With Great Power Comes Great Responsibilty

Chapter 59

Erza was almost finished with the cure she was working on. She only needed to combine a few more chemicals and let it burn. She had just measured out the right amount for the next factor that needed to be added when a sudden news story appeared on the TV. It showed footage of two men who had been brutally beaten and mauled, being loaded into an ambulance.

"It looks like the work of a predatory animal but experts say that it did far more damage to these men than what's expected of the animals native to Magnolia." The reporter said. "Police are at the local zoo right now to see if any of the animals had somehow gotten loose from their cages while others are frantically searching for this creature. Civilians are advised to stay in doors until this matter is solved."

"Oh no." Erza said beginning to fear the worse. "Please no."

"And in other news, local photographer Gray Fullbuster has recently gone missing. We can only hope that he hasn't become a victim of this mysterious predator."

"Oh dear lord! I'm too late!" She realized in terror.

At that moment there was a knock at the door. Erza answered it and to her relief, Jellal was the person who stood on the other side. They instantly embraced each other.

"Oh Jellal I'm so glad you're here!" She said.

"Sorry it took so long." He apologized. "But you know I've always struggled with things like traveling by flight and big cities. Now what's the big emergency?"

She told him the whole story while she proceeded with her work.

"I see, so you're friend has become a victim to the darker side of science." He responded. "Just like I was once."

"No Jellal. What you had was mild compared to what he has. If my theory is correct, by now Gray has the appearance and the mind of a tiger. He probably doesn't even remember being human meaning he won't hesitate to harm anyone who gets in his way."

"How can I help?"

"I'm almost done with an antitoxin that should cure him but until it's ready, Gray needs to be secure somewhere before he hurts someone or before the police hurt him. Natsu has a lot of powers but he can't find and catch Gray on his own. You're the only person I knew who could possibly assist him. Can you?"

"My Titania, you have nothing to fear. While I do not have the super strength of a scientifically created mad man anymore, I intend to be no less a hunter. Natsu may have a Komodo dragon's heightened senses but his knowledge only extends as far as that particular reptile. I on the other hand have grown up learning the behaviors and urges of all beasts. Including a Sumatran tiger. Finding him will be child's play. Taking him down though, that won't be so easy."

"I know. Tigers are among the most dangerous big cats in the world. More dangerous than a lion."

"More dangerous than you can even imagine. Whereas most animals avoid confrontation if there's no reason for it, tigers will kill anything senselessly. They don't back down from a fight. Not until their opponent is dead. Your friend is going to massacre anyone who comes near and if the police see him, he's a dead man. They'll shoot on sight."

"You can't let that happen!"

"I give you my word that I'll help but I can't promise anything else. I'll try to find him and I'll try to secure him until you can administrate a cure, but that's all I can ensure. That I'll be putting forth my best efforts on this."

"That's all I can ask of you. But whatever you do, don't hurt him. Or at least try not to hurt him. Remember he's my friend and he's ill. He doesn't know what he's doing and he no longer has any control over himself."

"I'll only do what's necessary. You have my word."

"Good. Now I just have to get Natsu on the line."

...

Speak of the devil, Natsu was halfway to her lab when he picked up the smell of blood. A lot of blood. The metallic scent was so strong that it practically burned his nose which was obvious sign that something was very wrong. He immediately went in the direction of where the scent was coming from and it brought him to a trail of blood staining the ground.

"Is someone there?" He called. "Are you hurt? Do you need to go to the hospital?"

No answer was given but he still followed the trail. He soon found himself discovering bloody foot prints but there was something very unusual about them. At first they looked human but further down they slowly but surely morphed into something animal.

Ring-ring!

He picked up his phone.

"Hello? Oh hey Lucy, what's up?. No I haven't seen Gray tonight. He can't really see anyone right now...Nothing he's just busy with his work...No I haven't watched news lately. Why? What's going on?...Missing?! What do you mean Gray is missing?!...His aunt went to the police? Look Lucy I'm sure this is all just a big misunderstanding. Gray is probably just working late and forgot to check up on his aunt. Believe me, he's fine."

But he reconsidered that belief when he spotted a familiar torn piece of fabric lying in the blood. He picked it up and examined it carefully. It was from Gray's costume. He knew it was.

"Lucy I'll call you back."

He hung up and was now darting down the trail, breathing rapidly.

"Gray!" He called out desperately. "Gray are you out here?! Answer me!"

But again no voice responded to his call. Now he was getting scared. Scared that something horrible had happened to his best friend. That he had been attacked or worse fatally injured.

"Gray! Gray!"

He shouted his name over and over again. At long last he got answer but it wasn't in the form of a human voice. It was a growl. A growl followed by some savage snarl, the kind that's only heard when a predator is feasting on it's prey. At first he suspected that it was a bear or a coyote but those noises didn't match either species.

He saw a large figure cornered somewhere in the dark. It was hungrily devouring a deer it had freshly killed. Natsu flinched and the figure sensed it's presence. It stood up and faced him, and what Natsu saw made him turn as pale and quiet as death.

Standing before him upright, was a tiger-like monstrosity who's teeth and claws were dripping with blood. Streaks of blue fabric was clung to his body but it had all been badly torn. Fur was all over him, his human face had changed to look more feline, his green eyes flaring at him. Poor Natsu was so scared, no petrified that he couldn't react in time. The beast sent him flying with a swipe. He ignored his pain and tired to run away. Normally he wouldn't retreat from any kind of danger or fight but at the moment he was being completely ruled by fear. So ruled by it that he didn't know what else to do except flee for his life.

Unfortunately the feral mutant had no intention of letting his prey escape. He lunged for Natsu and once again sent him flying with just one swipe but this time the man ended up slamming against a lamp post real hard. The impact knocked him out and he fell to the ground. The tiger beast made his way toward Natsu's unconscious body and opened his mouth to bite down. However that particular attack had caused Natsu's mask to fall off thus allowing the mutant to see his face properly.

Recognition flickered within him, his human senses was briefly reawakened, and in his mind the potential source of fresh meat lying beneath him was replaced by his best friend whom he had harmed. He clawed his face in order to distract his primal instincts long enough for him to will his body to get as far away from Natsu as possible. He ran and ran while filling the night with an agonizing roar.