[6 Years later...]

[Inside the Green Petals Magician Guild]

[Town:Suveny]

The light penetrated the windows bringing a lively glow to the entire establishment. Magicians danced around and sang music. It was a party.

"Man this place has been so much fun without Duram and Shelly around am i right Dave?" a man with curly green hair sat in a table with his companion. He chugged down his barrel after he posed the question.

"I know what you mean, I heard people didn't even bother coming here while they were around." Dave chugged down his own barrel.

His green shirt had a a symbol of a lizard at it's center. A scar rested across his nose. He placed down the barrel and wiped the dripping liquid from his mouth. His eyes lazily landed on a cage to his left.

"Say Joe, how about we have some fun with her" he pointed to the one in the cage.

A girl had been tied down in chains inside a gigantic cage. Her skirt had been torn and her thighs were bloodied. The same could be said for her shirt but fortunately no sensitive parts were revealed. She had golden eyes that had the pupils of an animal. Her ears were silver and pointy, they complemented her silver hair which ran behind her.

Her mouth was red with blood and her face had several scars. Her hands and legs were both tied down, her breathing was heavy and her glare shot directly at Joe and Dave

"We can't, she's the boss's pet. I'd love to get my hands on her though" Joe laughed, as he continued chugging down his barrel.

Another smaller cage could be seen just next to the girl's.

"That guy, thinks he owns the place just because Duram and Shelly are gone it makes me sick."

"I know ri-"

The door to the establishment swung open after a ferocious kick .

A man stood at the door as the light illuminated their figure. He wore a black cloak with grey fur that ran all the way to the back of his knees. It was more of a cape than a cloak. The cloak billowed and it revealed his black leather outfit. From his jacket to his boots it was all black leather. Even his hands were covered by leather gloves.

His face had a pronounced jawline and a thick and black blade covered his rear.

"Where are Shelly and Duram?" he asked, his voice calm yet demanding.

All the magicians present stopped to look at him before laugher ensued.

"You're in the wrong place kid, this is for Fauna family members only, get lost! and what's a boy like you going to do with Shelly and Duram"

The man took several steps into the establishment. He withdrew his blade and dragged it along the ground as he sauntered.

"I'll ask you one more time, where the hell are Shelly and Duram?"

The magicians in the establishment started to take notice of his advancements, a few got off their seats and grabbed their weapons.

"Hey kid, we won't ask you again. Beat it!" A muscular man with a green and slick mustache warned.

"I guess I'll have to force it out of you" the man said. Before his blade would be consumed by black mana. In a single swing more than 10 heads in the establishment went flying.

Blood erupted from their figures and their heads rolled on the tables. Lifeless.

"What the? This kid!" silence blessed the establishment for a moment as everyone took In what just occurred.

And then, all hell broke loose. The magicians grabbed their weapons and launched themselves at the cloaked man. There were about twenty of them, including Dave and Joe.

The man tightened his grip and swung his blade three times. Crescent shaped mana slashes were launched and effortlessly, they bisected more than 15 of the assailants.

Those who survived had halted their movements. They took several steps back as they realized the gravity of the situation.

"Seriously man, we don't know! Duram and Shelly left a while ago" Dave said, sweat dripping down his head.

"All you Fauna guys, have to suffer for what you've done"

The man swiftly moved forward. One by one he'd cut them all down. They cried for mercy but the man didn't stop. Within seconds his blade was dripping blood and every magician was headless.

His eyes landed on the cage infront of him after he heard struggling chains. He walked over and saw the girl that had been tied down. Looking at the girl brought back some of his own memories.

He reaffirmed his grip and his blade cut the cage open. He walked over and did the same for the chains.

Immediately after doing so, the girl jumped at him. Her hands were equipped with razor sharp claws.

"Grrr" she growled.

She swung her hands targeting the man's eyes. Her eyes animalistic in their gaze.

The man side stepped left then right as he back paddled, he dodged all the attacks effortlessly.

"Take it easy, I won't hurt you" he said with a deep voice, he tried to reassure her.

The girl's eyes were enraged, there was clearly no talking her.

The man responded by weaving past her assaults, before he delivered a chop to the the back of her kneck. Knocking her out.

