Chapitre 50: Chapter 50
Max Eisenhardt managed to create something truly remarkable. Genosha was thriving with life, a stark contrast to what it had been before Magneto's arrival. The island, once a symbol of intolerance toward mutants, had transformed into a beacon of freedom and hope.
Under Magneto's leadership, Genosha had become a safe haven for mutants from around the world. As I walked through the streets, I saw hundreds of mutants living freely, without fear or oppression—something they couldn't experience in other nations.
The route Magneto had laid out for me allowed me to take in the full beauty and grandeur of the city. Here, amidst the utopian green parks and modern buildings, there was a palpable sense of renewal and rebirth. Our tour ended at Magneto's palace, a towering structure that pierced the sky.
"Thank you, Dr. Richards," Magneto said as we stopped in front of his palace. By this point, our group had dwindled to just the two of us, as the mutants who had accompanied us were now being settled in by his people.
"I was just doing what any decent person would do," I replied modestly, shrugging my shoulders.
Max smirked at my words but didn't press the topic. A door appeared before us, shaped by his powers, and I felt him skillfully manipulating electromagnetic fields to alter the metal.
"I suggest we continue our conversation after a meal," he said, inviting me inside.
We walked through wide corridors adorned with artworks and symbols of the new Genosha. The atmosphere was filled with a sense of accomplishment and pride. Magneto was clearly proud of his creation, and it showed in every detail of the place.
Soon, we arrived in a spacious hall where food awaited us, along with Max's children. Recognizing them was easy, not just because of their shared family traits but also because they were familiar to me from the comics: Polaris, Scarlet Witch, and Quicksilver.
They didn't seem surprised to see me, which suggested either that Magneto had informed them or that my arrival wasn't unexpected in Genosha.
I couldn't discern their exact thoughts, as each of them had protection against telepathy. For Quicksilver, it was his super-fast thinking; for Magneto and Polaris, high-tech helmets; and for Scarlet Witch, Chaos Magic.
Because of this, I relied on the skills I had honed before acquiring telepathy—reading facial expressions, eye movements, and body language to build a picture.
"Allow me to introduce my children…"
Some Time Later
Through the meal, Magneto intended to introduce me to his family. I realized this by the way Max guided the conversation. It wasn't unpleasant for me, as his children were extraordinary individuals.
Polaris, also known as Lorna Dane, possessed not only the full spectrum of Magneto's abilities but also a part of his character. Her confidence and determination were evident in every move she made, and I noticed how closely she followed our conversation, missing nothing.
Pietro Maximoff, or Quicksilver, had super speed that influenced much of his personality. He was impatient, energetic, and always ready for action. His gaze darted around the room, as if he was already mentally planning his next steps. His wariness toward me was clear in his movements and questions, but I understood that it was natural for someone protecting their family.
However, the most mysterious and dangerous of them all was Wanda Maximoff, the Scarlet Witch. Her abilities in magic and reality manipulation made her unpredictable and a formidable force. She could either embody the essence of Chthon or become a gateway for the ancient entity. It seemed that I managed to establish a connection with Wanda. She quickly grasped my understanding of magic, which became the foundation of our conversation.
"Do you believe it's more efficient to use life energy instead of borrowed power?" Wanda asked, her eyes full of curiosity.
I wasn't afraid to discuss this topic, knowing I was only talking about general directions of my ideas, not the specifics of each project.
"I believe it's safer than dealing with higher entities," I replied, watching her reaction.
Wanda pondered this. As far as I could tell, she wasn't aware of her connection to Chthon. She thought her ability to use magic without invoking higher entities was related to her mutation.
"That's an interesting perspective," she finally said. "I've never considered that."
I couldn't help but smile slightly. Of course, she wouldn't have considered it—her magic didn't require making deals with higher entities.
"The main challenge lies in replenishing the lost energy, right?" Wanda asked, getting to the heart of the issue.
"Yes, and that's exactly what I'm working on," I replied. At the moment, I was focused on studying the nature of life energy. I had options involving regeneration, but it was unclear if they would work as required.
Wanda nodded, her expression thoughtful. I could see that she was seriously considering my words. Wanda Maximoff was an enigma, and her deep interest in magic and its possibilities made her both unique and dangerous.
"Magic is always about balance," she said. "Finding a way to restore energy is an important step."
