"So what was the mission you guys picked while I was gone?" Natsu asked, pulling a large cart of luggage behind him with a beaming knight who followed right by his side.She turned slightly, interlocking her hand with his.

"Just a simple clear out of bandits. Normally, I'd leave the others to these requests, but the paper stated it wanted your presence," Erza gave him a side glance, a smile Natsu could never forget. "I heard you've gained quite the reputation. Very little property damage, and no casualties of any kind. I'm impressed how much you've grown as a person. Your training must be really paying off."

A small blush erupted from his cheeks as he turned away with a small pout. "Jeez, is It really that hard to think I can control my magic? Lucy will be thanking me to death when she finds out how much I've changed. Plus, I know Gramps can only take so much property damage bills," he chuckled softly with a small sweat drop, knowing full good and well that he was the cause of a lot of trouble for the old man. Not that Makarov hated the boy for that for any means. He just wished Natsu had a slight self-control of his magic that wouldn't lead to so much catastrophic damage.

Erza giggled in response, shaking her head in amusement. "You do have a point there."

Up ahead were the rest of Team Natsu. Gray was sitting on one of many benches around the station, his shirt long since discarded in an unknown location. Lucy sat next to him with Wendy, carrying on any sort of conversation they could to pass the time. Happy and Carla were seated elsewhere. The poor feline had never stopped trying to win Carla's heart, but his methods were the least bit desired... When was he gonna learn she doesn't like fish?

Lucy glanced up, noticing Natsu and Erza who were steadily approaching. She waved to them with a large grin. "Finally, the power couple has arrived!"

"Took them long enough," Gray scoffed, standing up from his seat. "How long does it take to pack?"

"Is there something you'd like to say about my luggage, Gray?" A stern voice broke him into a cold sweat as he shakily turned towards Erza who was glaring daggers into his body. "If you do, I'd like to hear it."

"No, no! I have no problems, yep no problems here!"

'Honestly that glare barely scares me anymore. She does it just to intimidate people. On the inside, Erza Scarlet is just a shy girl who hides under that armor in a stern bravado we've all come to known. But thankfully I get to see the other side of her that others don't' Natsu thought with a chuckle, watching his rival practically shake in his boots.

"Good, now that we're all here. Let us depart," The scarlet knight proudly declared, before dragging a poor dragon slayer off by his arm.

"She does know we didn't even buy the tickets... right?" Lucy questioned with a nervous chuckle.

Gray could only sigh, grumbling as he made his way to the ticket booth. "Don't question it, guess I'm paying this time around."

Natsu and Erza took their seats after packing his girlfriend's unnecessary cart of luggage. Someday, maybe not now but he was going to convince her to shrink down. It would eliminate the unnecessary load she had to carry constantly, but that was a discussion for another time. He bit his lip in conflict as they sat there. 'What do I do about my motion sickness? Thanks to the system, it's completely gone. Do I just play it off that my training fixed it? Or... aargh! Natsu think!'

"Is everything okay Natsu?" Erza asked, breaking Natsu of his train of thoughts with a small frown, noticing her lover in deep thought.

Natsu chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck as the rest of his team found their seats. The train lunched forward, proceeding to move along the tracks. Everyone's wide eyes were on Natsu who didn't have a speck of green, coloring his face. He wasn't clutching his stomach in pain, or trying his best not to empty his stomach. At first glance when they arrived, he seemed nonchalant over the fact he had to ride a train. Normally he would be wining, complaining about the death machine that plagued his body, or any moving vehicle for that matter.

"N-natsu your motion sickness-"

"It's gone," he calmly replied with a deep sigh escaping his lips.

"Care to explain how?" Erza asked with a stern tone, her eyes narrowed in suspicion.

Natsu could only shrug with a lazy smile. "During my training, I've been riding trains a lot. Overtime I guess the feeling just went away. Now I can freely ride this death machine without a care in the world," he leaned back, resting his hands behind his head with a grin. "It's great."

"Lucky..." Wendy groaned, immediately slumping over into Lucy's lap who gently stroked the sky maiden's hair in comfort.

Erza could only lower her head with a depressing aura covering her body with a deep frown. "T-that means you won't have to lay your head on my lap anymore. I am useless to you now."

