The dungeon trembled with tension as Saru and the Diamond Kingdom mage stood face to face, the air between them thick with anticipation. Cracks spiderwebbed across the stone floor beneath their feet, a silent testament to the power both sides were holding back.
"Don't get cocky," the Diamond mage growled, minerals crawling like living armor across his body. His voice was cold, mechanical—devoid of fear. "I was born to break people like you."
A hulking mineral sword the size of a small house materialized above his head, glowing with condensed mana. With a guttural roar, he swung it down toward Saru with thunderous force.
But Saru didn't flinch.
"Hehehehe… The only thing breaking today is your pride!" Saru cackled. The corners of his mouth curled into a wild grin as he bent his knees—and vanished in a blur of motion.
He shot straight toward the sword—running along the flat of the blade mid-air with inhuman agility and speed. The wind howled around him, his golden eyes gleaming with excitement.
"You're not the only one who enjoys waving around giant toys!" Saru shouted gleefully as he reached the top of the blade and leapt into the air. He twisted mid-flight, his body upside down, holding Nyoi-bo over his shoulder in a throwing stance.
"Let's show him what we can do… Grow, Nyoi-bo!"
The staff trembled as if possessed by a heartbeat of its own—then surged with power. In an instant, it grew over twice the size of the Diamond mage's sword, stretching like a tower in the sky. Saru, still airborne, hurled the colossal weapon down with a primal roar.
The Diamond mage's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Tch—!" He slammed his hands into the floor. "Mineral Fortress: Absolute Wall!"
A massive dome of layered mineral plates erupted from the ground—thick, reinforced, and reinforced again by his continuous mana feed. The wall shimmered with runes of defense, glowing under the strain of incoming force.
Then—
BOOM!!!
Nyoi-bo collided with the mineral dome like a meteor falling from heaven. The impact shook the entire dungeon—stone shattered, wind screamed, and the very air fractured with pressure.
"W-What the hell!?" Klaus shouted, shielding his face as rubble blasted in every direction.
"Aaaaahhh!" Noelle braced herself with her water magic, forming a shield around Mimosa and herself.
"WOOOAH!!" Asta planted his sword into the floor and held on for dear life. "This guy's insane!"
Even Yuno, still injured and crouched against the wall, felt his breath catch. That pressure… again.
But the clash didn't last long.
The unbreakable dome cracked—then shattered. The wall crumbled like sand, and Nyoi-bo pierced straight through the defenses, dragging the Diamond mage down like a divine punishment.
The mage let out a strangled grunt as he was buried beneath layers of stone, sent crashing through the floor below. A deep, gaping hole was left in his wake, smoke and dust curling from its jagged edges.
Saru landed lightly on the ground, dusting off his hands with an exaggerated clap.
"Hehehe! That was fun!" he chirped like a child after recess. His grin was pure, wild. "But now I'm hungry…"
Nyoi-bo shrank back to normal and flew into his waiting hand. The moment it touched his fingers, the entire dungeon fell silent—until the stone finally stopped collapsing into the crater.
Everyone stared at Saru in stunned silence.
Klaus collapsed onto his backside, trembling. "W-What… what is he?" His voice cracked. "I knew he was strong but… not this…"
Yuno's fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. We couldn't beat him together… and he crushed that guy alone. He looked at Saru's relaxed back, feeling that same suffocating pressure he'd felt during the entrance exam. I still can't reach him… not yet.
"Wooooow…" Mimosa's voice was dreamy, her cheeks flushed as she held her hands over her heart. "So strong… and somehow, so handsome now…!"
"DAMN RIGHT!" Asta's eyes were practically glowing with fire. "I'll surpass you one day, Monkey Guy! Just you wait—I'm gonna be the Wizard King!"
"You stupid monkey! You'll destroy the whole dungeon!" Noelle shouted, her face red from fury—and maybe awe. "Stop breaking things like a damn gorilla on a sugar high!"
"Heh? It's not my fault the walls are made of paper!" Saru pouted innocently.
Suddenly—CRACK!!
A bolt of lightning shot past Saru's face, just barely missing his cheek. He tilted his head with a raised brow as a boot wrapped in lightning nearly grazed him.
"Oh? Finally!" Saru said, eyes lighting up again.
Luck landed with a wicked grin, sparks dancing around him. "You didn't save any fun for me, monkey boy."
