????

Rumble, rumble...

A massive explosion erupted near the coast at the island's easternmost point, accompanied by a glowing orb of purple magical energy. The deafening blast and shock wave swept across Tenrou Island, making countless trees and plants thrash wildly as they rustled and swished.

That explosion marked the official start of the battle on the island.

"Where is it?"

ヾ(ｏ?ω?)ノ

"The explosion just now should've been over this way, right?"

|??ω?`)

"Huh?"

(??????)????

"That's..."

\("▔□▔)/

"Ah! Did that old geezer Makarov lose?"

!(;?o?)o

"Honestly..."

(?~?)

"How can he be so stupid..."

ε=(′ο｀*)))唉

Annie had been planning to keep catching birds, but after hearing that tremendous noise and seeing the magical explosion, she knew she had to follow the sound and see what was going on.

When she got there, she saw a huge crater and Makarov, who didn't seem to be dead yet, lying inside it. But there were no enemies in sight.

Apparently, the enemy had left right after beating that old geezer Makarov. So now, the only one here was the pitiful old geezer, lying motionless on the ground.

"..."

(ー`′ー)

"Hey! You're not dead, are you? Stop pretending. I know you're still alive!"

(lll￢ω￢)

Annie walked over and crouched beside him. After watching him for a moment, she lightly poked his shoulder with a finger and said, looking thoroughly exasperated.

"..."

"Ugh..."

"Is..."

"Is that... A-Annie?"

With a groan, Makarov finally opened his eyes. He still hadn't died.

Looking up, he saw a certain troublesome little girl crouched beside him, gazing at him curiously. In her hands was an ugly birdcage woven from vines, and inside it were four odd-looking birds, plump and thin, all looking rather listless.

"That's right!"

(*^▽^*)

"It's me!"

(^_?)☆

"By the way, who beat you up like this? Where's that bad