Rhodes set aside the necromancy theory for the moment.
His second hypothesis was this:
Four hundred years ago, the dragons might not have been wiped out by Acnologia, as Zirconis had claimed.
Perhaps a portion of the dragons, knowing they were no match for Acnologia yet, hid themselves away somewhere, entering hibernation, cultivation, or reproduction.
And now, after centuries of accumulating strength, multiplying in number, or waiting for the right opportunity, they had finally chosen to reappear.
To reclaim the world.
Destroying cities? Crumbling castles?
That would be bait, meant to draw Acnologia out.
Once he appeared, they would ambush him in overwhelming numbers, destroy him, and reclaim dominance over the world, restoring the Dragon Race's ancient glory.
As for Igneel, Grandeeney, and the other dragons who coexisted with humans, perhaps they had foreseen this very day, and thus raised Dragon Slayers like Natsu and Wendy as humanity's last hope.
Their disappearance fourteen years ago?
Maybe they had gone searching for their fellow dragons, attempting negotiations, or investigating the dragons' whereabouts.
But since there had been no news for so long, either they had been killed, or trapped somewhere beyond reach.
If this attack was the dragons' grand re-emergence, then perhaps this was meant to be Natsu and Wendy's long-awaited moment, to find their foster parents, to uncover the truth, to stand against dragons and become true Dragon Slayers, without the risk of Dragonification, and maybe even without motion sickness?
The more Rhodes reasoned through it, the more plausible it seemed.
And if the dragons were truly hiding, their hiding place might be connected to Eclipse.
If he dared to think even further;
Four hundred years ago, Zeref already existed.
So perhaps an Eclipse Gate also existed back then. Perhaps the dragons hid by slipping into the past or future through that gate, and on July 7th, they were planning to return to the present.
Rhodes' mind kept firing theories like a storm.
But with Future Lucy's fragmented information, some guesses were wild, some contradictory.
Eventually, he chose the theories that seemed most reasonable and summarized:
"Information is too limited. We can't analyze further until we find out how those 10,000 dragons appeared.
For now, we prepare. It's already past midnight, it's officially July 4th.
We have less than three days."
Future Lucy nodded.
"The events happened right after midnight on the 7th."
Ultear inhaled slowly and frowned.
"The Eclipse Gate is the most suspicious thing. But you said approaching the palace triggers a magical mechanism that drains magic."
"I may know what that mechanism is," Rhodes said.
"Lucy, you said that using magic near the Eclipse Gate drains your magic instantly, right?"
Future Lucy nodded.
"Yes. The Eclipse Gate's purpose is to absorb the subtle magical leakage released during the Grand Magic Games."
"Because the palace and the arena are far apart, no one noticed.
But if you get too close, any magic you use will drain immediately."
Rhodes clicked his tongue.
"That explains it. When the Krugs dug from underground using Magic, and that Wraith used intangibility magic, they instantly vanished."
Their magic had been drained.
Good thing he, as a summoner, wasn't affected.
Ultear immediately understood.
"So the Eclipse Gate is the mechanism we saw. I understand. We will infiltrate the palace and investigate Eclipse directly."
Erza shook her head.
"If you can't use magic, you're no stronger than ordinary civilians. It's too dangerous."
Ultear said firmly,
"These are exactly the situations Crime Sorcière exists for. We'll handle the covert investigation. We hope you can investigate openly."
Gray frowned.
"There may be safer ways. Don't rush in."
Ultear gave him a soft smile.
"This risk is worth it."
Gray looked at her face, the face so similar to Ultear's mother, and said resolutely:
"Then I'll go with you."
Ultear refused instantly.
"No. You have a match tomorrow. If you disappear now, it will cause suspicion."
"Then I'll use the substitution slot..."
"That's not possible either. Your combat style doesn't match ours, and our teamwork is not aligned."
"I.."
"I know what you're worried about," Ultear interrupted gently.
"But I still have many sins to atone for. I won't throw my life away so easily. Don't worry."
Gray fell silent but shot Rhodes a meaningful look, a silent plea for some kind of plan, or at least a safety net.
Rhodes understood.
"After tomorrow's match, I'll go meet Yukino first. Then I'll try to request an audience with Princess Hisui and the King directly."
He paused, thinking through the logistics.
"As for your covert actions..."
He tapped his chin, then nodded decisively.
"I'll send a reliable helper to protect you from the shadows."
He was obviously referring to a dragon.
Someone who could watch from the sky and intervene instantly if things went wrong.
No matter how special the Eclipse Gate was, it still had to obey magical principles, right?
Could it really drain the magic of a full-grown dragon in a single breath?
If it could…
Then honestly, there was nothing to fear.
Because then the nation could simply station the Eclipse Gate like a giant magical bug zapper: wait for dragons → dragon approaches → poof, the Eclipse Gate drains it.
As for Crime Sorcière, they could sort out the "breaking into the palace" consequences later.
With Rhodes' simple but solid arrangement, Gray finally relaxed.
Ultear felt a small warmth bloom in her chest at the unexpected concern. She nodded and turned to leave.
"Then we'll go prepare..."
"Wait."
Rhodes stopped her.
He turned to Future Lucy.
"Think carefully. Is there anything important you've forgotten?"
Future Lucy frowned deeply, thinking hard.
Beside her, present Lucy murmured indignantly:
"How could something so important be forgotten?"
Rhodes raised an eyebrow at her.
"Oh really? Then why do I distinctly remember a certain someone in Edolas forgetting she could use magic, right after taking Mystogan's magic pills?"
Lucy's face went crimson.
"T-that-! Th-that was-! There were circumstances!"
Future Lucy froze for a moment.
'I… did that?'
Apparently she was the same way in the future.
Afraid the same thing might happen again, she forced herself to think harder.
Present Lucy, embarrassed, pointed defensively at her future self.
"I already paid for that mistake! Don't bring it up again!"
Then Future Lucy's eyes widened.
"Ah...right! There's this."
She awkwardly reached into her clothes with her left hand and produced a small notebook.
She handed it to Rhodes.
"I wrote down everything important inside."
Watching the clumsy one-handed movement, everyone felt a dull ache in their chest.
Erza stepped closer, her voice soft with concern.
"How is your injury? Rhodes, is there any way to heal her arm?"
Rhodes exhaled.
He shook his head slowly.
Neither Wendy nor Porlyusica could regrow a missing limb.
And for Rhodes, losing a limb was equivalent to losing a large portion of his magical potential, his own healing spells, even his buffs, were useless for this.
The only viable solution was a magical prosthetic limb.
Thankfully, current magical technology is quite advanced.