A/N: Took a few weeks off for a mental health break and I had an idea surrounding this fiction that I am going to put into practice in the next few chapters to see how it goes, Basically it's kind of like the little explanation's in between Shingeki No Kyojin/Attack on Titan, Where it explains a little about how life in the wall is etc, It's just a paragraph at the start of the story that cover's how the Races rank each other, how dangerous they are, stuff like that, I thought it'd be fun and I get to flesh out my world a little more.
Among the combat branch of the Supernatural Council, they are many applicants ranging from hyper aggressive psychic's to Vampire's, each operative earns a rank based on the lethality of his preferred fighting style, some of the races choose to adopt the technology of the current age, some use the abilities their races possess and some use weapons they believe to be elegant. These rankings fall into four categories, Snake, Shield, Flight and blunt. The category you are placed in is based off of the type of attacks used, or in shields case, the attacks you don't use.
Natsu let out a sigh as he knocked on the back-door of the clinic with his fist, the voice of the resident doctor echoed from inside and Natsu opened the door. He walked to the end of the hall and turned into the room the coated man currently occupied, he was flicking through a set of files and his brow was furrowed in thought.
"This Ragnarok seems too large for just once being, An operation of this size would require either thousands of years of careful planning or many likeminded individual's working towards the exact same thing," The lighthearted voice of the doctor's light side thought audibly "And many things working for the same goal's is almost impossible in itself." The dark side growled in afterthought.
"Have you considered it's equal parts both, Ragnarok is one person but he manipulates rogues into his Agenda's with empty promises. Those who truly desire power are easy to manipulate." Natsu put in flatly, The doctor turned his eyes too him as I startled by his position in the door but he nodded after a moment.
"That's a possibility, But in order to really stop him we need to get ahead of him, So I need you to check this out," He rolled his chair away from his desk and opened a filing cabinet, he rummaged inside for a moment before retrieving what he wanted and pushing his chair back to his desk, he handed the light brown file to Natsu, who opened it and began shifting through the papers inside "It seems he's either getting cocky and slipping up or he is setting a trap." Dark growled.
Natsu frowned, It was a set of reports of Supernatural beings disappearing, Always around the abandoned warehouses east of Tokyo "This is too obvious, But as you say, if he thinks' I'm dead he might not be worried about someone interfering with his plan, He is clearly not afraid of my father."
The doctor nodded "I suspect Ragnarok is one of the original Seven, He has to be, he is too well informed." Light spoke simply "It seems he has too many steps on us and we have no way of catching up." Dark growled.
"That's a serious accusation, even if I agree with you, We can't just go challenge the Council and demand Ragnarok to reveal himself." Natsu replied.
"Well, We could, But I doubt it would end well for us," Light chuckled "I actually quite enjoy, My life." Dark growled in protest.
Natsu nodded "So, We need proof and to do that we need to spring this trap." He placed the file down on the desk.
"Well, There is no guarantee this will get us any information, But it's the only lead we have." Light responded.
Natsu nodded "Apparently, My father is sending some people I know to help us out, This should get a little easier."
"I was informed," Light replied boredly "A package also arrived for you." Dark growled.
"For me?" Natsu questioned cocking an eyebrow.
Light snapped his finger "I knew I was forgetting something," He stood up and left the room Natsu stared at the doorway and heard the sound of something heavy being moved before metal hitting the ground with a loud clang, the Doctor's body filled the doorway again after a moment "This." Dark growled, as he placed the small bundle of pale brown cloth in Natsu's hands.
Natsu didn't need to even unravel it to know exactly what was within the bundle, The same familiar weight he could make ou the engraving on the cross guard through the fabric, His swords, 'Of course he wouldn't let me get rid of them.' Natsu smirked as he thought of his old man.
"Well, Don't leave me in suspense!" Light exclaimed sitting at the edge of his seat, Obviously curious, Natsu rolled his eyes as he unwrapped the weapons.
The first was a sword eve the Doctor had seen before, The black hilt was adorned with a blood red ruby in the ball at the bottom, the cross guard was molded in the shape of bat's outstretched wings, Contrasting the deep black of the hilt was a white scabbard, The thing almost shone in the pale light of the room, An engraving of a language the doctor had never seen before was etched into it, He squinted at it and Natsu noticed his gaze, He lifted the sword into the light more, The symbol's looked barely more intelligible than a few circles and lines in odd directions.
"It's Vampiric," Natsu explained "The language we spoke when there were more of us I guess, My father taught me a bit, It says "Let the blood that stains this blade be the foundation of a brighter future."
"That was definitely said by your dad, All idealistic and proud he probably thinks that's the coolest thing ever." The doctor groaned.
Natsu nodded "Although, At the time this sword did help me stabilize the Council's position and we have been a lot better off since."
"What about the other one?" Light asked curiously.
