The royal family had made extensive preparations.
Beyond stockpiling the enormous magical power required to activate the Eclipse Gate, they had already preselected and secretly trained the knights who would travel to the past.
They had even drafted a complete operational framework for the mission after crossing time:
How to determine the correct era. How to locate Zeref while he was still an ordinary human.
How to approach, verify, and execute the assassination.
On the surface, it all sounded remarkably thorough.
If the plan were followed step by step, it seemed entirely possible to kill Zeref before he attained immortality.
Yet, Princess Hisui had carefully avoided addressing the fundamental problem.
Zeref occupied an irreplaceable position in history.
What if killing him caused us, or the people we cared about, to disappear?
What if countless innocent lives, people who had done nothing wrong, were erased simply because history could no longer support their existence?
Compared to that risk, whether Acnologia's birth was directly tied to Zeref no longer even seemed like the most important issue.
Rhodes shook his head slowly.
"I object to this level of disregard for consequences," he said flatly."Zeref and Acnologia can be dealt with by other means. There is no need to gamble with history itself."
Princess Hisui's expression dimmed slightly.
"It seems I can't persuade you."
She had watched the recent matches closely. She knew how strong Rhodes was. She knew how strong the Ten Wizard Saints were.
And the more clearly she understood that, the deeper her despair grew.
Because even with Rhodes, even with Fairy Tail trapped on Tenrou Island: Makarov, four Dragon Slayers, even with the legendary dragon Rhodes could summon;
That overwhelming combat power had still failed to defeat Acnologia.
If even that wasn't enough, then what option remained besides going back to the past?
Rhodes said calmly,
"Using this kind of magic is no longer a question of whether you can persuade me. You should be considering how you intend to face the Magic Council and the rest of the world."
Princess Hisui nodded.
"Of course I know. Preparing magic of this scale already violates dozens of international laws. Once exposed, Fiore would become an enemy to every nation."
"That is why everything is being done in secrecy."
"We are prepared to bear the consequences. For the sake of the world, we are willing to shoulder any blame."
Her voice hardened.
"Because there is no other choice."
"If we miss the total lunar eclipse occurring in a few days, then traveling that far into the past again would require waiting another seven years… fourteen years… or even longer."
"And the magical cost would be far greater."
"We cannot guarantee what will happen during that time. The end of the world could arrive next year, or tomorrow."
"We must act now."
Her expression carried the resolve of someone who had already accepted death and infamy alike.
She truly believed this was her duty.
A personality like that, If every decision she made were correct, could give rise to a legendary queen.
If even one decision was wrong, however, the consequences would be catastrophic.
Rhodes understood her mindset.
And he also understood how to persuade her.
He only needed to show her that another path existed, one where Acnologia could be defeated and Zeref dealt with without rewriting history.
If reason failed, coercion was still an option, but that would only invite further chaos.
So, if possible, it was best to resolve this calmly.
At that moment, Jude spoke.
"Excuse me," he said slowly, "fourteen years ago, did Layla participate in an Eclipse Plan?"
"Did that plan fail? And if so… why did it fail?"
Princess Hisui hesitated.
"This… I don't know."
Jude frowned.
"You don't know?"
"Yes. At that time, I was still very young and couldn't take part in such matters."
She paused, thinking. "And I once asked about it, but my father didn't seem to know the details either."
Jude's brows knitted together.
"But for something of that magnitude, Layla couldn't have been the only one who knew."
Princess Hisui nodded slowly.
"My father will arrive shortly. When he does, Mr. Jude can ask him directly."
Jude accepted this and then asked another question:
"Are you planning to ask Lucy for help this time?"
"Of course," Princess Hisui replied. "If Miss Lucy were willing to assist, the success rate would rise to its absolute maximum."
She glanced toward Rhodes.
"But Mr. Rhodes probably wouldn't agree… would he?"
Rhodes did not deny it.
"I have doubts about the entire plan," he said calmly. "How could I allow Lucy to provide assistance under such circumstances?"
Princess Hisui was neither surprised nor visibly worried. She had clearly prepared herself for that answer.
Rhodes then shifted the topic.
"Let's put the Eclipse issue aside for now. I came here for another matter."
His tone grew heavier.
"We've received intelligence that between the evening of July 6th and the early morning of July 7th, two days from now, over ten thousand Dragons will attack this country. Does Your Highness have any information regarding this?"
"Ten thousand Dragons?"
Princess Hisui's reaction was instantaneous. The shock on her face was raw, unfiltered.
Rhodes observed her carefully. Her expression showed no sign of fabrication.
"Are you serious?" she asked, clearly shaken.
"I have no interest in making jokes about national extinction."
"But, why?" Princess Hisui frowned deeply. "How could so many Dragons suddenly appear in this era? May I ask about your source..."
"You just answered it yourself," Rhodes interrupted.
"'This era' shouldn't have that many Dragons."
Princess Hisui stiffened.
"I originally suspected necromancy, reviving Dragon remains from underground ruins," Rhodes continued evenly.
"But now another possibility presents itself."
He fixed his gaze on her.
"The scheduled activation time of Eclipse… it's midnight on July 7th, isn't it?"
"Yes," Princess Hisui replied slowly. "And that's related to..."
"What exactly is the function of Eclipse?" Rhodes asked.
"To open a gate connecting the present and the past," she answered instinctively.
Her voice faltered.
"Could it be…"
Rhodes nodded.
"The era you intend to connect to is more than four hundred years ago."
Princess Hisui swallowed.
"That era was the Age of Dragons," she said quietly. "Ten thousand Dragons wouldn't be an exaggeration…"
Her eyes widened.
"Are you saying that instead of sending people to the past, I might open the gate incorrectly, and bring Dragons from the past into the present?"
If that were true, then the Eclipse Plan would not be salvation.
It would be a catastrophe created by their own hands.
Princess Hisui's resolve visibly wavered.
Mr. Rhodes would not fabricate something like this lightly.
And yet, could this be a deliberate exaggeration, a final attempt to stop Eclipse?
She asked, clinging to that possibility:
"Could it be a coincidence? The timing just happens to align? Or perhaps your intelligence is mistaken? Ten thousand Dragons attacking… that's simply..."
A voice interrupted from the doorway.
"No. If Mr. Rhodes has reached the same conclusion, then it may very well be true."
Everyone turned.
A small, elderly man, about the same height as Makarov, walked in, wearing a crown. His steps were steady, his presence heavy.
Yukino stood by the door, having made no attempt to stop him.
"Father?" Princess Hisui stood abruptly. "What do you mean?"
The King nodded gravely.
"I have received the same intelligence."
...
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