The Legend Of Shadow Dragon God Slayer Chapter 2, a fairy tail fanfic

«???»

In the middle of the forest, we could see someone walking quietly. This person was very short and wore a green cloak with a hood, making it impossible for anyone to see his face clearly.

After a few minutes of continuous walking, this person was able to see a small castle; But before he could continue walking, he was stopped by four armed men. They brought their weapons close to that short person's face and neck.

"what are you doing here?" One of the armed men spoke, clearly ready to kill without showing any hesitation.

"wait wait!!" The short person shouted in a childish voice. "Someone told me to come here." This person pulled the hood off his head, allowing these men to see his face; A twelve-year-old boy, black hair, crimson eyes like rubies, almost pale white skin.

This kid was none other than Rogue Cheney!

"child?" One of the men spoke in surprise before he and his companions looked at each other.

"That guy gave me some money and asked me to go to Diego and give him a letter. He said he would give me more money after I finished." Rogue spoke in a naive tone.

"Someone asked you to bring a message to Diego-sama? Our boss?" One of the men spoke, sounding unconvinced.

"He told me to show you these.." Rogue said as he searched for something inside his pants pocket. "Where is it? I found it!" Rogue showed a piece of cloth on which a strange mark had been drawn.

As soon as Rogue showed that piece of cloth, the men's faces turned pale; These men seemed to know very well what this sign meant.

'Tartarus..' all the men thought before they looked at Rogue and let him in.

It has become clear now. Due to the actions and decisions taken by the Magic Council, it has become difficult for the Dark Guilds to conduct their activities, let alone send messages and exchange information; In order to remain off the Magic Council's radar, the Dark Guilds sometimes have a civilian act as the messenger, which is usually verbal, either through enticement or intimidation.

Rogue appears to be one of those messengers.

The guards felt little pity for the little boy. Whether the message is successfully delivered or not, the messenger must die in order to ensure that the guild's secrets are not revealed.

Maybe this would be the first time they had killed a child, but they didn't care much; They've killed a lot of people, so taking the life of a child wouldn't be much different than killing a man or a woman, right? They are all human beings. That's the way these guys thought.

'What fools they are.' Rogue thought.

Rogue knew very well what was happening now, he was at the Daegon Guild headquarters. He had used the letter trick to reach the guild master. This might be a very simple trick, but it was effective. In addition, no one expected a child to enter a dark guild and fight the guild master.

But what bothered him was that he had to play the role of a stupid, naive child. Seriously, he was starting to feel hurt by that stupid smile on his face.

A few minutes later, Rogue arrived at the throne room; Rogue stood in front of an empty throne and looked around. The place was full of masked men, but there was no Diego.

'Wait.. Wait..' Rogue thought.

Suddenly, a blue light appeared on the empty throne. After a few seconds, the light took the form of a man in his fifties, muscular, bald, with a thick beard and wearing clothes somewhat similar to those of a Buddhist monk.

This is Diego, or rather, his projection.

"What's your message?" Diego spoke briefly. It was clear that he wanted to end this meeting and return to his own affairs.

The naive smile disappeared from Rogue's face, who sighed deeply and looked at Diego coldly.

"If I told you, those idiots would kill me, am I wrong?" Rogue spoke in a cold tone.

Diego's facial expression didn't change, but he was a little surprised by Rogue's actions; A while ago, Rogue seemed like a naive child, but now he behaves differently from ordinary children. On the other hand, the masked men felt a little angry after being insulted by a child.

"Anyway, I don't have any message from Tartarus, but I have a special message for you." Rogue spoke, his arms now covered in shadows. "Today is the last day of your guild." Rogue slapped the floor with both hands. "Shadow Dragon Eruption."

Immediately, shadows poured out from the floor, throwing all the masked people so forcefully into the air that most of them hit the ceiling before falling to the floor and losing consciousness.

"interesting." Diego looked curiously at Rogue. "This is the first time I've seen a strong kid like you."

"I have more surprises." Rogue spoke in a cold tone.

For the first time, Diego smiled a frightening smile that was not devoid of malice. "You are a user of shadow magic, the weakest magic in the magic world. Do you really think you can beat my guild?" Diego disappeared, there was no one left but Rogue.

Rogue remained silent. Since time immemorial, wizards who use shadow magic have been despised due to their apparent weakness.

In his past life, there were only three shadow mages who were so powerful that they could attract attention; Kageyama, Jose Porla, and Rogue himself. But they had all been defeated several times in a humiliating manner, which was why the fact that shadow magic was the weakest magic had not been changed at all.

but..

The memories of the future Dragon King had proven otherwise. Although he was a shadow wizard, the future Rogue was able to live for seven full years in Earthland, which was then like hell, in addition to that he had a strength that enabled him to defeat enemies that no one else dared to approach, and he was even able to have a good fight against Acnologia and he came out alive; Well... he got out alive but missing One eye.

