Rogue had finally started to settle in at the Mutant Academy. While she still wasn't completely familiar with everyone, she had managed to let go of her anxieties—for now. Physical contact might've been off-limits, but in a school full of mutants from all walks of life, that didn't seem so unusual. When you're surrounded by people who live with struggles just like yours, it's easier to understand each other.
Ever since she learned that Logan could heal from almost anything, Scott shot lasers from his eyes, Professor X could read minds, Storm could control lightning and the weather, and Hank was basically a genius covered in fur—Rogue had felt like she'd stepped into a whole new world. A world that made her forget her worries, even if only temporarily.
Meanwhile, elsewhere, trouble was brewing.
"That damn Bob Bell is spewing nonsense on TV again," growled Sabretooth. "All that guy does is fan the flames, spreading fear and hate about mutants."
The Brotherhood of Mutants had been formed long ago, but thanks to constant setbacks and Magneto's frequent imprisonments, it had fallen apart and reformed multiple times. Without Magneto at the helm, the Brotherhood was nothing more than a toothless tiger—intimidating in theory, but powerless in practice. And broke, too. Rallies, safehouses, equipment—they all cost money. Mutants had the same needs as any human. They couldn't fight for their future if they couldn't even eat.
In contrast, Professor X's side had funding, resources, and the Mutant Academy—a clear advantage.
Now, the Brotherhood had regrouped with a clear goal: resist the government's Mutant Registration Act. And unsurprisingly, Magneto was once again leading the charge.
"Humans are often shameless," said Eric calmly, seated at the head of the room. "I've grown used to it."
"Is the machine ready?" he asked, turning toward Sabretooth.
"It's operational," Victor nodded. "But without proper testing, there's no way to guarantee stability."
The device in question was Magneto's newest creation—a machine that could forcibly mutate ordinary humans. If his plan worked, everyone in New York would wake up as mutants. Let the government try to register or imprison the entire population then.
"I want to see what the American government does when every New Yorker is one of us. Will they still call us freaks? Will they throw themselves in prison, or will they finally listen?"
Magneto narrowed his eyes.
"Start with Bob Bell. That smug bastard has made a career out of slandering mutants. He'll be our first test subject."
Victor didn't hesitate. Bob Bell was easy to find—he practically lived in the spotlight. Always on TV, always ranting about "mutant threats." His home address wasn't exactly hard to dig up. Within two days, Victor had him. When Bell regained consciousness, a black bag still over his head, he was in the Brotherhood's underground base.
"W-Who are you?! Let me go! If it's money you want, we can work something out. Ransom? Name your price, I'll find a way to pay. Just—just don't hurt me!"
Magneto stepped forward, his presence as cold and commanding as ever.
"Mr. Bell," he said. "Look at me. Do you know who I am?"
Bob Bell's eyes darted around until they locked onto Magneto's face. Recognition hit him like a punch to the gut.
"Oh my God… Magneto."
Panic flooded his voice. He knew exactly who stood before him—the infamous leader of the Brotherhood. A so-called terrorist who had been imprisoned multiple times and whose name alone struck fear into the hearts of humans. And Bob Bell? He'd built a media empire out of slandering mutants.
Magneto smirked. "It seems you know me well. I'm flattered."
"What—what are you going to do to me?!" Bell stammered.
Before he could say more, a blur zipped past him—something small, winged. A second later, a grotesque tongue lashed out and snatched the creature from the air, swallowing it whole. Bell recoiled in horror as he turned to see Toad licking his lips, unfazed.
The display was revolting. And it confirmed everything Bell believed about mutants.
"You people are monsters!" he spat. "You'll rot in hell for what you're doing! You're playing God!"
Eric's expression didn't change. "I disagree. God gave us minds, curiosity, the power to evolve. Mutants are the next step in that evolution—you just refuse to see it."
He stepped closer.
"You fear what you don't understand. But soon, you'll understand perfectly."
"No—no, you're not serious… You want to turn me into a mutant?!" Bell's voice cracked.
"Yes," Eric said without hesitation. "Let's see how your precious opinions change once you're one of us."
He gestured toward Victor. "Put him in the machine."
Victor grabbed the struggling man and threw him into the chamber without effort.
"Begin the procedure," Magneto ordered.
He focused his power, generating a powerful magnetic field. The machine absorbed the energy, converting it into a burst of high-energy radiation that bathed Bob Bell in light. The entire process lasted less than a minute, but when it was over, Eric was drenched in sweat, visibly drained.
"Put him in a holding cell," he instructed. "We'll monitor his condition. The machine works—but it's too exhausting. We'll need to refine it if we want to scale this."
Raven, who had been standing silently nearby, stepped forward.
"You're sweating bullets, Eric. That machine nearly wiped you out. Are you seriously planning to do this to all of New York?"
Eric caught his breath, leaning on a railing.
"I'll manage."
"You're pushing yourself too hard. If converting one man almost kills you, you won't survive turning thousands."
Raven's voice was laced with concern, but also frustration. She had returned to the Brotherhood after losing faith in Charles Xavier. His dream of peaceful coexistence felt more like delusion to her now.
"Let's just see how Bob Bell turns out," Magneto said. "If the mutation is successful, we'll improve the design. This is just the beginning."
---------------------
Bob Bell barely remembered what had happened. One moment, Magneto's men were shoving him into some huge machine, and the next, he was waking up inside a cold, damp prison cell.
