บท 107: Speed
The next morning, I unlocked Pietro's latent potential and enhanced his mutation. Now, it's time to check what he can do.
I teleported Pietro to an open field, far away from civilization. He began to stretch his legs like a sprinter preparing for a race. His usual cocky smirk was plastered across his face, but I could sense his excitement bubbling beneath the surface.
"You ready for this?" I asked, crossing my arms as I stood a few feet away.
He gave me a thumbs-up. "Always. Question is, are you ready to see something you've never seen before?"
I smirked. "Impress me."
The moment I nodded, Pietro took off like a bullet. The ground beneath his feet cracked as he launched himself forward, and in the blink of an eye, he was gone. The world slowed down as I too used my super speed. He was halfway across the field, moving faster than I'd ever seen him.
But that wasn't all.
As he ran, the air around him shimmered with a faint blue light, like static electricity crackling around his body. He was pushing beyond his previous limits, and the energy radiating off him was proof of his enhanced mutation.
In less than a second, he was back, skidding to a stop in front of me. The wind from his sudden halt sent a spray of dirt and grass into the air.
"That's insane," he said, breathing hard but grinning ear to ear. "I'm faster. Way faster. And it's not just speed. I feel... lighter, stronger, like my body isn't fighting against the limits anymore. And I think my energy burn while running decreased too. I won't have to worry about running out of calories anymore, huh? This is great."
"Oh, we're just scratching the surface, Pietro. Try pushing yourself even further," I said as I looked around. With his new power, he should be able to do that.
He looked at me, intrigued. "What do you mean? Faster? I can already feel I'm close to breaking the sound barrier."
I shook my head. "Not just speed. There's more to your potential now. Your mutation's evolved. Let's test something new. Run directly at that tree over there." I pointed to a massive oak standing tall at the edge of the field.
Pietro's grin faltered, replaced by confusion. "You want me to run into a tree? That doesn't sound like one of your better ideas."
"Not into. Through it," I corrected, my tone serious. "Trust me."
He hesitated for a moment, studying my expression, before shrugging. "Alright, but if I splatter myself all over that trunk, you're explaining this to Wanda."
I chuckled. "Just focus, man. Let go of the limits in your mind. Don't try to hold back your speed. Your body can handle it."
With a deep breath, he turned toward the tree, setting his sights on it. I could see the faintest flicker of doubt in his eyes, but it quickly vanished as his cocky confidence took over again.
"Here goes nothing," he muttered, taking off like a rocket.
The ground shook as he accelerated, the blue light around him intensifying. He was a blur, closing the distance to the tree in milliseconds. And then...
He didn't stop.
For a moment, I thought he'd hit the trunk and this would end with a Pietro-shaped dent in the wood. But instead, his body shimmered like a mirage in the desert and he phased straight through the tree as though it wasn't even there.
On the other side, he skidded to a halt, spinning around with wide eyes. "Holy freak! Did you see that?!"
I clapped slowly, "Told you there was more to it."
He jogged back toward me, visibly vibrating with excitement. "What just happened? I went through it... through it! It didn't even slow me down!"
"Molecular destabilization," I explained. "Your mutation now lets you adjust the frequency of your molecules to pass through solid objects. You essentially become intangible. With some practice, you'll be able to control it at will."
His eyes widened. "Wait, so... you're telling me I can run through walls now? No doors, no barriers? Like your girlfriend's mutation?"
"Exactly," I confirmed. "But there's more to it. You can destabilize objects too. Anything you touch while in that state can be affected... though I'd recommend holding off on that until we know what you're capable of. We don't need you turning the ground into quicksand by accident."
Pietro grinned like a kid in a candy store. "This is insane. What else can I do? What if I run through people? What if I run through energy shields or high-density metal doors like those prisons that hold superhumans?"
I raised a hand to stop him. "Let's not test that part just yet. There's a lot we need to explore, but for now, let's focus on control. You don't want to accidentally destabilize something you shouldn't."
He nodded, though his excitement was barely contained. "Fine, fine. But you've gotta admit, this is cool as hell. I feel unstoppable."
I chuckled. "Good. Now let's see just how unstoppable you really are."
