Back at the Baxter Building, Ryuuto lounged on the couch like a smug cat who'd just stolen two universes and a sandwich. He flashed Susan and Gwen a grin so picture-perfect it could've been illegal, all while ruffling Katie Dee's hair.
"With me around? Nobody lays a hand on you," he declared, dramatic enough to shame a Broadway lead.
After the earlier chaos, the group headed home, leaving behind a flattened Indra and a regenerating Deadpool who was still muttering something about "occupational hazards."
Far away, Thor stood with what remained of his battered forces. Which was being generous. At this point, he had maybe a dozen exhausted warriors, plus a collection of old, wheezing veterans who looked like they'd left their retirement home by mistake.
"By the storms… that brat is driving me insane!" Thor roared, tugging his own hair like it had personally offended him.
He'd been beaten, humiliated, and outmaneuvered. An Asgardian prince with the pride of ten realms… reduced to this. Returning to Asgard like this would be social suicide.
The silence around him was suffocating.
Then a voice slithered out of the shadows.
"Well, well. To think the mighty God of Thunder has been cornered by a boy. How very disappointing."
Thor snapped upright, every hair on his body standing at attention. He gripped Mjolnir with both hands.
"Show yourself! I tire of cowards skulking in the dark!"
His warriors shook so hard their weapons rattled.
"I'm not here to fight you, Thor."
A figure stepped out—tall, wrapped in shadows that clung like living smoke. His presence alone made the air colder.
"We share an enemy. The new X-Men captain… Ryuuto."
Thor glared. "Words mean nothing. Anyone can whisper poison. Prove you're worth my time."
The shadowed figure chuckled. "Gladly."
With a lazy flick of his wrist, an invisible force seized Thor. The God of Thunder shot into the air like a rag doll, Mjolnir ripped clean from his hand as if it were nothing more than a toy.
The entire Asgardian squad froze.
Dead silence.
Not even a swallow. Not even a breath.
Thor landed hard, teeth clenched, staring in disbelief.
The figure's voice swept through the air, cold and amused.
"Now then… do you believe we can work together?"
Ten seconds crawled by. Thor finally nodded, jaw tight.
"Good. You've made your first smart decision today."
Black smoke surged forward, swallowing Thor and every warrior around him. The shadows rolled outward, leaving nothing behind but a lingering chill and the faintest whisper of dread across the sky.
Meanwhile, at Ryuuto's place…
He was sipping wine with Susan and the others, blissfully unaware—or simply unconcerned—that an incoming disaster was loading in like a raid boss cutscene.
[Ding! New S-Rank Mission issued: Locate and defeat the Mutant "Butterfly." Rewards: Classified.]
Ryuuto's eyes lit up. "Finally! A real mission again!"
He jumped onto his feet and pointed at Shion like an overexcited detective.
"Hey. Do I get a new character data pack for this? Even puzzle fragments count!"
[Maybe~ depends on how hard you work, Host. Try impressing me for once.]
"Yeah, yeah. I hear you."
With a quick goodbye to Susan's group, Ryuuto shot into the sky in a burst of high-speed movement, vanishing into the upper atmosphere like a crimson shooting star.
Deep inside a rundown prison…
Cells were packed with prisoners who looked half-starved and wholly done with life. The guards weren't much better—most of them had abandoned their posts to gather around a table playing cards and drinking like they were on paid vacation.
That peace shattered when a woman appeared at the entrance.
Tall. Graceful. Dangerous.
Curving tattoos framed her eyes in patterns that practically screamed don't stare directly unless you enjoy dying young.
She tapped the locked metal gate with one fingertip.
The entire door blew open like it had been kicked by a giant.
The guards froze. Sweat beaded instantly.
"Wh—who are you?!"
She smiled, a slow, hypnotic curl of the lips.
"Name's Butterfly. I'm just here to… have a little fun."
Her charm hit them like a spell. Fear melted. Smiles replaced it.
"Oh! Well—uh… welcome! Sure, yeah, fun—fun is good!"
"Wonderful." Butterfly's fingers elongated, razor-sharp.
"Then you'll make perfect slaves."
Before the guards could blink, her claws slid into their foreheads. Their expressions went blank. Knees hit the floor. Minds erased.
Screams rose from the prisoners.
"She's a witch! Someone help!"
Butterfly laughed as the prison doors slammed shut, locking everyone inside with her.