Crack!
A crisp, sharp sound cut through the chaos. The Whip's eyes went wide, horror and disbelief warring on his face as he stared down at his own armor.
Gwen's feet had slammed onto the energy orb, smashing it into pieces. The armor lost control instantly—energy flared violently, pain ripping through the Whip's body, leaving him writhing in agony. His mouth gaped open, and even holding his whip became impossible.
"Your schemes… your tricks… I've seen right through them! A villain like you, who thrives on cruelty, can only meet a miserable defeat!" Gwen shouted, sending him flying. Her punch slammed him straight into the factory gate, tearing apart his armor. Pieces of machinery clattered to the ground.
"You… how could you… beat me!?" Whiplash stammered, blood dripping from his face, eyes blazing with disbelief and rage. It was incomprehensible—he had been defeated by a woman!
"Haha! Gwen, you've done it! You're a true superhero now!" Ryuuto's laugh rang out as he stepped to her side, admiration shining in his eyes. He glanced at the fallen Whip, now sprawled like a defeated dog, and smacked his face with playful disdain. "You deserved every bit of that!"
Tony, Wolverine, Bobby, and Steel all walked forward, clapping and cheering, still buzzing from the intensity of the battle.
"Yeah! I did it! Hahaha!" Gwen beamed, throwing herself into Ryuuto's arms, pure joy radiating from her.
"Ah! I was fighting with you—I didn't even want to live!"
Suddenly, the Whip lurched to his feet, screaming, clutching a high-explosive bomb. He charged straight at Ryuuto and the others, reckless to the very end.
"Everyone, watch out! Get clear!" Bobby shouted.
"No! He wants to die with us!" Steel growled, instinctively jumping to push the madman away.
At that precise moment, Ryuuto and Tony moved in perfect synchrony.
Dust Escape! Original World Stripping Technique!
Tony's hand flared with a brilliant red beam, piercing the Whip's forehead in an instant. Ryuuto followed up, his handprint forming rapidly. The Whip—and the two high-explosive bombs he held—were atomized, vanishing completely from this world.
"Ryuuto… you're incredible!" Tony grinned.
"Haha, you're not bad yourself!" Ryuuto chuckled, fist-bumping Tony. Their laughter and hug solidified a camaraderie born from shared battle.
Bobby and Steel stood beside them, ecstatic.
"Captain! The Whip's finally gone! Mission complete!" Bobby cheered.
"After we get back, Charles and Arlo are going to throw us a proper celebration. Beautiful scenery, haha!" Steel added.
"Better go report this, or they'll worry!" Tony reminded. Bobby and Steel dashed off without hesitation, eager to spread the good news.
At that moment, Shion's familiar voice chimed in, teasing yet precise:
[Ding! Congratulations, Master! Two enemies eliminated! Reward: 10 bottles of life potions + Hokage Character Data Pack!]
Ryuuto's eyes sparkled. "Haha! Really? So good! Happiness comes out of nowhere!"
[Master, do you want to open the character data pack now?]
"Not yet. I haven't fully mastered all the skills anyway. Let's wait until I can fit each character perfectly." Ryuuto scratched his head, excited but patient.
[Fine. Then I'll withdraw for now.]
"Shion, tell me… are there any other rewards this time?" he asked eagerly.
[All rewards issued. Master, if you want more, continue the tasks.]
Ryuuto felt a cold splash of disappointment but smiled faintly. "Well… can't complain. Let's see what this data pack has for me later."
Gwen looked at him with admiration, eyes sparkling. "Fortunately, you took care of that big villain—otherwise, we'd be in real trouble!"
Ryuuto patted her head affectionately. "Don't worry. There's no more danger. I'll handle all the bad guys eventually."
"I… Wolverine and I will head off for now. Won't bother you!" Tony called back.
"Next time, we'll train harder. Can't let you two surpass us!" Wolverine added with a rare grin, still feeling the pressure of Ryuuto and Tony's teamwork.
"Hehe, got it. Safe travels!" Ryuuto waved as they left. Soon, only he and Gwen remained. He glanced at the factory wreckage and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, smiling warmly.
"So… where to now?"
Gwen's eyes sparkled mischievously. "Actually… I've been wanting to go to the cinema. It's rare you're free today, Ryuuto. Come with me?"
Ryuuto chuckled, the weight of the battlefield melting into a rare, quiet moment.
...
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