"...Pfft! Ahahaha! What the hell is that supposed to be?! A 0.1-second opening? That's not a weakness—it's nothing! Man, you're a riot! But hey, I'm relieved. Even if you're forced to retire as a Magic Knight after this, you’ve got a bright future as a comedian! I can carve you up without feeling guilty now!"
Isaac doubled over, laughing at the sheer absurdity of Yugo’s smug claim.
He was certain it was a bluff. Even if the guy were serious, he was just a moron. Convinced that no such weakness existed, Isaac launched another assault with his twin swords.
"Now then! Let’s wrap this up already! I’m telling you, there won't be a second chance. Don't think the same trick will let you escape twice!"
He brandished his twin swords, unleashing a storm of slashes with the skill Twin-sword Tempest.
The technique delivered a continuous barrage of strikes until the opponent went down. Once it connected, it was the perfect tool for locking an enemy’s movements. By following it up with his finisher, X-Slash, he could deliver a guaranteed final blow. This combo was Isaac's victory formula.
When he had fought other Reincarnators in the past, he had used these two techniques to corner them against the walls before finishing them off. Consequently, Isaac had absolute confidence in the sequence.
He had already accounted for the possibility that Yugo might react and try to leap over his head when he unleashed the X-Slash. Next time, he would simply observe his opponent’s movements before triggering the finisher and adjust his aim.
If Yugo moved like he had before, Isaac would just fire the X-Slash behind him, shredding Yugo's defenseless back as he landed. If he tried to dodge left or right, Isaac would simply aim the skill in that direction.
As he drove Yugo back, calculating his responses, he managed to push the boy to the very edge of the arena in an instant.
One more backstep and Yugo would be pinned against the wall. That would be the moment to unleash the killing blow.
Smirking at the thought, Isaac watched as Yugo finally took that anticipated last step.
"Alright, I've got you! X-Sla—"
Certain of his victory, Isaac shifted into the stance for his finishing move. As he stared Yugo down to track his next move, he suddenly noticed something was wrong.
The leap Yugo took was far greater than Isaac had imagined. Rather than being cornered against the wall, Yugo had lunged backward with so much force it looked like he was going to slam right into it. Isaac felt a flash of confusion, but in the next heartbeat, his eyes widened in shock.
The Magic Crystals on the ankles of the Blaster armor emitted a brilliant crimson glow.
Witnessing the radiance that signaled a massive boost to leg strength, Isaac watched as Yugo kicked off the wall of the Battlefield and pounced toward him.
"Wh-what?! Urgh!?"
Isaac likely had no idea what had just happened to him. In the moment he thought Yugo had used the wall to reverse his momentum, a dull pain exploded in his face and he was sent flying.
Recalling the sight he had glimpsed a fraction of a second before, he realized he had been hit by a magnificent Counter Flying Knee. He scrambled to his feet, his fists trembling with rage. Glaring at Yugo, he cast aside his arrogant facade and spat out a groan filled with pure hatred.
"You... you bastard...! How dare you... how dare you kick me!"
"I told you, didn't I? You have an opening. I might have exaggerated the 0.1 seconds a bit, but I wasn't lying. To transition from the flurry you use to corner people into your finishing blow, you have to change your stance. That defenseless moment is one of your weaknesses."
"Just because you landed one lucky hit, you think you can act smug?! Don't get cocky! I haven't even started showing you my real strength!"
His composure replaced by absolute fury, Isaac lunged at Yugo to vent his rage. He closed the gap with god-like speed, intending to shower Yugo in a barrage of slashes faster than the eye could follow—but Yugo's response exceeded his wildest imagination.
"...I can see you, Isaac!"
"Wha—!? Gah!?"
Until now, Yugo had evaded every attack by leaping backward, but this time he did the exact opposite. Instead of retreating, he stepped directly into the path of the attacking Isaac. Turning his body halfway, he drove a Right Elbow Strike forward.
Before Isaac's sword could complete its swing, the two men collided with a heavy, sickening thud.
On one side was a man clad in armor, the very embodiment of resilience. On the other was a man who had discarded his defense in exchange for speed and power. That was already a significant gap, but a new element had been added to the scale: the difference in their mindset.
In contrast to Yugo, who was focused entirely on the counterattack, Isaac had focused his mind solely on the offense. Yugo had been prepared to take a hit to land his own, whereas Isaac was immersed in the delusion that he was untouchable and that his opponent couldn't possibly strike back. It was a scenario Isaac hadn't considered in the slightest.
That difference proved to be far too great.
Isaac had charged in at maximum speed, and Yugo used that momentum against him. Isaac took a perfect Counter Elbow Strike to the solar plexus and was sent tumbling backward, just as he had been seconds before.
"Gah...! Wheeze... Cough...! I-impossible...! How could this...!?"
"Are you serious...!? Isaac is the one getting cornered!?"
"Amazing... so this is Master Yugo's true strength...!"
The tide of battle had turned completely. Witnessing the once-dominant Isaac fall into a desperate struggle, Claire and the others were unable to mask their shock.
They were stunned by the gap between them—not just in physical ability, but in the observational skills required to read an opponent while under fire, the calm judgment to exploit a flaw, and the sheer courage required to charge an enemy mid-assault.
As Isaac struggled to breathe, Yugo looked down at him.
"Isaac, let's end this. You've lost. Surrender."