X-Men vs. S.H.I.E.L.D.

"S.H.I.E.L.D.?"

Hearing that name, Professor X looked puzzled as well.

He was quite familiar with the CIA. After all, he had worked closely with them during the First Battle, and he had even fallen in love with a female CIA agent back then.

But he truly had never heard of S.H.I.E.L.D.

He tried to use his ability to read the other man's memories, only to discover that his telepathy had no effect at all.

"We used to be called the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division. Oh, and Professor Charles, don't try to control me with your abilities.

Since I dared to come here to arrest you, I naturally came prepared!"

Nick Fury pointed at his neck, where a circular device glowing blue was attached.

The Brainwave Disruptor had been modified from the device the Kree Supreme Intelligence used to control Captain Marvel's mind. It could provide a certain degree of psychic intrusion and defense.

The Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 had actually been caused by the mutant Black King. After taking office as director, Nick Fury had obtained all the intelligence the CIA had stored on the matter.

Given Magneto and Professor X's terrifying abilities, he had never dared to make a move.

But this time, the mutants had attacked the president, crossing his bottom line. And since they had just finished modifying a device capable of resisting Professor X's mind control, he acted decisively.

"I think there has been a misunderstanding between us."

Professor X was unwilling to come into conflict with a government agency, so he patiently explained everything that had happened.

Unfortunately, Nick Fury was not someone easily persuaded.

"There's no need to say so much. Once I bring you back, I'll find the real answer. If the assassination attempt has nothing to do with you, and you're willing to sign an agreement, then I can consider letting you go."

Who had masterminded the attack on the president was not particularly important to him. Even if things really were as Professor X claimed, he could not simply let them leave so easily.

To humanity, mutants would always be ticking time bombs. He had no intention of exterminating mutants, but their development had to remain under his supervision.

So long as he controlled the two leaders of the mutant forces—Magneto and Professor X—the rest would be nothing to worry about.

"I'm sorry, but I cannot place my students' safety in the hands of a government agency I know nothing about."

Hearing Nick Fury's forceful response, Professor X shook his head.

No matter how naive he was, he was not naive enough to believe that a government agency would truly treat mutants equally, or that it would really release them after arresting them and confirming the facts.

He had made that mistake once before. The result was that all his students had been forced onto brutal battlefields, where they either died in combat or became experimental material for ambitious men.

It took him a long time to pull himself out of that despair and stand up again.

So when the school reopened, he began training the X-Men to fight, so they could protect his students from harm.

He believed that all humanity would eventually find the right path and build a better future alongside mutants, but that trust did not extend to certain government agencies.

"Then there's no other way. I can only deal with you as I dealt with Mr. Erik Lehnsherr!"

As Nick Fury's voice fell, Captain Marvel, Captain Carter, Black Widow, Hawkeye Barton, and three fully armed S.H.I.E.L.D. agent squads launched an attack.

Previously, worried that Magneto's powers might affect them, the three S.H.I.E.L.D. squads had remained hidden in the distance under Agent May's command.

Now that Magneto had been captured and they were all equipped with devices that could block mental control, they could naturally join the assault.

"X-Men, engage!"

Seeing this, Professor X could only issue the command to fight.

Storm activated her powers, her eyes turning white. Dark clouds immediately gathered overhead, and bolts of lightning struck the armed S.H.I.E.L.D. agents under her control.

Wolverine and the restored Deathstrike extended their Adamantium Claws and talons, charging toward Captain Carter, Black Widow, and Agent May.

Cyclops unleashed the full force of the red blasts from his eyes against Captain Marvel, who hovered in the air wrapped in energy.

Colossus turned his entire body into steel and stood in front of Cyclops and Storm, shielding them from the stray bullets fired their way.

Nightcrawler, a devout Christian with little combat experience, was tasked with protecting the weakened Professor X and keeping watch over Stryker to prevent him from escaping in the chaos.

"Whoosh!"

At that moment, an arrow slipped past Colossus's defense from an unusually tricky and sinister angle, flying toward Storm as she controlled the battlefield with lightning.

It was Hawkeye Barton, hiding in a concealed corner. Seeing how formidable Storm's battlefield control was and how many S.H.I.E.L.D. agents had been electrocuted unconscious, he launched a sneak attack.

"Hold this for me!"

Hawking tossed the Adamantium Alloy Long Staff in his hand to Nightcrawler, then drew his Power Pole and joined the fight.

He understood that the other S.H.I.E.L.D. members were not much of a problem. The real opponent was Captain Marvel.

Universe 838's Captain Marvel was not Carol Danvers, strong-willed and powerful at heart, but her best friend Maria Rambeau. She might have been slightly weaker, but she was still monstrously powerful.

Even old Magneto had ultimately lost to her.

So he needed to clear away the obstacles as quickly as possible, allowing everyone to work together and help Cyclops deal with Captain Marvel.

He leaped into the air, knocking aside Hawkeye's arrow with a precise strike of his Power Pole. Then his figure flashed as he rushed toward Hawkeye's hiding place.

Hawkeye was not particularly powerful, but his arrows were exceptionally tricky. Especially in a group fight, they were highly effective against people like Storm and Cyclops.

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Seeing Hawking, who was only a child, charging at him at high speed, Hawkeye did not dare let down his guard. He fired one arrow after another at Hawking, each faster than the last, and every arrowhead carried a special effect—electric shocks, paralysis, sticky fluid, and more.

"Afterimage Fist!"

But Hawking had no desire to get tangled up with him. He directly used the Afterimage Fist, leaving behind a series of afterimages as he rushed before Hawkeye at top speed.

"Go down."

Before absolute speed and strength, Hawkeye could not block even a single move after being closed in on. Hawking knocked him unconscious with one swing of his staff.

But just as he was about to go help deal with the others, Cyclops could no longer hold on.

Captain Marvel, hovering in the air, was actually pushing through the full-power red blast from Cyclops's eyes and was about to get within close range of him.

If Captain Marvel got close, Cyclops would likely be taken out in a single move.

Storm noticed it as well and hurriedly concentrated all her lightning, attacking Captain Marvel alongside Cyclops. Only then did Captain Marvel slow down.

But she had only slowed down. Captain Marvel was still closing in on them.

"Kamehameha!"

Hawking swiftly moved to the side of their standoff and fired a full-power Energy Wave straight into Captain Marvel's face.

Because Captain Marvel had focused all her strength on resisting Cyclops and Storm, she was caught off guard and blasted directly away.