Back to Yuno, his wind powers were having a great problem with Mars' diamond magic, but his stubborness didn't allow him to step out of the way. Mars glared at him and created an enormous diamond sword.
Yuno yelled while firing more wind breezes that didn't make the sword bulge :."I WON'T MOVE!"
Mars' glare hardened and threw the sword at the rookie of the Golden Dawn.
Yuno's eyes widened as his whole life passed in front of him, he realised he was going to become a very attractive omelette.
"Destruction magic: Thousand deadly Cuts!"
A new figure got in the way and slashed the sword in a thousand tiny pieces.
"Hey pale guy, hands off!" A voice Yuno recognised instantly spat. "
Millim:What do you think you are doing to my brother?"
"Yuno: MILLIM
"Millim: who are you three .... May I know the name of the owner of the ass I'm gonna kick today?"
Mars:"Mars. Who are you?". Millim pursed his lips and then stared at his sword.
Millim:"Who am I?"
She clenched his fist as a big grin appeared on her face.
"I am Millim , member of the Black Bulls!"
She announced. Sitting on her shoulder, fern smiled proudly Demonism
"Yuno:Why are you here?".
Millm:You prefered to be turned into a red mass of blood? You could have said that!"
"Yuno:I was about to unleash a ferocious counterattack
"
Millim:"My thanks for not doing it!"
Behind them Klaus stared at them in disbelief.
Other black bull members appear
Rimuru:Millim why are you here
Millim:So I am not welcome you meanie you left me to sleep anyway what took you three so long?"
Asta yell:"What the hell Télos, you jerk?! I was worried you know!"
making millim shrug.
Mars finally reached his peak of patience and summoned dozens of clones.
Millim:"Oh my, that's unfortunate"
"Asta:How can you be so non-chalant about this?!"
Neolle:"There is a hundred of him to deal with now!"
Millim:Enough chatting, time for some action!"
Just as those words left millim ' mouth, the battle started.
Asta shot towards Mars as Millim and Luck lunged towards the clones, with Klaus and Yuno helping with long range attacks.
Noelle protected Mimosa with her water magic. The clones attacked as well, but they weren't a problem for the Magic Knights, as they were just tiny bits of Mars' full power, so the members of both the Black Bulls and Golden Dawn Magic Knights were dealing with them easily, Asta and his sword had the advantage against Mars, who wasn't prepared to deal with antimagic and didn't know how to stop the Black Bull.
He shot diamond spears at him, but Asta cut through them as if they were made of paper. Then, he shot off and appeared right next to the diamond warrior.
Mars was sent flying to the roof, hit it hard enough to crack the stone and fell like a ragdoll in a nearby pool of water. They waited a few seconds, but nothing happened.
Millim:"Well that was boring"
fern nodded on her shoulder in agreement.
Suddenly, the ground rumbled and several diamond shards emerged from the ground, trapping everyone except Asta.
Millim felt three glares stabbing into the back of her head. "
Millim:I'll shut up now"
The rumbling continued and from the pool emerged Mars with a new enormous diamond armor.
Without wasting a second, Mars sent a heavy punch from his armor at alarming speeds, but Asta was able to cut in half. Just what Mars wanted.
Spikes emerged from both sides of the hand, and then smashed together, Asta being in the middle.
"Millim and yuno:ASTA!".
The fist pulled apart and showed a barely conscious Asta, who could barely stand.
Mars:"Die".
He threw his fist back at him.
BOOM!
A huge explosion shook the whole dungeon, and a great cloud of smoke blinded the Magic Knights.
Once the dust settled, the outlook was completely different to the last image they had seen.
Mars was nowhere to be seen, he had just disappeared. Instead, Millim stood there, staring at the spot where Mars was supposed to be, his sword drawn, and a shadow covering his face.
"?" Asta managed to ask: millim turned to him while sheathing red demonic eyes, her eyes back to normal .
Mars send crystal at Rimuru
Asta: Hey you.... freaky diamond looking bastard.
.
Asta : WHAT DI YOU DO TO MY BROTHERS
Yuno: You have got to be kidding me.... just when I repay my debt to you two.
