As the android emerged from the smoke, it paused momentarily before vanishing from sight, showcasing the combined speed of the Flash and Superman. The ground beneath the android caved in as it disappeared. Light green pigmentation suddenly appeared at the corners of Toneri's eyes, signifying his entrance into Sage Mode.
'Ugh, disgusting. The pollution in this city is too much,' Toneri thought, referring to Gotham's natural energy. From his entrance into Sage Mode to his thoughts, all of this occurred within a second. Suddenly, he brought up his arm to block an elbow aimed at his head by the android, who had appeared in front of him, causing a shockwave to be released. Toneri disappeared as the android's momentum continued downward, slamming into the ground with such force that the crater Toneri had been in deepened. Toneri reappeared behind the android, his body emitting massive amounts of steam due to the superheating of his chakra.
"Futton: Funsuiken (Boil Release: Erupting Propulsion Fist)," Toneri muttered.
After increasing his chakra temperature to the boiling point, he released boiling steam from his body and delivered a steam-enhanced punch that sent his opponent flying far away. 'Han of the Rock, the Jinchūriki of Kokuō, the Five-Tailed Beast, what a beautiful technique you've created,' Toneri thought. The steam-enhanced fist connected with the back of the android's head with unrelenting force, launching it away with a deafening crack as the speed of sound was broken.
KRAAAAACOOOOOM
The android's body flew off into the distance and slammed into the ground a few miles away from the school, skipping on the ground and leaving a path of destruction and broken trees before coming to a halt back at the corn field. As it tried to reorient itself by shaking its head, Toneri suddenly appeared midair with his leg outstretched above the android, massive amounts of steam drifting off his body. "Futton: Fungōkyaku (Boil Release: Erupting Strong Foot)," he called out. The steam he was producing increased in volume, and the temperature around him soared as he attempted to dropkick the android and smash its head.
His foot connected with the android and went through its head, slamming into the ground.
BOOOOOOMMMMM!
A massive amount of dust and rock burst into the air as his foot crashed into the ground, causing a slight tremor around the field and creating a crater almost a hundred feet wide and fifteen meters deep.
Toneri teleported and appeared above him again catching the android off guard after it became tangible and began to pummel him into the ground. Like a propulsion unit, each punch seemed to release even hotter steam, the resultant force of Toneri's punches were multiplied until even the android was unable to block them. Toneri grinned bloodthirsty, "Senpō: Futton Kaikiri Suishin(Sage Art: Boil Release Unrivaled propulsion)." A volcanic like eruption of steam erupted around them as Toneri dodged Amazo's canary cry attempting to push him and delivered an uppercut that sent him even deeper into the earth but he soon found out the android became intangible again and escaped down through the earth.
Meters away the android reoriented itself, becoming tangible, and immediately fired a blast of nuclear energy at Toneri, who was still in the crater. Seeing the incoming attack, Toneri quickly used Doton: Chidokaku (Earth Style: Moving Earth Core) to lower himself into the earth. The area he had just vacated exploded on contact with Captain Atom's power.
A few moments after the explosion and the dust settles the android moved closer, using its X-ray vision to search for any signs of a body. Finding none, it began to walk away. As it did, the ground beneath its feet suddenly lit up and started to melt into molten rock. Smirking, Toneri, who was in a cavity within the earth, called out "Yoton: Kakazan (Lava Style: Floral Mountain)" . A violent volcanic eruption sent molten rock flying in all directions, resembling a giant flower. The lava, said to be able to melt anything in its path, caught the android as it attempted to fly away.
The eruption destroyed and burned most of the surrounding area. Moments later, Toneri emerged from the molten ground like a ghost, rising up with the lava sliding off his body like slime on glass. The lava cooled, trapping the android within the solidified molten earth. Parts of its body were melted, including its face, where one eyeball bulged grotesquely due to the surrounding area melting off.
Toneri placed his left hand on his waist and asked in an amused tone, "So, is that it? Are you done yet? What a disappointment. I was expecting more entertainment from an entity with the entire league's powers, but in the end, you are just a puppet, I guess."
As he moved closer to the droid, Toneri noticed the wind picking up. The floor cracked, and a red tornado broke through, trying to encapsulate him in its whirling effects. With a smirk, he jumped back, only to find two red tornadoes tearing apart the earth in front of him and speeding towards him. He halted his movement, digging his feet into the ground, ready to take the attack head-on. Suddenly, he felt a shift in the air as the android appear behind him. Turning, he saw the android punching straight at him with incredible speed, its fist coated in the yellow energy of Captain Atom.
Toneri muttered, "Amenosakeme(Heavenly Rift)," as a portal appeared in front and another behind him, swallowing the android and bringing it out of the portal in front of him. With their positions changed, the android was suddenly facing its own attack as the two tornadoes converged on its position. As it tried to dispel the devastating winds, Toneri saw an opportunity. "No, you don't," he said, delivering a devastating, sage chakra-enhanced kick to the back of the android's head. "Heavenly Kick of Pain!" he shouted as he launched the android into the tornadoes.
The android was caught in the tornadoes but began to resist and disperse the winds. Seeing this, Toneri made two hand signs, his chest bulging as he took in massive amounts of air. "Senpou Futon: Ooami (Sage Art Wind Style: Casting Net)!" he called out, releasing sharp wind currents in the form of a net of sharp blades ready to slice his target apart. This technique was powerful enough to inflict wounds on the Third Raikage, a shinobi renowned for his tremendous durability. Enhanced by the Sage technique, its destructive capabilities soared.
