Note: This chapter is meant to be a test run all the way for a story I have been cooking up. If it's well recieved then I would love to write more.


Shadow Hunter

Chapter 0

New Guild in Town

The salty breeze ruffled Lucy's hair as she leaned over the railing of the boat currently taking her and the other lost members of Fairy Tail back to Magnolia Town, staring at the horizon and the direction where Magnolia was. It still felt surreal to her that seven years had passed, yet to them, it had been mere moments thanks to Fairy Sphere, the magic that the first master of Fairy Tail Mavis Vermillion had casted using the strength of their bonds to protect them Acnologia. Everything looked the same—the sky, the ocean, the boat beneath their feet—yet the world had moved on without them.

"I still can't believe it. I mean… I'm grateful that we're alive after that, but…" Gray muttered, arms folded across his chest. As always, his shirt magically disappeared, though no one seemed to be in the right state of mind to remind him of his stripping habit. "Seven years… just gone."

"Cheer up, Ice Princess! We're back, and that's what matters!" Natsu said while leaning over railing next to Lucy, trying his best not to throw up due to his motion sickness for being a dragon slayer on a moving boat.

"Do you think they missed us?" Wendy asked hesitantly, holding tightly onto Carla as the Exceed sat on her laps "The townspeople, I mean."

"Aye! They better have!" Happy declared as he held up a paw, making everyone look at him and smile.

Macao, who had been leaning against the mast, let out a nervous chuckle while scratching his cheeks. "Yeah, about that… there's something you all probably should know."

Everyone turned to him and Wakaba, who were both seven years older than the last time they saw them, being two of the members that were left behind.

"Ah, well…" Macao admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. "After you all vanished, we did our best to keep the guild going, but times got tough. Jobs became scarce for our guild, and without you guys, Salamander, Titania… Fiore started to lose faith in us. There was this new guild who took over Magnolia. They called themselves Twilight Ogre."

"Twilight Ogre?" Erza, who was standing near the helm, repeated the name, narrowing her eyes.

"Yeah… and we borrowed some money from them to keep the guild from fully collapsing, but even after we paid our debts, they continued to force us to make payments to them every month," Wakaba explained, his tone trying to remain casual, though there was clear discomfort in his voice.

"They did what?" Natsu exploded angrily, his fists clenching at his sides. A second later, his face turned green as his motion sickness took over, causing him to immediately collapse, with Gray looking pathetically at him

"Look, it's not like we had a lot of options." Macao chuckled nervously as he held up his hands in defense "They made sure to keep the guild open, but we've had to bend to their demands just to survive. It hasn't been easy."

"You did what you must, Macao." Makarov said, walking up to stand next to his unwilling successor. His hand extended to rest comfortingly on his shoulder. "The guild may have fallen on hard times, but you kept it alive. That's no small feat."

Macao exhaled, relief crossing his face as Makarov's words had clearly brought him some comfort. "Thanks, Master."

"I say… we beat them after we get back to town." Natsu murmured from his spot "No one… messes with Fairy Tail and gets away with it."

"I have to agree with flame brain on this one." Gray added, his jaw set in determination. "Let's deal with Twilight Ogre when we get back." At that, several members of the guild nodded their heads and voiced their agreements, with no one louder than Natsu himself.

"So, I take it that they are now Magnolia's representatives?" Makarov asked, making Macao and Wakaba look at each other before answering.

"They used to be, for almost six years." Macao answered "A few weeks ago, there's this guild who moved into town…"

As the sun went up high above their heads, the boat continued to glide over the vast expanse of sea water, and soon the familiar sights of Magnolia came into view, giving them a sense of both familiarity and unfamiliarity. From the distance, they could see the silhouette of their former guild hall, standing tall but somehow muted in comparison to how they remembered it to be.

"Yes! We're back!" Natsu exclaimed as he jumped off the boat first, landing on the ground with a loud thud. He threw his arms wide, laughing maniacally as he could finally get off the boat. "Now, where are those ogre bastards!?" he shouted, his voice booming across the dock. His sudden outburst drew the attention of the townspeople currently working around the area, and some of them seemed to recognize him immediately.

"Not so loud, flame brain." Gray scoffed as he got off the boat with Juvia following closely behind.

"Hey, I'm just making sure they know we're back!" Natsu shot back, grinning wide, though his eyes were still searching the area for any signs of Twilight Ogre.

Macao, walking behind the group, spoke nervously after apologizing to the people that gave Natsu weird looks. "Uh… You might want to dial it down a little. People are still a bit uneasy about everything that happened while you guys were gone."

