Monster Hunt

Damon left Magnolia on a train, he was looking at the request sheet with excitement, 'A monster hunt... At last!'

He was really looking forward to seeing the monster that had put a village in trouble all by itself. He wanted nothing more than to see it, then fight it.

Beside him surprisingly sat a half-dead young man that moaned, "I hate... Trains... Burghhh..." He threw up which prompt Damon to look at him in disgust.

"He always gets sick in vehicles," Explained a blue cat.

Damon looked at the cat unimpressed, "Why did you follow me?"

Surprisingly, the young man replied despite his situation, "That's my line... Burghhh..." He threw up again, a tear escaping his eye as he muttered in a high-pitched tone, "I hate them..."

Happy sat on Natsu's head, the latter groaned, "Aye! We saw the job first so in fact, you are following us!"

Damon waved the sheet in front of Happy's face, "Look who has this, me. Who registered it with Mira? Me. Who does it belong to? Me!"

He smugly leaned back, "I thought so."

Happy argued, "But we saw it first... First come first served, right Natsu?"

"Yeasghghh..." He tried to affirm at least.

Damon sighed, "I won't split off the money..."

Happy suddenly smiled, "Cheapskate..." He said with a voice that annoyed him. Natsu passed out...

Damon ignored Happy and opened a book then began reading, time passed and eventually, the train came to a stop.

"We have reached Clover Town." A man entered the wagon and said then walked to the next.

Damon stood up calmly, "Well, see you at the guild." He said to the duo and left them. "HEY!" Happy shouted but he ignored the flying cat while muttering, "Job snatchers."

Damon walked out of the train and checked the request, "Rainwood village, east of Clover Town." He murmured and asked the closest person for information.

An hour later, he entered said village on a carriage. "Thanks for the ride." He said to the man who sat in the front.

The man shook his head, "You came here to defeat the monster that's been hurting us for the past week. How can I accept any payment from you?"

Damon nodded in respect, "I see, I will do my best then." He was not going to insist to pay... He said goodbye to the man after chatting a bit and decided to begin his quest.

Damon left the carriage and observed the village, it was a very simple village with a population of roughly 2000 people. The village was located at the base of a tall mountain covered in trees, to its side was a big river that vanished in a valley far away.

With a simple look, he could already guess where the monster could be, 'The mountain, the river, or the valley.'

He heard something as he turned around to see the source of the sound, he facepalmed.

Natsu held onto Happy as he ran toward Damon, his body covered in Fire, "Wait FOR US!!"

Damon asked with exasperation after they reached him and stopped, "Did you just run all the way here?!"

Natsu replied between taking deep breaths, "Yeah... So... Where is the Monster?"

He grinned, "I need to let out some steam!" He exclaimed.

Damon paused a second to think, 'I can't get rid of them... Might as well let them come. I just have to split the money... damn it! I keep getting away from my dream of infinite money and Enchanted items...'

He sighed as he began walking to the biggest building visible in the village, "Follow me."

Natsu and Happy looked at each other and grinned as they followed him.

A while later, they sat in front of the chief, the chief explained, "The monster... It is as terrifying as they come. He has the head of a snake, the body of a lion, the wings of an eagle, and the skin of a snake. It lives in the river and comes out at night to eat people..."

The chief began crying...

"It has already killed 5 villagers, including my only son... He went to save a little girl and succeed but the price was his own life... My poor son."

The chief suddenly turned angry, "If you kill it, I will give you everything I have!"

Damon sympathized with the man and remained silent; Meanwhile, a few veins appeared on Natsu's face, "Don't Worry, This monster is going down..." he said with silent rage.

Damon stood up, "Don't worry, consider it done."

He left and the duo followed him out of the building, Damon observed the river thoughtfully, "Natsu, you go stay watch in case it comes suddenly, I will go lay some traps..."

Natsu nodded, "You got it." and ran off with Happy, not in a mood to talk more.

