"Time for you to learn what real physical skill looks like!"
Ryuuto finally paused his assault, stepping back to display his stance.
Heimdall didn't feel relief. Instead, a rising wave of anxiety and fear crawled through his chest, as if death itself was brushing his skin.
"Idiot! What are you planning? If you're brave, fight me properly!" Heimdall bellowed, frustration turning into rage.
With a roar, he drew the long sword from his waist, gripping it with both hands and swinging in a wide arc, hoping to crush Ryuuto outright.
"You think you can hurt me with that toy? Pathetic," Ryuuto scoffed.
Suddenly, an icy voice pierced the air. Heimdall shivered as if dropped into a frozen cavern. A creeping chill slowed his movements, making his muscles stiff and unresponsive. He could barely even lift his sword.
Two long white bands of energy shot forward from Ryuuto's hands, wrapping around Heimdall in an unyielding grip. Heimdall's golden eyes widened in disbelief—Ryuuto had managed to sneak behind him! His heart pounded as he realized he was about to face a devastating technique.
But just as Ryuuto prepared his finishing move, an unexpected force froze his momentum. Frost spiraled around him, the air turning painfully cold, as if he'd been thrust into a world of ice and snow.
A terrifying energy beam shot past him, forcing Ryuuto to blink and dodge in midair. Heimdall, seizing the moment, broke free from the bindings and lunged forward, desperate to retaliate.
"Die for me!" Heimdall roared, aiming a deadly strike at Ryuuto's back, fueled by his embarrassment and fury from the earlier fight.
Ryuuto, ever nimble, sidestepped with effortless speed, maintaining a safe distance from both Heimdall and the two other familiar adversaries who had just arrived.
"Of course—it's those two again. Can't die in peace, huh?" Ryuuto muttered with a half-smirk, recognizing Lauf and Ultron immediately.
Despite being outnumbered, Ryuuto remained calm, amusement flickering in his eyes. "Forgot how badly you got your butts kicked last time, panting like wounded dogs? And Mystique's nowhere to save you?"
"Ryuuto! How dare you!" Lauf shouted, brandishing an icicle and rushing forward with murderous intent.
"Relax, you'll get yours soon," Ultron interrupted, a sinister glint in his eyes. "We're just here to watch Heimdall crush you. This is going to be spectacular!"
Heimdall, meanwhile, used the distraction to heal his wounds and recover strength, confident that the numbers advantage was in his favor. He was certain Ultron and Lauf would handle Ryuuto—or at least soften him up.
But the celebration didn't last long. A barrage of powerful energy beams tore through the battlefield, forcing Ultron and Lauf to scramble. Black smoke erupted where they had been moments before.
"Laser beams?!" Ultron yelled in frustration. The X-Men had arrived.
Two familiar figures darted toward Ryuuto at lightning speed.
"Captain, are you okay?"
"Hehe, Scott, Arlo—you finally made it! I knew Charles would send reinforcements!" Ryuuto grinned, relief and joy flashing across his face.
With his team back, Ryuuto's focus sharpened. Heimdall, Ultron, and Lauf were still threats, but now he had allies to help him clean house.
"Don't worry, I've got this. Time to take out these jokers!"
"Yes, Captain! We're with you!" Scott and Arlo moved without hesitation, locking eyes on their respective targets and unleashing their full combat potential.
"Wait! Haven't you said enough?" Heimdall bellowed, anger blazing in his golden eyes. Sword raised, he roared, "Ryuuto, don't think you can hide behind reinforcements!"
Ryuuto's grin widened. Oh, I'm not hiding. I'm just about to turn this into a full-blown demolition show.