Asta: Yuno, you damn jerk! Were you really about to die on us?!
Rimuru : Can't believe you man, damn. Talk about sad as hell! You really were about to let Sergeant Sprinkles over there put you in the dirt?!
Asta: I MEAN WERE YOU JUST GONNA LET THAT JERK BEAT YOU! YOU HAVE NO SHAME!
Yuno looks down as he plasters on that all too iconic cool demeanor they hated when they clearly saw he was getting whooped up on.
Yuno: Mind your business you two. I was about this close to taking him down.
Asta: THAT'S A LIE AND YOU KNOW IT! YOU ARE A LITERAL WRECK!
Yuno: I was about to launch my counterattack for your information.
Rimuru : Why are you bloody lying right now?! ALL LIES, YUNO!
Yuno: I was waiting for the right moment for him to slip up.
Asta: This is just like you Yuno.
Yuno: You're both so annoying.
Rimuru : SAY THAT AGAIN! I'LL PUT YOU IN THE MOST DEVASTATING HEADLOCK!
Rimuru : Just like old times, huh? Asta and I having to pull your ass out the fire... but this time, it's on the house Yuno.
Asta: Let's give this idiot a beatdown he won't ever forget! We'll fight to see who brings him down, WHATEVER IT TAKES!
Yuno: Alright.
Rimuru : You ready, Sergeant Sprinkles! It's time for your demotion back down to Private. And it's a family affair!
Klaus: No! This is absurd! Three members of the Golden Dawn weren't enough to take him head on.... what could two Black Bulls hope to even manage?! Yet his incredible power was bested by a set of mere commoners from the Black Bulls.
Asta : ARE US! HE'S MY RIVAL!
Yuno: You have got to be kidding me.... just when I repay my debt to you two.
Asta: Yuno, you damn jerk! Were you really about to die on us?!
Rimuru : Can't believe you man, damn. Talk about sad as hell! You really were about to let Sergeant Sprinkles over there put you in the dirt?!
Asta: I MEAN WERE YOU JUST GONNA LET THAT JERK BEAT YOU! YOU HAVE NO SHAME!
Yuno looks down as he plasters on that all too iconic cool demeanor they hated when they clearly saw he was getting whooped up on.
Yuno: Mind your business you two. I was about this close to taking him down.
Asta: THAT'S A LIE AND YOU KNOW IT! YOU ARE A LITERAL WRECK!
Yuno: I was about to launch my counterattack for your information.
Rimuru : Why are you bloody lying right now?! ALL LIES, YUNO!
Yuno: I was waiting for the right moment for him to slip up.
Asta: This is just like you Yuno.
Yuno: You're both so annoying.
Rimuru : SAY THAT AGAIN! I'LL PUT YOU IN THE MOST DEVASTATING HEADLOCK!
Yuno: You can go.
Asta: And let you die? Fat chance Yuno!
Mars looking on with the uninterested face waits for these new insects to turn around. The trio of brothers share a knowing look, Yuno knowing Rimuru and Asta weren't leaving him alone to fight a helpless fight and them knowing there were strength in numbers and like Luck said this guy Yuno had been fighting? Was just as powerful if not more than Lotus.
Rimuru : Just like old times, huh? Asta and I having to pull your ass out the fire... but this time, it's on the house Yuno.
Asta: Let's give this idiot a beatdown he won't ever forget! We'll fight to see who brings him down, WHATEVER IT TAKES!
Yuno: Alright.
Rimuru : You ready, Sergeant Sprinkles! It's time for your demotion back down to Private. And it's a family affair!
Klaus: No! This is absurd! Three members of the Golden Dawn weren't enough to take him head on.... what could two Black Bulls hope to even manage?! Yet his incredible power was bested by a set of mere commoners from the Black Bulls.
A mineral clone of Mars slips past Klaus as it makes a beeline for the still covering Mimosa but its destination and target is quickly cut off by Luck as he blitzes by the steel mage nailing it, decapitating its head from its shoulders. He looks stunned and shook by the sudden appearance of Luck Voltia, suddenly remembering there was fourth member of the Black Bulls squad.
