Beneath the school's quiet playground, hidden from any ordinary view, a sleek black fighter jet rested inside a massive underground hangar. The aircraft's design was sharp and futuristic, its surface smooth and seamless, with faint lines hinting at advanced engineering far beyond conventional technology.
"Damn… that's cool," Liam muttered under his breath, his eyes lighting up as he took in the sight. He had known the X-Men had their own jet, but seeing it in person was a completely different experience.
"This is the X-Men's dedicated aircraft. It's equipped with—" Cyclops began, clearly about to launch into an explanation.
"Let's board," Storm cut in abruptly, shutting him down before he could continue. There was no time for a full technical briefing.
Without further delay, everyone moved toward the jet and climbed aboard. The moment they were all inside, the ground above began to shift, the playground splitting open with a low mechanical rumble. As the opening widened, the jet's engines roared to life, vibrating through the structure beneath them.
Up above, students resting in their dorms were immediately drawn to the noise. Many rushed to their windows, watching as the hidden hangar revealed itself once more. When the black jet ascended, none of them seemed particularly surprised. The X-Men had deployed like this countless times before—it was a familiar sight.
Within seconds, the aircraft lifted into the air and then, just as suddenly, vanished.
It wasn't that the jet had disappeared. It had activated optical cloaking, blending seamlessly into its surroundings. In the darkness, unless someone was close enough to hear the engines, there was no way to detect it using ordinary means.
The jet accelerated rapidly, cutting through the sky with incredible speed. In just half an hour, they were already approaching Liberty Island.
"Once we cross that bridge, we're entering Liberty Island airspace," Cyclops said from the cockpit, his eyes fixed ahead as he piloted. "Storm, give us cover."
The island was heavily secured, with military forces stationed throughout. Entering without concealment would be risky, even with the jet's stealth systems.
"Got it," Storm replied, her expression sharpening slightly as she prepared to act.
A moment later, a dense white cloud began forming ahead of them, spreading outward until it enveloped the jet entirely. The sudden appearance of the cloud masked their approach, obscuring them from any potential surveillance.
Liam leaned back slightly, watching Storm with a hint of interest. Weather manipulation was an incredibly versatile ability, capable of influencing temperature, pressure, moisture, and even atmospheric particles on a large scale.
Storm could summon wind, rain, fog, lightning—virtually any natural phenomenon. Under the right conditions, she could even manipulate electromagnetic activity within the atmosphere.
It was a remarkably comprehensive power set.
The thought sparked something in Liam's mind, and without hesitation, he activated his system.
[Ding! Would the host like to check in with Mutant Storm?]
"Yes."
[Ding! Check-in successful. Congratulations, host, you have obtained the super ability 'Weather Manipulation.' Experience +100.]
A subtle shift passed through Liam as the new ability integrated seamlessly into him. A faint smile formed on his lips, satisfaction flickering in his eyes.
Storm was classified as a Level 3 mutant, but her upper limits were far from ordinary. In certain interpretations, her power had been depicted on a continental scale, capable of devastating entire regions.
In this world, her current output might not reach that level—but in Liam's hands, it was a different story.
With his enhanced capabilities, the scope of weather manipulation could be pushed far beyond its usual limits. What Storm could do across an island, Liam might one day extend across an entire continent.
The jet pierced through the thick cloud cover, and soon Liberty Island came into full view below them.
At the same time, beneath the towering structure of the Statue of Liberty, Magneto stood calmly, his attention already fixed on the distant mist rising over the water.
"They're here," he said quietly, his voice carrying a cold certainty. "Prepare yourselves. The ones who intend to interfere with our plan have arrived."
Behind him, Sabretooth turned immediately, his instincts kicking in as he prepared to charge out and confront the approaching enemies.
Before he could move far, Magneto's voice stopped him.
"Stay," Magneto ordered without raising his tone. "Once I begin transferring energy to the girl, I'll be vulnerable. You'll remain here and protect me."
Sabretooth hesitated for a fraction of a second before complying, his aggressive stance easing slightly as he returned to Magneto's side.
Nearby, a blonde woman tilted her head slightly, her expression thoughtful. "Eric, I didn't sense Charles on the jet," she said. "He's not coming."
Magneto's lips curved faintly, though there was no warmth in it. "It seems Raven successfully delivered what I prepared for him."
"You killed him?" the woman asked, a hint of surprise in her voice.
"No," Magneto replied calmly. "That was never the intention. It will only keep Charles out of the way for a while."
He paused briefly, his gaze drifting toward the distant skyline.
"Charles and I may stand on opposite sides, but we both fight for the future of mutants," he continued, his tone carrying a rare trace of complexity. "If there's anyone in this world who would want him gone the most… it would be me."
The blonde woman gave a small shrug, clearly uninterested in the sentiment. "I didn't come here for philosophy," she said flatly. "I was hired to deal with Charles. If he's not here, what exactly do you want me to do?"
Magneto fell silent for a moment, considering.
"Then deal with his students," he said finally. "Don't let them interfere with the plan. And… if possible, avoid killing them. They're the future of our kind as well."
The woman let out a quiet sigh, rolling her eyes slightly. "You're really good at handing out orders," she muttered.
Still, she didn't refuse.
....
Can't wait to read ahead. Then Join my P@treon and get 60+ chapters.
Even Free members can enjoy 2+ advanced chapters FOR FREE.
Link: [email protected]/Divine_Quill
Join Right Now