Strange use of Magic (Black Clover AU)

[Third Person's PoV] 

Yuno soared gracefully through the sky, his form cutting a striking figure against the heavens as he unleashed a flurry of glowing, green crescents. They sliced through the air with unnatural speed, each arc leaving a shimmering trail behind as it hurtled toward its target.

Yet even with the furious velocity of Yuno's attacks, Catherine managed to evade him. She weaved skillfully on her broom, gripping tightly as she zigzagged through the barrage. Her laughter echoed, wild and taunting, as she conjured her own spells to hurl back at him. Crackling with manic energy, she seemed to revel in the chaos, her voice shrill and mocking.

But Yuno cut down each of her attacks with precision and ease, his focus unbreakable. Suddenly, though, a strange blurriness crept into his vision, and his movements grew sluggish. Confusion flickered across his face as he tried to shake off the sensation, but his head felt heavy, clouded. Faintly, he heard Catherine's laughter, now muffled but dripping with cruel satisfaction.

"Hehehe!! Why do you look so slow, so… vulnerable?" she mocked, licking her lips. "Could it be that you didn't realize? Even after cutting down my Cursed Ash Magic, its essence lingers in the air. You've been breathing it in, With every breath, it weakens you more and more. And that—" she grinned wickedly, "is the price you pay for calling me an old hag!"

Yuno exhaled slowly, closing his eyes. 'Remember what Stephen taught you… Feel the wind as if it were your own skin. Use it as an extension of your senses.' He centered himself, blocking out Catherine's mocking voice. Normally, this technique had felt challenging, his physical senses often too dominant. But now, as his body felt the weight of the curse, it came more naturally.

As he delved deeper into his magic, his awareness heightened. The world around him became a symphony of mana, each thread vibrant and alive. His eyes snapped open, glowing an intense green, as his grimoire began to hum and its pages flipped open of their own accord. Powerful pillars of wind rose around him, swirling in intense currents that left Catherine wide-eyed in shock.

The winds parted, revealing Yuno, standing with an air of unshakable resolve. Before him, a small, ethereal figure emerged—a wind fairy, Sylph, with arms outstretched protectively. Though his vision was still impaired, a faint smirk graced Yuno's face.

---

Meanwhile, Stephen cut through the sky, arriving at a battlefield littered with corpses, a grim testament to the fierce struggle that had unfolded. Leopold was locked in battle, standing near Asta, who was fighting against a hulking puppet corpse called No. 3: David. The puppet loomed over him, thick and formidable, wielding Muddy Water Magic—a direct counter to Leopold's fiery arsenal.

Asta, in turn, faced off against two unique corpses that emanated a sinister presence. The first, No. 4: Jimmy, was a towering figure with elongated arms wrapped in black bandages. Sinister, purple curse orbs orbited around him, pulsing with dark energy. The second, No. 2: Alfred, floated ominously, his body bound in a black straitjacket, his eyeless face adorned with eerie, eye-shaped ornaments. Lightning crackled and surged around him, giving him an aura of impending doom.

"Come on, Asta! I thought you'd have this wrapped up by now!" Stephen called out with a smirk as he hovered overhead.

"It's not that easy!!" Asta shouted, struggling to fend off attacks from both enemies. Dual swords in hand, his demonic markings flared across his face. "If I focus on one, the other gets an opening!" He dashed to and fro, skillfully blocking lightning bolts and deflecting curse orbs, his movements a blur of pure determination.

"Instead of just standing there, how about lending a hand!?" Asta yelled.

"Hmm… should I?" Stephen mused, his tone playful.

"Stephen!!" Asta barked in frustration.

"Alright, alright," Stephen chuckled, raising his hand. "Let's make this a little easier."

Nearby, Rades issued cold commands to his puppets. "Jimmy, keep the pressure on the anti-magic brat. Alfred, go after the floating maggot before he decides to go away again. Cripple them both!"

Stephen grinned, observing the situation. With a commanding voice, he called out, "I summon the Crimson Bands of Cyttorak!"

Scarlet bands of energy erupted from his arms, wrapping around his limbs in a brilliant, crimson glow. Alfred lunged at him, unleashing a surge of electricity in Stephen's direction. Calmly, Stephen extended his palm, absorbing the discharge as steam hissed from his hand. When the attack ceased, he clenched his fist, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"My turn," he declared, darting forward with astonishing speed. He closed the gap to Alfred in an instant, delivering a punch that sent the corpse flying back, then following up with another blow, his expression gleeful.

Meanwhile, Leopold was under heavy assault from David's Muddy Water Magic, thick tendrils of murky liquid lashing toward him. Suddenly, a figure descended from above, landing in a crouch. Wanda, her gaze focused and fierce, raised her hands, her eyes glowing with a crimson hue. She unleashed a wave of magic that surged outward, capturing the undead—including David—in a crimson glow. With a twist of her fingers, she levitated them, suspending them in mid-air before swinging her arms down slamming down to the ground with a large thud.

Seeing this, Rades hissed and retaliated with a projectile of his magic aimed at Wanda. But before it could strike, a protective dome of water encased her, courtesy of Noelle, who was panting from exertion. She steadied herself, one hand on her knee, wand pointed protectively at Wanda.

With a determined expression, Wanda clasped her hands together, the strain evident on her face as she poured her energy into the spell. The undead began to crack, splintering like fragile glass. With a final, forceful gesture, she slammed her hands down, shattering the corpses in a burst of crimson light.

Leopold let out an impressed whistle. "Whoa! You Black Bulls are something else!"

Wanda managed a slight smile, brushing back her hair as she glanced at the others. Asta was in the midst of his own intense fight, swinging his swords with relentless fury, his movements blurring as he sliced through curse orbs faster than Jimmy could summon them. With a triumphant shout, he cleaved through the puppet, bisecting it with a powerful slash.

As Asta finished his battle, a body crashed at Rades's feet. It was Alfred, now headless, his mangled form twisted beyond recognition. Stephen floated down, tossing Alfred's severed head up and down casually.

"Really, Asta, I don't see why you struggled. He was pretty weak." He grinned, squeezing the head until it shattered in his hand.

Rades's face twisted in fury, his mana spiking as he prepared to unleash his wrath at seeing his prized creations destroyed.

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