Morning had barely begun at the Black Bulls' hideout, and somehow, the headquarters was already descending into complete chaos.

Inside the common room, Asta was furiously doing push-ups on the wooden floor, his voice echoing throughout the entire building.

"ONE HUNDRED! ONE HUNDRED AND ONE! I'M GOING TO BECOME THE WIZARD KING!"

"BAKA ASTA! DO YOU HAVE TO SHOUT SO EARLY IN THE MORNING?!" Noelle Silva snapped, her eye twitching with irritation as she covered her ears. "Some of us are trying to enjoy a peaceful morning!"

"HAHAHAHA! COME ON, ASTA! BET YOU CAN'T DO A THOUSAND!" Luck Voltia encouraged him enthusiastically, practically vibrating with excitement at the prospect of turning an ordinary morning into another competition.

"That reminds me," Magna Swing began, leaning back in his chair beside Luck. "Remember that time we—"

"WHICH TIME?! THE TIME WE BLEW UP THE TRAINING GROUNDS OR THE TIME YOU GOT LAUNCHED THROUGH THREE WALLS?!" Luck interrupted, grinning from ear to ear.

"HEY! I WASN'T FINISHED TALKING, YOU PSYCHO!"

At the dining table, Charmy Pappitson was entirely absorbed in a mountain of cake, her cheeks puffed out as she shoveled another generous bite into her mouth. Vanessa Enoteca lounged nearby, nursing her drink while watching the tiny glutton with an amused smile.

"Charmy, darling, it's only seven in the morning. Where do you even put all that food?"

"FOOD IS THE MEANING OF LIFE!" Charmy declared through a mouthful of cake.

"Well, I can't argue with that." Vanessa chuckled, taking another sip of her drink.

In a shadowy corner, Zora Ideale sat with his boots propped up on a nearby stool, observing the spectacle with his usual unimpressed expression.

"What a bunch of idiots. And it's not even lunchtime yet."

Not too far away, Gordon Agrippa sat perfectly still, his pale face wearing its usual eerie smile. He watched the others with the quiet enthusiasm of someone who desperately wanted to join the conversation but had no idea how.

"I... I hope everyone has a wonderful morning..." he whispered.

Nobody heard him.

Meanwhile, somewhere deeper inside the headquarters, the unmistakable sound of a toilet flushing echoed down the hallway.

"BAHAHAHA! YOU BRATS ARE TOO DAMN LOUD!" Yami Sukehiro's voice boomed from the bathroom.

The captain of the Black Bulls was currently sitting on the toilet, casually smoking a cigarette as though he had absolutely no responsibilities whatsoever.

"CAPTAIN! YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO SMOKE IN THERE!" Noelle shouted toward the hallway.

"SHUT UP! I'M TAKING A DUMP!"

Silence followed for approximately two seconds.

Then Asta resumed his shouting.

"ONE HUNDRED AND TWO!"

"BAKA ASTA!"

And just like that, the chaos continued.

Outside the Black Bulls' hideout, {{sub}} approached the entrance.

Even from several steps away, {{sub}} could already hear the commotion coming from inside. Shouting, arguing, laughter, and what sounded suspiciously like someone threatening to destroy the furniture filled the air.

{{sub}} paused before the entrance, looking up at the peculiar structure of the Black Bulls' headquarters. The building was an architectural nightmare in its own right, its strange shape and uneven features making it look less like a respectable Magic Knights' base and more like something assembled by a drunk carpenter with a grudge against geometry.

And this was where the infamous Black Bulls lived.

{{sub}} glanced toward the entrance, hearing another furious shout from within.

"ASTA! IF YOU BREAK THAT FLOOR, I'M GOING TO FREEZE YOUR ENTIRE BODY!"

"YOU CAN TRY, NOELLE!"

Something crashed.

"WHO BROKE MY CHAIR?!" Magna roared.

{{sub}} stood there for a moment, hand hovering near the door.

Whatever expectations {{sub}} might have had about the Black Bulls, they were already beginning to crumble.

{{sub}} took a breath and reached for the door handle, preparing to step into what could only be described as the most dysfunctional Magic Knights' squad in the Clover Kingdom.

The door was just about to open.

The day of the Royal Knights Selection Exam had finally arrived.

For the past two weeks, {{sub}} had been a member of the Black Bulls. Two weeks of living in their chaotic headquarters, enduring their bizarre habits, and occasionally witnessing things that made {{obj}} question whether this squad was truly part of the Clover Kingdom's prestigious Magic Knights.

Yet, despite spending fourteen days among them, {{poss}} fellow squad members still hadn't fully figured {{obj}} out. {{poss}} abilities, {{poss}} fighting style, and even the true extent of {{poss}} magic remained something of a mystery.

And apparently, Captain Yami Sukehiro had decided that was reason enough to make things interesting.

"Oi, listen up, you idiots!" Yami announced the previous evening, standing in the common room with his usual cigarette hanging from his mouth. "I've entered our newcomer into the Royal Knights Selection Exam. They're taking Charmy's place in the lineup."

"HUH?!" Noelle's head snapped toward him.

"YOU CAN'T JUST DO THAT WITHOUT TELLING US, CAPTAIN!" Finral protested.

"WHY NOT?" Yami replied, looking utterly unconcerned. "I made the decision. Got a problem with it?"

Luck immediately leaned forward, his eyes sparkling.

"Hey, hey! I've barely seen what our new teammate can do! This is gonna be exciting! Do you think they'll be strong? I hope they're strong!"

"BAKA! THIS ISN'T THE TIME TO GET EXCITED!" Noelle shouted at him.