Damon walked into the woods that laid between the river and the village and found some giant footprints there, 'The monster walks from this route...'

He smirked, 'It's already game over...' He took out his knife and began working.

Time passed as the sun slowly moved to the west and began setting. The air grew heavy and sinister as the water on the river rippled constantly.

Damon waited patiently in front of the path the monster was most likely to appear, he was a bit nervous but the confidence in the Traps he had put down made him calm down.

He saw Natsu falling from the sky with wide eyes and dodged to the side, evading the latter's crash into the ground.

"What's the deal, jackass?!" He asked with anger.

Natsu instantly stood back up and complained to Happy who gracefully flew away, "HEY! Land a bit slower next time!"

Happy ignored him, looking at Damon with a scheming look.

Damon was taken aback, 'Is the cat trying to fight with me?'

Natsu suddenly turned serious, "I can smell it, it will come out soon. You better leave..."

Damon was angered, "Listen flame brain, I took this job first!"

Natsu looked at him with anger, "What did you call me? I SAW IT FIRST YESTERDAY!"

Damon replied heatedly, "Then you should have taken it, the person who takes it first is the owner! OMG!"

Natsu's fist caught fire, "You wanna fight for it, fanboy?"

Damon grabbed Zangetsu, "Now you crossed the line..."

He knew the previous Damon was truly a fan of Laxus... but he abhorred the mere thought, not to mention a nickname. It infuriated him. His feelings affected his magic power and let it flow out...

Natsu noticed it and did the same, Happy quickly ran away.

Suddenly, a loud roar interrupted both of them; They looked toward the river and saw a giant head rising from the river...

The land began shaking as the monster roared right in front of their faces, Damon was pissed off but he knew he couldn't take on such a thing without tricks.

Just as he planned to lure it to his Traps, Natsu jumped.

"Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!" Flames raged around Natsu as he punched the Monster right in the face, the monster let out a painful cry and attacked Natsu with its leg.

It hit Natsu mid-air and blew him away, then it turned its sight on Damon. He gulped as he looked at the monster with excitement; He felt like an ant under its gaze but the desire to defeat it grew stronger.

Contrary to what Happy expected, Damon smirked, "Come get me, ugly."

The Monster charged toward Damon who activated all his Enchants and ran away toward the woods.

His speed was very fast as he easily got away from the Monster, It chased him, however, seemingly hellbent on killing him.

A raging stream of fire suddenly descended on the monster, "Fire Dragon's roar!"

The source being Natsu's mouth. Damon panicked a little as he saw the monster change its target and move toward Natsu. It was unaffected by the fire attack!

'At this rate, it won't enter the Trap zone!' Damon thought with worry and ran toward the Monster. 'I need to agro...'

He grabbed Zangetsu Firmly and swung in the direction of the Monster, A blue blast of magic was released from the sword and hit the monster right in the back.

The monster looked back and chased him again, he sighed in relief, 'All according to plan...'

"Fire Dragon's..." Damon shouted loudly and interrupted Natsu, "IDIOT! I HAVE LAID TRAPS HERE!!! DON'T MOVE IT THERE!!"

Natsu retorted, "Who are you calling an idiot?!!"

"Fire Dragon's Talon!" Natsu attacked the monster. He was blown back casually in the next moment, the monster was truly strong.

Damon began doubting himself a little, 'If it is that strong, maybe I am not its match? Natsu is stronger than me... Nah, The traps are perfect!'

Thus began a struggle for the monster, he was constantly attacked by Natsu and then Damon. It didn't know who to chase and as such, the situation became a stalemate for all three.

Natsu's attack did little damage to the monster who had a superb defense, Damon's attacks annoyed the hell out of it. The monster lacked in offense and speed so it couldn't catch Damon or truly hurt Natsu so... It became a battle of stamina. The woods caught fire in explosions, were blasted apart, and stomped down; Gradually vanishing from the face of the world due to the destruction...

Happy watched on the side thinking, 'If only there were some popcorns...'