Night's Wrath (Black Clover x Male Reader)

56th Page: Scattered

(Timeless Manor OP - Sync by lol)
Timeless Manor

"Woah!" (Y/N) shouted, falling forward onto his face as Phantasm fell beside him, stabbing into the ground. A small distance away, a similar yelp was heard as a figure crashed into the ground in a similar fashion to the Magic Knight.

"Ouch..." Fay grunted, rubbing her head as her blade fell beside her, her lilac eyes slowly taking in the surroundings.

"Never again..." (Y/N) groaned, slowly rubbing his head as he got to his feet, his own eyes opening as he looked around, confusion evident in his eyes.

"Where am...I?" (Y/N) and Fay both spoke at the same time, the two's heads twisting to the others' location, staring in silence for a moment, before both of them scampered for their swords, brandishing their blades in unison.

"What are you doing here?!" The two shouted at each other, surprised looks forming on their faces before Fay narrowed her eyes.

"Where is everyone else? Why is he the only person here? What was that light...?" Fay racked her mind with questions, only to come up short as she gave a small sigh, though she didn't lower her guard at all.

"Where did Lucius and the Guard guys go? Why is she the only person here with me? And what the heck was that light?" (Y/N) couldn't help but recall what had just happened- at least, he thought it had just happened moments earlier, but even his recalling felt fuzzy.

"And this..." (Y/N)'s eyes swiftly surveyed the area around him, finding both him and Fay in a completely new area, no longer in shattered ruins but rather in a grandiose hall, decorated with various silver-armored statues on the side, all wielding blades pointed upwards.

"Did he do this? No, there's no way he would've done this. Not only did this split him from that strange guy, but this even split him further from those Guards. But even so, he was caught in it too...such a wide range spell too...is its purpose to scatter us? But then, where was everyone sent? Just how big is this place really?" Fay couldn't help but glance around the area, only to see the extensively giant hallway she and (Y/N) found themselves in, not a single other soul in sight.

However, even then, the two could not deny...

"But the biggest problem is..."

"Him." Fay narrowed her eyes.

"Her." (Y/N) narrowed his eyes.

"I dunno what just happened, but it looks like we get to finish our fight here." (Y/N) brandished Phantasm, a smirk rising to his lips as Fay smiled.

"I couldn't agree more. It seems fate is my favor." Fay smiled slightly, raising her blade as (Y/N) did the same, a tense aura surrounding the two, their blades poised to strike as a tense aura formed around the hall, not a single whisper running through the air.

"Haah-"

"Hyah-"

"GRRRAAAAWWWRRRR!"

However, just as (Y/N) and Fay both leapt forward, the two were stopped in their tracks by a horrific roar, a strange creature wandering out of the extensive halls, crawling on all four claws, various crystals emerging from its sides, its face lacking in features, only sporting a set of blackened crystal claws.

"What in the..." Fay momentarily wondered, (Y/N) similarly watching on in confusion, the two staring at the strange creature.

"Is that a...Timeless Creature? That's a new one..." (Y/N) lowered his blade, glancing at Fay from the corner of his eyes before returning his gaze to the creature, who now peered at the two surprised Mages.

Unleashing a guttural howl, the creature seemed to scamper up the walls, before tearing its front claws back, smashing its claws against the wall as it howled, putting both (Y/N) and Fay on edge, before dozens of howls erupted from the surrounding halls, various other, similar figures emerging from the walls, resonant howls rushing through the open space.

"This...ain't looking so good." (Y/N) grimaced, brandishing Phantasm as the dozens of creatures continued to pile up, raising his guard. Before him, his Grimoire shone brightly with a midnight blue haze.

"..." Fay kept her silence, though even she warily kept her gaze focused on the distant creatures, hearing a howl behind her, turning to see the hall behind her also sporting various of the creatures, easily within the dozens. Before her, her Grimoire shone with a bright white haze.

Under the stunned gazes of the two Mages, the creatures scampered all around, before they began to converge on the various statues around the hall, giving one more guttural howl before they began to disappear, fading into the statues as the silver-armored creations gave loud sounds of crunching steel, before the creatures burst forth, various crystals growing on the suits of armor as they, one after the other, emerged from the wall, giving guttural howls as their blades manifested sharp black crystals, putting both (Y/N) and Fay on edge.

"Well, that's new..." (Y/N) gave a nervous smirk, looking on in surprise towards the new arrivals. The black crystals on their blades edged with immense mana, much more the ones that manifested on the silver armor of the new creatures.

"Looks like our match will have to wait." Fay grimaced, facing the new arrivals as the suits of armor stomped towards the two, surrounding them as Fay and (Y/N) both took involuntary steps back, standing back to back.

"Looks like it." (Y/N) didn't disagree. Although Fay was technically his enemy, there were currently greater threats to worry about. He had no idea what these new creatures were capable of, other than possession at least.

"I propose a truce for now. At least, a truce until we get out of this place. Something tells me we don't want to stick around in here. Do you concur?" Fay spoke, brandishing her blade as she stood back to back with (Y/N), warily glancing across the growing number of silver-armored Timeless Possessors.

"We agree on something, at least." (Y/N) smirked, brandishing his own blade. For now, he'd set aside his fight with Fay, and deal with the greater threat. Besides, there were still many unknown factors about the Timeless Manor. If he had one less enemy to deal with, that would certainly be favorable.

"Alright, a truce then." (Y/N) nodded at Fay, getting a small, grateful smile in return, before the two stood back to back, brandishing their blades. Around them, the armored creatures howled, slowly approaching as their blades dragged along the ground, crackling with sparks.

"Don't lose." Fay nonchalantly requested, her mirages beginning to blossom around her.

"Same to you!" (Y/N) smirked, blackish-red lightning crackling around him as he faced the approaching armors.

In the next moment, the fight began.

The suits of armors roared loudly, before stomping across the shattered marble grounds, one of the many rushing forward and raising its blade, bringing it down as (Y/N) and Fay leapt away from each other, their previous location caving in with the swing of the creatures' sword.

"What immense strength..." Fay felt a drop of sweat form on the side of her face, watching in surprise as a crater formed from the simple strike from the armor. However, in the next moment, she disappeared as dozens of mirages bloomed around her, slashing at dozens of the creatures, only for her mirages to come up null, Fay herself skidding back away from the creatures.

"And that armor is ridiculously hard, too..." Fay noted, feeling a faint numbness in her arm from the attack she'd performed, the afflicted creature merely turning towards her and howling, stomping towards her.

However, on the other side, a streak of lightning tore across the creatures, (Y/N) slashing at them relentlessly, yet even he did not meet much success in his offensive.

"These things just keep piling up...fifty-five, fifty-six, fifty-seven...are they endless?" (Y/N) grimaced, before he landed on the ground as his Grimoire flipped through various pages, before ultimately stopping on his desired spell."

"[Void Lightning Magic: Shattering Tempest!]" (Y/N) chanted, Phantasm turning into a blur as six slashes of Void Lightning tore into one of the armors, kicking up a smoke screen as (Y/N) leapt back, the armor bursting forth and slashing down at where he had stood previously, causing a massive crater to form.

"That's not good." (Y/N) grimaced, before he narrowed his eyes. Although a small chance, perhaps he could...

Deciding to test his theory, (Y/N) rushed forward, six of the armored suits rushing forward and slashing down at him, unleashing guttural howls. However, (Y/N) merely manifested a Void Blade in his grasp, throwing it between the creatures before Warp-Striking to it, slashing down at one of the creatures, only for Phantasm to bounce off of its crystals, (Y/N) frowning slightly at the results.

"[Void Lightning/Earth Magic: Whirlwind Flash Slashes, Ruined Terra!]" (Y/N) unleashed a barrage of lightning slashes on the armored creature, causing it to howl as it raised its blade, before (Y/N) leapt back, the creatures' blade tearing into where he had stood previously, causing a massive crater to form in the blades' wake.

However, a void rift manifested beside (Y/N), Void Earth engulfing Phantasm as (Y/N) stabbed the blade into the rift, dozens mores appearing around the creatures as spikes of Void Earth stabbed out from the various rifts, only to shatter on contact with the blackened crystals, causing (Y/N) to narrow his eyes.

"Then...[Void Flame/Frost Magic: Burning Abyss, Frost Realm!]" (Y/N) stabbed Phantasm into the shattered marble beneath, a vortex of Void Frost emerging around him as everything turned into a frozen wonderland, before raging pillars of flames emerged from the ground, scorching the frozen suits of armor as they howled, before six of them slashed to the sides in unison, the intense mana trailing on their blades dispersing the spells.

"Tch." (Y/N) couldn't help but click his tongue in annoyance, seeing that even that didn't work. He'd have to find a way around those troublesome crystals, but that was much easier said than done, all of the armors being engulfed head to toe in the strange shards.

As (Y/N) leapt back into the battle, Fay flipped back to avoid a meteoric blade, the ground before her shattering as she raised her hands before her, blocking the debris that flew from the strike, before she disappeared, a Mirage in her place as another blade fell down upon the mirage, annihilating it instantly, Fay slashing down at the same creature from above, only for her blade to bounce off of the creature.

"[Mirage Magic: Raging Lotus Waltz.]" Fay casted her spell, dozens of mirages manifesting around the suit of armor as Fay, in tandem with the new mirages, slashed all across its body, descending from the creatures with a myriad of slashes, engulfing it in a lotus-like formation of slashes, Fay descending from the beast. However, that did nothing to stop the creature as it swung its sword with a guttural howl, Fay grimacing as she disappeared from the spot, a crater blooming from her position a moment later.

"We're getting nowhere like this." Fay shouted, dodging several falling blades. She didn't even want to attempt to block those swords, seeing all their previous results.

"Trust me...I noticed!" (Y/N) shouted back, slashing at one of the armors' legs, only for Phantasm to bounce off of the black crystals, before the creature stomped and sent (Y/N) rocketing away, various black shard blades raising towards him as (Y/N) reacted quickly, warping out of the way as a dozen swords collided with where he flew previously, sending the creatures recoiling from their own impacts.

"Are these guys endless?" (Y/N) muttered, skidding across the ground and brandishing Phantasm, Fay flashing all around the creatures and striking at them in unison with her mirages, focusing her attacks on a single spot, the crystals beginning to crack. However, a shadow manifested above her as Fay frowned, disappearing from the spot as a blackened shard blade slashed through her spot, tearing apart her Mirages and sending Fay flying, (Y/N) reaching out Phantasm to the side as Fay redirected herself in the air, her feet landing gracefully on the blade as she recollected herself, now standing atop Phantasm.

"It doesn't seem like targeting a single spot will get us anywhere, either..." Fay grimaced, watching as the cracking crystal she had been attacking began to mend, the cracks fading, as if she had never attacked in the first place.

Like an unstoppable force, the creatures stomped towards the two Mages, their Grimoire flashing before them as the two held grimaced expressions.

"We're going to have to coordinate our attacks, I doubt we'll be able to make a situation where we could take out any one of these in an instant on our own." Fay, after a moment of consideration, proposed as (Y/N) narrowed his eyes at the distant creatures, before nodding at Fay.

"Right. We're going to have to make an opening, then attack with all we've got." (Y/N) nodded, Fay repeating the action in return as the two prepared themselves, the Timeless Possessors unleashing guttural growls before they rushed forward, their symphonic stomps across the ground only heralding unease within the Mages before them.

"Let's go!" (Y/N) and Fay both shot into action, sticking relatively close as they rushed at the creatures, splitting to the sides when one of them crashed its blade down upon them, before the two slid beside its armored legs, stabbing their blades on the ground to stop themselves as they jumped at the beast, only for it to suddenly swirl around, its sword slashing at both of the Mages, sending them both flying despite blocking the strike, rocketing them into a larger crowd of the shard knights.

In the next moment, however, several Mirages bloomed around the two, stopping their momentum as (Y/N) rocketed down at the nearest Timeless Possessor, Phantasm poised beside him, his Grimoire flipping through various pages.

