Hey there, I'm Darren Cross, I'm former Rune Knight and a currently a trainee in the Heroes Coalition training camp and a big fan of Natsu Dragneel. Back in my world, I'm mostly described as a wasted talent, I mean, I am a knight but my potential has been overlooked by many. I'm most likely stationed as a guard or messenger, not once I was sent to combat but I didn't care cause I know as long as I work hard, I'll be sent to battle one day. Then came the incident in the Grand Magic Games, I was given an order not get involve in a battle but when I heard someone needing rescue, I ignored my orders and went out to help, let's just say that my days as a Rune Knight ended after that incident.
Days after the tournament, I traveled around the entire Fiore looking for purpose, after the stunt I pulled back in the incident, I haven't returned home to my family, because I feel that I soiled the Cross' name. You see my family are well-known Knights in the entire Magnolia, known for their fierceness and loyalty for the Magic Council with my father being the most loyal. Don't get me wrong, I love my family so much, my mother and my nine sisters specifically, yes I had nine sisters, though I couldn't say the same thing to my father. My mother is a high-ranking Knight but still had the time to be a mother to her children, my father on the other hand is very strict and is always putting work first than anything else barely even meeting us, meanwhile, my nine sisters are part of a guild called Mermaid Heel and is one of their strongest members, too bad my father forbids them from participating in the Grand Magic Games, they would have won the whole event.
Anyway, since I'm too ashamed to face my family, I wandered aimlessly in the entire Fiore when suddenly a giant hand appears out from the sky and grabs me, then it drops me off in a desert in a place I don't know. I would have perished if it weren't for the Major and Louie having a stroll around the said dessert, the two then took me to Neo-Earth and offered me a chance to become a hero.
Being a hero. Something I wanted to do for a long time. I agreed and sooner, I began to train in the camp, there I discovered that I'm actually a Blessed and learn that I have a second ability. Ever since coming to camp, I made friends that I thought I'll never had. Life has been better for me ever since coming to this world but unfortunately there are drawbacks as well.
Just days ago, I was was just walking around the hallways when suddenly Karizza Stronghold accidentally bumps into me, pushing me down towards the stairs and landed on a girl which resulted of me grabbing her uhh... bouncing assets, after that, I received a slap and got labeled as a pervert.
Fortunately, everyone just shrugs off the incident but a few would still call me a pervert such as Maya Sparrow, Erika Yaeger and the aforementioned girl that I accidentally violated. And you know what's worst? The girl I groped is none other than Stella Vermillion, an A rank apprentice knight, the second Imperial Princess of the Vermillion Kingdom, a solo hero and is known as the Crimson Princess.
While most people understood that what I did was an accident, even Stella's fiancee, Ikki Kurogane, understands that what happened was unintentional, however, the princess stubbornly refused to forgive me and even demanded that I kill myself to make up for it.
In the end, Stella challenged me to a duel. To be honest, I always idolizes Stella and Ikki because of their great swordsmanship and always wanted to have a spar with them, so I can be any happier that I'm having a duel with someone as strong as Stella Vermillion.
If she only just challenged me in a better circumstances. Oh well, wish me luck.
Somewhere in the facility, we go to a place called the Duel Arena, this is where most solo and trainees have an all out duel with one another. Currently, the arena is filled with many spectators from civilians, to trainees, heroes and staffs, as they watch the upcoming duel between Darren Cross and Stella Vermillion.
Gingka Hagane is seen sitting right next to another young man, "Hey Ikki... how will Darren fair in this duel?" he asked with his arms crossed.
Seven Stars Sword King and Solo Hero
Ikki Kurogane
Ikki is a young man of average height with dark brown hair and brown eyes. He wears a white blazer jacket with black linings over a dark shirt with black tie, dark pants and black leather shoes.
Ikki chuckled nervously, "Stella's hot-headedness is on an all time high, so Darren would be having a fight for his life." he said before smiling, "While I support Stella in this duel, I wouldn't count Darren out yet." he commented.
"What do you mean?" Gingka asked.
"I saw Darren's skills... he has excellent swordsmanship and a great tactician." Ikki replied, "Plus with his magical abilities and top of that he's Gift, I dare say that Stella will be a having fight of her life." he explained with a smile.
(Play Identity by Mikio Sakai)
Currently in the arena, Darren is wearing a pink Spartan armor complete with a helmet, arm gauntlets and steeled boots over his gray jumpsuit while holding a sword with a golden hilt and a golden circular shield.
