With that command as the signal, everyone sprang into action.
Fee and the others handed out the metal fragments engraved with magic circles to the children, then shouted at the top of their lungs while clutching their own.
"Everyone! I know you’ve been through a lot and you're scared, but please, lend us your strength! Pour your magic power into the fragments we just gave you!"
"We need everyone’s help to defeat Dogma and her group! To make a miracle happen... please! Lend us your strength!!"
The children stirred at Anhel and Melt’s pleas.
They looked at one another with unease, but as they recalled the sight of the upperclassmen, teachers, and adults who continued to fight outside despite being battered and bruised, their expressions hardened with resolve. They all nodded firmly.
"Thank you! Everyone, get ready!"
"Fee! I’m leaving the signal to you! Yugo, you guys ready?!"
"Yeah! We’re counting on all of you!!"
At their comrade’s shout, Yugo and his two companions nodded in unison.
Fee checked the state of the magic circle one last time, took a deep breath, and gave the signal to everyone gathered in the cathedral.
"Preparations complete! Everyone, send your magic power!!"
As one, Melt, the others, and the children began pouring their magic power into the metal fragments.
Unlike Dogma’s ritual, a Bright Crimson Radiance emanated from their palms. Beneath the feet of Yugo, Ryuga, and Marcos, the magic circle began to pulse with that same brilliant light.
(Entrusting the hero with hopes and wishes... I’ve seen this countless times in movies, but I never thought I’d be the one on the receiving end...)
As Yugo watched the light grow, he couldn't help but think of how much this resembled the climax of a Nichiasa-style magical girl anime movie.
"Yugo...! Receive our strength...!!"
"I am sorry for making you fight until the very end. But I believe that you, Ryuga-san, can carve out a future for us all!!"
"Do your best, Marcos! Take everything I have!! Just go and win!!"
They poured in their feelings, sent their prayers, and infused their magic power.
Entrusted with it all, the three heroes felt the weight of those countless emotions swirling within the magic circle.
"...Hey, can you feel it?"
"Yeah... it’s coming through."
"The wishes directed at us, the feelings placed in our hands... I can feel them in my soul."
Someone was praying for victory.
Someone was wishing for the downfall of the masterminds who had sown such sorrow and fear.
Protect the children. Create a miracle. We’re counting on you. The feelings of their comrades, of every single person there, flowed into their hearts alongside the magic power.
"Master, please receive our feelings...!!"
"Yugo-sama, Ryuga-san, Lord Marcos... we leave the rest to you...!!"
"I can’t do much, but I can sure as hell give you my magic power! Take every last drop!!"
The prayers of their friends surged into the circle, and the light reached a fever pitch.
Feeling the collective desire to reclaim a peaceful tomorrow, Yugo flashed a confident smile at his best friends.
"Alright, let’s go...! Ryuga! Marcos! Are you ready?!"
"Yeah... I’m set!"
"You wouldn't listen even if I said no, would you? Then there’s nothing left to do but run through this with everything I’ve got!"
They would answer these feelings. For the sake of everyone who believed in them, they would surely seize victory.
And they would take it back—their world, peaceful and happy.
As that shared resolve took hold of the three, the metal fragments left the children's hands, floating into the air as they hummed with massive amounts of magic power.
Gazing at the swirling fragments, Yugo and his friends laughed, knowing exactly what was coming next. As if on cue, they shouted in unison.
"""Transform!!!"""