User blog comment:IamJakuhoRaikoben/Chapter 384: Attack of the Stars, Review./@comment-24467372-20140516113358/@comment-7418318-20140516120538

I'm worried about Lucy. If the King is facing off against Marde now, that means that Lucy's left alone with Jackal. And if Lucy falls unconscious, surely the Gate of the King would close too. If Marde plans to have Jackal take Lucy hostage, it would explain his smirk.

Or maybe Marde smirks because he knows that if he is defeated, his curse power will be released and wake up E.N.D.