[Shion: Master, if this mission feels too tough, you can give up. Big deal, just minor penalties!]
"Give up? Hah! I'm a man of indomitable spirit. In my dictionary, there's no such word!" Ryuuto's voice rang with conviction, his face sharp, determination blazing.
Striding forward, head held high, he readied himself. The target: the so-called ultimate AI, Vision. Cleaning up this mechanical nightmare and claiming the mission rewards? Killing two birds with one perfectly executed strike.
But his smile vanished as a blinding white beam shot straight at him.
"Hahaha, Jiang Li! Finally found you!"
Ultron's voice boomed, dripping with contempt and rage. His black metal frame gleamed ominously as he leapt down, energy crackling around him.
"Time for you to die, kid! Go straight to hell!"
The destructive beam slammed into Ryuuto's chest—but to Ultron's shock, not a drop of blood flew. His laughter froze mid-air.
"Idiot! Laozi is on you!"
Ryuuto had already deployed his Body Replacement Technique. Ultron's deadly strike had hit nothing but a wooden dummy.
With precision and fury, Ryuuto dropped down, swinging a crushing leg to smash Ultron's head. The villain barely had time to react. Powerless, trapped, his confidence shattered… until another figure shot in at lightning speed.
"Boom!"
Ryuuto's kick collided midair, blocked by a robotic arm that suddenly appeared.
"What the…?" Ryuuto frowned, assessing the newcomer with sharp, calculating eyes.
"Hey! Jiang Li! No running this time!"
Ultron sneered, hatred curling in his metallic lips. "Vision, join me! Don't give him a single breath! He's our robot's worst enemy!"
"Understood. Executing immediately!"
Vision, humanoid and imposing, eyes cold as ice, lunged at Ryuuto without hesitation.
"Wait… you're Vision?" Ryuuto muttered under his breath, dodging fluidly as he circled the AI, curiosity flickering in his eyes.
"Boy, don't even think about surviving!" Ultron roared, cutting him off. "Today is your death day!"
Energy beams spat from Ultron's hands in a relentless hailstorm. Ryuuto gritted his teeth.
"Two-on-one? Fine! Laozi isn't afraid!"
Shadow Clone Technique!
In a blink, Ryuuto formed over twenty clones, swarming Ultron from every angle. Chaos erupted.
"Jiang Li! Don't dare run!" Ultron's shrill voice echoed as he fought desperately, momentum crashing.
Ryuuto barely lifted a finger, letting the clones handle the mad machine.
"Vision, answer me! What are you?"
Examining the robot, Ryuuto's sharp eyes caught the gleam of gold alloy and spiritual stones embedded in its body. Flashes of white light burst rhythmically from its chest. There was something… different about this AI. Not like Ultron—something almost human lingered inside.
"I must execute the order! You are my enemy!" Vision said, hesitation flickering across its expression. It had been programmed to obey Ultron—but the tiniest doubt lingered.
"Hehe… how can I be your enemy?" Ryuuto smiled, relaxed, treating this clash like training. "Let's talk. Consider this… an exchange."
Ultron's fury spiked, realizing Ryuuto was playing mind games with his creation. He lashed out even harder, determined to break through the clone siege.
"Vision! Give me your strongest attack! Kill him completely!"
"Yes!"
Vision paused—a flicker of uncertainty passed over its face. Never before had it struck a human. Yet obedience overrode doubt. Launching backward into the air, it prepared its most powerful strike.
Ryuuto settled into position, ready. Every muscle tensed. This was no longer practice. This was war.