"I'd say it's a necessary one…"
Some Time Later
Once the formalities were over, Max Eisenhardt invited me to his office to discuss more pressing matters.
Magneto's office was surprisingly modest compared to the spacious hall where I had been welcomed earlier. The room exuded an atmosphere of focus and purpose. Several dozen books stood neatly on shelves, reflecting the wide-ranging interests of their owner. On the desk were a computer and several folders with documents, and above the desk hung a portrait of his family—a touching reminder of those for whom he fought.
"Have a seat, Reed," Magneto said, gesturing to a chair opposite his desk. "We have much to discuss."
"Thank you, Erik," I began, considering how best to start. "Genosha is impressive. It's clear how much effort and dedication went into its creation."
Max smiled slightly, his eyes softening for a moment.
"It's been a long journey, Reed. But we're not done yet. There are still many issues that my people face, but I believe we'll overcome them."
He picked up one of the folders and opened it, revealing pages filled with detailed plans and diagrams.
"Genosha is growing, and with that growth come new challenges. I need to ensure the security, stability, and prosperity of this place," he continued. "And for that…" He paused, choosing his words carefully before finally saying, "I need your help."
I hadn't expected that. In my mind, Magneto—or Max Eisenhardt—was not someone who would say such words.
However, I had to admit that Max had already surprised me with his actions. So it was time to move on to the next part… What exactly could I help Max with?
"What exactly do you mean?"
I already knew that I would refuse if he asked for a device to force secondary mutations.
"There are several areas where your knowledge and technology could be particularly useful. First, energy infrastructure. We need sustainable and reliable energy sources. Second, medical technology. We have mutants who require special care."
It seemed Max also understood that expecting me to provide a device for manipulating the X-gene to induce secondary mutations would be too audacious. Or maybe he had reconsidered some aspects of his life… In any case, building a partnership with Genosha wouldn't be a problem for me.
"I can help with that," I nodded.
Eisenhardt was about to say something, but his words were cut off by the sounds of explosions. At that moment, I received two alerts. First: the fabric of space had been disrupted. Second: Earth was under attack by the Chitauri army."
—\\—
"We'll continue this conversation later," I said, looking at Max. "Earth is under attack. From what I can gather... it's the work of aliens."
Max Eisenhardt focused, and I could sense him scanning the entire planet, verifying the truth of my words. His ability to control electromagnetic fields allowed him to quickly and accurately assess the situation. Once he confirmed I wasn't deceiving him, he nodded, signaling his readiness to act.
Given that the entire building was tailored to Max's powers, we didn't need to worry about finding an exit quickly. Without hesitation, Magneto created a passage from his office.
"Very practical," I remarked, following him.
Outside, the scene was intense. Portals leading to the vast expanse of space allowed a horde of aliens to invade Earth.
Max wasted no time and clenched his fist. Instantly, one of the Chitauri ships shrank down to the size of a sphere. My senses, heightened by my abilities, could tell that Magneto's children were already defending the island. Along with them were a few mutants capable of combating the aliens.
Most of Genosha's population, like many mutants, had abilities that were less powerful, not reaching the level of even alpha mutants.
I suppose I can't just stand by?
Psionic energy was gathered in an instant. A concentrated explosion followed, tearing through the Chitauri ships.
Magneto's children—Lorna, Pietro, and Wanda—fought with precision and determination. Lorna tore apart enemy ships with her control over magnetic fields. Pietro, a flash of lightning, took down alien soldiers before they could react. Wanda used her magic to swiftly eliminate the invaders.
Max and I didn't waste a second, destroying the uninvited guests until the last Chitauri was defeated. I looked around and saw that the portals were gone.
"What the hell is going on?" I thought.
Why did they attack here? The Chitauri's target should be...
"I need to return home," I said, not waiting for a response from Magneto, and activated my teleportation.
In an instant, I was gone from Genosha.
I reappeared in New York, where the portals were still open. The city was in chaos, filled with the sounds of battle and the cries of its citizens. The sky was dark with storm clouds, illuminated by flashes of energy and fire.
"Reed, we're here!" a familiar voice called out.
I turned and saw my teammates—Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four—fighting off waves of Chitauri. Spider-Man, wearing the suit I provided, and my team were holding their own.
My eyes were drawn to the dome that had been erected near my home. The energy redistribution wasn't fully completed, so the dome's radius was still small.
"Any word from Fury?"
