Fairy Tail: The Divine Soul

Ryuu finally arrived in front of the massive castle where the dark guild called "Oblivion Shade" resided, infamous for its cruel acts and misdeeds in the region. The building was imposing, with black towers covered in ivy and flickers of dark magic emanating from the walls. The air was heavy, charged with a malevolent aura, but this only fueled Ryuu's excitement.

"Woah, so this is where these jokers are hiding?!" he said, strolling toward the massive entrance with his hands behind his head. He whistled cheerfully as he pushed the large doors open, which creaked ominously.

Inside, he found a vast hall dimly lit by flickering torches. Around sixty members of the dark guild were present, all clad in black cloaks adorned with a red skull emblem. They immediately turned toward him, their gazes filled with disdain and curiosity.

"Well, well, look what we have here!" said a burly man at the head of the assembly. "A little intruder. Lost your way, kid?"

Ryuu shrugged with a teasing grin.

"Lost? Nah, I'm just here to tear down this castle and kick your sorry butts. Seriously though, Oblivion Shade? Who came up with such a dramatic name? You could've gone with something like… 'The Clowns in Black'!"

The insult made several members grit their teeth in anger.

"Tsk, you're gonna regret coming here, brat," growled a mage, charging up a magical attack.

Ryuu burst into laughter and stepped back slightly, raising a hand.

"Oh no, I'm so scared. Please, don't hurt me!" he said mockingly. Then, lowering his hand, his face settled into a cocky smirk. "Alright, seriously. Are we gonna have some fun or what?"

He snapped his fingers, and a golden aura instantly surrounded his body.

"Take Over: God of Flames!"

The ground trembled slightly as Ryuu transformed. His hair turned into dancing golden flames, illuminating the hall. His forearms darkened as though charred, and his clothes were replaced by black pants with flaming golden edges. A light jacket hung loosely around his waist, its edges also glowing with fire.

"BOOOOM!" A shockwave erupted around him, forcing back the nearest guild members.

"So, who wants to play first?" he asked with a wide grin, his tongue sticking out in an arrogant gesture.

A group of mages charged at him. One of them hurled a flurry of wind blades. Ryuu dodged effortlessly, his movements playful, almost like a dance.

"You call that an attack?" he mocked. "Let me show you what a real technique looks like."

He leaped into the air and extended an arm toward the ground.

"Sacred Flame: Divine Impact!"

A sphere of golden flames formed in his hand before crashing into the ground, causing a massive explosion.

"BOOOOOM!"

A dozen mages were sent flying, their black cloaks set ablaze. Ryuu landed gracefully, a smug grin on his face.

"Come on, come on, there's more of you than that. Surely you can do better?"

Another group attacked, coordinating their magical strikes. Lightning bolts, ice spears, and dark energy blasts flew toward him. Ryuu stood still for a moment before leaping at incredible speed, dodging every attack with ease.

"You're missing every shot! That's insane!" he teased, sticking out his tongue to taunt them further.

He then extended both hands in front of him.

"Sacred Flame: Golden Storm!"

Golden flames erupted from his palms, swirling like a hurricane around the hall. The guild members screamed as they tried to shield themselves, but the intense heat was overwhelming.

"WHOOOSH!"

The ground cracked under the force of the flames, and several mages collapsed, unconscious or terrified.

Ryuu advanced toward the guild leader, who looked both furious and uneasy.

"So, leader of the clowns, got anything impressive up your sleeve, or should I wrap up the show?" Ryuu asked, his tongue still out in a provocative gesture.

The leader roared and launched a massive attack—a sphere of dark energy. Ryuu raised an eyebrow, impressed.

"Oh, not bad! But not good enough!"

He spread his arms wide, and the golden flames around him intensified, forming a fiery shield. The dark attack disintegrated as it collided with the flames, and Ryuu slowly advanced through the barrage, arms crossed.

"Sacred Flame: Divine Judgment!"

A massive pillar of golden fire crashed down on the leader, causing an explosion so violent that the castle trembled.

"KA-BOOOOOM!"

When the smoke cleared, only a crater remained where the leader had stood. Ryuu raised a hand to inspect the flames still dancing around him.

"Well, that was easy," he said with a laugh. Looking around, he saw that most of the dark guild members were either unconscious or cowering in fear. "Next time, pick a better name… and stronger members!"

With one last arrogant glance and a smug smile, he turned and walked out of the castle, whistling cheerfully.