Luck: Fragile, wasn't it?
Klaus: There's no way... this is the mage that was known for savagely beating his exam opponent to the brink of death?! The Cheery Berserker, Luck Voltia?! He's the fourth member of this ragtag Black Bulls group of mages? I'M BEING RESCUED THIS GROUPS OF MISFITS?!
Noelle: Mimosa! and who you are?
Noelle's older cousin by three months looks at her, a look of sadness mixed with relief that Noelle is her to assist on what is turning out to be a dangerous mission.
Mimosa: I'm ashamed to be seen like this... I suppose you were right about me, Noelle. A dim old bitch as you stated...
She tries to chuckle but the pain soon kicks in again as Noelle looks at her with pity but regret with what she said earlier to Mimosa as she swallows.
Noelle: It's true... you are rather lacking in the sense department. But I didn't mean that to hurt you. What you lack in battle logic, you make up with in heart and fortitude. And that's alright.
She summons her new spell, Sea Dragon's Lair as it doubles as a protective barrier to Mimosa's healing basket.
Noelle: Because I'll protect you and that guy?
Mimosa: Thanks, Noelle.
The redhead takes stock in her baby cousin's squadmates particularly interested by Asta and Tyrus.
Mimosa: So long as she's with those two, she'll continue to blossom like only I know she can.
Asta, Rimuru and Yuno stand side by side by side as they stare down Mars.
Asta: Are you the one, who did this to Yuno and the Golden Dawn?!
Rimuru : Speak the truth now, and maybe I won't have the urge to kill you slowly.
He gracefully plays and twirls around with his short length dagger, ready for the diamond covered aggressor to make the first move.
Mars: And what is to you two if I did do this? It is the strong who shall survive, not the weak. The weak are meant to be slaughtered, make the strong even stronger than they were previously. Allow me to make an example of you two. Simple as that.
Mars creates a field of mineral clones of himself.
Klaus: He can make that many clones of himself at a time?!
Luck: OOOOHHHHHH! How many do you think can I take down!
Mars: The battlefield is my concert hall and these clones are mine, perfect in their design are my instruments of your destruction. But do not underestimate these clones. They possess the same amount of magic power as I do while I retain my own. In my symphony there is no room of the weak. That's why I was born.... to destroy the weaklings... LIKE YOU!
He chops his hand down sending his infinite amount of clones after the three brothers who ready their grimoires and battle stances.
Rimuru : Here we go guys! Let's show Sprinkles here the bond and power of three brothers!
Asta: Yeah, let's go Rimuru and Yuno!
Yuno: Try and kill us then. We're waiting!
Asta blitzes first, sword in hand as he destroys the first in what will be many clones
Mars: Oh trust me, you three. I fully intend to!
He summons his typical dual-tipped sword as he slings it right at Asta's head. Only for Rimuru to jump in front of it.
Rimuru : You got some nerve ignoring me, bastard! Icy slime Magic: icicle shotgun
He fires off some ice particles in the air, sending them all towards Mars.
Tyrus: Thank me once we put this bitch down! Think you can take your katana out again?!
Mars, much like he had previously done with Klaus earlier, traps the boys legs in diamonds only for them neatly and precisely wittle their way out and continue their attack.
Asta: YOU BET! HAHHHHHHHHH!
Rimuru : Yuno, you hang back and rest! Asta and I been needing an excuse to stretch our limbs and he's the perfect reason. Check on your squadmates! You did great though, we'll finish him off!
Asta drills Mars with his sword right into his abdomen as he flings him back a considerable distance while Rimuru fires off several more ice projectile beams causing a cold-spell explosion. Mars hits the ceiling of the dungeon hard, a dust cloud forming off of the impact alone. However the Diamond Mage wasn't going down without at least responding as several large diamond fixtures shot from the cloud with Asta and Rimuru gliding and sliding on them effortlessly. Asta would use structures as batting practice sending them right back him and Rimuru continued to wage a projectile war with Mars.
Mars: Ah?!
He effortlessly dodges it as he drives right into Tyrus, sending into a nearby wall.
Noelle: Rimuru !
