Why? At what cost, preservation? Jack had told Chiaki that he wanted to find hope, but what hope is there if they're just playing out what keeps happening every cycle? But if Jack has been standing in this space hundreds of times, he'll do it again.

Fire and earth crashes down on all their heads, and Jack can only throw an arm over his face. Blindly, he draws his sword. Jack's greatsword flashes, but the light from it encapsulates Jack, himself, instead of striking out in an attack. Sentinel. With any amount of luck, that was enough for him to take some of the damage for everyone else. The spell increases Jack's defense, but also makes it easier for him to take the hits in place of his allies.

"Damn you!"