Strange use of Magic (Black Clover AU)

[Third Person's PoV] 

Stephen and Yami flew swiftly through the temple, their eyes locked on their destination. The old man soared ahead atop one of his monstrous creatures, his laughter booming through the air.

"Don't worry, Kaito and Kohono! Granddaddy is coming!!!" he bellowed enthusiastically, his voice echoing through the walls.

Yami gripped his sword tightly, its edge gleaming, ready for battle. Beside him, Stephen's fist glowed with a violet aura, pulsing with energy.

When they reached the battlefield, the scene before them was dire. Luck and Magna were locked in combat with Vetto, their bodies battered and bloodied. Streams of crimson ran down their faces, and their heavy breathing betrayed their exhaustion.

Despite their condition, the two mages refused to back down. With nothing but sheer willpower driving them, they stood side by side, gathering their remaining strength for one final attack. Fire and lightning converged between them, swirling together in a volatile mix.

"Combination Magic: Flame-Lightning Explosive Cannon!!"

Their combined spell roared to life, a searing beam hurtling toward Vetto at point-blank range. The ensuing explosion was blinding, forcing Stephen and Yami to shield their eyes from the brilliant light.

When the smoke cleared, Vetto stood unharmed, his aura-covered hands having absorbed the brunt of the attack. The protective energy crumbled, revealing his scorched yet still-intimidating fur.

Luck and Magna collapsed, utterly spent, their magic and stamina drained.

"So, you're just maggots," Vetto sneered disdainfully. "Even when given a chance, this is the best you can do?"

He turned his gaze toward the approaching Yami and Stephen, a twisted grin spreading across his face. Power surged through his arms, which sharpened into deadly claws.

"All those who are weak deserve nothing but despair!" Vetto roared, swinging both arms down toward the unconscious Magna and Luck.

In an instant, Stephen became a streak of violet light, Yami a black one. A third streak joined them—Asta, his anti-magic sword at the ready.

The battlefield shifted in a heartbeat. Asta and Yami intercepted Vetto's claws, blocking the lethal strike. Meanwhile, Stephen reappeared at a safe distance, cradling the injured Luck and Magna in his arms.

"Oi, fur-face," Yami growled, his tone icy. "What the hell were you planning to do with my cute little squad members?"

Asta, bracing against Vetto's immense strength, snarled through gritted teeth, "NO ONE IS DESPAIRING JUST YET!"

Stephen carefully set Magna and Luck down on the ground. The violet flames around his hands shifted, glowing indigo before settling into a calming blue hue.

Above the injured pair, two miniature suns appeared, radiating a rejuvenating light. The soothing energy bathed their bodies, rapidly closing their wounds and mending their battered forms.

Both Magna's and Luck's eyes snapped open simultaneously. They leapt to their feet, settling into matching horse stances.

"I'M ALL FIRED UP! I'M BACK IN THE GAME, BABY!!!" Magna roared, flames burning in his eyes.

"Hahaha! With Stephen around, I can keep battling and battling without worrying about injuries!" Luck exclaimed excitedly, electricity crackling around him.

Stephen rolled his eyes with a smirk as he called the twin suns back into the glowing magic circle behind him. The flames on his hands shifted from blue to indigo, then settled back into a violet hue. He smacked both Magna and Luck playfully on the head.

"That doesn't mean you two idiots should be reckless," Stephen chided.

Before they could respond, Kaito appeared, dual swords in hand. His expression was fierce.

"Don't even think about leaving me out of this fight! They dared to attack my home, and I'll be damned if I just sit and watch!"

"RAAAAAAAHHH!!!" Vetto's deafening roar cut through the air as he unleashed a wave of mana that forced Yami and Asta backward.

[Beast Magic: Cheetah Charge!]

With a predatory grin, Vetto became a blur, reappearing in front of Asta with his fist cocked back and glowing with orange aura.

Asta, sensing the attack through his ki, raised his sword to block. But the sheer force of Vetto's blow was overwhelming, sending Asta flying into a wall with a sickening crash, blood trailing from his mouth.

[Dark Magic: Lightless Slash!]

[Dance Magic: Way of Water!]

Yami and Kaito rushed at Vetto from opposite directions. Kaito flowed like water, his slashes graceful and precise, while Yami's attacks carved through the air in dark, jagged arcs.

