The first kick sent two of Icarus's teeth spinning into the sand. His head rang like someone had shaken a bell inside it. He wiped the blood from his mouth, snarling, wings flaring as he blasted another sonic burst to boost himself back into the sky.
His eyes locked onto Ryuuto with a fury that would've been intimidating if it weren't coming from a guy dressed like an angry dove.
"You got the guts to fight me one-on-one?! Tell those three girls of yours to back off! I'll put you on the ground, 'Captain X-Men'!"
Ryuuto sighed like he'd just been asked to take out the trash again. "Relax, birdman. Hitting you twice isn't going to kill me."
He held up a finger, deadpan. "But if I hit you too hard, you might die accidentally. Compensation sounds annoying, and your life's probably worth a handful of coupons."
"Don't talk down to me!" Icarus roared. His handsome face twisted into something you'd find on the bottom of a grill pan. He planted his fists on his waist like an offended anime villain.
"If you can beat me, I'll follow you! Fifteen days, no complaints. I'll be your little brother!"
Ryuuto flashed a grin sharp enough to cut paper. "I don't need a little brother, but obedience? That's fine. Very convenient."
That look in his eyes made Susan and the others quietly back off. They knew what came next, and none of them wanted to be within splash zone of Ryuuto's "enthusiasm."
Guy Di waved at him from behind the safety line. "Bro, hurry up! Teach this pigeon a lesson! We still gotta get ice cream!"
"Yeah, yeah, give me a few minutes." Ryuuto rolled his shoulders, warming up. "Birdman buffets are best served fast."
Icarus glared hard enough to crack a lens. "You're talking big. Hope your strength matches your mouth."
"You'll see."
Ryuuto's body flickered, vanishing in a burst of speed.
Fire Style: Fire Dragon Bullet!
A blazing fireball roared down from above before Icarus could even track him. Flames scorched his hair instantly.
"Break!"
Icarus unleashed a blast of ultrasonic force. The air warped and cracked. Sand jumped like it was alive.
The fireball smashed into the sonic wave, exploding in a wash of red light that stunned the entire beach. Tourists screamed, phones dropping into the surf.
"Hah! Try that again, kid!" Icarus sneered, pride swelling like a balloon about to pop.
Ryuuto didn't give him time to finish gloating.
Eight Trigrams: Air Palm!
The compressed chakra blast slammed into Icarus's chest like a meteor. His lungs folded. His entire face contorted like he'd swallowed a fork.
But Ryuuto wasn't done.
Before the gust under Icarus's wings could settle, Ryuuto flickered behind him.
"This sandbag's sturdy. Perfect warm-up."
Leaf Shadow Dance!
The combo rained down like Rock Lee had possessed him. Icarus's face ballooned to cartoon proportions as Ryuuto pummeled him across the air like a piñata nobody liked.
Guy Di winced. "Sister Susan… this dude volunteering to get beat… is he okay?"
Susan sighed. "Honestly? He looks like he enjoys suffering. The wings were a warning sign."
Icarus coughed blood and dignity in equal measure. "Fools! I haven't lost! Not yet!"
He unleashed a massive sonic wave, wings slicing the air like steel blades.
Ryuuto planted his feet.
Earth Style: Earth Wall!
Sand Shield: Crane Guard!
Multiple stone walls erupted from the ground, sand swirling into a protective barrier that swallowed the blast and sealed Icarus inside like a screaming pigeon in a clay oven.
"You surrendering or what? Don't blame me if you leave here as confetti."
Ryuuto formed the sphere.
Big Ball Rasengan.
Icarus froze. The spinning chakra sphere glowed with the promise of catastrophic regret.
"I'll give you three seconds. Submit or evaporate."
"I—I surrender!"
He shook his head so fast feathers fell out.
The fight was over.