"Fine, then! I'll crush you with every ounce of resentment I've got!!"
Neid let out a roar of hatred and charged at Yugo, his massive hammer raised high. He put the Cyclops's monstrous strength behind his charge, but seeing through such sluggish, linear movements was child's play for Yugo.
Yugo leaped before his opponent could even ready the swing, using his momentum to bury a clenched fist into the giant's face. The counter landed as a clean hit, successfully making Neid flinch, but it wasn't the crushing blow Yugo had hoped for.
"Guh...! Why, you...!"
"...Not enough? Figures. For a Cyclops, you're every bit as tough as you look."
The one-eyed giant boasted a resilience that matched its bulk. Its strength was simple, which made it all the more troublesome to deal with.
Neid's transformation into this specific Magic Armor Beast was likely no accident. Since he lacked any real combat technique, granting him overwhelming physical power was far more effective than giving him a form with complex skills he couldn't use.
Yugo sensed the logic of the hooded figure pulling the strings even as he dodged the next attack, turning his mind toward how to end the fight.
How should I press him? I could drag this out, but the risk of taking a stray hit is too high. One mistake could decide the match.
Yugo didn't necessarily need to land a killing blow. Simply pinning Neid down would be enough. Time was on his side; the longer this lasted, the more likely it was that Marcos and the security force would arrive after finishing with the riots.
But the Cyclops's raw power remained a problem. If Neid landed even one solid hit, the fight was over. His friends had trusted him to take care of this while they fought to protect the city. A true hero wouldn't dream of making them bail him out here, too. For the sake of those who believed in him, he would be the one to end this.
"You're so annoying! Shut up, shut up, shut up!! You piece of trash, stop getting in my way!!"
Even as Yugo resolved to end the fight quickly, Neid's desperation only grew. He knew that if he didn't defeat Yugo immediately, reinforcements would arrive. Yugo intended to exploit that desperation, using his opponent's overeagerness against him to break his spirit and neutralize him.
"Hah!"
"Gah!? Guhaah!?"
Neid's attacks were monotonous—likely because the massive hammer left him with no other options. Between the wide, telegraphed swings and the predictable overhead smashes, dodging and countering was easy.
First strike: Yugo predicted the lateral swing and lunged inside Neid’s guard before the hammer could accelerate, driving a flying knee into the giant's chin.
Second strike: As the giant stumbled from the impact, Yugo landed and pivoted, slamming a backhand strike into the side of his face.
Third strike: Yugo funneled magic power into his right fist and unleashed a straight punch. Neid let out a cry of agony as he was blasted backward.
"Damn it...! There’s no way... I have all this power! How can I lose to a bottom-feeder who uses outdated junk and hides behind his friends?!"
"You might have gained power, Neid, but you didn't become strong. By cutting everyone off, you’ve become far weaker than the power you sought."
"What do you know?! I have the secret to the demonic swords, and I have power that can crush any magic knight! I’m perfect now—I can do anything alone! There’s no way I’m weak!"
"In this world—no, in any world—there’s no such thing as a perfect human. People survive by leaning on each other. I'm only standing here because my friends have my back. Neid, who's backing you up? Do you have a single friend who would reach out if you were suffering? If you don't, then you can't win."
"Shut up! Don't you lecture me, you relic! You and your obsolete armor-type magic items are history!!"
Infuriated by Yugo's words, Neid cast aside his hammer and lunged with his bare fists. His punch, fueled by rage, hatred, and negative emotions, seemed destined to connect with Yugo’s face—until a dull thud echoed through the air, followed only by Neid’s strangled groan.