Natsu stood in front of the train station with a disgusted look. There was one thing he hated in this whole world, and it was hard for him to hate anything. But if there was one thing in this whole world, he absolutely despised it was motion sickness and vehicles. He was a magical power house of a mage, but put him on anything moving? He was utterly useless. "It's always comes down to you, doesn't it?" He grumbled, walking over to pay for a train ticket to Clovertown. "Let's just get this over with..."

As much as he wished he brought Erza with him, he couldn't do that. He Inteneded to tell her the truth eventually, but now wasn't the time. He barely understood the concept of the power he now possessed. Lately it became near impossible to leave the knight's side due to everything that happened. How could he blame her though? She thought the one man she fell in love with was gone just like that. But miraculously, even if he barely knew how, he escaped the cold grasp of death. Natsu was thankful for his second chance, but he couldn't help but wonder... was there a catch?

Shaking his head of these thoughts, he begrudgingly stepped on the train, slowly moving between the carts. He took a seat in one of the empty booths, resting his head on the window, glancing outside. "Here we go..."

Like clockwork, he could feel his stomach twist and turn. "I-I wish I could get over this stupid sickness already..." he muttered with a low grumble, clutching his stomach with gritted teeth. Just then a blue screen appeared before his eyes. "What?..."

NOTFICATION

Harmful Ailment has been detected.

[Debuff]

Health And Longevity Lvl --

Natsu's body was engulfed in a green glow. With wide eyes, he felt his stomach ache completely dissapear along with his nausea as he sat up in his seat. "N-no way!" He exclaimed, standing up from his seat to get out. He took a step, even with the train bumped the tracks, rocking it he felt nothing. "HELL YES! TAKE THAT YOU DEATH MACHINE! I TOLD YOU I'D BEAT YOU ONE DAY!" He roared to the top of his lungs with the largest grin planted on his lips.

When he looked around, he noticed other passengers giving him strange looks like he was crazy. He lowered his arms with a nervous chuckle, sweat dropping at his outburst. "S-sorry..." he sat down in his seat, pulling out the map from his pack. "Let's see..." he muttered, tracing his finger along the piece of paper. "So when I get off, it's about an hour walk from town. Not terrible."

He rolled the map back up to place back in his pack. Natsu lowered his body onto his seat, resting his hands behind his head. For once in his entire life.

He was going to enjoy a train ride.

Walking along the path in front of him, he pulled the golden key from his pocket, analyzing the intricate design. It looked like a celestial key, but with a jagged edge and a strange symbol he couldn't recognize. "Whatever magic this is, I hope it doesn't come to bite me in the ass later," he slipped the key back into his tan shorts pocket. "If only I could tell the others about this," he mumbled with a gentle sigh escaping his lips as the wind blew through his rosy locks. "But who knows what would happen if I did. For now..." he clenched his fist tightly, sparking a flame. "I get stronger and protect my family, and Erza from whatever comes our way."

Natsu could feel himself growing stronger each and every day, and not just by his muscles. His magic container was expanding, faster than a second origin ever provided. Thought being level one didn't help matters any in his pursuit of strength. Hopefully this key would provide the answers he desperation seeked. Tightening his scaly scarf around his neck that flowed in the wind, he kept moving forward. 'Whatever happens, I will grow stronger...'

Fairy Tail was always considered the most out of control guild in Fiore. But that's what made them number one. They cared not for rules, regulations that maintained order. The magic council always seeked to disband their guild, but how could they? If it wasn't for Natsu Dragneel, or the rest of the destrucitve mages. Dark Forces that were feared for years, now gone. Zeref, Tartaros, Acnologia, the biggest threats of mankind now extinguished. Didn't mean that darkness wasn't still lurking around the corner, quite the opposite.

Even if they didn't see it right now, soon there would always be the next threat. And Fairy Tail would always be ready, no matter the cost in achieving victory against their foes. But what was the most rowdy guild, now errily quiet thanks to a missing dragon slayer. Natsu was the heart of the guild, their spirit, their inspiration. Without him, the energy died till his next return.

