It had been five years since the tragic incident that had shaken Ryuu's life. Back then, he was just a seven-year-old child, unaware of the power that resided within him. The tragedy of losing his family had marked him for life, but he had found a semblance of peace in the Fairy Tail guild, where Makarov, the master, had taken him under his wing. As he grew, he had learned to control his powers and make them a strength. Now, at 12 years old, he had become a promising mage, both talented and... a bit too confident.
Today, he was on a mission in a dense forest, searching for a Beast King that had been wreaking havoc in the area. Ryuu wasn't afraid of creatures like that, not after everything he had been through. The fight? A game. A way for him to test his abilities and blow off some steam. He was no longer the broken boy he once was; he had become a fearless young man, and sometimes, a little too arrogant.
The forest was quiet, too quiet. The wind blew gently, and all that could be heard was the sound of his footsteps on the dead leaves. Ryuu wasn't in a hurry. He knew he was going to face something powerful, but he had never felt any fear. A huge shape appeared through the trees, its imposing silhouette standing out against the dark sky. It was the Beast King, just as described in the mission.
Ryuu took position, a teasing smile on his lips. "So, you're the famous Beast King?" he said, observing the creature, which glared at him with eyes burning with rage. "You're really supposed to be a threat?"
The Beast King roared, its cry torn by anger and pain. But Ryuu, instead of worrying, took an even more mocking tone, as though he were fighting a mere wild animal.
"Doesn't matter, I'll finish this quickly. I've got things to do." He shook his head, a smirk on his face.
He then focused, and like a flash of golden light, activated his Take Over magic. "Take Over: God of Flames!"
His hair rose into golden flames, his body covered in intense fire armor. His arms blackened as if burned, flames roaring around him, enveloping his forearms like a divine armor. His clothes vanished instantly, replaced by golden flame pants, the ends of his legs crackling. A fiery jacket wrapped around his waist, surrounding him with a blazing aura.
He raised his arms, and the flames began to swirl around him, ready to be unleashed. He looked at the Beast King with a mischievous smile, his eyes gleaming with malice.
"Well then... let's see what you've got." He stuck out his tongue, his gaze daring.
The Beast King didn't hesitate to charge, its massive claws ready to strike. Ryuu easily dodged the attack, swaying with insolent grace.
"Tsss, too slow!" he laughed, then focused and launched his first attack.
"Blazing Tempest!"
BOOM! An explosion of golden flames erupted from his hands, hitting the Beast King squarely. The heat was unbearable, the trees around them bending under the intense heat. The beast roared in pain but didn't give up.
"You're a bit tough, huh?" Ryuu mocked, an arrogant smile on his face. He got into position, ready to deliver a final blow. He wasn't going to let this creature surprise him.
The Beast King retaliated with a devastating roar, charging again with surprising speed. But Ryuu, now fully confident in his abilities, leaped to the side, unleashing his magic at full force.
"Heavenly Impact!"
CRASH! The impact of his fiery fist on the ground created a shockwave that shook everything around. The creature was thrown against a tree, its body shaken by the blast. Ryuu, relishing his victory, turned toward the Beast King, daring it to rise.
"Come on, just a little more effort, old man!" He chuckled, a spark of arrogance in his eyes.
Taking a deep breath, Ryuu concentrated his flames into his fists, a golden glow shining all around him.
"Divine Flame – Furious Wrath!"
KABOOM! The flames surged over the creature, enveloping it in a massive explosion. The Beast King let out one final scream before collapsing, its body covered in burns.
Ryuu, still standing in the center of the destruction, fell backward, a satisfied smile on his lips.
"Tsss... That was almost too easy."
He took a moment to breathe, the flames around him slowly fading. The forest was silent again, the air calm. But in Ryuu's mind, victory was never enough. He sat on a fallen tree trunk, looking at the fallen Beast King's silhouette, a small arrogant grin still on his face.
"Tsss, really... It's always the same with you guys."
Watching the charred remains of the Beast King, a glimmer of curiosity appeared in Ryuu's eyes. He reached out and ripped off a piece of the creature, bringing it to his mouth. He immediately grimaced, forcing himself to chew despite the disgusting texture and the bitter taste that flooded his mouth.