His opponent, Stella Vermillion pointed her device called Laevateinn at him, "Prepare yourself you degenerate! I'm gonna make you pay for what you did to me!" she exclaimed.
Crimson Princess and Solo Hero
Stella Vermillion
Stella is a beautiful young woman with fair skin, ruby eyes and has a long crimson hair tied in pigtails by yellow ribbons. She had a bewitching body, with large breast and voluptuous figure. She wears a dark dress-shirt over a white long-sleeve shirt, white skirt with a long white ribbon, a dark-brown leggings and dark boots.
Darren sighed, "I'm so gonna regret this." he muttered before smiling, "At the same time, I'm not!" he exclaimed getting ready for battle.
The Soldier stands in one corner, "All right! You maggots ready? Go!" he declared while shooting a shotgun.
And with that Stella charges first, igniting her blade with fire before swinging it towards Darren who blocks it with his shield, the Crimson Princess continues her assault with the intent of shattering his defense, she took a step back before taking another swing but Darren quickly jumps out of the way, which results of the floor getting smashed by her flaming sword.
"Good judgement! My Dragon Breath fire is 3,000 degrees Celsius!" Stella stated.
From the audience, Karizza spoke, "It's that hot!" Karizza shouted in awe.
"If you took this head on! Then you'll be in big trouble!" Stella added before swinging her sword again but this time, Darren blocks it with his sword.
The two began to swing their swords at each other in ridiculous speed, pushing each other back with every blow and despite the accompanying fire, Darren is unfazed in every strike she gives.
"Huh? I think you're right Ikki, this guy is definitely no pushover!" Gingka spoke, "Most opponents would be sent flying or feel the burn from Stella's attack but Darren withstood it." he pointed out with an impressed expression.
Ikki nodded, "And that's just his strength alone. What will happen if he uses his magic or his Gift." he stated.
Gingka crossed his arms, "Come to think of it, I had no idea what Darren's abilities are." he mused, "Oh well, I may witness him using it today." he said with a smile of excitement.
Darren twirled his sword upwards before bringing it down however Stella simply blocks it, "I had to admire your resilience... most of my opponents usually foolishly attacks heads on but you take your time in attacking." she said before pushing him away.
Darren skidded to a stop, "Yeah... if you know you're opponent is really strong then attacking heads on is proven too many times to be foolish." he said back before gripping the hilt of his sword tighter, "But I'm done taking my time... it's time to take you head on!" he declared.
Stella looks at him with an unamused face, "Ho~... you're really are fool." she declared.
Darren smirk, "Yup! Fools love to take risk." he claimed.
The two then charges at each other with their swords colliding, they then broke contact as Darren made a huge swing but Stella ducks down, she then slashes her sword upward but Darren dodges and took a few steps backwards but Stella quickly charges at him and at the same time igniting her palms with fire before smashing it at Darren whom blocks the attack with his shield. Stella then somersaults above him followed by another swing but the pink armored lad ducks down at the last minute barely dodging the strike by an inch. Stella landed gracefully as Darren took a steps back as they stare at each other.
"Acha! Who knew Ren-Ren can withstand her attacks, he must be really strong then." Karizza commented lazily while leaning on a balcony.
Chad Mordetzky crossed his arms, "Strong is understatement." he spoke, "Darren can do more than just doing his usual observe, attack, repeat routine." he claimed.
Maya, who is seated next to Karizza, turns to him, "What do you mean?" she asked curiously.
Chad smirked, "The Crimson Princess maybe an A rank apprentice knight but did you forget that Darren was an actual knight before coming here." he pointed out.
"Yeah but Darren was pretty much underutilized back there." Maya argued, "The Crimson Princess maybe an apprentice but she had more experience in fighting." she pointed out, "Don't get me wrong, Darren is good but his experience is nowhere near as the princess, so being an actual knight won't help him win this duel." she stated.
Chad's smirked, "Really? But has the princess defeated a living dragon?" he asked.
"What?" Maya asked in shock as Karizza tilted her head.
Back in the fight, Darren charges forward and thrusted his sword directly at her, Stella responded by blocking however Darren pulls back his in last minute much to her surprise.
"What the!?" Stella gasped.
"Surprise!" Darren claimed before spinning his right arm backwards like windmill before bringing his blade down to her shoulder which was followed by an explosion.
"Woah! Did he get her!?" Gingka asked in shock.