Before Sue could answer, Stark contacted me.
"Richards, we need your help!"
At that moment, I saw a giant figure emerge in the city center. The sky was filled with the sound of thunder and lightning.
"I think I know where you are," I replied.
Tony Stark
Who would have thought that answering Fury's call would end like this?
"Barton, Romanoff, this block is yours!" Rogers' commanding voice echoed.
The thawed-out relic had an uncanny ability to irritate Stark. Yet Tony admitted to himself that Rogers was unmatched in resource management.
Even though Tony ran a multibillion-dollar company, it was Pepper who handled the management. She was much better at it than Tony, who was more suited to inventing new things than running a company.
"Tony, you and Wasp provide air support!" Rogers continued issuing orders.
Janet van Dyne, or the Wasp, was someone Tony had only recently met.
"What about our lightning-wielding friend?"
"Leave him to me," came the voice of Janet's husband.
Hank Pym activated his suit and began to grow. Soon, a giant stood before them, towering over some buildings.
"YOU THINK A GIANT CAN STOP ME?!" they heard Thor's voice from above.
Thor raised his hammer to the sky.
A bolt of lightning struck Hank Pym.
"HANK!"
The giant stood his ground, but the way his body twitched showed the hit wasn't painless. It seemed the suit absorbed most of the damage.
"I'm... I'm okay..." Hank managed to say.
Thor, however, was already preparing for another strike.
At that moment, Stark noticed one of his friends appearing on his map.
"Richards, we need your help!"
Reed Richards
Thor Odinson, son of the All-Father, the Asgardian god whose power is undeniable. He was about to bring his famous hammer, Mjolnir, down on Hank Pym.
"Not on my watch."
A burst of energy knocked Thor off course, sending him flying hundreds of meters.
"The rest is up to you," I said to my friends.
I couldn't leave Thor alone. Using telekinesis, I lifted myself into the air. Once airborne, I manipulated energy to continue the attack.
Thor couldn't react in time and was propelled higher. By now, we were already three kilometers above sea level.
"Mortals..." Thor muttered.
Electricity crackled in his eyes. I could feel the air filling with ozone.
"FOR YOUR INSOLENCE, YOU WILL BE PUNISHED!"
Lightning struck me from four directions. A satisfied smirk crossed my lips. The electromagnetic shield absorbed the charges, and energy began to circulate around me.
"Try again."
Hitting the God of Thunder with lightning would be a questionable decision, but using that lightning to enhance other abilities... All the energy from the lightning bolts that hit me transformed into laser beams in an instant.
BAM
Thor didn't react in time, and it seemed his subconscious was resisting the spell.
"Tough bastard."
Thor smirked and threw his hammer at me.
BAM
I tried to stop the hammer with my powers, but even so, the impact pushed me back several meters.
BAM
It was a distraction. Thor's fist met my absolute defense—and broke through it.
Steve Rogers
Captain America started to wonder if he'd ever be surprised again after today.
"You've got some interesting friends, Tony," Hank said, recovering from Thor's strike.
Rogers deflected an alien's attack with his shield, then swiftly knocked out the monstrous creature with a blow to the head. Meanwhile, Stark, providing air support, unleashed a barrage of shots from his suit, helping to hold the line against the enemy.
"Save the pleasantries for later, Hank," Tony replied over the comm, dodging another explosion. "Right now, we need to maintain the defensive line."
"Are you sure we have a plan?" Hank asked, getting back to his full height.
"There's always a plan," Rogers interjected, fending off another wave of enemies. "The key is to stick to it."
"Well, if the plan is to rely on godlike beings duking it out, then sure," Hank quipped.
BAM
A crack ran through the ground. The front line, leading to Loki and Amora with the Executioner, collided with Ben Grimm.
"STUBBORN MORTAL!"
"GET LOST, YOU BASTARD!"
BAM
At that moment, hellfire rained from the sky. Sue Storm's younger brother, in his fiery form, was helping to bring down another massive alien ship.
"I've found Loki!" Stark's voice came through.
Rogers instantly knew things were about to get messy. He had already gotten a sense of who Tony Stark was.
"Stark, wait for us!"
"I'll wait for you at the site!"
"We've located the witch," Natasha said over the comm. "Sue Storm and I are moving in."
They all knew that the woman in emerald was responsible for Thor's current state. Reed Richards had explained it on the way up to the sky.
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