Chapter 16: Saving the red head

After breakfast with Roberta, Leo immediately went to his room to change. He also made sure to instruct Roberta to handle some family matters so she wouldn't question his actions around the house.

While changing, he began to recall the plot of another shonen anime he used to watch in his previous life: Fairy Tail, a shonen anime set in a world full of magic and… big boobs. Despite its iconic songs, cool fights, and progressive world-building, Leo remembered the anime mostly for its fan service.

Everyone in the anime had big boobs except for Wendy. Poor thing…

Fan service was one of the critical aspects of the anime's appeal, but Leo watched the show for its comedy and light plot, unlike Attack on Titan or Jujutsu Kaisen, where characters were dying left and right.

The anime's biggest trademark and the main source of each character's strength was the POWER OF FRIENDSHIP! You could train your whole life, master some destructive and cheat-level magic, and have a clear master plan, but BOOM! The power of friendship would come in and thwart your character like a piece of garbage. It was the ultimate plot device that the main cast used in any critical situation.

As for the plot Leo would likely interfere with, much like Tatsumaki, he had to save another person from the main cast, Erza Scarlet. She would most likely be escaping from the Tower of Heaven after enduring torture and forced labor.

Leo furrowed his brow, his fingers drumming a thoughtful rhythm against his chin. "So, the Parasyte might have some connection to someone from the Tower of Heaven..." he muttered, the implication settling heavy in his gut.

[Might be the case. I will provide you with general support and advice, but I will shut down if the Parasyte comes near you.]

Leo rolled his eyes, "Yeah, yeah, I got it." He hesitated for a moment, then added, "Hey, listen, can I snag some extra firepower for this little operation?"

[Yes, you may, but I suggest against it since it might change the plot of the whole storyline.]

Leo scoffed. Sticking rigidly to the plot? What good was that if some rogue element was already messing with the core characters? A change in the narrative was guaranteed at this point.

He considered the different anime worlds for a moment. In the world of One-Punch Man, altering Tatsumaki's resolve wouldn't be a huge deal. Worst case scenario, Saitama, the series' resident overpowered protagonist, would flatten any threat with a single, nonchalant punch. But universes like Naruto or Fairy Tail were a different story entirely. These worlds were intricately woven tapestries, where each character and their individual growth arcs played a vital role in the overall narrative.

Introducing a variable this early in the game could have unforeseen consequences, drastically reshaping a character's core personality and motivations. The very essence of the story could be rewritten.

"This can wait," Leo decided with a finality in his voice, mentally filing the thought away for future deliberation.

He rose from his chair and strode towards the closet, pulling on his signature three-piece battle suit – a garment that blended tactical functionality with a touch of unexpected flair. A practiced hand led him to a cleverly disguised door within the room, its presence masked by an ornately framed landscape painting. With a satisfying click, the hidden door swung open, revealing a meticulously organized armory.

"Roberta," Leo chuckled, a hint of appreciation warming his voice as he surveyed the impressive arsenal within. Roberta, his ever-reliable handler, clearly understood his needs. Despite Japan's ironclad restrictions on firearms, she'd managed to procure an enviable collection of weaponry, all meticulously maintained and readily deployable.

While Leo had his own personal stash that included assault rifles and mini-machine guns, this particular mission demanded a different approach. Explosives, detonators, and other tactical gear seemed more fitting for the situation at hand. He also tossed in a few MREs and fruits for quick, on-the-go meals – essential for any unpredictable situation.

With everything prepared, Leo returned to the main room, locking the door behind him with a decisive click. He settled onto the bed, the familiar weight grounding him momentarily. Taking a deep breath to center himself, he activated the system prompt, a digital interface flickering to life before him. "I'm ready," he declared with steely determination.

[Transmission commencing in five seconds. Four, three, two, one...]

Leo squeezed his eyes shut, bracing himself for the inevitable disorientation that accompanied the transfer process. The next instant, a jolt of energy surged through him, ripping him from his familiar surroundings. He blinked rapidly, his vision adjusting to the sudden change of scenery as he found himself standing in a completely new location.

---

Huff! Huff!

