Chapter 8: ‘Strangers make the best of confidantes’.
A cool breeze sneaked in through the open window of Ichigo’s bedroom. Inside, lay the room’s tenant, donning a messy orange tee and dark navy-blue shorts, which were fraying on the ends.
The breeze caressed along his open forearms, marking its end blowing over the stone walls. Ichigo shivered, palms reflexively reaching over to rub against his skin. His other hand gripped a book, the latter drooping with at tilt at the loss of support.
The cover page was full of colours and intricate patterns with a large text box on its front and centre. It read, “Everything to know about Clover Kingdom.” Ichigo turned page, a marked frown gaining upon his visage. He turned another page, narrowing his eyes at the content. His speed advanced, flurrying through the pages.
Ichigo rolled his eyes, closing the book with a snap, chucking it onto the small, chestnut brown nightstand adjacent to his bed. His left arm came to rest against his forehead, sighing in disappointment.
‘If it says everything to know about Clover Kingdom, and only includes information about the Magic Knights, is that saying a worry for the book’s author or the nation itself?’ He closed his eyes.
Two days have passed since the momentous ‘meet’ with the Wizard King. His spirits’ silence, his own reluctance to discuss the matter, weighed on his mind.
He sighed again, exhaling slower in a decisive manner. Outstretching his hand, the Zanpakutō standing against the nightstand, flew towards him with a start. He deftly caught the projectile, before slowly cradling them on his lap. Closing his eyes, focusing inwards, he felt a touch, pulling him to his mindscape.
----------------------------------------
The tall skyscrapers of his inner world stood resolute against the blowing winds and dark, cloudy sky. Ichigo walked towards White and Old Man Zangetsu donning a grim face.
“What were we even expecting?” He turned his eyes away from the spirits, stopping a few paces before them. “After all, the moment I met him, it was clear that he was weaker than us.”
The Old Man gazed at Ichigo, prompting, “Gauging knowledge based on a mere power level is the equivalent of judging a book by its cover.” The tone was solemn, yet sincere.
“I’d much rather judge the book than waste precious time on it.” White butted in, glaring narrowly at his counterpart.
Ichigo shook his head. “It was our only option. The strongest man of this world has no answer to our question.” His face contorted to anger. “How in the world did we end up here?!”
“If I see Geta-Boshi again, he is dead.” Ichigo grit his teeth in vain. The word ‘if’ lingered on his tongue. His stay in this world had just been extended, indefinitely. A battle of mind and heart ensued to process the statement.
White snorted, attracting the other two’s attention. “You mean, more than he’s already?” A wide smile bloomed on his face.
Ichigo understood the veiled implication. His friends and family must have already dealt with the knuckle-headed scientist at the mention of his disappearance.
Even the Sou-Taicho, Kyōraku must have reprimanded him. Ichigo hoped for the ramifications to be some interventions or outright bans.
The Old Man interjected with a lowered voice, “While his research may be important, losing the one weapon, Soul Society possessed against the advent of Ywach, Urahara Kisuke may have been punished further than your current imagination.”
Ichigo shivered slightly at the revelation, his smile fading slightly. He did not completely blame Kisuke for his current state. The previous statement did not make his immediate death upon Ichigo’s arrival back home, any less true.
Old Man Zangetsu turned thoughtful, his eyes glazing past Ichigo.
“When the harness came slack, do you remember Kisuke’s voice, Ichigo?” The old man questioned with a hard face.
Ichigo sobered up, shaking his head thoughtfully. “I do remember a panic-filled voice, which is if I concentrate. I don’t remember much though, not that the connection was much clear in the first place.”
The old man nodded. “So, it seems. Ichigo, do you remember where you threw the harness back near Hage Village?”
Ichigo shook his head incredulously. “Why would I remember something like that?”
White stared at the two before nodding. “I think we are on the same page.”
Ichigo looked between the two with light surprise marking his features. The two spirits rarely agreed with each other. “A trip to Hage Village, then?” He voiced the common thought.
“It’ll be like running to the supermarket to get milk.” White analogized with a snide smile.
