“Marcos, you…!!”
Marcos yelled towards Melt, as he used what remained of his Giga Scissors, the armor part, as a shield, and mustered up his remaining strength to execute a tackle.
He stood in front of the other boy, who was angry about his fun time being disturbed, and spoke to Melt again with labored breaths.
“I’ll deal with him. Take the kids away from here. Go!”
“But then you…!”
“How moving, using yourself as a sacrificial pawn. But what can you do? How are you going to defeat me after having your scissors plucked from you?”
Rush laughed scornfully, as he knew losing the golden scissors meant Marcos lost his means of attack.
Marcos then responded, as he mustered up the last of his strength.
“You’re right… I can’t beat you. But I sure can get in the way of your goal. You’re not touching those kids…!!”
“…Hou?”
Rush squinted, thinking Marcos’ response was amusing.
Marcos understood he was being insulted, but knew there were more important things to consider, as he held up the armor that remained and yelled loudly.
“Come, monster! My name is Marcos Bolg! The eldest son of the proud Bolg family, and the golden shield that will protect the future of those children! I’m still standing! I’m not down! Even if I die, I’ll protect those pure lives from your evil hands to the end!”
“Hahahahahaha! Interesting! That’s decided then! First I’ll beat you to a pulp, then I’ll do the deed with Melt, and then I’ll devour those kids in front of you! That lame pride of yours will be in tatters!”
Howled Rush madly as he jumped at Marcos.
Marcos held on as best he could with his golden armor to buy time, but Rush kept on attacking with a scornful smile.
“It’s useless! All of it! The beasts I spawned have control over the area around this building. No one can escape! Even if you put your life on the line to face me, even if you buy time, nothing matters!!”
“Guh!? Uooh…!”
Giga Scissors sunk with each attack, and sometimes parts of it would fly away.
Melt was desperately looking for a way out, not wanting to waste Marcos’ efforts to buy her time, but she was having trouble bringing so many children along and breaking through the crabs surrounding the home.
“So unsightly! Willingly fighting a losing battle as your dear magic item shatters and I beat you down! There’s not a single good thing about it, Marcos! Show me that willpower of the proud eldest son of the Bolg family, Marcos!”
“Gaha!!”
Rush used both claws to execute hammer swings. He swung a claw covered in a hard shell downward, and Marcos gasped as it hit his back.
Rush sneered as Marcos fell to the ground, and tried to walk over to Melt, who stood in front of the children, but…
“N-not yet…! I’m still…!”
Marcos grabbed his leg, and looked at Rush while spitting blood.
Rush looked displeased by the unrelenting fire that was somehow inside a person that was gasping for air, and clicked his tongue while speaking to him with disgust.
“…Enough already you nuisance. Crawl on the ground like the weakling you are!”
“Gah…!”
Rush moved his leg like he was scooping up Marcos, and kicked him away.
Marcos drew an arch as he flew towards a wall, and his shattered golden armor spread all around.
(Is this it… Without protecting anything, without doing anything…)
He could not protect them, or even buy much time. Marcos trembled at his own powerlessness, and the frustration brought tears to his eyes, as he cursed his weakness in the short time he was in the air.
Was Rush right? Was it all for nothing? But just as he was thinking that…
“Uu…!”
Instead of crashing on the ground, someone suddenly caught him.
With his consciousness growing hazy, Marcos slowly raised his head… And saw the face he wanted to see.
“…Sorry I’m late.”
“You sure are… Making me wait all this time…”
He held Marcos by the shoulders, and supported his body that could collapse at any moment while carrying it to where Melt and the children were, and spoke to him.
“Everyone’s safe. Melt’s clothes are ripped, but she’s not really hurt. You protected everyone.”
“I couldn’t do anything… I’m weak. I couldn’t do anything…”
“What are you talking about? You stood your ground to the very end. Even if you didn’t win, you still gave it your all to protect those kids. That’s why I was able to make it in time. Don’t say you didn’t do anything, Marcos. You’re the hero who protected those kids. Be proud.”
Marcos’ staggering body was held up strongly. And he felt respect towards him through those arms and hands.
He placed Marcos where the children were, and offered Melt the jacket of his uniform, leaving his comrade with her and the little brother that accompanied him.
“Phi, Melt… Look after Marcos.”
As he watched his little brother, his friends, and the children, he walked towards the enemy that had to go down.
Rush had transformed back into his human form, and glared at the boy walking towards him.
“I was waiting for you, Yuugo Clay! I will be fully reborn once I kill you!”
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Now Marcos has finally reborn, shedding his Arrogant noble mindset to a true noble hero, well well what Hero will Yuugo use as a reference to beat the crab magaijin, Rush, hopefully it Kuuga in his rising titan form.
Rush: “you can’t defeat me.”
Marcos: “I know, but he can.”
Me to Marcos:
New level of comradrie and bromance reached. You love to see it
Marcos almost brought a tear to my eye