Fairy Tail: Igneel's eldest son in Anime Multiverse Chapter 1: The Son of the Fire Dragon

Golden rays of sunlight cascaded across the sprawling mountains, casting a shimmering golden hue over the scene, yet the young boy's heart remained shrouded in gloom. He looked roughly ten years old, strikingly handsome, with long black hair flowing down his shoulders. Even as a mere child, his expression carried a profound sadness unfit for his tender years.

Around his upper body, the boy draped nothing but a deep crimson scarf adorned with intricate dragon-scale patterns, while his compact physique already revealed hints of well-toned muscles.

"Charles, come duel with me! Today, I'm definitely going to beat you!"

The boy let out a sigh. The challenge echoing from behind stirred no urge in him to reply.

With a slight tilt of his head, Charles effortlessly evaded the tiny fist swinging toward him.

"Hey! I mean… Natsu, haven't you learned your lesson yet?"

While saying this, Charles lifted his arm and landed a solid punch right on the other boy's face.

"Damn it! I lost to Charles again!"

The pink-haired boy's eyes spiraled into dizzy swirls as he tumbled backward.

Yet he sprang right back up, jabbing a finger at Charles. "One day I'll surpass you! Just you wait!"

Having bellowed his vow, he spotted Charles raising his fist once more and bolted away in a flash!

"Haha! Natsu's still bursting with energy, huh?"

A booming voice rumbled from overhead, yet Charles remained utterly calm.

The shadow enveloping Charles moved. It stemmed not from any tree or peak, but from a colossal beast.

Upon closer inspection, it revealed itself as a gigantic dragon clad in fiery red scales, boasting razor-sharp fangs and talons.

This mighty dragon had been using its enormous form to block the sun for Charles, safeguarding him from the glare.

Charles sighed once more and remarked, "Igneel, you shouldn't spoil Natsu like that all the time. Be a bit stricter with him occasionally!"

The colossal dragon Igneel chuckled in a surprisingly human fashion and replied, "Stop with those minor gripes. Both you and Natsu are developing splendidly!"

A smile tugged at Charles's lips as he shook his head. Deep down, he fully concurred with Igneel, knowing precisely the man Natsu was destined to become.

For Natsu's complete name was Natsu Dragneel of Ethelrias, the central hero of this realm.

Indeed—this was the world from the Fairy Tail manga Charles had once devoured. Charles himself qualified as what folks term a transmigrator.

His prior existence as a desk-bound worker brimmed with irritations, but awakening to a huge dragon's jaws mere inches away—and discovering he'd turned into an infant—had almost shattered his psyche.

Luckily, the maw's owner proved a wise, thinking entity—a legendary dragon straight out of myths.

Even better, this dragon ranked among the most benevolent toward humans.

Thus, Charles found himself adopted by the dragon, sparing him worries over his name in whatever rebirth followed.

Discovering the dragon's name as Igneel clicked everything into place for Charles about his new world.

True to expectations, at age three for Charles, a pink-haired kid showed up by Igneel's side—that was Natsu, this world's lead character.

By the way, Charles's full identity here was Charles Gidofmir, translating to "Child of the Meteor."

Igneel explained that Charles had materialized before him amid a shooting star's descent.

Charles's form stood out as extraordinary too. After all the effort of transmigration, he came equipped with his personal "golden finger."

Apart from his plot knowledge and superior mental fortitude, Charles possessed a special constitution able to take in and hold any magic type harmlessly, akin to an ocean welcoming every stream.

To put it simply, Dragon Slayer Magic posed no dragonification risk for him. That's why Igneel boldly passed it on to him.

Unlike impulsive young Natsu, the steadier Charles absorbed vast magical lore from Igneel and, later, Anna Heartfilia the Celestial Spirit Mage.

As a result, Charles far outpaced Natsu in power right now. Natsu had issued 616 challenges since starting Dragon Slayer Magic—and suffered defeat in all.

Still, Natsu never wavered. Perhaps that's the essence of a fiery protagonist.

