บท 3: Storm
"I'm just a clone with unstable power, huh?" I made a grim face as I spoke.
"It's alright, Aron. You are one of us now, and we'll help you control your powers. This school is a safe haven for all mutants. Here, you can learn to harness your abilities and become a part of our community," the Professor said reassuringly.
Yeah, right. I read comics and watched movies in my free time in my past life. I know just how safe this place is. Anyway, I'm glad that they can't read my mind.
"Thank you," I stood up with an awkward smile. "I... I just need some time to think about all this."
The Professor nodded. "Of course, Aron. Take as much time as you need. I know it isn't easy to accept the truth, but we're here for you if you need anything."
"Yeah, it isn't easy..." I turned around and walked out of the room with a gloomy face. It was all an act, of course. In fact, I'm ecstatic that I'm in Marvel. But, I gotta play the role of a sad and broken guy, at least for now.
I stepped out of the Professor's office, the wooden door closing softly behind me. The hallways of the Mutant Academy were alive with the echoes of footsteps, conversations, and pranksters pranking others. I saw Kitty run through the walls and two others chase after her. Walking through the halls of a place I had only known from comic books and movies felt surreal. It feels like a dream.
I walked through the hallways thinking about my next step. Since I'm in Marvel and surrounded by superheroes and supervillains, not to mention the fact that all those villains always target Earth, I have to be ready to survive. I need to get stronger, but first, I need to know more about my mutation. If it's just absorption and reflection, then it's kind of OP. But I gotta test it out soon. For now, let's look around this place.
I passed a series of rooms where students were engaged in various activities. Some were studying, others practicing their powers under the watchful eyes of their instructors. I turned a corner and found myself in front of a large window overlooking a vast training field. This place was different from where I woke up and met Jubilee. There were energy barriers around it. Below, several mutants were in the middle of a sparring session. Energy blasts lit up the field, some so bright that they left afterimages in my eyes. I watched as one student summoned a shield of ice to block a barrage of fireballs from another.
Might as well check out the area.
When I reached the field, I saw a group of students gathered around the sparring area, watching two mutants go head-to-head. One of them, a guy with silver skin and yellow eyes, was darting around with incredible speed, while his opponent, a girl with flaming red hair, unleashed a torrent of fire in his direction. The heat from her attacks was intense, even from where I stood.
Damn. Those powers are insane.
Walking around, I observed more students, all displaying different mutations. Some were straightforward, like enhanced strength or flight. Others were more unusual, like one guy who could stretch his limbs like rubber. Hahaha. He's like Luffy. I can imagine him yelling "Gomu Gomu no Pistol" as he punches people. I chuckled at the thought.
Then, I noticed a section of the training field that was a bit more isolated. It was off to the side, where fewer students seemed to gather. Curious, I headed that way. The closer I got, the more I realized that this area was a target range. Several targets were set up in a line, some riddled with holes, others scorched or completely obliterated.
And then I saw her—a girl with striking white hair, her back to me, focused on the target in front of her. She wore a tight black suit that hugged her athletic frame, paired with a silver jacket. Her stance was perfect.
That had to be Storm. As I went closer and noticed the side of her face... Ok. That's Halle Berry. Yup. No doubt about that. That's her version of Storm.
[Bang!] [Bang!] She fired two shots, each hitting its mark dead center. Damn. She's a good shot.
I continued watching silently as she fired round after round, never missing a beat. It was impressive. Finally, when she had emptied her clip, she ejected the magazine and holstered her handgun.
"Wow," I muttered under my breath, more to myself than anyone else.
Without turning around, Storm spoke, her voice smooth and steady. "You shouldn't sneak up on people, especially not here."
"Uh, sorry about that," I replied, taking a step closer. "I didn't mean to interrupt your training session. Just... got curious."
She finally turned to face me, her piercing blue eyes locking onto mine. There was a brief moment of silence as she studied me.
"You're the new guy, aren't you?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah," I nodded. "Name's Aron."
"Ororo Munroe, but everyone here calls me Storm," she said, though it felt more like an introduction than a greeting. "Heard about you. You've had a rough start, huh?"
"You could say that," I replied, rubbing the back of my neck. "Still trying to figure out what's going on."
Storm nodded, giving me an empathetic smile. "Well, welcome to the school. Professor Xavier is a good man. He'll help you sort things out."
"Thanks..." I trailed off, unsure of how to respond. "So, uh, you're pretty good with that gun. Do you teach combat classes here?"