For the next hour, I put Pietro through a series of tests, pushing him to phase through different materials—trees, boulders, even a solid steel wall I conjured using my powers. With each success, his confidence grew, but so did his control. He learned to activate and deactivate his intangibility at will, the shimmering blue light around him acting as a visual cue. His healing speed also increased and he can even generate shockwaves by vibrating his fingers.
Now, I wonder which one is faster, this Pietro or that Quicksilver Pietro at Xavier's school.
By the time we were done, Pietro was grinning from ear to ear, his cocky smirk back in full force. "So, when do I get to show off? You think Wanda's gonna freak out when she sees this? You think Jean will notice if I steal her chips at this speed?"
I couldn't help but chuckle at the thought. It was good to see him back in a better mood.
"Yeah, do whatever you want, but don't steal from Jean unless you want to get turned into a pretzel. She'll turn you into a human pin cushion."
"Fair point. You're a lucky bastard. You have so many girls fawning over you."
I smiled and patted his shoulder. "Not fawning, buddy. They're all my girlfriends. I'm the lucky bastard."
"Arg! Last time I tried to talk to a girl, she tried to drug me and sell my kidneys to some mob boss. Sigh! I was lucky my enhanced metabolism made it impossible for the drug to work. And the fact that she didn't know my powers, so the whole plan backfired. It was quite funny seeing the mobsters' faces after I busted their nuts, though," He stretched his arms.
"Yeah, that's funny and sad." I patted his back, feeling his frustration. "Don't worry. One day, you'll find your match."
"I hope so. Anyway, wanna race?" He asked as he looked at his watch.
"You want to race me? You do know you can't beat me, right?" I asked, smiling.
"Try me. If you're too chicken to do it, fine."
"Ha! Alright. A circle around the world. We'll start here," I said as I pointed to a nearby clearing. "Let's do this."
Pietro didn't waste any time. Before I'd finished my sentence, he was gone, a trail of dust the only evidence he'd been there.
With a laugh, I shot after him, the world blurring around me as I accelerated. Within seconds, I'd caught up to Pietro. He noticed me approaching, but instead of slowing down, he grinned and sped up.
The world became a dizzying blur of colors as we raced at speeds that defied comprehension. Oceans, continents, mountains, and cities zipped past beneath us in mere heartbeats. I could feel the air grow thin and cold as we ascended into the upper atmosphere to avoid obstacles like mountains and buildings.
Pietro glanced over his shoulder and smirked. "Still think I can't beat you?"
I chuckled. "Don't get cocky, kid. I'm just warming up."
I amped it up a bit, effortlessly matching his speed. Pietro responded by pushing himself harder, the blue energy crackling around him intensifying. For a moment, he pulled ahead, his confidence clearly skyrocketing.
"Not bad!" I called out, amplifying my voice so he could hear me over the roar of the wind. "But let's see how you handle this."
I pushed past Pietro like a comet, leaving a streak of light in my wake. I glanced back, catching his wide-eyed expression before he gritted his teeth and accelerated even further.
"Oh, hell no!" He also picked up his speed. I could tell that he was struggling a bit with his new speed, but he was adapting fast.
Suddenly, the race took a new turn. Pietro's blue energy flared, and he began to phase through the very air itself, leaving shimmering afterimages behind him. Each step he took seemed to defy the laws of physics, and I realized he was using his intangibility to reduce air resistance. Smart move.
We were now approaching the final stretch, the original clearing in sight. Pietro gritted his teeth, giving everything he had. His energy flared so brightly it was almost blinding, and I could see him pushing past his limits.
I decided to let him have his moment.
As we neared the finish line, I slowed down just enough for him to cross first. Pietro skidded to a stop, panting but triumphant, his cocky grin back in full force.
"I… told you… I could win," he wheezed between breaths.
I clapped him on the back, laughing. "Sure you did. Let's call it beginner's luck."
Pietro collapsed onto the grass, his chest rising and falling as he caught his breath. "That… was insane. I've never felt anything like it."
...
[Later that night...] [3rd person POV]
Pietro kept bragging about how he beat Aron in their race. But when he noticed everyone was laughing at him, his eyes twitched, "Why are you all laughing?"
