Dragon Tale - Chapter 2.2 (Patreon)

A week passed quickly.

Life had a habit of being like that really. Despite the literal world changing circumstances Brody found himself going through, it didn't take long before he acclimated to his surroundings and fell into a routine.

That was perhaps the greatest strength of the human race. Their ability to adapt to new surroundings, should they be willing to put the work in.

He'd get up in the morning, go through some exercises to train his body…which had gotten rather extreme now in comparison to what they used to be with how strong he'd gotten.

He'd flip on the switch and transform into his vulcan form until his magic was completely depleted, then head down to a lovely breakfast made by Enna, the elderly wife of Garrack who did all the cooking at small time inn.

He'd walk around the town of Onibus to learn where everything was, grab a few books to read up on some topics and then work his ten hour shift at the bar and help out Garrick, getting his dinner during his break.

And then to top the night off, he'd use up whatever magic power he'd managed to recover through the day before hitting the sack.

It was simple, easy and routine.

Which brought him to now, the morning a week after he'd arrived in Fiore, casually walking through the forest on the outskirts of the town, eyes peeled.

It was Vulcan hunting season after all.

He had a few hours to kill before before his shift, and he'd decided today that instead of just using up all his magic power, he'd see if he could hunt find some vulcans.

By the estimates of the Mayor, there was a total of around thirty or so of the Forest Vulcans living throughout the forest, give or take a few.

Well, sans three.

The two he'd taken care of and taken over his first day in this world, and the one he'd come across yesterday.

With his two days off, he'd decided to test his limits in the forest, since there wasn't much room for him to push himself in town without breaking something, and while he was in the middle of literally bench pressing a boulder, while being in utter awe of himself, one had caught sight of him and tried to jump him.

He'd proceeded to smash its head in with the boulder he was lifting. Well, to be more precise the idiot monkey had ran face first right into it when he'd thrust it up and left itself open for him to lay a beating into its skull and knock it the hell out.

…As it turned out, the tail of a vulcan cut off was enough proof for him to claim the bounty on them.

It had confirmed something though and put hunting vulcans and other such beasts to one of his top priorities.

He had gotten stronger through taking over the vulcan yesterday. It was only by a fraction of how strong he was now, but he'd noticed it. His magic power, strength, agility, even his reflexes, they'd increased just a bit to be noticeable.

Brody really had no idea what he was doing, but he did know one thing. He needed to be strong.

Even if he never joined Fairy Tail or any guild at all, there was one thing he couldn't be sure of.

He'd learned it was the year X784. Coincidentally, the year the canon events began taking off.

And that brought up the question.

What timeline was he in?

Was he in the one where ten thousand dragons would spring forth and ravage the world and set Acnologia into motion where he'd turn the whole place into a wasteland.

Or was he in the timeline where Rogue would ditch that timeline and come back to mind control dragons and try and kill Acnologia with them…which if came to pass would just set him off anyway. And that wasn't counting the whole Alvarez Empire thing who were going to invade at some point. Or Tartaros before that who would try and destroy all magic and had a hard on for torturing and killing humans.

In the end it didn't matter really what timeline he was in, he'd eventually be confronted with some horribly strong monstrous mage, demon or dragon at some point even if he didn't want to get involved and would die without the strength to fight back.

'Which is why getting stronger, even if it's just a little bit at a time is my number one priority right now.' he mused. It made him a bit jittery to think about, but he had time, so it wasn't that bad.

Still, he found himself wanting to get stronger to feel a bit more at ease around here.

Honestly, when he thought about it. He was really lucky to go through what he did when he first arrived. If he didn't, he wouldn't have any magic at all and would literally just be a faceless background commoner waiting to get squashed.

Unless he got like a dragon lacrima like Laxus or Rogue. He wouldn't have his own Ethernano container at that point, but it would be something.

'Course, not that getting my hands on one would be easy at all.' Brody rolled his eyes and snorted. For one, he didn't even know the process of creating a dragon lacrima and buying one? As if, they gave the user lost magic, they'd be hella expensive. He'd need to work for years before he could afford one, if even then and he'd no idea where he'd even buy one in the first place, he somehow doubted the local magic store would have one in stock.

Well, he knew where a bunch dragon corpses were. And he did know where a single dragon who was still around right now, albeit, as a fraction of what he once was and barely clinging to life.

Atlas Flame.

…He'd just need to find where the hell the Sun Village was.

And somehow convince the dragon that could kill him with a sneeze to…what? Imbue his essence in a lacrima or something?

