"Door, you're absolutely right! These X-Men are trash, through and through!"
Nova leaned back in his chair, arms folded, laughing loud enough to rattle the windows. His arrogance filled the entire restaurant.
"You little—!"
Steel roared and charged forward, his skin hardening into living metal. No one insulted their team and walked away in one piece.
"Careful, Nova! He's serious!"
The Doorman—floating lazily midair—smirked, making no effort to help.
"Hmph. Let him come." Nova curled his lip. "Let's see what makes the so-called X-Men worth fearing."
The instant Steel's fist swung for his jaw, Nova flicked his wrist. A beam of radiant energy blasted from his palm, slamming into Steel's chest.
BOOM!
The explosion shook the entire dining hall. Guests screamed and bolted for the exit as tables shattered and food flew.
"Steel! You okay!?"
Bobby yelled, half-panicked.
"I'm fine," Steel grunted, skidding back several feet before regaining balance. His expression hardened. "He's strong. Don't take him lightly."
Bobby and Arlo nodded grimly. Neither of them were the type to run from a fight.
Nova snorted. "That's it? Disappointing. I thought the X-Men had standards."
He crossed his arms, voice dripping with mockery. "No wonder the Brotherhood sent me. Dealing with you weaklings is an insult."
"Then quit talking and do something," the Doorman snapped. "Finish this fast so we can move on."
But before either could act again, a sound cut through the chaos—
a very loud, very satisfied hiccup.
They turned toward the source…
Ryuuto was still at the dining table. Calm. Lazy. Eating the last bite of steak as if nothing around him mattered. He downed the rest of his whiskey and sighed contently.
"Finally full," he said. "Shame about the two flies buzzing around the table though. Real mood killer."
He leaned back, toothpick in hand, digging between his teeth while tapping his foot to the beat of his own nonchalance.
"Captain! You ate everything!" Bobby complained, glaring at the wrecked table. "I didn't even get seconds!"
Ryuuto grinned. "Relax. We'll order more later. Gotta eat well before you crush pests like these."
He shot Nova a lazy look. "Oh, and put the bill on them. If they can't pay, we'll have them mop floors until their arms fall off."
Steel's eyes gleamed. "Understood, Captain."
Arlo chuckled. The whole team suddenly seemed relaxed again—because when Ryuuto got that casual, it usually meant someone was about to die.
Nova's face flushed red. "You little punk! You think you can disrespect me!?"
His shouting froze mid-word.
A shadow loomed above his head—a mass of golden sand swirling into a dense, humming sphere. The air pressure alone made the walls crack.
"Wha—!?"
Sand Coffin.
The entire mass collapsed downward. Nova screamed and barely managed to leap back before the sand cratered the marble floor with a thunderous crash.
A chill crept down his spine. "What the hell… Sand control?!"
Doorman's smirk vanished. "Be careful. That's our target—Ryuuto, the Red Mirage. X-Men captain."
Nova's pupils shrank. "That kid? Guess he's got more bite than I thought."
Ryuuto tilted his head. "You came here without even knowing who you were picking a fight with? Idiot."
He snapped his fingers. The sand coiled like serpents around his arms, ready to strike again.
"Steel, Bobby—take the arrogant one. I'll handle the guy upstairs."
"Got it!" both shouted in unison.
They charged, fists and ice flying.
Doorman realized too late that the sand wasn't just under Ryuuto's command—it was everywhere. It wrapped around his legs midair, pulling him downward as he frantically opened a dark portal to resist.
The restaurant turned into a war zone—tables exploding, glass raining down, every hit shaking the walls.
Ryuuto's team pushed their advantage, pressing Nova and Doorman with precision and fury.
Arlo called out, "Captain, want me in?"
Ryuuto smirked. "Yeah. Let's hit them together."
"Copy!"
Arlo raised his arms, summoning icy winds that mixed with Ryuuto's chakra-infused air.
Wind Style: Compressed Air Burst!
Frost Tempest—Fusion Strike!
The combined blast formed a storm of frozen lightning, ripping through the battlefield.
"Are you kidding me!?" Nova roared, throwing up a barrier of energy. He managed to block Steel's punch, but then Ryuuto's wind blast and Arlo's frost storm hit him dead-on.
The explosion blew him straight through the restaurant wall and into the street.
Dust settled. Nova groaned from the rubble, barely conscious.
Ryuuto dusted his jacket and sighed. "Told you. Flies."