Chapter 1
A Monster named Monster.
"Gosh, I didn't think we'd be out of food so fast," the black-haired teen looked at his pack before holding it upside down. The only thing that was left was crumbs and dust.
"Don't you mean you're out of food?" The small plant like creature tugged on his friend's hair grumbling. "I don't eat that sort of thing, so if we're out of food it's only one person's fault!"
The black-haired teen sighed closing one of his red-eyes. "I guess you're right, plus it doesn't seem like anyone where would have anything to eat." He added looking around the decimated town.
"Well, that's pretty obvious Hud," the plant creature replied jumping off of the teen's head examining the nearby bodies. He wrapped his root like arms around one of them looking at the clothing of the victims. "They don't look like they are normal villagers."
"Yeah..." The teen replied looking at the uniforms. He took note of the deep red heart like symbol on most of them. "Do you think they are apart of a guild?"
"Guild..." The plant creature placed his hand against his lips, or whatever a plant would call lips. "Ah, that garbage that humans make, does it really matter? They were probably trash anyway."
"Ah, maybe." Hud crossed his arms. "But wouldn't making a guild be really fun? Gathering a bunch of strong people and doing stuff!"
"Not this again." The plant creature groaned jumping back onto his friend's head. "If you have time to think about pointless garbage like that then you have time to find that thing your cousin was after."
"Hey Anlage, do you really think it's here?" Hud asked causing the plant creature to groan once again.
"How am I supposed to know that?" Anlage snapped. "Let's just hurry up and find it, I heard that the Salad Squad is going to be in this area and we don't want to pick a fight with them..."
"Actually I wouldn't mind fighting one of them! I heard they are really powerful!" Hud chuckled forcing Anlage to cross his arms...or rather roots.
"Don't be stupid, they are A rank and you are B rank, the difference would be obvious. Don't pick fights that you can't win!" Anlage said forcing his friend to pout.
"It's not like it would be the first time we fought an A rank monster..."
"That was a fluke, now let's hurry up, and start looking." Anlage tugged on his friend's hair as if steering him to the next location.
The two of them then started to rummage through the destroyed houses looking for the special item that his cousin had sent him to find. Though the more they looked the more they realized that Hud's cousin never really specified what exactly the item looked like.
She simply told them 'you'd know it once you find it,' but such a thing was still far too vague. They were looking through an entire town after all, and any misplaced object could have been the thing that she wanted.
"I'm starting to think that she might be playing a trick on us..." Anlage sighed throwing a bottle over his shoulder, or whatever plants called shoulders.
"Maybe...but this is kind of lame for a trick," Hud frowned casually ripping up the floor boards and tossing them to the side. "Though, it's kind of weird, even though we found a bunch of those weird guys dead, there wasn't any normal villagers."
"So? Maybe they all ran away, you know how humans can be sometimes...they don't have any pride." Anlage shrugged peeking into a nearby telescope.
"Just seems super weird, ah, but I'm a monster so I shouldn't worry about that sort of thing!" Hud laughed before reaching into the ground and touching something. "Huh, what's this?" Hud reached into the ground ripping out something rather heavy.
It was a strange object with a mysterious symbol carved into it. "This looks important," he said continuing to examine the orb. "Maybe this is what she is after."
"Let me see!" Anlage waved his roots into the air causing Hud to toss the large orb towards him. The creature caught it, nearly falling over from the weight of the object. "It does look sort of important...we might as well take it with us." Anlage said handing it back to Hud.
"Alright, we should move on to the next house then." Hud smiled sitting back up. "Maybe we can find some leftover food there too!"
"That's probably your main concern!" Anlage grumbled as he jumped back onto his friend's shoulders. The two left the completely ruined house, but the moment they stepped outside Hud's nostrils flared. His red-eyes quickly stared past a nearby building causing him to frown.
"There is no doubt about it, there are two humans nearby...you can see their soul too right?" Hud asked his friend causing the plant creature to scoff.
"Who cares? They are humans right? No need for concern, maybe if it was a monster I'd be a bit more worried." Anlage waved his roots about causing Hud to slump his shoulders.
