"Impressive… for a human."
Galactus's voice rolled like thunder across the skyline.
"But you're still far too weak."
His palms opened.
A lattice of shimmering cosmic walls snapped into existence, boxing Ryuuto in.
Light dimmed. The world itself seemed to shrink.
Ryuuto only grinned.
"Too bad you still can't beat me."
Wind Style — Drilling Air Bullet!
Wind Style — Infinite Sandstorm Breakthrough!
Chakra swirled and compressed into violent tempests.
A roaring sandstorm collided with the energy walls, drilling straight toward Galactus's core.
Galactus swept his hand casually—
BOOM!
The attack dispersed like a puff of dust.
"You dare challenge me with this? You truly don't know your place."
Watching from the shadows, Loki nursed his swollen cheek and spat venom.
"Come on… die already, Ryuuto. Let's see what tricks you have left."
Above, Galactus's expression hardened. Even he hadn't expected this insect to resist him for so long.
"The power of stars isn't something ants can defy.
Be crushed."
Cosmic pressure surged. The energy walls contracted like the jaws of a world-ending beast—
—slamming downward toward Ryuuto with impossible force.
"Crush me?
In your dreams."
The fire of the Eight Gates flared.
Ryuuto's fists and kicks tore through the barriers, shattering them into glittering rain.
On the ground, Banner and Tony froze mid-breath.
"Can he really hold out against that guy…?" Banner muttered.
"He'll do it," Tony said, sweat beading on his forehead.
"He's Ryuuto. He doesn't lose."
But Galactus ignored every mortal watching.
Only Ryuuto existed in his vision.
"Break your chains?
Pointless.
All it buys you is a few more seconds of life, idiot."
Galactus lunged.
Ryuuto met him head-on.
Eight Inner Gates — Ignite!
Morning Peacock!
Chakra erupted into blazing feathers, each one a flaming strike.
The sky lit up in a storm of radiant shockwaves.
Galactus—actual cosmic devourer of worlds—stumbled, reeling.
"COME ON THEN! I'M NOT AFRAID OF YOU!"
The heat seared his skin. He fell, just barely catching himself on one knee, horror flickering through his massive eyes.
"Trying to turtle up?" Ryuuto sneered. "Cute."
Leaf Lotus!
He blitzed upward, striking Galactus's joints and pressure points faster than the giant could react.
Galactus's skin bruised red-black, swelling where each strike landed.
"BASTARD—! You dare injure Lord Swallow?!"
The titan unleashed a scream of fury.
Cracks ripped through the sky.
Energy rings blasted outward, tearing chunks out of reality.
Even Tony and Banner—miles away—were forced to retreat again.
Yet in the epicenter of the blast—
Ryuuto didn't move.
Didn't blink.
Didn't flinch.
He stood there like a god of war, unshaken among collapsing dimensions.
Galactus's voice trembled.
"Impossible… you're just a human! How are you still standing?!"
"If your attack can't drop me," Ryuuto said calmly, "maybe you're just weak."
Galactus roared, veins bulging.
"If you're so strong—use that technique again!
Hit me! I dare you!"
He was provoking himself, refusing to accept reality.
Ryuuto cracked his neck.
"Pervert.
Fine.
You asked for it."
Galactus blinked.
"Wait—"
Too late.
Eight Gates — Stand Tall!
Daytime Tiger!
Dozens of life potions shattered in Ryuuto's inventory as he pushed his body beyond reason.
The air itself compressed into the shape of a roaring white tiger—
—then detonated toward Galactus with enough power to tear continents apart.
"AGAIN?! YOU'RE DOING IT AGAIN?!"
Galactus screamed, voice cracking.
"You're… you're not even HUMAN!"
The tiger bore down on him, and for the first time since arriving—
Galactus felt fear.
Genuine, primal fear.
Ryuuto's strength shattered every expectation he'd ever held.
He realized, with dawning horror, that he could die here.
And what terrified him most—
Ryuuto wasn't done yet.