"Wha—what the hell are you talking about...! Give the desperate excuses a rest!!"
Yakaba’s bravado faltered for a heartbeat. He lashed out at Yugo, his voice thick with a rage that barely masked his sudden unease.
Despite the relentless assault from the animals, Yugo kept his eyes fixed on the man. "I’m not exactly an overlord myself," he began, his voice steady, "but I know a thing or two about what someone in that position needs. It’s either a man with the ruthlessness and magnanimity to value his fellow villains, or someone with overwhelming charisma. Sadly, I don't feel even a trace of either from you."
"A-Are you mocking Lord Yakaba!? You’re just a piece of trash who can't even fight back!"
"Yeah, I am. And if you look at the state of things, you’ll see I’m right."
Yugo glanced at the animals swarming him before turning his gaze back to Yakaba. That piercing stare forced Yakaba to clench his fists and growl, unable to find a retort.
"Right now, you’re just hiding behind these animals, watching them fight for you. As a strategy, it’s not the worst, but it isn't ruthless—it’s just underhanded. A man who stays in a Safe Zone while others bleed doesn't have an ounce of magnanimity or courage."
"Ugh...!"
"And as for charisma? You don't have that either. These animals are being manipulated; they haven't sworn their loyalty to you from their hearts. Besides, your ability to control them was just a hand-me-down from someone else. How is any of this the mark of a villain who creates a legend?"
"Nu... nuuuuu...!!"
"If you were serious about becoming a legendary villain, you should have gone after the Security Force Headquarters. Instead, you targeted a zoo with almost no one to defend it. you attacked children and animals—beings weaker than yourself. Your words and your actions don't match... and that’s how I know. You’re just a small-fry villain acting tough. You’re a coward who can do nothing but lie to everyone to make himself look big!"
"N-No! My legend starts here! I’ll gather a horde of henchmen, commit every atrocity imaginable, and become a villain whose name shakes the very world—!"
"Impossible. You don't have the spine for it... but more importantly, the paper-thin connection you’re brandishing could never hope to defeat true bonds!"
"Wha—What—!?"
The moment Yakaba tried to argue against the exposure of his own cowardice, a massive tremor shook the earth.
He spun around in shock, his eyes widening as an elephant charged toward them with terrifying momentum.
(Is that... is that one of the animals Migald was controlling!? Why is it coming here!?)
Yakaba was stunned that an animal controlled by Migald—his rival in this "hunt"—was suddenly baring its fangs at him.
He wondered if Migald had launched an attack to eliminate the competition. Mimicking Yugo’s earlier move, he threw himself into a roll to avoid the charge, only to be bitten by a crocodile waiting in the grass. A piercing shriek tore from his throat.
"Gyaaaaaaaaaaaah!? What the—!? Why is it attacking me!?"
Yakaba screamed in agony, utterly bewildered. The idea that an animal he was supposed to be controlling was attacking its "boss" made no sense.
While he was distracted, several other animals arrived on the scene and began a collective stampede. The heavy vibrations seemed to affect the creatures still under Yakaba's thrall.
The lion clamped onto Yugo’s arm faltered. It shook its mane, and the strange light in its eyes flickered and died. After blinking several times, it opened its jaws and released him.
"Looks like everyone’s okay now," Yugo said, exhaling. "Thanks for the hand!"
"D-Damn it! The brainwashing is...!!"
Just as Elena had demonstrated earlier, the animals brainwashed by Yakaba's Noise would snap out of it if they received a strong enough external stimulus.
With Migald defeated, the animals he had once enslaved had regained their senses. Now that they had gathered here, their presence was breaking the spell on Yakaba’s victims one by one. Yakaba managed to wrench himself free from the crocodile’s mouth and struggled to his feet, howling in desperation.
"This isn't over! I’ll put you back under my thumb!"
If the brainwashing was broken, he would just do it again. He could feel the remnants of brainwashing still lingering in the animals. He believed that until his power was completely exhausted, he could easily revert them to their mindless state.
Yakaba activated his power once more, but the explosive sound from his megaphone was instantly drowned out by a deafening chorus of roars.
"Awoooooooo!!"
"Roaaaaaaar!!"
"Wha—!? You... you’re just animals!! Don't you dare get in my way!!"
Ignoring Yakaba's brainwashing magic, the animals responded to the encouraging howls of their comrades. They turned their sharp gazes toward him in unison, shifting into a battle stance.
Yugo, now standing among the animals, spoke to Yakaba, who was visibly trembling now that his power had been rejected by the very creatures he looked down upon.
"This is what true bonds look like... the power born from those who care for their own! You thought they were beneath you, but they worked together to crush your ability. And... it looks like they know exactly who the enemy is."
"G-Gugugu...! D-Don't you look down on Lord Yakaba! I’m the man who creates a legend! Don't you mock me!!"
"I’ll throw those words right back at you...!"
A sharp chirp echoed from above as a piece of a shattered metal railing fell toward Yugo.
A bird flying over the zoo grounds had dropped it, intending to lend him its strength. Yugo caught the railing and coated it in Micro-particle Metal, transforming the scrap into a gleaming sword. He swung the blade and howled at the Magic Armor Beast.
"Don't you dare underestimate this world!!"