"The preparations for the first wave’s escape are complete, de-gozaru. All that remains is to contact Elena-dono."
"I’ll use my Shikigami to send the signal. Could you perform a final check in the meantime?"
On the other sightseeing boat, the Moonlight, the evacuation was proceeding with remarkable efficiency.
Raiha had used her electrical sensors to instantly pinpoint the locations of the hostages and ensure that no traps had been set on the lifeboats. Since the culprits had yet to interfere, Ryuga and his team were already preparing to lower the first group into the water, prioritizing women, children, and the injured.
"...This is eerie. There hasn't been a single attempt to stop us so far. I can't even sense anyone lurking inside the ship."
"Perhaps the culprits have all gathered on the ship Yugo-dono and the others boarded, de-gozaru. We must hurry to evacuate these passengers and move to support them."
If Raiha’s sensors were correct, there were no humans on board other than the hostages. They hadn't seen a single culprit, nor did it feel as though any were hiding among the crowd. Sakura’s earlier theory—that the enemy had concentrated their forces on the Sunlight and used the Moonlight as a decoy to split their strength—seemed to be hitting the mark.
Ryuga wanted to finish the evacuation as quickly as possible to go to Yugo’s aid, but then Raiha’s voice rang out, tinged with panic.
"What do you mean? They can't get close to the ship!?"
"Is something wrong, Raiha?"
"The Seahorses... they're acting strange. They won't come anywhere near the ship. If they won't pull the boats, the passengers will just be sitting ducks in the water..."
Ryuga's brow furrowed. The Seahorses were supposed to be the key to their escape, yet they had suddenly stopped following Elena-dono’s commands. Just as a heavy sense of foreboding settled in his chest, screams erupted from the passengers.
"Wh-What is that!?"
Ryuga and the others pushed through the panicked crowd to the front of the deck. Following the passengers' pointing fingers, the three of them froze, breath catching in their throats.
"The... The Magic Armor Beast is standing on the water!"
Across the vast, open ocean, positioned directly between the Moonlight and the Seahorses, the creature waited.
A plump, brown Magic Armor Beast stood firmly on its two legs atop the undulating surface of the sea. It stared back at the ship, laughing gleefully as it watched the passengers tremble in terror.
"This is wonderful...! Everyone is looking at me. They're watching me, fearing me, shivering at the sight of me...! Oh, what an exquisite feeling...!!"
The female beast muttered ecstatically to herself before taking a step, then another, walking across the surface of the water toward the Moonlight. As she drew closer with slow, deliberate strides, she suddenly stopped and swung her arm upward—then snapped it forward in a sharp, slapping motion.
An invisible projectile flew from her hand, striking the ship with a dull thud that caused the vessel to lurch.
"H-Help! It's an attack! She's attacking us!!"
The passengers, who had thought they were only moments away from safety, were instantly thrown into a frantic panic. Ignoring the chaos for a moment, Ryuga and his companions began to analyze the enemy’s capabilities.
"How is she walking on the water? Is it an ability to manipulate the sea...?"
"No, if she could do that, she’d be using much larger attacks," Ryuga countered. "This is the ocean—her home turf. Her current offense is far too small-scale for a water manipulator."
"Then perhaps it's an illusion? Maybe she’s actually hovering...?"
"That seems unlikely. I don't see any wings or propulsion organs on her."
If she could control the water, she wouldn't be using such petty strikes in the middle of the sea. And while flight was a possibility, there were no visible physical traits to support it.
"Then what on earth is her power, de-gozaru!? Just how is she keeping that obese physique afloat on the surface...!?"
"Hey!! You brat!! Did you just call me obese!?"
The Magic Armor Beast’s voice boomed across the water, cutting through the air.
"I am not obese! I’ll have you know I possess a plump and curvy body! Don’t you dare treat me like some fat pig ever again! You blockhead!!"
"H-Hey... Those hellish ears, that voice, and those brazen excuses...?"
"It’s Amumu! That’s the Annoying Old Hag, Amumu!!"
The beast had somehow overheard Sakura’s mutterings. As she screamed back, her thick, bloated body—which was far past "plump"—shook with rage. It was enough for the residents of Wind Island to recognize exactly who they were dealing with.
"You know her?" Ryuga asked.
"Y-Yeah...!" a passenger replied. "That’s Amumu. She’s famous around here for all the wrong reasons. They say she used to be a beauty once, but now she’s just bloated and bitter. She neglected her kids—borderline abuse, really—and once her husband divorced her, she became even worse. She’s the local pariah."
"She’s a nasty piece of work who lives to complain and harass people," another added. "No one on the island will give her the time of day anymore. Honestly, hearing she turned into a Magic Armor Beast is almost a relief—it’s not like she was much better than a monster to begin with."
Ryuga listened to the scathing reviews. Usually, the people of Wind Island were relaxed and kind; for them to speak this poorly of someone meant she was a truly difficult individual.
The Clear Plates manifest the user’s inner image and grant them the power that fits best... If that's the case, what kind of image did this plate draw from her?
Ryuga recalled the characteristics Shepherd had explained that morning. Floating on water, a mysterious long-range slap, and a bloated physique... As Ryuga began to piece together the answer behind these clues, Amumu launched her next assault.