As Aloysius approached Rose, she used her powers to throw boulders and then carts at him.
Aloysius: So, like Max. You too, are a coward, aren't you?
Rose: N.. no... I... I....
She flinched as he made a shot that barely missed her head.
Aloysius: Hmph. Like I said. Too easy.
Max: Rose!
He blasted her directly, and she fell to the ground. Aloysius lifted her from the ground by her hair.
Max: Let her go!
Aloysius: Tch.
Aloysius fired a blast at him, and he dodged.
Max: I said let her go!
Aloysius: You can run away now. No one is stopping you.
Max: Wh... wha...
Aloysius: Do you not remember the way out? It is right through that door. No one is guarding it. So you may as well.
Max: But...
Aloysius: But what? You think you are a member of this team? You really believe that you pose any threat to me?
Max: But I...
Aloysius: Followed your friends into battle and now are too afraid to think straight. Do I have it right?
Max: No... I... I just...
Aloysius: Tch. Leave. You may as well leave. After all, running is what you do best.
Max: Grrr...
Tiffany: Max! Run!
Max: But...
Tiffany: Run, Max!
Ken: (faintly) Run...
Luke: (struggling) Just... go....
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Max stayed in the same spot, struggling with his thoughts while Wolfram prepared yet another beam to strike Rose.
Max: No, no, no! I'm not leaving you guys.
Aloysius sighed and dropped a fainted Rose onto the ground.
Aloysius: Let it never be said that I was without mercy. So then, what will it be... or are words all you have.
Max: Grrrrr...
Max dashed around him in circles and tried to punch him several times while Wolfram simply yawned and fired a beam that sent an already unconscious Ken flying further. He stopped dashing in shock.
Max: Ken!
Aloysius: Are you really going to tire me out this much, insect?
Max backed away in fear of Aloysius as he approached him.
Aloysius: You are weak, insignificant, and helpless. Like a bug trapped in a bottle.
Max walked back even further.
Aloysius: To make things worse, you can't even help those you call your allies. Have you ever been in a fight, Max?
Max: Wh... What?
Aloysius: A fight to the death? Or did you simply walk in here thinking that this would be fun?
Max: I... I...
Max stared unsuredly at all of them. Rose was barely conscious. Luke was still trying to get out of the crystal he was stuck in. Ken was out cold. Tiffany was banging on the crystal prison.
Aloysius: I am correct, am I not?
Max looked doubtful and scared.
Aloysius: Well, I suppose you finally get the idea.
Aloysius simply walked past him, much to Max's shock.
He was walking straight towards Rose.
Tiffany: Max, just run! She knows what she signed up for...
Tiffany spoke with fear in her voice.
Max: But I...
Max fired a bolt at him again, but Aloysius kept walking, undaunted.
Tiffany: Rose! Get up! Rose!
Max fired more bolts, but he simply and slowly continued.
Aloysius: Hmph. Pitiful failure.
Max stopped firing bolts just as he was about to reach Rose. He froze in fear. And that fear made him remember his days getting expelled from schools. Several voices in his head started popping off.
Young boy: Loser!
Adult: Oh dear, what a troublesome child!
Teacher: This foolish boy!
Young boy: Hunter? More like Loser!
Child: Moron.
Children loudly chanting: Loser! Weirdo! Loser! Moron!
Young girl: Hey, why does that kid act so strangely?
Young girl: Yeah, maybe he's some kinda weirdo.
Teacher: Skateboarding imbecile.
Principal: You are expelled from.....
Teacher: Maximillian Hunter. Please, just leave....
Scientist: I see. This specimen is quite disappointing.
A single tear rolled from his eyes. He had always thought that he was over all of that. But here he was now, a failure yet again. A loser yet again. A coward yet again.
For a few seconds, he could hear nothing. Not a word. There was a loud beeping in his head.
The fear, the pain, the panic, all of that was trumped by a singular feeling. He did not know what words to use to describe it.
But this feeling, this feeling from his heart. It told him one thing. In spite of all of his fears and pain, he would not run.
And so... Max rushed directly in front of Wolfram, blocking his way to Rose, all the while, with a resolute look on his face, glaring at Aloysius.
Aloysius stared at him for a moment before he sighed and pointed his hand at Ken to blast him but before he could fire, Max rushed and blocked his way to Ken, firing up his own electric bolt as well.
Aloysius: Hmm? What now, did you somehow suddenly get resolve?
Max didn't answer. He simply walked towards him.
Aloysius: Very well then. If you would wish to die, I will grant you that.