[Reward Calculation in progress…]
"It might take a while," El thought, placing a hand on her shoulder.
The world warped, and in the next instant they reappeared near where Nacht lay collapsed. Asta kneeled beside him, working to close the deep wounds already wrapped in incorporeal shadow.
"Quit stressing the kid," El said dryly, glancing down at Nacht. "Can you move?"
"Not for now…," Nacht replied, exhaling slowly. "Not like we have anywhere to go."
Nacht lifted a finger weakly, motioning him closer. "Bring your grimoire."
Asta obeyed. Nacht placed a seal on it once more, shadows tightening around the cover, the threat of a rampaging demon was sealed away—at least for now.
"I've released thirty percent of the seal," Nacht said. "You can draw on its power, but don't rely on it too much." Asta nodded solemnly.
"El," Asta spoke.
"After the demon died, I went to retrieve our swords. But… I found this instead." Asta held out the remains.
El's gaze fell on Murasame—or what was left of it. The blade had melted halfway from the tip down, its runes erased, warped by extreme heat. In Asta's other hand lay something far stranger.
A One-Star Dragon Ball—split cleanly in two.
The moment El touched them, information flooded his mind.
[Murasame has been damaged.]
[Repair cost: 25,000 Xeni Coins.]
[One-Star Dragon Ball acquired.]
[Status: Inactive.]
[Dragon Balls will awaken after one month.]
[Condition to ???]
"A dud… for now," El muttered, sheathing the murasame, he stored both halves of Dragon balls into his enchanted ring. "You'd better be worth the trouble."
For a brief moment, the weight of everything he'd gone through settled on him. Without the others, he would have died—just to defeat the ruler of the first level of the underworld. The weakest of them all.
That wasn't acceptable, he needed to grow stronger—fast, and not just him but his companions as well.
"As soon as we held those balls," Nacht said quietly, "information appeared in our minds too. Are they real? Or just another trick by the devils to break underworld seals?"
"It is real," El replied. "But it won't matter until all seven are gathered."
Nacht scoffed. "You speak of impossible things."
El understood the bitterness in his voice. Nacht had faced a supreme devil and lived—but only barely.
Nacht scoffed, dismissing the thought entirely. Defeating such beings was impossible—far better to keep them sealed forever. That was where their interests clashed. Yet, against the common enemy 'Spade Kingdom', they stood together.
"Vice-Captain Nacht," El continued, turning to Nacht. "When you faced that supreme demon… Did you see a symbol? A sphere on its chest, marked with stars?"
Nacht paused. "I only glimpsed his shadow. He was shrouded in darkness. I didn't even have the strength to look at his body." El nodded and turned back.
"What do they do?" Noelle asked quietly, curiosity edging her voice.
"If you collect all seven," El replied without hesitation, "a god will descend upon our world and grant a wish—without limit."
"What… is that true?" Noelle asked.
"Yes." El said calmly.
"Can it grant any wish?" Noelle asked again.
"Yes," El said. "Even the revival of the dead—if you have the power to gather them all."
Noelle fell silent, memories of the demon they had fought surfacing in her mind.
"I understand…" she said softly.
Then El spoke again.
"My wish isn't much different from yours. If I can fulfill mine, so can be your. The same applies to you, Vice Captain Nacht."
Nacht scoffed, pushing himself upright. "Wishful thinking. I didn't know you for a superstitious man."
"If you knew what I know," El muttered.
Noelle hesitated. "Earlier… You mentioned my mother. What do you know about her?"
"El." Nacht warned sharply.
Shadow surged around them as Nacht invoked Demon Union: Gallus.
The world folded, and they reappeared within an isolated subspace of shadow.
"Your mother," Nacht said gravely, "was cursed by one of the highest-ranking demons of the underworld. That demon has since risen to the rank of a supreme devil since."
Noelle froze.
"Even after your mother's death, the curse remains active," Nacht continued. "Anyone who speaks of it becomes afflicted."
"But… my brother—" Noelle began.
"A lie," El cut in coldly. "A fabricated story to prevent people from speaking and being cursed."
"We can only speak of this because we are within a separate space. Do not mention it to anyone outside." Natch Explained.
"Then… why me…?" she whispered, collapsing onto the cold floor as Asta caught her.
"That," El said, "you'll have to ask your brother. And I doubt he'll answer, until you earn his recognition."
Those words ignited something within her. Memories of her future self—of Mana Zone mastery, of higher devils falling before her—rose vividly in her mind.
"That I will," Noelle said, her resolve hardening.