Natsu rolled his eyes with a small chuckle, patting his girlfriend on the head. "Don't think I won't still take the offer. Your thighs are quite comfortable, so don't belittle yourself my knight. Just means you get to spend time with me, instead of me sleeping away the whole ride."

"I suppose you have a point," the knight smiled with a blush, leaning her head against his shoulder. Her hand rested against his, rubbing the top of his palm. "You just keep changing in front of my eyes."

"Can't stay the same forever."

A groan escaped the ice mage's lips. He had to admit he was happy for Erza and Natsu for finding each other, but did they have to be so lovey dovey constantly? It was annoying to him for no end in sight. But something was bugging him about Natsu. Not just the appearance change, or the fact his motion sickness was apparently gone. It was his personality. Natsu was always known to be a child in a man's body, always getting into trouble, always picking fights with Gray as his rival. But lately he was calm, collected. Sure he made the occasional snarky nickname they gave each other, but nothing more than that. 'Did that mission really change Natsu that much?'

Natsu's eyes had grown heavy as he gently laid his head against the window, his hand tightly interlocked with his girlfriend who was resting against his shoulder. He closed his eyes, feeling the last bits of consciousness escape him.

Erza peeked over his shoulder with a small smile. "He must be exhausted from his last mission."

"Seems like it," Lucy commented with a frown. "As much as I'm happy to see him improving, I can't help but worry. He hasn't been the same since that mission. With all the solo jobs he's been taking, including not even bringing Happy along for any of them. I just... feel like there's something more here we're not seeing."

"Flame-brain is definitely hiding something from us, and I intend to find out what."

Erza frowned in thought, looking up at her lover with conflicted thoughts. Even she had to admit to herself that Natsu was... drastically changing. Yes he was loving, caring to her which she adored more than anything. But his constant pursuit of training his body to it's limits, the many jobs he was taking on his own. He would barely be seen at the guild most of the time, and the only excuse given was "I'm training" or "I'm going on a job." As much as she wanted to believe Natsu was being honest with her, another lingering thought remained. Was he lying to her? For what reasons? The thought alone broke her heart, knowing he was hiding something from her. Whatever it was she intended to find out, whether he tell her or she got the truth by force.

'Natsu... what aren't you telling me?'

Blood, blood was all Natsu could see. Bodies, mangled without a form that covered their shadows. His cold, lifeless eyes staring down at them in disgust. They were weak fodder, not even a challenge for the dragon slayer. He turned away from them, whipping the metallic liquid off his dark blood with a deep sigh. So much death, so much blood that his body grew numb to the feeling. His attention turned towards the stunned members who couldn't say a word, couldn't move from their frozen spots.

Lucy covered her mouth with both hands, tears leaking from her cheeks. "Natsu..."

His crimson orbs directed towards Gray who glared daggers at the dragon slayer, gritting his teeth in conflict. "Natsu... why the hell did you do this?! We don't kill people!"

Wendy frightfully backed away, covering her mouth in utter horror of the mangled corpses behind Natsu. Happy, nor Carla could even make a response. The breath they once had escaped their lungs long ago.

Natsu slowly turned towards the one person who brought his heart warmth. "Erza..."

"N-natsu... why? Is this what you were hiding from me all along? The fact you kill people without a second thought?!" Erza cried out in agony, clenching onto her chest. "I thought I knew you... but I was a fool to not see the truth in front of me. Too blind for my love for you..."

"E-erza I.."

"Stay away from me... stay away from Fairy Tail... I never want to see you again!"

With that his entire team turned away from him, walking away, even Happy couldn't look at his foster father anymore. Natsu collapsed onto his knees, dropping Shadow Talon from his grasp. Tears pooled from his cheeks as he grit his teeth tightly together. "W-what have I become?" He lifted his hands that were coated in blood, it practically melded to his skin. "A monster..."

A giant quake erupted him from his thoughts as he lifted his head with wide eyes. There stood the same grinning inhuman statue that towered over his body. It could only gawk in amusement with a sickly laughter erupting from it's lips. "You are a mere pawn of the system, like many before you... In your pursuit of power and strength. You were playing right into it's hand. Now you've slaughtered human life," it's giant hand gestured to the bloody corpses behind him with it's grin splitting even wider than before. "Soon you won't even retain a shed of humanity in your body... soon you'll become one with the darkness~"

"N-no I won't! I'm a Fairy Tail wizard that stands in the light!"