"Oi oi, don't sneak up on people like that!" Saru snapped, though he was clearly amused.
"Don't act like you weren't waiting for me to jump in," Luck said, crackling with energy.
"Oh, I was," Saru smirked. "But now that I'm hungry, you'll have to finish the next one."
"Deal. But next time—we're fighting together."
Saru nodded, his expression softening for a moment. "You got it, partner."
Behind them, the others watched in varying degrees of awe, disbelief, and exasperation.
"...They're both lunatics," Klaus whispered in horror.
"I think I'm starting to like him…" Mimosa blushed harder.
Noelle threw her hands in the air. "We're doomed."
And Asta, still staring at the impact zone where Saru's Nyoi-bo had shattered the battlefield, clenched his fists again, fire burning behind his eyes.
That's the bar, huh? Fine. I'll raise it higher.
After the dust had settled and the dungeon finally quieted down, the ragtag group of Magic Knights gathered outside the treasure hall—its ancient stone doors towering before them, pulsing faintly with lingering magic.
Klaus, ever the proud and protocol-bound knight, crossed his arms and adjusted his glasses with a sharp motion. "I still would've preferred if we could have captured that Diamond mage alive. Reckless destruction serves no long-term purpose," he said pointedly, his glare aimed straight at Saru.
Saru, however, paid absolutely no mind.
Instead, he was leaning his entire body weight against Noelle's shoulder like a lazy cat, pouting as his stomach gave an audible grumble.
"Ugh, I'm dying here… I need food…"
"Get off me, you damn monkey!" Noelle shoved him half-heartedly, clearly flustered by the contact but too tired to fight back properly.
"Hey! I'm talking to you, damn it!" Klaus snapped, taking a step forward.
Saru turned slowly, stuck two fingers in his ears, and sang, "Ba~ ba~ baaa~ I can't hear anything you're saying!" Then he stuck out his tongue with a smug grin that could enrage a saint.
Klaus's brow twitched violently. "You little—!"
"Just ignore him," Yuno muttered quietly, arms crossed and gaze focused on the treasure hall. "It's not worth the energy."
Asta snorted. "Klaus losing to a monkey is kind of hilarious though."
Meanwhile, Noelle had turned her attention toward Mimosa, her tone gentler. "Are you sure you should be standing already?"
"I'm mostly recovered," Mimosa said, her voice soft as she smiled. Her eyes drifted toward Saru, who had now collapsed dramatically to the floor, clutching his stomach.
"If you're hungry, Saru… I-I can treat you to something later… anything you want," she offered sweetly, hands clasped in front of her.
Saru's ears perked up like a cat hearing a can open.
"Really!?" He zipped to her in an instant and hugged her tightly, rubbing his cheek against hers like a spoiled pet. "Mimosaaaa, you're the best ever!! I want all the sweet things! Cakes, pudding, dumplings—EVERYTHING!"
Mimosa turned bright red, steam practically pouring from her ears. Her expression froze in a dazed smile as her soul briefly left her body.
"H-Huh...?" she mumbled, heart pounding in overdrive. "He... hugged me...?"
Noelle sighed and grabbed her shoulders, shaking her gently. "Mimosa? Hey. Mimosa! Wake up, don't die on me now!"
"Sh-She's malfunctioning," Asta said, waving a hand in front of her face.
"H-Hey!" Klaus shouted, regaining his composure. "All of you, stop this nonsense talking! We were competing to see who'd reach the treasure hall first—and technically, we won."
He raised a finger and pointed at the massive stone doors.
"However…" he continued, with a reluctant huff, "We'll allow you to enter the treasure hall just this once. Consider it charity."
Saru tilted his head, then turned to Luck with a mischievous grin. "Hey, Luck… wanna beat up this four-eyes together?"
Luck's grin widened like a wild dog. "Yes! Let's show him who's the real man!"
"You idiots are talking exactly like Magna!" Noelle yelled, grabbing both by the collars. "Stop ganging up on people just because you're hungry and dumb!"
"But Klaus started it!" Saru and Luck whined in perfect sync.
"I DID NOT!" Klaus barked.
"I wanna eat!" Saru cried.
"I want a rematch!" Luck yelled.
Mimosa stood behind them, still frozen with a blissful smile.
Yuno facepalmed.
Asta burst out laughing.