For someone like Bob—who'd lived a life of wealth and status—the sudden drop from luxury to imprisonment hit hard. Gripping the cold iron bars, he screamed out with desperation.
"Let me out! Let me out!"
His voice echoed through the empty corridor, but the guards outside didn't even flinch. After all, Magneto had only told them to keep him from wandering off. Bob had always been a vocal critic of mutants, so no one had any sympathy for him now.
Clinging to the bars like a lifeline, Bob pressed his face against the narrow gap—almost as if sheer willpower could get him through. Then something bizarre happened. His head started to feel… soft. Too soft. Flattened, even.
And just like that, he slipped straight through the bars.
Bob froze, stunned. What the hell did that terrorist Magneto do to me?
The answer was painfully clear. Magneto had turned him into a mutant.
But before panic could set in, instinct kicked in. Survival first. Questions later.
He bolted from the cell, not knowing his escape was already being broadcasted through the facility's security cameras.
---
"Eric, are we really just gonna let him go?" Sabretooth grunted, watching the monitor as Bob fled like a scared rabbit.
"Let him run," Magneto replied coolly. "We've already gotten what we needed. Whether he lives or dies now is irrelevant. The real plan starts now."
He turned to face his men.
"Head to Xavier's Academy. Bring me Rogue."
Sabretooth raised an eyebrow. "That girl?"
Magneto nodded. "They've already discovered her abilities. She'll be the key. With her, we can trigger the machine and turn every New Yorker into a mutant. I want to see how the President handles that."
No more subtle tactics. No more diplomacy. Magneto was done waiting for change. He'd force the world to face the reality of mutantkind—even if it meant chaos.
---
With most of the X-Men out on a mission, the Brotherhood infiltrated the Academy with ease. They moved fast, ruthless and efficient—true villains in every sense of the word.
"Where are you taking me?!" Rogue's voice trembled as she struggled against her captors.
Sabretooth just growled and knocked her out cold with a quick combo. She slumped into his arms.
"Careful," a soft voice warned. "Don't touch her skin."
The voice came from a new woman in the Brotherhood—a defector. She had no combat strength, but her mutation let her identify the abilities of other mutants, like a human radar. A valuable asset.
She continued, "Rogue can't control her power. If you touch her directly, she'll absorb your life force—and possibly your powers too."
The Brotherhood nodded, now aware of what they held in their hands.
Even Rogue herself didn't fully understand what she was capable of. But Magneto and his crew did. She could absorb energy, vitality, and even mutant abilities. With practice, she could even retain those abilities—becoming a low-tier version of whoever she touched.
Wolverine? She could be a weaker Wolverine. Magneto? A weaker Magneto.
And yet, she had no control over it. A dangerous weapon, if used correctly.
---
When the X-Men returned and discovered Rogue was missing, chaos erupted.
"What? Rogue's been kidnapped?"
"Why would Magneto want her? She can't even control her power!"
Charles Xavier frowned, deep in thought. "We'll figure out Magneto's motive later. Right now, we need to find her."
Logan clenched his fists. He felt the most guilt—it was him who'd brought Rogue to the Academy in the first place. And now, she was gone.
But what really set him off? The familiar stench.
"Sabretooth," he growled. "That bastard was here."
Without another word, Logan turned and headed for the exit.
"Logan! Where are you going?" Charles called after him. "You can't just search the city blindly. It's too big—"
"Better than sitting on my ass waiting," Logan snapped and left.
---
Three days passed.
Logan roamed the streets of New York, following the faintest traces of scent and instinct. He'd run into a few Brotherhood grunts, but they didn't know a damn thing about Rogue.
Then, while passing a convenience store, he caught sight of the news playing on a dusty old TV.
"This morning, mutant terrorist Magneto and his forces took over the Statue of Liberty. Authorities have yet to confirm their intentions. We'll continue to bring you updates—"
Logan didn't need to hear any more. He knew exactly where to go.
Back at the X-Mansion, the team also caught the broadcast and wasted no time. They prepped the Blackbird and took off toward Liberty Island.
Meanwhile, Su Xiu Yu had also seen the news and smiled.
"Bobby," he called, turning away from the screen, "you're skipping training today. We're going to watch something fun. It's basically a mutant circus."
Bobby's eyes lit up. He was tired of training—tired of getting his ass handed to him by every damn Uchiha member, even the younger ones like Uchiha Chisato. It was humiliating.
He thought he had potential—he had to, if his master chose him. But he'd been feeling pretty damn useless lately.
Su Xiu Yu stood by the window and waved him over. "Come on, stop spacing out."
"Uh, Master… that's not a door."
Before he could say anything else, Su Xiu Yu grabbed Bobby by the collar and chucked him straight out the window.
Bobby screamed as the ground rushed up to meet him—
Then, a hand grabbed his arm mid-air.
"Quit screaming. We're flying over."
"Damn, Master! You never said you could fly!"
"I never said I couldn't. Now shut up before you swallow a bird."
"…oh."
With Bobby clutched under one arm, Su Xiu Yu soared toward the Statue of Liberty.
"Listen to me," he said firmly. "Don't do anything unless I say so. Watch, listen, and learn. This isn't a school field trip. It's a battlefield."
Bobby nodded quickly, wind whipping past his face.
"Got it."
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