The Future Lies in Alaska

Yes, Mystique had infiltrated Duva's group long ago. With her shapeshifting ability, transforming into a Xenomorph had taken considerable effort, as she had needed to gather all kinds of information about them to avoid any flaws in either appearance or behavior.

She succeeded, slipping in when the Xenomorph population increased by a few more.

The only concern was that Duva could precisely sense the mental state of every Xenomorph. If that was the case, she would inevitably be exposed, but for now, everything seemed normal.

What was more, she had fortunately obtained the intelligence she needed most from Duva and Coulson's cryptic, riddle-like conversation—Flying Man was information about the Deviants! Yes, the Brotherhood dealt with all kinds of mutants and had naturally come into contact with those old monsters who had lived for thousands upon thousands of years, gathering bits and pieces of information.

In the past, this information had basically been useless. It could only be dragged out during public opinion campaigns against mutants, where it barely served to prove that mutants and ordinary humans were fundamentally not the same.

But things were different now.

"The origin of mutants and the reason for their emergence are unknown, but Duva and S.H.I.E.L.D. have confirmed that there is a very high possibility Ikaris is a Deviant!"

Mystique frantically tapped away at the palm-sized device, her fingers flying.

Even she felt a clear emotional stir at that moment, unable to hide her shock.

Deviants... the source of mutants had actually appeared? But thinking about it carefully, since mutants capable of living thousands or even tens of thousands of years existed, was it really so surprising for a Deviant who had lived tens of thousands of years to appear?

The X-Gene of mutants could awaken all manner of bizarre abilities. The Deviants' infinite mutation gene went without saying. Awakening a longevity-related superpower seemed perfectly normal.

She knew nothing about the Celestials, much less that the Celestials had joined forces and personally exterminated the Deviants. It was impossible for any of those intelligent Deviants who had built a thriving civilization twenty thousand years ago to have survived to the present day.

Before long, a new message came back.

"Raven, is the intelligence reliable? Are you sure those two aren't putting on an act for you?"

"That possibility cannot be ruled out, but it is absolutely worth the risk. If the Xenomorphs obey Duva's commands not through the worst possibility—telepathy—but through visual recognition, heat sensing, or pheromones, then Duva cannot possibly discover me."

Raven had great confidence in her shapeshifting ability. As long as nothing went wrong with her spirit, mind, or thoughts, nothing else could go wrong.

She urgently reported her major discovery to the recipient of the message—Magneto.

"Alaska? I understand. I will personally set out to seek our true ancestors! If the information is true, we mutants will be able to separate ourselves from humanity at the genetic level. That will greatly unite our brothers and sisters across the world!"

Many mutants, including the X-Men, still considered themselves members of humanity to some extent. That was why they were unwilling to stand against humans; it was no different from killing themselves.

But if it could be confirmed that mutants and Deviants were one and the same, it would be an earth-shattering event, directly rewriting the course of mutant history!

On a steel island somewhere in the Pacific Ocean, Magneto shut off the communication, his emotions surging.

He sat alone on his throne and thought for a long, long time. He even recalled the painful memories from the moment his powers had awakened.

"After decades of effort, I have finally seen the day it pays off... I have found a breakthrough in the future where mutants are destined for extinction!"

Magneto suppressed his excitement and summoned Destiny.

Destiny was an exceptionally special mutant. Her entire face was covered by a mask without eyes, and she possessed the formidable power to see through fate.

With only a glance, she could see through countless futures.

Within the Brotherhood, Destiny held a highly unusual position. She took no part in the vast majority of operations and only appeared when Magneto needed her, providing crucial intelligence.

The last time she had appeared was several years ago, when she told Magneto and Professor X that mutants had only one future: extinction. There was no other possibility.

"A new fate has appeared." Magneto raised his voice. "Our ancestors, the source of the X-Gene—the Deviants—have appeared in this world once again. I believe he is absolutely not alone. There must be other Deviants of his kind!"

"As a leader, you should not be overly emotional. It will become your fatal weakness." Destiny's voice was cold.

Magneto calmed down. "I need you to prophesy the future once more."

"I have already done so. What do you want to know? Will the appearance of the Deviants bring mutants new life?"

"Isn't that the case? Or are you saying the information about the Deviants in Alaska is false?" Magneto asked in return.

"It is true. I saw new images. There is indeed a group of Deviants in Alaska," Destiny said indifferently.

She had also seen that the reptile-like Deviants that had appeared on Earth over the past few thousand years were fundamentally different from the intelligent Deviants Magneto hoped for—the ones who had seemingly built a civilization tens of thousands of years ago. But both were indeed Deviants.

Destiny had seen certain things, but she did not wish to say them. As far as the future was concerned, the result was the same. If there was any difference, it was that...

Ever since that man named Duva had appeared with his Xenomorphs, the point in time when mutants perished seemed to have been greatly brought forward.

But since there was only extinction ahead either way, dying earlier or later made no difference.

"Among countless fragmented futures, the overall trend has not changed. The fate of mutants is still disappearance. If you hope for some different changes to occur during that process, then yes, there are."

Destiny said coldly, "The way mutants perish has become more unusual. They have taken on another form."

Magneto frowned slightly, growing irritated. He wanted more specific information, but Destiny herself could only see fragments—chaotic images, sometimes even reversed in sequence, yet incomparably numerous. How could she possibly explain every detail to Magneto?

Even if she talked until her lifespan ran out, she could not finish.

Nor did she have the patience for it.

Destiny, a mutant who could see through fate, was naturally estranged from other mutants. It stemmed from the way she perceived the present world after seeing the one certain future.

Destiny left, no longer paying any attention to Magneto.

"At least there has indeed been a change. Perishing in another form? Then I will find a way to lead my people down that path! With my active intervention, turning mutants into Deviants would also conform to the future of mutant extinction!"

Magneto rose to his feet and flew into the sky. He looked in the direction of Alaska, madness and deep anticipation blazing in his eyes.

Based on the intelligence Duva had leaked, Magneto confirmed that the future of mutants was very likely in Alaska! As for the possibility that this was a trap... what a joke. Even if he knew it was a trap, Magneto believed that with his strength, he was qualified to step into it!