Natsu strapped the first sword on his back hilt protruding just above his left shoulder, The doctor raised an eyebrow at him but said nothing, Natsu's hand fell on the hilt of the second sword and he paused, he had only ever used this sword once, The time he did became known as the Vatican Incident, he pulled the sword from the bundle and let the cloth fall to the floor. In terms of design this one was nothing extravagant, The Scabbard was simple leather, A small engraving in the cloth was that of a coiled snake prepared to strike, With a few letter's in old Vampiric after it, The hilt was a little differently designed, the cross guard was straight until abruptly right angling towards the point of the blade, there was no gem at the bottom and the handle seemed to fit Natsu's hand a little better than the last, he tightened his grip on it slightly before releasing, unlike a gift Natsu was meant to grow into this sword was made for him as he was now and fit him perfectly, The doctor watched him careful.
"The Engraving says, "Strike with the same precision as a snake." The person who made me this translated that small sentence on her own, From just a small book I had on me at the time." His smile was ghostly and somber, The doctor sighed as Natsu slowly brought himself out of his memories and shook his head. Before strapping the second sword to his back, The doctor stared at him in confusion, He had seen many people wield swords in all kinds of ways and he didn't doubt Natsu was among the best, But as far he knew, Natsu had definitely put it on upside down, The blade was along his back parallel to that of his first sword, the hilt sat just above his right hip. Natsu noticed the confused stare and smirked.
"I designed a sword style before that happened, At the time I wanted to be unique, but now it feel's uncomfortable if I don't do it this way." He explained simply "Well, I'm off to spring a trap." He said coolly as he walked from the room.
The white's of his eyes began to shift, starting at the edges they slowly died red, his pupil's shifted to small cat like slits and his iris's turned black he lifted his chin and rolled his neck as he took in a long inhale, he felt the rush of wind on his face and his hair was pulled back from his face as he jumped, landing a safe distance from the warehouses he was about to inspect, He eyes them from the edge of the city, the dark not hindering his vision in the slightest as he stared at them, looking for anything that was out of place. His face twisted into a smirk as he found it, Whilst every other building within a three kilometer radius was lucky to have 3 walls still standing this one was perfectly untouched by the age, Anyone else would assume it was just better constructed, But Natsu could recognize a Supe safe house from a mile away, Bird's flew wide from the roof tops as if trying to get out of the way, In fact a human wouldn't see anything but the illusion placed around the building, likely making it just as decrepit as the rest. Natsu disappeared from his vantage point and stood in front of the large double doors of the warehouse.
"Wonder if I should knock?" He thought audibly as he pulled his leg back and pressed forward, the loud resounding blow he delivered echoed around the space as the doors groaned before snapping free, the large double iron doors grated against concrete as the fell backwards, Natsu walked through the dust cloud slowly, his eyes appearing to glow red within the cloud, his hands moved the hilts of his swords, drawing them slowly, the blade's glinted as he moved forward, one sword held normally in his left hand the other was held what seemed like wrong, the blade was facing the wrong direction, if he pulled it up it would sit along his forearm easily, it was help only slightly above the ground as it was. Natsu stepped off of the iron door he had kicked in and felt the squish beneath his boots, he ignored looking at the floor as he continued into the room, He didn't need to look around to feel the hungry intent around him and he knew quite well what had happened to the missing beings. As the dust resettled he heard the rustling of chains and a low growl, he flourished the blade in his left hand and snorted, the stench of decay and death hung in the air as he stopped in the centre of the wide room.
"I do hope you will entertain my pet's a little longer than the last ones did," The voice rang over a PA system in the warehouse "We have yet to see how they stack up against someone of the combat branch." He spat the last words with venom, Natsu looked around himself as the dust from the door finally cleared completely. The things around him may have once been men and women for all he knew, The lumbered around on all floors, the skin on their bodies was flaky and cracked in too many places, blood leaked openly from the wounds but the creatures didn't seem to care, the skin cut off abruptly at the elbow, blood, sinew and bone was deformed curved and sharpened into sickle like appendages that scraped along the floor eerily against the concrete. He counted twenty as he glanced around.
'Why did I kick the door down, For all I know these things don't die and now they can just waltz into the city.' Natsu mentally berated himself as he lowered his stance and lifted his swords slightly.
"Oh, A sword wielder are you, That will do you know good, Nothing has the strength to break my pets, They are as strong as a Vampire, You will be eaten and then they will enter the city." The same cocky voice announced over the PA again.
"Just wait, After I am done in here I get to have the extreme pleasure of removing your head from your shoulders." Natsu shouted in retort.
"Tut, tut, Shouldn't you be more worried about those around you? You are completely surrounded." The voice retorted, Natsu could practically see the annoying smirk on the voices face as it spoke.
The creatures finally darted towards Natsu, closing the distance with unexpected speed, The mouth spread into a wide grin, the serrated teeth in the monster's mouth were bloodied and still held pieces of people and animals they had eaten in there existences.
