DOTM: Chapter 304/305

Chapter 304: The Advantage of Reading the Script in Advance

If Ethan were Charles, he probably wouldn't have mentioned how Erik later parted ways due to ideological differences. But Charles brought it up quite openly.

Hearing about what he would do in the future, Erik's expression turned a little strange. However, upon hearing that even when their conflict was at its peak, neither had tried to kill the other, he felt that he had truly made a good friend.

From Ethan's outsider perspective, the friendship between these two always seemed a little strange. Even Ada leaned over and whispered to Ethan, "Are those two...?"

"No." But Ethan was certain that the bond between them absolutely surpassed that of most couples or spouses in the world.

The X-Men timeline is actually quite messy, riddled with inconsistencies. Due to the movie Days of Future Past, some parts could be explained by the altered future causing changes to certain events.

For example, in the original timeline, Deadpool, as a mercenary, carried out several missions with Logan, was later transformed into a superweapon, and ultimately destroyed after a major battle with Logan.

However, due to the events of Days of Future Past, the timeline was rewritten. Deadpool never underwent transformation during his mercenary period but successfully left the team. It was only after being diagnosed with cancer that he accepted the transformation, eventually becoming the most irresponsible superhero, Deadpool.

There were many such changes, but they were irrelevant to the people present. What mattered was understanding the potential threats and enemies that might appear in the future, then figuring out how to resolve them.

Since Ethan's arrival, this world had already diverged from its original path. While the rest of the future was uncertain, the plot of Days of Future Past was now impossible. Charles and Erik, knowing about the Sentinel Program in advance, would definitely prevent it from unfolding. The future wouldn't spiral into chaos, and naturally, Kitty Pryde wouldn't be able to send Logan's consciousness back to the past to warn them.

Besides the Sentinel Program, even enemies like Sebastian Shaw now had more clear-cut countermeasures. Now they knew what he would do in the future, they knew his specific powers, and they knew exactly how to deal with him.

A foe like that could be neutralized simply by improving their own strength. For the current Charles, Sebastian Shaw was nothing to worry about.

The only one they needed to treat with caution was Apocalypse—the powerful enemy known as the first mutant. They would likely struggle to deal with him at this stage, especially since their main trump card, the Dark Phoenix Jean Grey, hadn't been born yet. Relying on himself and the still-young Erik, they stood no chance against that monster.

"Next, I might have to give you some serious tutoring."

Magneto's strength in the future wasn't just due to his naturally powerful abilities. It was also tied to his persistent training and constant deepening of his powers.

Magneto's ability to manipulate magnetic fields—one of the four fundamental forces of the universe—was incredibly potent.

How strong was peak Magneto?

He could induce natural disasters like tsunamis, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions by manipulating magnetic fields. He could even move entire planets. Moving metal objects was the most basic of his skills.

By controlling magnetic fields, Erik could also fly. He could become optically invisible, enhance his physical condition, and even develop a symbiotic relationship with the Earth's magnetic field. This granted him a lifespan equal to that of the planet. As long as Earth wasn't destroyed, he wouldn't die. And even if it was, as long as magnetic fields existed in the universe, he could continue to survive.

He could create an energy field to protect himself, one that even nuclear weapons couldn't penetrate. It also allowed him to survive in space.

He could even create wormholes using magnetic fields to achieve spatial teleportation.

At his peak, Magneto was essentially a living cheat code, an unstoppable force.

But to reach that point, in addition to relentless training, he also had to enrich his scientific understanding. Controlling magnetic fields required vast knowledge, spanning countless disciplines—enough to make even top scholars collapse from the pressure.

In the comic universe, Magneto reached that level by self-study, turning himself into a top-tier scholar. Though he had no formal education, the knowledge he possessed placed him at the very top of Earth's intellectual hierarchy.

As for the current Erik... he hadn't received any formal education. He had spent his early years in concentration camps, then wandered the world driven by revenge. It was obvious he couldn't possess the depth of knowledge needed to unlock the full potential of his powers.

