"Haha! Perfect timing—distract that brat! Let's see if he crawls out of this one alive!"
Lauf roared, swinging a massive icicle like a war club. At his command, a wave of soldiers charged toward Susan and Katie Dee.
"Guy, stay close! Don't let them touch you!"
"I'm not scared! Let's show these jerks what happens when they mess with us!" Katie Dee yelled, her tone trembling somewhere between fear and stubborn courage.
Susan raised her hand instantly—boom! A transparent force field rippled outward, slamming into the oncoming robots. One by one, they froze mid-lunge, trapped like flies in amber.
Using the momentum, Katie Dee soared upward, light shimmering around her. Ice giants hurled glaciers in desperation, their roars shaking the night. But her body flickered through each strike—untouchable. The battlefield spiraled into chaos.
Ryuuto, watching from above, clenched his jaw.
"Really now… trying to kidnap my girls? Tch. You bastards picked the wrong night."
Thunder crackled from his palms. With a sharp flick, he split an incoming laser blast clean in two, the shockwave shattering the asphalt below. Lauf, who had been sneaking in from behind, froze mid-step—face pale, body trembling like he'd seen a ghost.
Ryuuto formed a rapid flurry of seals, his movements smooth and confident. His expression sharpened.
"Mist Style: Hidden Cloud Field!"
A dense white fog burst outward, swallowing the city block. In seconds, the entire area was a ghostly void—no sound, no vision, just the hiss of storm energy and shifting shadows.
But before Ryuuto could rush to Susan and Katie's aid, a towering figure loomed through the mist—eyes glowing molten gold.
"Your opponent is me," the Destroyer thundered. "You're not getting away."
Ryuuto smirked. "Didn't ask for permission."
With a bang! more than fifty shadowy doubles exploded into being around him—each one gripping a blade crackling with lightning.
The Destroyer hesitated. "What in the—?"
The clones dove at him, slashing and striking in perfect sync. Ryuuto dashed away, using the chaos as cover, racing toward the two women.
Behind him, the clones fought like a storm—blades clashing against divine metal, the night alive with thunder and flame.
"Heh. Still playing the hero?" Ultron sneered.
"Then let's see how long his luck holds," Heimdall said grimly.
They shared a look—three villains united in murderous resolve.
"Ice World!" Lauf roared, stabbing his icicle into the ground. Frost exploded outward, freezing everything it touched.
"Destruction Beam!" Ultron fired, twin red lasers ripping through the mist.
Heimdall raised his blade skyward. "And you, boy… let this sword drink your blood. For Asgard!"
The three attacks merged—ice, fire, and divine energy colliding into a single apocalyptic strike. The sky itself howled.
Ryuuto's clones rushed forward, sacrificing themselves to block the impact—one after another bursting into vapor. The blast kept coming, unstoppable.
"Brother!" Katie shouted.
Susan screamed, "Ryuuto!"
The two women broke through the chaos, joining him. They reached out, gripping his hands tightly—tears mixing with courage.
Ryuuto exhaled. "You two… really can't listen, huh?"
He chuckled softly, then leaned in, kissing both of them on the forehead.
"Guy, hold onto Susan. Turn invisible and get the hell out of here."
"But—"
"Trust me. I'll be fine."
The look in his eyes—unshakable, calm—was enough. They nodded, fading from sight, retreating through the mist.
The world around Ryuuto glowed crimson from the oncoming attack.
He cracked his neck. "Guess I've got no choice." His grin widened, fangs glinting in the lightning.
"You forced me into this. Don't blame me for what happens next."
Thunder surged.
The Red Mirage vanished into light.
...
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