones, Mercury rains and protects him from would be assassins. He turns around Nozel and siblings Nebra and Solid emerging from the bright, blue sky.

Nozel: Nebra, Solid, help all of the civilians evacuate the town, now!

Nebra: It shall be done, Captain!

Damnatio: FALL TO YOUR KNEES, SHAMELESS DOGS!

Damnatio activates his Scale Magic with two Banisher bending their knees in front of the Chairman to the Magic Parliament.

Fuegoleon: BEGONE, YOU EVIL MENACES TO THE KINGDOM!

Salamander erupts from its slumber and in windy blaze of glory the Banishers Damnatio had under his thumb seemingly-

Yami: The fuck? Did they vanish?!

Amidst all of the chaos, Vanessa finally stopped her two captors and remember she had the magical and physical advantage over them.

Vanessa: All right, enough damn games. Care to tell me where we're going?

Devil Banisher: Oh no where in particular, really.

Devil Banisher: We have info on all you damned Black Bulls. And we happen to know your magic grants you the ability to change the very course of fate, so all we really needed was to get away from the square.

Vanessa smirks.

Vanessa: I see. That's a smart plan, except even without altering, you seem to have forgotten I already know that my friends have freed the two hostages you were hellbent on executing today. Which means-

She jumps back, Grimoire lighting up.

Vanessa: I'm free to beat the ever-loving hell out of you!

Devil Banisher: We know we can't beat a Magic Knight. We also happen to know you read the memories of those you capture in combat.

Devil Banisher: Simply put, our jobs are done here. We came into this operation completely understanding our roles in the whole mission towards driving the devil to its demise. We even prepared to sacrifice ourselves in the end.

The duo that pulled that the stunning witch to the side proceed in pulling out and revealing two cannisters, indicated by the skull and bones logo imprinted on the bottle. They smash them together revealing a blue light, which immediately devours their souls and bodies in a glorious blaze, traumatizing Vanessa!

Vanessa: N-N-NO! YOU IDIOTS JUST TOOK YOUR LIVES WITHOUT QUESTION?! Was this mission of theirs to kill Asta that damn important?!

Asta: I feel their ki's! Nero and Marie, they're close, I know it!

Asta looks to the left and out of the corner he sees Secre being snatched up and driven into the dark alley by a Banisher! He goes down the path where he confronts the group as Kabwe smirks, with the swords once again drawn to the girls throats.

Kabwe: It's over, Asta.

Secre: Let us go!

Onoby: Chasing us down, without any backup? What exactly were you thinking kid? That's exactly what we wanted you to do you moron!

Dazu: An absolute fool. You think with your heart but not your brain. It's decision like those that can cost your life or perserve it. Now it's time to surrender the grimoire!

Bow: And if you even think about resisting, we will not hesitate in extingushing your friends' lives!

Asta grits his teeth as he hears shouting in the distance.

Tyrus: ASTA!

Asta: Ty?! How the hell did you find me?

Tyrus: You shout too damn loudly for one and two, Nero's magic. The rest of the gang are handling the peanut gallery, Noelle told me to find you as soon as I could free myself of all chaos.

Dazu: Ah yes, your rival and foster brother. The long lost noble son of House Hail.

Tyrus: And if you know what the oldest of House Hail is all about, it's that I don't take my friends' lives being threatened so casually. Give me one damn reason I shouldn't blitz the hell out of all of you. I've done it to stronger cockroaches.

Secre: Asta.... Tyrus....

Tyrus: You and Marie just hang on a little longer, Nero! We're going to free you, you just gotta trust Asta and I.

Asta: We won't let these clowns hurt you two, I promise you!

Onoby: Hahaha! You two are really funny, I'd like to see you try to get out of this with his Grimoire and these girls lives intact! And him using the devil's power!

Tyrus: How about I show you true f-

Asta shoves the Demon-Slayer Sword and promptly closes the Five Leaf Grimoire.

Tyrus: Asta, the fuck are you doing?!

Asta: You think I want to do this, but I can't! I just can't sacrifice Nero and Marie, Ty.

Bow smirks, knowing Asta resigns in defeat while she nods at Dazu to retrieve the grimoire. They go and place cuffs on both boys.

Tyrus: This isn't the end, we will stomp collective mudholes in ALL of you, even if it kills me.

Dazu: Learn when you are defeated, Sir Hail. Well Master Kabwe, shall we take the others before the reinforcements arrive?

Kabwe: No I'd rather watch the noble suffer as I kill the devil's servants or his friends as he so boldly charges, and then we can kill him since he'd rather defend them then mankind.

Tyrus: Don't get it twisted, I'd lay my life down for humanity but this crusade you're going on. It does NOTHING for humankind, you let tragedy and anger twist and cloud your judgement.

Dazu and Bow actually stand shocked in the face of what their cohort and co-founder just said.

Dazu: That's not what we agreed on!

Kabwe: Make no mistake, the Magic Knights are a powerful bunch. I underestimated their strength and ability to gel so quickly. We were absolutely lucky to get this far today. And the previous day at that! If we wish to succeed, then killing these four right here, right now is the best way to ensure the Devil Banishers grow stronger.