Ryuu left the dark castle behind, leaving behind a ruined building and terrified guild members. He canceled his transformation, and his appearance returned to normal—his blue hair fell back into its usual messy strands. With a quick, habitual gesture, he ran his hands through his hair, pushing it back and leaving one rebellious strand falling over his face. He stretched his arms with a yawn.

"Phew… Easy as pie. They should've hired someone tougher."

He walked leisurely toward the nearby village, whistling as he always did. Upon arriving, he was greeted by the village mayor, a middle-aged man with gray hair and a nervous demeanor.

"You… You succeeded?" the mayor asked, trembling slightly.

Ryuu nodded with a playful smile.

"Of course! Their boss and his lackeys got a monumental beatdown. The castle's practically empty now, so you can sleep soundly."

The relieved mayor handed him a heavy pouch of coins.

"Thank you, young mage. You've saved our village."

Ryuu accepted the reward nonchalantly, tossing the pouch into his bag.

"No problem! That's what I'm here for." Then, with a cheeky grin, he added, "If another problem shows up, call me. But next time, prepare a good meal as part of the reward, okay?"

The mayor chuckled nervously, and Ryuu set off toward Magnolia.

On his way, he encountered several creatures in the forest. A huge black wolf leaped at him, its sharp fangs ready to bite.

"Tsk, not today, Fido," Ryuu said, delivering a quick punch square to its head. The wolf collapsed, unconscious.

A little further down the path, a giant boar appeared in his way. Ryuu raised an amused eyebrow.

"Well, you want to try your luck too?" he said before striking the animal with a swift, powerful blow that sent it rolling to the side. "Not very smart, huh…"

Throughout his journey, every beast that tried to attack him ended up on the ground with a single hit. Ryuu continued on his way, his childish, cocky grin never leaving his face.

When he finally arrived in Magnolia, he headed straight for the guild. Upon entering the building, he immediately noticed the commotion: everyone seemed to be fighting. Tables were overturned, chairs were flying, and mages were trading punches in joyous chaos.

"Ah, I see nothing's changed here," Ryuu said with a laugh before diving straight into the fray, dodging a flying chair and punching a mage who was fighting nearby.

"Ryuu! Hey, you're back?" said a soft voice beside him.

It was Mirajane, who had come to greet him with a warm, cheerful smile. But Ryuu, caught up in the excitement of the brawl, paid no attention to her and continued knocking around other guild members, his arrogant grin still in place.

Mirajane stood there for a moment, amused by his behavior. Her smile didn't fade as she returned to her tasks, leaving him to blow off some steam.

After several minutes of the general brawl, an enormous shadow loomed over the guild.

"STOP IT RIGHT NOW, YOU BUNCH OF IDIOTS!"

Makarov's powerful voice echoed through the hall, and a giant hand, created with his Giant magic, smacked everyone indiscriminately, including Ryuu.

"BOOM!"

Everyone collapsed under the impact, groaning slightly. Ryuu, sprawled on the floor, sat up, wincing.

"Ow… Master, you could've aimed somewhere else," he said, rubbing his head.

Makarov crossed his arms, his expression stern.

"You're supposed to be a guild of mages, not a bunch of brainless brawlers! And you, Ryuu, you just got back, and you're already throwing punches?"

Ryuu shrugged with an innocent smile.

"It was too tempting."

Makarov sighed but couldn't help a faint smile.

"Alright, everyone, get back to your tasks before I have to use my magic again."

The guild slowly dispersed, each member returning to their activities.

Ryuu casually walked over to Makarov, who was sitting cross-legged at the bar. The guild master gave him a curious look.

"So, Ryuu? How did your mission go?"

Ryuu shrugged with his usual mischievous grin.

"Easy. They were way too weak—it wasn't even fun. I was expecting a bit more resistance."

Makarov frowned but didn't say anything. Silence fell between them as Ryuu absentmindedly played with a strand of his hair.

After a few minutes, Ryuu straightened slightly on his stool and declared in a serious tone:

"Master, I want to take on a 100-year quest."

Makarov, surprised, narrowed his eyes.

"A 100-year quest? Do you understand what that means, Ryuu? It's not a decision to take lightly. This kind of mission is far more dangerous than anything you've done so far. Why such a sudden decision?"

Ryuu crossed his arms and tilted his head slightly, an arrogant smile on his face.

"Because the missions I've done so far don't challenge me. I'm bored. And besides, if anyone can succeed in a 100-year quest, it's me, right?"

Makarov stared at him, thinking deeply. He knew Ryuu was powerful, but a 100-year quest was something far beyond the capabilities of most mages, even the most experienced ones. After a long moment of silence, he sighed.

"You're still young, Ryuu. You've got plenty of time ahead of you to take on this kind of mission. Why rush?"

