"Yu... sa... Big Bro..."
"Wait... what?"
"Is something wrong, Brother?"
"I'm not sure. Something’s wrong with the signal. I can barely make out the voice..."
Fragmented voices crackled from the receiver, the connection failing to hold.
Yugo’s brow furrowed. The voice wasn't Setsuna's, and the raw desperation bleeding through the static was unmistakable. His friends leaned in, straining to hear.
"Every... being beaten... Raiha... right now..."
"...Yui? Yui, is that you?! What happened? Tell me!"
Recognition hit Ryuga like a physical blow. His face drained of color as he lunged toward the communication device.
The roar of an explosion followed. As everyone in the room paled, sensing the gravity of the situation, the impact seemed to stabilize the connection. Yui’s frantic scream finally came through clearly.
"Brother! Yugo-san! Please, please let this reach you!!"
"Yui! I can hear you! What's wrong? What's happening over there?!"
Ryuga shouted with equal desperation, but his sister seemingly couldn't hear him.
Frustration mounted as they realized the device was only functioning as a receiver. Against a backdrop of chaotic combat sounds, Yui continued to cry out.
"It was a setup! The transport was a trap!! Raiha-san and the others are fighting right now... but that thing is too strong! We're all going to be killed!"
"Yui! Who are you fighting?! Talk to me! Yui! Yui!!"
"Save me, Brother...! Please, hurry—!!"
"Yui! Yui! YUIIII!!"
With a sharp crackle, the line went dead. The silence that followed was heavy with dread.
His sister’s plea for help ringing in his ears, Ryuga gripped the device so hard his knuckles turned white. He turned to Anhel, his eyes bloodshot.
"Where are they? Give me their coordinates!"
"A short distance east of here! Based on the transmitter in the device, they aren't far!" Anhel reported, her fingers flying across her own monitors.
Ryuga bolted for the door, but Marcos moved quickly to block his path.
"Wait! Where do you think you're going alone?! You don't even have a magic item on you!"
"Don't you dare try to stop me! I don't care—I'm going to save my sister!"
The pressure radiating from Ryuga was suffocating. He had completely lost his cool, his mind consumed by panic. While Melt and the others flinched under his intense aura, Yugo stepped forward and met his gaze head-on.
"...Ryuga, take Skull. With his speed, you'll be there in no time."
"Yugo! Have you lost your mind? Ryuga can't possibly—!!"
"Zenon told us earlier, didn't he? Yui-chan is the one holding Ryuga's katana. As long as he reaches her and gets Ryuo-ga back, he'll be fine."
Yugo used the intel they had just received to silence Marcos’s protests. He placed a steadying hand on Ryuga’s shoulder, meeting his partner's eyes with a firm, supportive gaze.
"If it were Fee in trouble, I'd be out that door before anyone could say a word. I won't stop you. But don't do anything reckless. We're going to grab reinforcements and follow you, so just hold the line until we get there."
"...Right. I’ll borrow your horse."
Ryuga gave a sharp nod and sprinted out of the room.
As the sound of his footsteps faded, Yugo immediately began issuing orders to the remaining group.
"We need to ask Jinba-san and Professor Castle to mobilize reinforcements. They’re the only ones who will take us seriously. Fee, you stay here and act as our contact—"
"Wait, Brother! I'm coming with you! I know it's dangerous, but my friend is in trouble! I can't just sit here and do nothing!!"
Yugo hesitated. Taking Fee toward an unknown threat was a massive risk. He had intended for the boy to stay in the safe zone of the academy, but the sheer resolve in Fee's voice gave him pause.
"Don't be difficult, Fee! We don't even know if we can protect ourselves out there. We can't drag you into a battlefield!" Anhel argued.
"I don't care! I have to go!!" Fee insisted, standing his ground.
It was rare for the normally obedient Fee to be so defiant. Yugo let out a soft sigh and looked at his younger brother.
"Fee... Ann is right. We have no idea what we're walking into. We might not have the capacity to look after you while we're fighting."
"I know that! But I still—!!"
"Which is why... if things go south, you're the one who has to protect Yui-chan. You take her, get on Skull, and ride for safety. Can you do that?"
"Huh...?"
The room went silent. Fee stared at him, wide-eyed, and even the others looked shocked by the sudden concession.
"Are you serious, Yugo?" Melt asked, her voice trembling with worry. "You're really taking Fee-kun into a combat zone...?"
"Hero's Condition Number Six: 'Always rush to a comrade's aid.' I can’t exactly ignore the rules I taught him myself, can I?"
Yugo reached out and ruffled Fee’s hair.
A small smile played on Yugo's lips. His little brother had grown so much through his new friendships. He turned back to the rest of his team, his expression turning grim and determined.
"Let's move! We're bringing Yui-chan and Setsuna home!"