"What do you mean?" Lucy asked, frowning.

Before any of the older members of the guild could answer the question, a loud shout broke through the air, drawing their attention toward a group of people that looked like mages sprinting toward the center of the town, shoving past townspeople who seemed to know better than to get in their way. Each and every one of them looked hostile and carried in their hands a weapon, while the purple coat that they were all wearing bore the insignia that resembled the head of an ogre.

"Is that…?" Wendy asked, her eyes wide as she stared at the group nervously.

Macao looked over before nodding his head with a sigh. "Yeah… That's Twilight Ogre for you. Looks like they're out looking for trouble again."

Natsu grinned, cracking his knuckles. "Heh, save me the time looking for them. Let's go!"

"Natsu, wait!" Makarov shouted after him, but it was too late. Natsu had already sprinted toward the group, his determination clear and with no intention of slowing down, forcing the rest of the guild to chase after him. Soon enough, Fairy Tail found themselves in the town square, just as the Twilight Ogre mages finally arrived at their destination, a tall building with a large sign above the entrance bearing a crest that resembled the silhouette of a black dragon.

Before Natsu could say anything to get the attention from the other group, the large wooden double doors of the building slid open, and a lone man stepped out to confront the mages of Twilight Ogre. He was a handsome looking young man with slick orange hair, having only a single strand poking out and black eyes. His eyes were concealed behind a pair of narrowed sunglasses, while his outfit consisted of a simple vest with some light armors on his arms and shoulders.

"Is there anything I can help you with, master Banaboster?" the man asked, his voice calm as he looked up at the person who looked to be leader of the Twilight Ogre group. He appeared to be a middle-aged man, having a shaved face with a haircut resembling a military one. He had a broad, seemingly plated jaw, a thick nose and wide lips, which were currently biting down a cigarette. His thin eyebrows reached up into his hair, and he wore tinted glasses. In addition, Banaboster's outfit was a yellow-green pinstriped suit and pants with a purple cape over the outfit that with a button bearing the Twilight Ogre emblem.

"Tch, where's Go Gunhee!? Tell him to get out here and see me!"

The man simply adjusted his sunglasses, tilting his head toward Banaboster with an almost relaxed, professional expression, as if he was barely intimidated by the mages of Twilight Ogre, who, strangely enough, all looked like tall and towering thugs. "Master Go Gunhee is not available right now, He's currently waiting for his guests to arrive." he stated plainly, his voice calm, almost cold. "If you have business with him, I'm afraid that you'll have to make an appointment and wait."

Banaboster scoffed, taking a step forward and rolling his shoulders in frustration. "Like hell we're waiting. We run this town, in case you forgot. Tell your master that Twilight Ogre isn't gonna be ignored."

"Hey, you leave him alone!" Natsu shouted and tried to rush in, with his fellow mages of Fairy Tail more than ready to back him up. Before his voice could reach the ears of Twilight Ogre, the orange haired man made his move. With a casual flick of his wrist, he raised his hand to his face, gripping the edge of his sunglasses with the tips of his thumb and index finger. There was no grand motion, no dramatic flourish—just a slow, deliberate removal of his shades.

The moment his eyes were revealed, everything changed.

A heavy pressure filled the air, an oppressive force that crashed down on everyone like a tidal wave. Banaboster, his mouth still half-open, froze dead in his spot. His cigarette slipped from his lips and landing on the ground as his body stiffened, with beads of sweat forming instantly on his forehead. The Twilight Ogre mages around him reacted the same way, their bodies locking up as terror seeped into their bones.

Even some of the more experienced members of Fairy Tail felt it.

"I said… make your appointment, and wait." The orange haired man said, his voice as cold as steel as he looked at the master of Twilight Ogre with glowing purple eyes, while his body radiated an aura that was almost visible to the eyes of the townspeople who were watching nearby. Banaboster, still frozen in place, felt a cold sweat run down his back. The towering mages of Twilight Ogre looked like frightened children as they immediately started backing away, their confidence shattered in an instant. One by one, their eyes widened, and their legs began to tremble as they started backing away from the lone man standing before them.

"W-We… We'll be back!" Banaboster stammered, his voice cracking under the weight of his fear. Without saying anything else, the mages of Twilight Ogre turned on their heels and fled, scrambling away while stumbling over one another, their once-formidable presence now reduced to a panicked retreat.

