"Shinomiya has the advantage, so Sanzenin can have Maria and Saginomiya assist her."
"Huh? A three-on-one?"
Chika excimed in surprise. She hadn't expected Ren to propose such an extreme setup.
"Even so, Shinomiya still holds the advantage."
While a three-on-one might sound overwhelming, the gap in strength between the two sides remained clear.
Even with this arrangement, Ren still felt that Kaguya had too much of an edge.
"Sanzenin and Maria have only recently obtained their Visions. While their elemental abilities have great potential, what they need most right now is to refine their control and mastery over those powers."
"Without extensive training, Sanzenin and Maria won't be able to contribute much in a fight."
"I object!"
Sakuya raised her hand in protest.
"Isn't Shinomiya in the same situation?"
"This is the difference in starting points based on the nature of their powers."
Ren expined patiently.
"Unlike Visions, Devil Fruits grant immediate strength without requiring training. From the moment she ate the Ice-Ice Fruit, Shinomiya-san had access to powerful elemental abilities."
"Especially since she possesses a Logia-type Devil Fruit, widely considered the strongest css, specifically one that grants ice-based powers."
"The moment she ate it, Shinomiya-san gained the ability to become ice itself, rendering her immune to all physical attacks."
"In contrast, the attacks that Sanzenin and Maria can currently generate are entirely physical."
"In other words, their attacks would be practically useless against her."
"The real key pyer in this three-on-one match is actually Saginomiya."
Sakuya turned to look at Isumi, who stood calmly in her purple kimono, and blinked in confusion.
She couldn't quite see how Isumi would be the "main force" in this battle.
"Saginomiya possesses spiritual exorcism abilities, and that power isn't physical."
"That's why she's the central fighter in this match."
"As for Sanzenin and Maria, their main role here is to familiarize themselves with the elemental powers they've acquired."
"So, what do you think, Shinomiya-san?"
After finishing his expnation, Ren left the decision to Kaguya.
Kaguya took a moment to consider.
She trusted Amamiya's judgment.
A three-on-one might sound daunting, but she was confident she could handle it.
"I think it's fine."
"In that case, Fujiwara-san, get the video recorder. Let's head outside."
"Oh!"
Chika's excitement fred up as she immediately dashed to her room to retrieve the video camera she had prepared earlier.
Once she was ready, Ren led the way onto the ship's deck.
By now, the thick fog that had bnketed the area earlier had mostly dissipated.
As the sun rose higher, the mist had completely lifted.
From the deck, they had a clear view of the isnd before them.
Surrounded by the deep blue-bck ocean, the isnd stood prominently in the distance.
Even from afar, it was evident that no signs of human habitation existed, no modern buildings, no infrastructure.
A completely untouched isnd.
A vast trench encircled the isnd, plunging deep into the abyss.
This eerie natural barrier spanned approximately 700 to 800 meters across, adding a sense of isotion to the isnd.
Looking down at the sea below, the depths were unfathomable.
It was as if one were gazing into an endless void.
"This pce… there's an entire trench surrounding the isnd?"
Chika's eyes widened.
Zooming in with her camera, she confirmed the sheer scale of the trench.
The more she looked, the more uncomfortable she felt.
She stepped closer to the railing, adjusting the camera to film the abyss below.
However, as she peered into the darkness, her breathing became uneven.
"Thassophobia?"
Ren's voice came from behind her, grounding her for a moment.
Chika took a slow, deep breath.
"Well... I did have a slight reaction."
She looked at the abyss before her, troubled.
"I've never been good with dark pces."
"The trench is pitch bck—no light reaches down there. Every time I look into it, I can't shake the feeling that something… unnatural could emerge from the depths."
A cssic case of deep-sea phobia.
But at its core, this fear wasn't irrational.
Humans had always feared the dark, feared nature itself.
Compared to the vast, uncontrolble world around them, humans were minuscule.
When nature shifted even slightly, countless people perished simply because they couldn't adapt.
The best way to overcome such fear was to face it head-on.
Or—repce it with a stronger emotion.
Excitement.
Ren didn't say anything further. Instead, he turned to look at Kaguya.
"Shinomiya-san, let's go."
Kaguya gnced at Chika, who still looked uneasy, and sighed.
Then, without hesitation, she stepped toward the guardrail.
With a light push, she vaulted over it.
"!?"
Chika's scalp tingled.
A loud thud echoed.
Panicked, she rushed to the railing and looked down.
What she saw made her breathe a sigh of relief.
"Hah…"
Below, Kaguya stood calmly atop a floating ptform of ice.
"She's… changed so much."
For the first time, Chika truly realized how different Kaguya had become.
"Ever since she ate the Ice-Ice Fruit, she's taken a completely different path."
"The deep sea that you fear…"
"…is something she can now conquer."
On the water, Kaguya adjusted her stance.
With every step she took, an ice ptform formed beneath her feet, allowing her to walk effortlessly across the sea.
This was the power of her Devil Fruit.
"So, Fujiwara-san… what about you?"
"I…"
Fujiwara Chika bit her lip, watching Kaguya walk across the water.
A quiet sense of envy stirred within her.
"I… I don't have that kind of power."
That was exactly what Ren had been waiting to hear.
Desire.
The qualification to obtain power began with wanting it.
Without it, there was no path forward.
Ren silently stepped behind Chika.
"Tell me, Fujiwara-san…"
(To be continued.)
***
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