Narrator: Threatened by a ruthless demon, humanity was on the brink of destruction. All seemed lost until a lone mage stepped forward and took up the fight. After his triumph, he was hailed as the Wizard King, and his story has become legend.

Previously on Killer Ice....

Fuegoleon: It's been a long time but I remember you... your name?

Rades: Tch. It's Rades.

Fuegoleon: That's right Rades, you were selected by the Purple Orcas. So why cause all this needless mayhem against your home and fight against us?

Rades: Because those shortsighted fools kicked me out from their ranks.

This revelation takes the Crimson Lion as well as everyone within earshot by surprise.

Fuegoleon: You were expelled from the Magic Knights? That doesn't make sense, you had so much power, so much potential, tell us why?

Rades: It's because they were scared of what I could potentially do with my Wraith Magic... They said it was unnatural, forbidden, dangerous. I was exiled not just from the Magic Knights, but the Clover Kingdom as a whole. I was only an average citizen, no one cared enough to stand up for me so now.... I will destroy those that stabbed me in the back and I believe I could trust. I was beneath dirt to them, so now I'm going to put them in the dirt where they belong! My skills were greater than any noble, greater than anyone's and yet they'd cast me aside like I was nothing! FOOLS! There, you have my sob story Captain. I'm using my 'cursed' power to seize my revenge on the Magic Knights and this accursed kingdom that rejected me.

???: Well that's one of the purposes of this attack anyways...

Fuegoleon: All of this loss of life, chaos and mayhem just to fulfill your sense of revenge?! DO NOT TOY WITH ME, YOU FOOL!

Rades: You doubt me? Ha! That's the thing about reasons.... they're usually quite simple.

A portal forms behind the twisted mage with what appears to be another corpse coming from it.

Tyrus: What? Another corpse?!

Fuegoleon: LEO!

Leo: I'm right here, brother!

Fuegoleon: Do you or Lady Noelle require any assistance?

Leo: No, we've got this under control!

Noelle: Uhh.....

Leo: Don't worry about us!

Noelle: Hey!

Fuegoleon: Very well! You handle that abomination while I take the mage!

Tyrus: Their teamwork is damn near immaculate! With the Black Bulls or even just Asta, we're just organized chaos.

Asta: Wow, these guys are hardcore! Real warrior brothers!

Rades: You don't think that's actually going to work, do you?! Their magics are too mismatched for a decent fight, not that I was going allow you to help but- HUH?!

He immediately hushes up when a giant flamed lion bares down on him with the heat of one hundred suns as Fuegoleon was in no mood, he was ready to just end this.

Fuegoleon: That's enough talking, Rades! Time to fight! FLAME CREATION MAGIC: LEO RUGIENS!

The lion shoots a flame beam from its maw, only for the corpse to not be affected let alone destroyed as it had employed a magic barrier.

Fuegoleon: This wraith shielded itself in a barrier?

Rades: Hehehehehe! Meet my number one, Karl! This particular fellow was very good at defensive magic back when he was alive. Throw in my cursed power, we're practically impervious!

Asta: Geez, another one?! How many of these thing does he have?

Tyrus: Yeah, he's definitely not getting on my nerves. Like come on, just take the most tantalizing beating you ever received like a man.

Fuegoleon: Asta. Tyrus.

They both perk up at the calling of their respective names.

Fuegoleon: Remember what I said earlier? About staying calm under pressure. You two pay close attention.

Rades, now in Karl's shield continues to aggravate Fuegoleon, hoping to goad the respectable royal into a mistake.

Rades: You're so sure that you'll come out on top, aren't you?! Defensive magic isn't the only thing Karl excels at!

Purple aura'd darts begin to spray out the shield at the trio and Fuegoleon began to fire back with a defensive spell of his own as a flame whirlwind surrounds him, not surprising his opponent one bit.

Fuegoleon: Flame Creation Magic: Ignis Columna!

Rades: So you got yourself a magic barrier just Karl here, hmm? Fine then, let's see how you handle an impenetrable barrier with a devastating rapid fire attack!

Fuegoleon: You believe me to be defenseless or in trouble?

Rades: IS THAT ALL YOU GOT?! HAHAHA, I've got to say Captain, I'm very underwhelmed with your performance after all that blustering you were doing earlier.

Suddenly, Sol Linea bursts from the fire barrier with perfect precision as it pierces Karl and much like with Jimmy, burns to ashes much to the collected shock of Asta, Rades and Tyrus.

Tyrus: That was-

Fuegoleon: My Flame Creation Magic, Sol Linea. When you attacked, the mana around the barrier grew thin and weak in some places for the slightest of seconds. Those were the spots I targeted. Do you really think I've never been up against magic or pincer attacks like that before. Listen up you two!

