Date: X791, July 7
Location: Mercurius Castle, Crocus
The morning of the last day felt different. It wasn't just the heat or the faint haze drifting above the rooftops. The whole city of Crocus seemed to be holding its breath. Even the wind carried a restless bite, as if it knew what was coming. It smelled of scorched stone and the faint tang of smoke, though no fire had yet reached the heart of the city.
Deep within Mercurius Castle, Princess Hisui stood before the Eclipse Gate. Her hands, pale and trembling, clenched into tight fists at her sides. The gate towered over her—a massive, ancient machine that had once been a promise of salvation. Now it pulsed with dangerous energy, the sound of its humming like the ticking of a clock counting down to disaster.
Around her, soldiers moved with desperate purpose. Some barked orders, others carried stacks of documents, magical devices, and relics pulled from the royal vaults. Their faces betrayed the truth—forced smiles, hollow eyes, the stiff movements of people who hadn't slept in days.
Arcadios, her loyal knight, stepped close. He lowered his helmet, speaking in a low, steady voice.
"Your Highness… are you certain about this? Once we start, there will be no way to turn back."
Hisui's throat felt tight.
"I know," she said quietly. "But if we do nothing, the dragons will destroy everything. This is the only way left."
Outside, Lucy Heartfilia and Yukino Aguria were running full speed toward the castle courtyard. Lucy's breath came in sharp gasps, her heart pounding, but her grip on her Golden Keys was unshakable. Yukino, clutching her own Silver Keys close to her chest, ran beside her. Her boots struck the marble tiles in sharp echoes that bounced off the castle walls.
Lucy grabbed her arm.
"Yukino… are you sure? We might not come back from this."
Yukino's eyes were wide but steady.
"We can't let the future stay the way it is. We owe it to everyone—to ourselves—to try."
They reached the Eclipse Gate just as it began to hum louder, its massive doors glowing with unstable light. Sparks ran across its surface, jagged and violent, like time itself was trying to tear it apart. Hisui turned toward them, her voice breaking.
"Lucy, Yukino—please! Help me close it!"
Lucy hesitated only a moment before nodding. Yukino did the same. They stepped forward, raising their Keys in unison.
The courtyard trembled as twelve beams of light appeared, each forming into the shape of a Zodiac Spirit. Leo roared, a flash of golden mane catching the light. Virgo bowed with quiet precision. Aquarius tossed her hair with a sharp glare, ready for battle. One by one, the Spirits joined their strength, pushing against the Gate.
Lucy and Yukino exchanged a tearful look. This wasn't just about magic—it was about refusing to lose anyone else.
The Spirits pressed forward. Magic crackled like lightning through the air, forcing soldiers to stumble back. The ground shook beneath their feet, but the Eclipse Gate resisted, its light growing more erratic.
Far above, on a shadowed rooftop, Teresa stood motionless. Her short white cloak rippled in the wind, her silver armor faintly catching the gray light of morning. Her sword was stored away for now; standing still for hours with it strapped across her back was pointless. Her pale hair fluttered as her sharp silver eyes scanned the scene below.
She felt it before she saw it—a heavy, ancient pulse in the air, older and wilder than anything she'd faced in this world. The sensation crawled up her spine, and she found herself smiling faintly before it disappeared again.
The sky began to tear.
Through the gate's unstable light, massive shapes pushed forward—dragons, scales gleaming like broken emeralds, wings wide enough to blot out the sun. The first dragon roared, a sound so deep it rattled the stones underfoot.
Lucy's voice cracked.
"It's not enough! We're too late!"
"Keep going!" Yukino shouted, her arms shaking from the effort.
More dragons forced their way through. Their roars shook Crocus to its core. The streets below filled with screams as towers cracked, the ground split, and buildings collapsed under the shockwaves.
Romeo Conbolt stood in those streets, his purple-flamed sword in hand. His chest was tight, but his eyes were set with a determination that hadn't been there years ago. No longer a scared boy, he moved quickly—guiding children into safe doorways, cutting down smaller dragonlings with swift strikes. Each slash burned bright against the growing shadow of the dragons above.
From her perch, Teresa counted the monsters—seven so far. Then, slipping between the distorted light of the gate, came an eighth. This one was different—larger, its three heads twisting in different directions, scales shimmering like poisoned moonlight. Its presence felt wrong, not entirely dragon. There was something twisted deep inside it, a corruption she recognized from her world.
Her voice was low, almost a whisper.
"So… this world forges its monsters too."
In the courtyard, Lucy and Yukino collapsed to their knees, their Spirits fading back into the celestial realm. The air was heavy with heat and the scent of smoke.
Lucy's voice was barely a breath.
"Please… someone… protect them…"
Teresa didn't move. She didn't call out or rush in. Her eyes stayed fixed on the dragons—cold, calculating. She wasn't there for comfort. She was there for the fight.
The city shook again as another explosion tore through the streets. Teresa stepped closer to the edge of the roof, her cloak brushing against her legs, her pale hair catching the flicker of firelight.
"Edge before echo," she murmured.
Below, Romeo caught sight of her silhouette against the flames. Something sharp twisted in his chest, but there was no time to dwell on it. He turned back to the frightened children and shouted:
"Move! Follow me! You can do this!"
Far across the courtyard, Lucy lifted her head. Through the haze of tears and smoke, she thought she saw someone standing above—pale, calm, untouched by fear.
The dragons roared again. The age of dragons had begun.
And somewhere in that chaos, another predator had awakened.
The Valkyrie waited.
And Crocus trembled.