A letter from the Wizard King

The forest outside Black Bulls base:

Today was one of those days when the Black Bulls members had mock battles against Julian, who was the strongest of them all.

Luck, Magna, Vanessa, Charmy, Gauche, and Finral were among those who took part in the battle.

But something was different about Julian today, as his body was covered in black lightning instead of his usual red flames.

Julian was currently in [spirit dive mode], and he was only fighting with Lightning Magic to increase its mastery.

Boom!

A bolt of black lightning struck Luck, sending him crashing to the ground.

"Keep your momentum in check, Luck"

Luck was moved out of the way by fire strings as Julian kicked the area.

Magna, who used the mana strings to move Luck, was hit with a lightning Slash that broke through the firewall he created.

Kagune flared behind him, severing all the purple strings that were attempting to bind him.

"Vanessa, use your strings before I take a stance."

He vanished in an instant and reappeared behind Vanessa, his finger pointing at her neck.

"You will die if you stand too close to your opponent."

The space around Vanessa rippled as she disappeared from her place.

"Good call, Finral, but pick up the pace."

He crossed his arms as Luck's legs brushed against his.

His Kagune, which was made of black lightning, instantly expanded and attacked Magna, who was attacking him from behind.

"Don't fight a Lightning Mage in close combat, Magna..

You have fire magic, use that to make lightning and fire react to create explosions. "

Both Luck and Julian became a blur as black lightning and blue lighting clashed in close combat.

Luck used a spell that Julian created some distance to block.

[Mirror Magic: Lazer concentrator]

In that instant a lot of mirrors formed around Julian releasing purple beams at him.

Julian rotated his body releasing sharp blades of lightning destroying all the mirrors and dodging most of the beams.

"Condense your beams more Gauche and make sure not to position near the enemy.

A lot of your beams are off the target. Try to improve that"

Lighting clacked in Julian's legs releasing a sound like the chirping of a thousand birds.

[Lighting Spirit Magic: Chidori stream]

Hundred-meter area around him was assaulted by a wave of lightning as the Sheep that tried to form got destroyed immediately.

"Charmy your sheeps have high physical power and good restrain against lightning magic but they are useless if they are destroyed before they can complete their form.

You need to increase the speed at which they are formed or display power at an incomplete state."

The fight continued as Julian pulled out new moves each minute like moving walls of thunder, thunderbolts that followed the target till the end, whips of lightning that caused mass destruction, and spikes of lightning coming out of the gourd that could create countless holes in one's body.

Even Luck as a lightning Mage since birth felt inferior to Julian who just started using Lightning Magic.

Asta could not even interfere in the fight as it was going too fast for him.

Each second he saw the Black Bulls members fight, his blood boiled with excitement and desire to surpass their power.

The same could not be said for Noelle.

As long as she was aware of the Black Bulls, she had looked down on the Black Bulls as the weakest squad but her perception changed drastically over the past few months.

Every member was a monster.

Today's match was one such instance that made her realize how weak she was in comparison to the other Black Bulls members.

Even Gordon whom she considered the weakest member had the power to eliminate a large group of people within seconds with his poison magic.

Finally, Julian..she had no words for him.

Although she had only seen once how a captain fights when she saw a mock battle between Yami and Julian. She was pretty sure that Julian could already rival a captain at an age of 17.

If the power he already had was not enough, he now acquired an ominous Black Lightning making him so fast that her eyes cannot follow him anymore.

One the other hand she was glad that Julian was teaching her to become a warrior. The things she had learned in the last few months under Julian surpassed everything that she had learned regarding Magic her entire life.

*********

The sky above the Black Bull's space rippled as two owls came out of it with letters in their mouth. One letter fell towards Julian while the other went inside the base.

Julian immediately asked everyone to stop attacking as he looked at the letter.

Julian froze seeing the insignia on the letter as he knew his peaceful time was coming to an end.

"Today's battle ends here, " Julian said as he entered the base.

It's been a few days since Julian helped in the mission with Fanzell.

He has been training with Kirin to master Spirit dive and he can proudly say that he mastered lightning magic to a satisfactory level.

At first, he could not use his fire magic during spirit dive but now after multiple trials, he can use both magic simultaneously.

But he hasn't reached the level of mastery where he could combine both the magic types.

Julian was in a good mood due to all the improvements but his peace was now gone.

Julian opened the letter which was from the Wizard King that contained details of a mission that required captain-level powers.

Clair, a member of the Blue Rose, was one of the main spies stationed at the Diamond Kingdom.

It's been a week since The magic knights last heard from her.

Not only that, more of the spies have stopped contacting which is a problem.

By the tone of the letter, the matter appeared to be quite serious.

"Oo?! Prickly queen has personally asked you for the mission "Yami said, snatching the letter from Julian.

Julain was not surprised to hear that Charlotte asked for him for the mission.

She was around when he had his first dungeon exploration, mission accomplishments were read out, and when he confronted the captains and the fight in the capital that made her more aware of his powers.

There was also the fact that Charlotte trusted Yami a lot which transferred to his squad too.

"Your mission will comprise the following things.

First, assess the current situation of the Diamond Kingdom.

Second, based on the last location provided to you, try to locate our people.

Verify their status and bring them back.

The maximum time limit of this mission is three weeks after which you must return.

You can form a team with other members of the Black Bulls but make sure to take someone who is good at stealth.

You must not cause too much commotion, remember that.

