Break Through

"Hey, listen. It sounds like someone's fighting nearby!"

Hearing Middle Black Ball's words, Little Black Ball and Big Black Ball both shook.

"Eh... why do I feel like it's getting hotter and hotter? (Negus)"

"Really! (Gajeel)"

"Wait... there's the sound of wind whistling. Something is rapidly approaching us?"

After putting all the clues together, Gajeel instantly arrived at the truth.

"We're screwed. We got caught in the blast!"

"You mean... (Viola)"

"Mm-hmm."

"Then aren't we dead for sure?! (Negus)"

Unlike Gajeel and Negus, Viola, who had traveled far and wide with Lazy God for years—and been screwed over for years—found a glimmer of hope in this.

"Maybe this is our chance!"

"You mean we use... (Gajeel)"

"That's right!"

"Big Sister, your idea sounds great, but we don't know this attack's element, destructive power, or when it'll arrive. If we act rashly, I'm afraid we won't escape alive—we'll go straight to heaven!"

"If we don't try, sooner or later we'll starve or freeze to death!"

"Big Sister, didn't you say Uncle would find us?"

"I did say that, but can you guarantee when Sordil and the others will find us?"

"This..."

"Fine, let's try it. Things can't get any worse than they already are! (Gajeel)"

With two against one, Yellow Meow Meow could only hold her nose and agree.

"Sigh!"

As though she could see what was happening outside, Viola suddenly opened her eyes when the thick orange-yellow pillar of fire reached the sky above them and shouted, "Now!"

"Boom!"

The instant it brushed against the orange-yellow fire pillar, the black coating around Viola and the others burst into fierce flames. At the same time, agonized roars came from the forest.

"Roar~"

"Eek, eek!"

"Whoosh!"

The next second, a black afterimage swept across the treetops, and the burning black ball