"Ngh, guuuhhh...!"
Yugo’s response dealt a devastating blow to Trill’s pride.
The reality of the situation—that he, a self-proclaimed "Superior Species" who had supposedly evolved beyond humanity, was being overpowered by a youth who called himself a mere human—shattered his composure.
I can’t lose. I’m not allowed to lose!
Trill roared, desperately convincing himself that his power was absolute. He lunged at Yugo with murderous intent.
"Don’t you dare look down on me! I am a chosen being! I am one of the few with the potential to transcend humanity and reach the next stage of evolution! Someone like you has no right to mock me!"
Trill charged, thrusting his left-hand buckler forward while brandishing the straight sword in his right.
Even with his armor partially cracked, the sheer momentum of his massive, armored frame was terrifying. A head-on collision would be catastrophic for anyone else. The logical move was to evade, but Trill knew exactly how to rob Yugo of that choice.
"Dodge if you can! I’ll plow straight into the children behind you!"
Yugo was trapped. There were dozens of children at his back. If he dodged, Trill would crush them like insects. The impact of a Magic Armor Beast at full speed would leave no survivors; a direct hit meant certain death, and even a glancing blow would cause horrific injuries.
Certain that Yugo had no choice but to brace for the impact, Trill’s mouth twisted into a jagged sneer.
I’ve won! You can’t beat me while protecting that dead weight! Your compassion is your downfall!
As predicted, Yugo didn't move to dodge. He stood his ground, preparing to intercept the charge head-on. Trill poured every ounce of strength into the collision, visualizing the moment Yugo would be pulverized and ground into the dirt—but something went wrong.
"Wait... what...?"
The impact didn't feel the way he’d imagined. He had expected the satisfying crack of a bat hitting a ball, but the sensation that surged through him was a dull, heavy thud, as if he’d slammed his entire body into a mountain of solid iron.
More than that... Yugo hadn't moved an inch. He had caught Trill by the shoulders, halting the monstrous charge with his bare hands.
Draped in his Purple Armor, Yugo stood immovable. Trill could only stare in paralyzed shock.
"...Is that all you've got? My turn now."
"Hieee...!?"
The very words Trill had used moments ago were thrown back at him, cold and sharp. His body stiffened with pure terror. Having lost the defense he relied on and the strength he took pride in, Trill was helpless as the first blow landed.
"Augh! Gak!?"
First Move: One.
Yugo batted the buckler aside and drove a fist into Trill’s right elbow—the arm still uselessly holding the sword. The punch landed like an uppercut against the joint’s natural bend. A dry, sickening crack echoed through the air. Trill’s arm went numb, and his sword clattered to the floor.
"Bupeh! Bohhh!!"
Second Move: Two.
A flurry of hooks hammered into Trill’s defenseless face, snapping his head side to side. His vision blurred into a dizzying smear. His limbs went slack, and he could barely keep himself upright.
"Gabeh!?"
Third Move: Three.
A brutal kick slammed into Trill’s exposed midsection, folding him in half before launching him backward across the room. Terror finally broke him. Realizing his physical superiority was a delusion, he played the final card he had been holding in reserve.
"Monsters! Kill the children! Stop him, now!!"
It was a desperate, screeching command. In response, the monsters lurking in the shadows of the ceiling dropped toward the children. Uno, wounded but vigilant, managed to strike down several of the attackers, but he couldn't stop them all.
As the children’s screams filled the air, Yugo glanced back toward them. Seizing the opening, Trill turned and fled at full speed.
Strategic retreat! That’s all this is! My body just hasn't fully synced with this power yet! Once I master Level 2, a brat like that won't stand a chance!
He sprinted, babbling excuses to himself to drown out the reality of his defeat. He just had to get away, regroup with Rielle, and try again. He was almost out—he was going to make it—until he saw the impossible.
"Huh...?"
In the span of a single blink—less than a heartbeat—the world changed. Trill stopped dead, his mind spiraling into panic as he found Yugo standing directly in his path, back turned to him.
He had assumed Yugo was busy fighting the monsters. Trill stole a glance behind him and gasped. The subordinates he’d ordered to attack were already vanishing, incinerated in mid-air by bursts of flame.
"That trump card wouldn't even make a two-pair. Pathetic. I've seen your whole hand, so let's move to the showdown."
"Wh-wh-wh... how are you already there!?"
Trill could only scream. He couldn't stop his momentum; his panicked sprint was carrying him right toward the hero.
Yugo had used his own trump card—the Flame Armor—to incinerate the distractions and outpace the villain. Now, he channeled his magic power into his left leg. The energy surged from his knee to his chest, passing through the Flame Magic Crystal to be amplified into a roaring inferno. As the power reached its peak, the Blaster's eyes flared with a brilliant light.
"Blaster Kick...!"
The magic that had built up in his helmet cascaded down into his right leg in a sudden, violent rush. His foot ignited, wreathed in a crimson radiance. Trill could do nothing but hurtle toward his doom. The last things he felt were a searing heat and an impact that shattered his world.
"My... sister...!"
Only the veteran Uno was fast enough to see the movement. The roundhouse kick was a blur of absolute precision and overwhelming force. It caught Trill square in the face, instantly severing his consciousness.
As Trill let out a final, strangled cry, the flame-attribute magic power exploded. Yugo reached out through the smoke and caught the horn of the Magic Armor Beast, which had been snapped clean off by the impact.
He crushed the fragment in his fist and looked down at the fallen monster.
"Sorry... but I win this Kabuto Showdown."