"Gosh, lowering your guard is pretty bad even if they are humans. Plus they might know what happened here..."
"Like I said, who cares? It's probably stupid human stuff anyway," Anlage insisted that they dismissed them.
"Well, I'm going to talk to them."
"Hud, what's this about? You normally don't concern yourself with worthless garbage like humans." Anlage yawned, or whatever a plant did to yawn since they didn't have lungs.
"Come on, the whole reason we left the village was to meet interesting people right? If you don't talk to anyone then it is pointless," Hud wagged his finger walking towards the direction of the two souls he sensed.
"What the hell happened here?" Zancrow eye twitched looking over the bodies of his fellow Grimoire Heart members. The whole thing was supposed to be a simple eradication mission, so simple in fact that the only other Seven Kin of Purgatory member that was with him was Meredy.
"Do you think it was a sneak attack?" The pink-haired woman asked looking around the decimated area?
"Tsk, who knows? I thought it was weird that no civilians were here..." The Blonde scoffed before a twisted smile crept onto his face. "Well, whoever did this I'll make sure they suffer nice and long for it.
Meredy was about to reply before her attention instantly turned to a figure walking towards them in the distance. "Enemies?"
"Eh?" Zancrow ears perked up as a grin appeared on his face. "Even if they aren't enemies I need someone to take out my frustration on!"
When the figure finally came into vision they were less than impressed. All that was in front of them was a strange looking teen with an odd creature on the top of his head. Even his clothing seemed rather plain, if a bit queer in appearance.
"Howdy!" Without even a hint of hesitation the teen lifted his hands waving at the two, almost like he was waving to a pair of old friends and not a duo of mages belonging to one of the most dangerous dark-guilds.
"Did you seriously just say howdy?" The plant creature tugged on his friend's hair causing him to slump his shoulders.
"What? Is something wrong with howdy?"
"..."
"..."
The person standing in front of them really wasn't what either Zancrow or Meredy was expecting. What was worse was the fact that they couldn't sense any magic coming from him at all.
"Is this some kind of joke?" Zancrow eye twitched.
"Maybe he is a civilian that managed to avoid whatever happened here..." Meredy replied.
"Anyway, my name is Monster Hud, you can call me by either name if you want." Hud smiled before pointing to the creature on his head. "This here i-"
"Don't share my name so casually with humans!" Anlage cut off his friend. "Let me do my own introduction, I'm not a toddler!"
Once again, Meredy and Zancrow remained silent before the latter broke out in a sickening laugh. "You don't know who we are...do you?"
"...Should I?" Hud response was blunt, it was impossible to tell if he was trying to be a smart-ass or if it was genuine ignorance.
"Tsk, I don't sense any magic from you...do you really think a weakling can talk that kind of shit and me not respond?" The blonde mage smiled pressing his hand together, black flames appeared from his this of his fingers. In an instant a wave of dark fire ate away at the ground consuming and Hud in a single swoop.
"See what happens when a worm talks back to a tiger?" Zancrow laughed, though his laughter was cut short as he noticed something from the corner of his eye.
"W-wow you shot fire from your hands! Are you a decedent of the fire turtles?" Hud pointed nervously at the dark mage. There wasn't a scratch on either him or the strange plant creature hanging off of him.
"No Hud, remember? Humans can use magic or something, he's probably using that..." Anlage pointed out causing Hud to cross his arms looking at the scorched earth that was left behind.
"Huh, I guess I was worried for no reason..." Hud let out a sigh before picking up his plant friend and placing him on the ground. "You should get somewhere safe, I think these two aren't nice people."
Meredy scanned the strange teen before looking at Zancrow. "Do you want me to help?"
"Shut it!" Zancrow snapped. "I can take care of a piece of trash like him by myself!"
Hud simply slumped his shoulders. "Geez, for a human you are kind of uppity, but you kind of remind me of a certain serpent." Hud then took a deep breath before stretching.
