"Wh-What was that?! That pillar of fire just now?!"
"It has to be my brother! He’s defeated Neid!"
Melt and the others, still embroiled in the chaos of the city streets, reacted in various ways to the massive pillar of flame roaring into the northern sky.
Fee spoke with a triumphant smile, certain that the display was proof of Yugo’s victory. Marcos nodded in firm agreement as he turned his gaze toward the sky, watching the flying Isaac and the dwindling crowd of rioters.
"Exactly what I would expect from my dear friend and eternal rival. Now then... it is time we brought things to a conclusion on our end as well."
"Kieeee!"
With a piercing shriek, Isaac launched yet another dive attack. It was his umpteenth attempt to strike from above.
Marcos skillfully intercepted the blow with his Giga Scissors. As Isaac banked and soared back into the air, Marcos watched his retreating form and muttered under his breath.
"A monotonous tactic. A creature that can only charge head-on is no match for Yugo or me. Now, behold the power of the reborn Giga Scissors—and the true strength of Neo Marcos!"
"Kieeeee!"
Another dive. Isaac hurtled toward Marcos, letting out a scream so high-pitched it bordered on ultrasonic.
Marcos didn't just brace for the impact; he met it with a perfectly timed Shield Bash, deflecting the monster’s momentum. Caught off-balance, Isaac spun uncontrollably through the air. Marcos immediately snapped the blades of his Giga Scissors toward his target.
"These repaired Giga Scissors boast a new function: they absorb and store the magic power of every blow they receive. And this is one of the techniques fueled by that energy!"
"Giiiiii?!"
A concentrated mass of magic power surged from the blades.
The energy manifested as a pair of colossal golden shears, snapping shut around Isaac as he struggled to right himself. Trapped and crushed by the magical construct, the monster was battered by waves of erupting golden magic power. Isaac shrieked in agony as the trap took hold. With his target firmly ensnared, Marcos raised his voice in a triumphant cry to unleash his finishing move.
"This is the end! Golden Cutting!"
"Gyaaaaaaaaa!"
True to its straightforward name, the move was simple—but its simplicity made it nearly impossible to evade or defend against once caught.
Crushed by the massive shears and consumed by the resulting magical explosion, Isaac let out a final, agonizing wail and plummeted to the pavement, where he lay groaning in pain.
"Ga... hah...! Gugi, giii...!"
"I held back slightly," Marcos declared, looking down at his fallen foe. "However, you likely find it difficult to even move now. Give up and surrender quietly. I have no desire to inflict unnecessary violence upon those who can no longer fight."
"Nice one, Marcos! You really have gotten stronger!"
Melt called out, genuinely impressed. Marcos had repelled the transformed Isaac without breaking a sweat, even showing enough composure to spare his opponent's life.
Marcos puffed out his chest and let out a smug huff, but Isaac—still consumed by madness—saw his arrogance as an opening. Driven by desperation, the creature lashed out one last time.
"Giee! Gieee!"
"Whoops! You can still move? You’re tougher than I thought!"
Marcos hopped back lightly to avoid Isaac’s frantic resistance.
A sharp metallic clink rang out. Deciding he had no choice but to knock the creature unconscious for good, Marcos prepared to lunge forward... but then something went wrong.
"Eh? Oh?!"
The moment he tried to take a step, he felt something catch.
He had intended to lunge, but his legs wouldn't cooperate. His body wasn't following the commands of his brain. Confused, he looked down at his feet, only to realize his trousers had slipped down and were tangled around his ankles.
He understood the cause of the obstruction, but the realization came a second too late.
With his legs bound, his second step faltered. Marcos tripped spectacularly, falling flat on his face in a most ungraceful display.
"L-Lord Marcos?!"
"Hey! Don't go making a massive blunder the second I praise you!"
"What are you doing?! You were looking so cool, and now you’ve ruined it!"
"Gubuh?! Th-This wasn't supposed to..."
As he lay there, Marcos realized that the metallic clink from a moment ago had been the sound of his belt buckle shattering under Isaac's desperate strike. In that instant, Yugo’s cryptic warning flashed through his mind.
Had he actually foreseen this...? As Marcos reeled in shock, Fee’s voice cut through the plaza.
"Look! The Magic Armor Beast is getting away!"
"Wh-What?! Wait! Running away is cowardly! Come back and settle this like a man!"
Marcos shouted at Isaac’s retreating back while still sprawled on the ground, his underwear exposed to the world. Naturally, his opponent didn't listen.
Melt and Hex tried to intercept Isaac as he took flight with his remaining strength, but the surviving Demonic Sword users interfered, throwing off their aim.
Seizing the distraction, Isaac soared up and out of the battlefield.
Having turned a heroic victory into a farce at the very last second, Marcos scrambled to his feet, frantically pulling up his pants before charging after the monster.
"Wait! Get back here! I won't let you escape! Come back and fight me!"
"...So, can we actually rely on that guy?" Anhel asked, watching the scene with a look of pure exhaustion. "He doesn't seem like a bad person, but he's an idiot, isn't he?"
"Well..." Melt replied, her attempt at a defense falling flat. "He used to be a devious idiot, so I guess this counts as growth in his own way..."
Letting out a collective sigh at Marcos's antics, the group finished suppressing the remaining rioters and hurried after him to secure Isaac.