章節 596: The Shadow of Nuclear War
Outside the screen, Erik frowned. Although he had already anticipated this outcome from the earlier quiz, witnessing Darwin's sacrifice firsthand still left him deeply unsettled.
The situation for mutants was already dire, and they should be banding together. Darwin was brave and a responsible person, yet someone like him died in an internal conflict among mutants, which was truly regrettable.
At this moment, Logan crossed his arms, saying, "A bunch of inexperienced kids, how could they possibly stand up to seasoned and elite warriors?, the idea of you and Charles trying to win a war by recruiting these innocent kids was foolish. I'm glad I didn't join you."
Erik shot him a cold glance. "Listen, Logan, every mutant will have to go through a baptism of blood and fire sooner or later. Otherwise, all that awaits them is death or, like you, being reduced to a dog with a chain around its neck, controlled by others. Yes, they're just kids, but only by enduring this pain can they grow. That's how I came this far!"
A dog with a chain around its neck?
Logan let out a cold snort, tugging at the dog tag engraved with the name "Wolverine" around his neck. He gritted his teeth and said, "Enough. I will wash away all this shame, and I won't be as slow and stupid as you lot!"
As their argument continued, the video on the screen played on. The next day, Erik and Charles arrived late at the scene, only to find the base in ruins, with a group of disheartened and grief-stricken kids, including Raven and Hank.
Upon learning what had happened and hearing about Darwin's sacrifice, Charles sighed, contemplating disbanding them. He felt a pang of guilt, perhaps regretting his earlier decision to recruit these kids and put them through such an ordeal. But the kids were unwilling to leave—they were either homeless or filled with anger, determined to avenge Darwin.
Seeing Charles's hesitation, Erik declared, "We will avenge Darwin!"
Charles pulled him aside, frowning as he voiced his concerns. These were still just children, but Erik replied, "No, they've already grown up."
Indeed, after enduring this pain and suffering, Raven, Hank, and the others seemed to have undergone a transformation, like fledgling birds who had just grown their feathers. Even if they fell and hurt themselves, they had now tasted what it felt like to fly. This was a necessary step for them to become eagles!
Compared to the sentimental Charles, Erik was clearly more ruthless and decisive. He emphasized that Sebastian Shaw had long since built his own army of mutants and was now displaying his power. If they wanted revenge, they needed to build their own forces as well.
Charles was convinced but felt that this group of kids still needed training. Not just Raven and the others, but even he and Erik themselves.
The idea of training didn't bother Alex, Raven, and the others, but Hank raised a concern: their CIA contact had been killed, and their base was destroyed. They needed a new place to train.
Charles assured them that finding a new location was not a problem at all. Without hesitation, he took them to his luxurious estate. As they stood before the vast, grandiose mansion, everyone except Raven was visibly stunned. Erik couldn't help but complain, "Honestly, Charles, I had no idea how you managed to survive in... such harsh conditions."
In the video, Erik had always assumed that Charles had endured a similarly tragic childhood as he had, given that most mutants had suffered greatly after their abilities manifested—abandoned, feared, or hated by their parents, just like Raven. Now, he realized Charles was an exception. While Erik had struggled for survival in a concentration camp, fighting for scraps to fill his belly, Charles had lived in this palatial mansion, never wanting for anything. This stark contrast naturally made Erik feel a bit resentful. They were all supposed to be 'children of misfortune,' yet why was Charles's life so different?
Outside the screen, Erik shook his head and remarked, "A person's character is partly innate, with certain traits ingrained deep in their bones. But it's also shaped by their environment. Charles's naivety and softness are clearly influenced by his privileged upbringing. We started with nothing, but he was different."
Logan raised an eyebrow, conceding that Erik might have a point. "Maybe so, but to be honest, between you and Charles, I find him more agreeable."
Erik shot him a sideways glance, thinking that despite Logan's tough exterior, he too was soft inside. His ferocity and stubbornness were merely shields to protect that vulnerability.
Their attention returned to the video, where Charles had just brought his mutant companions to his family mansion to train them. Meanwhile, on the global stage, the international situation was growing increasingly volatile. Sebastian Shaw had approached high-ranking Soviet officials, pressuring them to deploy nuclear weapons in Cuba. His aim was to provoke and escalate the already tense relations between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, pushing them towards the brink of nuclear war.
Clearly, in the mutants' world, certain historical events and backgrounds were eerily similar to those in the worlds of the Avengers, Batman, and Superman, yet there were distinct differences as well. In other worlds, the Cuban Missile Crisis was a result of escalating tensions between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, with both sides bearing responsibility. The U.S.'s continued pressure and nuclear blackmail were significant factors contributing to the crisis.
But in the world of mutants, this earth-shattering crisis was orchestrated by a mutant mastermind pulling the strings from behind the scenes, ensuring that these events unfolded as he intended. Sebastian Shaw had planted his agents within both the U.S. and Soviet governments, skillfully manipulating both sides, playing the role of a true puppet master.
In other worlds, the Cuban Missile Crisis ultimately ended as a mere scare, a crisis narrowly averted. But in this world, without some form of external intervention, a global nuclear war might very well be the future!
Sebastian Shaw and his mutant army had already demonstrated their unparalleled power. The audience outside the screen now understood one thing: the only ones who could effectively stop him and prevent this conspiracy from coming to fruition were Charles, Erik, and their group of mutants who stood on the side of justice and peace.
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