The statue could only laugh in pure utter amusement.It's demonic voice echoing off the dark abyss that latched onto Natsu's body. He struggled in vain, feeling tendrils wrap around his body, dragging him further, deeper into the dark abyss below. The last thing he ever heard before darkness swallowed him, was that laugh.

That inhuman, demonic, evil incarnate laughter.

Natsu gasped for air, raising off the window in a cold sweat. His eyes scanned the booth, noticing all of his team asleep. He turned slightly to see Erza staring at him with wide eyes. The sound of his heart beating like a drum served no comfort as he took a deep breath to calm his nerves. His arm wiped the cold sweat from his brow, panting softly for the much needed air in his burning lungs.

"Natsu, are you okay?" Erza took a hold of his cheeks, gently stroking them with love and care. On instinct he nuzzled into their warm hold, afraid that he opened his eyes she would be gone. This only served to worry the knight more as she grabbed a hold of his head to bury it into her chest, stroking her fingers through his hair. "Did you have a nightmare?" She asked to which Natsu responded with a shaky nod. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Natsu's hold tightened around her, a small whimper escaping his lips that was muffled by her white blouse. He shook his head feverishly, holding onto Erza for dear life. She pulled his body closer, rubbing circles around his back as her fingers combed through his hair with a warm smile. "I'm here, Natsu. I'm here, I'm not going anywhere, I promise."

The train suddenly came to a stop, signaling they had arrived at their destination. She lifted his head to plant her lips against his with a stern, but soft look. "We are going to talk about this later, no excuses, okay?"

Natsu hesitantly nodded at her response with a shaky breath. "O-okay."

"Good boy, now let's wake the others and get moving."

After waking their teammates, they departed from their train. Erza tightly held onto Natsu's hand who squeezed hers back. They arrived in the small town of Neverfall. Not much was to be said about it, other than the many civilians who were gearing up for a special celebration. Many of them wore kimonos, or dragon masks that confused everyone else except for Natsu who was deep in thought.

'Was that... another vision like my last nightmare?' His fangs gritted tightly together with his mouth closed. 'I won't let that happen, not this time.'

Having arrived at the mayor's office, Natsu broke from his thoughts to knock on the door. Erza was surprised by his step as leader. Usually she was the one who did all the talking, but she supposed the team was named Team Natsu for a reason. She trusted his judgment regardless.

The door answered to a small pudgy man who too like the others wore a small decorated dragon mask. He wore a large kimono that was tightly wrapped around his chubby body. A big grin planted it's self on his lips when his eyes landed on Natsu. "Ah! Natsu, you've arrived. I was hoping you'd come. Please, come in!"

Natsu and his team entered the building, gawking at all the bright colorful decor that littered his office. He took a seat in his swivel chair, while Natsu took a seat on the other side of his desk, Erza standing next to him with her arms crossed over her armored chest. "So tell me Mayor, what is going on here? And why did you want me specifically for this job?"

The mayor smiled, leaning back in his chair as he interlocked his hands together. "Well it appears that we've had ourselves quite the bandit problem lately," he frowned in small thought. "Some of the women had been kidnapped, businesses were sabotaged or plain destroyed from these brutes. But to answer your other question, I asked for you specifically because of the reputation you uphold as of lately," he sat up in his chair with the biggest grin on his lips. "Our town was even preparing to celebrate your arrival."

Natsu narrowed his eyes with a raised brow. As much as he wanted to believe the chubby man's words, there was something more to this. The way his eyes moved around the room, his fidgety movment, the sweat running down his brow. It was obvious he was lying. During his missions he had grown to be more observant of his clients, knowing one day maybe one of them would try to stab him in the back. "But why me? Surely other guild's would've been more than enough for a bandit problem."

"W-well that may be true, but we heard of your heroic acts through out Fiore! So we thought you would be the perfect one for the job."

Natsu abruptly stood up, slamming his hands onto the mayor's desk. "Cut the crap! There's something more you're not telling us."

"Natsu! That is enough," Erza butted in, pushing her boyfriend back with a small glare. "What has gotten into you?!"