If so, why was shadow magic the weaker magic? How did the future Dragon King become so powerful? Why did the Dragon King lose against Natsu? This apparent contradiction between the reality of Earthland and the memories of the future Dragon King has caused Rogue to raise many questions.

Rogue sighed before turning around and starting to walk out of the hall. He hadn't seen all of Future Rogue's memories, just some short scenes, so there was no need to ask questions that couldn't be answered at the moment.

Suddenly, the hall door opened and a group of armed men appeared. At the same time, five black circles appeared behind Rogue like bottomless pits; After a few seconds, extremely black creatures appeared. They were so muscular and massive that if a muscular man stood in front of them, he would look like a skinny dwarf.

Rogue turned to the dark creatures and gave them a cold look. "Put them down."

The dark beings roared before quickly running towards the armed men.

"what the hell?!" One of the men shouted in horror.

Before the men could do anything, they were pushed away by the five beings. Outside the hall, there were other groups of men that immediately started attacking those beings but it seemed that their attempts were in vain; It didn't matter how many stabs or wounds these creatures received, all injuries disappeared as soon as they appeared.

Dark Summoning, this is one of the skills that Rogue learned after trying to delve into the memories of the future Dragon King; Dark beings are summoned from a world called the Abyss, a skill very similar to Celestial magic, but very dangerous. Unlike Celestial Spirits, these beings can kill the Summoner without being punished, which means that the Summoner can at any moment become threatened with death by either his or her enemies or allies; These beings belong to an unknown race, but what Rogue knows is that these beings are not hostile, but they certainly will not be kind when they are offended in any way or forced to do things, otherwise these beings can kill the summoner in a terrifying way beyond the human mind. About imagining it. It's like dealing with mercenaries but without having to pay them money.

Meanwhile, Rogue was walking quietly without paying attention to anything around him, those dark beings getting rid of anyone who tried to stand in Rogue's way. He summoned these beings in order to conserve as much effort and magic energy as possible, because he needed every ounce of his strength to get out of here alive.

'This place is really big.' Rogue took a deep breath before walking down one of the hallways. He used his sense of smell to find Diego.

After a few minutes, there was no longer any resistance from the Dark Guild. It was fairly easy, these guys weren't strong; Their attacks were only based on physical strength and low-quality magic weapons, they did not use any magic attack techniques. They were beginners.

'As expected from a low-rank guild.' Shadow Dragon Slayer thought.

Rogue stood in front of a door before looking at the dark creatures. Their number was previously five, but now they are only two; Well, summoning these beings requires a certain amount of magical energy so that they can do the work required of them, and when they run out of magical energy they immediately return to the abyss, but it seems that these two still retain a little magic energy.

"You can go now." Rogue spoke softly, making the dark creatures disappear instantly. Then Rogue gently pushed the door open.

Diego was sitting on a wooden chair in the middle of a wide but empty hall, but what caught Rogue's attention most was that there was a large door at the end of the hall. As expected, Diego looked very angry.

"You're strong, brat.." Diego spoke in a calm tone but seemed really annoyed. "What are you? I'm serious. Are you a mercenary? A military project? A monster?!" Even though Diego had lived for a long time, he had never seen or even heard of a young wizard being able to defeat an entire guild, especially if that wizard was a shadow wizard, someone who used the weakest magic of all.

"Who knows?" Rogue answered calmly.

Diego sighed deeply. "It doesn't matter now, but..." Diego stared at Rogue. "Do you have any idea what will happen if this guild is disbanded?"

Diego didn't get any answer from the Shadow Dragon Slayer, that's why he kept talking.

"See that door over there?" Diego asked, pointing with his thumb to the door behind him. "Behind that door, there is a hideous monster that could bring about the end of the world."

"Why didn't you tell the Magic Council about that thing?" Rogue asked.

"Unfortunately, the Council will take that monster and use it to enhance their military power. That is why I founded this guild in order to keep it under control and keep the world safe from its evils. That is why I want you to leave quietly and I will forget that you ever came here." Diego spoke, noticing that Rogue was listening intently. 'What an idiot. He may be strong, but he is still a child.' Diego thought, resisting the urge to smile.

"Oh, that's very noble of you." Rogue spoke. "That's why you were making so many human sacrifices to that monster, right?"

"What?!?!" Diego shouted in surprise.

"Do you really think I'm stupid to believe your lie?" Rogue spoke, looking down at Diego. "You're only right about two things; one, this monster is really dangerous; two, the Magic Council would exploit that monster's power if they knew about it. It's called Daegon, am I wrong?"

"What do you know?!?! You're just--"

"I know everything." Rogue replied in a cold tone. "Your guild is kidnapping people and making them food for that monster; since he prefers to eat the flesh of women and children, you did your best to give him as many women and children as possible. I don't know what he promised you, but I'm pretty sure you agreed."