He shouts out to his brother and Noelle.

Fuegoleon: You are Magic Knights! In the line of duty, you will face constant and strong enemies that possess tricky magic. You must calmly judge your abilities and that of your enemies! Fight bravely but keep a cool head and maintain control. It won't be easy but if you can manage that, you will not lose! Understood?!

Noelle and Leo shout a resounding sir as Asta and Tyrus look on.

Tyrus: He quickly rallied Noelle and his brother who were struggling with that damn thing while taking stock of his enemy's weakness that soon? I see why people say he and Captain Vangeance are the two nearest to succeeding and becoming the next Wizard King!

Asta: This guy... IS TOO AWESOME!

Rades: That can't be! He beat my number one like it was nothing.... I should've won. NOT HIM!

Fuegoleon: Listen to me, Rades. You have incredible talent and what the Purple Orcas did to you was unjust and wrong at the time. Your magic is unique but without it being with a just heart and spirit? It's no more than savagery! YOU ARE A MONSTER, AND THEY WERE RIGHT TO EXPEL YOU!

Civilians in the streets however were amazed by the Magic Knights ensemble of strength and teamwork as they began to cheer. The mage in the sky previously mentioned, a witch named Catherine looked on in amusement.

Catherine: It's far too early to be celebrating.... the preparations must be nearly complete. Time for a feast, and such lovely young souls with high levels of mana. Absolutely.... Delicious!

She licks her lips menacingly as one wonders, what could these preparations the witch be alluding to feature. It was to say however, this was most definitely stage one of a more complicated plot.

The Plot Thickens Now!

Rades in his thoughts wonder what had went wrong for him to get this embarassed by the Captain of the Crimson Lion Kings as Karl burns to cinders all around him. He had honed his magic to a fine weapon in its own right, it rivaled the strongest mages of the Clover Kingdom and studied the enemy like a book, so how could he, the great Rades Spirito get destroyed this easily by a royal? All those countless hours, meticulous preparation for this invasion all went by the wayside.

Rades: All wasted! How- How could this have happened?!

He snaps out of his trance when Leo shouts, being driven back as David No. 3 continues to battle with Fuegoleon's youngest sibling and Noelle Silva as the latter provides cover support, a Sea Dragons' Lair for the fire mage and her fellow royal.

Leo: Nice work! Thanks for the shield!

Noelle, focusing on her shield while trying to avoid David, tells him to finish the job.

Noelle: Keep your thanks and take care of him already!

Leo: Great minds think alike.... I'm on it!

He boldly charges forward with the water shield Noelle provided as he gives David a toasty round of Spiral Flames and after about twenty seconds, David goes down much like Alfred and Karl in an ash filled end leaving Rades damn near rattled to his core.

Leo: It's over!

Tyrus: Ha! Nice work you two, knew you had it in you!

Noelle: We're royalty. As if a zombie would be enough to kill us.

Asta: WHOAAA HAHAHA- Oh no, shouldn't be laughing!

Fuegoleon: Very well done, the both of you! You've shown your worth as Magic Knights and as royalty!

Noelle/Noelle/Leo: SIR! What am I doing saluting him?!

Tyrus: That a way Noelle. Keep getting stronger, it'll be the only way you prove your punk ass siblings wrong! I believe in you... no matter how much of a pain you try to present yourself to be.

Rades: No-No, impossible!

Tyrus: Very possible, Eyepatch. You got beat.

Rades: I'M STRONGER THAN ANY ROYALTY! I'LL SHOW YOU ALL! NOBODY IS MORE POWERFUL THAN I AM, YOU'LL SEE!

He glows a heinous purple and black but is prevented from doing when Fuegoleon summons a flame binding spell,

Fuegoleon: Now... Flame Creation Magic: Leo Palma!

Several flame palms sprout up from the ground as they capture the mentally broken Rades as his grimoire drops out which Tyrus sees amidst the defeated mage's screaming.

Rades: GET THESE FLAMES OFF OF ME! THIS ISN'T FAIR! IT'S NOT OVER!

Tyrus: Hmm.

The ice mage picks up the grimoire as Rades's alarm bells soon go maximum.

Rades: PUT THAT DOWN, YOU DAMN SCUM! THAT DOESN'T BELONG TO YOU!

Tyrus: I'd watch who you call scum considering you're in a way worse position than I am. Plus, I don't answer to bent out of shape washed up mages.

Fuegoleon: I assume that is his grimoire?

Tyrus hands the Crimson Lion leader the rather paper thin book.

Tyrus: Yeah, came out as soon as you summoned that spell of yours. Little light on the weight side but it's a grimoire nonetheless.

Fuegoleon nods as he snaps his head back to the blabbering Rades.

