Chase's gaze swept across the combatants. Everyone wore expressions of determination, clearly having prepared themselves mentally.
As he had said, though the Kuriboh-teleportation chain could ensure safety, this was still the age of dragons four hundred years ago. There was no guarantee something wouldn't go wrong.
Facing such risk yet still charging forward, these people lived up to his words: "The hope of Fiore's future."
And according to the original story, that was indeed true. During the Alvarez Empire's invasion of the Western Continent, they had all played their parts in some way.
With that thought, Chase raised his hand and drew a card from the void.
"Kuri~"
A magic circle shimmered. Kuriboh appeared on Chase's shoulder, nuzzling affectionately against his cheek.
Its soft, adorable appearance immediately drew gasps of delight from Sherria, Millianna, and the other female mages.
"Then, I leave everyone's safety to you," Chase said, patting Kuriboh's head.
"Kuri kuri (Leave it to me)!" Kuriboh squinted its eyes, shaking its paws confidently.
Then, the Magic Card: Multiply took effect.
Countless Kuriboh clones flew out from the card, hovering beside each participant one-on-one.
After greeting the future world's mages and Fairy Tail members, the Kuribohs, each marked with a teleportation circle, gradually faded from sight.
"I feel like I can really let loose now."
"Man! With reliable comrades by my side, I fear nothing!"
Sensing Kuriboh's presence, Future Jura, Future Ichiya, and the others felt reassured.
Future Natsu was incredibly excited, his entire body wreathed in roaring flames. "Hey Chase, can you open the gate now?"
"No rush. The enemy is a dragon horde. We can't go in without proper preparation."
Chase repeated his earlier motion, pulling out another card.
In the original story, just seven dragons had been enough to overwhelm all of humanity. Even with Atlas Flame switching sides, the situation couldn't be turned around—they could only destroy the Eclipse Gate to resolve the crisis.
Though according to Motherglare's intel, the dragons' power had increased upon entering the magic-rich future world, the gap was still there. And this time, there were far more than seven dragons!
So to keep his companions from being one-shotted, Chase needed to close that gap. He'd stack some buffs on them before the fight began.
"Magic Card: Mage Power."
Flames flickered. An ancient altar materialized, its spinning magic circle enveloping the combatants.
"Magic Card: Graceful Dice."
A small angel with a halo appeared, rolling a die that landed on 5. It further enhanced their magic power and resistance.
"Amazing! I feel an endless surge of power welling up inside me!"
"Haha! I'm terrifyingly strong now!"
"Not only is Chase himself a monster, but he also has group support magic like Wendy's?!"
This time, even the future world's Fairy Tail members stared in disbelief.
Chase didn't respond. He silently applied single-target buffs to himself: Book of Secret Arts, Unicorn Horn, Pot of Greed, bringing himself to peak condition.
VWOOM!
The next moment, two surges of magic power—deep blue and crimson—errupted, flowing as streaks of light into the combatants.
The emblems of Slifer and Obelisk appeared on their foreheads, radiating dense divine power.
"Ordinary magic struggles to harm dragons, so I've added some God Slayer Magic properties to your magic power," Chase said to the stunned crowd.
This magic was somewhat similar to the "Dragon Slayer Seal" Wendy used in the 100 Years Quest.
The difference was that Wendy achieved it through Enchantment Magic, while he directly bestowed divine power through Slifer and Obelisk in the card space!
Everyone was utterly amazed. They began familiarizing themselves with this sacred, overwhelming power, too stunned even to exclaim.
The divine presence wasn't just a power boost. If they could grasp even a fraction of its essence, their magical paths would stretch much further!
Seeing this, the non-combatants grew restless.
Masters Bob, Goldmine, and the others sighed repeatedly. If only they hadn't left the opportunity to these youngsters!
Only now did they truly understand why Chase was so confident about attacking the dragon horde of four hundred years ago.
With such overpowered buffs, even they would have a chance!
"Wendy, take over the remaining buffs," Chase called to the two Wendys.
"Huh? Yes!"
The two Wendys responded in unison, closing their eyes slowly as they assumed their stances.
"Gale Wind, Iron Arm Strength, Armor Strength..."
When they opened their eyes again, cool magic circles blazed beneath their feet. "Everyone: all attributes boosted!"
Red, blue, white, and other auras lit up across the combatants. Though far from Chase's magic card level, their combat power was further enhanced to heights never before achieved!
Surges of magic power erupted, churning the winds into a torrent that shook the entire underground chamber!
Seeing the preparations complete, Chase walked over to the two Makarovs.
"As we discussed, old men—I'll leave the crucial task of guarding the Eclipse Gate to you~"
Whether to prevent other dragons from sneaking through or to ensure a safe return after the battle, the Eclipse Gate was the most important objective—like the "crystal" in a MOBA game.
Both Makarovs wore expressions of helplessness and annoyance, but they nodded in agreement.
"Wait—'you'?" Makarov's brow furrowed, noticing something off in Chase's wording.
Normally, shouldn't it be "you two"?
Chase's lips curled into a sly grin.
The two octogenarians sensed trouble. Before they could question him further, a swirling magic circle sucked them in, merging them into a single point.
"Magic Card: Fusion, activate!"
After a dazzling flash that illuminated the entire chamber, a handsome middle-aged man with a flowing cape, golden hair down to his waist, and muscular build opened his deep-colored eyes.
His sharp, commanding aura instantly drew everyone's attention.
"Who are you?!" Gildarts' eyes nearly popped out in shock.
"Hey, is that really the old man?" Future Laxus was equally stunned.
The two old men had... fused?!
"Hmph. I am neither Makarov nor Future Makarov."
The fused Makarov clenched his fist, feeling the surging power within. He smiled, then slowly spoke in a deep layered voice. "You may call me... Maca-Ultimate-Ov!"
He then pursed his lips and blew the golden bangs covering his eyes aside in a rather dramatic fashion.
Everyone: "..."
"What kind of name is 'Maca-Ultimate-Ov'?! And why does he look so punchable after fusing?!"
Lucy rattled off her rant at lightning speed. "Also, that hair volume is completely unnatural!"
Chase narrowed his eyes, carefully observing "Maca-Ultimate-Ov."
Perhaps due to the identical breathing rhythms, magic power, and personalities of their dimensional counterparts, the fused old man was perfectly balanced. Even Chase felt an intense pressure from him!
With this, guarding the Eclipse Gate shouldn't be a problem.
Unfortunately, there was only one Fusion Magic Card.
After a silent sigh of regret, Chase turned and walked toward the Eclipse Gate's control panel.
Since Lucy and Yukino had already opened it once, the Zodiac Keys weren't needed this time.
DUN DUN DUN DUN, DUN DUN DUN DUN!
As he walked, a powerful background music suddenly began playing, swelling from soft to loud, echoing in everyone's ears.
Each pounding note was like a spark, instantly igniting their already boiling blood.
Their burning fighting spirit connected as one!
Chase had used the Music Magic he'd been studying for a long time!
"Are you ready, everyone? The feast of humans, dragons, and magic—the true Dragon King Festival..."
"Is about to begin!"
"OOOOOHHH!!!" *n
Amid the stirring music and deafening cheers, Chase grasped the control lever and pulled it down with force!
The Eclipse Gate slowly opened!
***
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