「Ah... ugh... uuh...」
As the inferno subsided, Neid, who had been at the epicenter of the blast, returned to his human form.
He lay there groaning in pain, unconscious. The outcome of the battle was clear to see. The hammer he had used to forge the Demonic Swords lay shattered, consumed by the same flames that had brought him down.
Looking down at the defeated youth, Hugo let out a long breath. No more of those cursed weapons would be forged now. He raised his head, his voice low and steady.
「...I know you’re there. Stop hiding and show yourself.」
「Impressive! You’ve got sharp instincts, I’ll give you that...」
The response was a playful, lighthearted voice that felt entirely out of place on the battlefield.
Hugo turned slowly. His eyes locked onto a figure clad in a black hood, and for several long moments, the two simply stared at each other.
「At what point did you realize I was here?」
「It wasn't a matter of 'at what point.' You’re the one who turned Rush into a Magic Armor Beast, aren't you? After I defeated him, you dragged him off and killed him. I figured you’d try to do the same to Neid.」
「I see! So you took him down with such a spectacle just to create a blast that would keep me at bay... Using a Cyclops was a mistake on my part. I should have picked a physically weaker Magic Armor Beast.」
The figure in the black hood let out a dry, rattling chuckle. Hugo narrowed his eyes, glaring at the man.
Before him stood the true mastermind behind the Serial Kidnapping and Murder Incident caused by Rush, as well as Neid’s recent rampage. Hugo remained on high alert as the hooded man began to clap mockingly.
「To think you would try to save that boy in the truest sense; you really are something! People might argue over your methods, but I’ve taken a liking to you! I think I’m becoming a fan!」
「I don’t care for praise from a villain. Who the hell are you? Why are you doing this?」
「Don’t be in such a hurry, Hugo Clay... or should I say, Yugo Kurei? If I revealed everything all at once, there wouldn't be any fun left for later, would there?」
「...!?」
Hugo’s eyes went wide. The shock of hearing his name from his previous life was a physical blow. The hooded figure didn't miss the opening; his lips twisted into a smirk as he snapped his fingers.
「Aga...!? Agagagagagagagh!」
「Neid!? You... what did you do to him!?」
The moment the snap echoed, Neid’s body began to convulse in agony. Hugo rushed to his side, but the hooded man only watched with a thin smile.
「I placed a little mechanism in him when I scouted him. I simply decided to activate it. Don't worry, I won't take his life, nor will he suffer any mental trauma. It’s just that... I’ve erased every single memory he’s ever had, from the moment of his birth to right now. Rest easy!」
「What did you say...!?」
As the man spoke of the horrific fate he’d forced on Neid in such a casual tone, Hugo rose, his fury practically radiating off him. Seeing Hugo’s intensifying rage and his tightly clenched fists, the man in the black hood held up his hands playfully.
「Whoa, whoa! Time out! I have no intention of fighting you. Truth be told, I’m incredibly weak. If we fought, you’d beat me into the ground without a doubt.」
「Even if you don't have the intention, I do. I’m taking you down right here before you can ruin this world any further!」
「Hahahaha! Then you really should stop! Even if you defeat me, it won't mean a thing! Someone else would just take my place!」
The hooded man snapped his fingers again. The Garuda that had been engaged with Skull swooped down, snatching the man up and carrying him high into the air. Once he was beyond Hugo’s reach, the mastermind looked down at the hero.
「Let's call it a day. You’ve taken quite a bit of damage from the recoil of using that Flame Armor, haven't you? You prevented Neid’s escape and stopped the production of Demonic Swords. I managed to ensure he won't talk. We've both achieved our goals, so I'd say it's a 70/30... no, more like 80/20 victory for you. To celebrate your success, I'll tell you two things.」
The hooded man slowly held up a finger, a smile audible in his voice.
「First, there is an evil lurking in this world far beyond anything I could ever hope to rival. If you truly wish to save this world, you need to get stronger. The day will come when you need that power. Train yourself so you don't regret it when that day arrives. And the second thing... I'll tell you my name. It’s a codename, but calling me 'Black Hood' forever would be inconvenient, wouldn't it?」
The man continued to ascend, his face still hidden, his tone mocking. His voice and behavior were so ambiguous that it was impossible to tell if the person was a man or a woman. The mastermind behind the chaos finally introduced himself to the Villain Hero.
「...Lost. That’s my name. Remember it, my Hero... I look forward to seeing more of your wonderful exploits the next time we meet. Until then...!!」
With those final words, Lost departed. Hugo watched as the Garuda rapidly shrank into a speck in the sky, his voice bitter as he spoke.
「Lost... He knows who I really am. Is he a Reincarnator like me...?」
There were still no answers. Just as Lost had warned, Hugo felt a dark premonition that an evil existed in this world far beyond his imagination. Realizing he had only just scratched the surface of a much deeper mystery, Hugo stood in the silence, staring at the horizon where Lost had disappeared.