Brilliant sunlight bathed the vast mountain range, painting a golden landscape, yet the young boy's heart was far from bright.
He was about ten years old, with handsome features and black hair cascading over his shoulders. Despite his youthful appearance, his face bore a worry that belied his age. He wore only a dark red dragon-scale patterned scarf over his upper body, but already showed the beginnings of muscle definition.
"Drake, let's duel! I'll beat you today!"
The boy sighed. He heard the challenge from behind, but had no desire to move.
He tilted his head, easily dodging a small fist aimed at him. The boy named Drake was quick.
"Hey! I told you… Natsu, you should learn your lesson!"
Drake raised his arm and punched the other boy in the face.
"Damn it! I lost to Drake again!"
The cherry-haired boy's eyes swirled like dizzying spirals before he fell backward. He quickly jumped up, pointing at Drake. "Someday I'll surpass you, Drake! Remember that!"
After issuing his threat, the cherry-haired boy saw Drake raise his fist again and fled!
"Ha! Ha! Ha! Natsu's still so energetic!"
A booming voice echoed from above, but Drake showed no alarm.
The shadow that had enveloped Drake shifted. The thing blocking the sun wasn't a tree or a mountain, but a gigantic creature.
Upon closer inspection, it was a massive dragon with red scales, sharp teeth, and claws. This dragon had been shielding Drake from the sun with its body.
Drake sighed. "Igneel, you shouldn't spoil Natsu so much. You need to be stricter sometimes!"
Igneel, the dragon, chuckled in a human-like voice. "Don't be so stingy. Aren't you and Natsu both growing up wonderfully?"
Drake shook his head with a smile. He agreed with Igneel. After all, he knew exactly what kind of person Natsu would become.
Natsu's full name was Etherious Natsu Dragneel, the protagonist of this world.
This world was the world depicted in the manga "Fairy Tail", which Drake had read in his past life. Drake was, in fact, a time traveler.
While his past life as a worker had its share of hardships, he couldn't describe the sheer panic of opening his eyes to a gaping maw only to find himself an infant.
Luckily, the owner of the gaping maw was an intelligent and rational being – a dragon that only existed in fantasy.
Even luckier, this dragon was one of the most benevolent towards humans.
Drake was raised by a dragon, so he didn't have to worry about choosing a new name right after his arrival.
Upon learning the dragon's name was Igneel, Drake realized which world he was in.
Sure enough, when Drake was three, Igneel had another child—a cherry-haired boy—by his side: the world's protagonist, Natsu.
Incidentally, Drake's full name in this world was Drake Gildorme, meaning "Son of the Meteor."
According to Igneel, Drake appeared before him with a falling meteor.
Drake's body was also extraordinary. Of course, a time traveler would have a cheat code.
Besides his knowledge of the plot and exceptional psychic abilities, Drake possessed a constitution that could absorb all magic without being affected, like the ocean encompassing all water.
In other words, Dragon Slayer magic wouldn't have the dragonification side effect on Drake. That's why Igneel confidently taught Drake Dragon Slayer magic.
Unlike the young Natsu, the more mature Drake learned more magic from Igneel and his later teacher, the Spacial Magic Magic Anna Heartfilia.
Therefore, Drake was much stronger than Natsu at this point. Since Natsu started learning Dragon Slayer magic, he had challenged Drake 616 times, losing every single time.
But Natsu showed no discouragement. It's true to his hot-blooded protagonist nature.
Igneel lowered his head, and the young Drake instinctively leaned against him. The dragon and boy fell silent.
After a long time, Igneel broke the silence. "Time is running out!"
Drake was silent for a long time before speaking in a trembling voice. "Is there no other way?"
Igneel didn't answer, but his silence gave Drake the answer.
It all began with Acnologia, the Dragon King, a Dragon Slayer who had completely transformed into a dragon.
Originally human, Acnologia was driven by hatred after being betrayed by the dragons he trusted. He cultivated Dragon Slayer magic, intending to exterminate all dragons.
As his dragon power awakened and he slaughtered more dragons, he eventually transformed completely into a black dragon, losing all human emotion and reason.
He had become a true embodiment of destruction, a dark wing that devoured light.
Some people realized that Acnologia would eventually threaten the world's safety and that preparations were necessary.
Among them were Zeref, later known as the Black Wizard, and Anna Heartfilia, who taught Drake and the other children.
Zeref, in particular, having lost his parents and brother to dragons, also prepared to defeat the Black Dragon King.
Not only humans, but also a group of dragons led by Igneel devised a plan.
The plan was for five dragons to teach selected children Dragon Slayer magic. After all, only Dragon Slayer magic could counter dragons.
Then, Anna Heartfilia and her descendant, Layla Heartfilia, would jointly activate the Eclipse Gate in two different eras, sending these children of hope to an era four hundred years later, where magic was abundant.
To avoid the dragonification side effects of Dragon Slayer magic, Igneel would use the Soul Dragon technique to enter Natsu's body, creating an antibody to suppress the Dragon Seed.
Of course, this was also to settle the score with Acnologia four hundred years later.
Because of Acnologia's Dragon Slayer magic, all the dragons had actually been killed by having their souls extracted. Choosing to sleep within the children was a last resort.
But this meant Igneel would have to part ways with Drake and Natsu, their next meeting being their final farewell.
Although Igneel was a dragon, Drake felt his genuine affection for Natsu and himself; he had come to consider him family.
Sometimes Drake envied Natsu, who lived without knowing the truth.
Igneel sensed Drake's sadness. "Don't look so downcast!"
Igneel extended a claw, touching Drake's chest. "I'll always be watching you and Natsu! But it'll be hard on you from now on. Natsu's a bit of a klutz, so I'm entrusting him to his older brother!"
Drake looked at Igneel and nodded solemnly.
…
The separation was sudden. One morning, when Drake moved Natsu's leg from his own, exiting the cave where they slept, Igneel was gone.
Although Drake knew Igneel was now inside Natsu, he couldn't help feeling sad.
As Drake felt lost, a blonde woman appeared.
"Teacher Anna!" Drake greeted listlessly.
It was Anna Heartfilia, Drake's teacher and the key executor of Igneel's plan.
Anna understood Drake's feelings and patted his head. "You've worked hard."
Anna knew what Drake carried on his shoulders, and she felt even more sorry for her most mature student.
Drake shook his head. "It's Igneel's decision, and it's a promise between him and me. It's nothing."
Drake turned back to the cave, picking up Natsu, who still had sleep bubbles on his nose.
"Teacher Anna, let's go!" Drake said firmly.
Anna nodded and led Drake to their destination.
Before them stood a massive gate, large enough for even Igneel to pass through easily. The gate was engraved with astrolabes and pointers, looking remarkably grand.
The Eclipse Gate, a super magic tool created by Zeref. It uses Celestial Spirit magic to pinpoint different times and spaces, allowing time travel. Only the twelve strongest Golden Keys of Celestial Spirit magic could open it.
In front of the gate, four other young children were already waiting. Like Natsu, they slept soundly, perhaps due to the dragons residing within them.
Anna looked at Drake and the five other children. "Now, we're going to the future! Four hundred years into the future!"
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