In Black Clover with Zoro Template

Meanwhile, at the front of the treasure gate, Mimosa was sitting on her flower-bed construct, her healing magic working to mend her injuries as she remained protected within the shelter of Noelle's water sphere. The air was tense, and the atmosphere crackled with the strain of battle. Around them, Asta, Yuno, Luck, and Klaus stood ready, facing off against a powerful Diamond Kingdom mage. Each of them bore marks of combat, dirt-streaked and slightly fatigued but unwilling to yield.

Before them stood numerous identical copies of the Diamond mage, each crafted with precision using his unique magic. The clones surrounded the squad, shifting in a continuous loop to disorient them.

Just then, a familiar, deep voice called out, cutting through the chaos. "What? You haven't finished him up yet?"

Everyone whipped around, surprised to see Zoro standing behind them, his silhouette imposing and calm amidst the havoc.

"Vice-Captain! Zoro-sama!" The squad members were shocked to see him here, and a mix of relief and excitement washed over them. They hadn't expected him to appear out of nowhere.

Asta, blinking in surprise, asked, "Vice-Captain, where were you?"

Zoro shrugged, his expression indifferent. "Oh, sorry, got lost," he said nonchalantly, his gaze now settling on the Diamond mage and his clones. "So, do you need any help?" He asked, sounding both disinterested and a bit impatient, as if he had better things to do—like heading back to the base for a good drink and some well-earned meat.

Klaus, prideful as ever, opened his mouth, almost agreeing to the help but hesitated, unable to let go of his dignity. Yuno, however, shook his head firmly. "No, we'll handle this ourselves," he stated with quiet determination. For Yuno, it wasn't about pride, but about proving himself. He wanted to show Zoro that he could hold his own, that he could rise to the expectations placed on him.

Zoro simply shrugged, letting them have their moment. He respected their resolve, but he also looked just a bit amused as he watched them struggle. He folded his arms, leaning casually against a nearby wall, his eyes on the Diamond mage.

Meanwhile, the Diamond Kingdom mage caught sight of Zoro's arrival, his heart sinking slightly. The memory of his previous brief encounter with the vice-captain was still fresh, and he knew he was hopelessly outmatched by that man. He wasn't foolish enough to attack Zoro again, understanding that any attempt to engage him directly would likely lead to his own swift defeat. But with no way out and with Zoro silently observing the battlefield, he realized he'd have to come up with a strategy—and fast.

Asta, Yuno, Luck, and Klaus readied themselves, every muscle tensed for action as the Diamond Kingdom mage prepared his next attack. With a swift movement of his hand, the mage summoned a massive sword crafted from shimmering minerals. But before he could even swing it, Asta surged forward, his body moving with an incredible burst of speed. In a single, fluid motion, he sliced cleanly through the mage's conjured blade, shattering it into glimmering fragments. Asta continued his charge, covering the distance in a flash, and landed a powerful strike against the mage's chest, sending him hurtling backward through the air.

Zoro, watching from the side with arms crossed, offered a calm reminder, "Don't let your guard down yet, kid." His tone was relaxed, but his eyes were sharp, taking in every detail of the battle unfolding before him.

Just then, the ground beneath Asta rumbled and cracked as an enormous cluster of diamond spikes erupted upward, encircling him in a deadly formation. The mage, having embedded himself within the mineral structure, now appeared as a towering golem. His body was encased in glittering diamonds, each crystal reflecting the eerie light of the dungeon. The golem's massive form loomed over the battlefield, its diamond-studded fists poised to crush anyone in its path.

But Asta, unfazed, stared down the hulking golem as smoke and debris clouded the air. As the dust settled, he emerged from the haze, determination blazing in his eyes. With his sword raised high, he charged forward again, shouting, "I'll break all your diamonds!" With a powerful swing, he unleashed his full strength, cleaving through the golem's thick, crystalline exterior in a single, devastating blow. The impact sent a shockwave through the room, shattering the diamond creature and sending fragments scattering across the floor as the mage within crumpled, finally defeated.

