"Yugo! Can you still move normally?"
"Yeah! Just moving around isn't an issue!"
"Understood! Then we'll use magic instead of physical force! I'm going to enchant your strikes—just keep the pressure on!"
With his attack power dampened and the enemy encased in heavy stone, inflicting damage seemed like a tall order. However, that only applied to purely physical strikes.
The rock armor worn by the Bull Golem was notoriously vulnerable to magical damage. Even with Yugo’s strength suppressed, an elemental enchantment would be more than enough to deliver a punishing blow.
Throughout her training, Neries had learned how to deal with robust foes and developed tactics for a wide variety of enemies.
Refusing to let panic cloud her mind, she calmly recalled her lessons and cast the enchantment magic on Yugo.
"I've granted you the flame attribute! You should be able to fight with your usual rhythm!"
"Got it! Thanks, Neries!"
Now empowered by the flame attribute—the element he was most comfortable with—Yugo tightened his grip and glared at the Bull Golem.
With a sharp thud, he kicked off the ground. Closing the distance in an instant, he slipped inside the Magic Armor Beast’s guard and drove his fist into the creature's rocky abdomen.
"Hraaaaaah!"
"Buguh?! Bumohh!?"
The Bull Golem let out a guttural groan as the impact and the fiery magic surged through its gut, piercing all the way to its back.
As the flames erupted from the monster's spine, it doubled over in pain. Yugo didn't give it a moment to recover, unleashing a full-power flying knee strike directly into its face.
"My Style Special Move: Crimson Lotus Roaring Flame Kick!"
"Bumoooooooo!"
Struck by the flaming knee, the Bull Golem let out a shrill scream as it was sent flying backward.
Yugo, having unleashed his big move, reset his stance while the monster was reeling, keeping his eyes locked on the beast.
He’s staying calm. Clay isn’t trying to hog the spotlight; he’s leaving the tactical lead to Celein.
Uno watched the battle closely. He nodded in approval at Neries’s decision to immediately shift to attribute-based damage, and at Yugo for flawlessly executing the change in tactics.
The Bull Golem was far more powerful than the Arachlaws, and Yugo still had his Flame Armor. Even with the bracelet lowering his base attack power, he could have likely powered through it if he really wanted to.
This was a test to see if Neries could devise a strategy suited to the situation, and she was already exceeding Uno’s expectations.
Yugo, too, clearly understood that Neries was the leader and the star of this exam. He followed her lead without a word of interference.
To Uno, Neries looked more formidable than ever. She was rising to meet Yugo's trust with perfect tactical answers, all while managing the battle so as not to over-rely on his overwhelming strength.
She chose the flame attribute because she knew it was the one Clay is most accustomed to. They trust each other even more than I realized.
Uno caught the subtle nuance in Neries's words—that Yugo could fight with his "usual rhythm"—and a small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
They hadn't been working together for very long, yet they shared a profound mutual understanding. Seeing the two of them in sync and witnessing Neries's growth brought a genuine sense of warmth to the instructor's heart.
This was an exam, however. He had to remain a strict judge. Uno suppressed his smile and stepped back just as Neries shouted to Yugo again.
"Yugo! I'm switching the enchantment to wind! It'll be more effective now!"
"On it!"
The Bull Golem scrambled to its feet and charged with a deafening roar. Yugo lowered his center of gravity, bracing himself.
Adopting a stance reminiscent of an Iai draw, he gathered wind magic in his right hand. The moment he blurred past the Bull Golem, he whipped his arm out in a horizontal arc.
"...Blaster Mist Slash!"
"Gubumooo?!"
The wind-wrapped knifehand strike slammed into the stone plating protecting the Bull Golem's midsection. The howling gale instantly pulverized the solid rock into sand.
With the armor gone, his hand sliced through the exposed muscle in a single flash. This time, the physical damage combined with the elemental shredding proved too much; the Bull Golem shrieked in agony and lost its footing.
"Now! Attack power, boost!"
Seeing her opening, Neries seized the moment to finish it. She triggered a spell to amplify Yugo's attack power.
With his full strength restored by her support, Yugo released a burst of his own magic, intensifying the wind swirling around him.
"Haaaaaaaa...!"
A torrent of wind erupted around Yugo.
The gale coalesced into a localized tornado, lifting his armored body off the ground and carrying him high into the air.
"Alright, let's wrap this up!"
Once he reached the apex of his ascent, Yugo shifted the direction of the vortex.
With the roaring tornado at his back, he locked onto the Bull Golem. Using the storm's incredible pressure to propel himself, he unleashed a terminal-velocity diving kick.
"Spinning Blastaaaaaaa!"
"Bugoh...!"
The Bull Golem barely had time to look up before a massive hole was torn through its torso.
Yugo tore through the Magic Armor Beast like a drill, landing gracefully on the ground as the creature let out a final, distorted wail and exploded into particles.
"Ugooooooooooooooo!"
"Heh... man, if I could've just thrown a card right there, it would've been perfect..."
Neries tilted her head at his happy muttering.
She decided it was just more of his usual nonsense and put it out of her mind. Uno, however, gave a deep, satisfied nod as he watched them stand over the remains of their second target.
She handled the handicap with composure and employed the most effective strategy for the foe. While Clay’s individual strength is undeniable, Celein is providing more than enough support to bridge any gap.
He knew Yugo’s power played a large role in their dominance, but even if she had been paired with someone else, the outcome likely would have been the same.
Identifying a weakness, selecting the right attribute, and timing her buffs perfectly... she had proven she was a top-tier support.
Through the battles with the Arachlaws and the Bull Golem, Neries had showcased the full extent of her talent.
Her confidence had returned. She was performing as well as—no, better than—she ever had. Uno no longer felt any reason to worry.
Seeing how many friends she had to support her, Uno felt a sense of pride in the unabashedly youthful power of their bonds. He had seen enough to conclude the exam, or so he thought...