"In the Spade Kingdom," El continued, "there exists a contractor bound to Megicula, the supreme devil. She is the one who cursed your mother… and my sister, Queen Lolopechka."
Noelle's eyes burned. "You're saying my mother's killer is still alive."
"Yes," El answered. "They are our enemies. They're waiting—just as we are for the perfect time to strike each other."
Asta clenched his fists. "So… we're preparing for war?"
"Correct," Nacht said. "And when it comes, we'll be at its center."
Noelle rose, wiping her tears. "Thank you, El. Vice-Captain Nacht. I'll take my revenge—and I'll help you collect all the orange balls."
"Me too!" Asta said without hesitation.
Nacht sighed. "Shouldn't we figure out how to leave this place first?"
"I don't think that'll be a problem anymore," El replied.
Before him, the Reward Calculation Window finished processing.
A card materialized in El's hand.
⚔️ [Mission Interface]
Mission: Dance of Ice & Fire
Rank: S — Completed
Time Limit: None
Objective: Survive
Failure: Death
Rewards Acquired
[Card Rank: S]
Ability: Summon Mahoraga
Original Holder: Ryomen Sukuna / Zenin Clan (Ten Shadows Technique)
Effect:
Summons Mahoraga, the Eight-Handled Sword Divergent Sila Divine General—a cursed entity that adapts to any attack or phenomenon it survives. With each rotation of its wheel, Mahoraga evolves resistance and eventually counters even overwhelmingly superior foes.
Weakness:
The entity may prioritize killing its summoner.
Condition to Copy:
Tame Mahoraga by defeating it solo during its summoning ritual. No outside assistance permitted—except the Multiverse Record.
Time Limit:
Until Mahoraga or the summoner is killed.
What the actual f—
El's expression was both delighted and grim.
An S-rank entity that actively wants to kill me… but if I tame it, I'll gain a summon stronger than a captain.
Without 50,000 Xeni coins, this card gives me only a single opportunity—the first free summon. Fail to tame it, and it's useless.
He stored the black S-rank card and turned to the next reward.
[Card Rank: A]
Name: Summon Zuno (Dragon Ball Universe)
Ability: Absolute Knowledge
Effect: Answers up to three questions with absolute accuracy—even truths people desperately wish to hide.
Limitations: Tribute of Adoration: A Beautiful woman must kiss his cheeks before he answers any question.
Condition to Copy: One Time Card cannot be purchased or made permanent
Xeni Coins Earned: 11,248
• Current Balance: 24,268 Xeni Coins
A-Rank Treasure: 3× Senzu Beans
Hidden Condition Met: Survive with all four companions
Hidden Reward Unlocked:
+5,000 Xeni Coins
+2× Senzu Beans
+Return Pass to Clover Kingdom
Current Balance: 29,268 Xeni Coins
"Good thing it included a return pass," El muttered. "Otherwise… I'm not sure what I'd have done."
He examined the black and white cards in his hands.
"You unlocked a new spell?" Nacht asked.
"Correct. Give me a moment—I'll sweep the area for any valuables and we can return at once," El replied before vanishing.
The Scouter materialized over his right eye, scanning a ten-kilometer radius and after searching for five minutes in different locations, it finally pinged.
Deep within a shattered, man-made, castle-like structure, sealed inside an earthen pot, lay a single white feather—quietly emitting a distinct mana of its own.
[Feather of the Fallen Light Angel]
El stored the feather inside his enchanted ring and finding nothing else, he returned to the group and extending his hand.
Asta, Noelle, and Nacht placed theirs atop his.
As the white card dissolved, the world folded—and they reappeared at the border of the Clover Kingdom.
"We will head to the hospital first." El said disappearing along with everyone.
They reappeared hundreds of miles away inside the Clover Kingdom Medical Hall.
As soon as they arrived Nacht was escorted by healers to the healing chamber.
As one healer pushed open the room door, they froze.
"M-Mr. Magna…?"
Magn
a lay on the central bed, body ravaged, frozen ice embedded across his injuries as healers worked frantically to heal him.
"What happened Mr. Magna, who did this to you" Asta asked, panicked.
"Capt… Yami…" Magna whispered weakly—and then his hand fell limp as he lost consciousness.
***
Author Note: I've finally finished this long fight, and by now you've probably gotten the gist of what the story—and the MC's abilities—are about. I'd really love to hear your thoughts on how it's shaping up so far.
And if you're enjoying the story, I'd truly appreciate it if you could donate some Power Stones, they're long overdue.
Thanks for sticking with me!