Natsu pivoted and moved the sword in his right hand forward, the creature stopped as the sword broke through the back of its skull, Natsu spun, Ripping the blade through the creatures left cheek and delivered a powerful kick to the right side of its head sending it hurtling away from him. The other's began to move in on him, Natsu brought the sword in his left around locking his arm as it chinked against the forehead of another one of the creatures, Natsu clicked his tongue as he dropped the sword and dropped to the ground, spinning around on his knee's as he caught the second sword and continued the flurry around him, Forcibly knocking the monster's back, and giving himself room, his eyes darted between for the four that had jumped into the air at him, He paused his spin and jumped into the air, spinning himself around until he was upside down, he spun through the group and drove them into the ground, Natsu flipped back after landing, He watched each of the monster's he had struck, None of them seemed affected, but none of them had attempted to bite him past the first, His eyes narrowed as the thought occurred to him, 'They have exoskeletons which have been hardened to the point I can't cut them,' Natsu stood straight up and laughed "You think something so simple can kill me? You are nowhere near Ragnarok's level!" He taunted as his hair extended and begun to turn white from the roots, His canines extended and gave his smile a predatory glint. He stepped forward and launched, disappearing from sight as he slammed into one of the monster's in the centre of the cluster, the ret were knocked back as he lifted the beast, left hand on its throat right hand extended behind him, The simpler of the two swords falling into his outstretched hand, he rammed the sword through the small slit in the creatures mouth where a tooth was missing, the thing jerked as he spun it around the sword and launched the thing the blade cutting through the monster and splitting one of its sides. Natsu caught his other sword and glared at the remaining eighteen, The circled him carefully, fully aware of the strength of their adversary and wary of him.
"B-but, M-My P-Pets." The man stuttered in fear.
"You've been outdone Larg, Do go quietly, I do despise Squealers." Ragnarok stared at the man through the monitor he had been contacted on.
"Ragnarok-sama!" Larg shouted as he sat forward before the image was abruptly cut off.
"So, Our little Black Prince survived, Excellent." Ragnarok smiled darkled behind his mask "And in turn we lose a weak link, I must remember to thank the child when next I see him."
"But, Ragnarok-sama, That lab contains a large portion of your documents plans, Starting from the Vatican Incident, Are we sure you wish to reveal that?" A black robed man bowed deeply as he spoke.
"It would be quite boring if the heroes had no way of catching me, Have you not seen how human culture works? I have to make sure they stay a step behind me, If it will come to the showdown I want." Ragnarok chuckled.
"Of course Ragnarok-sama." The man bowed again and left the room.
"It will be my new worlds vs. yours Little Prince, You had better not disappoint." Ragnarok growled as he rested his chin on his hands.
Natsu flourished his weapons in his hand as he sheathed them, The bloodied corpses of the man's 'pets', many split in half and lying in pools of blood other's merely dead less brutally. He walked to a set of smaller double doors at the back of the wide room and booted it in, The man inside staggered away from him as he clenched his fists and walked forward.
"I-I-I can g-g-g-g-give you information! I don't want to die!" The man shouted, his voice breaking in fear.
The man held out a set of small disks, at least twelve, Natsu took them and lifted them into the light, smirking as he did so "You want to live huh? Your 'pets' what were they before you tore them apart and put them back together?"
"They were all once humans," The man answered boldly "It only makes sense, We of higher birth should use what resources we can to hold our places of power." He spoke in an oh-so higher than thou tone, Natsu's eyes shifted to the man in front of him.
"Resources you say?" Natsu's smile made the man gulp, his hands moved to the hilts of his swords "You know, I once spoke to a being, I'd like to introduce you to him, He's very widely feared among our kind as he if is even more powerful than us Vampire."
The man paled, everyone knew the only being Vampire's were afraid of, The one they could never actually defeat.
"He once said Ragnarok and his followers are "Playing with things that should not be played with." I wonder how he will view your human 'resources'." Natsu drew the sword by his hip, and brought it around his body clipping the ankle of the man in front of him, he fell and let out a gurgled scream as Natsu's second blade slid along his throat "I am sure you and Death will have a fine conversation." Natsu growled, as he flicked the blood from his weapon and walked away from the steadily bleeding out corpse in behind him.
"Here, this might take a while to decode, But let's hope it has another lead." Natsu handed the small set of disks to the man opposite him.
The doctor nodded as he took them "How long were you in stage two? You look terrible." He asked
"Not that long." Natsu lied, It had been at least three hours, those things were incredibly resilient.
"You barely had any blood in your system to begin with, I don't think a blood pack is going to cut this, You know how it works, the fresher the blood the better it works, Look's like you are going to have to interact with those human's you loathe so much." The doctor lectured flatly.
"Is this a medical suggestion, or an order?" Natsu asked.
"An ORDER," The doctor shouted "You need to be functioning at the top of your game in order to protect this girl from Ragnarok and you are barely twenty five percent of your abilities."
Natsu grumbled something under his breath "Fine, I'll do what I have to do. I will need a little time though."
The doctor's eyes narrowed on him "You don't have time, You do this as fast as you can, Am I understood."
Natsu nodded.
A/N: So, Natsu has to feed on a human, Some of Ragnarok's plan is going to be revealed and I hope I set up just a little intrigue around 'The Vatican Incident' Anyway, Tell me what you think and I will see you guys next time!