"Now then…" The orange haired man said as he put his glasses back on and turned over to the mages of Fairy Tail, who were still in stunned silence from what they had just witnessed. His voice softened, becoming much friendlier, almost as if the terrifying pressure from earlier had never existed. He lowered his head slightly in a respectful gesture before continuing, "How do you do, Fairy Tail? I'm…"

Before the man could properly introduce himself, Natsu rushed forward and interrupted him before anyone from his guild could stop him, his usual excitement and fiery grin returning as he asked. "That was incredible! You just scared the living daylights out of them! Who are you?"

The orange-haired man raised an eyebrow at Natsu from behind his sunglasses, appearing to be clearly caught off guard by his enthusiasm. After a moment, he let out a small nod, clearly unbothered. "My name is Woo Jinchul, please to make you acquaintances." He said, offering a polite bow to Natsu and the other mages of Fairy Tail. "Apologies for the unsightly display, but I believe we can all agree that bullies don't deserve any tolerations."

"Nice to meet you as well, Jinchul." Natsu grinned, and was about to ask what his magic was when suddenly Jinchul looked over his shoulder and scanned all the faces behind him until it settled over Makarov, who raised an eyebrow at him.

"Master Makarov Dreyar, I presume?" he asked, with Makarov nodding his head in confirmation. Jinchul continued, gesturing toward the door behind him. "Please, follow me into our building. Master Go Gunhee is expecting you."

"He does?" Makarov asked, although he didn't sound as surprised as some might think he was.

"Yes. The members of your guild can follow if that is what they want. Our master has prepared a small treat to celebrate your return." Jinchul continued, causing the members of Fairy Tail to gasp in surprise, though some looked no less excited. "Everyone, welcome to Shadow Hunters."

With that, Jinchul turned around and pushed open the wooden doors to lead them inside. As they stepped through, the atmosphere shifted from the cool, breezy streets of Magnolia to the warmth of a lively, welcoming space. The entryway was bright and open, adorned with vibrant tapestries and banners in hues of red, gold, and black—colors that filled the entire interior, though by no mean did I make the space feel gloomy. The walls were lined with plush armchairs and long tables crafted from rich wood, creating a homely, comfortable ambiance.

After navigating a few corners, Jinchul led them into a central hall, where chairs and tables were scattered throughout, each piled high with an impressive variety of foods and drinks. The space was spacious yet cozy, with large windows along one side offering a view of a beautifully manicured garden outside. The polished marble floors gleamed beneath their feet, adding a touch of elegance to the otherwise warm and welcoming environment.

"Where's everyone?" Gray asked, noticing the absence of guild members around the hall.

"Oh, all of our members are currently on duty at the moment," Jinchul replied with a gesture of his hand. "But feel free to make yourselves comfortable. I'll have someone inform the rest of your guild and bring them over to join you soon."

"Wait, all this food is ours?" Elfman asked, his eyes widening as he took in the sight before them, from the plates piled high with roasted meats, fresh bread and fruits to the large pitchers and several barrels of beer and other drinks. It was only then that those who had been stuck on Tenrou for seven years realized just how hungry they truly were, though no one could really blame them for feeling like so after the battle they had fought against one of the most powerful dark guilds in the entire world, with the sight of all the foods before them only making it worse.

"Yes." Jinchul answered simply. A few of them hesitated at first, but eventually they all took their seats around the table, with some just waiting for the right signal to start digging in.

Before Makarov could sit down, the door on the far side of the room creaked open, and in walked a tall man dressed in a perfectly tailored suit. His gray hair and greenish-gray eyes gave him an air of both maturity and experience, and the deep lines of age on his face seemed to tell stories of many battles fought, yet his presence somehow radiated warmth and friendliness rather than intimidation.

"Master Makarov," The man smiled as he approached the third master of Fairy Tail, who accepted his hand "I'm Go Gunhee, the guild master of Shadow Hunters. It's a pleasure to finally meet you."

Makarov returned the smile with a polite nod of his own as he shook hands with the taller man. "The pleasure's mine, Master Gunhee. Macao has told me about what you and your guild have been doing to help us without demanding anything in return. I can't express enough gratitude for all your help."

Gunhee gave a modest smile. "It's nothing. We were more than happy to assist the family of those who took down Grimoire Heart. They might just be rumors, but I have every reason to believe you and your guild are the ones responsible for the destruction of one-third of the Balam Alliance. This beautiful country owes Fairy Tail more than her people will ever know or understand."

Smiling warmly, he then looked around and nodded his head to the rest of Fairy Tail. "I'm sure you've had a long journey so please, make yourselves at home and enjoy the meal. this is but a small token of our gratitude for all you've done."

