"Okay, let's go. It's about to start." Harry watched as people of all colors and in different costumes put down their glasses and began walking in one direction. He immediately understood that tonight's meeting was about to begin, so he moved to join them.
"Yeah," Tony nodded, following beside him.
The crowd gathered on a large stretch of grass. Music lingered faintly in the air as people sat down, their attention focused on the grand podium set up in the center of the field.
"It's here." Harry looked at the number on his invitation and took his seat. The third row — fairly close to the front.
"I'm actually in the last row… the last row," Tony muttered resentfully, trudging back with a deep frown.
Harry watched him go, noticing the bottle of red wine in Tony's hand, and instantly knew he didn't intend to pay much attention to the speeches.
"Hi, Mr. Osborne — what a coincidence." A cool female voice spoke as the previously empty seat beside him was filled.
"Yes." Harry turned and saw Maria Hill, now in a striking red dress.
"It's such a coincidence… but it shouldn't be a coincidence, right, Commander Hill?" Harry said lightly.
"Indeed, this was not a difficult task for our department," Hill replied, turning slightly toward him, a rare smile appearing on her face.
Harry sat on her left; Hill was on his right. Her short hair was neatly combed to one side, revealing delicate ears under his gaze, and the curve of her lips was faintly bright.
Cough. Seeing that Harry wasn't listening but rather glancing at her, Hill turned her head away, silently cursing to herself: Sure enough, a shameless flirt.
"Welcome, everyone from around the world. On behalf of the President, I thank you all."
The music faded, replaced by a steady voice from the center of the lawn.
As applause rippled through the crowd, a figure walked up to the podium. Harry turned his eyes toward the sound.
"It's him," Harry said, surprised to see the man on stage.
"Congressman Kelly is the most likely candidate for the next presidency," Hill explained quietly. "It's no surprise he's speaking as host."
"I see," Harry nodded thoughtfully.
As one of the loudest supporters of the Mutant Registration Bill, Congressman Kelly represented the human side of the debate. Though a few ordinary people didn't hate mutants, they were the minority. His supporters were therefore far more numerous.
"I'm deeply honored to speak under this night sky. Thank you all," Congressman Kelly concluded.
Another round of applause followed, and brilliant fireworks bloomed in the distant sky, celebrating the summit's success. Faces lit up with smiles—until suddenly, panic spread.
A faint blue light flared from the Statue of Liberty in the distance, growing rapidly brighter and spreading outward.
"What's going on, Harry?" Tony pushed through the crowd and grabbed his shoulder.
"I don't know," Harry shook his head.
Hill frowned. Though Harry's expression was mostly calm, she caught the faintest hint of a smile tugging at his lips — fleeting but unmistakable. As a seasoned agent, she was sure she hadn't imagined it.
"Stay here — or leave now. I'll go check it out."
Harry spread his hands, and his body lifted into the air, though not as fast as before. Magneto's powers, after all, weren't exactly suited for flight.
"Come on," Harry muttered to himself. He knew that light was caused by Magneto's mutation machine — the one meant to transform over two hundred world leaders into mutants. But if this followed the original plot, that machine would soon be destroyed by the X-Men.
Still, this was exactly what Harry had come for — and he wasn't about to miss it.
With a focused thought, Harry wrapped himself in an invisible field, a film harder than steel. Then the same invisible force beneath his feet recoiled and launched him forward like a shot toward the blue glow.
"Well then, let's go, gorgeous," Tony said to Hill with a smirk as he watched Harry disappear into the sky.
"I'll wait here," Hill replied without looking away, eyes fixed on the fading figure.
Meanwhile, Harry had already entered the energy field.
"It's… kind of hot."
He stopped in midair, closed his eyes, and felt the surge of energy flooding into him.
Ding Dong.
As Harry expected, the system activated automatically.
"Detected: abnormal energy entering the host's body. Energy can be converted into points. Convert now?"
"Convert," Harry ordered, opening his eyes with a faint smile.
The chaotic energy gathered at once, spiraling through him like a roaring vortex.
Above the Statue of Liberty, the battle froze. Everyone noticed the phenomenon in the sky — even the X-Men, who moments ago feared Magneto's plan had succeeded. Their relief was short-lived.
"Ah!"
"Rogue!" Wolverine's roar shattered the tension.
Because while Harry was absorbing the machine's power, Magneto's control over Wolverine meant Rogue was still connected to the machine — energy continued radiating outward, but now, it was being pulled straight into Harry.
"No!" Magneto's furious shout echoed, but drained of strength after Rogue had already absorbed so much of his power. He could do nothing to stop it.
"Cyclops! Shoot him down! He's draining Rogue's energy!" Wolverine shouted from below.
"Uh—right!" Cyclops snapped out of his daze, lifted his hand, and adjusted his visor.
Zzzhhk!
A broad crimson beam of energy erupted from his visor, cutting through the sky toward Harry.
"Huh?"
Sensing danger, Harry's eyes snapped open. He extended his hand, and an invisible barrier instantly formed before him.
---
A/N: Advanced Chapters Have Been Uploaded On My Patreon
Support: patreon.com/Narrator_San