"Something’s wrong, Brother. He’s just standing there, taking one hit after another..."
"Does that mean the debuffs placed on him are just that powerful, then...?"
Fee and the others had been watching Yugo struggle against the summoned Mail Beetle, and a sense of dread was beginning to take root. Just as they began to suspect foul play, a pale-faced Uno shouted to them at the top of his lungs.
"Everyone, it's a disaster! Communication with the control room is down! I didn't summon that Magic Armor Beast!"
"What?! Then that’s why Yugo is acting so strange—!"
"He’s likely been hit with an incredibly malicious debuff! He can barely react to the attacks!"
Realizing the exam had spiraled out of Uno’s control, Melt and the others shared his alarm. Sensing the peril, Sakura immediately drew a Magic Item and tried to intervene, only to be repelled by the barrier surrounding the practice ground.
"Oof! This barrier is quite the hindrance, I say!"
"Hey! Let's all hit it together! If we combine our strength, we can smash this thing!"
"Don't be an idiot, Verda! This barrier held firm even when the Gigantes attacked it. There's no way we can break it that easily!"
The barrier was an absolute wall; entry from the outside was impossible. Attempting to force their way through a shield that had withstood a rampaging Gigantes was pure fantasy.
"Professor Castle! How do we deactivate it?!"
"It's managed from the control room! But that area is also shielded, even if it's not as strong as this one! Getting inside won't be easy!"
"We won't know until we try! We're going to check it ourselves!"
"Understood! I'll stay here and see if I can find a manual override!"
They quickly coordinated their plan, and Melt’s group sprinted toward the control room, leaving Uno behind. As Uno grappled with the barrier, Neries watched the Mail Beetle relentlessly pummel Yugo from just a few paces away. She was spiraling into a total panic.
(W-What should I do?! What can I possibly do?!)
Between the weakening magic and the Blindness status, Yugo was crippled. He couldn't fight back. She was the only one left who could move, but the realization only terrified her more. What could a support specialist like her accomplish?
She had already tried her cleansing magic to no avail. Her enhancement spells were like trying to put out a forest fire with a cup of water. The pressure mounted with every passing second. Her breathing became shallow and jagged as a dark memory clawed its way to the surface.
The incident at the Insect Museum—the day that had left a permanent scar on her soul. She remembered the sheer helplessness of being beaten down by a Magic Armor Beast while she could do nothing but tremble. Just as that familiar terror and despair threatened to swallow her whole, Yugo’s voice cut through the noise.
"Neries, get a hold of yourself! Look up!!"
Neries gasped, her eyes snapping to Yugo. He was currently grappling with the Mail Beetle, his body strained to the limit. It was as if he knew exactly when she was about to break. He shouted again, his voice cracking with effort.
"Don't panic! And don't you dare give up! All that training wasn't for nothing! You have what it takes to change this situation! Believe in yourself!!"
"Yugo-san...!"
Yugo, who had been desperately pinning the Mail Beetle, was suddenly hurled backward as the creature threw him off. As she watched him struggle to endure the creature's follow-up strikes, Neries forced her mind to work. She searched frantically for any possible solution.
(Something... there has to be something I can do. Anything... wait!!)
Scanning through her repertoire of spells, she hit upon a potential opening. She channeled her Magic Power into her staff, concentrating the energy at the tip before converting it into a brilliant burst of light. She aimed it directly between Yugo and the beetle.
"Light, burst forth! Flash!!"
"Juk, Gih!?"
Flash—a support spell designed not for damage, but to create a momentary opening. True to its name, the magic unleashed a blinding flare that worked exactly as Neries had hoped.
"Yugo-san, now!!"
"I’ve got it! Haaaaah!!"
"Gijujit!?"
With its vision seared by the sudden brilliance, the Mail Beetle stumbled, its coordination shattered. Yugo, however, was already in total darkness. Because he was already blind, the flash hadn't affected him at all. He lunged toward where he estimated the creature to be, putting every ounce of Magic Power into his fist.
The punch caught the Mail Beetle squarely in the abdomen, the force of the impact sending the monster hurtling across the arena until it slammed into the far wall. It wasn't a finishing blow, but the immediate threat was gone. Neries ran to Yugo’s side, her chest heaving.
"Yugo-san! Are you okay?!"
"Thanks, Neries. You saved my skin. So... what’s our friend doing?"
His eyes remained clouded; the world was still black to him. Neries looked toward the wall. Her expression darkened as she saw the Magic Armor Beast staggering back to its feet. The blinding effect was fading fast.
"...It's already standing. The dazzle worked, but it's going to recover any second now."
"Right. In that case... there’s only one thing for it."
Yugo took a breath and triggered his Super Transformation. Armor the color of deep amethyst enveloped his body. Now clad in his defensive Purple Armor, he turned his head toward the sound of Neries’s voice.
"Neries... I need you to lead me. Tell me exactly where it is and how it moves. You’re my eyes now."