Once Ye Chen burst from the water, he slapped the Sea Surface with both hands. The force of the water pushing back sent him up out of it.
But he was in the sea, so that force was limited. It could lift him clear of the water, not launch him into the sky. For Ye Chen, that was enough.
He could use the Lightness Skill Water Walking. He did not need to leap into the air.
That was the difference between Water Walking and Geppo. Strawberry wanted to get out of the water too, but rising only a body's length above the Sea Surface would do him little good.
To use Geppo, he needed a stronger force to push against. He could get it from solid ground, but in water, the force was negligible.
No one but Ye Chen knew Water Walking. Even if Strawberry managed to jump clear of the sea, he would fall straight back in. Ye Chen, meanwhile, could spread his arms and race across the Sea Surface.
He could not keep up the technique for long, but he did not have to.
"Hm?"
Water splashed behind Strawberry. At the sudden sound of footsteps striking the surface, he froze.
He glanced back—and his eyes widened. Ye Chen was sprinting across the Sea Surface, closing the distance with every step.
Cold sweat broke out over Strawberry's body. He gritted his teeth and swam as hard as he could, but the gap was too small to save him.
Ye Chen caught him in moments. Without slowing, he drove a kick at Strawberry. In the water, Strawberry's sharp senses still let him anticipate the attack, but he could not move freely enough to dodge.
That made it worse. He knew exactly where the blow was going to land and could