[Ding! Reward acquired — Character Data Package: "Hokage Class."]
Ryuuto leaned back with a grin, arms folded behind his head. "Finally! About time this busted system gave me something decent."
[Master sounds pleased! Shion is happy too~!]
"Yeah, yeah. If you'd give me one of these every time I finished a mission, I'd call that actual happiness. When do you plan to upgrade, by the way? Feels like you're running on Windows 98."
[Patience, Master! Keep working hard, and one day you'll be the strongest man in this parallel world! Shion totally believes in you!]
Ryuuto sighed. "At least one of us does."
[So… open the data package now?]
He smirked. "Nope. Gonna save it. A little mystery makes life worth living."
After wrapping up his mission and walking Gwen home, the night should've ended sweetly. A kiss. A grin. A half-wave goodbye. Then the universe decided to ruin his mood.
The street trembled. Something streaked down from the clouds, glowing like a meteor on steroids.
"...You've got to be kidding me."
BOOM!
The explosion tore up half the street, leaving a crater wide enough to bury a truck. Smoke filled the air, choking, sharp with gunpowder.
When the dust cleared, a massive figure in blue armor landed in front of the pit, eyes scanning coldly. His voice rumbled like thunder.
"Hmm? Did he dodge?"
He stared into the pit, but only found a splintered wooden stake. His expression darkened.
"Hey, big guy. Looking for me?"
Ryuuto stood casually on a nearby lamppost, munching an apple like this was a lazy Sunday afternoon.
Apocalypse turned, eyes narrowing. "You… are Ryuuto? The so-called captain of the X-Men?"
"That's right." Ryuuto took another bite. "Sorry if my greatness blinded you."
Apocalypse tilted his head. "Do you have any idea who you're talking to?"
Ryuuto rolled his shoulders. "Nope. Don't care. You attacked me first, so here's the deal: either you die, or I make sure you spend the rest of your life drooling in a hospital bed."
He flicked the apple core with a snap of his fingers. The core shot like a bullet—
Crack! Apocalypse caught it midair and crushed it into pulp.
He smirked. "Interesting. You've got guts, boy."
"Good for you," Ryuuto muttered. "Still ugly, though."
With a roar, Apocalypse lunged like a charging tank. "You'll regret that! Remember my name—it's Apocalypse!"
"Sure. Add it to my list of people I'll forget in five minutes."
[Shadow Clone Technique!]
Dozens of Ryuutos split from the air, rushing him like a red storm. The original yawned. "Go play with him, I'll join if it looks fun."
Apocalypse didn't even blink. He swung once—
BOOM! Two clones evaporated instantly. Then another. And another. His fists were like cannons, crushing through them without slowing.
"Brutal much?" Ryuuto muttered. "Alright, you big bully, my turn!"
He appeared above Apocalypse in a flash, blade gleaming. "Decapitation Strike!"
Apocalypse raised one hand. Clang! The knife stopped cold against his palm.
"Pathetic toy," he sneered. His body began to twist and grow, metallic veins spreading across his skin. Within seconds, the mutant towered ten meters tall.
"Run, little ninja," he rumbled. "Or I'll turn you into street art."
The shadow of his fist covered the entire street.
Ryuuto's grin sharpened. "You want big?"
[Ninja Art: Super Expansion Jutsu!]
His chakra flared, body surging with raw power. In the next heartbeat, the two giants collided, fists smashing together. The shockwave leveled cars, shattered glass, and split the pavement like cracking thunder.
The night lit up like a warzone.
And neither was backing down.
...
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