"H-hes right..."

Erza whipped around with wide eyes. "What?"

Natsu gently pushed his girlfriend to the side, leering over the nervous chubby man. "Talk, now."

"Y-yes..." The mayor cleared his throat with a frown. "It isn't just bandits we're dealing with. A dark guild calling themselves Blood Dagger has taken up residence here. They... they forced me to make a request, asking for you to come. I didn't have a choice, they have my wife and daughter..."

Everyone's eyes grew wide open as saucers, except for Natsu's who's eyes darkened at the mention of that name. They were the cause of so much suffering, so much death, even his own. It was time he paid them back in full, unfortunately they wouldn't like his offer. "Where?" He asked in a cold tone, stunning his teammates and lover.

"A-a small cave outside of town... Please... save my family. I can't bear to lose them," tears erupted from the small man who felt a hand on his shoulder. He lifted his head to gaze into the eyes of an angry dragon, but that fury was directed elsewhere.

"Don't worry, we'll save your family," Natsu flashed him a small smile. "Count on it," he finished before turning away to walk out of the building, his team swiftly following behind him.

"How did you know he was lying?" Lucy asked curiously, catching up to the group as she walked next to Natsu who looked beyond angry.

"His body language was a dead give away," he replied, clenching his fists tightly till his knuckles were white. "I've grown to study every client I meet from now on. Being that I was stabbed in my back by one not long ago."

"W-what?!" Erza exclaimed with wide eyes. "You didn't tell me about this!"

Natsu could only offer his girlfriend an apologetic smile. "A story for another time, but for now," he smashed his fists together that sparked flame with a snarl. "It's time for some payback."

"Do you have a plan?"

Natsu gave off a feral grin in response that sent shivered down everyone's spine. "Of course I do. They want my presence, they'll get me. You guys stay behind, find your opening and save the mayor's wife and daughter."

"I trust you know what you're doing, Natsu," Erza replied with a smile. "We're right behind you."

"Right."

Natsu stood in front of a large open cave with narrowed eyes. His nose scrunched up at the scent of blood inside, a smell he was all too familiar with at this point. He opened his stat window, scanning down all of his stats with a pleased nod. "Good, all those missions paid off for all of my levels," he muttered, before walking inside.

Darkness was all he could see, until he ignited his palm to light the way. He could sense his teammates moving along with him, although in a more stealthy approach. A light shimmered at the end of the tunnel as he extinguished his flames. Stepping into the light he was greeted by swords of many kinds directed at his body. It took everything in Erza not to emerge from her spot with gritted teeth. Natsu narrowed his eyes towards a long black haired man, sitting upon a stone throne. His body face was cloaked in shadow as he stood up with sickly grin. "My guest of honor has arrived!"

"Sensing the magic off of you, I'm gonna take a wild guess you're these idiot's master?" Natsu asked, scanning his eyes over the room before landing on a small cage that contained a woman, and a little girl.

"You would be correct, Natsu Dragneel," The master stepped forth from the shadows, his grin never leaving his lips. His red eyes buried deep into Natsu's onyx orbs in amusement, clapping his hands together with a grin. "Call me Allister, a pleasure to meet the one and only player of this lovely game."

Natsu's body froze on the spot with wide eyes. 'H-how could he know about?!'

"Oh?" Allister couldn't help but widen his smirk, letting out a small bit of laughter. "Surprised I know about your little secret? What do you think my members were doing there in the first place? Though it is unfortunate they met such a rapid timely end, unlike you who has miraculously risen from the grave."

'What is he talking about?' Erza looked on in confusion, her eyes narrowing on Natsu who's body was tense as a board.

"If you know, then why do you want me?"

The master's grin split as wide as possible. "Wouldn't that question be the most obvious answer? To take what belongs to me! The power to level up! A never ending flow of strength beyond human comprehension. The system chose you, but," a shadowy aura bursted forth from Aliisters body, coating his body in darkness. "I will show the gods they were wrong to choose you!"

On instinct, all the men surrounding him went for the kill. Natsu's body combusted into flames, making all of them recoil back. "You will regret the day you met me... Allister," in a blur he was in front of the many men, sending a sharp right hook that sent him flying. Ears perked up, he moved his head to the side grabbing a hold of his blade with his bare hands that melted the steel. With a sideways kick, another went sprawling to the ground.

