Prologue

Long ago, demons plagued Earthland. They terrorized the land with powers beyond that of what normal humans could defeat, so they were easily overcome by these beasts. As a result, humans began training themselves to fight the demons. The resulting warriors were called demon hunters, and they specialized in techniques to effectively kill demons. Banding together to form demon-hunting organizations, hunters quickly took back the control of Earthland, and drove the demons back into hiding. Every once in a while though, a brave (or stupid) demon would come out of hiding and cause havoc. It was the job of demon hunters such as myself to kill them and maintain peace in the mortal world.

My name is Levy McGarden, and I am a member of one of the most powerful demon-hunting organizations in the kingdom of Fiore—Fairy Tail! The hunters in my organization are some of the most powerful hunters in the entire kingdom. Although they are known for causing just as much havoc as the demons sometimes, they are still like a family to me—just as Fairy Tail is my home.

Orphaned at the age of four because of a demon attack on my home village, I was found and taken in by the master of Fairy Tail, Master Makarov. I grew up in the organization, so demon hunting practically ran in my veins. I dedicated every waking hour to researching demons and training how to kill them in the hopes that one day I would be able to find the demon which had killed my parents. Then I would be able to seek vengeance for their deaths by killing it.

I never would have imagined that the day I finally found the demon I would be so hesitant to pull the trigger. I had prepared twenty years for that day, but when it came, I simply froze. All the hours of relentless training seemed to be forgotten in one quick second, and my resolve cowered away as though I were that four-year-old child once again.

I stared into the eyes of the demon responsible for bringing me so much sadness, and I couldn't even move. The gun in my hand seemed so foreign and heavy, and I found myself dropping it to the ground. I think I was more in shock than anything. I couldn't believe how horrible the fates had been, and that it seemed as though they still weren't finished with the onslaught of grief they continued throwing at me.

I remember falling to my knees as tears left warm tracks down my face and eventually dripped to the ground. I never cried. I had made a vow the day my parents died that I would only ever cry tears of happiness. However, I seemed to have lost control over anything my body did as I continued staring at the face of the creature I hated the most.

As it stalked towards me, I knew that I would soon join my parents in death. I couldn't make myself move, let alone fight it, so I had no chance of returning to Fairy Tail the victor. At least it will be over. I thought to myself, smiling slightly. I won't have to fight anymore.