Fuegoleon: There is still a many deal of questions I wish to ask you.... and answering is non-negotiable. But first, I will take a look at your grimoire that young Tyrus here handed me.

Rades: WAIT, NO!!!! That's mine, don't you dare touch it!

Fuegoleon, tuning out the terrorists pleas realizes that Black Bull is right.

Fuegoleon: It's unusually thin... are you even sure this is a grimoire?

Rades: NO, PLEASE I BEG OF YOU!

That's when they both see it....

Tyrus: It's....

Fuegoleon: But only one single page. Unbelievable!

Rades: I SAID QUIT LOOKING! COME NOW!

Fuegoleon: Only one page... this entire time, he could only wield a single page of entire spells?!

Rades: STOPPPPP! HAVEN'T YOU DONE ENOUGH DAMN YOU BOTH! I DON'T NEED EITHER OF YOURS MOCKERY!

Asta: MOCKERY?! I don't hear anyone here mocking you.

He sees an injured yet enraged Asta clutching his bloody wound having been stabbed previously earlier in the fight as he approached to join Fuegoleon and his brother.

Asta: I thought you wanted people to take you seriously! But I don't understand why you had to do it like this!

Rades stops talking as Asta continues to rant about the first hand terrorism he had experienced and was forced to combat as the wound on his face slightly grew larger.

Asta: You're strong and have a ton of magic power but all that strength and magic power mean absolutely nothing right now! You threw all your values out of the freaking window for petty revenge!

Asta continues to trudge forward, each step taking more and more out of him as Noelle and Tyrus each offer a shoulder to their teammate.

Tyrus: Come on, you damn knucklehead. You can use us as a crutch.

Noelle: But try not to get me dirty with all your blood.

Asta: Thanks you guys. I'll try my best.

Fuegoleon: Perhaps you could have become a great Magic Knight if and only if you had gone down a different path. This is where the lack of a just heart has led you, Rades. You must.... atone.

Rades, simply defeated was on the verge of heeding Fuegoleon's sage advice until the earpiece rang to life.

???: Well, are you satisfied Rades?

Asta: A voice? Noelle and Tyrus must've not heard it. So how come I did just now?'

Noelle: What's wrong? Did you hear something?

Tyrus: If you did, speak up. Cause Noelle and I sure as heck didn't hear anything just now outside of Fuegoleon running down that clown.

???: I hope now at least you've at learned a lesson, clearly your might alone wasn't enough to best even a squad captain, let alone Magic Knight rookies!

Tyrus: Noelle... call me crazy. But Asta isn't paranoid, I could've sworn I heard a voice just now as well.

Noelle: You too?

Rades: No... really I was about to win. You'll see!

???: Sometimes, you cannot win on might alone. My power too is near its limit! No more acting on your own. No more uncivilized chaos, from now on at this very moment we proceed according to the plan our superiors have laid out. For the master's sake.

Elsewhere, civilians began cheering for the other Magic Knights. Some soaked in the gratitude, even returning the gestures politely with knights like Nozel and Alecdora feeling the situation may not be over.

???: Excellent.... they're all in the designated areas. At least Rades's chaos didn't fail in this portion of the mission.

Yuno, getting a gnawing feeling in the pit of his stomach quickly shouts out to Alecdora and Mimosa when he realizes his grimoire is glowing and then suddenly a portal forms underneath him but is too late as it envelops both of his fellow Golden Dawn members.

Alecdora: Magic?

The same thing happens around the same groups of Klaus, Siren, Hamon, Charlotte, Sol, and the Silva trio as a voice booms them all.

???: I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE, MAGIC KNIGHTS!

Everyone was horrified to see these portals gobble them up in a sense as Yuno was the only one left in the chaos.

Female Civilian: Where did the Magic Knights go?!

Another civilians remarks that Mimosa and Alecdora simply vanished as we then witness another portal dump said knights in a land far away from the kingdom. The only ones left were the current owner of the Four Leaf Clover Grimoire as well as his foster brothers, Noelle, Leo and Fuegoleon who had no doubt witnessed what had just happened. Hamon was the first to say what everyone was thinking.

Hamon: Oh heavens! Where do you suppose we are?

Siren: At least a few hundred kilometers from the Royal Capital, judging by the terrain and landscape we've landed on.

Sol: They sent us a few hundred kilometers away?! That's not very nice!

Charlotte: It seems the enemy has taken their plan a step further. I knew I sensed the power of a strong spatial magic user in Sol and I's near vicinity working with the terrorists, but even so the power required to move all of us must have taken quite the toll out of them as well as great skill.

Alecdora: Tch..... WE HAVE FAILED!!!!!!

Back in the capital....

Fuegoleon: Something's wrong.

Noelle: Where did all the other Magic Knights and their mana go?

Leo: I don't know, it's like they've just fallen off completely.