"Yes. Firearms, martial arts, and some sneaking skills. I also teach weather manipulation to mutants with atmospheric abilities like me," Storm explained with a smile.
"Weather manipulation?" I asked, feigning ignorance. "How does it work?"
"Basically, I can control the weather. I can create rain, summon lightning, and even manipulate wind currents. It comes in handy during missions," Storm replied confidently.
"Wow, that's incredible," I exclaimed, playing up my amazement. "I bet you're pretty powerful."
"I'd like to think so," Storm nodded. "So, since you are here... How about you give it a try?" She picked a handgun from the table next to her and offered it to me. "It'll help you unload some stress. Trust me."
I looked at the gun in her hands. Ah, guns, huh? When you are dealing with mafias and all, guns are the best buddy. And I'm somewhat of a self-proclaimed prodigy when it comes to firearms. So, might as well show off a little. If she asks where I learned, I got that clone excuse. I'll just say I just know, or maybe they made me that way.
"Sure, why not?" I shrugged, taking the firearm from Storm. I held it loosely in my right hand, feeling its weight and balance. It felt good. The grip was firm but comfortable, and the barrel was clean and shiny.
Storm pointed toward the target in front of us. "Go ahead, take your shot."
I lifted the gun and aimed at the target with my left hand.
"Umm... I'm not sure it's a good idea to hold it with a single hand," Storm advised.
"Don't worry. I know what I'm doing," I said confidently before pulling the trigger three times in quick succession. The sound echoed across the training field as each bullet struck its mark. Then I unloaded the entire magazine, firing until I heard the empty click of the slide.
I handed the weapon back to Storm with a satisfied grin. "Not bad, right?"
"That was... quite impressive," she replied, clearly taken aback by my display. Her expression said she wasn't expecting this outcome.
"Thanks," I grinned, basking in the glory of my achievement.
"Where did you learn to shoot like that?" Storm inquired, curiosity evident in her voice.
"I don't know... Maybe they programmed me to be a prodigy?" I said with a shrug, throwing in the clone card.
"Ah, I'm sorry," she apologized. The fact that I was a clone must have slipped her mind.
"It's fine," I waved dismissively. "Anyway, it was nice meeting you, Storm. But I gotta go. I need to clear my head a bit."
"Of course. It was nice meeting you too, Aron," Storm nodded, offering me a friendly smile.
I returned the gesture before turning away and heading off toward my room. I've seen enough for the day.
"Hey, Aron," as I was about to leave the training field, Storm called out to me. "You want to test out your power?" She walked up to me. "We got a special place where you can test out your power. Wanna go?"
--
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[12 chs of X-Force: Beyond Omega] [No double billing]
บท 4: Testing mutation
"Welcome to the Danger Room," Storm said as she walked alongside me, her voice echoing slightly in the large, open space. "This place was designed to handle any kind of power or mutation. You could blow up half the room, and it would repair itself in minutes."
"Now, this is big," I said as I looked around. "So, this is where you train the heavy hitters, huh?"
"Yup," Storm nodded, leading me toward the center of the room. "This bunker is equipped with vibranium, one of the most durable materials in the world. It can withstand almost anything—so you don't have to worry about going all out here."
Vibranium? Did Black Panther help them with the metal or maybe SHIELD? Hmmm... That's a question for another day.
As we walked, I couldn't help but notice the sheer size of the place. The ceiling was at least fifty feet high, and the walls stretched out endlessly, with various sections partitioned off for different kinds of training. In one corner, I saw a holographic projection system flickering to life, simulating various landscapes and environments. It was like a virtual world contained within a fortress.
In the center of the room stood a woman I recognized immediately—Psylocke. With her long purple hair and that purple knife she was spinning on her fingertip, yup, that's Psylocke, no doubt about that. She was dressed in a dark bodysuit, and as she saw us approaching, she straightened up and gave a slight nod of acknowledgment.
"Aron, this is Psylocke," Storm said, introducing her with a wave of her hand. "She's one of the most skilled telepaths and martial artists here. I called her to help with the power testing."
"Psylocke," I greeted, trying not to let my excitement show. Seeing these characters in real life was still surreal, even though I was playing it cool.
"Nice to meet you, Aron," Psylocke replied, her voice carrying a certain calmness that was almost soothing. "I heard about your situation. Don't waste your time worrying about it. The more you think about it, the worse it'll get. So, instead of thinking about 'what ifs,' just focus on the present. It gets much easier that way. So, you ready to test out your power?"
"Yeah," I nodded. "Though I'm not exactly sure what I can do yet."
