"The important thing about this match isn't the result, but the process. I think you understand that, right? So, let's make it as grand as possible!" Asta said, looking at Yuno.
"As grand as possible? No problem!"
A fervent light finally appeared in Yuno's calm eyes. Perhaps to outsiders, he had found an absolute bottom-tier candidate, but in reality, only he knew just what a powerful opponent he had found!
That was a powerful existence capable of wiping out a neighboring country's bandit group single-handedly; a powerful opponent in whose eyes even an intermediate Mage was like a lamb!
Therefore, he would absolutely give it his all!
Moreover, as his only destined rival for this life, Yuno analyzed Asta's weaknesses every day!
For example, Asta's speed was the fastest he had ever seen, so he had to maintain distance during the battle. The best method was to fly into the sky the moment the match started, followed by using long-range magic to wear him down. However, as seen in the battle with the Fierce Dragon Bandit Group, that heavy sword possessed the ability to reflect magic. Therefore, the magic used couldn't be small; it had to be massive magic that couldn't be reflected. Only then could it have any effect!
"First pair of combatants, step forward!" A Mage wearing a green robe walked onto the scene and said.
Originally, many candidates wanted to be the first pair to fight because it was the opening match. Everyone was still in high spirits, and it was the best way to capture the attention of the Magic Knight Squad Captains. But now, with the two comets Asta and Yuno, no one wanted to be a killjoy and rush ahead.
"Match start!" After Asta and Yuno stood their ground, the green-robed Mage solemnly lowered his raised right hand. In that instant, everyone's hearts tightened!
"Whoosh!" Asta darted from his spot like a bolt of lightning. Chakra was frantically accumulating in his leg muscles, causing a green glow to trail behind him as he sprinted!
"This terrifying speed... is it some kind of high-speed movement magic?" The Golden Dawn Squad Captain was taken aback. This kind of speed was rare among Mages!
"No, this is simply strong physical ability!" The Black Bulls Captain looked at the bluestone floor that had shattered when Asta started his dash and said. This was the raw power of pure muscle!
While Asta was fast as lightning, Yuno, the moment the green-robed Mage said "start," immediately leaped onto his broom and took to the sky!
Although his speed was slow compared to Asta's, it was valuable for its lack of hesitation. Thus, when Asta summoned the demon-slayer sword and slashed at where Yuno had been, Yuno had already flown off the ground and continued to increase the distance until he stopped at a height of ten meters.
"Asta, I haven't been training in vain on the way to the capital!" Yuno said with a hint of pride. After all, if it had been any other Mage who didn't know how formidable Asta was, they would definitely have been wiped out by now!
"Very good. Then, for the big spectacle, I'll leave it to you!" Asta retracted the demon-slayer sword. The spot where the blade had struck suddenly cracked open, spreading in all directions like a dozen hideous earthworms!
"The power of a single sword strike actually collapsed half the exam grounds?"
"Good grief, does he want to destroy the exam grounds?!" The candidates fled in terror from the spreading cracks. With such a heavy blow, even a giant elephant would be smashed into pulp!
Yuno's eye twitched. Was this considered a small spectacle?
"Huff—hah—?" Sekai watched this scene, dumbfounded. Sweat poured down his forehead like rain. Now, he finally understood how he had been hovering on the edge of death before. With a sword strike like that, his defensive Magic Sphere of Bronze Creation Magic, which he was so proud of for wrapping his whole body like a fortress, would be completely unable to stop it!
"Such speed, combined with such a greatsword—truly interesting!" The Black Bulls Captain's eyes lit up with interest. Today's Magic Knight Squad exam had not been in vain; he had actually seen a boy who, without using magic, forced back a Mage recognized by a clover grimoire!
"Wind Magic: Tower of the Storm!" Yuno murmured while standing in mid-air. As soon as his words fell, a tornado rising from the ground rapidly took shape. This tornado grew larger and larger, and after picking up the broken stones from the ground, its destructive power increased even more!
"Such powerful magic!" The candidates were all taken aback and began to retreat. Originally, they thought that magic capable of changing weather patterns could only be performed by those powerful Magic Knight Squad members. They hadn't expected someone who was also a candidate to cast it. Although the change in weather was limited, such magic was still not something they could contend with!
However, just as everyone was still terrified by the power of this magic, another tornado of comparable scale suddenly shot up from the other side of the exam grounds!