Loki strode toward the reinforced vault, his expression sharp with purpose.His prized scepter was stored inside—secured not just by the Fantastic Four's old iris scan system, but by one that recognized only him now. A little improvement he'd ordered from Reed. Paranoia made him smart; keeping it locked away seemed safer than holding it.
While Loki tapped at the biometric panel, Reed watched from behind, timing his move. Ben still lay sprawled on the ground, limbs twitching but useless—the Weighted Rock Technique had turned his stony body into a prison of his own making.
Meanwhile, Ryuuto ducked and weaved through the storm of fireballs hissing past him."Is this seriously all you've got?" he taunted, eyes gleaming. "Fireball spam? Kinda basic."
Johnny's anger spiked, and his flames flared hotter. "You little—!"
He hurled another blazing sphere.
Reed dropped from above, stretching his arm like a whip toward Ryuuto. The elastic limb snaked through the air—fast, precise. But Ryuuto had sensed him long before. He sidestepped effortlessly, smirking.
Reed's brow furrowed. "You can't dodge forever." His arm twisted midair, looping like a serpent to grab him again.
This time, Ryuuto didn't move. He let Reed's hand clamp down around him.
"Got you!" Reed grinned, tension rippling through his rubbery form.
"Yeah, yeah," Ryuuto sighed, sounding almost bored. "I just got tired of dodging. But hey, curious question—what happens when a stretchy arm suddenly weighs a ton?"
Reed blinked. "What—?"
"Earth Style: Weighted Rock Technique!"
In an instant, gravity crushed Reed's extended arm into the floor. The scientist gasped, yanked down by the sheer mass dragging him off balance.
Overhead, Johnny had charged a massive inferno in both hands."I'll roast you alive!" he roared, hurling the Great Fireball down.
It missed—barely grazing Ryuuto as it slammed into the floor and detonated. The shockwave blew dust and flame everywhere.
"If you guys weren't Susan's friends," Ryuuto muttered, brushing soot off his cheek, "you'd be corpses already."
He clapped his hands together. "Alright, fine—let's play it your way. Expansion Jutsu! Human Boulder!"
His body inflated and spun like a massive cannonball, slamming into Reed and tearing free from his grasp. Johnny's next fireball whooshed past harmlessly as Ryuuto rolled clear.
Deactivating the jutsu midair, Ryuuto landed in a crouch. Johnny darted higher, retreating to the third floor balcony. "You think you can touch me up here?"
"Guess I'll have to ground you then." Ryuuto blurred upward."Earth Style: Weighted Rock Technique!"
Reed barely had time to curse before his entire body flattened under invisible pressure, stuck to the ground like melting rubber. His fingers clawed forward but couldn't even reach Ryuuto's boots.
One down.
Now—Johnny.
Fireballs rained like meteors, forcing Ryuuto into evasive flips and sidesteps. Each blast scorched the walls around him, smoke curling through the hall. He could feel the heat licking at his skin.
Tch. Too hot to trade punches.If he tried to meet Johnny head-on, he'd cook his own hands.The guy was fast too—flitting around to break Ryuuto's hand seals every time he tried forming them.
"Damn it," Ryuuto muttered, ducking another blast. "You're annoying as hell."
He glanced up, sparks dancing across his knuckles. If I could just hit him once…A thought flashed.He grinned. Yeah. That'll work.
"Let's see how you handle this," he whispered.
Shadow Clone Technique!
With a burst of smoke, a dozen copies of Ryuuto appeared, scattering across the room like reflections in shattered glass. Johnny blinked, momentarily thrown off.
The real Ryuuto slipped out of sight—moving unseen, unseen by even flamelight.
Reappearing on the upper level behind Johnny, Ryuuto's voice came low and calm:"Earth Style: Light and Heavy Rock Technique."
He kicked off the railing—and flew.