Chapter 2 (Quartet Knights)

Bring Him Back (連れて帰る) is the second chapter of Tashiro Yumiya's Black Clover Side-Story: Quartet Knights.

Summary
After Asta blocks Yami Sukehiro's initial attack, Yami steps back and tells him, Noelle and Finral that if they want him to go with them so badly, that they'll have to try and make him. Yami releases his mana, which startles the three Black Bulls. He then charges at Asta, telling him to not bore him, but Asta manages to parry Yami's sword with his Demon-Slayer Sword. Asta says that he was trained by Captain Yami himself, and refuses to back down. Yami, impressed by Asta's resolve, once again attacks Asta, but Noelle uses her Sea Dragon's Nest to protect Asta. Noelle thinks about how Yami's Dark Magic can absorb and overpower offensive spells, so randomly attacking him will not be enough, and decides that she'll support Asta for now.

Yami angrily shouts that fighting with their grimoires is cheating, and demands that they fight him with their real strength, which shocks Noelle, Finral, and Asta. Noelle asks where Yami's grimoire is. Yami replies that he doesn't have one yet. Finral realizes that Yami is too young to have received his grimoire yet, which means that Yami can't use his more powerful spells. Noelle realizes she can win this, and launches a toned down Sea Dragon's Roar at Yami with the intention of knocking him unconscious. However, to Noelle's shock, Yami manages to cut through her spell and boasts that he did so through sheer willpower.

Asta charges at Yami, but Yami meets Asta's every strike. Finral tells Noelle to help Asta, but they are too fast for her, so she suggests that Finral do something. Yami calls Asta boring and manages to send him flying into a wall. The three Black Bulls are taken aback by Yami's strength despite lacking a grimoire. Yami sheaths his sword, calling their clash a waste of his time, and walks away saying that he should be looking for Karna.

But Asta charges at Yami again with the Demon-Slayer Sword. Even though Yami managed to block Asta's attack, Asta refuses to give up and declares that he'll surpass his limits as many times as it takes, and promises to take back his captain no matter what because not giving up is his magic. Asta cuts the ground and uses the rubble as a decoy. While Yami cuts through the rubble, Asta takes advantage of the moment and appears behind Yami, slamming the flat side of Demon-Slayer on Yami's head, which causes Yami to lose consciousness and collapse onto the floor.

Finral comments that Yami was too strong for them, but Noelle points out that Finral didn't do anything. She then asks where Asta learned that distraction trick. Asta explains that he wondered if Yami had learned to sense ki yet, and comments that he would have lost if Yami knew. Noelle suggests that they should take Yami back to the base, which worries Finral.

Back at the Black Bull base, Magna Swing wonders why the four are taking so long. Luck Voltia suggests that they might be in a fight with someone strong.