The net of sharp wind slammed into the android's back, catching it and sandwiching it between two deadly winds. The combination of attacks left the android severely damaged, struggling to hold itself together as the winds continued to tear at its form.
As the wind died down and Toneri canceled the Senpou Futon: Ooami (Sage Art Wind Style: Casting Net) technique, he approached the severely damaged android. Seeing it trying to get back to its feet, Toneri pointed his palm towards it, expelling chakra rods that pinned it down to the ground, impaling its limbs and joints, effectively turning the android into a pin cushion.
Standing over the body of the android, Toneri undid the Sage mode causing the pigmentation at the side of his eyes to fade away before he began speaking, "Well, I will have to commend you on the effort. Left alone, you would have adapted and grown stronger the more time you have to learn and properly utilize those powers, and that is what makes you so dangerous."
Suddenly, Amazo lifted its head, its eyes turning red as it shot heat vision at Toneri. Toneri turned his head, dodging the deadly blast aimed at blowing his head off. In response, a rod suddenly impaled the android between its eyes, finally shutting it down. Toneri's hand was outstretched as he sighed, "What a sore loser."
He looked at the defeated android for a moment, contemplating whether to take the body back. He snorted, thinking, "They will probably find a way to lose it again. Besides, an entity with an arsenal of the entire League's powers falling into the wrong hands and given ample time to grow could prove more difficult to deal with."
'Although I would have preferred to test out some more Justus on him but, the damage that particular jutsu will bring… Oh well, there will be others more durable for me to properly indulge myself in the future'.
Toneri made a single hand sign and called out, "Bakuton: Jiraiken (Explosion Release: Landmine Fist)". Establishing direct contact with the android through a simple punch, he used Explosion Release to generate an enormous explosion from the android's insides. This explosion was powerful enough to completely obliterate an opponent far larger than the user. Due to the directionality of the blast, any potential repercussions, such as being struck by resultant debris, were minimized.
Toneri punched forward, his fist meeting the torso of the android.
BOOOOOOOOOM!!!
The scene shifted back to the school with the team. Superboy, using his super hearing to keep tabs on the battle, said, "It seems the fight is over."
Toneri then appeared in front of the Kaenjin (Flame Formation) barrier with the Shunshin no Jutsu (Body Flicker Technique), his body flickering into existence. He snapped his fingers, causing the barrier to break like glass and releasing the team.
"You all did well," Toneri said with a smile, nodding to the group. "Let's get Professor Ivo secured and head back."
The team, visibly relieved and amazed by Toneri's prowess, gathered themselves and prepared to move out, with newfound respect and confidence in their pseudo mentor.
Mount Justice, August 4, 2010, 1:06am. EDT
After dealing with the complications involving the Amazo android, the Team made their way back to the Cave, where Batman, Red Tornado, Black Canary, and Green Arrow awaited them. They cleaned up and prepared for a debriefing.
"The complications with the Amazo android were unexpected," Toneri said impassively, his arms crossed. "It assimilated pieces of the Monqi tech, achieving a higher form and evolving further. The situation became more dangerous, so I stepped in to take care of it and destroy it completely."
Aqualad added, "But Ivo escaped again while being transported to Belle Reve. The truck he was being transported in was attacked, and he got out. Since he is the creator of the android, he's arguably more dangerous."
Toneri sighed, thinking, 'Maybe I should have just killed the imp of a man. But then again, I am eager to see what he'll create next.'
"Overall, your mission was a success," Black Canary said with a smile. "Nice work."
"But we heard your mission had other... complications," Martian Manhunter said, referring to Superboy and his performance during the mission. Everyone looked at Superboy, who looked away and huffed.
Batman stepped forward. "Complications come with the job; your ability to handle them has impressed the League."
"The whole League?" Superboy asked, clearly referring to Superman. Toneri looked at Batman with a questioning look as if on cue.
"In time, yes," Batman said, glancing at Toneri before looking at Superboy. Then he grew a small smile. "Kryptonians, as you know, have very hard heads." While others chuckled a bit at Superboy's expense, Superboy had a small smile on his face and took it in good humor.
"Of course, there is no shame in asking for help. That is why the League exists—there are some problems even we can't solve individually."
"Please, if we needed any help, we never get the chance to ask," Robin said as he pulled out an arrow that he found from the battle at the gym, waving it in front of Green Arrow. "Look familiar? You were following us—babysitting us! You still don't trust us!"
"We didn't follow you," Batman said as Green Arrow pulled out an arrow from his quiver and compared it to the one Robin held. While his was serrated and thicker, the one Robin had was smaller, lighter, and had fewer serrations.
"That's not your arrow?" Robin asked, confused, but then smiled excitedly. "But that means..."
"Speedy!" Kid Flash finished.
"He has our backs," Aqualad said with a smile on his face.
Kid Flash then zoomed up to Green Arrow and snatched the arrow from his hand. "Souvenir!"
Wally and Robin then looked to Toneri and said, "Besides, I'm sure we already have a lot more help than we can ask for."
Dinah smiled a bit and moved close to Toneri. "Thank you for watching their backs."
Toneri replied, "I was merely interested in the android's capabilities."
Dinah chuckled at Toneri's antics. Superboy walked over, looking at Toneri before looking to Dinah. "I'm ready to learn."
"Good," Black Canary replied. "Because I'm here to teach."