Land of the Sun, some unknown space...
Lucius sat upon a simple throne decorated only with crosses, with countless root-like substances seeming to grow from the throne's backrest.
And wrapped within those extending roots were precisely the corpses of the Dark Triad.
Lucius opened his eyes. Ever since crossing the sea to arrive in the Land of the Sun a month ago, he had begun fusing the three's magic into his own body.
Flesh, bone, blood, plus his own soul, and representing the world's strongest power - Lucifero's magic power. Combined together, they represented magic at the root of life itself.
No... that power had already surpassed magic. It should be said that magic was also one of the powers derived from life.
But unfortunately, things weren't progressing nearly as smoothly as he had planned.
Although one-third of Lucifero's power was already unimaginably strong for humans, it was quite insufficient for incubating the ultimate power he envisioned.
Of course Lucius had also felt regret and anger, but he quickly adjusted his mindset.
Even if his plan had problems, he wouldn't lose his composure. In terms of willpower's tenacity, he wouldn't lose to anyone.
He would only think of ways to solve problems. After calming down, he had indeed thought of a way to make up for it.
Since he had lost Lucifero's power, wouldn't it be fine to find an even stronger power? So he set his sights on... Charles, who could fight Lucifero head-on.
Perhaps after obtaining the power of Charles, this otherworldly person, he could make his own power break through the world's limitations as well.
Thinking thus, Lucius began a new plan.
Footsteps sounded as Lucius opened his eyes to look at the people who had walked before him.
"Everyone, the holy war is about to begin! For the equal world we desire, I shall grant you stronger power! From now on, you will transcend humanity - you are the [Holy Knights] of the new world!"
Lucius had learned from the lesson of insufficient manpower, so he used his own abilities to create several powerful and obedient helpers.
Just then, a rough voice rang out.
"That kind of thing doesn't matter! You promised to give me the most intense battles, right? I'm already sick of these boring days - hurry up and start the war!"
The speaker was a man with rough features, his hair messily tied up with stubble all over his chin.
He wore a loose kimono, exposing a chest with sparse chest hair.
He also carried a wine jug and didn't forget to take a hearty swig while speaking, the overflowing liquor flowing from the corner of his mouth down to his chest.
The man's slovenliness and crude rudeness made several Holy Knights loyal to Lucius show displeased expressions, but Lucius himself didn't much care.
"Since you can no longer sit still, then begin acting according to your heart's desire! The Black Bulls have already arrived in the Land of the Sun - go and eliminate them.
Whether it's Asta who manipulates anti-magic or Charles who doesn't belong to this world, they are all targets that must be eliminated. This is also a rehearsal for the true Judgment Day!"
The numerous Holy Knights knelt on one knee together, respectfully receiving Lucius's command. Only the man who had spoken first showed a wild expression and casually threw down his wine jug, "Now that's more like it!"
...
On the other side, Charles was observing Asta's training.
Calling it training, it was actually just Asta being beaten up by the Seven Dragon Zen Warriors in turns.
The opponents Asta had faced before mainly used magic as their primary attack method, which was why his anti-magic could be invincible.
But the Land of the Sun's sorcerers focused more on physical techniques and swordsmanship training, perfectly avoiding anti-magic's restraint.
That day, Ryudo Ryuya had told the Black Bulls many things, including advanced techniques related to the ki that Yami had mentioned.
In the Land of the Sun, the technique of mobilizing ki throughout the entire body through complete concentration and driving magic power beyond its limits was called "Zetten."
Zetten was highly difficult - in the entire Land of the Sun, only the Seven Dragon Zen Warriors had mastered such techniques.
Charles couldn't help but be somewhat surprised. After he had taught Ikki Kurogane ki techniques in Academy City, Ikki had combined it with his own Ittou Shura ability to develop the same technique.
Worthy of being a protagonist who could even steal [Trackless Step] swordsmanship - to be able to develop techniques secretly transmitted by another world's nation on his own.
And from Ikki Kurogane, Charles had also learned this technique. In all battles up to now, Charles had been using this ability to burst out with such strong power.
Ryudo Ryuya also praised Charles for mastering Zetten without guidance from the Land of the Sun, then proposed having Asta train in Zetten.
Because Ryudo Ryuya, who had been watching everything across the ocean, also knew how important anti-magic was for the coming battle. The stronger Asta became, the more advantages they could gain in the upcoming war.
Charles wasn't arrogant enough to think he alone could resolve all battles, so he naturally agreed with Asta's training plan. Then Asta's days of suffering began.
Actually, Asta already had the foundation for Zetten. After learning ki from Yami, that had always been Asta's most relied-upon ability besides anti-magic.
His Black Mode was formed by using ki to draw anti-magic into his own body.