'This child is not ordinary.' Diego couldn't hide his surprise. "Who the hell are you?"

Rogue took off his cloak in one quick motion and then threw it away. Diego could see that Rogue was wearing a black kimono with a katana attached to the shadow dragon slayer's back, and it seemed clear that that Katana was so long that it was not much shorter than Rogue himself.

Rogue slowly unsheathed his Katana before holding it with both hands, when a black aura appeared around the Katana. Diego knew that there was no point in lying to this strange child, so he got up from his chair and grabbed his club, which was now glowing with a red light.

"Rogue Cheney, a mage from Phantom Lord." Rogue replied in a firm tone.

Without saying another word, Rogue took off at great speed towards Diego. At the same time, Diego raised his club and brought it down forcefully on the Shadow Dragon Slayer.

"Earthbreaker!!" Diego shouted.

When the sword and club collided with each other, something happened that made Diego's eyes widen; His weapon aura disappeared as soon as he touched his opponent's weapon and his technique was cancelled.

The monk was pushed back several meters.

Diego looked in disbelief at Rogue. 'Even though I'm bigger and stronger than him, I even used a magic technique... but he pushed me.' Diego looked at his club, which had some cracks on it.

Diego couldn't understand what was happening. Unlike the inferior magic weapons his followers have, this club is a weapon of good quality; But his club lost its aura and all its magic properties as soon as it collided with the Shadow Dragon Slayer's katana, and if this club was not of high quality, Diego would have lost his weapon and perhaps his life as well.

At this moment, Rogue took advantage of his enemy's distraction and attacked him by surprise; But he did not stop there, but continued to send a series of successive attacks without giving Diego any opportunity to attack. Truly, the best way to defend is to attack.

'impossible!! what the hell?!?!' Diego thought, angry and disbelieving. Rogue demonstrated extreme prowess in using the Katana, a prowess that only someone who spent many years of swordsman training could attain. 'This boy... is forcing me to step back?!'

Diego jumped back, creating distance between himself and the Shadow Dragon Slayer. Diego then threw his club away, but at the same time, his arms became covered in flames.

"Child or not, you're dead you little bastard." Diego shouted angrily.

Rogue looked very calm. 'I think I have to get more serious.'

Diego launched a punch at Rogue, but the Shadow Dragon Slayer used his Katana as a shield to block Diego's punch. As soon as Diego's left fist came into contact with Rogue's Katana, the flame on Diego's left arm disappeared.

'A weapon with a special ability. No wonder he kept up with me.' Diego thought.

At the same time, Diego moved his right arm in order to punch Rogue; But Rogue did the same thing after his right arm was covered in shadows.

An explosion sounded resulting from the collision of both Rogue and Diego's fists; They both tried to get the upper hand, but ended up being pushed back several meters.

"I see, I see now." Diego spoke before pointing his finger at Rogue. "Your Katana is the reason for your strength, without it you are nothing."

Without saying a word, Rogue threw his weapon to Diego, as the Katana fell in front of Diego, who could not believe that Rogue had gotten rid of his weapon like that.

'What a fool! He easily disposed of a magical treasure like this.' But soon Diego smiled. 'This is my chance!'

Immediately, Diego picked up the Katana from the ground and took a fighting stance. Suddenly, Diego felt a little dizzy; He knew that the Katana was the cause of his dizziness because there are some weapons that cause side effects and perhaps this katana is one of those weapons.

But what Diego doesn't know is that he has made the biggest mistake of his life.

Diego activated his magic energy and tried to fuse his magic with the Katana. But something unexpected happened: Diego's aura disappeared and he felt dizzy, had a severe headache, and had a strong desire to vomit.

Meanwhile, Rogue exploited this situation to his advantage.

"Shadow Dragon Roar!!"

Like a torrent of rushing water, the shadows rushed towards Diego. After the shadows faded, Diego appeared unconscious, and at the same time, the Katana fell embedded on the floor.

"Fool." Rogue muttered as he walked over to retrieve his weapon. "Didn't your mother tell you not to take what's not yours?" Rogue sighed before going to the door at the end of the hall.

This Katana is made of a special metal known as Maginium, the same metal from which the Eclipse Gate is made. This metal absorbs a certain amount of magic from anything around it, and the larger the mass of this metal, the greater the amount of magic that will be absorbed. For this reason, no one uses this metal.

But the future Rogue was able to harness this metal to his advantage, as after performing many experiments he was finally able to create unique tools, such as the Katana that Rogue now possesses. This katana was made by hand without the use of magic, and after the metal reaches a certain temperature it is cooled by dipping it in cold water mixed with two liters of the user's blood; For this reason, Rogue's energy was not absorbed, which means that if anyone other than Rogue wielded this weapon, he would lose some of his magic power and cause physical disturbances.

Rogue walked quietly, the door showed a path leading down.