"[Void Lightning/Frost Magic: Dark Flash, Absolute Zero Strike!]" (Y/N) chanted, immense amounts of mana gathering near Phantasm, slashing down at the creature with crackling lightning and numbing frost, causing a rattling sound to emerge from the crystals, Void Frost lingering by the creature as faint Void Lightning sparked around the crystals.

"[Mirage Magic: Safflower Rose's Ascent.]" Fay joined in on the offensive, slashing at the beast in a complex pattern, forming a rose-formation of slashes as various Mirages delivered a myriad of rising slashes, though that barely served to chip the creature's crystals, forming a faint weakness.

Yet, in the next moment, both (Y/N) and Fay were sent flying by a forlorn blade, crashing into opposite walls.

"It's not strong enough!" (Y/N) groaned, falling from the walls and shakily landing on his feet, Phantasm still clasped tightly in his hand.

"Before it heals again...hit it with everything you've got!" Fay, equally as disheveled, heaved as she regained her breath, having been stunned from the sudden impact.

Yet, neither one delayed as they both swooped down upon the creature once more, unleashing a torrent of slashes on the beast, it howling in return as various of the creatures raised their blades, mana beginning to gather on their edges.

"[Void Fusion Magic: Infernal Frost Lightning Talon!]"

"[Mirage Creation Magic: Starfall Rose Blade!]"

In an instant, all hell broke loose as a massive talon-like attack tore into the ground, thunder crackling as lightning assailed the armored beast, causing it howl out as both ice and flames tore at its crystals, chipping them slowly but surely, (Y/N) gritting his teeth before slashing down harshly with Phantasm once more, crushing the armor beneath the claw as it howled loudly, Fay recoiling momentarily in the air before she raised her blade skyward, her Magic quickly gathering above her before she grit her teeth, rocketing her blades towards the downed creature as the tri-elemental Void talon disappeared, a massive blade of mana descending onto the suit of armor, stabbing directly through it as the armor gave one last howl, faintly showing the previous Timeless Possessor, before the blade swiftly slashed its body in half, destroying it with a final howl, growing the massive crater beneath.

"That...did it...!" Fay huffed, only for their victory to be short lived as a shard-like gauntlet slapped the two aside, (Y/N) using Phantasm to block the attack, only for the force behind the attack to send the two scrambling away, crashing through the hordes of armors, crashing on the ground several times before (Y/N) managed to stab Phantasm into the ground, stopping his momentum as Fay twisted her body, landing against the wall with deadly grace, causing a web-like formation of cracks to form as she breathed heavily, barely having managed to save herself from the sudden attack.

"This...is still not looking so good." (Y/N) couldn't help but point out dryly, Fay nodding in agreement. Before them, dozens of the armors still stood, glaring down menacingly at the two Mages as they approached.

"Although that worked, with how many there are, we'll run out of mana long before we finish them all..." Fay pointed out, (Y/N) frowning, in agreement with her words. Perhaps [Shadowblade Samsara] would be able to deal with these creatures, but even then...

"There's just way too many of these guys..." (Y/N) couldn't help the nervous grin on his face, sweat dripping down his face as the seemingly infallible shard-covered Knights approached ever closer.

Fay merely brandished her sword in defiance, her gaze focused as (Y/N) did the same, the two preparing to battle again.

Deciding to take the offensive, the two split up as they weaved between the creatures, stepping between their giant legs and dodging any stray blades, sending various spells flying through the creatures, only for them to be nullified by the strange crystals.

(Y/N) leapt off of the ground as a blade crashed behind him, causing a massive crater to form as (Y/N) landed on one of the creatures, casting [Tempest Squall] as a storm of Void Lightning blades tore into the creature, (Y/N) leaping off of it and landing on another, raising his blade.

"[Void Frost Magic: Frozen Realm!]" (Y/N) stabbed down at the creature, a vortex of Frost consuming it and turning it into an ice sculpture, (Y/N) preparing to attack once more, only for a blade to narrowly slash beside him, (Y/N) having barely dodged the attack as another Timeless Possessor slashed down harshly at him, bringing with its blade a hail of immense winds, pushing (Y/N) back.

Fay used her immense speed to slash and the creatures and flee, employing hit-and-run tactics as she weaved between the myriad of creatures, her Mirages slashing in tandem with her, momentarily splitting the creatures apart as they focused on her Mirages, Fay herself casting [Ephemeral Lotus Blossom], a storm of slashes erupting around her as the creatures howled, slashing down at her in unison as Fay grit her teeth, before ultimately disappearing from the spot, a wide crater emerging from her previous position, Fay now standing atop one of the creatures.

Several mirages bloomed around her as she raised her blade, her mirages following in unison, before Fay chanted her next spell.

"[Mirage Magic: Crimson Camellia Overlay!]" Fay chanted, a crimson afterimage emerging from her as she and her Mirages slashed down in an instant, giving the illusion of a crimson flower-like formation as Fay and her Mirages rampaged through the various creatures, and despite their attempts, they could do nothing to stop the raging afterimages and Fay's attacks, only unleashing guttural howls, Fay leaping off of one creatures' armored head, it growling as it slashed at her, the Darknights Mercenaries' Vice Leader barely managing to move out of the way, the intense winds sending her flying back towards the wall. However, a crushing sound emerged in the same wake, (Y/N) shooting through the creatures with lightning speed, crashing through the ground as a creature slashed down at him, the (h/c) haired boy raising Phantasm to block the sword, only for his eyes to widen as his feet were instantly sunk into the ground, gritting his teeth and barely managing to stop the blade, another descending as Fay touched onto the ground, flipping several times before coming to a stop.

In the next moment, (Y/N) crashed across the ground, rolling several times before he threw Phantasm forward, landing on the blades' hilt and barely managing to stop himself before he hit the wall, a shallow gorge now present from Phantasm's movements.

"We're gonna need to find something out, and fast-!" Fay began, only to stop as crashing sounds emerged, along with a fading howl as both Mages turned to see one of the armored suits crashing down, its head completely missing, dissipating into mist.

"What the..." (Y/N) muttered, surprise flashing across his face. How did it..?

"It shattered!! But how? I didn't attack it, nor did he...so then..." Fay's eyes widened in shock, before a smile began to curl at her lips as she saw one of the Timeless Possessors recoiling, drawing its blade again as it, alongside the others, began to approach.

"I got it! Our spells have no effect on those crystals, but they don't have the same weaknesses! If we can make them hit each other, we can win this!" Fay, after coming a realization, quickly explained as (Y/N) stared at the creatures in surprise, their blades glinting with a dangerous edge. That's right...

Slowly, (Y/N)'s lips curved into a smirk, hopping off Phantasm and brandishing the blade, his eyes shining confidently. If that was all it took, then...!

"Right! Let's send these guys packing!" (Y/N) smirked, Fay giving a coy smile in return as she brandished her own blade, the two using their speed to rush into the group of enemies.

Fifty-five creatures remaining...

(Y/N) swiftly flashed around the creatures, drawing their attention as a few swung their blades, the (h/c) haired boy leaping out of the way before jumping onto the head of one of the creatures, a crystalline blade following shortly after and destroying the armored Knights' head, (Y/N) smirking as the Timeless Possessor reappeared, casting [Whirlwind Flash Slashes], the creature fading shortly after as (Y/N) moved on, kiting the creatures throughout the spacious hall.

Similarly, Fay used her Mirages to her advantage, grasping the attention of various shard Knights before guiding their blades towards their companions, quickly culling their numbers as Fay weaved between their attacks, a confident smile on her face all the while.

As the two shot through the area like phantoms, more Knights continued to fall as the screeches of the Timeless Possessors continued to resonate, culling the number of Knights swiftly and efficiently, before soon, only one remained in the ruins of silver armors and dense mist, (Y/N) smirking as he earthed his blade.

"[Phantasmal Bind.]" (Y/N) invoked Phantasm's ability, black chains erupting from the ground and binding the crystallized armor, Fay kicking her blade to the skies before descending from above, perfectly kicking the hilt of the blade towards the creature as it howled, though that did nothing to stop her.

"[Mirage Creation Magic: Starfall Rose Blade!]" In a reenactment of the previous defeat, a giant blade descended upon the set of armor, akin to a meteorite, slashing through it as the Timeless Possessor hissed, rushing away from the set of armor before (Y/N), in a streak of lightning, appeared above the creature, performing a circular slash and ending the beast, its final howl resonating through the hall before it, too, faded into mist. Now, only the sounds of a ticking clock and the shifting mist permeated through the halls.

Fay silently surveyed the scene, sitting atop one of the humongous sets of armor, (Y/N) below turning towards her, Phantasm still clasped tightly in his hand as Fay held her own blade tightly.

Soundlessly, Fay pointed her blade down at (Y/N), who merely smirked at her, pointing his own blade at her.

"I thought we had a truce?" (Y/N), in an amused tone, chuckled as he stared frostily up at Fay, who merely shrugged at his claim.

"You'd trust the words of a Mercenary?" Fay countered, her lilac eyes staring nonchalantly at (Y/N), a teasing smile on her face.

For a moment, a tense silence permeated the space, before both Mages' lips curled into similar smiles, laughing as they lowered their blades.

"You're a strange one." Fay giggled, sheathing her sword at her side as she jumped down to (Y/N)'s level, landing gracefully before him. The haze around her Grimoire faded, landing in her hand as she placed it within the pouch at her waist, closing it soundly.

"Right back at you." (Y/N) rolled his eyes, chuckling as he sheathed Phantasm, returning the blade to his Grimoire, said Grimoire returning to...wherever the hell it went when he wasn't using it.

"A truce until we get out of here, hmm?" Fay teased, (Y/N) chuckling before nodding his head.

"Right on. Once we get out, we can finish our match from earlier. Now, I think we have bigger things to worry about though." (Y/N) gave a small grin, Fay nodding in agreement, a faint smile on her face.

And in unison, the two turned to look at the spacious hall before them, seeing a distant opening into the white void, the dozens of ruined armors behind them, now vacant indented spots upon the wall lacking their previous protectors. Slowly, the mist from the defeated creatures flowed towards the opening, trailing the two Mages on.

"Looks like that's going to be our best bet out of here." (Y/N) pointed out, narrowing his eyes at the distant corridor.

"Let's move then." Fay nodded, the two beginning to walk forward, leaving the ruins of silvery armors behind them, the mist following their trail silently.

As the mist dissipated silently behind them, rushing about past them, strange whispers seemed to linger in the mist, (Y/N)'s lips curving into a slight frown.

This place...

"It looks like we were separated from the rest. It does make me wonder what happened to the rest of my crew..." Fay muttered, her hand under her chin as thoughts rushed through her lilac eyes, an unusually worried glint in her eyes.

"Probably the same thing that happened to us. That strange light probably scattered everyone to random places, if what Lucius said is right." (Y/N) shrugged, a grave look on his face.

"Lucius? Was that the strange guy with the floating ring on his head?" Fay questioned, turning towards (Y/N) curiously, their footsteps accompanying the whispers in the mist.

"Yeah. He seems to know a lot more about this place than either of us do. He said it's something akin to changing timelines, at least, that's what I think I remember him saying." (Y/N) narrowed his eyes, ultimately sighing before scratching the back of his head. Perhaps he was wrong, but Lucius' words seemed to be the most likely occurrence.

"Timelines? This place can really...?" Fay asked, a fair shock on her face as she took in the news. This place...could switch between timelines?

(Y/N) merely gave a silent nod in return.

The two continued to walk in silence, left to their thoughts as the mist continued to trail past them, carrying forlorn whispers.

"Hah...it's no real use mulling over it. Even if you tell me that, I don't think I can really find any solutions to our current situation." Fay spoke up after a moment of silence, a helpless smile on her face. Even if she had questions, she couldn't exactly get answers to them currently.

