"What's this brat doing now? Trying to dig a hole and hide underground?"
"Haha! Let him squirm! The fight's already over. Victory's ours!"
Ultron and Lauf's laughter echoed across the ruined streets. Even Heimdall allowed himself a smirk. Ryuuto stood unmoving amidst the smoke—calm, defiant, almost too still. To them, it looked like arrogance. To the Destroyer, it was something else—dangerous focus.
While they mocked, Ryuuto bit his thumb, spreading a summoning scroll across the ground.
"Let's see if this still works across worlds…" he muttered. Lightning danced around his arms as he slammed his palm down.
"Summoning Technique—Release!"
The ground exploded.
A massive serpent shot out first, scales black as night, eyes burning gold. The next instant, a colossal white slug materialized beside it, its body pulsing with soft blue chakra light. The shockwave alone sent debris spiraling skyward.
"What in the nine realms—?!" Lauf's voice cracked.
Even Ultron's optics flickered. "Two… entities? Simultaneous summon? Impossible."
The serpent slammed into the earth, roaring in fury. "Damn you, brat! You summoned me into an explosion again?! You better not think I'm doing this for free!"
That was Ten Thousand Snakes, Ryuuto's oldest and most temperamental contract. Its mountainous coils tore through the frozen ground, blood still oozing from new wounds caused by Lauf's earlier frost spikes.
And next to it, the elegant Katsuyu, the Healing Queen herself, blinked her enormous eyes in disapproval.
"Ryuuto-san, honestly! I am not a combat summon! Dragging me into a warzone alongside him of all creatures?!"
Ten Thousand Snakes snapped its jaws, hissing. "Watch it, slug! I'll crush you and use your slime as armor polish!"
Katsuyu puffed up indignantly. "Try it and I'll drown you in acid mucus!"
The two glared at each other, killing intent thick enough to choke on. Even the enemies paused to stare.
"Can you two not fight for five seconds!?" Ryuuto barked. "You're here to help me kill them, not each other!"
"Why should we listen to you?" they said in perfect unison—then froze as two laser blasts shot straight toward them.
Ryuuto moved before thought. His hands flicked, shuriken whirled, each one crackling with lightning as they intercepted the incoming beams mid-air. The night lit up with explosions.
The Destroyer hovered above, eyes blazing molten white. "Stop stalling, boy. Fight me!"
Heimdall landed nearby, blade in hand. Ultron joined him, his smirk as sharp as his steel body. Lauf towered behind them, icicles forming a crown around his head.
"Surround them! Don't let those beasts escape. Tonight, we feast!" the Frost King bellowed, licking his lips as his eyes gleamed at Katsuyu's size.
Ten Thousand Snakes' pupils narrowed. "Feast? You think I'm the meal?" It coiled up, scales grinding like thunder. "Kid, I'll play along this once. Let me devour these icy freaks for free."
Katsuyu sighed but nodded. "Fine. But I expect proper chakra compensation later."
"Good. Katsuyu, heal him up. Once Ten Thousand Snakes is in shape, I'll take the armored freak—he's mine."
"Understood."
"Perfect."
Katsuyu oozed healing chakra over the serpent's wounds, the flesh knitting in seconds. Ten Thousand Snakes roared, fully restored, and lunged toward Lauf's army, shattering a dozen frost giants in a single strike.
"Don't panic!" Heimdall shouted. "There's only one of him! Kill the boy!"
He charged forward, but Katsuyu's massive body splattered a wave of corrosive mucus that melted through his armor like acid rain. Heimdall barely leapt clear, cursing.
"I'll handle Ryuuto myself," the Destroyer growled, hovering higher. "Stay out of this."
Ultron smirked. "Relax, tin can. I'll just make sure he doesn't run away. Besides—bring me his head when you're done. I want it polished for display."
Ryuuto cracked his neck, lightning crawling across his arms. "Big words for a walking toaster."
The Destroyer's chest burned brighter.
"I'll burn that tongue first."
With that, the sky ignited once more.