Erza Scarlet sat there at the bartop, enjoying her delicate confection she would never stop eating. Strawberry cake was always her favorite, even living in Rosemary village. Her mother always made the best cake that warmed her heart, but Mirajaines baking was quite sufficient in rewarding the taste she desperately craved. She however was concerned about her boyfriend. He had been acting weird, weirder than usual which confused the knight. With a frown, she paused before the fork full of cake entered her mouth.

"Everything okay Erza?" Mira, who was watching the Erza from a far raised her brow with a slight frown. "Something wrong with the cake?"

Erza shook her head with a sheepish smile. "N-no Mira, it's absolutely delectable. I guess I just have my mind elsewhere is all."

"Oh? Is it maybe for a certain dragon slayer?" The barmaid cooed, resting his arms on the bar top with a teasing grin.

Blushing at the implications of her grin, she shook her head with a gentle sigh. "It's that obvious huh?"

"As obvious as your love for him," Mira giggled to herself, wiping down one of many glasses with a smile. "What's on your mind?"

"It's just..." Erza paused in her sentence, trying to figure out how you best explain this. "Do you feel Natsu has been acting weird lately?"

She blinked at her question, raising a finger to her chin in pensive thought. Now that the knight mentioned it, Natsu had been a little on edge. The sudden need to train his body to it's limit was most concerning. She hoped he would take it easy, but knowing Natsu that was an impossible task. "Come to think of it, yeah he has been. Do you think he might be traumatized from the mission?"

"It could be a possibility, not that I haven't already come to that conclusion," Erza released a little sigh, her frown growing deeper. "I wish he would talk to me about it. If something is bothering him, I'd hope he knows I'll be there for him. No matter what it was."

"Well," Mira placed a hand on her shoulder with a reassuring smile. "Just give him time. Show him you'll be there when he's ready to talk to you. You love him, he loves you. That's what matters most."

Feeling her words, the knight smiled, nodding her head. "You're right, thank you Mira. I needed that."

"Anytime, Erza," with that said, the barmaid returned to her duties, leaving Erza to her own thoughts.

'Natsu... I will never abandon you, that's a promise. Come home soon, my love. I'll be waiting.'

Natsu stared at the wide open cave, grasping the instance dungeon key in his hand. Looking around, he noticed it had grown darker to his curiosity. He stepped forward, noticing a lock manifesting in front of him. "Well.. here goes nothing," he inserted the key into the lock as a giant portal appeared in front of him. Steeling his nerves, he slowly entered through, watching as the world around him begin to change. He could only stare in awe for once was a cave, now stood a large wide open cave, jagged rocks hanging from above with trees and bushes manifesting the dark barren cave.Natsu looked around, his eyes narrowed for every nook, and craney. He could feel himself being watched. By what, he had no clue. The deeper he walked inside, the darker everything became. Light was so slowly draining away. He stopped in the middle, igniting his fists into flames. Bushes moved, and sticks were cracked. "Come on out! I hear ya!"

Ears perked up, and he shifted his body to the left, watching a sharp blade graze by. A green humanoid creature passed by, rolling back onto its feet. Upon closer inspection, it wore leather armor from what he could tell animal skin. A sick grin crossed its lips, trailing its tongue along the sharp knife in its grasp. Hunter Goblin was the name above its head. "You're one ugly little guy," Natsu taunted with a feral grin. "Try to make it fun, won't you?"

The goblin growled, gritting its teeth. It scurried off the ground, pointing its knife towards Natsu, who could only smirk. Flames erupted from his body as he ducked under, shifting underneath before delivering a sharp uppercut to its jaw, hearing a bone snap. Before Natsu could move forward, his ears caught another sound, leaping upwards before being impaled by another. Arrows flew by, slicing open his cheek with blood that dripped off the ground.

His eyes widened, realizing there were much more than he once thought. A group of them rushed him at once before he puffed his cheeks and stomach.

