"Your stamina's pathetic. Not even close to top class."
Ryuuto's voice came from right behind Erica before she even realized he'd moved. A smirk tugged at his lips. She froze, fear flashing in her eyes as white chakra bands coiled around her limbs, trapping her midair.
In the next instant, Ryuuto spun forward, grabbed her by the leg, and flipped her upside down. Her scream cut through the wind as he dove—spinning like a drill—dragging her down with crushing momentum.
Boom!
The floor shattered. Dust and airwaves exploded outward as Erica's body slammed into the ground, leaving a crater and a mangled corpse at its center.
Quicksilver's composure finally snapped. "Retreat! Everyone scatter—run! If one escapes, it's worth it!"
He barely turned before a flash of light pierced the air. A chakra-forged blade slammed through his shoulder, pinning him to the wall like a ragdoll. His body shook, every nerve screaming.
"It's over," Ryuuto said flatly. "Didn't I warn you idiots to leave when you had the chance?"
The Alchemist, trembling and bleeding, howled in despair. "We're finished! All of us!"
"Not me," Arclight snarled, wiping blood from her mouth. "I refuse to die here!"
Lightning erupted from her fists, crackling with unstable energy. The ground splintered beneath her as a wave of concussive shock tore through the ruined shelter. Walls twisted, metal screamed, and the entire base began to collapse.
"This lunatic—she's gonna kill us too!" Quicksilver dragged the half-conscious Alchemist behind a chunk of fallen concrete, eyes wild.
Nearby, Gambit crawled through the rubble, coughing blood. "Can't… breathe… what the hell is this power…"
Facing the storm, Ryuuto didn't flinch. His chakra flared like wildfire. "You like explosions? Let me raise the volume."
Wind Style: Infinite Dust Breakthrough!
A hurricane roared to life. Wind, sand, and razor-sharp dust surged through the shelter like a living beast, swallowing Arclight's attack whole. The collision detonated in a deafening blast. Her scream was cut short as the storm tore into her body, painting the air with blood mist.
Quicksilver pressed his forehead to the ground, shaking. "Is… is this hell?"
The structure gave in completely—beams collapsing, walls folding in.
A desperate shimmer of alchemy turned a broken table into a crude metal canopy, barely shielding Quicksilver, Ariel, Gambit, and the Alchemist from the falling debris.
When the storm cleared, Arclight was gone. Ryuuto stood amid the ruins, his hand blazing with lightning. Her body hit the ground seconds later, chest punched clean through by a Raikiri.
Ryuuto exhaled. "That's another one down. Guess my mission's complete."
Beside him, Gwen landed lightly, protected by a swirling sand shield. "There are still a few more," she said, scanning the smoke.
"They won't get far," Ryuuto replied, his tone almost bored. "Let's wrap this up."
They walked forward together—calm, deliberate—like executioners claiming the battlefield.
In the corner, Ariel's trembling voice broke the silence. "Now! Quicksilver, I can teleport us! Hurry!"
"Finally," Quicksilver gasped, waving his hand. "Do it now! No mistakes!" He turned to the others. "Alchemy, you're the only one left who can fight. Hold them off while we get out. Buy us time!"
"What—?!"
Before the Alchemist could speak, Gambit and Quicksilver shoved him forward toward Ryuuto. Ariel's power flared, light swallowing the other three. Space itself cracked open as the teleportation circle formed.
"Ryuuto!" Quicksilver screamed as his body began to fade. "The Brotherhood will never forgive this! You'll drown in our revenge!"
Ryuuto tilted his head. "Then take this parting gift."
He flicked a wrist. A cluster of shuriken streaked toward the collapsing portal—each wired with explosive tags. The last thing Quicksilver saw before vanishing was the glowing red seal.
BOOM.
The portal imploded.
The Alchemist, left behind, stared blankly at the space where his comrades had been. His face twisted from disbelief to pure fury. "They… left me?!"
He screamed to the ceiling, his voice echoing through the ruins. "No! How could you do this to me?!"