«in the bottom»

Rogue arrived at a place that could be said to be a very wide cave with a lake in the middle. The place was dark and very humid.

Suddenly, a huge creature appeared from the lake and quietly moved towards Rogue. This creature looked like a lizard but with long tentacle-like things around its body.

"Who dared to break into my home?" The creature looked at Rogue and then narrowed its eyes. "Kid? How disappointing. I knew Diego and his group were pathetically weak, but this exceeded all expectations."

"We meet again, Daegon. It's been a long time." Rogue spoke in a cold tone.

"do I know you?" Daegon spoke, bringing his large face close to the Shadow Dragon Slayer's body.

'When I was 17 years old, Sting and I confronted this monster. Back then, Daegon was so powerful that even some Saint Wizards would not dare to stand before it. That was the hardest deadly battle I've ever fought in my life and I don't want to repeat it again.." Rogue thought, his eyes glowing red. 'But now, it's at his weakest.'

Daegon is one of dozens of demons created by the black wizard, Zeref. Five years ago, this demon was nearly killed by one of the four gods of Ishgar, Wolfheim. Daegon may have survived but lost most of his power; That's why he founded his own guild so he could heal himself and regain his strength.

Immediately, Rogue made a slash in Daegon's mouth. As an expected reaction, Daegon roared in pain before raising his arm and lowering it over the Shadow Dragon Slayer.

"Shadow Drive." Rogue turned into a shadow and moved away from the attack, but instead of moving away from Daegon, he launched straight at him.

Rogue quickly moved around Daegon's body and delivered dozens of stabs and slashes. But Rogue's attacks do nothing but make Daegon angrier than before.

Daegon made his tentacles move randomly and destroy everything in its path. Rogue jumped away from the amphibious demon and then prepared to attack again as shadows gathered around his katana.

"Shadow slash!" A black slash shot out from Rogue's katana.

The attack severed some of Daegon's tentacles but left only a superficial wound on the monster's back.

"Your speed is remarkable." acknowledged the daegon, amidst their duel, "but speed alone cannot defeat me."

Rogue didn't miss a beat, "It's not just speed. It's about knowing where the light doesn't reach."

Their exchange continued, not just in combat but in a battle of wits and determination. Rogue's every move was a dance with death as he used his shadow dragon slayer magic to carve through the darkness, aiming for the daegon's core.

Finally, with a mighty roar, Rogue unleashed his ultimate attack, "Shadow Dragon roar!" A massive surge of shadow energy erupted, enveloping the daegon in a blinding darkness that was not its own.

As the dust settled, Rogue stood victorious, the daegon vanquished, its threat to the world nullified.

For the first time since he entered this palace, Rogue began to breathe heavily; Although he achieved a great achievement, he was not happy even a little. Daegon was very weak, even if he was at his full strength, there were hundreds of beings and creatures that could easily overcome Daegon, not to mention Acnologia.

Rogue sighed as he looked at the amphibious beast's corpse, a sly smile appeared on the Shadow Dragon Slayer's face.

after two hours...

Rogue sat in front of the palace gate eating a large piece of grilled meat, the members of the Daegon Guild tied together. He had been waiting for the Rune Knights to come.

On the other hand, Diego and his group were fearfully staring at the Shadow Dragon Slayer like he was a child from hell; Why? Because that piece of meat is only part of the body of Daegon himself.

Most mages in the world are ignorant of this information, but in future Rogue's memories, eating monster meat increases the magic's power; If eating one kilogram of monster meat gave strength equivalent to the strength one could gain through hours of hard training, the reason was that monster meat was saturated with magic energy.

Rogue did not eat the entire body, but rather hid it inside a vacuum space which was like a storage bag that could hold all the symptoms; His mastery of shadow magic made him able to create pocket dimensions in which everything except living things could be stored.

Of course, Rogue did not miss the opportunity to plunder all of the Daegon Guild's treasures and resources, after all, they no longer needed them; Moreover, he might need those resources in the future.

After a few minutes, Rogue could hear the steps of the Rune Knights. He didn't care and continued eating his food.

When the knights arrived, they were surprised to see large groups of men tied together with a child. At first the Knights thought this was a joke but their leader sighed before turning towards Rogue.

"You again." The knight leader spoke in a tired tone, he seemed to know Rogue. "I should have known."

"Good morning, Albert-san." Rogue replied without looking at the Knight Commander.

'Seriously, no matter what happens, if it's because of him, I won't be surprised! I wouldn't be surprised even if he fight against an army of demons and emerge victorious!' Albert sighed again, he needed this in order to maintain his sanity. For the past two years, everywhere he went, there was Rogue.

«Hargeon Town»

After taking a long journey to Hargeon town, Rogue Cheney found solace on a secluded bench in the park.

As he sat, his thoughts wandered, not to the tranquility of his surroundings but to the burden of knowledge that weighed heavily on his young shoulders. Rogue, Reincarnated with memories of a foreboding future, often found himself caught in a web of internal dialogues, pondering the complexity of his existence.

