"Magneto! Catch—THIS!"
A beam of ruby light sliced the sky as Scott fired. Bobby's ice roared behind it. Oluo and the other X-Men charged in from the flanks.
They arrived just in time—throwing themselves between Wanda and the incoming monsters of the Mutant Brotherhood.
But Magneto?
He didn't even blink.
"Heh… a handful of ants."
He flicked his wrist, and every metal object within fifty meters ripped free—roofs, tractors, nails, pipes—and slammed together into a swirling shield that absorbed Scott's blast and Bobby's ice in one metallic roar.
Magneto lowered the makeshift wall and sneered.
"I thought that brat Ryuuto finally grew the courage to die before me. Instead, he sends you trash? No matter. Easier for me to drag you all home."
His elites stepped forward as one. Killing intent thickened the air like smog.
"Captain will be here any moment!" Steel snapped, slamming his fists together. "And then none of you villains are leaving alive!"
Magneto's eyes flashed cold.
"Your captain is too slow. By the time he arrives, all of you will already be corpses."
He hurled more metal like a storm of blades, forcing Oluo and the others back.
"Run!" Oluo shouted to Wanda and the old woman. "Don't look back—we'll hold them!"
"Huh? You insects think you can fight the Brotherhood?" a Mutant jeered. "Ridiculous."
"Kill them."
At that command, the Brotherhood surged forward, unleashing chaos across the entire village.
Explosions. Screams. Smoke. The tranquil countryside was swallowed by hell.
Wanda stumbled away with the old woman, Origin Magic Power flaring instinctively. Every Mutant who tried to grab her recoiled—unable to touch her through the chaotic energy that lashed out blindly.
"LISTEN UP!" Quicksilver barked. "Kill whoever you see—leave no witnesses! I don't care if we're wrong. DO NOT let news spread!"
"Yes!!"
And just like that, the Brotherhood began slaughtering villagers.
Houses were torched.
Children screamed.
Lives ended.
The peaceful village was drowning in blood.
"Mystique! We haven't found her!" one of her men reported.
Mystique scanned the scene, apathetic to the carnage.
"Double-check the intel. Did Scarlet Witch escape?"
"She was here, no doubt," Quicksilver cut in. "She can't have gone far—"
Then his eyes widened.
"There!"
He blasted forward at full speed, a silver streak tearing the air: Wanda, clutching the old woman, standing at the dam in terror.
"Grandma—he's coming toward us!" Wanda gasped.
"Run, child! Run!"
Wanda gritted her teeth. "No! They want me. You get away!"
Quicksilver smirked as he lunged.
"Hehe… none of you are running anywhere."
His hand stretched toward Wanda—
And then—
A black shadow blitzed in, faster than even his eyes could register.
Quicksilver skidded to a halt, heart seizing in shock.
"Who—?! Who dares hit me?!"
The shadow landed.
Ryuuto.
Standing like a wall between Wanda, the old woman, and death.
Quicksilver's veins bulged. "Ryuuto?! You damn pest—always showing up to ruin our plans!"
"What can you do now?" he barked, emboldened as Mystique and more Brotherhood Mutants appeared. "There are dozens of us! You think you can stop us all!?"
Ryuuto cracked his knuckles lazily.
"Try me."
Shadow Clone Technique!
Hundreds of Ryuutos roared into existence, forming a protective barrier around Wanda and the old woman before charging straight into the incoming horde.
Quicksilver's jaw dropped. Mystique took two steps back instinctively.
"WHAT ARE YOU ALL STARING AT?!" Quicksilver screamed. "KILL HIM!"
The Brotherhood rushed in.
"Wood Style… Deep Forest Emergence!"
Ryuuto slammed his palms down.
The ground exploded.
Towering trees erupted across the entire village, vines whipping through the air, branches capturing fleeing enemies. The entire battlefield twisted into a living forest, swallowing Mutants whole and plunging everything into chaos.
In the middle of it all—
Ryuuto landed in front of Wanda.
"Wanda," he said firmly, "come with me. I'll protect you."
She looked at him, eyes trembling, clinging desperately to the old woman's hand.
Fear. Confusion. Amnesia. Pain.
Ryuuto saw it all.
And now, finally, he understood:
This Scarlet Witch wasn't the world-ending goddess everyone feared.
She was a terrified girl with no memory—
and everyone wanted to use her.
Perfect.
Exactly the version Ryuuto could save… and recruit.