"I want to do it too!" Asta shouted, practically bouncing in place with excitement. "If Dave can fight a captain, then I have to fight one too! No way I'm letting him get that far ahead of me!"
"Idiot," Magna groaned, dragging his hand down his face. "You'd get roasted alive if you tried that."
Luck's eyes, however, sparkled with dangerous joy. "Nooo, no, I think Asta should do it! And then I'll do it next! Fighting captains sounds fun!"
Vanessa sighed as she poured herself another drink. "Honestly, I'm not sure what's scarier—Dave having that kind of power already, or the fact that these two maniacs want to copy him."
Charmy, chewing happily on her food, tilted her head. "Well, if he's really that strong, then he's just another rival for you all, isn't he?"
Asta's fists clenched, determination blazing in his eyes. "Exactly! He's not just my friend now—he's also my rival! I'm going to surpass him just like I'll surpass Yuno!"
As if on cue, Yuno's name brought silence to the room for a moment.
Over in the Golden Dawn dorms, Yuno had already heard the rumors. He stood at the window of his quarters, staring into the night sky, the faint glow of stars reflected in his eyes.
"…Dave," he muttered quietly. "You've already risen this far. But I won't lose. Not to Asta, and not to you." His wind magic stirred faintly around him, as if echoing his resolve.
Back at the Black Bulls, Asta slammed his hand on the table. "Alright, that's it! Tomorrow, I'm doubling my training! No, tripling it! I'll catch up no matter what it takes!"
Yami, who had been listening from the corner, smirked and blew out a puff of smoke. "Heh. Do what you want, kid. Just don't die trying."
Asta grinned fiercely. "Don't worry, Captain! I won't die until I become the Wizard King!"
The room erupted into laughter, but the fire in Asta's eyes was unmistakable. Just like Yuno, he had set his sights on Dave—not as an obstacle, but as a new mountain to climb.
And far above them all, the Wizard King himself was already aware of the whispers filling his kingdom.
In the highest tower of Clover Castle, Wizard King Julius Novachrono sat at his desk surrounded by scattered documents, mission reports, and stacks of research notes. But his focus wasn't on the papers—it was on the glowing communication crystal hovering before him.
He had already listened to several captains' reports throughout the day, but the one name that kept coming up was the same.
"Dave…" Julius said softly, leaning back in his chair. His golden eyes gleamed with a mix of excitement and curiosity. "A recruit who fought Fuegoleon to a standstill… and forced him to admit it publicly, no less."
He chuckled to himself, resting his chin on his hand. "The captains are restless. Some doubt, some are curious… and some are already threatened."
Behind him, Marx rushed into the office, holding another report. "Wizard King! The rumors have spread across all noble families already. Many are demanding to know who this 'Dave' is. They're… unsettled by the thought of a commoner climbing so fast."
Julius only smiled wider, his enthusiasm shining through. "Unsettled? That just makes it more interesting! Magic was never meant to belong to just one class. If Dave truly has the talent and the drive, then watching his growth could change everything about this kingdom."
Marx frowned. "Still, it's dangerous. The nobles won't stand by quietly if someone like him rises too quickly."
"Then let them stew," Julius replied, waving him off casually. "What matters is potential. And if Fuegoleon says Dave might surpass even captains in a year, then I want to see it with my own eyes." His grin widened boyishly, like a child about to unwrap a gift. "I'll have to meet him soon."
Outside the tower, Clover Kingdom bustled with the flow of rumor and speculation. Among nobles, Magic Knight recruits, and even ordinary citizens, one name was now spreading like wildfire.
Dave—the rookie who stood shoulder to shoulder with captains.
The name carried weight. It slipped from tavern tables where knights boasted of battles, echoed in training grounds where recruits swung their blades harder, and even whispered in the marble halls of noble estates where envy and fear stirred like snakes.
Some called it exaggeration.Some said it was impossible.But the truth—that Fuegoleon Vermillion himself had acknowledged Dave's strength—was undeniable.
In the Vermillion estate, Noelle's siblings debated heatedly over the news.
"If it's true," Solid sneered, his tone sharp, "then that commoner is being propped up to humiliate noble blood. I won't accept it."
Nebra smirked lazily, tossing her hair. "Strong or not, he's still beneath us. Hype fades."
But Leopold, fists clenched, fire in his eyes, shouted, "Shut up! If Dave really fought my brother to a draw, then he's no ordinary mage—he's someone I must surpass too! I won't let him run ahead without chasing him!"
But in the shadows of the kingdom, not all eyes saw Dave with admiration.
In a dim hall deep within House Kira's manor, nobles murmured among themselves, their voices thick with disdain and unease.
"A commoner shaking the Magic Knight order itself?""It's a danger to our hierarchy.""If left unchecked, he could become a symbol… one that undermines noble supremacy."
From the far end of the table, a voice colder than steel whispered, "Then perhaps… he should be removed before he grows any further."
That Night
Unaware of the storm brewing behind his name, Dave trained beneath the moonlight at the Black Bulls' hideout, sweat dripping down his frame.
It was Captain Yami who had called for him, but since the man himself was missing, Dave continued his usual training like he always did. He had no idea that certain magic nobles were already targeting him—and even if he had known, he wouldn't have cared.
When he unleashed his full power, Dave was more dreadful than anyone else could imagine. For now, he was only using the same alt Asta template, but if he decided to draw upon his other abilities… he could practically break the world itself.
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