"Come on, come on! I’m sending another one your way!"
"Waaaaah!"
Amumu swung her arm in a wide, slapping motion, and something invisible went hurtling toward the ship once again.
The vessel groaned and swayed. Ryuga noticed that while the ship rocked under the impact, the attacks themselves didn't seem to have much destructive power. He narrowed his eyes at the Magic Armor Beast that Amumu had transformed into, his mind racing.
She’s definitely firing something. The impact is low, but what exactly is it? The answer to her ability has to be right there.
Something invisible to the naked eye—therein lay the secret of the Clear Plate Amumu possessed.
Ryuga strained his eyes, desperate to catch the moment she launched her next attack. But as he stared, Amumu suddenly stopped. She glared back at him and spoke.
"You there... hehehe! I see you’ve finally noticed my charms, haven't you? I understand, I really do!"
"...What?"
Amumu nodded to herself, sounding strangely delighted.
Ryuga stood there dazed, unable to comprehend a single word she was saying. Seeing his silence, Amumu’s voice grew even more animated.
"You’re captivated by this voluptuous body, aren't you? After all, every man yearns for a woman with a bit of curve! It’s only natural for a boy going through puberty to fall head over heels the moment he meets a stimulating, high-quality woman like me!"
"I-Is that true, Lord Ryuga!?" Raiha gasped.
"What...!?"
One look at Ryuga's face provided all the answer anyone needed.
Veins throbbed on his forehead. Even without speaking, his expression screamed, As if that would ever happen!
"T-That’s impossible!" Raiha shouted. "Don't you dare go around assuming Lord Ryuga has such atrocious taste in women!"
"What!? You! Who are you calling a woman with atrocious taste!?"
"I'm talking about you! You!!"
"Grrrrrr! Just because you’re a little young and cute and have big breasts, don't you dare get cocky with me! You little runt!!"
For some reason, Raiha was even more furious than Ryuga. As she voiced her protest, Amumu—incensed by the insult—let out a hysterical shriek and unleashed another invisible attack.
It wasn't just the insult itself; the fact that it came from a girl as undeniably beautiful as Raiha had clearly added fuel to the fire. Ryuga was observing how the annoying old hag was reacting when a realization suddenly struck him.
"Grr...! Lord Ryuga! I'm going to try an attack! Since she's out on the ocean, electricity should travel perfectly through the water!"
"Wait! Stop!!"
"Eh...!?"
Realizing they would never make progress just by staying on the defensive, Raiha prepared to strike, but Ryuga grabbed her hand to restrain her.
Still holding her arm as she looked at him in shock, Ryuga focused his gaze once more on Amumu's feet. He noticed the way the water's surface was slightly depressed beneath her, confirming his theory.
"...It's oil. She's manipulating oil."
"Oil...?"
"She's secreting oil from her feet to create buoyancy, just like a water strider. Or perhaps she's spreading a thin film of it across the surface to walk on. The reason the Seahorses won't approach the ship is because they can sense the water is being polluted. She must be releasing it in incredible concentrations."
"Then, the thing that Magic Armor Beast is using for her long-range attacks is also...?"
"Most likely, she’s firing oil bullets in sync with her slapping motions. In other words, this ship and the surrounding sea are currently covered in a massive amount of oil. If you unleash a lightning strike now, the whole area will go up in a massive explosion."
Oil... Having finally exposed the truth behind Amumu's power, Ryuga glared at her.
He wasn't entirely sure if his deductions were perfect, but it explained why she was focusing on these seemingly non-lethal, threatening attacks.
Amumu was drenching the ship and the sea in oil, likely planning to ignite it all at once.
If they attacked with electricity now, they would be playing right into her hands. As Ryuga began to work out a counter-strategy, Sakura spoke up.
"I see. Now that we understand the trick, the rest is simple. Excuse me for a moment."
Sakura took a single deep breath and quietly extended her foot toward the surface of the sea.
With a soft ripple, her foot touched the water. It didn't sink. Just like that, Sakura took a second step, and then a third, walking out onto the ocean as if it were solid ground.
"Wh—How!? Why are you doing the same thing as me!?" Amumu shrieked.
"I am of the Amamiya family, those who worship the Water Dragon. If I purify my heart and unify my spirit, such a feat is a trivial matter."
"Grrrrr! How dare you butt in while I’m the star of the show! I won't forgive you! I’ll teach you a lesson!!"
"Unfortunately, I also stand here with the intent to provide you a proper chastisement. For the crime of terrifying people and polluting the sacred sea, you shall atone with your very life!!"
Amumu, her anger flaring over things no one else could possibly understand, let out a piercing howl.
In response, Sakura took a calm, focused stance, ready to meet the villain head-on.