"To everyone on the Sunlight—can you hear my voice?"
Marcos’s voice crackled through the Sunlight's radio, reaching every soul on board. As the passengers reeled from the sudden transmission, Marcos pressed on.
"My name is Marcos Borg. Right now, I am at Hauvent Castle with my comrades. And... we have cornered Abyss!"
The passengers’ eyes widened in collective shock. No one had expected this. Abyss—the eldritch foe that the Security Force had been utterly powerless against—had been driven to the brink? A flicker of hope ignited within the crowd. They fell into a rapt silence, hanging on his every word.
"As I speak, my friends Yugo and Ryuga are locked in a lethal struggle against Abyss and his minions. We are here to destroy the [Finale] before it can fire on Wind Island, but a barrier surrounds the weapon, and we cannot breach it."
"A barrier...?! No way! Does that mean we can’t stop it?!"
"N-No, wait! Everyone, shut up and listen!"
The report was dire, yet the passengers knew there had to be a purpose behind this broadcast. As they strained to hear him over the engine’s hum, Marcos reached the heart of the matter.
"This barrier is being generated by Magic Items stationed at the island’s East and West coordinates. If they are destroyed, the [Finale] will fall. We would handle it ourselves, but time has run out. We won't make it in time."
Most of the listeners understood exactly what Marcos was asking for. As hesitation vanished from their faces, replaced by grim resolve, Marcos’s desperate cry echoed through the ship.
"So... I am asking anyone! Head to those coordinates and destroy the Magic Items! The enemy will be waiting, and the fight will be brutal. But this is the only choice we have left! Right now, Yugo is fighting Abyss alone to buy us this chance! For his sake, we must stop the [Finale] and thwart Abyss’s Plan! Please! Lend us your strength! Fight with us!"
Marcos’s plea was raw and earnest. His desire to support Yugo, who was currently facing the monster in a lonely, life-or-death duel, struck a chord deep within the listeners’ hearts.
"Marcos! Can you hear me?!"
"Elena...? Elena, is that you!?"
"I’ll go! I’ll destroy them! Just give me the coordinates!!"
Elena burst into the communication room before anyone else, snatching the device from Fee’s hands. Then, stepping back out onto the deck, she looked at the crowd waiting for her and gave a small, confident smile.
"Elena... shouldn't you have said 'we' instead of 'I'?"
"Hehe... you're right, Dad. It looks like I won't be going alone."
Her father, Carlos; Uno, who had been coordinating with the Security Force; and Shepherd, who had been leading the rescue efforts across the island—all of them stood ready outside the door. Beyond the ship, a unified front of Luminous Academy students, guards, and islanders stood with weapons drawn, their eyes burning with resolve.
"I’ll leave a small contingent here for defense and split the rest into strike teams," Shepherd declared. "I’ll take command of the West Unit."
"Then the Luminous Academy Forces will take the East," Uno added. "I will lead them."
"And the Island Residents who can fight will head West with the guards," Carlos growled. "This is our home. We aren't about to let outsiders like Yugo and Marcos do all the heavy lifting."
They coordinated with minimal dialogue, splitting the units and finalizing the operation before leaping down from the ship. When Elena followed them, the comrades she had fought alongside were there to welcome her.
"Finally, a chance to repay Yugo-san," Neries whispered, her knuckles white as she gripped her weapon. "I’m going to give this everything I’ve got!"
"Master... even if we aren't at your side, our intentions are one," Misery added. "We are with you."
Having heard that Yugo was currently fighting for his life, Neries and Misery steeled themselves. Nearby, Hex and the others were performing final equipment checks, their determination evident in every movement.
"Marcos-kun and his friends saved Shandia!" Horon shouted to the gathered villagers. "Now it’s our turn! We fight until the end!"
"Kani-kani!" Poruru chirped, clicking his claws in agreement.
To protect their home and ensure the burden didn't fall solely on the young warriors, the islanders surged with combat resolve. Elena looked at the gathered army and spoke back into the radio.
"We’re coming to help! Even if we’re apart, our hearts are one! Let’s do this together, Marcos!"
"Yeah!" Marcos’s voice thundered back. "Let's win! We'll seize victory together!"
War cries and monstrous roars shook the island. They refused to perish according to some third-rate scriptwriting; they would win their tomorrow. This was no longer a small skirmish. The Great War for the fate of Wind Island had begun.