S-Wolf took to the skies in a sudden burst of heat and motion, fire flaring along his back as he rocketed straight toward Ryo. The Seraphim swung his blood-forged sword in a brutal downward arc, the blade screaming as it cut through the air.
Ryo leaned aside at the last instant, the edge passing so close it split strands of his hair. He stepped in instead of away, arm flashing black as Armament Haki coated it, and blocked the sword head-on. The impact rang through the forest like a bell.
Before S-Wolf could press the advantage, Ryo twisted his hips and swung his leg in a clean, snapping kick.
The Seraphim was sent flying backward, tearing through branches and bark before landing in a skid of dirt and splintered wood.
Ryo straightened, shoulders loose, smirk firmly in place. His single red eye tracked every movement, every micro-adjustment in the clone's stance.
The fake Hiroto rose immediately, completely unfazed.
Too unfazed.
Without warning, S-Wolf vanished in a burst of speed and reappeared right in front of Ryo, fist coated in hardened blood and Haki, driving straight for his ribs.
Ryo caught it.
His fingers closed around the punch effortlessly, stopping it dead. He didn't even lean back.
With a short exhale, Ryo drove his other fist forward.
The counter sent S-Wolf hurtling away again, crashing through another line of trees.
Ryo didn't pursue right away. He tilted his head, studying the Seraphim like a puzzle that refused to fit.
Ryo (thinking): there's no point in going all out if this thing doesn't get hurt when I hit it
S-Wolf came back in, relentless. Ryo dodged, weaved, slipped past swings and strikes, countering whenever an opening appeared—clean hits to the torso, the jaw, the legs.
Nothing stuck.
No slowing.
No visible damage.
Ryo's smirk faded into something more thoughtful.
Ryo (thinking): I did an attack that hurt it earlier, what was different about that time
S-Wolf snarled and lifted both arms, blood surging from the ground around him. A barrage of crimson spears formed overhead, vibrating with killing intent.
Ryo looked up, sighed deeply, and relaxed his shoulders.
He released his grip on his sword for just a moment.
Lightning flared.
In a blur of motion, Ryo slashed upward, the blade humming as it tore through every spear at once. The blood weapons shattered midair, raining harmlessly to the forest floor.
Ryo exhaled.
But the Seraphim was already there.
S-Wolf closed the distance instantly, swinging—
Ryo had seen it coming.
He jumped, twisted, and brought his heel down in a devastating axe kick that slammed straight into the top of S-Wolf's head.
The impact drove the Seraphim into the ground hard enough to crater it, dirt and roots exploding outward.
Ryo landed softly nearby, barely disturbing the leaves beneath his feet.
S-Wolf pulled himself out of the crater immediately, body already resetting, fire still roaring on his back.
Ryo clicked his tongue.
Then—
??: S-Wolf! Stop it!
The Seraphim froze.
Mid-motion, mid-breath, mid-fight.
His posture snapped rigid, eyes dulling slightly as he stood perfectly still, like a machine switched to standby.
Ryo blinked and turned.
Lilith stepped out from between the trees, hands on her hips, a familiar smirk playing on her lips.
Lilith: sorry to interrupt your fun fox boy, but we can't have you two wrecking anymore of our stuff
Ryo glanced around.
The forest was... gone.
Trees snapped in half. The ground torn apart. Smoke drifting through the air where the lab's artificial ecosystem had been absolutely demolished.
He scratched the back of his head sheepishly.
Lilith sighed and pointed a thumb over her shoulder.
Lilith: now come on, the rest are waiting, let's see what we can do with this mess
Ryo nodded once.
S-Wolf moved again, instantly obedient, falling into step behind Lilith without a word.
Ryo followed, hands in his pockets, eyes unfocused as his mind raced.
Ryo (thinking): just how do I beat one of those things
They headed back toward the ship, the distant sounds of chaos echoing across Egghead as the island continued to unravel.
Whatever answer Ryo needed—
He knew he was going to have to find it soon.
And that's a wrap
Cool that was fun
