"Targets spotted! There are three of them! The Magic Armor Beasts are... Bull Golems!"
"What?! Are you sure you haven't made a mistake?"
"There’s no mistake! They’re charging us in formation—one on each flank, led by a central boss!"
"Impossible... Why are Bull Golems hunting in a pack?"
Yugo turned to Fee, seeking an explanation for the panic. Fee looked equally stunned as he spoke, his voice strained with disbelief.
"Bull Golems are fiercely territorial," Fee explained. "If two of them cross paths, they usually fight until one is dead or driven off. Seeing them form a pack like this... it’s completely unheard of."
Hearing those words, Yugo felt a grim sense of conviction. His theories were correct. Ordinarily, these monsters would have established their hierarchy through internal conflict. Now, they had learned to settle their standing by dragging a third party into their "hunt." They had discovered a new way of life—an evolution of sorts.
Simultaneously, they had discovered the sadistic pleasure of slaughtering those weaker than themselves. They were moving as a pack for one reason: to find fresh prey.
Yugo couldn't let them escape. If this behavior spread to others of their kind, isolated monsters would begin forming gangs to raid settlements. The resulting devastation for both wildlife and humanity would be catastrophic. They had to be put down here and now.
(If I trace this back, Rush’s transformation was the catalyst. A human turned Magic Armor Beast... maybe this is the "Invasive Species" effect.)
Quite a bit of time had passed since that incident, but the scars remained deep—from the crisis at Mount Yumyum to the ongoing closure of Luminous Academy. As Yugo clenched his fists, he realized that if anyone qualified as an invasive species, it was a reincarnator like himself. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was partly responsible for the current chaos.
Amidst his reflection, Skull sensed the presence of his hated enemies. His Flames of Revenge flared up, and he charged head-on toward the Bull Golems.
A piercing neigh echoed through the air as Skull lunged. "Skull, wait!" Yugo shouted, but the horse was already committed.
Skull collided with the leader. Their momentum was equal, but the Bull Golem’s massive weight gave it the advantage. It seized the horse with its powerful, muscular arms, only for Skull to erupt in flames, forcing the monster to recoil as the heat scorched its rocky hide.
"Impressive! Skull’s really fired up!" Melt cheered.
"His herd's killers are right in front of him—of course he is," Anhel replied. "But this is looking bad!"
While Skull was holding his own against the leader, the other Bull Golems began to circle him, intending to exploit their numbers and hunt him three-on-one. Seeing the disadvantage, Melt and Anhel rushed out to assist. The Security Force followed suit, joining the fray.
"Maintain formation!" the Captain bellowed. "This is unexpected, but they’re still Bull Golems! Their numbers don't change their weaknesses! Forget physical attacks—hit them with magic!"
Covered in thick, rocky hides, Bull Golems possessed near-impenetrable physical defense. However, while they could shrug off blades and spears, they were incredibly vulnerable to magic. Upon hearing their captain's orders, the guards calmed their nerves and began raining long-range spells down upon the beasts.
"Stay back, Fee. Make sure you don't get caught in the crossfire."
"Y-Yeah!"
Yugo shook his head to clear away his lingering doubts. He watched as the Security Force bombarded the leader to support Skull, and then saw the two minions peel off to attack the guards under the boss's command. Taking a deep breath, Yugo sprinted forward.
(I don't have time for guilt! If I’m responsible, then I’ll take responsibility with my own two hands!)
He couldn't afford to let regret paralyze him. Regardless of how this situation had started, his mission remained the same: protect as many lives as possible.
"Melt! Ann! Take the minions! This one is mine!"
"Understood! Be careful, Yugo!"
Rule number one of any hero show: clear the minions before taking on the boss. Protecting the Security Force while they supported Skull, Yugo lunged at a Bull Golem as it shifted from its Four-legged Galloping Form into its bipedal combat stance.
The monster flexed its massive muscles and let out an intimidating roar. Clenching his fists and ignoring the pressure, Yugo channeled his magic into his bracelet and roared.
"Transform!!"