"You should know that you're about to experience a pain far worse tha-"
"Can we fight now?" Hud cut off the blonde causing the god-slayers eyes to be filled with rage.
"Bastard..." That was the god-slayer's response before he reeled his fist back as another burst of flame escaped his hand.
Hud's eyes widened as he avoided the attack completely, Zancrow quickly tracked him into the air while he laughed at his seemingly helpless foe. "Is running away the only thing you can do?"
Zancrow jumped into the air his hands covered in fire. Hud on the other hand just hung in the air, his expression not changing despite the god-slayer heading straight for him.
The god-slayer reeled his fist back preparing to strike, but the moment he tried to strike Hud he felt an impact in both his arm and stomach. Zancrow body stiffened before he felt another blow on his right shoulder instantly sending him to the ground.
The earth shattered the moment Zancrow the dirt. Hud finally landed letting out an irritated sigh.
"You shouldn't try to punch someone if you don't have the proper training..." Hud pouted.
"The hell was that?" Zancrow sat up, a sharp pain in both his stomach and shoulder. Despite the attacks being just basic punches and kicks the attacks felt like it rumbled the god-slayer to his core.
Was he a mage? That was the first thing that came to Zancrow's mind, after all the person in front of him clearly wasn't normal. Yet Zancrow couldn't sense any magic coming from his opponent.
"So, you're the type of weakling that has to hide his magic," Zancrow replied prompting Hud to scratch his cheek.
"I don't use magic, but I guess that doesn't matter right now..." Hud returned to his fighting position causing Zancrow to grit his teeth.
"Lying to make yourself feel better?" Zancrow smiled finally standing back up. "Just to let you know I haven't even started fighting properly yet!"
"That's a relief!" Hud laughed, a small burst of excitement filled his voice. "It'd be really bad if you were that weak!"
Once again it was almost impossible to tell if Hud was trying to insult him or being sincere. Regardless that was the third time he was insulted, and he wasn't going to let there be a forth.
"Bastard..." Zancrow placed his hands together. Then, in a single swift motion he pulled out a large scythe made out of fire.
"Huh, he really is getting serious." Hud's eyes widened as he the god-slayer raised his makeshift weapon.
"Die..." With a single swing Zancrow attempted to cut Hud in two.
"Y-yikes!" Hud instinctively jumped as multiple buildings and trees were blown away by the god slayer attack.
"Gosh, how many different ways can someone shoot flames from there body?" Hud frowned avoiding the second swing from Zancrow's massive weapon.
"Why can't I hit him?" Zancrow felt a feeling welling up inside of him. A disgusting feeling of frustration and irritation, something that he had hoped to never feel again.
"It's pointless, something that unwieldy can't hit me!" Hud frowned changing his potion in mid air. Then like a rocket he descended upon his foe headbutting the god-slayer in the chest.
Zancrow coughed as he was sent flying backwards. His back skid against the ground. For a moment his anger was replaced with pain, it felt like his ribs had been collapsed.
"You know, it doesn't really matter how many flashy moves you have. If you lack the general basics of martial arts then you won't beat me." Hud crossed his arms pouting.
Zancrow gritted his teeth before chuckling. "You're right, here I was trying to kill you in a single attack where I could whittle you down like the rock you are!" Zancrow encased his limbs in fire before rushing towards the red-eyed teen.
"Alright, let's go!" Hud then dashed towards him their fist meeting.
Not too far from the scene the two onlookers named Meredy and Anlage continued to watch.
"This isn't right...Zancrow shouldn't be having this kind of trouble." Meredy placed her finger to her lip before glancing over to Anlage.
The plant creature was having a far different reaction. Instead of one of excitement or worry he was lying on his side, barely keeping himself awake. "Hud needs to hurry up, this is boring, and I want to head back to get my petals done."
With that Anlage eyes went back to the battle as Zancrow knocked Hud away before the God slayer took a deep breath. In an instant he let out a bellow of black flame consuming Hud.
This time however the god-slayer knew better to assume his enemy got hit by such a thing. "Damn it, where are you! I know you didn't get hit by that!" Zancrow looked around only to notice something wrap around his legs.
