The floor exploded.
Before the thugs could even reach their fallen boss, Ryuuto drove the man's skull into the concrete like he was planting a flag. Stone blasted outward, shards slicing the air, and the ground spider-webbed beneath the impact.
"Damn—!"
"Move! Those rocks will take your head off!"
The goons in front were swallowed by the shockwave instantly, blood spraying as they tumbled back like bowling pins. The ones behind them shrieked, too close and too slow to dodge, collapsing under the bodies crashing toward them.
From the middle of the wreckage, a shape crawled out.
The Black Mask rose from the crater with blood matting his hair and murder scorching through his eyes.
"You brat… you've really pissed me off."
Ryuuto answered him with the delicacy of a brick to the face.
He raised both middle fingers.
"Cry harder. What're you going to do, lecture me?"
The Black Mask's chest heaved, his anger so intense it nearly knocked him unconscious again. Ryuuto clicked his tongue.
"Honestly, you're boring. Let's skip to the part where I break you."
He inhaled sharply.
Eight Inner Gates.
First Gate — Open.
Second Gate — Open.
Third Gate — Open.
Fourth Gate — Open.
Fifth Gate — Open.
Sixth Gate — Open.
Seventh Gate — Open!
Power detonated from his body like a volcanic eruption. The next moment, he vanished.
A sonic boom snapped through the room as Ryuuto slammed a fist across the Black Mask's jaw, twisting half the man's face to the wrong angle. The mask shattered, revealing the scorched and monstrous flesh underneath.
Before the villain could even scream, Ryuuto stomped down, leaving a perfect boot-shaped crater across the man's cheek.
"My technique's pretty good, right? Don't thank me. It's a limited-edition experience."
"A—ah—! I'll rip you apart!!"
Wild, unhinged, the Black Mask lunged and bit down on Ryuuto's foot like a rabid dog.
A crisp, awful crack followed.
His teeth shattered.
Blood and spit splattered across the floor as the man spasmed, eyes bulging with agony.
"Tsk. You really are a crazy dog."
Ryuuto grabbed him by the collar like he weighed nothing.
"Fine. Last ride."
He hurled the villain skyward, leapt after him, and drove a fist into the Black Mask's chest so hard bones shattered like dry twigs. The man's body twisted in the air, helpless and broken.
"I… I'll kill you…" the Black Mask wheezed through his one functioning eye.
"Yeah, yeah. Natasha-san, I'm ripping his head off. Any objections?"
"No," she answered instantly. "Do it."
"Good. Makes this simple."
Ryuuto twisted.
A sharp crack echoed through the ruined base as the Black Mask went limp, neck rotated a full one-eighty. Ryuuto tossed the corpse aside like garbage and turned back to Natasha, whose relief was almost glowing.
"We—we surrender! Please! Spare us!"
The thugs didn't even wait for him to look at them; they collapsed to the ground in tears, slamming their heads against the floor.
With their monster of a boss dead, none dared to breathe wrong in Ryuuto's direction.
Natasha pressed close, voice soft.
"Thank you. If you hadn't come… I wouldn't have made it out."
"You're safe. That's all that matters."
He kissed her cheek lightly before leading her away. A clean-up squad arrived seconds later; the couple slipped out into the night, heading straight for their first peaceful moment in what felt like ages.
Just as Ryuuto relaxed—
[Ding! Justice Mission Completed. Reward Granted: Character Data Fragment!]
He froze.
A grin threatened to break his face.
Nice. Finally some good news.
"Shion, how many pieces left until I get a full character pack?"
[You already have one, so… nine more, Host. Collect all ten to unlock a complete data pack plus a 'mysterious extra reward.' Try not to explode from excitement.]
"Nine…? Seriously?"
He groaned.
"So I've gotta grind missions again? My life is suffering."
But even as he complained, heat built in his chest—anticipation, ambition, the thrill of becoming stronger.
Whatever enemies came next, whatever world tried throwing hands…
Ryuuto was ready to punch back twice as hard.
...
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