Her lungs burned, each ragged breath a desperate gasp for air. Eleven-year-old Erza Scarlet pounded the earth, her heart hammering a frantic rhythm against her ribs. "Catch her!" roared a voice laced with malice. "But don't harm her! She's precious to the Lord Mage!"

Three figures clad in oppressive robes surged after her, their movements honed and predatory. Enraged, Erza snatched three knives from her belt, flinging them skyward in a blur of crimson. With a guttural snarl, she channeled her magic, a raw, untamed force that propelled the blades towards her pursuers.

But they were ready. Unlike Erza, a child awakening to the potent magic thrumming within her, these were seasoned mages. Their Lord Mage, meticulous in his cruelty, had meticulously detailed the redhead's potential powers. Their practiced movements met the knives head-on, deflecting them with chilling ease.

A scream ripped from Erza's throat as her ankle, overworked and protesting, buckled beneath her. She crumpled onto the unforgiving dirt, exhaustion and despair a bitter weight in her chest. The dark mages closed in, their twisted smiles revealing a hunger that sent a fresh wave of terror through her. Their eyes, devoid of decency, burned with a forbidden desire – a truth more horrifying than any spell.

"No!" she choked out, a single tear tracing a shimmering path down her grime-streaked cheek. "Don't come near me!"

Each one, with a horrifying jolt, mirrored the men who had inflicted such pain upon her. Memories of searing torture and unspeakable violation flooded her vision, draining the color from her face.

This wasn't some fleeting nightmare. A band of Dark Mages, their cruelty etched forever in her mind, had ripped her from her burning village. Forced into their servitude, she endured unimaginable torture while laboring on the monstrous Tower of Heaven. The torment they inflicted was so barbaric it stole her left eye, leaving her forever dependent on an eye patch.

But then, with a suddenness that defied comprehension, the Lord of Dark Mages himself underwent a metamorphosis. His previous disregard for human life, especially that of children, seemed to vanish. Kindness, a concept Erza had almost forgotten, began to color his interactions. He even started inviting the children, particularly Erza, to his chambers for lunch. This bizarre shift in behavior sent a fresh wave of unease crashing over her. Was this genuine benevolence, or something far more sinister? The gears in Erza's mind whirred, suspicion battling with a flicker of desperate hope.

The facade, however, crumbled under the scrutiny of a seasoned monster like Erza. The "master" of Dark Mages, far from reformed, merely craved a new kind of plaything. He began luring young women to his chambers, where their "games" turned deadly. Erza, forced to witness one such horrific fate, saw the true depths of his depravity.

His twisted desires then shifted to Erza and the other girls. Though he stopped short of outright assault, his "service" demanded humiliation. Clad in flimsy garments, they were forced to fan him or bathe him, all the while enduring his inappropriate touches. It was only a matter of time before his "morality" evaporated entirely, and they all became victims of his monstrous desires.

Fearing that future, Erza, Jellal, and the others hatched an escape plan. Unfortunately, only Erza managed to break free. Awakening her magic in that desperate bid for freedom proved useless – she couldn't even overpower a single low-ranking guard.

Resigned to her fate, she slumped against a wall, her spirit broken. But then, the world exploded in a cacophony of sound.

BANG! SPLASH!

A sickening thud echoed as something struck a Dark Mage's head, leaving a crimson hole in its wake. The lifeless body crumpled to the earth, staining the dirt a violent red.

"Intruder!" the remaining Dark Mages roared, hastily conjuring a defensive barrier to repel the unseen threat. A figure emerged from the shadows, shrouded in darkness. Another fiery projectile flew from his hand, but it sputtered harmlessly against the magical shield.

"Die!" the Dark Mages screamed, unleashing a fireball. Their attacker vanished in a blur, only to reappear behind them. With a swift, ruthless motion, he snapped one Mage's neck, the sickening crack echoing through the night. A flurry of precisely placed punches and kicks followed, rendering the other Mage unconscious.

The figure finally stepped into the moonlight, revealing himself to Erza. His short blonde hair framed a face that, despite the grim situation, held a captivating smile. "You alright, Miss Red Head?"