‘It’s a relief I finished my chores in the morning.’ Ichigo stepped back with a start, reality shifting back to the world.
Getting up, he rounded the room in hurried steps, quickly donning a black tee and dark green pants. He strapped Zangetsu and their holster around his waist, walking over to the singular window in the room.
Sliding back the creaking glass, he stepped out onto the pane, bright afternoon sunlight hitting his face.
He flashstepped from the bounds of his room, speeding towards the southwest. The world blurred around him, the land and flora beneath him zipping into one entity as he passed them.
Within 5 minutes, the Shinigami had arrived at his destination. He came to heavy halt over a similar scenery of little houses below his soles and the demonically large skull to the side.
People milled about, farming their land with the help of magic. A chorus of kids sounded near the church, playing amongst themselves.
“The south from here, Ichigo. Remember the sister talking about us losing our way back?” The old man reminded. Ichigo nodded before heading in the general direction.
Ichigo thought carefully back to his first moment in this world, positioning himself in a similar manner.
He neared the boundary of the village remembering himself unfastening the harness in the general vicinity. “It must have slid down and landed somewhere nearby.” He concluded, slowly lowering back to the surface.
His eyes darted around the land. Light outcrop of grass lined near a wooden fence, demarcating the village’s border. There were no trees nor farming land near the fence.
Taking a few steps forward, his eyes finally landed on the red harness, covered in oodles of dust and grime.
’Got it!’ He exclaimed jovially. “Old Man?” he asked, picking up the harness.
‘Check the other end’. A cold voice requested. Ichigo’s face hardened at the tone. His fingers slowly sieved the end. A sharp intake of air broke the silence, Ichigo’s hands tremored slightly holding the broken end.
The harness ended with a clean cut. No astray fibres, no evidence of failure by tension. Simply a clean cut.
“Captain..?!” Kisuke’s panic induced voice rung through his spine.
His blood ran cold at the simple deduction. A singular question reverberating through his mind, ‘Why?’
He did not care about the ‘who’. There was no sensible motive for a Captain to do this to him. Since the space around Dangai remains unexplored, cutting off his harness was equivalent to a guaranteed death, at least in the mind of this perpetrator.
There was no way to predict his survival. The rage exuding out of him turned palpable with each consequent thought. He could not accept a captain he knew, doing it.
Either this meant that he was betrayed by the soul society, again, or a new captain was appointed in the Sereitei.
The latter seemed impossible with a recent addition of so many new captains and the head commander. The death of a captain would have been relayed to him.
“So, why?” he screamed in frustration. A momentary burst of reiatsu spun around him, blowing a raging wind across the land.
Ichigo was livid. The harness slipped from his fingers, falling harmlessly down to the soil. Spikes of orange covered rage filled eyes. His left arm calmly raised towards the piece of fibre, a shallow chant slipping from his lips.
“Hadō #31. Shakkahō.” He grit his teeth. A red swirling blast of reiatsu swallowed the harness and its surrounding area.
The blast dissipated, revealing charred ground underneath it. The target was eviscerated from existence. Without a further glance, Ichigo leapt off the ground.
Not a single speck of dirt moved as the orange-haired man sped away at an unfathomable velocity.
----------------------------------------
A torrent of wind burst through his room as Ichigo blitzed in, sandal heels screeching onto the tiling. ‘One minute.’ An unnecessary thought flashed.
Ichigo seethed, breathing heavy through the rage. He stood near the window, staring at the floor. “Whoo.” A low feminine voice exclaimed at the pulse of speed.
Ichigo furrowed his eyebrows in frustration, blank rage landing on the dismally modest clothed lady. Vanessa lay spanned across the mattress on her side, legs crossed over each other appealingly.
“I don’t remember permitting you to enter.” He chewed the words.
“Ara. And here I thought I was in for some good time.” Vanessa suggested with a deceptive snide smile.
Ichigo glared at the woman, not a muscle twitching in response to her words. Vanessa tilted her head in her palm, surprised at the hostility.
