With Great Power Comes Great Responsibilty

Chapter 10

After the match, Natsu headed to collect his reward—only to find the greedy announcer had other plans.

"You're pretty good, kid," the announcer said with a sly smile.

"Thanks. So, when do I get my money?"

"Soon enough," he replied smoothly. "Just sign this exclusive management contract, and it's all yours."

"Whoa, no way I'm signing anything."

"No signature, no cash."

"That's not fair."

"Not my problem. Now beat it."

Natsu ground his teeth as the announcer stalked back to his office. He couldn't believe the slime was trying to cheat him out of what he'd earned. He'd love to do to that guy what he'd just done to Skull Crusher in the ring.

Just as Natsu pressed the elevator button, a loud crash shattered the silence, followed by the announcer's angry shout.

"Hey! That's my money! Somebody stop that guy!"

A thief burst out of the office, clutching a bag of cash in one hand and a gun in the other.

"Hey, you!" the announcer yelled at Natsu. "Stop him!"

Natsu simply stepped aside and let the thief slip into the elevator.

"You could have stopped him!" the announcer snapped. "Now he's getting away with my money!"

"Not my problem," Natsu said with a smug grin.

After changing out of his costume, Natsu headed to the library where his father was supposed to pick him up. But as he approached, he didn't see his dad's car. Instead, there were several police cars and a crowd gathered around something.

Pushing through the crowd, his heart dropped. In the center lay his father, bleeding and motionless.

"Dad!" Natsu cried, terror ripping through his voice.

He pushed his way to his father's side, panic clutching his chest.

"What happened?!" he demanded of the nearest officer.

"He was shot by a carjacker," the cop said grimly. "An ambulance is on its way."

Natsu looked down at Igneel. His father's eyes fluttered open, weak but filled with love—the kind of love only a parent could hold for his child.

"Natsu," his father whispered, his hand reaching out to grasp Natsu's.

"I'm here, Dad. I'm right here."

"Can... can you promise me something, son?" His voice trembled, growing softer.

"Dad, don't talk now."

"Promise me... promise me you'll always try to do what's right."

Tears pricked Natsu's eyes. "Dad, you're talking like this is goodbye. The ambulance will get here. You'll be okay."

"Promise me, Natsu... Please."

"I... I promise, Dad."

"That's my... boy." His voice was barely more than a breath, just for Natsu to hear. "I love you."

"I love you too, Dad."

Then he stopped breathing. His hand went limp in Natsu's.

"Dad?" Natsu whispered desperately. No response. "Dad! Dad! No! Dad!"

No matter how much he begged, no matter how loudly he pleaded, it was no use. Igneel Dragneel was gone.

Natsu's tears spilled over in a flood of heartbreak. He couldn't believe it—his father was dead. He wished with everything inside him that this was some cruel nightmare, that in a few moments he'd wake up in his bed and walk downstairs to find his dad in the kitchen, just like always.

But it wasn't a nightmare. It was real.

"We got the shooter!" a cop called out from behind. "He's headed south."

Natsu's grief instantly twisted into anger. Without hesitation, he changed back into his costume and pursued the police cars, leaping effortlessly from rooftop to rooftop. The chase ended at an old, abandoned warehouse where the shooter had vanished. Using his powers, Natsu silently slipped inside, moving like a shadow along the ceiling.

"Who's there?" the thief hissed, startled by the faint creak of Natsu's talons.

Without warning, Natsu dropped down, grabbing the man by the throat and lifting him off the ground.

"Don't hurt me! Just give me a chance!" the thief begged, panic flooding his voice.

"What about my father? Did you give him a chance? Did you?!" Natsu demanded, his eyes blazing with yellow fury.

But as the dim light fell across the man's face, Natsu's rage curdled into terror.

It was the same thief—the one he had let escape.

"You..." Natsu whispered, disbelief choking his voice. "No. It can't be you. It can't."

But it was. That meant he had allowed this man to kill his father. The only family he'd ever known.

"I should drop you," Natsu snarled. "Take from you what you took from Igneel Dragneel."

That was what his anger screamed for, what he desperately wanted to do. But deep down, he knew his father wouldn't have approved. Instead, he threw the thief down to the waiting police and vanished before they could question him.

That night, Natsu returned home to find Gray and Ur waiting silently. Their eyes said everything—they knew what had happened, and why they were here.

Natsu couldn't find the words. In fact, he wasn't sure if he could speak at all. All he felt was the overwhelming need to cry. And so he did—through the night, he cried and cried while Gray and Ur took turns holding him quietly.

Though neither Gray nor Ur had been as close to Igneel as Natsu, they were deeply saddened by his death. Igneel had always been a good friend—helping Ur through tough financial times, looking out for Gray's well-being. In return for Igneel's kindness and friendship, they vowed to look after Natsu, making sure he would never be alone.