Chapter 55: Magic Knights Entrance Ceremony.

Six months after the Grimoire Acceptance Ceremony, Asta and Yuno attend the exam and along with them, Aster, Madoka, and Koro Sensei, this was the mandated test that would give them an opportunity to enter one of the Magic Knights' squads.

While waiting for the exam to begin, numerous anti-birds flock to the venue as they pester the examinees who have low magical powers. However, Yuno stands at the venue while none of these birds try to bother him. In contrast, several birds circles around Asta as he strikes a conversation with Yuno.

The birds did not approach anywhere near Aster's group and a few whispered noticing this, while a few recognized the four-leaf grimoires on their waists, which lead to another round of murmuring. Asta then tries to escape from the anti birds' grasp by running around the venue.

Unfortunately, the anti-birds keep following him, until they notice the presence of a certain someone and fly away. Asta, on the other hand, accidentally bumps into the said someone and incurs his wrath. Their confrontation starts to gain the crowd's attention, who recognized the said someone as Yami Sukehiro, the captain of the Black Bulls. Fortunately, the exam commences before the confrontation could escalate any further.

The exam begins with the captains, revealing themselves to the examinees, and William Vangeance introduces himself as the head examiner. Subsequently, he activates a magic spell that gives each examinee a broom and explains that the first test would be flying with the use of a broom.

Soon after, the examinees start pouring their magical power into their brooms to make them levitate off the ground. Yuno, along with some others manage to master the technique instantaneously, with him flying at considerable speed while standing on his broom.

On the other hand, Asta is unable to lift off the ground at all, which confuses the examiners as well. No one had ever seen someone with a grimoire who could not use a broom, no matter how weak they were, they were at least able to leave the ground and float in the air, which Asta proved himself to be incapable of.

Aster was lying on the broom as it floated around the arena, while Madoka and Ryuji stood on their brooms like Yuno, displaying a fine control over their mana and balance. The exam then continues with the examinees performing various tasks, such as firing a blast of magic power at a wall, shooting at a moving target, creating something with magic, and pouring magic power into a seed to let it grow.

Koro Sensei and Madoka shone like the moon amidst the fireflies while Aster was simply breaking the records without even trying. The Knight Captains were all very interested in the trio and were more than eager to recruit them to their teams.

Especially Aster, who had created life-sized replicas of the Captians from ice, the sculptures looked so life-like that they looked like they were alive with a wave of his hand, and with another, they vanished into snowflakes.

Asta, on the other hand, had failed to do every task he was given, until it is finally down to the final task. The head examiner, William, then reveals that the last test will be a combat test, for which the examinees are free to choose their dueling partner.

The combat test then proceeds with the other examinees, and Yuno is challenged by a noble, Salim Hapshass, who plans to put the peasant in his place. Unfortunately, Salim is defeated seconds after the fight begins, much like the opponents that faced Aster, Koro Sensei, and Madoka.

At the end of the tests, the examiners then explain the grading process. Each examinee was called forward individually, and if any of the captains wish to induct the examinee into their squad, they will raise their hand.

If more than one captain raises their hand for an examinee, then that examinee is free to choose which squad to join. Examinees are considered to have passed the test if there is at least one captain who is willing to recruit them into their squad.

The numbers were called and the results were declared...

Number 32: Purple Orcas.

Number 78: Crimson Lions.

Number 103: Failed.

Number 132: Failed.

"Hah, I guess that's all I am worth. I better return back to the fields..." The Number 132 who stood near Asta mumbled in dejection as he left the venue.

Number 164 was called and Yuno stepped up and the crowd gasped and whispered as they saw all the captains raise their hands, the people were going nuts over it, with the Golden Dawn, that's reputed for only accepting nobles willing to accept a commoner, while the Blue Rose that rarely accepted males, were readily willing to welcome him in their ranks.

Discontent grunts were coming from the noble scions who had failed to get a spot ant yet they had the gall to stick around and look down on the others who failed the test and were not recruited by the captains.

Yuno had joined the Golden Dawn without much suspense and the ceremony continued on, number 165 was called out, and Asta stepped out.

It was an unexpected silence, no captain was willing to accept him in their ranks, and Yami broke the silence. He stood up and walked toward Asta, "Of course, no one will choose you..."

Finral's attempt to stop him was completely ignored by Yami as he walked before Asta, "even if you are really good, no one wants someone with a power they don't understand in their hands."

"As the name implies, what we look at in a Magic Knight, is *releases a horrific amount of magic power* Magic Power and you have none of it, not even a slick. Nobody here will want you because you don't have any Magic Power."

Another burst of magic power erupted that matched Yami neck to neck and Yami pushed back harder while the other did not relent a single bit. Everyone was horrified by the sheer pressure of the two giants duking it out with their Magic Power.

"Calm down Madoka, it's not worth it." A cold voice spoke smoothly as the pressure receded.

The onlookers were stunned to see the gallant figure of Madoka and the smile on Aster's handsome face. Aster sighed and continued, "accept him Sukehiro, he will be a powerhouse if you train him well, and it is something that only you can do."

"Hmm, and why should I do that?" he asked in his trademark thuggish manner.

"Touch his sword and you will know, and for what it's worth, I want to join the Bulls as well. What do you think, you up for a gamble?" Aster chuckled provocatively.

"Sure, but if that brat fails, you better be ready to work your ass off." Yami snickered and beckoned Asta to draw his sword, the moment Yami touched it, he could feel the raw weight of it and how it was draining his magic at a rapid pace. A smile appeared on Yami's face and he laughed out loud, "Good, very good, join my squad, didn't you say you wanted to be the Wizard King, show me that you can achieve what you just said."

"Well, let's continue with the results again and as for him, since he wishes to join Yami's squad, he is free to do so," William spoke and continued the show.

Number 172: Failed.

Number 184 was called and Koro Sensei walked up, again the same scene repeated all over again, all the captains had raised their hands for a plebian who had a four-leaf grimoire. Koro Sensei simply chose to join the Golden Dawn much like Yuno while the people murmured among themselves again.

Next, the number 185 was Madoka, who also got the offer from all the captains, but she chose to join the Crimson Lions.

"Hey, handsome brat, you know that girl right? why don't you get her to join us?" Yami asked as he took a drag from his cigarette.

"She is looking for the Queen of Lions, she won't be interested in your offers no matter how good they are." Aster smiled as he leaned back on the wall.

"Hoh, another interesting brat, looks like this time it's quite the catch for us all." Yami exhaled the smoke as he stood up and took a final look at the remaining contestants that went up to 200.

After the exam is over, Asta quickly rushes to the toilet. Unbeknownst to him, Sekke follows suit as he tries to take revenge for his defeat during the exam. Sekke then activates a curse spell in an attempt to harm Asta, but his plan is immediately foiled by Yuno's interference.

Sekke tries to explain himself, but Yuno manages to intimidate him enough that the former decides to leave. Subsequently, Yuno also leaves the toilet without having the last meeting with Asta, and the plot sets into motion.