Meanwhile, Charmy simply continued eating a piece of cake.

"That's fine with me! More time to concentrate on food!" she declared cheerfully, apparently the only person who had no objections whatsoever.

Zora, lounging against the wall, let out a quiet snort.

"Two weeks in this circus and the captain already throws you into a tournament. Either he sees something useful in you, or he's just bored."

"Probably both," Vanessa remarked with a lazy grin.

Yami merely smirked.

"Guess we'll find out."

Now, the morning sun illuminated the Royal Capital's grand tournament grounds.

Thousands of spectators filled the stands, their excited voices rolling across the enormous arena. Several battlefields had been prepared, each equipped with a crystal that the competing teams would have to defend or destroy. The rules were straightforward: teams of three would face one another, and victory would be determined by the destruction of the opposing team's crystal.

Magic Knights from across the Clover Kingdom had gathered to prove their worth. Golden Dawn, Silver Eagles, Crimson Lion Kings, Blue Rose Knights, Coral Peacocks, Green Praying Mantises, and the other squads were all represented.

Among the crowd of competitors stood the Black Bulls.

"Man, look at all these people!" Asta exclaimed, practically bouncing on his heels. "THIS IS OUR CHANCE TO SHOW EVERYONE HOW AMAZING THE BLACK BULLS ARE!"

"Would you shut up for five seconds?!" Noelle snapped, adjusting her gloves.

"HAHAHA! I CAN'T WAIT TO FIGHT!" Luck grinned, electricity crackling faintly around his fingers.

"Just don't destroy everything before our match," Magna muttered.

Finral, meanwhile, looked as though he was already regretting every decision that had brought him here.

"I have a terrible feeling about today..."

"That's because you have a terrible feeling about everything," Vanessa teased.

Charmy stood nearby, happily munching on snacks she'd somehow managed to bring into the tournament grounds.

"Do your best! And remember, whoever wins should bring me something delicious!"

Zora stood slightly apart from the group, his arms crossed as he surveyed the opposing teams.

"Try not to embarrass yourselves. I'd hate to be associated with a bunch of amateurs."

Despite the usual bickering, there was a noticeable difference today. The Black Bulls were about to compete on one of the kingdom's biggest stages, and their newest member—the person who had joined only two weeks ago—was now part of their official lineup.

And none of them truly knew what to expect.

Suddenly, the crowd erupted into cheers.

At the center of the grand viewing platform, Wizard King Julius Novachrono stepped forward, wearing his familiar bright smile. He raised one hand and waved enthusiastically to the gathered Magic Knights and spectators.

"GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE!"

His cheerful voice carried across the arena through the amplification of magic.

"Today is a wonderful opportunity for our Magic Knights to demonstrate their strength, ingenuity, and determination! Every one of you has worked hard to reach this point, and I look forward to seeing the incredible things you'll accomplish!"

Julius's eyes practically sparkled with excitement.

"Magic comes in so many fascinating forms! I can't wait to see how you all use yours in battle! So, everyone, give it your very best!"

The audience responded with thunderous applause.

Nearby, Marx Francois stood with his usual strained expression, already anticipating the paperwork that would inevitably follow.

The Magic Knight captains occupied their own section of the viewing platform, watching the competitors with varying degrees of interest.

William Vangeance observed the arena in silence, his expression calm beneath his mask. Fuegoleon Vermillion stood upright with dignified composure, carefully assessing the contestants. Nozel Silva watched with his usual cold stare, while Charlotte Roselei maintained her reserved posture.

Jack the Ripper grinned like a man hoping someone would get cut in half. Dorothy Unsworth appeared half-asleep, and Rill Boismortier was practically vibrating with excitement at the prospect of witnessing spectacular magic.

And at the edge of the platform, Yami Sukehiro stood with his hands in his pockets, looking thoroughly unconcerned.

"Oi, Yami," another captain remarked, glancing toward the Black Bulls' lineup. "I see you've brought someone new."

"Yeah." Yami took a drag from his cigarette. "Joined us two weeks ago."

"Two weeks?" The captain raised an eyebrow. "And you've already put them into the selection exam?"

"Heh." Yami exhaled a thin stream of smoke. "I've got my reasons."

He glanced down toward the arena, his gaze briefly settling on {{obj}}.

"Besides, what's the point of having a new teammate if you never find out what they can do?"

Below, Julius clasped his hands together, still smiling.

"Now, then! Let the Royal Knights Selection Exam begin!"

The announcer began calling out the teams for the opening matches. Competitors moved toward their assigned battlefields, some exchanging confident smirks, others looking tense as they prepared their spells.

The Black Bulls gathered together for one last moment before the matches began.

"All right, everyone!" Asta declared, raising his fist. "LET'S SHOW THEM WHAT WE'RE MADE OF!"

"You're going to lose your voice before the first match even starts, Baka Asta," Noelle muttered.

Luck turned toward {{obj}} with an eager grin.

"Hey! I hope we're on the same team! I really want to see what you can do!"

"Don't get too carried away," Zora said, casting {{obj}} a sideways glance. "We still don't know what our mysterious newcomer is capable of."

Yami's voice suddenly called down from the viewing platform.

"Oi! Don't disappoint me out there!"

The first competitors began taking their positions.

The Royal Knights Selection Exam was underway, and for the first time since joining the Black Bulls, {{sub}} was about to fight alongside—or against—some of the strongest young Magic Knights in the Clover Kingdom.

The question was no longer whether {{sub}} belonged among them.

It was what {{sub}} was going to show them.

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