"So, to solve future threats, I need to get stronger. And to get stronger... I need to study?"

"Pretty much."

Erik currently believed his power stemmed from anger. He triggered it by tapping into rage. This method was not only hard to control, it produced poor results and hindered further development.

Charles had considered helping Erik escape his rage-filled state before, but at the time, he didn't fully understand the scope of Magneto's abilities. He could only rely on motivational words, hoping Erik would let go of hatred and embrace the light.

Now that he had inherited the knowledge and memories of the older Charles, he understood his "old rival" Magneto well. He now knew exactly what Erik's powers were, and more importantly, how to help him improve.

In Charles's view, having Magneto study seriously was much better than trying to motivate him with empty words. The more he learned and understood, the more likely he was to find his own answers.

Besides, Erik had an enormous amount of catching up to do. Studying all that knowledge would consume a significant portion of his time and energy. Without free time or energy, he wouldn't be able to run off and stir up trouble.

From every angle, this was the ideal solution.

Erik was silent for a moment. He ultimately agreed to Charles's suggestion to study, but he made one request.

"Sebastian Shaw must be dealt with by my own hands."

Charles opened his mouth to try to persuade him otherwise, but unexpectedly, Ethan—who had been silent—spoke first.

"That is your right. No one has the 'qualification' to stop you."

Ethan deliberately emphasized that word, locking eyes with Charles. He had no personal grudge against Charles, but he firmly disagreed with his desire to stop Erik from seeking vengeance.

Charles probably didn't want Erik to be consumed by revenge and fall into darkness, but Ethan believed that not taking justice into one's own hands for the murder of one's mother was what would truly turn someone into a lunatic.

It wasn't that Charles's approach was wrong. It was just a product of his own upbringing. His worldview, outlook, and values didn't allow for killing. He had always believed this was right and had lived according to that belief. Naturally, he hoped his friend would do the same.

Erik stared at Ethan in confusion. He couldn't understand why this stranger—someone he'd just met—would support him, while Charles, his long-time friend, was so strongly opposed.

He remembered how Charles had mentioned their futures diverging due to ideological conflict. At this moment, he was already feeling how deep those differences ran.

Charles wanted to say something more, but Ethan gently tapped the coffee table in front of him.

"Put yourself in his shoes, Charles. If your parents were killed in front of you, just for an experiment, what would you feel?"

Charles had "seen" that scene in Erik's memory. But in the end, it hadn't happened to him. It was hard to truly understand the despair and fury Erik had experienced.

Still, from that deeply imprinted memory, he had felt at least a portion of Erik's pain. It had indeed been unbearable.

He now understood why Erik was so intent on killing Sebastian Shaw. But he remained torn by his own principles and still felt that killing was wrong.

The conversation paused here. Having discussed so much, no one felt like talking further about the future. They decided to shift focus and handle the current issue first.

Sebastian Shaw believed that the rise of nuclear weapons had triggered the awakening of mutant genes. In the decades following their appearance, a large number of mutants had emerged. Before that, mutants were exceedingly rare.

So, he planned to provoke a conflict between the world's two nuclear powers—the Soviet Union and the United States—triggering a nuclear war, turning the Earth into a paradise for mutants.

As for ordinary people? They were simply collateral damage.

It had to be said—Sebastian's idea was insane. He seemed to have overlooked the fact that most mutants had the same physical constitution as humans. A nuclear war would wipe them out too.

Or maybe... he simply didn't care about the weak ones. Perhaps all he wanted was a small, elite group?

Whatever the reason, Sebastian Shaw's plan was madness. If successful, it would lead to disaster—something Charles absolutely could not accept.

Whether they had to kill this madman or not, his crazy plan had to be stopped.

"What should we do now?"

"I don't know what plans you have. If I were calling the shots, I'd say we head out right now and raid that guy."

