The examination staff began calling out the candidates’ numbers one by one.
Each candidate was given a mere three seconds to step forward and await their verdict.
Those three seconds would determine their future in the kingdom, driving the surrounding examinations into a state of extreme anxiety.
“Candidate Number 164, step forward!”
As his number echoed across the grounds, Yuno walked calmly to the center of the ring, standing tall before the balcony.
The moment the command was given, all nine Captains raised their hands without hesitation.
Yuno declared his choice firmly: “I choose the Golden Dawn!” William Vangeance offered a warm, knowing smile as Yuno stepped down.
“Candidate Number 165, step forward!”
The atmosphere in the venue reached its peak.
Asta—who had failed every standard magic evaluation yet crushed the top candidate in direct combat—stepped forward.
He walked calmly to the center of the arena, his posture straight, showing not the slightest hint of panic.
My fate is in my own hands.
“Captains, please raise your hands!”
Up on the balcony, four Captains raised their hands with clear, calculated reasons:
Fuegoleon Vermillion: Recognized Asta’s fiery combat spirit, raw physical mastery, and absolute discipline as the core traits of a true Magic Knight.
Jack the Ripper: Was thoroughly intrigued by the anti-magic properties of the Demon-Slaying Sword and wanted to see how far raw physical slashes could go.
William Vangeance: Valued Asta’s overwhelming strategic speed, tactical awareness, and the sheer anomaly of his presence, believing he possessed hidden potential beneficial to the Kingdom.
Yami Sukehiro: Simply loved his terrifying physical strength and audacity, eager to take in an outcast who defied all standard magic logic.
Seeing three other respectable Captains raise their hands for Asta, Yami’s eyes narrowed.
Seeing the competition, Yami suddenly vaulted right over the second-floor railing and slammed heavily onto the arena floor directly in front of Asta.
Up in the Captains’ stand, Fuegoleon glanced over at Vangeance with a look that clearly asked, Should we intervene?
Vangeance didn’t utter a word.
He merely made a subtle hand gesture toward the ring—a silent if you want to try stopping him, by all means, go ahead.
Fuegoleon sighed and opted to stay put.
Down in the ring, Yami blew out a thick plume of smoke, glaring down at Asta.
“Hey, kid.
Take a hit from me.
If you beat me in pure physical strength, you can join whatever fancy squad you want.
But if you lose, you join my squad.”
Asta blinked, looking at Yami with a deadpan expression.
“Is that even allowed?”
“No, it’s not allowed,” Yami replied instantly, his expression turning downright menacing.
“You got a problem with that?”
Asta’s mind raced.
I really want to say yes, but I have a strong feeling that if I say no, I’m going to get the beating of my life right here and now.
“No, sir.
No problem at all,” Asta said quickly.
“Good.
Give me your best shot,” Yami grunted, standing his ground with his arms braced.
Asta didn’t hold back.
“First Gate: Gate of Opening…
Second Gate: Gate of Rest—OPEN!”
A surge of green chakra burst from Asta’s body.
Moving at blinding speed, he threw a full-power, heavy punch straight into Yami’s guard.
BOOM!
A concussive shockwave rippled through the air, shattering the nearby stone tiles under their feet.
Yami crossed his heavy, muscular arm to block the impact—and didn’t shift even a single millimeter from his spot.
“Heh.
Not bad,” Yami smirked, pulling his fist back.
“Now it’s my turn—”
Asta raised his hand in a flash, cutting him off with a straight face.
“I join your squad.”
Before Asta could even finish his sentence, Yami’s massive fist blasted forward, slamming into Asta and sending him flying across the arena into a pile of rubble.
BOOM!
As dust swirled around the crater, Yami blew out another ring of smoke, grinning like a demon.
“Kid…
welcome to the Black Bulls.”
Asta lay flat on his back in the cratered sand floor, staring up at the sky as the dust settled around him.
Yami strolled over, exhaling a plume of smoke as he looked down at him.
“Oi, kid.
Get up.
I held back, you know.”
Asta ignored the comment entirely, groaning as he tried to shift his shoulders.
“How did you do that…?
My whole body is hurting…
every single muscle is in pain.”
Deep down, Asta was inwardly astonished.
That kind of body-wide pain is almost the exact same feeling as opening the gates for the very first time…
How much raw physical strength does this guy have?
Yami ignored Asta’s question just as casually, waving a dismissive hand.
“Get up, kid.
Stop making a scene.”
Realizing he wasn’t going to get a straight answer, Asta had no choice but to push through the soreness, gritting his teeth as he forced himself back onto his feet.
He brushed the dust off his clothes and fell into step behind the tall Captain.
As the examination wrapped up and the candidates began preparing to depart with their respective squads, Yami glanced back over his shoulder.
“Hey, kid.
Go get some rest and meet up with me when you’re done.
I’ll be waiting.”
Asta agreed and walked over to where the Golden Dawn recruits were gathering.
Yuno was already standing there, his Four-Leaf Grimoire resting at his hip.
There was a faint trace of reluctance in Yuno’s eyes—this was the very first time they would be separated since childhood.
“Asta,” Yuno said softly as his rival approached.
Asta offered a cool smirk, giving Yuno a firm pat on the shoulder.
“Let’s go, Yuno.
Don’t fall behind just because you got into the fancy squad.”
Yuno’s gaze hardened with renewed focus, a confident smile breaking across his face.
“I won’t!
Let’s see who becomes the Wizard King first!”
With a final nod to his rival, Asta turned and headed back toward Yami, ready to take his first steps into the Black Bulls.