Natsu grinned widely in response, already halfway through filling his plate. "Thanks, ji-chan!"

Gunhee let out a chuckle. "Don't mention it. Feel free to eat as much as you like as well. There are plenty more where that came from."

With that, the members of Fairy Tail dug in eagerly, chatting and laughing together as the hesitation they had felt earlier finally disappeared. The moment the remaining members of the guild joined them, a party began. Laughter and cheers echoed through the room as food and drink flowed freely as Fairy Tail celebrated their reunion, as if trying to make up for the seven years they had lost. Despite the fact that Fairy Tail held the title of the best guild in Fiore, no one seemed to give it much thought. After all, it was the bonds they shared that truly mattered and made Fairy Tail what it was.

"Ah, it's been a while since the air of our guild has been this lively," Gunhee chuckled as he sat at the head table with Makarov, each elder man holding a mug of beer in his hand. "All of our members are so focused on their jobs that we barely ever have time for special gatherings like this—not that I can really blame them. You've built a truly special guild, Master Makarov."

Makarov's chest swelled with pride, though he waved a hand dismissively. "Ah, you give me too much credit. These kids have been like this since day one—just a rowdy bunch with too much energy."

The two guild masters sat in comfortable silence for a moment, watching the party continue to carry on before them. After a while, Gunhee leaned back in his chair, his expression turning thoughtful.

"Now that you've returned, I think it'd be best you settle your guild's debt with Twilight Ogre personally, master Makarov." Gunhee pointed out, with Makarov nodding in agreement "Our guild was able to keep the unjust harassment in check to some extent, but it won't be long before they come knocking on your door again."

"Don't worry, master Gunhee. I have every intention to go over there and have a personal talk with their master about our debts… as well as all the damage and misery they caused to our guild members who had been here over the last seven years." Makarov nodded his head, his expression grew briefly seriously before it relaxed at the sight of more beer brought over by Mirajane, who was helping out as a waitress for the party. "Oh, by the way, Master Gunhee, I haven't properly thanked you for helping us keep our guild building in town."

Gunhee waved a hand dismissively, though a small smile played on his lips. "Think nothing of it, master Makarov. It was the least we could do as a fellow guild of Magnolia."

"If you don't mind me asking, master Gunhee, but you said you had every reason to believe that were the one responsible for the destruction of the Dark Guild Grimoire Heart... how do you know that so surely, exactly? Macao told me not many people around this country believes that." Makarov asked, with several members of his guild celebrating nearby leaning in to listen to the answer, their curiosity piqued.

"I simply put two and two together, Master Makarov." Gunhee said, giving Mirajane a grateful smile as he received another mug of beer from her "The disappearance of you and most members of your guild coincided with the sudden collapse of one of the most powerful guilds in the world. Rumors of their airship flying into the sea toward the same direction yours left…"

Gunhee then paused momentarily to sip his drink, with Makarov sensing there was more to his explanation, and thus he waited patiently for the man to resume. After a moment, Gunhee set his mug down and turned fully to him to continue with a small smile.

"After I connected the dots, a member of our guild then confirmed my assumption. That's how I knew." Gunhee finished, making Makarov arch an eyebrow in curiosity.

"Are they the same person who knew about Fairy Sphere and told Macao today would be the day we're released?" the Guild Master of Fairy Tail asked, with Gunhee nodding his head in confirmation. It was still hard for Makarov to believe that someone was capable of such a feat—especially when Macao had told him on the boat about the person who came to their guild the day Shadow Hunters settled in Magnolia to tell them not just the day the other members of their guild would return from their seven years absence, but the reason behind it as well.

"Hunter Sung, yes." Sunhee answered before continuing with a light chuckle when he noticed the look all those who were listening in gave him. "My apology. I call the members of my guild Hunters."

Makarov frowned slightly, swirling his drink with a thoughtful expression. "And how exactly does he know all this, exactly?" He caught himself and quickly added, "You'll have to forgive me for asking so many questions, Master Gunhee, but Fairy Sphere is a magic distinct to our guild. Only the guild masters and a select few know about it, and not even I know how it works."

"Oh, it's no problem at all, Master Makarov." Gunhee leaned back with a chuckle, taking another sip of his beer. "But as for how Hunter Sung knows… that, you'll have to ask him yourself. He's currently on a mission, but he should be returning soon."

