We Need Special Training

Charles and the other two went to the Soviet Union. Their intelligence-gathering went smoothly—they easily captured the White Queen and used her abilities to uncover the Black King's entire plan.

But just as they were joyfully landing back in New York with their prize, someone called to tell them something.

The base was gone...

Everyone was dead. The base was nearly reduced to rubble.

When Charles and the others arrived at the scene, Ron and his four companions were sitting on a bench in front of the base, while cleanup crews worked inside.

Alex and the other two sat together. Mystique sat close to Ron, and Beast Hank kept stealing lonely glances in their direction.

After the battle last night, when Ron went back to pick up Raven—who had been left alone in that cold, dark alley for a long time—she threw herself at him in fear and relief, sobbing as she asked if he was okay and what happened to the others.

"Ron, you're finally back. Are you hurt? The... the others, are they okay?"

In that alley, Raven wasn't just terrified by the creepy surroundings—she'd been constantly worried that Ron and the others had been killed. Every second felt like a year, pure torment.

When Ron reappeared, it ended her agony. His embrace made her feel incredibly safe and warm.

Plus, after learning that Ron's teleportation had limited capacity and he'd chosen to send her first, along with everything else that happened, she felt a flutter in her heart and unconsciously leaned closer to him.

"We know what happened.

I'll arrange a plane to send you home right now. Including... you, Ron."

Professor X spoke with a heavy heart. He hesitated, glanced at Ron, and added.

"Even though you did well—better than we could have—you're still too young."

"You need to go back where you belong. Go home."

What happened yesterday only convinced him that he shouldn't drag a bunch of immature young people into this. He felt deep guilt.

Even though he'd heard from others that Ron killed the Red Devil and Riptide, and even sent the Black King packing—which shocked them—he still didn't want Ron to take any more risks.

"Home?"

Ron shook his head inwardly. He didn't think Professor X had a plane that could cross universes.

Still, today's events seemed to be making Charles grow up. The playboy side of him was fading, replaced by a sense of responsibility and duty, slowly turning him into Professor X.

"No, we're not leaving. He killed Siren."

"Siren died right in front of us. There was a huge hole in his chest!"

Alex and Darwin spoke with fierce emotion and hatred.

They wanted to stay and fight the Black King, to avenge Siren.

Young people might be immature compared to adults, but they had one advantage—they made friends easily. A few days was enough to bond.

"No. For you, it's all over..."

Charles's face turned serious. He tried to force them to leave.

"We should avenge him.

Life gives us many hardships. Tolerating and forgetting never makes things better."

Erik, who had been watching quietly, spoke up in a deep voice, directly undermining Charles.

"Revenge. Fight back."

"Erik, a word."

Taking a deep breath, Professor X gritted his teeth and pulled Magneto aside, scolding him.

"Erik, what are you saying? They're still children."

"No. They were children.

Hate and love are the fastest things that make people grow."

Magneto's expression was cold and stern as he shook his head.

"After last night, they're no longer the same."

No one understood better than him how hate gave people strength.

From the moment that gunshot killed his mother over a decade ago, he'd thought of revenge every single second. From a child alone to an adult, through long years of darkness, no matter what hardship he faced, he never gave up.

Because hate sustained him.

Hate could unlock a person's potential, give them strength they never had.

Professor X turned and stared at the group for a moment.

"Look at Ron. They have tremendous potential, Charles. If you send them back, Siren's death will become a lifelong regret, a thorn in their hearts forever."

Professor X's resolve began to waver.

Ron watched Magneto coldly lecturing Professor X in the distance, knowing he too was approaching the Magneto of the future.

Eighteen years ago, the Black King killed Erik's mother in the concentration camp to trigger his potential. For eighteen years, Erik had been seeking revenge.

"Eighteen years of torment and relentless pursuit—did Magneto ever cause the Black King any real trouble or payback?

The answer is no."

Black King was too cunning. After losing power, he changed his identity and built a new team from scratch.

It took Magneto eighteen years just to find Black King. In those eighteen years, Black King established the Hellfire Club, mingling and carousing with high-ranking officials, while Magneto hunted like a lone wolf through darkness and pain.

How many eighteen years does a man have? His life's meaning had been reduced to nothing but hatred.

The last time he met Professor X was also the first time in eighteen years he'd laid eyes on Black King.

On that luxury cruise ship, eighteen years of pent-up fury and hatred shattered his reason. Clutching a small dagger, he charged forward to kill Black King, but before he could get close, White Queen kicked him into the water.

Then, underwater, he used his power to destroy the cruise ship, but could only watch helplessly as his enemy escaped in a nuclear submarine beneath the vessel.

"Eighteen years of pursuit, and his enemy sailed away unscathed before his eyes."

The second closest he came was last night—a brush past, a missed chance.

Missing another opportunity for revenge, Magneto grew more frantic. He couldn't wait any longer. Hatred had consumed him, and he began to stop at nothing, using everything at his disposal to achieve his goal.

"If a man whose entire life's meaning is revenge never gets to personally settle the score, never releases that accumulated anger and pain, leaving behind eternal regret..."

Sitting on the bench, Ron smiled to himself.

With such a huge impact, his fate would surely change drastically from now on.

"We need special training."

Professor X walked over. In the end, Magneto had persuaded him, making him believe Magneto truly meant well, and he tacitly allowed everyone to stay.

But this time, he would train these youths, help them master their abilities and handle danger skillfully, before sending them back into the battlefield.

"We can't stay here anymore. Even rebuilding isn't safe. He knows this place."

Alex stood up, warning that the base couldn't remain, then looked at Ron with a strange expression.

"Ron threw him into the crematorium furnace out in the suburbs. If he's not dead, he'll definitely come back for revenge."

Thrown into a pile of ashes—such immense humiliation. Black King wouldn't just do nothing.

Though he hadn't struck back immediately, when he reappeared, it would be the coldest, cruelest retaliation.

"The crematorium furnace..."

Professor X and the other two froze, staring wide-eyed at Ron.