"Did someone die?"
"It seems to be a boy named Sekai. What a pity, to die from a blocked blood vessel due to extreme excitement right after being selected by a Magic Knight Squad."
The examinees looked at the spot where Sekai had collapsed with sighs. It was hard to imagine that death could be so close to them!
A boy as young as them had passed away like a candle in the wind; it was hard not to feel a sense of sorrow.
"It's been a long time since someone died at an examination site. But dying here is better than becoming an anonymous corpse on the battlefield."
Yami calmly blew out a smoke ring. He had been to the battlefield, and having seen life and death, he had inevitably become numb to certain things. He also knew better that as a member of a Magic Knight Squad, besides enjoying the glory, one had to bear the resolve to die for the citizens at any time!
Therefore, someone who cannot look past life and death will never become a competent Magic Knight. This is why people are cleared out of the Magic Knight Squads every year!
"Asta!"
Before leaving with the Golden Dawn, Yuno came to Asta's side. In his eyes, besides fighting spirit, there was a trace of nervousness and reluctance. This was the first time they had been separated since they were born!
"Oh! Let's go, Yuno!"
Asta patted Yuno's shoulder and then left with a carefree back. Although he didn't say any words of comfort, Yuno's gaze gradually became firm.
"Asta, let's strive toward becoming the Magic Emperor together!"
At this moment, Yuno was no longer afraid of the unknown. He walked firmly toward the Golden Dawn; his future lay there!
"Kid, when we get to the squad, you'll know what kind of horrific treatment awaits you!"
Yami said suddenly.
"Heh, no one has told me ghost stories since I was three, because smart people know they can't scare me, and only idiots would keep trying."
Asta rolled his eyes. Since he joined the team, Yami had been tirelessly trying to intimidate him. Did he really take him for a little kid?
"Are you calling me an idiot?"
Yami's face darkened.
"Did I?"
Asta said, looking at Finral.
"Captain, calm! Calm down! This is the only combat genius recruited into our squad. Although he's a bit cheeky, if you break him, he's gone!"
Finral hurriedly hugged Yami, fearing that if he let go, he would never see Asta again.
"Damn it! Wait until we get back, and I'll let you experience what despair is!"
Yami roared, then had Finral use spatial transportation magic. Everyone walked into the magic circle one after another, and as their field of vision shifted, they arrived in front of a remote castle.
Actually, calling it a castle was being generous to this bizarre-looking structure; it looked more like a house cobbled together!
"How about it? It's quite impressive, isn't it!"
Yami said proudly.
"This terrible living environment has truly let me experience what a horrific building is. Can I quit?"
Asta teased.
"This dilapidated headquarters is really not good enough for you, you brat!"
Yami finally got his wish and saw the look of regret on Asta's face, but the reason was truly annoying!
"Forget it. I wonder if there are any beauties in the squad? If not, I'll apply to leave immediately!"
Asta activated his heart-stabbing combo mode, determined to let Yami experience what real roasting is!
"I think you want to die!"
Yami was so angry that flames almost shot out of his nostrils. What kind of member had he recruited? If it weren't for his good temper, this newly joined member would have become a corpse in minutes!
But the key question was, why did he still think this kid was quite interesting? Was he beyond saving?
Seeing this, Finral immediately rushed out to be a peacemaker. "There are, there are! We have a top-notch little loli in our squad whose voice is sweet as sugar, and an older sister who wears a bikini all the time—her figure is amazing!"
"There really are!"
Asta's eyes lit up. He had originally just been trying to annoy Yami, but he hadn't expected the squad to really have some eye candy. He had to take a good look!
Asta couldn't wait to get to the door. Just as he was about to open it, he suddenly sensed a wave of scorching heat rushing toward him!
"What the hell!"
Asta instantly drew his demon-slayer sword and split the door in two with a single strike. The fireball that had been flying behind the door was also split by him. However, the battle inside the room didn't stop because of his appearance; everyone was still doing their own thing!
He saw a punk-looking guy with glasses and a blonde boy wearing lightning boots, darting around the hall, fighting intensely. The fireball from earlier had clearly been fired by the punk; it didn't seem to be aimed at him.
Asta also noticed the two beauties Finral had mentioned. One was a Little Girl sitting at the dining table stuffing herself with all kinds of sweets. Judging by her age, she was indeed a loli, and Finral hadn't lied to him—this Little Girl's voice was definitely sweet, because after stuffing herself with so many sweets, even a husky howling would sound sweet!
However, that chubby ball of a girl didn't really fit the image of a delicate, easy-to-push-over loli, though if you looked closely, her features were quite exquisite.
As for the other older sister wearing a bikini, her figure was indeed curvy, but with that messy chestnut hair and the smell of alcohol all over her, was she sure she wasn't an older, problematic woman rather than an older sister? But looking closely, her features were also quite exquisite.