'He's reading our ki,' Yami realized, watching Vetto blur through their strikes with unsettling ease.

[Beast Magic: Bear Claw!]

Vetto's aura shifted, his arms transforming into massive bear-like claws. He crossed them to block both swords, grinning as he roared and released a powerful burst of energy, forcing Yami and Kaito back.

"I'll eliminate the weakest link first—despair!" Vetto snarled, appearing before Kaito in an instant.

Before he could strike, an orange portal materialized beneath Kaito, pulling him out of harm's way. Vetto's attack hit nothing but air, making him growl in frustration.

Kaito glanced around in surprise, spotting Stephen, who gave him a brief nod. Kaito returned it with a grateful smile.

Meanwhile, Asta pushed himself off the wall, shaking off the impact. With a roar, he charged forward, pouring all his strength into a mighty swing.

This time, Vetto wasn't fast enough. Asta's sword slashed diagonally across his chest, drawing a deep, bloody gash and a roar of fury.

Ignoring the pain, Vetto grabbed Asta by the face, intent on slamming him into the ground. Before he could, Yami appeared with another Lightless Slash.

[Beast Magic: Rhinoceros Armor!]

Vetto's body was suddenly encased in thick, impenetrable armor. Yami grinned, slashing again and again until cracks began to appear.

Stephen joined the fray, his speed startling as he appeared before Vetto. Violet flames danced in his eyes as he cocked his fist back and drove it forward with devastating force.

The rhino armor shattered like glass, and Stephen's fist connected with Vetto's abdomen. The impact burned through fur and skin, leaving an imprint of Stephen's knuckles seared into Vetto's flesh.

Vetto coughed up a torrent of blood, his body convulsing as he was sent hurtling through the temple. He crashed through several walls before finally skidding to a stop, embedded in a distant one.

Steam rose from Stephen's fist as he straightened, his gaze fixed on the direction Vetto had flown.

Asta, still catching his breath, stared at Stephen warily. "Stephen... you're really scary, you know that?"

The room Vetto crashed into was dimly lit, the air thick with residual magic. At its center stood Wanda, surrounded by the bodies of white-robed mages from the Eye of the Midnight Sun. Their faces were contorted in expressions of sheer terror, and they lay unconscious on the ground as though trapped in their worst nightmares. The crimson magic swirling around their temples dissipated with a snap of Wanda's fingers.

Hearing the commotion, Wanda turned toward the entrance where Stephen and the others stood. She raised her hand in a casual wave, a friendly smile on her face.

"Hey, guys!" she greeted.

Kaito blinked at the sight of her, his cheeks flushing slightly. Before he could respond, his eyes widened in alarm.

"LOOK OUT!" he shouted.

Behind Wanda, Vetto had appeared in a blur of orange aura, using Cheetah Charge to close the distance. Despite his earlier injuries, Stephen had clearly held back his full power as he still had some questions, allowing Vetto to recover quickly. Now, the beast mage was grinning maliciously, his claws glowing as he thrust them toward Wanda's back.

'Hehehe! Despair as you witness one of your precious friends die!' Vetto thought triumphantly.

But just as his claws were about to pierce Wanda, he froze mid-strike, his movements halted a mere inch away. A red aura enveloped his body, holding him in place. Wanda's outstretched hand glowed with the same scarlet hue, her expression calm and unbothered.

She slowly turned to face him, her deep scarlet eyes locking onto his. Tilting her head slightly in confusion, she asked in a soft, almost curious tone, "What do you think you're doing?"

Vetto's grin faltered, replaced by a look of astonishment as his body floated upward, levitated by Wanda's magic.

Raising her free hand, Wanda summoned the rubble that Vetto's impact had scattered across the room. The debris swirled around her like a tempest before converging on Vetto from all directions.

With a flick of her wrist, she manipulated the debris to form a crushing sphere around him, each piece compacting tightly. The sound of stone grinding against stone filled the air as blood began to seep from the cracks in the rubble.

Wanda clenched her fist, the sphere glowing ominously with her magic. "Stay put," she said coldly, her voice laced with authority.

Stephen then looked towards Asta and asked, "You want to change what you were saying earlier?"

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