"And you two! Are you blind? Hurry up and take out Deadpool and Ryuuto before I end up a mess too!" Quicksilver's voice cracked as he scrambled backward, the last reserves of his strength fueling frantic desperation. His legs flailed, desperate to escape the chaos, to never, ever be trapped with Deadpool again. A few days of torment had pushed him to the edge—he wanted nothing more than freedom.
But Ultron and Lauf weren't moving. They merely stared at Quicksilver with cold, unmoving eyes, bruised and battered, incapable of defending themselves or challenging Ryuuto. Any attempt at resistance was practically a death wish. Add Deadpool into the mix, and hope was a joke. Mystique's presence might shift the odds, but they couldn't count on it.
"You… you're really annoying!" Deadpool muttered, irritation clear as he slammed his massive foot onto Quicksilver's head. A mouthful of mud flew into the air, and Quicksilver could only shake his head, helpless, stifled.
"Let him go!"
Mystique finally intervened, leaping forward with the speed of a predator. Her body shimmered and shifted, a blur of lethal adaptability. She wasn't here to fight Ryuuto—Magneto's orders were clear: protect Quicksilver at all costs.
But before she could reach Deadpool, Ryuuto appeared in an instant, blocking her path.
"Khan! Mystique, don't even think about moving. You show up, I get a warning—but don't make a move. That would be… unfortunate for me, right?" Ryuuto's smirk carried that lazy, devil-may-care edge, his eyes calculating.
He raised a hand to halt Mystique. No hurry. His strength wasn't fully restored, and wasting life potions for no reason was amateur hour.
"Typical," Deadpool muttered with a grin. "Magneto's crew never changes. Can't make sense of them, never will."
"I have nothing personal with you, Ryuuto," Mystique said coldly, her gaze flicking between him and Deadpool. "We've always been on opposite sides. Enemies by default. But… if you're smart, release Quicksilver and let me take him out of New York. Otherwise… trouble will find you."
Ryuuto shrugged, amusement flickering in his eyes. "Trouble, huh? I've been swimming in it lately. One more won't kill me."
He casually pointed at Mystique. "Your reasoning doesn't move me. Quicksilver's been a thorn, and now a toy for Deadpool—everyone's happy."
Mystique's frown deepened, realizing Ryuuto wasn't budging. "You really intend to…?"
"I don't see why not," Ryuuto replied lightly, unfazed.
"You won't survive against Magneto in your current state."
Ryuuto's eyes narrowed into twin torches of certainty. "He can come over personally. Let's see who wins and who loses."
Silence fell. Tension crackled in the air as both sides stared each other down. Ultron and Lauf sank lower in their hearts—too weak to intervene, already broken from their losses.
Then Mystique spoke, her tone sudden but firm.
"How about a deal? Give me Quicksilver, and I'll share news with you. No needless fighting."
Ryuuto raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. "Go on."
Mystique's words carried weight: "Gillian has started acting. Iron Man and Wolverine… they've already been hit unexpectedly. That lunatic is extremely dangerous. Whatever he does next, the X-Men will suffer immense losses. You, as the captain, need to decide fast."
Jaws clenched, Ryuuto's mind raced. Something massive was coming—he could feel it in his bones.
"I have no reason to lie," Mystique added, her tone solemn. "Soon, Charles will also reach out to you personally."
Ryuuto's gaze hardened, piercing through the moment. Quicksilver's safety wasn't optional. Mystique's warning was clear, and this time… there was no escaping it.