"But what if I told you… he can perceive things that not even old men with as much experience as us can hope to comprehend?" Gunhee said, making Makarov widen his eyes slightly in response. "It's part of his… gifts, or whatever he chooses to call them. Unfortunately, it alienates him from the rest of the guild, but at the same time, it also makes him the man I can always trust to get the job done."

"Heh, sounds like a pretty strong guy!" At that, Natsu decided to join in on their conversation as he left his table and rushed forward to ask with a huge, excited grin plastering across his face "Is he strong, Ji-chan?"

"Very much so, Natsu." Gunhee nodded with a light hearted chuckle. "He's the strongest Hunter in our guild, without question."

Hearing that, Natsu's grin stretched even wider, his excitement practically radiating off him in waves of flame. "Oh, man! Now I have to fight him!" He clenched his fists and declared, already bouncing on the balls of his feet.

One of the older members of the guild who were celebrated nearby asked, his voice raising over the laughter. "Oi, Natsu! Must you challenge every strong person you hear about?"

"Of course!" Natsu declared proudly with his Exceed joining him. "That's how you get stronger, right?"

Gunhee laughed, looking clearly amused by the fire mage's enthusiasm. "I'm sure he'd be happy to spar with you—if you can convince him, that…"

"Master Gunhee!"

Before the man could finish, the doors to the hall suddenly burst open, drawing the attention of everyone inside when a man came rushing in. His clothes were disheveled, as if he had sprinted all the way to Gunhee, stopping breathlessly in front of the game all the way from the streets without stopping.

"What's wrong?" Gunhee asked urgently. The hall quieted as all eyes fell on them, with the unknown man swallowing hard before finally managing to speak.

"A Gate…" He said, making Gunhee widen their eyes "A Gate just appeared near the market."

Gunhee instantly stood up, his hand settling his mug down as his expression hardened, his earlier relaxed demeanor shifting into something more serious. "How big is it?"

"Hunter Cha reported it as A-rank, sir. In the panic, a few townspeople got caught inside. She and her team have already entered to rescue them." The man answered hurriedly, making Gunhee nod his head in understanding with one hand resting assumingly on his shoulder before he turned around and looked over to Jinchul, who had been on his feet and quietly observed nearby the moment the man came rushing in.

"Jinchul, with me." Without another word, the two turned and strode toward the exit, their urgency setting the entire hall on edge. The Fairy Tail mages exchanged glances before moving as one, instinctively falling in behind Gunhee and Jinchul as they left the guild building. Makarov, immediately catching up to the taller elder man, asked the guild master of Shadow Hunter seriously. "Master Gunhee, what's going on? What exactly is this 'Gate'?"

"A lot has changed since your absence, Master Makarov." Gunhee answered in a serious tone, and the moment that they reached their destination, the entire Fairy Tail was left stunned shocked, their eyes widening in shock at the sight before them.

Floating ominously above the central area of the market district, an enormous mass of swirling purple energy twisted, its edges crackling with arcs of lightning that flickered erratically and struck the nearby building, sending the people nearby into a panicked frenzy. The air around it seemed to pulse with an unnatural pressure, as if the space itself was being distorted by its presence, which made the very atmosphere feel heavier.

"That, master Makarov, is a Gate." Gunhee spoke seriously as Jinchul rushed forward and barked orders to the guards as well as the Shadow Hunters' members as well as the stunned mages of Twilight Ogre gathering near the perimeter. The market district, once lively with merchants and shoppers, was in chaos, with townspeople were fleeing in all directions while others stood frozen in fear, unable to tear their eyes away from the swirling void above.

"I believe you have experienced dealing with Edolas, yes?" Gunhee asked, with those who had been to the parallel world of Earthland before nodding their heads in confirmation as they recalled their time in the magic-drained land. "You see, there are more worlds out there than just Edolas. It all started six years ago. We believe these Gates are what connected ours to those worlds. We don't know exactly how or why they appear, but when they do, they serve as portals—bridges between our world and places filled with magical beasts and monsters unlike anything we have here."

"The moment a Gate opens, it remains like this for a period of time. However, once that time is up, an event called a Dungeon Break will occur, and the Magical Beasts from within will start flooding into our world"

"So how do we close it, master Gunhee?" Erza asked seriously.

"We send people inside, track down the most powerful monster of the Gate, and slay it." Gunhee answered, making the mages of Fairy Tail look at each other as Jinchul rushed back to Gunhee and leaned toward him to tell him something. After a moment, the man nodded his head firmly to his right handed man before turning over to continue speaking to Makarov "It looks like Hunter Cha and her team are already handling the situation inside the Gate. They've successfully rescued the civilians who were trapped inside and are currently on their way to find the boss. It's fortunate that they just returned from dealing with another Gate near Crocus themselves, otherwise we won't have enough people to deal with this one. No offense to you all, of course."