She is relieved yet blushes stupidly when she finds Rimuru emerging from the wall, his shirt with definite rip in it, exposing his six pack of abs. He discards the chunks of ripped cloth to get a tattered bottom half but outside of that he was largely unscathed.
Rimuru : I'm good! It'll take a lot more than that to kill or even knock me out. All he did was just ring my bell pretty good.
After dispatching of Rimuru , Mars beelines for Asta forming a massive diamond club around his left arm but Asta wasn't having any of it as he deflects the attack with little difficulty as he hits Mars again sending skipping the lake fixture like a pebble a kid would skip. Rimuru rejoins Asta as the shortstack remarks.
Asta: You've seen better days.
Tyrus: Ha! You should see this bozo with diamonds all over his body. He looks way worse than I ever could! Nice work though, I think you got him down for the most part.
Everyone takes in the sights of the two's accomplishments. The Golden Dawn weren't barely able to scratch, let alone register any worry or damage on Mars's but for Asta and Rimuru to just actually push him back and damage him? It was next level. More clones came after the two but Luck destroyed them with a second thought.
Luck: Awww, I wanted to take him on! But I guess these practice dummies will have to do just as well!
Yuno assists with mop up duty as Klaus grits his refusing to believe what he is seeing.
Klaus: This is outrageous! How can not one but two commoners do that?! Least of all when Asta has no mana... AT ALL?!
A clone is about to punch him dead in his jaw when a water ball destroys it, Noelle looking at Klaus with contempt and disappointment.
Noelle: Please stop sitting there with that sourpuss look on your face and just accept the facts already. You should already know about Rimuru level of mana so I won't beat a dead horse but Asta? He has magic power in his own way. Just not in the traditional sense. He has the ability to cancel out any magic.
Klaus: Cancel... out.... Magic? That can't be! Truly, Lady Silva? But a commoner like him is beneath that power! Perhaps he and by extension the ice mage you refer to as Tyrus were simply lucky just now.
Noelle: Was it luck... or was it something else? You can tell just by watching him, no?
Asta: Well? COME ON OUT!
Rimuru : As much trouble as you were giving the cream of the crop when it comes to the Magic Knights of the Clover Kingdom? There's no way you're done that easily, Sergeant Sprinkles!
Something was off....
Rimuru : Hold on... Asta look! His grimoire, it's not gone! He's still alive but even weirder, it's floating!
Just as he finished speaking an intense blue glows, blinding everyone in the dungeon, crystalizing everything in the water, as coming out of it.... Mars returns, shooting even more giants crystals at the two brothers who fight like hell just to avoid getting pierced and shish-kabobbed. Diamonds form on the inside of the structure as Rimuru realizes too late much like what he, Magna and Asta did against Heath in Sosshi Village, it was a pincer attack being launched.
Rimuru : Asta, ON YOUR RIGHT!
Asta: MORE LIKE ON YOUR LEFT!
The two were trapped between dozen of crystals and diamonds, sharp as the tip of a kitchen knife as they slam into the two! Horrifying Yuno and everyone else inside who may have just witnessed two Magic Knights get murdered in front of their very eyes.
Klaus: So he was born WITHOUT any type of magic power?! So it was just luck after all- huh?!
He grips his sword as he tries to stabilize himself despite his hellacious injuries. Just then Tyrus, although in worse shape also begins to stir.
Asta: But I won't let that stop me.... because I'm going to be Wizard King someday!
Rimuru : Fat... bloody... chance... kfff... I told you. That's going to be me someday. But as for you, diamond chain... we'll continue to fight and bleed as much as we have to. Because guess what? We're in too deep and just too stubborn for our own good!
Klaus: Just look at their bodies, they are in even worse shape than Mimosa when she got critically injured! How much time have they spent training, let alone Asta?! For him to endure those wounds and still be standing, it's absolutely inconceivable. The Wizard King? Can he reach that summit let alone even mean it?
Rimuru and Asta ready their dagger and sword respectively yet again as Yuno watches intently. He knew one of these three were going to land the decisive blow that he and Klaus failed to do for so many instances. As injured as they were, like he told Klaus, underestimating Tyrus and Asta would be a fatal mistake but now, he was ready to take his own advice at face value.
