The basement was dim and suffocating.
Several mutants sat in silence, their faces grim.
With Shadow Cat gravely injured, their only plan to save the mutants had failed. All that awaited them now was being hunted down and killed by the sentry robots—just like their fallen comrades.
At that moment, Magneto suddenly turned and strode toward the exit.
Everyone was startled.
"Eric?" Professor X called out in alarm.
Magneto halted, his tone heavy as he replied, "Charles, I don't believe in destiny. Mutants will not die here. I will destroy the root of all evil."
His words made it clear—he intended to confront the sentry robots alone.
Such an act was no different from seeking death.
Even with Magneto's extraordinary power, his stamina was limited. Perhaps he could destroy one or two waves of sentinels, but in the end, he would be overwhelmed and torn apart.
Professor X opened his mouth to persuade him, yet no words came. Compared to his own passive acceptance of fate, Magneto's defiance burned brighter, unyielding.
"Count me in!" Wolverine stood and followed after him.
Storm hesitated only a moment before silently rising to join as well.
They all knew—if they left, there was no return.
For a while, the atmosphere was thick with tragic resolve.
Then, a slow clap echoed from the side.
Clap. Clap.
It was Fenric.
"Such courage," he said with a faint smile, "but throwing your lives away like this is a bit… foolish, don't you think?"
At once, every eye turned to him, several pairs glaring with hostility.
"Brat!"
Wolverine's claws extended with a metallic snikt as he glared fiercely at Fenric. "Take back what you just said!"
Fenric only shrugged, unfazed by the threat. "Why should I? I'm just telling the truth."
"What right do you have to say that about them?!" Blink snapped furiously.
To her, Fenric was intolerable—a man too afraid to risk his life, mocking those willing to sacrifice theirs.
Magneto, however, fixed Fenric with a steady gaze, his voice calm. "Young man, do you have a better way?"
Fenric's smile widened faintly. "Your plan is to send someone's consciousness back to prevent the sentry robots from ever being created, isn't it? I don't know how reliable that method is. But physically traveling through time—that would have a far higher success rate."
Everyone froze in shock.
Professor X quickly asked, "Ric… do you mean you actually have a way to travel through time?"
"Of course," Fenric answered without hesitation.
The room erupted with surprise and relief.
"Why didn't you say this earlier?" Storm demanded, her eyes wide.
Fenric tilted his head. "You never asked."
She blinked, dumbfounded, then gave a weak laugh.
"Hah… unbelievable."
"Then what are we waiting for?" Wolverine said eagerly. "Ric, hurry up! I'm dying for a beer from the old days!"
Fenric wagged a finger. "Not so fast, Logan. You owe me an apology first."
"Fine, fine! I apologize for being rude earlier!" Wolverine grumbled, his thick skin making the words come easily.
Blink, however, faltered. She had mocked Fenric as well. After an awkward pause, she muttered reluctantly, "I… I'm sorry, Mr. Fenric. I shouldn't have said those things."
Fenric waved her off, cutting her short. "Logan's apology is enough."
Wolverine's face darkened. This guy just loves making things difficult for me.
"…You—" He stopped himself, afraid of provoking Fenric further.
Magneto narrowed his eyes. "Young man, do you truly have the means to return to the past?"
"Certainly."
Fenric's expression turned serious as he explained, "I possess a Time Replacement Machine. It can send people into the past—or the future. But… it requires an immense amount of electricity. And in our current state, that's a problem."
The mutants exchanged glances. None had ever heard of such a device.
Professor X thought for a moment. "There's an abandoned thermal power plant nearby. If it still functions, it might be able to provide what you need."
"Then let's go already!" Wolverine urged, too restless to remain in this dying world another moment.
—--
Half an hour later, they arrived at the coast by plane.
An old thermal power plant stood there, looming over the shoreline.
"Professor, can this really work?" Wolverine frowned. The place looked ancient—dusty, corroded, forgotten. Thermal power had long been replaced by nuclear plants. This relic might very well belong to the last century.
Professor X gave a weary smile. "We won't know unless we try."
Storm landed the plane in an open area beside the plant.
"Ric, it's up to you now," Wolverine said.
Everyone turned toward Fenric, curiosity burning in their eyes.
He smiled, then summoned Skynet.
Light shimmered, and a little girl appeared—Skynet, her youthful form startling everyone.
"Master, you finally let me out! Where is this place?" she asked brightly, blinking at the group of strangers. "And… who are these uncles and aunties?"
"Who… who is she?" Storm's eyes widened in disbelief.
"I'd like to know that myself," Blink muttered, suspicion in her gaze as she glanced between Fenric and the strange girl.
Fenric clapped his hands. "Everyone, meet Skynet—my sister."
Skynet's eyes lit up, her face blooming with joy. "Brother!" she beamed, her crescent eyes curving adorably.
Fenric patted her head, then pointed at a pile of materials nearby. "We need a Time Replacement Machine. Everything's here. How long will it take you to finish?"
"Ten hours, Brother!" she answered confidently.
"Good. Start immediately."
"Okay, Brother!"
"You don't have to keep calling me that."
"Alright… Brother."
She grinned, clearly delighted.
At once, Skynet began her work. Her liquid metal body reshaped itself, arms transforming into tools, a flamethrower blazing to melt steel, then reforming to weld and reconstruct. Alone, she was an entire factory.
The mutants could only stare in shock.
"Ric… what is your sister, exactly?" Wolverine asked, unsettled.
Fenric's voice was calm. "Don't worry about her. What you should be worrying about… is starting the power station within ten hours."
Professor X's face grew grim. "That won't be easy. The sentry robots can sense mutants from far away. With so many of us gathered here, they'll find us soon enough."
Fenric frowned, realization dawning.
So that's why, in the original timeline, the 'Reverse the Future' plan was barely underway before the sentries swarmed in to wipe them out…
The robots' ability to detect mutants was truly terrifying.
He sighed inwardly. The man who designed them was a genius… a dangerous one.
"Charles," Magneto declared, stepping forward, "you go prepare the power station. I'll hold the line."
Among the mutants present, his offensive power was unmatched—he had the right to say it.
Fenric's lips curved into a thin smile as he scanned the sea around him. His hand tightened around the trident he summoned.
The sea… it will be his battlefield.