Ryuuto cracked his knuckles, voice dripping with mockery.
"Both of you clown-sized Mutants really think you're enough to warm me up? Honestly, I'm scared one punch will kill you before I even enjoy myself."
A murderous aura burst from him—sharp, suffocating, electric.
Meatball and Mercury stiffened at once. Even they could sense it: this wasn't the same kid they'd been briefed on.
"Stop talking!" Mercury snapped. "We go together! Rip his head off!"
"Right! Don't give him room to breathe!"
They lunged. Mercury slithered in fast to restrain, while Meatball lifted a massive boulder overhead and hurled it like a meteor.
Ryuuto exhaled slowly.
"You two really don't get it. Today, I'll crush your cute little delusions."
Eight Inner Gates — First Gate, Open.
Second Gate, Rest Gate, Open.
Third Gate, Open.
Fourth Gate, Pain Gate, Open.
Fifth Gate, Limit Gate, Open.
Sixth Gate, Vision Gate, Open.
Seventh Gate—Shock Gate—OPEN!
A cyclone of black Chakra erupted around him. His hair stood upright, aura flaring like a supercharged inferno. The air itself distorted around his body.
The attacks struck him all at once—
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Meatball and Mercury shielded their faces from the shockwave.
Then they saw him.
Standing there.
Untouched.
Still powering up.
"What!?" Meatball's jaw dropped. "This kid—he's got Regeneration?!"
Their disbelief was cut short by a flash of movement—
CRACK!
Ryuuto's fist hammered Meatball's jaw, turning the lower half of his face into pulp. The giant Mutant collapsed, twitching like a dying hog.
"You—You can't hurt me!" Mercury stuttered, dissolving into liquid, slipping away.
Ryuuto snorted.
"You think running saves you?"
Evening Peacock!
A burst of blazing Chakra feathers exploded outward, flames swirling like a peacock unfurling in the sky. The firestorm engulfed Mercury, evaporating most of his liquid form and leaving him shriveled and half-solidified on the ground.
"Gh—! What… what is this power…?"
Before he could recover—
"Ryuuto! I've got you!" Meatball roared.
The huge Mutant lunged from behind, locking his arms around Ryuuto in a crushing bear hug.
"Mercury! NOW! Cut out his heart!"
Mercury staggered upright, rage burning in his molten eyes.
He pulled an alloy blade from his belt.
"Die!"
He threw it straight at Ryuuto's chest—
And Ryuuto…
Smiled.
"You're smiling!? Let's see how you look when you're DEAD!"
Mercury drew more blades, slashing wildly.
But Ryuuto didn't dodge. He didn't even flinch.
He lifted one hand—still smeared with Meatball's blood.
"Heh. I really hope your blade hits deep."
Blood Curse — Death Division Ritual.
His skin darkened to bone white and pitch black, sigil lines crawling across him.
The alloy knife pierced his chest—
And Meatball screamed.
"GA—AHHH?! MY HEART! MY—!"
Blood burst from the giant's mouth. His grip went slack instantly.
Mercury froze, shocked.
"What—!? No… NO! That's impossible!"
Ryuuto ripped the knife from his own body without a single wince.
"You really don't get it. That knife didn't hit me."
He pointed at the corpse.
"It hit him."
Meatball lay motionless, dead before he hit the ground.
Ryuuto smirked.
"Poor idiot. You just hacked your partner to pieces and didn't even notice."
Mercury screamed, stumbling backward.
"You lied—! You tricked me!"
Ryuuto stepped forward, cracking his neck.
"Now it's your turn. Go die next to him."
He slammed his palm forward—and Mercury liquefied instantly, fleeing across the dirt like a puddle in panic.
"You can't kill me!" Mercury shrieked. "I'm indestructible! No physical attack can kill me! I can't die!"
Ryuuto raised an eyebrow.
"Relax. I'm not going to kill your body."
He clasped his hands.
"You're too proud of that liquid trick. Time to separate it."
Dust Release — Original World Stripping Technique.
A white cube barrier snapped into existence around Mercury, locking him inside.
"Let's see how indestructible you are when even your atoms can't agree on what you are."