At the same time, explosions echoed across the vast primeval forest.
The mages who had split up were gradually all drawn into fierce battles with the dragons.
Future Erza, Future Kagura, and Future Minerva's opponent was Estra the Frost Soul Dragon, capable of creating massive blizzards.
Future Kagura handled gravity containment. Future Erza, having unlocked her Second Origin, wore her strongest "Heaven One: Divine Armor" for offense. Future Minerva used Spatial Transfer Magic to constantly reposition them, evading the dragon's claws and roars while launching attacks from unexpected angles.
As three S-Class female mages who had once fought in a chaotic battle in the original story, though this was their first time teaming up, their magic coordination was remarkably smooth.
Under such flawless combination attacks, even with ordinary dragons reinforcing it, Estra was kept on the defensive!
Led by Future Mirajane, the team consisting of Elfman, Juvia, Gray, Gajeel, and Panther Lily from both worlds was the largest.
The number of dragons they faced was equally substantial. Besides Anka the Sea Prison Dragon from the original story, there was also Shinmara the Death Curse Dragon, along with several ordinary dragons.
Future Jura's team encountered Maragon the Desolate Skeleton Dragon, a bone dragon.
With card buffs and the God Seal's enhancements, the usually unlucky Ten Wizard Saint finally shone. His exaggerated rock-iron magic forced even the bone dragon to keep its distance.
As the sole representatives of their respective guilds, Future Ichiya and Future Bacchus had no choice but to team up.
Whether lucky or unlucky, this "handsome man" and "muscle man" duo didn't encounter any particularly powerful dragons. They could barely hold their own against ordinary ones.
In contrast, the team of Future Sting, Future Rogue, Future Orga, and Future Rufus had it much worse.
Without an S-Class leader, they were the first to be "sent back to spawn" after the two Happys, "killed" by the energy roar of Shizalansa the Iron Sound Dragon.
On the other side of the Eclipse Gate, the underground chamber beneath Crocus.
"Damn it! Why are they so strong? They shouldn't be this strong!"
Future Sting sat on the ground, bruised and swollen, pounding his fist in frustration.
"Even with Mr. Chase's buffs, we couldn't manage..." Future Rogue looked dejected.
Only after witnessing the dragons' utterly unreasonable destructive power did these two dragon brats finally realize just how much their sickly old fathers had been holding back.
They even had reason to suspect that the White Dragon Weisslogia and the Shadow Dragon Skiadrum they'd supposedly killed weren't dead at all—just hiding somewhere unknown!
As it happened, that guess wasn't far off. The White Dragon and Shadow Dragon, residing inside their bodies to suppress Dragonification, exchanged glances.
Future Lector and Future Frosch tried to comfort them. The two Happys cheerfully remarked that they finally had company.
The non-combatant guild mages swarmed around, eager for news of the battle.
BOOM!
Just then, an unexpected tremor shook the ground. A dragon burst through the Eclipse Gate, claws bared.
Its terrifying, massive head turned everyone's faces pale. A violent aura instantly filled the chamber!
Before they could recover from the shock, the dragon let out a wail and was forcibly dragged back through the Eclipse Gate by some monstrous force, disappearing into the white light.
"Haha! Sorry about that, everyone. Got distracted and let it slip through."
The towering, muscular Maca-Ultimate-Ov stepped out, dramatically flipping his waist-length golden hair.
The smug grin on his face made it clear that as the "goalkeeper," there was no distraction—he'd let the dragon through on purpose just to scare them!
The old Makarov had always been a playful, mischievous old man. After fusion, that trait seemed to have amplified exponentially.
In short: reckless.
Of course, possessing "heart magic," his strength was genuinely formidable. With most dragons drawn away by Chase and the others, guarding the narrow Eclipse Gate entrance gave him the air of a one-man fortress!
"Please just guard the gate properly!"
"Please, Master Makarov! My heart can't take this!"
"Arcadios, let me go! I'll beat this show-off senseless!"
The mages all voiced their protests. Even Toma lost his composure, shouting and gesturing like anything but a king.
Future Bob and the other guild masters, however, took it in stride. Their faces showed nostalgia, remembering their adventures with a young Makarov.
"Hmph. Though your enthusiasm flatters me, I must reiterate—I am not Makarov. I am Maca-Ultimate-Ov!"
Maca-Ultimate-Ov preened, flicking the golden bangs from his face and striking a pose as he emphasized his name in layered tones.
This time, even Princess Hisui and the guild masters couldn't hold back. Their mouths twitched, foreheads sprouting angry veins.
But the next second, everyone's attention shifted to the magical vision screen that had appeared out of nowhere.
The screen showed a bird's-eye view of the war-torn primeval forest battlefield in the past world!
"Master, this is—" The Fairy Tail members were awestruck.
Even through the screen, they could feel the world-ending terror radiating from the dragon horde.
"Indeed. I've established a visual sharing channel with my magic. Now you can watch the battle outside."
Maca-Ultimate-Ov stood halfway across the Eclipse Gate's threshold, hands clasped behind his back as he looked out at the battlefield.
As a seasoned, veteran Ten Wizard Saint, the old man's magical knowledge was beyond question. After fusion, his understanding of magic had reached terrifying heights. A simple visual sharing spell was effortless.
The reason for this live broadcast, besides showing off his skills, was more importantly to let the non-combatant mages witness the battle between humans and dragons firsthand.
Though it wouldn't be much reference for defeating Acnologia or Ignia in the future, it would still broaden their horizons and deepen their understanding.
"Impressive, right? I can even do this now~"
With that, Maca-Ultimate-Ov snapped his fingers. The vision screen switched to show his own handsome, young face—every pore clearly visible.
Everyone: "..."
"We don't want to see your face! Switch it back!!"
Only little Asuka, held in Future Bisca's arms, clapped her hands in delight, her sweet voice cheering, "Makarov—I mean, Maca-Ultimate-Ov grandpa is so cool~!"
"Wahh! You're the only one who gets me, my little sweetheart." Maca-Ultimate-Ov was deeply moved.
All those ungrateful guild brats—none of them could be relied on!
Jokes aside, he quickly switched the screen back to the past world.
By now, the battle between humans and dragons—the Dragon King Festival—had reached its full-scale, white-hot phase!
***
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