"Told you he doesn't know," Wanda said, giggling. "Look at his face!"
"What? What don't I know?" Pietro asked, looking at everyone.
"Nothing... Good job defeating that arrogant guy," Psylocke said sarcastically, and everyone laughed again.
"I swear I won fair and square."
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บท 108: Jubilee's 100% power
[Aron's first person POV]
After Pietro's successful evolution and his endless bragging, it was time to move on to the next mutant in line... Jubilee. Her powers were... unique, to say the least. The ability to generate energy plasmoids had often been underestimated. She referred to them as "fireworks," but I knew they had untapped destructive potential. In the new comics or movies, the creators sidelined her like many other characters. And I'm gonna change that in this reality.
I have already unlocked her potential, but considering her unstable power I couldn't risk her blowing up the island. So, I found a perfect place.
Jubilee stood across from me. We are in the middle of a desolate land far from civilization. The terrain was cracked and dry, with jagged rocks and mountains stretching for miles. It was the perfect place for what we were about to do.
"Okay," Jubilee said, brushing a stray lock of hair out of her face. "I get why we're in the middle of nowhere. You think I'm gonna blow something up, don't you?"
"Not think, Jubilee. Know. You've been holding back for years, probably your whole life. It's time to see what you're really capable of," I said as I pointed at the mountain behind her. "Let it all out on that."
Jubilee squinted at the mountain. 'Betsy can slice ocean, Jean got fancy Phoenix, Kitty can turn invisible, that thief can run so fast and that Wanda, showoff... Everyone is so strong. Now, it's my turn. I'll show them what I can do.' She extended her hands, her fingers crackling with her familiar sparks. The "fireworks" popped in the air, bright and colorful as always, but harmless. She clenched her fists, trying to will more power into them. The sparks intensified slightly, but the mountain stood unfazed.
"Come on," she muttered to herself, stepping forward. Her hands glowed brighter, the light growing in intensity. She released a burst of energy toward the rocky cliff. It crackled through the air, hit the target, and barely left a scorch mark.
I crossed my arms and let out a small sigh. "Is that all you've got? I expected more."
Jubilee turned around, scowling. "Oh, I'm sorry, Mister Coach-of-the-Year. Maybe if you stopped hovering and throwing shade, I'd actually get somewhere. My power is just a joke. I'm the same old lame Jubilee troubling others with tiny explosions. Sigh!"
"Or maybe you're afraid," I replied coolly. "You've always kept your powers small, controlled, safe. What if the problem isn't what you can't do, but what you won't? It's like a subconscious thing. As long as you don't get rid of that, it won't work."
Her eyes narrowed. "Fine. You want me to let loose? Let's see what happens."
She threw both hands forward, her entire body surging with energy. The blast she released was louder, brighter, and was enough to send shockwaves through the air. Dust kicked up from the ground, and the mountain's surface cracked slightly, a small chunk tumbling down. But it was still far from the devastation I knew she was capable of.
She dropped her hands, panting. "That's it? I'm trying, okay? Maybe I just... don't have it in me."
I stepped closer, lowering my voice. "It's not about force, Jubilee. It's about focus. Right now, you're scattering your energy all over the place, like tossing water into the wind. You need to harness it. Control it."
"How am I supposed to do that?" she snapped. "It's so hard to control all that scattered energy. You make it sound so easy. "
"Because it is. It's all about your focus and emotions. You are thinking too much," I held out my hand. "Watch."
I used her mutation, redirecting the plasma energy into a concentrated beam. A searing lance of light shot from my palm, slicing through a boulder like butter. The air shimmered with heat, the ground beneath the beam turning molten.
Jubilee stared, wide-eyed. "Wait! You can do that?"
"With your power? Yes," I said. "And so can you. But you have to stop seeing it as fireworks and start seeing it for what it really is. Energy. Pure, destructive, powerful energy. Feel it. Guide it. Stop holding back."
The next three days were a blur of training. Jubilee struggled at first, releasing bursts that fizzled out or exploded too early. She grew frustrated, and I had to remind her constantly to breathe, to focus, to trust herself. She barely slept, her exhaustion mounting, but she refused to quit.
