"Huh...? What are you even saying? You’re more nimble with the armor on? Don't give me that crap! Armor is supposed to slow you down! If there were actually suits that made you faster, full-body Magic Items wouldn't have become obsolete!"
Rush wasn't wrong. By its very nature, armor was equipment designed to provide defense at the expense of agility.
However, a fundamental gap existed in how the two men perceived the world. That difference, combined with Yugo’s status as a Reincarnator, granted him a strength that defied all common logic.
Yugo's greatest asset was the power of imagination.
This power, fueled by strength of heart and unwavering will—themes often explored in the Sunday morning shows he adored—had transformed him into one of this world's elite powerhouses.
Originally, Yugo had been born the heir to the prestigious House of Clay. Coming from such a noble lineage, he possessed significant natural talent.
But he had squandered that potential through a total lack of discipline. His raw aptitude and the sheer power of the Sacred Sword Galandil had allowed him to coast, leading him down a path of corruption and laziness.
As a result, he was destined to be struck down by the "Protagonist" of this world, just as he had been in the game. That fate, however, shifted dramatically the moment the soul of a man named Kurei Yugo took up residence within his body.
Kurei’s virtuous soul awakened the magical reserves that had been lying dormant within Yugo’s spirit.
In turn, Yugo’s physical body and innate talent provided Kurei—who had lived his previous life as an ordinary Tokusatsu Maniac—with the superhuman physical capabilities needed to turn his imagination into reality.
The synergy of these two elements gave birth to the man now known as Yugo Clay. His imagination translated directly into combat prowess, allowing him to replicate the hero battles he had obsessed over since childhood with terrifying accuracy.
Yugo didn't view the Blaster as armor. To him, it was a Reinforced Suit, the kind heroes donned upon activating a transformation item.
Because he envisioned it as a battle suit designed for high-intensity combat, he moved through the sheer power of conviction, feeling almost none of the heavy plating's weight.
Transformed heroes possessed superhuman capabilities. Since he had transformed just like them, it stood to reason that he should be just as powerful.
This wasn't a calculated strategy; it was an instinctive belief ingrained in his very soul. Because he accepted this childlike logic with absolute certainty, Yugo was able to exert incredible physical force the moment he transformed.
Of course, there was no way for Rush or the others to grasp this. Even Yugo himself, while wielding this phenomenal power, didn't truly understand the mechanics behind it. He simply acted.
To the spectators, Yugo was an incomprehensible anomaly.
He had lost everything—his status, his home, and the Sacred Sword that supposedly defined his strength—yet here he was, displaying a power that utterly eclipsed his opponent. To them, he was nothing short of a monster.
"Alright, that makes it one-on-one. Let's settle this, Rush—just you and me!"
"You...! You're just disowned trash! Don't you dare look down on me!!"
The cheers from the gallery had long since died away.
The students watched, their expressions shifting from mockery to bewilderment as the tide of battle turned. Rush, who should have been dominating the fight, was now being methodically dismantled.
Having completely lost his cool, Rush flew into a rage at Yugo’s smirk. He lunged forward, his movements driven by raw desperation.
Swinging his blade wildly, his eyes bloodshot, his screams echoed across the duel grounds as he charged.
"I'll gut you! I'm going to carve you into pieces with my own hands!!"
"Hey now, are you sure about that? If you charge in that wide open, I can do whatever I want to you."
Yugo dropped into a low stance, gathering Magic Power into his left hand.
He chambered his fist at his hip, gauging the distance. As Rush’s sword swung down, Yugo ducked inside his guard and drove a devastating punch straight into his face.
"My Style Special Move! Crimson Crimson Fist!!"
"Gbuoh!? Gah... hah...!?"
The counter-blow sent Rush reeling.
Desperately trying to stay on his feet, Rush’s vision blurred. Through the haze, he saw Yugo step in even closer, his left fist wreathed in a roaring crimson flame of magic.
"One more! My Style Special Move! Rising Crimson Fist!!"
"Gah-haaaah!!"
A perfect uppercut caught Rush square on the chin.
The blow shattered Rush's magical reinforcements and his defensive barriers alike. The lethal combination sent him spiraling into the air. Before the stunned eyes of the student body, he crashed violently into the dirt.
"Oah... gah... i-it's... impossible... How can this piece of trash... be this... gah!?"
"Thanks for the compliment. I appreciate the praise."
Yugo unclenched his left fist, turning his back on the staggering Rush, who continued to hurl hollow insults with glazed eyes.
Without even glancing back at his collapsing opponent, Yugo muttered the catchphrase that sealed his victory.
"...Knock Out."
"Ugh... gah... guhah...!!"