"We'll figure that out," Storm said reassuringly. "But first, let's see what your mutation is. Then we can decide your limitations. Psylocke will assist you by using her psionic powers. They're unique, so it should give us a good idea of your mutation's limits."
"Psionic powers?" I repeated, feigning ignorance again. "What does that mean exactly?"
"It means I can create weapons and constructs from pure psychic energy," Psylocke explained as she stepped closer. "For this test, I'll be using my Psionic Knife—a weapon that targets your mind rather than your body. We'll see if you can absorb it and what happens after that."
"Wow! You gonna put it in my head?" I exclaimed with surprise. "Shouldn't we start small or something?"
Psylocke smirked slightly before saying, "Afraid I might mess up your brain? Don't worry, I'm quite skilled with this thing. There's almost no chance of permanent damage."
"Almost... almost?" I repeated nervously.
Storm laughed at my reaction. "You have nothing to fear. Psylocke is an expert at wielding this knife. If she says it's safe, then it's safe."
"Fine, fine. I trust you guys," I sighed, deciding to go along with their plan.
Psylocke took a deep breath, her hands beginning to glow with a vibrant purple light. Within moments, the energy coalesced into a blade, crackling with raw power. Wait! That's not a knife! That's a freaking foot-long sword made out of pure psychic energy! Holy shit.
"Wait a sec... How about we talk this out, huh?" I said as I took a step back. Fuck me! That's a big sword! I don't wanna get stabbed by that thing. It's not that I'm afraid or anything. Ok. Maybe a little. In the past, I took punches and survived gunshots, even got stabbed by knives, but that thing is made out of pure energy, and I got a bad feeling about it.
"Don't you worry," Before I could resist, that blade had already stabbed my forehead.
I felt a jolt run through my entire body. It wasn't pain, exactly, but more like a shock to my system, as if every nerve was being activated all at once.
"Focus!" Storm's voice cut through the sensation. "Try to absorb it. You have done it before; you can do it again. You see, mutation often activates in danger."
Yeah, easy for you to say. I gritted my teeth and tried to do as she said. I concentrated on the energy, willing it to flow into me rather than push against me. Slowly, I felt a shift. The energy from the blade started to sink into my body, like water being absorbed by a sponge. It was still intense, but the more I focused, the more manageable it became.
"That's it," Psylocke encouraged, her voice calm and steady. "You're doing well."
As the last of the psionic energy was absorbed, I felt a strange sensation—a buildup of power inside me. It was as if the energy from the knife had settled somewhere deep within, waiting to be unleashed.
"How do you feel?" Storm asked, watching me with a serious expression.
"Different," I replied, flexing my fingers as I tried to get a sense of this new power. "It's weird... hard to explain. It's like something waiting to rush out."
"Try releasing it," Psylocke suggested, stepping back to give me some space. "Focus on the energy and see if you can project it outward. Imagination is the key here. Visualize what you want and then let the energy take shape."
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, focusing on the power within me. At first, it was difficult to find, but as I concentrated, I began to feel it growing stronger. It pulsated inside me like a heartbeat, sending waves of energy throughout my body. I pictured it flowing out of me...
At first, nothing happened, but then I felt a surge. The energy began to move, traveling from the core of my being, through my arm, and into my hand. A faint purple glow started to form around my fingers, growing brighter with each passing second.
"Good, now focus it into a shape," Psylocke instructed, her voice guiding me through the process.
I concentrated harder, trying to shape the energy the way Psylocke had. It was difficult—like trying to mold a piece of clay with your mind—but gradually, it started to take form. A small blade of purple energy appeared in my hand, not as defined as Psylocke's but still recognizable.
"Wow," I muttered, staring at the blade in amazement.
"Looks like you're a fast learner," Psylocke smiled, impressed with my progress. "That's good. Try to create another blade in your left hand."
"Another? Oh, okay..." I did as she said, trying to replicate the same process. This time, it was easier. The energy flowed naturally, and within seconds, another blade appeared in my left hand.
"Excellent," Psylocke nodded, looking pleased. "Now, merge them into a single blade."
"Merge?" I frowned, confused.
"Yes, just focus on the two blades and try to make them become one," Psylocke explained patiently. "It's easier than it sounds."
I did as she said, concentrating on the two blades. Gradually, they began to merge, forming a single larger blade of purple energy. It was still a bit unstable, but it was definitely one entity instead of two.
"Incredible," Psylocke murmured, studying me closely. "You're a natural at this."
"Thanks," I grinned, proud of my accomplishment.
--
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[12 advance chapters] [No double billing]
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