The situation was quite grim and terrifying. After all, Ryuji was acutely aware of his own circumstances. As a hopeless womanizer, pulling these kinds of stunts with a group of shoujo manga protagonists meant getting beaten up was inevitable. The main question was whether he'd survive the beating.
To put it simply, it boiled down to whether he could overpower these five women in terms of strength.
Of course, while privately calculating the odds of future domestic homicide, he didn't forget his current job, demonstrating how normal combat should be conducted, including methods for accumulating energy during the gaps between moves and techniques.
But unlike before, when it came to learning this aspect, the Sailor Moons performed quite clumsily. Even Usagi, who possessed the most immense power among them, didn't show much talent here; her learning was extremely difficult, almost painstaking.
Especially the step of concentrating energy in their hands was very challenging for them. Ryuji could more or less guess the reason.
"Your energy isn't entirely your own, or rather, it's not just your own energy."
Looking at the tiaras on the girls' heads, Ryuji could sense immense power within them. But the gems on these tiaras felt very strange to him. Although they held great power, when these girls fought, that power seemed to act more upon the girls themselves.
'So, there's a high probability this energy is still fundamentally their own power? And these gems and such are just tools to help draw out the power within their bodies?' Ryuji pondered.
While he was thinking, Usagi Tsukino asked.
"Then what should we do?"
"Keep training," Ryuji replied directly.
"Although operating through an intermediary layer is difficult, it's a necessary trial. The power within you is considerable. If you can wield it properly, every punch and kick could deliver far more damage than your current ultimate moves or skills and allow you to win battles easily."
Usagi sighed helplessly.
"But it's really hard..."
She plopped down onto the floor in frustration. Unlike the hand-to-hand combat from before, this fighting method felt unfamiliar to her.
It seemed like something she had never experienced before, and there was no familiar feeling.
Moreover, she also had a strange feeling in her heart, that is, when she was fighting, she only needed to stand still and release her skills, dodging from time to time. This fighting method...
Ami bit her lip. She remembered that Ryuji had the ability to manipulate water, so she asked directly,
"Ryuji, I remember you can manipulate water, right? Could you demonstrate it for me?"
Looking at Ami's pitiful expression and her adorable face, Ryuji chuckle.
"If you want to learn, the best way is to fight me. Besides, it's a good chance for me to see if you've truly grasped the combat techniques."
Ryuji walked into the yard. Ami didn't hesitate and followed him, adopting a fighting stance similar to his.
After bowing, Ryuji swiftly struck out, his fist heading straight for Ami's cheek. Although Ami knew she should defend, seeing Ryuji's fist approach her face so quickly made her forget all the experience in her mind. Instinctively, she turned, wanting to flee to a safe place to gather energy.
Consequently, Ryuji's fist instantly arrived in front of her, and he flicked her forehead lightly.
"Are you so afraid of the enemy's attack?" Ryuji tapped Ami's forehead gently.
Ami, looking at Ryuji so close and realizing she had accomplished nothing, felt tears well up in her eyes instantly.
She was genuinely embarrassed!
"I'll give you another chance. The speed and eyesight you have in your transformed state should allow you to keep up with my pace if you use them normally. Don't be nervous or scared."
Ryuji took a step back and resumed his stance. This time, he slowed his speed, and Ami was finally able to react, under Ryuji's leniency. She blocked Ryuji's punch with her palm and raised her leg.
But the next moment, her eyes clearly saw streams of water appearing around Ryuji as he spun his body. These streams of water advanced along with Ryuji's palm. In her haste, she also tried to manipulate water, but Ryuji's palm had already struck her abdomen.
The next moment, Ami felt herself flying backward. The moment she landed, the water Ryuji had released swiftly coiled around her entire body, enveloping her.
Not only that, but countless sharp icicles formed around the trapped water sphere after she was caught, making it impossible for her to move.
"Release your energy directly while attacking, basically multitasking. This is the way of fighting you should possess."
Ryuji waved his hand to disperse the water sphere. However, Ami was still soaked, and her sailor uniform became semi-transparent under the influence of the water, allowing Ryuji to clearly see the outline under her skirt and what was on her upper body...
A sports bra.
Although the elegant curves were quite pleasing, the sports bra was a real mood-killer, which annoyed Ryuji considerably.
"The gap is so big..." Makoto, watching Ami stand up, couldn't help but speak.
They saw it very clearly: the moment Ryuji made his move, water had already gathered around him. But by the second exchange between Ami and Ryuji, Ryuji had already accumulated enough water to launch an attack. She felt that even she wouldn't be able to resist such an attack.
"I'll go next." Makoto stepped forward, looking eagerly at Ryuji.
Ami silently walked away. She knew the gap was large, but she didn't expect it to be this vast. In front of Ryuji, she was like a kindergarten child, easily defeated by him without any ability to fight back.
Usagi and Rei both comforted Ami softly. Minako brought over a towel and started drying Ami off, but they were all also paying attention to Makoto, who was about to fight Ryuji.
Ryuji smiled at the eager Makoto and resumed his fighting stance.
However, Makoto didn't charge directly. Instead, she quickly activated her power, gathering lightning energy around herself.
Ryuji chuckled lightly and moved forward quickly. Makoto swiftly retreated while continuously observing Ryuji's movements.
The moment Ryuji swung his arm to summon water, Makoto, coated in electricity, charged fiercely at Ryuji.
But, the instant she charged, Ryuji abruptly raised his hand. The water that had previously attacked Ami quickly formed a solid block of ice under Makoto's feet, freezing her foot in place and causing her to lose her balance instantly, tumbling headfirst towards the ground.
