Kid, I Owe You One

"Could Wizard Bloodline also be on the mental side?"

Thinking back to the wizards in Harry Potter, they never seemed to run out of magical power while casting spells. Perhaps Wizard Bloodline was primarily related to the soul and mind.

They used their minds to convert the boundless energy of the outside world into magical power, allowing them to cast magic.

So, after using too much magic, wizards would at most feel mentally fatigued, but they would never run out of magical power.

Some evil Dark Magic could contaminate the mind. Young wizards who did not learn magic and suffered mental stimulation could become Obscurials. Sometimes, the stronger one's mental will, the greater the power of their magic.

Some wizards could become ghosts after death. Even after Voldemort died, his soul could possess animals before creating a new body and coming back to life.

All kinds of signs seemed to confirm his guess.

He boldly hypothesized that when low-ranking Saiyan warriors underwent Great Ape Transformation, it was because their minds could not suppress the rage and urge for destruction within their bloodline, causing them to lose their reason.

Previously, because his own mental strength was layered on top of it, he had been able to retain a sliver of sanity in Great Ape form.

Now, with the substantial mental enhancement provided by Wizard Bloodline, he could truly maintain his reason while undergoing Great Ape Transformation, just like an elite Saiyan warrior.

Of course, these were all merely guesses based on his understanding of the two bloodlines.

He could not be certain whether that was really the case. As long as things were developing in a good direction, who cared?

"Cough, cough. Well, Professor Charles, that was just a joke. I think your proposal just now was pretty good. It's not something we can't consider."

Aboard the Quinjet, Nick Fury watched Hawking transform into a Great Ape again and awkwardly tried to cover up his earlier words.

What the hell? One moment he turned into a child, the next into a Great Ape. How could something like this be so casual? He had made Fury think he held the advantage.

On the other side, Captain Marvel, who had just breathed a sigh of relief, could not help frowning when she saw Hawking transform into a Great Ape again.

However, she also noticed something different. The Great Ape from before had blood-red eyes and was utterly crazed, like a monster that knew only battle and destruction.

The Great Ape now had lost the red in its eyes. Its eyes were darting around, and its whole demeanor suddenly seemed far more cunning.

That was why she did not launch an attack immediately.

"Maria, don't attack yet."

At that moment, Nick Fury's voice came through her earpiece.

Nick Fury was negotiating with Professor X, so he had ordered her not to attack the Great Ape for the time being.

Likewise, as Hawking considered what to do next, Professor X's voice sounded beside his ear.

"Hawking, how are you now? Can you maintain your reason?"

Because of the panel's anti-snooping function, Professor X could not read Hawking's memories. However, telepathic communication and other mental intrusions were not affected.

The panel would not block those things for Hawking. It merely prevented others from noticing its existence.

When Hawking had first transformed into a Great Ape, Professor X had tried to communicate with him. But at the time, his heart had been filled entirely with the desire to destroy and annihilate, making communication impossible.

Now, Professor X could clearly sense that after transforming again, Hawking's mind had calmed down.

"Professor, I can control this state now."

"Good. Then stop fighting for now. Nick Fury just—"

Professor X told Hawking about the negotiations he had just had with Nick Fury.

After thinking for a moment, Hawking replied:

"Alright. But Professor, judging from what happened just now, we can't completely trust them to keep their word. We do this... then this."

Nick Fury, director of S.H.I.E.L.D. and leader of its agents, was not someone who cared about principles or honesty. He was only willing because the situation forced him to be. If circumstances changed, the negotiations could fall apart at any moment.

For example, if they learned Hawking's true strength or found out about the time limit on his transformation.

So it was best to hold the initiative completely. That was the only way to avoid trouble later.

"Alright, we'll do as you say. I'll have him come out and negotiate face-to-face, then stall him to buy you time."

After hearing Hawking's proposal, Professor X pondered it for a moment before agreeing.

Because of Nick Fury's performance just now, he too had become less trusting of this leader of an organization similar to the CIA.

"I think we don't need to fight anymore, at least for now."

Hawking looked at Captain Marvel across from him. Suppressing the instincts of his Saiyan Bloodline with effort, his body rapidly shrank until he became a child again.

"You're right, kid. But I suggest you put on some clothes."

Captain Marvel landed in front of Hawking and smiled at his completely naked body.

Switching the wand in his right hand to his left, Hawking awkwardly picked up a piece of torn Wizard Robe from the ground and quickly wrapped it around his waist.

His Wizard Robe had burst apart during the transformation, and when he changed back, he naturally had no clothes on.

At that moment, the X-Jet and the Quinjet landed beside them one after the other.

As the hatches opened, Professor X led the mutants out while Nick Fury led Captain Carter and the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents out, almost at the same time.

"I'm going inside to find some clothes to wear. Of course, if we need to fight again later, I can skip that and be ready to transform at any time."

Seeing the two sides meet, Hawking pointed at the X-Jet and deliberately joked.

"I believe we'll get along very harmoniously from now on."

Hearing Hawking's half-threatening joke, Nick Fury narrowed his one eye and did his best to put on a relatively friendly expression.

He had already classified the mutant boy before him as highly dangerous, perhaps even comparable to Professor X and Magneto. Setting influence aside and looking only at destructive power, Hawking was even more dangerous.

If this guy went berserk in a city, it would absolutely be a massive disaster.

"I also think this is just a misunderstanding. As long as we clear things up, it'll be fine. Hawking, go change your clothes without worry."

Professor X smiled in cooperation.

"That would be best."

Hawking nodded, then turned and boarded the X-Jet.

"Reparo!"

Once aboard, he immediately used a Mending Charm to restore his Wizard Robe, then quickly mounted the Firebolt, put on the Invisibility Cloak, and slowly flew back out.

The Wizard Robe had burst apart during his transformation, but he had kept the Firebolt, Invisibility Cloak, and wand safely protected in his hands the entire time.

Going into the jet to change clothes had only been a reasonable excuse to leave temporarily.

Completely concealed beneath the oversized Invisibility Cloak, Hawking rode the Firebolt and carefully circled around the two sides, who were negotiating while facing off against each other. Then he quietly arrived at the Quinjet's hatch.

Carefully controlling the Firebolt as he flew into the Quinjet, he searched around and quickly found Magneto and Mystique, who had been knocked out with sedatives.

"Petrificus Totalus! Petrificus Totalus!"

Two lightning-fast Full Body-Bind Curses froze the two S.H.I.E.L.D. agents guarding Magneto and Mystique in place. Hawking then pointed his wand at Magneto and Mystique.

"Rennervate!"

The Rennervate, a spell that could instantly awaken someone no matter what state they were in.

"Good evening. We meet again!"

As soon as Magneto and Mystique opened their eyes, they saw Hawking's smiling face seemingly floating in midair and nearly thought they had seen a ghost.

After roughly learning what had happened, Magneto looked at Hawking and said:

"Kid, I owe you one!"