Fire Dragon's... ROAR!

A torrent flames surrounded the small group of goblins, their screams of agony echoing off the walls. Their bodies dropped, unmoving black and smoking.

Level Up

Natsu's face split into an exciting grin. "So that's how you level up. Alright! I'm all fired up now!" He took off, unleashing the flames within his body. Most of the goblins quickly scurried away, but a fireball landing in front of them with a wall of flames stopped them in their tracks. He leaped up Into the air, flames whipping off his arms as he threw them in a cross.

Fire Dragon's Wing Attack!

The ground turned to black ash, some of the trees and shrubs catching aflame. Natsu skidded off the ground, releasing steam from his mouth as many more bodies dropped on the ground.

Level Up

Feeling the ground quake from underneath him, he narrowed his eyes as a dark shadow emerged from deeper in the cave. It's skin was a dark orange, fangs poking out from it's large cheeks with long pointy ears. It's large body towered over Natsu who raised his head to meet it's gaze. Hob goblin was it's name on top of it's head. "Well hi there big guy, you next?"

With a roar, it raised it's large club in the air to smash into the ground. Natsu dodged, landing a flame covered punch on it's chest, sending it stumbling back. Readying his stance, he was about to rush forward before a sharp pain shot up his back. Twisting his head around to see a smirking goblin with a small knife buried into his back. "Cheeky bastard!"

A loud roar caught his attention, turning back before feeling the blunt end of the hob goblins club against his cheek, sending him hurdling and crashing into a tree. His body collided with the hard ground with a thud. Blood escaped his nose, feeling it run down his back. "Cheap.. shot," he grunted out, slowly pushing himself off the ground. His eyes glanced up at his hp and mana. "Still good," he wiped the blood from his nose as his body engulfed into flames with a grin. "My turn."

Before any of the goblins or hob goblin could react, Natsu was a blur in front of them. His fists made their impact, sending many flying in multiple directions. His eyes directed to the giant who tried to swing his club that Natsu caught, skidding against the ground as he buried his heels into the dirt. With a sly grin, his hands took a hold of the club, yanking it from the giant's grasp. "I think I'll take this!"

Flames burned away at the hardwood as the club splintered. The hob goblin roared, charging forward, saliva escaping it's feral lips. Natsu body bursted into the flames as he returned the charge in kind, leaping forward as he angled his head towards the beast.

Fire Dragon's Sword Horn!

His head made contact with it's chest, sending it off his feet. Twisting his body around, his hand flexed, flames coating it in a makeshift claw. "It's over big guy! I win!"

Fire Dragon's Piercing Claw!

Diving down like a bullet, his hand stabbed deep into the monster's chest, blood spurting out as it let out a pained roar. Natsu gritted his teeth, covering his body in flames. "BURN!" The giant's body combusted into flames, it's roars of agony coming to a halt. He watched the life leave it's eyes before it's body went still. He pried his hand out of it's chest, his hand covered in blood, dripping off the ground. "Gross..."

Level Up

Flicking his hand of the blood, he looked around the area with narrowed eyes. "Any more?" He questioned, his eyes scanning over the ash filled landscape. A blue screen appeared before him with multiple different windows, displaying the drops he obtained from the monster's.

Loot Obtained:

Goblin Fangs x10

Hob Goblin Claw x1

Gold X100

"So I have a new currency.. wonder what's that for,?" Natsu shrugged before opening his stat window. His eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. "Fifteen points?! I get five after each level? AWESOME! Alright, so how are we going to do this? These numbers hurt my damn brain..." he grumbled, stroking his chin in thought. "Let's see..." with a thought in mind he put five points into strength, two in agility, four Into intelligence and the rest Into vitality. His body bathed In a yellow glow, watching his wounds heal miraculously. "Wendy would be so jealous right now..."

