Ryuuto wiped the blood off his lip with the back of his hand and spat into the dirt.
"Too tender, huh? You talk a lot for someone who looks like a bald space potato."
The monster called the Life Monument lunged again, its body built like some cosmic linebacker carved out of meteor rock. It roared with manic confidence, soaking up punishment like it was born for it.
"You little brat! I'll tear you apart! I'll grind that pretty face into paste!"
Ryuuto clicked his tongue. "Bro, your whole vibe screams 'failed alien cosplayer.' Don't insult my face when yours looks like a bootleg action figure."
Tsunade's monstrous strength awakened inside his limbs. The ground cracked under his step as he slammed his fist forward, blasting the giant back and dragging a long trench across the forest floor.
For the first time, fear flickered in the monster's eyes.
A watcher hidden in the shadows, long-range rifle cradled in his arms, muttered, "Well, that escalated. If the big idiot goes all-out now, I'll get a front-row seat… Ryuuto, don't disappoint me."
The Life Monument's eyes burned red. Image insecurity truly is universal.
"YOU CALLED ME UGLY!? I'LL CRUSH YOU INTO DUST!"
Cosmic energy started pouring into his body, warping him into a towering titan several stories tall. Trees bent and snapped under the shockwave.
Ryuuto didn't move.
Didn't flinch.
Didn't even look impressed.
He just… laughed.
The titan froze. "Why are you laughing, worm?"
"Because you're stupid," Ryuuto said calmly.
"…Say that again."
"Idiot, what, you hear with your elbows?"
That did it. The monster roared, stomping hard enough to blow a crater through the forest as if a mini-nuke had gone off…
But he hit nothing.
"Where did you go!?" the titan bellowed, frantic.
A voice whispered behind his skull.
"Up."
Lightning crackled.
Lightning Style: Raikiri!
Ryuuto drove the blade of thunder straight into the titan's massive head, blood spraying like a scarlet fountain.
The titan swatted wildly, slapping himself across the face with enough force to rattle the mountains.
"Hah! Pig teammate!" the sniper in the bushes hissed. "Hit HIM, not yourself!"
Ryuuto exhaled, feeling the heat roaring through his muscles.
"Fine. If you want absolute strength…"
His eyes sharpened. Air rippled around him.
Eight Inner Gates.
Gate One. Open.
Gate Two. Open.
Gate Three. Open.
Gate Four. Open.
Gate Five. Open.
Gate Six. Open.
Gate Seven… OPEN!
A crimson hurricane erupted from his body.
The titan stomped down with a foot as big as a truck.
Ryuuto lifted one finger.
One.
Single.
Finger.
The titan's foot stopped like it had slammed into a mountain.
"What… what curse is this!?"
Ryuuto didn't answer. His breaths came sharp, animal, burning with power.
He vanished.
The next instant, his fist blurred a hundred times over, each strike detonating like thunderclaps. Flesh burst. Bone cracked. The titan howled as its body folded inward.
"Get off my planet."
Ryuuto flicked his foot upward and launched the titan skyward, the shockwave gouging trenches for miles. He flashed above him midair and drove a kick straight down onto the monster's skull. Foam sprayed out of its mouth as its eyes rolled back.
Far below, the sniper stood up, murderous intent sharpening.
"Well, damn. The kid might actually be worthy prey."
The corpse crashed back to the ground, cosmic energy leaking out like smoke from a broken engine. The titan shrank back into its smaller, humanoid form, unconscious and broken.
Ryuuto rolled his shoulders, the Seventh Gate still burning like wildfire.
"Next."
...
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