“Okay, maybe a bit too much.” She admitted, gestured placatingly at the rageful orange-head. She pushed herself to an upright position.
Her hand slowly swiped at the sheets as she sat up straight. Ichigo continued to scowl at the woman, patiently waiting for a reason for her invasion of his privacy.
At her stillness, he finally snapped. “Is there a reason you’re here?” He measured each word, trying to calm the raging storm brewing underneath.
“Well, the captain wants to assign a mission to the rookies.” She started. “Kinda unfair.” A wandering comment added on.
“You’re free to go in my place.” Ichigo replied firmly. He was in no form to take on a mission, especially with two teenagers.
Her head turned towards the orange head. “You are in a bad mood.” She announced with a small smile.
Ichigo thinned his lips sarcastically, continuing to stare at the woman. “Well?” She questioned, staring expectantly at Ichigo.
“Well, what?” Ichigo questioned incredulously. Vanessa rolled her eyes at the blatant disregard.
“Wanna tell me what’s bothering you?” She raised her eyebrows expectantly. Brown eyes stared at purple ones cynically. “Why, would I willingly do that?” He replied in a flash.
Vanessa shrugged in place. “Sharing’s caring?” She . Ichigo shook his head in annoyance.
“How about.. no?” He answered slowly. Vanessa pouted in reply. “What is the worst that could happen? Some bad advice?” She countered.
Ichigo snorted lightly at the insinuation. “That’s the best case.”
“Come on! Try me.” Her voice jumped an octave. Ichigo turned towards her, a resounding ‘no’ waiting on his tongue when he saw Vanessa stare at him with a determination.
A hint of a smile, encouraging him to tell her. A genuine smile. Not the ones she so carelessly flashed.
Ichigo stilled in slight surprise, doubt creasing at his forehead. Vanessa straightened up at Ichigo’s reaction, her eyes boring into his. Moments passed as Ichigo evaluated telling her.
‘Not the whole jig. But just to get it off your chest?’ White’s assuring voice placated his worries.
He plopped down on the barely pliable mattress, turning to look at the woman once more. Vanessa breathed in, expectantly.
“What would you do if you were betrayed by some of your closest people?” Ichigo asked sombrely. Vanessa’s eyes widened in alarm. A stout woman, wearing an old faded green gown and a tall witch’s hat flashed across her mind.
She stared at Ichigo for a long moment, reeling from her own projection on to the case.
A feeling of likeness bloomed in her heart at the sight of the orange-head. ‘You’re not that different from us after all.’ She thought to herself.
She smiled as her brain processed the small bit of information. She smiled at the level of trust he had shown her. ‘Strangers do make the best of confidantes.’ Slightly nodding, she turned back to face Ichigo.
Ichigo seemed small, she decided. A man, yet not quite, at the age of twenty-one. Vanessa bore a small smile.
She giggled, earning a surprised glare from Ichigo. “I do have some expertise in the area.” She admitted with a hint of bitterness. Turning her heels, she stood up from the bed.
“Want to know what I did?” She mirthfully asked, walking away from the intent stare.
“I did what I wanted to.” She answered, turning around the corner and disappearing from the room. Silence prevailed as the receding footsteps slowly faded away. Ichigo sat in silence pondering at the insinuation.
Repeating her words in his mind, he heaved a sigh. “Is that right?” Ichigo murmured to himself, unclenching fists he never knew he balled.
----------------------------------------
Ichigo walked slowly through unfamiliar surroundings. His conscious mind taking in the changed route towards the front halls, yet unnoting of the same.
Slowly progressing down the stairs, he turned a corner round the living room.
Golden lights drowned the surroundings of the room, the array of couches occupied by silent squad mates. Ichigo naturally broke out of his thoughts as all gazes landed on him.
Yami’s lazy gaze regarded Ichigo with annoyance. “You made me wait.” He coldly announced, prompting a nervous Magna to stand up.
He walked over to Ichigo, a hand moving to rest upon Ichigo’s shoulder, who scanned each moment of the arm before it reached its destination.
