Location: Dungeon Interior
POV: Loyce
Tension crackled through the treasure chamber, thicker than the dungeon's heavy, mana-choked air.
Klaus took a slow step forward, adjusting his glasses with the same smugness he always seemed to wear. "This chamber was supposed to be a collaborative effort. Typical Black Bulls, barging in like savages."
Noelle bristled beside me. "Excuse me? We were sent here on official orders too."
"Let's not turn this into a contest," Mimosa said, trying to mediate, her voice kind as ever. "We're all here to support the kingdom."
Yuno still hadn't spoken. His eyes hadn't left me. It wasn't a glare, but it wasn't friendly either. Studious. Searching.
He recognizes me, doesn't he?
Not consciously, but something about me is tugging at him. Soul resonance. Azazel warned this might happen.
I broke the silence. "This dungeon is large. We can work in separate sections and share findings. Unless you have a problem with efficiency?"
Klaus looked like he bit into something sour. "Tch. Fine. But stay out of our way."
He turned and led Mimosa down a right-hand corridor. Yuno lingered for half a second longer, eyes still on me, then followed.
Deeper Into the Dungeon
Our group went left. Every inch of the place pulsed with ancient magic—wards, enchantments, forgotten spells layered like sediment.
Noelle conjured a water barrier as we passed through a corridor filled with dart launchers. I deflected the few that slipped through with controlled bursts of solar light.
"You're better with your magic than you let on," I said.
She smirked faintly. "You think I haven't been training?"
"Not questioning your work ethic. Just your judgment." I gestured toward Asta, who had accidentally knocked down an old archway. "Case in point."
"SORRY!" he shouted, voice echoing.
Azazel cackled in my head. Your team coordination is flawless as always.
I ignored him.
We found a staircase winding downward, carved straight into the stone. I summoned another small sun to hover above us, filling the darkness with golden light.
The stairwell led to a new hall: this one smooth, unnaturally so, with mirrored walls that distorted our reflections. The air smelled like ozone and old stone.
"Trap," I said flatly.
The mirrored walls shimmered. Clones of us stepped out—perfectly mirrored versions, movements lagging by less than a second.
Noelle panicked slightly. "Illusions?"
"No. Mana constructs. Magical echoes. They copy what we do."
Asta, of course, ran forward and swung his sword at his double. The copy shattered with a satisfying clang.
I let my construct swing first. I dodged, feinted, and launched a concentrated blast of light at the reflection's chest. It vanished in a flare.
Noelle destroyed hers with a pressurized water bullet. Three down.
"Not bad," I said. "Let's move."
Meanwhile — Other End of the Dungeon
Yuno stared at an ancient mural, its gold leaf flaking under time's erosion.
Mimosa cataloged the inscriptions while Klaus sketched. Yuno, however, kept thinking about the Black Bull vice captain.
He doesn't look like much older than me. Strong mana signature. Not noble—but something else. Something… familiar.
He felt like the wind before a storm.
Back to Loyce
We reached a chamber with a high domed ceiling. Mana vibrated in the air like it had a heartbeat.
I held up my hand. "Stop."
[Sun Magic: Divine Staff of Knowledge]
Once again, the golden threads snaked across the room.
"There's someone here," I said.
As if on cue, a hole in the ceiling blasted open.
And they fell.
Diamond Kingdom mages. Four of them.
And behind them, the unmistakable glint of Mars' crystal magic.
Asta's eyes widened.
"Protect the chamber!" I barked. My armor flared into existence.
[Sun Magic: Angelic Armor]
Wings of radiant heat erupted behind me as I shot forward.
Mars met me head-on, his blade of compressed crystal nearly crashing into my chest. I deflected it with a reinforced forearm.
"So you're the one they call the Fallen Angel," Mars said coldly.
"What can I say? The name stuck."
I blasted him backward with a solar burst. Noelle took out one of the Diamond grunts with a spiraling torrent of water.
Asta clashed swords with another enemy, his anti-magic cutting through spells like they were paper.
Mars flew back at me, faster this time. He summoned a barrier of crystal.
[Sun Magic: Cruel Sun]
A miniature sun hovered above my palm.
"You won't get through me," Mars said.
"I don't need to. I just need to outlast you."
I hurled the sun forward. It collided with the barrier, superheating it, bending it inward until it cracked.
I shot through the opening, fist blazing with stored heat—
And struck.
Mars crashed into the wall, groaning.
But he wasn't done. A regeneration spell flared around him.
I staggered, blood trailing from my nose. Damn it. Too much casting.
"Loyce!" Noelle yelled.
"Stay back!"
I forced my body up again. Not here. Not in front of them.
Not until the job is done.