Zagnivol's Past

From that moment, Shun was beaten to the brink of his life, and Zagnivol asked him to heal himself with his own Azure Flames. He couldn't be bothered to spend his time to heal his weak inheritor.

Shun was obviously unsuccessful for a couple of times and stayed injured for a couple of days before his enhanced regeneration kicked in and healed him.

However, these days, he did think about how to control his Azure Flames. He finally learnt the way to heal himself albeit slow, but he could still heal himself right now. After that, his speed of training continued to rise, his healing rate had increased that he could now improve his broken bone within 2 minutes.

It was heaven-defying. Zagnivol himself was astonished that he had come such a long way in these years. The power of his Azure Flames also rose another level, and it was just below Zagnivol's Flames in intensity.

Zagnivol now had to use some of its real strength to spar with Shun. He felt as if the speed of Shun's growth was unreal. The rate at which his magic was becoming denser and denser while also increasing in quantity.

Black Wizard Zeref also came to visit them from time to time. He was astonished at Shun's growth rate.

It was during this time, Shun understood that the cultists who killed his mother and father were Zeref's followers who thought Zeref was dead and wished to revive him with magic.

Zeref patiently explained a lot of things to Shun. About his own life during the Age of Dragons. The death of his little brother Natsu, his attempt to revive his family, and the curse from Ankhseram.

Shun was just around 10 years old. However, he still tried to be mature and let go of his hatred of Zeref. He now understood that it wasn't Zeref's fault his family was dead.

It was the fault of those illiterate humans who took action not knowing any better. Those bastards who should be removed from the face of the world.

Zeref would then spend a lot of time with Shun, telling him about different magics like the re-equip magic. He wasn't too proficient in it, but he could store things in another space now. It would undoubtedly be useful in carrying big stuff.

Some basic hand-to-hand combat as well. Since Shun was mostly sparring against the stupid lizard (Nickname for Zagnivol), he never really learnt anything about hand-to-hand combat.

Just the childish movements of throwing massive attacks at his foe. It was Zeref who improved his crude fighting style to a style where he would think before attacking.

The improvement of his fighting style left Zeref amazed. However, he regained his calm soon enough after he thought that it was natural for him to grasp the fighting style with his intelligence.

Shun also asked Zeref one thing, "What are gods?"

The answer was "The gods are the strongest beings in the world. They maintain the balance in nature while remaining neutral to anything which might create a disbalance in the world."

Hearing that answer, Shun snorted and said with a scornful tone, "That's bull! The fact that you are cursed simply proves that they aren't neutral."

To which, Zeref had a bitter smile and said, "Who knows? But he didn't kill me. That's a stance of neutrality. I was, after all, breaking the rules of nature. Controlling life and death in my hands. It was natural for him to curse me."

Shun then looked confused before he asked Zeref, "Zeref… I am not as knowledgeable as you. I wish to ask a few things."

"Ask right away." Feeling it was natural for Shun to hold some questions, Zeref readily agreed to answer them.

"Is magic something to be controlled at all?"

"Huh?" Confused by Shun's question, Zeref couldn't help but raise his brow and say, "Explain."

"As far as I know… Magic doesn't have any restrictions. We can do anything with magic. However, now, you tell me that playing with Life and Death is restricted. Tell me, why is that? If we take these two as elements, why are only these two elements restricted? Why not fire, earth, water, ice, or any other elements?"

"... I have never thought of it that way…"

"See! If there are gods, then why don't they restrict their own elements. If they are magical beings, there must be a possibility of replacing them. What if a human trains in fire magic so much that he becomes stronger than Fire God in Fire Magic? Won't he replace the Fire God?"

"What is it you want to say?" Zeref asked while narrowing his eyes at Shun.

Shun gave a smile to Zeref and started speaking, "I think, the god Ankhseram has in reality to right to curse anyone who plays with the Life or Death magic. It's' just him being cautious about making sure humans do not study this magic. If they start studying, there is a possibility of replacing him as a god."

"Interesting theory…"

"If all the gods started cursing everyone who learnt their elements. 10% of all humanity would be cursed. That Ankhseram God is just a cowardly god who fears us, humans. Don't worry, a day will come when I figure out his location. And when his location is known… kekekeke..."

Shun was laughing rather evilly. It was unknown what was going on in his head, but Zeref was sure, it wasn't going to be anything good for the Ankhseram God.

~~

When Shun was nearly 11 years old, he was strong enough to defeat Zagnivol. He just needed to train some more, and he was sure he could beat this lizard.

6th July, X777 Year

Zagnivol was staring at the surrounding with a grim expression on his face. He knew that he wouldn't be able to survive and would die soon enough.

He loudly called out for Shun, "OII BRAT, COME HERE!!"

Shun was sitting on top of a Hill while controlling the Azure Flame atop his head and meditating peacefully. He heard Zagnivol's yell and just shouted back, "What is it, you stupid lizard!?"

He jumped down from the hill and started to come down at an unimaginable speed. When Shun was about to reach the ground, a massive torrent of Azure Flames was released from his feet which slowed down the rate he fell towards the ground.

He then ran towards the Azure Dragon, Zagnivol with his full speed while dodging the trees that appeared in his way. It took him about some minutes to reach Zagnivol's position and asked with a blank look, "You should stop yelling so loudly! Because of you, my senses are too enhances! I feel like my ears would start bleeding!"

Zagnivol stared at the 11 years old Shun and felt a bit proud, he had grown up wonderfully while making him very surprised at his phenomenal growth. He spoke in a tired voice mixed with his old and ancient sound, "The time has come for me to tell you about myself."

Shun wasn't the least bit curious as to what Zagnivol wanted to tell him, his ears dropped as if saying "so, that's all?"