He eyed the mohawk-haired guy with a scowl. Magna stood undeterred, pursing his lips at the reaction.
“You are lucky, newbie.” He said in a simple sentence, before turning back around, and taking a seat beside Luck.
Ichigo’s eyebrows crinkled in confusion at Magna’s behaviour. He walked further into the room to spot Asta and Noelle standing to the side of the Captain, eyeing him nervously.
A cold breeze hit Ichigo, his head quickly turning towards the direction of the gigantic hole in the wall, where a window once opened. Ichigo shook his head in resignation.
This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.
“I had a lot to think about.” He announced his excuse. Yami did not bat an eyelid at the excuse, choosing to glare at his subordinate.
“More important than a mission?” He asked roughly. Ichigo promptly stared at the man, answering, “Yes.”
Yami continued to glare at orange-head, before turning away, muttering,
“Can’t help it then.” Ichigo’s eyes widened in surprise and incredulity as he realized the Captain was basically approving his excuse. A marked giggle from Vanessa ended most of the tension in the room.
Yami’s hand fished around in, his trademark black pants, before producing a crumpled piece of paper. Ichigo scanned around the room, spotting several of his teammates. He quietly made his way towards a mortified Asta and an uncaring Noelle.
He cleared his throat, a lingering side eye spotting Vanessa standing, quietly to the side of the giant, Grey.
The crumpled parchment parted ways with another smaller piece of paper. The broken seal, as was apparent from its extravagant design, swayed slowly before settling onto the floor.
Noelle’s sharp gasp reached Ichigo’s ear. She turned her gaze from the seal to abhor at the Captain’s action. ‘Royal seal, huh?’ Ichigo quickly deduced from the princess’ reaction.
Yami cleared his throat, completely disregarding the wide-eyed teenager. He slowly straightened up the thick parchment, before turning to look at the three newcomers standing to the side.
Resting his head against a slanted fist propped up on the armrest, he began,
“A new dungeon has appeared on our borders with the Diamond Kingdom.” An array of stoked breaths raised across the room.
Yami cast a side eye in their direction, shutting down any interferences. Mainly Luck, who nestled back down with a smaller smile than usual.
“The Wizard King wants the Black Bulls squad to raid the dungeon and bring back any magical artifacts that you can find.” Yami stopped, looking at the three expectantly.
Ichigo stared at the floor for a brief moment, delving into his fictional knowledge of the composition of a dungeon.
“What’s a dungeon?” Asta’s sheepish voice broke the prevailing silence. Ichigo turned to look at the teenager, along with most occupants of the room.
Noelle rolled her eyes at the question. “Bakasta, how do you not know about something as well-known as this?” She cried incredulously.
Asta gave her a blank look. “I was busy training?” He answered unassumingly, hoping it was the right answer.
Noelle stilled at the stupid response. Overcoming the surprise, she turned towards Ichigo. “Am I to assume you too, don’t know what a dungeon is?” She asked without pomp.
“I do know what it is, basically.” Ichigo promptly answered, bidding to avoid some embarrassment.
Noelle caught on to the attempt, shaking her head disappointedly. “Dungeons are pieces of land, hidden by magic containing treasures from legendary figures of the past.” She explained to the two.
Asta’s eyes widened at the answer, stars floating across them. Ichigo bore a confused face.
“If it was hidden by magic, why is it appearing there and now?” He asked.
Before Noelle could answer, the captain butt in. “The magic is so strong in such places that it bends the very fabric of time and space. So, its near impossible to predict where and when a dungeon will reveal itself.
As for why now, the magic hiding it must have run out or something.” He answered without an ounce of seriousness.
Ichigo drowned out in his thoughts, gauging if the dungeon could help find some clues about his way back home. The thought invigorated Ichigo.
Yami stared expectantly at the trio. Brief moments later, the stare had evolved into a frown.
“Well? What are you rascals waiting for? Get a move on it!” He ordered, the three straightening up at the thunderous voice.
“Where are we even going?” Asta questioned incredulously, his feet instinctively walking towards the hole in the wall.
