"Are you the so-called Red Mirage, captain of the X-Men?"
The Dragon Girl descended with a gust of heat, her boots cracking the ground as she landed. Bobby and Steel flinched back, but she ignored them completely, her sharp eyes locking on Ryuuto.
Ryuuto stretched lazily, an amused smile curling his lips.
"That's me. Though I'm more famous for my naps than my hero work. What's up? You here for an autograph or a fight?"
"Cut the jokes. I came here to challenge you!"
"Oh, how original," Ryuuto said dryly, yawning in her face. "Question is, why should I bother? You planning to make it worth my time?"
"If you can beat me," she snapped, wings unfolding in a sudden burst of light, "I'll stake my life on it!"
Ryuuto raised a brow. "Now that's a tempting offer. Loki, you hearing this?" He shot a glance at the god of mischief, who stood frozen in the back, clearly calculating his escape route. "When I win, she's mine. You lose, you hand over that pretty little head of yours. Fair?"
Loki scowled. "You're too confident, human. Let's see if your mouth still works after this."
"Captain, go get her!" Bobby shouted.
Ryuuto rolled his shoulders, electricity crackling faintly across his skin. "Don't blink. I'll finish this fast enough to still make happy hour."
"Arrogant fool!" the Dragon Girl snarled, diving down with her spear blazing like molten fire.
"Let's dance."
Ryuuto's hand flicked. A flurry of glowing kunai shot upward, slicing through the air.
She smirked. "Pathetic tricks won't—what the—!"
Each kunai split midair, doubling and tripling into a storm of deadly light. Forced to block, she swung her halberd, sparks raining down as metal clashed against lightning-forged steel.
"Your defense isn't bad," Ryuuto said, suddenly gone from sight.
She barely turned before—
CLANG!
The air cracked as his blade slammed against her weapon. The force sent her crashing backward, boots carving trenches in the dirt. Her halberd dented deep under the pressure.
"Cute toy," he teased. "Shame you don't know how to use it."
"You talk too much!" she roared, lightning erupting from her body. Arcs of energy raced up Ryuuto's blade, but her triumph froze as the target before her turned to wood.
A substitution log fell to the ground.
From behind came his voice, sharp and mocking:
"You finally get it? You've been played, dragon lady."
Before she could turn, Ryuuto's bandages whipped out, wrapping around her midair.
"Lotus Seal!"
He spun, dragging her downward in a fiery spiral that detonated against the ground.
The Dragon Girl burst out of the smoke, wings flaring wide. "You think that will stop me?!"
"Guess not. You're more durable than you look."
He slammed his palms to the ground.
"Earth Style — Stone Wall!"
A rock barrier surged upward, catching her head-on and sending her reeling.
"Tsk. Still standing? You really are Loki's kind of idiot."
Lightning danced in his hand, shaping into a roaring thunderblade.
"Lightning Style — Raikiri!"
The Dragon Girl's eyes widened. "No! I won't lose!"
She exploded into flame, wings burning gold, heat distorting the air around her. The sky itself seemed to warp, colors bleeding into red and white.
"Joke's on you," Ryuuto said, stepping through the smoke, eyes glowing. "My life isn't something you get to decide."
Sand swirled up around him, forming an armor-like cocoon.
"Sand Armor. Shield of the Crane."
Then, faster than sight, he dashed forward.
The thunder roared.
BOOM!
The two collided midair, lightning and fire splitting the clouds.
When the dust cleared, the Dragon Girl lay crumpled on the ground, her weapon split clean in two.
Ryuuto exhaled, blade fading to static. "Next time you pick a fight, try someone your own voltage."
Loki clenched his fists, jaw tight. The plan had failed—and he knew it.
...
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