Dazu: But, Sir!

Suddenly she is halted when a Banisher raises his rapier but not towards her but Kabwe!

Kabwe: What're you doing?!

Devil Banisher: You coward! Why are you so scared now all of a sudden?

Onoby: Don't you dare disrespect Master Kabwe!

Tyrus: Asta, now!

Asta: Right!

They gut-check Bow as Asta bull-rushes the Devil Banisher holding Marie hostage, knocking him on his back as the ice mage catches her.

Devil Banisher: YOU LITTLE-

Tyrus: DON'T YOU DARE-

Asta: HURT NERO!

She closes her eyes ready to accept death with her throat being slit but... the sword and sensation of warm blood dribbling down her neck never comes... Tyrus breaks the seemingly invincible chains just as Siona steps in front.

Siona: You won't be able to avoid these.... if you two do, they'll just hit the girl and kill her.

Tyrus: Try me, bitch!

Asta: TY!

Siona: Paper Magic, Dagger-Folding Early Summer Rain!

Tyrus: That's it? Ice Magic, Hodr's Shield!

The massive shield comes down ready to eat the attack while shielding Asta and Marie but the paper immediately becomes shredded from malicious wind, with only a few getting destroyed on the ice spell!

Siona: Uh, uh! AHHHHH!

Dazu: What's happening!?

Tyrus: There's only one person I know with that type of wind spell.....

He looks up to find in the air, Mimosa, Klaus and Yuno with his wind spirit guardian Bell looking at the chaotic scene.

Yuno: This must be them... the Devil Banishers, right?

Tyrus: Yuno, my guy. Happy to see a familiar face!

Asta: Yuno? Where'd you guys come from?

Bell: Heheh! Aw, we were just in the neighborhood so we figured we would drop by and give you two a hand!

Tyrus: Heh. I'll thank you, just this once Bell since I know Yuno doesn't enough.

Klaus: In reality we were really supposed to be patrolling but when we heard the consistent explosions, we just figured it had to be the Devil Banishers running around. That and I believe in earnest Captain Vangeance would want us to intervene.

Mimosa: Asta, Tyrus! I hope you two aren't injured!

Tyrus: Nope aside from these clowns annoying the hell out of us, we're perfectly fine, Mimosa!

Asta: But we'd really appreciate it if you could help Nero, thanks!

Onoby: Damn Golden Dawn, you'll pay for this!

He fires off an attack spell meant to detonate on contact, but Yuno utterly decimates with one tornado!

Dazu: Damn it all, if the other Black Bull and the Golden Dawn hadn't showed up, we would've had Asta and his grimoire for sure!

Bow: We need to retreat before they catch us!

She reaches for another potion but a dagger made of ice barely misses Bow as it sticks into the wall...

Tyrus: Reach for the sky, Devil Banisher. The next one, I'm aiming for either your throat or your heart. We can play target practice.

Bow: Not going to happen, Black Bull!

She throws up a smoke bomb which explodes after roughly three seconds blinding the Hage trio of Hope, Mimosa, Klaus and Marie. Nero begins to fall woozily due to the effect.

Asta: LET NERO GO!

Bow: Also not happening, now all of you stand down or we'll slit Nero's throat!

Tyrus: And what do you think happens to you? You'll have the weight of the Black Bulls stampeding on your dumbasses!

Bell: Really, they're running away?!

Yuno: Unbelievable. Hah!

He blows the smoke out revealing an even stronger barrier with Dazu retrieving it, and Nero revealed to be fully unconscious at this point! She smirks while looking at Asta, Tyrus and Marie.

Dazu: They say the three leaves of a clover often represent hope, integrity and love. Good luck dwells in the fourth leaf and devil lives in the fifth leaf. Such as the case with the Five-Leaf Grimoire. So we'll be taking it off your hands!

Asta: NO, WAIT!

Tyrus: GIVE US NERO BACK, YOU FOOL!

They begin to phase but before they do Nero calls out to them....

Nero: Asta... Tyrus.....

Tyrus tries jumping the gun but by the time he reaches where the barrier was, they're already gone as he lands on his left hand. He loudly curses at himself but just as he turns around he and Yuno both look at Asta...... who just has his hands out like a kid begging for some spare change.

Asta: N-N-Nero.... NERROOOOOOOOO! They're fucking gone....

Klaus and Mimosa: Asta!

Asta: Make sure Marie's okay too, Mimosa.

Mimosa: No problem!

Klaus: So they took your grimoire?

Tyrus: Not just his grimoire.... our goddamn squad-mate too! Fuck we had Nero right there. RIGHT THERE, KLAUS!

Klaus: I know, I'm sorry. These Devil Banishers, they clearly thought of everything in advance.

Yuno: Not everything, Sir. You see Asta's magic doesn't come from his grimoire.

Asta: What're you getting at Yuno? I lost one of my closest friends, one of my squad-mates.

Mimosa: What do you mean?

Yuno looks at Tyrus who nods.