Charles thought for a moment. His current memories lacked information on Shaw's location. The man had a nuclear submarine roaming the ocean, making him impossible to track.

However, memories from the future offered a clue.

"Or... we quietly wait for this guy to come to us."

(To be continued.)

Chapter 305: Let’s Go Watch the Fun Together

Charles mentioned that Sebastian Shaw would send the White Queen, Emma Frost, to the Soviet Union. This move drew the attention of Charles and Erik. The two, along with Moira MacTaggert—the CIA agent who had previously found Charles—tracked her there, hoping to seize the opportunity to capture Sebastian.

What they didn't expect was that Sebastian himself would not appear in the Soviet Union. Instead, he launched a counterattack on Charles and their base of operations, raiding the facility and placing the few mutants they had just recruited in danger.

Armand, codenamed Darwin, died tragically, while Salvador, codenamed Angel, was recruited by Sebastian.

Other important future members of the X-Men or Brotherhood of Mutants, such as Mystique (Raven) and Beast (Hank), were unharmed. It was clear that Sebastian was very lenient toward his "compatriots." Even when Alex Summers launched a "hula hoop" attack on him, he did not kill the still-young Havok.

"Your plan is for us to stay here and guard?"

"If we hadn't been lured to the Soviet Union by Emma, would Sebastian still have shown up?"

Sebastian clearly came because he was confident the two most mature and powerful mutants weren't present, wanting to recruit the young mutants Charles had gathered into his own ranks.

If he had sent Emma but Charles and Erik hadn't taken the bait and left, he probably wouldn't have come at all.

To Sebastian, everything served his greater plan. Recruiting a few young mutants was just a side task, and also a way to irritate Charles and Erik.

"So if we don't leave, he won't appear."

In the original situation, this plan would have been a dead end, essentially forcing them to abandon the operation, especially since Charles knew Sebastian would attack the base the moment he left.

The young mutants wouldn't be in much danger. As long as Armand and Alex didn't step forward again, Sebastian wouldn't attack them.

But dozens or even hundreds of CIA agents would be slaughtered. Charles didn't want to see that happen. It was best to prevent it if possible.

"You can continue to the Soviet Union according to the 'original plan.' That way, you might still capture Emma."

Emma Frost was Sebastian's most capable assistant. She was also a master telepath, with mind control abilities second only to Charles Xavier. In addition to her psychic powers, she could transform into diamond form, rendering herself immune to all psychic abilities. Even Charles couldn't invade or control her mind in this state.

"And you'll stay here and wait for Sebastian to arrive?"

This was the best plan for now. Sebastian Shaw had no knowledge of Ethan's presence, nor of his capabilities. Even if he had obtained intelligence through an informant, all he would know was that Charles had found a few more mutants. The overconfident Black King wouldn't care about a few unknown newcomers.

"We can discuss this with Moira."

Moira was the female agent who had found Charles. She currently served as the liaison between Charles and the CIA and acted as the CIA's "eyes" within the mutant group, monitoring them to ensure they didn't pose a threat.

When Moira was called in, she had no idea what had transpired. She only felt that Charles seemed a little different, but no matter how she looked at him, the Charles in front of her was still the young professor.

After a brief introduction, Charles didn't go into much detail about Ethan's identity. Having inherited the memories of the future, he knew exactly what kind of people the CIA were. While he was willing to trust Moira, he couldn't trust her superiors.

Moreover, judging from the original events, Sebastian had attacked immediately after they left. Clearly, the CIA had been compromised. Revealing too much would only feed intel to the enemy.

Fortunately, Moira didn't mind. She greeted Ethan and the others, then proceeded as usual to show them around and familiarize them with the facility.

As for the plan to deal with Sebastian, neither Charles nor Ethan discussed it further. Charles already knew from Logan just how powerful Ethan was. He didn't think Sebastian could get the upper hand against him.

The plan was set. Now, it was just a matter of waiting for the right time. Moira gave Ethan and the others a tour, arranged their rooms, and then returned to her duties.

