"Ryuuto! And you—woman! I'll remember this!"
Loki coughed blood as he staggered backward, hatred burning in his swollen eyes. "The humiliation you gave me today—Loki will repay it. I swear it! You two just wait for death!"
He spat another mouthful of blood, threw one last trembling glare, and vanished into the space channel. He didn't dare stay even a second longer.
After today, fear had rooted deep in Loki's bones. He'd only return when he had an army big enough to bury mountains.
Otherwise—he'd die.
"It's a shame he slipped away," Wanda exhaled, still annoyed her Origin Magic hadn't finished him. "He'll be a headache later."
"It's fine. He's loud, but he can't stir real trouble. As long as you and I are here, he's just a mosquito with illusions of grandeur."
Ryuuto ruffled her hair lightly, voice softening for only her.
"But Wanda, I've got to handle a real problem now. Go back to the X-Men headquarters. If any villains sneak in, they'll target our base first."
"Got it! I'll head back immediately!"
Wanda sprinted off. As soon as she disappeared from sight, Ryuuto vanished with High-Speed Movement.
New York City was unrecognizable.
A warzone.
Towers burned. Explosions rippled through the skyline. Streets were filled with tanks, armored carriers, and soldiers scrambling across rubble. Fighter jets dotted the choking sky. Every corner looked like the front line of a losing war.
"Ten minutes! Ten minutes we've been fighting and still haven't located the target! What are you all doing!?"
Inside the U.S. Army command vehicle, the general—stars gleaming on his uniform—lost his composure. He shoved a radio operator to the floor, snatched the mic, and roared:
"All forces, report immediately! Where is that damned armor hiding!? I want the Steel Patriot captured alive—within ten minutes! No excuses!"
"B-But, General! The target is too strong! The first company is wiped out! We can't complete the mission!"
Even through the radio, explosions, screams, and gunfire drowned the soldier's voice.
"What!? What about the second company? They're our elite force—hundreds strong! They can't possibly—"
"Sir! More than half casualties! Ammunition depleted! They're pinned in a trench by the Steel Patriot—request immediate backup!"
"Tank unit is gone, General! Nine out of ten vehicles destroyed!"
"The air force can't get close! The target's firepower is too strong! Our pilots are bailing out!"
The general's face drained pale. His knees buckled. He fainted on the spot.
"General! Medical team! Hurry!"
Officers dragged him away before he died of stress alone.
No one wanted to face that armor again.
Above the burning city, a metallic screech tore through the air.
"Hmph. A bunch of blind insects. You dare attack me?"
The Steel Patriot hovered high over New York, cold lights glowing in its eyes. The contempt in its mechanical voice was chilling.
"There! The armor finally reappeared!"
"Fire! Freeze bombs—launch everything! Bring it down!"
Desperation made the soldiers reckless. Gunfire erupted. Missiles streaked upward. Tanks thundered. Fighter jets unloaded their entire payload.
Explosions burst like fireworks across the Patriot's armor.
When the smoke cleared—
The Steel Patriot stood untouched.
Not a scratch.
It raised an arm.
"You enjoyed attacking me so much? Fine. Try enjoying this. You don't deserve to live."
Missiles burst from its chassis like a swarm of locusts. Bullets poured down in sheets—a rainfall of death.
Soldiers froze in horror, too shocked to even scream.
A wave of absolute annihilation fell toward them.
"Heh. That machine has no right to declare anyone's death sentence."
A voice cut through the chaos.
Ryuuto dropped into the battlefield like a meteor.
Guarded Crane Shield.
Earth Style: Earth Wall.
Sand Armor.
Sand erupted upward, forming a dome that swallowed the missile blast. Jagged rock walls rose behind it, shielding the soldiers. Ryuuto ripped forward through the smoke, surging straight toward the Steel Patriot like a crimson comet.
He arrived.
And the Patriot flinched.