Barata pinned Merlin to the ground, his weight pressing down as he gripped her wrists. His tongue slithered across her cheek, tasting her fear.
Joshua thrashed violently against Morgan's hold. "You bastard, get off my sister!!!" he screamed, voice breaking, tears and fury mingling in his eyes.
Barata scoffed. "Morgan, shut him up. I don't like being disturbed when I'm having fun."
Without hesitation, Morgan smashed Joshua's face into the dirt, holding him there as the boy screamed muffled protests, helpless to stop what he was being forced to witness.
With a sick grin, Barata released one of Merlin's wrists and dragged his claw up her leg, leaving a bloody gash from ankle to thigh. Merlin sobbed and tried to push him away with her free hand.
"Did I say you could touch me?" Barata snarled, catching her wrist and crushing it in his clawed hand.
Merlin screamed, a shriek so loud and full of agony it echoed across the battlefield. Her body trembled, tears streamed down her face, and in her fear and pain, she lost control of herself and soiled herself.
Joshua's eyes went wide. "MERLIN!!!" he roared into the dirt, rage pouring out of him in waves, but Morgan's hold remained firm.
Nearby, Jack wept, shoulders shaking. (If only I was stronger...)
Franciele's entire body tensed, her expression transforming into pure, furious resolve.
"That piece of shit..." she muttered through gritted teeth.
Crystal stood frozen, horror etched on her face.
Franciele crossed her legs and began to meditate, her body glowing with purple light.
Crystal panicked. "You can't do that! You'll die!"
"I don't care," Franciele whispered. "I refuse to let my granddaughter die like this."
Barata smirked. "That's enough fun. Time to finish this."
His monstrous teeth elongated. His glowing blue eyes locked onto Merlin's tear-streaked face.
"It won't nourish me to devour a witch... but the pain it'll cause them is delicious."
He leaned in, his mouth opening wide as he neared her neck.
Then...
CLANG.
His teeth hit something hard. Confused, Barata bit again.
When he looked up, a young man with wild blonde hair, wolf-cut and fierce eyes stood before him, dressed in a black hoodie, the shimmer of silver and gold armor glinting beneath. Barata realized he'd bitten down on a sword.
Barata growled. "Who the hell ar..."
He didn't get to finish.
CRACK.
The stranger's boot smashed into Barata's face, sending him flying and tumbling across the battlefield.
Crystal gasped. "Someone saved her! And... he's super handsome!"
Franciele opened her eyes and blinked in disbelief. "Huh... it's Lancelot. He looks so different now... But I'm so glad he came."
Tears welled in Franciele's eyes. Crystal hugged her tightly.
Lancelot walked calmly to Merlin and knelt before her, both at eye level. Merlin sat up slowly, stunned, eyes locked onto him.
"You're as beautiful as ev..."
SLAP.
"You piece of shit!" Merlin cried, tears spilling. "I thought you left forever... I really missed you."
Lancelot gently cupped her cheek and lifted her chin until their eyes met. "I'm sorry, Merlin. I trained all this time to become strong... to protect you. And Merlin, I love you."
Her breath caught. Her cheeks flushed red.
He leaned in. She did too.
Their lips met, soft, trembling, filled with the pain and longing of a hundred lonely nights.
When they pulled away, both blushed, giggling softly. But Lancelot's expression darkened as he noticed her injuries, her broken wrist, the blood running down her thigh, the soiled dress. Merlin tried to hide it, but he stopped her gently.
Without a word, he removed his hoodie and placed it over her lap. Beneath, he wore a black vest over glimmering armor, his muscular arms marked with scars and tattoos.
"I'm strong now," he said. "So you'll never have to go through something like this again."
Logan sneered from across the battlefield. "Who the hell does this guy think he is?"
He and Morgan transformed into their final awakened forms, still holding Joshua and Jack captive. They charged toward Lancelot.
But as Lancelot turned to face them, rage gleaming in his eyes, both were paralyzed with sudden fear.
He moved like a phantom.
In a blink, he stood before Morgan. "Get your filthy paws off Joshua."
Morgan released his grip.
WHAM!
A single backhand, blocked but still so powerful it hurled Morgan away from Joshua.
Joshua, barely conscious, looked up. "Lancelot..."
(Rest now, Joshua. You did well protecting Merlin.)
Lancelot walked to Jessica and knelt beside her, gently lifting her head.
"Hey, sister. Grandfather told me about you."
She was barely awake, groaning softly.
"Good. You're alive. This is going to hurt like hell, but it'll save you."
He poured a glowing potion into her wounds, helping her drink what she could.
Jessica screamed in agony as her wounds mended, leaving deep scars. Then she passed out in his arms.
Jack stared, stunned. (He saved Jessica... he's changed so much. Is that really Lancelot?)
Barata coughed up blood, forcing himself to his feet. "What are you idiots waiting for?! KILL HIM!"
Logan and Morgan attacked in tandem, flurries of fists and kicks flying, none of them landing. Lancelot evaded them all like a wind dancing through leaves.
"He's... dancing with them," Franciele whispered.
"They can't even touch him," Crystal added, eyes wide.
Jack clenched his fists. (We struggled so much... and he's making them look like children.)
Morgan launched a massive right hook, Lancelot blocked it and countered with a crushing punch that sent him flying into a building. Morgan reverted back to his human form instantly.
Logan charged. He threw a roundhouse kick...
CLANG!
Lancelot blocked with his sword hilt, stepped in close, and...
SHING!
He slashed behind Logan's neck. Logan's head flew high into the sky, his body shifting back to normal mid-flight.
"LOOOOGAAAAANN!!!" Morgan screamed.
But Lancelot was already in front of him.
His expression, pure wrath.
Morgan backed against the crumbling wall, trembling.
SHHHHRACK!
Lancelot's blade carved through Morgan and the building behind him in a single devastating slash. Blood and stone erupted in a violent wave. When the dust settled, Lancelot stood amid the ruin, calm and deadly.
Barata coughed and rose. "So... you saved the best for last. Fine. I'll show you the strength of one of the 36 heroes... I am BARATA THE RAT!"
His body convulsed, his fur darkening, muscles bulging. His fangs grew longer, claws sharper, eyes blazing with wild blue fire.
He roared.
The final battle was about to begin.