In the two years since his reincarnation, Rogue devoted every waking moment to understanding his predicament and preparing for the challenges that lay ahead. He sifted through the memories of his past life, analyzing every detail of the events that would lead to the future he once knew. The insights gained from this introspection guided him on a rigorous path of self-improvement.

Rogue's training regimen was as unconventional as his situation. Knowing that conventional methods would not suffice, he sought out the hidden arts of shadow manipulation and dragon slayer magic, practicing in the dead of night when the world around him slept. Through sheer will and determination, he began to hone his skills, pushing his body and spirit to limits far beyond those of an average twelve-year-old.

The memories of a devastating battle between Acnologia and his future self haunted him relentlessly. He remembered the sky ablaze, the earth torn asunder, and the overwhelming despair that enveloped him as he faced the monstrous dragon. These visions served as a constant reminder that his current strength was nowhere near enough to confront Acnologia. The gap between them was vast, like that between the heavens and the earth.

Recollections of a great and brutal battle between his future self and the fearsome dragon plagued him, serving as a relentless reminder of what awaited if he failed to change the course of the future.

Despite his youth, the gravity of his knowledge forced him to mature beyond his years. Rogue understood all too well that his current power was insufficient when compared to Acnologia's terrifying might. This awareness didn't just scare him; it fueled him. "I know I'm not strong enough...not yet." Rogue whispered to himself, a mix of determination and fear in his youthful voice. "But I have to become stronger. I cannot let that future come to pass."

Amidst these heavy contemplations, Rogue couldn't help but feel isolated. Sharing his knowledge could disrupt the fragile timeline even further, perhaps even hastening Acnologia's destruction instead of preventing it. He was tethered to his secret, a solitary figure dwelling on the brink of what was and what could be. His journey was indeed lonely, marked by a silent pledge to defy fate, armed with nothing but his wits and the echoes of a future he was desperate to rewrite.

Beyond magic, Rogue knew the importance of connections. He observed the guilds from afar, especially Fairy Tail, which stood as a beacon of hope and strength. He listened to stories told in hushed tones in taverns and markets, stories of valor, friendship, and sacrifice. Through these stories, Rogue gleaned insights into the hearts and minds of those who would become key players in the future drama. Yet, he remained a shadow, unseen yet ever-present, fearing that too close an involvement might ripple the future in unforeseen ways.

The burden of knowledge made Rogue wise beyond his years but also profoundly isolated. He realized that his actions or inactions could sway the future. Thus, he walked a fine line, intervening subtly where he could to prevent tragedies without revealing the breadth of his knowledge. Each night, as he lay under the stars, Rogue wondered if he was doing enough, if the future could indeed be changed, or if he was merely a spectator to an unalterable script written by fate.

Despite the weight of destiny pressing upon him, Rogue clung to a flicker of hope. He believed that even the smallest of actions could redirect the course of history, like a gentle nudge steering a river's flow. With this hope as his guiding light, Rogue faced each day with resolve, determined to forge a better future, even if he had to do it from the shadows.

Yet, despite the odds stacked against him, Rogue refused to give in to despair. Instead, these challenges fueled his resolve. "I may not be strong enough now." he thought, "but every step I take is a step towards changing that future." His journey was a solitary one, laden with the weight of a knowledge that he could share with no one. It was a path of sacrifice, chosen willingly to protect the world from the calamity he knew was coming.

And so, Rogue continued his silent vigil, training in the shadows, ever vigilant for signs of the impending storm. His heart was heavy with the knowledge of what was to come, but it also burned with a fierce determination to alter the course of destiny.

'Why can't I just tell them? Warn them about what's to come?' Rogue asked himself, but he already knew the answer. The dilemma extended far beyond simply sharing his knowledge of the future. If he were to reveal what he knew, the very fabric of their reality could unravel in unpredictable and potentially catastrophic ways. He envisioned guilds clashing not out of rivalry but desperation, trying to avert or exploit future calamities based on his words alone. Friendships might fracture under the weight of foreknowledge, trust eroding as everyone questioned the authenticity and motives behind his revelations.

Moreover, the dangers of manipulating time were not lost on Rogue. He understood that even the smallest ripple could grow into a tidal wave, capable of sweeping away the present he knew. There could be unintended consequences, where actions taken to prevent one disaster might give rise to another, perhaps even more severe. The balance of magical forces could be disrupted, leading to chaos that would make the looming threat of Acnologia seem manageable in comparison.

His thoughts also turned to dark mages and malevolent forces that could seek to use his knowledge for their own vile purposes. If word got out that someone with foresight roamed among them, it wouldn't be long before dark guilds and power-hungry individuals would hunt him down, eager to extract what he knew and twist it to their advantage.