"Let's talk about something else then. You called yourself a Mercenary, right? What got you into being one?" (Y/N) nonchalantly asked, a relaxed grin on his face as he put his hands behind his head, leaning back slightly.

"Aha~? Interested in me, are you?" Fay teased, (Y/N) rolling his eyes, Fay's lips curving upwards faintly.

"Well...it's nothing really special. My story is a pretty boring one." Fay recalled, a nonchalant smile on her face.

Boring...

That's right.

Her story was simply boring.

Flashback

"Hey, isn't that the Young Miss of the Eventide Noble Family?"

"Huh? Seriously? Why is someone of her prestige..."

"Isn't she 15 this year? I guess she's also here to get her Grimoire."

Whispers circulated through the confines of the Grimoire Tower, a certain young girl with lilac hair standing amidst the other young men and women around her. Her presence seemed serene, her lilac eyes shining with a sparkling glint, her manner prim and proper. Even the way she held herself suggested nobility.

As the young heir to the Eventide Noble Family, the young girl was certainly educated in a vast myriad of fields - ranging from rulership, to etiquette, to combat, to formality and the likes.

She was, in a simple term, perfect.

"The rumors really don't exaggerate her beauty..."

"What do you expect? She's a Noble..."

"That's not even all it is, can you even feel the mana around her? It's so immense! Just as you'd expect from a member of the Eventide Family!"

"Surely, she'll bring even more prosperity to House Eventide!"

"Do you think they'll join the ranks of the Quasi-Royal Houses?"

"What? Are you kidding! Those guys are on a whole different league!"

"It was just a thought! And besides...I think she might be able to do it."

Of course, such whispers did not escape the young girl's ears. Naturally, she heard them. And naturally, she ignored them.

A Quasi-Royal House?

If only it were so simple.

However, with the clacking of footsteps, the girls' eyes quickly shifted towards the Towermaster on the podium, a man in his middle ages, back-swept ebony black hair and nonchalant brown eyes. A magic item, covered in a layering of cyan mana, hovered with the wind before him.

"Looks like we're all here. I am Dreiser, the Towermaster of this part. Throughout the history of the Clover Kingdom, we've long-since held prosperity and order throughout the land. Now that you stand here before me, it is your turn to take the first step toward bearing the mantle of duty." The newcomer, Dreiser, spoke in an orderly, unhurried tone.

Several people among the crowd nodded at his words.

"I don't believe I need to bore you with the formalities, so let's get down to what we're all here for. Let the inheritance of Grimoire's — commence." The Towermaster raised his hand, an intense cyan wind spreading throughout the tower, soon turning into howling winds. The various commoners and nobles alike recoiled in the face of the winds, though the lilac haired girl remained standing, as did various other talented individuals, watching on silently as the winds traveled up the tower walls.

And in the next moment, dozens upon dozens of Grimoire's lit up in various hazes, rumbling before shooting forth from their positions, beginning a violent descent. However, as the books loomed every closer with their meteoric descent - they suddenly slowed, almost as if a leaf in the wind, before arriving at their owner's outstretched hands.

"Woooahh! Mine has such a unique look to it!"

"Unique? Look around. Yours is barely average."

"I've finally gotten my Grimoire...! With this, I'll join the Magic Knights!"

"Mine has almost no pages..."

"I can't wait to show this to everyone!"

The excited yells of her companions did not shake neither the girl herself nor the various talents.

Dreiser smiled a bit at the reactions of the crowd, but moreso at the composed appearances of the Elite. It was quite easy for an experienced mage to tell the difference between those of Nobility and those of Commoner descent.

However, just as the celebrations began to pick up, an intense mana suddenly filled the room, a young boy with blonde hair walking forward, grasping a Grimoire as his cold blue eyes took in its form. Slowly, a cyan haze overtook the Grimoire as it burst open, an immense presence shooting through the tower.

"This presence...!"

"It's suffocating...! I...can't breathe...!"

"As you'd expect from Lord Kiarin, magnificent!"

The lilac haired girl casted the Young Lord a glance. A smile tore at her lips.

However, soon, yet more presences kicked up, shocking the eagerly watching crowd. This...was the new generation of nobility.

Dreiser watched on, a satisfied smile hanging from his lips, his eyes shining in satisfaction. This new generation would no doubt bolster many talented heirs.

However, a single Grimoire then descended as the lilac haired girl walked forward, extending her grasp as it rocketed down into her hand, stopping in a mere instant as the lilac haired girl smiled.

"Miss Eventide?"

A voice questioned from the crowd, though the girl payed them no mind. Her thoughts were focused on the Grimoire before her. A flawless white cover, with the bearing of a Three-Leaf Grimoire before her.

"As expected of you, Fay."

"It seems we remain even yet, Miss Eventide."

"Way to go, Fay!"

Various of the other talented, including the young lord, Kiarin, spoke in praise.

However, Fay payed them no mind — apart from a courteous smile.

Yet, in the next moment, a presence far more intense than those of past, emerged from her Grimoire as its pages opened, coming to light.

Fay outstretched her hand, white magics beginning to radiate from her palm, leaving dozens of outlines in the air, brimming with power.

"This is..." Dreiser's expression momentarily narrowed, perplexed. The purity of this girls' mana...was far beyond that of any he'd met before.

Even the other Heirs remained silent, surprised looks on their faces, before some formed bitter smiles. It seemed they'd be in for serious competition.

"As expected of a Noble...so cool!"

"Right! This much power, and she just got her Grimoire!"

"You rock, Lady Eventide!"

Shouts soon filled the Tower, the lilac haired girl grasping her Grimoire, before closing it shut in a single, flowing motion.

"I shall do my best." The girl, Fay, turned towards the crowd, giving a flawless smile as she walked past them, unhurriedly, before leaving the tower. However, it had been almost surreal. Not even five seconds had passed — yet she was gone.

Boring.

Later, Fay had found herself back within the confines of the Eventide Manor, celebrations underway as she wore a fancy dress, a clear, shining silver in color, a fancy hairpin adorned upon her head as she smiled, engaged in chatter with the other heirs of which she had seen at the Tower, invited by her prosperous family to the occasion.

Boring.

Fay soon found herself alone on the balcony of her Manor, the territory she would surely inherit as per her fate. A blank expression formed on her face as she surveyed her...fate.

...

...

...

"How boring." Fay frowned, her gaze in disgust as she saw what awaited her, no doubt.

In the eyes of the public, Fay was the zenith of nobility. A kind, gentle soul who wielded her power elegantly, yet not in an overbearing manner. To the commoners, she was almost an angel. To the nobility, she was a prime example of perfection.

However.

Fay herself detested this life. Her life.

"Another day came, another day gone." Fay muttered to herself, her Grimoire beneath her dress, placing the elegant glass in her hand, which contained a simple juice, on the railings of the balcony.

The girl closed her eyes, feeling the wind rushing past her face, before her lips curled, a frown on her face.

Yet, as the moon fell and the sun rose, Fay found a smile once more on her face, greeting her parents in a curtsy nature.

"Fay, now that you've acquired your Grimoire, it is time to begin the more intensive side of your training. As I am sure you're aware, one day the task shall fall upon you to inherit the banner of House Eventide."

Fay kept up the smile on her face, nodding in a knowing manner to the words of the man sitting behind his desk, various papers set upon his desk as he glanced over them to look at the young girl sitting a short distance away.

"Of course, Father."

Fay replied, getting a small nod in return, before the man returned to his papers. Meanwhile, Fay merely smiled. Moments later, she was dismissed from the room, her lessons for later in the day. Fay, after giving her Father a curt bow, excused herself, walking through the door and leaving, passing an unusual man, whom she gave a glance to, before her Father's voice seemed to invite him in, Fay turning her gaze away.

So now, the girl found herself within the familiar walls of her room. Alone.

"The same thing every day. Be the perfect princess, is that my fate?" Fay fell back on her luxurious bedding, her lilac eyes empty as she gazed up at the ceiling.

For as long as she could remember, she was raised to be prim and proper. A scion to a noble House.

However, never once had that interested her.

Not once.

Fay Eventide was no fool. Naturally, she knew of her own prowess. Of her own powers. Of her own potential.

Yet — why was she shackled here to her family?

It was not that she wasn't grateful towards them, on the contrary — she much loved them.

But this was not the life she desired.

To inherit House Eventide was not the future she wished for.

Fay's lips quaked, her right arm shooting over her eyes as her other hand shook, before forming into a fist.

It wasn't-

Knocking sounds interrupted her thoughts, however, Fay shooting up on her bed, quickly collecting herself.

"Big sister?" A small, childlike voice spoke, the door shifting open as a small girl peered through, Fay catching sight of her beloved little sister.

"Aria...what are you doing here? Where is Mother?" Fay quickly stood from her bedding, walking towards her beloved sibling as the door hung open.

"Mama went to talk to Papa! She sounded like it was about something really important!" Aria, the small girl, gave a shy smile as she spoke, Fay smiling before rubbing her head affectionately.

"I see...did you have something you wanted to tell Big Sis?" Fay smiled, crouching down to Aria's size.

"Um...well...um...I wanted to ask if you could...um...read me another story?" Aria spoke shyly, Fay's lips curving into a small smile, a giggle leaving her lips.

"Aiya. What am I gonna do with you? I've truly spoiled you too much." Fay spoke teasingly, a lovely smile on her lips.

"I-it's fine if you can't-"

"Come on." Fay silenced her little sister with a finger, before grasping her hand and closing the door behind her. Moments later, the two sat upon Fay's bed, a book in the older sisters' hands as her soothing voice retold the tale, Aria's eyes shining with joy beside her.

The rays of light shining from the window slowly dimmed as time passed, Fay's soothing voice almost seeming to echo through her room, Aria listening on with a cute smile.

"-And so, the great beast growled as it fell, the Hero standing triumphantly in the aftermath, her blade chipped and her armor torn, but victorious. Now, her Kingdom would know peace." Fay spoke out, a serene smile on her face, before glancing at Aria, only to find her softly sleeping, Fay's smile widening before silently closing the book.

"Sweet dreams, my dear little sister." Fay gave her a faint kiss on her forehead, before tucking her in as she looked out through the windows of her luxurious room. The moon had risen over the distance, bathing the Eventide Manor in a serene glow.

Fay found herself in the courtyard, wandering under the lead of the wind, her Grimoire hazily floating before her.

"What a droll night." Fay muttered to herself, her gaze glancing over the courtyard, finding no others in her sight. It was truly a beautiful sight to behold.

However, in the next moment, a thunderous quake shook the land, and her life would forever change.

"What the-" Fay yelped, her feet almost giving way as the land quaked, her gaze shifting to the skies, before her eyes widened. In the far distance, magnificent stars fell ceaselessly, as if heavens wrath. Thunder crackled endlessly, and even from where she stood, she could sense it.

A surreal mana that momentarily made even Fay shake in place.

"W-What is this..." Fay shook, before the ground around her shattered, a figure suddenly shooting forward from the shadows, leaping at her.

However, Fay herself had already been trained in the art of combat, hence she quickly distanced herself from the shadow, a beast-like creature stomping down upon the ground.

"What in the world...are you?" Fay mused to herself, before suddenly dozens of howls erupted, more shadows jumping onto the scene, Fay taking an involuntary step back.

Moments later, screams tore through the area, the sound of shattering buildings and thunder assailing her ears.

The scene of silent order...shattered by roaring thunder.

"What is going on?!" Fay asked herself, fruitlessly, she knew. After all, she had no clue what was happening. One second, there was peace. The next, there was chaos.

Yet, she had no time to dwell on it, the creatures leaping at her, Fay narrowing her eyes.

Moments later, a few of the creatures lay at her feet — dissipating into mana.

As a creature approached from the front, Fay slashed it down, another flanking her from the side, Fay turning her mana formed blade to the creature, slashing through it, before shifting her blade across her hands, slashing through the creature that attempted to pounce from above.

Yet, cracking footsteps alarmed her, catching sight of a creature leaping at her from behind.

