Fairy Tail: Igneel's eldest son in Anime Multiverse Chapter 5 - 5 – The Final Despair

In an instant, Charles lost sight of Asta!

They were merely fifteen-year-old lads, after all—not obtaining a grimoire delivered a massive setback. This struck Asta hardest, with his burning ambition to claim the title of Wizard King; failing the initial hurdle left him stranded right at the outset.

Considering Asta's stubborn nature, though, such a setback wouldn't shatter him completely. Mockery from others barely registered with him.

Regardless of the taunts hurled his way, nothing could shake his resolve toward his goal.

The true impact on Asta this time stemmed from Yuno's seemingly aloof demeanor, open to misinterpretation. Yet that prickly Yuno hadn't strayed far, hovering close out of worry, reluctant to depart.

Once the church folks had been ushered away, Charles set off to locate the pair.

Recalling the events, Yuno was due to cross paths with Revchi, the ex-Purple Orca Magic Knight wielding Chain Magic.

Revchi's Chain Magic fell under Creation Magic, enabling him to conjure and manipulate chains capable of restraining a foe's body and magical abilities alike.

Exiled from the Magic Knights following a botched operation, Revchi had tumbled into infamy, turning into a ruthless thief driven by greed.

On this occasion, Yuno was his mark—and Charles's four-leaf clover grimoire drew his eye too.

Grimoires bound themselves to their mages upon bestowal, rendering them worthless to outsiders. Still, eccentric collectors, particularly noble houses in the kingdom, shelled out fortunes for four-leaf clover grimoires.

Charles had a hunch about why nobles coveted four-leaf clover grimoires so fiercely.

The key distinction between three-leaf and four-leaf clover grimoires lay beyond raw magic strength or mana reserves. Legend held that the fourth leaf harbored luck, an enigmatic power beyond mana, woven into the fabric of destiny.

Securing a four-leaf clover grimoire demanded not just talent and magical prowess, but a elusive gift from fate itself.

Hence, such grimoires were prized as luck-infused relics. Nobles' desire for them came as no shock.

Charles knew Revchi's scheme would fail and Asta would claim the five-leaf clover grimoire, embarking on his path to glory—yet worry gnawed at him still.

He refused to treat the tale from his memories as set in stone. Regret over inaction in the face of surprises was the last thing he desired.

Right as he prepared to seek them out, two figures obstructed his way.

"Hey, you're blocking my path. I've got urgent business. Care to move?"

Charles picked up their hostile vibes right away, matching their rudeness in reply.

They'd approached with malice, and Charles's sharp retort only fueled their rage.

"How bold! A lowly peasant like you—don't act superior just for snagging a four-leaf clover grimoire."

"Ah, now I see."

Charles stroked his chin, memory clicking into place about these nobodies.

These pair hailed from minor noble families in a neighboring town—the very ones who'd mocked Asta before.

In the canon tale, envy drove them to target Yuno's four-leaf clover grimoire for destruction. Now, their greed shifted to Charles.

Charles couldn't fathom their delusion of matching him. Did they truly think their own grimoires—even against his four-leaf one—equipped them to win?

Jealousy proved a monstrous force. It warped not only features but intellect as well.

"What repulsive mugs," Charles sneered under his breath.

The blond noble snapped, reason fleeing. His grimoire rose before him upon his raised arm, flipping open.

"Begging won't save you now. I'll incinerate you and that cursed grimoire to cinders!"

Brushing off his partner's restraining pleas, he unleashed the spell. A torrent of flames roared at Charles.

"Fire magic? How predictable. Choose your fights wiser next time."

Charles parted his lips—and inhaled the blaze whole. He devoured the fire entirely!

"What?!"

The noble's mouth hung agape, shock erasing his sneer.

"He… swallowed the fire?!"

In mere moments, the flames vanished. Charles licked his lips, scoffing, "Tasted like garbage, that fire. But hey, I'm powered up now.

You started this mess, so you knew the risks, didn't you?"

Aburst of mana exploded from Charles—scorching as inferno, weighty as peaks.

The noble hallucinated amid Charles's aura: a savage bellow echoed from within, hinting at a monstrous entity lurking there!

His knees buckled. He crumpled to the earth, quaking, eyes bulging in horror.

Charles tsked and pivoted away, deeming them unworthy of his Dragon Slayer Magic.

Priority shifted—he detected mana ripples close by: Yuno's, plus an alien signature.

Revchi was adhering to the plot, striking at Yuno first.

Recalling his mana, Charles strode off. Trailing him, the noble wheezed like a survivor of hell, scarred eternally by the ordeal.

Charles reached the scene swiftly—yet held back. This marked the dawn of legend.

Asta slumped by a wall, Revchi's boot grinding his shoulder. The thief spat harsh reality:

Asta possessed zero magic—not a trace. Basic spells eluded him, Wizard King dreams shattered.

No mere jeer, this was brutal truth. Despair gripped Asta, his ambition crumbling.

Charles exhaled. Revchi's power was solid, but against Asta's future adversaries—elves reborn, devil-tainted mages, true demons—he was trivial.

Still, Revchi achieved what giants couldn't:

He plunged Asta into genuine hopelessness.

This stood as Asta's sole taste of true despair. Henceforth, no trial would break his will again.

The savior from that abyss was—

Chained fast by Revchi's bindings, Yuno bellowed, "He won't be Wizard King—'cause that's my destiny!

But he ain't no weakling… Asta—that's my rival!"

No pep talk flowed, yet those words ignited Asta's fire anew!

Revchi missed the change, jeering, "Huh? Your rival is that loser?"

Uncertain if he'd heard wrong or Yuno cracked, he paused—till a grip seized his ankle.

"Not done yet!" Asta glared up, despair banished from his gaze.

"Sorry, Yuno! For that lame display. Hold on—I'll crush him!"

Instinct flared; Revchi recoiled.

A worn black grimoire plummeted from above, hovering before Asta in silence.

Three leaves embody faith, ambition, affection. Fourth brings fortune. Fifth…

The fifth shelters a devil!

Dark malice pulsed from the five-leaf clover grimoire. Charles spied its shadow blend with Asta's, sketching a fiendish silhouette behind.

The grimoire parted—and a colossal sword erupted from its leaves, crashing before Asta.

Asta snatched the blade, claiming his destiny (certain ice wolf clan: (/ω＼)).

"Here's my magic!" Asta roared, Demon-Slayer Sword aimed at Revchi.

Charles whispered nearby, "Nah… it's your refusal to quit—that's your true power."

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