The crystal clusters that had existed on the rocky cavern's dome for untold ages began to rain down. Tiny crystals struck the Psychic Barrier raised by Clefable with heavy, rapid crackling sounds, like a sudden downpour hammering glazed roof tiles.
Then came the explosions.
Dull, continuous explosions from deep within the mountain rolled through the earth like distant muffled thunder, one after another, dense and unrelenting.
"Boom... boom boom... rumble rumble rumble..."
Each explosion came with even more violent tremors. On the cavern dome, larger crystal clusters could no longer withstand the shaking and snapped off in whole sections.
They tumbled through the air, refracting the silver light of the Giant Moon Stone like a falling meteor shower, before slamming heavily into Clefable's Psychic Barrier with deafening impacts.
"Clefairy—!"
At the center of the stone platform, hundreds of Clefairy and Igglybuff huddled together in terror at the sudden shaking and explosions.
The young Igglybuff let out frightened cries, their pink ears pressed tightly against their heads as their tiny claws clung desperately to the fur of the adult Clefairy beside them.
Several of the smallest Igglybuff even buried their faces in their companions' arms, their little bodies trembling uncontrollably.
Another Clefable immediately sprang into action.
It too stood over three meters tall. Though not as massive as the eldest Clefable, it was more powerfully built, and steady, formidable energy rippled around its body.
It hovered half a foot above the stone platform, a solemn yet resolute gleam flashing through its pink eyes.
The Clefable slowly raised both arms, spreading its six fingers as a faint pink radiance began to glow at its fingertips.
"Clefa—!"
With a low chant, pink light surged from its body like a tide, sweeping toward every scattered Clefairy and Igglybuff on the platform.
The pink radiance