"Bastard! You're so damn mean!"
Loki's eyes widened as Ryuuto's beheading blade came slicing down, gleaming like judgment itself. Cold sweat poured down his face. For a split second, he almost shut his eyes—almost accepted defeat—but his pride screamed louder.
I can't lose like this!
A sharp light flashed across his gaze. Snapping Gwen's web with a twist, Loki kicked himself free and swung his sword in a desperate counterattack.
Ryuuto sneered. "Oh, you actually thought that was clever? Soldiers use tricks, sure—but you're just bad at it."
With a single fluid motion, his blade cut deep into Loki's thigh. Blood spattered. A second swing from Ryuuto's left hand smashed Loki's sword out of his grip.
"Leaf Great Whirlwind!"
"Damn it! Don't underestimate me!"
Before the others could react, Loki's body regenerated. Flesh twisted, bone reknit, and his leg reattached as if rewinding time.
"Kid, you're fooled! Go to hell! Molecular Rearrangement!"
Loki flicked his cloak, deflecting Ryuuto's flying kick. The disarmed sword suddenly split apart midair, scattering into a dozen razor-sharp daggers that screamed toward Ryuuto like a metallic storm.
"Not happening!"
Susan thrust her hands forward, summoning a shimmering blue force field. Energy crackled around Ryuuto, amplifying his strength and speed. The daggers froze midair, twisted, and reversed direction—straight toward Loki.
"You shameless—!"
Loki ducked, roaring as his fist shattered the spinning daggers like a hurricane breaking glass. He gathered the scattered blades back into a long sword with raw magic.
"Ryuuto! Hiding behind a woman's shield again? Come on! Face me one-on-one!"
Ryuuto tilted his head, eyes glinting with amusement. "You want a duel? Fine. I'll carve that smirk off your face myself."
He smiled—a calm, terrifying smile. Power surged around him like a storm of invisible blades.
"Gwen, Katie Dee, Susan—you three just watch. I'll take his head in one swing."
"Okay! Go get him, bro!" Katie Dee shouted, her eyes practically glowing. Gwen and Susan stayed back, tense but trusting.
"Good! I'll show you real power!" Loki roared, soaring into the air.
But he underestimated Ryuuto—again.
Before Loki could stabilize, Ryuuto appeared above him, silent as death. One flash of silver, and—
Slash!
The decapitation blade narrowly missed Loki's head but split his golden crown clean in half. Loki tumbled midair, hair disheveled, pride shattered.
"Another sneak attack!? You cowardly brat!"
Ryuuto's grin widened. "What, you expected me to play fair?"
Then, everything shifted. Space itself rippled. The ground cracked, wind howled, and Gwen, Katie Dee, and Susan all covered their mouths in shock.
"What's happening!?"
"Wait! Don't—Katie! Believe in him. Ryuuto's not losing to that guy."
Before them, a monstrous creature clawed its way into existence—hulking, deformed, and grotesque. Loki stood proudly on its head, laughing like a maniac.
"Meet my little pet! Crush him!"
The creature's massive foot slammed down toward Ryuuto.
Ryuuto clicked his tongue. "Wow. Didn't think you were into summoning ugly pets. Kinda suits you, though."
With a burst of motion, he blurred backward, avoiding the crushing stomp.
But Loki wasn't finished. The creature split—its body fracturing into seven or eight copies. They surrounded Ryuuto, charging with murderous speed.
"Boy, you're done! Die for me!" Loki's laughter filled the air.
Gwen and the others held their breath.
Ryuuto, however, just stood there. Calm. Unmoving. His lips curled into a smirk.
"You really think this will confuse me? Loki, you're an idiot."
Lightning flared in his palm. The air hummed.
Lightning Style: Raikiri!
The blue-white current exploded from his hand like a spear of judgment. His eyes glowed crimson—the Sharingan spinning like a vortex of fury.
Even before the attack landed, Loki felt it. The raw killing intent, the power that split air itself.
But he still laughed. "Keep talking big! When my beast crushes you, let's see how cocky you sound!"
Ryuuto raised his hand, thunder cracking across the battlefield. The real fight had just begun.