Thunder Dog snarled, lightning dancing across its fangs. Nebula screamed back at it like she'd lost her mind.
"You mangy beast— I'll kill you!"
She swung both electrified batons at the chakra hound, but the moment metal touched lightning, the recoil blew through her entire body. Her hair blasted upward into a smoking afro.
"Damn it—! My whole face is burning!"
Before she could recover, the Thunder Dog barreled straight through her, wrapping her in a storm of violent arcs. The pavement cracked. Nebula dropped to one knee, fully charred, trembling like her bones had turned to jelly.
Ryuuto yawned.
"Well? Talk. Who sent you? If you cooperate, I might even let you die clean."
"You—keep dreaming."
Nebula bared her teeth, refusing to bow, even as her legs shook uncontrollably.
"Oh? Still going for the stubborn act?"
"No matter how many times you ask, the answer doesn't change!" she snapped. "I came here to kill you! What can you possibly do to—"
Ryuuto looked away. Didn't even acknowledge her.
That scared her more than Thunder Dog did.
Nebula panicked and hurled an electrified baton at his head.
A sharp crack—
And Ryuuto simply caught it between two fingers.
High-voltage arcs crawled over his hand like obedient insects, not leaving the slightest mark.
"Tsk. Throwing your weapon? Now that's just disrespectful."
Nebula froze, goosebumps crawling up her entire spine. Ryuuto smiled—slow, fox-like, cruel.
"Didn't you just say I can't do anything to you?"
Ryuuto casually snapped the weapon in half.
"Good. Let me show you what's worse than death."
"No—stay back!"
"How old are you that you think I'm taking orders from you? Go on, throw the other one. I dare you."
Nebula didn't. She turned and bolted.
Double-Word Technique: Human Bullet Tank!
The entire street shook.
Windows shattered. Streetlights bent. A massive sphere of compressed muscle and chakra—Ryuuto's Human Bullet Tank—came rolling after her, pulverizing luxury cars into colorful confetti.
Nebula looked back once and nearly blacked out.
"WHAT—WHAT IS THAT THING—?!"
Driven into a corner, she roared and punched with her cybernetic arm—
BOOM!
She managed to knock the rolling mass away a short distance, but her arm bent into a grotesque corkscrew shape, smoking heavily.
"Oof. I'll give you that—your punch had bite."
Ryuuto's voice mocked her from inside the roiling ball.
"But you won't survive more than a few rounds."
"Not again—!!"
Her scream died mid-air.
The Human Bullet Tank grew even bigger, doubling in weight, tripling in speed, and slamming into her like a runaway meteor.
The impact blasted a hole through an entire building. Debris collapsed in a wave.
Nebula managed to tumble away, but the backlash sent her rolling across the pavement like discarded laundry. Blood seeped from her lips. Her body rattled as if her organs had flipped positions.
Before Ryuuto could finish her—
A streak of silver lightning cut across the street.
A hand grabbed Nebula by the wrist. She was yanked away with terrifying speed.
"Who—who are you…?"
"Save your breath," Quicksilver snapped. "If you don't want to die, shut up and run. I hate that brat as much as you do."
Nebula clamped her mouth shut instantly. Pride? Gone. She clung to Quicksilver like he was her last lifeline.
Ryuuto landed silently behind them.
"So it was you. Figures the Brotherhood just can't stay quiet."
He flicked several chakra-infused shurikens into the air—each one streaked toward Quicksilver like guided missiles.
Quicksilver twisted mid-run, eyes cold.
"Hmph. Not today, Jiang Li. And hear this—if you dare harm Scarlet Witch even a little, I'll take your head myself!"
Using every ounce of speed he had, Quicksilver vanished into the horizon, leaving only warped air and trembling concrete behind.
Ryuuto didn't chase.
He folded his arms, watching them disappear with amused eyes.
"Fast little rat. Fine, I'll let you go play hero today."
His figure flickered once—
And Ryuuto vanished from the ruined street, leaving behind silence and devastation.
...
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