The violent force radiated from Chase's fist, spreading in ring-shaped shockwaves that tore apart the ground along their path.
Due to the Grand Magic Games, residents near the central plaza had already been relocated from unsafe buildings and temporarily housed elsewhere, so there was no need to worry about collateral damage.
And that was precisely why Chase had chosen this location to capture the dragon. The Dark Magician and his apprentice had intentionally driven Motherglare down here.
The dark golden storm exploded. Motherglare was caught completely off guard by the sudden face-smashing punch.
As Chase swung the Sealer's Right Fist with force, blood sprayed along with several dragon fangs. The massive dragon body flew backward like a cannonball, collapsing through several buildings before crashing into the smoke-filled rubble!
Chase withdrew his fist and landed calmly, his gaze fixed on the massive dark shape slowly rising from the debris. He made no move to press the attack.
In the original story, Motherglare had withstood Atlas Flame's roar. Its scales were indestructible, granting it immense defensive power.
The feedback from his fist had confirmed that fact.
So his earlier attack had merely been a "greeting."
With that thought, Chase slid two cards from his fingertips. In spinning magic circles, Dark Magician of Chaos and Silent Magician were summoned.
The Dark Magician and Dark Magician Girl in the sky also descended to join them.
"Then, as agreed, establishing the isolated battlefield and sealing off the aura is up to you," Chase said to the four.
He wanted to fight Motherglare one-on-one to gauge the general power level of dragons from four hundred years ago, preparing thoroughly for the upcoming "counterattack against the dragon horde."
With intelligence-gathering as the priority, someone needed to protect the town. He couldn't keep an eye on everything in the middle of a real fight.
And though it hadn't appeared in the original story, he still had to be on guard against Acnologia from this world.
If that thing caught the scent of dragons and came, the situation would spiral out of control!
"No problem! Leave it to this cute genius magical girl!" Dark Magician Girl struck a cute victory pose.
The next second, the Dark Magician's staff came down precisely on her head. "Get moving."
"Okay." Dark Magician Girl rubbed her head and shrank back.
Not daring to meet her master's eyes, she muttered something under her breath before transforming into a streak of pink light and flying off into the distance.
The Dark Magician, Dark Magician of Chaos, and Silent Magician gave Chase a slight nod before turning and flying to their designated positions.
The four mages stood at the four cardinal points. The gems atop their staffs began to glow.
SWISH SWISH SWISH SWISH!
Magic circles expanded. Four pillars of light shot skyward.
The pillars connected to each other, forming a shimmering, semi-transparent square barrier that completely sealed off the central plaza and surrounding area!
Inside, only Chase and Motherglare faced each other across the empty space.
Such a commotion naturally drew the attention of nearby residents and tourists.
"Wh-What's going on? Was that loud noise just now not an earthquake?"
"Hey, am I seeing things? Is that a dragon?!"
"Inside the barrier, that's Chase from Fairy Tail... he's fighting a dragon!"
"Damn those Grand Magic Games organizers! They didn't even announce such an exciting post-event show!"
"Wait... it's a show?"
A crowd in their pajamas and sleepwear gathered outside, staring in awe at the dragon that looked unmistakably real.
The "Fourfold Magic Array" blocked most of the dragon's aura, so most people weren't terrified enough to flee. Instead, they seemed almost...
Excited?
It wasn't their fault for reacting this way. This year's Grand Magic Games had been so intense that the audiences had developed a subconscious consensus through all those spectacular magical clashes:
Regardless of the danger, getting to witness thrilling battles was worth it, even if it cost them their lives!
And this Ten Wizard-Saint-level mage versus dragon confrontation was free!
Unfortunately, this time, these battle-crazed fans wouldn't get a close-up view.
The clanking of steel armor echoed from the distant streets. Fully armed kingdom guards mercilessly drove them away.
Though there was no verbal explanation, the forceful rejection made many gradually realize that this wasn't a drill or a performance, but a massive disaster unfolding in Crocus!
Emerging from between the lines of guards, King Toma and Minister of Defense Darton arrived with the guild mages from the banquet.
The moment they saw Motherglare's massive form through the barrier, Jura, Ichiya, and everyone else froze in stunned silence.
Natsu, Wendy, Gajeel, Future Rogue, and Future Sting—the five Dragon Slayers—breathed heavily, their wide eyes filled with disbelief.
"A dragon?! There's a dragon here?!"
Without a second thought, Natsu charged forward—only to thwack against the barrier he'd overlooked and land on his back.
The energy wall didn't budge. Ripples spread across its surface, then faded.
"Natsu, calm down." Makarov walked over slowly.
The old master raised his eyes, his solemn gaze piercing through the energy wall to the Motherglare facing Chase across the barrier.
So this was a real dragon from four hundred years ago?
It was incredible.
"Hisui, Arcadios, this..."
King Toma looked at Princess Hisui and the others emerging from the collapsed underground chamber. He took several deep breaths, forcing himself to remain calm. "What exactly is going on?"
The sudden appearance of a dragon at the exact moment the Eclipse Gate had opened made him quickly realize a terrifying consequence he had previously overlooked!
"I... I don't know. When the Eclipse Gate opened, dragons... they came out from the other side..."
Princess Hisui was ashen-faced, her lips pale. She hung her head, at a loss.
In an instant, she had gone from boldly intending to save the world to personally bringing disaster upon it.
The cruel reality and immense gap left the young princess lost in confusion and regret, not knowing how to explain herself to her trusting father.
Behind her, Future Yukino walked up to Lucy and whispered, "Miss Lucy, did you already know this would happen?"
Whether it was their readiness before opening the gate or their quick retreat afterward, everything now made sense.
"Huh? N-No, I had no idea!" Future Lucy shook her head nervously.
Lucy, meanwhile, put on an act of shock and fear, gasping as she covered her mouth.
"S-So scary! Dragons actually came through the gate!"
***
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