BOOM!
The ground erupted like a bomb had gone off. The entire base shook, dust raining from the rafters. For a long moment, everyone just stood there—staring at the crater where Deadpool used to be.
Buried under a dozen tons of mangled steel and concrete, the merc with a mouth was nowhere to be seen.
Magneto stood amid the wreckage, cloak fluttering, face unreadable. "Should I... get rid of that pest once and for all?"
Mystique stepped forward, her tone crisp and professional. "Shall I dispose of him, my lord?"
Magneto waved her off, voice sharp with barely contained fury. "No. You can't. You know you can't." His fists clenched; the air around him buzzed with magnetic tension.
He inhaled slowly, forcing his anger back under control. "Tell me, what are Ryuuto and those damn X-Men up to lately?"
One of the Brotherhood lieutenants—sweating bullets—stammered, "R-reporting, sir! That kid's been acting strange lately. He's interfered with several of our missions. Even Quicksilver suffered a serious loss. The men are… nervous."
"Hmph." Magneto's eyes glowed red beneath his helmet. "Then it's time to remind them who the Brotherhood truly is."
His hand slammed down on the armrest of his golden chair. The entire thing disintegrated into glittering shards under the force.
"Let them come. Blood debts will always be repaid—in blood."
A roar echoed through the hall as hundreds of mutants raised their voices in unison, their collective aura shaking the chamber. The Brotherhood had awakened its fury.
Hidden among them, Ryuuto copied their chant with a grin that didn't reach his eyes. Oh sure, all this for one "powerless freak"? I'm honored.
But inside, his mind was racing. Perfect. They've gathered every powerhouse in one place. Let's make this count.
He slowly stepped back, blending into the chaos. Time to leave them a little surprise before I vanish.
Then, as if summoned by fate—or stupidity—Deadpool's voice rang out again.
"Hey, Magneto! Missed me? Here's a truckload of disappointment!"
The mercenary exploded out of the crater like a man who had never heard of self-preservation, twin katanas flashing as he charged.
"You just don't die, do you?" Magneto hissed. He raised his hand, and a massive magnetic field pulsed out, twisting every blade, bullet, and nail in the area.
Deadpool blinked as his own sword turned against him. "Aw, come on, man, don't kink-shame me like this!"
Chaos returned with a vengeance. Metal whirled, mutants screamed, and Ryuuto saw his chance. He slipped away, darting into the deeper halls of the base.
"Let those two idiots kill each other," he muttered. "I've got loot to grab."
Inside the central chamber, the glowing consoles and storage units hummed softly. Jackpot.
[Ding! Mission complete!]
[Reward: Uchiha Itachi Character Fragment x1]
[Bonus: Five Bowls of Konoha Ramen!]
Ryuuto's grin widened. "Hah! About time. When luck hits, it hits."
[Want the next mission, Host?]
"You had me at 'next mission.' Lay it on me, Shion."
[Heh. Fine, fine. Second Task: eliminate ten powerful mutants in one run. Complete it fast, and your first reward doubles.]
Ryuuto cracked his knuckles. "Kill quest? Finally, something simple."
He inhaled deeply. Time to turn up the heat.
"Fire Style: Fire Dragon Bullet!"
Flames erupted from his mouth, a blazing inferno tearing through the steel gates.
"Wha—who dares!?" The guards turned, stunned.
Ryuuto stepped through the firelight, eyes sharp. "Oh, I know exactly where I am. I'm here to kill you."
He swung the Executioner's Blade, its edge glinting crimson. Every mutant in his path fell—cleaved clean in half before they could scream.
"Damn… Magneto's got good taste. Look at all this gear." Ryuuto whistled, sweeping every valuable object into his system inventory. Then, with a wicked grin—
"Let's make this place shine."
He tossed a handful of fire tags, and the storage room erupted in flames.
The alarm blared across the compound.
"The enemy's inside!"
"Evacuate!"
"They're cutting us down like grass!"
Panic spread faster than fire. Screams and the smell of burning metal filled the air.
Magneto froze mid-battle, fury twisting his face. "What… have you done!?"
He hurled Deadpool aside and soared toward the main corridor, summoning every shard of metal he could find into a storm of death.
"Follow me!" he roared. "No matter the cost—bring me that intruder's head!"
His elites surged behind him, radiating killing intent. The Brotherhood's might gathered into one unstoppable tide.
Meanwhile, under a heap of melted iron, Deadpool groaned. "Huh… which hero did that? My money's on the handsome Japanese kid."
He peeled off a crushed mask, muttering, "Great, now I owe him another beer."