A certain unnamed stretch of sea in the East Blue.
The sky suddenly tore open, a jagged crack seam ripping through the clouds as purple-black lightning churned violently within. Members of the Fairy Tail Guild came plummeting down from the heavens, the furious gray-blue ocean raging beneath them.
Natsu Dragneel snapped his eyes open midair. His crimson hair whipped violently in the wind, and the red guild mark on his left arm radiated faint heat. He wore a black cropped T-shirt that exposed his abdomen and dark trousers clinging tightly to his lean, muscular frame. Shouts from his companions rang in his ears, mixing with the thunderous roar of waves crashing against unseen reefs.
Less than a hundred meters below them, the sea suddenly exploded upward.
A massive Sea King burst from the depths, its enormous jaws yawning wide, rows of jagged fangs glinting as it lunged straight for the falling group.
Erza Scarlet instantly changed armor midair, lightweight flight armor snapping into place as she seized Wendy's wrist. Gray Fullbuster raised his hand, freezing the moisture around him as an ice staircase formed in the air, giving several guild members a brief foothold to redirect their fall. Happy unfurled his wings and dove downward, hoisting Romeo and others before speeding toward a distant floating reef.
Natsu sucked in a sharp breath. His chest heaved as something scalding detonated inside him.
His vision burned red.
Flames erupted violently around his body, the searing heat instantly vaporizing the surrounding moisture. Fire crawled along his arms, coiling around him like a roaring dragon.
This was the first time he had ever felt something like this.
The power surged as if awakened from the depths of his bloodline, boiling beyond his control. There was no time to think.
Natsu roared.
His right fist ignited, flames condensing and exploding outward as he punched forward. The blazing fist expanded wildly in midair, smashing straight into the Sea King's skull.
BOOM !
The monster's head detonated instantly. Its charred corpse spun helplessly before sinking back into the sea. The shockwave sent towering walls of water crashing across the surface, steam billowing everywhere.
Using the recoil, Natsu stabilized himself and landed atop the highest rock of the floating reef. He panted heavily, sweat mixed with seawater sliding down his face. Flames still licked across his skin but they were no longer raging out of control.
Lowering his gaze, he stared at his palm.
A rotating crimson core hovered there, spinning like a miniature sun.
It had appeared during the fall, resonating with his guild mark and flooding his body with an unknown energy.
Erza landed beside him, her armor glinting faintly as her sharp eyes swept across the surrounding waters. Gray jumped onto the reef, shrugging off his soaked coat and flinging it aside as he formed hand seals. The sea around the reef froze rapidly, jagged ice spikes rising to seal off the nearby waters.
Happy landed on Natsu's shoulder, wings folding as his eyes locked onto the distant horizon.
"Is everyone here?" Erza asked.
"Most of us," Gray replied. "Happy saved a few of the kids. Panther Lily is bringing Gajeel over."
Natsu remained silent, staring into the distance.
On the horizon, a small boat sped toward them.
Only one person stood aboard.
Barefoot at the bow, wearing a straw hat, grinning widely with a fishing rod slung casually over his shoulder.
He leapt from the boat, dashed across the surface of the water in a few quick steps, and plopped down on a rock beside the reef. His eyes immediately locked onto the campfire Natsu had lit using driftwood.
Several freshly caught fish sizzled over the flames, their golden skin crackling as oil dripped into the fire.
"I want some too," the boy said cheerfully.
Erza drew her sword halfway in a flash of cold steel. Gray waved his hand, forming an ice wall between the stranger and the fire.
Natsu just grinned.
He picked up a cooked fish and tossed it over. "Sure. But you've gotta catch your own."
The boy burst out laughing. He punched the fish midair, caught it, and stuffed it straight into his mouth bones, scales and all chewing loudly.
His name was Monkey D. Luffy, a pirate of these seas. He had seen the sky split open near a nearby island and rowed over out of sheer curiosity. He didn't care who these people were.
They were interesting, especially the guy who breathed fire.
"You guys fell from the sky?" Luffy asked.
"Pretty much," Natsu replied between bites, grease dripping down his hand. "Got sucked into a crack and woke up flying."
"So where're you heading now?"
"No idea." Natsu glanced at the sky and the crack seam had already sealed shut. "But if we're alive, we'll figure it out."
Luffy nodded and grabbed another fish.
The tension eased.
Erza sheathed her sword, though her posture remained alert. Gray dismissed the ice wall but kept a hand near his waist. Happy curled his tail lazily.
Then
The distant roar of engines thundered across the sea.
Three Marine warships closed in from different angles, cannons trained squarely on the reef. On the bridge of the lead ship, an officer raised a loudspeaker, his voice icy.
"Unidentified group ahead. Cease all activity immediately and submit to identity inspection. Failure to comply will result in extermination."
Natsu stood, flames coiling once more around his arms.
Erza's hand rested on her sword, blue light rippling across her armor. Gray raised his hands, ice erupting from the sea as sharp spikes pointed toward the advancing boats. Happy spread his wings, ready to evacuate at a moment's notice.
"We are not pirates," Erza replied coldly. "And we don't answer to you."
Before the words finished echoing
Her blade flashed.
A massive sword wave tore through the air, slicing cleanly through a warship's mast. It snapped and collapsed with a deafening crash.
Gray followed instantly. Ice surged beneath the second ship, massive ice spears forming around its hull and forcing an emergency turn.
Natsu leapt onto the highest rock, flames roaring skyward and painting the sea crimson.
"Take one more step," he bellowed, "and I'll burn your ships to ash!"
The Marine officer's face darkened.
"Fire warning shots. Target the left side of the reef!"
Cannons roared.
Shells slammed into the sea, water columns exploding sky-high. Waves crashed over the reef, dousing the fire. Natsu crushed the embers under his foot, his eyes blazing red.
Erza completed another armor change, heavy combat armor locking into place as she leveled her sword at the fleet. Gray spread his arms, ice expanding into a semicircular defensive barrier.
Luffy sat there calmly, fish bone dangling from his mouth, watching the standoff with a grin.
"Aren't you scared?" Natsu asked, glancing back.
"Of what?" Luffy spat out the bone. "Fights happen all the time. Besides, you guys are pretty awesome. Going head-on with the Marines."
"So whose side are you on?"
Luffy stood up and stretched. "Right now? I just want more grilled fish."
Before the words finished
The third warship suddenly rotated its main cannon, locking onto the center of the reef. The barrel hummed ominously as energy charged, metal vibrating with a deep, threatening tone.
Erza sensed the danger instantly. "Gray right side!"
Gray slammed his palms down, an ice wall erupting upward. At the same time, Erza slashed diagonally, her sword wave striking the cannon's base.
Natsu spread his arms wide, flames condensing into a blazing sphere before his chest.
Happy shot into the air, positioning himself above Lucy and the others.
The cannon finished charging.
Blinding white light erupted from its muzzle
And the East Blue trembled.