"You were wrong."
Ryuuto's voice dropped low, sharp as thunder. "Now it's you who's dying."
The confidence in his tone froze King Kong and Quicksilver mid-sneer.
King Kong, who'd been grinning seconds ago, suddenly felt his stomach twist. That killing intent—it wasn't the bluff of some rookie mutant. It was primal. For the first time, he hesitated.
Shadow Clone Technique!
Seven Ryuutos burst into existence, charging forward like a coordinated strike team.
King Kong blinked, then snorted. "Seriously? Multiplying yourself? Cute trick."
He spread his arms arrogantly, not even bothering to defend. Each clone's attack hit his body—thuds, cracks, impact shockwaves—and yet… he didn't even budge. He laughed, throwing a few lazy punches that shattered the clones one after another into puffs of white smoke.
"Done playing, kid?"
Ryuuto's lips curled. "Not quite."
His hands flashed through a rapid blur of seals.
Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!
A massive sphere of searing flame roared into being, heat distorting the air. The inferno engulfed King Kong in seconds, swallowing his massive frame whole.
The monster screamed—raw, guttural, almost human.
"Yes! You did it!" Gwen shouted, her voice breaking through the heatwave.
But as the flames died down, a shadow rose again. King Kong stepped out, steaming, skin charred—but very much alive. His body glistened faintly with that same oily yellow film.
He grinned, feral. "That all you got?"
Ryuuto exhaled hard. That attack had drained a lot of chakra. His limbs trembled. Gwen saw it too—her hands clenched, ready to jump in.
Quicksilver laughed from the sidelines. "Pfft— all that hype and you can't even singe him properly? Red Mirage, my ass!"
He pointed smugly at King Kong. "That's our Brotherhood's latest weapon. You think a fireball's enough to handle that?"
Mystique, calm and detached, simply watched, eyes calculating. Her pistol gleamed faintly in the light.
Ryuuto's mind clicked. So that's it. They weren't here to kill him; they were here to test him—and field-test their liquid-body mutation.
King Kong roared, leaping high, fist raised like a meteor aimed straight at Ryuuto's skull.
"Die!"
But when the strike fell—nothing happened. King Kong froze midair. His massive fist hung suspended inches from Ryuuto's head. His entire body locked up, eyes wide with panic.
Ryuuto looked up slowly, smirking. "Funny. I was just about to say the same thing."
[Ding! Life Potion Consumed. Vitality Restored!]
Power rushed back into his body. His chakra flared.
Dust Release: Primary Realm Stripping Technique!
The air itself screamed as Ryuuto unleashed the jutsu. A blinding white aura enveloped King Kong, ripping apart his molecules. His roar turned into static—and then silence. The giant disintegrated, body atomized, vanishing into the air like dust in sunlight.
Quicksilver's jaw dropped. "W-what the hell—!?"
"Nothing's impossible," Ryuuto replied casually, wiping imaginary dust off his sleeve. "So… Quicksilver, you're next?"
His energy had fully recovered, the faint blue glow of the system's regeneration effect still fading from his hands.
"Ryuuto, you did it! I knew you would!" Gwen cheered, running up to his side.
He smiled slightly. "Stay behind me, Gwen. Wouldn't want you bitten by any rabid Brotherhood dogs."
Quicksilver's face twisted. "You think I'm scared of you?!"
He was about to dash forward when—
"Quicksilver."
Mystique's voice cut cold through the chaos. "Don't forget your father's orders. If you want to die, do it later."
With that, she turned her back on the fight and walked away, expression unreadable. Mission complete.
Quicksilver stood frozen for a beat, then spat in frustration. "Tch. Fine. You're lucky, Red Mirage! Next time, you're dead!"
He blurred into motion, retreating in a streak of silver.
Ryuuto didn't chase. He just stood there amid the smoke and silence, the faint shimmer of chakra fading from his eyes.
System, he thought, cracking his neck, log that one under "experimental trash deleted."
[Ding! Host has demonstrated dominant combat authority. XP +4500]
He smirked. "Not bad."