The noise of laughter still filled the air after Nikos's thrilling victory over Romulius. Everyone lay sprawled on the grass, panting happily, while Picos tried to convince Meron that "cheating" was simply a form of field intelligence.
Picos (Wiping away tears of laughter): "Trust me, if I had participated in the race, I'd be behind those mountains by now! Nikos, you run as if you're chasing a ghost from the past, but Romulius... man, you run like you're escaping a restaurant bill!"
Romulius (Trying to catch his breath): "Shut up, Picos... if I were in your shoes, I would have tripped over your wooden spoon on the very first step. Nikos, I admit it... your speed has never faltered; you are still that Old Lion."
Nikos (Smiling as he pats his son Darius on the shoulder): "Strength isn't just in the legs, Romulius; it's in knowing when to push with everything you have. Darius, learn from this lesson: agility without will never reaches the finish line."
Darius: "I've learned, Father, and I've also learned that Picos will remain the most biased judge in the history of competitions!"
Suddenly, the laughter stopped.
Ortinus felt a strange coldness creeping through the soles of his feet. He looked at the Blue Bird, which had been drinking peacefully moments ago, only to find it had suddenly bolted its head up. It emitted a sharp, terror-filled squawk and flapped its wings violently, attempting to take flight.
Ortinus (In a cautious voice): "Do you feel this?"
Nirar (Placing his hand on the ground): "There's a vibration... irregular frequencies. This isn't a natural earthquake; the frequency is sharpening with terrifying speed!"
Nirar had barely finished his sentence when they heard a sound like a giant fabric tearing beneath their feet. "CRAAAAACK!"
The ground suddenly exploded in the middle of the green meadow. A deep, dark fissure began to extend at a maddening pace, swallowing the grass and flowers they had been laughing upon seconds earlier.
Meron (Screaming as he leaps away from the edge of the rift): "Get back! The earth is splitting!"
Picos (Clinging to the trunk of a nearby tree): "Oh no! Is this continent going to explode too?"
Nikos (Grabbing Darius by the collar and pulling him forcefully): "To the rocks! The ground here is sandy and won't hold! Romulius, take Meron and head for the high ground!"
The peaceful scene turned into destruction. The cracks began to branch out like spiderwebs in every direction. The giant trees, whose fruits they had just eaten, began to plummet into the abyssal depths, making horrific crashing sounds.
Nirar (Trying to maintain his balance): "Ortinus! This isn't an earthquake! Something is pulling the energy from the Earth's core! Look at the color of the cracks; they are glowing with a grey flicker!"
Ortinus (His pupils dilating in shock): "The grey flicker... the same color I saw when that mysterious man's stars fell on the palace! He is here... or his power has begun to reach us!"
As the comrades tried to reach a safe rocky area, a massive gap opened directly beneath Picos and Darius.
Darius: "Picos! Jump!"
Darius lunged and shoved Picos toward the opposite side, but the force of the momentum caused Darius to slide toward the edge. He gripped a cluster of strong roots with his hand, while the earth beneath him collapsed into an endless void.
Nikos (In a horrific scream): "Darius!!"
Nikos rushed toward the edge without a thought, while Romulius and Nirar tried to secure ropes. Meanwhile, the Blue Bird circled above them, attempting to descend to save them, but the fierce winds generated by the fissures were pushing it away.
Picos (Extending his wooden spoon to Darius in a moment of despair): "Hold on, Darius! Don't let go of the roots!"