"Alright! From here on, we'll conduct the training in a format that mirrors the actual exam. Specifically, Neries will pair up with one other person to take on an opponent!"
"Y-Yes! So, who should I partner with...?"
At the start of the session following their break, Yugo stood in the training grounds with the girls and explained the new arrangement. In response to Neries's hesitant question about her teammate, Yugo gave a firm answer.
"That's for you to decide, Neries. From those three, pick the person you think is best suited to the opponent and the strategy you've come up with."
"I-I'm the one who decides? Both my partner and how we fight...?"
"Exactly. That's how it'll be during the real thing, won't it?"
Neries gulped at Yugo’s words. If they wanted to simulate the exam as closely as possible, this was indeed the best approach. Seeing her look so anxious, Verda shouted, clearly trying to bolster her flagging spirits.
"Don't you worry, Neries! No matter who the opponent is, I'll blow them away for you!"
"Heh. Big talk. In that case, I'd better get serious...!"
"Eh...?"
Muttering cryptically with a defiant smirk, Yugo rotated his right arm inward. He passed his loosely opened hand in front of his face, creating a fleeting moment of stillness. Then, like a serpent lunging at its prey, he thrust his right arm forward before snapping it back to his chest.
"Today, I'll... Transform... into a Dark Hero!!"
A heavy thrum of resonant magic power echoed through the air as the Blaster on his left arm flared with light. Clad in his signature black armor, Yugo exuded a sinister, villainous pressure, letting out an almost ecstatic sigh. Neries watched him with a look of pure shock as the realization dawned on her.
"C-Could it be that the opponent is...!?"
"You got it. It's me. Ready when you are, Neries...!"
"Hieee...!"
Neries let out a pathetic squeak, trembling and on the verge of tears as she felt the intimidating, villainous aura wavering around him. While she was spiraling into a minor panic over having to fight Yugo, Verda seemed energized by the prospect.
"Now this is what I'm talking about...! I've wanted a chance to go all out against you! I'll be the partner! Neries, hit me with an enhancement!"
"Y-Yes!"
Startled by the command, Neries jumped and immediately cast enhancement magic on Verda. She opted for a spell that boosted attack power to maximize his physical strength. As she watched from the sidelines, Verda clenched his fists and charged straight at Yugo, throwing a massive punch.
"Take this!"
"A contest of pure power? Fine by me! Let's see what you've got!"
Yugo met the incoming thrust with a left straight of his own. His fist collided with Verda's—which was a full size larger—and after a momentary, grinding clash, Yugo’s strike repelled his opponent with overwhelming force.
"What?! You've gotta be kidding me!"
Verda was stunned. Even with his natural strength and the buff from Neries, he had been physically overpowered. Before he could recover, Yugo hammered him with a one-two combination.
The strikes weren't designed to inflict deep internal damage, but rather to displace weight. The impact easily lifted Verda’s massive frame off the ground, sending him tumbling across the dirt. He scrambled back to his feet immediately, his face twisted with frustration.
"Dammit! Neries, another attack-enhancing magic, quick!"
"Stop right there, Verda. That's enough. Were you even listening to a word Yugo said?"
Despite the blow, Verda was perfectly fine thanks to his innate sturdiness and the fact that Yugo had been holding back. He had been ready to charge back in, but Peewee, who had been observing the exchange from a distance, called him to a halt.
"This is training for Neries, isn't it? This isn't a personal mock battle between you and Yugo. You need to follow Neries's instructions and think about how you can contribute to her success."
"Urgh...!"
The reminder of their actual objective silenced Verda, who had clearly let his blood boil over. Neries, realizing she was the one who was supposed to be in command, began to fret, but Misery spoke up in her usual flat tone to steady her.
"There is no need to be flustered. As you can see, Master Yugo is waiting for us to make our move. We will assist you, so please take your time to formulate a strategy."
"Y-You're right! A strategy... a strategy...!"
Having regained a modicum of composure thanks to Misery’s intervention, Neries took a deep breath and began to analyze how to handle Yugo. To help her along, Marcos offered a bit of indirect advice.
"Verda's sacrifice was not in vain. You should have learned something from it. Be grateful to him while you craft your plan."
"Hey! What do you mean 'sacrifice'?! I'm not dead, and I'm standing right here!"
"Um, what I've learned... is that a direct confrontation is too difficult...?"
Neries looked back on the clash between Yugo and Verda. Verda was the strongest member of their group, and even with his power boosted by her magic, he couldn't match Yugo. Therefore, a head-on assault was likely a losing move. When she timidly voiced this conclusion, Marcos nodded and urged her to think further.
"You've found one answer. Now, based on that, decide your next move."
"So, I have to decide whether to give Verda-kun a different role, or have someone else take the front... right?"
"Exactly. Try whatever tactic you believe will be most effective."
Neries was intelligent, and once she calmed down, the logic wasn't difficult to follow. Nor was it hard to decide on a new course of action. It didn't take her long to reach a decision, which she then shared with the group.
"In that case... Marcos-san, would you mind taking the next turn?"
"Oh? And what was the reasoning behind picking me?"
"Well, um... Yugo-san is incredibly strong, and he hasn't shown us everything he can do yet. I want to gather information while we observe his movements. To do that, I thought I should ask Marcos-san, since he's the best at a defensive battle."
"...I see. A sound decision. You've acknowledged the enemy's strength, maintained your caution, and chosen a move that builds toward a future opening. Above all... your judgment in relying on the great Marcos Borg is nothing short of magnificent! You certainly have a keen eye for talent! Nah-hah-hah-hah-hah!!"
Marcos had started off sounding cool and intellectual while praising Neries's logic, but his true self had leaked out halfway through, ruining the effect entirely. As he puffed out his chest and laughed like a vain noble, Melt and the others could only watch from afar with their heads in their hands.
"Are we really sure about leaving this to him? I'm feeling nothing but dread..." Verda grumbled.
"It will be fine. Despite his personality, Marcos-san's skills are the real deal," Misery replied as she watched Marcos step forward to face Yugo, having received a defense-enhancing magic buff from Neries.
"So, you're my next opponent? This brings back memories of our first fight," Yugo remarked.
"Hmph! I made a pathetic spectacle of myself back then. I assure you, I will not make the same mistake twice."
Reminiscing about their first encounter, the two of them shifted into a combat stance. Closing the distance in a single step, Yugo unleashed a lightning-fast jab meant to probe Marcos's defenses.
"Hmph!"
"Guh!?"
Rather than meeting the Godspeed Thrust head-on, Marcos used his shield to parry and redirect the force, immediately using his Giga Scissors to knock Yugo's arm aside. It was a perfect Shield Bash—defending while simultaneously breaking the opponent's posture. Yugo hadn't expected to be left wide open on the first move, and his eyes widened as the golden blades of the scissors closed in.
Yugo managed to lurch backward, narrowly avoiding the strike and putting distance between them with a Backstep. Marcos watched him retreat, a confident smirk playing on his lips.
"Don't drop your guard, Yugo. Otherwise, you'll be the one making a pathetic spectacle of yourself this time!"