"Haha! Not bad at all! You really didn't disappoint me, kid!"
Apocalypse's laughter rolled like thunder as his fists blurred through the air. Hundreds of strikes slammed into Ryuuto in seconds. Every blow should've shattered bones—but the boy didn't even flinch. He grinned instead. The raw power rippling through his body had reached something monstrous.
"Keep struggling! The thrill of the hunt—it's intoxicating!"
"You're a damn lunatic," Ryuuto spat, wiping the blood from his lip. "A real pervert, you know that?"
The so-called "Mutant God" wasn't just indestructible—he was enjoying it. Fighting someone who loved pain more than victory? Waste of chakra. Ryuuto's brows tightened. No more playing around.
With a thunderous impact, their fists collided—shockwaves tearing through the battlefield. Ryuuto shot back, flipping through the air before landing lightly, eyes snapping shut.
Lightning crackled around his arm.
"Lightning Style—Raikiri."
When he opened his eyes again, they burned crimson—three tomoe spinning like molten glass. Electricity surged from his hand, violent and divine. The sheer destructive aura made even Apocalypse hesitate.
"What—lightning control? You can channel thunder?" Apocalypse muttered, his tone suddenly cautious.
"Less talking. More dying."
Ryuuto vanished. A roaring thunderstorm tore through the air—so fast it blurred reality itself. The pressure alone distorted the sky.
"So fast!" Apocalypse gasped, darting upward, scanning wildly for his opponent. Losing sight of someone mid-battle—unacceptable.
"It's no use hiding in the sky," Ryuuto's voice echoed behind him, sharp as a kunai.
Before Apocalypse could react, Raikiri speared toward his heart. At that range, no one should've been able to dodge.
But instead of panic, Apocalypse smirked. "Boy, never forget—old wine burns hotter."
A warped forcefield shimmered to life, swallowing the lightning whole. Raikiri vanished—its energy devoured by Apocalypse's power.
"You like lightning so much?" he sneered. "Let me return the favor!"
A surge of electricity erupted—Raikiri reborn and aimed straight back at Ryuuto.
"Boom!"
A wall of sand spiraled up just in time—crashing into the redirected bolt and scattering it apart. The Shield of the Crane dissolved, grains hissing with static.
The two warriors locked eyes, neither speaking. The air thickened, heavy enough to crush a normal man's lungs.
"Feels good, doesn't it?" Apocalypse chuckled. "Shame I didn't break your skull."
Ryuuto scowled. "You talk too much."
They moved again, both charging up new techniques. Every heartbeat was a countdown to catastrophe.
Then Ryuuto snapped his wrists. Kunai and shuriken flew from his sleeves—dozens of them, streaking toward Apocalypse's vital points in a glittering storm.
Apocalypse didn't move. He just laughed. "These toys? Don't insult me."
He roared, eyes glowing. "Freeze!"
The projectiles stopped midair, caught in invisible force. They hovered like obedient pets orbiting their master.
"You see? Against me, you're nothing! Kneel!"
Ryuuto rolled his eyes. "Telekinesis? That's it? Pathetic."
He already saw through the trick—but that didn't make the old monster any less annoying. The kid's fighting spirit surged hotter.
"Fire Style—Fire Dragon Ball!"
Flames burst from his mouth, engulfing the suspended weapons. Metal melted, air screamed, and a blazing dragon tore toward Apocalypse.
Apocalypse blinked, then laughed again. "You're joking. I absorb energy, boy!"
He spread his arms and drew in the flames—turning Ryuuto's attack against him once more. The Great Fireball reversed course, barreling back toward its creator.
Apocalypse's grin widened. "You die by your own hand! History will remember the god who burned the fool who challenged him!"
Then the smile vanished.
The fireball evaporated midair. His limbs locked. His eyes went wide.
"What—?"
He looked down. His shadow… overlapped perfectly with Ryuuto's. Merged. Bound.
Ryuuto stood below, eyes glowing with eerie focus. "I told you. Don't blink."
The ground split with a flash of crimson light.
[System Alert: Shadow Dominion Activated. Target — Restrained.]
And just like that, the self-proclaimed god couldn't even twitch.