Someone asked about END and I just wanted to address this real quick. I am well aware of who and what END is and how he came to be. However END only becomes a thing during the Tartaros arc, something that my story has not gotten to yet. So for all intents and purposes, END is completely irrelevant. I will go into more detail at the end.
Camp Jupiter
Third Person POV
Natsu and Percy were impressed. It was kinda hard not to be.
The romans camp, Camp Jupiter, was large and well organized. It was very clear that the romans were ready for an attack, just in case.
It was also very clear, from the bruises, fitness, and caloused hands, that the romans were hard workers andunafraidto get their hands dirty.
Of course, Percy and Natsu just had one problem with the romans, Natsu more so than Percy.
And it was the strictness of the romans. It was difficult for Percy to follow the rules, considering the sea did not like to be kept under control and restrained.
However Natsu was a whole other story.
"So just because your late for something you can be tossed into a sack filled with weasels that will then be tossed into a river? That is stupidly harsh!"
Hazel sighed as they hurried to the coliseum. She couldn't really blame Natsu, the punishments for many cases could be a bit too harsh but it was the romans way.
Once the trio made it to the coliseum Hazel quickly joined her cohort, just barely being on time. Natsu and Percy both stood to the side and watched the procedings as they took place.
It quickly became time for Percy and Natsu to be accepted into the legion. Hazel decided to support Percy after Frank attempted to, however this left Natsu on the sidelines.
"Uhm... what will happen if no one decides to bring me into their group?"
Reyna shrugged, "Well you have two options. Option one, perform menial tasks until you are deemed worthy of joining the legion."
Natsu quickly shook his head at option one.
"Or", Reyna continued, "Option two, you could fight against both legionaires and monsters until your ready to drop, you could than pick the legion you wish to join."
Reyna turned away, thinking Natsu's answer would be obvious. She missed the excited and dangerous look on his face.
"I'll take option two. I'm all fired up!"
Everyone, bar Percy, just looked at Natsu in shock.
Line Break
The war games had been canceled for the night in anticipation of Natsu's fight.
Before the fights Natsu had practically inhaled enough food to feed a village, some small bits of fire from around the room flowing into his mouth without the romans noticing.
The colisuem was overflowing with spectators, the citizens of New Rome having come to watch along with the majority of the active legionaires. A few legionaires had to be left at guard posts of course though.
Natsu walked in and stayed on one end of the arena, an easygoing grin on his face. He wasn't exactly worried about this fight.
The spectators all yelled out, the legionaires jeering for his arrogance while the citizens just cheered and hoped for a good fight.
Slowly a few gates started to open around Natsu, bringing out his first oppenents.
Out of three gates that opened up came four legionaires... and the Nemean lion.
Several of the more experienced spectators jumped up at the sight of the lion.
Reyna herself also jumped up, 'This isn't what was supposed to open up, it was supposed to be two dracenae!' She then turned to look at Octavian, quickly noticing the look of fake innocence, 'Octavien you snake, you will pay for this..'
Reyna turned back to the fight and could only see the back of Natsu's head. She couldn't see his expression but she could see he was shaking. No doubt he was shaking in terror, regreting his choice to fight.
However before she could end the match and save the newcomers life was when he struck.
Natsu quickly launched himself at his oppenents, enveloped in father he grabbed a legionaires arm and threw him into a wall, making a crater and an audible crack from his chest.
The Nemean lion snarled but couldn't launch itself at Natsu. It was held back by a chain for the moment.
Natsu grinned and brought his hand up. And exactly like he did with Sting and Rogue, his flames issued a challenge with his hand. 'Come on.'
The three legionaires did not take his challenge too well. The three romans advanced slowly with their swords drawn and slowly surounded Natsu. They may be angry, but they weren't mad enough to lose their discipline.
Once they surounded him they all rushed him, leaving him no room to escape.