"But… doesn't that mean they're exhausted?" Natsu asked "And that man said this Gate is an A-rank… that means it's pretty strong, right?"

"Yes, the magic council categorized the threat levels of these Gates using the standard S-E ranking system." Gunhee explained gravely "But you can trust Hunter Cha to be fully capable of handling this Gate. She's one of our finest. Not to mention two members of her team, Choi Jong-in and Baek Yoonho, are also S-class Hunters themselves. If anyone can deal with this Gate and the boss, it's them."

Despite his words, the members of Fairy Tail still looked uncertain. They had no doubt the members of Shadow Hunters were capable if there were A-rank among them, but the concepts of Gates were still entirely new to them. It was hard for them to imagine what it would happen if a Dungeon Break occurred, though it was clear it was the last thing anyone would have wanted.

"But if this thing is so dangerous…" Gray crossed his arm. "Shouldn't we at least be on standby in case something goes wrong?"

"I appreciate the sentiment, but you all have just returned after seven years. Taking into consideration that you've just fought Tartaros and also Acnologia..."

"I appreciate your thoughtfulness, Master Gunhee, but Fairy Tail does not sit idly by when people are in danger." Makarov spoke up firmly "So, if there's anything that we can do to help, then please, just tell us what we need to do."

Gunhee became silent for a moment, as if as if weighing his options carefully. His gaze then swept over the Fairy Tail mages standing behind their guild master, their determined expressions leaving no doubt about what Makarov had just said. Finally making up his mind, the man nodded his head and spoke to the mages.

"I understand. How about this… since this Gate is an A-rank, would it be possible that your A-rank mages be on standby if anything…"

"Hey! Someone stops them!"

Before Gunhee could finish giving out the instruction, Jinchul bellowed, causing everyone to turn their heads to see Natsu, who had snuck behind the group so no one would see him, soaring through the air. His hands clutched onto Happy as the blue Exceed flapped his wings and carried his Fire Dragon Slayer friend straight toward the Gate.

"Oi, Natsu! What do you think you're doing?!" Gray shouted, already moving to chase after his rival.

"Taking action! Gunhee-ji chan gave us the permission, so I'm coming inside to help!" Natsu yelled back, his grin wide with excitement. Jinchul was the first to catch up to him, but only almost. His hands shout out to grab the pink haired Dragon Slayer by his scarf, but before he could just do so, Natsu and Happy had disappeared into the swirling mass of energy, with the rest of team following right after as they tried to chase after their teammate.

Their advance was momentarily stopped, however, where a hooded figure ran past them and disappeared in a blur of black.

As they emerged on the other side, the first thing Natsu noticed was the dry air, which was heavy with the scent of blood and burnt flesh. The sky above them was a dull, stormy gray, casting an eerie gloom over the vast, barren land that stretched out beneath them. Cracked, lifeless earth spread as far as the eye could see, with jagged rock formations rising in the distance like the bones of some ancient beast.

"Woah…" Happy murmured, flapping his wings to steady them midair. "This place is nothing like Earthland…"

Natsu nodded his head in response, his eyes already scanning the battlefield below. It didn't take it long for him to spot the monstrous corpses that scattered across the land down below him, several of which were unlike anything that he had ever seen before—hulking beasts with twisted limbs, some covered in thick scales, others with sharp, bony protrusions jutting from their bodies. Some had been torn apart, their bodies sliced cleanly through as if by an impossibly sharp blade, while others bore scorch marks and deep puncture wounds.

"Let's find Hunter Cha and the others, Happy."

Natsu spoke to his Exceed best friend, but before he could say anything in response, a distant roar tore through the air. It was deep and guttural, sending a violent tremor through the ground. The cracked earth beneath them quivered, small stones rattling as the force of the sound echoed across the barren wasteland.

"Woah, what is that?" Happy asked in surprise.

"Sounds like a powerful beast." Natsu grinned as he crackled his knuckle. "That way, Happy. Let's go there!"

"Aye!"

With that, Happy flapped his wings harder, carrying Natsu swiftly toward the direction where the roar had come from. The closer they were to the location, the heavier the air became, filled with the scent of scorched earth and blood.