On the third night, she finally found her center.
Standing before the mountain again, her hands glowed with concentrated energy. It wasn't the wild sparks from before, but a focused, swirling mass of plasma. Her face was calm, her breathing steady.
"Now," I said softly. "Let it out. Everything you've got."
She thrust her hands forward, and the blast she unleashed was nothing short of awe-inspiring.
[Booom!] A bright beam of plasma energy tore through the air, striking the mountain with nuclear-level force. The ground trembled as the beam pierced through the solid rock, leaving a gaping hole in its wake. Heat waves rippled through the air, and molten rock dripped from the edges of the impact zone.
Jubilee lowered her hands, swaying slightly. Her face was pale with exhaustion, but a triumphant grin spread across her lips.
"I... I did it," she breathed.
"Not perfect," I said, smirking. "But damn impressive."
"Not perfect? You demon. I did everything right. That was amazing!" she snapped at me.
[Booom!] I shot a plasma beam at the mountain on our right, leveling it along with all the mountains beyond it. It was like a nuclear explosion with that famous mushroom cloud, but cleaner. The sound and shockwaves traveled for miles. I raised a shield around us to prevent Jubilee from getting blown away. But to prevent attracting unwanted attention, I had to revert it back to normal using matter manipulation.
Jubilee watched the spectacle with her jaw hanging open, looking back at me with a shocked expression. "What... the hell..."
"That's what you should have done," I explained. "There is a lot more energy inside of you than you realize. Once you learn how to channel it correctly, your power will be terrifying."
"I can do that with my power?" She looked at me as if she had seen a ghost.
"Yup! That was just 10% of your potential," I replied. "Now, how about some food and sleep? You need some rest before we get back to training."
The next day, Jubilee wanted to test her new power. It was almost night by the time she got exhausted.
"Wow. I really did all that," Jubilee said in a tired voice.
She managed to blow a mountain down before losing steam.
"Say, Aron. Can you use 100% of my mutation?" She asked me while sitting on the ground with her legs crossed, too exhausted to even stand up.
"Yes. You want to see it?" I asked.
"Of course! I wanna see what I can do if I don't hold back!" Jubilee smiled excitedly, clenching her fists. "So, can you show it to me? My 100%?"
"Sure," I replied. I created a dome around us with Phoenix Force and used the Space Stone's power, pulling us inside an isolated dimension. Then I used the Stone's power again to pull in a giant meteor above us.
"You insane?!" Jubilee jumped up in panic.
"This..." I pushed the mutation to 100%. My body began to glow with a bright blue as I became translucent except for my skeleton. I could feel the insane energy flowing through me. And it kinda feels weird and hard to explain the feeling in words. It's as if I was floating in an endless ocean of energy.
"Don't die on me, Aron! Your skeleton! Ghost?!" She panicked even more.
I grinned. "... is what happens when you use 100% of your mutation."
I held my hand up to the sky, pointing at the meteor. "Atomic Explosion!" A small ball of energy gathered at my fingertips.
"...what?" Jubilee muttered in disbelief.
I fired the energy beam at the meteor. It detonated in an enormous explosion. The entire space shook and trembled violently as the shockwaves traveled through the air. But inside the Phoenix Barrier, it's all normal. The meteor disappeared without leaving any trace.
"Woah," Jubilee said while staring at my translucent body. "That was... just wow..." She pocked my skeletal face and smiled. "Hey! This feels weird! You are like a jellyfish!" She poked my face again and giggled.
I let out a sigh as my body began to turn back to normal.
"Phew! That feels great," I cracked my fingers.
"Uumm..." Jubilee's eyes went to my face and then below my waist.
"What?" I raised an eyebrow. I touched my head and my face... Ah! Crap! My hair is gone! All of it! Even my eyebrows! Then I noticed that my clothes were gone as well.
There I was standing before Jubilee, naked.
"Ahhh!" I covered my manhood using my hands and turned around, face burning. I was so focused on using 100% of her mutation that I forgot about this little side effect.
She whistled. "Not bad, Aron!"
"Shut up!"
I quickly used reality manipulation to create new clothes for myself. I sighed again.
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