When the three romans reached where Natsu was supposed to be however they just crashed into each other. Natsu was gone.
That was when they heard laughing from above them. They looked up as they tried to untangle themselves and saw Natsu above them, that shit-eating grin on his face as he looked down on them.
"Might as well finish things here and now!" Natsu's arm became enveloped in fire as he crashed down on the romans, yelling, "Fire dragon grip strike!" An explosion of fire blocked the combatents from sight of the spectators.
When the fire and dust cleared, the three legionaires were all knocked unconscious with minor burns covering their bodies.
Natsu turned his attention to the Namean lion, only for his eyes to widen as all he could see was the monsters mouth.
Someone had cut the beast loose.
Reyna shook with anger, having an idea as to who was responsible.
'That idiot, does he not realize how dangerous it is to have the Namean lion on the loose! It could kill the newcomer and the legionaires down there...and thats if it doesn't get out.
The near invincible monster had Natsu pinned to the floor. It was struggling to keep the dragon slayer down and decided it needed to kill him before he got up. However before the lion could do it Natsu got an arm free and slammed it into the lions chest.
The monster was sent flying off of Natsu and into the arena wall.
Natsu grinned at the monster that was just trying to kill him so it could eat him, "You know, after this is over and I defeat this thing, I think I'll keep it!"
The romans could only gap at Natsu's announcement. Making the Nemean lion, a very powerful and notorious monster... his pet? They couldn't decide if he was crazy, brave, foolish, or all of the above.
They suspected it was all of the above...
The lion shook itself off from being thrown and roared in the dragon slayers direction.
Said dragon slayer just charged the beast as he was enveloped in flame. He jumped and landed on its back, enraging the lion.
"Haha! Now this is fun!" The Namean lion roared in outrage as it tried to get the crazy human off of its back.
Eventually Natsu got tired of playing around with the lion and decided to tame the beast.
He jumped as high into the air as possible before he came down enveloped in flames, head first and yelled, "Fire dragon sword horn!" Natsu slammed into the lion and brought up a cloud of dust.
When the dust cleared once again, all that remained of the lion was golden dust. Dust that was quickly beginning to reform.
Natsu sighed, "Ah man, I really wanted to keep that thing. Too late now I guess, I'll just have to finish it off now." Natsu took a deep breath and then, "Fire dragon ROAR" The intense heat of the breath attack was able to practically incinerate the dust, ensuring the monster wouldn't return anytime soon.
Percy's eye twitched as he looked at Natsu, "Oh sure, he can do that to deal with a monster when he is trying to show off, but when it comes to monsters who have been harassing us he decides to let them keep coming back!"
Natsu rolled his eyes as he heard Percy complaining but decided not to say anything about it.
Everyone else in the arena was shocked however. They didn't expect the newcomer to survive, let alone win. And yet he did it.
Octavian frowned at the newcomers survival but decided he could shrug it off for now. Maybe the pyromaniac would join him and be useful...
Natsu yelled out in victory, a small spout of fire coming from his mouth.
Line-break
After the fight the four injured legionaires were taken away to the infirmiry. After the coliseum was cleared the five cohorts once again assembled. This time it was so Natsu may pick his cohort.
Octavian fully expected Natsu to pick one of the first three cohorts, the cohorts currently considered the best in the legion.
Reyna stood next to Nastu with no expression, "So Natsu, would you like me to tell you the strengths and weaknesses of each cohort before you pick, or do you already have a choice in mind?"
Natsu grinned at Reyna, "First of all, you need to lighten up and lose the serious attitude. Second of all, yeah I already got my choice all figured out."
Reyna raised an eyebrow and motioned for him to continue.
Natsu turned his grin to the romans before he gave his final answer, "I choose... the first cohort!"
Octavian smirked at Natsu's choice. He felt he had just gained a very valuable pa-
"Just kidding! I'm gonna be joining the fifth cohort."
Octavian wanted to strangle the new recruit.