"Ah, there you are. You really put one over on me earlier, didn't you? The arm you slashed still stings, you know."
"Eh!? M-Me!?"
Geras's next target was Torin, the man who had managed to cut him during the earlier brawl.
Torin was completely paralyzed by the sight of Geras approaching. Every heavy, rhythmic thud of the monster’s massive feet shook the ground and sent a jolt of terror through his spine.
"I’ll never forgive you for that. Now die—impaled on my horn!"
"Wawa! Waah!?"
"Kyah!?"
After stomping the earth to find his footing, Geras took a thundering running start. Torin barely managed to throw himself out of the way of the charge.
As Elena’s screams rang out—having been caught in Torin's frantic movement and knocked to the dirt with him—Geras skidded to a halt. He clicked his tongue in irritation and turned back toward the pair.
"Tch...! Stop dodging. Quit your useless resistance and just hurry up and die!"
"Wa! Wa! Wawaah!!"
"This is bad...!"
Watching Geras lower his head into another charging stance, Torin fell into a state of total, mindless panic.
At this rate, not only Torin but Elena, who was pinned beside him, was in mortal danger. Marcos desperately tried to rush to their aid, but the force of the previous blow had sent him too far. He wasn't close enough to shield them from the next impact.
He could only pray that they would dodge the charge one more time, just as they had before. But as Marcos watched, Torin did something unthinkable.
"H-H-H-Help! Help meeee!!"
"Kyah!? Eh!? W-What are you doing!?"
"That idiot! What does he think he's doing!?"
Driven by pure cowardice, the panicked Torin shoved Elena forward to use her as a human shield. He pinned her down, hiding behind her small frame as he tried to put her between himself and the monster.
Marcos’s eyes widened in a mix of pure astonishment and white-hot fury. The man was treating her as nothing more than a cushion to soften the blow of Geras’s assault.
(Make it! Please, make it in time!!)
If the charge hit her head-on, Elena wouldn't survive. Between the sheer kinetic force of the impact and the possibility of being gored by that horn, she would be killed instantly.
Marcos abandoned all caution. He funneled every drop of Magic Power into his legs, even deactivating his Giga Scissors to shed every ounce of unnecessary weight. He threw himself forward, intent on using his own body as a shield... and yet, Geras’s charge was overwhelmingly faster.
"Kyaaaaaaaaaaaah!!"
"Elena!"
Elena screamed as the Dull-colored Iron Mass bore down on her. Marcos’s desperate shout for her name echoed across the clearing.
A split second later, a sickening crunch tore through the air. Marcos, witnessing the impact from a few yards away, felt his breath hitch in his throat.
"No... way...?"
"A-A-Ah...?"
Confused as to why the expected impact hadn't arrived, Elena slowly opened her eyes. When she saw the scene unfolding before her, she lost her voice.
Standing directly in front of her was Poruru. He had thrown himself into the path of Geras's charge, his back now impaled by the monster's wickedly sharp horn.
"Ka... ni..."
"What is this thing? You're in my way! Get lost!"
"P-Poruru...? Poruru!"
Geras spat the words with disgust, annoyed that his fun had been interrupted. With a violent shrug of his head, he threw the impaled monster backward.
Poruru’s body traced a wide arc through the air before slamming into the ground. The moment Torin’s grip on her wavered, Elena shook him off and scrambled toward her friend.
"Poruru! Hey, pull yourself together! Poruru! Poruru!"
"Ka... ni... Kani... ka..."
"No! Don't go... Don't leave me, Poruru!"
Elena cried out in desperation, her hands hovering over Poruru’s shattered shell. He was gasping for breath, his life fading fast.
After a pained groan, Poruru feebly lifted a pincer, trying one last time to stroke her cheek. His strength failed him halfway. His arm slumped into the dirt, and he went still.
"Poruru...? Poruru! Poruru! A-Ah...! Uwaaaaaaan! Waaaaah!"
"Ah, look at that. The crab died. It’s all your fault, you bastard!"
"Bubeeeh!? Hie, hie...! H-Help meeeee!"
Elena collapsed over Poruru’s body, sobbing like a broken child.
Geras watched the tragedy unfold as if it were a minor inconvenience. He turned back to the loathsome Torin and delivered a mocking blow, throwing the man's own cowardice back in his face.
Struck by the massive weight of the Rhino Strong Arm, Torin’s face instantly puffed and bruised. He wailed in pain and scrambled to his feet, fleeing at full speed without looking back.
Watching the coward run, Geras clicked his tongue and muttered under his breath.
"That guy ran again. Well, whatever. I’m going to kill everyone on this island anyway, so I’ll save the best for last. More importantly, right now..."
"Poruru... Poruru...! Aaaaaaaaa, aaaaaaaaa!"
Satisfied with having landed a punch on Torin, Geras turned his attention back to Elena.
He deactivated his Magic Armor Beast transformation, reverting to his human form. A greasy smirk spread across his face as he walked toward her with his arms wide.
"Hey, you! I didn't notice before, but you're actually pretty cute. If you’re willing to be my obedient pet—just like the monsters you keep on this island—then maybe I’ll spare you. What do you think? Good deal, right? You’re lucky you don't have to die a pathetic death like that crab over there."
"Poruru... Poruru... Ugh, uuh..."
"Oh, come on! Don't cry so much. It was just a trash monster that died a trashy death, right? It’s fine! I’ll show you heaven with my 'horn' soon enough. Though, I’ll be using a different one for you! Ahahahahahaha!"
Geras let out a mocking, high-pitched laugh, thrusting his hips obscenely as he taunted her.
He took another step toward the unresponsive Elena, reaching out a hand to grab her. Before he could touch her, a heavy hand clamped onto his shoulder.
"Huh...? Bugu!?"
Surprised by the sudden grip, Geras instinctively turned around—only to have a fist slam squarely into his face.
The blow cleanly shattered his nose. Geras was sent tumbling across the dirt, away from Elena. The smug grin he had worn seconds ago was gone, replaced by a mask of pain as he scrambled to his feet, groaning.
"What’s your deal? You want to die that badly?"
"...His name is Poruru."
"Hah...?"
"That is the name of the man who protected his precious family without regard for his own safety and gave his life. He was no 'trash monster.' His death was anything but pathetic. Poruru risked everything for the family he loved. He was a proud, noble friend—greater than any of you. Even if the rest of the world lets this pass, I will not tolerate those who mock a friend!"
Marcos clenched his fists until his nails drew blood from his palms.
He burned with a cold, focused fury—rage at the people who had caused this disaster, rage at Geras for murdering Poruru, and rage at his own powerlessness for letting Elena suffer. He stood tall, staring down the Friend's Nemesis.
"Come! My name is Marcos Borg. For the Peace of the Soul of my friend, Poruru, and to avenge the grief of my friend, Elena... I shall strike you down!"
"Haha! 'Strike me down'? Who do you think you're talking to? Well, fine. That punch really pissed me off. You can die too, impaled on my horn!"
Marcos summoned his Giga Scissors. Geras slammed the Plate into his left shoulder.
A heavy silence fell between the two as they prepared for combat, their Magic Items humming with power as they fueled their respective rages. Then, the duel of pride began.