As always, the system's introduction was frustratingly brief.
Nevertheless, it was enough for Richard to understand that the Judgement Cut End he had just obtained was fundamentally different from the version he remembered.
The most obvious difference was that he no longer needs to use the Yamato blade.
In its original, performing the Judgement Cut End required drawing the Yamato blade in a lightning-fast motion and sheathing it with elegant precision—the quintessential quick draw technique. But with Masamune now in his possession instead of Yamato, the execution had changed.
According to the system's description, he merely needed to swing Masamune directly, similar to how he performed techniques like Octoslash or Gravesong
Finally, since Masamune lacked Yamato's inherent space-cutting properties, the Judgement Cut End he could perform now might be somewhat diminished in power.
He couldn't be absolutely certain about this assessment.
Only by acquiring Yamato and comparing the Judgement Cut End performed with both blades could he verify this hypothesis. Still, even if Masamune's version of Judgement Cut End was slightly weaker than Yamato's, it remained a devastatingly powerful attack that few could withstand.
In video games, enemies remained intact regardless of the attacks they received until their health bar depleted completely due to programmed damage parameters.
But reality operated differently.
Here, even a single slash from Masamune—let alone the continuous cuts of Judgement Cut End —could sever limbs with terrifying ease.
After dismissing the information panel visible only to him, Richard returned Masamune to his system space and approached Clarice and Sabretooth.
"Create a portal and let's get out of here," he said to Clarice.
"Right!"
Clarice nodded and immediately manifested a spatial gateway approximately one meter wide and over two meters tall.
As Richard observed the portal taking shape, an idea suddenly struck him:
If I absorb her powers, I might be able to enhance Judgement Cut End!
Clarice's mutant ability was quintessentially spatial in nature. Though it lacked direct offensive capabilities—limited to teleporting people and objects or trapping enemies by closing portals—it was undeniably a space manipulation power.
And Judgement Cut End was, at its core, a spatial technique.
Given that his Blizzaga ability had been enhaced by plundering the plundering the late mutant agent Cryokinesis, Clarice's spatial powers should logically amplify Judgement Cut End as well.
Should I take her powers?
Richard found himself studying Clarice unconsciously. Her delicate features, fair complexion, and those clear, innocent eyes that gazed back at him with confusion...
Clarice had no idea what calculations were happening behind Richard's eyes, and her expression reflected her bewilderment.
Forget it.
I'll find other mutants with spatial abilities.
Richard abandoned the idea of taking Clarice powers. Although mutants with spatial manipulation abilities were rare, they weren't impossible to find with sufficient effort.
With alternatives available, there was no need for such ruthlessness.
Under Clarice's watchful gaze, Richard stepped through the spatial gateway, emerging on a hillside approximately twenty kilometers away.
Sabretooth and Clarice followed him through the portal in succession.
Richard had only instructed her to create an exit from the RV camp without specifying a destination, so Clarice had pushed her abilities to their current limit—which, at present, maxed out at roughly twenty kilometers of teleportation distance.
Sabretooth, for all his qualities as an adoptive father, clearly wasn't the most effective mentor for developing her potential.
After Clarice closed the spatial gateway, Richard turned to them both.
"How did you get captured?" he asked.
Sabretooth immediately explained: "After you left, Clarice and I talked it over and decided to go to Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters."
"We got a car and planned to drive to the school," he continued. "But the next morning, agents from the Department of Mutant Affairs found us, and we were arrested."
Driving to the school?
Richard frowned slightly after hearing Sabretooth's explanation.
He turned to Clarice. "What's the maximum distance your portals can currently reach? And how many maximum-distance portals can you create in a single day?"
Clarice answered without hesitation. "My portals can reach about twenty kilometers at most, and I can create up to ten of them per day."
A daily maximum of only 200 kilometers?
That level of development is severely underpowered!
Richard distinctly recalled that in the comics, Clarice's effective teleportation range extended between Earth and the Moon—approximately 384,000 kilometers.
Even the film version of Clarice, though not as powerful as her comic counterpart, demonstrated considerably more prowess than the young woman standing before him now.
The Clarice portrayed in the films was already adept at using spatial gateways in combat situations.
Whereas this Clarice...
"Do you have any idea how far Los Angeles is from New York?" Richard asked Sabretooth.
"It's more than 2,000 kilometers, isn't it?" Sabretooth replied with uncertainty.
"Try 3,500 kilometers!" Richard corrected him. "Even driving 500 kilometers per day, it would take you a week to reach Xavier's school."
"I'm becoming increasingly curious about this 'personal matter' that made you decide to transport Clarice across the entire continental United States to attend a mutant school."
Richard hadn't been particularly interested initially, but his curiosity was definitely piqued now.
Sabretooth didn't answer immediately. He remained silent, his expression inscrutable.
After a lengthy pause that stretched beyond ten seconds, he finally spoke.
"Clones," he said grimly. "Someone has created clones of me. More than one."
What?
Both Richard and Clarice displayed expressions of shock simultaneously.
Clarice was surprised because Sabretooth had never shared this information with her before.
Richard's surprise stemmed from immediate connections his mind made to Laura—the young female clone of Wolverine from the film "Logan"—and X-24, the perfect physical duplicate of Wolverine.
"Have you seen these clones yourself, or is this secondhand information?" Richard asked, his brow furrowing.
Sabretooth offered no response, maintaining his stoic silence.
Seeing that the feral mutant had no intention of divulging further details, Richard shrugged casually.
"Since you don't want to discuss it, fine," he said. "But here's some advice: if you genuinely want to get Clarice to Xavier's school, you don't need to physically travel to New York. Just make a phone call."
"Despite your questionable status, the X-Men still hold a certain respect for you," Richard continued. "And information about someone creating mutant clones would definitely interest them."
"All you need to do is call and tell them what you know. They'll likely come to you of their own accord."
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