On the outskirts of Crocus, atop a cliff overlooking the city's nightscape.
Three figures draped in black robes stood in the biting wind.
It was the Crime Sorcière trio, who had been lying low for several days!
"Say, is it really okay to just let them open Zeref's Black Magic like this?"
Future Ultear's eyes flickered, her voice filled with unease.
To avoid exposure, they had been operating on the outskirts of Crocus these past few days, witnessing Fairy Tail's Grand Magic Games victory from afar.
Just when Future Jellal was feeling dejected, thinking there would be no progress again this year, Chase had suddenly sent word, revealing the Eclipse Gate and their next plan of action.
If Crime Sorcière, kept in the dark, did something reckless while they were off fighting ten thousand dragons four hundred years ago, things would get complicated.
This had to be foolproof.
"I really can't figure that guy out. Obviously destroying the Eclipse Gate would be the best solution."
Future Meredy looked at Future Jellal with confusion. "Why agree to do something so dangerous?!"
Future Jellal stared intently at the brightly lit Mercurius. After a few seconds of silence, he slowly spoke. "Because we can't beat him."
Future Meredy: "..."
"That's not the only reason, is it?" Future Ultear immediately saw through his true thoughts.
Though Princess Hisui, or rather the Fiore royal family, had good intentions in wanting to use the Eclipse Gate to permanently eliminate the two threats to the world, in a sense they were just like Jellal had been when he was obsessed with the Tower of Paradise—lost in an ideal world conjured by Zeref's Black Magic.
One spent eight years building the Tower of Paradise. The other spent seven years gathering magic power to open the Eclipse Gate.
Having watched Jellal's "fall" firsthand, Ultear knew that once such an idea took root, it would become entrenched and wouldn't change easily.
Even if the Eclipse Gate was destroyed, Princess Hisui would find a way to secretly rebuild it. So destroying it wouldn't solve the core problem!
After her explanation, Future Meredy's thinking became much clearer.
"He probably realized that too. That's why he chose to cooperate with opening the gate," Future Jellal said with a dark sigh.
He remembered the unforgivable sins he himself had committed.
"So... that guy called Chase, he really thought that far ahead?" Future Meredy blinked.
Influenced by Chase's battle with Jura, she secretly thought it was more likely he just wanted to fight dragons.
"Either way, all we can do now is trust them."
Future Ultear held a crystal ball in her hands, her determined gaze carrying an almost imperceptible resolve.
If something went wrong, there was still the time-reversal magic that could save the situation—using her own guilt-ridden life.
She didn't say that last part out loud.
Meanwhile, inside Mercurius.
The mages attending the banquet were completely unaware of the events about to unfold. They watched the Fairy Tail members starting to bicker and shout at each other with relaxed expressions.
Everyone wore faint smiles, as if the tense confrontations of the Grand Magic Games were already a distant memory. The atmosphere was warm and harmonious.
Makarov remained serious, silent and unmoving.
In the council chamber, King Toma was still trying to calm Minister of Defense Darton, who adamantly opposed the Eclipse Project.
Outside Mercurius, the blood-red moon hung high. Crocus, shrouded in darkness, seemed to have fallen into a strange state—eerily quiet.
Time slipped by across these different scenes.
Dong, dong, dong.
As the sun and moon overlapped, the clock tower's hands aligned at midnight. The deep, resonant tolling of the bell rang out.
Underground Chamber.
"I leave it to you, then," Princess Hisui said solemnly.
The knights led by Arcadios and the arriving Direwolf Knights all held their breath, every eye fixed on the three Lucys before the Eclipse Gate.
Lucy didn't open the gate immediately. She looked back at Chase.
Chase took a deep breath. Deep blue magic power surged, coalescing behind him into the upper half of Obelisk the Tormentor.
A divine, majestic aura erupted. The massive phantom stirred the air into turbulent currents, startling the soldiers.
He wasn't alone. Erza and Mirajane had also donned their strongest forms: the Exodia Armor and Demon God King Take Over.
The three of them looked ready for battle, leaving Princess Hisui baffled. She was about to ask why when starlight suddenly illuminated the chamber.
"Let's begin!"
Heartened by the response, Lucy threw her Zodiac Keys into the air.
Future Lucy followed suit.
Though Future Yukino didn't understand why Chase and the other two were preparing for battle, she had no choice but to proceed. She did the same.
The twelve Zodiac Keys spun in midair, their golden light converging into streams that descended upon Lucy, Future Lucy, and Future Yukino.
Within the pillar of light, the three formed a circle, linking fingers and pressing softly together, unleashing their full magic power without reserve.
"Zodiac spirits, lend us the power to open the gate of time!"
When their intertwined magic power reached its peak, the three opened their eyes simultaneously. "Open, Gate of the Zodiac!"
VWOOM!
Celestial Spirit magic circles blazed to life. Aquarius, Leo, Virgo, Pisces...
One by one, the Zodiac spirits materialized, appearing in full force!
The knights were stunned by the spectacular sight.
Since their masters' magic power couldn't sustain them for long, the spirits exchanged no words. After a silent glance, they transformed into streams of light and shot into the Eclipse Gate, merging into the twelve slots surrounding the sun motif.
Golden light flooded the chamber, forcing the soldiers to shut their eyes.
With the sound of mechanical gears turning, the Eclipse Gate shuddered twice. The massive doors slowly swung open.
Through the gap, all that could be seen was pure white. A current of air not belonging to this era slowly seeped out.
Soon, the golden light faded. The spirits retreated one by one.
The Eclipse Gate was fully open!
Ignoring the side effects of over-summoning, both Lucys grabbed the dazed Future Yukino and scurried back behind Chase.
"Miss Lucy, it's just opening a gate. There's no need to be this scared—"
Before she could finish, Future Yukino's voice died in her throat. Her body trembled uncontrollably with primal fear.
She had fallen to the ground, and through the gaps in Obelisk's phantom, she could just see what lay beyond the gate.
Th-That was...?!
BOOM!
A massive dragon claw emerged, slamming down onto the ground. The earthquake it caused sent countless rocks tumbling down.
A hideous dragon head pushed through the Eclipse Gate into the underground chamber. Its fanged maw slowly opened, releasing a putrid stench.
And then—
ROAR!!!
The terrible roar pierced through the rock layers, echoing across all of Crocus!
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