"Ugh... This is gross." He spat the meat out, holding his mouth in disgust. He made a face and jumped to his feet, shaking his head to get rid of the horrible taste.
"Well, at least it didn't kill me." He shrugged, a small arrogant smile still on his face.
He resumed hopping joyfully, like a child who had just won a small battle. Everything was easy for him, and he knew it. Nothing was truly difficult in this world.
He began walking slowly through the forest, suddenly feeling a bit lonely. The wind whistled through the trees, and sunlight barely filtered through the branches. Suddenly, a scream pierced the silence. A desperate scream. Ryuu stopped and perked up his ears.
"A demon?!"
He furrowed his brows, intrigued, and turned toward the source of the noise. The screams grew more distinct, coming from further away, at the edge of the forest. Without hesitation, he headed in the direction of the cries, almost skipping like a child, a mocking smile on his lips.
When he reached the edge of the forest, he spotted a small village. He trotted into the central square, where a crowd of villagers was yelling and pointing at a small house. He stopped upon seeing the scene, his smile widening, his arrogance evident on his face.
"What's going on here?" he asked, addressing an elderly man who seemed particularly frantic.
The old man, trembling, quickly replied. "It's a demon! A demon entered the house! We need to eliminate it!"
Ryuu raised an eyebrow. "A demon, huh? Well, I love demons!" He rubbed his hands together with a satisfied grin. "Thanks for the info!"
The villagers around him looked at him with concern, some shouting at him not to go. But Ryuu didn't listen to them at all. He wasn't the type to be intimidated by warnings. On the contrary, he loved the idea of imminent danger. Ignoring the voices trying to stop him, he approached the house door, still smiling arrogantly.
"Tsss, don't worry. Let me handle this." He nearly threw himself against the door, pushing it open with his shoulder. The entrance creaked open, and he entered with boundless energy.
As soon as he stepped inside, he immediately saw three children, huddled in a corner of the room. Two girls and a boy. They were all scared, but what struck him most was their appearance. All three had shining white hair and ocean-blue eyes. But what caught his attention even more was the girl his age, whose arm seemed... demonic. A black arm, covered in a glossy and strange skin, which seemed made of something supernatural, as if a demon had possessed it.
Ryuu walked closer with his arrogant smile and a glint of challenge in his eyes.
"Well, looks like you're in quite a mess." He turned toward the young girl with the demonic arm. "You a demon, or are you just playing at it?"
The children stared at him, but none of them answered immediately. The little girl, who seemed to be about 9 years old, looked at Ryuu with her big blue eyes, while the boy, around 10, seemed to be in a state of panic, his small head shaking in despair.
Ryuu sat on the floor a few meters away from them, looking down at them.
"Well, well, well, are you going to explain what's going on here, or do I have to guess it myself?" He stretched, looking completely relaxed, as if the situation was anything but serious.
Ryuu stood there, observing the three children with a mix of arrogance and curiosity. The youngest, clearly terrified, was pale, her eyes filled with tears. She was trembling, but her gaze turned to Ryuu, as if she was seeking some comfort.
"She's not a demon," she said in a shaky voice. "My sister... she protected us before she got this arm. It's not her fault!" She turned toward the older girl, with the demonic arm, and her face twisted in fear. "Please... she's not a monster!"
Ryuu, a bit surprised, tilted his head, watching the little girl with an amused smile. He reached out and gently placed his palm on the young girl's head, ruffling her hair playfully. Then, he stuck out his tongue in an exaggerated manner, smiling even wider.
"You're all shaky. You really don't have to be scared." He paused, watching the little girl seem a little calmer thanks to his gesture. "You know what? You're cute." He stood up, rubbing his hands together, giving one last look to the older sister with the demonic arm.
"So, what are your names?" he asked, still with a slightly mocking air, but without any malice.
The little girl sniffled slightly before answering. "My name's Lissana... and this is Elfman. And... and my big sister's name is Mirajane."