However, unsatisfied as he was, he listened quietly, "I am the Azure Dragon, but in the Dragon Times, I was also called the Dragon King. It was nearly 1000 years ago when I was crowned to be the Dragon King."

His words shocked Shun a bit. Who would have expected such a Dragon was the Dragon King. The impressions of dragons fell in his opinion, they must have been out of worthy successors if someone like Zagnivol could be a Dragon King. That was what he thought anyway.

Zagnivol further spoke, "After 100's of years of being crowned as the Dragon King, the strongest within the Dragon Race. I grew arrogant about my power. I believed none existed in the world who could challenge me anymore. The growth of my power still hadn't stopped, so I felt like my arrogance was justified."

"However, that arrogance was soon crushed by none other than our Dragon God, who descended from God Realm and challenged me for a fight. Being the Dragon King and the strongest Dragon in my generation, I accepted without thinking. We were close in terms of Battle Power; however, he carried mysterious energy known as Divine Magic. He easily beat me up but soon enough, his time in this realm seemed to have been used up, and he vanished before leaving a brand of his Divine Magic in my body."

"That Divine Magic brand has continued to destroy my strong body for so many years. And my time has finally come to an end. I just wished to stay alive to train my inheritor so that my legacy would be alive. I then heard of a Dragon inventing a Magic called the Dragon Slayer Magic with which the Dragons teach their magic to humans."

Zagnivol paused for a few moments before it started to speak once again, "I was intrigued by the idea of teaching my magic to a human, I did choose some few humans, but they died as soon as I put my Azure Flame for their rebirth but you...you survived, and here you are."

Shun remained silent as he heard his words, he only had a single question, "How strong is that Dragon God? And won't he sense me if I also grow too strong?"

Zagnivol nodded his head as it spoke, "It is about as strong as my full strength with inexhaustible energy. He won't sense you because he disdains to observe humans. It only observes Dragon Kings who approach his strength."

"Don't think about this too much, just have fun and continue to grow strong. This is only when you grow strong enough to kill me with a single blow."

Shun then suddenly smiled before the Azure Flames covered his fist and he attacked Zagnivol.

Zagnivol was shocked at the surprise attack from Shun, but he jumped back and used his tail to block it, "What is this!? Why are you attacking me!?"

"Why am I attacking you? I no longer feel the need to train here."

"You do remember my words from that time when I declared I will make you pay for what you did and get my freedom. The day has come..."

His Azure Blue eyes glowered as he yelled out loud, "Secret Art: Wrath of Azure Dragon!"

A massive form of fire covered Shun's body. It formed a collection of Dragon which looked a lot like Zagnivol, just that it was made of Azure Flames.

Zagnivol was shocked to see this attack, "You… You…"

"What? Are you surprised by this? You shouldn't be… You are the one who trained me this way. I normally don't really care about what you say, but one sentence did catch my attention. If someone is against you, crush them when you can!"

"This whole year, I have only trained in controlling my Azure Flames to my whims. This is nothing! Today, I will finally make you pay for keeping your hand and healing my mother!"

"You are still stuck on that! Don't you think it's time to move on!?"

Shun coldly chuckled at those words, "Move on? It's incredibly easy to say those words, lizard! I have been keeping this hatred inside me all these years. It's finally time for me to explode with it… Do try to resist or else it will be far too boring! Today… I will get even with you!"

"Get even with me…?" before he spoke that whole sentence, Shun jumped at him and gave him a strong punch.

The Azure Flames of Shun seemed to explode as it came in contact with Zagnivol's scales. It was getting painful. The continuous explosions on its scales irritated him!

As for Shun? He was just getting started. He shouted out rather loudly, "Azure Dragon's Roar!"

In response, Zagnivol breathed in loudly and shouted, "Azure Dragon King's ROAR!"

The result wasn't surprising. Shun's Azure Dragon Roar started to loose in this tug of power.

A small smirk found it's way on Shun's face as he suddenly stopped releasing the torrent of Azure Flames. He jumped high in the air with the great Azure Dragon's Avatar around him, protecting him from harm.

He took a deep breath as he readied himself for another move, "Secret Art: Azure Flame Exploding Lotus!"

This was another secret art of the Azure Dragon Slayer magic. Zagnivol knew full well just how powerful this secret art was and the consumption of magic.

Just forming one Large lotus of Azure Flames would take a lot of magic.

He was so dumbfounded when he saw not one, but three substantial Azure Flame Exploding Lotus floating in the sky.

A cold smirk was on Shun's face as he ordered, "Fall!"

The 3 Azure Flame Exploding Lotus fell on top of Zagnivol. Zagnivol's body was internally injured because of divine print from Dragon God. He couldn't dodge it or use his magic to form a protective layer around him quick enough.

He had to take the full brunt of the attack. A massive explosion occurred which kicked up all the rubble and dust in the air. The blast was a lot more potent than what he could handle.

Zagnivol released his hold over the Divine Print from the Dragon God, and his body started to vanish. He never imagined this would happen once he releases his hold over the Divine Print. He thought he would still be able to live for a month or so.

Shun was shocked to see Zagnivol disappearing. He shouted with some anger in his voice, "HEY! You can't disappear! I am still not done! I am not at all satisfied!"

However, as if not hearing his complaints, Zagnivol disappeared with a sigh. He never imagined he would be killed by his own inheritor.

Now that he thought about it, it wasn't just an unfortunate death. It was his own inheritor who killed him after all.

The reason Zagnivol was even hurt by Shun's power wasn't that Shun's magic had approached his. There was still some distance between them. It was because Zagnivol had gotten weaker over the years. This was probably going to be his last year. Shun had noticed that his power was continually dropping in his training sessions against Zagnivol. He knew an opportunity would present itself. Which so happened to be today!