Due to her position, the CIA often required her to submit reports. She couldn't stay at the base—where many young mutants were gathered—for long periods.

Fortunately, the young people here were more relaxed without adult supervision. They quickly got to know each other and were quite welcoming toward the newcomers like Ethan, though they met resistance from both Ada and Logan.

Logan had little in common with these kids. He only wanted to find a quiet place to enjoy some peace and couldn't stand the noise.

Ada was very polite, but after spending time with her, one would realize that beneath her perfect manners was a clear desire to maintain distance.

Even Ethan couldn't truly blend into this group of "young people." He found himself with fewer and fewer shared interests with ordinary people. His daily thoughts revolved around becoming stronger, achieving eternal life, and, in his spare moments, fulfilling promises or handling unexpected crises.

"It's been a long time since I've had days without worries like this."

Logan sat in the corner, puffing on his favorite cigar.

"They won't get to enjoy this kind of life much longer either, so I don't want to spoil their fun."

As a mutant, Logan knew what kind of future awaited these young people. That was why he didn't stop them from playing around. This might be their last bit of carefree happiness.

"But what about you? Why aren't you joining in?"

"I'm not a mutant."

Ethan had indeed used many enhancement drugs on himself, some of which included parts of Logan's genes, but he hadn't become a mutant because of it.

"Besides, the big show is about to start."

Sebastian arrived quickly. By the time Charles and Erik had likely just reached Soviet soil, he had already made his move, believing that even if Charles realized what was happening, he wouldn't return in time.

But he never expected there would be such a special variable as Ethan here.

"I'm going to meet the Black King. Want to come along?"

"Sure, it's pretty boring here too."

Ada stood up as well. She was curious about the so-called Black King's powers. She had joined Ethan's team to witness all kinds of strange and unexpected events. This first adventure in such a fascinating world had made her very satisfied. Now, she really wanted to see how powerful this major villain really was.

As the group got up to leave, Mystique (Raven) was the first to ask where they were going.

"To watch a show."

Raven didn't understand what Ethan meant but was curious. "Hey, why don't you call everyone along for something fun?"

Logan glanced at Ethan, as if blaming him for talking too much, but Ethan didn't care. He simply waved and said, "If you're interested, come along."

Raven didn't expect Ethan to invite them. The group looked at one another and agreed that staying here was boring. If Ethan was taking them to see something entertaining, why sit around doing nothing?

"Let's all go!"

The young people made up their minds and rushed over excitedly, eager to follow Ethan to this so-called show—even though they had no idea what was about to happen.

Not long after they left the building, they heard a strange sound from outside. Ethan knew it was the sound of Azazel teleporting guards high into the air, then letting them fall to their deaths.

The guards stationed here had already realized there was an intrusion. A team of heavily armed special forces blocked Ethan and the others, ordering them to return to their rooms and stay put.

"You can't handle the enemy. If you don't want all your comrades to die, you'd better move aside."

Raven and the others realized something was wrong. But being young and bold, none of them wanted to back down. On the contrary, they felt this was their moment to shine and cheered in response to Logan's words.

The special forces, however, ignored them, repeating only, "Go back. Get back."

Their mission was to protect these "strange" young people. They wouldn't listen to what the mutants said. Their orders were clear, and they were going to complete the mission.

Ethan had expected this and didn't waste time arguing. After confirming that these men wouldn't move, he gently waved his right hand. The ring on his finger flashed with a soft blue glow, and then a blue circle of light appeared under the feet of the special forces. The few standing in it instantly dropped down. A moment later, another circle of light appeared in the hallway behind Ethan, and the soldiers tumbled out, landing in a heap.

"Cool!"

The young people thought this was Ethan's ability and didn't consider any other explanation.

In fact, it was simply a basic use of teleportation magic. As Ethan's power continued to grow, using this spell had become effortless. The ring on his hand had also shifted from being a primary casting tool to merely a supportive device.

(To be continued.)