Ryuu thought for a moment, turning those names over in his mind. Lissana... Elfman... Mirajane... These names vaguely echoed in his memories, but he couldn't quite place them. It didn't really matter to him. What interested him the most was this demonic arm of Mirajane's. Such a strange, powerful arm. Ryuu closed his eyes and focused on his magical senses. He clenched his fists, listening to his own body, feeling the energies around him. For a moment, he sensed a disturbance in the air, a dark energy emanating from Mirajane's arm. He opened his eyes, a spark of understanding lighting up his gaze.
"Hey... what's this thing?" he suddenly said, concentrating more on the energy he was feeling. He knew what it was. He had heard of it before, but he'd never really thought about what it could mean. "It's Take Over... but not just any Take Over. This is Satan Soul."
He then turned toward the children, his arrogant smile reappearing on his face.
"It's not your fault, you know? But hey, don't panic." He made a casual wave of his hand, as if brushing off the whole demon thing with a single motion. "Here's what you need to do: the villagers need to clear out."
With a small mocking laugh, he headed for the door, paying no attention to the worried looks from the children. He knew this was just a misunderstanding, but he enjoyed making them believe he was the one who would solve everything.
When he got outside, he turned toward the crowd of villagers still gathered, nervously stirring around the house. He raised a hand to capture their attention.
"Hey! You all need to leave, now. There's no demon here!" He said it in an authoritative tone, smiling as though he had just solved a puzzle.
The villagers looked at him, a bit hesitant. Some were about to protest, but Ryuu's confident and arrogant gaze quickly shut them up.
"Come on, move along. There's nothing to see here." He added a little wink before turning on his heels, the smile still plastered on his face.
He returned inside the house, bouncing like he had just completed a simple scouting mission, and addressed the children.
"It's all good. You're safe now. Don't worry."
Ryuu approached a chair, grabbed it casually, and sat down backwards, arms crossed over the backrest, his chin resting on his forearms. He observed the three children, his eyes glinting with a mischievous light. He seemed to think for a moment before breaking the silence.
"Alright, listen up, it's actually pretty simple," he said in a relaxed tone, as if all this was just a game to him. "This arm... It's the magic power of Take Over. A power Mirajane probably activated when she wanted to protect her siblings. It's this power that made her absorb the soul of that demon."
Mirajane, who had remained silent until then, startled. She lowered her head, her hair falling over her eyes. "No... I don't want this power." She looked up, her eyes filled with terror. "I don't want to be a demon... I don't want to hurt everyone around me..."
Ryuu then smiled, a confident and slightly teasing grin. He stared at her for a moment before responding.
"Don't worry, Mirajane," he said in a calm, reassuring voice. "I have this power too. But my Take Over, it's divine." He looked at her with a reassuring gaze. "So, if you really want to hurt someone... I'll stop you. You're not alone."
Mirajane shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes. "But... I could lose control. And I could hurt everyone..."
Ryuu looked at her with an arrogant smile, but this time, he wasn't mocking. "You know what? Don't worry about it. If you end up becoming a monster, you know what? I'll kill you myself." He shrugged nonchalantly. "But I doubt that'll happen, so don't worry."
Mirajane let out a sigh, a hint of relief in her eyes.
"And now, for you two, it's time to go somewhere. You can't stay here." Ryuu suddenly stood up and turned to Lissana and Elfman with a lively look on his face.
"You're coming with me." Without further ceremony, he lifted Lissana onto his shoulders, grinning playfully. "We're taking you to Fairy Tail, your new family."
Lissana, surprised but amused, clung to his hair, laughing. "Fairy Tail? What's that?"
Ryuu grinned even wider. "It's where you'll be surrounded by people who understand you. It's where you'll find family."
He then turned to Mirajane, and with a softer smile, extended his hand to her. "Come with us, Mirajane. You're not alone, and you never will be."
Mirajane, touched by his words, hesitated for a moment, but finally, she took his hand with some uncertainty. "I... I'll try."
Ryuu then turned to the other two children. "Alright, let's go. We've got a great place to show you." He almost jumped to his feet, carrying Lissana like it was nothing, ready to leave.
As the small group headed for the exit, Ryuu took one last look at the house, a slightly more serious smile on his face, before heading toward Fairy Tail without looking back.