While Asta clashed with the golem, Yuno, Luck, and Klaus were embroiled in their own intense struggle against a swarm of the mage's diamond clones. Each copy moved with relentless precision, their attacks coming from every direction. Yuno's wind magic, Luck's lightning, and Klaus's steel magic worked in unison, keeping the clones at bay and preventing them from overwhelming Asta. Though exhausted, they fought with renewed energy, determined to hold off the mage's illusions so that Asta could deliver the finishing blow.

As the dust settled and the shattered fragments of diamonds littered the floor, the squad took a collective breath, realizing that the battle was finally over. A faint grin tugged at the corner of Zoro's mouth as he observed their victory, satisfied with the squad's determination and skill.

With the enemy mage restrained in Klaus's steel bindings, Zoro approached the group, and they finally noticed a tiny figure perched on his shoulder. "Whaaat? Who's that, Vice-Captain?" Asta exclaimed, wide-eyed with curiosity.

Zoro glanced at the spirit and replied coolly, "She's a lightning spirit. My…" he paused, considering his words, "servant." He nodded with a smirk.

"What?" Vermithra gasped, clearly offended. As a noble spirit, she wasn't about to accept being called a mere servant. In a flash of indignation, she started hammering her tiny fists against the side of Zoro's head. Despite her efforts, Zoro remained unfazed, barely acknowledging her punches. "I am NOT your servant! I'm your partner. Partner, remember that!" she huffed, crossing her arms in annoyance.

Meanwhile, Yuno and Klaus observed the scene, impressed by the rare presence of a spirit. Mimosa and Noelle, however, couldn't hide their excitement, their eyes shining as they watched Vermithra's antics. The tiny spirit's fierce attitude only seemed to heighten her charm. Noelle, in particular, found herself thinking, She's so cute… why did she have to end up with our cold, stoic Vice-Captain? Vermithra, now noticing the intense gazes, gulped nervously.

"Enough," Zoro said finally, catching the little spirit in his hand. "We've got work to do." Vermithra pouted but obediently resumed her place on his shoulder, mumbling something under her breath as she settled down.

"Let's open the gate," Zoro said, leading the group to the towering door of the treasure vault. The surface was covered with ancient magical runes glowing faintly.

"It looks like it's made of magic," Luck observed, running his fingers over the intricate markings. "What should we do?"

"We'll just cut it," Zoro replied nonchalantly, giving Asta a nudge.

Asta grinned, stepping forward and brandishing his anti-magic sword. With a powerful swing, he cleaved through the enchanted door, creating a massive opening. As they stepped through, they were met with an astonishing sight—a treasure room glittering with gold, jewels, and ancient artifacts stacked high.

While the others explored the treasure, Zoro leaned back in a chair he'd found, visibly bored. The others reveled in the gold, inspecting various artifacts and jewels, each more enticing than the last.

Yuno's attention, however, was drawn to a mysterious scroll tucked away in a shadowed corner. As he opened it, the scroll began to glow, and ancient writing appeared before vanishing in an instant, leaving the page blank. His companions took notice, but before they could react, Nero, who had been pestering Asta, suddenly tugged at his cloak, leading him toward a hidden part of the wall. As Asta prepared to investigate, a thunderous noise echoed through the chamber.

The vault's doors burst open, and a towering golem several times larger than before crashed in. The defeated Diamond Kingdom mage stood atop the golem's head, his body now cloaked in crimson flames that seemed to fuel the creature rather than harm him. His eyes glinted with a crazed determination as he controlled the behemoth with a mere flick of his hand.

Noelle stepped forward, determined. "I'll put out those flames!" She summoned her water magic, but before she could launch an attack, the golem's massive arm swung down, sending her hurtling backward with incredible force. Mimosa rushed to her side, quickly channeling her magic to heal her injuries.