These swirling thoughts painted a grim picture, but they cemented Rogue's resolve to tread carefully. He realized that his burden was not just to protect what he loved from future threats, but also from the consequences of his own potential actions. It was a tightrope walk between two bleak futures, where the slightest misstep could send everything plummeting into darkness.

Rogue was immersed in his thoughts, his brain had become like a fierce battlefield. Meanwhile, someone sat next to Rogue, but it seemed like that person was too busy reading one of the magazines, Sorcerer Weekly.

The Shadow Dragon Slayer's eyes widened when he saw that person. 'Lucy Heartfilia.'

she was busy reading the magazine in her hands and began talking about Mirajane and the guilds before laughing. "Mirajane's antics are just too much sometimes." she mused aloud, utterly engrossed in her magazine. "And let's not even start on the guild challenges. They're absolutely crazy but so thrilling to read about."

In the midst of her self-conversation, Lucy shifted slightly, making herself comfortable and continuing her unwitting monologue. "I wonder if I'd ever get to be part of such adventures. It sounds like a riot." she sighed, a dreamy tone lacing her words. Her laughter filled the air once more, a sweet melody that spoke volumes of her joyful spirit.

"And what about that Salamander guy? His escapades are legendary!" she chuckled, flipping the page with an eager flick of her wrist. "How does one person find themselves in so much trouble and still come out as the hero? It's utterly baffling but so admirable."

Rogue just smirked, neither disturbed nor eager to announce his presence. Instead, he let silence be his companion, watching Lucy with an amused expression. In his mind, he couldn't help but reminisce about the future from which he had come—a future where Lucy Heartfilia played a pivotal role, her strength and determination becoming a beacon of hope. 'In that future..' Rogue thought. 'Lucy stood tall against the darkest of foes, her light unwavering. It's almost surreal seeing her here, so carefree and unaware of the mountains she'll climb.'

As Lucy continued her lively commentary, oblivious to Rogue's presence, she finally leaned back, stretching her arms with a content sigh. "Ah, to live a life full of adventure and camaraderie like that." she whispered to herself, her gaze lost in the clouds, embodying the essence of longing and hope.

Rogue, still sitting silently, couldn't help but still smiling. Lucy's infectious energy made it impossible not to be drawn to her. Her spirit, unabashedly vibrant and full of life, contrasted sharply with the solemn path he walked. Yet, in this moment, he found a semblance of peace, enjoying the simple pleasure of her company, even if she was yet to acknowledge him.

"This guild... It's more than just a group of mages; it's a family. I wonder." she mused, pausing her reading for a moment. "what it'd be like to be part of something so... vibrant and chaotic."

Rogue couldn't help but let a soft laugh escape at Lucy's commentary, marveling at how even in these small, seemingly mundane moments, the essence of her future self shone through. 'She doesn't even realize yet, the strength she holds within. Her kindness, her fierce loyalty, and the powerful magic she's destined to wield.' he reflected quietly.

Lucy, hearing the subtle laugh, finally snapped out of her monologue. "Oh! I didn't see you there." she exclaimed, slightly startled, as she finally turned to acknowledge Rogue's presence. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment, realizing she had been talking to herself all this time.

"I'm sorry, I must've seemed so silly, talking to myself like that." Lucy managed to say, still grappling with her embarrassment.

Rogue, maintaining an air of composure uncommon for someone his age, replied with a gentle smile, "Not at all. It's a pleasure to meet someone who's as passionate about Fairy Tail as you seem to be."

Lucy blinked, taken aback by the maturity lacing his tone. "You... you know about Fairy Tail?" she asked, her intrigue piqued.

"Yes, a bit." Rogue answered cautiously, careful not to reveal the depth of his knowledge or his ties to the future. "It's a remarkable guild with a rich history and vibrant members. Much like yourself, I find their adventures quite fascinating."

Lucy's curiosity grew. "That's amazing! You speak so wisely... like you've lived through their adventures yourself." She studied him for a moment, "Have we met before? You seem so familiar."

Rogue chuckled softly, the question stirring a mix of emotions inside him. "Perhaps in another life." he replied cryptically, allowing the mystery to linger. "But today is the first time we've officially met."

"Oh, I see." Lucy mused, a hint of disappointment in her voice. Yet, she couldn't help but smile at his intriguing nature. "You seem to know a lot. I've always wanted to learn more about fairy tail and their guilds. Maybe you could tell me more?"

Rogue nodded, "Maybe I could. But some stories are better lived than told. Who knows? Maybe one day, you'll find yourself writing your own chapter in their history."

Her eyes lit up with excitement at the possibility, "That sounds wonderful! I hope that day comes." She paused, then extended her hand, "I'm Lucy, by the way, Lucy Heartfilia."

"Rogue Cheney," he introduced himself, taking her hand in a gentle handshake.

As they exchanged names, an unwelcome figure approached—Bora, known falsely as the Salamander, a moniker he had shamelessly usurped from Fairy Tail's Natsu Dragneel. Lucy's eyes sparkled with interest, not yet aware of the deceit.