“Finral. Take the four of them to the dungeon.” Yami ordered, lazily scratching his face. Finral, the long-faced man, shook a bit at the order. Asta stopped in his tracks as his brain finally caught on.
“Oh! So that’s how we’re going this time.” He pumped his fists in acknowledgement. The surprise turned to confusion as he caught further on.
“Wait? Four of us? Are you counting Ichigo twice, Captain?” He asked with a lazy smile.
Both Ichigo and the Captain twitched at the insinuation. Yami looked insulted, glaring at the boy.
“Ah? Why would I count the orange-head twice? Do I look stupid to you, brat?” He thundered at Asta, who simply ducked in fear, trembling.
A brief moment passed before Ichigo finally asked,
“Well? Who’s the lucky one then?”
Yami’s annoyance turned at Ichigo who did not bat an eye at the glare. Yami averted his gaze,
“Lucky you say?” His eyes landed on the blonde-haired maniac.
“Luck, take care of the rookies.” He ordered the man, whose skin buzzed with blue lightning at the mention.
“Yay! I finally get to fight strong guys!” He jumped in the air, excitement evident on his face.
Noelle jumped at the statement. ‘The Diamond kingdom’s forces won’t just sit waiting for Clover Kingdom to take all of the treasure.’ She shivered a bit at the reminder of her previous battle.
“Don’t worry.” Ichigo made a blank statement, walking past her. Noelle stared for a moment at Ichigo’s receding back, promptly following suit, shouting out,
“Who’s worried!?”
----------------------------------------
Large trees lined the expanse of the forest. The sun scorched high above the trees and yet, the lush barks barely let any pass through. Slow chirping of the birds prevailed in the thick silence laying over the forest floor. Within the dark underbelly of the forest, a shimmering silver portal opened up.
Through the portal, a gang of four walked into the forest. Ichigo arrived first, taking in his surroundings, scanning for any threats in the area.
His senses quickly caught on to the mass of energy present just up ahead. He raised his eyebrows in wonder as the power exuding from the dungeon hit him in waves.
‘A dying ember of a strong oak.’ He was reminded of the story behind the appearance of a dungeon.
Walking down further, he stopped a few paces away from the portal. Soon, Asta, Noelle and Luck walked through. Asta seemed enamoured by his surroundings, excited that he was on another mission.
Noelle carefully looked around, trying to gauge the possible threats to her being in the immediate vicinity. Even with her messy control, the giant beacon of the dungeon’s mana failed to miss her senses.
Luck buzzed with electricity as he took in his surroundings, the small smile ever-present on his face widening slightly.
“We’re here!” Asta exclaimed loudly. Noelle’s eyes widened in horror, rushing forward to stop the boy from yelling further.
“Stop that, Bakasta! You’ll attract the predators in the area.” She hurriedly admonished the sheepish teenager.
Asta flashed her an apologetic smile, turning to revel in his surroundings in a quieter manner.
Ichigo shook his head at the two’s antics before his gaze landed on the blonde-hair accompanying them.
The nonchalance of the short teenager made Ichigo shiver. He could only guess that the blonde was younger than him. ‘Guess I’m babysitting, again.’ He shook his head in annoyance.
Luck stopped in his tracks, turning to look at the three of them. “Let’s get a move on.” He chattered excitedly.
Ichigo turned around silently, choosing to ignore the enthusiasm. The dungeon’s presence lay strongly on his senses. ‘Straight forward it is, then.’ He concluded.
With the dungeon radiating akin to the sun, Ichigo simply stepped forward, the others following suit naturally. Asta made a tilt of his head, before shrugging and following along.
----------------------------------------
Walking for a few minutes, the group arrived at a large clearing within the forest. Ichigo’s eyes landed straight on the beacon of dense energy irradiating in the middle. A mass of bricks, stone, and mortar, standing tall against the sea of sky and clouds.
He gazed in awe at the assembled mass, looking similar to several buildings clumped together haphazardly. Yet, the structure seemed symmetric. Pristine, uncut stones and bricks made up the tower, lauding above any trees that surrounded it.