Asta clenched his fists, fury igniting within him at the sight of his friends being hurt. With a fierce battle cry, he charged forward, but his rage-fueled attack was met by the golem's solid defense. A colossal diamond fist struck Asta, launching him through the wall, debris scattering in all directions.

Luck, Yuno, and Klaus weren't spared either. As they tried to approach the golem, diamond shards erupted from the ground, trapping their limbs in place. No matter how much they struggled, their bodies refused to move, as if bound by invisible chains.

Noticing Mimosa's healing magic, the mage on the golem's head sneered, summoning five massive diamond blades in the air. With a flick of his wrist, he sent them hurtling toward her. Just before they could strike, Asta reappeared, brandishing a newly acquired sword. He moved with blinding speed, slicing through each of the diamond blades in a single, sweeping motion, shattering them into harmless shards.

The group stared in awe at Asta's new weapon, which gleamed with an otherworldly aura. The blade seemed to pulse with energy, resonating with his anti-magic power.

"Hurry up and defeat him, Asta…" Noelle muttered through gritted teeth, her strength waning as she tried to sit up.

Asta nodded, determination flaring in his eyes. "Roger that! Leave it to me." His sword glowed with a vibrant blue light as he lifted it high. With a powerful swing, he unleashed a massive, crescent-shaped slash infused with water magic—a feat that shocked everyone around him. The slash surged forward, slicing through the air and crashing into the golem with a tremendous force. The golem staggered as chunks of its diamond armor shattered, forcing the mage to retreat from his perch atop the creature.

Everyone stared, speechless, at the spectacle before them, wondering how Asta had managed to channel Noelle's water magic through his new sword. The mystery of this strange weapon lingered in their minds as the dust settled, leaving only the aftermath of Asta's powerful attack.

Just as Asta's attack ended, he collapsed to the ground, drained of all energy. The Diamond Kingdom mage emerged, unharmed, his gaze sharpening as he summoned a massive, shimmering sword. With a determined sneer, he raised the blade above his head, preparing to bring it down on Asta. Klaus, Luck, Mimosa, and Yuno watched in horror, their bodies straining against the diamond bindings holding them. Each struggled to break free, desperate to save their friend but powerless to do anything.

"Damn it… come on, move!" Luck muttered through clenched teeth, his veins bulging as he fought the restraint. "I'm not letting Asta get crushed!"

" Zoro…" Yuno whispered, frantically searching for the Vice-Captain, who had been so calm earlier. He could feel the looming shadow of death, knowing Asta was in the crosshairs.

Then, a chilling voice cut through the chaos like a blade: "Time's up." The words echoed ominously through the dungeon, and instantly, a suffocating pressure blanketed the room.

Everyone—friend and foe alike—felt an overwhelming instinct to freeze. It was as if their very survival depended on remaining still. The mage halted mid-swing, his eyes wide as he struggled against an invisible force that threatened to snuff out his life if he dared to move.

The source of the pressure stepped forward, calm and deliberate. Zoro rose from his seat, walking slowly toward the group. In his right hand, he held a sheathed katana with a pristine white hilt and scabbard.

"Show me what you can do, Vermithra," Zoro commanded, his tone icy and unfeeling.

The tiny lightning spirit, now gleeful with excitement, buzzed around Zoro in an energetic spiral. She darted toward the blade, merging with it, causing an intense red light to pulse from the sword. The katana began to transform—the once-white scabbard now covered in black and red dragon-like scales, the hilt turning a beautiful crimson, adorned with ethereal, feather-like threads hanging down. The entire blade crackled with fierce red lightning, radiating an aura that both mesmerized and terrified.

In an instant, Zoro disappeared from his position, reappearing right in front of the frozen mage, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. With a barely audible whisper, he intoned, "Ittoryu Iai: Daishinkan."

In one graceful, fluid motion, Zoro unsheathed the sword and slashed. A blinding red arc of light tore through the dungeon, cutting cleanly through the mage, the massive golem, and even the thick dungeon ceiling above, revealing a clear view of the sky beyond. The magic bindings holding everyone vanished instantly as the lifeless golem crumbled to dust. The entire dungeon shook as Zoro sheathed his sword with a barely concealed look of disdain.