Rogue's expression darkened slightly at the sight, his mind racing with memories of Bora's notorious history—a man steeped in deception, luring unsuspecting women with the promise of joining Fairy Tail, only to betray them for his own nefarious ends. Rogue knew the truth but chose to remain silent, his eyes fixed on Lucy, gauging her reaction, pondering whether to intervene or observe how the scene unfolded. His instincts urged him to protect, yet his wisdom dictated caution.

Bora, with his characteristic charm, extended an invitation to Lucy, promising her adventure and camaraderie within the ranks of Fairy Tail. "Join me, and I'll introduce you to the wonders of being a Fairy Tail mage," Bora declared, his voice smooth and convincing.

"Really? That sounds amazing!" Lucy responded, her eyes shining with excitement. She was wholly unaware of the true nature of the man before her.

Rogue, who had remained silent until now, watched the exchange with a critical eye. Though he knew the truth about Bora's deceitful intentions, he had chosen to keep his silence, a decision that weighed heavily on him.

"Be at my ship tonight. I'll show you the world that only Fairy Tail members can see," Bora added, leaning closer to Lucy with a beckoning grin.

Lucy, intrigued and naively trusting, nodded. "I'll be there! Thank you for this opportunity!"

It was then that Rogue decided to intervene. His voice, betraying none of his inner turmoil, carried a calm, almost sigma-like quality as he addressed Bora. "It's intriguing, isn't it? How the night can reveal truths that the day hides so well."

Bora turned towards Rogue, his initial charm dissipating into unease. He could feel Rogue's gaze piercing through his pretenses, uncovering the deception he was so accustomed to weaving. The smug smirk on Rogue's face left Bora feeling as if he stood before the devil himself.

"Who are you?" Bora asked, trying to maintain his composure but failing to mask the discomfort in his voice.

"Just a bystander." Rogue replied coolly, his smirk widening. "But beware, the sea is vast, and not all ships sail to the promised lands. Some are led astray by the sirens' call or swallowed by the waves of their own deceit."

Lucy, observing the exchange, felt a pang of doubt. "Is everything alright here?" she asked, her enthusiasm dimming slightly under the weight of the tension.

"Yes, everything's perfect. Isn't it, Sa-la-man-der?" Rogue said, his gaze never leaving Bora's.

"Who are you, really?" Bora asked, trying to maintain his composure but failing to mask the discomfort in his voice. A shiver ran down his spine, inexplicably unnerved by the boy's presence.

"As i said before, Just a bystander." Rogue replied coolly, his smirk widening. The air around him seemed to thicken, charged with an unspoken threat, imbuing his casual demeanor with a devilish aura.

Bora took a half-step back, his unease mounting. The smug smirk on Rogue's face unsettled him, the confidence and insinuation in his tone suggesting he knew far more than any bystander should. "What do you want?" Bora managed to choke out, trying to regain some semblance of control.

Rogue leaned in slightly, his voice a sinister whisper. "Just enjoying the show. It's not every day you get to see a wolf in sheep's clothing try to lead the lamb astray." His eyes glinted with a dangerous sort of mirth, the shadow of his smile suggesting secrets and hidden knowledge.

Bora felt cornered, the young boy before him exuding a presence that belied his years, as if Rogue was indeed the devil masquerading as a child. "I... I don't know what you're talking about," Bora stammered, attempting to deflect but finding himself ensnared in Rogue's gaze.

"Oh, but I think you do." Rogue continued, his tone laced with insinuation. "Just a piece of advice—be careful who you attempt to deceive. The shadows have eyes, and the truth tends to emerge when least expected."

As Rogue finished speaking, Lucy turned to him with a mix of confusion and curiosity. "Are you coming with us tonight?" she asked, oblivious to the tension. Her innocence in the matter was a stark contrast to the charged exchange.

Rogue glanced at Lucy, then back at Bora whose face had paled significantly. "I'm afraid I have other engagements." Rogue refused gently, his voice returning to its calm, almost soothing cadence.

The refusal seemed to strike a chord in Bora, his heart sinking with the realization that his ruse might be unraveling before it even began. But then Lucy's persistent optimism offered him a sliver of hope—if not Rogue, then Lucy alone would suffice for his plans.

Rogue, still smirking, watched as a myriad of emotions crossed Bora's face. He knew the outcome of tonight's endeavor, the fated collapse of Bora's schemes. And while he chose not to directly intervene, his warnings served as a silent guardian over the unfolding events.

Bora, attempting to regain his composure, nodded stiffly at Rogue's advice. "Well then." he said with a forced lightness, "I'll see you tonight, Lucy."

As Bora hurriedly excused himself, Rogue's smirk never faltered. He turned to Lucy, a spark of mischief in his eyes. "Be careful, Lucy Heartfilia. The world is full of surprises, and not all of them are pleasant."