However, the sense of power emanating from the dungeon was ominous. Waves of fading purple against a feeble black void of magic.
‘How strong was this tree in its prime?’ The query left unanswered. He stepped forward, the three around him also gawking at the building in awe.
A small entrance, a hallway shrouded in darkness stood wide open at one side. Ichigo expected the entrance to be nothing of note, hidden even from the naked eye. Yet the disappointingly small pathway remained starkly unnoticeable.
“It’s so dark in here.” Asta’s voice echoed down the dark pathway. “Dark yet not silent.” Noelle’s quiet reply followed.
“Why would it be silent with us here?” Asta’s loud question countered back. Ichigo could feel the eyeroll from Noelle. The group were currently following a glimmer of light at the ends of the hallway.
The walls of the hallway, no, the entirety of the dungeon were blocking Ichigo from sensing anything around them. As if they were lined for the very purpose.
The small opening slowly grew, leading them straight inside the heart of the dungeon.
Ichigo stared wide-eyed at the miraculous space. Mana, as dense as it could be, packed along the entirety. Small orbs of mana clumped together forming a ball of pure white energy, visible even to the naked eye, danced freely to the rhythm of turbulence.
“Wow.” Noelle gasped as her sight adjusted to the bright surroundings. Asta too, circled around in amazement.
The magic was so dense, it bent space around itself. Streams of clear blue water, flowing normally along the ground, suddenly started flowing upwards due to the phenomenon. There were entrances lined along the walls and ceiling, where no ordinary man could ever hope to reach.
A small smile replaced the scowl on Ichigo’s face. ‘It seems I was blinded by the limited information I had about this world.’ He concluded easily.
He could feel the warped sense of time around him, distorting as he waded through the thick blend of magic. Jumping down from the exit, he landed softly onto the ground.
The others followed, with Asta landing heavily onto the stone blocks. Noelle and Asta wasted no time, quickly separating from the group, looking around the expanse.
“This is amazing.” Asta exclaimed, eyeing the upwards flowing streams. Noelle could only fervently nod at the fact.
Ichigo turned towards Luck who had a brighter smile than usual, lighting his face.
“What’s next?” He asked the blonde teenager. Luck turned to look at Ichigo.
“Now, we find some strong opponents and defeat them into submission. Maybe even spring a few traps while we’re on it.” He moved towards Asta before Ichigo could voice his concern.
Stepping near him, he adjusted his foot over a black seal marked on the ground, before hopping straight to the side. Immediately, a raging fire burst through the ground enveloping Asta.
Instinctively, Asta’s anti-magic flared to life, cutting through the fire itself. Ichigo stared in horror as Luck moved rhythmically to the next seal.
Dancing for a while, Luck managed to spring most traps in the vicinity. Asta tired out quickly after neutralizing the tenth trap, huffing in exhaustion as he sat on the ground, wiping off the sweat from his forehead.
Luck stared at him in excitement, flashing him a grin. “You’re strong. We should fight after you grow up a little!” He praised the boy, who could only look up in diminished approval, returning a tired smile.
Noelle bent down around Asta, trying to calm him down.
“Now then.” Luck started, closing his eyes in concentration. A pulse of thinly veiled magic erupted from the blonde. Ichigo quickly turned to face the boy, confusion slowly turning to realization.
He was trying to sense if anyone was near them. Ichigo too quickly followed suit, before the two found a small ember, foreign to the native mana, quite some distance away.
Luck opened his eyes, mirth, and excitement dancing in his irises. He turned towards Ichigo, nodding at him before taking off in a flurry of wind. Ichigo stared at him with a gaping mouth as he tracked the blonde buzzing off towards the opponent.
‘Guess he wasn’t lying earlier.’ White’s amused voice relieved Ichigo from his stupor.
“And he’s gone.” Ichigo announced. Turning back to the two teenagers unceremoniously left to his care once again, he noticed their looks of absolute shock.
“He just left us.” Noelle confirmed, eyes wide in surprise before they landed on the orange-head.
