"Hey! What's wrong with you? Could you stop swinging that sword for one second? I literally have no idea what you're talking about!"
Ryuuto ducked under another wild slash from Deadpool's twin katanas. The guy was hacking at him like a rabid raccoon with ADHD, muttering nonsense between each swing.
"Don't play dumb! The Goddess of Death is mine! Mine! You—Toad trying to eat swan meat—don't even think about her!"
Deadpool's voice cracked from screaming. His blades flashed again, this time nearly grazing Ryuuto's cheek. The air itself felt drunk with madness.
"Dude," Ryuuto snapped, irritation dripping from his tone. "What are you even talking about? I don't care about your edgy girlfriend!"
Deadpool didn't listen. His breathing was ragged, his movements frantic. The words of Magneto earlier—about the Goddess of Death's "affection" for Ryuuto—had apparently shattered what little sanity Deadpool possessed. In his twisted head, only two options existed: kill Ryuuto, or die by his hand.
Ryuuto's eye twitched. "Fine. You want death? Then I'll grant your wish."
He clapped his hands into seals. Lightning surged through his veins as his eyes bled scarlet, Sharingan spinning alive.
[Skill Activated: Raikiri!]
A streak of blue light tore through the air. Deadpool lunged, but Ryuuto moved faster—his lightning blade punched straight through the merc's chest. Energy crackled outward, searing the ground beneath them.
"Nice kill, kid!" came the voice of Parker, the tiny AI drone perched on Ryuuto's shoulder. "You almost hit Kakashi-tier with that one. My training totally paid off!"
From inside the shattered building nearby, Ultron and Lauf watched in disbelief.
"That's it? That was your plan?" Lauf snarled, slamming his icy staff into the floor. "He vaporized your guy in under a minute!"
The Destroyer's metallic eyes narrowed. "He's too strong. Thor himself may need to intervene."
"Relax," Ultron said, voice lazy, almost mocking. "If you're so eager to die, go fight him yourself. You think you've got a healing factor like that fool?"
Before Lauf could respond, Deadpool's body jerked—and then began to knit itself back together.
"What the—"
Ryuuto stepped back as the hole in Deadpool's chest closed with a wet squelch. The merc was laughing, louder than before, swinging his blades with psychotic glee.
"See?! You can't kill me, Red Mirage! Try harder! C'mon, make me feel it!"
"You're seriously insane." Ryuuto exhaled, lightning sparking from his fingertips. "Fine. You want pain? Let's make this a full-course meal."
He blurred forward, foot flashing up in a spinning kick.
"Leaf Great Whirlwind!"
Deadpool flew like a ragdoll, slamming into the concrete.
Gwen, watching from afar, bit her lip. "Ryuuto! Want me to tag in?"
"No need," Ryuuto shot back between strikes, voice steady even amid chaos. "Focus on Ultron and his goons. They'll jump in any second."
Deadpool's laughter echoed again. "Is that all you've got? You hit like Spider-Man on a bad day!"
Ryuuto's patience finally snapped. "You're hopeless. And for the last time—" His fingers sparked white-hot as chakra and lightning converged. "I don't care about your damn Goddess of Death!"
[Dust Release: World-Stripping Technique!]
A blinding flash exploded across the battlefield. When the light faded, Deadpool was disintegrating—atoms scattering like ash.
"...This feels off," the Destroyer muttered, charging his energy cannons. "Did he just kill him for real?"
"Ultron!" Lauf barked, panic rising. "Do something!"
Ultron's eyes glowed crimson. "Already on it."
Dozens of beams fired from his mechanical arms, warping the air around Ryuuto.
Deadpool's ashes scattered in the gust.
"Sonic Man!" Ultron shouted. "It's your turn!"
The silver-clad speedster smirked. "Heh. Don't worry—I know exactly what to do."
Behind them, a massive alloy horn was raised by Ultron's drones—an energy cannon the size of a small building. Sonic Man inhaled, his chest swelling unnaturally as he prepared to unleash a sonic blast. Lauf and the Destroyer joined the assault, their attacks converging on one target—Ryuuto.
And Ryuuto... just smiled.