Lucy, still puzzled by the interaction, nodded. "I will. And thank you... for whatever that was."

The mysterious exchange and Rogue's enigmatic presence only added layers to their initial meeting, a moment that would ripple into their futures in ways neither could yet comprehend. Rogue's devilish air, the insinuating dialogue, and the unwavering smirk seemed to dance on the edge of destiny, hinting at the intricate web of fate in which they all were entangled.

Without a word, Rogue stood up, his eyes locked with Lucy's for a brief moment before he turned and walked away. Lucy, puzzled by his sudden departure, could only watch as his figure disappeared into the crowd. She had so many questions, yet the opportunity for answers had slipped away as swiftly as the mysterious Rogue himself.

Rogue had a specific reason for leaving so abruptly; he needed to retrieve his beloved exceed, Frosch, from a local cat cafe where he had left him earlier that day. The cafe, known for its warm, welcoming atmosphere for felines and their human friends, was a place Frosch particularly enjoyed due to the abundance of affection and treats provided by the staff and patrons alike.

"Frosch needs to be around friends sometimes, too," Rogue mumbled to himself as he made his way through the bustling streets of Hargeon towards the cafe. "It's not good for him to always be caught up in my shadow."

Upon arriving at the cafe, Rogue was greeted by the cheerful meows and purrs of its inhabitants. Frosch, wearing his usual frog costume, hopped excitedly towards Rogue, his eyes shining with happiness. "Rogue! Frosch had lots of fun! Lots of fish!"

Rogue couldn't help but smile at Frosch's enthusiasm. "I'm glad to hear that, buddy. But it's time we head back now. We've got a long day ahead of us tomorrow."

After leaving the cafe, Rogue realized the day's events had taken a toll on him. Deciding they both needed to rest, he checked into a modest motel at the edge of town. The room was simple, with two small beds and a window that offered a view of the town's twinkling lights.

As Frosch curled up on one bed, Rogue took a moment to sit by the window, his thoughts drifting back to his interaction with Lucy. "She has no idea how much her life is going to change." he pondered. "But no matter what, she'll rise to the challenge. She always does."

With that thought, Rogue lay down, the events of the day slowly fading as he drifted into a peaceful sleep, Frosch snoring softly beside him. Tomorrow, they would continue their journey, carrying the weight of a future only Rogue could foresee.

However, the serenity of the night was abruptly shattered by loud noises, pulling Rogue from the depths of his slumber. At first, he was disoriented, but then realization dawned on him. Rising swiftly, he peered out the window, witnessing the chaotic aftermath of what he instinctively knew was Natsu's handiwork. The harbor was in ruins, a testament to the explosive battle that had just concluded.

"Natsu... always one to leave a mark, regardless of the era." Rogue mused, a smirk playing on his lips. He had heard tales of Natsu Dragneel's fiery exploits, but seeing the results firsthand was another matter entirely. Even though he hadn't witnessed the clash, the remnants of destruction spoke volumes of Natsu's unfettered power.

As the dust settled and the commotion died down, Rogue observed Natsu and Lucy hastily making their exit, closely pursued by Rune Knights who were always a step behind the chaos of Fairy Tail's mages. Despite the seriousness of the situation, Rogue couldn't help but chuckle at the sight. "Their adventure's just beginning." he thought, his smirk broadening.

Deciding to follow the events a bit longer, Rogue donned his cloak and stepped into the cool night. His path soon crossed with a defeated Bora, who was nursing his wounds, both to his body and his pride. The sight of the fallen man brought another layer of amusement to Rogue's features.

"Quite the spectacle you caused." Rogue commented, approaching Bora with an air of casual observation.

Bora, caught off guard by Rogue's presence, grimaced. "You again? What do you want now? come to mock my defeat?"

"Not quite," Rogue replied with a nonchalant shrug. " Natsu Dragneel, Fairy Tail's Salamander, true salamander, isn't someone easily imitated or defeated."

Bora scowled, his frustration palpable. "Fairy Tail... They'll pay for this humiliation."

Rogue simply watched him, his expression unreadable. "Your ambition clashed with the wrong foe today. Natsu Dragneel and his friends... they represent more than mere strength. They embody the spirit of camaraderie, something you sorely underestimated."

Turning to leave, Rogue paused, glancing back at Bora with a final thought. "Consider this a lesson, Bora. Not all battles are won with deceit and power. Sometimes, the heart behind the magic makes all the difference."

Leaving a sullen Bora in his wake, Rogue disappeared into the shadows of the night, his thoughts wandering back to Natsu and Lucy. Their fates were intertwined in a myriad of ways, each thread pulling him deeper into the tapestry of adventures yet to unfold. With a silent vow to watch over them, Rogue continued his journey, the smirk never quite leaving his face as he pondered the exciting future that lay ahead for them all.