Then, in the distance, Natsu spotted them—the members of the Shadow Hunters. Their figures were small at first but rapidly came into view. It was hard to see at first, but it didn't take long for the Fire Dragon Slayer to notice several remarkable individuals: a red-haired man standing behind a group of warriors clad in heavy armor, wielding massive shields while unleashing waves of flames from his palms as if he were a Fire Dragon Slayer himself; a half-man, half-white-tiger-like beast that reminded Natsu of Elfman's Take Over Magic, tearing through the battlefield with superior strength, speed, and agility; and last but not least, a woman dressed in a form-fitting red outfit, fighting with her sword like a dancer moving gracefully across the battlefield. Each and every one of them gave Natsu the feeling that they were some of the most capable warriors he had ever seen in his life.

However, what truly caught Natsu's attention wasn't them.

It was the monster they were fighting.

A massive, towering creature loomed over the battlefield, its body covered in grey, obsidian-like scales that shimmered ominously beneath the rampaging waves of fire being sent at its direction by the red haired man. Its enormous wings flared wide, sending up gusts of sand and debris with every movement. A thick, spiked tail slammed into the ground, carving deep trenches into the earth.

"A dragon?!" Natsu's voice came out louder than he intended, his eyes widening in disbelief before another deafening roar shook the land. Before he could fully process what he was seeing, another deafening roar shook the land, the sheer force of it causing Happy to cry out as he lost his balance in the air. The Exceed flailed his wings, struggling to steady himself, but the violent turbulence still sent them plummeting toward the ground.

"Happy! Hold on!" Natsu yelled as they spiraled downward.

The dragon reared its head back before unleashing another sweep of its tail and wings at the Hunters, the impact sending several of them flying across the battlefield. The armored warriors with shields managed to brace themselves just in time to shield the red haired man from the force behind the attack, but some others weren't as fortunate. The woman in red barely evaded the strike, twisting mid-air before landing in a crouch, while the tiger-like Hunter skidded back, his claws digging into the cracked earth to stop himself, his arms bleeding as the spikes on its tail had grazed his flesh when he tried to dodge its attack.

At the same time, Happy managed to catch himself and halt his descent at the last second, keeping him and his Dragon slayer partner from crashing outright. However, the moment his feet hit the ground, Natsu was already sprinting toward the action, stopping on the cliff overlooking the battlefield down below.

"Yosh, let's do it!" Natsu cried out and ran all the way down. The Hunters immediately noticed him, with the red haired fire mage, Choi Jong-In, and his shielders trying to stop him while attempting to ask who he was. Natsu, however, ignored the question and rushed past him to stop right in front of the grey-scaled dragon, who shifted its gaze to him and stared at him with menacing golden eyes.

Natsu grinned, flames bursting to life around his fists as he locked eyes with the towering lizard like dragon before him. "Alright, big guy! Let's see how tough you really are!" he roared, lunging forward with reckless enthusiasm.

The dragon remained motionless, its glowing eyes watching the rapidly approaching dragon slayer with an eerie stillness. Confidently. Natsu cocked his fist back-

And then the dragon moved.

Faster than he ever expected.

A massive claw swung toward him, a dark blur slicing through the air. Natsu's pupils shrank, his instincts screaming at him to dodge-but before he could even react, the world became a smear of color as a force yanked him back so violently that his stomach lurched, his vision spinning as wind roared past his ears. The ground, the sky, the dragon-they all blurred together, and for the first time in his life, motion sickness hit him without him even being on a moving vehicle.

Then, just as suddenly as he was pulled away, he was dropped unceremoniously onto the ground, his legs wobbling beneath him. He barely caught himself, sucking in a sharp breath before whipping around.

Standing behind him was a hooded figure, their cloak shifting slowly in the wind as they stood next to him. Their face was obscured by the shadow of their hood, but their posture was relaxed- like they hadn't just moved faster than anything Natsu had ever seen, or felt.

"Y-you... who the hell are you, and what the hell was that?!" Natsu gagged, gripping his stomach as dizziness clawed at his senses.

The hooded figure tilted their head slightly. "Stay here,"

He said, his voice calm and collected. Natsu opened his mouth to speak, but the man didn't wait for him to say anything in response and started walking off after flipping his hood down, revealing a face with sharp features and black hair with bangs that dangled all the way down to his glowing eyes. With a flick of the wrists, a pair of daggers, one purple while the other black, appeared in his hands, glowing faintly with an ominous aura as he picked up the pace and took a giant leap into the air toward the monster ahead.