Tyrus: Leo's right.... they're not dead. But in a sense, it's like they don't exist at the very moment. That's how far away whereever they got transported to is.

Asta steadies himself as he knew something was truly wrong. For people like Captains Charlotte and Nozel as well as Noelle's other pretentious siblings and others like Mimosa and Alecdora to be caught off guard like this? It wasn't like them.

Fuegoleon: I want to know how you carried out this brazen and hellacious attack. You will spill every detail of your plan, motivations and those you were working with in this cowardly plot. Where are they at this very moment?

Rades, for whatever reason began to smile wickedly which unnerved Tyrus for the first time in a long while, probably since Nozel was ready to end his rebellion against Nebra and Solid's tearing into Noelle's character.

Tyrus: Should he be smiling? I know I'm not the only person seeing Eyepatch smiling like a damn demon.

High above the civilians who were still trying to piece together how the likes of Alecdora, Mimosa, Klaus, Hamon, Siren, Charlotte and Sol disappeared into thin air as Catherine witnessed the chaos unfold.

Catherine: Those idiots fell for it. Hook, Line and Sinker! Almost too easy. And these are the supposed greatest mages in the Clover Kingdom. How utterly woeful and pathetic. I was going to play with any of the Magic Knights that somehow avoided the traps but it looks like my feast can start unabated. Full of young mana too, it appears they won't be needing it anytime soon since they're not mages. Ash Curse Magic: Ash Absorbing Formation!

Prongs of mana shoot from the witches' manicured nails as one by one hit the civilians down below and begin draining their very life essence. Youthful optimism soon turned into horrifying elderly as Catherine laughs sadistically, thanking everyone for the 'generous donation' as she can feel herself just growing younger as the mana from scared innoncents hit her body with each passing second. One woman begged for them to be let go and this enrages the witch as she then strikes this young woman down as Yuno challenges her to a fight as she drained the mana of the woman's significant other.

Yuno: If you want a fight with a Magic Knight... allow me to give you a dance you won't soon forget, witch!

A tornado surrounds the young wind mage as Catherine inspects her new opponent.

Catherine: Well, well! It seems one of Magic Knights actually escaped and avoided the spatial trap magic. Alright do try to keep up young one, I prefer my prey actually put up a fight before I take their mana! But at least you're a beauty yourself, it's going to hurt to take your mana.

Yuno: You won't be getting my mana or hurting anyone else today. Now stop wasting my time, old hag.

Catherine: YOU'RE DEAD!

Yuno: Why all this chaos? You can at least share an answer with me while we fight.

Catherine fires more ash magic towards the Golden Dawn as she flies flawlessly avoiding Yuno's piercing attacks.

Catherine: Alright, someone with your devilishly handsome looks has earned a straight answer. Our mission was relatively simple, there's a certain someone we're looking to do away with.

She makes a throat slitting gesture as Yuno takes a quick pause before asking who this person would be.

Yuno: Yeah, and who would that be?

Catherine: And why would I be predictable enough to tell you? You're going to have beat me....

He pauses and he takes a look in the general direction Asta and Tyrus were in as Catherine fires another assault towards him as well as the Castle where the actual king called home.

Catherine: RIGHT! GOOD LOOKS WILL ONLY GET YOU SO FAR!

The two take to the skies for a hellacious aerial battle eager to get the best of one another as Fuegoleon continues to interrogate the bondaged Rades Spirito.

Fuegoleon: There's at least one other person involved person here aside from you.... you are going to tell us who this person is because this invasion required the use of a spatial magic user with tremendous power and skill to do away with my fellow Captains and their subordinates. So again, where is your partner?!

Rades refuses to answer.

Fuegoleon: Have they already escaped? Or were they killed in the uprising. They may have managed to send the Magic Knights away but that doesn't mean they have power necessary to keep it. Nor do I believe this little stunt to be a feint of sorts to reach the King. You made it clear that your personal goal was revenge but there's a much larger purpose in mind here. So what is it?

Rades: Hmmm..... Hahahaha!

Tyrus: Great now he's cackling....

Rades: You really wish to know what we're after? Why.... we're after YOU! FUEGOLEON VERMILLION! WE CAME FOR YOU!

Fuegoleon: For me?

The young knights were taken aback by this but Leo exclaimed at this sudden revelation.

Leo: WHY HIM? WHY MY OLDER BROTHER, WHAT ARE YOU PLANNING?!

Fuegoleon: I'd like to know this as well.

Rades: SURPRISE! AND GOOD RIDDANCE!

Just as suddenly as the revelation hit the five Magic Knights, a portal forms around the boots Fuegoleon and soon enough much like the others this one in a sense envelopes him, shocking the quartet of Leo, Asta, Tyrus and Noelle.

