[Val firmly nods when Gongenzaka makes that statement, a certain relief hitting the back of his mind knowing Yuya had someone watching out for him like this.]

He's right. Never surrender your personal agency in making decisions like this. You are still you. To surrender that is just like surrendering to Zarc himself.

[Sort of like what happened during the Hunt.]

Zarc is your burden. We are here to help, but the agency to make this decision all must be yours, and yours alone.