"Damn… I didn't think the Mutant Brotherhood had sunk this low."
Ryuuto crouched on a high branch, eyes glinting under the moonlight. The rundown compound below looked more like a scrapyard than the infamous base of Magneto's disciples. "If Magneto could see this mess, he'd probably melt his helmet in shame."
He snorted softly, brushing his nose. "Or maybe Deadpool's already done that for him. Poor guy."
The sarcasm faded as he focused, eyes scanning the perimeter. The place was crawling with bored sentries—most of them weaker than high school bullies. Getting in was the easy part; what came next would take finesse.
He tapped his comm-link.
"Shion, feed me the patrol cycle."
[On it. Try not to get caught five minutes in like last time, Host.]
"Hey, that was strategic retreat."
[Sure, sure. Totally not panic-induced screaming.]
"...I hate you sometimes."
Still, he smirked. The rhythm of footsteps, the gaps in the guards' routes—all mapped out perfectly in his head. Timing was everything.
Just as he prepared to slip inside, a sharp, commanding voice cracked through the air.
"Hmph. You idiots call this guarding?"
Ryuuto froze mid-step, eyes narrowing as a familiar blue silhouette strutted into view—hips swaying, yellow eyes gleaming like a cat's. Mystique.
"If I were an intruder, you'd all be corpses," she hissed. "You're a disgrace to the Brotherhood."
"Y-Yes, Master Mystique! We won't make that mistake again!" the guards stammered, practically saluting with their spines.
Ryuuto stayed perfectly still, blending into the tree's shadow.
'Oh, great. The one woman in this universe with the instincts of a bloodhound.'
Mystique's gaze swept the darkness, frowning. The silence turned heavy, her presence sharp enough to cut through the air.
Ryuuto held his breath. You won't find me. Not tonight.
After a long moment, she turned away. "No anomalies? Fine. Keep your eyes open. Fail again, and Magneto won't have to lift a finger—I'll handle you myself."
The guards bowed so low their foreheads nearly hit the ground.
Ryuuto waited until the metal doors shut behind her, then exhaled slowly. "That woman could smell paranoia."
Without wasting another second, he pressed his hands together.
"Earth Style: Mole Substitution Technique."
The ground rippled. In the blink of an eye, Ryuuto vanished into the soil and reemerged inside the Brotherhood's compound.
He transformed instantly—his body flickering into that of a random mutant grunt. Helmet, dull armor, slightly stupid look—perfect camouflage.
He joined a small patrol squad, moving naturally with them through the dim corridors. Every step took him closer to the data vault.
Mission progress: steady. Quiet. Controlled.
Until someone kicked the door open.
"Hey, uncle! Miss me?"
The voice was like nails on glass.
Ryuuto's heart sank. "Oh, hell no…"
Deadpool dropped from the ceiling with twin katanas gleaming, landing in a crouch. "Because I missed you guys! Group hug!"
Before the mutants could even react, two heads went flying. Blood splattered across the floor.
"Let's make tonight fun!" he cheered, spinning into a flurry of blades.
The entire base erupted.
"It's that lunatic again! Take him down!"
"Take him down? He can't die, genius! Call Magneto!"
Ryuuto facepalmed mid-crowd. "Unbelievable. Every time I infiltrate somewhere, he turns it into a theme park."
He leaned against the wall, watching the chaos unfold. "Still, this'll flush Magneto out faster than I could've planned. Guess I owe him a drink."
Deadpool carved through another squad, laughing hysterically. "Magneto! Come out, metal daddy! Let's settle our emotional trauma!"
A booming voice finally cut through the madness.
"Enough!"
The air vibrated with magnetic force as Magneto descended from above, his cape swirling like a thundercloud. His eyes burned cold.
"Deadpool, you've tested my patience for the last time."
He flicked his wrist. The room screamed with metal. Twin copper furnaces ripped free from their mounts and hurled straight at Deadpool, followed by a storm of steel chains.
Deadpool's legs and arms were instantly bound. His swords clattered to the floor.
"Finally," Magneto said, raising his hand. "Caged like the animal you are."
"Whoa, kinky," Deadpool grinned. "But you're looking a little rusty, old man. What's the matter? Ryuuto break your magnet mojo?"
That hit home. Magneto's face darkened. "You—"
"Thought so!" Deadpool cackled. "Man, you're still mad about that loss? It's okay, we all get humiliated sometimes. Especially you!"
"Silence!"
Magneto snapped, the chains tightening around Deadpool's body. But instead of shutting up, the merc with a mouth unhinged his jaw—literally—and bit through the chains.
Everyone stared.
"See? This is why I don't get invited to dinner parties," Deadpool said proudly. "Also, you're still trash, Grandpa Magneto. You should change your name to… Refrigerator Man!"
Magneto's aura exploded.
A semi-truck lifted into the air, twisting under his control like paper. He hurled it with a thunderous roar.
Ryuuto watched from the corner, arms crossed, smirking faintly. "Here we go."
The truck slammed into Deadpool with the force of a meteor.