He catched the girl with his arms just before she fell. She was surprisingly heavy, but it was nothing he couldn't handle. He placed the girl on his back before walking towards the exit.

"Hey! Help me out please!" A voice came from the neighboring cage.

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The man had completely missed it.

He walked over to get a closer look. He saw the man with green hair that was shaped like a star. He was bruised and battered. He was thin, too thin. Bones could be seen clearly as day even on his face. He looked food deprived. The green beard on him was his only dignified feature.

"No ways.." he looked at the tied down man with disbelief "It's you.." the man was looking at a familiar face. It was a magician, it was Ten.

"No ways, you're Lucy's kid?" Ten couldn't believe his eyes. Trey had grown so much, he barely recognized him.

Considering he only met him once that was impressive. The fact that he got beat up may have assisted his memory in that regard.

Trey looked at him skeptically, "why should I help you? You nearly killed me last time."

"That's an exaggeration kid, I was just roughing you up a bit. I was in a tight spot and needed the cash ok." Ten tried to justify himself.

"Can't say I understand beating up a kid for 5 gold pieces but who cares anymore.."

Trey brought down his blade and freed Ten.

"Just don't try anything funny with me again."

He watched as Ten slumped to the floor, before he turned his back on him.

"Wait!" Ten called out to him, this forced Trey to turn around to face him.

"I don't know what happened to you kid, but it seems you've gotten stronger. If you're going after Shelly and Duram I'm going with you."

Trey looked at him, he saw Ten's determination. He sighed.

"Do what you want, just make sure you don't get in my way."

Something about the way he said that rubbed Ten the wrong way.

Trey walked towards the door and that's when a figure entered the room.

He wore a green robe, he had golden earrings and jewelry wrapped around his wrist and fingers.

"I go away for one second and find my establishment is a bloody mess, useless idiots. That's why this magician guild should only be reserved for members of the Fauna family. "

Trey watched the man talking to himself and his eyes burned with anger.

"Are you a member of the Fauna family?" Trey asked, his voice bitter.

"That's correct" the man opened his arms, "The name's George Fauna leader of this guild. I'm guessing you're the one who caused all this mess."

The girl on Trey's back caught George's attention "that girl belongs to me, an insect like you shouldn't lay a finger on someone else's property" George grimaced as he spat those words.

Trey wasn't really affected by his vulgar language, but the fact he was from the Fauna family made this fight unavoidable.

He placed the girl on the ground gently a few meters behind him, before switching his attention to George.

In a split second Trey appeard infront of George. He swung his blade but was met with a green barrier fueled by Mana. A clanging sound resonated inside the building when his blade struck the barrier. Even with all the force placed behind his slash, Trey found the barrier unharmed.

"You're brave kid, not many people attack licensed magicians like myself." George said, with a wide grin on his face.

The barrier around George grew in size and pushed Trey back. It kept growing and growing threatening to crush everything inside the building. Trey's blade became shrouded in darkness once more, he then leaped back before he charged and thrusted his blade into the barrier. Small cracks formed throughout the barrier before it shattered to a thousand pieces.

"What the?" George's eyes told the story, he couldn't believe it. He gritted his teeth.

"I've had enough of you, Die!"

He compressed numerous barriers to the size of bullets. Creating dense orbs of mana. He launched them all towards Trey.

"This is my priced technique mana bullets" George's face couldn't hide his pleasure upon revealing his technique. To him victory was certain.

His bullets zipped around at insane speeds their movements a blur.

Trey didn't hesitate, he dashed forward and even with numerous bullets coming towards him. He slashed all of them without failure, destroying them instantly. More shadows continued to leak out of his blade. His eyes, had gone cold.

George watched as his mana bullets failed to even touch Trey. He moved backwards.

"What's with this kid? Is he some sort of monster?"

George created a big barrier around his figure In the shape of a dome. It expanded and expanded. The plan was to push Trey back and give him an opening to escape. He placed almost all his mana in that all or nothing gamble.

Trey saw the barrier grow. He took his giant blade and pointed its tip towards George and his barrier.