Ryuji, of course, wouldn't let Makoto measure the ground with her face. He swiftly raised his hand, enveloping Makoto in a sphere of water. While protecting her body, he also soaked her clothes in the process.
This time, what Ryuji saw was normal clothing...
What the hell!
Why is it still a sports bra?!
Looking at the vaguely revealed clothing and curves, Ryuji felt like he was loosing his composure.
It wasn't that it couldn't show off a girl's curves, but the feeling a sports bra gave was completely different from other things!
"Mmm... So you can use your ability like this?"
Makoto touched her head as she stood up. Water droplets continuously dripped from her hair and chin onto her body. Her fair, long legs were also covered in countless water droplets, sliding down along her in smooth and elegant lines.
Some more mischievous water droplets didn't leave Makoto's body directly but seeped into her high heels, making Ryuji couldn't help but take a few extra glances.
Being scrutinized by Ryuji with such a gaze, Makoto felt somewhat shy but didn't say much. She had no intention of letting others know about her "deal" with Ryuji, and judging by Ryuji's expression, she planned to carry out the first part of that deal with him today.
"The gap between you and me is too great right now. Also, you probably aren't familiar with your techniques yet, right? You don't know which movements are necessary for these skills and which are just for better gathering energy, or that you can't gather energy while throwing a punch."
Ryuji looked at these two Sailor Moons. Their flaws were identical: they were completely unable to gather energy simultaneously during combat.
To be precise, they couldn't perform the act of gathering energy effectively. They could do it, but it was too slow to be practical in real combat right now.
This was also related to their general unfamiliarity with their own abilities.
"It seems we need an intensive training session. How long until your next holiday?" Due to the rather chaotic timeline of this world, Ryuji asked directly.
"Um, about three months..."
Usagi raised her hand pitifully. She really wished every day was a holiday!
"Then come to my place after school every day to train your abilities. Hmm, I'll rent the Tendo Dojo's space in a few days."
Ryuji glanced at his yard. Although his yard was spacious enough, there were still people living nearby. If it were just simple hand-to-hand practice, it would be fine, but if they added energy attacks, his yard wouldn't be able to conceal the activity.
"Right now, you should try to familiarize yourselves with the power within your bodies and learn to fight like I do. Also, you should have roles: one responsible for containment, one for normal damage, one for skirmishing, one for rescue/support, and one for accumulating power to deliver the final blow."
Looking at the Sailor Moons in front of him, Ryuji started assigning roles.
"This can utilize your current power very effectively. If you still charge in all together like before, without understanding division of labor, then no matter how powerful you are, you won't be able to coordinate well."
Ryuji beckoned to them.
"Give it a try. Attack me together."
After Ryuji spoke, the five Sailor Moons looked at each other. Although still somewhat hesitant, they all stood up, intending to fight Ryuji together. Even if they were instantly defeated, they could learn where they went wrong.
"Okay."
Usagi nodded and stepped forward, but couldn't help adding,
"Please go easy on us!"
But Rei reached out and ruffled Usagi's hair, shaking her head.
"There's no need to hold back, Ryuji. Please show us your true strength. Let us see just how vast the gap between us really is."
"Huh?"
Usagi stared at Rei in disbelief. She felt there was no way the five of them could defeat Ryuji. If he went all out, wouldn't they be instantly wiped out?
What was the point of a fight like that?
"I'm worried it might shatter your self-confidence."
Ryuji looked at the five girls. If they could utilize their abilities and inner power effectively, any one of them could potentially fight him to a standstill.
But right now, Ryuji could defeat them without even using one hand properly.
"No. Understanding the gap will only make us more determined," Ami shook her head, the seemingly delicate girl displaying unwavering resolve.
Makoto hesitated for a moment, but then nodded in agreement.
"That's right. And for us, you are the most powerful person we've ever met. If we can truly comprehend the difference, it will give us sufficient motivation."
"Yeah, without knowing the gap, there's no drive," Minako drew her sword, looking at Ryuji with blazing fighting spirit.
Even though Ami and Makoto were defeated by Ryuji in an instant, surely with the five of us working together, we could land a hit or two, right?!
"O-okay! Alright! You're right! We need to see the difference!"
Usagi, initially a little nervous, felt her own fighting spirit ignite seeing her companions so fired up. She strode firmly into the center of the yard.
"Alright then... Are you all ready?"
Watching the five Sailor Moons take their positions before him, Ryuji took a deep breath and asked.
"Mhm!"
"Bring it on!"
The moment their voices faded, various energies flickered to life around their bodies.
Simultaneously, Ryuji burst into motion, sending countless droplets of water spraying into the air.
"Watch out!"
Seeing Ryuji release water, and knowing he could turn it into ice spikes, Ami reacted instantly. The power of Mercury summoned a far greater volume of water than Ryuji's.
But Rei, who had been closely observing Ryuji, saw the smile on his face.
"Not good!"
She immediately realized they had fallen for a trick and tried to retreat. But before she could, a blast of fire slammed into the water Ami had summoned.
The next instant, steam erupted violently. The forceful expansion and the thick mist instantly obscured the girls' vision.
Before they could react, countless sword energies wreathed in flame shot towards them, forcing them to desperately dodge the fiery projectiles.
However...
"Ah!"
Ami let out a startled cry, instinctively covering her chest. The moment she dodged one sword energy, another flame-less one had sliced a neat cut in her sailor uniform, revealing a patch of her pale skin.
The other girls quickly realized the same thing was happening to them, but they had no recourse. They couldn't even stop to gather their energy!
"Like I said, you're all still too immature," Ryuji sighed.
~~~~~~~~~~
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