"No matter what their initial purpose was, as long as it benefits us in fighting the dragon horde now, it's acceptable." The King still refused to complicate matters, "Even if we need to hold them accountable, let's wait until we've safely dealt with this situation."
"Understood..." Danton still felt they shouldn't be lenient, but he accepted investigating after the fact.
After considering, he instructed the soldier who came to report, "Order the Zone D security team to keep a close watch on the Dragon's Treasure's actions and arrest them immediately if there's any suspicious behavior."
"Yes." The soldier received the command and departed.
Soon, a guard from the palace entrance came in to report, "Mr. Lahar from the Council requests an audience to inquire about the source of the information to determine if emergency aid should be sought from the Council headquarters."
"The Council..." The King thought for a moment, "Tell them reinforcements aren't needed. If they're willing to help, ask them to protect civilians outside the city."
After all, the Eclipse is related to Zeref's Black Magic, and he really didn't want the Council to find out.
"Wait, Your Majesty, let me go tell them." Danton stopped the soldier, prepared to go in person.
The King nodded, acknowledging that respect should be shown to the Council, and words should be chosen carefully.
...
The lunar eclipse had begun, a curved shadow emerged on the edge of the full moon, initially subtle but gradually encroaching, obscuring the bright crescent and dimming its glow.
Arcadios and his knight order stood ready, their tension rising with each increase in the shadow's size on the moon.
Princess Jade and Yukino awaited beside the left pillar, where a two-meter mechanism stood — by utilizing the Star Spirit Mage's power to push the lever, the gate could be opened.
Surrounding the two, members of the knight order formed a circle to guard against potential assassins.
Rhode stood with his companions at a slightly farther spot.
Lucy tightly clutched her twelve keys, Future Lucy held her hand, prepared to offer strength.
The surroundings grew increasingly silent, until only a thin crescent remained of the moon, with still nothing happening.
At the stroke of midnight, the moon was completely shadowed, soon turning into a dark red full moon.
The King nodded toward Arcadios.
Arcadios shouted, "Observers, report the situation!"
A communication soldier stationed nearby activated the Communication Magic Crystal, relaying the knight captain's order.
A voice soon echoed from the distant amplifier:
"No sign of the dragon horde to the east of the Royal Capital!"
"No sign of the dragon horde to the west!"
"South..."
"North..."
Reports from each district of the capital followed closely, all indicating no abnormalities.
Arcadios stared solemnly at the Eclipse Gate, "Your Majesty, Sir Danton, please step further back."
Having said that, he strode to stand by the princess and Yukino, gesturing toward the Hungry Wolf Knight Order.
Princess Jade and Yukino exchanged a glance, nodded, each placing a hand on the lever and pushing forward forcefully.
Their magical power was naturally absorbed by the lever, causing a faint golden glow to emanate from the activation device.
With the lever pushed to its limit, the Eclipse Gate was formally activated, halting the magic absorption function. From now on, using magic nearby wouldn't be restricted.
Though some of their magic had been absorbed, Jade and Yukino could still move normally due to their combined effort.
They initially intended to stand in place to watch the gate open, but Arcadios promptly reminded them to retreat.
The soldiers orderly withdrew to the sides of the avenue facing the gate.
Vroom, vroom, vroom—the top of the Eclipse Gate gleamed with golden light, and the pillar emitted the mechanical sound of bearing rotation.
Even from tens of meters away, one could sense the formidable magical power brewing within the gate.
The heavy metal door swung open, revealing a crack, through which was not the world beyond the gate, but a vast white void.
Boom—
The metallic friction noise of the large and thick Eclipse Gate was not harsh but somewhat heavy, seemingly causing the ground to tremble lightly.
Amid the overpowering pressure of enormous active magic, the opened gate seemed to exude a soul-stirring power.
Concerned that his companions might be absorbed in the scene and neglect the task, Rhode reminded, "Prepare yourselves."
"Yes." Both Lucys nodded, ready for action at any moment.
With a clang, the door panel halted at its maximum open position, a gust whipped through the square, originating from within the gate.
Impatiently, everyone peered into the gateway, not expecting a massive head to suddenly protrude!
A body of grayish-white, enormous hexagonal scales, rounded head, with two rows of dense black holes on its abdomen.
"It's... appeared!"
"Dragon! It's a dragon!"
"Its size is massive!"
Not only did the soldiers experience a brief moment of disorientation, but even the King, Princess, and knight captain did so.
"Mr. Rhode's hypothesis... was correct!"
"The dragon horde will emerge from the Eclipse Gate."
"If we don't close it quickly, there'll be ten thousand dragons!"
The dragon emerging from the gate showed no hesitation, and it was already poised on the empty square, mouth wide open, unleashing a roar without restraint!
"Roar—"
The terrifying magic diffused alongside sound waves, distinct from the breath attack of Dragon Slayer Mages targeting only the front — it broadly attacked a nearly hemispherical area ahead.
The square was instantly obliterated, the tiles shattered completely, the soldiers far away were swept off by the gale, and the gardens and buildings behind the Royal Palace seemed to become a mess, as if hit by a typhoon.
Many were thrown to the ground, clinging desperately to avoid being blown away.
The nearby soldiers, however, were unharmed, as Rhode had erected a golden defensive shield upfront.
"Mr. Rhode!"
"So powerful!"
"He received such an attack head-on!"
But Rhode shouted, "Everyone retreat! This was just a greeting, not even an attack!"
Arcadios protected Princess Jade and Yukino, loudly repeating Rhode's orders, "Retreat! Retreat!"
Soldiers scrambled away, fleeing urgently, while the two female mages of the Hungry Wolf Knight Order shielded the Princess, and three others guarded the King, retreating him.
"A dragon actually came out!" As Natsu was about to deliver a punch to the dragon's head, Laxus held him back.
"That's not our task right now," Laxus said calmly, "Lucy."
"Yes!" The two Lucys responded, approaching the Eclipse Gate under four friends' escort.
As everyone reacted, the dragon seemed to notice someone interfering.
Then it raised its front claw high, slamming it onto the ground ahead of Rhode.
With a bang, the earth shook violently, the ground cracking beneath the impact, a slicing gust rushed at Rhode.
The prior golden shield flickered before shattering, the invisible attack landed on Rhode's raised right wrist, emitting a clanging sound.
The ascending dust concealed his form.