"It's over! There's too many of them!"
Parker finally clawed his way up Ryuuto's jacket and collapsed on his shoulder. His jaw dropped as countless energy blasts rained down from all directions. Dark silhouettes filled the sky—dozens of enemies, maybe hundreds. His knees started shaking like jelly in a blender.
"Kid, what the hell did you do to piss off this many people?!" Parker yelped, tail puffed up. "This is suicide! Hurry up and summon me back before I die for your drama!"
"What are you whining about? You're still breathing, aren't you?"
Ryuuto didn't even glance at him. His focus was sharp, already forming seals with blinding speed. In one flash of chakra, his form blurred—Body Replacement Technique. He scooped Gwen into his arms and leapt high into the air, narrowly dodging a shockwave of explosions that tore the street apart.
Sonic Man, still half-dazed from their last clash, realized too late that he was about to be caught in the crossfire. His face went pale. "No, no, no—!"
The blast hit.
A deafening BOOM! ripped through the city. The sky turned white, and a mushroom cloud rose above the ruins. Buildings trembled. Then silence.
Only the sound of debris falling remained. When the smoke cleared, a single wooden log tumbled down, splintered and burnt—Ryuuto's substitution decoy.
"Damn it! I knew that brat wouldn't die that easily!" Lauf slammed his fist into the ground, ice spreading from his touch. He turned to Ultron with a furious glare. "Well? You said your plan had everything under control, metalhead!"
Ultron didn't even blink. Arms crossed, his glowing eyes flickered with smug calculation. "Control is relative. The show's just getting started."
Lauf's jaw tightened. "You better be right, tin can."
"Patience." Ultron smirked. "He'll crawl back out soon enough. And when he does, I'll dismantle him—piece by piece."
Sonic Man stumbled forward, clutching his ribs, face dark with embarrassment. "You didn't say he was this strong! He's almost on Magneto's level! How the hell am I supposed to compete for X-Men Captain with a monster like that?"
Ultron gave a slow, mocking clap. "Relax. You're one of us. No one's turning on their allies." His tone dripped with false warmth. "Ryuuto's talented, sure—but arrogance always leads to the same ending. He's running, not fighting. Once we close the net, he's finished."
"Where is he now?" the Destroyer rumbled, pointing skyward.
They all looked up.
High above the city, Ryuuto stood on a floating piece of rubble, lightning flickering around him like a storm crown. His red scarf fluttered behind him—the Red Mirage, unbroken and defiant.
"Hey! There he is!" Lauf's eyes gleamed. "Let's finish him!" He swung his frozen spear and charged forward.
Ultron raised a metallic hand sharply. "No. Maintain formation. Focus fire on the shinobi and the woman beside him. No survivors."
A volley of plasma beams erupted from Ultron's arm cannons, tearing through the sky like molten spears.
"Got it! Let's melt that cocky brat!" Lauf laughed maniacally, sending shards of ice flying like a blizzard of knives.
"Ryuuto, leave me! I'll be fine!" Gwen's voice trembled. "You'll die if you fight them all!"
Ryuuto tightened his grip on her. His smirk cut through the chaos. "Do you really think a bunch of clowns like this can kill me?" Lightning flared under his feet as he blurred between the attacks, every movement precise, controlled. "Relax. They're just my warm-up."
The confidence in his tone made Gwen's heart race. "Then I'll trust you. Do what you have to do… I'll always have your back."
Ryuuto's grin softened for just a second. "Good girl."
Parker, meanwhile, was still clinging to Ryuuto's head. "Can you two not flirt in the middle of a warzone?! Some of us are single, okay! And fragile!"
A laser beam whizzed past, singeing his fur. "Oh COME ON!"
Before Ryuuto could respond, a metallic clang split the air.
"Ryuuto, you son of a—!"
A crimson blur dropped from above, swinging twin katanas with reckless fury.
"Deadpool?" Ryuuto blinked. "Wait, I told you to gather intel from the Brotherhood! Why are you—"
Deadpool lunged again, slicing through a burst of lightning. "Don't play dumb! I'm here to settle the score, you cheap knockoff ninja! You owe me $5,400—and my heart!"
"What."
"Don't 'what' me! You stole my mission, my spotlight, and worst of all—my date with the Goddess of Death!"
Ryuuto sighed, sidestepping a wild slash. "You've got issues, Wade."
Deadpool pointed his sword dramatically. "And you've got a death wish! Now fight me like a man!"
Lightning crackled around Ryuuto's arm again. "Fine. But don't cry when I short-circuit your mouth."