But the female members were considered the good ones; the male members were only going to be worse!
For example, what the hell was that guy who looked like a temple guardian statue stuck by the fireplace acting as a door god? And what kind of psychological distortion was that weathered young man holding a stack of Little Girl photos and drooling?
"What a bunch of legendary teammates!"
Even though Asta was used to weirdos, he couldn't help but complain at this moment. This team was truly a hodgepodge of problematic men and women, a gathering of all sorts of weirdos!!
"They're still fighting."
Finral marveled at their vitality; they had really been fighting since they left until now, and the entire hall had been beaten into a mess.
"It really makes me furious whenever I see them damaging public property!"
Yami's face darkened, and a terrifying black aura spread out. The muscles on his right arm coiled like dragons, as if waiting for a thunderous strike at any moment!
"Captain, stay calm! They only broke the doors and windows; if you throw that punch, half the wall will be gone!"
Finral sensed something was wrong and hurriedly grabbed Yami's fist, because in his experience, whenever the captain told others not to damage public property, he was often the one who destroyed the most!
"Everyone, stop!"
Yami ignored the scrawny Finral next to his fist and punched the wall behind him, taking the terrified Finral with him.
"Boom!"
Finral flew out, combined with the wall.
"He shouldn't be dead, right?"
Asta looked at the shattered wall. He didn't know if Finral was dead or not, but this house definitely couldn't be lived in anymore!
"Captain?"
"The Captain is back!"
The few members who were fighting non-stop finally noticed Yami and the others, and then rushed over with unusual enthusiasm, as obedient as pet kittens—they were completely different from how they had been baring their fangs just moments ago!
"Captain, did anyone dare to be disrespectful to you? If so, I'll go and turn him into a eunuch!"
The punk with glasses said viciously.
"Captain, have a drink with me tonight!"
The bikini beauty opened her arms. Her face was flushed, her chest was flushed, and her fair skin was even more alluring from the slight tipsiness of the alcohol.
"Do you want to eat this snack? It's super delicious!"
The black-haired little loli reluctantly gave Yami half of her snack.
"Hahaha, you all really like me! But—so annoying!"
Yami was grinning one second, and the next second his face immediately darkened. This skill of changing faces was practically inherited from Peking Opera and had already reached its peak.
"Sorry!"
The members who were competing for favor immediately sat on the ground obediently. This left Asta speechless; were these his future legendary teammates?
"Now, let's talk business. I've brought back another new recruit. Introduce yourself."
Yami pointed at Asta casually.
"Hage Village, Asta, Ability: Anti-Magic."
Asta felt there was nothing much to introduce, so he just stated the name of his Village and his own name.
"That's it?"
The little loli looked at Asta cutely. She had originally expected him to say more, but after saying those few words, Asta had retreated back to his spot.
"That's an unusually brief introduction, but it happened to state the most important things."
The bikini beauty looked at Asta with interest. He really was a handsome young man.
"Brat, would it kill you to say a few more words!"
The punk with glasses said unhappily.
"I like this kind of introduction. Finral, why don't you introduce the squad members?"
Yami scanned the room with his peripheral vision, but it seemed he didn't see Finral. "Where did Finral go?"
"Captain, Finral was just knocked out by you."
Gordon said in a weak voice. It was fortunate that Asta's ears were sharp, otherwise he really wouldn't have heard him.
"Then, Magna, you do it. Remember, keep it brief!"
Yami looked at the bespectacled delinquent and said.
"Mission accepted, Captain! Let's start with me. I am Magna, and for the rest, you just need to know that I am your senior, and you must maintain respect at all times!"
Magna finished his self-introduction, then pointed at the beauty in the bikini and said with a look of disgust: "This is Vanessa. For the rest, you just need to know she's a shameless drunkard!"
"Dare to call me shameless? You virgin pervert!"
Vanessa retorted.
"Who, who are you calling a virgin?!"
Magna reacted as if someone had poked him in the spine; he couldn't stay calm for a second.
Watching the two about to start an argument, Yami suddenly growled: "You two aren't taking my words to heart, are you?"
"Sorry, Captain Yami!"
Magna immediately cowered, glared at Vanessa, and then continued introducing: "This little one is Charmy. You just need to know she likes to eat. The guy with dark circles next to the Captain is Gordon. He's a man even I don't know much about!"
"You're the little one!"
Charmy secretly swore that next time, she wouldn't give Magna any snacks!
"Is my presence really that low..."
Gordon felt a faint sadness; he thought he was getting along with everyone!
"It's my turn to be introduced, right, Magna!"
The blonde youth who had been wearing lightning boots said excitedly.
"Oh, this guy is Luck. For the rest, you just need to know to stay away from him when you can, because he's a super annoying battle maniac."
Magna said, rolling his eyes.