Fuegoleon: Spatial Magic again, eh? Alright then, I'll play your little game. And maybe now we can get to the bottom of this-

He disappears as Leo screams.

Leo: FUEGOLEON!!!!

As he's transported to a no name realm with its own gravity, Fuegoleon lands on his own feet ready to investigate.

Fuegoleon: Strange.... what is place? I'm no longer in the kingdom, nor can I sense Leo's mana or anyone else's for that matter...

He walks around aimlessly trying to find a way out when a person walks towards and alarms begin to ring in the Crimson Lion Kings Captain head....

Fuegoleon: IT'S YOU!

His lights are suddenly turned out by this mystery robed individual who had unnerved him and the last thing Fuegoleon could remember before he went out was that his pendant would be snatched as he fell to the throes of unconsciouness. Meanwhile, Charmy was still... you guessed it devouring the chef's giant dish he had prepared for her and true to his word the food was starting to ruin the glutton for all other food she had experienced up until that point in her adult life.

Charmy: WOOOOWWWWWW! Munch.... munch..... munch! SOOOOOO GOOOODDD!

Chef: YES THIS IS WHAT I WANTED TO HEAR! YOU JUST LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU WANT MORE AND I'LL HAVE SECONDS AND THIRDS WAITING FOR YOU, MISS MAGIC KNIGHT!

Suddenly a crash is heard through the kitchen as we then look at... Catherine who looks to be in her true age and form... A wrinkly old witch with her signature blonde hair but without its voluminous look but strands of grey now replacing said feature. What could've happened to the mana-draining witch, you may ask? Well short story, Catherine had overwhelmed Yuno with some of her magic even going as far as to blind and put the Golden Dawn rookie to near deafness but what Catherine did not account for was that due to his extensive training long before the Magic Knights Entrance Exam and without his vision, Yuno was more attuned to the flow of magic around him and being the wielder of the most legendary grimoire, it allowed him once again to summon the wind spirit Sylph to hit the conniving mana stealer with a hurricane attack thus putting Catherine in the position she was in.

Chef: A.... witch? WE'RE UNDER ATTACK!

Assistant: The hell do you think we've been trying to tell you?!

They all run out of the kitchen, leaving Charmy to fend for herself at Catherine's wrath as the witch picked up on the glutton's mana and double took back to her withering, weathered skin. She realized her mana off of Yuno's attack was starting to drain rapidly and extensively.

Catherine: I need to steal more mana!

Chef: What are you doing, short kid?! Get out while you can!

Catherine: That girl is saturated in mana. I will have it!

Civilian: My dear Eliza....

Female: Yes?

Civilian: I will always love you, young or old. It does not matter to me.

Eliza: And I, you.

Then all of a sudden, those purple hues burst all over the sky as the mana that had been hijacked from Eliza, her husband among the many others returned and began to turn the clock of aging process counter-clockwise shocking but delighting them nevertheless.

Civilian: E-Eliza!

Eliza: My dearest!

The reason it had suddenly returned was due to Charmy beating the stuffing out of Catherine after wrongly assuming the witch was after her food but in reality she was after the mana stores Charmy had possessed. With the beating came a more mature and adult version of the glutton, gone was the childish glutton as a giant sheep formed off of her magic as it sucked the ash magic in the room and it promptly punched Catherine out of the hole she made, driving the witch out of the kitchen and the elation of the chefs. As she is restrained and Charmy's sheeps begins to dissipate, her dish begins to fall.

Charmy: AHHHHHHHHH, MY MEALLLLLL!

She continues her horror movie worthy screams as it falls out.... only for it to reappear as Yuno and Sylph appear with it.

Yuno: A child? But she's wearing a Black Bulls robe. So this is where that outrageously burst of magic came from?

Charmy: You saved my food!

Yuno: Oh! This is yours? Here you go then. I really don't get it but sure.

Charmy: Thank you so... WAUGGGHH?!

Had it not been for the massive plate of food she just reacquired, Charmy would've fainted at the mere sight of the guy Asta and Tyrus affectionately called the handsome jerk being Yuno. In her mind she called him her "Her Meal Saving Prince of Sustenance"

Charmy: I-I owe you massive debt of g-gratitude! Noble sir!

Yuno assesses as to how he was able summon the Wind Spirit yet again as the feeling of wooziness begins to conquer him as he falls forward. In her panic, she summons a cotton-like pillow for him to fall on as she's able to save her food in one go while blushing like an idiot as Sylph curiously looks on.

Augustus: What is that infernal racket out there? I order them to quiet down due to it being nap time and they choose to ignore their king!

Marx: I'll look into it sire.

Augustus: See that you do, Marx.

He caps off his ranting with a yawn as Marx stalks off to stew in his thoughts, hoping it was his favorite job-dodging Wizard King.

