"Marcos, you...!!"
With the last of his strength, Marcos charged the enemy, using the remaining plating of his Giga Scissors as a makeshift shield. He shouted over his shoulder to Melt.
Standing before the man who was seething with rage at having his "fun" interrupted, Marcos took ragged, heavy breaths and shouted again.
"I'll handle him! Take the children and get out of here! Hurry!"
"But Marcos, if you stay, you'll—"
"Choosing to be a sacrificial pawn? How touching," Rush mocked. "But what can you actually do? You've had your pincers torn off. How exactly do you plan to defeat me?"
Rush sneered at Marcos, who had lost his Golden Scissors and all means of mounting an attack.
Wringing out the last of his willpower, Marcos met the insult with a defiant glare.
"You're... right. I cannot defeat you. But I can still stand in your way. I won't let you lay a hand on those children!"
"Oh?" Rush narrowed his eyes, amused by the defiance.
Marcos ignored the mockery. He knew what mattered most. Bracing the armor remaining on his arm, he roared at the top of his lungs.
"Come and get me, monster! I am Marcos Borg! Eldest Son of the House of Borg and the Golden Shield that protects the future of these children! I am still standing! I shall not fall! Even if it costs me my life, I will protect these innocent souls from your wicked hands!"
"Hahahaha! Perfect! I've decided—first, I'm going to beat you until you're barely breathing. Then, I'm going to violate Melt completely. And finally, I’ll devour those children right in front of your eyes! I'm going to tear that pathetic pride of yours into bloody ribbons!"
With a roar of pure madness, Rush pounced.
Marcos held his ground, desperately using his Golden Armor to buy every second possible. Rush only laughed as he intensified his assault, his blows growing heavier and more frequent.
"It's useless! All of it! I've surrounded this building with the Magic Beasts I created! No one is getting out alive! Whether you throw your life away or try to buy time, it doesn't matter!"
"Guh...! Urrgh!"
The Giga Scissors buckled under the weight of the assault, gold plating shattering into fragments and scattering into the dirt.
Melt frantically searched for an exit, desperate not to let Marcos's sacrifice go to waste, but the sheer number of crab-like monsters surrounding the facility made it impossible to break through while protecting the children.
"Look at you! Pathetic! You volunteered for a losing battle just to get your precious Magic Item smashed and your body broken! Where's that famous Borg pride now, Marcos? Show me some backbone!"
"Gah!"
Rush brought his pincers together for a crushing Hammer Swing. The blow caught Marcos square in the back, the heavy, armored claws slamming into him with bone-shattering force.
He collapsed, face-down in the dirt. Rush let out a derisive snicker and began to stalk toward Melt and the trembling children.
"N-not... yet! I'm not... done...!"
Marcos's hand shot out, grabbing Rush's ankle. Blood pooled in his mouth, but his eyes burned with an indomitable fire.
The sight of that unwavering spirit filled Rush with sudden, sharp disgust. He clicked his tongue and looked down at the broken man with utter contempt.
"You're really starting to piss me off. Trash belongs on the ground. Stay there!"
"Gah!"
Rush swung his leg up, kicking Marcos with enough force to send him flying.
The knight soared through the air in a high arc, the last bits of his golden armor falling away like autumn leaves as he tumbled.
(Is this it? Have I failed? I couldn't protect anyone... I couldn't do anything...)
The failure tasted more bitter than the blood in his mouth. He hadn't even bought them enough time. In the split second he was airborne, Marcos cursed his own weakness, fearing that Rush was right—that it had all been for nothing.
Then, he felt it.
"Nngh...!"
Instead of the cold, hard ground, he felt a pair of strong arms catch him.
Through a haze of pain, Marcos slowly forced his eyes open. There, looking down at him, was the face of the man he had been waiting for.
"...Sorry. I kept you waiting."
"You... certainly did. Honestly... making me wait... this long..."
Hugo shifted his weight, hoisting Marcos's shoulder to support him. He held the broken knight steady, ensuring he wouldn't collapse.
As he carried Marcos toward Melt and the children, Hugo spoke in a calm, steady voice.
"Everyone's safe. Melt’s clothes are a mess, but she's not seriously hurt. You protected them, Marcos."
"I did... nothing. I was powerless. I couldn't achieve a thing..."
"Don't say that. You stood your ground until the very end. Even when you knew you couldn't win, you fought your heart out to protect those kids. Because of that, I made it in time. Don't you dare say you did nothing. You’re the Hero who saved those children. Hold your head high."
Hugo's grip was firm, supporting Marcos's staggering weight.
Through that touch, Marcos felt something he hadn't expected—genuine respect.
Once they reached the others, Hugo set Marcos down. He pulled off his own school jacket and handed it to Melt so she could cover herself. Then, he turned back toward the enemy, entrusting his comrade to his brother and his partner.
"Fee, Melt... take care of Marcos."
Under the watchful eyes of his brother, his friend, and the children, Hugo stepped forward.
Rush, who had reverted from his Magic Armor Beast form back into his human shape, glared at the approaching figure. He screamed his obsession into the air.
"I've been waiting for you, Hugo Clay! Killing you is the final step! Once you're dead, I'll be completely reborn!"