27.

"Why? So he can escape and cause another disaster again?" Rogue's voice was laced with bitterness, her eyes narrowing at Xavier. "I've seen the memories, Professor. Magneto's escaped more times than I can count. How can you guarantee he'll stay locked up this time?"

Xavier sighed his expression one of deep sorrow. "I cannot promise you absolute certainty, Rogue. But I can promise you that we will do everything in our power to ensure that justice is served and that Magneto's influence is curtailed. We believe in the system, flawed as it may be, because without it, we are no better than those who seek to oppress us."

Rogue shook her head, her mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions and thoughts. "I just... I don't know what to do. I don't know who to trust."

"Trust in yourself, Rogue," Storm interjected gently. "You have a good heart, and you want to do what's right. Come with us, not because you trust us completely, but because you want to find a better path for yourself. We can help you find that path."

Rogue looked around at the assembled mutants, her gaze lingering on the exhausted form of Magneto and the motionless metal sphere containing Kai. She took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm inside her mind.

"Fine," she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'll come with you. But under one condition... end this cycle of destruction once and for all."

"Give me certainty, that this won't ever happen again."

"I-I can't..." Xavier lost for his words barely managed to respond. His face was etched with deep sorrow and regret. "I can't give you certainty, Rogue. But what I can give you is my word that we will do everything in our power to prevent it. We are committed to finding a way to coexist peacefully, to end the cycle of violence and hatred."

"Not just mutant kind," Xavier turned towards the metallic ball, "But I hope I can help everyone exceed their need for revenge and find new meaning in creating something instead of destroying it all."

"I see..." Rogue shook her head, "I can't come with you, I don't want to be hopelessly desperate when someone wants something from me and be used as pleased."

Rogue's ear jerked up as she stared at Strom, "I am sorry..."

"There's no need to apolo-"

"Ahhh!"

A loud scream left Jean's mouth attracting the attention of everyone present as they stared at Jean, who held her ears shut screaming at the top of her lungs in agony.

"Jean..." Cyclops was just about to rush over when the fragile Rogue suddenly lept onto Storm grabbing a hold of her completely as she began draining her powers.

The chaos once thought settled erupted again.

But amidst the chaos, everyone's focus wasn't on Rogue nor on Jean but on the crackling noises emitting from a huge metal ball.

----------------------

inside the cramped confines of the metal ball, Kai controlled his frustration and the evident confusion as the voice he heard clearly belonged to his late brother, Leo.

"No, you're not going crazy..."

"I detect, your brother as well."

"So it really is..." Kai had just spoken when the scenario in front of his eyes completely changed to a different setting, "This is my domain..."

Kai found himself standing in a vast expanse littered with blood and bones. The crimson sky overhead churned ominously, casting an eerie glow over the macabre landscape. He looked around, disoriented, but the voice that spoke to him was unmistakable.

"No, it's more like the beginning foundation of your domain structure. I just eased your access to it earlier on. The place you see exists within your mind and your mind only."

"I see... about my brother..."

"Your brother... it's better if you see it for yourself."

From within his shadows, a great figure emerged slowly taking its form into a monstrous shape. It was his brother, Leo, but transformed into something terrifying and otherworldly.

His once human form was now entirely black, a shadowy, spectral figure radiating immense power. Leo's eyes glowed a haunting red, and his body was covered in jagged, ethereal spikes that seemed to absorb the surrounding light. His presence was overwhelming, exuding an aura of malevolence and sorrow that seeped into the very air Kai breathed.

"Leo..." Kai whispered, his voice trembling with a mixture of fear and longing.

"Kai," the vengeful spirit responded, his voice echoing with a chilling resonance. "Together, forever..."

The voice replied barely...

"Did I do this?" Kai asked watching the spirit that could barely put words together... of course, he knew he played his cards into whatever this was like Yuta did with Rika.

"Not exactly, as I said before your powers being the only cursed sorcerer in this world have entangled itself within the fabrics of this universe' power system."

"Your brother has already passed on but the remnants of his will has continued to manifest deep within your soul, creating the special grade vengeful cursed spirit. With your consumption of the third finger, your cursed energy finally reached enough potential to physically give it a form."

"So that's not my brother?"

"Yes and No," the system replied, the chill in its tone unmistakable. "It's a manifestation of your grief, your guilt, and your rage. It has absorbed some remnants of your brother's soul due to your grief being tied to him. So the cursed spirit in front of you is Leo and not him, at the same time."

Kai stared at the monstrous form of Leo, his heart heavy with a mix of emotions as he reached out his hands toward the monstrous figure... "Leo... I'm so sorry."

The spirit's red eyes flickered, as if some remnant of Leo's consciousness was struggling to surface. "Kai... you... must... control..."

Kai's eyes widened. "Control it? How?"

"By accepting your pain," the system advised. "By acknowledging your guilt and your sorrow, and by not letting them consume you. Only then can you harness the power of this vengeful spirit without losing yourself."

"I believe as long as you can do so, your control over your cursed energy will strengthen by leaps."

Kai took a deep breath, focusing on the feelings that had plagued him since Leo's death. He felt the raw anguish, the biting anger, and the deep sense of loss. But he also remembered the love, the bond they shared, and the good times they had. Slowly, he began to channel these emotions, trying to find balance within himself.

The raw cursed energy presents itself as the entity in front of him began changing into a part of his own. Like a virus infecting its host, the dark aura seeped into Kai, intertwining with his very being. He could feel the power coursing through him, both intoxicating and terrifying.