'Yeah and Erza Scarlet will turn up to offer me a lapdance after my shift tonight.' he rolled his eyes with a laugh of derision.

If only though.

From his experiences so far with the vulcans, and what he knew of other users of Take Over magic and the time Natsu, Gray, Lucy, Wendy, Erza and such got their second origin unlocked by Ultear, he'd put together a theory.

That the more magic power one had, the more their physical abilities were enhanced by that innate magic power.

Which made something else click for him. Just why Laxus, Cobra and especially God Serena were such powerhouses as Second Generation Dragon Slayers.

The dragon lacrima did not just grant them Dragon Slayer magic. But, it gave them instant access to another vast well of magic in their body, that then enhanced their physical abilities as well.

Considering God Serena had freaking eight of them inside his body, Brody doubted the man had trained much of all to get stronger in his entire life and got where he was through those eight dragon lacrima's.

He had no idea how the man got his hands on them, though Brody was betting he was some lucky super rich kid born with a shiny golden spoon in his spoiled little mouth. He definitely gave off that feel to him from what he saw of the flamboyant self centred man.

If only he were so lucky.

Alas, nothing for it. All he could do was train and learn.

And hunt stupid green pencil headed monkeys.

'Something to look into though.' he mused as he continued his way through the forest, pausing briefly as he caught sight of a large purple serpent coiled around a tree branch above, before moving on.

It didn't have wings, so it probably wasn't magical.

Anyway, he knew where roughly Atlas Flame was, he just needed to pinpoint exactly where the Sun Village was.

Atlas Flame was the guardian flame of that village and wasn't really violent these days. So it was unlikely that the dragon would attack him for asking.

It would suck if the dragon denied him, but, it was definitely worth a shot…when he was strong enough to make the journey at least.

"Oooo ooo! Me winner!"

Speaking of getting stronger though. An almost too familiar stupid oafish voice echoed from a clearing not far ahead of him.

Picking up his pace into a quick jog, Brody quickly made his way towards the clearing and paused at the tree line a few moments later.

And caught sight of a massive muscle bound behemoth of a green monkey tailed ape, pencil head and all beating on its chest and celebrating in victory as it stood over another near identical giant green ape face down on the ground, beaten, bruised and bloodied.

"Brog eat Sog!" it cheered.

Rog, Brog and Sog. They sure had a very….intelligent naming scheme, huh? There was probably one out there named Dog or even Hog.

And it looked so happy too.

He supposed it was about time he ruined its day. What? He'd decided he hated monkeys after his very first day here.

"Beast Soul: Vulcan!" Brody declared, ironically as he pulled on his magic power.

Green light shimmered around his body and he felt as his body grew slightly and his muscled bulged, as fur formed on his arms and upper body and a long tail sprouted from his backside.

Raw power filled him, feeling like his strength increased nearly twice over.

He didn't bother with any grand declaration, or shouting at it to draw its attention or anything silly like that. And he didn't wait for it turn around and notice him so they could have a fair honourable fight.

Instead, Brody tensed his legs, crouched a bit, and then sprung forward like coiled spring, shooting forward with a strength and speed he couldn't have fathomed before he ended up here a week ago.

And buried the blunt of his knee right centre at the small of the giant green apes spine with all his strength.

The forest vulcan froze mid-celebration, a choking gasping splutter leaving its throat as the air was driven from its lungs as the force of his strike reverberated through its body.

He pulled his knee back and the giant wall of green fur and purple muscle, toppled backwards and landed flat on its back, not even able to whimper as it heaved and choked trying to force air back into its lungs.

"Brody wins actually." he looked down at the vulcan as its eyes widened in fear.

He lifted his boot clad foot up, before bringing it down and stomping down on its face with all his strength.

He heard a crunch, felt it too and the huge magical apes eyes rolled up into the back of its skull as it passed out.

…Or possibly died.

He wasn't too sure, nor did he care.

Cuz-

"And lunch is served." Brody laughed to himself as he took in both of the downed forms of the forest vulcans.

Whom he then proceeded to rip the tails clean off of with. Those were a free sixty thousand jewels for him after all.

Before getting down to the real order of business with and using his magic to consume both of their bodies and souls.

When he was done, Brody looked down at his arms, clenching and unclenching his fists and just taking in the increase he felt in his strength.

Again, it wasn't absolutely massive or something. In total, less then a ten percent increase per each one, and he wasn't that strong compared to the likes of even probably thirteen year old Romeo, but it added up, each one helped.

It was almost too bad the vulcans were a finite source.

They made such good meals.