Fairy Tail: Strongest Creature

Su Yan's expression grew serious. "Acnologia is the strongest enemy I've ever faced in this world. Even now that we've grown more powerful, I can't be certain we could defeat him."

Natsu, Wendy, Gray—and even the spirit Zirconis—stared at him in shock.

"Acnologia?" Natsu repeated.

"The man who slaughtered every dragon in this cemetery. He was human once yet now is more fearsome than any of us. His dark magic ended a war among dragonkind four centuries ago that almost wiped them out."

"So he's human?" Lucy gasped.

"How can a person become a dragon?" Gray murmured.

Zirconis chuckled, emerald eyes gleaming. "That is the destiny awaiting any mage who masters Dragon Slayer magic. You're still young and untested—one day, you'll see." With a mocking bow, the spirit vanished.

"Wait!" Natsu called, but Zirconis was gone. "There's so much left to ask—where are Igneel and everyone else?!"

Wendy shook her head. "He's vanished completely."

The group fell quiet, anxiety mounting. All they'd learned about their dragons' fate still felt incomplete—and now the spirit was gone.

"Will overusing Dragon Slayer magic really turn you into dragons?" Happy asked, ears drooping.

"This is a nightmare…" Carla whispered.

Su Yan raised an eyebrow. "Someone's coming—and it's someone we know."

From the tunnel emerged a knight in silver-white armor, flanked by Yukino.

"Yukino?" Lucy exclaimed.

Gray stiffened. "Are you… soldier? And that armor—the Sakura Paladins."

Arcadios stepped forward. "I am Arcadios, Commander of Fiore's Royal Armory and head of the Sakura Paladins. Sergeant Yukino Aguila and I have been following a secret plan."

"Why are you here?" Natsu demanded, stepping forward.

Arcadios inclined his head. "We need the power of Celestial Spirit mages for our mission. Yukino has joined us to help in secret."

"Celestial Spirit mages?" Natsu frowned. "Cut to the chase—what's going on?"

"Come with us," Arcadios replied.

Su Yan nodded. "Let's hear them out."

They followed Arcadios and Yukino deeper until they reached a massive underground gate.

"A gate?" Lucy whispered. "Legends say that when sun and moon overlap, twelve keys can open this gate—and it leads through time, back four hundred years. There, we can defeat Zeref before he becomes immortal."

"Time travel?!" Wendy gasped. "That's… unheard of!"

"Celestial Spirit mages can alter time's flow," Yukino explained. "Between our world and the Celestial Spirit realm lies a temporal boundary we can exploit—if we have all twelve keys."

Arcadios continued, "The Grand Magic Games have always been a cover to gather vast magic power for this eclipse gate. On July 7th—the day our dragons vanished—we intend to open the gate and strike Zeref before he ascends."

July 7th. The date hung heavy in the air—the same day their beloved dragons disappeared.

"If we can stop Zeref," Arcadios said, "we may change history—and finally free the dragons from extinction."

A tense silence followed. Then Su Yan stepped forward. "I'm sorry…but I disagree with this plan."

Gasps broke out among the group.

"Noble Su Yan?" Arcadios asked, surprised. "Why? Do you have objections?"