Tyrus: Take it from a couple of guys who grew up with this loud-mouthed buffoon. What Yuno said is true, Asta's magic doesn't originate from his grimoire, but damn it... he has an equally as powerful magic. I think we ALL know what that is.

Asta takes a moment to think on what they could be referring to but then, his eyes suddenly light up.

Asta: That's right. I needed that you guys. Thanks.

He gets up and begins rattling away at the hand cuffs, shaking them with his bubbling rage and intensity just as they begin to crack under the immense pressure. He then looks at the both of his rivals, his friends, his foster brothers, thinking back on the first time he wielded the Demon Slayer Sword against Revchi.

Asta: I'm going to get Nero back, and my grimoire!

Tyrus: And we're going to annihilate these Devil Banishers-

They bump fists.

Asta and Tyrus: TOGETHER!

Asta: Because my magic is never giving up!

Yami looks down at his two Knights and the Golden Dawn, sheathing his katana, proud at the resilience Asta shows. As day turned into dusk in the Clover Kingdom, Asta and Tyrus stood watch over Marie as the ten-year old orphan slept peacefully after her traumatizing ordeal when Gauche barged in.

Gauche: MARRRRRIEEEE! PLEASE DON'T DIE! I NEED MY SISTER WITH ME FOREVER! PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME BEHIND, I CAN'T BEAR THE THOUGHT OF IT!

Tyrus: Keep it down! Your sister is fine, she's just getting some much needed sleep, we'll let you get all the time you want Gauche, but don't wake her up.

Asta: Yeah, Doctor Owen just said she needed rest but she should be up and right as rain tomorrow.

Gauche: So, she's going to be okay?!

Tyrus: Yeah, man. I told you we were going to get her back to you in one piece. I just wish we could've gotten Nero too.

Gauche wipes his tears as he stands.

Gauche: Good. I guess.. this means I owe you both again.

Tyrus: Please. You don't owe us jackshit, Adlai. Marie's one of us, she may not wear the Black Bull robe but she's an honorary one as far as I'm concerned, we ride or die for our family, blood or not.

(Meanwhile..)

Damnatio places Siona's mask onto the table confirming her allegiance with the Devil Banishers.

Damnatio: Today, we have discovered with irrefutable evidence, that my subordinates, Onoby Sinho, Siona Caverly, and Kabwe Carillon are not only Devil Banishers but were also responsible for the kidnappings of Marie Adlai and Nero. Please allow me to apologize for my unsightly and unbecoming oversight.

Yami: You said these clowns had a strong sense of justice, but nothing of what I saw today showed that in the slightest. Taking a whole damn crowd prisoner, trying to kill a Magic Knight because he's doing his duty.... that doesn't exactly scream do-gooder to me. Get what I'm laying down?

William: I'm wondering if the Devil Banishers are being manipulated by a completely different entity like how the elves were with the devil.

Julius: You're right William, they indeed not only made off with Nero yet again but this time with Asta's grimoire. Someone entirely different from Kabwe must've wanted it for their own purposes.

Yami: Hang on, you're out here throwing ideas but I didn't see your ass at the first meeting, Vangeance. And this after you cried and made a big deal out of proving your loyalty too, buddy!

William: Touché, Yami.

Julius: So to clarify. I was the one who asked William and the Golden Dawn to keep an stern eye on the borders. If the Spade Kingdom and their devil were to make a move right now with all of the chaos going on, the urgency would be at an all time high.

Marx: Everyone, I believe I have something to show you all. We've investigated the memories of the Devil Banishers we secured by way of Fuegoleon and Nozel and swiftly took into custody. Apparently their organization is mostly made of paid hires.

Yami looks through the scoped memories and immediately recognizes an all too familiar scar...

Yami: That scar.... there's no fucking way that... she could be a part of the Devil Banishers? Could she?

A Parliament Guard busts through the doors, frantic and sweating.

Guard: Wizard King, Lord Damnatio, Magic Knight Captains, I apologize for the intrusion but we have breaking news!

Marx: What's wrong?

Guard: We've just received a message from Kabwe! He sounded like he has been wounded!

Damnatio: Kabwe?! Bring it here, now!

Guard: At once!

Damnatio: Kabwe, we're listening! Where exactly are you?

Kabwe, on the other end, coughs and gurgles out blood, horrifying everyone as he sputters out his words.

Kabwe: It's all... a lie.... everyone!

On his end, we find a deceased Siona, dead with apparent slit throat and Onoby dead on his ass, dagger blade broken into his abdomen as blood continued dribbling down his lips.

Kabwe: These people, they're not trying to bring about the devil's demise, not at all. AHHH! The truth is that.... They're praying...... for the devil's power!

Everyone recoils in unified horror...

Yami: The fuck do you mean "They're after the devil's power."?!

Kabwe: Guhhh.... the organization... they actually worship the devil.... they're not called Devil Banishers.... they're called.... THE DEVIL BELIEVERS!

The communication falls dead, signaling the end of Kabwe's life.... the real motivation behind the newly minted Devil Believers now spoiled!

F.W.C. 7,450 Words!