"Crap, I won't make it-!" Fay soon realized, her blade far too slow to intercept the creature, it soon slashing at her back, sending her rocketing forward, crashing through on the ground, the creatures rocketing after her.

"No-!" As Fay looked up, she saw the Manor under the assault of the creatures, before her eyes once more turned towards the ones before her, their claws glinting beneath the moonlight.

So this was it...

...this was how she died.

Everything felt as if it were moving in slowed motion for Fay, watching as the creature' claws approached. As the pain seethed through her body. As blood flowed from her wound. As the earth quaked, and as the heavens trembled.

She closed her eyes, accepting it.

What more could she do?

...

Shiiiing!

...

Yet, the pain never came.

Fay slowly opened her eyes, catching sight of the strangely dressed man standing before her, a blade in his hands as his scarf flowed in the wind, the symbol of the Darknight Mercenaries found upon it.

"Honestly." The man seemed to huff, almost unaware of Fay's meek presence, his Grimoire before him.

Around him, the creatures all dissipated into mana, disintegrating as if they had never existed in the first place.

"Hmm?" The man then turned, noticing the wounded Fay behind him, a stoic look on his face.

"Hey kid, get back inside." The man ordered, before turning towards the Manor, his sword turning into a mere shadow, a claw-like shadow slashing across the Manor. Yet...it left no wounds upon the Manor. Yet, moreso, what puzzled her was the disappearance of all of the creatures which had previously pounced on the estate, now disappearing into mana. An attack? Yet, how come it didn't..?!

"Hah. This would be a whole lot more simple if that bastard Arran actually did his job." The man complained, turning to leave as Fay found a strange feeling welling within her.

And there...she saw it.

The chance.

The opportunity to change her fate.

In a hurry - almost in desperation - she extended her hands towards him.

"W-Wait!" Fay shouted, almost sounding desperate as the man turned, his annoyed expression returning to its usual stoic look.

"What is it, kid? Make it snappy, I've got a few deals to see to." The man questioned, narrowing his eyes at her.

"L-Let me go with you!" Fay spoke hurriedly, almost as if begging.

"Huh?" The man let out a dumbfounded noise, looking at her as if she were stupid.

"Don't waste my time, kid. Get back in your house and stay there." The man clicked his tongue, turning once more before moving to leave.

"Please! Let me go with you!" Fay once more begged, a tick mark growing on the man's head, before he turned around snappily.

"Did'ja not hear me kid?! I said-" The man turned around, only for his eyes to widen.

Although her voice sounded as if it were begging - her eyes shone with an unmatched resolve. A fire which burned at an intensity he'd never seen before.

"...Hey, kid, don't you live here?" The man, after a moment, asked as Fay gave a faint nod.

"...Why not stay and protect the people here from these creatures, then?" The man asked.

"You've already dealt with them, haven't you? Besides, I could barely handle a few of them myself, what could I possibly offer the people here?" Fay replied, the man looking at her with his stoic gaze.

"Please, allow me to go with you." Fay spoke once more, her begging tone almost sounding resolute.

"..."

"..."

The two remained in silence, the man's stoic eyes glaring at her own, yet Fay remained steadfast.

She could feel it.

This was it.

The spark she had been waiting for.

The chance to start anew.

The chance to defy her fate.

The chance to be herself.

"Why would I do that? You said it yourself, you could barely handle these creatures yourself, and they're currently swarming all over Raksis. Why the hell would I want to bring you along?" The man countered.

"I won't slow you down-."

"You will." The man instantly shot down her weak rebuttal, and for a moment, desperation began to seep into her very core.

For moments, Fay said nothing, yet the resolve in her eyes did not dim in the least, the pain which had stemmed from the wound on her back long faded into the depths of her memory. Now - she merely had one goal.

Moments passed ceaselessly as the two kept their stare off, before soon, the man's lips slowly curved into a smirk.

Recently, he'd heard from Arran that he'd picked up three newbies for the Mercs.

So then, why didn't he...

"You sure about this, kiddo? There's no going back on your word if you decide to follow me. You'll live a life on the run, and for you, tomorrow may never come." The man warned, a smirk on his face.

At his words, however, an ecstatic smile began to stretch across Fay's beautiful face, sweat pouring down her face in droves, yet that did nothing to dim the resolve in her eyes.

As the Guards quickly emerged from the Manor in the distance, and as familiar voices began to rise against the howls of the creatures, Fay rendered none of them in her mind. To her, she merely saw the man before her, and the chance to defy fate.

And, faced with that beautiful, defiant spark...

What more could she bring herself to say but-

"Allow me to go with you."

In the next moment, both Fay and the man disappeared into a mixture of green and black shadows.

Flashback End

"Like I said, my life is nothing all that special. I ran away from home seeking a new life, one that wasn't so ordinary and mundane. I left looking for fun." Fay hummed, walking beside the forlorn whispers as (Y/N) glanced at her, taking in what he'd just heard.

Born a Noble, she was subjected to the life of an heir, despite it not being what she wanted. Hence, leading to her running away from home and becoming a Mercenary, huh...

Chasing after fun...

"Go ahead. You can laugh." Fay teased, only for (Y/N) to turn to look at her, genuine confusion in his eyes.

"Why would I laugh? Honestly, knowing that, I don't think you and I are far too different. Hell, I'd say we can even understand each other." (Y/N) mused, a small, reminiscent smile on his face.

"Hah?" Fay let out a surprised noise.

"I was born in the far reaches of the Forsaken Realm, a peasant. I'm an orphan, raised in the church at Hage Village, quite possibly the furthest place away from the Castle, believe it or not. Although I do get along with all of my family, when I was younger, and to an extent even now, I always chased after having fun. Whether it be with Asta and Yuno, or by myself...I'd always wanted to just have fun. It's honestly the reason why I joined the Black Bulls, if I'm being truthful." (Y/N) spoke, Fay's teasing smile dropping as she listened curiously.

"Perhaps, that's why I can understand you. I've...never known my parents. All I've ever known is the Church. Honestly speaking, I...don't think it's too far fetched to say that...maybe in another life, I might've turned out just like you. Perhaps if I had grown up without Asta or Yuno, I might've eventually left the Church on my own to find something to do. To be honest, before a certain night, I had never given becoming a Magic Knight much thought in general. But...it was my brothers, Asta and Yuno, who set me out on this path. To this day, I somewhat regret not having given them a direct answer back then. Although I'm sure that's nothing like your story, I'd like to think we're not too different. Both of us chase after a life that we aren't "fated" to have, as you said. As for me...well, I've decided to tell good ol' Fate to go fuck itself." (Y/N) spoke, a myriad of emotions flashing through his eyes, Fay's own widening slightly at his words.

"As someone that shares the same chase for fun like you, I don't think I'm really in any place to chastise you." (Y/N) gave a weak smile, Fay turning her head forward, unsure of what to say.

Moments passed in silence, only the howling winds and forlorn whispers carrying the mana-mist rushing past them.

(Play this. Trust me,
it works wonders for this next scene.)

"You...said you were an orphan. How was it? Back at the...Church, I think you said?" Fay questioned, her voice unusually soft.

"...Peaceful. Growing up with my brothers, and all my siblings back at the Church. Eating Lily's cooking all the time, and learning more from Father Orsi, honestly, I...don't think I'd trade it for the world." (Y/N) spoke, a reminiscent smile on his face.

Those halcyon days he'd spent back at the Church...

...would forever be a memory he'd treasure.

"But...I guess at times you can say, it was a bit boring. Although, I'll admit, I do like spending peaceful times with my family and friends...I can't deny that if life gets far too ordinary and boring, I do get a bit restless." (Y/N) spoke, Fay glancing at him from the corner of her eyes, seeing his (e/c) orbs gazing straight forward, unshifting.

"...But, I think becoming a Magic Knight was the right way to go. Ever since I became a Magic Knight, I've met so many amazing people, and I've had the chance to broaden my horizons beyond what I'd ever imagined. No matter where I look, there's always a spark of fun and excitement to be found. And honestly speaking, looking back at it now, I don't think I could've done anything better for myself." (Y/N)'s lips curved upwards into a playful smirk, leaning back against his hands as he stared above into the white void, Fay turning towards him in surprise, before a small smile tore at her own lips.

All of the memories he'd made since becoming a Magic Knight drifted through his eyes, (Y/N)'s lips twitching upwards. All of the friends he'd made, and all of the things he'd accomplished. All of it.

"I've had the chance to go on so many adventures, and I'm sure even more of them wait in the future. Hell, even this place, now, I guess you can say it's an experience all to itself..." (Y/N) spoke, a playful smile on his face as Fay similarly shared the smile.

One who changed her own fate through her own hands...

One who carved his own path through fate with his own hands...

The two were, in a way — similar.

"Although, I don't really agree with you leaving behind your family entirely. Have you even talked to them since then?"

"Hmm? Well...I do sometimes send letters."

"How often?"

"Maybe once a...year?"

"...After this, I'm forcibly taking you back to see your family. You don't get to say no."

"You're not my dad. Besides, you're just as much of a wildcard as I am, fellow fun-chaser."

"Guilty as charged."

The two shared a merry laugh, (Y/N) and Fay smiling as they walked through the expansive hall of the Timeless Manor, smiles on the two's faces as they recounted the tales they held to the other, laughing and smiling joyfully.

They almost seemed like — friends.

...

...

...

Soon, (Y/N) and Fay found themselves overlooking the white void, dozens of floating platforms, pieces of the mansion, hovering about within the endless void.

"Hmm...I don't really see anything. And it seems as if our sensory capabilities are still being suppressed." Fay hummed, overlooking the chasm of platforms before the two.

"Looks like it. It makes me kind of curious on what it actually is that's suppressing us." (Y/N) spoke, an underlying curiosity in his tone. Fay merely nodded in agreement.

Beside them, the mist from the previously defeated creatures continued to flow past them, rising upwards towards a higher platform, concealing the sight from the Mercenary and Magic Knight.

"Well...what do you say we follow the mist? It's flowing towards that platform over there, so perhaps if we find the source of this mist, we'll get one step closer towards getting out of here." Fay reasoned, a smile on her face as (Y/N) grinned, before summoning a Void Blade in his hands.

"Sounds like a plan." (Y/N) agreed, and in unison, the two leapt off the platform, falling into the abyss below, disappearing from the camera — before they both burst upwards, (Y/N) using his Void Blades in conjunction with Warp-Strike, whereas Fay used her Mirages to boost herself into the sky, the two ascending swiftly.

Moments later, the two burst out from under the platform, following the trail of the mist as they turned their eyes to the sight before them.

"Woah..." (Y/N) couldn't help but marvel momentarily, seeing the ginormous vortex-like platform. Beside him, Fay herself held an awestruck expression, mirages faintly resonating from her body.

Before the two stood a giant vortex-like platform, much more akin to an descending arena, with uniformly placed seat-like engravings around the side, following along the path to the bottom, where a solid marble ground awaited, a pedestal withholding a marble-white shard, similar to that of which (Y/N) had seen before, on its surface. Endless currents of mist seemed attracted to the reflective shard, aggregating at its location, a strange tuft of blackish-red in its midst. Unlike the side the two arrived from, the other side sported a grandiose wall, ornamented with various white flamelit lamps. However, by far the most impressive part of the arena was the giant armored statue that stood indented into the wall, a giant sledge-hammer in its grasp, the head laid bare upon the white-veined marble beneath.

"What is that thing?" Fay spoke, her tone clearly surprised as she laid eyes upon the shard-like crystal upon the pedestal.

"Another one?" (Y/N) muttered out, narrowing his eyes at the crystal. However, this one seemed to shine a lot brighter.

"Well...let me explain it like this. You may see it's physical shape now, and while it is there where you see it, it is not there right now. I suppose the simplest way to explain it would be that it exists in a timeline separate from the one you and I find ourselves in."

Lucius' words rung out in his head, (Y/N)'s eyes widening. It couldn't be...?!