So the most difficult barrier in training Zetten - sensing and controlling ki - Asta had actually already crossed.
But having said that, being able to use Zetten in the heat of battle wasn't so simple.
And there were no shortcuts to completely mastering Zetten - one could only continuously fight opponents who had mastered Zetten and personally experience that power.
Asta was actually performing quite well. This past month he hadn't relaxed, continuously following Charles's guidance in swordsmanship training.
Although he still couldn't match the Seven Dragon Zen Warriors in technique, who had been training as warriors since childhood, he fought quite decently. Even Yami Ichika, who found him quite disagreeable, couldn't say anything disparaging.
Although the process was painful, Asta himself enjoyed it.
After mastering devil assimilation, Asta had pessimistically felt he couldn't continue getting stronger. After all, anti-magic was a special existence that couldn't have a clear strengthening path like normal magic.
Learning swordsmanship from Charles had been Asta's only choice then. But Asta himself understood that swordsmanship also had limits - he seemed to only be able to stagnate.
But Zetten opened another path for Asta. Knowing he could continue growing stronger, how could Asta have time to complain about hardship and exhaustion?
Speaking of Yami Ichika, she had ultimately lost track of Yami and wanted to commit seppuku to apologize to Ryudo Ryuya for abandoning her duties during battle upon returning.
Yami Ichika was really completely different from her brother - quite a serious person!
After being stopped by Ryudo Ryuya, Yami Ichika didn't shout and attack the Black Bulls members, but her attitude wasn't particularly good either.
But everyone who knew the reason said nothing. Bearing sins was their captain's decision - they wouldn't presumptuously jump out to interfere.
Charles stretched and watched Asta get slashed away by Yami Ichika again, then moved and left.
On a hillside some distance from the training ground, Charles lightly landed on the ground.
"I say, Captain Yami, are you planning to continue like this?"
Yami, lying on the ground, removed the leaf covering his eyes and said, "I hid this far away and you still found me!"
Charles said, "Captain Yami hid his ki and magic power very well, but my sense of smell is also quite keen. Due to wind direction, I found your location! So don't worry - the others probably haven't noticed."
Yami sniffed his own arm, "Smell? I'm quite clean - what smell is there?"
Charles sighed, "Please don't change the subject. You've finally returned to your hometown - don't you want to settle things with the past?"
Yami pursed his lips, "Forget it. Just thinking about it is incredibly troublesome. Anyway, after defeating Lucius, I'll return to the Clover Kingdom with you idiots. That's fine - nothing wrong with it."
Charles sighed. Indeed, even Yami inevitably became indecisive when it came to his own matters.
But since it was Yami's own choice, Charles wouldn't say more.
Just then, Yami suddenly jumped up, reaching directly for his sword hilt.
Charles also sensed that rapidly approaching powerful magic power and hostile aura, looking over with a serious expression.
In the distance, black mist spread over as a rough, sturdy figure charged over carrying rolling black energy.
The newcomer gave a very strange feeling. His body and even the clothes he wore were pearly white, full of sacred feeling.
But devil-like large horns grew on his head, and bloody black energy surged around him like a demon god crawling out of hell.
Even more discordant was the angel-like halo above his head.
This power was identical to what Lucius had demonstrated before - it could be confirmed this was his doing.
"Hahahaha! We meet again, Sukehiro!"
The newcomer stopped before Yami, shouldering a sword and shouting at Yami with a frenzied voice. He seemed to be an acquaintance.
Yami's perpetually lazy dead fish eyes suddenly became alert, his entire aura completely different.
"Damn old man, you've been dead for so many years and still won't peacefully crawl out of your grave? Please, dead people should rest in peace - I'll remember to sweep your tomb on time, okay!"
The newcomer was precisely Yami's father, the former Yami clan leader.
The man glared and said, "What kind of joke is that? Who would weakly keep sleeping forever? I... have now become a true demon god!
Come, let me see how much stronger you've become over these years."
Yami frowned and said, "Charles, this should be that bastard Lucius's doing again. To actually be able to resurrect the dead - he really can pull it off!
The enemy probably isn't just my dead old man. You go to everyone's side - I'll handle this guy. After all, this is a family conflict. I couldn't stop this guy before, but this time I definitely won't let him do wrong again!"
Charles also sensed several magic powers invading the camp in the distance. He nodded and flew back.
Behind him, Yami was already crossing blades with his father.
Charles couldn't help but feel a headache. Ever since coming to the Land of the Sun, why did everything feel wrong? He always felt things seemed familiar.
So this place was written as Land of the Sun but read as Ninja World, right! How did they even bring out things like Impure World Reincarnation? You, Lucius, are also a dream fulfillment master, huh!