''It's not over yet." Ikki replied.
The smoke then clears out revealing that Stella is unharmed as Darren take a few steps back, "I see... you activated your defense system just in time before I landed a strike." he said with an impressed.
Stella stood with a prideful smile, "Impressive! I never fought someone that passes as a challenge! This fight reminds of the first time I fought with Ikki." she stated.
"I'll take that as a compliment." Darren said.
Stella then smirked, "However..." she began as she started to channel more flames around her sword, "... I must end everything here." she declared.
Darren sweatdropped, "This is bad... she's totally going to barbeque me alive... oh well, I guess it's time for me to get serious." the thought as he reached at the back of his armor, "Time to test what I learned from my spars with Marcus." he added.
"Pierce the blue sky, blaze of purgatory..." Stella chanted, "Burn it all! Calusaritio Salamander!" she yelled as she swung her blade forward releasing a large dragon-like shape flame towards Darren.
"There it is! One of her signature attacks!" Gingka called out.
"Now... how will you play this one out, Darren?" Ikki asked.
Before the attack hits Darren, he quickly took off his armor and sidestepped as the flame passes by.
"What the?!" Stella gasped in shock.
"He took off his armor!" Karizza pointed out.
"What the hell is he thinking!?" Maya exclaimed.
Suddenly, Darren disappears in a blink of an eye and suddenly appeared right next to Stella much to her surprise, "What the-" she couldn't continue what she was about to say when a fist connected to her face but she managed to stood her ground, then Darren would repeated his attacks, disappearing in a blink of an eye before suddenly appearing out of nowhere followed by a fist to the princess' face.
"What's going on?" Maya asked in confusion.
Chad smirked, "Looks like Darren is finally using his Gift, Blink!" he stated.
"Blink?" Karizza repeated.
"His Gift is related to speed but unlike Flash Sentry's Flash Step where we can see him running around in a blue blur, Darren's Gift won't let you see him move and he will disappear and appear in a blink of an eye, hence, the name." Chad explained.
"T-that's... a very unique Gift." Maya muttered.
Chad smirked, "And that's just his Gift, don't get me started with his other abilities." he claimed.
Darren then delivers a forearm smash directly at Stella's face, the strike was so hard that it left her in daze along with dropping her sword.
Darren then took a steps back, "Gonna thank Marcus for the sparring sessions I had with him." he mused, "Now then..." he said as his body began to glow green, "... I haven't used this for a long time but I believe this is the best time to use it!" he declared as his sword's aura turn bright green, "Take this! Ghost Drive!" he roared as he charges towards Stella passing through her body followed by a green colored slash as Stella stood still with eyes wide open before falling down to the floor unconscious. Darren took a deep breath, "Guess I'll live for today." he commented with a smile.
"BATTLE OVER! THE WINNER IS DARREN CROSS!" the Soldier announced as everyone in the arena burst out in cheer.
Chad chuckled hard, "Haha! I knew he's gonna win! Never even doubted for a minute!" he claimed with grin.
"He's amazing! Ren-Ren is amazing!" Karizza cheered.
Maya huffed, "I admit he did good... but he's still a perv." she said.
Gingka then got off his seat, "That was a great duel." he admitted, "As expected, Darren's talent exceeds most expectations." he commented before walking away.
Ikki then went down the arena and picks up the unconscious Stella bridal-style before turning to Darren, "That was a splendid fight Darren." he complimented, "You're fighting skills maybe rash but effective at the same time, I guess it depends on the person if rash actions would work or not." he stated.
"Thanks and uhh... sorry for getting carried away in the fight and uhh... sorry for what I did to her days ago, I swear it was an accident." Darren apologied while rubbing the back of his head.
Ikki shook his head, "I understand and you don't need to apologize, I don't mind what happened." he reassured and as he was about to walk away, he suddenly stopped, "By the way, you're skills truly impressed me, would you like to have a spar with me sometimes?" he offered.
Darren smiled brightly, "Sure! I'll be looking forward that!" he replied excitedly.
Ikki nodded before walking away carrying Stella as Darren looks up at the ceiling, "See that father? The son that you treated like dirt is far stronger now.'' he thought in utter disdain, "Just you wait, father, you'll get what's coming to you.'' he declared with intense anger.
A/N: Inspired from someonestupED, damnlastwords, Hope the Victor and Ace Neptune. All OCs and concepts not created by moi were given permission for me to use by it's respected creators.