Rhodes made a final check of Future Lucy's equipment, notebook, and her mastery of magic. After confirming that everything was in order, he went to find Future Rogue.
"Can you tell me my fate?" Future Rogue asked.
"If the Eclipse Gate still has enough magic power, I'll send you back. If not, you'll be handed over to the Kingdom, most likely for a secret execution," Rhodes replied. "Is there anything you want to say?"
Future Rogue was silent for a moment before asking, "Send me back? What if I return to the correct past?"
Rhodes shook his head. "It doesn't matter. Fairy Tail over there will stop you."
"I won't face you there," Future Rogue said. "And there will be no one who can summon dragons."
Rhodes paused briefly, then said calmly, "It just means more effort. There's always a way."
Among the many combat plans prepared for Future Lucy, there was one specifically designed to deal with Future Rogue.
Even if the two Rogues did not belong to the same timeline, there were still ways to counter him.
Fairy Tail in that world might differ slightly in raw power, but they would never lose in wisdom.
Moreover, Rhodes believed that if he were absent, his companions would still find a way to push past their limits, even if it meant winning a harsher, bloodier victory.
Future Rogue sighed. "You're someone who shouldn't exist. Yet in this regard, you're just like them."
"Isn't that obvious?" Rhodes replied. "If that's all you wanted to say, then let's go."
"Since I gave you information, could you do me one last favor?" Future Rogue asked.
"Tell me."
"After I die, give my power to the current Rogue and Sting."
"Hm?"
As Rhodes was thinking, a faint glow began to emanate from Future Rogue's body. His form gradually became translucent.
The magic power within him visibly split into two streams. Black magic gathered to the left, while white magic gathered to the right.
"Hey! Your life force is draining!" Rhodes said sharply.
"You can make that expression too?" Future Rogue chuckled weakly. "Looks like I finally used a kind of magic you don't understand."
At that moment, Makarov, Laxus, Erza, Mira, and several others rushed into the room.
Mavis followed, her voice tense. "What happened? We felt a very strong magical fluctuation!"
"Whether I return to my future or get executed by the Kingdom, dying like that would be meaningless," Future Rogue said quietly. "In that case, I'd rather leave everything to Rogue and Sting here. I'm counting on you, Fairy Tail."
Before anyone could respond, Future Rogue's body completely dissolved into light.
Only two magic crystals remained suspended in midair, one black and one white.
The respective magic powers flowed into them. When the transfer was complete, the crystals became smooth and rounded, then fell onto the wooden floor.
Erza turned toward Rhodes. "This… what just happened?"
Rhodes shook his head slowly. "I want to know too. He shouldn't have been able to use magic."
"It was life," Mavis said softly. "The weight of a life is heavy. Heavy enough to move many things, even the magic prohibition you set."
Witnessing a life fade away was never easy.
Rhodes collected the two magic crystals and handed them to the Guild Master and all present S-Class Mages for careful inspection.
Afterward, he found Freed and asked him to inscribe a spell on the doorway.
"Only one person may pass."
They tested it.
Then Freed wrote a second condition.
"Those holding two magic crystals may pass."
They tested it again.
The results confirmed that these were indeed magic crystals, not objects carrying consciousness.
There was no time for deeper analysis today. Rhodes decided to wait until more urgent matters were settled before conducting a thorough examination. Only after confirming their complete safety would he hand them over to Sabertooth.
By the time the King met with Lahar, the Eclipse Gate had already been relocated underground.
It was clear that it had been designed with such contingency mechanisms from the very beginning.
The underground palace was spacious enough, and plans had already been made to build a permanent secret chamber there in the future.
At dusk, Rhodes brought the two Lucys to the underground palace where the Eclipse Gate was stored.
The King did not attend in person. Only Princess Hisui and the Minister of State, Danton, came to witness the event, with Yukino bringing the necessary keys to assist.
The process of opening the gate was almost identical to before, except that this time, the ones responsible for activating it were Lucy and Future Lucy.
Rhodes placed a buff on them, specifically allowing Future Lucy to recover her strength before entering.
Future Lucy bowed deeply toward the gate.
"Thank you, everyone. Thank you for helping me."
Lucy and Rhodes waved back.
Then, with a resolute expression, Future Lucy stepped forward and entered the gate.
Golden light engulfed her figure.
Lucy closed her eyes. As one of the spellcasters, she could clearly feel the flow and condition of the magic.
A moment later, she opened her eyes and exclaimed excitedly, "It worked!"
Rhodes smiled. "That's good."
He examined the Eclipse Gate carefully. "The remaining magic power is almost depleted. Prepare to close it."
Princess Hisui nodded. "Understood."
This time, she and Yukino worked together to close the gate, with Lucy stepping in to help ease the burden.
The gate closed smoothly.
Rhodes immediately began drawing a magic circle on the spot and embedded several self-charging magic crystals.
Once activated, the Eclipse Gate seemed to vanish entirely. No one could approach within five meters of its location.
Afterward, Rhodes take over Mountain Dragon Soul and, imitating Jura, clapped his hands together.
The ground around the magic circle rose upward, sealing from above, then expanded outward in an irregular shape for more than ten meters, forming a small artificial mountain.
Next, Rhodes carved additional magic circles into the mountain's surface.
After nearly an hour of uninterrupted work, he clapped his hands again.
"All done. The rest is up to you."
Princess Hisui stared blankly for a moment. "Ah… yes."
Everything had gone far more smoothly than she had imagined, and much faster as well.
The Minister of State reminded her, "Your Highness, the celebration banquet will begin shortly. Please return and prepare."
"I understand," Princess Hisui said, then turned to Rhodes and Lucy."Mr. Rhodes, Ms. Lucy, please rest briefly as well. Awards for the Grand Magic Games will be presented tonight. You must attend."
After agreeing, the two returned to the hotel where the guild was staying.
The banquet was held in the palace ballroom. Representatives from all major guilds were present, all dressed in formal attire.
Jude, though not a Magician, had also received an invitation and entered the palace together with Fairy Tail.
The usually unrestrained members of Fairy Tail put on formal wear one by one, and to everyone's surprise, they actually looked quite presentable.
As for Gray, he had been wearing a suit when he first left the hotel.
Clearly, Fairy Tail's behavior was completely independent of what they were wearing.
The normally solemn and dignified palace became lively due to their presence. Not only did they cause a commotion themselves, they also infected the other guilds like a virus.
As a result, the palace attendants' stereotypes of Magicians were reinforced even further.
A crude group that worshipped force.
All thanks to Fairy Tail.
They had single-handedly lowered the national image of Magicians once again.
...
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