Ryuuto didn't bother dodging the armored woman's incoming fist anymore. The moment she lunged, he simply dropped to one knee, slapped his palm to the ground, and called out:
"Earth Style: Earth Wall!"
A slab of stone burst upward, thick as a fortress. Her metal-coated fist slammed into it with a dull explosion. The impact made the wall ripple, but it didn't break. She staggered back three whole steps, eyes widening.
"Tch… you hit hard," Ryuuto said, brushing dust from his sleeve. "But you're not knocking me out today, no matter how dramatic you get."
"Stop babbling," Armor snapped, flames flickering behind her eyes. "Only strength speaks here!"
"Then let me show mine."
Ryuuto smirked, forming hand seals.
"Shadow Clone Technique."
Twenty copies burst into existence. Armor's jaw tightened.
"Oh, don't panic," Ryuuto said. "I'm not trying to kill you. Just need those gloves of yours. You won't hand them over, so… you know. Plan B."
The clones surged at Armor like a wave. She roared and charged straight into them, mind-armor blazing red. Her fists blurred, breaking clones apart with raw force. One by one they puffed out of existence, unable to stall her for long.
"Nice hit, Master!"
"Teach that brat a lesson!"
"Throw them out! Nobody disrespects our gym!"
The boxers around the hall cheered like they'd already won, glaring at Ryuuto and Gwen as if they were intruders from another world.
Ryuuto ignored the noise. "Alright, iron lady. Let's see what that armor of yours can really do."
He hardened his skin with another technique, rock coating wrapping across his arms.
Light-Heavy Rock Technique.
Then he stepped forward and met her head-on with a punch.
Armor snarled. "Arrogant brat! I'll finish you right now!"
Her red psionic field exploded outward, crushing the air around them. She launched a single kick toward his chest. Just one. But the pressure of it felt like a falling mountain.
The crowd shouted and whistled—
Then the world went silent.
Because Ryuuto didn't fly.
Didn't bleed.
Didn't move.
He lifted his hand and caught her leg.
Casually.
Armor's breath hitched. "You… what—"
She tried to pull free, but her limb wouldn't budge. Pain lanced up her thigh, sharp and sudden, forcing tears to pool in the corners of her eyes.
Ryuuto exhaled through his nose. "You forced my hand."
He flicked his bangs aside like some shōnen protagonist in peak petty mode, swung his arm down, and smashed Armor into the floor.
The entire gym shook. Wood cracked and splintered. Several boxers screamed and backed away.
And he didn't stop.
Ryuuto grabbed her again, spinning and slamming her like a sack of laundry. Left, right, up, down—each hit carving another crater in the floor. Armor's aura flickered. Her breath grew faint. Her confidence evaporated.
"Time to wrap this up."
He hurled her one last time. Armor blasted straight through a wall, disappearing under a rain of bricks.
Silence filled the gym.
Ryuuto dusted his hands, the armored gloves already hanging from his fingers. "Thanks for the donation."
"Ryuuto, that was insane!" Gwen brightened, running to him.
He grinned. "Let's head out before these guys leak tears all over the floor."
Everyone around them trembled, not daring to speak. Not even daring to breathe too loudly.
[Ding! Mission complete. Host gains 40,000 system experience!]
Shion yawned in his mind, voice smug. "Took you long enough. I was starting to calc my lifespan out of boredom."
Ryuuto snorted. Please. This was warm-up.
He left the gloves neatly at the entrance—he only needed to touch them to satisfy the mission—then walked off with Gwen, satisfied and humming like he'd just cleared a side quest.
Thousands of miles away, Loki's face was so dark it could've smothered a star.
Thor barked, "How have you STILL not dealt with that kid Ryuuto!? You shame Asgard! Loki, if you can't handle one human brat, maybe don't bother coming home!"
Loki snapped, "How is this MY fault?! That kid fights like a glitch in reality! And he's got half the city around him! What do you expect me to do—fight an entire planet?"
He gulped down his anger before it exploded into thunder. Then he sneered. "If you think it's so easy, come handle it yourself. 'God of Gods' and all that. Unless you're scared of one Japanese teenager?"
Thor bristled. Lightning crackled behind him. "You dare talk to me like that?!"
"Fine!" Loki shot back. "Go, then! But hear this: even Ultron vanished recently. Eighty percent chance Ryuuto did it. If you're serious about putting him down, send someone strong. Otherwise… Asgard will regret being slow."