Natsu clenched his fist, and a blaze of scorching fire suddenly ignited in his palm.
"That's right! Since we know dragons are coming, we just have to knock them out of the sky!"
Gray folded his arms and let out a cold laugh.
"We won't die as easily as we did in the future you experienced."
Erza drew her sword, its tip hanging down and pointing directly at the ground.
"Fairy Tail will protect the peace of the present."
Everyone voiced their stance in turn. Their resolute gazes finally put Future Lucy's anxious heart at ease.
Looking at her vibrant, passionate companions before her, she resolutely accepted this trust from the future.
At the same time, on the palace's high observation deck.
The biting night wind howled without end.
Defense Minister Dutton's legs went weak. He clung desperately to the stone railing just to barely remain standing.
His face was pale as paper, and beads of cold sweat covered his forehead.
"Ten... ten thousand dragons invading?!"
Dutton's voice trembled nonstop, his pupils shaking violently.
The apocalyptic prophecy Princess Hisui had just revealed to him had completely shattered his mental defenses.
"Ten thousand dragons—this is nothing less than total devastation!"
Dutton was as frantic as an ant on a hot pan as he abruptly turned around.
"Your Highness! We can't wait any longer!"
"End the Grand Magic Games immediately!"
"Mobilize the entire army and evacuate all the citizens of Crocus!"
He roared at the top of his lungs, no longer caring in the slightest about the proper decorum between ruler and subject.
Princess Hisui stood in the wind, her skirt fluttering wildly.
Her expression was calm, but her gaze was incomparably resolute.
"No. The Games must continue."
"What?!" Dutton's eyes widened as though he were looking at a madwoman. "At a