He quickly look down to see to hands gripping his ankles. Before he hand a chance to react Zancrow was slammed into the ground face first. He then was flung to a random direction, sending him through two buildings and a tree.
"Wow, he went pretty far!" Hud laughed making his way to the buildings.
Zancrow on the other hand growled standing back up. It was becoming apparent that whoever he was fighting wasn't an ordinary mage. The god-slayer brushed off the twigs and dirt from his hair getting back up.
Before him stood Hud, his expression still being rather goofy. "So, do you want to keep going?"
"Damn it..." Zancrow jumped back up causing Hud to puff up his chest.
"You aren't used to fighting people stronger than you huh?" Hud said. "The world is a huge place filled with a ton of different creatures. It's pretty bad to assume you're going to be stronger than anyone else you meet."
Zancrow ignored his words, instead he clasped his hands together. Zancrow was about to launch his attack, but before he could Hud froze.
"What? Realizing just how terrifying I am?" Zancrow laughed, but after a moment he realized that the red-eyed monster wasn't look at him, but instead a nearby cliff side.
Out of curiosity Zancrow looked over as well to see an odd sight.
A giant red grizzly bear like creature wearing what seemed to be a spandex like uniform.
"N-not the Salad Squad!" Anlage screamed holding his cheeks.
"What the hell, I thought I killed all the humans here..." The bear sighed, his red-eyes gazing down upon Zancrow. "It looks like I missed one."
"So the one who killed all those weaklings was you?" Zancrow asked snickering. "If they lost to someone as idiotic looking as you they deserved to die."
"Oy, don't you dare mock my uniform! I'm apart of one of the greatest mercenary groups in the entire world! I can even shut up crying kids at birthday parties." The grizzly bear snapped.
"Wow, I never thought I'd get to see a Salad Squad member in person..." Hud said causing the bear to look down.
"You're a monster too huh? Even if you are I won't let you live if you interfere with the great Tomato!" The Grizzly bear pointed to himself.
Hud didn't respond, instead keeping his eyes locked on the bear that called himself Tomato.
"Now then, time to clean up the trash!" The bear laughed refocusing on Zancrow.
"Do you really think someone like you can ta-" Zancrow couldn't even finish his statement before being swatted away.
Not only did Tomato close the distance between him and Zancrow in an instant, he was able to launch an attack without the god-slayer without him even noticing.
Zancrow landed right next to Meredy.
"Z-Zancrow, are you alright?" Meredy eye twitched. She attempted to stare into her guildmates eyes only to noticed they were completely white. Despite the attack not seeming that impressive it seemed like it was enough to knock the god-slayer.
"I wasn't able to see his movements at all," Hud said as he cracked a nervous smile. "I guess I almost forgot how terrifying A-rankers could be..."
Meredy leaned over to her fallen comrade not even noticing Tomato had once again closed the large distance between him and his opponent.
"Huh?" Meredy looked up to see a giant claw descending upon both her and Zancrow. There was no doubt about it, the attack was meant to kill both of the Grimoire Heart members in a single strike.
Even though the attack was certain to kill, it missed somehow.
"What?" Tomato twitched, his eyes quickly darting around the area. His gaze finally locked on to Hud who was carrying both Meredy and Zancrow.
"L-let go of me right now!" Meredy snapped causing Hud to let out a sigh.
"Gosh, don't know if I should go against the Salad Squad, but it'd be a shame if this guy dies before we get to finish our fight."
"What are you doing Hud! Put that trash down!" Anlage cried.
"Anlage hurry, do that thing where you make a forest!"
"Don't just say that so casually!" Anlage yelled.
"I won't let you escape!" Tomato was prepared to launch another attack onto for a giant tree to sprout in front of him. "W-what?"
Without any warning multiple trees and vines sprouted from the nearby area completely concealing his four targets.
Despite the foliage Tomato quickly waved his arm instantly destroying the make-shift forest that had been hastily created. Once the bark and and vines have been blown away Tomato looked around.