"Pathetic," he muttered, his sword returning to normal as Vermithra reappeared, fluttering smugly around him.

"So, how was that? Huh? How was my power?" Vermithra asked, her voice full of pride.

But Zoro ignored her, his cold gaze fixed ahead. Vermithra pouted, annoyed at being brushed aside, but her excitement was too great to dim.

As the dust settled, each of his teammates remained frozen in place, shock and awe written across their faces.

Luck, always one to love a powerful show of force, was the first to break the silence. "What… what was that!?" he stammered, fists clenched in excitement. "That was insane! Just one move, and he—he destroyed everything! I've never seen anything like it!" His eyes sparkled, his shock turning into pure admiration. "Vice-Captain! Please teach me that move!"

"Luck, that attack… it's not something you can just learn!" Klaus interjected, his voice trembling. As he adjusted his glasses, he still couldn't believe what he had seen. "That precision… that power… I can't even begin to understand the level he operates on. To destroy the ceiling, the golem, and the mage… all in a single stroke ?" He shook his head in disbelief. "That's… monstrous."

Yuno remained silent, but his gaze sharpened with renewed determination. He clenched his fists, replaying the scene in his mind. He knew that if he was to be the one who stood equal with Zoro, he had a long, difficult path ahead of him. The sheer gap in strength between himself and Zoro was staggering, and yet, it only fueled his resolve.

"Vice-Captain Zoro…" he murmured, eyes steely. "One day, I'll reach that level. No… I'll surpass it."

Mimosa, however, was in awe for a different reason. "The way he… moved. He didn't hesitate, not for a second," she said, admiration lacing her voice. "It was so smooth, so precise, like he knew exactly where and how deep to cut. To think someone with such power is fighting alongside us…" She held her hands together, eyes filled with respect.

Meanwhile, Noelle's expression shifted from shock to a mixture of awe and frustration. "Ugh… why does he have to be so cool about it?" she muttered, crossing her arms, her cheeks slightly red. She could hardly admit it, but seeing Zoro wield that kind of strength and composure made her heart race. "I mean, he didn't even look tired! If that's the kind of power he has, maybe he could at least teach us something useful instead of ignoring everyone all the time…"

Vermithra continued to buzz around Zoro, a proud smirk on her face as she basked in everyone's stunned reactions. She floated down to Noelle, still basking in the glory of Zoro's display.

"See? I told you! Only someone like me would make the perfect partner for someone like him!" she bragged, arms crossed as she nodded, delighted by the admiration. But Noelle's eyes narrowed as her jealousy flared. She muttered under her breath, "Yeah, yeah, we get it. You're powerful… just wish you weren't with him."

A groan echoed from Asta as he slowly regained consciousness. "Huh… what did I miss?" he asked, rubbing his head. When he saw the gaping hole in the ceiling and the remains of the dungeon, his eyes went wide. "Wait… what happened? Did Vice-Captain Zoro do this!?"

Yuno sighed, looking at Asta with a faint smirk. "Yeah. You missed it, Asta. Vice-Captain Zoro took care of everything with one move."

Asta's mouth dropped open. "Vice-Captain! You're awesome!" He rushed over, practically bouncing with excitement. "You've gotta show me that technique one day! Teach me, please!"

Zoro let out an exasperated sigh, his gaze narrowing at Asta's incessant enthusiasm. "Enough," he muttered, lifting his leg in a swift kick that sent Asta hurtling across the room, right into Mimosa's arms. "Go heal up first. This place isn't gonna hold for long."

Just as his words echoed through the chamber, an ominous rumble filled the air, like the deep growl of a beast waking from slumber. The ground trembled violently, and fine cracks splintered across the dungeon's stone walls, growing wider with each passing second. Bits of debris began to crumble from the ceiling, tumbling down in a deadly rain of rubble.