Ryuu shook his head, resolute.

"Master, it's not about age. I want to push myself, to prove that I'm capable of achieving something great. If I keep sticking to these small jobs, I'll stagnate."

Seeing the conviction in Ryuu's eyes, Makarov finally relented, though with visible hesitation.

"Very well, Ryuu. If you're that determined… I'll allow you to attempt a 100-year quest. But promise me you won't overestimate yourself. These quests don't forgive even the slightest mistake."

Ryuu stood up with a bright grin, raising a clenched fist toward the master.

"Promise, old man. I'll show you I'm ready for this challenge."

Makarov nodded, though a bit worried, and watched as Ryuu headed for the second floor.

Ryuu climbed the stairs with his usual nonchalant air, once again dodging Natsu's attempts to grab him as he shouted:

"Ryuu! Fight me, coward!"

Ryuu ignored Natsu, easily sidestepping him with light, quick movements. Reaching the second floor, he scanned the quests posted on the board reserved for the toughest missions. His gaze stopped on an old, dusty, and long-forgotten mission, one that promised a challenge worthy of his expectations.

"This one will do," he murmured, pulling the parchment off the board before heading back down.

Returning to the main floor, he cast one last glance at the guild, still as lively and chaotic as ever. He briefly caught Mirajane's gaze, who was watching him from the bar with a subtle smile. Ryuu gave her a quick wink before walking away, his mind already focused on what lay ahead.

"This is the start of something big," he murmured to himself, a mix of excitement and determination shining in his eyes.

Two weeks later, Ryuu arrived on the northern continent of Guiltina, a land known for its vast wilderness and magical mysteries. As soon as he set foot on the ancient territory, he was surrounded by small glowing spheres floating in the air around him.

"Ohhh, magical fireflies? Or maybe I've already become a star here?" he joked, reaching out to touch one of the spheres. He felt a pure energy radiating from them.

"Ethernano… This continent is really something else."

He continued his journey, senses alert, until he came upon a gigantic structure. The castle, imposing and majestic, stood like a relic from another age. At its peak, a massive dragon statue carved from stone loomed, its eyes seemingly scanning the horizon.

"Wow, what's this? A dragon fortress?" he said, pushing open the massive doors, which creaked heavily.

As he stepped inside, he was struck by the imposing atmosphere and the strange golden light that bathed the interior. In the center of the hall lay a massive white dragon, majestically sprawled out. Its shimmering scales sparkled softly, as if reflecting the stars.

Ryuu, true to himself, approached with a casual stride, hands behind his head.

"Yo, Mr. Dragon! I'm looking for the person who requested this mission. I hope it's not you, because that might make things complicated."

The dragon slowly opened its bright, jewel-like eyes. Then, in a burst of magic, its massive body shrank, transforming into the form of an old man hunched over a magical staff etched with ancient symbols. His long white beard reached down to his chest, and his eyes glimmered with infinite wisdom.

"I am the one who placed this quest, young mage," the man said, his voice deep and calm. "You've made it this far… but you're still just a child. This mission isn't for you. Go back home."

Ryuu blinked, surprised, before bursting into laughter, clutching his stomach.

"Hahaha! Seriously? A 'child,' me? Do you even know who you're talking to, old man? I'm Ryuu Kurogane, future hero of Fairy Tail and the nightmare of dark guilds!"

The old man didn't flinch, his expression remaining stern.

"This quest is no game. It's about stopping the Five Divine Dragons, beings of unimaginable power. They survived the age of dragons and could destroy this world if left unchecked. A child like you has no place in such matters."

Far from feeling intimidated, Ryuu's grin widened. His eyes gleamed with a mischievous light as he licked his lips—a habit of his whenever he got excited by a challenge.

"Divine Dragons, huh? Now that's interesting…"

With a sharp motion, he unleashed his magical aura. An overwhelming energy flooded the room, radiating in golden, red, and black waves. The Ethernano around him seemed to stir, as if responding to the sheer intensity of his power.

"You know, old man, I've had enough of easy missions. If this quest can finally give me a real challenge… then I'm in! And honestly, it sounds way too fun to pass up."

The old man stepped back slightly, startled by the intensity of Ryuu's aura. He muttered to himself:

"This boy… This power… Is he truly human? Perhaps…"

Ryuu, still with that boyish grin on his face, took a few steps forward.

"So, are you gonna tell me where to start? Or do I need to go start kicking some Divine Dragon scales on my own?"

With those words, the light from Ryuu's aura continued to shine brightly, illuminating the entire room.