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Chapter 77 - The Inevitable Parting of Ways
🕑 Added 2025-05-15 17:10:05 +0000 UTC
"Alright, everyone—disperse. Go back to what you were doing!"
"We’ve been preparing for this fight against Shaw for a long time, and now we’re finally ready."
"This really isn’t such a big deal, right?"
Charles’s voice rang out again. Seeing that everyone had more or less adjusted their mindset, he clapped his hands and spoke with calm reassurance.
Too much encouragement would only add unnecessary tension. The best strategy now was to downplay it.
So, instead of giving a rousing speech, Charles chose a lighter tone to ease the weight on everyone’s hearts.
"But Charles... what exactly should we be doing?"
Banshee scratched his head, looking at Charles in confusion.
Tomorrow’s battle could very well be historic, but he genuinely didn’t know how to prepare.
"Just carry on like usual," Charles replied with a smile.
"Come on, Sean, our match isn’t over yet,"
Havok clapped Banshee on the shoulder, grinning.
Before Moira had called them over, the two had been sparring in a friendly training bout.
Both of them specialized in wave-based attacks—one sonic, one energy—so they often trained together in mock combat.
"Let’s go!"
"Back to training!"
The other mutants also began to file out of Charles’s study, returning to their routines.
"Alex, looks like we’ll be counting on you again tomorrow,"
Raven walked naturally alongside him, her smile easy and familiar.
"No, tomorrow we’ll be counting on all of us,"
Alex replied earnestly.
Even with the powers he had now, killing Shaw was still extremely difficult—and Alex was well aware of that.
Taking Shaw down would require Charles’s help.
But even before that?
Shaw was currently hiding aboard a nuclear submarine deep under the sea.
To locate that submarine, they’d need Banshee’s sonar.
To drag it to the surface, they’d need Erik’s magnetic control.
This was a team effort, not some lone hero’s quest.
"You really believe we’ll win tomorrow? That we can stop Shaw?"
Raven didn’t pursue the previous topic. Instead, she looked into his eyes and asked.
"Of course. I believe in it."
Alex didn’t hesitate in the slightest.
Looking at his sharp, resolute face, Raven felt a strange sense of calm settle in her chest.
"...I think I’m starting to believe it too, Alex."
Her expression softened as she smiled.
Maybe it was because they’d already clashed with Shaw twice that they’d developed some mental resilience.
Or maybe it was Alex himself—his presence giving everyone the confidence they needed.
Or perhaps both.
Either way, as they left Charles’s room, the atmosphere among the mutants remained positive—even Riptide seemed fired up and eager for more.
Each of them returned to their "stations" to resume training that had been interrupted by the President’s speech.
Alex did the same.
He’d only just unlocked 3% of his system progress. His physical capabilities had grown again, and he needed to adjust to the changes.
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the ring on his finger.
He could only shrug—
The mission to take over the Undying Ones would have to wait.
---
"Alex."
Just as he arrived at his personal training field, Erik’s voice rang out behind him.
"What is it, Erik?"
Alex turned to see him, noticing the hesitation in his expression.
"Let’s train together."
Erik didn’t elaborate. He just waved him over.
The two had partnered for joint training many times before, so Alex didn’t question it and simply followed him to another outdoor field.
That area was filled with metal—perfect for Erik to manipulate with magnetism, and for Alex to target with his heat vision.
They had practiced like this countless times before, outside of live combat.
Once they arrived, Erik didn’t waste a second on small talk. He immediately began hurling metal objects at Alex with precise control.
Zzzzt!
Alex’s pupils lit up, burning with searing heat vision.
Whoosh! Clang! Zzzzt!
In a matter of moments, the field was filled with flying debris and streaks of laser light. It was pure chaos—and pure focus.
---
"Alex."
Only after the two had collapsed, drenched in sweat, did Erik speak again—his voice grave.
"You know I’ll kill Shaw tomorrow. No matter what. But Charles will stop me. He will."
Alex nodded. "He definitely will."
He’d seen the movie. He was sure of it.
"I value Charles deeply—not just as a friend, but as a brother. I want to protect our fellow mutants with him. But the truth is... he’ll never accept my vision."
"So what are you trying to say, Erik?"
"I don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow, Alex. I just have a bad feeling. Things won’t resolve cleanly—not the way any of us hope."
"You know I’ve always wanted to do something for our people. So mutants can live free, without hiding, without fear."
Erik’s voice lowered, but his intent was clear.
"So Alex, if the time comes and I need your help—will you stand with me?"
Alex immediately understood what Erik was doing—testing the waters, trying to bring him to his side.
It was obvious Erik had already decided. No matter the outcome of tomorrow’s battle, he would break away from Charles.
Even if the incident that injured Charles never happened, Erik probably would’ve left anyway.
But Alex had no intention of following him.
"Erik... I will. Whether it’s you or Charles—I’ll be there. We’re brothers, aren’t we?"
Alex smiled.
"Yeah... we’re brothers."
Erik echoed the words softly.
That much, he truly believed.
Even if Charles would try to stop him from killing Shaw, he would still be his brother.
Just not the one who understood him.
"Don’t overthink it, Erik. One way or another, it’ll all work out in the end."
Alex stood and dusted off his pants, smiling at Erik.
"Let’s keep training."
"Yeah... it’ll work out,"
Erik nodded.
And with that, the two threw themselves back into their training.
