Fairy Tail: Lost One

The air grew thick with tension as Kagura's sharp eyes fixed on the colossal figure looming over the battlefield. The creature, a towering demon, wielded a massive blade that seemed to hum with malevolence.

The dark figure stood before them, its presence sending waves of dread through the air. Kagura, unable to tear her gaze away, finally spoke, her voice steady but tinged with unease.

"What… what is that thing?"

Jura, ever calm but clearly alert, narrowed his eyes, his gaze shifting between the creature and Rudra. "Stranger-dono," he said, his tone firm yet questioning. "Can you tell us what we're up against?"

Rudra's lips curled into a faint, almost knowing smile, and he surveyed the creature with a detached air. "Well, it's a demon—"

Before he could continue, Arcadios stumbled into view, his armor cracked and blood staining his side. He gasped for breath, but there was no mistaking the fury in his eyes.

"Don't listen to him!" Arcadios rasped, voice cutting through the tension like a whip. "That's not a demon. That creature… is Princess Hisui!"

Kagura blinked in shock, her expression unreadable, and even Jura's composed demeanor faltered. He turned sharply toward Arcadios, disbelief evident in his voice. "Are you certain? That… thing… is the princess?"

Arcadios nodded fiercely, his hand clutching his side as he fought through the pain. "I saw it with my own eyes. Something… dark, unnatural, has taken control of her. She's trapped in that monstrous form. We have to stop this before it's too late."

His eyes narrowed in suspicion as he turned to Rudra. "And you," he growled, "stay out of this. If you interfere, I'll deal with you myself."

Rudra raised an eyebrow, completely unfazed by the threat. "Oh? How charming," he said, his voice as calm as ever. "The stage is yours, my friend." With a nonchalant wave of his hand, he stepped aside, a mocking bow accompanying his words.

Arcadios didn't wait any longer. He raised his sword high, rallying the soldiers and mages with a roar. "Everyone, attack! We must save the princess! We cannot let this continue!"

Though clearly shaken, the soldiers and mages rallied around him, charging forward with weapons drawn. Their shouts filled the air as they prepared to face the creature before them.

Jura, still cautious, glanced once more at Rudra, the distrust in his gaze evident. His voice was low as he turned to Kagura. "We don't have the luxury of waiting. We must join them."

Kagura met his gaze, her grip tightening on her sword, she nodded firmly. "Let's go."

Together, they surged forward, joining the charge toward the dark creature, leaving Rudra standing behind.

Millinna, however, remained frozen, a few paces back. Her hands trembled, and her eyes were locked on the ground, her thoughts a whirlwind of fear and doubt.

Rudra's gaze shifted to her, his tone now softer, almost curious. "Are you alright?" he asked, stepping closer with unnerving calmness.

Millinna jolted, her head snapping up to meet his eyes. "I… I'm fine!" she stammered, her voice unconvincing. Her movements were shaky as she took an instinctive step back.

Rudra tilted his head, his gaze penetrating as he studied her with interest. "Are you sure? You don't seem fine to me. You're trembling."

Millinna's breath quickened, and she clenched her fists. "I… I'll be fine," she repeated, though the words felt hollow. She turned to walk away, but Rudra's voice stopped her in her tracks.

"You're not going to join them?" he asked, his voice laced with something almost amused, as though he knew something she didn't.

Millinna hesitated, glancing over her shoulder, then turned back toward the group, her resolve suddenly solidifying. "I… I will!" she declared, her tone more confident now as she hurried to catch up.

Rudra's eyes followed her, and his lips curled into a faint, knowing smile. "It won't matter," he said, his voice low and calm. "They're all about to be annihilated."

The words sent a chill down Millinna's spine, and though she didn't dare look back, the weight of his voice lingered in her mind. Her heart pounded as she pushed herself forward, rejoining the others in their desperate battle.

Rudra stood motionless, watching the chaos unfold before him with a look of eerie satisfaction. He seemed to enjoy the spectacle, his smile deepening as the battle began.

There was no rush, no urgency in his posture—only the quiet confidence of someone who knew how the story would end.

The battlefield had descended into chaos, just as Rudra had predicted. Barely ten minutes had passed, and only four combatants—Arcadios, Jura, Millinna, and Kagura—remained standing.

Though they had managed to inflict minor damage on the towering demon, Cavaliere Angelo, it was clear to Rudra that their efforts were futile.

If nothing changed, they would all fall long before they had a chance to triumph.

Cavaliere Angelo raised his colossal sword high, its blade gleaming with malice. His voice, cold and disdainful, boomed across the battlefield.

"Weak, powerless creatures!" he roared, swinging his weapon with devastating force.

The impact was immediate. Arcadios and Jura were hurled across the battlefield, crashing into opposite walls. Jura, ever steadfast, groaned as he forced himself to his feet.

Planting his hands on the ground, he summoned his earth magic, reshaping the terrain to destabilize the demon.

Meanwhile, Millinna conjured her binding magic, ethereal chains snaking out to wrap around the demon's limbs.

Kagura followed up, her gravity magic intensifying until the demon's massive form sank deeper into the earth, immobilizing it. The three launched a coordinated assault, each attacking with every ounce of strength they had left.

At the edge of the battlefield, Rudra approached Arcadios, who was struggling to rise from his knees. His calm, almost casual tone cut through the chaos.