She jerked her head around in embarrassment, “Not that I am worried about this dungeon.” She quickly corrected herself.
“Yeah, let’s get moving.” Asta stood up from the ground. He excitedly took another step, only for his foot to land on another dark seal.
Ichigo eyerolled as he dodged green spurts erupting from the ground, trying to grab at him. He watched the two teenagers captured by the vines of the trap.
A green plant-like monster broke through the surface of a nearby stream, lining its hundreds of teeth along its wide circular mouth.
The vines grabbing the two teenagers slowly moved towards the monster’s mouth.
“Hey, Ichigo?” Noelle called out in panic. “You can free us anytime now.” She ordered the orange-head, who sighed at the command.
“Yes, yes.” He readied himself, a shroud of reiatsu enveloping the side of his palm. A small of pulse of mana registered on his senses. He stepped back, torrents of wind erupting, cutting through the vines and freeing Asta and Noelle.
The two dropped heavily onto the ground. Ichigo craned his neck to look up at the expected familiar sight of Yuno smirking down at them.
“Ichigo.” The boy greeted in acknowledgement. Ichigo nodded back at the boy. Yuno opened his mouth to continue but spotted Asta turning to look at him.
“Long time no see, Asta.” He greeted the dark-haired boy. Asta flared up indignantly. “Yuno…” He chewed his teeth. “Damn you, how did you get here first.” He complained back.
Noelle wiped her skirt, before standing straight up without a hitch. Asta, followed suit, glaring at Yuno.
“Because I’m stronger than you!” He announced pompously. Asta’s eyebrows crossed in confusion. “That doesn’t even make sense.” He countered back only to earn a smirk from Yuno.
“It will, when you’re as strong as me.” He voiced, looking down at Asta. Asta waved his fist in the air, angrily stomping at the insinuation.
Yuno continued, “I will be waiting up ahead, you know, where the treasure actually is. Do hurry or you’ll only find an empty chamber.” He teased with a small smirk.
“Damn you!” Asta cursed but his counterpart had already turned his back, disappearing into the dark entryway he emerged from.
‘The letter must have mentioned the Golden Dawn squad also mobilizing along with us.’ Ichigo deduced. His eye twitched in annoyance.
“Captain Yami…” He cursed, shaking his head.
Noelle walked over to Ichigo staring at him expectantly. The latter raised a questioning eyebrow.
“What next?” The question seemed obvious.
“We follow the direction Yuno went.” Ichigo stated. “He did say he was waiting up ahead.” He reasoned.
Noelle nodded understandingly while Asta simply nodded, liking the suggestion of following his annoying rival.
----------------------------------------
“We’ve been walking for over an hour!” Asta’s whining resounded through the pitch-black hallway the trio were currently wading through, for a second time.
“It feels like twenty to me.” Ichigo muttered slowly to himself, sighing at the annoying complaint.
“Bakasta, it’s been like twenty minutes at max. What are you even complaining about?” Noelle gazed to her side, guessing at Asta’s position.
Silence met her rebuttal. She squinted in confusion.
“Asta?” Noelle stopped in her path, waving a hand around her, trying to locate the boy.
“Yeah?” The boy’s voice rung behind her, before he bumped into the girl.
Noelle, surprised at the impact, tumbled down. Asta tripped over the falling form of Noelle, landing straight onto her.
Noelle froze as she realized her position, Asta lay on her back, struggling to get up.
Embarrassment flushing through her, blue light began gathering at her palms.
“Oh, I can see again!” Asta looked around in surprise. Before he could turn to the light source, he was sent flying against the wall by a burst of water. He thrashed against the wall, before sliding down revealing a small clump of light.
A torrent of mana registered on their senses as Ichigo quickly walked over to the small hole in the wall in a hurry.
Resting his palm against it, he chanted in a low voice. “Hadō #33: Sōkatsui.” A blue ball of energy erupted over the wall, blowing it up.
The explosion revealed a brightly lit chamber, lined with haphazard outgrowths of crystal.
Ichigo squinted through the smoke, finding a blue-haired spectacled member of Golden dawn laying on the ground, clutching his arm. His long face marred with pain; blue eyes partially closed.
