"Get out here! You can't hide from my eyes!"
Fire Style: Phoenix Flame!
Ryuuto launched a cascade of blazing fireballs, each slamming into the invisible barrier that Mephistopheles had slipped into. The space warped, cracked, and forced the old demon back into view. Black flames clung to his chest like hungry leeches, spreading fast.
"How's that taste? Not bad, right?"
Ryuuto casually raised a middle finger, grinning like he had all the time in the world.
Quicksilver and Thor stood frozen, jaws hanging open. Even for the chaos they'd survived, this was something else.
"Not impressive," Mephistopheles replied flatly.
He dug his fingers into his own chest and tore out the Amaterasu-burned flesh, tossing it away like a dirty rag. With the same deadpan calm, he conjured a sword of condensed abyssal light and lunged at Ryuuto.
"Good. Try my blade too."
Ryuuto swung his giant decapitating sword, sparks and flame bursting each time the two weapons clashed. Their silhouettes blurred into streaks of steel and killing intent.
Water Style: Water Clone Technique!
Seven watery Ryuutos appeared at once, each striking with full strength. Mephistopheles staggered under the storm of blades. The one-armed Blackheart Demon tried to rush in to help, but Mephistopheles shut him down with a single icy glare.
"Enough playing. It's time you saw my true strength."
Mephistopheles flicked his crimson cloak. The air trembled. A horde of colossal deep-sea monsters materialized—rows of serrated fangs, slick scales, eyes filled with hunger.
"My children. Feast."
Ryuuto snorted. "Summoning beasts? Cute. Let me show you what a real monster looks like."
Summoning Technique!
Purple smoke burst outward—
And a massive serpentine titan rose, scales gleaming, eyes venomous.
Ten Thousand Snakes slammed into a shark-beast, wrapped it around his coils, and swung it like a club into the others. Chaos erupted instantly.
Blackheart tried to leap in but got smacked by Ten Thousand Snakes' tail, sent flying into a cliff where his limp body left a crater.
"Hah! Been a while since I stretched my tail like this," Ten Thousand Snakes hissed. "Come on then! Cry, scream, run—entertain me!"
But Mephistopheles raised one hand, releasing a pulse of eldritch aura. Ten Thousand Snakes convulsed, coils tightening as if poisoned.
"Since you've reached this level," the demon said softly, "offer me your soul. A fitting end."
"You can shove that 'end' up your—Ryuuto! Get over here! I'm dying, you brat!"
"I'm here!"
Ryuuto dashed forward.
Mangekyō Sharingan: Tsukuyomi!
Red light flared. Mephistopheles froze mid-chant, caught in the illusion. The draining spell shattered, freeing Ten Thousand Snakes.
"You dare… affect me?" Mephistopheles clutched his skull, veins bulging. It took a long, agonizing moment before he broke free, hatred twisting his features.
"You worthless child… I'll rip your soul apart!"
"As if. Sit down."
Susanoo!
A crimson giant erupted behind Ryuuto, forming instantly into its third stage. Its armored presence crushed Mephistopheles' magic, sweeping aside the summoned beasts like paper dolls. The forest shook under its weight.
Quicksilver nearly got caught in the backlash and bolted, dragging others. "Nope! Nope! Nope! We're out! Let the gods kill each other, man!"
"An ant… repelling my power? Impossible!" Mephistopheles roared.
He unleashed beams of death-light, detonations rolling across the battlefield. Susanoo didn't move an inch.
"Your turn."
Susanoo's massive fist crashed downward. Mephistopheles was driven into the ground hard enough to create a canyon-sized crater.
"Is… is that old demon actually dead?" Thor muttered, lightning crackling around him with raw agitation.
Ryuuto stood tall within Susanoo, unmoving.
Then—
BOOM.
Mephistopheles exploded out from the rubble, cloak shredded, head bleeding, eyes burning with a deranged glow. The air around him spiraled with killing force, sky trembling as his power surged even higher.
"Young man… you've really pissed me off. But you will never defeat me. You will never kill me. And now… I'll show you terror so deep it will carve your soul apart."
...
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