"Let's go get a closer look." (Y/N) spoke hurriedly, Fay glancing at him momentarily before nodding, the two quickly descending onto the shattered arena, quickly reaching ground before starting their descent.

"Is something wrong? You suddenly seem hurried." Fay inquired, a hint of curiosity in her voice.

"Another thing Lucius told me. I've seen one of these shard things before. I just want to confirm something." (Y/N) nodded, though he didn't delve into detail. He didn't even know if he himself was right, after all.

Satisfied with his answer, or at least if she had any inquiries she didn't express them, Fay merely followed after him in silence.

Soon, with only the rushing whispers and the sound of their footsteps, the two quickly reached the bottom of the arena, now finding themselves beneath a layer of mist currents, and a familiar figure standing a small distance away.

"A person...?" Fay asked, tracing over the distant figure. However, she found no similarities to anyone she knew, hence...was this an enemy? At that thought, Fay instantly put up her guard against the unknown figure.

"Huh? Isn't that...oi, Jayden!" (Y/N), however, didn't share her concerns, noticing the distant figure, waving as he approached.

Jayden, as if returning from his thoughts, raised his head at the sound of his name, turning towards the voice.

"Oh...(Y/N)." Jayden, at seeing the familiar figure, nodded at the approaching boy, his arms crossed before his chest, the hand he had on his chin falling.

"Heya. Looks like we found each other." (Y/N) gave a faint smile, Jayden nodding in return.

"Yes. I don't suppose you've seen either Ame or Ryan?" Jayden questioned, his gaze curious. Two of the original four...er, five?...had been reunited. Although, he had lost Ryan to that strange light...

"Nah. Apart from you and some others, I haven't really seen either of them." (Y/N), arriving before Jayden, explained as he slowed down, stopping before him.

"That's a bit vexing." (Y/N) nodded along with Jayden's words, recalling the two other members of the mission. Er...three others? Where the hell WAS Alyssa? Did she even arrive at the same place they did?

"A friend of yours?" Fay's voice interrupted the two, Jayden turning towards the newcomer, on guard to the newcomer.

"Yeah. This is Jayden, another Magic Knight. The two of us came into this mission together with two others." (Y/N) explained, turning towards Fay and motioning towards the blackish-red haired boy.

"I see. Another Magic Knight, hmm..." Fay murmured, sizing Jayden up, before giving a faint smile. Although he did seem quite strong, she was also quite confident in her own strength. Besides, she had (Y/N) there to act as a mediator should any...unsavory troubles arise.

"She is...?" Jayden trailed off, glancing warily at the newcomer, though his guard slowly eased seeing (Y/N)'s nonchalance.

"Ah, right. Jayden, meet Fay. Fay, meet Jayden." (Y/N) introduced the two, the two in question nodding at the other.

"Nice to meet you." Fay bowed curtly, a small smile on her face.

"Likewise." Jayden nodded, easing his guard at the introduction.

"She's a Mercenary, although, we've decided on a truce until we get out of this place, so she's an ally for now." (Y/N) continued, before his eyes then locked onto the white shard a small distance away, Jayden standing beside its pedestal.

"I see...I suppose that means we are allies for now, too." Jayden eased his guard, giving a relaxed smile for the first time, Fay similarly giving an aloof smile.

"So I was right..." (Y/N) spoke, drawing the two's attention as his hand lay outstretched, hovering nearby the white shard-like crystal that the various layerings of mana-mist aggregated onto.

"Do you know what this is?" Jayden questioned, Fay walking up beside him as the two turned towards (Y/N).

"Not really. Although I've seen one of these before, it was a lot different than this one. I couldn't even touch that one despite seeing it right in front of me, but this one is actually here, in this timeline..." (Y/N) spoke cryptically, leaving the two other Mages to glance at the other, before returning their gazes to (Y/N).

"Although, even I'll admit, it does seem unreal now that I'm standing before the actual thing. This level of mana is just insane..." (Y/N) couldn't help but point out in awe, as despite being so close to the object, he couldn't sense any end to the stream of mana. Perhaps, however, that may have been a result of the sensory suppression the Timeless Manor bore. Regardless, he couldn't deny its unfathomable depths at that moment.

His two companions nodded, before Jayden pitched up, a curious look in his eyes.

"What do you think this much mana could be used for? It seems far too important to serve no purpose." Jayden asked, his arms dropping to his sides as he glanced at the shard.

"No idea. Although I saw one before, it didn't really do much in terms of...well, doing much. Although, if I had to recall...it did summon a giant monster." (Y/N) spoke, suddenly taking two steps back from the pedestal in a hurry. The Timeless Manticore had been a fearsome creature, he had no doubt about that, and recalling the fight...it had been Lucius who primarily suppressed it. Now...Lucius was not here.

If another Timeless Manticore showed up, could the three of them even deal with something of its caliber?

"I see..." Jayden took in the news, a hand to his chin in thought. A crystal shard that contained an endless-seeming supply of mana, and it even summons giant creatures, to boot...this certainly could not mean anything good.

"In that case, we should probably get as far away as possible from that thing, hm?" Fay spoke melodiously, getting two nods in return from her companions.

Tick...

Yet...fate was truly a funny thing.

Tock...

Suddenly, the ticking of a clock erupted around the three, (Y/N)'s eyes narrowing as he heard the sound, before his eyes widened, turning towards the crystal in a hurry.

However, the streams of mist quickly gathered, converging a small distance away from the shard, a familiar, grotesque creature emerging from the converged mist. Although, this one seemed a bit...different. Altered.

"It's that thing again..." Fay muttered out, seeing the familiar Timeless Possessor. However, there were no armors nearby for it to...

Wait, no...

Suddenly, in unison with the creatures' howl, (Y/N) and Fay turned towards the giant armored statue, the hammer before it suddenly seeming to come alive.

"Shit! We need to...stop it...?" (Y/N) spoke, his Grimoire rising before him, though the Timeless Possessor was nowhere to be found. It was almost as if it had disappeared completely.

"Where did it..." Fay mirrored his dumbfounded-ness, her gaze trailing through the arena, Jayden similarly searching for the creature.

However, the blackish-red haired boy closed his eyes, before opening them once more, the world around him now shining a faint gray color, glancing all around the area.

His eyes narrowed slightly as he glanced over (Y/N), but ultimately chose to ignore the anomaly for the moment, turning towards the statue, before his lips fell into a frown.

"It's up there." Jayden pointed towards the giant statue, both (Y/N) and Fay turning towards the giant statue, only to tilt their heads to the side in confusion.

"What do you mean? There's nothing there." (Y/N) pointed out, Jayden only shaking his head in response.

"My magic allows me to see the souls of sentient beings. Although it's soul is a bit strange, it's certainly there. And right now, it's clawing upwards on that statue." Jayden explained, his eyes tracing the creature's swift rise.

"That's quite the handy ability, isn't it?" Fay gave him a small smile.

"That's awesome! Er...wait, it's doing what now?" (Y/N) praised, before suddenly deadpanning. It was...clawing upwards?

"Uh oh." Fay spoke a sing-song manner, before suddenly a vicious howl erupted from the statue, the armored suit bursting out of the wall with a giant step, the wall behind it crumbling with various web-like marks, the statue raising its hammer, strange white Magic trailing from the weapon.

"That's...not good." Jayden narrowed his eyes at the creature, before its hammer reached over its head. And in the next moment, despite the massive distance that covered them and the massive statue...it swung the head of the massive hammer.

"Move!" Yet, the three Magic Knights all leapt away from the area upon (Y/N)'s shout, the hammer indenting itself onto the marble where they had previously stood, completely shattering the marble pedestal. The streams of mist, which had previously gathered ceaselessly at the shard, broke away, circling around the arena-like platform.

"It broke it...?" Fay muttered out, surprise on her face as she landed, the ground quaking momentarily from the previous attack.

Yet, when the Timeless Possessor rose its hammer, the crystal white shard seemed perfectly imbedded onto the hammer, the armored giant raising the hammer, before suddenly immense amounts of mana began to gather, completely devouring the creature, a series of howls echoing through the arena as the three Mages watched on in stunned silence.

Yet, just as fast as it came, the howling ceased with a final growl, the mist dissipating to show the suit of armor now before them once more. Yet, this time, it had jagged black crystals jutting out from all sides of the creature, reinforcing its armor further yet, and the sledge-hammer in its hands seemed especially deadly, now an abyssal black shard-like hammer, the white gem shining relentlessly upon its exterior. Infinite currents of mana seemed to flow through the shards, the creature before them momentarily weighing down on the three Mages, stunning all three of them for a varying moment, the three almost losing their balance in its presence.

"Oi...what's with this ridiculous mana?" (Y/N) couldn't help but point out, a nervous sweat on the side of his face. Despite the nervous grin forming on his face, he couldn't deny...he felt as if he were staring into an endless void. An unfathomable depth of mana that he could never hope to defy.

"This place just brings out one insane thing after another..." Fay grimaced, her instincts practically screaming at her to run. From where she stood, and with her finely honed mana detection, even under the effects of the Timeless Manor's suppression...she could very faintly sense this things' mana. It was unreal...as if an infinite void of pure power.

"It's soul...what?" Jayden, however, reacted in confusion, his eyes unsure of what they were seeing. Before, its soul had been strange...as if splinter. But now...the creature before them...it held full sentience. No longer was it splintered, no, it's soul itself was altered...

It did not merely "possess" the statue...

It fully "became" the statue.

The shard-armored creature suddenly raised its hammer, before spinning it flawlessly in its grasp, placing the lower handle of the hammer upon the shattered marble, howling out as it slammed the handle upon the already shattered marble, the white veins themselves seeming to shatter as black shards took their place. Furthermore, as if vengeful snakes, the crystal shards quickly approached the Intruders, (Y/N)'s eyes narrowing in return, extending his hand to the side, a familiar crimson-black blade falling into his grasp.

"[Void Earth Magic: Ruined Terra!]" (Y/N) chanted swiftly, his Grimoire flipping through pages as (Y/N) used the shattered marble beneath as his medium, earthing Phantasm as blackish-brown spikes of Void Earth rose in the path of the crystals, colliding with them. However, the crystals merely tore through the spikes, (Y/N) unearthing Phantasm.

"Not enough, huh? Try this on, then. [Void Fusion Magic: Tempestial Dragon's Talon.]" (Y/N) chanted, an immense amount of Void Frost and Void Lightning gathering on Phantasm's edge, slashing the blade in a circular manner beside him, before slashing in a downwards vertical manner towards the surging black shards, a sharp cry of thunder echoing through the area as a giant claw of blackish-cyan lightning froze over the shards, leaving behind the scene of a frozen landscape, stopping the shards in their tracks, faint arcs of Void Lightning sparking within the ice.

"He...fused his spells?" Fay couldn't help but turn to (Y/N) in surprise, seeing the new spell. Fusing spells...?

However, the gargantuan creature gave them no respite, howling once more from its suit as its mana ran wild, almost managing to suppress the three, though they managed to remain in control of themselves whilst using their own magics. The creature grasped its hammer tightly, the ground beneath the group shaking as it stood unmoving, as if an unbreakable Sentinel standing before them.

"Looks like it doesn't want to play nice. You two ready?" (Y/N), upon seeing the creatures' actions, spoke up, a playful tone in his voice as he drew Heaven's Reach on his left hand, holding both of his swords downward, Jayden and Fay walking up by his sides.

"Looks like there's no other way. It's soul is extremely powerful, so escape won't be an option. We've got a duty to uphold, let's not shirk it." Jayden spoke, extending his left hand to the side as his spear formed in his hand, his eyes focused on the distant creature as he approached to (Y/N)'s left.

It's soul...was simply unreal.

This would certainly be a tough fight.

"I suppose if we are to survive this encounter, we'll have to fight. Very well. Let's dance." Fay agreed, extending her right hand to the side as her blade formed in her grasp, faint mirages trailing from its edge, her eyes shining mysteriously yet powerfully.

