Magneto was slightly surprised to see Fenric agree so easily.
"Aren't you afraid there might be traps waiting for you?" he asked with narrowed eyes.
Fenric replied indifferently, "Call every soldier you have. Bring them all. Try and see if you can kill me."
Magneto studied him deeply, his tone heavy. "Young man, arrogance is not an advantage."
"I've always been arrogant," Fenric shrugged casually.
Arrogant? So what if he was? He now had the power to back it up.
"Let's go."
With a wave of Magneto's hand, the floating iron marbles twisted together into a solid hoop, locking tightly around Rogue. The iron ring lifted her effortlessly into the air as Magneto flew off with her.
Fenric followed with ease, his mind power carrying him steadily behind Magneto. Together, the three of them left the hotel building.
—---
At X Academy, in the infirmary—
On the bed, Wolverine slowly opened his eyes.
"Argg…" His first reaction was a splitting headache, as though his skull was about to burst open. The overwhelming pain forced a groan from his throat.
Even with Wolverine's powerful self-healing ability, the damage Fenric had inflicted was far too severe. If not for the indestructible adamantium reinforcing his bones, Fenric's punch would have completely shattered his head.
"You're awake?"
Jean, who had been busy tending to him, hurried over. "How do you feel? Anything still hurting?"
Before joining the X-Men, Jean had studied medicine, and within the Academy she often served as the de facto doctor for students.
"…Jean." Wolverine blinked in confusion, and then memory crashed back into him. His face tensed. "Anna—how's Anna?!"
Jean's expression dimmed. "She was taken. We couldn't stop him…"
At those words, Wolverine's face darkened.
"Damn it!" he growled, slamming his fist against the bed. "Where is that bastard? I'll kill him!"
"Logan, calm down!" Jean quickly urged. "We'll rescue Anna—but we need a plan."
Wolverine's chest heaved with fury, but Jean pressed on. "You just woke up. The Professor wants to see you."
—--
Soon after, Wolverine and Jean entered the hall where Professor X and the other X-Men had gathered.
Professor X's expression was grave as he addressed them. "That man… he has allied himself with Magneto."
"!!!"
The room erupted in shock.
Magneto—their old adversary, one of the most dangerous mutants alive—joining forces with that monster? The thought alone made everyone's hearts sink.
"Professor, what are they planning?" Cyclops asked, frowning.
"I don't know," Professor X admitted, shaking his head. "But whatever it is, it won't be good."
—--
Meanwhile, deep in Magneto's underground base—
"So this is your hideout?" Fenric swept his gaze across the room with disdain. "Looks like a rat's nest."
Magneto's expression stiffened, clearly displeased.
Before he could respond, a hulking figure growled and charged toward Fenric.
It was Sabretooth.
Wolverine's elder brother, with the same regenerative ability—but here, he was portrayed as brutish, dim-witted, and far weaker than his comic counterpart.
Infuriated by Fenric's insult, Sabretooth lunged, his long, sharp claws slashing straight for Fenric's throat.
Fenric's face didn't so much as flicker. He clenched his fist, a faint white aura flickering around it.
Then—
He struck.
One explosive punch, carrying the force of his Tremor ability.
Crack!
The very air split open, space fracturing as the blow landed.
Sabretooth didn't just fall—he detonated. His body exploded into chunks of flesh and blood, spraying across the chamber and splattering Magneto himself.
With a single punch, one of the most infamous mutants was reduced to minced meat.
Mystique and Toad froze in terror, their faces pale.
"My god…" Mystique gasped, stumbling back, her voice trembling.
Even Magneto was stunned, his face draining of color as he stared at the gore clinging to his clothes.
"Mutant killed. Current mission progress: 1/1," Fenric's system chimed in his head.
Fenric remained calm. The damage was absolute—far beyond what even Wolverine's regeneration could repair. Not even scraps remained.
"Old man," Fenric said casually, "don't take it personally. He rushed me, and I couldn't hold back." He waved his hand as though it were nothing. "But do try to keep your subordinates from attacking me again."
"..."
Magneto's face darkened. Sabretooth might have been crude, but he was still a powerful ally—and one of his right-hand men. To see him annihilated in an instant was infuriating.
But—Magneto swallowed the anger. For now, he had to endure.
"The room at the end is yours," Magneto said coldly, pointing. "When the plan begins, I'll summon you."
He turned away, clearly unwilling to speak further.
—--
Six days later.
The day of the summit had arrived.
This meeting would bring together not only the senior leaders of the USA but also heads of state from allied nations: the Prime Minister of UK, the Israel leader and more.
The venue was Liberty Island, at the base of the Statue of Liberty itself.
By dusk, dignitaries began to gather, filling the conference square with energy and chatter. Even the President of America attended in person. The atmosphere brimmed with importance.
But none of them knew—
High above, at the crown of the Statue of Liberty, Magneto and his followers were already preparing their machine. Fenric, Rogue, Mystique, and Toad stood alongside him, watching the plan unfold.
Magneto's goal was clear: to unleash his machine at the summit, transforming the world's leaders into mutants.
Yet even as his device hummed to life, a high-tech fighter jet cut across the evening sky.
The X-Men had arrived—Cyclops, Jean Grey, Wolverine, Storm—ready to stop Magneto and Fenric before it was too late.