A plump young girl stood by his side, green-coloured mana enveloping her hands, outstretched over her squad mate, specifically over the arm he was clutching. Her striped, white top and pants were smeared by specks of blood and dust.
Ichigo turned to look at Yuno, standing with a slight slouch. He was breathing heavy, sweat lining the side of his head. His grimoire burned green with mana, as he faced up against a white-haired opponent, laden with white quartz like crystals. The man was dressed completely in white, except the black cape resting snugly over his shoulders.
The group of them turned towards the site of the explosion revealing the three Black Bull members as the dust settled.
Noelle hurried towards the Golden Dawn girl while Asta sped to stand beside Yuno, his own grimoire flaring to life, the broad sword, ready in his arms.
Ichigo did not move, his eyes searching for something the moment he had encountered energy from the small hole in the wall.
His eyes finally landed on a small figure, shrouded in a black cloak, sitting primly on a white crystal outcrop on the ground.
Ichigo could only sense a feeble amount of mana exuding from the figure, yet his instincts were screaming at him to engage the person first.
More than anything, his hands were trembling at the sensation. He stared at his open palm. ‘Excitement.’ He figured, surprised.
The white-haired man looked at Ichigo with contempt. The orange head had yet to acknowledge his presence. Glaring, he moved to attack him.
Before he could move, he felt movement in front of him. He ducked, narrowly avoiding Asta’s determined slash.
The boy glared angrily at the man, as his arm outstretched to pull back the moving broad sword.
The white-haired man turned to look at the teenager’s face. Emotionlessly, he blasted off a wave of crystals onto Asta.
The lump battered against the teen’s broad sword before breaking into small pieces.
Surprised, the man launched another flurry of crystals towards Asta, hoping to catch him off guard by the frightening pace.
Asta scanned the oncoming projectiles, before batting them against the flat side of his sword.
The man stood up properly, acknowledging Asta’s strength and vigour. He abandoned all thought about the orange-head, focusing on the black-haired teenager standing in his way.
Yuno, having caught his breath, stepped forward, standing beside his rival, wind flaring all around himself.
“Don’t think you can just leave me behind in the dust, Asta.” He stated, getting into position.
“Heh, I totally will if you let me, Yuno!” Asta answered back in candour. He gripped the sword tighter, slightly slanting it for better vantage.
Noelle stared at Asta, analysing his fight before a small of pulse of energy distracted her. She spotted the lone figure sitting in a proper manner, on a wild outcrop of a crystal.
“What’s her story?” Noelle questioned the girl beside her. The girl turned to look where Noelle was staring at, before her body froze.
“I don’t know. She was already here when we arrived. She hasn’t moved once, even when we fought that guy from the Diamond kingdom.” She answered honestly.
“That’s a woman alright. At least in the traditional sense.” The man lying under the glowing green envelope spoke up. Slowly sitting upright, he rubbed his temple adjusting his spectacles to fit snugly on the bridge of his nose.
“It’s easy to recognize with the way she’s sitting, isn’t it?” The man further elaborated. “The proper way of sitting is beaten into all noble ladies from a very young age.” Noelle confirmed, Mimosa nodding along.
A brief moment later, she turned to look at the man questioningly.
The latter understood the look, placing a palm over his chest. “I’m called Klaus Lunettes. And she’s Mimosa Vermillion.” He gestured towards the plump girl who flushed slightly at the introduction.
“I know her already.” She muttered slowly. Noelle shook her head at the other girl’s embarrassment.
“I am Noelle Silva. With Mimosa and I being royalty, we were already acquainted with each other.” She stated. Klaus’ eyes slightly widened, his eyes landing on the Silva pin on her shoulders.
“Ah, the Silva house it is.” He greeted Noelle with a modicum of respect.
Noelle ignored the man, turning to look at the last remaining member of their squad.
Ichigo was staring at the hooded figure, a thoughtful appearance on his face. His gaze never left their person.
‘Let’s go.’ He started
----------------------------------------