"They're gone..." The bear sighed. "If I don't find him soon the other members are going to make me buy dinner!"
"Talk about crazy!" Hud smiled still dragging the unconscious Zancrow and the struggling Meredy.
"Idiot, I don't want to become the Salad Squad's enemies!" Anlage whined forcing Hud to shrug.
"Come on now, that bear guy probably only showed up because I was fighting the blonde man. If we weren't there they probably wouldn't have never encountered the Salad Squad!" Hud pointed out. "When you think about it, it's my fault they are in this situation!"
"That's stupid, you're just doing this because you want to!" Anlage pointed out.
"I said let go of me!" Meredy snapped elbowing Hud in the jaw.
Despite being a direct hit Hud didn't even flinch. Instead he just looked at the pink-haired girl and laughed. "Wow, you really don't like being carried huh?" With those words Hud dropped Meredy.
"Who are you?" Meredy demanded causing Hud to point to himself.
"Huh? I'm Monster Hud, I already said that right?"
"That doesn't tell me anything..." Meredy's voice was nearly robotic.
"See Hud? This is what happens when you go out of your way to help humans. They talk back and show no gratitude..."
"Don't be like that Anlage," Hud loosened his grip on the unconscious Zancrow. "You can take this guy and leave if you want."
Meredy was about to just that, until she realized something, something rather important. "You have something that I want."
"...Are you hitting on me?" Hud went pale for a second.
"Of course not!" Meredy quickly corrected. "That strange orb you have, I need it."
Hud placed his hand into his pocket taking out the orb in question. "Huh? Why do you need it?"
"You don't need to know that..."
"Too bad!" Anlage cut in. "We found it first so it's ours...unless you think you can take it by force."
Meredy froze on the stop, someone who fought against Zancrow and looked no worse for wear probably wasn't someone she could fight. At the same time she couldn't just leave the orb with him.
If it really was one of the keys needed to revive Zeref she needed to obtain it no matter what. Thus she was put in a difficult spot.
"You leave me no choice then...at the very least can you escort me and Zancrow back to our ship?" Meredy asked. She and Zancrow took a small ship there along with a small group. Though she had a feeling most of them were wiped out.
They were on an island after all, perhaps in the time it takes for them to reach the boat she would be able to find a way to take the key off of them.
"No way, you don't escort trash to a dump, why should we escort you to a ship!" Anlage growled.
"Sure, it sounds like fun!" Hud completely ignored his plant friend.
"Fun isn't what I would describe it..." Meredy looked down at Zancrow. She wasn't a medical expert by any stretch of the imagination, but she knew it would be awhile before he woke up.
"So where is your ship?" Hud asked causing Meredy to pause if only for a moment.
"Ah...I think I forgot," Meredy said.
"How could you forget that detail! It's your ship!" Anlage yelled prompting Meredy to shoot him a glare.
"I lost track of the location after we ran away from that bear, this was supposed to be a simple mission."
"Whatever..." Anlage grumbled. "We shouldn't wait on this island for too long anyway, if the Salad Squad really is here I want to get away as soon as possible."
"Alright it's been decided!" Hud laughed. "By the way, what's your name?"
"None of your concern..." Meredy said.
"None of your concern? That's a pretty weird name for a girl..."
Meredy closed her eyes. "It's Meredy," she opted just to tell him in fear that she'd be called None of your concern for the rest of the trip.
"None of your concern Meredy? That's even longer!" Hud replied. "I'll just call you Meredy from now on."
She decided to just leave the interaction as it was. It wasn't like she was going to be traveling with the strange plant creature or monster for long.
Author note.
I really wanted to rewrite this story. Putting it closer at the start of canon instead of after it has finished. This gives me more characters to work with and overall just being able to do more with events.
I also wanted to write a more bombastic action story compared to my more mellow or series stuff.
To explain monster ranks. They are about the same as mages rank, but with the power far more inflated. The Average B-rank monster has the power of the Average S-rank mage.
So it would take about 3 S-class mages to even fight an A class monster etc.