"H-How did you...!? Abebe!!"
The green Magic Armor Beast, now fully exposed, sputtered through a mouthful of blood, its speech thick and slurred.
Splattered with rainbow paint around its eyes, the creature’s skin was otherwise a deep emerald. It rolled its bulbous eyes in terror, staring frantically at Yugo and his companions.
"I see. It wasn't truly invisible; it was just using advanced camouflage to blend in," Ryuga noted.
"And that tongue was its primary weapon. It used it like a whip to bowl over anyone in its way," Marcos added.
Marcos stepped forward to face the beast as Yugo casually tossed the creature's tongue aside. While the ability to change its skin color was expected for a Chameleon Magic Armor Beast, Yugo hadn't realized its tongue could vanish as well.
However, Yugo concluded that this was the reality-bending power of a Clear Plate. He leveled a cold glare at the monster, which had gained strength that defied common sense.
"It’s over. We’ve figured out your tricks and neutralized your weapon. Surrender now and atone for what you've done."
"Hie... fuhiee...!"
Despite the lethal nature of its abilities, its primary crime thus far had been voyeurism. The assault on Woz and his cronies could certainly be considered a crime as well, but Yugo was willing to overlook that for the moment.
Hoping to end the confrontation before the creature could escalate its offenses, Yugo called for its surrender. The Chameleon Magic Armor Beast slumped its shoulders, looking defeated.
"I... I understand! I'll do as you say...!"
"Good. First, deactivate your transformation. Then, hand over the Plate."
Yugo felt a wave of relief as the opponent seemingly gave up. But just as he was about to secure the item, Melt’s voice drifted over from the open-air bath.
"Yugo, what happened? There was a huge commotion out there!"
"Don't worry, Melt! There was a bit of a mishap, but the culprit surrendered. It’s all—ah!?"
Yugo turned back to tell the girls acting as decoys that the threat was neutralized, momentarily taking his eyes off the prisoner. In that split second, the slumped figure of the monster vanished into thin air.
The Chameleon Magic Armor Beast had despicably feigned surrender to create an opening. It attempted to bolt, but the conspicuous rainbow paint still clung to its eyes. Yugo, whose vision remained locked onto those shimmering spots darting through the darkness, clenched his fists and growled.
"That bastard! He lied! He has no intention of coming quietly!"
"What’s the play? Should I cut him down?" Ryuga asked, his hand on his hilt.
"No, I’ll handle this. Marcos! Ready the Giga Scissors!"
"What? What are you—uwooooh!?"
The Chameleon Magic Armor Beast was scrambling to escape, but it was already in checkmate. Burning with rage at the creature's petty betrayal, Yugo slammed a reinforced kick into the Giga Scissors Marcos had just raised.
"Yugo, you brat! I am not a punching bag for you to vent your frustrations on!" Marcos roared.
"I know that! I'm not venting! Don't you remember the fight against the Crab Magic Armor Beast?"
"Hm...? Hmph, I see. Very well!"
Marcos’s irritation vanished as he realized the plan. He braced himself and readied his shield once more. Yugo leaped onto the Giga Scissors, using the heavy metal as a springboard. Channeling magic power into his legs, he launched himself toward the sky.
"Go! Golden Reflection!!"
"Thanks, Marcos! Super Transform!!"
Yugo called out his gratitude as the golden shockwave from Marcos’s shield propelled him even higher. Mid-air, the Blaster armor materialized around him. Clad in the Green Armor—his specialized long-range form—he gripped the Blaster Crossbow and took aim at the fleeing target.
"You lecherous creep! It’s time you learned your lesson!!"
He shifted the weapon into Sniper Mode, magic power swirling at the tip of the muzzle. Locking his sights onto the back of the peeper scurrying through the brush, Yugo unleashed a high-pressure wind bullet with a shout of fury.
"Got you! Pegasus Blaster!!"
"Guga!? A-Aga, gaaaaaaaaah!?"
The ultra-compressed bullet of wind tore through the Magic Armor Beast's back. The peeper stumbled out of the shadows, appearing right in front of the Security Force members who had just arrived. He clawed at the air for a few pathetic steps before the magic within the bullet reached critical mass, resulting in a violent explosion.
"Yeah! Direct hit! Peeper secured... wait."
Yugo pumped his fist in mid-air, celebrating the perfect shot. Then, reality set in. He had been so caught up in his anger that he hadn't considered his flight path. How, exactly, was he supposed to land?
Between the height of the jump and the massive recoil of the Pegasus Blaster, the wind was carrying him backward at a high velocity. Below, Ryuga and Marcos watched him plummet.
"Wait a second. Isn't he falling right toward us?" Marcos asked.
"Don't ask me. Just look," Ryuga replied dryly.
"Wa-wa-wa-waaa!? Waaaa!? Waaaa!?"
Yugo’s panicked screams grew louder as he descended. Ryuga and Marcos tracked his trajectory, their eyes widening as they realized where he was headed.
A second later, Yugo smashed through the perimeter wall of the open-air bath with a thunderous crash.
"O-Ouch...! Thank god I switched back to the Purple Armor during the fall...!"
"It’s not 'thank god,' Yugo," Marcos said, walking over to the hole. "The extra weight from the armor is why the wall is in ruins."
"True," Ryuga added. "Though, this might be a 'good' landing for you, in a way."
Yugo groaned and sat up amidst the rubble, sounding like a character from a slapstick comedy. He looked over at his friends, then followed their meaningful gazes to see exactly what he had destroyed. He turned his head slowly, and his heart nearly stopped.
"Yugo!? Are you okay!?" Melt cried out.
"Falling from the sky... what on earth happened?" Anhel asked.
"Hey, look at that. I see some familiar faces rolling around over there," another voice added.
Just as everyone had feared... he had landed squarely in the women’s bath.
The girls who had been helping with the operation rushed toward him, their concern for his safety overriding everything else. Yugo, however, was completely frozen.
"Hmm... it seems the peeper wasn't acting alone after all. This is quite a surp—surp... uh?"
"Are you trying to say 'surprise'?" Neries asked politely.
"Yes! That’s the one! Thank you, Neries-dono!"
"As expected of Master Yugo," another girl chimed in. "Even with Marcos-san and Ryuga-san's help, to take down so many culprits at once..."
"Ah, Marcos! Perfect timing! Come take a bath with us! It’s more fun with everyone!" Elena shouted with a bright smile.
"You idiot!" Marcos barked, shielding his eyes. "Have some modesty! Cover yourselves already!"
The women continued their casual conversation, seemingly oblivious to the fact that they were all completely naked. While a few tried to hide behind towels, most of them—led by the unapologetic Elena—were standing in a state of total "cast off," fully exposed to the night air.
"R-R-Ryuga-san!? Um, that... ah... KYAaaaa!!"
"Yugo, what the hell is this!?" Peewee screamed. "Don't just sit there staring! Get out!!"
"Hogee!?"
The screams of Raiha and Peewee, the only ones displaying a shred of normal shame, echoed through the resort. A magic-infused wooden basin caught Yugo square in the face. As he went down, he couldn't help but think that their outrage was the only thing making sense right now.
He, his partner, and his rival had just witnessed a paradise the peepers never reached—the ultimate Lucky Lecher moment.