(With Leo, Asta, Tyrus and Noelle...)

Leo: YOU EVIL BASTARD! WHERE DID YOU SEND MY BROTHER?!

He was further enraged as Rades continued to cackle in the youngest Vermillions' face as Tyrus tries desperately to pull him back.

Tyrus: Stop man, he's not worth it!

Noelle: He's just toying with you! He's not the one responsible for casting this spell, but the person responsible for sending him away, has to be close to their target, regardless of skill or range.

She looks around the mountains of corpses...

Noelle: They're somewhere nearby. Tyrus, Asta. Stay alert!

Tyrus: You need not but say a damn word, Noelle. Come on out, we're done playing hide and seek.

The Black Bulls and lone Crimson Lion King try to search with little success as Asta closes his eyes and bolts towards to their corpses nearest Leo and Rades.

Asta: There!

He slashes down heavily driving a number of corpses up, one of which enters a portal, shocking the other three.

Tyrus: Shit, that was not there before! You were right, Noelle. Our other friend is lurking like an apex predator.

Noelle: He was hiding underneath the corpses?!

Tyrus looks up, seeing a pale individual with markings across both sides of his face on top of a green building.

Tyrus: Close, Noelle. He's on top of us!

???: Very nice observation skills, you two. I had a feeling one of you would be privy to sussing out my magical transformations. But I couldn't even get past you both with this shabby, putrescent disguise.

He then to the combined disgusts of the Knights, rips off his face as he insults Asta's brazen charge whiich drew him out in the first place.

???: Despite being such an animal, it's already over now.

Leo: Over? What is?!

Tyrus: Yeah, spill! We already defeated your damn partner in crime so entertain us you bag of bones! What're you hiding?

Valtos: My name is Valtos... and as for hiding, well... see for yourselves, whelps!

Another portal forms and after a few seconds, a body drops and it scares the shit out of them but it drains all the life out of Leo as blood pools around an open wound of a certain Crimson Lion King. Fuegoleon Vermillion has been defeated and his right arm has been completely ripped off the bone his eyes now glossy as he was near death, knocking on the Grim Reaper's door. Rades smirks as with this sudden and impromptu defeat, Leo Palma began to lose its grip and intensity on the twisted ex-Orca.

Tyrus: OH MY GOD NO!

Asta: No....

Noelle: Ahhhhhhhh.... AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Asta:: RAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Leo: BROTHER!!!!! NOOOOOOOO, FUEGOLEONNNNNNN!

Noelle and Leo all dash over to the Captain, investigating his devastating wounds. Asta and Tyrus stand side by side as the former looks over his bloody stains.

Asta: But how? How can anyone be that strong?!

Tyrus: Noelle! How bad is it?! For someone to defeat a Magic Knight Squad Captain or even put them near death? They've got to be insane in terms of mana! Like leagues above Leo, Noelle, Yuno or I!

Noelle: His- his arm is g-gone!

Leo: This cannot be! No.... Brother you have to stay with us!

He gets some flashbacks some less stellar than others of he and Fuegoleon being brothers, from training sessions to Fuego chopping him on the head, to Fuegoleon teaching him the Magic Knight basics to even hanging out with their cousin Mimosa.

Leo: You can't die.... Please Fuegoleon. No... not my brother, he would never lose. It's not in his DNA!

His grimoire drops near him and that's when Noelle gets a heart wrenching feeling.

Noelle: Captain Fuegoleon's grimoire? Wait, if that's here and not fading away, it means he's still with us! WE HAVE TO STOP THE BLEEDING!

Tyrus joins her as she rips part of her dress off while directing him where to put it as Leo continues in a near catatonic shock.

Leo: Impossible!

Noelle: If only Mimosa were here, she could heal him with relative ease compared to any of us.

Tyrus: Sure, but you're doing good enough. Your quick thinking is keeping him with us right now, Noelle, so give yourself some credit. Oh shit.

Noelle: What-

She stops dead in her tracks as she realizes what is happening. Fuegoleon's grimoire is starting to fade and crumble on the edge.

Noelle: Leopold... Your brother's grimoire is starting to fade away.

Tyrus: You gotta snap out of it! Get over and come save your brother, Leo!

Leo: My brother....

Noelle: LEO! ARE YOU JUST GOING TO STANDBY AND LET YOUR BROTHER DIE?!

Rades was reveling in his mental anguish as he taunted the Crimson Lion mage.

Rades: Well Magic Knight! Not so sure of yourself, are you now!

Noelle: PULL IT TOGETHER!

Rades sucker punches him with residual mana, sending him into a nearby building making Noelle gasp and Tyrus draw his sword.

Tyrus: Just keep healing him, Noelle. I've got a bone to pick with Eyepatch here anyhow!