"Let's bring it!" (Y/N) shouted, brandishing both of his blades as the three Mages leapt forward, Jayden from the left with his spear, (Y/N) from the center with his two blades, and Fay from the right with her blade.

The Timeless Sentinel howled as it raised its hammer in a smooth, agile motion, its shard-strewn helm suddenly sporting a white visor of pure mana, the Manasurge Shard upon its hammer shining a bright white contrast to the rest of the hammer, the weapon turning into a faint black flash as the creature swiftly spun in a circular form on its feet, howling out as the group approached, the swirling mana above raging as the creature's howl persisted, swinging its hammer towards the group, various white-vein like fissures upon the deadly hammer.

The fight against the Timeless Sentinel...

Would surely not be an easy one.

Elsewhere...

In the serene emptiness of the Timeless Manor's halls, only the mana-induced whispers and the ever constant ticking of the otherworldly clock rung through.

In the wake of a certain platform, circular in nature with several broken pillars and shattered blades upon the ground, mana suddenly surged as a bright light engulfed the room, before dissipating just as swiftly as it had come, leaving two entities in its wake.

Sirius twisted his body in the air as he fell, landing on his feet as he twirled the flag-spear in his hands, slamming the butt of the weapon into the shattered marble beneath to quell his fall, touching ground. Beside him, another presence quickly descended, Thorn raising his blade before slashing downward, a wave of sand quickly cushioning his fall, landing in a crouch beside Sirius, the two Darknight Mercenaries quickly glancing around them.

"Looks like it wasn't necessarily an attack." Thorn mused, seeing that the two were still in one piece, but their enemies were nowhere to be found.

"Yeah. Or maybe we just got lucky. Who knows where the hell those other guys are." Sirius pondered the situation for a moment, before narrowing his gaze. There were far too many unlikely conclusions he could arrive at. Until they'd gotten further information, it'd be no use to try and unravel the secrets of the Timeless Manor.

Besides, he much preferred to let luck lead the way.

"Considering everyone else was shifted away, I'm surprised we're still together." Thorn pointed out, Sirius glancing around. Even with his limited sensory of the area, he felt no other signs of any Mages.

"Ain't that something." Sirius smirked, the spear-flag in his hands radiating a frosty aura, a contrast to the burning aura that radiated from Thorn's blade.

At that, the two Mercenaries shared a chuckle.

""I don't sense anyone around. You?" Sirius raised a brow, Thorn giving a casual, helpless shrug.

"No dice." Thorn shook his head, the two beginning to take in their surroundings.

A wide circular platform, whereas it seemed as if they were in the middle, dozens of shattered pillars and a few broken walls, along with stone blades littering the floor.

"This place is truly something else, huh?" Sirius whistled, his expression amused by the sight of their surroundings. Yet another unknown location with further mysteries.

"Mhm. Just the two of us in this place." Thorn shouldered his blade, taking in the sight of the surrounding area.

The following moments, the two Mercenaries continued to survey the area, before Thorn ultimately broke the silence.

"You know, we don't really get a chance like this very often. How about it, Boss?" Thorn spoke, his tone aloof yet carrying weight, Sirius glancing at the Vice Leader from the corner of his eye, before once more taking a swift glance over the platform, turning towards Thorn shortly after.

"Hah? Here? Besides, you've never won, remember?" Sirius mocked, a smirk on his face as Thorn merely shrugged, a passive smile on his face as he tightened his grasp on his blade, Sirius' own grasp tightening upon his own weapon.

"Won't ever change if I don't try." Thorn shot back, the aloof shine in his eyes the same as ever.

"Won't change even if you do." Sirius mockingly teased, the two sharing a friendly laugh.

"We'll see about that." Thorn challenged, Sirius meeting his aloof smile with a cocky smirk, brandishing his flag-spear, his Grimoire shining brightly before him in its ever-powerful cyan haze. As a contrast, Thorn's Grimoire shone an ever-powerful gold haze. Shadows, frost and intense sands whirled around the two, matching smiles upon their faces.

Lowering his stance momentarily, Sirius spun his spear-flag in his grasp as he shot forward, unleashing a fierce thrust in a mere instant, though Thorn's smile merely widened as he dodged the attack, his blade redirecting the spear to the side, before retaliating with his own downward slash, Sirius merely sidestepping the blade before using his spear to vault over Thorn, unleashing a barrage of ice from above, though a swift slash quickly hailed a guard of sand to his aid, nullifying the attack.

Sirius drew his arm back, before shooting his spear-flag towards Thorn, managing to pierce through most of the casual shield, though Thorn's merely smiled as he leapt back, a sphere of Frost quickly consuming his magic, before his Grimoire flipped across various pages.

"[Sandstorm Magic: Arid Kaleidoscope.]" Thorn smiled, chanting as he earthed his blade onto the ground, using the platform as a catalyst as immense amounts of Sandstorm Magic surged through the platform, quickly engulfing it entirely as Sirius grinned in the air, raising his hand as his spear-flag returned to his grasp, dozens of flame-like Sandstorm blades shooting out from the ground, which, despite being in the air, pulled Sirius in towards the central vortex of the spell — towards Thorn.

"[Shadowfrost Magic: Subzero Quake!]" Sirius grinned as he spun in the air, his spear-flag resonating with Shadowfrost Magic, before he once more threw it towards the stationary Thorn, who's aloof smile widened at the oncoming attack, yet he didn't move quite yet, an immense Frost chilling him as the spear-flag came closer, yet suddenly a wave of burning sands interrupted the attack, causing a massive clash as an intense whirlwind ripped through the area, sending the nearby shattered blades in the ground rocketing away, as well as scathing some of the broken pillars. Despite the wall of burning sands beginning to cave in, Thorn did not retreat, the attack suddenly piercing through as Thorn smiled, the spear-flag heading for him.

In return, the tanned boy merely spun his blade in his grasp, meeting the spear-flag in a clash, his foot digging into the ground, Thorn giving a smile before deflecting the spear to the nearby vortex of sand, the spear falling into the depths.

However, as he attempted to find Sirius, a sudden surge of Shadowfrost once more drew Thorn's attention, a pillar of Frost rising from the vortex as a giant lance of Shadowfrost shot at him, a myriad of burning sand blades meeting the lance in return, exploding in midair as a coating of Sandstorm Magic shielded Thorn from the frost, though it soon froze after, before a sharp presence spiked through the shield flawlessly, Thorn raising his blade nonchalantly as he met Sirius in a clash, spear-flag and curved blade clashing against the other, faint magics emanating their weapons, both holding their ground yet trying to push the other back.

Similar confident grins formed itself on the two's faces, placing all they had behind their attacks.

"Hah. It's been two years, and we still haven't really changed." Sirius gave a chuckle, though he didn't relent on his offense, Thorn across from him rolling his eyes.

"It seems like it's almost every other day we have one of our so-called spars." Thorn chuckled, mana radiating from the clash of the two's contrasting weapons.

Both shared a grin, before reminiscent memories began flash through their eyes.

Flashback...
2 Years Ago...

"Ugh. Why is this place so goddamn big?" A young boy with black hair growled, walking beside a young girl and a young man, the three traveling through the busy town, others walking past them, some chatting merely with their friends, and some more advertising their wares.

"Now, now, Sirius, there's no need to cause a fuss." The young violet haired girl smiled innocently, the younger Sirius grumbling in dissatisfaction, but ultimately did not give any more audible complaints.

"Hah. If you keep glaring at everything in your way, you'll never make connections like that." The young man supervising the two joked, getting a giggle from the violet haired girl as Sirius groaned.

"Yeah, yeah, big deal..." Sirius pouted, crossing his arms as the violet haired girl teasingly poked his cheek, only for him to turn away even more, the young man with the two rolling his eyes at the young boys' antics.

"Besides, it's not everyday we come to Jiyud, this place is pretty famous as a city of commerce. If you want to take over the mantle one day, you'll need to know how to do business. Why don't you give it a try, Sirius?" The young man tossed the younger Sirius a bag of yul, Sirius scrambling to catch it, almost dropping the bag before glaring at the man.

"Just watch! I'll come back as the richest guy in this city, then you'll see, old man!" The young boy grinned, before scampering off as he approached a distant merchant.

"Do your best!" The young violet haired girl cheered, waving at the fleeing figure.

"But, Master Arran, is it really okay to let him go alone?" The young girl turned towards the young man beside her, her amber eyes shining with innocence.

"Probably." The younger Arran shrugged, an unconcerned smile on his face as the girl's lips curved into a small smile.

"Besides, we've got other things to find. Come along, Leticia." Arran began walking once more, Leticia giving a "Yes.", strutting after him.

As for Sirius, he continued to wander through the expansive town, his gaze constantly shifting through the various stands and stores, rolling his eyes at some of the unreal prices on the various items placed on display. Some other stands displayed the effects of strange concoctions, whereas others merely displayed the effects of Magic devices.

"1.800.060 Yul for some half-assed sword? Who's the moron that would buy that?" Sirius couldn't help but scoff, seeing the price for the sword in the distance.

"Huh? What'd you say kid?" The store owner scowled, only for Sirius to roll his eyes.

"I said it's trash." Sirius repeated mockingly.

"Why, you-"

"Yeah, yeah, I've heard it a thousand times. Get lost." Sirius ignored the angry shopkeeper, though his attention was soon shifted to another customer, one who seemed to be wearing the traditional garb of a Noble, and coincidentally they asked about the same sword.

"Wow. I guess some people are just born to be morons." Sirius spoke in a moment of surprise, before grunting. He didn't care. Some people were just born to be stepped on.

"Anyway." Sirius hummed, before continuing his shopping spree, bartering for lower prices at every chance he could, making quite a profit for himself as he would buy magic items at one store, then resell them at another stand, almost doubling his initial profits within the first hour. However, as the sun began to set over Jiyud, Sirius found himself wandering into an unfamiliar part of the marketplace, one with shady tents and rambunctious streets. Shady vendors and exotic wares could be found as far as the eye could see, however.

"How did I miss this? I am so going to make a killing off of this." Sirius grinned widely, stepping forward into the Black Market as a cloaked figure watched from the distance, amber eyes following his moves.

After managing to barter several exotic wares from a gambling house, Sirius calmly strolled out of the place with a cocky smirk on his face, various other defeated patrons in his wake, some laughing at their misfortune and others following Sirius with greedy eyes.

"Now then, this will certainly sell for a grand price." Sirius muttered, taking out a certain amulet, one imbedded with a bright lime oval-like gemstone, a distinct design upon its shining exterior, radiating a faint Magic as Sirius held it in his grasp.

However, in his momentary wonder, Sirius didn't notice as he crashed into a cloaked figure, both stumbling back before the cloaked figure quickly recovered.

"I'm sorry, that was my fault, I should've seen where I was going. Again, I apologize." The cloaked figure quickly apologized, before leaving just as swiftly as Sirius rubbed his head in annoyance, turning to where the figure ran off.

"Weirdo..." Sirius muttered, before turning back towards the amulet. Or at least, to his empty hands.

A moment of contemplation passed, Sirius glancing all over himself, before finding all of his exotic wares gone, a small, irritated smile forming on his face, before a tick mark formed on his head.

"I am going to kill that dumbass." Sirius couldn't help but cackle, various tick marks upon his head as his Grimoire, that which he'd gotten just a year prior, rose before him, swiftly disappearing in a burst of shadows.

It didn't take long for Sirius to catch up the mysterious thief, leaping out of the shadows and assailing him with a myriad of frozen lances.

In a moment, the faint tranquility of the town broke as various icicle eruptions occurred throughout the area, Sirius landing on the ground as his brow twitched ceaselessly, a pissed off smile on his face.

"W-what's going on?"

"Someone's starting trouble!"

"Quick! Call the Magic Knights!"

"How would you like to die?" Sirius threatened, ignoring the screams of the people around him as they fled, though his eyes did narrow slightly when he heard mention of the Magic Knights...

