Fairy Tail: Strongest Creature

That evening in the central plaza of Magnolia, every guild mage who had fought in the Grand Tournament was summoned before the throne. King Thomas E. Fiore stood solemnly on the dais.

"I apologize for calling you all so soon after the tournament's conclusion," he began, "but I bring grave news: according to our intelligence, ten thousand dragons will descend upon our capital tonight."

A ripple of shock swept through the assembled mages.

"Ten thousand dragons?" Makarov's voice trembled. "How could humans possibly stand against such numbers?"

He recalled only one dragon—Acnologia—had appeared in living memory. Yet they all knew the king did not joke over matters of state.

"Even one Acnologia is unstoppable," someone whispered. "Ten thousand… it's unthinkable."

King Fiore continued, "We have activated the Eclipse Plan—a massive defensive project within these castle walls—to annihilate this dragon host in a single strike. But we need your strength to fell the survivors. Please, I beg you to defend our kingdom."

Moved by his plea, every voice rose in agreement:

"We will stand with you!"

"Our magic will protect Fiore!"

"No dragon shall breach our gates!"

King Fiore's eyes filled with tears of gratitude.

In the crowd, Natsu pumped his fists. "Real dragons? This is my kind of fight!"

Gajeel cracked a grin. "I'll throw down with anything that breathes fire."

Wendy shivered but nodded. Sting's expression turned grave—no hint of his former arrogance remained.

Rogue merely smiled. "Time to show our mettle," he said to Sting.

Flo raised her staff. "We won't fall behind."

Rufus leaned toward Orga. "Do you think we'll face dragons?"

Orga shrugged. "No clue—Minerva vanished right after the tournament."

Leon pouted, "Just don't expect me to slow down."

Kagura straightened. "Mermaid Heel won't be left behind."

Quatro Cerberus roared their battle cry again. Leon and Gray exchanged a nostalgic grin—ready to clash once more. Granny Ooba spun in place.

Below the plaza steps, Lahar and Mest observed in worry.

"This eclipse device…" Lahar muttered, "it violates thirty arcane laws."

"It's dangerous," Mest agreed. "Even the Magic Council mustn't learn of it—or they'll seize it. But we can't ignore the threat."

Su Yan frowned at the thought of ten thousand dragons. "Where would they come from? Nearly all were slain already."

Makarov leaned close. "What do you make of it?"

Su Yan met his gaze. "Let's wait and see. I'll handle it."

Meanwhile, in the Royal Palace's inner sanctum, Arcadios—the head of the Paladins—approached Princess Hisui by the sealed Eclipse Gate.

"Your Highness, are you certain these dragons will appear?"

She nodded solemnly. "I cannot be sure. But I cannot risk the realm's safety on doubt alone. Prepare for full alert. Unlock the gate."

With a grinding of ancient machinery, the lock slid open. Guards ran reports:

"All observatories signal no dragon sightings."

"No abnormalities to the east."

"Civilians evacuating in orderly fashion."

Suddenly, a church bell tolled midnight, marking the passage from July 6 to July 7.

"That's… the day dragons vanished from history," one guard whispered.

"Could they truly return on that date?" another asked.

Below, the Eclipse Gate slowly yawned open—an ominous gateway that might herald the dawn of war between humanity and dragonkind.