Noelle: Just be careful. He's still got a reserve of magic power left, has Tyrus even gained enough to counter him?!

Tyrus: Take one more step towards Fuegoleon and Noelle.... and I guarantee it'll be your last.

Rades not even threatened despite a sword being drawn in that very moment.

Rades: Hahaha! I'm surprised that damn Lion losing an arm hasn't turned you green and weak in the knees, little knight. You may have defeated one of my corpses, but I'm going to tell you right now.... I won't be as easy!

Tyrus slightly gulps. He didn't know where the hell he was finding all this gumption and bravado. Sure, there were defining qualities that made the Black Bull him, but he knew Rades wasn't lying. He was outmatched. With Noelle spread thin trying to keep Fuegoleon alive, Leo essentially made useless due to his brother's condition and Asta's in no better due to the curses placed on him. He was trying to put forth a brave face.

Fuegoleon: Perhaps you could have become a great Magic Knight if and only if you had gone down a different path. This is where the lack of a just heart has led you, Rades.

Rades: I lack a just heart, do I now? Well I have to say, the way things are looking right now, my heart has stood right by me the entire way. Looks like you'll have to save your preaching for the afterlife, Captain Vermillion!

Just as he was about to finish the job the mystery assailant had on Fuegoleon, Valtos commands him to stop.

Valtos: You've done more than enough Rades. Take your leave, before the other Magic Knights arrive.

Asta: NO WAY!

A portal summons ready to take him away as Asta shouts.

Asta: You're not going anyway yet!

Rades: Little Asta, right? Don't worry I promise to kill you and your brother soon enough just wait on it! And then I'll make a plaything out of both of your corpses! SOMETHING ALL THREE OF US CAN LOOK FORWARD TO, YOU DAMN BRATS!

Tyrus: You're not going anywhere!

Asta: RAHHHHHHHH!

Noelle: Tyrus, Asta!

Tyrus, who was a considerable distance in front of Asta thought the same as his brother.

Asta: I'm not going to make it! Not with the amount of blood I keep losing thanks to this damn curse!

Noelle: Just let him go, you two! Asta's losing way too much blood, he has to-

Tyrus: NO! We can take him down and make sure he doesn't get away Noelle!

Asta: You can do this! Remember what Captain Fuegoleon told you! Stay calm and think! There must be someway I can close on him. RIGHT, spatial magic and I've still got my sword! I'M GONNA HACK THAT SPELL TO DAMN PIECES!

Tyrus: About time you start using that brain of yours again, Asta! DO IT!

He sends his sword towards the portal, cancelling it out almost immediately sending it away.

Rades: The hell?!

Valtos: No!

Tyrus: AND NOW YOU DIE!

But just as either blade connect could hit him fatally, Asta's hit him right in the face, slicing him in his cheek.

Rades: AHHHHHHH THAT HURT DAMN YOU! YOU'LL PAY FOR THAT-

He's then met with a gutpunch from Tyrus.

Tyrus: You're worried about a little boo-boo? THAT'S IT, AFTER EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE HERE?!

Valtos: How bothersome.

He summons another portal as it quickly gets shut down too.

Asta: You seriously disgust me!

They back him into a corner as they both ball their fists up.

Asta: You want pain?

Tyrus: ALLOW MY BROTHER AND I TO GIVE YOU UNLIMITED SERVINGS OF IT THEN!

They begin lighting him up with a series of punches and kicks.

Asta: You've tortured the innocents!

Tyrus: Laughed like a maniac the whole damn time while they begged for their lives!

He knees him in the gut as Asta chin checks him.

Rades: STOP IT! Those poor innocents you two are so worried about? IT PROVES HOW WEAK THEY ARE! JUST THE NATURAL ORDER OF LIFE! THE WEAKER PEOPLE THE MORE THEY'LL COME FLOCKING TO THOSE WHO HAVE EVEN GREATER POWER!

He summons more residual power backing off the two Black Bulls.

Rades: And you two? You two were born... to die! ESPECIALLY YOU, YOU MAGIC DEFICIENT SWINE!

Asta slices through it calmly.

Asta: The natural order, huh?

He then headbutts him as Tyrus picks him up by the collar.

Tyrus: So tell us, what would you call this... you failure of a Magic Knight? I just call this karma, plain and simple.

Asta: You maybe right. I don't have magic power like my brothers, Noelle or Leo... but I'm still the strongest one here!

Tyrus: Debatable.

Asta: AND I'LL PROVE IT TO EVERYONE WHEN I BECOME THE WIZARD KING!

Tyrus: Again debatable. But, one thing is for certain, Rades. No more tricks and no more laughs.... you lose!

Rades: Tch! Hey Valtos, I could use a little help here!

