Chika, now much calmer, decided to put everything behind her.
"Amamiya, next time you want to explain something to me, just say it directly."
She was confident in her ability to understand things.
There was no need for such… extreme hands-on teaching.
"Alright, next time, I'll explain it with words," Ren replied.
Talking was easy, after all.
Chika nodded, then suddenly froze.
"Wait… then why did you use practical teaching just now?"
"Some things can't be explained properly with words alone. It's more effective to experience them firsthand."
"…I see."
Chika finally understood.
From what she had learned about Amamiya, he wasn't someone who socialized much.
In a school where people only addressed each other as "classmates" out of habit, it was understandable that he wasn't great with words.
"Ugh~ Does that mean there'll be more 'practical lessons' like this in the future?"
Just imagining it made her head ache.
She let out a sigh, then looked down at her feet.
Her small leather shoes gently tapped the surface of the water.
For the first time, she noticed that there was something solid beneath her.
"…What is this?"
"Just a simple magic trick."
"Huh?"
Magic? On the ocean?
Chika had heard of water-walking magic tricks before, but those were usually performed in pools.
Who in their right mind would perform such a trick on the open sea?
"Let's go, Fujiwara-san."
"Shinomiya-san is ready."
At Ren's words, Chika finally turned her attention to Kaguya.
The frozen area beneath Kaguya's feet had expanded significantly.
The sea itself had turned into her battlefield.
"Kaguya… why are you so fired up?"
Chika didn't quite understand why Kaguya seemed so excited right now.
Ren placed a hand on Chika's shoulder.
A small flicker of fire appeared.
And in the next instant, they were back at the cruise ship's railing.
"Shinomiya-san, it's time to begin."
"…"
Standing on the frozen sea, Kaguya took a deep breath and gave a small nod.
If she didn't know that Ren wasn't trying to make her mad, she might have thought he was doing it on purpose.
Inhale~ Exhale~
Her unstable emotions unconsciously intensified the chill in the air.
"Sizzle!"
The frozen surface beneath her expanded even further.
There was no mistaking it, Kaguya's resentment had grown heavier.
At that moment, Nagi, Maria, and Isumi descended from the cruise ship.
A faint green wind surrounded the three of them, slowing their fall.
"Guard!"
Maria's elemental power activated, and crystalline rocks floated around their bodies like protective armor.
Clearly, they understood that their own abilities weren't enough for a direct fight, so they were focusing on defense.
Kaguya turned her attention to Isumi.
According to Ren, she was the main force of this battle.
Then there was no need to hold back.
An ice flower with razor-sharp spikes bloomed beneath her feet.
Exploding outwards in an instant.
Isumi swiftly leaped backward to evade, but—
"Bang!"
Nagi and Maria weren't so lucky.
The two of them were forced back, their protective crystal armor dimming considerably.
"You're really going all out, huh?!"
Nagi couldn't help but complain.
"Is she just taking out her anger on us?"
"Nagi, don't say that," Maria sighed.
It was obvious that Kaguya was irritated.
And the reason was Ren.
After all, he had just been interacting with Chika the entire time.
Right in front of Kaguya.
Anyone could see what was going on.
Well—
Maybe only the two people involved didn't notice.
Maria narrowed her eyes at Kaguya.
"The frozen sea is Shinomiya-san's domain. Watch out for ice spikes rising from the ground."
Just as she said that.
Kaguya conjured an ice bow.
"Nagi, dodge!"
Maria's expression changed as she saw Kaguya's next move.
She quickly condensed a rock spear from her elemental power.
"Bang!"
Ice and rock clashed, sending shockwaves through the battlefield.
The moment Isumi landed, countless talismans shot out from her kimono sleeves.
"Boom!!!!"
The talismans detonated as soon as they neared their target.
A massive crater exploded across the frozen battlefield.
And—
Among the shattered ice shards—
Kaguya's body lay in pieces.
"!?!"
Even Isumi was momentarily stunned.
But—
Something felt off.
Kaguya's physical state wasn't right.
Elementalization made her immune to physical attacks.
The technique Isumi had used was more of a test than a lethal strike.
It shouldn't have had such an effect.
Suddenly—
A hand shot out from beneath the ice.
It latched onto Isumi's ankle, tight.
She stumbled.
Looking up—
An ice spear rose from below, aiming straight for her.
Without hesitation, Isumi pulled out a talisman and constructed a barrier to block the attack.
"Ding ding!"
The ice spear clashed against the barrier, momentarily stopping.
But—
"Crack! Crack!"
The barrier began to fracture under the relentless assault.
It wouldn't last long.
The attacks were coming too fast.
Just as Isumi was about to figure out an escape plan.
Another hand emerged from the ice.
This one aimed straight for her chest.
A cold white glow radiated from it.
Shit—!
Instinctively, she raised both hands and poured spiritual energy into them.
"Bang!"
A sudden shockwave blasted her backward.
She barely stabilized herself in midair, regaining her footing.
Looking back.
Even the barrier itself had been completely frozen.
"This cold… it's insane."
For the first time.
She was overwhelmed.
Her hands had turned purple from frostbite.
The sleeves of her kimono were completely frozen stiff.
"Ha!"
From above—
Nagi, still airborne, gathered a massive amount of elemental energy into a blade.
Swinging downward, she slashed at the frozen battlefield.
The wind sword cut clean through the floating ice.
But—
Before the severed ice chunks could even drift apart.
They were already re-frozen.
"This is ridiculous…"
Still hovering in midair, Nagi let out a frustrated sigh.
The frozen sea was simply too advantageous for Kaguya.
As long as she had enough cold energy, the battlefield would remain completely under her control.
(To be continued.)
***
Junkdog's Note: Kaguya Blitzing hahaha
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