"What do I need to do? I won't slow you down… right?"
Wanda asked softly, already treating Ryuuto like the center of her tiny universe.
"You're fine," Ryuuto said, calm but sharp. "Just protect yourself and sync with me. Treat the fight like a game. I'm not letting anything go sideways today."
His smile alone steadied her heart. His aura — hot, confident, unshakable — surged like a flare through the sky. Wanda clenched her small fists, eyes gleaming with courage.
"Ryuuto-nii… I'm ready."
"Good. Because it's here."
The space barrier above them trembled, rippling like a curtain made of shattered mirrors. A suffocating pressure leaked through, heavy enough to make even Wanda stiffen. Ryuuto stared upward, expression cool, unimpressed.
And then—
A disheveled figure tumbled out of the dimensional tear, landing like someone who hadn't rehearsed his entrance at all.
Loki.
He puffed out his chest, about to unleash a dramatic monologue—
Until he heard Ryuuto's voice.
"Well, well. Long time no see, Loki. Brought any gifts?"
Loki froze. Then twitched. Then almost face-planted into the nearest cloud.
"W-Why are you here!? I just got back to Earth! Why is it always you!?"
Ryuuto walked toward him with the kind of smile that made gods check their insurance policies.
"How do you think I knew? Luck, maybe. Instinct. Or maybe you're just painfully predictable."
Loki's eyes went red.
"That bastard Quicksilver actually betrayed me…?!"
Ryuuto didn't bother replying. He inhaled.
Fire Style. Great Fireball Technique.
A blazing sphere roared across the sky, turning the air molten. The shockwave alone made the clouds boil.
"Let's play, Loki. Don't run."
"You think you can beat me!? I've survived worse! I am Loki, you foolish—!"
Loki rammed a spell into the fireball, scattering it into a rain of ember-sparks that lit up the entire horizon.
Before he could breathe, Wanda stepped forward, lifting her hand.
"You're not going anywhere. Just behave and sit down!"
A crimson flare burst from her palm.
"What—!? Magic!? You—why can you use magic!?"
Her Origin Magic Power grabbed the scattered flames, compressed them, and spun them back at Loki with twice the heat.
"No one—no one surpasses the great Loki! Impossible!"
He screamed, throwing every ounce of strength into pushing the flames back.
He failed.
The explosion shook the atmosphere. Loki flew end-over-end like a burning meteor, hair scorched, cloak disintegrated, pride obliterated. When he hit the ground, smoke curled off him like someone had slow-roasted the god of mischief.
"My hair… my cloak… my beautiful self…!"
Ryuuto landed casually beside Wanda and raised a hand.
"Wanda! That was perfect. That's exactly how you toast this guy."
She beamed and high-fived him.
"And your fireball was amazing too!"
Their easy exchange hit Loki like salt in an open wound.
"You two… daring to humiliate a god… this is unforgivable!"
Loki's killing intent poured out like spilled ink. "I'll make you beg for death!"
"A funny guy," Ryuuto muttered, lifting a finger and beckoning him closer. "Come on. Don't disappoint me."
Wanda stood firm beside him, Origin Magic swirling around her. Loki felt the pressure instantly.
She was dangerous. Too dangerous.
If he underestimated her, he'd get folded again.
"Fine," Loki snarled. "You die together!"
He hurled two spheres of shadow — then immediately retreated, not stupid enough to stand near his own spell.
Lightning Style. Raikiri.
Ryuuto didn't even give Loki's attack a glance. Thunder cracked in his palm, and with one slash, he split both dark spheres cleanly in half. The lightning didn't slow; it chased Loki like a predator smelling fear.
"Loki, you run slower than a grandma with shopping bags," Ryuuto called out. "Did you forget to eat? No wonder you're always getting beaten."
"Shut your mouth!" Loki's voice broke with rage. "I'll show you Immune-to-Death, you punk!"
He whirled around, shoving down his panic, and charged with everything he had.
Ryuuto's taunts stung deeper than any wound.
This time, Loki wouldn't back down.
This time, he was going to fight to the death.
Or so he claimed.