Igneel dipped his head low, and the young Charles naturally nestled close. Dragon and child shared a serene hush.

After what felt like ages, Igneel broke the quiet. "The moment draws near."

Charles stayed mute briefly before whispering shakily, "Is there truly no alternative?"

Igneel offered no words, his quiet conveying the harsh truth.

It all traced back to Acnologia—the Dragon Slayer Mage fully morphed into the Dragon King.

Once a human, Acnologia suffered betrayal from dragons he trusted, stripping him of all he held dear. Fueled by rage, he mastered Dragon Slayer Magic vowing to wipe out every dragon.

With his draconic might stirring and countless dragons slain, he fully became a dark dragon, shedding every trace of humanity and sanity.

Long gone was his human side; he now embodied pure ruin, black wings that swallowed every gleam of light.

Back then, certain individuals foresaw Acnologia endangering the whole world and began countermeasures.

Key among them were Zeref, future Black Wizard, and Anna Heartfilia, mentor to Charles and the rest.

Zeref especially, orphaned by dragons alongside his little brother, had plotted the Black Dragon King's downfall from the start.

Dragons weren't idle either—a group under Igneel's lead hatched their scheme.

Igneel plus four fellow dragons would impart Dragon Slayer Magic to select youths. After all, solely Dragon Slayer Magic could fell dragons.

Then, aided by Anna Heartfilia and her kin Layla Heartfilia, they'd trigger the Eclipse Gate across times, hurling these hope-bearers 400 years ahead to a magic-rich era.

To halt dragonification's curse, Igneel employed the Soul Dragon Technique, slipping into Natsu's form to forge suppressants against the dragon seed.

Naturally, it also positioned him for a future clash with Acnologia centuries on.

Acnologia's Dragon Slayer prowess had devoured all dragon souls, leaving body-seclusion in kids as their sole path.

Yet this forced Igneel to bid goodbye to Charles and Natsu. Their reunion would mark an eternal parting.

Dragon or not, Charles sensed Igneel's deep affection for both him and Natsu. He'd embraced Igneel as true kin long ago.

At times, Charles felt pangs of jealousy toward Natsu's blissful obliviousness.

Perceiving Charles's grief, Igneel abruptly declared, "Don't look so glum!"

His claw reached out, lightly prodding Charles's chest. "I'll keep watch over you and Natsu forever! But from here on, I'm relying on you. That wild Natsu requires his big brother to watch over him!"

Meeting Igneel's gaze, Charles nodded with grave resolve.

...

The parting struck abruptly. One dawn, as Charles carefully shifted Natsu's leg aside and exited their cavern home, Igneel had vanished.

Despite knowing Igneel now dwelled within Natsu, an overwhelming sorrow flooded Charles.

Right then, a golden-haired woman entered his view.

"Teacher Anna," Charles murmured faintly.

She was Anna Heartfilia herself, Charles's instructor and pivotal force in Igneel's scheme.

Grasping Charles's pain, Anna extended a hand to softly tousle his hair. "You've done well."

Aware of the weight Charles bore, Anna cherished her wisest pupil even more.

Charles denied it with a headshake. "Igneel's choice was his own, and our shared vow. It wasn't tough at all."

Saying so, he reentered the cave, hoisting the snoring Natsu—snot bubble swaying—onto his back.

"Teacher Anna, let's head out," Charles stated firmly.

Anna gave a nod and guided Charles to the designated spot.

Before them loomed a towering gate, vast enough for even Igneel to traverse freely. Etched with celestial maps and directional motifs, it exuded grandeur.

The Eclipse Gate, Zeref's ultimate magical construct. Harnessing celestial spirit energy to target varied timelines, it allowed temporal leaps—activatable solely by Celestial Spirit Magic's twelve supreme Golden Keys.

At the gate's base, four other youngsters awaited, all like Natsu in profound slumber—doubtless from their dragons' ingress.

Gazing upon Charles and the five kids, Anna proclaimed, "Now, we journey to the future—four hundred years ahead!"

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