"Well, well... if it isn't junior." The man-Yoshio Yuuka cracked his neck and smirked as black steam drifted from his shoulders. "You Time Patrollers are really starting to piss me off."
EX summoned a massive two-handed greatsword.
Ryusei's eyes widened.
"Is... is that the Biggoron's Sword???"
"Yeah," EX said casually as she swung it once, testing its balance. "You're the one who made it."
Ryusei blinked. "I- I what?! When!? How do I-"
But she didn't have time to finish: Yoshio lunged at them, his curved broadsword tearing through the ground as he swung. Both EX and Ryusei leapt to opposite sides, the shockwave blowing apart the trees behind them.
Ryusei landed next to EX, daggers at the ready. "Okay, so you're from the future too. Great, I guess that makes two of us in this mess. But can you please explain why this guy wants to kill me so badly?!"
Ryusei extended her hand, eyes glowing neon blue.
[Lapse Blue]
Space warped around Yoshio's feet. Gravity collapsed inward, dragging debris, air, and pressure toward a single point like a black hole trying to swallow him.
Yoshio fought through it with brute force, muscles bulging unnaturally as he pushed forward.
EX stepped in front of her future father, tightening her grip on the greatsword.
"His name," she said sharply, "is Yoshio Yuuka."
"The Isekai Killer."
Ryusei froze at the name.
"He's not just a murderer," EX cut her off. "He targets reincarnators, transmigrators, people blessed with cheats, unique skills... anyone who isn't 'normal.' And in the future-"
Yoshio broke free of Lapse Blue with a single, monstrous step, cracking the ground.
"-you're his number one target."
His crimson eyes locked onto Ryusei.
EX raised her sword, lightning sparking around her.
"Because if he kills you," she said through gritted teeth, "the entire future changes."
Yoshio smirked.
"Exactly. And I can't wait to see what happens... when the strongest monster the world ever creates dies before she even becomes one."
"Father," she said, not taking her eyes off Yoshio, "stay behind me."
"I don't need some kid like you protecting me!" Ryusei snapped, eyes burning blue. "And who are you calling father?!"
EX deadpanned. "Uh, you, obviously—"
"If it's just me he wants…"
Pink-colored cursed energy exploded around Ryusei, swirling violently like a storm.
"Then it's ME he's gonna get!"
The ground shattered beneath her feet as she launched herself forward with [Satan's Gravity], creating a crater where she stood.
"KOKUSEN!!"
Ryusei's fist collided with Yoshio's stomach—
A perfect [Black Flash], space bending, reality cracking, cursed energy detonating through his torso with explosive precision.
BOOM
Yoshio flew backwards, slammed into a massive tree, splintering it in half.
He slid down the trunk, coughing blood…
…and grinned.
Ryusei's eye twitched. "Are you kidding me—?!"
Her cursed energy surged again, flaring like a supernova.
"Ryu—WAIT!" EX shouted.
But Ryusei was already gone.
She reappeared in front of Yoshio in a blink, daggers slashing in a blur of pink streaks.
"[Cursed Energy Manipulation: Blitz Impact!]"
Each strike landed with sonic cracks, lighting up the forest in flashes of pink destruction.
The final impact detonated like a bomb, sending shockwaves tearing through the clearing.
KABOOOOOM
EX was blown backward, skidding across the grass, cloak smoking.
"Hey—! You absolute idiot! He's a lot stronger than you think!" EX shouted, shielding her face from the explosions.
But Ryusei wasn't listening, her rage was overflowing.
Because despite the explosions, the hits, and the pressure.
From inside the smoke, Yoshio's voice came out. "…That's more like it."
As Yoshio lunged with blinding speed toward Ryusei, EX met him head-on, swinging Biggoron with all her strength.
"Get the hell outta the way, brat!" Yoshio snarled, using his sword to swat EX aside. She flew backward, coughing up blood, a massive slash cutting across her torso.
"Useless brat," he spat, eyes cold as Ryusei's daggers clashed against his sword in a shower of sparks.
"Don't you feel any remorse? I just struck down your kid," Yoshio taunted, smirking as he pressed against Ryusei, their weapons locked in a deadly stalemate.
"The hell are you talking about?!" Ryusei hissed.
"Are you seriously this stupid?" Yoshio sneered, forcing Ryusei back with the clash of cursed steel. "Why else did that little shit call you 'father' earlier?"
Ryusei froze, eyes widening as she looked at EX's bloodied body struggling to rise. The realization hit her like a truck. Half-black, half-crimson hair, Rias's crimson mixed with her own black, Rias's piercing blue eyes mirrored in the younger girl's gaze.
"What…?"
'Holy shit… Rias and I had a—' Ryusei's vision blurred with red. 'Why do I… feel so angry right now...'
She ripped the chain holding Rika's silver ring from around her neck and slid it onto her finger.
"Rika…" she whispered.
From behind her, a massive shadow stirred. It grew monstrous, its upper body towering and muscular, long arms stretching unnaturally, a tail-like lower body writhing. From its head, writhing tendrils moved like snakes, and its gaping mouth revealed row upon row of razor-thin teeth. Its long fingernails scraped the air as it flexed, a terrifying aura emanating from it.
"Come out."
Rika's voice echoed, filled with both fury and relief.
"RYUSEIII!!!"
Ryusei's body surged with cursed energy as Rika manifested fully behind her.
EX, still struggling to stand, stared in disbelief. 'So… that's what Auntie Rika used to look like…'