Butterfly lounged on a metal table at the center of the ruined prison block, swirling a goblet filled with fresh blood. Her crimson-painted smile stretched wide with pleasure.
"The taste of blood really is the finest," she murmured, savoring it. "The men here were strong… well, strong enough for scraps. If only they had the power of real Mutants. Now that would be exquisite."
Her voice echoed through the cold, filthy corridor like a velvet-coated knife.
Corpses lay scattered in every direction, twisted in terror.
The surviving prisoners stood frozen, slack-eyed and empty, puppets held by her spell.
Then—
BOOM!
The prison gate exploded inward, ripping the door from its hinges. Dust rolled like a shockwave across the floor.
Butterfly jerked upright, blood splashing across her face in a crimson smear. Her eyes narrowed with a feral gleam.
"Whoever you are," she hissed, rising slowly, "you're out of your mind if you think you can walk in here and live."
A voice answered casually, as if he'd kicked open a grocery store instead of a murder den.
"Cruel entrance. Are you actually trying to be a vampire, or is this just your Tuesday?"
Ryuuto stepped through the smoke, the Decapitating Blade resting lazily across his shoulder. His grin was sharp, confident, drenched in battle intent.
The moment he saw her, something in him lit up.
Mission target found. Jackpot.
"So you're Butterfly," he said. "Perfect. Saves me the trouble of hunting you down."
Butterfly's eyes twitched. She stared hard at him, sensing the dangerous pressure radiating from his body.
"Who are you?" she demanded.
Ryuuto lifted a hand and tapped the X-symbol on his collar.
"X-Men."
"You and I have no grudge," Butterfly snapped. "Why come here to die?"
"Because you are the one who dies today."
He took a step forward. The ground quivered under his chakra-filled aura.
"If you butcher people on my turf, don't expect forgiveness."
"Arrogant brat!" Butterfly shrieked. "Let's see you scream!"
She snapped her fingers.
The puppet guards lunged toward Ryuuto with dead eyes and twisted limbs.
"You aren't worth my time," he muttered.
Steel flashed.
His blade carved effortlessly through limbs and torsos, blood bursting into the air. The guards didn't flinch, didn't hesitate, didn't stop—they simply climbed over their fallen, rabid and relentless.
Behind bars, prisoners jolted awake, horrified.
"She's a demon!"
"Let us out! Let us out!"
"There are two demons now!"
Butterfly cackled, her fingers weaving patterns in the air.
"Rip him apart! Kill him for me!"
Ryuuto grimaced. "This is getting annoying."
Shadow Clone Technique!
Dozens of clones swarmed out beside him, smashing through prisoners and guards alike. The prison erupted into violent chaos. Bodies flew. Blood sprayed. Steel clashed.
Ryuuto's uniform was quickly soaked red from head to toe, but he didn't slow.
Butterfly clutched her chest dramatically, laughing.
"For an X-Man, you're no different from me! Killing left and right—don't pretend you're better."
A strange light flickered in her eyes.
"Rise."
The entire room fell silent.
Then—
The corpses on the floor twitched.
Joints cracked.
Bodies twisted.
Dozens of mangled dead prisoners rose like puppets, dripping with rot and gore, their hollow eyes fixed on Ryuuto.
They charged.
Ryuuto frowned. "Seriously?"
His clones were quickly overwhelmed. The sheer number of undead crushed through their ranks.
Butterfly threw her head back and laughed wildly.
"Tear him apart! When you die, the X-Men crumble!"
Ryuuto exhaled slowly.
"Wrong target, lady."
He tightened his stance.
"Wind Style—"
Chakra surged into the air.
Infinite Sandstorm Breakthrough!
A roaring gale detonated outward. Dust, sand, and raw chakra fused into a massive storm that swallowed the undead whole, shredding them into pieces.
BOOOOOM!
The entire prison collapsed under the force. Dust mushroomed skyward. Metal bars twisted like paper.
Butterfly crawled out of a pile of rubble, coughing violently. Deep gashes streaked across her face, her breath sharp with fear.
"You… lunatic…"