"Ryuuto? Haha… didn't expect you to actually show up to die!" Gillian's voice cracked with manic energy as he spun around, eyes wide with fury.
"As I said before," he roared, "since you refuse to cooperate, there's only one end—just like that hypocritical fool, Iron Man!"
"Unreasonable," Ryuuto muttered, glancing at the suitcase Gillian clutched like a newborn. A lazy flick of his fingers sent the hulking Mutants blocking his path skidding backward. None dared face him head-on—his aura radiated raw dominance, leaving everyone stunned.
"Ryuuto!"
"Team leader!"
Gwen, Steel, and Bobby all breathed relief as they gathered at his side. With Ryuuto on the field, the odds shifted dramatically. They had no doubt: victory was suddenly within reach.
"Good work, all of you." Ryuuto's smirk sharpened.
In one fluid motion, his Haki-infused blade slashed toward Gillian. The air itself seemed to shatter as the edge aimed for Gillian's brow, poised to cleave in an instant.
"Gillian! You think you can play god with your pathetic Extremis virus? Let me show you real power!" Ryuuto's voice boomed, a shockwave of authority that froze even the Mutants engaged with Wolverine and Tony. The battlefield paused in stunned silence, tension coiling like a spring.
"Come! Let's see how you handle my Extremis!"
Gillian's grin twisted into something more dangerous. His hands lifted the suitcase high, preparing to unleash the Extremis. A tense stalemate formed as both sides froze, unwilling to give ground.
[drop! Report to the host: New task released! Destroy the Extremis in Gillian's hands and eliminate the villain for rich rewards!]
"Finally! Just the right time," Ryuuto muttered with a grin. Athena's teasing tone filled his mind.
"By the way, Athena, how am I supposed to destroy these Extremis? Any tips?"
[Ha! Not a single one! Master, you'll have to figure this one out yourself. I believe in you!]
Ryuuto groaned, rubbing his temples. "Figures. Can't rely on this broken system. Guess I'll have to use my own brain."
Gwen stepped closer, calm but expectant. Bobby and Steel mirrored her gaze, waiting for their backbone to lead the charge. Even Tony and Wolverine, sweat dripping from their foreheads, stood alert. Extremis was a ticking time bomb—they had to neutralize it without fail.
"Relax. They won't succeed," Ryuuto said, voice cool as a faint smirk played at his lips. His aura radiated calm confidence.
Gwen squeezed his hand, trust unflinching. Bobby, Tony, and the others nodded, hearts steeling. The tide of momentum shifted—they advanced, ready to encircle Gillian and his Mutants, letting no one escape.
"Hehe… Ryuuto, you really think you can stop me!" Gillian laughed, a sinister glint in his eyes. "You think you know my moves? Extremis isn't so easy to destroy! I won't give you the chance!"
He yanked open the suitcase, and the Mutants around him sprang into action, distributing bottles of the orange Extremis serum among themselves. The battlefield became an even more volatile mess.
"Damn it…" Tony and Wolverine clenched their fists, ready to dive in, but Ryuuto's mind raced. This Jilian had anticipated every step, pushing Extremis to the brink of chaos. But Ryuuto wasn't about to back down—he'd crush their scheme completely.
Thinking fast, Ryuuto grinned, whispering to Athena: "By the way, I still haven't opened that character data package, right?"
[Yes, Master. Want to open it now?]
"Yeah. I wanted to save it… but now's the perfect time. Can't wait to see what I get!"
[drop! Congratulations to the host! You've acquired the new character: Shikamaru. Data package ready from version 2.4!]
Ryuuto's grin widened. A tactical genius at his fingertips? Perfect.
Immediately, he activated the new skills:
Shadow Imitation — overlapping his shadow with the opponent forces them to mimic his movements.
Shadow Head-Neck Binding Surgery — advanced ninjutsu: extend the shadow to the opponent's neck, instantly immobilizing or killing.
Best of all, Shikamaru's intelligence bonus gave Ryuuto a massive tactical edge—over 200 IQ points of battlefield genius injected straight into his mind.
"Alright… let's see who really came here to die."