"Hmph...Those idealistic do-gooders aren't going to do crap. They usually just outright fail or over complicate the problem, bunch of good-for-nothings." Sirius clicked his tongue, though it did not fail to convey his disdain of the organization. Shifting his gaze, Sirius turned towards the cloaked figure he'd bumped into, who was slowly recovering as more lances of frost materialized beside Sirius.

"Don't make me repeat myself. I suggest you speak up while I'm still willing to listen." Sirius gave a wicked smile, the cloaked figure coming to his feet as he raised his gaze, Sirius taking in the others' appearance.

"Color me impressed, kid. But just because you look to be about my age doesn't mean shit." Sirius grinned, raising his hand as a Shadowfrost Lance shot out, the strange figure leaping back as a layer of frost engulfed his previous position. The attacker seemed to be around his age, a dirty face with dull amber eyes and messy black hair, dirty bandages wrapped around his cloaked arms.

"Come on, draw your Grimoire, pest. Make this fun at least." Sirius taunted, unleashing three more lances as the strange boy scampered around them, before rushing at Sirius as the Mage's smile dropped.

"Hey...quit messing around." Sirius gave a dark smile, a myriad of Shadowfrost spikes lurching up below the approaching figure, a few managing to knick him as the boy coughed out blood, barely managing to avoid any fatal blows. Or perhaps Sirius simply didn't see it worth to kill him. He wasn't sure which it was.

"As if what I do matters to someone like you..." The strange boy whispered venomously, Sirius raising a brow, before once more glancing over the strange kid, now seeing his bartered amulet in his hands.

"Tell ya what brat, give me the amulet and all the other stuff you took, and I'll let you walk out of this." Sirius offered, a vigilant glare on his face as more Shadowfrost Lances rose around him.

"It's...not yours..." The strange boy murmured, Sirius raising a brow. The hell was he going on about?

"Whether it's mine or not, I don't give a crap. All I know is that it's bound to sell for a generous price. Now...don't make me repeat myself." Sirius threatened, his mana on full display as the opposing boy dropped to his knees, shaking in place from the immense mana.

However, he was not the only who felt it, as the scarce few who found themselves within the range of the mana found themselves paralyzed from the intense presence, though two did not share the same reaction.

"Ara? That's...Sirius." Leticia murmured, turning back towards the city center with a few bags in her hands.

"Man...what a troublesome kid." Arran couldn't help but let out a dry laugh, though his eyes narrowed. Although Sirius could be troublesome at times, it wasn't like him to start random fights, especially ones where he got this serious.

"Let's go see what our little troublemaker is up to." Arran began walking towards the origin of the mana, Leticia nodding as she skipped alongside him, a harmonious hum sung from her as they walked.

Back with Sirius, he continued to coldly glare at the opposing brat, his Shadowfrost Lances shining brightly around him, twinkling in the night lights of Jiyud.

"Not happening." The bandaged boy denied, Sirius narrowing his eyes as the boy slowly got to his feet, yet curiously, he had yet to draw his Grimoire.

"..." Sirius watched on silently as the boy struggled to his feet, the amulet clasped in his hands all the while.

"Hah. Hahahaha. I think I get it. You don't even have a Grimoire yet, huh?" Sirius smirked, the Shadowfrost Lances slowly dissipating as his Grimoire closed, Sirius returning it to its satchel without a second thought.

"Alright. I'll make this fair, then. I'll fight you without my Grimoire. Let's take this to our fists." Sirius cracked his knuckles, approaching the strange kid as his amber eyes stared back silently, before pocketing the amulet and raising his fists.

"I don't mind that." The strange boy spoke, his fists raised as Sirius gave a predatory grin, quickly crossing the distance between them and sending a swift punch at the kid. In return, the bandaged boy sidestepped the attack before responding with a swift jab of his elbow, Sirius leaning back ever so slightly as the attack glided past his face, before grabbing his arm and attempting to twist him, the strange boy merely meeting the attempt with a twisting kick of his own, one of which Sirius quickly blocked with his forearm.

However, Sirius' eyes then widened as blazing sand rushed from the impact, swiftly covering him as the boy backed away, snapping his fingers as a cocoon of sand engulfed Sirius, the boy quickly gaining some distance as the cocoon froze, before swiftly shattering as Sirius sent a kick at the boys' head, surprising him greatly as he was sent flying.

"Hah...how did...you get behind me?" The young boy gasped, his mind in disarray from the attack as Sirius gave his usual cocky grin.

"Ain't that obvious? I'm just stronger than you." Sirius grinned, slowly approaching before stomping on the ground, a layer of ice quickly forcing the boy to hastily retreat, albeit he had some difficulty due to the thrashing pain in his head.

"Give it up, brat!" Sirius shot after the strange boy, the two quickly exiting the Black Market District of Jiyud and finding themselves in a desolate alley, the strange boy using his environment to his advantage to slow down Sirius, utilizing the burning sand to try to catch him by surprise, only to fail as Sirius shattered through it all, vigilantly continuing the chase.

Yet, as the strange boy ducked into another alley, Sirius swiftly followed, only to see no sign of the cloaked figure as he clicked his tongue, before a surge of blazing sand beside him drew his attention, dodging back as the sand crossed his head, before his eyes widened as he looked up, a foot meeting his face and sending him rolling back, the strange boy landing on the ground and quickly pouncing, his fist raised as blazing sand gathered.

Sirius swiftly rolled to a stop as he let loose a small chuckle, balling his fists as the surrounding environment froze, trapping the asssailants' feet as Sirius swiftly used his moment of surprise to land a solid punch onto the kids' cheek, sending him stumbling back, before the kid responded with a punch of his own, Sirius managing to block it before attempting to go for a kick, only for it to meet the cloaked boys' bandaged forearms as he deflected the kick, swiftly landing a jab with his elbow that caused Sirius to wince, though he had no time to rest as a foot swung at his face, barely leaning back and managing to dodge, before wheeling back on his hands, a Lance of frost shooting at the kid, though a wall of blazing sands nullified the attack, the two taking time to recover as they took in the others' battered appearance from the short scuffle.

"Hah. Better than I expected, brat." Sirius spat, wiping his face of the faint sand that the kid had managed to hit him with.

"You're not so bad either." The strange boy praised half heartedly, a stoic look meeting Sirius' own vigilant gaze.

"You haven't seen crap." Sirius smirked, before rushing forth on his feet as the strange boy narrowed his eyes, before raising his fists as he did the same, the two shouting as they clashed fists, a sharp shockwave emitting from the two, sending a few loose articles on the alleyway flying, the two swiftly trading dozens of punches and kicks as they threw each other to the streets again, a panic once more ensuing as people ran, blazing sands and dark lances rushing about the previously calm atmosphere.

Minutes passed in what felt like instants, the two trading blow after blow as they continued to accumulate wounds, though neither backed down as they fought with their full might, though Sirius honored his words, his Grimoire kept in its pouch as he fought with nothing but his base Magic, on the same playing field as the strange boy.

"Just give it up...brat!" Sirius grunted, sending a sweep kick at the boy and attempting to trip him, only for the boy to jump, landing on his hands before kicking at Sirius' head.

"Why don't you...just give it up yourself?" The boy spoke back stoically, though both seemed out of breath. How long had they been fighting for now?

"As if...I don't let things...that belong to me...be taken away." Sirius glared at the boy, sending a swift punch as a Shadowfrost Lance followed swiftly after, the boy dodging to the side as the wall behind him erupted in crystals of ice, rushing towards him, only to meet a wall of blazing sand, the two attacks fizzling out.

"So persistent..." The boy muttered softly, though he raised his fists as Sirius did the same, trading blow after blow as exhaustion and wounds continued to accumulate on their bodies, both panting heavily after another short scuffle.

From a distance, two figures arrived to see the scene, Leticia's eyes worriedly catching sight of Sirius, whereas Arran calmly looked over the scene.

"With this much destruction...hmm, we're going to have some serious trouble on our hands if we stay here. Man..." Arran rolled his eyes, sighing as he facepalmed. Sirius could be a real pain sometimes. But...

"Just die already, bastard!"

"Not happening!"

The two shouted at the other, trading punches as their labored breaths filled the deafening silence, a chilling wind rushing through the deserted streets of Jiyud, only a few people remaining to watch.

"Enough of this. I'm done with this crap." Sirius gathered an immense amount of mana on his fist, ice crystallizing around his fist as the boy felt his feet quake momentarily, though he grit his teeth and pushed through the shaking.

"You and me...both." The tanned boy spoke in return, immense levels of blazing sand gathering in his hand as the two contracted the other, a contradicting burning chill rushing through the surroundings, Arran narrowing his eyes at the two.

"Come on!"

"I'll end this!"

The two rushed at each other, cocking their fists back as their Magic's swirled chaotically.

"Shouldn't we stop this, Master Arran?" Leticia asked curiously, a childish innocence in her gaze as Arran continued watching silently.

"Haaaaaah!!!!"

The two clashed, their Magic's defying the others' for a few moments that, to the two, felt like eternity, twin grins plastered on their faces as their Magic's raged around them, a grand shockwave sending everything around them rocketing away, filling the plaza with a bright light as Arran swiftly shielded Leticia under his cloak, watching with interest as a blinding light overtook the near-desolate district.

A sharp sound echoed through the vast district, before the light died down, Arran's lips curving upwards as he saw the results of the clash.

In the distance, the two boys panted heavily, the ground around the two cratered as both frost and sand permeated the grounds, their hands both shaking from the impact, though their eyes continued to glare at the other.

"Looks like you...had more in you...than I expected..." Sirius grinned, slowly raising his fists as his labored breaths filled the silence.

"I...won't lose...to you..." The cloaked boy huffed out, his labored breaths mixing in with Sirius' own, exhaustion clear on the twos' faces.

"Right back at you, brat..." Sirius grunted, panting heavily as the opposing boy slowly raised his fist, the two taking their stances, their glares focused on the other, before both rushed forward, unleashing a battlecry...

"Pft..." Leticia, from her spot in Arran's cloak, couldn't help but puff her cheeks out, a small giggle echoing through the deafening streets, before her laughter rung throughout the area.

"That's...hahaha! They...hahahaha!" Leticia broke into a fit of harmonious laughter, Arran chuckling as he shook his head, the two distant boys crashing into the ground at the same time, unconscious.

"What a pair of troublemakers..." Arran couldn't help but chuckle, his eyes scanning the two over.

"Perhaps we might have a new addition to the Mercenaries. Hmm..." Arran spoke, Leticia's laughter filling in the silence for a few seconds, before distant shouts erupted.

"The Magic Knights are here!"

"Haha! Let's see how those troublemakers deal with this!"

"Magic Knights, huh?" Arran narrowed his eyes at the distant people, hearing heavy footsteps approaching from the distance, before glancing once more at the two knocked out boys, swiftly appearing beside them in an instant, picking the two up.

"Leticia, let's go. I think I'll just take these two troublemakers with me." Arran spoke, lobbing the two boys over his shoulder, the two grumbling in their sleep, but neither woke. Not that he'd cared.

"Yes, Master Arran~!" Leticia, with fading giggles, skipped up to him as the shadows around the group fluxed chaotically, before they disappeared altogether.

"The Magic Knights have arrived!"

The sun quickly began to rise as Arran found himself reading a book, silently humming to himself as Sirius and the strange boy were sleeping upon different beds a small distance away, their heads wrapped in bandages as well as their entire bodies...they looked akin to mummies.

As the rays of dawn broke through the window, Arran found himself glancing up at the clock on the wall, before smiling as he set down his book, calmly turning towards the two distant boys, who began to groggily awake.

"Ugh...what the hell happened..." Sirius muttered, slowly sitting up as he rubbed his head.

"I wanna know...the same thing..." The amber eyed boy replied, rubbing his head, before the two turned towards the other.

"YOU-!"

The two pointed at each other, Arran giving an amused laugh as the two turned towards him.

