Black clover: Chains of Transfiguration

The path to the dungeon was long, cutting through dense forests and rugged terrain. Leopold, always energetic, led the way, talking about how this mission would be the first step toward becoming a knight worthy of the Vermillion name. Lincon, however, walked in silence, lost in his own thoughts.

He reflected on his second grimoire—the Grimoire of Inert Transfiguration. Unlike Asta and Yuno, who stored their grimoires in special dimensional spaces, Lincon kept his in a unique state: open within his soul. This was a special functionality offered by the peculiar nature of the grimoire.

"This ability has more advantages than it seems," Lincon thought. "Without needing to materialize it physically, I can cast transfiguration spells without drawing attention. Ideal for stealth attacks or unexpected situations."

Another unexpected benefit was that, being fused with his soul, the grimoire remained invisible to magical senses, including those of Lucius Zogratis. Lincon had already tested this during training sessions with experienced Crimson Lion mages. None of them could detect when he used inert transfiguration.

"This magical invisibility is my greatest advantage... and also my greatest protection," Lincon reflected. "If Lucius discovers I possess soul-related magic, he might consider me a threat. And we know what he does with threats."

That thought sent a chill down his spine. Lucius, the final boss of Black Clover, was more than just a powerful villain—he was an architect of fate, manipulating time, souls, and even reality itself to achieve his goals. If he learned that Lincon possessed similar magic, he would undoubtedly act without hesitation.

For now, Lincon found solace in the fact that his second grimoire remained hidden—a secret weapon against an enemy he hoped never to face directly.

His grimoire offered few spells, but each had unique potential:

1. Transfiguration Healing: The most common and practical. Lincon altered his own soul to accelerate his body's regeneration, much like Mahito in Jujutsu Kaisen. Minor wounds healed in seconds, while more severe injuries required more time and concentration.

2. Form Shifting: This technique allowed Lincon to temporarily alter his physical structure, boosting his strength, speed, and even magical reserves. However, the duration was short, and the exhaustion afterward limited its use in prolonged combat.

3. External Soul Modification: The most delicate and restrictive magic. To affect another person's soul, Lincon needed to touch the target directly, and his soul had to be significantly stronger than the opponent's. In practice, this made the technique nearly useless against real enemies. It might work for healing common civilians, but in battle, it was a frustratingly limited resource.

Lincon, however, was not one to accept limitations without trying to overcome them. During training, he experimented with channeling inert transfiguration through the chains of his first grimoire. The logic was simple: if the chains could touch the enemy, he could affect their souls without direct contact.

The experiment worked… partially.

"It worked, technically. But the effectiveness is so low that even an ordinary person wouldn't be truly affected," Lincon muttered, frustrated. "Direct touch is still essential. The chains simply don't conduct transfiguration magic well."

This limitation weighed on his mind. In a world where the strongest shaped destiny, having such a promising ability shackled by restrictions felt like holding a sheathed blade: powerful but unable to cut.

While reflecting, Leopold turned, interrupting his thoughts.

"Lincon! Let's pick up the pace! If we arrive before sunset, we'll have more time to explore!"

---

Arrival at the Dungeon and the Discovery of New Enemies

As the sun finally began to set on the horizon, the jagged silhouettes of the border mountains appeared ahead, and among them, an immense stone portal covered in arcane symbols pulsed with a greenish light.

"There it is..." Leopold said, pointing toward the dungeon entrance. "It doesn't look different from the reports, but something about the atmosphere feels off."

Lincon felt the same. The air around them vibrated faintly, as if the mana itself was restless. He knew this dungeon wasn't ordinary—it was an intersection point between realms and also the stage for a crucial event in the original timeline, where both Asta and Yuno had grown significantly.

At that moment, Lincon decided to act cautiously. Using his chain magic discreetly through the ground, he activated a variation enhanced by his inert transfiguration—a technique that allowed him to faintly sense the presence of nearby people.

"Let's see if we're really alone…" he murmured, as the chains spread across the terrain like silent serpents.

The results came quickly. Two distinct presences emerged at the edge of his sensory range—strong enough to be noticed but careful not to reveal their position. They were not mere bandits or magical creatures.

Lincon stopped, frowning.

"Leopold, stay alert. I don't think we're alone. I sensed two nearby presences, moving in the shadows."