"It seems this mission isn't as simple as they made it sound. They even sent the two of us in together. Someone must've paid a lot of money."
Lil smirked lazily, confidence dripping off her voice. She didn't look worried in the slightest that Natasha Romanoff might escape. Turning toward Doctor Apocalypse, she grinned.
"Well, I'd say we're almost done here. Go on, Doc—find out where that redhead's hiding."
"No problem at all."
Doctor Apocalypse chuckled, his voice metallic as his cybernetic eyes flared red. X-ray scanners swept through the jungle, mapping every heartbeat and motion within miles.
Hidden among the trees, Natasha Romanoff cursed under her breath.
You've got to be kidding me. Even that old monster's here? Great. Just great.
Before she could retreat, the doctor barked—
"There! Get her!"
"Move!"
Dozens of mutants roared awake from hiding, charging through the brush like unleashed beasts.
Natasha gritted her teeth. "You idiots think you can corner me? Let's dance!"
She leapt from the treetop, twisting midair, hair flaring in the moonlight. Grenades snapped from her belt—three sharp clicks—
BOOM!
The night exploded in light and dust. Mutants screamed as shrapnel tore through their ranks.
But before Natasha could slip away, a voice cut through the smoke—
"Running so soon, Black Widow? Accept your fate!"
Lil crashed down from above, her diamond-hard body glinting under the moon.
Natasha's instincts screamed. She turned sharply, spinning on her heel—
BOOM!
The ground erupted again, but this time from sheer kinetic force.
The smoke cleared—and someone was standing between them.
Descending from the sky like a scarlet storm, Ryuuto slammed a kick straight into Lil's chest. The impact was a shockwave. Trees snapped like matchsticks as the woman went flying, carving a trench through the jungle floor.
"Tch. I barely made it."
Ryuuto landed, holding Natasha close. His tone was half-mocking, half-lethal.
"You clowns really thought you could mess with my woman? Guess you're all tired of living."
Natasha blinked, wide-eyed. "Ryuuto… it's really you?"
He gave her a crooked grin. "You okay?"
"I'm fine," she breathed, her heartbeat still racing. "You have no idea how glad I am to see you."
Ryuuto exhaled softly. "Good. Then stay behind me."
He set her down gently and cracked his neck.
A fierce pressure rolled out from him like a heatwave. The surrounding mutants froze mid-step—faces pale, instincts screaming that something ancient and deadly was in front of them.
"Who the hell are you?" Doctor Apocalypse demanded, aiming his plasma rifle. "You dare interfere with our operation?"
Ryuuto snorted. "What do you think, old man? You really need me to spell it out?"
He raised a finger toward the doctor, his voice flat but edged with mirth.
"So tell me—was it Quicksilver or Loki who sent you clowns after her? Answer right, and maybe I'll let you keep a few bones intact."
"Y-You—!" the doctor stammered, face twisting.
Lil's eyes widened. "Wait… Doctor, that's Ryuuto! The captain of the X-Men's new unit!"
"What?! That Ryuuto?"
"Surprise," he said, cracking his knuckles. "And yeah, I solve problems the old-fashioned way."
Shadow Clone Technique!
With a flick of his hand, the air shimmered. In seconds, a hundred Ryuutos surrounded the clearing, their eyes burning like stormfire.
Doctor Apocalypse laughed, voice trembling between rage and fear. "Perfect! Saves us the trouble of hunting you down!"
"Everyone, attack! Don't let them escape!"
Lil roared and charged again, smashing through clones with her diamond body. The jungle became a battlefield of thunder and blood.
Natasha loaded her pistols, sliding beside the real Ryuuto.
"Let me help you. I can handle a few of them!"
He gave her a short nod. "Then protect yourself first."
Leaving a handful of clones to guard her, Ryuuto blurred forward—
Leaf Whirlwind!
He struck Lil in the jaw, then followed up with a spinning kick, a barrage of blows too fast for the eye to track. The air cracked with every impact.
"Damn you!" Lil shouted, arms shielding her face as her diamond skin sparked against his fists. "You can't break me!"
"Really?" Ryuuto smirked, lightning crackling across his arms. "Let's test that theory."
Lightning Style: Raikiri!
Blue lightning ignited around his hands, turning the jungle night into dawn.