"There's a treat waiting at Oscorp! You and your little girlfriend should come quick—let's see who walks out alive. Bye-bye!"
The Green Goblin's laughter screeched through the phone before he crushed it in his palm. His grin didn't fade—he was already picturing Ryuuto's face twisted in despair.
"Oh, and one more thing! Every ten seconds you take to get here, someone dies! Tick-tock!"
The line went dead.
Ryuuto exhaled slowly through his nose. "What an unreasonable lunatic." He turned to Gwen, wrapped an arm around her, and said softly, "We're heading to Oscorp. Be ready for a fight."
"Got it," she said, nodding firmly. Then, with that fearless smile that never failed to catch him off guard, she climbed onto his back. "As long as I'm with you, I'm not afraid."
"Alright then," he said, eyes hardening. "Let's end the Green Goblin."
In the next instant, Ryuuto blurred into motion—his figure vanishing into a streak of crimson light as he rocketed toward Oscorp Tower.
The battle was unavoidable.
A thunderous crash shook the building.
"Shadow Clone Technique!"
Dozens of Ryuutos burst through the shattered doors as he and Gwen stormed the upper floors, taking positions like lightning. But the conference room they found was empty—no Goblin, no Venom. Only a suffocating tension that screamed trap.
And the businessmen lying across the floor—bound, gagged, their bodies strapped with bombs.
When they saw Ryuuto, their eyes lit up with desperate hope, muffled cries rising behind the tape.
"Ryuuto," Gwen said, pale, "they're rigged. What do we do?"
"Stay sharp," he warned. "They're bait."
His eyes narrowed, catching the faint pulse of chakra-like energy hidden beneath the floorboards. "Guard Formation: Sand Shield!"
A swirl of golden sand burst out from his palms, binding the captives midair while he worked to defuse the bombs. His movements were precise, fast—until a mocking voice echoed from the shadows.
"Still trying to play hero? Pathetic! Die with them!"
The Green Goblin slammed a detonator, and the timers jumped straight to zero.
"Beep-beep-beep—"
Then—
BOOM. BOOM. BOOM!
The explosions tore through the hall, flames devouring everything. The shockwave cracked the floors and shattered the walls of Oscorp Tower.
Venom cackled beside the Goblin, his black tendrils writhing. "Look at that! What a beautiful fireworks show! Think the brat survived that?"
Green Goblin sneered. "That kid's tough, but no one's walking away from that."
But then—
The smoke parted. The debris above them rose.
An enormous wall of sand held up the collapsing structure, shielding everyone beneath.
Standing at the center, Ryuuto's chakra burned like wildfire. Gwen stood beside him, unharmed. The rescued hostages stared in disbelief.
"We're… alive?"
"Am I dreaming? Thank God!"
Tears and laughter filled the room.
Ryuuto turned to Gwen. "Take them somewhere safe. I'll deal with those two clowns."
"Be careful," she said, nodding once before leading the survivors away.
When she was gone, Ryuuto looked up at the night sky.
"It's about time," he muttered, cracking his knuckles. "Let's finish this."
Green Goblin's glider screamed through the air, Venom leaping down beside him.
"It's our show now!"
"I've waited long enough," Venom snarled, his grin stretching unnaturally wide. "You're going to suffer."
Ryuuto smirked. "Persistent pests."
He raised a hand. "Sandstorm Needles!"
Microscopic grains of sand shot forward like bullets. The villains dodged easily, weaving through the assault with manic laughter.
"Try this instead!" Goblin roared, launching twin Scud Missiles from his glider.
Ryuuto's twin blades flashed. "Too slow."
He slashed upward—two arcs of fire met the missiles in midair, detonating them in a storm of flames.
Venom used the blast as cover, slithering behind Ryuuto, tendrils whipping forward.
"Let me give you a hug!"
"Gross." Ryuuto clenched a fist. "Wind Style: Air Bullet!"
Compressed air exploded from his palm, tearing through Venom's body like a cannon blast.
The shockwave rattled the building as Ryuuto landed, cloak flaring behind him, eyes cold.
"This ends tonight."
...
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