Valtos: I've done already everything I can for you Rades.... Anti-Magic! It's certainly a lot trickier than it's made out to be. It would be the best course of action to deal with the anti magic whelp, then we can overwhelm the one who possesses ice magic.

Noelle, manages to cut off the blood loss Fuegoleon was dying from as she witnesses Valtos high above his perch, portal in one hand and magic in another.

Noelle: He's siphoning magic but for what?

Tyrus: Your wound, is it still slowing you down Asta?

Unbeknowst to either one of her teammates a portal forms behind them.

Noelle: Is he planning to attack them with a spatial magic spell? ASTA, TYRUS, BEHIND YOU!

Tyrus: ...SHIT!

Asta: CRAP!

Valtos: Too late little girl!

But before he can initiate the attack, Spiral Flames roar and catch Valtos off kilter. Everyone looks to see Leopold Vermillion, now once again spurred and having snapped out of his stupor.

Leo: Sulking won't help us! Always remember to stay calm, right brother Fuegoleon?! ASTA, TYRUS! LET'S GO!

Tyrus: Good to see you're back with some vigor!

Noelle: Please be careful!

Tyrus: Stop worrying that pretty little head of yours, Noelle. We're putting these freaks down, permenantly if I have a say!

Rades grits his teeth as the three young lads look at him. All were breathing heavily but their fatigue was most definitely outweighed by their equal parts lust for battle and anger they hadn't finished the job.

Valtos: So what should I do? I can't afford to lose Rades, not now!

All three stalk over to Spirito as he begs them rather angrily to back off.

Rades: Stay away from me! Stay back!

Tyrus: The only way we're doing that buddy, is one of two ways. One way is if you're in chains and off to prison, or two is if you're in a bodybag.

???: How pitiful. I come here after receiving word from the master, only to find you fighting this. Meager kids? Truly pitiful indeed.

Noelle, Tyrus, Leo and Asta look around as another booming voice rings out as mist surrounds them and Rades.

Tyrus: Another trap magic?

In the mist would emerge four cloaked individuals as Noelle remarked.

Noelle: This magic.... I've never felt anything so.... piercingly cold!

Leo: Five of them now?

Tyrus: This does not bode well. It's like the dungeon all over again!

Asta: This wound, none of these scrapes and scratches will stop bleeding. There's one thing I haven't tried yet or else I'll be in serious trouble if I lose any more blood.

Rades: BAHHH! I don't remember asking for any of your help!

???: Really?! You better try thank you for us bailing you out! You know what would've happened if we kept watching from the sidelines.... You would've been captured, set up, gashed, cut open and skinned alive for your many crimes... Heh-heh... and if that happens I want to be the one who does the dissecting!

Rades: Will you just shut up?! It finally looks like the tables are turning again, you little shits!

He gets caught off guard as Asta is the one now chuckling, who then slashes away at his body, stunning both Noelle and Tyrus.

Tyrus: HAVE YOU LOST YOUR- huh? Oh, I see what you did there, you cheeky bastard, you!

Noelle: Asta!

Tyrus: It's okay, he's finally using his brain twice in the same day!

Asta: I'm offended! I'm a lot smarter than I let on, Tyrus!

Tyrus: Righhhht!

Asta: Hope you all don't mind if I pull off a slight surgery! Now I'm ready to fight at full strength again.

Tyrus: Good... because doing the heavy lifting is not my style. I prefer sharing the workload!

Asta: Just watch.... I'll prove it to you.

He looks over meaningfully at the unconscious Fuegoleon.

Rades: Seriously?! He negated Jimmy's curse magic like it was nothing! Nevermind that, he just sliced himself with his own damn blades! Unbelieveable, WHO WOULD EVEN DO THAT TO THEMSELVES?!

???: HEE-HEE! This kid's pretty funny! Can I pretty please open him up?

Tyrus: Try it and I'll kill you my damn self.

???: Be quiet and focus right now!

???: Phooey, you're no fun!

They open up their hands, each glowing a different color as Asta speaks.

Asta: Here's the thing! I've been fighting an uphill battle since I was born. No matter how many bodies you've got, no matter what you do to me, it doesn't matter! I'LL CUT THROUGH EVERY SINGLE LAST ONE OF YOU! YOU HEAR ME?!

Tyrus: TALK TO THEM... THIS WHAT I WANT TO HEAR! LET'S GO, WHICH ONE OF YOU UNLUCKY BASTARDS WANTS TO EXPERIENCE BRUTAL COLD FIRST?!

Asta and Tyrus draw their weapons as they shout to the heavens.

Asta and Tyrus: LET'S SEE WHAT YOU GOT!!!!!

Final Word Count: 6,908 Words...

End of Chapter Eighteen! Read, Comment, Vote, Share and Add to Your Reading List!