Natsu stretched his muscles with a grin. "Let's see what else this place has to offer," he began moving deeper, watching any light the cave once had was completely gone. His hand ignited into flames like a torch. He could feel a strong surge of magic ahead. The closer he got, the more suffocating it's presence became. 'I wonder what's in here? Those goblins were pretty strong for little guys, especially the big guy. Not even the beasts of our world were that strong.'

Natsu slowly stopped in his tracks, pressing his back against the rocky wall. A low groan echoed across the cave. He slowly moved across, making sure his steps were as silent as possible. 'Erza would be so proud of me right now' he thought with a little smile, clenching his fists. He came down to a corner, slowly peaking around the corner. His eyes grew wide, feeling sweat run down his head at the sight.

A giant snout leaned down to take a bite from a goblin corpse, it's blood tricking from it's lips with a crunch of it's bones. Black scales covered it's whole body. Appearing to look humanoid, it's head lifted to look around, munching away on a goblins arm. Long black talons extended from it's hands. It's red eyes pierced through the darkness, sniffing the air. Natsu could see no wings, but it stood about 9ft, it's body slightly hunched. He could practically feel the blood lust leaking off the creature. Abyssal Demon was it's name. Too Natsu's shock the name was red.

It's body twitched, the joints cracking as it moved. Before Natsu could even react, a loud ear piercing screech that made his blood run cold. In a blur, the creature appeared before him, opening it's jaw that sported razor sharp teeth. He jumped back, sending a fire ball that it merely dodged. The demon closed the distance, smacking him across the ground, his body making contact with a boulder that cracked under the pressure.

Another screech made his ears bleed. With inhuman movement it took off on all fours. Natsu used his hands to put a spring into his step, a flame covered leg making contact with it's body. He followed up with a right-hook, before twisted his body around for a spin kick the creature unfortunately caught. Feeling it's black talons sink Into his skin. Roaring out in pain, his body combusted into flames making the demon recoil back.

His bloodied leg made contact with the ground with gritted teeth. "Dammit that hurt.." a pant escaped his lips, dodging a swipe with sluggish movement.

It may of been his imagination, but he could've sworn a twisted grin split across the demons face. The beast took a hold of his face slamming him into the ground as the breath from his lungs was knocked out of him. Even with an attempt to move, the creature pinned his arms to the ground. With gritted teeth, he could only watch the demon loom it's head over him.

Natsu stared into it's cold, lifeless eyes with a glare of his own. Feeling it's claws bury into his skin, an agonizing scream escaped his lips. It reared it's head back, sinking it's fangs into his shoulder that made another scream echo across the dark cave. "Get... The... Fuck..." his body bursted into flames, a screech of pain erupting from the creature. "OFF ME!"

His arms wrapped around it's body, engulfing the screeching demon that clawed desperatly at his back for him to let it go. Natsu endured every sharp pain, gritting his teeth tightly together. Flames grew in size, lighting up the cave. With a puff of his cheeks and stomach, his hold tightened on the creature with his face aimed directly in front of the demon.

FIRE DRAGON'S ROAR!

Flames erupted from his mouth, completely covering the monster that could only screech, weakly clawing away at Natsu's bloodied back with many gashes. He didn't stop, extending the limit of his lungs that desperately burned, craved for the need of oxygen. Natsu watched as the creature who could only stare at him, completely vanished into ashes. He shut his mouth, exhaling a fit of steam from his mouth.

Level Up

Level Up

Level Up

Level Up

Level Up

[Instance Dungeon Completed]

REWARDS:

Gold x1,000

Shadow Talon

Abyssal Slash Skill Stone

Natsu plopped on the ground, panting with a weak smile. "F-fuck that was harder than I thought.. He leaned back with a deep, exhausted sigh.

"Damn... I'm tired."

This chapter was a struggle I'm not gonna lie. I am terrible when it comes to making fight scenes. Plus adding in rewards, leveling up. But it is rewarding to finish these chapters everyday for all of you. I'm not entirely sure where this story will go, but hey that's the journey.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and I'll see you all in the next one. Later :)