"Natsu!" Hearing that, Natsu looked over his shoulder and saw his teammates running toward him. Lucy, Gray, Erza, and Wendy closing it with Happy flying right next to them.

"Natsu, what the hell are you doing?!" Erza barked, but her question fell into deaf ears as Natsu spun his head back around and fixed his gaze on the unfamiliar man, who descended upon the monster. The moment that his fist connected with the dragon's head, a violent shockwave exploded from the point of impact and tore through the battlefield, forcing Natsu and teammates to raise their arms to shield themselves from the winds as they watched the fight in stunned silence.

The massive beast recoiled under the devastating attack, its obsidian-like scales cracking under the force as it let out a furious roar. Before the dragon could recover or even make the attack to attack him, the man twisted his body mid-air, flipping gracefully before landing on the beast's massive forearm. Using it as the pedestal, the man then launched himself back into the air, his daggers flashing with a dark, ominous light as he slashed at the monster, leaving deep gashes in its thick scale. To the naked eyes, the cut seemed purely physical, but the massive beast roared as if it was in great pain, its golden eyes flaring with fury.

With a furious bellow, it unfurled its massive wings and sent forth a powerful gust of wind, the sheer force blasting across the battlefield. The shockwave tore through the ground, sending debris flying and forcing Team Natsu to duck their heads low to prevent themselves from being hurled into the air. Yet, even as the winds continued to rage, the dagger-wielding young man remained unfazed. His form flickered, vanishing in an instant before the beast could slash at him with its claw, only to reappearing above the dragon's head with both daggers raised high.

As he descended, the other Hunters joined the fray. The one with red hair, who continued to stay behind the line of armored, shields-wielding warriors, unleashed a tremendous fireball at the side of the dragon, knocking it to the side upon collision. The towering white tiger man darted forward, the claws of his gauntlets grazing at the earth before he slashed them at the beast, drawing blood from its exposed flank. The dragon snarled, whipping its tail around, but the tiger warrior instantly flipped over the deadly strike, not wasting any time to deliver a punishing blow to the dragon's jaw from above, causing it to snap its head up momentarily.

The fourth combatant danced across the battlefield as she swiftly evaded each and every attack coming her way, her movement impressing even Erza, who was a master swordswoman herself. The blonde moved like a deadly flourish, her sword slicing through the dragon's defenses with every strike. The beast howled in frustration, its movements growing more erratic as it attempted to shake off its relentless attackers.

Avoiding its snapping jaw as the dragon started to glow red, building up more and more power within itself as it was pushed onto the defensive, the cloaked man took off into the air once more with both daggers gripping tightly in his hand. In a blink of an eye, he was directly in front of its eyes, his blades slashing in rapid succession, so fast that not even Erza herself could keep up with his movement. Each strike tore through the air with such ferocity that the space around them seemed to ripple and twist, all the while the desert dragon could do nothing but let out an agonized roar, its massive form thrashing wildly as its eyes were damaged and blinded.

In desperation, the dragon flapped its wings violently, sending out shockwaves that nearly knocked the other warriors off balance, but the dagger wielding man maintained a solid footing on the ground as he landed almost gracefully before dashing forward, refusing to give the beast even a moment to recover. He then flipped into the air and landed on its head, his dagger stabbing down and tearing through its flesh as he ran all the way to the base of its skull, leaving a deep gash in his wake. The dragon let out another deafening roar, its tail lashing out, but the man was already in the air, one hand holding the black dagger slightly behind his back as he took a stance in midair before launching himself down.

The moment that his feet touched the ground, arms crossing and holding his weapons in an X-formation in front of his chest, the air around the dragon seemed to tear apart. Space became distorted as thin, crisscrossing flashes of light appeared and seemingly carved through the massive form of the dragon as if it were paper. The ground beneath it shattered under the sheer force of the attack, before a final roar echoed through the battlefield, one of pain and defeat. Moment later, the beast collapsed, its colossal frame hitting the earth with a thunderous crash, kicking up a massive cloud of dust and debris that filled the air, obscuring the view for a moment.

When the dust finally settled, the battlefield was silent, while the dragon itself lay motionless, deep gashes covering every inch of its form. The obsidian-like scales had lost their sheen, its once-powerful wings now torn and lifeless. The black haired young man, meanwhile, simply stood up, his daggers dissipating into nothingness as he stood ahead the carnage he had created, looking as calm as he had been from the start.

In that moment, team Natsu knew…

They were looking at Sung Jinwoo, the strongest member of Shadow Hunters.

To be continued?