Girl: Mars, when you grow up, what do you want to be?
Mars: I- I live only to destroy!
Asta: Are you kidding me? You live to destroy?!
Tyrus: What a load of absolute bullshit!
Asta: The Wizard King LIVES to protect his people and his kingdom!
Girl: We'll keep everyone safe and our whole country safe, okay?
Rimuru : I will-
Asta: NEVER LOSE!
Millim eating ,Noelle, Luck, veldora,Mimosa and Yuno all smile while Klaus looks on shocked by the inordinate amount of resilience and grit these commoners have put forth as they bot scream to their lungs.
Rimuru and Asta: NOT TO SOMEONE LIKE YOU!
Mars: YOU'RE IN MY WAY! BEGONE YOU PEBBLES!
Rimuru and Asta smirk at one another, knowing this was the moment they had been waiting for. The non-magic wielder and slime mage take charge and rush at the intimidating suit of armor.
Rimuru : SURE WE MAY BE PEBBLES TO SOMEONE AS THICK HEADED AS YOU!
Asta: BUT WE'LL BE THE PEBBLES THAT SMASH THROUGH!
N DIAMOND!
They combine their attacks to devastating effect, Asta leveling Mars with a heavy strike to the chestplate of his armor whereas Tyrus delivered a TKO-inducing meathook clothesline from hell, courtesy of his Frost Frenzy spell as they simultaneously shatter his armor and knock him out flat on his backside.
Rimuru : Now sleep.... for what it was worth? You were exactly like Luck thought you were.
Everyone looks completely flabbargasted and downright shocked at the mayhem that had just ensued. Two mere commoners from the Forsaken Realm, the sticks as they were more commonly referred, just defeated a high ranking mage from an enemy kingdom. Yuno especially gets flashbacks to that day where his wind magic was beating down Asta but in the very last instance of that memory, young Asta had powered through the wind and hit Yuno with a stick on the top of his head. He smirked at the memory seeing the visual of his two foster brothers standing tall after coming to the aid of he and Golden Dawn members.
Asta: You see?! You can do anything! As long you don't ever give up.
Asta: HHAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Rimuru : One of these days, I swear I'm gonna duct tape your mouth shut or at least see if Vanessa can get an anti-shouting spell for you. But, great work Asta!
Rimuru : He better stay the hell down this time.... Between Sosshi and just now, I have had my fill with idiots that can make crystals or sharp ass ice fixtures.
Klaus performs a metal creation binding spell on the now unconscious Mars, taking his grimoire for possible evidence now that the aggressor is subdued and placated.
Klaus: There... that should him until we're at least done here.
Everyone looks stunned, still shocked that Asta and Rimuru were able to scratch let alone put this freak of a man down for the count where Yuno and Klaus struggled since Mars had arrived. Asta is shown eating what appears to grass, as everyone wonders where the hell he got it from.
Asta: Are you sure that's gonna- *GULP* hold him?
Klaus: Are you questioning my strength and magic right now?!
Rimuru : WEELLLLLLLL.....
Klaus: It's a sturdy spell that not even someone as powerful and malicious as he could break out of- plus before I secured him, I took his grimoire so he is about as harmless as a baby dragon with no teeth to bite with.
Asta: Okay, okay just making sure. Here have some plants to mellow out.
Klaus: I do not want your chewed up leftovers.
Asta: Yuno? Rimuru ?
Yuno: I'll pass.
Rimuru : I'm trying to even see where you got those leaves from, Stupidsta.... Oh God, I think I'm turning into Noelle.
Noelle: Har-har, very funny. Rimuru , Thank you and Asta for putting that monster down..... AHHHH WHY HE IS IN MY HEAD AGAIN!
Mimosa: I'm glad to see none of us were seriously injured.
Noelle: Are you sure you should even be moving, Mimosa?
Mimosa: Oh, yes. I'm fine now, I'm mostly healed, it's just minor cuts as of this moment so please, don't worry about me Noelle. But I can't express how thankful I am for you protecting me.
Noelle's tsudnerism comes to the surface as her cousin launches praise after praise onto her, a light snowy pink blush paints across her face.