All men converged on Natsu who closed his eyes. His body body moved elegantly between the many blades that threatened to slice his head off. A block, resulting in parry with a right hook. Natsu's hits were precise, making sure to hit these men where it hurt most. Moving like a blurr in front of everyone's his eyes, flaming fist marks made their way to many unconcious bodies that dropped one by one. Grabbing a hold of one of their arms, he twisted around to slam their body into the cold hard ground, causing a small crater. The last man he grasped by the throat before sending a nasty head-butt that sent the man sprawling to the ground.

Natsu's team watched in utter bafflement of his skills in hand to hand combat. His movements, the way he attacked. What shocked them most was the lack of magic power that leaked from his body. It was like they were staring at an entirely different person. Was this really Natsu? Or was this someone else?

Erza was completely stunned. She knew he had grown stronger, but to this degree that he took on so many men by himself with barely using an ounce of his magic, except for the flaming hand prints that were permanently burned into their flesh.

The sound of clapping could be heard as Allister stepped down from his throne, grinning ear to ear. "What a marvelous performance you displayed! How does that all that power feel Natsu? Isn't it so... overwhelming~"

Natsu's eyes became tight yellow slits as he readied his stance with a growl. "Enough, talking let's end this now."

"Now that's no fun... in fact," Allister snapped his fingers as Natsu's team was pushed from the shadows, bladed aimed at their throats. "It's time we have an audience!"

"Guys!" Natsu exclaimed before he froze, noticing one of the many blades draw a drop of blood from Erza's neck.

"Ah, ah," Allister waved his finger with a sinister smirk. "One more move and your little girlfriend gets her throat slit~"

"WHAT DO YOU WANT?!"

The master put a finger to his chin in thought, "hmmm, I don't know. Maybe I want you to... DIE!" Allister roared, sending a wave of shadows that collided with Natsu's body, sending him flying to collide with rocky wall.

"NATSU!" Erza screamed tearfully, struggling in the man's grasp.

"Come on Natsu get up!" Gray called out to the motionless body of Natsu was slumped up against the wall with gritted teeth. "I know you can't go down that easy, idiot!"

Natsu's body laid motionless, his eyes devoid of life or warmth. 'How could I be so blind, so careless in my goal of becoming stronger... now Erza and the others are in danger, and it's my fault... how could I forget that in this world there is only deception.. dirty fucking tricks. I will make them pay... all of them...' A screen appeared before his very eyes that grew wide for what they read.

QUEST INFO

{Urgent Quest: Defeat the enemies}

There are people present who wish to kill the player. Defeat all of them to ensure your safety.

WARNING: Failure in competing this quest will result in an appropriate penalty.

Suddenly the word penalty grew in static, replacing it with the words. YOUR HEART WILL STOP.

'Of course... the system is using me. Heh... I'm an idiot' He slowly rose off the ground, wiping the blood from his lips as he glanced down at his bruised palms. 'The system obviously wants me to live. For what reason I don't know...'

"So that didn't kill you," Allister let out a deep sigh. "And here I thought it would be easy for once."

"Natsu..." Erza whispered, gazing deep into her lovers eyes who looked back Into hers, before they directed on Allister.

'I am nothing but a pawn in this game, waiting to be played. So... if the system wants to use me, then so be it. Erza... please forgive me.'

"It was like you said Allister..." Natsu slowly walked towards blood daggers' master with lifeless eyes, his hair shadowing the expression underneath. "I grow stronger, I level up every day... tell me.. you enjoy to slaughter the innocent in cold blood for your own sick fantasy... but tell me..." A crimson aura slowly surrounded Natsu's body as he stopped, lifting his head with glowing red eyes. "Would if your roles were reversed?"

"What are you going on about?"

"I'm saying..." His body combusted into flames as he lifted his hand to point a finger straight at Allister.

"Are you ready to be the victims of my slaughter...?"

I know this feels like a straight copy from the anime, but this scene is way too good not to include. It gives me chills each and everytime I watch it. I sincerely hope this makes up for yesterday's chapter. Next time, Natsu Vs Blood Dagger. May the slaughter begin~

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