Chapter 15

This was the doubt in the hearts of the three.

It was also the doubt in the hearts of the true Dragon Slayers still existing in this era.

And these doubts, perhaps only this Sky Screen could answer for them.

In the scene.

[The three giant dragons, having finished their conversation, each had their own actions.]

[Grandeeney turned and flew toward the outskirts of the forest.]

[Soon, the young Wendy appeared in her line of sight.]

[The heaviness on her face just a moment ago disappeared completely, replaced by a kind and amiable smile.]

[She landed beside Wendy and smiled: "Wendy, how about I take you to meet two friends later?"]

[On the other side, Igneel flapped his wings, flying through the clouds, watching Natsu’s trajectory below from afar, a trace of worry in his eyes that could not be erased.]

[It wasn't until the Iron Dragon passed by his side that he was interrupted.]

["You should go quickly. That brat Gajeel has already walked a long way."]

["As for Natsu, are you still afraid that I’ll eat him?"]

[The Iron Dragon, Metalicana, made a rare joke.]

[Igneel shook his head: "Then, I’ll leave it to you next. At least give that brat Natsu an unforgettable lesson."]

["Fine, the same goes for that guy Gajeel."]

[Metalicana agreed, then flapped his wings and flew toward Natsu’s direction.]

[As for Igneel, after looking at Natsu with some worry, he flew in another direction.]

[Time passed bit by bit.]

[Natsu walked alone through the lush primeval forest.]

[It was no longer early, and one could clearly see the afterglow of the setting sun.]

[Night was about to descend.]

[Although he had never ventured out alone, Natsu was, after all, a child who had lived in the wild with Igneel.]

[Therefore, he knew deeply just how dangerous the lush forest was at night.]

[The most important thing right now was to find a shelter.]

[And in fact, that was exactly what Natsu was doing.]

Ultear: "It seems Natsu isn't as delicate as I imagined."

Jellal: "At least he didn't cry, right?"

Ur: "At this age, he’s already quite good. Of course, not as tough as my Ultear!"

Natsu: "Hey... I’m a Dragon Slayer, someone who lives in the wild all the time. Just how much do you guys look down on me, you jerks!"

Gray: "Tch, I was much stronger than you when I was a kid. My parents died, and I wandered alone to the Northern Continent before I became Ur’s apprentice. I wasn't even ten years old then."

Natsu: "I’m not bad either. It’s just a mere primeval forest, isn't it? Just watch, I will definitely conquer this forest!"

Lucy: "Eh? Isn't this about Natsu’s childhood? Did you actually manage to do it back then?"

Natsu: "Uh... I don't know."

Ichiya: "Don't know? Men~ This is something that happened to yourself."

Natsu: "I don't know why, but I remember very, very little about my childhood, as if my memories are in chaos."

"I only remember a few scattered fragments."

Gajeel: "Come to think of it, I’m the same. I remember very little about my childhood."

Wendy: "Should we say everyone is the same?"

Erza: "The same? I remember most of my childhood quite clearly."

Mirajane: "Hmm... me too, and my childhood memories are even more vivid."

Elfman: "After all, back then, those villagers were very excessive."

Everyone started a discussion about memory.

And at this moment, the Natsu in the scene also encountered his first challenge.

[Natsu, intending to find a shelter, finally arrived near a river.]

[But just as he was preparing to cross the river to the other side, he abruptly discovered that the giant rock he was stepping on began to move strangely and was constantly rising.]

[It was a crocodile!]

[It was a giant crocodile whose size was beyond everyone’s cognition!]

[And there wasn't just one of these things.]

[Seven or eight crocodiles gathered from all around the river channel, and the sound of splashing water almost made Natsu burst into tears.]

[In extreme danger, Natsu, like a frightened bird, suddenly began to jump.]

[He kept stepping on the crocodiles’ heads as stepping stones, wanting to leave.]

[But in his panic, he accidentally missed his step and unfortunately fell into the blood-red maw of a crocodile.]

[Fortunately, the other crocodiles also opened their mouths, locked onto Natsu, and pounced over.]

[They became entangled with the other crocodile.]

[Fighting for prey is the nature of these cold-blooded creatures, and it was precisely this nature that saved Natsu’s life.]

[Natsu, who fell into the water, screamed in terror at the scene of the chaotic crocodiles biting each other, but still used his hands and feet to swim out of the river channel with all his might.]

[The crisis was resolved.]

[But luck did not favor Natsu.]

[After escaping from the river, Natsu climbed a tree to pick fruit because he was thirsty, but encountered a swarm of wasps.]

[Natsu, running for his life, was still stung all over his head, which swelled up a size.]

[Immediately after, he accidentally broke into the territory of a saber-toothed tiger and was chased crazily again.]

[Time passed slowly.]

[Natsu encountered one crisis and trap after another while looking for a shelter.]

[It could be said that this time, Natsu was dancing crazily on the head of the Grim Reaper, making everyone watching feel heart-palpitating.]

Minerva: "No, are there really so many fierce beasts in this primeval forest?"

"Where on earth is this?!"

Erza: "It’s not just fierce beasts; there are even all kinds of giant magical beasts inside."

Irene: "This little guy’s life is indeed very tough, and his vitality is very tenacious."

"There is another point: it is indeed very difficult to find a primeval forest that harbors so many magical beasts now. This situation is very similar to when I was there."

Irene’s words did not attract the attention of others.

However, August, who was also one of the Spriggan 12, seemed to realize something.

August: "Are you serious, Irene?"

Irene: "It’s just very similar, but I can't be sure. After all, the world is big and there are many places unknown to us, which is also very reasonable."

August: "That is true."

August, having dispelled his doubts, once again put his mind on the Sky Screen.

[At this moment, Natsu was being chased by a behemoth dozens of meters tall.]

[With a weight measured in tons, every step it took on the ground caused the earth to tremble.]

[Natsu, whose nerves were stretched to the limit, was screaming crazily, running, and fleeing amidst the huge footsteps.]

[Natsu now seemed unable to care about anything other than running for his life.]

[He didn't even notice when the huge footsteps behind him disappeared.]

[It wasn't until several minutes later that Natsu stopped slowly due to physical exhaustion.]

[Only then did he discover that the huge footsteps behind him had disappeared, and even the insects that should have been chirping all around had stopped making sounds.]

[The surroundings were unusually silent.]

[This strange situation also made Natsu very confused.]

[But before Natsu could delve into it, an overwhelming wind pressure descended from the sky.]

[A huge shadow completely enveloped Natsu.]

[Natsu, frowning tightly, raised his head, only to see that steel-like luster, as well as a massive size comparable to his father Igneel!]