(Thank you very much to 'Seven Sins', 'Yan Ai Ai', 'Lei Xiang', 'Ode to Light and Wings', 'Some Shut-In', 'Hip Hop 3', 'Le You Ran', and 'Primeval Hermit' for their rewards!)
Howling winds swept back and forth across the cliff, filled with sand and raging gusts. Fragments of rock were torn from the cracked ground and shot in every direction like bullets.
"Danger!"
Before the bullet-like stones could reach them, the quick-witted Charlulu pinned the panicking Wendy to the ground.
"Everyone! Get down!"
Jura shouted, then dropped to the ground with Happy.
The injured mages from Fairy Tail, Blue Pegasus, and Lamia Scale were already lying on the ground, so they did not need to worry about the incoming stones. They merely raised their arms before themselves, shielding their faces from the blowing sand and fierce winds.
"Everyone! Please don't worry!"
Ichiya, the only one still standing, struck a pose with a righteous expression.
"Leave this to me!"
With that, Ichiya leaped out, apparently intending to block the incoming stones.
However, almost at the same moment, a stone larger than Ichiya's face shot out of the dust and slammed heavily into his face with a bang.
"Man!"
With his distinctive catchphrase, blood sprayed from Ichiya's large nostrils once again, and he was sent flying like a kite with its string cut.
"Lord Ichiya!"
"Teacher Ichiya!"
"Senior Ichiya!"
At the sight, Hibiki, Ren, and Ichiya shed tears.
The others, however, felt utterly stifled as they watched. They wanted to laugh but could not, wanted to cry but could not, and could only feel deeply frustrated.
Then, everyone turned their eyes ahead, toward the dust that filled one corner of the cliff and was slowly dispersing.
There, the once solid ground had been reduced to a devastated wasteland, covered everywhere in cracks