"Ryuuto! Take my ultimate move!"
The maniacal screech from Sonic Man tore through the air. His grin was feral, eyes burning with the thrill of destruction. Ryuuto barely had time to adjust his grip on Gwen before the trumpet in Sonic Man's hands flared to life.
"BUZZZZZZ!"
A cascade of sonic waves exploded outward—rings of compressed sound so dense they shimmered like molten glass. The world convulsed. Birds fell from the sky, windows shattered in unison, and street signs twisted under the pressure. Even Ultron, Lauf, and the Destroyer—none of whom were the target—clutched their heads and scrambled back, faces contorted in pain.
The ground trembled. Entire storefronts disintegrated. Power lines sparked and died. For a moment, it felt like the city itself was screaming.
Only Sonic Man stood laughing in the chaos, his horn howling without mercy.
"Man, this track slaps!" Deadpool yelled over the noise—right before he was vaporized into a squelch of meat and red mist. Seconds later, his body started knitting back together again. "Ten outta ten remix! My spine's dancing!"
"Gwen, cover your ears! Don't move!"
"Got it!"
Holding her tightly, Ryuuto darted through the air in streaks of red light. He zipped and twisted between the sonic blasts, each one tearing holes in the sky. His heartbeat roared louder than the sound around him. He couldn't afford a single mistake—one slip, and Gwen would be obliterated.
Meanwhile, from the sidelines, Ultron and his allies grinned like vultures watching a cornered animal.
"Ha! Look at the so-called hero now," Lauf sneered. "Didn't you act tough earlier, Ryuuto? Now you're just a turtle hiding in its shell!"
Ultron's metallic voice cut through the chaos. "How ironic. The one who claimed to protect New York is the one tearing it apart."
That did it. Ryuuto's eyes snapped open, blazing.
"A bunch of trash thinks they can talk down to me?" he hissed. Chakra flared around his body like liquid flame. "Fine. Let's turn you into roasted piglets."
Fire Style: Dragon Flame Bullet!
A spiral of fire erupted from Ryuuto's hands, morphing into a blazing dragon that tore through the sound waves and lunged for Sonic Man.
Sonic Man froze mid-blast. "The hell—what is that?!"
"Block it, you fool!" Lauf shouted, stumbling back. "Don't let that brat hit you!"
Before the fire could reach him, the Destroyer stepped forward. The gem in its head pulsed, firing a concentrated beam of energy that collided with the fireball. The resulting explosion rolled through the air like thunder, scattering smoke and embers across the battlefield.
"Keep attacking!" Ultron barked. "Don't let up for a second!"
"Got it! Let's see how many more times you can dodge, Red Mirage!" Sonic Man roared, resuming his deadly melody.
The storm of sound gathered again—but before the next wave could hit, something else cut through the air.
A blinding white laser streaked from the distance, slicing past Ultron's shoulder. A massive concrete pillar followed, slamming into the ground where he stood moments ago.
"What the—who dares?!" Lauf's voice cracked as he spun around.
Ultron deflected the beam with a metallic shield, sparks scattering like fireworks. Lauf froze the shattered pillar in place, but his jaw was trembling.
"Show yourself, coward!" Ultron's mechanical voice boomed.
"Gladly."
The ground cracked open as the Hulk landed like an earthquake. He slammed both fists together, glaring up at Lauf. "You guys lookin' for a fight? Good. I was getting bored."
High above, another voice joined in, smooth and unmistakably smug. "And here I was worried I'd miss the party."
Iron Man hovered in the sky, repulsors glowing, targeting systems locked on Ultron and the Destroyer. "Step away from the kid. Or I start redecorating this city—with your parts."
"Ryuuto! You good down there?" Tony called. "Sorry we're late. Traffic."
Ryuuto gave a small grin, lightning crackling along his arms. "You kidding? I was just warming them up for you."
Ultron's eyes narrowed, glowing crimson. "So, two more helpers join the show. How touching." His tone twisted into something dark. "But it changes nothing. You'll all die here. Together."
Ryuuto's grin sharpened into something feral. "Yeah? Then let's make it loud."
The battlefield ignited once again, fire and thunder colliding with metal and sound.