"Have you recovered from the fatigue of your journey? If not, I don't mind pushing the schedule back another day."
"Hmph...! To your disappointment, I'm in perfect health. Today, right here, I’m going to crush you all!"
The following day, a considerable number of students gathered at the duel grounds as the battle between Hugo’s team of three and the heirs of the prestigious noble houses of Yamato was about to begin.
Ryuga and Masanaga were already at each other's throats, exchanging sharp barbs as a foul mood hung over the area.
Neither team’s members moved to stop them, each focusing on mentally preparing for the upcoming fight.
"Good luck! Marcos! I'm rooting for you!"
"I don't really think Hugo and the others will lose, but... I suppose I’m still a little uneasy."
"There’s something unsettling about them. You never know what kind of tricks they might pull..."
In contrast to Elena’s innocent cheering, Setsuna and Raiha wore looks of mild concern.
Perhaps they felt responsible for the situation since it was their own fathers who had invited this trouble.
Since the hero of the hour, Hugo, was dueling these strange guests from Yamato, a massive crowd had assembled. The two girls were bewildered by how much the situation had escalated, but Hugo and his teammates didn't seem to care in the slightest.
"Hugo Clay...! I'll be the one to test whether you're truly a man worthy of Lady Sakura! Don't come crying to me when you're beaten into the dirt!"
"I don't mind the test, but ultimately, the choice of marriage belongs to Sakura and the others, doesn't it? Don't get the wrong idea that winning against me means you're suddenly their fiancé."
"Heh heh heh...! Speaking of wrong ideas... Perhaps you're the one who has let the public's worship cloud your judgment regarding your own strength?"
Hugo didn't even dignify Enji's snide comment with a response.
Marcos and Ryuga also felt that listening to the man was a waste of time. Just then, Tadakatsu spoke up.
"Now then... this duel will be a three-on-three team match. The battle ends when one side is completely wiped out. Any objections?"
"Understood. Doing three one-on-one matches is a hassle, and a team battle is easier anyway."
"You're awfully confident. Are you looking down on us? If so, I'll make you regret it immediately!"
Masanaga, who had been snapping at Ryuga until a moment ago, took offense at Hugo's casual tone and turned his aggression toward him.
Hugo brushed it off as usual, prompting Enji to speak with a cryptic smirk.
"Our side is fully prepared. Let's get this over with quickly. I just hope you don't embarrass yourselves in front of the ladies cheering for you by losing too fast."
"I wonder which of us will be the one feeling embarrassed?"
Marcos shot back with a stinging remark to the obvious provocation.
After a sharp snort, Enji turned away and began to put distance between them, followed by his two companions. Hugo, Ryuga, and Marcos also walked toward their designated positions.
"...Masanaga, you know the plan?"
"Yes, let's show them our true power!"
"Both of you, let me handle Hugo Clay! I want to settle things with him one-on-one!"
Just before the clash, the Yamato trio finished their brief strategy session.
As the moment finally arrived, Tadakatsu took a breath and roared the start of the battle.
"Then, with both sides swearing to fight fair and square... Duel, start!!"
"It's been a while since I've really let this charge up! Trans... form!!"
Hugo clenched his fists tightly, making his knuckles pop, then swung his arms wide in a sweeping pose.
Enveloped in a brilliant red light, Hugo emerged clad in his Blaster. He stood with one hand open and the other clenched in a fighting pose... but then, a sight he never expected caught his eye.
"Huh? Wait a second!?"
Beyond his gaze, pillars of light similar to his own were erupting.
Yellow, green, and blue—Hugo watched in surprise as three colored pillars of light rose from where the Yamato trio stood. When they emerged from the radiance with changed appearances, the audience erupted in a roar of shock.
"Wh-What is that!?"
"An armor-type magic item... just like my brother's!?"
Stepping out from the pillars of light, Enji and the others were clad in vivid armor emblazoned with their respective family crests.
The crowd was stunned to see them using armor-type magic items for combat just like Hugo, but Anhel and the other Yamato members quickly noted the differences.
"No, that's not armor. Hugo's Blaster is an armor-type magic item that covers the entire body in plating, but those Yamato guys are only wearing armor on specific sections like the head and chest."
"More accurately, it's Gusoku. It's a different kind of protective gear, though it’s still a magic item."
Looking closely, it was as they said. While Hugo was encased from head to toe in Black Iron armor, Enji and his group had parts of their bodies—like their faces and joints—exposed.
Furthermore, while the Blaster had a simple design due to its mass-produced origins, the three heirs’ Gusoku each had completely unique constructions.
"Even over here, high-ranking houses have specially-made armor-type magic items. I guess it's the same in Yamato...!!"
Despite the cultural differences, it was clear that these were custom-made battle attires crafted specifically for the heirs of Yamato's prestigious houses.
Noticing that they likely utilized dragon materials—much like the shrine maiden attire worn by Setsuna and her friends—Fee and the others grew increasingly tense, realizing the gear surely possessed incredible power. However, Hugo, standing directly across from them, seemed to have the exact opposite reaction...?