"Loki, show me what you've actually got," Ryuuto said, lifting a hand lazily. "Please tell me you've leveled up at least a little. I'd hate for you to die before I warm up."
Hands behind his back, he simply waited.
Loki hesitated. That confidence — that "you're already dead and don't know it" posture — made something ugly twist inside him. His charge halted. Cowardice crept in.
"You brat… what game are you playing? Don't think I'll fall for—"
"Noisy."
Ryuuto's voice cracked like a whip. His gaze pierced Loki's eyes like two blades.
"If you're not going to come up here and die like a man, don't blame me for skipping the part where you struggle."
"Arrogant insect! Let's see how you compare to a god!"
Loki snapped, flinging a massive sphere of energy forward. It tore through the sky, vibrating the world itself.
Ryuuto exhaled.
Eight Inner Gates — First Gate… open.
Second Gate… open.
Third. Fourth. Fifth. Sixth. Seventh—
Black energy flared across his body. His hair spiked upward, aura twisting into something between a super soldier and a demon Saiyan. Loki visibly paled.
"Why do you pull out this ridiculous transformation every time!?" Loki shrieked. "Are you mocking me!?"
He hurled the energy blast with everything he had.
Ryuuto caught it.
With one hand.
"Really? This is what you came back to Earth with?" Ryuuto clicked his tongue. "I've buried thousands of idiots with this same trick. Your turn. Shouldn't you kneel and thank me?"
He compressed the writhing energy sphere until it was the size of a toy in his palm. Loki's instincts screamed danger. He bolted backward like a terrified cat.
"Take your trash back. Fetch."
Ryuuto flicked his finger. The compressed sphere rocketed toward Loki like a fired cannon shell.
"You've got to be kidding me—!"
Loki dove with everything he had.
Behind him, the impact detonated like a newborn sun. The ground vaporized. Sand and stone erupted upward in a pillar of white fire. Loki felt the heat licking the back of his neck and nearly passed out.
"I'll send you off soon," Ryuuto called, landing right behind him. "The more you squirm, the worse it'll hurt."
Before Loki could react, fists and kicks rained on him like a martial arts hurricane. Ryuuto smashed him from sky to earth, from earth to sky, turning Loki into a glitching ragdoll unable to even scream.
"Amazing…" Wanda breathed, eyes wide. "Will I ever reach that level…?"
She watched Ryuuto crater Loki into the ground like a human nail and clenched her fists, filled with admiration and fiery determination.
"Gunk—!"
A kick to the stomach made Loki vomit sour bile all over himself. He barely had time to gasp before another kick launched him like a firework.
"Take another punch!"
Ryuuto's battle cry echoed across the sky.
"That's ENOUGH!"
Loki snapped awake mid-flight, trembling with rage and pain. His face was swollen, twisted, unrecognizable.
"You dare beat me like this!? You're insane! I won't spare you!"
He tried touching his cheek, but pain shot through him so sharply he choked on his own breath. But humiliation burned hotter than any injury.
He could not sit still.
He would not let this brat walk away alive.
Loki roared, summoning taboo magic. A pitch-black abyss cracked open above him, releasing a twisted aura that made the sky tremble. Shadows writhed like living nightmares.
"Ryuuto-nii," Wanda hurried to his side, eyes narrowing, "should I break his spell? He's really annoying."
"No," Ryuuto said, patting her shoulder. "Let him cook. I'm curious what pathetic trick he's gambling his life on."
They watched Loki rant and chant like an unhinged stage actor.
"Whatever he summons, we're crushing him anyway. Might as well let him entertain us before he dies."
Loki's hatred roared through the air.
"You dare laugh!? I'll make you cry louder than anyone!"
He glared, wild and desperate. "I'll kill you! Even if it costs my life!"
If sacrificing himself brought forth something strong enough to tear Ryuuto apart, Loki would gladly pay that price.
Even gods know desperation.
And Loki was desperate enough to burn the sky itself.