Good luck Julian "

Yami read out the rest of the letter

"Didn't you get the same letter?" Julian asked.

"Mine is different. I would have joined you in this mission but I am needed somewhere else along with Charlotte"

Noelle, Vannesa, Gordon, and Gauche understood the difficulty and the seriousness of the mission so they didn't volunteer for it.

Charmy was strong but her personality was not made for missions like this.

Asta raised his hand excitedly as he wanted to go on this mission.

"You are too weak for this brat…

First, defeat Luck or Magna in a fight before thinking about missions as this" Yami said.

Asta was disappointed but agreed with Yami's statement.

Although he was getting stronger at a rapid rate.

"" That means we can go?"" both Luck and Magna asked simultaneously.

"No, I am sending you two to a different mission that will take at least a week "

Yami's eyes gaze on all the members till they stopped on two people making one of them flinch.

"Julian, take Secre and Finral with you, others are not made for it," Yami said.

"No No No! I will not go, the people from Diamond Kindom will skin me alive !!" Finral yelled.

"Stop whining and grow some balls.

If you don't go I will skin you alive myself before they can do that. "

Secre's ability to transform into a bird and Sealing Magic perfectly matched this stealth mission.

Finral's spatial magic was the best way to leave as soon as the mission was done or escape tricky situations.

Yami was not worried about Julian as his power and the lightning spirit Kirin were enough to deal with anyone he is aware of in the Diamond Kingdom if things go wrong.

" You knew about the spy situation, didn't you? "Julian asked.

" You agreeing to help Fanzell and the time of losing contact exactly matches" he added.

" I knew about it, but Julius wanted to wait for a few days more before taking action. "Yami said.

Now go to him and ask the safest route to the Diamond Kingdom…and do what Julius wants.

And don't die. "

*********

While Julian left the room with Charmy to prepare rations for the missions and Finral to mentally prepare himself, Vanessa stayed with Yami.

"Why don't you call Asta by his name while you call everyone by their first name basis ?" Vanessa asked.

"Because it is not the right time for someone carrying the dream of becoming the Wizard King.

It is a position that is earned by gaining everyone's acknowledgment.

Gaining my acknowledgment this early will gave a negative effect on his growth.

Asta is different from Julian who has a different dream and doesn't care if people acknowledge it or not.

The day I feel like Asta has that conviction and determination that I deem worthy of the Wizard King, I will give him my acknowledgment.

Not acknowledging doesn't mean I don't think Asta any less.

All of you are a family to me….and our bond is something that will make us keep going"

Today was a rare occasion that Yami was willing to share his emotions.

"~Does that mean you acknowledge me?

That's so sweet of you~" Vanessa said in a flirtatious tone.

"Don't let your imagination run wild…

Not needing anyone's approval to live your life as you wish and be happy is enough to show that you have grown.

For that I am proud of you Vanessa " Yami said making Vanessa have a bright smile.

Luck and Magna who was just by the door hearing the conversation smiled too hearing what Yami said.

******

With all the preparations done, Finral created a portal to a certain town in the common realm.

"Are you sure he will give us the information we need ?" Finral asked.

"If he doesn't I will make him"

Julian knocked on the door as Secre drew a silencing seal on the door.

The door opened and Fanzell greeted some surprisingly with all his clothes on.

"Oh? It's you guys…." Fanzell said with a smile and asked them to come inside.

"You should have informed me first if you were coming to visit. Mariella and Code just left a few moments ago for some work "

"It's okay, we only have business with you, " Julian said.

"What do you mean by that?"

"I am going to the Diamond Kingdom, I need the safest way to enter without getting detected "

Fanzel's pupils shrank hearing what Julian said.

"You want me to sell out information about my kingdom ?"

"Yes, use this as the favor you owed to captain Yami"

Fanzel knew he could not refuse Julian. With his years of experience and from the information he got about Julian, he knew that refusing him was not an option.

Fanzel sighed and took out a map of the Diamond Kingdom.

"Fine…I will give you the information I know. Don't expect too much because I was just an instructor and soldier under command."

He marked some locations on the border of the Diamond Kingdom where the security was the least but it was for the reason that there were high-tier mana beasts present there.

Finral at first got terrified hearing that but then he remembered that Julian was with him so would be safe.

Unlike Yami, Julian would not put others in danger so he was the safest with him.

"Do you know where the prisoners are kept? I need to find the spies who are most probably captured" Julian asked.

"Are you sure you want to tell me about the mission details ?"

"You know the consequences of betraying me right, " Julian said looking at Fanzel sending a chill down his spine.

"I know…I know.

I don't know about that as it was not given to people in our ranks.

This information can be found with the old or new shining generals.

Unlike the Magic knights system of the Clover Kingdom, the army of Diamond nation has no fixed squad.

The shining Generals are people who are at the top of the army with their power and can use the army as they please.

I have given you a general overview of the stuff, you need to ask a general for more information"

"Ah, I remember meeting your comrades Lotus and Mars on a mission. "

Fanzel became a bit gloomy after hearing the name Mars.

"I might meet them in the mission, should I give them any message if I meet them? "

"Don't mention anything to Lotus.

If you meet Mars…and he shows human emotions… just tell him to keep living and use the incidents of the past to keep moving forward.

I know it's not my position to say anything but since I was once a citizen of the Diamond Kingdom.

Please keep the casualties to a minimum…"