Chapter 57 - Graceful

"Whoa!! What the fuċk happened to your arms!! And you! Who are you?"

Seeing the Black Bulls return back from the Seabed Temple, Grim was shocked to see a shy looking blue haired girl arriving with them and Asta's arms in bandages.

"GRIM!!" Everyone exclaimed when they walked in. "You're awake!"

---

"So that's what happened." Sitting at the table with the others, they explained everything that happened during the mission. They described how they fought that Vetto, how Noelle finally managed to use an attack spell, how Asta, Vanessa and Finral triple teamed him and how Yami surpassed his limits and one shot the dude. Listening them, Grim was astonished by the tale and was envious that he wasn't able to crush some strong people. But what interested him the most from their story was the fact that Luck and Magna teamed up and used union magic.

'Union magic huh...'

Looking at the two of them, Grim tried to imagine the power of the spell but was distracted by the new girl. Apparently she was that creepy looking member of the Black Bulls that could use transformation magic.

The next thing on his mind was Yami's spell [Dark Cloaked Dimension Slash]. Thinking about how Yami struggled to fight that Vetto guy back when they were in that cave, he was honestly shocked that Yami was capable of one shoting him. If they told him that it had taken a couple of hits to beat him then that wouldn't be to hard to believe. After all, Grim had surpassed his limits several times and still wasn't able to one shot his enemies.

*Sigh* 'I've still got a ways to go.'

[Total Concentration Constant: Beast]

While having [Breath of Wind] as his base would have increased his agility and attack speed, [Breath of the Beast] was the style he was most familiar with and he felt that enhancing his physique and natural senses were more beneficial in the long run. Not to mention that since his physique would be enhanced at all times, his sword swings would be many times stronger as a result.

Now that he had completed his objective with the Blue Rose squad, he wanted to focus his attention on raising his mana control abilities.

Looking at Asta who had broken his arms but was still able to look forward, Grim had a feeling that this experience had actually strengthened him and that the gap between would be closing soon. In fact, if it wasn't for them being tired and Asta being unable to use his swords he would have challenged him, Luck and Magna to a battle.

Walking into the room, Yami looked over everyone until his sight landed on Charmy.

"Oi Charmy, I'm going to report to the Wizard King, hurry up and bring the captives."

Apparently Charmy had a pretty powerful binding spell that shrunk her enemies and trapped them in cotton balls the size of a fist.

"Will there be any tasty food?"

"No." He shot her down before looking at Finral. "Bring us there with your magic."

"Will there be any pretty girls?"

"No."

"Can I come too!!" Asta asked jumping to his feet.

"Hmm? Well I guess you were a part of the mission so sure."

"Hell yeah!!" He cheered.

"We might as well go and visit that doctor while we're there and get those arms of yours fixed."

"Seriously!!"

Ignoring him, Yami turned to look at Grim.

"You gonna be okay by yourself?"

'By myself?'

'I guess that underwater place really took it out of them...'

"I'll be fine." He nodded and watched sa they disappeared through Finral's portal.

"Hyhh!" Standing up and stretching, Grim looked at his unconscious squadmates before shaking his head and heading to the courtyard.

---

Covered in sweat and with hurried breathing, Grim stood topless in the courtyard holding onto an unfamiliar blue blade with a red hexagonal handguard.

'C'mon Grim, its not that difficult.'

After choosing [Breath of the Beast] as his base, Grim had noticed that any physical action he did had been enhanced. Even his walking speed had been increased. Realizing that this could be a problem in the short run, he quickly started training in order to adapt to his body's new changes.

*Deep Breath*

[Breath of Water - Third Form: Flowing Dance]

Originally supposed to be a movement type spell that would have the user move in a similar fashion to a serene water flow, with the [Breath of the Beast] boost added on, Grim's movements were more forceful and resembled a pressurized water flow rather than a calm one.

Performing the movements again, an ethereal stream of water followed behind him while a blue aura clung to his body.

'Wow.'

Watching from the window, Noelle and the others found themselves entranced by his dance.

"Its like flowing water..." Vanessa muttered unable to turn away.

'I need to stop being so aggressive and straightforward with my movements and become more fluid and versatile...'

Controlling his breathing, Grim's dance slowed down but the stream behind him suddenly became more defined in appearance.

"Is it just me... or is he getting better?" Magna asked.

"You think so to?" Noelle ċȯċked her head.

'Each movements needs to naturally flow into the next.'

Taking another step forward, Grim's blade started radiating a blue light as water started manifesting around it and started resonating with Grim's movements.

"Its... beautiful..."

'Like all living beings, water can change phases, sometimes it can be calm as a lake and sometimes it can be as vicious as a raging ocean. With the physical boost given to me by [Breath of the Beast] I need to find the right balance between these two if I wish to use this spell effectively.'

As if affected by his thoughts, Grim's movements changed repeatedly but somehow still contained an element of grace and beauty.

Awed by such movements, the rest of the Black Bull members watched in silence as Grim slowly brought his dance to an end.

"Amazing..." Luck whispered as his eyes were fixated on Grim's slowing figure.