Noelle: No that's not what I meant.... I just couldn't leave a dimwit like you to defend herself or to perish in an abysmal place like this.
Mimosa: Well, in any event you have my gratitude Noelle.
Noelle: Hmph... Rimuru , Stupidsta. DO YOU THINK YOU TWO COULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR CLOTHES?!
We get slow-rise pan of the foster brothers and the aftermath of their 2 on 1 fight with Mars. The right side of Asta's clothes, Black Bulls robe included are shredded, a bloody head wound leaks from his headband. Tyrus on the other-hand, after getting thrown into a wall which produced the result of his tattered undershirt but after being trapped with Asta in Mars's crystal trap, had a bloody wound on his forehead, his trenchcoat also ripped all the way to his Black Bulls logo. Somehow miraculously, his actual Black Bulls robe remained void of any tears, stretches and was perfect in its design still.
Asta: Geez, what did we do wrong this time?
Noelle: Just look at the two of you! You look like you went through one of Charmy's cheese graters!
Rimuru : (baby voice )You're pointing all this out, yet you're the one blushing like a ready-to-pick pot potato, Noelle! While we're half-naked mind you!
Noelle: You two are ridiculous, I am not blushing!
Rimuru : Yes you are.~
Noelle: I AM NOT!
Asta: Ohhhh... my robe though! Magna's going to totally murder me if Captain Yami doesn't do it.
Rimuru : i will fit this later
Klaus stews in his thoughts, still not trying to comprehend how two peasants were able to defeat a high-ranking Diamond Kingdom mage.
Klaus: Shameful Klaus Lunettes, I still can't believe that we needed the assistance of the Black Bulls! As I was certain we would, The Golden Dawn reached the treasure hall therefore are the winners of this little competition.
Rimuru : That's funny, I could HAVE sworn that Asta and I saved your behinds, Sir Spectacles!
Klaus: Again with that! However, thanks to your otherworldly efforts. We will allow you, The Black Bulls to join us in this treasure hall.
Asta: OH COME ON FOUR EYES, COULD YOU BE ANYMORE HIGH AND MIGHTY?! THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH, FOR TYRUS AND I
SAVING YOUR ASSES, YOU ENORMOUS JERK!
Klaus: How about you shut your mouth before it gets you in trouble!
Rimuru : Awww, did we upset Sir Spectacles! My fellow Bulls do humbly apologize, please let me kiss your ring- SHUT YOUR MOUTH!
Klaus: I should chastise you both, but I simply don't have the time to waste with the Black Bulls' adolescent runts!
Asta: Just say you're scared! No one here will think any less of you!
Rimuru : Looks like someone's CHICKEN! BA-BA-BA-GAWKKKK, GO ON LAY AN EGG FOR ME, MY BLUE HAIRED CHICKEN!
Yuno: We're not just involved... we're flat out committed right now.
Luck smiles while Noelle looks on concerned as Asta and Rimuru continue to argue with Klaus. How she, a royal was starting to fall for an commoner like Tyrus was one of the biggest mysteries in her mind but honestly, one of the main reasons had to have been to the willingness to step up to the plate but also just now like Asta, his Forsaken Realm physique certainly wasn't helping her case. Combine that with his hilarious and sometimes jackass personality and willingness to put up with her tough girl shenanigans, she was surprised she hadn't began swooning at knees immediately. Mimosa was on the same wavelength of thinking, only for Asta.
Klaus: Now that is just that taking it too far!
Millim : OH I'LL SHOW YOU TOO FAR!
Klaus: NGH- ENOUGH! OFF TO THE TREASURE HALL!
Millim/Asta: NOW YOU'RE TALKING MY LANGUAGE!
Millim : Whatever is in that treasure, we claim in the name of the Clover Kingdom!
Klaus: WILL YOU TWO STOP YELLING?!
Noelle: You're one to talk, you loudmouth!
Rimuru : So.... anyone got a pickaxe or magic key? Because there's no way we're cracking that door.
Nero: kookoookkoooooo...
Klaus: There must be a cipher that would allow us passage into the hall.