"Black Orb"

His mana would concentrate at the tip of his blade forming a black orb. Like a cannon it fired and shattered the barrier to a million pieces. Before releasing a miniature explosion.

A scream followed as George cried out in agony. His body was bloodied and his left leg had been caught by the blast. It was bleeding non stop.

"What's this, my healing magic. It's not working. That's impossible, unless.." George's mind struggled find an answer to his inability to heal.

George looked at Trey's methodical and slow approach.

"Its the boy's mana its not pure mana and its not corrupted mana either, its more like a fusion of the two. That boy's Mana isn't corrupted its something else entirely. "

George was certain he was looking at something extraordinary.

Trey stopped, his figure towered George.

"Where are Shelly and Duram?" his voice was cold and his face stoic.

"Why would I tell a piece of filth like y-"

George released a loud scream, his bones cracked as Trey pressed the tip of his blade on his palm.

The blade pierced all the way to the back of George's right hand.

Trey slowly twisted the blade and watched George scream.

"I don't know!! Please I'm telling you the truth" George's tone had changed.

Trey removed his blade before stomping George repeatedly, he stomped him until his face was unrecognizable. Most of George's teeth threatened to fall out.

A new feeling, a feeling he never thought he had found its way to George's heart. It was fear.

"If you don't have information, I guess your life really has no value to me"

Trey lifted his blade.

George watched as Trey brought down his blade, "this boy is dangerous, if his power continues to grow. He will consume the Fauna family with his darkness."

George's thoughts were brought to a swift end after Trey's blade severed his neck with one swing.

Blood splattered on Trey's face and a look of dissatisfaction was clear as day. Even with the blood that ran down his blade, he was still not satisfied.

"That kid is insane" Ten thought to himself as he watched.

Trey turned around, he shot a quick glare at Ten's direction before his eyes turned back to the girl. He placed his blade on his back before he picked her up with his arms. As he marched out the building, Ten called out to him.

"Come on kid a little help?" Ten was so drained he could barely move from his spot. As Trey walked over to him, the girl in his arms began to stir awake.

Almost immediately she protested, she dug her claws into Trey's left cheeks. Trey was forced to drop her as he moved back. He tried to assess the damage and blood trickled down his face.

The girl maintained her animalistic expression.

"I won't hurt you" Trey raised his arms signifying his intent not to harm.

After she saw that, the girl began to calm down and her eyes returned to their more subdued golden colour.

She fell to her knees, feeling dizzy and exhausted.

"I'm sorry" she said, clutching her head. "I don't know what came over me"

"It's no big deal, I'm fine but you don't look so good, I can take you to someone who can help"

The girl's eyes widened "that would be too much to ask, you've already done so much by freeing me. I am in your debt."

She bowed her head. "My name is Akira Of the Goldlock Tribe, I vow to serve you for the kindness you've shown me"

"No" Trey shut the idea down immediately.

"I'm afraid I must insist, i'd be going back on my family's traditions if I didn't repay someone who has shown me so much kindness."

"Look, I just happened to find you while looking for someone. There's nothing more to it than that. Besides, you were imprisoned in this place, why would you imprison yourself again by pledging your loyalty to someone?" Trey turned around, "you're free now, shouldn't you do what you want to do? Take it from me, freedom is not something to take for granted."

Akira smiled, "you seem like a good person, at least compared to those I've met. So I'm willing to assist you in any way I can"

"Good person? No, you seem to have things mixed up. I'm not some righteous warrior of justice. My path has been bloody from the very beginning, take it from me I'm not someone you'd want to get involved with. Just enjoy your freedom and live your life." Trey began walking away.

"Even so, if I don't do everything in my power to help the one who has shown me mercy. I will never be able to face them again. So please..." she maintained her bowing posture.

Trey just sighed, "Do whatever you like, I don't care anymore"

Akira couldn't help but smile as she raised her head.

Trey walked towards the exit when Ten cold out again, his voice weaker.

"Hey kid, I'm still here you know."

Trey sighed, as he dragged himself to go pick up Ten.

Ten's body weighed as much as piece of paper.

As he laid in Trey's arms, Ten said in a weak voice.

"I may know someone, who can help us find Shelly and Duram"