"Master! My butt's on fire!"
Groot hit the ground rolling like a panicked log. His natural fear of flames kicked in, and any thought of fighting vanished instantly.
"MASTER, HELP!"
"Useless idiot! How are you supposed to back me up like this?"
Rocket shot Groot a murderous glare. Then he smashed a launch button on his wrist.
FWOOM!
A barrage of miniature missiles spiraled toward Ryuuto like angry hornets.
"Kid! Get ready to be blown into paste!"
Ryuuto didn't even twitch.
"Seriously. Where does all that confidence come from?"
He lifted a single finger in disdain, then closed his eyes—cutting contact with the outside world and focusing entirely on the chakra pathways inside him. His breath sank. His presence changed.
Rocket blinked.
"Groot… what's he doing?"
"I—I don't know…"
"Don't just stare! Rush him! I'll cover you!" Rocket barked, his voice cracking with rising panic.
Groot's face crumpled into despair.
"Do I… have to…?"
Too late.
Ryuuto's body ignited with surging chakra.
Eight Inner Gates.
One by one, violently unlocking.
First Gate: Open.
Second Gate: Open.
Third Gate: Open.
Fourth Gate: Open.
Fifth Gate: Open.
Sixth Gate: Open.
Seventh Gate: Open.
A crushing pressure swept through the prison, shaking every brick loose. Black chakra tore across the air like a stormfront. Groot froze. Rocket nearly dropped his plasma rig.
Even breathing became difficult in Ryuuto's presence.
"This… this isn't real…"
Rocket's voice cracked as the hairs along his spine stood on end.
And then he saw something worse.
Ryuuto moved.
He punched a missile—
and the missile shattered like glass.
Bombs detonated against his skin harmlessly, doing absolutely nothing. He walked straight through the explosions, expression bored.
"You two are obsessed with trash tech," Ryuuto said softly. "Let me give it back."
He reached into the cloud of missiles, grabbed the last several by their tails—
—and hurled them back with enough force to bend reality.
"NO—NOOO! I don't like it! I DON'T LIKE IT!" Rocket screamed.
But the missiles slammed into him and Groot with pinpoint accuracy.
KABOOOOOOM!
The two were launched like puppets. Smoke filled the air. Rocket dragged himself out of a crater, armor cracked and smoldering. His fur was blackened, limbs trembling.
His pride dissolved into pure rage.
"You… you forced my hand! Fine! You want power? I'll show you power!"
Rocket ripped off parts of his gear, revealing a massive alloy cannon strapped to his back. The muzzle alone looked like it could punch a hole through a battleship.
"Groot! Help me aim this thing! We're gonna blow that arrogant punk into atoms!"
"O-okay!"
Groot wrapped countless roots around the barrel, stabilizing it as Rocket adjusted power settings.
Rocket's grin turned feral.
"Haha! Scared yet!? Thought you were hot stuff? In the end, you're just another idiot who messed with a genius!"
Ryuuto stared at him.
"Idiot."
Just one word.
He didn't even bother looking directly at Rocket.
Rocket snapped.
"FIRE!"
Groot braced as the cannon unleashed a titanic plasma beam. The prison walls vibrated violently. Prisoners screamed and dove for cover.
But Ryuuto didn't dodge.
He stepped into the beam.
"HAHAHAHA! GROOOT! LOOK AT HIM! This idiot's really letting me shoot him!" Rocket howled with laughter.
Groot scratched his head.
"Master… but he looks… strong. Maybe he has a trump card? What do we do if—"
"What did you say!?"
Rocket's head snapped toward Groot, ears flattening.
The betrayal cut deep.
His fury hit a new level.