Ryuuto ignored the lingering tension from the female Mutant and pocketed the detonator he had just lifted. With a subtle flick of his hands, he formed a seal. "Shadow Clone Technique!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Nine shadowy duplicates of Ryuuto erupted from the floor, moving with lethal precision. Each clone took an iron cage, Rasengan in hand, smashing through Adamantium-lined detonators like they were nothing.
Meanwhile, the real Ryuuto strode out of the basement, eyes sweeping over the area. He stopped at Susan. "Only those two officers left to handle?"
"Yes," Susan nodded. "Everyone else evacuated. Heard a car leaving just now."
"Smart move," Ryuuto said, smirking. "If they hadn't retreated, they'd end up like the other guys."
His gaze shifted to Katie Dee. She was frozen stiff, immobile. "Guy… what's the matter?"
"Uh… inhaled poison gas…" she croaked.
Susan couldn't hold back a laugh. "Guy just inhaled a dose of the gas and got paralyzed. Seriously, it's brutal. Later, if she's still like a popsicle, someone's carrying her out."
"I'm your brother, not a dog," Ryuuto muttered, black-lining his face. "Susan, keep watch. Should be over in a few minutes."
"Got it!" Susan replied, nodding firmly.
Back in the basement, five Mutants' detonators remained active. Ryuuto whispered to Shion. "Can I… let Juggernaut go first? If I get just one life potion, I'll take him out later."
[What?] Shion's voice dripped with mock disbelief.
Ryuuto rolled his eyes. "Yes, it sounds dramatic."
[Not possible. You either kill Juggernaut or don't. The system will register the task reward accordingly. Luck won't save you. Fifty-fifty at best.]
Ryuuto smirked, shaking his head. "Forget 100% luck—that's boring. The thrill is in risk. If I lie on the ground, let the enemy try to hit me. That's fun."
[Fine, fine. But you better make it count.]
The encouragement made Ryuuto grin. Even Shion cheering is kinda cute… A glance from the female Mutant watching him made his smirk sharpen; her body seemed to melt under his calm, confident presence.
With all other detonators disabled, Ryuuto faced Juggernaut. To kill or spare? He toyed with the question, almost counting imaginary flower petals.
"Die or live?" he asked casually.
Juggernaut blinked. "Wait… because I was under Magneto… you're going to kill me?"
"Choice. Only one. Die or live," Ryuuto clarified.
"Then… I want to live!"
Ryuuto's lips twitched. "Die first. I'll save you later."
Before Juggernaut could react, Ryuuto's hand clamped around his neck. Survival instincts kicked in—Juggernaut grabbed Ryuuto's arm, expecting to overpower him. He didn't know that Tsunade's data packet had amplified Ryuuto's strength far beyond normal limits.
Minutes passed. Juggernaut's initial thrashing slowed, then stopped. His face was livid, but he was alive.
Susan observed quietly, a few meters away. She trusted Ryuuto's judgment, no questions asked.
[Drop! Mission completed! Congratulations, Host, one life potion awarded!]
Ryuuto smirked inwardly. Even if the system had tried to frustrate him, he had already planned for contingencies.
"Hela! Hela! Hela!" he muttered internally, and almost instantly, she appeared—black dress, icy gaze, cold aura. Her usual indifference melted into warmth when she saw him.
"You summoned me before the one-month deadline," she teased. "Miss me?"
"I need this man's soul restored."
"How long dead?"
"Less than a minute."
"Fine, wait here!"
She vanished, and within seconds, Juggernaut's guttural scream split the air. The hulking man sat upright, clutching his chest, utterly confused.
Hela reappeared beside him, serene yet commanding.
"Done. Now… how do you repay me?"
Ryuuto's eyes gleamed with a mixture of mischief and steel. Game on.
....
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