Aantha's expression flickered. A single strike? Could it be that…?
Aantha looked toward Ryu and then back toward Mae, then back again. She seemed to have realized something. If Mae wasn't controlling Ryu, then probably the only explanation from what had happened was that she had been subdued by Ryu instead, and the only way for that to happen would be for Ryu to have battle prowess similar to or even surpassing Mae. In such a situation, the only explanation for the would be for Ryu's background to be similar to Mae's.
Back when she had first met Ryu, she had had her suspicions. After all, someone who could battle World Sea Realm experts at the Immortal Ring Realm had to have their own secrets.