"Wh-what?! Wait, hold on! That’s completely reckless!"
Neries was thrown into a panic by Yugo’s sudden, impossible request.
However, Yugo remained dead serious as he pressed her.
"It’ll be okay. Based on the hits I’ve taken so far, the opponent isn't that fast. I can still react even if there’s a delay after hearing your instructions."
"That's not the point! There's no way I can communicate the enemy’s movements! What if I panic? What if I fall for a feint?! What then?!"
"I said it’ll be fine. My Purple Armor can take a few hits. Just stay calm and get used to giving the orders in the meantime."
"But... but...!"
Neries shook her head, trembling at the weight of the responsibility.
Yugo’s voice dropped, sounding strained.
"...I’m sorry. But I can't think of any other way. I know the pressure is insane, but I need your help."
"......!"
Neries flinched.
Yugo—the man who was incomparably stronger than her, the one who seemed like he could handle anything alone—was asking for help.
He was blind, his every attribute crippled by debuffs, yet he was still struggling, refusing to give up. As Neries realized he was truly relying on her, she took a sharp breath just as the Mail Beetle, its vision restored, let out a roar.
"Juraaaaaaa!!"
"Sounds like our friend isn't willing to wait. Neries... can you do it?"
"...I don't have much confidence. But... I'll try!"
"Heh...! Thanks. You’re a lifesaver."
Slowly, Yugo raised his left arm.
Giving a firm thumbs-up, he turned halfway toward Neries. Though he couldn't see, he looked toward where he sensed she was standing.
"I’m entrusting my life to you. I believe in you, Neries!"
"......Yes!"
She had to do it. There was no other choice.
Now tasked with holding Yugo’s life in her hands, Neries steeled her resolve.
The Mail Beetle charged, raising its sword high. Neries watched the movement, reading the monster’s intent, and called out.
"Straight ahead! A downward slash!!"
"Right!!"
Responding instantly, Yugo stepped forward.
Estimating the distance from the vibrations in the ground and the monster’s roar, he lowered his center of gravity and delivered a thrust toward where he sensed the enemy would be.
"HRAAAH!!"
"Gojura?!"
The Mail Beetle was caught completely off guard. Yugo had lunged into its personal space the moment it went to attack, throwing a punch in perfect sync with the evasion.
The monster’s blade whistled through empty air as it took a heavy counter-blow to the stomach, doubling over. Before it could recover, it prepared its next move.
Neries saw the Magic Armor Beast shift its stance, preparing a wide swing to cover more ground.
"Next! It's coming from the front left! A horizontal slash!!"
Yugo moved the moment the words left her lips.
He purposely leaned into the attack, closing the gap to strike the monster before the sword could gain any momentum. Grabbing the Mail Beetle’s arm to anchor himself, he delivered a hook-like punch straight to its face.
"Goju...!?"
"It’s working! Step in and hit it again!!"
The Mail Beetle staggered, reeling as if it had a concussion.
Following Neries’s scream to capitalize on the opening, Yugo delivered a powerful front kick that slammed into the monster’s gut.
"Juraaaaa!!"
Thanks to the debuff effects, his strikes weren't powerful enough to end the fight, but Yugo’s punches and kicks were definitely dealing damage.
Even so, Neries knew he couldn't unleash a finishing move in this state. She feared the battle would turn into a hopeless war of attrition—and then, a chill ran down her spine.
"Ah...!"
"Ju... ju...!"
She realized the source of that cold dread immediately.
The Mail Beetle was glaring at her over Yugo’s shoulder, radiating pure bloodlust.
As the fight progressed, the monster had figured it out. Yugo was only able to fight because Neries was acting as his eyes.
Rather than wasting its stamina on a target that refused to go down, it would be more efficient to eliminate the one in the instruction role first.
Reaching that logical conclusion, the Mail Beetle kicked off the ground. Its massive frame took to the air, descending toward Neries with crushing force.
"JURAAAAAAA!!"
"......!?"
Neries froze for a heartbeat, but her instincts took over.
She threw herself backward, narrowly evading the impact. Catching her breath, she looked toward Yugo, who was now separated from her by several meters.
"Neries! What happened?! Are you okay?!"
"The Magic Armor Beast shifted its target to me! I-I’m okay, I managed to dodge it!"
"Dammit! I knew it would try that! Neries, keep talking! I’ll get over there and cover you—!"
"No! Don't come here!"
Yugo had expected this possibility and gritted his teeth beneath his helmet, frustrated that his prediction had come true.
He moved to intercept the beast, but Neries cut him off.
"The monster is ignoring you to hunt me! Use this chance! Find a way to get those bracelets off while it’s distracted!"
"......!"