"Well, how's it going, Knight Captain?" Rudra asked with a faint smirk.

Arcadios glared at him, frustration and pain etched across his face. He didn't respond, focusing instead on his effort to stand.

Rudra crouched slightly, his tone turning mockingly sympathetic.

"Let me make this simple. I'll save the princess, but it's going to cost you. Ten million jewels."

Arcadios's scowl deepened. "I don't make deals with your kind."

Rudra shrugged, rising to his feet.

"Suit yourself. But don't come crying to me when everyone dies."

The biting remark struck a nerve. Arcadios clenched his fists, his head hanging low. After a moment of silence, he muttered, "Fine."

Rudra's smile widened. "Smart choice."

Back in the fray, the trio was beginning to falter. Kagura's Archenemy sword gleamed as she swung it repeatedly, aiming for the demon's thick hide.

Frustration seeped into her voice as she gritted her teeth. "Damn it! Its skin is too tough. My blade can't cut deep enough!"

Jura, still channeling his earth magic, called out, "Don't stop, Kagura-dono! We must keep up the pressure!"

Their combined efforts were abruptly interrupted as the demon began to charge an electric discharge. Jura's eyes widened in alarm.

"Kagura! Millinna! Fall back!" he shouted.

But it was too late. The demon unleashed a massive wave of electricity, sending all three crashing into the walls.

Kagura groaned as she tried to push herself up, her vision swimming."I… I don't have much magic left," she muttered under her breath.

Before she could finish her thought, she looked up and froze. The demon loomed over her, its massive sword raised high.

Kagura's heart sank as she stared at her impending doom. Is this it? Is this how I die? Before I can even get my revenge?

The blade descended—but just before it struck, it halted mid-swing. The demon's growl rumbled ominously as it muttered a single word. "Sparda…"

Kagura's eyes widened in confusion and disbelief. The demon had spoken—and it sounded furious. Slowly, it turned its head, its crimson gaze locking onto a figure standing in the distance.

There stood Rudra, his katana held in his glowing demon-infused left hand, his eyes having shifted from black to crimson.

The demon's roar of rage shook the battlefield. "Die, Sparda!" it bellowed, vanishing in an instant.

Kagura barely had time to process what was happening before the demon reappeared in front of Rudra, its massive sword slicing through the air with unrelenting fury.

The demon teleported near Rudra, its massive sword slicing through the air with lethal intent. But Rudra, unflinching, raised his katana sheath, deflecting the powerful strike with precision.

The impact resounded like thunder, sending shockwaves rippling across the battlefield and gouging deep scars into the ground.

Without giving the demon a chance to recover, Rudra countered. His movements blurred, his katana striking in a flurry of precise and unrelenting slashes.

Sparks flew as steel met flesh, each strike forcing the demon to stagger back, its balance momentarily faltering.

A growl rumbled from the demon's throat, its crimson eyes narrowing in fury. With a guttural snarl, it shifted its stance, gripping its massive sword tightly.

The weapon groaned before splitting into two, revealing a pulsating core of crackling electricity. Lightning arced between the blades, casting sharp shadows across the demon's menacing form.

"You've sealed your fate, Sparda," it growled, leveling its twin blades.

Rudra said nothing. He simply took a step forward, his katana shimmering ominously in his hand. The air grew heavy, charged with the tension of impending violence.

For a moment, the battlefield was silent. Then, in an instant, both Rudra and the demon vanished.

Kagura's breath hitched as she watched the scene unfold. All she could see were flashes of lightning streaking across the ruined arena, brief glimmers of clashing steel, and the constant crackle of electricity.

The sound of blades meeting echoed in her ears, a chaotic symphony of battle. Her heart sank as a harsh truth hit her: The demon had been holding back. Was I really this weak? How could I ever get my revenge?

Her fists clenched tightly, knuckles whitening under the pressure, as the weight of her inadequacy threatened to crush her.

The battle raged around her, but her focus slipped, overwhelmed by self-doubt. Before she could sink deeper into despair, a sudden silence cut through the chaos.

Both combatants reappeared.

The demon slammed into the wall with a force that shook the ground, debris falling in every direction. Rudra stood not far away, breathing heavily but otherwise composed.

His figure was marred by small cuts and bruises, yet his crimson eyes burned with an unsettling intensity.

The demon, though battered, managed to rise, snarling with defiance. "We will be back, Sparda," it hissed, venom dripping from its words. But as it turned to retreat, Rudra remained still, his gaze distant, his mind seemingly elsewhere.

Then, in an instant, it happened.

Without warning, Rudra gripped his katana, moving with a fluidity that seemed almost unnatural. In one smooth motion, he slashed diagonally through the air.

The strike appeared almost aimless at first—until the demon's head separated from its body, falling with a dull thud. The massive form collapsed, lifeless.

The force of the strike didn't stop there. The mountaintop shuddered, splitting in two, sending rubble tumbling into the valley below.

Kagura's eyes widened, her voice caught in her throat. What… just happened?

Rudra stood among the wreckage, his katana lowered. His glowing crimson eyes gradually returned to normal as he exhaled deeply, his body relaxing as though waking from a trance. The battlefield, once filled with violence, was now unnervingly still.

Kagura stared at him, her mind racing. How could anyone possess such overwhelming power? And how could she ever hope to measure up to it?

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"I am working on an alias or nickname for Rudra, so feel free to suggest some."