The roar of battle swallowed Manhattan whole.
"Look up there! It's Iron Man— and the Hulk! We're saved!"
"Our heroes are here! America will never fall!"
Soldiers on the ground cheered as if the sky itself had opened. Above them, lightning ripped across the clouds, and the combined forces of the X-Men and Avengers stormed into the fray. Storm, Cyclops, Rogue, Colossus, Tony Stark, Wolverine, the Hulk— all charging toward one god.
Thor.
The thunder god hovered above the ruins, cloak thrashing in the wind, Mjolnir glowing like a newborn star. But his gaze ignored everyone else. It locked straight onto one figure walking through smoke and rubble.
Ryuuto.
Thor's voice cracked the air like a divine verdict.
"Boy, I thought you'd run back to whatever realm spat you out. Today, I'll carve your name into the dirt— proof that no mortal challenges a god."
Ryuuto tilted his head, smirking.
"Big talk for someone swinging around a glorified kitchen mallet. You think you're unstoppable just 'cause you've got a light show? Please. You're one lightning strike away from a blown fuse."
He raised one hand, middle finger up, eyes cold.
"Shadow Clone Technique."
Hundreds of clones erupted from his form, each one sprinting into battle against the Asgardian legions. Chaos exploded instantly—steel, fire, and chakra colliding with divine lightning.
Cyclops and Iron Man caught on fast.
"Let's move!" Tony shouted, blasting forward beside Storm's gusts and Wolverine's claws. Together, they cut through the Asgardians' lines.
But Thor's wrath was cosmic. Seeing his warriors fall, his rage boiled over.
"Mortals! You dare mock the sons of Asgard? Then tremble before the storm!"
Mjolnir spun once— and the sky detonated. Ten thousand lightning bolts rained down like judgment. The battlefield became a blinding sea of thunder. Even Thor's soldiers scattered in fear of their own god.
Tony's scanners screamed. "He's going berserk! We need to stop him— now!"
"Then let's do it," Cyclops answered grimly.
Wolverine and Hulk didn't wait.
"Thor! Try me, bub!" Logan roared, claws flashing silver as he charged.
Hulk followed, tearing up a power tower like a baseball bat.
"HULK—SMASH GOD!"
Thor barely turned his head. A single swing of Mjolnir sent lightning lashing in every direction. The shockwave launched both heroes into the ground like ragdolls.
Power. Pure, divine, merciless.
Iron Man cursed. "He's stronger than last time. He's not holding back anymore."
Before anyone could act, a red streak blurred between them.
Ryuuto.
He planted himself between Tony and Thor, cloak rippling, chakra crackling around him like wildfire.
"Back off. Thor's mine. You guys handle his soldiers before they start redecorating New York."
Tony hesitated, then nodded once. "You better not die, kid."
Ryuuto caught the falling Wolverine and Hulk, pressing his hands against their wounds.
"Mystic Palm — Heal."
A soft green glow spread, knitting flesh and bone back together within seconds.
Even Wolverine looked impressed. "Didn't peg ya for a medic, kid."
Ryuuto smirked. "I multitask."
As Iron Man and the others turned to the troops, Thor descended, grinning like a wolf.
"Finally. The pest reveals himself. Come then, Red Mirage. Show me your worth before I crush you."
Ryuuto cracked his neck. "Sure. Let's see who ends up eating dirt."
Their auras clashed first— divine thunder against roaring chakra. The sky dimmed, then shattered into white.
"Lightning Style—Raikiri!"
Ryuuto's arm flared with 300 condensed blades of lightning, each shrieking like dragons. He thrust forward—
Thor's hammer met it head-on.
BOOM.
The explosion was like a star dying. Every window within a hundred miles shattered. The shockwave turned the battlefield into a crater.
For a moment, no one breathed.
Then Thor laughed, his voice echoing through the thunder.
"You really thought lightning would work on me? I am lightning!"
He loomed over Ryuuto, untouched, the god of thunder himself made flesh.
But Ryuuto just stared up at him, grin widening.
"Yeah? Then maybe you should check your chest before you start bragging, Sparkplug."
Thor blinked, frowning— then glanced down.
Cracks of crimson light spread across his armor, sizzling with unstable chakra.
Ryuuto's Raikiri had dug deeper than even a god realized.
The storm froze for half a heartbeat. Then thunder screamed again.