"No… it's collapsing!" Klaus shouted, his voice barely audible over the cacophony of shifting stone and cracking walls. His eyes darted from side to side, assessing the quickly deteriorating situation. "Everyone, stay close! We need to find a way out—now!"

Mimosa knelt beside Asta, her hands glowing with the soft green light of her healing magic. "Hold still, Asta," she said, her tone laced with urgency as she worked to close his injuries. Her gaze flickered upward nervously as larger chunks of the ceiling began to fall around them.

Noelle's voice trembled slightly, though she tried to maintain her composure. "I… I don't think we have time to find another way out! The whole place is going to come down on us!"

As the dust thickened, Yuno's eyes glowed with determination. "I'll clear a path. Just make sure everyone stays close and stays ready."

The dungeon shuddered with increasing intensity, and a massive slab of stone broke free from above, crashing down mere feet from where they stood. The deafening impact sent a tremor through the floor, causing Luck to leap back instinctively, his heart pounding in his chest.

"Vice-Captain! Are you just going to stand there?" Luck shouted, half in excitement and half in fear, as he watched Zoro calmly assess the chaos around him, seemingly unfazed by the destruction.

Zoro's eyes were cold and calculating as he scanned the collapsing dungeon. With an almost dismissive glance, he let out a short, irritated grunt. "If you're too slow, you'll be left behind," he replied, his tone as casual as if he were commenting on the weather.

A chilling wave of red lightning sparked around Vermithra as she floated beside him, eyes bright with excitement and fear. "Zoro, are we really leaving them behind?" she asked, trying to mask her thrill with a hint of worry.

Zoro smirked, his grip tightening on the hilt of his sword. "Nah, I'll clear the way."

With a swift, decisive motion, Zoro unsheathed his blade, letting out a low, calm breath. "Brace yourselves," he murmured as he moved forward, his sword slicing cleanly through the falling debris like it was nothing but paper. Each swing sent debris scattering, carving a clear path toward the exit.

Yuno quickly summoned a gust of wind, using it to steady the path and push away lingering dust. "Follow him!" he shouted, motioning for the others to stay close as Zoro led the way.

The group pressed forward, stumbling through the tremors and following Zoro's relentless pace. Mimosa gripped Asta's arm, practically dragging him forward as he regained his strength. Noelle and Klaus covered the rear, watching as the walls began to collapse behind them, swallowing the chamber in a wave of dust and darkness.

With one final swing of his blade, Zoro cleaved through a section of the wall, revealing a sliver of light—a narrow escape route leading outside. "Move it," he barked, gesturing toward the exit as the ground beneath them began to fracture.

As they dashed toward freedom, Asta glanced over his shoulder at the dungeon, which was now a chaotic swirl of dust and falling stones. His heart pounded with a mix of adrenaline and relief. "That was close… too close!"

With one final burst of speed, the group sprinted through the opening, escaping just as the dungeon gave one last ominous shudder before collapsing in on itself. A deafening roar of rock and stone filled the air as the entire structure crumbled, sealing away whatever treasures—and dangers—had remained within.

They skidded to a halt outside, breathing heavily, each of them covered in dust and dirt. The silence that followed was thick and heavy, punctuated only by their labored breaths.

Yuno let out a sigh, dusting himself off as he turned to look back at the rubble that had once been the dungeon. "We made it," he said quietly, the reality of their escape settling in.

Noelle collapsed to her knees, her hands shaking slightly as she exhaled in relief. "I—I thought we were done for…"

Luck laughed, his eyes bright with exhilaration. "That was insane! We need to do this more often!"

Zoro sheathed his blade with a casual flick of his wrist, looking at the group with a calm indifference. "Don't fall behind next time," he said bluntly, walking past them with Vermithra buzzing beside him, still looking immensely pleased with herself.

The group shared a glance, a mixture of admiration, relief, and awe in their eyes. This mission, nearly fatal and wholly chaotic, had only confirmed one thing—they still had a long way to go to reach Zoro's level.