"Old man?! Why is this brat here?!" Sirius demanded to know, pointing accusingly at the strange boy.

"I'd like to know the same...if kidnapping kids is your hobby, then I'd advise you get a new one." The strange boy remarked stoically, Arran momentarily choking on air before he laughed.

"Aren't you two lively after just waking up?" Arran brought their attention back to the current circumstances, the two realizing as they surveyed their own bodies, finding themselves wrapped like mummies.

"...I won that fight." Sirius smirked.

"Did not." The strange boy retorted stoically.

"Did too." Sirius stuck his tongue out at the boy a small distance away.

"Nope."

"Of course I did."

"No way."

"The hell?!"

"You heard me."

"Are you trying to pick a fight?"

"I'm ready for round two."

"Alright boys, calm down now." Arran's amused chuckle quickly brought the two back to him, before his eyes turned to the strange boy.

"Now then, boy, what is your name?" Arran asked, a smile plastered on his face as the strange boy stared at him stoically.

"...Don't have one." The boy replied, surprising Arran and Sirius.

"Of course you don't..." Sirius rolled his eyes, clicking his tongue.

"Now, now, I'm sure he just doesn't remember it." Arran spoke, Sirius clicking his tongue, but silently listening.

"Well...until you remember your real name, would you like to receive one?" Arran asked kindly, Sirius cocking a curious brow at him. The hell was he on about?

"...Sure." The strange boy nodded.

"Sirius, why don't you pick one?" Arran requested, glancing at the blue eyed boy.

"The hell? Why me? For all I care he can bug off." Sirius stuck his tongue out at the boy, only for the boy to deadpan at him.

"Sirius." Arran spoke once more, his gaze darkened.

"Ugh...fine. Let's see...what's a fitting name. Oh I know...Thorn! Your name is Thorn! ...Because you're a damn thorn in my side..." Sirius spoke, pointing at the now named Thorn, who deadpanned at him again.

"Tacky."

"Wha- then pick your own name!" Sirius retorted, a tick mark on his head.

"My name...is Thorn." However, to Sirius surprise, the boy then turned to Arran, a serious glint in his eyes.

"O-Oi, you didn't have to take it seriously..." Sirius muttered, feeling a tad guilty, though the boy merely flashed him a stoic smile, getting him to sigh, grumbling to the side.

"I see...well then, Thorn, how would you like to become a member of our crew? A member of the Darknight Mercenaries?" Arran proposed, Sirius nodding his head as Thorn deadpanned, before Sirius' head snapped towards Arran.

"Come again?" The two boys asked in unison.

Flashback End...

"Takes me back a long way." Sirius smirked in amusement, the two breaking their clash before clashing flag-spear on blade once more.

"Mhm. In just two short years I became stronger than you." Thorn deadpanned, an aloof smile on his face as a tick mark formed on Sirius' head.

"You wanna bet on that?" Sirius asked, various tick marks on his head, before the two once more broke the clash, Sirius stabbing his spear-flag into the ground and delivering a swift kick onto Thorn, though he merely caught his leg in the spiked guard, Sirius swiftly spinning out of the way using his spear as a pole, before he landed behind him, the two grinning in unison.

"How about we put that to the test then." Sirius smirked as he twirled his spear-flag in his hand, crashing the butt of the spear on the ground, the Darknight Mercenaries' banner waving proudly as Thorn stood behind him, his blade revving wildly as the spiked guard burned with his magic, dying the edge of the blade a golden hue.

"Let's see who thrashes more of these morons then. You in?" Sirius challenged, standing back to back with Thorn as dozens of black cloaked figures rushed in around the two, their presences eerily familiar to the three they'd faced prior to the strange wave of light.

"I'll take you up on that." Thorn smiled in an aloof manner, calmly brandishing his one-handed blade and pointing it at the enemy, standing back to back with Sirius as the figures circled around them, two different figures rushing the two from both sides.

"Then let the game..." Sirius smirked, twirling the spear-flag in his grasp before the two then slashed past the other, their Magic's flaring around them as they both smirked.

"Begin!"

In the distance, a man radiating an otherworldly presence silently watched, his yin-yang mask hiding his face, though his shadow twisted and writhed, his gaze focused on the distant Sirius and Thorn. A dark chuckle echoed from his lips, his mask seeming to twist as a dark shadow covered his mask.

Elsewhere...

A rythmic clock ticked endlessly through a vast plain of shattered platforms, a distant, otherworldly whisper wandering through the halls.

A sudden surge of mana manifested in the calm platform, before bursting as a person fell forward, his red eyes quickly taking in his position.

"Woah!" Ryan barely managed to catch himself, stopping his fall as he leaned forward awkwardly, before hopping to his feet as mana surged around him, eight anomalies taking placing before, much like him, eight more people fell.

"Drat!" Ryan quickly identified Myagar's voice, seeing the Guard Captain stumble to the ground, before quickly standing as flames flickered around him.

"Guard Captain!" Ryan waved, drawing Myagar's gaze, the man slowly letting down his guard, a look of surprise on his face, along with a small hint of relief as he saw the familiar Magic Knight.

"Boy, it seems you also got taken along. That is a tad vexing..." Myagar muttered, the other Guard Squadron members, Kilen and a few others, groggily standing from the strange shift.

"What was that light? And where did all the others go? I can't sense Jay anywhere around here..." Ryan asked, his tone confused as he looked around, seeing only eight of the original Guard Squadron members, far less than he had been with previously.

"It...is not the first time that accursed light has attacked. We aren't sure how it works, but every time we've been taken by it, our numbers thin even more. It is the reason why we're stranded in this place to begin with...I fear that even you, now taken just as we had been, may be stranded here as well." Myagar lamented, a dark look on his face as Ryan listened silently, before putting a hand to his chin in thought.

"So...then that light is what caused all this, maybe? How many times has it happened? How many times has it attacked, I mean." Ryan asked after a moment, turning towards the Guard Captain, who scratched his head in thought.

"I think it was...six times now." Kilen, another of the Guard Squadron, answered as Myagar hummed in hazy agreement.

"Six...so you've been split up six times then...this is seriously confusing." Ryan narrowed his eyes, recalling the strange wave. Before the light, there had been more than a dozen members including himself and Jayden, yet now, afterwards, only nine remained, including himself.

"Do...have you ever found anyone that's been split from you after the light?" Ryan asked, Myagar gravely shaking his head, the other Guard Squadron members looking down in anguish. Who knows what could've happened to the others...

Those they had built long bonds of camaraderie with...

They may never see them again...

"I see." Ryan nodded his head, narrowing his eyes in thought. That strange light brought along a brand new set of questions, yet still no one to answer them...

"However, although it is worrying, the worst part is not that it divides us. For a short time after the shift, those...creatures, become almost superpowered, becoming much more savage and feral, stronger and faster, more intelligent and cunning." Myagar explained, Ryan's lips dropping into a small frown upon hearing the news.

Not only did this mysterious "attack" divide the group, but it also strengthened the monsters of the Manor...

A vexing spell indeed.

"But who's the caster?" Ryan narrowed his eyes, thoughts swimming through his head as he tried to make sense of the news, only to come up short as he sighed.

"Alright, if that's true, then-"

A loud howl interrupted Ryan, the group quickly turning to the distance, seeing dozens of the strange creatures howling as the mist around them shone a blinding white, Ryan's eyes widening as he saw their numbers.

"Fifty...sixty...no, over a hundred at just a glance..." Ryan couldn't help but tighten his grasp on his sword as he saw the Timeless Creatures amassing, dozens of the huge ones he and Jayden had barely managed to defeat clawing closer.

"We gotta go...there's no way we can..." One of the Guard Squadron members spoke softly, the others grimly nodding in agreement.

"If I were alone, then maybe I could do something, but even then those numbers might be a bit too much for me...but I can't do that. I also have to protect the Guards...we can't fight this many. Not here. Not now." Ryan bit his lip, before turning away from the Guards, his eyes widening as he saw a strange black flash glint in the distance, before it disappeared.

"Was that...a person?" Ryan thought in surprise, before shaking his head. All that mattered was that, perhaps, they may be an ally. Considering the black magic, it may have even been (Y/N), so heading that direction and rendezvousing with him would be the best solution.

"Alright! Let's go! We can't stay here and let them catch up, come on! I'll protect you all, I swear it on my honor as a Magic Knight!" Ryan spoke, brandishing his sword as he waved at the Guard Squadron, who shared glances, before nodding back at him, the group beginning to run towards where Ryan had seen the black glint, though Ryan himself turned once more towards the distant horde of Timeless Creatures.

"Whatever this Manor is..." Ryan muttered, his eyes narrowing at the unreal number of savage Timeless Creatures in the distance.

"It can't be good news." With that final thought, Ryan quickly turned and ran after the Guard Squadron members, his Midnight Jaguars' cloak waving in the passing winds.

Only the rythmic clock provided solace.

(Timeless Manor ED - Deja Vu by Dreamcatcher)

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Chibi Preview

Chibi (Y/N): You know I'm starting to have a bad feeling about this place.

Chibi Fay: What brought it about?

Chibi Jayden: Perhaps the giant monster attacking the three of us?

Chibi (Y/N): Maybe...or perhaps it's that clock. I'm starting to hear it echo. Anyone else?

Chibi Fay: I'm not hearing it twice...

Chibi Jayden: Neither am I.

Chibi (Y/N): Oh...so I'm going insane then. Okay. Well...shit. That's also not good.

Chibi Fay: A shame. I thought we were getting along nicely. It's been nice knowing you.

Chibi Jayden: He's not dying...I think...

Chibi (Y/N): Hey! Don't go talking like I'm already dead! And I'm not gonna die! I'm the main character after all, hah!

Chibi Fay and Jayden: Main character??

Chibi (Y/N): Er...forget that.

Chibi (Y/N), Fay and Jayden: Black Clover - Night's Wrath: Page 57 - Echoing Rumbles, coming soon!

Chibi Fay: Danger and Destiny go hand in hand, so perhaps...this is a trial beset by Destiny? By Fate? If it is...I'll enjoy destroying it, haha~.
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Hey there Readers, it's me, ya boi. An update! Finally! After what feels like eternity! Seriously fucking hell it's been a w h i l e. Been a tad busy, and the other tad being laziness, but I got this done!

Man, this was actually really fun to write, I enjoyed writing pretty much this entire chapter, and finally got it finished!

What do you guys think of our lovable Vice Leaders? Sirius, the "Shadowfrost Harbinger", Thorn, the "Sandstorm Blaze" and Fay, the "Mirage Flower"? I hope you guys liked their introductions, because the three are sticking are around for quite a while~! After all, they're some of the main antagonists~! But...just because they're your enemies, doesn't mean you can't get along with them, hm? I wonder how that'll turn out, fufu~!

Soon, we'll also begin to see some more development on the side of our mysterious friends(?) from a very~ distant land, as well as massive developments from our lovable Magic Knights, the Midnight Jaguars! Look forward to it! This arc still has a lot in store for you guys! It...is truly enroute to be a grand experience.

Also, on another note, the Black Clover manga is seriously just managing to pleasantly surprise me time after time. Perhaps that's why I fuckin' love this show so much. YOU FUCKING GO MAGNA! Seeing the way Tabata-sensei makes use of all his characters has honestly left me in awe, and I fuckin' love it. Black Clover supremacy!

Anyway, the future of Night's Wrath is also looking pretty...interesting. The "canon" route as of now is...something else. Once we get there, I cannot wait to invite you all...

It'll be so much fun, hahahahaha!

Anywho, till next time!
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Harem: (Feelings towards (Y/N))
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Alice (Loves)
Noelle (Loves)
Mimosa (Crush)
Alisia (??????)
Rebecca (Crush)
Amelia (??????)
Sol (??????)
Rin  (??????)
Fana <<Elf>> (??????)
Mereoleona (??????)
Vanessa (??????)
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~ Chaoz has logged out. ~