“…How is Professor Castle doing?”
“Burn claimed his life wasn't in danger, but there's no way to know if that’s the truth. We can’t do anything but watch him, and he still hasn't regained consciousness…”
Inside the Luminous Academy prison… Setsuna, consumed by worry for the still-unconscious Uno, asked the question. Misery, who remained by the professor’s side, offered a quiet response.
They were all tormented by the fate of the teacher who had shielded them, targeted as a grim demonstration by Burn. Frustration boiled over into low, agonized groans.
“If I could move my body even an inch, I could treat him with magic…!”
“He’s right here, and we can’t even check on him, let alone help him…!!”
They desperately wanted to use recovery magic to treat Uno, who likely suffered severe burns across his entire body. Yet, because of the hypnosis Hypno had placed upon them, they were completely paralyzed.
Unable to use magic or even move, they were forced to do nothing but stare at the suffering Uno from inches away.
As the heavy sense of powerlessness and shame weighed down on everyone, Marcos—his expression more tortured than the rest—spoke in a voice thick with self-loathing.
“Damn it… damn it, damn it all!!”
It began as a low rumble, but Marcos’s swearing grew louder as his anger intensified.
That rage, however, was not directed at Dogma’s group. It was aimed squarely at his own helpless self.
“It’s always like this! When Rush became a Magic Armor Beast, when Zaraki went on his rampage, and even during the incident on Wind Island… the ones who saved the day were Yugo and Ryuga! I haven't done a single thing! When it actually matters, I’m never there!!”
“Marcos…!”
“What kind of rival am I?! What kind of greatest friend?! I talk so big, but in the end, I’m just a burden to Yugo and the others! Burn was right. Even now, when it counts… I can't do a damn thing…!!”
“That’s not true, Marcos. You’ve also…!!”
“Don't, Elena…! I know the truth. I know better than anyone that I don't measure up to Yugo or Ryuga…!!”
Driven by self-reproach, Marcos fiercely rejected Elena’s attempts to comfort him.
Hearing the raw honesty of a man who had always projected such confidence, even if it was mere bravado, the others found themselves swallowed by that same sense of powerlessness.
“If we hadn't been taken hostage, Yugo-dono could have fought so much more freely…!!”
“Instead of repaying my debt, I’ve become nothing but a burden… I am so sorry, Master…”
“I hope Ryuga-san is safe… If we had just been more on our guard, we wouldn't have had to leave such a heavy burden to him alone…”
“…It really is pathetic. It’s so frustrating and miserable that I’ve started to hate my own weakness.”
Regret from his comrades and the biting frustration within his own heart continued to swell.
They weren't just useless in the moment of need; they were actively hindering the very person they admired. As despair threatened to consume their hearts in the face of this harsh reality, a dignified voice rang out.
“Save the regrets for later. Right now, let’s do what we can. We need to be in the best possible shape before Yugo arrives.”
“Melt…”
Every eye turned toward Melt. She spoke with a firm, unshakable resolve.
Taking a deep breath as if to steady herself, she continued to address the dejected group.
“I understand how you feel—the frustration, the shame—I really do. But wallowing in regret and despair won't accomplish a thing right now. We have to believe in Yugo and prepare for the moment we escape. If we’re too weak to even stand when Yugo comes to save us, that’s when we truly become dead weight, don’t we?”
She understood their bitterness. But now was not the time for it.
They had to suppress those feelings and prepare for the coming storm.
She understood the urge to give up, the crushing weight of regret that made one want to sink into the dark.
But a Hero never gave up until the bitter end. Maintaining the will to fight and doing everything within their power was the only form of resistance left to them.
If they broke and knelt here, they would be giving Dogma’s group exactly what they wanted. Melt urged her comrades to swallow their humiliation and focus on recovery, her eyes scanning the dark confines of the prison.
“It’s all right. Yugo won't lose. He’s coming for us, I know it. When we’re free, we can let all this rage explode. So don’t give up. Just do what you can right now!”
There were two things they could do: trust that help was coming while focusing on their recovery, and believe in the Hero fighting for them until the very end.
As Melt’s words began to take hold, shifting the atmosphere from despair to quiet preparation, a completely unknown voice echoed through the prison.
“…Yeah. That’s actually pretty nice. I’ve always yearned for something like that.”